Dec 20, 2017 | Everyday Life
It’s been over three months since I’ve shared anything in this space, which is probably one of the longest hiatuses I’ve taken since starting my blog in 2010. I spent a lot of 2017 focusing on (read: overthinking) my purpose and my why for everything I do. That being said, I know I want to continue writing and sharing my life in this little corner of the internet but I know I want it to feel different. I’m still trying to figure out what it’s going look like, but right now there’s no pressure. So instead of trying to backfill posts (like I’m tempted to do) I’m just going to dump lots of photos here and let you see what I’ve been up to recently.
I went to California in October and I snagged this shot out of my car window before heading to St. Louis to catch my flight. Chloe looks out the window at me every time I leave the house, and I loved having Kevin in this photo too.
My trip to California was a surprise that only my mom and I were in on, so it was fun to show up and catch everyone off guard. I love a good secret and it was so fun to be there for my cousin’s birthday. We got to do a lot of normal stuff – soccer games, bake cakes, and sit on the patio in the nice weather.
Kevin and I aren’t huge fans of costumes, so we normally put off deciding on one until the last minute. This year we went for something super easy that we could wear over our normal clothes. Best. Decision. Ever.
We were gifted a DNA test for Chloe and it turns out that all of her recent ancestors are labrador retrievers. Not sure where she got her height, weight and personality from, but we love joking about her being a purebred.
The California fam was in town the weekend before Thanksgiving, so we opted not to head home again for Thanksgiving day. I worked both Wednesday and Friday so it made sense not to drive to St. Louis for less than 24 hours. It was the first Thanksgiving that we didn’t spend with family, but we were lucky enough to be invited to Thanksgiving with our sweet friends. These pies? All handmade by Claire.
The following weekend, Taylor and I spent the weekend in Wisconsin for Brittany’s birthday. We had a blast meeting Evan, shopping, eating and breaking out of escape rooms. I knew I had found a new favorite city when I found my way into a bookstore that had a collectors edition of Gone with the Wind and a complete copy of the Chronicles of Narnia before we even left the airport.
To celebrate Kevin’s birthday and some job changes, we ate dinner at our favorite steak house. This place is right around the corner from us, and gosh darn it, we can smell it every. single. night. We love a good meal and this is the best place on the planet, especially when it’s all decorated for Christmas.
This photo was from our small group Christmas party. We joined the small group and met all these lovely folks (pictured below) in September and became fast friends. I can’t get over how thankful I am for this group.
Kevin finally let me put up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving (for the record, he was the one who put the outside Christmas lights up on November 21st last year (Instagram Evidence) . I purchased this tree for $6 three years ago when I was working at Walgreens. Since we moved into our house, I’ve been looking for a taller replacement but haven’t found anything that fits the space. This was the first year I included the Hallmark ornaments my parents have bought for me over the last 26 years as well as Kevin’s childhood ornaments. I have to admit, the sweet memories made me like the tree a little bit more.
Aug 20, 2017 | Everyday Life
I found this fun little quiz that a couple
blog friends have shared and I thought it would be the perfect thing to do on my birthday. This originally stemmed from Vogue’s 73 questions game that they were doing with
celebrities.
- What are you most excited about these days? Weekends, sunshiny mornings, and getting out my DSLR.
- Favorite holiday? Christmas without a doubt!
- Favorite season? Fall. Wearing layers and cheering on my tigers makes for the best time of the year.
- Recent hobby? Reading, bible journaling, a workout schedule and the blog are all keeping me busy these days.
- If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would it be? Chloe, my dog. Napping all day and then having your head scratched literally sounds like the dream.
- If you could have coffee with someone from the past, who would it be? C.S Lewis.
- What’s the best thing that happened this year? I particularly LOVE having all of my family together, so I’d say that but I also love hosting people in our home.
- What’s the best way to decompress? Going for a walk with Chloe or taking a nap on the couch with the sun shining in the front windows.
- What’s the weirdest word in the English language? Perfect…as in to make something better. WHY IS THIS SPELLED THE SAME AS PERFECT. Or am I wrong? I can’t even explain it to the internet so that’s how you know you’re losing.
- If you had one superpower, what would it be? Teleporting – so I could travel around the world anytime I want or just get to the back door faster when Chloe wants to be let outside.
- Who do you miss most? My family in St. Louis.
- Who was the last person to text you? Kevin
- Who are three people, alive or dead, that you would have dinner with? Haha, my group would be so random: Wayne Gretzky, Miranda Lambert and Ann Voskamp…wouldn’t you like to be a fly on the wall for that one?!
