Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Honesty


#realtalk | #reallife
The truth is not many people practice honesty and being vulnerable.
It isn’t easy, it doesn’t always make you friends, and more often than not someone’s feeling’s get hurt. I’ve learned that while many people “appreciate” honesty--most do not fully appreciate it when it is directed towards them.
We’ve all heard the famous line “you can’t handle the truth” , and well--most people can’t. The truth while necessary often hurts and cuts deep. People do not want to be told that they are in the wrong, that their actions are inappropriate, or that their lives are messed up in some fashion.
So, let’s be honest for a moment,
we like to live in control of our own lives without someone telling us what’s up.
. . .
I’ve learned that i’m more honest than most people would like.
I “tell it like it is” and i’m not one to sugar coat anything. I saw a quote on Pinterest and it is exactly how i feel:
This is not a bakery. I don’t sugar coat anything. If you ask for my opinion...then that’s what you’ll get. Don’t be mad when it’s not what you want to hear.”
I’m working on only giving my opinion when asked for it, i struggle with always keeping my opinions and views to myself. Sometimes i succeed in this quest, and other times...well, i fail. 
I’ve tried to become better about my approach in lovingly telling someone the truth and being as open and honest as i possibly can with them. I value and long for honesty and so i just offer it in return...call it a flaw if you’d like. 
. . .
So what’s with this real talk | real life rant?
I’ve just noticed how fake, materialistic, shallow, and surface our culture has become. Everyone wants to put on a happy front, show all of the best qualities of themselves, and always make the best impression.
Honestly we’re not all that awesome.
I think that if we were to be honest not only with ourselves, but with those we conquer life with we’d realize we are not alone in our struggles.
Who else struggles with food addiction? Who else struggles with a sailors mouth? With temptation? With a messy room? With clutter? With depression? With lack of hope? With down days? With mascara frustration? With [insert whatever you need to here]?
We are not alone in our battles.
I personally have Jesus Christ to lean on and take strength from during my high and low times and i’m surrounded by an amazing group of people who love, support me, and hold me accountable during the good and bad moments of my life.
Who do you have?
Who are you investing in? Who are you allowing yourself to be real with? Who have you been honest and vulnerable with?
Just give it a try.
 . . .
I also think so many of us struggle with perfection.
We look at magazine covers, movies, decorating shows, DIY projects, cooking, etc and say “I should look like that, my hair should be that silky, why is my house not in order?, Why doesn’t my kitchen stay that organized? Why does my cooking stink?”.
Whose standards are we trying to measure up to?
Society or God’s?
Now, i’m sure that all of my readers are not Christians; i’m not expecting you to be but to be honest God’s standards are the only one’s worth measuring up to.
So often...
I get stuck in this rut of continually comparing myself to other women.
How my body doesn’t match up, how my hair is too frizzy, how my make up never  looks like theirs.
How my home doesn’t have the same style, how my room (no matter how hard i try or don’t try) always gets messy by the end of the week, how i pick the wrong paint color, etc.
Am i alone in this? I don’t think so; i think a lot of women feel the same way.
Can we please practice honesty every so often?
Whenever i read a blog entry about the struggles of DIY, working out, eating, fashion, etc my heart feels like a weight has been lifted and i can breathe a sigh of relief.
“Oh, you too girlfriend?! So glad i can relate to you on that!I”
. . .
So let’s be honest with each other.
Share with your readers about your life.
How imperfect each day can really become. Post a picture without make up. Share your frustrations about sweeping and mopping the floor only to have it dirty within 5 hours. Open up about a real-life struggle. Share sweet memories.
Share anything and everything...as long as it’s honest.
I’ll start.
I’m Amy. I’m a food-addict who struggles with saying no to things that are unhealthy. I’m working on making a healthier life for myself but each day presents new challenges. Sometimes i don’t represent Jesus in the best way possible. I actually like NOT wearing make up but i feel that my features are enhanced with it. I love having order to my house but more often than not i end up eyeing a laundry pile way longer than i should and it smells. I have hurt a lot of people by being to brash i’m sorry. I’m afraid of scary movies. I'm constantly comparing myself to others. I sometimes struggle with finding joy in each and every day even though i have a ton to be joyful for. I'm selfish. I can’t kill roaches. I do have my “own way” of cleaning but i love help. I’m hard-headed. I love sunshine. I also love rainy days. I'm weird. I talk a lot. I interrupt. I’m a sinner saved by grace.
<3
Here is my photo without makeup, freckles, zits, chapped lips and all. 
Now it’s your turn.
Be honest. Be vulnerable. BE REAL.
Can we start a revolution? Maybe i’ll make this a monthly thing. Honesty Day. What do you think?
Link up to your own post about being honest and real with your readers and yourself. 



Monday, May 28, 2012

Thank You.

