You are browsing the Blog for Guest Post - Lindsay's List.

← Previous Entries
by lindsaymwright

best decisions…meet lee!

May 16, 2013 in Best Decisions, Blog, Blogging, Friends, Guest Post by lindsaymwright

I’m on a boat PLANE headed out to Utah!!  I might be a little sparse over the next few days with Blend, but I promise to overload my Instagram and Facebook feed with pictures, so make sure you follow on both of those outlets if you can!  Did I tell you guys that TRAVIS is coming with me?!?!  I’m stupid excited about getting to travel with a companion, even if he does fall asleep within 5 minutes of sitting in the plane seat (and stays that way the remainder of the flight!?!?  I can’t sleep on planes.)  Anyway, today we travel, so I thought I’d introduce you to my friend Lee and her best decisions!  Take it away, friend!

—————

purple_box-008

Hello Lindsay’s List readers.  My name is Lee and I blog over at In My Tummy. I’m excited to do this guest post for Lindsay on the five best decisions I’ve ever made.  Let me tell you, giving my blog that dumb name was not one of them.

1. Moving to Atlanta. I’m from the Washington, DC area. I went to college in Vermont and after I graduated, I didn’t quite know what to do with myself, so I moved back. Though I lived in an apartment with a friend and had a job (actually two; I had a full-time job and I waited tables), I just wasn’t happy so I saved up some money and took a leap of faith. A couple of my friends lived in Atlanta and just sort of decided that I was going to join them down in the ATL. It’s been ten years now and I’ve made my life here and I can’t imagine what it would have been like if I didn’t.

2. That leads to me to point number two and I can’t believe I’m going to admit this because I usually don’t. Trying out internet dating. Right before I met Jason, my husband of almost three years, I had been sort of hanging out with this guy who was a real jerk to me. To sort of get over him, I decided to create an online profile and ended up meeting Jason and the rest is history. I know that it’s common to meet people online nowadays (I mean, hello blogger friends) but I still sometimes wish that when people ask us how we met, I could say something like “in college” or “through friends.” Oh well. I just admitted it to you guys and called it one of my best decisions.

clip_image001

(I promise, we don’t normally wear matching jackets.)

3. Getting a dog. After Jason and I had been together for about a year, we got Murphy from a golden retriever rescue. (Though when we got him, his name was Ricardo. He told us that he felt more like a Murphy though.) He is the cutest golden retriever you’ll ever meet even if he’s a little camera shy. I cannot imagine life without my best buddy.

clip_image002

(Hello crows feet. Maybe getting some eye cream should be one of my next best decisions.)

4. Running. I was not athletic in the slightest when I was growing up. When I was really young, like elementary school aged, I did soccer and gymnastics, but from about age 10 to age 18, I did nothing athletic whatsoever. For a few years after that, I ran off and on, but I really didn’t get into it until my mid-20s when I randomly decided that my first race was going to be a half-marathon. Now, I’ve run ten of them and various races of other distances. While I’m not a particularly fast runner in any sense of the word, running has given me a sense of self confidence that I never had. It showed me that if you put your mind to something, you can do it, even if you aren’t really naturally inclined.

clip_image004

This picture cracks me up. So dorky!

5. Starting a blog. Cheesy answer, but it’s true. I have always been one of those people who kept journal after journal. I probably have them going back to when I was about 14 years old, maybe younger (and they are painful to read)! I kind of view my blog as an online journal. I get to talk about myself (which I like to do!) and meet new friends at the same time. I mean, it’s a total win-win and it’s become one of my favorite hobbies. See, new friends. I bet you recognize some of them.

clip_image005

There you go, my five best decisions!

QUESTION:  Share one of your best decisions!  Or give me tips on how to sleep on a plane (i just get so gosh darn excited – i must have a window seat!)

splendid…lindsay

7 Comments »

by lindsaymwright

a little friday inspiration

May 3, 2013 in Blessings, Blog, Faith, Friends, Guest Post, Inspiration by lindsaymwright

Have you entered the Blend Retreat giveaway yet???  Last day!  I’ll announce the winner tomorrow! 

