i wanna dance with somebody

i've been on a bit of a ben rector high this week after i went to his concert last saturday. i know he's a happily married man, so please don't misinterpret this next statement. the man's voice is like butter and all things wonderful. i just love it. i jam to my ben rector playlist on repeat during work. no shame.

there's really no point to this post other than the fact that i felt the need to make sure each and every one of you heard this song. ben has other great songs too, obvi, but i'm a big fan of this one. and yes, i do wanna dance with somebody someday so maybe that has a little something to do with why i like this one so much.

enjoy!

**the first few seconds are silent. don't panic, mom.**

ps, if you haven't gotten his latest album yet, you should reconsider your life priorities and make sure you buy it. it's solid.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

the best one yet

it's no secret that fall is my favorite season. in my opinion, all things wonderful happen during the fall...

football season

my birthday

changing leaves

fire pits and s'mores

volleyball season

cooler weather

pumpkin waffles

boots and sweaters
the yummiest scented candles

...just to name a few. living in florida for the last two "falls" of my life was taxing to say the least. i missed a lot of my favorites because fall in florida translates to "milder summer." some love it. i just wasn't one of them. i made up for it as best i could with trips to asheville, branson, and denver but trips are temporary. i'm happy to report that fall (and its wardrobe) is back in my regular rotation now. and hopefully forever if i have my way.

this may just be my favorite fall yet. why? because i got to spend it in all of my favorite places with many of my favorite people...

:: asheville ::

waddells + harts

:: branson ::

 
jackie + jenny

april

jane + lindsay + mallory

shayla

lauren

:: chapel hill ::

heather

gracie

i just don't think it can get any better than this, but i'm hoping it does. grin.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

in christ alone

image credit: pinterest

it's no secret that i grew up living in a bubble of sorts. don't hear me wrong: i'm not complaining. that bubble gave me extended exposure to Adventures in Odyssey, McGee and Me, and Psalty the Songbook among other things.

one of the "other things" that bubble gave me was my first encounter with my all time favorite song: in christ alone. granted, the version we listened to in mom's van on repeat was by michael english. on a cassette tape. and while i love that version for nostalgia's sake, i like the newsboys version more, and kristian stanfill's version even more than that.

so without further ado, grab your cup of coffee (or tea or diet coke) and let the Truth of this song wash over you. if you find yourself wanting to stand and shout amen, you wouldn't be the only one. just saying.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

september is my favorite

image

september is my favorite month for several reasons. and because this is my blog, i'm going to make you read them and pretend to be just as excited as i am. drum roll please...

1.
it's my birthday month!

2.

i'm currently visiting my faves in branson!

3.

i'm doing a reunion weekend in chapel hill with college teammates!

4.

i'm going to an anjelah johnson comedy show in tampa with the parentals!

5.
beth moore simulcast is on the agenda. love her passion for the Word.

i'm looking forward to the month of september like nobody's business. i mean, the only thing that could possibly make the month of september better is if some fall weather [read: cool crisp air and changing leaves] miraculously migrated itself to florida. that would be the creme to my brulee. but since i don't think it will, i'm enjoying a few more weekends by the pool and occasionally by the beach when i'm feeling really adventurous.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

my daily staple

i'm not a big jewelry girl. but when i find something i love, i wear it into the ground. read: i wear it every day. it becomes a staple. such is the case with this fabulous little silpada necklace that my aunt gave me for christmas. it's simple, classy, and gets my point across.

want one too?

janice always picks out great jewelry for me, but i must say that last year's pick was the best yet. and i can't tell you how many people have commented on it. maybe i should get commission for marketing her jewelry products for her?? anyway, just thought i'd share my latest and greatest find!

if you have faves of your own, let me know. i'd love to add to my stash. :)

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

oh the anticipation

quick post this morning because i still have lots to do. but at the end of the day, these two lovely faces are what await me in kansas city. I. AM. PUMPED!!!! i'll see more of my missouri friends tomorrow and over the weekend, but these two are practically family and are making an extra effort to swing by and see me tonight! and i can hardly stand the excitement!!

mama Jane

LB

3:30 cannot come fast enough. missouri, here i come!!!!

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

morning commute

for a lot of americans, the morning commute to work can be a dreaded monster. living in a big city like tampa, i could very easily fall into this category. but, i'm incredibly blessed to only be 8 minutes from my office. 8 minutes. it's unbelievable.

i love my morning commute not only because it's so short, but also because it's the perfect amount of time to get my heart ready for the day and belt my favorite song at the top of my lungs. after attending Passion 2011 in atlanta last January, the song "waiting here for you" by christy nockels has become my anthem. it's about 6 minutes and i get chills whenever i hear it. (sometimes i feel sorry for the people next to me at the stoplights on my commute because they must think i'm nuts. if they're lucky, they have their windows down and get to listen and sing along.)

below is the live video of christy leading "waiting here for you" in worship at Passion 2011. it takes 6 minutes to watch. and it's powerful.

may we truly be a generation, a nation, that is waiting for you Lord.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

straub park

last night i snuck across the bridge to st. pete for a little solo time in the park. i discovered this park last week when i did dinner and a movie with my friend autumn. i quickly made a mental note to go back asap. so i did.

i packed up my blanket, snacks, water, bible, journal, iPod, book, and camera. this little gem is right on the water and has plenty of shade so you don't end up melting in your own sweat (it's still hot as blazes at 5:00 when i get off work). seriously though, look how perfect this is.

my little night in the park was exactly what i needed and it was extremely refreshing. secretly, i just love a good excuse to drive across the bridge, especially at sunset. ;) i think i'm going to make this a regular occurrence.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

i can't live without...

well, there are plenty of things i could live without. i just don't want to. but i thought i'd share my list with you in hopes that maybe one or two of you have the same excitement over the little things that make life better. so, without further ado, here's my list of must-haves...

sharpie fine point pens. no smudge. they'll change your written life.

tervis tumblers. contents stay cold (or hot) forever. my faithful daily sidekick.

iPhone. seriously, my life is in this thing. addresses, calendar, music, shopping lists, reading lists, workouts, emails, pictures. i'm obsessed!

hair diffuser. this thing gives me fabulous wave with minimal effort. waves are my new favorite 'do.

chi. lightning quick and my hair stays straight all day. (tip: ebay has great deals)

vera bradley heat resistant case. i'm always in a hurry, so this thing keeps me from burning down the house or scorching my suitcase when i'm on the road.

giraffe print luggage. no bag confusion on the carousel for this girl.

ice scraper with built-in glove. given the recent snowpocalypse in the midwest, this thing has come in pretty handy. thanks mama Jane!!

turbie twists. crazy convenient and simple. love them!!

post-it notes. i use them for everything, especially to remind me to eat lunch during the workday.

mary kay oil absorbing sheets. gross, i know, but i have an oily complexion. these are a lifesaver, especially when traveling. airports make it so much worse.

big star jeans. i realize they're pricey, but for a girl with a 36" inseam (37" if i wear heels), big star X-Long and XX-Long are the way to go. and they fit me like a glove.

nike tempos. old style with the stripe. the newer model clings to your legs too much. i practically live in these during the summer.

i hope you enjoyed my list of must-haves and thought of a few of your own!!

bekah


live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.