for 2015: write more and love better

Perpetual is never-ending, never-changing.

Birthdays and anniversaries, they never-change either, yet I forget to celebrate them (I know, SMH too). How could I, the one behind give with joy, forget to send cards out?! Blame it on being busy or whatever. That's why I created this perpetual calendar - so I wouldn't forget and I could be more intentional. I created it for me. For you. For us to be better at celebrating life with one another even if it's just sending a note. Because honestly, we could be better at writing and affirming one another.

We often focus on what someone lacks vs. their unique qualities that inspire so much beauty.

So this year, focus on writing more and loving better.

Morning and Truth

As a believer. I forget. 

I forget that God says who He says He is. 
I forget to just sit and read.
I forget to just listen and pray. 

I forget the truth. 

You feel the same? 

All of our stories are different. I'm not sure how you came to your belief in Jesus. But I literally was rescued my Jesus. I needed Him to show up. I needed the weight of the world to come off my shoulders.

He showed up. 

And yet, I forget the truth. 

The journal I created for you is more than paper bond together because there are so many great journals out there. Pretty ones, functional ones, big ones, and little ones. And I really didn't want to add to the already inundated market.

I wanted to create a journal that would allow us, as women, to learn about our God's heart and to walk in step with His word. I wanted to have pages that engaged us and guided us to fill up with His glory and life.

Let's rise each morning, sit with Jesus, read truth and fall more in love with our Savior. 

(purchase a copy here)

2014 gift guide

One of the values behind give with joy is learning to slow down. I feel like I am hustling a lot - a lot more than I would like. And when November hits, I feel like I don't get to enjoy the quiet nights that winter brings enough. I don't enjoy the wonder and joy of the season because I am running in and out of stores looking for the best gifts.

Gift giving can be stressful and I feel like I don't say that out loud because then people will think I am just cheap or selfish. Why would it ever be stressful shopping for others? Maybe because it's cold out and I can't find parking. Or the lines are long. Or because our budget is tight and I am stretching myself. Or because I feel like I am just buying a gift to say, "here, here is your gift..." that will most likely never where because you don't like it.

(d e e p b r e a t h)

I like giving gifts, I do. But I also want to sit and rest and enjoy the season with PEOPLE not stores. 

So, to help inspire joy during the holidays and create time to sit and rest with people, I've created and will continue to add to ... A G I F T G U I D E. Stephanie from Steph Loves Ben is also contributing.

It lives on Pinterest and it promotes handmade, small shops, DIY crafts, creative gift ideas, gifts that bring people + community together, and ways to support amazing social causes.

If you find nothing on the gift guide, try my Etsy lists I have created throughout the year. You'll bless someone who is working hard to build their handmade shop!

I hope it helps you create your own lists early - maybe even order online. I hope you find yourself running around less and sitting with people more over a cup of hot cocoa.


Here's to a season full of wonder and joy,
aneta nina

the TO-DO calendar is here

Wow! I have been wanting to share give with joy's first calendar with you all months ago, but it wasn't ready. I didn't want to create another cute calendar, but one that would inspire joy - one that would help us slow down.

When I first started designing the calendar, I had this idea to hand-letter inspirational quotes for each month. I planned out the quotes and began to sketch, but I wasn't loving it. Naturally, I gave up.

But then I prayed for creativity (yes, I prayed for the calendar). I am not joking, the next morning as I was driving into work I had this IDEA! What if I made it a TO-DO calendar?!?

I began to work out the new idea. I hand-lettered each month and created six things for you to do each month with lines for you to include your own.

You see, this calendar is inspired by our busy days. We all make lists to organize our lives and sometimes, we just forget to have fun, forget to call people back or to explore our community.

I've created lists full of experiences, not tasks, for you to do each month. You'll find a few adventures to take each month or a simple act of kindness you can do for someone else.

Here's to a new year. A year where we can slow down and inspire one another to give, live and love with joy in the midst of busyness.

xo,
Aneta Nina

Purchase your calendar today! First TEN orders get the hanger included!

Jan:
Build a snowman
Bake cookies
Send a letter to mom 
Go sledding 
Donate blankets to a local shelter
Shovels for your neighbors

Feb:
Send out valentines
Surprise someone with a gift
Watch a movie made before 1990
Catch up with an old friend
Donate diapers to a women's shelter
Have a picnic indoors

March:
Invite friends over for dinner
Buy fresh flowers 
Go for a walk
Catch up with an old friend
Go on a bike ride

April:
Clean out junk drawers
Send a letter to a grandparent
Visit a museum
Run in the rain
Have a picnic
Go to a thrift store

May:
Bake cookies
Call a friend
Take a walk in your neighborhood
Buy fresh flowers
Send a gift to a friend
Volunteer in your community 

June:
Send a letter to a friend
Go to a farmer's market
Watch the sunset
Clean a nearby park or your neighborhood
Have a dinner party 
Go swimming

July:
Go on a hike
Go to a free concert
Go strawberry picking 
Enjoy a bonfire
Go out for ice cream
Go for a bike ride

Aug.:
Donate school supplies
Send a postcard
Make a new recipe
Go on a mini road trip
Go for a bike ride 
Look up at the stars

Sept.:
Watch the sunrise
Visit a pumpkin patch 
Host a football party 
Print a photo and send it to someone 
Go to a fall festival 
Send an encouraging note a friend

Oct.:
Carve a pumpkin
Go apple picking
Finish a book 
Take a fall scenic drive
Donate hats and gloves
Jump in a leaf pile

Nov.:
Host a friends giving 
Write gratitude letters for family and friends
Go out for coffee at a local shop
Donate canned food
Play a board game
Make pumpkin pie

Dec.:
Make handmade gifts
Go to a local theater for a holiday show
Send out Christmas cards
Go snowshoeing or skiing
Watch a Christmas movie
Go bowling

logo designs

Remember that time I redesigned give with joy's logo and brand? It was quite the process.

