go green

I'm on a smoothie kick this week, as I slowly try to transition back into my pre-Haiti healthy eating habits. My goal is to take it a few steps even further, cutting out cheese (I haven't had milk as a part of my diet in years) and eventually all processed sugar. I'm really trying to tackle my physical and mental health, and so much of your life revolves around what you're putting into your body.

 I've often heard people express their desire to eat healthier and try a green smoothie, but they are too thrown off by the "green-ness", the texture, and overall knowing they are drinking vegetables to really give it a go. So, if that's you, here is a simple recipe for you (courtesy of yours truly). I promise, it's worth a try! And it will leave you feeling nice and clean on the inside :)


In a blender, mix:
1 cup frozen organic pineapple
1 cup frozen organic blueberries
1 cup organic kale
2 TBS organic unsweetened original almond milk
1 TBS water (add more or less depending on the consistency you prefer)
1 tiny slice of ginger root (maybe the size of your pinky nail- ginger is surprisingly strong)

And if you want it to be packed with even more good stuff (definitely recommend these, but can be expensive):
1 TBS chia seeds
1 TBS ground flax seeds

Bam! Organic, Vegan, Gluten-free, Processed sugar-free, and sure to make you feel proud about your healthy choices.

Enjoy!!

xo

P.S. More smoothie recipes here.
P.P.S. Great idea for preserving your greens.


Image found here //

keeping it cool

How long do you hold out before turning on your A/C? We've been trying to rough it the last few days in our new place, but being on the top floor has it's disadvantages when it comes to summer heat. After not sleeping well last night due to the heat (even with 3 fans), and then discovering this morning that even some of our pantry food is melting... I think it might be time to flip the switch. I used to pride myself on saving a few bucks on my bills by being able to fight off the switch to A/C or heat for weeks on end, but I'm about ready to put those days behind me. And it's not even May!!

P.S. This looks oh so refreshing.

xo

Image found here //

Furniture Restoration Reveal: if at first you don't succeed, try again

Here we go with round 3- the coffee table // bench // storage chest. I found this guy on Craigslist and while there was little to no structural work involved, the cosmetics had their own tricks up their sleeve. This was another trial and error project, where I literally had to start over and "redo" it all again a few times in order to fix some mistakes- sanding, staining, and sealing will do that to you if you're a first timer!

Check out the lovely stain on top. And the knicks and scratches on the sides add such character, no? ;) 

Click below for the finished product...

happy birthday daddy!

Happy happy birthday to you, dad! You are special and oh so loved :)

To all- what are your plans for the weekend? We are sleeping over at our new apartment for the first time tonight, so we will be unpacking and probably eating out. Tomorrow we will participate in our first Atlanta festival as locals! Wishing all of our friends in Athens a happy Twilight weekend- sad to miss out! Have a lovely weekend.

Summer's right around the corner- 180 Homemade Popsicle Recipes to keep you cool.

Some of these are spot on.

Do you ever run late? :)

Earth is always interesting...

Great hair.

Eating clean? Here are some quick snack ideas.

Something we all need to remember.

Would you recognize your family member?

Facebook knows everything (!)

Warm weather means more bugs.

We are officially moved in- finally time to decorate ;)

How precious is little pre-teen daddy?

Have a good one!

xo

we are on style me pretty today!

Laura Leslie Photography http://lauralesliephotography.com/

Super exciting news today- we are on the main page of the wedding blog, Style Me Pretty! {Click this link to see the post!} Remember the snow-pocolypse back in January that trapped hundreds of people in their cars on the perimeter for hours and hours on end? Well, something magical was happening down in Douglasville. We had no idea what mother nature had in store for us that day, but it gave us the most beautiful coincidence- a wedding shoot on the same day as a snow storm that will go down in Southeast history.

Andrew's view // behind the scenes

Congratulations to all of the vendors and contributors, and a huge shout out to Kate for all of her hardwork and planning, as well as her and her husband's efforts in creating this gorgeous video. In addition, props to Gracie and Laura for shooting ALL film on this unpredictable day. These are some passionate and extremely talented people! We are so lucky to have been a part of such an exciting and memorable experience.

Laura Leslie Photography http://lauralesliephotography.com/

Click below to see some of my favorites from the shoot...

moving day!

Finally, after just 27 days shy of a whole year without our own home, we... are... MOVING!!! TODAY!

It's hard to believe it has been a year without all of our things, without grocery shopping or paying electric bills, without an opportunity to have people over for dinner, without a place to create and call our own. It's even crazier that it was two and a half years ago that we first picked out our very first home together...

