What a Weekend!

I know I haven't posted since Thursday and I'm so sorry about that. It's been a longggg weekend since I ended up working every night and I still gotta go into work today at 1.

Thursday night I went into Atlanta with a girlfriend to see one of my friends. It started out great, but by 2:30 AM, we were ret. to. go! The drive to Atlanta isn't that awful but when you're already tired and all you wanna do is curl up in your bed and sleep, that drive was TERRIBLE haha.

I spent Friday with my sister and her babies, just laying out and watching the kiddos play in the pool. Guess who forgot to wear sunscreen? This girl!

Bet you didn't even think this was possible...

After laying out and then discovering I was darker than I could've possibly imagined, I donned my uniform and went to work. Saturday I spent time in the pool and painting some of my new artwork for my apartment. I scarfed down some food and went back into work around 5:45.

Today, I'm still in bed. 

I've gotten out of bed to eat breakfast, brushed my teeth and all that jazz, but I'm taking it easy until I have to go into work at 1. I'm thinking about finishing up my second painting, but this bed is TOO comfortable right now.

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New Artwork!

So I've commissioned my friend (sounds so weird!) to create a giraffe painting for my new apartment. In case you didn't know, I'm slightly obsessed with these long-neck, beautiful creatures. I'm also obsessed with elephants. Enter the drawing I'm doing to place in my future picture frame collage above my bed:

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#WordlessWednesday

And here's one just because I love this girl

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OOTD: Rainy Errands

With today being my last day of class and the forecast projecting rain off and on all day (much like yesterday), I decided to just throw in my comfiest clothes and run out the door. 

Tank: Gifted

Running capris: Nike at Kohl's

Converse: Target

Necklace: Gifted

Well, well, well... look who snuck in while I was taking pictures. She knew better than to be up there without me! Haha!

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OOTD: Did I Ever Tell You About the Time I Was on a Fashion Blog?

Back in the fall, I was asked to be photographed while walking around downtown with my mom and my aunt. Thinking nothing of it, I posed in front of the camera, smiled and went on with my day. Two weeks later, I remembered the photographer telling me to check out her site since I would be featured soon. 

So of course, giddy ole me hops on my computer and LOOK WHAT I SAW!

Yeah, that's me in all of my glory. And I distinctly remember my mother asking me "what the heck" I was wearing. Little did she know. Little did she know. 

So yes, your girl made it onto a fashion website y'all. Me! I was too excited about that and as you can tell, I still am. One day I'll be on a ton of fashion websites. Or maybe not. 

A girl can dream, right?

Shirt: J.Crew (not sold anymore)

Shorts: Thrifted from Goodwill

Socks: J.Crew

Boots: Macy's

Clutch: Pitaya

Bracelet: J.Crew

Sunglasses: Walmart

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Busy, Busy Weekend

What a busy weekend!

Thursday Night

After being in class until 5, I decided to pack up and head to nursing school for open house on Friday. I ended up getting in around 9, watching the NBA Finals (Heat won FYI) and crashing soon afterwards. I was feeling a bit under the weather so that made sleeping these past few nights a bit rough.

Friday

Shots, Open House, and my apartment! I went to the doctor to get a required shot for nursing school. Not my idea of fun. Afterwards, I went to my nursing school for open house form 1-4. I grabbed some Chickfila for dinner and head straight to my apartment. (Let me just tell you I was too excited to see this place. This will be home for two years!)

I talked to the foreman and he said they expected to be done by July 4th, so I'm crossing my fingers that I will be able to move in before August.

After that busy day, I still had to get on the road and head back home so I hopped in my car and drove back with all of my fellow Americans (aka hellooooo traffic). When I got home I was exhausted from the shot, being up all day, and just from the sick symptoms I was experiencing (couldn't breathe, slight headache, fatigue). So I called up my friend, she came over and we watched This is 40.

Do not watch this movie if you're tired. In fact, just don't watch this movie unless you have time to kill and aren't really expecting something great. It was funny in parts, but overall, it was just long! In 2 hours and 14 minutes, I could've accomplished a lot - like sleeping, which was much needed and desired.

Saturday

Work. Hang out with another girlfriend of mine with the intention to go out, but we end up talking for 4 hours at her place. Come home and crash.

