Coffee and the Word

Last night, a friend and I made our own caramel coffee syrup.  I am happy to say that our diy adventure was a success.  I orginally got the idea from A Beautiful Mess.  Their blog is amazing, so please go check it out.  For the little jar that we made I halved the recipe.  I'm so excited to put this in my coffee tonight or use it for a last minute Christmas gift.

1 cup of water
1 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of caramel syrup

Place water and sugar in a boiler over low/medium heat until sugar is dissolved.  Once dissolved, add caramel syrup.  Stir until well combined.  You can use different kinds a syrups for different flavors or make vanilla with 1/4 tsp. of extract.  Get creative.

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:37-39

Free Time

One of my favorite parts about Christmas break is having absolutely nothing to do.  I'm really not sure how I'm going to function in the real world because I really enjoy being my own boss.  Hey Katherine, would like to Pinterest all day?  Why sure, boss!  What about a two hour bubble bath?  If you insist.  I get a whole month of doing whatever my little heart desires.  It's pure magic!  Sadly, this will be my last time to do this.  Real world is fast approaching and for some reason real world doesn't like it when I get "me" time.  Selfish, I know!  Anyway, I've been soaking up every minute of this free time and I've only been home a total of 5 days.  Five days of pure bliss.  I'm pretty sure my schedule includes Pinterest, hot baths, blogs, holiday movies, etc.  All day, ereday.  Lately, I've gotten some time to be around my hometown friends.  My favorite thing about being with them is that we always involve food somehow into our gatherings.  If there is anything I like more than free time, it is food.  Can I get an amen?

that's coffee/chocolate, cake batter, and peppermint ice cream, my friends.

 

 

foxes pizza for the win.

why yes, I do enjoy pineapple on my pizza.

 

Sweet Sixteen

 

 

Happy Birthday! 

My sister, Madeline, turned sixteen today.  This only means one thing.  We're twins!  Because I can't possibly be much older than her.  It was only yesterday when I was begging for a new cell phone and learning how to drive.  Sad truth: I'm a senior in college, staring the real world in its ugly face.  Anyway, I'm glad my family came together to celebrate Macy's life.  Cool fact: I call my sister Macy.  I don't know why.  It just rolled off my tongue one day when I was trying to call her Mae (the rest of my family calls her Mae) and it just stuck.  I can't believe she is sixteen.  Our age difference is slowly getting shorter and shorter.  Soon we will be those middle-aged sisters fighting the crowds together on Black Friday for the best deals.  Or making each other casseroles and junk.  For now, let's just watch movies together.  I'm not ready to grow up.

Cracked

But now, O Lord,

You are our Father;

We are the clay, and You our potter;

And all we are the work of Your hand.

Isaiah 64:8

Here is a little more elaboration on my vase, vessel, pot obsession.  I've had a really hard last two years.  Really hard.  One day I might can share that here but not today.  If you are really interested, you can ask me about it.  Isaiah 64:8 kept sneaking it's way into my life.  I am mere clay.  He is the Potter.  If you are familiar with throwing pots on a wheel, you know how beautiful this analogy is.  Clay on a wheel is wet and gooey and nasty.  Sound familiar?  Can my life get any more disgusting?  My thoughts.  My actions.  Everything.  Let's just say my life doesn't always point to Christ.  Yet, Christ's hands are wrapped around me at every point in my life.  Through every hard moment.  Through every season of joy.  He is always there.  My life may be spinning out of control from my perspective like that of a potter's wheel but He is shaping me into who He wants me to become.  He makes each one of us unique to serve a different purpose for His glory.  If we so choose to accept Him, He then pours His Spirit into us.  Because of His love for us, we get to the privileged of being used by Him for His glory.  And let me tell you, that's amazing stuff.     

Susie Q

Does anyone remember that Backstreet Boys' song "What Makes You Different"?  The song proceeds to let me girls know that what makes them different, makes them beautiful.  Much better than singing about how insecurities are attractive.  Cough cough.  One Direction.  Anywho, this got me thinking about quirks.  I love that word.  Especially since it starts with a "q" and I love words that start with a "q".  See what I did there?  That is a quirk.  So I've compiled my own list of my special quirks to share with you.  So generous and entertaining, I know.


1.  I carry my passport with me wherever I go.  In fact, I grabbed it when I packed for Christmas break because you never no when you will have to leave the country at a minutes notice.  I am prepared to hop a plane at all times.  Apparently this isn't normal. 

2.  I love foxes!  I don't know why.  I just love how they are orange and have little whiskers and snouts.  They are the cutest.

3.  I wear matching pajama sets to bed.  I call them jam-jams.  My favorite set happens to be pink with peppermints on them.  I wear them all year long.  Pajamas know no season.

