Happy Monday!

For today's Motivational Monday post, I want to talk about something that I am constantly trying to improve about myself: being a good listener. It's so important to listen to people without thinking of what your next response will be or without always thinking of how it relates to you and your life. 

Being a good listener can be tough because we often have a lot to say and a lot on our minds. As conversationalists, it's natural to respond thinking of yourself and how the other person's words pertain to you. But try this today...stop thinking of yourself when you partake in a conversation. If someone wants to share something with you, it's likely that whatever they're saying means a lot to them, and you should respect that and continue the conversation without turning it around.

Yesterday I was enjoying my Yogi detox tea, and I noticed that my quote was related to this! (I've been planning this post for a while). It's hard to read in the picture, but it says "when we practice listening, we become intuitive." I fully agree with this, and I find it to be so important. I'm SO BAD at saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. It's imperative that I learn some self-control and learn when to speak and when not to speak.

Being a good listener is something we should all work on. It goes hand in hand with being a good friend and being a good person. Make the most of your conversations by showing respect, courtesy, and genuine interest for the other person. Listen to others the way you hope they listen to you!

Have a great week! 

xoxo,

Anna

Good morning! 

Last week I did a {this week's favorites}, and I'm going to do it again. Short and sweet, something to tell you what I've been up to...

Favorite Daily Reading
Yesterday's Jesus Calling.

March 29

Stop trying to work things out before their times have come. Accept the limitations of living one day at a time. When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today's agenda. If it isn't, release it into My care and go on about today's duties. When you follow this practice, there will be a beautiful simplicity about your life: a time for everything, and everything in its time. 

A life lived close to me is not complicated or cluttered. When your focus is on My Presence, many things that once troubled you lose their power over you. Though the world around you is messy and confusing, remember that I have overcome the world. I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have Peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
John 16:33

This applies directly to my everyday worries...thinking that I'm running out of time or that I have to live my life by a perfect timeline. That is silly. God has it all laid out for me. I need to live in peace instead of being a crazy person.

Also...yesterday was my big brother's 36th birthday! Happy Birthday, Danny! I didn't do a blog post because my computers are broken. I'm writing this from a friend's computer. Really wish I could have been home with my family yesterday for dinner.

Favorite Fashion

Wildfox Clubfox Sunglasses, $169.00 www.wildfoxcouture.com
Love, love, love these. I almost bought them a few weeks ago but I went with a pair of blue Ray-Ban aviators instead. Now I'm dying to have these! They are so unique but still classic enough to wear with any nice outfit.

I've decided that Old Venice has the best greek salad in Oxford. So fresh, perfect size, just delicious. The crawfish rolls are really awesome, too, because they're so different. All restaurants in Oxford have something crawfish-related, but these seem to be something unique. I always crave them. ALSO...after having nearly everything on the menu, I've decided that the best entree at Old Venice is the lasagna. I NEVER order lasagna anywhere...except here. It's incredible. I didn't order it this time, though, because I knew I wouldn't be able to finish it, and if I took it home I wouldn't have been able to eat it the next day because I don't eat meat on Fridays.

Favorite Dance Vid
Jasmine Meakin - Yonce. Take a peek...

I've been a Mega Jam fan since the very beginning, and I think my favorite part about keeping up with Jasmine's videos is to watch her grow as a dancer. Her attention to detail contines to improve in every video. It inspires me to be a better choreographer and dancer, to really listen to and appreciate music and all that it entails.

Favorite Thought
I can't wait to be home in two weeks! I have so many fun and exciting things planned with my family and friends. Being 904 miles away, going home is such a treat.

Favorite Day
Today! (A lot of you probably won't read this part...because I wrote this post this morning, but am now adding this part this evening. It was too good not to share!) Amber and I explored Oxford a little bit and went hiking on some trails. It was so much fun to just get out and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL weather. I also really loved that we did something different, rather than just our typical weekend fun. I was planning on going to the gym, but I'm really glad that I got my exercise outside instead. Plus -- it was practice for our hiking in Africa!!! Less than two months away. We are going to need to get in really good shape if we want to be able to hike Table Mountain and Lion's Head!

