thirty-one

My friends know that during breaks, I usually have a countdown going. As in, at the beginning of May, before school's even out, I've already figured out how many days until we are back in again and have scribbled it down in my Lilly planner. I post it on every social media outlet, and if I don't, I get the texts from my friends like, "What's today's count?" Well, this picture could not have come at a more appropriate time to remind me to live in the moment.
This summer is actually a little bit different. I have a job (read: something to actually do) this summer, so I've been busy and not sitting around wishing time away. Maybe it's because this 5th year/victory lap is not going to be the same as years' past, and all of my friends will not be walking the Samford sidewalks with me. For whatever reason, the countdown never actually made it from pen to paper. However, I'm still longing, longing, longing to be back in my home sweet home of Birmingham. I've started telling anyone who will listen how many days until I hit the highways on my journey "home" . . . 31 to be exact. But am I missing out on the place and opportunity God has called me to because I am in a daze of passing time? Someone called me out on that recently. Actually, a couple of people. "Stop wishing your life away." "Enjoy now." I feel certain they are right. I'm excited to go back, but I need to stay in the now. I'm trying to listen to the Lord's voice and meditate on this verse as well:

"Whatever you do, work HEARTILY, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." 

-Colossians 3:23-24 

long time, no sea.

As my punny title suggest, I am spending my summer at the beach.. hard life, I know. I got myself a little job in Rosemary, which is my new absolute favorite part of 30-A. Seriously, come visit. You won't be sorry. I've been blowing up the Instagram world 24/7 with obnoxious photographing, but if you haven't been subjected to my flooding of photos, without further ado, my summer thus far:

Need I say more?

On my way to monogrammers anonymous. 

There is no beach quite like the Gulf.

Read. This. Book. Amazing. And a quick read.

Hello, summer job.

God's glory, shining through in Rosemary.

...and in Calif.. I mean, Alys. 

My Lilly obsession is alive and kicking and much more dangerous since,
A. this dress exists,
B. This pattern exists,
C. There's a Lilly store 3 miles away.

This picture from Classy Girls Wear Pearls had me
on the hunt for this Lilly necklace.

Lilly Pulitzer Shell Yeah necklace. Everything about this is perfect,
especially the fact that it is also a bottle opener. Yep.
I don't even drink anything with a bottle cap, but that HAS to come in handy somehow.
Trying to convince myself as I type this to not drive to Watercolor and buy.

A small Tory Burch purchase with my first paycheck. Emphasis on small.

Finding more and more peace in the fact that whatever God wants to happen will happen,
and that if it is meant to be,  He will make it happen.
Also, obsessed with Pinterest and quotes.