We don’t know them all, but we owe them all! Thank you to all of the brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect this great nation! You’re selflessness and generosity will never go unnoticed or be forgotten!
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend full of good food, great company and wonderful weather! Talk to you all soon!
-B
I just wanted to jump on here and quickly remind you that YOU are enough! Don’t plague your mind with comparisons and unrealistic beauty standards and expectations, it’s not worth it. Ladies (and gentlemen), be kind to your bodies and always remember to show yourself the grace you deserve. I am certainly not perfect and still struggle with this concept myself, but I am definitely trying! Today this week has been hard; my negative self-talk was front and center and has put me in quite the funk (don’t worry, I’m feeling better today). Despite my mental setbacks, however many there may be, I will always continue to push forward. I will remind myself (and ALL OF YOU) that my self-worth is not tied to my dress size or how good I think I (or anyone else) look in a bikini. I am loved just the way I am, and so are you. So if no one has told you that you are perfect just as you are, then I will! You are beautifully and wonderfully made, and I hope you never forget that!
-B
Good morning guys! As many of you know, I am in the process of going self-hosted!!! With that fun news comes a bit of learning curve, at least for me. I am trying to figure out how to get everything transferred over and make sure that my followers come with me! I will be honest, I don’t understand any of it, but David has been working very diligently on this and really helping me with every step along the way. I will definitely come back and let you know when everything is all setup and ready for your viewing pleasure, but until then; please, please, please bare with me! You guys are the best and I appreciate all of the support you have given to Southern Lights!
Oh!!!! WE FINALLY HIT 100 followers!!!! Yaaaassssss! As promised, I will be doing a little giveaway to show my appreciation! I am still waiting on a couple of the prizes to come in the mail, but they should arrive this week so a giveaway will be coming your way ASAP!! Also, I will probably wait until the new site is up and running before launching the giveaway; but as always, I will keep you posted and come back here to update you if anything changes!!!
-B
Let’s face it, Mondays can be hard…like really hard. However, in the spirit of being more positive about my least favorite day of the week, I thought I would share some motivational thoughts to help get you through this gloomy (at least in Atlanta) Monday!
We all fall short sometimes and things don’t always go the way we envision them going. We don’t always hit our life/fitness goals when we want to and sometimes we cheat on our diet…but you know what? That’s okay! It’s all about progress. If we waited for everything to be perfect before enjoying ourselves and our lives, we’d never enjoy anything. I certainly wish I was further along in my fitness/healthy lifestyle journey; I wish I had started sooner, but I didn’t, and that’s okay. I will just take what progress I’ve made and remind myself that my self-worth is not linked to my dress size, or whether or not I think I look good in a bikini. I have tons of people that love me regardless of what I look like and how healthy I ate over the weekend! We’ll all get there eventually, let’s be kind to ourselves and others as we move through our respective journeys!
Goodness, I’m not always good at this one. I complain about having to get up for work and having to walk from the overflow lot in the rain to get into my office; but sometimes I have to remind myself that these things that I consider a nuisance, are truly a blessing. I am fortunate that God woke me up this morning and feel lucky that I even have a job to come to. I’m grateful that I have a car to drive and two working legs (and feet) so that I can walk from the parking lot into my office. Would I like to park closer so that I didn’t have to walk in the rain? Yes…but I’m lucky that I have somewhere to park at all. I am by no means perfect when it comes to being grateful, but I’m definitely trying to get better!
Life is hard, I’m sure I didn’t need to tell you that. I challenge all of you (as well as myself) to lift one another up instead of tearing each other down. You never know what people are going through at home and in their personal lives; show grace and mercy when someone is less than pleasant to you. I can tell you that I have been on the receiving end of unconditional love and mercy when I did nothing to deserve it and it completely changed my day. You know never know how your smile and kindness can help others; give it a try, I promise the folks on the receiving end will be forever grateful!
