Morning's Light

Winter remains.  It's below zero today.  Teeth chattering, body shaking as I drive and will the heat to kick in post haste! 

Thus it was with great joy I found this new blog – all about adding color to your day!

View video of Orla Kiely.

Went to Target today looking for Orla Kiely items….more along the lines of the pretty apron and the kitchen items.  I expected a big drumroll and fanfare but found only one little, easily-missed endcap with her name on it.  The few items (all storage items) were adorable and have cute tags on them, but it's not the whole line I saw on apartment therapy!  

Am in love with a new blog.  Yes…it's almost February. I can admit when I love someone..err..something.

I met John Williams through the youth group at church. He's now away at college but has posted some beautiful photos on facebook that I had to share with you..with his permission!

This image sums up our winter in Wisconsin.  Cold, icy, yet beautiful.

John, Andy, Bobby, Katie and Elena helped me paint words on boxes for a sermon by Bryan Roe one morning.  John turned the boxes into art. 

We had to unwrap the giftwrapped boxes before painting them but took a break to wrap Katie up in the ribbons as if she were a Christmas tree.  Rather, she was a Christmas faerie.

We had youth group last night, but before it started, the youth pastor surprised me with a gift of The Office game– a DVD game focused on the show.  It has little Dwight Schrute money and tiny figures of each Office character.  Cannot wait to play the game!

When Bryan ushered me into our leaders meeting to give me the game, he asked me a question:

BRYAN: "What are you addicted to?"

ME: "Email and blogging."

B: "What else?"

ME: "Reading"

B: "What else?"

ME: "TV shows"

B: "What else?"

ME: "My youth group girls"

B: "What ELSE???"

ME: (catching a glimpse of The Office Game):  "OOooohhhh…The Office Game I almost 'borrowed permanently' from you on Sunday!"

B: "Exactly!"

[Hmm…addicted to a lot of things. Darn it!]

Then it was time to meet with the girls.  We met as a "small" group of nine girls to discuss the topic of karma vs. grace.  (Karma = transactional – if you do good, good will be done to you.  Grace, however, means that you receive something you don't deserve.  Thus grace is transformational: you receive God's love and grace at the start – not having had to do anything to deserve it – and then you go from there.  No "transactions" necessary.) 

I asked the girls to be creative, so in groups of 3, they came up with a song, a drawing, and a story that was acted out.  I was impressed by their creativity!

If you're the praying sort, I'd love prayer for some leaders to help me with the 15-20 7th and 8th grade girls on Wednesday nights.  It's a bit overwhelming (but still rewarding!) at times for me as one person leading all the girls. Thanks!

 I adore this photo by linsmika. 

I should have known this would happen. Domino Magazine and its website are folding. This was announced today – mere weeks after I got my February issue of Domino and declared (to myself) it to be my most favorite issue yet. I even have a subscription that I paid for – two years in advance.

*sigh*

Emma introduced readers to stylist Sidsel Zachariassen so I visited her website to look around.  Here are some of the many gorgeous photos on the site, styled by Sidsel.

This photo from an apartment therapy posting represents the new me. Kind of.

1. My Dansko clogs are old and shabby-chic (and not in a good way)..so it's time for new ones.

2. I love crazy socks.  Where does one buy crazy, fun socks?  Gymboree? Gap Kids? Europe?

3. I'm short, so I choose pant lengths that Stacey/Clinton gasp at on What Not To Wear… Yes, I wear pants that end just above my ankle.  But last month, I decided to begin wearing Long Pants.  I then tried some on and while most of the pairs of pants I tried on fit great, the length went way past my feet and I looked ridiculous.  However, seeing these jeans rolled up helps me remember I could do the same thing. And oh yeah – getting them tailored would work too.

I also like the kitchen shown by the wearer of the crazy socks above.

I may paint my kitchen red.  I've been renting for two years and just signed up for another year.  CAN RENTERS PAINT THEIR APARTMENTS???  I always thought it was forbidden.  But is it really?  If I paint it back to boring-beige before I move out, is it okay to paint while I live there???

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open style kitchen, originally uploaded by citypix.

I’d have this kitchen if I could. Love the idea of open shelving + white fabric curtains instead of cupboard doors.

Am not completely awake yet. Took a sleeping pill last night which allowed me to catch up on some sleep (operated last week on very little sleep), but I am still feeling the effects of the sleeping pill. I did laugh when I saw the back of the medicine box: “Will cause drowsiness.” I certainly hope so!!

Experienced a weekend-long headache which limited my activities and movie-going. I did play cards with the girls, saw family, and had lunch with Kirsten before we went shopping. (I found a cute orange, patent wallet for a great price! And an orange bath rug from Target on clearance.)

So now it’s a new week, but I’m wondering, “Could Friday PLEASE arrive quickly?!”