A Surprise Weekend Getaway

It's amazing how God always knows what we need, sometimes before we even know!!!! Such is the case with my husband.  God knew exactly what I needed in a husband.  He knew my needs,  dreams and desires. God gave me everything I had ever asked for and what I had only dreamed of but never asked.
Eph. 3:20 says that "Now unto him that is exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think....."
And that is just what God did, He did exceedingly abundantly above. I'm still in awe at the amazing man God choose just for me.

This weekend my husband whisked me away on a surprise weekend getaway. And might I add. ..a much needed one!!!!! He had been carefully planning this for months.  It started off on Valentines Day with a sweet card telling me that I was in for a  surprise the next Saturday. He also told me not to make any plans for the next weekend cause we needed a slow weekend.
Well on Wednesday he sent me a txt that told me to pack and how to pack!!! He told me to also pack for the little man that he was staying with his Nana....whoohoo!!!! And the only other piece of information he would give out was that we would leave Thursday evening after I got finished teaching piano.
Boy,  Thursday evening could not get here fast enough! !!!!

When I was finished with piano,  the boys picked me up,  we had a nice dinner and we were off to Nana's house.  We stayed there for the night and had a wonderful time laughing at Arlee....

Yes...he is playing with sticky bra pads!!!!!
Oh this kid...lol

The next morning we snuck  out while the  little Chicken Nugget was still asleep and we headed off down the road....I still had no idea where we were going. We stopped and had a nice breakfast, but boy was it strangely quiet with just the two of us!!!!!

A few hours later we arrived at our destination...
Hot Springs, Arkansas. Neither of us had ever been. And it did not disappoint.

I got to start my weekend  off with a fun shopping trip to one of my all time faves...Hobby Lobby!!!!

Then after a little shopping and a light lunch my amazing Hubs surprised me again with an envelope!!..it had tickets for a dinner/theater. That is one of my favorite things to do...oh this man gets me

So we dressed up and went to dinner, then downtown for the play......

Afterwards he took me out for dessert. He totally knows my love language!!!!

The next morning he surprised me again with another envelope. This one was for a one hour massage.....a much needed one too might I add! 

 I also got an essential oil that will help with neck pain....I'm very excited about that happy! !!

After the massage we went exploring the city. We found the most quaint little toy store downtown where we got Arlee a few wooden puzzles. I have been on the hunt for some so I was thrilled  to find them. .. one became a little happy for him when we picked him up and the others I'm saving cause they will make a great Easter Basket gift!!

We went to lunch at the best little place, the Dixie Cafe. The food and the service was amazing!!!

Then we found a fun antique store. I found a couple of kid books in great condition. That is another item I'm always looking for.  Arlee loves to "read".
I also found a beautiful pottery bowl....and for $6.
Not too shabby..lol

I was informed that we needed to head back because there was another envelope awaiting me. Woo-hoo!!!!!
This sweet gift was for movie and popcorn. And this thoughtful feller picked out a movie I had been dying to see. Going to a movie is such a fun date for us but we never get the opportunity anymore..so this was a special treat for us.

 After the movie, we did a little more shopping. I found this lovely little lady sitting all alone on clearance.  She was begging  me to take her home. ..so of course I had to.  She was the the cherry on top of the Sunday.  It was amazing how this new spring purse was on clearance.  I had been wanting a blush colored one.  But I could not and would not pay full price for one.  But this very purse in the very color I wanted was there,  on clearance,  all alone.  Was this a coincidence???? Oh. I think not.  God had this little happy there waiting for me.

After an amazing and fast weekend, we packed up and headed home so I could get my hands back on my little firecracker 🔥 

As much as I needed this weekend and this getaway, I was ready to get home and love on my little man.

 All of my goodies... not included in the picture is the pottery (which is already in my china cabinet)
And the books and puzzles. Those have been confiscated by a 2 yr old and the Easter Bunny.

This was most definitely 

an amazing weekend to remember. Maybe one of the best I've ever had in my life. I was spoiled and made to feel like a princess!!..for that,  I will be forever grateful.  Thank you God for the amazing husband you have given me.  I'm undeserving and humbled.

