It's a new week!

This weekend, like every other day, was a blessing. It officially marked our one month count down until moving. I leave in less than a month for Alabama and will be there for 5 weeks. My hubster and father-in-law (who is flying in from Orange County, CA- home sweet home) will make the moving trek to our new casa in Oklahoma! Hubster and the fur babies will be there for a whole month without me! Not going to lie...I am pretty stoked that I do not have to worry about the loading/unloading of the moving van...but I will be having my own challenges and excitement in Alabama (will explain closer to my leaving).

Saturday was awesome..although I have no photographical evidence to support that claim (Valor's dinner included my camera USB- hence why photos from CA aren't up yet...) It all started out at Tiny Boxwoods aka: the cutest little brunch spot that I absolutely adore. Five of us girls went out to brunch to celebrate the end of finals/being fabulous. After Tiny's, Valor experienced her first dog park adventure. It took her a while (in the small dog side) to warm up to the idea...but then she was swimming in the pond, chasing big dogs and playing fetch. We love our little dachshund, Ziggy, but having a (soon-to-be) big dog is a different kind of fun- and we love both kinds!

Sunday my man and I ventured back to Tiny's..but this time Tiny's No.5. I actually have a photo from there (not with us in it..but at least it shows some of the restaurant) We love the idea of Tiny's. Theres a cute chalkboard with menu items written on it (sans prices..which gets ya every time!), white and taupe everything with white/grey granite counters. Both Tiny's have lawns that my husband and I joke contains magic air because every time a toddler steps on the grass they start dancing and doing spins and somersaults its so cute!  Last night- I was a crafting machine! I wanted to make cute moving announcements for our co-workers, family & friends but they are SO expensive online. I got this idea on pinterest and expanded it to make it my own.. check out the photos! 

 

{{front}}

{{inside}}

I cannot wait to send these out!!!

Today is Monday...everyones favorite day! I love Mondays because it gives you a new start for the week. Think of this week as chapter 1 in your new book. No matter what happened last week, the good the bad the ugly, this week is a new week. Make it the best start to the new book that you can. I love the verse

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (NLT)


He's got it all figured out. Do your best and let Him do the rest. If last week was amazing, start off this week with an even more expectant attitude- make the second book greater than the ending to the first! If last week was a struggle, make this your comeback week- make the second book a greater self turnaround than the ending to the last. If you treat every day like a new chapter, and every week like a new book- think of the endless possibilities of greatness. We always anticipate the next chapters and sequels to books to be more exciting, more rewarding and more fulfilling than the previous- why cant we do that with our days? Ephesians 3:20 proves that we don't even know how great God's plans are for us- lets not limit Him and lets not limit ourselves- let's get out there with an expecting attitude and be ready for favor! It is there, it is waiting for us, and we are ready for it!


Ephesians 3:20 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! (MSG)


Have a blessed Monday :)

Totally awesome

Today is my last final of graduate school! I cannot wait!

Ever notice how pinterest gets super "popular" during finals week? I'm telling ya- I have been a pinterest-ing machine over here this week. So...before I dive into my last study sesh of graduate school (can I get an AMEN!?), I will leave you with some totally awesome Pinterest finds from this week!

Home Sweet Home:

I am going to make this for our new home..once school is done :)



via

Random:

Heck.Yes.

via



I workout:

Double.AMEN.

via

One day:

Totally making this one day.

(whenever we enter that chapter of our lives)

via

Have a blessed Thursday! This weekend I am going to put up pics from CA and have adventures because...after all..graduate school will be OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philipians 4:13 (NIV)



Happy Monday!

I just got back from California and it was ah-mazing. I love going home and seeing family. I will post more about it later. Hope everyone wakes up encouraged and ready for a blessed week ahead. Start it off strong and push yourself to your highest potential. I can't wait to get to the blogging and show off photos from California. Most of all, I can't wait to read a weeks worth of blogs that I have missed! Oh..and we may/may not have a house that I may/may not be super super excited to move into ;) (more of this to come...)

Well...I wish I could spill more about CA and blog a little bit longer...but I have 2 hyper puppies and a class starting in an hour. Time to get going!

