grateful





i'm not one to really put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) when it comes to how i'm feeling. i talk, A LOT, and often times it's about my feelings. you can tell my emotions so easily the way i communicate or interact with someone. i don't hold back my emotions and i could probably work on that, but it's how i've always been. (insert parent comment on the picture of me throwing a temper tantrum that's still hanging in our kitchen)

i feel like i never really got to sit and think about the changes that were happening in my life these past few months. everything kind of happened so quickly and i am so so grateful for that but sometimes i feel like i am just visiting atlanta playing grownup and i'll be driving back to tuscaloosa any day now. but i'm not.

i finished "classes" in april and immediately started my internship the very next week. throughout my internship i was looking at jobs but not very seriously. until i went home for a week break and mrs. adams threaten to not feed me until i applied to 10 jobs, so i applied to 11. the very next day i get a call from a school asking me when i could interview and when i would be done with my internship. i panicked. WHAT?! i set up a phone interview which lead to two more in person interviews and finally i was offered the job. at a great school just 10 minutes from my soon-to-be new apartment. and they wanted me to start the next week. my parents are awesome and immediately set up the movers and arrived in tuscaloosa to pack up my apartment so that i could spend the last few days with my precious babies at my internship. those kids taught me more than i could have ever taught them and i miss them each and every day.

starting at this new job i wasn't nervous, i didn't have rumbles in my belly. i slept the whole night before the first day and i was calm and cool. it was weird. i'm never like that about anything new, EVER. i still sweat when i have to drive somewhere new and wonder where i'm going to park. i started my job before i graduated so going into it the school knew that i still had to go back to walk. thankfully my school is awesome and let me have a three day weekend and understood that sometimes graduation is more important than open house ;). i drove to tuscaloosa and was fine, i got ready for graduation and was fine, i walked across that stage and was fine, but as i was opening my presents and cards and reading all the sweet notes from every one i realized this was it. i was leaving this apartment and my best friend/roommate. i lost it. i was not fine. i couldn't pull myself together. it finally hit me that i have to leave my home for the past four years and start all over.

i still feel like i am just visiting atlanta and driving back to be with park and the dogs any day now but i'm adjusting to life in the city great. i pretty much have a routine, i have an awesome new roommate who puts up with me, and i am making new friends at work. it didn't really hit me until today when there was terrible weather on the way home from work and two of my co-workers texted me to make sure i was driving safe and to text them when i made it home. i laugh way too hard at school, we get each other, we have weekly vent sessions (or as pastor calls them, planning meetings), and they have the best food i've ever eaten. i am thankful every morning when i wake up that i have a job to go to that i enjoy AND that is related to my major. i am so excited for this new journey and can't wait to explore this city but i also can't wait to get back to tuscaloosa hopefully sooner rather than later because roll tide till i die.


#1: graduate from the University of Alabama




august 1, 2015







thanks mom and dad for giving me this opportunity and for everyone else who supported, encouraged, and listened to me whine these past four years.

#3: move to a new city




my wonderful new teaching job brought me to the city of atlanta, i am looking forward to exploring this new town!



#43: have a photo shoot





since i am graduating in august i went ahead and took some cap and gown pictures. i'm sure that i will take more the actual graduation weekend but i like to be ahead of things. the weather was 106 degrees, i'm not exaggerating i have a screen shot of it but i'm too lazy to upload it. during the dress pictures and jersey pictures me and my photographer sat in my car with the AC on high for an hour and half to allow myself to dry off. however, it was worth it because i got great pictures, honked and yelled "congrats" at, and got to see lots of little freshman stare in awe at me while their mothers embarrassed them by telling them, "that's going to be you in four years".
















101 in 1001






a couple of months ago. my friend kristin told me to look up this thing floating around the blog world called 101 in 1001. the goal of this project is to make a list of 101 things you want to do in 1001 days. (which is about 2.75 years) each time you complete a task you put 10$ into a savings account so by the end of the list you'll have $1,000 saved up! i thought about if i wanted to do this for a while, it really gave me anxiety to know that by the time i finished i will be 24/25ish and in a whole different life time than i am in right now but i decided to just have fun with it and see what happens!

so here is my list...

