I have to admit, life never turns out the way you expect. If you would’ve asked me a few years ago where I’d be at this age, I probably would’ve said I’d be married and maybe even have kids by now. But God’s plans are much better than ours, and clearly His plan for me is on a different schedule than mine. All I can say is thank goodness for that!

This season of my life is filled with learning and growing and finding what I’m passionate about and loving the people in my life to the best of my ability. Although it might look different from other people’s stories, I have more peace and excitement now than I’ve ever had before. Which I am SO thankful for!

In honor of turning 25 I thought it would be fitting to share 25 of the most valuable things I’ve learned so far in my 25 years of life. I hope they can encourage you in some way, wherever you are on your journey!

Dress (dupe for this one; also love this similar one) | Shoes (similar pair, also love these ones)

25 things I’ve learned in 25 years

1. Your parents are usually always right.

2. You don’t have to do the same thing everyone else is doing just because everyone else is doing it.

3. Most worries & fears are so much bigger in your head than they are in reality.

4. What you care about as a teenager is probably not what you’re going to care about as an adult. You think you know everything, but you actually don’t. In fact you basically know nothing.

5. When you go on adventures, make sure you take pictures of the people you’re with, not just the places you go. Those are the memories you’ll cherish the most.

6. Nothing lasts forever. Seasons come and go, good and bad. Something new is always coming.

7. Nobody remembers who the cool people were in high school. “Cool” doesn’t actually exist anymore once you’re an adult.

8. Having a boyfriend/significant other is not the key to happiness.

9. You’ll never fix your problems by running from them. You can’t run from yourself. You’ll never have true peace until you face them head on.

10. If you’re not sure what to do about something, trust your gut. As a wise person once told me, “When in doubt, don’t!”

11. Going to college doesn’t automatically make you successful. And not going to college doesn’t automatically make you a failure. Life is what you make of it.

12. It’s not about where you go, it’s about who you’re with. Anywhere can be a blast with the right people, or even the most extravagant vacation can be miserable with the wrong people. 

13. Life is too short to be stuck doing something you hate everyday. If you’re not happy with where you are, change it.

14. Nobody is going to respect you if you don’t respect yourself first.

15. If you try to do everything at once, you’re never going to accomplish anything. Instead, focus on one thing at a time and take baby steps to reach your goal.

16. How you look doesn’t matter – what matters is your confidence in yourself.

17. No person/thing/achievement/circumstance is going to make you happy. Only you can choose to be happy wherever you are (and only with God’s help).

18. Less is more. Physical clutter causes anxiety, but owning a small number of things that are valuable and useful will clear your mind and give you peace.

19. Praying is the most important thing you can ever do. Not just because it changes your circumstances, but because it changes you.

20. Life is too short not to eat the chocolate once in a while. Or the donut, or the french fries, or the piece of cake. It’s all about moderation.

21. You’re never going to “get there.” Every hurdle in life is a stepping stone to the next challenge. You’re never finished growing.

22. When you’re feeling stressed out, sometimes the best thing you can do is take a break and go to bed early. Let yourself recharge and start again in the morning.

23. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way. But hindsight is 20/20 and you’ll wish you took the advice before you made the mistakes!

24. Friends come and go but family is family, so those relationships are worth investing in.

25. Apart from Jesus you’ll never find what you’re looking for. You’ll never know true peace, joy, or contentment until you surrender your life to Him 100%. You’ll spend your life chasing happiness, but you’ll never reach it.

Live and learn

These things I’ve learned have come from years of experiences, challenges, mistakes, and growth. What about you? What are the biggest life lessons you’ve learned that you would want to share with others? I hope you’re having a lovely March, friends. Thanks for reading and thanks for being part of my life!

Xo,

Becka

P. S. – Last year I wrote a letter to my younger self for my 24th birthday, and here’s the truth about blogging.

Shop the post:

The post 25 Things I’ve Learned in 25 Years appeared first on Live It Lovely.

So let’s imagine we’re sitting at Starbucks (or a coffee shop of your choice), spending some time catching up as friends and sharing our lives with each other. That’s my hope and prayer for this post! So grab your coffee, get comfy, and keep reading for a little heart-to-heart!

What’s this about anyway?

I’m glad you asked!

So one of my goals for this year is to build new friendships and be part of a community. Sometimes it’s hard to know how to go about that in this season of life (a.k.a. the post college, 20-something, still figuring out how to adult season… anyone else?).

Blogging has been a lot of fun over the past year, since it’s allowed me to express my creativity, but it’s also been a bit of a struggle. To tell you the truth, it sometimes feels like I’m having a one-sided conversation, and I tend to wonder if anyone out there is really listening.

I mean what’s the point of having a blog if it isn’t to connect with other like-minded people and build real, genuine relationships, right?!

Real talk

Now it’s time for me to ‘fess up real quick. *I know the following thoughts are the result of someone who spends way too much time in her own head and thinks a whole heck of a lot (a little too much) about herself, so apologies in advance, but thanks for reading nonetheless!*

Don’t get me wrong- I seriously love blogging as a creative outlet and a way to share my passions with the world (or a few friends slash people who stumble upon my posts on Pinterest).

