pinterest

So, ladies.. I just need to "vent/talk/tell you what's on my mind" for a minute. 

Bare with me, it's one of THOSE posts. I just got off the phone with the best and we just had a heart to heart about our lives and what God is doing through them. It does my soul good to have friends and family who can talk truth to me and we can discuss the current happenings of our lives together.

Isn't that fellowship, people?

I find myself these days asking God what he is up to because I know he's there, I'm just not sure what he has up his sleeves. I never want to doubt, I just want to know that he is still in control and that's my way to prove it to myself! I am THANKFUL for EVERYTHING that the Lord has done in my life and I know that he wants to make my dreams come true. BUT... in HIS time!

So for now, I must be patient and thank God for what he IS doing in this season of my life:

Sweet teacher friends, weekends with my family, trying new restaurants with friends, babies being born into this world that I get to love on, Grad School (the opportunity, not the work), my Kinders who challenge me to be a better person and a better teacher everyday, a mama who listens when I need to vent or share an exciting moment, Church friends and their encouragement and fellowship, project life, etc. etc. etc.

I am so blessed. God, show me how you are loving me and telling me to WAIT. Your plans are so much better than my dreams. I am daily trying to appreciate and look forward to what he has in his heart and plans. 

  

pinterest

I never knew I could love a planner so much.

Raise your hand if you have heard of May Books/May Designs! I'm sure every hand is raised and that's always a good thing. When I first saw these, I knew that my chevron-loving heart needed this in the worst way! I'm a planner and love to write ideas and dates down and cross them off, etc. 

The designer of Maybooks was tired of using boring notebooks so she designed her own. She did a FABULOUS job because there are some of the cutest designs I have every seen in her collections. Her notebooks are well made and have the potential to be a conversation starter anyway that I take it. I love when people ask me about it and I can tell them the story of how and where I got the notebook/planner.

My planner is the black and white chevron with the monogram script on the front of the book. I LOVE it because it's MINE and no one can take it because of the monogram!

I am so thankful that this company believes in and supports bloggers and I can't wait to order many more products to show them how much I appreciate what they do. I think you need to order one NOW! 

Thank you, Maybooks!

BlogBaton and Back to School...

jcrew

So.. Today is Thursday and we are BACK AT SCHOOL. I must be honest.. I wanted a Snow DAY forever and then two in a row was wonderful. I had plenty of Grad school work to keep me entertained but the extra time to work on them was nice! 

I did start getting a little "stir-crazy" on Wednesday because I was sick of sitting on the couch but then I remembered how many weeks I had been waiting on a day to do just that! 

Thank you Lord for knowing what we need, when we need it.

So, while I'm back at school and getting back to my "normal life", I am on The BlogBaton on Instagram today! Come follow theblogbaton on Instagram and see how the day goes! I'm not promising to keep you on the edge of your seat because I am a teacher and you know how that goes but I do promise to show you how my daily routine truly goes!

Hope you all come and join in on the fun! See you soon!

And you thought your kids were excited.

Watch Video

Our weather men have been crying wolf on the snow issue for weeks now! It was a beautiful moment this morning when I woke up, to my alarm, and my assistant had already texted me saying "go back to sleep- School cancelled!" I was the happiest person in my house! :)

But.. as luck would have it, I couldn't go back to sleep so at 8:30 I was up and ready for the day. I walked outside before all the crazies in my apartment complex got up and messed up the snow. I took pictures and celebrated the day off. All of the teacher friends were all over social media shouting hallelujah and that was FUN!

I did some odd jobs around the apartment and mostly relaxed and slept. I worked on some Grad school work but not nearly enough. I am really hoping for another snow day tomorrow so that I can get lots of work done and then my hope of snow days will be fulfilled for the year! 

Hope you and yours get lots of snow and rest tomorrow. Pray that your girl gets the same!

thrifty.

So, people. Today I want to tell you a little bit about my obsession...

   Are you ready? THRIFT SHOPPING! I love it with a passion. I love a good thrift store, yard-sale, and recently these re-sale pages on the Facebook. It's an obsession for real. I love finding a good deal or a piece of "someone's junk" and making it into something that I love.

Teaching is my profession but shopping is definitely my second job. Let me tell you, that first one doesn't support the 2nd. I need HELP! But anyway, I was just sitting here stressing about Grad School and thinking that I needed a break from work so this blog made it's way to my fingertips. I'm going to share some of my favorite thrifty works from the past few months and share them.

One of my childhood, (think pre-school) friends commented on an instagram picture of mine and said I should have my own show called "Lauren's Art of Thrifting" so that's where this came about. I now have my hashtag #laurensartofthrifting








 

This was my latest Goodwill purchase for $2.99. It's an old "Cars" toy rack and I took it and made into a shoe rack for my tiny closet. I was sick of shoes everywhere and this helped so much! I had two little kids fighting me for it in the checkout line though! 

