High Five for Friday

top, jeans, booties: target  scarf: OmMadeWIthLove

1. One of my best friends recently opened an Etsy shop.  

She is beyond talented.  And she is extremely generous and lets me benefit from her talents by letting my wear her gorgeous scarves!

Check out her shop here.

2.  Here are my other favorites:

                                                 button scarf                              multicolored cowl

3.  Loving this verse lately and clinging to it's truth.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness. 
2 Corinthians 12:3 

4.  I'm adding this sweater to my birthday wishlist: 

(Which is less than a month away!)

forever 21

5.  I read this interesting article the other day about the amount of money being spent on beauty, from products to procedures.  It was definitely interesting and you should check it out here.

Chris and I are leaving tonight to spend three days in Wisconsin thanks to a great deal we found on groupon.  I can't even tell you how excited I am to spend some quality time together.  

Life has been challenging and stressful lately and it is so easy to let that take over your daily life. 

I'm excited to spend a few days away from life's distractions and busyness.

Hope you have a great weekend!  

a jealous heart

vest: Old Navy  shirt: Rue 21  pants: Kohls  shoes: Target 

 Jealousy is a terrible feeling that has started creeping more and more into my life this year. 

The other day I found out that two more of my friends are pregnant.
Two of my friends just had babies, and I was envious of them when I found out they were pregnant.  

Sometimes I even have a hard time looking at a complete stranger who is pregnant without wishing that it was me.

 and I hate that I feel that way.

This last weekend Chris and I got to get away for a night and I was realizing how happy I am when it is just me and him.  When I remove us from everything around us I feel happier and more content with where God has us in life.  

Sometimes I think life would be easier if it were just the two of us, and I wasn't comparing my life to anyone else.  I find myself basing my happiness on what I lack or where my life is not, compared to those around me.  

Even if there was no one else around us, I still desperately want a baby.  BUT it definitely makes it harder when I see everyone else getting what I so badly want.  

And this comparing and jealousy goes into other areas of life too.  

I absolutely love my house and wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
But when I see the prices and sizes of houses selling now I am often jealous.  

I'm happy and proud of my abilities to do certain things, like running, teaching or even writing this blog.
But when I compare myself to others that do it better, I can get jealous.

I was listening to this song by the Avett Brothers and while I think he's referring to greed with material possessions, I related it to my situation.
(listen to the song here)

I am sick with wantingAnd it's evil and it's dauntingHow I let everything I cherish lay to waste
I am sick with wantingAnd it's evil how it's got meAnd everyday is worse than the one beforeThe more I have the more I think:I'm almost where I need to beIf only I could get a little more
I need for somethingNow let me break it down again
Something has me Oh something has me Acting like someone I don't wanna be. 

God has given me countless blessings.
And I want a heart free of jealousy and envy.
I want to be more content with exactly the place in life where God has put me.  While I fail over and over at this, I know that God is working in my heart to trust that He knows what is best for me.

" . . . for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." (Phil. 4:11)

Cup Half Full