My Life According to Instagram

This week has been busy, busy!  It's been great but exhausting.  The best kind, right?  I have plenty of posts planned about my most recent travels, but, today, I'm linking up with Sara from Pearls and Curls to show you my most recent Instagram pics.  Most of them came from my quick trips this week, so it's a bit of a preview of things to come.  Without further adieu...

A sweet Easter present from a student.  It may or may not have been filled to the brim with M&Ms, and I may or may not have finished off half of them by lunch time.

Yep, that's Willie from Duck Dynasty!!  Last Friday night, my dad and I went to the Dothan Civic Center to see Willie, Jase, Phil, Si, and Miss Kay.  It was a fundraiser for the Dothan Rescue Mission, I believe, and it was awesome!!  Post to come. :)

So, what do you do when you head to Atlanta with the intention of spending the day at Stone Mountain, only to realize it was too cold and windy, and the entire park is essentially shut down?  You go to IKEA, of course.  The mothership.

The coolest 4 year-old I know.

Emma and I hanging out in the ATL. 

My first SUCCESSFUL caramel cake.  Anyone who has ever made one of these babies the old-fashioned way knows that it is not for the faint of heart.  But, y'all, it was good.

Friday night = grilled oysters.  Not pictured:  fried shrimp, cheese grits, baked beans, and coleslaw.  Mmmm....

The POP!

This has been such a crazy, awesome week.  I've been traveling since Sunday, but I'm finally back at home, in my pjs, snuggled up with a blanket on the couch.  Spring break is so, SO wonderful.  Can we please do this once a month??  Pretty please?

I've been a lazy poster this week since I've been out of town, but I am THRILLED to share this post with you today!  A little over a week ago, I was contacted by sweet, sweet Ashley over at Horseshoes and Pearls about participating in a linkup idea she was tossing around.  I knew that one day I'd like to do a linkup, and, once she told me her idea, I felt like the timing and content were absolutely perfect.  

So today, we are launching The POP, or The Power of Prayer.  This is a very open-ended linkup.  You can post ANYTHING related to your faith in Christ.  A few examples would include ways God is speaking to you, devotionals you're studying, your favorite scripture, prayer requests/praises, ways God is using you, etc.  Basically, this linkup is just a place for you to be encouraged and to receive encouragement in your walk with Christ.  

Currently, God is doing some major things in my heart.  He has been teaching me some pretty amazing/scary stuff.  Some of these lessons are new and recent; some are things He's been growing in me for years.  I'm going to pace myself as I share these thoughts, but I thought that this week, I'd start with one of the hardest lessons I'm learning:  patience.  Boy oh boy, has He been teaching me patience. Like, drilling it in there.  For a long time.

Patience has never been my virtue.  Never ever.  I have never had patience for a thing.  If I want it, I want it right now.  God and I have battled over this more times than I care to admit.  However, when the dust settles after each dual, I learn the beauty that comes in waiting.  Waiting for His timing and for His will.  In so many ways, I feel as if my whole life is a waiting game.  Waiting for a husband.  Waiting to buy a home.  Waiting until I am financially stable.  Waiting for summer break.  I've grown up thinking that life doesn't really begin until I have "all my ducks in a row," so to speak.  God is showing me, slowly but surely, that there is beauty in waiting and grace in relying on Him.  He's showing me that His plans are perfect.  And more often than not, I believe that He is making me wait for His best and His brightest because He's not done perfecting my patience.  He's making me work for it.  Imagine that!

Patience is not an easy virtue, but it can be oh-so-beautiful when we learn to rely fully on God and trust in His will, not our own.  

Friend, I pray today that you will allow God to perfect His patience in your heart.  Beautiful things will come of it.  I promise!!

Do you have something to share?  Has God laid something on your heart?  Please linkup and participate with Ashley, Becca, and myself.

The rules are simple:

1.  Grab the linkup button in the sidebar and type up your post.

2.  Linkup your blog URL.

3. Visit as many blogs in the linkup as you can!  This is about getting active and offering encouragement, prayers, and discussion to those who need it!

