becoming mrs. johnson | wedding update 1

The countdown is on!! 228 days from today I will get a new last name and ride away with my HUSBAND! I am so excited/ready/happy!!!

At this point, most of the major details have been finalized.

Date: May 29, 2020

Location: Mom + Dad's house

Honeymoon: BOOKED!! (Can you guess where??)

Photographer: Heather Sherrill | Create

Videographer: Al Hammond | Awaken Films

Hair + Makeup: my girl Amber McCaig

Caterer: April Davis | Southern Skillet Catering

DJ: Triple J Jones

My Dress: FOUND + ordered from Diane's Formal Affair

The only major details that we have left to decide on is a florist and a baker, and we have appointments set up with both of those in the next few weeks. I have told mama and meme that the rest of the little details like decorations and that stuff is their decision!

We have asked all of our bridal party and we have already been dress shopping and picked out the bridesmaids dresses! I asked my bridesmaids to be apart of my big day using personalized cookies from Alison's Cookies. She did a great job and far exceeded my expectations.

I was able to ask the majority of my bridesmaids on the same day and Micah got it on video and I am SO glad because Libby's reaction is priceless. Keep your eye on her in the video.

Ahhh. So precious!

Then, the dress shopping! I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Janice at Diane's Formal Affair helped me find the perfect dress and she helped my bridesmaids find a dress that they loved. And then, she found us all wedding dresses so we could remake the FRIENDS picture where Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe were all on the couch in the wedding dresses. We have been wanting to do this for years and it finally happened! Then we all got to put on dresses and have some fun!

Stay tuned for more updates!

25 things at 25

This birthday has been another one for the books. Thursday, we celebrated at Elamar with one of Elaine's delicious cakes. On my actual birthday night, some of my people went to TopGolf. The next day, all the family got together and Micah planned a surprise birthday lunch after church.

Here are 25 thoughts from 25 years...

1. God's timing is always perfect.

2. There is nothing better than spending time with family and friends.

3. You can't take money or things with you when you die. Spend it wisely. Collect beautiful moments. Take the trips, be adventurous, make the memories.

4. Speak truth. I have found in the past year that my filter really doesn't work. Apparently I have been like this for awhile, but I am realizing it more now. But in my opinion, it is always best to speak the truth, the good, the bad, and the ugly. People will always know where they stand with you. They will always know they can count on me to tell them the truth. And calling people out on their crap and bad attitude makes them take a step back to reevaluate.

5. Always make time for self care. I have at least one night a week that is dedicated to self care. Bubble baths, face masks, Netflix binging.

6. There is something really special about sitting down at the table with your significant other for dinner every night. With no phones, no tv, no distractions. Just that one on one time enjoying dinner together.

7. I really am a dog person. I love my two fur babies and they are very spoiled.

8. Yoga is not only a great form of exercise, but self care too!

9. I really don't know how people make it through life without planners or to do lists. I have to write everything down or I will forget.

10. Now that I live in my own house and we are planning to build in the future, Pinterest is my best friend. (And probably Micah's worst nightmare! LOL) Whoever invented this website is a genius.

11. Write everything down. I love looking back on past blogs or journal entries and reliving memories.

12. There are 168 hours in a week. Learn how to manage your time. (Read 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam)

13. Do not pray for patience unless you want your patience to be tested daily.

14. Have a savings plan. Stick to it.

15. Set goals! I set yearly goals, I have a 30 before 30 list, and I set weekly/monthly goals.

16. Find a partner who can cook. (No, seriously! Micah does most of our cooking. He is way better at it than me.)

17. Space out cleaning and other household chores throughout the week so you don't spend your whole weekend catching up. (Wise words from Mrs. Caroline!)

18. Lululemon is hands down the best. Ever.

19. Having a hair color and style that is low maintenance is probably the best thing I have ever done.

20. There are some people who will always be glass half-empty kind of people. You can't change them. Don't try.

21. In addition to #20, don't let negative people rub off their bad vibes onto you. Stay positive, my friend!

22. Coffee should be poured first thing every morning.

23. Dry shampoo is a gift from the heavens above and washing your hair everyday is for the birds.

24. All seasons are great in their own way, but fall is best of all. The weather, the scents, the colors.

25. Dream big. Be kind. Love hard!

25 is going to be the best year! I'm getting a new last name and an absolutely amazing hubby! Thanks to everyone for a great birthday!

23 thoughts at 23

I have had such an awesome birthday with all of my people. I was sang 'Happy Birthday' to a total of 16 times and had 3 whole cakes. It was great! I am so blessed with the best family, friends, students, and co-workers. Here are 23 thoughts at 23...

