Overcome

Up until the past few months, I've always needed some upbeat, high tempo songs to keep me motivated while working out. Give me some Justin Bieber or Rihanna tunes and I'd be good to go...but not anymore. My Shuffle started popping up with more and more of my Christian music, and instead of changing it to the next rap song, I noticed that I paid so much more attention to the words and less attention on the pain in my side, and that my mini worship services while working out were making my cardio so much more enjoyable.

My most recent lifesong is "Overcome" by Jeremy Camp...the song is super long (like 8 minutes) so I first started listening to it to make the seconds tick by on the treadmill...but oh my goodness, has it spoken to my heart! I want to just lift my hands up in praise while listening to this...it's so refreshing to feel so weak when I don't think I can push myself another minute, but praying these words over my workout, as stupid as that sounds--He listens and answers my call and carries me the whole way. 

Just listen...take a few minutes and just sit back and pray over this song. It'll turn your day around in a heartbeat, I promise that. My heart cries out these words..."We will overcome, but the blood of the Lamb and the words of our testimony..."

Just a little bit of what's on my heart this morning...so thankful for this promise!


Happy Thursday!

Back from Vacay!

or alternately titled: "I need a long nap."

The beach was fabulous. Andrew and I are back in Oxford, a lot more tan and more tired than when we left. I slept from 11pm to 9am and yet I'm still pondering a nap right about now...guess that's what a vacation does to you these days, huh?

We spent our days on the beach, soaking up some rays, or out in the ocean, floating in our big raft that Andrew named Señor Boat. Nights consisted of yummy dinners, always involving some form of seafood, a few tropical drinks, and fun at the Florabama. And of course a little bit of drama, as always...but we just expect that at this point. 

With my cute dinner date on our first night in OB!

Paradise.

How handsome is my boyfriend? Headed to Florabama!

Reunion with my bff at the FB! She always makes any night better!

Friends at Florabama!

My beach bum with his umbrella drink

Doesn't get much better than this...

The first bikini pic of me ever taken...

My old youth minister, his wife (one of my favorite people in the world), and their two precious kids were staying a few mins away from us so we spent a few hours with them! This is my little Aiden...can't believe he's SIX now! I was there the day he was born!

Sassy, sweet Mia...cutest, funniest kid ever. 

What would I do without you?

The cliche "beach trip" picture in the sand dunes...I sure do love this man!

Our favorite, must-eat seafood place...a hole in the wall, but DELISH!

And my family always has to visit Hope's Cheesecake for a slice or three

Happy Memorial Day from the beach!

I'm so thankful for a few days away from the hustle and bustle of the real world...thank you to Andrew's mom for hosting us at her condo! And I'm a lucky girl to have gotten to spend those days sitting next to the love of my life...it doesn't get much better than that. I learned a lot about myself and others on this trip (maybe a post for another day) and I know more than ever now that I'm blessed right here and right now for the people in my life who love  me and for the life that I have. God is good!

Back to reality today...gotta get back into the calorie counting and cardio big time!! I can't believe it's already Wednesday...it'll be the weekend again before we even know it! Happy Hump Day, girls. I'm off to lunch with Faye, spend a little time catching up on blogs, and then we're starting the big move to our new house tonight!

Have a good one :)

Safe in the Sun: A Guest Post with Nicole from Bloom!

Happy Saturday, ladies! I'm having the best trip...nothing but relaxing by the ocean and eating my weight in seafood...perfection, if you ask me!


Today, we've got Miss Nicole guest posting about a topic near and dear to her heart...something we all need to hear, especially since summer has arrived and the sun is out in full force! Listen up and take her advice :)

Hey, {simple.little.joys} readers!  I’m Nicole and you can find me blogging about my faith, my love, and random life happenings over at Bloom!

I’m so excited to be filling in for Rach today while she enjoys the sun and sand on her beach vacation!  She gave me no limits when it came to what I was going to say in this little post, but it didn’t take me too long to nail down a topic since this particular subject has been hitting close to home for me in the past few weeks.

Skin cancer.

My teenage sister went in for a dermatologist appointment several weeks ago to get checked out and the doctor found a rather large mole that she hadn’t told anyone in the family about.  The doctor immediately was concerned and opted to not even do a biopsy and schedule a quick surgery later that week to have it removed.  Several days later A went in with a mole too big to keep and came out with a few stitches.  Her appointment with the pathologist was set for the next week.

