My Happy Place

Both of my KD littles with me at the happiest place on Earth <3

My happy place is Disney World.  I know that it's not original and that I am turning 25 this week, but I am still completely enamored with Disney.  I also know that if you are my friend, you are already over hearing me geek out about Disney, but I can't be stopped. 

Disney is a culmination of the following things that I love: happy children (I was there from 9-8ish last week, and only saw 3.5 children breakdown, which is amazing considering how many children there are at Disney), the yummiest food at reasonable prices, 60-70 degree weather in December, enough sun to make me tan without my best friend complaining, spinning teacups, shiny things to look at, the fruitiest of fruity drinks, and it's just so clean for such a large public place. 

I just can't adequately describe how happy I am when I'm there. 

I didn't go for the first time until I was 22 (thanks, family), but have been twice a year since then.  Whenever I am most stressed out, God always sends me: (a) time off, (b) $$$, and (c) a friend to go to Disney with (what a provider).  Also, one of my best friends works there... I go where my best friends move to. 

Her next adventure = moving to Thailand with her new husband...

Let's go! :)

I had to wake this little one up to see Pooh. 

It was very disorienting for her.

I don't need to convince you it's awesome, because if you've been there you know.  I'm just going to post some pictures so I can call it a week and eat chips on my couch. 

Epcot is my favorite.  I'm that person.

 But the Castle is so pretty at night!

It still reminds me of "Uptown Girls."

The Grand Floridian makes me fear breaking things...

Fancy!

Giant macaron in France (Epcot)

Fish n' Chips = my favorite Disney lunch, UK (Epcot)

Tuna cooked rare at Kona Island in the Polynesian Resort. 

Can I eat that every day, please?

I believe we all need a  kickstart to be happy from time to time.  That's why someone awesome invented paid time off and that's why Walt Disney came up with the concept for Disney World. 

In closing, I think it's really important to know where your happy place is and to make time to go on the regular.  It could be Disney World, your Cute Grandma's house, or the coffee shop that you love the most even though you have to pass 5 coffee shops to get there.  Get in the car or boat or plane or train and goooooooo. 

My next adventure involves this 18-year-old and a bus.  Check-in in a couple of weeks to find out about the adventures we get into in Chicago on New Year's Eve.

Don't make fun of my highlights, Tom...

Lifestyle of the Poor and Shameless: How I Wear J. Crew on a Walmart Budget

You know, being "basic" is really expensive these days.

(I don't think this word means what you think that it means, kids).

I know that some girls really pride themselves on how much they spend on their clothes and accessories (and good for them).  Not this girl, though.  No, I really really pride myself on how much I do NOT spend on my clothes.

Don't let the fact that I do not wear makeup fool you, I do actually care about my appearance.
Don't let the title of this article fool you, I do like nice things.  I simply have a knack for getting what I want at ridiculously low prices.

My secrets?
1. Know sales patterns (for instance, Bub and I always always always go to Banana Republic the day after Christmas because the sales are top-notch that day).
2. Do not just shop sales at retailers! Shop (sales) at consignment stores!
3. Know the value of fabrics.  For instance, I love J. Crew, but their fabrics tend to run on the thin side, and wear out too fast (especially for their retail prices).  Thus, when I buy J. Crew stuff, I buy it at consignment shops, often still with the original tags.  This provides sufficient justification for purchasing stylish pieces that may only endure one or two seasons.

My personal shopping philosophy?
If it costs more than like $15, it really needs to wow me.  I can do some major damage with $15.

Oh, yea of little faith.  Enough words... let me just show you how you could (and should) be shopping.  Here are some examples of inexpensive Fall and Holiday outfits that will make you jealous:

My favorite casual looks...

J. Crew school boy blazer (consigned): $11.50

Talbots top (consigned, with original tags): $3.75

Gap jeans (retail): $14

Arturo Chiang boots- yet to purchase (consigned): $34.99

J. Crew camel hair jacket (consigned): $15

J. Crew angora sweater (consigned): $18

BCBG leggings: gift/ FREE

J. Crew flats (consigned): $16

Chico's jacket (consigned): $14

Sam Edelman booties (consigned): $24

J. Crew blazer (consigned): $18

Banana Republic top (retail): $13


When I'm feeling fancy...

