in 2011, i resolve to...

adios 2010. you've had some good times, but i have high hopes 2011 will be a better year.

Roast a chicken.
Know what wine I like.
Be well (rest, move more/eat less, maybe even go to the doctor).
Read more, watch TV less.
Clean more and better.

favorite recent purchase.

brown mocs on sale at dsw. look like i'm wearing slippers, but so comfy i find it cute.

what i want to remember.

i've been writing out this blog post all the way home. i just got back from hearing shauna niequist speak at ada bible and my mind has been buzzing the whole time. november 2 is a date i have been looking forward to for weeks. and it was even more than i anticipated it would be. while i should probably let the night percolate a little longer, there are a few things i'd like to remember in the meantime.

- so much more is possible for my life than i imagine for myself
- discipline is important and necessary. (this point has been driven home twice so far this week and it's only tuesday)
- life is bittersweet... not just this season.
- when you're in a creative job, you need to be able to draw on inspiration at any time... you can't just wait for it to hit you. to do this you need to be really careful about what you fill up your life with, what you allow yourself to take in. this means reading good books, surrounding yourself with great people... making sure your life is full of inspiration from many sources.
- i want to read: a moveable feast by hemingway... and more ruth reichl... and i should definitely start reading the help... i feel like i need some kind of retreat where i just go somewhere and read and pray.
- it's just becoming very apparent that it's really easy to sleepwalk through life. (it's also becoming apparent that i'm big on superlatives tonight)

... there's more to say. i'm sure i could go on and on. but there's a taco truck calling my name. (and it's not every day you can say that in GR, so i will answer)

and the world spins madly on...

tonight i saw the weepies in concert at calvin. while i had been anticipating the show for weeks, i didn't expect it to be such an emotional experience. it's hard to put into words why, but i found myself tearing up before every song. (sadly, i only got to see about 1/3 or 1/2 the show- however i was grateful to take part in the artist's conversation after the show as well.) calvin brings amazing artists into grand rapids and we are truly blessed to experience shows of this caliber. the respect they have for music is contagious. i especially loved what ken had to say in preface to the artist's convo. i highly recommend you seek out future conversations/concerts at calvin.

the weepies have been a favorite of mine since discovering them in this post by ali edwards back in 2005. and so for nearly 5 years now they have been a part of the soundtrack of my life. listening to them live tonight was like reliving so many stories. it was pure joy to experience the music, the art, the life of these two talented people... i didn't know how badly i had been waiting for this opportunity, but i'm so grateful for it.

i will not forget how fast i walked to make it to as much of this as i could. i won't forget laughing past the point of hysterics at the kid who was viewing a slideshow of best dressed celebs during the conversation with the artists. just when i thought i could do the laugh silently and rock back and forth thing, elicia rocked against me and i snorted so loud i expected everyone to turn and stare. oh the good times. God is good and He has greatly blessed my life.

nashville.

nashville :: october 8-11
three friends from gr headed south to visit miss annie in the ville.
these are my favorite moments & a record of how we spent our days.

FRIDAY
arrived around 8:30. woke anne up from an accidental sleep.
breakfast at the pfunky griddle. not only does the restaurant boast the perfect quirky atmosphere & an incredibly clever concept, but our waitress was a gem. we were beyond grateful for her tips on what to see & do in nashville.
walked around the neighborhood. consignment and antique shops.
checked in at the hotel and checked out anne's new digs.
dinner at the local taco. lovely tacos and a cold tecate. this place is a real favorite of mine. and i hear it's even lovelier when it's dark and the lights twinkle above you.
enjoyed a fabulous concert at the ryman - sara bareilles, greg laswell and holly conlan. (we were there for this.) i believe half of us are now trying to recreate sara b's lovely sequin skirt, button down and a belt outfit. oh sequins, how you woo me.

SATURDAY
glorious sleep.
breakfast at the perch. a nutella crepe and iced coffee. outside under an umbrella in brentwood. the kind of meal you know you'll be trying to recreate for years. (which is true of most of the meals we enjoyed in nashville) this was a recommendation from our waitress kate (at the pfunky griddle). she had declared them stupid good and of course we agreed.
i think maybe then we did some shopping at green hills. there was anthro, and west elm (adding a few things to my christmas list now), and trying on various pairs of toms at whole foods.
snack break - fries at five guys. perhaps after this it was back to the hotel? oh no wait... then there was...
franklin. the historic downtown of franklin to be specific. my favorite stop was rock, paper, scissors. we jotted down some info about a free concert at a park on sunday, headed to borders for a bathroom break and made a plan.
life as we know it + pei wei = back to green hills we go. super cute (though still left me semi-sad) movie. delicious dinner.

SUNDAY
church at grace community church. recognizing our barista from the perch was an usher and learning a new way to think of repentance were the highlights.
lunch at loveless cafe. brisket that melts in your mouth. (and some pretty yummy beef jerkey from the gift shop)
scenic drive through parts previously unknown, including natchez trace pkwy (taking us high in the hills), then down the hill to franklin and back through brentwood. enjoying the fall colors and the sounds of norah jones.
napping, reading and checking email at the hotel. decided on more shopping (whole foods + target in cool springs), another movie (you again), and apps/cheescake at the cheesecake factory instead of a motown show in the park. after the movie our faith in humanity was restored when anne's ipod was found safe & sound in the cheesecake factory's safe.

MONDAY
home again, home again, jiggity jig.

things i love (thursday).

today i love habit.

- july 21

- july 15

- july 19

things i love (wednesday).

today i love it when other people do the work for you...

- a quick, but helpful, review on a new hair clip.
- the best guide to reese's fabulous style that i've seen.
- well written thoughts on turning 30. sure to resonate with those who are approaching the age and those who have surpassed that particular milestone.

things i love (tuesday).

- realizing a favorite has found his way back to my tv.
- ny strip specials.
- interior inspiration from sweden.

things i love (monday).

tim riggins, so wrong you don't want to be right.

- splitting a bottle with a friend.
- essie nail polish. (the perfect pink/gold).
- friday night lights.

three things i love about summer.

- the beach
- going to the movies because i need to escape the heat but really i just like going to the movies
- fruit (plums, raspberries, peaches, blueberries... ahh!)

things i love (thursday).

A Must Watch Spoof from the ESPYs
today i love:
- dry humor
- steve carell
- paul rudd

things i love today.

- thinking about summer stories
- the abundance of good, quality friends whose kindness inspires me
- sara bareilles' king of anything video

living room inspiration.

with the addition of my sailing poster (top left corner below), i'm really starting to feel a nautical theme developing in my living room. my inspiration as to how to continue with this theme is pictured below.

sources: Martens Printworks - Sail Lake Michigan Lithograph, Ikea Striped Rug, Thomas Paul Scrimshaw Melamine Plates & Tray, MAV's Summer Postcards, Side Table, Table Lamps

find me on tumblr.

i haven't done a great job of keeping this blog up (at all). but i have been trying to collect a few favorites here and there on tumblr. if you want to see what i'm enjoying lately, check out collected.