Tag: morning

Rock What the Good Lord Gave Ya ;)

Good morning party people!!! I am coming at you live Tuesday morning, bright and early, with a little bit of inspiration to throw your way.

I have mastered the art of curling my hair since the literal 4th grade. I can do it with my eyes closed, without a mirror, and in 12 min flat. I consider it a talent of mine! The number one compliment I receive is about my hair; I feel like it’s become a bit of a trademark to the whole Sydney Bush look ;)))

What many people don’t know is that I actually have naturally very curly hair! No one in my stick-straight haired family knows where the heck it came from, but it’s definitely there.

I remember being in elementary school and feeling so insecure about how big and frizzy my hair was compared to the other girls in my class (no wonder I love Hermione Granger!), I would have my mom help me put it in sponge rollers, braids, buns, ponytails, and anything else that would make it poof down!!

When I got a bit older, I discovered the curling iron and learned how to make my hair look smooth, cute, and polished without any of the frizz!! This became part of my daily routine, something I latched on to to make myself feel more put together. Soon, I noticed that I got more compliments and attention from boys when my hair was “fixed!” Looking back, I see that this is the point in my adolescence that I started to place my identity in my outer appearance, and the way others perceived my outer appearance. Simply curling my hair is in no way a bad thing, but this also led to a fixation with makeup, selfies, and a “me me me” centered mindset that was nothing short of vain.

I also truly believe in stewarding well what the Lord has given us, taking care of our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, and reflecting the beauty of our hearts through our outward appearance. I am a girly girl to the MAX and have always absolutely loved makeup, hair care, and fashion! But where does the line lie between expressing our God-given femininity and pridefully flaunting our looks? What I’m learning is that it all comes down to the source of our identity.

Here’s the difference; when I am placing my identity in the hands of the world, I never feel “good-enough.” I am left feeling drained, desolate, and very down. But when I turn to the Bible and read the consistent truth about who God says I am, the purpose He made me for, and the goodness of His Son, I am filled to the brim with appreciation for the beauty He so specifically and intentionally gave me- just as He did ALL of y’all!

Be encouraged, sweet friends, that our hearts are seen by the Lord, and He calls them beautiful. Not because of our innate goodness, but because of His perfect son, Jesus! All that beauty will shine through when you place your joy, trust, and confidence in God. And the natural curls, freckles, or whatever else you got is just a cherry on top!!!

Post coming SOON about my hair care routine + my deserted-on-a-desert-island hair products and tools!

Simply,

Sydney

GOD IS THERE!! IN ALL THE THINGS!!!

By Sydney Bush

In Faith

Hiiiiiii!!! You guys, I’m not sure exactly why, but God has been so so so real and present with me recently. I was in the car yesterday and truly just letting my mind and heart seek Him without distraction (you know, besides the road…) and I was actually blown away by His sweet presence.

I had this vision in my head where I went through alllllll the tiny things (that seem so big at the time) my mind stresses over, and then the realization that He has carried me through every. single. day. and every. single. trial. that I have ever faced. He has worked everything for the good of His Kingdom, and the good of His Kingdom is the only fulfillment my heart really seeks.

Everyday has the possibility to be a great one when we walk hand in hand with the Father!! Especially if your day includes yummy coffee 😉

If our good & gracious Heavenly Father has already proven Himself by being so truly evident in every moment of my life thus far, why do I excessively doubt and worry about the things I know His hands are on? Why do we all do this? Welllll, I prayed a prayer that for sure isn’t perfect, but definitely was good for my soul.

