la lent

Lent began last Wednesday. I’ve been looking forward to the Lenton for about a month now. I don’t know when in my faith this happened, but I just kind of naturally phased into desiring to practice it. Lent last for 40 weekdays, breaking every Sunday for a “feast day” in which whatever you are fasting from for numerous reasons. I like to do my own modified version of lent, seeing the feast day as an awkward point for me and my fast, so I cut out the feast day and start a couple days later.

This year, Im going to reread the book A Call to Die by David Nasser (which is a 40 day devotional of sorts). Back in my third year of college (four years ago), my best friend and I decided to run a summer “study” group in which about 12 of us went through the book together. The subtitle is “40 days of fasting from the world and feasting on God” and the more I think of doing this again, the more excited I get for the lenton season. I look forward to rereading my journal entries from each day, learning new things, and getting closer to God.

I’ve chosen not to share my what I am fasting from, since it keeps my pride in check; but I encourage anyone who reads this to join me in their own modified version of the lenton season. To truly fast from the world.. and feast on what God has for you.

fortnight

Its been a fortnight since I last posted. I truly hope this isn’t what is to come in my blogging future, but I feel a little caught up in life at the moment, so those of you who read will have to excuse this. An update of sorts of what’s been going on:

1. I’ve finally started a job hunt of sorts, and thus far, it’s going pretty good. I applied for two specific jobs two days ago, and also applied in general at a company through a friend, and I already have two interviews for the two specific jobs I applied for. Here’s to hoping for the program coordinator; it seems so interesting, but regardless, almost anything will do.
2. Photography. I’ve photographed an engagement shoot a couple weeks ago, and some of the graduation pictures for Horizon (the college I went to). So I’ve been working on editing both sets of these pictures.
3. Setting up the home. Today I set up the BBQ and cleared off the deck from all the empty boxes we tossed out there. I’m working on putting everything away before I decorate the walls and such as initiative.. unpacking is such a restless task, but “nesting” is so delightful.
4. Church is going super well. We’ve had three youth group times so far, and 6 church services. We were welcomed with open arms, which has made the transition super smooth.
5. My husband has been on this health kick, and he’s looking really good. I’ve been joining him on part of the eating portions and my perma-bloating has gone down a ton. Now… to get my muscles moving. Hopefully when I begin working I will get more into a habitual work you.. it’s so hard to structure and plan things when you have no day to day routine.
6. In case you missed it.. the Winter Olympics started which have bombarded our tele watching. Im not a fan of televised sports usually, but both the summer and winter Olympics make it so easy to watch, so much variety and coverage. I love it.
7. Dresses. I’ve been here for about three weeks.. and about one of them (total) I have worn a dress or a skirt and some leggings. Men have it so rough, never getting to experience the freedom and comfort of a dress. Here’s to feeling comfortable and cute in a little dress.

So, (*raises glass*), here’s to life! Hopefully I’ll get to you again before the new fortnight.

I’ll leave you with a small sample of the engagement shoot… I loved photographing these two because you can truly tell how much they love each other.

spinach and fresh fruit goodness

I made our first “real” home cooked meal today in our apartment. It’s been a week here now.. and it feels great to finally use my own pans and utensils. This past summer I made this salad (below), and took this picture. I’ve been craving it for weeks now… just some spinach, strawberries, red grapes, raspberries and blueberries and a little bit of summer berry “dip” (by Epicure) as a topping/dressing. So. So. So delicious! Well.. today I was at the grocer and they surprisingly had all of the ingredients, berries included. I may just have to invest for us to enjoy this

then we can call it home

We arrived on Tuesday, around 4:30 in the afternoon to our new home. It was a super quick move in thanks to many people from our church! Only 40 minutes… combined with three flights of stairs… impressive!!

The first night, the obvious priority was to get out bedroom furniture set up, as well, and organize the living room furniture too. Day two and three both involved the kitchen… which I totally think is the biggest job.

We’re not yet moved in totally, we have boxes in all the closets still, none of our clothing is unpacked (besides the items we are wearing), and our spare bedroom is a fall-out shelter; post disaster. Anyone in need of an end table? Because we seem to have 3 too many! We’re not surprised since we down sized significantly, so we’ll consider this a cleansing of sorts.

Stay tuned to some home pictures… when everything has it’s place.. I estimate two more weeks til I’m comfortable with it all and until we have things on the walls; then we can call it home.

Home Projects; Home Desires

Home Project:

I hope to make this as my first craft project in the apartment. I found it on Design Sponge about a week or two ago, and it’s been on my mind since.

Im thinking it would look stellar in my bedroom. I have this dark (canary-ish) yellow theme going on in our room, and I was thinking I could spray paint the items yellow and use a dark brown frame. Stay tuned for when I actually do this.. because you’re in for a treat! I’ll post pictures of my process. I’ve been saving up keys and little knick-knacks so I have great stuff to play with when the time comes!

Home Desire:

I saw this on another blog and on this girl’s Etsy site… and thought it would look awesome in a bedroom! Its from Jen Loves Kev’s blog. She designed this herself.. I think it’s looks absolutely awesome, and she sells the pattern on her Etsy. I think I just may invest when we buy our next place. It would be a great backdrop in a bedroom (like she has done) or in an office. It’s super moody but also like and subtle. A great balance!!!

P.S.: In case you’re wondering.. we didn’t leave yet! We should have earlier today for the big move, but we’re snowed in!!! Hopefully tomorrow it clears, since we have appointments and all that fun stuff to do when we get there. So.. I figured I’d drop you a fun post from my web surfing from the past few weeks.

