Personal Best

I’m so excited about a new link up that is starting on Sunday! Its hosted by the lovely Sarah from City Girl Gone Country and Jules from A Beautiful Day

I love getting behind the lens of my Nikon and getting creative! I don’t do it often enough and I hope that this will be the kick in the pants that I need to start taking more photographs :)

This weeks theme: My Personal Best


This Lille Angle is Faith! I had a blast doing an Easter session with her and her mom this year :)


When I first got my Nikon I lived on a horse farm. Every girls dream right? I got to play with horses and take some wonderful pictures. This one is by far my favorite.


This lovely couple is my brother J and his wife M on their wedding day. He literally swept her off her feet and I was lucky enough to capture the moment. It was a wonderful day.

I know I am posting this early, but with the giveaways coming up, I wanted it ready to go for sunday! I hope you’ll link up your personal best/favorite pictures with me :)

T-minus 2 Weeks!

 

Eeekk! My 29th birthday is exactly 2 weeks away! And I am FREAKING OUT!!

I’m not ready to be 29! Heck I’m barely accustomed to being 28!

And now, My awesome birthday plans to see my family in Nashville, aren’t going to happen :’( Mule can’t get off work. We can’t afford a bus ticket for me to meet them AND putting the dog in a kennel. My sister can’t come because of her new job and there is no way my Mom could handle driving 24ish hours to Texas by herself. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

*insert 2 year old style tantrum* Told you I ‘m not ready to be 29!

So its back to the “Birthday Plans” drawing board. *Sigh*

I guess I could go shopping… or maybe Hubs and I could go away for one night… or maybe I’ll stay home and cry.

I have to admit, I was pretty excited about the seeing my fam-jam.

Hopefully I get some happy mail *wink. wink. nudge. nudge.* That might make it better.

And maybe I’ll treat myself to some Go-Go Yogurt (local frozen yogurt store)

ON the Plus side…

I’ve got 3 weeks of giveaways lined up to celebrate my birthday AND my 1st blogiversary! :) Its going to be awesome! The party starts on August 1st, so be sure to check back!

:)

 

       PS…    If you love me and want to make
the last birthday of my 20’s awesome
feel free to send me happy mail! All notes
and will go directly into my smush book :) And thank
you notes will be sent in return… cause I LOVE snail mail!
Kelley from the Grant Life has permission share my info ;)

PPS…    I have a pinterest board full of things I love/want! Heheheh

Weigh In Vol. 12 (corrected)

 

Apparently when you miss a weigh in, they don’t skip a spot in your tracker, they just use that week when you do weigh in next time. So while I thought that this weigh in would be #14, it was actually #12 :)

So that means that I have 4 more weigh ins until my 16 week mark/award! Yay! I have 4 more weeks to feel better about “the number”.

This week I lost 1.4 pounds! It feels like its been forever since I had a loss that was more than a pound :) Yay!

I’m gonna try and get back to “normal” this week. I’m still recovering from my last flare up, and I still feel crazy tired by 11 am. I’m going to get my Mojo back this week!

The Great Debate…

 

Quality vs. Quantity!

{via}

I keep having this internal debate. Do I write about something that seems silly or unimportant to me, just so that I have a post to publish?

Or do I take a step back, post a little more infrequently and make it “worth” more?

ITs so hard sometimes, especially when I’m in an “ideas wasteland”. I was doing really well for a while. I was literally posting EVERYDAY! Some were guest posts and I did have a link party for a while, and it seems to come easily.

{via}

Now not so much. I haven’t felt very creative. I haven’t been doing anything crafty. I’ve been living life… and lately that means lots of sleep, some crocheting and snuggles with the pup.

And you know what? I’m ok with it!

I’m super excited about the giveaways I’ve got lined up for the beginning of August! And I’ll be posting them Monday to Friday. But I think after that I am going to just go with the flow. Take some of the self imposed pressure off and blog about what I love.

Yup. That sounds pretty good to me :)

Sometimes I pretend I’m Vegetarian…

 
And I make something yummy like this!

