One is One Too Many, One More is Never Enough

My favorite season is here. Finally. Fall.

Low Humidity & Crisp Air leads to great hair.

Boots, Scarves, and Cardigans are staples in my wardrobe.

Pumpkin Spice Lattes…well usually that would be a daily part of this time of year, but I have a promise with myself I shall NOT order one this Fall. “One is one too many, one more is never enough. It’s always your favorite sins that do you in.” Yes, I just applied Kenny’s song about a forbidden lover to a Starbucks drink, but I am sure if you have had this beverage you know you can’t resist them once your taste buds remember how yummy they are. But this year I have sworn them off. 

Sorry about the tangent, but back to Fall. 

My FAVORITE thing about fall is pumpkin carving.

My charming little family started a pumpkin carving tradition my freshman year of college over Fall Break. The first time I hung out with Klay Kelley, my sister’s current husband but at the time he was just a very new boyfriend we decided to carve pumpkins. He was exposed to my family’s quirky ways. Mainly mine. 

That year I carved Dick Cheney’s face.

Fall of Sophomore Year I carved a deer hunting scene, which is most definitely my most impressive one.

Fall of Junior Year I carved a kitty cat.

And this fall I carved a lion.

Pumpkin carving, like most things in life begins with a plan. A sketch, an idea, a dream. As you start cutting, you keep chugging along until you realize oops. I should not have cut there; I stepped out of the boundaries that were planned, into a “danger zone”. Some of these mistakes just lead to little modifications to the plan; the dream is still in sight. But other cuts, mess more up than is repairable. The plan and ultimate goal changes entirely. You cannot make the cut look like a hair bow anymore, it must be cut out entirely to create something different.

I often wonder how often I step out of the lines of God’s plan in my life. When I don’t trust Him fully, to let people come in or out of my life, or to hold on and try harder to succeed, I mess up my design that He planned. The plan of our Maker is for the best. It is so comforting that when I epically fail or step in the wrong direction, He is there to create something beautiful out of my mistakes. 

This Fall I really want to see pumpkins as a reminder to surrender to Him. I want to let go of control and allow Him to carve me into the best possible me.

“Faith is not knowing what the future holds, but knowing who holds the future”. 

-SJP

Like My Mother Does

So the past few days I have been extremely homesick. And today it is even worse because it is Robyn Payne's Birthday! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, today is the day of birth for the fabulous, incredible Robyn. My mom is the best. I almost feel sorry for everyone, except my lovely sister of course because we happen to have THE most amazing mother. 

Growing up as the daughter of Robyn Payne I was taught a sense of confidence.
Taking pride in my unique qualities.

Example A. I slap my knee when I laugh. That is how you know if I am fake chuckling or not. If the knee isn't slapped and the head doesn't fly back- it's fake. 

Example B. When I was a little girl my mom allowed me to be who I wanted to be, and dress how I wanted to dress. I was an interesting little girl. My favorite outfit, which my mom let me wear out in public was this (please ignore the disaster of a haircut):

#toomuch

Example C. My freshman year of highschool, Robyn did not question me or make me doubt my decision to bring my dog to my tennis team matches. I brought my baby Avery to multiple games. Games I PLAYED in. Looking back on that, I have no clue what I was thinking ( I can now probably guess what other people were thinking). My obsession with documenting every aspect of my life began many years ago. So if you were hoping for a visual, you got it!

Baby Avery came to many tennis matches. Chelsea, my tennis partner loved her.

My mom let me be who I wanted to be. Try different sports and music instruments, encouraged my love of politics and even approved my tattoo. Her own free spirit showed me the freedom to my own.

My moms coffee addiction, fitness obsession and scrap booking are just a few of the things that have become apart of my own life. But the most important things my my mom gave me were the lessons on genuine relationships with people. She taught me were to be completely open and honest about who we are and what we want in life. Live without regrets. Don't just let life happen, make it happen. And most importantly never to let fear hold me back.

Mom and I after moving me into my dorm freshman year.

My mom attracts people. People love her. She walks into a room and people are intrigued by her. She is one of those magnetic people. I know she is flowing all through this blog, but it's simply because everyday I am reminded of her and she reminds me of the woman I want to become. She is my hero. And today as I celebrate her and her birthday, I am so blessed for having such a fun and strong woman raise me. I want to grow up and be just like her. Love you momma bear :)

I want to live my life "Like My Mother Does".

Summer 2011.

-SJP

"Friday Night Sweet Ride"

Last Friday night, one of the most legendary events in Alpha Delta Pi occurred. Yes, that's right it was Barn Party time in Tennessee! Barn Party is a date party to remember. We pile in buses, drive to an unknown location, and dance the night away in a barn filled with magical lights and country music!

