I like to think of myself as a pretty consistently thankful human. I keep my gratitude journal. Like any respectable Southern woman, I am diligent about sending my thank you notes. I routinely remind myself how good I've got it in this life.

That said, everyone knows this time of year is a glaring reminder to keep that perspective front and center. After this rollercoaster of a year, I've been especially reflective about the loads I have to be grateful for... big and small. In no particular order... here's a corralling of thirty little pieces of what makes me a happy, happy girl every single day:


I'm so very thankful for:

1. the utter joy of living in a city that suits me so perfectly, a place I keep falling in love with, five-and-a-half years after first skipping into town.
2. my crazy, wavy head of hair and the ability gift of only having to wash it but maybe twice a week. (oh. and dry shampoo).
3. my adorable Greek guy who is endlessly thoughtful and encouraging--while challenging me to be a better version of myself, making me laugh from my gut and always, always reaching over to hold my hand... and taking me to Costco.
4. the ability to step onto a plane and be home in Texas in a mere two hours--and the incredible people there who know me better than I know myself sometimes.
5. ...namely my amazing daddy-o and the tirelessly way he's loved me for more than thirty-one years. His dependable dry wit, token one-liners and boundless wisdom are way up there too.
6. the way I feel beautiful in an old pair of jeans, some Kendra Scott hanging from my earlobes, a pair of my broken-in Frye boots and that signature bold, red lip.
7. my battered, nine-year-old Macbook and the familiar pull of settling in with her to tap out my stories on its well-worn keys.
8. Whataburger taquitos.
9. coworkers who are just as dedicated to belly-laughing and cutting loose with each other, as they are to our cause.
10. the 24 years I had, learning from my magnificent Mimi. the graceful way she loved and served everyone around her and served as the utmost in examples of how to live this life on earth.
11. my insatiable curiosity, lifetime love for research and reading... and subsequent appreciation for Amazon prime.
12. the way my parents raised my brothers and me to glean our own views and opinions... and the way I can banter and debate with my dad about our differences now that I'm an "adult."
13. never having ever had a car payment. (let's take a moment to pray my 15-year-old BMW gets me through to springtime).
14. the safety net of my Monday night small group girls, their fiery hearts for Jesus, and the steadfast way we love and support each other through this crazy life.
15. the rush of that first downbeat, as everyone rises to their feet at a much-anticipated concert.
16. the generosity and authenticity my stepmom Jules has always been relied upon for--and her potato salad and cornbread stuffing recipes.
17. my overall health--and the fact that I have the means and ability to seek out help when I need it, and the phenomenal doctors in my corner, who are warm, endearing and ridiculously knowledgeable.
18. the gift of being crafty and creative--how it refuels my soul, and that I'm able to love on people around me with handwritten cards, homemade breads, or custom cross-stitched goodies.
19. getting wrapped up in a season of Saturdays of college football rivalries and upsets.
20. the effortless way I found my family in Nashville--the loyalty and love of incredible friends here who have opened their hearts and homes to me, and given my life a glittery light that I never expected to unveil.
21. quality Lululemon on sale.
22. getting lost in a Netflix marathon with aforementioned adorable Greek.
23. the solitude I found in my two years in one teensy, suburban apartment--recollecting myself and detouring off onto a much better path than I could've mapped out for myself.
24. being old (and I daresay wise) enough to let go of the bitterness I wore like a jacket, being known as the kid with a sick mom... and instead, truly being thankful for the good time I had with her--and the undeniable fact that I inherited her spunky attitude, insane sweet tooth, and unquestionable wearing of one's heart-on-one's sleeve.
25. the wave of relaxation that wraps me up at the conclusion of my restorative yoga class.
26. that ten-year-old fluff nugget who is as entertaining as she is loving. I am forever attached to that little dog.
27. the excitement of a new address! new house in a new neighborhood, and all of the requisite exploring and excitement that comes along with it.
28. my continued, yet questionable ability to operate on minimal sleep.
29. the syrupy sweet memories (and telltale naiveté) that my Norman Rockwell childhood and Texas roots forever etched in my heart.
30. the comfort, grace and direction that my faith steers my life. 

