Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise

From elementary education to journalism, my life in this past year has been quite the journey. One year ago I was enrolled in elementary education classes at Ole Miss. I was making lessons plans for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for my second grade class. I had no idea what was about to come.

At the end of May 2013 I realized I wasn't going to allow myself anymore to think about my "second life." Why only dream when I could make these dreams my reality?

I switched all my classes to meet the journalism school requirements and planned to visit Oxford to meet with an advisor. I went from learning about early literacy to journalism 101. After I made that jump and trusted in the Lord that this is exactly where I was supposed to be, the blessings kept pouring out.

I applied for and accepted an internship with Hello Perfect and began my journey with them as a contributing writer. I loved all of my fall semester classes in the journalism building and then reached out on a limb to apply for the Teen Vogue Fashion University weekend in October in New York, which I found out about through the founder of Hello Perfect.

Patience. One word I am not good with. Teen Vogue Fashion U was one of the only events I applied for and never thought about again. I didn't over analyze every step or already plan out my trip in my mind. That's why when my acceptance email came I was incredible overjoyed. Through prayers and not planning, the Lord provided for me to attend TVFU along with five of my best friends.

"And so it was, that [she], having waited long and endured patiently, realized and obtained what God had promised" Hebrews 6:15 

It was there that I had no idea how much my life would change. When signing up for my seminars for TVFU I had no idea who DANNIJO was, but they sounded cool. I liked the idea that they were two sisters working together and I like jewelry, so I thought, "Sure I'll sign up for your seminar."

Immediately I was drawn to Danielle and Jodie & I loved everything they said during the seminar. I knew I would fit in with them. Who would have thought that three/four months later I would be accepting an internship with them. How cool is this series of events?! Everything is linked together!

Last week was incredible & I received a "God wink" almost every day. I got offered other internships and interview opportunities, I am a new campus ambassador for Intern Queen, received a few cool emails from people in New York that I'm going to be able to meet, and to top it off, I was published in the Daily Mississippian this morning. Needless to say, I was on cloud nine. I found my head growing a little bigger.

What I needed to be reminded of is that without Jesus, none of these things would have been possible.

The Lord has humbled me through all of these experiences & they have taught me a lot. It is in my nature to want to run around saying, "Hey look who just emailed me back!" or send a tweet broadcasting my internship offers. My life would not be woven together like this without my daily strive (and struggle) to follow Jesus and believe that He has control of my life, not myself.

"...My cups overflows with your blessings" Psalm 23:5

In high school when I thought I was actively pursuing the Lord I thought I made all the decisions. Obviously you can see how wrong that was because I was settling with the idea that I was supposed to be a teacher for the rest of my life. Once I actively began pursuing the Lord and seeing where He led me, I have been overwhelmed with incredible opportunities. Don't get me wrong, every day I stumble and fail, but the Lord is always so faithful.

The glory does not go to me though. The glory goes to God. Without Him, I would never have gotten this far. I would still be student teaching and sulking to my classes. I have to remind myself every day that it is enough that I know these things about myself and to thank God every single second of the day for providing for me and putting these desires in my heart.

This morning, with the Daily Mississippian in my hand and the sun shining on my face, I was remind of the song lyrics, "Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise" from Blessed Be Your Name. Everything clicked and I had to share this experience with all of you. Also, I can't wait to see that Jesus has in store for all of you! It makes me giddy and excited.

Without Jesus none of these things would be possible. I've learned that there is no way I can control my life. I can't make plans because the plans have already been made. Through this I challenge myself to turn every blessing into praise. (see how we came full circle there?)

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20

50 things & places I love:

1. coffee at all times of the day
2. traveling
3. sitting in the window seat of a plane
4. macarons & champagne
5. the university of mississippi
6. updating iPhone apps
7. the color black
8. celine dion
9. handwritten notes
10. magazines - attn: Vogue
11. tri delta - especially the chi chapter 
12. surprises
13. new york city
14. water - oceans, pools, lakes
15. breakfast dates
16. sunsets
17. one direction
18. shrimp po' boys
19. quoting gilmore girls and watching reruns
20. social media
21. journaling 
22. franklin, tennessee
23. greek salads
24. candid photos
25. beyonce
26. grilled cheeses // paninis
27. watercolors
28. country cookin'
29. phases of the moon
30. maxi dresses & skirts
31. chicago, illinois 
32. harry potter and the sorcerer's stone
33. taking pictures
34. las vegas, nevada
35. gossip girl
36. street style
37. los angeles, california
38. underwater pictures
39. leather leggings
40. music festivals - lollapalooza 
41. falling asleep on a float in the pool
42. graphic tees
43. musicals and broadway plays
44. dark blue nail polish 
45. rompers
46. pizza
47. romance movies
48. blogs
49. morning time with Jesus
50. valentine's day