Shine brand dress (consigned): $8.50
Martinez Valero shoes (consigned): $2

Ann Taylor top (consigned): $9.50
Black lace Worth brand skirt (consigned): $12
Loft sparkle tights (outlet purchase): $1
Nine West booties (consigned): $7.50

No label dress (consigned): $12

Gap dress (consigned): $2
Franco Sarto heels (consigned): $2

Old Navy dress (consigned): $5

As the Holidays approach, you will likely buy outfits for winter weddings, Christmas parties, New Year's Eve, and functional clothes that will help you survive the next winter apocalypse.  As I'm sure that you, like me, are trying to save up for a perfect gift for your Cute Grandma, I would recommend that you give consignment shopping a try.

Note: $4-$15 complete outfits isn't something you will be able to score each and every time, but $30-$45 per outfit is both reasonable, realistic, and cheaper than Walmart or Forever 21! 

Consignment shopping offers you the freedom to try things you wouldn't normally consider, gives you the thrill of the hunt, and most importantly allows you to make GUILT FREE purchases.  What more could a girl want in a shopping trip?

Ladies, to reiterate: you won't get to my level right away, but eventually if you train hard enough, you too can boast fabulous $4 outfits.  When you arrive there, you will have my permission to reward yourself for your frugality with a nice investment handbag.  The Tory Burch featured above was purchased (you guessed it) consigned for $111, original retail around $395.

Special thanks to Connie Broomhall, Kaye Hunt, and the ladies at the Upscale Retail Shoppes of Stephen Lawrence, LTD and Apres Vous for allowing me to take photographs at their Broadway and Moore Drive locations. Make sure to visit them soon!

The Thing About Me and November

So the thing about November is that I hate it.  It is a black hole of a month that is wedged between two excellent months.  Most Novembers my normally happy heart takes a leave of absence and allows itself to be depressed.  This year November level feelings came months early, so this girl is super ready for Christmas magic.

The thing about me is my Mom died in November.  Specifically, she died on November 20, 2000, three days before Thanksgiving and three days before she should have turned 30. 

And now you know what she looked like. 

When a Mother of five dies before she turns 30, and when that Mother is your Mother, you learn really quickly that this life is no joke.  It changes pretty much everything and turns you into a weird kid who knows too much.  

Weird kid is growing up.  Next month I turn 25.  Yikes.  You do the math… when you know people can die before 30, or even sooner, 25 seems old.  (Maybe now you understand my habitual sense of urgency about absolutely everything). 

This must have been from right before she got sick. 

This whole thing could have made me all kinds of crazy, which is why I still take a month every year to process it and every other ugly thing that happened because of it.  Honestly, it has made me oddly sane and focused.

For your reading pleasure, here are the disjointed pearls of November-inspired wisdom that guide this old lady's life and help keep me grounded:

Life is too short to pretend like great things are just good things.  This world can be a bad enough place without you cheating yourself.  I both listed this first and bolded it, because I think this is extra important.    

If you are lucky enough to have a clear picture of what you want most, life is too short to not chase it.  And not just kind of chase it… chase it like a crazy person.  Regardless of the outcome, you won’t regret it. The alternative though?  You’ll regret that.  Trust me.  

No matter what myriad of hardships you have been thrown or what kind of career or income you have, if you have people in your life who love you (like Jesus does) your life will feel full and well-lived.  Sometimes you have to make choices.  Pick love.  My Mom did. 

Ashley and Mom

Sarah and Mom 

Rachel and Mom...
I would guess Mom is about my age in this photo

Bekah and Mom

Life is too short to make foolish, self-harming choices on purpose. This is probably especially true if life has not been kind to you, because you know better. #YOLOisano-no

DO NOT SMOKE.  It very literally and seriously can kill you. 

