Lately- Wordless

DWYS: 2

Just for kicks, this little beauty had to join in on the fun!

Shirt: Old Navy, Chambray

Leopard Belt: Kohls

Shorts: Ann Taylor LOFT (love em so much I also own the denim!)

Coral Earrings: Target

Don’t let a low budget keep you down!! Some Target, Kohls, and Old Navy finds put together with purpose can stand beside the J Crew ensembles any day!

sweet gratitude, III

Trying to slow down more and remember to smell the roses. Sometimes it can be hard to really live in the present, without looking forward with “I can’t wait”s… for me, being thankful for what is going on right now helps.

Loving lately:

warmer weather, eno time,

pinterest ideas,

oatmeal and coffee to start my days,

verses God shows me just at the right time,

fresh picked flowers, walks with friends,

of course sweet snuggles,

and spring wishes!

“give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you..”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

From The Happiness Project: Gratitude is important to happiness. Studies show that consistently grateful people are happier and more satisfied with their lives; they even feel more physically healthy and spend more time exercising. Gratitude brings freedom from envy, because when you are grateful for what you have, you are not consumed with wanting something different or something more. That, in turn, makes it easier to live within your means and also to be generous to others.

What are you grateful for this week? Something amazing? Just getting through?

Where Have You Been?

I’ve obviously been slacking on my blogging game lately! My mind has gone from being overwhelmed with school after 10 days of Spring Break to being overwhelmed with wanting to go home for Easter! Couldn’t be happier that I will be back in the 901 tomorrow.

Luckily, things around here have been pretty productive! The last two days this  week I managed to get my booty off the couch and onto the hamster wheel for the first two days of Couch to 5k! It feels way better to get my heart pumping (& get the fit bit saying 10,000) than to sit on the couch all afternoon, but that sure is hard to be reminded of while I’m on the couch!

Also, been trying to keep this dude organized aka a full time job! He’s gone from just starting photography around November to booking engagement shoots, business projects (for the Wall Street Journal, what?!!), and multiple weddings! I’ve become the employed assistant since I tend to be more of the planner type.

My Mary Kay business has taken off & I am having so much fun! Just in the past week I’ve had 5 orders placed. And I was able to place my first big order thanks to Mom & Nana! I decided to use my birthday money as a sort of investment to get all stocked with awesome MK products to sell (& use myself too!) Thrilled to open the box when it arrives Thursday & share with ya’ll!

Did you catch that? My birthday is in 26 days.. I’ll be twenty! What on earth? Twenty year olds have it all together… Or so I thought! I feel like that number is way older than I feel!

What happened to being 2 & Baby Bop cakes?

There is so much jam packed into these last 5 weeks of school! I can hardly get a steady hold on the fact that in 20 class days I will be saying goodbye to Starkville & hello to Memphis! I can hardly contain my excitement. With summer comes sunshine, swimming, a Virginia trip, a florida trip, & lots of relaxin!

Please take a second to pray for this sweet little dude, Knox. He’s just over 2 years old and we spent lots of last summer together hittin up Target and snugglin’ Marley.

If you follow me on instagram, you already saw that he is at LeBonheur after having a few seizures yesterday for unknown reasons.

Pray for comfort for his momma and peace and healing for his little body. Thank you!

Expect a vlog tomorrow on my favorite products… Not just makeup, but dishwashing detergent, nail polish, & more!

See ya then. xoxo.

A Tale of Kale

Corey Smith Thursday was even better than we could have expected! SO much fun! & We both got to meet him!!! AHH! (Really nice guy!!)

It was so much fun I didn’t even mind staying out til 1 am with a 9 am mid term 😉 “You’ll never remember the nights you got enough sleep” is the saying- right? This is the only best picture we got of us out of the night!

The rest of the weekend has been enjoyably laid back with Mr. Collierville last night (I got to meet sweet baby Campbell finally!), manicures/pedicures with mom, puppy snugglin, and a 30 degree with snow lacrosse game!! Brrrrr.

compliments of JML photography

A new recipe to share:

A new trend has overtaken the food/nutrition industry… KALE!

Last week, Mitchell and I just had to try the all popular “Kale Chips”! Ok, ok, I was a lot more excited than he was, but he did give them the thumbs up on taste 🙂

this entire bag cost $2.99! Enough for an army!!!

They are incredibly simple to make too; Very similar to the roasted broccoli!!

1) lay out in a single layer on a cookie sheet

2) drizzle with olive oil

3) salt. pepper. whatever flavor you’re feeling!

4) throw them in the oven at 425 for about 12-15 minutes!

5) Enjoy with ketchup!

We served them along side Buffalo Ranch Chicken stuffed potato skins & mashed potatoes! Deeelicious!

DWYS: one

If I have one message for those tight on money/struggling with a budget…

Bloggers — feel free to join in & link back here!!

The last thing you want to do when you are stressed out with money (or anything!) is show it all over your body. That little extra effort into your clothing can turn your whole day or even outlook around. (I know, I know… practice what you preach ;) A fresh outfit and 10 extra minutes on your hair or makeup can add that extra little confidence in your life.

We don’t all have hundreds of dollars to throw into an outfit we may only wear once… but we can usually find a few dollars every now and then. I put this outfit together on the cheap! It works for me. It shows a little bit about me and lets me express myself. I threw it on yesterday, spruced up my makeup, and felt way better all in just 7ish minutes. yes- I mean it!

I can’t wait to wear this easy ensemble for a dinner out during spring break in 10 days– but whos counting?!

Dress: Rue 21, purchased at Dirt Cheap in Starkville, $10.00

Belt: Gap, purchased on sale, $5.54

3/4 length sleeve Jacket: Old Navy, a few years old (I think about $15)

Earrings: Frock in Starkville, $8.00

BIG THANKS to JML photography for saving ya’ll from terrible iPhone in the mirror style photos!!

Check him out at his blog!I hope I can inspire your budgetting ladies- just occasionally, throw the ratty yoga pants in the corner & get dressed for yourself!! Then, later, put em back on. 😉  Nobody puts baby in the corner.

Keep an eye out for whats coming next… an all thrifted post!