Coffee Date with Michaela Warner

Fridays mornings are my favorite. The weekend is right around the corner, work is wrapping up for the week, and the best part?! A standing Coffee Date on the blog with some of my most encouraging friends.

You just might know today's Coffee Date guest already. She's the interior designer behind Michaela Noelle Designs and her blog is one of my favorites to follow. Not only does she have a gorgeous, feminine style; she also has a lovely, genuine heart. I'm grateful that she was willing to participate for a Q&A on the blog in the midst of a recent move, Bloom Workshop preparation, and the busyness running her business. Friends, meet Michaela!

What's in your coffee mug this morning?

Honey chamomile tea with honey... always!

What's the first thing you did today?

My morning routine is always the same. I guess you could say I'm a creature of habit! I wake up, walk over to the windows and open all of the curtains to allow the morning light to pour inside my little apartment. Then I head to the toaster and pop in my toast, turn on the tea water and wait. I spread some peanut butter on the toast and let my tea steep, then enjoy my morning breakfast and tea while I dive into the Word. I've been following along with She Reads Truth Bible study plans and I love them! After that, I hope online, answering work emails and pushing out my blog posts on social media. I get ready for the day, then I'll normally head out to lunch with a friend or client, or go shopping for a client (or for me lately, as I just moved into a new place!) My days are always a little different, which I absolutely love.

Tell us about something you've been loving lately.

I just moved to Michigan from California, and while I really miss my city and state, the people here in Michigan are really nice, so that's been a major blessing. I always love that I get to see my boyfriend every.single.day now! What a treat!

What is something you struggle with and what are you learning as a result?

I'm impatient by nature. Maybe this comes with the territory of being a designer, but I'm the girl who needs everything in it's place and living through a move where boxes and "stuff" is everywhere (even two weeks after the move!) is just not my thing. My patience is wearing thin. I want my apartment decorated now. I want to come home and feel like it's really "home", which would mean not a box in sight. I want to learn where all the stores are around here, and how to maneuver through my new city. I want to have a booming business in my new city right.now. Nut guess what? None of that is reality and all of that is selfish.

Because of my inclination to want things in order right this second, I'm learning... I have a lot to learn. God is teaching me to rest in the power of His timing, His will and His plans. I'm learning to trust God and cling to His grace in times when I'm not giving myself a lot of grace, and instead striving for perfection. He's teaching me things will not happen in my time, they will happen in His. You know what's funny? God is big on "hands-on" teaching. If you're impatient, you can bet He'll throw you in a situation bringing that very quality out, refining your tendencies and revealing to you what your sin is. He walks through our struggles with us, never leaving us. Oh, what a blessing!

Life can get busy and stressful. How do you simplify?

It definitely gets busy and stressful! I'm a planner through and through, so I use my Daybook (thanks Lauren!) to write everything down. All my appointments, lunch dates, due dates, projects, client tasks, and more are all written down in there so not to forget one. Each day I make an agenda for the day and really try to stick to it. If it's not on my list, I'm not doing it and that is a-okay with me! Crossing things off my list is the best kind of satisfaction :)

What made you smile this week?

A few things! Remember my answer to number 4 and how my apartment is still a mess? Well, I got a bookcase delivered a few days ago, which means a lot of my "stuff" that was on the floor now has a home. Happy heart (and home)! Second, I cooked my first dinner in my apartment for my boyfriend and he loved it. And it had veggies in it. Success! Third, I planted a peony bush for my patio. Dream come true!

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Isn't she the sweetest? If you aren't already, follow along with Michaela and all of her lovely work on her blog, on Facebook, and on Instagram!

Coffee Date with Meghan Newman

Our first week in Charlotte, we showed up at the front door of a stranger's house with caramel apple dip and a bowl full of puppy chow. Not to worry - we had been invited. A few couples from our seminary were hanging out and they were nice enough to let us tag along (they must not have known what they were getting themselves into!) We felt welcomed right away when a pretty redhead and her two sweet dogs greeted as the door and invited us in.

We must not have scared them away too much, because 4 months later Meghan and her husband, Andrew, are still hanging out with us. And we're thankful, because they're so much fun to be around. I especially love Meghan's sense of humor, her style, her baking (goodness gracious, this girl needs her own restaurant), and her laugh. I'm excited that she's joining us this morning for a Coffee Date!

What's in your coffee mug this morning?

Not a coffee drinker, sadly. I so desperately want to be one, but I just hate the taste. Since it is warm out, I will be drinking an unsweetened flavored ice tea. Or just a glass of water, very boring. Right now I really love this raspberry and lime green tea.

What was the first thing you did this morning?

