What I’m Loving Wednesday

There has been some blog neglect lately due to schoolwork, but now I have finally caught up and am able to breathe. Hopefully, tomorrow I will make up for the “Best of Instagram,” and I am also cooking up some other blog ideas for later in the week. Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope it is grand!

First off, I am loving the sweet card that arrived in my mailbox today. My mom sent me my proof of insurance for my car in the mail, and my oldest niece, Bailee, picked out a lovely card to go with it. Mom said she chose it because she said I would “love the flowers and the chair”. Well, she was right; I do love it. I also love how it says “Sow seeds of love and kindness”. What a good reminder :) Also, look at that cute five year-old writing. You know it is precious.

I am loving the amazing sandwich Amber made for me today for our writing center meeting. It was absolutely delicious, and it looked as good as it tasted. Spinach, tomato, mushroom, sundried tomato pesto, and basil pesto all slapped together on whole wheat. Brilliant.

I am loving that my book review of Ethan Frome is practically done, and I don’t have to spend tonight and the earlier morning hours finishing it up! It only requires a little bit more editing, and then that sucker is getting printed and ready to turn in. I have been working tirelessly all week between studying for midterms to get ahead on my assignments so I can enjoy tonight and relax. And I have ever intention of doing just that.

Having said that, I’m loving that tonight is trivia night at Hey Joe’s! This has become a weekly ritual with some of my dear Cleveland friends, and it is a perfect way to get through the week and celebrate the fact that the weekend is just on the horizon.

Moreover, Hey Joe’s! is having a Sadie Hawkins dance tonight after trivia that I am super excited about. I am a firm believer in men initiating interest with women (including in dancing). If a man wants to dance, he should have enough guts to ask. But, I might just have to make an exception tonight because of the rules that go along with Sadie Hawkins. Also, a band that was started up by some people that I went to high school with is playing. I am looking forward to hearing them and doing something a little different on this Leap Day.

Once again, I hope you have a great Wednesday and are embracing the little things that you love and that make this Wednesday and your life that much better. Oh, I almost forgot... HAPPY LEAP DAY!

Confessional Friday

Today I am properly linking up with Leslie for “Confessional Friday”. I hope you enjoy this beautiful Friday and have a lovely weekend!

• Given the choice, I will almost always have my photos in color than in black and white.  I love color way too much, so why take it out of life?
• Speaking of color, if I could, I would decorate everything in multicolored/rainbow palettes.
• I have a long lost dream of being a ballerina.
• I am usually very oblivious. I feel like I go through life seeing, but not really seeing people and details.
• I wish I could have met either of my grandfathers.
• I am terribly obsessed with lace.
• I want to slide on a ladder in a library like Belle in Beauty and the Beast.
• I adore the smell of books, new or old.
• I am really particular about my books. I like them to be in the best shape possible, and I will cut you if you tear or fold a page.
• I cannot walk or cut in a straight line.
• I judge men by the type of shoes they wear.
• For an English major, I am terrible at grammar.
• I would rather read a paper of value with a clear and meaningful message/argument than a paper with perfect grammar and no real thought.
• I have always wanted to play the cello or violin.
• I think a man kissing a woman’s hand is one of the most romantic gestures.
• I think this quote from Edith Wharton’s “The Other Two” pretty much defines my life: “Waythorn was an idealist. He always refused to recognise unpleasant contingencies till he found himself confronted with them, and then he saw them followed by a special train of consequences”.
• I cannot see a pineapple without thinking of Psych.

Valentine’s Banquet

Every year my church decides to have a Valentine’s get-together for the married couples. They are usually organized by several married individuals, and there are absolutely no children allowed. Well, this year someone decided it would be a good idea to have a formal dinner where the kids serve the adults. I am not sure who came up with this idea, but it was definitely a success. I think from now on, a formal dinner is in order.

The evening was a great experience all around. The adults were provided with an extremely cheap night out where they could eat good food, socialize, and be entertained and served. The kids got the opportunity to experience serving, working as a team, and exhaust themselves to help  others. There were SO many people who helped out in various capacities such as providing decor, loaning china sets, cooking food, cleaning dishes, etc. All I can say is that after last night I am overwhelmed by how much God has blessed our church. He has given so many people creative minds, hard working spirits, and serving hearts. And for all of that, I am very grateful.

I have just a few pictures that barely cover what all went into the event last night. I wish I had a picture of every person that contributed so much of their time and energy. I wish I had a picture of the beautiful place settings and food. I wish I had pictures of all the lovely couples in attendance. I wish I had pictures of more decorations and details. We really needed a designated photographer, but I managed to steal a few shots between all of the craziness of preparing and the kitchen duties last night.  Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy the photos! They certainly do not do justice to the real experience.

1. & 2. Sam and Mark practicing the day before the big event. Not pictured are multiple people setting up the hall and decorating.

3. Laura found these adorable mini flowers to decorate the place cards. Are they not precious?                                                                                    4. My parent’s place cards. These are a sampling of mine and Laura’s efforts at the art of place card making.

