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My week in Instagrams: 3/30/15

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This post coming at you a day late because holy crap, last week was busy! I had plans every single day after work – super fun stuff, but as someone who thrives on alone time, it was exhausting. Never again.

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My Monday night community group met in Tribeca last week instead of Brooklyn, which gave me an excuse to wander around Manhattan. I love this building on 6th Ave – it’s actually a library!

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Since we’re still hovering on the line between winter and spring, I picked up these blooms at Trader Joe’s and they’re certainly brightening up my room on the gloomy days!

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Wednesday was our church’s worship night (my favorite nights, along with Sisterhood… and all team… and every Sunday…) Emmie and I joke that we’re the same person, but the unintentional matching outfits were hilarious, even for us.

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Thursday, as you know, was my one-year New York City anniversary! Since the city was rainy and gray, I posted this throwback to my very first night in the city.

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OK, so full disclosure – I was actually supposed to have a quiet night in on Friday to recover from the insanity, but my girlfriends were going to Pies ‘n’ Thighs, and I cannot say no to chicken and waffles.

IMG_3719FINALLY: Yesterday was a long day at work, followed by Palm Sunday services at Liberty! Easter, of course, is the very best holiday. I hope to see you at church next week!

Follow me on Instagram here.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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This day isn’t just about romantic love (as we all know, I’m perfectly happy to have nothing to do with that right now).

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Today, I’m celebrating my love of…

  • My roommate
  • Brooklyn
  • Brunch (red-velvet pancakes and mimosas in particular)
  • Netflix (Valentine’s Day episodes of Friends, anyone?)
  • Napping
  • Social media
  • Texting
  • Beer (let’s just be honest)

Basically, I’m making today about ME – more because it’s a Saturday than anything else, really. But since it is February 14 – why not make today about the things I love?

What are you up to this Valentine’s Day?

Looking ahead to 2015

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Holy cow, we’re already a week into 2015! As reluctant as I was to wave goodbye to the happiest year of my life, the clock struck midnight while I was freezing my butt off on Coney Island with my favorite group of southerners in the city. 2015 has already been good to me, and I’m determined to keep up the momentum and make it the best year of my life.

Emmie and I at Coney Island

Emmie and I at Coney Island

On New Year’s Eve I set up camp in a local coffee shop with my new journal and cast a vision for myself in 2015, determining the kind of woman I want to be this year so that I can refer back to it over the coming months and use it to shape my decisions and actions. 2014’s vision was basically, “I want to be the kind of woman who lives in New York City,” which obviously worked out great. But it’s harder for me to cast vision over a year that, God willing, won’t consist of much change. 2015 looks to be a year of commitment and stability, two things that frankly terrify me, but that I’m so excited for.

2015's journal

2015’s journal

As I looked over my vision, I realized that it can all be summed up with one word: intention. I want to be intentional about how I spend my time and money, about what I consume both physically and mentally. With that in mind, here are some goals (I hate the term resolution – it feels like I’m setting myself up for failure!) that I’ve laid out for the coming months.

Spend less time on my phone This is the big one, and the closest thing I have to a true resolution. It was inspired by this Buzzfeed post. I turned off all of my notification except texting, am trying to leave my phone in my purse when I’m at work or out with friends, and – the biggie – am three days into a 21-day social-media cleanse. That’s right: No Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Swarm or Pinterest (except for work). I’m hoping to do a full post on this soon!

Read the Bible I’ve never done a one-year bible reading plan, and around November I really started to feel like this was something I wanted to tackle in 2015. After some debate, I decided to read it chronologically, and my mom bought me this version for Christmas. So far, so good!

Read 30 books I set a reading goal every year, and usually I try to bump it up from the year before, but my goal was 30 in 2014 and I only read 24. So! I’m trying again. I’m currently working through Live From New York, and I have a whole stack ready to go – plus my book club – so it looks promising!

One Little Word This is my third year picking one little word to pray over my year, and for 2015 it’s obedience. I have a feeling this will be a hugely personal journey, but I’m at least sharing what it is so I can have some accountability!

All in all, I’m so excited for this fresh start and the year ahead. It looks to be a great one! Happy (belated) New Year, friends!

My week in Instagrams: Phoenix edition!