Linking up with Megan from Happy Day for Dear Monday 
Dear Monday...Thank you for letting me sleep in and feel rested. <3 Thank you for this amazing and sacrificial holiday that allows me the privilege to stay home and enjoy my freedom.
. . .
Dear Soldiers...THANK YOU for your beautiful sacrifice and your countless hours, fears, worries, and victories you conquer every day to defend and protect our freedom. Thank you for putting your wants, needs, and desires to the side to keep your family, those you love, and complete strangers out of harms way. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed and may we, as a country, continually offer our thanks and admiration to you daily. 
Thank you:  Grandaddy Smith, Larry, Tripp, Steven, Matt, Elliott, Ashley, Edward, Jason, Ian, Kyle, Bradley, Jeremy, Chris, Ritchie, Josh, Scotty, Ryan, Brandon, Brad, Josh, Rachel, Jonathan, Jordan, Justin, Travis, Aaron, David, Phoebas, and many many more that our brains just skipped over this morning. 
Family, friends, and loved ones of myself and Maria. 
. . .
Dear Beryl...you and your tropical storm self. You're going to give us the rain we so desperately need with hopefully no damage. May those in Florida be protected and let the damage done be minimal. Place nice Beryl, play nice. 
. . .
Dear Pool...i loved hanging out with you on Saturday...seriously it was amazing and so much fun. I got a little sunburnt while hanging out but it was worth it. :) 
. . . 
Dear pictures...why are you so much fun to take? 
. . .
My Monday...

What is your Monday look like? 
Do you have any soldiers you are extremely thankful for? List their names in the comment box.
How has your weekend been? 

Friday, May 25, 2012

Happy Friday Yall!

Happy Friday Yall! 
I'll be spending time doing more of this during the long weekend...
Hanging out, getting some sun, relaxing, and hopefully doing some DIY projects, but no promises. 
. . .
What are your plans for memorial day?! 

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Mornings at Mi Casa

Does this happen to anyone else who has the privilege of owning a cat. 
If you haven't met Tobi yet, now you have and i promise your life just got 10x better because of it. 
Tobi likes to think he runs this joint...he doesn't. Okay maybe a little bit
When i get ready in the morning his little toosh has to be right next to me either sitting on the floor or up on the counter. He has become so spoiled and now begs to drink out of the faucet. Even when i don't turn the water on he will continue to lick the faucet...nice right? {Don't worry i'm OCD and i clean the faucet after every time Tobi uses it}
Oh my little fairy. 
he loves me...don't let those angry eyes tell you anything different.
Let me explain something, Tobi loves [aka will 99% of the time not drink it unless it is] fresh water. 
That means that if water has been sitting in his bowl for over a day he will rub your legs, meow, and jump up on sink counters until you dump the "old" water and give him fresh new water. Weird right?! Oh the joys of Tobi. 
All animals have weird quirks this just happens to be his. He also slightly enjoys showers...mmmhmm weird. 
And yes, you just spent 10 minutes of your thursday morning reading about Tobi drinking water and soaking in his gorgeous self. 
You're welcome
:)
. . .
Do your pets have any strange habits/quirks? 
What are they? 
Spill

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Current

Have you ever had days where everything within your head has turned to mush?
I'm having one of those mornings. 
Oh well. 
Maybe looking at some pretty things will help'a'sista'out.
Or maybe i'm just being lazy in blog posting. 
You will never know the truth muahahahahahaha.
<3
. . .
I've noticed lately that a lot of my "pins" have been very nautical. I love it. 
I live in the south, I'm 20 MAX minutes from the beach, I love hanging out in the sun, i'm all about nautical. 
 
 So that is what i've noticed about my current obsession if you will. What about you? What is the latest theme you've been pinning? 
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Book Worm.

I love reading.
It's kind of insane really. Between my brother and myself i'm sure we have well over 500 books. 
I love falling into a story and becoming completely submersed in the characters lives. 
Some nights i will sit in a chair for a few hours and just read and read and read until my brain can't handle it anymore. I love the way books feel in my hands, i love the illustrations on the covers, i love the titles...i love it all obviously.
For Christmas my brother got a Kindle Fire. Was i jealous....maybe but i kept thinking psshhh i don't want a ebook reader, that's lame i like to HOLD my books. This still holds true mind you, but i've also realized that ebooks are 99% of the time WAY cheaper! AND you can share them with your friends (if they have an ebook reader device [like a nook or kindle]) and not worry about the books coming back to you all bent or worn out. It's lovely. 
. . .
So...to confess...
i cracked.
Meet my new lil'friend. 
Oh, and did you see Edgar up there? Say hello to Edgar.
I will still buy books.
I am not abandoning my love for the physical book, i am more so learning my options and loving my options! Not only can i share books with my new little Simple Touch Nook but i can "borrow" books from the Library. Now i haven't figured out how to do either yet, but i'm learning!
If you have a nook, give me your addy so we can share books!
and yes, i just used the term "addy" don't judge me.
. . .
Last night i also finally made the flourless zuchinni brownies i've been talking about.
I've mentioned them here before and i'm sure a few other entires but i'm currently a little flighty.
Did i take pictures? No...i was to dang excited. What is my verdict?

