Week 1: February Photo-A-Day

Here's my first week of the

February Photo A Day Challenge

via instagram

My view:  NSD! At home sick with the norovirus

 but watching the Tide roll in the #1 recruiting class

on National Signing Day Nick Saban Day!!

Words:  these words came from my book, "The American Night: the writings of Jim Morrison."

Hands: enough said.

But if you want to check out one of the ways that I try to stop hate,

visit www.r-word.org and pledge to stop using hate words!! 

(image found via google)

A stranger:  I went with strangers and used a flashback shot

 from the Hangout Fest 2011 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. 

10AM: this one was on Sunday and at 10:00AM I was getting ready for church - where at 10:45AM I heard an AMAZING sermon on serving others locally and worldwide. 

Dinner:  Some yummy baked chicken and vegetables!

Button: from one of my favorite tops.

I'll post again next week!!

Anyone else joining in the fun on Instagram or elsewhere?

Follow me on IG at @bailyjones

peace&love

baily

Weekend Getaway... sort of.

My little vacation-across-town was so relaxing, much needed, and a wonderful treat!  It was really fun just lounging around this Five-Star hotel.  I am a very fortunate little girl to be able to go on little get-aways like I do.  There is a downside to having a Dad who travels alot, but there are also upsides.  Some of the luxurious places I have visited would not have happened without such a hard-working father.  Since it was a conference he was attending - I was able to meet some of his colleagues and we had a wonderful time.  Plus, I got a super good tan going after 3 days of sunshine, mojitos, and cooling dips in the pool. 

Here are some pictures that I snapped to record this fun weekend:

Daddy and I are twinkies!

Always stay hydrated when the heat index is above boiling!

Hot is an understatement.

It is definitely the "Florida-version" of the original & iconic Waldorf Astoria.

I have never actually stayed at the NYC Waldorf, but it is so famous and always a stop to look around (and celebrity spy) when we visit the Big Apple.  This is the first W.A. to be built since the Manhattan landmark hotel was built.  There is one in Park City, Utah & Berlin, Germany as well.

Hope everyone had a beautiful weekend filled with good-times, sunshine, and lots of LOVE.

I almost forgot - this is pretty neat!!

This morning we received a message in the sky that was a perfect reminder for us who were skippin' out on worship this morning.  I loved it!

Remember that as you start your new week... trust in Him and He will do great things for you!

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Trust him - He already has it all worked out for you! :)

peace

&

love

BAILY

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



a peep into my life: journals

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.

Hope you had fun! Now, get to journaling!

peace and love

baily☮

WILW

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

 

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. 

We're thinking somewhere COASTAL and CHIC.

weheartit

peace & love

bai