Trip Lee.

Hey ya'll!

Alright today is a lot less about me and a lot more about the guy who wrote the post I want you to read.

My good friend Nate, introduced me to some awesome Christian rap not too long ago.

Like I have said before, I enjoy being introduced to new artists and new genres of music.

Like with Matt's screamo, some of the rapper's lyrics are life changing.

I'm going to be honest, some of it just isn't doing it for me.

Trip Lee is one of these guys.

To Nate's disappointment, I told him Trip's voice just wasn't my favorite.

In order to persuade me otherwise, he directed me to his blog.

The more I read about him, the more I realized that this guy was one Godly dude. 

I loved this post that Nate directed me to.

Check out what Trip Lee has to say about marraige.

Hope you all enjoy it too!

Relax for a day,

xo/Austin

Wedding Update!

It's been a crazy busy, miserable week.

We haven't had a lot of time to think about weddings.

But there are always things that we find that we love. 

Some of our loves from the week?

{I'd love to find something like this to wear for a rehearsal dinner or bridal shower or engagement pictures! So romantic and vintage}

{I absolutely adore this idea for engagement pictures!}

{Instead of throw rice at the end, release balloons! I don't know if it is legal... but if it were, that would be awesome!}

{I want this picture.}

{I love this idea as a guest gift! But what would happen if it wasn't sunny..? This is a very serious "what if" in Washington!}

{I found this on Pinterest... How awesome is it? I could see Matt and his guys playing a game of Basketball or something in their suits!}

{I love the idea of getting a single shot of everyone to show their personalities!}

{amen.}

Happy weekend loves. Hope this next week is better than last. 

Question: What is your favorite idea on the blog today?

Happy Saturday,

xo/Austin

Nutella Heaven.

So I don't know about you, but I love Nutella. 

As I am suffering through eating only lettuce and chicken (well I might be exaggerating just a little), I am craving everything yummy. Nutella is today's star!

One:

Nutella Stuffed Cupcakes with Sea Salted Buttercream.

The one writing the blog where I found this promised that it is the best Nutella recipe you will ever try. I think that is a pretty bold claim considering all the wonderful Nutella recipes out there. All it means to me is I need to make these! 

Two:

Nutella Oreo Truffles.

Oh how I love Oreo truffles. 

Add Nutella to it and it has to make it that much better!

Three:

Nutella Puppy Chow.

Puppy Chow. The best recipe from when we're kids, am I right?

This recipe looks so easy and it looks so delicious!

I cannot wait to make this!

Four:

Nutella No Bake Cookies.

Mmmmm. One of my favorite recipes of all time is no bake cookies! These plus Nutella sounds mind-blowing! Someone try it ASAP and let me know how it tastes?

Five:

Nutella Mug Cake.

This is the only one I have actually made of the list. Why? Because it only takes 5 minutes!

You mix up the ingredients in a mug, pop it in the microwave, and enjoy. It turns out pretty gooey if you follow the recipe to a T (which is perfect for me, I love gooey, cake batter-y cake). If you want it to be cooked completely all the way through, just microwave for an extra minute or so. Keep an eye on it while it is cooking so it doesn't over flow or blow up though! Enjoy! I can't wait to make it again!

Are you going to go buy a tub of Nutella and try all of these recipes now?

Question: Which looks yummiest to you?

bon' appetit,

xo/Austin

Pretty, Pretty Nails.

So I'm not sure if I have mentioned, but I am engaged! 

{That was a joke. I know I have mentioned that about 6 million and 2 times}

One of the best parts of being engaged is wearing my amazing ring!

It makes me want to always have pretty nails though!

Some of my favorite nail ideas right now:

Love the french tip. And I love the glitter! I need to try this!

I don't know where this new chevron pattern craze came from, but I must admit I am liking it on these nails!

This is a little dark for me, but I think with white lace, this would be GORGEOUS. 

I think this is my favorite one! Maybe use this for our engagement pictures?

As you can see, I am loving the glitter nails. Now all I need is clear nail polish and pretty glitter!

What are your thoughts? And what kind of nail art are you into this season!

Remember, pretty nails are important for everyone, ring or no ring.

Half way through the week, keep it up!

