there’s beauty in the weekends
{Day 3: I’m thankful for a date night with @ourdudekyle consisting of dinner, drinks (with free mittens!!) and an evening catching up on our TV shows. #tgif #lent#40daychallenge}
{Day 4: I’m thankful for rest with a cute puppy. #lent#40daychallenge}
Sundays don’t count in the 40 days of Lent, so I’m not doing a photo for today, but I still have so much to be thankful for:
early morning coffee + donuts, a wonderful church family,
the opportunity to serve every week,
learning about love + obedience, book searching + chicken eating with husband,
a gorgeous sunny day,
movie date with mom to see frozen (finally!), giggling in the movie like the little girls behind us,
a long walk with our little family (me, mom, husband and two dogs: roxie and olli),
relaxing at home with the biggest question being to nap or read,
a Sunday evening ahead of steak, veggies + The Walking Dead.
xo xo
You might also enjoy: My Lenten #40DayChallenge
life lately
{working // with the Walmart Moms while they were in Bentonville}
{dressing // in black tie for the NAACP Image Awards}
{relaxing // with friends, beer and games}
{reading // my People magazines}
{painting // with a twist}
xo xo
life lately
{laughing // during our weekend getaway to Tulsa to see Aziz Ansari}
{partying // at a two-year-old birthday party}
{drinking // at our favorite brewery on a sunday funday}
{traveling // to San Francisco, including FB and Pinterest HQs}
{enjoying // this saturday morning}
{loving //my valentine and our night out}
xo xo
“I’ll stand before the lord of song with nothing on my tongue but hallelujah”
I’ve had the urge to write lately. The urge, but not time. Or the urge, but nothing to say. Such is the life of a writer. The thoughts that follow may make no sense at all, or they may be perfect as a poem. Again, such is the life of a writer.
Life has been hard lately. I mean, it hasn’t exactly been easy the past month and a half, but the past few weeks have been a different kind of hard.
I assume I’m going through the 5 stages of grief: 1. Denial and Isolation 2. Anger 3. Bargaining 4. Depression 5. Acceptance, but definitely not in order. Over the past two weeks, I’ve been going through 1, 2 and 4 practically on a daily basis. I hadn’t really experienced anger until now. It’s odd, being so angry even though there’s nothing you can do. No one to be angry at. I’m not an angry person, but boy have I been angry, and it’s made me just more irritable in general. I come home and I’m just in a bad mood and there’s nothing I can do to get out of it.
But mostly, I’ve felt depression. I could completely understand how someone could fall into a serious depression after the loss of someone. There have been several days when all I want to do is sleep. I don’t want to go anywhere or see anyone. I just feel like I can’t move or think, so I don’t want to. Like I physically cannot move my body. But I get up. I push myself out of bed to go to work or whatever, but I’ve been wanting to less and less than usual.
I’ve been busy. Very busy at work. Maybe too busy? I’m not sure how busy I should really be. There have been days when I’m so overwhelmed at work, then I’m so overwhelmed at home with my thoughts and emotions. There’s no escape. I need to seek more balance.
You know how sometimes a song comes on the radio and it’s just absolutely perfect for the mood you’re in? This happened the other day with the song below. I couldn’t tell you why, but it calmed me and provided me with a sense of connection. I don’t even really know what the song is about, but it’s just so beautiful.
I don’t want to end on a somber note, so I’ll close this out with a few other thoughts that have been occupying my mind, unrelated to the above.
- House of Cards season premiere … OH MY GOSH. There are no words.
- Please please don’t make us go back into winter. These 50 and 60 degree temps have been heavenly.
- Beyonce’s new album still rules. #flawless
- When you pay more for a bottle of nice wine, it’s totally worth it.
- Valentine’s Day may be cheesy and commercial, but I love the opportunity to celebrate my husband like I should every day.
- If you hadn’t heard yet, my new car’s name is Sofie.
- I need a vacation. A hot, beach vacation. Stat.
