I must say that a few months ago I was praying for today. I prayed of a time when I could splurge on myself, have dinner with friends, have an eventful weekend, and at the end smile because it was all good. I don't write this because I was to throw it in some one's face, but I want to tell those who are struggling that there is hope out there. That dream you keep seeing, the vision that helps you go on when it isn't at all as you pictured, you will have that day.
Such a blessing this weekend was.
We went to dinner at RJ Gators on Friday night, and since I arrived early I was able to shop at the mall. This proved to be fatal to my wallet. I found not one, but two beautiful purses. I called my mom to ask what I should do. Her advice was to splurge on myself and enjoy some of my hard earned cash. I had dreamed about it for months, why not take the time to do so. Well, if Mom says it's okay who am I to argue?
On Saturday I started the day off early, but to spend time with Shas, helping her get ready for her baby shower? That I'm willing to do any time. Besides spending time with your best friend is never a chore. As soon as I know how big Baylor will be when Halloween rolls around this is the outfit he is getting. Shas loves Elvis and it is too cute to pass up.
Plus I got to spend the afternoon with my second family, Shas' mom and sister at the shower. Afterward my mom and I went to the book store where I picked up this gem I've been waiting for:
Erik Larson's In the Garden of Beasts. If you haven't read Erik Larson before, might I suggest, RUN and get any book of his. My introduction to this fabulous author was his book, Devil in the White City, about the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and America's first serial killer, H.H. Holmes. All non-fiction, but reads like a fantastic fiction book. If you want an even easier read try his Isaac's Storm, about the hurricane that leveled Galveston in 1901. It is told from Isaac Hayes, the meteorologist of Galveston and the hurricane itself. With fabulous stories and a great read you can not go wrong reading anything Erik Larson writes!
Then today I got to visit with my favorite missionary family, The Johnson's, who were in town for the summer. If you'll remember I stayed with them when I lived in Mexico. It was so good to see everyone and I even got to visit with D's mother, whom I enjoy so immensely. Afterward I talked my dad into seeing:
Captain America. Wonderful movie. It had humor, romance, no curse words, and a very handsome Chris Evans. Plus Tommy Lee Jones was hilarious, my admiration for all things Stanley Tucci still stands, and it was really a fun ride. I encourage anyone to see it. Of course now I feel the need to see Thor...
Finally, I ended the day with some swimming, Jerseylicious, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Truly a blessed day. I hope and pray this kind of weekend for all of you. I just feel so blessed, and it feels so surreal. I also feel slightly paranoid that it might not last, but I'm very, very grateful!
So, as I continue to navigate and find my voice I think Saturday's should be reserved for more fun. I love the weekends, not that I know anyone who doesn't, but sometimes I think it needs to have a little more fun.
With that thought in mind I have some fun Saturday blog. At least I will attempt to have that. My humor doesn't always come across the screen correctly.
Now these titles will change as I get bored easily, but you know I'll find the best of whatever.
The Best From Twitter:
I spend a lot of time on Twitter because I can actually be on it at work without my work suffering (unlike Facebook). And it was a great week on Twitter:
1. Gary Sinise re-tweeted me for my mom. His awesomeness took an even bigger leap in my mind. I didn't think that was possible.
2. The Wall Street Journal had the best article title this week on the NPR scandal: Video Killed the Radio Czar. That made me giggle. Loudly.
4. I failed at 'Name That Movie' Quote Game from The Pioneer Woman. Badly. Just a future warning I fail at the game 95% of the time. Unless the movie is The Sandlot. I get that one.
Fashion Finds of the Week:
1. Charming Charlie - a necklace and pair of earrings are only $12.97. That's pretty good.
Last night I went to Charming Charlie for a Ladies Fellowship night. The store was big and open and the jewelry was arranged by color and such beautiful items: necklaces, earrings, headbands, rings, shoes, sandals, boots, purses and so much more! The store clerks were nice enough to put some looks together for us, and because of the group we even received a discount. On top of all that my friend, Chastity, did the devotional.
I often go back to the subject of the devotional which is found in 1 Samuel 16:7:
But the LORD said to Samuel,"Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."
Chastity went on to talk about how we are a society that looks at the physical appearance, and as much as I feel it as an over weight woman, I know that all women and most men feel it to. And it goes beyond health. I'll save my feelings on health for another day, but suffice it to say I don't believe running people down or being rude, in any capacity, is the way you deal with someone who looks out of the "norm". As all it seems to have done is to strike fear in the hearts of many people to the point they are ruining their bodies just so they won't be seen as fat.
And yet God specifically tells us to look into the heart of a man. It is not the physical appearance that determines how incredible a human being is, but their heart. Who among us has not seen someone achingly beautiful, only to see their beauty turn sour when they open their mouth to spew anything but kindness and goodness? The opposite is true to, we've seen someone with a physical appearance that isn't as pleasant to the eye, but they open their hearts and their actions cause us to see way beyond physical appearance to the beauty of their soul.
In fact I think the best example of this is actually from the movie, Shallow Hal. I know it got slammed by many people, but I think the lesson from it on physical beauty vs inner beauty was spot on. My question is why don't we focus more on those traits? I can be just as guilty and the minute I am the Holy Spirit convicts me, and I am reminded that they are a person of worth. The second greatest commandment then comes flooding into my heart, "Love your neighbor as yourself", and suddenly I see something in that person that I never would have seen with my blinders on.
I'm not saying we should throw appearance out the door, or let people continue on in very un-healthy habits, but I think if given love and encouragement, that perhaps, true beauty will start to mean more to you and to me.
