Scripture (Wednesday): All That I Have

Check out this excerpt from bluebookblog! I know I haven’t shared in a while & I probably won’t for quite a bit more, but I just couldn’t wait on this one:

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Friday, May 9, 2014

all that i have

All that I have is yours and all you have is mine. (John 17:10)My child, my delight, the joy of my heart, I wish you knew yourself the way I know you.  I wish you saw yourself the way that I see you.  And I wish that, deep down in your heart, you knew the truth that all I have is yours and all you have is mine.  Knowing this one truth, at your very core, would change everything about you.  For then you would know that all of my love is yours, all of my affection is yours, and all of my delight is yours.  You have completely captured my heart.  And not only that, but you also have all of my righteousness, all of my holiness, and all of my purity.  Everything I have belongs to you.

And all that you have is mine.  Your joys are mine and your wounds are mine, your strengths are mine and your weaknesses are mine, your gifts are mine and your inadequacies are mine; so are your insecurities, your anxieties, your fears, your struggles, your burdens, yes, and even your sin–all mine.  Come to me, my child, with all that you are, and let me give you all that I am in return.  Be mine.

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Isn’t that an amazing promise?

Xoxo

P.S. I know I’ve been completely awful about keeping up with this (life is crazy, you know?) but keep checking in with me! Who knows- I may post some more, I may stop completely. I’ll just try to update whenever I have time! 

DIY Stationery

I’ve always loved crafts. I’m that girl who, instead of going to the mall, would rather go to Michaels and pick up some more craft supplies. This summer, I learned that I could make my own stationery very easily and I’ve been taking advantage of this since!

You barely need anything to make your own cards. Although you can use anything, I typically use a thin Sharpie pen (I highly recommend these because they won’t bleed), a 50-pack of Crayola markers, and a pack of blank cards and envelopes from Michaels. You can also use watercolors for the background of the cards.

I would do a step-by-step tutorial on how to make these, but honestly all you do is write on them and color in! I typically write bubble letters so I can add color inside the words. It may take you a couple of tries (I’m a bit of a perfectionist so if I mess up once, I restart) but just be patient and enjoy!

Here are some cards that I have made:

(These make a really great gift too if you want to package them like I did above)

P.S. If you aren’t up for making your own, I sell these at my Etsy store!

How would you decorate your cards?

Xoxo

 

Ash Wednesday

I’ve heard so much talk about what people are giving up for Lent, but I feel like we truly have lost the view of what this time is really about- growing close to the Lord and appreciating His amazing sacrifice. I could write so much on this but I think this blog I stumbled upon, called A Holy Experience, sums it up pretty well. Essentially, we have all gotten so caught up in worldly distractions that we forget about the One who sustains us. Lent is supposed to be a time to grow in our relationships with the Lord rather than use it as an excuse to diet or not focus on Him. I highly highly recommend that y’all check out that post because it really is a great read!

Any thoughts on Lent y’all have?

Xoxo

P.S. Sorry that this post is so short but I just felt the need to share!

Jorey Hurley

I’ve recently become obsessed with a woman named Jorey Hurley‘s art prints. They’re just so colorful and whimsical! She is a designer/illustrator from California and comes from a family full of artists. Drawing her inspiration from nature, Jorey creates many adorable designs that you can order off her Etsy page. Here are some of my favorites:

Hope y’all enjoy!

Xoxo

Sweet Things

Florida has been warming up recently and it is just putting me in the best mood! I’ve been crazy (and I do mean crazy) busy, but soaking up the sun has been really making it feel like spring’s coming! And honestly, who doesn’t like spring? It’s my favorite season because it just makes me want to spend the whole day outside.

Now that it’s no longer freezing, I sneak a little sun time when I sit on the patio for lunch at school. And I take every single opportunity I can to get some Vitamin D. What better way to soak up the rays than in this adorable swimsuit? I saw this the other day and I fell in love. It happens to be one of my favorite colors too so it’s a win-win.

Another reason why I love spring is because I can break out the Jack Rogers. By far my favorite shoes, I wear my Jacks with everything! My paycheck is spent way too often on a different color pair even though my trusty platinum Jacks have always been there for me. Throw on some Lilly and a pair of Jacks and you have the perfect spring outfit.