Happy Sunday, everyone! Enjoy Today.

xoxo,

Anna

Before 3:00 yesterday, I'd already used coconut oil in THREE different ways, so I want to share them with you! Let's start with the first...something you're already familiar with if you keep up with my posts.

Oil Pulling

If you haven't read my article on Oil Pulling yet, do so here. It's been about a month now since I've started this health/beauty regimen. Before I tell you an update of how it's been going, let me share with you a video from E! News this week...a segment on Oil Pulling!

It's so cool how such an ancient practice is making a 3,000 year comeback...in Hollywood! Two of my friends saw this on TV (one of them was my roommate Blakeley...check out her blog here!) and texted me immediately..."Oh my gosh, your gross swishy oil thing is on TV!" I've seen several news stations post articles about it recently, not just health and beauty blogs. I've had tons of family members, friends, and faithful blog readers tell me they've tried it now, too! This is the HOT thing right now...if you haven't taken part in it, you are behind.

Ok, so here's what I've noticed in the last month or so...
-My skin has NEVER been so perfect! It's glowing, and it keeps getting better and better!  I can't believe how soft, smooth, clear, and dewy it is. My friend, Melissa, actually said that she's been on medicine for her skin for 3 years, and 2 weeks of oil pulling is what cleared her skin up. Amazing.
-It's detoxifying my bod better than most cleanses I've done.
-My morning breath is much less dragon-like. Sounds sooo disgusting, but I've always had bad morning breath. This has helped tremendously.
-My mouth feels so much more fresh.

Still waiting on the teeth whitening thing to take off. It's helping, but I really want perfect pearly whites without paying for professional teeth whitening. I've been doing research to see when I'll notice this effect, and it seems to vary from person to person. We shall see!

Hair Mask

Yesterday after coloring my hair (don't try that at home...I have professional products), I really needed some extra moisture. So I mixed up a hair mask of two spoonfuls of coconut oil, two spoonfuls of olive oil, a teaspoon of honey, and an egg! I shampooed the color out with Blonda by Unite to get rid of any brass, and then I left this mask on for 20 minutes. Rinsed it out, did a light shampoo with just plain baby shampoo (good for the pH of your hair) and voilà! Soft, smooth, and all natural. An easy quick fix for thirsty locks.

Smoothie

Not the prettiest picture, but this was my breakfast yesterday! Ok, I'm lying. My breakfast was leftover pizza. This was just a morning snack. An Advocare Spark drink...filled with vitamins...a glass of ice water, and a smoothie made with coconut oil! I love to experiment with my smoothies, but adding coconut oil, you're giving your metabolism the perfect energy boost! This particular smoothie was made with kale, blueberries, coconut oil, and Greek yogurt. So yummy and the perfect way to jumpstart my day (especially after that pizza...no shame, though!)

There are endless ways to use coconut oil for this, that, and the other. I love to keep learning about coconut oil and all of its benefits! What do you use it for?

xoxo,

Anna

Hey guys,

I wasn't planning on making a post today, but I decided to write on the importance of tact, inspired by yesterday's Jesus Calling reading.

First of all...let's talk about the word tact...we use it, we read it, but what exactly is it?

Tact, by definition, is sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues. To be tactful is to handle a situation with consideration, understanding, and thought.

If you read yesterday's post, {motivational monday: self-love}, you'll see that I discussed the importance of knowing your own course of what grows you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and how anything that does not serve a positive purpose on that course is something to let go. Let's explore that a bit further in this post..

Take a look at yesterday's Jesus Calling reading for starters...

March 24

This is a time in your life where you must learn to let go: of loved ones, possessions, of control. In order to let go of something that is precious to you, you need to rest in My Presence, where you are complete. Take time to bask in the Light of My Love. As you relax more and more, your grasping hand gradually opens up, releasing your prized possessions in My care.

You can feel secure, even in the midst of cataclysmic changes, through awareness of My continual Presence. The One who leaves you is the same One who never changes: I am the same yesterday, today, and forever. As you release more and more things into My care, remember that I never let go of your hand. Herein lies your security, which no one and no circumstance can take from you.

