My favorite past Tuesday Topics

So this one is kind of a cheater post, but really here's a good look at what I wrote for Tuesday Topics in the past and who knows, you may have missed it! Here's your chance to look at the best of best.

Anyway, get ready for some old ones, I even forgot that it was first started as a 10 Day You Challenge! Time really does fly.

1. Nine Loves

2. Seven People That I'd Like to Meet (I haven't met any of them yet).

3. Nine Pictures of us Together


P.S. Quote illustration from Caravan Shoppe

Tuesday Topics: Five Things That Inspire Me

Inspiration can often be difficult to come by for me. I have recently found that in my job I've been lacking inspiration and writing this post is a great motivator to find it again!

1. Family

This is my favorite photo from our wedding day. There's nothing like family who can motivate you in the right direction because they want to see you conquer your dreams. Plus, it brings the family so much joy to see me happy when I'm doing things that I love.

2. Faith

Often, when I'm feeling down or blue, I'll turn to my faith to see me through it all. I can always find the right quote (like the one above) or scripture that gives me enough strength to hold on while the storm passes. 

3. Flowers

Seeing beautiful flowers can always inspire me. There's something about seeing the such beauty and I immediately feel at ease. Having fresh flowers in my dreary apartment can lift the mood and often inspire me to clean. :) 

4. Organized, clean, well lit, well designed spaces

This is reminding me that I really need to clean my apartment. :) To be honest, no one can focus and feel completely at ease in a cluttered space. They need something clean, organized and well lit.

5. New places

I love going to new places and exploring. There's something invigorating about the adventure of seeing somewhere new and seeing how people live. I often take lessons away from my adventures and learn how to make myself a little better one journey at a time. There's always so much to see and do in this world!

Other things that inspire me that deserve an honorable mention-- articles, good books, music, lovely friends, to name a few.

What inspires you? 

xoxo

P.S. Top photo by Wendy Gettings.
Be a little better print created by Melanie Burk for Caravan Shoppe.
Peonies photo from Jessica Holden Photography.
Home photo from Tillman Long Interiors.
Map from The Map Shop on Etsy.

Tuesday Topics: Seven American Cities I Want to Visit

Making this list makes me want to go on a road trip! (minus Hawaii, we have to take plane for that one). But here are seven cities that this well traveled American girl hasn't been to yet and would love to go see.

1. Boston, MA

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All the history, food, lovely buildings . . . now that we're living on the east coast, we'll definitely be going here soon!

2. Savannah, GA

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I want to simply go to Savannah for it's Southern charm. Isn't the photo above just dreamy? It's also the birth place of Juliette Gordon Low. Plus, don't forget all that great Southern food. 

3. Charlotte, NC

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Anywhere in North Carolina would be worth the trip. Such a beautiful state. The main reason why I would go to Charlotte is to see family.

4. Chicago, IL

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This city girl loves exploring new places and Chicago sounds like a good fit.

5. Honolulu, HI

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Can anyone say beach? I think it would be great to learn how to surf and be in the water.

6. Nashville, TN

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Home of country music. :) 

7. New Orleans, LA

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I've heard that the best part about New Oreleans is the food. I believe it. I want to go there to eat.

I think we're so blessed to live in such a great country! There's always so much to do and see. 

What are some of your favorite American cities? While growing up did your family take road trips? If so, where to?

xoxo

Tuesday Topics: Ten things I live for

I think that anyone could make their own interpretation on this topic. Mine is what I look forward to and keeps me going through all the mundane parts of life. (Not in any particular order).

1. Beach days

Because who seriously doesn't love the beach? Even just hearing the ocean waves can calm me down instantly. Definitely a must. 

2. Reading a good book. (This one is next on my list).

3. Days by the lake

I love Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, NY. While this is a smaller lake in that area, I wouldn't mind renting a boat or a kayak and going to one of the larger lakes in the area. This has become a great escape when I want to get away from the noise in the city.

4. Exploring in the city

There's nothing like exploring New York. Don't get me wrong, I love Philly and there's still so much I haven't seen yet, but there's something about New York that I truly love. You turn a corner and there's someone famous or a great shop, and it's always changing. The best is exploring a new part on foot; you never know what's going to be around the corner. That was exactly what happened to me when I was up in New York and headed out after a long day of meetings. I came across the Flat Iron District for the first time.

5. Evening walks

I live for evening walks. These days, I've been so stressed out at work that I NEED these walks. It helps me to calm down and let go.

6. Dessert

Eat dessert first. You can never have too much. Seriously. Enjoy it!

7. Brunch

Nothing like a Saturday morning when you can simply take your time and lazily go about errands afterwards. There's something about brunch that I love. Good food, great company, well rested, enjoying the moment. Brunch dates don't seem to happen enough. (P.S. I highly recommend Parc).

8. Family time

With us being so far away from our families, I really look forward to when we can be together. The photo above is of my two nieces last Christmas. They were so excited to see so many presents at Grandma and Grandpa's house! Since they were so excited, they were put in charge of handing out presents to everyone.