Unique rings have also been catching my eye recently. I bought Grace some knuckle rings (aren’t they cool?) for Christmas and even I admit that I’ve probably been wearing them more than she has. I just love a fresh coat of polish and some statement rings to adorn your fingers!

I also love the idea of random acts of kindness. Just doing something nice for a friend or even a stranger could make someone’s day! Recently it was Valentine’s Day, aka the day of love. Personally, I don’t think of Valentine’s Day as a super romantic holiday (even though it is) but I think of it more as a day to share my appreciation for everyone I love in my life, including friends, mentors, etc. People show their love in so many different ways so I enjoy the idea of reciprocating the love others show me by committing a random act of kindness. This can include anything from writing someone a note to baking cookies to hand out!

Anything y’all have your eye on for spring?

Xoxo

Current Obsessions

This past week (well month really, because sadly I have been neglecting my blog) has really been so great. Thankfully, my teachers backed off the homework a little so I actually had some much needed relaxation time and some great things happening. And for all this I’m thanking the Big Man! He’s been sending some wonderful opportunities (and people) into my life and I couldn’t be more grateful.

So anyways, I’ve rounded up some links and things that I’ve been loving on recently!

via

shutterfly & corkboards Seriously, one of the best things that I started doing was ordering photo prints off of Shutterfly. For those of y’all who don’t know, Shutterfly is a website where you can upload all your photos and order prints of them that will come in the mail (it does a lot more too, but that’s what I use it for). I know it’s fun to have a bunch of pictures on your phone but having physical copies of pictures is so much better! Nothing beats the feeling of seeing the orange Shutterfly box come in the mail.

Whenever I get my photos, I update the three big corkboards in my room to showcase my favorite pictures. Also, I rotate them in my frames scattered throughout my room (Ps Target and Anthropologie have some really cute picture frames right now). I love love love seeing all my favorite people and my favorite photos hung up on my walls!

cute keychains I recently started driving (my birthday was about a month ago) and I realized that I loved keychains. I’m not a huge fan of plain key rings so when I got my keys, I jumped at the opportunity to personalize them. I’ve been eyeing this key fob from Smathers & Branson for a long time so hopefully soon it becomes added to my collection!

fantastic blogs  It was complete chance that I saw this blog, but I was looking on Facebook (which I almost never go on anymore) and one of the counselors from my camp posted the link. I started reading and the post just spoke to me. Honestly, every girl should read this because she shares a really powerful message!

Several other blogs that I have been loving on are Virginia Hal, Pinch of Em, and The CW Catwalk! All of these girls are from my area but I love each of their blogs! It’s so cool to see how each of them put a different spin on their pages.

anthropologie mugs I was walking through the Anthropologie store the other day and I stopped when I saw these adorable mugs. I could just picture myself holding one while curled up in bed with a good book. I don’t know about y’all, but that’s my definition of a perfect night. I knew that I would get lots of use out of one of these!

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eno hammocks I’ve had an ENO for about 5 years ever since my family saw them in Brevard, North Carolina. Made in nearby Asheville, ENOs are portable hammocks that fold up into little pouches and you can basically hang anywhere. These have become all the rage in Tampa and I could not be happier! Whether hanging out (get it?) with friends in the park or just enjoying some quiet time in the backyard, these little hammocks are perfect for an everyday adventure!

What have y’all discovered recently?

Xoxo

Long Weeks

Everyone has those days/weeks that just seem to be never ending. Last week honestly felt like the longest week ever. I was busy and very overwhelmed!

And I didn’t want my blog to feel like something I’m obligated to do. I want to do it because I like to, not because I feel like I have to post every other day! So last week I took a little break to focus on the beginning of second semester and the ridiculous amount of school work and tasks I had to do… I was so frazzled so I honestly don’t know how I would’ve fared if I hadn’t done some of these things!

Set aside time for prayer The week honestly started in the best way possible. I go to this youth group called EPIC and last Sunday we focused all on prayer. We spent about 30 to 45 minutes in silence, praying about anything and everything that had been weighing on our hearts. This really got to me as I had needed some one on one time with the Big Man and I sorted through some issues. Although I found out this week that I won’t be able to go to my camp this summer, I could feel the Lord comforting me and sending peace my way so it was easier to accept than I would’ve thought. Anyways, after the prayer time and a great talk with one of the leaders, I felt so refreshed and rejuvenated!

