First ever award...

Chelsea Rebecca at Triumphs and Blunders of a Kooky Gal (who was going wild spreading bloggin' love around Bloglandria yesterday) presented me with my first ever Blog AWARD...

THE SUNSHINE AWARD!

Not entirely sure what that means- apparently, I brighten her day-but THANKS CHELSEA!!!!!

Speaking of sunshine, it is 50+ degrees outside and I'm breaking in my new sandals and have put on my favorite, faithful pair of jeans with the knees gone missin'.

HAPPY DAY! Spring is coming! 12 more days, my friends!

"Others have excuses, I have my reasons why..."

... and here is one of 'em.

Yesterday after working (cleaning a tanning salon about a half hour from my house) for 6 hours I took my nasty, dusty, sweaty self out shopping. I have previously made known my love of thrifting, and more particularly my love of the store Savers. This town happened to have a Savers that was BIGGER and BETTER and NEWER than "my" Savers, so I went to check it out.

Oh my gracious, happy, happy, gloriously joyful day.

After making my way through the rest of the store, I found myself in the dress section (strangely I am getting better at girly stuff. It has taken me 18+ years, but I am finally working up to the point of being able to handle dresses. But only on rare occasions, so don't get too excited...). A vibrant blue caught my eye. I liked the color. I like the pockets. And it was so short *in my opinion it is a long shirt* that I wouldn't ever imagine wearing it without pants *YESS!!!* under it.

I look at the price tag.

$7.49. Nice. Cool, and cheap. I love it.


Then the original tag, still attached, caught my eye. "I wonder how much of a deal I am actually getting."



Well, let me tell you, it was a big one. Like a $1282.51 dollar deal.


Yes. You read that correctly. The original tag read $1,290.
Not twelve dollars and ninety cents.I kid you not; ONE THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY.



Whatttttt...????? Who on earth pays that for a dress (only like 3/4 of a dress!) ? And WHYYYYY??? I could pay for almost a whole missions trip (this year is $1900 for Costa Rica) with that money!!!!
I googled the tag and couldn't find the brand. But...tags don't lie. Usually. So unless it was a freak misprint and the decimal point went missing, I am going with what it says. It says $1290. I just like to type it out. Shocks me every time.

So, if you disapproved of my love of Savers before, maybe I've changed your mind. Maybe not.
Whuteva. I have a pricey blue dress and I got it for way less than the person who bought it in the first place. That certainly made my day!

Now I just have to wear the thing...



*title taken from Nickel Creek's song "Reasons Why"

I love...

...SHARPIE MARKERS.

I love 'em a lot a lot.

Quote-ables.

If you haven't been paying attention, the country of Chile was struck by a massive earthquake on Saturday. One of the largest in history; 8.8 on the Richter. That is 500 times more powerful than the one that hit Haiti a couple weeks ago. Then 50 after shocks followed.

Thankful the devastation has been much less, and the deaths have been far fewer (Chile is a wealthier nation with stricter building codes, so much more stayed standing. The same area also experience the largest quake ever in 1960.).

This earthquake hit me hard emotionally, more so than the one that happened a few weeks ago in Haiti. Though I was hearing stories and seeing the images, Haiti seemed like a far off land to me.

But I have been to Chile. I have stood in places that have now been hit with the destruction of this quake. I have friends there.

Back in 2005, I went on my first ever missions trip. We went to Temuco, Chile. There we worked with an indigenous people, the Mapuche, who the government has rejected. They live with almost nothing. But they are truly the most beautiful people, so filled with joy and generosity, that I have ever met. We helped them build a church, and since then other teams have gone back to help them set up micro-businesses through the building of greenhouses.

Please pray for my friends the Mapuche.

We (my church) also have close friends in Concepcion. There, a man named Samuel pastors a church. Many missions teams from our church have gone down and worked with his. His son Eliezar did an internship at our church a few summers back. We have sent part time missionaries down to Pastor Samuel and they have stayed in his home.

Last night, during Merge *our youth group*, one of our Pastors announced that we had finally been able to make contact with him; he and his family are okay. And I am sure he, his wife and children, are actively helping to aid people around them (at the heart of where the earthquake struck).

Pray for the people in Concepcion and for Pastor Samuel's family and church.

And now, the quote;

"God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling...
...Be still, and know that I am God."
-Psalm 46:1-3/10, ESV



Please join me as I continue to pray for the nation of Chile.

Latest and Greatest in the Amigurumi Collection...

Meet Harry Elephante.

He is my latest amigurumi and he will be joining Zatara Bear and Poptart Pig in a fundraising event for my family's 7th adoption (see my mom's blog).

I am rather pleased with how he came out. As I was making him, I was hugely concerned about doing a trunk (remember, I make stuff up as I go).

"maybe he can be a panda...or...a pig with giant, round ears or...uhhh...something with no trunk. GUYS, I'M SCARED!"- I complained to my sister 'Faz' and friend Trina.

