thursday thoughts

I am excited to link up with Meagan over at Beautiful Things for some  random Thursday Thoughts.

I think...

* while I am super excited to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, I have always loved celebrating my half birthday on that day!  So it might have to become a dual holiday for me! :)

* Olivia Pope is no joke.  While I am fully aware she is a character on a television show, this gal is bad A.  Even with funky hair and the same outfit for multiple days, she is in charge!   I'm trying hard not to already be in mourning about the summer hiatus.  Might be time to rewatch the whole series.

* Picking out Valentine's Day cards is stressful!  That is all I am going to say!

* I am way excited about heading out on a little Girls Trip next weekend!  I love how those trips planned months ago are coming at just the perfect time!

* last year on this day we were having the Snowpocalypse of 2014 and I wish that could happen in 2015.  This tired teacher needs a legit snow day! 

* Frozen thin mint girl scout cookies are a little piece of heaven.  And because they are in the freezer, I don't eat as many.  Or at least that is what I am telling myself!

* Love is all you need!

Have a great Thursday friends! 

Weekend Recap: Wicked Edition

Some weekends just go down in the record books as great ones, and this one was no exception!  So blessed to have had a super weekend with some of my best friends, my sweet momma and family!  I live for weekends like this, that fill you up and refresh you, that make you think you might be able to tackle the week ahead.  

Friday, I drove to Asheville, I know shocking right!  I met up with some of my besties, Lori and Sarai and had dinner at Moe's.  Then we just had an old fashioned girls night.  Lots of laughs, catching up on life, and even some ice cream eaten right out of the carton!  Nothing like a night with great friends!

Then Saturday we were ready for a Wickedly fun weekend!  First stop, brunch at Another Broken Egg Cafe in Biltmore Park.  Cinnamon Roll French Toast...need I say more!  Yummo!  

Then we headed to Greenville to see Wicked!  Friends, I am in love with downtown Greenville!  If the opportunity was made available I think I would move there in a heartbeat!  The downtown is precious, tons of shops and yummy restaurants.  So fun!  To say we were excited about seeing Wicked would be an understatement.  I have always said I will stop seeing this show when it no longer evokes some kind of emotion in me and from the first note I had chill bumps and then the tears start flowing!  Guess I will be seeing it again!  

  

Beth and I can't be together without having a little photo shoot!  So here are some of my favorites from our selfie shoot in front of the Starbucks!

We ended the night with a yummy dinner and lots of friend time!  It was such a great day and so glad I was able to experience it with some many people I love!  Momma Suz and I headed to my grandmother's house Saturday night to spend the night and to have some time to visit on Sunday!

I know I am beyond blessed to still have both of my grandmothers living and healthy.  My Mamaw is 87, works most days in our family jewelry store and is so spunky!  I love spending time with her and she always sends me home with  yummy food!  My dad's mom, Gran is 93 and sharp as a tack. This woman never ceases to amaze me.  I had such a great visit with her on Sunday just talking about life and love.  She has such the sweetest heart and she always grabs my hand when I sit next to her and holds it while we talk.  She is such a dear.  I love being at her house because so many memories flood my mind.  While we were chatting I just looked outside at the view from her front door and was so thankful for my family, memories and life!  

This weekend was a great one and I am equally as excited about this weekend coming up!  Valentine's Day!  :)

What fun did you get into this weekend?

5 on Friday

TGIF friends!  So very thankful for the weekend and super excited about some fun plans!


Excited to be linking up with April and Christina for 5 on Friday!

::one::  Girls Night and  Book Club

This week I was so thrilled to meet up with some super fun gals for a little girls night out!  Nothing like good Mexican food, margaritas and plenty of laughter to make the week a little happier!  We even got a little crazy and made our way to Target to walk the aisles!  The most exciting thing we decided while in Target was to start a Book Club!  And yep, we picked our book right there!

Here is our book for the first month!  I am pretty excited about this and can't wait to catch up with these gals next month!  I am not sure if we will really discuss the book but I am confident there will be yummy food, lots of wine and laughs!  

::two::  Wicked Weekend

It's no secret that I love musicals!  And Wicked is certainly on the top of my list as one of my favorites.  I might have seen it a million time or two and each time I am brought to tears by the music and the story!  It's a tradition for a few of my friends and I to go see it anytime it is close by and so this weekend we are traveling to Greenville to share in a little Wicked fun!  This time will be extra special because I am taking Momma Suz with me and this will be her first time seeing it!  Can't wait to see her reaction!  Can't wait for One Short Day in the Emerald City!  