Happy Valentine's Day to you all! Hope your day was full of love!

xoxo

What I Like Wednesday

 via Style Me Pretty

 via Lauren Conrad

all other photos via Pinterest

Why I Love New York

Before I visited New York I only knew what this city was like through the movies and television. I watched Carrie Bradshaw walk down Fifth Avenue in her Prada shoes with many shoppings bags. I watched Sally drop off Harry at Washington Square Park, then watched them kiss on New Year's Eve at a party. I watched Andy work for Miranda Priestley before realizing who it was depicting.

Most importantly, I watched Blair and Serena sit on the steps of the Met every morning before school.

New York is a fantasy world for me, yet I know it is not like these movies or television shows. I know I can't go everyday to Bergdorf's and blow a paycheck or eat macarons while drinking champagne every night.

"I bought Vogue instead of dinner. I felt it just fed me more," Carrie Bradshaw once said. If I end up in New York for the summer, I know this is the sort of life I would live. The average college kid budget, where sometimes it's $1 pizza so you can buy this month's issue of Vogue. Now, I would hope I would be better with money than that and get more bang for my buck, but what I know is that if this happened, I would be okay with it.

New York is glamorous but what I love is the people on the streets. The street style, the best $1 pizza on the corner and the best unknown coffee shop from the tourists, that is what I would like to find.

My dad said, "You won't be able to venture on top of the Empire State Building every night," and I know this. I want to work so hard. I want to run for the subway to show up for an incredible interning experience.

I love New York because of the fast paced environment. I love how you can wear what you want. I love the glow of the yellow taxis at night. And I love that if you close your eyes for too long or stare down at your phone while walking, you miss way too much. The best thing you can do in New York is keep your eyes open.

So, cheers to you New York City! You have won my heart and my daily rambles. I think of you so often.

Maybe one day soon our paths will cross again.. 

To all my friends and family reading this post,

You could help make my dreams come true! 

Word of mouth, your friends, networking.

Feel free to spread my love for this city near and far and maybe one day 

I'll end up in the Big Apple.

Big Lights Will Inspire You

Before I sat down to write this blog post I thought to myself, "Only pick your absolute favorite pictures. No one wants a long list of them." Well, seeing as I have no self control and picked over 50 photos to share with you, that didn't happen like planned. If you compare it though to the 600 I have in my iPhoto library, I'd say I did pretty well.

Ginny, Frances, Kendal, Ann Marie, Susanna, me

Upon arriving to LaGuardia, we were picked up in a limo. Not a bad day when you're riding through the streets of New York with your best friends in a limo that's blaring "The Way You Look Tonight." If that wasn't a sign that I am where I belong, then I'm not sure what is.
**future husband take notes**

Ginny, Susanna, me, Frances

Making a quick stop at Serena Vander Woodsen's house 

The New York Palace

Seeing the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center was unreal. We've all seen so many photos of this so to actually lay my eyes on it was awesome. We saw the NBC news rooms in the back and of course spotted the Free People store on the opposite side.

Ann Marie, Susanna, Frances, Ginny, me, Kendal

The obsession with Gossip Girl was brought to a whole new level in New York. We found all the hot spots where scenes were filmed, where the characters lived, and even ate what the characters ate (pistachio macarons, call me Blair). Thursday night we went to The Empire Hotel where Chuck Bass lived. "Remain cool" is what everyone kept saying but when our waitress told us that she had met him before we lost it.

"One Chuck Bass, please."

Ann Marie, me + Ginny

We went to dinner after The Empire Hotel at Quality Meats. There we split so many great meals and even saw Mariah Carey. She was eating in a private room upstairs but conveniently she walked up the stairs right by our table. We all thought she looked famous, but were unsure if it truly was Mariah Carey until she became a diva walking up the stairs and looking around for people to recognize her.

Ann Marie leaned over to me and said, "I know it's her because of that video you showed me!"

You're going to want to watch this.

