Friday Favorites

School started and I stopped blogging.  Shocker.  BUT I think I'm finally finding my rhythm now!  So here we are and it's Labor Day weekend.  And it's FRIDAY...my favorite day because no homework and no after school activities.  It's just a day to breathe and I LOVE it.  I'm also loving so many things lately, so here are some random favorites on this wonderful Friday...

{A Fun Surprise}

 So this morning, after getting some new comments, I realized My Dinner Under the Stars party/post is featured on this great blog called Momfessionals (who I'm linking this post with as well:)).  What a fun surprise!!! Go HERE to see what a fun party my friend and I threw two years ago.  Looking back at this post has put me in the mood for fall and pumpkins!!! My favorite time of year!! 

{Rodan + Fields Body Lotion}

I became a consultant with Rodan + Fields, an amazing skin care company, in June.  It has been the biggest blessing!  I've been able to pay for my own products I love and make some extra income.  Being a family of 6 on a pastors salary is doable, but we definitely are so thankful for how this business has helped us have a little extra money.  Anyway, I love all of our products, but just yesterday tried our body lotion for the first time and I'm in LOVE!!! It smells divine and it is the best consistency.  

Seriously though, RF products are special and we have something for everyone.  And our products work!!! To read more about why I became a consultant and how I cleared up my horrible adult hormonal acne after trying everything else, go HERE.    

{Gymnastics Milestone}

THIS girl finally got her splits!!! Ellie Kate, my 8 year old,  is a natural athlete and is a great gymnast, but she isn't very naturally flexible so we began really stretching and working on our splits and she has it.  Good thing because her first competition is in 3 weeks!!! 

{Snaggle Tooth Grins}

I just love the stage when my children have their top two teeth missing.  It just makes their little smile so adorable.  Abigail lost both teeth this week and woke up with this smile today.  LOVE IT.  Good things she's forgiving because the tooth fairy forgot to visit last night, but she did remember to come while this sweet girl was at school.  I don't know why our tooth fairy always has a hard time remembering! Haha. 

{Kirklands}

Y'all, I am a new fan of this home store.  They really have lots of great current style trends for the home...and pretty good prices.  I got this rustic glass centerpiece thing for my kitchen table.  Not the best pic but I can't wait to play around with it throughout the seasons.  

Currently, I'm obsessed with their Besty the Cow canvas.  It's huge and it's amazing and I want it so bad, but I really don't have a spot for it. 

{Truth}

Finally, I'm thankful that when my news feed on Facebook can make me feel like our world has gone crazy (in many ways it has), that I can fall back on the timeless truth of the holy scriptures. 

In a world where toddler refugees wash up on shores, unborn baby parts are sold for profit, and a whole host of other heartbreaking truths are happening around us, I have to reflect on this. I have to trust this. Our King sees. Our King is on His throne. It can feel hopeless at times, but when we feel like we are in waters that engulf us, we know we have a sure and steady anchor. A true Hope. Doesn't mean we sit idly by and do nothing, but may this truth move us to boldly proclaim the hope we have. His love can and will overcome.

Linking up with Momfessionals

A Wedding Weekend to Remember

This past weekend we had the pleasure of being a part of my cousin's wedding.  We also love the groom and his family so it was a truly special weekend.  Julia and Harrison both were a part of our Cru ministry at Alabama and it was so fun to see their relationship grow over the years until Saturday when they took their vows of marriage!

The rehearsal dinner was at The Club and it was awesome!  They ended the night with fireworks looking over the city of Birmingham.  It was so neat! 

Ellie Kate and Abigail got to be flower girls and boy did they love getting all dressed up and beautiful!  

And I took quite a few pics (even though I got reprimanded by the official photographer. ha). 

This was their first time to see Julia 

Barrett is the groom's brother and we just love him!!!  

He was an All American Alabama football player and he is one of the kindest young men who loves our kids:). 

The four flower girls were so precious together! 

The custom calligraphy on all the papers (invitations, order of service, etc) were so beautiful

And the flowers were gorgeous. 

You gotta love a good southern traditional wedding! 

The reception was at The Birmingham Country Club. 

A storm had rolled in earlier that day and snapped their power.

It got pretty hot in that hall. 

But it didn't stop the fun! 

Kiddos were mesmerized by the bride and groom's first dance

My kids seriously danced the night away. 

I think they will remember that night for a long time. 

