Makeover Monday {Foundation}

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Ummmm how awesome is this new button!!!! Grab it and put it on your post! :)

Today's topic is Foundation. What would we do without it?! I will NOT be showing before and after pics, because I am actually super self conscious without foundation on. I was blessed with a dominant Scottish gene so I have ghostly white skin with splotches of pink. And perpetual dark circles. [literally they never go away. sleep or not. if you have a cure, I'd love to know.] Cute, I know. On to the whole point of this post... what I use to cover all those splotchies and dark circles up!!

I use my moisturizer as a primer.  

For special occasions [like our wedding and Miranda Lambert concerts] I use Dream Liquid Mousse.

Its the bomb. I know I say that a lot. But it really is. However, I really don't use liquid foundation very often even though I think it looks really pretty. I guess I just like to go more natural for every day make up.

Next -well actually first [on a regular basis] I use Loreal True Match Concealer which is cool because not only do you choose how light/dark you want but also if you want Warm, Cool, or Neutral. I like all the options!

On top of that I brush Bare Escentuals which is stupid expensive & I'd love to find something for less! Which is where YOU come in! So linky uppy with us!!

So excited to read y'alls posts and hopefully learn a thing or two!

Don't forget, you can link up at my blog or at Molly's and it'll show up on both :)

Makeover Monday Theme for Tomorrow!

Hey all you friends of mine! [yes, I consider you my friends :)]

 

Molly and I have chosen a theme for tomorrow and we're gettin' more specific this week! Gotta make the beauty last as long as possible!

Tomorrow's theme is Foundation & all that comes with it [concealer, powder, primer, etc]!

So link up with us tomorrow and share your favorite tricks and then check out everyone elses! I know I can definitely use some help in this department!

If I Used "best friend" This Girl Would be One Of Them!

So.. I don't use the words "best friend". Growing up, I moved around a lot and everyone always had their best friends and I never did. It always hurt my feelings because its so excluding to other people.

{source}
As I've gotten older, I have developed some incredible relationships with a few girls that have pretty much kept me sane and gotten me through some tough times. They make me laugh constantly and they GET me like no one else ever can! I am beyond blessed to have these kinds of relationships, and I know they dont come often, which is why I prioritize keeping in touch even from afar.

And.. lucky me.. one of these girls, Amy is here this weekend!! Perfect timing to pull me out of my slump this week.

We are gonna have so much fun :)Heres a photo evolution of our friendship.

 Circa 2007 We Worked Together on Campus

circa 2008 @ The Rodeo!

2011 @Miranda Lambert Concert!

2011 @ Our wedding! :)

Restoration

Today was a no good, very bad, terrible, awful day. But thankfully, we have a God that restores our hope.

Seriously, today was one of those days that just sucked. It started off with me not feeling well, then everything with my grandma just hit me and I was super emotional, work was SO busy -- and not feeling good and being emotional wasn't really helping all that at all. 

Rewind to last night. I was working on my quilt I am making for our nephew, and getting frustrated. None of my rows are lining up right and they are turning out all crooked and well basically no one else will ever notice. I am such a perfectionist that it was making me crazy! Then I was thinking about it in the shower (where I do all my best thinking) that it kind of pertains to my life. Not everything in my life always lines up just right. Sometimes things turn out a little lop sided. 

But that's just how life is. And that is why we need Jesus. On our own, we cannot straighten our paths or align things just right. We can't make it through a hard day without crying. 

Being a Christian doesn't mean things won't get hard. And it doesn't mean that you'll always be happy. It means that I have someone to lean on, someone who loves me 100%. He will never love me less, He will never love me more. And He cares about my heart, He knows my grandma is sick, He hears the crying out of my prayers.

He gives me energy to finish a hard day. He gives me hope in healing. He gives me a sunset each night that says just how much He loves me, and He loves you too.

Yes we suffer. But He sees that. And He restores us. He gives us that hope & a reason to trust Him. 

I thank God for restoring my heart, because I know I definitely couldn't walk through this life alone.

Photo from my coworker Michael Keleher

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,

 after you have suffered a little while, 

will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

1 Peter 5:10

Makeover Monday: Haircare Edition!

