giveaways.

have you ever won a giveaway on a blog??

i was thinking about the awesome items i have won from various giveaways over the years:  

although i was one of 300 that won this giveaway, i still got some sweet jewelry from this giveaway from selective potential.  

i won a pair of bonlook glasses from what would a nerd wear. (i started jumping up and down when i got her email!)

i won a really pretty wrap from selective potential.

and then, this friday, i found out i won TWO MORE GIVEAWAYS!!

two in one day...WOW. 

(and to make it even more special, they were from two of my favorite blogs. lindsay and mandy are both such sweethearts!) 

here's what i have coming to me: 

think i'm gonna use this gift card i won from delighted momma to get a sweet iphone case.

i won a custom silhouette from the etsy store, out of alabaster, from she breathes deeply. since we don't have kids, i am going to get one of the "couple" silhouettes. isn't it so cute?

so there you have it. i encourage you to enter giveaways that you read about. it's worth it! i speak from experience.

♥erica

peace, my soul.

i've still been meditating on my one word that i chose for 2012.

this song came on my pandora the other day and brought peace to my heart. 
it's always been one of my favorite dave barnes songs. enjoy!  

They tell me there's songs reserved for angels
Would you sing me one, a stranger
Just to prove your love?


They tell me you've given poor men kingdoms
And handed guilty freedom
And taken on their stains


And your love will never change
Your love will never change



They tell me that you dwell with good and evil
In alleys and cathedrals
Shadows and the light


They tell me that you hold the world together
Not from guilt, but pleasure
And you somehow know my name


And your love will never change
Your love will never change



So tell me there's nothing that you can't do
And you'll love me though I've hurt you
And that you'll take my blame


And your love will never change
Your love will never change

peace comes from stability, security and safety. 

peace to your soul today...His love will never change.

you can listen to this beautiful song here: 

♥erica

high five for friday!

let the weekend begin!! woo hoo!
here's my top five from the week...

five.

i started my art journal this week! (yeah, with one page a week, this could take a while...but i can't wait to dive in deeper this summer and start to get into the rhythm of making it a part of my routine.) it felt so good to break out the paint again.

four.
i love this pic of j and me from this week. he looks SO good in a suit :) 

three.

made these potatoes. ah-mazing.

definitely a dish to put in your arsenal.

two.

SO proud of my little rockstar, z, for rockin her studded top and sleek blazer we thrifted together at goodwill! ! :) 

one.

grateful for my health today. 

 grateful that i am not laying in a hospital bed. that i am not dependent on medication.

grateful i could walk, drive, work, and cook today.

even grateful that i don't have to deal with a cold, and i can breathe and swallow without pain.

have a wonderful weekend everyone!! 

♥erica

how pinteresting: creativity rules.

happy wednesday!
today i am sharing some of my favorite "creative" pins from the week.
be inspired...

pinned here.

pinned here.



pinned here.


can i get an amen?

pinned here.



pinned here.

this is so cool.

pinned here.

now it's just getting that out of my mind onto a canvas...

pinned here.

wishing you a creative wednesday!
{look for it...inspiration is all around you!}

♥erica 

guest post.

i am delighted to be guest posting for meredith from mer's memoirs today!
i'm sharing one of my favorite facial treatments that i've made recently.

go check it out here.


♥erica 

spring trend.

i already shared my love for coral this spring in a previous post. but as i was perusing through pinterest this week, i spotted another trend using this lovely, fresh color for spring. pairing coral with gold!  the warmth in both of the colors are so pretty together. 

so without further ado...

what's one of your favorite color combos for spring? 

♥erica

links to love.

here are some links i've been loving lately. enjoy!

we went to our honeymoon in jamaica and one of the best parts was the jerk chicken. 

can't wait to try this recipe.

such a great post for prep before sporting a bright lipstick color. 

an awesome list of creative photo ideas to do with your iphone. 

marta shares tips for finding your voice and getting unstuck.

i've always been curious about the clarisonic products. this review may have just pushed me over the fence to purchasing one. 

neon is all the rage. LOVE this DIY.

j is not a huge fan of brussel sprouts but these sound yummy!

my friend just told me about the evernote app for the iphone so i was excited to read this post about it too.

totally wanna jump on the green smoothie bandwagon. 

♥erica

high five for friday!

this week has been full of ups and downs. 

glad to say it's friday and time for the weekend! i'm excited for a girls night tonight with some friends which will include a hot tub! can i get an amen? :) 

here are some of the highlights of my week...

five.

my mom surprised me and sent me two of the pioneer woman's cookbooks! so excited! her recipes are amazing. (and there are pretty pictures of each step of each recipe--SO fun!) here are some that i'm looking forward to trying soon: 

hot artichoke dip

creamy rosemary potatoes

knock you naked brownies (hehe...)

peach whiskey chicken

tequila lime chicken (notice a trend ;) 

four

i've already started to meet one of my mid year goals. even as i type my abs are sore and i'm feelin the burn from the workouts i've done this week. feels great.

three.

my friend erica (yep, we have the same name) shared this homemade salsa recipe with me. 

and i am thrilled to pass it along to YOU. 

1 green pepper diced

1/2 tomato diced

1 can corn

1/2 can black beans 

1/2 bunch cilantro chopped

1/2 onion diced

1 tsp minced garlic

8 oz italian dressing 

mix all ingredients and enjoy!

two.
following alison's advice, i picked up both the maybelline and rimmel lipstick colors below. i have been quite impressed! she tested tons of drugstore lipstick colors and brands and these were the top picks:


one.
really enjoyed leading worship and attending an awesome conference at Kingdom Life Ministries (a local church) this week. i have been encouraged and inspired!

i love singing with my sisters <3

wishing you a tremendous weekend! enjoy every minute.


