I Never Thought I'd Say This But

I hate Texas in the summer. I used to love it - when I could roll out of bed and go straight to the pool. Now that I have to get ready and actually wear clothes every day I've decided I hate it. I walk outside at 6:30am and instantly my makeup sweats off. It's gross. No amount of deodorant can protect you. It's over 100* and it's only JUNE. Not to mention the 100% humidity level. I walked four blocks to Forever21 on my lunch break yesterday. I was outside for five minutes and needed a shower. Oh, you want to know something really cool? Our A/C decided to stop working two days ago.

Perfect timing A/C, well done.

Yes, you're reading that correctly... 89*. IN OUR HOUSE.

At least my hair is long enough now for cute ponytails.

It's the little things in life.

Next hair goal: fishtail.

Tomorrow is Friday, y'all.

Wanna Be

I secretly wish I was a hipster. You know the type. Bon Iver fans, art enthusiasts, vintage and thrift-store shoppers, wearers of cut-off mom jeans from the 90s, center-parts, old-school sneakers and Warby Parkers. My style constantly battles between lipgloss and a denim vest.

I'm not cool enough to fully commit.

womp womp

May or May Not

I may or may not have made quinoa burrito bowls for dinner last night.

My husband may or may not have said "wife win" in reference to quinoa burrito bowls.

I may or may not have downloaded 5 songs off of Bieber's new album.

I may or may not have ordered something from Abercrombie & Fitch. (who shops there anyway)

My favorite song right now may or may not be Wanted by Hunter Hayes.

I may or may not have purchased my first Essie color - Cascade Cool.

I may or may not be obsessed with Essie now.

I may or may  not want Arie to win the Bachelorette.

I may or may not be obsessed with this puppy.

I may or may not have peed my pants a little when I saw this.



pinterest via



Happy Day!



For My Daddy

I was a handful growing up. My husband would probably tell you I still am. My daddy warned him. I am stubborn, hard-headed and I don't respond well to authority. It led to many arguments with my dad. Whether he wants to admit it or not, I get those qualities from him. Describing someone as stubborn typically results in a negative connotation. But in my daddy, I see the other side of the coin.

Google defines stubborn as this: having or showing dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something.

My daddy loves Jesus. Unshakably. Undoubtedly. Relentlessly. Stubbornly. His life, even his professional work, is committed to loving the Lord and bringing God's glory to the world.

He is wise because he pursues biblical wisdom. He is strong because his strength comes from God. He is leader because he is led by the Lord.

I remember one Father's Day at church, the pastor shared these verses, Psalm 1:1-3:

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers.

I will always remember my daddy when I read that passage. His roots are planted in the Word and his identity is found in his relationship with Jesus. He is a stubborn follower of Christ and his faith does not wither.

Daddy, I am forever grateful for the man you are. I am thankful you love my momma with a love that is eternal. I am thankful you love, provide for and protect me, Alexandra and Blake in a way only a father could. I am thankful you set the bar high when I set out to find a husband. I am thankful you love Austin as your own and desire to pour wisdom into his life and ours as a couple. We are so blessed. I love you Daddy! Happy Father's Day... yesterday.

This Phase of Life

I have always looked forward to the next phase of life. I graduated high school a year early because I was ready for the next thing. (I have never regretted it once) When in college I looked forward to being finished with school. Now some days I definitely wish I could go back... sleeping in, flexible schedule, friends all the time, every summer day was a pool day, puppy chow for dinner, parents paid for everything. When Austin and I were dating, I wanted to be engaged. When we were engaged, I wanted to be married. Now, here we are - renting married professionals - and I'm doing it again. I am looking for the day when we buy our first house, find out I'm pregnant, have our first baby and I can (hopefully) stay at home.

It partially stems from the fact that while I am working full-time, I feel like I'm not living up to my full wife potential. I don't grocery shop regularly, I don't make dinner for my husband often enough and laundry piles up. I can't imagine having babies and working full-time. I feel like my most important responsibility - wife and homemaker - is suffering. I want to be so much more in my home. I need to find a balance. I need help. I need suggestions! How do you balance working full-time and keeping your home and husband clean, fed and happy?

I know all of these things (home, babies, etc) are exciting and good to look forward to, but I'm realizing I might be missing out on life right were I am, here and now. I want to enjoy my husband, just the two of us. I want to take advantage of having two incomes while we can. (well, once hubby finds a new job!)  I want to appreciate our cute little rent house and not rush owning our own because that is a huge responsibility.

This blog definitely serves as an emotional outlet for me. It helps when I write my thoughts and share my feelings. It helps me see the changes I desire to make in myself.

I actually wrote this yesterday, but didn't post it until now. I already feel better. Thanks for reading.

Here's to FRIDAY!

Truck for Checo: UPDATE!!

Remember this?

I received word this weekend that AIM now has enough money to purchase Checo's truck!

Praise the Lord!

I will exalt you, my God the King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you

and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation commends your works to another;

they tell of your mighty acts.

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They tell of the power of your awesome works,

and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They celebrate your abudant goodness

and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

{Psalm 145:1-7}

He is so good and so faithful.

Confession: Nail Polish Edition

Hi. My name is Alyssa Adams and I'm addicted to nail polish.