Woohoo! My favorite topic: HAIR!
I have been a licensed hair stylist for three years now!
I'm not gonna get too wordy here, I plan on doing a few posts about hair tricks this week. As far as product goes, though, here are my favorites. {I have super duper thick hair, medium texture, and the tiniest bit of wave.} I do not purchase drugstore product. It is made with fillers and waxes and I do not want those on my precious locks! You really do get what you pay for with hair product!
Fave Shampoo/Conditioner:

Pureology Hydrate // Davines Love Smoothing // Redken Allsoft
Fave Deep Conditioner:

It's a 10 Miracle Hair Mask

{Don't let the packaging fool you -- this stuff is the best you can buy!}

After shower products:

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in + Keratin // Chi Silk Infusion // Aquage Sea Salt Texturizing Spray
Best Hairspray EVER:

bigsexyhair Spray & Play

******************************If you ever have hair questions, I LOVE helping and answering the best that I can! Please leave a comment or email me and I'd be happy to help! :)
Thanks for sharing, girls!! Check back this week for more ways to protect your hair!
Link Up here!

Follow Friday & a Request for Prayer

I am loving Hollie's idea for Follow Friday blog version!


I'm a little uninspired to post anything today. You may have seen this tweet  from me yesterday... I found out yesterday that my grandma (I call her Mana -- like mama but with an 'n') has ovarian cancer. She has been in the hospital for 2 weeks and got to go home on Tuesday & I thought that meant everything was a-okay. I was heartbroken when my mom called yesterday to say the doctor's called with biopsy results that showed ovarian cancer. 
My dad's mom passed away from breast cancer, and Mana has had breast cancer too, so I am just praying that God will heal her! She is so young & active & plus, she said being a great-grandmother is on her bucket list. I am not ready to make you a great-grandma just yet, Mana! 
Mana is so strong, I know she will fight this will everything she has. I am just a little sad today. 
I am not posting this for sympathy, but to ask for prayer. Please pray for healing for my sweet grandma! Thank you, friends.
“For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,” says the Lord. -Jeremiah 30:17

Here are my Mana and Papa, who've been married for over 50 years.
  I love you both so much and look up to you now that I am married. Thank you for supporting me through everything I've ever chosen to do, I love you dearly. Stay Strong Mana!!!
*******************************

And on a lighter note, don't forget to link up with Molly and me for Makeover Monday - Haircare edition! [my personal favorite] This coming Monday!

If we went to coffee..

Since I live on top of a mountain with no friends in sight, we're having an online coffee date.. mmkay??

Source: takethesidestreet.com via Katie on Pinterest

• I would admit I have a love/hate relationship with Proverbs 31 because I feel it is unreachable. But, that is my insecurity speaking and overall I love that God loves us enough to give us a clear example of how to be a Woman of God.

• I would tell you that I woke up this morning with a super bad sore throat. I am thankful I already had the day off but fear calling in sick tomorrow if I don't get better! We have a full camp coming in and I know I need to be there to finish up getting it ready. Since I live an hour from any sort of doctor, it's kind of a gamble whether or not to go!

• I would also tell you that I really want to see Beauty and the Beast but Zach does not want to go with me. Any So Cal bloggers want to go with me? Pretty please?? (do I sound desperate or what?)

• I would also tell you that the friends I've made through blogging have honestly kept me from from becoming lonely here. I love where I am working, I absolutely am happy here. But I am such a people person that I need social interaction with people who have similar views/humor/interests as me. And through blogging, I have found that. So, thank you.

• I would admit I am 100% addicted to How I Met Your Mother. I absolutely cant stop watching it. It is so funny!!

• I'd tell you how adorable it is that Zach just got his new juicer in the mail and first thing this morning drove an hour to the market to get all his veggies and fruits. I am so excited he is inspired by all the documentaries {1 / 2 / 3} we've been watching and will totally support him in this adventure! 

• That I want to put more hair advice on my blog and I don't know what to tell.. kind of how healthy people dont know how to share because its common sense to them & they dont realize what the rest of us dont know. What do y'all want to know?! I love sharing hair stuff.

• I'd also tell you that I hate feeling complacent. I hope to always be reaching for something bigger and better for me, for Zach, and for our marriage. I ordered Real Marriage & the workbook off Amazon and cant wait to receive it and go through it together.

• I also ordered Believing God for myself, because sometimes I need help in that department.

• I'd bashfully admit that I led our staff devotion yesterday & everyone told me I did a really good job. I don't like being in front of people and I have trouble believing in myself. I am trying to believe that I am capable of bringing God's word to adults and not just High Schoolers, but I still struggle. I am so thankful that God gave me the the courage to stand up and do so though!

