Browsing Category

Uncategorized

Uncategorized

FRIDAY EVE FAVORITES – JANUARY EDITION

Happy 2023! May this year bring you all the barefoot-in-the-grass moments to stay grounded and remain in loving peace. Here are a few things bringing me joy…

Blue Hills Ranch

So many fun adventures at Blue Hills Ranch with all of their animals! Giraffes, camel, wild mustangs, mini donkeys, otters, kangaroos, zebras, highland cows, bison, fallows, axis, black bucks, oryx, “Disney” cows, and more! Such a cool place to visit in McGregor, only 13 miles from our house! The cabins are so fun, down to the tiniest details. (We stayed in the Kraken cabin, adorable!) Highly recommend! Start with the ranch adventure, and make sure to swim with the otters and dine with the giraffes, Blue & Google!

Personalized Decanter from Rec-Etch

My husband and I don’t usually do gifts for holidays. There is nothing we need, and we’d rather save money for traveling. However, when I purchased a personalized decanter for a friend, and knew I had to get Hubs one for our anniversary last year. If you are looking for a good gift for your Valentine, this is a great option! Shipping was quick too!

Hulken Bags 

These totes on wheels have saved my back, shoulders, and sanity this year! Why I didn’t think to create them myself is a real shame.  They are perfect for large, heavy. or awkward loads!  The wheels are strong, sturdy, and haven’t said no to any load I’ve put on them yet!  I’ve moved house house items, boutique displays, and even a body (just to test it), they are a superhero!  I love the large and medium options!  They come with the option to purchase lids, but I haven’t found a use for those yet. 

K-D Combo Capsules (Vitamin D) 

Most of us have a Vitamin D deficiency.  When I broke my ankle last spring, my Vitamin D level was the first thing my orthopedic doctor tested.  After covid, most of his patients have been deficient in Vitamin D, which has lead to slow healing. When my results came back, I was named the Vitamin D Queen because of the supplement I religiously take.  I’ve proven to forget to take the liquid form, so I opt for the K-D Combo capsules from Hormones by Design. They work wonders!  You can pop in anytime to purchase them, even if you aren’t a patient! 

A Saint a Day Devotional

This is a 365-Day Devotional featuring Christian Saints. I found it locally at Fabled Bookshop (favorite place in Waco!). The devs is for kids, but I’ve actually enjoyed learning about the long history of people of faith. If you have young kids at home, it would be so fun to do with them! Maybe I’ll add in a pup or 2 to study this with in the mornings.

Get the Hell Out of Debt: The Proven 3-Phase Method That Will Radically Shift Your Relationship to Money

I have a great relationship with money.  I like to spend it.  Thank goodness I met Dave Ramsey years ago and learned how to stay away from debit.  For that reason, I almost didn’t pick up this book.  I’m thankful I did, nothing has helped/is helping me understand money like her!  (There is some language in it, she is very blunt, so if that is offensive or triggering, maybe skip this one.) 

Womens Sweaters Long Sleeve 1/4 Zip Pullover Polo

This sweater has been a staple favorite for the fall/winter season. I love a good collar and have slowly bought another, and another, and now own it in 4 colors. It’s on the heavier side and good quality. It’s simple and perfect to throw on with jeans. I’ve dressed it up with my nicer jeans and worn it with joggers. It’s basically perfect.

Simple Modern Insulated Tumbler with Lid and Straw

I love my Stanley cups, but these tumblers truly tie for my love. They are just as good as Stanley’s with keeping the drinks cold, but in a slimmer version. They also come with two different lids, a straw lid and a flip lid. They have several color options, but this sage one is the one used the most here.

Favorite Podcast Of The Week

I’ve never listened to this podcast, mainly because the host kinda gets on my nerves. However, a favorite instagram account I follow, the Cheese Gal, recently shared her story on this podcast and I am still flabbergasted at her “Dirty Jane” story! It’s crazy! If the gossip at the beginning bores you, fast forward until you get to where the actual interview with Cortney LaCorte begins (around minute 30). Thank you Casey for sending it to me! I forgive you for saying I sound like Heather McDonald when saying hello. 🙂

January 19, 2023 by
Friendship, Grace, Priorities, Uncategorized, What is saving your life

Life Giving Friends

A personal intention this year was to spend more quality time with Life-giving friends. In the ongoing To-Do List, Number #8 was “Make a list of Life-giving friends” because I am efficient if nothing. It remains written as a reminder to notice the life-givers and to be one.