Bre and I went antique junkin' and found this old pie safe! I want one of these like nobody's business but I just couldn't pay $100 for this one that was utterly falling apart. If you have one or know of someone who has one, let me know!

Excuse Leonardo! This chair was found at Goodwill and I took it home and my daddy helped me "spruce it up". I love it! By the end of this school year though, I'm sure another coat of spray paint will be needed. This is one of my favorite finds.

Ole Granny Ms. Patton's outfit came from Goodwill. You know, I secretly don't rock that mumu on the regular. Ha! I think being an old person looks good on me! :)

Not thrifted but oh. so. true!

What do y'all think of thrift shopping? I know it's not for everyone but at least go ONCE and see for yourself! You never know what you'll find!

Get ready to Spend some Money.

Hey friends! I am trying to play catch-up with all of my teaching, Grad School, selling clothes and such on Facebook and just living so my blog has suffered and I'm sorry. *I felt like I had to.

So, today I am sharing some of my favorite new "local" businesses who I found on Facebook and love their products. I am hoping that by sharing them you will find some products that you love and love giving as well.

Shall we begin?

Peace Pottery 

from the Mississippi Delta has some beautiful pieces of artwork.  I was looking through Facebook one night and saw her art and fell in love. Her pottery is so rustic and full of life that it would go great with McCarty of Peter's Pottery which is known in the South. I am a collector and LOVE it. 

Cotton Bowl Magnet, Owl Magnet, Colonel Reb pottery, Football Platter, and Ole Miss Coasters.

Isn't this stuff adorable! Check out her pottery page on Facebook and buy lots from her! I think we'll be seeing her art for a LONG time!

Bugzy's Burlaps

These adorable Door Hangers, Christmas ornaments and fun decor items are available NOW! Made in Oxford Mississippi these items are too much fun! I ADORE the Double Decker bus and must have one SOON! Isn't it the cutest? You can't beat all of their Colonel Reb, Ole Miss art and it will show your Rebel pride for sure! Check them out on Facebook and support their precious art!

Double Decker Bus, Colonel Reb Ornament, Chevron Mississippi, and scarecrow.

These local and private business make my heart happy! I love helping people grow their art and sharing their pieces to those that are always looking for gift ideas and fun things to add to their own decor.

If you know of any other AWESOME business that you want me to review.. let me know!

GET TO SHOPPING, people!

Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR! {just a little late}

Wow! I hate that I am just now writing about my favorite time of the year. Sometimes I feel bad for not writing but this just proves that I have been soaking up family and friends and making memories and I WON'T be sorry for that, ever!

So, our Christmas started out with LOTS of family and get togethers. For the first time in several years, my brother didn't have to work Christmas Eve or Christmas Day so we got to be normal (kinda) for once. On Christmas Day, we woke up and saw what SANTA had brought us. Let me just say that I am one blessed girl. My parents have always given us way more than we ever deserve and they sacrifice so that we can have a wonderful Christmas! 

My grandmother and Adam's gf BreAnna came over and we had Christmas morning breakfast which has always been breakfast casserole and muffins, etc. YUMMY! (now I want some). We just had a good day together and that night some of us went to see Madea's Christmas.. It was hilarious to say the least. I haven't laughed that hard in a longggg time. 

During the close to two weeks that I was off of work, we shopped, ate way too much food and enjoyed being together. Christmas break is my favorite for a reason, people! 

New Years weekend was spent in Nashville with my Mama, brother, BreAnna and her mama. We had a great time shopping at the Opry Mills Mall, eating at some new places that I fell in love with, and you know.. watching my Rebels win the bowl game!

The trip started off with a wreck for Bre and her mama but soon we were on our way. The rest of the pictures are self-explanatory.  One of my favorite memories of the game was getting to see Mags! Her dad is a huge Georgia Tech fan so we got to meet up and re-connect. It was such a fun game! #hottytoddy  On our way home we saw an antique shop on the side of the road. Let me tell y'all, I was in HEAVEN. This man had I kid you not 45 rooms of JUNK... I found an egg basket and a blue mason jar that I have been wanting. So fun!

Another New Year Celebration came and went. Merle, Caitlyn and I went to Oxford and counted down the NY. So fun!

Just a little video to show you how our NYE was spent! :)

Last Christmas celebration was with our ladies in our family. We got together, ate a lovely meal, played some games and opened presents playing Dirty Santa. These ladies mean the world to me! And the one on the couch, YES she is normal.. Kinda. :)

And.. I turned 25! I'm looking for a blessed year again! 

God is SO, SO good!