Monday, January 29, 2018

January Book Reviews

Happy Monday y'all! I am so excited to share my thoughts on the books I read during this month. I was hoping to have one more to add to this post but I haven't quite finished it yet so I will talk about that one in February's book post.

Don't forget to comment and tell me your favorite book that you read this month!



I have so many thoughts about this book, and I almost don't know where to begin. I can't say it is the most exciting book I have ever read and the plot is rather random but I can't help but give John Green a round of applause for this book because I have never seen a book explain obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) so well. I get all the feels thinking about this book. Again, not the most exciting book, but a rather quick read and if you want to understand OCD and Anxiety from an author who has clearly experienced it himself, I recommend this book!

Rate: 5 Stars!


Y'all already know I love all things Paris and this book had the whimsical and magical feel of the city and the writing was simple and elegant. I didn't however find it all that exciting to read. It bored me a tad at times. It is a historical fiction book about Ernest Hemingway and his first wife. I always struggle with this genre as is, but this one was at times tough to finish regardless of the beautiful setting and writing. 

Rate: 3 Stars!


Okay I have a lot of mixed thoughts on this one. It started out SO good! Like I could NOT put this one down for the first half of the book, but the thrill plateaued somewhere after the half way mark. This book is about five high school students who get detention but one of them dies in detention. After the police deem the death a murder by one of his fellow classmates, an investigation begins to try and find which of the four classmates killed him. I really didn't see the end coming which is always a sign of a good thriller. I highly recommend if you want a quick easy to read thriller!

Rate: 4 Stars!


I couldn't get into this one. Did any of y'all ever read it? Maybe I will re-try another time because it has gotten great reviews but something about the authors writing style didn't hook me.


Well there you have it! What have you been reading lately? I will talk to you again on Wednesday! 

xoxo
Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Pretty Prom Dresses!

Happy Wednesday y'all! I am so happy to be back. By "back", I mean out of bed and healthy again. #fluseasonsucks. 

I can't wait to catch up on all the things in a Spontaneous Miscellaneous post on Friday but today I wanted to talk PROM!

Whether or not you plan on going to your prom, you have to admit, looking at dresses is SO fun. It was arguably my favorite part of the whole experience! Ha :)

Sadly, (but not really all that sad) I am out of high school so I don't have another prom to go to. I did however still find a few stunning dresses online that I thought were worth sharing for those of you who do have a prom to go to still! 

First, I will start with a photo from my prom...
... aaah I loved my dress! 

Here are some other dresses I love!

https://www.promshopau.com/item/pkfl8165.html
This dress looks like Cinderella, I LOVE!

I would love this dress with the right up-doo and a bright red lip.... yes MA'AM!

https://www.promshopau.com/item/hsdx7157.html
An Audrey Hepburn inspired prom look? Absolutely!

I love pink satin!

So sparkly and pretty I love it.

Well there you have five dresses that I just LOVE! What color was/is your dress?

Have a great day, talk to you soon!

xoxo
Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Four School Must Haves

Happy Wednesday! Yesterday I had my first classes of the Spring semester and I feel rather nerdy saying that I am excited, haha! I enjoyed the month off for winter break but I am so ready to get back to a routine. I will say however that this semester will be a LOT harder than the last. My professors are just tougher this year and the work is going to be harder. I also am taking five classes this semester so pray I do well!

Today I thought I would put together a full post showing some of my favorite things for school. Cute school supplies make studying far more fun!


One // My Planner
 
 Oh my word what would my life BE without my planner?? I don't even know. My life is in this thing. I love how cute it is and I really enjoy starting each week with planning out not only what I have to do each day but my overall goals for the week. I also kind of love stickers, if you couldn't tell. :)


Two // My Tervis Cup
I know this sounds silly but I have been through the ringer with cups. I hate to sound like goldilocks but I could never find one that was just right. Either it was too heavy, or too big to fit in my car cup holder, or the cold metal kept hurting my teeth, or the lid would break.. I could not win. This is the true winner of all cups. You can find them in a bunch of different designs and shapes but the one I have and carry with me every day all day and to school also, is this UCF cup. Cute right?? #chargeon


Three // Mechanical Pencils
 These are seriously the best mechanical pencils out there. I know it is kind of ridiculous of me to think this but I seriously feel ready to conquer the world when I whip out these awesome mechanical pencils y'all. #it'sthelittlethings


Four // Monograms for My Binders
Monogram decals are on every single folder and binder I bring to school. They just spice up my solid color stationary ya know? You can also reference my post here on how to get free preppy stickers sent to you, since we all know by now, I LOVE STICKERS!