This year proved to be no different. It was a great night & I can't believe it was the last one! I decided it would be a fun trip down memory lane to look back on all the BP's. 

Zac Inklebarger was my first Barn Party Date. We look like
 babies haha oh my so much has changed!

Julianne Poe and I at the barn Freshman Year.

Sophomore Year!

Cody Bryan was my date Sophomore Year!

Junior Year I managed to somehow NOT get a picture of me and my date...so obviously Brooke would be a good replacement. #typ

Junior Year.

And Senior Year. Zac Inklebarger is a fabulous date party date
 & he got the pleasure of 2 Barn Parties over the years!  

We are now seniors & have come a long way! Love yall! 

"What Happens in the Barn, Stays in the Barn"

-SJP

Hey Miss America

My latest obsessions: 

M.A.C. Sheen Supreme-Ultra Darling

Toasted Almond Flavored Dunkin Donuts Coffee.
Like mother like Daughter, A pot of coffee a day keeps the doctor away? Hope so. 

J.Crew Flared Perfect Coat-Dusty Clay

Essie- Sand Tropez

Anthropologie- Marmara Pullover

-SJP

Collide

Today started as any other day. I am currently going through Beth Moore's study of Ester. Everyday I feel like at some point I am smiling to myself to how I can apply it to something currently going on in my life and the lives around me. Today of course was no different. I feel like Ester has a strength and power that is remarkable. I often put strong women in the Bible on a pedestal, or on a shelf with some level of greatness I can't live up to no matter how hard I try. But today I got a strong sense that at the time, in the moment, Ester was just like any other young woman. Scared of what to do next. Unsure if her decision was the right one. Or how devastating the consequences would be if it was not. Not to lessen the amazing example Ester is to my life, but the comfort that trusting God's plan will make everything okay was just what I needed this morning. I am by no means influencing a king, so my uncertainties seem so small in comparison, but knowing if God can lead her in her struggles He can help me get through the day in one piece. Literally.

I continued on my morning and walked to class with my cousin who I am lucky enough to live down the hall from this year. Yes, back to laurel living senior year means I get to live with my cousin who is a sophomore in my sorority.  Today as we were walking she and others had the pleasure to see my clumsy self in full action. Before we are a minute away from the entrance of Laurel I have slipped and nearly injured myself again. It was quite wet outside today, and if I had known this initial stumble would have been one of mannnny, I would have worn rain boots.and maybe knee pads... 

Ester was just as "clumsy" and unsure of the steps to take to confront the King about what was right. I love little reminders that God has a plan & my doubt only holds me back, when all I should be doing is trusting in His love for me and my little life.

Thanks Pintrest.

-SJP

Rivers and Roads

For my avid blog readers (please know I say that with great sarcasm) you know I have been away for some time now. Drowning in sorority recruitment. I was Recruitment Vice President for my sorority. I would love to give charming and witty stories from the past several weeks, but since I feel as if it almost killed me, I have decided to look back on running recruitment as a great life experience-but neverrr recount every last detail of the ups and downs of the process. Therefore moving on…

I am a senior in college. It blows my mind on a daily basis that in less than a year I am going to be in the real world. Sink or swim. Ready or not.

My older sister Taylor. Fabulous and artsy. Shared a song with me last week. Those of you who know Taylor and I, are fully aware that Taylor has NEVER shared a song with me. Not because her taste in music is so different from mine, but music is just not her thing. So when this song was shared with me, I knew it had to be an amazing song to catch the attention of my tay tay. And I was right, this song embodies every feeling that is coming with graduation and moving on. I am not sure what I am going to do with myself when my best friends and I all move on and pretend to grow up.

Ladies and Gentlemen. Here it is:

Rivers and Roads by The Head and The Heart

a year from now we'll all be gone

all our friends will move away

and they're going to better places

but our friends will be gone away

nothing is as it has been

and i miss your face like hell

and i guess it's just as well

but i miss your face like hell

been talking bout the way things change

and my family lives in a different state

and if you don't know what to make of this

then we will not relate

so if you don't know what to make of this

then we will not relate

rivers and roads

rivers and roads

rivers 'til i reach you

Senior Pledge Class on our last "First Night Out"

Graduating and becoming a little adult doesn’t scare me half as much as saying goodbye to people. The people who have been right by my side during the ups&downs of figuring out some of life’s magical mysteries during college & what I look back on as the best years of my life. I can't wait to make the most of our last year together.

-SJP

Big Green Tractor

Before I heard this, I was not a country music fan. (With the exception of Shaina Twain). Brooke the Look introduced me to this song when we lived in a shoebox together in the castle full of sorority women, known as Laurel. This song makes me think of many fun memories.

After a fun night of celebrating a friend's birthday. There it was. A Big Green Tractor. Dreams do come true.

-SJP