Alexis De Weese

Postcards from Camichines Part I: Preparing

Posted on March 24, 2014February 15, 2016 by Lex De Weese in Lex's World

I am excited to finally share my postcards I wrote over my trip to Camichines. Unlike previously believed, I did not have access to internet while I was down there, so I wasn’t able to post these during my time down there. To be honest, that was probably one of the best things for me–being unplugged. For the rest of the week, I will be posting my thoughts and experiences of the trip. Thank you all for your prayers and support. Enjoy!

It wasn’t until I was being driven to the airport that I was struck with the thought:

What am I doing?

Really.

After preparing for weeks that God would open the doors to make this adventure happen. After my wonderful family members gave support money. After packing and preparation. That’s when the thought came.

What am I doing?

This is going to be hard work and long days and unfamiliar surroundings. Am I ready for this? Do I have what it takes?

Waiting to take off for Guadalajara

Sitting on the flight to Guadalajara, these doubts continued to swim around my travel-addled brain.

What was I doing? Where was I going? Was I even supposed to be here?

It struck me this morning, looking out over the beautiful rural village of Camichines, surrounded by obnoxious roosters and misty mountains. These thoughts have filled my days. Not about coming to Mexico, but about my life.

What am I doing? Where am I going? Do I have what it takes?

This mantra chorus of doubt has been the song my heart has been singing for so long.

Reading Jeremiah 2 this morning, I was humbled by the love God expresses through the scolding of his people. The desire for them to turn back to him, to leave behind the other gods they have been chasing after.

My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

My cistern is dry. I am so thirsty, but I have nothing but doubt to draw from.

I have ignored what my father has given me to drink. I have sinned in my self-obsessed search for a future and I have broken my father’s heart.

Sitting here, observing the peace and cacophony of this little rural village, God is inviting me to sing a new song to him. One of trust and confidence in him.

I am on this team for a reason. He has equipped each of us for this work. He desires to me with us here.

Praise the Lord with the harp;
 make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing to him a new song;
 play skillfully, and shout for joy.

For the word of the Lord is right and true;
 he is faithful in all he does.

The rooftop view at sunrise.

So the new song to replace the song in my heart? I am so deeply loved. The future is not mine to worry about. God has already prepared it for me. In him I strive to trust.

My song for this week? I have nothing to offer but what God has given me. I am here for a small blip. I only a small part of this team. I will give what I have to give and the rest is up to God.

We’ll see what happens next!

xo,

–Lex

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Posted on March 17, 2014December 29, 2015 by Lex De Weese in Reading

First, an apology for the dead interwebs last week. I was actually not able to have internet access in Mexico like I had originally thought. I still have posts that will go live next week. I am so excited to share what happened over such a wonderful and eye-opening week. In the mean time, check out #BHBCMex on instagram or twitter!

Now: Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I plan to celebrate this evening with some Irish tea and enjoyment of some of my favorite poems from poets of the emeraled Isle. Here is my favorite poem EVER written by the incredible underrated Patrick Kavanagh.

I find great resonance in this poem as I journey through this season of the unknown. For me, it illustrates God’s control and my need to trust. Please enjoy!

Having Confessed
by Patrick Kavanagh

Having confessed he feels
That he should go down on his knees and pray
For forgiveness for his pride, for having
Dared to view his soul from the outside.
Lie at the heart of the emotion, time
Has its own work to do. We must not anticipate
Or awaken for a moment. God cannot catch us
Unless we stay in the unconscious room
Of our hearts. We must be nothing,
Nothing that God may make us something.
We must not touch the immortal material
We must not daydream to-morrow’s judgment
God must be allowed to surprise us.
We have sinned, sinned like Lucifer
By this anticipation. Let us lie down again
Deep in anonymous humility and God
May find us worthy material for His hand.

xo,

–Lex

P.S. You have two days until the giveaway closes on the Paint Chips and My Mother’s Chamomile set. Sign up below!

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GIVEAWAY: Susie Finkbeiner’s My Mother’s Chamomile AND Paint Chips

Posted on March 5, 2014October 22, 2015 by Lex De Weese in Books, Giveaway, My Mothers Chamomile, Susie Finkbiener

Sign yourself up folks! We’ve got an awesome twofor today!

