elise's pieces

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

dear boys, featuring YOU

This week we've got a couple visitors to dear boys. Mostly because I love love.

To keep things simple, any letters in italics are mine. Anything else is from a guest.

Enjoy!

Dear hubby,

Thanks for helping me know everything will be okay!

You are the best hubby ever and I am so lucky!

Love,

dear mr. tumnus,

there is just something about you that I can't get over.

in a good way.

love,
elise

Dear Bubba,

Can we always be in love?

I'd like that.

Love,

Bubbalicious

dear charming,

summer fling?
and then maybe a fall fling, too?

love,
elise

Dear CB.

{ QUACK }

Love,

dear finnifer,

you're awesome.
and I will tell you that over and over.

love,
sonnifer

dear boys and girls,

No matter what others have to say about who you "crush on" or love, be true to your heart. Things might get tough and you might make others upset... but know that your happiness isn't determined by small minded individuals. It is determined by you working with the person you choose to be in a relationship with to make a life together and to ultimately make each other happy.

love,

Brooke Anna

dear michael buble,

am I obsessed with your new album?
yes. yes I am.

love,

elise

(isn't my sister adorable?)

Dear Scottypop/Elder Awesome/Dorksauce,

8 months. I'll bring chicken nuggets and spongebob popsicles.

Yours,

CBBB

P.s. Corn chips are no place for a mighty warrior.

dear j dub,

manpris.

hahaha,
sensei

Dear Eric,

You're just awesome, basically.

I love that we can be silly and serious all in one day.

Prunes,

Sara

dear scarecrow,

if you only had a brain...

love,

elise

dear flamingo!

you are my hero and i think of you everyday.

May 23 one year ago you invited yourself over to my apt. for a movie and made your move.

my life hasn't been the same since.

we've made it 3 months and that means we can make 3 more, then we'll only have 3 left!!

stay safe and remember I LOVE YOU LOTS AND LOTS!

Love your wifey,

red snapper

Share the DB lovin'.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

on blogging, sisterhood, and life.

Nichelle, Chrissy, Me, Katilda.

The thing I've learned about blogging is that it's not about followers, it's not about page views, it's not about great writing abilities, or fantastic photography. While those may be elements, they aren't blogging.

Blogging is beach side sunsets, raps about dresses with Pegasus on them (aka, the pegadress), jealousy over whale bonding, late nights in hotel rooms, fireworks at Disneyland, and speaking in hashtags for an entire weekend.

Blogging creates relationships like no other. It's like I have this world wide collection of sisters. (And a brother or two... oh hey, Sam.) But honestly, it really does go beyond friendship.

And it's not even just about the blog friends you get to meet. Sometimes it's that one who always has the most genuine comments, or that blog that you always read and love but never comment on, or even simply just looking at your page views and knowing that at least one soul is out there taking the time to read what you have to say.

And in a teeny tiny nutshell, that's what I learned a couple weekends ago at Elevate. Blogging is so much more than some of the things we focus on. It's much more about creating relationships, sharing what's on your heart, and finding yourself in your words. And maybe that's how life is too. Much more about others and much less about the little things that are so easy to get caught up in. About following your heart and learning who you are and what you want to become.

What is your favorite experience that you've had with blogging? Who is your favorite blog friend/blogger you secretly stalk?

Sunday, May 19, 2013

self-worth revisited.

One year ago today I wrote this post on self-worth. Sometimes it's cool to look back and think "hey, good point, self, you're one smart cookie."

It's also cool to look back and see how I've changed and grown.

And guess what, I believe I'm worth it. Maybe not 100% of the time, I do have my doubtful moments. But when I focus on what's important, I recognize my worth.

In the past year, I've learned some pretty important things:
- you don't have to be perfect, just striving.
- when you recognize things you need to be better at, you don't have to fix everything over night. baby steps are good.
- everyone else is a lot less concerned about your faults and a lot more worried that you might be noticing their faults.
- people do actually like me.
- people actually like me MORE when I'm completely myself than they do when I'm trying to impress them. (ask me sometime and I'll tell you a story about doing the thriller dance all by myself in a room full of bloggers that I maybe have stalked for years and nearly passing out when I realized people were recording videos of me on their phones. uh, yeah.)

Like I said, I'm still not 100% of the way there. I don't know that I'll ever be. But things change when you start to believe in yourself a little bit more and worry about what others think of you a little bit less.

I could get all mushy and tell you how awesome and absolutely worth it YOU are, but I think I'll end with a sentiment from one of my favorite little campers my first year working at summer camp.

