candy corn wreath

The happy return....fall

or as the sign at Starbucks says, "The happy return, The Pumpkin Spiced Latte." I love fall. I am so in love with the season that I am making Mark take me on an 8 hour road trip to the Smoky Mountains. We are going to Bryson City,NC the second week of October. I am hoping and praying that the fall colors will be at their peak. say a prayer for me! Florida doesn't get much of a fall...I miss it so much! One thing for sure, is that the weather will be a bit cooler there. I will be wearing my boots and sweaters! ahhh...the happy return!

Check out this sweet idea for a fall wreath.

click the on the photo to see just how to make it!

looks simple and cute!

project: done

Cleaned: check
Painted: check
Organized: check
Now.... to just keep it that way!

Yay! The family room closet is no longer dirty and dingy. This was one of those projects I wanted to get to, but I just seem to keep pushing it aside. It's so easy to just close the doors and pretend the mess isn't there. :) Now, it's done! I can cross it off my honey-do list. (which, somehow ended up a me-do list...hmmm...) I'm gonna have to work on that! "oh, Mark...." ;)

is it boot season yet?

yes... it is still hot enough to be wearing tank tops....

even if it is 90 degrees outside, I am obsessed with boots.
You can just call me...crazy. ;)

I happen to be rubbing off on someone, too.
We DO call her 'little Karen', you know.

Spaghetti face and rain boots... life is good!

wooo-ha

Jolie says to Mark, "Watch out for WOOO-HA! Daddy!" as he leaves for work.
I guess that's what she calls the 'bad guys'!

Tonight is numero 2 of four nights in a row for Mark's work schedule. When he works nights, and I have a full day at the salon, we miss each other coming and going. She misses her Daddy! As we were pulling into the driveway tonight, she asked if Daddy's home....or is Daddy sleeping?? His schedule must be so confusing for her. He makes up for it when he has four or five days off! She will get to see him in the morning. Since she insists on being such an early riser...ugh...and he gets home around 6 a.m. On his days off, he's so great, he let's me sleep in...aahhh! It's the simple things in life! That is like a million bucks to me.
This is a crazy busy week for me at the salon...which is such a blessing! I love my job! But...I am looking forward to the weekend, we are both off for a couple days together!!!

game day

Louisville had it's first football game yesterday.

New coach, new season!

but....it still just wasn't enough to beat thier rival, Kentucky.

The Govers came over to watch the big game.

Don't we have the cutest little cardinal birds!?!? :)

change

She is such an inspiration.
check out her blog: NieNie

mango salsa

Ingredients
1 ripe mango, peeled, pitted, and diced

1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped

1 Jalapeño chile, minced (include ribs and seeds for a hotter taste if desired)

1 small cucumber, peeled and diced

3 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

Lime juice, 1/2 lime, freshly squeezed

Salt and pepper to taste
1 diced red bell pepper

Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. If the salsa ends up being a little too hot or acidic for your taste, you can temper it by adding some diced avocado.

Great over seafood, or in fish tacos. I made this for our small group study last night, so I doubled the recipe. I served it with grilled chicken, and jasmine rice. I made a small portion without cilantro, for my crazy friends who don't like cilantro!?!?! crazy ;) It was healthy and delicious!

footprint of service

Part of my experience in the Middle East was the constant state of dirty feet. 10 days of dirty skanky feet. I would feel so good walking out that door in the morning...and as soon as I stepped out the door...sand...dirt. (not to mention the 110 to 113 degree heat)

uuuugghhh.....

Even though that was my first thought, my second thought was what it must have been like to walk in the sand....to walk in the desert in Biblical times. Jesus and the disciples must have felt that dirty, sandy feeling daily. I thought about the last supper when Jesus washed the disciples feet. (Foot washing was a hospitality custom of ancient civilizations, especially where sandals were worn. This is mentioned in several places in the Old Testament as well as other historical documents. A typical Eastern host might bow, greet, and kiss his guest, then offer water to allow guest to wash their feet or have servants do it.)

John 13:12-17 "Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me 'Teacher and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash one another's feet. I have set an example that you would do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will blessed if you do them."

Jesus calls all of us to acts of kindness and service. My prayer is that I have the heart of a servant.

challenge: Do a simple act of kindness for a stranger...and a family member...today!

sunday

In God's great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:3-4

Sunday was such a great reminder of where our hope comes from. We can have faith in His power, His plan, and His unconditional love.

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39

Mark worked Saturday night, so this Sunday was a girls day. Jolie and I matched. :) I didn't get a picture...then it was too late. She was all sweaty from running around the courtyard with her friends....in the almost 100 degree heat. We had lunch with some great friends. I love Sundays. I love going to church. hearing the word. worship. seeing our church family. Jolie loves it too. She gets to have fun and learn in the preschool classroom.

This past Sunday was a day I reflected on just how blessed we are. Blessed by His unconditional love and blessed to have a family here in Jax.

This was my 'Sunday hair'...what do you think? ;)

Jolie wore a pink flower. We were matchy-matchy.

lazy afternoon

It was 3 o'clock on Monday...
Mark had finally got Jolie to take a nap...
after she insisted on playing Mr. Potato Head. :)
(Mr. Potato Head was hanging out to the right)
I came home to this beautiful sight,
my babies sleeping :)

I remember when this little kitchen towered over Jolie....

I can't believe just how tall she's getting!

modeling future? I think she's going to be 5'10 ;)

Mom came to town for the weekend...

Sadly, this was the only pic we took of the 3 of us. LOL...Jolie barely made the cut!

She did, however, make it to beach while Grandma was here!

she should be in pictures...

