5 on Friday!

Cheers to the lovely linkup creators: Darci, April, Christina, and Natasha!

SNOW ON THE BEACH

This by far is the highlight of my week! I feel like this could have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see...and to walk from our house to see it!? What a blessing!

 More snow on the beach pictures!

LET'S STAY HOME
I filled our shelves with printables a few weeks ago, but I found myself staring at this "let's STAY HOME" one while whipping up dinner. It made me smile since it was particularly fitting for this week of happy snow days!

The homebody in me had to add it to our collection!

COMPLETE: READING THE WIFE AFTER GOD DEVOTIONAL
Y'all, I'm telling you...this book! Mmm. You can read my review to find out more about it, but I'll leave you with this picture plus Scripture that I've never quite read in such a way before. :)

Elizabeth Scott Photography

LOVE {FREE PRINTABLE}
This just makes me smile. It's simple, clean, golden, glittery, and free! Woopwoop! You can download and print it here.

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THE LOVELIEST VALENTINE'S DAY GIVEAWAY!

My friend Kaitlyn at Wifessionals has the most precious Valentine's Day giveaway going on...and it features Cheers Y'all [the shop]! Find this photo on my Instagram or Kaitlyn's Instagram for details on how to enter!

One winner will receive ALL of these! Hurry, the winner is announced on Monday!
 Happy last day of January 2014! Can you believe that?!

Now go visit my lovely sponsor, Khala!

Wife After God Thoughts and Reflections {Link-Up}

Grab the button above and link back to Cheers Y'all and Wifessionals!

Blown away.

Wife After God is far from a typical devotional. Believe me, this one is different. The words that fill the pages leapt out of the book and into my heart.

As an advocate of devotionals, being in Scripture daily, and living a life that aims towards Christ-likeness, I want to explain to you why this Wife After God felt so "different" to me (and why I think you should read it too!). Furthermore, my sweet friend Kaitlyn and I wanted to connect with the other wives who have read along with us!

Here I explain my heart for Wife After God:

- Each day is a lovely length. Not too short--I tend to speed through shorter devotions knowing that "this will just take a minute." Not too long--it didn't feel tempted to put it off with the [terrible] excuse of "ugh, this will take me an hour."

- And 30 days is a reasonable goal. That's all it takes: setting aside a few moments of peace each day for 30 days. (Yes, this book will bring you peace!)

- The organizational format of this book is so well developed. The predictable daily flow of the devotional encourages a deep connection to the text. Each day goes a little something like this:

• (1) Scripture. There is no better way to begin each day's reading than being in the Word!
• (2) Thought.  Author Jen Smith's thought on the day's topic. It captivates the heart. It connects with the reader. It awakens the Spirit within you. It convicts. It encourages. It is the perfect second step in your daily devotional journey.
• (3) Prayer. This section leaves no excuse not to pray and converse with God...because it's written right there for you! You pray not only for your heart but for your husband's too. The prayers are full of humility and roll right off the tongue. They're not too formal; moreover, they're like a stream of consciousness between you and the Lord.
• (4) Challenge. Each day has a challenge paired with the topic. Bring it on!! This is engaging...created to push you towards Christ-likeness. 
• (5) Status Update. Social Media integration! I love this. One thing I am passionate about is the privilege to use social media as a platform to make the name of Jesus great. Because why not?! If we are living for His glory, we should live to make Him famous!! Additionally, though this tactic, you can reach be in community with other readers at the same time as reaching nonbelievers!
•  (6) Questions. This is when you journal, reflect, and hopefully dialogue in fellowship with other women. These questions require vulnerability. Grab your journal for this one!

- No age requirement. If you are a wife, this book will speak to you whether you're 22 or 92. Because the book is grounded in Scriptural truth and teaching, it transcends an age range.

- Re-readability. I was a few days into this book when I knew I wanted to read it again. As you grow and transform into who Christ created you to be, I believe you can read and learn from this book with fresh eyes and a stirring heart each time. Wife After God will continue to minister to and encourage your heart no matter what your current or future walk looks like.

- Heart changes within me. As I read this book, I could feel my heart letting go of control and embracing gentleness and tenderheartedness. As a fairly Type A person, I naturally cling to control...and that includes controlling aspects of my marriage and my husband. This devotional softly urged me to surrender my ways and lay my life down...gently, calmly, lovingly and tenderly. Praise Jesus! The Spirit was truly at work within me through these 30 days.

- Favorite takeaways. Here are a few of my favorite "takeaways" from the study. I hope these few words touch your heart as they have touched mine!

 You can find my #WifeAfterGod social media creations on Instagram and Pinterest. 

Additionally, search #WifeAfterGod as a hashtag to see what other readers have to say!

I know that in the future I would like to re-read this book in a sort of Bible Study/Life Group setting with other women. I believe that there is so much that this book has to offer, and I hope to lead a study with it one day!

If you've read this book, I hope you felt as encouraged, engaged, and inspired as I did.
If you haven't read Wife After God yet, I encourage you (wholeheartedly and eagerly!) to get the book!

For more information on the book, visit Unveiled Wife.

To purchase the book, visit Amazon.

Whether now or later, please don't hesitate to reach out to me with questions or let me know what Wife After God revealed to you!

 

Disclosure: I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for a review; however, all thoughts and opinions are solely my own. 

  Now go visit my lovely sponsor, Khala!

 

 

Snow on the Beach

I mentioned before that snow is magical to us Southerners. I believe it's even more magical on the beach.

