I have been trying to get back to blogging on a regular basis, but as you can see I have FAILED at that task. When I really got into blogging and started doing daily link-ups etc. it was because I started with a 30 Day Blog challenge. I am that kind of girl-give me a challenge and I won't let you down. I have been looking for a good one that would inspire me and I think I have finally found one that I like. I have so missed all the comments, messages, and just the communication in general that I develop with you all when I blog on a regular basis. Here is the challenge that I found on Pinterest:
Side note: I just want ya'll to know that I just spent like 3 hrs trying to make this really cute Lilly themed Blog Challenge list. You don't see it here though. It didn't work. I could not for the life of me remember how to put text on top of a picture you create. Not just a headline but a text box. If anyone has some easy directions or can point me in the right direction I would GREATLY appreciate it and love you forever.
Which leads me to this:
It was that kind of day today and I so need to be reminded of this constantly. I will start the blog challenge tomorrow and anyone that wants to join me feel free. I am SO EXCITED to start blogging again on a regular basis. Please let me know if you want me to check out your blog.
It has been so long since I have posted on here I don't even know where to start! I know that I have missed blogging so much and it was a New Year's Resolution of mine to start blogging again. It helps me to get in the everyday habit of blogging by doing some kind of 30 day challenge and linkups. If anyone has any great suggestions for one please let me know!
I moved back to my hometown, Lexington, KY, a little over a month ago and I have to say it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It's funny when I was younger and I couldn't wait to get out of here, now I don't ever want to leave. Nashville was a fun place for the 8 years that I was there, but it was time to move on and REALLY grow up-finally. More on all that later.
In honor of my move back to Lexington, these are some of the things that I truly missed the most:
Keeneland-the most beautiful race track in the world.
The University of Kentucky and my WILDCATS of course. It's just not the same when you live somewhere else!
The gorgeous horse farms and the beautiful scenery. Its so nice to see so much green grass again. I love that you have this just minutes away from Downtown. Its the best of both worlds.
My favorite local shops of course!!! Two of my favorite things, the Lilly Store, and the biggest bestest bookstore ANYWHERE-Joseph Beth.
I love all of these and so much more, but the most important things that brought me back are my family, great friends, and a job that I love. NOTHING is more important than those, as I have learned.
I know it has been awhile, it has been a crazy spring and summer for me, but I will be back on a regular basis very very soon. Thank you so much for still following me, I can't even explain how much I have missed connecting with all of my blogger friends! I came back a little bit earlier than expected to tell you all about a giveaway that you can't miss.
Katherine of Just Lovely is hosting a giveaway for a bonnet from The Beaufort Bonnet Company. If you all have not seen these yet, check them out immediately!!! They are the most precious item a little girl could have and I can promise you anyone I know having a baby will be getting one from me. Here are some precious examples (Photos are all from The Beaufort Bonnet Company's Facebook page):
Couldn't resist the Pink and Green!!!
You can monogram them...
Have them made to match dresses (is she not precious)
Or have one personalized for your favorite team!!!
I also read on there Facebook page that one customer bought a bonnet for her dog to wear at the beach!!! How cute is that??? I can't even begin to describe all the possibilities! So head over to Just Lovely and enter right away. The giveaway ends Friday, August 10th at midnight.
It just wouldn't be me if I weren't a little late on something this week! I am in the middle of packing up our apartment-we move on Tuesday-and let's just say that the beach, Summer, and everything that goes along with my favorite time of year are all I can think about in the midst of this moving chaos. These pins have been major escapes for me this week-I hope you enjoy!
Kate Spade Dress
Perfect summer outfit.
Cute Suit
Would love this bedroom in my dream beach house.
Pink Seersucker Shorts with Monogram-Love these!
Tahiti. I dream of going one day for sure.
Would like this room in my dream beach house.
Lilly Love! The blue perfume bottle-Beachy-is my signature scent. I love it.
My idea of paradise. I can't get to the beach fast enough.
Kate Spade Necklace.
Perfect words for me.
Hopefully life will calm down a little bit for me after we get settled next week. I will definitely be sharing pictures of our new apartment.
I am linking up with Michelle today at The Vintage Apple for Pinteresting Wednesday. There are always so many great link-ups for this one, I definitely suggest checking them out. I hope you enjoy my favorite pins from this week. If you want to follow me on Pinterest just click on the icon to the left. Happy Pinning hope you enjoy!
Sweetest dog ever!!! My friend has one-can't remember what its called-some kind of poodle mix-and she is just adorable!
Love every piece of this outfit, I want it.
Best Idea ever.
Courtney, Scott, Mason <3, and baby bump! So cute.
I know this post is a little late, but I had to write a post about Whitney. After all she made the first record that I ever owned (I was 5 years old at the time) andI learned all the words to each and every song. I still remember the cover and know its at my Mom's house packed away somewhere.
It had "The Greatest Love of All" on it, which was one of my most favorite songs of all time. I remember how cool I thought she was in the video for "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." It was so totally 80s and I wanted to be just like her in that video. Over the years I did purchase every Album, Tape, or CD she ever made and really did think that she was the most talented woman I had ever ever heard. Her voice was truly that of an angel and as someone commented last week, God just lent us an Angel for awhile.
One of my favorite movies of all time is The Bodyguard. I have watched it probably 100 times and still never get tired of it. I had the soundtrack, the movie, everything, and this amazing woman had a huge impact on me. I remember when I was little my Mom got to go see her in concert and I was so jealous and angry at the same time. That should have been me I thought!!! She totally shaped music for me and was to me the greatest diva of all.
All of this leads me to what people have said about her and are saying since she passed away. As some of you know I have had my battles with addiction, just like she did. Addiction is a disease just like cancer or high blood pressure. You have to treat it just like other diseases and when we stop treating it we get sick. People that are saying she was a crack head and of course she died from drugs and all those horrible things MAKE ME SICK. I hope that people that ignorant never ever have addiction touch there lives or the life of someone they love. It is so easy to judge from the outside, but when you are in the middle of it like Whitney Houston was and I have been it is so much easier to use than to stay clean. I can't even imagine being in the spotlight and being a superstar like she was and to have all these demons haunt me and on the pages of every magazine in the world. Whether she died directly from drugs or not, they did cause her body a lot of wear and tear, more than a normal 48 year old woman's body. I am sad for many reasons, but even more so that another person had to die from this terrible disease. I am so happy that her demons are no more and pray that she can finally rest in peace.
Her final album was also one of my favorites and when I listen to some of the songs it seems to me like she finally understood her disease and really knew, as most of us have to learn, that God was the only person she could turn to when dealing with her addictions. This song really speaks to me and all those haters need to stop judging, have some compassion, and maybe listen to this song.
Another thing that I really admired about her was that she never claimed to be perfect. She put her troubles out there and dealt with them the best she could, just like we all try to do. She never ever claimed to be 100% sober and maybe if she had lied and said so people wouldn't be so hard on her. Sometimes a lie that appeases people is easier than dealing with the truth.
I miss her already and will truly miss her amazing gifts. I am not one to idolize celebrities or anything like that, but I really do believe Whitney Houston was a special person. I hope she is finally at peace in heaven and is smiling down on us all. My heart goes out to her daughter, Bobby Christina.