The amazing and talented Cheryl Miner photographed our little family.... I am so excited with how they turned out! I can't stop looking at them. :) The session was so much fun...even if it was 100 degrees outside that day. We just strolled around St. Augustine. Jolie was such a little model. She would pose and smile like it was her calling. There were so many great shots, especially of our lil' ham!

Cheryl Joy Miner Photography

heidi + alan = ♥

One week after I came home from the desert, our friends

Heidi & Alan tied the knot!

Mark and Alan have worked together for just over a year. I guess one night at work, Alan asked if Mark would officiate the ceremony. Such a honor for Mark! I think Mark was really excited to be part of their big day. Mark and I make a great little team! :) He officiated the ceremony, and I did the hair for the beautiful bride and bridesmaids.

me & my honey

The work crew... take 1

take 2Personally, I love take 1! I lovey those in-the-moment, laughing smiles!

Congratulation to Mr. & Mrs. Alan Givens!

my desert mission

It's hard to believe that I've been home for a month already! and boy, has it been a busy month!

Most of my friends knew I was traveling to the desert, but a few didn't. I spent a week, along with 40 other Jacksonvillians, in Dubai. yep, that's in the Middle East. We served overeseas aid workers. I was able to share my skills as a hairstylist to bless these faithful servants. We did about 60 haircuts and 20 hair colors. Below is a picture of the space we used as our hair salon. For the M's, it was like being in a salon back in the states. The ladies were chatting, the blow dryer was going, that hair product smell, and we even had People Magazine. :) The M's loved it. They were so appreciative. They kept expressing their gratefulness....although, I feel like I was the one receiving the blessing. When the M's were in my chair, I was able to hear their hearts. and their stories. Such a blessing! Many of the M's have a two day drive into a city. TWO DAY! For things like groceries, supplies....or a simple haircut. I was even able to teach a few ladies how to cut their husband's or son's hair.

Honestly, I can't imagine what it would be like to have that calling on my life. but I could tell that it was only out of a grateful heart that they answer the call. It's hard, and there are risks, but there is no greater joy than serving our loving Father.

This the conference room where the M's met daily for the week:

(there were about 160 total)

Besides working with the M's, the desert was my favorite part of the trip. I didn't want to go out to the desert, but Jill (above) and Jean covinced me to go. I am so glad! The desert was beautiful! BEAUTIFUL! The sand was such a pretty rusty-orange color. The desert just went on as far as the eye could see. It made me feel so small... and just made God even more amazing.

The World's tallest builing, The Burj Khalifa.

hello from the desert.

hello from the derert! Having an amazing time in the UAE! I must say I didn't expect the desert to be so beautiful. The views are breath taking. God is so big, and I am so small.

bedtime prayer

(mommy) Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Daddy

Thank You for Mommy

(Jolie) Thank You for Jolie...

Thank You for haircuts

Thank You for eyes

Thank You for mouth

Thank You for chin (as she points to her chin)

(mommy) Thank You for kisses... as I give her a Good Night kiss

We Love you, Jesus. Amen.

Every night we go through the bedtime routine... bath, pjs, read a few books and say a bedtime prayer. I wish I could remember every moment of Jolie's precious childhood. but I know I wont remember everything. Tonight was one of those moments that I just want to remember forever. ♥ She is so sweet and innocent...and apparently thankful for haircuts :P She pretends to give her Daddy haircuts every moment he allows. And she's really thankful for her chin. Maybe because her little double chin is ticklish...not sure. :) She is also counting. While reading a book tonight she started counting the trees illustrated on the page. one, two, three....ten, eleven, twelve...bout-teen, bout-teen, bout-teen. She makes me SMILE :)

Jolie helpind Daddy wash the cars, just another thing she loves to do with her Daddy.

blushing bride

the beautiful miss Lauren
pre wedding...calm as a cucumber.
her hair or extensions?





you wouldn't know it, but those are extentions!
they matched perfectly (yay! go me!) so I had to take a quick pic!
Congrats to the happy NEW married couple, Lauren & Justin!

"L" is for {love}

"L" is for love...
and I L♥VE my family!

"M" for Mark...the love of my life
"J" for Jolie...the princess
{The "J" pendant has the crown on the back, cuz she is a princess, for sure! The "M" has the ♥ on the back}

You can customize the charms to be just about anything you want...

Art Under Glass

my family...I keep them close to my ♥

right now

1. She is very affectionate, with just about everyone...but Mommy and Daddy in particular AND her boyfriend Talan.
2. She likes to "cut" Daddy's hair...or she'll tell me how pretty my hair is.
3. Yesterday she told me I had pretty eyes...how sweet!
4. She is now at the age where she PreTenDs.... pretends to shop throughout the house with her grocery cart, or pretend to make dinner, or the cutest...She pretends to be at the Beach in the living room. She will put out her beach towel, put on her sunglasses...
5. She's Mommys bff...we go everywhere together.
6. Some Sunday mornings we go to Panera. This last Sunday she said, "look Mommy, the muffie store!" Apparently she really loves those chocolate chip muffies...I know, bad...but she's too cute to say no. :)
7. We have to 'trick' her into taking a nap these days, so we both lay on the couch, and in no time she's sound asleep.

8. Her and Samson (aka puppy) are buddies
9. She now likes her piggies to be painted
10. She is 100% her Daddy's girl. She adores that man...as do I. We miss him when he's working nights. but when Daddy's home, she is all about her Daddy ♥

When ever she sees a cop car, she gets all excited, thinking it's HER Daddy. "Look Mommy! Daddy's car!" Sometimes I get excited too...wishing it was him. We love the man in our life!

Hair soaks up oil spills

Watch this video to see how Matter of Trust is able to recycle a great natural resource, HAIR! We can do our part to help...