OH MY GOSH DELICIOUS.
Yes, that serious.
Image & recipe from Delighted Momma.
In attempting to describe them they were moist, delicious, had a different but fantastic flavor, almost cake like, gooey, and i will probably never make "regular" brownies again...seriously.
. . .
Lastly...i've been wanting to give another shout out to my girl Christina for the song i've mentioned previously. #1 When you buy this song you are helping to raise funds for two amazing missionaries in kenya to adopt two amazing twin girls. You can check out more about the cause on their facebook page.
Click here to purchase the single. 
. . .
Have you tried any new recipes lately?
How did they turn out?
Are you a reader?
How do you feel about ebooks?
Spill.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Dear Monday

Linking up with Megan from Happy Day for a Dear Monday post. 
. . .
Dear Monday. Today i'm not your biggest fan. I'm exhausted from a weekend of little sleep and running around. However, you are the start of a new and exciting week; hopefully i can keep this positivity going all day long. 
. . .
Dear Anxiety. We are not friends, you are not welcome to just show up whenever you like, and i hate your presence. I've had some serious anxiety issues this past weekend that have just completely floored me, but i refuse to be a victim. 
. . .
Dear Shins. Suck it up, get stronger, and stop killing me. I have to get stronger and build my endurance up if i'm going to have ANY HOPE in surviving the half-marathon i've signed up for in November. [& yes i'm questioning my sanity]. Please feel free to read about my (and my team mate) running journey HERE. [& hey if you want to donate, go right ahead] 
. . .
Dear Radical. I'm excited to start reading you and dig deep into God's Word for my Bible Study with my close girlfriends. God's going to use you to challenge me, i'm already feeling it. 
. . .
Dear DIY. I miss your face. I haven't had the time/energy to attempt some do it yourself projects lately and i'm sorry. I miss it, i feel like i'm slacking, and it's driving me insane. All in all i'm having withdrawals. It's all about the time management and i'm going to have to get better ESPECIALLY since i start my training this week. eek. 
. . .
Head on over to Megan's Dear Monday blog to link up! 

Friday, May 18, 2012

Family

I love my family. 
We're very close and always willing to bend over backwards for each other. I'm reminded sometimes how not every person is blessed with the same family situation that i am. Some people have family that live many miles (or states) away from them; others they only get to see during the holidays; some have barriers built within their family, etc etc. 
Regardless, i'm blessed and i was raised to always love and invest in my family. 
If you don't have family...that is ok, the Lord has blessed you with the ability to create your own within the friendships that you hold dear. I consider my friends a piece of my family as well. 
. . .
I just wanted to brag on the awesomeness that i'm able to say i'm related to. <3
I love all of you so much and i wouldn't be where i am without having you walk life with me and holding you in my heart! Thank you for all of the encouragement, discipline, love, and morals you have instilled within me. I'm so extremely blessed. 
Prepare yourself for a picture overload. 
. . .

This is just a small amount of pictures, I thought my computer would crash if i uploaded anymore. 
<3 you all...
And you best believe i'll be putting more pictures up throughout other entries. 

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Tea Time.

I love tea. 
Sweet tea, herbal tea, green tea, black tea, mint tea, jasmine, etc etc...i just love it all. 
:)
Well, for Christmas i was given two beautiful tea towels from my Aunt Evita & Michael that i've been trying to figure out what to do with. You see they are SO PRETTY that i don't want to actually use them, ironic i know. They've been sitting in a box out of the way for a few months calling out to me when it finally hit me square in the face---Frame them....DUH.
I've been needing some art to go on either side of the kitchen window and it took me this long to figure out that i didn't need to go buy anything (yet) to help fill it in, why not use what i've got.
. . .
I did go buy a pack of two frames from Michaels Art & Craft store a few weeks ago with the intention to frame these other pictures, but hey, i'll work with what i've got.
I then figured that instead of sticking the tea towels in there (with a white background that would wash them out) i would wrap the backs of the frames in a neutral wrapping paper i had laying around. 
 
At this point i had to fold each tea towel in a way that would A. look presentable and B. wouldn't drive me bonkers all while C. looking similar. AHHHH....i had to give it a few tries and then i finally finished even though they are NOT perfect i'm embracing that imperfection and loving it! 
Now it was time to hang them in the kitchen. Let me remind you of how the space looked before these little beauties were hung up...
Yes, this picture is a few months old (notice the old light fixture), but it's the only one i could find at the moment. See all of the blank space on either side of the window? I've been wanting to hang up multiple pictures/items up there for a while now, but i've been dragging my feet an haven't found the right things...that is until my brain decided to be all smart and remember the tea towels. 
(excuse the bright flash, i couldn't get it to come out bright enough on manual)
Do you see what i saw?
It was looking a little puny. I knew that eventually there would be other things hanging on that wall, but i couldn't leave it looking THAT unbalanced for let's be honest who knows how long. 
I then remembered i had these little babies that i found at TJ MAXX some time last year...
Tada......
. . .
Interested in getting some tea towels yourself? 
It's gorgeous, all of it...sheesh.