I said “God, thank You SO much for making Your good good self so evident to me right now. I see You everywhere and the evidence of Your goodness is all over my life. I know You are real, almighty, and love me despite my sins, all because of Your Son Jesus. I pray that while I feel high on a mountain top right now, You remind me of this moment when I am in the valley, and show me Your consistency even when I lack it. I pray that my faith is not based upon my feelings and circumstances, because You know those change in a snap, but that it is based only upon my core belief in the Truth of who You are and Your goodness.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Psalm 9:10

Thank the Lord I prayed this prayer, because literally the next day I found myself in a completely different state of mind, circumstance, and health. Even though I was notttttt feeling on the mountain top, I honestly thought back to that car ride and was reminded of then Lord’s constant pursuit of my heart in the middle of the messy. He wants to take my burdens and turn what the Enemy meant for evil for GOOD. All I have to do it let Him. And that is all you have to do too, sweet friends! Easier said than done I know, but we’ll grow in that together :))

I’m praying for every single person that reads this, that you are filled with the Holy Spirit and see the Lord moving and working in the small things that you worry about.

Comment any and all prayer requests!!!!

Simply,

Sydney

My Tips on living BALANCED & HEALTHY in College!

By Sydney Bush

In Lifestyle

Hiya!! I hope whenever and wherever you’re reading this, you’re smiling 🙂

Today’s post is all about some practical and realistic ways to live a happy & healthy lifestyle while in the midst of alllll the college craziness. This season of life is nothing short of hectic; change seems to be the only constant, and a new environment creates many an opportunity to neglect the necessary stability our mind and body craves.

Cutie pic from my walk yesterday.. I just *love* October!!!

My broken road to health is a story for a later time, but sweet friends, I would love to encourage you for just a moment: the Lord designed us not to be perfect, but to reflect His perfect image. He does not desire us to rigorously train our bodies to look a way that He did not design, or to frugally dwell on every bite we take. This is a sweet life that Jesus died so we could live; our striving for excessive control limits our ability to rejoice and walk in the freedom He gave us.

I am by NO means an expert in the vast field of nutrition/wellness/etc. (and my friends will tell you how huge my sweet tooth is…), but I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite practices to foster a little bit of balance during the frantic freshman experience.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with you bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Try to get your body up and moving every day!! While I used to be a bit more rigorous when it came to my exercise routine, I am learning to appreciate the ebs and flows of physical fitness, and trying to not put so much pressure on cramming a workout into my busy day if it does not fit into my schedule. Don’t get me wrong- I love a good sweat sesh, but sometimes a nice long walk around campus is just what my body needs:)
EAT YOUR FRUITS & VEGGIES!!! This is harder in college than it was at home, but I’ve learned how, where, and when I can get the nutrients that help me thrive with full capacity
Stay flexible with spontaneous plans! Go to ice cream or Insomnia with your friends- the extra calories are worth the extra memories. I promise. Ice cream is goooooooood for the soul :)))
Take advantage of your walks to class- put your AirPods in and a little pep in your step! Closes those Apple Watch rings real fast lol
On that note- take the stairs!!! (says the girl on floor 9…) A quick way to get your heart pumping!
On the side of mental health… sister, read your bible. Nothing else will fill the void in your heart but Jesus- trust me.. I’ve tried it all! Get into the Word & talk to Jesus like He’s your friend, because He is! When we invite Him into every aspect of our lives, our King of Kings works and intervenes on your behalf, for your good, and for His eternal glory. Don’t undermine this power!!!!!!!!!
Sleeeeeeeeeeeep!!! People really rag on me for going to bed early, but I just have realized how important sleep is to me, personally! Rest is so necessary and yet so neglected in “hustle culture.”

In vain you rise early and stay up late… for He grants sleep to His beloved.
psalm 127:2

Stay hydrated! Guys, water is legit so good for you AND it is so fun to drink out of a cutie cup! SO fun!
KEEP UP UR HYGENE. Don’t be the person that smells bad in the elevator… lol but this also means taking care of your hair, skin, nails, laundry, sheets, etc. etc. !!! Clean = calm 🙂
Get out of your dorm!!!! Study with friends! Go on walks! Go to dinner with your neighbors! It is soooo easy to get so stressed & overwhelmed that you isolate yourself- but life is so much sweeter in community.
Call your mom!!! Do it. FaceTime her. Right now. It will make her day & yours.
Eat an apple! SO random but literally I eat one every day.. so yummy, full of fiber, and gives me energy!!!
SKINNY POP AND OATMEAL. Need I say more ??
Steal bananas from The Caf LOL

There you have it! Some of my realistic ways of living a healthy and balanced life in COLLEGE! So fun! So worth it! Now go treat your body like the temple of the Holy Spirit that it is ;))

Simply,

Sydney

ON KINDNESS.

