Giving Myself Compassion / Love Yourself Linkup

This post is a part of the Love Yourself Linkup, an ongoing series in which we discuss our thoughts on body image, self image, health, and how to you love yourself as you are. Find out more about the series and how to join here.

Here's the honest truth: last week there was no Love Yourself linkup, and this is why: I can't do it all.

With the move, we were unpacking, painting, moving furniture, dropping off old house keys - the works. I would fall asleep every night and crash, feeling like I had just run a marathon that day. We were so excited to be in our new house, but it was definitely an endurance race. After three long weeks of moving in, eating way too much takeout, and wearing the same paint-covered clothes for three days, Spencer and I fell asleep last night as soon as our heads hit the pillow.

In the midst of all of this, articles were left in rough draft form, emails were left unanswered, and the missed calls piled up. When last Tuesday rolled around, I went through most of the day before I realized that it was even Tuesday, and then recalled that there was no linkup scheduled. I knew I dropped the ball, but there was no time to write a post.

All week long, this and the other tasks that I've let fall to the wayside have been hanging over my head, and today, I was nearly drowning in guilt. I feel so disappointed. I really cannot do it all, and I was embarrassed because of it.

The thing is, I'm doing the best I can. Why is it so easy to forget to have compassion for myself?

Even though my first tendency is to criticize myself for not being perfect, I'm holding fast to compassion tonight. Compassion for where I'm at in my recovery, for the slip-up's and hard habits to break, for the missed emails and just barely made it deadlines.

It may feel a little "Fake it till you make it" tonight, but that is the only place to start. I can't do it all, and that is okay. Good enough is good enough.

Do you find it hard to have compassion for yourself?

Weekend Round-Up / 31

Seriously, my brain is running on paint fumes. I've been working all week on my new office makeover, and I can't wait to get in there! The walls are now a crisp white, and there is so much beautiful light. Can't wait to show you the finished product! It will be my first studio/office that is all mine, and I am so excited.

What are you all up to this weekend? Other than painting, Spencer and I are going to stop by a neighborhood party and meet some of our new neighbors! I'm trying to decide what sort of crowd-pleaser dish I should bring. Guacamole? Beer? I want to make a great first impression!

For more behind-the-scene's action like the above, follow me on Instagram and Twitter at @anneiam!

XO.

1. Top 10 Summer Hair Trends for West Coasters

2. Stop Hustling and Get Your Life Back

3. I love how Kendi plays with color.

4. These tea towels will soon be in my home.

5. Erin is an amazing writer, and the video at the end of this post - seriously swooning.

6. Love Beth's take on Carrie Bradshaw's style.

7. This top is so perfect for summer. I have the long sleeve version.


My writing around the web this week...

Running Out of Reasons Why I Don't Need God on (in)courage

DIY Chevron Inspiration Board on the Shop Ruche blog

Moving Forward

We're officially in our new home as of today, and I am a mixed bag of emotions. Excited, happy, blessed, scared, nervous, sad... the works. The last few nights, I've been finding myself looking around the house at all the walls, floors, and windows, wondering how this is all possibly mine. In so many ways, I still feel like a young girl who lived with five of her college girlfriends, ate cheap food, decorated with magazine cut-outs taped to the wall, and traveled all over the country in search of adventures. Now, I am a homeowner with a kitchen and a garage and, the weirdest of all for some reason, a master bathroom. How did I end up here?

When I look back at the last two years in our apartment, the one where we lived when we first got married, I feel so lucky. Lucky to have lived where we did, to have shared those walls with Spencer, to have gathered so many beautiful memories in our first years of marriage. I am sad to leave it behind, even though I know that we have new memories to make here.

I may be sad to leave the physical apartment, but I feel like its even more than that. I feel like I am moving on to a new phase of life that I didn't really expect to find myself in yet. This house represents so much. Responsibility, opportunity, the rest of my twenties. I am immobilized by how much is ahead of me here. What will these walls see? What stories will they tell in a year, five, ten? It is a blank canvas right now, but they won't be for long.

Before they see too much, I want to honor the last two years with the reflection they deserve. I've changed so much, healed from so much pain, moved forward in my career and embraced big dreams. Our apartment saw us plan our wedding, enjoy the bliss of being newlyweds, decorate, and put together more IKEA furniture than we ever thought we would encounter. My blog became a business in that corner. We piled 12 people into our kitchen for Thanksgiving. We hung the hammock over there, and I committed myself to recovery on the bathroom floor. We started our life together in this home, and I am just so thankful.

But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds,

and there was a new voice

which you slowly 

recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper

into the world...

- Mary Oliver, excerpt from "The Journey" 

Weekend Round-Up / 30

Happy, happy Friday! We are finally 100% in our house, and I am loving it. We've been slowly unpacking all week long, and it's really starting to look like a home. My favorite room so far: the living room. Specifically, the mantle. No longer do I have to deal with hoakey mantles that hardly fit a picture frame. No, this one is for the big kids. I've been playing around with different prints and pieces of art, and it has made the room feel so cozy.

This weekend, we're going to get started on the landscaping, which feels like such a grown up thing to say. I also want to explore our neighborhood with Spencer on morning walks to a sweet cafe down the street, check out the pool, and grill some fresh food out on our deck. I love being a homeowner.

For behind-the-scene action, follow along at @anneiam on Instagram and Twitter.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend! XO.


1. Kendi's thoughts on living a simple life really hit home for me.

2. Megan helped create hand-lettered overlays for a sweet iPhone app.

3. The best moment of Shauna's day.

4. Congrats Tracy Shutterbean on being one of Time's 50 Best Websites of 2013! Love her.

5. Really crushing on Joy Laforme's design portfolio.

6. Do we have food trucks in Denver? These food trucks in LA look delish.

7. Chalkboard love. So sweet.

8. Holly went to Blogshop = fun and so much COLOR!

9. Have you joined the Love Yourself linkup yet? This week, I talked about why summer makes me nervous. Join us!

10. The new VSCO app for taking and editing photos is uh-mazing.


My writing around the web...

Living the Life You Deserve on The Lipstick Gospel

When Friendships Change on Darling Magazine

Writing at The Lipstick Gospel Today!

Today, you can find me over at The Lipstick Gospel writing about living the life I deserve.

My dear, dear friend Stephanie May is the woman behind this blog, and if you don't already read her stuff, you need to get over there stat. She is an incredible writer and storyteller. We met over coffee last year when she emailed me about my blog, and have been great friends ever since. Just another example as to how blogging and working the job you love can bring beautiful friendships into your life.

Here's a teaser to get you started:

I’m a writer with big dreams. I am married to a good man, I live in a beautiful area of the world, and I have beautiful friendships. 

But I’ve been having a hard time writing lately. In all honesty, I’m having a hard time doing much of anything. 

Over the last few months, I’ve noticed that there is a huge block in my life, one that has been around for years, if I’m truly honest, and it’s keeping me from moving forward. It’s keeping me from being a person of action. It’s keeping me from living a better story.

To keep reading, head on over to The Lipstick Gospel.