Happy {Birthday} Weekend

Wow, Friday got here quickly this week. Is it just me, or has time sped up a little recently? Nonetheless, it's weekend time.

It's my birthday weekend (yep, uh huh), so there are a few fun things on the agenda to bid farewell to 24. Lots of live music, pampering, and a few bottles of champagne shared with friends to be included. But for you, without further adieu, a few Friday finds for a fabulous weekend:

• Sorry I'm not sorry that I'm still obsessed with ole John's new record, especially this song.
• I need to re-create this look asap. If you can help, I'll send you a piece of birthday cake. 
• Speaking of style, have I introduced you to my new favorite girl-on-a-budget website? Gotta do some digging, but there are some fabulous finds, and new arrivals are always 30% off (yes, really). Check it out here. I ordered this as my birthday dress, and I really feel like someone should give me this "With Love" necklace... (ahem, blog name).
•  Ever been in a situation that you know scripture would make better, but you aren't sure where to find it? Problem solved, here.
• Wrapping it all up with this video—commanded to love, and the world actually is good. Watch here.

Happy Friday, lovelies!

{Sidenote: Follow me on Pinterest, hit me up on Twitter, and be my Facebook friend. After, of course, you follow this blog}

Living With Intention Lesson #1

Well, yesterday sure did slip away from me. But I'm here a day late with a mantra for the week. I'm going to be pretty candid right now. I recently read this article here (and you should too) about why our "Roaring 20s" are a defining decade for our generation. Seeing as I'm turning 25 on Monday (seriously, when did that happen?), I've been overanalyzing thinking about where I am in life to this point a lot recently.

Said article basically points out that because of a ton of different physical and psychological factors, the things that we do and the things that we don't do have an enormous impact on us twenty-somethings. Those decisions that we're making? Yeah, they better be some healthy, good for the mind/body/soul ones, because they matter the most during such a defining time. The problem is, our generation hasn't exactly had it tough. No, we may just be the most spoiled one yet, with most things handed to us on a silver platter. We've been told our whole lives we can do anything we dream. We're smart, with lots of education under our belt (thank you, recession) but not a lot of direction with what we're doing to get there, wherever there is.

"Twenty-somethings are worried. They're anxious. They're worried about whether life is going to work out for them. Whether it's going to work out as well as they thought it would ... But the thing to do about that is to realize that my 20s are really the time to make my own certainty, and to make sure that yes, my life is going to work out because I'm starting to put the pieces together in an intentional way."

Of course we're worried and anxious. We have absolutely no idea what we're actually doing, but all the desire in the world to be doing it right and to be doing it well. So where does that leave us at the end of the day when trying to decide how, exactly, to "put the pieces together in an intentional way?" I have no idea, but a good place to start may be right here:

My intention—to not be overwhelmed by where I am and what I'm doing, and trust that He's going to handle it every step of the way.
Living with intention lesson #1.
xoxo
{all images via here}

Confessions

Confession. I did not want to write this post.

I actually did many other things before finally pulling up Blogger. Flipped through some magazines. Read a few short memoirs on Paris. Styled a few different outfits for the weekend. Because truth be told—I have picked up this computer multiple times in the past two weeks to begin writing. But I'd look at my last post, almost a month ago, and say, What is there to say now?

Nothing in particular made me stop. Suddenly, after working and writing and photo shoots and visitors in town and weddings to attend (and the list goes on), I looked up and realized I'd been missing in the blog world. (Thank you for all your kind, albeit concerned, emails and comments asking where I am and why I'm not writing.) So when things settled, I found it a teeny bit hard to pick up where I'd left off.

Fact of the matter is that writing, when you don't every day, is hard. But the thing is, I do write every day—it's my job. So why was this so hard? It was hard because it's writing for myself. And I'm very busy these days. And when I'm very busy, I feel guilty doing much for myself. So, in turn, writing on this blog made me feel guilty. There, I said it. I wasn't writing because I thought my time should be spent doing other things, other things that if I were going to write about them, should be perfect.

Ah, Ainsley and the ole struggle for perfection. So I'd have a glass of wine, and think about my blog, and how I wasn't writing, and why I wasn't writing, until last night, when I came thisclose to thinking about actually maybe writing, and instead sat down with my devotional:
"I have planted a longing for perfection in every human heart. This is a good desire, which I alone can fulfill. But most people seek this fulfillment in other people and earthly pleasures or achievements.... Let me fulfill your yearning for perfection."

Ok, speak straight to my heart. And then, feeling elated and assuming it couldn't get any better, I stumbled across sweet dear Mary Catherine's latest post:

"All our lives are not blog-worthy. Thank God because ya’ll would be so bored with mine. Be You [already enough]. Do You [already enough]."

