Moments

I know this has made it's way around a bit, but I just can't get enough of it. Such a precious, sweet little moment.
{Scott Avett & Eleanor Avett}


Things like this {and this precious little thing} really make me look forward to a little one.
xoxo

Day 10

Last night as I was catching up on some blog reading {hello, no internet for two weeks}, I stumbled across this. What a sweet reminder how much in life we have to be thankful for. And this coming on the heels of a very humbling moment I had last week...

Since we moved into our new home, I have been stressed out and overwhelmed by the fact that all of our stuff doesn't fit into this house. It's actually smaller than our two bedroom apartment, and from furniture to bikes to books and office files, we simply don't have enough storage space. I was irritable and grumpy because we have too much, sighing as I unloaded boxes, and I was taking out my irritation on my sweet husband. It was like a slap in the face when the Lord opened my eyes to how selfish and ungrateful I was being. In essence, I was complaining about how blessed we are. Talk about a humbling experience.


So I have decided to choose every day to be thankful. To wake up remembering that my hope is not in this world or in its material possessions, but instead, my hope is in the one and only, all-powerful creator of this universe and his intense love for me.

Today I am thankful for:
God's incredible grace that renews every morning.
Our new {rental} home where husband and I can be together every day and not just on weekends, where we can sleep next to each other every night, and where our camping equipment is "stored" openly in the living room.
Sweet times with our families ~ you truly never know how valuable that time is until it's gone.
Rose flavored hot tea for these cold fall mornings {and afternoons... and evenings...}
The beautiful colors of fall & being able to view them directly outside my kitchen windows.
The tiny space heater that warms my feet while I study.


Here's to being thankful.
Won't you join me on this journey? What are you thankful for today?

xoxo

images can be found here
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Bejeweled

While I am always drawn to the luxurious warmth of winter whites and woodsy scents this time of year, there is something to be said for the jewel tones of the season as well. Vibrant magenta, deep royal blue, and chartreuse green add an unexpected twist to any outfit, and with pairings such as corduroy and silk, are also seasonally appropriate. Lately I've been drawing inspiration from the lovely changing leaves and vibrant southern scenery {evidence here}, and here are a few of my favorite colorful pieces.

Clockwise from the top left:
1. Green cords - The Loft
2. Bejeweled necklace - Kate Spade
3. Lace detail cami - Topshop
4. Suede pumps - J. Crew
5. Liquid silk skirt - J. Crew
6. Lime green handbag - LuLu's
7. Red ankle trousers - Topshop
8. Plaid scarf - Madewell
9. Chocolate clutch - Kate Spade
10. Cashmere sweater - J. Crew

As the Kate Spade ad says,
Live Colorfully.

xoxo

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Life in Motion: Moving

The past week and a half has been a complete whirlwind as husband and I packed up our little life and moved out to the country. While we will miss being close to Atlanta, we can at least be together all week instead of only on weekends. {Woot!} And we're only about 30 minutes from one of our favorite cities, Athens. {Fun facts: our first real date was in Athens, where we saw what would become my favorite band. Also, we were married in a lovely historic home in Athens.} So, I apologize for my unexpected hiatus! {Apparently, it takes two to three weeks to set up new internet service with AT&T. Who knew?} I've been busy with boxes and totes, arranging, discarding, painting, and trying to get in a little down time in between. While I am getting back on schedule, here's a peek at the last two weeks of my life, according to my iPhone.

Packing, painting, and unpacking; a little mountain biking adventure to get out some stressful energy;
I've been living in these green cords; we grilled some delicious kabobs; we took a trip to our favorite burrito place in Athens; the bare walls are starting to look a bit better....

More {fun things} to come.
xoxo


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Colonel Mustard

Clue was always my favorite game when I was younger. It was entertaining, like any other game, but it always had a story line. Miss Scarlet, in the Hallway, with the Candlestick. And while my friends always wanted to be Miss Scarlet, I chose Colonel Mustard. He was a bit more avante-gard in his color choice, if you ask me; a color choice that I openly applaud.

Gifted Ann Taylor blouse, The Loft cords, H&M scarf, vintage clutch, F21, Banana Republic & vintage jewelry, Boutique wedges, Essie Brooch the Subject polish

Happy Halloween weekend!
xoxo

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In Flight

When I don't feel like getting dressed or just have no idea what to wear, I usually turn to a silk dress. The flowy skirt and soft fabric make me feel extra girly, and I can easily adapt for whatever the weather necessitates. A cardigan, blazer, tights, scarf. Or none of the above and just a great necklace. And while my closet probably does not need another silk dress, I coupldn't pass up a great print like this one. The brown tones will pair perfectly with my new Hunter boots {thanks husband!}, and the pop of magenta balances the brown pallet.

H&M blazer, Target dress, vintage belt & pearls, Banana Republic ring gifted clutch, Steve Madden platforms, Revlon Vixen polish

xoxo

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Whilrwind

The past four weeks have moved by so quickly that at times I am not sure that they even occurred. And although this week and weekend prove to be just as hectic, I have made a pact with myself to slow down a bit and enjoy my favorite time of year. I plan to decorate our porch with sparkly spider lights for the trick-or-treaters, bake something tasty {perhaps a gluten-free, dairy-free pumpkin pie!}, and spend some quality time with my family.

