Sunday Funday & Replay

Another beautiful week here at Ft. Hood. Daddy-o started back at work, so the weeks have been slowing down. He also had a rugby match in Dallas all day on Saturday- we stay home i didn't feel like chasing her all over Dallas, Sunday was dedicated to family time. After a big ol' what we like to call Hobbit breakfast, EGGS, BACON, PANCAKES, PO-TA-TOES or in Sunday's case-second breakfast, we drove on over to Hasting to return a movie we watched the evening before -Unbroken. It a slow paced film and definitely not one to unwind to, but worth a watch for sure. Ended up spending some time flipping through magazine pages filled with beautiful photographs of homes & gardens. page after page of possibilities, room after room of inspiration. We poked around the kids books of course, ended up getting Liberty a new book at her father's request. Then it was a spontaneous trip down the road to Petsmart. or the free air conditioned  zoo for toddlers.   Liberty was amazed and all we did was stare at goldfish and watch the birds. Of course we ran into a few friendly pups to pet and visited with the kitties looking for new homes. We always like to stop and give them some love and words of encouragement before we go. It helps us cope with having to leave them there in those metal cages..

Then it was off to mexican for dinner, where we tried a booster seat for the first time and had our first "i'm going to scream at the top of my lungs because i'm not getting my way in public moment." I still have no clue how to react to it.....help. 

 

I know most of you mamas have probably already heard of Re-Play recycled products, but on the off chance that you have not, give me a moment to rave about them. Seriously, I love them. Everything about them. They are made in the USA from recycled milk jugs!! That alone was reason enough for me to jump on board, but it gets better! They have a simple clean look to them, they are dishwasher safe and extremely duable. The guaranteed no-spill sippy cups has to be our favorite, followed closely by the snack stacks. I had a hard time getting Liberty to take any kind of sippy cup being that she still BF and has never had a bottle. These cups met little miss picky's approval, so you know they met mine! She knows we don't leave for a walk without her "wa-wa".  She will carry it the entire way to the park, stopping every once in a while from her roaming to rehydrate. I have to practice self control so not to purchase every single product in every color they have! remind me I only have one kid! and she hardly eats anything! These are just the funnest, not to mention they colab perfectly with our growing collection of Fiestaware. Its like they were made for eachother. I love how festive everything can be just by switching out colors. 

Forgetful & Forgiven

Already.. I find myself with a quicker temper. already I'm complaining.  I hear myself start sentences "I Hate ..it when or I hate it how.." I hate this house for its lack of natural light. I hate the nonstop barking of dogs and traffic. We're too close to the road. How can anyone live like this!? ... I can get pretty carried away. Like DANG how does it get so out of control so quickly?! And a voice says to me " where God is, evil will be also." It's a constant battle we are fighting here! Its why we put on the full armor of God. It gives us all the more reason to open up that bible every morning, even if we go back to that same verse everyday. Its why we constantly give thanks in the name of God so to make the enemy shudder with fear and take a step back. Glory to God each and every day I wake.
I find peace in the fact that I am aware of this, for the first time I feel like the voice convicting me of these nasty little behaviors is louder than the one talking about me myself and I. I am thankful. It feels good knowing that now, when I go to sleep I don't have to worry. I dont need drift off to dreamland scolding myself, only to wake up the next day feeling more worthless than the previous day all before my morning coffee. Instead I go to bed confident that I have purpose tomorrow and that I tried my best today. I may have not done it exactly right, the day may not have lived up to my expectations or plans, but when I lay my head on the pillow each night, its not weighed down by feelings of regret. I'm not replying the days failure reel. I accept that some days will be better than others. I thank God for another day given to me. Another day of good health. Another day happily married. Another day here, at home with the healthy little girl He gave me to raise. Every night I go to sleep knowing tomorrow is band new!  All I have to do is wake up, give God the glory and be me.
So here I am, giving it a genuine shot at being the best me I can be and giving all the glory to God.

When I turn my complaints around, for example instead of hating this house for lack of natural light or hating the floors for not being hardwood, I can be thankful for the fact that I can catch the sunrise each cloudless morning and open all the windows and doors on the back of the home so it floods the whole house with little rivers of light. Even if it only happens on cloudless mornings for a few hours I will live for it. I will be thankful for these tile floors because they could be carpet and we do not own a vacuum nor do we have money for one. I will be thankful for these tile floors remaining cool on hot summer afternoons.