{{Home.Sweet.Home.}}

Sometimes and Always

It has been a while since I blogged. I blame it completely on my last couple of weeks of graduate school. Between thesis, thesis presentation, finals, papers, moving plans, training plans, weekend 'work' trips, etc..I just havent had the time to blog!

Last weekend we went to San Antonio- it was productive! We were even able to squeeze in a little date night and go to the Alamo and the river walk.

{{@ the Alamo}}

{{The San Antonio River Walk- it's pretty awesome!}}

Tomorrow- one of my friends will go with me to California and see where I be from and my fam. We are just going to be hanging out wth the girls, the family, and the sunshine. This will probably be one of my last trips to CA before my parents move to OK also!

I will definitly be taking photos :) I have so much to post and can't wait to do that when I get back from CA.

Until then...it is time for some Sometimes and Always. Linking up with Megan!

Sometimes: I feel like there isnt enough time in the day

Always:  I remember that we aren't even guaranteed our next breath- never take a moment for granted. I am thankful that I am alive and busy as can be!

Sometimes: I wake up so sore that I dont want to get out of bed

Always: I love knowing that the previous days workout did my body good!

Sometimes:I hate tabata. OK actually I always hate tabata (google it- its a killer workout with push-ups, sit-ups, squats, pull ups and 800m erg)

Always: I love making new PRs every time! Yesterday was my best ever! 437 (2 weeks ago I was at 414 CHA CHING!)

Sometimes: I just feel like some good ol' Texas shapped tortilla chips

Always: I need the extra extra spicy salsa with some good ol' guacamole.

{{We are REALLY going to miss H-E-B when we move. BEST.GROCERY.STORE.EVER!}}

Sometimes:  I don't want to cook

Always: Once I suck it up and get the food a cookin'- I am happy I did it. Last night: Oven baked chicken breasts, baked sweet potatoes (extra Siracha chili sauce) and veggies. yummy!

Sometimes: I take the time to wear my hair down

Always: It looks cute until I leave for work- and then the Texas humidity has its way with my used to be naturally non-frizzy straight California surfer girl hair.

"Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. God's bright glory has risen for you!" Isaiah 60:1 (MSG)

He has risen! Happy Easter Everyone!

We will be enjoying this BEAUTIFUL day by having breakfast together, going on a run, enjoying the sunshine and celebrating with our church family! 

Love. Love. Love. 

Totally awesome Thursday!

This week was stressful, exhausting, interesting, fun, accomplishing, testing and real.

I presented my master's thesis yesterday, which was stressful, but the feeling after {{being told I have fulfilled all my requirements for my Master's degree}} was totally awesome.

We have had the puppy for almost 5 weeks and are still not sleeping through the night and are forced to wake up at 5:45AM, thus it is exhausting. The totally awesome part is that she is growing by the second and I cannot wait to have a running partner!

We have been looking at homes in Oklahoma which has been interesting- online house shopping is not totally awesome.

Tuesday was Free Scoop Day at Ben & Jerry's so, of course, my friend and I had no problem postponing the books and having some fun. We both got the totally awesome greek yogurt it was blueberry vanilla graham cracker (or something along those lines..... )

 

{{Yummy}} 

I feel accomplished. Graduate school was an entirely different feeling than undergraduate- but I am happy that I did it and happy that I have fulfilled all my requirements for this advanced degree! Can't wait until the graduation ceremony...I know that will be awesome.

This puppy is really testing our patience. Like right this moment....at 0730....she is persistent on grabbing my sweater and ripping it off the table...then I put it on the chair..and she rips it off the chair...the closet...she barks at the closet...She has a multitude of awesome dog toys- c'mon!

Reality is kicking in. Time with friends here is winding down. Time at our church is winding down. Time at training is winding down. This season is coming to an end. We are so excited for the awesome plans God has in store for us and are thankful for this season of our life. So often, I think people are so worried or focused on the future that they forget to be thankful for the present and the past. Think about all the circumstances in your life that has brought you to the point where you are today- the good, the bad and the ugly- they have all shaped you into the person you are called to be. We are continually being molded and directed towards each plan God has in store for us. Keep an open mind, be thankful for everything in the past and endure through the difficult times in the present because there is a future waiting for us that we couldn't even imagine up on our own!

Ephesians 3:20  "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."


Have a blessed Thursday!!!!

