Purging.

I just cleaned out my closet and oh my goodness it was a mess! I can actually see the carpet now, and I haven't been able to in years.. no seriously. I am the epitome of "pack rat." I bagged up 4 large trash bags of clothes and 3 bags of trash/shoes. 

It's encouraging to see that I am learning to move on and let the past be the past. Funny conclusion to come to after only cleaning out a closet, huh? 

I found so many incredible things that I haven't seen in years. Mostly pictures... childhood pictures. I think those are the best treasures to find when cleaning. I sat down and looked through boxes of photos from when April and I were kids, and it almost brought tears to my eyes. I miss those days.. but like I said, I'm honoring the past, but not living in it anymore.

Manic Media Monday

I've been listening to Fionn Regan. I really love his rockabilly style. His lyrics can be quirky, goofy, cut throat and inspiring all at the same time. Not many artists can pull that off. As of late, my favorite songs are Be Good or Be Gone and Put A Penny In The Slot. He also has a new song up titled Protection Racket... It's very quirky and "Regan-esq." So have a listen.. You might take a liking to it.

My last Netflix rental was The Last Kiss. I actually don't recommend it to anyone that didn't like Garden State. It's really edgy and very "Zach Braff." They drop a lot of f-bombs, and I think that might be part of the reason I didn't like it. So if you're into semi-indie flicks, and you got a kick out of Garden State... then The Last Kiss would tickle your media taste-buds. 

I think the fact that I just started reading Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne for the second time, is reason enough to recommend it as an amazing life-changing book. There aren't many words that can describe the beauty of this book.. Just read it. 

Enjoy! 

A Few Things That Make Me Smile ((updated 8-15))

I love chandeliers. I think I get it from my momma. They're so elegant... to me, it's almost impossible to find a crystal chandelier that isn't beautiful.

Africa is in my heart. Africa's children pierce me like nothing else can. Every part of their being shines. To me, they are lovely and flawless. 

I love to read. I think that, for me, the best part of being out of school... is the fact that I can read whatever book I'd like. Right now I'm reading Mother Theresa: The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta. 

I love cuppycakes. I especially love baking them with my sisters. I enjoy color, and with cupcakes, no two have to be the same.. you can use any colors, and it still looks delightful. 

I can't wait for April to have a little girl! I love that her room is going to be entirely too sweet for words. If I had a girl, I would want her room to be everything she could dream of. My room is pink and brown, and this next picture shows what my room would look like if I were 6 years old, and could decorate on my own. 

Lately, I find myself laying upside down in my bed, listening to my iPod. I like finding the songs with a zero play count... and hopefully falling in love with a new sound. 

Today, my favorite song is Swans by Unkle Bob. 

Look At That Cutie Patootie

I got a Coach purse! ...and I couldn't feel worse about it. I bought my mom one in San Antonio, and she ended up taking it back so I could pay off my credit card. She didn't have to do that, but did anyways.. then turned around and bought me one this past week. She's very generous. 

So this is it, but the leather on the bottom of mine isn't brown, it's a light cream/pearly color. 

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I saw Iron and Wine's video for Boy With A Coin yesterday. I don't know what to think about it. It's very plain jane, but at the same time it's so "Sam Beam" that it works and makes me like them even more. 

Confessions Of A BJ Junkie

I have come to the conclusion that the reason God put me on this earth.. is the lust over jewelry. (PS that was a joke.) My mom and I went to Dillards today and oh my word there's a good chance I fell in love with Betsey Johnson. I've heard of her before today, but I've never seen any of her pieces. Her style reminds me of Ed Hardy, just with a softer edge. 

The moral of the story is that I found a watch that I would love to have. I think the reason I like it so much is because it looks extremely similar to a watch that April gave me about a year ago. I loved that watch, but last December when we went to Dallas to go Christmas shopping, someone stole everything we bought and all of our luggage... which of course included my favorite Dollhouse watch. Oh well. So, here it is. 

Euphoria

For the first time in a while, "Euphoria" means more to me than just an incredible scent by Calvin Klein. Last night when I got home, I went to tell my parents to have a good night, and for the first time in Lord knows how long... my dad told me that he was proud of me. I don't know what I've done to make him proud. I'm the first high school graduate on his side of the family who chose to not pursue med school or go into the land man business. I chose to not only go to beauty school, but take a year off before doing so. Nothing to jump for joy over. 

Overlooking all of that, I make my daddy proud... and I know this because he's told me so. That might not mean much to some, but it means more than the world to me. I haven't had the best relationship with my dad in the past eighteen years, but for some reason things seem to be changing. I don't know what happened.. and I don't even know when it happened.. but I've got a feelin' that my sweet Jesus had something to do with it. And I don't think it stops here. 

I know it doesn't stop here. 

Take It From Me

There's an awesome chance that I make more mistakes than twenty Obama supporters combined. I talk when I shouldn't, and I don't say a single word when I should. That's my biggest problem. There also a tiny problem that I have, it's trusting people too easily. I let them in on my life's little secrets, and I don't regret it until they give me a reason to. Lately the reasons are coming too soon and too often. I guess I would rather trust too easily than not trust at all. Maybe. 

I'm learning, and I'm thankful that grace meets me every new morning.