Let Thankfulness rule in your heart.

As you thank Me for blessings in your life, a marvelous thing happens.

"Hallelujahs" are the language of heaven, and they can become the language of your heart. 

A life of praise and thankfulness becomes a life filled with miracles.

Enjoy abundant life by overflowing with praise and thankfulness. 

-Jesus Calling

When it's all said and done you can walk instead of run

Last year I dedicated my Thanksgiving week 10 Things post to being thankful. So this year I carry on that tradition. I have not made any effort to hide how rough 2013 has been for me, yet I think I have more to be thankful for this year than ever before. "It's always darkest before the dawn"

10 things...I'm thankful for:

1. This year I found my faith. For the first time in my adult life, I have a relationship with the Lord. We talk all the time now.

2. My health. [ especially thankful for Prilosec, Lexapro, Align, Dr.Parrish.]

3. My Mother. The woman that stood by me when I was at my lowest. The woman who held me the day my "life fell apart" The woman who sat in the waiting room for two hours at the doctor's just so I would have support waiting there for me. The woman who never gave up on me. The woman who now cheers me on once again.

4. My Father. The man who walked me through buying my first house [and climbed into my ceiling to fix my AC unit]. The man who still sneaks off with my car, fills it up with gas, and acts surprised when I turn it on and see that F. The man who made me the Steeler loving, curse word saying, beer drinking, hard working, sweat pant wearing person I am today.

5. My job. "It's going to be okay and it's going to be better" This was how it was suppose to go.

6. My friends. Their happiness and support. Their care packages and cards. Their love.

7. My sweet rooftop house. And my parents for letting me "shack" with them for a year so I could have Kress 308 and for constantly surprising me with mini heaters, bulletin boards, flowers, and little presents for my [now] home.  

8. Only 3 more years till we are NObama for-ev-er.

9. My [little] brother. He keeps me humble. He makes me laugh. He loves me a lot [even when I yell at him].Our car rides together, laughing. Being his Sissi,

10. Happiness. Good lord, HOW many times have I blogged about this topic? So go ahead, ask me. "Are you happy?" 

I've never been better. 

Bundled up on Church Street

It's officially chilly in Music City.

Yesterday was the first "ohh emm gee it's SNOW" day here in the 615.

It looked like a snow globe outside my office and when I got home to my rooftop house I was greeted by a snowy front porch [yeah that's a pumpkin, it's not even Thanksgiving yet y'all]

A couple weeks back I blogged about my first baby Christmas tree for my first house. 

Well y'all, I broke that sucker out of its box and couldn't get it set up fast enough. It's lacking ornaments but it makes me so happy to light it up every night after work!

And now we're just hours away from Thanksgiving. I will be joining Julie in the kitchen, for the first time ever, this year and I couldn't be more excited[nervous]. Thanks for the confidence and inspiration Southern Living!

Be on the look-out for my Thankful post tomorrow! 

Winter Layering

Scarves and monogrammed mittens are great, but this is my favorite kind of winter layering.

Another look inspired by Tumblr lunch breaks.

Baby it's cold outside.

. . you can walk instead of run

2013 has been a bumpy one for me full of highs and lots of lows.
But the one thing this year has taught me is I really will never be alone.
Happy Friday Eve.

Yea it's been a bumpy road

Roller coasters high and low

Fill the tank and drive the car

Pedal fast, pedal hard

You won't have to go that far

You want to give up cause it's dark

We're really not that far apart

So let your heart sweetheart be your compass when you're lost

And you should follow it wherever it may go

When it's all said and done you can walk instead of run

Cause no matter what you'll never be alone

Never be alone

Forgot directions on your way

Don't close your eyes don't be afraid

We might be crazy late at night

I can't wait til you arrive

Follow stars you'll be alright

You want to give up cause it's dark

We're really not that far apart

So let your heart sweetheart be your compass when you're lost

And you should follow it wherever it may go

When it's all said and done you can walk instead of run

Cause no matter what you'll never be alone

Never be alone

You want to give up cause it's dark

We're really not that far apart

So let your heart sweetheart be your compass when you're lost

And you should follow it wherever it may go

When it's all said and done you can walk instead of run

Cause no matter what you'll never be alone

Never be alone

When it's all said and done you can walk instead of run

Cause no matter what you'll never be alone

"Burrrrrrrrr"

Of course, as to be expected, momma did good with her "We left you for three weeks" trip present.

