The Earth Laughs In Flowers. -Emerson

It's been a few years since we've pulled off the side of the road and plopped down into a brilliant blue patch to snap a few shots.

2009 Texas Bluebonnets

Shop & Give

So... my savvy shopping/gift giving sister-in-law called me on Wednesday to see if I would like a pair of Tom's for my birthday. "I've never heard of Tom's", I say. She proceeds to tell me all about them and recites their mission statement for me. I like them already, sight unseen. Wednesday night I head to student ministries, and one of the young ladies is doing a fundraiser for Tom's and we watch a whole video about them and their vision. So Tom's it is this year! I love their "movement", and I'm always a fan of the gifts that keep on giving (as long as they are not communicable diseases).

The twins might get a pair too.

Swim Suit Season

In Texas it's starting to look a lot like swimsuit season. All the ladies are walking around nice and orange, and razor companies are not experiencing the same economic recession as the rest of the corporate world. The only way to survive a Texas summer is to swim. You HAVE to swim! So for us non-"swimsuit model" types this sends us into crisis mode. So much pressure to get to the gym and undo genetics before the heatwave strikes. The quest for the perfect swimsuit is on. It must be flattering, cute, functional and under 200 dollars. Added challenge: if you are shopping with children you must also find the perfect suit in less than two hours. You know the drill.

This year I found the perfect fit. This is a "one size fits all" type purchase. It's guaranteed to boost your self-esteem. I love it.

This year instead of getting one of these for summer,

Try this one on

What an amazing book. Captivating. This is not a book about how to be a better woman, mother, single or wife. This is an amazing book about the beauty of a woman. Why she's beautiful inside and out. How the standard of beauty our culture tries to sell us is false. This summer do yourself a favor, put those InStyle mags away and read this. You will not be disappointed, and you will flaunt your femininity no matter what suit you choose. So pick up this book, schedule your summer pedi, and crack this spine.