It’s no secret around here that I’m an earth lover. As much as I am kinda girly I have this adventurous side that loves to get outdoors no matter what. I feel the happiest laying in the sunshine and feeling the soft breeze blow across my face. I was so excited to partner with Sarah Flint - a woman-owned company that specializes in Italian shoes because of the company’s mission to provide products made in facilities with sustainable materials. The Sustainable Steps Collection from Sarah Flint breeds the best of luxury fashion with sustainability. You don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort anymore! Each pair is hand crafted in Italy by artisans using the most eco-friendly materials.

When this blog was initially created, I set out to share the magic that happened in my life on a daily basis. I had no idea at the blog would become my life story a decade later. I seek every single day to find magical moments. Life is busy. There’s so much happening. Slowing down in the mornings and evenings has given me the ability to discover more magic. Sometimes it’s how the sky lights up at sunset on a walk with the cool breeze blowing across the grass. Sometimes it’s the light wind rustling in trees and the way they look like pieces of lace overlapping one another against a blue background. Sometimes it’s the giggles of my daughter or the jokes we make on our drives together. Seeking magic every day is what makes life sweeter. Here are a few ways to make each day special…

It’s that time of year! Finally, Texas bluebonnet season. If you’ve never been to Texas during this time of year then it’s time for you to plan your next trip! In late March and early Spring, the entire state becomes alive with wildflowers. Specifically, the Texas Bluebonnet which is our state flower. For years, my family flocked to find the best fields for photographs. It’s perfect for bridal pictures, senior college or high school pictures, family portraits, and of course, blog photos! I decided to round up a list of some of the top locations to find these bluebonnet fields!

If you are looking for your next Texas vacation then you need to check out Port Aransas! Nestled on the Texas Gulf Coast between Galveston and N Padre Island is the charming island and beach town called Port Aransas. Filled with pastel shops, stores, and restaurants this makes the perfect family vacation! I spent a couple of days here and put together a weekend guide for you guys! From Instagram spots to a restaurant that has presidential history, here is a guide to spending the weekend in Port Aransas and the neighboring city Corpus Christi.

I shared a little last week in this post about my trip to South Padre Island. This is the perfect Spring Break location if you are looking for a tropical paradise in Texas. The water is incredible, the beaches are soft with rolling sand dunes and the island is filled with turtles, birds, dolphins, and other wildlife. It’s a welcomed oasis in South Texas. While I was on the island I drove over the bridge to Port Isabel where one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the gulf coast resides. The lighthouse sits in the middle of Port Isabel’s town square with a multitude of shops and restaurants. The lighthouse is open to tour so make sure you check their website for hours and cost for admission. Since I knew I’d be walking a lot that day I pulled out my favorite pair of flats!

My family is originally from the deep south and porches are a thing for anyone who lives in Alabama. Although I call Texas home, there are a few things from my childhood I’ve carried over here, and having a porch to relax on is a necessity. I recently made a few updates to my patio to include DIY paper lantern outdoor light shades. You basically tie a few paper lanterns together with thread and hang over the ugly old light fixture. Also, a fantastic idea for a party! My outdoor sconces are pretty deepest into the porch, so I’m not worried about wind damage. I went ahead and put together a few tips for decorating your patio!

A few years ago whenever I looked in the mirror I saw someone who was a failure. I talked to her that way, too. I’d say things like, “You are not getting things right today.” Or “This isn’t your day.”

I began avoiding mirrors. I saw every single flaw in myself every single day. Then, one day a mentor of mine told me to say one positive thing for every negative thing I said.

Looking back, what I was going through was depression. I was so tired every day. I was angry at how life turned out and I felt like everything was my fault. Depression is a lot of work to manage. It’s a level of fatigue that makes taking a shower feel like an Olympic sport. But I kept going. Each time I said something crappy to myself, I stop and say something positive.

The past few months I’ve traveled back and forth to Dallas often. It’s an area I haven’t spent a ton of time in the past and I’ve really enjoyed getting to see the different parts of the city. Recently I decided to make it a point to stop by the Dallas Arboretum. The day I chose to go it actually snowed on me a while I was walking around. This garden is known for being one of the most photographic spots in the city. Each year the grounds are covered in flowers and blooms all Spring long. You will need to purchase a ticket online in advance and make sure you also purchase parking. You’ll pick an arrival time and you are encouraged to bring a picnic and spend a few hours there. I cannot wait to make a second trip over the Spring and share more about it with you guys!

For years I tried on different lifestyles trying to figure out which one was mine. I tried being the housewife, the adventurer, the breadwinner, the holistic momma, the corporate go-getter, and much more. I needed to go through an elimination process to figure out what I wasn’t before defining what I would be. I think that’s okay. Not all of us come out of the womb knowing our life path. Four years ago I began a journey of self-discovery. I spent more time alone than I ever have to learn about myself, other people, noting what I liked and disliked. I explored destinations alone and reflected in a new journal every month. Pages upon pages were written trying to connect the dots of who I used to be to who I am now. I am told that only a small percentage of people are self-aware. I yearned to be a part of that group. The more I discovered about myself the more I became intentional in my choices resulting in more peace and joy than I knew before. If you are at a similar place in life where you just ache to be more of who you are here are a few things that might help.

