Hydrangea Heaven

I spent all morning in biology learning about plants, specifically angiosperms aka FLOWERS. Back in Savannah in the summer, the hydrangeas were in full bloom and the absolute most beautiful thing ever. Learning about the intricate plant cells and tissue isn't exactly the most exciting thing but wow, I'm a sucker for a good monocot! Look how pretty they are.

Summer Days in Savannah

It's freaking October and I'm just now sitting down to write about our summer adventures in Savannah. Granted I just moved across the country, started college and lost my tan in a week but yeah, excuses excuses.

It was my goal this year to see my friend Sarah McNair. Lucky me, I saw her twice and was in her wedding! She wasn't even engaged when I made that goal, so either I'm a prophet or God is just really good at being God. (you pick!) Either way, I'm so thankful I got to spend time with Sarah. There are some friends where you know that no matter what, you'll be friends forever. Sarah is one of those people, and I'm so glad she's in my life.

I met all these girls at TeenPact, isn't that so funny? I guess the pencil skirts and political debates were good for something. I met Sarah and Nellie back in Georgia in 2014 (see it HERE, also lol at the fact that Sarah and I didn't really even know one another then.) and then we all connected again at NC the same year (see here) and added bri to the party. Easily without a doubt, they are some of my all time favorite people. I'm baffled at the way that TeenPact creates such strong friendships. It's weird and super awkward but WORTH every second.

Sarah wasn't in Savannah when I went over spring break (say that ten times fast), so it was a treat to be able to explore the city with a native this time around. Obviously I'm smitten with the old fashioned Charm of the city....the sweltering heat? Not so much.

I love these women with my whole heart. Also, I love the random lady we asked to take this photo because it actually turned out! Cheers to our #IDOCREW and such a fun weekend in Savannah.

ABILENE, YOU'RE THE DREAM.

When we moved back to Florida in 2010, I thought I was finished with small towns forever.

When I was 3/4 of the way  through senior year and hadn't submitted one application, I assumed going off to college was just a childhood fantasy.

And when I swore that I'd never wear grape purple again well...just look at my hat (and the 4 shirts I bought in the campus store.)

I'M MOVING TO TEXAS IN FIVE DAYS TO ATTEND A SMALL SCHOOL IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

And I couldn't be more excited.

I was sitting in the dining hall back in February, wondering what I was doing 10 million miles from home, considering a school in a town in Texas that was so small I wasn't even sure it had a target. On paper the school looked good, in person it was pretty good too, but I wasn't convinced. I wasn't convinced until God spoke to me as clearly as the plate of french fries I was eating had spoken to me earlier. For whatever reason, this was the place where healing would begin. In the Dining hall at Abilene Christian University, of all the places God could pick!

For whatever reason, thats what He chose for me.

And so, I'm going.

I move in two days! I picked out a pink comforter. I'm still trying to figure out how I can bring my dog. I'm nervous and anxious and stressed but at the end of the day, I'm going where God wants me. And that matters way more than if Abilene has a Target or not.

Which PRAISE THE LORD, they do.

Now I can be broke forever!

TWENTY-SEVENTEEN: A SUMMER OF SABBATH

Summer always comes knocking with a list of fun activities following close behind. From beach trips to acai adventures, I always have a fairly extensive and ambitious list of things things to do/explore/eat over summer break.

Well, every summer except THIS one, that is.

I spend a lot of time striving for earthy success. And they're not even bad things- good grades, a job well done, investing in specific friendships. After a hard semester, I was completely burnt out. Every second after my alarm went off at 5:30 each morning was spent in an attempt to be as productive as possible and check everything off my never ending to-do list. Email my boss. Prep speech presentation. Connect with a speech pathologist. Edit photos. Do the dishes. Don't forget to eat dinner.

Life, even a simple and well intended one, can be exhausting. 

Each week I had to repeat to myself, "Just make it one more day." Everyday. And when I made it to the weekend, I spent every second catching up on sleep, cramming or cleaning and prepping for the next week ahead. I felt guilty going anywhere but class or work related places, thinking I was wasting time. I'd go over flashcards at stoplights. No music during the 39 minute drive to school, just biology lectures....for 3 months. Putting on makeup and driving to church seemed like a waste when I could just watch it at home, so that's what I started doing.

I know, this sounds so dramatic. I mean, come on girl. We see you posting on instagram all the time! Well what if I told you I scheduled out 35 posts so I wouldn't have to be on the app?

Yeah, I am that dramatic.

It got to the point where rest was just a thing of the past. Relaxation was equally extinct, in my mind. Why rest when you could work? Why relax when you could get stuff done? Why watch Tv when you have a to do list looming?  However, over Spring Break I read a book that talked about the sabbath. "HONOR THE SABBATH AND KEEP IT HOLY." is what the bible instructs, yet somehow I had twisted that into "accomplish as much as humanly possible on this one day to be a good person"

The New King Karissa translation somehow omitted the honor the sabbath and rest on the seventh day part.

