The Importance of Family

I know I said I'd do better about blogging.  Then tragedy struck my family. For the last week, I've been trying to find a way to get both feet on the ground again.

Laying my 19 yr old cousin, Garrett, to rest is something no one should ever have to do.  It was easily one of the hardest things I have ever done.

I always say how much I love my family.  But last weekend, I was reminded just how precious and lucky I am to have such an incredible family.

There were 6 of us grandkids. Cousins. And we were blessed with the opportunity to grow up all within about a 5 hour radius of each other.  The center being my grandmother's (or as I call her JuJu) house.  We spent every long weekend, holiday, and well any time we could squeeze in together.  Even though my oldest cousin is 13 years older than me and Garrett being 4 years younger than me, we were always very close.

As the years have gone on, life has separated us by states.  Plane rides instead of short car rides.  But when we are all together, it was if we were never apart.

While all in one place for the first time in years, we took the time to really enjoy each other's company.

 It was truly a blessing to be able to laugh and cry with one another. To hold each other up during such a difficult time.

Now that we are all adults, we relate in such different ways than when we did when we were younger.  I felt at peace while with them.

This is my family.   My rock.  My everything.  Without them, I'd be lost.  There may only be 5 of us left now, but Garrett will forever be in our hearts. Over that weekend, over 2000 people came through the visitation and memorial service to express how he had touched their hearts. 

Family is the biggest, most important part of anyone's life.  I hope that your family means as much to you as mine does. 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. '

Jeremiah 29:11

xox,

Tragedy

On November 4th, around 3 am, tragedy struck my family. 

My youngest cousin, Garrett Cole Luce, was struck and killed on the train tracks that run through Texas A&M campus. 

Words cannot begin to explain how I feel. It is not yet known why he was on the tracks.

I don't usually do this, but I'm asking for your prayers as my family prepares to put him to rest. 

He was a wonderful, God loving man and I know he has seen our Lord's face. He was loved by many and never without a smile on his face. I however do not yet know why he had to be taken from us so young. He was only 19.

I pray for God to grant my family peace and to wrap us in his arms as we try to cope with this terrible tragedy.  For I know, that it is only by trusting in Him that we can get through this. 

Call your parents and tell them that you love them. Call your grandparents, your sister or brother, your best friend. Because life is too short to do without doing so. 

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

Xox,

Amanda

*Insert Bad Break up Song Here*

By this point you all have probably stopped checking to see if I am going to update again.  I was going to say that I was taking a "hiatus" from blogging but the reality of it is that well, blogging and I broke up.  We needed space to say the least.

I had lost the inspiration to write.  Nothing felt good enough to post to the world to see.  So needless to say, blogging and I are working things out.  And I am hoping to work on getting back into a regular routine of things.

A lot has changed since April...A LOT.  So here's a little update.

1* As of June, Casey and I got a place of our own.  It's seriously the bees knees.  Our little home has a long way to go as far as my Pintrest decorating dreams go but hey its a work in progress.

Here's a little sneak peak of our living room.  It's a work in progress so its by no means ready for it's internet debut.  Maybe some day soon.

2* If you follow me on Instagram, you are very familiar with the addition to our little family. Right after we got our new place, Casey and I got a precious little orange tabby cat.  His name is Weasley and is he makes every day full of a laughter and smiles.

Pretty cute, huh? He is so snuggly and full of personality.  Too cute to handle

3* Casey went back to school and I am so incredibly proud of him.  He's going to school to be a teacher.  He hopes to one day teach history and coach baseball.  In the meantime, he got an incredible opportunity to coach for a middle school here in town while he's taking classes.  The head coach is a high school history teacher and is going to let Casey student teach with him.  I am so excited for the opportunities that are coming his way.  He is one who definitely deserves them.

4* I currently work full time for TLC Property Management.  I work as a leasing agent on one of the biggest apartment complexes in Springfield.  It is exhausting, entertaining, and I learn something new every day.  It's a good job to have so I'm grateful for the opportunity right now.

Anyway, don't give up on me okay?! Blogging and I are getting back together.  It's just a work in progress.  Trying to find how to balance working full time, finishing school, and my life with Casey.  We'll figure it out though!

