Senior citizen

One of the traditions of being a senior is taking senior photos and mine are finally in. Even though, I got lost on the way to the shoot, got my first speeding ticket, and was an hour late; it was totally worth it. Susie, my photographer, is a close family friend and she did a fabulous job on my photos. She made the shoot fun and special. Susie even stop a little girl riding by on her bike and asked if we could use it for my pictures. Senior year is fabulous.

Outfit Breakdown

First outfit: dress- Forever 21  jacket-borrowed

Second outfit: blazer and dress- Kohls

Third outfit: necklace-Tiffanys  shirt-Kohls

Fourth outfit: shirt-Forever 21  cardigan-Target  jeans-Kohls  flats-Payless

Fifth outfit: Skirt- Forever21  YBK shirt- school  belt-Kohls  shoes-Charlotte Russe  flower-Forever 21

Other: boots-Charlotte Russe  longboard-Amazon  bike-borrowed 

How to make blueberry scones

Over the weekend my best friend held a brunch for all of our friends. All week I was very excited; yet, when the morning of the bunch came I completely forgot to make a dish to bring to the event. Quickly, I went the Food Network website and searched for an recipe that would be perfect to make in an hour or less. With luck, I found blueberry scones that only took thirty minutes. At first, I was a little hesitant for the fact that I've never made scones before. However, they turned out super well. On top of that, everyone really seemed to enjoy them at the brunch. You'll never know what happened when you take a little cooking risk

Easter dress

 Holidays are very important by the fact that they have a dress code. Easter represents the cool, spring Sunday morning dresses. This year since it was my last Easter at Central I wanted my dress to be special. The night before Easter service I found finally what I've been looking for. At Forever 21 there were cute maxi dresses on sale for $12; right in my budget! I added a lace, floral belt to help off set all the bright colors from the dress and cardigan. Looking back my Easter style has evolved greatly from bunny outfits to long dresses.

 18 years later

Outfit breakdown: dress- Forever 21 belt- Forever 21 shoes- Payless cardigan- Target necklace- Forever 21 bag- Christmas present

Happy Easter

I was at a brunch a couple days ago when some of the girls said to one another, "Happy Good Friday." That night the question was brought to me, "whats so good about Good Friday?" There's nothing good about it if you weren't to think about the Sunday that followed; Friday was a day of despair. How I look at the Gospels and think how much Satan must have loved this Friday. However, Sunday is God's refusal of Satan's day. The meaning behind Easter, I think I've missed before, is Jesus's suffering. "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the Devil's work" 1 John 3:8b. Easter's meaning is that the wrath of God was poured on Jesus so it wouldn't be on us. Jesus suffered the most awful death imaginable during that time so there could be a Sunday. During church this past weekend I learned a new detail about the story of Jesus that I've never truly noticed before. When Jesus came back after the resurrection he came to his disciples. Earlier one of this own stated that he wouldn't believe in Jesus if he didn't see the scars from the crucifixion himself. Suddenly, while all the disciples in a locked room Jesus appears. Yeah, that's cool walk through doors, that won't freak out anyone Jesus. Anyway, Jesus calls up Thomas and says, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." I never noticed that Jesus came back with scars. God didn't come back with his new body but with one that proved his love. When you see the scared Jesus, it makes sense. Lucky for us we have a God that gets it. That leads and loves and understands pain and has scars as well. When I put my scared hands in his; scared from pain and issues in my life, he says me too. Through the Sunday and through His scars there's healing from the Friday and any day that's knocked us down personally. God has a plan for the darkness and the meaning of Easter is that God is in control. "Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus" Galatians 6:17.

My favorite verse of all time is Isaiah 53:5 "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

When they know you by name it's time to get a punch card

It's like a game; the hunt to find new frozen yogurt places. Recently, I've found two recently opened establishments and they are delicious. Actually, they may bet some of my old favorites for the top spot. First, let me introduce you to Yogurt Kingdom.

Yogurt Kingdom has 14 delicious, unique flavors and a wide variety of toppings. So much so, that I went a little crazy and put most of the toppings on four different flavors. Oops!

 

I am so lucky my church family gets my strange obsession because one of my favorite leaders Jeannie took me to Yogurt Kingdom for the first time.

Meet my partner in crime when it comes to fro yo.