Its oh so delicious and DIET FRIENDLY! Can I get a woot woot?!?!? ;)

Here’s how I make this yumminess…

Fresh Baked (store bought) ciabatta bun
Fresh, organic veggies: cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, & onion.
Chive & Onion reduced fat Cream Cheese.

Slice and toast your bun. Then smear with cream cheese.

Wash, slice and layer your veggies on the bun.

Add a toothpick to hold it all together and Voila! You’re a pretend vegetarian!! :)

I Love Free Stuff!! And other Random Things…

 

Its true I love free stuff!

Did you know that you can win some fabulous free prints
from babEblessings and I? Go HERE, but there are only
3 days left to enter! So go enter Right Now! ;)
Jac also shared a couple of other review's here.

 

See this adorable cross bracelet?

Its from my shop! And I am giving one away over at Kelley’s blog
The Grant Life :) There is only 2 days left to
enter this one! Pop over for your chance to win :)

 

Have you checked out the shop lately? I’ve been adding new things!
And just cause I love you all so much… use code
JULY2012 until the end of the Month for 25% off.

Ooooohhh all the clutches have FREE SHIPPING right now! No code needed :)

 

AND starting August 1st!

August is a BIG month for me and this here little ole blog :) I am celebrating my 29th birthday! and my very fist Blogiversary!! Woot Woot. Starting August 1st there will TONS and TONS of giveaways!

If you want to promote your blog and be a part of the awesomeness that will the Month of August, I still have a few spots left and would love to have you join in the fun!

Its going to be Legen….wait for it… dary!

Hurts Like a…

 

I’d insert several swear words here… but well… I try not to swear. Especially on the interwebs where it can come back to bite me in the arse.

Not to mention the inevitable lecture from my mother about how “ladies” don’t swear.

Riiiiiigggggghhhhhhhhtttttttt. *Nods head and smiles*

So this past week has been rough. Ever have a day/week/month/year/life that kicks you in the teeth? Yeah… I had a week like that.

I mentioned {here} that the hubs was hurt at work last Sunday. So with that my stress level jumped to… lets say 70%. Then a little family drama got added in, that took me to about 85%.

Then in a idiotic/blonde/clueless moment I went with a craving for peanuts and pushed my body over the edge. Yup… you guessed… a full blown flare up!

If you’re new to this little ole blog of mine, then you wouldn’t know that I have Sever Ulcerative Colitis. { Read more here and here } So pretty much Thursday, Friday and Saturday were spent on the couch, sleeping, hurting, whining and generally doing absolutely nothing.

And then of course all that icky just kind of snowballs into doing more nothingness.

Why is it so hard to get back into a routine? I just want to feel ok again!

I didn’t even feel like blogging…. that should tell you just how craptastic I felt ( I added “tastic” therefore its not swearing).

All of this rambling is my effort to get back to normal. As nice as it is to not blog for a few days I really missed it. I’ve got so many incredible friends all over blog land and I feel like I’m missing out on playing with the cool kids when I avoid my laptop for 3 days.

So back to real life now… I’ve got a blanekty-blank-blank amount of laundry to do!

Weigh In Vol. 12

 

I Lost this week! A whole 0.8 pounds.

 

I’m too tired and sick and achy to write any more. Time for more sleep!

Remember How I said…

 

Remember how yesterday I said I was gonna have a “do nothing day”?

Yeeeaaahhhhhhh… that didn’t happen at all :(

The “plan” was to do nothing, catch up on some sleep and just chill. The reality was doctor’s appointments, annoying puppy, lots of editing and catching up on orders for the shop.

Life definitely didn’t go as planed this week. In the wee morning hours of Monday, I got a phone call from my hubby… I was pretty much out of it, but I woke right up the second he uttered the word “hospital”. He was on his way home from being checked out. He’d gotten hurt at work and his boss insisted that he go to the hospital. Thanks boss man! My hubby absolutely hates hospitals and won’t go unless absolutely necessary. The fact that he went with out too much of a fuss tells me just how badly he was hurt :(

He got got injured when he ran over to try and turn off a vacuum hose that had exploded on another companies truck. The other driver wasn’t where he should have been and if Mule hadn’t acted as quickly as he did other people might have been hurt too!

