Happy Day, Tea, + Last Chance

Morning, y'all! 

Happy Memorial Day weekend Monday!

I hope this post finds you enjoying the long weekend!!! Truth be told, Mark and I both are both taking this entire week off for a staycation/Hope's wedding festivities. We aren't taking any big trips this summer (we took care of that last summer...), Mark's parents are visiting Wilmington for the first time, aaaand since we live at the beach now, we consider ourselves residents of a permanent vacation spot. Life is good. :)

Via Instagram | From our English Wedding Blessing

I am so looking forward to showing these two around Wilmy and WB for the rest of the week. I know I hit the jackpot in the marriage department, but I also hit the jackpot in the in-laws department too.

Cheers to the next few days full of tea and treasured time with our English family!

Via

Last thing...just a few more hours left of the birthday giveaways. Enter away! I'll announce the winners tomorrow morning!!!

His Name Fame

Burlap Bungalow

The FINAL May Birthday Giveaway will be up and running tomorrow! It's from one of my most favorite boutiques in Charlotte. You don't want to miss it! :)

OH HAPPY DAY!

Frankly, my dear...you should pop over here to visit my sweet sponsor, Jenni!

Birthday Paddleboarding

I just want to remember yesterday. In pictures. So here's to documenting Marky's 28th birthday on the blog! :)  It couldn't have been more beautiful. Our heads still spin thinking that all of this is nearly in our backyard! Both Mark and I are about to embark on our best year yet -- we're sure of it!

 Morning paddleboarding thanks to Wrightsville SUP -- highly recommend them! They're awesome guys! :)

 We spent about an hour and a half paddling around. It was super fun.

 Sigh. We live here.

 Mark thought it would be humorous to leash our paddleboards together and pull me.

 Taking a little break to live the dream.

 Post-paddleboarding

 Then we headed to SurfBerry (one of my faves) for some breakfast. This is an acai bowl. I'm hooked and wish I could eat this every summer morning (and spinach and kale are even blended into this goodness!!!).

 From SurfBerry breakfast to the beach. Couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day!

 Crazy beach hair.

TINA! ...I cannot finish this post without noting how we woke up.Tina poked her head between our sleeping selves and ruffed some happy puppy birthdays to Marky.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all! My in-laws are on a flight from Heathrow to the USA as I type!!! SO EXCITED!

 Cheers to a fabulous birthday for Marky!  

Frankly, my dear...you should pop over here to visit my sweet sponsor, Jenni!

 

Marky

 Happenings of Year 27 via Instagram

(Top): June 2013 on our mission trip with Forest Hill Church to Bujumbura, Burundi. I cannot imagine having experienced something as majestic as this trip without Mark by my side. 

(Middle Left): Messina, Sicily 

(Middle Right): Ephesus, Turkey [The Grand Theater where Paul preached to the Ephesians!]

(Bottom Left): Our new stomping grounds

(Bottom Right): Big milestone...we bought a house!...within minutes of the beach!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my hottie of a hubby! 

What a fun whirlwind this past year has been. There's no one I'd rather adventure through life with. 

I love you so much. 

Via

This month just keeps getting better and better. Mark's parents fly in from England to Charlotte tomorrow (YAY!!!! We haven't seen them since August!), and they'll make their first ever visit to Wilmington on Sunday. I cannot wait! I just know how much they are going to love our new town, our home, and the beach life. They'll stay with us until we all head back to Charlotte together later in the week for my sister's wedding! What a beautiful blessing to be surrounded by family so much this month. So much to celebrate!!! Praise the Lord for the gift of family!

Check y'all later...Marky and I have a birthday paddleboarding date at 10! Then we're beachin'. You know this picture queen will be updating via Insta! ;)

P.S. The final installment of the May Birthday Giveaway series will be up next week! It's from one of my favorite Charlotte boutiques...eee!
 

Frankly, my dear...you should pop over here to visit my sweet sponsor, Jenni!

Birthday Reflections [She Designed A Life She Loved]

Via

I spent the morning of my birthday in quiet reflection. I couldn't help but smile and feel a huge sense of God's peace.

When we lived in Charlotte for our first year of marriage...I just didn't feel like that's where we were supposed to be. Don't get me wrong, I adore Charlotte, and I miss our family and friends who are family there every single day. But Charlotte is my comfort zone. I didn't want to live my whole life in my comfort zone.