Friday mornings my husband, Andrew, and I usually take our dogs for a walk, then I like to make a fun breakfast. I am on a pancake/waffle kick, so perhaps I will make some kale waffles... sounds weird, but they are actually awesome! After/during breakfast we read the Bible together.

Tell us about something you've been loving lately.

These cups from Williams Sonoma! They are so incredible because they have a top and I can transport my smoothies or juices in style. Every weekday morning, aside from Fridays, I make a smoothie or green juice. These cups are the answer to transporting my drinks. I also love any sort of Thai food - I want to eat it all the time.

What is something you struggle with and what are you learning as a result?

Hmmm, I struggle with too many things! I certainly struggle with control and over-working myself. Work is very important to me and I put a great deal of my worth in it. I tend to worry about my performance to the point where it becomes an idol. How I deal? The biggest thing I have done is to leave work at the office. I aim to get the most work done while at the office, so when I leave I can just go home and relax. This is much easier said than done. I recently made a career change which also made this difficult. I also love to take our dogs, Boone and Cash, on a walk. It gives me a purpose for being outside and I get to just enjoy nature and relax.

Life can be busy and stressful. How do you simplify?

Food. Sadly, the idea of food is most commonly my answer to all questions. I try to plan ahead when it comes to meals for the week so that I know what I am making, and it simplifies my time. Andrew and I really have to schedule our time because we have two dogs. Although people can feel restrained in a schedule, I feel free! I like to schedule downtime where I know there is nothing on the agenda and I can truly relax. Being too busy is another struggle of mine, which makes relaxing a very difficult task. However, I try to schedule an hour or so where I have no plans. This forces me to sit down for bit and just chill. 

And just for fun, what is something that made you smile this week?

On a superficial level, this dress that I just bought. On a real level, my co-workers make me smile. They are just so funny. I truly laugh all day - I can't handle it sometimes. Picking fruit is also one of my favorite things. I have been so happy all week because I'm picking strawberries on Saturday!

Want to see the latest things that Meghan's whipping up in her kitchen? Follow along with her blog, The Former Baker. You can also follow along with her on Instagram and Twitter!

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And for those of you following Elle & Company on Instagram and Facebook, the answer to Meghan's Two Truths and a Lie is #3.

From Meghan: "Not true, this happened to a friend of mine. So jealous!"

Coffee Date with Rachel Brock

Have you ever had a friendship come into your life at the just perfect time? Three years ago, God gave Rachel and I mutual friends, similar circumstances, and a random weeknight coffee date. The rest was history!

I could totally get all mushy and gushy on this one, but for the sake of my tears and your time, I'll refrain. Just know that I am oh so thrilled to feature Rachel this morning - when I think of encouragement, she quickly comes to mind. She's been my maid of honor, my confidant through one of life's most difficult seasons, my running partner, and my best friend. I just know you'll love getting to know her this morning! Friends, meet Rachel.

What's in your coffee cup this morning?

Within the warm circular shell of my insulated mug swims a deep, dark roast... Ha! Yeah right. I have the lightest, girliest drink available. It is commonly known as the "White Chocolate Mocha," and unfortunately for me, it costs a pretty penny. I was never really a coffee drinker until I married my husband, Matt. My marriage plus the fact that there is a Caribou Coffee shop conveniently located across the street is a dangerous combination, my friends! I have made the White Chocolate Mocha my traditional Friday morning treat.

What is the first thing you did today?

The first thing I did today was take my puppy, River, outside to potty... in the pouring rain. Mind you, it was 5:30 am. I had not yet looked in the mirror at my hair, nor did I take the time to put my glasses on. Yikes! I ended up cooking breakfast before I went back upstairs to shower for work and no, I still had not looked in the mirror, nor taken the time to put my glasses on... Take a moment and imagine such a sight. I did, however, manage to successfully make breakfast sandwiches and keep River from eating our kitchen table. This was a successful morning!

What is something you've been loving lately?

Lately, I have been loving swimming. You see, I am a runner and spent the better part of this freezing winter training for the marathon that I ran in March. Training was such an intense commitment, both for my body and my schedule, that I have enjoyed exercising leisurely again. Matt and I joined the gym across the street and I have been trying to swim 2-3 times a week. It is a wonderful full-body workout, without the pounding on my joints or the stress of training and competition!

What is something you struggle with and what are you learning as a result?