Go comfy I’m a huge believer in dressing well. I try to limit the amount I dress down for school, but last week, I just had to go comfy. I was stressed out so the last thing I needed to worry about was what to wear! Plus when I’m comfy, I’m just in such a good mood. (Who wouldn’t be in a good mood when they wear an XL patagonia fleece?)

Set aside some time with friends My best friend and I both tend to put a little bit too much on our plates at one time so we both get overwhelmed super easily! We set aside time last week to grab some fro-yo and thank goodness we did because our talk made the week a lot better. We also ran into two of our good friends which was a blast. Laughing and talking over Yogurtology was exactly what I needed!

Look forward to something The whole week I was looking forward to my Friday plans, so (although it probably made the week feel longer) having something to look to made things a lot easier.

I’m sure y’all can relate to those weeks that seem to never end, so how do y’all deal with them?

Xoxo

Hooray for Spring

Spring is coming which means the new Lilly Pulitzer line is starting to come out! Bright colors, playful shifts, white lace- all are featured in the new Lilly line.

I walked into work the other day and my eyes were immediately drawn to the boxes stacked by the door. I knew that it was the spring collection so I couldn’t wait to check it out. We opened the boxes and realized that the spring line is awesome. Seriously awesome.

Here are some of my favorite new spring items that I cannot wait to get:

Briella Fit and Flare Dress in Pool Blue

Callahan Short in Pop Pink

Iona Shell in Fountain Hopping Engineer

Eaton Shift in Pop Pink

Cara Dolman Dress in Resort White In The Garden

Lilly did a really great job this year with their clothes. I mean, they’re normally amazing anyways but this year they just hit it out of the park- even the fall collection was good and before it was normally pretty hit or miss.

What are y’all’s favorite items in the new collection?

Xoxo

Scripture Sunday: High and Mighty

When I was little, I thought of God as this massive guy in the sky who was distant from us, who we prayed to and worshipped in church but who didn’t really have a huge role in my everyday. Before I started strengthening my relationship with Him, I didn’t understand how this “high and mighty” guy could possibly influence my life.

Once I started loving on the Lord, I realized that although God seems like he’s just watching us, he is molding and shaping our lives according to His plan. He sent His Son for us and He is there for us all day every day.

God is not judging us or condemning us, but helping us through everything. When we were turning from Him and turning to sin, He sent Jesus in the ultimate act of love. Somebody pointed out to me the other day that Christianity is the only religion where our God comes down to save us, rather than us trying to change ourselves to be better. He doesn’t tell us that if we make mistakes then we can’t love Him. We are not perfect, and nobody but Jesus ever will be. Through a relationship with God, He will make us good- we don’t have to be good in order to love Him.

He takes the lowest of the low, the people who are struggling with evils, those who feel unlovable. Sometimes I feel that there’s no way the Lord can ever love me and that I need to measure up to other people. But we are fearfully and wonderfully made in His eyes and because of Jesus, He promises us that we are saved. He loves us at our darkest. We don’t need to feel unlovable or like we are covered in too much sin. If we fall, God will pick us up, dust us off, and continue loving us through all our mistakes. No matter how “high and mighty” He seems, He yearns for a strong relationship with us and loves us through it all.

Kind of amazing, don’t y’all think?

Xoxo

Match My Monogram

A girl named Katy emailed me the other day about her business- an online monogram resale marketplace called Match My Monogram. I just thought it was such a great idea, so of course I had to share it with y’all!

I grew up with everything monogrammed so when I outgrew old clothes with my initials on them, we just had to put them in storage. I have giant bins in the closet in my old room filled with my clothes from when I was little. They’re probably still there collecting dust. Because honestly, what do you do with your old monogrammed gear?

Match My Monogram is the solution. There’s no use in throwing away perfectly good monogrammed gear if it is for some reason not being used (getting married and changing the last initial, outgrowing, etc). Instead of having to track down someone with the same exact initials as you, which if you do the math is a one in 17,576 chance, Match My Monogram does it for you!

Basically, you send in your items and they do everything they can to increase the value (clean and make it look as good as possible). Then, when someone buys it, they send you the payment you received from the sale. It’s a win-win for everyone! You can find fantastic monogrammed items and get rid of your old things too!

Don’t forget to check it out! Any good ideas like this y’all want to share?

Xoxo