News Report

Sometimes, life gets crazy.  And you don't blog for a while.  Sometimes, you have a lot of free time.  And you don't blog for a while.  It is what it is.

I'm supah excited about participating in the coffee Valentine's swap.  Check out the image on my sidebar.  I keep buttons of all the swaps in which I have participated.  I will be doing a little blogging on that soon.

Mardi Gras season is upon us.  I'm getting a group together for Fat Tuesday.  Fat Tuesday will be here in 15 daze!


I'm just gonna share some pictures of what I've been up to:  


Horrible quality photos on a snow day night.

It's a Mississippi winter miracle.

Gold lame skirt.  Outta my comfort zone.

Taking the obligatory crazy pics before salsa dancing lessons.

Crossing off things on the bucket list for friends.

I took my little, Tori, to the airport to leave for London. (not pictured)

And that's about it.

Oh, and I'm planning on getting famous one day.

Just Words

There are several words that hate.  I'm not talking about those silly words that just sound weird to your ears.  Meat.  Beef.  Texas.  I hate the way those words sound.  But I'm not talking about those words.

I'm talking about the words that hit a little to close to home for comfort.

Rape.

Maybe I'm not the best person to be talk on this subject.  I've never been raped.  I have, however, seen its repercussions.  I don't know it all.  In fact, I don't claim to know anything.  Anything, that is, except the pain it can bring.

Like I said, I don't like the word.  But you have to call it for what it is.  It is destructive and painful.  It is bone crushing.  It is sordid and offensive.

There isn't much else to say.  I've had several people close to me raped.  I'm not a liberty to share their stories.  It's not my story to tell.  My dad is sharing his story.  January is National Stalking Awareness Month.  His story will be in The Clarion Ledger this Thursday.  Last April he was stalked.  He was raped.

Using that word makes my insides fold into themselves, giving me nausea.  I hate it.  But I must name it.  It has to have a name.  Something so ugly can not go unnoticed.

Commentary from the Couch

Oh Nick, you're a major cheapskate.

I want to go to a cabin in the woods.

Please don't make a fried chicken and watermelon joke.

Two words.  Sexy.  Boggle.

I would handle a gun pretty much the same way Jess did.

The Green Fairy!?!

"If crack cocaine is what you want, then crack cocaine is what you'll get." -Schmidt

Sam after absinthe.  Hilarious.

Hmm...frozen yogurt or crack.  It's whatever you want.  Hard decision.

Is it because I'm black?  Check out this video.  Makes me laugh every time.

"I'm sorry I thought you and the bread had an open relationship." - Jess

"Our people"?  When did Schmidt become black?

...Then a bird painting ruins it all.

Why, Angie, why!?!

...And more green fairy.

Mindy has had a pretty rough year.  That is why I like her.  We're twinsies.

I like your resolution number two.  Same here, sistah.

Work it, Mindy.  We are so similar.  Especially when it comes to working out. 

Hunger Game checks?  Mocking Jay points?  I want.

I think Mindy's brother is really cute. :)

"Steeze has multiple meanings." -Morgan.  I love him.

Well.  well. well.  It's the midwife.  

I love the debate over rocks, stones, pebbles.

"I tough love you!" -Mindy

Chloe Silverado? 

I love the hot stone treatment scene.

What is Betsy, Shauna, and Dr. Castellano doing at the Rap Out?

Laughing at Mindy's commentary to the lyrics while on stage.

"How about Nice Cube?" -Mindy

And this is what I do with my life.

Comment away.

Music Monday Tuesday

I can't get enough of this song and video.  I love Lights.  I guess I have to thank my friend, Amanda, for introducing her to me.  Anyway, this is a remix of one my favorite songs, Saviour.  If you like this song, check out her others.  

Yes, there is an "u'' in saviour.  At least according to a Canadian.

You know what you should do?

Comment.

Monogrammed

(don't you love my hand-drawn Hester?  Google images didn't do her justice)

You wanna know who I've been thinking about a lot lately?  Hester Prynne.

