Let's Go On A Picnic

Summer is the season for picnics!  Let's get inspired to go out into God's beautiful creation & eat some yummy food!

More Picnic Ideas:

• mason jars with screw-on lids make great portable drinking glasses + a way to transport your beverage(s)
• if you're going to sit on a blanket {as opposed to a picnic table}, bringing a couple of comfy throw pillows can make it feel more snazzy/special 
• don't forget sunscreen, a plastic bag for trash, & bug spray {especially if it's an evening picnic} 

Let's go on a picnic, shall we?

Picnic-y Love,

-Bess-

Creativity Link Up With 'The Circle'

1. What does creativity mean to you?

Webster’s defines creativity as “the act of being creative” & creative’s definition as “marked by the ability or power to create.” So, basically, Webster {I love that we’re on such cozy terms}, what you’re saying is it’s elusive. I agree. How do you define such an enigma? It’s like trying to photograph the Loch Ness Monster; as soon as she surfaces {for the briefest of milliseconds} & you click your camera, she vanishes & all you get a shot of is Nessie’s ripple effect on the surface. You start to wonder if you saw anything at all. Creativity is not a mathematical-problem-equals-one-answer all the time kind of a word. It’s, for want of simplicity, many things. It’s right brain at its best. It’s forming something new – words, stories, paintings, songs, sculptures, signage, landscaping, architecture, cuisine… & the list can {& does} go on {& on}. You take tools {either God given or human wrought} & you make – music, collages, operas, plays, gardens, poems, sidewalk chalk art, wedding cakes, graphic design, gnarly walking sticks… &, again, the list can {& does} go on.

And, the greatest artist & creator of all time, was also the first. God is the very author of creativity. “In the beginning God created the heavens & the earth.” That’s the first sentence of the Bible. He formed the sun’s great orb & all the glittering stars, each rolling hill & craggy mountaintop, butterflies’ wings & the craters on the moon, & us, right out of the dust. Humble beginnings many might say, but even dust in the hands of the Creator King is magnificent. Our creations will never come close to His.

2. How do you stay creative? Who do you draw inspiration from?
Inspiration is an equally indefinable commodity & comes in all forms. It reaches me through the veins in a leaf, another’s works, a fresh paint palette… it spontaneously combusts into being, at times, & like a phoenix vanishes again in the flames. It sometimes feels elusive & out of reach, but as Maya Angelou puts it,

P.S.: I'm inspired by blogs, too {of course}, & have recently started a series of posts where I show crafty things I've created based on others' DIYs {click here for that}.

3. What is a creative part of you that you don't share much on your blog (i.e. a talent, hobby, activity, passion, etc.)?
Well, secrets, huh? I have a real love for the written word - & yearn to be a published author, but then again you may already know that if you’ve read my blog for a while. I’ve been working on various stories this summer. One I’ve had in the works for years & then a new one. But, writing is tough work & I’m not the best lately at forcing myself to sit & write.

I love to sing, too, but I’m absolutely scared silly to let anyone hear. In my ears I sound pretty good, & I’d like to keep it that way, & not muddle that with the truth. =) Singing praise songs & other contemporary Christian tunes was my love when I was a teenager. A lot of times I was home alone & I would crank up the radio & sing my little heart out. At those times I experienced some of the richest moments of joy in simply being with God & praising Him. It’s been hard to experience those moments since I moved into my apartment – even though I’m alone a lot, I’m worried that cranking up my radio & singing loud will bother my neighbors!

Let's get creative!

-Bess-

P.S.: Linked up with:

Check it out!

"When God Makes Lemonade" Book Review

When God Makes Lemonade: True Stories That Amaze & Encourage created by Don Jacobson

You know the old adage {I’m certain you do}, ‘When life gives you lemons make lemonade’?  Have you ever wondered if the lemons, the sour moments of your life, can be used by God’s hand to make something wonderful, refreshing, & restorative?  In the sunny yellow covered book When God Makes Lemonade: True Stories That Amaze & Encourage created by Don Jacobson, you will find a plethora of real situations where God makes a redemptive lemonade, of sorts, out of the moments that are much less than sweet.  

The first “lemonade” story is by Don Jacobson, himself, & tells about a desperate time in the woods of Oregon when a malfunctioning in his new hunting gun almost takes his life.  The stories that follow {there are over 60 in all, each written by a different author} are equally compelling truths from each writers’ life.  Each story is an easy read, typically about 3-4 pages.  God takes illnesses, grief, heartaches, accidents… & squeezes until unexpected good comes out.  It isn’t easy to see the good in the sour disappointments & hurts of life, but this book has made me more aware to look about me for God’s guiding hand, to hope, & to trust that He is present & working even in the midst of the lemons.        

