On a Friday night.

My current view. Sitting at Big Momma's after a day of work at Red Velvet (we are making the cutest valentines day garland for the windows at RV right now!). While sitting at Big Momma's, I'm listening to Robert Pattinson (oh, that dreamy non-talking voice of his!) and ever so faintly overhearing a conversation between two people a few tables away from me. I *think* they are on their first date. Because I've been sitting here for twenty-ish minutes and all they've talked about is their favorite TV shows and the last Harry Potter movie, which to me sounds pretty first date. I mean, when I first meet/hang out with someone, I pretty much only talk about my favorite movies.

Anywho. I've been feeling the blogging bug lately. I never seem to have the time to fully commit to blogging (though, in reality, I do). I seriously meant to pack my camera for my weekend trip to Arkansas, but.. I forgot. So come Monday night, you'll probably have some iPhone photos to look at! ;)
In the mean time, I am starting a diet new lifestyle plan (no soda! no carbs after 3! no eating 2-3 hours before bed!). I'm actually pretty anxious to start it... Not that I'm trying to lose weight (although... I won't lie, that would be a nice plus), I just want to feel healthy. I have been eating junk and drinking all the coca-cola in the world for the past two years, and I just feel so... unhealthy. Time for a change, I do believe!

So here's to new eating habits. And a blog post to come on Monday.

(update on the couple a few tables away: they are currently discussing how they are hipsters. what kind of first date is this?!)

Red Velvet

Just a few photos from my days spent at Red Velvet.
I interviewed for a job at the old RVA, but seeing as I was in high school and lived 20 minutes away, it didn't exactly work out. It did, however, turn into a mini "internship" where I helped my good pal Erin make product for the store. It was fun! A few years and few photo shoots down the road, and I officially work at Red Velvet. I was the Saturday girl for a few months, but now I spend my Fridays there! I absolutely love it.

I am still in the process of moving upstairs to the nanny apartment. It's a slow process, only moving the things I *absolutely* need right now. I'm hoping to finish it up this weekend, but I took tonight off to just hang out and watch movies. I bought my very first tv today (!!!) so after a few hours of trying to set it up with the satellite, I FINALLY have it ready to go. I'm currently watching Batman Returns, in case you were wondering. ;)

Anywho - just popping in to say hello! Have a wonderful Saturday night! (Stay safe & warm... we are expecting snow/ice in Springfield tonight!)

Hello, lover.

The first blog post from a brand new Macbook Pro...
Oh, how I've longed for this. Seriously, though.

I got my first Mac about 2.5 years ago. My parents bought it off of my youth pastor, who was upgrading to a Pro. At the time, I think the computer was about 4 years old (which makes it like 6 now?  OLD in the land of computers). Approximately 3 or 4 months after getting the new to me Mac, a can of coke burst in my backpack completely soaking my computer from the inside out. We let it air out for a few days, took it apart, aired it out some more, and it finally turned back on, and business was usual (with the exception of sound. The sound never quite came back, regretfully). THEN one day while nannying, the kiddos played a little too hard and bent my computer all outta wack. It never fully aligned  while closed after that... And a few days after ordering a new Mac, the insides of my computer literally fell out. I'd give a reference photo, but it's just too sad to show (but you can see it on Instagram, if you follow me!).

So here we are... a brand new computer, with no scratches, no imperfections, sound that works perfectly. Ah, I've missed this.

Now I have to make sizable monthly payments on this sucker.
All for a good cause, I'd say.

I'm hoping to be around here more often, since I'm not afraid to open my computer anymore. So here's to more regular blogging.

just a silly outfit post

Outfit Details: top - Francesca's// scarf - Forever 21// jeans - American Eagel// Shoes - Target

It's been a while since I've done an "Instagram Style" post! I feel so silly posting these, but I so rarely take actual outfit photos and sometimes, I feel like I'm wearing an extra cute outfit, gosh darn it! I wore this on one of my 'comfy' days  at Red Velvet. I like to wear dresses on my days at the shop, but this was one exception. Like I've said before, I might just start doing actual outfit posts again. But my every day style is less than exciting. Sigh. Dilemmas of a nanny? :) 

In other news: I am completely obsessed with Girls. Blake bought me season one of the show and we have been working our way through it, although there's only 10 episodes, so it shouldn't be that hard to watch it all. But when you take breaks every so often to watch Hart of Dixie in between... that's when it takes forever to watch 10 30-minute episodes. (ALSO, I think all I ever do is watch TV, so I thought I'd tell you I am also obsessed with American Horror Story: Asylum, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. I feel like there's a show I'm leaving out. But I don't think there is. Television freak.)