He’s my hero :)

 

 

 

   Waiting not-so-patiently for the doctor.

 

 

 

Things have been a it topsey turvey  around here, but he got medical clearance to go back to work tonight. :) Hurray!

So life goes back to normal… for now!

 

Oh!! Head over and visit the lovely Kelley at The Grant Life! There’s a link up and GIVEAWAY from Moi! :) And a DISCOUNT code for the shop! AND there are new things in the the shop :) Including the Lacealicious Clutch! And there is no shipping on the clutches!

Today….

This has pretty much been my theme song the past week or so…

There is some “offensive language” in this song… Just so you know.

Today I am literally doing NOTHING! maybe lay outside with the puppy and take a nap.
The house work can wait. The emails can wait. My phones turned off (we’ll see how long that lasts).
Today is just for me.

Guest Post - Tif from Southern Belle

I’m so excited to have Tif here today! She is one of the lovely ladies hanging out on my side bar this month and I’ve loved getting to know her! And she’s a fellow Texan Blogger!

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I am so seriously excited to be guest blogging here on "Finding my way in Texas"!  I have searched and searched my brain for a topic to blog about, and since my blog is about finding ME in my own life...I thought I should share a bit of what I have found in ME in my life!

Now, this passion goes way back to before I was born!  My Memaw sang in a Gospel Quartet called "The Rhythmettes" when she was young...they were even on the radio (that will be a future post on my blog...I have the ACTUAL recording of that day), ANYWHOO...then my Daddy played the drums and sang in a band called "The Ramrods" (who were just inducted into the Birmingham Record Collectors Music Hall of Fame, class of 2011).  And while I was little he was with a group called "The Lamplighters".

This is him...in the middle, behind the drums...with the smile that looks so familiar!

The Ramrods

My Daddy was always singing!  I loved and STILL love to hear him sing!  Now...when I was a little girl my Memaw used to play recordings of her and her gal's singing together and she would sing to me. The first song she taught me was "This Little Light of Mine" and still to this day...it's my favorite! I get so excited when I find out we're singing it in Church! (I sing in the Choir). As I grew up, I always loved to sing. I was in the school choir in 4th and 5th grade...but my life took another path for a while and singing was pretty much kept to the shower!

Fast forward to 1 1/2 years ago. I'd been attending my Church for several years and I had fallen in love with Contemporary Christian music and decided I wanted to sing again! Our Church has a worship team for the main Church...but we have a Chapel on the property that holds a "Traditional" service and I found out they had a Choir! So...I decided to try and find out how to join! Once I found out I had to audition I was a nervous wreck...stage fright has ALWAYS been a major issue for me! BUT despite being terrified, I made an appointment and went in to audition...I sang "Amazing Grace" (which is another one of my favorites!) and I was shocked when I was told to show up the following Sunday!

Now...mind you...I had not sang with a Choir or in any setting since elementary school...so I didn't know how to read music (still don't lol)...and had no vocal training at all!  It was suggested that it wouldn't hurt to have some lessons to learn to control my voice.  I had no clue where to begin with that...then someone told me that one of the women that sings on our main stage gave singing lessons!  I was SO excited...her name is Sarah Kelly and she is the rock and roll version of a Christian Singer!  She is so awesome and totally down to earth!  Anywhooooo...I found out her email address and emailed her as soon as I got home!  Weeks went by and several emails were sent with no response...so I figured that she was no longer giving lessons...I was so bummed!  (BUT...God wasn't done.....)

After about a month, my husband and I walked into the Church for services one day and a gentleman that serves asked me if I'd ever gotten a hold of Sarah, and I said no.  He pointed to the other side of the Church and said, "There she is...go ask her!"  I just held my breath and walked up to her...but before I could get my entire name out she said "OH...are you the Tiffany that emailed me about classes?"  I said "Uh...yes...I did"  "Well, Tiffany I am starting a school and I have one spot left open for my artist development class and was going to give you a call today and offer it to you!"