Bookish Love,

-Bess-

*I received this book from the publisher for free (through the BookSneeze program) in exchange for my honest review.

Lyric Art {Inspired by "A Beautiful Mess"}

This is the 2nd DIY inspired by A Beautiful Mess I've completed this summer!  As a blogger, I always hope that people not only see my DIYs, but try them out, too!  That's what they're there for after all!  I, myself {as a blog reader}, love to try out others' tutorials, too - especially when that other is someone as crafty as Elsie of A Beautiful Mess.  You can find instructions on this simple DIY over here on her fabulous blog!    

I chose the song "You Are For Me" by Kari Jobe.  As you can see, if your handwriting {paintwriting?} is anything like mine {larger than you expect}, you won't fit too much of the lyrics on your canvas.  That adds to the uniqueness, but you could also take another canvas & add more of the lyrics.  I'm thinking about this... maybe a slightly smaller canvas & with colored paint... hmmm...

But for now, I'm simply enjoying this!  Thanks for the inspiration, Elsie!

Handmade Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: Listen to the song here:

Summer Scrapbook {Update}

Here's a few shots of my summer scrapbook progress...

I found the above lyric image from Pinterest.  Love it {from the song "Lord, I Need You" by Matt Maher}!

The above library card can slip out of its holder for me to add to the list of all my crafty projects completed this summer.

Still have lots to do & much of it probably won't happen until summer's over.  What memories are you excited about capturing this season?

Crafty Love,

-Bess-

You Are Beautiful {Free Printable}

Ever since my last post {click here for that}, I've been focusing on improving my body image & remembering to see things, not through the world's vision or my clouded mirror's sneaky lies, but through the eyes of my heavenly Father.  It's not easy, but through Christ, in which all things are possible {Philippians 4:13}, there can be freedom.  And while I'm certainly not perfect; He most certainly made me beautiful still.  I created this printable to remind me {& you} of this truth:

This circular printable looks great printed on light colored, not-too-busy, scrapbook paper.  If your scrapbook paper is larger than standard printer paper, simply take a regular sheet of copy paper & cut your scrapbook page down to that size so it will fit in your printer.

Click on the image & then right click & save to your computer {or copy & paste}.  Open in a word document, resize if necessary {& center}, print, & start re-teaching yourself, "Sister, you are beautiful!"

Shrink the printable down to make it fit on the front or inside of a compact for a handy reminder when you need it!

Love to all my beautiful sisters out there!  

{That's you!}

-Bess-

P.S.: Here's the conditions of use for all my printables here on Bess' Bag:

CONDITIONS OF USE: My printables are free for personal use only.  Feel free to share them on Pinterest provided you credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag}.  If you want to blog about these printables, or share a project you created using them, it would be fabulous, just be sure to credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag} (feel free to use 1 or 2 photos, but please don't share the actual printable on your site - just add a link to it).  Thanks & enjoy!

Mirror, Mirror...

The looking glass of fairy tales was an enchanted item that had the power to speak & often show things that were not there. The mirror belonging to the evil queen sung the praises of the forever fairest Snow White, & in some versions gave away her whereabouts in conjuring an image of her hiding out in the seven dwarves’ cozy cottage. Although today we are about as far removed from fairy tales as can be, there is an eerie similarity betwixt the looking glasses of story & the mirrors of the present. However, our stories rarely see the phrasing ‘Happily Ever After’…


Once upon a time there was a girl with a glowing smile, who would twirl her frilly skirts in abandon, & grin at every clicking camera with an ever-obliging “cheese!”  As time went on, however, enemies slowly invaded her castle. Ever so slowly they came in such a way that she welcomed the foe as friend, not knowing the danger that awaited her… Her princess stories were replaced with teen magazines, her fancy whirly dresses all but disappeared, she hid from any & every flashing camera, & her smile – when she did smile – was often put upon her face like a masquerade mask. The invaders: the magazines, billboard ads, peers, TV, Internet … had told the girl her beauty was lacking & it didn’t fit the mold. For a time she had tried to make herself fit the world’s definition of all the things she wasn’t; she pulled, pushed, & all but poured herself into their mold of beautiful, but to no avail – she couldn’t fit.

