So Sweet.

I heard this song today and cried and cried.

To Make You Feel My Love- Jon Peter Lewis.

Possibly the sweetest song I've ever heard.

New Year's Resolutions.

This year, my New Year's Resolutions are taking on a new form. 2011 is going to be the year I truly begin to be content with myself: my size, my personality, my flaws, my obsessions, my quirks, my habits and my infatuations. I've started to realize that it's okay to be me. I guess this is what everyone is talking about when they say "find yourself", or "figure out who you are going to be". Those concepts sound kinda psycho when you don't understand them.. but as soon as you get to this place- it all makes sense. All of a sudden I understand. All those opinions I let shape and mold me, whether for better or worse, they did shape me. I do regret not loving myself more, not respecting myself more, not being more selfish. Wow, what a thought to reveal. It's true though, and it'd be a lie not to say it. 2011 I will prove to myself that I am beautiful, I can be thoughtful, generous, kind, and more all while being sane and happy. Here's to 2011!

1. Devote to strict workout plan: yoga & aerobics. Dedicate the hour to make myself better, physically and mentally.

2. Prove to myself that I am worth .

3. Keep a positive attitude.

4. Minister to children: shelters, charities, etc.

5. Worry less; trust Him more.

6. Surround myself with people that love and care about me; those that make me happy.

7. Goof off more.

8. Read the Bible through.

9. Study God's word more often and do my best to learn what His will for me is.

10. Learn to speak Spanish fluently, learn to speak French.

11. Learn to cook ( well).

12. Start eating healthier!

13. Read more than ever (maybe 50 books or so).

14. Start weekly "What I'm reading " posts.

15.Enjoy life.

I pray that 2011 brings you many blessings and happiness.

xoxo

Almost New Years!

My new years plans aren't what I had thought they would be, but I'm excited for them! I'm still developing my new year's resolutions for this year and I'll post a select few of them soon :). I'm super stoked about 2011 and can't wait to see what it will bring! Even though my future is a huge question mark now- sometimes not having any plans is good. Sometimes risks and not having every minute planned can be good in life. This is a very foreign concept for me since I tend to be a control freak/perfectionist/ organization freak; change is cleansing. I don't regret my past, though. I believe that everything happens for a reason and the future is totally in God's hands. I guess we will see what becomes of it . . . .

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Bow Obsessed.

I'm entirely obsessed with bows.
on cute tees. .

in hair . .

on bags . .

on dresses . .

on skirts . . .

on shoes . . .
Photos: Via, Via, Via, Via, Via,

Happy Thursday!

What I'm Loving

What I'm loving this week:

This super cute top I found at Gap for like $11.00!

Amanzi Tea. I love their shaken lemonade! My favorite is the mixed berry shaken lemonade. Yum!

I'm loving that I've gotten to catch up on Glee while recovering. This show totally cracks me up and puts me in a better mood :).

I'm loving that it won't be too long before I get to go back to yoga! It always makes me feel so revived; I've really missed it.

For some strange reason , I've been craving cheese quesadillas this week. During my recovery I've wanted them, but (obviously) couldn't have them. I had one yesterday and it was uh-maze-ing. It inspires me to start making my own... but I just can't make them like this one restaurant!

Photos: Via, Via, Via, Via,

Christmas Cupcakes.

I'm letting out a huge sigh of relief now that the Christmas festivities are finished. I love Christmas, but this year was a challenge for sure with my recovering falling on the same week. This week, I'm focusing on keeping hydrated and attempting to build up my diet again. My sister, Grace, and I made Chocolate Mocha cupcakes this afternoon, and I decorated them with red and green sparkles. I was very pleased with the final product =).

We mixed instant coffee into the cake mix ; they turned out so yummy!

These are one of the first treats on my cooking expedition. I'm putting together a cookbook of my favorite recipes and treats just to have. I'll be sure to post some of my favorites on here as well.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, friends!

