Easters

Short and Sweet Saturday

What are you reading or watching?

Y'all.

Insta Five Friday

1.  I love orangizing my desk shelf.  I keep some of my favorite books and treasures there.

2.  Sometimes with senior exhibit on the horizon, you just need a big diet coke.

3.  Did you know that Taco Bell had a happy hour?  I love the pina colada freeze!  One dollah y'all.

4.  These M&M's seriously taste like carrot cake.  I wanna be a flavor creator when I grow up.

5.  I'm so glad to be done with senior exhibit (for now) and home.  Watch out Brookhaven, Jessica and Katherine are back in town!

La la linking up above.

Take a Look, It's in a Book

Hiya guys.  What would you do if I gave some book reviews today?  Love me forever?  Since the last review, I have read five books.  Two of which are filled with Iranian culutre and facts, one with Mexican meals and romance, one is Bible-belting it all the way, and the another is an exploration of a fancy foreign land.  I can seriously say that these next five books are some of the best that I've ever read.  So, I'm going to quit dragging this out and just get to it.  

The Twenty-One Balloons

by: William Pene du Bois

This is a beautifully written children's book from the 1940's.  This book explores the lost island of Krakatoa.  One retired teacher decides to travel around the world in a hot air balloon to relax and avoid people.  Instead, he gets is adventure.  I won't give anything away but this book is full of wonder and surprise.  It even contains a magical unheard of land.  

A Year of Biblical Womanhood

by: Rachel Held Evans

Rachel Held Evans journeys through the Bible and seeks to live a complete year of biblical womanhood.  She takes every word literally, going as far to live in a tent during her period.  Each month she explores a new virtue or characteristic about the "biblical woman".  What I loved most about this book was the truth.  There were many stories that had me laughing out loud (seriously) but it also tied everything together with the meaning of each passage and how that applies to our daily lives.  It's not about turning into this magical soft-spoken (unless you aren't a bit like me and are in fact, soft-spoken) woman but instead being who God made you and glorifying Him in that.

Funny in Farsi
by: Firoozeh Dumas

I loved the formatting of this book.  The chapter titles where what first attracted me.  Firoozeh travels to America from Iran when she is seven years old.  Her family plans to only stay for two years while her father is working as engineer.  What really happens is Firoozeh and her family make a new permanent home.  This book navigates through those funny cross-cultural moments when anyone is put in a different setting.  You will not only love this book but the characters in it.  Especially Firoozeh's dad.  He was my favorite.

The Complete Persepolis
by: Marjane Satrapi

After reading Funny in Farsi, I was excited to read this book because both characters are native Iranians.  This is a graphic novel that not only entertained me but also taught me so much more about the Iranian Revolution than I could ever learn from a history textbook.  This author is not only a talented writer but also a talented artist.  Her drawings capture emotion and heartache that keeps reader connected to the story.  I couldn't put this book down.  I recommend it to any and everyone.  It will in my fav five for a while.

Like Water for Chocolate
by: Laura Esquivel

I must admit that I didn't know that this book existed.  I had previously seen the adapted movie version late one night on cable.  I was in an used bookstore when the title caught my attention.  I knew how the book would end before reading yet I still enjoyed reading this book so much.  I love the characters and the author really has one of the most romantic love stories planted in her book.  It is full of emotion and energy that takes the reader along with it.  You go up and then you go down with each character (especially the main one).  This is a must read for any romance lover.

To sum it all up,

read more berks.

What do you like to read?

Favorite Stuffs

1.  I am obsessed with Diet Coke.  I keep trying the whole water thing but it never really works out for me.

2.  I'm a reader.  I just finished Like Water for Chocolate today.  It will soon be time for me to harp on the last five books I've read.

3.  I have a thing for cups and mugs.  I actually own the one on the right.  Anthropologie has great tea and coffee cups.

4.  If I had a signature smell, this would be it.  Eucalyptus spearmint.  I don't know what that says about me.

5.  You've heard of my lipstick thing.  I love it.  Lipgloss = sticky lips.  Ain't nobody got time for dat.

6.  Sharpie pens.  They are the best pens in the whole world.  

7.  I love going to museums and I love looking at art.  I love Lichtenstein.  He is in my fav five.  

Tell me.

What are you favorite things?

