2015...

2015 had it's ups and downs, for sure, but all in all, It was a pretty good year.. In no particular order, here's my 2015..

I turned 16 and got my driver's license! (And yes, freedom is so, so sweet)

I took a trip to Pennsylvania and shopped at a 2 story Target!!

aka Heaven

I went to one of the most haunted places in America, Eastern State Penitentiary.

I decided that peaches are my favorite fruit, and green beans are my favorite vegetable.

I saw NeedToBreathe at the Ryman! They easily have some of the best voices I've ever heard.

I read Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury and cried to a fiction book for the first time. Well done, Mrs. Kingsbury

I got my first Chaco tan (insert heart eye emoji).

I watched the entire Gilmore Girls and Gossip Girl series...

I saw Alan Jackson, who is i n c r e d i b l e. 

I bought my first pair of Jacks and Hunters!

I started taking up calligraphy, It's harder than it seems.

I went to Chicago, again, and got to tell some kiddos how much their Creator loves them.

I started taking Zumba classes and definitely now call myself a Zumba lover.

 I went hiking for the first time! I didn't hate it, but I don't think I'll go out hiking on my own..

I bought my first Lilly dress...LOVE.

and while I was discovering just how much I love Lilly, I went to their headquarters in King of Prussia.

I relearned that roller coasters are not really my thing. Too fast and too many chances of getting hurt.

I consistently held the B spot on my golf team, behind a senior.

I only got sunburned 6 times!!

I lead my first Bible study with some middle school girls.

I lost my hearing at Jason Aldean's Nashville stop.

I went to Vancouver and drank waaaay too much Tim Hortons.

I got the chance to work with Nashville's Lunch Box, a nonprofit ministry that feeds underpriviledged families in the metro-Nashville area.

I learned to play chess.

I got to hug this girl's neck after her OPRY DEBUT and album release.

I got to hear Taya Kyle (nd Marcus Luttrell) speak.

A lot happened in 2015. Lots of concerts, lots of conversations, and lots of coffee. 2015 had its ups and down, but most importantly, I really learned that it's okay to be me, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. 

It's okay that I like purple more than blue and 1 cream in my coffee. It's okay that I'd rather strength train than run. It's okay that I prefer mysteries to love stories.

It's okay to be me, and 2015 taught me that. 

May 2016 be YOUR year to discover who you are and to embrace all that comes with. Make a difference in 2016. Life is only what you make it after all.

love,

lauren

"'Maybe I don't want a happy new year,' she said. 'Maybe I want an intense new year with a lot of growth experiences,'" 

-StoryPeople

Tuesday Treasures

June 23, 2015

Life has been so so fun lately, and I just want to share what treasures have made it so fun this week.

I spent this past week in Philly, and it was amazing. It included lots of delicious foods, books, and shopping.

Karen Kingsbury has done it again, ladies and gentlemen. Angels Walking and Chasing Sunsets are no exception to the excellent stories she's told in the past. Angels Walking and Chasing Sunsets are the story of Tyler, Sami, Marcus, and Mary Catherine, all who are watched over by angels. These angels are sent from heaven to walk among us and to protect the future of the 4 friends. Great reads if you like sappy, happy ending books. I read them on the car ride up to Pennsylvania, and I'm counting down until the third book is released.

Lifeway has Angels Walking for $14.99, and it's sequel, Chasing Sunsets, for $22.99

We were in Pennsylvania after all, and that is home of Reading Terminal Market. For those of you who many not be familiar with the Market, it is like a food court on steroids. There was greek food, ice cream, salad bar, ribs, coffee shops. You name it, it was there. There was a fresh pretzel stand that I had my first soft pretzel at, and it should be pretty self explanatory as to why it made the list.

If you do stop at Reading Terminal Market, I recommend checking out the Rib Stand for lunch and Bassett's Ice Cream (for mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone) or Miller's Twist (for a cinnamon soft pretzel) for dessert. The Rib Stand has the best potato wedges I have EVER had. They are absolutely to die for.

Visit http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/ for more info!

I'm so mad at myself for putting off listening to this album for so long honestly. I first heard about them when Steven Curtis Chapman mentioned them at Sam's Place back in March, and 3 months later, I learn that I love Colony House. Classified as "alternative rock", I shyed away on the first few songs, but "Learning to Love" won my heart and captured all of my attention. Filled with uplifting lyrics and great tunes, Colony House definitely is one of my new favorites. 

After we ate lunch in Shady Maple, we went through the giant gift shop down stairs, and of course, I went straight to the candle section. While trying out all the different scents, I came upon my favorite. Not just my favorite candle and scent there, but of all time.

Olde Glory by Milkhouse Candle Company. I don't even know how to describe it, but I love it more than any other candle I've burned, and I'm very excited to fill my room with it's scent.
Coconut wood, pink grapefruit, and pineapple sunset by Kringle Daylight also smelled very good.

It's the little things that make life so good, right?