I'm so excited to celebrate the birthday of our king, Happy Birthday Jesus! I am so thankful that God sent his son to be born of a virgin and life a pure life, that we could live by his example. And then for that son to have to die for our sins-- what love! “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Christmas is such a promise, a reminder of how much our Savior loves and cares for us, and how he has planned each of our lives to be exactly what they are today. I am very blessed this Christmas. I am spending the evening celebrating with my mom's sweet family (hopefully I will feel up to it; i'm still recovering!) . I'm so glad to have the sweetest man in the world as my boyfriend, best friend, and love. I'm so grateful to have such a great life- though it has it's ups and downs-I'm a child of the king, King of the World! I encourage you to be sure to thank him and recognize all that he's done for you. Tell him how happy you are to be his child and be inspired to live for him- knowing it will be well worth it all. Merry Christmas, to you and your family!

I suppose I should begin making new years resolutions soon ..

xoxo

Photos: Via

No facebook

I've decided to log off of facebook for a week, and if that goes well maybe even terminate my account. I know, facebook is a wonderful tool for building friendships and helping long distance friendships to last - but lately I haven't been seeing the benefits of facebook. Instead, I often see a gossip stream, a place that inspires people to get nosy in each other's business. Facebook is often a relationship hinder as well. People get so consumed with what a person's status is - - it really just takes the fun out. Now, you are probably wondering if facebook had anything to do with mine and Bart's breakup, but I assure you it had nothing to do with it. I look back now and realize all the issues that facebook caused throughout our relationship, and I'm not about to repeat those again. So, if you're looking for me on facebook now you'll know why you can't find me :).

Handy Secret

If you do any online shopping, you'd be smart to check out Ebates. It pays you to shop online! This is not a scam- my mom uses it all the time ;).


Happy Tuesday

xoxo

Thank God for Haagen- Dazs

I finally forced down some frozen yogurt today: Haagen Dazs coffee flavored. The taste was so yummy, but it didn't make up for the stress of trying to swallow it. Tomorrow will be a week from my surgery, but it doesn't feel like it's been that long. I felt so completely amazing while in the hospital- I was ready to talk and laugh all night! Apparently the anesthesia doesn't wear off for about 24 hours so I was still really doped up. I told the nurse that if they gave me some of what I was on for recovery that I would be just fine! The nurses laughed at me. I see why, now. This recovery has been pretty hard, and this morning was horrible. My mom has slowly been trying to ease me off the the Lortab (apparently it's addictive or something?!?) but I'm in a crazy amount of pain and not ready to stop the meds yet. Even though the recovery has been pretty grueling ( and it's not even over yet) and hard, it has had it's upsides:

- Lots more jacuzzi time!

- Losing down to 105 lbs. ( Now before you freak out on me, know that as soon as I start eating again those 10 pounds will come back faster than you can blink. I can assure you.)

- Having a lot more time to spend reading. I've read so much of A Woman After God's Own Heart lately, and it's been such a blessing to me. I've really had time to concentrate on my life and really analyze what is going on, what has happened, and why I think things have happened. I've really changed my perspective a lot on who God wants me to be, and I'm going to strive to constantly keep his view in perspective.

- I get to enjoy Haagen-Dazs without the horrible guilt that comes after eating a full pint.

- I have gotten to catch up on my sleep ( not that I was really behind).

xoxo

Prayer Request:

Please pray for a dear friend of mine. She is going to have some tests and work done at the hospital tomorrow and I am sure that she is dreading it. Her name is Jane, and I'm sure that she would appreciate any prayers. I'm praying that the Lord will give her strength and patience, and that she will be calm and trust in Him. I'm praying that the procedures will go very well and that the time would go quickly for her during them. I'm also praying that God will show his incredible peace and grace to her, and that she will be in the least amount of pain possible. I am sure that God will help her through this!

Thanks again,

A must read!

I recently started reading: A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George.

This book has opened my eyes greatly in such a short amount of time. I began reading it a few days ago, but wasn't really feeling well enough to get much done. Last night I sat down and got through about thirty pages. This book is life changing. I highly recommend this book for any woman to read- at any age. This is not the type of book that you want to finish in a week though. To really grasp the information you need to sit down, alone, by yourself and really put your life in perspective as you read the book ( in order to really gain from it, I think). Here are some useful tidbits that I jotted down from the book; they are so easy to understand and so right on!

"If He doesn't meet it, you don't need it." This one is is so useful for women who love to shop! If God doesn't give us the sufficient funds for that new pair of heels.... we probably don't need them as much as we think we do!