Psalm 89: 15
Hebrews 13:8
Isaiah 41:13

To me, this is such a comfort. It means that God is not only saying it's okay to let go, He is encouraging it. Let Him take the lead. Relax, and trust that He knows what He is doing and what is best for you. It's okay. It's a good thing. What does it mean to you?

Tact is the intelligence of the heart. When you need to let go of something or someone, and you know what you need to say and what you want to say, it's all about delivery and timing. Do it with grace, do it without being mean, do it in the best way that you can. Using your words wisely is something that we ALL need to work on. I know I do. Failing to use tact in a conversation where it was totally necessary will come back to haunt you.

We aren't perfect, and neither are the people that we need to let go. One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite books... "You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not." -My Sister's Keeper

It's okay to let go. By all means, if you need to do it, do it. Just do it with compassion, with grace, and with tact.

xoxo,

Anna

Hi friends!

I started this post a long time ago and just never finished it. Sorry! A lot of you have been asking me what the deal is with my kale obsession.  All of my health-conscious people out there will certainly appreciate this one, and those of you who need to add some nutritional value to your diet will hopefully learn a few things...

Kale is my new favorite food, and I try to incorporate it into my diet every day. If you read my first Health and Fitness post, you saw that I included a recipe for a yummy kale salad (check it out here). Let's talk about the health benefits of kale as well as some awesome kale recipes that you can make at home! Join me in adding kale into your daily meals and snacks :)

So...what is the hype with kale?

Ok...this is long...brace yourself...

Kale is one of the healthiest foods in the world. It will lower your cholesterol, give you all the fiber you need in a day, and provide comprehensive support for your body's detoxification. It's good for proper liver function. It lowers your risk for bladder cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer. It is an antioxidant. It has anti-inflammatory benefits to help your body avoid chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. It is very low in calories. It has an exceedingly high amount of Vitamins K, A, and C, amongst other things. Kale has ZERO fat. One cup of kale alone has 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 0 grams of fat. It's high in iron, and actually has more iron than beef! Per calorie, kale offers more calcium than milk. It's good for vision, skin, your immune system, hydration, and your metabolism.

See? This stuff is GOOD FOR YOU.

Now let's check out ways you can incorporate this superfood into your diet!

Goat Cheese and Kale Pasta
Are you seeing a pattern here? I love carbs, and I love cheese. To make this yummy dinner dish, cook the pasta, add 5 cups of washed and torn kale (no stems), and add salt and pepper. After 3 to 5 minutes, add 4oz of goat cheese and 3tbsp. of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Add 2 tbsp. of olive oil!

Now for the kicker...

Here's a book that I've heard tons about, but haven't read it yet! I'm dying to! Anyone checked it out?

I love to throw kale here there and everywhere..in soups, on my pizza, picking up a bag of kale chips at the store in the natural foods isle, whatever. What kale recipes do you love? Share them with me!!

xoxo,

Anna

Good morning!

I had an entirely different Motivational Monday post planned, but after some recent events...I did some thinking and decided to dedicate this post to the importance of self-love, self-worth, and self-acceptance. This post was inspired by both positive experiences and negative experiences. Let's start with a positive experience...

My good friend, Julia, and I were having a conversation about my post "Let's Cut Ourselves Some Slack," and we had some really uplifting thoughts. Whenever we talk, we have THE BEST conversations that make both of us think so deeply, and it changes the outlook on my entire day. She told me that she's been working on giving herself more credit for things, not dwelling on things she can't change. As we get older and experience new things in life at different stages in our lives, self-love takes on different meanings and we understand it in different ways. For example, self-love takes on a whole new meaning in college, at the start of our adult lives. We are doing more by ourselves and for ourselves than ever before. It's definitely a struggle, as we both agreed, because it means that in order to do things efficiently, effectively, and happily, we really need to rely on ourselves. We're also doing more by ourselves and for ourselves than we probably ever will in the future. When we get married and have babies, we won't do as much for ourselves because it's not about us anymore -- we'll be doing more for them: our husbands and our children. We won't be doing as many things by ourselves, either, because a marriage and a family works together and helps one another. At this time in our lives, we are selfish, because we can be. We only need to worry about our own needs, our own success, our own well-being. As soon as that changes, it will never be this way ever again. THAT is why I feel that this is such a crucial "self" time in life. We need to learn to know ourselves and love ourselves while we JUST have ourselves...so that when it's time to do things for another person, we know we can do it for them because we've done it for us. We are learning competence. We are learning independence. We are learning what we like, WHO we like, what we want, and why we want it. We are young and we are doing things for ourselves, and that's okay. Cutting slack for young mistakes and trials is so important...it's cutting slack PLUS self-love...forgiving yourself for what you've done wrong while accrediting yourself for what you've done right.

