What's Cookin?

Melancholic Melodies

2012-01-08T17:27:00.002-05:00

First, I'll say that I don't know half as many great bands as I should. So if someone is obviously missing from my next few sentences...tell me!

I have been in quite the nostalgic, thoughtful, and even sad "music mood." I'm not miserable, but I just think melancholic songs are so beautiful. Yesterday I listened to Bon Iver all day. And I have such fondness for Fleet Foxes, Sufjan Stevens, the Civil Wars, Iron & Wine. I mean, you know all these guys. That they're worth a listen isn't news.

But today I stumbled across my favorite kind of band - a married duet.

Phillip LaRue (from my teen years of CCM love) and his wife have formed Us & Our Daughters.

Mmmm mmm good.

Have a listen.

At the very least, click this video. You'll love 'em.

If you don't already know of some fantastic marrieds making music, check out these guys, too:

Waterdeep

Mates of State

The Weepies

Dear Sister

2012-01-05T10:28:00.003-05:00

I'm beginning to forget your voice.

There is this unraveling. This sand that won't stop falling from my hands.

I thought that the second year after you left would be easier. It was not.

Instead, the silence that took your place in my life became deafening.

The lingering memories faded, and all that was left was silence. Loud, hurting silence.

I try and recall your face, your words, your embrace, but they fail me.

The memories won't come back.

You won't come back.

My solace, my quiet in the silence, is your life.

That you ever lived, and lived loudly and extravagantly-

this is the small, warm fire in a great, cold room.

I'm beginning to forget you.

I only hold on to some memories a little while longer.

And the sound of your voice, like you, is already gone.

Back from Haiti

2012-01-02T17:47:00.002-05:00

It's been two years since Haiti was devastated by the earthquake. Having already been the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the nation was catapulted into the spotlight and help came. The church that our team worked with spoke often of vision. Their vision for the nation of Haiti is very much like the vision that God gave Nehemiah. Long before the earthquake ever struck, they were called to "rebuild the walls."

Trucks, buses, food, water, tents... the donations have flooded in. This bus was meant to help a church plant 13 miles from the capital, but like many things, it did not last. It is a symbol of the brokenness of this place. It is a reminder of the needs that seem to know no end. It is a testimony to the generosity of the church. It speaks to me of the satisfaction that is only found in Jesus Christ.

There is a renewal - and true redemption - coming about in Port-au-Prince. The tent cities we worked in are starting to build homes. The school children we helped are receiving food everyday. The church is sharing the good news, inviting neighbors into a life of hope and reconciliation.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.

(Isaiah 61:1-4 ESV)

Serving in Haiti

2011-10-13T18:12:00.001-04:00

Friends!

It's hard to believe that God does such amazing things in all our lives. Through hardship comes beauty. After sorrow comes joy. I've seen this come true in my own life, time and again. When I was in Honduras a few years ago, I remember the smiling faces of boisterous children in the orphanage where I served. They had walked through incredible suffering, but they were filled with joy! Why? Because they had learned of a God that loved them, cared for them, and provided for them. I've learned this lesson firsthand in the last couple of years. To have lost my sister last year, and now see God bringing my family even closer to Him and to each other... there is joy to be known after deep, deep loss. The Psalmist sang to the Lord, "You have turned my mourning into dancing" and I know the Lord still does that all the time.

This is my heart and my desire for Haiti. The last time I was there was 8 years ago, and the spiritual oppression was palpable. How could God do something good in Haiti? It seemed impossible. And then an earthquake struck and brought the greatest devastation Haiti has ever known. Yet I have heard many stories of God turning sorrow to joy in the wake of last year's tragedy. There is revival taking place. There are new believers every day! When Vintage21 Church decided to partner with Global Aid Network in Chambrun, Haiti, I knew I would go. What a privilege to not only see, but participate, in the wonderful things God is doing there!

While I'm there, I will help teach some women in the village how to sew and make other goods and crafts that help them provide for their families. Our team will also help give eye exams and distribute prescription glasses to those that need them, and we'll have time to get to know kids around the neighborhood as we share the love of Jesus with them. I CAN'T WAIT!

I'd love for you to commit to pray for our team. We will be in Haiti Nov.12-19 and don't want to waste a single moment. Pray that we would be intentional, and that we would have lots of opportunities to serve the community well. I also need a few more supporters to help me raise the remaining $220 to go next month. Please consider what you could give. Every little bit will help! Finally, talk to me. That sounds funny, but I mean it. Ask me about my trip before, during, and after. Write me an email. Call me. I'd love to have you interested in this trip.

Thank you so much for being in my life and encouraging me!

I can't wait to post pictures and tell you more about the trip.

-Anne Marie

Global Aid Network: http://gainusa.org/whoweare

Vintage21 Church: http://www.vintage21.com/

If you'd like to support me financially, please send donations through PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/ for annemaroo@gmail.com

Or I can send you my address if you prefer to mail a check.

Love Lost

2011-08-28T23:52:00.007-04:00

I've been thinking about some of my most cherished films. They tell stories of love, and love lost.

Adam

Never Let Me Go

One Day

In all of these, there is a profound grieving over what never was, or what could have been. Love is unexpected, and wildly unpredictable. It grows, shines, aches and sometimes...it is lost.

And yet, in all of these films, there is this quiet resolve that what is IS precisely as it should BE. Oh, the joy of acceptance. Not for the sake of accepting, but acceptance based on contentment. I don't know how to put any of this to words, but I just must highly

HIGHLY

recommend these three movies. If you haven't seen them, move them to the top of your list. They're all brilliant.

Just Say No...

2011-04-15T12:36:00.002-04:00

You should know that I hate drugs. Really hate 'em. I don't even like to take over the counter medicine. It works out, then, that I am a bit of a hippie and love finding natural, homeopathic solutions to my health problems...which are never big problems.

But now I have this unrelenting, overpowering, sleep-interrupting, mood-dampening cough that Just. Won't. Leave.

I bought Mucinex for the first time yesterday. Words can't describe how much I dislike that that happened. Mucinex. It kind of worked, but then I woke up coughing for an hour and thought I might die last night.

I just like for things to run their course. For the most part, our bodies do what they're supposed to be doing, and if something's wrong (and we're relatively healthy) then it's getting put right. I want this to run its course.

Except that I haven't slept through the night in a week.

So, now I'm desperate.

My next course of conventional-western-medicine action is a prescription cough syrup with codeine.

CODEINE.

Again, you should know that I hate drugs.

I can't decide. Do I take the opiate and try to sleep tonight? Or do I let this run its course and cough myself to death?

Indie/Vintage/Green/Stylish Love

2011-04-11T12:17:00.008-04:00

Not gonna lie - I love all things indie. Well, all the cute things, anyway.

I thought I'd plug some cool indie corners of the world that I enjoy.

1. Handmade Market

This is legit. They are selling all sorts 0f handmade goodies. I'm not sure what I'll get, but I'm excited to shop and find that one perfect thing!

2. Turtle Love

They make these ultra cool water-drop-shaped glass earrings and necklaces, (I think they should make rings) and then donate most of the money to Water Aid.

