haha

This kills me.  It's like someone
overheard my man on a Saturday
morning, and then made a print.

Love it.  :)


*via

another one

 

Sister is making us look sharp

in these fun engagement pictures!

 

Every time she emails us that more

are up, I get ridiculously excited and 

smiley.  It's quite silly, but totally fun.

Hope you find something happy to smile

about on this Friday morning!

upside down

This morning as I walked into the

office through a dense cloud of fog, it was 

like the sun was shining up at me from 

the sidewalk under my feet. 

The carpet of yellow maples leaves

made my walk beautiful and was 

a very cheerful way to start an 

otherwise slightly gray day! 

buffalo chicken dip

 

Last night was small group, which meant 

another new dip recipe! I had to work late, 

so the handsome man gets all the 

credit for cooking up this yummy mixture.  

 

(He's cute AND he cooks...I am the luckiest girl!)

Here's what you'll need:

2.5 cups Buffalo Chicken Strips, cooked & chopped

.5 cup Celery, chopped fine

8 oz. Cream Cheese, room temperature

.5 cup of Ranch Dressing

6 oz. liquid Hot Sauce (more/less depending on your heat tolerance)

4 oz. shredded Monterey Jack Cheese (be generous)

Mix all ingredients except the shredded cheese

together in oven safe dish, then top with cheese.  

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes 

until everything is hot and melted.  Enjoy with

chips or crackers! 

known

 

"The Lord knows those who are His."  

(II Timothy 2:19)

 

I find such comfort and joy in

knowing that the God who breathes

stars and creates universes knows me.

And that I am His. 

 

 *image

holy cuteness

It's no secret...I love the

weekly "Pets on Furniture"

post over at desire to inspire.

Here's further proof why...a 

dog named Chewbacca sleeping 

inside a vintage suitcase.  I don't

know how it could get any 

better than this!

*image

sneak peak

We had so much fun doing pictures

with sister this past weekend!

After about 450 pictures and lots of

laughing, now the editing begins.

I am getting so excited to see them all, 

especially after she sent us a few 

this morning.  Yay for love and fun

wedding related things!

pictures

 

I am in love with this sweet picture.

I especially enjoy the composition (all 

that empty space - swoon!) and the 

adorable forehead kisses.  Super cute.

In other sort of related news, 

the handsome man and I are doing

an engagement photo shoot with my

fabulous sister tomorrow...and I 

am so excited!  It will be great fun 

to play outside and hang with two 

of my favorite people!

*image

tub envy

Wow...what I wouldn't give to go take

a deliciously long and relaxing soak 

in this tub!  That bathroom is so pretty, 

that I fear I would spend all my 

time in there if it were mine!

*image

just because

 

Reasons to post this picture:

1.  He makes me smile. 

2.  There's a moose behind us.

3.  We look cute together.

4.  Just because.

hot baked potato dip

 

I made this amazing dip last night, and it 

couldn't have been easier.  Or yummier, for 

that matter.  It got rave reviews!

All you need to be fat & happy is:

8 oz softened cream cheese

8 oz sour cream 

(I used a little more)

3 oz bacon bits 

1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

(I used sharp...and a little more)

1 bunch of chopped chives 

(I used the dried ones, totally fine.)

Mix it all together in an oven safe dish, 

then pop it in a 350 degree oven for about 

30 minutes.  Serve with tortilla chips or 

any other salty crunch of your choice.

Plan to eat quickly if you're 

sharing...it went pretty fast!

heavy heart

Maybe you're not like me, but sometimes I 

feel a little overwhelmed with social justice causes.

There are so many needs and issues that deserve 

our attention, and sometimes I think that knowing about 

so many of them causes me to become a little numb

to the harsh reality of how terrible some of these 

things really are.  Anyone else feel this way?

 Well, in the last few weeks I've heard a lot
about the realities of human trafficking,
and let me tell you, it has totally wrecked me.
And I don't think that I can go back to
a distant, abstract way of caring.

It seems unfathomable that there are
slaves today, right?  The idea that people can
be bought and sold as property seems
completely insane to me.  Well, do you know
that human trafficking is an industry that
 nets 32 billion dollars annually?

How about this - are you aware that
it's happening right here in your backyard? 
There are an estimated 17,500 people
trafficked into the US each year - most of
them for sexual exploitation.  80% of these
are female, and 50% are minors.  In fact, the
average age of trafficked girls is 14. 