So there it was. I've been on a quest, searching for contentment for an entire year. Finding it, losing it, cherishing it, abusing it. I've been sometimes going so fast, and sometimes taking time to go slow. My life is a constant change of pace and scenery and work and everything else that could possibly change. It won't always be perfect. It won't always be exciting. It won't always look like a perfectly posed photo. But that's ok. My new lesson in contentment is, thank you Mary Catherine, that when life isn't all those things, life is still good—because I hold steadfast to Him. It's this little lesson, this little dawning realization that whispers to me, Hold steadfast to what you love Ainsley, to the things and people He's given you that are good and make you happy. These are blessings. These are little reminders that He wants us to be happy, and though it's not "blog-worthy," it's life, and life, even when it's not anything else, is good.

I'm going to do myself a favor now and give this here little blog another shot. So do yourself a favor and read Mary Catherine's entire post, "Cultivating," here.
See ya back here tomorrow.
xoxo

On Contentment (Again)

Guess what we did last night?
We sent the May/June issue of VIE off to the printer, that's what.

There's something to be said about accomplishing a huge task. Satisfaction. Pride. Contentement. Ah, sweet contentment. I'm on a never-ending journey for contentment. It's the goal of every single day. Stressed, anxiety, heartache—push it all over to find contentment. He's got it under control and sending little moments to me every day to remind me that life is, in fact, oh so good.

When the perfect song comes on.
When you're driving towards the sunset.
When you're sitting on the beach in perfect peace.
When you look up to realize you're doing what you love.
When you read a sentence that speaks to your heart.
When your friend's voice covers you in love.
When you put your name on something you're especially proud of.

When I'm creating something, crafting something from the bottom up, contentment dawns. I'll pull words from the air and discard them just as quickly until the perfect one sits snuggly in a sentence, and contentment will glow. An idea will float right in front of me, and as I form it into thought, contentment sings. Inspiration fires up the jets of contentment. Love fuels contentment. Contentment is everywhere, it's just a matter of knowing where to look for it.

Contentment, for me, comes from knowing who I am, what I'm good at, doing it every day—and being satisfied there. Keeping the wishing, wanting, and desiring in check in order to appreciate this moment, this day. When I stamp my signature on something truly good, whether in the office, at home, in a relationship, or in my never-ending journey with Him, contentment covers me.

It's a good feeling right now.

March 20th

Dashing in today to say happy first day of spring, y'all.

You should throw on something like this.
And you should drink one of these.
You should do this.
Perhaps while reading this.
That's a recipe for a fabulous spring day. See you back here tomorrow!

On Wanting Less

I'm getting personal again today.

My first year as an official post-graduate school grad is quickly coming to a close, and I realized in contemplation yesterday just how much I've learned this year.

Money does not grow on trees. Living on a budget is hard. 

Appreciate what your parents do for you. Take advantage of living close to them while you can.

Sometimes you have to eat cereal for a week to afford the shoes/weekend trip you want.

Dogs are like children. Consider yourself warned.

The world doesn't really owe you anything at 23/24/25, so appreciate where you are. 

Responsibilities don't go away. Take care of them.

Neither do problems, so take care of those, too. Yourself.

Sitting at a desk all day is not healthy, so treat your body right and squeeze in your workout.

It's easy to get lost in a career, so make sure you're cultivating your own interests.

You are not going to accomplish all your dreams/wants/intentions this year. Chill out.

But I think the biggest thing I've had to come to grips with is now a new motto of mine: want less, be better. It's no secret I am an avid wish list maker. Wish list for my closet (this is a huge struggle for me). Wish list for my home. Wish list for my wedding to unknown hubs. Wish list for life. But since I am for the first time financially responsible for myself, I can't run out and buy a couple of new things when I get sick of my closet. Want less. Since I'm tied to a budding career, I can't take off every weekend to Nashville/Atlanta/Mississippi like I want to. Want less. In order to want less, I have to distract my fashion-obsessed, wanderlust mind with a goal. Be healthier. Be stronger. Be smarter. Be more well-rounded. Be an inspiration. Be creative. Be better. 

Want less here. Be better now.

I know many of you dreamers out there are like me in that we're waiting for our dream life to begin. But waiting for how long? A sweet old friend pointed out the other day that our God knows the desires of our heart, and has always provided them for us. And I stand by the age-old phrase, good things come to those who wait. So here I am, waiting to figure it all out. Does that happen... ever? Lord knows, I have no idea. But I am, waiting that is, with His hand on my shoulder, listening to Him say, Be still my child, and know that I am God.

