Arts and Crafts--Home Edition.

Oh spring break how you distract me.

Sorry lovelies, Spring Break has been a crazy one (if you could call it a break)!

Thursday last week Wendy and Ryan's mom (Jane) came into town! And we had such a great week!

Basically we were running around like crazy people all week.

We did get a ton done on the house though!

Which is way too exciting for me to even handle.

I cannot wait until I actually get to live there.

(But I am positive it will be worth the wait!)

I will get some pictures of what we did and post them by the end of the weekend, promise!

(Maybe I shouldn't say I promise... but I will try really really hard! deal?)

In light of the joy of homemaking, I want to share some of the projects I am absolutely dying to do for the house. Let me know what you think? 

One:

Wall-sized calendar! 

I think we could make this fit in our office...

Maybe no so big... But seriously how awesome is this?

Learn how here!

Two:

Window Shutter card holder!

Right up my alley. 

Learn about it here!

Three:

Vintage Necklace as curtain tie.

What? That's not girly at all... right? 

Four:

Mantle amazingness.

Yes we have a mantle and fireplace (which makes me really really really happy)

And I think any of these ideas are adorable.

Have a favorite?

Five:

Inspiration Board.

How many times have I shared these?

I think it's time I get one!

Matt might like it too?

Six:

Handmade Huston.

Would it be weird to make this now even though we aren't married?

Don't care, doing it :]

Seven:

Homemade File Cabinet:

Make it out of a chest.

Please please please.

Check it out here!

Eight:

White on white.

Matt and I are going for a strictly black and white and gray bedroom.

I think this would look so good in it!

The funny part is I could totally make this... 

Instead of paying $328 for the one pictured.

Yikes!

These are just a few of the many artsy things I am dying to do!

Homemaking is going to be the best!

Look for a home update soon!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

miss you,

xo/Austin

150 Days of Psalms.

Hey guys! 

How is your Wednesday going so far?

Mine could definitely go by a little faster.

This week is seriously dragging on.

But of course what else would I expect when Spring Break is 2 days away?

Ah Spring Break.

So close, yet an entire Anatomy exam away.

I am taking a moment away from studying to tell you all about something awesome that Matt and I are doing!

As of yesterday we have (only!) 150 days until we get married!

So for the next 150 days we are going to read a Psalm a day.

Together we will read our daily Psalm, pray, and see what God has for us.

We are so excited to do this!

Yesterday was our first day, and it's awesome to see what God is already showing us through His word!

I want to encourage you to get into the Word!

At church this week our pastor challenged us to do a 21 day reading of the Gospel of John.

I am personally reading Exodus right now (because the Old Testament is important too!) so I'm not reading the Gospel of John, but I do think it is a good idea!

Like I said in my last post, 21 days is supposed to make a habit.

Since there are 21 chapters in the book of John it is an easy way to get in the habit of reading your bible daily. 

If you have a hard time getting into God's word, I recommend starting with just one chapter at a time. 

Psalms are actually really awesome, because they're short, extremely real, and you see so many layers to God and His character.

Do you have a hard time believing the bible is real? 

Or maybe you believe in the characters but not the stories in the bible.

Maybe you think it's all a lie.

Maybe you're an atheist.

If that's you, I challenge you to prove the bible wrong.

God doesn't mind a challenge.

If you are willing to question and challenge God, that means your heart is open to truth.

Challenge God.

Find out the truth for yourself.

Isaiah 55:11 tells us;

"So shall be my word that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed for which the thing I sent it."

Just open God's word.

He promises you'll get something out of it.

So that's what we are doing.

What could you do?

Blessings,

xo/Austin

No Sugar Added.

I have a confession to make.

I have one killer sweet tooth.

I can resist bread, meat, coffee (ok not really coffee), salty foods, pretty much anything.

But what always kills me is the sugar!

I love candy and desserts.

The problem is they maybe aren't so good for me.

(just maybe)

Refined sugar is in so much!

And like many pre-packaged foods, addictive.

That is why I have decided to go 21 days without refined sugar!

Now, I know it's hard to avoid all refined sugar since it's in almost anything that comes pre-packaged.

Even the things you think are "healthy" for you!

(flavored yogurt, low fat everything, dressings)

So if I slip up on accident I am not going to beat myself up too bad.

The main thing I am going for is staying away from the real killers:

candy, cookies, cakes, flavored drinks.

I am actually already on day 5!
It's not nearly as hard as I thought it would be.
But like I said, only day 5.

I'll let you all know how it goes.
Bring on the health food!

xo/Austin

Lovely.

Sometimes the world does a really good job at making us feel insignificant.

We feel like we aren't valuable.

Like we aren't good enough.

I know for girls especially we are expected to live up to the size 0, fake tanned, and well dressed super-models and actresses. 

Here is a song that gave me some perspective today.

We are made in God's image.

He thinks you're beautiful!

