30 minute lifechanger

i have decided to embark on a new journey. the jillian michael's 30 day shred journey. you all need know that I love hate to workout! seriously, like despise it. but, i know that i really should be concerned with my health, so i am stepping out on a limb here. wanna know why i chose this particular workout dvd? BECAUSE IT'S ONLY A 30 MINUTE WORKOUT!! great results in 30 minutes? sign me up please!

in just 30 short days, i will be looking exactly like jillian. pretty awesome, huh? stay tuned for more information and updated progress reports.

soli deo gloria.

song of the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS4giqtbRBM

you can get with this, or you can get with that

one of the biggest colors for this fall is GREEN! it's such a fun, warm, transition from summer kinna color. this means that you are going to need some skinny green cargo pants. trust me, you do. however, if you are like me, your budget doesn't include enough $$$ for these 200+ dollar j brand trend setters:

SO, you can get with this instead of that:

these fun pants are only $49.50 from delias. go get you some!


soli deo gloria.


song of the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfJnqbudMzs

caution: read at your own risk

when i decided that my blog wouldn't just be about fashion, food, fab finds, and favorite things, but would include the Reason for my existence, i knew it could potentially garner some controversy or cause people not to read. why is Jesus so controversial? good question. He has been since the day He came to this earth over 2000 years ago. if we acknowledge that Jesus really is the Son of God, and that He is the only way to Heaven, we are excluding every other way that man has created to try and inherit eternal life. insert cricket noise. this view is far from popular and accepted. and i'm ok with that.

i would have been remiss in my blogging attempts if i failed to talk about the Creator of the Universe and His Son. like i said, its not what people want to read, it's not entertaining, and it's definitely not the cool thing to do, but do i care? not really. some people won't understand my heart very well because they don't know me. that's ok too. if you want to question something that i've said, challenge me, or simply offer your opinion, please feel free to do so. i try to make myself as clear as possible, but it is sometimes a futile attempt when communicating via a keyboard and words on a screen.

i am a flawed human being who is scratching and clawing out their way on this journey and learning new things on a daily basis by the grace of God. my heart is an open book, as you can see. i wish to share it with you knowing the risks that entails.

at this point in time, i am seeking employment at a non-profit organization, i.e. hannah home, turning point, the king's ranch, united way, etc. i need to know that i am making a direct impact every day and that in some small way, I am changing the world. no, it's not glamorous (and i love glamor), but as much as we have done  it unto the least of these, we have done it unto Him. and that's what's gonna count for eternity. if you know of any possible leads, ideas, or positions, please let me know.

maybe you can see where i am coming from a little better now. maybe not. and yes, i will continue to to talk about fashion, food, fab finds, and favorite things, but i wanted you to know where my ultimate treasure is, and know the Center of my focus.

let me hear from you. soli deo gloria.

song of the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flm4xcOyiCo
so in love with this song. doesn't get any better than andy williams.

the face of Christ

i think most of us picture Jesus, as a clean, well-groomed, clothes nicely pressed kind of guy. i mean, He is after all, the Son of God. But the more I get to know the children of God, I am finding that maybe, just maybe, the face of Christ isn't as pristine as I thought.

 Jesus is manifested in the lives of believers all across the world. and a lot of those believers' faces aren't pretty. they are smudged with dirt and filth from the poverty infested lands that they inhabit-they are covered in sores and boils from the diseases that ravage their bodies-they are filled with pain and sorrow from the hardships that they are forced to endure-they are toothless and distorted from the lack of money for medical care-they are sad and lonely from the longing that they have to be loved. this, to me, is a more accurate depiction of the face of Christ.

my heart breaks as i realize how far off base i have been when thinking about my Savior. those gleaming, squeaky clean, million dollar faces are not at all what Jesus represented. He stood for the poor, the unlovely, the meek, the downcast, the rejected, the hurting people of the world. so why don't i?

my focus has been redirected. as i seek to become closer to Christ, i realize that i need to become closer to the people that He healed, comforted, and loved. i want my face to look like His.

kreme filled

the following post is going to be like a box of assorted doughnuts-some things you may like, some you may not. i am the essence of random, with likes an interests that range from normal to eccentric. this is ok with me. hopefully, you will find something that you enjoy.

i believe i have stated before that i am very much in love with the little m&m guys. they are absolutely adorable and thoroughly amuse me. so when i saw this little guy, i had to snap a quick photo!

while we are talking about candy, let me let you in on a little secret: boston baked beans are LEGIT! dude, i could eat several boxes. shhhhh, don't tell anyone. really, you should try them. like, now.

with fall just around the corner, i seem to be bombarded with emails about this season's latest trends. not that i mind this AT ALL, but it's slightly depressing when you can't afford to get it all. i think i may hold a fundraiser for a few items on my wishlist. :)

alabama football is right around the corner and i could not be more excited! i am so proud to not only be from the great state of alabama, but to be a graduate of THE university of alabama. as reigning national champs, we have a lot to live up to, but with nick saban on board, who can worry? we have the best of the best.

if you having been looking for a great lip product, i have finally discovered one that you will adore! my darling friend abi, shared this with me. it is fabulous. dior's lip glow will bring out the natural shade of your lips while leaving them silky smooth.

