Don't be a People Pleaser.

Well hello there! I do hope everyone is having a fantastic start to their week! :)


In case you didn't notice the title of this blog, it's "Don't be a People Pleaser."

What is a people pleaser?
Someone who would rather disregard his/her own plans, thoughts, ideas, feelings, etc. in order to make everyone else happy.

Story. Of. My. Life.


Do I feel a rant coming on? Okay, I feel a rant coming on.

I, for one, am sick and tired of making everyone else happy only to make myself miserable. I'm tired of saying yes to everything and doing things for people that do nothing for you in return. I wasn't put here to be used by people and I'm not gonna stand on the sidelines anymore!

That being said, from now on, I will be putting a special section in each of my blogs for some encouragement for Christian Women! We are supposed to be warriors for Christ but we stand aside and get pushed around, simply because we don't want to "make anyone mad" or "step on anyone's toes."

Now, I'm not saying go crazy, step out onto your front porch, screaming that the world owes you everything.

I'm saying, let's stand up ladies. Stick up for yourself. Say what you feel. Don't let people push you around and DON'T be a pushover.

Easier said than done. I need to listen to my own advice more often.


Okay, let's move on because that first section is really dragging me down.


 So a couple of my family members have the coolest necklaces ever. There are two parts to this necklace set and on one half, it says Mother and on the other half it says Daughter.

Everyone knows that my mom is my best friend, so I couldn't help myself. I got on Etsy and ordered the cutest little necklace set I ever did see!




Aren't they cute! I just love them! To be honest, I didn't want to spend a ton of money. So instead of the mother daughter one, I thought that our initials stamped into half a heart would be just as cute! (plus it was cheap. And I'm currently living the poor-girl-life LOL) I hope she loves it! I found them on Etsy.com from a shop called "2 tiny hearts." If you're looking for an awesome Mothers Day, birthday, or a "just because" gift, this is definitely a good idea!I can't wait to get them in the mail and surprise my mom with a sentimental gift that we can both wear everyday!

P.S. Don't tell my mom about this, I want to totally surprise her! 

(Is it cheesy that to find this, I typed in "mother daughter best friend jewelry"? Cause I think it's totally cool.)
Feel free to steal this idea. I know, it's adorable.



So, I have a DIY that is just fantastic.

I have about a million pounds of burlap left over from my wedding. (Okay, a little exaggeration. But really, it's a lot.) So I started thinking about things I could do with this burlap. I checked out Pinterest (of course) and found these awesome DIY that I just had to share! :) So, here ya go.

This first one is adorable, and EASY. This photo looks like it is on a canvas, but I think it would be just as cute, and a little more simple if you just too a piece of burlap and stenciled whatever words you wanted onto the burlap. Then, I would just take a black Sharpie marker and fill in the words. You could put it in a pretty picture frame and voila! Burlap art! :)












Next up, a super cute burlap bow frame! Here's what you do:
-take a strip of burlap and tie yourself a sweet little bow.
-Then, literally just hot glue that baby onto the top, bottom, side, or corner of the frame!
and BAM, super cute burlap bow frame!








 

Also, in my next blog I'm going to include some awesome stuff I'm making for my sisters baby shower! I can't wait to share! :)


Okay, let's talk beauty products.

I bought this last week and it is some nifty stuff!
 

This stuff is a new favorite. If you have a shiny face, this is the stuff for you. It takes away the shiny parts of your skin without adding darkness from other powders or bronzers. I bought it at wal-mart and it was under $10! You should probably jump in your car right now, drive to the store, pick it up, and pour it on your face. Okay, don't do that, but it is something to consider getting in the future!

Has anyone else noticed that wal-mart is now carrying elf products? I am glad to see wal-mart stocking it's shelves with a new brand! Woohoo!



Okay, let's talk about Jesus. :)

This past weekend, my cousin (and preacher) went to an amazing mens conference that he told us all about today! I wasn't even there, and it fired me up! They have a womens conference coming up and I'm thinking I definitely want to go! Plus, I know it must be a "God thing" that this came up because I think Thayer is wanting to go to the next mens conference! What an awesome opportunity for us both as a young married couple to get on fire about God and strengthen our relationship even more!
So, I'll definitely keep you posted on that and let you know what happens. :) I'm sure with God involved, it's going to be an awesome thing. :)

So here's the verse for today:

Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

What does this say to me?
It's pretty awesome to me that this verse came up right now. Lately, Thayer has been saying to me over and over again, "stop worrying about things. We're living for God. He is going to take care of us." And sure enough, every single time I think we're down to the last penny, God comes through. We live for a God that wants to take care of us. He wants us to be happy and He won't let his children perish. That doesn't mean that hard times won't come. I assure you they will come. It just means that God is going to take care of you, even in the hardest times. So trust in Him, LIVE FOR HIM, and never let life get you down. We live for a LIVING God, how awesome is that? He is here every single day and knows our exact struggles at this exact moment. So let him take care of it and everything will turn out the way it's supposed to.


Well, it's getting late and I'm getting sleepy. I better steal the covers before Thayer gets to them and I have no chance. So goodnight readers, I hope I haven't bored you to death.


P.S. I really do appreciate everyone that takes time to read my blog. Some people probably think it's stupid, but I really enjoy writing them!

I'm rambling.

Have a fantastic week! And don't forget to stop "people-pleasing" :)
Love, Steph


I do not own the images used in this blog. I got the photos used in this blog from Etsy, Google, and Pinterest.

