Heavenly Father,

Heavenly Father 

You always amaze me

Let Your kingdom come in my world 

And in my life

Give me the food I need to live through today

And forgive me as I forgive the people that wrong me

Lead me far from temptation

Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window

The birds are composing

Not a note is out of tune

Or out of place

I walk to the meadow

And stare at the flowers

Better dressed than any girl

On her wedding day

So why should I worry?

Why do I freak out?

God knows what I need!

You know what I need!

Your love is strong

The Kingdom of the Heavens 

Is now advancing

Invade my heart

Invade this broken town

The Kingdom of the Heavens 

Is buried treasure

Would you sell yourself

To buy the one you've found?

Two things You told me

That You are strong

And You love me,

Yes You love me

Your love is strong

Our God in heaven

Hallowed be thy name above all names

Your kingdom come

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven

Give us, today, our daily bread

Forgive us weary sinners

Keep us far from our vices and

Deliver us from these prisons

Five on [the last July] Friday

1.

Hills 10-Year Anniversary trailer is officially here.
I cannot wait for August 7th. Viewing party at my house! 

2.
A new month is just around the corner, or should I say weekend. And that means a new monthly calendar download from Evelyn Henson. Head on over and get it today.

3.
While you're there getting your August download, check out her new wallpapers too! Each wallpaper coordinates with one of her new mug designs; the toucans are my personal favorite!

4.
The 1975 is coming to Nashville in November and tickets go on sale today.
Hurry, because these will go quickly!!

"Well I know when you're around cause I know the sound
I know the sound, of your heart."

5.
She Reads Truth next study begins Monday.
I have heard wonderful things about their study of Ruth and I cannot wait to start it.
Hopefully it will bring me some balance and peace as work shows no sign of slowing down.

Friday 7/29

Weekend Recap: 7/23-7/24

This weekend was full of adventure, lots of bug spray and a few choice swear words along the way, but one of the coolest nights/runs of the year. Molly and I ran the Moonlight Bootlegger 5K Saturday night for our July 5K and after finishing [orange slices and moonshine drink in hand] decided it was the hardest run/course of our lives. Headlamps were required and about 0.2 miles into the course we realized why, we were deep in the woods with only banjo music at each mile marker to guide us. 

While we didn't finish at our usual paces/time goals this wasn't like our usual monthly 5K. I came in at 36:27 which landed me in the Top 5 Women and 2nd in my age group. And that my friends is why you always sprint it out to the finish, over took the girl in front of me in the last 0.1 mile for my purple Top 3 finisher mason jar. Headlamps still on, we headed to the car [and then on to Sonic.]

Backs and knees were sore the next morning but so worth it for the memories we made. 

Another month, another 5K down.

Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods?

Friday 7/22

HARD LOVE

NEEDTOBREATHE released their latest album, HARD LOVE last Friday and I have had it on repeat all week. They really are one of the greatest bands out there right now. They're coming through Knoxville in September and I might just have to bite the bullet and get tickets. 

While the entire album is amazing, LET'S STAY HOME TONIGHT has to be my [current] favorite.
Listen to the entire album here.

Baby, let's stay home tonight
We can put a couple records on
We can build a fire alright
Maybe we can dance till dawn
Everything will be just fine
Don't even have to put clothes on
I can keep you warm inside
Baby, let's stay home tonight

Lately we've been walking in a straight line
Doing our own thing never seem to find time
We've been going downtown
Making reservations
But maybe we just slow down
See where it can take us

Baby, let's stay home tonight
We can put a couple records on
We can build a fire alright
Maybe we can dance till dawn
Everything will be just fine
Don't even have to put clothes on
I can keep you warm inside
Baby, let's stay home tonight

I know you wanna get dressed up
But I know who you are girl
There ain't no need for makeup
Cause you're my angel
And I don't wanna share you
So why don't we just slow down
See where it can take us

Baby, let's stay home tonight
We can put a couple records on
We can build a fire alright
Maybe we can dance till dawn
Everything will be just fine
Don't even have to put clothes on
I can keep you warm inside
Baby, let's stay home tonight

Yeah baby, let's stay home tonight

Lately: July

Listening:
LANY kinda
Their single "yea, babe, no way" popped up on my New Music Friday playlist last month and they've had my ear ever since.
My current favorite, current location.

Reading:
First Comes Love by my absolute favorite Emily Giffin. 

I read the sneak peek of Chapter 1 back in May and was chomping at the bit for June 28 to come around so I could get my hands on the whole thing.
And it is so much more than I could have ever hoped for!
Get your hands on a copy ASAP.

Drinking: 

The perfect summer lake/pool day drink: rum and San Pellegrino Sparking Blood Orange.
Perfection. 