But every time I’m working on a post, there’s a struggle going on in my mind. I worry so much and I’m very hard on myself so I spend a lot of time doubting what I’m sharing, if it’s worth it, if it’s good enough, or if anyone will like it.

I know it sounds so silly!! But it’s hard not to worry what other people think when you’re putting yourself and your life out there for the world to see. It sounds pretty self-centered, to tell the truth, which is why I always fight past those feelings and share anyway. Because who knows who I might encourage and inspire that day!

But sometimes I get so bogged down in the fear and worry and self-doubt that I procrastinate on posts FOREVER and don’t post anything for long stretches of time.

Which is so lame!!

Because who cares?

NO ONE!! (Except me.)

I mean how cool is it to have a platform to share about life and God’s love and send encouragement and inspiration to whoever might need it? There’s so much possibility for impact, for doing GOOD in the world through the power of the internet and social media!

I don’t wanna fake it

But the truth is, it’s hard to share and be open online, when behind the scenes, I’m actually pretty unhappy and stuck in a lot of ways.

When I’m feeling lost or down in my personal life, it can be hard to find motivation to share something inspiring with others. My biggest fear is being seen as a fraud, and sometimes I feel like I am when my blog posts are happy but I’m not.

I know for a fact, though, that sharing the hard things, the struggles, and being vulnerable, is where you and I can start to connect and build a real life relationship! 

So friend, I’m showing up today. And I promise to show up every day, here on this blog, as a real human girl who doesn’t really know much of anything but who wants to find other real human friends and also share her crazy passions on the internet!

The truth about blogging…

Basically, here’s the cold hard truth that I’ve learned from blogging so far:

1. Having a pretty blog with pretty pictures of nice clothes and a nice house is not going to automatically give you a happy life.
2. Blogging is NOT glamorous. There is so much behind-the-scenes work that goes into taking pretty pictures… NOTHING is NOT staged, on any blog, just FYI.
3. Blogging is WAY harder than it looks. It takes forever to create a post and it’s pretty tedious to put it all together.
4. Writing blog posts and posting on Instagram doesn’t automatically create the real relationships you long for. (Hence this new series… COFFEE CHATS! Because it’s about time I get to know you too.)

So am I quitting?

Last week, I almost decided to give up on blogging. Like completely. (Haha my pathetic saga continues.) I’ve wanted to quit a few times before, because it is just SO. MUCH. MORE. WORK. than I thought, but this time it was because of the previously mentioned self-doubt.

I’ve been lacking motivation for weeks now, and I’ve been so lost in some areas of my life. And I just started thinking… “maybe I’m not meant to do this. I don’t love my life right now, so it’s not worthy of sharing. I’m not someone people can look up to. I don’t have a closet full of cute and trendy outfits to share. I’m not always confident in how I look in pictures, and I’m embarrassed to show my face without makeup…”

Not to mention, I don’t live in a pretty house that I can take pictures of all the time. (I mean yes, I live in a nice house with a loving family, but it’s MESSY and real and not Pinterest-worthy by any means!)

I just don’t feel qualified to be a blogger because I don’t have the perfect “blog-worthy” life.

But man, does it feel good to admit that and get it off my chest! As long as I’m holding that in, I worry that I’m just trying to fabricate something on this blog that isn’t real. Unless I’m showing who I really am, I’m always going to have that self-doubt. And that connection I really want with people is never going to happen.

And I want you to know the real me, and I want to know the real you too.

Can we be friends?

So I’m turning this conversation over to you now, whoever you are, reading this.

Maybe you found my blog on Pinterest, or maybe you follow me on Instagram and feel like you know me. Maybe you’re a close friend or family member whose support means everything to me. Or maybe you’re someone I’ve met in the past, or someone with mutual friends but we’ve never actually connected, someone from high school… WHOEVER you are!

If you’re looking for real relationships, someone to relate to, to encourage and be encouraged by, will you leave a comment? That way I, along with anyone else reading this, can see it! I know we can all make some new friends by letting down that barrier and sharing a little about ourselves, like a real life coffee date.

Here are some questions I have for you, yes YOU:

• What’s your name?
• Where are you from, and a what’s something you want to share about your background?
• What season of life are you in right now?
• What is currently your biggest joy in life, and what’s a struggle or something I can be praying for you?

I hope you know that your comment will encourage my heart and brighten my day so much!

If you would rather message me personally, you can totally do that too! Just go to the contact page and send me an email. Or feel free to comment on my last Instagram post or send me a direct message on IG! Either way, reach out and let’s connect! I seriously can’t wait to hear from you, and to make this year all about creating a community together.

Until our next coffee chat, friend!

Xo,

Becka

P.S. – An unexpected lesson I learned from substitute teaching, and 10 things you don’t know about me.

The post Coffee Chats Vol. 1: The Truth About Blogging appeared first on Live It Lovely.

I know, I know. What a Scrooge! But honestly, it seems like everyone on earth is completely obsessed with Christmas, and I feel like I’m the only one asking this question. But I’m bringing it up today to see if I am in fact the only one, or if anyone else out there finds themselves asking it too.

