simply complicated

So I have been in the wonderful state of Texas the last couple of days seeing all my favorite people. I just thought I'd stop in & share 10 things that I love about this wonderful state.

1. People scoot over on the highway when you are going faster than them & they need to pass.
2. Barbecue
3. Tex-Mex
4. "Y'all"
5. All the great boutiques
6. The sunny weather
7. Tex-Mex
8. James Avery
9. Shipley's Donuts
10. Whataburger

I am so thankful for my time here. I have been able to catch up with the people I love. & go shopping quite a bit. :) 

Now that a lot of my shows have started their "summer break" for the next season, I thought I'd tell you what I have been watching on a weekly basis & why I love them. Also, what shows are about to start that I am looking forward to. Unedited. Unashamed.


1. The Voice :: I am so off the bandwagon with American Idol. I can't even deal with the commercials. However, the Voice...different story. I honestly can't determine if I like it for the singing talent or the banter between Blake & Adam. It is a great show to come home & just relax in front of the TV & not think.

2. The Following :: This is by far one of the best shows I've seen on TV {apart from LOST & One Tree Hill}. It is suspenseful, funny, creepy, gory {don't really like that part}, & makes you excited to see what happens next. Great show!

3. Pretty Little Liars :: This is a great suspenseful show. Hard to believe that ABC Family is behind this one {no offense}. I just wish they would reveal who A is. The end.

4. Nashville :: I am starting to get a little bored with this show, but I can't stop watching. Why is that? Two words: Deacon Claybourne. Dang you older attractive man.


Shows that are about to start back up again that I am excited about:

1. The Bachelorette :: I am a faithful Bachelor/Bachelorette watcher. I just can't stop watching the "most dramatic season yet". Eventually it won't be, right? Anyway...I loved Andi on Juan Pablo's season {mostly because she told him off at the end} so I am excited to wait this dramatic season! I heard that one of the contestants {supposedly got the first one-on-one} was let go & then died a couple of weeks later in a hang gliding accident? So sad! I hope for the family's sake that ABC doesn't try & make money off such a tragedy. Not a cool way to make it dramatic.

2. Big Brother :: My. Favorite. Summer. Show. Of. All. Time. I get sucked in. Last summer wasn't that intense {at least not as intense as the season with the Brigade alliance} but Big Brother never disappoints. I think the best part of BB is that it is on 3 days a week all summer long. Heck yes! I keep trying to tell Nathan that I would do good on the show. I try to get everyone I know hooked on this show. Once you get hooked, you will start a count down of when it will start again, trust me. {June 25th baby!!!}

What are your current favorite TV shows?

1. L'Oreal Power Volume Collagen Mascara :: Walmart :: $7 -- I usually LOVE L'Oreal mascaras but this was not my favorite {or even close}. It had a very wirey {is that a word?} brush which did not pick up much product. It was a very wet mascara, too. I thought that after a while of using it that it would dry out some & maybe I would start to like it, but I never did. You failed me L'Oreal...but don't worry, you still hold the record for my favorite mascara....its just not this one...

2. Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara :: QVC :: in a kit that was $55 -- One of my Christmas gifts from Nathan was a Tarte kit from QVC & it came with 2 of these mascaras. I love the kit but I am not gonna lie, I kind of regret getting it. Why? Because I love everything in it TOO much & some things I can't afford to keep buying. i.e., this amazing mascara. IT IS THE BOMB!!! I love literally everything about it. The only criticism I have is that it doesn't last forever. :) If Ulta has a 21 days of beauty sale again with this on it, I will definitely be buying some!

3. Maybelline Define-a-brow :: Walmart :: $6 -- This is my favorite drug store product. My only fear is that it is pulling out some of my eye brow hairs. Sounds weird I know...but I have to be really careful not too press to hard or I notice that they just fall out. That, I don't need. But overall a great product. I always have a back up.

4. Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer :: Walmart :: $7 -- Hmmm...what to say about this product...I am not too sure what it did to be honest. Didn't really highlight. Certainly didn't cover anything up. So I'm not too sure. Didn't last long either...I would not repurchase.

5. Merle Norman Lasting Foundation :: Merle Norman :: $33 -- Why God? Why did this have to end? This is my FAVE foundation on the planet. Literally, the planet. No one EVER talks about it. I have gone through so many its not even funny. {used to work at a Merle Norman} I can wear this foundation & go swimming & its still there. It is not cakey but stays. It has amazing coverage. Holds up in Houston, TX humidity. Has SPF 12. What more could you want in life? Other than the price to be less? I hope I can repurchase this soon. Excuse me while I go cry that its gone...

6. NYX HD Concealer :: Ulta :: $5 -- Love this concealer. Love this concealer to hide blemishes or redness, but I mostly use this concealer for under the eyes {in Porcelain}. Doesn't make my under eyes look dry at all. Stays all day. Brightens & covers. Always have a back up in Porcelain for under the eyes & my current skin tone for blemishes.