Sunday

Well right now, it's looking like a beautiful Sunday in Georgia though it's supposed to rain later (yes please!) Work is on the schedule from 6 to close, but until then, I need to spend time with God. In all honesty, I have been neglecting Him and that is THE LAST person you or I ever need to neglect.

So, the plan until work is to play some of my favorite worship music, grab my Bible, A New Earth, Pink Lips & Empty Hearts, go out by the pool, and read. Talk to Jesus. Time in church is always great, but time alone with God is where He truly gets to know who you are.

Make that time.

I hope you all had a great weekend!

God bless.

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In Case You Were Wondering...

I have been obsessed with worship and praise music for a little while now and I seriously listen to this more than I do the radio, CDs, my iTunes. Everything. I'll play this mix from my phone, in my car. It's that serious. Take a listen and you'll understand. It's simply amazing.

I listen to worship and praise music when I spend time with God each day. I usually sing as loud as possible when I'm in my car and I hum or sing softly at home - God doesn't judge my awful singing. It really puts me in the mood to worship and just tell God what's on my mind.

My favorites are "I Surrender" by Kim Walker and/or Jesus Culture, "Run to You" by Kari Jobe, "Yield My Heart" and "Waste it All" by Kim Walker and "Waiting Here for You" by Christy Nockels.

Just listen.

You don't have to give up whatever it is that you listen to now, just give it a listen and tell me it doesn't make you feel better and uplifted.

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#WordlessWednesday

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Sweating Our Hearts Out

A few days ago I mentioned my friend and I "Sweating for the Wedding." I just recently found out that she gave herself 5 months to lose a certain amount of weight, and whatever I can do to help her shed those pounds (and help me shed mine), I'd be happy to help! I sent her these shirts and said we're getting some in the fall. I told her to download the apps Lose It and My Fitness Pal to keep track of food intake and exercise. 

So far, I'm down 2 pounds and 2 inches off my waist. Yesterday I ran for 15 minutes and for the most part, I'm eating about 200 calories less than my budget each night (which isn't ideal, but I'm working on it). I'm also doing the 30 Day Abs workout and swimming when I can.

You can do it too! Join us for the rest of our journey! Remember, the wedding is in May. We have time, but not too much. It'll be here before you know it!

Keep in mind: You bite it, you write it.

Writing what I eat really has changed the way I eat. I don't like seeing that I'm over by X number of calories or that I ate a whole pack of Lifesaver gummies (yes, this happened.. three times). While I know counting calories will not become my lifestyle, it's nice to see what I'm putting into my mouth and how it's affecting my daily caloric intake.

Something to consider.

You can pick up this amazing shirt here!

And this one here!

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A Little Water Never Hurt Anyone

I've always wanted to do a bucket list for when I turn 30, so I'm making a list of 30 things to do before I turn 30. I've already done some of them and some of them are probably far off into the future. 

1. Be in a wedding
2. Travel without luggage
3. Have my own place
4. Go to an NFL game
5. Go on a wine tasting 
6. Go to the shooting range and get my own gun
7. Blog everyday for one year straight
8. Fully turn my life over to Jesus Christ 
9. Pay for another's meal anonymously
10. Find a church and go regularly
11. Live in another country for at least one year
12. Travel with just a carry on
13. Take a family vacation at least once per year
14. Build even better relationships with my siblings
15. Get married
16. Have a baby
17. Go an entire week without social media
18. Handwrite letters to friends across the country twice a month
19. Start a new family tradition 
20. Get into nursing school
21. Visit my sister in Canada 
22. Give 10% back. 
23. Get a puppy
24. Volunteer at least twice a week
25. Work out 3 times a week
26. Travel alone
27. Wake up by 7am every week day
28. Visit each of my SAAS friends, no matter where they are
29. Pay it forward in a big way
30. Read a new book every month

Coming up soon:

• Attend nursing school
• Find a church and attend regularly
• Have my own place
• Be in a wedding

Continuously working on:

• Building even better relationships with my siblings
• Turning my life over to Jesus Christ
• Blog everyday

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Oh What a Wonderful Day

I just want to take some time out today to thank my father for everything he has done for me. 