And I’m sure by my last blog post, I probably seem like I’m just as in love with Christmas as anyone. That post is full of spirit and holiday festivities. Now don’t get me wrong, there are things about Christmas that I love. But there are also many that I question, despite continuing to do them year after year.

The Christian answer

So what’s the Christian answer? Well of course Christmas is wonderful because we’re celebrating the birth of Jesus. But researching the history of Christmas was something really eye opening for me. Many Christmas traditions are actually rooted in pagan traditions that date back long before the birth of Christ.

In early Christianity, Easter was the biggest holiday and the birth of Jesus wasn’t even celebrated. The pagan Yule and Winter Solstice celebrations were done by many European cultures to honor pagan gods. Firs and spruce were used as indoor decorations because it was believed that they scared away witches and ghouls.

In fact, many of the original Christmas traditions are more related to Halloween traditions than anything biblical. (The first time I learned this, I was really surprised. I’ve done research on the history of Halloween before, and feel like I’m one of the few Christians who actually grew up not celebrating it.)

How Christmas started

So why did Christians start celebrating the birth of Jesus on December 25th?

The Roman Catholic church decided to create this holiday a few hundred years A.D. and put it at the same time as the pagan winter holidays in order to encourage its popularity. (We actually don’t know the date or even the season Jesus was born in.) But what happened is that the pagan traditions and Christian holiday got mixed together into one big celebration.

Early Christmas represented drunkenness, revelry, and the poor classes terrorizing the rich by raiding homes and demanding food and drink. In fact, Christmas was a banned holiday during early American settlement. The Puritans were strongly against the worldly holiday and viewed it as sacrilege. And even when Christmas started being celebrated in America, Christmas trees were still not used because they were seen as a pagan symbol.

And I haven’t even touched on the tradition of Santa Claus yet!

Long story short, Santa is based mainly on the legend of Saint Nicholas, combined with many different tales of a man (or woman) delivering gifts to children for different reasons throughout different countries in Europe – a combination of many pagan superstitions. Saint Nicholas’ death day, December 9th, became a holiday to celebrate him, which is how the Santa tradition got tied together with all the rest of the hodgepodge Christmas traditions.

Modern American Christmas

So what are we supposed to do with this information? That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out. Although Christmas roots are from many different and strange origins, that doesn’t mean they’re all bad. The holiday has evolved to become about family, gifts, loving and caring for the poor, and of course Jesus’ birth.

I think my personal dilemma for awhile was wondering, should we even be celebrating Christmas? Do we know what we’re doing and why we’re doing it? What’s the point? And what I realized is that it’s not necessarily the traditions that bother me about Christmas, as long as we’re doing them with purpose and honoring God with them. But it’s the modern phenomena of Christmas obsession and indulgence that gets to me.

I guess it depends on each family, and each person’s heart. I love Christmas parties, Christmas movies, the cookies, even the decorations, and (most of) the music. But what I struggle to reconcile in my mind is the gifts, and the crazy amount of spending spending spending!

“Giving” or getting?

I love being able to surprise the people I love with a gift that I picked just for them. Something they weren’t expecting that they love and that’s meaningful. But what it seems like Christmas has come to is everyone rolling out a laundry list of all the things they want, and telling everyone around them exactly what to buy them so they get everything on their list.

No longer is there any joy in picking something special for people when you’re just buying them what they ask for (or demand). And the amount of money people throw away at Christmas seems insane and ridiculous to me. It’s basically turned into an excuse for everyone to just GET GET GET everything they want but wouldn’t normally buy themselves all at once because it would be too frivolous and indulgent.

We disguise our ridiculous amount of spending as “giving” to others. When in reality we know we’re going to get back just as much in gifts given to us! I know I might be stepping on some toes here, but I think the gift tradition has become one of the most selfish traditions ever. (Okay okay, I know not EVERYONE is only thinking about themselves – this is just a generalization!)

Everyone feels obligated to give things to their family members or else they’re considered a jerk. You can’t just not buy people Christmas presents!! (Well maybe you can… maybe your family has already stopped the usual gift tradition and opted for something more simple or special.)

It’s a facade

Not only that, but the entire facade of Christmas spirit… I think that’s exactly what it is: a facade.

I know, I know. How sad, right? I hate to burst that bubble. But growing up, Christmas was so magical. And I remember a point in high school, when it was the first year I didn’t “feel it.” It didn’t feel Christmassy to me, even when the season was in full swing! I thought something was wrong with me. Where was the magic?? It resulted in a pretty depressed and disillusioned teenage Becka.

Isn’t that sad? But over time I realized that’s actually normal. As a child everything seems so much bigger and grander and more magical, especially Christmas. But as an adult, enjoying the season is just a choice we make.

But it seems like everyone is forcing themselves and everyone around them to believe that Christmas is still magical, even if it never really was. Like it holds some kind of power, to make you feel warm and fuzzy, and everything hard and sad disappears during December.

