thursday thoughts

Linking up today with Megan and Kristin for some Thursday thoughts!

I'm thinking...

* I have neglected the blog a bit over the last week or so but Spring Break will do that to you! 

* having friends travel all across the country to visit you is on of the best gifts ever.  Loved having my CA gals with me for some spring break fun!

* Oatmeal Creme Pies are ridiculous...in a good way!  

* Groupon is my favorite.  I was wanting to go see Counting Crows in August but the lawn tickets were going to be $40 with fees and all.  Today they were on groupon for 19.50!  Groupon for the win!!  Can't wait for a summer concert!

* I'm super lucky to have a pretty amazing guy in my life!  

* my coworkers make me laugh...so glad I work with fun people!

* there is one more reason to absolutely love Justin Timberlake, his new little guy has the cutest name...Silas.  Love, love, love!

* there are never enough hours in the day but today I am going to make the most of the ones I've got!  

Happy Thursday friends!

thursday thoughts

It's Thursday, which is technically my Friday and the beginning on Spring Break!  Woohoo!  

Linking up with Meagan at Beautiful Things and Natalie at East Coast Chic to share some random Thursday Thoughts!

I'm thinking...

* Spring Break could not come at a more perfect time.  You know when you were in college and you lived with those people day in and day out, you needed a break from them.  Well, teaching school is kinda the same.  We (meaning kids and teacher) need a break from each other!  

* I am excited to have some friends come visit over spring break and am excited to show them a little bit of NC!  

* making Easter Baskets is fun!  Filling eggs with candy, finding special treats, it is a good time! 

* today is World Autism Awareness Day and I am wearing blue in support!  1 in 8 children will be diagnosed with Autism.  Check out this link if you would like more info....

* Chobani salted caramel crunch yogurt with  hazelnuts, pretzels and chocolate chips is amazing!  It's been my lunch a couple times this week!  yummo! 

* the story of the resurrection and the sacrifice made during this holy week will always overwhelm me.  I am so thankful for a Savior who took on my punishment to pardon me and make me free.  It really is too miraculous for words.  

april goals

I figure I am more likely to follow through with some goals I have for this month if I post them here!  You guys can hold me accountable...right?  Then at the end of April I can update you on how my progress was the these goals.  I am trying to include one goal that is health or wellness to try to get back in those healthy habits I have been neglecting!   So here are my goals for April!

 {one} Have two friends over for dinner

This past month I had a sweet couple over for dinner and I loved it!  I made it super easy on myself and ordered pizza for dinner and made salad and dessert.  What I loved most about it was being able to get to know them better and share in conversation.  I really do love having people over to my house so I want to be more intentional about that.  My goal will be to have one friend/couple that I know well over and then one that I might want to get to know better.  

{two} Donate at least 1 bag of clothes

My mom tells me all the time that it is a sin to have as many clothes as I do, and even though I want to argue with her about it, she is probably right!  I have way too many clothes.  And since I have an older house the closet situation isn't the greatest either so that is a double whammy!  I figured this would be a good time to get rid of some things as I will be switching out the closets this month.  I have no doubt I can probably get rid of more than 1  bag!

{three} Read 2 books (one fiction/one non fiction)

I shared yesterday the book I am excited about starting this month, Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty.  That will be my fiction pick I think.  And as for the non fiction selection, I am not sure!  Any suggestions friends?  I am really trying to get out of the habit of going to sleep with the TV on and instead reading before bed.

{four} Send at least 1 card per week

Snail Mail is one of my very favorite things.  Everyday I am so excited to get home and see if there is something besides bills and junk mail tucked in the stack of mail on my floor!  There is just something special about getting a card or letter in the mail.  And I also love cute stationery.  I am excited to send one card a week to some of my sweet friends.  Wanna get some fun mail this month?  Leave me your address in the comments! :)

{five}  Exercise at least 3 times a week

The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer and I need to be spending more time outside.  My neighborhood is perfect for walking, so really I have no excuse.  I gotta get my rear in gear.  Along with walking, I need to get back in the habit of drinking water.  This month I am going to try to focus on some healthy habits.  It really does make me feel better!

