Thursday, June 19, 2014

Coley's Bridal Shower

Last weekend some lovely ladies and I had the honor of hosting a bridal shower for our sweetest friend, Nicole. Here are some pictures recapping the event!
Photo by Birdy Johnson Photography
I was so impressed with these custom napkins from The Knot's Wedding Shop. 
They processed and shipped super quickly, and the quality was great too.

Photo by Birdy Johnson Photography
We reused this banner that Lizzie made for the night Coley and Skyler got engaged!

Photo by Birdy Johnson Photography
Coley's sister, Meredith, is as talented and all get out and made this cake.
 It even reflected what the save the date looks like! 
Bonus? Funfetti inside.
Lizzie made sure to capture this after our Lowes Foods run
...because it's not everyday that your sunglasses match your party supplies.

Photo by Birdy Johnson Photography
I managed to take a stab at Nicole's new monogram...displayed on the chalkboard out front. :)

Photo by Birdy Johnson Photography
The precious bridey opening gifts. The day was filled with pink, and it was grand.

Photo by Birdy Johnson Photography
Coley with her matron and maid of honor!

Photo by Birdy Johnson Photography
 The girls


Photo by Birdy Johnson Photography
 Love this beautiful bride. (And don't mind my frizzball hair. ;))


And one iPhone pic from Sunday...checking out the future Mr. and Mrs. Harrison's new digs!
Cannot explain how thankful I am for these two besties of mine. [You can more about them here!]

SOURCES
Photography: Birdy Johnson Photography
Napkins: the knot SHOP [Napkin color - berry, print color - gold foil]
Cake: Ramble on Roses
Banner: DIY by Lizzie Morrison

Cheers to wedding season!
 
Pop on over to Mia's blog...my lovely June sponsor! :)

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Drink Your Greens


Morning, sunshines! Last month I wrote about 5 Healthy Habits that I [seriously] enjoy keeping. I got some fabulous feedback and requests for more...which totally blew my mind and was really cool at the same time. Yay!

With that said, I knew in an instant the next "healhty habit" of mine that I had to tell y'all about. Three words: Catie's Organic greens. I started drinking them daily in the summer of 2012 (a few months before our wedding!), and I've been hooked ever since.

Let me start by saying that this does not in any way replace my veggie intake. I don't use it as an excuse to skip out on eating greens. I try to keep a whole foods, plant based diet (read "way of life," not "way to lose weight") as much as possible, so using Catie's greens to replace eating green in general would be a no no.


I drink a glass of this every morning. It's like: Good morning, body. Here is a glass of SO MANY vitamins and minerals. You can absorb them easily and efficiently since your stomach is empty and they're in juice form. You're welcome. I'm telling you, y'all. This stuff is THE JAM.

 MORNING ROUTINE
1. Lemon water + cayenne pepper for detox [as described here]
2. Coffee with almond milk [addicted and unashamed]
3. Catie's Organic Gluten Free Greens [I've recently started the gluten free kind because...why not?]
Wait 20 minutes for absorption. Then eat breakfast. [Scroll down to #3. That's my go-to favorite!]

I mix a scoop of greens with filtered water, and I'm good to go. I like to keep it simple, quick, and efficient. Just a mix with a spoon...and done. [Nit picky note: I use a Tervis to make the greens + water drink. The curved bottom of the glass makes it easier to mix in the green powder without it getting stuck. Trust me, I've fixed enough glasses of these in 2 years to know! :)]

Some folks, namely my sister and my former roomie, Ensley, (also fellow greens drinkers!) think I'm cray-cray to drink the greens with water only. Genuinely, I think it tastes good. They don't. To each their own, right? I tend to love weird stuff (e.g. I will take seltzer water over juice any day of the week), so these greens with water are my jam. Not too sweet, but sweet enough to be pleasant! They definitely don't taste bad. But with all of that said, you can easily throw them into a smoothie too. Hope even wrote about her favorite smoothie recipe a few months ago and included our beloved greens, of course!


My friends over at Energy Essentials are so fabulous that they graciously sent me Catie's Whole Food Vitamin C Plus to try too! 


Surprise, surprise...I loved it too. The bottle label is pink, which is obviously fabulous, and the drink looks enticing (or perhaps less intimidating than dark green juice?) as well . It definitely has a different taste than the greens -- and rightfully so, as it's jam packed with Vitamin C!