4.  I have a stuffed animal.  He is a opossum.  I named him Alan.

5.  I want to travel all day, everyday.  This might be a reason I carry my passport everywhere.  I'm not ready to settle.  I'm ready to explore.

6.  I seriously want to live out of an RV.  It's an Airstream love story.  Baby, just say yes.

7.  I also want to be a tour guide.  I don't know why.  I just think it would be a fun job to show people around a part of the world that you are in love with.  At least for just a short spell of my life.  I also can't wait to wear one of those headband microphone thingys.

8.  I choose lipstick over lip gloss any day.  I especially like red lipstick.  Or bright pink.  Besides, lip gloss is sticky.  Who wants to put goo on their lips?  Not me.  I've also never worn chap stick.  Knock on wood.

9.  My favorite food of all time is egg rolls.  Any kind of egg roll but especially the vegetable kind.  If you want to win my heart, buy me a platter of egg rolls.  No, seriously you can.  I took some to a party once.

10.  I have this thing with pots.  No, not marijuana.  I like images of vases and jars and little pots.  I like what they symbolize to me.  It reminds me that my Father is the potter and I am the clay.  When my world is spinning like clay on a potter's wheel, His hands are around me.  He is shaping me into what He wants me to be.  It also symbolizes how He uses us as vessels.  He pours His Spirit into us and allows us to be a part of His great work.  Amen sistah.  


Speaking of weird people, I have this friend named Jessica.  She has a problem.  She cleaned out her car today.  This is just smidgen of what came out of it.

Sistah girl gotta problem.

I'm Boss-ay

     Okay, so I've been a major bloggy blogger jerk lately.  Not that I think many people actually take the time out of their day to read this.  I just wish I was a bit more stable in posting.  But, hey, I gotta life to live!  I have so much to share in these next few daze.  I'm closing out 2012 like a boss.  It was a year of many firsts for me.  I plan on posting tomorrow which means sometime before thirteen.  I, however, feel an obligation to share these photo updates with you before anything else.  I hate obligations. 

Wanna hear what other things I can do like a boss? 

Ask me how I drug the Christmas tree out of the dorm.  Lights, topper, and all.

Foxy Momma

sometimes you just need a fox sweater.

Preach It

"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save, He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing." 

Zephaniah 3:17

Silver Bells

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in West 512.

Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

1) hoe down mysterty date

2) decorating the dorm for christmas

3) our first annual "friends"giving

4) food!!

5) my only first cousin, emilye

6) my how we've grown

 

 

 

Cawledge

Last week was Homecoming at Mississippi College.  It was a very stressful time for me.  I had a million and sixty-two things to do.  However, there was a light at the end of the tunnel.  Big Sis Reveal!  As many/some/none of you know, I am in a social tribe called Swannanoa.  It's pretty much our excuse of a sorority.  I already have a wonderful little and Sunday night she chose her own little (my grand little).  That makes me a granny!  My "aunt" (I have a weird St family tree) also got a little, so I have a new cousin.  I'm so excited for this next year.  I have some wonderful girls in my life that I get to called family.

(one of my roomie's littles, my roomie, moi, my little)

the family that made it to reveal

Princess Witness Protection Program

 

 

 

 

 

I know I've been away for a while.  I have a legitimate excuse.  Last night I was almost murdered.  Okay so that might sound a little dramatic but it could be true.  Let me elaborate.  After supper last night, my friends and I decided to go somewhere (anywhere) to get out of the dorms.  After walking around the mall and getting tiaras at the dollar store, we were driving back to the dorms.  My tire started to make a weird noise so I pulled on the side of the road and turned my hazard lights on.  While I was outside the car, I got a chill that I've never felt before.  I ran back to the car and I was putting the car in drive, when I noticed a car pull behind me.  It was a white Yukon type of vehicle.  Then I saw the blue lights.  Blue lights on the dashboard and in the grill.  Not a good sign.  I rolled down my window and yelled that we were fine.  The "officer" came to my window wearing camo and barely said two words.  He didn't identify himself.  He didn't ask for my license and registration.  He was clearly shocked to see my friend in the backseat roll down her window.  My hand was on the gear shift the whole time.  We may or may not have been wearing our tiaras and talking obnoxiously the whole time.  Clearly a sign of drunkenness.  We weren't drunk, by the way.  That's just my personality.  When he walked back to his car, he made a u-turn and sped to the highway.  We called 911.  There were no unmarked cars on patrol that night.  There are alot of questions we could ask.  What if I had been alone?  This isn't a "be careful" lesson.  This is a God's provision lesson.  God has plans.  End of story. 

 

 

Drizzly Daze

First of all, only one week to fall break.  Heck yes!  I'm in love with this season.  I love everything about it.  The changing leaves, the cozy sweat-ahs, the new candle scentsy scents, the wonderful rich food.  One of my favorite things about fall though, is the candy.  Maybe it is because Halloween is just around the corner.  I don't know but I love fall candy.  The other day I went to walls-mart for conditioner and I left with not one, not two, but three bags of candy.  I recommend you try candy corn M&M's and pumpkin spice Kisses.  In my defense, I got the third bag of candy for baking purposes. 