Daddy,

You are a wonderful, strong man who has shown me time and time again what it means to be a good man. Though I have strayed from what you've taught me every once in a while, I can never say you were wrong in any of the wisdom you've imparted upon me. I am so thankful that God chose me to be your daughter so that you could teach me what a good man looks like, talks about, and does for the people around him. He chose me to be your daughter so you could protect me and teach me everything I know today. He chose you to be my father so you could learn how far love can extend and how it can cover us and make us feel whole. I couldn't thank you or Him enough for everything I have in this life and I know as I get older, our bond will only get stronger. I love you so much Dad.

Love, 

Your not-so-little Girl  

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Raspberry Ketones

Raspberry ketones are slated by Dr. Oz to be a pill that helps you lose weight by tightening/shrinking the fat cells in your body (see here). Dr. Oz mentions that this pill should be taken in conjunction to diet and exercise for optimal results. After hearing that and having thought about losing weight for a little while, I thought I would give this a try.

I started taking the pill on June 4th after picking up a bottle from Walmart for $4.48. One before breakfast and one before lunch. After just 11 days, I've lost 2 inches off of my natural waist (measured just about the belly button) and that was with minimal exercise and adjusting some of my eating.

This past Monday, my friend and I began a "Sweating til the Wedding" countdown for her May wedding (!!) and that's when I started counting calories via two apps: My Fitness Pal and Lose It.

If you wish to lose weight the natural way but are seeking an all natural boost to jumpstart your weight loss, I definitely suggest raspberry ketones.

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Reading Day

Yesterday I told you about the book I was reading with some of my family and today's the day to do our chapter 3 book study! It's also a pool day here for the babies. In addition to this book, I'm also reading Pink Lips & Empty Hearts, a book about women after God's own heart. I greatly enjoy this book so far, though I am just 5 chapters in, but I do feel as though it is meant for women who haven't even begun their journey to walk with Christ. If you're interested in turning your life around and following the plan God has laid out for your life, I suggest reading this to be pointed in the right direction in addition to A New Earth.

What are your plans for the day? Any suggested reading for me?

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"A New Earth," A New Outlook

I'm reading A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle with my mom and my sister. It was part of Oprah's Book Club a few years back and let me tell you, this is such a great book! I think the idea of reading it with other people is especially helpful though because the first 50 pages were hard to get through. They set up the premise of the book, which focuses on the ego and how everything you describe yourself as is not who you are and who you think you are is not who you are. While that sounds confusing - and it probably is - it's good!

If you're looking to be awakened and want to recognize that everything that you feel is the ego, you need to read this book. If you want to see that people aren't bad, but they're egos make them do things you don't agree with and aren't pleased with, read this. 

When you realize that "whatever happens in [your] life is no longer of absolute but only of relative importance. [You] honor it, but it loses its absolute seriousness, its heaviness."

"The ego tends to equate having with Being: I have, therefore I am. And the more I have, the more I am. The ego lives through comparison. How you are seen by others turns into how you see yourself."

If you want to read more about this, if you want to be awakened and realize that the mind is insane, dysfunctional, and that there is so much more to us than we think (since we aren't who we think we are), read this book!!

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OOTN: Little Blue Dress

Last Friday night I went out for my friend's "21 Again" birthday celebration. It was so much fun! With a rented out hotel room and a limo to bring us to and from the club, ten of us went to Mansion Élan in Atlanta. Of course it was AGP (Atlanta Greek Picnic) weekend, so the club was full of members in Divine 9 organizations. Aside from all of the strolling, which I enjoy about half of the time and am annoyed that I have no room to dance the other half of the time, I had a great time.

I chose to wear a little blue dress that I picked up two weeks prior, pair it with some of my favorite heels, and party like I had no care in the world. 

Dress: TJ Maxx
Shoes: Pitaya
Bracelet: Juicy Couture
Earrings: Charlotte Russe

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OOTD: DIY Shorts

Yesterday I decided to wear a pair of shorts I had recently made to class. They're a bit risqué, but I couldn't help but show them off. I love how they turned out! If any of you would like a pair, get in contact with me and I'll make you some for a small fee!

And this one is just for giggles

Shorts: thrifted and made by me

Tank: J.Crew

Sandals: borrowed

Headband: University Bookstore

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To New Beginnings

Yes, it's true. I am back to blog about any and everything on my mind. I'm not sure how often I'll be blogging, but I'll definitely be posting more than I have in the past three years, which was none. I'll post something real this afternoon since I have to run up to school for class until 5. If you're lucky, I'll post before I get out of class.

With love, 

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