Just in time for colder weather, some gorgeous Bur[rrrrrrrr]berry.

Elf Elf baby

In case you missed it, JULIE IS BACK!

And what better way to jump back into #lifewithJulie than a four hour adventure to the Nashville Christmas Village?! After two cups of coffee, more mini muffins than I'm willing to admit, and a couple outfit changes [on both sides of the house] we were ready to go!

Um, we were not ready . These people mean business, like matching "I believe in Santa"/multiple Christmas themed tote bags for purchases/Christmas tree headbands business.But there is nothing the Pekarsky girls can not handle. Second booth of the first building and we had our first purchase! As American Pickers [and dad] would say, we had broken the ice. 

There were six buildings and we mini stepped our way through all of them.

At the end of they day, I had a precious new Christmas tree for outside my front door [thank you momma], two packs of fabulous Christmas cards, a burlap Steeler ornament, and two AMAZE presents for dad.

Oh and lots of laughs with mom [along with the promise that I will never bring my child under the age of 12 to Christmas Village.] 

Then it was home, hot dogs, nap, chili, Killing Kennedy [we all ended up getting sucked into that one], and Ron White on Netflix. It's like they never left for three weeks.

I am one happy kid. 

Stuck in Colder Weather

Because 30 degree weather calls for really big coffee, preferably in a monogrammed Steelers Tervis. 

Bundle up, y'all! 

Remember

Our Freedom is not Free.

Say a prayer for our troops this Veteran's Day. 

Nailed it

I am a sucker for a good manicure. No sheet imprints, no chips, good shine. 

I do an at home manicure every Sunday (usually while watching football, not the safest idea) and for the past 2 years I have sworn by Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure topped off with  her Dry and Go Drops. 

Well, that was until this weekend. 

I stalked down an Essie color I saw on Pinterest and had to have it about this time last fall, Going Incognito. The most gorgeous dark green color, perfect fall nails.

In true #whitegirlproblems fashion, I dreaded using this flawless color because the Dry and Go Drops just didn't work their same magic on Essie color (I had tried and the sheet marks prevailed).

Well, that was until this weekend.

I have found the Holy Grail of at home manicures, Essie's Good to Go top coat.

Homegirl is not lying when she says "color sets in seconds."

And the shine, oh my gracious. 

Price range, you're looking at the same as Dry and Go Drops, around $7.99. But Good to Go is a top coat formula vs the liquid Dry and Go Drops so they last longer! 

So I apologize Sally Hansen but Essie has won me over.

And just throwing it out there, an Essie winter collection color and Good to Go would make an awesome Christmas present for any nail obsessed girlfriend of yours! 

Wherever it Points

Her less than enthused face at the CMAs might have caused quite the stir but you gotta hand it to the girl, Kacey Musgraves sure does know how to write a song. 

She performed this one at the CMAs and I now I love it. 

tgif y'all.

Say what you think
Love who you love
'Cause you just get
So many trips 'round the sun
Yeah, you only
Only live once

Make lots of noise
Kiss lots of boys
Just follow your arrow wherever it points

Letting my freak flag fly

Yesterday I blogged about an amazing article that was passed along to me. 

This was one of the quotes that really jumped out at me: 

"I'm just going to tell you that you're kind of strange. You're kind of quirky in the sense that no one ever fully understands the person that you are so you carry it like a secret between your smirked lips."

Since I haven't done a 10 Things list in um, literally forever, I thought I'd share 10 things about me that are kind of strange. Hope you get a good laugh and get to know me a little better!

