We are talking deep/serious stuff today. Just bear with me and let me share my thoughts.

How many of you ladies have ever thought about what the world thinks of you? 

Every one of you better be raising your hand!

It's Human nature for us to wonder about how people see us. But, guess what? I find so much comfort in the fact that Jesus doesn't care what we look like, where we've been, or how much money we make.

So, so thankful for this truth because I fail him over and over and over and over again.

Source: baubauhaus.com via Lauren on Pinterest

  

I often think about how my career is exactly what I went to school to do and yet I complain about the pay so often. Then, slap back to reality, there are so many ladies/gentleman that are praying for a teaching job, ANYWHERE! I know this because I've been there. I just have to remember that pay will go up with years/degrees and right now is exactly where he wants me to be. 

Thank you Lord even when I'm not grateful enough.  

let me lighten the mood for a sec.



**Thank you Lord, that I can help others.

Another thing I'm often thinking about is how do others see Jesus in me? Last night at Bible Study, David mentioned being faithful to your husband, even in your singleness. It's awesome to think that God knows exactly what is going to happen in my life and he wants me to be faithful through ever circumstance in my life.  I really hope that people see Jesus in my words, my actions, and my attitude.

As the title names, this was my Bible study the other night. I loved the part that said "making Jesus attractive to all, getting everyone involved." Such a good reminder that people are watching who we hang out with, what we do, and how we talk. I know we all fail at this but I know for a fact that I need to work on the last one of those things.

How are you showing people that Jesus is in you? Let's keep each other accountable! 

it's almost Friday, y'all!

Target-1, Lauren-0

Well, I decided to make a Target run tonight. And girls, we all know how that turns out, right?

I go in the store with every intention of getting some supplies for school and I end up spending money that I really need to be saving for my Spring Break Trip. Uh, where is my millionaire? jk. (kinda)

This is my precious new iphone, credit card wallet. Sometimes I hate taking my hobo wallet wherever I go and this makes it so much easier to handle. Plus, I'm obsessed with chevron so it's p.e.r.f.e.c.t.

Then, this happened. Now, let's snap back to reality.. Lauren doesn't cook at all but she loves to have pretty things in her kitchen. My eyes spotted this beaut and I fell in love. Then, I may or may not have text my mother and left a big hint! :)

This lady, Shay blogged about this beauty tonight too! Go check her out, you won't regret it. 

Do you have a KitchenAid Mixer? Let me know what you think about them?

Alright y'all. It's bed-time. Been a productive today! Hope you are ready for Thursday!! I am.

comment away!

the one where I talk about my dog.

 It seems like yesterday that I was a Junior in college at Ole Miss and my parents were begging me NOT to get a fur baby to take care of. Blah, blah. I was going to do it my way or the highway. 

{*I will admit that they were right. A dog was/is a HUGE responsibility that I wasn't ready for but.. I NEVER regret getting that furry girl.}

The ABC's of Harper.

A is for age. I'm 3 and a half years old. No birthday has beat my first birthday where I had a party, cookies, and present. I might need that to happen again this year.

B is for barking. I am very observant and I will bark as soon as I hear you driving up. Remember that and fear the beast!

C is for curly hair. Contrary to most Maltese, my hair is curly and kinky. After my first bath with my new family, my hair went to this and hasn't changed. :)

D is for dancing. Even though I am a dog, I have been videoed dancing before. My Uncle A and Mama thought it would be cute. They are some weird humans!

E is for Easy-going. My mama is at school all day so I sleep at least 18 hours. Don't wake me up, I like my routine. 

F is for furry. This sweet baby has way too much fur. Her mama is too broke for a haircut as often as some would like.

G is for goofy. Harper loves to show her pretty smile. She gets goofy/weird on a drive somewhere! She isn't the best traveler.

H is for hot dog. She loves dressing up as if you can't tell. I'll be sure and show you what she decides to be next year.

I is for indecisive. Sometimes it takes her a while to decide where to use the bathroom, what to eat for supper and what she should become when she grows up! :)

J is for junk food. Harper got this bad habit from her mama. She would rather have chicken than dog food. We've got to work on this.

K is for kids. She was never given this option. Sad day, she would have had some beautiful pups.

L if for love. Harper has brought my family so much love! She's been a handful but we all love her to pieces.

M is for money. Goodness knows, she has cost enough money. From vet bills to meds, she is worth the $10,000 I've spent though. {Just a guess, don't get your panties in a wad}

N is for news. Harper was on the WCBI News one time for a pet of the week/day/something. Thanks to Will Simmons!

O is for Okra. Maybe one kind of food that Harper doesn't eat.

P is for priceless. I will always have priceless memories of this pup like.... pooping every time we walk in the vet's office, chewing up phone chargers, and a happy memory-- keeping me company for all these years.

