My New Social Media ...

Recently, I decided to get off Facebook for a bit. I still have my page up, and will answer messages and such, but I am rarely spending any of those moments of when I get bored perusing the news feed. 

Instead, I spend a lot of time on Instagram (havendaniels) and playing various games of Words with Friends with my mother and Lea Ann. I also Pinterest quite frequently. 

These sites are free from drama, and I still get to see what everyone is having for supper on Instagram. 

I prefer to save the DRAMA (that is 9 points in WWF) for my mama. 

I have also read a few books lately that I thought I share. 

Um, this book totally rocked my world, and I will probably read it several times as well as read some of her other books. 

She will make you laugh, cry, and ponder your true meaning on this Earth all while cleaning out your closet. You will never look at your clothes in the same way nor the way you eat or how you recycle. You may develop a love for gardening.

Brace yourself! :)

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I seriously finished this book in half a day. Ken was trying to nap, and I keep waking him up with my stifled giggles. It is nice to see the brighter side of motherhood.

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This devotion helps to start my week days.

Such beautiful devotions of God's grace in our lives and finding true joy and gratitude in the every day moments. 

Ann Voskamp uses everyday situations between her farm, adventures, and six children to explain God's great mercy and grace and encourages you to find your every day gifts. 

This is the follow up to her amazing book 

A deep thinking book that I will have to revisit one day.

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and last, but not least, my Sunday nights have involved this ...

Oh Happy Day! We finally have an awesome, addictive show that we can watch on our antenna.

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This is the best social media there is! 

I hate that it is over for this season, but I will just rewatch all the seasons until next January. 

If you haven't jumped on this bandwagon, you need to grab your hat and be read for a wild ride! 

Maggie Smith would approve! 

Love and Projects

My sisters know me so well! For Christmas, they turned my first year of blog posts into a book. 

It is thick with recipes, 

memories,

even your comments! 

There are flower posts

and pictures of my favorite people! 

The first page has one of my favorite pictures of my sisters and me from my wedding along with the Shel Silverstein poem, "Sister For Sale," in which Middle can recite by heart. 

This book will be cherished and loved not only for me, but hopefully future generations. 

So in case there is a fire, Sweet Brown here will make time to grab this book after getting a cold pop of course. :)

My Dissected Version of Southern Living's February Issue

I may or may not have mentioned that I am growing more and more in love with Southern Living magazine.

It is almost like they have read my mind and publish a whole magazine around my idea.

At least that is what I think.

So when this arrived, I just opened my mail from my friend, so I decided to do a little photo shoot. Bear with me, because I may or may not have over propped it. I am learning, my friends.

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I am just going to say that is this magazine was food, I would savor every morsel.

Look at that cover! Who can resist banana pudding?

Spring Flowers are calling my name!

Key West was featured in their Travel section - somewhere Ken would like to vacation ...

This kitchen had me at the vintage lights! So beautiful!

This is the real reason that I was waiting to dive into it. BooMama spilled the beans on the Pimento Cheese section a day or two before I got mine.

I am currently trying to perfect a delicious pimento cheese. so this just help guide me along! Several yummy recipes in this section as well as several store bought suggestions.

Love the architecture, land, and ideas surrounding this house!

My daffadils have already started to come up! Can't wait!

And Hummingbird Pound Cake ...

My favorite section (other than the pimento cheese) is Rick Bragg's back cover story. This one is apparently on piddling and loafering, and the last two paragraphs remind me of Ken and me.

This issue was fabulous! I highly recommend it!

All opinions are mine. I am not being compensated by Southern Living. Just love this issue is all!

Good Reads: Magazine Edition

Checking the mail is one of my favorite things to do, especially when I am looking for one of these:

In college, I got a subscription just so I would have something fun in my mailbox! BHG is always full of inspiration for me! I also love their website and newsletters!

Just got my first magazine in last night, and was so excited that Rick Bragg is now a Contributing Editor to Southern Living. He is writing the Southern Journal on the very back page of SL! I love, love, love Rick Bragg! Maybe that is why I did not mind moving to Alabama! His writing of his people in Alabama is truly breathtaking and comical! This along with the fabulous house plans, recipes, and gardening tips will have me sitting on pins and needles until the next month's magazine come out or at least until my BHG comes!

I have no idea how I got this one, but I am so glad that I did. I remember reading my grandmother's when I was younger. Talk about positive inspirations! Now I read it as I dry my hair to help me have a more positive mind before battling loving on some middle schoolers.

What are some of your favorite magazines?

Good Reads: Book Edition

I got a Kindle for Christmas, and have really enjoyed it! I have always enjoyed reading, and this has brought a whole new world for me! I look forward to going to the gym, because I can read and exercise. Ken is so pleased that he doesn't have to drag me to the gym with him now.

My friend Brooke often discusses and shares her new reads. She is such an inspiration not only with her books but also with her bargain hunting skills, decorating style, and having fun with her family! Her daughter is just precious!

Being inspired by Brooke, here are some good reads that I have enjoyed over the past month and a half:

Oh, how I love me some Fannie Flagg! She is one of my favorite Alabama authors, and Ken went and got a signed copy for me!

First book to read on the Kindle! It was really good! I enjoy a good Nicholas Sparks book. The Notebook will always be my favorite!

 Water for Elephants was one of those that keeps you thinking even after you finish it.

Great Christian love story!

Fun read with lots of wonderful recipes!

I may the last person in the world to know about these books. It was another fun read. Weird, but fun.

This book was free on my Kindle. It was definitely one of those that I keep thinking about days after reading. If you enjoyed Secret Life of Bees, then you will enjoy this book. It will keep you guessing, as well as make you stay up to read it.