Happy Everything!

Hello little ladies! I have so much to post about, but for now I'll start with a small recap of our beach trip! I came home with a sunburn (that is FINALLY turning into a tan) & a heat rash of some sort. NOT FUN.

You have to have a feet in the sand pic...

We had the BEST time. It was by far the most relaxing vacay I've had in a long while.

"Planking" haha!

Walks on the beach, beach cruzin', & a little shopping

My cutie

We also had a blast at the Texas Rangers game!

Now, it's back to the real world & I'm okay with that. I like my routine. Today is overcast & cooler than it has been so it feels like Fall is in the air!! YAY! Not to mention - our first football game is this Saturday! I saw this on Pinterest & thought it was cute. :) Happy Monday!

I love the Beach!

Hey girls! Just checking in because I know y'all care oh-so-much! :) It's been amazing so far. I can cross off #37 on my 101 in 1001! I went to the beach again! Well, our entire vacay is on the beach. Ha.

I can also cross off watch a sunrise!! YAY!

We have done nothing but eat, relax, read, eat, & play on the beach. Our condo is a skip, & a hop away from the glorious water. It has been AWESOME to say the least. We're going to get mani/pedi's tomorrow + some shopping. I am definitely soaking ALL this in before we get back to the hustle & bustle of life.

Tootle lou!

Are you a lady?

As you all probably know, I'm ALL girl. Meaning, I LOVE pearls, make-up, pink, ruffles, pretty outfits, gettin' dolled up, fingernail polish, mani/pedi's & the list could go on & on. I found that through this blog, I can relate to SO many of you. 

My Nannie (my mom's mom) was raised very Southern, so in return so was my mom... & of course so was I. The ONE thing my mom tells me STILL to this day is, "Always be a lady." And I hope to pass that on to my daughters one day.

So, what IS a lady??

From its roots in British nobility as the female equivalent of "Lord", the term "lady" carries a connotation of elegance and class. If you'd like to be thought of as a lady, they key is to mix traditional feminine ideals with modern reality in a way that works for you.

So, which ones do YOU agree with??

You don't reveal your age or weight, unless absolutely necessary.

• You never ask a gentleman how much money he makes.
• When in doubt, you dress up. You would never look too casual for an event.
• (I will say I'm not ALWAYS dressed up, BUT a dab of lipstick & mascara can go a long way)
• You never say that you're leaving for the bathroom. You simply excuse yourself.
• You don't complain about things you can't change - like waiting in line or the weather.
• If a gentleman offers to pay for a date, you politely accept.
• When it's up to you to tip, you always leave at least 20%
• (AMEN)
• You don't engage in prolonged public displays of affection.
• (Yes! Too much PDA = gross)
• You never talk on your phone when in a restaurant or at the movies.
• (Guilty, but I try not to)
• You don't gossip.
• You drink in moderation. You never let your drinking behavior get out of control.
• (Guilty. But that's been long gone for a LONG time)
• You do not discuss religion or politics at the dinner table.
• (Amen)
• If you've been given a gift, you follow up with a written thank you note or card.
• (This is HUGE for me. My Nannie, JUST the other day was ranting on about how no one sends out thank-you's anymore. HUGE no-no in my Lady book)
• You don't use call waiting. You instead use voicemail for interrupting calls.
• (Guilty, but I truly try & NOT do it)
• You always RSVP to invitations, and you never ask if you can bring extra guests.
• You don't discuss your past relationships with the person you're dating.
• (Unless it's necessary)
• You don't tell sexist or racist jokes.
• You do not interrupt people speaking to you.
• You don't flirt with men that you aren't interested in.
• If you are on a diet, you do not discuss it at the dinner table.
• (Well, I DEFINITELY do this with friends)
• You carry the smallest purse possible, depending on the occasion.
• (And this one is a joke to me, whoops)
• You never turn down an invitation hoping something better will come along that night.
• When in doubt, you dress modestly - saving sexier clothes for the right occasion.
• You never ask if you look fat.

I know some of these may be extreme for some, but growing up Southern, I can't help but agree most of those. Now, don't get me wrong. I act like a complete hula gen sometimes, ha! But I would say 90% I try my very best to always act like a lady. When I'm with my friends, I usually let loose which is completely acceptable to me in moderation.

What are some things y'all believe that a "lady" should always do??

We got DUNKED!

Sunday was a big day for us, we got baptized!! :) I can cross that off my 101 in 1001. I know a lot of people have different opinions about baptisms & I respect all of them. I was baptized when I was a baby, but I've learned over the past couple years that when you're old enough to actually KNOW that you are giving your life to Christ, you should be baptized again, just to show your commitment. It's mainly tradition, but it was my (our) next step to having a better relationship with Christ. It made me happy, I did it for myself & God, & it was an amazing feeling to be doing it with my best friend :) My friend Lauren was there as well, which made is even better.

Before church :)

After we were baptized, I'll never forget that moment

1 Corinthians 12:13

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Romans 6:3-4

 Or are you without the knowledge that all we who had baptism into Christ Jesus, had baptism into his death?  We have been placed with him among the dead through baptism into death: so that as Christ came again from the dead by the glory of the Father, we, in the same way, might be living in new life.