If you enjoyed Susie Finkbeiner’s guest post on Monday, I highly encourage you to sign up for this giveaway. Susie has graciously agreed to pass along a copy of both Paint Chips and My Mother’s Chamomile. Both her published novels are up for grab today for one lucky reader.

The giveaway will close 11:59 on March 19th. You have two weeks and six–count them–six ways to win! Give Susie’s blog, twitter, or facebook page a follow AND give Preppy Bohemia’s blog, twitter or facebook page a follow. Six chances for two awesome books. I’m tellin’ ya it doesn’t get better than this!

The winner will be contacted on March 20th and the shipment of the books will follow shortly afterward. Please spread the words to your friends. I mean, come on, free books!

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The Pep Talk You Didn’t Know You Needed!–Susie Finkbeiner Guest Blogs

Posted on March 3, 2014December 29, 2015 by Lex De Weese in Writing Thoughts

I met the wonderful Susie Finkbeiner through the wonderful Calvin Festival of Faith and Writing (April 10-12) and have loved getting to know a small bit of her heart for writing and her wonderful sense of humor through the Breathe Conference, her splendid blog, and her first novel, Paint Chips. Her latest novel, My Mother’s Chamomile, was released just last month and I highly recommend you check it out! In the midst of her novel promotion hubbub, she has been gracious enough to send a postcard Preppy Bohemia’s way. I was encouraged by her words and I now you will to! Don’t forget to give her a follow either by blog or by twitter, or a like facebook-way too!

I wove my very first fiction in kindergarten. I told a tale of a master ballerina, age 5, who stunned audiences with her spinning and twirling and leaping.

The ballerina was offered a job dancing on a big stage. However, she turned it down so that she could go to school. The tiny dancer’s name just happened to be Susie. And, well, she was me.

And, no, she couldn’t demonstrate the moves at school. She didn’t want to show off. And when I say “she”, I mean “me”.

My very first fiction was a big whopper of a lie.

I learned that day that I could take life and look at it from a different angle. I could see what was and make it into what could be.

Really, that’s all that fiction writers do. Even the ones who write about mythical creatures such as unicorns and vampires and Amish. Hold on. Amish are real. Right?

Flash forward an undisclosed amount of years. I’m now a working author. I’ve written two novels and am working on the third. I get paid to do this. And if that’s not the biggest gas in all the world, I don’t know what is. That’s not to say I get paid a lot. Still, I get some cash out of the deal. I love where I am now, making up stories, hoping that people will believe them.

But, somewhere in between ballerinas and published novels, I matured from a liar to a novelist. Was that transformation magic? Did I wish for it to be and it was so? Did I fall down the lucky tree and get smacked by every branch?

Nope.

I’m happy to let you in on my secret. I’d love to share how I wound up sitting at my desk, wearing pajama pants, and making up novels. Come in close. Here’s my secret.

I worked really, really, really, really hard.

There you have it, folks. The magic, sparkly bullet is hard work. Oh, and a lot of perseverance and determination added on top.

From the day I lied about being a ballerina to this day, I’ve written hundreds of thousands of words. Possibly even millions. I don’t know. I’m a writer, not a mathematician. I’ve read thousands of books. I’ve had more rejections than acceptances. I’ve fallen on my face more than I’ve soared.

Can I tell you a little something about the down-side? The rejections? They’ve made me better. Stronger. More confident. Because I get back up, put my fingers on the keyboard and keep working. Also, they make the successes that much sweeter.

Are there short cuts? Ways to bypass the hard work? Sure. I suppose there are. But, would good writing be the result? It’s not likely.

It takes hard work. And when the work is done, you start over again. You work even harder. You strive to

make the next better than the one before.

Goodness gracious, this sounds really hard, doesn’t it?

That’s because it is. Here’s the thing, though. It’s worth it.

I don’t know your dream. I’d love to hear about it. Truly I would. Maybe you want to be an actor on Broadway. Possibly you want to invent something really cool that will enhance our lives. You might really want to be a Geometry teacher, in which case, God bless you. Seriously. Whatever your dream, I guarantee it will take a lot of work to achieve. It will take training and education and discipline. You will have to make sacrifices and give of yourself.

You will have to work really, really, really, really hard.

I promise, you will.