- Can I also get a tan and a margarita with that ^^ please?
xo xo
Birthday Week
You can ask my husband, for as long as he’s known me (10 years) I’ve never celebrated my birthday. I’ve celebrated my birthday week.
I really love birthdays. (Deduce from that what you will – possibly that I love the attention) I just don’t understand people who don’t want to celebrate their birthday because they’re getting old. Yeah, you are, but wouldn’t you rather “get old” in style and have a party?
My official birthday week began Friday. So it’s still in full swing. We’re ending the week with a road trip to Tulsa to see some dear friends and comedian/favorite-Parks-and-Rec-character Aziz Ansari. Eeek!! I’m SO excited!
I’ll do a weekend picturebook of the trip next week, but wanted to share some memories from the fabulous birthday week thus far.
{Friday – flowers from Husband}
{Saturday night – party at Maxine’s Tap Room}
{Monday – at work & play}
{Tuesday – best birthday present ever!!!}
xo xo
favorites, round 3.
Things I love that I want to share with you, so you can love them too.
1. Beyonce – Queen Bey did it again. This album is phenomenal. I can’t stop listening to it, and I have a new favorite song every day. Current favorites: Partition, XO and Drunk in Love.
2. Chapstick Hydration Lock – I got this new chapstick in my birchbox a few months ago. (Another one of my favorite things.) I’m already a huge chapstick person, but this has just fueled my obsession. It’s so soft and creamy and vanilla-y. It’s amazing.
3. Macarons – I’d had macarons once before and wasn’t a fan. Then, my friend Mollie starting making them and they are out of this world. She might start selling them soon, in which case you can definitely expect a blog post about it so you can buy some!
4. Leopard Scarf from Nordstrom – This scarf has probably been my one favorite wardrobe piece for fall and winter. It’s cute and trendy and leopard is always versatile. Infinity scarves in general are my current fave!
5. Moscow Mule – This drink is amaaazing. Who would have known I’d like Ginger Beer?? It also doesn’t hurt that it’s served in an adorable copper mug. #love
6. Candy Crush – The first step is admitting you have a problem … I’m addicted to Candy Crush! It seems so ridiculous, but it’s so fun. (Until you get stuck on a level for weeks.)
xo xo
You might also enjoy: favorites., favorites, round 2.
life lately
{eating this // biscoff macarons}
{enjoying this // beautiful flowers from a beautiful friend}
{reading this // perfect for bedtime}
{traveling for this // Dallas for work}
{doing this // with mom on a saturday morning}
{relaxing in this}
xo xo
Life, it’s hard.
You want real? Here’s real: I’m not okay.
This situation has been more difficult than I could have ever imagined, and I’m tired of telling everyone I’m doing fine. I mean, I am doing fine, but I’m also not doing fine. Do you understand? If you do, please let me in, because I don’t understand. My thoughts, feelings, tears, emotions have been so scattered the past few weeks I honestly don’t know what I’m feeling. So often I feel numb – numb to the pain, numb to the world then all of a sudden I’m the opposite of numb (sensitive?) and I can feel everything all at once. All emotions come rushing to me. The tears don’t stop. The memories don’t stop. I can’t do anything.
I went back to work at the beginning of the week. I was so anxious about starting back, but it’s really been pretty good. I’ve enjoyed getting back into work and into a semi-normal routine. Everyone has been great, but someone shared a piece of advice that has stuck with me – Don’t just throw yourself into work. It will only elongate the healing process.
I’m honestly at a point right now where I can’t even imagine not feeling sad. I know it will happen, but it seems like such a foreign concept. When will I ever not be sad that I don’t get to see or talk to my dad again? When will that ever seem normal?
But life goes on. It’s amazing that it does, when everything around you seems to be crumbling and changing. But if I had any doubt in my mind, I look at Facebook or Instagram and it definitely goes on.
