sunshine and stilettos

i'm the worst blogger ever

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:35:46 -0500

but seriously, i’m the worst blogger ever. expect this to pick back up in the next week or so…or don’t. a little suspense never hurt anyone, right?

love

janet

prayer

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:45:54 -0500

lord,

provide me with the humility to recognize my desperation for your grace, the compassion to bestow it upon your people; the peace to accept your plans in my life, the empathy to pacify the turmoil in others’; the truth in areas of my life where i’m blinded, the strength to convey your truth to those in darkness; the mercy where i am too proud, and the grace to be merciful with others.

the ground at the foot of the cross is level.

amen.

love love love peonies.

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 22:35:11 -0600

love love love peonies.

JILLIAN.

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:57:55 -0600

short post, i’ve been doing jillian videos with my sis for the past few days and have decided that even though i think she’s rude and abrasive and has a freakish alien man bod, she’s a kick-a$$ trainer. point being, me and my new bff jill will be suffering together to lose my college weight by the end of the semester/beginning of the summer. for realz this time. i also bought two books about weight loss including bible verses about the importance of treating your body well. see, i’m serious about it. wish me luck, i definitely am going to need it, but i’m 22 (on friday but we’ll say now for the sake of my dramatics) and it’s time to be a healthy adult with healthy habits (seen in this post).

see, freakish alien man bod.

janet&jillian togetha 4eva (or for the next six months-ish)

love

janet

i could write some cheesy caption as to why i want need a dior...

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:55:00 -0600

i could write some cheesy caption as to why i ~~want~~ need a dior “yes” ring (because we should say yes to life, say yes to happiness, say yes to love!)… but really i just really want it. so yes?, you’ll get it for me for my birthday? perfect, merci!*

love

janet

*sorry, a little cheesy still managed to creep its way in there.

wait.

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:13:15 -0600

sometimes i feel like i’m sitting still in a sea of unknown like this chick (but much less glamorously), particularly at this point in my life where much really is unknown. the end of my college career is within reach and i have no idea what or where god wants me after this chapter of my life is over, yet i have unwavering confidence that the lord of my life is in control and that his plans for me are far greater than anything i could have dreamed up for myself. so even though much is uncertain and i may feel as though i’m at a stand still, i’ll patiently wait, calm and collected knowing that god’s timing, not mine, is perfect.

love

janet

betrothed

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:07:58 -0600

i can think of about five friends of mine that have gotten engaged in the past month…and there are quite possibly more than that. i’ve said before that at this point in my life i’m totally unprepared for marriage, and i still stand firmly by that statement but with all the wedding hype around me i’ve become a little bit obsessive looking at wedding blogs, engagement ring photos, etc. (i feel the need to clarify that i’m not one of those girls who have this vision of what their wedding will be regardless of the fact that they are not in a relationship. that’s ~~pathetic~~ a waste of time. i have no absolutely no idea what i want the details of my wedding look like and do not spend time thinking about that far-in-the-future date.) that being said, i have really enjoyed looking at photos of different wedding venues, floral arrangements, dresses, and table settings and all of my creepy snooping has renewed my obsession with (for lack of a better word) “pretty” photos and how valuable it is to be able to use a camera beyond my point-and-shoot nikon coolpix…(i’m cool, i know) so, i thought i’d share a few “pretty” photos i’ve seen on different wedding blogs and a new fave of mine, mary ruffle’s website.

(again, why i’m growing my hair out. can’t wait to sport the side braid.)

peonies…my fave flower.

more peonies

hanging lights for an outdoor reception

flower girls in matching dresses

uniform pastel bridesmaid dresses and beautiful boquets

love this picture

i know this isn’t a wedding photo, but i’d like to be this girl. seriously.

side note: my birthday is coming up and i’m thinking i’m going to ask for the canon rebel t1i camera and lens kit… if anyone has any other suggestions for a beginning photographer they would be much appreciated!

love

janet

asylum

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:46:58 -0600

i love looking at interior design blogs…i’ve chosen not to face the reality that i really may not be any good at it and instead have opted for the “i have a really great eye” route. so, apart from the stark white walls (which to me are not relaxing, they make me feel like i’m in an asylum…who knows what that says about my perception of my mental health), i LOVE the decorating in these rooms! simplicity at its finest but with accent colors and pieces and all the while still very practically arranged…gorgeous!

beautiful :)

love

janet

new years resolutions...