Until next time,

Liebster Blog Award

Happy Sunday!

Hip hip hooray for me!  Robin over at Sunshine State of Mind nominated me for this cute little blog award. Robin is such a sweet heart and a fellow gluten free gal!  It's always exciting for me to find someone else who lives gluten free, I don't feel quite so alone.

Okay, so the Liebster Blog Award is for bloggers with 200 or less followers.  Let me tell you guys, I did a little jig when I reached 20 followers so you bet your bottom if I ever reach 200 followers I just might cry.  Anyway, here's how it works. 

1. Choose five up and coming blogs to give the award to, must have 200 or less followers
2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them
3. Post the award on your blog
4. List the blogs you gave the award to with links to their sites.  Leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award
5. Share five random facts about yourself

And the winners are... [cheesy I know]

Elizabeth over at Fearless & Frugal // she may not know it but I love all her budget tips! College girl on budget right here

Courtney over at Life Well Expected // she's brand new to blogging and always posts the sweetest comments on my blog!

Megan over at And Today was a Fairy Tale // she always posts tons of pictures and I am a sucker for those.  A picture is worth a thousand words. OH, and the verse at the bottom of her blog is totally my have.

Brielle over at Adventures of Law School // number one: I could never go to law school well even survive law school so big props to her and number two I feel like we have the same sense of humor sometimes.  

Michelle over at Shell Bell // first her and her hubs are too cute for words and second her layout is done in mint green.  No explanation necessary

Five random facts about little ole me: 

1. I have a gluten allergy that pretty much takes the fun out of eating sometimes.  But I'm slowly figuring it out
2. I'm pretty short ok, really short  4'11" hayyy!
3. I absolutely would not be where I am at now without my incredible family.
4. I am freakishly attached to my Erin Condren life planner [if you don't know what that is, you need to check it out. It will change your life.  Check it out here]
5. I absolutely love to laugh.  Make me laugh, and we'll be friends forever.

Well that sure was fun.  Thanks again Robin for the nomination.  I like this award.  It remembers us little guys in the blogging world!

Sad to say tomorrow is Monday, but hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Until next time,

Future Troubles

Does the future freak anyone else out like it does me?  Because oo nelly does it stress me out.

I feel as if I live in limbo.  So many aspects of my life could change at any given moment in time.

Graduation
My stepdad's health
Potential Jobs
Living arrangements

So.much.change.

Now, I've always said I liked change.  And I do, in the change your hair cut, wear a statement necklace, impulse buy that pair of shoes kind of change.  But I like the people in my little life.  I like living with my roommate.  She's moving out in less than 2 months.  Excuse me while I go bawl my eyes out. 


I like being able to go home on holidays to see my family.  I like having spring break, summer break, easter break.  but I could do without the school part. 


But change is ever looming on the horizon of my life. Absolutely terrifying 


Graduation from college is coming, fast.  I know sometimes I think that it will never come.  But it's only a few short months away.  just give me that little piece of paper already!

It's time to talk to my current employer about becoming full time upon graduation.

It's time to decide if I want to stay in Springfield or move back to St. Louis. Decisions, decisions 

It's time to decide where to live.

It's time to apply for more jobs, spruce up my resume.

I guess it's time for me to stop worrying.  

Enjoy the time left with my roommate.

Enjoy the time left with the luxury of school breaks and what not.

Enjoy my time at work interning.

Everything will work itself out the way God has planned for it to right? Right.  Okay. stop worrying....NOW

Until next time,

One Tree Hill

"Sometimes, I wonder if anything's absolute anymore.  Is there still right and wrong?  Good and bad?  Truth and lies?  Or is everything negotiable, left to interpretation, grey.  Sometimes, we're forced to bend the truth, transform it, cause we're faced with things that are not of our own making.  And sometimes things simply catch up to us" - Lucas Scott

Last night, I watched the series finale of a show that I have grown up with.

One Tree Hill.


This show holds a seriously special place in my heart.  I grew up with this show.  I could relate to this show. The music, the obstacles, the difficulties, the literature.  It was all so relatable. If you watch this show, I know you know what I'm talking about.  Nine years, nine years of my life.