I love you all, and I don’t want you to read this and pity me. I just needed an outlet to be real. To be raw. If anything, just pray for me. If there’s been anything that’s given me peace and hope and strength through all of this, it’s been my faith. I honestly don’t know how people do it who don’t believe in our Lord Jesus Christ.
To end, I want to share with you my devotional from today. I pray it gives you hope in your life and your situation as it did for me today.
My face is shining upon you, beaming out peace that transcends understanding. You are surrounded by a sea of problems, but you are face-to-face with Me, your Peace. As long as you focus on Me, you are safe. If you gaze too long at the myriad of problems around you, you will sink under the weight of your burdens. When you start to sink, simply call out, “Help me, Jesus!” and I will lift you up.
The closer you live to Me, the safer you are. Circumstances around you are undulating, and there are treacherous-looking waves in the distance. Fix your eyes on Me, the One who never changes. By the time those waves reach you, they will have shrunk to proportions of My design. I am always beside you, helping you face today’s waves. The future is a phantom, seeking to spook you. Laugh at the future! Stay close to me.
xo xo
2013: my year in pictures
{January: Birthday in Vegas}
{March: Weekend Getaway to St. Louis}
{May: Celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary in Kansas City, complete with fireworks from the hotel balcony}
{June: Celebrated the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. DeMoss…}
{… and Mr. and Mrs. Davila – yay!}
{July: Essence Festival in New Orleans, where we got to see BEYONCE!}
{July: Also celebrated Husband’s golden birthday!}
{August: Moved into my parents house with a beautiful backyard!}
{August: the start of our NWA breweries obsession}
{September: Alderman Music Tour – Part 1: Denver}
{September: Alderman Music Tour – Part 2: Nashville}
{October: Trip to San Fransisco and Facebook HQ}
{November: Two wonderful weekends with my parents for tailgating & Thanksgiving}
{November: Weekend getaway with our community group}
{December: #mkredparty}
{December: Christmas in Seattle and Vancouver (pictured above) to celebrate a friend’s wedding}
xo xo
You might also enjoy: 2012: my year in pictures, 2011: my year in pictures
A Tribute: Wonderful Father, Loving Husband of 40 Years, Loyal Friend aka Donny “Rooster”
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” – John 14:1-4
My Dad passed away December 30 unexpectedly from a heart attack. This blog has been my online scrapbook of sorts from the last 4 years, so I wanted to include a tribute to him, no matter how hard to write, as he is a huge part of my life and memories and always will be.
Bear with me as I sort through some photos and memories, some of mine and some of others who have shared the last few days. I do not intend for this post to make anyone cry or be sad (myself included) as I really want to celebrate his life more than anything.
{Dad’s school days photo and high school football photo – look how handsome}
{me, Dad and Mimi, his mother, 1998}
My very first memory is with my Dad. I must have been 2 or 3 and I was visiting him for a week while he was working in Kentucky. I remember seeing snow for the first time. I remember the hotel ladies bringing me cheese pizza (my favorite). But I also remember a story that my Dad loved to tell – we had stopped at a gas station and he left me in the car. I had just gotten a new outfit that I just couldn’t wait to wear, so my dad comes back out from the gas station only to find me standing in the back of the station wagon, butt naked, trying to put my new clothes on. (I still want to put on new clothes the second I get them!)
{with friends at a class reunion}
{planting trees with “forever” friend Joe Miles for a boy scout project}
As we’ve been reminiscing the past few days with family and friends, there has been story after story about Dad that I have just soaked up. Some of them involved dancing (with his little girl, with his beautiful wife, with his friends, my friends, anyone), some of them involved his mischievous doings with the Walnut Street Gang in elementary school and some of them from the college years are not fit to print here (he was a true 70s hippie, what more can I say?)