Now let's talk about a negative experience...

We've all had these. A certain person or a certain group of people makes you feel unworthy of their love and acceptance for no good reason. It hurts your feelings. You start to reflect on yourself and your actions and your appearance and your overall being. AM I good enough? Am I doing something wrong? What is it that made this go south?

YES you are good enough, NO you are not doing something wrong, THEY are what made this go south, when they stopped (or never started) appreciating you for who you are. Get these toxic people out of your life, fast. They have issues way bigger than just not liking you...they have personal problems that you are not part of, that you will never understand, that they need to address.

I have a really big heart. I love really deeply, really wholeheartedly, really openly. If I had to pick one thing that my mother taught me growing up, it would be to BE KIND. Absolutely the number one thing she taught me was to show kindness to others...whether they are different, not very nice themselves, whatever. No matter what, I will never compromise this about myself. I stand up for myself, don't get me wrong, but if I want people to think just one quality about me and know it to be true: it is that I am kind. This is very important to me.

That being said...I don't think everyone's mother instilled that in them. Either that was never a moral that some people possessed in the first place, or it's something that some people are pushing to the side for whatever reason, and their mothers would be mortified. I would NEVER go out of my way to intentionally hurt someone's feelings. Ever. I would be eternally embarrassed and sorry if someone was really, really hurt by something I said to them that I shouldn't have. I know better than that. I AM better than that.

I give second chances, I give people the benefit of the doubt, I try not to burn any bridges, but sometimes enough is enough. I had quite an epiphany last night with a select few people I once considered friends who are nothing but awful to me, and always have been. Because I choose to see the good in people, I overlooked this for a long time. Not anymore. I owe it to myself to surround myself with people who lift me higher instead of put me down for no good reason. I don't need superficial, social-climbing, insecure, fake people who do nothing but cling to people of their own kind to serve any purpose at all in or around my life. I want genuine people with kind hearts who know themselves, love themselves, and respect themselves and other people. THESE are the people who help you grow as a person, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I'm sure they are actually reading this, too, just like they read my post last night and left me some ridiculous comments. I'm even more sure that they don't understand a word of it because they are not concerned with anyone's feelings whatsoever. Really, they're not concerned with any emotional area of life. It's all on the outside, and what people think about the outside. It doesn't matter. The above quote..."When I accept myself, I am freed from the burden of you needing to accept me." That's my response to you.

You cannot control whether or not anybody loves you. You can, however, control whether or not you love you. You also have one truth: God loves you. This is a whole lot more powerful (and important) than whether or not someone who doesn't even love themselves loves you. BE yourself. LOVE to be yourself. DO what you love, SAY what you want, mean what you say, feel how you feel. Love every minute of it. Life is so, so short. We were so blessed to have been given this life, so let's all vow to stop questioning everything about ourselves as a response to the disapproval of irrelevant people. Use this time in your life for what it is here for -- to be yourself, find yourself, create yourself, and love yourself. You will never get this time back, so use it wisely.

Of course, strive to improve yourself always. Nobody is perfect. But improve yourself with love and care, not with hatred and cruelty. Don't talk down to yourself. Motivate yourself. I saw "you are fat" written on a friend of mine's mirror. This really saddened me. That's not motivating. Motivating is "you can do this." And, you can do this.

