berg is the word

{photo credit: weheartit.com}

"when i sat out on the porch, i saw three teenaged girls walk by in cut-off jeans and t-shirts and flip-flops, engaged in intense conversation. for one moment, i felt again what that was like, being a teenage girl in the summer. i remembered the feel of soft cotton shorts and t-shirts, and the delicious urgency of sharing everything with my best friends. 

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i saw an older man fly by on what looked like a new bicycle, and it made me want to get a new bike, too. nothing like a buying a bike to make you feel like a kid again. i heard voices from near by houses floating out the screen windows, and i heard the pounding of sneakers on pavement and the short, fast exhalations of the runners. the dogs lay with their front paws hooked over the top step, panting, their ears up in the high alert position. 

{photo credit: weheartit.com}

and then the fireflies came out. and i thought, ah, who cares what you see in them mirror? look out at the summer night, and the coming and goings of your species, and the enchanting sight of the fireflies blinking on and off, on and off. i never think of them as insects. i think of them as tinkerbell, which is why i will never be a responsible adult. if i could hire someone to be the adult in the house, i would. manage the books, will you? i'd say. i'm going out to play." -elizabeth berg

elizabeth berg is my favorite fiction author. i had the chance to meet her last summer at a book reading and signing at quail ridge books. i think, when it was my turn to get my book signed, i said: 

"ohmygoshyouaretheabsolutebestandiloveeverythingyouhaveeverwritteniwishicouldwritelikeyoubecauseyoureallycapturethewayifeelaboutlifewheredoyougetyourideasdoyoujustthinkofthemordotheycometoyouthroughlifeexperiencesamitalkingtoofast?"

she was kind and gracious (as i've always imagined her to be), and she took my book and scrawled a very personal and touching message to me, clearly realizing i was her #1 fan. to lacey, warmest wishes. elizabeth berg. did me and elizabeth berg just become best friends? yup. 

what is it about her books that pull me in? i think it's because her female characters remind me so much of myself. sometimes they're brave and sassy. sometimes they feel weak and helpless. they have internal monologues (just like me!) they over think things (all over that.) they take pleasure in simple things like a cup of coffee or a good talk with a girlfriend. i know they're fictional characters, but i wish they were flesh and blood people because i think we would be good friends. we'd have a lot to talk about. and things to over think. 

if you want to find out more about her, you can check her out here. do you have a summer reading list? if so, add these two by ms. berg:

{photo credit: elizabeth-berg.net}

talk before sleep (read with a box of tissues)

{photo credit: elizabeth-berg.net}

the year of pleasures (see above)

your turn! is there a certain author that you just adore? what is it about his or her writing that grabs and keeps your attention? 

i could see for miles, miles, miles

{photo credit: amazon.com}

i can't stop listening to bon iver's new album, bon iver. it's perfect. when i have it playing in my car, i feel like i'm in a movie.

scene: lacey driving down the highway with the windows down. hair whipping around face. huge sunglasses on. lacey looks very serious. she is about to make a huge life decision. lacey pulls into food lion for bananas. end scene.

this album makes me happy and sad and hopeful and thoughtful and wistful. only a girl could experience all those emotions at once. listen to it here. be prepared to fall truly madly deeply in love. (do you remember that song? of course you do.)

also on my summer music rotation:

noah and the whale: last night on earth

{photo credit: amazon.com}

fleet foxes : helplessness blues

{photo credit: amazon.com}

josh garrels : love and war and the sea in between

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graham colton : pacific coast eyes

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josh rouse : summertime

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brooke waggoner : heal for the honey

{photo credit: amazon.com}

happy listening! 

the week in review

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this week included the following...

crafting, shifts at swank, self-doubt, great workouts and runs, time with my family, driving around town in a mini cooper, wondering/being anxious about my future, wanting my future to hurry up and get here, good catch up talk with roommate, starbucks date with my younger (but taller and stronger) brother, pedicures with liz, small group fellowship, bachelorette viewing party, goodbye party for megan, kanki, self-pity, relaxing, yard saling, time with Jesus, nutella waffles and iced coffee with lori, time wasted being angry over stupid things, hanging out poolside with fun friends, coffee bar at church, worship with my summit family, comparing myself to others, movie night at the $1.50 theater, sleepover with megan, boredom.

