You can't walk into Target and get a new "earth suit" when you've worn out the knees in yours. You better be sure you won't "beat the band" in that size 4 dress you've been eyeing in Mr. Big Department Store if you've been pounding Little Debbies since Easter….you know that's right!
Are you eating healthy?
Do you feel good in your skin?
We get only one body, you know.
one body…one life
what will you do with it?
Conviction knocks at my door with a gentle, yet constant reminder; you are responsible for this body God has given to you.
Have you watched the movies "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead" or "Forks Over Knives"? Well I have and you'd think that would have arrested me to the point of change. Fact: I must make a shift. From fast food and sweets to veggies and health food. I MUST start thinking of every morsel of food and drink I allow past my lips. (aside from s'mores … they're exempt from any dietary plan I concoct because they're an American Outdoor Adventuring staple….don't mess with my s'more action, y'all )
Here I go again…..down a rabbit trail tossing popcorn. I could stay here for pages but I digress.
The real reason I wanted you to come by today was to
These words reverberate in my brain space as I drive down
Main Street contemplating the beautiful yet irritating story unfolding in my
neck of the woods. A story of a local
gal, a mutual friend of many friends, who struck it big when one of her blog
posts landed her a spot on The Today Show.
the dream from a distance...ANYTHING is possible if you only believe.
HUH?!?
Yes, you read correctly...The Today Show.
Now that I have your attention
I just miss you....I have so many stories I want to tell. Like how Marc and I ran across this rockin' bakery today in Oakhill (Austin, TX to my friends from around the globe) called Sweet Treets.
elegant, refined, delicate, fanciful yummy to the tummy ART is what we have here
click through to read entire post and see loads of pictures...
Ok so we're only on day 3 of
the 5 day adventure composition set in the rural mid-west (at least I think
Iowa is mid-west....I just wanted to use words other than corn, farm
& small town) you get the idea though because you, my friends, are smart
cookies (we balance each other quite well).
Oh boy, have I sure missed YOU!?! Life hasn’t slowed down & certainly if I’m
to once again Live Decorated I’ll have to make some serious adjustments....mainly
to FINALLY get moved out of this house.
Tomorrow will be ONE full week since Operation Adorable Small Town
MoveIn began.
The other day we were flying through Wimberley trying to make it to a 5pm appointment and as we whizzed past this cute little shop with these perfectly (ME) letters on the outside spelling "Love Home" I screeched "we've gotta go back there...did you see that shop?"
she sells these letter signs....how cool are they.
Nope, anyway off to our appointment.
Well, low and behold on our way
Take grocery shopping for example. Most times in my every day life I try to
approach each new moment as if it were an adventure. This is one way I personally Live
Decorated.
as you probably can tell I haven't been too hot on updating our blog....but if you do want more current updates please follow me on Instagram @LiveDecorated or Twitter @LiveDecorated or even one of my new favorites YouTube where we shoot random, spontaneous snapshots into our ever evolving world of joy & adventure.
I hope you'll join us......for now here's a little update for you from my sweet Insta-friend.
First you have a road trip adventure we took through some Texas small towns....i LOVE a good road trip!!!!
Here's a snippet from our small town Texas findings and the next place I want to pick when the picking budget increases:)
Capital of Texas Zoo is a hidden little gem outside of Austin
it's a must see....just be warned...they don't have any place to throw your trash:(
Here's a video from the zoo
Happy Valentine's Day....sad that the LAST cookie (and not even the prettiest) was when I remembered to take a memory shot of them....missed the polka dot one
My Honey planned a sweet picnic surprise under the huge oak trees for me & the boys
a client celebrated their grand opening for a community center they built. I was blessed to help select all the surfaces
including exterior selections.
my sweet Nissi kitty was literally folded into our blankets for a wee nap:) silly goose kitty
More fun to come this week as I overcome this sickness funk that seems to have taken my voice. Whispering across the house to a 4 and 2 year old has its challenges. Hopefully my voice returns before worship rehearsal tomorrow night:) thanks for your prayers and love.
How many of you love Christmas shopping? What about just giving gifts to people who make you a better you? Anyone brave enough(or crazy enough) to hit Black Friday this year? Anyone still have shopping to do? yes and yes and a big YES!