What are your goals for April?  Check back at the end of the month to see how I did!  Have a great Tuesday friends! 

currently

Happy Monday friends!  This weekend was packed, but packed with all good things!  Over the course of the weekend, I attended three birthday celebrations, including 2 for some of my best friends and 1 for my sweet Mamaw!  I ate lots of good food, watched Duke pull out the win to head to the final four, saw the movie Home with some of my favorite people, and did lots of laughing and smiling!  This weekend was definitely one of those that causes your heart to swell!  And this is a short week here at the school house because spring break is on it's way!  Woohoo!

I thought it might be kinda fun to do a currently post today to get this week started!  Tomorrow I am going to share my goals for April, so be sure to stop back in to see what I want to accomplish in April! 

Currently

{reading} 
Well, I just bought a new book, that I am pretty excited to start this week.  Some friends and I read Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, and I loved it!  So when I saw one of her other books was on sale for 2.99 for the Kindle, I decided to pick it up!  My next read will be Three Wishes.  I am excited to read another one of her books.  It was an easy read and so good!  Anyone read it?  

I have also been trying to get through Gone Girl, and I don't know what it is, but I just can't finish it.  Part of it might be that I saw the movie before I read the book, which I rarely do.  So I know a lot of the twists and turns.  It just isn't holding my attention.   What new books have you read recently?  I would love some more suggestions!

{watching}

My sweet, funny, hip-hop loving mom got me hooked on Empire.  I just had time to catch up on the season finale.  Cookie is no joke and Lucious...he is something else as well!  Kinda can't wait for that one to start back up in the fall!

Scandal is getting back to being Scandal again which makes me happy.  This last episode reminded me why I am Team Fitz!  That ring, that music, sweet baby.  Yeah, I know it is wrong, but I do love those two together!  

And even though it is a kids movie, if you haven't gone to see Home, I would highly recommend it.  I laughed so much at this movie and the voices for the characters were perfect!  And the story is great!  

{loving}

This weekend after a breakfast birthday celebration, I went to get my nails done with some friends.  I wasn't going to go, but they twisted my arm and I went.  I decided to get a mani and try the gel nails.  And I am in love!  They look great, and I think they will last forever!  I went for a light pink color which is perfect for spring and will hopefully match whatever I decide to throw together for an Easter outfit!  I think I might be hooked!

 I know I am late to this party, but I am loving the Moscow Mule these days!  Saturday evening I ordered one while we were out to dinner celebrating with my grandmother and she stole it from me!  It was pretty tasty!  I fell in love with ginger beer this summer in South Africa so add that to this fun cocktail and it is an instant winner!  

{thankful}

Thankful this week for my sweet family!  I know I talk about them a lot here but really they are the best.  We might be small in numbers but we sure do love each other.  It was such a treat to be all together this weekend to celebrate with Mamaw ! 

{planning}

Spring break is almost here and I am thrilled to have two sweet friends come and visit me in NC over break!  I met Allison and Nicole when I was in South Africa about 3 years ago and we really hit it off!  Nicole has stayed in South Africa and is currently home for holiday and Allison is in CA.  I went to visit Allison last May and since then have been trying to get her to NC, so when she decided to come over spring break and it just so happened that Nicole was home too, well, it was perfect!  So they will be here on Easter Sunday and I am planning lots of fun things for us to do! 

I can't wait to take them to Asheville to hang out with Beth too!  I don't want to give too much of our fun away but one thing I am so excited to share with them is the LaZoom Comedy Tour around Asheville!  I have done this 3 times before and I laugh so much each time!  I know they will love getting to know my hometown in this fun way!  I think we will visit the winery at Biltmore as well, probably the Chocolate lounge and who knows what else! 

There is what I am up to {currently} up to these days!  What's new with you?  Hope this week is full of nothing but good things for you friends!  

friday favorites

Anyone else feel like this week has been the longest week ever?  I am so very thankful that today is Friday! 

Linking up with all kinds of fun people today to share some Friday Favorites! 

{one} 

I think I am going to bite the bullet and order these fun Kate Spade earrings.  They are 25% off right now at Nordstrom and I think I really love them.  The big question is, what color?  It's funny that I would even think about ordering earrings because up until about a year ago, I never wore them!   I thought they looks stupid on me. So friends...what color would you order? 