1. graduate from the University of Alabama
2. find a job
3. move to a new city
4. find a church community
5. make new friends
6. go to food trucks in the park
7. go to a concert in the park
8. go a weekend without technology
9. stop what i'm doing and watch the sunset for a week
10. do 10 acts of kindness for strangers
11. save money
12. mail more snail mail
13. wake up early enough to have "slow mornings" during a work week
14. go to an alabama game as an alumni
15. watch a sunset and a sunrise in the same day
16. write down something positive when i wake up every day for a month
17. go to pure barre every day for one month
18. read 25 new books
19. run a 5k
20. get an updated address book
21. go to a drive in movie
22. have a picnic in the park
23. go to a pumpkin patch
23. start a new tradition
24. go fruit picking
25. do something creative for myself (not early childhood related)
26. try paddle boarding
27. travel to 5 new places
28. visit my family members
29. go to a psychic
30. color my hair
31. try new food
32. cook an entire cook book
33. find a signature meal
34. become a regular at a new restaurant
35. visit ichiban when i'm an alumni
36. clean out belongings
37. write a letter to myself to open on my 25th birthday
38. learn more about my family's history
39. make a recipe box with family recipes
40. do one "must do atlanta" thing once a month for my first year living there
41. meet my goal weight
42. learn how to sew
43. have a photo shoot 
44. no junk food for one month
45. get a pen pal
46. go hiking
47. play hooky to spend a day with myself
48. do something that scares me
49. whiten my teeth
50. improve my posture
51. join a book club
52. have brunch with friends
53. learn to make sushi
54. bake a new pie every week for a month
55. find a signature scent
56. learn new quick go to hair styles
57. invest in quality make up brushes
58. buy fresh flowers every week for a month
59. surprise someone
60. take a pottery class
61. refresh my french
62. travel to europe
63. go to the beach
64. learn sign language
65. go to a wine tasting at a vineyard
66. go to a karaoke night and sing
67. make friendship bracelets
68. tie dye something
69. make s'mores
70. give a toast
71. show someone around my new city
72. donate $100 (0/100)
73. buy a piece of furniture
74. go antique shopping
75. go on a mother/daughter trip
76. go on a father/daughter trip
77. have a girls weekend
78. attend a festival atlanta summer beer fest
79. learn calligraphy/improve handwriting
80. drink recommended water a day
81. treat my parents to a meal
82. wear yoga pants/nike shorts/tshirts only when working out (ha this might last maybe a week)
83. teach someone how to do something new
84. be a bridesmaid in a wedding
85. go camping
86. complete 5 pinterest crafts
87. complement 20 strangers
88. wear make up every day for a week
89. do my hair everyday for a week
90. watch jaws and Jurassic park
91. throw an award show party
92. host a shower
93. become an aunt (to not furry animals)
94. complete a 100+ piece puzzle
95. fly a kite
96. build a ginger bread house
97. leave a note in a book at the bookstore/library
98. read a classic novel
99. take a picture completing every task
100. put $10 in an account for every task completed
101. complete a list of 101 things

my TWENTY SECOND birthday




i feel so old... but luckily all my friends and family treated me well!

^^ i got home from class and park had decorated for my birthday... she told me last night we should probably take it down and i said no because every morning i walk out and it makes me happy!


san fran




san fran was jam packed with fun things, and a nap in the park one lazy afternoon!

^^the painted ladies/post card row/ the opening credits to full house/ alamo square


l.a. baby




mother and father treated me to the best senior trip a girl could ask for, and even better is that i got to go with my mom! we started my spring break in los angeles then drove up to san fransisco for the rest of it. i LOVED california and i even told my mom multiple times that i could see myself living out there. i wish i could upload every single picture i took on here but i will spare y'all :)



^^i grabbed a quick breakfast at tiffany's our first day in town

life lately: photo dump




i visited jimmy a few weeks ago and he took me on a ghost tour, literally the best ghost tour i have been on in my life and i've been on a few in my life time. if you are even in the roswell area and want to go on a ghost tour go on this one!

favorites: skincare




source

everyone has a favorite skincare routine, right? we were all taught back in elementary/middle school how important it is to take care of your skin and you went to the clinique counter to find out your skin type, brought home all your new goodies, and promised yourself and your mom that you would do all 3 steps DAILY, morning and at night. yeah right.

