I got my package in the mail from Krystal - my accessories swap partner from over at MJ's blog. I got hers off in the mail so she should be getting it soon!!! I hope she likes what I picked out for her as much as I liked what she sent me!
This was my first "blog swapping" experience and it was a success!!!
I enjoyed it and I want to host something soon...
any good ideas on what we should "theme" it with?
Don't you love it? So "Baily" right?
You did well, girlfriend! :)
THANKS SO MUCH!!!!
Guess what else?!?
I was EXTRA delighted by her sending this boho bracelet from AE because I have the same one, but I can't wear it anymore because it is so stretched out and faded.
I mean, I could wear it but I usually choose not to because it's pretty special and has sentimental meaning behind it and I don't want to lose it.
The reason it is sentimental is because it was the first piece of jewelry I bought myself after the fire. My best friend/roommate, Jackie, had bought me my first "hippie bracelet" to get my collection going again a couple of days after the fire when we were both living in the hotel. I loved it so much that I wanted another to go along with it.. you know, trying to rebuild my sleeve of boho bracelets and all. I went to American Eagle and found this one which I though "hmm, that's so ME - pearls and leather... Southerny but eclectic." And that's why I bought it.
And that's also why I won't wear it - because I don't want to lose it and I let it get too stretched out.
So, in other words - I won't let this one get wet like I did the other one and I will use the clasp and not try to squeeze it over my wrist/hand even though they're tiny, and I'll take extra good care of it since it is extra special. I just thought it was SO NEAT that she picked out the same one! It meant something more than a random blogger swap... that is what I am trying to say.
In her note, she said "I didn't know if American Eagle was your "thing" or not but they have good boho and vintage inspired things..."
I realized that I talk about my JOURNALS a lot, but I barely ever share any of their contents with you. To be honest, I have been pretty lax in the journaling department and have been channeling most of my creative energy through my blog. I haven't set up my "journal station" that I am used to having, so maybe that is why. I do need to journal more often, so maybe I will add that to my list of resolutions.
This journal is the bomb.com. I first had the orignal Listography - which is a bio of your life in fun list-form. This one is Music Listography - a series of different 'playlists' that make up your life and bio. I had bought this one for my best friend, Pappas, because he got me hooked on the music that I love and "found myself" through and it was my way of saying thanks and happy birthday to him one year. Ha. He said it was so fun and such a good gift, that after I lost my journals in the fire I replaced one of them with the Music Listography and I must say - it has been a good time! Even if you don't have the actual journal (which you can pick up at B&N, Borders, etc) you can still play along with the prompts!
I'd love to see YOUR music listography!
A list of my Top Twenty Favorite Bands
List of the Places I've Seen Live Music
List Performers You'd Bring Back To Life
List Concerts You Wish You Could Time Travel To
List Songs For Your Wedding Or Commitment Ceremony
List The Songs To Play At Your Funeral
List Your Summertime Road Trip Mix
This journal - my mom gave to me when I was living like a refuge after the fire. She sent it in a 'care package' along with a new replacement wallet and a couple of other knick-knacks. It was overwhelming... the amount of journals and sentimentals that I received from family and friends in the days surrounding my crisis. It was important that I had these journals - and this brown leather-bound one in particular - to write in and vent out my negative emotions that haunted me. This journal is full of post-traumatic stress, I can tell you that as a fair warning. But, it's also a story of love between a girl and her loving family, a girl and her best friend, and a girl and her dog. This journal encompasses everything that I went through in this twilight zone of a life-phase I've experienced the past few months. This journal means everything to me.
This journal is sort've a random assortment of stuff (well, they all are) but it's a little more scattered than the rest of them. Some of the prompts and entries are from the 30 Day Journal Challenge that I did on Janel's blog and then some is just random...
I like this journal though, it is real, it's Baily, and it's mine.
And the last one I'm going to show you today (because there are more than just these) is this one:
It's a little bit more art-journaly and scrapbooky for me.
A little hidden space - away from everyone but full of comfortable and familiar linens and plush pillows. To be in nature, but warm and cozy in floral drapery and soft-lit lanterns. I imagine myself journaling and reading and escaping the harsh realities that lie on the other side of the forrest's edge. I would pray a lot in the coziness of this enchanted little tent. I would probably feel extremely close to the Lord - just being out on the earth's soil and spending time growing closer to Him by reading my Bible, praying, and venting out those deep thoughts that I can only seem to do with my journals and devotionals. I imagine myself being very free and rejuvenated if I had an escape place that was so quaint and intimate. I'd bring friends there for those "life talks" and I'd bring a special boy there for a romantic picnic or to lay on our backs and count the Southern stars. It just seems so - like I said before, magical.
Don't you want one, too?!?
"Extraordinary things are always hiding in
places people never think to look."
-Jodi Picoult
Other stuff...
One of the Jones traditions at Christmas is that Daddy always buys us girls a calendar. No matter what. And this year, I LOVED mine! I must admit that when Dad buys me these daily calendars (rather than monthly) I am usually over the turning of the page and keeping up with it by like the second week in, but I am loving this one so much because it gives me a little dose of inpsiration as I walk out the door in the morning. February 1, 2, and 3rd have spoken, incredibly, to me... check 'em out...