A favorite bible story of mine is of a few friends who carried their sick friend to Jesus in hopes of healing him. When they couldn’t get to Him due to the crowd, they climbed on up, cut a hole in the roof and lowered their paralytic friend to Jesus. 

Can you even imagine what that scene looked like? 

Bob – “The crowd is too thick boys, there is no way we are gonna get Sick ol’ Sam to Jesus.”

Larry – “Think guys, think!”

Merle – “Hmmm, think we could climb up on the roof?”

Mike – “And then what Merle?  Stomp our feet? Climb down the chimney?”

Sick ol’ Sam – “Never mind guys, it just looks hopeless.”

But it wasn’t. These friends were cut from the find-a-way-or-make-a-way cloth. They made an opening in the roof and lowered their friend down. Because of their faith, the sick one was healed. There aren’t enough thank you notes printed for Sick ol’ Sam to write his gratitudes on.  

Those precious life-giving friends. Those that will bring you to Jesus and lower you right into His lap, tucking you into His loving arms. A favorite visual prayer of mine is to do just that with those I’m specifically praying for – swaddling them into healing arms, snug as a bug in a rug.

Back to the friends on the hot tin (straw?) roof…

Can you imagine how much restraint it would take to be that close to greatness and not want a little healing yourself? “Mr. Alpha and Omega, would you mind looking at this irksome rash really quick?” I mean, look how fast Jesus healed Sam, surely He could simply wink and heal this tiny, itchy issue.

Years ago we went to Lake Tahoe for the Celebrity Golf Tournament. It is such a fun trip – mountains, a gorgeous lake, amazing weather, golf, and celebrities everywhere playing golf for charity. Jason Witten, my favorite Dallas Cowboy, was playing in the tournament and I was a tiny bit determined (obsessed) to get a photo with the big guy. I carried his jersey around in my purse just in case he had time for an autograph as well. Let me pause for a second and say, I am not the girl who embarrasses herself and others by asking for photos or an autograph. If I see a famous person, I get awkward and usually ignore them. I like my celebrities at a distance.

The week was ending, and I had yet to corner my boy Witten for a photo. Our group got photos with every other celebrity but alas, Jason was elusive. We followed his team on his last few holes and positioned ourselves to intercept him on the way to the clubhouse for a photo request. My partner at the time had the camera and a plan. He was going to stop Witten and ask if he would take a photo with me, my job was to be ready to step in and smile.

As Witten and his entourage approached us, my heart started skipping beats, my palms were tingling, and my face was on fire. I flipped my hair to lay just right, my lipgloss was poppin’…I was ready. As Jason ducked under the rope, my partner said, “Jason, could I get a photo with you?”, and then they both turned to smile at me to take the photo.

Of them.

I had to reach for the camera that was in his hand to snap the photo. I then watched, speechless, as my favorite Tight End walked away. And there you go folks, the real reason my first marriage ended in divorce.

It seems hard to control oneself that close to greatness. 

There I was, waiting for my photo, and someone else got it. Had we been on a roof, I might have pushed him off of it rather than lowering him down.

Thankfully for the paralytic man, his friends stayed the course. They remained selfless for their friend’s healing, even that close to the most Divine and Holy being they had ever encountered.

I’m not comparing Jason Witten to Jesus. But if that’s how you read it, you might also suffer from Smitten by Witten syndrome. Jesus can heal that too.

Until then, let’s be life givers. Let’s breathe love and light into our people. May we be in each other’s corner, standing guard over our people through all their things….sadness, loss, pain, sickness, exhaustion, and life. Let’s carry each other to peace and healing.

*Mark 2:3-5 

**Please let it be noted, while I am still working on forgiving my ex-husband for this unspeakable betrayal, we have remained friends and co-parent well.

April 26, 2021 by
Boundaries, Character, Growth, Lessons, Patience, Prayer, Uncategorized

The Highish Road

Let’s be honest…

The high road is not known for being fun and flashy. 

It’s dusty and less traveled enough to not even have a speed limit.

There is no “entrance high” when ramping onto the high road.  If we got the same kick out of taking the high road than we do taking the Loop around Austin, more people would gladly choose it.   Most times there isn’t even a buzz 100 miles into the journey.  It usually comes much later, when looking back and understanding the sanity and peace of traveling this dumb road.  More importantly, the necessity of the LESSON which ended you up on the highish road. 