5. The map of the Server’s Hall.                                                                      6. The schedule.

7. Anna Kate Minyard. This is the lovely lady who orchestrated last night. God has certainly blessed this young lady with multiple talents (organizing, managing, and singing to name a few), and everyone who she comes in contact with is in turn blessed. I am so thankful God put her in my life!                                                                                                         8. Myself, Anna Kate, and Laura. The “Kitchen Queens”.

9. The servers. I am not sure that this is everyone, but I cannot express how much they helped and did so with serving and willing hearts. They were definitely another one of God’s blessings last night.                           10. The Drop Bears: Mark, Anna Kate, and Sam were the entertainers for last night.

11. Decor.                                                                                                         12. The hall.

13. & 14. The Drop Bears giving a wonderful performance. Sam and Mark started off the evening by playing various selections from Jack Johnson to Elvis. However, Anna Kate surprised everyone half-way through and joined the boys. These guys did a FANTASTIC job. I wish everyone could have heard them. I honestly think they did just as good or better than the originals.

Here are a few of my favorites that they performed. If these are not in your music library, you need to remedy this infraction asap! I promise, if you are anything like me, you will not be able to stop listening to the catchy lyrics and beautiful music.

“The Girl” by City and Colour

“The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson

“Forget Me Not” by The Civil Wars

Again, I am so thankful to everyone who helped make last night a success. It was a wonderful experience, and I am ready to do it again next year.

What I’m Loving Wednesday

So, yesterday was Valentine’s, and I must admit that I absolutely love this holiday. I remember as a child being incensed at the fact that the public school system did not recognize this as a holiday that validated a day off. This holiday also promoted my favorite color red and hearts. I also think that I loved this holiday so much because my dad in many ways took over the card and gift. I mean, let’s be honest. Usually, every other holiday mom would do the shopping, but for some unknown reason my dad would decide to get involved. He always picked out the best cards and wrote some of the sweetest notes. He would also choose gifts that showed me he really understood my personality and put a great deal of thought into the gift. I think as a young girl and teenager I enjoyed the reminder that my daddy was forever my biggest fan and a guy who would never stop loving me. And, now as a young woman, I realize this fact without the reminder of Valentine’s day. All that said, I have some very fond memories of this holiday, and I have some fun pictures to share that describe my Valentine’s experience this year and why I’m loving it.

 

1. & 2. Remember these? Well, Sunday night I decided to make cookies that said “Happy Valentines” and “Lots of Love”.

3. This was one of my best cookies. It is actually legible. I decided it should go to my professor/coworker, Mike Smith, because he always complains about how no one considers him on Valentine’s. Well, by-golly, I was considerate and gave him the best.                                                       4. This picture depicts what the majority of my cookies looked like: a hot, unreadable mess. They definitely do not look like the cookies on the box cover, and I will most definitely have to do some internet research before I attempt another batch. Needless to say, everyone else received failed attempts at cute Valentine’s cookies. Myself and the recipients all got some pretty good laughs at my pitiful cookies.

5. & 6. This was a craft I found on Pinterest. I used paint samples and a heart punch to make this threaded garland. I sent this little Valentine’s happy to one of my best friends, Sydney, who is working her tail off at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. I could not think of another person who better deserved a happy.

7. This was my Valentine’s present from my parents. They know how much I love trees and got me this cute pendant!                                          8. This was a Valentine’s gift from Amber. She was so thoughtful, and like a good English major she gave me a card with a cheesy pun: “Look it is Cupig”. You know it is funny.

9. Dr. Ford brought Dove milk chocolates to all of the Writing Center workers at today’s meeting. When I opened the first one, all I saw was “Exercise today”. I was taken aback. Then I read further and it told me to “Exercise your heart today”. We all got a good laugh out of it, and Amber decided to make some minor adjustments to the message. Jerk.                 10. Here was some of the other sayings that my coworkers gave me to make me feel better. One told me that “The best things in life are chocolate” and the other told me to “Believe in those you love”. They were definitely better than the chocolate telling me to go exercise.

I hope your Wednesday and Valentine’s Day was wonderful!

My Week, Instagram Style #4

What a whirlwind kind week it has been. I feel like I have been all over the great state of Mississippi (maybe because I have), but it was a wonderful week that I would not change. I hope your week was fabulous, and I hope you enjoy my week in pictures.

1. Psalm 27:8                                                                                                   2. We had homemade flan in Conversations class on Tuesday. Yum!

3. Group shot of the Confidante winners at Tuesday’s winner’s reading. On the front row to the left is my suitemate Katie, and next to her is my beautiful bestie Amber. I am so proud of all of these brilliant people that I am privileged to rub shoulders with every week at Delta State.    

4. On Wednesday, one of my regular customers, Flavio, came in the Writing Center for help. He is from Colombia, and he is so appreciative of people who take time to help him. He asked if I liked coffee, and preceded to give me a handful of these delicious Colombian coffee candies. How thoughtful!

5. I went with the Dean’s Scholars to Hattiesburg to present at the MAMLE conference. Our presentation was on how to get an AT&T grant to use iPod touches in the classroom. We spent hours in the hotel downloading apps and preparing.                                                                   6. It was rainy, but you can faintly see a pond and a white bridge. Supposedly, if you cross that bridge with someone, that is the person you are going to marry. The bridge was on the Southern Miss campus, and it was absolutely gorgeous there! Honestly, I think it could rival Ole Miss…maybe.