The coolest part about Yogurt Kingdom is the giant mural on the back wall. The owner's famous artist son painted this mind blowing picture of a yogurt kingdom. The fun part is there a couple hidden messages, animals, and names that represent the family.

This was my favorite part; Taylor and I found me in frog form. A blonde frog wearing a princess crown while reading "yogurt fitness" in the yogurt kingdom would be me if I were a animal.

Second, I've fallen in love with Yogurt Ranch.

I'll be completely honest, Yogurt Ranch is hands down the best tasting yogurt I've ever had. The family owned business is special because they treat and produce their yogurt differently and unlikely any other place I've ever gone too. Even though there is only six flavors at the moment they are well worth it. Their yogurt hits the spot. The toppings offered take the cake and I've had the best experiences with employees and owners. Their healthier yogurt is cheap for this budget girl as well

The best part about Yogurt Ranch is it's name. Every time I've brought up how much I love this place, whoever I'm talking with is repulsed by the name. On the other hand, I love it. The whole place is decorated with an western theme and they even have an horse that fro yo eaters of all ages can ride on. It's fro yo and fun mixed into one.

Check out these fabulous frozen yogurt places and any others that I find here in Arizona.

If I were a rich girl

While I was working at Village Inn my nickname was princess Melanie. So at my mom's wedding, when my godmother fairy godmother gave me three designer bags completely free it was my happily ever after. When I wore my new Prada purse to school the week after I just so happened to wear my Tiffany & Co. necklace as well. My best friend Kaylie commented on how I looked like a rich girl. This got me thinking; even though I'm about to attend college (in short, I'm broke) in fashion I can still dress like I have lots of lettuce. I look at the future princess Kate Middleton and think how easy her style is to copy. Wearing silkily fabric and keeping it simply is the key to looking like a rich girl...even when you're not.   

Outfit Breakdown: dress-Kohls shoes- Steve Madden ring- Forever 21 bracelet- Tiffany & Co. bag- Prada sunglasses-D&G knock offs

The me I want to be

My biggest guilty pleasures is self help books. I adore reading other's opinion about life and maybe taking away their life lessons. At the moment I am reading a book called "The Me I Want To Be: becoming God's best version of you" by John Ortberg. I tried reading this book over the summer in my book club but I run out of time. Fast forward to last week when it looked so lonely on my bookshelf and I decided to see what it could give me insight on. Within the first couple chapters I've already learned a lot. In chapter two, the author states that "we do not drift into becoming the best version of ourselves." Then, he breaks it down into the different rivals that keep us from becoming the type of people we want to be. Here is the breakdown and my favorite quotes from each section.

The Me I Pretend To Be
"God designed us to delight in our actual lives."
"We never have to pretend with God, and genuine brokenness pleases God more than pretend spirituality."

The Me I Think I Should Be

"Comparison kills spiritual growth."
"Each one of us has a me that we think we should be, which is at odds with the me God made us to be. Sometimes letting go of that self may be a relief. Sometimes it will feel like death."
"Should is an important word for spiritual growth, but God's plan is not for you to obey him because you should even though you don't want to. He made you to want his plan for you."

The Me Other People Want Me To Be (this is the one I deal with the most)

"Everyone in your life wants you to change...everybody had an agenda for you. This is the me other people want you to be."
"If I spend my life trying to becoming that me, I will never be free. Loving people means being willing to disappoint them sometimes. Jesus loved everyone, but that means at some point he disappointed everyone. Seeking to becoming the me that other people want me to be is a hollow way to live. Nobody else can tell you exactly how to change because nobody but God knows."
"He made you to be you-and no human being in your life gets the final word on who God made you to be."

The Me I'm Afraid God Wants
"There is an enormous difference between following rules and following Jesus, because I can follow the rules without cultivating the right heart."
"Jesus did not say, 'I have come that you might follow the rules.' He said, 'I have come that you might have life, and have it with abundance.'"

The Me That Fails To Be
"Languishing is the opposite of flourishing, and it was the fear of Henry David Thoreau that 'when I came to die, I would discover that I had not lived.'"

The Me I Am Meant To Be"God wants you to grow! He created the very idea of growth...Paul said that in Christ the whole redeemed community 'grows and builds itself up in love.'"
"God designed you to flourish 'so that' you could be part of his redemptive project in ways that you otherwise could not."
"Jesus once said that with God, all things are possible, and the great thing about life with God is that your next step is always possible. That step toward God is always waiting, no matter what you have done or how you have messed up your  life. Jesus was hanging on a cross with a thief hanging next to him, and Jesus turned to him and said, 'Today you will be with me in paradise."