i remember being so excited when my mom FINALLY took me to clinique. i thought i was soooo cool; then about three weeks later i was all like, "this is for the birds" and only washed my face twice a day and rarely put the rest of the steps/make up on. it really wasn't until my freshman year in college (i know, so ashamed) that i really got into a routine and found out what worked for me.


face wash: MOUSSE EXFOLIANTE PURETÉ  // clean & clear morning burst

face lotion: HYDRA BEAUTY CRÈME  // neutrogena oil free moisture, sensitive skin

face toner: LOTION CONFORT

face mask: pores be pure // biore deep cleansing pore strips

clarasonic: i don't actually have a clarasonic, i have some other brand that i don't remember the name of but all i know is that mine came with like 7 different heads all for different purposes and i love it. if i remember the name of it, i will post it here!

lip care: e.l.f. lip exfoliate // eos sweet mint

body lotion: c. booth 4-in-1 multi-action body lotion vanilla butter // YALL this is the BEST on the planet. thanks to my sophomore roomie marg for introducing this amazing goodness to me. first of all it's only $10 for the whole huge bottle. i put on lotion twice a day all over my body and one of the bottles can last me almost an entire year. like it's amazing, if you don't use it try it. even my sister who has itchy legs and has tried a ton of products uses this now and it helps lower her itching! i love it. love love love it.

body wash: aveeno stress relief // sleep aromatherapy bath and body works // country chic b&bw

what are some of your favorite skin care products? comment below and share!

PSA: about the chanel products, yes they are SUPER expensive but they last me YEARS. like i'm not exaggerating, years. totally worth it in my opinion!

oh hey friday!





happy friday!! i'm linking up for oh hey friday with september farm and the farmers wife. i hope everyone had a great week, my week FLEW by! here are my 5 NeTfLiX thoughts today...

1. i stumbled upon a new show yesterday, it's called reign. i've never heard of it and i'm still thinking about whether i like it or not but it is definitely something i normally don't watch so it's a nice change of pace.

2. two words- white collar. love this show, i've always been a mystery person, starting out with the nancy drew books back in elementary school but i love this show because it's not scary so i can fall asleep watching it. shout out to my brother for introducing it to me!

3. y'all, dance moms is on netflix now. i'm so glad that i can watch crazy abby and all those crazy moms any time i want to.

4. i watched lilo and stitch while i was in florida and i forgot how good of a movie it is! i love how netflix brought on some of the good disney movies!

5. unbreakable kimmy schmidt comes out on march 6th and i can't wait, like go watch the trailer NOW!

do you have any good netflix recommendations? i hope y'all have a great weekend!!

"did i just say, 'IF i were a boy...?"




one of my favorite pass times or ways to relax is to hang out with my friends. monica always brings the snacks, rachel lets me borrow her clothes, phoebe brings out my inner hippie, ross enlightens me on topics i could care less about, joey shares my love for eating all day every day, and chandler; well, chandler gets me and my sarcasm.

wait, you have friends with the same names? such a small world we live in!

since friends has started streaming on netflix there are so many articles going around about the show, especially chandler and his funny quotes. i saw this article the other day and was loling.

if chandler bing quotes were motivational posters... some of my favorites:















i just love this show and i love that no matter how many times i watch it, it never gets old! what are some of your favorite friends quotes?

instagram giveaway!




happy wednesday, everyone! make sure to follow me on instagram so you don't miss this amazing giveaway!


I’ve teamed up with a FABULOUS group to help one lucky follower score the perfect outfit from J.Crew + A Random Batch Candle from @the_inventoryroom! All you have to do is follow the steps below (NO REPOSTING or COMMENTING NECESSARY). Once you have found your way back to this post, you are done!

1. FOLLOW ME @messybunsandyogapants and everyone in this loop. If you don’t follow all of the people participating in the loop, you will not be entered. We always check.

2. LIKE this post.

3. TAP THIS PHOTO to see where you go next! Once you are back to ME, you are all done and will be entered in the giveaway! ***For a bonus entry, tag a few of your friends!

Please remember you MUST follow everyone in the loop and like this picture in their account to qualify!