The saying “God does not give you more than you can handle” is not really biblical or true.  (Honestly, the phrase makes me cringe).  He gives us more than we can handle all the time.  (That’s why he gave us Jesus). Being able to admit your overwhelmed heart can’t handle it all is so unexpectedly beautiful.  Admitting this saved me from my quest to be perfect and completely self-sufficient, which contributed to being miserable and lonely for much of my childhood.  Surrender. Let it go.

You can’t be depressed forever.  God is too good for that nonsense. 

Even in your November, there is always always always something to be thankful for.  Even if it is what you don’t have anymore. 

I will leave  you with what I remember being my Mom's favorite song... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ8D5Ihe4hg

Adventure is out there

I have learned that you can only handle working so many 70 hour weeks in a row before you find yourself flying across the country and running around yelling "paid time off! paid time off!" in a city you've never been to (if you think I didn't really do this, jokes on you). 

In the last month and some change, I have traveled to: Indianapolis, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Cleveland, Bowling Green, St. Louis, and Portland (Oregon, not Maine), not to mention Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky and Louisville too many times to count.

Portland was the best because it wasn't for work, I didn't have to drive there and I also did not have to chaperone a charter bus full of college students.  It was also the best because there is a Tom there, and an Emilie there, and they are stand-up people.

Exhibit A: Macarons were waiting for me at the airport.  MACARONS THE SIZE OF MY FACE (or, more accurately, my hand). 

 

Supply me with macarons, get mentioned in my blog.

To reiterate: supply me with macarons, get mentioned in my blog.

 



Other things to note about Portland: No sales tax.  Illegal to pump your own gas.  Flights of anything you can imagine... wine, beer, icecream.  A gal's dreams come true.  Have you bought your ticket yet?

 

 

Tom, too, likes flights.

 

 As little as I complain about my work schedule (hahahaha), I really don't like working so much.  I like sleeping and eating grilled cheese and wearing hot pink (really more like magenta) dresses and meandering through gigantic book stores and eating Thai street food with friends and watching Chopped and reading "Love Does" by Bob Goff and lunching on rooftops.  I did all of those things on vaca, and they were pretty stinking great.  Note that food gets a lot of honorable mentions.

 

I bought this copy of "Abolition of Man" at Powell's

for twice what the book originally sold for,

because I liked the cute inscription.

 

There's nothing like a good vacation, being sick after said vacation, and feeling the glee of chanting "Paid time off!" to remind you that we were not made to work 70 hours a week.  You weren't, I wasn't, let's not. :)

 

ONLY 42 DAYS UNTIL THE NEXT VACATION: DISNEY.

He's Just Not That Into You (Or Me)

I must divulge that when I am overwhelmed with the world and need some alone time, I sit on my couch in big baggy sweatpants and watch one of the few romantic comedies (ok, chick flicks) that I own (or a show about cooking, but that is not relevant to this blog post).  To be specific, here is what I watch over and over again: "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "He's Just Not That Into You,"and "Definitely, Maybe." What can I say, I live a charmed, exciting life.

Every time I watch "He's Just Not That Into You," after I get over deciding which character I most identify with at the time (which is, of course, the lovely, level-headed and sassy character played by Jennifer Aniston), I think of my own list of reasons why he isn't calling.  The movie comes up with several funny and commonly used explanations of why guys do not call girls back... but my list is funnier, and more importantly, completely TRUE.  Everything on the internet is true, right?

Cheers to solidarity, Jen! 

Here is why he isn't calling you (or me):

Reason 1: You heard it here first, folks, he's dating Emma Watson now.  I was as shocked as you when I found out, but it's so true.  If it was going to be anybody else though, aren't we glad it's Emma?

Reason 2:  He watched Breaking Bad, and was a little too influenced by it.  He's making meth now.  Meth.  He knows you would fulfill your obligations as a responsible US citizen and report him, and therefore he's protecting the both of you by not calling.

Reason 3: He saw something on Reddit that reminded him of the year when John Wall and our perfect team did not win the National Championship for UK.  As a result, he threw his phone into a puddle formed by a recent Lexington monsoon.  I've lost two phones that way.