But truly in my heart, I know that that’s not true. And for years I think I’ve let Christmas time be an escape. A way to feel good, and hide from reality. I still think it’s possible to enjoy Christmas and have warm fuzzy feelings, without letting it be an excuse to run from our problems. In all honesty I think we put Christmas on a pedestal and make it an idol when we give it so much power over us.

What I want to do about it

So what now? Since I’ve thought this through, I guess you can say I’m fed up with Christmas as I currently see it. I think it’s time to change something. If you feel the same way, maybe you want to change something too. This is what my hope is for Christmas in the future:

I want to stop with the presents. Okay maybe not completely. But at least drastically cut down on them! My siblings and I are grown up, so we’re a family of all adults (I understand if you have children this might not seem as reasonable for you). That means we all have our own money, and if there’s ever anything we need or want, we can just buy it ourselves.

The pressure of buying each other gifts and not knowing what to get, and stressing out about shopping, and then all the returns and exchanges that happen after Christmas day are just not worth it! Maybe we can commit to each getting each other one small but special gift – something that wasn’t asked for but picked out by the giver.

I want to make Christmas more simple. I don’t want to not celebrate it altogether, but just focus on the best aspects of it! What traditions do we partake in that we really don’t even like or care about, but do them out of obligation, or just because that’s what we’ve always done?

Is it putting up lights outside? Decorating our huge and inconvenient and falling apart 9 foot tree? Listening to Christmas music nonstop even when we’re sick of it? Fighting the crouds to go out shopping again and again until we check everything off our list (and going to all the stores we never go to except in the month of December)??

Simplify

Whatever it is, I want to get rid of it. All the annoying Christmas songs I don’t like… I don’t want to listen to them. Feeling the pressure to start the season before December? No, I don’t want to feel obligated to do that. I’d rather things to be slow, and simple, and relaxed, and enjoyable.

I want put more effort into focusing on a biblical celebration of Jesus. Not just baby Jesus, but Jesus who died and rose again. If we have the opportunity to celebrate Him, we should! Every day, but even more at Christmas. It’s been years since I’ve done a real advent study, so I want to make more time for that. Spend time with family in the Word and reflect on the gift of a Savior.

I want to make it more about giving to others and not just about self-indulgence. Maybe volunteer and give to those who might need help. Or find a less fortunate family and do something special to bless their socks off!

And I kinda want to forget about Santa. Now don’t hate me for this one! Maybe you and your kids love Santa, and that’s totally fine. I grew up loving Santa. But as an adult I think it’s a little silly, and it’s just adding to the noise of all the pointless things that distract us during this time of year. (I’ve even thought about not doing Santa when I have kids someday, but I guess that’s a decision for later on…)

If you’ve read this far…

Alright, well I guess that’s the end of my rant. What’s the point? I’m not really sure. I just hope that if you’ve never thought about any of this before, maybe I could spark your interest and give you some food for thought for your own Christmas celebrations.

And if you have thought about it, maybe you can feel relieved that someone else out there actually feels the same way. Maybe we can encourage each other make Christmas something more worthwhile and less like the world’s version of frivolity and indulgence, and enjoy something so much more meaningful together in years to come.

I hope this didn’t just put a damper on your December day! Instead I hope it gave you a little inspiration to live a more intentional life with purpose in everything you do. Let’s live wide awake, because every single day counts, and we’re not promised tomorrow after all!

Feel free to let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear your perspective, whether you agree or disagree!

Xo,

Becka

P.S. – How to make the most of your quiet time, and 3 goal setting tips for the New Year.

Sources:

History of Christmas | History of Christmas Trees | History of Santa Claus

The post The Real Problem I Have With Christmas appeared first on Live It Lovely.

Crew sweatshirt | Candy cane sleep leggings | Slippers (similar here and here) | Joy mug | Magnolia cookie plate

If you’ve never made your chocolate from scratch, I’m about to change your life. You’ll be amazed at the rich chocolatey flavor of this homemade hot chocolate! And believe me, you’ll never go back once you see how simple it is to make. Not to mention all the additives you’ll be avoiding with just a few simple ingredients! Read on for the recipe!

I adapted a few different recipes but there are tons on Pinterest. This recipe makes 2 to 3 servings so multiply it to make as many servings as you want! You can play around with the ingredients for just the right amount of sweet, chocolatey-ness, and creaminess you like.

My homemade hot chocolate recipe

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup of sugar
• 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder (or 2 tablespoons of cacao powder)
• a pinch of salt
• ½ cup of water
• 3½ cups of whole milk
• ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Mix sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a pot and add water. (For a creamier hot chocolate, you can use all milk instead of water.)
2. Heat on the stove until well mixed.
3. Add milk and keep over medium heat until heated through.
4. Stir in the vanilla extract before serving.
5. Serve hot and top with whipped cream or marshmallows!

*Makes 2 – 3 servings.

Like I mentioned before, my favorite thing is chowing down on some homemade sugar cookies and drinking hot chocolate while wrapping presents by the tree. Put on some Michael Bublé and I’m basically walkin’ in a winter wonderland!