i am really struggling with patience right now. i feel like i'm at the foot of several mountains with all my gear in place, ready to begin climbing, but i don't know which mountain to choose. i want to pour my heart and soul into my career, knowing that i am making a difference in someone's life on a daily basis. am i off base in wanting to change the world? did God create us with a minimalist attitude? i think not.

i can't put God in a box, and I don't want to do that with myself either. my prayer is that i will continue to seek Him with my whole heart and that He will continue to enlarge my coasts.

also, i am learning what it means to be a true disciple of Christ. the error of my thoughts and ways are becoming so alarmingly clear. you must read david platt's book called radical. don't even start to come up with an excuse. it's cheap. you HAVE the time. go buy it now.

soli deo gloria.

song of the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7M7cJ4DydQ
i love you, jcw.

the time is now

lately, a sense of urgency has been invading my heart and mind. i have been convicted of my lackadaisical attitude and my failure to realize that my time is limited, and consequently, i have to live as if there is no tomorrow. why do i get so caught up in the day to day grind of normal life that i miss the battle cry that is summoning me to bear arms and join in the crusade for the King of Kings? this is unacceptable.

if i get to the end of my life and i have not left a godly legacy, my life will have been in vain. i have already wasted enough time being concerned with the trivial, the earthly, the temporary things of this life. situations that i face throughout my day need to be approached with the mindset that THIS IS NOT ETERNAL. God has placed us on this planet to bring glory and honor to His name and to be a testimony of His love and grace. that's it. everything else should take a back seat. but, do i live this way consistently? i'm afraid not. God forgive me.

was Jesus radical? was he deemed a crazy person? did people understand His mission? i am supposed to be like Christ in all things. if my life is as closely aligned with Him as possible, people should look at me and think the same things as they thought about Christ 2000 years ago. refusing to blend in, denying myself and taking up my cross, rejecting the status quo of our generation, choosing truth instead of accepting compromise, should be the theme of the story of my life.

i am an ordinary girl striving to live an extraordinary life. my prayer is that the Lord will continue to cut away the excess baggage in my life in order for me to be free to run after him. the clock on the wall is ticking. i will not be left behind or come up empty handed. i've drawn my sword and officially labeled myself a radical, insane, lunatic Soldier of the Cross. who will come and join me? the time is now.

song of the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFarUed5H3c&feature=PlayList&p=4C1E676EA1C40905&playnext=1&index=19

beauty on a budget

 i know we all wish we could look like jennifer anniston, with beautiful glowing skin, luscious locks, and pearly white teeth (not to mention the flawless body). HOWEVER,  most of us to do not have a million dollar plus budget to work with. well, you might, but i sure don't. i am here to tell you that it's possible to achieve some good results with a few products that come from a classy joint that you all have near you, no matter where you live: WALLY WORLD. ok, now pick up your jaws from the floor. i promise, wal-mart can be a one stop shop for your culinary and cosmetic needs.

living with two beautiful sisters has some major perks. you basically have someone to do your hair and makeup at all times. also, you have a few wardrobes to choose from. i wouldn't know about half of these products without their wonderful insight. shout out to kolson and kiemel lamb-my partners in...well, everything!

1. Skin: raise your hand if you have ever had a skin problem/issue. i see that everyone's hand is raised. you can be 12, 22, 32, 42, etc. and STILL struggle with your skin. trust me, i know how it is. i  am no dermatologist, but i can give you a few tips and suggestions to help improve the state of  your skin. first of all, always always always cleanse before bed. i know you're tired, but it's a must. there are several good cleansers on the market. neutrogena offers a wide variety that probably  includes one for your skin type. this will instantly inprove your skin. after cleansing, you can apply some apple cider vinegar (yes, you read correctly) if you struggle with  minor breakouts. beware of the slightly offensive smell. also, lemon juice is another suggestion if you have some minor red/purple spots and scarring. moving on to makeup application. i know a lot of people think that you have to coat your face in thick, liquid foundation. WRONG. it's best to cover your problem areas with maybelline super stay 24hr concealer and then apply a layer of  maybelline mineral power foundation. you can top it off with a layer of maybelline mineral power  bronzer for a sun kissed glow.

2. Eyes: captivating, enamoring eyes are a must for every makeup routine. i have tried shadow after shadow and still have not been able to find an ensemble that pleases me. what works the best for me is just black liner and LOTS of mascara. several coats are a must. start with curling your lashes. please take the time do this. it will open up your eyes in a big way! then line the top and bottom of your eyes with revlon's colorstay black eye liner. here's the clincher: line the inside rim of the bottom part of your eye. i promise this will give you amazing results. try it. next, apply a coat of loreal voluminous mascara. let it dry. then apply a coat of loreal telescopic mascara. this way you will have volume and length. after you let both of those dry, feel free to apply as many coats as you like! i usually do about two five more.

3. Lips: this is the department where i struggle! i cannot seem to get satisfied with any lip product. i need your help! please leave me some comments of your favorite lip stick/gloss/paste/stain/ink, etc!

hope you have found a useful suggestion in all of this nonsense. i'm not promising jenn anniston results, but i think you will be pleased. feel free to share any of your tips with me! coming soon: beauty on a budget-clothes edition. :)

p.s. i almost forgot BLUSH: maybelline expert wear blush is great! go for pink shades. stay away from brown shades. it's a rule.

soli deo gloria.