3. Miss Eco Chic herself, Emily Anderson

She writes on goodwithstyle.typepad.com, but she also wrote Eco Chic Home and the like. I love these things.

Why not be green and unique and stylish?

Zero Waste Living

"Sick Days"

2011-04-10T12:16:00.002-04:00

On Friday, I drove 480 miles to Jacksonville. On Saturday, I drove 480 miles back up to Wake Forest. That's 960 miles for all of you who lack basic addition skills.

Of course on the way back on Saturday, I started to feel a nagging little 'ugh' in the back of my throat. That is always how really bad colds begin for me.

... Add to that, I drove through a hurricane in South Carolina. Seriously, I have never driven through such terrible weather in my life. I was the only car that didn't pull off the road. There was hail, people. Hail! I had white knuckles, but I wanted to get home and I had to be at work in 9 hours.

So, just to run the tally for you:

* 1000 miles in 36 hours.

* Hail.

* Fresh cold.

All of this has culminated in a work day that is... interesting... to say the least.

My favorite senior citizen, who I'll just call 'Miss Daisy,' needs a caregiver every day. On Sundays I am her only option. So on the Sundays that I'm sick, "sick days" take a different meaning.

Miss Daisy wants to sleep an extra half hour. No problem. See ya when I see ya.

Then I get her up (45 minutes later). What's that, Miss Daisy? You don't want to brush your teeth today? Fine by me.

Miss Daisy doesn't get a ham and cheddar omelette, or belgian waffle today. No, no. Today, Miss Daisy, you get freezer pancakes.

Oh, you'd like a milkshake for breakfast? Comin' right up. Who says 80-year-olds can't have milkshakes for breakfast? Not me. Not on sick days.

Wait, is that your cat on your lap? Licking the syrup off of your pancakes? Who cares? Not me. Not on sick days.

I think she loves my "sick days."

On Going Granola

2011-03-25T17:35:00.008-04:00

I think I've alluded to my hippie-dom in the past, but it is in full swing these days. Mostly, I think, because for the first time in about 21 years, I am not a student. I have time to read for fun. And explore who I want to be outside of academia. So, I choose to look into what is essentially a lost art - Home Ec. Not even kidding.

Well, I've made a few things - like this yarn wreath.

Handmade is the way to go. I just believe that more and more with each project.

I've also been getting into nutrition and sustainability and all that good stuff. I've read a few books on those subjects... < on All Consuming > I think my favorite so far has been "In Defense of Food." Maybe I'll blog more about that later...

Today I just want to share the good news that I love my new shampoo and conditioner!!!

I made them and they cost about $1.15 for 12 weeks worth. As in, less than 10 cents a week to wash my hair. And like I said, I made them myself! My hair feels great. It's shiny without being oily; clean without being dry. Best of all, I'm not putting all those weird chemicals all over my scalp.

Give it a try! Here's where I got the recipe.

Wednesday Weigh-In

2011-02-16T22:46:00.001-05:00

Week 2.

Not awesome.

I went to Florida for a few days to see family. Do you know where they wanted to go? I will tell you where. Golden Corral.

Ugh.

Salad and fruit for $8. And I did have one or two glorious multigrain yeast rolls. Somewhere down the line, the literal buffet line, I caught a stomach bug. For the subsequent two days following my exposure to that god-awful place I was near-death. On the flight back to NC I looked so rough they wanted to escort me off the plane. At that point, I didn't know it was a bug (in my defense).

Oh, infernal virus. It knocked off 5 pounds in two days. But when I could finally eat saltines on day 3, it decided to hoard every last calorie. So my total loss for Week 2 was a measly 3 pounds. I won't be bitter, though. I'm glad to have my life, and to not have had to report to the CDC. Plus, that brings my total weight loss so far to 10 pounds.

Week 3, it's on.

(Oh, and happy birthday, Momma! I love you so much!)

Wednesday Weigh-In

2011-02-09T10:17:00.002-05:00

Oh boy. You know what this means.

I've changed my diet. Somehow my diet became a carb-loading one, and I just don't have the figure for that ::understatement:: Not to mention the fact that I put on 20 pounds in 2010... Errr, it was not my best year. Which means that I loved cake "like a fat kid loves cake." Not awesome.

I'm hitting the gym. Or the trail. Or the pavement. Some exercise, everyday. I took kickbox class on Monday, and am hereby officially (mentally) renaming it kickbutt class, because that is what it did to me.

I'm limiting myself to 1000-1200 calories a day, and 80 - 120 carbs a day. My diet is mostly produce, legumes, and some lean meat. Not to mention the 8 - 10 glasses of water I'm having everyday. I don't even remember what soda tastes like right now. Mmmm soda.

Low point.

So, to get to the weigh-in-

I've lost 7 pounds!

YAY! Happy day. Oh, and today my mom has been cancer free for five years, so she wins the "big deal of the day" award. Love her. Love you. Thanks for stopping by the blogaroo.

Here's a recipe in case you feel like eating what I'm eating these days (it was spectacular, btw):

Insane Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

Non-stick, no fat cooking spray

2/3 cup carrots, sliced

1/2 cup onions, diced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

3 cups fat-free broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable)

1 1/2 cups green cabbage, shredded

1/2 cup green beans

1 tbsp. tomato paste

1/2 tsp. basil

1/4 tsp. oregano

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup diced zucchini

Directions:

Spray a large saucepan with non-stick cooking spray.

Saute carrots, onions and garlic over a low heat for 5 minutes over a low heat to help them soften.

Add broth, cabbage, green beans, tomato paste, basil, oregano and salt.

Increase heat and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until beans are tender.

Stir in zucchini and return to simmer for 4 to 5 minutes.

Yard Sale!

2010-11-11T12:09:00.002-05:00

Hey Everyone!

This Saturday I'm having a yard sale.

My church is doing some great stuff in Kampala, Uganda and you and I can help them out!

Read more about the work in Uganda here.

And come to the yard sale this Saturday - the weather should be lovely.

Greens

2010-10-23T23:46:00.002-04:00

That's not a clever title for money, or forests. I am actually referring to greens - like collard greens.

Collards have never been on my list of things to try (so I haven't). Now that I'm trying to buy local and in-season produce, I find mself stuck with greens in October in North Carolina. Collard greens, bok choy, kale, broccolini, yada yada.

So today I found some "stir-fry mix" greens and gave it a go. I made a whole meal around these guys. Fresh fettucine, local beef (from Cane Creek farms), scallions, garlic, a few sauces... and voila! Pseudo-authentic-but-at-least-it-was-local Beef Lo Mein! I forgot to take a picture, but I assure you it was pretty. It was the most tasty and costly bowl of (what was essentially) Ramen I have ever had in my life.

What local ingredients have inspired you to cook something new lately?

Squash-ed!

2010-09-14T10:11:00.003-04:00

Over the last couple of years, my tastes have really changed. Things I used to love (like Pad Thai) aren't as big a deal. Foods I used to hate have become some of my favorites. I just. can't. get. enough of tomatoes, onions, cabbage... and zuccchini! I could eat zucchini everyday. And that's just one kind of squash. There are hundreds of beautiful, delicious kinds. Spaghetti squash, butternut squash, yellow squash, buttercup & autumn cup & acorn squash. Oh my! I was shopping at Bickett Market on Saturday, and I was so excited to see some of the new squash that's coming in season. Crazy squash. Delicata and carnival squash! I'm sounding a little like Bubba. Well, my point is - there are a ton of different kinds of squash, and a million different ways to prepare it. But I'll spare you.