 

 

I'm starting my seventh book since I started school.  What have I been reading you may ask? 

Katherine's Reading Recommendations

 

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana 

by: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

 

The Secret Garden

by: Frances Hodgson Burnett

 

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man

by: Steve Harvey

 

Trail of Crumbs: Hunger, Love, and the Search for Home

by: Kim Sunee

 

Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On

by: Shellie Rushing Tomlinson

 

The Little Prince

by: Antoine de Saint-Exupery

 

Girl, Interrupted

by: Susanna Kaysen

 

 

 

 

 

 

My dad came to visit last night and surprised me with a trip to the bookstore.  My dad has always shown me the importance and value in a good book.  In the south, men are expected to wear boots and be rugged and muddy.  My dad isn't that.  My dad doesn't lie in his recliner watching sports and he doesn't get his gun when it's deer season.  That's what I love about my dad.  He has been through alot.  He is stronger than any "manly mountain man" will ever be.  He has overcome so much because of Jesus and His provision.  I love my dad.  I am able to talk to him about anything.  He taught me to read, love art and culture.  He taught me to be open-minded and to not have prejudices.  I'm luckier than any other girl because they don't have a dad like mine.  Anyway, my dad bought me Girl, Interrupted and three Moleskine journals. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a story to tell and I can't wait to share it.

I'm Falling for You

I'm a planner.  It's what I do.  I can be a problem.  Whatever.  This is all to say that I'm planning something great.  Something grand.  Something fantabulous.  I'm planning a camping trip.  Some of you (oh so devoted readers) might not know this but I love camping.  My grandparents have taken me on camping trips since I was a wee little tot.  Most of our camping adventures have taken place in the summer when I was out of school.  However, my favorite time to go camping is in the fall.  Guess what?  Fall is in 5 days.  Five days people.  5 daze.  So, here are my epic camping trip plans.

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So, who's with me?

Party Time

Saturday was my roommate's birthday.  So we celebrated as best as we could when one is required to attend a tailgate and Preview Day on their birthday.  We had a surprise dinner and cookie cake complete with party hats and those little blow-thingys.    

Happy Birfday, Roomie!

Septimberz

 

 

 

 Sometimes, roommates just have to have matching leopard pants

I've been reading...

 

 

 

 and reading...

 

 

 

meet my new bed for the year

cake pops in Fondren

 

Twenty-five

I'm a list maker.  I make lots and lots of lists.  A little over a year ago I started a list called twenty-one before 21.  Now that I'm twenty-one, I'm going to make twenty-five before 25.  

Twenty-five before 25

Read 5 books within a month

Visit France

Go back to East Fremantle, Western Australia

Be a bridesmaid

Get a book published

Learn some barista skills

Go white water rafting again

Purchase first house

Make friends with people from other lands

Go to the zoo

Sleep under the stars

Find my life-long adventure partner

Plant my first successful garden 

Graduate college

Live in New Orleans

Find best job ever

Make a quilt

Spend 5 days camping straight

Get better at photography

Form new friendships

Climb a mountain

Re-visit the MoMA

Ride in a hot air balloon

Sew my own dress

Create online store

Comment away.

Twenty-one

Do you remember my 21 before 21 list that I made Spring of 2011?  If not, go check it out in the above tabs.  I turned twenty-one the fifteenth of August.  Woot woot.  So here is my list below and here is what I actually accomplished.

Twenty-one Bay-bee

1) work out 5 days a week for an entire month 

2) make a quilt

3) spend the night with a homeless person

4) have tea (or beignets) with a stranger and share life stories

5) go to Africa June 4, 2012  

6) make a dirty chocolate souffle

7) make my own bead curtians (psychedelic)

8) have a booth at the Ole Brook Festival selling my art  

  

9) re-read Redeeming Love completed May 27, 2011

10) see a friend get married completed May 12, 2012

11) have an old fashioned picnic

12) live in New Orleans (for atleast a short spell)

13) make atleast 10 recipes out of my french cookbook

14) get an adventurous haircut

15) make new life friends  completed October 2011 (love my wolfies!)

16) start my own business selling my art 

17) make and drink exotic tea for afternoon tea completed May 23, 2011

18) have a herb garden every spring  (I had mint this spring but the 'rentals killed it)

19) bond more with my sister completed Summer 2012

20) dive deeper into God's word and meditate and memorize like never before never complete

21) grow closer to God never complete either

Okay, so eight out of twenty-one.  That's not that bad, right?  Right?  Okay, so time to start my 25 before 25.   

(living da life)