filling in friday blanks

1. My favorite book growing up was: Box Car Children, Sweet Valley High, Babysitters Club, American Girl books?


2. The funniest book I've ever read was probably: Hm.... not sure...
3. The one book that has truly changed my life is: like Lauren I would say The Bible but if I can't chose that one I would say Captivating. I think about the woman that I was before I read that book and the woman I became through working through it and it's incredible. It truly changed who I am, how I think about myself etc. Also after I read Captivating I read Waking the Dead and it did something similar. I guss John Eldridge really speaks to me?

4. If you're looking for a real "tear jerker" you should probably read The Pact. oh man.

5. If I could meet any author living or dead I would want to meet - hmm.. I would love to meet Erwin McManus, sit down and have a conversation with him or Beth Moore?

6. The next book on my "to read" list is: Well I just bought Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus at Powell's yesterday so I'm thinking that's next for me! I also started "Eat, Love, Pray" but that is an off/on book for me.

7. If I was snowed into remote cabin in the woods and could only choose three books to bring with me I'd bring I'm thinking Harry Potter 5,6 & 7. I'm part of the way through 5 right now. It's taken me like 6 years with 5-- I really want to read and finish them, LOOOVE HARRY.

 
Play along!! Link up on Lauren's page and see other's answers!!

Shelving

I've always had this desire for a kitchen with open shelving. Not sure how I would want it to look but every time I see it in someones home or in a magazine I just love it.

{via bliss}

{via bliss}

{via chez}

{via design*sponge}

{via wild & precious}

                                           

{via the decorista}

{via the decorista}

The Maggie

{via sacramento street}

{via ?}

{via this is glam}

{via diary of lovely}

The Lindsay

2 home decor inspiration posts today dedicated to 2 of my best friends Lindsay & Maggie

{via real simple}

{via Lavendar & Lilies}

{via oh hello friend}

{via oh hello friend}

wish I was here wednesday

{via with this nest}

grateful for abundant life

I was watching Oprah with Naomi Campbell. The poor woman, at 40 doesn't know anything about herself. For the first time, because of therapy  she has begun to take a look within. As I watched her, I felt so sad for her and the life that she has lived. So many of us think that we want that kind of life- fame, success, being one of the "Top 6" models for 25 years, money, fashion, clothing and even more. The reality is that those who live that kind of a life are miserable, empty and unfulfilling. She is taking the time now at the age of 40 to find peace and to figure herself out. I got to find that out 8 years ago when I accepted Christ into my life.

I feel so grateful that at 22, I know exactly who I am. That doesn't mean that I don't have more to learn but I am confident in myself. I grew so much while I was in college. I sifted through so much brokenness and junk from before I had a relationship with Christ. I let him come in and heal me completely. It was incredible and I am so grateful that I've gotten to live a life where that was part of it. Where Christ ruled in my heart. I can't imagine how much sweeter life could be at 40 than it is now. I do know that things will happen that are our of God's control but that through Him I can do everything.

too cute

How organized would this make you!? I love it!!!

{via house beautiful}

wedding planning

Brian and I are going to our first wedding this Saturday to kick off the summer of weddings round 2. I've been thinking a little bit about where I was at last year with planning and being axious about the day and wishing and praying it would come faster. Here are some thoughts/tips/advice that I thought I would share to all of your soon-to-be brides!

1. Everyone says to not stress and enjoy every minute of it-- easy for them to say!-- but it really is true. You don't want to look back and remember fights you had with your fiance over silly items what don't really matter or events or days that weren't even fun because your mind was too far away in planning land. Key to this: Start a calendar of things to get done before the wedding. Break it down by month (great checklist I used was the one on Brides.com).

2. It's never too early to do anything for your wedding. The sooner you do it, the less you have to do later on. A few months before the wedding are the busiest time-- if you have most everything you can do done-- your time before the wedding will be more enjoyable.