- Last book you read? I’m currently reading Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley, it’s a sequel to Gone with the Wind and I’m enjoying it so far.
- Book you plan on reading? Everything by Elisabeth Elliot
- Book you read because everyone else in the world was reading it? The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines
- A book from your childhood that positively shaped you? The Harry Potter series
- Favorite tv show that’s currently on tv? I’m currently watching the Great British Bake Off and (slowly) Jane the Virgin
- Favorite ice cream? Plain vanilla
- What makes you smile the most? Serving my friends, plants, photography.
- First pet? Brownie the teddy bear hamster.
- Worst subject in school? English, I always got the worst grades in that class. Is it ironic that I have a blog and love reading?
- Favorite game? Pandemic
- Coolest thing in the world? The ability to talk to and meet friends all over the world online.
- Cutest thing in the world? Puppies, especially mine.
- Favorite thing in the world? My camera or my new Mac *heart eyes*
- One talent you wish you had? Singing, i’m terrible.
- One thing you still have from your childhood? A wooden radio flyer wagon…and by have, I mean that it’s at my parent’s house.
- What’s your patronus? A lab puppy – loves people and is a complete busy body
- Last song you listened to on your phone? Redeeming Love by The Crossing Music
- Favorite song lyrics? I’m not really into music lyrics, so I’m going to say our first dance song, Everything by Michael Buble or Clean by Natalie Grant
- What song would you probably be caught dancing alone to? Kinks Shirt by Matt Nathanson
- If you could work the runway, what song would it be? I could never make this work, but probably something by Taylor Swift
- Best gift you’ve ever been given? There are a lot of things that rank high on the list starting with our wedding and anytime I’ve been given the gift of travel.
- Fashion icon? I literally know zero people who are famous for fashion…sooo…
- What did you wear to your prom? A white dress and apparently the tallest heels I could find.
- Who was your date to your prom? My hubby.
- Favorite movie of all time? Forrest Gump
- Favorite movie of the last five years? Inside Out
- Movie that made you cry? The only movie I’ve ever cried at was My Dog Skip (which I’m sure would be followed by A Dog’s Purpose, but I’m steering clear of that one).
- Movie that made you laugh the hardest? Caddyshack
- If you could make a documentary, what would it be about? Nature photography maybe?
- Favorite TV show? Quantum Leap is always a classic. Can’t think of any show I’ve watched more episodes of, that’s for sure.
- If you could make a cameo in any TV show what would it be? Fixer Upper
- Best plot twist of all time? I realized that this isn’t a plot, but Snape’s character in Harry Potter surprised me the most.
- Twitter or Instagram? INSTAGRAM. Hands down.
- Who should everyone be following right now? Ali Brown (@alibrownie) her journals are swoon-worthy and I’m always a fan of Elise Cripe(@elisejoy).
- Favorite food? Steak and potatoes.
- Favorite dessert? Cheesecake – of basically any variety.
- Favorite band? Bethel Music.
- Favorite solo artist? Taylor Swift and I don’t care what anyone has to say about it. Also Harry Styles new album has been at the top of my list lately.
- If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be? Tim McGraw
- What would be the title of your autobiography? Love Bailey Jean. Expect to see more of that around these parts soon!
- Favorite sound? the ocean
- Least favorite sound? chewing.
- Favorite animal? We’ve already established dogs being my favorite, but after that, cheetahs.
- First celebrity crush? Tom Welling because Smallville = love.
- Current celebrity crush? Meh. *shruggs*
- What is your kryptonite? Instagram.
- Guilty pleasure? Chickfila and libraries/bookstores.
- Most proud moment? Graduating from Mizzou and buying a home
- Biggest weakness?
- Skill still unmastered? Diffusing my hair…it never looks the same twice.
- What is the definition of misery? Not being able to sleep when you’re tired and camping, although I’ve never done it.
- Biggest learning experience? Seasons of waiting…they are hands down the most trying.
- What is your idea of a perfect date? Dinner at a location I don’t have to choose (ask Kevin, I’m indecisive as can be) and something creative like painting or pottery or a photo walk.
- An experience when you felt the most nervous? Anytime I have to be the center of attention. I was particularly nervous to walk down the aisle at our wedding because I knew everyone was going to be staring at me and I thought I kept picturing myself falling on my face. Thank God my Dad would have never let that happen.
- At what age were you the happiest? I’d say every year is full of ups and downs, but 25 was particularly awesome.
- What’s one vice you wish you could give up? naps. I’ll never give them up though.