Can I just have a job as a blogger? Like does that exist? :)

It's blog day in the world of Mrs. Justice. :)

Geez, it's been a few days since I got to sit down at my computer and blog about things going on right now!

Here's what you missed:

1. I am beginning to hate winter. HATE it.
2. I have been extremely busy with work, school, home life, etc.
3. I have started to make a plan for Photography specials I'm going to be having for the next few months! :)
4. I will be doing a "birth photography story" (a little frightened about this one.....)
5. God is good, as always. :)


Okay let's be honest, I can't be the only one that is waiting for those beautiful, sunny, summer days where everyone sits on their back porch, grilling hotdogs and hamburgers, and watching the sun set LATER than 6 pm. I can barely take any more of it!
But, I guess I'll put my big-girl-pants on, along with my SNOW BOOTS, and keep on going.
(okay, rant is over.)


Does anyone else feel like life is going MUCH faster than it used to??
I mean seriously, what happened to the days when you had time to go see your grandma, or you had time to plant a garden, or you even had time to do some laundry! I feel like life goes 100 miles an hour and I can barely keep up! So, I'm coming up with a new plan. That's right, I'm outsmarting this speedy way of life!

I am going to make it a point to slow down a little bit. Instead of making plans that I can barely keep up with, I'm going to make sure I don't overwhelm myself. I have to start thinking about things before I make a commitment to do it because I have a tendency to overdo it... I'm also going to make it a point to at least CALL some of my loved ones that I don't see but once every zillion years and make sure that they know I love them. Life is too short, and boy does it go fast.

Anyway, school is going quite well! Love my Comp class!

I feel like I am never home. Literally. Ever. I basically pay rent for a home for my things because I am NEVER there. (I'm being a little whinier tonight, my apologies.)

So that about sums that up. Moooooooving on:

I have decided to make a set schedule for my photography specials! Woohoo! AND better yet, I'm going to tell you about them so that you can schedule your photo appointments at the time that will save you the most money! (be excited people, be very excited! :)

So here it is! The special-schedule for the next few months!

February: It's baby month! That means, all your babies, toddlers, and mommy-to-be's are going to get a special deal this month!

March: I can't forget the most important thing in life, FAMILY. So, if you're looking to get some special family photos done at a good price, March is the month for you! :)

April: April is my mommy's name! And I love my mommy! So April is going to be "Love" month! Get your engagement/couple pictures done in this month for a special price!

May: It's never to early to start senior pictures for the fall! Plus, the weather should be fantastic! So May is a special time to get your senior photos taken for an AMAZING price! :)


So that's about all I have so far.... I hope that helps though! I'm quite excited!

In other news for TMLP (Through My Lens Photography), I will be doing my first ever birth story! So exciting! As I've mentioned before, my sister is going to be having her baby around the first week of May! (We are getting quite excited!) She has asked me to take photos of her birth story so she can keep all of the special memories from that important day forever. I am SO excited, but I'm also extremely nervous. I mean these photos are going to be a part of her life forever and this is one of the biggest days of her life! I can't screw this up! So, if you have any awesome ideas on what you think I should be sure to photograph, feel free to tell me! I love pointers! :)


I do have a beauty product tonight! Woohoo! It finally came! It's my kabuki makeup brush! I ordered it online and it took what seemed like a million years to get here, but it finally arrived and I am IN LOVE with it.

 







I would recommend this brush a thousand times over! It's been so awesome for my makeup routine! It seriously cuts down my foundation applying time DRASTICALLY and it leaves it looking so nice :)


I also have a special recommendation! Tonight, Mr. Justice and I had a movie night! We watched the movie Captain Phillips, and the entire time I was on the edge of my seat! If you haven't seen it yet, you definitely should! It's based on a true story which makes it even BETTER!

We also went and watched the movie FROZEN for the second time this week!
Let it goooooooo, let it goooooooo! (I could keep going, but I won't.) I am obsessed with this movie. I am a firm believer that there is nothing wrong with loving cartoons when you're an adult! For one thing, you don't have to listen to terrible language, and for another thing, the songs are fantastic! (Do you wanna build a snowmaaaaaaaaannnnn)

So go watch both of those! You'll be so glad you did! :)


I don't know about you, but I can always use some special words from God. This verse was actually the verse I got today on my Bible app! I thought it would work quite nicely. :)

Deuteronomy 30:16
In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.


What this says to me:
God made us. Simple as that. I think we pretty much owe it to our MAKER to do what He would want. I mean, we wouldn't even be here without Him. We would be nothing! So why on earth do we go against Him? (We must be crazy.....) He made us to WALK IN HIS WAYS. He also made us to KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. It's scary to think that I don't do that all the time. I mess up on a daily basis, sometimes on a minute to minute basis! How great is it to know that even with all our mess ups, God still loves us, and He will NEVER leave us. We may feel like there is nothing in this world going for us, but God is there. You may feel like everything in your world is going wrong, but God is still in control. All we have to do is strive to be like Him. He made us, that's the least we can do! So challenge yourself to be a better Christian. Think before you speak, and make sure you're doing the write thing. :)

One more thing, I have been thinking a LOT about my future, in a career sense. I'm trying really hard to figure out what I want to do with my life and I hope that some big changes are in store for not only myself, but also for my AMAZING husband. :) So please keep us in your prayers that God will lead us to whatever we are supposed to do in life. We're both really searching for something better for our little family. :)  

Okay, I'm done for tonight. I hope that encourages you and I hope that you have a fantastic week! Love, Stephanie :)



I do not own the images used in this blog. I borrowed the image from Google.