There are a lot more numbers, none of which can
really capture the atrocities that are going on
around us.  Because when push comes to shove,
it's not about numbers or statistics.  It's about the
terrible truth that people are being stripped of
their value as human beings and treated
like objects.  And that's not ok.

I don't know what I'm supposed to do about
it, but I do know that I won't just sit by and let
nothing be done.  Uncomfortable as it is,
expect to hear more from me on this topic.

These two organizations are doing great things,
and I think knowing about them is a good place to start:
Run For Freedom
the A21 Campaign

family!

 

Yesterday I got to see these 

lovelies, and it was so wonderful.

It's not often I get to have coffee with 

Momma or have a midweek lunch

with family.  It's the definite downside 

of us all living too far away from 

each other.  But yesterday was a lovely 

treat and I totally enjoyed it!

*image via sister

art happiness

 

Loving this new, cheerful piece 

that just came into the gallery. 

 

It's so funky and happy...and I kind 

of want to take it home with me!

ooo la la

 

I would live in this closet

if this was mine.

*image

oh handmade

 

Check this out:

handmade pottery with 

a handmade candle inside.

Love it.

*etsy, of course.

completely frivolous

 

Yes please.

*etsy, of course

seasons change...

 

 

I love this picture.  

It somehow captures the

change from summer to fall - 

the really early part where nearly

everything is still green, but 

you can't help but notice all the 

subtle little signs of impending autumn.

Plus - let's be real -  I'm just

a sucker for any photo with 

lots of pretty bokah action.

wanderlust

Pretty pictures of exotic places 

makes me long to pack up a bag

and dash off to the airport.

Ever have that feeling?

More of these beautiful 

photos here.

true confession

 

Last week, my handsome man scored 

tickets to an upcoming Celtics game, 

and was obviously super excited.

 

Here's the strange part: 

I got excited too.

 

Over a basketball game.

More evidence of how love

corrupts us and makes us do

the weirdest things.

*us looking cute at a game last year

small pleasures

 

Maybe it's just me,

but I find great satisfaction

in very small pleasures.

Today it's drinking a steaming 

hot cup of tea to soothe 

my pathetically sore throat

and calm my loud cough...

Certainly not exciting,

but somehow very satisfying.

*image

bookworm

I have been an avid John Grisham

fan for years.  I have read all

the books, seen most of the movies,

and even briefly considered becoming 

a lawyer just because he makes 

it sound so darn interesting.

There have been a few misses

in recent years that I haven't enjoyed

as much as the other books, but I just 

finished devouring The Associate and it 

was great.  It read like his early books - 

super engaging and fast paced - and I 

happily powered through it, enjoying 

each word and plot twist.   

There's really nothing like a 

good read, is there?

how he loves...

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,

How He loves us all... 

 

 

i'm leaving on a jet plane...

I'm leaving tomorrow for the annual

trek to Atlanta.  Along with a few other

leaders from my church, I'll be spending 

the next couple of days at Catalyst.

This is the coolest leadership conference 

ever, and is always an incredible time 

of worship, learning, and group building.  

Despite being bummed about some icky 

circumstances, I'm excited to see what God 

has for me this year, and am working very 

hard to go with lots of expectancy 

and an open and teachable heart!

jacket love

In my quest to learn to love fall,

I've decided that great clothes will

play a large role in this love affair.

For instance - my fabulous new

jacket.  It goes with everything and 

makes me feel like a million bucks.

Also key - scarves.  I've been

helplessly hooked on scarves for 

a while now, and pairing them with 

the killer new jacket is like a

recipe for instant happiness.

 How about you?  What's your

fall back autumn accessory?

(the bad pun totally 

intentional, sorry.)

*image

sleepy monday

 

I'm really tired today,

and this space looks super

inviting and relaxing to me.

I'd like to go cuddle up under

a blanket on that couch and watch 

an endless amount of movies.

 

Popcorn anyone?

*image

truth

The source of my hope

trust and peace...

*image

his fault

It's no secret...I've always 

had a weakness for sweets.

(just ask Momma how easily 

it was to bribe me with 

grand promises of dessert)

However, I place the blame for 

this newfound love of donuts

(specifically those of the butternut 

variety) firmly with my man.

Lucky for him,

I happen to think he's cute,

or this could be a problem...