And the award goes too....

... ME! hehe. Thanks to the lovely Whitney at Sippy Cups and Pearls.

Whitney nominated me for The Liebster Blog Award.

The award is for blogs that have 200 or less followers who deserve a little love. (: It is such an honor and I am so excited for it!

Here are the rules:
1. Post 11 things about yourself.
2. Answer the questions that have been posted by the people who gave you the award
3. Create 11 questions you want you nominees to answer.
4. Pass this award on to a maximim of 11 blogs.
5. Let them know that you've given them the award.

Here are 11 things about me:

1. I ADORE journaling! I love it and it just helps me to process, reflect, and pray. (:
2. I love italian food. Pasta. Bread. Garlic. Mmmm!
3. I cannot feel settled to do anything if the kitchen is dirty. I HAVE to clean it.
4. I am a talker. I love to talk to friends and share life together.
5. When I was little I was in baton. lol. hehe.
6. I changed my e-mail to my married name before we got married. I just couldn't wait!
7. Growing up my church was like 20 people.
8. I do not like to drink milk.... if I do drink it I have to drink it super fast when it is ice cold.
9. If a food has a strange texture... I do not want to eat it. Prosciutto is an example.
10. When I was about 6 or 7 yrs old there was a biblical program on Easter on TV and every commercial break they gave people opportunities to give their life to the Lord -- I thought I had to do it every single commercial.
11. I do not really wear makeup in high school.

Here are the 11 questions Whitney asked me.
1. Go ahead and tell us an embarrassing story, we want to laugh!
 - In my home town it snows a lot and the streets ice over. One day I was walking on my lunch break in my cheer uniform and slipped and fell straight on my bum!!! Skirt flew up and everything.
2. What's your favorite place you have traveled thus far?
Hubby and I have traveled quite a bit in this move... and I really wish that we could have stayed at the places longer then a day..... but I think my favorite place so far has been..... maybe Flagstaff, AZ just because we had fun. (: We went to a great Mexican restaurant and our hotel was really nice! It was fun going from Southern California to all the rockiness and stuff. Fun.
3. Tell us real quick your favorite holiday and the traditions you enjoy with it. 
I think my favorite holiday would be Christmas. (: I have ALWAYS loved the stockings the most! Our family would all go to my Gram's house and eat and open presents. I loved it. I am excited to start some traditions with Martin too.  I want to open one present on Christmas Eve (we always did that in our family), have a hot chocolate bar, and then read the Christmas story from the Bible. (: I am hoping to start it this year!
4. What's your favorite movie?
Gosh... I feel like there are so many! hehe. I really really like Pride and Prejudice. AAANNNDD House Bunny... its not a wholesome movie or anything.. but it can always make me laugh. hehe.
5. 100 degrees in the beach, or 40 degrees in the mountains?
Okay.. I NEVER thought I would say this.... but I think I would rather be 40 degrees in the mountains!!! Growing up in the mountains and HATING snow I thought I would always want to live at the beach...... but being in Alabama humidity for the past 5 months has taught me that I would rather live in a place that is cooler. When I am overheated I just.get.annoyed! When I am cold.. I get snuggly. hehe.
6. How long have you been blogging?
I have been blogging since July 2009... honestly I erased MOST of my earlier posts and started over after I was engaged on April 11, 2011 . That is when I started blog more and more.
This was my first published post in September 2009.
7. Whats your favorite season?
BY FAR it is fall!!! I love boots. scarves. crisp air. anything pumpkin. oranges and reds. cinnamon. Mmmm.. I love it all.
8. Here's $2,000. Where are you going shopping?
Is target a lame answer?? haha. I would want to shop for my home... cute decorative things and little furniture... and maybe Pier One. I would definitely spend it on my home though. Maybe a couple hundred to my love to buy clothes. 
9. Favorite childhood memory.
My favorite childhood memory would probably be dressing up with my Gram's friend. I dressed up in silly clothes and put make up ALL OVER  my face. hehe
10. What's your favorite song to dance to?
Justin Bieber! no shame. hehe
11. How did you come up with your blog name?
Captivated means to hold the attention or interest of something.... and I thought that I always wanted to keep my attention on the things that I love. My blog was originally "Constantly Captivated" but I changed it to "Captivated By Love" shortly after. I wanted to use my blog as a journal to write down the things that captivated my attention. (:

Here is who I am nominating!
- Liza at Preparing For Eternity
- Jennifer at One43
- Jessie at Coming from a place of YES & everything inbetween
- Andrea at [Iron] Bowled Over

Questions for you ladies.
1. What is your dream day? Anything.. money is not a problem.
2. When you were little... what did you want to grow up to be?
3. What is your favorite holiday and the traditions that go with it?
4. What is your least favorite chore?
5. What was the last thing you did for the first time?
6. Where would you travel if you could go anywhere?
7. Favorite memory?
8. How did you come up with your blog name?
9. Do you stay up late or wake up early?
10. What is your favorite restaurant... and the favorite meal there?
11. How was your first kiss with your hubby? 

awards and love. - Monica
♥ . ♥ . ♥

Testimonies

I was taught that a "testimony is the spirit of prophesy". Meaning that when we speak out our testimony (whether it be how we came to Jesus or even how Jesus met our needs last week) we enable the Holy Spirit to move in a way that others can receive it for themselves.

We do not need to be ashamed of our testimonies. There are so many people in the world who need to hear your story! They need to hear that someone went through something similar and got through it with the Lord.

If you struggled with drugs but found freedom in Christ -- share it! Not to brag on what you have done in the past... but to brag on what the Lord has done THROUGH you!

If God provided the finances to pay your rent this month -- tell someone! There may be a person who needs to hear that God will provide their needs.

If your marriage was on the rocks but through counseling and prayer you have both been restored -- let someone know! Someone could hear that and grab on to the hope that their marriage will be renewed.

Shame and guilt died on the cross, my friends, don't allow the enemy to tell you differently.

The incredibly lovely Whitney from Sippy Cups and Pearls is embracing testimonies weekly with 'Testimony Thursday' so we can share and learn from each other.

I was completely honored when she asked me yesterday to be apart of it. I quickly wrote it out and it is on her blog today. (:

Go check it out and show her some love!

Happy Thursday! Who is so excited for Friday?!

testimonies and love. - Mrs. V
♥ . ♥ . ♥

// Thankful Sweetness //

Good morning lovelies!

I recently came across a lovely lady on Twitter and started following her blog. Her name is Erin and she blogs at {Sweetness Itself} and goodness ... she is such an inspiration!
I love when I can read something that stirs up my spirit and encourages me.. and pretty much every post I have read has done that.

Today she posted about thankfulness and the importance of it. I know that at times I forget to take a moment and breathe in all the wonderfulness that surrounds me. To stop and just give thanks. For the big and for the small.
I am so glad that she reminded me of this. I wanted to also share some things that I am thankful for.

via pinterest

Today I am thankful for ...

♥  God's unconditional love.
♥  my wonderful husband and a beautiful marriage
♥  constant financial provision
♥  coffee in the early morning
♥  skype dates
♥  finding a new church here in Alabama

Remember to find something to be thankful for and praise God for it daily. See if your outlook on life changes.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving; 

go into His courts with praise. 

Give thanks to Him and praise His name. 

- Psalm 100:4 (NLT)

Thankful sweetness and love, Mrs. V

♥ . ♥ . ♥

50 Shades & Magic Mike

 I recently came across a link on my Facebook to a blog talking about the book 50 Shades of Grey  and the movie 'Magic Mike'.
If you do not know what they are -  'Magic Mike' is a new movie in theaters about male strippers and 50 Shades of Grey is the first installment of a trilogy of erotic novels.

It seems that so many women are talking about how "good" these are. I have no desire to watch or read them. 

If you have not yet read the blog (50 Shades of Magic Mike by MelissaJenna) please do so.
She writes it so raw and so real.. and SOO truthful. 

I think that it is so important, as Christian woman, to be a standard and to not go along with what everyone else is doing and what is popular. We need to guard our eyes since they are the window to the soul.

I always tell my husband that people know I am married not by the ring on my finger but by the way I am. I made it a priority in my marriage to continue purity. To stay pure to my husband and to my Lord. And that is including the things that I watch or put into my mind.
I am a Christian wife and I want others to see that about me when they first come into contact with me. Not to build up myself but to give glory and honor to the Lord.