They absolutely had a blast despite the heat. 

The girls ditched the tutu's and danced in their leotard.

Samuel was woo'd by my cousin's wife Cat.

He loves her!  She really helped him come out of his tween shell and he danced with her a lot! 

And then he danced with me!  He even taught me some moves he learned from Cat:).

It was awesome to see my buddy have so much fun! 

See how sweaty we all were?

Thanks to the Hokes and Jones for allowing us to be a part of your special day!

It was such a fun weekend!  

A Few of My Favorite Things Summer Edition

I love favorite things posts! I always seem to learn a lot and try out new things when I read other bloggers favorite things.  And I've done a few before that have maybe been helpful to others??:).  So here we are again.  I'm going to share what I'm loving right now during the summer of 2015.


1.  21 Day Fix Workout Routine and Eating Plan

I've done a lot of the Beachbody exercise programs and online challenge groups and I really can't recommend them enough.  I have benefitted greatly from the accountability the challenge groups offer, but I have also loved being able to exercise from home the past few years!  I have seen great success in learning out to eat clean as well through Beachbody.  I lost about 25 lbs a few years ago and kept it all off until January when life took over and I gave in to lots of stressful emotional eating and stopped exercising.  Homeschooling and moving took it's toll and I have gained about 10 lbs since January. YIKES!!!! NOT COOL.  So I knew I could count on Beachbody to provide some accountability and exercise.  I decided to try out 21 day Fix and I'm loving it so far!  I'm well on my way to losing those pesky pounds that crept back on. It comes with great workouts you can do in 30 minutes and a doable meal plan that basically tells you how much and what to eat to lose weight!


2. GOD Centered Mom podcasts

I really like the ones where she has Kirk Martin on (she has 3 episodes with him). He has great tips on strong willed children and how to handle conflicts, etc. I listen to these podcasts while I work out a lot.  It's a good diversion rather than listening to the instructor say the same things over and over again.


3.  This avocado slicer!  I got it at Target and it sure does make slicing up an avocado easy.

4.  My zoodle maker (I found it at CVS of all places).

Samuel actually saw it and thought I would like it.  I LOVE it!  I'm pretty sure it's an as seen on TV type of product but it works great for what I need it for.  I'm the only one who will eat zoodles so a small one like this is all I need.  I basically just eat zoodles now every time I make spaghetti.  Kids and Jeff eat the whole wheat noodles with the meat sauce and I eat the noodles:).

5.  Rodan+Fields lip renewing serum 

Of course I LOVE all my R+F products but I'm really loving my lip serum.  I have always always always suffered from dry chapped lips year around.  I have a thousand lip glosses and chapstick laying around the house.  This serum is amazing and I can really tell a difference in my lips! They contain peptides and antioxidants to help lips retain natural moisturizing factors, smooth lip texture, and reduce the appearance of lip wrinkles.  Each canister has 60 capsules (I get two uses out of each one).  It has been featured in Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and more!

4th Of July Fun

We enjoyed a lazy and fun 4th of July. 

For most of the day we played at home and literally did nothing.  It was nice. 

Then we went over to my parents and had dinner with them and my brother, sister in law, and niece. 

I got my big camera out for the first time in awhile!  

I always love when I do that and don't know why I forget to take better pictures more often. 

The iPhone is just so easy I guess:). 

Annie - 3 1/2 years old

the kids love riding the 4 wheeler at my parents!

Abigail - 6 years old

Samuel - 12 years old (only a few months away from being a teenager)

Ellie Kate - 8 years old

After making them take good pictures for me, they all got a little wild.

It's good to get crazy pics too! 

cousins 

Ryan, Erin, and McKinley and baby on the way:)

we never get pics of just us!

We did some sparklers and then headed to the Mall of GA for their big firework show.

The kids loved the fireworks. 

And I have to say, I'm enjoying having my kids get older. 

It just makes things like this easier:).  

Hope everyone enjoyed a great day to celebrate America!

It's not perfect and it's not exactly what I wish it could be, but it's still an amazing country 

and I'm so thankful for Freedom and for this place we call home! 

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DON'T FORGET MY GIVEAWAY BELOW in the next post!

Only two people have entered!  

Leave a comment under that post to win some FREE 

(seriously it's FREE) Rodan + Fields products! 

Like, why wouldn't you enter:)?  NO strings attached y'all! 

It's a mini facial and they are some of my favorite R+F products!!!!