Girl Confessions

None of these things feel like they quite need their own post so here it is, a list of stuff I have been thinking.

Source: advanced.aviary.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

1. This song is pretty much exactly what I’m feeling today.

2. This kid gives me hope. I think he’s a perfect example of a post-technological generation that is not so impressed with the powers of the internets and the Wii that they can’t imagine a world without it. The most creative thing I’ve seen in a long time. Seriously, this video will make you so happy.

3. Big shout-out to my peeps at Video Central on Bethel Road in Columbus (it’s basically like if High Fidelity was a video rental place instead of a record store). It’s a complete time-warp in there. And they always have time to make movie recommendations or just to talk to the sad girl who wandered in at 8:30 with no idea what she wanted to rent. Seriously, Red Box can eat it.

4. Don’t forget to come back for the May Day Followers Fest hosted by Baxtron {Life}, Imprintalish, BrockPaperScissors, and Love is the adventure this coming Tuesday! It’ll be an awesome and easy way to discover new blogs and gain exposure!

5. I really, really wish that a) people would make sure their blogger ids are linked to an actual email address so that I could reply to their wonderful comments and that b) their Google profiles included a direct link to their blogs. Make it easy on me to find and follow you! (Shelley over at The House of Smiths did a really great, easy tutorial on this.)

6. You can’t ever really anticipate how quickly your life will change. It’s a little mind-boggling. There’s some pretty major stuff changing here for me and Kyle so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers! God is in control. God is good.

7. I’ve decided to devote my Saturday afternoon to completely re-organizing my closet. And, of course, I’ll be blogging about it.

8. If anyone out there is still iPhone-less but wishing they could get in on the Instagram photos…I’m currently crushing hard on the pixlr-o-matic. It’s a free photo-editing tool with tons and tons of awesome vintage filters, overlays, effects, and borders. So when you see my “Instagram-ish” photos tomorrow, you know where they came from.

9. Monday night we’re going to a Clippers’ game at Huntington Park with Danny and Janelle. I’ve really missed baseball so I’m especially happy about this.

10. This.

Source: google.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

love, elizabeth

5 Books I Want to Read Instead of Futurist Manifestos

Still battling a head cold that’s creeping slowly into my lungs. Being sick sucks but I’m using it as an excuse to eat a cheeseburger and go to bed early. I’m pretty sure that’s allowed.

Not that I have time to read any of these right now…but hey, a girl can dream…

 

Click on any of the books to read an Amazon review…

What about you? What’s on your reading list?

love, elizabeth

Celebrate Everything

Continuing my commitment to celebrate the little things, here’s my weekly celebration list:

1. A cup of tea with my friend Rosie. We had the loveliest conversation.

2. Losing 3.2 pounds this week.

3. A spontaneous date with my husband. I didn’t even realize how much I was craving his undivided attention and advice.

4. Starting the compilation of my candidacy exam reading list. This may sound silly – celebrating a list I haven’t even finished writing (let alone reading) but this one was weighing on my mind and just getting started makes it seem less scary.

5. The Yellow Sale at Bath and Body Works where stuff in the store is up to 75% off. This is a trivial one but I scored some really happy-scented lotion and some cozy candles. Smell is a big one for me, especially in the winter time. My new favorite? Strawberry Sparkler. (Girls, the travel-size is $1.25 online right now…just saying…)

Well, there we go. Operation: Celebrate Everything continues…

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What about you? What are you celebrating this week?

love, elizabeth

31 Before ‘13

I know I’m not the first person to think of this but when I just couldn’t bring myself to draw up a list of New Year’s resolutions, I decided to try something else. So here’s my 2012 Bucket List. 31 things to before 2013. Some things made my list because I have to do them, anyway. Some things are on there because they seem easy or fun. Some things made the list because they scare the poop out of me. A few things overlap from my list of winter. I am resolved to attempt ALL of them.

31 Before ‘13

1. Get my solo-performance on its feet.

2. Successfully prepare for my comprehensive graduate exams.

3. Perform at a poetry open-mic night.

4. Read the chronological Bible straight-through.

5. Finish my PhD coursework.

6. Cook a new vegetable.

7. Commit to my one-hour system (see post).

8. Visit a weird museum.

9. Find five new uses for five old/recycled things.

10. Complete (at least) ten weeks of Weight Watchers.

11. Go to an Ohio State football game.

12. Learn to make a pie crust.

13. Take a vacation with Kyle to somewhere new.

14. Read ten books UN-related to school.

15. Visit five breakfast spots featured in Breakfast with Nick: Columbus.

16. Hike in Hocking Hills.

17. Watch all of Alfred Hitchcock’s films.

18. Attend the young women’s small group regularly.

19. Save money every month.

20. Write 300 blog posts.

21. Throw a party.

22. Take a haunted tour of something, using this map.

23. Celebrate Valentine’s Day in an out-of-the-ordinary way.

24. Present a paper at a conference.

25. Go to a Blue Jackets game.

26. Spend a day at the beach.

27. See a new band live.

28. Go on a blate.

29. Learn how to play a new board game.

30. Volunteer for a new charity.

31. Find and use a homeopathic treatment.

 

 

Source: istockphoto.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

So what do you think? What made it onto YOUR list?

love, elizabeth

List of Winter

I’ll start by telling you where I am right now. Court of Common Pleas, yos. Bam. I’m rockin’ this jury duty thing. And the free wifi? Legit.

