A Happy Heart

I keep seeing things pop up, mostly on Pinterest, that say something along the lines of "If it doesn't make you happy, don't do it". Have y'all seen these things too? Or maybe you just know people that think this is a great philosophy? Can I just say... what a load of crap?!

You have to do things that don't make you happy. You have to do things you don't want to do. That's life. Not doing something simply because "you don't wanna" is called being selfish, and no one likes selfish people. What a horrible more horrible world we would live in if no one did anything they didn't want to do. First of all... almost everyone would be jobless.

Parents need to be teaching their kids to have serving, selfless hearts. I know when I babysit kids and tell the kids to clean up their toys they say "I don't want to". Shocking, I know. I almost always respond with "I didn't ask you if you want to. I told you to do it." Then they grumble and complain because they are having to do something they don't want to do and I'm complaining because they are complaining. Why don't I, instead, use this as a moment to work on their hearts? I heard my aunt ask her daughter, who was complaining about having to do something she didn't want to do, "How should we do things?" my cousin replied, "Right away, all the way and with a happy heart". For some reason this saying has stuck with me. When we are asked to do something we need to do it right away. We need to do it well (all the way) and, most importantly, we need to not have a sucky attitude while we're doing it. Of course, that's so much easier said than done. I know, even as an adult, I don't usually have a happy heart when I am having to do something I don't want to do. So how on earth do we teach our kids to have happy hearts? "You will do it and you will like it!" doesn't actually work, does it? I definitely think it starts with the parents (or in my case babysitter). Lead by example. Seek out opportunities to serve, even though you might not particularly enjoy doing it, can't we enjoy that we are making someone else happy?

I don't have the answer to this and I'm sure a lot of you zoned out when someone who doesn't even have kids started talking about parenting, but this is something that, as a babysitter and eventual mother, I ponder about. How do we teach our kids to WANT to serve? How do we teach our kids to have happy hearts when doing something they don't want to do? No, these are not rhetorical questions. I want to hear from you! How do you do it?!

I suppose my point is, not everything is about YOUR happiness and just because you're doing something that doesn't make you happy, doesn't mean you should have a crap-tastic attitude about it! Have a happy heart!

And that's enough of this "deep" Southern Soapbox.

Bountiful Basket

How much do you spend on produce in a week? $30-$50 maybe? What if you could get produce for $15? Wouldn't that be awesome! You could have nice, yummy, healthy fruit and veggies and not break the bank! AND what if most of it was locally grown, or at least regional? Sign me up, Jack!

Well, I did sign up! For Bountiful Baskets! It's a great little co-op type program where you order your basket on Monday or Tuesday then pick it up at a location near you on Saturday for only $15 (or $25 if you want organic). You get a good 50/50 mix of fruits and veggies that at least fill up a decent sized laundry basket! I HIGHLY recommend checking it out!

The Loot:

2 heads of romaine lettuce

1 bunch of spinach

2 bunches of broccoli

asparagus

1 acorn squash

1 pint of mini bell peppers

1 pint of mini heirloom tomatoes

2 giant zucchinis

7 apples (only 5 are pictured because Dad and I got hungry)

6 oranges, and

7 bananas

All for $21.50 (there is a $3 charge for your first basket, which is used to buy extra baskets for the fruit and veggies to be sorted into and in Texas we have a $3 handling fee. Every state has the handling fee but it varies depending on where you live). Not too bad for $18!

I can't wait to make my menu for the next week! If you're interested in participating in Bountiful Baskets you should click here. If you have questions I will do my best to answer them just leave a comment!

Happy Saturday and I hope you enjoyed this Southern Soapbox!

Fashion Friday: Just a Little Cardigan

It's that awkward "season" in Texas where it's 80 degrees one day and 60 degrees the next, which makes planning things a pain in the hind quarters (because the forecast is almost always wrong)! This is the reason why I don't put away "summer clothes" when it's "winter". Yay for Texas weather!