I must admit that I struggle with the concept of identity. Being satisfied with myself, just as I am, has always been an area of difficulty for me. With the Lord's help, I have been able to manage a positive perspective until very recently. I got married this past summer and since then, I moved to Northern Virginia. Over the past year, I have experienced "newness" in a way that I have never experienced it. I have a new husband, a new name, a new family, a new church, a new city, a new job, new friends, new colleagues, a new house, and a new dog. Whew! That awkward feeling of stepping out of your comfort zone has been a "groundhog-day" experience for me over the past 9 months. I have truly struggled with feeling like I belong in many of these places. Back home, in Salem, I knew who I was and where I belonged, I was confidently serving in the church, hanging out with friends, and contributing to the community. Now, I struggle to figure out what I'm good at, what I'm known for, what I bring to my family, friends, students, and the world. It's like I have to find myself again. I have discovered, though, that this current state of mind is something to be thankful for. I feel confident that the Lord has brought me to this point in my life to help me see that my identity can only be found in Him and Him alone. If I found my identity in running, or teaching, or something else I was exceptional at, it would distract me from seeing who I truly am - a child of the King. My friends, what could be a better "identity" than that?

Life can get busy and stressful. How do you simplify?

Simplifying life is one of the most difficult things for me to do. My husband is an incredible "simplifier" and I am learning from him daily. He helps me practice calming myself during stressful situations and he helps me to take hold of the idea that some "to do" list tasks can wait until another moment or another day. The scripture found in Matthew 6:33-34 comes to mind often and I know that it is the gentle voice of the Lord calling me to simplify my life by worrying only about today. It says, "But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all the things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." I know that focusing on today and living in each moment would certainly alleviate stress by simplifying my world-view.

What's one thing that made you smile this week?

My dog, River, always makes me smile. She certainly makes me frown, too, but she's 100% puppy and that's a story for another day. This past weekend, Matt and I took River hiking in Great Falls. She's a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and is bred to swim and hunt water fowl, so I've been working with her, trying to get her comfortable swimming in deep water. On the hike, we stopped at various points along the Potomac River to let her swim. She loved it! She had her first "real" swim, and was fetching sticks out in the water within minutes! Watching her do what she was made to do is one of my favorite things. As we continued to hike along the trail, we came to a little bridge that covered a small creek, and I remember thinking, if I love watching my puppy do what she was made to do, how much more does God enjoy watching his children do what they were created to do? He is always teaching me something! Lots of smiles that day!

Coffee Date with Jill Atogwe

Oh friends, I've been itching to share this morning's Coffee Date with you for weeks! 

A couple months ago, I was blessed to receive an email from an Elle & Company customer who just so happened to be another creative business owner. We continued to message back and forth and eventually set up a FaceTime meeting to talk about business things. I was blown away by how genuine and kind-hearted Jill is, and I was sweetly surprised when she asked how she could be praying for me before we ended our chat. 

Jill Atogwe is a lady who needs to be shared. Her artwork is amazing, her photos are gorgeous, and she is stunning, both inside and out. I have so enjoyed getting to know her better and I have a feeling you will, too. Friends, meet Jill!

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What's in your coffee mug this morning?

A half cup of hazelnut coffee, a little bit of milk and an embarrassing amount of chocolate almond milk.

What is the first thing you did today?

I wake up, read my devotional, pray and head to the gym where my husband is my trainer. This hubby-trainer business was a trial-and-error effort that has taken three years to perfect! Something about testosterone and estrogen in the gym just don't always mix that well... After a quick shower, some speed makeup and a breakfast of egg whites, two tortillas and sriracha, I'm off to work as a personal stylist at Anthropologie (This is a rare day, I only work at Anthro either once or twice a week).

What's one thing you've been loving lately?

As an artist, the shift from death to life in Spring is just almost too inspiring to bear. Seeing little buds form on trees, shorter hemlines in my magazines and that extra hour or so of sun every day really just does something in my soul. I have to be careful not to be distracted all day long because with this mind, that totally happens!

What is something you struggle with, and what are you learning as a result?

I struggle with distraction. Did you like that little segway there? I usually feel pulled by my emotions so what I want to be doing (well, what I'm usually doing mentally) pulls my focus from what I'm actually doing. It gives a sense of "I should be doing something else!" at all times. I'm learning that I need to be present and content with exactly where I am. Doing something halfway can't be an option for me, so I won't commit to doing something unless I'll be all in. Even if it means I'll be thinking about making pop tarts again while doing the laundry - a girl's gotta commit!

Life can get busy and stressful. How do you simplify?

I simplify with an exchange: the Word for Social Media. This sounds a little foolish but I can get so wrapped up in Social Media and all the facets of it, especially now that I am creating a brand, that it becomes all encompassing. This beautiful place that was meant to connect ends up serving as a breeding ground for envy, dissatisfaction, comparison, and pride. Those are some yucky words that I don't want to swim around in, so whenever I feel weighed down I simply exchange time for time. When I would normally be reading blogs, checking Instagram or scrolling through Facebook, I reach for the Bible instead. In the end I feel like a brand new woman.