I am completely 100% faithful to my husband with every single part of me. I cherish my relationship with my husband and God. I believe that it is worth fighting for.

What do you guys think?

Lord, I pray for every person reading this blog right now. I pray that you would speak to their hearts and comfort them. I pray protection over all the husbands and wives (and future husbands and wives). Jesus, give them a fresh touch and help them to guard their hearts. 

I declare a new standard of purity in the lives of Your people. Father, give us clean hands and pure hearts. Not because we are better but because we are Yours. Lord I pray for a "honeymoon" feeling for everyone reading this prayer right now. That they would fall even deeper in love with their spouse and most importantly with their first love - You.  I honor You today God and I thank you for marriages. For that beautiful union. In Jesus Name. - Amen

setting a new standard and love, Monica
♥ . ♥ . ♥

New blog design AGAIN!

Well, I have redone everything on my blog this morning.

Saturday afternoon I was trying to fix something on the blog and managed to erase majority of the things saved on my blog. Fonts. Backgrounds. Layouts.

I am not tech savvy and I wasn't sure where to start or how to fix my problems. After some frustrations and my husband convincing me that it really didn't need to be fixed TODAY, I put the computer down and enjoyed the rest of the weekend with my love.

Today I got up, cleaned the kitchen (since Sundays I usually do NO cleaning.. Mondays usually start at 6:00am with the kitchen), and started looking up ways to fix my blog.

I just needed to breathe and take it one thing at a time. After about 2 hours .. I am OVERJOYED with the result. I even like this one better then my previous layouts!

So.. here you (again) my lovely blog! hehe.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! (:

glittery pink and gold, Monica
♥ . ♥ . ♥

She Reads Truth

Hello lovelies!

Some of you may have noticed the hastag #shereadstruth on twitter (@mrs_v820), instagram (mrs_v820), and facebook.
It is a social network bible study! I found this out from the beautiful Lauren (check out her blog).


We are reading through the 'Soul Detox' on the Youversion Bible App online. (:
I think they are on day 8 now, but I am on day 1. hehe. (:

Please join in on this and lets grow in Christ together!

true social networking and love. - Monica

♥ . ♥ . ♥

i want to leave a legacy

i want to leave a legacy. 

How will they remember me?

Did i choose to love? Did i point to you enough

to make a mark on things?

I want to leave an offering.

A child of mercy and grace 

who blessed your name unapologetically

and leave that kind of legacy. 

-Nichole Nordeman 'Legacy'

Today I read a blog that really moved me. I started following Not Your Everyday Cinderella a few months back. Her blog is inspiring, encouraging, and stir up my spirit. Today her words really got me thinking. She spoke on leaving a legacy for the next generation and questioned what people will think of us as they read about us in history books. What are we leaving behind? (I wont tell you all that she thought.. and you should really check her out!)

I used to listen to Nicole Nordeman's CD a lot when i was in High School (yup... i was that weird girl listening to music that no one else heard of. lol). Her lyrics in the song 'Legacy' are such a cry of my heart! I want people to see a difference in me when i say that i am a believer. I want my actions to match my words, my words to match my thoughts, and my thoughts to come from whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, whatever is excellent, or praiseworthy. (Phillipians 4:8)

 I do not want people to discover i am a Christian because i say "why.. yes.. i do go to church Sunday mornings and read my Bible from time to time." I want them to KNOW i am a Christian by the way i live my life... by the way that i love. I know that i am imperfect. I stumble. I fall. I lack. Just today i spoke to my husband in a not-so-kind way.  But in Christ.... in Christ i am made new. In Christ i lack NOTHING. In Christ i can find hope in a hopeless situation. I can find joy in a sorrowful time. I can find peace through a storm. I can find love through every kind of heartbreak. 

I want to live in a way that other people can find that hope, that joy, that love, and that peace. THAT is the legacy that i want to leave for the future generation. I dont want praise, or status, or recognition... i want our God to tell me "Well done, good and faithful one." 

What about you? Have you thought about it? What are you leaving behind? 

leaving a legacy of love. - Monica

♥ . ♥ . ♥