Music: Sugarland - Babe featuring Taylor Swift

Just heard this song, tonight. Apparently, Taylor wrote this song and asked Sugarland to sing it. Taylor sang on it too. It's super catchy. I think this song will be hugely popular! See what you think.

My Experience Trying Online Clothing Boutiques

I am sick of all my winter clothes and wanted to add some floral and bright colors to my wardrobe. On Instagram, I've been seeing some cute floral shirts and dresses from boutiques. So, I decided to try ordering clothes from boutiques. My coworker uses Jane and Eleven Oaks Boutique. I checked them out and found shirts and a dress.

From Jane, I ordered:

Colorful Colorblock Floral Tunic from the company, Tickled Teal

I still haven't received this and it's been two weeks since I ordered it. :( They keep changing the date of when they've shipped it and when it will arrive. I'll keep you posted on when it arrives...

Then there's this beauty...I ordered the Floral Raglin top in ivory from Loopsway.

This is what I received...

I absolutely LOVE this Brooklyn Floral Midi Dress made by Liam & Co.

It is so soft, fits like a dream, and has pockets.

I love that Jane offers styles in several different colors.

From Eleven Oaks Boutique:

The nice thing about Eleven Oaks is that they don't charge shipping or tax, though their prices are higher because they must be including shipping and tax in the prices. For a 15% discount, use the code: SUNNY15.

Just Can't Wait Cross Top-Coral looks pink in the photos, but coral in person.

I wanted it to look cute on, but it didn't and the color wasn't right on me. :( Trying to sell it on Facebook Marketplace to avoid paying to return it and then only getting in-store credit (had to end up sending it back).

Summer Colorblock just didn't look right, so I'm trying to sell it on Facebook Marketplace (it sold for nearly what I paid for it).

The only item that I did like from Eleven Oaks was their Brinkly Mixed Media Print Top-Navy.

Unlike the other shirts, this was a tighter fit. I love this shirt's pattern and floral.

Eleven Oaks Boutique has the world's most inconsistent sizing charts. Makes ordering very hard. So, I wasn't crazy about 2/3 of my order.

*What's rough about ordering from boutiques is that return shipping isn't free and you don't get cash back, you get in-store credit (boo!).

Book: Rise and Grind by Daymond John

Daymond John shares a lot about his childhood, path to success, and current life in his newest book, Rise and Grind. This is the first book of his that I've ever read. I must say the title grabbed my attention. The book also features the stories of famous people and not-so-famous people who've achieved great success in their lives. He shares their steps to success that can be replicated.

The book highlights hard work/grind as a step to success. He urges readers to chase their dreams, to not be content with one job, but to grind and make their dreams happen. His message resonated with me as I've worked since I was a kid. Now, as an adult I grind to make my dreams happen. In addition to my full time job, I work two flexible part time jobs and am always looking for ways to make money. I also, sell clothes and shoes online. The dream is paying off my car, buying a house, traveling more, and getting a puppy. These are the dreams I can control and work towards.

The book is full of great tips for success and inspiring quotes.

It was an easy read and re-inspired me to Rise and Grind.
May we all put in the work to meet our dreams.

Movie #5: I Can Only Imagine

I had long known the MercyMe song, I Can Only Imagine, but I didn't know the story behind it. This movie tells the story.

It opens with a young boy in the 80s, Bart. He loves music and constantly carries a walkman. He goes to bed to the sound of his parents fighting and screaming, in the morning his mom has bruises around her next. His dad is an angry man. He beats Bart too. Bart's dad is played by Dennis Quaid.

His mom drops him off at camp. There he sees classmates of his and starts journaling. He sees his crush, Shannon and learns she likes him too. He returns home to a moving van. His dad tells that his mom has left them. Bart is devastated. What mom leaves her kid?!

Anyway, Bart grows up trying to avoid his dad. His dad was a football player, so Bart plays football. His dad makes a remark about how many players it took to tackle him, since it just took just one to take down Bart. So, Bart tries harder, which results in two broken feet and the end of his football career. His dad is disappointed again.

So, Bart must find a new elective mid-semester. The only thing that's open is glee club, but he doesn't sing. So, Bart is in charge of sound until the teacher accidentally hears him sing and casts him as Curly in the musical, Oklahoma. He's mortified, but she gives him no way out. He rocks the part to massive applause. While at a diner, his dad sees an ad for Oklahoma with Bart's name in it as the lead. His dad then collapses and is taken the hospital. He's seriously sick. He meets Bart's girlfriend, Shannon and tells him that she's a keeper.

Bart graduates, breaks, up with Shannon, and starts doing sound for a band. Then he starts singing with a band. While on the road, he randomly calls Shannon and leaves her messages.

Meanwhile, Bart recruits a manager to start promoting the band. The new manager gets recording labels to come hear them in Nashville. Despite all the writing and work the band has done, they're told that they aren't good enough. Well, this devastates Bart and he loses it. He takes a break from the band to "go home." The band says he's family and they'll wait for him.

Bart gets home and tries to avoid his dad, but his dad has made breakfast. His dad, Arthur talks about how he wants them to do, like re-do the Jeep. It brings up all of Bart's feelings from growing up. His dad acts like nothing ever happened. Bart storms off and finds a paper in his dad's truck that says he has pancreatic cancer. Then Bart hears his dad beating the Jeep up with a baseball bat. He falls over and tells Bart to hit him, but he doesn't.