1. Who let me adult?! I mean really. I feel like I blinked and all of a sudden I have to do all of these adult-y things.

2. Coffee really is a necessity.

3. Bubble baths are a way to regain sanity.

4. Four quarters truly are better than one hundred pennies. You know...like friends? I have three of the best friends and they are such a blessing to me.

5. You will only find true contentment in Christ.

6. Nathan and Haley are couple goals. I know they are fictional characters but they are perfection.

7. This world is too big for you to stay in one place. Save money. See the world. Travel is the best thing you can buy.

8. Way too much of my hard earned money is spent on food and I really need to learn how to cook.

9. Whoever discovered dry shampoo deserves a special place in heaven.

10. This life can be tough but no matter how tough things get, looking for the good and staying positive always makes it better.

11. "It's okay to be a glowstick. Sometimes we have to break before we shine."

12. Letting go of the negative and toxic people in your life is hard but it's for the best.

13. One Tree Hill is the best show to ever be created. I can't believe I am just now watching it. But I'm hooked. And way too emotionally attached to the characters.

14. It is better to try than to look back later in life and ask, "What if?!"

15. Piercings and tattoos really are addicting.

16. Farm life is the best life. It makes it really easy to enjoy the little things. The cotton blooming. The smell of fresh cut hay. The setting sun over the trees. Lightening bugs at night.

17. Being spontaneous is the best kind of adventure. Pack your bag, load up with your best friends and just drive.

18. God has a perfect plan and it will be revealed to you in His perfect timing. Keep your eyes on Him.

19. Riding around with the windows down and the music blaring doubles as therapy.

20. Every year you should mark at least one thing off of your bucket list. (Mine this year is skydiving!)

21. Yoga is so awesome. I was going about four times a week to classes and felt SO GOOD! I stopped going over the summer and I cannot wait to start back!

22. Actions definitely speak louder than words.

23. Regardless of anyone else's image of you, God see's you as worthy.

Thank you all for the best birthday! Here's to another great year!

Whole30 Favorites

Okay, so I told ya'll in my New Year post that one of my goals for this year was to start eating healthier. My plan was to loosely follow the Whole30 diet, but mainly just to eat foods that are actually good for me. So far...I have done really well. I do cheat occasionally, but like I said, I am not doing this to lose weight. I just want to be healthy! 

So here are my favorite Whole30/Healthy recipes so far. 

1 // Whole30 Chicken Salad 

(original recipe by Jay's Baking Me Crazy)

I cheated on this and used real mayonnaise and left out the green onion. I made this and took it for my lunch a few days and it was delicious. Especially with some Ritz crackers!

2 // Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

(original recipe by No. 2 Pencil)

Okay, so I don't really know how healthy shrimp is for you. I have heard it is and I have heard it isn't. But either way...this was so good and super easy to make.

3 // Mixed Berry Smoothie

(original recipe by Tarryn)

I have to have a good breakfast or else it throws off my whole day. I do this in the mornings before my coffee. However, I do leave out the protein powder.

4 // Slow Cooker Lemon Thyme Chicken

(original recipe by The Natural Nurturer)

Since I am not a great cook, anything I can throw together in a crock pot is great for me. Instead of using a whole chicken, I used several chicken breast. It was great.

Do you have any favorite, healthy recipes?

Currently // January

Reading...Restless by Jennie Allen
Planning...lots of summer vacations.
Watching...Grey's Anatomy (season 3) and Fuller House (season 2)
Trying...to cook, LOL
Cooking...my Whole30/healthy meals
Eating...semi-clean. This girl still has to have her coffee-3 sugars.
Drinking...yogi green tea and lots of water
Calling...Meagan. Always. We could talk on the phone for hours.
Texting...Heather, Emily, and Jessica. We have a on going group message.
Pinning...lots of travel destinations.
Going...to concerts. Whoop whoop!
Loving...my new Morphe eye shadow palettes
Hating...this Alabama weather.
Discovering...life is so much better when you don't worry and you give it all to God.
Feeling...super thankful.
Hoping (for)...warm weather!
Listening (to)...2000's R&B
Celebrating...Heather passing her boards!
Thanking...my parents for everything they have done for me the past few months.
Starting...Hart of Dixie on Netflix.
Finishing...thank you letters from my graduation party.

What all do you have going on in January?

Happening Lately

Ya'll...things have been HECTIC in my life lately and because of that things have been quiet on the blog front. I completely fell off the blog-tember wagon. Which means my last post was at the beginning of September. Whoops. But working two jobs, owning your own business, being a student, being active in your church, and trying to have a social life is tough.