Truthfully, most times I’d rather just take the Middle Road. Where you can at least get by with a clever snapback.  Because man, there are some good ones for all the Karens and Janets.  

I’ve found myself more times in the swamp.  Not being able to quiet that sharp tongue.  Which never ends up feeling good.  It’s like missing the exit for the Loop and getting stuck in the muck of traffic, downtown Austin. When everything is blurted and off your chest, you think you’ll be free as a lark, instead you feel as low as a toad. 

That being said, I don’t know which road this essay puts me on.  I’m aiming for a higher one.  My hope is to share a little in hopes to help gracefully release some old tie downs that could be holding us back.   

Next to the trinity of my Maker, my husband and boys – extended family and friendships mean everything to me.  Every single thing.  Until they threaten the 5 things in front of them. 

I have created some sturdy boundaries, built through the years which have strengthened me to release some relationships that aren’t healthy for my family or our peace. 

When one continues to speak poorly about your family or children…release them.  It only seems reasonable to recognize their Exit sign.  According to their choices, they chose to sit in an Exit row, accepted the guidelines from the cute flight attendant (think 1980s stewardess here) when moving to that seat, and therefore pulled their own cord to exit your airplane.  Bless them as they float away. 

One can quietly honor the duration of a relationship, including the sharing that happened within it, and 100% be walking yourself and family back to your own bubble of peace, sanity and home.  Even when we are mentally on an airplane where you can’t control the roster or seating arrangement, we can close our eyes and visualize yourself walking back to 1st class, and pulling the curtain closed behind you. Like in the movie Bridesmaids, some of the noisy ones are in coach – ready to par-tay with your emotions and life when you just desperately need silence, peace, air pods, and maybe a glass of wine.

Even when others won’t take themselves on a road a little higher, YOU can. I’d like to think it’s possible that when we choose the elevated path, we can silently wish the person who put you on it would go climb a really tall and really thick cactus. I haven’t confirmed this, but feel God might overlook the later because of the earlier? I don’t know, maybe do your own prayer time on that.

Brene Brown tells us that when we are nervous, we always revert back to our highest level of training.  I think this also works with emotional training.  If we are in the habit of choosing our prayers, our words, our friends, our actions, our habits, and our surroundings wisely…we can slowly create a solid character that wouldn’t dream of taking any other path.

Wouldn’t it be nice to always travel the speedy loop?  To stay grounded and pay attention to the exits given which lead us to those highish paths.  They aren’t always the easiest, but they always end up bringing the most peace. Always. I wish that peace for you friend.

*In complete transparency…

This essay was written a long while ago. It was snappy, written in the weeds of hurt feelings and anger. It was written because I had begrudgingly ended up on the high road. I wanted off of it, and this essay was my ticket. A friend encouraged me to sit on it because she thought I was better than that. Or perhaps hoped me to be? After rolling my eyes and presenting a strong argument that I definitely was not better… I relented. I sat on it, occasionally going back to remove a sharp elbow, one at a time. A dagger here, a swift kick there – all sad feelings processed individually and worked through. Until eventually, I didn’t feel anger or sadness when reading it. Just resolve wrapped in peace.

**Photo by my crazy talented friend Gary Richardson

February 12, 2021 by
Crazy Cycle, Rest, Stillness, Uncategorized

Ain’t you Tired?

I’ve learned the quickest way to freak my husband out is to rest.  He doesn’t completely understand the concept.  He can power nap with the best of them, but literally hops up, pulls his boots on and heads out the door in search of something to fix or do, sometimes just having to settle for watering plants.  This is not a passive aggressive complaint.  I truly love that he is a doer and that nothing stays broken or half way done at our house.  Most of the time I celebrate him by throwing a chore of my own at his feet, in hopes he will pick it up out of curiosity and complete it.  This method of my madness usually works, especially when I add a sweet smile. Thank goodness for people like Chadwick.

I need rest. I need restoration and recharging.  I’ve learned that stillness is it’s own adventure.  All lessons learned on the dusty road called Exhaustion.

I was chatting with a wise friend recently, kinda (100% completely) complaining about a situation.  Before I knew it, I was rolling around in my ego and explaining to her everything I had done for… blah, blah, blah.  Everything I was sharing was facts, I had gone completely extra on something that no one had asked me to do.  I did it out of my old people-pleasing-Enneagram-2-ways, and found myself feeling bitter when it wasn’t appreciated or the same thoughtfulness was reciprocated.

After affirming my effort, in the most gentle voice she said, “Brooke, why don’t you just…. stop?”.