But hey, he turned out okay!

Now I am getting bored with crocheting animals (although I still think a frog and a monkey would be excellent).

I think I need to take a break and knit something... I'm thinking a sweater for my little sister? *really, I want another sweater, but in order to get enough yarn to cover all of me it is like $50. Smaller people=less yarn=cheaper!*

Or make a...I don't know...I will figure something out. I just need something new to fixate upon. In the last month I have made curtains (it was an angry experience in which I spent a lot of time yelling "YOU ARE THE FABRIC OF BEELZEBUB! WOULD YOU PLEASE BEHAVE!?"), 2 pillows, and 3 amigurumis. Gotta keep busy!

*sorry about the bad lighting, Photoshop is in rebellion and won't let me edit.

Oh Mr. Sun...

I am sick of winter.

I can't say don't like winter, I do like it. You need snow to snowboard. And for the WINTER OLYMPICS! But snow is something I can only deal with in moderation. December and the beginning of January are great, but there comes a point where enough is ENOUGH.
I'm at that point...

I live in New England; 'tis a strange place. We've had tons of snow this year and now the temperature has gone up just a bit and we now have rain. And slushy melting snow. It is disgusting.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE THE RAIN. Rain is actually one of my favorite things in the world, but I like it better when it is a summery shower. Or a thunderstorm. I'd even take some 'April showers' (bring Mayflowers...but not Pilgrims...) right about now. Warm air, green grass, big drops of water, and it smells good afterward.

But all I have currently is February 'yuk rain' (yes, yuk with only a k.)with dreary skies.

My complaints about YUK RAIN are as follows;

It is ugly enough outside with the bare trees and dark skies, but now when I look out at my yard, it is only worse. We live on a back lot and the houses around us all sit on little hills...basically our yard is a collection of the neighbors' excess yard water. I am waiting for lilypads and maybe some koi fish to pop up in our front yard (magical!); we literally have a little pond going.

We also have a pebbly/stone dusty driveway and right now it is full of potholes/puddles the size of...aardvarks (that was the only thing of relative size I could think of earlier today when I was trying to describe them?).

Yesterday I went to the gym and when I came out it was pouring. I walked to my car hoisting up the bottoms of my too long yoga pants (I'm short. And I do not believe in dignity.) so they wouldn't be wet as I drove home.

When I drive in the rain I put my wipers on max speed and then they squeak. I am really OCD about having the windshield clean, otherwise I end up intently looking at the paths the water droplets make, instead of like...the road.

I want spring (summer would be nice too...). A few days ago it was 42 degrees and sunny (no rain! no snow!) and I got so excited I drove with my windows down.

Yesterday I cut the bottoms off some jeans in hope of soon wearing them as cut offs (yup. I do that. Cuts offs and boy's cargo shorts. With converse hightops. And I like it, so shhh.)

Over the weekend I bought a red gypsy-ish skirt and I cannot stop thinking about wearing it (which it bizarre, because I don't even like skirts...they are like a 4 times a year event for me. I think it is more the color that has me excited. Or the gypsy look.)

I am longing to see the sun again. Winter needs to be over. Now. Unfortunately, I have to wait for March 20th for it to be official.

*Sigh.

Maybe if I start wearing cut off jeans to the gym my pants won't get as wet...?????

Tibetan Monks have secret skills and they aren't telling.

Last night, sitting in 'my chair' (a green chair by the TV which if anyone else sits in I pick them up and move them.) watching ski jumping and looking at a Travel and Leisure magazine. It was a copy from December of 09 and it was suggesting some unique holiday gifts.

One of the gifts had me laughing for a good 5 minutes. And I even offered to by it for everyone for their birthday (and then burst out laughing again...) What kind of gift could make me laugh in such a prolonged manner?

INTENTIONAL CHOCOLATE.

Well, what does it intend?, you might be wondering. I'll tell you, but brace yourself, as it is a little ludicrous.

Travel and Leisure described it (and I quote!) in this way;
"Dark chocolate infused with positive energy by Tibetan monks, Intentional Chocolate, $15."

What!? Craaaaziest thing I have ever heard. First off, how do the monks do that? According to the website of this chocolate the monks are just excellent at meditating and have trained under the Dalai Lama...ummm...okay...? And once they bring forth this energy HOW do they get it in the chocolate, may I ask??? HOW does it stay there? Special packaging? More intense meditation? Top secret methods which they have gained by additional training under Willy Wonka?

From Intentional Chocolates "about us" section;
"All the products from Intentional Chocolate include this intention: “Whoever consumes this chocolate will manifest optimal health and functioning at physical, emotional and mental levels, and in particular will enjoy an increased sense of energy, vigor and well-being for the benefit of all beings.”

I am all for a positive attitude, but I can tell you mine isn't coming from some guys in orange robes. I am all about joy and fullness of life, but mine is from my Savior, not a fifteen dollar bag of chocolate.

Poor confused monks. I don't even think energy infusion pays very well...