4.  Follow your hosts.

5.  Tweet, Pin, share on Facebook, and help spread the word!!

Sunday Social

1.  What is your favorite thing about spring?

The bright colors, probably.  I'm really a total fall kinda girl, but I do love when the colors start brightening up.  Like my nail polish, for instance.  Right now, I'm wearing Trout Pout by Butter London:

2.  What is your favorite kind of flower to grow or receive?

Well, I've definitely never grown them, and I don't even remember receiving them, but my favorite flower is the hydrangea.  I do love a good bouquet of roses, though.  I've never grown those, either, but my grandpa grows them in his backyard, and they are so beautiful.

Source: t0.gstatic.com via Booyoung on Pinterest

3.  What is your favorite nail polish color?

I honestly didn't know this was one of the questions when I answered #1.  Haha...  Even though I do love Trout Pout, my favorite color ever is Blowing Raspberries by Butter London.  It's this great hot pink/bright red color.  Kinda hard to describe, but it's beautiful on.  It's a pretty transitional color, too.  It works for about any season.

Source: ozsale.com.au via OZSALE on Pinterest

4.  What is your favorite outdoor activity?

I really like biking.  This is the perfect time of year to go, too.  Summer is wayyy too hot here.  You have to be a crazy person to be outside, so spring and fall are my favorite times to be outdoors.  I become a hermit in the summer.  No joke, y'all.

Biking in Watercolor last weekend

5.  Do you have any fun spring plans?

Well, since this is my spring break, I plan to head to Atlanta with friends for a few days and visit Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville, GA, with my mom.  I also have a fun baby shower to host in a few weeks for my sweet friend Karen.  And...I'll be heading up to see Taylor Swift on her Red Tour in mid-April.  I know... I'm officially 13 years old.  

Other than that, I'll be counting down the last 9 weeks of this school year and waiting for SUMMER BREAK!!!  Teachers are far more excited about break than the kids.  

What Not to Wear...and Me

I'm literally sitting here on my bed, blogging and watching What Not to Wear.  I really love this show.  I do.  Until I realize that there are days I could legitimately be placed on the show.  It would probably be the highest rated of all time because, girls, they'd have their work cut out for them.

Okay, I'm maybe being a little dramatic here, because, as my lovely friend Karen would say, some of these lovely ladies are "busted."  I don't know if I'm quite there, but I'm definitely stuck in a style rut.  I honestly could not tell you the last time I really went on a real shopping trip.  I wear the same ten or so outfits to work.  Every.  Single.  Week.

Over the past two-and-a-half months, I've dropped 18 pounds.  Yay!  But, I still have more weight I'd like to lose.  That means I'm not really wanting to spring for a lot, since I'm hoping to fit into smaller sizes soon.  Plus, I'm really committed to saving my money this year and just haven't allowed myself to go crazy and change up my wardrobe.  With a trip to Atlanta in a few days, I'd like to allow myself to throw a few more pieces into the mix because I'm sure, at this point, my coworkers are starting to wonder.

To get a few ideas, I've been doing a little online shopping.  There's no way I could afford all of these lovely little things, but they are my inspiration for my upcoming trip.

Loft 3/4 Sleeve Colorblocked Cardigan

Loft Diamond Eyelet Cotton Dress

J.Crew Cashmere Raglan Sweater

J.Crew Linen City Mini

J.Crew Fan Fringe Necklace

C.Wonder Cotton Boatneck Peplum Top

Source: shopjamesandleigh.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

(James and Leigh) Newport Beach Maxi

Vineyard Vines Seersucker Scallop Hem Margo Skirt

Loft Marisa Casual Cropped Pants

Loft Curvy Skinny Ankle Jeans

Where do you shop in Atlanta?

