m.davis xoxo

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thankful {days 5-13}

{Day 5: I’m thankful for blue skies, sunroofs + lunch breaks. #lent #40daychallenge}

Screen Shot 2014-03-19 at 6.31.40 PM
{Day 6: I’m thankful for good conversations with old friends. #lent #40daychallenge}

{Day 7: I’m thankful for this beautiful devotional that has been my source of hope, joy and peace the past few months. #lent #40daychallenge #jesuscalling}

{Day 8: Rough day at work then I come home to puppy and puke in his crate. So today I am thankful for the little things in the mailbox that made me smile. #lent#40daychallenge #birchbox}

{Day 9: First day that I’ve missed … but I was thankful for Fridays!}

{Day 10: I’m so thankful for the opportunity to celebrate a beautiful marriage that truly embodies the love of Christ. Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Saunders! #lent#40daychallenge #weddingday}

{Day 11: I’m thankful for social media. Otherwise I may not have the opportunity to be so encouraged by words like these. {regram from @jtlstreet} #lent#40daychallenge #johnpiper}

{Day 12: I’m thankful for retail therapy – one of my purchases being this adorable shirt from Elysian Boutique! #lent #40daychallenge}

{Day 13: I’m thankful for to-do lists and time for blogging! {new post: milledavis.com} #lent#40daychallenge #blog}

xo xo

You might also enjoy: My Lenten #40DayChallenge, there’s beauty in the weekends

Posted by milledavis | March 19, 2014 | Categories: Life | Tags: 40 day challenge, Lent, thankful | 1 Comment

11 Reasons “Pretty Little Liars” Is My New Obsession

{FYI – I’ve only watched the first two seasons, so I am NOT caught up. I repeat, I am NOT caught up. No spoilers please. Unfortunately I already know some, so no more!}

1. The fashion. Who dresses like that in high school? Scratch that. Who doesn’t wish they had dressed like that in high school? Or even post-high school??
2. Every single episode leaves me with another question and wanting more. (Case in point – the number of episodes I binge-watched Saturday, which I won’t tell you, but it was a lot.)
3. The four girls’ friendship through thick and thin (i.e. murders and swim meet championships) and their weekly gossip-fueled sleepovers.
4. Caleb is so bad boy dreamy. Fitz is so book nerd dreamy. Wren is so foreign dreamy. There’s a lot of dreamy.
5. The town square is the same set used as Gilmore Girls. (and we know I’m obsessed with anything GG)
6. Those texts from A are like a box of chocolate, you just never know what you’re gonna get.
7. It’s like Veronica Mars meets Desperate Housewives. Perfect.
8. The music change every time Jenna Marshall walks into a room and the looks all the girls immediately give each other, despite the fact that she isn’t doing anything … except walk into a room.
9. I can get my high school girl-crazy, hair-pulling bathroom fight and my front row seat to a murder investigation all in one place.
10. I don’t understand how/why this is on ABC Family, but that makes it even more scandalous.
11. Hidden lovers, hidden bodies, hidden secrets … what’s not to love??

“Only two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.”
xo xo

You might also enjoy: 10 Reasons “The O.C.” Was the Best Teen Drama Ever on TV

Posted by milledavis | March 10, 2014 | Categories: Television | Tags: abc family, pretty little liars, television, TV | 3 Comments

there’s beauty in the weekends

Screen Shot 2014-03-09 at 4.38.25 PM {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

Posted by milledavis | March 9, 2014 | Categories: Life | Tags: 40 day challenge, Lent, thankful, weekend | 1 Comment

My Lenten #40DayChallenge

This year for Lent I’m doing things a little different. Well, I’m still doing some familiar things, like fasting from all sweets. (But this time I’m not going to let Sunday be a cheat day. So straight 45 days without sweets. Eek!)

But I’m also doing something different. I’m taking the time to be intentional about things I’m thankful for. I will share a photo every day on my instagram account @milledavis of my #40daychallenge. You can follow along there or on my blog. I won’t update on my blog every day, but will share in batches several days worth of photos.

This is a great exercise for anyone, to be conscious every day of the many things you have to be thankful for, but for me specifically in this time of grief. I pray that through this season God will open my eyes and remind me of all of his wonderful blessings. I pray I will reflect during this time on what’s truly important. I pray I will be reinvigorated with His truth and the passion to share the Gospel.