Last year was my first ever Black Friday experience and I decided to make an adventure of it without expectations of finding anything, just spreading some joy & to simply see what all the fuss was about. From 10:30pm to 5am I was all over Austin and even shot over to the Outlet Malls in San Marcos ...and had the time of my life--all alone! This year I attended A Christmas Affair (and one to remember that's for sure)
We've all done it. We drive past a cutie pie place your eyes just couldn't get enough of so you must stop for a look-see.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend my Honey and I were driving back to Aunt Sunday's house in Angleton, TX. I sat in the passenger seat (Instagramming my last visual catch)
A passion for decorating personal space doesn't require education or knowledge in the field. It starts with a knowing of how you like to live and what you want to surround yourself with everyday.
My family was visiting the local pumpkin patch for some fall pictures this past weekend and as soon as we were out of the truck T made a bee line for this ancient wagon that looked like it jumped out of Bonanza. Marc, being the rule-follower that he is (thank God for those), warned us we were treading on private property. We then moved to the street to take pictures of this beautiful relic. We weren't there but 15 seconds when
I love taking in art, culture, good music and interesting people so I was right at home this weekend in my small Texas town where we hosted the Buda Fine Arts and Jazz Festival.
Here an original work of art in the silent auction we were
One
thing is for sure: life is a blast and always an adventure. The past
week I've invited adventure by the dozens (up until the wee hours of the morning) so for this overview I've asked my delightful friend, Instagram, to help me highlight those moments.
small town charm I love to share with my friends in the big cities:)
The best in the whole state? Okay, maybe I'm speaking things into existence with that comment but this is only the first of many new ideas we have for my husband's real estate business.
Frozen Yogurt Bar...hello...you mean I get to make my own heavenly concoction? Watch me Live Decorated as I pile my bowl of Mountain Blackberry and New York Cheesecake sky high with cheesecake chunks and toffee bits....I'm definitely in the right place, y'all!
Tiernan's bowl...the colorful balls are just juice that look like candy
and the candy is chocolate covered sunflower seeds...
I'm not as bad of a mom as it looks:)
Can you think of something special you could do for your husband or wife to make their day or take some weight off their shoulders? Here's a project I completed in an afternoon in order to bless my husband and take one of the million things OFF his to-do list for a change. Ahhh....now that's love. That Love Dare book is obviously doing its work in me:)
I'm sure he's more thrilled that the nagging will finally stop about those dang shelves "that aren't even a necessity anyway"~my Honey quote
Watch the video...turn of events for sure. What I didn't get to show you (follow through isn't my strong suit) was that I painted & built the thing all myself and here's the joyful surprise...a month after installation they are STILL standing strong!! YAY!!!!
some ideas to get your brain cells moving:
doing the budget
paying the bills
cooking dinner
picking up dry cleaning
cleaning the toilets
taking them lunch to work
mowing the grass
planting some fresh flowers that he/she will see as they come home each day.
So as I've mentioned before I'm a bit behind on my video output...but here's a Sneak Peek:
Not only are you waiting to see Marc's office after the transformation....I'll also be bringing you an interview from one of the owners of the most awesome frozen yogurt "boutique" (that's what I'm calling it): Chill Out. You'll find them in the Target & Kohl's shopping center in Kyle, TX.
I have some inside info you'll want to know before even walking into a yogurt bar. Oh, yeah....keep watching.
Lightning speed, blink of
your eye, glimpse into the sweet funk of Wimberleystarts off with a deep conversation over kids &
outdoor activities.Ro & I are big
into the outdoors but I noticed I’ve not been as horse or hiking active as I
used to be before my 2 little blessings came into my life.So I start asking her how having 2 kids
affects her outdoor experience.
This is just a small taste
as we drive home from a day with the horses & kiddos (Ro & I share
similar passions as you’ll hear).I
apologize in advance as I would’ve had MUCH more footage had my memory tank not
given out on me (yet again)....when, I ask, will I finally invest in more
memory?????
The charm of the sweet
little Texas river town goes beyond words....though here I try to shape some
just for you.
Antiques, high end fashion,
décor, bath products, one of a kind gifts, art and
the list goes on and on. So basically, if you’re looking for a funky addition
to any décor and/or wardrobe you’re in the right place.The adorable boutiques sprawling through
downtown Wimberley and along the river will keep you busy for hours if not
days.Grab a coffee, take a stroll.Bring your lunch or pop into a local café.Artists and entrepreneurs
make Wimberley their home where peace and joy and unique flair abound.
