Pretty flowers and a new business

Spring is springing up all around us here in Northern California. It's a most delightful season as the blossoms on the almond trees grace the branches like snowy buds, and the daffodils spring up and scent the breeze so beautifully. My neighbor's tulip tree is blooming and I pause for a few seconds in front of it each day inhaling its sweet scent. This past week I cut a few branches of flowering quince that I spotted growing in our back yard, a gorgeous surprise that has been decorating my table the last few days.

My in-laws were here this past week, and my mother-in-law and I spent 3 days preparing and painting the bricks on the front of my house. Whew, it was hard work but sooo worth it in the end. I will show you pictures one day, the change is remarkable! My, my, what a little paint can do to freshen up a home!!

Speaking about freshening up my home, about a year ago, I got serious about eliminating toxic chemicals in all forms from my house. Pretty much everything I used to use, from make-up to cleaning products, had harsh chemicals that messed with my body.  U.S. researchers report that a majority of ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors. Many products include plasticizers (chemicals that keep concrete soft), degreasers (used to get grime off auto parts), and surfactants (they reduce surface tension in water, like in paint and inks). Imagine what that does to your skin, and to the environment.

So…I started doing my own research on how I could clean my home without disrupting my hormones or putting toxins on my skin and in my house. This led me to essential oils. I know essential oils have been a bit of a hot topic these past few years, but it is for good reason. And if you haven't looked into them more, I'm challenging you to now:)

What essential oils have done for me is open a huge door for making my house toxin free. Essential oils have allowed me to make my own cleaning products (which were so easy and so much more cost efficient than buying them from the store), and empowered me to take my health into my own hands. Since buying my starter kit last year, i've made all purpose cleaner, bug spray, perfumes, and diffuse the oils for a toxin-free air freshener! I'm also able to buy toxin-free toothpaste, soaps, and all sorts of other care products from Young Living.

I love Young Living essential oils, and am so honored to be selling them now. Young Living has their own farms all over the world and offers therapeutic grade oils that are tested and approved! If you are curious about oils, or have more questions, please let me know. I hope to share with you how i've used them to keep my home clean and support my health!

Right now, Young Living has a sale on their starter kit. For the month of February only, the kit is $144 and comes with a diffuser (which on it's own is expensive!), and then 11 oils! You literally save so much money when you buy them all together in this starter kit! The oils in the kit are the ones I use the most, so it's perfect to have around. You also get some essential oil samples to stash in your purse, as well as 2 samples of NingXia Red, which is like an energy drink with only fruits and essential oils (that stuff is amazing!). When you purchase a starter kit, you also become a member and get 24% off all your future purchases!

The sale runs until the end of February, and if you've ever thought about purchasing essential oils, this is your chance! You'll also be invited to join a FB group where you can ask questions and learn more about the oils! If you still need some convincing, this is a great video explaining more about essential oils and the starter kit!

If you know you want to purchase one, here is a link where you can sign up under me. I will add you to an email list that shares tips about how to use your oils. Truly, these oils have helped open so many doors for my health journey. It may feel like a big investment now, but I promise you that it will be worth it!!

And lastly, I still have some gorgeous Santorini Calendars (just like the one in the pictures above). I'm selling them for a steal of a deal at $15 a calendar, plus shipping (which is basically just covering my costs without making a profit!!). I love how the calendar offers such a gorgeous touch of color to my home. If you want one, please email me and we'll make it happen! (hopeengaged@gmail.com)

Happy Tuesday friends!

Buy a Calendar, get free ad space!

We are back from our European Christmas, and it was lovely. Excited to share pictures soon. I'm especially exited to show you our cable car ride and hike at the Matterhorn, a total bucket list item for me!! {epp!!}

In the meantime, I still have some calendar's left that I would LOVE to mail out to you.

