TGIF:Currently/Lately & Soon.

Hello again. Thanks for stopping by this week as I countdown to my 30th birthday. 2 weeks from tomorrow, officially. :) I am SO SO thrilled to start this next era. Yesterday I made more plans for my celebration - I am booked solid on my birthday to celebrate with my husband and I didn't want a lot of drama/frustration for my special day - so I promised him that my birthday was our day alone. :)

After this week of sharing some of my favorite birthdays, I also don't feel like digging into my personal photos of my childhood so I am going to end that cute series. It takes up more time than I am willing to give. Hope you enjoyed it.

This morning as I sat in the eternity of unmoving traffic in my work commute - I knew I needed to post and celebrate my life with what's current and upcoming. Thank God its Friday. :)

Currently/Lately:
- I am making a good dent in my weight loss. These 2 weeks, we get up an hour early and get our walk on - and I've been loving the time with C before the chaos of the day.

- I am trying do a big purge of unneeded crap in our house. Some of it's just there, taking up space and if it's all over the place - its keeping me from investing in Target's organization home swag. ;) ;)
(Clearly my priorities are in order, riiiiight?)

- I am loving my redder hair. I love this hair dye and I am hopefully cutting my hair this weekend, I have to re-convince myself to do it. I feel like Ariel. & I love it.

- I didn't really go anywhere this summer because of the whole I'm a grownup with limited vacation days. But I have that I need a roadtrip itch. I am the only one because my hubs is perfectly okay without one.

- Craving the beach, it's only an hour away and I need it back in my life. #beachwithdrawals

-I am loving the reactions from others now that I dove into using makeup, more than ever. I put my face on before work and I am witnessing alot more people are friendlier, kinda.

- I am addicted to shopping at etsy. I bought a few #disneyinspired birthday treats and I love it. I just hope I get them in time. But I fully plan on spending more time there especially when we have kids. Etsy is my new Pinterest.

Soon:
- I start my thirties. & I am really excited. Lots that I started in my twenties that will be wrapped up in this era. :) Such as done paying off student loans, starting a family, hopefully done with mortgage//new home.

- Weather will be cooling off in Florida. I am mostly thrilled because I have a 5K to prep for in January. I want to run more of it, train harder and obviously have lost a TON more weight.

- Thanksgiving/Christmas - these are my 2 favorite holidays of the year besides Easter. I love all the decor, the food, time with family, wrapping gifts (yes, its a favorite), shopping, the food, just everything.

- We'll be even more involved at our new church. Finally getting back into this rhythm and I love it. This church gives us both what we needed spiritually and I look forward to having kids to bring them here. :)

- Changes to my job: I cannot reveal anything until I get more to go off but changes are coming and I am SO SO SO happy about this. This all went down this week and its very exciting.

-  I will have to get my hands on my favorite movie ever. Currently $10 on blu-ray @ Amazon. Hoping someone gives me a giftcard for my birthday. :) I posted this on my IG today, you're welcome. Ps. if you have IG - follow me.

Excited to celebrate belatedly with my Dad whose birthday was Wednesday. :) Have a fantastic weekend. Cheers to sleeping in tomorrow! <3

SO What, Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday, loves. Today I am linking up with Shannon over at 'Life After I Dew' for the oh so popular 'So What Wednesday' & she has kept it fresh by changing the direction. 

This week I am saying SO WHAT if.. 

I have a cold and that just happened to start on top of it? Everyone in America is dealing with the polar vortex shindig of some sorts and while I live in Florida - it is getting frigid here too, y'all. I've had this sinusy thing for too long. I should work out when I come home but as you can tell being sick drains all energy and possible motivation. Last night - I got home, watched Life of Pi (amazing!) & snacked on gummy bears. Yes, its not nutritious and with my weight loss - its not helping. But every once in a great while- gummy bears is perfection. 

That's really all I got this week. I take Shannon's new direction and I just don't feel like being negative about stuff. I don't love the frigid weather and how in  Florida its 80 today and 20 tomorrow. I don't love getting up to go to work when its cold -- but its part of life and I just deal with it & put on my jams so at least if a dance sesh happens in the am -- that's the silver lining :)

Thanks for stopping by, you stay classy! 

TGBTL Week #7: Tangible Pride & Joy.