But hear me out. It will be worth it. Even if the biggest stage you stand upon is in a community theater. Or if you invent something that is cute, but not hugely useful. Even if all of your Geometry students fail miserably. I will tell you this, if you give your heart to it, no matter what, you will be a success.

If I wake up tomorrow and have a big, huge, “no thank you” letter in my inbox from an editor, I will still write.

If next week I find out that fiction is a bust and that nobody wants to read it anymore, I will still write.

Why? Because I love it. Even if no one ever reads another word I write, I’ll keep putting in the work.

I truly hope you will, too.

I’m Running Away to Mexico!

Posted on February 24, 2014December 29, 2015 by Lex De Weese in Lex's World

Remember when I said I was hoping to get a shot at international travel this year? And then later when I said that some cool opportunities where in the works?

Whelp, the title is kind of a major spoiler.

Regardless, I’m running away to Mexico!!!!!

These past few months have been filled with sulking and applying for jobs and worrying about the future and trying to get my life organized and me me me blah blah blah BLEH!

It becomes suffocating, being self-obsessed. It’s boring and unhealthy. So when the opportunity to go on a short-term missions trip came up, I thought it might be a good way to shake up the MeMeMe in my life to become a little bit more HimHimHim.

I will be spending the first part of March at a self-contained orphanage outside of Guadalajara. (Read more at this awesome blog!) There is a small team of us going down to provide for some physical needs such as building a chicken coop and helping with cleaning and care of the animals and loving and playing with children. The team will also be adding a second story to the school and helping with corn harvesting.

Prayer for the team as well as for those we will be working with would be appreciated. We’re still raising support for the projects we’ll be working on. Prayer for that would be greatly appreciated. Also prayers for good weather and health and strength for the team would be wonderful. A lot of what we will be doing will be outside and requires a lot of stamina, especially in the hot sun.

We fly out on the 8th of March and will be there for a week. I will be able to blog throughout my time there and hope to provide you all with a daily postcard on what is happening and what I’m learning.

What sorts of adventures are you all up to lately? I’d love to hear!

Until then,

xo,

–Lex

Friday Favorites: February

Posted on February 21, 2014October 22, 2015 by Lex De Weese in Uncategorized

Check out the links and products for February! This is kind of a random assortment, but I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

1. Dragon–Breathe Owl Breathe

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/TZ5dBJ3UCXU&source=uds

This is probably the weirdest song ever, but I can’t help but love it. A friend from my writer’s group recommended it and I’ve been loving this band ever since. This song is so simple, whimsical, and weird that I am absolutely smitten. Lovely little love song for your post-Valentine’s day enjoyment. Breathe Owl Breathe is a wonderful band from Michigan (woot woot!) and has many other weird and wonderful folk songs that you should check out.

2. Pomodoro Technique

This is how I’ve been writing my novel the past two months. I live by the Pomodoro technique. Ann Voskamp’s blog lead me here and I am so thankful for her recommendation. (Has there been a Friday favorite I haven’t ripped from her?)
Basically how it works is 25 minutes of highly focused work followed by a five minute break. Repeat until your task is complete. This is now how I write, blog, and clean. Things get done and get done well without wasting a ton of time. I am in love with Pomodoro’s! Try it out and see how your productivity increases.

3. VSCOcam

I LOVE this app. My squibby ipod photos become artsy and lovely thanks to Visual Supply Co’s app. (My Instagram is a testimony to this.) It’s a free photo app that adds wonderful filters while also allowing you to adjust exposure and contrast before even snapping a picture. Don’t believe it’s all that an a bag of chips? Search #VSCOcam on Instagram. (Real photographers know what they’re doing with this app. Their pictures are a better testament to the app than my own.)

4. Green Eyeliner

I don’t wear my make-up this thick,
but you get the idea

My latest make-up addiction? Green eyeliner. I bought a bottle for Halloween as part of a costume for Irene Adler. It was supposed to be a weird cosplay addition. But I loved it! It made my eyes look super dark brown and really brought attention to my eyes. I use Wet and Wild and only paid a little over two dollars. If you’re looking for a way to spice up a party look, I’d highly recommend trying a funky eyeliner color to complement your eyes.

5.iHOME speaker iHM60

I have a small confession: My job can be mindless at times. When things get slow, we watch Hulu while completing print orders. Thing is, the speakers on our work computer are less than adequate. I have the iHome speaker in my car and we have used this ever since. It cranks of the volume of my ipod or my laptop for sharing movies or playlists. It’s probably my favorite gadget.

