It's beginning to look a lot like...SPRING!

If you know me well, you know that I LOVE to decorate my house for each holiday. I used to always tease my mom about having to buy new decorations for each holiday, but now...I'm her! I just LOVE to find new things, cute things, cheap things, and different things to decorate my house with and since Spring is here, you guessed it...I bought some more decorations and I must say...I LOVE them! My dining room has been looking pretty sad and lonely lately, so I decided to do another Pinterest project. I found some CUTE patterned place mats at Target AND some coordinating napkins. So I cut the place mats up (they were almost too cute to cut up), framed them and I know have the wall art that you see below.

While I was at it, I figured I'd go ahead and buy some cheap, cute, springy dishes to go on my table along with my cute napkins...

I love the brightness and cheerful colors in this room. It really brightens up the whole apartment! And last but not least, I came across this little banner that I just HAD to have! (Ok, well I didn't HAVE to HAVE it...but I really wanted it, and it was only 5 bucks) so...

Not your typical Easter bunny, eggs, and flowers that you might imagine when decorating for Spring but I really love it...all of it! And besides, Hobby Lobby (which is where I usually get all of my holiday decorations) was kind of bare this year when it came to cute things to hang on your doors, mantles, etc. So whatcha' think?!

5 Favorites of the Week

I've been meaning to post this for a few days now but have been crazy busy and have been without a computer these past few days. I decided I'd post my 5 favorite things from last week. Some are serious, some are silly, but all are my favorites!
1. These ducks greet me every morning when I leave for work and every day when I come home and although I don't always take time to sit and enjoy them, I love watching them! Look at the cute little duckies!

2. Fake Bake! I went and got my hair cut this weekend and one of the hairdressers looked so nice and tan and I've been wanting to do something about my pasty white skin but didn't want to opt for the tanning bed...so I gave this a try and I'm in LOVE!! It worked beautifully, didn't get splochy, and makes me feel like I won't scare everyone off with my pasty self anymore! I was contemplating on whether or not to share my little "secret" but figured I'd share! It's only $14 which is even better (comparable to a tanning membership or wasting money on self tanners that don't work).

3. My new earrings that I'm in LOVE with! I got them from Francesca's (a cute little boutique out at Pier Park) and I'm in LOVE!

4. Attending a wedding...with all the weddings I've been in and attended I sometimes don't always look forward to them, but I was really looking forward to attending this one! It was a beautiful day, a beautiful couple, a wonderful time, and we danced the night away...plus I got to hang out with some of my best girl friends! What's not to love?!

And finally, number 5! I'm trying out two new recipes (which that in itself is a miracle)...hopefully I won't burn either of these! I've tried the buffalo chicken wrap and loved it and am currently cooking the roast (which I've set my alarm to wake up at 2 am just to turn off the crock-pot!...yes I know..I'm crazy!) I'll let you know how it turns out!

I found that having the mindset this week of trying to find some of my favorite things, more and more blessings were revealed to me! Funny how your mindset can change so drastically! What's some of your favorites?!

Pinterest Projects

So, I'm writing this post tonight but won't be posting it until tomorrow (don't want to have 2 posts in 1 day, you know)?! Anyways, as most women I'm in LOVE with Pinterest, only my problem is I want to do all the projects I pin to my boards. So...off I set. I have included a picture of the "pin" I originally put on my board and have posted my version of the pin. My photo is a little blurry and although the font is as perfect as the original pin, I love it! Sometimes imperfections are what bring out the true beauty in something, right?! So here they are. I was also working on another pinterest project last night but won't be able to post it for a few days. It's a present I made for someone and I don't want to ruin it before they see it!

What do you think?!? Stay tuned for my next pinterest project upload!

I wish every day could be a Fusion day!

I've been meaning to blog about this for over a week now, but just kept forgetting. As you may or may not know, my church (Lynn Haven UMC) bought Renegade (a sports complex that closed a few years ago) and has now been purchased by my church and turned into Fusion. Everything is pretty much the same as it was with the previous owners, the only main difference is that it is now a branch of our church and the skate park has been gutted and now made into a place of worship. It is still in the construction phase but there is a stage, a screen, an awesome band, and an even better pastor there that I've thoroughly enjoyed since it opened for worship services two weeks ago. 

After leaving last week I felt rejuvenated, energized, and challenged. Just being honest, it's the best I've felt after church in a long time and I realize it's now about the place, the music, or the "new things" but something about it and starting a fresh, new campus has gotten me out of this spiritual rut that I've been in for quite some time. I find myself entering into a state of worship that I haven't been in in quite some time, challenged by the messages to go out and be the hands and feet of Christ...it's a place I find myself counting down the days until I get to go back, a place I find myself wanting to invite others to experience what I've experienced, and a place that I can't wait to see who and how others are brought into to further their walks with Christ. 

Slowly Crossing Them Off!