**Always remember that you are worth it! You are beautiful, strong, intelligent and deserve all the happiness that this world has to offer. Don’t let anyone (including yourself) strip you of your joy, smile and always remember that you are loved!**
Wooooo hooooo, it’s Friday; we made it! I don’t know about y’all, but it’s been a looooooong week over here in my little world. I hope this week has treated you well, and I hope you’re ready for another edition of Friday Favorites. I don’t have much so let’s just jump right in!
* Lily Pulitzer Tumbler ($16): I recently convinced myself that if I had a cute tumbler with a straw that I would consume more water…so far so good!! My water intake has increased greatly and I look much cuter while staying hydrated! It’s a win, win!
* L’OREAL Air Dry It Line ($4.99): I decided to try this line because Kathleen Lights (on YouTube) put it in one of her favorites videos and well…I love Kathleen and will basically try anything she recommends. She nailed it. I love this stuff. I have thick, frizzy, hair and have a hard time finding something that will create that beachy, wavy look without having to use my diffuser and 354674 products. Don’t get me wrong, I love the look my diffuser creates, but I just don’t always have time for that extra step. I was looking for something that I could put in towel dried hair and just go…and well, I found it! If you’re in the market for an affordable, wind swept, beachy look in a bottle, then you should definitely give this a try!
* Anne Klein Maya Zip Satchel ($45.60 – 95): I absolutely love Anne Klein handbags; they are incredibly durable and always look classy while still being fun! I love the shape and color (deep azure) of this bag and I think it’s great for every season. It’s currently on sale for $45.60 at Macys, and if you’re in the market for a new bag, you could definitely do worse than picking this beauty up!
* Tarte Double Duty Beauty Contour & Highlight Palette ($30): I have talked about this palette before so I won’t say too much…but I love it. It’s perfect for warmer weather and I find myself reaching for it almost everyday!
* Parenthood – I think I previously mentioned that David and I gave up on watching One Tree Hill and have since moved over to Parenthood. What a GREAT choice. Lauren Graham is great as Sarah Braverman in this funny, yet heartwarming TV dramedy! If you are looking for a new show that highlights the highs and lows of parenthood and familial relationships, then look no further, this is your show!
* Brett Young – Brett Young – Okay, so I know county music isn’t for everyone, but if you’re someone who enjoys a nice southern voice and a swoon-worthy country song, then you should definitely check out Brett Young. His self-titled debut (studio) album is chock-full of emotional, pop-country hits. His crossover appeal is undeniable (IMO) and his voice is so buttery and smooth. Some of my favorite tracks include: “Sleep Without You,” “Olivia Mae,” “Mercy,” & “Left Side of Leavin’.”
* Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 1 – I know, another country artist…but I can’t help it; this album is incredible (shocker). It’s bluesy, soulful and emotional; Stapleton stuns once again. His debut album, Traveller, received numerous accolades at the ACMs, CMAs and the Grammy awards over the last couple of years and his sophomore effort is primed to do the same! If you like country, blues, rock or anything in between, then it’s worth a listen.
* Chris Young – Losing Sleep – Okay, last country artist, I promise. The latest single by Young is catchy and well, I just love it. I’ve always loved Chris Young’s music, and this single is no exception. I’m sure when the album comes out I will be just as obsessed as I was with all the others. This certainly carries less crossover appeal than the previous 2 albums and artists I mentioned above, but if you like a true country song, then check it out!
* James Arthur – Say You Won’t Let Go – I’ll be honest, I haven’t listed to James’ full album (Back from the Edge) but I certainly love the single, Say You Won’t Let Go. It’s soulful, pop-y, and just down-right catchy!
* Bruno Mars – 24K Magic – Yes, I’m still obsessed with this song and the album. It’s chock-full of fun, spirited, pop-r&b songs that you can’t help but dance to. I’m crossing my fingers he makes an appearance at Music Midtown this year…because well, that would be lit!
What have you been loving this week? Month? Any products, TV shows or songs I should check out? Let me know below!
-B