Thankful Thursday

Happy Thursday! Hope everyone is having a great week so far...we are ALMOST there! Today I am linking up with two of my favorite bloggers, Maddie and Addie to share a couple of the things I am thankful for!

This week I am thankful for my Oklahoma family.

For the most part, all of my family lives in Oklahoma (both sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins...).  I'd have to say it's one of my favorite states and growing up it's always been my favorite place to travel.  I don't get to see these people nearly enough so when I do, my heart is overwhelmed!

My Aunt Ashley and sweet cousin Dalton flew in last Sunday to visit. My mom picked them up from the airport and she brought them to visit us in Bloomington for the night because they had never been.  Their visit consisted of lunch at Yogi's and a trip to the store to stock up on groceries (this is one of my favorite things since coming to college by the way haha).

That night, we started our sleepover with one of our favorite classics: Sixteen Candles.  The boys were playing a game on the iPad and all of us girls managed to squeeze on the couch ;-)

 

In the morning the kiddos woke up and played some competitive Uno.  I think Zac forgot to say the word when he got down to one card and it cost him a potential win.  Poor guy haha!

Before they headed home and dropped me off at class we had a delicious lunch at the cutest little cafe:  The Runciple Spoon.  I think the little ones enjoyed it :-)

I got to head home last night to spend the rest of the week with Aunt Ash and Dalton before they head back to OK!

Speaking of the Oklahoma fam, here's a few of my favorite throwbacks (appropriate for Thursday, right?!)

 Here's a picture with my "Pops and Grammie" a couple years ago when they were able to visit Indiana for Thanksgiving:

Here's a favorite of me and Dalt at Christmas two years ago:

Here's another picture of Dalton with one of our favorite Sooners, Sterling Shepard:

And last but not least, a selfie with Grammie from my trip to Oklahoma last summer haha:

Being home means homecooked meals (or dinner out on the town with the fam), and for that I am thankful!

Since I have been to college, I think one of the things I look forward to the most about coming home is the food!  However, this week I had some pretty great experiences with food while I was at school.

First, Mitch and I attmpted to make chicken tacos and fries and let's just say we forgot about the fries until it smelled like the place was going to fall to the ground:

However, I'd say we did much better when we whipped out these delicious (and adorable) nachos:

On Monday, Ashlee and I always work on lab reports and watch the Bachelor!  She told me she was bringing over pizza and showed up with two larges.  The best part is, we were the only ones eating haha.  I guess you can't pass up a buy 1, get 1 free!

Dont' forget to count your blessings this week :-)

Friday Favorites

It is officially Friday!!  Can I get an AMEN?!  I am getting around to this post a little late because this week has been super crazy once again.  Nothing like a Biomechanics exam at 9am on a Friday, right?  I am definitely looking forward to a weekend off and lots of relaxation!

Darn Good Soup is my new favorite.  One of my friends recently told me about this cute little restaurant downtown Bloomington.  My sister and I had been feeling a little under-the-weather this week and it's f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g out, so we decided it was the perfect time to try it :-)

The chicken tortilla soup was DEEElish!

My sister and I are hosting my mom's retirement party and these past couple weeks, party planning has been my favorite.

We started experimenting with some different favors.....

The temperature lately has been unbelievably cold!  I think at one point this week, I looked at my weather app and it said "feels like 15 degrees" BRRRR!!  I ran into some heated blankets marked 70% off at Target a few days ago and mine ended up being like $15!  Can't beat that and its super cute.  Definitely my new favorite.

(They aren't marked down online yet unfortunately, but everyone needs an excuse to go in to Target, right?!)

I found this on Pinterest and died! This is definitely how I've been feeling this week haha.

My new Fitbit has become another favorite!!

I found some adorable Tory Burch accessories to glam up your Fitbit.  Check them out here!

With graduation right around the corner, my friends and I have started to think about decorating our graduation caps!  I've spent quite a bit of time looking on Pinterest for some ideas and these are some of my favorites:

Being a science major, I found this one kinda funny haha!

