New Blog, New Life

Hi Friends!

My life is changing a LOT these days, and so is my blog! I will now be blogging on www.evolvingevolution.blogspot.com, so please delete this blog from your reader, and add the new one! Enjoy the fabulous design by Five Sparrows-isn't it pretty? xo

Lexi

Farmer's Choice

I am so in love with my new produce grocer--Farmer's Choice. Yesterday I purchased everything you see above: strawberries, blackberries, green, yellow and Serrano peppers, mixed greens, green beans, broccoli, bananas, vine and cherry tomatoes, mint, lemons, avocados and a lime for...$21.83. Seriously. I don't know if you can tell by this picture, but that bin of blackberries is huge, and it was $2.99--I don't even want to imagine how much that would cost at Whole Foods, or even Ralphs! And this is not just any produce--it's fresh, local and mostly organic. So not only are you saving money, but you're supporting CA farmers and eating really healthy. Best of all, it's in the same parking lot as Trader Joe's--whose produce leaves something to be desired, so you can make both stops in one trip. I can't wait to eat all my yummy produce!

Farmers Choice. 3250 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. 310.450.0707. Mon – Sat: 8 am – 8 pm. Sun: 9 am – 7 pm.

Cinderella...and Me!

Being an aunt is the best job I've had to date. Not only do you get to love some little ones as if they are your own minus the great responsibility, but you get to be loved back and in a way that you haven't been loved before. In two (long) weeks I'll get to see my two favorite little people, right here in Los Angeles! Nothing gets to my heart like those two Z's. My sister has been prepping Zoey for Disneyland, and she is OH so excited about seeing Cinderella, her castle, and the teacup ride. So excited in fact that she has made a paper chain to count down the days. My sister and I used to make paper countdown chains for Christmas, vacations, birthdays...and now I am at the end of a little dreamer's countdown! Here is an excerpt from my sister's email yesterday:

"she is SO SO SO SO SO excited about the whole trip, she prayed tonight for one thing only: 'Thank you for seeing LaLa (that's me!) and the castle when I get to the top' (of her countdown chain)"

Not lost on me: I ranked before the castle. Oh to love, and to be loved in return!

Please Pray for Daisy Love

I'd love it if you took a moment today and tomorrow to pray for this precious little girl.

Jesus is able.

I heart NYC

Today a very dear friend of mine is moving back to NYC after many years on the West coast. It wasn't very long ago that I considered a move to the Big Apple myself, but alas, that is not to be (for the time being). For now I see the city through the amazing, whimsical artwork of Caitlin McGauley. I follow her blog where she writes about her day to day life in NYC--the big difference between her blog and the many others I read about life in the city? She depicts her happenings in beautiful watercolors! For example, when she bought a chair, she posted this picture of it.



When she saw Grace Coddington, she posted this picture. (Go see The September Issue right now!)



If only I could depict my life happenings through cupcakes. Or paper dolls.

pictures used with permission, thank you Caitlin!

PS--I found Caitlin's blog on my friend Cannon's blog! Cannon-loving the Forever 21 posts!

hi there

I just watched this trailer. I'm not gonna lie, I got a little emotional. The music, the conclusion of an epic journey, the fact that I want to BE Emma Watson...


Not to mention that I'm sipping my homemade iced coffee which I now bring to work with me each day (take that Starbucks, can't believe how much money that saves) and glancing dreamily at my new iPhone 4.0 wallpaper. Sigh...

summer

Summer means:

Lots of daylight post work, yay!

Work outs on the beach

Peet's iced coffee...better and cheaper than Starbucks and Coffee Bean

Pinkberry and Yogurtland know my name again

Visits from a few of my favorite people and some very special little ones!!!



Camping

She and Him at the Hollywood Bowl



Eating at lemonade on Abbott Kinney...serioulsy, it's changing my life. Cucumber Mint lemonade, huge amazing French macaroons, and delicious cold veges/salads.

Crushes



Hollywood Farmers Market after church

Dresses and wedge sandals

Coveting nautical home decorations and wishing I could cover some chairs in this fabric

Dreaming of this ring that my gorgeous and talented friend Cannon Lewis designed

Bike rides on the beach

So you Think You Can Dance and the Bachelorette

Dreaming of Africa



elseachelsea.typepad.com
weheartit.com
fatalistichues.tumblr.com
shittingrainbowcolors.tumblr.com
boston.com/bigpicture/2009/11/national_geographics_internati.html

Magic!