"Make no decision without prayer." This one is useful for both genders, but sometimes easy to forget out. We often get so caught up in the moment that we forget to ask the man in charge what we should do. By stopping for a minute or two and asking for help we allow God to direct out thoughts and actions, and keep ourselves from making irrational, dumb decisions.

"God will take you as far as you want to go, as fast as you want to go." This one really got me. It's so true. God is more than willing to go the distance for us- but are we for Him? He doesn't put any restrictions on us.. we put them on ourselves! We decide how much we want to read the Bible, pray, worship Him. We are in total control of what happens in our relationship with God. If we choose to refuse Him, why are we shocked when we aren't growing spiritually? This quote is so blunt and true to me.

Here are a few more pointers I picked:

- Desire to have a heart devoted to God.

- Desire to have a heart abiding in God's Word ( devotions draw us near).

- Desire a committed heart to prayer. ( blessings: deeper relationship, greater purity, contentment, God confidence, confidence in making decisions, and improved relationships).

God wants to give us so much... if we devote our lives to Him and seek to make Him happy- we in return will we happy as well! Totally guaranteed . When you feel the peace of the Lord with you, when you know that you are obeying Him, you will want nothing else. He truly is all we need!!

God has created us to be " gifts" or blessings to those around us. This Christmas, try to be that gift to the people close to you.

BFF visit =).

Today my sweet friends dropped by to cheer me up. They stayed for a good while, and when they left I was pleasantly tired and very encouraged. Sometimes a girl just needs her friends.

Haley brought me some "get well gifts" that really cheered me up.

~ A pair of really cute, dangly earrings! ( In pink, my favorite color)

~ A light pink thermos . (perfect for all the coffee and tea I drink)

~ A festive pair of ornament socks =). ( to cheer me up while I'm recovering)

~ A very sweet, encouraging card to make me smile.

Haley and McKenzie, thanks so much for stopping by for a visit! I love you guys so much and really appreciate both of you :D.

Have a wonderful week of Christmas,

xoxo

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photo: via

I love this song.

I love this song- especially right now. It's such a comfort to me! We really can feel safe in His arms, trust Him with our lives, and live for Him without any regrets. Any time we spend for Him is time spent in the best possible way. Our lives are so microscopic in God's big plan. The least we can do with them is live them for Him, and give Him the honor and praise that He deserves. I regret not crediting Him more often, and I will do my best from now on to give Him more praise; He deserves so much more than I could ever imagine giving Him.

Safe Lyrics

(Feat. Bart Millard)


Verse:
To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone

Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong he'll never let you go
oh you're not alone

Chorus:
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms

Verse 2:
Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone

Bridge:
These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas

These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me

These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free

Need a Babysitter/ Nanny?

I'm thrilled to inform you that I'm going to be a full time Babysitter/Nanny beginning 2011! I've been praying for just the right job, and I feel like God is really drawing me towards children. I will also be completing my CPR training in the month of January. I will be glad to visit the following areas: Easley, Sunset, Clemson, parts of Greenville, Pickens, and nearby areas. Depending on duration of sitting I may be able to travel farther. I have an extremely flexible schedule and am more than willing to work with you. Want a mom's night out? date night? parent vacation or mini vacation? Contact me!

My email: katelisehut@gmail.com

My new personal blog

My Facebook: Kathryn Elise

SitterCity Profile: EHutton, Sunset SC

Thanks a bunch and Merry Christmas!

Weekend Inspiration

I'm spending an incredible amount of time on Blogger this weekend, but I guess it'll just be one of those weekends. I found this cool site and I'm now obsessed with it. I'm constantly searching through pictures looking for just the right one- and I must say- there are some pretty nifty ones on there! Here are a few pictures to brighten up your weekend ( and mine as well).

I love this. Heart yourself first. This is so true! So many people hate themselves and then are curious why others don't give them the respect and love that they deserve. In society, you must love yourself. Forgive your flaws! I'm not saying that you should never scold yourself or that you should strive to be a better person, but stop being so nit picky! Hating yourself is only going to complicate your problems further.