The giveaway ends Friday Jan. 23rd at 10am CST. The winner will be picked randomly and will be announced within 24 hours of the giveaway ending! To be considered a winner, your profile MUST BE PUBLIC for a minimum of 24 hours after the giveaway ends. This will allow us to verify you have followed and liked each participant in the loop! GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!

DISCLAIMER:

Per Instagram rules, we must mention this is no way sponsored, administered or associated with Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm they are 13+ years of age, realize instagram of responsibility and agree to insagrams terms of use

dollywood: where all your dreams come true





the weekend after christmas kristin came to visit us and we finally got to take her to dollywood. it definitely wasn't the best experience but it was still fun! we promised to take her back in the summer when she can get the real experience. the rest of the weekend was spent lounging in our matching pjs and cuddles with the muff



^^ this is the tennessee tornado with christmas lights on it, the park was so pretty all lit up! fun note: jimmy and kristin are in a car of the roller coaster in this picture!



^^ our first stop at the park is always reds for lunch, they have yummy-tastic milkshakes and now have veggie burgers!! they are even the ones from morning star that i eat all the time, i was so happy!

^^ i beat a child for that reindeer and i don't at all feel bad for not giving it to him




^^ the game of life knows me and my life all too well

oh hey friday!








i'm linking up with the farmer's wife and september farm for oh hey friday!

i don't really have any exciting news from this past week but i still thought i'd grace you with my presence today ;)

1. this past monday i spent about an hour to two hours "fixing" my schedule so that now i only have tuesday/thursday classes with one wednesday class and an online class. yay for senior year :)

2. my roommate's dogs stayed at camp this week and though i'm not much of a dog person, i have to say that i've missed the big cuddle bug named winston

3. i'm working on a 101 in 1001 in one list for myself and am hoping to have it completed in the next few weeks. it's a major task considering that 1001 days is 2.75 years and that's like a whole lifetime away

4. i got my student teaching placement on thursday and i'm with a preschool class this semester, meaning that the classroom has old three year olds all the way up to old 5 year olds, so this should be an interesting semester with them. our first unit plan is literature so i'm starting to think of my 5 books i want to bring for them. i don't want to bring any of the "typical" classroom books that they read almost daily so if you have any suggestions comment below and it would be greatly appreciated!

5. lastly, i arrived in sunny florida (actually it was raining yesterday when i got here) for a nice, relaxing, long weekend with my parents


hope you all have a great weekend, see you here next week!

tale of the hushpuppies




i got attacked. i got a attacked by birds at a restaurant we frequent often in FWB while strangers laughed and video taped me. i got attacked by birds who stole and ate my hush puppies, stepped in my coleslaw, and then followed me around and touched me.

i will never not be scared of this experience. let me set the scene for you and share with you this disgusting story.



it was a lovely day, beautiful weather, i had just finished my semester and mother and i were having a wonderful lunch with her old high school pal. unfortunately, said friend's father had just passed away so we had just finished putting the final touches on her father's funeral plans and were trying to have a nice lunch on the beach to relax. the birds did not get the memo. 

we have been going to this restaurant for as long as i can remember. the food has gotten worse and the prices have gotten higher and yet we still go all the time. i was minding my own business, counting down the bites i had left of my salad until i could eat the best and final part of my meal - the hush puppies; all of a sudden i feel a soft brush touch my cheek, it all happened so quickly, i had no time to think or react. there were dozens, it felt like hundreds of birds attacking me and my meal. i duck and run across the porch, look up and see a grown man with his iPhone LAUGHING and RECORDING the experience. i look back at the table in time to see mother and her friend running from the table and to see the final bird, pick my giant hush puppy up in its tiny little beak and fly away. i could've cried.

our waitress returned from inside, "that's so weird, i've never seen that happen before" she said. "cool. BRING ME SOME MORE HUSH PUPPIES"

the rest of the meal i sat indian style in my seat, spraying any bird that came within 10 feet of me with some squirt bottle the waitress handed me. those birds would not let up. eventually we left and i almost wanted to burn my clothes but rest assured, i washed them and myself immediately.

the rest of the relaxing break in florida was just that- relaxing. this is a photo of mother and i at another one of her high school friend's condo. this picture doesn't do this view justice.