tuesday: something to love

This is not only Tuesday, but it is TOMS One Day Without Shoes. The one day that we all go without our shoes so that children don't have to. It's a day to raise awareness that there are children all over the world who go without shoes every day. For more information visit here. So in honor of One Day Without Shoes, here are a couple of my favorite TOMS pics.



And I just had to throw this pic in because the clouds were amazing yesterday afternoon. I snapped this pic in my backyard.


And I hope this is what your feet look like today.

Photo kudos to Connally

i forgot about these. . .

I had forgotten that I took these pictures a couple weeks ago at my favorite coffeeshop. I love how the decor of this particular coffeeshop is very beachy. . .you know how much I love the beach. But I also love the sound of milk steaming and the relaxed atmosphere that a coffeeshop provides. This is literally one of my favorite places in the world. Now if only IT were by the beach. . .

Monday: something to love

A cold, dreary day today. I'm ready for Spring, but I've been ready for Spring for about 3 months now (sigh). However, a good cup of coffee fixes just about everything, and a good chat with a friend over a cup of coffee on a day off has the capability of making me almost forget that it is winter for another 2ish months.


Sorry the picture quality isn't that great. I forgot my camera in the car so I had to use the camera on my phone instead. Also, I have to mention -- the last couple of times I have been to a coffeeshop and gotten a drink that they can do latte art on, the male barista has given me a heart. Interesting. Guess I just look like a heart kind of girl.

Also something else to love on this grey day -- a funny, sunny, silly song.

Pencil Full of Lead - Paolo Nutini

coffee dates are the best

Now that my work schedule is getting a little less crazy, and I have begun to recover from the craziness that was my work schedule, I am finally starting to be able to do many of the things that I love again. One such thing being catching up with friends over coffee dates. I had three this past week...these are from the second one as I forgot to take my camera for the other two...oops.

YUM!

Monday: something to love

Happy Monday everyone!! Only 5 days until Christmas...which means I need to get my Christmas shopping done...yikes!

Unexpected and lovely handmade Christmas gifts...so fun!! This is a necklace made out of a piece of driftwood that my friend picked up on the beach in New Zealand.


Also, I have a special love of fortunes from fortune cookies. If I eat out it is usually Chinese food, and while I don't place much stock in fortunes I do believe that God can speak to us through all things, so sometimes I keep them because of that or just because they are good or funny. These are a few that I have floating around.

Merry Happy Christmas

Work has been taking over my life lately...which is both a good and bad thing. At any rate, I haven't had time to even take my camera out much lately. Today, I had a break for a little while, though, so I thought I would snap some pics of the Christmas tree my roommate and I decorated this year. I am very grateful to live in my roommate's house...especially when she has such great taste in decorating.

What's a girl's Christmas tree without a shoe?

burn, baby, burn

Fire. It captivates us. It entrances us. It warms us. This fire that my friends and I had last night allowed me to say good-bye to some stuff that I had been hanging onto for a couple years. There just really isn't anything quite as satisfying as watching something literally go up in smoke.

art-walk it out

The first Friday of every month is Artwalk. It's one night a month where businesses stay open late and people have a chance to see the work of local artists and galleries. It's also a chance for local musicians to show their stuff--from actual shows to playing on street corners, there is musical stylings all over downtown.

Last night, my dear friend, Lee Ellen Starks, played at the Bistro Market for 3 hours, and here are a few shots I took there. The lighting was fantastic to work with.



One of my favorite things about Lee Ellen is that she has an incredible abundance of facial expressions...here are a few that I captured.





There wasn't really anywhere to sit and listen except on the floor, so that is where most people sat. Such a delightful evening!

Monday: something to love

A couple of friends have recently began to post blogs on Mondays about things that they love or enjoy, so I thought I would try that as well.

I love that I am gaining a brother--who is on the same wavelength that I am.

miniature delights :)

My roommate and a dear friend love miniature things. So when I was running out of cookie dough the last time and made a couple of mini cookies, my roommate told me that I should make mini cookies the next time I made them. Well, that was tonight...just look how cute and delicious they look!!!



Every time I make these cookies it takes me back to the first time I made them for some dear friends when we were on the other side of the world. Such wonderful memories.

TOMS love II

This week has been a week of TOMS. I got to go to hear the founder of TOMS Shoes speak on Wednesday. Afterward he signed my shoe...so awesome!! I learned where the name TOMS comes from. It's short for tomorrow shoes. Tonight Potter's House is hosting a TOMS Style Your Sole event. There will be free sweet tea and coffee, live music, an opportunity to buy new TOMS, and a chance to decorate them while hanging out with friends and fellow TOMS lovers. Delightful! Tonight I will officially own my fourth pair of TOMS, and I'm so excited! If you live in the Springfield area, you should come check it out.

slow down

I am most at rest in the country. I have distanced myself a lot from my past, so most of my friends don't know that I was a farm girl or don't think of me that way because I'm so far removed from that now. I don't think I want to be a farm girl again, but I wouldn't mind living in the country again.

This past weekend I got to go stay with the grandparents/parents of some of my friends at their home in the country. I have been out to their house before, and I love going out there because it is just so restful and peaceful and the pace is so much slower. They still believe in sitting down and visiting and Sunday afternoon naps. I did take a Sunday afternoon nap, but I also used some of my Sunday afternoon to take some pictures of their place.

tomatoes still on the vine

baby calves are so cute!!!






This was my favorite shot of the day. :)
Where do you feel most at home?

cider days = fall

Every fall there is a street festival called Cider Days. The past couple of years, I have gone because my lovely friend, Lee Ellen Starks, has been performing there. Just a little shoutout for her...she is AMAZING!!! You should check out her blog and youtube and myspace...it will change your life...trust me!

So something about me is that I love to take pictures of people when they don't realize that I'm taking a picture of them. I feel like when that happens you get a real picture of someone. Like they can't hide behind a mask that they put on for the camera. It's quite fun, but can be a little tricky with a big camera.
Anyway, here are some of the pictures I took at Cider Days when I was there.

This is such an awesome face!!! LOVE IT!!

My lovely roommate, sipping some cider and enjoying a cupcake from Amycakes

I love the fact that he has an England football [soccer] jersey on.


Lee Ellen singing away.

Another awesome face!!

These little girls were climbing the tree in their pretty dresses...it made me smile to myself cause my sister and I used to do that.