Bladdy Ell, went like a thunder bolt and now were sizzling into with new beginnings, resolutions (if you believe in any of that stuff) and all new adventures this years about to throw at us.
I never do the resolution kind of thing, you know the I wont eat chocolate because, I know I bliming well will. Or the I wont drink for the whole month of January because Im a strong ass individual, because lets be honest, I BLIMING WELL WILL.
Instead, I have my own way of doing resolutions. Lets call it, more mental, experience style things. If that was even a thing to begin with. Yep, Im one of those hippies that wanders my flat with incense and has Chakras, stones and shit and Im pretty darn happy about it.
Last year, I made it my mission to say YES to more things. Instead of hiding away or putting things in the back-burner, I went for whatever I wanted straight away, did things I knew were out of my comfort zone and started doing before I started thinking. You see, to be honest, Im a little bit of a natural worrier. I care deeply for things, if not, perhaps too deeply, and I learnt that sometimes you need to let it all go and give it to the hands of someone else. Theres so much we can all physically, emotionally and mentally do and although selflessness is a beautiful trait, it can also inhibit you from doing so much you truly want.
So, I started to go for more things and whilst people I knew complained that their had been shit, I looked back with only happiness and positivity. Of course, Im human and I had a couple of down times, losing my Godmother but It also made me live my life to the full for her. So much can be said for the outlook you have, that gives so much to the experiences you make. Instead of treading on your tip-toes or sprinting your way to the finish line, try and take everything in, day by day and if you want to do something, DO IT.
Theres a quote that goes something like your vibe attracts your tribe and as cheeeeessssy as it may sound, I couldnt agree more. Whatever you give off, you get given back and its actually pretty amazing what a simple smile, a shit joke or the ability to let yourself go can do for other people and likewise, for you.
So, although I conquered my plan, I have set myself another; To do things slowly. My mind flickers in all directions and Im either racing to get something done once I have an idea or making a tea so fast I smash the cup. And although, I like the flicker, taking a step back and enjoying the ride is my new endeavour. Im also gonna be learning a couple of new things ie: The Guitar I have which is such a lost cause and to start up an Exhibition of some of my work both written and Art related. Because theres a great sense of freeness when you do what you want for you and you alone with no great accolade but personal achievement on the other side.
Enjoy the ride. You only get one.
The moment I step onto a beach I cant help myself. My eyes immediately start darting around from side to side in search of seashells! This goes the same for my five year old. I guess the only difference is, she moves on to other things, playing in the water, building sandcastles. But once I start I cant stop! I become obsessed. My favorite is laying on the edge as the water grazes my feet, both hands in the sand as I dig for my treasures.
Im not bias. I love the uniqueness and beauty in them all, wether they are big or small. But I do have to say, there is nothing more rewarding then when you find the perfect shell. The one that doesnt have a single chip on it. The ones you can enjoy in their entirety. When I find those I feel so accomplished.
I am however in search for the allusive spiral seashell. The one that you can enjoy in all its beauty without a single chip. I am beginning to believe this shell is the unicorn of all shells. I think the possibility of finding this rare shell is what drives my search and so it continues.
UPDATE About a week after I posted this blog my husband aka lucky shit found a perfect shell spiral and all! Damn him! lol This has made me even more determined then ever they DO exist!!
In our home let love abide, and bless all those who step inside.
On February 21, Clayton and I celebrated five years of marriage! We have shared with you all our story of the challenges we have faced these past five years, and we can both confidently say that we survived those challenges because of our foundation in Christ. Now that we are bringing a new baby into our family, while building our new house, we wanted to build our home based on the same values that we have built our marriage. Not only do we want our daughter to know Christ in the way that we parent, our desire is for everyone that comes into our home to feel welcomed and feel Christs love.
On the day of our anniversary we hand picked specific bible verses for our new home for each room, wrote them on the walls, and prayed with our family over the home. It was such a special memory and something we will cherish forever. Money could never have purchased an anniversary gift that would have been more meaningful than dedicating our new home to the Lord!
But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. — Joshua
Taste and see that the Lord is good. — Psalm
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. — Psalm
I have found the one whom my soul loves. — Song of Solomon
Love is patient. Love is kind. — 1 Corinthians 13
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. — Ephesians
Write your wedding vows on the ground
It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you – the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. This beauty will never disappear and is worth much more to God. — 1 Peter
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. — Colossians
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord, not for human masters. — Colossians
Love one another as I have loved you. — John
She is clothed in strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future — Proverbs
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. — Jeremiah
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. — Psalm
In his heart a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. — Proverbs
What about you? What are some of your favorites verses for your home? Let me know in a comment below!
