Top 6 Ways to Keep Female Friendships Alive

As I get older I like to think that I get that much more wiser. I think it's just a combination of trying new things mixed in with learning from the past.

If you don't know my story then you need to know that I moved every 3 years of my life for my whole life. The longest I ever lived in one place was the 3 1/2 years I lived in St Augustine, Florida for college. I know what it's like to have to make new friends and have to say goodbye to friends you might not ever see again.

I have tons of friends (or so I think) and many live here in Atlanta and more live all over the world. I work 50 hours a week and I live 45 minutes away from work. This means I leave my house at 7am which is in the dark now, and get home around 7pm which is also in dark. That leaves very little time to connect with friends and spend time with them.

There is something to be said about a solid female friendship. We can cry together on the couch and eat ice cream, we can have lunch and talk about our deepest secrets, or we can dress up and just go out to dinner, because hey we want to. As I have gotten older I have realized how much intentionality matters when it comes to solid girl/woman friendship. Day to day stuff happens all the time and it makes it that much more important to see your girls when you can. So I have decided to give you to the top 6 ways that I intentionally keep those friendships alive.

1. Call and Call Often

Like I said, I have many friends who live all over the world. Luckily we are so blessed these days with the technology that allow them to be as accessible as possible. Two of my best friends are Mallory and Abby. We all met at Flagler in St Augustine and became great friends. Mallory still lives in Florida and Abby has just recently moved to North Carolina for Grad School. We don't talk all the time but usually every other week one of them or myself will pick up the phone and call the other. It doesn't have to be a super long discussion. Just a simple, "hey I miss you", or "you will not believe what just happened to me" conversation helps us to stay as in each other's lives as possible. Sometimes I just go through my phone and look for someone I haven't talked to in a while and call them just to check in on them. Those can turn into some of the best conversations I have all day. So pick up that phone and use it for something other then texting and social media.

2. Go Out on Planned Dates

Last February I met my great friend Kirsten. We both happened to be running in the same 5K and met through mutual friends. We instantly clicked over a 3 hour coffee date and spent a lot of time together through the spring and into summer. She got into nursing school and started this past fall and life has just become busy for us both. I called her last night to check in on her and talked about planning a couple of dinner dates surrounding the holidays. When life gets crazy sometimes you really just have to plan an actual date with your friends. She stopped by the house and we pulled up calendars and made two dinner dates between now and Christmas to make sure that we would see each other. We care about each other we just don't see each other often, so making a time set aside for that will help. It doesn't have to be fancy either, it could just be a Mexican dinner every other week.

3. Give Gifts

Who doesn't love the feeling when you get something for no good reason other then they thought about you and wanted you to know. I know I do. One time my roommate and best friend left me flowers and a card in my bathroom to thank me for something and I just about lost it because it meant so much to me. I want to make sure that my friends feel that way as often as I can. I love giving gifts. Whenever I am out shopping I am always on the look for something that one of my friends would love. About two months ago my friend Kristi came over to learn how to make apple pie. While we made pie she talked about the struggles she was going through and what the Lord was doing in her life. In that moment my heart was stirred for her. The next day I got online and ordered some flowers, put the lyrics to her favorite song Oceans on it and just signed it With Love. I didn't want it to be a big scene but I just wanted her to know she was loved. Eventually I told her it was me who sent them and she told me that the flowers is what helped her make the final decision to move to Italy to be a nanny for a year. Something as small as flowers. If you pass by something and it reminds you of someone, pick it up, give it to them. Let them know they are loved.

4. Pray for Them Always

This is probably one of the most important aspects of maintaining a solid female friendship. The power of prayer is stronger then we give it credit for. The bible doesn't say Pray Always as a suggestion, it's something to help us live by. I have been so honored to blessed with friends who know that no matter what is going on they can contact me for prayer. It always amazes me to see the fruit that comes when sisters or friends band together to pray for another one of their own. I see this all the time in all of my bible study women. In the business of our lives I can text all of them at once and know that in that moment about 10 or so women are praying on my behalf. I know that I too can be praying for them and for all of my friends. Anytime someone pops into my head I start praying knowing that the Lord will intercede on their behalf and do his will. Take the time, pray for your friends, it will bless them and it will bless you more then you know.


5. Be Spontaneous

Being a young twenty something makes me feel like I am getting older. At the same time I realize how young I am and how much more life I will get to live if the Lord allows it. As we get older more responsibility comes and comes, jobs, marriages, families, kids, the list goes on and on. My roommate and best friend Lindsey and I often take the time to spend together on Saturdays. It's when we both happen to be home at the same time. We go shopping or do whatever we want with no real agenda. Last weekend we went to Wal-Mart and spent an hour and a half walking around and having so much fun. I am sure we looked ridiculous but in that moment we were just 23 year olds having a good time. It was some of the most fun I had in a long time and we both just ended up laughing and giggling our way through the store. Every now and then I get a night where I have nothing to do. Instead of sitting at home I will go through my phone and see if someone wants to go see a movie or do something, why? Because at this age I can. I am choosing to spend my time with my friends before life catches up too quickly and the opportunity is gone.