Preparation for Easter Sunday

The Creation of Adam by:Michelangelo

As a Christian, how does one prepare for Easter.  Plenty of home and craft magazines give you advice on cooking hams and decoupaging eggs for centerpieces.  This is all great, but how do I prepare my heart for this season?  I've been in church my whole life.  I grew up hearing the Easter story every year.  As I've grown older, my heart tunes out the old story that I've heard so much.  Not because it doesn't hold the same awesome truths that it always has, but because it is a story that I know like the back of my hand.  This season I'm praying for a softened heart that is mesmerized by our God's plan of salvation once again.  I'm going through this life like the rest of us and I don't have all the answers.  I'm not a sermon writer or an eloquent speaker.  So, all I can give you are some verses that may speak to me in hopes that they speak to you.  And in my opinion, that is enough.

"Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent."     Job 11:13-14

"But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul."     Deuteronomy 4:29

"I love those who love me, and those who seek me will diligently find me."     Proverbs 8:17

"Repent and then turn to God, so that your sin may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."     Acts 3:19

Praying for pure hearts.

Liebster Award

I was just nominated for the Liebster Award.  What?  People read this blog?  I'm so honored and thankful.  Big shout-out to my nominator, Tiffany from Keeping Up With Tiffany.  Be sure to check out her awesome blog!

What is the Liebster Award?
This award is for bloggers who are just starting out and have less than 200 followers.  The award helps these bloggers and their blogs get noticed by others.  Bloggers who have been nominated pass this award along to other new bloggers.  It is such an amazing and cool honor to be recognized!  

Rules
1. Thank your Liebster Award presenter on your blog and link back to their blog.
2. Answer the 11 questions from the nominator, list 11 random facts about yourself and create 11 questions for your nominees.
3. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 11 blogs of 200 followers or less whom you feel deserve to be noticed and leave a comment on their blog.
4. Copy and paste the blog award on to your blog.

11 Random Facts About Me
1. I love to travel and I don't see myself settling down anytime soon.
2. My obsession is Diet Coke.
3. My library is another obsession of mine.  I collect little library identification cards to put in my books.
4. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing with my life.  Whatevs.
5. If I had to learn a new language I would want to learn French or Arabic or Farsi.
6. I love Baz Luhrmann movies.  Moulin Rouge, anyone?  I can't wait for The Great Gatsby.
7. I'm always on the hunt for a new pen pal.  I have an excuse to buy fancy stationery.
8. I carry my passport everywhere because you never know when you're going to need to leave the country.
9. I have a cactus named Nancy.
10. I love storms.
11. I love white chocolate Reese's more than anything.

Questions from my nominator
1.  Why do you blog?
I blog because I love it.  It was never about how many people read it or how popular it gets.  It has always been about an outlet.  It is a why to creatively keep your thoughts together.  Kinda like an online journal.
2. What is your favorite color?
Green! 
3. What bugs you the most?
I hate it when people flake out.  I like to count on plans that I make with people. 
4. What is your favorite go to food/recipe?
Is take out a good answer?  I don't cook much while I live in the dorms.  My favorite take out would have to be Chinese.  American Chinese that is.
5. What is your life's dream?
Ultimately I would like to say that my life dream is to give God glory.  Do His will and worship Him daily.  He has given me passions, however.  I would love to travel and write a book.  I would love to start a business.  I would love to live overseas.  All of my little passions are a way to give Him glory.  
6. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?
I'm not quite sure.  I love traveling and moving about.  I lived in Australia for a summer and loved it.  I would probably live in Australia as long as I'm still able to travel to other places. 
7.  What is your favorite song and why?
I have no idea.  I love Hanson.  Maybe Come to You by Hanson or Carry You There.  For those of you who don't know, Hanson comes out with new albums.  If you haven't heard from them since their Mmm Bop days, than you're missing out.8.  What bugs you the most?
I hate it when people flake out.  I like to count on plans that I make with people.
9. What is your ultimate hobby?
Umm...blogging?
10.  Where have you traveled?
My favorite U.S. place would be New York City.  Outside the U.S., I have traveled to La Nariz, Mexico for one week periods, three times.  I spent a summer in East Fremantle, Western Australia.  That is close to Perth.  Last summer, I spent a little over two weeks in Lilongwe, Malawi.  I want to increase my traveling.
11. What is your least favorite thing to do?
"Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."  - G.K. Chesterton

