advice

never proclaim that you will not put up with something 

... chances are, you have, you will and you would.

friends, spouse, significant other, boss, coworker, parents, children ~

at some point in your life, you have looked at someone else's and said "no mam, i would not put up with that!"  secretly (or openly) we judge people that are slow to offend and quick to forgive.  always understand that you do not have all the facts.  these people we judge are most likely just doing their best to be kind, loving and forgiving people. 

it is my desire to be quicker to listen, slower to speak and slower to become angry (james 1:19-20).

flash back friday

i had something different planned for this friday, but it will have to wait until another week.  its been a little crazy with work and baby grant. 

i was a cheerleader back in the day.  when i share this with people they usually think its hysterical and cant really picture me cheering.  then they think about it for a minute and realize i am the loudest person in the room and say something like "ok, i can see that."  i will admit that its not really anything im proud of, although, im not ashamed of it either.  sometimes when i look back, it kinda seems like a waste of time.  but then i remember the fun we had misbehaving, the group of us or "squad" if you will.  

it kind of makes me feel better when people cant picture me in my tiny skirt, cheering on the team, being all girly and snobby.  most of the time they stereo type these girls as the "popular crowd" that stuck together and turned their nose up at everyone.  i know for a fact there were girls like that in our group and unfortunately, some may still be this way.  im not saying i was an angel, but i feel like i was close friends with many different groups of people.  i dont just miss the squad, i also miss the art club group and my drama class.  so, although i was a cheerleader, i feel like i fit into a lot of different groups in school ... or maybe i didnt fully "fit in" with any of them?  

what kind of stereotyped group did you fit into when you were in school?  

how to be alone

i found this video on altruism in the morning.

i hate being alone, but the video is inspiring. im not saying i will try to enjoy very long periods of time alone, but i need to learn to get more satisfaction out of a certain amount.

blessings

today is the day that i wait while my good friend tara has her first baby, grant williams.  im sitting here thinking about what a blessing this baby is and will be.

these thoughts make me realize how truly blessed i am.  today, i challenge you to acknowledge the blessings God has given you.  im not talking about the vague and obvious things like friends and family.  im talking about really thinking about your life, the people in it, the job you have, the people in your life that are making a difference in you but also except you for who you are right now.

i have too many blessings to count.  however, i would like to give a shout out to the big man upstairs for the following (in no particular order):

• small group - our small group has made the world of difference in my life.  we have been with this group for about a year now and have really become closer to God and closer to each other.
• family -  of course, my mom and dad, sister and brother are blessings ... but its more than that.  its my nephew, my in-laws and the rest of my extended family.  we have recently lost two deeply loved and deeply missed members of my family.  the blessing is we are also growing.  i have a cousin, grant, getting married to a wonderful girl next month.  i have another cousin, michael and dana, having their first child next week and another cousin, josh, that is recently engaged.  my family is full of supportive, selfless, Godly people that continue to be a blessing each and every day.  
• husband - i am blessed that husband is patient, kind and that he takes such good care of me.  i often think about how i do not deserve such a man and then i remember that he is a gift.   when you think about it, we dont deserve a single gift God gives us, yet he gives to us anyway.  

go fig-ure

i stopped by bickett market not too long ago and bought some note worthy figs ... im talking tangerine size figs.  they were everything i had hoped they would be and more :)

i know its silly to post about the figs i bought ... but they were THAT good!

you can follow the bickett market fan page to keep up with events and specials.

in His hands

goodie goodie gumdrops!

take a look at this post from apartment therapy.

i tend to keep my books ... all of them.  and when i loan them out, i usually write my name in them so i can get them back.  the reason for this is so i can reread it or loan it out again.  

anywho, this bookshelf is a dream come true.  now if only i had a house it would fit in and one million dollars :)

flash back friday

between husband and i, we have compiled a list of our favorite tv shows from back in the day.  he had a hard time narrowing it down to a few ... im thinking he watched a lot more tv than i did ;)

what was your afternoon/saturday morning lineup?  

etsy ecstasy

fabulous fall finds

these give me the warm fuzzies for autumn

this makes me wish i was a student again.
who needs a backpack when you have a great messenger bag like this?

oh my ... i heart this bag too!

honestly, i really cant decide which piper & paisley hat i love best.
i think this might be my favorite?  (i kinda want them all)

love these!!!

this screen printed jersey scarf is perfect!

and top it all off with this whimsical necklace.  

autumn is on the way and for once, im ready for it.  this summer has been a little too hot and sticky for even me.  i cant wait to break out a plethora of jackets, new boots and even more exciting, my great grandfather's hat that i will be rockin in the cooler weather.

all of the items above are from esty (click on pic to shop) ... and all but the yellow plaid messenger bag are under $50.  take some time to find a few fun and original items to keep your fall fashion a little more exciting.  

words to live by

i do not read through God's word as much as i should.  this is one of many flaws i am working on.

today i would like to share with you a few bible verses i keep hidden in my heart.  these are words i cary with me that help through good days and bad, when i feel loved and when i feel alone.  if you are a regular reader or a facebook friend of mine, you may have seen some of these already.

but God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:8

trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
- Proverbs 3:5-6

i seek you with all my heart: do not let me stray from your commands.  i have hidden your word in my heart that i might not sin against you. 
- psalm 119:10-11

be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, as in Christ God forgave you. 
- Ephesians 4:32

my soul finds rest in God alone: my salvation comes from Him.  He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, i will never be shaken.
- Psalm 62:1-2

a day at the beach

on saturday, mom, brother, sister, baby and i all crammed into brother's truck and headed for carolina beach.  this is not the first time vincent has been to the beach ... but its the first time ive been with him.  im pretty sure he has never been this dirty.  we were relieved when he finally decided that he liked the ocean, so he could be rinsed off.  

these are the days i love more than anything ... family, fun and sun.  

flash back friday

remember when you were young?  

nothing worry about besides building forts, making mud pies, climbing trees, summers at the pool and riding your bike around the neighborhood.  the world was your playground. 

im trying to get back there a little each day ... adventure, innocence, joy and childlike faith.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

"flash back friday" is all about giving a shout out to the past.  im going to do my best to commit to this weekly post.  you can expect throw back trends, past time pictures, memories worth sharing and much more.

have a great weekend!  

