thursday's thoughts

I'm at work and I'm full of good anxiety because I'm stoked about this weekend.

It is the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 Round....

and my Heels are there.  But so are my nemesises: Duke and Florida. 

I'm actually going to hang out with Gator friends tonight to watch their game against BYU - and to be honest, I will be pulling (controllably, without making a rowdy scene) for Brigham-Young.  I won't cause any fights or fits with my passionate Florida friends, but I can't stand the fact that they are in the tournament - and in the easiest bracket of all.  Just sayin'.

Tomorrow night the Heels play Marquette and I probably won't sleep much tonight because I am a high-anxiety, crazy, psycho Carolina fan and I just don't do well during March.

There are reasons it's called MARCH MADNESS, ya know...

Anyways, aside from being a big basketball junkie lately I have also been spending some quality time with my Mom, hanging with my awesome friends, and working more hours this week than I have since I started my new job. I am loving it, though - the people I work with make me smile and are full of funny, happy, uplifting stories. 

Plus, when I get my pay-checks... I get a Florida Lotto ticket with it.  How cool, I so dig it!

I am really starting to become an even firmer believer in things happening for a reason.  I know that the things that make up my life now are what is meant to be because I am just over-all in a better place mentally, physically, and emotionally.  I think getting this job and having a structure to my day had a lot to do with that.  Whether it can be noticed by those around me or not, there is extreme personal  growth growing on in my heart & soul and I can find a love for myself and a peace of mind from that.  It feels good.  But not enough to subdue the March Madness anxiety. 

Another "feel good" is Momma's rose bush that always blooms so pretty every year.

She let me have one since I have been the official photographer of the blooming pinkness lately :)  I love it.  It looks perfect outside in it's natural place and by my bed - don't you think?

I've been laying out in the sunshine a lot and finally have that "natural white bikini" that I long for all winter long.  I am so glad that I have this home in Florida that the Lord blessed my family with and the ability to spend time outside and enjoy the goodness of being home.  I really do understand a lot more about who I am now that I am here - and I am definitely a North Carolina Cherokee with my fortunately easily tanning skin, and I am definitely this handsome man's daughter - because check out his shades! ;)

Love you, Daddy!

Just wanted to spread some peace & love and send some cheer your way today!

I've been an inconsistent blogger lately but that's because I've been venting and relaxing in other ways... plus, my schedule is a lot different now than it was, well, ever.

It's finally semi-normal.

Semi.

LOVE LOVE LOVE you all!

p&l

b

I STILL FIND EACH DAY TOO SHORT FOR ALL THE THOUGHTS I WANT TO THINK, ALL THE WALKS I WANT TO TAKE, ALL THE BOOKS I WANT TO READ, AND ALL THE FRIENDS I WANT TO SEE.

-JOHN BURROUGHS



Random Ramblings/Thursday Thoughts

I set up the Crosley in my new room today before "cleaning day" started.  There's no doubt that this made dusting, vacuuming, and folding laundry wayyyy more fun than it actually was.

I got to open up a belated Christmas present (to myself) today.  It was bought for someone else, buuuttt it looks like I get to play with it by myself instead! ;)

- SO PUMPED -

I have been inspired by HOLGA photography for quite some time, I'm already taking a liking to making this my new little hobby!

I forgot to add these 2 photos to my post yesterday.  I took these at the Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier.  This ferris wheel is SO nostalgic to me - it stills echoes, loudly, of the summer I fell in love for the first time.  We were wild and free, two small-town kids who made Daytona Beach our playground.  This ferris wheel makes so personal for me all the things of high school sweethearts and summer romances.  I'm glad we visited there yesterday... just stepping near the boardwalk and seeing the place where I spent so many sun-kissed nights dangling my legs over the water and counting the stars with my first love.  It made me grateful to have experienced something so sweet - like it was straight from a novel that one brings with them on their beach vacation.  Summer love. First love. 

Oh, the magic of them both.

After I cleaned and jammed to vinyl records all day (mainly The Beatles and The Marshall Tucker Band) I went on a bike ride. 

Oh, and I need to put my foot in my mouth because I bragged about the warm weather too much.  It was cold.  Frosty cold today. 

...so my bike ride was rather short.

It's time to snuggle up on the couch with a hot cup of coffee and watch the Tar Heel basketball game!!!

Hope everyone's Thursday was awesome!

thursday's ramblings....

thursday catch-up day

hey friends!

☮I hope you enjoyed that awkward vlog I did.  But I'm a product of 1987 and so I've got to rock my status as a 'Millennial' - and I actually had a fun time doing it & I've only gotten positive feedback about it so far.  I guess it is safe to say - EXPECT MORE! haha
for this post, you can just check out my smudged eye liner by gettin' this awkward pic instead ;)

have I scared you away yet?

 ☮ I've been opening up my Bible and reading from Proverbs, Psalm, and Romans a lot lately.  I definitely have my handful of favorite chapters... but it is so comforting to know that the ENTIRE BOOK holds so much truth & comfort.  I like that I've been reading from Psalm lately because it makes me feel like SINGING and being full of joy!

EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOK MAKES ME SMILE

  ☮ Today Mom and I took a "field trip" to  Sam's - which I still get lost in and is NOT one of my favorite places (it's right up there with Wal-Mart for me!)...  But I got to buy myself some presents so I left as a 

HAPPY(ier) CAMPER. 

these will come in handy tomorrow on Momma & I's trek BACK to Bamaland!!! (yes... we are going AGAIN) & (yes... we just were there last week)

one of my very best friends is having a BABY and we are going

to her baby shower that a few friends and I planned for her!

