Born to Run.

Did you see this? If not, it is just fantastic.

p.s. Glee starts back September 21. Who's excited???

Preppy.

Let's be honest here, I am preppy. I love pearl earrings, monograms, golf shirts with the collar popped, needlepoint, whales and alligators. (In fact, I think there were about 3 years of my life where I wore nothing put pink and green.)Yes, I also love Anthropologie, vintage finds, indie bands, and cowboy boots. Deep down though, when you look past the colored tights, boyfriend jeans, and dangle earrings (a preppy girl never wears dangles, only studs), I am a prep.
There are several pictures of my family growing up where my parents, brother (who is Joseph Logan McCabe III), and myself are wearing any number of articles of clothing monogrammed, smocked, and pleated. And, The Preppy Handbook (see picture above) took up residence on our family bookshelf. Now it lives in my library collection in Dallas. It is one of the greatest books...witty (it is a satire), so true, and informative. Now the Wall Street Journal is reporting that there is a new updated version called "True Prep" in the works. I am so excited! And, it is actually a pretty interesting story of how the sequel came about. Read all about it HERE. I am sure Muffy, Chip, Lilly Pulitzer, and L.L. bean are thrilled!

Fine, Fresh, Fierce.

One week from today I will wake up here...

(I hope you got the reference in the title. If not, Google the lyrics to Katy Perry's "California Gurls".)

All images found via weheartit search "California" and "Santa Monica"

Heart.

My heart has been struggling this week. The busyness of life has taken over me and I feel as if I have become a slave to all of the things that need to get done. And, not just get done this week, but for the future of my life. I have felt such an urgency to figure out life when I get out of school and how I am going to get there. And, each day feels a little like I am losing time and I am falling so far behind. There has been little to no part of me that has felt freedom...freedom to spend my time on eternal things, freedom to be anything but a performer, freedom to rest, freedom to breakdown, freedom to enjoy life. 
I recently discovered the band Mumford and Sons and am slightly obsessed. Their lyrics are so rich and seem to hit right at the heart of a life with Jesus. I Googled them to see if they are Christians and have not come up with anything so far. If you do know, please let me know. The title track song from their album "Sigh No More" has hit my heart hard this week, especially the chorus:

Love that will not betray you, 
dismay or enslave you,
It will set you free.
Be more like the man you were made to be
There is a design,
An alignment to cry,
Of my heart to see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be.

What beautiful words. What a beautiful reminder to my soul. The Lover of my soul sets me free. Free to spend time being still with Jesus, free to be who He made me to be, free to take a nap, free to cry and run to a Healer that cares about the aching places in my heart, free to enjoy life because I am loved by a God that will not betray me, dismay or enslave me, but that sets me free. 

Here is a YouTube of the entire song, I just cannot get over how beautiful the lyrics are. 

(And the boy playing the accordion is really cute.)

Thank you, Sartorialist.

So true, so true...

"I've talked alot about the proper amount of shirtcuff to show with a suit.

Well, I think there's a similar proportion to consider with the relation of a shirtcuff to a knit.

I'm using the above image as a good standard.

ps. note how much better this gentleman looks with a fitted knit. Oversized knits aren't hiding anything."
-The Sartorialist

Save the Date.

I don't know these people, but they have one of the most precious and creative Save the Dates ever. And, the music is one of my favorite songs by Bright Eyes. I hope Nick and Surya are enjoying the married life!

From Kishi-Grover on Vimeo.

Chalkboard Blacksplash.

Title: Dream kitchen. 

Found via artislovely.

Real Life.

Lord, I'm tired, so tired from walking

And Lord I'm so alone

I know the dark is creeping in

Creeping up to swallow me

Think I'll stop rest here awhile

This is all that I can say right now, right now

This is all that I can give

This is all that I can say right now, right now

This is all that I can give

Did you see me crying

Did you hear me call your name

Wasn't it you I gave my heart to

I wish you'd remember where you set it down

This is all

This is all that I can say right now, right now

This is all that I can give

This is all that I can say right now, right now

This is all that I can give

I didn't know that you were standing there

I didn't know that was you holding me

I didn't know that you were crying too

I didn't know that was you washing my feet

This is all

This is all that I can say right now, right now

This is all that I can give

And that's my everything

This is all that I can say right now, right now

And this is all that I can give

And that's my everything

That's my everything

That's my everything

-Robbie Seay Band "All I Can Say"

This song is such a beautiful picture of real life with Jesus to me because it goes from brokenness to hopefulness. When I was in high school a Young Life leader stood up at an All City YL Club and said that being a Christian doesn't make your life perfect. That to me, made no sense at all, and I decided I didn't really want to follow Jesus. I thought life with Jesus was happiness, never hurting, and life falling into place. A few years later I found out that life with Jesus is about holiness, hope in the midst of hurting, and life with Jesus...and, I am so glad it is.

Yes, please!

Don't you just love this duck, egg, fern centerpiece? I do.

And, I would not mind wearing these new fall items from Anthro to the above party.

