Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Tribal

So lately I've been really loving some summer fashion trends, but one has particularly been my favorite. I'm sure you can't tell what it is though. Surprise! I'm obsessed with tribal.

I've been wanting something different for my blog, so that it doesn't blend in with every other one out there. Something different just happened to come to me in a form of a fashion trend that I'm loving lately.
{Source 1, 2, 3}
I think my favorite thing about this current trend is the bold and bright color combinations. 

As if I needed more tribal in my life, I also found a tutorial for an iPhone cover via pinterest that I'm absolutely {in love} with.  You've got to go check it out!


What started this obsession? Well it wasn't just the tribal trend hitting pinterest full force. I recently bought some tribal shorts from target, and I love them. They're not only cute and colorful, they're also ridiculously comfy.  I'm attempting to bulk up my closet with tribal prints, what about you?

Are you loving this current trend?

For the Love of Laguna

I know I do, and what an extreme blast from the past.  I've spent my entire morning {yeah, my entire morning} watching reruns of the old Laguna Beach on MTV.  It's amazing to see where these guys were then, compared to where they are now.  Not only does it have me completely reminiscing about the way that they used to be, but also where I was in my life when this show came out.

I see it now, all of my friends and I in what 2004 when the show came out? So, middle school/ high school age crowded in a friends living room gawking over these highly dramatic yet addicting shows. We absolutely loved it.  And the odd thing is, the drama isn't too far off. Boys, backstabbing, popularity, high school, prom, parties DRAMA.  I don't miss this, but it sure does take me back. The unfortunate thing about this is it's a right of passage. A stage of growth, and an age of change.  It's fun, painful, exciting, and necessary all at once.  You gain friends, lose friends, find love and lose love and come out of the other side with life long relationships and unbreakable bonds, a few good stories to tell and a lot of good memories.
Source 1, 2, 3

And if I'm being completely honest, I'd still move to Laguna, perhaps that's still the show obsessed teen in me.
Top image found via.

Were you a Laguna fan? If so, where does it place you down memory lane?

Do's and Don'ts, Summer wedding wear

If you clicked this post thinking I was going to tell you what to wear to a summer wedding, well.. you're out of luck.  I'm actually needing some help here.  I hadn't put much thought into what to wear this weekend to a wedding I'm attending, and now I'm kinda thinking I should have.

{Picture this: Afternoon wedding, well starts at four... in Charleston.}
It's not your typical cotton maxi.  The outside is sheer and the underlay is shiny pink.  The dress comes right above the ankle and I think It would be adorable paired with some gold sandals {fake rogers, in my case... thanks Target!} some gold bangles and some simple pearls.

So, what are your thoughts? Is this a wedding wear yes, or no?

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Learnin' new things

I don't know about you, but I think I could stay up all night making changes and "tweaking" my blog.

Luckily for me, I ran across this site Her New Leaf where she is doing a Primp My Blog series with helpful hints and freebies.

I've also added a button that you can feel free to grab and put on your blog, and in addition to that I'd love to start featuring other blogs buttons on mine! Let me know if you're interested.

And as always, any feedback or advice to share with this fairly new blogger would be much appreciated!


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

I'll be there for you

It's like you're always stuck in second gear, when it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year. But, I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to fall. I'll be there for you, like i've been there before.  I'll be there for you, cause you were there for me to.

Friends: wonderful show, and wonderful blessing the Lord has given us.

Today I received a package from one of my best friends, Valerie Erwin. Here's a little breakdown of what this packaged contained:



  1. A letter.  A sweet and loving letter that reminded me of two things: I miss my best friend, and how talented she is at writing!
  2. Then there were chocolates, Ferrero Rocher's to be exact and if I said I was addicted to these, it would be an understatement.
  3. Essie Nail polish in "Bikini so teeny" a part of the summer collection.
  4. A summer reading list with three books that I can't wait to read, it includes: Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge, The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks (haven't seen the movie either!) and I can't believe there's a Jodi Picoult book I haven't read, Change of Heart 
  5. A list of versus worth reading, and I can't wait to dive in.  In the list you'll find Proverbs 31:25, which has been told to me by several people lately... think the Lord is trying to tell me something? Yeah, me too!
  6. And a list of wonderful music I've already started downloading.
All in all this package was amazing, so this is my public thanks for being such a wonderful friend, a trustworthy confidant, and a beautiful person.

But it wasn't just that, it was a wake up call for me.  

I'm not only called to be compassionate and loving to those I want to bring to the Lord's feet, but also to those already there.  We shouldn't get so wrapped up in only pouring out love to strangers and those who are lost, but also to take time to build up our friends, our loved ones, and encourage them in their every day lives.  We're called to be there for them, confide in them, and trust them with our hearts.

So this ones to you, my closest friends, for you are amazing and there is not one day that I don't thank the Lord for you in my life.


Friday, June 15, 2012

Girl talk on: being grown up

Image found here.

I work at a country club on Lake Keowee as a waitress, and today a gentleman was talking {quite loudly} about his wonderful trip to New York, the hotel, bars, the restaurants, and the frivolous spending.
  
He was talking about The Waldorf where he stayed in the city, which also had me thinking is it just me or did you miss the fact that the Waldorf's on GossipGirl actually do own a luxury hotel in New York? I mean... not them, but they're a real family.  Anyways, it had me thinking about my future.

Teaching, a profession that needs to be rich in passion.

Passion, doesn't always pay.

Will I be able to take trips like these?  What will I be able to do.

Am I just freaking out because I'm about to be a senior in college, out in the real world in one year? Not to mention the only responses I get when I mention I'll be a teacher is "wow you must be crazy to want to work with kids every single day", or "well, you'll be paying your student loans off for the next ten years". 