By Sydney Bush

In Faith

I had a totally different blog post planned for today (how I eat healthy & balanced in college coming soon!🥳) but the Lord has just put something else entirely on my heart!

Kindness seems like the most basic of human qualities, but I’m learning that is actually the most powerful. It sometimes feels like it’s dwindling in this world, and sometimes like it’s overflowing. Today, for me, it feels overflowing, and I’m inspired to keep it going!

The beauty of kindness is that it is a ripple effect. One act of kindness inspires another, and so on and so on, until the world is just a bit brighter and our friendships are a bit sweeter!

I think sometimes there is a stigma around kindness; I’ve been called a suck-up for doing something sweet… it was pretty discouraging. There are some people who view generosity of heart with a self-seeking perspective, and honestly, I’ve found myself thinking those same thoughts, fueled by jealousy and insecurity of my own character. Thank God that He changes our hearts and purifies our sinful motives, because Lord knows I need it.
When reflecting on kindness this past week, my mind goes towards the ultimate act of kindness- Jesus dying on the cross to save us from our sins, just because God loved us so so so much. God is so kind, and sometimes I forget that because I’m so focused on how I can be seen, heard, loved, admired, etc. etc. in this world. God is so so so kind, He gave us hearts that when turned toward Him, allow us to want to show that kindness to others. That is so unfathomly beautiful!

“For you were called to freedom, brothers (& SISTERS). Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another.
Galations 5:13

Sooooo what are some tangible ways that we can live out our calling to freedom and love by serving each other??? Wellllll, let’s break this down!

Leave a friend a sweet/encouraging/funny sticky note! (MY FAV)
Offer someone a ride!
Bring someone coffee, donuts, candy, etc. etc. etc. (sweets and coffee are my love language….)
GENUINE COMPLIMENTS
Giving someone your full attention when they are speaking
Smile at people you pass by!

Let your passenger play the music in the car while you’re driving
Walk with someone to class, even if it’s out of your way
Speak LIFE over people! Encourage encourage encourage. Let your words build up the people around you; cheer your friends (and not-so-friends) on with a pure heart, no matter what your insecurities are making you feel

Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 16:24

Start a nice conversation while you and another person are awkwardly riding the elevator together
Call a friend you normally don’t talk to just to ask about their day
Remember the things that people choose to share with you, & then follow up later on!!!! This shows that you care 🙂
Offer someone your seat, your jacket, your pen, etc. (my friend Madison is amazing at this, she levels up the friendship game!)
PRAY for + over the people in your life. There is nothing more powerful, kind, or selfless than prayer. When we seek, ask, and knock, the Lord hears us and answers us!!! I am trying to start praying over my loved ones more.

There are so many more ways to show a little bit of extra kindness each day! When we start to focus on the good we can do, the bad starts to fade to the background. Let’s all try to be a good friend today!!!

Simply,

Sydney

tiny room, BIG FUN!

By Sydney Bush

In Lifestyle

HI FRIENDS! On this happy Wednesday (well, sort of happy.. I’m feeling a lil crummy and my DayQuil makes me dizzy.. but we are counting our blessings today regardless), I decided to whip up a short & casual post about one of my favoriteeee places- MY DORM ROOM!

Ever since I can remember, I have been decorating, re-decorating, and re-re-decoratng my bedroom; it’s one of my all time favorite things! I love changing things out with the seasons, following new trends, and creating a space that makes me happy, relaxed, and inspired.

Coming into college freshie life, I was honestly really sad about leaving my beloved bedroom at home… I had cultivated it perfectly to the point that it truly felt like me, and it made me super happy!! But, with the help of my amazing mom who has the best taste in the world, and my sweet, down-for-anything roomie, I am just as in love with my dorm room at OU, and am excited for all the memories that will be created in this tinnyyy space!

