I vow to complete the following list of Summer-ish things. Welcome, favorite season! I’m ready for you.
1. Canoeing/Kayaking
2. Camping
3. Drive-in movie
4. Road trip
5. Go to the golfing range
6. Have a fancy picnic (preferably with wine and cheese and fruit)
7. Enjoy music outdoors
8. Go to a theme park
9. Host an outdoor party
10. Spend an entire day by the pool with good book + good drink in hand
You might also enjoy: I need the smell of Summer, I need its noises in my ear, Endless Summer
Okay friends, I’m going to be honest with you. I’m kind of a workout flake. I’m all talk, no action. Wait, let me correct that – I’m all talk, no action lots of action for about a week, maybe two, sometimes a month if we’re lucky.
Well, husband is sick of me complaining about my body and is forcing me to take action. (Isn’t that what husbands are for??) I’ve been so proud of him working out consistently the past few months so I decided to take a similar course of action.
We both downloaded the iPhone app Touchfit: GSP. I’ve only done two days so far, but I love it. It’s quick, but challenging. It tracks your progress in real-time. It never gets dull with more than 500 videos. It tailors the workout for your fitness level. And it’s on your phone so you can literally work out whenever, wherever.
So it begins again, and I just pray I can stay committed.
Enjoy a few of my other exercise related posts below. xo xo
* * *
A hilarious Thanksgiving experience (Thanksgiving Begins With A Kick (Literally))
My running playlist (No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping everybody on the couch)
Some motivational quotes (Just do it)
A Lenten commitment (Lent: Prayer + Dance)
I even created a blog JUST to share my P90x experience … which lasted about two weeks. (P90X … Bring it!)
Oh, brother. These past two weeks have been quite a doozy.
As most of you (who live in nwa) know, the beginning of June means Walmart’s Annual Shareholders Meeting aka tens of thousands of people envelop the area, celebs walking the streets (Tom Cruise was on the Bentonville Square !!!) and just all around very very busy. As some of you know, I had a very interesting part in Shareholders this year. I currently manage our Walmart Mom Blogger program. We invite these bloggers to Shareholders every year to experience the event, meet with marketers, merchants, suppliers and get inspired to blog about Walmart. I managed their entire trip (and was with them) from breakfast to dinner, 4 days and 3 nights.
It was the most physically and mentally exhausted I’ve probably ever been in my life, but it was also fabulous. I loved the event planning aspect and loved getting to know these Moms I’ve been corresponding with for the past 7 months. Overall it was an amazing week, but it left me pooped! Hence, why I’m just now getting around to blogging. Anyway, enjoy a few photos from my life lately.
{Pre-Shareholders I got to enjoy a BEAUTIFUL wedding of two dear friends. It always makes me so happy to see a wedding full of so much love, joy and inspiration. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. DeMoss! We love you!
Psst, check out the bride’s blog about her big day with some beautiful photos & enough love to make you tear.}
{Walmart Moms}
{Couldn’t have made it without this wonderful lady!}
{Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Hugh Jackman – it’s really a concert with a few business items!
Photo credit: MommyBrainReports.com}
{Much needed sunshine, beer + relaxation with husband after the event}
{Friday night at a Naturals Game}
{Oh, and puppy got shaved for the Summer}
xo xo
I seem to go through hobby phases. Sometimes it’s binge-watching a TV show. Sometimes it’s blogging. Sometimes it’s baking. But sometimes it’s reading, and that’s where I’m currently landing. I’ve always enjoyed reading, but it seems its one of those practices that if you don’t keep up consistently you can’t seem to find time for it. Well, when we went on our media blackout for two weeks a lot of free time opened up for reading, and I caught the bug again. I previously shared about the books I was reading in my post Mindy, Facebook + The Dinner.
Now, I’ll share my most current reads. (Though I’m dangerously tipping into the binge-watching phase as I’ve discovered my new Summer show: Greek – all 4 seasons of which are on Netflix.)
The Interestings – When I tried to describe this book to Husband he said it sounded like The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Which it kind of is, a grown-up version at least, but with more depth and wit. It follows a group of friends from summer camp into middle-age, sharing relatable accounts of their relationships, careers and everything in between. I identified with the musings of how relationships change over the years and enjoyed the unique perspective from the various characters.
Grade: A
The Best of Us – Need an easy book to read on vacation? This is it. Similar to Emily Giffin or Jennifer Weiner books, this follows a group of old friends on a seemingly picture-perfect vacation, but when a hurricane hits it brings out all the secrets. Quick and effortless, by the end this read will have you wishing for a drink in your hand and sand between your toes.
Grade: B+
The Great Gatsby – Somehow I got throughout high school without having to read this classic. While I originally regretted not having read it sooner, I think I appreciate it now more than I would have then. The artistic writing, the extravagant parties, the brilliant characters – I’m only halfway through, but so far I’m in love and I can’t wait to see the movie. (P.S. The soundtrack to the movie is incredible.)
Grade: B+
Reconstructing Amelia – After I finish The Great Gatsby, this is next on my list. As I was doing my Saturday morning read of Entertainment Weekly this book caught my eye on their 10 Perfect Summer Reads list. Why? Opening review line – “Gossip Girl meets Gone Girl.” (One of my favorite shows and one of my favorite books.) Could this get any more perfect for me??