You've likely heard more than you care to about Whole 30. Better yet, my guess is that you've either tackled it yourself or have a half-dozen friends who have bravely trudged through a month of feverish label scanning and eliminating food groups in an effort to shed pounds, feel better, or just experiment with food reactions. I jumped on the bandwagon this past spring, reasoning that while I wanted to give it a go, my social calendar wouldn't ultimately ever offer me a prime time to focus on the program. 

October!! Can it be?! It's about that time when I blink and all at once, I'm addressing Christmas cards, and Maizie's donning a sweater, and I'm struggling to creatively fit gifts in a suitcase, Tetris-style, for my trip home. I so very much love the transition into fall, and the sensation of shedding the previous months' stresses while watching the world evolve around me. So for now, despite the 80-degree days, I will savor every little minute... wearing my jeggings and booties, obviously.

Here's some goodness from the past couple weeks:

• Science tells us why campfires are romantic. I won't dispute that.
  
• My "perfect workday" looks somewhat like this... what say you?
  
• Speaking of work--this is how to appear smart in meetings. LAWL.
  
• My love for Wildfox knows no bounds... their beach sweatshirts are incredibly soft and cozy, and it's like fooling the fool with what amounts to wearing a blanket emblazoned with the sassiest phrasing. This one made its way to my Christmas list.
  
• Hallelujah! Beautycounter gives us an effortless eye makeup remover, y'all.
  
• May Designs collaborated with Target and everything is amazing. I've already scooped up my 2018 planner.
  
• If this means I can get my beloved Topo Chico without driving thirty miles, I am so on board.
  
• I am most certainly on the sheet mask train, but I've yet to buy into the selfie craze.
  
• Bumble Bizz fascinates me to no end. What do you think about it? Would you try it?
  
• I'm thisclose to breaking up with my Keurig for this guy. Have you used one? It's pure magic.
  
• Children of the '90s, you're welcome. 

Happy Weekend, y'all!

A few years back, these goal lists of 100 things to knock out in 1001 days (or roughly 2.75 years) were all the rage. Anytime I'd discover one, I'd pore over it voraciously, feeding off others' thirsts for accomplishment and self-investment.

Being the type that I am, I finally just resolved to throw one together myself.

So much of our lives is broken up by semesters and school-related deadlines, so it's easy for the post-graduate life to fly by without much to break it up or to view as marked successes. I thrive on knocking out tasks, big and small... so I'm excited at what this will certainly add to my day-to-day.


Check it out! What do you think? Do you have one of these, either in print or tucked in the back of your mind somewhere?

Hi, hello! And heyyyy, September! I'm trying to freshen up the look of things around here... slowly, but surely, she's coming along.

Here are some things I've stumbled upon as of late:

• This is absolutely the funniest waste of time I've discovered in a while.
• So, turns out my 31-year-old bod isn't my 21-year-old bod. Who knew? I've been tapping into these yoga poses this week to relieve some back pain from go-go-going way too much lately.
• Selena Gomez forever. Seriously, what a badass BFF. I really hope they both bounce back so soon.
• God created Millennial Earth. OMG.
• Banned books form a life sized Parthenon... Breathtaking.
• I've recently dove into a fairly elaborate (for me) skincare routine, including (drumroll): dermarolling! We'll see how long this habit lasts, but I'm digging it for now.
• A family passed down the same kindergarten dress for decades... oh my heart (and precisely the reason I saved some baby clothes my Mimi made forever ago).
• Why you should wake up at 5 a.m... I mean, this night owl ain't sold, but it has some good points that ring true.
• I am loving You Need a Budget lately... and these budgeting classes are really amazing, and geared toward all kinds of folks.
• Wall Street Journal staff tackle a blind taste test of La Croix.
• Crazy pumped for our date night tonight! 

Remember that time I yammered on about how I'd plow through no fewer than three books a month in a grandiose effort to establish a more fulfilling, fruitful 2016? Ha. Then life happens, and there are events at which to toast, Netflix binges in which to snuggle with the boyfriend, and little fuzzy white dogs who demand all of the love and attention... among other things.

So yeah. I've fallen short of the plan.

