What's Up, Houston, What's Up?

Heyyo Houston & FOH (Friends of Houston)! Chris and I are headed to Texas to celebrate his birthday + watch the NCAA championship game. We'll have some down time so I'd love to know what your Houston favorites are!

We're staying in Rice Village and won't have a car - but we're not afraid of a good old Uber. 

Tell me: what are the must dos in Houston? Thanks y'all!

{life lately}

Good morning!

Recently, someone commented that she wanted more little life updates on my blog. I have pulled back on those because sometimes it feels a little cocky to assume you want to know the ins and outs of my life. And, it seems like Insta stole the show there and blogs are just for long form.

But, alas! Ask and you shall receive :) Here's what I've been up to lately (x1000 photos!):

My amazing mom & sisters came to Atlanta to help wedding plan. It was an absolute whirlwind and we got so much done - including sending invitations out. Wahoo!

Off they go! 

My family + Melly threw me a beautiful wedding shower in Atlanta. I felt so amazingly overwhelmed by their love.

Can you tell who is related here? :) 

Their beautiful, simple decor.

I voted in Georgia's primary. Just a little late to the party on caring about politics - NBD. Power to the peaches, Georgia!

I rode on a firetruck as part of my LEAD Atlanta program. It was amazing.

Chris and I had friends over to my housing for dining el fresco on a gloriously warm early March day. Hello spring, ILOVEYOU!

I went home to Indiana for an amazing shower, which my aunts threw. They were so generous and loving. Every detail was so well thought out. These showers really do shower you with love!

My parents threw a great family party, which meant I got to see everyone while I was home ( = the best!). 

I didn't wash my hair for seven days while I was home. Sounds disgusting, right? It wasn't! I swear my hair just stopped producing oil after a few days. (My super cool braid on day seven...)

I drove to Chicago to celebrate my friend, Maggie's, bachelorette weekend. We had dinner at Bar Siena and brunch at Little Goat and laughed and went to Barefoot Power Yoga and were so happy to be together. It was my friend, Jamie's, final weekend living in the West Loop so she showed us, one last time, why it is the best loop. 

I got back to Atlanta and got to cheer on the Hoosiers with my brother, brother-in-law, Ryan, and Chris while eating Yeah! Burger. What more could you want?

The next day, Ryan, who is officiating our wedding, talked us through the ceremony and expectations. Then he took us to get our marriage license! 

That night, Chris and I went to Leon's to celebrate :) 

Then, last weekend, Sam and his fiance, Abbey, were in town. Naturally this called for dinner at Taqueria + froyo at The Yogurt Tap.

So, that's what has been going on around these parts! I hope your spring is going swimmingly :)!

break free from your bad relationship

Five years ago, I stood in church on Easter Sunday as tears poured down my face. I felt embarrassed as those around me joyfully worshipped. 

The night before, I'd received a call at 2 a.m. from my then-boyfriend. He was in a bad part of town and needed a ride home. I climbed out of bed and threw on clothes, hurriedly leaving my mom, who was visiting, sleeping soundly. I neared the address he'd given me and my heart raced as I worried about him stranded in this neighborhood. Within a few minutes, I found him standing on the street outside of a strip club. He swore he'd waited outside while his friends went in - assuring me he'd never go to a strip club. 

The next morning, as I stood beside my mom in church while he slept on my couch, my entire being ached. I knew this wasn't the relationship that had been designed for me, but I was too scared to trust it. I felt the Lord physically pulling me out of it but was white knuckling it all the way down. I loved him - we'd spent years together - it couldn't be wrong after all this time. 

I'd like to tell you that I stopped doubting and instead trusted where the Lord was calling me. I'd like to tell you I trusted His plan enough to end it myself. But, I'd be lying. I held on to that relationship to the very end and found myself in the deepest heartache I've ever experienced. 

As I stood in church yesterday on Easter Sunday, tears poured down my face again.

But this time, I was crying not for myself, but for so many women who are scared to speak up for themselves. Scared to admit they have greater needs, desires and wants than their current relationships are fulfilling. Scared to ask for more, for fear of being left. Fear that being left means a life of loneliness - of holidays and weddings alone.

My heart aches for these women deeply because I lived in that fear for so long. The sleepless nights, pit in my stomach and intermittent question: is this really it?

If you had told me, five years ago, that I'd be marrying Chris in less than two months, I never would have believed you.

But, it also would have given me the courage I needed to say: this is not OK with me. I need someone who doesn't go to strip clubs. Or who doesn't skip church on Easter when I'm going with my mom. Someone who is gentler with my heart and more in tune with my needs. I needed the courage to say: my needs might not make sense to you, but they're real and they matter to me. And that should matter to you. 

But, I didn't have that courage because I didn't understand my own value and worth. I didn't believe that I deserved to be pursued in my relationship. I didn't believe that I could ask for more. 

I can't promise you today that someone else will be ready in the waiting as soon as you let go of a bad relationship. I wish I could. But I can promise you that holding on to a bad relationship is like holding on to a bumblebee. You may think you're in charge by keeping it in your hands, but it's just going to keep stinging you. 

Yesterday, I found myself praying that more of you, sweet readers, could believe that you are enough. That you are good and worthy. That your life was designed and you were fearfully and wonderfully made. And that sometimes, the only way to get to the story we want is by putting down the same old book we keep reading. 

{a leetle bit of business}

Hi, friends! Happy Wednesday. I wanted to pop in and provide a little bit of clarity on what I'm up to.

Many of you know I recently launched a new project, To Love Ourselves. I'm super excited to work with women, girls and moms to be more confident and brave. I couldn't be more thrilled to be working with this population; I believe it's something we must start talking about. 

But! I have a major heart for 20-somethings. This decade is sticky, scary and beautiful. I want to make sure I keep this space, my blog, dedicated to this topic. Many of you have recently signed up for my mailing list. First of all, thank you!  I can't say it enough: it means the world to me that you want to hear more from me. Second of all, it's important to me that my platforms don't get muddied - I never want you, a 20-something, to feel alienated or like I've stopped speaking to you. 

So, if you want updates on Project to Love Ourselves, you can get those here. This is where I'll be promoting coaching, camps and talking about confidence, body image and self-worth for women and girls:

And! If you want updates on my blog, which will include 20-something living, dating, career paths, body image, etc., you can get those here:

There will, inevitably, be some overlap. Body image? I'm talking about that everywhere. Taking risks and being brave? That too. Loving ourselves? Oh ya. There are certain things I firmly believe the world needs more of and those things ooze out of my writing like sap. I can't stop them! 

Thank you again for being part of my little corner of the internet. I appreciate you more than you know!