With all of that being said, here are five pictures to sum up what I have been doing in my free time lately:

1...PreK took on our very first field trip. We went to Isbell Farms to the pumpkin patch. These sweet babies had so much fun. 

2...Fishing Fun. I didn't have to go to work one night after school, so we took the opportunity to go fishing. We fished for about an hour and caught over 10 of these huge catfish. 

3...I have been loving on this sweet baby a lot. He is so full of energy and has the cutest little personality. He has been super loving lately...but he will also grab your face like this and put his mouth right up to your face with gritted teeth, so I am never really sure if he is trying to bite me or love on me. Either way, he is adorable.

4...For Fall Break, the four of us packed up and hit the road for a quick getaway. We arrived at our condo late Saturday night and spent all day Sunday at Dollywood. That night we went out to eat to celebrate Emily and Heather's birthdays. The next morning we ate a big breakfast and went to a few little shops before heading back home on Monday. It was a quick trip, but we had so much fun. (P.S.: Major props to Ryan for surviving this trip with three girls. He was a trooper!)

5...Painting Pumpkins. On a spontaneous Wal-Mart trip, Hannah and I picked out these tiny pumpkins to paint and about three weeks later, we finally had a free night to paint them together. After painting my pumpkin with three different things, I finally started completely over and totally copied Hannah's idea. It was a fun sister-bonding night. (Bad quality picture, but it was the best we could get! LOL) 

PS: I finally figured out how to set it up where ya'll can subscribe to my blog...so if you like reading and you would like to be the first to see my posts, just enter your email address in the box to the right. Thank you! ;) 

22 thoughts at 22

Other than actually being able to jam out to Taylor Swifts song, I have never really looked forward to turning 22. In my mind, after turning 21, every other birthday was just another year. But honestly, this year is holding more for me than I could have ever imagined. So far this year, I have got my dream job. I have made more memories in a single summer than I have in previous years. I am graduating at the end of the year. Ya'll...this year is monumental!

Here are 22 thoughts from 22 years:

1. I believe surrounding yourself with Godly, uplifting, and encouraging friends is the best medicine.

2. I love music. Music is good for the soul. All kinds. At all times. For every mood.

3. Coffee and sweet tea are requirements to make it through the day.

4. Doors close and doors open. God has a funny way of doing things, but it all works out in His perfect timing. Praise Him in the hallway.

5. Travel and travel often. This summer has been the summer of travels and it has been the best one yet.

6. I love when life slows down and I can take time to admire the beauty of the little things. The stars. The setting sun. Storms. All the cliche things.

7. I fully believe you must treat yo'self. Buy the makeup. Go to that concert. Eat the ice cream. Get pampered.

8. Invest in bath bombs. Take time at least once a week to fill the tub up and relax.

9. Go on a mission trip. At age 22, I have been to Nicaragua for mission work three different times and it has totally and completely changed my life.

10. I am so thankful to be involved in a church where I am encouraged and uplifted. I am equally thankful that several of my dearest friends attend church with me.

11. Go outside! Whether you move yourself from the couch to the hammock outside with a book, or you are going for a run. Take time to enjoy the outdoors, one of God's most beautiful creations.

12. I am thankful to own my very own small business where I get to be creative and share that creativity with the world in the form of t-shirts and tank tops.

13. Writing can double as therapy. I write all the time. I journal my thoughts and feelings. I make to-do list. I document the all little details that I adore in life.

14. Pray. Study your bible. Find a small group.

15. Know your self-worth. Do not let anyone belittle you. Do not settle for anything less than what you deserve.

16. Rid your life of anything that is toxic. Also know that toxic doesn't necessarily mean cruel and uncaring. It is also people or things that do not encourage you to be the best YOU.

17. Be DEPENDENT on God. When you rely fully on God and His plan for your life, everything is much easier.

18. Be happy with yourself. Do not let your happiness depend on someone else.

19. Be uplifting to. Compliment others. "If you see something beautiful in someone, speak it." -Ruthie Lindsey

20. Children are the absolute best. They are so funny. Their words are genuine. They are so loving. Wednesdays are my favorite days because I can walk into church and so many of those kids come running to give me hugs.

21. Jaclyn Hill is perfection. I totally fan girl over her.

22. Pretty Little Liars will NEVER END.


I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22! 

Favorite Things // May Edition

Okay, to be honest...I stole this blog idea from my sister over at Our Alabama Life. But I figured I would also share with you a few of my favorite things right now.