3 days later, I decided I needed to go ahead and get checked out because there was a mole that had been concerning me for quite a few months.  I went in, the doctor took a look, and she took a biopsy because she was a little concerned, too.

A’s pathologist appointment confirmed that she was melanoma free this time, but that she was at high risk of developing it in the future.

I got a letter a few days later saying that the biopsy showed I had a “harmless mole”.

While we’re both fine now, it brought me to the realization that I had to take better care of my skin.  RIGHT NOW.

Since then, I’ve tried to stay out of the sun as much as possible.  I sit on the back patio in the shade where I can still enjoy sitting outside while being out of direct sunlight.  And when I am in direct sunlight, you better believe this girl is spraying on high SPF every few minutes!

Being safe in the sun really isn’t that difficult, you just have to put in the effort to do it!  Here are a few products that will help you make smarter decisions when it comes to the sun…

{1} One of the best ways to protect your stomach from the sun is to cover it… Yeah, yeah not many people like to wear a one piece, but I think if I had a trendy, floral one like this one from Lulu’s this season I might just wear it!

{2} A floppy hat is a great way to protect your face from the sun!  And they are SO fun, I think.  This one from Forever 21 is a whopping $13.  For that price, you could send it to your favorite shop to be monogrammed.  CUTE.

{3} I HATE having chapped or dry lips, so I am sure to put tons of SPF lip balm, like THIS Nivea balm, on before going in the sun.

{4} I haven’t been in the sun without spraying myself like crazy with THIS Neutrogena sunscreen mist!  I love that it is quick and easy and I don’t have to get my hands dirty!

{5}  This is one of my FAVORITE products in the Summer.  I don’t like to put on full makeup before a day by the pool, but I like to have a little something on my face.  THIS tinted moisturizer  from Mary Kay gives the perfect amount of coverage while still protecting against the sun.

Alright, girls!  It took a little scare to make me serious about taking care of my skin in the sun, but don’t let that be you!  

Take action now to protect yourself and your skin will thank you later. ;)

Thanks for having me, Rachel and sweet {simple.little.joys} gals!

I don't know about you, but I definitely needed these little reminders! I'll be spraying on a little extra SPF from now on! 

Happy Saturday, lovelies! 

Fab Fashion Summer Must-Haves: A Guest Post with Callie from The Good Life

Oh, have I got a treat for you today! I'm loving all of these guest posts from my amazing real life friends, so I hope y'all are enjoying it, too! I think they're pretty wonderful! Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Callie from The Good Life! She's here with some fab fashion tips for summer...makes me just want to go shop! 


Welcome, Mrs. Callie Collins.....

I guess I should introduce myself. 

I am Callie. 

You can call me Cal.

If you would like...

I blog over at The Good Life. 

Fun Fact: Rachel and I actually grew up in the same town and went to high school together!! Being that we were two years apart in school, we were not great friends until we connected through this little blog world! As I've said many a times on my blog, she is the reason I started blogging. So to have the opportunity to guest post for the blog that started it all is just craziness!! No pressure, Cal... No pressure...

So, I just want to say thank you to Rachel for allowing me to take over her blog for the day while she's lounging on the beach! Lucky Duck!! I have to keep reminding myself that I will be doing the same in just a little over a month.

Speaking of the beach... summer is in full swing down here in Mississippi! It is already hot as blue blazes. So today I just wanted to share with you of my summer style must haves.

Five Fab Fashion Must Haves for Summer:

1. The Hat

First and foremost is my all time favorite accessory. The hat.. Trusty ole hat. I was most definitely the kid that had a hat to match every outfit when I was little. Don't even pretend that you didn't have the denim hat with Sunflower...

The hat is so multi-purpose.
It protects your face from the sun.
It jazzes up a simple out.
It covers up your dirty hair....

                                                                     Source: lillyunique.tumblr.com via Callie on Pinterest

                                                      Source: gabbagabbagorg.tumblr.com via Callie on Pinterest

P.S. There are some fabulous floppy hats at Target!!

2. Maxi Skirts/Dresses

My newest obsession is quickly becoming the Maxi skirt and the Maxi dress... Seriously, I have two skirts and one dress and I wear them wayyy to often. I think my friends and co-workers are just too nice to tell me to chill out with the trend. Thanks guys!!!

                                                                         Source: ahouseinthehills.com via Callie on Pinterest

I would DIE to have this, for real! It is amazing.