And speaking of graduation...I stumbled across this picture of Mitchell and I at our high school graduation.  Does time fly or what?!

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!  Stay warm y'all!

Today's Link-Ups:

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thursday everyone!! What a great day to give thanks :-)  I am linking up again with Maddie and Addie for one of my favorite series: Thankful Thursday!

I am so thankful for my mama

So my sweet mama retired as a first grade teacher after 20 years.  I've always admired her heart for the Lord and how she is a great example of what a Proverbs 31 woman should look like.  Her retirement has been a really exciting time for her and the rest of our family.  Now, she is able to stay home with my youngest siblings Faith and Zac and she is able to make trips to Bloomington more frequently :-).  My sister and I decided that a celebration needed to take place to recognize all of her hard work and accomplishments.  Her party is coming up so we've been working a lot this week on getting everything prepared!  She really is my biggest role model and I love any reason to celebrate her!

I am thankful for weekends spent with Mitchell

Last weekend was extra special because we got to spend Valentine's Day together!!  He made the entire weekend so special for me and I really don't know how I got so lucky.

He drove down from Muncie Friday night and was able to stay all weekend!  He surprised me with breakfast on Saturday morning and the most precious flowers:

By the way, I just took this and they still look beautiful :-)

Eeek!  I also got a new fitbit!  I was completely surprised about this one and LOVE that its pink.  He did SO good :-)

Later on Saturday we went out to dinner just the two of us.  It was my first meal post-cleanse and I am pretty sure I have never eaten so much in my life (oops)!  Brooke managed to snap a few pictures of us before we left...this one's my favorite!

We stayed in for a movie night at home and we made some s'mores :-)  I really wish I would have taken some more pics of this little experience!!  I definitely have to work on this  (Mitch will freak out if he sees this because he already thinks I take way too many hahaha)!

Sunday morning we went to church with my sister Brooke, then out for lunch to our favorite Mexican restaurant in Bloomington: La Cha.

The rest of the day was filled with homework and relaxation :-)

What are YOU thankful for this week?

Have a great Thursday everyone!!

XO Alex

Friday Favorites

Thank goodness it's Friday!  Hope all of you have had a great week.  I am super excited for this weekend, especially because of Valentine's Day and Mitch is able to get away from work YAY!!  I am linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci today for Friday Favorites :-)  If you haven't already, go check out their ADORABLE blogs!

Cliff Bars

Oh my word, these things are the best and I probably have at least one every single day.  I usually eat one in the morning if I'm running late or in the afternoon to tide me over and they are the perfect little boost of energy!  My favs are the Chocolate Brownie and Chocolate Chip flavored (for obviously reasons) ;-)  I know the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut is really popular and I've heard the Mint Chocolate Chip ones are pretty tasty as well!

Sister Necklaces

Brooke and I were in Francesca's and got the most adorable sister necklaces. They have a bunch of new mini cards with necklaces attached out right now and I wanted to get them all!  One of them said "Will you help me tie the knot?" and had the cutest little knot necklace attached. Another said "You're a Hoot" and had the cutest little owl necklace. I think these would make the perfect gifts. I couldn't find them online but if you have a Francesca's around you, go check them out :-)

Favorite Verse This Week

Phillipians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Ever since I was little this verse has been one of my favorites because my birthday is on 4/13 and it was always easy for me to remember. There is so much power behind these words and reassurance that has gotten me through so many of the hardships I've experienced.

I'll be the first to admit that I have the WORST habit of saying things like "I'm never going to get this done" or "I'm gonna fail this exam." This mindset fails to acknowledge Christ living in me, enabling me to do ALL things. I pray to replace "I can't" with "I can do all things through Christ." His power is made perfect in my weakness.

Dustin Lynch

I am so excited to be going to Dustin Lynch for the second time tonight!  When I found out he was coming to Bloomington, I knew I had to get a ticket.  I am a huge country music fan and I love his songs! "Where it's At" was my all-time favorite for awhile and I'd have to say "Mind Reader" is another fav. I'm relying on my excitement for this concert to get me through class today! 