"You rock and you know it!"

You do rock. Embrace it until you know it.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

are you happy?

Are you happy?
I mean, seriously. Not in a "Hey, how's it going?" "Good, how are you?" kind of a way. I mean, really, are you happy?

Why or why not?
What makes you happy? What is keeping you from feeling happy? Why aren't you doing anything about it?

Potentially the greatest lesson I have learned this far in life is that trials are mandatory, but misery is optional. Whenever something happens, you get to choose if you want to be upset about it or not. You have no obligation to be upset, so why would you choose that?

Happiness is a choice.
Once you accept that as truth, it will completely change your perspective on life. Your happiness is not dependent on who you're dating, what job you have, what grades you are getting, or how much money is in your wallet. Your happiness depends completely upon you and your desires. Who doesn't desire to be happy?

So, what's holding you back?
I am always happier when my room is clean and my laundry is all put away. But, you know what? I constantly have a pile of clean laundry overflowing from my basket just waiting to be folded. And I usually wear it before it gets put away. But I know that I'm happier when my room is clean, so why don't I do it?

I think there are a lot of things that can hold us back. Laziness is a big one for me. Being busy, putting other things first, and sometimes I honestly think I hold myself back because it puts me in control. Somehow, by not doing laundry I'm taking control of my life in a sort of rebellious way. (Maybe I'm weird in thinking that way? Maybe I should just put away my laundry and rebel with pink hair again? ;)

Do it. Be happy.
It's completely in your control. You know what makes you happy, you know what doesn't make you happy. You know that, ultimately, you have complete control over your happiness in spite of (and even sometimes because) of any trials or hard things you may be going through. So, do it. Be happy. And maybe you're not sure you can do it, maybe you feel uncomfortable with trying? There is something to be said for faking it until you make it. Start with a smile. Maybe just while you're driving alone in your car. Smile the whole ride home and see how that makes you feel. Or wake up and decide then that you're going to have a good day. I'm not saying you have to be perfect at being happy, just that you have the power to try.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

dear boys, dear bloggers

dear green,

sometimes I miss what we had.

things are very different now and could never be the same.

but I really do miss who we were together.

love,

pink

dear mr. tumnus,

you make my heart skip a beat sometimes

but really,

elise

dear charming,

let's get together, yeah yeah yeah

why don't you and I combine?

what do you say?

elise

dear thor,

I don't see it happening, but I also don't see it not happening.

aren't double negatives so romantic?

love,

elise

---------------------

dear new elevate conference friends,

that conference was 3 days too short,

don't you agree?

let's all party on a beach every day.

love,

elise

dear katilda,

I love everything about you.

you are so wonderful in so many ways.

and, you look really great on a whale.

love,

elise

dear chrissy,

I love you, I love your sparkly self, I love your giving heart, and your happy face.
I love you more than bacon.

love,
elise

dear nichelle,

nobody gets me quite like you do.
and there really is nobody I'd rather get stranded in death valley with.
you're going to be a "bomb" mom
you're the greatest best friend a girl could ask for.

love,
elise

dear ashley marie,

I love you for many reasons, but this post is one of them
you have such a generous, believing heart with the most righteous desire to change the world.
and, guess what, you're doing it.
thank you for being my best friend, truly, forever.

love,
elise

dear boys peeps, it's been a while. wanna link up?
feel free to link up both dear boys and dear blogger posts.
remember to use the button and spread the dear boys love.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

dear boys 60

dear tommy boy,

you're hilarious, let's date.

love,

the redheaded roommate

dear linen boy,

who'd have thought that love could be so fabricated?

love,

the redheaded roommate

dear mr. tumnus,

you are my favorite muggle.

love,

elise

dear finnifer,

YOU'RE HOOOOME!!!

love,

sonnifer

dear alias,

you are really pretty stellar, but sometimes you're just off my radar.

love,

elise

dear samuelhardman.blogspot.com,

bloggy bowling date soon!

less than three,

elisespiecesblog.com

dear charming,

love,

elise

Thursday, May 2, 2013

dear blog,

I've been "in an exclusive relationship" with my blog for the last couple years. It's been, romantic, you know? (Actually, zero romance from my blog. Mostly just Wednesday whining (dear boys).) But now, I think perhaps it's time to move on. Let my blog explore options that are more... relevant.

And, you know, maybe I'll have a fling with my kitchenaid. I do love that thing.

Before you read on, see this post: DTR