I must say, I quite like this outfit. One should hope so since I'm the one that put it together, but you know what I mean. The cardigan would be perfect for those days when spring tries to peak it's head around to see what's up. I had a hard time choosing between this pink colored bag and a black one but I was getting tired of black. A grey bag could be really cute with this too but I couldn't find one online that I liked. Toms... how I love Toms. And yet I still don't own a pair. What's up with that?! For those days that start off cool and turn rather warm you could trade the tank top for a short sleeve shirt. Then you could ditch the cardigan as it got warmer! Layers people, use them to your advantage!

Alrighty, that's my simply Fashion Friday Southern Soapbox (I should start abbreviating that! FFSS?). I hope you enjoyed! Stay warm, or cool.... who knows. 

Did you know...?

I was over stalking my friend's blog and decided to steal this idea from her. Here are a few things you may, or may not, know about me.

• My mom and I share a birthday. I came a month early to come on her birthday. You're welcome, Mom.
• Most people assume I was either born in Mississippi or Texas (most guess Mississippi). I was born in Alabama. I moved to Texas when I was three. Although I have never lived there, I consider Mississippi my home. Even I sometimes forget I wasn't born in Mississippi and Ryan forgets all the time, so don't feel bad if you didn't know!
• I can list every single member of the Backstreet Boys and can probably sing most or their songs. Same with The Dixie Chicks.
• Dr. Pepper is the best drink ever. Better than wine or beer.
• Speaking of beer... ew. I don't like it.
• I started riding horses when I was 5 years old. Every summer, spring, winter, fall break (and pretty much any other chance we got) my family would go to Mississippi to see the rest of the crazy clan. They had horses there and my cousins and I learned to ride together! It is still my happy place, even though I rarely get to ride.
• While I'm not super "in your face" about it I am very firm in my beliefs as a Christian and have grown up in the Presbyterian church.
• When it comes to football I follow some seemingly random teams. I follow the Giants, the Saints, and the Broncos. Can anyone guess what these teams have in common? Eli Manning, and Payton Manning are both from Mississippi. As for the Saints... they are the closest NFL team to Mississippi so my entire family follows them. If I didn't I would be banished.
• I do not like the Cowgirls.. I mean boys...
• I took dance for a very short period of time when I was younger. I was in hip hop when I was 8 or so years old. My pants ripped during my first recital.
• I played the cello. I started when I was very young, like 5, then picked it back up in middle school. Unfortunately when I changed schools I was the only one that signed up to play in the orchestra (everyone else chose band) and refused to switch over.
• For one semester in 8th grade I went to a private Christian school. It was AWFUL.
• I can be a bit OCD at times. I get on cleaning sprees and go a little nuts.
• I can check my own oil and fluids in my car, patch a flat tire, and change a flat tire. I also kind of enjoy working on cars, although I don't do it very often.
• I am a little obsessed with  shows on The CW. The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and Arrow, to be exact.
• I have seen The Lion King once and will never watch it again because Mufasa (that's his name, right?) dies. I also won't watch I Am Legend because they kill the dog. Basically if an animal dies in it, I won't watch it, although I have been watching Game Of Thrones... and I have somehow been able to make it though that.
• I am somewhat shy. If you know me you might think I'm lying but it's true. I don't like meeting new people. It makes me incredibly nervous! Once I know you I'll never shut up (yes, that part most of you know) but initially I'm quite shy.

Alright, that's enough of that. Hopefully you learned something knew about me. If so let me know what it was in a comment below! Also...it's almost Friday people! I'm going to the zoo tomorrow! Thanks for reading this Southern Soapbox! 

Where the heck have I been?

Normally this is Wonky and Woot-tastic Wednesday but I'm going to try to recap the last few months to catch everyone up on the highlights of my super exciting life (please note sarcasm).

Woah! Where have I been?! A little bit of everywhere! We have had a busy busy last few months. So, here are the highlights. Or at least the ones I can remember.

My first "real" photo shoot. I went with my friend,
Marissa, and got some cute stuff!

I am still sticking with my photography and actually got a new lens and flash for Christmas! I am going Sunday to talk to my friend over at Marissa Ann Photography to set up a contract and get the ball rolling on becoming a legit photography business! Definitely still building my portfolio and gaining experience but it's exciting to enter into this phase! WOOT!