I was floored.  Excited.  Terrified.  I looked over at my husband...and he pretty much just waved me on (as in GO FOR IT...DO IT).  I said YES!  That was last August, the class began in September of last year, and I have written and recorded (demos) 3 original songs...written and sung my little ol' me!  I am still in the class and LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  If you'd have told me 2 years ago I'd be writing, playing (piano) and singing my own...OWN songs I would have laughed myself out of a chair!

I have NO CLUE where this journey will take me, and I don't ever expect to be famous...but if I can BLESS someone with a song I have written...then I think I'm the luckiest girl in the world!  All songs are stories, but the ones about faith, blessings, trials, revelations, glory and God...well...they just make me so proud to be who I am...right here...right now.  And wherever God leads me is exactly where I am supposed to end up...and I gotta tell you...this ride...is God's AMAZING GRACE over my life!

WOW!  I've talked your ear off!  Seeeee...that is why I'm called the Rambling Southern Belle! LOL!  Thank you so much for taking the time to get to know me a little better!  It has been so much fun doing this guest post!

Remember...write down your dreams, your fears, your ambitions...take a class, learn something new...chase those dreams you write down!  You never know where you'll find yourself...someday!

XOXO,
Tif

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Tif! I got so excited for you reading this! I too have a passion for music and worship! I have to admit that I am a little jealous of your "lessons"! Hehe But I am so thrilled that God has directed your steps and lead you to pursue your passions! You can check out some of Tif's original songs here!



Me, Myself and I

 

1. What is your biggest phobia?

SNAKES! End of story! Well actually… if you want to read a story about that… go here

2. If you could relive any day of your life, what would it be and why? 

There are too many days that have been practically perfect to choose just one! I suppose if forced I’d have to say my wedding day. Even though it wasn’t my “ideal” wedding. It was perfect because I married the perfect man for me :)

3. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?

I’d have to say the age I am right now! Doesn’t every woman want to stay 29? :) Not to mention that my life is pretty much perfect at the moment.

4. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for? 

There isn’t really one that I get mistaken for on a regular basis. A couple years ago there was a website that was popular on Facebook… it took your face and a celebrities head and made this…

Apparently I look like Amanda Bynes? I don’t see it

5. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?

 

Little Bits of Things…

I’m all over the place today! Woot Woot!

I’m over at the lovely Julie’s Blog talking all about what I’ve learned since I moved to Texas! Exactly one year ago yesterday! Can you believe it? I can’t! Almost seems like it was just last week :s So head over to A Beautiful Day to find out what I’ve got to say about Texas :)

I’m also part of Christmas in July over at Happy Hour Projects! There is a MASSIVE giveaway going on today! Head over for your chance to win some awesome things!

Did you see the giveaway for some Fabulous prints that I have going on? Go Here to enter and then go check out Jac’s blog! She’s featuring some of the reviews this week :)

I’ll be back later today with my post for the Me, Myself and I link up that is happening tomorrow!

KISS, babEblessing Designs AND a Giveaway

My heart is so full this Sunday!

Today, July 15th, marks the 1 year anniversary of my life changing move to Texas! Woot Woot! I’m making a celebratory dinner for me and hubby and tomorrow I’ll tell you some of the things that I’ve learned since moving here.

Right now I wanna show off my bff Jac, from babEblessings, and her new design/print/journal/inspiration shop :) I’ve talked about her awesome stuff a couple times in the past. And if you follow me on instagram you would have seen this last week.



I got a package from Jac with a bunch of prints and a couple book marks! I literally was so excited that I framed my favorite before I even took a picture! Its almost like I knew they were going to arrive that day! I had only just painted that frame the night before :)

I’ve got bunch of these prints in places that I visit several times a day. I am loving the constant reminders!


The thing I think I love most about all of these prints is that they are also devotion-able in nature! I add my favorites to my “smush” book (my cheapy version of a “smash” book) along with notes, confessions, and bible verses that I need to be reminded of. I look at this book every morning as inspiration, when I am feeling down, need a reminder or just because. Its perfect for the moments when I need to keep it simple!



