let's talk // january favorites

These are the words + products + ideas + jams that had me at hello in January:

My Name is Hope, by Alyson VanCleave // I cannot adequately describe my love for this piece. I have shared it all over the place. Aly's words about making it out of the woods are some of the most beautiful I have ever read.

How I Learned God Cares About My Fear, by Donald Miller  // I'll readily admit: I am not the world's biggest fan of the object lesson, but this one had me locked in. The Lord has been so kind to reveal (through some tough situations) his thoughts towards me throughout these past few weeks, and he has done it through simple lessons like this one.

You Make Me Brave, by Bethel Live // This album has been on repeat literally all month long. Especially the first two tracks. I cannot get enough.

Simply Tuesday, by Emily P. Freeman // I cannot remember the last time I cried while reading a book. Emily's voice is a breath of fresh air, and reading her words is like talking to a trusted friend. She makes room for you, creates space for your soul to breathe. In Simply Tuesday, she kindly invites me to celebrate my smallness, to find freedom in the truth that I can only do what I can only do and to trust the Lord with the rest. She introduces me to a Jesus who does not condemn me when I do not know the answer, but rather takes my hand and gently reminds me that he is the answer (can you tell I just adore this book?).

This hand cream is the best. Also, this foundation. In the beauty blogging world, they call this kind of stuff holy grail. 

This is not a Flower Year, by Jess Connolly // Because I am starting the year in a new place, with a new job, and new people, and I want to know where the roots are. I want to discover within the rhythms of my everyday life what to water, where to prune, and what to dig up because it is dead.

My friend Leah has an entire section of her blog devoted to Bible journaling, and I am in love.

Hannah Brencher's writing intensive // Seriously, what is a list of monthly favorites without Hannah in it? I took her intensive on January 9 and came away absolutely changed. Though we've never met, and our lives look very different on the outside, Hannah is a spiritual mentor for me. Sure, this is a class on writing a good story, but even more than that, it is about living a good story.

I keep coming back to my friend Sarah Beth's words about the anti-hustle and Jess Connolly's words about disappointing people.

I'd love to hear about some of your favorite things in January. Share them in the comments below!