{family/friend tailgate weekend, Nov. 2013}
One of my other favorite memories is the story of how he and my Mom met. I’d heard the first half of the story multiple times, but only heard the second half this weekend from one of their college friends. They both went to ASU in Jonesboro. Dad and a friend would sit in their dorm with their binoculars scoping out the hot girls on the lawn. One day he spotted Mom and said to his friend, “I have to meet that girl.” Later, Dad was in the lunchroom with another friend/an ex-girlfriend and he saw Mom again, to which he said, “That’s the girl!” The ex said, “Oh, that’s Robin. Do you want me to introduce you?” “Oh no, no, don’t do that.” The ex went up to my Mom and asked if she wanted to eat lunch with her and her friend, pointing to Dad. To which my Mom replied, “The guy with the binoculars?!” Obviously she went out with the guy with the binoculars anyway, and the rest was history.
{Appleton family photo, 2006}
{father-daughter dance, 2011}
Some things about my Dad that I hope never to forget: his love of people; his habit of drinking coffee in the morning with mom while she read the paper and he did the crossword puzzle; his new addiction to candy crush thanks to me and mom; his willingness to give me money all the time, even if it was his last $20, he just wanted to make sure I was taken care of; his habit of watching Jeopardy at 4pm and yelling out the answers; his stories of growing up in Newport and keeping up with his classmates; our game of “Name that Tune” on car rides, as he tried to educate me on classic rock; his insistence on trying to teach me to fish even though I just couldn’t stand it; his friendliness to all – he had no prejudice to ethnicity, religion, class; his laugh and his positive outlook – not holding grudges and just moving on; his love of good southern food (mashed potatoes, grits, bbq) and his sweet tooth (that I inherited); his willingness to travel just about anywhere with his girls, though his suggestion was always the same – Destin or the Keys; his compliments that he was unafraid to give; his nicknames for me, including LD (little darlin’) and Mille Moo from Tuscaloo.
{Park City, Utah, 2012}
{Orlando, FL, 2010}
Now a tribute from Kyle, his favorite son-in-law:
I wanted to take a moment and say thank you to everyone for all the love and support you have given us. Robin, Mille, and I surely have the most amazing family, friends, and coworkers, and as Donny would say: “y’all are good people”.
You form a special bond with a man, when he gives you his blessing to marry his only daughter, and that bond only strengthened over time as we rode along together through all the awesome (and some times crazy) trips that Mille and Robin planned. From the Islands of Adventure in Florida, to honky-tonk hopping in Nashville, every year just seemed to get more awesome, and gave me so many wonderful memories.
Donny, I am so grateful that you (and of course Robin too!) said yes to me when I asked for your daughter’s hand, and that you so easily accepted me as part of your family. You are so very missed, and I want you to know that I will do everything I can to take care of your two beautiful girls.
What an amazing and sweet husband I have. I’ve always known how great he is, but he has been such a blessing the last week. I don’t know what I would have done without him – from driving us 13 hours from Ohio then 5 hours to Newport to always being by my side and giving me a hug or a kiss on the forehead exactly when I need it. I also want to give a shoutout to everyone else who has been so supportive during this time – family, friends, co-workers. We have just been overwhelmed by the love and support and prayers, and please, keep the prayers coming. There will still be a lot more hurt and pain. This is not an easy journey, but we’re thankful to have all of you by our side. I leave you with a poem that was read at Dad’s service, that is absolutely perfect.