I want to start a new thing where I talk about my favorite literary characters that have taught me a lesson.  Most All of them are fictional women.

So, what do I like about Hester?  Other than her awesome name, Hester is one of the most fearless literary characters that I've read about.  In the face of adversity, she somehow still managed to have poise and grace.  When her lover denies her and her family is shunned from the town, she continues her life full of charitable deeds.  Most importantly, she does not let her past define or torment her.  She lives her life peacefully, knowing truth.

I guess the whole point of this post is to take something away from Hester Prynne.  We've all done stuff in our past that we're not proud of.  Maybe I'm the only one, but those bad choices seem to have a way of creeping back into my life.  It may not be just bad choices that haunt you.

My major setback?  Fear.  I shouldn't let fear define who I am and what I do.

The lessons we can take from Hester are endless.  How to treat people graciously after they've hurt us.  How God has redeemed us.  Perseverance.    

If nothing else, just read The Scarlet Letter.  Because it's a good read.

Is it just me or does Hester resemble of Laverne from Laverne and Shirley.

Also, remember when everything was monogrammed with first initials?  I had a "K" shirt.

Everybody Scream

So you wanna be an art teacher?  Of course you do!  That's actually an awkward subject with me.   I know that Art Education is the major for me.  I know that I enjoy sharing what I know about art with others.  I just don't know if I want to teach my whole life.  I just wanna travel, make art, and share the gospel.  I'm not saying that I won't ever teach.  I'm just saying that I don't think I will ever settle into teaching.  I might teach after I graduate to pay back student loans.  I may teach when I have children.  I may teach when I settle down in my older years.  I just don't know.  The best part?  I'm okay with not knowing.  That being said, here are some art education tools that I'm loving right now, stuff I'll definitely use in my maybe classroom.  

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mixed media still-life

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Kandinsky like tree

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artist research

Speaking of art, Edvard Munch's The Scream will be displayed at the MoMA till April.  I really, really want to go.  The MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) is my favorite art museum that I've ever visited plus it's in New York City.  Can you think of a better trip?  I'm supah serious when I say that I'm organizing a trip to NYC for sometime in March.  Wanna join?

I'm serious.

Second Senior Semester

I live my life in semesters.  College can do that to you.  I start my second semester of senior year a week from Monday.  I'm more than ready for it.  This semester will hold graduations, spring, maybe a garden, and Valentine's Day.  I'm also hoping we get a little snow.  I'm not asking for much here.  Just a little flurry.  As I'm thinking about all this semester will hold, I have several little everyday things that I'm looking forward too.  Here is just a bunch of stuff I'm loving right now. 

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It has to be...



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wanna Instagram wall.

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New flavors for the Keurig.

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I can't wait for my Creative Writing class.

I love books.

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I just wanna camp.

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cupcake fondue.
for V-day.

Keep making goals for yourself whether it is for the semester or the year.

See what you can accomplish.

Amanner Gunnda

This year, I spent New Year's Eve with my dear friends that live in another city.  In fact, we weren't really celebrating the new year but rather my friend's, Amanda and Gunner's, engagement.  I'm so happy for them and I'm excited that I get to be a part of their big day.  I love to see their passion for the Lord.  They are one of the godliest couples that I have ever met.  I know God is going to work through them in mighty, mighty ways.  He is going to use their story for His glory and that is nothing short of amazing.  Actually, He already has and is.  Congratulations Amanda and Gunner!

 (the title is a combination of their names.  like celebrities.  he he.)

Thirteen

bye-bye 2012,

hello 2013.

Twenty-twelve was a year filled with many new opportunities for me.  I went to New York City for the first time.  I saw Starry Night by Van Gogh with my own eyes, in person.  I went to Malawi.  I saw first hand the effects of extreme poverty and disease.  There were many other personal achievements that I will never forget.  I can't wait to see what thirteen brings.  It'll be filled with healing and happiness.  It'll be filled with new adventures and greater faith.  It'll be my best year yet.