There is Still Good

After the senseless and despicable events of last Friday, I can guarantee everyone's heart is a little heavy.  It is utterly heartbreaking to hear the stories that came from Sandy Hook Elementary School, a place of learning and safety turned into a nightmare.  There are still good stories coming from this tragedy.  The first-grade teacher who barricaded her students into the class bathroom and told them she loved them, and was glad they were her students.  That story reminded me of so many of my teacher friends. Clever enough to hide, brave and endearing.  Also the little boy who saw that awful man and grabbed his friends and ran outside to safety.  How brave of a first grader!

Just this evening I heard a radio DJ asking callers to call in with their own stories of kindness to share- right here in Middle Tennessee.  One caller said she went to purchase a drink from a vending machine and found a dollar with a note taped to the machine asking its finder to pass on the good deed.

If you are looking for an opportunity to do good this holiday season or just in general, check out my best friend Lindsay's blog (here) about her upcoming trip to Africa.  She is currently raising money to embark on this adventure by selling these earrings. The beads are handmade by women in Uganda and the earrings were assembled right here in the great state of Tennessee by a group of our friends.

If you want to know more about Lindsay's trip to Uganda, follow her blog!  She truly has a heart to serve and I know she will be a wonderful influence on the people she meets.  At first I was very nervous about her going on this trip alone but I know that God will be directing her each and every step!  

Ugandan Paper Bead Earrings will make lovely Christmas gifts!

PS - another happy note...I ordered my wedding dress this past Saturday and it is the most beautiful dress in the world :)

Oh 21st Century, Why Must You Cramp My Style?

Have you ever gotten really excited about a book or a movie and someone told you the end?  Or reenacted the funniest/most exciting parts?  I know I personally get very upset.  So can someone please explain to me why media outlets think it is a fabulous idea to ruin our suspenseful Olympic Game experience?


Now don't get me wrong, technology can be very helpful as well as entertaining, but I sometimes miss being less "connected."  I distinctly remember watching these young ladies win their gold medal with all sorts of hopeful suspense. 

Now granted yes, I was only one time zone away and I was also 8 or 9 at the time and probably not checking up on the Olympics on my Windows 96 computer.  But I do remember watching as precious Kerri Strug was carried by Coach Bela after completing her vault routine....on a terribly hurt ankle.  Sidenote: Think about what that was probably like.  You know when you get a foot cramp or you accidentally kick the coffee table with your pinky toe?  Do you want to run, jump off of a springboard and then fling yourself through the air after that?  And her ankle was hurting way worse than a cramp!

However this year I had the men's swimming relay ruined (thanks G!) as well as the Fab Five women's gymnastics team gold medal ruined.  The sad thing is, I found out about the women's gymnastics gold medal from someone on Facebook complaining that they had seen it online.  Irony.


I really do think we as a society, spend entirely too much time on our phones.  I am just as guilty as the next person.  I did see this good idea via Pinterest and I think it's worth a try!  That is if I can pry G's phone out of his hand.....

So, are you enjoying the Olympics?  Or have you been paying too much attention to your telephone :)  Hope you're all having a happy Friday!!

DIY Fourth of July Shirt

I hope y'all had a fabulous Fourth!  We're currently under a Stage 2 draught and a burn ban.  But, thanks to some law breakers out there I got to see some fireworks.  Plus it actually did rain for a spell, praise God (again, the draught)!

As a part of our celebration, G and I hit up Walmart early that day to get our American wear as this was indeed, a 'Merica Party.  Now if there's one thing I love, it's a good theme party!  For your reading pleasure, I'm going to show you how to turn

Disclaimer: You'll have to pardon my lack of step-by-step photos as I made this beauty in a bit of a hurry.  Also, the red-eye corrector kind of gave me a wild eye.  I apologize.

Step One

Cut off the sleeves of the tshirt about 1/8 of an inch on the inside of the seam.

Step Two

Depending on the original length of the shirt and your desired length of the shirt cut off any excess fabric at the bottom.  This shirt was a men's size and pretty long so I took off a couple of inches.  I've found the best way to get an even cut is to fold the shirt in half and cut through four layers.

Step Three

Laying the shirt flat, begin cutting strips (through both layers of the shirt) about 1-1 1/4 inches thick.  Optional: I cut the strips on the side seams along the seams so that I'd have two extra fringe pieces.  You can choose to do this or not, it shouldn't affect your final product too significantly.

Step Four
Tie a knot in each strip of fabric close to the top of the cuts. 

Step Five

Wear!  Put this bad boy on and show your 'Merican pride in all your glory.  Here are some photos of how we wore ours!  We may have gotten a little carried away....

PS - this is not my typical procedure for making clothes.  I consider this and other costumes appropriate for theme parties and other instances where others will be dressed up (ie Themed pub crawls).  This is not acceptable to wear in public unless accompanied by others who look just as ridiculous/awesome as you.

Friday Favorites

It's finally Friday!  And boy has it been a good/hot one.  Temps are higher than they have been all summer so if you're in the Middle Tennessee area stay hydrated, get yourself in or around a swimming pool or stay indoors if you can help it.

Here are a few of my favorites this summer!

These J Crew shorts have been in stable rotation and have become my favorite shorts this summer.  They look more orange-y in the picture but they are coral in real life.  I got them at the J Crew outlet store in Charleston while visiting a friend but if you're lucky enough to get to Opry Mills, there is a J Crew outlet store where these babies can be found on the cheap(er).

 Next up we have the Essie polish in "Sand Tropez" or as I called it "sand trap" for a while.  It's my go-to when I'm not polished in some shade of pink.  It's not super light but also not super dark, so it's just right!  Sure it's not the flashiest color, but I like that about this nude color.  Plus G tells me that bright nails remind him of a stripper...what?  I guess I'm proud that he was more concerned with strippers' nail colors/hands than their nakedness?  He makes me laugh.

Recently I've decided to start writing my friends letters/notes/cards.  Primarily because it's fun to receive and to send mail but also because I really love fun stationery.  Here are a few that I've been wanting lately...though I could look for note cards all day!

And my last favorite for today's Friday Favorites would be one of my favorite holidays, the Fourth of July, which is just around the corner!  As a child I loved/hated the Fourth because I thought the fireworks were terrifying.  Of course now as long as they are shot safely, I LOVE fireworks!  I went to a wedding recently where fireworks were shot as the bride & groom exited the reception.  It was great!  But really, what's not to love about the Fourth of July?  Cookouts, time spent with family & friends, fun red/white/blue colored outfits, food, and fireworks!  Last Fourth of July we went out on the lake and though it was kind of crowded we had a blast!  Here are some patriotic goodies that may inspire you this holiday....happy weekend, y'all!