The first step is admitting you have a problem, right?

Exhibit A:

That isn't even half of my collection. 

I counted.

I have well over 60 bottles of nail polish. 

Is that normal?

How many bottles do you have?

You won't see any OPI or Essie in my collection. I LOVE their colors, obvi.

But I'm cheap. 

I usually stick with Sinful Colours, Revlon. Sally HansenXtreme Wear, Orchid and Forever 21.

Sinful Colors = $1.99 at Walgreens

Revlon = $5.49 at Walgreens

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear = $2.99 at Walgreens

Orchid = $4.97 at H-E-B

Forever 21 = $2.80

Exhibit B:

I paint my nails at least once a week, usually more.

Not because my polish is chipping.

I just want a change.

Here are a few styles I've been wanting to try.

1. / 2. / 3. / 4.

I already tried number one once before. I should have submitted it to Pinterest Fail.

"Where good intentions come to die"

bahaha

What is your favorite polish - brand & color?

We Now Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programming....

....to say I have the best husband ever!!

Not only is he

tall

dark and

handsome

but yesterday he

made our bed

made the guest bed

put away the laundry

dusted the furniture

arranged the couch pillows just how I like

cleaned our bathroom

cleaned the guest bathroom

went grocery shopping

did the dishes

cleaned the kitchen

made buffalo chicken dip for our small group

and went back to the grocery store

because I left chips off the list.

Seeeee, I told you.

BEST EVER.





Thief of Joy

She is skinnier.

Her hair is prettier.

She has more followers.

They make more money.

They're buying a house already.

Their car is nicer.

She is pregnant and they weren't even trying.

Comparison is the thief of joy.
- Theodore Roosevelt

I hate this part of myself. I hate that I ever even have these thoughts. Why am I not satisfied with who I am and what we have? Because who I am is daughter of the King of Kings and co-heir with Jesus Christ, and that is good enough. It's enough. And what we have is grace and salvation, which is all we could ever hope for.

I am reminding myself that this is not my home. Beauty, fame, possessions... it all passes away. I should be more concerned with how and if I look like Jesus and how and if I'm professing, claiming and sharing God's glory.

I am reclaiming joy. Joy which is found in salvation.

I am remembering who I really am.

Bits of Splendor Monday with Laura

High Five for InstaFriday

It's Friday y'all.

Here are my favorites from the past week via InstaGram:

1. This sweet baby boy.



2. This homemade lasagna courtesy of my SIL. It was pretty good, I mean for her first time. whoamikidding. I could have eaten the entire thing.

3. This sweet niece, Harper. She can officially say my name. "Syssa" It's the cutest.

4. This bun, which means my hair is finally getting LONG.

5. This mani with my new Revlon polish.

6. These rasberry bars. They are so easy to make and they're delicious. Try them!!

7. These sleeping loves of mine.

What I'm looking forward to this weekend:

1. I have a hair appointment tomorrow for color and BANGS!

2. Our dog-nieces are coming to stay with us for the weekend. LadyBuggs is so excited to play with her cousins!

3. SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN tonight with our neighbor besties who aren't our neighbors anymore. sad face. I can't wait to stare at Chris Hemsworth all night. drool.

You're welcome.
via

Happy Weekend!

linking up with Lauren @ From My Gray Desk

linking up with Jeannette @ Life Rearranged

She Bangs, She Bangs

Ever since I had them cut, I have been obsessing over BANGS. They're everywhere and I love them. I know this is terrible "blog-world" etiquette, but I don't have the sources for these pictues. I took screen shots on my iPhone to save them. Sorry, Charlie. But, these are some of the styles I am loving.

I have a hair appointment on Saturday, and this next one is what I'm going with.

Happy Hump Day! 

InstaFriday

I'm linking up with Jeannett @ Life Rearranged for her weekly series "InstaFriday" which I found through Ashley @ The Vanilla Tulip.

Follow Me!

alyssagrier

I went home to Arlington over Memorial Day weekend while hubby was fishing in Colorado. I found this sweet picture of me and my seester. I love that little girl (who is not so little anymore).

Here we are several years later. And I still love her. She just left this morning to start her Global Journey trip. She is doing mission work in FIVE countries - Hong Kong, India, France, Uganda, Honduras - over the summer. Follow her journey here.

This is my brother's sweet puppy, Harley. She is getting so big! I wanted to bring her home with me...



Gotta have my coffee in style.... mint mug :)

I straight up jacked this necklace from my seester. Except, not really. She said I could borrow it while she's gone for the summer. I may or may not be planning to keep it. Suckah.

Sleepy Buggs :)

Our A/C went out last night. Sweet. Nothing like no A/C in JUNE in TEXAS.

Breakfast of Champions. Holler!

WHICH HAIR COLOR?! Help a sistah out!

PS - Ever heard of Postal Pix? It's a free app you can download and print your iPhone/InstaGram pictures straight from your phone! Jeannett (Life Rearranged) is hooking us up with a 25% off promo code: lifepix. I just ordered 28 pics for seven bucks. Now for how to display them, I must consult Pinterest.

I love weeks when Tuesday is Monday.

Happy Friday!