• And I'd tell you thanks for having coffee with me :) Let's do it again some time.

What would you tell me on our coffee date?

My Tattoos & What They Mean To Me

Super pumped about showing off my tattoos! 
I have mixed feelings about tattoos, since they are on your body foreverrrr. I think getting a random tattoo because its "cute" or you just want one is dumb. Sorry, not sorry. 
Both of my tattoos have meaning and were thought out. 
Here is my first tattoo. I got it in April of 2008. Sweet Jesus I can't believe its been almost 4 years!

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."Ephesians 5:1-2
My daily reminder that God freely gives me grace & love, and to walk in the confidence of knowing that the God of the universe loves ME.
My second tattoo is a combination of meaning. I got the word "grace" written vertically in Greek with my sister. Her middle name is Grace and she got the same thing on her back. Also, my favorite explanation of grace is: the undeserved love and salvation God gives. mmm.
Two weeks later I went and had two lilies and a dove added. Because it didn't hurt enough the first time? This beauty is on my ribs under my left shoulder. I love it.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

    “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:25-34

I am a worrier by nature. This passage has given me so much hope over the years that I decided I wanted to add it to the grace tattoo. I asked an artistic friend to try to put this passage into a picture, and I think she did an amazing job.

Taking close up pictures reminds me I need to get these touched up! I love the sepia look, but it fades really fast. I was actually told that the one on my foot would be a sepia/henna color. Does it look non-black to you? No, me either. Oh well :)

I love that my tattoos are meant especially for me and also that I dont have to show them if I dont want to. Maybe one day I'll get another one, but for now, these two are sufficient for me!

Makeover Monday: Skincare (Link-Up!)

Welcome to Makeover Monday! Molly and I are so excited to be hosting this & we both hope it really takes off! Each week we'll be sharing our favorite products and hope that you'll share yours too by linking up!! Next Monday we'll be back at it with HAIRCARE! [my personal fave!] But until then.. here's my two cents on taking care of your face.

Well, lets get started, shall we?

So a little background about my skin: in high school I had terrible acne. Works wonders for a girls' self-esteem! I wore a hood everyday to hide my face. I have been on Accutane twice; once when I was 15 and then again when I was 19.

My skin tends to get dry quickly, but I am definitely prone to breakouts. I was on the pill for 7 years to help with breakouts around 'that' time, and have been off of it for 6 months and so far not too shabby! Thankfully :)

So I guess I am what is classified as Combination Skin: dry yet prone to breakouts.

With that said, here is what works for me!

Exfoliating: Exfoliation is important to remove dead skin cells. Dead skin cells build up and cause breakouts, clogged pores, and wasted product since the dead cells block the live cells. Basically, if you don't exfoliate regularly, start now!

Skin Prep Scrub used to be my crutch. I still use it occasionally, when I am not in the shower. It doesn't irritate, is fragrance free, and makes my skin as smooth as a baby's bottom.

Then one Christmas, my mama gave me a NutraSonic!!!! {Basically a Clarisonic for a fraction of the price} It is sooooo amazeballs! I only use it in the shower, because when it is turned on it splatters water. I use the attachment for Sensitive Skin, and it also makes my skin uber soft. I highly recommend.

Cleanser: I only cleanse my face once a day. Otherwise I get too dry! I always cleanse at night so I remove my make-up and all the dirt & grime from the day. Yuck. Even if you don't wear make up and never get blemishes, it's still important to cleanse your skin to remove sweat and toxins from the air.

I keep Purpose on my sink counter, and Aveda Purifying Gel Cleanser in the shower. I will admit, I love Purpose more than Aveda. And I'm pretty snooty with my products, so this even surprised myself! It just makes my skin really soft even when I forget to exfoliate, and since I started using it a few months ago, my skin has been clearer than ever. If you take one thing away from my whole post today, it should be this facial cleanser!! The. Bomb. Not to mention the HUGE price difference! Don't get me wrong, I still adore Aveda & what they stand for, I just am not as in love with this cleanser as I used to be.

Also, the only tools I use to wash my face are my hands and warm water. I don't use a washcloth, sponge, etc because it really is unnecessary. Your skin doesn't need to be scrubbed everyday, so warm water and your grabbers will do just fine!

Moisturizing: Keeping the skin on your face moisturized is super important! Even if you have oily skin, keeping it moisturized will prevent your body from producing more oil. It also helps keep your skin's elasticity which equals less wrinkles as you get older.