(MORE ON THAT LATER... duh!)

I also bought this bad boy book at the discount book table at Sam's.  It was like an angel was looking out for me and placed it there for me to see.  I HATE going to the gym... but I LOVE working out.  Dad has been on to me since I have been living back at home about going to the gym.  "Big Butch" is a gym buff but I've still got that little cross-country runner spirit in me and would rather do something outside... or by the looks of this book - it says it can be done anywhere, just not the gym.  Hey, hey - how 'bout it!

 and don't forget the keywords: FOR FREE

 ☮ We also browsed a little thrift store that benefits Habitat For Humanity and I found a nifty book, Seabird... it has a pretty turquoise/teal color (my obsession) that caught my eye, but the book is actually a pretty cool little VINTAGE find, I must say... and those are always fun!

I love that the copywright date is 1948!

I'm a book-worm, whether it be children's books or novels... and my FAVORITE PART of every single book is the author's dedication.

NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF WRITER YOU ARE, THERE IS A STORY AND AN INSPIRATION BEHIND EVERY SINGLE THING EVER WRITTEN.

I firmly believe that.

 the illustrations are awesome

and it'll stay right here until

I start and finish my room redecorating and I can find a more permanent place for it. Or, maybe it'll just stay where it is!

Anywho, I really like it! :)

Seabird 

written and illustrated by

Holling Clancy Holling

 ☮ I think it is hilarious that I have seen more of "these" God-awful stickers showing up around town.  Can you say band-waggoners?  I absolutely can NOT stand that Auburn is in the National Championship game this year... I'm sorry - I definitely developed a deep hatred by being a BAMA GIRL and part of that storied Iron Bowl rivalry.  Ugh.  I bet right underneath that sticker was a Gator one from whenever they were on top.  THAT'S ONE THING ABOUT ME: I'm faithful to the Crimson Tide and I will ALWAYS be a Tar Heel. 

 ☮ I love how I requested Hot Tamales to be in one of the candy/snack jars at our house -

and look - what a typical "Southern Mom" 

Such a precious and fitting little touch!

and, umm, sooo yummy too!

the little somethings like this just make my day

 ☮ Oh yeah, while I was OUT and ABOUT today running errands, shopping, playing frisbee with Mildred-Jean, doing my quiet time/devotion outside on my peaceful lanai/porch, and picking up Daddy at the the airport, I was rockin' these new greenie sneakers - they are the same ones that I showed you yesterday.  The ones I got from URBANOUTFITTERS. I must say, I love them as much on feet as I did hanging on the rack.  I mean, I'm not calling myself Rachel Zoe or anything but I am one to invent my own style and love it... and I DO very much love my tic-tac colored tennis shoes!! ;) No offense to all my fashion-lovin' sistas out there (who probably think they are heinous... I know y'all are out there sexifying it up and raising some beauty standards - for sure, but it's my crazy shit that I really prefer to wear and what is comfortable to me, and what is me/my kind of different,

and, most importantly,

what I can afford. $$$$

Can I get an Amen from

you bargain-huntin' divas like me?  

Well there was some random ramblings from me for Thursday.  I'm excited about all my new followers! I'll try my best to blog it up, as much as possible, from my weekend in The Heart of Dixie but I can't promise anything because it is going to be a fun weekend full of reunions with my BEST FRIENDS, a baby shower and that's just a new experience for this group of friends (so I'll be sure to take lots of pics!), and it'll definitely be a time of growing up into women and realizing we really are no longer the party-hardy college gals.  This should be exciting for us all and, of course, it will be something I will ALWAYS remember! I can't wait to see these girls!!!

(And my Sissy again! 2 weekends in a row!)

I hope everyone has a FANTASTIC weekend!

what do YOU had planned??? 

 peace and love

baily jones

thursday thoughts

one.

I had such a fun time shopping and eating lunch today with my mom and her best friend, Suzie, at Florida Mall.  We bought bohemian bracelets, funky clothes, some sophisticated Nine West black boots for me, a denim shirt, and two totally awesome wife-beaters: a peace sign one and a freebird one.  I totally love my closet!

two.

I had to get lab work done today at LabCorp.  I absolutely HATE being stuck with a needle so it sucked - to put it bluntly!  I also got to go to the bathroom in a cup, which is always not fun!

three.

I am totally looking forward to meeting up with

Michelle from Michabella: Living A Life of Love

tonight at our local Starbucks.  Michelle and I found one another via the great blog world, even though we went to middle school together.  I was good friends with her sister (named the same as my sister, Ashley) during my middle school years.  Michelle is a wonderful girl and absolutely cute as a button.  I hope to spend some good quality time with her!

I'll definitely let you know how it goes! :)

four.

Mom and I cashed in some of Daddy's hidden quarters and got us a mani/pedi today.

I'm usually really eclectic when it comes to picking out nail polish colors, but I went for a dark chutney color for the holiday season!  Don't laugh at my picture...

my mother and sister already make fun of my little boney feet enough, refrain if you can ;)

five.

My life is on the uphill... because at rock-bottom there is only one way to go!

Thanks to everyone that has been supportive of me...

God is great, Life is good, and People are crazy!

peace and love

bai

xoxo