I used to love sauteing, but I've really enjoyed roasting lately. I made a tasty 'Squash and Zucchini Tart' courtesy of I Shot The Chef. Isn't it pretty?

My favorite day of the week

2010-09-12T09:49:00.003-04:00

It's Sunday! It's Sunday!
I go to Vintage21 Church at 6 pm, and before that...
Sometimes I take a little nap in the late afternoon, and before that...
I always work Sunday morning, with a 79-year-old woman, who sleeps a lot, and before that...
The Sunday paper comes out, which means... I get more coupons!!!

If only coupons worked on other things~

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/09/trouble-with-coupons.html

Papa's Birthday

2010-09-10T09:46:00.001-04:00

It's my daddy's birthday today.

I love him. Lots.

Daddy,
If I were there, I'd make you a cake! Hope your day's great!

Bloody Disaster

2010-09-09T09:40:00.000-04:00

This nose piercing of mine.
It looks cool, I think.
And then the little stud breaks or a little shiny thing falls out, and I need to change it, because they can't be troubled to make a quality piece of jewelry for your face, so you don't have to bother with it every few weeks. No, that would be too convenient.
I decided I wanted to take a break from a stud and try a hoop. I bought said hoop, and then tried to put said hoop in my nose. It didn't go well. The thing most people don't realize is that cartilage like that, on your nose or mouth, closes up fast. Insanely fast. In the 5 minutes it took me to take the old one out, fiddle with the hoop, decide it looked stupid and opt for another stud... it was closing up! So I fought, and it's not easy to fight with your face.
In the end, it was a bloody disaster. Literally. It took four days to heal, and I had to go to Blue Flame to get it fixed. I vowed to never change it again.

And then the peridot stone fell out and it looks stupid again.

Live concerts

2010-09-08T09:03:00.006-04:00

Boy, do I love concerts. I get so excited. It's hard to keep track of everyone I'd like to see, and finding out they came through after I've missed it is not my favorite feeling. Since I missed a few amazing shows in the Triangle, I've tried to pay a little better attention to what's coming up.
Corinne Bailey Rae, for example, was sold out by the time I found out. I can't tell you how many times I listened to her album.

That's alright, though, because I did score tickets to this musical genius. He breaks my heart; his story breaks my heart, and I eagerly await the day that he changes his mind.

I'm hoping to get tickets to two shows, but for now they're on my wish list because of $$$
Sufjan Stevens
and
MGMT.
Feel free to help a sister out ;)

Speaking of sisters, the Weepies were mine and my sister's favorite. 'Our band' of sorts.
So... they're coming to Raleigh and I didn't know what was the right thing to do, but there it was, but I ended up deciding to go. I feel good about that. I miss her, and I think this will just be good.

Conversations with Dad, Part 3

2010-05-24T20:02:00.002-04:00

This wasn't actually a conversation with my dad, but texts swapped between my mom and dad that he just told me about.

Mom: Do you love me?
Dad: Yeah, you're my BFFL.
My mom had to google that...
Mom: Boyfriend?
Dad: No, best friend!

And then he told her he was helping her learn text-schnizzle. Whatever that is.

Have I mentioned that I want to be like them when I grow up? Because I do.

10 artists you should be listening to

2010-05-13T01:31:00.003-04:00

Music recommendations were really more up my sister's alley. She had a whole blog devoted to music. I should at least throw out a blog post.
I first want to share some beautiful local talent.
1. Lots of people know of Jess Ray and the Rag Tag Army. If you don't, you should ;)
2. I have a lovely friend who is currently working on her EP. When she gets it, and when she performs, you. must. run. Not walk. Sam Crowder. Her songs run around in my head for days, and she's just the most amazing woman.
3. Union County. Enjoy the harmonies. Especially on "Fresh On My Mind."

And then I have some favorites that you probably already know-
4. I not only enjoy listening to them; when I grow up I want to be them. Waterdeep. For real.
5. and aside from that (but still half of Waterdeep) is Lori Chaffer. Listen to "Diana." It's gold.
6. Sandra McCracken (Derek Webb's wife - who is pint-sized in real life, but with a voice that could move the trees).
7. You know you know Jon Foreman. He is my all-time favorite.
8. Preson Phillips will (I can't believe I'm saying this...) bless your socks off. You must download- and really listen. The observant & the anawim is outrageously good.
9. Kanyeah right! I only have ears for the Weepies.
10. Gungor! I've been listening to Michael Gungor since 2003 - that Doxology was insane. And they've only gotten better.

There's so much good music out there, so discover something new and lovely today!

Conversations with Dad, Part 2

2010-05-10T01:15:00.003-04:00

Yesterday my dad asked me if I knew what IKEA stood for, and proceeded to make things up (though Wikipedia did seem to corroborate his story).

Today my dad called me and asked:
DAD: Anne Marie, do you know what P.F. Chang's stands for?
AM: No.
DAD: Me neither.

I think this was probably funnier in real life, but what makes it extra funny was his educational moment about IKEA yesterday. He is random. So random.

Speaking of random, my friend has this quirk of saying things twice. It seems I've picked this silly habit up. It's not cool. Not cool. (<--- see what I did there?).

Good night, and good night ;)

Conversations with Dad

2010-05-08T22:59:00.003-04:00

Conversations with my dad are pretty ridiculous. Thought I'd share this one with you...

Dad: Anne Marie, do you know where the name IKEA comes from?
AM: No, actually. I don't.
Dad: Ask me.
AM: Where does the name for IKEA come from? *rolls eyes*
Dad: It's the initials for the man who started it, I and K, and then something else is E, and the A is the town he's from.
AM: Amsterdam? (Yes, I know that's not Swedish. It just popped in my mind).
Dad: No. Way harder. You can't pronounce it. It's like Asnooshkavicjazin.
AM: That explains his need to name furniture like he does.
Dad: I know. Makes so much more sense now.
...pause...
Dad: Aren't you glad I know cool things like that?
AM: Yeah, dad. You're awesome.

Even though I said that last line without zeal or animation, I really do mean it.

Oh, and here's the 411 on IKEA for you. I googled it, and it turns out Ingvar Kamprad (is that even a real name?) grew up on a farm named Elmytard in the town of Agunnaryd.
P.S. IK (mr. ikea) was involved in a pro-nazi movement. Uniformity. Efficiency. Lack of oomph and personality... I can totally see it. But I'll go easy on him, I guess, because he did end up calling it the "biggest mistake of [his] life."

Where I Am Right Now

2010-04-26T16:03:00.005-04:00

From Marta, on My Big, Fat, Cuban Family: I usually do this every six months or so, just to kind of "take the temperature" of where my life is at the time. I encourage you to do the same. It's a wonderful way to celebrate the extraordinarily ordinary lives we lead.

Outside my window... my car, which I just made my very final payment on. I'm pretty thrilled to finally have it paid off TODAY!!!