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Hi friends! Between travel and the holidays, I’ve fallen a bit behind on these Instagram posts – whoops! So if it’s OK with you (and even if it’s not), today I’m going to catch you all up on my trip to Phoenix, and next week I’ll do a massive photo dump from NYC!

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The main reason for this trip was that my brother and his girlfriend graduated from ASU! It’s been three years since I walked that stage myself, and I was thrilled to discover that giant balloons are still released at the end of the ceremony. We’re a party school after all – and what better reason to party than earning your degree? Congratulations to Steve, Lily and all of the other graduates!

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Last week was also the first time my siblings and I had all been together since last Christmas. What a treat! These two are my very best friends and we always have such a blast when we’re all together.

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After a couple days of family time, I headed to downtown Phoenix to crash on Steve’s couch for a couple nights and revisit my favorite old haunts from college and the years that followed. This waffle and bacon are from my favorite spot, Matt’s Big Breakfast. The wait can be intimidating, but I assure you it is always worth it!

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Martinis at Hanny’s are only $5, and cheaper after midnight. If I thought that was a steal when I was younger, it seems even better now that I routinely pay $15 for cocktails in NYC!

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Ah, the tacos. Most of you know about my obsession, and that every trip to Phoenix (or Dallas!) requires quality Mexican food. Luckily, Courtney and Gabrielle are always up for a foodie adventure (remember when Courtney and I ate our way around NYC?) and treated me to my favorite tacos from Gallo Blanco! Thanks ladies!

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One of the best parts of Phoenix is the sunsets. I captured this one from my brother’s balcony.

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At the end of my trip I spent a weekend lying on my best friend’s couch, watching Christmas movies and cuddling her pug. Best weekend ever. It was the first time I’d met Jak, who I consider my very first nephew.

You can see more pictures of my trip here, and follow me on Instagram here!

Thankful

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Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Before you ask, no, I did not go “home” to my parents’ place in Dallas this week, or back to Phoenix. Home to me now is NYC, and that is where I am celebrating by working at my awesome job, eating an entire pie and Skyping with family members across the country. It’s awesome.

I love Thanksgiving because I love food, but also because I love when everyone is just so happy and thankful for what they have. This year, I’m feeling particularly thankful for…

IMG_2774The chance to live in my favorite city in the world even if it is snowy, cold and gross. That’s right, it finally snowed. But when this city isn’t slushy and grey, it’s really gorgeous and full of things to do! I spent my entire life dreaming of life in NYC, and I’m ridiculously grateful that I got the chance to move here in 2014. Here’s to many more years of an empire state of mind.

IMG_1608A life of travel that saw me visit seven new countries this year, seeing sights I’d only dreamed of and meeting some of the best people I’ve ever known.

10565262_10202902927364697_439605853670126412_nStellar friends near and far who are always here for me no matter the circumstance. When I moved to NYC, making new friends was one of my biggest concerns. It was a process that took many months in college, and that kind of fell effortlessly together in the years that immediately followed. I’m so blessed to have a wide network of friends in the Big Apple. I’m ALSO blessed that my friends back in Phoenix have been willing to put in the effort to continue those friendships despite the distance. See you all in seventeen days!

An understanding family that has come to terms with the fact that I basically never visit for holidays or special occasions. They have even encouraged me to stay where I am and embrace the life that I have. Y’all are the greatest and I can’t wait to see you next month.

1926929_10103671117762396_5212093217949003386_nThe best roommate ever in a fabulous Brooklyn apartment that is bigger and cheaper than I ever could have imagined when I left my glorious one-bedroom in Phoenix. I’ve had some pretty lousy roommates over the years and Becca is everything they were not! Our home is an oasis away from the chaos and insanity of the city, and I cherish every moment we live here.

Liberty Church and everything about it that has truly changed my life in the best way possible.

IMG_2370The little things, including peppermint mochas, morning walks in the park when it’s not too cold, the ability to buy a bagel literally anywhere in this city for a dollar and have it be the best bagel ever, adorable local coffee shops, books that suck me in and refuse to let go, Gilmore Girls on Netflix, a public transit system that takes me wherever I want to go, quiet nights in and crazy nights out, a network of super supportive bloggers I’ve never even met, a bedroom window that faces east and lets the sun in in the morning, life and love and the very ability to recognize what I have and appreciate it.