Reason 4:  He has recently become a big fan of the beloved show How I Met Your Mother.  Unfortunately, he just watched the last episode of season one, and is coping with the Lilly-Marshall breakup.  Unlike us, he could not persevere in watching, and will never know that they end up happily ever after.  If I had stopped watching HIMYM at this point, I would have given up on love, too.  If those fictional characters can't make it, what real people can?

Reason 5: He, too, watched "He's Just Not That Into You" and is still mulling over which character he most identifies with.  That soul search has made him abandon all tech devices.  Jury's out.  We all have to hope it's not Bradley Cooper though.  Yuck.

Reason 6:  He started playing video games again.  Enough said.  If it makes you feel better, he doesn't even know what month it is.

Reason 7:  You work too much.  He thought you wouldn't notice.  Whoopsies.

Reason 8:  He's one of the contestants on the newest season of Master Chef.  Yes, you did not realize that he could cook.  However, Cutter made it to the final 4 on the last season, so anything can happen.   He's probably learning to make macarons as you read this.   This is my favorite reason.

He made these...

My Little (Big) Miracle Family

Growing up as the oldest of five siblings (with two other half-siblings), I guess I just didn't feel like my family was big enough because two years ago I decided to double it.  I met Anique, Alice, Divine, Erick, Boaz, Jastine, and Elene while I was volunteering with my church, and I thank God for each and every one of them and what they continue to add to my life.

Missing Erick in this picture, with a random friend of theirs. 

They are refugees from Congo/ Tanzinia and came to the U.S. about 7ish years ago.  They survived a war, their parents are going through the process of a divorce, and they have to deal with the chaos that comes along with having a huge family.  But I have never met more joyful, thankful, hilarious, loveable kids.

Anique, the oldest, is a sophomore at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and works 5-10pm every day after school and on weekends to help her single Mom take care of bills.  She constantly sacrificially serves her family, laughs at the anxiety that she causes me, and is the first to give God credit for the amazing things he does in her life.  When it comes to financing school, miracles continue to happen to Anique and I am beyond thankful for this.

Alice is just such a teenager.  She takes selfies 24/7 (only a slight exaggeration), is always blaring African praise music from her phone, and says the funniest things (i.e., "there are lots of fish in the lake" meaning "there are plenty of fish in the sea") when trying to explain American culture to her family.

Happy visitors at Berea College, where Anique and 

Alice are considering attending next fall! 

Divine always seems to be stuck in the Mom role and is the classic middle-ish child.  She is a wonderful artist, and kind of has that aloof, middle child, artist personality.  She always makes extra efforts to clean up around the house, and can shoot a look to her siblings to make them behave.  I need to learn that look for my siblings. :)

Erick just wants to be a little man, and forgets to do his homework.  Math's the worst, so I would probably "forget," too.  He always loses his shoes, and eats the most (I never had brothers, so I did not realize how much young boys can eat!), and is learning to wear deodorant.  He is also always polite, which is a big deal for middle school boys.

Anique, Alice and Erick got baptized a few months ago... 

it was an all day event, and was super exciting to get to experience. 

Boaz always falls asleep in my car, and says my food is yummy, and comes up with the craziest stories about his future.  He just might be the billionaire astronaut that he aspires to be, folks.  He has told me that his wife with have the hugest engagement ring ever, so if you will be in the market in 15 years...

We got last minute Halloween costumes at Dollar Tree 

last year.. 4 costumes for like $14. Win. 

A few weeks ago Jastine and Boaz asked me about my boyfriend, which led to an awkward conversation about how sometimes boyfriends and girlfriends breakup.  Boaz asked me if I sit on the couch, eat icecream, watch sad movies, and cry (I told him I actually really do that), and he teased me quite a bit about it.  Anique told me a couple of days ago that when I dropped them off that day, Jastine asked her if they could pray for me together because he was worried about me.  And now I have to cry just thinking about how sweet that is.  Kids understand empathy better than we give them credit for sometimes.

They always fall asleep, and so quickly! 

Elene is just pretending though. 

Elene is still little enough to sit on your lap, and play with your hair, and tell you that she wants you to live with her.  My favorite sweet Elene stories include: (a) the time when she took off the bracelet that she was wearing and said that she wanted me to have it, (b) every time I bring over dinner and/or icecream, she invites all of the neighbor kids over to join (which always worries me, but there is always enough icecream somehow), and (c) she is always the first volunteer to help cook.