Want less of this life. Be better. Be fulfilled.

Just saying it out loud makes me feel better.

Hello March

March for me means one thing.
Spring.
And where I live, spring basically means summer—which is totally my time.

If there's one thing we look forward to here on the coast, it's the time change. Why, you ask? Because spring forward means longer days, later sunsets, and bringing out our white pants. Thank you for coming March, we're so happy you're here.

Health Bits: Pure Barre

This past Saturday morning, I woke up bright and early, threw on some yoga pants, and sent myself down the street to our local Pure Barre studio.

My sister-from-another-family, Ashley Singleton, happens to be the owner of said studio (yes, she's 25, gorgeous, and a small business owner—line up, fellas). Because I have a long past in ballet and other types of dance, Ashley has been telling me this workout is for me since, well, the first day I met her. Created by dancer and choreographer Carrie Rezabek Dorr, Pure Barre is super effective in changing your body—it's a total body workout which utilizes the ballet barre to perform small isometric movements. Read: this workout is intense. It lifts your seat, tones your thighs, flattens your abs and burns fat in record breaking time to strengthen and lengthen your muscles versus creating bulky mass. Who doesn't want the body of a dancer? That's what I thought.

Ash originally lured me there under the notion that the classes are small, she would have ample opportunity to personally work with me, and I'd get a mega-toning workout. And let me tell you: I. Am. Hooked. It's the type of workout that will beat you up the first time you go, but make you want to master the technique. And the music is awesome—the type of music that makes you want to start a serious dance party.
So, to see all the benefits of a Pure Barre regime, I'll be attending two to three times a week for ten sessions, which is the program's promise that you'll see results. I'll of course be writing about the experience for VIE, so promise me you'll read the May/June issue to see how it turns out! You can scope out a studio near you here.

Hi there November

I was putting together a post on neon and then I remembered it was November.
I'm not sure how the two correlate, but nonetheless, how is it seriously already November?

I'm quite pleased to see the beginning of a new month. I've been forced to think about change a lot lately, and how sometimes things don't end up being exactly what we thought they'd be. But this is good. And there is so much beauty in accepting change.
I've also been thinking about the decision to change. We make it every day. To order the cafe au lait instead of the skinny vanilla latte you've been ordering since Starbucks came to be. To paint your nails gray instead of your token red. Every time we make a different decision, it's accepting change and making the decision to change. And the smallest of changes can be momentous, because those small changes can add up to big change, even before you realize it. Think about that.

I'd rather my changes add up to something momentously positive, especially if I'm unaware that they are affecting me. And we all know I'm a self-improvement junkie (and if you don't, then you do now). So my November is unofficially the month of small changes. When I moved down here to the Emerald Coast, I decided I was going to become a "yes" girl in order to say no less and carpe diem more often, experience this new place to the fullest and dive into new friendships whole heartedly. It's been fantastic, to say the least, but this November it's time to say yes a little less often and make some time for positive me-changes. I'm so guilty of flying by the seat of my pants, staying on the go, and never sitting still long enough to pay attention to myself. So, small changes for November sounds like a plan.

• Take care of myself in a healthier way.
• Invest my little time in meaningful missions and not exclusively social situations.
• Spend my hard-earned salary a little more wisely.
• Take a daily breather to remember how lucky I am.

Are you taking enough time for yourself and the things you love?
And just because:

xoxo

Happy {One More Summer} Weekend

Friday.
Did you exhale when you just read that? I did when I typed it. Don't be fooled- I love my job, it's exhilierating, it's creative chaos, and it's exactly why I love waking up each week day.
But Friday and I have been best friends for a long, long time. We're tight. Friday would be so upset if I wasn't excited to see it every week. Luckily, I am.
Although this Friday I greet with a little more hesitancy than most. Because it's the last Summer Friday.

Given, beach life ensures a summer feel to almost every day despite seasons or temperatures. But today unofficially marks the last weekend of summer as fall ushers itself in. And as a summer girl, albeit excited for the new fall fashions and football season, I can't help but be a little nostalgic towards my long days of summer already.

So this weekend is hereby proclaimed "The Last Days of Summer". Go ahead, take part. Wear your white sundress. Eat your last snow cone. Drink a daiquiri. Lay out. Go barefoot. Sport coral polish. Listen to Jimmy Buffet. Do summer, one more time. I'm going to, along with some friends arriving in a few hours for a weekend visit.
So Happy Last Summer Weekend, little lovelies, and Happy Labor Day. Have fun, be careful, and be grateful.
xoxo

To get to where we're going...

Whew. The move is over.

