{Spark} Brave

spark ¹ noun- anything that activates or stimulates; inspiration or catalyst.

So, in case you haven't heard, the Disney/Pixar movie Brave came out this weekend. I saw it and thought it was amazing! Here are a few things that make me think about it...

          

The Trailer

 A bear mask from FemaleArtCollective on Etsy

Beautiful Gypsy Vanner horse

 Brave inspired outfit

Hershey kiss cookies from Hey Good Looking What You Got Cooking

(They look like the sweets the boys steal)

Brave cupcakes from The Party Animal Blog

The last thing I leave you with...

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Why don't you go see the movie and let me know. 
Literally, comment below! I would love to hear your honest opinions.

{Book Review} My Stubborn Heart

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I just finished reading My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade. It was so good that I read it from 11p.m to 5a.m. the first night I got it. I absolutely fell in love with this book from the moment I started reading it! It was love at first word. 

(yeah, I know the words are backwards, I'm okay with that)

My Stubborn Heart is about a girl Kate, a persistent and loving women, who is trusting God to give her the perfect husband that she's been waiting and praying for. Kate and her Grandmother leave for three months to Redbud to renovate an old family home. The man that her Grandmother hired to help renovate the house is Matt Jarreau, who is VERY handsome. Matt used to be a hockey star but quit when his wife died, and has reverted into a life of keeping to himself in Redbud. He feels as though God betrayed him by letting his wife die, and has decided to let go of this whole God thing. Kate is determined to get through to Matt and show him God's love, grace, and mercy when no one else can. 

This book was very inspiring to me because it shows how important it is to treasure God's voice. So many times we do things because it feels right and because we like it. But what would we do if God told us no? "No, you may not date the man because he is not the one I chose for you." It can be so hard to listen to God when He tells you no, especially when it comes to finding true love. He's always got something better for you when He tells you no. He never says it just to break your heart, or make you cry, or to be angry at Him. He loves you and has the BEST plans for your life. So, reading this book this question came to mind, "What do you treasure more, what God says or what you want?"

Although she is scheduled to have another book out around this time next year, My Stubborn Heart is Becky Wade's only book on the market as of right now. I very much encourage you to read this book and whatever other books Becky Wade will right. Her writing style is one of the best I have ever read. Fantastic! I can't wait to read more!
Read more about the fantastic author Becky Wade here. 

{Video Blog} June 20

Hey guys! This week our youth group has an amazing opportuity to go to a youth conference. My group decided to do a video blog on what all is happening here. I'm linking it up to my friend at BeautifullyBlendedVictoria.blogspot.com who is the one actually doing the video post....
Check out our video blog day one here!

{Thriftaholics} Upcycled Brick and Wood Bookshelf

So, I'm a book nerd. 
I LOVE to read. 
It seems that every week I'm going to the book store to buy a few new books. Because of this, I was running out of room in my little book crates. 
Solution? A new bookshelf.
But not just any book shelf, No! This girl wanted a custom made, unique bookshelf on a tiny budget. 
But who, oh who, would build it? My Grandaddy!
He suggested a throwback to the 70's bookshelf. Since I'm such a vintage-loving girl I loved that idea.

He simply took three pieces of wood board that was six feet long and seven and a half inches wide (You can use whatever measurements fit the area your using), and 30 bricks laying around his workshop. After painting everything white, he placed one piece of wood on the bottom and stacked three columns of five bricks (one on the right end, one on the left end, and one in the middle. After, he placed another piece of wood on top of those stacks and did the same as before with the bricks. Finally, he placed the last piece of wood on the top. Tada! There's my bookshelf.
I wish I had pictures of the steps but it was kinda a surprise when he did it. Hopefully these will help answer any questions...

{Spark} Summer

spark ¹ noun- anything that activates or stimulates; inspiration or catalyst.

It's finally summer time! It's time to pull out your bright summer clothes, swimsuits, and sunscreen!

Here are some pictures that remind me of my summer. I'm gonna try to rhyme, but I haven't done it in a long time. So, hope you don't mind! Here it goes...

Days at the beach with amazing friends...

Pedicures before the summer begins...

 A sassy style for those days that last a while.

Watching the sunset around 7:30...

Having some fun in the sun, such as surfing...

and tons of traveling by flying or driving.

Well that was fun! 
What does your summer look like?  

 

Happy Fathers Day!

As you (hopefully) know, today is Father's Day. Happy fathers day to all of you Dads out there! 

Thankfully God blessed me with two great fathers in my life. My Step-Dad and my Dad. Both of my Dad's are amazing and have set many good examples in my life. They have helped me through some situations in my life that would have been impossible to go through without their support. I know that they're always there for me and they love me. I love them too!

 Happy Father's Day to my Step-Dad!

Happy Father's Day to my Dad!

Here is a bit of Father's Day inspiriation found on Pinterest.

Of course, we can never forget the best Dad in the whole world. The one who loved us even before we were born. The one who loves us no matter what we do because of His grace. I'm talking about Jesus Christ. I love my Dads here on earth but nothing and no one compares to Jesus, even my Dad's would agree to that. 
So, don't go through this Fathers Day forgetting about the most amazing Father you can ever have.

With that, here's one more for you from Pinterest. 
You know what they say, "Save the best for last!"