Gosh, I love the ocean. I have to say out of all of the places I lived and visited in my lifetime, I feel most at home when I’m near the ocean. There’s something so soothing and powerful about the water. The waves hold so much force as they push and pull against the grains of sand on the shore. Soft powdery sand that feels like you walking on powdered sugar makes for the best walks. The sunsets are unbelievable and when a storm rolls in…well, as frightening as they are - they also carry so much strength. Today I’m going to share a whole bunch of date ideas, but if you are single… I want you to know it’s okay to do any (or all of these) activities by yourself and show yourself some love. I say that because some of my best memories of my happy place were spent in times of solitude. Valentine’s Day whether you’re in a relationship or not is a day to celebrate love. A day to bring forth self-love and care if you are single. Here’s a word for all the single ladies on valentine’s day if you are looking for some ideas on how to spend your time! Highly recommend some of the tips here! If you are in a couple, I challenge you to take time over the next week to figure out a way to show your partner that you adore them. Brainstorm a few ideas and make the event special. The effort will be worth it!

If you are new around here you probably should note that I still go on hikes often because I love the outdoors so dang much! After spending a few days in West Texas hiking and driving through both Caprock Canyons and Palo Duro Canyon I decided to head more north to celebrate New Year’s in Colorado Springs, CO. I’ve made several trips to Colorado over the years with friends but this was the first time alone. I decided that if I only did one epic activity it was to get to Pikes Peak Summit. I quickly researched the ways to get to the top - you can hike about 14 miles… um… no thank you. That’s pretty aggressive to get to one of the tallest peaks in the US. You can drive it but winds a lot and steep grades. It is Winter… and again… no thank you. Then, I stumbled across the train! You can take a three-hour round trip up 9 miles on a train to reach Pikes Peak Summit. That I could manage!

Valentine’s Day whether I’ve been single or in a relationship is actually one of my favorite days of the year. Although I believe that love should be celebrated every day, I also find the holiday fun since it involves candy, colorful outfits, and a fantastic dinner with atmosphere. Whether you are going to be a party of one or you are looking for a hotspot around your city… a new outfit for the occasion always makes for a better day.

Wow! What a weekend! I had an incredible time on South Padre Island and will be sharing tons of fun content over the next few weeks for Spring Break ideas (both snow and sea) but this morning I wanted to talk more about the overarching theme I’ve chosen for 2022. For the past five years, I’ve chosen a word every single year as a focus for my life throughout the year. First, it was the word “health” after getting pneumonia at the end of 2017. Then, it was “simplify” in 2019 where I share my struggles with feeling a lack of purpose in my life. In 2020 I chose the word “explode” where my entire life took a huge leap forward. I ended a relationship, moved cities and my business doubled that year in followers, website traffic, and income. This past year I chose the word “abundance” and let me tell you, I had no idea what was in store. My life took another large leap forward and I experienced success in professional and personal areas of growth. Moving into a home after living in apartments and cottages for years was huge. I started traveling a lot on my own and experienced an increase in peace in my life. Here we are at the beginning of 2022 and I’m choosing the word - “soar” to rise above anything I’ve ever done before in my life. I’ve set some pretty remarkable goals this year and will be working on hitting them one by one.

I’ll be honest. I’ve been in mostly knits for the past 10 days. Ever since I made it back from my trip to Colorado, I’ve been a complete hermit. Yep, snuggled up on the couch with my dog and journal morning and night. It’s been incredible and much-needed. I’ve been working all year so far out of my house. Each evening doing little projects around the house and during the daytime working with clients. My uniform looks the equivalent of what I wore when I was in Amarillo which includes this incredible sweater that is the softest material ever and these snuggly pants. If there is one outfit you need in your life right now it’s this one. I’ve been wearing several pairs of sweater pants like these joggers, this pair of wide-legged and I’ve featured these several times on the blog over the years. They are a great alternative to sweat pants and you can lounge, walk or run errands in them.

How many times have you thought to yourself… I really should have taken that trip? I’m in a phase of life where I am holding nothing back. I have no reason to anymore. In the past, I came up with reasons I couldn’t do something or go somewhere. Maybe it was the cost. Maybe it was asking for time off from my job and I didn’t think they couldn’t manage without me being there. Maybe it was because my ex-husband didn’t show interest or even complained about it. Maybe it was the fact that you have three kids and now you have no idea how to even begin to make that happen. When was the last time you did something that made you feel the most you?

Let’s talk about creating the life of your dreams. A few years ago I started pinning things on Pinterest for the life I wanted to create. I was at a low point and unhappy with the current state of my everyday affairs. If you’ve ever been through depression, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It was really hard during that time to feel excited about anything. Everything lost its luster and I felt like I couldn’t afford to do anything. I was pinching pennies on the daily and worrying about whether or not basic bills would be paid. During that period of time, I worked really hard to just make it through the day one hour at a time. I began during this period of my life to collect and save ideas of things I wanted in my life. One of those items was a pink Christmas tree.

I put together two looks wearing my new Sarah Flint Jay 100 Pumps. I love the tortoise heel and how it contrasts against the beautiful triple-dyed navy suede. I love the arch support! Usually, heels don’t have that kind of comfort but these can be worn all day or all night depending on the occasion. For the first outfit, I paired them with a silk camisole and silk skirt. A simple nude envelope clutch and gold earrings make for an elegant party or New Year’s Eve look. The second look includes a pleated navy floral dress. You can add a blazer or cardigan daytime and then switch to a scarf or a shawl for an evening look. The pumps are the perfect finishing touch for both looks. Use the code SARAHFLINT-BATHREEHEELCLICKS for $50 off your Sarah Flint order!

It’s no secret that I love Amazon. From their incredibly streamlined delivery and return policy to the quality of the Amazon the Drop collections that highlight influencers, time and time again I am impressed by what they have created in the retail space. To think that they single-handedly changed the book and printing industry! I’m overjoyed day after day with my Audible subscription, endless tv options on Amazon Prime, and getting packages regularly that have that little smile icon on them. With all of the amazing sales and deals happening I had to share my favorite Amazon finds. I’m dating things back over the past year with each item being something I’ve either used, purchased for someone else, or currently have on my own wish list.