smileshineinspire: February 2015

Mackenzie Horan's boutique, Design Darling, turns 3 Sunday, and to celebrate, she is giving her readers promo code "CANTSTOPWONTSTOP" for 20% off! Shop till you drop :)

Macy's Is Going To Have Outlet Type Stores

I hope that this weekend will be full of hope, joy, and love :)

Sleep late. Check off a few items on your to-do list, and make these next few days wonderful :)

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Final(e) Word on 'Parks and Rec'

Yesterday, the last episode of Parks and Rec aired, the last episode ever..

Gosh, I already miss that show.

I started watching it at the end of last semester and it made me laugh so much.

It helped me forget about the stress of college for awhile and just relax..

I totally marathon viewed the earlier seasons of Parks and Rec over winter break to catch up, so I could watch the last season on actual tv and I am so glad that I was able to!

I have loved this show and the people that have made it come alive. I love the characters and the running jokes. I hope that people will remember this show and re-watch episodes and continue to quote lines from it. I will keep reblogging "Treat Yo Self" gifs on Tumblr and continue to dream of a love that is part Andy/April + part Leslie/Ben :)

So..to help me not cry (as much), I've made a list to reference to if I'm ever feeling sad and missing Parks and Rec. I can look back at these links and remember the finale and how it was a wonderful way to wrap an amazing show.

Parks and Rec, you will be missed, but your fans will never let this show be forgotten..

Applying For Post Grad Jobs As Told By Parks and Rec GIFs (will totally reference this when I graduate!)

Bring Tissues..

Cast Is Emotional In Final TV Appearance

Finale Easter Eggs

Friends + Parks and Rec Crossover! (crazy since I just started Friends!)

Late Night Farewell (this will make you cry!)

Saying Goodbye To Our Favorite Parks And Rec Characters

Waffle Recipes

Why We'll Never See Another Show Like Parks and Recreation Again

7 Perfect Moments From The Finale

12 Happy Endings

28 Of The Funniest Running Jokes On Parks And Recreation 2, 4-7, 28 (it's funny because most of my favorites have to do with food :)

32 Behind The Scenes Photos From Parks And Rec

If you made it to the end of this really random post, I just want to say thanks for reading :) and if you want to talk about this show or anything else, just contact me through any of my social media!

Have a wonderful rest of today! :)

Friday, February 20, 2015

Friday Favorites

What a crazy week!
Two out of the five days this week, classes were delayed..so that was a huge bonus for me!
Sleeping in never felt so good :)
Since that happened, I felt like this week flew by!
I'm home again for the weekend, hoping to write a few papers due next week..
here's to not procrastinating, but actually achieving some things! :)

Adorable gift: boyfriend turned girlfriend into Disney princesses for Valentine's Day present
Atlas of Beauty
Bear with spinal injury walks again
Father-daughter duo fly plane
Happy (belated) birthday to my favorite (ginger) singer!
How to stop your phone from tracking your location
Long distance movie night (what a great idea!)
Man with ALS tells wife "I love you" for first time in 16 yrs.
Monkey in a dress!
New Dr. Seuss book (to be released in July)
Parenting trick that works (at least for this kid)
Survivors write themselves love letters
Taylor Swift's bonus tracks are on iTunes NOW! (plus karaoke tracks!)
Teen helps elderly man with snow shoveling; precious!
Treasure hunts in a different country?! SIGN ME UP!
Two sisters re-created scenes from Oscar nominated movies
15 year old starts huge babysitting business (way to go, girl!)
32 things people love (but not in a wierd way)
2-year old hosts tea parties with pet pig

I want to wish you a wonderful weekend! I hope it is fun, magical, productive, and most of all filled with love from yourself and the people in your life :)

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Love Is For Everyday

Happy Valentine's Day!
Hey you! This post is to cheer you up, and brighten this special day!
Even if you aren't planning on celebrating with a significant other, it doesn't mean you're confined to your bedroom or house even. You can still go out and enjoy this holiday. Even though the media tries to define what Valentine's Day is, that's not the only kind of love there is.
Self-love is one very important kind of love that isn't talked about as much as it should be.
YOU. You can choose to love yourself from this day forward.
Whether you've had a bad history of others not being there for you, or trying to be good enough for someone else, know that you are enough. Just you. You do not have to try to glam yourself up or act a certain way for someone to notice you. You are beautiful just the way you are.
I hope that this Valentine's Day, regardless of what society says, you will understand that the only love you need today is the love that comes from within. Accept and love yourself. Share that love with others around you and you will understand that's all you need in this life.
Enjoy this holiday, but remember love is not limited to just today. Love is for everyday.

Candy hearts and jewels

Candygrams

Meanings of Roses

Party!

PIZZA MY HEART

Proposal flipbooks

Valentine's Day by the numbers

91 love quotes

50 ways to be entertained by love

36 questions

36 romantic film quotes

26 meals for those with special diets

23 recipes that aren't desserts

21 desserts

16 stuffed cookies

16 gifts for the carb lover

15 famous love letters

14 fun ways to celebrate

11 proposals

4-year old asks out his crush

1 Corinthians 13: In My Experience--one of my favorites!

Have a great rest of today! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Friday, February 13, 2015

Friday Favorites + Happy Galentine's Day!