I am thinking... how to get my sewing machine to cooperate with my dreams of sewn greatness and visions of blanket and tote bag grandeur. It is NOT. cooperating. Yet...

I am thankful for... my amazing brothers and sisters in Wake Forest, NC. This is a beautiful place that I am blessed to call home.

From the kitchen... almost all the ingredients I'll need to get started on my perfect slaw!

I am wearing...PJ's. Don't judge me.

I am creating... a tote bag. Unfortunately, my sewing machine does not seem to have the same goals in mind.

I am going... to my favorite restaurant for dinner - Red Bowl with my amazing friend and vocalist Callie, right after Cycle class at the YMCA.

I am reading... The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges

I am hoping... that my conversations and friendships are always seasoned with generosity, integrity, authenticity and laughter.

I am hearing... Veronica Mars, season 1, playing in the background. She's all kinds of awesome, and on days like this, I channel my inner 15-year-old.

Around the house... I'm running laundry, tinkering with my 40-year-old Singer machine, and psyching myself out for cycle class in an hour.

One of my favorite things... Moleskine journal. I bought my first one two months ago, and I just love to jot things down in there. Things I'm thinking, things I'm learning, things God is doing.

A few plans for the rest of the week... three coffee/chat/prayer times with different girlfriends. Church planting conference in the triangle today and tomorrow (David Platt is my favorite). Andrew Peterson concert and getaway to the mountains this weekend. Good things. Great week.

A picture to share...

Some of the lovely people I get to do life with. @janelleroseknox

@theloaf

@samanthacrowder

and me, @annemaroo

Please feel free to join in. Tell me about your day. If you decide to write this on your own blog or on Facebook, please leave a comment with a link. Thanks!

Happy Monday.

Don't Call Me 'Granola'

2010-03-11T14:37:00.006-05:00

Because it might just be true these days...

Once I got laid off, the home-maker in me has just let loose! When I was working for the Census (35+hrs/wk on top of 15 graduate credits this semester) I didn't have time for cleaning, laundry, or even grocery shopping! I'm disappointed to have such a suddenly tight budget and no income, but I'm excited to have some time again. Time to read. Time to study. Time to love. Time to think. Time to grieve. Time to learn. Time to work out. Time to sew. Time to play guitar. Time to blog ;)

I also had time to watch Food Inc last week. I know everyone has heard nothing but good things about it, but I just can't resist the urge to plug it here. It's shocking, fascinating, entertaining and convicting. It makes us all want to know where our food comes from, I hope.

This documentary has me changing the way I eat, and what I eat. Since watching it over a week ago, I haven't bought any mass-produced, store-bought meat. Mostly I've gone vegetarian, unless I can come across local meat or at least free-range, natural-diet meat (Target carries some - and it's on sale and they offer FREE coupons). I have several reasons for this, and don't mind sharing with anyone that asks. I'm not morally opposed to eating meat, just the way that the we go about it. The average American consumes 200 lbs of meat a year. What are we doing to ourselves? To our planet? If any of us thinks that we aren't contributing to starvation in another country, we have been turning a blind eye.

My friend wrote a (not-sure-why-it-was) controversial blog recently, and he linked to the New Monasticism site (and there's a house right here in the triangle!) I got really interested in this idea of living off the land. I mean, back in Honduras, I did laundry on the pila - by hand! Now I have machines for everything from drying clothes to mixing eggs. The least we can do is eat the produce that's in season - not the tomatoes flown across the hemisphere and ripened with chemicals because they have no business being in our local supermarkets. So I've joined Crop Mob. I want to meet the people who produce food and other needed items in my community; they are farmers and have every reason to be in business, only most of us have no idea they're even there. They raise cows, pigs and chickens. They make soap, candles and lotions. They sew aprons and potholders. They grow zucchini, rosemary, potatoes and sunflowers. They harvest rice. We should know them.

Yes, I'm on a limited budget. But you'd be surprised how cheap it is to live when you put thought into your purchases. There's something wrong with this picture when we pay more for a few grapes than for a box of Twinkies. I hope that enough people will become informed and take action; I really believe we can make this fallen, broken, beautiful, future Kingdom, chosen world a better place - for God's glory.

The Goldilocks of Bibles

2010-02-24T14:36:00.005-05:00

Hey there, friends. All two of you that still read this here blog-aroo.

When I became a Christian, I got a NIV Bible. It was pretty. Then, when I was 15 or so, I got a snazzy "TrueLoveWaits" Bible. True Story. Then I got the Collegiate Devotional Bible when I graduated high school. About five years ago, I upgraded to an NIV Study Bible. It was great. No complicated diagrams, or colorful inserts. Just good stuff. I mean, I enjoyed my "themed" Bibles but hopefully we all outgrow that at some point...
Anywho, I recently discovered the ESV translation. Man, am I a fan. For Christmas in '08 I asked for only one gift. This big guy - the ESV Workout Bible. It weighs in around 5 pounds. That's a lot of "Word." So, when the campus bookstore marked down these nifty little compact ESV's to 5 bucks, I got one! It was great. I had the monster truck size, and the jiminy cricket size.
One problem.
One requires that I lift weights on a regular basis, and open slowly in service so as not to cause a tsunami when I flip it open.
The other requires a magnifying glass.
I needed some kind of a compromise. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it was time to get another ESV bible. So... I did my homework and picked out this number-

I almost got the ESV Journaling Bible, but decided I'd like to just journal, and leave this one unmarked (since all of my other Bibles are really marked up). A moleskine journal is on its way as well.

I think it's kind of ridiculous to have this many of the same translation, but I'm excited to get a size that's just right.

P.S. Personal update: I appreciate everyone's prayers for me and my family. It's been a long, hard couple of months, but I know that God is faithful to heal and restore us. We miss my sister, and to be honest, some days the loss overwhelms me. Still, I know that I am not alone. I know that God is glorified and gracious. I am grateful for the time he allowed me to have with Michelle. Really, truly grateful. And I have some pretty amazing friends who have lifted me up in prayer, listened to me, loved me and encouraged me.

Spring Semester

2010-02-05T17:55:00.005-05:00

I thought I'd be too overwhelmed to go through this semester, but as it turns out - it's just what I needed. I'm enjoying my classes, even though I don't have free time between 5 classes and 35/hrs a week of work for the Census.
These are the classes I'm taking:
Ethics
Old Testament 2
Theology 3
Anthropology
International Church Planting

Woot!
I bought my last full-time semester books (I'll still take some classes overseas)...