::three::  New Music

Drew Holcomb, one of my favorite singers released a new album this week called Medicine!  Friends, I highly recommend it!  I love his sound and this album is a perfect choice for a chill evening at home.  And his wife Ellie is pretty amazing too!  

Here is one of my favorite songs on the album, American Beauty.  Enjoy! 

::four::  FitBit

To FitBit or not to FitBit that is the question these days friends?  I have been using MyFitnessPal to track my calories and have seen some success.  Now I am thinking I would like to have some instant motivation and think the FitBit might be a good choice.  Do you have one?  Do you love it?  I would love to hear your thoughts friends.  Right now I am leaning toward yes, so help me decide!  

::five::  Be Still

Over MLK weekend, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve on a team leading a retreat in Asheville.  This verse kinda became our theme, and since then has been one I have kept close!  So thankful for these promises! 

Sweet Treat

Sunday evening, I went to a small Super Bowl gathering with some dear friends and they asked me to bring something sweet.  I had a busy week and needed it to be a simple, yet yummy dessert!  My friend, Amanda had made these Easy Sopapillas before so I knew they were delicious so I decided to give them a try!  Friends, I can't tell you how yummy these are!  Anything that has crescent rolls and cream cheese must be a hit, right?

These would be a perfect addition to a dinner party, dessert night with friends or just for a treat a week night dinner!  And they are easy!  So gather up the ingredients and make some!  You won't be disappointed!

Easy Sopapilla Bars

Ingredients:

2 ( 8 ounce) cans Pillsbury butter flake crescent rolls ( I used the grocery store brand)
2 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups of white sugar, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.  Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.  Unroll one can of crescent rolls and press it into the bottom of the baking dish, sealing perforations.

3.  In a small bowl blend the  cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, and the vanilla.  Spread evenly over the top of the crescent roll dough.

4.  Unroll the 2nd can of crescent rolls onto a sheet of saran wrap and press perforations together.  Transfer to the baking dish, placing it on top of the cream cheese mixture.

5.  Pour the melted butter on top of the crescent rolls.

6.  In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and cinnamon.  Sprinkle over the melted butter.

7.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and bottom crust is slightly browned.

8.  Let it cool and store in the refrigerator.  Cut into bars and serve.


Enjoy friends!

Currently...

Just thought I would give you all a little glimpse into what has been going on in my neck of the woods...

Here is what is going on Currently...

Speak Love by Annie Downs

I have followed Annie's blog for a long time and really was convinced that we were supposed to be the greatest of friends.  I am actually still pretty convinced about that.  I love her life, she is hilarious and she speaks the truth!  This February, I am thrilled to have the chance to speak on why words matter a woman's event that my friend Breeze is hosting with her ministry She Dreams.  This book is perfect for this topic  As women, we rarely stop to think how much our words really do impact those around us.  So far, I am loving this read and am excited to share some of it with the ladies I will be speaking to in February!

Well, like so many others, I was counting down the days til my Thursday night friends came back from Winter Break.  You know, Derek and Meredith and Olivia, Jake and Fitz.  I couldn't wait for my Thursday night ritual to begin again.  But, friends, I was disappointed in the Thursday night lineup.  Of course I will keep watching Grey's and Scandal but these first shows back were not my favorite.  Must mean they have amazing episodes to come...right?!?
I am also really loving the Blacklist right now.  My little brother got me hooked on this one and I love the twists and turns of the show.
And Parenthood, I am not sure I am in a place to talk about that one yet.  Gosh, I am so sad that the Bravermans will not be my friends each week.  And that finale, talk about a blubbering mess.  Did anyone else watch?

Disclaimer:  This is not my actual closet!  :)  For those of you that have been to my house, you know my closet is actually tiny and most of my closet ends up on the floor!  But a girl can dream! :)

I am currently loving this scarf from the Noonday Collection.  I really can't get enough of it and it goes with everything!  I am so excited about their spring line coming out in a couple of weeks.  My new samples came in and it has been like Christmas!  Anyone want to host a trunk show? :)

I love comfy slippers and I had heard the girls over at Momfessionals and Mix and Match Mama talk about these  Minnetonka slippers several times so I took a risk and ordered some and friends...they are amazing!  I wear them all the time when I am home.  Seriously so comfy!

My word for the year is PRESENT, so I am working on being more present each day and I am finding it is more difficult that I thought it would be.  But, there have been little victories, like ignoring my cell phone when it is dinging continuously.  Being more available to friends and family.  Taking some risks in relationships.  As this month continues, I want to push myself more in being present.

Also working on some fun things for the blog in the coming weeks.  I hope you will check back and participate.  Oh and share with your friends.   I am pretty excited about something coming up!

So what have you been up to Currently?

