3 Oct 2018

Simple Fall Brunch

by Kimberly | posted in: Uncategorized | 3

Food is such a part of my story, that I love sharing it with others.

I remember the meal my husband cooked for me during my “year of vegetarian” when we met, dated, got engaged, and got married – he cooked the meal before he asked me to marry him.

There are food stories I have that bring a smile to my face and ones that bring me to tears – either because they bring sadness or deep hurt.

Weight has always been a part of my story as I have been heavy most of my life. I wasn’t even the skinny ballerina during my one year of ballet in Kindergarten, and I probably had a plus size tutu for clogging in 4th grade. I loved clogging. And I still remember some of the steps. And it still is a part of my story. I remember specific life events and the weight I was when those events happened. I’ve lost weight and gained weight so many times I’ve lost count.

But today, I got to share my love of food with new friends. Being in the creative industry gives us a common ground, being mamas is another line of commonality, but today, we also got to enjoy loving food together. And I enjoyed putting it all together.

One of my favorite things to do is be in the kitchen together with friends. So, today, I still had to put this quiche together (go run by leeks and make this tonight for dinner). And my friend jumped right in and helped. We talked, photographed food, and made food together. Food is one of the only things in life that every human has in common. We all have food.

So, food is a wonderful joiner. Hopefully. Today, we joined over conversation about our motherhood journeys, food, creative business, weddings, travel, and community.

Having some friends over for brunch should not be hard. And we through in a toddler too! I just picked a few things to make – a quiche, fruit and cheese tray, and cookies. I made the cookies yesterday. The board is super easy with just some fresh fruit, cheese, and little danishes from the Publix bakery.

The quiche was made during the preparation this morning and my friend helped. Don’t be afraid of help. Allow friends (and family, including littles) to join you in the kitchen. And y’all, even though I know how to make a crust, I always use Pillsbury rolled doughs. So easy and yummy.

And the cookies, I just made them yesterday as I was home and the recipe said they would be better the next day. Reading recipes is super important. And I didn’t have dirty dishes from baking this morning.

And here’s a little hint: my floor hadn’t been swept, but for the most part my home was picked up. Two things: having people over regularly keeps your home clean. And if you pick up a little every day and have a husband and kids that help – it makes cleaning easier. And you know what, your friends shouldn’t care if your home is super clean or not. But, I think it is good stewardship of your home to keep it tidy.

The Fall – perfect time to bring people in, hear their stories, share yours, enjoy good food, and live life with other people. And Hannah Anderson, who launched a new book yesterday, also wrote a piece today in CT about doing community with broken people (hint: we are all broken). Go read it!

3 Mar 2018

Lettering the Psalms Day 3

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible | 1

I was just listening to a podcast by Anne Bogel What Should I Read Next. She was talking with her guest about the tone of a book. What tone did she like to read? Did it matter what tone the book took? The guest went on to talk about her likes and dislikes with different tones of books.

Psalm 9 is a divided psalm. Part of it is praise for the ways that God has worked. Part of it is seeking God to ask him to act again.

But listen to the first verse: read it aloud, read it over and over. Doesn’t it set the tone for the entire psalm?

As a mom, I have an obligation to my home. Yes, to my house, to make it warm and hospitable and clean and functioning. But, more to my home. I get the opportunity to set the tone of our home. I can set a tone of joyfulness or of grumbling. I can set a tone of peace or of striving. I can set a tone of prayerfulness or worry, of praise or of complaint.

What tone do you want to set in your home? In your quiet time? In your walk with God?

Tools: Pentel Sign Pen, Tuscan sun from Artistic Isle Watercolor

14 Sep 2017

Gracelaced

by Kimberly | posted in: Books | 0

The kids wake you up all hours of the night. Whether its night terrors, wet beds, loss of their stuffed animal, or maybe still night feedings.

You have an argument with your husband early in the morning that sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Your jeans don’t fit the way you want them to.

The car won’t start.

You burn the cookies.

You don’t love well.

You are anxious about meetings coming up in the coming day.

Whatever hits your world today, the Word of God is your hope. Christ is your hope.

That’s why I think Gracelaced is a helpful book, no matter the season you are in.

If you are female – this book will meet you were you are.

Ruth is a watercolor and lettering artist, mom of lots of boys, wife, writer, believer. I had the opportunity to meet her at the last TGCW conference. Engaging in every way, in person and on the page.

She writes a devotional book for women that is full of truth – just overflowing with it. I know many women who don’t think they can understand deep theology. Theology is just what you believe about God – the study of God. And this book will help you grip tighter to your solid beliefs about God.

This book will help you rehearse the truth of the Word that your soul, your heart, and your mind, so desperately need!

And its pretty!

Other Gospel-rehearsing books for anyone to read:

The Gospel Primer

Cross-Centered Life

21 Aug 2015

Coffee With Lindsey Hohman Designs

by Kimberly | posted in: Bible, Coffee with..., creatives, flowers, illustrated faith, kcreatives photography, photo shoot | 1

Watching people who are really great at what they do do what they do – it excites me! And I want to introduce you to one of those people.

Lindsey Hohman. I met Lindsey while we were both getting pedicures at a spa night hosted by her sister-in-law. I immediately was connecting with her down-to-earth personality and her creative bent toward everything. This girl has so much creativeness that it oozes out the ends of her hair.

You can see it in everything she does and her style fits her home perfectly. When I left her home a few days ago I called my husband and told him I found our dream house. No joke. Gray, white, lots of light, hydrangeas, plenty of space, a huge back yard, a rocking chair front porch, Gator stuff in the house. Yup. I hope this girl keeps me as a friend!

Lindsey is a handletter-er genius and it flows from her. I wish I could do it – and I can’t. We all have our gifts. Apparently. But, I love her whimsical style of writing and her soft style of watercolor. I love her floral looks but it doesn’t make everything too girlie. She is authentic. She loves Jesus, the Bible, and the Gospel. She uses an ESV Journaling Bible. She has two really cute kids. She loved my food. Yup. She’s a winner.

Our kids played, we ate and talked, and she was kind enough to answer some questions so you can get to know her a bit.

First, the question every one will want to know, what is in your coffee cup? Sweetness. Hazelnut coffee with french vanilla creamer. Stevia for more sweetness. If its not sweet, I’m not drinking it.

What are you learning from your art? I’m learning to view God in the light of grace. I am getting out of the box of “I need to do this before I will be ______” Living in grace and not living in law.

“Its a challenge to see you how God sees you.” – LH

What’s one area as a business creative in which you want to grow? I need to work on my shop set-up. Learning which avenues are best for which art styles.

What are your favorite materials? I love being creative with paints and pens and chalk. I like manipulating them in different ways to get a different effect.

What inspires your creativity? LOTS. I am a visually-inspired person. I love pretty things. Magazine and Pinterest lend inspiration. I love to sketch and doodle. If I’m listening to someone talk, I’m usually doodling. Watercolor is a new medium. One thing I’m learning is you can’t base your creations on others’. A lot of my inspiration comes from magazines and other print work. I love taking time to sit alone a read through a magazine!

How do you balance being a wife and a mom and a creative? Inclusion and patience. Basically, multitasking. I can’t do just one of the other. I am always Mommy and _____.