The truth is, self-love is a constant roller-coaster. As human beings, we are going to mess up. We are going to do things and then say "how could I be so stupid?" It happens. We can't take it back. All we can do is embrace all of the good around us, lift up all of the people who lift US up, and try to do better next time.

Love yourself a little more today. You deserve it. Be kind, be smart, be you.

xoxo,

Anna

Hey guys!

Hope y'all had a great week! This was my first week back since I went home for Spring Break, and I'm so happy that it's finally starting to feel like Spring around here. I just wanted to do a little post on some of my favorite things from this week. Take a look...

Favorite Verse:

Awesome reminder that we need to separate people's opinions of us and their approval (or disapproval) of who we are from our actual self-worth...which is determined by our SELVES. It doesn't matter how much money you put into your appearance. You are not better than anyone else for any superficial reason. Your worth is determined by the kindness of your heart and what's on the inside. Also a reminder that God is always on our side!

Favorite Meal:

I can't eat meat on Fridays, so I made these yummy vegetarian tacos for lunch and ate the leftovers for dinner, YUM! Beans, rice, lettuce, corn, tomatoes, avocado..a bunch of yummy stuff. So easy and cleared out a lot of stuff I had in my fridge and pantry that I've been wanting to get rid of. Success.

Favorite Day: Wednesday! Monday I got back in town and went out for St. Patrick's Day, Tuesday was my first day back at class and I went to dinner with Amber and Aubrey (Mexican, of course), but Wednesday was my first day to myself since I'd been back. I cooked a great breakfast, got in an awesome workout, went shopping with Blakeley, AND Amber cleaned my room for me...she took Spring cleaning to a whole new level! I SUCK at cleaning. Now my room is clean with fresh flowers, fresh sheets, the works. Then I cooked us a nice dinner! Chicken breasts, broccoli, and kale salad with chicken, carrots, cucumbers, craisins, and Greek vinegarette. It was very relaxing.

Favorite Conversation: Brittany!!! She is in town for the weekend all the way from Newport Beach, and I could not be happier. Catching up with her in person (although we do talk on the phone all the time) was fantastic. I can't wait for her to be back in Oxford for good.

Favorite Outfit:

Just bought this shirt from Miss Behavin! LOVING this blue color for spring! I have my eye on a Marc Jacobs purse this same color. Shorts and earrings from Miss Behavin, too. missbehavinonline.com

This was Friday night when I got sushi with Brittany. Love her so much!

Favorite Song: Partition -- Beyonce. Awesome song to workout to!!! She is such an inspirational, glamorous badass. My girls danced to the intro to this song at their competition. My favorite choreographer, Jasmine Meakin, posted a dance to this song this morning. The video is below.

Favorite Thought: I leave for South Africa exactly two months from tomorrow!! I cannot wait to spend my summer exploring across the world with my best friend!

March is almost over, can you believe it?! April is going to be an insanely busy month!

xoxo,

Anna

Hey friends,

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING! I haven't done a home decor post in so long, sorry about that! I do have some cool things brewing. Here's a mini-post of the easiest DIY in the world that will brighten up a room in no time -- mason jar flower arrangements!

All ya need -- buy mason jars in bulk at Target, pick up some fresh flowers, and if you CHOOSE to decorate them (I love to)...pick up some ribbon, some lace, some burlap, some paint, whatever. Here are some pretty mason jar flower arrangements on my Pinterest! (My favorite? Gerber daisies!)

Yesterday, Amber and I made a little deal -- she cleaned my room while I cooked her dinner! She took "Spring Cleaning" to a whole new level...my bedroom, bathroom, and closet are spotless! She organized for me, too. Today it finally felt like Spring weather...Aubrey and I drove to the store with the windows down in our shorts and flip flops and bought fresh flowers and new candles. Now my room is ready for Spring and feels better than ever :)

Why wait around for someone to buy you flowers when you can just buy them yourself? Literally take a second to stop and smell the roses.