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:45:36 -0600

new year, new ways. i’m determined. i’m not really much of an analytical thinker but i really wanted to do new years resolutions right this year…i’m often guilty of setting unrealistic goals and because of my “all or nothing” mentality end up telling myself that i’ve fallen off the bandwagon and am now perma-stuck in my old unhealthy habits. rant. anyways, i’ve really thought about what i want to change this year, after all, i’ll be out of college in the next year, year and a half and it’s really time that i start acting like the adult that the world’s going to eventually force me to be.

so, while i’m almost matronly responsible in many areas of my life, here are some in which i’d like 2k11 to bring change:

1. exercise/eating

i’m not going to do these super strict “you can’t eat sugar EVER” or “NO CARBS, THEY’LL KILL YOUR WAISTLINE” kinds of things because a) i like sugar too much and b) my waistline is already shot…i’ve decided to go about a very moderate (and attainable) plan of limiting portions, cutting out soft drinks, and cutting out late night/fast food eating. (while still allowing myself a cheat day…moderate) and scheduling a time each day (mon-thurs right now) that i have to exercise. i know each day won’t be perfect and learning healthy habits is certainly a process, but it’s ~~past~~ time to make those changes.

2. sleeping

i have the worst sleep schedule ever. part of that just comes with being a college student, but that’s become more of a justification than a reason for me at this point so i’ve decided to make some changes. i still want to get my 7-8 hours of sleep at night, but rather than my current schedule of sleeping from around 2-3 until 10-11ish, i’ve decided to move that to a 12-1 until 8-9ish. my classes start every day this semester at 11 am, so i’ve decided to get up at 8:30-9 and shower, eat breakfast, have my quiet time, and be able to get ready for the day in a not-so-rushed fashion.

3. quiet times

years of experience tell me that i’m super incapable apart from jesus yet still i find myself arrogantly trying to go things alone. this year i’m really going to make an effort to have a scheduled time with the lord of my life each morning and each evening. clearly, i want my entire day (and entire life) to be a constant walk with jesus, but i need scheduled time in the bible and in my journal each morning and night. period.

4. procrastination

procrastination is pretty wide-spread in my life…it applies not just to schoolwork but bills, phone calls, responding to emails, spending time with jesus, etc. i’m SUCH a procrastinator and i think setting intense rules here would not be helpful for me but i am going to have a scheduled time each day to take care of those necessary things that i find myself putting off..specifically school work. wish me luck here, this (next to exercise and eating habits) will probably be the most difficult long-time habit of mine to change.

5. spending my time productively and (mostly) selflessly

not sure exactly how this one is going to look yet, but i’d love to volunteer somewhere in tuscaloosa once or twice a week. i’ll keep you posted once i have more of an idea as to where that’s going…

6. be more passionate about where jesus has me currently

i’m a very futuristic thinker and i love to get excited about all the opportunities that the future holds. i’d really love to be as excited about the present (tuscaloosa, college…) as i am about the future. really i’m just asking for christ to help me have a thankful, humble spirit. obviously, i’m going to mess up, but each day i’ll remind myself of how much of a blessing it is to be where i am and to have the privilege of going to school and being in a city with so many great friends! god is good…

there are many other things in my life which need change but these are the main ones i’m focusing on right now! there is such grace in recognizing the need for growth and i know that god is supporting me 100% of the way!

hope that everyone is having a great start to 2k11! i know it’s going to be a GREAT year!

love

janet

slacker

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 02:23:26 -0600

whoops. again. i’ve decided that rather than making false promises about being a religious blogger, i’m just going to say that i’m going to try harder..which is the truth.

a quick bit about what you’ve missed in my month-long absence from tumblr:

1. pretty much all of november. whoops. not too much happened other than slave labor in the form of schoolwork.

