Trina Turk + Banana Republic

I was at the mall last Saturday looking for a dress for a wedding this weekend..

Oh, by the way, I am going HOME this weekend-- SO EXCITED..

I digress...

Anyways, I stopped in Banana Republic to see if they had any cute dresses and I almost fell over when I saw the most adorable floral-print, colorful new clothes in the entrance. Then I read

Trina Turk for Banana Republic.

Wait, WHAT!

So duh, I had to buy something. I was so afraid they would be sold out of everything in my size. They were sold out of this dress which would have been perfect for the wedding:

Cochella One Shoulder Dress

But no 6 or 8's. Oh well..

Here are some of the other pretty things they had:

Pisces Top

Silk One Shoulder Dress

Patio Dress

Turquoise Top

I have NO idea why these shorts aren't listed online, but I totally bought them. I adore them. I wore them with a corally top, a black skinny belt, and Jacks. I have a feeling this may be my outfit I wear to the airport tomorrow, so maybe I'll take some pics!

I am obsessed.

They also have the most adorable accessories!

Botanical Hat

Statement Stud Earring

Orange Swirl Bracelet

Ah, all of it is so adorable! I want it all, but I settled for the shorts!

Have you bought any of the TT for BR? Hurry and get something, especially in stores because they won't reorder!! There are also bathing sutis, scarves, lots of other jewelry, and handbags!

Ta ta,

 

Cats and Bikes and Cobbler

Part I: Cats

This weekend Tyler and I went to the humane society to look at cats. After my traumatic loss of Lily, I have been wanting a cat. My roommates aren't really cat people, so I had held off even looking at kitties until last Friday. I had a random thought to look online and of COURSE found an all-white cat that I just had to go see.

We got to the shelter and I just didn't feel the love with Snowflake, but I did fall madly in love with Mickey.

look at that tail!!

Long story short, I had to fill out this crazy application and ended up taking my name off the list because I realized my landlord says No Cats BUMMER. It was terrible.

I need Tyler to find a house where I can keep her! I am just so in love with her-- so sweet and cuddly!! It was love at first sight.

Part II: Bikes

I might have mentioned that I finally got the bike down the street I have been eying. Tyler was sick of me talking about it so he conned this old man into selling it for $20. It came with no brakes so I had to go get some! $5 later I was ready to roll.. Literally...

I rode 6.33 miles last night. Y'all my tailbone is KILLING ME!!!!! Oh my gosh I overdid it but I was so excited. Yikes. Ouch. Any ideas for how to ride and not hurt my booty? Currently sitting on a pillow at work.

Part III: Cobbler

You know that pin that has been floating around Pinterest?

from Living a Changed Life

I randomly had the idea to make this yesterday... And I did!

SOOO easy-- 2 bags frozen berries, 1 can sprite, 1 box cake mix!

And the final product:

I think I used too much Sprite beacuse Tyler brought home a bottle instead of a can, but we liked it surprisingly! I had a couple of bites after my long bike ride!

 

So, that was the chunk of my weekend. Still lusting over Mickey, but hoping it will somehow work out. I just really want a little furball to keep me happy!

Ta ta,

Friday Fancies: Color Block

I am so excited. I just found out that the Tanger Outlets in my little town of 2400 in Illinois is getting a

 J CREW!!

My coworker knows my love of J Crew and the fact that we don't have one anywhere close just made me super duper excited. I am dedicating today's Friday Fancies to all things colorful and J Crew today!

Color Block: J Crew by perrowck featuring denim skinny jeans

top // skinny jeans // sandals // handbag // jewelry

I am just so excited that I had to make my whole post J Crew- related, so forgive me! I am just super excited. Maybe I will quit my recruiting job to work at J Crew.. Anyone? Ok, don't tempt me.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Ta ta,

Dress-Up

I am so excited because I am going home next weekend! I haven't been home since Easter and I am thrilled! Tyler's brother, Cameron, is in a wedding in Charleston, so the majority of my short weekend will be there! It's wedding season, obviously.

Now that I don't really dress up for work anymore (thank goodness because I do love throwing on shorts and an easy top OR jeans and a top and flip flops), I never buy fun dresses, unless I have plans to go to a wedding!

I started looking at some dresses online last weekend that I would love to have. I ordered a few and really didn't have too much luck (yet), but if everything fit me and I had an unlimited budget, these are what I would buy...

more than vine

marbelized marvel

can beryl-y wait

don't be alarmed

lucky streak

bodice maxi dress

fushia petal frock

scalloped etiquette dress

coral sea dress

I could take them all. Too bad two out of the three dresses I ordered for some reason won't let me copy the picture, only zoom in. Maybe one will work and you will see pictures soon!

Ta ta!

Worry Wort

I worry about everything. I worry what will happen if I don't produce at work. I worry that I will run out of vacation days and not be able to visit home. I worry that I can't afford plane tickets to go home. I worry that I am not spending enough time with my roommates. I worry that I have a cavity. I worry about what will happen when I lose someone close to me. I worry that I am missing out on things at home. I worry about when I'll ever move back home.

Monday I was particularly worried. Well, maybe not worried, but I had a lot of thoughtst going through my head and felt sort of overwhelemd. I had to take Tyler to a doctor's appointment (nothing too serious) and missed the morning of work. I was so worried that I had too much to do so instead of staying home to make sure he was OK, I went into the office. I think worried something was going to happen to his grandmother who hasn't been doing well. I worried about getting to his family, taking time off, etc etc. I worried that I was being too much of a procrastinator at work. I worried that he needed me to be there with him.

{via}

Worry runs in my family and I know it. My mom constantly reminds me to write out my blessings when something is wrong and Tyler is good about reminding me there is no need to worry.