So, I know it's been a week since my last post but considering I used to go a few weeks in between posts, I figure I'm doing pretty well....so my #1 from last post is slowly getting crossed off.

#3-Visit a place I've never been to...and no, I did not make a whirlwind of a trip in the past week...but must admit I've already checked out airfare for flying to see a dear friend of mine out in Texas and just looking at the airfare gets me excited. I've always wanted to go to Texas but never knew anyone out there to go and visit and since Amy and her hubby and sweet baby have moved out there, I've been dying to go! (Amy, if you're reading this, you had no idea I was so serious, huh?!) :) So I'm thinking I will be making a trip out there in April or May!

#7-Not only send people birthday cards but make them. Check out the one I made below. It's super simple but I was just excited that I made one, remembered to send it out, and that it got to my sweet friend, Ginny on time!

#8-Take more time for myself. Not once, but twice this week I've driven down to a what's usually a pretty vacant park and just sat there...thinking, praying, and just resting (which also goes along with my #18).

and FINALLY,
#21-don't wear as many t-shirts and flip flops. I must say I've been doing better and giving myself more time in the mornings to actually put thought into how I'm going to dress that day and have felt "cute" pretty much every day this week (this is unusual...normally I'm asking my coworkers for reassurance or regretting my outfit/hairstyle choice for the day) but I've gotten ADDICTED to this girl's blog, called: thesmallthingsblog.com! She is SO cute and has such cute hairstyle ideas and such that she's inspired me to put more time and effort into myself so that in the end, I feel better about myself! I was bummed to see that I hadn't checked more off of my list, but then realized it HAS only been a week since that post, so 4/25 isn't bad! That is all for today. But I will be blogging more...you can count on it!!

My list of 25's....

So, like always it's been quite a while since I last blogged. However, I'm hoping to change that (and will explain more later) but for now, on with the blog! I've recently really gotten into reading other people's blogs...in particular stranger's blogs that I've found through Pinterest or a mutual friend and I must say, I love it! While recently reading a friend's blog, I was inspired after reading her blog to make my own list of 25 things I want to do during my 25th year. So here goes and they're in no particular order.
1. Blog more-I know that sounds crazy...especially since I average a post every few weeks, but I really do love blogging and even though I don't actually blog much, I am constantly thinking about blog posts.
2. Reading more-which shouldn't be hard to do seeing as how I don't read that much and I've already picked out my next book, "Same kind of different as me." It came highly recommended so hopefully by my next post I'll have an update on the book.
3. Visit a place I've never been to.
4. Run another 5K. I ran one a few years ago and loved it but then got out of my running routine and have regretted it ever since.
5. Find my "fit" in ministry...after high school I continued to help out with my church's youth group but have slowly walked away from that and although I have a wonderful small group, I still want to be more involved.
6. Do something out of my comfort zone.-this is really hard for me to even type. I'm one that likes my little safe zone and am not the most spontaneous person...I play it safe but who's to say what fun could come from doing something out of my comfort zone.
7. Not only send people birthday cards, but make them. This is an ambitious statement for me, seeing as how I always forget to mail birthday cards in time, let alone feel creative enough to make them.
8. Take more time for myself. I'm constantly on the run and trying to be everything to everyone.
9. Say "no" more often. I've always been a "yes" person and sometimes end up regretting that I didn't stand up for myself.
10. Go to a piano bar. Don't ask why...I just do!
11. Perfect 10 new recipes.
12. Lose weight (about 10-15 pounds).
13. Eat healthier...I'd be ashamed to tell you how horribly I eat and I just want to be and feel healthier.
14. Ride my bike more. I was so excited to get it at Christmas but have only gotten on it once in the past 3 months.
15. Have Pinterest Project dates with my girls! I love Pinterest and love my girl friends!
16. Go to a local play...I sometimes forget about the local talent and opportunities that are here in my town.
17. Go to backstage pass (it's something held at the Marina Civic Center during the summer) where you can go and hear local bands play.
18. Pray more than I worry. I sometimes catch myself thinking about things too much instead of praying about those things.
19. Take the GRE.
20. Be a better friend and have more girl's nights!
21. Don't wear as many t-shirts and flip flops. If I had my way, I'd be in a t-shirt and flip flops every day, but I realize I feel better about myself and love it when I actually take the time to dress cute!
22. Serve at the Rescue Mission. This is something I've always wanted to do but never done!
23. Budget my money-i.e. save more money, spend less on my "wants," and be smarter about spending my money.
24. Clip coupons.-Although I'm a pretty cheap person, and I mean cheap (literally, I hate even spending $15 for a shirt), I would like to not only clip the coupons, but use them (instead of just cutting them and then losing them)! :)
25. Enjoy each day and find the joy and special things in each day instead of always looking forward to certain events or days...taking time to rest in HIM and enjoy even the little things. While walking through Target recently I saw a quote that I just loved, "Take time to enjoy the small things because one day you'll realize they're the big things!"