You can shed tears that he is gone
Or you can smile because he has livedYou can close your eyes and pray that he will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has leftYour heart can be empty because you can’t see him
Or you can be full of the love that you sharedYou can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterdayYou can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live onYou can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.xo xo
Love, LD
Our Snow Days By The Numbers
4 days working from home
6 home-cooked dinners in a row (my personal best)
2 Walmart trips, $200 spent on groceries
30 oreos eaten
2 TV series watched from start to finish (The Blacklist, The Big Bang Theory Season 7)
35 TV episodes watched
1 movie watched (Love Actually)
10 pots of coffee made
4 blog posts written
5 school days off for the kids and 5 days of rejoicing we didn’t have kids
25 photos taken of puppy playing in the snow
15 hours of video games played
259 oz. of alcohol consumed (6 beers, 6 straw-ber-itas, 3 bottles of wine, 1 growler)
1 bad fall on the ice
4 magazines and 9 book chapters read
7 presents wrapped
Innumerable posts read on Facebook and Twitter about the storm
3 additional hours spent planning for my party next week
60 group text messages sent re: snowpocalypse
5 DAYS OF INSANE CABIN FEVER
xo xo
You can read more about #Snowpocalypse2013 here: Observations on Working From Home, Snowpocalypse Meal Plan
life lately
{relaxing // with my girls at happy hour, 21c}
{babysitting // adorable miss scarlett}
{wanting // a french bulldog, sooo baaad!}
{giving thanks // for time with family}
{drinking // pony coronis with friends}
{marveling // at snowpocalypse 2013}
xo xo
Observations on Working From Home {Snow Day Edition}
The impending snowpocalypse arrived. Boy, were the weathermen right for once. Last time I measured, we had 8″ of snow in the backyard and it was still coming down. Husband and I have been working from home (wahh, waahhh) since we are unsure if we could make it down the hill from our house, let alone if there’s even still life out there. Oh wait, of course there is, I’ve seen every single person posting a picture of their backyard on Facebook or Instagram.
I’ve worked from home before, due to bad weather, sickness or just because, but never for two days in a row, and never without the option of leaving the house if I wanted to. As our second day at home and hopefully last (I HAVE to get out tomorrow so I can plan for my Christmas party for next week!!) I’ve learned a few things about WFH.
1. If you have a lot of pressing work to do, you can easily focus with less distractions than at work.
If you don’t have a lot of pressing work to do, nearly everything in the house is a distraction.
2. For the most part, you will eat healthier (depending on the food in your house.) But you will also eat more, because the kitchen is five steps away.
3. Sitting on your couch, in your PJs, drinking coffee from your favorite mug is so much better than sitting at a desk, in uncomfortable pants & blazer, drinking breakroom coffee from a paper cup.
4. Day 2 is not nearly as exciting as Day 1.
5. The dog is and always will be a distraction. Especially one that wants to be in your lap at all times.
6. Morning talk shows are where it’s at. Quite literally meaning, that’s where I wish I was. Sit around drinking wine, interviewing celebs and gossiping all morning. NBC, how about Hoda and Mille D???
7. You can get so much more done – the laundry, the dishes, walking the dog – oh and actual work, too.
8. You will miss your co-workers in a weird way. Your husband just doesn’t quite understand like they do.
9. You don’t have to shower, or fix your hair, or do your makeup, or get out of your pj’s for that matter. You do have to brush your teeth, because that’s just bad hygiene.
10. That extra hour and a half you get to sleep in is totally worth it.
11. When the clock hits 5pm, it’s a lot easier to just walk over to the fridge and grab a beer.
xo xo
“What a lovely surprise to discover how unlonely being alone can be.”
A funny thing has happened since I’ve been married. I’ve forgotten how to be alone.
In college I cherished my alone time. Living with 2, 3 or 4 other people was often too much for me to handle. I wanted to go to my room, shut my door and be alone.
Until recently, I’ve always been someone who recharges by being alone (the true definition of an introvert they say.)
I’m so used to being with my husband that when I’m not, I don’t know what to do with myself. Being with him has become my new recharge. I still need my “alone” time, but now my alone time means me and husband time.
On a recent work trip, I spent a full day and night alone. I wasn’t traveling with anyone so I didn’t have anyone to talk to in the airport or eat dinner with. I didn’t have anyone to “get away from” and go into my room and shut my door. It was so lonely. I couldn’t enjoy the peace with myself. I couldn’t enjoy myself.
This weekend, husband was busy all day Saturday and Sunday so again, I was alone. But I did something I haven’t done in a long time, I took myself on a “me” date and spent some good quality time with myself.