some good. some bad. some ugly. wonder what's in store for me this week? 

martha stewart

{photo credit: mpdailyfix.com}

martha stewart vs. lacey ostoj. let's take a look.

martha...
1. makes her own marshmallows.
2. covers things in glitter and makes them look chic and ultra-modern.
3. reuses egg shells to use as decoration.

lacey...
1. prefers the taste of store bought marshmallows to homemade ones. not saying i can't make my own. it's totally a taste preference thing.
2. cannot hold a tube of glitter without it exploding out everywhere and turning my craft project into something found in a 2nd grade classroom.
3. eats eggs. throws the smashed eggshells in the garbage. where they belong.

dang. trumped by martha in every area. i cannot compete. not that i'm bitter or anything. psssh. that's silly. so silly...

there is one thing that martha does perfectly that i am grateful for and not the least bit bitter about-her craft line. holy smokes. that woman (and her team of about one million) know how to produce great craft supplies. from pretty papers to rubber stamps, she's got it going on. they are a little more expensive than other brands, but the quality is stellar. plus, i can find a lot of her stuff at big lots. don't tell her, though. she'd have a fit.

i bought a little package of her chipboard animals simply because they were cute. see? that's what martha stewart crafts do to me. i didn't have any major project plans when i bought them, but i couldn't resist the cute packaging and the pastel colors. uh, total sucker. they sat in my craft box for a while, but i recently pulled them out and made some cute cards with them.

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prancer meet dancer.

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crocodile rock. this guy is my favorite. 

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i'm so martha stewart. now, where is my microwaveable dinner?

happy father's day (continued)!

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although, father's day is technically over, i am blessed to have another man in my life who deserves to be honored. my step-dad, dale, is an incredible husband to my mom and an amazing role model and father figure to me and my brothers.

he and my mom started "dating" when i was in college, and, i have to admit, i was a little wary. who did he think he was coming onto the scene and stealing my mom's heart?! i didn't like him at first (it's true), but it didn't take long to see that he was a true gentleman and in serious love with my mom. i have grown to love dale so very much over the last seven years. now, i can't imagine my life without him.

he is genuinely kind and giving. he makes super delicious granola from scratch. he and my mom like to go yard saling together. this is one of his favorite youtube videos. his love for the Lord is very apparent. he can cook pork in a dozen different ways (pulled pork, grilled pork, boiled pork, baked pork loin...) he leaves sweet notes and cards throughout the house for my mom to find. he is the king of coupons. he has five jokes that he tells over and over. and over. he loves me and my brothers like his own children. he and my mom are best friends.

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happy father's day to my wonderful step-dad, dale!

happy father's day!

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i love my dad. he is one part ex-military man and one part teddy bear. he has the power to kill someone with a strong stare, but he also has a soft spot for homemade fudge.

he always enthusiastically supports my new ideas. like when i wanted to join the air force. (not kidding.) he is a big kid. he likes to ride motocross. (and he's good.) he has great stories about growing up in southern california. he randomly sends me gifts cards for starbucks and lowe's foods in the mail. he signs the cards "i love you, dad." every time. 

he plays with our cat domino. he thinks brad pitt is the main actor who played in titantic. one winter when we lived in massachusetts, he built a toboggan run in our backyard. it took him hours and hours, and it was awesome. he is always interested to know what kinds of crafts i am making at the moment. (and sometimes he crafts with me.)

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he loves loves the beach boys. he makes a mean cup of crema coffee. i'm his only daughter, and i can feel his love and protection of me fiercely. (when he met my ex-boyfriend for the first time, he sat with his hands behind his head, flexing his biceps during the whole conversation. hahaha...) he lets me talk and talk and talk. he cried when i was crowned homecoming queen in high school.  he chews bubble gum. like a boss.

{photo credit: me}

i love my dad. i think i'll go hug him. happy father's day!

licorice

{photo credit: weheartit.com}

i want to buy you something.

what?

i don't know, a present...

i thought about it for a minute.

licorice. black licorice.

he nodded solemnly.

for you, two packages. 

-from julie and romeo

i can't speak for all girls, but, for me, the simpler the better. jewelry? no, thanks. just licorice. or maybe a black coffee. that's nice, too.