It has been such a roller coaster of a year, and as always, we are so so so grateful to our family and to everyone else that has taken care of us during this up and down time. We are thrilled to finally be able to establish ourselves and begin our lives again. Thank you for the year of prayers and support. We can't wait to have you all over to OUR HOME!!

xo

instashop

Inspired by a friend and in hopes of minimizing clutter, I've created an instagram store. We recently donated a ton of clothes, but there are some things that I just can't bear to part with unless I know they are going to a good home :) Feel free to spread the word to your instagram friends, and wish me luck- no space in the new apartment to bring this stuff with me!

P.S. Happy Earth Day. Thanks, Earth, for all you do ;)

xo

Image found here //

Furniture Restoration Reveal: there's more than meets the eye

Round 2 of furniture renovations, and man, am I glad that this one is over. I've never been a huge fan of these chunky end tables and have wanted to renovate them ever since a friend gave them to me two years ago. These little babies had a lot up their sleeve and did everything they could to get me to give up on them and my religion! Okay, not quite, but after all the grief they gave me with every dead end and twist and turn I came across, I was filled with even more motivation to finish them perfectly so that I can ultimately sell them and never have to see them again :) Click below to see the final product...

have a joyful weekend

What are your plans for the weekend? Andrew and I have a dinner date with a close friend and his new girlfriend at a delicious Lawrenceville local restaurant. Also, I am super excited to be assisting Gracie and Laura with another wedding tomorrow (!) in Atlanta- always a fun time with that talented duo. Have a great Easter weekend, close to family and the risen Christ. 

Those cute "Frozen" singing parents are at it again.

BRB, on my way to here (in my mind).

Every Office stare.

An historical look at Disney princess fashion.

Oh my, yum.

Easy DIY Gifts people actually want.

Hilarious. And genius.

Start your weekend off with a smile.

xo


Image found here //

become squiggle-less!

Did you know we've been opening bananas wrong all along? I recently heard that the every day yellow fruit is intended to be opened from what we'd considered the bottom- the part without the long stem! It's way easier, and as my grandmother pointed out this week- it creates no "squiggles"! You know, the weird strands of banana string that fall down and totally creep you out? Well if you open it up from the other side, you can eat your banana creepy-squiggle-free!

P.S. This looks like an amazing breakfast.
P.P.S. Really missing these from Haiti... (the BEST at our friend, Mimi's, restaurant.)

xo

Image found here //

good to wait

So much waiting for us. I've never felt more lack of control in my life than I have this past year. It's a constant cycle of learning to trust in the Father, and to cling to His perfect love and timing. I hope this quotes reaches those who are also in this waiting game.

Some bright flowers for this gloomy day :)

xo

P.S. Some other great "waiting" quotes.

Image Source // 1. C.S. Lewis // 2. Spring Flowers //

Furniture Restoration Reveal: it's all in the details

As I've previously mentioned, I have been working on a few DIY projects over the last couple of months. It's definitely been interesting. What I thought would be a fun weekend project, has turned into several months of bumps and dead ends. It isn't as simple as I thought it would be- so much goes into the design and functionality of restoration, beyond just a simple coat of paint and some cute knobs.

Alas, I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and this week will {finally} produce some wonderful results. Here are some pictures of one of my pieces, a dresser from Goodwill I found for $14, before the renovation. Click below to see the final product...

have a happy weekend!

In my reading this morning, I stumbled across two thoughts that I am really reflecting on today. The first is in regards to complaining- that we shouldn't complain about anything because He is "the Author of your circumstances" (Sarah Young). No matter what your situation, He has determined it, is in control, and intends to work in it! The second (by William Barclay) is that no one escapes suffering. No one. Everyone knows it in some form. When I feel that I am suffering, I can be so glum and have a "why me" attitude. What a great perspective to realize that in this world, we will all face hardship, and the difference is that you get to choose how you respond to it. So with that, I will leave you with some links from around the web this week. I wish you a happy weekend :)

Can't wait to be this kind of parent someday... :)

What's your birth number? Is it accurate to you?

Lovely for spring.

Starting to get tired of all of this "millennial" talk, but this is an interesting perspective.

Another perspective worth learning.

Will you watch? Think it will be a hit or a flop?

A perfect Friday night.

In case you missed our excitement for the week...

Yum!! Trying this asap.

Makes your heart happy.

xo


Image found here //

birthday bliss

Happy birthday to this pretty lady who makes me laugh til I cry, cries and feels deeply with me, loves God first and before everything, and who time and time again sacrifices her own needs for the sake of helping those she loves. Jess, you are a true gem of a friend and I am honored to have you as one of my bests. Enjoy your special day and know that you are so so loved :)

    

xoxo

we're moving!

Exciting news today-- We are {finally} moving! We found an apartment in the heart of Virginia Highlands in Atlanta. The best part? Piedmont Park is right in our backyard :) Our move in date is set for two weeks from today, and it's hard to believe that after almost a year without our own home we will be back on our own feet again in such a short amount of time. 