Watching:
Guilt- Monday nights on FreeForm.
"When Natalie's sister Grace becomes the prime suspect in her roommate Molly's murder and popular target for the press and in social media, Natalie leaves her life in Boston and heads to London to defend her. 
With the help of an ethically questionable ex-pat lawyer Stan Gutterie, Natalie starts to question how innocent her sister may really be as more ugly truths start to come out. 
The mystery will twist through all layers of London society – from a posh but depraved sex club and all the way up to the Royal Family itself."

Orange is the New Black- Netlfix [and chill]

Wanting:
ALL the new Lilly Pulitzer arrivals 
This has to be one of my favorite group of prints they've released this year.
Only two more weeks until you can crack open those new planners!

Wearing: 

OPI Small+Cute [Hello Kitty]

Loving: 

SUMMER!
Tan skin, pool days, eating cheese-its on the back of the boat with friends, afternoon naps during afternoon storms, reading with the balcony door open, the list goes on...

Counting Down To:
Warren's first birthday next month!!

Friday 7/15

My Kind of Adventure

My entire life growing up I had extracurricular activities whether it was dance or Model UN or cross country. In college I had sorority life, ad club, and come senior year an internship with Rent the Runway. So it was no surprise when it came to post-grad life I found my "extracurricular" in Ad2 and AAF [American Advertising Federation] Nashville. After three awesome years, I had served on the Ad2 board as Vice President and President and was completely burnt out. When I moved to Knoxville my "extracurricular" quickly became finding an apartment, throwing myself into work and my new agency, and wrapping life up in Nashville. Fast forward eight months, work is really good [like really good], checking another 5K off every month, and my apartment finally looks like home. 

Last week waiting in line at Walgreens for prescriptions an email came through on my phone that introduced a new adventure to my life, My Kind of Lovely. I discovered My Kind of Lovely when I still lived in Nashville and came to absolutely love their store and owners, Katie and Caroline. By complete coincidence Katie had suggested I look for a condo in her complex last December and we ended up being upstairs/downstairs neighbors. So, when they asked me to help them launch and manage My Kind of Lovely's greek line I was over the moon. 

I had found my Knoxville extracurricular and one that's for me combining my marketing/advertising skills and something fun with great girls! After our initial brainstorm meeting the three of us were all chomping at the bit to get everything launched and left on Cloud 9. 

I remember crying in the middle of my kitchen the night I got back from interviewing in Knoxville last fall and thinking to myself HOW I could EVER find a life I loved as much as the one I had in Nashville.  I was terrified I would lose friendships and weekends wouldn't be the same without trips to River Chase and home. However, God is good [all the time] and has truly guided me on this new adventure in Knoxville and I believe My Kind of Lovely is the next path on this journey. So, here we go! First found of emails will go out next week and I will hit the ground running, literally, in Sorority Village next month. 

There's the saying "Find your Bliss" but in my case maybe it's "Find your Extracurricular."

#NotetoSelf

Note to self: clean the living room

Do the things you don't want to do

Maybe fold that week old pile of clothes

Note to self: get some exercise

Feels bad and you have to try

But as far as I can tell that's how life goes

And note to self: don't let yourself worry quite as much

It'll end up fine enough

It always has up until now

Something else,

You should think of other people a little more

You shoulda thought of that before

Cause of everything you've written down

This is the first note that you wrote for someone else

Note to self

Note to self: keep choosing her

Cause she is yours and wonderful

And for-ever is a long time to be sad

And one more thing;

Call your mother back

Talk for too long it's probably half

Of what she'd like

But she's the only mother that you have

I don't know how long I have to keep reminding myself

To be who I want to be and not somebody else

I just thought by now I'd figure out the who and how I want to be

Cause I still let myself worry way too much

And it ends up fine enough

It always has and does still now

And I still need to think of other people more

Yes I've thought of that before

Maybe one day I'll figure out

You don't find peace

Until you love somebody else

You don't peace

Until you love somebody else

Note to self

Five on Friday [thank God]

1.

Happy first full week of July! 

We all survived. Now time for a beer by the pool this weekend [and possibly a nap.]

2.

Sugar Paper LA launched their 2016 collaboration with Target this week. Of course every piece is gorgeous and better yet, affordable!

I'm personally loving the white/gold patterned file folder set and the precious letter clip holder.

3.

72 hours and done, The Girl on the Train is so good it didn't take long at all to devour the thriller and move on to my next summer read, First Comes Love. Pool days have become my favorite time to zone out and read like I'm 8 years old with a summer reading list. 

4.

I've had Ben Rector's new album Brand New on repeat this past week and one of my new favorite songs has to be Crazy. 

"Last night was crazy, yeah we tore it up again

Kicked off our shoes and went to bed by 9pm

We were balling and Netflix

We turned it up to ten

Last night was crazy"

5.

Sara's little man Warren is 11 months old today and I cannot believe next month he'll be ONE!
I remember counting down the days until he arrived last summer and crying in my kitchen when I got the text he was here!

Friday 7/8