Now.

Wow. My life has changed in so many ways since I last logged into this blog. It was a little comical for me looking back at the things I used to write about on here... not that there is anything wrong with those things, but I feel like I'm a totally different person now than I was then. I guess that is the goal, right? I mean, just look at the pictures I have on the right side of the page. Sooo many things have changed!


Since my last blog post in December of 2012, we've added another member to the family (She is TWO now), I have gotten a really good job and quit it to stay home with said baby, we've become members of a new wonderful church, bought a house and moved back to Troy...so many significant, great things.

While I haven't been so great at keeping this blog up (ahem. 5 years), I really would like to try harder to update it regularly. Simply because, mommy brain is real and I want to be able to look back at this time in our lives. So. We will see.

But for now, here is my beautiful daughter, Harper.

a few of my favorite things...

I am not dead. I promise. I have just taken a little unintentional break from blogging. I don't really have an excuse either... but to play catch up a little, here are some things I have been loving lately.

Christmas is officially one week away. I know everyone says "I can't believe it's Christmas already, blah blah blah" but seriously...can you believe it's almost here? I feel like it always takes FOR.EV.ER to get here and then, suddenly, it's here. One of my favorite things about Christmas is giving things to people I love and one of my favorite gifts this year was to my favorite "little" brother.
This is Jack. He's a beagle and he stole everyone's heart in 2.7 seconds. It was VERY hard to give him up.

Of course, any and all Christmas-y drinks at Starbucks:

This Christmas candle from Bath and Body Works:

One non-Christmas related item that I have been in love with for a while is a lipstick from Too Faced. They are called La Creme and they are la mazing...too much? Anyway, check them out. They remind me of the ever popular Revlon Lip Butters, but they are better in my opinion. They are pretty pricy, but you actually get a lot more actual product than the revlon ones. I have six shades..... help. (I have Spice Spice Baby, In the Buff, Honey Bear, Sweet Maple, Naked Dolly, and Cinnamon Kiss.)

Another makeup related item I've been loving all fall and into "winter" (not winter to me unless it stays below 70 degrees) is this blush from MAC. It's called "Plum Foolery" and (from experience) it only takes a little bit.

I was just introduced to this stuff by a friend. It's Caren Original's Hand Treatment. I don't know how easy it is to find this brand, but I've seen it in several boutiques around. I'm not big on lotions and such in general (I just don't think about using them unless they are right in front of my face), but this is the best hand cream. The scents aren't to die for, but they're subtle, so it doesn't bother me.

never forget

This is a day that will always make me feel a little hollow. It is so very sad to think that there are people in this world who grow up hating the United States and everything the citizens here stand for. I was in seventh grade on September 11, 2001. Even though I didn't know anyone who passed away in the events, its shock waves reached the entire country. I'll never forget that day, even though I was too young to begin have a clue how important everything was. I watched the 2nd plane hit the 2nd tower live from my classroom at Pike Liberal Arts . It is one of those moments I can still picture in my mind. It's engrained there. But that day is not what I like to think about...it is those days following. Even though I was so young I will never forget the way our mighty country stood up and squared its shoulders to face what was the greatest act of terrorism on our soil. As the towers fell, America stood up. And got mad. There were no Republicans or Democrats...we were just all Americans. It was incredible to see. It breaks my heart to think some have forgotten the helpless feelings of that day and those who fought and still fight to make sure we never feel that way again. I thank God that President Bush made it clear who we needed to turn to as a country...God Himself. I will never forget.

here's to the next 365

Last Wednesday was a special day. It was our anniversary. It always seems strange to me that another year rolls around, because it seems like just yesterday that we became MR and MRS. Then at the same time, it seems like we've always been together.

In honor of our anniversary, I decided to post some things about my sweet husband that make this girl smile.

1. He is a man of God. This is 100% the reason we are together: the Gospel.
2. Justin is the most self-less person I've ever met. He is always thinking of others before himself and it is a quality that I have loved in him from the minute I met him.
3. He balances me out perfectly. If any of you know me, you know I can be a little uptight and that I worry about everything. Justin is so laid-back and (I'll admit) sometimes annoyingly care-free. I am a planner and he is spontaneous. He is so good for my crazy.
4. He is not picky. I mean, this guy will eat anything. He'll admit he doesn't like something and still eat it. I hope our kids are like this! haha
5. He doesn't pop popcorn in the house, because he knows the smell makes me gag.
6. I can watch almost every college football game of the year with him.
7. He has always fit perfectly into my family.
8. He is always making me try new things. He makes something he knows nothing about look so enticing. Did I mention he's in sales?
9. He randomly washes the dishes, cooks supper and cleans the entire house before I get home. It always seems to happen on days I needed it the most.
10. He has the best laugh ever.
11. He always sees the good in people first.
12. He can't watch our 2 cats walk across the room without throwing something at them.
13. He has a good sense of humor.
14. It is near to impossible to make him mad.
15. He loves me. And has never been afraid to tell me.

I love you, Justin.

college grad

well, i haven't posted in a while because i have been so busy with school...but now i am DONE! i am so happy to be finished! (notice in honor of being done with english classes and research papers forever, i am not going to worry about punctuation/spelling/capitalization errors woohoo!) needless to say, the last couple of weeks have been crazy! my mama graduated from auburn and is now a dr. almost a week later my sister, kristen, and i graduated together from troy. and my brother graduates from high school in just a couple of weeks! we have been so blessed for these opportunities! my daddy is elated! it is hard to imagine not being in school ever again, and i've tried to come to grips with it. it's so weird. i'm constantly thinking about things i need to be reading/writing for class and there just isn't anything to do! i don't know what to do with myself! i need a hobby... anyway, here are a few pictures from the fun going on..

dr. penelope messick!

getting her doctoral hood

diplomas...woop woop

me and my boyfraaaand

justin, me, paul, kristen, and chad

i love my sister and brother!

the graduates.

28

Happy birthday to my husband, my supporter, my sanity, my heart, my rock, my best friend. I love you Justin!

i have something to say:

spring break! spring break! spring break!


that's all.

thoughtful tuesday

There were times growing up when I thought I was where I was meant to be for the rest of my life. I'm so glad I was wrong. And I'm so glad it wasn't up to me. I'm so glad God knows what He is doing. Just imagine if we actually got everything we rashly wished for...we'd be ruined.

Jeremiah 29:11

to live by....

My mama sent me the following email on New Years Day. I typed it up in cute different fonts and sizes, printed and framed it. It is sitting on my desk and definitely worth looking at every day!

Drink plenty of water. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy. Make time to pray. Read more books than you did in 2011. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Sleep for 7 hours. Take a 10-30 minutes’ walk daily. And while you walk, smile. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment. Don't overdo it. Keep your limits. Don't take yourself so seriously. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip. Dream more while you are awake. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. Call your family often. Each day give something good to others. Forgive everyone for everything. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6. Try to make at least three people smile each day. What other people think of you is none of your business. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch. Do the right thing! Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. GOD heals everything. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. The best is yet to come. When you awake in the morning thank GOD for it.