This is my simplest department.

I use Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture & I probably will for the rest of my life. I'm hooked! After I wash my face at night, I use one pump of the Sensitive Skin formula, and when I wake up in the morning I use the SPF 15 formula. I always wear SPF even if I don't think I'll be outside much, because frankly, I don't want skin cancer. At all. 


I am in the market for a night time super moisture cream and I hope one of y'all can point me to a fab one! My skin is getting so dry living at 5,000 ft elevation!

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Welp, that's all for today my friends! I hope you learned something and can't wait to read what your faves are too! Also, dont forget to link up next Monday with your favorite haircare. :)

PS you only need to link up here or at Molly's blog. It will show up on both!

Makeover Monday - Linkup With Us!

Hey! Lookin for some new beauty products?! Well I like to see what everyone's favorites are and I like to share my own favorites too which is why I am excited to announce:

Molly of A Midwestern Touch and I are starting a new series every Monday called Makeover Monday! 

Each Monday we will host a link-up & every week will be a different category!  

This coming Monday, January 16th, will be skincare. 

So get your post ready and tell us all about your favorite skin products, then come to either my blog or Molly's, link-up, then check out everyone elses! Sounds like fun, huh?!

See ya back here on Monday :) We will announce the following week's category at each link up!

Worth the Four Minutes

"There's a problem if people only know you're a Christian by your Facebook"

i was tagged!

I was tagged by Ashley of Christian Wife Life [who, by the way, I love] in a fun little blog game!

Tag! You're it!

The Rules

1. You must post the rules.

2. Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.

4. Tag eleven people and link them on your post

5. Let them know you've tagged them!

Facts About Me!

{1} We've been married six months and I still don't recognize my name as 'Katie Harris'.

{2} For the first time in 10 years I am trying to stop coloring my hair. I have naturally auburn/ strawberry blonde hair and I want to see it! I've gone almost four months without color!

{3} I've led Young Life for the last 2 years and although the free time is nice, I really miss it. Here is a picture with my girls that just graduated [except baby Bekkah :) ]. I honestly love each girl like they're my kid. They mean the world to me & I wish I was better at expressing that.

{4} I think I can fix everyone's problems. I don't know how to just listen, although I am working on it. I always want to fix.

{5} I absolutely love doing wedding hair and/or make up.

{6} Or just painting friends' nails.

{7} Sometimes I struggle with being honest. I am a people pleaser so I always want to tell people what they want to hear. Which leads me to...

{8} I just finished reading The Birth Order Book and it has honestly given me SO much clarity as to why I am the way I am. It has helped me to accept myself for my quirks slash bossiness and also given me a foundation to stand on to make improvements.

{9}  I was anti Twitter for a long time. Now that I finally got one (thanks blog friends) I love it so much more than Facebook!

{10} I have an addictive personality. When I find something I like whether its food, a beauty product, blogging, a certain brand, etc, I get obsessed with it! I think this has pros & cons because I am loyal to things I believe in, but also sometimes need to take a chill pill.

{11} I [we] already have first & middle names picked out for a boy and a girl babe.

Questions from Ashley

1. Where is your favorite place to shop?

Overall, Target.. but for clothes I am a Nordy's girl :)

2. What food could you eat every day?

Broccoli. No joke!

3. What is your favorite animated movie?

Up! Makes me cry but such a good movie!

4. What was your best subject in school?

English & Math

5. What shows are you watching these days?

Well, since we don't have cable I am discovering past seasons on Netflix. Zach and I watch Parenthood together, and when he goes to bed I watch hours of How I Met Your Mother. Love it!

6. What is your favorite blog post you've ever written?

It's a tie! Planting Roots was the first real post I ever wrote and it is very honest, no pretense, no hidden motive. But This Announcement was a huge deal and sooo exciting to write about!

7. What is something you collect?

Fun plastic plates! It started in high school when I saw a cute plate from Target with hearts all over. Now I have close to twenty & none of them match! I don't have any photos of my collection but here's an example of one I would buy:

8.What are your favorite colors to wear?

Jewel tones. I'm really fair with a rosy undertone, so jewel/autumn colors look best on me! My favorites are teal, aubergine, and mustard yellow.

9. What's your favorite physical feature on your guy?

 The way his eyes smile :) So cheesy, I know!

10. Would you consider yourself a "girly" girl?

Absolutely. But I'm also not afraid to get a little dirt under my nails.