However, true to form, I still have the best of intentions--and plan to knock out at least 20 books by year's end, regardless of how many I manage to get my little mitts on each month. Here's a lineup of what I hope to tackle before fall is in full force:

Spiritual:
Play With Fire ::: Bianca Olthoff 
Love Does ::: Bob Goff
Nothing to Prove ::: Jennie Allen

Personal Betterment:
Gifts of Imperfection ::: Brene Brown
Do Over ::: Jon Acuff
Presence ::: Amy Cuddy

Etc.:
Hillbilly Elegy ::: J.D. Vance
Sweetbitter ::: Stephanie Danler
Furiously Happy ::: Jenny Dawson

I just finished Love Warrior (Glennon Doyle Melton) last night. Holy WOW. Her raw vulnerability led me to race through the pages in a matter of days, and made me crave being a better writer... such a beautifully written memoir about self-discovery and the struggle of not settling.

What have you read lately? Are you following me on Goodreads?

I've been in a stupor for the past several days, unable to function much aside from being glued to weather reports and pray endlessly for relief for a land and people I love so much. The inundation of the Gulf Coast is heart-wrenching, unprecedented... it would be completely unbelievable to fathom 50+" of rain falling in four days if our TVs and computer screens weren't drowning in the now-familiar images of families struggling to find higher ground, to start piecing their lives together. While my family is much further inland, I have had dozens of friends affected by Harvey--some quite drastically.

The most magnificent showings of love have poured out over, over and over again... neighbors rescuing neighbors, strangers risking their lives to save their fellow man, highways full of flat bottom boats, volunteers who have lost so much, and in the midst have stepped up to serve the needs of others. Celebrities and corporations have given generously toward what is expected to top $160 billion in damage. But Houston is in for a long, long recovery... as are the smaller surrounding towns like Rockport and

People all over are antsy to give back and to help where they can, but it's really crucial to bear in mind what is actually needed and what would be an added burden. Here's a short list of a few ways you can help:

• Give blood. This is monetarily free, so desperately needed, and requires only your time. I have such a phobia of needles, but largely due to my dad's influence, have given blood often--it's not terrible, and you almost certainly will save lives.
• We've all seen the one-liners about how easy it is, giving to the Red Cross--but in case you've been under a rock, you can text HARVEY to 90999 to donate $10 that will be added to your phone bill next month. It really doesn't get any easier (and you can do it multiple times!).
• Diapers are in desperate need. There are several ways to contribute these, and here are three different places (in the same vein, I believe wipes and feminine products are also in demand as well).
• The images of animals left behind have just ripped my heart out... a few causes that are on the front lines of Houston saving the fur babies are the Houston Humane Society, Austin Pets Alive and the SPCA.
• If you like to show your generosity via wardrobe, there are so, so many ways to contribute here... I purchased this shirt (#TEXASFOREVER), but there's also this shirt (made by none other than my go-to t-shirt place in college), and this shirt too. Because can you really ever have too many t-shirts?
• James Avery is giving 100% of its proceeds from the purchase of this adorable charm to Harvey relief efforts through September.
• If a more traditional approach is your style, The Salvation Army and Coalition for the Homeless are excellent places to toss your cash too.
• And finally, I'll be giving all my Beautycounter commissions from now through the end of September to relief efforts. 

Just find a cause that speaks to you... that's what matters. This is such a short compilation of the dozens of ways you can give back. And people really, really need it right now, y'all.

Texans are known maybe most famously, for being stubborn and prideful... and they've no doubt put that on display for the country to see over the past week. To quote a meme I saw yesterday, "if you thought we were prideful before, you should see us when our boots dry out." 

I can't wait to see y'all come back, stronger than ever.

hey, hey, hey... how's it going? Just like that, August is here. I'm skedaddling off to for a long overdue trip home to Texas next weekend, and my heart is just so happy. While the summer in Nashville has been pretty brutal, heat-wise, the days have been good to me, and I know my time at home will just add endlessly to that bucket of gratitude.

But enough about that... here's some goodness for you:

• I never knew why the "no white after Labor Day" rule came about (and yes, I adhere to it)... but now I do. 
• Speaking of whites... I hosted a favorite things party a couple weeks ago and ended up with a new Essie polish--the perfect, elegant, pinky, white nude (and I feel like I've tried them all). 
• Haim hits it out of the park again. And I love how they spell out all of the background of writing this kick-ass new album. 
• Anyone else totally weak when it comes to Wikipedia rabbit holes? Here's one of my favorites... 
• This piece about French moms is just endlessly fascinating to me. 
• Perspective is an amazing, earth-shattering thing. 
• How cool is this infographic, showing how common each birthday in the year is?? (fun fact--mine of November 24th is the 352th most popular!)
• Steel Magnolias was one of the first non-Disney movies I ever remember watching--always surrounded by the women in my family, naturally. I even portrayed M'Lynn on stage when I was a freshman in high school... and after all immersion, I still never knew the full back story until this week. So fascinating! Can you believe it's been 30 years?
• Venmo shares all of our spending secrets. I've thought about this a time or two, and it's hilarious to see someone else having written out what has crossed my mind.
• Were you part of the masses who read "When Breath Becomes Air?" What very well might be my favorite book I've read this year, completed by the author's wife. Such a heart-wrenchingly raw and beautiful love.