My fiancé and I attended the Pre-cana Seminar at San Sebastian Church in August and got married in December. For those of you who are not familiar, pre-cana is a preparation session (or an orientation) for couples preparing to get married in a Catholic Church.
San Sebastian Basilica (SSB) is quite strict in hosting their own pre-cana to make sure couples fully understand the lifelong commitment that they are about to get into. During the 7pm PM Friday session, the facilitators covered the following topics: sacrament of matrimony, differences between man and woman, communication, divorce, pregnancy, and the marriage rites itself. It was a good way to reflect and understand that marriage is a serious commitment, not just for formality.
However, having attended the Discovery Weekend seminar hosted by CEFAM Ateneo (an optional, immersive and spiritual 3D2N experience which you have to pay for but super worth it), I felt the lecture and presentation materials used by San Sebastian were somewhat redundant. Thus I looked forward more to the marriage rites lecture about getting married in this historic minor basilica.
Id like to share with you the important points I took note of during my own wedding preps and wedding day. If you are months (or years) away from getting married in the same church, worry not because this post (hopefully) saves you time and stress to host your own dream wedding at San Sebastian Basilica!
We had a unique case considering our special requests such as:
It was pretty easy to deal with San Sebastians coordinator and Parish office. I believe as long as you communicate your vision and requests to them properly, they will make it all happen.
If you have additional requests like photo op with friends or officemates, let the San Seb coordinator know at least days in advance.
We are so glad that we finally graduated from wedding planning and I am now officially Mrs. Chua!! To all of you reading this post, dont hesitate to comment below or send me a message if you need more details about our wedding. Happy preps!
One of the things I love most about being a Temple Texas family photographer is getting to watch the families I work with grow and evolve. Husband and wife go from expecting parents to Mommy and Daddy. Little newborn babies grow into toddlers, who sometimes become a proud big brother or sister. It’s such a special privilege to watch and be a part of these milestones through the lens of my camera.
Kids sprout up so fast that sometimes it’s hard keeping up with their growth and recording it all. We don’t realize how much they are growing because we see them every day. But then we flip through pictures and are shocked at how little they were even months ago! Therein lies the beauty of photographs…moments and memories captured and frozen in time. Taking lots of pictures and videos of our kiddos regularly is a wonderful practice that helps preserve the memories and gives the whole family something to look back on fondly. I love helping families capture these moments!
This family was such a pleasure to work with and we had a wonderful session surrounded by bluebonnets. How sweet is that adorable brother/sister duo? I had so much fun with this one!
If you are looking for a Temple Texas family Photographer, or know someone that is, I would love for you to follow me on social media. Find me on social media with the links below:
You can follow me on Facebook HERE (<—-click the word here)
You can follow me on Instagram HERE
Also, if you would like to be in the know for when I release my availability for any type of session please join my Facebook Group HERE
We have so much fun in my Facebook group, I would love for you to be there!
If you are ready to contact me about your next session click HERE and let’s talk!
« Girl Mama!
Did you know July is National Ice Cream Month? I wanted to share with you all some of my favorite toppings/flavor combos! As if we need another reason to eat ice cream, one of my favorite months of the year, July – National Ice Cream Month is here! Today Im sharing my top tips for that will have you screaming for ice cream all summer long! And Im not talking about just any ice cream today; I wanted to share how Im celebrating National Ice Cream Month and staying cool this summer with one of my new favorites: Hudsonville Ice Cream, now available at ShopRite Stores.
Hudsonville Ice Cream has been making creamy and delicious ice cream for 95 years. Ice cream this good comes with experience! Hudsonville combines time-tested recipes with the freshest ingredients, like milk and cream from local dairy farms near its headquarters, to make flavors people know and love better than ever.
Tip #1: Create a DIY At-Home Ice Cream Sundae Bar
Name a better way to enjoy summer at home Sundae bars are fun and easy to create, plus everyone loves them! All you need to go with your Hudsonville Ice Cream is a variety of cool dishes, cones, and colorful containers filled with a variety of your favorite toppings. Get fancy or keep it simple, the most important part is the time spent with the people you love! Hudsonsonville Ice Cream has a family centered culture instilled in the foundation of the company and is all about bringing people together. They are a Midwest made company committed to creating the best ice cream around. When I think of ice cream, it brings back some of my fondest summer memories at family parties. I love that Hudsonville is committed to working hard and making ice cream perfect for every moment. It makes getting together with family and friends even sweeter🍦😊.