I have no idea why I’m talking like that.

But MEANWHILE, I completely stole this idea from Janette over at Janette the Jongleur. A jongleur is a medieval minstrel or jester, in case you were wondering. You can check out her winter to-do list here. I love that her to-do lists are not just serious things like "Pay Bills” and “Go to Post Office” but also fun, festive things. It’s a good reminder for a worry-wart like me that gets so wrapped up in the “priorities” she forgets that enjoying life is a priority, too. Anyway, Janette is awesome and so is her blog.

 

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List of Winter

1. Address and mail Christmas cards

2. Bake these Sweet Wine Cookies from local chef Spencer Budros featured in the Columbus Dispatch this year.

3. Make snow angels

4. Go ice skating

5. Build a snow person

6. Do something totally new for New Year’s

7. Ride the carousel in Columbus Commons

8. Perform a poem at open-mic night

9. Have breakfast at the Starliner Diner

10. Have a black and white movie party

 

Source: google.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

 

Anyone have any cool winter ideas I should add to my list? What’s on yours? Thanks, Janette, for letting me steal this.

love, elizabeth

Why Reorganizing the Pantry Made Me Smile

Well, I can cross SOMEthing off my to-do list! I reorganized the pantry cupboards. At least now I can find everything…sometimes I get all wrapped around the axle wishing I had more storage space, a more sophisticated-looking kitchen, whatever. And then I am reminded that God has always provided EXACTLY what I need. I have never gone hungry. I have never been homeless. If nothing else, cleaning out the pantry has reminded me how faithfully I have been provided for. Again and again and AGAIN.

Here’s The Deep Steep tea I’m always raving about.

Honestly, looking at these pictures is pretty humbling. I know that right now thousands and thousands of people in the world will not have breakfast or lunch or dinner. I am a little embarrassed that I have doubted the goodness of God for even a SECOND. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, God, for my well-stocked pantry and Kyle’s job and the way you have given freely, with both hands, saying, “I will never leave you nor forsake you, Elizabeth.” Wow.

What about you? What’s making you feel thankful today?

love, elizabeth

PS: Stay tuned! Our fall giveaway is just around the corner!

Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to do the laundry or not do the laundry

So here’s a question for the pondering…is “being productive” a by-product of productivity itself or the superpower whereby things actually get done? Think on it. Get back to me.

Anyway, today and tomorrow I need some of this “being productive” juice in my life. I give you…my to-do list. If it in any way scares you, well, be assured…it scares me, too.

Source: media.photobucket.com via Jaimee on Pinterest

To-Do (the hyphen makes it more serious)

1. Laundry

If anyone would like to commiserate with me about the horror of communal laundry rooms/laundromats, feel free. I found short black hairs ALL over all the washing machines when I went to start a load this morning. This is inexplicable. And gross.

2. Grocery-shopping

I have been putting this one off so that I could clip coupons. This is my first serious venture into the coupon-ing. It could get ugly. But I need to do it soon as there are about three edible things in my fridge and one of them is ketchup.

3. Paperwork/filing

This one boggles the mind. Seriously, HOW do I accumulate so many random things to be filled out, filed, stamped, mailed-in, returned, printed, and photo-copied?? I don’t understaaaaaaaaaaaaaand.

4. Donate to Goodwill

Kyle and I cleaned out our closets and storage pretty well this summer. And somehow all the donations pile has taken over our hallway and is just sitting there, mocking me. It needs to go.

5. Food bank donations

I have nothing snarky to say about this except that, while it was very nice of us to buy things for the food pantry like baby food and evaporated milk, it is not nearly as nice to leave it in the trunk of your car for a month. I’m sure all the food bank visitors will really be able to appreciate it there.

6. The dining-room

Notice the lack of verb. It’s because I don’t have one right now. Something is just WRONG and needs to be corrected. I’ll let you know when I figure out what.

7. Update day planner and wall calendar

My days and nights are about to get 1,548,972X more interesting (read: insane). This does not bode well for my Sharpie’s longevity.

8. Organize the pantry

I’ve recently discovered extra room to store canned food which is really good. In theory. Maybe this one deserves a post when I’m done.

9. Plan my curriculum for Wednesday nights

I’ll be teaching a little theatre class for 6-11 year-olds in the afterschool program at our church. Or I will if I actually get my act together. Get it. Act.

10. Enjoy Doppler 10 Chief Meteorologist Chris Bradley’s Columbus forecast: “Temperatures will rise into the 80s on Monday and Tuesday before a strong cold front brings fall-like weather.”

Chris Bradley, has anyone ever told you how handsome and distinguished that blue screen makes you look?

 

Source: None via Elizabeth on Pinterest

 

I realize that this is riveting reading so you’re if still awake, lay it on me! What’s on your to-do list?

love, elizabeth

PS: Stay posted for giveaway news. Um, yeah. It’s going to be magical.