Arthur says he's changed and listens to sermons on the radio. Bart takes him to church. He remembers and regrets the abuse. Bart starts to teach his dad more about God. The end is coming near for him. Bart gets the Jeep going and they go for a ride. Arthur is a changed man and the anger is off of his face for the first time in a long time. He's now filled with peace. He encourages Bart to follow his music dream. Bart's dad sets it up so that when he dies, he'll get a monthly check to live off of. Bart is with his dad as he passes away. He sings Amazing Grace at the funeral and it's beautiful.

The band picks Bart up and they're playing again. He writes a song about his dad in heaven. His manager records it and sends it to Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. Amy's crew thinks it's the song to bring her career back. Bart calls Shannon and leaves a message that he's written a song that's going to be big. At an event, Amy is going to debut the song. Bart is in attendance. She decides she can't take Bart's song, so Amy invites him to the stage to sing it. He does and as they say, the rest is history. MercyMe becomes famous, the song goes triple platinum, and Shannon and Bart get married.

What a terrific story of redemption and love. I laughed and I cried. I can only imagine what it will be like to be in Heaven, free of the pain of this body, free from sin, and forever with God.

Sephora Products on Review

I've really found some cool products at Sephora recently that I wanted to share with you.

Invisibobble

The major selling point is that they're traceless and don't leave marks on your hair. I was skeptical, but I slept with one in my hair with my half up. I woke up to creaseless hair that had beautiful volume.

First Aid Beauty, Ultra Repair Cream has helped my skin so much. My regular moisturizer wasn't able to touch the dryness of my skin. This winter was really windy, cold, and drying. This cream does the trick every time.

Sephora Collection, Baby Z Palette is a must have item for anyone who has odd and end eye shadows that you want to organize. I definitely think I'll be able to use my shadows more.

Origins GinZing™ Refreshing Eye Cream to Brighten and Depuff; I picked this product, since I was tired of just picking the same product, Clinique All About Eyes. Origins is around the same price point and I feel like it's worked really well!

It's fun to try new products and get out of your comfort zone!

Shoes: Maypearl Ramie in Mahogany Leather Combi

I wanted a pair of leather booties that I could wear with dress pants, jeans, skirts/dresses. So for Christmas, I asked for a pair of Clarks Maypearl Ramie booties in Mahogany Leather Combi. I love their rich brown color.

With my rheumatoid arthritis and being flat-footed, it's hard to find shoes that are actually stylish and comfortable. I was hopeful I would like these boots, since I have two pairs of their flats (Clarks Danelly Adira and their Feature Film Flats) that I love.

These boots are a dream, so comfy and stylish. I wear them all the time. I'm thinking about getting them in black too. I've worn them in ice, snow, and rain; they have enough traction for all of that. If you're looking for a stylish, comfy bootie; this is it!

YOUNGBLOOD Eyebrow Kit

I kept hearing about brow kits and to me they seem overrated. I've got decent brows and I work on them every couple of days, so what more did I need. Well, one of my friends talked about the YOUNGBLOOD eyebrow kit that she got at our salon, Platinum & Company. She loves it. At their recent Christmas party, they were doing people's brows with the kit, so I thought I'd try it. I had super low expectations of liking it and I ended up loving it! My friend got me the kit for Christmas and the difference it makes is so good! Platinum & Company sells it for $30ish

The kit comes in different colors, so you can get one that matches your hair color. The two tools in there are magnetized, so they won't fall out of the kit, which is brilliant.

The way I was taught to use it was to take the flat brush and use the wax on the very right of the kit. Use it to trace the outline of your brows to get all the little hairs aligned. Next, take some of the first and second circles of product. Start a half inch from where the brow begins in the center of your forehead. Fill in the brows on both sides. Now use the center darker color to fill that first half inch of each brow. I feel like filling my brows gives me a more "finished" look.

Before

After

See the difference? I sure do! Try it!

Book: When You Are Bursting by Patrick Combs

I've had the privilege of knowing Patrick for over 5 years through his speaking at the university I work at. Through that time, I feel like I've gotten to know him pretty well.

This fall, while he was here for presentations, he gave me a copy of his new book, When You Are Bursting.

If you want to really know someone, read something they have written. Those words are pieces of their soul. This book is very much like getting a peek into Patrick's life and soul. His book shares more of his life story and the things that helped shape him. It's a collection of short stories. Through this book, I came to see how extraordinary Patrick's life has been. The book made me laugh, made me sad at times, but it also made me think about life. This was definitely an easy read. Read it, you'll definitely enjoy it!

Book: Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines

I have long loved watching HGTV's Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines. They balance each other perfectly; he's goofy and she's more serious. I really enjoyed their book, the Magnolia Story. It told their story and felt told mainly in Joanna's voice.

Capital Gaines is all Chip Gaines. It's about the defining moments in his life, his love of Waco, and their businesses. It's all told in Chip's upbeat, hardworking vibe. It's encouraging; chase that dream, do the impossible, put in the work. This was a fast and fun read for me. It also helped me understand what drives Chip. I was so shocked when I found out that season 5 would be the last for Fixer Upper. In the book, Chip really goes into why they decided to not continue with the show. His reasons made me respect him more. Though I will miss the show, you can bet going to Waco is on my bucket list.

Song: Drops of Jupiter by Train

A few months ago, this song popped back in my head and I had to find it to listen to it again. I remember it from my high school days. Those were the days...

Are there any songs that take you back in time like this?

Take a blast to the past with me. Enjoy!