Each calendar is filled with beautiful pictures from Kevin and my trip to Santorini, Greece! It also includes bright and cheery watercolor and fun travel quotes. I am selling the calendar's for $25 (plus shipping), and it would make a gorgeous addition to your home:)

Because I love you guys, i'm offering 2 months free ad space to anyone who purchases a calendar from today onward! {A 2 month ad on my blog is usually $30, so you are saving money and getting a gorgeous calendar!!}

 Just head on over to my etsy shop to pick up a calendar or two!!

And stay tuned to see pics of our trip to Switzerland, France and Germany!!

xoxo

Hope Engaged 2016 Travel Calendar

After a few months of hard work, our 2016 Travel Calendar is now here and for sale! Hooray!!

The calendar features 12 beautiful pictures from my trip to Santorini, Greece.
Each page highlights a photo, watercolor (done by sweet Emmy Clausen) and an inspiring travel quote!

The calendar is 12x12, with enough space to write all your important dates into it!
The cover paper is a gorgeous heavy linen, and the inside paper is a pretty matte.

The calendars are for sale on my Etsy site {here} for $25.
The calendar would be a perfect gift for the travel lover in your life! I hope you love it as much as I do:)
xoxo

fulfilling desires {and a $150 cash give-away!}

What a beautiful week this was in so many ways. Reminders of God's faithfulness were so evident around every corner. I'm sitting in my big chair now, looking out at the twinkly lights on our tree, thinking about this last year with great fondness. Life can be hard and messy and crazy, but this season (with all it's monotony: i.e.: not living abroad) feels right. I told my friends the other night that i'm living into my calling, to become a therapist, and it just feels like i'm breathing my authentic self.

Kevin and I have such a wanderlust and heart for the world. Travel for us isn't just about seeing new places, it's about building deep into the relationships that we form, and learning to view the world through fresh eyes. One neat thing about this past year, is that even though we've been forced to be relatively "tied down" to Southern California (with me in grad school), there have been so many beautiful ways we've still engaged with the world.

Just take this week for example...

- Kevin and I figured that since we can't be living abroad right now, we can still be meeting, welcoming and connecting with students from around the world! Every Tuesday, we have lunch with a group of international student. This week the Saudi Arabian students made me straight up coffee from their home town, and it was INTENSE. They about died laughing after I took my first sip…that stuff was strong! I quickly replaced the taste with a delicious date they brought over from SA as well….who knew fresh dates were so divine?  Random fact, did you know that the Saudi Arabian King helps pay for students from SA to come over to the US to study? Amazing. I wish Obama would pay me to go study in another country, haha! But truly, these students are a joy and I love that Kevin and I get to be on the receiving end, inviting people into our home and loving them!!

- On Monday night we had a Nepali couple over. They actually are the directors of the aftercare home where we worked in Kathmandu, Nepal. This is the first time we've seen them since we left Nepal {a tearful goodbye here}, and it was so lovely reconnecting! We asked them how each one of the girls were doing, and laughed at all the sweet  stories we heard!

- Earlier in the week, Kevin and I filled our advent calendar that I bought in Germany 2 years ago. There is a little pocket for each day. We put verses of the Christmas story in each pocket, as well as candy and fun little activities to do together! Last night, Kevin said "hey babe, why don't you go get the verse out of the calendar". Along with the verse, he had sneakily stuffed a little present in there for me. When I unwrapped it I couldn't believe my eyes!! A sweet little bundle of cash was in there, along with a note that said "to splurge while in Cartagena"! Kevin and I are budget travelers, but because he had agreed to attend a survey group the day before to make $150, he was able to give us a night at a sweet hotel in Columbia. If you didn't already hear, we are going to Ecuador and Columbia in January (see here for more info)!

- Lastly, as you all probably know, I am still selling our 2015 Travel Calendar, and it's gorgeous as ever!! I still have about 20 copies left, and would LOVE for you to enjoy the vibrant pictures and inspiring quotes all year! It would make a fantastic Christmas present, or just a fun addition to your room! These 9x9 calendars have space to write a little something each day! You can purchase one here! 