I JUST signed up for Bountiful Baskets and am ridiculously excited to pick up my first basket on Saturday! You pay $15 (or $25 if you prefer organic) for a bunch of fruit and veggies! From the pictures I've seen, you get A LOT for your money! I'll definitely be posting pictures of my loot when I pick my basket up!

Maegan is pregnant! She's having a baby girl in June!!! I'm going to have a niece! AJ has named the baby Mater, from Cars.

                          

                              Prim

Ivy

Prim and Ivy are still alive and well!

I am still looking for a job. Why is it so flipping hard to find a job? It's seriously ridiculous. I have a few applications out so hopefully we'll hear back soon! One of them I'm actually really excited about! Fingers crossed!

Ryan and I are still together, and happy... and weird.

Alright, sadly, that's all I can really think of! I hope y'all have a Happy Hump Day and have enjoyed this Southern Soapbox! See y'all Friday for Fashion Friday!

Wonky and Woot-tastic Wednesday

It's back!!!!! Sorry I've been gone so long!

Wonky:
   - My sinuses are seriously trying to kill me. Are they really that important to the human anatomy because so far all I know that they do is make me miserable. Sinuses are totally overrated. I vote we start boycotting them.
   - Did you know that Walgreen's doesn't carry popcorn? I was in DESPERATE NEED of popcorn and Walgreen's was the only place open (it was like 11pm or something) and they didn't have any! So I got chocolate turtles, M&M's, chocolate chips and Dr Pepper instead. HA that'll show them!
   - Isn't is supposed to be fall or something? It was 103* today. I don't think Texas got the message.

   - I was sitting at Saxby's with Ryan, minding my own business, when this UGLY crow thing decided it wanted to be my bestie. I'm not really a bird fan. Particularly when they're ugly, black and disease ridden. And it wasn't afraid of me either. At all. Thankfully the nice cooks for the restaurant next door saved me by offering Mr. Ugly Bird some salmon.
   - I like Justin Bieber's perfume, The Key. *hangs head in shame* I want to die.
   - If Rebel eats another pair of my underwear (sorry for the TMI) I might kill him. Seriously.

Woot-tastic:

   - Sunday was my first photo shoot! My awesome cousin, Delaney, agreed to do a photo shoot with me so I could get some practice with my new camera (by the way, Ryan bought me a Canon T3i. I think I'll keep him around a little while longer). It was lots of fun and my model was wonderful!
   - I no longer have a phone with a cracked screen! I am the proud owner of the Galaxy S4! And it's AWESOME!
   - Ryan and I are in this really cool place in our relationship, and have been for a while. I will be sitting on the couch watching Grey's Anatomy on Netflix for like the third time and Ryan will be sitting in his recliner working on his laptop or something and we're perfectly content sitting there doing our own things....together....but separate. It's nice to be that content with each other.

   - Just a little hedgie adorableness to brighten your day (Prim, left; Ivy, right)!
   - Speaking of Prim, tomorrow I will have had Prim for one year!

Happy Hump Day and I hope you enjoyed this Wonky and Woot-tastic Southern Soapbox!

Fashion Friday: Mellow Yellow

It's nearly fall in most of the US, but not in Texas. It's still HOT! 103 degrees hot. Miserably hot. So, while the rest of you northern folk begin to bundle up, I will still be posting short sleeved outfits, with the occasional light sweater, probably until sometime around Christmas, maybe even after that. Welcome to Texas, where summer never actually ends.

                             

I love POPS of color! Especially yellow. It's so happy. I used to own yellow shoes, but then my cat peed on them. These yellow shoes are SO CUTE and the yellow hand bag from Macy's is the perfect size (big). I actually own this Old Navy top, but in a different color/pattern. It's really cute with shorts and sandals too AND I believe Old Navy is having a sale right now! The jewelry is very special to me, as I sell it on behalf of Haiti's Jewels on my store. It's GREAT jewelry made by a company in Haiti, supplying local villagers with jobs. If it's warm where you are (or in my case miserably hot) you could easily do black shorts, or even brown shorts instead of skinny jeans. If it's cooler where you are (you luck lucky duck) add a little cardigan to stay warm!

Well, that's my very yellow Southern Soapbox, hope you enjoyed!!!