I thought this picture was great because it totally contrasts my post a couple of weeks ago ( when I wrote that presentation on the weight obsession) with the scales that said : FAT across the screen. All too often, we women rely on people, magazines, scales, and other sources to tell us if we are beautiful. Stop asking- we are.

This picture really makes me smile. Doesn't it remind you of those times when you're looking for just the right dress? You're going to a party or on a date, so you blast your radio up super loud, dance around in your slip and curl your hair. This reminds me of those quick, feelgood moments we have that make us so happy!

I'm a huge fan of lace -especially this season- and black is said to be the female "power" color. That explains why my wardrobe has so much black in it. This outfit is very sweet, but it also says I mean business, so don't tease me. Cute!

I'm so inspired by the warmth I receive from my friends. No matter what painful experience I'm going through, they are always there waiting to catch me. A true friend is someone who is always there, even in the times that they don't want to be there. I have some of the greatest people in the world as my friends, and I thank God for them often. I'm so glad that God gives us such sweet people in our lives here on earth. I am so very blessed.

Truth:

Sometimes we have these plans in life, and we think they are perfect. We think that we have life all figured out and that everything will just keep going as planned. The Lord is showing me more and more that I really don't know what life is about. When I think I've found my way and don't need any help, he shows me that I am so wrong. I have to trust Him, even when I don't feel like it.

Today, I learned a big lesson. My boyfriend of almost two years and I decided to end our relationship today. I thought we would soon marry and be happy together forever. The Lord slowly showed me that I was wrong in making me plans and not consulting him- much less not fully putting my trust in Him for what may happen in my life. See, I've been going about everything the wrong way. I need to pray, seek God's word, and wait on Him to see what He wants me to do. Instead, I've been planning my life away and then saying, "Okay, God, does this sound good?". By doing it this way, I'm not only cheating myself by giving myself the measly plans that I've made rather than the huge, life changing plans that God has made for me.

Perhaps this has happened because God wants me to seek him more often, focus on him more often and live for him. It is so easy to get distracted in life and get all caught up in what makes us happy as individuals, but God can make us so much happier! I love Him so much and I'm so ashamed of the time I haven't spent adoring Him and praising Him for all that he is. He has the strength and power to help me through any hard time I'm going through.. and I am sure that He will bring me through this and make me a better Christian and even more in love with Him. I pray that I can be an example to others, somehow, that we might all encourage one another to love and seek God with our lives.

Engagement: Emilyrose and Stephen

My lovely cousin, Emilyrose and her boyfriend, Stephen got engaged yesterday ( my birthday)!

Emilyrose is one of the kindest girls I know; I couldn't be happier for her!

She and Stephen have been planning for a while, but even she was pleasantly surprised when he popped the question yesterday!

Congratulations, Emilyrose and Stephen! I can't wait to see how things will come together for you two. May you guys share many years of happy marriage.

Breathing Room.

Escaping from reality to these places would be so nice.

Birthday Surprises!

I got lots and lots of sweet goodies for my birthday this year!

My mom got me a super cute polka dotted laptop case and an adorable black jelly watch! ( I would have snapped some pictures, but I'm just not feeling that adventurous quite yet ..)

My watch looks similarly to this one- I can't wait to wear it!

My sister, Grace, bought me a bag just like this one, except it's in a metallic brown color:

I'm really psyched to carry it around once I'm feeling better ;).

My other sister, Meredith, bought me the new Aerie fragrance. It smells so sweet and light. I've even starting wearing it while I'm recovering!

The best birthday gift is that my darling is going to come keep me company while I'm healing. We're planning on watching the Time Traveler's Wife and just chilling out for the day. To me, that is the best birthday gift I could ever ask for.

This birthday has definitely been unique compared to my other ones, but memorable nonetheless. I am grateful for another year of life, and I can't wait to celebrate what next year will hold.

Genius: City Flats

I was shopping in Gap the other day and I came across these City Flats. I was surprised at how comfortable the shoes looked! Afterall, they fold in half. The shoes have tons of cushion and support- and look super cute! Whether you are planning on shopping all day, dancing all night, or touring for a weekend, every girl needs relief from those instant blisters on her feet. These come in glittery shades, velvet shades, patent shades; look around!