A little bit of this...a little bit of that.

4 Day Weekend, 3 Day work week...Love

Real Housewives of New Jersey last night...Undecided

Bachelorette last night:

William's Date...Love

Bentley...D-Bag

Mickey's Date...The coin flip game got a little old

Sleepover/Shopping in Conway this weekend with my favorite little girls...Love x 7

Payday Week...Love

Summer in Arkansas is officially here...Don't Love, hurry up Fall

Hangover 2...Hilarious

Diet resumed after a failure of a Holiday weekend...Don't Love

Pinterest, my new obsession...Love

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all have a great week!

Happy Memorial Day!

 

Nate and I spent the day with my family, we fished with the kids and then had a cookout...My camera didn't last long but I was able to get a few pictures!  

And most importantly to all our Veterans who have fought for our freedom, and our current Military members that are still doing so, Thank you!

Number 7...Check!

Several weeks ago I posted my 30 Before 30 list...you can go check that out here. I've started a number of the things on the list, but this weekend I found my #7. My dad helps every month with our churches food bank, and this weekend they were short on volunteers because so many people were away for the Holiday weekend, so Friday night I agreed to wake up at 7:15 on a Saturday morning and go help. I went into it thinking, 4 hours then I get to go home and take a nap, but little did I know I would receive a blessing myself. I have been very blessed, and I am very fortunate that I grew up in a family that always took great care of me, I never have wanted for much, and  I have certainly have never went to bed hungry. When I got to the church at 7:40 there were cars lined up around the block, and we live in a fairly small town, I guess I just didn't understand the great need in our community. A number of the cars had 2 or 3 families in them, because they didn't even have vehicles to come get the food, so they had came with friends and neighbors. I'm not sure of every persons intentions that were there, I am sure some of them were there to take advantage of the kindness of our church, like the lady who was having her nails done on Friday when I was in the Salon, but was 4th in line at the food bank...pretty sure if you can spend $50 on nails, you can buy food....BUT it's not my place to judge. The thing that opened my eyes, broke my heart, and I think made the whole experience worthwhile for me was seeing the sweet little children get out of the cars with their parents, not knowing if this child got to wake up and have breakfast, or if they were depending on this food to keep them from going hungry. The joy on their face when when looked in their box and saw something as simple as a box of cereal, or a package of snack cakes changed my whole outlook. I have found my #7, my worthy cause, and I will be spending every 4th Saturday bright and early with my dad, hopefully making a difference in these peoples lives, and definitely opening my eyes and making me SO thankful for what I have.

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."                   -John 6:35 NIV

I hope you all have a blessed Sunday!

Farewell to Fat Friday!

I'm starting a Friday series to help me keep track of my weight loss, and to document my triumphs [or downfalls] each week. I feel like having this weekly check in will keep me accountable, and will help me actually stick to this. I'm not savvy enough to create a link up, but I would love if you would join me on this journey.
I'm using this picture for [Thinspiration]...It was immediately un-tagged from FB because my immediate thought was, I don't look like that...there's no way! But a picture doesn't lie, and that is why I have to do this, and I have to do it now!

PS: Don't I have gorgeous friends?

I officially started my diet yesterday...I had to grab a quick breakfast because I didn't have time to prepare the night before, so I grabbed some scrambled eggs from McD's, and had water. I had decided on Subway for lunch, but right after 11 we had 2 delivery men walk in our office door within 5 minutes of one another...The first was a sign from the diet Gods...(The reason I know it was from the diet Gods is because the only things dipped in chocolate were bananas...GAG!)

Yum-O...I forgot how much I love grapes...they went on the shopping list!

The second delivery was not from the diet Gods, obviously..Mexican Chicken w/a roll, and a Chocolate Rum Walnut muffin...Everything in moderation, right? Fortunately I had a lot of fruit from our Edible Arrangement, so I picked through the Mexican Chicken, and passed on the roll and muffin...I've obviously had enough of those in my day! Ha :)

This weekend is a Holiday weekend, and that always calls for a family function, which also calls for food. Can we talk about something for a second? The ladies in my family can cook...actually they can't just cook, then they COOOOOK! I mean, good, southern, fat, fried, sugar, butter...givin' Paula Deen a run for her money COOK! This weekend will really be a test, I know Nate and I will have a date night, and then we will have a family fish fry Monday, but I have to stick to this...if I don't do it now...when will I?

I hope you all have a great weekend! I can't wait to hear your triumphs for the week...and I am always open to advice, suggestions, or something that has worked for you!

Why do I blog?