I appreciate that you can drink the Vitamin C anytime of day. I look forward to sipping on some glasses of this (with ice!) during the summer. It certainly tastes refreshing.  I will be sure to stock up on this during cold and flu season as well. 


Since becoming obsessed with the Food Babe, I've gotten really into learning about the transparency (or lack thereof) of the food industry. Energy Essentials is a company that makes fabulous products and has strong values. Their mission statement makes me smile:

"It is our goal as a company and a family, to help provide natural answers for healthy living.  Because our cells make up our glands, organs, tissue, veins, arteries and even our bones, Catie has researched and formulated many products to help clean, strengthen, nourish, nurture, help heal and rejuvenate on a cellular level. We all know that not all products are what they say they are. Rest assured that we search very hard to provide NONTOXIC, CHEMICAL FREE, HORMONE FREE, PESTICIDE FREE PRODUCTS, AND AS ORGANIC AS WE CAN GET to help you live your best life now!"

Amen?! Love it!

Want to join me in adding this loveliness to your morning routine!? Please do! Catie has graciously given all Cheers Y'all readers 10% off your Energy Essentials order now through July 6th using the code CHEERSYALL.

Yes, the bottle is $40 (well, $36  with your coupon code!). Y'all know I'm as frugal as all get out. But here is the thing I believe: what I pay for in healthy, organic, non-GMO foods and drinks, I won't be paying for later in doctors visits and/or medical bills. These greens help give me a strong hold on my health -- they keep my body on the offense rather than defense. Money well spent. And a product that I clearly believe in as I've been drinking it for two years! (Oh, and the bottle will last you for a good, long while. :))

Please tell me if you're going to give the greens (or anything else!) a try because I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!!

CHEERS...with a big glass of Catie's Greens!


Pop on over to Mia's blog...my lovely June sponsor! :)

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Home Tour | Exterior


Next up on the home tour: the exterior of our home. I have to admit, the biggest reason I am including these pictures on the home tour is so I can look back at them in years to come and vividly remember exactly what our first home looked like. It's a good one, and I know it holds and will hold memories we will cherish forever.

 The very first picture in this post is the one I took yesterday. Then I realized you can't really see our house as a whole with all of the leaves grown in. I found this picture from winter to use instead. :)

 Lots of greenery in the front which looks so lovely through our living room windows!

 Front porch. Our eat-in kitchen is through those sliding doors. 

 Another front porch view.

 Front patio off our living room. Marky and I (and Amelia!) love it out here.

 Best outdoor spot :)

 We have a lovely little side yard too.

 The back - we love that this is completely fenced in and private.

 Back patio, Tina, and hopefully the future home of an outdoor table and chairs someday?

And of course the garage! I still can't get over that we have a garage. Pinch us!

PROGRESS
- got moss scraped off back roof
- purchased rocking chairs!


TO DO
- add flashing and a saddle on the chimney
- powerwash stucco


SOURCES
Exterior: Coquia [Shell] Hard Stucco
Roof: Cedar Shake
Rocking Chairs: Lowes Foods ($70 each with your Lowes card!! A good bit cheaper than Home Depot/Lowes Hardware.)
Outdoor Throw Pillows: Mediterranean Tile Pillows from Pier 1
Garden Stool: consignment (Locals - home again is a fabulous home consignment store!)


Cheers Y'all Home Tour Index


I treasure this place. Thank you, Lord, for our home!

Pop on over to Mia's blog...my lovely June sponsor! :)

Monday, June 16, 2014

I'm Across the Pond Today...!


Kind of! :)

You can find me posting on my twinster Tara's blog while she's on vacay.

Y'all learned about my beach decor a week or so ago, and today I'm sharing some of the British themed accents we have around our home.

So what are you waiting for?! Head on over...right here!

Friday, June 13, 2014

Home Tour | Laundry Room


Because it's completely logical to start a home tour with the laundry room, right? Truthfully, it's the room with the least amount of to-dos. That's why it will make the premiere appearance for the Cheers Y'all Home Tour! Woohoo!

I'm still giddy over the fact that I even have a laundry room. It makes me feel grown up for sure. I love this space! It's right off the kitchen -- about 5 steps away from my desk or "command center," for days when I'm feeling rather official.

Let's start with the before:


And currently...

 As a part-time SAHW, this is my domain. We don't split laundry duties. That's my job. (Well, except for occasional ironing. There are few chores I loathe more..I'm a horrible ironer.) I wanted this room to reflect that this was my space...enter the happy, girly wall decor!