3. Don't sweat the small stuff. 20 years from now you aren't going to care if your bride's maids had matching earrings or if one girl didn't take off her nail polish etc. It's seriously no big deal. Enjoy the time with your friends, enjoy the time with your family and with your fiance. Take a care free approach.

4. Have a friend coordinate the day of. This should be someone who doesn't already have a role in your wedding and who you trust. A few days before prep them with everything you have planned (schedule, phone #s etc.) and on the day before let them run your rehearsal and make sure everything goes smooth on the day of.

5. Don't let vendors boss you around- it's your day and you're paying them. If you don't want Sprite as a beverage at your wedding, they need to respect that you don't want the frickin' Sprite!!!!

6. Don't leave for your honeymoon the next day. BIGGEST BLESSING OF OUR WEDDING. We got married on a Saturday night and left for our honeymoon Monday morning. You are thrashed exhausted the day after and need that time to re-coop and take everything in that just happened.

7. Make sure to appreciate the people who are helping you along the way.

8. Write thank you cards as the gifts come in. Don't get behind because you'll never catch up (I still have a stack... sorry whoever you are!!!!)

9. Do things with your girls before the ceremony that makes you happy and really throughout the whole day. I woke up and felt great that morning, then my girls woke up and started making a big deal about the day and I got a super bad stomach ache. SO we calmed down, we walked to Starbucks, I had an iced tea, we came back, watched FRIENDS, packed our bags and headed out to the winery!! After we got ready we drank Diet Coke and watched FRIENDS.

dream job #3

Photographer's Assistant

 I was a model as a little girl and fell in love with all that goes on behind the scenes of a photo shoot whether big or small. I have always wanted to be the assistant to the photographer who fixes hairs that are out of place, make sure the clamps are right on the clothes so they look like they fit the model, can grab a comb or prop or anything necessary. Photo shoots are so fun to be at whether it is outside or in a studio, I would love to get to be there all of the time- helping with poses, ideas for location, background, lighting etc. I would love it!!!

{via we heart it}

how can you not love

raquel welch

wow.

new find

MOJELLA.COM

It is a shopping site similar to Amazon.com ( you can actually use your amazon log-in for purchases). Everything on the site is new, not used and has a few comparison prices for you to choose the one you want. I've enjoyed it because it isn't too overwhelming with tons of prices but still lets you feel like you are getting a good deal. The site is well formatted and really organized. I have bought many seasons of FRIENDS DVDs on Mojella.com and have been very pleased!!

There is also a section for most popular items by category as well as new items added to the site. This makes it fun to go on not only when you are looking for something specific but to browse as well.

It's for sure worth a look! You can also follow them on twitter and on facebook. They have great shopping ideas that are posted periodically.

tea dates and the fab five

I shared part of my testimony with my girls at campaigners a few weeks ago. I shared about the year that Christ healed my heart. Some of that time I was doing Summer Staff at WFR, He taught me while I was there so many things but one is that "Where the Spirit of the Lord is; there is freedom". Burdens were lifted and weight was taken away. There is SO much freedom in the Lord. We had such a great time together. I miss this:

Freedom reigns in this place

Showers of mercy and grace
Falling on ev'ry face
There is freedom

Jesus reigns in this place
Showers of mercy and grace
Falling on ev'ry face
There is freedom

Friday Fun!!

Filling in Blanks on Friday along with Lauren! Create your own and then go to her page to link up!!

1. My absolute favorite movie of all time is ... oh goodness how do you even pick that!? I love so many movies. Cinderella, Sandlot, Hook, Pirates (1), Just Married, Because I said So... I don't even know how to do this. Honestly this question stresses me out because I feel like I'm going to forget movies and I also always feel like the movies I like are really "shallow" and I don't want people to view me as shallow!! haha. (okay I'm just rambling embarrassing things now...)

2. My favorite movie as a child was ...The Labyrinth, and Ace Ventura. and anything Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen. I played more Nintendo and watched TV more than movies I think. OOO: House Guest. FUNNIEST MOVIE OF MY LIFE. I love it so much. Please rent it this weekend if you've never seen it.