First of all, for the past few months, I have been OBSESSING over lipsticks. Every color, every shade, every brand. I have tried them all. I literally love every color. If black wouldn't completely clash with my pale skin, I would definitely be wearing that color. My favorite lipstick brand that I am loving right now is by Gerard Cosmetics. They are liquid lipsticks that are super soft and long lasting. Like, really long lasting. I can put it on in the morning, and it will still be on my lips by that night. I have been lusting after the purple shades lately, so when I saw that Gerard was offering these lippies for 3 for $35, I had to snatch up my favorites. These are ecstasy, iced mocha, and serenity. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. (I am not a fan of selfies...but I tried just taking a picture of my lips and that was just plain awkward.) 

These Musee bath bombs are awesome. I love a good bubble bath. These bath bombs are all different scents and have different purposes. They are hand pressed with natural ingredients, and contain therapeutic aromas and soothing oils that are refreshing to the body and healing to the skin. They turn your water different colors AND they contain prizes inside of them. How cute are these little egg-shaped bombs I got for Easter? Shop local and pick up a few bath bombs at Elamar Skin Science. 

Another lipstick brand that I am loving is Tarte. I have two shades by this brand and I love them both. One is a more nude color called Namaste. I use this color when I am having a plain-Jane makeup day and just need to add a little color to my lips. The other color I have from Tarte is called Hangry. It is more of a pink-y color. This color was a little bit too bright for me at first, but the more I have played around with it, the more I like it. This brand feels so soft on my lips and it is super long lasting too!

Okay, I promise I am not a beauty expert...BUT I do love makeup and all things beauty and I will try just about anything. My skin is HORRIBLE. Literally, I break out all the time and even when my face is clear, I still have tiny bumps along the surface of my skin. I also have those annoying blackheads around my T-zone. So my life is a never ending cycle of trying new products to get rid of acne. Lately, I have been digging on face masks. My two favorites though, is the YouthMud by GlamGlow and my own personal concoction using charcoal pills and glue! The GlamGlow mask helps with all of the tiny bumps along the surface of my face. I have not bought the full size jar simply because it is $70 and I wanted to make sure I liked it before I invested that much money into it. So, this super nice lady at the makeup counter gave me a small sample tube. I have been able to get 4 masks out of the tiny sample bottle and it has amazed me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. This stuff is GOLD! Now the charcoal and glue mask...I took a few capsules of charcoal, opened them up, and sprinkled them into a bowl. Added some elmers glue, just enough to have a good consistency, and then took an old makeup brush and applied the mask along the T-zone. I would let it dry a little, then apply some more...the thicker the mask, the better. When I finally felt like I had enough on my face, I watched it dry and I could literally see the blackheads backing out of my pores. It was CRAZY! I even got mom and Hannah to try the charcoal mask with me. (Pictures included solely for your entertainment.)

What are some of your favorite things, beauty product or not?

Goodbye, TDD

Yesterday was my last day at Trinity Drugs. For those of you that don't know, I have been working at the TDD for four years now. I graduated high school with dreams of becoming a pharmacist. I realized very swift like that that was not a job for me...I hate science with a burning passion. Ya'll, I love my job. I love my co-workers. My years at the drug store will forever be cherished and there were definitely tons of unforgettable memories made.

This past summer, I started an etsy shop making graphic t-shirts. I absolutely love it. I get to design my own shirts and create them for people all over the world. I have big hopes and dreams for this shop, so I am going to take this time in my life to work on building up my shop name.

I am also subbing for the remainder of this school year in Lawrence County. (So all you teachers in LC, if you need a sub...I got you!) Since I am almost done with my degree to teach these little elementary school babies, I thought it would be good to get some more experience in the schools as a sub and I have loved every minute of it. These kiddo's will keep you on your toes, that is for sure.

I am so excited to see what God has in store for me during this season of my life. I know it is going to be great!

P.S.: I think I have my dad talked into letting me get goats! AHHH!! :) (stay tuned...) 

My Happiness Jar

In 2015, I started a happiness jar. You know, you write down the things and the moments that make you happy or thankful and they all go into the jar. I started off really good...then I completely dropped the ball. But my jar was full...so that counts for something, right?

Here are the things that were in my jar:

- having a BIG, close family
- friends that go to the same school with the same major
- Jessica & Heather's friendship
- GNO's with the ladies from church
- bonfires
- breakfast with meme and papa
- automatic start on vehicles
- concert dates
- snow days
- holding baby Jase
- manicure & lunch dates with my girls
- watching all of my favorite shows
- OFF DAYS!
- being an aunt
- family vacations
- the little 'moments'

I have started my happiness jar for this year and hope to actually stick with it throughout the whole year.

Do you have your own happiness jar? What are some of the things that make you happy?