Q is for quotes that I hear all the time. "Harper, let's go.", or "Here Harpsie, want a treat?".

R is for rain. "I don't love my paws getting wet so don't think about taking me out in it."

S is for Snow. "Same thing here, except it was kind of fun." We had our first big snow in Oxford. Harper loved it! :)

T is for Turkey. I love Thanksgiving because my humans feel bad for me and give me lots of leftover turkey. 

U is for University of Mississippi- My mama says, " Go Rebs" a lot so I guess that's a good thing."

V is for veal. No hunting for deer, here. I think I'm a girly dog and I must stay inside. 

W is for white. It's hard to keep clean but oh so pretty!

X is for x-ray. None taken so far. So happy. I don't like shots, doctors, those sorts of things.

Y is for Young. She is still in her prime and we are hoping for many more years with her.

Z is for Zeal. Harper is full of life and I couldn't love another like her. She is calm, cool and collected and I'm thankful that she is in my world.

Love you Harper baby. 

I'm getting off the computer now.

celebrate good times, come on!

linking up with Sami and the gang. :)

Hey y'all! 

My goodness how the weekends fly by. I seriously hate that just when I feel like I'm getting off at 3:00, it's Monday at 7:00 again! Errrr....

Now, let's re-cap my exciting weekend/life, shall we?

As with every weekend, Twitter is my best friend. I came across this and just laughed and laughed. Sorry, you mad?

Then, a Shopping trip with the mother happened. I love my new striped shirt that I will be wearing with that leopard scarf, contrary to my mother's wishes. I obviously don't get my fashion taste from her.

These boots were also added to my closet! I've been wanting another pair of boots in my life and I just so happen to run up on these! :)

Think they'll go with anything? What would you wear them with?

My sweet girls in Nursery at church! We've got to work on looking at the camera! They should know by now that Ms. Lauren is always taking pictures of their crazy selves.

and..... 

I started Grad School tonight! 

It's hard to believe that I'm back in school but I am so excited to better myself as a teacher and raise the pay scale a tiny bit. It'll be nice to have a higher degree and know even more on how to help my sweet babies.

So, there's my weekend. Hope you had a great one yourself.

link-up with Sami. Can't wait to hear what you've done.

The facts of LpE.

Love this link-up to show you some facts about Moi. 

such a great idea, Whitney. 

First off, I've always loved shoes, jewelry, purses, and babies!

proof...

one. I love to shop all day, everyday. My budget needs some help! It's a good thing that most of my purchases are from thrift stores.

two.I have a brother, Adam who is a fireman. 

Don't tell him but, I kinda look up to him a lot.

three. I do not like odd numbers. If my car radio, or any number for that fact are on odd numbers, it must be turned immediately. I also can't stand chewing and smacking noises. does that make me crazy???

four. I have been teaching for almost 2 years. I've had a year and a half in 1st grade and then 3 months in Kindergarten Special Education. :)

five. I'm a believer in Jesus Christ. through Him I am so, so blessed.

if you want to know him, contact me! I would love to talk with you.

six. I was a preemie. 4lbs. 6oz. Sick little baby but look at me now. just an FYI: I have a hole in my nose from where it didn't form completely! 

seven. I'm a little obsessed with Ole Miss. It's my Alma Mater, so there you go. I'm a huge football fan and Vaught Hemingway/The Grove are my happy places. 

My heart bleeds red and blue.

oh, look! Game day with one of my favorite bloggers, Rachel.

eight. My parent's are my best friends and my support system. They love me like no other and pray for me never ceasing. I couldn't ask for a better blessing!

I could go on for days. But.. 8 is an even number and I believe it's a great stopping point! 

Any facts you know that I forgot?

Comment away, ladies!

Weekend Shenanigans.

This weekend has been wonderful. Write it down in the books! I so wish that every weekend could have the eventfulness that this weekend brought. :)

So, let's get to it. Shall we?

{Friday night}- After a long week at school, Friday night came with much welcome. I came home and crashed on the couch for a nap. Then, I met some friends at the Mexican Restaurant for some good food and an even better time!

of course, then it was pj and Pinterest time!                                                         

{Saturday} I babysat sweet Maddie and we played dress up, ate a fine lunch of cherrios and baby food, and then she wanted to watch a little tv. I can't believe she'll be one in a couple of weeks!

** these are the glasses that I won in a giveaway from www.firmoo.com. they are tortoise and I'm not sure that I can pull them off, but they are cute nonetheless.

then....

this guy and I had a date!

and can I just say, he was an even better date the 2nd time around! Such a great concert with some of my best girls!

this lady is my cousin, Carmen and she is such a fun person to hang out with! She used to babysit me when I was younger and it's so cool to grow up along side her!

{Sunday}- Got up, went to church and then my best came into town. Let me tell you... we have been to some wonderful restaurants and shopped for 2 days. So. much.fun.

my favorite purchase of the weekend

*nook cover. :)

letters to Friday.