I usually end up wrapping everything the week before Christmas, and if I’m being totally honest I haven’t bought a single gift yet… but that’s what I’m doing today! My goal is to knock out everyone on my list in one shopping trip!

In case you’re in the same boat and need some last minute gift ideas, I put together a gift guide with 30 great gift ideas under $30 for both him and her! And there’s actually a lot more than 30 ideas on there so be sure to check it out.

Hope you’re enjoying the season with the ones you love! Be sure to leave a comment and let me know how you liked this homemade hot chocolate!

Xo,

Becka

P.S. – My homemade apple pie recipe, and some tips for setting good goals for the new year.

The post Homemade Hot Chocolate & Cozy Christmas Pajamas appeared first on Live It Lovely.

Just kidding. I only eat like 6 or 7. Or 10. Whatever who’s counting!

Which is why I’m so excited to share with you my favorite ever recipe for homemade sugar cookies that turn out amazing every year!

My go-to recipe

My go-to sugar cookie recipe every year is adapted from this amazing one by kittencal. Keep scrolling for the full recipe, or feel free to use the original by clicking the above link. They turn out perfect every time!

The best homemade sugar cookies ever

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. In a large bowl combine butter with sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer on high until light and fluffy.
2. In another bowl combine flour with baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually stir into butter mixture until well blended.
3. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 1 to 2 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 375° F.
5. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper (don’t grease the cookie sheets).
6. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough into about ¼ inch thickness.
7. Use cookie cutters to cut into cute + festive shapes!
8. Place cookies at least 1 inch apart on cookie sheets.
9. Bake 6 – 8 minutes.
10. Place cookies on wire racks and allow to cool completely before frosting.

*Makes 35 – 40 cookies.

Keep scrolling for some tips on frosting your cookies!

Frosting the cookies

I don’t use the frosting recipe that goes with the cookie recipe, because my mom makes vanilla frosting and doesn’t really measure so it’s a little different every time (haha)! But you can use any you like (this frosting recipe looks good)!

My favorite decorating trick

Last year one of my fave bloggers (Julia from Gal Meets Glam) inspired me to put crushed candy canes on top of the frosted cookies, and lemme tell you it was a game changer – seriously, try it!! I love that it saves time with frosting since you don’t need multiple colors, and even if your frosting is a little sloppy the cookies still turn out beautiful. And they taste amazing!

So what about you? Are you a baker or just an eater? If you try out these homemade sugar cookies, be sure to come back and let me know how you liked them! Merry Christmas!

Xo,

Becka

P.S. – Check out the next post for the best homemade hot chocolate recipe to go with your sugar cookies, along with details on this cozy outfit I’m wearing!

The post The Best Homemade Sugar Cookies appeared first on Live It Lovely.

Sweater (and similar here) | Jeans (also love these) | Suede booties (sadly also sold out, but similar here and here) | Oversized denim jacket (love this one too)

1. A question you get asked all the time?

The question I get asked the most often is how tall I am. I’m 4’10”, which yes is very small! My mom and I are the same height, and my Nana is even shorter. My aunt is also around 5 feet. We’re just a small family!

2. Favorite childhood memory?

One of my favorite childhood memories is when my Tata (grandpa) used to take my cousins and me hiking every year on Christmas morning. We would hike up a small mountain behind my grandparents’ house that we called Christmas Mountain. We would bring a little grill and meat and tortillas and have a barbeque at the tiny, rocky top.

3. Favorite movie?

My favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice (with Keira Knightley). I can never get tired of it. I’ve watched it probably 5,000,000 times and I still love to put it on for something comforting to watch and fall asleep to. But a few of my other favorites are Tangled, The Parent Trap, That Thing You Do, and I can probably recite every line from School of Rock!

4. Favorite book?

My favorite book is The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. If you’ve never read it then you should. It’s an autobiography about a Christian woman who saved thousands of Jews in Holland by hiding them during the Holocaust, and then was caught and survived the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp. Sounds horrible, yes, but it’s also incredibly inspiring.

5. Favorite subject in school?

My favorite subject in school was social studies. I could never get tired of studying history and geography. In college I even took some human geography classes as electives, which sparked my interest in economics and business!

6. What did you study in college?

For the first two years of college I didn’t have a major because I couldn’t decide what to study. I finally picked management when I ran out of general education classes to take! I’m glad I picked it, because I discovered that I really love business and enjoyed all my management classes.

7. What’s one of your current jobs?

Speaking of business, I’ve been doing photography as a side business for 6 years now, and still haven’t replaced my first camera that I got for my 18th birthday! I really need to upgrade though because mine is probably on its last leg.

8. What was your favorite job of all time?

My favorite job was when I worked at Olive Garden during my last year of college. I was a terrible server but a great hostess! Work always felt like a party and I made some of the best friends while I was there. I think a part of me will always miss it!

9. Current obsession?

My current obsession is Stranger Things. And I mean I’m like really obsessed. I’ve already watched season 2 twice. I tend to get obsessed with things easily – when I was a kid I was obsessed with Johnny Depp, and I remember watching Pirates of the Caribbean over and over and over. I could probably recite that whole movie too!