 

Crazy Love

I first received a copy of this book during my high school graduation ceremony at church. I'm notorious for collecting all these books and never finishing them cover to cover. I think I got through parts of it, but never actually read it all the way through.

This semester, as part of a reading assignment, we were asked to select an inspirational book of our choice from a list provided by our professor and I was very surprised (and excited) to see this book title! I figured it was about time I got around to finishing it and I have heard so many great things about it.

With Valentine's Day this week, I figured it was the perfect time to start reading it!  I am completely in awe of God's "crazy, relentless, all-powerful love."  

"God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts--it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, you will never be the same.

Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything"

Happy Friday everyone! Enjoy your Valentine's Day weekend and don't forget to spread lots of love! XO Alex

Thankful Thursday

Yay!! It's Thursday...which means the weekend is ALMOST here :-)  I don't know about all of you, but I am ready for a couple days off!  I am linking up today with Maddie and Addie for "Thankful Thursday."  This series is a great reminder of the many things I have to be thankful for!
    
 
I am thankful for babies

Last weekend I went to my first-ever gender reveal party.  Such a fun way to find out the gender of your baby with the company of your family and friends!  Mitchell's brother is getting ready for his second child and they decided they wanted to find out the big news at the same time as everyone else.  They gave the ultrasound results to a friend so she could prepare a cake with either blue or pink in the middle.  We took a vote and I'd say everyone was pretty confident there was going to be another little girl running around.  They cut open the cake and..........
 

 BLUE.  IT'S A BOY!  I don't think they said a word for about 2 minutes straight because they were in so much shock haha.  Mitch was actually unable to attend the party because of work so I had his number on speed dial to give him the exciting news as soon as possible.  It melts my heart how much he loves being an uncle.


...and Kambre is super excited for her "bubba" to arrive at the end of June :-)

I am thankful for God's perfect example of love

With Valentine's Day coming up this weekend, I've been thinking a lot about the true meaning of love-- what it means to love and be loved in return.  The sermon at church last Sunday described God's example of love and the ways in which we are able to imitate this love back to Him and others.  I am so thankful for a God full of mercy, a God who paid the ULTIMATE price, and a God who loves me unconditionally.  His example reveals the true meaning of love and I pray I am able to love Him and others like this!
 

Romans 5:8

 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 John 4:19

We love because he first loved us.

I am thankful for the birth of two of my favorite people

I don't know about you, but they're feelin' 22!!!  Two of my sweet friends celebrated their birthdays last weekend.  I'm so blessed by these friendships!
 

Taylor and I have a "long-distance" friendship and I don't see her nearly enough.  When we are able to get together, there's never a dull moment.  She's hilarious and I am so thankful we've become so close these past couple of years!  Can't wait to be reunited to celebrate :-)
 

I get to see Ashlee pretty much every single day because we have multiple classes together at IU.  We've grown so much closer since high school and for that I am thankful.  Glad we got to celebrate YOU this weekend!

 
Hahaha, the song "22" is fitting and this is so them!

I am thankful for Indiana University

Well as of this week, it's official.  I WILL BE GRADUATING COLLEGE IN LESS THAN 3 MONTHS!!  Where has the time gone?!  As much as school completely stresses me out and shaves hours off of my life daily, I have had such a great experience here and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  These 4 years have flown by and left me with unforgettable memories surrounded by so many great people!
 

This campus is beautiful beyond compare.  If you haven't visited, I definitely recommend it...you are missing out!
 

One of my favorite college memories is the dorm living days.  I loved meeting so many people on my floor and ALWAYS having something cute to wear because there were so many girls.  Having a meal plan was a huge plus as well...I'd definitely relive these days!
 

Another highlight of college, well my life really, was the IU-Kentucky game!  The experience was completely indescribable and I got to share it with some great company.  GO HOOSIERS :-)



Take time to reflect on what you are thankful for this week!
Happy Almost Friday!!
XO Alex