A Vision of the Possible- Sinclair
Ministering Cross-Culturally- Lingenfelter/Mayers
Discovering Church Planting- Payne
Church Planting Movements- Garrison
Anthropological Insights for Missionaries- Hiebert
Anthropology for Christian Witness- Kraft
A Basic Guide to Eschatology- Erickson
The Practice of Godliness- Bridges
The Pursuit of Holiness- Bridges
Life Together- Bonhoeffer
True Sexual Morality- Heimbach
Ethics for a Brave New World- Feinberg
The Doctrine of the Christian Life- Frame
A Survey of the Old Testament- Hill/Walton

oh, and Theology for the Church (Akin)
They cost $256. Yowza!
Good thing I LOVE me some books <3

Coming Clean

2010-02-04T12:36:00.002-05:00

I have a confession to make. Most days I don't get it right. For real. I waste time thinking about things that don't matter, planning for things that don't happen, and enjoying things that don't last. I forget that my life - my eternal life - was bought at a heavy price. And then it hits me. In the car. In worship. Going to sleep at night. I think 'Oh, God. I've screwed up. I've wasted precious time. I've seen my life through my eyes and not yours.' When that happens I'm grateful to feel that conviction, because I can know by that conviction that I'm really His. Still, I'm also overwhelmed by the realization that I'm still missing the point and not going deep enough with my Father.
This morning I had one of those moments. I've been shrouded in sadness, but going through the motions so people don't get too nervous. I've been focusing on loss, and wanting to wake up without the last month actually having happened. In chapel this morning I was just so overwhelmed with God's perspective - and the realization that I have fallen terribly short. We were singing 'Come Thou Fount' and I sang those sad, true words 'Prone to wander, Lord I feel it... Prone to leave the God I love...' I knew these words applied to me SO. much. more than I wanted them to. But then we got to the next hymn, which I can't remember ever having sang before. When we sang this part, it was so freeing:

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

It's a beautiful thing to come to a place where my sin overwhelms me, and then God reminds me of His grace, truth and glory.
I'm coming clean. I'm confessing. I haven't got it together - at all. I have royally screwed up. But He has me, and He's not letting go.

MLK Jr

2010-01-18T00:07:00.003-05:00

It was MLK's birthday a couple of days ago, and now we're celebrating the holiday in his honor. Though it is a Federal holiday, and I'm a Fed... I'll be working an MLK day event. Last year Mark Batterson posted this quote, and it stuck with me:

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven will pause to say, 'There lived a great street sweeper who did his job well'."

I know a lot of people have put him on a pedestal, and made his name great, but I'm grateful for the small things he did that had such a large impact. He really had good things to say, and they're still worth hearing today.
Read up on him, if you haven't. And definitely check this out.

Sneak Previews!

2010-01-15T15:46:00.000-05:00

I see a lot of movies for free before they're even released in theaters. This month alone (January) the movies I got tickets to were:
Leap Year
Nine
Extraordinary Measures
The Lovely Bones
Dear John
Crazy Heart
When in Rome

I get asked how I score these tickets. Easy - go online! gofobo.com has free screenings, for example. There are a lot of sites you can join and get tickets. I'm also a member of meetup.com groups that will let me know of events in the area (sometimes free movies). The lionshare of the tickets that I get, however, come from my Newspaper - the Raleigh News & Observer. They have an amazing Rewards Zone for subscribers. I subscribe to the Sunday paper for coupons - which easily pays for the paper (just this week I got $136 of groceries for $34). The rewards I get and win on the Rewards Zone are just gravy!

Happy hunting! You can get lots of free stuff too, ya know. There's plenty to go around, or I wouldn't be telling you how ;)

Sad Days

2010-01-12T15:40:00.003-05:00

I wish I had more to say, or that I felt like showing you pictures from last month. But I don't.
My sister is gone, and it grieves me. Here is what I shared at her funeral:

Michelle and I were ten years apart. When she was decorating her room with New Kids on the Block and Vanilla Ice posters, I was learning why you don’t touch a hot stove and how to add 2 + 2. It had to be annoying to have a small child around as a teenager. One time while she was babysitting me, I ate a penny. She was so worried (not that I would get hurt, but) that she would get in trouble. So she made me drink a giant container of neon yellow Gatorade in attempt to flush it out or something. Another time I antagonized her so much trying to get her attention, that when she finally snapped she chased me around the house with scissors. We were fine, and I’m sure she meant no harm, but that memory is vivid. She was a terrible babysitter, but she was my awesome big sister. I was eight years old when Hurricane Andrew ripped through Miami. It was a scary night, but every few minutes we would do Projectile drills, preparing for the possibility that if something came flying through the window we would duck behind the couch and hide under my Garfield sleeping bag set up behind the couch that night. When she was getting married and having her baby, I was watching Full House and braiding my hair. At her wedding, I was her Maid of Honor. She picked out my forest green dress, and had me stand next to her on her big day. I was her friend. She introduced me to a sense of humor that was awkward, offbeat and hilarious. I can’t tell you how many times we watched Austin Powers (1, 2 and 3) together. I think we had it memorized. In so many ways, we were different. But in the ways that were important we knew and understood each other. Now I think of all the things we had in common; the beauty of a good song, the value of a stylish purse, the treasure of a great movie, the flavor of un buen sofrito, the depth of a warm hug. She did not get to experience enough great songs and jokes. She’s missed out on some amazing cooking from Mamita. But she was blessed beyond belief. She is cherished, not forgotten. Ten years ago, times got tough for her. She was going through a hard time and many life changes. All I knew to do was to share with her my source of hope and strength, Jesus. I told her of His greatness, His promises, His gift to us, and my sister rededicated her life to the Lord that day. Though this world had her down, God was with her. She was never alone. I think some days it doesn’t feel that way, but she knew that she was created for a purpose, crafted in His image, and bought at a price. Life got hard for her again, and now I feel incredible sadness, but my confidence is not in this world. It will let us down. My confidence is in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who came to be with her and never left her. He is more powerful than her sadness, victorious over her losses, more wondrous over life’s disappointments. My prayer for her, and for you, is that you see God for who He is - our loving Creator, Father, Redeemer, Sustainer and Friend. May you and I be comforted by Him in our loss, and know that our hope is not in this world and this life, but in Him.

Philanthro-LIST (gift list, that is)

2009-12-01T09:32:00.007-05:00

This time of year everyone has gift shopping on their mind. Just tonight I saw this ad, and decided that I should make (better) suggestions for Christmas gifts.

CBS suggests this:

Epic Advertising FAIL

This year, I suggest this:

A goat (That's right. You heard me. A GOAT, from WorldVision and YOU)

Charity Water

Voice of the Martyrs Shirt (Damare's story)

Charity Pot (from LUSH) to a charity YOU choose

Toms Shoes

There are too many to list! Get creative. Get behind something worth supporting, and give a gift that won't just collect dust on a shelf, or become obsolete in three months...

Holiday Inspiration!

2009-11-28T23:31:00.006-05:00

This time of year is my FAV-orite <3

Gooseberry Patch has an amazing Christmas magazine out this year, and my favorite thing in there are handmade package wraps and tags. This is kind of silly, but Urban Outfitters inspired this latest post. They've made a pompom wreath, and I intend to do it once the semester ends!
I can make the pom poms myself.
And here is the finished product:

She doesn't look very happy about the pompom wreath, does she? If it were me, my eyes would be popping out of my head from excitement!!!

Finishing Seminary

2009-11-06T12:07:00.003-05:00

I can't believe I'm already saying this, but I just registered for my last semester at seminary. It looks like I can actually meet the requirements in two years (63 credits in all) and hopefully go overseas in a matter of months... Here are FIVE (of the 6) classes I'm taking:

Evangelism
An introduction to the nature and practice of evangelism with emphasis on its biblical, theological, and historical roots. Special attention will be given to the rationale and context for evangelization.

Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry and Prophets
A continuation of OTS 5110 with a focus on the Latter Prophets and the Hagiographia.

Christian Ethics
A systematic study of Christian ethics taken as a theoretical and practical discipline and offered at an introductory level. Attention is given to biblical and theological foundation as well as to current issues relevant to the witness of the Church in society.

Anthropology
Selected insights from the field of cultural anthropology are surveyed and applied to cross-cultural ministry. Social structures, customs, thought forms, and social change are studied in light of the missionary's change-agent role.

International Church Planting
A treatment of international church planting in its theoretical and practical dimensions. Students will be equipped to develop a model for church planting that is theologically driven and contextually appropriate. The case studies and models to be discussed and critiqued will be those that have arisen in international contexts.

I might've bitten off more than I can chew, but I'm so excited!

Yoga Yokel

2009-10-22T19:06:00.002-04:00

Perhaps the better title for this post would be, "How I Made An Idiot of Myself Today."
It started a while ago, this whole 'taking a yoga class' idea. I pass Wake Forest Yoga pretty much every time I come or go from my neighborhood. My friend Sarah wanted to go, and the first class there is free... so, at 9:30 this morning I was wearing yoga pants and a tank on a green mat with a candle lit in front of me and ambient music playing in the background.

Sounds cool, right?
Wrong. Because what happened next was decidedly uncool.
Anne Marie tried yoga.
Anne Marie got in the child's pose, in which I did not resemble a child. Really, it looked more like I was uncomfortably narcoleptic.

We went on to do the downward dog, where I lost feeling in my palms, had my butt sticking up in the air and never could quite get that pose down pat. It was awkward.

There were a lot more poses, lots of breathing, some visualizations of balls of light flying in through my nose and down to my spiritual heart, and a few snickers as I took it all in.

By the end of it, I was a little more ready to try new things and I was feeling a little more accomplished. Never did I ever see the next thing coming. The instructor told us to bring our mats to the wall. Oh, boy. Moving the whole mat... using parts of the building. Nowhere good, my friends. We were told to put our butts to the wall, laying on our backs, and stretch our legs to the ceiling. Easier said than done. It took about a dozen 'scooches' to get right up against the wall.

Relaxing? Not so much. Humbling? Oh yes...

Frequent phone changer

2009-10-08T12:51:00.003-04:00

I don't know when I became that customer, but I am "that" customer. When my contract was up with AT&T and I decided I didn't want to have the monthly expense of a data plan for an iPhone, I joined TMobile to at least be on my family's network. I moved to a neighborhood with truly awful reception last August, and told T-Mobile about it and they "put in a service request." They never actually bothered to come out and check things, and they definitely never added a tower nearby. I wasn't able to call my family from home because of TMobile (most other networks are okay here), yet I was with TMobile to be able to call my family. Vicious cycle.
In May of this year, I got so fed up with the reception that I told them I wanted out of the contract. Not an option, they insisted. But for a lovely price I could buy a "UMA" phone that uses my wireless internet connection instead of a network tower (yada yada yada) and extend my contract another two years. With no other options, I did.
But now, whenever it rains or anyone gets online, every call gets dropped. There aren't words for how frustrating it has been these 14 months. I got so fed up with it while trying to talk to my parents one night that something snapped. I fought. I called TMobile and fought. I wasn't mean, or loud, or nasty, just... firm. I refused to pay the $200 contract termination fee when I had been paying for horrendous service for 14 months. It took two days, but they finally came down to a $30 termination fee. Deal.
Now I'm with Verizon.
In the last 38 months I've gone through 4 service providers and 7 phones. Let's hope this one works out. I got an LG Versa. Phones are so high-tech these days... It has a touch-screen interface and all the bell and whistles. To be honest, I was really happy with my Sony Ericsson, before the UMA blackberry, and now this.
Most of all though, I'm so glad that I can finally talk to family when I'm at home. Parking lots get kind of old (and creepy).

Pasta Salad Confession

2009-10-02T16:40:00.001-04:00

I hate to admit this, but... I hate pasta salad. There's only one kind of salad I hate more: potato salad!
It's embarassing really. Being a fan of cooking and food and all, I'm ashamed to say that nothing can compel me to consume pasta and potato salads. I show up to a potluck? Pasta & potato salad. Barbecue with friends? Potato salad. Invited over for a small dinner party? Pasta salad. I'm the one idiot who prays they won't notice if I slip into the kitchen and pop it into the microwave! But for whatever reason, I'm just wired to think that potatoes and pasta are HOT foods, not cold ones. I don't do the whole 'this-food-which-was-once-hot-tastes-even-better-out-of-the-fridge' thing. (This, by the way, applies to cold pizza as well. Yuck!) Sad, I know. I mean, doesn't this look yummy?

But I won't ever eat that - just because it's cold.

Brain off due to technical difficulties

2009-10-02T11:04:00.002-04:00

Being a grad student, my brain is constantly overworked and underpaid. I love learning. Theology, exposition, missions, music, art, culture, anthropology, languages... all subjects I love! But I'm reaching my limits here.

My brain is not doing its job. Why? There are two ways my brain doesn't work.
Philosophy and history.
I wish I didn't hate learning history (so NOT cool) but I don't do history. There's just too much to grab hold of. I'm reading a THICK book on the history of europe, and there are too many people getting into too many wars. France hates this country, Germany just made a bunch of enemies, Russia is jealous. But wait, who are the Ottomans again? Oh yeah. But the Balkans? I have no idea :(
And then with philosophy, I'm just lost. I have no idea what is being said. It doesn't make any sense. Why are we talking in circles about hypothetical nonsensical theories?

History is too much to wrap my head around. Philosophy gives me nothing to actually grasp; it's so head-y. Wish me luck. My professors don't excuse me from assignments just because I don't like the subject.

Free book winner... and a semi-brief update

2009-09-30T00:06:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to the lovely person who posted comment #1 (selection thanks to random.org)
She wrote:

Hmm..let's see...what would I like to read on your blog? Hmmm...

How about just what's going on with you. How's school going? What are you learning that's really inspiring you?
How about writing about all the crazy stuff you see at those festivals you work at? There's gotta be some good stories there. ;-) Oh, and food blogs are always good.

Thanks, friend! I hope you enjoy the book.
And to everyone else, thanks for your comments, or for just visiting the blog anonymously (all you non-commenters out there).
- - - - - - - -
Just a quick update on life before I head to bed...
My mind is full of missions-related things these days. I am about to start volunteering with USCRI (fingers crossed). They place refugees in the US, and volunteers help these refugees get settled. There are many Muslim refugees being placed in NC this year, so it is a HUGE opportunity to love on people that go easily unnoticed.

I've had my first interview the IMB consultant (my missions agency) and it did not go as planned. First of all, I'm single Thanks for telling me; I hadn't noticed. Apparently there are no job openings in Western Europe for single females right now, with budget cuts and all. So I will have to hope something comes up, or go elsewhere. Second of all, I can't worry too much about the first thing until I get my BMI down. On the day he told me, I was 41 pounds from their requirement. WOW. But lo and behold, just two weeks later, I've only got 27 more to go. I really hope I can keep it up. It's hard to say no to cake and the like.

