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.