Beauty Swap

Hello Gorgeous!

I am sad that it has took me this long to return to the blogging world, but at least by participating in the Beauty Swap with Crystal of Crystal Cattle and Courtney of Cowgirl Crush made me get back to writing. 

I missed out on the first Beauty Swap Crystal hosted, and was almost too late to the game this time until Nicole over at Farmgirl Chaos was a little behind to. She said, "Why don't we just switch?" Nicole has intrigued me for quite some time, and I have been following her blog plus became Instagram and Facebook friends with her. Isn't social media great? 

I must say that this Beauty Swap couldn't have come at a better time. I am eight months preggo, and have recently been visiting the labor and delivery floor for some blood pressure issues. Last week was quite the awful week for my husband and I, but I came home from the hospital to find a pretty little beauty swap package on my doorstep! Just what this un-showered, nasty feeling hospital visitor could use. 

I love that most of the items she sent me are travel size. Before bed rest I travelled a lot, but now my travel bag to the hospital will be complete with these goodies that Nicole sent me. I am also really intrigued by the little envelope from Young Living she sent me. It is lavender scented (which is my fav!) and the card suggested that I put a drop in my mascara.  I have also wanted to try Bliss products for awhile, but never have dived in, but this body wash/bubble bath will be perfect for this little momma to be. And turquoise! What a surprise! Who doesn't love turquoise!?

Includes: Bliss Soapy Suds, Burt's Bees Facial Towelettes, Forever Red Perfume, Young Living Oils, Victoria Emerson Wrap Bracelet, and CANDY!

Thanks Nicole for making my week! 

Our first wedding!

Back in the spring, our friends Chad & Amanda asked us to take photos at their upcoming wedding in June. Of course, most of you know that we take pictures of cattle and the occasional cute kid and people candids. Amanda wasn't letting us off the hook because she, like us when we got married, wanted to know and feel comfortable with the person taking their photos.

I will admit, we were nervous. We did some research, photo stalking, and met with our very talented friend Kelsey Malicote of Malicote Photography to prep for the big day. I mean we have cameras and lenses, but we rented a few pieces to give us the edge for the wedding day.

Did I mention it rained? I was terrified and it wasn't even my wedding! It rained for most of the day leading up to picture time. We were to meet at 5:30 for photos, and thankfully the sun began shining and set a perfect backdrop for the outside photos. Yay!

Chad, Amanda, and their beautiful little girl AnnaBelle were awesome subjects to deal with. The whole thing was so laid back and relaxed that it couldn't have been a more perfect first wedding for us. I got to do creative shots like I was hoping for. Drew just kept praying that I didn't enjoy wedding photography.

So here is a sneak peek of our very first wedding! I don't think we did too bad! There is lots more to see, but we gotta save those for Mr. and Mrs. Hudgins!

 For real... we took these.

 I'm not joking.

Thank you to Chad & Amanda for trusting us to capture your special day! We had an absolutely fantastic time! We wish you a lifetime of happiness and many more beautiful children like precious AnnaBelle!

Corgis at the capital!

A few weeks ago after our sale in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania we decided to head to Washington D.C. on our way home. Drew had never been to our nation's capital, and I love the history and monuments. The only kink in our trip was that we had the dogs. Which meant no museums, but you can take them to the National Mall.

Family Photo at WWII Memorial

First off, let me say that our corgis don't walk on a leash that much. The first 30 minutes of walking was a nightmare. The pulling, choking, and down right craziness was almost enough to make you want to get back in the car.

They started to get the hang of it after a bit. They also enjoyed the massive amount of attention they got. I mean other people had their dogs, but oh my- corgis are popular!

Since we had the dogs and I had been to D.C. before I let Drew go check out the monuments while I stayed back with the dogs. Drew said he could always tell where I was. You just looked for the large group of people and that's where I was.

"Are those corgis?"

"What are there names?"

"Are they boys or girls?"

"Which one is the girl? Which one is the boy?"

"How old are they?"

"That one is fat!"

"Are they brothers & sisters or boyfriend/girlfriend?"

"Can I pet them?" 

Tuck loved all the attention! He would jump and bark. I told him we had to be quiet because we had to be respectful. We also had to make sure Tuck didn't pee on any monuments.

They also wanted to jump in the reflecting pool because of the ducks. Now wouldn't that have been embarrassing?

The best story of the day happened at the Lincoln Memorial. Drew went up into the monument while Gabby, Tuck, and I sat on the steps. This really nice, young couple come up to me.

"I know this will sound really crazy, but our friend is obsessed with corgis. Can we take a picture with your dogs?"   Of course!

After one last stop at the Martin Luther King Jr memorial the dogs were pooped out! We headed back to the car for a drink of water and headed home!

{Sale Day Fashion} Generations of Value

Better enjoy it! It's the last one for spring!


We ended our last sale for the spring sale season on May 11. Thus, I know this post is a tad bit late. I have been taking the time to unwind, de-stress, and enjoy a little down time. Minus a few ads I have had to proof over the last few weeks.

Up until lately it hasn't been super warm. Even in Georgia. Though I was having a good hair day!