The store I tried to share
with you is Star Antiques.My battery
ran out (go figure) as I was traipsing through her garden so I didn’t even get
any footage inside the shop but I guarantee her website doesn’t do her
justice.They sell loads of fun, one of
a kind items and specialize in vintage lighting.Since vintage anything usually catches my eye
and good lighting is one of the best investments you can make into your
home...the pair is perfect.I just might
make a special trip back just to get it on film for you but I can guarantee my
next client willing to launch outside the big box retailer world will have a
story to tell with their new lighting acquisition.
Twistie Tie:
If you have kids you must
introduce them to your world of activities and fun at a young age so they can
share your sense of adventure.On the
same note they pick up more than you think they do .....attitudes, tone of
voice, your habits, etc.God has been
majorly dealing with me about my attitude/frustration....so I’m bringing that to you.Let’s all check our hearts before we expect
our kiddos to check their hearts & attitudes.They will mirror what they see you do so make
sure you’re a GOOD example for them.WOW.....I’m learning that first hand RIGHT NOW!!!!
The one thing I’m grateful
for ...His
unconditional, faithful, never-ending, POWERFUL LOVE.When
I mess up I can ask His forgiveness & know I have it.I then have to ask my son to forgive me...and
the sweet thing is...he doesJWhat a great opportunity we have to shape our
little ones and draw them closer to the Father...who LOVES us all sooooooooo
much!
Love n cuddles.....and
Happy Happy Resurrection Day to all of you amazing folks out there!!!!
Trish
Oh and please remember to
teach your little ones that Easter is NOT about candy, hunting eggs and a
cuddly bunny (although all that can be super fun)....it’s about the death,
burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!It’s ALL about HIM...and His love for
you...and those little ones....please tell ‘em!
While driving to the carnival Saturday something
profound happened....we passed this family painting the sign outside their
neighborhood. Marc suggested I interview them....then I could hardly sit in my seat....I just had to find out why they
were doing this. Clearly there was a
story to tell & there we were...ready to get it.....thanks to my brilliant husband!
While simply asking if I could interview
them they told me they were doing this to show the love of Jesus! Immediately I
was brought to tears..... "the LOVE of
Jesus" she said. enter camera crew (my husband)
Wow!$20 may not
seem like a lot to you but for those folks driving home after a long day seeing
this cheerfully painted sign, even possibly experiencing the love poured out by
this family...by God, I venture to say the faces and hearts decorated with
smiles and joy are worth immeasurably more than the monetary value of the paint
or the time it took them to complete the work.
People making a difference!!!
Along the same lines:Last night we had Life Group at our home and
one of the ladies shared this.She told
God some time ago she wanted to honor Him even in the little things...to show
His love.So one day she and her
daughter were at a gas station when a lady came in frantically needing jumper
cables.No one had any...even the gas
station guys.My friend’s daughter felt
led to go to the back of the store and there on a low shelf she found a $7 set
of cables for sale.(even the workers
didn’t know they had them)However,
after urgently counting all her change the lady came up short.My friend, who saw it as an opportunity, stepped
up and bought the cables.Talk about sharing God’s love
on a practical level! Now, if you’re on this adventure
with me then you’re already seeking God for who He is and what He’s called you
to do in this life.....to fulfill His plan and purpose for you. So here’s the “Live Decorated” challenge. Find some small way
today to share the love of God with someone. just a few ideas to get the wheels of your imagination turning:
Buy lunch for the
person behind you in line at Chick-fil-A (or any fast food but this is my favorite!) and have the cashier give them a note that
says “God loves you”
Mow your
neighbor’s lawn (don’t forget to edge)
Take
a meal (with yummy dessert) to that person you know that just had a baby or came
out of surgery
Send a note of
encouragement to a friend in need
Post something
on craigslist for sale and when they try to pay GIVE it to them for free and
tell ‘em God loves them (that’s one of my favorites)
Offer to wash someone's car (or give 'em $10) without insulting them of course
Offer to babysit someone's little guys (for free) so Mama & Daddy can have a date night:)
Take someone's grocery cart back to the cart caddy in the parking lot....tell 'em how much God loves them.
Don’t limit yourself (or expect anything in return)!Being generous and using your imagination to
do it (like Alicia & Paul in the video above) the effects of your kindness
and generosity are limitless and ever spreading.
Ask God what to do then DO IT!!!
God loves
YOU and wants YOU to decorate your life from the inside out....then ALL
AROUND!!!!
Many hugs n painted signs coming your
way:)
xox Trish
For those of you waiting for something I
told you I’d be blogging about....hold your horses...I’m just a tad behind:)
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