 

7. Nicole and I waiting on a session.                                                              8. Friday’s schedule…with our names on it…weird.

9. Official.                                                                                                        10. The group: Kyla, myself, Ms. Mandy, Nicole, and Brittany. I have traveled all over with these ladies, and we have the best time!

11. Pete and Squidbilly watching Parks and Recreation at Friday night movie night. Isn’t that  kitten precious?                                                      12. I decided to take a picture of my multi-colored TOMS while waiting on mom to get gas.

13. Saturday night was the monthly movie night at Sam and Dan’s all the way out in Eudora. I got the privilege of listening to Sam and Mark practice for the Valentine’s banquet. Let me tell ya, those boys can sing.                                                                                                                14. This is a Christmas present that finally came in this week. I am so excited to start experimenting!

I Confess…

I missed the link for “Confessional Fridays,” but Saturday seems like a good enough day for honesty and confession. So, here we go.

• When I was little I thought at the beginning of Disney movies the word Disney was Quisney, and sometimes I still think it says that.
• I could eat Mexican food all day, everyday.
• I wanted to look like Catherine Zeta-Jones or Faith Hill when I was younger.
• I find the taste of rosemary barely tolerable.
• I cried and never wanted to watch Lady and the Tramp again because of the scene where the dog is lead off to be put down. I found it incredibly sad that the dog was so happy and had no idea what was coming. I guess that is life.
• I did not play outside as a kid, because I believed my 70 year old neighbor when he told me that if I played outside I would be eaten by coyotes, bobcats, and bears.
• I have had reoccurring dreams about bears trying to come in my house and eat me since I was little. (Probably a result of the above fact).
• I can rap Snoop Dogg’s  part in Justin Bieber’s “Baby” perfectly, and I am extremely proud of that.
• I go through life assuming that people do not like me or think the worst of me until otherwise informed. I am trying to adjust that mindset.
• I am one of those people who is blissfully unaware of things. If you want me to do something, ask. If you are upset about something I did, tell me. Otherwise, I will probably never know.
• I am very territorial. I have spots that I like, and I resent people who steal them. If you take my seat in a class, we are forever sworn enemies. (Just ask my bff Amber; she stole my seat in British Lit II).
• I love the kids shows Dragon Ball Z, Victorious, Phineas and Ferb and iCarly.
• My dad always use to sing and play “Brown Eyed Girl” and “Norwegian Wood” when I was little, and I thought he wrote them.
• I have irrational fears of being struck by lightning and falling down stairs.
• One of the best feelings is sliding onto a bed with fresh sheets.
• I did not wear makeup on a daily basis until the second semester of my freshman year at college.
• My dream job is to travel the world like Rick Steves.
• I love spontaneous moments.
• Surprises are some of my favorites.
• I was in Dublin on St. Patrick’s day last year, and I slept through that once in a life time opportunity, because I was so tired from taking Dramamine.
• For me, a person can fix almost any offense with a hug.
• I take Disney Scene-It way too seriously.
• I am easily embarrassed, and I get easily embarrassed for other people. Actually, sometimes I can hardly watch The Office because I am so embarrassed for the characters. Again, I am trying to loosen up.
• I have convinced both of my nieces that I am Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

My Week, Instagram Style #3

Well, I am a little late on linking up with Jenni at Story of My Life for the “Best of Instagram”. However, Super Bowl festivities took precedence over important matters such as homework and blogging. But, might I assert, that “Better late, than never” applies to this situation. So, have a fabulous Monday on this sunny sixth of February!

1. We played Spanish Bingo in my Conversations class. Money was involved, and I managed to lose $3. However,  a well-deserving single mom won about $21, and she planned on buying a new toy for her precious daughter.                                                                                          2. I saw this advertisement in a Clipper Magazine. Another reason to love Valentine’s Day…cheesy, but cute puns on my name.

3. Shelby and I had a wonderful time catching up at TCBY on Thursday. It was SO colorful in there, and it was slightly ridiculous how many options there were for yogurt. I recommend going!                                    4. Shelby’s yogurt was much prettier than mine.

5. My wonderful daddy and me.                                                                   6. Typical of us trying to get a group picture.

7. My new Lenny and Eva bracelet!                                                              8. The fun charm holder at Paisley Pineapple (where I bought my bracelet). I could get lost in stores like these.

9 & 10. I had some seriously big hair this weekend, and I felt like other people should witness my hair looking somewhat decent for once.

11. A new summer dress that I got for cheap at Janie Rose while Mom and I had a Hernando date day.                                                                  12. You cannot tell from looking at the picture, but that is about a nine foot tall Eli Manning. I went over to the Lies house for the Super Bowl, and they completely rearranged their living room so that they could project the game on their biggest wall. I have a theory that they wanted to project the game on the wall, not only to have a close up view of everything, but also, so they could throw objects when things weren’t going their way. My hypothesis is that they did not want to worry about damaging a t.v.

Have a blessed week!