Love&glitter,

xo/Austin

Keep it Pinteresting.

So I need to be studying for a huge practical for anatomy right now... but I love Pinteresting Tuesdays, so I thought I deserve a little break and some blog love.

What I am saying, is this will be short and sweet!

One:

So this is a newspaper ad cut out from a long time ago. (I wish I had a more educated guess than that, but I don't want to be way off and lead you wrong!) This made me laugh. And also really sad. If only I lived in the era where "men wouldn't look at me when I was skinny!" Also, I realize that I could have been very wealthy had I lived in the time of this article... because I would say I'm very "talented" at gaining ten pounds on command! If anyone has any questions on "how to", scroll down to Two..

Two:

This is one of my many extremely affective ways to gain ten pounds! So while I am trying to stick to a pretty strict diet while I am waiting to try on dresses, I am simultaneously craving anything that is sweet and sugary and yummy. Exhibit A: The Reece's Ice Cream Sandwich. I cannot wait to try it! And if any of you try it before I do, let me know how it is! (Maybe I can live vicariously through you?)

Three:

I want it! I love giraffes. If I had any kind of crochet/knitting talent... I just might attempt to make this. But since I don't, you need to make it for me ;] Here is the link for me a Pillow Pal Giraffe.

Four:

I want it. I love pretty much everything that has to do with animal print. And this especially is amazing. Maybe for a bridal shower? (PS if you haven't noticed, that is the second food related pin this week... Can you tell I have a sweet tooth?)

Five:

Amen, dude.

Off to study. Enjoy the rest of your day! Wish me luck on my test!

xo/Austin

Be Excited.

There have been several days in my life when I have actually been excited to wake up.

Every Christmas since I was 5.

...

Take your daughter to work day in Elementary School.

...

Field Trip days.

...

Softball tryouts.

...

The day after Matt asked me to be his girlfriend.

...

Graduation.

...

When Matt asked me to marry him.

...And some more. But you get the idea.

The one I really want to focus on is when Matt asked me to marry him!

The day after he asked, I was sure I would never have a hard time waking up every again.

I thought the excitement of being engaged to the man I love would never fade and waking up everyday would be a privilege not a long, dreaded, process. 

(And I had to get up at 4 the next day!)

But as the days fade into weeks--then into months I realize that I am back into a slump of hitting the snooze button (over and over and over).

Not because I am not excited (because TRUST ME, I am).

More so because the euphoric feeling of being excited, thankful, and blessed has faded a bit (at least at 6 in the morning).

It seems easier to see the hard parts of life and I too often let them overshadow the good parts.

I was thinking about this last night thinking about having to wake up in "not enough hours," and I realized, why is every day waking up not exciting?

The fact that I am waking up at all should be considered a blessing in my eyes!

I should be thankful for my life even at 6 in the morning!

I am a daughter of God.

...

At an incredibly privileged university.

...

With the most amazing fiancé I could (and will) ever have!

If I had only one of those things to look forward to each day I should be bouncing out of bed excited to start a new day!

It excites me to think about what is in store for me every day when I think about it like this!

So my goal (and I'm saying this publicly so you all know I'm serious) is to wake up each day with an attitude of excitement, honor, and love.

I can only imagine that the rest of my day will follow suit!

Who's with me?

Question: What in your life should excite you every day, even in the morning?

Happy Monday,
xo/Austin

Take a Moment.

I don't know about you, but my weeks have been crazy lately.

I have school every day, homework, and tests.

I have coffee dates, prayer groups, and roomie bonding nights.

And I have money, car, and job problems.

It's sometimes hard for me to find a moment to sit down and relax.

I sometimes think I need to go-go-go in order to get what I need done. 

The truth is that it's better for me to take a moment every now and then to just chill.

To not plan anything, to not talk to any one, to not work on anything.

If we are always moving, always talking, always thinking, when can God tell us what we need to hear?

{At Beyond Malibu, we were assigned during a quiet time on top of Kingdom Come to just listen for every sound you hear.

We were in the middle of no where. There were no sounds. 

No cars. No sirens. No people. Nothing.

But as we sat there and listened, we all came up with a list of sounds we heard.

Creeks. Birds. Bugs. The inlet. Planes above us. And more.