College football, cowboy boots, leaves changing colors, Patagonia fleeces, pumpkin spice drinks from Starbucks, fall television premieres, and a much needed change in weather are slowly on their way! Hooray!

Elementary/Middle School Crushes.

It has come to my attention lately that growing up I for some reason did not have crushes on celebrities or musicians like Tom Cruise or New Kids on the Block like most of my friends, but always had crushes on professional athletes. I would picture myself in the stands of their sporting events cheering and wearing a cute little outfit in their teams colors. At the time I did not know this was not normal and until recently when I shared some of this info with some friends. So who were these athletes? Well here ya go, and, as I look at who these crushes were I must have based my crush on talent, not looks...
Joe Montana- San Francisco 49ers
I even had his poster up in my room, much to mother's dismay. He was wearing a 49ers letter jacket (what the heck), holding a football, standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. The poster hung right next to my dressing table, so as I got ready in elementary and middle school I would to gaze into Joe's beautiful eyes.

Orel Hershiser- Los Angeles Dodgers
One summer at the beach I got an Orel Hershiser baseball card in a loaf of bread. Probably because my brother did not want it. At that moment I decided I loved Orel and wanted to move to Los Angeles. My mom said, "you do not want to live there, Erin. There is too much smog". As a 3rd grader I did not care, I just wanted to cheer on my man. This is the exact baseball card I had...

Tom Glavine- Atlanta Braves

I have absolutely no idea why I liked Tom Glavine, but in middle school I would follow the Braves just to see if he was pitching. Then one day I saw in People magazine that he got married and was extremely disappointed. Look how tender he is swimming with a dolphin.

Bill Elliott- #9 NASCAR Driver (Budweiser Racing Team)

I know this is the classiest of all the crushes. What can I say my dad worked with NASCAR (and still does) and I lived in North Carolina. Honestly, I have no idea why I loved Bill Elliott, but it probably had something to do with the fact that my brother did not like him (he liked Darrell Waltrip). In 3rd grade I even wrote a poem about Bill Elliott. How many smocked dress, big bow in hair, polite little girls could say that?

Now I am proud to say my only athlete crush is the one and only Peyton Manning. Again, talent, not looks. Go Vols.

Journey.

“The journey between the dreaming and the coming true is a journey made on holy ground. It is a journey made through silence and longing where, if we will listen, we can hear the whisper of the Dreamer echoing deep within us, calling us to become what the dreamer sees when our name was first whispered: saints who believe in and pay attention for and recognize the Voice; saints who live our lives in joy and confidence and hope rather than judgement and anxiety and desperation; saints whose hours and days and lives are spent carrying people to the Christ, lending each other a hand when one has fallen, slipping along the river that brings joy to the heart of God, carrying God’s peace and love and presence and life to those we meet along the way. That is what we’ve been sent here to do. And we will. The Dreamer’s dream will always come true.” 

—Robert Benson

With a Dream and a Cardigan...

In a mere 20 days I will be hopping off a plane at LAX for the Labor Day weekend. Right now it is hard for me to contain my excitement! The thoughts of cooler weather and less humidity, the beach, new (to me) architecture, movie stars, and delicious restaurants are daily flooding my mind. It is employee appreciation time at Urban Outfitters (Anthro is owned my the same company) so I have been perusing the website and store to update/find more fun/less Pollyanna dresses, many of which would be excellent for my trip to the West Coast. Of course none of the ones I have found are on sale, but they are so fabulous! Ruffles, whales, flowers, and bows, oh my!

Lighting.

Last night in class I learned the difference between a lightbulb, lamp, and light fixture.
Lightbulb = A pop culture word we use for a lamp.
Lamp = What is commonly referred to as a lightbulb. What actually emits light.
Light Fixture = Usually called a lamp. Where we put a lamp.

Image found on a tumblr I was stalking, and cannot remember which one.

Guest Blogger. Caroline White.

Meet Miss Caroline Thornberry White. Caroline and I met this past year through SMU Young Life Leader Training and have become fast friends. In fact, Caroline has become the unofficial 4th roommate over here at Casa Bonita. We have spent countless hours together watching musicals, eating at Panera (she used to be an employee there), just chatting about life, and getting excited about the Bible Study I get to lead with her and her friends.  I love Caroline's honesty and desire to be where God wants her to be and who He wants her to be. She is so much fun to be around, an extremely loyal friend, was the cutest AARO Leader, and is a great pen pal. Caroline loves all things Lilly Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines, her family, Chi Omega, Charlotte York Goldenblatt, headbands, needlepoint, and her home state of Kentucky...

When I tell people at SMU that I'm from Kentucky they immediately associate my beloved home state with two things: The Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Fried Chicken. While I love any excuse to wear a big and beautiful Derby hat and although KFC's new grilled chicken is one of my fast food faves (and yes, I have been to the original restaurant and now museum in Corbin, KY), Kentucky has so much more to offer.  

