I feel it’s important that you know that I am listening to 60’s and 70’s greatest hits on Pandora while I write this. And it’s epic. Perfect soundtrack.
Author: JJ Starling
The power of positive thought: The Dress
So if you read, skimmed or just looked at the photos on my Memorial Day weekend post, then you’ve already seen the above photo (or on IG @jlynnjustad) but I’m not a fashion blogger so that’s the best photo I have of the dress that was a huge source of encouragement to be a couple of weeks ago! If you know me personally, you’re probably tired of hearing me talk about the power of positive thought haha! It’s such a real thing though and could work for anyone if they put the intense effort it takes to use it, so I love sharing about it and all the examples in my life of how it really works!
Memorial Day weekend 2016
Hey hey! Testing 1, 2, 3… I’m finally dusting off the ol’ keyboard to bring you an update on the main event of my month, Memorial Day weekend in Charleston, SC! Just a heads up this post is super photo heavy! :)
I know I haven’t been here as much these past few months but if you’ve been following along on this little space recently, you know it’s because we’ve been working really hard to accomplish a few goals and I’m happy to report that we are making strong progress and are really enjoying the process!
With everything we’ve had going on, we weren’t even really able to stop and celebrate Andre’s birthday, which fell on the 17th of this month. We hadn’t been able to stop for much of anything to be honest but we had been anticipating this weekend of R&R (and party fun) in Charleston for a while because one of his close friends was set to marry on the 27th…which happens to be my birthday!
New babes, Target steals and other bits of happiness: Easter 2016
Hello friends!
If it feels like I’ve been out of touch lately…well it’s because I have been! Between two jobs (and picking up odd shifts at the restaurant, filling in for people), working on my new nutrition&exercise plan (I’ll share more on that in the coming weeks), and trying to build up momentum to go with gazelle intensity towards our Total Money Makeover goals (I haven’t shared about this yet but I will!)…I’m beat! All those things are bits of happiness though because I’m thankful to have work, to be making strides of progress with my health and eating habits and of course that we’ve been getting serious about whipping our finances into shape. Because of my schedule, it’s hard to set a routine but I’m going to make it happen! It might not happen overnight, but it WILL happen! Growing up is…difficult in the beginning stages haha but it’s all very exciting! Not to mention a few exciting things that have occurred in the last week!
You may have seen this photo on instagram (@jlynnjustad) but our sweet nephew (I’ll refer to him from here on out as J3) was born a little over a week before his due date of Easter morning! Mom and baby are doing great and we are so thrilled to have him here! I totally neglected to mention it in my currently post because truth be told, I thought I would get at least another one (or maybe even two) blog posts before he was born so my excitement was contained as to not get too anxious haha but the little booger surprised us all! He’s so gorgeous and so loved!
grainy photos make me feel nostalgic.
Leap Day: A birthday celebration!
Happy Monday and Happy LEAP DAY!!!
Wooohooo!!! We won’t see this day for another 4 years, yall. There is something so exciting about that for me. I don’t know why. It always seemed kinda silly to me I think and I tend to love silly things (there’s a time and a place though of course…).
ANYWAYYY..
Back to silly!
As you saw if you were around here on Friday, over the weekend we celebrated the birthday of my younger brother who is in fact, a Leap Day baby! That’s of course yet another (and the best) reason I love Leap Day aside from the fact it’s a totally silly day and it inspired one of my favorite episodes of Frasier (Season 3 episode 16 if you want to watch on Netflix!). We went out downtown to a restaurant I had never been to before and it was so much fun! I met my brother’s friends for the first time, we had good food&beverages, and I was able to give him his “happy single digit birthday” card. It had mermaids on the front and a long, sappy, emotional personal message on the inside because we’re a very emotional people in our family.
It was all around a wonderful time and I am so delighted that I was able to spend that night with him and his dear friends.
sillies :P
Happy birthday to my sweet brother, Sterling. You mean the world to me and having you in my life is one of my truest treasures! ♥
xx
Hometown Happenings: The Bridal Expo!
Happy Friday friends!
