Falling for Fall all over again

Happy Friday princesses!!

I hope that everyone is coming up with stellar plans for the weekend, even if that includes becoming glued to the couch eating sour patch kids (no judgement).

This weekend we are going camping (cabin-ing) with some very dear friends in the beautiful mountains of Virginia. We've gone with them before and it is such a blast, the cabin is right on the river and the scenery is to die for.

I feel like our camping trip is the kick off for fall, and let's face it, I am ready for Fall. Though I might be kicking myself once it gets below 45 degrees, I'm embracing it as of right now. I've gotten my PSL, tried to wear a sweater already, and pulled out my boots. I am prepared for the crunchy leaves and outdoor adventures.

With that being said, I'm going to share with you some of my Fall favorites! I hope you enjoy!


1. This cardigan. Seriously, go buy it NOW. I have one and it is the most comfortable thing ever, it's soft, fits perfectly, plus it's pretty stylish. I'm definitely going to be getting more of these.

Asymmetrical Cardigan

2. Desert boots or booties. I've been on the hunt for some good booties, which has proven to be difficult because I'm incredibly picky and not entirely convinced that I can pull them off. With Clarks being one of my favorite shoe brands, I'm considering these!

3. Sweater Dresses. Need I say more? They're comfortable, easy, and look fab!

This one is by Joules, I have a similar one and adore it!

4. Leaves. Can I get an Amen?

What are some of your Fall favorites??  

Xx,

LG

Pretty Pieces

Happy Hump Day!!

As our apartment is slowly (but not so surely) coming together, I am finding pieces that I absolutely love, the pieces that really just make me happy to look at.

I mentioned in another post how I've been sort of unhappy with our living situation, while I'm trying to find happiness in the smallest things, I've discovered how nice it is to have additions to our home that I adore. So, here are some of my favorite pieces (some on my wish list) that bring me joy!

1. Trays. I'm a future tray hoarder. When my mountain of trays collapse on me, someone please retrieve my body, or just send me snacks.

Lovely Bee Tray

Bedside Tray

2. Painted Furniture (I recently painted a small bedside table Tiffany Blue- I can't wait to share it!)

3. Fabric Headboards. The hubs and I are about to embark on making one of these babies- I'm so glad that the lovely Allie has already done a tutorial on how she did hers!

4. Candles. With fall on its way I am wasting no time busting out my pumpkin spice candles! 

Tell me- what are some of the "little things" that bring you joy! 

Xx,

LG

Bad Wifey

Hey y'all!!

It seems like forever since I've written a post, mainly because it has been forever! I'm so sorry for my absence but I have been very busy, and I've also been very ill. My mean old gallbladder has decided to be a bully again so I'm going for an ultrasound this week so see what's going on. Womp womp.

Today I want to share with you what a horrible wife I've been lately, hopefully some of you can see my mistakes and learn from them yourselves!

Recently I have been wicked unhappy. I don't have a job, I don't have many friends in the area, and all I do is sit around our apartment feeling sorry for myself. I sit around stewing in bitterness, counting all of the things I want instead of counting my blessings and looking around at all of the beautiful things that I have. I am so fortunate because I have a ridiculously hardworking and loving husband, a reliable car, a safe apartment with 99% of the amenities, and I always have food in my mouth and a comfy bed to lay my head down on at night. So what was my problem? My heart had begun to grow hard and I had began to distance myself from Jesus. Instead of giving in to the Holy Spirit, I have turned away from the things I needed to face. I had begun to feel entitled to things, like I deserve to have fancy throw pillows and curtains, I deserve to be able to shop at J.Crew whenever I want and get Starbucks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Wrong.

All of my husband's hard work and sacrifices were taken for granted and I was being an outright B-word. My actions and thinking were really starting to tear a rift in how we acted together (we are fine y'all, it was just a rough patch) and I was making my poor tired husband feel taken for granted. I hate myself for this, but after feeling convicted and having the good Lord break me down, I feel like I am working my way back up, this is such a good thing.

Where did I go wrong? Well, I stop listening to what the Holy Spirit was trying to tell me. I stopped reading The word, and I started keeping score in my marriage instead of trying to be more like Jesus. I have a history of this and I know how it always ends up- I always have a breakdown and then get built back up. That's the beauty of having of having a God that loves me though, I can be a rebellious pain in the rear and He always calls me His, He always forgives, and He always makes me better than I was before.

It's so easy to become lazy in marriage, it's so easy to forget about all of the wonderful things and to focus on what you don't have. It's easy to let your partner do all of the work, but friends, when you're both working 100% marriage is so much sweeter. In this upcoming month I'm trying to work on being more intentional in my marriage, I'm going to find new ways to love and serve my husband, and I'm going to remind that man why he married me in the first place!

I hope that y'all help keep me accountable, and I hope that if you're struggling with things you can rest assured that God can and will get you through it!

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deut. 31:6


Xx,

LG

Sometimes He Makes You Wait

Happy Friday munchkins!

I hope that everyone is gearing up for a fun-filled weekend, today my hubby and I will be going to visit my parents in my beloved North Carolina. Which leads me to my topic...

You may or may not know, but my husband and I are currently living in Lynchburg, VA. Living here was our temporary stop until we both found jobs in Raleigh/Durham, because let's face it, North Carolina is the best. Well, we've been hunting for jobs for months now and no such luck, thankfully my husband has a job in Lynchburg or else we'd be styling the cardboard box condo.