Here are some of my favorite lil spots in our dorm; I hope they bring you as much joy as they do me, or even inspire you to create your own happy space!

THE ACTUAL COMFIEST BED. Also an actual pain to make each morning!!!! #realitysux

MY DESK!! Not much actual studying gets done here… def acts more as a vanity.. but still a happy space! feat. MY PLANNER AH ILY

lil affirmations + inspirations on the fridge! This is for real super helpful for memorizing a bible verse or just reminding yourself to focus back on TRUTH!

We have this huge cubby shelf where we keep all the cleaning, eating, fixing, etc. things! I LOVE these cute blue floral bins from Target. AND most importantly… we have my Keurig & TREAT JAR LOL!!! Currently holding mini honey biscuits and caramel candies…

I hope y’all enjoyed this little peak into our room! As followers of Christ, I believe it’s important to not only open your heart to others, but also to open your door; let the people that God has placed in your life into your life.. & your space!! He commands us to love our neighbors for a reason!!! And nothing is more an inviting than a smile and a pretty room that fosters true connection and community.

Who is someone that you can invite into your space this week?!

How can you beautify and steward well the environment God has trusted you with?

Simply,

Sydney

My Morning Routine!

By Sydney Bush

In Lifestyle

OK Y’ALL. This is where it gets fun… I’m going to dive into my favorite part of the day– MORNINGS!!! There is something so sweet and special about a fresh day with so many possibilities. Full disclosure- I am NOT this positive in the morning (just ask my roomie) but by the time I’m out the door I’m feeling good! It’s a process 🙂

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness
Lamentations 3:22-23

This week, I decided to be super consistent and intentional with how I start my day, and let me tell ya, this week has been nothing short of incredibly sweet, fulfilling, & productive! I am slowly beginning to wake up excited to live this blessed life.. so much so it’s sometimes hard to sleep! 🙂

8 AM – WAKE UP!! Here is where I definitely hit snooze a few times and soak in the last few moments of dreamland…

8:15 AM – QUIET TIMEEE! This is the key to a peaceful day: intentional time spent seeking Jesus by prayer, worship, and reading the Word. I always make a warm cup of coffee around this time, sit up in bed, and open up my Bible, journal, and devotional. Currently, I am reading The Armor of God by Pricilla Shirer, so I will go through the day I am on with the required readings, and then I will usually journal out my prayers for the day! If my roommate is up at the same time, we’ll play worship music and have quiet time together.

8:45 AM – The time comes to get out of bed, so I’ll roll out and head to the bathroom to brush my teeth! After that, I put on my workout clothes, throw my hair in a pony, take my vitamins, and make sure my backpack is packed.

9:00 AM – Usually around this time I start to get hungry, so recently I’ve been making a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. It’s nutritious, filling, and gives me the energy to make it through those first few tough hours.

9:15 AM – By now I’m grabbing a mask, filling my water bottle, and running out the door to make it to my 9:30 AM class! 99% of the time, I am running 5 min late… :/

10:30 AM – I am out of my first class & ready to get my blood pumping! I head straight to the gym on campus to get a good workout in. This everyday practice leaves me feeling energized, healthy, and peaceful for the rest of my day. Still working on my 6 pack, though!

11:30 AM- I’m finished working out and head back to my dorm room, where I actually get ready for the day. I usually fix my hair, put on some makeup, and pick out a cute but comfy outfit! I check out my planner to see what I have to get done for the day, and then head out to my 12:30 PM class.

The rest of my day always varies by class schedule, social events, club meetings, etc. etc. etc.! One of the BEST things about college is how everyday is different & special! Personally, having a consistent routine in the mornings gives me the structure I need to accomplish my spiritual, educational, and health goals while having a FUN TIME!!!

Here’s to making something that I used to dread, turn into something I look forward to 🙂

Now, I encourage YOU to find out what makes you the happiest & healthiest, and then make it a priority to incorporate it into your day! I promise you, consistency in any endeavor, especially seeking the Lord, pays off tenfold in your heart and mind.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK!

Simply,

Sydney