♥erica

oh how pinteresting.

here are some of my favorite pins i've been drooling over the past few weeks. 

these shoes are so cool.

pinned here.

delighted momma is one of my favorite blogs. she has such great skin care tips. 

this diy eye cream is no exception.

pinned here.

great beauty secrets and diy's from women all over the world.

pinned here.

this is just so pretty.

pinned here.

taco soup. mmm...

pinned here.

put your phone/ipod in a glass to make music loud enough to fill the room. (gonna try that!)

pinned here.


i think this DIY would be really cute for a nursery (some day).

pinned here.




♥erica

mid year goals.

so many people have 'new years resolutions' but honestly, i'm more inspired to instill "changes" in the springtime when things are fresh and budding.

as i have been dreaming of some changes i'd like to make, 

i was encouraged by this quote i stumbled upon:

be clear about your goal but be flexible about the process of achieving it. -brian tracy 

(don't beat yourself up when you miss a day, amen?) 

well, in that case, here are four mid-year goals i have decided upon:  

// be/stay active.

i write "be" and "stay" because these winter months i have lost some of my motivation to stay active and get my booty to the gym. i have so much more energy when i stick to it. and it's always worth it, 

but it's getting out of bed and as silly as it sounds, getting my work out gear on and together.
  

// cut out pop.
i recently fasted from pop (aka soda ;) for a week and really noticed a difference. plain and simple: i felt less gross. i am already a water-aholic, but have chosen healthier options for flavorful drinks. i would like to continue this habit. but not beat myself up if i have a very occasional D.C. (see below).

//pick up art journaling.

i believe that life is art. there are so many words, images and sounds to inspire us everywhere we go.
i have been inspired by three wonderful women who create art journals to document and capture the moments of beauty and vulnerability in their lives. (mandy, sabrina and teresa). 

however, i want to start art journaling not to try and be like someone else. 

not to copy. or compare. or critique.

but to unlock the creative part of me that's been stifled and laid dormant. 

this is my new favorite blog for art inspiration!
i plan on using some of mandy and teresa's prompts found at:

//continue meal planning.

this may seem like a simple goal, but it saves me lots of panic and stress. it is my goal to have at least one week's worth of meals planned and groceries bought at the start of each new week. i could dare say that i would love to plan 2 weeks in advance, but let's not push it...


have you been inspired to write any mid-year goals? i'd love to hear about them! <3

♥erica

me.

this weekend, i had the awesome opportunity to present for the second time, my free to be me curriculum aimed at empowering adolescent girls to live free in a pressure filled world.

as i looked out at the seventeen girls i was going to teach about topics such as myths of beauty in our culture, non violents communication (being able to express what you are really feeling, thinking and needing), the importance of role models, positive forms of expression and online safety tips, i couldn't help but imagine 12 year old me sitting in their shoes. 

12 year old me with big glasses and a mouth full of metal. (braces. that is). 

12 year old me with frizzy hair and white eyeliner (did anyone else try that?

 not so proud of that make up mistake...)

12 year old me trying desperately to figure out which group, which 'circle' i fit in. 

the adolescent years are so important in the formation of our identity. who we are. what we want to be about.

however that's not the only time or season in our lives when we question ourselves or compare what we do or what we look like to someone else. 

it happens in college, as sorority members are being inducted and majors are being chosen.

it certainly happens in your twenty and thirty something years...

the roles of wife and mother can be completely overwhelming. 

there are so many women who "do it better" and who "look better doing it." 

i'll be honest. i have struggled with thoughts like: 

"her house is spotless. her kitchen counters are sparkling. i can barely keep my floors in my bedroom clear of a massive pile of clothes."

"her long flowing hair is so beautiful. is my short hair feminine enough?" 

"i can't fry chicken like her. i can't make greens or dressing from scratch either." (might sound silly, but being married to my j, i was very insecure at first about not being able to cook for him). 

"her blog design is perfect. mine still looks so amateur."

but at the end of the day, i'm just me. 

i was created to be: ERICA. unique. quirky. ME. 

not superwoman. or "superwife." 

teaching those girls a thing or two about being FREE to be themselves: confident, compassionate and brave, just may have been the lessons i needed to re-learn. 

♥erica

handmade treasures.

there are so many amazing etsy shops and other online stores full of incredible handmade and vintage pieces. i love browsing the creative jewels that people make and sell. 

here are some items i've been drooling over recently:

one. turquoise tribal necklace

two. plum hemp headwrap 

three. leather vintage trim fringe earrings 

four. brown leather heirloom tote

five. gray intermix shift skirt 

six. watercolor peacock print

what are some of your favorite online, handmade shops?


♥erica

high five for friday!

i love linking up with other bloggers for high five for friday! :) 

celebrating great things that happen every week and what we are grateful for or looking forward to! 

here's my five from this week:

five. 

my love for coconut oil continues. i got multiple "your hair looks great" compliments and my hair felt soft and styled "easier" the day this week that i started not only using cocount oil as a facial moisturizer but on my hair (concentrated on ends) before blow drying. TRY IT! you won't be disappointed! :)

{see, i even had a good "bangs" day when i used it...hehe...}

four. 

we've had a few people walk through our house. holding out HOPE that it will sell quickly! 

three.

one week closer to our vacation to NEW ORLEANS this spring! 

two.

would totally love to win this great giveaway on mandy's blog.
i would get a silhouette of jeremy + me for our new place when we move. <3
 

one.

excited to be hosting my second self esteem workshop this weekend!
it's called free to be me: empowering adolescent girls to live free in a pressure filled world.

happy weekend everyone!


♥erica