3. The best movie quote ever is from ... serious?!!? I have no idea. Way too many to even think of. Probably would say something from the Notebook.... or It Takes Two "that can't eat, can't sleep, over the fence reach for the stars world series kinda stuff"


4. My favorite actress Julia Roberts
My favorite actor Jude Law

5. The movie I could watch over and over is Just Married or Because I said So. These are my go-to movies to make me feel good. I love to laugh. (if FRIENDS counts as a movie.. which I know it doesn't... that's what I would say). Although Lindsay and I in college watched Last Kiss once a week for a few months... (we also watched FRIENDS straight through the entire series...)
6. My favorite movie genre is ...Romantic comedy/comedy. As I've gotten older I've wanted to watch less and less movies with depth? I'm not really sure why, I think sometimes I deal with so much "real hard life" with friends or YL and I don't really need to entertain myself with movies about heavy issues or dark things going on. When I watch a movie it's because I want to laugh or feel good or just have something to do.
7. A movie I'd like to watch this weekend is Better Off Dead. I'm pretty sure Netflix is going to call me on Monday and demand it back. We've had it for a few months and I've been waiting for my husband to agree to watch it with me... not sure if that's going to happen.

WHEW, I made it. that one was rough. Maybe it's because I can't focus on Fridays very well.

dream job #2

Home Organizer

Organizing is seriously a passion of mine. I am sure you will see it being a theme throughout my "dream jobs". Home organizing is something I have loved since I was a little girl. My mom loves it and she passed it on to me. I used to go over to friends houses when I was in elementary school (no joke) and help them rearrange their room, get rid of old clothes, take old toys/books/dolls to goodwill etc. There is something so refreshing about doing this. Cleaning out a closet, getting rid of things that don't make you feel good, it is such a cleansing process not only for your closet but for your soul. I truly believe that when you clean out and organize a space in your home, or your whole home, you will feel so much less stress inside. When you see clutter, junk or trash you feel that inside.

If anyone would like help in this area in their home, I would love to come help, or give you some tips etc!!

{via oh hello friend}

how organized is this!? Loves it.

love is NOW.

Come to the water
You who thirst
And you'll thirst no more

Come to the Father
You who work
And you'll work no more

And all you who labor in vain
And to the broken and shamed

Love is here
Love is now
Love is pouring from His hands
From His brow
Love is near
It satisfies
Streams of mercy flowing from His side

Come to the treasure
You who search
And you'll search no more

Come to the lover
You who want
And you'll want no more, no

And all you who labor in vain
And to the broken and shamed

And to the bruised and fallen Captives bound and broken hearted

He is the Lord
He is the Lord, yeah
By his stripes
He's paid our ransom
From His wounds we drink salvation
He is the Lord
He is the Lord
Love is here

Love is now
Love is pouring from His hands
From His brow

Love is near
It satisfies
Streams of mercy flowing from His side
Streams of mercy flowing from His side
'Cause love is here
Love is here

decided:

I'm going to do my first giveaway when I reach 65 followers.

also I'm feeling like this again today (and yesterday) what the heck is my deal.

rainy days

 We're back to some rain in Portland the last few days. I do love the rain. I love the sound of it on the roof, I love how it hits the window and runs down, I love the smell of the clean rain and air when it's warmer outside. The rain is cozy, it makes me want to be in my sweatpants, with my tea, watching some TV. The rain is also cleansing to me. It feels depressing... and let's you be depressed in it.. which is cleansing?  I love the rain. BUT I am also so ready for the sun to be out to stay.

{via sacramento street}

I was watching some Oregonians around Nike campus the other day and realizing a few things about our relationship with rain

1. Umbrellas- most of us have them, as in own them, but never make use of it! It's too time consuming to bring it with us, open it up when necessary and then close it up when finished.