Tip #2: Explore New Flavors with Flight Tastings!
What a perfect way to explore new flavors! Yes, sometimes you feel obligated to get the tried and true family favorites like Mint Chocolate Chip and Triple Peanut Butter Cup, but what about the other 50+ ice cream flavors Hudsonville has to offer? Nothing like National Ice Cream month to try something new! Of course, I have a few Hudsonville Ice Cream recommendations that Ive personally and thoroughly taste tested (for science of course). Honestly the possibilities are endless and theres a flavor for everyones palette.
Mimis Flavor Recs
CREAMERY BLEND VANILLA: Vanilla ice cream made with pure vanilla, fresh milk and real cream
TRAVERSE CITY CHERRY FUDGE: Sweet chunks of cherries and thick fudge ripple in creamy amaretto ice cream
STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE: Tart strawberry sauce swirled into creamy cheesecake ice cream
BROWNIE BATTER COOKIE DOUGH: Brownie batter ice cream loaded with brownie and cookie dough pieces
Tip #3 Experiment with Ice cream Pairings!
Ice cream makes any dessert better (pretty sure this is a proven fact). Supporting examples: brownies, pie, cobblers, crumbles, streusel, bread pudding, tarts, baked, grilled and glazed fruits, cakes and moreI think I proved my point. Hudsonville is the perfect addition to any family’s signature desserts.
Tip #4 Create Crazy Milkshakes!
I am a sucker for a decadent vanilla or chocolate milkshake 🤤. Any one of these Hudsonville Ice Cream flavors make amazing milkshakes! All you have to do is add in your milk of choice, ice cream flavor, and whip until you have a thick, sweet, creamy, cold delicious mixture. A personal favorite of mine was turning the Hudsonville Strawberry Cheesecake into a blended milkshake concoction 🍓🍰. You can even get a little creative and mix multiple flavors together to make the ultimate shake. There really is no wrong answer when it comes to National Ice Cream Month. Have fun and be sure to share a pic of your creation on social using #HudsonvilleIceCream.
Tip #5 Cool Off with Ice Cream Floats
Ice Cream Month is HOT. Cool down with the classic combination of ice cream and soda. A classic is of course the root beer float, but Im all for flavor creations and like to experiment. The Creamery Blend Vanilla is perfect to mix with any of the following: orange cream soda, root beer, or black cherry cream soda. Simply scoop, pour and serve! Also, if youre feeling frisky and are of age, mix your ice cream with a flavored spiked seltzer for an extra kick.
Bottom line, make sure you take a moment and celebrate the best of summer with some of these National Ice Cream Month tips, your friends and family will thank you for it! Ice cream is an ideal summertime (or really anytime) treat for people of all ages. There are tons of different ways to enjoy this delightful indulgence! Elevate your ice cream experience by indulging in Hudsonville Ice Creams scrumptious flavors 🍦.
Hudsonville Ice Cream is now available at my go-to grocery store, ShopRite Stores, which I am so stoked about. You can check out all of the retailers that carry Hudsonville using the Scoop Locator: Want to spread the love? Well great news, Hudsonville is proven to be the perfect treat for someone sweet in your life. They currently ship via UPS to the 48 states within the continental United States. Ice cream deliveries are shipped via Next Day Air. Visit eunic-brussels.eu for more details. Say Hello to Hudsonsonville Ice Cream with a super sweet deal click here for a coupon to save $3 on 2 cartons!!
Let me know what your favorite ice cream flavor is and be sure to check out Hudsonville Ice Cream for yourself 😊.
Hudsonville Ice Cream is focused on making moments sweeter. With every single scoop you share they are proud to sweeten lifes moments — from the everyday to the extraordinary!
Give them a follow on socials media
• Facebook: @Hudsonvilleicecream
• Twitter: @hudsonville_ic
• Instagram: @hudsonville_ic
• Hashtag: #HudsonvilleIceCream
This post is sponsored by Hudsonville Ice Cream, all opinions expressed are my own.
Stay tuned for more adventures
xoxo Mimi
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