This week was a tough one for me. Sometimes college just is..but it's okay!
I'm home for the weekend, even if I did have to bring my work with me..
I was excited to see my family :) I've missed them so much!
Can you believe that Valentine's Day is tomorrow?! :)

COLLEGE
Nap time for university students--this is definitely something that should be implemented in many
colleges :)
Laptop for lazy people--I would definitely use this!
QUIZ: Should you take a mental health day?--so important!

ENTERTAINMENT (MOVIES/MUSIC/TV)
Ho Hey, I Will Rise, and Let It Go are my favorite songs on Alex Boye's YouTube channel that I recently rediscovered!
My childhood in a post--14 PBS tv shows!
NEW Insurgent Trailer! (This played during the Grammys! My favorite trailer of this movie :)
Taylor Swift's 'Style' music video premiered today!
The Breakfast Club returns to theaters for its 30th anniversary
21 times HP books made sense!

#IHEARTFOOD
27 muffins
23 french fries
18 pancakes + more
American kids try other cultures' breakfast foods

INSPIRATIONAL
Dinosaurs on dresses are cool!
Disneyland: Then and Now; love these photos!
Dog walks 20 blocks to find family
First woman with down syndrome to walk at NYFW
HONY founder raises money for underprivileged kids
Sweaters for Penguins
I love this episode of Liv & Maddie. When girls unite and support each other in community, that is something worth talking about. Watch here.

STYLE
A mom lets her toddler dress her up for a week
J.Crew's Crewcuts teams up with the American Museum of National History
Teenagers swap clothes with their grandparents
This 3-year old rocks any outfit she wears :)
Wedding Beauty Tips From Real Brides

WANDERLUST
53 cities to visit
22 retro diners
21 surreal places in the UK--3 & 19 are two I can't wait to visit!
20 ways to display travel keepsakes--love these ideas!
14 tv shows' locations = road trip ASAP
13 apps to help preserve travel memories
6 ways to be a savvier traveler
QUIZ: for those who have a touch of wanderlust
Why Every Woman Should Travel Alone
Your city could be included in the next Monopoly!

I hope that this weekend will be special for you, with or without a valentine :)
YOU are important and worthy of love, no matter what!
Tomorrow's a 'Treat Yo Self' kinda day, so make sure to make the most of it :)

Enjoy Galentine's Day today with family and friends!

23 Reasons You Need To Celebrate Galentine's Day This Year

23 Reasons You Need To Celebrate Galentine's Day This Year

P.S. A Valentine's Day post is in the works--so look for it tomorrow!

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Simple Sundays

My typical Sunday schedule consists of either sleeping late or going to church, hanging out with family and friends and studying.

What was different about today was the weather. OHMYGOSH!
The sunshine..I've missed it so much. Sometimes winter feels like it will drag on forever, but today gave me hope. I can't wait for spring and summer and warmer temperatures. I can't believe that it's only February, and I'm sitting outside, writing this blog post on my laptop!

I started Insurgent for the second time. There is nothing better than reading outside. I can't wait for the movie which comes out in a little more than a month! :)

My roommate and I walked outside today and knew that after lunch, we were going to make an effort to study outside. Why would anybody want to stay cooped up in a dorm room when they could go outside and enjoy the fresh air? Because the weather was so nice today, we also decided to go buy some frozen yogurt! It was so good! Birthday cake is my absolute favorite! :)

Downton Abbey is amazing. If you've never watched it, I beg of you to please do! It's my favorite! My roommate had never watched it, so this semester and last, we've been going through all 5 seasons. I've loved being able to experience this show again, even though now I know which of my favorite characters are going to be killed off. I hate knowing that information, but at least I know to enjoy the screen time each of them has. Through the ups and downs of this show, Downton Abbey will always have my heart.

I love the quality time I'm able to spend with my family and friends on Sundays.
This day is set aside to celebrate the love and grace God's given us.
I hope that today was an wonderful ending to an awesome weekend :)

Friday, February 6, 2015

Friday Favorites

FINALLY! Friday's here :)
This weekend will definitely be time for me to relax and recuperate from this past week..
Tired is a normal word in my vocabulary now as is stressed
Sometimes I feel that tests and quizzes and papers and homework are taking over my life
Thank goodness for laughs and tv shows and food; three of my favorite things
:)

BRAVERY
This little girl dressed up as Wonder Woman to celebrate finishing her last round of chemo (here)!

CARING
A pop-up cuddle cafe is coming to London! (here)
Shared kitchen hacks (here)

CURIOUSITY
Fans are always eager for more info. about HP! J.K. Rowling answers a few fan questions here
Penguin photobombs picture here

EXCITEMENT
Insurgent animated movie posters (here)
and the new trailer, just in case you missed it (here)
Baby's 1st year time-lapse (here)
The results of Chris Pratt and Chris Evans' Super Bowl bet (here)
This dog is the definition of excitement and so cute (here)!
ANGRY Alphabet (video here)

HAPPINESS
Wildflower birthday party (here)
Disney characters portrayed as different races; AWESOME (here)
An all women superhero group! (here)

IMAGINATION
Places to go if you want to pretend like you've stepped into the world of Frozen (here)
Star Wars wedding (pictures here)
33 ways you can use spray paint (here)
18 DIY canvas wall hangings (here)

LOVE
London engagement photo shoot (here)
Husband surprised his wife with her lifelong dream--tickets to Europe (here)
Teen attempts to gain legal custody of her siblings; whoa! INSPIRATIONAL (here)
Lasting Love {Letters} here
Sam Smith's new music video that supports marriage for all (here)

Choose to be happy today :)
Have a great weekend!