Today, I give you Heather.  I’ve only met her once (last year at Blend), but since then, I feel like we’ve become soul sisters.  We have similar views on life, God, family, and most everything else.  She is one of the most genuine people I know and I’m thankful that she emailed me this week and asked if she could help me out by writing a guest post.  What a blessing to be loved on during this time!  To boot, her words were exactly what I needed to hear – maybe you too! 

Thanks, Heather!

—————-

The other day my husband and I took our son, Weston (14 months) to our community group meeting. Now here’s the thing: our son is young. He is learning all the time, constantly exploring, and generally the cutest thing on this planet. As a couple who has led numerous community groups where children are present, we figured we had it in the bag. Sure, we could control him for a few hours, entertain him for bit, and work together as a team should he start to get a little distracting.

We were wrong. Besides the fact that we brought Wes we had also failed to do our homework for the evening, something we didn’t think about until the car ride over. Needless to say you could tell there was a tad bit of frustration in the room as we traded off chasing our son and simultaneously tried to pay attention to and participate in a conversation we were not ready for.

I think you call that a #fail.

Luckily our group has always had a lot of grace for us. Living life together is always going to be messy; you take a bunch of fallible people and throw them together and there will be friction. However, that also means that all of life is a constant opportunity to love one another well and to live out the gospel. What an amazing gift – not just the gospel in and of itself, but the chance to share it in our every move, thought and word with one another!

At the end of the evening we were talking about how it is a continuous fight against our sinful human nature – EVERY DAY – to live as Christ called us to live. It is hard to not fall back on our sins; in fact I’d almost call it comforting on some level to live in a place that we so easily can travel back to. It can be so easy for me to fall back into destructive thoughts and eating patterns, so simple to just pick apart every meal and activity of the day. But when I think about the freedom I’ve found in Jesus, I can’t go back. And I won’t.

But y’all? Fighting is hard. It’s a battle, to the death, every day. And that’s when a new friend shared John 16:33 with us – a verse that I’ve heard a million times before (and probably quoted a few times). GOD OVERCAME IT ALL. WE DON’T HAVE TO – because the reality is that we can’t. But he can and he did.

John1633
My prayer is that you can rest in that grace and in that truth not just today, but all the days of your life. Life is hard; but God has overcome everything so that we may live in peace and fullness with him. Grab hold of that hope and that gift!

You can find Heather at:

www.heathersdish.com
www.facesofbeauty.org
www.bespokevid.com

5 Comments »

by lindsaymwright

best decisions series – meet maureen

April 2, 2013 in Best Decisions, Blog, Blogging, Guest Post by lindsaymwright

Welp.  I’ve got another sick child on my hands – Miss Clara this time.  This stomach virus reminds me of ….well, I can’t think of anything as bad as this thing is.  Brooke Hogan, Vanilla Sky, even Crystal Pepsi…they all pale in comparison to the foulness that is this toddler stomach virus. 

We’re hanging low over here, but I didn’t want you guys to suffer.  So I thought it would be a great day for another installment of the “Best Decisions” Series.  Today, meet Maureen!  An inspirational, 120-pounds-lighter actress who I love!  Check her out!

purple_box-008

The 5 Best Decisions I Ever Made:

1. Committing myself to a happy & healthy life.

I spent the majority of my life not just overweight, but obese. By the time I was 16 years old, I weighed 246 lbs (and I’m only 5’2). My junior year of college, however, due to a variety of factors, something clicked within me. I started eating right and exercising, losing 120 lbs. Unfortunately, I went through a period where I was too obsessed with exercising and calorie counting and I gained some of that weight back during a period of binge eating and depression. I’ve committed to a healthy, happy life, free from my disorder and I’m finding my way back there now. I’m finally on my way to discovering a healthy balance between food, fitness and fun, and I couldn’t be happier.

clip_image002

2. Getting involved in Theater.

Theater has been an integral part of my life since I was little. Ever since I did my first play at 10 years old, I’ve been hooked. The thrill and adrenaline I get performing in front of a crowd. The passion and joy I get from theater is like no other high in the world and I can’t imagine my life without it. It has given me so much self-confidence, so many wonderful friends and innumerable treasured memories.