Once again, have an amazing Fathers Day! Give your dad a big hug and tell him just how much he means to you. 

 

Summer Time Is Here!

What time is it? Summer time! Okay I know this is a throw back but it's perfect for this post... and who doesn't love High School Musical?

HSM2: What Time Is It?

Here are a few fun things you can do this summer...

1. Go to a waterpark
2. Find fun DIY projects and do them
3. Re-organize your room
4. Take a road trip
5. Play outside in the sprinkler
6. Go treasure hunting (Thrifting)
7. Have a summer party (Pool party/ Cookout)
8. Sleep in
9. Go fishing
10. Go to the beach


Do you have any fun ideas for the summer?

{Top Ten Tuesday} Books I 'd Recommend As Good Beach Reads

In no particular, order here is my list of books I'd recommend as good beach reads.
I know I only have four but The Broke and the Bookish, who made the Top Ten Tuesday, said its okay if there aren't ten. 

I took the title for the top ten very literally. What would you read while laying out at the beach? Most of the books I read are western, christian fiction, historical romances. It would be hard for me to picture the setting of a ranch while I'm laying in the sand listening to waves crash and people swimming or playing volleyball so I didn't use those books.

I chose books with a beach setting so you could feel like you were in the book, at the beach, hanging out with all the characters. I have personally read each one of these, and do highly recommend them!

Enjoy!

Source for pictures

1. Longing by Karen Kingsbury (Book 3)

2. Love Finds You in Folly Beach, South Carolina by Loree Lough

3. Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida by Debby Mayne

4. Love Finds You in Carmel by-the-sea, California by Sandra D.      Bricker

You can find more about these books on my Goodreads page.

{Thriftaholics} Repurposing Vintage Suitcases

A few weeks ago I went thrifting with my family (or treasure hunting, as my younger brothers call it). The first Goodwill we went to I found EXACTLY what I wanted, which doesn't happen that often. You can read about that soon in another post. 

I was set for the day, that is, until we went to the next store, where I found two vintage suitcases. They were adorable, and inexpensive (less than $10 for BOTH), so we went ahead and bought them, having no idea what I was going to use them for yet.  
The next day as I was cleaning my room (which may or may not surprise those that know me) I decided that my CD holder did not match my room at all and I needed a new one. Tada! The idea was born to put my CD's in my new vintage suitcase! As I cleaned off my desk, I decided I was tired of moving my sewing machine every time I wanted to use my desk. So, I put the sewing machine in the larger suitcase. 
I was so proud of my little ideas that I showed them off at a birthday party we had last week. 

Take a look and see why I absolutely love these findings...

{Top Ten Tuesday} Begining

The Broke and the Bookish has a Top Ten Tuesday feature. Here's their list if you would like to join me on this adventure of Top Ten's:

May 1: Top Ten Books You'd Like To See Made Into A Movie
May 8: Top Ten Favorite Quotes From Books
May 15: Top Ten Authors I'd Like To See On A Reality Show (and which reality show :P) OR Top Ten Authors Who Deserve Their Own TV Show  - UPDATE: Now, this week is a freebie week for those who don't want to do this topic! It wasn't as good as an idea as I thought initially. But, feel free to do this topic still if you'd like!
May 22: Top Ten Blogs/Sites You Read That AREN'T about Books
May 29: Top Ten Books Written In The Past 10 Years That I Hope People Are Still Reading In 30 Years
June 5: Top Ten Tuesday Rewind (Pick any past topic you want!)
June 12: Top Ten Books I'd Recommend As Good Beach Reads
June 19: Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List
June 26:  Top Ten Characters Who Remind Me Of Myself Or Someone I Know In Real Life
July 3: Top Ten Books For People Who Like X Author (pick an author and give recommendations)
July 10: Top Ten Tuesday Freebie (whatever topic you'd like)!
July 17: Top Ten Books For People Who Like X Book (Pick a book and pick 10 readalikes)
July 24: Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings In Books
July 31: Top Ten Characters I’d Like To Switch Places With For 24 Hours

{Spark} Nashville

spark ¹ noun- anything that activates or stimulates; inspiration or catalyst.

As I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Oh, Hello Friend, I was inspired by her section called Inspire:Lovely and decided I wanted to do something along those lines. So..... here's take one: NASHVILLE!!!

Nashville is one of my favorite places to visit. I love the mixture of country and hollywood (NashVegas, baby!) It's a place where everyone can be as creative and outgoing as they want.
Anyway, here are a few things that remind me of Nashville.....

Country musicians 

This one's a given.

 

Belmont University

This is where I would LOVE to go to collage...

A Lasting Impression written by Tamera Alexander

This book is amazing! It's setting is the Belmont Mansion and Nashville.

CMT Awards

Crazy Town by Jason Aldean

The "Batman Building"

So, this is actually the Bellsouth tower...
 I know, shocker to me too.

Some very handsome country musicians such as Easton Corbin...

P.S. He just happens to have gone to college at the University of Florida... Go Gators!

 

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Here is one of my favorites... Amazing musicians who have yet to be discovered, like my Uncle Tommy.

To wrap this post up, here's one that I have been thinking about since I made the title for this post:

 Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift

What other thing would be more suitable for this post? You got sparks and Nashville here!

What do you think about when you think of Nashville? 
Comment and let me know! 

(all photo sources are found by clicking the links)