Dear Starbucks- I will be seeing you in the morning with my $1.oo off coupon and I couldn't be happier that it's time for my Friday skinny Caramel Frappe. :) Thanks mama for the email! You da best!

Dear Classroom- All your brightness and spunk shows a little of my inward personality. I have to have myself reflected in that room to be the teacher I need to be. Hoping for a great next 4 months. Let's do this...

Dear Luke Bryan- You are beautiful, cute, have the perfect Southern draw and would make the cutest babies. WAIT! That's not where I meant to go. I'll see you Saturday night. Get ready! We'll be the girls singing every song and yelling loudly.

Source: Uploaded by user via Debbie on Pinterest

Dear 3-day weekend- Please take your time and don't hurry away. Even though we got a day off this week for ice, I will always take a day off. Please!

and finally....

Dear Lord and Savior-Why have you blessed me so, so much? I was thinking on my drive home today from school how much I have. Material wise, spiritual wise, friend and family wise, oh.. How I am blessed. God sure knew what he was doing in my life and I'll always trust his ways. Please take time to reflect and thank God for all he has given you.
Very thankful tonight.

love y'all. Comment away!

Southern Quirks.

Let me be straight. 

I'm a Southern Belle from way back. 

I think it's the guys responsibility to pursue his lady, love a good social gathering, and can watch Football with the best boys out there!

I have 24 years experience with "the South"  and I couldn't love a place anymore. We have some of the most genuine, selfless people and some that make me want to absolutely pull my own hair out. Movies have been made about events/people from our abode and some tv shows aim to make us all look like cousin-loving rednecks.

if you don't hear anything else in this post, hear this. 

(we are normal people who wear shoes and have electricity. We have college degrees and are making big advances in this world). 

Soapbox over!

Now, I've decided to show some things that I believe all Southern Belle's (and maybe some of you other ladies too) love, say, need, and want.

{monograms} I love having my initials plastered over everything that I own. I think this love of seeing our letters on our belongings began when our Mama's monogram our smocks and dresses when we babies. Or, was that just mine?

{diamonds and a wedding} Now, as a Southern lady, I've had my wedding planned since I was 12. Call me crazy? that's okay!  Most of my friends love looking at Bridal Magazines and how many of you have wanted to be in Mississippi Bridal Magazine when you "grow up". ME!

Weddings are social events in the South and you want your groom, your family, and all your friends to remember you day with all the fun memories you have made. 

i'll take this one.

{y'all} Most people think that our drawls are cute or either super annoying. I personally love a simple, (not redneck-ish, think Honey Boo Boo drawl} and I feel like there is so much history and life in those voices. Some of the things that I happen to say most often are: 

Bless your heart: (anything bad can be said and if you say this, it makes it right.)

Good Gracious: when I'm stunned or have nothing else to say.

Can you add any to this list??

These are just a few of my opinions of what makes Southern Women unique. Have any other ideas of what makes us like no other? I'm all ears.

I absolutely love being from the South. 

Where are you from and why do you love it?

Happy Tuesday! Hoping for a snow day!

the time my birthday lasted a week.

I feel like my birthday is one. whole.week.

I am one blessed girl and I can't thank everyone enough for the sweet, encouraging words that were spoken to me on turning 24.

Wow. 24. I really can't believe I'm that old already.

So, I've got lots of snippets to share with you so here goes.

(i apologize for the amount of pics that are coming.) 

thrift finds- Mama and I went to a yard sale Saturday morning and I scored some wonderful items. My favorite would probably be those shoes up there. Badgley Mischka, y'all. I love them.

sweet friends- I love when my friends take time to show that they care. Thank you girls for investing in my life. Love you, both! 

I've known both of these girls most of my life and they have been there through all of the different seasons of life. Here's to a few more! :)

Puppy child- Harper wanted a pic with her mama. Love that sweet girl.

my friends know how much i text and drive- I love when they call me out. Yes, I know that this is dangerous and I need to quit. 

Where's Waldo?-- My friend Michelle and I send each other pics and play this game. Anyone know where this pretty sight is?

Better watch out, you better not hide- My Friend Marla and I went to the Range USA for my first time the other night. I am addicted! It was so fun. I've always felt that guns were something, when used correctly, that are crucial for people to have. My daddy and brother have always had guns in the house and I know that if you are brought up in the right way and careful that guns are not bad things. 

I'm interested in learning more about shooting and be sure I'll keep you up to date!

truth- Broken, angry, hurt, desperate messes that we are, and yet HE chooses us to be HIS light in a world of darkness. That's some good stuff.  I can't believe that God trusts me enough to be a part of him in our world. I love this Bible study that I am doing. Memorizing Scripture is an awesome thing that I need to do as much as possible. 

Enjoy your Monday!