Things Are Looking Up

T-minus 2 days until I am officially on Spring Break!  There is no doubt in my mind that teachers look more forward to vacation time than the kids.  Don't get me wrong.  We love the little boogers, but, sometimes, we need a break.  You know the old saying, "Distance makes the heart grow fonder?"  It couldn't be more true.  I always feel like I come back from Spring Break a better teacher, pumped and ready to end the year strong.  Let's hope this year is no different!!


I'm linking up with Jamie from This Kind of Love again for What I'm Loving Wednesday and with Michelle at The Vintage Apple for Oh, How Pinteresting!


This week, I'm loving the fact that I've planned a last minute trip to Atlanta to hangout with two of my favorite people over Spring Break!  We don't have a ton of things planned to do, yet.  Mostly, we'll just be enjoying each other's company.  Plus, I'll get to spend car time with my best friend there and back.  Traveling in the car with her is half the fun!  Can't wait!!

Source: civilwartalk.com via CivilWarTalk.com on Pinterest

We do have plans to visit Stone Mountain one day.

I'm also loving that my mom and I are going to take a day trip one day next week to Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville, Georgia.  I've been before and talked it up so much that she decided she had to see it for herself.  The house is nice and fun to tour, but the property and barn are what really drew me in.  It's a really popular place to hold weddings, and, although I'm no where close, a girl can dream a little, right?

Source: Uploaded by user via Amberlyn on Pinterest

Source: google.com via The Grateful Trader on Pinterest

Source: pebblehill.com via Chelsey on Pinterest

Source: pebblehill.com via Celeste on Pinterest

I'm loving that the plans for my friend Karen's baby shower are coming together perfectly!  Here are a few inspiration pictures:

Source: societybride.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: iloveswmag.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: nameisgrace.blogspot.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: belleonheels.blogspot.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: stylemepretty.com via Heather on Pinterest

Finally, I'm loving that this little blog is giving me the opportunity to get to know some truly wonderful ladies!  Y'all make my heart so happy!!  Through this community, I've managed to gain prayer partners, learn travel tips, get much-needed advice, and receive encouragement in my walk with Christ.  Thank you so much to all of you that are on this journey with me.  And, if you're not yet, I'd love to have you tag along!!

Trips Down 30A

I'm always torn on the weekends between my love of sleep and my desire to get out and have some fun.  This weekend was not a sleeping weekend, which is all well and good, since spring break is only a week away, and I know I'll get plenty caught up then.  Fingers crossed...

With my little sis in town this weekend, my family decided to load up the bikes on Saturday morning and head over to Seaside/Watercolor to do a little scenic riding.  If you've never heard of Seaside before, you don't know what you're missing.  It's funny because I've lived about 45 minutes away from there my whole life but never knew how popular it really was until the past few years.  Since I started blogging, I've found post after post from others sharing about their love for Seaside, and it just really hit me that it's a paradise destination for so many people, and I'm blessed enough to go whenever I want!  The older I get, the more and more I appreciate where I'm from.  I never did growing up, but I'm glad it's finally sinking in now.  Maturity?  Yikes!  That's a scary thought...

Anywho, we all loaded up and headed there bright and early (and by bright and early, I mean 10:30).  By the time we got there, it was time to eat, so we tried out The Great Southern Cafe.  Holy moly.  It was uhh-mazing.  Seriously, so good.  I had the Grits A Ya Ya, which is basically gouda cheese grits with shrimp, shallots, mushroom cream sauce, and sweet potato straws.  It's the house specialty, and it did not disappoint.

Ok, I'll shut up and just let the pictures do the talking...

GRITS A YA YA

SEASIDE BALCONY VIEW

RIDING THROUGH SEASIDE

BIKE TRAIL IN WATERCOLOR

GELATO BACK IN SEASIDE

FYI, we did most of our actual riding in Watercolor, where there were awesome bikes paths and less traffic.  Seaside is a great place to bike, too, but we pretty much fell in love with biking in Watercolor.  So much fun!


Linking up with Leeann for Join the Gossip!