There you have it. The four things I never go to school without. Have a great spring semester y'all! YOU GOT THIS!!!

xoxo
Saturday, January 6, 2018

Spontaneous Miscellaneous

Happy Friday everyone! I am so excited to be back in a routine. My life will be even more organized next week when classes start back. I have a feeling this semester is going to be a good one!!

I have several recent favorites to share with you today, but I also just did a post on Wednesday recapping my year 2017. I shared all of my favorite moments, TV shows, movies, books, outfits, etc.. You can read that post here.

Let me now introduce you to my recent favorites!

One // Funko Pop Figures
This is possibly the most random favorite I have ever shared on here, but have y'all heard of these things?? I am OBSESSED! I totally made fun of my cousin and sister when they got into them but no joke, I love these little things now. They have a Pop figure for every show, book, series, everything! I currently have the Buddy the Elf one, which I got for Christmas, along with the Cat in the Hat one because I love Dr. Seuss, haha! The ones I really wish I could find are the FRIENDS characters but they are sold out most places and people are only re-selling them for oh, you know, 70 dollars a piece. #nothappening
Do you have some? A bunch of them? None yet? Think I'm crazy? Let me know!


Two // Speak Out
I have never laughed so hard in my whole life y'all. My parents, sister, grandparents, aunt, and I played this game on Christmas day and I may have peed a little. I wasn't shocked to hear that Ellen created this game because it's just so darn stupid and hilarious. You need to play it!!


Three // The Greatest Showman
Okay y'all. I'm not playing when I say this movie (and soundtrack) is inching it's way up my favorite movie list. I am so in love with the casting, the music, the acting...and Zac Efron of course. #hubby
Go see this movie in theaters RIGHT THIS INSTANT!!


This has changed my long run game. I would always time my long runs to swing by my house for water every couple miles because I would be so thirsty. I finally decided just to try one of these handheld bottles. It is great! It holds enough water to get you through a long run, but not so much that it feels you're running with a weight in one hand. It can also fit my iPhone in it so I don't even need my running belt any more. Lastly, you don't have to unscrew anything to drink out of it. No water spills out or leaks either. All you have to do is tilt backwards and squeeze and it will squirt water in your mouth. This thing is a win!


Five // The Bachelor is BACK!
WAHOO! I am diggin' Arie so far. The group of women seem good too so far so I am so in. Y'all know this means that Sheaffer is recapping each episode with every ounce of wit and humor she has. I love that lady!


Six // Football Y'all
UCF beat Auburn and Alabama beat Clemson! This past Monday was definitely a favorite.


What are some of your favorites from this past week? Comment below or email me and let me know!

xoxo
Tuesday, January 2, 2018

2017 For Juliana Grace & My New Years Resolutions

Happy Wednesday everyone! As promised I am sharing a recap of my year. I can honestly say 2017 kind of ROCKED! There wasn't anything major that happened this year really, but after looking through photos and remembering everything that happened this year, I realized it really was a fun one. This year also showed me that God really has a plan for everyone's life. During beginning/mid 2017 I hit my lowest. I really didn't see a bright future for myself at all. However after months of prayer, God proved to be faithful and I now have such big dreams and goals. This was a great year.

At the end of this post, I am going to share my New Years Resolutions which are always fun. Here we go!

My Favorite Memories:

The year started at Disney World! My whole family went to each park together to celebrate my graduation from high school that was approaching and it reminded me of us all going when my sister and I were kids. I LOVE these memories!

In February I accomplished a BIG dream of mine by running my first Disney race. I completed the Disney Princess 10k and it was 6.2 miles of pure MAGIC! I recapped the whole race here but wow. I can't wait to do it again this February! :)

I of course went with my family to Magic Kingdom that day to show off my medal!

My dad and I went to a Tampa Rays vs. Yankees baseball game in Tampa and it was BEAUTIFUL. I love daddy daughter dates!

... and momma daughter dates! My mom and I went to see a musical at the Dr. Phillips which was a blast!

I officially became an adult! EEK!

Watched the sunset at my favorite place.. the beach!

... and the sunrise! It was early but it was beautiful! My sweet bestie and I packed a picnic and made a fun day out of it!