Last night I read The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selzneick. It's a magical, delightful tale, that is interspersed with lots of drawings--it's kind of cross between a graphic novel, and a typical children's story. I highly recommend it (So do the people over at The Caldecott, incidentally). The story revolves around an automaton, which I had never heard of before. It's basically a machine, sort of like an old clock with sprigs, gears, etc but it ends up looking like a little doll, and when you wind it up it draws actual pictures and writes words. You'll have to watch the video to see how amazing it is--seriously, I know there are iPads, and Roombas, but this is AMAZING to me, not to mention it was happening hundreds of years ago! Check out the demonstration, and never stop believing in magic!
PS-the above pic is not the automaton in the demonstration

The Heights

Last night I was overwhelmed. By prospects of change. By decisions on hold. By deadlines approaching. By the heights I see looming ahead. I decided what I needed was a nice bath, with candles and everything a la Chandler Bing somewhere in Season 8. I asked my sweet roommate if she had a book I could read and she handed me peace. Well she actually handed me "Hind's Feet on High Places", but she might as well have handed me peace, hope, and a huge arrow pointing to Jesus (how annoying would it be if when people asked us for help we just handed them a huge arrow with the word JESUS on it? Yet it wouldn't surprise me to find one at a cheesy bookstore somewhere in TX). I cannot tell you how much this books spoke to me. The title comes from a verse in Psalm 18 that had jumped out at me early in January, and sort of became my verse motto for 2010, so it was so fitting that this little book (I already finished it) fit so well into my heart at this moment. It's a simple, but beautifully crafted allegory about a girl named Much Afraid and her journey to the High Places with the Shepard. I am begging you each to read this book. Of course the book itself is not a magical solution, but it's all about the real solution to any and every problem: Jesus! I pray that it will speak to you of the Lord's compassion, His wisdom and provision, His deep, unending, limitless and epic love for his children the way it spoke to me. I came home last night a broken, trembling, fearful wretch and by the grace of God I woke up this morning calmly peaceful, brimming with hope, sure of His love and His sovereignty in my life. Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus!

Psalm 18:31-33
"For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?--the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights."

Freedom

Today was free breakfast sandwhich day at Subway in LA. I stopped by right before the deadline, got my egg white on light wheat english muffin with green peppers and tomoato, along with a free cup of coffee, and went to work. I saved the sandwich for lunch, re-heated just a smidge and it was delightful! AND FREE! And, best of all, it was only 2 points (Weight Watchers). So basically their marketing idea totally worked. I am definitely stopping by for that sandwhich in the future.

To make things even MORE exiciting (Dare I even say that is possible?) I filled out a survey for Starbucks and get a free tall drink. I never get the tall size, I mean it's the size of a sippy cup, but since it's freedom day, I'll embrace it enthusiastically.

On a more serious note, I am also embracing the freedom that comes from knowing Jesus as my savior. Oh, how sweet it is to trust in Jesus. He is mighty to save! He knows exactly what is going on in my life, and I can trust that He will lead me and guide me for His name's sake (Psalm 31:3).

Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." Amen!

Oh my cuteness

Little Z having a ball. Counting the days until I see him and Big Z! (11!)

Tumblr

I've started a Tumblr! It goes with this site, but is more a photo/thought stream of consiousness. I'm working on re-vamping my blog to streamline all my internet wanderings. Stay tuned!

revolvingrevolution.tumblr.com

Olympics!

So I know they are over (sigh), but I had to belatedly post about how much I love the Olympics! I was lucky enough to live in Atlanta during the '96 games and I've held on to the love ever since. Thanks to Tivo (LOVE it) I got to watch a lot of these winter games. Here are some of the reasons I love the games...

1. Lots of opportunities for cheesy crying--SERIOUSLY people, I cry at every. single. medal ceremony. Every race ending, every little side story that NBC so cleverly attunes to inspirational music. Much like those dang Sylvan Learning Center commercials, the Olympics get me every time.

2. I love how when watching almost every winter sport, the commentators go on and on about how dangerous the sport it, how many times each athlete has almost died, etc...kind of ironic that we celebrate such danger, isn't it?

3. As a former (I didn't say talented) figure skater, I am glued to the TV for all the figure skating. This year I discovered I actually like the ice dancing thanks to the Canadians (they win the beauty award) and the cutesy Americans Davis and White. Could they be any more adorable? I guess the only way I could have liked either couple more was if they were an "off-ice" couple as well...why? Because...it just makes it better! YAY Shen and Zhao!

