It's official...

We bought a house!!  

We're so thankful to everyone who helped us to get to this point in our lives to do this.  A few months ago we started the search for our new home for our little family.  It was discouraging at times and I was scared absolutely out of my dang mind (and that's putting it lightly) wondering if we would ever find a home right for us. The point is... we did! 

This weekend we'll be moving into our new home and I can't pray enough for how truly blessed we are.  


Until next time...

10 Things You Could Get Rid of Today (and Never Miss).

Image: Aleksandra Kovac/Stocksy United

After a while, you get so accustomed to seeing the things in your home that you tend to gloss over cluttered spaces because they seem normal. In preparation for moving into our new home I'm in the mood to purge... BIG TIME. So I thought I'd share and see if anyone else is guilty of storing any of these things that you don't want or need?

1. The stack of paper bags on top of your refrigerator or under the kitchen sink. The groceries are long gone; their day is done.

2. Sheet sets for sizes of mattress that you don't even own anymore. Is your linen closet keeping up with your furniture?

3. Any bottle in your bathroom that contains a product that didn't work for you. Why are you still storing that frizz-inducing shampoo?

4. Those couple of bowls or cups in your kitchen with tiny chips in the rim — It's not "still good" if you have to carefully decide where to place your mouth in order to prevent lip bleeding.

5. Shoes you bought on sale that pinch your toes.

6. The attachments for a vacuum you got rid of years ago.

7. The glass vase that your latest flower arrangement was delivered in. How many of those have you racked up by now?

8. That book you couldn't finish and that other book that you loved and devoured (pass it on to a friend and then discuss!).

9. Your second-string black cardigan. You always wear your favorite one anyway.

10. Multiple overnight bags or travel bags. 

Any of these strike a chord? If these specific examples don't apply to you, try thinking about decluttering by broader category:

·         Multiples

·         Clothes or products just that don't work for you

·         Equipment or accessories for activities you no longer do

·         Damaged things

Remember, you don't have to feel bad about wasting perfectly functional items if you donate them to people or organizations who really need them! Win win!

Until next time...

"Don't compare your real life to my highlights reel"

How many times have you thought, “I wish that was me”? I wish I was going to Europe or the Caribbean. I wish my husband surprised me with roses at work to celebrate the first time he laid eyes on me. I wish I was rocking newer clothes instead of the same old things I have been wearing. 

If you’re on Facebook, it’s probably every day. After a while, you start to really hate seeing #blessed. It starts to feel like everyone else is living this amazing glamorous life, while you’re schlepping through trying to make ends meet, arguing with your husband about who should do the dishes. 

Well, I’m calling bull. 

Because I happen to know that for every one of those #blessed statuses, there’re a dozen moments of boredom, or arguing over dishes, or toddler tantrums in Target. Their life isn’t different from yours. They have the same problems, vulnerabilities, and secrets that you do.  

The best quote I've heard recently is ”Don’t compare your real life to my highlights reel”. Because that’s what Facebook is, It’s someone else’s highlights reel. I gave up Facebook last year for lent and I'm starting 2017 off that way also. NO FACEBOOK.  It takes a lot of work to break through the mind trap that is Facebook and learn to love and live your own life. 

There’s a problem with social media, movies, television, and romance novels. After a while, all of those lives seem to be real. And our life seems to pale in comparison. While each of those things can add something good into your life, if left unchecked, it can also make you compare yourself to others.When you’re constantly looking at others and wishing that was you, then you aren’t investing your time and energy into your own life. 

Limit time on Facebook (or anywhere you feel the urge to compare yourself) for two weeks to see if you feel better or worse. Just be you. Make a list of things you're thankful for. And realize you're viewing the highlight reel and turn it off. 

Until next time...

Photo Diary: My 10 Favorite Moments of 2016

Looking back on 2016, it has been quite an eventful year! I think we can all agree that it’s been one for the books. This year has been such a monumental one in so many ways that I thought I’d reminisce on all of the highlights. From celebrating two friend's weddings, lots of friend's pregnancies, catching up with old friends to our own wedding and everything in between, I have a lot to be thankful for. Cheers to all of the wonderful people in my life and the exciting opportunities that have panned out this year. 2017 has big shoes to fill! Without further ado, here’s my 2016 highlight reel…

1. Celebrating my Bachelorette party with my best friends.

 2. Welcoming baby Adeline and baby Logan into the world.

 3. Christmas in North Carolina.

4. The time we had with Chance this year.

5. Celebrating my parents turning a year older.

6. Seeing Mumford & Sons for the third time.

7. My best friend's wedding.

8. Cleaning the Okatoma river with this crazy crew. 

9. Marrying my best friend.

10. Honeymoon in the Bahamas.

2017: My New Year's Resolutions

It's hard to believe we only have a few more days left in 2016!  I thought I would post some 2017 resolutions/goals that I'm hoping to accomplish in the new year. I've found in the past that writing these down helps me stand a better chance of following through with them.


1. Take Time to Relax
This year I want to make more time for my personal life. I had an amazing 2016, but it was definitely jam packed. In 2017, I plan on making my health and happiness a priority just like I would any other aspect of my job. I am going to take time for things like eating right, setting aside time to relax, and spending quality time with my friends and family (with my cell phone tucked away). It’s wonderful to work hard and accomplish your goals, but if you are too exhausted to do anything else besides your work, what’s the point?

2. Clear Out The Clutter
Last year, I started to de-clutter and simplify our lives. I really want to take it to the next level this year and that applies to every aspect of my life. I want to clear the clutter out of my home, my car, my wallet, my closets, my countertops… The list goes on. I feel so much more organized and less stressed when everything is in its place, which is hard to do when there is just so much stuff everywhere. We did quite a few donations last year also, but I want to start doing monthly donations to charities and organizations that need all of the extra stuff that we have lying around. From clothes to beauty products to home decor, I always have so many things that I don’t need that someone else could appreciate and love way more than I do.

3. Take Those Vitamins
This might seem silly, but one of my 2017 resolutions is to actually remember to take my vitamins! To start 2017 off on the right foot, I'm bringing them to work so they'll be in my face all day as a reminder. This year, I’m going to be on top of it!

4. Become A Morning Person
Waking up early has never been my strong suit and you can usually catch me hitting the snooze button more than once. I’m the worst when it comes to giving myself enough time to wake up and get ready in the morning! Ideally I’d like to save myself enough time before work to enjoy my morning juice, get in a quick workout, and make a balanced breakfast.

5. No More Procrastinating
I've been getting better about my tendency to leave the hardest task, or the one I’ve been dreading the most, to the very last minute. It always causes me unneeded anxiety, and I realize how easy it would make everything if I just dove right into my most complicated (or least fun) to-do item first. I have a feeling that fixing this one thing will help in a lot of different areas in my life… from work tasks to cleaning my apartment to running errands.

6. Conquer the Whole Money Saving Thing
Why is saving money so difficult? A lot of times I feel the ability to set money aside for the distant future is nonexistent, which is becoming more stress inducing the older I get. My 2017 resolution is to redesign my retirement fund plan and master a savings method that will lead to a long-term and satisfying result—thereby curing the occasional sleepless “what the heck am I’m doing with my life” night. 


Until next time...