February 1
The godly woman faces her challenges with prayer,
a sense of adventure, and a great pair of boots.
February 2
What a wondefful God we have -
He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the source of every mercy.
II Corinthians 1:3-4
February 3
A wise woman will always ask for directions -
and God will always give them.
...these were just extra special to me since I decided that February would be MY month, I won't let ANYONE control my emotions, I will hand EVERYTHING over to God, I will LIVE IT UP with my absolutely amazing friends, and I will LOVE and have NO FEAR.
I decided that just because I wasn't worth it to someone who had me fooled into believing that I was worth it, doesn't mean I'm not going to be truly worth it to the one who really cares for me and matters most. Just because someone else acts like I never existed (even though that is the most pain in my spirit right now) it doesn't mean that I won't be someone's WHOLE WORLD one day. And just like that, hope makes my spirit not hurt anymore.
Just because someone lied to me and told me they loved me and would never leave me, doesn't mean that I can't open my heart to trusting someone that actually means it.
That's why I am taking February as MY MONTH and these first 3 days have basically confirmed for me that if I trust in the Lord and believe in myself, then I will be just FINE and DANDY! :)
On the subject of Bible verses...
I want to live by this scripture:
I will praise the Lord no matter what happens.
I will constantly speak of His glories and grace.
Psalm 34:1
I busted out this oldie but goodie vinyl today and let me tell you - it changed my whole entire mood around. There is something about these boys that is good for the soul!
I almost cry every time I hear Bridge Over Troubled Water because it takes me back to a very distinct time in my life. A time of learning, revelation, discovery, and loss. A time of finding out who I was, who was with me, and who was against me. A time of hard, raw, life. The brutal lowpoint that I am finally free from.
There was a certain friend who considers himself by 'bridge over troubled water' and I of course thought of him as I listened to this record today. I smiled, because there was so much fun, adventure, and all-out living during that phase of my life - it wasn't all darkness and despairity. There was success and there were achievements - hell, just the riding out of the storm and the ability to still be standing at the end of some of those days is an achievement and a success all it's own.
So as I worked on a project and listened to this "record du jour" I was delighted to be uplifted when Track 03 busted out in "CECILIA" - after a very mellow and sad first two tracks.
I may or may not have busted out in a village-style dance to this beat...
Listen to it, I bet you do, too ;)
It sounds even better on vinyl... (I love the pops and whitenoise though!)
Tell me what your weekend plans are!!!
I will be back to post a Weekly Recap type thing later!
I'm loving this quote because it reminds me of my life and I'm touched by it...
"Looking back on what I said all those years ago - all the hopes and dreams I had, I've come to the conclusion that if having things turn out the way you wanted them to is a measure of successful life - then some would say I'm a failure. The important thing is not to be bitter over life's disappointments. Learn to let go of the past and recognize that not every day is going to be sunny. And when you find yourself lost in the darkness and despair, remember it is only in the black of night that you see the stars and those stars will lead you back home. So don't be afraid to make mistakes, to stumble and fall, because most of the time the greatest rewards come from doing the things that scare you the most - so maybe you'll get everything you wished for. Maybe you'll get more than you ever could have imagined. Who knows where life will take you - the road is long and in the end, the journey is the destination."
-One Tree Hill
<weheartit>
I'm loving my Brother-in-Law on his 27th Birthday today!!! He is the most wonderful husband to my Sissy. I always say that I will NEVER settle for a man who doesn't look at me the way that Tyler looks at her. He loves her, she loves him, and their love story started when I was in 7th grade and my Sissy was in 9th grade, Tyler was in 10th. That's a long time!!! I'm so glad he is in our lives... he is the brother I never had & always wanted!
Tyler and Ashley
Ashley, Tyler, and I
I'm loving my visit back to my old "stompin' grounds" last night when I went to the Oviedo vs. Haggerty girls' soccer game last night. I met one of my bff's/former teammates, Beth, up there. Her sister was the keeper for Haggerty, but she and I are Oviedo girl's soccer alums!!! My BlackBerry camera did not bring it's "A-game" last night - sorry...
I'm loving my new bikini that I bought at Forever 21.
I am excited about replacing all of my bikinis that I lost in the fire.
ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM A FLORIDA GIRL AGAIN!!!
I'm also loving these jewels I got there, too!!!
Lots of turquoise, of course ;)
I gave some mid-week hugs to these babies today.
I took Jackson, Lola, and Millie with me as I ran errands today.
I'm offically the 'crazy Boxer lady' around town, I do believe!
I'm loving that it is NATIONAL SIGNING DAY in the College Football world!
As of now, we have the #3 recruiting class... let's go BAMA!!!
Roll Tide!
I'm loving all the opportunities that have opened their doors to me, as others have shut in my face. I'm talking about school options, work options, mean ex-boyfriends and a new dating life, new friends, the blog world: accessories swaps, guest-posts, and giveaways, and all sorts of other awesome stuff about my life! Basically, I'm finally at a place of contentment - a peace of mind and lots of love! More things are starting to fall INTO place rather than OUT OF place! About damn time. Ha!
weheartit
Ooo, oooh! Almost forgot...
I'm loving that I'm planning a getaway with one of my favorite girls.