It’s been a minute since I have had a moment to show up here. I started a new job last Monday so I’ve been trying to get in to what will be my solid routine for the next long while. I finally feel good about the direction things are moving but it’s sure exhausting adjusting to new hours and scheduling. I’m sure everyone can relate in some way or another!
Anyway, Happy Friday! It’s been a while since I’ve had a Monday-Friday non service industry related job so I had forgotten how good it feels to be one of those people excited for the weekend! I’m particularly excited for this weekend because my brother is turning 20 on Monday so we’re celebrating this Saturday! We’re also celebrating on Monday because that day only comes around once every four years! Yay for leap year babies!! And this episode of Frasier.
Last weekend was an exciting one as well though because I got to take a girls trip with my step sisters to my hometown for a wedding event! My sister Jasmine is moving towards engagement with her longtime beau so we thought it would be fun to check out a fairly small bridal expo at a venue right on the beach. She’s always wanted a beach wedding so it was a perfect opportunity to dip her toes into the sea of wedding planning as well as see family and just have an all around good time together.
Parked.
We left later in the evening on Friday after I got off work. We made it there fairly quickly, talking music and Pinterest wedding inspo along the way. Once we got in, even though it was late and we felt a little tired, we somehow ended up until about 2am chatting with our grandparents by the fireplace about literally everything. I mean- we covered love, fear, books, God, our dreams and goals…just all around life in general. It was so good to my soul.
Saturday morning/afternoon I made my way to visit with my maternal grandmother at her new apartment. It was such a sweet time. She just moved not too long ago and her new apartment is so sassy! It’s like a little bachelorette pad!! She lives near her sister too so they are able to visit everyday and I can just tell that she is so happy. She looks so great and it made my heart swell to be able to spend time with her. I was able to ask her about some important things about what she remembered from the civil rights movement too and I am so thankful that I am able to ask her those things and get her perspective.
After I saw her, I headed to my uncle’s house to pick up my little cousin for lunch and I introduced her to one of my favorite restaurants of all time, Flaming Amy’s. They have THE BEST pineapple salsa. I could probably drink it. That sounds gross but not if you’ve had this salsa. You know what I’m talking about, Hayley!
After that I went back to my grandparent’s and we started to get ready for the night. We had plans to meet my (maternal) cousin out downtown for drinks and dancing. We went super early though and ended up doing appetizers, then met up with a couple of my hometown friends…which resulted in karaoke!!!!! So. Much. Fun. After karaoke, my hometown friends headed home and I headed to the dance club with my fam. I LOVE that I’m able to spend time with members from my mom’s side of the family AND my dad’s together, even though my parents are no longer together. I also ran into a very drunk friend on the way to the car to go home, who bench pressed me over his head while I was eating a hotdog. It was madness and I loved it.
Love my fam!!
My wedding band tattoo ♥
I was clearly not the driver.
Sunday we spent a few hours at the expo eating, drinking and taking hysterical photo booth photos. Oh and we also checked out some wedding vendors, haha! It was a GREAT weekend. I needed that kind of fun. Sometimes you just need a weekend with your girls (even though not all of mine were there). These young women are my family, my heart and my soul and I love them.
blurry but I don’t care. Love these memories ♥
Cheers to last Fridays, this Fridays and next Fridays!
xx
Super Bowl 50!
Well, by now you know, my beloved Carolina Panthers came up short last Sunday at Super Bowl 50 and walked away without a ring and national title. Full disclosure, had they won…I probably would have been on here first thing Monday morning gloating about my team so continue to have at it Denver (Congratulations….[insert dramatic emoji face here])…..as long as you don’t talk shxt about my team! That goes for anyone!
Seriously though- why does that have to be the first thing people do even if they aren’t fans of the winning team? I guess it’s kinda like that for everything I suppose but it’s so frustrating! In regards to the game…so what Cam didn’t want to answer questions after the game? There are some politicians who won’t answer questions about serious indiscretions against the entire country….but Cam walking away from a post game interview is just THE WORST thing in the world! He’s such a bad sport! Um….he walked right up to Peyton to congratulate him afterwards. So he wasn’t all smiles after the loss…..I think that’s natural when you’re passionate about something and you want it so badly and you DERSERVE TO BE THERE but just come up short in the present moment.