10. A dream for the future?

I’m still trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up. (Does 24 count as grown up yet? ) Ever since I was little, my biggest dreams for the future were to be a wife and a mom. Those are still dreams of mine! I think my biggest desire in life is to love people and build relationships with them. As long as I’m doing that, I think I’ll be living my purpose.

Ok that’s WAY enough about me! What about you?! Leave a comment and tell me a couple facts about you so I can get to know you better too!

Xo,

Becka

P.S. – 30 gift ideas under $30, and the best homemade sugar cookies!

The post 10 Things You Don’t Know About Me appeared first on Live It Lovely.

Homemade apple pie

This pie always turns out amazing, and now I know it’ll be a tradition to make every year. But I have to say, making a pie from scratch isn’t exactly a quick and easy task. In fact this will take you a good 2 hours total. But it’s totally worth it! Store-bought pies just don’t compare.

I suppose you could cheat and use a pre-made pie dough, and still consider it a homemade apple pie, but remember to take a look at the ingredients before you do (they might scare you!).

If you decide to do that, you can just skip the dough recipe and go straight to the pie filling.

I also gotta mention that this is not in any way a healthy recipe! But I think for holidays, which only come once a year, taking the time to make a delicious and unhealthy pie and then enjoying it to the fullest is totally acceptable. Now ON TO THE RECIPE!

Homemade pie crust

Note: this recipe makes a double batch of dough for the top and bottom crust of the pie. I used a 9.5 inch round pie dish.

Prep time: 45 minutes*

*Prep takes 15 minutes, refrigeration takes 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 3 sticks of butter, cold
• ¼ cup ice water

Directions:

1. Mix flour and sugar together in a large bowl.
2. Grate the butter into the flour & sugar using a large-holed cheese grater, stirring it in as you go to prevent the butter from clumping together. You should end up with a course crumb consistency.
3. Add ice water a little at a time and mix until dough forms into a ball. If it doesn’t form just add a few more drops of water until it does.
4. Once the dough is formed into a ball, split it in half and flatten it into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Crust recipe adapted from: https://audreysapron.wordpress.com/2013/09/19/one-minute-homemade-pie-crust/

Apple pie filling

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour*

*Could take a bit longer depending on your oven and if you bake over a cookie sheet. Mine usually ends up taking a few minutes longer than 1 hour!

Ingredients:

• 8 small granny smith apples (or 7 medium)
• 1 stick of butter
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ cup water* (*optional: the recipe I followed calls for water, but my filling came out a bit runny. I would just add a few drops unless your filling is too thick to pour!)

Directions

1. Peel, core, and slice the apples into small pieces, and set aside in a large bowl.
2. Preheat oven to 425° F.
3. Melt butter in a medium sauce pan on medium heat. Stir in flour to make a thick paste. Add sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and water, mixing well. Bring the mixture to a boil for about a minute. Lower to a simmer and leave on for another minute, then set aside to cool.
4. Take dough out of refrigerator and roll the first half into a large circle (should be about ⅛ inch thick). Lay in pie dish and flatten out any air bubbles.
5. When pie filling has cooled a bit, set aside about ¼ of mixture for the top of the pie. Pour the rest over apple slices and mix until the apples are well coated. Pour the coated apples into the prepared pie dish, mounding slightly.
6. Roll out the second half of dough and cut into ½ to 1-inch strips to make a lattice pattern, or any pattern you like. Cover the top of the pie.
7. With the last bit of filling, brush the top of the pie so it will get crispy while baking.
8. Cover pie with foil and put into the oven (put on a cookie sheet if you want to catch any drips – may take a few minutes longer for the pie to bake all the way through!)
9. Bake at 425° F for 15 minutes. Lower temperature to 350° F and bake for another 45-50 minutes or until done*. Remove foil for last 10 minutes so the top of the pie can get crispy. *Pie is done when the crust is golden-brown, and the apples are soft when pierced with a fork.
10. Allow to cool before serving, and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top for the best dessert ever!

Serves: 8-10 people.

Pie recipe adapted from: https://audreysapron.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/the-best-apple-pie-ever/

I hope you love this pie! It’s now one of my favorite desserts of all time. If you try the recipe for Thanksgiving, let me know how it turns out! What’s your favorite holiday recipe? Leave a comment so I’ll know what to try and make next!

Xo,

Becka

P.S. – A last minute Thanksgiving outfit idea, and the best homemade sugar cookie recipe!

The post Homemade Apple Pie For Thanksgiving appeared first on Live It Lovely.

This is something I’ve wrestled with for years, wondering what’s wrong with me, and why can’t I seem to keep any friends? Maybe you’ve had those thoughts too. But I recently went through an experience that taught me about contentment, and about God’s sovereignty in our relationships.

By sharing my story and what I’ve learned from it, I hope I can encourage you to trust that God is faithful and will provide for you even in the midst of loneliness.

I’ve spent most of my life praying for true friends. The kind you can tell everything to, trust completely, be spontaneous with, and feel totally yourself around. And though I’ve had some friends like this, they’ve been few and far between.