When we all gathered to talk about what we heard, Mike explained to us the meaning of the exercise.

He said, "All these sounds were here the whole time, it just took you taking 5 minutes to actually listen for it. How are you going to hear God if you don't listen for him?"}

The thing is, sometimes we let being "busy" get in the way of what we should really be focusing on.

When I take a few moments out of my day to be at the expense of what God is trying to tell me, I always find I come out of that time feeling recharged and ready to finish the day strong.

So I encourage you today, take a moment from your crazy schedule.

Don't go on Facebook.

Not on Pinterest either.

And get off my blog. ;]

Sit in silence for 5 minutes and listen to every sound you hear. Write them down and at the end of the 5 minutes see what you have been missing.

Then ask God if he has anything to tell you. 

Maybe he will, maybe he won't.

The point is, take a break from life for a second.

You deserve it.

xo/Austin

Wedding Day Update.

Wendy comes in to Lynchburg in less than a month now!

When she comes in, we are doing two very important things.

Trying on wedding dresses.

And taking engagement photos!

In preparation for her coming, I am watching what I eat and exercising so I look how I want in a wedding dress... No armpit fat! (you all know what I'm talking about.) 

Also, we are gathering pictures of ideas we want for engagement pictures and dreaming about new outfits!

I can't show you the exact dress I want (or the one I think I want) because Matt reads every blog post... And we just can't let him see it! But I'll put in some styles I like.

Wedding Dress Ideas?

{I adore this one, I would like it a little more fitted I think though.}

{This doesn't look like it has the bottom I like, but I love the top!}

{This one is really pretty, I just don't know if it would match our wedding very well}

{I can't quite get the idea of what the top actually looks like, but from what I get, I love it.}

{Basically, and form of mermaid silhouette with a sweetheart neckline, I am in love.}

Like I said I can't show the exact dress I want, but I'd love to hear your opinions on the ones I posted to see the favorite. And If you want to know the real one, let me know. As long as you can keep a secret I will show you! 

Engagement Pictures?

{I love the vintage couch in the middle of no where! How sweet.}

{I really like the funky wall behind them, maybe we can find something like this?}

{This is the perfect idea for a shoot in Seattle!}

{I love the abstract use of shadows!}

{Romantic and so adorable. We need to find a swing.}

Wedding Cakes?

{Love the thought of writing a sweet poem, or song lyrics, or better yet, a bible verse on the cake!}

{We are set on using this kind of idea of a cake on top and pretty cupcakes under, just maybe not this exact look--though I love the top.}

{Love, love, love the lace look on the wedding}

{I also really love this texture on the cake. I love different funky textures!}

{This one is cook because of the rotating textures, I just don't know if it would work for one tier?}

Alright now, you all have many examples and ideas of what we like. So i do expect your input! 

Question: What if your favorite dress?

Question: What is your favorite cake?

Fashion Emergency?

Currently, all I want to do is go shopping.

On my list: new outfits for engagement photos!

I am so not a fashion girl though... and I have a hard time making outfits without someone's help... so maybe you guys could help?

For me:

I really like this... but where on earth do you get a skirt like this? And is this too casual for engagement photos?

I love this outfit! Matt and I want to take pictures in Seattle too when we get home! I think this is such a great cold weather outfit! 

Love these jeans... but I think I'd want to wear heels instead of flats.

I am also kind of in love with this look.. Now I need an outfit to go with it. (Oh and the boots..)

I don't know if you have noticed the pink blazer fad going around... But all I know is I wan't in. 

Maybe do this for my hair? My thoughts on this... It's easier to look good on both sides with your bangs back (for me anyway). Also, I wear my hair in braids a lot... so it would be a good representation of me and what I actually look like. Thoughts?

For my man:

Classy. And amazing. And looks extremely expensive! But totally worth it. 

Matt really likes this one. It is definitely him and yes, he can pull off anything, but he could especially pull this one off. I love the v-necks and especially the button up one underneath! We need to find this outfit.

So like I said I can't make up my mind. And I am no good at fashion. Someone needs to come to my rescue and be my personal shopper. Any takers? 

Question: What would you wear for your engagement pictures?

Help me,

xo/Austin