Outside of The Empire Hotel was Lincoln Center which hosts New York Fashion Week

Friday morning stroll through Central Park

Our childhood dream came true - we dined at The Plaza with Eloise

I had the Central Park Pancakes which were delicious and they had magical syrup. The waiter saw us gawking over the Eloise menus so he gave each one of us our own copy.

Two divas being divas

Susanna + I

The Eloise store at the bottom of The Plaza was a dream come true.

"Charge it, please"

Ann Marie, Susanna, Kendal, Frances, 

me, Ginny

Susanna + Chan take Central Park

"We looked at our kingdom, we were finally here" -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Fresh Princess of New York, it has a good ring to it, right?

Ann Marie + I

Another dream come true, shopping at Bergdorf Goodman's.. Yes, I look like a total tourist but I had to take this photo and reminisce on "Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's"

Dylan's Candy Bar

me + Frances

My love for macarons will never end. 

A permanent smile was placed on my face for four days 

Celine Dion, right? ;)

On the steps of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Top of The Empire State Building

"Big lights will inspire you"

Saturday was full of Teen Vogue Fashion University, the day was finally here!
During this seminar I learned to never give up. If I want an internship at some largely famous company, work until I get it. Everyone on the panel was so encouraging and they offered great advice. The whole weekend was so inspiring and really uplifting. 

The panel that began the weekend on Saturday morning was incredible. It was Amy Astley, the Editor in Chief at Teen Vogue, 

I ended up here on my lunch break. Next time I'm in New York I will make it a priority to see a musical and I wouldn't mind it if it was Matilda because we had the same wallpaper in our rooms.

One of my favorite speakers of the weekend was Jessie Randall of Loeffler Randall shoes and handbags. She was so sweet and you could tell that she really cared about her customers. A handwritten note is sent to each person that buys a pair of shoes or a handbag and she is always hosting meet and greets in stores like Saks on Fifth Avenue.

After her presentation was over I went to the back of the room where her PR person was and got to talk to her and get her email address. I would love to intern with them!

My last seminar of the day was with Neil Blumenthal of Warby Parker. I had heard of his glasses before from a friend. Sitting front row right in front of him and the accessory director Sheena of Teen Vogue was really interesting & I loved being able to be close. 

Warby Parker sells their glasses + frames for $95 total. You can go online and have them send you 5 pairs of glasses that you think you would like, wear them around your house for a few days, and then if you decide that you do like a pair, you can send all 5 back plus your prescription and they will then send you the glasses of your choice + your prescription in them.

Sheena Smith, Accessories Director at Teen Vogue

The Blogger panel for all students was right up my alley. Amy Astley hosted the panel with the Into the Gloss founders and The Coveteurs founders. 

Into the Gloss and The Coveteur are both very popular fashion & beauty blogs. Emily Weiss, of Into the Gloss, was a Teen Vogue intern and it was inspiring to hear her stories and how she made it into the blogging world.

me, Ann Marie + Susanna

After my seminars and the rest of my friends returning from a day of shopping in Soho, we hopped in a cab to go to dinner at The Hurricane Club. The one hour wait was totally worth it because I had the best sushi I had ever eaten and the atmosphere was so fabulous. 

Kendal's 21st birthday is October 29th but why not celebrate a little early in NYC?!

Ginny + me

After dinner we headed to The Standard Beer Garden which almost every person we talked to recommended. 

Obviously I hide my emotions very well....

Saturday diva night. It's pretty strange and awesome to think that three years ago we were complete strangers and now we are traveling together + living together. Always thankful for my partner in crime!

Nothing but the best

New York, you've won me

If I could wear this outfit every day, I would.

Sunday morning well spent with Phyllis Posnick, the Fashion Editor at Vogue.

It was surreal to hear her speak and to know that she works with the incredible line up at Vogue, like Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington. 

We did it!

My favorite thing about New York was walking everywhere. We started in the Upper East Side at Laudree, found our way through Central Park, then ended up a little bit into the Upper West Side. We stumbled upon Magnolia Bakery, Intermix, Wink, Kate Spade, Pookie & Sebastian, and more.

It really can't be much better, fall in New York with your best friends. I am so thankful for this opportunity and so grateful. It was surreal walking the streets of New York when I have been dreaming of this forever. Getting accepted to Teen Vogue's Fashion University was humbling and I couldn't even have dreamt of that. 

New York, you were good to me. This is not goodbye, it is an I'll see you soon!

Now to start planning and praying about my future, my summer plans + where I'll end up.

Here is the link to my post on HelloPerfect.com
Teen Vogue Fashion University -- Hello Perfect