Lots of sketching, erasing and starting from scratch. But the final product was worth it all and I wanted to do more. Two of my friends, both Denver photographers, asked me to help them with their logos and brands. 

Rachel needed hand lettering for her logo. So, over wine, we worked together to put together a concept. Please promise me you'll take some time this week to read some of her blog posts. This girl knows how to write (and take amazing photos). She wrote this little piece on me. 

Keep up with Green Chair Stories and Rachel here.

The Green Chair Stories was hand-lettered by me and the chair by our friends Ann + Rachel

Working with Hannah was the best. She trusted and empowered me to design a logo and help her create a brand that best represents Hannah Lesley Photographer. This girl has talent too. Look for yourself here. 

I started the process with Hannah at Former Future Brewing Company where we chatted about her business. Ideas started to flow. I sketched eight designs and sent them to Hannah. She picked three that she liked and we went from there until we created this one:

I hand drew and hand-lettered the logo making this a unique design. We created a business card, social media images and packaging (photos to come). It was more than a logo. It was about creating a brand for her new business reflecting her style. Follow her here.

logo + brand details 

social media images

social media images

front of business card 

back of business card

I hate the going to the dentist. It's only because every time I go, I get the news about cavities! Just pull them out already and give me dentures! I kid! But I do love going to one of the best dentist's in Denver - Nick Gagner from Hampden Dentistry. He makes appointments a breeze. 

I was lucky enough to help in his logo redesign. It was such a fun piece to work on because it was for a dental office. It stretched my creative capacity to think outside of logos I have designed in the past. I worked with him on branding and what he wants his clients to experience while at the office. 

After a few drafts and collaboration with my talented friend Ann, we found the perfect logo. The logo was hand drawn and hand lettered giving it a complete unique, fresh look.

Now, if you live in Denver, go ahead and schedule an appointment with Nick. 

Need a logo design or the whole package? Look here and here. 

with joy, 

aneta nina 

#WriteMore | #LoveBetter

#WriteMore #LoveBetter isn't just two hashtags to add to my give with joy photos on Instagram.

As a women, or maybe just a human, I think we I could do a better job of loving others better - more deeply. And not just the people I call family or BFFs. I want to love P E O P L E better. I want to encourage better and flourish better and celebrate better and challenge better.

Sit down and write more. Write to someone facing a very difficult decision or someone experiencing heartbreak. Let them know they are strong and that things will get better.

Write to someone who studied their tail off and not only passed but passed with flying colors. Celebrate people's accomplishment.

Write to someone who just heard that they are having a baby. Let them know that they will be great parents.

Write to affirm. Write to love. Write to champion over each other. Write to mourn with others. Write to elevate others beyond ourselves.

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. | Romans 12:10

Or there's this translation: Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. | Romans 12:10

Writing out our love for others is just part of the bigger picture, but I think it will help teach us to love better. So, take this informal challenge and make it priority to write more to others.

PS: AUGUST 17th ONLY, 30% off your $10 order with coupon code ONEDAY | Shop now

At the Table

Busy. Everyone is busy. We have appointments here and there. Commitments to do this and that. We say yes when we should say no. And at the end of the day, week, month, year we feel overwhelmed, tired and maybe empty!

This year, I am learning to slow down, to say no, yes to God, and to gather at the table a heck of a lot more.

If we allow it, life can be extremely busy. But it doesn't have to be.

I say yes a lot even when I should say no. I am realizing that when I say YES to every little invitation or request it leaves me little room to prioritize what God wants me to do. I do believe that this season of my life He is wanting me to REST in Him - to rest with His people. We simply can't move and go do the things God asks us to do if we aren't growing deep roots in Him - roots that won't grow weary of doing good.

[Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts... Acts 2:46]

This leads me to the IF:Table. I was introduced to the IF:Table at the IF:Gather (a conference that was unlike anything I've been to). It's an intentional time to set each month, invite some women, break bread together and connect!

Just a week ago, I held another one at my house. I invited some girls, I set the table, we ate dinner together and just connected. We never got to the four questions, but it was great to sit back and connect with these girls - to forget about our to do lists and just build relationships.

We need each other. So many of us just need cheerleaders in our lives. People that flourish us.

Can we do that better? When we meet other women, can we affirm them? Can we love them with a genuine love? Can we cheer them on in life? Because life, life can be hard and conversations, friendship and girl time is healing and life-giving. And this is truth.

 

small prints for each girl to take with them

 

with joy,
aneta nina