6. Go Out of Your Way

This can be one of the most challenging and rewarding things on this list. I learned early on that it's not about me but about them. In a world that's all about me me me, this can be extremely hard. Pride takes on a big role in our lives and it's so easy to forget about the other person. I find though that if you continually put yourself aside and go our of your way for another person, eventually they will start doing the same and a beautiful thing emerges. Whenever I plan a date or something I try to make it as easy on the other person as possible. If I want to spend time with them then I will do whatever it takes to do that. Drive an hour just to have dinner? Yes. Why? It shows them how much they actually mean to me. I want my friends to feel loved and to do that I need to set myself aside and really show love not the fake stuff that only happens when you "happen" to get together or see each other. But the real love that is intentionally seeking after them and challenging them as you allow them to challenge you. Put yourself aside. It's not about you anyways. I promise in the end you'll reap the rewards.

So there you have it. That's how I keep my friendships alive. It's pretty easy and the pay offs are huge. I know that in the drop of a hat I have a long list of friends who would come to help me or be with me just I need ask. I would do the same for them.

Have a great Friday!

Jenny

GOR-ILL-A!!!!!

If you don't know what monkey bread is then I instantly have a sad heart for you, because it's just only one of the best breakfast items known to man. Biscuits, butter, two types of sugar, and some cinnamon....mmm.

Well I have made monkey bread time and time again for different occasions and it always seems to be a huge hit. Well when I knew I was going to be at a sleepover this past weekend I decided I would get up and make breakfast for everyone. This time however I wanted to do a spin on Monkey bread and decided to make Gorilla Bread.

Gorilla Bread?!?! What is that? Well let me tell you. It's basically monkey bread but with an added bonus of cream cheese, yes I said cream cheese, the ever so decadent food that makes something that much more delicious.

 Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1   8-ounce package cream cheese
2   12-ounce cans refrigerated biscuits (10 count) ( I use junior Grands!)

Pre-heat that oven to 350 degrees.

Take the white sugar and the cinnamon and mix them together in a bowl and set aside.

 

In a saucepan melt the butter and mix in the brown sugar over low heat and then set aside.

 

Take your block of cream cheese and open it up. Split it into 20 cubes.

Take your Bundt pan and spray it with Pam or use some Crisco to coat it so that it doesn't stick when it's done cooking.

Open up your biscuits and take one at a time. Press the biscuit out to be flat.

Take a couple pinches of the cinnamon sugar mixture and cover the whole top of the biscuit.

Place 1 cream cheese cube in the middle of the biscuit.

Fold the biscuit around to cover the cream cheese completely.

Continue to do this with the first can of biscuits and layer them along the bottom of the bundt pan.

Then take the cinnamon sugar mixture and cover the top of the layer of biscuits.

Take half of the brown sugar butter mixture and pour it all over as well.

Then repeat the process with the second can of biscuits.

Place it in the oven and let it cook 30 minutes and allow the smells to just completely fill the house.
Take it immediately and flip it over onto a plate, and let cool a little.

Or if you're friends are like my friends a piece will go missing immediately.

There you have it, such a simple breakfast food that is sure to please everyone.

Make sure to go check out Tell Us Tuesday to see what else is going on in Blog World.

Jenny



Anchors Away My Love - July Cara Box Reveal

Just got back last night from my fun and busy weekend in Florida. My plan is to post about that later on tonight with all the pictures that it entails.

I got my Cara Box, the day I was to leave for vacation so I opened it up and took all of the pictures and then put it all back in to pack and get ready, so that's why I am just now getting this post up.

This month I got to know two great people. The first was Elizabeth over at Get Busy Living, who I got to send my box of goodies too! I loved putting the box together and my favorite was the tote I made from a Pinspiration. Go check that post out over here!

The other person I got paired with was Cate from Random Crafty Georgia Girl. It was a fun exchange since I sent her a box back in April, it was nice to see what she sent me. I received just the cutest box and she nailed it on the head with everything!

Beach Smelling Candles

Rolos

Tote

Floatie

Adorable Notebook!

 

I loved everything and her note was so kind about me going back to school to get my Masters.

 

I love this exchange every time I do it!

 

Jenny

In the Mountains

My weekend started on Friday after work, I just went home and ended up hanging out with my roommate which was nice since we do not get to see each other often. We had a low key night after going out to dinner and then heading back home before I fell asleep on the couch and went to bed. Saturday I got up and laid around and decided that I was going to head up to see my friends who are staying in the mountains starting then instead of Sunday after church.