This show had a rawness about it.  A vulnerability.  They weren't afraid to cross lines and push limits.  They weren't afraid to show stereotypes like they really were.  It truly is an underdog story.

I figured out who I was through this show.  Silly right? But it's true.

I've discovered some of my favorite bands through this story.  It showed me how to survive adversity.  How to keep going when things feel like they can't go on.  How to deal with loss.  This show is was truly the soundtrack of my life.

"Every once in awhile people step up, they rise above themselves.  Sometimes they surprises you, and sometimes they fall short.  Life is funny sometimes, it can push pretty hard, but if you look close enough you find hope in the words of children, in the bars of a song, and in the eyes of someone you love.  And if you're lucky, and if you're the luckiest person on this entire planet, the person you love decides to love you back." -Nathan Scott

This show taught me how to love.  How to be a better friend, daughter, and lover.  And I can't believe its all over.  There won't be any more seasons.  I feel like a part of me is ending with them.  Such a big part of my life.  The small moments were meant to be the big moments.  It was real and heartfelt.  

The school shooting.

The state championship.

Haley being hit by a car, pregnant.

Peyton's stalker.

Clay's stalker.

Crazy nanny Carrie.

Nathan being kidnapped.

That doesn't even begin to list the big moments of this show in its nine season.  The times I've cried like a baby tears I've shed, the laughter, the goosebumps I've felt.  It was worth every bit of it.  This show made me believe in myself.  Believe in the goodness of life.  It was about the quiet voice in your head that tells you, you can do better.

I can't believe its all over. [Thank goodness for Netflix]

"In your life, you're going to go to some great places, and you're going to do some wonderful things.  But no matter where you go, or who you become, this place will always be with you.  There is only one Tree Hill.  And it will always be your home."- Karen


Until next time,

Product Review

So I decided to kick my butt back in gear and get back in shape.  I wanted a blender so that I could make low fat smoothies and protein shakes as a meal replacement.  I did lots of looking and just didn't want the mess of a big blender.  I stumbled across this one in Target and decided it was the one.

The blender I got was the Oster Personal Blender.
[you can check it out for yourself here.]

Jessica over at Lovely Little Things and I email back and forth and I consider her as much of a best friend as one can be through emails!  Well we share a love for smoothies and protein shakes and she begged me to do a product review so here it is! 

This is the base of the blender. 

It came with this, a water bottle, the blade/blender part, & a top to the water bottle.

This is a mango, banana protien smoothie in the water bottle that you use with the blender.

And the blade lid that you screw on it.

You screw the blade lid on like you do the top to the water bottle. And then you flip it upside down and screw it on the the blender.  You push down and twist and the blender comes on.  Pretty neat.

I've found that it helps to shake up the water bottle before I start the blender.  This makes sure the fruit that I put in it shifts more towards the bottom (top of the water bottle technically) and closer to the blade.  Sometimes, I have to add a bit more liquid till it gets to the consistency I like.  It took me about 2 smoothies before I figured out the best recipe.

After you blend the smoothie to your liking, you just screw off the blade lid and put on the lid to the water bottle and you're ready to take your smoothie on the go!  The best part is the cleaning.  All I have to do is rinse off the blade lid and wash out the water bottle. So easy!

Just in case you are wondering, this is what I usually put in a smoothie.  I add:

A handful of this strawberry banana mix from Target.  

A spoonful of fat free greek yogurt for protein

A scoop of soy protein [I used the scoop included in the jar.  I also use soy protein because other types of protein powder contain gluten]

Orange juice [I add enough to make it the consistency I like.  Just depends on your tastes.]

Agave Nectar to taste [I use agave nectar because its organic and has less sugar in it then powdered sugar or honey.]

Blend and enjoy!

Until next time,

Smell the Roses

Happy Monday to all.  Although Monday's aren't necessarily happy for anyone.  Poor Monday has such a bad rap.

Anyway, I'm linking up with Jessica over at Lovely Little Things for the weekly Smell the Roses task and I just love this week's task!

This week's task:

Write down 3 inspirations quotes and post them in places where you'll see them throughout the week.