What's one thing that made you smile this week?

My husband makes me smile every day of my life. I am so blessed by this goofball and the way he loves the Lord and, in turn, loves me.

Oh, and I had gluten-free pizza this week. That got a pretty big smile too!

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Jill's new site is almost up, so be sure to keep up with her on Instagram to see all of the wonderful things she has in store! And to see her most recent blog posts, visit her current site here. 

Happy Friday, friends! I hope your weekend is blessed.

Coffee Date with Allyson Bishop

I've been itching to have a Coffee Date with this lovely lady since I came up with this blog series a couple months ago. This sweet friend has known me since before I was born. She treated me as her very own baby doll when we were younger and drove me crazy "mothering me" while we were growing up. She loved me when I was highly unlovable; I was obnoxious, but she showered me with grace. She has always been my role model, my go-to, and my biggest fan. 

And she just so happens to be my sister.

In some ways, I feel like you'll have a better understanding of me by getting to know her. Dear friends, meet Allyson!

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Andrea Pesce Photography

What's in your coffee mug this morning?

The usual - coffee with cream and a teaspoon of raw sugar. I have also been enjoying the occasional latte from Starbucks. I'm not big on flavored, super sweet coffee drinks and until recently I had no idea that a latte is just espresso and steamed milk. So yummy!

What is the first thing you did today?

I tried to convince my earliest rider that 6:40am is much too early to be awake on the only morning this week that we could actually sleep in. Especially, when she turns on the light in her room and wakes up her three still snoozing siblings.

What is something you've been loving lately?

We just put our house on the market last week. We weren't expecting to move, and as a matter-of-fact, we made a  decision not too long ago to be content with where God has us right now, even if that means getting rid of stuff to make room for people (2 big and 4 little, to be exact). We have been purging and simplifying since January. Then, out of the blue, my Mom sent us an MLS number of a house she thought might be perfect for us. And we are pretty sure it is! So, in a matter of just six days, we got ours all spic and span and market ready. Insanity. Spring cleaning on a whole new level. Anyhow... What I'm loving is my neat and clean house. Not just straight, or picked up, but really super clean. It's true that physical clutter becomes mental clutter. None of that here - not while we are ready for showings at any given moment. Beds are made every day. Counters are wiped down. There are no dishes in the sink and I am completely caught up on laundry. A-Mazing! And despite all the work, it is so worth it because our house feels so calm and peaceful. Love it!

What is something you struggle with and what are you learning as a result?

Oh my. There are plenty of things to choose from. Right now, I am struggling with getting up before the rest of my family to spend time in prayer and in the Word. I have always been the type to stay up late to get things done. Like really late - after 1am late - too late! And when you have four Littles who get up in the six o'clock hour and your brain has to function enough to homeschool three out of four of those Littles, well, 5 hours of sleep every night just isn't enough. My goal is to go to bed the same day I get up. So... get in bed before midnight and get up around 6am. That's reasonable, right?

On the days that I do manage to die to myself, and my tiredness, and the part of me that wants to hit snooze until the last possible minute - the days when I drag myself our of bed and tiptoe out to the kitchen table to spend time doing my Bible study - on those days I am a better wife and mom. I feel ready for my day, armed with God's Word. Of course I do! Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." When I get up early to seek Him, He is faithful to transform me, to renew my mind and to change my heart in areas it so badly needs changing!

Life can get busy and stressful. How do you simplify?

Life with four kiddos ages 6 and under is busy. Keeping things simple is a pretty big deal around here, otherwise, the wheels can fall off in an instant. People often ask me how I do it with four small children - and I am quick to tell them - plenty of prayer and plenty of coffee. Both are true! But, it is also so important to have a plan. Part of that for me is meal planning. I really do love my Daybook inserts with my menu planner and grocery list all on one page. Each down I sit down with my Daybook, recipe binder, and laptop (to look up a few new recipes to try) and plan out our meals for the week. I know which nights I need to have a crockpot meal and which nights I have a little more time to prepare dinner. It makes our evenings so much simpler and less chaotic. Especially that critical hour after nap and before Daddy gets home when all the Littles need me for something all at the same time and I'm trying to figure out what we are going to have for dinner (read: the wheels are falling off). But not when I have my meals all planned out. Smooth sailing. Most of the time, anyway.

Andrea Pesce Photography

What is something that made you smile this week?

I can promise you there is never a dull moment around here. Not a single one. And I love it! My kiddos make me smile daily - they are a joy and a blessing and a gift from God. Of course, there are ups and downs, highs and lows, struggles and victories - and being a Mommy is hard work - but it is so worth and and so very rewarding. Smiles galore!