I hope you’ll follow me in this journey and share things you’re thankful for too!
xoxo

{Day 1: I’m thankful for the freedom to practice my religion during this sacred season.}

Screen Shot 2014-03-06 at 6.40.05 PM {Day 2: I’m thankful for fun coworkers and belated mardi gras celebrations.}

Posted by milledavis | March 6, 2014 | Categories: Faith | Tags: 40 day challenge, faith, Lent, thankful | 5 Comments

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

Posted by milledavis | March 4, 2014 | Categories: Life | Tags: life, life lately | Leave a comment

Oscars 2014: 5 Best + Worst Dressed

B E S T D R E S S E D

{Cate Blanchett, Armani // This dress and those applique details are just a dream. She looks like a goddess, just floating along without a care in the world. The nude could easily wash her out, but somehow it complements her skin and hair perfectly.}

rs_634x890-140302160348-634.lupita-nyoungo.cm.3214 {Lupita Nyong’o, Prada // Oh my goodness, breathtaking. She set the bar pretty high as she’s been killing it all awards season, but this “Nairobi” blue instantly set her apart from her peers. Only change in my opinion – lose the headband. It makes her look too young.}

{Angelina Jolie, Elie Saab // Angelina Jolie (and Brad Pitt) are practically royalty in the movie star realm, and she totally brought it. This is the definition of confidence and age-appropriate sexy.}

rs_634x1024-140302163756-634.charlize-theron-oscar.ls.3214_copy {Charlize Theron, Dior // Talk about a simple stunner. The fit of this dress could not be more perfect and I absolutely love the nude straps. Top it off with perfect hair, makeup and accessories and you’ve got a winner.}

{Kate Hudson, Versace // I really have no words except, just look at her. The plunging v-neck accentuates her fit figure flawlessly and that cape takes it from beautiful to outstanding.}

Honorable Mentions: Jennifer Lawrence, Olivia Wilde

W O R S T D R E S S E D

Okay, to be fair, there really wasn’t any look on the red carpet I thought was just awful. Overall, the gowns were beautiful, but the five below were just some of my least favorites.

{Jennifer Garner, Oscar de la Renta // I just don’t love this for the Oscars. She looks too much like a high-end flapper and the neckline is too grade school. Spice it up a little bit, Jen.}

{Kristen Bell, Cavalli // I ADORE Kristen Bell, so I hate to put her on this list. Again, it’s not horrible, but it’s not great either. The dress is fine, but the entire look is a little boring and safe. Also, the middle part hair? No.}

{Anne Hathaway, Gucci // This just looks strange. I can’t really put my finger on it, but it kind of looks like she’s wearing an armor breastplate on top of a gown. Sorry, Anne.}

{Sally Hawkins, Valentino// Sally, this was your moment! You were nominated for the first time! You could have killed it and you totally lost it. As we saw, the nude and applique were huge trends, but she did not pull it off properly. It looks like this dress was not fitted for her at all and she just threw it on last minute.}

{Amy Adams, Gucci // I was so excited to see what Amy was going to wear after her amazing dress at the Golden Globes … and this was totally underwhelming. It’s a beautiful dress, but the look is just so-so. I would have completely changed the hair and accessories to make this look more sexy.}

xo xo

Posted by milledavis | March 3, 2014 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: academy awards, Angelina Jolie, best dressed, Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, fashion, Jennifer Lawrence, Kristen Bell, Lupita Nyong, Oscars, worst dressed | 3 Comments

Pop, Fizz, Clink!

This will be one of the first years in recent memory I have not hosted my annual Oscars viewing party. Awards season is one of my favorite things ever and it all leads up to the Academy Awards. A good watch party includes friends, ballots, champagne and red carpet critiquing.

Below are a few photos from my first ever viewing party in high school. The attire was sweats (which back then meant we were all wearing Victoria’s Secret PINK), we traced our hands on a fake red carpet and we drank sparkling cider.

Last year I rented out the theater at our apartment complex and had a special cake made just for the event. You can see photos and read my post here. Unfortunately this year I decided not to host an event. As it turned out, mother nature affirmed my decision, as we’re currently in a thunder-sleet-pocalypse and I’m not sure how many people would have been able to attend anyway.