1. TRESemme Split Remedy :: Walmart :: $5 -- I really liked this product. This bottle lasted me about a year. I can't find it anywhere now though. Not sure what happened. I don't know that it really helped that much with split ends, but it certainly helped with frizz. I am sad I can't find it anywhere. If I happen to run across it somewhere, I will definitely repurchase.


1. Dolce & Gabanna Light Blue Perfume :: Ulta :: $50 -- This is my FAVORITE perfume. My only sadness is that it so dang expensive. I have a bigger bottle that I got for Christmas, so I am okay right now but I am going to be so sad when that is gone.

2. Bath & Body Works Amber Blush Body Wash :: B&BW :: $10 -- I love bath & body's body washes. I feel like they last me a long time. Amber Blush was a nice scent. Glad I finished it before summertime though. I feel like this is more of a winter scent. Need to go buy more body wash in summer scents.

3. Bath & Body Works Pure Paradise Triple Moisture Body Cream :: B&BW :: $12 -- I love this scent. I feel like its the typical summer scent. I had this one left over from last summer. I am not a huge fan of the triple moisture body cream...kind of thick in my opinion, but I do love this scent. Almost time to stock up on summer lotions too!


I think that is everything! PHEW!!
Have you gone through any good products lately? I would love some recommendations!  

With today being Mother's Day, I thought I would dedicate this blog post to my wonderful mother. She is such a great example of a mother, daughter, sister, friend, wife, & woman of God.  When I was growing up, we got along but high school was rough. I thought I was cooler than her & she didn't know as much as I knew. Boy was I wrong. Many of my mentors tried to tell me that when I moved away I would appreciate my mom more, & I would just laugh at them when they would say that. They were definitely right. My mom is my best friend. Its weird when we go a day without talking to each other. I still want her by my side when I'm sick. It's so hard to live states away from her, but I am so thankful that she is there to remind me God's will (even if she doesn't like that we live far away either).

The bottom line is...thank you mom for always being there for me. For making my lunch. For sitting at my feet when I was sick. For making sure I knew how to order for myself at restaurants. For making my childhood as special as humanly possibly. For showing me that hosting people is fun & doesn't have to be stressful. For taking me school clothes shopping every year when you were the one who may have needed new clothes at the time. For taking me to Splashtown in the summers. For making me do rain dances. For making James & I hold hands on the couch when we fought so we would have a great relationship. For listening to me complain. For listening to me cry. For forgiving me. For encouraging me to follow my dreams. For loving me through the attitudes. For cleaning my room. For not putting too much mayo on my sandwiches. For coming to my piano recitals...oh, and long band concerts. For always making my deal more important than yours, even though I didn't deserve it. And most of all...For encouraging me to have a relationship with Christ. I love you, mom!

Contrary to popular belief, just because I work at an University does not mean that I get the summer off...unfortunately...That is part of my excitement for teaching next year! My husband is a youth pastor at a local church & we are gone A LOT during the summer. We are currently going on 1 mission trip, 2 camps, 1 conference, & 1 VBS in town. I wouldn't trade any of it. I love summer events & I am so thankful that with teaching, I will be able to participate more.

With that being said, there are lots of things that I would like to get done this summer around the house & personal goals.

1. I would love to paint some rooms in our house! I haven't done this yet for two reasons. I can't decide on a paint color, & I don't have time to paint. I am hoping I can do a couple rooms this summer. Probably going to shoot for the master bedroom & possibly the guest room (see goal #2).

2. I really need to decorate our guest room. So far since we have lived in our house the guest room has been where all the "leftover" decorations have gone. Lets just say it looks like it too...

3. Reading books has been a little low in priority since I got back from my week at the beach in April. I am thinking that I would like to read at least 5 books over May, June, & July.

4. I'm really excited to decorate my classroom (this summer if possible) so I can have a head start on the school year!

5. I am hoping that I will be able to blog more over the summer. I have some great ideas for blog posts that I have been jotting down in Evernote, but life always seems to get in the way. Another section of this goal is that I can still publish blog posts when I am gone for weeks out of the summer (thank you "schedule" button in blogger).

6. Hoping I can keep up with my work out schedule. I have been getting up at 4:45 a.m. every morning for a work out class at the gym. Is that early? Duh. Does it make me feel better? Of course. I have learned to love working out. Hope I can work out at least 4 times a week this summer.

7. I would love to deep clean my entire house. & by deep clean I mean clean the base boards and binds too. This is very daunting for me. Having a dog (as cute as she may be) comes with a lot of dog hair. I have been noticing some spots that really need to be cleaned in the house but when I have the time to do it, I don't want to because I'm so exhausted.

8. Get tanner. The end.

9. See "Neighbors" in theater. Looks so funny!

I am sure there are about a million other things I want to do, but these are my top choices.

Do you have any summer goals?