All of that being said I actually bought a new purse. My beautiful orange Kate Spade was an incredible 2009 Christmas gift that I've proudly worn since then. In fact I refused to give it up until I could find another purse that would catch my eye. Last night I did. I'm retiring my beloved purse for the time being, but make no mistake it will be back. Beauty like that should never be resting too long (just like you!).
So this is my new beautiful yellow Berkinish looking bag.
These two have nothing to do with one another except this morning I had McDonald's and I listened to Billy Joel. To me that is a great way to start my Saturday.
I did make it to the office. You can see by the new blog look it has been updated. I have great tools here at the office, but not on my laptop at home. I'm also creating work for my board that I mod. The board has been there seven years, so it is a pretty big deal.
I hope that you are enjoying your Saturday out there. We actually have to turn on our A/C at the house, that is how hot is has gotten. A complete 180 from the ice days of only a week ago.
I've found new shoes that I've fallen in love with this. My mom said if she won the lottery she would buy them for me. I'm crossing my fingers.
If I could come up with any other reason for buying these shoes beyond, "I want them, I really, really, want them." I would buy these shoes. So absolutely adorable.
Beyond that I don't have many outfits it would go with. Not that I wouldn't be thinking up a ton of them, but I don't have enough to justify buying these shoes.
C'est la vie.
Now onto those apples. I have two of them and I need to figure out what to do. I can buy a few more and make an apple pie. Or I can make some mini-apple bundt cakes. Or I can make apple dumplings, or even apple brown betty. So many choices and yet I have no idea what to do....
Any suggestions?
Meanwhile, I found no new every day hat. I know I feel sorry for me. If you're new to the blog or my twitter feed I do post some political things. I usually don't like too, but if it bugs me or I think it is important I will post. I'll warn you from now on (except on Twitter).
I've been a little busy these past few days. I gave a huge presentation on Friday and nailed it. I can't tell you what a feeling of accomplishment that was.
Then to celebrate I baked. I made white chocolate covered pretzels and brown - edged cookies which I will share the recipe down below.
Meanwhile I played this song the other day and it so does bring a smile to my face:
Your Wildest Dreams by the Moody Blues
So for the clothing part:
My dearest second-mother, Shas's mom, bought me this cute head scarf at a craft fair a couple of Saturday's ago and I had to share it with you. I think it is adorable.
Then I got to borrow L's cute hat and wore it on Saturday. I want it now of course, but I'll go buy my own so we can exchange on different days.
Since it has been such a limited year financially I'm making Christmas gifts this year. This includes pies, cookies, fudge (well mom is making that), and anything else that I make that others would want.
So these are my white chocolate covered pretzels. The only other ingredient you might want to add is cinnamon. It really makes these easy, if sort of tedious treats, taste even better.
And these are my mom's favorite so I made them just for her:
Brown Edge Cookies
adapted from my mother and grandmother
Ingredients
* 1 cup sifted cake flour
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup shortening
* 3/4 cup white sugar
* 1 egg
* 1 1/4 teaspoons lemon extract
* 1/2 cup cottage cheese, creamed
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
2. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Mix until creamy shortening, sugar and egg. Add lemon extract. Mix in cottage cheese until smooth
3. Add flour mixture and mix just until blended.
Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheet. Bake ten to fifteen minutes, or until brown around the edges.
So, that was my weekend. I'm feeling back to my old self so I will start to work out again and hopefully have other postings for you.
Dear friends, this week was not a very good one for me. I don't know if you've experienced this before but coming home after being gone a year is a tough job. I had no idea it would be this hard, but yet here I am. This week certainly didn't help...
First off on Tuesday I was called back for a second interview only to be told two hours after having it conducted that I didn't have enough experience. That was hard rejection. I have over ten years experience in the office realm, but alas it was not to be. I want to follow God's will but my financial resources are being depleated and well... I don't like that.
Then I tried on clothes and it turns out my chest is still rather large and therefore anything I tried had a gaping hole where the button should be covering that area...
Next, (now that I'm rejected and fat), I read this article that speaks of being married early and having children before your thirty is actually healthy and better for you. So now I'm rejected, fat, single, childless and at risk for my life ending because of these things....
On top of all that my regular out-on-the-town Friday night has been cancelled because my friends are going out of town.... no, it has not been an easy week.
Feeling good: I still have some employement opportunites I can explore.
Looking good: For the interview I found this jacket at Faith21 (plus size of Forever21), it fits, and I look adorable in it You can look at here (Obviously got mine in black.):
No, it hasn't. I turned 28 yesterday and realize I want to change just a few things. I don't want to change myself, just fix some issues that I can. What has happened is that I'm issuing a challenge for myself. If I were to look in the mirror or have to go on one of those shows and tell you what I don't like about myself there are five major issues I have.
1. I don't like my weight first off. I am a size 18 on a good day. 2. I have a few moles. Nothing gross that is really outstanding, but they drive me nuts. I just need to find a good doctor, which leads to number three. 3. I have some medical issues that I need to get resolved. The problem is finding a good doctor. 4. I may be looking for a new job in the very near future and I want to make a good impression. Despite the weight. 5. I want to feel good about what I look like despite what size I am.
The Challenge:
Starting July 7th I will fully begin the challenge of remedying all of this. The reason is I will be back in the States and I get my new haircut on that date. A great hair cut is a great way to feel good about yourself, so we will start with something simple, easy, and something everyone can do. After that I will try to tackle each issue and by July 7th, 2010, I hope to have each issue resolved.
