Hello again! So this fashion, beauty, and lifestyle blog has been lifestyle lately and continues to be with this post... hang with me though because fashion and beauty is coming! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with loved ones celebrating the true meaning. Here's a little bit of a heart flood for the night.

I get a lot of questions regarding whether or not I'll go back to Troy for school. Well, the truth is I pray that I can have another opportunity to go back. I have to leave this is God's hands for now and wait for what He ultimately wants for my life. I do want to leave Franklin, but not because I hate Franklin. When I tell people I want to move away, it's because I want to better myself and my future along with experiencing new people and places. I truly believe we were made to explore and experience. I had someone tell me recently, "You won't leave." after I told them that I eventually wanted to move away. I love this person dearly, but when people say that, it pushes me further into the realm of wanting to leave and lights a fire that grows my desire to go and start over in a whole new place. It hurts when people say those things to me because (let's get something straight) coming home from Troy was NOT what I wanted to do. It was what I needed to do and what I had to do at the time. The feelings I get when I hear those things pretty much just suck... I feel like they are saying: "Oh, I don't have faith in you to leave again." or, "What makes you think you can leave now if you couldn't do it last time?" Yes I tried to leave already and it didn't work out, but I trust the Lord that He will give me the blessings and strength to do it again, wherever it may be that I go. I believe everyone should at least try to leave, it really puts things into a new perspective. I did succeed in going away for a little bit of time and for that I am proud of myself.

much love

xx, Blaine 

Hello all! It's been a month since my last blog and my oh my how things have changed. A lot has happened in my life in two short months. The biggest thing is that I am home... You read that right. Now you're probably wondering why. The best way to describe the move back home is life changing. (Be prepared for a long post)

Rush was amazing, seriously, GO GREEK! I pledged Alpha Delta Pi and instantly fell in love. The girls in that sorority were loving, fun, and all around amazing girls. Life was going great until classes started. As some of you may or may not know, I graduated a semester early in high school. It was such a good decision for me because I could spend time with my niece who was born in March and plan for college more. The downside to this was the drastic change in going from no classes to college level classes. Anxiety is something I've dealt with since middle school and isn't my best friend when it comes to change. The first day of classes I was sick and had to go to the infirmary which was a bad start as it was and every day after that I dreaded getting up and going to class. I honestly can not pinpoint what was triggering the anxiety other than being slammed with a new experience all at once and missing my family. I cried a lot, I was anxious a lot, and I prayed a lot that first week of classes. My family and friends urged me to stay at least for a semester. I wanted to be able to do that so bad, just to make them proud, but every day it got harder. On a Monday I researched when the last day was to withdrawal from classes without being hit hard financially and it was THAT day. I had approximately an hour to make a life changing decision. It's obvious what that decision was. Let me tell you, coming home was not easy at first. Someone I really cared about was upset with me that I couldn't make it there and that hurt so badly. I had always been the person who encouraged people to move away and experience new things so I felt very embarrassed being back home. What would people think when they heard I had threw away my dream? Luckily I was able to start classes at a local community college two days after I got home and am now on my way to an AAS in Business Administration and then with any luck on to get my Bachelors in Risk Management Insurance. With a lotttt of encouragement from true friends, my family welcoming me home with open arms, and peach and comfort from the Lord, I am finally on my way to being happy again. I'll always and forever have a special place in my heart for the friends I made in Alabama and will continue to stay in touch with them. Thank you so much to everyone who has loved on me through this time, y'all are lifesavers!
I can't wait to get back on track and stay up to date! Much love!

xx Blaine

I'm back! I can't believe I even have the time to be doing this right now. Since move in day on Monday, my life has been an amazing whirlwind. Between meeting new people, finding my way around, and rush, I've been one busy girl. Moving into college is such a huge thing for me. Growing up I was always the kid who would live at home all my life and never go off..now here I am six hours away. I've stayed busy and that has definitely kept the level of homesickness down. Saying goodbye to friends and family stunk. I hate to say it like that, but it did. The thing is, you know it's coming and I promise the friends you meet at school will be your new family. My roommate has been awesome and a girl I met down the hall has also been super kind. Yesterday we took the time to explore the town and run some errands. They are so much fun! 
I'm LOVING my room. Every time I walk in I just stare at it for a few seconds and smile. That's what you should do when you see your room. This is your new home and you've got to make it feel like it. I live in an apartment style dorm which I'm so thankful for. We have a mini kitchen, a living room, four bedrooms, and two bathrooms. If you have any questions about what to bring or anything else, feel free to ask! Now enjoy looking at my new room!