clip_image004

3. Studying Abroad.

During my sophomore year of college, I made a rash decision to study aboard, and honestly it was one of the best things I ever did. I learned how to be independent and how to travel and fend for myself. I made lifelong friends that I never would have met otherwise. I connected with family I hadn’t seen in years. I was lucky enough to travel across Europe, being a young, carefree teenager, and I will always be grateful for that. I left a part of my heart in Ireland, and you can bet I’ll be back one day to get it back (or leave more of it there!) J

clip_image006

4. Making my college choice by following my heart.

I faced a lot of pressure my senior year of high school to attend a college that was “worthy” of me according to my high school teachers and counselors. However, I chose to attend a smaller, lesser known college that gave me a full academic scholarship and placed me in an honors program that would allow me to make meaningful connections with wonderful professors and friends who remain an integral part of my life until this day. I was blessed enough to be chosen as the commencement speaker for my graduation and it was the perfect end to a perfect college experience.

clip_image008

5. Appreciating how important family and our culture is.

My family has always been incredibly close and we act as each other’s support system. Our Irish heritage is very important to us and we use it as a means through which to stay connected and tied to each other’s life. My family is like “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” Irish Edition, and I wouldn’t have it any other way J

clip_image010

Thanks for listening to my ramblings!  If you’re interested in reading more, please check out my blog!  <-thanks so much, Maureen!!

———

Don’t forget to head over to the Blend site and enter our FITMIXER giveaway!!  Remember – we’re giving away something EVERY SINGLE WEEK leading up to Blend!  Oh, and we still have tickets available!

splendid…lindsay

10 Comments »

by lindsaymwright

best decisions ever series – natalie

March 21, 2013 in Best Decisions, Blog, Guest Post by lindsaymwright

Hi guys!  I’m having a blast with Technogym!  As is IHRSA!  As is VEGAS!  As am I.  While I’m out of town, Natalie has agreed to share one of her BEST DECISIONS - take it away, friend!!

———–

Hello! I’m so honored that Lindsay is allowing me a little time to share something very special with all her awesome readers. When I saw her call for posts about “The Best Decision I Ever Made” I didn’t even have to think about mine.

Whenever I start talking about this particular subject, I feel like I need to introduce myself as if I’m in a support group. Hello, my name is Natalie, and I’m addicted to backpacking.

clip_image001

I routinely strap a thirty pound pack on back, and haul myself up mountains. I sleep on the ground, and eat nothing that requires newfangled technology like refrigeration. I go for multiple days without showering, and have gotten very used to using nature’s facilities. I have hobbled for miles on a knee that just couldn’t go anymore (I do not recommend that!), gotten scabs on my hips from my backpack straps, and lost two toenails on a memorable trip that ended in a visit to Urgent Care. And here’s my little secret. I love every minute of it.

I haven’t always felt that way. My husband had been backpacking a few times, but I thought that was going to be his “guy thing”. It used to sound as crazy to me as I’m sure it does to some of you. If someone had told me that backpacking would become something I start to plan whole vacations around, I would’ve laughed them out of the room. That all changed in the spring 2010 with a simple decision to enjoy a truly beautiful day. My husband and I headed to a local state park for some day hiking, and, at the top of one of the hills we had climbed, I told him it might not be so bad to go on an overnight trip. Looking back, I blame it on an adrenaline rush!

clip_image003

That first overnight trip near our home in Oklahoma quickly spiraled into longer trips that have taken us to Glacier National Park, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. In the three years since, backpacking has become my passion. There is nothing quite like the feeling you experience when you realize you’re surviving completely on what you can carry on your back or the beauty of the backcountry that relatively few people will ever see.

Backpacking gives me a sense of self-confidence that was missing before. It has taught me what it means to be both physically and mentally strong, and has shown me that I am capable of far more than I thought. That’s a gift I’ll carry with me long after I’m forced to hang up my boots (not that I intend that to be any time soon!)

clip_image005

For now, there are always new trails to explore and another mountain to climb. I’m always on the lookout for the next awesome trip, and my husband and I even dream about someday backpacking the Continental Divide which is a 3,000 mile trail that stretches from the Mexican border to the Canadian. Of course, we’re going to have to figure out how to get that much time off work first! In the meantime, we’ll be embarking on a 150 mile section of the Colorado Trail this summer. Ten nights, no shower? Sounds like heaven to me!

————

You can find Natalie at www.frhuman.com or on Twitter!  Thank you so much for sharing, friend! 

splendid…lindsay

10 Comments »

← Previous Entries