2. thanksgiving. it was great. 30+ people at my aunt’s house = one crazy time. but super fun. what a blessing family is…thanks, jesus.

3. december…back to school and exams. yuck. but not too bad.

4. home alone on repeat at my sorority house. i could tell you almost every move that young macauley caulkin makes in that movie. literally.

5. coming home…beauty and the beast on broadway…because i’m five. it was super kid friendly, but i’d be lying if i said i didn’t tear up when the beast turns back into a prince in the end. and that yellow gown…geeeez louise, i’d spend the rest of my life in that thing if it were mine.

6. justin bieber in concert. no joke. it was awesome, minus the fact that a girl a few rows back decided that in the middle of my personal jb fave “one time” was the best time to start yakin’…her vom got all over the stairs and everyone in the aisle seats…including both of the girls i babysit for and was there with. ironically enough, neither of them came down with the stomach bug, but I caught it in middle of the night on the 23rd. awesome…which brings me to…

7. i caught the stomach bug from some little jerk at the bieber concert (dramatic…whatever). it put me on the sidelines for all of the christmas eve festivities, including last minute gift shopping, church with my fam, and while my entire family feasted on roasted duck, grits and veggies, i grimaced at a saltine (yes, just one) and a sprite. my life is a joke.

8. christmas day! (thank goodness that nasty bug was only a 24 hour deal) we were up and at ‘em by 7:30 am tearing into presents with our new pup (oh yeah! we got a new dog! her name is lucy, aka sugamuff..pictures to come) who really enjoyed the wrapping paper…me and the sibs all got great gifts and our parents loved what we got them as well…overall a very successful christmas. happy birthday, jesus!

9. lots of down time and sleeping late. this changes with the start of the new year…

so not too much missed! but i am going to try and be better about my blogging…it’s time to be responsible again. fun updates about things less boring than my mundane life coming soon! hope you all had a very merry christmas :)

love

janet

whoopsies

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 21:08:47 -0600

i realize i’ve been super m.i.a. in the past month or so… unintentional i promise. and the end of my dry blog spell. some super exciting things that you’ve missed in the past month:

1. not dressing up for halloween.

2. not washing my sheets. (no joke, for a month. sick.)

3. burying my nose in my books because of several tests/papers/projects.

4. getting a terrible haircut (praise the lord my hair grows fast…it’s starting to redeem itself)

5. decorating my room for christmas the day after halloween (yep)

6. starting (and quickly quitting again) biting my nails

7. dressing up as a muggle (aka not dressing up) to the harry potter midnight premiere because my sister stole my gryffindor scarf, thwarting my plans to dress up as harry potter. (yes, i’m still bitter.)

8. more studying

9. babysitting to make money (and then quickly spending it on things i can’t even remember…i’ve got to work on that)

10. sleeping.

this list pretty much sums up why i haven’t blogged recently… all of my posts would have been like this one: a snooze fest.

maybe i’ll just start making up interesting things to try and convince you all that my life isn’t so mundane.

hmm.

anyways, posting every week day resumes….now!

love

janet

bad things

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:30:00 -0500

i feel like i’ve heard the phrase “why do bad things happen to good people?” too many times to count, especially when people find out i’m a christian who whole-heartedly believes in the love of god and the perfection of his plans. and because i’m not god, i don’t always have an answer. the closest i can come (without segway-ing into a much longer discussion) is that when adam and eve sinned, every relationship with everything was distorted. our bodies aren’t perfect. people obviously aren’t perfect. nature isn’t perfect. and combined with our free will, these ‘bad things’ are bound to happen way more often than we’d like for them to.

i have a friend who just recently found out one of his close friends has cancer. as we were talking about it, again, that ever-so-prevalent question rose in our conversation. and again, i didn’t have an answer. my friend somberly stated that he didn’t know where god was in his life right now and that he had a hard time believing in god’s master plan when so many bad things keep happening to him and his loved ones. and i understand that. i understand being angry with god for things happening the way that they happen. and god wants us to be real with our emotions…nothing is worse to him than numbness. but i didn’t want to belittle my friend’s pain by drawing from my own personal hurts because they’re not the same. we’re not the same. our pain isn’t the same.