Since being away for college this year and starting a brand new world at SMU I've been able to return home this summer and appreciate just how wonderful this state truly is.  I'm from Lexington, the second largest city in Kentucky located in the central part of the state.  We're home to the famous University of Kentucky Wildcats, 2 of the 5 Backstreet Boys, the bluegrass region (and bluegrass music), Keeneland Racetrack, breathtakingly beautiful horse farms, cool summer nights, and the best darn homegrown tomatoes I've ever had. 

Situated at the very top of the South, I've been raised in the world of SEC sports and you bet I bleed blue for the best team in the conference (sorry, Erin).  People have pointed out that Kentucky is unfortunately without any major professional sports teams and I confidently reply that we don't need them-- we over-compensate with UK basketball.  Enough said. And while I love all of the entertainment the city provides, the best thing to come home to is the natural beauty of this region.  Rolling hills covered in grass so green it could be blue, lined with dozens and dozens of lush and leafy blue ash and bur oak trees, all perfectly spread out under the bright and sunny Kentucky sky. 

I've traveled to Europe, Central and South America, out West, up North, and all down South and I've never seen such a simple picture of God's good Earth like there is only minutes from my house.  When I'm having one of those days where I just can't find the Lord, my favorite thing to do is get in my old, beat up 1999 Nixan Maxima and just drive those old country roads.  Sandwiched between nothing but God's creation on my left and right I'm always sure to find Him there, shining so bright.  There's nothing like it.  And just when I don't think it could get any better I drive up on a scene of beautiful brown thoroughbreds grazing together on this already perfect picture. And that's why I love coming home.  In the loud, busy, unstoppable city of Dallas where tranquility and simplicity cannot be found anywhere, coming back home to this gorgeous place always is so refreshing.

The state song of Kentucky, "My Old Kentucky Home", always sung after the National Anthem at any and every event resonates louder with me now than ever before.  One of our greatest, Albert "Happy" Chandler, once said, "I've never met a Kentuckian who wasn't comin' home." No matter where, home is always just so good.                

"My Old Kentucky Home"

The sun shines bright in My Old Kentucky Home,

'Tis summer, the people are gay;

The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom

While the birds make music all the day.

The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,

All merry, all happy and bright;

By 'n' by hard times comes a knocking at the door,

Then My Old Kentucky Home, good night!

Weep no more my lady

Oh weep no more today;

We will sing one song

For My Old Kentucky Home

For My Old Kentucky Home, far away

The Eames.

I love Charles and Ray Eames. Their furniture designs are iconic, Ray was a filmmaker as well as a designer, and rumor has it that Frank Lloyd Wright dismissed Charles. (I also learned in history class this week that Mr. Wright was not necessarily the easiest man to work with and once set fire to a family's new furniture because they bought it to replace his designs. So, he is not top on my list of people I would have wanted to work with.)  You may notice that Charles is wearing a bowtie in the photograph above (from Wikipedia). That just makes me love him even more. Here is a little YouTube of Charles and all of his fantastic bowties...

And, here is a another wonderful video of the Eames Lounge Chair debut on NBC in 1956. I know I have become such a furniture/design nerd. You should see me in my 4 hour history class, I simply eat up every word my instructor says. 

Hands Open.

The latest prayer for my life...

"What you will. When you will. How you will."

-John Newton

It is hard for me to pray that sometimes. But, I know there is freedom in living with a posture of hands open to God.  

*Image found on weheartit.com search "hands"

R.I.P. Headbands

For the past few years I have pretty much worn a headband everyday. (Usually with something like a flower or a bow perched on top.) I would even be so bold as to say that they have become my trademark. I love the little splash of sass they provide to your hair and they keep your hair out of your face, see so practical. Backtrack to about 2 months ago when I got my haircut. Short. Too short. The headbands had to go because well, they looked awful. Now that my hair has grown to a more acceptable length I have tried wearing headbands again. And, each time I wear them I get a terrible headache, no matter how loose the headband is. See, I used to get migraines about 5 times a week, but then I got a mouthguard to wear at night so I didn't grind my teeth and the migraines completely went away. These are not migraines creeping back into my life, these are something is tight around my head and it's killing me headaches. So, I am officially retiring from headbands. Well, until Gossip Girl comes back on again, because once I see how cute Blair Waldorf looks in them I will probably try again. Maybe someone needs to remind me around September.
I have had some good times and been some good places in headbands...

With Alisa and Jen at Sean's wedding

Lindsay's wedding

In Boston with my mom visiting my brother and sister in law

Visiting the house from Twilight (I know I should be embarrassed )

Young Life Leader Retreat, Denim and Denim night, with Mallory and Alessandra

*So if you want some headbands, let me know, I have a few.

Cake Bunting

I saw this on Design Sponge this past week and it was just too cute to not repost. It makes me want to buy some streamers and party hats, bake a red velvet cake with buttercream icing, and invite my friends over for a birthday party. Who has an August birthday, because you are in luck! 

Buy your own cake bunting here.

Heat Wave.

Or just Texas in August...

I wish I had a pool in my backyard, Sonic ice machine in my kitchen, and free air conditioning.