Monday, November 19, 2012

InspiRED

Lately I've been listening nonstop to Taylor Swift's latest album RED. If you've heard about it but just rolled your eyes you should really stop and reconsider your life. Taylor's thoughtful and witty writing has really amplified my current life situation. As I listen and relate to each song, I can see how my life has led me to the spot I'm in right now. "I called it that [RED] because of the tumultuous, crazy adventures in love and loss that it chronicles...In retrospect, it all looks red," says Taylor. Her songs "Red," "22," and "State of Grace" hit home with a few recent experiences (I can break down the lyrics for you in person but I won't be as candid as Taylor on my blog).

I love that she calls her 22nd year a red year—I can completely relate. There's been a lot of intense emotion, love and pain, and more confidence / confusion than I ever though possible at once. But truthfully, I love every second of it. In one year I moved to New York City, ended a very serious relationship, became a camp counselor, dealt with a rough family situtation, planned some huge events for Navs, and scored a real cubicle as an intern at a job I love. I also have been blessed with an awesome group of friends that I care about very much. They bring out the best in me—the part that's completely myself. They make me laugh obnoxiously loud and encourage me to do things that I forgot I love (like dancing and baking). I'm enjoying discovering my adult self—passionate, silly, mischievous, affectionate, driven, and unpredictable in the best sense. And I'm sure there's even more I have to learn in my final semester of school. Some other lyrics that recently spoke to me came from Kelly Clarkson's "Catch My Breath." "Addicted to the love I found, heavy heart, now a weightless cloud, making time for the ones that count, I'll spend the rest of my time, laughing hard with the windows down, leaving footprints all over town, keeping faith kinda comes around." Blunt as it may seem, it's really a reflection on me and the choices I have made. Carri recently asked me once why I'm never home. It's not that I hate time by myself or living with her (she's the best!) it's that I'm so aware of the blessing of living my life exactly how I have been dying to for years that I can't seem to stop even for a single second. I want to be exploring Cincinnati top to bottom, trying new restaurants, watching Hot Rod into the wee hours of the night, making dinner for my friends and being that one girl who never stops smiling.  I'm so glad to step into the bright sun and enjoy my life as the Lord has called me. Even though the future is so blinding that it's unclear, I'm racing toward it with an open heart. Lord, pull me on! I can't even begin to express my excitement.

All this to say I am getting ready for some more life changes. In five weeks I need to present my big idea for my Senior DAAPworks project which I will be consumed with all of my last semester. And you know what? I have no clue what I want to focus on. I'm slightly panicked, but I also believe there is an idea just hovering outside of the box I call a brain right now. Please pray that I settle on something by December first so I can begin my research!

I also need to decide where to live next year (gasp! I'm moving after three years) and what my occupation will be. Landor? Edge Corps? Can Maranatha even fit in there? I think I've formed a decision but I'm going to be secretive and keep you guys in suspense until I know that it's definitely what God wants me to do :) As Mandie and I like to say, "He's a tricky guy..." and he could throw me a curveball. Bring it on, right?

My final life change is very metaphorical so bear with me. I want to dye my hair dark auburn. I don't get the whole anti-ginger thing, I've wanted to be a redhead ever since I saw Annie at age six. I'm thinking dark with some brown in there...I don't think I could pull off strawberry blonde locks. My High Five appointment is in two weeks! Yeah, roll your eyes at the RED connection but I only noticed the irony as I was writing this. As a girl who is experiencing unending change in her life, what's one more dramatic metamorphosis?

I'm not sure why I gave myself long hair here

Thanks for listening to my thoughts, you guys are great!
Kendrasity

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Color Cravings: Put a Bib On It

My attraction to bib necklaces started in NYC last winter. I wasn't a jewelry person for the longest time, but that's changed drastically in the past few years. Just ask Pinterest or my closet. I'm still not a fan of earrings and very picky about rings (I'm no jewelry expert like Olivia Palermo) but cover me in blinged-out necklaces and my outfit is complete. The four below are my recent favorites not designed by Bvlgari or Cartier. Thanks to Atlantic-Pacific and Cupcakes and Cashmere the ever-inspiring looks. Imagine away!