I am so excited that Friday is here!

I know you have to be too. It's a long weekend and I am in desperate need of it. This is totally off topic, but I have not had a sunburn/tan all summer! What is wrong with me? Maybe its all the rain. Or the fact that I work indoors 40 + hours per week. Either way I will need to try and get some color on this pastey white skin of mine. Although, its not the worst thing to have had less sun exposure this summer. Makes for less wrinkles later.

This week has been somewhat slower than previous weeks at work. That I am very thankful for. Below are the highlights of the week, which I will now call the "Weekly Menu".

+ to see photos of my week follow me on Instagram

                                                   

LINKING UP!

IN MY SHOES

source: Google Images | edited: PicMonkey

I feel like everyone's walk in life is different. Okay, so I don't feel that way, I pretty much know it. I think a day in my shoes would look something like this.

+ Waking up grateful for another day. Hoping and praying that I make it worth it.
+ Coffee is like fire to my soul. I appreciate its availability and I am addicted to its taste and kick.
+ Work is fulfilling my purpose for the day. I do work to live, I do not live to work.
+ A compliment and a smile go a long way for me.
+ Responsibility and focus are the two most important things a young person can own.
+ Whenever I get stressed out I picture the beach. Then I get mad because I am not there.
+ When I am stressed out I dream about snakes and tornadoes. My slumber becomes a sci-fy movie.
+ I cannot understand why some people are so rude. Isn't life too short?
+ I come home to my apartment and I can say that I appreciate moments when I realize that its all mine.
+ I may be a young single lady, but its okay if you don't want to put a ring on it. Take me to dinner first.

What's a day like in your shoes?

FOUR FAVORITES

Summer Dessert | Sunglasses | Rib Recipe | Sleeveless top

A little Labor Day inspiration for you today. I covered the two most important parts- my outfit and food. What are your Labor Day plans? I hope you get to soak in the last bit that Summer has to offer!

Linking up with Kristen + Ashlyn for Four Favorites.

CURLY HAIR DO'S

+ Use a moisturizing shampoo, preferably of higher quality. Curly hair absorbs moisture faster than straight hair.

+ Use a higher quality conditioner and leave a tiny bit in your hair. Do not rinse entire product out.

+ Avoid using too many straightening tools too often. 

+ Use a moisturizing spray or serum to protect your ends from getting dry, brittle, and splitting. 

+ For frizz control apply a deep conditioner at least once a month. 

+ Embrace the mane. You were given the gift of curls - FLAUNT IT.

WORDS OF WISDOM

+ I always had a curfew of 11 p.m. in high school and only a handful of times stayed out past that time in my early 20s (ya know like 3 years ago).
+ Any time I heard a story about a teenager being harmed or kidnapped it happened when the parents weren't supervising or they were out into the wee hours of the morning.
+ I was always instructed to call whenever my location changed and my parents always knew who I was with, what we were doing, and what I was wearing.
+ My mom always told me to remember who I am and what I represent.
+ I never partook in underage drinking, recreational drug use, or reckless behavior.
+ I was taught the value of hard work and never took what I earned for granted.
+ I didn't have a cell phone glued to my ear or my finger tips at all times. If I wanted to hang out with someone I called them and we made plans to meet |face to face|.
+ Growing up not everything we did or said was tied to a political agenda. Now every choice, every statement, every belief is a piece of controversy.

Can we all just go back to a simpler time?

FALLING FOR FALL DECOR

I have gone insane over fall decor on Pinterest lately. I have never really gone all out in the fall decor department before, but I am feeling like that may change this year. I am ready to fully immerse myself (and my living space) into the wonderment of fall!

source: Interior Motives Design

Interior

 Exterior

What are your favorite fall decor pins?

+follow me on Pinterest

+photo above edited using PicMonkey

FAVORITE POSTS

Happy weekend! Here are my favorite posts this week! I hope you check them out and give these bloggers some love. Thanks to Amy from The Charming Blog on giving me this idea. I love spreading the blog love around!

+Giveaways 
MHNWrites: $50 gift card to Target!
Rags to Stitches: August Giveaway!

source: Rags to Stitches

Lauren Elizabeth: $25 Etsy gift card!
The Girl in the Red Shoes: Rodan & Fields Muti Function Eye Cream

+Fashion Posts 
The Kinch Life Blog: The Little White Dress

source: Aubrey Kinch

Lauren Conrad: Currently Craving: Transitional White
Melissa Faye: Favorite Fall Outfits
Melissa Faye: Dressing a Toddler

+Photos

source: Hansel from Basel

+ DIY
IHeart Organizing: Bathroom Makeover

source: IHeart Organizing

Leave a link of your favorite posts from this week!

DRESSING A TODDLER

I am not yet a mother, but I am one heck of an aunt! I was so excited when my sister said she was having a girl. I was hoping and praying it was a girl. One reason is I am a girl and girls make sense to me. Another reason is I knew it would make my dad happy (he loves having a house full of girls). I also knew I could dress her up as cute as can be. Now that she's getting older she is starting to grow out of the baby phase and into the toddler stage. She is walking and talking (only a few words and phrases for now), and the more and more she walks and talks the more I want to dress her up in these toddler favorites!

+all above items are available at Gap Kids.

I was not compensated for this post. I genuinely love all articles of clothing chosen.

FALL SEMESTER ALREADY?