... getting to know me, getting to know all about me

uninteresting and silly facts about me:

1. i giggle every time someone says "duty."  especially, when the word is used in military conversation or any serious context.  the more somber the mood ... the more i giggle.
2. i love spinning toddlers around and then watch them try to walk
3. i despise my handwriting 
4. i could eat cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner
5. one of the first things i notice about someone is their pant/shoe combination. 
6. its a little scary and unhealthy how excited i get about food. 
7. i really dont have a style (although, im working on it).  deep inside me lives many style personalities and i dont have the skill nor cajonies to mesh them all together.  
8. i despise working out.  i always can think of 73.5 things i need to do or would rather be doing. 
9. i have known husband since the 6th grade and if someone would have told me he would end up husband, i probably would have kicked them in the shin. 
10. if i was ever given an extra $10 in change at walmart (and only there) im pretty sure i would not give it back.  i would hope they were trying to repay me for the time they have stolen from my life, standing in their blasted lines. 
11. if i had a theme song it would be float on by modest mouse. 
12. i think that ethnic babies/children are cuter than caucasians babies/children 75% of the time ... not trying to be a racist, just sayin
13. i think in another life i was a pirate or ninja ... or maybe a pirate ninja
14. in elementary school, when it was time to get my eyes checked, i would stare at the lights while waiting in line, hoping i would have to get glasses.
15. husband was never my boyfriend, before he was husband. 
16. if i was an animal, i think i would be a llama.
17. bartok the magnificent was one of my very favorite movies ... at the age of 20.  i just love that little bat
18. i used to be a baton twirler and almost won a pageant because i was that good at it.  
19. i would rather hang out with someone i dont even like than be by myself for too long ...
20.  ... except on car rides.  i enjoy driving by myself and singing what i want to sing as loud as i want to sing it (and sometimes i talk to myself). 

ode to jen

dear jen,

its your birthday and you are my friend.

we go together like a pocket protector and pen.

the end!

remember:

• when you cheered for norwayne with us.
• when we stole the coca cola umbrella from the gas station on the way home from the water park. 
• when i called you in the middle of the night last year and you were there for me.
• when we flew to vegas and you were wearing that silly sweatshirt the whole day.
• when we both flew on a plane for the first time together. 
• that time you needed a ride from the airport and called me.  i was asleep and told you i would come get you, when in fact, i thought i dreamed the whole thing. 
• when we rolled down that hill at the winery and then took pictures posing as american eagle models.
• ... "senior, you forgot my skirt"
• when i almost stop being your friend and let you be another cancun statistic.
• those times when i was so angry i could spit and you calmed me down.
• when you came with me to the daffodil festival to help pass out bbq sandwiches.
• when we were in highschool, husband had the hots for you.
• when you danced with my grandmother at my wedding.
• when you were almost strangled and thrown into the ocean at my wedding :)
• when you basically hit on my dad at my wedding.
• when we used to hang out at the goat at 3pm.
• when hi-5 was our jump-off.
• when we went skiing with margaret and wayne.
• raccoon holler's bathroom/basement/kitchen.
• when your milkshake brought all the boys to the yard.
• that you will always be my OY sister. 
• when karaoke, "shots for all my friends" and an after party (in your Christmas sweatshirt) was a "low key" night. 

thank you for always loving without judging, being the best friend a girl could ask for and for always being a good time ...
for all these things and sooooo much more, THANK YOU!!!!!  

happy birthday to one of the most specialist people in my life.  

i love you boo!!!!

photo by christine hall

photo by christine hall

cheers to you!

farm adventures

a couple of weeks ago (yeah, im a little behind) husband and i took a trip to visit his family in shelby, nc.  we stayed with his grandparents on their angus beef farm.  after waking up at the crack of dawn saturday morning for breakfast, we took a walk/ride around the farm.  husband has so many fond memories of visiting when he was younger.  it was sweet to hear him talk about his granddad putting him to work and playing around the farm with his brother.

even though we have known each other since the 6th grade, i always love the glimpses into husbands childhood that help me get to know him even better.

^ the family ^

 ^ brave olivia ^

... looking upwards

I roll the window down
And then begin to breathe in
The darkest country road
And the strong scent of evergreen
From the passenger seat as you are driving me home.

Then looking upwards
I strain my eyes and try
To tell the difference between shooting stars and satellites
From the passenger seat as you are driving me home.

"do they collide?"
I ask and you smile.
With my feet on the dash
The world doesn't matter.

When you feel embarrassed then i'll be your pride
When you need directions then i'll be the guide
For all time.
For all time. 

the little man that stole my heart ...

i was able to spend some time with my family this past weekend.  we had a good time as always.  when i was driving home, i just kept thinking how blessed i am.  

as always, i was soooo excited to see my nephew, vincent.  mom tells me this is the best thing next to having your own child ... and she is right.  i could watch him entertain himself for hours, its hysterical.  he is so silly and loves to make you laugh.  below are some of my favorite pics of v.  

photo above by christine hall