Today a missionary came to our class (she's visiting from the Middle East right now) and she shared about her ministry to Muslim women. I can't say exactly what it was... maybe that she's single but fulfilled, or that she's doing what I hope to soon, or that she has a prayer-life most of us never enjoy, or that she's exactly where God wants her, but whatever it was something clicked and my heart broke and I wanted to be overseas - today. I went to the bathroom during our 10-minute break and locked myself in a stall and wept (silently). I have such longing, such a desire, and I'm trying to deal with the fact that I don't have anywhere to channel it except a SCALE.

And still, for all my railing, God is so good to even invite me into the work He's doing. I am too excited about all of it.

Tomorrow I'll be at a big statewide Census pow-wow with all the heads of things here. Should be interesting, to say the least.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

2009-09-29T20:51:00.005-04:00

"A book about story? Why would I want to read that?" I thought this at several points before and during Donald Miller's 'A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.' Sorry, but it's true. I wanted to read stories, not what it's like to write them, or to live them. I thought that was what I wanted. And in the last hundred pages, after a couple of days of winding around introspection and amusement, letting Don Miller draw me in as only he can, it clicked. I am living a story. Of course I would want to reflect on story! Miller effortlessly paints a picture with words, invites you into his life and mind, and lets you connect the dots for yourself.

I want to put a quotation in this book review. I really do. But I can't pick just one. I am whimsical about the book. Is that even possible? I think so. I laughed out loud. I genuinely cried (which I rarely do with books, and I do love books). I talked to Jesus frequently and openly about what I was reading, even when it seemed like it wasn't a Christian book at all.

I think what I disliked in parts of the book became what I really appreciated about it in the end. That in the parts where it went nowhere, meandering around seemingly pointless tales and boring sentences, his life's story did as well. It was later on, when his life took a committed, meaningful direction that the book followed suit. I loved it. I really loved everything about it; even the parts that were ugly. I was endeared to him and his story the way we are drawn to pugs. And I was reminded - constantly - that my own story is not so different. I am on this path, where there are days when I don't want to get out of bed, when I don't bother to meet a new person or do anything I will remember five years from now. But that is not the story God is offering me.

God is the ultimate expositor, setting a backdrop for us where the trees stand tall before Him, and the colors buzz with beauty in all the living things, stretched out as far as our eyes can see.
I am floating at the moment, anticipating the wonderful story which God is placing before me, eager to live a life that honors Him. Is this even a book review anymore? I don't know. It's probably more of an announcement: We are living stories, and our stories can be truly great ones!

You can win a copy of the book (the publisher sent me an extra, just for you!) by commenting on the last post, and get another entry by tweeting about it! Whether you win it or not, I hope you'll read this book. Here's an excerpt.

Good things are on the way (I hope)

2009-09-28T12:37:00.002-04:00

Hello, all 2 followers of this blog. Nice to see you here ;)
I go back and forth on whether or not to just let the blog die already, but I can't. So it goes on in this sort of half-life way, where I throw it a little bone every month or two. It takes a lot to get me inspired, because micro-bloggin' is just SO. much. easier. over on Twitter.

...

But alas, I like 'What's Cookin' and I've decided to bring it back to life. For realz.

Tomorrow I'll start by giving away a copy of Don Miller's new book 'A Million Miles in a Thousand Years' after I post my review of it. For a chance to win, I want you to comment on this post and tell me what it is that you want to see or used to like on this here blogaroo. If I'm gonna blog again, I want it to be about things you want to read about.

So... a comment about what you want to see here will get you an entry. Just one. Even if you have 5 great ideas, put them all in one comment. And if you tweet this and then leave a comment here telling me that you did, you'll get another entry.
I'm kind of excited to see who wins the book (and to read your lovely ideas too).

Comment and tweet entries will be accepted until 11:59 pm, Sep.29. Winner will be selected by Random Number Generator.

Fearless

2009-09-08T22:58:00.002-04:00

Being a book review blogger for Thomas Nelson has been a fun and productive way to do something that isn’t school or work related. I just received Donald Miller’s new book, but my first review is of Max Lucado’s Fearless. This book challenges the status quo, where fear is allowed to rule while Christians dismiss Christ as completely in control.

Lucado’s illustrations are accessible and relevant. He addresses the root of the problem by appealing to the surface of our fears, and then weaving his way towards our misplaced fears. We shouldn’t have no fear – that’s the logo made popular in mid-90s clothing – we should have the one healthy fear (fear of "God getting out of my box"). All our other fears, such as fear of violence, of losing money, of worst-case scenarios and death are not fears that we should give into. Lucado encourages us to arm ourselves with Scripture, have a thriving relationship with the Lord and focus on what matters most. “Feed your fears, and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will.”
I didn't expect this book to be such a decent, fun and relevant read. Fear and worry have never been at the top of my list of sins, I thought. But reading this book, I was struck by how often I actually am preoccupied with fear and worry, albeit relatively subdued. Fearless was the kind of book I needed to read, precisely because I had no idea I needed to... It surprised me with its good stories, and I was amazed at how quickly I read it (180-or-so pages were finished on a single 2-hr flight). Max Lucado engages readers with his story-telling, from familiar anecdotes to well-woven quotations to pressing biblical themes and passages. When you read about Peter stepping out of the boat in faith, you understand how fear needs to be banished. Jesus is our answer; He is our hope; He is our Lord. "When Christ is great, our fears are not." I couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks, Mr. Lucado, for a good word.
Check out a free preview here, and buy the book!

I'm 25?

2009-08-18T23:37:00.004-04:00

In 22 minutes, it will be August 19, and I will be 25 years old. Really? Already? This is old. This is really old (to the 13-yr-old in me) and I think I am still SO young... Hmph. I'm old enough to want to go to sleep before it crosses over into the next day, but nostalgic enough to say my last words as a 24-yr-old. It has been unreal. I look back on the last year, and I am at a loss for words. It was not what I expected. I have changed so much. I've loved it all - the good, the bad, the ugly.

But now I'm (tocando-la-puerta-de) 25, and it's not at all what I expected. Here are some random things that surprise me:
- I'm in seminary, preparing to be an overseas missionary in a year.
- I chopped off all my hair a couple months ago, and gave it to Locks of Love.
- I have two roommates - complete strangers not that long ago, who are now friends that I love.
- 15 years ago my favorite food became Thai food, and that still hasn't changed.
- My Spanish has improved in NC... after 24 years of living in Miami.
- I'm a "fed." Working for a "bureau." Weird... Definitely didn't see that one coming.
- I'd never pulled an all-nighter when I moved a year ago, and now I've done that about half-a-dozen times.
- I have a pink diamond piercing my nose (and I love it).
- Given the choice to spend my birthday in a new state with lovely, fun young friends... I still couldn't pass up the chance to be with my family for my birthday. I love them now more than ever.
- I've experienced God in a way I just never expected over the last year. In times of incredible sadness, He has been there - when it felt like no one else was. And though those times were dark and difficult, they were good. So good. And He is incredibly faithful. Thanks, Lord.

Here's to another 25! I wonder what 50 will be like...

Post-Its are the Best... And so is this Vid.