What’s up with people still unable to give credit to the Panthers where it’s due? They had an UNBELIEVABLE season. So they didn’t play their best in the biggest moment but they earned their place in that game and anyone who says differently is well, delusional. #sorrynotsorry I’m not trying to be mean…just saying you should check the stats. Those boys played one heck of a ball game time after time this season. So what they didn’t win the big game? It was a first time (certainly not the last) for many of them. That’s a lot of pressure for even seasoned players. I seem to remember the current Super Bowl champions playing embarrassingly terrible two years ago resulting in a loss….but look now. There’s no reason to think that this team can’t/won’t take it all the way. Super Bowl 51 baby!
So yes, Peyton (and the NFL) got their storybook ending. In all honesty, I’ve always like Peyton Manning so it kinda sucks to not feel able to be fully happy for him (because heavens knows I wanted our boys to win) but congrats to him (and the entire team&fan base) and as for us? Well, we will KEEP POUNDING.
We had a little shindig over at our friend Wayne’s place and it was so much fun prepping and cooking and decorating and partying….until things turned sour of course. Ha! This was the first year I experienced “fandom” (you know, wearing specific clothing, going through certain rituals in order to help your team’s chances. It’ was intense) so the heartbreak felt a little overwhelming for the first time but still, it was a good time with great friends. I can’t wait to do it again next year and hopefully watch our boys take it home!
A few snaps from the fun..
you may have seen this on IG (@jlynnjustad) Game day head gear!
most of the feast! Just missing the little smokies&wings!
blurry but idc cuz I love them. The husband and the little bro ♥
Cheers to the weekend for all of my non-service industry working friends to whom Friday just means busiest next couple of days of the week. I love you all and wish you the happiest of days!
xx
Decoding Dreams
So today I had the day off from work and I was flipping through the channels (AKA scrolling the guide, for those of you that weren’t around when to see what was on every channel you had no choice but to flip through every channel or waste away watching TV Guide trying not to blink…) and saw the Steve Harvey show was on. Now, I don’t want this post to be about him but let me go ahead and get this out of the way….yea he screwed up at Miss Universe, maybe it was a conspiracy for ratings, blah blah blah, I like the guy. I don’t always watch his show but I do occasionally and today he had a dream expert on as a guest.
I have always been so fascinated by dreams. I’ve always loved stories so the idea of your brain making up it’s very own story while you sleep is just as mind blowing to me as an infinite universe. I’ve also been extremely good at remembering my dreams. I used to think it was no big deal, that everyone was like this maybe? But the more I’ve talked to people, the more I’ve come to learn that a lot of people hardly remember their dreams or “don’t dream” at all.
Right after you wake up is always the best time to recall your dreams but I find myself being able to remember even the smallest of details for the remainder of the day, days, weeks, months….I even remember dreams from childhood and my teenage years. I’ve had dreams of things and then seen them in real life. I’ve had reoccurring dreams of tidal waves (the worst!). I once had a dream in a hallway full of doors, I went through one door- realized it wasn’t the room I was supposed to be in (in the dream of course) then proceeded to the next door (the correct room) then the next night, I had a dream that took place in the first room from the night before. I enjoyed that little Easter egg ;)
Andre has lucid dreams where he can make decisions as his dream self like to fly or something crazy like that. I feel like you have to have a strong mind or be really good at dreaming to do that. I haven’t done much looking into dream decoding and today I just happened to catch maybe the last minute of the segment on the Steve Harvey show but it definitely got me wanting to do further research into this interesting topic!
Do you ever remember your dreams? Done any research on the decoding dreams? Know any good research resources? Know anything about reoccurring tidal wave dreams? Every have any of your own reoccurring dreams?! Tell me everything about your life! ;P
Hope you guys have had a happy Monday! I’ll see you tonight on Twitter for the Bachelor! ♥
Hello 2016
Last year (for the first time) I assigned a word for the year. I wasn’t sure if it would make an impact or just become another one of those “beginning of the year” or “new year resolution” deals but things really did shift for me in 2015 and I really do believe that assigning this word over my year was a part of that. Believing that, I decided to do it again for 2016.