She wondered what lad would want her. “In a sea of beautiful mermaids who would pick an oyster?” she’d ponder. Her mirror spoke & whispered lies as she’d examine her face from every angle… “Well, you’re not what I’d call lovely. Look at that there, it’s certainly not the right size. You’ve got circles under your eyes again. Couldn’t sleep, huh? Well, if anyone needed a beauty rest it’s you!” Then, slowly the mirror began to show the girl things that weren’t there at all… extra pounds magically appeared, dots no bigger than a pinpoint became quarter-sized blemishes, unique & beautiful qualities became hideous curses. It became a part of the girl – her knowledge that she wasn’t, nor ever would be, beautiful. It changed & damaged her.

Walking down the street she’d compare herself with her passersby, an unhealthy habit that had emerged from all this. One such day after comparing herself with one too many females that she deemed “better” than herself, the girl, near tears, sat down on a park bench. A graying elderly lady with a glowing smile came & sat beside her. Propping her chin on the end of her cane for a moment, she gave a sidelong glance at her seatmate. By this time two tears had already slid down the girl’s cheek. “Oh, now don’t cry, lass. It can’t be that bad. Why when you cry it’s hard to see your beautiful face. See now,” she pulled a handkerchief from out of a pocketbook, “it’s all scrunched up like. Dry your eyes & you’ll be a lovely girl once more.” The girl stared at the woman. “You must be mistaken. Tears or not, I am not nor ever will be beautiful,” the girl said, taking the handkerchief from the woman’s wrinkled hand. The woman didn’t miss a beat, “That’s where you, my dear girl, are horribly wrong. You are, indeed, beautiful. You are God’s handiwork after all.” “I do not feel lovely,” the girl whispered. “Oh my dear, well, if this cane here doesn’t feel it’s a cane, does that change its appearance or what it is? You are still beautiful & God’s creation whether you ever realize it or not. Though, of course, it’s much nicer to realize it now…before you become old like me,” the woman winked & rose gingerly on her cane. “Don’t forget now. Learn it now or you’ll battle with it all your life. I ought to know,” she flashed another glowing smile & hobbled away.

The girl sat stock-still on the bench. Could she be beautiful? It was true God had made her, but did He make her beautiful? She got up & wandered over to a small pond to seek her reflection in its surface. The rippling glass showed her a girl with lovely eyes &… her lips curved up… a glowing smile. In that moment she saw a hint of the beauty that had been lost for so long. It would not be easy to be sure, but it was time she regained her throne & saw herself, not through a mirror, but through the eyes of her Father, the King.


I, too, have been the girl that hides her face whenever a camera is present. I have wrestled with what the world says is beautiful & my own face in the mirror. I have insecurities & sometimes wonder if there’s a guy out there who would call me not “cute” or “sweet,” but “beautiful.” And, yes, I have fallen into the compare snare that threatens to drag me down into hopeless forever-un-satisfaction with myself. So, you see, I was writing to me as much as to you. To break the curse of the looking glass & see ourselves through God’s eyes is the way to discovering our beauty & worth. It is not easy… for starters, we’ve got to stop comparing. If we could compliment & not compare, & on tough days just stare straight ahead like old-timey horses that had those side blinder things on, till we’ve broken the cycle, our self esteem would be buoyed, don’t ya think? We need to stop wondering what others think of us & our appearance & solely strive to please our heavenly Father. We’ve got to pray & be honest with our King {He knows it all anyway}. We need to rework our definition of beauty through His Truth, & toss out the world’s dictionary. There’s got to be an end of the negative self-talk & a beginning of the truth: “The world lies. You are beautiful just as you are. You are, indeed, lovely.” We need to remember there are pearls hidden in oysters & beauty hidden behind our possessed mirrors that speak such wicked lies. No, it won’t be easy, but the glowing smile can return & the looking glass’ curse can be broken through His strength. Remember, dear sister & fellow-princess, you are beautiful – own it humbly in your heart.

I have easily typed up many “we” statements that look good on paper, but are hard to act out daily {notice I didn’t say impossible}. Let’s dig deep & truly try to win this fight! Starting small sounds like a good plan in this battle that has been raging since we first saw an image marked “beautiful” that looked nothing like us. Pick a place to start & begin. Imperfectly moving forward is still forward {even if you slide back a time or to; just keep going}. I really struggle with comparing, so I’m going to give an inward {& sometimes outward} compliment for every time I’m tempted to compare. 

I’ve lived in my apartment for about three years & have never gone to my complex’s swimming pool alone – in fact, I’ve only ever gone a handful of times & always with someone & always with me hopelessly trying to cover myself with a towel. I’m going to try to go alone – even though I’m scared silly over the thought. I’ll let you know how that goes… hopefully.


Do you struggle with body image, too? What helps you with your battle?

"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

-1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles & the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle & quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

-1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV

Love ya, you beautiful thing, you!

{Imperfectly} Happily Ever After,
-Bess-