While of course I’ll still be watching (ballot and champagne in hand) I wanted to share some fun viewing party ideas I’ve seen around the web.

Enjoy your evening with the stars! xo xo

{Oscar nominated actor straws via}

{popcorn bar via}

gold balloons {easy gold decor via}

Screen Shot 2014-03-02 at 3.17.52 PM {movie quote cupcakes – TDF via}

Screen Shot 2014-03-02 at 3.17.35 PM {custom labels via}

{confetti poppers via}

You might also enjoy: 10 Facts You Should Know About the Oscars, Oscar Noms Reviews: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Posted by milledavis | March 2, 2014 | Categories: Glamorous, Movies, Pop Culture | Tags: academy awards, Oscars, party, red carpet | 1 Comment

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

Posted by milledavis | February 19, 2014 | Categories: Family & Friends, Life, Travel | Tags: Aziz Ansari, life, life lately, saddlebock, san francisco, Tulsa, valentines day, weekend getaway | Leave a comment

“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

Posted by milledavis | February 18, 2014 | Categories: Life | Tags: hallelujah, jeff buckley, life | 1 Comment

Oscar Noms Reviews: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

This snowy weather (again!) makes me want to stay in all day and watch movies. Alas, that is not an option, but I wish it were. I could sit and watch movies for days on end. If made correctly, they’re so beautiful and give you a peek into another world, sometimes so different from you that you could have never imagined on your own.

With the Academy Awards less than a month away, I’m on a mission to see as many nominated movies as I can. You can see the full list of nominations here. While I still have a few to go, below are reviews of the movies I’ve seen lately. As I always say, take reviews with a grain of salt. If you want to see something, go see it. No matter what anyone says.

Wolf of Wall Street: B+
Here’s the short of it – the acting was phenomenal, but everything else was excessive. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill absolutely deserve an award for their work, but it was overdone with sex and drugs. I understand why Martin Scorsese did what he did, but I just don’t agree with it. It also could have easily been cut by an hour at least.

American Hustle: A-
You want to talk about beauty, this was a beautiful film. The clothes, the music, the hair, the music – it was all absolutely perfect for the era. (I was born in the wrong decade!!) This acting was also top-notch. Every single performance was terrific, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale and of course, my love, Jennifer Lawrence.

Gravity: A+
I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed a film so much. Scratch that – enjoyed and been on the edge of my seat so much. The entire film was just breathtaking and Sandra Bullock was perfect. George Clooney was good for some eye-candy and comic relief (per usual). Alfonso Cuaron needs to win Best Director.

Her: A-
I give this one a minus simply because parts of it were just too odd. While we are in the day and age where this could legitimately happen, we’re not quite ready to embrace it. That being said, the film was wonderfully made, retro and modern at the same time. Scarlett Johansson was brilliant. She made you feel and believe simply by her voice. That’s true talent right there.

Blue Jasmine: B+
The story was interesting enough, but as a whole it just wasn’t quite there. The movie’s one redeeming quality was Cate Blanchett, who seems to shine in any role she plays. However, when you don’t have the supporting actors and the plot to hold you up, there’s only so much you can do.

August: Osage County: C+
This movie was just sad. And I mean that in several ways. Sad as in super depressing and sad as in, I was really looking forward to this movie and it did not live up to expectations. Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts were INCREDIBLE. Streep’s monologues were remarkable and reminiscent of a stage play, but the story was just too depressing to justify the performances.

On the top of the list to watch before March 2: Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Nebraska, 12 Years a Slave, Frozen

What do you think of the Oscar nominations?
xo xo

Posted by milledavis | February 3, 2014 | Categories: Movies, Reviews | Tags: academy awards, movie review, movies, Oscars, review | 1 Comment

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thankful {days 5-13}

11 Reasons “Pretty Little Liars” Is My New Obsession

there’s beauty in the weekends

My Lenten #40DayChallenge

life lately

Oscars 2014: 5 Best + Worst Dressed

Pop, Fizz, Clink!

life lately

“I’ll stand before the lord of song with nothing on my tongue but hallelujah”

Oscar Noms Reviews: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

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