My 11 nominees
1. Made to Be Broken
2. Frankly Fickle
3. A Mist of a Life
4. A Slocum Story 
5. Girl Meets World 
6. Kasia's Kitchen  
7. Steal My Sunshine
8. Shaped By Grace  
9. I Have Thoughts
10. Forever Changed
11. A String of Purls 

11 Questions to my nominees
1. Why do you blog?
2. Where did your blog name come from?
3. What is your favorite book?
4. What is your favorite quote?
5. What is your life's dream?
6. Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world?
7. What is your favorite song lyrics?
8. What is your least favorite thing to do?
9. What is your favorite thing about spring?
10. Where have you traveled?
11. Where would you like to travel?

That about sums everything up.  Now all you have to do is grab your award button from the sidebar.  Copy and past this blog post and fill out the questionnaire.  Remember to change out the questions to the ones I want you to answer above.  And check out the wonderful blogs that I nominated!   

Super big thanks to my nominator Keeping Up With Tiffany. 

Check her out.

Insta Five Friday

1)  My cousin's kid, Danni, had her third birthday last Saturday and I got to spoil her a little Sunday.

2)  Senior art exhibit has taken over my life.  Yes, that is a very large piece of wood crammed in my car.

3)  Hailstorm 2013 took out countless windows Monday afternoon.

4)  I got to end Spring Break with some hibachi and Big Bang.

5)  My roommate got sick and had to go to the ER.  Then we decided to trade viruses.  

Linking up above.

Spring Fever

Whoop there it is.

Mondays, I Tell You

It was just another Monday here in Mississippi.  That is, until Hailstorm 2013 broke out.  It was a little after three in the afternoon when I decided to get a shower before my night class.  As I was shampooing my hair I heard the worse noise I've ever heard.  No exaggeration here.  It was that bad.  I thought it was a tornado at first.  Then I thought it was Mississippi's long overdue earthquake.  Wait.  I'm not shaking.  It sounded like horses were galloping on the roof and falling through the ceiling.  It sounded as if metal was being ripped apart.  I jumped out of the shower and ran to the window.  Hail.  It was baseball sized hail.  I jumped back in the shower to finish washing off just in case a tornado was soon approaching.  That's when the lights went out.  I jumped back out of the shower.  The lights came back on.  I got back in the shower.  The lights went out again.  I decided that if I was going to die, that I was going to have well conditioned hair.  I finished showering and then slid through my room in the river that had accumulated from the shower tag I had played earlier.  By the time I had finished dressing and ran to my friend's dorm, Hailstorm 2013 was over.  As I looked out the window, I saw shattered car windows everywhere.  Thankfully, my car was unharmed except for a few dings in the hood.  My friend Hannah's car, not so lucky.

We made national news, y'all.

Eat, Pray, Love

I know that I haven't been my blogging self lately.  I've been in a bloggy rut ever since I realized that Google reader will soon shut down.  Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin.  So, today I'm going to leave you with another Mindy gif.  Because this is exactly how I feel.  

Easy Listening

This song transports me to an outdoor cafe with a good book.  Enjoy!

Hang on Little Tomato

by: Pink Martini

Insta Friday

 

1)  I posted a blog about my favorite lipsticks.  Check it out here.

2)  I made coconut cupcakes with my Gran-Gran.  You can get the recipe here.

3)  I bought a cactus today because they won't let me bring cats in the dorms.  I named her Nancy cause she's so fancy. 

4)  My cat is a mighty warrior.  

5)  I found this Aaron Carter book yesterday.  I'll also add that I bought seven books for $1.64.  Deal!

Coconut Cupcakes

I'm not really a huge coconut fan.  Something about shredded coconut gives me the feeling that I'm eating little white blades of grass.  I am, however, a huge fan of these coconut cupcakes.  My grandmother made these about three years ago.  She is always trying new recipes for me to try.  I took one bite of the fluffy white cake and fell in love.  I also fell in love with these cute hot air balloon cupcake wrappers.  I bought them almost two years ago and this is my first time using them.  I'm a hoarder.

Coconut Cupcakes 

2 2/3 sticks butter, room temp.
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 tsp. each vanilla and almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. each baking soda, baking powder, and salt
1 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 cup flaked coconut
8 oz. cream cheese, room temp.
2 3/4 cups powder sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In large bowl, cream together 2 sticks of the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs on at a time, beating well after each.  Mix in 1 1/2 tsp. each of vanilla and almond extract.