So, I've been at this almost 2 months and I absolutely love it. I love finding new blogs, reading about the amazing lives of different women, and sharing my life with those who want to hear it. I have been "venturing out" I guess you could say, finding other ways to occupy my time, rather than shopping, and this by far has been one of my favorite new found "hobbies". I realized it would be a great way to keep track of these last 5 years of my twenties; a good way to remember Holiday's and great times with friends, family functions, weight loss, and let's not forget this amazing love I'm in. I'll be able to look at pictures and comments and remember exactly how I felt at the time. I'll be able to use it as a diary I guess you could say, something to reflect on when I'm a bit older so I can see just how far I have come. As I said in my first post; this blog wont change your life, and likely wont make your heart warm, but it will be real...and it will be me...hope you enjoy...

Thinspiration!

Last night I watched the Season Finale of The Biggest Loser, sadly I didn't watch the season, and I wish I would have. One of the finalist Hannah caught my attention, she and her sister Olivia were on the show together, and in the end the grand prize was between the two of them. In the end her sister Olivia ended up winning the grand prize, but it was a very close race! Weight has always been a constant struggle for me, and seeing the way these ladies felt when they got on the scale last night, and had weight loss between 120-130 pounds was empowering!

I have started so many Monday diets in the last few years, that usually end at about 8:35am, when I have a Dr. Pepper, and something totally unhealthy for breakfast! I have never in my life been the skinny girl, in High School when I was extremely healthy and active I was a size 12/14, and I couldn't have been happier. I don't want to be a size 4, I'm pretty certain my bones are bigger than a size 4...lol...but I don't want to be the "fat friend" anymore. I don't want to feel uncomfortable in my own skin. I don't want people to tell me, "you're such a pretty girl, BUT, you'd be much prettier if you were thinner." I don't want to have to make jokes to distract from the fact that my weight is an issue, and that it does bother me. I want to be able to walk into a boutique shopping with my girlfriends, and buy something off the rack. I want to wear shorts, and tank tops, and not worry about showing my arms or legs. I have set a goal for myself of losing 75 pounds. That will put me at my High School weight, and I feel like I would be healthy, and feel better.

I know that this is not impossible, but I do know it is going to be HARD work. I know my first step will be a change in my eating habits, and cutting out caffeine. I haven't decided if I want to join a gym, or if I want to try to workout on my own. Have any of you struggled with weight, and found a system that works? If so, what are some tips that you can share with me? What are things you ate? How did you stick to a workout routine?

Pinterest-ing Wednesday!

I recently discovered Pinterest, and I love, love, love it! I decided to link up this week with Michelle at The Vintage Apple to share some of my favorite finds from this week!

 

Lately some of my favorite pictures and signs have cute sayings or quotes on them...I would love to have some of these hanging in my house!

I want to print and frame this for my desk!

Truth.

I love this...I need to remember this!

Lol...I don't want to frame this one...but it is quite hilarious!

I hope y'all have a great Wednesday! You can follow me on Pinterest here!

Y'all go check this out...or don't...because I want to win it ;)

Hey y'all...I know I've already written an extremely long blog post today, but it wasn't fitting to mention this AWESOME giveaway that Savannah is hosting at What Makes Savannah Smile! She has reached 100+ followers and is giving away a super cute Vera Bradley makeup bag (that I need in my life)! Y'all go check it out...I absolutely love her blog!

