Blackbird Portraits

God loves me. I know this, but sometimes there are circumstances that unfold before me that show me just how much that statement is in fact truth. My new place is a love story, a “little Jesus hug” if you will {that’s right peeps, I’m finally coining that}…

So here’s how it is…

Over a year ago I went to a tattoo party at my friend Gabe’s house {the same Gabe who did my tattoo a few weeks ago, yes}. I’d never been to his place before, so when I typed in the address on my iPhone, and made it there, I was shocked that my tattoo artist friend lived in absolutely the cutest house in Fullerton. Then I went inside… man pad. I’m not gonna lie- it was a total dude house, complete with brown microfiber couch. {Sidenote: I have this theory that all single guys have brown microfiber couches. It’s been proven on multiple occasions.. or maybe I just date the same guy over and over???}. Anyway, I looked around and saw the bones of the place. Hardwoord floors, architectural details, authentic vintage door handles, and a claw-foot bathtub {I die}. I loved the balcony and how much outdoor space he had. I turned to my girl Lindsay Arnold, and said “If I ever had to live alone, this is exactly where I want to live”. And in my head, I started decorating. What would I do here, or here??… ahhh possibilities!!!

At that time, Lindsay and I had been living in a home we had purchased together 2 years before, and she had only just started dating her now husband, Chris. My friend Gabe had lived in the Amerige place for almost 2 years, and had no plans to move. Several months passed, Lindsay and Chris got engaged, and then one day shortly after their engagement, Gabe announced in lifegroup that he was moving across the country. Seriously. Out of the blue. I looked at Lindsay and she knew exactly what I was thinking (sorry Gabe, love you man). Chris had just been talking about wanting to move up from Aliso to be closer to Lindsay during wedding planning. So.. the rest I’m sure you can guess. Chris moved into Gabe’s place and saved it for the next 9 months, until this past November when I moved in. There was a 3 month gap between each of the guys leases, and in this economy, it was pretty amazing that both landlords were willing to flex and no money was lost for the guys.

How often in life have you ever said, “Lord, this is exactly what I want”. And then He gives it to you? This almost never happens. There have been many situations lately that have proved to me just how much the Lord hears me, cares for me, and loves me. This is just one of the many, but a true love gift. For some it wouldn’t matter- a home is just a place to live, but for me, my home is my place of rest and peace; a place where I bring my friends and love on them, feed them, and live life with them.. a place to enjoy the company of my clients and feel a sense of warmth and care. I love that my clients love my place and ooo and aahhh when they come to see me. My girlfriends tell me I live in a romantic comedy (hmm.. interesting..). I’m still in awe of how the Lord allowed all of that to work out. I mean, its pretty ridiculous, right? So very evident that the Lord gave me this place, and I’m so very grateful. I love it. Truly. It’s perfect.

The Amerige house is really a treasure. It is a registered historic home in Fullerton, built in 1895. I seriously have a skeleton key for my interior front door (I also have a target I’m planning to hang in the hallway, if you know what I mean.. a new hobby). My friend Kevin painted the entire place for me while I was in South Africa this summer, and then I came in and did some stenciling on my living room wall (check out Royal Design Studio). I also painted stripes in the bathroom, replaced all of the lighting in the place, and the ceiling fans and kitchen cabinet knobs and every single window covering. I spent most of the year waiting to move in, and planning, so Criags List was a major resource, along with Overstock, Home Goods, Anthropologie, West Elm, and of course the decorating blogs Young House Love, and Apartment Therapy (I’ve submitted pix to both, so we will see). If you’re curious about some of my décor, check out my pintrest from decorating. There are all sorts of links to stuff you will see in my home. I’ve seriously given up Facebook for Pintrest- its bad. I’m a little obsessed. But it was a great distraction, and a great source of fun for me.

Anyway, enjoy friends. Can’t wait to have you over for some wine!

Living Room: The wicker stools were free on Craigslist! You’ll also see a vessel with my BB logo on it. That was a handmade Christmas gift from my friend Kevin. Love. The glass vessel with corks is a collection I’ve had for a long time. If you’ve ever had a bottle with me, I assure you you are in there somewhere! I have a ton of books, so they have all been somewhat hidden in the white bookcase. And if you’ve ever wondered why my place smells so incredibly good, that gorgeous mercury glass candle next to the “I like you” book is my anthro Capri Blue, my absolute favorite. In the white  bowl, I’ve got all sorts of striped eggs from my South Africa trip. You’ll also see other Africa stuff around…. and of course Mable and I had to make a few cameos.

Kitchen.. my landlord is absolutely wonderful. In fact, she’s planning to upgrade the kitchen counters.. AND.. she’s letting me choose! The chairs were a Craigs List win- they were a hideous cherry colored wood with ugly fake leather seats, but I painted them white and recovered the seats in this awesome burnt orange fabric. Love the result. Eventually I’ll be replacing the clock with this one… perhaps for my upcoming 30th birthday??? Eeekkkk!