Good news is I love quotes.  Quotes, song lyrics, you name it.  I just love when you read one and you feel like it was written for you in your current situation.  So, I did a bit of a desk makeover a few days ago and added some quotes on my wall above my desk.

I spend a lot of time at my computer between blogging and homework.  So I will always see them!  I also just wrote one on my little dry erase speech bubble so I can change it around as I feel.

I love Jessica's Smell the Roses tasks.  They are such a great reminder to just slow down and appreciate life.  Plus quotes are such a great little pick me up.  If you haven't checked out Jessica's blog you should definitely do it!

Until next time,

A Week Without Words

I can't believe the weekend is already over.   I am not ready to go back to school.  But at least it's only a 3 day school week since we have 2 days off for Easter.

Check out my week in pictures and as few words as possible

one. my Gussy Sews wristlet came in the mail & I couldn't be more excited.  It is perfect.

If you haven't checked out her shop, you definitely should. I love all of her stuff

two. I started a new diet and exercise plan and it is going great!

This is my cucumber, fat free cream cheese, GF toast and protein shake snack. 

three. I got a much needed laugh watching my boyfriend's kitty play.

She thinks she's hiding right now.

four. I am so obsessed with my new water bottle/blender.

Stay tuned for a product review on it very soon!

five. I have to share the bathroom with a kitty in the mornings lately.

I wasn't aware she got ready at the same time I did.

six. I did some much needed retail therapy with my roommate and got some killer shorts.

Consider my shorts wardrobe complete for the summer!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Until next time,

Inspriation

Lately, I've been feeling inspired at the weirdest moments.  When I lay down to go to sleep, when I'm working on an article at work, in the shower.  Totally random.

I've been feeling slightly cluttered in my room.  It clutters my head being in there, and I don't like that.   I live in a small apartment so my space is always limited.  I also am trying to avoid any large projects because I will probably be moving sometime in the near future.

So I settled for tackling my desk. It had become such a catch all for random papers and stuff I couldn't even use it for blogging homework or studying

Before.

Okay so I had every intention of snapping a before photo of my cluttered desk.  Really I did.  And then I got home from gathering a few supplies and just started pulling stuff off my desk.  When I finally realized I had failed my duties as a blogger, it was too late.  Alas, just picture a crazy catch all of papers and well just junk.  Clutter.

After.

//corkboards for little tid bits and memories. Oh and maybe reminders

//quotes that contribute to this weeks Smell the Roses post

//clean desk = room for my computer, my Erin Condren life planner, or other school books

 

//one of my favorite quotes

//see that little card, its from Jessica over at Lovely Little Things!

//ticket stubs from all of the movies/sports games Casey and I have been too

//that black card is how Casey asked me to be his girlfriend; he pulled the whole "check yes or no"

[he's a keeper, I know]

//my dry erase speech bubble for random quotes

//my Erin Condren wall calendar that I love

//sorority pictures from the last two bid days

What do you guys think?  It's already making me feel less cluttered and stressed when I study or blog.  And it is such an inspirational little area.  Happy girl.

So tell me, what inspires you? I'd love to know!

Until next time,

Published, Again!

Hey guys,

Guess what! It's time to read another entry in my intern diaries.  It won't matter much to you guys because its about my company and its users.  But still.  Super exciting for me to be published.  Its a pretty good feeling.  If you have nothing else to read, check me out!

Intern Diaries Ch. 3

xox,

Hunger Games Movie

Ohhh, the anticipation.  Was it killing you like it was me?  I decided to let the weekend pass before posting this so that more people would have seen the movie by now.  I read the book in a matter of days and was hooked from then on.  The intense story line just sucked me in and I couldn't put the book down.  So when I heard that there was a movie coming out I was pumped to say the least.

Now as a disclaimer I'm going to post my opinion on movies based on books.  I think that when transferring a book into a screenplay some of the small details that keep you hooked when reading can be cut out without ruining the story line.  The action and visual of a movie keeps you locked in while in a book you are trying to visualize in your mind the story.  The small details of a book are needed to keep the story alive in your mind.  With that said, people are already criticizing the movie on details left out.