Have the loveliest weekend!

In the interim while I figure out what to do with this thing, I thought I might press on with corralling some of my best recent finds... this is seriously one of my favorite kinds of posts, as I am perpetually that girl who has to tell absolutely anyone and everyone who will listen about the latest cool thing I've happened upon. So... you're welcome.

• Canceled my cable recently (jubilance!) and I try to listen to TED talks in the morning when I get ready in the absence of my morning news. With this one though? I found myself breathless and tear-stained between blowdrying my hair and refilling my coffee. 
• I love the idea of curiosity cabinets... so dreamy and classic. What do you think?
• After nearly a year of searching, my beloved church announced its new lead pastor this week (a cool message from him here). The general consensus I've heard is that everyone is really, really excited. 
• Such an achingly beautiful piece on motherhood. 
• I just won this cookbook as part of an instagram giveaway (lucky me!) and am really loving it. Homegirl is local and I have the hugest girl crush. 
• Speaking of local... Paul McDonald is the latest jam master who I can't get enough of. Listen to this really cool version of one of his latest singles. Careful--it's addicting. 
• Pictures of hipsters, taking pictures of food. Because you haven't seen enough of it IRL. 
• I just, rather impulsively, hacked my hair off at my shoulders and am loving the playful, summery update. I end up wearing it like this a lot... what's your favorite summer go-to style?
• The Madoff scandal remains deeply fascinating to me (one of my favorite books came from that, here). Did you watch the HBO movie too? I thought it was pretty intriguing, based on what I've read of the stories. 
• Trader Joe's snack round-ups are the best... probably because I'm so accustomed to shopping for the same ol' things, I usually overlook the goods (prep yourself for mango overload here). One noticeable item absent from this list? Jalapeño lemonade. Y-U-M. 

Hope you and yours had the loveliest Fourth!

I've been around these parts for a while. I've dashed to the keyboard to discuss a lot over the years--mostly light-hearted banter and ridiculous commentary, but being the open book I am, I've never found much to be off limits. And yeah, from time to time, I spilled out something deeply meaningful to me--usually about big loss--but lately, I find myself flailing when it comes to my role as a blogger. I know so many of you've been here too.

Blogging for me began forever ago... (xanga, anyone?). I prided myself on not selling out to what blogging has evolved to. Yet as blogging has become less and less about quality written content and more about sleek graphics, linked shopping sites and splashy ads, I find myself more and more disoriented. I feel a sense of contentment getting my words on a screen, but never set out to lock down any amount of income with them. Not all that suddenly, there doesn't feel like a ton of room for my "brand." (and yes, I shuddered a little, typing that).

I've long considered an aesthetic revamp, but deep down, I don't know that that will ignite the mind shift that I need to earnestly keep at this in a way that I'm proud of. I can't see myself falling away indefinitely, but I definitely need to adjust a bit.

A big portion of my back-burner blogging can be blamed on all of the life I've been living, which is a pretty fantastic reason for an inadvertent hiatus: new job (that isn't exactly limited to 9-5), all of the extra-curriculars, a wonderful boyfriend, my attempts at a social life, the very occasional night to myself... on one hand, there's plenty to discuss--and on the other, there's just no time or energy. Similarly, while my unbridled efforts of covering every detail of early 20-something life really fit that era of who I was as a human being, I don't exactly subscribe to the same manner of thinking anymore. I still firmly believe there's a beauty in vulnerability that may be unparalleled by anything else--but there's also something to be said for clutching the sweetest of memories close to heart.

So, I think I'll be back... soon I hope. But it'll be a little different... plenty of list round-ups of what I've stumbled across lately, lots of photo coverage of Maizie, and sure, a peek into my personal life here and there--but different, too. So much has yet to be determined, but I hope you'll stick around.