When I sit on the cold tiles floors of my home, in a warm river of morning light let in by the wide open back door. I just breath. In and out. In and out. I become lost in a sea of thankfulness and so much peace. I'm learning to listen beyond the hammering, the traffic and dog barking. I can hear all the birds of spring. I threw Liberty's rejected and ripped up waffle on the back porch. Some days she eats them, other days it's for the birds!  they seem pleased with it.  I imagine them carrying it away off to their nests of dead grass, colorful threads from lawn cushions, plastic bag tearings and cotton, twigs and those almost too big sticks (you've seen those ambitious birds). I see the mama bird in her nest... nesting away.. as she readies the place for babies. babies who will eventually eat my baby's rejected and ripped up waffles.

It's easy to get caught up in everyday nonsense. We can be quick to forget about the strength of the simple or the absolute  power of faith. How wonderful are all His gentle, subtle and even the not so subtle reminders?! How great is His patience? His mercies are new with each day and the joy is everlasting.


These simple, sunny days spent together mean everything to me. It's on these simple, sunny days when I stop and think to myself "man, I've got it all" don't forget it.

The Bee's Knees.

You had me at Caramel Daisy 

<<< this stuff right here in my latest obsession, its the bees knees. ha! I've been wanting a good lip tint for these sad pale lips of mine, especially after my short lived attempt at rocking lipstick failed. Mostly because Cody did'n't like to give me kisses when I wore it, who could blame him?  I love his kisses more than all the lipstick in the world. I wanted a tint that wasn't going to be sticky like a gloss- lets face it, my gloss and roll-on glitter days ended years ago- ((i cannot stand glitter now.. how strange is that?)) anywayys...I wanted something that didn't have to be applied over and over or anything that smelled like make-up. Chapstick is a necessity, so Burts Bees was right on the money when they made these babies. Now they cost a pretty penny for chapstick in my opinion,so it took me a while to commit to an actually tint, until I stumbled across Caramel Daisy at Cracker Barrel of all places. My splurges these days are things like expensive chapstick...It's my perfect lip neutral. It's pretty much a spot on match to the mister's natural beautifully colored puckers, plus it's Burts Bees and I looove me some BB products (I usually purchase them at Target but I may just start ordering in bulk straight from the sight- because trips anywhere lately with little miss independent are quickly losing their appeal- le sigh) 

We took an over night trip to San Antonio to visit a few good people. Had local coffee and warm conversations, Ate bacon and heart shaped pumpkin pancakes, made with all the love! Left with green onions! Rummaged through one of the best thrift/antique/stuff stores I've seen in while. I hope I get a chance to go back. and maybe even get the name of the place this time! They had everything! I wanted most of it. I spent a good while in lala Land furnishing homes well never own. Ended up buying the neglected succulents on the cashier's counter and a burning desire for old oil lamps. We found a Dunkin Donuts and instinctually made a pitstop *cue heavenly sounds* got a half dozen -shoulda got a whole dozen- and a huge iced coffee. I really miss having a DD close to home... 

that cart tho!!!!

arnt they glorious?!

Babes, Birds & a lil Bass

We spent this past Sunday at a new park while daddy participated in a local drum circle. I thought she would be much more into the instruments scattered about and the loud bass echoing around us & through us, but instead this girl was perfectly content roaming the fields & spending the majority of the afternoon atop this little hill, picking up all the wishes and blowing them to existence. I taught her that! Where is my little baby!? 
Every time the sun shine would break through the clouds and hit our skin she would stop and soak it up. She was fascinated by the birds and their songs. No patch of dirt was left undug. No person passing was left un-greeted. Every dandelion in her path was picked, smelled,and studied. 
She's growing so fast. TOO FAST. I wish she could stay my little person forever...Before I know it, she'll be a woman traveling, conquering, saving the world! All I can do is encourage her to be all that she already is. Tell her everyday that she is enough. that the world will tell her otherwise but all she has to do is walk outside, close her eyes and feel the wind on her skin. To remember that she is alive, with purpose. That she is a creation of God. Just like the trees, all the wild flowers and the birds. He takes good care of this things. All she has to do is BE herself and believe. He will take care of the rest. 