I remember when I was approaching graduation and I had a timeline of events and how things would fall into place, here's a little sample: graduate, get married, get back from honeymoon, move to Durham and begin our lives. You see, I have motives for wanting to move, I need to maintain my NC residency, and if I officially move to VA then I lose that. You may be wondering what my reason for that is, well it all boils down to Medical School. I really really want to attend a NC med school, and without my residency those chances become slim to none. God is definitely trying to tell me something.

I've pleaded to God, please make a way for us. But repeatedly I feel as though my prayers are hitting the ceiling, when in reality, I'm shutting God out. I don't want to hear that this isn't the right time, I don't want to wait, I want to force things to be my way. In this season of struggle I'm having to learn to listen to God, I'm having to learn to trust God, I'm having to learn to devote myself in prayer, and I'm having to wait and listen to His Holy Spirit.

How did you deal with life when you struggled or felt this way? I'd love to hear from you!

Xx,

LG

How To Become A Workout Fiend

Hello friends!!

In my more recent years I have become much more active, well, sort of. Most of my life has been spent in a barn with my horse, which has always proven to be excellent exercise. There's nothing quite like dumping buckets and trying to cling to the back of a nutty horse! I've found that my riding is best when supplemented with other exercise, which is what has lead to my love of exercising. Discovering new ways of working out has proven very helpful for me, especially because right now I'm not currently riding *tear*.

Thought I'd share a moment from my show days!

Anywho, I'd like to share some tips with you on how to get, and stay active!

1. Go for a walk. This might seem super obvious, but it's an easy (and free) way to get off the couch and into the fresh air. If you don't want to walk around your neighborhood, find a park, or trail that you like and set foot! Also, if you have a dog, it's a great motivator to take your furry friend with you!

2. Start running. I have NEVER been a runner, it literally pains me to run but recently I have been trying to push myself to do it. Start with something simple, like running 90 seconds followed by walking for 60 seconds, repeat that a couple of times and I bet you'll be sweating! Start from something easier and work your way up, you'll be a running star in no time!

3. Try a free class. Gyms often offer free classes to get people to check out their facility. Search for what is around you and try it out! In the past I have seen free kickboxing, spinning, and even yoga classes!

4. Write it down. Research workouts that you want to try, and write them down- then do them either at home or the gym. Since I hate working out at home, I prefer the gym, but if I don't have my workout written down and in hand then I wander the gym like a lost puppy. Having what you want to do that day is also helpful because you have to complete it! For an idea of what to do, here's my usual gym routine.

Non-cardio days
5-10 minutes (or miles) on the stationary bike or elliptical to get warmed up.
Targeted routine (abs, legs, arms, etc.)
5-10 minute cool down (again, bike or elliptical)

My targeted workouts vary because I like to switch things up. But for arms you could lift free weights, do pushups, triceps dips, etc. I usually do 12-15 reps of each exercise and then cycle through 3 times! For legs it's similar, I'll do leg presses, calf presses, lunges, squats, etc. If you have any questions or want my specific workouts, email me and I will hook you up!

5. Just go! Schedule time in your day to do it, I usually don't spend more than 45 minutes to an hour at the gym, when I was in school I really didn't have time to spend any more than 30 minutes working out. Don't make excuses and just give it a go- it's amazing how great you'll feel afterwards, even if you weren't feeling like it, or if you were too tired!

Do you have any workout secrets? If so, tell me!

Xx,

LG

Things I Suffer From: Doubt

Hey y'all!

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful weekend so far!

Today I really want to share something with y'all and I think it applies to just about everyone. It's about doubt. I am the queen of doubt, I doubt myself, my friends, and worst of all, God. Yeah, I know, I doubt God.

I've been spending much more time reading my bible, friends, I can feel something great in the works. Though the more I read the more I see that other characters in the bible are also perpetual doubters as well.

Take Abraham for example: God had told him that he would have his very own son, one to be his heir. But what did Abraham do? He doubted, grew impatient, and had a son with Hagar. Yes, he had a son, but not the one he was intended to have.

The more I examine this, the more I see that I am just like Abraham. I doubt, and I try to sell God on my plan, instead of trusting in His. Lately I've been struggling with my future and the uncertainty of everything, especially medical school, I'm putting all of my eggs into one basket and it's utterly terrifying. I know that being a doctor is what I am called to do, God has laid this so heavily on my heart that I almost feel burdened sometimes. But here's a fun fact, getting into medical school is hard, like, wicked hard- 94% of first time applicants get denied, those aren't such good odds. So many times I find myself thinking of ways that I can find a different career, or thinking of a different plan for my life, and so often I can feel myself wrestling with God, trying to play "let's make a deal" instead of just trusting that God will make a way for me.

How do you cope with anxiety and doubt? What would it look like for us to just completely trust God?

Xx,

LG

Decoration Station {My Inspiration}

Happy Friday friends!!

Can you believe that the weekend is finally here? I am so excited, though a bit stressed with trying to get tags and a registration for my new car. Oh the horrors of being an adult.

Anywho- decorating has been on the brain lately. Sadly we live in a small apartment, so decorating options are more limited but I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite decor inspiration pictures!

I seriously love white furniture!

The use of storage space is totally practical, yet stylish! I definitely need to do this!

Don't you just love the pop of color? I can't say that I'd be bold enough to do it, but I love the idea!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Xx,

LG