You see, I've spent the majority of my life in Charlotte. My hometown.
When I went to Chapel Hill, I attended with about 20ish people from my high school class.

When I went to camp, I always had friends from home there too (as a camper and a counselor). 

Never had I ever been anywhere where I didn't know someone or have a piece of home with me.

And then there was Mark. He left his home, his family, his best friends, his entire country to pursue and make a life with me! With me! That is an adventure. A grand, selfless, admirable adventure. And he fit so seamlessly and sweetly into the life I always knew in Charlotte.

My neighborhood became our neighborhood.
My favorite restaurants became our favorite restaurants.

My church became our church.

And so on.

But we had nothing that was originally our own.
And that bothered me.
Mark didn't resent me for that. But, in a way, I resented myself for it.

Elizabeth Scott Photography

But now.

Here we are at the beach.
We moved here knowing 0 friends.
Earlier this year I struggled with surrender.
Now [much to our surprise!] we own a home. 

I am able to serve and nurture my little family more than I ever have before.

We've made fabulous friends.
Gotten to know the area.
Discovered our new favorite places here and there.
And we are loving it. Together. 

There is something so romantic about making a life together. Creating our own story from scratch.

All that to say.
Here I am...here we are.
I couldn't feel more content or at peace.
I couldn't feel more thankful.
I so look forward to seeing how God continues to write our story.

Cheers to the beginning of year 27!

Frankly, my dear...you should pop over here to visit my sweet sponsor, Jenni!

The Burlap Bungalow + Giveaway

Hello, hello, good morning, loves!

Today I want to fill y'all in on The Burlap Bungalow, one super fabulous Etsy print shop with an even sweeter owner, Rachel.

The print I received from her is perfectly fitting for our new home! I just adore it. It would be a great gift for a new homeowning friend too. Take a look! :)

 "Home is wherever I'm with you."


Isn't it lovely!? I had every intention of hanging it in our mudroom...but that room is currently full of boxes and a trashcan. ;) I happen to think it looks mighty lovely on my desk too...



 ...right?! I mean, the mint accents on the print even match my laptop! Couldn't be more darn perfect!

So here's what's up: you get to choose ANY print you want form The Burlap Bungalow, and Rachel will ship it to you! Hello, awesomeness. So get to lookin'! 

I can't resist showcasing a few more of my favorites:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
  

Cheers to The Burlap Bungalow!

Per my sponsorship policy, I was given one product to review and keep and one to giveaway. All opinions expressed are strictly my own. 

Frankly, my dear...you should pop over here to visit my sweet sponsor, Jenni!

His Name Fame + Giveaway

Though my birthday is technically over, it's not over in blog land because I want to spend the rest of the week celebrating with y'all! Here come the giveaways!

First up is is one awesome company with a bigger purpose in mind: His Name Fame. Oh, how I adore their awesome concept to mix style and faith with a mission to make His name famous, spark conversation, and witness to others. I don't even need to explain why I love this!!!! Y'all know. :)

I wore this tank while I was getting things done around the house last weekend. It was the perfect casual Saturday shirt. More than that though, I love to throw on a sports bra underneath and wear this tank to Pure Barre!

Tank: His Name Fame Live Forever | Shorts: Old Navy | Bracelets: Lily + Laura | Bangle: Forever 21 (Similar)

On getting-things-done-Saturdays (AKA unpacking and more nesting), Tina is my favorite accessory.

Amelia pupproves of His Name Fame! ;)

Sooo who else wants one of these fabulous tanks OR one of your choice from the His Name Fame shop!?

Via

Love that Romans 9:17 verse on their website. :)

Enter below to win! Oh what fun!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cheers to His Name Fame!

Per my sponsorship policy, I was given one product to review and keep and one to giveaway. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Frankly, my dear...you should pop over here to visit my sweet sponsor, Jenni!

Twenty-Seven

Via

It couldn't be a happier Monday! I'll have a little birthday pep in my step as I go to Pure Barre, snag my free birthday Starbucks, and head to pick up the kiddos from preschool. 

Oh, and then there's The Bachelorette premiere tonight. Perfectly timed? I think yes.

Via

Want to know what will be playing in my car nonstop as I carpool mom it around town today? Love me some Katy Perry. No shame.

Check back tomorrow for the first giveaway of the week! We'll celebrate together all week long. Cheers to that!

Happy, HAPPY Monday! :) 

Frankly, my dear...you should pop over here to visit my sweet sponsor, Jenni!