 

All in

I wish I could say that 2015 will be the year that I will be a more consistent blogger.  And maybe it will, maybe this will be the year that spurs me to be more intentional about sharing on the blog.  Typical Brooke would share all the millions of excuses and reasons why I haven't kept up with the blog over the last couple of months, but honestly I am not sure anyone wants to read that.  So I will simply say, in 2015 I will try.

I have been reading blog after blog over the last few days about New Year's Goals, most people are straying away from the resolution these days.  People are striving to do things different in the New Year, eat healthier, exercise more, spend more time with family and friends, be more intentional.  And while I haven't made a list of goals for myself yet, I find myself wanting to steal the goal lists from others.  Do you ever do that?  Think that other people's plans and goals for their lives are better than what God might have placed on your heart as the path for your life?  This is seems to be such a dangerous game, and not one I want to play in 2015.

Last year at this time, I chose a word that I wanted to focus on for the year.  Last year my word was LESS. You check out that post here and read about how I wanted to be LESS in 2014.  I think I did accomplish much of what I was going for with that word.  It certainly didn't go without the occasional mess up and I am confident I lost focus many times, but it was nice to have something to come back to,  something to direct my thoughts, actions and responses throughout the year.

This year I have kinda struggled with what I wanted the focus of my year to be.  The last few months have been especially interesting in my life...changes, new possibilities, discontentment, it just been one of those seasons.  So as I reflected on how I wanted to spend 2015, I wasn't super clear, but I finally narrowed it down to one word that I want to rely on this year.  My word for 2015 will be..

 Present.  This is my goal for the new year.  To be present.  I'm here a lot, but often not present.  I want to be all there like the quote above says.  Many times I will sit down to read a book or spend time with the Lord and instead of being all in, I am going through my to do list, worrying about things I can't control or so distracted that I miss the blessing of that time.  

I love being with my people.  My family, friends and those who I am close to are what keeps me going.  And while I am with them a lot, I wonder am I truly present?  Too often I reach for my phone to see what is going on with people all over the world instead of giving my time and attention to the people who are right beside me.  I want those who are close to me to know how valued and important they are. I want to focus on the now!

I want to be present with the Lord.  He often gets my leftover time, my tired time or my I need something time.  Is this being all in with Him?  When He prompts me to do something do I act or do I say not now God?  I want to experience His presence more in the new year and I am confident one of the only ways to do that is to be present with Him at all times.  

The word present is also a verb which means "to give".  One of my love languages is giving gifts and this fits perfect with my word focus for the year.  I want to be more gracious with my time and energy.  I want to present myself to God everyday as an willing sacrifice to be used as He sees fit.  I want to give more to my family and to my friends.  This will require me to be concerned a little less with my own needs and wants and to be more intentional in finding out the needs of those around me.  I want to send more letters, give more care packages, share more encouragement.  

I am excited about living in the moment, being all in, being present.  And who knows, 2015 might just be the best year yet! 

What are your new year goals or your word for the year?  I would love to hear how you plan to be all in in 2015!

Day 18 and beyond....

Day 18.  I made it to Day 18 and then I fell off the grid.  It's funny how one bump in the road, one day of just not feeling like you measure up and play into so many areas of your life.  This is kinda a pattern in my life, the whole not able to follow through with things.  And if I were honest with myself, it is probably one of that parts of me I hate more than anything.  It makes me feel weak, messy, unworthy.  But it is also what brings me to my favorite thing that is big enough for days 19-31 of writing, and that is GRACE.

GRACE. 

GRACE.

I will never fully comprehend it.  I will never be able to understand the vast measure of grace that I have been shown.  But I just know I am thankful.  Grace can look like lots of different things in my life.  First and foremost it looks like a God who looks past my screw ups, my messiness and welcomes me with loving and open arms, and ultimately that is enough.  

My life is full of glimpses of grace everyday.  From a co-worker who sends a little card of encouragement when they see through the fake smile.  Somedays it looks like my sweet momma taking the brunt of a meltdown that has nothing to do with her.  Grace takes on the personality of a friend who can look past the fact that I am a terrible phone friend and loves me despite the fact that it might have been 10 years a week since I returned a call.  

I could go on and on with stories of how I am given doses of grace daily, sometimes even hourly.  It is such an undeserved act, nothing I can do can earn that grace I am shown.  What a thought?  Some might even call it amazing!  

So today and everyday really, I am thankful for grace, for people who look past my faults, my messy, my masks and jump in the craziness with me and extend grace. 

And sometimes we even have to extend that grace to ourselves, you know when we promise to blog for 31 days and only make it 18.  But here is the next 18 or maybe just 1...