In the meantime, I've also dreamt up a little Nashville blog that I hope to dive into in the not too distant future.

xo

Best laid plans and all that, right?

I'd long been plotting a little 2016 recap post, because hey... I do it every year! I genuinely love looking back and beholding a smattering of my memories in one neat, sequential nook... no sifting through blurry candids or unedited versions necessary. It's always served as a little self-indulgent reflection and reminder of both the grandiose and mundane moments from the past twelve months, as opposed to being passable as quality post material for the masses, but you know... I guess I make the rules around here. Maybe I'll get around to it, maybe I won't.

I've finally come to the conclusion and relief that while sure, I blog, I don't know that I'll ever fall under the "blogger" category, you feel me? Nothing is carefully curated, nor scheduled consistently. You won't find a watermark on my clumsily snapped iphone photos. No shiny affiliate ads docked on the sidebar. Four-and-a-half months into the year and here I go, post numero uno--and a messy, somewhat disjointed summary of my inner thoughts for 2017 thus far, at that. Killing it over here...

See also: reason 437 why this girl could never rely on blogging to be her bread and butter.

Meanwhile. 

Thinking back to where I was a year ago, I feel peace... something I've yearned for, for as long as I can recall--a wish that varied in appearance from year to year, but something I'm so undeniably certain I have a firm grip now. While there's plenty that's unsettled in my life, and still some concern and anxiety surfacing now and again, in the depth of my core, I am swimming in a sense of contentment that I've never quite encountered. Some of it has been nurtured by age and experience, sure... but the bigger cause is due to being surrounded by some of the most incomprehensibly amazing people God has pieced together--and then somehow, someway, thankfully plopped into my life.

I want to dive into the concept of hindsight, but that treads dangerously near cliché phrasing, and I really try like hell to avoid that. But in the hope that warning you can relieve me of some of the responsibility, I'll go on:

it's absolutely mind-blowing to me how much you can learn about yourself if you just try. Change the scenery. Swallow your pride, listen to what you don't want to hear... be strong enough to listen to what you know is the truth. Dig up enough bravery to look back at yourself so you can measure how far you've come... or how much further you want to be. Then do whatever it takes to get there.

Fear held me back for such an embarrassingly long period--and it was a fear that I was unaware had permeated so many fibers of who I am--a fact that is even more humiliating, being that I've been referred to as "fearless" more than a handful of times in my life. By no means did I emerge from the rut solo or untarnished--I had more than a few people who thankfully and selflessly (and maybe even unknowingly) scooped up responsibility to get me back to being me. People who loved me enough to tell me what I didn't want to hear. People who put their own relationships with me on the line for the sake of somehow, someway breaking into my stubborn head. People who quite honestly yelled at me in an effort to have something sink in. People who dared to lift me up--over and over again--when I refused to hear it.

To all of the people in my tribe (again--overused, ridiculous word that is unfortunately the absolute best for this situation) who quite literally held me up,
who deftly countered my shallow defenses of someone who continually hurt me,
who have wiped the tears from my cheeks,
who have earnestly prayed for my tender heart, and promised there was a better tomorrow for me,
who knew when I needed the next generous pour of bota versus another unrelenting talking-to,
who feverishly attempted to convince me of my worth,
who've been invested and excited when I've encountered something good,
who patiently told me, "I love you, but you're wrong... and I'll still be here when it finally sinks in."
...I cannot thank you enough. It's not the slightest exaggeration that I am grateful daily for the depth of the way you've loved me.

I pour this out for so many reasons... it's been heavy on me, the gravity and peril of allowing fear and pain to pierce your actual identity. Gah, there is so, so much I have to figure out in this lifetime... and so much I'll never know. But maybe there's a truth you're ducking away from. Maybe you're the friend who desperately wants to pull your person out of something. Maybe you've been dancing your own charade as long as I did, and aren't even fully aware of it. There are countless faces to this, but fear is slapped across them all.

So much of this life is just the people at your side. There's a level of unparalleled authenticity that is unveiled when you discover the few souls who willingly go through your hell just to stick by you. The honest fact is that there are very few people you could reliably call on for absolutely anything in the world--and while the past few years have offered me the chance to drink up an immense amount about who I am and what I deserve, the most rewarding takeaway is knowing, unequivocally who is on my team.

And my gosh, I am a lucky, lucky girl.