It was total accident that I started to read this book. At the moment, I'm reading four other books but I had a strong urge to pick up this one. To be completely honest, I deal with who I want to be. I believe this is rooted in the fact I want to make everyone in my life proud. My parents, my friends, my church leaders the list goes on. I struggle with who I want to be while trying to live up to what others tell me. I'm thankful I've discovered this problem within myself and am starting to process through it before I move out and become my own. I am really stoked to see what else the book has to offer. I want to end with a paragraph the author wrote that I thought was the most encouraging and impacted me the most.

"Even you can't tell yourself how to change, because you didn't create you. To Love someone is to desire and work toward their becoming the best version of themselves. The one person in all the universe who can do this perfectly for you is God. He had no other agenda. He had no unmet needs he is hoping you can help him with. And he knows what the best version of you looks like. He delighted in the idea of it, and he is already working on it. The apostle Paul said, 'We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.' Which means God is at work every moment to help you become his best version of you."

Love endures

In my March Madness post I wrote about how my mom was getting married within the upcoming weeks. With that, the wedding has come and gone and I must say it went flawlessly. My mom looked beautiful and the whole night was proof how great true love is. One of my goals for the wedding was to give a toast at the reception. Moments before, I went up to speak I became so nervous; however, it didn't matter because it was a breeze. I hoped my speech captured how I felt about Steve and my mom's relationship and I believe it did when my mom said to me at the end of the night that I made her wedding day perfect. Here is a copy of my toast and I hope that one day I find what my mom waited for.


 

For the past 18 years my mom had given me so many important life lessons. From how to drive stick shift to how to handle all my adolescent problems my mom has been my guide through it all. With every situation she has been the strongest and most admired women in my life. For that, I am truly grateful for all her advice and words of wisdom being a light in my path. However, there was something that she once told me that I can’t quiet agree with. My mom always said true love is easy. Yes, that statement could be true but when I look at my mom and her new husband easy doesn’t come to mind. I witness their love story and think after years and years of finally getting to this day easy is not the adjective to begin to describe it. What I feel my mom tried to say is that true love endures. Love endures miles, minutes, and many lost opportunities. Steve and Jo are the perfect example of love enduring all. For their two hearts to endure all the hard to somehow by God’s plan to come to this day. Jo and Steve’s love endured 38 years, 730 miles from here to Id, and a health scare and now it’s just easy for with each other they proven their love can and will endure all for the rest of their lives. It is an honor to not only hear of their love but to be a part of it. I am so blessed to have Steve in our family and it’s a privilege to call him my dad. Here’s a toast to my mom and Steve for tonight is the beginning of always. For tonight is mere formality, only an announcement to the world of feelings long held. For a belief in each other and a decision to ignore or simply rise above the pain of past. The covenant that once ties two souls, the celebration of the chance taken and the challenge that lies ahead. For two will always be better than one and for love that endures all.

Oh you know the usual

I've been noticing an odd trend that's occurring in my day to day life. Nothing is changing. Yes, I am a senior and graduating and those two facts should mean that my world is constantly moving at changing, fast pace. Looking past these two reasons my world is in a weird standstill where everything in my life is the same. I really noticed this while at my mom's rehearsal dinner; whenever, one of her friends asked about my life it went something along the lines of...

"Whats new, Melanie?"

"Well I'm going to Colorado for college."

"Yeah I know"

"Uhh I found my prom dress."

"Yup I already saw it."

"Um..well...I tripped walking to the class the other day."

"What else is new?"

It's just been the same old same old lately and not that I'm complaining but this trend has carried over to my closest. I haven't been buying any new clothes for the past couple weeks and because of this I rely on my usual go to outfit. Strips and skirts are perfect for the normal, mundane day. As well as it's cute and casual. I thought it was very fitting to take photos of this outfit at the place I eat at everyday and bring along my H&M bag that I wear to school all the time. It's crazy to know my world is constantly changing but most aspects stay the same.

My love for ice cream will most likely never change.

This is the face I make when my sandwich order takes too long.

Yes, I would eat at place sells Naked Juice. Not much changes.

Outfit Breakdown: shirt-Forever 21 skirt- thrift store belt- JCPenny shoes- Payless bag- H&M