Basically, the Lord is so good in providing sweet little reminders of His love, and delighting our hearts with our desires! I hope that wherever you are, and however you feel, you would know that God's tenderness is for you too.

PS- And as a fun friday give-away, a few other travel bloggers and I are giving away $150 cash on IG. Go visit my IG page, and read the instructions on how to enter. The give-away will start at 11am EST (or 8am PST for those of us west coasters!) It's pretty easy!! Fingers crossed that you win sweet friend:)

Happy Weekend lovely, 

The 2015 Travel Calendar is HERE!!!

Friends, I could not be any more excited with you to announce that the 2015 Travel Calendar is now for sale! All the pictures in this calendar ware taken by Kevin or I on our travels around the world, and the calligraphy was done by my sweet friend Emmy Clausen who owns Hazel Fern Calligraphy. For weeks Emmy and I have been meeting with the printers, picking the paper, getting the details just right…and today I picked it up in my own hands. Ohhhhh it is gorgeous!! Just what I was envisioning! 

Each page features a unique travel print, a hand written calendar, and a special travel quote to inspire you on the adventure! The Calendars are being sold for $25 each. 

You can start pre-ordering them NOW! The calendars will be printed early next week and will mail them out ASAP in case you need them for Christmas gifts!! They will be the perfect gift for the travel lover in your life…or anyone who loves to dream! 

To purchase a calendar, visit my Etsy shop here. 

I will be on a cruise for Thanksgiving from Wed-Sun. Once I get back I will respond to emails and get your calendars shipped out!! I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating. There is just so so many blessings upon us, I am grateful. YOU readers are a dear blessing to me!!  

A few fun updates for your Monday, and a give-away

{I took these pictures at our Bible Study retreat to Mexico…you can see the full post here}

Hi friends,

I hope you had a marvelous weekend. I sure did! It was filled with lots of friends, family, food, yard saling (of course, right?), and home work (a girls gotta study!). Oh ya, and our kitchen remodel is done so now I'm gonna cook 500 recipes in the next week because i'm SO SICK OF EATING OUT. Glad I got that off my chest:) There just is nothing like a home cooked meal, amiright??? Roasted veggies, come to me!!!

Anyhow, a few fun to things to share with you today!

1) First, we've gotten the green light to start printing our 2015 travel calendar! I'm so excited. My friend Emmy (who did the calligraphy) and I met with the printers on Friday. We picked out the paper (it's called recycled linen…can you visualize the beauty already?), and worked on the picture layout. Ladies, it's going to be a gorgeous addition to your home, filled with bright and colorful travel pictures, inspiring quotes, and just stunning calligraphy. So…hold off from buying a calendar for next year! You will be the first to know when it comes out! I can't wait to show you!! Thank you for all your encouragement last week with it!

2) Secondly, you know how i'm kinda crazy about my yard sales? Well...I decided to open an instagram account called @shopmyclosethopeengaged ….Basically, it's like an online yard sale. I will be periodically posting my clothes at very cheap prices (I think most items are $2, $3, or $4 plus shipping).  So, head on over to Instagram, and start following my online yard sale! It's first come, first serve! Happy Shopping!

3) Lastly, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you, my sweet readers. You have no idea how encouraged I am by your comments, emails and just general love. I love blogging because I get to know such lovely ladies as yourselves! Because of that, I wanted to offer 2 free ad spots to two lucky readers for the next month. To enter to win a free ad spot on my sidebar, all you need to do is leave a comment letting me know if there are any kinds of posts you want me to do more of in 2015! Is there anything you've been dying for me to share about, etc? And if there's not, that's totally fine too!! Looking forward to picking 2 lucky winners to feature on my sidebar!!

Have a great Monday friends. Wish I was saddled up next to you at a coffee shop, chatting away and sipping tea! But instead i'm spending my Monday finishing up a final. So fun! Much love to you all….