Three more sleeps..

The move is coming unbelievably quickly. My body is being overly responsive to every ounce of stress that comes with the move and I felt the picture below totally encompassed my feelings, haha. Things are slowly coming together finally, the kitchen is 95% packed (which seems to be the hardest part), and I would say the rest of the house is 80%, which feels pretty good. Now, in 4 sleeps when reach our destination (we’re leaving after 3 sleeps though), after the bed is set up and the lamps are plugged in and I will feel like I can rest. Nesting isn’t so bad… I enjoy decoration and organizing with a clean slate; I guess the waiting is the just hardest part (thanks Tom Petty for singing about how I feel).

Vintage Cookies?

I’ve been thinking a lot about food lately. Yes. With the move, I feel absolutely deprived of cooking. I haven’t used things in weeks, trying to diminish our food from being wasted, and just not having the time took cook/bake anything. I stumbled upon this recipe on a friend’s facebook page.. and I figure in a few weeks I must try it!!

These Earl Grey Cupcakes w/ Lemon Icing. Don’t they look amazing?!

Also, today I stumbled upon a website while reading a friend’s “reader” via Google. It was called vintage cookies, and I clicked around to discover some stuff, and I saw these Coco-Mint cookies. I love cookie sandwiches, but have never made them, and figured this would be my first venture of sandwich cookies when all the kitchen goodies are unpacked. Yum!

In other food related things, Jordan and I have been talking about our plans regarding food when we move. We’re trying to stretch our dollar more when we move.. and figured a meal plan would be awesome. Just because we won’t buy food that won’t be wasted and unused (like most veggies and such). I did a little searching today and found this cute meal planner I can download.

Hope you can make good use of this (as I hopefully will)!!

-Nicole

Weekly/2010 Update

The Weekend that was: Packing.. packing, and packing. We had a late night youth on Friday, which went super awesome. I totally going to miss our kids. And then I feel like I fell into the twilight zone and just was in a packing trance.

Where I am at the moment: At the kitchen table.. sitting between half filled boxes, random kitchen appliances and bubble wrap.

On my to-do list this week: Pack. Contact Post Office. Go to Dentist. Pack. Work a little (maybe). Pack..?

Procrastinating about: At this point I have put off procrastinating. I don’t have time for it. Oh.. how I miss thee my friend.

Book I’m in the midst of: The C.S. Lewis “Cosmic Trilogy”. I’m currently in the second book, “Perelandra“.

Music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: I’ve been listening to Hello Hurricane by Switchfoot a lot this week, as well as John Mayer’s Battle Studies , also have been listening to some older worship/Christian music that’s really connecting with me right now.

In the news: The Haiti Earthquake. How could you not? Jordan and I have three children there (whom we sponsor). Based on their locations, we assume two are safe, but one lives in/around Port au Prince and we’re really concerned about him (and everyone else who’s struggling in the country). Our prayers go out to them.

How I’m feeling about this upcoming week: I don’t know how to feel about this week.. I want it to be over because that would mean I’m done with packing and all that, but I also want it to slow down so I can breathe a little, maybe even eat (for real)… so, I guess I’m feeling a little overwhelmed and pretty stressed.

So; there you have my week. In other news, I have really dropped this whole “blog bomb” and left it stagnant for a long time. I’m hoping to pick this back up, even for the sake of my own mental health, haha, to let off some steam and talk about things that may bore others. Here’s to an old/new beginning. Mazel tov!

Also, I imported my old blog to have everything here.. so forgive me if there are pictures that are too big.. or posts that don’t fit if you decide to surf my archives!

Unconscious Mutterings.

On my old blog, I used to use free/word association nearly weekly as an exercise. I always found it loads of fun, and kind of entertaining to see where you mind will take you. The idea behind it is you get a word: ex. puff. Then you respond with the first thing that comes to mind: ex. cream. Cream puff. It sometimes makes sense like the cream puff illustration, but just as often… you leave people wondering how you ever connected two words: ex. elephant cereal?

Anyways.. I went and found a random list, and didn’t read it over at all.. so I hope there is nothing sketchy in it.. haha, but I shall perform some word asscoiation for you all:

Head: hair
Green: grass
Water: lungs
Sing: song
Death: love
Long: shoe
Ship: mate
Count: dracula
Window: cleaner
Friendly: waitress
Table: salt
Question: mark
Village: man
Cold: water
Stem: broccoli
Dance: crow
Sea: monkey
Sick: me
Proud: mary
Cook: dirty

Well, the whole death/love one I found somewhat interesting, as well as dance/crow… but welcome to my thought process! Stay tuned for the next installment of Unconscious Musings with Nicole!

(s)he’s built like a brick!!

I’ve taken it upon myself to start a project with my camera. A pretty hefty project.

I’ve owned her/him for about a year now, and have neglected to give it a name. My little Canon is dubbed CliK 2, (CliK “1″ past on about two years ago). Now I’ve had a very hard time naming it, for the reason of it’s appearance. The Panasonic L1 is know for it’s retro and rugged look, super heavy and sturdy body and it’s superb lens. This description leads me to think it must be a boy.. or just a really manlyish girl… Here is a picture for you:

 

So, here are some options I am thinking: 

1. Sparrow. Birds are cool… and they are knowing for being sharp little guys… and pictures are nice when they are sharp.. lol. 

2. Hunter. It’s super masculine and tough, like the camera looks, and I’ll hunt for a good picture! 

3. Kele. (Key-leigh). It means sparrow hawk… so same idea as number 1. 

 

That’s all I can think of… so vote, or suggest any more ideas!!