Among Airport Chaos

As I sit in the airport awaiting my next flight to Jackson, Mississippi aside from the thousands of people here and their germs they all have a story. Flying always makes me think about how God really does it. Flying above homes, businesses, farms, interstates and millions of people living their lives all while God is thinking and loving each and every single one of them or well, us. I get overwhelmed by just thinking of all that I have on my own plate sometimes, I just can’t fathom how God juggles it all. He is watching over that sixteen year old girl pulling onto the busy interstate in Dallas for the first time and the seventy five year old man with malaria walking the hot streets in search of clean drinking water in Haiti as well as the single mother struggling to make ends meet in New Orleans. How?! Isn’t our God simply amazing?

“The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.” Psalm 121:5  

The hustle and bustle of people scurrying to their gate to board their flight before it takes off with one thing on their mind, making the flight. We are worried about making that one flight or hoping our luggage isn’t overweight cause we have too much stuff all while God is just waiting for us to take that one second and talk to him or even stay quiet and just listen to him.

“God always speaks, one way or another, even when people don’t recognize his presence.” Job 33:14

Thank you God for the reminder today, amongst all the chaos, that I need to be still in your presence.

New Gems From Pink Bubbly

A few weeks ago I entered a giveaway hosted by Alli over at Sincerely, Alli and Pink Bubbly for these fun and cute earrings and I won!! I was so excited to be adding these colorful little gems to my accessory collection.

The "baubles" (adorable earrings) arrived in the cutest little pink box. It was almost as exciting as it would be to receive "the" little blue box. Pink was cuter hehe Anyways, if the pink box wasn't cute enough I opened it to find SUCH cute packaging and a little hand written note congratulating me on winning these beauties.

How fun are these?! I'm excited to pair them with as many outfits as I can before fall arrives. Which I think I can pull them  into winter as well.

Thanks, Pink Bubbly for such a fun giveaway and Alli for hosting! I have already shopped their site and I believe I need a few new monogrammed items!

 

DIY Super Easy Fabric Garland

Yesterday I posted about a baby shower I threw for two good friends this past Saturday in which I made super easy, cheap and pretty cute garland as a shower decoration. If you missed that post you can see it here.

I came across some festive Christmas fabric garland at a local boutique recently but I thought for the twenty five dollar price tag I surely could make my own for a fraction of that price. Then I realized how cute would it be for the shower and just HAD to make it. So, I want to share with you guys just how fun and easy this DIY garland is to make yourself.  

All You Need

- Fun fabric

- Twine, yarn, or even fabric to tie onto to.

- Tape

-Scissors 

I started out with buying a little over a fourth of a yard of each blue and pink fabric. Since one girl was having a boy and the other a girl I was sticking to the basic colors for my color scheme. Next time I would like to also throw in a printed fabric to match the others....I'm already trying to think of the next holiday or party I don't already have garland for, hehe.

Step One: I started by cutting one inch cuts into the fabric about every two inches. I definitely did not measure, I just had fun with it and kept going.

Step Two: I then ripped the fabric the entire width of the fabric and then cut my strips in about six inch pieces.

Step Three: I taped the ends of my twine down to the table to make it a lot easier to manipulate. Then start tying your strips onto the twine. I just did one knot and didn't make them super tight so I could move them around if I needed to.

Step Four: Once you have all your strips tied on to the particular length of twine/ribbon that you need you can spread them out as far or close as you'd like. 

Step Five: Hang your garland and enjoy!

This was so simple, it took me about fifteen minutes and cost me next to nothing. I already had the twine on hand so I spent a total of three dollars on the fabric and that was all. It was the perfect addition to the shower.

I am already dreaming of a pink and gold color schemed one...not sure what it will be used for but seriously the limitations are limitless!

   

Showering the Babies!

Babies, babies, babies all my friends are having them! Well, not all but several are. I have talked about how a group of us girls that have all been friends since high school get together monthly for a girls night. Two of the ladies in the group are both expecting bundles of precious joy in the next couple of months.

One of them, Jennifer, literally has miracle pregnancy and it is completely a God thing. Not that every pregnancy isn't already a God thing but her precious baby girl is for sure straight from God. This is her fourth girl and has been told for years that she wouldn't get pregnant on her own...BAM God is awesome!

The other is my best friend of 27 years, Megan, and is she having her third precious boy that was also definitely given specially to her and her husband from God. I can't wait to be "Aunt Kristen" to little mister next month! That is if he doesn't grace us with his presence sooner!

Megan, myself and Jennifer at my house  

Saturday afternoon I hosted a shower for these two ladies at my house along with the other women of the group. Being the third and fourth for them they both said "they didn't need a shower" but we wanted to celebrate with them!

Part of the spread, a premature picture oops

I threw this strawberry cake together not thinking you wouldn't be able to actually see the pink haha and after the first one burning to a crisp in one minute in a malfunctioning oven. literally, it was great. Not.

I was pretty excited to have an excuse to make this garland. I had seen one for sale at local boutique for a whopping twenty-five dollars last month and I just knew I could do it. It was so simple and fun and I spent a total of three dollars on mine! (Plus the mini cake garland I also made.)  I will be posting how I made this DIY garland this week.

I got the babies monogramed blankets, cause how could I not?! Everyone needs their monogram on stuff everything.

Love this woman and so incredibly thrilled to be celebrating her third baby with her!

It was such a fun time spoiling these mommas along with their soon to be here lovies! We didn't get a group picture before some left but here is most of us.

 Sorry for the un cropped pics. I am posting from my work laptop at home and can't figure out how to.