I believe that the producers did an incredible job on the screenplay of this movie.  The filmography of this movie was impeccable.  If a detail was cut out for time purposes, they made sure to connect the gaps so that if you hadn't read the books, you would still understand the story.  It was not only action packed and kept you on the edge of your seat for the entire 2 hours and 22 minutes but also the acting of Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson and other main characters was flawless. 

Granted, some of the relationships between Peeta and Katniss and also Haymitch and Katniss were a touch glossed over if you ask me.  I am hoping that they will further develop these relationships in the next movie.  Casey has not read the books and went to see the movie and did a pretty good job of following along.  But everyone has different opinions.

Since the Hunger Games came out over my spring break, I decided that for the first time I would brave the madness of a midnight premier.  It was worth every second [and my exhaustion that followed the next day].  My roommate, her sister, and I had a blast with a theatre full of teenagers.

Me, my roommate, Jordan, and her sister, Kelsey

[why yes, I am rocking a Hunger Games shirt]

Kelsey and I in our matching District 12 shirts

I rocked a Katniss-style braid [altered slightly for my short hair] for the movie.

This is also the product of boredom from sitting in a theatre for 3 hours.

My midnight premiere ticket!

So I want to know, what did you think of the Hunger Games movie?  Was it everything you hoped it would be?  It pretty much was for me.  I will be seeing this movie again as soon as possible.  I'm sure it will be even better the second time.

Until next time, and may the odds, be ever in your favor :)

Two Years

Two years ago my family and I received a devastating phone call that has forever changed our lives.  Two years ago on this day, my parents received news that my stepdad, Keith's, scan showed a tumor in his brain.

An inoperable tumor.

At first, I panicked.  At first, I cried.  Keith is practically my father.  I was terrified for him.  But it was then that I felt the peace and comfort of God wash over me and I knew from then on that I was going to be strong.  Even though I felt weak.  That we were going to fight.  Even though I didn't know how.  We were never going to stop fighting.

From then we received even more devastating news that it was cancer, stage four, glioblastomic brain cancer.  [see the post I wrote about it a while back here].  The doctors gave him six months to live.  Screw them.   We researched and found a doctor who would operate on his tumor.  He survived 16 hours of brain surgery, chemo, radiation, more chemo, and now an anti angiogenic therapy called Avastin [see more about his journey here and here] 

He has fought.

He has persevered.

And I so am happy to say that two years later he is still here.   Two years ago, I was terrified.  Terrified of losing someone so important to me to this terrible disease.  Even though some days I still am terrified,  I am hopeful.  Hopeful for many more years of happiness with him.

If you have ever said a small prayer or even had a side thought about my family and my stepdad's continued fight to beat this cancer, thank you  I will never be able to find the words to thank you enough.


Today we are thankful, and we will never stop fighting.

Until next time,

Hiatus

Long time no see!

I apologize for my absence the last few days...er weeks maybe even.  First and foremost I was on spring break which was nothing short of glorious.  Nothing like laying on the couch and eating my mom's divine cooking for a week. Oh and going to the midnight premiere of The Hunger Games.  [more on that later] But also, I was feeling in sort of a blogging rut.  I participated in the Girl Behind the Blog Vlog link up [you can check out my awkwardness here if you missed it] a while back and that's when I got about 90% of my followers that I have now.  But since then the growth of my little blog has plateaued and I wasn't sure where to go from there.

But I've decided to just forge through this rut.  Short posts, long posts, I'm going to keep you all updated on my ever so interesting life.  I also hope you'll stick through my rut with me!  I want this blog to continue to grow so sometimes I guess it will just have to go through some growing pains.   Writing has always been a passion of mine and blogging is such an outlet to be creative.  I keep a few writing works on my computer that I work on from time to time.  Maybe I'll share them on here some day.  That's a super big step for me!  Plus I've met so many wonderful women through all of this.

Anyway, I hope you'll stick with me.  If you have any tips or tricks, I am always open to suggestions and love hearing from you all!  Hope your lives are all wonderful and full of joy!

Until next time,

Week Without Words

Nothing much happened this week.  But here are just a few pictures from my week.

one. view from my desk on a cold rainy day. Cozy right?

two. the weather is going to be incredible the next few days.

three. sushi date for Casey's birthday

four. my casetagram phone case finally came in! How great is it?

xox,