obsessed

I've been crazy in love with this show for a few months now, but I just bought the first and second seasons on dvd a few weeks ago. The obsession is back. It is a show about an aristocratic, British family (and the servants who work in their home, Downton Abbey) and how their lives are changed after the sinking of the Titanic.

I can't even explain why this show is so good, but it REALLY is. Go get it. The third season aired (in England booooo) last month, and will be in America in January. You can pre-order the 3rd season here on Amazon. Check it out!!

absent

I have just realized that I have not posted in almost two months...oops. I wish I could say I have a good and interesting excuse, but I don't. :) My apology is most sincere. Here is something for YOUUUU

faceeeee

since I haven't posted in a while, I thought I would post another "favorite products" post. I always love reading these when bloggers do them, I want to do another! (Check out my bff's latest one here.)

So, I'll start with my favorite beauty item EVER.

This is the Clarisonic Mia Original (there is now a Mia 2, with 2 speed settings instead of one) in pink.

These things are a little pricey, but I got mine on sale at a boutique in Troy about a year ago. I absolutely LOVE IT. It does a much better job than just your hands and it lathers cleansers beautifully. I actually bought the deep cleansing brush head to put on mine (it comes with a sensitive one, but I felt I needed a little deeper exfoliation).


My next "must-have" is my Philosophy Purity facial wash.

This stuff is really gentle, but still does a really good job. I've been using it for a few years (after I got a free sample from Sephora, yay) and if I have ever (for some reason) tried anything else, I always go back to it. It's simple. Plus, Philosophy's line is always packaged really cute-ly.


Next is my moisturizer.

This is Bliss' Triple Oxygen+C Energizing Cream. The name is a little ridiculous, I know, but I got this at that same boutique in Troy the day I bought my Mia. I have since been through 2 jars of this stuff and I love it. It smells like oranges and it isn't oily or sticky. Perfect.


This is my Pink Grapefruit Scrub by Neutrogena.

I don't need to exfoliate with scrubs as much (enter clarisonic), but I like using this scrub about twice a week in the shower. It's acne-clearing components are good, and it smells HEAVENLY. And it's cheap.


I'll post my make-up later! Woo, this was fun!

umm

I must say that I have been super busy with school lately, so I haven't had much time for playing on my blog! I have not had time to breathe! BUT! The good news is that I have *drumroll* only NINETEEN DAYS until dead day! That's official days of class, not counting weekends. Then, I'll have a few more added after the 19 when I'm actually finished with finals! I AM ECSTATIC. REALLY. I AM.

spring has sprung

I love spring. I love the weather, the sunshine, the flowers, and Easter. Here are some new things I have come across that I'm drooling over for spring.


Nothing reminds me of spring like the smell of gardenia. Except maybe fresh cut grass...but I don't think they have a grass-scented candle yet. I bought this candle earlier this year in the largest size they make. I've almost burned it all up. I love it.



















KEY LIME CUPCAKES yum. J and I went to a cooking class earlier this year and they had a booth with these beauties. Ever since I've been looking for a good recipe. I found one on (duh) Pinterest finally.
























Margarita sweet potato vine. I bought a little of this last year and it grew like crazy. It's perfect for beginners like me! and it's so pretty and vibrant.
























Kate Spade Mug - this is adorable. I've been kind of into gold lately and this is so cute! They have other mugs that are just as cute.

























This would be the prefect place to read on a spring day....ahhhh.
























I bought this a little while back and I love it. It's Mrs. Meyer's Lavender Dish Soap. It smells like spring....


























I'll add more later!

i have something to say:

spring break! spring break! spring break!


that's all.

lol-ing

I just had to share this... I came across it somewhere online and thought it was hilarious. I know, I'm a little cheesy.

bff

since I know you're reading this... I MISS YOU!


This is my best friend Emma. I love her dearly.



(sorry, this is the most up-to-date picture I had on my laptop. sad.)

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.

goodbye 2011

It is really hard for me to believe that 2011 is already gone. It will take me until june to stop writing 2011 on my checks, etc.


Overall Justin and I had a really great year. We are so blessed and it is never more evident to us than going through the holidays. They are all such special times to us. My favorite part during the holidays is the Candlelight Lord's Supper at my home church. We go into the sanctuary as a family and take the Lord's Supper together. The church started this about 6 or 7 years ago (I think) and since then it has been so special to me. It's a time when we can go home, get together and praise God and tell eachother what they mean to us. It's something I look forward to every single year. God really has blessed us so much this year. I can't say enough about His love. And may I say, I loved the Christmas was on a Sunday this year. What better place to be than His house on the day we celebrate His birth?


