a quick post

Soon I will be leaving for Atlanta to attend Catalyst Conference. My heart is so excited to be there. Sometimes you just know your supposed to be somewhere, and this is one of those instances for me. I believe so greatly that God has a divine purpose for our lives, and often we catch a glimpse of what it looks like and oh my goodness, that feeling is incredible! That's where I am at right now. Knowing that God has just the best plan specifially designed for me, one that I can handle and flourish in. I am believing that this conference is going to make room for clarity for my life, my career, and even this blog.
It's just so exciting. And I can't wait to be overflowing with wisdom and passion.

On finding contentment & being another year older

I'm turning 25 in two days. (That sentence just sounds weird.) This year is going to be a year of discovery. And it's exciting because even though the past 24 years of life have been pretty great, I've kind of lived my personal life like a turtle; sticking my head out when life is good but living most of my days in my shell. I guess that I was trying to protect myself from anything too difficult to handle. Which is just pretty crazy because how is that really living?

This year is a learning year.

Learning to embrace everyday
Learning to be present
Learning to be a supportive wife, daughter, sister, and friend
Learning that my emotions DO NOT control me
Learning to be open minded
Learning not to focus on the big, but finding peace with the small
Learning that I do have influence, and I have the choice to make it good or bad
Learning to give
Learning to serve OTHERS
Learning to trust in God and who He is
Learning to be content in every season
Learning to be grateful
Learning that there is power in being faithful
Learning that my actions, words, and decisions matter
Learning that circumstances do not define who I am
Learning that I can change the world
Learning to fully surrender to Christ. Because when it comes down to it, He's really all that I need.

I'm ready for you, 25.

Happy heart Monday

To say that I hate Monday's would be an understatement. I guess it's the whole back to work, weekend's over mentality. Whatever the issue, I despise a Monday. I'm super positive, yea? I'm in need of a little perspective, so I've decided to start little posts on Monday's with a grateful heart towards the new week. If anything, it will be written proof that I have a blessed life despite any current circumstances.

Things I'm looking forward to this week:
-Going to see Willie Nelson with Ben in Atlanta. This is going to make one heck of a date night.
-Exercising... I haven't done any of this in a hot minute, so the thought of sweating and crying from pain, not particularly in that order, sounds pretty invigorating.
-Devotion. Spending good, quality time with the Lord. Learning more about Him, letting Him filter out the doubt, negativity in my life. And letting Him fill it with hope, trust, and patience. I want these things more than ever.
-New bangs. Yep, I'm excited about that.
I suppose Monday's don't have to be so bad... It's all about perspective.

Current crushes

Remember that four month break I took from blogging? How did that even happen? I can't believe June is already here. It seems like February was just yesterday... Why couldn't time go by this fast when I was younger and dying to be older? Time. Such a funny little word.

Well, summer is here again. And even though my true love is Christmas and my winter wardrobe, I'm surprisingly loving all of these bright, whimsical fashion trends. I can't get enough of maxi skirts and dresses. I mean, what girl doesn't love stretchy clothes that allow unshaven legs without judgement? That's a win for me.

*both of these outfits were bought at Target and Marshall's... Or as I like to call them 'home'.

Hello, February

I decided this year that I wasn't going to make new years resolutions (because I never follow through) but I changed my mind today. So here are my February-December 2012 wishes and hopes.

1. Take more pictures. I regret not capturing more of our first year of marriage and our little loft on broad street. This year I will capture more memories.
2. Cook dinner for an entire month. This is a huge deal. This might should have been at the bottom of the list...
3. Watch Casablanca. I know, am I even human? This will be date night sometime soon.
4. Stay off of my iPhone for an entire week. I've become unattractively attached to this little gadget. Sometimes I think it's all nonsense. We'll see how well this goes over :)
5. Do more outfit posts. I really have good intentions with this but time always seems to get away from me. Maybe I will start this one soon.
6. Learn to bake!
7. Complete p90x ( because of all the baking)
8. Volunteer for a charity
9. Read more inspiring books
10. Make a wedding dress. This is my ultimate goal for this year. I have high hopes for this one.

I'm sure more goals will come along for this year, as well as they should. I think we should always be evolving and creating, and ultimately bettering ourselves. Oh, this is just going to be a lovely year.

Safety first... And other life happenings

I've always loved the phrase, "better safe than sorry." I don't know where I learned it or at what age, although I want to say that my mother had a little something to do with it. I always say it in jest, but today I made a brilliant connection (with the help of the holy spirit), that's a little bit how I have lived my life. Dreaming big, but never actually following thru because I'm afraid of failing. The past couple of weeks I have been reading the book, In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson. This book is revolutionary to me right now. 2011 was a crazy year for me. I experienced my first year of marriage, started a new job, and bought our first house-- praise god for that last one. We celebrated the new year in our perfect new home (that we waited and prayed for) and I couldn't help but feel immense anticipation for 2012. As I've been reading this book, the holy spirit has been stirring and moving me in really loving and convicting ways. Every detail of our life cannot be controlled or expected (even when I try so hard for it to be) it is completely, beautifully unexpected. I have the most insane desire to design fashion, but have very little training and zero degree. I could continue to work a 9-5 job every day of my life and accept the fact that there are no fashion design schools close by and I would just be safer to stay where I'm at with my 401k. But I don't want to be safe. I want to pursue this innermost desire that I feel God has created, all while I seek Him. I have no intentions on quitting my day job, but I do have the most exciting adventure of starting what I should have started years ago, this year. Nothing should stop us from following our dreams no matter how small or big they may seem, life is going to happen whether we've planned it all out or not. This is the year of, "if not now, when?"

There are so many good things in store... Just wait and see.