I know I haven't been a good blogger lately, but life is just so busy! I am just completely in love with my life and thrilled about where things are going! I just keep thinking to this time a year ago and how unhappy I was. Of course I pretended to be happy but...... Anyways, I got formally pledged into Phi Mu on Sunday! It was so special. It hasn't even been a month since I became apart of this society and I already have friends that'll be around for life. Of course I will always have the best friends I grew up with, but this is a different relationship. I just love it in every way! Mom and Tony came down Sunday which was great. I was sad Sunday night after everything calmed down and I just went and cried to Laura. I know that wasn't a huge event that happened but it's the little things like that which make me miss my dad and realize he's not going to be here for all the big(or little) events. I know he's so proud of me tho!! Tonight we had a Phi meeting and I got my first present from my big! A ladybug stuffed animal and some candy! I love it!!!! I was going to but myself a stuffed animal for Valentine's Day, but I'm glad now that I didn't! Im going to try my BEST to post something of importance tomorrow!! LOVES!!

Music Monday

Here's just a few songs with the word LOVE in the title..

Lee Brice- Love Like Crazy

Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse I Love You

Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common since

Never let your prayin knees get lazy

And love like crazy

My ideal relationship

Jason Aldean- You’re the Love I Wanna Be In

I wanna be there when you wake up,

Be more than just your friend.

Baby there's no mistakin',

You're the love I wanna be in, ah yeah.

I just love this song

Eric Church- Those I’ve Loved

She had a ribbon in her hair the day I met her

That whole next year we couldn’t get enough

And after graduation she took off for Denver

And for awhile we both tried to keep in touch

She was my best friend

And it broke my heart

But I don’t regret the day that she became

One of those I’ve loved along the way

Don't regret it.... just another fav.

Lady Antebellum- Ready to Love Again

Seems I was walking in the wrong direction

I barely recognized my own reflection, no

Scared of love, but scared of life alone

Seems I've been playin' on the safe side baby

Building walls around my heart to save me, oh

But it's time for me to let it go.

Yeah, I'm ready to feel now

No longer am I 'fraid of the fall down

It must be time to move on now

Without the fear of how it might end

I guess I'm ready to love again.

MY LIFE

All For One- I Can Love You Like That

They read you Cinderella

You hoped it would come true

That one day your Prince Charming

Would come rescue you

You like romantic movies

You never will forget

The way you felt when Romeo kissed Juliet

All this time that you've been waiting

You don't have to wait no more

I can love you like that

ALL TIME FAVORITE! I remember jamming tot his as a child! ha!

Happy Valentine's Day

A women's heart should be so lost in God that a man needs to

seek him to find her!

We all have a the greatest Valentine whose love for us is unconditional and never-ending, Jesus Christ.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Monday Music

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! I did for sure! We had Step Sing on Thursday and Friday and I loved watching all my sisters in it! Then I went home Saturday morning and was there for about 5 hours then drove to Auburn to surprise my besties! They were SO shocked! I had to tell Haley she could touch me because she looked like she had just seen a ghost! We had a blast as usual. I don't want to ever imagine my life without those girls! I made a CD to jam to on my way back to Florence and loved all of the songs. Which isn't unusual, because I often find myself saying, "Oh my gosh I love this song!" So here's a few that describe my current feelings/life situation.

Amy Dalley- I Think You're Beautiful

"And I'm not sure why I deserve this life, but I'm so thankful that it's mine"

I feel this way every single day.

Bomshel- 19 and Crazy

"Bein' free, bein' wild, bein' bulletproof. Back then we were rebels without a clue. Nothin' in the world that we wouldn't do, didn't give a da** what people say. We were doin' it, doin' it our way I wish that we could always stay 19 and crazy"

This would describe my weekend perfectly. I decided that I was only young once so I might as well just GO! 19 and CrAzY for sure!

Bomshel- Love Me For Me

"I’m gonna live my life out loud, sing the truth, lay it all right out there for the whole wide world to see and if you’re goin to love me, then you’re goin to love me for me, yeah. Ohh, I’m livin' my life day by day And I’m through basing it off what others say is right."

This goes along with the PH post. He will love me for me, or not love me at all ;)

David Nail- Turning Home

"Usually take one last pass through town stop the car and touch the ground. Watch those streetlights swayin in the breeze. Decorated store fronts, rusty old gas pumps. Try to fill my mind up with somethin before I go. Picture postcard memories you know they always make for good company. I don’t know no town, like the old town even when the miles are many I feel like I’m still around; deep inside me like rings through an oak tree. Yeah, there something bout a Sunday when I’m gone that keeps me turning home. Stories I’ll never forget and I don’t know no friends like the old friends. I never seem to laugh now Like I did with them but deep inside me a piece of history. Yeah, I hear their voices even though they’re gone and it keeps me turning home. Never twice the same way does it start and sure enough he stole my heart...."

This song just makes my heart happy. It reminds me of some of the best times I've had, so far. I was driving back to Florence on Sunday and I listened to this song probably 5 times.