Keeping up with the Joneses

One of the biggest dangers  I have noticed on Social Media is falling into the trap of "Keeping up with the Joneses".
We get to take a small peek into other people's lives. And sometimes we mistake thier pictures for perfection.
They may have a beautiful family, a huge house, gorgeous clothes and a nice shiny expensive new car. They may have perfect hair and perfect teeth that sparkle in every picture. They may seem to have a perfect marraige with adorable clean kids who smile for the camera.
And before we know it we begin to compare our lives and our belongings with what they have.

 Without meaning to, we become dissatisfied with what we have been blessed with and we soon desire more. We focus on all the things we don't have instead of counting our blessings for the abundance of things we do have.
We fall into the pit of "Keeping up with the Joneses"
We think we have to have things we don't need but we want it simply because they have it.

While doing the Fashion Challenge during Valentines, I was honored to meet some of the most amazing women.  There were ladies that had the most incredible style and there were a few that had very expensive taste. There were also many ladies that shopped at thrift stores and were so talented with piecing outfits together.
One of the challenges was  not to  buy anything new but put clothes together that you already had.
I really appreciated that.
The emphasis was not on who had the cutest clothes, or the most expensive but the focus was on being creative with what you had in your closet.

It would have been so easy to compare myself to all these amazing fashionistas. But, I would have instantly drowned myself in insecurities. It would have been so easy to fall into the lie that my clothes and my style did not measure up and I needed what they had. But that would have defeated the whole purpose of the challenge.
Instead, I focused  on making new friends and gleaning  some inspiration from thier expertise.

I wanted to share this thought with yall because I know that I must not be the only human being with these struggles.
It's easy to compare ourselves  and feel we don't measure up.
But this is a lie from Satan himself. He wants us to be discontent with our lives and our families.
He wants us to buy things we don't need and can't afford.
He wants us to fall into the dangerous trap of keeping up with everyone else.
He knows financial struggles will destroy a family.
He knows if He can get us to compare our family with someone else's  picture perfect family that we will soon become unhappy.
He knows if He can get us unhappy He can come in for the attack. And then He will try to destroy.....And believe me He is out to destroy our families!!!

So my plea for all of us is,
don't fall into the social media trap that someone else's life is perfect.
 It's not!!
Everyone has thier own struggles and insecurities. Behind that perfect picture of the perfect family with the huge house and shiny new car that you are jelous of. There just may be a debt that is crushing their  marriage.
There may be a secret that the camera is hiding!

So...
Be confident in who you are.
Be content with what you have.
Enjoy your life.
Love your life and
Live your life.
(It's the only one you will get)
Sparkle and shine for the Glory of God.
And don't try to "keep up with the Joneses"

Playing Dress Up!!!

Last month I did a health challenge. #20in20.
20 days of at least a 20 minute workout and 20 days of no sugar. I did great. I lost 5 pounds and I feel like I really got the sugar back out of my system. I plan to just stay away from it this year!! I hate how quickly it affects my body and not in a positive way..boo!

This month I am hitting up a new kind of challenge. A fashion one! As I have shared before, I love all things fashion, so I think this will be fun.
Both are Valentine's inspired challenges.
When I think of Valentine's Day, I think of  dresses and skirts, lace and satin, pearls and sparkles, pink and red, and of course, all things girlie and feminine.
Since I do not get the opportunity to dress up often, I am looking forward to the challenges. I plan to play a little dress up when my little man is napping.

Today I found a little inspiration with pink, red, pearls and silver sparkles.

Okay, so other than the obvious that I need a tan, I loved dressing up. I guess the little girl in me has just never gone away. A part of me would love to dress up like this everyday again. I have so many clothes and shoes in my closet that I adore and they do not get used that often. But honestly,  I would not trade all the pretty dresses in the world for the blessings of staying home and raising my little Peanut.
So for now, I will continue on with my cute and comfy mommy style and play dress up every once in awhile!!
I would love for you to follow me on instagram during my fashion challenges.
Dots_frugal_fashion
Wish me luck!!