9. Cheese plates

I love cheese. Cheese goes with everything and can be put on anything. I'm a cheese person. I am happy if my whole meal is one large cheese plate. Enough said. 

10. Date nights with Kevin

I live for date nights! There's nothing like coming to Friday night and being rewarded with a night out (even if it is just ice cream). It doesn't have to be big and fancy, time with my man is enough for me!

What do you live for?

xoxo

Tuesday Topics: Four things I learned outside of school

This is a great topic. The stuff you didn't learn in school . . .

They skip so much!

1. My love for music.

It started out when I was young. I'm sure it started when my parents brought me home from the hospital and back when my dad played the piano every evening. I remember begging him to teach me. I still beg him to teach me the songs that he wrote even though they're not on paper. I sometimes play the few notes that I do remember when I'm homesick.

My niece Aiden playing on the same piano that I learned to play on.

2. Live what you love (and forget about the rest).

When in school, all we think about is our grade. But in the end, it says nothing about who we are or what we were going through at the time. Some classes are harder and some we love. I have learned to live what I love and to stick with those strengths and make them stronger.

3. How to be a peacemaker.

Too often teachers miss the an important part of growing up and that is character building. From a young age, I realized that many of my extended members were spilt. When I was young, I sincerely tried to bring as many of  Even to this day, my parents will call me to figure out how so and so is doing in the family. I chose to become a peacemaker.

4. The importance of being real.

People in this world often try to change you to be someone who you are not. I've experienced this time and time again that people pretend to be someone they're not. It's fake, they're unhappy, it's not worth it. It really isn't.

from The Kinch Life

What important lessons have you learned that wasn't in school?

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

Tuesday Topics: Six Products

This is a great topic!

I am always on the lookout for new beauty secrets. Who doesn't love a good tried and true product?

Here's a few of my favorites:

1. Josie Maran Sunscreen | 2. Essie nail polish | 3. Nars lipgloss | 4. Benefit's They're Real mascara |

5. Aveda's Smooth Infusion Collection | 6. Philosophy's Amazing Grace

Here's why:

1. This sunscreen isn't only all natural, it doesn't stink (I think it smells like Flintstone vitamins, the kind that I used to take as a kid) and it doesn't cause me to break out. Huge bonus.

2. Love, love, love. Essie is the best affordable nail polish I have found out there. First timer is what I'm sporting on my toes right now. It's part of their new resort collection.

3. Pink lip gloss is my favorite and Nars orgasm is perfect for any occasion. I seriously wear this color year round. It's my go-to if I can't make up my mind.

4. No kidding, they're real. I skip the eyelash curler with this baby. Goes on thick and clean. Makes those pretty lashes stick out like nobody's business.

5. Can't go a full summer on the humid east coast without Aveda's smooth infusion collection. With my frizzy, curly hair  . . . enough said.

6. This is what I want to own. Every time, When I go to Sephora, I think to myself that should get that. Perfect light, fresh smell. Again, another all year product. Plus, the name gets me every time. Grace. It's on my list!

What are your favorite products? Seriously, help a girl out! I'd love to know!

xoxo

Tuesday Topics: Eight Goals for the Month

Eeeek! I admit, I'm not a good goal setter. I freak out and worry about not finishing things all the time- because of the freak outs it never gets done the way it should be. I've given up because maybe my goals aren't realistic in the first place. But here's goes nothing. . . let's see if I can create eight realistic goals.

There's my eight goals for the month! Now you better hold me to them! I'll have to make sure I follow through.

What are some of your goals? Can you believe we're already half way through the year? I sure can't!

xoxo

P.S. Other pretty goals when I was too lazy to actually set my own.

Tuesday Topics: Nine pictures of us together

I guess it's only appropriate since tomorrow we're officially celebrating our four year anniversary! Our anniversary was on the 22nd, but I've been way too busy with work and school to do much around here recently. It's going to be nice to take a break and make this week even shorter (since it was short already to begin with!).

If you're following along with Instagram. you've noticed over the weekend we've been in NYC and tomorrow we're headed back to go see Phantom. It'll be Kevin's first time. :)

Moving on to the pictures . . . you can tell we pretty much tell that we look the same in all of them but my hair color has changed through the years (it's naturally dark brown) . . .  I'm actually thinking about putting in some blonde for the summer . . .

These are in no particular order:

The one where we lived in Arizona and I got this crazy idea to take photos in the desert.

 The one where we went to Oregon to go visit my grandmother.

The one where we lived in Bountiful, Utah and took pictures on a cold, cloudy day at Main Street.

 The one where I dragged Kevin to meet Justin Hackworth and said, "No Chandler smiles!"

The one where I got the crazy idea to take our engagement photos at Antelope Island.

The one where we were married for time and all eternity.

The one where we were madly in love and partied all evening with some amazing people.

The one to today where Kevin came to NYC with me and we went to church. 

Happy four years love! I couldn't be happier and I love us!

xoxo