and while i understand his desperation, i also think it’s true in times like these where god is the only one we can bring ourselves to hold responsible for the pain we are feeling, he is also our only hope to carry us through it. and if there is one thing i know about god, it is that he is faithful and that he loves us.

so even though i still don’t have an answer for my friend, i do know beyond a shadow of a doubt that god is not absent in our most trying times and whether or not we realize it, he is there to weep with us, to embrace us, and to love us through whatever our circumstances may be.

oh, how he loves us…

love

janet

p.s. i also whole-heartedly believe in the power of prayer. so for any of you that would like to, please pray for my friend.

i'm a child.

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 01:23:00 -0500

tonight i found out a couple that i graduated with is engaged.

my range of emotions over this news went something like this:

surprise

excitement!

envy!

(crazy squinty eyes)

thoughtful…

realizing that i’m old enough to get engaged/married…

(slight trembling)

realizing that i’m growing up…

(nervous nonsensical eyes)

SHOCK.

after about 5 minutes of texting my high school friends and sharing in the shock/growing-up-realization like giddy junior-high-aged teen queens with a new piece of gossip, i decided i wanted to watch titanic. and then upon realizing that i wanted to watch titanic, i decided that it was not a good sign that i wanted to watch titanic.

i’m not sure why i’m so terrified of the permanence of marriage. it baffles me because seemingly enough i really am excited about being married, but then when the idea turns into a reality in the lives of people close to me, my excitement turns into sheer panic.

i opted out of watching titanic and told myself what i really wanted to watch was the sister wives finale. (i know..i’ll watch a tragic love story that ends in DEATH and DESTRUCTION turns into let me watch a show about the most distorted view of marriage there possibly ever was…i’m still sorting through what all of this means but apparently, i’m sick and twisted.)

marriage is good, romance is good, love is good…..telling myself these things over and over again while trying to fall asleep.

i hope i don’t have nightmares.

love

janet

thankful

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:51:26 -0500

somewhere around 2 weeks ago, i discovered the blog hyperbole and a half and yall, it’s hilarious. my roommate and my friend from high school had told me about it but both have very unique senses of humor and i just wasn’t sure i was going to think it was as funny as they did but i’m super glad i checked it out-i spent somewhere around an hour reading by myself and laughing hysterically.

and i am so thankful for laughter.

i’m thankful for a lot of other things as well, like…

1. disney

2. layered outfits when it’s cold

3. heaven

4. cupcakes

5. my wonderful friends

6. a loving and supportive family

7. a good night’s sleep

8. smiles from strangers

9. music

10. hope

so often i forget how many things god has strategically placed in my life to make me happy because he loves me and that my hardships are only there to draw me closer to him and trust that his plan for me is better than whatever life i’ve mapped out for myself.

i’m eternally appreciative of my god that loves me despite my ungratefulness!

so tonight, i’m thankful.

love,

janet

aren’t these cupcakes the most fabulous things...

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 02:08:32 -0500

aren’t these cupcakes the most fabulous things you’ve ever seen? such a cute idea!

this is as close to perfection as pictures can possibly come....

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:22:00 -0500

this is as close to perfection as pictures can possibly come. about to go to sleep, again, dreaming of the city of love.

see you again soon, paris.

love,

janet

guess what? i bought some sparkly oxfords! now i just need a...

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:04:01 -0500

guess what? i bought some sparkly oxfords!

now i just need a better pair of black opaque tights to wear with them. hooray for fall weather!

dreaming of paris in black and white. sweet dreams!

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 02:17:17 -0500

dreaming of paris in black and white.

sweet dreams!

goal: to one day be able to take at least one trip where i...

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:54:32 -0500

goal: to one day be able to take at least one trip where i travel this luxuriously.

it’s decided: i’m growing my hair back out. to...

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:07:45 -0500

it’s decided: i’m growing my hair back out. to exactly this length.

i.love.braids.