 I love that these cabinets were already white when we moved in. Score! I like the cabinet hardware from the previous owner too. Nothing to fix in that regard! I just screwed in the knobs a little tighter because I like them vertically better than horizontally like they were before. Nit picky much? ;)

 Total boring pic, but I adore all of the storage in this room. The washer and dryer came with the house and are under warranty for our first year here. Can't complain about that! Holler!

 The beach bag and Amelia's leashes hang on the back door. Gotta have the beach bag within reach at all times. Also - I tucked some old computer speakers [semi-camouflaged by the flowers] in the corner so I can jam out while I fold. :)

 The linoleum countertops aren't the prettiest, so I set this basket on top to take up some counter space. I love having the dryer sheets out and within reach when I pop everything in the dryer.

 I have our wall calendar on the counter too. It's just easier to write on when it's laying down! Since the laundry room is so close to my desk, I like to think of the calendar and bulletin board filled with events and invites as an extension of that space. Having it in here just keeps the clutter out of the kitchen area.

 Now this big ol' wall with an outlet in the middle...ish?! Random. What in the world do I put there? Or just leave it? The only thing that has run through my mind is a big heart from Urban Walls, but I don't know if that will work with the outlet. I might just leave it blank. Thoughts?

PROGRESS
- painted walls and door
- hardwood floors (previously laminate)

TO DO
[Nada! Nothing bothers me enough to spend money changing it! :)]

SOURCES
Paint Color: Silvermist by Sherwin Williams (the perfect blue/gray)
Door Color: Urbane Bronze by Sherwin Williams
Over-door hanger: TJMaxx
Basket: Williams-Sonoma (Similar)
Bulletin Board: DIY
Wire H: PB Teen
Window Art: Lizzie Morrison

Happy Home Tour kickoff!
 
 

Thursday, June 12, 2014

She Shares Truth: Titus

Cheers Y'all: Scripture Dear to My Heart
 
I have loved spending every morning in the Word through She Reads Truth's study of Titus. It is so life-giving to sit down with my Bible, a big cup of coffee, and some time with Jesus in Scripture and in prayer. To be honest...I'm just getting back on the bandwagon after spending a few weeks prior quickly [and almost thoughtlessly] breezing through my Jesus Calling devotional. Not that it's not a great devotional -- it is! It's just so easy and tempting for me to read it quickly and move on...more like checking it off the to do list of "I spent time with Jesus this morning!" rather than actually stopping, reflecting, praying, asking, letting Him lead. All that to say -- this past study of Titus with She Reads Truth has been so good for my heart and soul. :)

I've mentioned before that there is an awesome book out there on Titus 2:3-5 called Feminine Appeal: 7 Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother. I highly recommend it to anyone (married or single!), and there are even discussion questions in the back so you can go through it with a group of women as I was privileged to do! 
 
Via Amazon
 
One big (but not very novel) takeaway I have from this past study is this: it's time for me to get plugged back in for some deep, consistent, godly community with women here in my "new" city. Mark and I have been so fortune to meet and make some amazing friends since we've moved. But I still need, want, and desire to be plugged into godly community through our church. ASAP. So here's my big nudge in that direction, and I'm making it happen.

Please join me in praying for those women that I'll be meeting. I know I'm going to battle comparison as "my people" in Charlotte were just that: my people. They know my heart, my joys, my tears, my fears, and my struggles. They are Titus 2 women have--through Christ--shaped me as a wife more than anyone else has. (And it's no coincidence that a lot of that has to do with us studying Titus 2:3-5 together!) Praying earnestly for the women who will come into my life here in Wilmy. I know they will be hand picked by the Lord...just as these women were. Now it's my turn to seek out that community intentionally!

My people. 
...Whooooo I can't wait to see so soon(ish) at our beach reunion!!!!!
 
What about you? Where are you struggling? Rushing though quiet time like I was? Or struggling with having it at all? Craving community? Feeling lonely? I've been there, friends. Though each and all of these. 

Via
We're in this together! That's the beauty of knowing Jesus. We're all connected as eternal sisters in Christ.

Oh, and the next She Reads Truth study is on Ruth! It begins on the 16th. Ruth is a fabulous book in the Bible, and whether you've read though it before or not, I'd love to have you join me/us! 
 

Mark it on your calendar: June 16-29...let's study Ruth!

Pop on over to Mia's blog...my lovely June sponsor! :)