                                                                                Source: pinkice.com via Callie on Pinterest

                                                                              Source: tumblr.com via Callie on Pinterest

P.S. Love my Old Navy Maxi Skirts

3. Floral Print Anything..
Florals, Florals and more Florals.
I just about died over some floral skinny jeans at Urban Outfitters a few weeks ago in Nashville. It is a good and bad thing we don't have that store anywhere near here... O, how I wish we had one.

P.S. I'm pretty sure I had identical floral jeans in elementary... 

                                                                             Source: ilovewildfox.com via Callie on Pinterest

                                                                           Source: Uploaded by user via Callie on Pinterest

                                                                          Source: theblondesalad.com via Callie on Pinterest

4. The Wedge
Nothing pulls your summer outfit together better than a fabulous wedge!
Seriously, I have been drooling over a quite a few pair lately.

                                                                                   Source: shop.nordstrom.com via Callie on Pinterest

                                                                             Source: Uploaded by user via Callie on Pinterest

You can never go wrong with nautical... Am I right or Am I right?

5. Statement Necklace/Scarf
And last but not least, a little neck candy.
Summer Scarves and Statement Necklaces are a MUST!
I am just now getting into lots of jewelry, but the scarf has been a staple of mine for years.

                                                                                      Source: stelladot.com via Callie on Pinterest

My current Stella and Dot Obsession!!!
Shameless plug.
What kind of stylist would I be if I didn't share this beauty with you?
It is a southern belle's dream come true.

                                                                            Source: refinedstyle.tumblr.com via Callie on Pinterest

                                                                            Source: chicisimo.com via Callie on Pinterest

And there you have it folks, my Five Fab Fashion Must Haves for Summer!
Go. Shop. Be Fab.

Don't you just loooove Callie?! She's precious. Thanks for all of the fantastic fashion tips, Cal! I'm hoping to squeeze in a little outlet shopping while we're beachin' (if I can convince the bf), so this is right up my alley!!! 


HAPPPPPPPPY Friday to y'all! 
I can guarantee I'll enjoy every second of my weekend, so y'all should, too :)

How to Make a Beach Trip Memorable: A Guest Post with Kelsie from The Overflow!

Alright chicas, as you're reading this, I'm en route to the beach finally! Don't miss me too much! I didn't think last night's shift was EVER going to end. Longest.night.ever. I am beyond excited and overjoyed to have some of my most favorite people in the whole world taking over my blog while I'm gone...I promise you won't want to miss any of their posts!!! They're all about summer--what's better than that?! 

First up is the friend I've known the longest, Kelsie, from The Overflow. I can honestly say she's one of the most wonderful people I've ever met, and I'm so blessed to have her in my life...you'll love every little word she posts! 

I'll stop blabbing now....

Well hello to all of you {simple.little.joys} readers. You're looking fabulous today. I'm Kelsie and I document my life and thoughts over at The Overflow. Rachel is soaking up the sun on the beach right now, and I'm..... well, I'm going to be soaking up the sun in a lawn chair in the middle of a field of soybeans this week {I'm not bitter, swear}. 

I love summer. I live for summer. And summer beach trips are my favorite. Rach and I have taken quite a few beach trips together in our day, and if I could get my hands on some of our beach pictures circa 1996--I would sooo share. Then I wouldn't ever be invited back, and would be too embarrassed to ever come back. 

So instead, I'm going to share seven tips for making a beach trip one to remember: 

{one} Packing is key. Remember how many times a day you are going to change in and out of a bathing suit. This means that you are likely to need double the amount of underwear as you would on a normal trip. However, if you are having to compromise between making room for your underwear or your favorite floppy hat--the underwear isn't really that important. 

{two} The grocery trip essentials. The first thing that my family does after we unload the car is go to the grocery store. Two things you must have to turn a good trip into an awesome trip? Grapes and Goldfish crackers. I'll address these in second, just trust me. 

{three} Seafood. I imagine you've been working out to prepare your awesome bod for this glorious, bikini-clad trip. Well now that you've made it, you can throw that diet out the window. Eat what you want. Eat what you can't eat next week after you leave the beach. Beach calories don't count. Don't believe me? Google it. It's true. 