We are so thankful to everyone who has taken care of us these past 11 months, and we can't wait to return the favor with dinners, movie nights, and even an occasional sleep over (in our second bedroom!) Yay for grocery shopping, paying bills, and cleaning your house and putting everything in its place... it's funny the usually tedious things you miss when you don't have them anymore- the good stuff and the annoying stuff, it's all a part of life... and I'm so happy to have it all again :)

xo

Image found here //

under construction

Please pardon the mess- Beyond Mountains is getting a bit of a face lift! I'm messing around with online tutorials and fumbling my way through HTML code, so we are bound to experience a few hiccups along the way. It also could look a little different each time you check back in- allow yourself to be caught in suspense as I experiment with different styles every 5 minutes or so ;)


Image found here //

storage swooning

I've been on the lookout for pretty ways to store our books and other odds and ends. I love this kitchen shelf, above, and the look and feel of all the kitchen tools resting on it. You know I brake for soft, neutral tones and natural materials :) 

I went to Ikea for the FIRST time (ever) last week, and immediately fell in love with this glass-door cabinet. How sweet would it look in a kitchen nook, with glazed stoneware dishes on display and ready for any impromptu dinner party? Also perfect storage for linens, cookbooks, mason jar glasses, pretty coffee mugs, serving platters... Practical and easy on the eyes, a combination for the win ;) those should be good enough reasons for Andrew to give me the thumbs up, right?!

xo

He does not abandon

"When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, 'The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.' 'But sir,' Gideon replied, 'if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.' The Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?'"
                                                                                 Judges 6:12-14

I don't really have a great epiphany, and I'm not really sure what to make of God's response here in regards to my own life. But, I find comfort in Gideon's response. The exact thoughts I've had and words I've prayed, as we have been in this challenging and unstable position for almost a year, now. Not having clear answers or direction, not being in a great situation, not feeling settled. Almost a year of this leads you to wonder "Has God forgotten me?" You know it's not true, but your heart and mind can't help but feel distant and alone. It's reassuring to find scripture that seems to come right from your heart- even if it doesn't give you an answer or solve your problems, there's peace in knowing that you are understood.

When things are going great, or when life seems to constantly hit dead ends and meet closed doors- He is still there. He is still just as involved in your life, even when you're fleeting heart can't sense Him. It's your fear, feelings, and faith that change and move up and down- not Him. He is unchanging, His love is everlasting. He is present, He is intimately and intricately involved.

"Hear my voice when I call, O Lord;
   be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, 'See his face!'
   Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
   do not turn your servant away in anger;
   you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
   O God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me,
   The Lord will receive me.
Teach me your way, O Lord;
   lead me in a straight path
   because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to my foes,
   for false witnesses rise up against me,
   breathing out violence.

I am still confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the Lord
   in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the Lord."

     { Psalm 27: 7-14 }


Image found here //

have a peachy weekend!

The weather has been so warm this week- it feels like we skipped right over spring and went straight to summer. I don't know if I'm ready for this much heat yet! Pollen counts have already jumped from 50 on Monday to 5,230 today (!), so have those tissues ready. What are your plans for the weekend? Hope you stay allergy free and enjoy an ice cold drink outside in this beautiful weather :)

Kristen Bell singing live- so great!

Kind of terrifying... Do you believe it?

Such darling wedding dresses.

Now, this is a taco.

An interesting perspective on Noah.

For all my Georgia peaches.

Would be a great DIY birthday gift for a friend.

Home Inspiration. Can't wait to decorate our next home with all the trinkets I've been collecting.

Wanderlust- stargazing.

xo

Image found here //

kid snippets

When I stumbled across "Kid Snippets" a year ago, I 'laughed so hard I cried' my way through every video of theirs that I could find. These people give young children a topic, and the kids come up with their own dialogue. Then, the adults act out the scene using the kids' dialogue as voiceovers. Genius. After binge watching and sending to all of my family, I forgot about them and moved on to the next youtube hit. Well, they're making their way around the internet again, and they have even more videos to giggle your way through. Hope this brightens up your Thursday and holds you over until the weekend :)

P.S. My other favorites include: Salesman, Accident, and American Idol, and Wedding Jitters.

common, daily "life hacks" I didn't do until after college

There are some things that most people figure out pretty early on, that somehow I just missed the memo on. I've always noticed others doing these things, but never thought that they could actually be more efficient and effective! It's that whole "you do your thing, I do my thing" mentality. Once I attempted to do things the way I had always seen them done, I realized there is actually is a reason to all the madness :) So, in case you haven't yet "crossed over," here are 5 simple (very simple, like 'duh everyone does that, why haven't you done that before' simple) things to spruce up your daily routines.