necklace: gift // dress: target // belt: thrifted // shoes: thrifted (keds)

Easter was a rather quiet, cozy affair this year.

Amid the crash of thunder and pitter-patter of rain on the church roof, we celebrated the resurrection of Christ with joyous acclamations and festive hymns of praise. MeMe, along with five others, proudly received her first communion and new frocks were put on for the occasion. Mirthful shrieks filled the air during the Easter egg hunt and the brightly colored plastic shells where quickly discarded in favor of the candy that laid within.

We curled up for naps in the afternoon, lulled by the grey skies still gushing water. Then? The perfect day was ended by friends over for dinner.

And now it's Monday, and it's back to real life. The ethereal week has come to a bittersweet close, leaving me only to reminisce.

Yes, Easter and the spring break that came along with it was beautiful. 

How was your Easter?

-carlotta

"How deep the Father's love for us,

how vast beyond all measure!

That He should give His only Son,

to make a wretch His treasure."

Easter. The two syllables paint pictures of pastel color, delicious food, and perfect weather, and when those things are put all together, it equals one of my favorite holidays.

It's of laughter and celebration, time with loved ones and tables laden with sweet treats. It's newborn rabbits, fawns, and newly hatched chicks. It's spring cleaning, working in a frenzy to arrange and rearrange until it's just right.

{linking up}

It's dye-stained fingers and the promise of jewel-toned candy. It's scrubbing skin until it glows pink and donning new dresses picked out especially for the day.

But these things that Easter brings to mind are so incredibly materialistic. Easter has been coated with so much commercialism that chipping away the layers has become difficult. The true meaning has been obscured to the point of near discouragement.

Because Easter isn't about worldly frippery.

Instead, it's the utter selflessness of Christ and His extreme love for us, His creatures.
It's Jesus standing before Pontius Pilate, innocent, with the knowledge He was going to be condemned to the cruelest death possible.
It's the lashings, the ridicule, the prickly crown of thorns pressed onto His head.
It's His bruised, battered, bloody body hanging on a cross, a cross that should have been for us.
It's His rising again from the dead on the third day after a triumphant defeat of Satan.
It's the story of our redemption from eternal damnation and the One who took our place.

(palm sunday service at our church)

That's the Easter that's been covered up, the Easter stripped free of earthly pleasures.

Happy Easter, y'all.

-carlotta

first off, the photo challenge finalists and winner.

My gosh, it's taken long enough, hasn't it? I apologize.

The finalists are Jaymi, Abbey, Lindsay, and Tara.

The winner is...

Abbey! Congratulations! Your photo drew me in from the very beginning. I love the soft focus and the water droplets in the background. It perfectly encompasses a rainy spring day.

when life gives you lemons, take photographs?

Lemons are a fruit I've always had a fondness for. Who can resist their sunny yellow color or sour, pucker-inducing juice? And when summer comes, a glass of chilled homemade lemonade is perfection. 


because eleanor says it best.

"A woman is like a teabag – you never know how strong she is until you put her in hot water." –Eleanor Roosevelt 
Yes. Just...yes.

i like thrifting.

Going thrifting is like looking for nuggets of gold. There's nothing like the rewarding feeling after searching through rack after rack until finding the perfect piece. Upon walking into a thrift store, I spied a "the lace jar", which was filled with beautiful old lace. Thirty five cents later, I left with a yard of lace. Do I know what I'm going to do with my newly acquired lace? Of course not. I'm just a lover of pretty things is all. 

noodles.

We had noodles for lunch today, the perfectly creamy, cheesy, tri-colored kind. They were delicious and made me nostalgic for the days of eating boxed macaroni and cheese at the kitchen table.

exactly why do they feel the need to?

Mothers of teenage daughters that dress just like them, that is. I don't mean to offend, but I could really do without seeing those moms in tight shirts matching their daughters' and skinny jeans.


a side fishtail braid tutorial.

(excuse my embarrassing faces, please...)

Due to popular request, here's a little how-to on the fishtail braid. 

Instructions (in case you couldn't decipher the photos ;))

Move all your hair to one side and separate into two parts (photos one and two). Take a small section from the back of the rear part and bring it over to the front part (photo three). Take a small section from the front part and bring it over to the rear section (photo four). Repeat (photos five, six, seven, and eight) until finished.

(The smaller sections you take from each part, the more defined your plait will be) It takes some practice to hold everything properly, but don't worry, you'll get it.

love.

{via}

Could I just take the whole series home with me, please? Swoon.

a request.

To close, I have a request. I've rather over-listened all my current songs and I need some new ones. Any suggestions? What music do you have on replay at the moment? 


Happy Thursday!


-carlotta

Note: Somehow this got accidentally published last night before it was finished...sorry about that! This is the (new and improved) correct version.

The dreaded daily routine: begrudgingly getting out of bed. Eat a little breakfast. Classes. Homework. Lunch. More classes, and consequently, more homework. Taking a few photographs. Dinner. Squeeze a little blogging and email-answering in. Finishing up a few odds and ends. Bed. Repeat.

Routines easily become monotonous. No matter what tasks you have, it's almost inevitable to be bored with them after awhile. After months of completing the same things, day in and day out, it's only natural to want a break. By the time spring break rolled around this week, I was eager for a reprieve, a break from the daily routine.

So what did we do? We went of a day trip, of course. While folding, packing, and stuffing the car with things that are essential to a day away, everyone was anticipating the mini vacation. After a slightly rock start (let's just say that not eating enough breakfast + uncooperative hair + not being able to find the shirt = a rather cross me), we were off to the lake.

Following some frolicking on the beach, we found a picnic table that was deemed perfect by MeMe and Lilly. We admired the birds while eating, relishing that special taste of the food that can only be achieved by eating outdoors.

We explored, laughed, hiked (and I chastised myself over my poor shoe choice), and splashed. While the others were occupied at the playground, I slipped away to investigate the marina. We breathed in the fresh, wind-whipped air and marveled the beauty surrounding us. Discovering the perfect beach, rock skipping contests were held and I meandered through the cool water. Walking around the lake, we listened to the gentle lapping onto the shore and gazed at the rippling body of water dancing and glistening in the sunlight. 

After getting everything repacked and resituated in the car, we drove home complacently, our hearts full. Over dinner, MeMe, Lilly, and Jeremiah excitedly reiterated our adventures to my father and clamors of "I can't wait to go back" punctuated their detailed descriptions.

Yes, a break from routine is good. So quickly can we fall into our little worlds that we forget that there exists a life outside of our planners. There's spontaneity. Adventure. Freedom. And coming back refreshed and rejuvenated? Oh yes, that's good too.

Where is your favorite place to go when you need some time away?

-carlotta