4. The Canadian beauty shots of glaciers and cute fuzzy snow animals they show at the beginning of each segment. I had to google to figure out what the adorable white yak thingys were that they kept showing. Turns out they are mountain goats. I prefer to go on thinking of them as the illusive White Olympic Mountain Yaks. That alone made me want to jump on a plane to Canada. Well that and the fact that Anne of Green Gables lived there.

5. Mary Carillo segments. Love her.

6. If you missed the Tom Brokaw piece on Gander, Canada, and the role it played in 9/11, you have GOT to check it out. It seriously rocked my world. Long story short there town doubled in size when about 50 planes from Europe were diverted there on 9/11 and everyone in the town banded together and opened their homes, stores, lives for the next three days in a really inspirational way. It is a really beautiful reminder that goodness endures despite the evil in the world.

7. No matter how old I get, I always wonder...will I ever be an Olympian? Time will tell!!!!

Petticoat

Driving home from church on Valentine's Day, my friend M and I saw this tree and I had to stop to take a picture of it. I noticed how pretty the bottom half of the tree was and M brilliantly said "the tree has a petticoat". Perfect! It looks like the pink flowers are just pushing the green leaves up and out. Can't wait for Spring...

So I love the Olympics and enjoy watching the skiing but SERIOUSLY...the women's downhill is like a horrific parade of insane crashes...on ice...the podium is pretty much the 4 people that didn't almost die on the way down. Worth it?

"Whatever the course of our lives, we should receive them as the
highest gift from the hand of God, in which equally reposed the power
to do nothing whatever for us. Indeed, we should accept misfortune not
only in thanks, but in infinite gratitude to Providence, which by such
means detaches us from an excessive love for Earthly things and
elevates our minds to the celestial and divine."

-Galileo

Brilliant!

Lovely

Today on my walk I saw a balloon caught in a tree and I thought, flight delayed, or just a tree having a party?



I'm listening to THIS and it just makes my day every time. What I wouldn't do...sigh.

I was waiting for the elevator to take me up. A dapper young man was waiting to go down. They arrived at exactly the same time and said "BONG" simultaneously. With a boyish smile he said, "We both won!". I didn't know we were racing, but it was CHARMING.



How is your day?

Newport

I know a very fashionable and witty person named Earrings. Here is my version of a Sartorialist entry on Earrings:



We hung out in Newport this weekend, at a place I like to call The Vortex, because once you hang out there, you have a LOT of trouble leaving. Bike Rides. Every movie you've ever wanted to watch. Hot tubs in grottoes. Beach walks. Porches made for wine and sunsets. AND...



One of my favorite dogs. I call him Brinkles.

It was a beautiful weekend.



A weekend that some people could have spent time taking down their Christmas llamas. But I'm glad they didn't, so I could enjoy seeing it.



It was amazing. Just what I needed. I think Brinkels was worn out by all the extra attention, but I know inside he hopes I'll come back soon.

10. Little Britian

Well here we are at the end! 10 posts in 11 days. I have to say it was really fun and hopefully will jumpstart my 'blogging' year in a great way.

The last topic eLF gave me was Little Britian. I didn't even know what it was until I googled it and voilà! It's a pretty stupid and mind numbing TV series. Aside from the famous 'computer says no' clip I HAD actually seen on YouTube before, I don't really have much to say...

By way of word association, last night I was at a little pub celebrating a dear friends Bday. It was fairly British in feeling and had map of England on the wall...hence little Britian?

Somewhere in the midst of celebrating, one of my best friends from college, let's call her 'Heidi', read us a text message she had sent a guy who had taken her out that she wasn't really interested in. It started with a brief chitchat line I can't remember, then thanked him for the dinner. Then the gem:

'Soooooo...I've recently reconnected with someone from my past. Aghhhh. Things are pretty confusing right now'

Bless his heart, his response: 'do you want to talk about it?'

and bless HER heart, she didn't realize how unclear her message was until we were dying laughing around the table. I mean, did she just meet her dad for the first time? Meet a long lost sister? Or see an old boyfriend and get confused?

I'm not condeming or condoning her text. Basically, I just thought we could all benefit from the melodramaticness--

'i've recently reconnected with someone from my past...'

AND don't discount the 'soooooo'

Trust me, Heidi is wonderful, and I think we've all been there. Just like Jake on The Bachelor, sending home 2 extra girls in one night. We feel your pain Jake. Maybe you can use this line next week.

Sabbath

I'm making today a blog Sabbath. See you tomorrow for post 10.

9. Mad Men

I watched Mad Men a few times...the first two or three episodes on DVD. It was a really well written show, the costumes and set design were amazing, and overall I was really impressed. And yet, when it came down to it, I wasn't really excited about getting the next DVD. Perhaps it was the fact that it made me feel like I might get cancer just from watching that much cigarette smoke. Maybe it was because the DVDs were so backed up on Blockbustrix. Or maybe it was because, although I liked it and think it is a phenomenal TV show...I just didn't like it ENOUGH to invest in it.

Sometimes I start watching a TV show, like Glee this season, and it's really great and I'm into it...and then I find the episodes acruing in my TiVo (my REAL Tivo..not some imitation DVR :) and I wonder, why don't I just delete the season pass? I think what is hard is when I know it's a good show, I appreciate all the time and talent behind each episode, and I somehow forget that I am an adult and that time is percious and what am I doing half way through the season when I don't really care.

This reminds me of the fact that this week, for the first time in 2+ years, I successfully lit the pilot light on my living room heater and TODAY I used the heater in my bedroom for the first time. This is due to the following (super interesting) reasons.

1. I generally like the temp a bit colder than most, and am not a fan of the scary monster-like wall heaters in my cold-war era apt
2. When my old roommate tried to use the heater when I first moved in, the smoke alarm went off because of the all the dust burning off and for some reason scared me out of ever trying again.
3. Although the directions are printed in clear English and I am a college graduate, I could NOT light the pilot. Yup, even after the maintenance guy showed me how. Plus I was a little wary of blowing myself up. So proud people

So this week has been a HUGE success for me. I am warm, and I am victorious. It made me think about how silly it was that I sat around cold for so long. If you're cold, turn on the heat. If you can't figure out how, get someone to help you. If you want to be doing one thing, don't do the opposite.

Today I was in the shower...awkward but necessary to my story. I was trying to shave my legs but I literally could. not. see. them. through the steam. There is a window in my shower, but I really didn't want to open it because it is COLD outside (hence the heat story that almost bored you to tears above). Then I realized that being a little bit colder would be better than cutting myself. For some reason this was provoked at LEAST 30 minutes of pondering the fact that sometimes, you have to do something a little unpleasant to avoid something a LOT unpleasant (again, college degree. Thanks mom and dad).

SO these are my musings today. Love me or leave me.

:)

8. Top 3

So my post today is pretty self-indulgent. My top three things that I want today. Not need. But it's fun to have little goals and dreams...and in this case at least 2 out of three are fairly attainable.

#1. I have been craving homemade chicken pot pie for the past few weeks. It may be because my sweet mom made me a pastry cloth with a circle stitched in the middle to help you make the perfect pie crust...which she has down to a T. I am still learning, but getting fairly good. I won't tell you that the key ingredient is Lard. Yum. I am definitely going to be making one soon--look for that post in weeks to come!



I found the above picture on a random blog where I also read this. HILARIOUS.

#2. I spent the afternoon at my good friend Goldilocks' house and we made juice with her new amazing juicer. Right as I headed out the door to come over, it started hailing. Then the sky looked like this...kind of epic!



We went to a really cool Kosher market and bought cheap, yummy fruit. I'll let you make your own assumptions about the pear in the middle.



This was our first of several exciting combinations. Apples. Pears. Strawberries. Lemon.



We put it in this...I was kind of scared.



And look what we created! It was SO good.



ALL this to tell you (those who have made it this far into my post without falling asleep or switching to facebook...that while we were enjoying our juice Goldi lit this amazing wood wick candle that sounds like a mini fireplace!!! I've never seen one before...it was SO cool. I really want one. Specifically the almond orange woodwick candle which is my #2 today.

#3. Suffice it to say that I. Die. for this Jimmy Choo.



So that pretty much sums it up. I'd love to eat chicken pot pie by the light of my wood burning candle wearing the most amazing rainbow shoes EVER. Who remembers my rainbow patent leather kicks I wore in middle school? Some things never change!

PS--shoutout to eLF for her Murdo post. Bless her, I don't even know if she knows why I love that name so much!

7. October 12, 2003

So maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think anything world-news-wise happened on 10/12/03 that I'm supposed to know about. I googled, I wikepediad, I tried to remember back 6 years ago. It was a Sunday. A lot happened around the world actually. And I guess that's true for every day. I think there are only a few dates we really remember. It takes something catastrophic, like 9/11 for a date to stick in our memories. We remember our closest friends' and family member's birthdays, we remember Christmas and Halloween. We remember (or try to) wedding anniversaries. But you know what? Every day is someones birthday, or someones anniversary, or the day that something terrible happened that we'll remember for the rest of our lives.

When I was looking up news from 10/12/03, I was shocked at all the horrible things that had happened that WEREN'T remembered. 30 killed here, 4 missing here, explosions, murders, war. It was really depressing.

I'm sure a lot of great things happened, too. Babies were born that are now well on their way to growing up! People got married (and some of them are still married :).

Isn't it weird as a kid when you realize that everyone around you doesn't realize your birthday? It's the best day ever, and they don't even know!

Trying to write this post made me think about the fact that we never know what each day means to the people around us. Today is the birthday of my precious friend's sons. She had twins one year ago today. 19 days later, one of them went home to be with Jesus. Today is a day that will forever be etched in her memory--with sweet memories and painful, unimaginable ones.

Today I am glad that tomorrow is a different day. That each day is only 24 hours and that it is marked with sunrise and sunset. God knew what he was doing when he created little beginnings and endings to the hours, the days, the seasons, the years. New beginnings, new mercies, new growth, new life. Each day is someones greatest day and someones worst.

I don't remember what happened in my life on October 12, 2003...but I'm sure someone does.

Rain!

It's been raining All. Week. Long.

and I love it!

There's nothing quite like being snug in your warm home with the rain pouring down outside. Great book, Good Earth Tea (OBsessed), and a fuzzy blanket.

And then you go outside in these and play in the puddles!

Happy Rainy Week!

6. Paris

When I was 13, the summer in between 7th and 8th grade, my grandma took me to Europe. She let me choose between a tour of England, France, or UK/France/Germany combo (but less time in each). I was in French class, and the thought of going to Paris was the most glamorous thing I could think of, so the choice was easy! It was my first trip to Europe, and I'll never forget it. My eyes were wide, my heart was naive and innocent, and my memory so impressionable. I'll be forever grateful to my grandmother for such a grand adventure! Here are some of the the amazing things that stick out in my mind:

The escalators at Charles de Gaulle airport--just like human hampster runs!



Despite all the rich food we had, the best thing was buying a fresh, warm baguette on the street for 5 francs in the morning.



There were 3 other kids my age on the trip--Lauren, Whitney and Jared. We became fast friends and played the French Monopoly I bought every night in the hotel lobby. We had about 1 million inside jokes by the end of the trip and kept in touch for a few years.



Ok, it's outside of Paris, but Mount St. Michele is the COOLEST place in the world. It kind of reminds me of Gondor meets Disney...there is a monastery at the top, and when the tide goes out it becomes an island. The road winds all the way around the island to to top and is lined with cobblestones. Dreamy!



My mom collects Limoges boxes (like the one below..mom why don't you have this one????) She wanted us to buy one for her at the mythical Limoges Box store somewhere in Paris. My mom and dad had been there before, but for some reason NO ONE in Paris knew what we were talking about. We spent a really long time spanning several days locating this teeny tiny store lined with thousands of Limoges boxes. It. Was. Magical.



Honorable Mentions: Croque Monsieur's, the Loire Valley filled with Sunflowers, The Opera House, a million chateaux, and Giverny

5. Things that make me go "mmm"

I hope ya'll are reading eLF's blog...iLobster? AHmazing!

So, I have to confess I wasn't exactly sure what to do with this topic. Does mmm mean "yum" or "what?" or "sexy fog"? Not sure. But when I woke up this morning I knew that this would be my topic today, and that somehow, I would find a way to make it about the awesome dream I had last night.

It was vivid, and I remember the ENTIRE thing. Disclaimer: although I believe in prophetic dreams, I can't say I've ever had one. This definitely wasn't one, but you know me (or you don't...blogathon success!)--i LOVE a good metaphor, ESPECIALLY if it relates to my relationship with Jesus. (I know, that is a silly, typical picture of my Lord, but HEY! I like it! I'm a sheep, remember?)

So this was my dream. Basically, I got a new job. I had a HUGE office, and was obviously a big wig...anywho, on my first day on the job, some people from JCrew showed up and wanted me to give them 5 styled outfits that represented my life. I know, my new job rocked! I opened the closed that was OBVIOUSLY in my new office with all my clothes and whipped up the examples. Flash forward to the next day. I arrive at my office (can I also interject that in my dream, I had NO CLUE what I was supposedly hired to do...awkward!)what do I find but an amazing closet of my dreams. I was going to post an example picture, but I think your imagination is up to the challenge. The closet was lined with beautiful dark wood drawers, cabinets (some with glass doors), shoe drawers, purse displays, an amazing mirror, a flat screen TV (?). And it was filled with clothes, purses, shoes--and they were all MADE for me. My style. My size. From 5 sample outfits they had figured me out to a T. It's Ionic that it was JCrew and not Anthro, but obviously my dream was less than sensical. As I looked through in wonder, my new co-workers stopped by to share in my glee. We went through everything. We opened ever drawer, and discovered that there was even a fridge stocked with yummy food and drinks, including little tropical fruits filled with sorbet and topped with flowers. The entire thing was ornate, fantastical, it was a dream come true.

And then I woke up. I'd like to tell you that I immediately realized the parallel to my relationship with God and thanked him for it. But no, my first inclination was to feel epic disappointment. It wasn't real. Of course that would never happen. But I am just materialistic and fashion-obsessed to wish that maybe it had been real.

But then later, as I mused upon the dream it did occur to me that it IS kind of like God. He knows me better than I know myself. He knows every need, every desire, every dimension. And he provides--maybe not what I would pick out myself or what I asked for, but the end result is far beyond my wildest dreams. He renovates, he refreshes, he makes me into what I am supposed to be.

No, he is not the purse Santa--but what he brings is real, it's living water, it's strength in my weakness. And it is absolutely not a dream!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

4. 2KX: The Year of Tears

I haven't cried in 2010. Yet.

I'm not a huge crier, but I think I cry the healthy amount. You know, a tear here or there for a Sylvan Learning Center commercial (those kids just needed some help!) and saving the real deal cries for those rare heartbreaking moments.

If anything, 2009 was my year of tears. We got our beloved dog, Higgins, when I was in 6th grade and in Spring 2009 I said the hardest goodbye I've ever had to do. I was going to blog about it at some point, but (not to sound over dramatic) I'm just not ready yet. Needless to say, lots of tears were shed in 2009.



I'm not worried about 2010. I know I'll shed some tears, but I think 2010 is going to be amazing. I think it's going to bring big changes, and change can always be hard, but it is often just what we need to propel us to a higher level.

I tried to think of a way I could change the supplied blog title by changing "tears" to something different that rhymed. BUT I don't want this year to be the year of fears, leers, or beers. Maybe the year of ears? Ears to hear what God is saying, where he is leading, ears to hear what others around me are really saying and needing? Too cheesy? Never!

Year of Ears, here I come!

3. Vortex of Awkwarness (you have GOT to be kidding me)

Ok, I am MAD. I made SURE to take the time yesterday to do my post, even though it was a Sunday funday and I didn't have to work, and my computer wasn't turning on. I did the whole thing on my iPhone, it posted, and then I sign on to do my due diligence today, and WHERE is it? I have no idea what happened, but was able to find it on my phone, copy and paste, and voila! A day late, but posted on time somewhere in the lost wide web.

Just writing this is awkward, as I am doing this post from McMac and writing anything longer than a text on a touch screen is a challenge. I am a dedicated artist, what can I say?

When I was in college, I went to a party that was, in and of itself, awkward. It was a cocktail party in a tiny USC apartment with lots of people I kind of knew but not past very superficial small talk. Not being a fan of those kind of interactions or of dressing up for a cramped space college party with plastic cups, I can't remember what compelled me to go. Maybe it was to prove that I was doing great after being dumped (my first crushing heartbreak). After unsuccessfully remaining close friends and consigning myself to a constant state of sighing despondence, I finally decided we probably shouldn't be hanging out all the time. It is AMAzing to me how little sense I had at 21. Oh well. You can imagine my delight when he turned up at the same party. HAD to get out of there. I gathered my BFFs and we hauled butt (as they say in the good 'ol South). As we walked through the courtyard to the street, I exclaimed with delight how glad I was to free of the 'vortex of awkwardness' when springing from out of nowhere comes Mr. Heartbreak himself and in a boyishly impish and chanting voice he says, 'Vortex of awkwardness, eh?'

It. Was. Hilarious.

Apparently funny enough to be told to friends of friends in the UK, which is how it made this topic list supplied by eLF. Thanks eLF!

Sent from my iPhone






ps-love Paper Heart.
pps-don't blame McMac.

2. My Library

My mom and grandma have become really into their Kindles. I think the idea is really cool, and if I traveled a lot I would definitely want one. For Christmas one of my dreams came true, and one of the first things I did was get a free app of Jane Eyre, which I read in book form and then would take a chapter or two on McMac (yes, that's my iPhone's name) when I was waiting at the car wash, etc. It was really small type, but oh so fun!

But honestly, nothing compares to holding a book, turning the pages, the smell of the paper. Ahhhhhh! But you know what is even better? Reading an old favorite with a glass of champagne with freshly squeezed orange juice and a decadent chocolate cupcake...wearing pink slippers!







Some day, I hope I have a library like the one in Beauty and the Beast, with curly staircases up to the top level, a huge fireplace, leather chairs, an amazing globe and lots of atlases!

Here is a list, in no particular order, of some books that have meant a lot to me:

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Emily San
Jane Eyre
The Outlander Series
Christy
Gone with the Wind
Hard Times
Crime and Punishment
Babysitters club
Nancy Drew
Boxcar Children
A Swiftly Tilting Planet and the other 3 Madeline L'Engle books
Harry Potter
The 11th Hour
House of Leaves (the SCARIEST book I've ever read)
The Count of Monte Cristo
CS Lewis--Narnia, Mere Christianity, The Great Divorce, Space Triology
The Crucible
The Importance of Being Ernest
Lord of the Rings

1. Triskaidekaphobia

Fail.

OR clever blogging illusion? Yesterday was the first day in my epic 2010 Blogathon with eLF (check out her status at ndawonye.wordpress.com). You may have noticed that my post did not exist. The irony is that I THOUGHT about it all day. I thought about it as I cleaned my whole apartment, as I did four loads of laundry, as I cleaned my own carpets with an awesome vacuum/carpet cleaner thingy, and planned/executed an successful mini-dinner party. I blame the party, which meant I spent so much time cleaning, cooking, and making these:



That I failed to actually DO the post. But if you think about it, it's kind of perfect--because of people's fear of the number 13 (for all of you who were avoiding looking up the definition of said blog post title) hotels often emit the 13th floor, etc. SO my post was kind of clever. And delayed. And lame excuses...

So people are freaked out by the number 13. You know who isn't scared?



I'm not either. I think it is sad, but predictable, that people are afraid of a number. Superstitions have always baffled me, mostly because of this, and also because I think there are so many ACTUAL things one might be scared of instead of worrying about if a black cat walks by a ladder that leads to a broken mirror on Friday the 13th when there is a full moon and you have a dream about a narwhal swimming in a river of tears...

Not being too familiar with the fear of 13, and obviously more than a little confused about other traditional superstitions, you might think I would dedicate this blog, and my time, to researching the roots of this fear, the historical implications, blah blah blah. But I'm not going to. INSTEAD, I'm going to tell you about another, similar, yet totally different fear that I think people should be talking about:

I give you, Ontriskaidekakainconcinnusphobia. WHOA. Let's break it down.
On-Greek for "being"
Tri-Greek for "3"
Kai-Greek for "and"
Deka-Greek for "10"
Kai-again for "and"
Inconcinnus-Latin for "awkward"

So basically: Being 13 and Awkward Phobia. Seriously.



I am well past 13, and I still shudder to remember. The growing out bangs awkwardness. The retainers. The pre-contacts. The bratty girls and stupid boys. Can't drive, no longer a cute little kid, middle school to high school transition, weird new hormones. 14 couldn't come too soon!

This fear is real ya'll, a lot more real than a number coming to kill you in the night. I feel for you, kids of 1997, and I promise you it can only go up from here.

3. Vortex of Awkwardness

Just writing this is awkward, as I am doing this post from McMac and writing anything longer than a text on a touch screen is a challenge. I am a dedicated artist, what can I say?