These prints from Jac were the perfect addition! I also love that a couple of them are perfect for writing all over! I have my “Through Christ I am…” Print on the mirror of my dressing table where I get ready each morning. I wrote all thing things that I am, and that I need to be reminded of all over it! It’s the perfect reminder as I get ready for whatever my day holds that I am redeemed, chosen, free, strong and loved by my heavenly Father. What better way to get your heart and mind set for the day ahead?

And you know what’s awesome? Jac is giving away some FREE PRINTS! Want a set like mine? Just Enter below!! Then head over to Jac’s blog and show her some love :) a Rafflecopter giveaway

Weigh in Vol. 11

I’m writing this post for the second time now… because I had a blonde moment and screwed it up when I wrote my post for tomorrow…

Oy Vey!

The loud Ump-pah-pah music from 4 houses down definitely isn’t helping my addled brain either… and yes, we’ve called the cops. TWICE!! The danged-pains-in-my-butt just turn it back up a minute later. They better watch out… this is Texas after all… and pay back is a BLEEP!

Back to my weigh in… I lost 0.4 pounds.

One of the other ladies in the group got her 16 week award today. She’s lost a total of 36.8 pounds! Makes my 11.8 in 12 weeks look pretty pathetic!

So I am kicking things up a notch!

My goal is to lose 2 pounds a week! That means 15 pounds between now and Labor Day. I’m GOING TO DO IT!

This weeks plan:

Nothing to drink but water and coffee!
Work out 5 times this week for 45 minute minimum… no cheating!
Start new training with the puppy and walks around the block.
I’m also voluntarily taking 5 points off my food intake each day.

I WILL DO IT!

I’ve got nothing!

 

I’ve got nothing! absolutely nothing interesting to say right now.

Weird… cause I always have something to say.

So instead I leave you with a song…

You’re welcome

Making Stuffs :)

I’ve been busy the past few days making new things!
Hurray for new inspiration!!
I am hoping to have some of this stuff in the shop at the beginning of next week :)




Eeeek! So excited :)

**UPDATE** These Cross bracelets along with several others are now available in my shop! LoneStar Lovlies

Perfect Moments

 

Sometimes in the midst of this craziness that we call life, I have a moment. A perfect, beautiful, peaceful moment.

Yesterday I had a moment.

One that was so startlingly perfect that I cried.

Crazy? Maybe a little. But they were tears of gratitude for this life that I have been given.

Its been a far from perfect life. There have been times where I honestly didn’t think that I would make it.

This song has been very applicable for several seasons of my life…

But as I was sitting on the back step, watching my puppy play, knowing my husband was safe inside, I realized I was living inside one of those perfect moments.

I’ve had several people from “back home” ask me if I was happy here in Texas, and I’ve always answered yes. There has never been a doubt in my mind that I am where I was supposed to be. Yesterday I realized that I am more than just happy.

I am content, I am peaceful. I am where I am supposed to be. I am in Love. I am grateful.

What more could anyone ask for?

Life is never perfect, but sometimes the moments are.

Lemony Goodness :)

 

Its no secret that I, along with most of the world LOVES pinterest! (follow me here)

I also love Lemon, bake sales and my friends Rocky & Denise. Put those 4 things together what do you get?

Pinterest inspired Lemon Squares for Rocky & Denise’s Adoption Fundraising garage and bake sale! :) Holy Mouthful Batman!

Pinterest Inspiration:

from living practically

My reality:

Not quite as pretty. But OH SO GOOD!!

I made two 8x8 pans for the bake sale and with the leftovers I made me a little pan… cause you can’t feed other people things that you, yourself have not tried! Its just not right!

As far as making this… its 2 ingredients! So freaking simple! Angel food cake & Lemon pie filling. I also added 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. You can get the rest of the directions on living practically :)

Simple+Yummy =  Happy Me!

