This month, I turned 28.
Each year around the time of my birthday, I find myself comparing my journey to those around me. What did my family and friends accomplish by year 28? Am I behind? Am I ahead? Am I on the right trajectory for my career? Am I mature enough for my age? Are there areas that need significant pruning? Introspectiveness is in fact a great tool to use for self-reflection, but comparison is not the key to deeper understanding of self. Comparison feeds envy, hostility, inadequacy, and misery. As you embark on a new year of your life, put away the desire to compare your journey to someone else’s. God is teaching me that I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
We are all on different paths pursuing different callings on different timelines. This year, I am learning to embrace self-reflection inviting God into the process rather than inviting the world and comparison in. God has blessed me with a wonderful husband, family, friends, and career. I am not behind or ahead, I am right where God wants me to be!
RECIPES I TRIED
Daddio’s Kitchen Lemon Poppyseed Baked Oatmeal
A Cozy Kitchen’s Mini Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
Ambitious Kitchen’s One Pan Ginger Chicken Meatballs with Peanut Sauce
Diva’s Can Cook Old Fashioned Yellow Cake Recipe
King Arthur Flour’s Classic Birthday Cake Frosting
BOOKS I READ
Educated
That Sounds Fun
Concrete Rose
The Guest List
WHAT I BOUGHT
$12 Pool Slides
TULA Facial Cleanser
TULA Prime of Your Life Primer
4-Pack Apple Watch Bands
Tie-Dye Linen Shorts
Black Lounge Shorts
Tea Bag Organizer
Well-Watered Woman
Golden Hour Hearth & Hand Diffuser
LOFT Floral Dress
MOVIES/TV SHOWS WATCHED
Wonder Woman 1984
Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal
Marriage or Mortgage
My Best Friend’s Wedding
The Chosen
John Tucker Must Die
Two Weeks Notice
PLACES I TRAVELLED
Charleston & Walterboro, SC: Celebrated the life and legacy of my Grandaddy Walker last weekend. We buried him and had a luncheon afterwards surrounded by close friends and family. It was a beautiful tribute. He was my first grandparent to pass away, which makes the sting of loss that much more bittersweet, but I’m thankful that he is no longer burdened by Parkinson’s disease. The couple days following, my husband and I stayed with my parents and visited with my sister, brother-in-law, and niece. It was a short and quick trip, but it did my heart good to be with family.
Calabash, SC: For an early birthday dinner, my husband and I went to Oyster Rock in Calabash, NC. We wined and dined and loved every minute of it. We ordered smoked bevvys to start the evening as well as a massive charcuterie board. For dinner, I ordered the Crab Cakes, and Cary ordered the Pork Chop. The service and food was phenomenal, we can’t wait to go back!
ONE FEAR I CONQUERED
I tried something new without the expectation of perfection! A few weeks ago, I decided to conquer my fear of watercolors. I created some abstract art for one of the walls in our living room. I love how it elevated the space. If you’re interested in snagging these matted frames, they’re a steal at $30 from Target!
FAVORITE POSTS ON KITCHY LIVING
My favorite: Lemon Blueberry Scones
Reader’s favorite: How I Reignited My Love For Reading
FAVORITE SONGS
Chasing After You – Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd
Jireh – Elevation Worship & Maverick City
Off My Face – Justin Bieber
Banks – NEEDTOBREATHE
Imagine – Ben Platt
Mr. Perfectly Fine – Taylor Swift
FITNESS UPDATE
This month, I exercised 13 out of 30 days. Not the best, but also not terrible. Because of some of the family events that happened this past month, I wasn’t focusing as much of my time and energy on exercise. Though, I tried to be more intentional about my nutrition in light of my lack of exercise. I continued to do Muscle Burns Fat on Beachbody and absolutely loved the program. I’m thinking about doing it again before doing the MBF Advanced track. It’s such a fun way to get your heart rate up. All you need are some free weights!
kitchyliving.com 