Sunshine and Shade

 "We have been friends together 

in sunshine and in shade"

{circa 2008ish}

This weekend I am heading north with my oldest friends.  

Last year our trip was a bit of a calamity. 

 Unless you call a case of pneumonia, a pregnant girl, 

and one severe case of food poisoning a good time.... 

but we are trying it again!

{And hoping no one rides home in the fetal position in the front seat}  

Two nights.  

Steph found a lizard in our room.  You would have thought it was an iguana...

Chocolate covered potato chips.  Compliments of the pregnant girl.  

If you are lucky enough to have friends like these...you are lucky enough.  

Here's to more sunshine and shade.  

Joy

“God is not a belief to which you give your assent. God becomes a reality whom you know intimately, meet everyday, one whose strength becomes your strength, whose love, your love. Live this life of the presence of God long enough and when someone asks you, “Do you believe there is a God?” you may find yourself answering, 

“No, I do not believe there is a God. I know there is a God.”

~Ernest Boyer, Jr.

Today is your birthday and 
today i am choosing joy.  

 i remember you and my thoughts are of heaven

 my God who is perfect and makes no mistakes has taken this day 

from me and made it nearly perfect. 

Today

i made it to the gym

i changed diapers 

i blew bubbles

i picked up pinecones and waved at the mail lady.

i let a perfect stranger with a cane and white hair nuzzle his face into

my baby's head in Kmart as his wife looked on from her wheelchair.

hampton squeezed his finger and laughed and smiled

and pure joy rushed in

Tears in Kmart. 

happy tears because i know that's what you would have done

you loved old people

Today i am choosing joy all day long for you

because i know there is a God

and i know where you are

Oh happy day my precious friend. 

Easter 2013

A peek into our Easter...

 3 BOYS...3 BASKETS

 POGO BALLS!  Remember these?

Is there anything sweeter 

than a baby in a bowtie?  No.  

I have to tell you THE BEST story about our Easter baskets.  Seven years ago, when the big boys were 4 weeks old, we were in Macon, Georgia visiting family.  We attended a festival {maybe Cherry Blossom Festival??} and I came across a lady handpainting these adorable Easter pails.   Of course, I bought them and they have been the boy's baskets every since.

ENTER BABY #3...Hampton.  Last year, I could not decide on a basket for him because nothing seemed as special as Tradd and Jackson's baskets.  I looked on Etsy, Pottery Barn, etc and just could not find something that I loved so we just let him used a small pail that I already had.  I knew this year that I HAD to buy him an actual "forever" basket so back to Etsy.

Y'ALL.  I found the lady from the festival 7 years ago on Etsy!  I emailed her to confirm that she was the same and ordered Hampton his forever basket to match his brothers!   Nancy was wonderful to work with and my basket arrived in plenty of time for Easter.  This link EASTER BASKETS will take you to her site, but it looks like she may be sold out!

Face Time

I have become somewhat of a make-up junky.  

I am mostly a drugstore make-up wearer {and apparently a 
word-maker-upper} and I like it this way 
because I don't mind trying different products
 if I don't spend a ton of money on them.  
I spend more money on the products I use for 
cleaning and moisturizing my face.

So here's a peek inside my make-up bag!

1. {Clarisonic Mia and Purity Made Simple}I always start with a clean face.  My bro and SIL gifted me a Mia for my birthday last year {I know...best gift ever!}  I was a little late to the party on this one, but if you don't already have one of these, you need it!!  To wash, I use Philosophy's Purity Made Simple.  It is the only cleanser that I have ever used to the very last drop and my last bottle lasted almost a year.  

2.  {Garnier BB Cream}I tried this after my girl April at A.Liz Adventures recommended it {Thanks, A!}  This is the second BB cream that I've tried and I will definitely be using this one for a while!!  It is thick, but it blends in well.  Sometimes I put powder over this, but when I am in a hurry I just go with it. 

3.  {Jane Iredale PruePressed-Sheer Honey and Target Kabuki brush}This blush is not a drugstore find, but another freebie and thus the blush I have been using.  No matter the blush you use, a kabuki brush is a must have in my opinion.  I use it for blush and bronzer.

4.  {Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Flared Mascara - Very Black} My new favorite mascara!  I have used Latisse in the past and loved it, but didn't love the price tag.  This gives me "latisse lashes" minus the Latisse!