____________________________________________________________
Beautiful- PRo


Something like my maker
I say you the best
I know you can't see it all by yourself
But you are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
'Cause God ain't made you like anybody else
Don't let nobody tell you that you anything less
'Cause you are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, yeah

She check out her reflection in the mirror
But some reason,
She don't see that beauty is in the picture
Thinking her image flawed
'Cause he ain't made her like these models
Or her figure's a mistake, He only making Coke bottles
Naw, C-C-Coke bottles are plastic
Mannequins are plastic but you are fantastic
She don't believe it so it's driving her insane
This diet don't seem to work,she eating to ease the pain
The world tell her that somehow she doesn't matter besides,
The perfect girls live happily ever after.
No idea she been crafted by the master,
Uniquely in His image baby. That is no disaster!

Something like my maker
I say you the best
I know you can't see it all by yourself
But you are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
'Cause God ain't made you like anybody else
Don't let nobody tell you that you anything less
'Cause you are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, yeah

She begging for a hero
But villains is all she see though
Thinks she's less than other people, she is a size zero
Her ribs touching, not cuz of a lack of food
But after every meal, she heads to the bathroom
Stick her finger down her throat, thinking that will give her hope
If her weight will never grow, maybe they will love her more
On a journey to acceptance, 'cause she ain't been there before
She ain't perfect, and commercials do they best to let her know
But if she only knew who she was in God's view
Made his children with a purpose, girl and that includes you
Let this statement give you comfort boo, 'cause that includes truth
God is in love with you, you ain't gotta look far for proof.

Something like my maker
I say you the best
I know you can't see it all by yourself
But you are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
'Cause God ain't made you like anybody else
Don't let nobody tell you that you anything less
'Cause you are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, yeah

I wrote this for you, this is your song
You his baby doll, I know I ain't wrong
Beauty's from the creator, and it ain't measured in weight
You are great just how you are, I don't care what that TV say
Your DNA is complete, His artistry is in your genes
That don't make Him less creative 'cause you don't fit in them jeans
You ain't got a clue the way He see you, this planet is his canvas,
And you his Mona Lisa...

Something like my maker
I say you the best
I know you can't see it all by yourself
But you are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
'Cause God ain't made you like anybody else
Don't let nobody tell you that you anything less
'Cause you are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, yeah
____________________________________________________________

Feel Beautiful, Be beautiful.

Love you Beauties!

xo/Austin

Leap Year.

Happy Leap Day lovelies!

Leap day is kind of an extraordinary day.

We only get it once every four years.

{Thats how often Olympic Athletes get the chance to meet their dream}

I've only seen 5 leap days in my life. 

I don't remember any other leap day I've experienced.

I don't like that.

To me, leap day should be a day we get the opportunity to use in order to make a little more of a difference than we could get during a normal year.

Last year you didn't get this extra day.

Last year you skipped straight from February 28 to March 1.

To me, that makes this day kind of special.

Kind of a magical day.

I challenge you to use this magical day.

Use it to make a positive impact on someone.

Maybe even change someone's life--even if just a little bit.

I encourage you to do one of following:

1. Take a leap of faith.

{what have you been afraid to do lately? Is today your chance to go out on a limb?}

2. Out-leap an obstacle you have been having a hard time getting past.

{whether that is eating healthy, maybe opening your bible today, or forgiving someone}

3. Play a game of leapfrog. 

{or maybe you just need to spend time with a friend}

4. Upleap out of your gloomy or negative mood!

{I encourage you to consciously make today a good day by getting away from negative thoughts, moods, or maybe even negative people.}

Corny, I know. 

But you get my point.

You don't have this day every year, make it count.

Let leap day change your attitude about how we should treat every day.

Carpe Diem,

xo/Austin

Hello, Pinteresting Tuesday.

So believe it or not, but it's sometimes difficult to come up with enough awesomeness to fill every Pinteresting Tuesday.

Or maybe I am just too critical of what really makes the cut.

Either way we could say I have been a bum the past few weeks when it comes to Pinteresting Tuesday updates.

Oh well. That's in the past.

Pinteresting Tuesday this week:

One:

Homemade fingerprint necklace?

Yes please.

Two:

For all those jeans or jean shorts that don't fit well anymore or the ones that are falling apart... this is the cutest way to fix that problem! Just sew some lace to them (I say that like I know how to sew...)

Three:

Tell me you don't want to know how to pack this much into a carry-on bag... This is from a flight attendant who tells you exactly that. This could save me so much money.

Four:

This makes me want to live on a lake just so we could do this in the summer.

And it also kind of reminds me of Parent Trap. (anyone?)

Five:

For you friends who are on Pinterest have you seen the posts saying: "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels?"

This is my retort to that.

:]

I've missed you guys.

What has been going on in your lives?

I'll try to catch y'all up this week on my life here in the exciting state of Virginia.

Until then avoir,

xo/Austin