The Obstacles to My Enjoyment

Posted on February 17, 2014December 29, 2015 by Lex De Weese in Lex's World, Spirituality

The weekend after I was laid off from the internship, I led on a youth retreat. Not exactly how I wanted to spend that weekend. I would have preferred to spend those couple days wrapped in self-pity and a blanket in bed with kleenex and what was left of my chocolate supply.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my girls! But I felt like I had just come off of one of the more hellish weeks of my life. Not only had I been laid off, but I was denied a promotion at my second job.

And I felt lost.

The speaker for the weekend presented us with a quote from Larry Crabb that put it all in perspective for me:

We cannot count on God to arrange what happens in our lives in ways that will makes us feel good. We can, however, count on God to patiently remove all the obstacles to our enjoyment of Him. He is committed to our joy, and we can depend on Him to give us enough of a taste of that joy and enough hope that the best is still ahead to keep us going in spite of how much pain continues to plague our hearts.

Let that sink in. Read it again.

God does not want me to feel good. He is not out to make my life happy. He desires so much more for us!

God has taken captive the events of our lives, even those that were meant to be broken and twisted, and is bending them to his glory! He is a passionate father, seeking to remove every obstacle in order to be in right relationship with us.

His plan cannot be foiled! His love can only be ignored for so long before we are aching for it again. He is committed to our joy. He desires us to take joy in the plan he has laid out for us. They way is going to be hard. It is not always going to be the most comfortable or even bearable at points. But it is the end goal that gives us hope.

This does not mean He expects us to be happy all the time. To be honest, I am not happy right now. I still feel lost and a little sad. But there is joy in this season. There is a quiet moment each day when I am asked to come and be still with my father. A moment to refresh myself in the joy He has given me–a moment to realize that life is not about my comfort, but my enjoyment of the father.

God is not an ego maniac, forcing us to mindlessly worship him with happy faces even when life sucks. He is a father who yearns to be in relationship with us where we are–happy, sad, downright pissed. His desire is to be enjoyed by his children through their trust in His way, even when that way gets hard and uncomfortable. His desire is to be relied on in those moments. To be given a chance to comfort and guide his children through the dark and show them the light that is ahead for them.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. –Romans 5:1-5

Friend, I encourage you to sit down with the father today. Remove the obstacles that are keeping you from enjoying him. Find peace and a taste of joy in that quiet moment with Him.

Things of Romance

Posted on February 10, 2014October 22, 2015 by Lex De Weese in Love, Romance, Valentine's Day

I am a hopeless romantic. I love all things love-y. Stories, songs, poems–heck–chocolate! Valentines day is a wonder and bane to me. I love seeing people’s gestures of love toward one another. I also find myself blissfully single on this day most years. (This is not a problem by any means, but Valentines day makes you very uncomfortably aware of this fact.)
So I’ve compiled some things I think express love in either big ways or small. Please enjoy and get excited for Valentines day as you think of how to express love to those around you, romantic or no.

Run Away With Me–Kerrigan-Lowdermilk (Performed by Jeremy Jordan): I think this song is so lovely. I have always been enchanted by the thought of running away into the sunset and I think the lyrics capture that whistfulness and the romance of such a notion. I have been really impressed by these writers and Jeremy’s performance is not to shabby either.

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/jVwtGU3KOro&source=uds

Ann Voskamp on ‘Boring Men’: This blog post was such a lovely picture of what marriage is. I was really convicted by her words and I’m not even married, so I think that says something. Give it a read through. I know you’ll enjoy it.

About Time: I saw this movie with friends recently and really really enjoyed it. It was a wonderful “chick-flick” but from a guys perspective and had a sweet and romantic take on life and marriage and family. I really enjoyed it. If you’re looking for a date movie, I’d recommend this one. It may not be in theaters anymore… hmm… that would be unfortunate. But if it is, go see it!