2. Rain Coats- similarly to umbrellas we all own them (actually I didn't own one until I had to walk to and from class in college outside.. in the rain... ) but they're too hard to wear all of the time. Especially in the spring- one second it is raining and the next it is so sunny... who can plan for that kind of weather? Easier to not wear one and risk being warm and needing to carry it. (gosh I'm lazy)

3. We act like it's not even there most of the time... We don't even run to and from place to place -- we just walk... and let the rain get us wet.

Got to love Portland!!!!!!!!

{via habitually chic}

wish i was here wednesday

{via oh hello friend}

YAYA 2 things I love around my home

I get so excited for this every other week. Thanks Kassi !!!

My 2 things this week

1. Vanity. I've had this since I was a little girl (see below- I had different priorities back then...) and I love it now. It makes me feel super feminine and I love having an organized place for all of my pretty things. It wasn't my husbands favorite at first but then I reminded him that if I didn't keep this stuff here then it would be more in his way.

2. My husbands paintings. He is super cute (and may be embarrassed that I am sharing these on the internet but I LOVE them)

This one he made me for my birthday a few years ago. This is from one of our favorite songs by Joshua Radin "it hasn't felt like home before you"

and this one he made me last Valentine's Day before our wedding. It is our wedding date, and I was struggling with wanting it to come faster. He thought that this might help- and it did!!

What are your 2 favorite things!? Be sure to link up on Kassi's page and check out everyone else's pretty things in their homes!!

dream job #1

These dream jobs are in no particular order (well the order I want to write about them in..)
*most of the jobs I dream of don't have "titles" ... so bare with me

Events Logistics Coordinator

This has been my passion for the last few years. I first fell in love with event logistics the summer after my senior year of high school. I was interning for CMD in the PR department. One of our assignments for the summer was to run everything media related at the Jeld-Wen Tradition Champions Tour. I got to work with all of the media which was a blast, but I really got to see first hand what it looks like behind the scenes of an event. I absolutely loved it. I love the fast paced, go-get-em, think quick on your feet, problem solve, help people out, get this from here to there, make sure this happens etc. Since then I had a passion for these logistics. I love being organized, detail oriented and hospitable.

I was able to get a certificate in "Festival & Event Management" through the UO where I got to take a few classes on event management, meeting management, festival management as well as take workshop classes on going green in events, getting volunteers, budgeting and food service. Since graduating I was able to work for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and help with a few fundraising events for them. Currently I am the Volunteer Programs Manager for a non-profit in year 2 of an athletic, weekend, fundraiser event called Wild Canyon Games (I'm a volunteer myself).

My dream would be to do this for a living. I loooooooove event logistics.

I love my

truth

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be

dream jobs

As many of you know I've been struggling with my job situation for over a year now. I know what I love and what my talents are but they haven't yet seem to align with anything in this world so far. Because I have this conversation a lot people are always asking what I would really love to do. It's a complicated question for me. I am constantly telling people "oh my goodness that would be my dream job!!" or "You know what I really would love to do..."  but the problem is there are MANY things I say this about. Maybe this is (one) reason why it's been so hard for me to be doing something that I love. I love a lot of things and what I've been doing for the last year isn't one of them. I watched the Nanny Diaries the other day and it got me to thinking; I keep doing things that aren't "me".

So over the next few weeks I'm going to be brainstorming what my dream jobs are (mainly for my own thoughts to get organized and try to see if I can figure out more of myself in the process)

filling in blanks on Friday!

1. One song that always takes me back to my youth is .. well youth as in when I was little would have to be Spanish Harlem by Aretha Franklin. I was apparently obsessed with that song since I was 2 and am still obsessed. but Backstreet Boys "As Long as you Love me" brings me right back to 5th grade :)

2. My first concert ever was... oh wow I'm not sure.. maybe Britney Spears!?

3. If I could create my dream music festival I'd want these bands to be there: hmmm Phil Wickam, Matt Kearny, Jimmy Eat World, The Fray, Matt Nathanson, Telecast

4. The best make-out/"boot knocking" song ever is um... i have no idea. i dont make out to songs??

5. The best concert I've ever been to was well Matt Kearny in Eugene was pretty awesome. but also... Brian and my very first "date" was at the Augustana concert and that was awesome for both reasons of music and a super cute boy.