Sweater: Talbots
Jeans: Lane Bryant
Necklace: Stella & Dot (here)
New Phone Case! Initial Outfitters

I've enjoyed sharing what I wore throughout the spring. It has definitely made me think twice about what I was wearing and not duplicating outfits. Looking forward to the fall sale season - well not just yet! 

Abercrombie can kiss my plus-size butt!

(I try not to get on my soap box very often, but I read an article this morning that struck a cord with me. Please bare with me if I begin to ramble.) 

I do not hide it that I have been a "bigger boned" girl my entire life. There were times during my younger years that I really struggled with it internally, but as I have gotten older (and wiser) I have accepted my uniqueness and went on with my life. 

As a teenage girl, I went with my friends to the mall. Of course, many of them were shopping at Abercrombie and Fitch. They could fit into the small sizes that A&F market. If you ask me that awful strong cologne smell always got to me. For many years I tried my hardest to squeeze into some size Large A&F clothes. Some of the t-shirts had suggestive sayings, and since all my thinner friends were wearing them I thought I needed to as well. Of course none of these clothes made me feel good about myself because I always felt like I needed to suck it in. 

Recently, the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch, Mitch Jefferies has made statements against "large women shoppers" at A&F. He has also made comments that A&F hires "good looking" people to work at their sale, and that is who they market to. Stating, "We don't market to anything other than that." According to A&F, fat chicks will never be apart of the "in crowd." I thought I did just fine. 

Perhaps even more disturbing is that Jefferies doesn't think he has said or done anything wrong. 

These comments have obviously struck a cord with shoppers, both male and female alike. Which, I, too  was bothered by. With the amount of bullying that goes on in our society - no person should be made to feel bad about themselves - ESPECIALLY from a clothing company. Our schools and society are hard enough to live in with the amount of negativity, peer pressure, and stereotypes that surround us. No clothing company has the right to make a person feel bad about themselves. I personally think that shows the improper morals and down right meanness that the company and the CEO possess. 

In the article I read it named Jefferies as one of the bravest and most successful brand builders. Because he sells sex and skinny. If these are the two things that you think you need to be pushing to teenagers than maybe you have some moral problems personally and professionally. Abercrombie and Fitch is known for their scandalous advertisements with naked to semi-naked models. 

I could encourage you to not shop at Abercrombie and Fitch, but it really is not my business. I would just ask before you do go shopping or walk into their store you think about the morals of their company, and what they are teaching our youth today. 

(I hope my soap box wasn't too high)

The gift of leadership

Being a girl with a background in the FFA and the American Junior Simmental Association, you would guess that I love leadership. I love to study it, to read about it, to live it. Back in the good ole days of FFA, I read my far share of John Maxwell books for quotes and stories to use in my speeches. I loved taking the Strengths Test to find out my Top 5 Strengths. It made me excited and driven to be a better leader for whatever organization I was in. 

One of my Top 5 Strengths also had to do with giving. I love to give gifts. Whether it be tangible or not, making someone day is a beautiful thing. Making someone smile or letting them know you are thinking about them is important in my book. 

But one day.. I came home from a sale to find an envelope in the mail with my name on it. 

What was inside?

I open it to find a sweet note along side a book. Rachel Cutrer of Ranch House Designs and a standout in the marketing and advertising world of the cattle industry had sent me a special package. Along with her note was a book by Chris Boleman entitled "Lead on the Bright Side." (and it was signed!)

Being friends with many Aggies I had heard of Mr. Boleman before. Of course, loving leadership I was excited to get back to my old ways and dive into this book. 

I am the type of reader that once I dive into reading, I hang close to it until I am finished. The book was a light and easy read. It is filled with stories and Dr. Boleman's speciality - poems! I'm not talking those boring poems from English class. I am talking poems that have a real meaning and relate directly to the topic at hand. Some poems are associated with a story, but there is a whole section with poems written by Mr. Boleman. 

I won't give away all the good stories in the book because I think you should go pick up a copy. One of the stories that led me to tears is about a sweet ferret named Ricki IV. Yes, I cried over a ferret. It is a beautiful story of a positive attitude and including everyone around us and loving them.

Aside from crying over a ferret I will leave you with my favorite quote from Dr. Boleman's book - 

"There is a reason the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror." (I just love that)

Thank you Rachel for thinking of me and sending me this wonderful leadership book! 

Now go get a copy!

{Sale Day Fashion} Family Traditions

This past weekend was the Family Traditions sale in Auburn; which just so happens to be the sale that we (HTP Simmentals) sells our own cattle. It is one of the bigger sales for us for the spring so I wanted to look nice that day. 

Well...I looked nice when I left the hotel. It was pouring down rain the day of the sale. They got just over 4 inches at the sale barn. But don't worry we had plenty of umbrellas and ponchos for customers to head out and look at the cattle. 

But the rain did not do great things for my hair. I kept walking around asking everyone if my hair was "this big" with my hands out to the side of my hair. I felt like I had a fro. So by the time the sale started my hair was half up. 

Jacket: Lane Bryant
Top: Lane Bryant
Jeans: Seven at Lane Bryant
Earrings: Stella & Dot
Necklace: Stella & Dot
Bracelet: Stella & Dot

Rain and frizzy hair aside it was a great sale! We are so lucky to be apart of a successful sale and have some great customers - rain or shine!