11. What book should I get next on my Kindle?

Ahh this is a hard one! My fave authors are Nicholas Sparks, John Grisham, and Janet Evanovich -- so one of theirs!! Unless you haven't read The Help. Defintely get The Help if you haven't read it.

 

Tag!

1. Elise -- Silver-Lined Clouds

2. Molly -- A Midwestern Touch

3. Lauren -- Lauren Darlings

4. Julie -- The Smitten Mintons

5. Alaina -- Recycled Interiors

6. Erin -- Captivated by Grace

7. Lauren -- OK Lauren

8. Ali - Not Hip Enough to Blog

9. Amanda -- Little Mrs. Cant Be Wrong

10. Allyce -- Riemenschneider Ramblings

11. Ruthie -- Chronicles of Ruthie Hart

My Questions to You

{1.} If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?

{2.} Why did you start your blog?

{3.} Whose your favorite Disney Character?

{4.} What's your biggest pet peeve?

{5.} How many pets do you have?

{6.} What is your favorite feature about yourself?

{7.} Favorite color?

{8.} Would you rather go to the zoo or the aquarium?

{9.} Favorite ice cream flavor?

{10.} Your roommate/spouse calls because your house is burning down. They have time to grab 2 things for you. What are they?

{11.} Favorite way to waste time?

 Don't feel like you have to participate if you don't want to!

Thanks for tagging me, Ashley! This was fun :)

Ahh, I love new blog friends.

Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

 

I don't bake very often, because usually baked goods upset my tummy {more on my tummy later. another post for another day}. Last year, my health obsessed roommate used to make these babies all the time and I loved them because they dont hurt my stomach AND they're good for ya! She found the recipe in Oxygen mag & I adapted a few things. Thanks Mariesa :)

Ingredients
1 large egg
1 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1 1/2 cup whey protein powder [vanilla, chocolate, or unflavored. I use Chocolate]
1/4 cup pure cane sugar [or 1/4 cup sugar substitute]
1/2 cup almond meal
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly beat egg. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Form little balls with your hands and place on lightly greased baking sheet. Don't use stonewear, they STICK!! Bake for 12 minutes. Balls will puff up lightly brown. Cool for a few minutes before eating. Only 100 cals each if you roll into 16 cookies! :)

mine crumbled because I used the Pampered Chef bar pan. Use a metal one :)

YUM-O! Enjoy my friends!

Keeping Your Boots Straight

While I was scurrying around our house yesterday getting it ready to stay clean, I noticed one thing I do that actually keeps my stuff de-cluttered. Yup I pretty much only have one trick. But it's been so useful that I had to share!

I love boots. I don't love how boots always fold over in the closet. Here's where my trick comes in.

Insert rolled up magazine/catalog into your boots, and voila!

They stand up all by themselves! Look ma, no hands!

Yup, definitely one of those "why didn't I think of that?" tricks. Works like a charm.

Happy organizing!

PS. I have kept up with most of my goals from the last post! So far I've made our bed every morning, cleaned off the bathroom counter each time I get ready, and not dropped everything at the door. I'm super proud of myself!

It's a New Year & Time for a Tidier Home!

I personally love the New Year holiday.. au contraire to some other peeps. I love that although nothing really changes, it gives you a chance to think about things you'd like to improve, accomplish, or complete. So what if lots of people don't keep their resolution all year, at least they thought of one! I think its important to evaluate your life every so often and New Years is the perfect time for it :)

The New Year is also a great time to reflect on what you've been up to lately (my 2011 post is coming soon!) and I think that is also very healthy. It's easy to forget the little things; when I was writing down notes for a post about 2011 I could barely remember what I did last spring. Although, I think that is partially due to a wedding-planning induced anxiety coma. Yup, that did make sense.

Anyways, thats why I love new years. Its a simple holiday but I just love the freshness of it!

So this year, I really wanted to put some thought into my resolution. I don't do a resolution every year, only when I feel like I have the time and/or energy to keep it up. This year it was actually prodded by a lovely lady asking me to tell my resolution for a blurb about me on her blog!

So I got to thinking.. what can I resolve to do that will be meaningful, impactful [atleast in my household], and keep-able? Sure I could spare a few pounds around the love handle area ish, I certainly could wake up earlier, cook more meals for my husband.... or keep my house cleaner! Yup that sounds totally doable doesn't it?!

A tidy home is a happy home.