This last move was a serious one. And while all my furniture (and stuff- man I have a lot of stuff) is in the house, I'm still settling and decorating, trying to make my new house a home. Annoyingly enough, I won't have the Internet hooked up at my house for a while. And since the App Store hasn't provided me with an iPhone app to be able to blog from my phone on Blogger (I mean, what is that about?), it's a little difficult for me to provide you with your daily dose of inspiration or eye candy.
Work has started, and with the multitude of meetings, press calls, photo-shoots and everything else that revolves around a full service public relations, advertising, and marketing firm that also publishes a gorgeous magazine full of eye-candy, things have been exhilarating and head-spinning. And I couldn't be happier.

But never fear, your girl is back. I've found a charming little cafe that I'm sure will just adore for me to use their WiFi so I can successfully sip my coffee and help you fall in love with all things beautiful and stylish in life that I stumble across.. So bear with me a little as the dust settles and things on From Ainsley, with love go back to normal.
On tap are the multitudes of DIY projects I'm into for sprucing up my new home.
And how do a few guest posts sound? (Wanna write one for me? My contact information is right at the top under the tabs.)
Also in the making? A From Ainsley, with love Twitter account and eventually a new, more streamlined and accessible look for the the blog as a whole. Ready? I sure am.

So, my lovely readers, buckle up and get excited. From Ainsley, with love is in a new place and ready for some fabulous new adventures and finds!

Happy (24) Weekend

Well, little lovelies, looks like I'm checking another year off the birthday calendar as I bid adieu to 23 and welcome (hesitantly) 24 tomorrow. I'll be celebrating with a show at the Orpheum tonight and dually celebrating with the nuptials of friends tomorrow. So much in store in so little time, but I'll try to snap some pics along the way and meet you back here Monday. 

Also, an early Happy Father's Day to all the daddies out there. Don't forget to hug yours!

Daddy, sister, and I at one of his beloved Mississippi State games. But I still hail the Red and Blue, Hotty Toddy tride and true. I get it from my mama. Thanks , Mom.

Happy weekend to you all!

Love Letter

Dear June,

Thank goodness you've finally arrived. You really are the most perfect month, with your long hot days and balmy nights. You are adventure.

You are love.

You are new but always familiar, like arriving at my favorite place. You are classic with a surprising twist, anticipated year 'round. You are old, but embody youth.

You are sweet tea on the front porch swing while counting fireflies dancing in the southern skies.

You are bathing suits for the day's attire, bare feet and suntanned shoulders-- morning bike rides, afternoon pool sides, and evening dock sides.

You are that most perfect time of day when the sun starts to sink and the breeze lifts your hair and nothing at all can be wrong in the world.

You are lazy days, you are long days, you are happy days.  I'm your June baby always.

xoxo,
Ainsley

You Can't Dance and Stay Uptight

Disclaimer: Sentimental Post. (hey, it's been a while)

Everybody has that song. I just turned on a little music to break up my school work and my song came on. Or, should I say, our song. Our song because I share it with some-odd thirteen other girls. Some-odd thirteen other girls that I've shaken and shimmied and spun and sung with along with the band when this song was played. Some-odd thirteen other girls that know whether it's a movie night or a cocktail party, this song will be played to bring a smile to our face and get us to our feet, twirling each other and attempting to out-dance the next. Some-odd thirteen other girls who each know they'll play it at their weddings especially for us. Some-odd thirteen other girls who I thought about today, and missed, when my iTunes blared the beginning twinkle of the tune.

It's a happy song. It's my happy song. It's our happy-together song, our "if ya ain't happy, ya better get happy dadgummit" song. If you haven't heard it, add it to your music library. If you have, I'm sure you agree. And if this is also our song, know that I miss you. You should probably go ahead and press play right below this and get up to move your body.

"We get it on most every night,

when that moon gets big and bright

it's a supernatural delight

everybody's dancing in the moonlight."

"Everybody here is out of sight, 

they don't bark and they don't bite, 

they keep things loose they keep it tight, 

everybody's dancing in the moonlight."

"Dancing in the moonlight, 

everybodys feeling warm and bright 

it's such a fine and natural sight, 

everybody's dancing in the moonlight." 

"We like our fun and we never fight 

you can't dance and stay uptight 

it's a supernatural delight 

everybody was dancing in the moonlight."

"Dancing in the moonlight 

everybody's feeling warm and bright 

it's such a fine and natural sight 

everybody's dancing in the moonlight." 

"Everybody here is outta sight

They don't bark and they don't bite

They keep things loose, they keep things light

Everybody's dancing in the moonlight."

"Dancing in the moonlight 

everybody's feeling warm and bright 

it's such a fine and natural sight 

everybody's dancing in the moonlight..."