Stop What You Are Doing and Listen.

WHAT, WHAT, WHAT are you doing? (In order to get this reference, go to youtube and search "sassy gay friend: romeo and juliet" and you will have gained 5 minutes of pure entertainment) 

Anyhoo, whatever you are doing cannot be more important than what I am about to tell you to do. My dear friend John French is a super talented musician right out of Athens, GA and he just recently put some of his new stuff on his website, and you must go listen to it. 

"Birds of Prey"? So hauntingly beautiful. 

But don't take my word for it. His website is http://virb.com/johnfrench . 

So, go! Type in that URL like the wind, bullseye!  

And did I mention, ladies, he's single?

(photo courtesy of Allison Fennell)

Here he is helping my friend do dishes. Courteous, a musician, good-looking, man of the Lord, does dishes....what more could you want?  

....What?! I am NOT pimping out my friend.

Ok, I'm pimping out my friend. 

*Quote of the Day:  

 "When we arrive at eternity's shore,

       Where death is just a memory and tears are no more.

    We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring

    Your bride will come together and we'll sing,

   You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful."

-"You're Beautiful" by Phil Wickham

Arts and Crafts Time!!!

Ok, confession time. I love Martha Stewart's website (www.marthastewart.com, of course) and I check there often. Cupcake design ideas, recipes and impossible DIY projects that only Martha herself can do? Yes please. But today I came across two projects that I want to embark on for my wee college apartment. And they might be only half-way impossible!!

It starts with the framed handkerchiefs: 

How cute right?! So I scoured the internet for handkerchiefs in the colors of my apartment (blue, yellow and green) and came across these:

via www.atticshoppe.com

www.atticshoppe.com again 

betsyvintage.com

betsyvintage.com

and, from P. Diddy's assistant. No, just kidding, betsyvintage.com again.

Now, the-almighty-one-of-the-arts-and-crafts-world wanted me to use some Swiss clips, foil tape, pearl paint and a bit of my blood and soul. However, while reading the instructions I got lost halfway through, and am deciding here and now to use a little bit of Scotch tape (glue would stain the fabric), mount the handkerchiefs on some poster paper (cut to size of course) and stick it in an inexpensive frame courtesy of Kmart. I call it "crafting for those who have no earthly idea what a Swiss clip is".  

Surprisingly, I then found a craft that I could do, and was useful to boot. You see, one of my favorite snack pairings is peanuts and Diet Coke. But, only if the Diet Coke is in a glass bottle: 

Mmmmm....soooo nice. 

So I decided that her Enamel Bottles were not only up to my skill level, but they would also be pretty in my apartment (as well as an excuse to indulge on my favorite snack):

So according to my dear friend Martha, you can get enamel paint (dishwasher safe, mind you!) at any craft store. So far so good. Then, you wash the bottles out, dry them and swish a bit of the surface primer (that should come with the paint) around until it covers the inside of the bottle. Pour out the excess, then let dry for an hour.

After the conditioner is dry, pour enough enamel in the bottle to coat the inside. Turn the bottle upside-down on a paper towel to dry, wiping the enamel off of the top of the bottle every few hours. 

It will take 2 days for the enamel paint to fully dry, then it will be ready for you to put pretty flowers in it that you've picked in this lovely spring weather! Or fake ones that you picked up from Michael's, whatever. Just don't go all Martha on me and make your own fake flowers. Not acceptable.

So now when you're stuck inside due to April showers, just remember that you can make a pretty bottle to put the May flowers in! Or frame those handkerchiefs your grandma keeps giving you, so your apartment will look a tad less dingy. 

...and then tell your grandma to start giving you better gifts/introduce her to some Puffs plus. Just sayin. 

*Quote of the Day:  

"God is in every tomorrow,

Therefore I live for today,

Certain of finding at sunrise,

Guidance and strength for my way;

Power for each moment of weakness,

Hope for each moment of pain,

Comfort for every sorrow, 

Sunshine and joy after rain."

- F.B. Meyer

The Formula to My Perfect Day

First, you take a 74 degrees sunny day...

Then you add some hot friends, and subtract jealousy of their bods. (after all you don't want to be THAT friend, you know the one I'm talking about)....

Followed by the addition of the foods that cancel out your will power....

Of course, Jane Austen is a key ingredient to the success of this formula....

We can't forget the element of the stunna shades....

And lastly, a beautiful walk home through the woods!! ...

Definitely a praise Jesus for His awesome creation kind of day. 

*Quote of the Day:  "Though winds are wild,

     And the gale unleashed,

     My trusting heart still sings:

     I know that they mean

     No harm to me,

     He rides upon their wings." 

     - Mark Guy Pearse 

A Place Where No One Knows

A dreamlike place where horses run free, and bridges make a path over bubbling brooks where geese and dare I say, beavers make their homes on the banks? No, it's not a quaint country farm, it's actually in the middle of Buckhead. And it is home to many of my deep thoughts and wildest dreams; for it's where I go for my quiet times. The Polo Fields were first introduced to me by a friend, and I now go there often to walk and think and connect with God. During the summer, you can find me there anytime of the day. 

It made me wonder though, how could I make my very own polo-field-like quiet times away from Buckhead, and in the hustle and bustle of college life? It's so hard to find peace and quiet. But lately I have found that God doesn't need beautiful scenery or breathtaking views in order to capture our hearts. He just needs a little time from us. Time to spend with Him, talking to Him, allowing Him to transform our minds and put peace in our hearts. 

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 

But his delight is 
in the law of the Lord, 
and on his law 
he meditates day and night. 
He is like a tree 
planted by streams of water, 
which yields its fruit in season 
and whose leaf does not wither. 
Whatever he does prospers. 

- Psalm 1:2-3

If you are in a season of God "hiding" Himself from you, it's only because He wants you to chase after Him. As a girl, I can definitely identify with that. We want to know that in a relationship, a guy will chase after us, pursue us. It's in our genes, it's what we need. At the same time, it's a desire that reflects God in us. Because He wants to know that no matter what happens, you will always be faithful to Him; through good and bad. Go to Him. Give Him your time. Polo-field atmosphere, or not. 

Quote of the Day: "Dream BIG, because God is a BIG God!!" -Wesley Sermon, 3/17/10