Monday Mantra + Roots

Honey, I'm home.
Time to put the work pants on again and get rid of the vacation brain.

(Source)

What a hard thing to do after such a perfect Thanksgiving week. I packed up my Tory Burch weekender on Wednesday and sped to Mississippi as fast as my little car would take me. Why the urgency, I'm not sure. But I knew I needed to be there. These people waited:

The family at Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State, a win for the Rebs!

Is there anything like going home? For me, there's no other feeling like walking in the door to the loud laughter that always seems to emit from our living room. Nothing like my family that is big and loud and sarcastic and funny, or the long dinners with too much food and lots of wine. Nothing like playing Christmas music and decorating an already over-decorated tree, or crowding in the kitchen to watch mom cook. Of sharing late night snacks and early morning coffee, and plotting pranks and surprises together and alike. And despite the chaos or uncertainty of any given date, its these tiny little moments that can bring a smile to my face and a warmth to my heart when life is a little bit cold. 

If I've said it once, I've said it one thousand times—I get really caught up in life. So caught up, in fact, in the excitement or events of any given day, in pushing and striving and getting to where I'm going and who I want to be, that I'm guilty of forgetting what's here right now. But my roots, they are strong. Roots deeply planted in family, love, traditions, and values. And just when life begins to blur by again, He has this funny way of saying, Newsflash little girl, you've got yourself a lot to be thankful for. Now slow down and let me remind you. Which is why when I stumbled across this little gem this morning, I knew this week's mantra had nothing to do with the recent Thanksgiving holiday and everything to do with making a habit to offer up thanksgiving daily.

(Source)

A big thanks to the family for keeping this fast-moving little girl firmly rooted.

Happy Monday!

xoxo

Monday Mantra

So few words today, but these:

Happy Monday!
photo cred

Monday Mantra

I hit the ground running this morning and after chugging a cup of coffee and re-braiding my hair three times, realized this was the first full week of August.
Wow. How did August get here?
I asked a friend that very question as I signed into G-chat and did my morning 'rounds before starting my workday. His response?  The better question is, how did we get to be 25?
Time, clearly, has this funny way of sneaking up on and past us all. I can't remember the last time I felt like I was waiting forever for something—no, hours and days literally disappear for me now, which for me (the world's most inpatient person ever created), you'd think this would be a good thing.
But, no. Because I finally find myself wishing things would slow down, just a little, while I figure It (that mysterious, bold-faced It) out.
But, until someone figurers out how to press pause in the 24 hour grand scheme of things, there's only one of thing to do:

Happy Monday, dears.
xo

Images here.

Monday Mantra

Whew what a week last week was! After a fantastic (albeit fast) trip back to Mississippi for some much needed rest, relaxation, and family time, I jumped back into the daily grind with both feet once back in sunny Florida. After three different photo shoots Wednesday through Friday, I welcomed a lazy weekend with open arms. Though I had quite a few things on my list, sometimes taking a deep breath, grabbing your book, and sitting in the sun is just what a Saturday calls for. A Saturday canoe trip and our weekly Sunday "family dinner"with friends didn't hurt the soul one bit either.

I'll be playing a bit of catch up on the home front this week, getting the ball rolling on a few different things. I don't know about you, but when I look to the future, I often get so antsy and excited for what I want to do and where I want to be, I forget that taking it one day at a time is the only way to get there without being overwhelmed. Which is why when I saw this gentle reminder, I knew it was a mantra I needed to try out for this week:

Happy Monday friends.

xo

images via here

Monday Mantra + Some

Last week was a quick hiatus. I was pushing myself a little too hard, going a little too much, and now that I finally feel somewhat caught up with life and such, let's do this thing:

I'm constantly struggling to rest in His peace, when things go awry, worry sets in, or life spins slightly out of control. In His peace is rest for the weary, the calm during the storm- no matter how small or large that storm may be. This week I'm practicing the gentle reminder of fixing my eyes upon him and trusting that everything. will. be. ok. if we involve Him.

In other news, in order to get my hectic schedule slightly more under control, I stumbled across this idea (on Pinterest, duh) and thought it was a great way to reign in those to-do's that don't necessarily have a deadline attached-- I'm guilty of letting those pile up as I wrap up things with immediacy. 

Simple enough, yes? I love Ah Ha moments.

Happy Monday! xxx

Monday Mantra

Without further adieu, the mantra for the week:

Because aren't we always leaving something behind, each day, whether it be the decision to move forward or the decision to give up? My hope is that it's a decision to make something better.
Happy Monday lovelies.
xoxo
(via my Mantra and Everyday Lovely pin board)

Monday Mantra

With a busy week ahead, trying to start it off right by focusing on one mantra over, and over, and over...

Hoping in Him. Planning in Him. Turning to Him. Looking to Him. 

And most importantly, thanking Him for every single thing leading up to this day. So I may love through Him, shine through Him, live through Him in all the best ways. 

Happy Monday, lovelies!

{mantra here}

Monday Mantra: Fashion Week Rambles

It's Fashion Week y'all.
So, in celebration of today, I have a few Monday Mantras for us to consider.
First, in regards to my shopping trip this past Labor Day weekend (For which we can blame Tropical Storm Lee, who ruined my beach weekend. And sales, hello. Albeit I didn't make any purchases that were actually on sale. Sorry, parents, if you're reading this- I'll be responsible again after fashion week).

The journalism/English major in me is appalled at the misuse of the word 'to'. But it's still a dang good quote. 

I agree with this mantra whole-heartedly. Which is why I bought this leather and herringbone shift this weekend for my upcoming trip.

I also whole-heartedly believe this dress will assist me on my first fashion week in doing what my second mantra instructs.

 Um, just noticed a typo in this one. 'Til does not equal 'till. Come on guys.

So now my bank account is frighteningly low, but it's fine, because...

... and because we always have to remember that

Why didn't I name this blog Confessions of a Clothes Addict? Another topic, another day. So here's to hoping one (Or all. Cough, me) of these mantras will get you through your week.

xoxo

Monday Mantra

Let's get this week started already...

Monday Mantra

Beautiful calligraphy posted everyday from an awesome (and seriously lights a fire under me to become at least an amateur at the art) find here, sent my way by a sweet friend.

 And with that, I hope your Monday is off to a positive start.

xoxo

Monday Happenstance

Around 8 a.m. this morning, Monday started.

After a weekend filled with friends, fun, sun and football, lack of sleep and even more lack of hours in the day made me virtually incapable of rolling out of my cloud-like bed and made hitting the snooze on my iPhone easier and easier every fifteen minutes (yep, I'm one of those set-five-alarms-to-ensure-waking-up types.)


So, I see the sun filtering through my white curtains (and think to myself I have got to get some blackout shades) and decide that the scent of coffee downstairs is just enough to get this girl out of the bed and into productivity. Groggily, rubbing my eyes, I stumble across my room towards the door, but not before hitting play on my iTunes for some early morning jams.

Coffee in tow, I climb back up the amazingly-steep-at-that-hour hardwood stairs of our home. And then, I notice the song playing from my computer down the hall. Pardon, blaring from my computer. Cue happenstance.

" I see skies of blue, clouds of white, bright blessed days, dark sacred nights. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world"

Ensue good mood. Press play for a good day. The oldies have done it again, chalk another one up to optimism.
Hope your Monday is off to a fabulous start!