{four} A good sense of humor, or a good friend to pick on. This is where the Goldfish crackers come in. The Goldfish should accompany you down to the beach, and should stay hidden until your first friend either falls asleep, or closes her eyes and cranks up her Ipod. At this time, the Goldfish crackers should be scattered around her chair or beach towel. The results will be fantastic, I promise. {think seagulls} 

{five} Locating the nearest group of vacationing frat-boys. This is important strictly for entertainment purposes, but if they're cute it could be important too. Nothing is more fun to watch than a large group of guys on the beach around 5:00 p.m. After a day of hanging in the sun and enjoying some refreshments you're likely to see some extremely coordinated dancing, swimming and even walking. 

{six} Night-time entertainment. This is the grapes moment to shine. If you have a balcony over-looking the pool, you're in business. The grapes must be strategically launched from your balcony to the swimming pool and/or hot tub below. Extra points if there are people in the pool and/or hot tub. This is potentially frowned upon by hotel security, so being sneaky is key. 

{seven} The departure. One might advise a rookie beach-goer to get ALL of the sand off of everything you own before you begin to pack up. They would be wrong. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is better than finding sand in your beach bag in December. Resist the temptation to clean. 

I hope you all have a fantastic day, and I hope you weren't too disappointed to find me here instead of your Rach. Have a good one, and thanks for having me Rae!

Told you that you'd love it! Thanks for posting, Kels! I'll try to keep these fabulous tips in mind while I'm relaxing in paradise :)

Happy Thursday, ladies!

pinterest lovin'

You know what today is, so you know what that means. 

Without further ado...

BTW--congrats to sweet Michelle on her baby news! So excited for you, girlfriend!

A little Pinterest lovin'....

...dreaming of Paris...

                                                                                                      Source: colettehorne1.blogspot.com via Rachel on Pinterest

...perfect summer frocks...

                                                                                                          Source: reddressboutique.com via Rachel on Pinterest

...what a great reminder...

                                                                                           Source: meggielynne.tumblr.com via Rachel on Pinterest

...who wants to buy me this?...

                                                                                                                       Source: etsy.com via Rachel on Pinterest

...love those chocolate walls...

                                                                                                                   Source: hihu5.com via Rachel on Pinterest

...this is definitely a must-bake sooooon...

                                                                                              Source: bestrecipesb.blogspot.com via Rachel on Pinterest

...seriously cracked me up...

                                                                                                              Source: someecards.com via Rachel on Pinterest

...wedding hair--fabulous wedding hair...

                                                                                                               Source: imgfave.com via Rachel on Pinterest

...this is next on my menu to make...

                                                                                        Source: comfortablydomestic.com via Rachel on Pinterest

...truer, more wonderful words have never been spoken...

                                                                                                                  Source: etsy.com via Rachel on Pinterest

...could this cake be ANY more perfect?...

                                                                                                            Source: capitolromance.com via Beth on Pinterest

...summer's most perfect color combo...

                                                                                                      Source: reaganann.polyvore.com via Haley on Pinterest

...made by my talented friend, Catherine Ann...

                                                                                            Source: catherineannherrington.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

I could go on for days...so someone should probably stop me now.
27 hours until we leave for the beach...not that I'm counting or anything...


Happy Hump Day, girls!

I need hair help.

I need new hair. It's about that time of the season when I get bored with what I've got going on and start dreaming of prettier, more fabulous locks...but the thing is, I'm a big chicken. Like a huge, cluckin' chicken when it comes to cutting my hair.

Sure, I may do a trim...or heck, if I'm daring, I may even go for some long layers. And if I'm really feeling snazzy, a few bangs are thrown in the mix...but as for a dramatic 'do, it never happens. Even though I really do want it to.

But really, this time, I need a change. I've always had long hair. Always, always. But with summer right around the corner and the humidity that Mississippi brings, I don't know if I can take the mop I've got going on right now. 

Here's what I'm picturing...tell me what you think!

                                                                                                 Source: iknowhair.com via Sofie on Pinterest

                                                                                        Source: thesmallthingsblog.com via Karen on Pinterest

                                                                                                        Source: fanpix.net via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Maybe if I start embracing my waves instead of fighting against them, my hurr won't always be on my nerves. I'm all into the beachy, casual waves...so maybe if I lose a little bulk and length, it won't be a damn fight every day to get the mane managed.

I've always kept long, long hair because I felt that it looked best on my face...made me look the slimmest. Maybe it's time for a change since I've made a change in my body? I'm definitely feelin' the need for a makeover, so give me your two cents, ladies!!

What do you think, my little hairstylists? Any opinions? Should I go for 1, 2, 3, or 4???