I did exactly what I wanted to do – I went to Barnes and Noble. I chose 3 books I was interested in and sat down and read the first chapters of each. (How I decide which book to buy) I was in no rush. I had no one to answer to. I just sat and read. After that, I did my favorite me activity – shopping. Then, before I was ready to head home I did something else just for me – went to TCBY.
What a rewarding, comfortable, enjoyable afternoon that was. God opened my eyes to the importance of me time and gave me an opportunity to see how valuable it can be.
Tuesday nights are officially me nights now. Husband has karate for several hours so I can spend it as I please. It would be so easy to take this time to clean, do grocery shopping, be busy (which I’m so good at), etc. but instead I’m going to relax and do what I want to do.
I’m sure in a few years when I have kids, I’ll be dying for alone time. Time to just sit on the couch with a glass of wine and a good book. So tonight, I will do just that and enjoy.
xo xo
life lately.
{enjoying // breakfast (and mimosas) for dinner & a great girls night in}
{celebrating // Elsa’s first birthday}
{more celebrating // Jon and Ashley’s beautiful wedding}
{meeting // a country music legend, Garth Brooks !!!}
{eating // chicken + waffles for dinner}
xo xo
Thankful.
I’m writing this post mostly for me. In no way am I trying to “humbly brag” about the amazing things in my life that I’m thankful for. Instead, I’m using this as a reminder to myself of how blessed I am even though it is so easy to forget.
Last year around this time I did daily posts about what I was thankful for each day, ranging from good food to clean sheets to “a busy August and a quiet September.” But this year I want to focus one thing I so easily take for granted: my job.
I have been at Walmart for a little over a year now. If you work at Walmart or know people who work at Walmart, one of the most common phrases people say about Walmart is that they get their moneys worth out of their associates, meaning it’s quite often long days, nights and weekends. We work hard for the money.
It’s often hard and stressful and frustrating, but as I’ve been looking back on my last year at Walmart I have been blessed in so many ways by this job. Now, I might have drank the kool-aid here, but bear with me. I’m not saying Walmart is the best company in the world to work for and I’m not saying I’ll work there my entire life, but I believe the experience I’ve gotten from one year of working there is unparalleled.
Let’s recap –
I’ve gotten to meet Drew Barrymore, Trey Songz, Kori Robertson and Steve Harvey. I will be meeting Garth Brooks and Ree Drummond (Pioneer Woman) next week.
I’ve gotten to see Miguel, Jill Scott and BEYONCE perform at Essence Festival, and Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Hugh Jackman and John Legend perform at Shareholders.
I’ve traveled to New Orleans, Cleveland, Cincinnati, West Palm Beach, Nashville and San Francisco – including spending a day at Facebook Headquarters, which was just as amazing as you’d think it is.
I LAUNCHED WALMART’S INSTAGRAM. I was given the opportunity and the support to develop the strategy and content to launch the hottest social channel for the Fortune 1 company. I will forever be thankful for that opportunity.
I’ve been more challenged than I ever have been and ever thought I would be, whether making presentations to senior executives or managing 21 women on a day to day basis.
But most importantly, I’ve built some incredible relationships. I truly love the people I work with every day, and I strive to make a positive difference in their life. I started a women’s prayer group on our floor that gives me so much hope every time we meet because the ladies are just so inspiring.
I could not be more thankful for where I am in my life right now and the job the Lord blessed me with a year ago. I have no clue what my future holds, but for now, I’m content.
xo xo
Weekend Picturebook: Halloween, Birthdays & Football
This weekend was a BUSY one, rolling right off of a busy week for Halloween. (Fun fact: Walmart Home Office does Halloween like you’ve never seen. #amazing) I’m pretty sure every weekend will be busy until 2014, but this one was special in that we had 5 guests in town none of which had never been to a Razorback game. My parents invited some of their friends they’ve been working with in Ohio to Northwest Arkansas for the weekend – coming in from Ohio, West Virginia and Texas. It was a great weekend with lots of laughs, good food and beautiful weather. (We won’t mention the Hogs’ loss.)