They were heading up from Florida and weren't getting there till the afternoon so that gave me time to just pack. My roommate and I decided to go hike Kennesaw Mountain with the dog and it was a nice long hike that we all enjoyed and we got a really good workout in as well.

After a run to WalMart and some quick packing I headed up to McCaysville to the cabin to stay with my 2nd family.

**Background Story - I moved to Deltona, Florida between my Junior and Senior year of high school. Crazy? One would think. But to a straight A student with no state scholarships on hand it was the best decision for me. I never regret it for a moment. Well anyways we moved and found a church where I met the Hehre family, who at the time had only lived in Florida a year moving down from New Jersey and living with Ms. Laura's parents. The family consisted of Mr. Bob, Mrs. Laura, Patrick, Robert, and Rachel. I became close with the entire family, grandparents included and spent many a nigh and day over at their house. Tears were shed, laughs were had, and memories were created my senior year because of this family and I continue to come back every summer and spend so much time with them. When I would have trouble at home because of arguments or just feeling down I would go over there and they were always around to give me spiritual council and push me further towards my walk. Last summer they decided to vacation in the North Georgia mountains which meant they were only going to be an hour and a half away from me! So I went and did a Friday night to Saturday night with them and had sooo much fun. In January unexpectedly Mr. Bob passed away it was a shock to all, but he was a Christian and we know that now he is with Jesus. It was really hard as I was not able to be down in Florida due to different circumstances. Later I found out they would be coming up again this summer to spend a week in a cabin. I took off yesterday (Monday) and decided that I would spend a couple days with them this time!!....***

I got up there on Saturday night and just oohed and ahhed at the cabin we were staying at.

Yes believe your eyes! It was THAT amazing and even more! I got the tour around the place and gave everyone a big hug and just hung out. We can go months and even a year without seeing each other and the next time we hang out it is seriously like we have never been apart and that's family for you! After making a grocery list we made a run to Walmart to get the necessities for a couple of days. Then we came back and watched Pitch Perfect before heading to bed.

The next morning I got up bright and early as I always do and deicded to do my devotion down on the picnic table next to the river running behind the cabin. It was breathtaking. I took it all in and slowly different people got up and started their devotionals and just moving about the area. Ms. Laura eventually came down and we got to catch up and talk for a good hour and a half. I use to talk to Mrs. Laura and Mr. Bob for hours and they always gave me such great wisdom, it was different to just be there without Mr. Bob but I was still so blessed by the conversation with Mrs. Laura.

Later that day Robert, Ms Laura and I went into Blue Ridge for a little bit so Robert could get more stuff for his fly fishing poles. I loved the little town and at that moment we decided we would go spend the day there on Monday.

Funny sign we saw in Blue Ridge.

After we got back to the cabin the rest of the group got ready to go to Mercier's Orchard to get some Jams and Pies for tonight. I decided to stay back with Robert and go fishing. Rob and Pat are the two that taught me how to fish and I love the quiet and peace it is. I really wanted to catch a fish. We walked about 1/4 mile down the river on the bank and then got in (uhm can we say cold....) and got to a place where we started fishing. I was out there for about an hour when I decided to go back. I made it to the bank and through the woods back to the cabin for myself. I felt like such a mountain woman. The one good thing about the slips and falls under the water that I made was that my hair ended up looking fantastic!!

That night we made a shrimp broil and grilled veggies on the grill. Yummy! After we ate we had pie and then laid in the living room and just talked until we all went to bed around 10:30.

The next morning we got up and I made French Toast for everyone, even though no cinnamon or vanilla....so we called them American Toast. Then we all got ready and went into town. In Blue Ridge there are a ton of little shops everywhere with all sorts of things and so we took our time walking in and out of many shops. Patrick and I talk about owning a cabin one day so we spent a ton of time looking at furniture and décor and planning our future cabin. I still have faith it will happen one day! After that we headed back to the orchard because I wanted to get another pie to take home but we got there later in the day and by then they were pretty much wiped out so I got about 6 mini pies to take back, still so good!

Back at the cabin the girls Rachel and Michelle (Michelle went to the cabin last year with them, she is one of my college roomie's sister and we are both just pretty much adopted into the Hehres) and I got our tubes and decided to walk up the river and ride down. We went past a few rapids and decided to get in, the first set of rapids were a little cray cray and I have a few bruises and a few choice words were said but it was a lot of fun. Then as we got close to the cabin there was a loud cracking thunder so we got out and dried off. The boys made Hamburgers for dinner and I heated up more grilled veggies and some chips for a good dinner. We all sat in camping chairs out on the porch while it drizzled.

After dinner I ushered everyone in the cabin to take pictures with me because I had to leave. We took many a picture and then I said good bye to everyone and got in my car to head back to reality. It only took me an hour and half to get home. It was a fantastic weekend and I had sooo much fun! I can be 100% myself around these people and they love me for who I am, everyone needs some of those in their life. They are the best!

Jenny