1. I love the smell of fake tan. [like love it]

2. I can wiggle my ears. 

3. I am terrified of squirrels. [I will scream and run]

4. When I get nervous, I rub the skin around my thumbs. It's bad. Like blood on final exams bad.

5. I sleep on my stomach, like a starfish.

6. I am a sucker for handwritten notes and cards. I keep them all. [still have a mini card mom put in my lunch box in 6th grade, no joke, it had a pig on it]

7. I have a coffee cup fetish. I just love them.

8. I am known to go back and delete tweets at the end of the week [especially replies to people]

9. I eat clockwise and none of my food can touch.

10. I slap my thighs when running up a tough hill. [feel the burn]

So there you have it. I'm not just "kind of" strange. But I own it. Obs. 

Talk Nauti To Me

Taking some outfitspiration from one of my favorites, Jen over at Three Sweet Peas today!

I may be biased, but I think my first go 'round at the shirt + dress combo was a success.

Happy Friday Eve!

Punch Drunk

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure- Punch Drunk

#currentlyobsessed

"Don't worry, you're beautiful. You're strong."

So I'm stealing this from the now Mrs. Leitch [The Heart of Life is Good].

She sends me some of the best 20-something problem life help articles.

She has the whole article on her blog [and you should totally go check it out] but I'm just gonna pull out a couple quotes that really hit my heart.

This summer was a rough one for me. 

For the first time in my 20-something era I confronted the fact that I was depressed. 

And had been for a good while. 

With the support of my entire family, especially my momma, I ran head first into getting myself healthy again. 

I was in the never ending downward spiral of the bedtime bed to couch to bed to couch fire drill; spouts of sobbing/crying/breakdowns; not wanting to be in my house that I had loved so much; no appetite; and just overall emptiness. 

I felt like I never laughed anymore.

This article brought me back to all of that, by showing me how far I've come from it.

I hope when you read this you feel proud of all you've overcome, no matter how big or small.

Oh, and I cry a lot now, mostly from laughing so hard.

"When I said I was struggling, people would tell me I was beautiful. 

"Don't worry, you're beautiful. You're strong."

Like just telling me "You're beautiful" was enough. I couldn't help but laugh. I was uncontrollable. I was sad."

"Babe, if you've got struggles then let's start raging. Your tiny fingers were prepped and created for battle"

" And baby, if you don't want to be something, then just don't be it."

"I'm just going to tell you that you're kind of strange. You're kind of quirky in the sense that no one ever fully understands the person that you are so you carry it like a secret between your smirked lips. Yes, you've been waiting for a moment to prove people wrong. I cannot wait to see that day."

" You're not an apology letter, you're a thank-you note just waiting to happen."

#TheLunns

Between starting a new job, getting mom and dad out of the country, and trying to remember to eat three times a day I haven't had anytime to post wedding pictures from Em and B's big day. 

So here ya go!

Happy One Month to these two favorites of mine!

#monday #coffee

Weekend with [Bernie] Sophie

In case you don't follow me on Instagram or Twitter or Facebook or have ever had a conversation lasting more than ten minutes with me, I love my dog. Her name is Sophie and she is the third [and favorite child] of the Pekarsky house. 

Since mom and dad are out being jet setters in Europe for three weeks, Joe and I are in charge of the small brown midget and this weekend she came and had a sleepover with her Sissi. It was full of walks over to the park on 3rd [yeah, where they film Nashville, we're hip], playing with my new neighbor Lilly, naps on the couch, watching too much football [every body lost], and the occasional half time beer. 

It was perfect. 

Life is good y'all. Life is very good. 

Ridin solo Friday night

Probably the greatest picture, ever

People watching like a pro

Squirrel to the left 

#blackandyellow

THIS IS HALLOWEEN THIS IS HALLOWEEN

Quarter Life Crisis y'all

A very happy birthday to the stunning Mrs. Lunn.

You'll always be "Em Oller" to me.

found this on tumblr and I just love it.

it's currently my lock screen on my phone.

nice reminder to read every time a text/email/social media alert comes through.

tgif.