In another large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.  Add to butter and sugar mixture in 3 batches, alternating with coconut milk.  Stir 1 cup of shredded coconut into the batter.
Fill 30 paper-lined muffin cups about 2/3 full with batter.  Bake 15-20 minutes.  Cool completely.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, remaining butter, vanilla, and almond extract until smooth.  Gradually beat in powdered sugar.  Frost cupcakes and sprinkle with remaining coconut.  You may choose to toast the coconut for topping.  Enjoy!

Feel free to comment.

Kiss Me, I'm Irish

I'm pretty sure that I've already mentioned that I'm a lipstick girl.  I hate lipgloss.  Nothing says sexy quite like getting hair stuck to your lips.  This post was inspired by my newest purchase in the middle.  I think that shade of pink is perfect for spring.  So, I pulled out my top seven lipsticks to share with you.  Maybe you will find something you've been looking for.  

1)  Mary Kay's Dusty Rose.
2)  Clinique's Sugared Maple
3)  Maybelline's Red Revival
4)  Revlon's Stormy Pink
5)  L'Oreal's Peach Fuzz
6)  Revlon's Kiss Me Coral
7)  Rimmel's Fancy

I really am Irish.

Tuesday Short

via

Me too, Mindy.

Me too.

Conferencing

Today I am riding back home from the National Art Education Association conference.  It was the bomb.  Yarn bomb to be exact.  That was pun.  Anyway, I'm still probably somewhere in Texas.  The sun has ris'.  The sun has set.  We still ain't out of Texas yet.  I don't have much to say except that this weekend was a blast.  I enjoyed laughing at my fellow Art Education majors.  Key word: laughed at.  Seriously though,  I had a real good time and I'm excited to be an art educator in the future.

Freaky Friday

1.  My grumpy cat, Piper.  She's actually really sweet.
2.  I think it's because I'm Irish, but these things are delicious.  I've always loved mint.  And shakes. 
3.  I had a bad experience in my creative writing class that called for chocoate.
4.  My new purchases for the NAEA conference.  Books and Cookie Nookie.  All a girl needs in life right?
5.  Cupcakes at the conference.  I am an animal!

Happy Insta High Five for Friday, y'all.

Water Lilies

"Water Lilies" by Claude Monet

"Consider how the lilies grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."

Luke 12:27

By the time you are reading this, I probably somewhere in Texas.  Driving along.  Texas is a big state.  I wanted to schedule a blog post since I've been in a bloggy groove lately.  I guess this post in a bit more serious than my Nick Miller photos.  This blog post was inspired by a worship night I had a few nights ago with my sorority.    

Look at the verse above.  I don't know what you gather from the verse, but I gather this: God provides.  The End.  He provides the color for the flower's petals.  He provides the worms for the birds.  He provides the smaller fish for the bigger fish.  God provides.  How much more does He provide for His children then?  His children who He loves deeply?  

We are told not to worry countless times in scripture.  Our God is in control and we should take peace in that.  I know, I know.  Easier said than done.  I'm right there with you.  I worry and stress and get worked up.  We are in this together.  

I guess what I am trying to say, is that next time you are stressed about whatever it is you get stressed about, consider the lilies.  

Consider how the lilies grown.  They do not labor or spin.  

Pray for my car ride to Texas.

I don't like long car rides. 

All My Exes

It's that time, you guys.  I'm leaving tomorrow at 3:30 in the morning for the National Art Education Association Conference.  Yes, I said morning.  Lets just say that I won't be going to sleep tonight.  I hoping that I can keep up with blogging while I am there but I can't guarantee it.  There will be lots of lesson plans and free stuff.  I love free stuff. 

Last year's conference was held in New York City.  Of course it was amazing.  I was able to experience most of the city's best sites.  I absorbed the MoMA.  I got lost in the Met.  No really.  That wasn't a metaphor.  I got really really lost. 

I'm excited to learn new stuff, bond with my fellow art educators, and get the heck out of college town for a bit.  I hope Fort Worth is just as refreshing as last year's trip.  I'm sure it will be.

Lets take a trip down memory lane and experience last year's conference all over again.

Last day to sign up for my swap.