lessons learned

{photo credit}

i'm not quite 30 (thank goodness), but this list by joy the baker is pretty dang awesome/helpful/humorous. 

30 ain't old but it doesn't mean want to be 30 tomorrow. or the next day. or in a year. probably in two and one half years i will be ready. but maybe not even then. i might have a temper tantrum going into my 30th year. you've been warned. 

19 truths

{photo credit}

inspired by lori and lindsay...

1. i have never broken a bone, but i think crutches are really cool. my mom bought me a pair as a present last year. it was easier than breaking my leg.

2. sometimes i use my hair straightener as an iron.

3. one of the first things i do in the morning is eat a spoonful of peanut butter.

4. leggingsaspants. yes.

5. i was once chased down/followed by a cop. for miles. at night. on a lonely country road. i accidentally drove though an ID checkpoint, and i was too scared to pull over for fear that he was not a cop but a murderer. what? that's not irrational.

6. i have a huge crush on dennis quaid.

7. i really like going to the batting cages, but i hardly ever go, and i'm pretty sure i'm bad at it. 

8. one year, when i was homeschooled, i dressed up as a rock for halloween. a rock. a. rock. 

{photo credit}

9. i climbed a water tower in college.

10. i think it's a-dorable when boys drink milk. like, i want to melt into a puddle and die it's so cute.

11. i have a phobia of whales. ironically, free willy was my very first vhs.

12. i pride myself in drinking my coffee black and driving stick shift.

13. two years ago, i marched in the raleigh christmas parade dressed as a chef.

{photo credit}

14. if i don't die in a freak accident/murder (see number two), i'd like my last meal to be brownies and ice cream.

15. i love to making cards to sell at swank coffee shop, but i rarely give cards with gifts. dude, i bought you a gift. you want a card, too? really?

16. i've driven and crashed a moped.

17. my older brother pulled my arm out of socket when we were younger.

18. i'm not going to say it's a life goal, but it'd be pretty sweet to be a mascot.

19. this is a life goal: to be part of a flash mob

a list of gifts

{photo credit: weheartit.com}

"joy is the realest reality, the fullest life, 

and joy is always given, never grasped. 

God gives gifts and i give thanks and i unwrap the gift given: joy...

do not disdain the small. 

the whole of the life-even the hard-is made up of minute parts, 

and if i miss the infinitesimals, i miss the whole...

wherever you are, be all there...

i want to slow down and taste life, give thanks, and see God." 

-ann voskamp from one thousand gifts

on this sunday, i am thankful for much. mostly small things, "minute" things, but these small things are what makes up my day, my week, my life. i am thankful for waking up to no alarm, french press coffee, time with Jesus before my days begins fully.

{photo credit: weheartit.com}

i am thankful for my mom and step-dad's unconditional love and support, for my dad's generosity and my step-mom's loving nature. for new music, gift giving, baked goods coming out of the oven, kindness in all of its many forms, unexpected compliments, beauty in simplicity.

{photo credit: weheartit.com}

i am thankful for employed brothers, authors who can pen books that speak directly to my heart, memories, goals that i have met, cream cheese frosting, adventures, chilled watermelon, looking back at old prayers and seeing how many have been answered, my roommate amy and her sweet boyfriend, visits from friends, rainy days.

{photo credit: weheartit.com}

i give thanks for running in the evening, surprise gift cards in the mail from my dad, successfully completing a project, using what i have before i buy something new, baseball hats, laughing, laughing, laughing, finding what i'm looking for...

i'll elaborate more on this list soon. until then, what's on your list?

about me

{photo credit: weheartit.com}

i. love. lists. i love making them. i love reading lists that other people have made. and if it's a to-do list, that feeling you get when you cross something off of your list? nothing beats it. (you list people know what i'm talking about.) most of you who are reading my blog probably already know me pretty well. (hi, mom.) but for those of you who don’t, i'm really interesting. i even made a list about myself. check out all of these cool things about me...

1. pink is my ultimate favorite color.

2. i have a freckle on my right earlobe. so even when i'm not wearing an earring in that ear, it looks like i am. i also have a line of freckles on my arm that kind of looks like the little dipper constellation.

(are you fascinated yet?)

3. my friend lori pointed out that i didn't have a number three when i initially published this post. so, i guess my number three is that i have an attention to details friend named lori. (she's also cool and funny. and we like to have coffee/waffle dates.)

4. i love to craft. my favorite medium is paper craft, but i also make jewelry and other random crafty things like cake/cupcake stands made out of candlestick holders and pretty dishes. check it.

{photo credit: me}

5. i drink approximately 13 gallons of coffee a day.

6. i really enjoy running/working out/being active. i've done several 5Ks and 10Ks, a sprint triathlon, and, most recently, a half marathon. sometimes, the training is. not. fun. but race day is the BEST. it makes all of my training days worth it. i hope to become employed very soon so i can afford to do this in august. 

7. i sell my cards, jewelry, and crafts at swank coffee shop in downtown southern pines, nc. co-owners petra and jessica are best friends. they opened up the place in 2008, and they outgrew their first store in about a year. it is the best place to go if you're looking for a handmade gift or if you want to get a great dirty chai. find them on facebook, and tell them you know me. they will squeal with delight. 

{photo credit: me}

8. i'm kindofsortof of a music snob because, while i like artists like fleet foxes and ray lamontagne, i also like justin bieber. a lot. 

9. i have the greatest small group ever. these girls have been one of my biggest blessings since moving to raleigh. look how much fun they are. fun and cute. and mostly single.

{photo credit: me}

10. i have a huge sweet tooth. if it's made with sugar, butter, and/or chocolate, get out of my way. 

what about you? what would be some of the things you would include on a list of 10 things about yourself?