And so as a result of that, my summer list is quite different this year. Other than my goal of finishing The Inferno, my summer list for 2017 revolves solely around honoring the Sabbath and learning how to keep it holy in this busy, distracting, demanding world. It's hard to turn it all off. To power down on everything in life, even for a day, has its challenges. But I can honestly say that the best way to recharge is to mute the distractions of the world and fully zone in on Christ.

And isn't it great that God made a day of the week specifically for just that?

The ways  in which we feel called and convicted to honor the Sabbath might be different, but at the end of the day, it's about giving our time and energy back to The Lord. I know I have a long way to go on this journey, but I'm grateful that Jesus is changing my attitude, heart and thoughts toward the Sabbath.

Instead of attempting to pack my summer full of beach days an acai bowls, my main focus is to spend less time on superficial fillers and more time, specifically The Sabbath, with my Heavenly Father.

And with that, Happy Summer and Happy Sabbath!

Previous Summer Lists:
{2012}
{2013}
{2014}
{2015}
{2016}

INLET....IN-LIT?

Ah, the inlet! Ironically enough, I've never blogged about it. Which is kind of shocking considering I've blogged about everything from broken bones to what I eat for lunch, but somehow a post about the inlet never made the cut.

(Or, I was too lazy to make one. Probably that!)

We normally go at least once a year, and this year was great! Until I got home. Because then I looked in the mirror and remembered that I hadn't worn any sunscreen. 

And I had been in full sun. For eight hours.

 Needless to say, I looked like a tomato for a good week or so and it's not a look I would recommend to anyone.

I can't really put into words how much I treasure this little group of friends. One reason it's probably difficult is because they actually make fun of me, a lot. But once I learned to let it roll off my back and see beyond their rough edges, I actually have so much fun. It's not often you find people who you feel 100% comfortable to be 100% yourself with, but I'm thankful I have. We raced hermit crabs, and talked about life, love and Drake while exploring the surrounding islands. And even though I ended up looking like a tomato, it was worth it.

(ish. It definitely wont be worth it if I end up with skin cancer.)

So we made a human gradient and I happened to be tanner than my CUBAN friend, which is the greatest honor anyone could bestow upon me! Not really sure where this honor will take me in life, but you can bet I'm going to have it on my resume.

And we ended the night with a walk around the island and then talking in the driveway till midnight. 

Summer nights man, they're something else. 

STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER

Happy Fourth, Friends!

Just here to let you know that at 19 years old, I'm still terrified of fireworks. I had high hopes that this would be my year. No earplugs. No anxiety attacks. No hiding in the Laundry room with the puppies. Just me embracing the home of the brave stanza of the song and actually, going outside. 

Which I sort of did, so on second thought, this year was a mild success. I was outside and handled it semi-ok. Plus I didn't have waterproof mascara on so bursting into tears was not an option! Beauty is pain, or whatever they say.

Despite my aversion to loud noises, this was a very good fourth of July. Because any day that starts at Chick-Fil-A is going to be a good day, am I right or am I right?

PS: Previous 4th celebrations HERE.

TOP: Anthro

SKIRT: Shein.com

SHOES: WalMart 

(I'm a classy woman, yes.)

LAKE NONA

Last year, May was a crazy chaotic, emotional month for everyone (in our family at least. Hopefully you all didn't experience the same junk!!). Despite the craziness of it all, mom and I somehow managed to make it to Canvas for Mothers Day dinner and somehow it was as though time stood still. The light was golden, the food delicious and we decided that it should definitely become a thing.

One year later, our lives look very different but the sunset through the glass house was just as spectacular and the food just as delicious and we even got free champagne which was a definite win!

Canvas is in Lake Nona which is right outside of Orlando. For being such a touristy city, Canvas is very very peaceful and such a relaxing atmosphere. It sits right on the lake with this amazing glass house on the property. Both times we made our reservation for during golden hour (I'm sure you can see why!) The house was designed and crafted by a local artist and It's basically every fashion bloggers/instagrammers/homeschooled girl's dream come true.

Since last Mothers day, they've expanded the property to include a garden! There were tomatoes and peppers and herbs galore and it's what they use in their cooking. Basically it's the Florida equivalent of Farm-To-Table and I love it. Way to go Florida!

And in case you were wondering, yes we did eat and yes the food was amazing! This time we got scallops and that's a very lame way to put it because they were delicious and adored will all kinds of fancy things that I'm really not worthy of. 

If you're ever in Orlando and looking for a place to eat, Canvas should be first on your list. No Disney Tourists, No chicken fingers on the menu. Just a glass house, good food and the PERFECT place to watch the sun set!