As our guests were coming in town Friday, we also had another commitment that night – my mother-in-law’s surprise 50th birthday party that turned out just perfect. Enjoy some photos below from the weekend!
* * * * *
{Started the weekend off with a bang for Halloween – at work and home}
{SURPRISE! What a beautiful birthday party for my beautiful mother-in-law!}
{Saturday am: had to take our guests to Crystal Bridges, 21c and Downtown Bentonville}
{The girls ready for the game!}
{Second surprise of the weekend – our “bus” to Fayetteville was a limo!}
{LOVE this photo of my parents! Happy to have them home for a few days}
Hope you had a great fall weekend! Our next weekend adventure features a 1-year-old birthday party and a wedding!
xo
You might also enjoy: Weekend Picturebook: Little Rock, Weekend Picturebook: St. Louis
My Weekend Was:
the opposite of last weekend
spending time with friends
a successful October girls happy hour
random, in a great way
finding a new nighttime hangout
celebrating our favorite brewery’s first birthday
touring Texans around Bentonville
eating lots and lots of tacos
beautiful
jumbling towers + blockus + more beer
excitement for a friend and her world tour
doing something for someone simply because it will make their day
relaxing on the couch with my old friends in the O.C.
xo xo
Dolce Far Niente
This weekend was quiet.
I mean, so quiet that at one point Husband and I tried to take a nap (without success) because we didn’t have anything else to do.
The musings of my blog are typically all about our busyness. Busyness at work, busyness traveling, busyness with this event, that birthday party, this dinner with friends.
But this weekend was a collective breathe out. There was no busyness. We still had specific things to do at specific times Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, but the days were filled with nothing.
I cleaned. I cooked. I read magazines, I read books. I worked. I went on a run. I went grocery shopping. I watched a movie. I looked at the clock and wondered how this was happening.
The sad thing about our culture is that we equate busyness with happiness and success. We don’t think we deserve to have a moment without being busy and if we do, we feel guilty about it.
All weekend I kept trying to think of more things to do. I never have this much time, so there’s definitely things I should be doing. Not once did it cross my mind to just sit. Relax. Pray.
Next time you have a moment to spare, take a deep breath and remember dolce far niente.
Enjoy the quiet. Enjoy the peace. Enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing.
xo xo
life lately.
{traveling // to San Francisco for work, including a trip to Facebook HQ}
{enjoying // BEAUTIFUL Fall weather during a walk on the Crystal Bridges trail}
{wearing // a new sweater from H&M on a day trip to Tulsa to see Gravity}
{working // our Walmart Mom blogger event, Christmas in October}
{drinking // Ole Shiney Apple + X-Rated Flirtini}
xo xo
life lately + blogging hiatus
Life lately has been busy, busy, busy. Along with moving and getting settled in I’ve had some big projects going on at work that have been taking up a lot of time (hint, hint: follow @Walmart on Instagram). I’ve had hardly any time to blog and when I have had the time, spending more time on a computer did not sound appealing.
Other than moving and working, see a few life lately highlights below.
{Jersey Boys at the WAC}
{Sidecars at Club Frisco}
{several evenings in downtown Bentonville, pictured – Tusk & Trotter}
{Calling the Hogs with these fun guys}
Saturday we head off on our next adventure to Denver and Nashville. One day while drinking mimosas on a patio, husband and I dreamed a dream that we could see his favorite band (The National) in concert and mine (Taylor Swift) in the same week, despite the shows being across country. That dream has officially turned into reality.
We will see The National at the breathtaking Red Rocks Amphitheater outside of Denver and spend a few days in the city with my cousin and her husband. We then head to Nashville where we will meet up with my parents, and Mom and I will see T. Swift (for the second time because she’s amaaaaaazing). I am BEYOND excited and so ready for a week-long vacation.
21st birthday trip – Taylor Swift in LA!
See you in a few weeks! xo
My Month in Instagram {August}
Happy September! As I drink my first PSL of the season (it’s BACK!) I’m taking a look back on August through the lense of my Instagram photos.