Blah, Blah, Blah

Happy Monday y'all! I hope you all had a good weekend...I blogged about my Saturday, we had an amazing time. I love spending time with my family, my young cousins are probably some of the cutest kids in the world, and I love spending as much time with them as possible. Sunday turned out to be a great day, we had a great sermon at church, then he came to my house where we had planned to have a lazy Sunday. I had woke up early and cooked his favorite, chicken spaghetti...and it turned out great! He was shocked...he is pretty used to my meals being not so great...haha...and he loves me anyway! We both decided we wanted to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie, so we caught an early afternoon show. We had a really good day together...which I was kind of worried about, seeing our week last week did not end well. 
I am going to have one of those honest moments, I don't like having often...I prefer cupcakes and rainbows...but sometimes life happens. I know not every relationship can be perfect, and quite frankly, I think perfect would be quite boring. I think he and I do a good job of keeping it pretty mellow though. One thing that drives me absolutely crazy are the people complain about their relationship openly on Facebook...then 2.7 seconds later they're great and have never been more in love. In my opinion it makes them look foolish...everyone will have arguments, but I do not think it is necessary to blast them on Facebook, when you know you will be fine the next day. Wow, that was completely unnecessary, and doesn't relate to this at all...I guess I'm just saying, I am not bashing Nate, or my relationship with him. I am using this blog as a journal, a reminder of the good times, and the not so good times. If I post something on here that is real life, it is usually because I want advice, or an opinion of someone who wouldn't be bias. 
Friday I had what I like to call an, "Only child, spoiled brat fit"...they are not as frequent as they used to be, and are the result of 24 years of getting my way. I have really grown up in the last few years, and I am really not as bad as I used to be, but I'm pretty good at getting what I want. Nate and I have a pretty normal routine. Right now he lives about 30 mins. away from me, and we both work 4 days a week, so we usually just spend the weekends together, and will occasionally squeeze a week night in if we haven't had a crazy busy day. This weekend I already knew Saturday would be out, because I would be at the recital, and I had planned to spend the day with my Mom, so I was looking forward to Friday, and our normal Sunday. Well Friday he decided he wanted to stay home, which is fine...I mean...he wasn't telling me he was going to a bar to pick up girls, he wasn't doing anything other than just relaxing at home, because he had a pretty busy week. Well, the girl in me, the one who makes men hate women took it like any girl would, right..."He just doesn't want to spend time with me"....OMGeee...let's just say we had a rough day. I had a good phone conversation with my best friend Kyndall, who honestly should be a man (I love her, and I told her this also, she wont be offended!) She told me so many things that made so much sense, and she told me to just calm down, and wait on him to call me back later that day. She said to think about what I would say to him, and tell him how I felt and why I reacted like I did. She reminded me that guys are completely different characters than women, and sometimes, honestly, they just get sick of us and want to be alone. I mean, just because he didn't want to come over didn't mean he didn't love me, and it didn't change any of our plans for the future, but it just totally threw me into a  fit (as described above). 
I hate that moment in an argument where you know you're wrong, but you've fought so hard to prove otherwise, that you'll keep going with it...in hopes that you'll convince them! When I got off the phone with Kyndall and started to think about things, I got to that point, the point where I felt foolish, and just wish that real life had a rewind button. He called a little later, and we talked...I told him honestly how I felt, and he explained how he felt also. Everything is really good now, we ended that night with a promise that our time doesn't always have to be spent with one another. We both have separate lives from one another, but ultimately what it comes down to is that I love him, and he loves me, and 7 years from now we will probably be the married couple, where I am begging him to go play golf, or go fishing. We can go 10 days without seeing each other, or we can spend every day together, and either way we will still love each other just as much. I don't want the perfect relationship, I just want an slightly effortless relationship. I know they say a relationship is hard work, but I don't believe it has to be that way. I found this quote, and it has been one of my favorites...I should probably have it tattooed on my wrist as a constant reminder that not everything has to go my way all the time. I can't change people into what I want them to be, that I need to appreciate all the great things they provide just the way they are. I can't make him into my perfect version of a boyfriend who is there when I snap, and doesn't know the word no...although sometimes I think that would be perfect...how boring would that get?!

"Trying to change someone is a waste of time. The very thought of changing someone is saying that they are not good enough as they are, and it is soaked with judgment and disapproval. That is not a thought of appreciation or love, and those thoughts will only bring separation between you and that person. You must look for the good in people to have more of it appear. As you look only for the good things in a person, you will be amazed at what your new focus reveals!"

So here is where I want to hear from you...what do you do to make it work. What are some little rules that you've made for yourself that make things easier in your relationship?


I hope you guys have a great Monday...(and if you've made it this far thanks for ignoring the run-on sentences, and terrible grammar!)

Getting to know...ME!

Hey y'all, I'm linking up again for Getting to Know You! I hope you are all enjoying your Sunday! I can already tell that I'm gonna need one more day in this weekend, so I can actually get some rest! 

1. What's your favorite rainy day activity?

Curling up on the couch watching movies, or cleaning house!

2. What time do you go to bed? 

I usually try to be in bed by 10.

3. How many magazines do you subscribe to?

I get Paula Deen, and At Home in Arkansas...then I usually snag People from the office at the end of the week!

4. Did you sell all your belongings because you thought the world was ending yesterday? 

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Mark 13:32

5. What's your beauty obssesion?

Tarte Amazonian clay blush, Buxom lash mascara, and MAC powder!

6. If you could only wear one designer/brand for the rest of your life...what would it be?

I would probably have to say Old Navy...they do a pretty good job of keeping up with trends/styles!

7. What's your summer must have?

A good tan, and a pretty polish on my toes!

8. Do you make weekly dinner menus?

No, I don't cook...I usually just call Mom on the way home and find out what she and Dad are having and go eat with them!  

Y'all go link up @ MannLand5

A picture paints a thousand words, it's true...

Today we went to Conway for my cousin Olivia's piano/voice recital...we had a family dinner and did some shopping...

Warning: Picture Overload!

 

This is what I get when I say SMILE!

Take 2...

 

I had to entertain the girls in my car for 30 mins...it called for a funny face photo shoot! Don't judge!

Um...no Lacey, we weren't doing anything wrong!?!

Sweet faces!

I love, love, love this little girl!

Olivia playing her recital piece.

She was completely over it by this point...

Perfection!

Scored the perfect LBD from TJ Maxx...$40...steal! I love it! Now I just need somewhere to wear it! 

I am looking forward to a relaxing Sunday tomorrow with my love!