I just opened up my daily devotional from Proverbs 31 and guess what the devotional was about.... WORRY!

I have to share what I just read:

Copied from When Worry Makes Me Weary

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

As we drove home from a weekend in the mountains, I felt a heavy sense of dread and sadness. Laying my head back on my seat, I told my husband, J.J., "I don't want to go home."
After talking through my reasons with him, I realized the stress and strain of countless commitments - at home and work - were taking a toll on me. I just wanted to go back to the mountains where I could rest.

J.J. encouraged me to make a list of everything on my plate and ask God what I needed to cut back. At first I resented his suggestion. It felt like he'd just added one more thing I "needed to do." Yet I knew J.J. was right and eventually I made the list.

Then I asked God to show me where to make changes. Much to my surprise the changes I sensed Him leading me to make weren't in my schedule - they were in me.

God didn't show me I needed to cut back at work or in ministry. He didn't show me our kids were in too many activities. He didn't lead me to take a sabbatical, although I was kind of hoping He would.
Instead, I sensed it was worry - not my workload - that was making me weary.

I thought about the months leading up to this point and realized I'd spent almost as much time thinking and worrying about deadlines as I spent working on them. Some days my concerns about commitments and meeting people's expectations had consumed me.

I had let my mind dwell on the possible outcome of several different decisions - all at the same time - and it left me depleted mentally, emotionally and physically.

Honestly though, until I stopped and talked to God about it, I didn't recognize my mental mayhem as worry.

My mind is wired to think a lot so I'd gotten used to the constant flurry of motion in my brain. Yet anxiety had crept in slowly, causing tangles in my thoughts, a tightening in my chest, and tension in my neck. Some days I couldn't stop thinking about ALL I needed to do.

Instead of going back to the mountains to rest, I sensed God wanted me to find a resting place in His presence right in the middle of my busy life. Through today's key verse from Matthew 11:28, He invited me to come to Him with the worries that were making me weary.

Do you sense Him inviting you to come to Him today?

He promises a place to quiet your thoughts in His presence. "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" (Ps. 91:1-2 NIV)

He offers freedom from the captivity of your concerns when you bring them to Him: "'Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. And I will lead you back from captivity.'" (Jeremiah 29:13-14 NIV)
Today, instead of letting our worries make us weary, let's respond to God's invitation and come to Him - asking, seeking and finding a resting place for our restless thoughts.

Dear Lord, when my concerns consume me, help me remember You are there inviting me to come to You and talk about all I'm thinking and doing. Show me if my workload or my worries are making me weary and help me trust You with both. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Ta ta,

To the best Dad...

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!

I have always been a daddy's girl! I am so thankful for all of his love and support. He is always there for words of support and encouragement, especially when I am having a bad day! He is there through it all (so is my mom but today is for dad!). I am so blessed to have him in my life and he works his tail off for our family and he loves what he does. He has given me every thing I have dreamed of and has taught me the value of hard work. If you want to meet a hard worker, talk to a farmer.

When I first interviewed with my company a year ago, my boss asked me "what motivates you?" (we ask all of our candidates this question and usually its "money" or "my kids" or "success."). My answer was "my dad" and I started crying. My boss asked if I had ever really told him that and I said "no," so I immediately called him to tell him! 

He has one of the busiest and most important jobs and made it to every single one of my sports games in high school. He never missed them (and the one time he did my brother had a concussion hah). 

Happy Father's Day, to my favorite!

high school graduation

3 generations 

parents cocktail

gotta give all the men some love

truly a daddy's girl

wofford homecoming

wofford graduation

And I can't forget my 2 wonderful grandfathers!! They are so great and I am SO thankful to still have them both in my life! Pop Pop still goes to work every day at age 82 and loves his dog!

Pop Pop

 Grandaddy is a retired surgeon and loves working in his yard and Habitat for Humanity.

Grandaddy

 So lucky to have all of these great guys in my life!

And Mr. Ken (Tyler's dad) must get some love, too! I truly am blessed.

Happy Father's Day to all my favorite men and to those single moms (like my sweet coworker) who act as a mom and a dad!

Ta ta,

Friday Letters + exciting news!

Dear sinus infection, please go away. We have guests coming tonight and I need to feel better! Dear friends coming tonight,  I can't to see you and have a doggie play date! Sorry in advance for not feeling well. Dear work, thanks for finally letting up and being nice to me. These placements recently really make me happy! Dear rain, please come to Illinois. We REALLY need you and the corn is so thirsty! Dear Sarge, please stop shedding. I sweep the floor daily because your black hair gets everywhere! Dear Dad, Happy Father's Day weekend! Sorry I am not there to celebrate. Dear July 29, HURRY UP!! I am ready to go homeeeee!! Dear blog friends, I really love ya'll. I love my in real life friends, but I really appreciate the love and support I have gotten while blogging!

Dear best childhood friend Caroline, CONGRATULATIONS on your engagement!! Caroline and I have been best friends since kindergarten and she is getting married to her boyfriend of 7 years!

circa 1999.. go ahead... make fun!

He proposed last night at the lake on their anniversary.  I will take ALL the credit for convincing him to "ask her out" in high school. He had been at my house earlier and I told him he just needed to bite the bullet and do it! And now look- they are engaged!! Here's the text I got:

She had called me in the midst of making dinner and I missed the call but immediately knew what it was about!! YAY!

The beautiful ring!

Dear nap today, you were awesome. All 4 hours of you! Dear weekend, thanks for being here! Dear 5k tomorrow, be nice! Don't think I'll be pushing too hard considering I feel terrible, but its for a good cause!

Happy Weekend!