Garrett Hedlund- Timing Is Everything

"When the stars line up and you catch a good break and people think your lucky but you know it’s grace it can happen so fast or a little bit late timing is everything. You know I’ve had close calls when it could have been me. I was young when I learned just how fragile life could be. I lost friends of mine..Timing is everything."

Timing is everything... so true. And I was young when I learned how fragile life is.

Gywnth Paltrow- A Fighter

“They say you get stronger in the broken places when you lean into the crisis that your facing. In your weakness your made strong. They say when you've fallen off a horse the first thing you gotta do of course is climb right back on.”

I truly believe that hard times make you stronger

So there's my playlist for the week! Hopefully I will do "Music Monday" Every Monday!!

Play The Song!!!

I had to post again because this just made my day! I was at the gym and as I was leaving the restroom there was a post-it note on the stall door that said...."Have a GREAT day, you're BEAUTIFUL!" and Psalm 105:4. I was like oh my goodness! Just what I needed. Because me and the gym were NOT getting along today! I have been the past 3 days and worked out hard and I did not want to be there tonight. But I went and saw this little happy and it was encouraging for me! I immediately looked up the bible verse when I got back to my room and it is "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." Just. What. I. Needed. I decided to look and see if someone had placed them on every stall door.. and they did.. but I decided since it was just on a post-it that it was okay for me to take it. Surely they replace them. I love the little ways that God speaks to us throughout each day. As soon as I read the verse, a song came into my mind.. Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns..

Oh, what I would do
to have the kind of strength it takes
To stand before a giant
with just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound
of a thousand warriors
shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out
my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
time and time again
"Boy you'll never win,
you'll never win."
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth...

I wanted to post those lyrics because in my story, the giant is the gym/working out. And the devil in my head saying, "You can't do this. You have tried this many times. It never works....." and so on. Going to the gym and getting in shape is tough stuff and it can be very discouraging. However, the voice of Truth tells me that "Go Riley, You can do this! Rock on!" and the little note I found in the bathroom was just the proof/truth/hope that I needed. :) I hope y'all have little happy's like this bless you!

Gift Ideas

I was searching the Nordstrom website just for fun and stumbled across some Valentine's items.. so here's a preview of some cute gift ideas..

Key to My Heart Necklace by Nadri. Some may find it cheesy for a guy to give a girl a necklace such as this, but I think it can be kind of cute! $68

Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q- Percy crossbody. Oh my word I love this!!!!!!! I love a crossbody bag and this one is so adorable! Love the red! $198

Kiss me with Kiehl's. A perfect gift for a friend or loved one. It has 4 lip balms in original, mint, vanilla, and mango! $34.. a girl can never have too many glosses/balms!

I realized my love for philosophy when we were out in Seattle. I think I had about 4 of the big shampoo/conditioner/body washes. They were "all in one", and yummy scents! This set comes with 'candy hearts' shampoo/shower gel/bubble bath, body lotion, and high-gloss high-flavor lip shine! $25

Cute and simple little Juicy Couture "colorful threads twist around a glittering line of rhinestones in a girly wrap bracelet that ends in a heart toggle". $48

I LOVE DOGEARED!! Fo real! I love the sweet simplicity they offer with their designs, and the little messages. AHH so me! The first one would be a cute gift to a friend and the second for the lady in a man's life! Haha!

Happy Shopping! (all of this can be found on Nordstrom's website!)

February

HAPPY FEBRUARY!!!!! I can't believe one month of 2011 has come and gone! It was definitely a great one and one that has forever changed my life. Lots of big events that I am so lucky have taken place!! I love February because of Valentine's Day! All the cute decorations and when I was in grade school taking valentine's to my class.. and covering shoe boxes to put all my valentine's in... I MISS IT!! haha Hopefully I'll have time to make and post some cute Valentines crafts and goodies! I'm planning on making some valentines cake balls and cookies for my friends here in Florence! They haven't tried any yet and they're begging me! I also found these super cute heart shaped cupcake/brownie tins that I think I will make brownies in! It's a fun time! Anyways for now....How cute are these butterfly valentine's!!!

BUTTERFLY VALENTINES

These lollipop butterflies make the perfect Valentine's craft for kids from SkipToMyLou.org. You can give them some personal flair with your color choices, glitter, and other drawings made just by your child. These make great favors and a different kind of Valentine's Day card that anyone is sure to love!

Materials
Printer
Colored card-stock
Wiggly eyes
Red/white/pink suckers
Tape
Scissors
Glitter/markers/crayons, if desired for decorating

Directions
1. Download Butterfly Valentine.
2. Print on colored card-stock. Pink and red are the best for this, but you can also use a variety of other colors if your child desires.
3. Cut out the butterfly and make slits for your sucker.
4. Add some decorations (cut out shapes of paper, stickers, glitter, etc.),
5. Insert sucker and then add some wiggly eyes to the top of the sucker.
6. Add a piece of tape to the back to keep the sucker securely in place.