We're off to THE BEACH! I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Oh, a couple of my girls after they were all pretty & groomed :)

Ellie with her Auntie Lauren

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm sure y'all have gotten pretty used to my WILW with the sweetest Jaime, but it's just perfect for me so here ya have it

I'm loving... that my little Lauren & I have SUCH great times together. For example:

*We go to church together

*We go to prayer together (which was AMAZING Monday night)

*We pray for each other during tough times
*We have slumber parties

*My lover lovers her

*We can sing AT.THE.TOP.OF.OUR.LUNGS to David Crowder's, OH! How He loves us! Amazing.

*We laugh & joke the entire time we're together, yet we also have us some pretty deep & meaningful convo's as well.
*We can eat at Abuelos 2 days in a row (don't judge) & not even feel bad about it

*We have coffee & cake ball dates, 'nuff said. She's the real deal, y'all.

I'm loving... my post below this one because it is SO TRUE!

I'm loving... this cute, vintage bathing suit. I wish I could find one for our beach trip

I'm loving... The Bachelor Pad. Anyone else just love Mondays night because of this rridiculous reality TV show?? HA! Oh Vienna & Casey, lay off Jake. You two are WAY too hot headed for me to handle. And sweet Ella, PLEASE win that money for your son!

Moving on...

I'm loving... that I  have started my 101 in 1001. So far I have 73. I'm hoping to finish soon, & do a blog about it. You know, to keep me accountable. :)

I'm loving... this little fortune I got whilst eating Pei Wei last night :)

I'm loving... these pretty fall outfits

I'm loving... this.

Are y'all ready for some FOOTBALL?!

The Difference Between Football in the North and South

WOMEN'S ACCESSORIES

Up North: Chapstick in their back pocket and a $20 bill in their front pocket.

Down South: Louis Vuitton duffel with two lipsticks, powder,mascara (waterproof), and concealer. Walletnot necessary, that's what dates are for.

STADIUM SIZE

Up North: College football stadiums hold 20,000.

Down South: High School football stadiums hold 20,000.

FATHERS

Up North: Expect their daughter to understand Sylvia Plath.

Down South: Expect their daughters to understand pass interference.

ATTIRE

Up North: Male and female alike: woolly sweater or sweatshirt and jeans.

Down South: Male - press khakis, oxford shirt, cap with frat logo Female – Dresses in school colors and matching pearls.

ALUMNI

Up North: Take prospects on sailing trips before they join the law firm.

Down South: Take prospects on fishing trip so they don't leavefor the NFL their senior year.

CAMPUS DECOR

Up North: Statues of founding fathers.

Down South: Statues of Heisman Trophy winners.

HOMECOMING QUEEN

Up North: Also a Physics Major

Down South: Also Miss USA.

HEROES

Up North: Mario Cuomo

Down South: Insert hero

GETTING TICKETS

Up North: 5 minutes before the game you walk into the ticketoffice on campus and still purchase tickets.

Down South: 5 months before the game you walk into the ticketoffice on campus and still be placed on the waiting list for tickets.

PARKING

Up North: An hour before game time the University opens thecampus for game parking.

Down South: RV's sporting their school flags begin arriving onWednesday for the weekend festivities. The real faithful beginarriving on Tuesday.

GETTING TO THE STADIUM

Up North: You ask "Where's the stadium?" When you find it, youwalk right in with no line.

Down South: When your near it, you'll hear it. On game day, itbecomes the state's third largest city.

WHEN NATIONAL ANTHEM IS PLAYED

Up North: Stands are less than half full.

Down South: 100,000 fans sing along in perfect 3-part harmony.

COMMENTARY (MALE)

Up North: "Nice Play."

Down South: $*#@% - tackle him and break his legs!!!

COMMENTARY (FEMALE)

Up North: "My, this is a violent sport."

Down South: $*#@% - tackle him and break his legs!!!

ANNOUNCERS

Up North: Paid.

Down South: Announcer harmonizes with the crowd in the fightsong, with a tear in his eye because he is so proud of his team.

AFTER THE GAME

Up North: The stadium is empty way before the game ends.

Down South: Another rack of ribs on the smoker. Planning begins for next week's game.

SO TRUE! Football season is right around the corner, y'all!!!!



Howdy

In exactly ONE week we will be on the road to Arlington for a Rangers game, & then from there headed to THE BEACH. Hello relaxation, margaritas, yummy food, pigging out, a good book, & nice tan.

AMEN.

My lovers twin bro is here for the week, so it's going to be a little cray-cray between work, friends, cooking for those boys, packing, (I like to be prepared) & the other every day life thangs. 

We went & saw The Help last night - sooooo good y'all. The book was even better, but usually always is.