And you know what? They're right. 

It does not pay well.  Is it childish for me to feel overwhelmed by loans I haven't even started paying? And what if I spend one day in the classroom and realize that I hate it. This is one of those times that I just panic thinking about the future, and yet, I shouldn't.  

It's then that I start to wonder if it's the devil placing this turmoil for worry in my mind, and this selfish thinking.  I should instead trust that the Lord has placed me on this path for a reason.  That the passion for teaching was placed on my heart for a reason.

I shouldn't look at this guy in envy, but instead look past him in excitement for what my future will bring.  It's just not always easy saying "shh" to the negative thoughts that go on in our heads, you know?

What about you? Life worrying you lately?


Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Peplum

Thanks to pinterest, I spend hours and hours gawking over clothes I'll probably never buy.  This new trend however is hitting the scene full force. 

{peplum}
Flattering for the figure, adorable colors, and easily pairs with shorts, skinny jeans, skirts, etc.

What can I say? I think I'm in love.

image found here.

When do you think it's ok to try out this bold fashion trend?  A night out with the girls? In the office?
You tell me.


A few changes

I'm super excited to say I've officially started using photoshop, and I think I'm already obsessed!

I'm doing a little revamping on the blog, so any advice or feedback would be very appreciated.

On the blog title change, {this and that} was slowly becoming old, and although this blog is undoubtedly filled with a little this and a little that, I wanted a title that was more aimed at where I am in my life right now.

There was a song playing on the radio called {Learning to be the Light} by NEWWORLDSON and the lyrics automatically caught my attention,

It's so much brighter living in your world, Savior what you did for me, You gave me something I want everyone to see.  When we stumble and it all goes wrong, only You can make it right so I say {I'm Learning to be the Light}
These lyrics really hit home with me because as I grow in my faith I start to realize how important it is to shine and allow my light to reach others.  I'm attempting to live my life in a way that will encourage others to follow the Lord, letting the light shine through me, pouring out love and compassion to all those surrounding me.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

How will you shine?


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Book worm

 

I'd like to start off by saying, I'm not your typical book worm.

Usually the only books I dive into are those with obvious crowd approval.  I think i've said this before, and I'll say it again, I'm all about jumping on some bandwagons.

However, I'm taking a little turn and since I'm not taking classes this summer I'm going to use my time wisely.  And by use my time wisely I mean I'll be studying for the PLT, and finding a little more about who I am and what the Lord plans to do through me.

This new adventure has taken on many forms, those being: finding community with an amazing group of girls in Clemson, being obedient to the Lord in reading his word daily, volunteering at NewSpring and most recently reading books like these:




Crazy Love is a book I purchased a long time ago, and it's not that I didn't like it then, I just don't think I was ready for it.  It wasn't until I established a relationship with God that I could even except his insane and crazy love for me.

I've also been recommended the two other books each by separate friends.  

Real Marriage is appropriate because I'm in a rather serious relationship with boy named Alex, whom I've been dating since high school and we're about to enter our senior year of college.  As we get older more and more friends are engaged and married... it seemed like a good time to tackle this one.

Love Does is a book that I'm just so excited to read, I can't do it justice so just look at the description. I think I'm gonna love it.

I'll be sure to keep you guys updated on these as I read them. Love Does and Real Marriage were ordered via Amazon tonight, so I've got a while before they get here.  I'm no book critic, but I'll do my best!

Know of any other ones that I should take up? I've got all summer!



Friday, June 1, 2012

Hosanna!


I think it was my first time at FCA that I heard this song for very first time. The worship band that night was playing it and all of the students were singing.  I saw eyes closed and arms raised toward the Lord, and it was then that I realized this was the first time that the Lord was really pulling on my heart.  The song almost brought me to tears, that had never happened before.

I recently saw this image "Hosanna in the Highest" on pinterest and it was just too perfect.  

Lately I've been praying asking the Lord for many things: strength in times of weakness, patience at times when it seems impossible.  But one thing that I've realized I need to pray for more than all of those things is for the Lord to change my heart.

The lyrics for this song are just amazing, and I think that perhaps this is my prayer to the Lord, 
"Heal my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen.  Show me how to love like You have loved me.  Break my heart for what breaks Yours, everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause.  As I walk from earth into eternity"

It's crazy to think what that actually means "Show me how to love like You have loved me", and how much does he love us? He loves us so much so that he sacrificed his only son... That is unfathomable. What great expectations He has held for us, to be able to love like Him.

I think at times we all should stop and reflect on who we are.  Are we reflecting the image of the Lord in the actions we take each day? In the words that we speak? In the love that we show are neighbors?

This song is just an amazing worship song, it's beautiful.

Take a hike

Memorial day: a day around here that typically consists of grilling out, laying out, or being on the lake.  

However, we spent this Memorial day a little different.  We decided to take the puppies hiking, the only question was, where?

We visited the state park website, which was just what we needed and looked at all of the surrounding areas in an effort to pick our destination for the day.  And so we did, Caesar's Head.  Once we got there we asked for a hiking trail that wasn't too long because it was already pretty late in the day but we wanted one with a good view.  She recommended a trail that was only 4.4 miles and peaked at a beautiful waterfall.

After about an hour of hiking we reached the peak, and realized that this was our waterfall:
And that was zoomed in as far as it would go.
Not exactly what we were looking for but hey, it was still beautiful!  Although the view was a bust, the trip was super fun.  Bella and Bowman had a great time and behaved so well on the hike, they spent most of the time off leash (which technically you're not supposed to do... oops!)






Know any other good hiking places? Let me know!