I’m not angry about it. In the past I’ve felt sad, but I never blamed God for not giving me the kind of friendships I long for. I’m sure I play a part in it. I have walls up from past hurts and can be skeptical of people at first. (And I’m pretty shy and introverted too, on top of that.) But I don’t think it’s all my fault, or anyone else’s. Sometimes things just play out that way.

Growing up friendless

My circumstances growing up just didn’t made it easy for me to make a lot of friends. I never had a home church, so I didn’t have a solid church community. For middle and high school I went to a tiny private school. There were only so many cliques, and I just didn’t quite fit in with any of them. I spent a lot of my teenage years feeling lonely.

For college I went to a giant university, but I lived at home 30 minutes from campus. Plugging into community there wasn’t easy, but that wasn’t for lack of trying. I knew the importance of making an effort to pursue friendships, so I did my best.

I attended different Christian groups on campus, but since I didn’t live nearby I always felt like an outsider. Nothing ever really clicked. It almost felt like it was just too late for me to make friends. Everyone already had their besties, and despite my efforts I just couldn’t break into that territory with anyone.

It was exhausting trying to build new relationships. I always felt awkward, wondering if yet another person even liked me after meeting for coffee. I was drained and defeated, so I eventually gave up.

When God answered my prayers

Then I started praying more about it. I asked God to bring the right friends into my life at the right time. Until then I could be content with waiting. And it wasn’t long until my prayers were answered! Soon after I finished college, I was randomly invited into a new group of girls that was going to meet regularly, and everything clicked so perfectly.

We all became close really fast. Even though I was the brand new person, I never felt like an outsider. Our weekly meetings were the highlight of our weeks. I felt so full after our times together and excited to live the next week knowing I had a support system around me. I cried of happiness and thankfulness to God for finally answering my prayers.

God gives, and God takes away

But nothing lasts forever. Somewhere along the way there was a fallout. After 6 months of spending every weekend together, encouraging each other and growing in our faith together, it was a silly disagreement that caused our group to shatter.

Humans are humans, so I’m learning that there’s always some dysfunction in any relationship. Especially in a group– with so many people, it’s hard to predict how a conflict will resolve. Some will forgive and forget, but some may choose to hold onto hurt and bitterness.

Girls in the group began choosing sides. There was avoiding, there was gossip; then there was confrontation, hurt, and tears. I didn’t understand why this group was crumbling around me. I could see all sides of the disagreement, but somehow the sides misunderstood each other.

Humans are broken

Each girl was waiting for an apology from someone else, but no one was quick to offer forgiveness. In the end it seemed like some were more content with losing a friendship than fixing the problem.

I didn’t want to let go. I felt stuck in the middle, not belonging to any side. But half the group didn’t even want to see the other half any more, so there was no way we were all meeting together again. This group of friends vanished as fast as it had come.

My heart was broken. I didn’t want to lose these friendships. I reached out and met one-on-one with people. But something was different. Things felt awkward, even forced. So in my sadness I finally gave up my efforts. When I stopped reaching out, it seemed like nobody noticed. I felt abandoned.

For awhile I was bitter and even upset with God, wondering why He brought these friends into my life in the first place. I had no idea that I would feel emptier after the fallout than I did before I even met them.

Contentment

It’s been over a year since then. A lonely year, without God refilling the hole of friendship I still long for. But God gives and He takes away, because He’s God. And although some of the hurt still lingers, I’ve learned so much in hindsight.

I know God allowed that season for a purpose. At the time I was in a place where I desperately needed to be vulnerable and have accountability. God was so faithful to provide that for me. I know He answered my prayers with what I needed most, and used that season to draw me closer to Him in the long run.

I’ve learned that I’m okay on my own. Maybe loneliness is a blessing in disguise! It can be quiet at times, but God’s always there and He’s the best friend I could ever want. He’s teaching me to lean on Him so much more, and shown me that I don’t always need a bunch of friends around me to fully enjoy life!

Learning to give grace

I’ve realized that rejection is often not so much about me as it is about the person I feel rejected by. That’s where grace comes in. I’m learning not to take things so personally, and to believe the best about people. It could be that they’re struggling in other areas that I don’t know about.

Most importantly, I’m learning that to make true friends, you have to be one. And that’s something God is teaching me to do better every day. In the meantime, I’ve discovered that it can be a gift to be alone. I can spend more time with God, pour into my family, and pursue my passions. I know God’s preparing me for the next season when He’ll make me a friend to someone who truly needs one.

Have you been through a season of loneliness? What has God taught you through it? I’d love to hear your experience. We can encourage each other and remind each other that we’re never actually alone.

Xo,

Becka

P.S. – A letter to my younger self, and some simple self-care habits for more peace and joy.

The post What Loneliness Has Taught Me About Contentment appeared first on Live It Lovely.

Fall always feels like a fresh start. Maybe it’s the crisp morning air, or the memories of starting a new school year, or just the excitement of the hot summer days finally ending. This fall is extra specially exciting though, because it marks the start of my brand new blog!