It silenced me into a defeated, “I know.”

Because I do know.  I know all too well how working away at something that is one sided always leaves you lopsided.  Traveling in a circle that has no exit.  Living lopsided doesn’t seem very balanced.  Call me OCD.

“Ain’t you tired Miss Hilly? Ain’t you tired?”

A favorite quote from the book and movie “The Help”.  I’d like to think I’m not quite on Miss Hilly’s level of jerkiness, but truth is, I probably am – just in my own way.  Regardless, yes is the answer.  Yes, I am tired.

Isn’t it incredible what a good night sleep does for our physical and mental state?   Ask a new mom, or a mom of teenagers who drive.

Here is what I want you to hear today…

You have permission to stop, and no one will call you a quitter.

You have permission to rest, and no one will call you lazy.

To be clear, “no one” is defined by your people.

Your bury-the-body friends will never judge your rest.  Because they know it is necessary for your heart and mind.  They want this for you.  They also know there will be a lot more bodies for them to help bury if they don’t let you rest. (hypothetically speaking)

Even trees rest.  They don’t even have to be told to in a blog post.  During the winter, they send all their energy into their roots to nourish, restore, and get ready for spring.  Sometimes rest is a nap, other times it is a mental break – but the best recharging is always intentional.  Don’t forget to turn your brain off for rest time.

In a recent (8 months ago) yoga class, we were instructed to not “dump down into our ankles and hands”.  Instead our movements needed to focus on lifting.   Rising up.

Isn’t life so much about intention?   Our hands and ankles can only move in certain ways – but with a specific intention of movement and energy, they can hold our weight while rising.

When I don’t make some form of rest a priority, I end up dumping down into more things than just my ankles and hands – my relationships, health, work….all things suffer.  When we rest, we are literally lifting our spirits higher, rising to the occasion called life.

Let’s intentionally live it well.

Rest well friend.

August 27, 2019 by
Fashion, Favorite Things, Makeup, Textured Threads, Uncategorized

Bronze Me.

 

Get your hands ready to clutch some pearls sister.  I am a 39 year old gal who spent her early years in a tanning bed. And loved it.  I even owned one.  The search to find something as relaxing as laying in that tanning bed has been unsuccessful.  There wasn’t a lot better than my skin warming while the fan blew on my burning skin, singing along with whatever song was playing. However, I did find a solution for a tan that doesn’t give you cancer and age you like the UV rays do.  But please, I don’t want to hear about all the toxins being absorbed through the skin. Go elsewhere Fun&Beauty Police, just let me have my tan.

I hope that when my time is up, someone makes sure my sunless tanner is perfect before my body is viewed.  Help a sister out…m’kay?

Here are a few of my favorites.  I alternate them because sometimes my skin catches on to my silly ways, and occasionally stops participating with one self tanner.  So, I’ll give it a break and use a different one for a bit.

My ol’ faithful…

The great thing about THIS one is you can see the bronze as it is applied. It comes with the mitt shown above and 2 latex gloves.  You’ll need to put the gloves on, then the mitt.  Spray the bronzer into the mitt, and then apply.  As with all self tanners, let it soak in and dry for about 8 hours before you shower.

I don’t use it on my face, just up to my neck.  For my face and neck, I use THIS ONE BELOW.  I only use this about 1-2 times a week.  On the days that I use this, it takes the place of my morning or night cream.  If it is in the morning, I let it dry and then apply my sun screen.  Apply with gloves.

My current self tanner is a tad more expensive, but it has lasted awhile and there is still plenty left!   It’s by St. Tropez, and is a mousse.  It is also bronze, so you can see where you have applied it and if there are any streaks to work out.  It is always good to apply in a circular motion.  Again, let it soak in and dry for about 8 hours before you shower.  You can purchase it at Ulta HERE or Amazon HERE.  You’ll want to purchase the St. Tropez mitt HERE for application. (If you are ordering from AMAZON , it is an add-on item.)  The St. Tropez glove is lined, so you’re able to use it without a latex glove. It’s worth every penny! 

I also like St. Tropez Gradual Tan to prolong my bronze color.  You can grab it at Ulta HERE or from Amazon HERE. I have really dry skin, so I mix some of this with my shea butter moisturizer when applying, otherwise I dry out too quickly. 

 

There you go friend, just in time for summer!   Go bronze up…it’ll be our healthy secret that we are truly slathered in sunblock.

 

 

 

May 3, 2018 by