"I will teach my daughter not to wear her skin like a drunken apology. I will tell her to 'make a home out of your body' live in yourself, do not let people turn you into a regret. do not justify yourself. If you are a disaster, you are the most beautiful one i've ever seen. Do not deconstruct from the inside out. You belong not because you are lovely, but because you are so much more than that. "

A quote I found amongst the online rubbish. I found it and clung to it, because to me its everything.

This world is full of rubbish , but the earth is bursting with magic, never stop look for it. You have tp believe.  Always pray & pay attention to the little things. Sew them into your soul. I want you really listen to that inner drum and to dance to it proudly. Never worry about who's watching. 

I hope you never forget your incredible, irreplaceable worth.

 In other exciting news, shes waving goodbye now and I recorded this girls first sentence, granted its only two words but its a sentence!!! I exploded into 100 pieces like the dandelion wishes into the air, only to clump back together and melt into the grass .. these moments are the ones I thrive off of. (ignore my gum smacking haha!) 

 "bye birds" DEAD.

House Hunting & Happy.

It's kinda stressful looking for a home. Even more so when you want to buy the place, and you can't go see it because it's in another state, and theres only a few months more to spare... not even going to sugar coat it. How are you really supposed to love a house if you haven't seen it in person?! - you don't-  House hunting is equal parts overwhelming & exciting.. the closer it gets to make decisions, the more you start to panic internally, little details become the topic of conversation. Zillow images start to spin round and round in your mind. You get pickier. or okay, I do. Because lets face it my husband and I don't always see eye to eye when it comes down to "what's livable".
We have the same general taste, I would say.. if you can call what we have a taste- Whatever it is, I like it. I can't wait to colab with him on a place!! ^_^ Anyways.. Buying a house is a big thing! I don't want to get wrapped up in the stress of it all and forget about how grand & exciting it is! I will pray and believe that where ever we end up will be right, because it will be willed by something much greater than myself. I can rest at night  worry free, I trust in the plan. ... It's another adventure! I know without a doubt our little home is out there, even if it hasn't been listed yet. I'll do my part and check the market daily, but as far as spending all my time and energy on it, scrolling and scrolling. consumed by wishes and wanting.. I'm just going to let it go. Letting go and trusting God through it all. I refuse to let this new adventure burden this family. God knows whats up and I'm totally cool with that, I mean, He's done a pretty good job with my life this far!

We'll take our time and enjoy the process. We will take many trips to Lowe's and watch way too many DIY shows. We will daydream of demos & design, disagree about paint colors and without a doubt try to tackle a project way over our heads. We will absorb the experience.

You know you're an adult when Lowe's is the new hang out spot and you love it! hashtag not even mad.
 And lets be honest, when its been pouring rain all day, spending the day at Lowes picking out paint that you probably won't buy, to paint a room in a house that you probably won't live in, is therapy. I'm so thankful to have a husband who shares this passion with me.

Even though I do not know the outcome of this search, I pray, hope, wish - daily- for the space for us to roam and run  about. Being outside is important to Liberty and thats important to me. I want a light a bright home with space with good soil for a garden. I pray for privacy in a good neighborhood. I pray for wisdom and clarity when it comes down to making that final decision. But most of all, I pray the Lords will be done. 

 We will go confidently in the direction of our dreams. 

A Texas Spring.

So here in Texas, spring is just an awkward mix of  deep winter and early summer. Alternating days.. sometimes even hours.  You never know if you're going to need your coat & scarf or shorts & flops until you step outside  never trust the weather app. This past week however, spring like weather dropped in for a visit. Currently LOVING this weather! Sunny and almost 70 a few days in a row now, we'll take it!!  With no promise of it lasting, and knowing the scorching temperatures are right around the corner, we made sure to get outside and soak up as much of that precious vitamin D as we could. That stuff is good and absolutely free. and who doesn't like free?!

While I was pregnant, walks became a regular part of life  Even though the neighborhood was nothing special to look at, we made sure to appreciate the trees, always pointing out our favorites, labeling them "the good ones". We inhaled the fresh air, and let the Texas winds tumble our hair (okay just mine, the army doesn't let you have hair) Sometimes we would get carried away in conversation, other times we simply walked hand in hand with the silence, but we always enjoyed it.
 A walk is something you never regret.
I may not always like living here in military housing but one thing I can always be thankful for are the numerous parks scattered about, all within walking distance from our home. Something we plan on taking full advantage of, because this little girl thrives outdoors - just like her ma and pa.
Shoes strapped and shades on, shes out the door ready for an adventure!
The hard part is getting her to come back inside, unless she falls asleep in the swing. then its cake.
Daddy has been on leave for the past 2 weeks so we've really been enjoying the nonstop family time.