The weather cooled off, making it ideal time for a soy chai latte; husband and I ran our favorite trail race of the year; I spent some time in Pittsburgh for a pharmacy conference; the rainy weather dissipated to reveal the most perfect rainbow; husband and I both had birthdays {the Hunters were his gift to me}; I found inspiration on a brief trip to Anthropologie; we went to a lovely wedding in the mountains and had a small adventure; we picked up a pumpkin from the local patch; I rearranged our living room.

Oh, and we decided to move. (More about that later.)


Happy October.
xoxo

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Southern Traditions: {Paleo} Fried Okra

Southern cuisine is often synonymous with unhealthy. And while buttermilk fried chicken and homemade peach cobbler aren't exactly the healthiest of options, there's a lot more to Georgia cooking than butter and flour. When I was little, my favorite Sunday dinner consisted solely of vegetables. Lima beans, zucchini and squash with onions, baked sweet potatoes, and, the pièce de résistance, friend okra. Since I've given up flour, I decided to recreate one of my favorite indulgences with a paleo-friendly version. And while the effect wasn't quite the same, it was really quite tasty.

After washing and slicing the okra, I breaded the pieces in almond flour mixed with garlic, salt and pepper. Then fry them in batches in hot grapeseed oil or coconut oil. It's that easy!

xoxo

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Sunshine

Tucker for Target dress, vintage belt & clutch, F21 bracelets & earrings, Steve Madden Booties

xoxo

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Embracing Messy Hair

The weather this weekend was perfect for the beginning of October. Highs in the 70s and a cool breeze to accompany the lovely evenings. As this marks the last week of my rotations before a five week break as well as the beginning of my favorite month, things are looking up. Birthdays {mine and husband's}, apple picking, pumpkin carving, and delicious fall recipes are all in my {somewhat} immediate future. So here's to embracing cool weather, natural waves, and playing with transitional pieces.

American Apparel tank, F21 skirt, bracelet, & necklace, Vintage belt & clutch, Dolce Vita for Target wedges

xoxo

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Restless

{Because sometimes a song perfectly embodies the ache of the human heart}

I am the sea on a moonless night, calling, falling, slipping tides
I am the leaky, dripping pipes, the endless aching drops of light
I am the raindrop falling down,
Always longing for the deeper ground
I am the broken, breaking seas, even my blood finds ways to bleed

Even the rivers ways to run , even the rain to reach the sun
Even my thirsty streams, even in my dreams

I am restless, I am restless
I am restless, looking for you
I am restless, I run like the ocean to find your shore
I’m looking for you

I am the one that you left behind,  I am the thorn stuck in your side
I am the bored and clouded eyes looking for the well that won’t run dry

Running hard for the other side , the world that I’ve always been denied
Running hard for the infinite with the tears of the saints and hypocrites 

Oh blood of black and white and gray
Death and life and night and day
One by one by one, we let our rivers run

I am restless, I am restless
I am restless, looking for you
I am restless, I run like the ocean to find your shore
I’m looking for you
........
I’ll be waiting, anticipating
All that I aim for, what I was made for
With every heartbeat all of my blood bleeds
Running inside me, looking for you
Looking for you

~ Restless, Switchfoot

 {image}

Neither Hair nor There

Looking back at some of the recent outfit posts, I've realized that I don't really love my hair. Unfortunately, this isn't a new concept for me. There are days {and outfits} when my natural curls seem perfect, but most days I prefer my flat iron, and I regularly dream of having perfect messy waves. Then, on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, part of me wants to just chop all my hair off a la Emma Watson. So while I'm wrestling with the decision {and my often unruly mane}, here are some of my current hair inspirations.

{see them all here}

xoxo

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Melancholy

Things have been tough in our house lately, and the past few days have been filled with heavy hearts and the closeness of family. In all honesty, I spent the majority of the weekend in an over-sized tee, jeans, and a cardigan, but when dressier attire became a necessity, this ensemble certainly matched my melancholy demeanor.

F21 top & skirt, vintage belt & earring, Dolce Vita for Target wedges

xoxo

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Breakfast for Dinner: Paleo Granola Pancackes

Sometimes you just need a meal that takes you back to childhood. For me, that meal is breakfast for dinner. I remember going to my grandmother's house as a child and having pancackes, bacon, and "coffee" {mine was a watered down version of milk with the tiniest bit of decaf coffee added}. A few nights ago, after a terribly exhausting day, breakfast for dinner was exactly what we needed, and since wheat and grain products are no longer part of our diet, I did a bit of improvising. {I adapted the recipe from this book and added 1/2 cup each of gluten-free oats, cranberries, and walnuts.} The result was incredibly satisfying. Full of flavor and hearty enough for an evening meal, these pancakes are definitely here to stay.

xoxo

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Red Head Red Hot

While I generally avoid the combination of red and black {outside of game day that is}, I recently made an exception with this outfit. These red pants were too perfect a companion for black cage sandals, and so I broke my own rule. I balanced out the edge of the pants and sandals with a Chanel-esque blazer that was perfect for the sometimes overbearing AC indoors.

Target tank & heels, H&M trousers, UO blazer, Vintage belt, F21 necklace

Added bonus: I already have an appropriate outfit for football season.

xoxo

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