Sometimes and Always

I love linking up with Megan and doing the 'Sometimes and Always' posts. She is so cute and funny and this is such a fun idea! Go check her blog out!

Sometimes: I forget to eat breakfast before a training session.

Always: I can't make it through all the rounds and my trainer practically says 'told you so'.

Sometimes: It takes me having a running accountability partner to actually get me going.

Always: I feel so awesome after the run and am thankful for such great friendships!

{{Me and my partner in crime. Pausing for a photo op before our run yesterday.}}

Sometimes: I run more because I ate way too many cookies the night before.

Always: I end my run with a sweet treat....fail.

{{Yes- I wore those very ugly attractive socks on my run yesterday. Owning it. }}

Sometimes: I think I need coffee in the morning

Always: I drink decaf....

Sometimes: I want to look really cute for class or whatever outing we might go on so I spend time on my hair and makeup

Always: I end up putting my hair in a pony tail and smearing my makeup. fail.

{{It was very hard making my self keep my hair from being tied back.I'm pretty sure after I took this picture, a pony tail was my hair style.}}

Sometimes: I get sad about leaving H-Town

Always: I know my friendships will stay strong and I know God has an even bigger plan for us in our new city.

Sometimes: I say 'Howdy'

Always: My family (we're from California) goes, "huh?"

Have a ridiculously awesome Tuesday. Thank God for all the opportunities that He gave you today and make this day your best one yet! 

Smile, it's Sunday :)

This weekend went by so fast! Seems like the more and more we want time to slow down, the faster and faster it goes. Isn't that so true? I was thinking about how God puts you somewhere for a purpose and He is just waiting for you to (for lack of better words) FIGURE it out. Sometimes I can spend way too much time thinking "huh" or "God- why on EARTH did you stick me here?!" or "why does this person KEEP talking to me?!" When the whole time, God is looking down on you trying to get you to realize He prepared you for that place, He wants you to bless that person- HE is blessing YOU so that YOU can be a blessing. Don't let time pass you by. We are always sooo busy that we sometimes forget to take a deep breath and clear our minds and get back to the purpose. In actuality, everything should be centered around that purpose. Distractions are only distractions if you make them distractions. I challenge you to stop being SO busy that you forget why you are here. The best thing in life is being busy for a purpose.

This weekend, my husband and I weren't sure how to..in a way..figure it out. Were only here in this city for a few more weekends, we stayed busy enjoying it. No more of these- "too much hw" or "too much errands". This weekend was all about- "we are here for a reason. Amazing things have happened here. our lives have forever been changed because of being here. let's keep adventuring and find more ways that this city can impact our lives. God put us here- we BETTER find everything He has for us here."

We had Dunkin Donuts this weekend- I can never get sick of that place. The blueberry cake donut=Heaven on earth. The coffee w/cream & sugar=Umm..yes please.  We also went on date night to this little pizza place that is soo close to where we live yet we had never been there before! We had a T-Rex Pizza- sirloin, italian sausage, andoullie (spelling?) sausage, pepperoni and canadian bacon- THICK crust. YUM YUM YUM! So not what my trainer wants to hear me eating all these things in one day but I allow myself one two cheat days a week- I better make them worth it!

 

{{YUM.YUM.YUM.}}

{{AMAZING Pizza..my date wasn't too bad either ;) }}

Today was Valors first puppy training class. She was a champ. First command- aced it. Second command- nailed it. Third command- showed it off. Seriously- awesome. After the commands (read: tons of treats being given) the puppy trainer started talking about potty training and gave all the puppies toys to keep entertained. While the other 6 puppies were barking at each other and being annoying...Valor was knocked out like a boss. Yes, I know, my dog sleeps EVERYWHERE and it is AWESOME. Oh..AND Ziggy and Valor finally got some swag for their collars.

 

{{Best student in the class during "quiet time"}}

{{Why can't she sleep like that while I am studying?!}}

{{Furbaby swagger}}

Church- amazing like always. Walked in that door expecting great things, left those doors feeling changed. I love our church. Love God, Love People. It really is that simple.

 

{{Love these people. Love this purpose.}}

 {{Love serving a God who is up to something bigger than me.}}

 Hope you all had a blessed weekend!