{two}

This week it was such a treat to have my sweet friend Erin and her husband Justin over for dinner.  I was not the best hostess because I ordered Mellow Mushroom instead of cooking, but I gave myself some grace for that.  It was more about the great company, laughs and conversation than it was the food.  I did whip up a super simple dessert for us to enjoy though.  Can't go wrong with angel food cake, strawberries and whipped cream!  I love having people over to my house so I am going to make that a goal for the next few months!  So be on the lookout friends, an invite might be coming your way! :)

{three}

March Madness is in full swing and it has been madness for sure!  I was so excited to fill out my bracket and was certain I would be the winner in my small little bracket contest.  Well friends, that is a big ole no!  Look at all that red!

The East is killing me!  Fingers crossed for Duke win tonight against Utah!  How does your bracket look?

{four}

This weekend we will celebrate my Mamaw's 88th birthday!  I am so blessed by this spunky and loving woman.  She has such a generous heart and has taught me so much!  Excited to celebrate with the family!  And doesn't she look great for 88?  

{five}

Easter is one of my favorite times of year and I have been meditating a lot on this thought this Easter season.  So thankful that God continues to make things new.  

Have a great weekend friends!  

thoughts on thursday

It't that time of the week to share some Thursday Thoughts and to link up with Meagan over at Beautiful Things!

I think...

* being sick is for the birds.  And I will totally admit I am a big ole baby when I am sick.  I want my mom to come to my house, put sheets on the couch, bring me food and baby me.  This head cold, sinus stuff has taken over this week and I am feeling pretty yucky!

* nothing beats a handwritten note from a kid.  The misspellings, the smiley faces, the messy handwriting...sure brings a smile to my face!

* getting an Easter Basket as an adult is way better than getting one as a kid.  Hope the Easter Bunny reads my blog or checks out my Wish List pinterest board for some ideas! :)

* people should extend more grace and less judgement.  This week my heart was broken by the way people treat other people, especially on the social media.  There is no question that we all mess up, I sure do all the time, but I don't want people blasting my mess ups all over the internet.  Shouldn't we be encouraging, praying for and being compassionate instead?  We truly never know the deep hurts people are dealing with, the emptiness they feel, the darkness they live each day.  So this week, I am trying to love people more. Sorry for that soapbox.

* I am already looking forward to Easter dinner at my grandmothers house.  I can't wait for broccoli salad, deviled eggs, ham...yummo!  What are your favorite Easter recipes?

* I am excited to celebrate 4, yes 4 birthdays this weekend!  Three of my best friends have birthdays this week and my sweet Mamaw turns 88 on Saturday!  Bring on the celebrations and birthday cake! :)

* my friends are some of the greatest people on the earth.  I watch them love selflessly, give til it hurts, care for people well, and I just feel blessed.

* Dave Barnes is amazing.  That is all!

* this quote from the movie We Bought a Zoo is one of my absolute favorites..."You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage.  Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery.  And I promise, something great will come of it!"  So be brave people....

it's beginning to look a lot like...Easter!

Easter is one of my favorite times of year!  Yay for spring, sunshine, Easter baskets, flip flops and so much more!  I love being able to decorate my house for this season!  This year I went a little crazy with the spanish moss and the eggs, but can you really ever have too much of those things?  :)  

Here is a little tour of my house at Easter!  I apologize for the not great quality of the pictures!  But enjoy friends!  

This is my sunroom which really is one of my favorite rooms in my house!  It is perfect for Saturday morning coffee or a rainy day afternoon nap.  I kept it a little simple in here this year.  Just a vase with some spanish moss and eggs.  I picked up that sweet little blue bunny from Michael's for less than $5 to add to the decor.  I love using old windows around my house too!

I don't sit at the dining room table often, since it is just me, but I added a purple dish with you guessed it, spanish moss and eggs.  Very simple but festive!  

On the other side of my dining room is one of my very favorite pieces of furniture!  This piece was refinished by my dear friend Liz and it adds the perfect touch to my dining room.  I am in love with that green moss bunny I picked up at Home Goods!

I added a little bunny and some more eggs to my table in the hallway under my Instagram wall.  Don't you love this table?  I found it at Hobby Lobby for cheap!  

Most of my Easter decor is in the living room on the mantle!  I really do love my mantle.  Are you sensing a trend here?  I love my house!  :)  

Every good Easter decorator knows that jelly beans are an essential to this season, so I had to include them around my house!  

How do you decorate for Easter?  What are some your favorite ways to add some spring to your house?