How was your weekend? I spent the rest of the weekend running errands, relaxing in the pool and ending it with church and cooking a big Sunday roast dinner.

 

What I'm Up to in Verbs

Just a few things going on in my life lately...


Making: Baby shower decorations! I am hosting a baby(s) shower at my house Saturday along with several other friends for two good friends. 

Cooking: I am loving anything and everything that screams fresh and homegrown. Love this time of year for all the fresh veggies and fruits.

Drinking: Sparking ICE drinks, seriously I am addicted. Anyone else loving these carbonated, zero calorie yummy drinks? I don’t drink pop so these are a great little treat.

Reading: True Love By: James Patterson

Wanting: My new camera that I am anxiously awaiting to purchase. Ah soon!

Looking: For a baby pink long sleeved Piko top. I know this isn’t a fall color but I want it dang it! Has anyone seen one?

Playing: These three songs I have been playing constantly for the past few weeks-

Rollercoaster: Luke Bryan

Me without you: Jennifer Nettles

How could I want more: Jamie Lynn Spears

Wishing: For more time in the day. Is it just me or does life seem SO busy lately?! And I don’t even have kids!

Enjoying: Barre classes. My gym has started holding a few classes and I decided to give it a try last week. I was a little nervous since I have never in my life been a ballerina but really it was a lot of fun and that did not matter at all. Definitely a workout!

Liking: The very unusual cool temps we’ve had here in Oklahoma. I mean really, is this August?! I am not complaining one bit. I’ve been spending lots of evenings in my hammock and enjoying dinners on the patio.

Wondering: Just how my future is really going to plan out. I tend to worry…

Following: I’ve been following Jacqui at Baby Boy Bakery through her journey in life in surviving a loss of their child and is still choosing to live on. She is super inspiring, strong and a true woman of faith.

Noticing: That my fall fever is about to be in full force. With about two and half weeks until the first OU football game I absolutely know that once I put on my game day outfit and head to Norman it will all be over and I will want fall to arrive more than anything!

Knowing: I have about 30 things I must accomplish tonight. Might be a late night with an early morning wakeup call tomorrow.

Thinking: I really need to spend the day in the pool this Sunday. Summer is almost over and I have not had near enough time bronzing myself. I look pretty white for this little Indian.

Feeling: Refreshed but worn smooth out if that makes sense. Just got my booty kicked at the gym.

Bookmarking: I bookmarked this verse yesterday-

“So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God has great plans for us in Christ – eternal and glorious they are! Will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.”  1 Peter 5-11

LOVE this reminder from our God to keep pushing forward.

Opening: Nothing fun…mail…bills and junk mail. Boo!

Giggling: At myself. I literally just set out all my summer nail polishes that I must use before the end of summer.

Feeling: Anxious and I’m not exactly sure why. I keep finding myself anxious for the next chapters in life. Those chapters that I don’t even know what are. Maybe with a new season approaching I’ll be more at ease.

Praying: For the unknown and for all the women in my life that are carrying precious babies that will be born soon!

 

Comparison as a Thief

Does anyone else realize and feel like sometimes you just need to step away and take a breather from social media? I find it easy, real easy, to get caught up in other people’s lives and start comparing my life to theirs. There are days I may hate my outfit and I’m not feeling pretty enough, or not feeling successful in my choices in life or even bummed that I haven’t been on an extravagant vacation in some time.  Then by just simply taking a stroll down Instagram I am suddenly feeling a little more down about those feelings.  So, while I feel like I have my life somewhat together and there isn’t a lot of reason to compare it is easy to do. 

I have recently just realized that often people’s lives appear oh so perfect according to their Facebook statues, 140 character tweets, blog posts or Insta pics but in reality things are completely different. Sometimes not so dramatic but it some cases shockingly different. I came across this article: "Overcoming the Fear of Not Being Good Enough" on another blog post {Sorry I cannot remember which one} but this just screams truth.  It is really hard to remember this as you see so many perfect lives portrayed online. Now, while trying not to feel bad that I may have not made a five course meal, finished three devotionals or ordered a dress in size tiny I am doing alright.

I am pretty proud of the woman I have become and the life I live for myself and while comparison is evilly sent by Satan I do live a far more wonderful life than what he would like for me.

 

Letting Go of Pressure...

I was on quite the roll with blogging daily, with the exception of weekends as the unspoken rule of blogging stops on weekends, until this past week. I just got busy and then busier and then set down to blog last night while lying in my hammock and just wasn’t feeling it. Instead I laid there and just listened to the sounds of nature while I tried to talk God into telling me what my future really holds. He didn’t so much buy into the convo…

Lately I have been trying to do better with not feeling pressured to do everything in life. Honestly it gives me anxiety to think I didn’t accomplish a task(s) at the end of the day. Now I am learning to step back and analyze what really should be accomplished and that I do not have to do everything that is thrown my way. If I don’t have time to blog then ok, if I don’t have time or didn’t want to make the recipe assigned to me in the recipe swap then ok and if I don’t want to finish a crappy book after I am a few chapters in then ok. {Which is REALLY hard for me to do, especially after starting it even if I really am not a reader.}

So, lately I’ve been spending an extra thirty minutes at the gym if I want to, or saying no to that four year olds birthday party that I’m just acquaintance with their mom anyhow allowing me to go to my nieces basketball game and you know what, maybe just maybe not dropping my life to make time for people that don’t put out the same effort. All things that are hard for me because like many other people saying “no” is just hard sometimes and I’m a bit of a people pleaser.

Cheers to making time for what you truly love to do and doing just that!