I graduated from high school.. which was a miracle! I will be honest with y'all and say that high school was the roughest four years of my life. It tested me mentally, physically, and spiritually. I hit my rock bottom several times and thank God that I never gave up. I graduated and headed to college which was very scary for me. God had big plans though, and I am now making fantastic grades, am healthy, and am passionate about what I am studying. I don't believe for a second that those four hard years will be a waste.

My family threw me a surprise graduation party with family and it was AWESOME! I have never been happier :)

Taught a class of 3rd Graders about Jesus at Vacation Bible School at my church. I love hearing their responses to God's Word. So FUN!

I started college!! I have never loved school so much. My family finds it so hilarious that I now love every day spent at school considering how months ago in high school they weren't sure I was going to be motivated to graduate. Now I am already planning when I am going to get my masters degree and can't wait to be a teacher and spend my whole life in school. God sure has a sense of humor doesn't he?

My sister and I bit the bullet and bought annual passes to DISNEY WORLD! Bet you didn't see that coming! ;)

Celebrated Thanksgiving and early Christmas in Alabama with cousins and family!

Visited my Dad's alma mater.. The University of Alabama! I loved walking around the campus! Roll Tide!!

I worked some early mornings this year but attended several fun work parties as well which always make me laugh!

Had a great Christmas at home with family! I love the holidays!

And I started 2018 by cheering on my UCF KNIGHTS as they won the Peach Bowl against Auburn! GO KNIGHTS!!!


My Favorite Outfits:

My favorite outfit of the whole year! So preppy and cute!

Because who doesn't love a blue trench coat??

I pretty much wore these shoes every day from June-November!

I am all about a cute dress and giant earrings!

Loved these flowy blouses that kept me cool during the Florida heat!!


My Favorite Movies:
The Greatest Showman was my favorite movie of the YEAR! Such a great musical and it is still in theaters GO SEE IT NOW!!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

All the feels!! They turned the famous children's book Wonder into a movie and it was phenomenal! 

A not-so-scary scary Halloween movie! It was so funny and fun to watch with friends!


My Favorite TV Shows:

I don't think I have gone a night this year without at least one episode of FRIENDS! This was the first year I watched every episode in order all the way through and I love it even more now. If Netflix ever takes it off I will sue... or riot.. probably both!

This was a new show on ABC about a surgeon with autism and it was AMAZING! I am dying for season two to come out this year!

I LOVED Rachel's season of the bachelorette! I can't wait to see how Arie is as the Bachelor! Love me some trashy TV!!

My mom and I have been binge watching A Different World each night together and it CRACKS ME UP! This was her favorite show in college and has it memorized. She has now got me HOOKED! It is on Amazon Prime!


My Favorite Books:

Wonder was a great book and movie! I love this story on kindness!

The To All The Boys I've Loved Before series was such a fun summer read!!

I love the Avis family and this book was a quick and refreshing read about adoption, down syndrome, and faith!

This is one of the most intense books I have ever read! It is a complete true story and I couldn't recommend it enough. Talk about the power of forgiveness!

I loved this book by John Green because it portrayed Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder so accurately. He is amazing!

My New Years Resolutions:

1. SAVE SAVE SAVE!! This was one of my new years resolutions last year and I did fairly well at saving money this year. I made the mistake however of not setting an actual number amount last time. This year I have set a goal for how much I want to save each week that way I have a more realistic and achievable goal for the year as a whole.

2. Run Another 10k / Maybe a Half Marathon. At the beginning of this year I ran a 10k and felt so in shape during that time of training and I was so healthy. I want to get back into the routine of not just running a few miles each day but actively pushing myself and running in races. I have a few races on the calendar for the year and I don't just want to run them, I want to RUN them, ya know? Anyways, I hope to run another 10k this year and possibly a half marathon but who knows. I won't promise that one!

3. Get Straight A's in College this Year. I got straight A's this past semester with the exception of math simply because I hate it and didn't give it enough attention. I am taking 5 classes this coming semester so I know it will be tricky but I know I can do it too.

4. Read More Informational Books, Not Just Fiction. I read a ton already and I do feel that reading improves a person in a lot of ways. Reading will better educate you as is, but I also want to learn more facts about things I am interested in. This will make me a better conversationalist and more knowledgeable. Knowledge is power after all. 


PHEW! That was a long post. I want to know YOUR New Years Resolutions. Leave them in the comments below! Also, I would love if you would email me a way I can pray for you this year. Thank y'all so much for your support here on my blog and on my social media over the past year. Y'all have made the internet a bright and happy place when it can often times be so dark and mean! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

xoxo