Church was awesome on Sunday, as always & really convicted me. I tithe 10% but I felt like I needed to be giving more. Because after all, NOTHING & I mean NOTHING we own is ours - it's ALL God's. We prosper, when we give - Dave Ramsey

Lauren & I.... ARE GOING TO A BETH MOORE CONFERENCE in September!!!!!!!! AHHHH I.LOVE.HER. She is definitely one of my idols & I absolutely cannot WAIT!!!!!

Guess who else will be here in October???? David Crowder Band!!! YAHOOOO!! They are definitely one of my favorite Christian bands, & they are sadly breaking up after this tour so I'm beyond excited to see them in concert.

I really like this.

Oh, & have I mentioned how ready I am for Fall?? HA. After this beach trip, I am for sure putting out all my fall scents, decor, ect. I stopped by good ole Bath & Body Works today & stocked up. YUM is all I gots to say.

Sorry for the totally rando post, but hope y'all enjoyed anyway. Happy Week!

Amazing Grace

Because I'm overwhelmed with God's grace, for you & me. 

Go here to watch a video from my church :)

This has always been a favorite of mine, since I was a little girl.

It's raining, it's pouring & we are all praising GOD!

I'm sure some of y'all have heard about this drought in Texas, it's bad y'all. It has not rained in A YEAR, well until last night. :)

With all the ranches in Texas, we need rain. Remember all the wild fires I talked about? How they threatened my home town, destroyed a town 20 mins from mine, & left people with nothing?

Folks have been praying day & night for rain. Lord, send us rain & lots of it.

One night, I even contemplated doing a rain dance because I've got some A W E S O M E white girl moves, but lover said he didn't think that was such a great idea - my neighbors might see. HA

So last night around 9pm on my way home, God answered prayers with lots of rain. It was so awesome. My windshield wipers weren't even sure how to react. It got a little scary because I couldn't even see where I  was going, cars were stalled everywhere, & traffic lights were out. But? I didn't even care because IT WAS RAINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thank you baby Jesus!!!

I snapped this at a red light.

On the way home, I couldn't help but smile. I was so giddy. I literally felt like God was smiling down on L, Texas last night laughing & saying, "See? I do answer prayers but in MY TIME." It was simply... amazing.

Driving to work this morning I splashed through every puddle I could :) We are no where near being out of a drought, but this moisture was much needed. Please pray that my hometown & the rest of Texas can experience a torrential down pour.

God's mercy is unevititable. He will ALWAYS take care of us, we just have to believe & have faith.

 Psalm 37:7

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him

The Simple Things

Happy Thursday! Phew... perfect timing for the link-up, The Simple Things. This week has been completely CRAZY busy, overwhelming, & just plain "BLAH". Ever had one of those? I try & make this blog happy & uplifting, but I AM human & I do have bad days, or in this case a bad week. But I know the Lord won't ever give me anything I can't handle.

So, today I am especially thankful for the little things:

... knowing our beach trip is SO close. Next Monday, y'all...

...one sweet flower my lover picked for me because of said horrible week...

...cake balls...

...friends that say the perfect things when you're feeling down...

...Mexican food with Lauren...

...slumbering with my amazing friends...

...JAMMIN' to good 'ol Deana Carter with Lauren (best moment of my week, seriously)...

I promise if you listen to this song, it'll make you smile :)

...e-mails from my sweet Chrysalis fam (have I mentioned how much I love those girls??)...

...my morning coffee + time with the Lord...

...smiles from a stranger...

...simple goals...

...crossing off things on my to-do list...

...a funny picture text...

...texts from my lover that read "How are my girls?" Talking about my pups & I :)...

...finding something on Pinterest that makes me happy...

...seeing CHRISTMAS decor at Hobby Lobby...

...chocolate & wine...

...fall clothes...

...knowing that the Lord will get me through whatever I'm going through. Good or bad...

I am blessed.

Love y'all.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Hey y'all! I hope everyone is having a great week so far! I've been linking up with Jaime for some time now for What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm loving... my first diaper cake I made for my sister's baby shower last weekend! :)

I'm loving... that the same sweet lady who sponsored my to go on my retreat last weekend, is making me a dress for the Rangers game I'll be attending in 2 weeks. Yippee! She is an amazing seamstress, & I can't wait to see how it will turn out.

She made this one for her niece, similar to what mine will look like :)

I'm loving... that I got to see a childhood friend & her new beau while I was home last week. There is a cute little sno-cone place that has the BEST red velvet cone. YUM.

I'm loving... that my friend Lauren & I are going to start volunteering. Anywhere & everywhere, can't wait. :)

I'm loving... this little OTD I wore to go shopping with my mom! Those shorts are from Forever 21 & are SOOO soft & comfy.

I'm loving... that I received my SHINE necklace in the mail yesterday! I LOVE IT, & the money went to a great cause. It's delicate, feminine, & perfect.

I'm loving... that THE HELP comes out TODAY!!!!!!!!!!! It's by far the best book I've read in a LONG time, & I'm just so excited to see the movie. Maybe I can talk my someone special to take me out to eat before?? Hehe

I'm loving... these cute Fall outfits. Comfy is my style

I'm loving... this quote because it descibes me perfectly.

I'm loving... this bible verse: Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 24:14