**Disclaimer: This post was intended for Wednesday but due to being sick & technical issues - it just didn't happen. But wanted to get it out there because its a great prompt to share.**

Happy Wednesday, loves. It's been a long week thus far & its only going to continue. Definitely doesn't help that its 25 degrees in Florida & the wind is killer. For those of you just stopping by my blog - WELCOME. Every Wednesday I link up w/ other fantastic women for the 'Girl Between the Lines' goodness. This week we are sharing our most tangible items we hold dearest.

Last week I was trying to find my item for last week's linkup. What I found besides it is something I hold even closer to my heart. I've kept most of the letters from my grandparents since I was a little girl. I am very close to my family. My phone is dead & I am not able to take a picture at this time but just know there is a plethora. All my grandparents on my dad's side have all passed on and I am the absolutest closest to them. I think what makes these notes extremely special to me is that because when I was younger - I used to live closer (distance wise) to my extended family. When my dad was transferred down to Florida, I've missed going to our family get together's, Christmases & Thanksgiving dinners annually. By reading these notes, it not only brought a tear to my eye but a warm feeling in my heart because I am blessed to have the most incredible family in the world.

Along with these letters, I also have a few handmade items from my grandma who went to be with the Lord in 1997 from breast cancer. She was a very beautiful woman, talented in many areas. Two of these items deserve a picture - which I will update gladly this weekend. My family gave me one of my grandma's paintings and a mini wooden horse that she hand painted. My house looks brighter knowing that my grandma's beautiful painting has added richness that you can't get elsewhere.

You stay classy & thanks for stopping by! 

30 days of #THANKS

Every November, I make a point of taking time to be thankful. I feel the holidays come and go, and people get so invested in getting gifts that they lose focus on what the holidays are. The holidays are a time to be thankful for everything in your life, you know? Whether its your job, your family, your kids, your home, everything that God has blessed you with this year.  Everyday this month, my posts will be honoring someone or something that I am #thankful for.

Here we goooo. Day #1.

First & foremost, I am so very thankful for my husband. He is my better half, he loves me for me & completes me. That sounds so very cheesy but it's true. I am so blessed that we found each other, because I appreciate the man he is. He always makes me laugh and supports my dreams. 

He knows that I am destined for greatness and appreciates the lady I am. We've already been together for 4 years and I am so excited for the many more.  He is an incredible husband & I know he will be a fantastic daddy when the moment comes. 

Hope your first day of November was fantastic. Here in central Florida, its supposed to be cold & will make it feel even more like FALL :)  I encourage you to remember what you're thankful for this month, it will make THANKSGIVING, the Macy's day parade & all that yummy food feel even better :)

{jess}

the last three.

I've said this so much in the past week that I feel like an iPod stuck on repeat. Here in central Florida, we don't really have seasons like those in the other parts of the country. I really miss the days when I lived in South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio, because y'all get to experience the four different seasons. While I love living where I do, I get one season: hot with a thick side of humidity whenever possible. But in the past few days, there's been a nice breeze. Like that makes you want to sit outside all day and just daydream, go to the beach/theme parks or just something outside. For example, my hubs & I took a walk tonight with our pups and you couldn't wipe the smile off my face. It was so dark, but there wasn't a peep in my neighborhood. I was able to enjoy being outside without any humidity and just get some exercise with my family. Usually, I can't stay outside that long because mosquitoes (who must all be waiting in a cluster for me to leave my house) swarm me and bite me, leaving quite attractive welts. It is a graphic, attractive image isn't it? ;)

Anywho, since we've had this cooler weather that I hope is here to stay for awhile -- it really is true that I really live for the last three months of the year. From my birthday month through December, you just can't get me to stop smiling. The weather, the holidays, the seasonal goodies that pop back up into my life -- just make me the happiest lady ever. Granted, I am almost done Christmas shopping much to my husband who isn't as thrilled -- these months just perk me up like the clearance rack. Which side note, helped me score some sweet gems this weekend, y'all :)

Soon the traditions of the season will be settling in. The Halloween decorations will come down, followed by the setting up of Christmas lights, the Christmas tree & all the other Pinterest inspired but husband approved projects that i can get my hands on. This really really excites me. Kind of like back in the day on a Friday night when Boy Meets World came on.

So, to all y'all who stop by my page and are enjoying their real FALL weather, the changing of the leaves and the wonderfulness of the season -- enjoy yourselves a bit more for me. Fall is beautiful and my absolute favorite season. :)

{jess}