The night before this snowfall, I acted the same way I did in elementary school. I felt too excited to sleep, I woke up multiple times to peer out the window, and spent many moments lying in bed wide awake with visions of snowy sand in my head. I couldn't imagine a landscape more pure; I couldn't wait to get up and walk to the beach. And at 8AM, that's just what we did.

I just want to remember this day... 

Said like a true daughter-of-an-interior decorator: this is my color scheme.
(But seriously. These colors = my favorite color palette.)

Truthfully it's more ice than it is snow, but the beauty is still remarkable!

 Had to get a pic of our doghter, of course. Proud parents.

 Yeah, she doesn't like the fur hood. She was happy till I popped it up for this pic. TINA! :)

 Mommy/doghter pic

 Little family pic

 Daddy/doghter pic

 These two enjoying being bundled up for a long walk!

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: 

though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.

Isaiah 1:18 ESV

Go visit my lovely sponsor, Khala!

Smiles of Snow

In the spirit of snow (and how magical it is to us Southerners)...I found these lovey pins and wanted to share them with y'all.

I hope they bring a smile to your face as they did to mine!

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I hope you get to bundle up with the ones you love today!  

Now go visit my lovely sponsor, Khala!

NOLA Trip

Hello, hello from NC! I am back after my fabulous trip to see my childhood bestie and her hubby!! Get ready for all the deets [with the help of a picture overload]. Here it goes!

 My flight from ILM left at 5:29 A.M., which put me in CLT in time to see the most beautiful sunrise I've ever seen in my life...with my lovely hometown in in the background. Bless. I know I am a goob when it comes to happy tears, but watching this and thinking about the greatness, the vastness, and the glory of God...I couldn't help but tear up.
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork." Psalm 19:1

SATURDAY 

Here I am!!! NOLA! I kind of started crying when Ashley picked me up because I was that excited to see her. We hadn't seen each other in 6 months, and that's just weird for us. Happy tears indeed! Our first stop was Starbucks, naturally.

I was over the moon to see where Ash and William have been living since they got married in 2011. We usually see each other at when we're both at home in Charlotte in summer or for holidays, so it was such a treat to travel down to their home in NOLA.

Their place is in a home divided into 3 apartments! How lovely is this!?

That also means that they live in an absolutely stunning, historical residential area. 

I love old homes, so I was in awe driving down their neighborhood streets. 

After Ash and I sat and talked for a couple hours (...typical), we headed to Magazine Street to eat some lunch and meander into some local shops and boutiques!  

We dined at The Rum House, NOLA's only Caribbean taqueria! YUM!

  
 
All of the drinks were served in giant mason jars with neon straws! Love.

Chips + guac plus mango!? Yes.

A rumba taco and a brisket taco....yum!

We didn't buy anything in the shops, but I loved walking up and down the street and seeing all of the local businesses. There were some awesome consignment stores too. 

...And then we went home and took a power nap. Which was glorious. (Obviously.) When we woke up, we walked from her house to the big jogging path around Audubon Park (so convenient!).

 Of course I was drooling over every grand, gorgeous, historical home on the way to Audubon. I have a thing for white houses. And this one looks like a dollhouse (like so many others there!)!

After our walk we got ready for dinner at Lebanon's Cafe, a McEachern family favorite. It did not disapoint. Though I forgot to take pics, I loved my chicken, greek salad, pita, and hummus! 

We went out for one drink afterwards at Oak [since we knew we'd stay in Sunday night for Sean and Catherine's wedding...duh]. 

Oak is beautiful (obviously). 

Awesome atmosphere, live music, beautiful setting, and gorgeous artwork on the walls.

 Though they took this drink off the menu, Ashley managed to help the bartender figure out how to create the lovely pink drink they used to offer. Cheers!
 

 My favorite high school sweethearts (and my sweet host and hostess)!

SUNDAY

Ash and I started the morning reading through and discussing day 26 and 27 of the Wife After God devotional. Next up: brunch and my first visit to the French Quarter!

2 cups of coffee (each), Wife After God, a Bible, and some rich discussion. 

Love, love, love sweet Ash and and feel so grateful that we have seen each other through so many seasons of life.
Our friendship is an extraordinary treasure.

 Brunch at Dante's Kitchen

That's a crab meat and brie omelet. Oh, and the alligator sausage Ashley ordered for us isn't pictured. ;)

Downtown NOLA: Borbon Street Call me lame or un-fun (I will not take offense), but Bourbon street is not my jam.I appreciated the street signs on the building walls downtown that reminded me of my study abroad in Spain!

This is palm tree lined Canal Street. Palm trees...who knew?! (Not me.) 

Beautiful architecture all over this city. 

Jackson Square

My first look at the Mississippi River!  You know what's fun about visiting girlfriends? Wearing their clothes instead of yours.(Yep...that would be Ashley's sweater, necklace, and v-neck tee that I'm wearing! ;)) 

Final French Quarter stop: Cafe Du MondeCafe au lait and beignets!

We rounded up the night with The Bachelor Wedding. It was complete with comfy clothes, takeout pizza, Meomi, and some yummy chocolate truffles Ashley made. A perfect, girly, relaxing end to the trip! Totally grown sexy. (...You only get that if you watched the wedding. ;))

I flew home yesterday morning, and though I was sad to leave my sweet bffie, I was eager to get home and kiss my hubby! I miss him anytime we're apart...no matter how long or how short! :)

Cheers to travels, to lifelong friends, and to family! 

Have a wonderful Tuesday, y'all!

 Now go visit my lovely sponsor, Khala!