They became fast friends! 

I love them for making me feel appreciated, for eating my food and pretending to like it even when it's gross, for how much they love and respect their sweet mother, for falling asleep in my car, for being ambitious, and for being mine.  

A couple of months ago, at church, the pastor used a quote (that I can't find online, no matter how hard I have tried), but the paraphrase is... you are never going to see miracles unless you place yourself in the context in which miracles happen (or something really great and pertinent like that).   Until I met this family, I didn't believe in miracles in the same way.  I saw miracles as big, super identifiable, life-changing things.  Through their eyes, though, I am starting to see the miracles in serendipity.  Good, subtle things happen, and they know that they happen for a reason (by the way, God is the reason).  

My cute family always has something that they can use help with (like getting Erick to do his homework), so if you want to see some miracles happen, I suggest you get to know them and add them into your prayer repertoire.  Big things are happening people, and I'm so glad I just get to watch. 

Thank you, Clive Staples Lewis

It all started when my fourth grade teacher, Ms. Osterman, gave our class copies of "the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" for Christmas (but I'm not actually certain if I read it then or not).  In the last two or three months though, I did read all seven of the Chronicles of Narnia books, and I don't want to sound really dramatic (though I often am), but it changed me.  Each book provided food for thought regarding some of the big issues going on in my life right now, and helped me think about the way I relate both myself and Jesus to other people.  They were every ounce what I needed.

If I could share anything in the world with you, it wouldn't be my silly 24 year old insight.  No, like Ms. Osterman, it would be the wonderful children's books by C.S. Lewis.  But really... I have actually bought several copies of each book for this purpose, and would love to share!

What these books manage to do is explain Christian theology in such a way that doesn't push people away, shows Jesus's heart, and makes you forget for a second about all of the negative things that Christians, the church, and society as a whole have attached to religion.  What he did with these books is really just beautiful.  To spell it out: I would strongly encourage you to read them, regardless of what your belief system or current stage of life may be.

Initially, one book ("the Horse and His Boy") stood out as my least favorite, but in retrospect it was the one that I need to mull over the most.  I could talk about these books for every blog post between here and Christmas, but for today, I'll just focus on this one book and what it confronted me with.

 I had a 6 hour bus ride to Cleveland for work today, 

so decided to take a break from reading about domestic violence 

to reread "the Horse and His Boy" from my giant anthology.

As you may imagine, I finished the whole thing.

The book is centered around a boy (Shasta), a girl (Aravis), and two horses (Bree and Hwin). Aslan, the lion, is the main character in the books, and represents Jesus in a really great way.

To over-summarize, so as not to give too much away (because I trust you will read or reread it): They go on a journey, they get separated for a bit, and it is all very stressful.

During all of this, the kids each encounter Aslan on their own.  Both children ask Aslan about what he was doing for a third party, and he tells both children that it's not for them to know.

              

[Shasta]  “Then it was you who wounded Aravis?" 

[Aslan] "It was I."

              [Shasta] "But what for?" 

              [Aslan] "Child," said the Voice, "I am telling you your story, not hers. I tell no one any story but 
             his   own.”

Wow.  How very much like God, and how very much like me. 

On my laundry list of quarter-life crisis struggles, wondering why God seems to be giving me and others answers that are in conflict, and just wondering why he is putting so-and-so through such-and- such (I am as good at oversimplifying my life as I am the Chronicles books) is just taking up too much of my time, prayer, and worries.  

Thank goodness for Lewis's Lion, who said it so simply and perfectly.  God reveals his plans for our lives in his own time, and that is all we can ask for and all we really need.  It's a bittersweet pill to swallow (and thus I had to read the book again today). 

In closing, here is another great quote from the book that I found some comfort in:

"I have now lived a hundred and nine winters in this world and have never yet much such a thing as Luck.  There is something about all of this that I do not understand: but if we everneed to know it, you may be sure that we shall."

And a link to a lovely song...