Ella Enchanted–Gail Carson Levine: This children’s novel is one of my favorite books ever–always in my top five, at least. It’s wonderfully written and has been the backbone of my inspiration to write and read and just be as a human being. (Like really. Books we love as children tend to have a great impact on our adult life… though I suppose that’s another post of another day…) It’s short and fast-paced and is seriously the first thing I ever thought of as truly romantic. You’ll know the scene when you get to it. Trust me on this one. (And NO, watching the movie does not count. the move is an abomination and should not bare the same title or any affiliation to such a marvelous book!… There, now I’ll get off my soapbox.)

The Lizzie Bennett Diaries: Pride and Prejudice is–without question–a great love story. And I love a creative retelling of almost any sort. Hank Green of VlogBrothers fame partnered with Bernie Su to create the Lizzie Bennett Diaries,a clever retelling of Jane Austen’s best known work. This is an adequate way to spend Singleness Awareness Day. Be warned though, the entire series can be watched in a night, but it’s seven hours total. Worth it though. Definitely worth it.

Threads Thursday! Literary Coziness

Posted on February 6, 2014December 29, 2015 by Lex De Weese in Lex's World

This is a trial run for something I’ve been interested in trying for many months now. I love clothes and live my life notoriously over-dressed. I’m not attempting fashion-blogger-y here, but I just wanted to try a fashion post. I love having ideas from other bloggers on how to extend the wear of my wardrobe. It’s nice to see how others pair their basics to make new outfits out of what they already own. Here is my attempt!

I was feeling literary and cozy this Saturday. I wore this to meet some friends for coffee and was pleasantly warm and comfy. This tan wool blazer is one of my favorite closet items and instantly classes up a casual look. I thought a sweater and a blazer would be overkill, but this is Michigan and I was actually quite comfortable in this super chilly weather. (Darn you, polar vortex!)

Blazer–Target
Scarf–Target (Similar)
Cable-Knit Sweater–Hand-me-down
Jeans–Express
Belt–Fossil (Similar)

Shoes–Hush Puppy

I love vintage touches, like the high heels. I’ve also become a champion of a blazer… with pretty much every outfit. When I found this one at the store, it reminded me of the tweed jacket of a professor… sans, elbow patches. (La, if only there were elbow patches!)

Hope you’re staying warm and cozy in your end of the world!

xo,

–Lex

Why is the Rug Gone?!

Posted on February 3, 2014December 29, 2015 by Lex De Weese in Lex's World, Stages of Life, Waiting

A few weeks ago, I had written about heading into the next chapter. About my dream internship and moving on and growing up.

…And then I stalled out.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, some things fell through at the company and there was no longer a job for me there.

The wind was knocked out of me.

I was back at square-one. Back at my old job. Back in that stage I was ready to be done with.

Even three weeks later, I am still a little stunned. I’m not really sure where to go from here. The rug has been ripped out from under me and now I just feel stuck.

It is in these moments that I feel more than a little confused. What was the point of going through that if the experience wasn’t going to be substantial? Why did that even happen, God?

I’m lying here, back to the floor, rug now askew, and I have nothing. No idea, very few prospects, and empty hands.

Remember when I said I wanted this year to be about godliness and contentment? God answers prayer.

So I’m here. Back where I started: job that’s not my favorite, future uncertain, and loans to pay. Am I going to thank him for this. Am I going to learn to trust him in this. Because I have a job in which I get flexible hours and work with some awesome people. Because I have a God who has promised to fill my needs and guide me in a story he is writing to his glory. Because here is not such a bad place to be “stuck.”

I have been given a talent here. Am I going to invest with this little and prove myself faithful for more? Am I going to be obedient and learn to live fully where I am placed? Is there really anything else I can do? Godliness and contentment. That I what I have asked him for. This is how it is being given to me right now.
So I can scramble to get the rug back where it was, or I can trust it was moved for a reason.

I really feel God calling me to stay put for a month or two. Some opportunities are arising that I would not have been able to look into had I still been at the internship or another job. (Don’t worry, I’ll let you know once they’re set in stone.) I have more time to devote to my novel and was just given a wonderful plot twist only yesterday. I have time to invest into my small groups and writing group and my friends. I have been given an opportunity to enjoy what I have been given. Even if it was not given in the way I would have preferred.

So, yes, the rug has been ripped out from under me, but with purpose. Even if the purpose is not yet clear, I am going to trust that I have been placed where I need to be. I’ll tell you how it goes from here.

xo,

–Lex

P.S. Tune in Thursday at noon. I’m trying something new and want to know what you think!