Happy Pi Day! In honor of this lovely March 14 holiday, I'm sharing a simple chocolate pie recipe. When I saw this recipe on The Shabby Creek Cottage, I just knew I had to make it. I love to bake, but sometimes I don't have time to create baking masterpieces. This recipe helps solve that - and it's delicious!

One of the proudest moments of my life was graduating from university. Earning my degree was a long and difficult process, so when those diplomas came in the mail, it was an indescribable feeling. 

This past weekend, the company my sister and I own, Southern Magnolias, helped style a conference in Indianapolis. The Reset Conference is a two-day conference for photographers across the nation put on by two photographers from my area. When we initially met with them, they wanted something dramatic as a backdrop to the stage - something that would really make an impact. We decided to take that to heart and build a giant 3D chevron backdrop. We traced, cut, folded, and glued over 1000 triangles in four different colors. Our result - a 12x12 chevron 3D triangular backdrop. 

We also had our own vendor booth set up at the conference. We decided to go with something very in-tune with our brand with an ivory and blush display. We rented two gorgeous chairs from Violet Vintage that really made our booth pop, floral garland from Afloral, vintage plates from Pier 1, simple linens from Herriott's, and printed photos of some of our past work. This was our favorite part of the conference, as we were able to meet so many photographers and really show off what we do best.

This past weekend was a new experience for us and something completely out of our comfort zone. I am so proud of the work we put into this event and the final product that resulted.

Such a fun weekend expanding our business!

Happy March everyone! I can't believe how quickly Februay flew by, but I'm so excited for that this month as in store. First, let's catch up on My February To Do List.

Launch Lavender Elizabeth.
I'm loving every minute of it!

Celebrate turning 25.
My sister surprised me with a dinner with my girlfriends.

Create and style an amazing shoot for Mager Image Photography.
You can see sneak peaks on instagram here: @southernmagnoliasevents, @magerimagephotography, and @flowersbykristine.

Plan a kickass display for the Reset Conference in Indianapolis.
The conference is this weekend!

Enjoy a girls' weekend in Chicago with Marie.
You can read all about our adventures here.

Celebrate National Act of Kindness Day by doing something sweet for someone.
I forgot, plain and simple. So, this month, I plan on honoring it.

Plan a fun Mardi Gras party for my colleagues.
We had a great time with plenty of beads and games!

Organize my bedroom.
This SO didn't happen. I'll just tack it onto my cleaning goal for next month. ;)

Follow my blogging schedule.
Yes! (Minus two posts)

Create and organize binders to hold Southern Magnolias' event information.
I bought the binders, but haven't organized them yet.
 

 

 Attend the Reset Conference and blow everyone away with our styling and displays.

Get published on Artfully Wed.

Have a mother-daughter date at Beauty and the Beast.

Plan a beautiful boho shoot for Kristen Winkler Photography.

Update Southern Magnolias' blog with our Jewel-tone Styled Shoot and the King Wedding.

Begin my Bible in a Year reading plan.

Consistently go to church again.

Deep clean our apartment and donate unwanted items.

Fill out my planner every Sunday.

I cannot wait to start my March to-do list!

Today I want to share with you what finding a home church has meant to me and the story behind it.

When I first moved to Central Illinois, I only knew my sister, Bethany. Although my family moved every 3-4 years, I had never done it without the start of a new school. This time was different, as I had graduated from university. I decided that finding a church would be how I integrated myself into the community. Although I became a Christian at 16, I had never found a church to call my own. There was one in California that I would go to occasionally, but never felt like I truly belonged there.

This past weekend, one of my best friends from college, Marie, visited Chicago. She had a business trip earlier in the week, so decided to extend her trip so we could spend the weekend together. This is now the second time we've been able to do this - the first was when she was in St. Louis. This weekend, the weather was absolutely perfect - it was in the high 60s the entire weekend with tons of sunshine! We definitely took advantage of the beautiful day in Chicago, riding bikes and exploring with Marie's childhood best friend and her boyfriend (who now live in Chicago). We split our time between Chicago and Naperville (where my parents live), so on Sunday, relaxed, did some Southern Magnolias shopping, and spent some time with my parents. Below is a complete recap of what we did this weekend!

new (noo) adjective coming or occurring afresh

Have you ever thought about how wonderful it is that God grants us a new life through Christ? Our past may be full of things we're not proud of, but God doesn't care. He sacrificed His Son for us to begin anew. It's really such an incredible thing to think about. How lucky are we that God loves us so much that we're granted new life through Him? Below are some verses that speak directly to this new life we've given.

Isaiah 40:31 "But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Ezekiel 36:26 "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart."

Romans 6:4 "For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives."

2 Corinthians 5:17 "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

Ephesians 4:22-24 "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Colossians 3:10 "Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him."

Titus 3:5-6 "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior."

Revelation 21:5 "He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'"

To read letters A-M in my alphabet word study, click here.