7 Quick Takes Friday – 7/29/11

I’m not a fan of Taylor Swift, but I love this retro-inspired photo shoot she did for TeenVogue.I absolutely loved this article from The Modern Mrs. Darcy about what Eleanor Roosevelt can teach us about blogging. It includes so many points that I need to be reminded of frequently!Speaking of blogging, I’ve been thinking (more) about the direction my blog has been going. I know in the past I’ve sometimes let it be a space for my rants and an outlet for my frustrations. Well, I believe in keeping it real, but I also want this to be a upbeat and positive space with content that I can be proud of. I can’t always change my situation, but I can change my attitude! I have gone back and deleted a lot of my old posts, and will probably do more in the future. It’s not that I think journaling like this is bad—sometimes it really does help to get those frustrations out—but publishing it is a different matter. I think writing depressing things only drags others down, and that’s the last thing I want to do. Like I said, I won’t put on a false-front or be something I’m not. I’ll still talk about things that are hard, but I don’t want to do it in such a downbeat way. It’s taken me awhile to see this, but I am really excited about this new direction I’m taking! I want to bring goodness, beauty, and truth to the world. I don’t want this to be a quagmire of negativity or mediocrity.

I’ll be honest, I am having a hard time right now even as I write. But I’m not entirely sure how to share these things without sounding downbeat.

I also think that the things I blog about are still evolving. For awhile I kind of floundered around somewhere between a food blog and a personal blog. Oftentimes, I would just post for the sake of posting, and the content really wasn’t that great (those are the posts I’ve been deleting). Even if my posts are fewer in between, I want to post because I genuinely have something to say (or share, as the case may be).


                           I recently had the chance to sample some Raw Crunch Bars [full disclosure: they were sent to me free of charge for my honest review], and I really enjoyed them! As the name would imply, they are very crunchy—but not in a hard or break-your-tooth way. The flavor is pleasantly nutty from the variety of seeds, and they are fairly low in sugar. Be aware that these do contain honey. This was an interesting take on what it’s like to be both a faithful Catholic and a homosexual. What an inspiring witness, and a great reminder to pray for each other as we all deal with our own particular crosses.

  Have you heard that Banana Republic is launching a line of clothing inspired by the television show Mad Men? I don’t watch the show, but I am a lover of vintage and retro-inspired fashion! I like what I’ve seen so far, though I admit to hoping that it would be a little less contemporary, and a more vintage looking. I guess ‘inspired by’ is the key phrase. The men’s wear looks more authentic than the women’s. Like the shoes, for example, don’t seem to be a genuine ‘60s silhouette. What do you think? I definitely love the idea, and some pieces are really great. This was a helpful article from Faith & Family about managing stress. I especially liked the “Picture it” and “Read and write” ideas.

**7 Quick Takes Friday is hosted by Conversion Diary**

Have a great weekend!

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"Perhaps to be able to learn things quickly isn't everything. To be kind is worth a great deal to other people...Lots of clever people have done harm and have been wicked."  — Frances Hodgson Burnett (A Little Princess)