xx Blaine

Long time, no talk! If you haven't noticed, my mind fills up with wonderful thoughts around this time of night. I was sitting here watching HGTV, eating some Ben & Jerry's, thinking about the abundant blessings in my life. Currently they go as follows:
1. Endless love and forgiveness from the Lord
2. Supportive and oh so wonderful friends
3. Upcoming college life

I've been blessed beyond words by a Father who would do ANYTHING for me. Say that to yourself, you have a Father who would do anything, absolutely anything, just for YOU. My heart is in a constant battle with my head because I forget this. Everyday I catch myself doing something I think is right, when my heart knows it is not. I think I can do it on my own, this crazy life; but I can't. I am incapable of such a task. My ultimate goal in these next growing stages of life is to leave it in His hands; quit trying to control it myself, and to let my heart win and not my head. Thursday I had the opportunity to go paddle boarding (something that was on my bucket list). While I was out in the lake I had a sudden rush of happiness/mere awh come over me. I was so small and my God was (is) so big! I felt thankful, blessed, happy, etc.That's when I had to whisper some words to Him. Now as I sit here, I'm thankful for that experience; however, I want to be able to experience that in all times, good or bad. That's when I know I'll be doing something right. 

pure bliss

My friends have been my ultimate sidekicks (& partners in crime) this whole summer. I don't know where I'd be without them, and truthfully I would be scared to know. The end of last year and the beginning of this year wasn't a time for the books. I was at a very low place without any support from friends. I didn't go out, I didn't talk to people, and I was ultimately depressed now that I look back on it. But here I am, leaving for college in two days, and the tears I cry leaving them behind are tears of pure joy. Things could be different, I could have nobody to leave behind and nobody that even cared where I went. True friends are hard to come by, and oh what a true blessing it is to have the ones I do. 

some of my best gals

COLLEGE! Here we goooo. All I've done the past two days is say my goodbyes and pack, pack, pack. (did I mention pack?) I'm so incredibly excited to be there, starting fresh. Of course I'll miss my family and friends...and bed, but there's so much ahead of me. Next week I begin rush *eeeeek* and I can not wait to share that experience with y'all! Classes won't start for a few weeks, but that's okay because I'll have time to settle in and meet lots of new people hopefully. Risk Management Insurance major; I'm ready for ya!   

so. much. stuff.

I listened to this while typing and I encourage you to listen also: click me!  then click me!

...until next time!

xx Blaine

Hello all! I couldn't wait for today so that I could share more with you. 
Something has been weighing down on my heart for quite some time now. I didn't mention this in my last post, but I am a saved, Christian girl, trying to live my life in God's perfect and almighty image. The problem is, the devil, I find myself constantly being tempted by his unrighteousness. I'm proud of the life I've lived for the most part, but my mistakes are always floating like a dark cloud above me. Lately I've felt as if there was SO much more I could be doing. Last night I was reading a wonderful blog, www.laurentinthecity.wordpress.com, and came upon a realization. I'm flawed, I'm a sinner, but there's ALWAYS a chance for redemption. God's unending love and forgiveness is upon us, all we have to do is pray! Author of the above blog, Ansley Eudy, isn't just a Christian girl, she is a true testimony and daughter of the one true King. I've been so inspired by her recently to change my ways while also remembering I am loved more than I could ever know! As I prepare to leave for college, I pray for guidance and forgiveness as I begin this new chapter of the beautiful life I've been blessed with. I also pray for each and everyone of you that His light may be revealed to you and that you won't let worldly temptations bring you down and stop you from being the best you can be. It's time to stop worrying about our wrongs, and start aiming towards the rights. 

• Psalms 138:7

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thin hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.”

• Psalms 55: 22

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

xx Blaine