Sickness and the things that come from it....

Sometimes I find it hard to find the good in seemingly bad things. But I today I discovered that sometimes being sick can actually be a good thing. I got to relax, drink tea, watch old movies, and pin approx. 5 million beauty tips on Pinterest. Okay, not quite. But close.

Oh how I love Ma and Pa. If you have never seen one of their movies, you absolutely must. 

They're classic. 

This is probably one of my favorite movies of all time. 

I've always identified with Anne...maybe cause of how stubborn she is.... 

Found this life changing idea for a message on a drink. "Write down on a plastic cover and cut the letters out.  Cover cup and sprinkle cinnamon or cocoa on top of the stencil." 

$2.00 mascara?? I think I may have just died and gone to heaven. Read the review here.

These instructions on how to clean your makeup brushes are amazing. I tried it out on my brushes this afternoon, and they are as clean as a whistle! I wish I would have taken a picture of my foundation sponge before and after I cleaned it....cause there was a HUGE difference. 

This is awesome. 

Found a pattern for this skirt that I am itching to try. (Check it out here.)

I kept seeing these pictures with one "statement" nail. So I decided to try it. 

Okay, so mine doesn't look nearly as good, but who cares!

So while this picture is a little over the top, it kinda represents what I am feeling like. And now I don't have any excuses to not do homework. (another reason why being sick can be good....) So adios, amigos. 

Five Minute Friday: Again

I was fighting back tears. Tears of sadness. Tears of pride. Tears for the lonely days that I knew would come. But I didn't let them out. I had to be strong for him. Because I knew that the next six weeks would be the hardest weeks he would ever go through. But in the days to follow, I let the tears out. It wasn't enough that he was clear across the country from me, I also didn't get to talk to him more than a handful of times. It was like a part of me was missing. This man who has been there for me for my whole life. This man who I look up to like no one else. This man who is my brother. This man who is selflessly willing to fight for our freedom. That day that he left was horrible. And so were a lot of the days that followed. And I know it's coming again. And in a few very short years, he will leave again, not for the other side of the country, but for the other side of the world. And I will fight back tears and keep my chin up again.

For Lisa-Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday

5 reasons why I workout

It happens often as I am getting ready for another workout. That nagging voice saying, why do you workout?

It sometimes even happens as I am walking away from a workout. Especially if it has been a bad one (aka, I didn't do enough/didn't push myself hard enough/wasn't feeling good/etc). Why do you workout? 

Why do you workout? It's painful. You get sweaty and stinky. Results take a long time in coming. It's hard. It takes to much time. Blah, blah, blah. 

I have several reasons why I workout. And when I start hearing that nagging voice, I have to remember them.

Number one is that I like feeling strong. If you know me, or anything about me, you will know that I admire strength. Physical and mental. I wrote a post about strong women a little while ago. Any weakness, in me or anybody else, makes me want to puke.


Number two is that I know it is good for me. Just like all families, mine is not without its health problems. Thankfully, I still have both sets of grandparents (and all my uncles, aunts, and cousins). All four of my grandparents have been a huge influence on my life, and I know that I would not be the person that I am today if I didn't have them. (I am picking on them because a lot of times grandparents are the first to die). So the moral if that little story is that I want to be there for my grand kids someday. And I don't want them to remember me as a shriveled up old lady with the white hair who sat in a chair in a smelly room in a nursing home. So, I workout to keep my heart (and everything else) healthy.


Number three is that I like how working out makes me feel. When I workout, I sleep better, and so therefore, I do better. Aka, I am not as grouchy. And I also really like that sore feeling that you get the day after a good workout. Call me weird, but it's true.

Number four is that I am competitive. Very competitive. If my best friend can do 15 push-ups, I have to do 16. It's just how I work.

Number five is that working out is a great way to let off steam. It's true. Next time you are all worked up about something, try doing 50 jumping jacks, 25 squats, 25 bicycle crunches, and 15 push-ups. I guarantee it will help.

So that is my list of the reasons why I workout. I don't know what yours are, but I would encourage you to think about it.

7 things to (hopefully) make you smile

Happy Monday everyone! Wait. Isn't that an oxymoron? Happy and Monday in the same sentence? Hmmm. Anyway. Moving on. Because it is Monday, which signifies another week of school and/or work, I thought I would provide you with a little bit of humor. But as I was looking for funny material, I kept seeing these adorable picture of animals. So, I decided to do more of a "things-to-make-you-smile-and-maybe-go-awww" than a "things-to-make-you-laugh". So without further ado, I give you.....7 things to (hopefully) make you smile

Hopefully now you will have a better week because of what you have just seen. Adios! 

My beautiful cousin

So today I convinced my absolutely gorgeous cousin to let me take some pictures of her.

The combination of the fog and my cousin made for some great pictures.

She is so stinkin cute!!

She is even more beautiful in person than in pictures, if you can believe it.

And that, my friends, is the end of our photo shoot. Have a nice day! :)

take a little walk

Walk in the country with me

Watch the sun sinkin' down in the trees

It's gonna do us some good

To get down in the woods

Take a little walk in the country with me

Blast From The Past

So I am looking through all our old pictures to try and come up with a good picture for something in my speech class. And I run across these pictures of this adorable guy and just couldn't resist posting them.

Drum roll please....

Isn't he darling?? Agh I just can't handle it. 

 I just realized that he is wearing the same hat in all three pictures. He loved that hat.

Ladies, meet Handsome and Handsomer. 

Oh, and if you think he was good looking then, just look at him now! (actually, this picture was taken about a year ago, but trust me on this. He has only gotten more good looking)

Have a nice day folks! :)  

laughter is the best medicine

Since the above is true, I figured I would provide a few laughs for ya. Enjoy. (Or don't. Either way.)

and last but not least....

my shoes and what they say about me

I may or may not be slightly obsessed with shoes. Okay, maybe obsessed is to strong of a word, but I do love shoes. Pretty much, if I am around people, I am noticing their shoes. To me, a persons shoes tell me a lot about them. So today, I am giving you a look into my life by way of my shoes. 

This is my favorite pair of shoes. They are comfortable, easy to get in and out of, and go with pretty well anything. (okay, maybe not that last part...) As you can see, I have worn them a lot. Like, a LOT.

Just to give you an idea of how much, here's a picture of a brand new pair of Romeos. 

Next up: Stilettos. 

I love my stilettos. Not only because they are awesome, but because I bought them on my 18th birthday with one of my best friends. 

Peep toes. They make life complete. (just kidding)

 Can you love a quote more than I love this one?? Don't think so.

My running/workout shoes. Pretty much the only time I wear these shoes, but I love them nonetheless. 

New Balance, and made in the USA.

I have just recently fallen in love with these heels again. They are cute, pretty comfy (unless you wear them for a extended length of time) and stylish. 

 Again with the peep toes! Someday I will have heels that don't have peep toes. Maybe. 

Rubber boots. Life on a farm is not complete without these. (If you don't believe me, try living on a farm during the rainy season.) And the best part? They are made in the USA!!

Last but definitely not least: My Danners. 

My brother convinced my to buy these about two years ago, and I'm really glad he did. I don't wear them as often as I would like to, but I do love them. I'm pretty sure they are the most comfortable shoe I will ever wear. 

 And once again, they are made in the USA! 

So what do my shoes say about me? I think they say that I am a country girl who enjoys stylish things. But that's just me, and I may be a little prejudice because I know myself. So I will let you decide. 

What do you think my shoes say about me?