I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Springtime is here! Yea! I love this time of year because everything comes back to life and becomes so colorful! It is beautiful. You know that I am partial to the fall season, but I am allergic to all things winter (other than boots and scarves). So naturally, I get pretty excited by the time Spring rolls around. I love the warmth that thaws me out after the harsh winter.

I love that floral print is in again this year and I’m excited to be able to bring all of the bright colors back into my wardrobe and style. In the last year, I’ve been so intrigued/addicted/in love with lipstick. I’ve added about 4 new shades to my collection just in the last month. I have a feeling I’ll be wearing it a lot this season.

When Influenster sent me the new Moisture Renew Lipstick by Rimmel London Voxbox, I was ecstatic! I love trying new products and it is pretty awesome being able to try a different color I might not have been brave enough to buy myself. The color I received is “As You Want Victoria.” It is a bright and fun color, perfect for spring.

I love this lipstick! It is very moisturizing which is something that is important to me when buying lip products. I also love the shade! It will go great with those floral prints and bright colors that I’ll be wearing now. I’m so excited to show off my bold new lip color!

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it!


One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus


Goodreads Synopsis: One Thousand White Women is the story of May Dodd and a colorful assembly of pioneer women who, under the auspices of the U.S. government, travel to the western prairies in 1875 to intermarry among the Cheyenne Indians. The covert and controversial “Brides for Indians” program, launched by the administration of Ulysses S. Grant, is intended to help assimilate the Indians into the white man’s world. Toward that end May and her friends embark upon the adventure of their lifetime. Jim Fergus has so vividly depicted the American West that it is as if these diaries are a capsule in time.


My thoughts: I am enjoying it so far. I had to put it on hold to read Serena for our chat tonight, so I’m excited to start it up again. 

2.  What was your favorite series to read when you were a kid?


Nancy Drew and Boxcar Children. I was all in to the mystery type books. 

3.  The world is ending:  What 3 books do you save from your collection in hopes to contribute to whatever new society forms?


My bible, obviously, Pride and Prejudice and can I choose my kindle? HA!

In honor of Saint Patrick, I thought I’d share my favorite Green Smoothie Recipe. This smoothie is my favorite go-to as an on-the-go breakfast or post-workout recovery drink. It’s filling and super healthy. It’s around 160 calories. Not bad, huh? Try it and thank me later because this sucker is delish!

This post is not about Paris and cupcakes, although who doesn’t love a good cupcake and the city of love? Side note: I fell in love with Paris for the first time when I studied French in high school and then again when we went there on our honeymoon.

Currently, I’m:

reading One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus and loving it so far. If you like historical fiction, you should definitely read this one. Review coming soon!

wearing Revlon lip butter in Cotton Candy. I love this lip color for spring and it’s so moisturizing. Big thumbs up, Rev!

loving this 70 degree weather we have been having down here in Bama town. It makes my morning runs so much more enjoyable when my lungs aren’t on fire from the cold.

tasting the Starbucks hibiscus berry refresher. Why have I not tried these until now? Addiction.

writing in my journal more and more lately. I know that sounds like so totally junior high, but I’ll write more on this topic later.

preparing for my Thirty One party this Friday night. I’m hosting for my MIL and can’t wait to have friends and family over for a night of fun. Plus who doesn’t love an adorable new bag?

waiting for summer!! I am ready for beach trips, pool days and weekend hikes!

What are you currently into?

I was reading Jesus Calling the other day and like most days, the devotional hit me spot on. The topic was worrying. As you may know from Instagram, our house is up for sale. I have done a lot of praying that God will help us to sell our house quickly. I haven’t prayed that He would help us sell our house in HIS time. See the difference there? I do that all the time. I am so selfish with my prayers and my wants. I am constantly praying for God to do this or that in MY perfect time. Has that ever worked out for you? Anyone? Me either.

I am a worry wart. I worry about the house being too messy, I worry about our laundry being sky high. I worry about the amount of work I have to get done every day while also raising a teething baby at home. God states plainly that worrying is a sin. Some people sin by doing drugs or drinking too much. I sin by constantly worrying. It is a form of distrust. I am not giving everything over to God. I’m trying to deal with it and handle everything myself instead of trusting that he has my back. Why is that? God has never failed me before. He has allowed me go through tough times (or tests as I like to call them), but He has never failed me. He is the one who lifts me up when I’m down. He is the one who gave me my husband at the time I needed him the most. He gave me my precious son when I had almost given up on having children. He has always gone above and beyond for me. So why do I not trust Him enough to quit worrying?

Why is this so difficult for me? Do you struggle with worrying?

*Disclaimer: I was given this book as compensation for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

A Place at the Table by Susan Rebecca White
March, 2014 Touchstone


Goodreads Synopsis: A Place at the Table tells the story of three richly nuanced characters whose paths converge in a chic Manhattan café: Bobby, a gay Southern boy who has been ostracized by his family; Amelia, a wealthy Connecticut woman whose life is upended when a family secret finally comes to light; and Alice, an African-American chef whose heritage is the basis of a famous cookbook but whose past is a mystery to those who know her.

As it sweeps from a freed-slave settlement in 1920s North Carolina to the Manhattan of the deadly AIDs epidemic of the 1980s to today’s wealthy suburbs, A Place at the Table celebrates the healing power of food and the magic of New York as three seekers come together in the understanding that when you embrace the thing that makes you different, you become whole.

My Thoughts: Love, heartbreak, loss, deception, acceptance and rejection – this book has it all! My favorite quote from this novel and the one I feel sums up the story best is “I think it is fair to say that I have become more interested in observing the world, rather than judging it.” 


I loved the stories of the three individuals – Alice, Bobby and Amelia – as well as how they all come together and are connected in a very creative way. I would have liked to see Alice’s character developed a bit more. I felt like the prologue was almost all we got of her life until closer to the end when it explains how they are all connected. I really liked her character and would’ve liked to read more about her.

If you follow my on Instagram, you know that on Sunday, I hit my pre-pregnancy weight!!!!!!! One day before Hamp turned 4 months. Talk about cutting it close to my goal! Do you know how excited I was? I did a happy dance All. Day. Long. Just ask my husband who looked at me like I was crazy. It was a very happy day.

I have still been working out and running this week and plan to continue it. I am currently participating in Tone It Up’s 60 by Spring challenge. We are trying to run 60 miles in 30 days before the official day of spring. I’ve clocked in 23.4 miles so far. I’m still working hard to tighten my core back up. It still isn’t quite back to normal but I am getting there. Slowly but surely I will get there.

My diet has been a struggle this week. I gave in to chick fil a. My weakness. As well as some m&ms. My other weakness. I’m hoping to lose about 7 more pounds to get to my absolute ideal weight, so I’m trying not to give in to any more temptations. As long as I stay focused I feel like I can accomplish this goal. My fitness pal app has still really helped me, but it’s so much easier when I just eat healthy- fruits, veggies and protein. I not only lose weight but I seriously feel better and more energized when I eat really well.

If you are part of the TIU community, please find me on Instagram where I check in daily! I’d love to follow along on your journey as well. Good luck with your fitness goals, ladies! You can do it!