- If you could teach a college course, what would it be called? iPhone Photography and selfies 101
- If you could star in any movie remake, what would it be? Harry Potter.
- If you were an Olympic athlete, what would your event be? Ice hockey, no question.
- If you could offer your 13-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Don’t take life so seriously. I’m still trying to teach myself this one.
Jul 18, 2017 | Everyday Life
I want you to know that if it was easy, everyone would do it. I want you to know that there’s happiness in the scenic route. I want you to know that you are strong. I want you to know that you don’t always need a plan, sometimes you can wing it. I want you to know that there’s always time to ask for forgiveness. I want you to know that everyone has twenty four hours in a day. I want you to know that God will be listening the next time you’re lonely. I want you to know that gardens are rejuvenating and sunrises are inspiring. I want you to know that your memories are worth preserving. I want you to know that you are loved. I want you to know that there is no material item on this planet that will bring you joy like Jesus does. I want you to know that preparation and action cures fear. I want you to know that you’ll never regret going to bed late in favor of a late night chat with your best friend. I want you to know that protecting your time protects your heart. I want you to know that snail mail will make someone’s day. I want you to know that there’s always time to call mom. I want you to know that books can take you to places that planes cannot. I want you to know that journaling savors the chaos and the mess. I want you to know that crying doesn’t make you weak. I want you to know that there’s always room for one more, whether it be another cookie or another friend around the dining room table. I want you to know that you are enough.
I want you to know, I wrote this for us.
Sep 7, 2016 | Everyday Life, One Little Word 2013 | Joy
Oh, joy. This word never ceases to be at the forefront of my mind since I choose it to be my One Little Word in 2013. It was then that I realized that true joy is a feeling orchestrated by the Lord – he is the source of my Joy and all things come from him. Even though our prompt for today is to write about five things that bring joy, I have such a hard time narrowing all the joyful things in my life down to my favorites. Call me noncommittal, but here are six things that bring me joy, along with some honorable mentions at the bottom.
September 7, 2016: Things that bring you joy.
+ Family – My sweet husband and my pup make me so happy and marriage has been such a blessing to me. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about the joy that is waking up next to Kevin, making dinner with him, and dancing around our living room making up voices for Chloe (our dog). In the same way, our extended families are really important to both of us, so we try to spend as much time with them as we can despite living an hour and a half away from everyone! I am also thankful to have the best in-laws a girl could ask for and seeing our families spend time together and love each other is my favorite.
+ Photography – I bought my first dslr camera during my senior year of high school (about seven years ago) after receiving (and loving) a point and shoot model from my uncle. I really wanted something I could play around and get creative with and I have enjoyed the process ever since. I don’t dwell on missed photo opps although I love taking candids and spur of the moment shots to document normalcy in my day. I’ve tried lots of different styles and types of photography, but nature and stills are by far my favorite. I like to keep track of the moments by printing photos and saving them in photo albums and other journaling projects.
+ Travel – I caught the travel bug early on and it has never really gone away. I’ve been to 38 states and have traveled out of the country 5 times. There hasn’t been a single places that I wasn’t able to find something interesting in and often find myself wanting to explore places more thoroughly. I have a hard time narrowing down my favorite destinations, but I really enjoy places that offer both touristy and local fare and experiences. Bonus points if there’s a beach. (The aerial photo above is from our honeymoon in St. Lucia.)
+ God’s Creation – This goes along well with travel, but i’m always in awe of the beautiful things and people that God has created – each sunrise, flower and human are different and similar all at the same time. This often makes my outdoor runs pretty unproductive because I’m always considering the way that branches on trees turn inward, how the sounds of animals and bugs identify them so clearly (or not), and even how each rock beneath my feet is a different shape and size than the next.
+ Learning – Since forever, I’ve been a fan of books and learning. Knowledge and personal growth are so important to me. It is rare that you would find me without both a book and journal in my purse, just waiting for the next free moment when I can crack them open. I find significant value in learning from myself and others, which is why I love challenges and having people in my life who encourage me to be a better version of myself.
+ Being Cozy – Naps, yoga pants, and coffee shop window seats are my m.o. When we purchased our house, my main decor requirement was that things felt cozy and comfortable for us as well as our guests, while still being stylish. I love warm colors, soft fabrics and all variations of wood. I love flooding of natural light and would always choose the golden hours as my two favorite times of day. Add floral patterns or the real deal in a vase and your living my dream.
Honorable mentions: gift giving, chai lattes, entertaining, blogging, being creative, honesty, deep conversations, snail mail, feet pictures, and filled up journals.