Show them some love, if you please…

Hello Lovlies! I am so excited to be showing off my newest and awesomest sponsors EVER! Of course I can say that because they are the very FIRST sponsors ;)

First up the “Houston” Ladies…

Tif from Ramblings of a Southern Belle

I am a lover of fashion, art, photography, writing, singing and a TON of other things...lol!  I started this blog because I realized that I don't know who I am as a woman...I went from Prom to Parenthood in 9 months; and that is who I've been for 23 years.  Now it's my time...time to explore who I am...my likes, dislikes...I'm excited to be sharing it with so many! I'm going to be doing my very first VLOG soon, so drop by and ask me anything. And Yes I do have a southern "twang" :)

Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Kelley from the Grant Life

HI! I’m Kelley and I blog over at the Grant Life. I share all kinds of thrifty, crafty, foodie goodness. I’m also Momma to two blonde haired, blue eyed babies who are my world. I love diet Coke, “How I Met Your Mother” and rainy days so I can snuggle with my babies.

Blog / Facebook / Twitter

 

Brittany and Cassey From Natural Nesters

We are two sisters that love family, taking care of our homes, kids, cooking, doing DIY crafts, home projects and more. We would love for you to join in on our adventures with us! 

Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest     

 

And now the lovely “Austin” Ladies…

Alyx from Every Day is a New Adventure

I'm Alyx - wife to Mike, bookworm, cyclist, designer, pillow hog, blog addict, etc. etc.  we just made the move from Germany to the U.S. and are in the process of moving back to the gand ole state of Nebraska.  I'm a die hard husker fan, and live for college football saturdays.  I live by the motto "every day is a new adventure," hence the blog name. obviously.

Blog / Facebook / Twitter

 

Sarah from City Girl Gone Country

City Girl Gone Country is a blog dedicated to bringing out the inner craftiness and head-chef hiding inside in each woman at an affordable price (because if you're a broke college girl like me, nothing is more ridiculous-sounding than paying a hefty price for holiday decorations when you can barely afford to buy the name-brand cereal at the grocery store). I offer DIY tutorials, heart-healthy recipes, and random rambles of my daily-life findings in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. I'm frugal, I'm healthy, and (most importantly) I'm a Texas blogger finding her way in life; all while falling in love with her best friend.

Blog / Facebook / Twitter

 

Julie from A Beautiful Day

I love to blog about life, my son, my fur babies.....really whatever strikes me at the time.  I also love to blog about my latest crafting project which frequently consists of a monster scrapbook, a collage or some type of party favors.  I love getting to know fellow bloggers and discovering new blogs.

Blog / Facebook / Twitter

KISS - Kait from Kaits Life

I’m so excited to have Kait from Kaitslife.com here to share with us this week!

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I am so excited to share with everyone what I have learned from Pinterest. It's like K.I.S.S rule number one. Check pinterest before you decide to do anything, be it crafty, organizey*, life changey*, or foody.

Today I am going to share with you my life altering, time saving way that I store my linens. Yep, you read right, storing my linens, or sheets, call them what you'd like. I'm going to show you how to store them. As any mother knows, it is a pain in the rear-end trying to find sheets in the middle of the night after your kid just barfed all over them. Especially if you are OCD like me and have to have them matching. This is my linen closet.

 
Isn't it pretty? My secret to having it organized? Taking the time to put everything away.

BACK TO THE LINENS KAIT. As you can see, I have four sets of queen sized sheets put away in the closet. Neat, tidy, organized. Here's how I did it! So that your linen closet can look pretty like mine. 

 1. Gather your sheets, I have mine all folded. A fitted sheet, a top sheet and then a pillow case. (Normally you would have all the pillow cases that went with the set, I have no idea where the other one went. So we will pretend that it's there)
2. Stack your folded sheets on top of eachother.
3. Turn your pillow case inside out. Trust me on this one, so much easier than stuffing everything in. I tried that option too, it didn't work for me.
4. Place your stack of sheets on the end of the pillow case.

5. Start flipping the pillow case over the stack of sheets.
6. Most important step, let your baby body slam the pile. The cuteness kills me.
7. Almost done!
8. Fold the pillow case in half, so that it is covering the sheet lump.

VOILA! You are done, go put it away in your linen closet! **Those are real words.

Thank you so much for having me on your blog today Jennifer!

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Ha! I love it! And probably need to spend some time organizing what passes for a linen closet in this house. :s Thanks for sharing such a great tip for simplifying life! Now I am off to try and find the matching pillow cases............