Anywho - this was just for fun! Have a wonderful Monday! 

twenty thirteen

via

2012 was fantastic. I turned 21, the age I thought would never come, I've grown closer to both of my parents, I got engaged... just to mention a few fun things from my year. It's been an extremely good year for the relationships in my life. 

2013 is finally here. The year I get married, the year I turn 22 (the most uneventful age ever, and it seems birthdays are just super important to me...), the year I choose to live simply and fully. 

I say this day after day, year after year: I'm going to start actually living my life. Stop planning so much and just take things as they come. But this year, I'm going to. I will have to, just to keep my wits about me. So many things will be changing over the course of the next year.. I'll need every bit of sanity I can get. 

I decided instead of making resolutions (which I never keep, and I'm pretty sure you don't either), I'm going to start each month with a new list of goals. Just a couple of new goals each month. January will start with reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and focusing a little bit more on this blog. I get so much joy out of writing here, and I want to expand on it a bit more. I'm very excited for the prospect of making this blog (and hopefully After Your Heart) a priority. 

So here's to 2013, the year of living peacefully, blissfully and gratefully. 

This will be the best year yet. 

A new tattoo...

And another tattoo to add to the collection....
In the exact words of my mother (and future mother in law... and boss): "another? Before the wedding?!" Yes. Before the wedding! This one just couldn't wait.

If you follow me on Instagram/Twitter, you probably know the story, but I got this tattoo in honor of my best friend, Breigh, who has a rare kidney disease and two brain tumors (actually, now only one tumor, since she just had brain surgery!).
A while back, Breigh asked her closest friends and family what their thoughts were on getting bird themed tattoos with her. I absolutely loved the idea. She chose a specific Bible verse to go with the bird, but as soon as I found out about what everyone was doing, I thought it important to not only get a verse that represents Breigh, but one that represents me as well. So I chose Galatians 6:17...
"I don't want to be bothered by these things anymore, I have far more important things to do - the serious living of this faith. I bear on my body the scars from my service to Jesus." (MSG)

I have loved this verse for a very, very long time (it was the one that really showed me a purpose in all that I go through)... and so I thought this one was the most appropriate. I really love how some translations of this verse say, "I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Christ Jesus." My favorite!
Anyway, I got this as a reminder to myself that no matter what I go through, it is all for the purpose of furthering God's Kingdom. Jesus has yet to leave my side, and He never will. So in light of all of Breigh's illnesses and my struggle with depression and anxiety over the past 7 years, I'll always have this reminder that whatever we go through - it is all for the glory of God. He is the creator, the healer and the ultimate best friend.

Thanks for letting me share!

Christmas at my mama's house

Oh, Christmas.
I'm so happy to be at my parents for Christmas this year! This is my second Christmas living away from my hometown, so each year, I get more and more sentimental about spending the holidays with my family. I don't take this time for granted anymore, that's for sure!

This morning I woke up to the amazing smells of my papa making homemade biscuits and gravy for breakfast (complete with bacon wrapped sausage! Holy yum!) and mom got to unwrap her gift from Santa (a Keurig!) so that we could all have coffee to drink with our breakfast. My grandma + aunt and uncle came over for breakfast as well - it was a good start to the Christmas festivities!
Tonight is for dinner with the family (and my mama's wassail! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it), a candlelight service at church, and hanging out with the family. We have the tradition where we each get to open up one gift on Christmas Eve, and it is almost always new pajamas. A few years back, mom made the mistake of not getting me pajamas... and I'm pretty sure I cried! I felt so silly for getting upset, but she now makes sure that I have new pajamas each year! Love you so much, Mom!

I hope you all are having a good holiday and are getting to spend time with your families! I'll just be here hanging out at the house watching Christmas movies and working on an embroidery piece! I never officially learned how to embroider, so I'm just making it up as I go.. but it's fun!
Enjoy the holiday and have a very merry Christmas!

I think we are going to have a white Christmas here in the Ozarks!
<3