We rang in 2012 at our church, praying in the new year outside the front of the building. I think it is such a witness to the people still out and about. It's has been a really special time to us. I have high hopes for 2012 and I know it will be a good year (if my plans happen or not). God has taught me so much this last year and He's already starting this year... yesterday I watched the sun rise. I just happened to see a baby calf born whie I was sitting there. The whole experience was new to me and as I was watching that baby learn to walk it hit me.. that has to be what we look like to God. Just stumbling through life. We stand up, get cocky because we did it, and then fall back down. How many times of that does it take before we trust Him? I was reading Isaiah chapter 52 as I was sitting there. It talks about where God redeems Jerusalem. He tells them that they have given themselves away to NOTHING, and that they will be redeemed without money. In this new year I pray that I keep focused on Him, trust Him more...and stop stumbling through life and giving myself to the things of this world. It is so hard when you like shiny things. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

ramble

I have to get better about this blog thing! It has been a while since I have posted, so I'll do a little catching up... I saw this on Pinterest and I haaassss to share. I'm always burning candles in my house. I love the smell of them, but it (literally) is such a waste of money. I mean, you're burning money. I sound like Justin!!! So, I took a pot of water and added this: some orange peels (about three to five oranges) cloves stuck in the fleshy part of the peels and about a tbsp of cinnamon. Bring this to a simmer on low. (I sat mine on the back burner and let it go forever) It makes your house smell sooo good. Just like Christmas. I did see another "recipe" for this that included apples too, so I'll have to try that.

I have my first final tomorrow night. I can't believe this semester is almost over! It has definitely been a hard one...especially the last 2 weeks. I had 3 big research papers due and I really didn't think I was going to make it! With all-nighters, an un-Godly amount of coffee, and the support of my husband I finally handed in my last one yesterday. Today was dead day, and I decided to spend it doing whatever I wanted unstead of studying. I needed a break...so I cleaned my house. Let's be honest: with me so focused on papers for a while, our laundry was a little out of control.

Saturday night, Justin and I went with Joquin's youth group to Calloway Gardens in Pine Mountain to see Christmas lights. I was so excited, because I haven't been since I was in the 5th grade (on a field trip no less). I was also excited because it was actually cold enough to feel like Christmas. I am !SICK! of Alabama weather! It is so crazy! a few days ago it was in the 80's (in DEC!) and tonight it's probably in the 40's... I have no idea. I'm a really bad judge of temperature. Here in south Alabama, if it's noticably cool, it's something. I almost froze to death today.

Everything is getting into the Christmas swing now though... I put up our tree the day after Thanksgiving. I couldn't wait any longer. (It was finally out of the 90 degree mark so it felt more right to start with the decorating..lol) I'm so excited to be done with school, worry-free, and spending time with family for a little while. It will be a much needed break! I am so sorry if you sat here and read that. Total ramble, nothing important.

yay

Well, there has been a lot going on so I really haven't had time to think about updating my blog. I just started back to school 2 weeks ago and we are definitely already in FULL swing! I am excited to say that I am graduating in the spring! My sister is graduating Troy with me. My little brother is graduating high school. AND my mama is graduating from Auburn's Dr program! So, we're all sporting the caps and gowns this spring. We're very excited. More later!

Monday, monday...

Well, today I'm thankful for alarm clocks and pretty, easy dresses that make it look like you put some effort into your appearance (when really, you just threw it on). Happy monday everyone!

Just words...

Needless to say, I have not been on here in forever. Over a year to be exact. I just recently got interested in blogging again and decided I would try it...again. So, here we go...

I just have to say how excited I am that it is almost SPRING! I am not a cold weather person at all and I am glad it's finally starting to look like south Alabama weather again. And sring brings in my favorite holiday: Easter. I love the colors of Easter, the fellowship, the family, and of course, the story. Nothing makes Jesus more real to me than reading through the story of His crucifixion and resurrection and just thinking about it. Looking at it through the perspective that He did it all for me... wow. Easter is on Justins birthday this year...so he gets to be special. :) He will be 27!

I am on Spring Break right now. It's my first (almost) completely free spring break since the 8th grade. I finally get one where there are no softball practices and no set working schedules!! Woohoo! I've really enjoyed it, even though I've done more reading for school this week than I do when I'm IN school. :) So I'll be the only nerd ahead of the class when school starts next week.

On a more serious note, there's been some sad days in Troy this week. On Monday, Brittany Shepard Pugh and her baby boy, Shep, were killed in a car accident. I didn't know either of them, but I know Brittany's husband and Shep's father, Clint. It just breaks my heart to think of what he is going through right now. All we can do is continue praying for Clint and all who were close to Brittany and Shep. Life is so short. - Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4