What are your summer reads? xo xo
You might also enjoy: The Book List
{celebrating // sister in law’s hs graduation, see nostalgic blog post here}
{drinking // prickly pear cactus margarita, Table Mesa Bistro}
{praising // a wonderful God during the calm after a scary storm – Psalm 107:29}
{becoming a trekkie // during our 2nd anniversary trip to KC}
{relaxing // with my boys, just the way I like it}
xo xo
Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air
I know I can count on you
Sometimes I feel like saying “Lord I just don’t care”
But you’ve got the love I need to see me throughSometimes it seems the going is just too rough
And things go wrong no matter what I do
Now and then it seems that life is just too much
But you’ve got the love I need to see me throughTime after time I think “Oh Lord what’s the use?”
Time after time I think it’s just no good
‘Cause sooner or later in life, the things you love you lose
But you got the love I need to see me through
* * *
Happy second anniversary!
I love you, husband. Always & forever. xo
You can see a snapshot of our wedding in my post 5.28.11.
{Drinks on the patio, Country Club Plaza}
{Shop. Relax. Repeat.}
{2nd anniversary dinner where we dreamed about where we’ll be in another year}
{Sunday brunch, Westport Cafe and Bar}
{Star Trek: Into Darkness, Alamo Drafthouse Mainstreet}
{beer flights + pizza, Flying Saucer}
{fireworks show from our hotel balcony}
{parting lunch, blanc burgers + bottles}
{rainy Memorial day – until next time KC}
xo xo
You might also enjoy: Weekend Picturebook: St. Louis, Weekend Picturebook: Las Vegas
Confession: I love mixtapes. If you make me a mixtape, I’ll love you forever. There’s something so special about them. All the mixtapes I’ve made or that have been given to me reflect a moment in time. The songs remind me of a specific person, place or event. I can go back and listen to them and remember the smallest details about that time in my life.
Over the years I’ve most commonly made mixtapes for road trips. Among my collection I have OKC, Tulsa, Green Forest, N. Dakota, Spring Break + many more. When I was younger I even used to write out all the songs on a piece of paper in order with title and artist. I still have the CD and list for Cozumel 2003. If only you knew what was on that CD…
In the spirit of old mixtapes, Husband and I are making one for our trip to Kansas City this weekend. We’re headed up for a little weekend getaway to celebrate our 2nd anniversary. Since we have very different taste in music it will be an interesting compilation, but will hopefully keep both of us musically satisfied for the trip.
Enjoy a peek at our mixtape and let me know what songs would be on yours. Happy long weekend! xo
1. Next to Me, Emeli Sande
2. You and I, Local Natives
3. Shake It Out, Florence + The Machine
4. I Should Live in Salt, The National
5. Today Was a Fairtytale, Taylor Swift
6. Humiliation, The National
7. West Coast, Coconut Records
8. This Is The Last Time, The National
9. Stay, Rihanna
10. Demons, The National
11. I Knew You Were Trouble, Taylor Swift
12. Sea of Love, The National
13. Freaks & Geeks, Childish Gambino
14. Pink Rabbits, The National
15. Breakers, Local Natives
16. Graceless, The National
17. Little Talks, Of Monsters and Men
P.S. I also purchased The Great Gatsby soundtrack for the trip, which is supposed to be AMAZING. It’s produced by Jay-Z, so that’s a pretty good start.
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
xo xo
I remember it like it was yesterday. The nerves we would trip on stage, the excitement we were free. The tears for friends moving far away, the laughter while sharing one last summer together.
As I watched my sister-in-law graduate from high school yesterday, all I could think about was my four years at BHS. I met my future husband while there. I found my passion for theater. I became close with an incredible group of girls. I loved high school.
So in honor of Tori’s graduation, I got nostalgic looking at old pictures and wanted to share 10 of my favorite high school memories.
* * *
1. For one night only, we were Bentonville’s Next Top Models.
2. My first concert and “road trip” without my parents and we wound up meeting both bands we saw – Brand New and Dashboard Confessional. [Pictured with Chris Carrabba, lead singer of Dashboard.]
3. High school would not have been the same without theater. Most challenging role – Wicked Witch, The Wizard of Oz. Most fun – dancer in Footloose, pictured.
4. Husband and I went to three proms together. As we were reminiscing this weekend, we decided my Junior year was our favorite. Love these beautiful ladies.
5. Snow Days. You can read my thoughts on that topic here.
6. Through my church I got involved in this little thing called LYO. Little did I know the few weekends we got together every couple months would be some of the most random and most fun I’d ever have.
7. Road trip to Ft. Smith for a BHS football game. Bathroom stop at Chester, population 99 = unforgettable.
8. Top 3 in Miss BHS. Loved every second of this opportunity.
9. Powderpuff football game. As much fun as I had, this solidified the reason why I never played sports.
10. And of course, our senior trip to Panama City. Still in my top best trips ever taken. I’ll never forget these girls!
xo xo
m.davis xoxo 