Do it
Sweet Tea + Lemonade
It has been so hot here in Oklahoma, I seem to grab for a sweet iced tea or lemonade every afternoon. It’s the season for them! I personally love to add a lemon and sprig of fresh mint in my tea. Ashley shared her recipe for her lemonade that I tried yesterday – it is amazing!
Boil 4 cups of water with 4 cups of sugar to create a simple syrup, then mix with the juice of 8 lemons. Mix in the zest of 2 lemons. Pour into half of a pitcher, fill the rest with water and enjoy!
She also recommended to save 1/4 cup of the simple syrup and mix with sparkling water and some lemon juice for a refreshing mocktail. Yum!
Father’s Day
To the man who taught me
how to man up with the going gets tough,
yet would oblige every tea party.
To the man who taught me how to fish,
even when I caught the same poor bass
at least eight times in a row.
To the man who taught me
the importance of hard work by example,
attending full time school with a full time job and family.
To the man who served
as my announcer when I put on living rooms shows,
then later one of my biggest supporters
when I had to finally stop dancing.
To the man who taught me to
take it easy
through singing to The Eagles and Alabama
on every road trip.
To the man who loved me first.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad! Love you!
Greater
Your greatest limitation is
God’s greatest opportunity.
- Steven Furtick, Greater
Flag Day Giveaway
Hazel and Olive is back today with another fantastic giveaway that I am so excited about – not just because it’s for one of their best-selling scarves, but because they donate 100% of the proceeds of this scarf to the Wounded Warrior Project. How amazing is that?!
With the 4th of July just two weeks away and dreams of pool-side lounging and BBQ on your mind, I just think this flag scarf would be perfect with your red, white and blue ensemble or even as a sarong. Enter below. Random winner will be selected on Friday, June 21st. Good luck!
More Love
Image by Caroline Rentzel, Flowers by Poppy Lane Designs, for Rekindled Vintage Rentals
My study of Corinthians this month has been so much about love,
especially the famous I Corinthians 13 recited at nearly every wedding.
The past few months have been unbelievable,
God revealing Himself through people and little happenings.
And despite this roller coaster life,
it blows my mind that the future holds
even more inconceivable blessings.
As the wind changes and ushers in a new season
so must my heart in order to receive those blessings
and walk in His amazing path for me.
Loving more.
Hustling just a little less.
Focusing on what matters most.
And not being wise in my own eyes.
*Image from a recent Rekindled Rentals shoot…can’t wait to share more from Kylie and Molly!
Farewell Peonies
This weekend, I picked up one of the last bunches of peonies left at the store. It always makes me sad to see them begin to fade away at the markets. Peonies usher in warmer weather, prettier days and the beginning of fun times outdoors. Our house never smells so good as it does during peony season. Each day before I leave work, I have to stop and smell them, knowing that at any moment, I’ll come home and they will have wilted away. One season ends and another begins. As much as I don’t like waiting another year to enjoy my favorite flower, they did not lie, fun times are on the horizon as summer kicks off soon and their scent is exchanged for scents of coconut oil and fresh air. Their pretty pink hues leave and are replaced with bright neon swimsuits and blue lake water. Hot jasmine tea is put away in the pantry and homemade lemonade or sweet iced tea with a sprig of mint makes a refreshing comeback in my hand. Shades are on and hair goes into a messy topknot, music turned up. Farewell, peonies – it’s summertime!
the training plan
Happy Tuesday, Katie O’Keefe blog readers! I was so honored when Katie asked me to contribute to the blog because her content is so honest, real and wonderfully done. You can expect a lot of my posts to be fitness and be health related, but I’ll keep you on your toes and sprinkle in some random thoughts every now and then.
It only seemed logical to me for my first post to chat about the importance of a training plan when you tackle a new fitness goal. Let’s be honest, half of the battle when trying something new is figuring out where to start. When I first started running I was completely lost in the clutter of running literature and essentially decided to wing it. It wasn’t until six months later, when I committed to running a half marathon with a group of my sorority sisters, that I learned the value of a quality training plan.
From 5k to marathon and every distance in between, Hal Higdon has a training plan for runners of every level. For my first half marathon I followed the twelve week “Novice 1” training plan, not deterring from a single workout. And you know what, I was prepared! The second half marathon was even easier, and twelve minutes faster, after being dedicated to the plan for another twelve weeks. Not only do the training plans prepare you for the distance you are going to tackle race day, but they also give you the confidence that your goal is within reach.
Now that I’m a bit more experienced and know what my body needs to be prepared, I prefer to create my own training plans. I’d be lying though if I said they weren’t loosely based on the plan where it all started.
While most of my experience with a training plan relates to running, finding a training plan for any fitness goal is equally as important. Without a doubt you are much more apt to stay on track, feel prepared and be confident in what you are striving for if you have a plan to guide you.
Meredith
Real Life
Hello, lovelies!
This weekend, I took a social media hiatus. It was nice.
Life has been a little too busy
and spending time on social media and my iPhone
has taken what precious time I do have away from what matters most.
I don’t want to waste my life on Instagram or Facebook.
They’re great, but real life is way better.
So, for the rest of this week until things settle down
my posts may be just a little more sparse than usual.
However, be sure to stop by tomorrow and say hi to Meredith and her very first fitness post.
She has some great advice to share you don’t want to miss!
Then don’t forget to enter this awesome giveaway.
Need a good read? I just finished this great book as recommended by another sweet Meredith.
Or also, check out this fairly new magazine I’m just ga-ga over.
Hope you have a lovely week!
Lovely Sunday Morning