What did you do today on this first day of Spring?

xoxo,

Anna

Ok, not really. Last year I went to Destin (where all the Ole Miss kids go) on a private jet. This year was much, much different. I didn't go to Destin, I didn't leave the country, I went home to Maryland. Not only was it not a bathing suit type of Spring Break, it actually snowed the last day I was home! I had a little bit of an attitude and some hesitations about coming home instead of going to a crazy week long beach party with all of my friends, but I learned some important things while I was home for break, and they made my FOMO (fear of missing out) all worth it...

Let's start by telling you guys what I did over break. Thursday night, my Dad picked me up from the airport and brought me home to my sick Mommy who had a fantastic homemade dinner waiting for me. Friday, I slept most of the day and enjoyed being in my house. Then I got out of the house, and I went to dance practice to coach the girls and then watched them dance in the school musical, Footloose. They were amazing! Saturday my Mom, sister-in-law Alyssa, and I took my niece Emma to New York for her first time! She absolutely loved it. We took her to Toys R Us, FAO Schwartz, American Girl Place, and took a carriage ride around Central Park. Sunday was Emma's birthday. I went shopping with my friend Leah all day, and then I went to my brother and sister-in-law's house to have dinner with my friends and family to celebrate our baby girl turning 8! Monday I finally got to have my mom's homemade breakfast! I went to lunch with my Grandparents and my cousin Sara from Missouri who was also in town, and that was very nice. I coached the girls and then had sushi with my friends from high school. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I went to the beach with my friend Danielle. It was cold, so we made food and drinks and relaxed in the beach house! We sat by the ocean, hiked a trail, got some ice cream, and just hung out. I also got my beloved Maryland crabcakes on Thursday. On Friday, I had breakfast with my coach Miss Kara and my friend Raynna at one of my favorite breakfast restaurants. Then I babysat my sister's kids all day while she was in the hospital (she is fine now), and babysat Miss Kara's kids in the evening. Saturday was a big day -- STATE CHAMPIONSHIP! My girls placed second and were .16th of a point away from taking the title. I am so proud of them no matter what. I then went shopping with my Mom all day, and met up with the team for a party that night! We had THE BEST time all night long. Sunday was my last day at home. I went shopping with my mom all day, then came home to my friends and family for a yummy dinner: my favorite kind of Sunday night. I had awesome food all weekend. On Monday, after some complications with the surprise blizzard, I finally got to fly back!! Here I am, back at school in Mississippi.

Phew, that was so long! Typing it out like that makes me realize that I really did have a good Spring Break. After seeing all of those people that mean the world to me, what could be better? Yesterday when I got back, I went out with my roommates for St. Patrick's Day! It felt so great. It is such a wonderful feeling every time I leave Oxford for a while and come back excited for what's ahead.

Now I want to tell y'all what all of those Spring Break 2014 adventures meant to me and why they were important...

1. Making Other People Happy Feels Really Good
When I was home, I realized how much some of the people in my life really need me and how good it makes me feel when I can help them in some way or make them smile. When we took Emma to New York, the day was all about her -- she was the birthday girl! We didn't go into any big girl stores, and I didn't buy anything, and I didn't even want to. It was perfectly okay with me to watch her experience New York for the first time instead of doing things I would've normally done. Her face lit up on every street corner. That kind of memory, being able to watch the pure joy in a little girl's face, meant so much more to me than any of the material items I would've bought if I were in the city with my friends. Her jumping into my arms and being ecstatic to see me always makes me realize how important I am to that little girl. It meant THE WORLD to her that I came home for her birthday party.

Coaching the girls was another one. Since I'm away at school, I only come to practice every month or every other month, but when I'm there, they appreciate my help so much. I put my heart and soul into that team to help them do the best they can on the dance floor and to help them be the best people they can be off the dance floor. They appreciate my help so much, and it feels good to be so appreciated. I had my time on the team, and I try to be the role model I would've wanted if I had a young and cool 20 year-old as my assistant coach. When they thank me for critiquing them, offering ideas, or giving motivating pep talks, I know I'm doing something right. It feels good.