Bathroom, and bedroom detail…. check out that TUB!!! Ahhhhh!!!! Shower curtain is anthropologie. People always ask me where I got that awesome distressed wood shelf- Home Goods baby! And that cute little white Instax Camera was a win from WPPI last year around my birthday. That camera is awesome! More books.. they are hidden everywhere!

Bedroom…. That rad orange blown glass vessel was a gift from my Grandfather (Pop, as I call him), and I’ve also been collecting vintage cameras for a little while now. The Audrey canvas is from Ikea, and that awesome rug is West Elm (on sale!). My desk chair (which you actually can’t see all that well) was from the Salvation Army. I painted it white, and covered the seat with cool black and white fabric… same as what I did at the kitchen counter with the white and orange chairs. That cool distressed wood slatted thingy behind my leather chair was a shelf I found in an alley on a photoshoot (not kidding!, lol) and my “headboard” is handmade, just foamcore, padded and wrapped with fabric. The vintage chest, Craigs list..

And the balcony (I made those pillows, and stitched together the rug)… and I’m obsessed with succulents. I know its  a trend, don’t judge, I still love ‘em. The lights are “magical”… best place in the house, I’m out here pretty much everyday. And bonus, you can see the Disneyland fireworks out here every night! The grey wicker chair, rocking chair and table were Craigs list (the whole set was only $40!), I resurfaced them and painted them a dark grey. That was actually the very first thing I bought for my new place!

So thanks friends! Love and hugs…. Come over!!!!

 

For a long time I said I would never in a million years get a tattoo. Too permanent. I always loved them on other people and never had a problem with them or anything, but I just felt like I could never commit to having something on my body that was so permanent. That was until this past season of life. I guess my thoughts on body art have slowly changed. I told myself that I would need to want the same tattoo for at least a year before committing. And over the past year I’ve loved this idea of a sort of life marker ; a reminder of what the Lord has brought me through and where I am now. That would be something I could completely commit to in a permanent way.
In February of last year, I remember facebook messaging my Rock Harbor Pastor, Steve Carter regarding some things I was struggling through. We had just finished a fantastic series, and one of the messages I remember vividly was on the topic of anxiety. I’d been feeling very anxious and discouraged, and was seeking some encouragement and support. Steve responded beautifully, and encouraged me with some scripture. Zephaniah 3:17. He told me to meditate on this verse and see what the Lord would do.
The Lord your God is with you,
The Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in His love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
I wrote it on my hand the next day during a long run and committed it to memory. Every time my anxiousness would creep in, I’d recite the verse in my head, and often feel a sense of peace or calm. Not instantly, but over time especially.
Five months later, I went on a missions trip to South Africa, and our “team verse” was Zephaniah 3:17. Funny, right? Sort of perfect. In that space, that trip, I felt the Lord in a way I never have. Christians talk about mountain top experiences. It didn’t feel that way- it felt more like the Lord wanted my attention, and He used my team, and friends, and His people to communicate His care and love for me.
There is this amazing freedom in knowing that the Lord is with me, that no matter how alone I feel, I’m not alone. I knew this in the past but honestly hadn’t truly felt it. Further, and perhaps even bigger due to my past experiences and brokenness- the idea of the Lord delighting in me.. oh man.. it makes me cry, truly. It gives me this beautiful visual of fathers who care for and delight and take genuine pleasure in their daughters.. for me, as I’m sure it is for many with similar back-stories, this is a truly redeeming visual.
So this past Wednesday, not even a week before Christmas, my buddy Gabe, who is a former member of my lifegroup at RHF and a ridiculously talented tattoo artist, told me he was in town for the holiday. Perfect! I’ve known since I arrived home from ZA that I would put Zephaniah 3:17 on my body. I’ve always liked the ribcage tattoo, as it’s a bit more personal. It will only show when I want it to, and I guess I like that privacy. Plus.. well, its kinda sexy- lets be real.
Along with several friends from my lifegroup (all who wanted to see our old friend in action), we made our way down to the Classic Tattoo parlor in DTF for my appointment with Gabe. It was pretty fantastic, and I don’t care how many people who tell you it doesn’t hurt- they lie. It hurts. But.. its very pretty, very girlie, and I love the constant reminder that this scripture brings with it. The Lord my God is with me, and He delights in me. Pretty awesome.
Photos from the day were taken by the fantastic Amber Fox, of Amber Fox Photo, and my friend Lindsay Arnold (via my iPhone.. seriously!)… huge huge thank you friends! And OF COURSE, to Gabe- how cool is this man, eh? Such a rock star.