2015 started off very unsteadily. After my dear friend Nikita passed in January, I wasn’t sure I would recover from how shaken I was by it all. In one area I was hurting so deeply for her loved ones and in another I was so confused by it that I just felt like I couldn’t find my balance for a long time. I felt like I knew nothing and found myself asking questions like:
What the heck is this all for anyway?
What does this all mean?
Where is this all going?
Why?
Just, why.
I was so overwhelmed with questions about my existence and beyond that I just felt like I couldn’t see straight. I kept going back to Niki’s Instagram page and reading her bio over and over again:
“You should measure your success in life by JOY”
How perfect for her. She was such a joyful soul and still is, I know because I feel joyful at just the thought of her and the time I was able to spend with her upon her return to North Carolina. I want that quote to be perfect for me, too and I think even without knowing that’s what I was chasing after, I began to seek joy in my life for maybe the first time ever last year.
I truly feel like I grew SO much spiritually, mentally and emotionally in 2015 because I have actively been chasing the joy in life by intentionally tuning in to myself, getting to know myself and working towards being a better version of myself every day…even if that only means that I was nice to myself that day. That hasn’t been something I’ve been very good at in the past.
One of my favorite lifestyle (and FOOD! ) bloggers, Abbey, once posted (I think it was on IG) about there being years of questions, and years of answers. I loved that so much because it just clicked with me. It felt like it made so much sense. I feel like this past year has been one of questions for sure. I feel like these past few years have been ones of question but 2016- I feel like 2016 will give me answers that will clear the path for my dreams to come true.
That doesn’t mean they will all come true this year but I just really feel right on the cusp of breakthrough- so I’m claming it.
My word for 2016 is:
BREAKTHROUGH.
I want to see this word manifested in my life in all aspects but specifically I am going to be working hard in the areas of health (mental&physical), fitness and finances. Of course I hope to continue the growth I experienced last year in my mental and spiritual and emotional life as well though ;)
I am so excited for this year, all the good that I believe is to come and all the growth I can see that I experienced in 2015.
2016- I’m ready to get to work.
Love you.
xx
December is here! And so is a blogging break!
Ok, so December was here yesterday :) I just love this photo (thank you Unsplash!). I’ve had day dreams of living in a neighborhood like this one, with tree lined streets, where every season shows it’s face. Then again I’ve had dreams of living in a remote cabin on the edge of nowhere…and at the beach (again)…and in an apartment in a big city…I’m still figuring this whole thing out but ANYWAY the point is, that wherever Andre and I end up, I hope that it’s a place that brings us both so much joy and where our children can grow into amazing men&women.
I’ve been reflecting a lot recently on my word for 2015. I believe it was the right word to choose and I believe that I used it and it manifested itself in my life. I want to talk about that more later as well as continue on with my wedding series and a bunch of other things…but I think I need to put this space on hold for a little bit. I love it here and am so excited to execute some of the visions that I have but for now, for the remainder of 2015…I need to just be present and for me, that can only happen if I take some things off of my plate- one being updating here for now.
If you’re a fellow blogger, you’ll probably see me still raiding your comments section (probably more so now, ha!) and I want to keep up with connections but I’m just going to take some time to focus on my vision for 2016 in all aspects of my life (including here!), hopefully come to better understanding of some things I’ve been thinking about and come back here with a bang in January!
I’m going to miss doing holiday updates because I had so much fun sharing those last year but I’m sure I’ll do some throwback December posts first of the year ;) Things are going to be so nuts for us the remainder of the month, I’m not sure I could even publish posts that would make any sense even though I would have lived the experience myself!
Thank you to everyone who comes around here to see what I’m up to (hey Papa!!). I love all of you dearly and can’t wait to begin again in January! Feel free to email me if you’d like, I’ll still be checking those ;)
Lots of love to you and yours.
Merry Christmas!
xx
Catch up on some of last year’s Christmas adventures here!: