made me observe:

http://www.irinawerning.com/back-to-the-fut/back-to-the-future/

made me smile:
http://lesleyraes.blogspot.com/

made me drool:
http://annies-eats.net/2011/03/30/chocolate-peanut-butter-swirl-muffins/

made me cry:
http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/2011/03/quick-video.html

made me excited!
http://ashlemieux.blogspot.com/search/label/shine%20challenge

made me smile, and bubble up inside with encouragement!
http://littlemissmomma.blogspot.com/

New favorite nerdy blog!!
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

And then, here's another classic :)
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/03/7-games-you-can-play-with-brick.html

And oh my word, too funny!
http://awkwardofficemoments.tumblr.com/

Sounds of home.....

....little boy drum solos from our next door neighbors garage

....screeching from across the street neighbors parrot
*who supposedly only chirps a little* WHATever

....country music blasting from across the street firefighter neighbor's car
(he always sings loudly & badly while washing his truck -tis hilarious :)

....windchimes from other next door neighbors back porch
*storms always make me think of home bc of the sound the windchimes make in blustery wind :)*

....adolescent singing on American Idol on Wed. and Thurs. nights
*my mom got me hooked -Ah!*

....cats meowing outside my sister's bedroom window

....sigh.....

....this is......home

:)

thoughts on Easter Sunday....

I am a sinner.

You are too.

But there's hope.

-He is risen!-

{He is risen indeed!}

{Christ Is Risen}  -Matt Maher      (reposted)
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You've bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven's will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

O death, where is your sting?

O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light

Our God is not dead

He's alive! He's alive!

Unlike many other people in CA,

I am officially not on spring break.

Yep, since I'm now a college graduate, I'm done with that free vacation.

Sad day :(
College graduate = I'm a grown up = no more Easter vacations ever.

Sad face.
:(


Except,

happy face.
:)

Because...... I'm grown!
:)

And that's worth a :)


Are you having a happy  :)   or sad face  :(  day?

B, but Y

Boo :(

-I spent too much time in front of a screen today (tv- movies & compy- blog/recipe searching)
-didn't feel too pretty (bc I was lazy, wore frumpy clothes & didn't pretty-fy my face/hair, & needed a shower STAT)
-oldest sister is still sick :(
-missed my twiny
-longed to, but never went outside all day
-squandered Thursday.
-got frustrated at my dad.
-stressed about money. Why do I always get stuck on it God?

but

Yay :)

-my new shampoo smells like salon shampoo. Makes me feel soo fab. when I use it :)

-prayed to respect every single hair (& part) of my mom's head as I dried her hair. and for the most part, I did :)

-found new recipes to try  via Healthy and Easy Recipes  &  Eat Live Run

-new prayer requests & praises

-had a car picnic (ate subway in the car, at the park) & super short walk @ the park

-got to talk to a neighbor (first time in months- yes I felt ridiculous)

-excited for Fresno, seeing seester & old friend tomorrow!!

-excited for beach roadtrip on Sunday with my LifeGroup girls!

-uh........it was gorgeous outside. fo reals.

-----nerd alert-----

p.s. the post's title totally sounds like a logic problem :   B, but Y.   Y, but not B.

LLT : 'you are my inspiration......'

LLT in song form: (except now I can't find the lyrics :)

You Are My Inspiration.....

(via She Paperie)

 Amazing Chocolate Cake recipe I want to try!


(via Whipper Berry)



loving the Fab Fonts via 
<---eighteen25

More fonts via font squirrel

Easy-peasy pom pom garland? Yes please!

via eighteen25

My entry outfit for this giveaway?
.....This dress with this sweater!

Bubble Wrap Hopscotch? Yes please!

The boys I babysit would LOVE this :)

I feel the need to make these ---------v---------  asap.

They just look so gorgeous!
And yummy!
And scrumptious!
And delectable!

And c'est magnifique!(But only after I'm home alone so I can stuff my face, I mean, hog them, I mean, oh well :)

OH MY GOODNESS.

Y.E.S!

this

<---- Nutter Butter Nutella No-bake Cake

is next on my 'to cook' list.

And I need to get on it. STAT.

 

And don't you just want to move into this little girls' room (cause it's just so awesome)?!

Oh me, oh MY, that wallpaper!!!!

New fashion blog: we are all magpies!

Newest indie song love! Via The Civil Wars

music on shuffle

I was listening to my 'folk' playlist on my ipod on shuffle & I quite like the mix that it came up with!
My faves are italicized.

Here's a sampling:

Ode To a Butterfly -Nickel Creek
Think of You -A Fine Frenzy
Look For Me Baby -Fiction Family
Come Home safely -Let's Go Sailing
Over the Rainbow -The Innocence Mission
Broken -Jill Pacquette
My Sweet Song -Toby Lightman
The Upsetter -Jack Johnson
James River Blues -Old Crow Medicine Show
I'm Sticking With You -The Velvet Underground
Robin & Marian -Nickel Creek
Good People -Jack Johnson
Once -Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Elements Combined -Fiction Family
Southbound Train -Jon Foreman
Sleep [Instrumental] -Kimya Dawson
Clarity -Shawn McDonald
How Deep Is Your Love -The Bird & The Bee
Sea of Love [Remastered Version]  -Cat Power
Closer To The Moon -Alli Rogers
Heart Condition -Let's Go Sailing
Staple It Together -Jack Johnson
Once Was Love -Ingrid Michaelson
With My Own Two Hands -Jack Johnson feat. Ben Harper
Lachlom -Yael Naim
Better Together -Jack Johnson
Again & Again -The Bird & The Bee
Put Your Records On -Corinne Bailey Rae

Oh, the memories in just a half hour of listening to music!

The songs make me think of (in no particular order):
-my sister
-summer
-highschool
-sophomore year of college
-swimming in my neighbor's pool
-the Hollywood Bowl
-certain friends: Jay Jay, Audrey, Becca
-springtime with breezes coming in through open windows

iPod shuffle settings, I heart you!

P.S. I have almost all of Jack Johnson's stuff in that playlist -which is why he kept popping up :)

.today.

instead of complaining about the muscle I pulled in my leg from walking about 5 miles yesterday, I will remember.
I will remember the old man outside Rite Aid who took 4 minutes to walk about 5 yards to get to his car.
I will remember his cane, slow-moving gait, wrinkled face, & weathered smile.

I will not focus on my wrinkles, for I know they come with age.
I will not discount or cast aside someone with wrinkles, for I know they also have wisdom.
I will not focus on that pulled muscle, but on the fact that I could walk those miles.
Without a cane,
at an easy- almost fast pace,
while walking with my friend and her dog.
I will focus on the
conversation,
fellowship, and
the friendship God has richly blessed me with.

That is what I will do.

....................................................

my Facebook status of the day:


I did not burn ONE.SINGLE.THING while using my oven for 1.5 hours today.
This is progress, people.


....especially since I burned three things yesterday

.................................................

I went to bed last night at 11 o'clock.
As in, alarm set, falling asleep, under the covers before 11 o'clock.
This is also MAJOR progress.

today has been a:

sleeping in until 9ish,
making breakfast,
chilling with the sister,
making cookies,
stalking people on facebook,
blog-hopping,
eating lunch waay late,
taking pictures,
still in pj's @ 2,
lazing around,
......................kind of day.

get ready,
library,
store for ice cream & bread (the essentials, duh),
make ice cream sammies with aforementioned homemade cookies,
blog,
make dinner, &
off to lifegroup!

....................................................

A song for today:

P.S. I think I could totally pull off her hairdo.
I can definitely get volume like that just when I wake up in the morning :)

Note to God:

 Here's my little artwork/note to God:

 

 

.........

I love you!

Don't look back....

Don't Look Back -She & Him
Orpheus melted the heart of Persephone, but I never had yours
I followed you back to the end of the path, but I never found the door

And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below
You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know

Don't look back all you'll ever get is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day, but I just want to know you're there

Quietly took to the dark of the day and the hiss of the summer night
The heat of the breeze was a cell block wall and when I looked you were out of sight

And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below
You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know

Don't look back all you'll ever get is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day, but I just want to know you're there

And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below
You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know

Don't look back all you'll ever get is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day, but I just wan't to know you're there


&
Here's a little meaning behind the song:
Orpheus went down to the underworld to save Eurydice, and to make that possible he had to play music to Persephone, who 'ruled' the underworld. He softened (well, melted..) her heart, and she let Orpheus bring Eurydice back to the upper world, on one condition - Eurydice should walk right behind him on the way back, and he couldn't turn to look at her until they'd both reached the upper world. But - just when HE'd reached it, he turned around to see if she was there, and boom - she disappeared forever.
So don't look back…

taken from: www.songmeanings.net

...A List...

I read a fun book over the weekend called The Beach House by Sally John.
It's a story about four old friends who reunite after 12 years after growing apart.

Although I'm not going to live my life by this list, I thought it was fun to think about.
It's fun to see when I have gone through a few parts of the list and to know that others will most likely happen as I age and mature.
As I become a woman.
And that is pretty crazy to think about!
I guess, like the song, I still have a lot of livin' left to do :)


A Real Woman Has....
A nest egg for personal use.
Something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour.
A youth she's content to leave behind.
A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, a hammer, and a black lace bra.
A black dress and a white silk blouse.
One friend who always makes her laugh.
And one who lets her cry.
A good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family.
Eight matching plates, goblets, and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored.

A Real Woman Knows....How to fall in love.
How to quit a job.
How to confront a friend without ruining the friendship.
When to try harder....and when to walk away.
How to have a good time at a party she'd never choose to attend.
That she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents.
That her childhood may not have been perfect, but it's over.
How to live alone...even if she doesn't like it.
Whom she can trust, whom she can't and why she shouldn't take it personally.
Where to go....be it to her friend's kitchen or a charming inn....when her soul needs soothing.
What she can and can't accomplish in a day, a month, a year.

texty-texty

In the past few months, I've had some interesting
conversations with my sister Rachel via texting.

My favorites:

Thu Mar 24 12:10 a

R

Why am i awake? So
tired and want to hug
you!
_________12:10 a
MeAww. I meesss you!
_________12:11 a

R

What? Oranges,
jeggings, laundry. (her to do list for me)
You're coming back
tomorrow right?
_________12:22 a
Me
I'm on it. Like gum.
 ----------
No, Saturday silly :)
_________12:25 a

R

No. Tomorrow. @ my
3:00 break to
surprise me with a
hug. I would LOVE
that- for future
reference.
_________12:30 a
Me
Well that would be
difficult bc i don't
actually know where
your school is. For
future reference.
_________12:34 a
R
Use your fingers to
google valley prep
academy. On hughes
@ ashlan. Look for my
truck in the parking
lot. Hug me.
_________12:36 a

 Geez that girl is too much!

A few more from the seester:
R
I loaf you. You are
beautiful. Inside an
out. Ride your bike
tomorrow! I am
sleepy. Nighty!
Wed Mar 9 11:46 p

uhh, never deleting that one!

Another convo with the seester on Fri Feb 25 11:30 am,
R
Hi loafy! Come homee
today. That way if it
snows tonite/early
tomorrow, we can
make snow angels
together!
_________11:30
MeHaha! Wish i could!
(And then I proceeded with sane normal conversation)
_________11:32
R
In no way was i
joking. Possible snow
is a serious matter.
_________11:34
MeYeah, since it has only
snowed twice in our
lives, I don't think
it's going to snow.
_________11:35
R
For reals! Get yo
booty here!
_________11:37


R
I. Loaf. Ewe. Now don't
stay up too late! I
want to squeeze you
tight! Gnh.
Thu Feb 24 1:14 a

After suggesting she teach her after-school program kids origami......
R
P.s. Swans were a
huge hit! And then
there were flying
swan fights. :) and i
loaf ewe!
Wed Feb 16 11:13 p

R
I got my credential! I
am so happy I cried!
Wish I could celebrate with you!
Fri Feb 11 8:22 p

(After mistakenly asking if we were free to go to a potluck on friday....)
R
Potluck is saturday.
but yes, short hair.
Thu Feb 10 9:31 p

After asking her why she was still awake.....
R
I oant know. Barely
wake. Hmphglr. Need
hug. Need lovey.
Peas?
Fri Feb 4 12:59 a

R
Have i told you how
much i loaf you?
Fri Jan 21 12:21 p



another convo with the sees on my last! day! of! college! (during finals week).....Wed Dec 15 3:47 p
(after going to four offices trying to get a class approved)Me
Coming home
now, k? Sweaty
from walking around
the Whole school :)
_________3:45 p
R
Yes. And me some
warmth. I am brr
cold. And you are
pretty.
_________3:47 p

Later....after finishing my last final EVER....
Me
I'm on my way home!
I kind of screamed
when I walked
outside! I'm DONE!
_________7:35 p

That girl.

She's a keeper

:)

April Fools! (or not)

This past April first, I didn't encounter
one.
single.
April Fools joke.


No wool was pulled over my eyes.

No sugar in the salt shaker.

Or switched up shampoo bottles.

Or tricks via the internet.

Or even a sly 'true' text or phone call along the lines of "I broke my foot!" or "I'm sick so I can't come to school today." or "Your shoelaces are untied." 
(Which as an elementary school kid, I never really was conned into believed anyways.)

No such jokes or tricks happened here.


Sigh.

Is that part of growing up?
No more April Fools jokes?
I  was never a practical joke type person
(read: I'm a harmonizer & can't handle them: Your shirt is unbuttoned! -wait 1 second- April Fools!),

But, really?