2. Sometimes Things Don't Go As Planned, And That's Okay.
I don't have a car with me at school, so I get really excited to have a car with me at home. Well, I had a flat tire all week, and my dad and my brother couldn't change it because they didn't have something that they needed. So, I was stuck sharing a car with my mom all week. It turned out not to be so bad because my mom just got a really nice brand new car that I loved driving, but it did test my patience and make me realize that having a car and the privilege to drive is nothing to take for granted!

My mom just got a new job, so she couldn't take time off to be with me, and she was also sick the first half of the break. I am just thankful that she HAS this job and that she has good health again. This reminded me how much I love to spend time with my mom.

My sister went to the hospital this week, so I babysat her kids for her. I was juggling the three kids while trying to clean her house, and I called Sydney and asked for her help. In no time, we had the kids fed, changed, and napped, and the house clean. It meant a lot to my brother-in-law that I helped them out all day, and it meant a lot to ME that Sydney helped me out. I can count on her for anything, anyplace, anytime. She is the cheese to my macaroni.

3. Make The Most Of College (And Life)
This one sounds like a no-brainer, but my coach Miss Kara is one of THE MOST influential people in my life. Her pep talks revitalize my whole day and my whole thought process. Endless talks about boys, roommates, friends, schoolwork, and everything in between helped me realize more than ever that THIS is the time in my life to figure out who I am and what I want, and I don't need to justify any of that to anyone. Her words bring such a light everything, they just click. Don't chase people. Don't kill yourself over a bad test grade. Don't let a bad friend or a dumb boy make you question your self-worth. Be a smart girl and do what you need to do and what you want to do. She just made me feel so good about this place in my life. I value her advice SO much.

One of my Jesus Calling readings fit all of my Spring Break experiences so perfectly. It just brought clarity to why things happen the way they do. I'll share it with you:

March 16

It is good that you recognize your weaknesses. That keeps you looking to Me, your Strength. Abundant life is not necessarily health and wealth; it is living in continual dependence on Me. Instead of trying to fit this day into a preconceived mold, relax and be on the lookout for what I am doing. This mindset will free you to enjoy Me and to find what I have planned for you to do. This is far better than trying to make things go according to your own plan.

Don't take yourself so seriously. Lighten up and laugh with Me. You have Me on your side, so what are you worried about? I can equip you to do absolutely anything, as long as it is My will. The more difficult your day, the more I yearn to help you. Anxiety wraps you up in yourself, trapping you in your own thoughts. When you look to Me and whisper My Name, you break free and receive My help. Focus on Me, and you will find peace in My Presence.

Philippians 4:13
Proverbs 17:22

Instead of getting crazy on a beach somewhere, it was in God's will for me to come home for Spring Break and spend time with people who need me so that I could help them, make them smile, and remember how great I have it at home. He also is teaching me patience in His own ways, and it's helping me never to doubt what He has in store for me (which is what I gave up for Lent -- doubt!)

On a completely different note...check out some of the things I bought while on Spring Break!

On the way home from the beach, I bought some incense and a new incense burner from Tammy's Cool Things...to all my hippies reading this, you will LOVE this place! Definitely check it out if you're in the Maryland area! Here are a few of the other things I bought...

Thanks for reading my super long post! Sorry I was gone for a while, I will be more consistent about posts now that I'm not on vacation! What did you do for your spring break? Anything awesome? Hope you got as much out of yours as I got out of mine.

xoxo,

Anna

I know, that was a lot of images!!! They are just all so true. I especially relate to the quote about the stillness and quiet of the morning...I love being up and having "me" time before anyone else is awake. It is the most relaxing and productive part of the day for me.

Ok, so here it is: My Morning Regimen !

Tea
Don't get me wrong, I love my coffee and I'm definitely a coffee drinker, but it's tea that leaves me feeling energized without a crash. My favorite teas to drink in the morning to jumpstart my day: Yogi Detox Tea, Yogi Skin Detox Tea, and Lipton Green Tea.

Breakfast
A good breakfast is such an integral part of having a healthy, happy, and energized day. Tip: drink a glass of ice water with lemon with your breakfast -- it works as a detox! Here's an example of a yummy breakfast I like to make in the morning: eggs (an omelette with spinach!), multigrain toast, fruit, and yogurt!