6. A memorable musical moment for me was with my husbands music. He wrote me a song for my birthday when we were first dating and when he played it to me that was super memorable. Also at our wedding he "surprised" me with singing a song. And I have really special memories of us writing music together.

7. The song on my iPod that's getting the most play these days is - well I don't use my ipod that often... but I've been playing Something Beautiful by NeedtoBreath a ton. Also Beautiful Lord by Leeland

Be sure to visit Lauren's page, fill in your blanks and then link back up on her page to share!

new creation

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.

what great news. When we begin our realtionship with Him this gets to happen. We truly are a new person, with a new heart. The Holy Spirit enters our life and our heart and now lives in us.

I was chatting with some of my high school friends about how we think this needs to happen twice. One time it happens because Christ does it for us. We ask him into our hearts, we accept our need for Him, belive that He is the Son of God and commit to walking with him, outcome: new creation. We look different, our sins are forgiven, we act different, we want different things.

The other part, in our opinion, is that we need to continue to come to Him daily to become an even newer creation. Parts of the old you are still there and can creep back up at times. We have scars on our hearts from old hurts, we have brokeness that happened before we met Christ or before we were walking with him. Step 2 is healing. Major, major healing. This looks different for all of us. Crucial, I think, to feeling like a new creation a few years into our walks. We need to ask God into the deeper parts of our heart that we have locks on. He wants in there but we won't let him. We have to open up so that He can come in and clean out the rest of that junk that we wouldn't let Him have the first time.

I am SO grateful for my Savior. He makes me a better person every single day that I seek Him. He waits for me everyday for this.

Follow Friday

BLOG STYLE !!

Today is for my friends in real life.

Anna is my little sister & my favorite person in the entire world. She is a sophomore at the University of Oregon- rocking in her classes in the Journalism school. She loves Jesus, Young Life, Africa and PR. TOMS shoes has asked her and a friend to be the University of Oregon reps for their brand to help promote and spread the word of a great great cause. Check her out!

Mollie is my super cute second-cousin-in-law (or just cousin for short). She is a senior in college. We share a passion for non-profits, fundraising, events and straight up making things happen (only I don't get to do that right now and she's totally rocking in her career before she has even graduated!!). Mollie blogs about lots of different things from life in Seattle/Bellingham to work to fashion and music. I think she rocks so check her out!

Rachel and I met freshman year of high school at Jesuit. We shared a love of volleyball and competition. She is so wonderful and full of such great insight. She is one big ball on inspiration. She loves traveling, trying new things, making new friends. I love Rachel because she knows exactly who she is and is always just that. Rachel is one of the most loyal friends I have ever had. Her blog is both fun and thought provoking. LOVE her. Check her out!

Janice is incredible. Her and I got to be friends through our husbands being friends. She has always welcomed me with open arms and made me feel comfortable wherever we are at. Janice is an incredible elementary school teacher and has perservered through so much. I admire her clinging to the Lord to get through all things. Janice and I share a love for sweat pants on the weekend, home decor, cute things, good deals, peachwave and lounging. Check her out!

Morgan is my newest friend to begin a blog (as of this week) but I know it will end up being great. Morgan and I became friends right before my freshman year of college. We had a sweet few years of an incredible frienship in Eugene. She helped me get through lonliness. We are soul twins - we have so much in common and got to share so much together while in college. Morgan has a passion for life, a life full of fun and commitment to the Lord. Excited to see what she is going to do with her blog!!

AND Jessica!!! I just found her blog and haven't read many yet, I don't know Jess that well yet but I secretly (well not anymore) think she is one of the most beautiful people both inside and out!! For real. She is an amazing wife, mother and daughter of the Lord.

Check them all out and become a follower!!! (we all know that we loooove followers- its partly why we write, right!?)
Who do you want to reccomend for Follow Friday?
Post and link up here so we can all see!!