I posted 39 (!!) Instagram photos in August. I won’t share them all – but you can see them here – so I’ll just share my top 10 photos of the month.
As you look through them, I encourage you to listen to my song of August. Do you ever wish you could force someone to listen to a certain song while they’re looking at something – like back in the day on MySpace? Anyway, if you’re interested, click play on the YouTube video below and listen as you peruse.
xo
{August 3 – First Stop on the NWA Brewery Tour}
{August 5 – I’d take this as my workspace any day. #peaceful#naturallight #comfychairs #dallas}
{August 7 – let’s brighten this rainy day #sotd #shoes #metallic}
{August 15 – Oh my gosh, I have a new favorite food truck on the square. #streettacos #urbanbbq #foodtruck}
{August 18 – BEAUTIFUL day for some coffee + crepes}
{August 21 – 7 years ago today I posted this photo from our first day of senior year. #2006 #bhs #senioryear #timehop#throwback}
{August 23 – The weekend starts now.}
{August 24 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY, K! Love you and miss you. xo xo ❤}
{August 25 – Cuddle buddies}
{August 28 – LOVE this quote. #instaquote #leadership #inspiration}
The Woes of Moving; The Joys of a House
Some of you know we’ve been moving the past few weeks from our apartment to a house. I actually really enjoyed apartment living and so did husband, but then Olli changed everything. The apartment seemed to go from pretty nice size to way too small in days. With a 60lb dog running the apartment, we knew we couldn’t stay there much longer. Not to mention having to walk him up and down the stairs day in and day out to go to the bathroom.
That realization came parallel to us doing Financial Peace University, which caused a big decision – move into my parents house. My parents travel a lot for work and are only in their Bentonville home once every couple months or so. It sits empty at least 250 days out of the year. It’s rent free, it has a backyard and it allows us to save for our own house – need I say more?
While the house has been GLORIOUS, moving is always a four-letter word. Here’s some advice I have for any of you moving any time soon.
W O E S O F M O V I N G
1. Start packing early. I’ll say it again, start packing early. Especially all that little stuff that seems to be everywhere.
2. As you’re packing, seriously consider if you need it. If you haven’t looked at it since last time you moved, you probably don’t. Give it to someone who does.
3. Enlist your best friends to help you move. I say your best friends, because not just anyone wants to help someone move.
4. Afterwards, offer them free pizza and beer.
5. Put your dog in doggie day care or somewhere else for the day. They WILL be in the way.
6. Label your boxes. Especially if they’re going in a storage unit.
7. Buy plastic boxes at Walmart for things like photos and clothes that you’ll be storing for a while.
8. Don’t take a shower on moving day or try and look cute. You will get sweaty and gross and it won’t matter.
9. Stay hydrated. Moving.Is.Hard.
10. Remember the big picture – you will get through this and then you’ll have a nice house to go home to.
J O Y S O F A H O U S E
1. The backyard – oh my gosh having a backyard is nice. Case in point, the two photos below on this beautiful Saturday morning.
2. The feeling of a cozy neighborhood with genuine neighbors.
3. The space. Husband can be in one room, Olli can be in one room and I can be in another – and we won’t necessarily hear each other. *relaxing sigh*
4. You don’t have to carry your trash across the complex to the always overflowing and smelly trash compactor.
5. You don’t hear every word of every argument from your next door neighbors.
… and many, many more. I’m sure I’ll be blogging about it again soon so I’ll just leave it at these for now. Husband and I are off to get the final things out of the apartment and turn in our keys, then we will have a wonderful, relaxing Labor Day weekend in our home.
xo
life lately
{traveling // to Dallas for work, but also got time for great friends and food}
{wearing // new shoes}
{drinking & playing // Saturday afternoon Jumbling Towers}
{eating // these amaaaazing food truck tacos}
{cleaning & packing // my parents house so husband and I can move in, meanwhile finding some adorable photos}
xo
m.davis xoxo 