With another big move right around the corner for us, our minds are shifting over to the new found freedom of becoming first time homeowners. No more onpost living. No more renting.  One day, maybe not this move ( because lets face it, when you're a military family you move around a lot) but one day, we will buy an old home with good bones, gut it and make it 100% ours. oh what a dream. Until then we'll quench the thirst for demo and design with as much rehab as we can get - Rehab Addict on Netflix that is. We love us some Nicole Curtis!  Her passion is contagious! I love that it's something the mister and I can enjoy together. Once the beeb is sound asleep, we make a drink or a big ol bowl of ice cream, cuddle up close, press play and we've got ourselves a late night date night!

Soap obsessed. It seems as though we have become soap collectors, on accident really. A few weeks ago I put in an order for some  LUSH products, including a few bars of soap. We now have the Bohemian, the Sandstone, the Dirty soap bar and the message bar.. Guys, they make our bathroom smell like a dream! During our recent day trip to Austin we brought home these lovely bars. I'm all about that local and natural so these make my little heart happy. a quick tip: if you're going to spend $5+ on a bar of soap, make sure you don't leave it in the shower to get pummeled and destroyed by the water pressure, these babies will last a good long while if you keep them in a dry area after you lather up. totally worth the dough in my opinion.                                                                                          

In other news. I finished this gem last night. Theres a very good chance, no,  I will absolutely read it again.. and again... I may very well read this book so many times that it will fall apart. If you like reading, or even if you don't, I highly recommend you add this tiny paper back to you bookshelf, night stand or diaper bag. Devour it all at once or savor it slowly. This book written by a fellow mama/blogger (find her on IG @happysleepyfolks and/or her her blog ) I love all of her. This book is as good as gold, as sweet as honey. She makes the stuff of everyday life seem magical. It's real and it's raw. Her stories are humbling and exciting. Her words will wrap you up like a heavy knit blanket fresh out of the dryer. Or like that first sip of the best cup of coffee you've ever had.. so smooth, so comforting.  My only complaint would be that it had to end..... Go get your copy today on Amazon. It's probably the one impulse purchase you wont regret. It looks like you can only order it for Kindle BUT have no fear because if you don't have one theres an app. for that and its FREE ;)

A Day in Austin

Cabin fever at its finest, let me tell you. This house had quickly become a cage. I was running out of things to do and ways to keep my 15 month old content without some outdoors time was proving extremely difficult...  between freezing temperatures or rain outside and dreary grey skies every. single. day.  plus Cody being on leave... we were all about to lose our minds! So last Friday seemed as good a day as any to get our butts out of this house and make the hour and a half of so drive to Austin TX. if you take away the over priced well,  everything, its a pretty amazing city to visit. We had an absolute delight of  a time getting lost (okay we had a destination .9 miles away but it was closed by the time we got there and daylight dwindling...) We marveled at the way the modern was mixed in with the old. Still keeping with the quaint charm of how things used to be, but at the same time giving you a taste of things to come. Beautiful murals. Gardens in every other yard.  We saw a castle on a corner and a tiny bungalow near a brook neighboring the train tracks. Down the road from them was the house with chickens roaming all about the front yard. We fell in love with the two toned green house whose door was painted bright red and again a few blocks down, with the house sprinkled with every shape of window. We talked and shared daydreams and planned as if we were the next lucky owners of that house in downtown Austin.
 Giant agave everywhere you look.  Every time you turn your head there's something new to see or smell. Theres a stranger waiting to make friend. An antique to find.  A man with a banjo outside a bar making up songs about the folks as they walk by. A beer to taste. A food truck to try.  A guy on the corner with his electric guitar and a dog by his side, whose face seemed to say "yeah, he does this all the time, but I love him."

We got to check out Mayfield Nature Park and hung out with a ton of peacocks and hiked trails. It was so good to get out and explore. The sun even decided to come out and shine for us!
I had found this adorable little place via instagram, called Friends & Neighbors previously, so we went there for breakfast tacos and coffee. We even met up with some new friends whom we also met on instagram!

I wish I had taken more pictures. I think this all the time.  But I was too busy actually enjoying myself  :)

fried cookie dough people. 

i need this floor somewhere in my home.

 Until next time Austin!