Yeah, I just made that up. But I totally believe it!

{source}

So if you know me in real life, you know this is kind of a big deal and semi-unnatural for me. All my life my dad has called me a 'walking debris trail' because you can usually tell exactly where I've been in the house and which route I took too, based upon my stuffs I leave behind. 


BUT even thought I tend to be a cluttery person, I actually hate clutter. [fun fact: clutter is as a matter of fact, my favorite word to say. say it with me.. clutter. Wasn't that nice?] I really hate clutter and how it makes me feel like my life is in shambles. I like things to be neat and tidy but the problem is that I have OCD tendencies when I try to organize, and if everything doesn't have an exactly perfect spot, I just give up all together.


Which brings us here: a problem big enough to make a new year's resolution about :)


First I must organize and find a home for everything that's out. Lots of project ideas, clean folded clothes, mail, and useful crap. You know, stuff thats mine but needs to be put away! Once I have successfully gotten the place picked up I'll need to keep it that way! I have been doing this slowly so I don't get overwhelmed.

Source: elblogdedmc.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Here's how I plan to keep my resolution:

• Make our bed each morning before starting my routine.
• Wipe bathroom counter & mirror after getting ready in the morning.
• Never move from one room to another empty handed, to eliminate the debris trail build-up.
• Put away clean laundry immediately after picking it up from the dryer.
• Keep crafts/projects put away until I am ready to actually work on them.
• For things that must stay out (for instance I made bridal shower invites this weekend and didnt want to put them away each night in the middle of working) keep in organized piles, not a heap of paper.
• [this is a big one] Don't drop everything at the door and plop on the couch when returning home! Put things I am carrying away before parking my booty on the couch for the night.
• Finally, take 10-15 minutes each night to put away anything that is left after the rest of my steps!

Alright y'all, I have faith in myself that I. Can. Do. This. Please have faith in me too!! I would really love for my house to always be neat and that would make cleaning much easier too! Not to mention, Zach likes to straighten and organize things, so if I get them put away I know they will stay that way!


I'll keep y'all posted on how it goes! Maybe even show pictures of our little home!

Happy New Year! What is your new year's resolution this year?? Or do you hate them?

Amazing Grace

Had to pop in for a quick post tonight.

Let me set the scene to about two hours ago:

Hubs & I are sitting on the couch, watching Parenthood [addicted. both of us.] and we hear something faint in the background. It sounds like.. singing? Zach says, "hey, pause this" and we open our window. Sure enough, the 100 college students that are staying at camp right now are sitting around the campfire that is about a football field away from our house and below us [we're on a steep mountain] and we hear them singing. Hymn after hymn after hymn. Everything else is completely silent. 

Today sucked. I'll be honest I pouted all day, didn't talk to many people, and avoided that dang question, "is everything ok?"that more than five people asked. I am ok. I'm fine, but I miss my family, my back/neck hurt really bad, and frankly I just didn't feel like working. So I hermit-ed a little. And emailed Hollie about my struggling and relying on God, while I didn't rely on God all day. Oops.

Yes my back hurts, and I'm tired, and I want to go to Seattle and see my peeps but you know what? I live on a mountain that overlooks the ocean. I get to wake up and see deer in my front yard. I get to see the sun set over the ocean every night. I am married to my best friend & he loves me the same even on my bad days.


And that singing, those hymns, just made me realize. That is what really matters. That God cares about us, that He loves me, He loves you, and He deserves our praise.

Sitting on my couch, looking into the black outside the window and hearing 100 voices singing to our God, was the most peace I've felt in months.

I love when I get those reminders from God to simplify, focus on the most simple of all things. Silence, stars in a black sky, and hymns of praise. Amen.

via
Taken from the mountain I live on.

Ling Ling you forgot your Bling Bling!

I am personally super excited about this link up! Thanks C Mae for hosting it. I started the bloggity blog after our wedding & haven't posted anything related to the biggest event my little life has seen! So here's the first one of many :)



Here is my ring in all it's glory:

My favorite thing about my ring is that the diamond was given to Zach by his grandmother. Not only that, but she gave it to him after meeting me. He didn't know he was getting it & I think it makes it that much more special that she thought I was worthy of her beautiful diamond!

We designed my wedding band together and I love that it looks like a woven braid of bling. It's my favorite thing ever.

Here's the picture of Zach popping the question on May 16, 2010! This is the first time I've ever put this picture on the internet!

Look of true surprise!