What brings you joy?
Want more info on the Blog-tember Challenge? Check out Bailey’s blog by clicking here!
Sep 5, 2016 | Everyday Life
Some people don’t care much about celebrating birthdays, but I am not one of them. From the get-go my parents really went out of their way to make our birthdays special. Whether it included streamers in the kitchen or a special note in my lunchbox every single year from age one to eighteen on August 20th, we celebrated the same way – my parents invited over all of the family and we spent time eating delicious food, chatting, and opening a few gifts. It was easily my favorite day of the year and holds many fond memories, so instead of choosing just one, I thought I would make a list of some of my favorites.
- Stories of my smash cake at my first birthday. Apparently, after I had put my hands all in the icing, my family asked me “where is your ear, hair, lips, nose?” until my face was covered in cake. I’ll never live that one down.
- My 8th birthday when my parents threw me a surprise party and blew up hundreds of pink and purple balloons. I even got Pikachu slippers as a gift from my best friends.
- Requesting favorite foods for birthday dinner. Mom made my current favorite dinner and vanilla cake with chocolate icing, Nana brought potato salad, Grandma brought jello salad and Great Grandma brought the banana cake. These are still my favorites.
- Waiting for my grandparents to arrive to birthday dinner. We have photos of me waiting at the window when I was turning 2.
- My 24th birthday when I decided that I was going to make cheesecakes a tradition.
- One year when my parent’s house was being built, we were staying at my grandparents and every picture of me was complete with no pants. I also got a Barbie sleeping bag that year.
- My 18th birthday consisted of a surprise in my high school locker from a Secret Admirer (aka my now husband). It was a sweet note and a bottle of perfume. I still have both.
- My 25th (and most recent birthday) involved us celebrating a big promotion at work and my sweet friend decorating her house and hosting a game night.
- My parents going above and beyond every year I’ve been in Columbia by coming up to take us out to lunch! Truly, I am so thankful for that.
Now you know why I couldn’t pick just one – all of my birthday memories bring me so much joy!
Want more info on the Blog-tember Challenge? Check out Bailey’s blog by clicking here!
Apr 20, 2015 | Everyday Life
How often do we find ourselves patiently waiting for Friday only to realize that it’s Monday morning and we still have five entire days until we can sleep in again and enjoy a whole lot of doing nothing? I’ve heard it over and over again. Before I started working at my current job, I didn’t have two consecutive days off so the whole idea of a weekend feels like a new concept that I don’t want to take advantage of! So instead of dreading Monday, I like to be the most productive to set the standards for the entire rest of the week. So instead of dreading Monday, try one of these.
Prepare Start out the week by setting out clothes and preparing for one hour on Sunday night to prepare for the week ahead.
Be Early Monday’s are the most important day to be early. So go to sleep early on Sunday nights and wake up on Monday morning without pressing the snooze button. Try to get in your workout or get to work a few minutes earlier than normal so that you can be ready with emails and have meeting plans prepared!
Adjust the Way You Think Stop hating Mondays! Going into Monday with a negative attitude won’t help you have a good day! Instead, make Monday your new favorite day. Think of it as a fresh start – whatever happened last week is in the past! Take this time to set new goals and create a brand new to do list!
Take on Your Least Favorite Tasks Start your week off by completing the things you don’t like to do! This will make your life a little better during the rest of the week.
Catch Up I love catching up with my co-workers on Monday mornings! I try to make sure to go out of my way to encourage others to have good weeks by having a positive attitude! Check in with the people around you on Mondays to see how their weekend was!
Routine Having a plan on how you are going to go about your day will make it seem much smoother. This could mean laying out your calendar on Friday so that you know exactly what you will need to do on Monday.
Treat Yourself Kevin and I have been going to the grocery store on Sunday afternoons or Monday nights. The last couple of weeks, we have bought a little treat or a few stems of one of my favorite flower to display in the house – seeing them makes me so happy! (see above picture)
Really Rest During the weekend, we often over book ourselves since we have “nothing” going on. When we take these two days to actually rest up, it will help make our Monday’s less tired and more productive. To me, this looks a lot like saying no to overbooking and plans that aren’t actually things that fulfill my life.
Coffee and Music Pump your day up in any way you know how! Spend the commute to work dancing to your Friday playlist and drink coffee, if that’s what you’re into.
Gratitude Make a list of things in your life that you are thankful for. I do this a lot when I’m having a bad day and it always increases my spirit!
Happy Monday, friends!