That’s right, I’m starting fresh, and I am so stinkin’ excited about it. Thanks for being here to check out my first official post!

Yellow sweater (also love this one and this one) | Skinny jeans (love these too) | Suede ankle boots (old, similar here and here) | Purse (similar here, and a budget-friendly version here)

Feels like fall

It’s finally starting to feel like fall around here! Meaning it’s gone from 100 degree days to highs in the 80s and 90s… still pretty warm, but I like to look on the bright side and be thankful that it’s no longer in the summer temps.

Fall (and winter) are my absolute favorite times of year. Here in the desert we basically have 6 straight months of summer, from May to October. So I love to savor the cooler months, especially November through February, when we have temps ranging from the 50s to 70s most days. It’s absolutely beautiful. We’re not quite there yet, but it’s getting closer every day!

We don’t really get any fall colors here (which is why I like to add some pretty fall colors to my closet, like this yellow sweater!), but it does feel different as the days get shorter. The air is definitely cooler in the morning and at night. There’s always that moment when I feel the cool breeze for the first time at the start of fall, and I get a little thrill every time.

Something in the air smells different, and it just takes me back. I always have this nostalgic feeling that I can’t quite put my finger on, but it makes my heart so happy. This is the season when I always feel the most thankful to be alive. I found a quote from a journal entry I wrote last year: “October is my happy place. If a season could be a place, that is.” haha.

A fresh start

Maybe you followed along with my original blog (The Girl Who Loved Simple), which I started at the beginning of this year, and maybe you’re wondering what happened to that one! Long story short, it was an experiment. I didn’t really know what I wanted to write about yet, so I tried some different things and nothing really stuck. Without a main focus I quickly lost motivation. I was ready to give up on blogging in August when the inspiration for Live It Lovely just hit me!

And now I’ve spent the last month and a half doing a total overhaul to bring you something brand new. So here it is: Blog 2.0! I think this one will encompass my passions so much more than the last, and I’m excited to see it grow into a community of women with the same heart to create a beautiful life from the inside out. (More about the meaning behind this blog here.) Plus, you’ll find a lot of the same posts from before just revamped for the new blog.

And now… for a casual fall outfit!

I’ve been shopping for a few fall & winter staples recently because my closet desperately needs an update. This yellow sweater is SO soft, and I found it for a great price at Old Navy. I kinda want to go back and get it in every color! It’s thin but cozy so it’s perfect for warmer fall days.

I also found the COMFIEST JEANS EVER, also at Old Navy – I can’t believe how well they fit! Seriously. Best jeans I’ve ever tried on. I’m obsessed. (And I got the same style in a few other colors because they’re that good. New favorite jeans.) I threw them on with some ankle boots and put together this casual fall outfit.

My ankle boots are old but actually from Old Navy too! Haha I guess I’m just a walking Old Navy ad in this outfit! (Wink wink – you should sponsor me Old Navy! ) I’m on the hunt for another pair of boots in a different color, but these grey ones will be on repeat until then. They’re such an easy way to dress up an outfit but still feel comfortable!

And of course, my purse – I got it last year and I’ve used it nonstop ever since. It’s the perfect size and color to go with anything and everything. It was my first ever Coach purse and I’m obsessed with it! (And I actually got a great deal on it at the Coach Outlet believe it or not! Sadly no links; you gotta buy it in-store.)

Anyone else as in love with fall as me? What’s your favorite thing about this season & what are you looking forward to most in the next few months? Let me know if you like this casual fall outfit and if you would wear it too!

Xo,

Becka

P.S. – a simple last minute Thanksgiving outfit, and my favorite homemade apple pie recipe!

The post A Casual Fall Outfit and a Fresh Start appeared first on Live It Lovely.

I’ve been looking for a classic chambray button-up shirt and stumbled upon this cap-sleeved one at Forever 21. Something about the sleeves and how the shirt looks tied in the front just screams retro vibes to me! I paired it with some cuffed jeans, pink sneakers, and Ray-ban sunnies, which made me feel like I walked out of 1950s photograph.

Since I don’t usually get out of my neighborhood much, my goal this summer has been to find some cool new places to try in Tucson and gain a better appreciation for where I live. Last week I found this super cute restored diner downtown. It was the perfect spot for a snack on a rainy monsoon afternoon!

Exploring Tucson

Getting out of the house can be hard during the summer, since it gets above 110 degrees some days. Finding new places like this has definitely helped me appreciate Tucson more, and actually having a reason to put on a cute outfit is always nice! But I still can’t help but dream about being able to travel and escape the hot summers someday in the future.

Nothing says retro vibes like an old fashioned diner and soda in a glass bottle. You can probably always find me eating too many french fries and drinking too much Dr. Pepper, and this time wasn’t any different! 

Thank you Shannon Dudley for the photos!

What have you been up to this summer & how do you beat the heat? What’s your favorite retro comeback style? Let me know in the comments!

Xo,

Becka

P.S. – My favorite off-the-shoulder top for summer, and embracing the season you’re in.

The post Retro Vibes For Summer appeared first on Live It Lovely.