When I was in college, I went to a party that was, in and of itself, awkward. It was a cocktail party in a tiny USC apartment with lots of people I kind of knew but not past very superficial small talk. Not being a fan of those kind of interactions or of dressing up for a cramped space college party with plastic cups, I can't remember what compelled me to go. Maybe it was to prove that I was doing great after being dumped (my first crushing heartbreak). After unsuccessfully remaining close friends and consigning myself to a constant state of sighing despondence, I finally decided we probably shouldn't be hanging out all the time. It is AMAzing to me how little sense I had at 21. Oh well. You can imagine my delight when he turned up at the same party. HAD to get out of there. I gathered my BFFs and we hauled butt (as they say in the good 'ol South). As we walked through the courtyard to the street, I exclaimed with delight how glad I was to free of the 'vortex of awkwardness' when springing from out of nowhere comes Mr. Heartbreak himself and in a boyishly impish and chanting voice he says, 'Vortex of awkwardness, eh?'

It. Was. Hilarious.

Apparently funny enough to be told to friends of friends in the UK, which is how it made this topic list supplied by eLF. Thanks eLF!

Blogathon 2010

Last week I was at dinner with my fun friend eLF and we were talking about our respective blogs when she challenged me to a blogathon. The Rules: 10 topics, chosen by the other, 10 days. I don't THINK it's a competition with a clear winner, however I guess you can be the judge. I will post a link to her blog tomorrow, day 1 of the challenge. Let me warn you--we are both silly, quirky, and whimsical, so I wouldn't count on any sort of rhyme or reason or cohesion of topics. I'll do what I can. All in all I hope you enjoy, and I hope we all learn something about our world and ourselves. BAhahahahahah I totally didn't mean that last sentence, I just wanted to write something dramatic. Save it Wayman, you've got 10 long days ahead.

I'll leave you with this: Sometimes you've just got to act like there's a giraffe on your head. Enjoy.

Following your heart

Confession:

I love watching the Bachelor. I know, I think I've already confessed this on here...but you can never be too "ashamed" of admitting something like that. I love the cheesy lines, the over-dramatization, the all-consuming madness that they create in the contestants by creating a vacuum dating world filled with glamour, skimpy bathing suits, and a LOT of alcohol. Yeah, I'm so proud.

One thing that drives me CRAZY is when people say "I just need to follow my heart", which gets said a lot on that show. It sounds so warm and fuzzy on the surface, until you realize that YOUR HEART IS A SELFISH LIAR. OK, I'm not pointing fingers. MY heart is selfish. My heart is a liar. My heart wants immediate gratification, constant giddy heights, whatever works for ME right now. Remind you of anyone?



And look what happened to her? OK, maybe she was following her stomach, but that's a pretty great analogy to following your heart. I don't know about you, but if I followed my stomach without filtering it's demands through my head, I would be eating pizza, bread, and popcorn for every meal, inevitably ending up as round as greedy blueberry girl. My point is, that although the heart can sometimes lead us in a great direction, and obviously should be factored into our lives, let's not be stupid and follow it's whims blindly. Let's not be hasty hobbits. Let's be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves, because we are amongst wolves my friends, and sometimes our heart can be a sly and devastating as a wolf! (Matthew 10:16)

A Dallas Christmas

Suffice it to say we had a bountiful, joyful and blessed Christmas. AND we got a white Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! By far the best part was when my precious nearly 3 year old niece performed/told us the Christmas story with the aid of our family's nativity set. Her father had taught her well, she even knew how to correctly pronounce frankincense! Plus, in the fashion of a child used to being taught new words by repetition, she told each bit like this:

Zoey: Then Mary and Joffuff (her pronunciation!) went to the inn. Say with me, Mary and Joffuff.
The entire family: "Mary and Joffuff"

Not only was it hilarious to hear us all repeating all the words with her, but it moved me beyond words to see her so excited and proud to tell us the story of Jesus' birth. I am certain that it moved God's heart as well!

New Year Musings

Happy New Year Bloggy Friends!

Today I was listening to the song "East to West" by Casting Crowns and I was struck by the following lyrics--

"I can't live by how I feel
But by the truth your word reveals
I'm not holing on to you
But you're holing on to me"

SO true. I am often so consumed by how I feel about things, that I forget to look at life through the eyes of my Lord and his word. And praise God that he holds fast to me, as I am continuously letting go, losing my grip, or jumping back into the gravity of this world of my own accord and selfishness.

What I great reminder as I start this new year.