I have some big plans for this fall. Now, that the semester is underway I can finally think about myself again. I have been pulling some long hours both in and out of the office. I always liked the beginning of the school year. I like the feeling of newness. I like knowing that the new school year has begun and I can start fresh with a clean slate. I think my life right now is a lot like the start of a new school year. Now, if I could only fit in a whole new wardrobe, amen?

DID YOU KNOW?

That I sell jewelry and other accessories? 

Yes siree!

Register to be my customer and you can get one of these adorable pairs of earrings! 

Start shopping here!

Email me for a $15 off $45 order coupon code! 

FAVORITE FALL OUTFITS

Scarves. Boots. Sparkle. Dresses. Tights. Are you ready for fall? I am!

ALONE

There is something about being alone. It makes you think. It makes you realize the holes. The places where things seem to be missing. I don't want to be the one who blogs about what's missing in her life. Obviously, I want to bring a moment of joy. A time to uplift you and bring you back to the important things in life. I also want to be real and raw and transparent about what my life is right now. Some days it's really hard coming home to an empty apartment. Some days it's really hard to look at myself in the mirror. Some days it's really hard just to keep going through my day. I can't quite explain the feelings I have sometimes. Most of the time I describe it as being overwhelmed. 

All I want is to feel at peace and at ease again. I have to remember that the Lord is present no matter what I am feeling. I know that my Savior is holding me at times that I don't always feel it. I know that my family and others in my life genuinely care. I know that without God I wouldn't have gotten through this. I wouldn't have gotten through all of the trials of this life. I hope that whatever it is you are going through, you know you are not alone. There are people in this blogging community that genuinely care as well. It doesn't matter if you are ashamed of your past, or if you are just going through a tough time. I pray for all of those that I know and don't know that may be going through what I am. I pray for those who are brave and strong enough to start over. I pray for those who have been kicked and bumped and bruised in life. 

I have to say, it does get better. My good days certainly outweigh the bad. I pray that Christ holds you, comforts you, and brings you through the times of loneliness. 

If you ever need to chat, connect with me on my contact page. I'd be happy to help you in any way I can.

CHANGES

source

I have talked a little bit about the changes that have been going on in my life. I'd say for the past three years or so I have endured enough change for a lifetime. Some were good, some weren't so good. With the good and the bad comes growth. But, I have to be in honest in saying that I am so over change at the moment. I appreciate routine and predictable. I enjoy knowing where I am going, when I am going, and for what reason. Life isn't always that way. It seems to toss me about a bit. It also seems to think that I can handle a lot more than my finite mind can fathom. 

For during this time, my faith has certainly been tested. I look in the mirror and question why God would allow me to go through so much. I often question what I was thinking, but its harder to understand God's plan in all of this. I am looking forward to the "new" in my life. I am pleased with my new found perspective on life, love, faith, and the importance of family. I am also looking forward to doing what I want. I know that may sound selfish, but I think in this time in my life it's important to evaluate what I really want in my life. What goals do I have? What do I want to accomplish while I have no one to answer to? Where do I want to go in my life? 

I know divorce has it's own stigma. Divorce seems like a failure, and don't get me wrong, in a way it is. It is the failure of a marriage. Marriages fail for all kinds of reasons. I never expected mine to fail, but at some point I had to accept the way things were. Everyday I have to learn to accept it. 

What about you? Have you experienced a time where you had to re-evaluate your life?

ROMANTIC LIVING

Romantic Living by melbarrett7 featuring wall art

Sofa / Accent table / Wall art / Wall art / Wall art / Iman curtain, $360 / Throw pillow / Mikasa vase / Ceiling light / Bird Cage Candleholder

I love having a room with a mixture of elements. Right now I love neutrals, but also enjoy a bit of the unexpected. So there's a romantic chandelier, an industrial table, feathers, and geometric rug and curtains. This, right now, would be my dream living room. I always have fresh flowers on hand, and candles? Of course! What's your dream room?

POWDER UP

I love the soft look of powder make up products. I have very oily skin, so a good powder finish is important to help soak up oil and give my look a matte finish. I think bronzer and highlighting powder give depth and help to contour my features. And translucent powder? Um. It's a life saver. Especially in the summer. My face basically melts off if I don't wear this stuff. Oh, and if you're interested in any of the above products, feel free to browse my Mary Kay website!

WELCOME BACK!

Hello, people!

It is my first post back since my little blog hiatus! You may remember me from Grin & Barrett, but things in my life have changed and I wanted to start fresh. I guess people don't think to get a blog makeover while they are experiencing some major life changes, but that's how I feel about blogging. I love it, it's important to me, and I want to see where this new journey takes me. I want to read back on these posts to see how I've grown and how things have changed in my life. I would love to say that time has made things easier, but that would be a lie. 

If you haven't read before I was divorced over the summer and it has been the biggest adjustment of my life. My everyday life has completely been turned upside down. Things that I once did with a partner are now done alone. I have faced some of my biggest fears and I have been thrown out of my comfort zone. Although one chapter of my life has ended, I am looking forward to new things. 

This new blog will be about my life, but also about new recipes, fashion ideas, make up, beauty products, faith, family, etc. I am excited for the new content and for this creative outlet that I love. 

Oh, and my new design? I owe this beautiful thing to Amy from Charming Life Studio. There are still some elements in the works, but I LOVE the work she has done thus far! You may also notice my Virtual Studio. I am embarking on a new venture of being a virtual assistant. More to come.

Thanks for your patience to all of my readers! I am so excited to be back!