2009-08-14T21:27:00.001-04:00

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Vid URL

I Love Me Some Cake Wrecks

2009-07-24T00:45:00.002-04:00

It's time again - for a link to one of my favorite sites.
You know you want to check it out.Link
Resistance is futile.
Go now. Have a laugh.

The Little Arrocera That Could

2009-07-17T19:29:00.002-04:00

(arrocera = rice cooker)

@se certified!

2009-07-08T19:34:00.004-04:00

A little known fact about me: Despite the fact that several people have suggested that I consider culinary training as an alternate career, I've always wanted to be an ASE certified technician. Seriously. If I woke up tomorrow and weren't doing what I'm doing, I'd want to know how to fix cars. Since I don't plan on switching tracks (and I love what I'm doing), I won't be dropping out of Southeastern tomorrow.

But today I did have a significant car problem...

I couldn't get my car in gear! The shifter was just stuck/jammed and I had to put my back into it to get it "unstuck." Even though the transmission seemed fine and once I was driving the car ran smoothly, I could see the bills running up as I thought threw what this repair might cost me! Oh, dread washed over me.

Instead of giving up, however, I made phone calls. Lots of calls. And I also called on Google. Unfortunately, nobody I called (3 Toyota dealerships included) had ever seen my problem, and Google came up empty as well. How could Google not know what I was talking about?

On my way to the dealership, I tugged on the center console, and it started to come loose! So I pulled over, and pulled it off.

Oh boy! This was more than I was probably prepared for.
Once at the Toyota dealership, I went to the Parts department, and told them what was broken. They said they only sold the ENTIRE gear kit, a whopping $640 (for the part alone, not to mention labor)! That's more than I can afford. I went back into my car, drove it over to the Service department and explained my situation.

I would pay money to have a picture of the expression on those technicians' faces when they saw my discombobulated interior - and realized that I had taken it apart! :D
We pulled off the last piece together (I was afraid to break it, so the foreman helped here), and we got to the source of the problem...
Ready for it?
A tiny 2" piece of plastic had moved off of a tiny 2cm notch! That's it! $640.

I drove my car home, still in pieces, and then put it back together again.
I think I made my dad pretty proud.
I might not be ASE certified, but I did do something impressive @SE (at southeastern)!

Musicians are fun!

2009-07-07T00:44:00.003-04:00

I don't know what it is, but I do love when musicians cover others' songs! Here are a few I like...

Switchfoot covers Beyonce's
Crazy In Love

Alanis Morissette covers Fergie's
My Humps

Kate Nash covers Arctic Monkeys
Fluorescent Adolescent

John Mayer covers the Police
S.O.S. (Message in a Bottle)

In the Summertime...

2009-06-26T16:18:00.003-04:00

After an exhausting first year at seminary, I've given my brain a couple days to relax over the last month or so of freedom. I'm not acutally free- I have two (very intense) summer classes going on. But I do enjoy me some FailBlog and Conan O'Brien on Hulu.
A couple weeks ago, Conan said one of my favorite opening bits so far. From what I remember, he said: "Fiat has bought Chrysler. This is actually a very good partnership because Fiat only makes 12 cars a year, and Chrysler sells 12 cars a year."

And then I saw this on Failblog today:Enjoy the weekend, friends! I'm off to Columbia, SC.

A visual treat

2009-06-10T21:55:00.002-04:00

What a happy commercial.

Sometimes commercials just communicate the right thing. A good feeling. A happy product.
Plus, I'm kind of a tree-hugger now.
I almost want to go and buy a Prius. Almost.

A little obsessive

2009-06-09T12:58:00.002-04:00

On Saturday I had nothing going on. No plans. No friends to hang out with. Nothing to do except study. I found myself wanting to go out anyway and I felt like shopping, so I did the only thing that would be cheap and responsible... groceries!
Only I wasn't grocery shopping; I just wanted one thing.
Mr.Yoshida's Gourmet Sauce! YUM! It's my favorite sauce, and it's amazing. It is also very hard to find. I went to Costco (that's where the website said it was carried) and then BJ's. No luck. Then I went to Fresh Market. Bad idea. Too many rich people with more money than sense.
On to World Market. I had my fingers crossed for that one. No such luck. Then Target. Nope. No Gourmet Sauce there.
Finally Kroger, Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods.
That's 8- count 'em eight- stores looking for this sauce.
And I still can't find it.
There are days when I wish Miami was a little closer.

Good Math, Bad Blogging

2009-05-20T10:39:00.003-04:00

Remember that time I updated last month? Me either.

I have a confession to make. I have been a terrible blogger. Part of it is that I like micro-blogging, over at Twitter. But mostly, it's the state of my life lately.

A friend posted NewMath on her blog, and I think it's pretty great.

I've come up with an equation of my own:
GRAD SCHOOL + JOB + APT = COLLEGE - SLEEP + MORE RAMEN

I'm about to take my last two finals today, and let me tell you, there's about to be a whole lot more going on at annemaroo.com.
Come back soon!

Working for the Man

2009-03-31T19:57:00.005-04:00

This week marks the beginning of my job working for the US Census Bureau. Yeah, I'm working for the man. But... I'm getting paid by the man. And I get to use this high-tech, nifty handheld computer that can only be turned on with my (whoa, Sydney) MY fingerprint and a password. All it's missing is an ocular scan.
Oolala.

I'm missing classes all week. (Aren't all my professors so lovely for excusing me from class so that I can eat again?) But, "Why do I have to miss an entire week of class?", you ask.
I'll tell you why.
I'm in training all week. 8 to 5:30 everyday. Training myself at night (our THREE manuals total about 800 pages of material). Beaucoup overtime. Not really anytime for studying seminary stuff, on top of the fact that I'm at the actual training sessions All. Day. Long.
But hey, they also have given me a super-cool official badge, messenger bag, and Oh Yeah- a cool little computer. I look pretty neat-o walking around all official with the 2010 Census gear. My parents have requested a picture of me at work. Maybe I'll put one up here. Maybe.

So... moving right along. Yesterday morning we were sworn in. That was crazy. I had to raise my right hand, pledge to "defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic... yada yada." The guy sitting next to me said that the last time he said that, he was shipped off to Vietnam.

Which brings me to the whole point of this blog. The people in training with me.
They're mostly my senior. I lie.
They all are. By a lot.
They don't understand "the Internets." Some of these folks do not own cell phones. (Fine by me, but track with me here... If they can't operate a cell phone, how do you think our training class is going? You know, the training to learn how to use a handheld computer that is state-of-the-art, satellite-synched, fingerprint-secure technology?)
I'll tell you. It's not going well. It's s.... l.... o..... w..... Oober slow. Almost backwards slow.
Here's something that happened today:
Leader: Now that you've selected the Address Canvassing from the Main Menu, use the stylus to open a new address and highlight the selected area using the YAH point on the map.
Student: Where's the main menu?

I'm not joking.

And, to add insult to injury, not only do I have to be there at 8 in the morning, but on my left sits the most talkative man on the planet. I'm pretty sure he wakes up talking as fast as an Olympic runner. I get three words in, and I probably look about as goofy as a speedwalker next to an Olympian. Yeah. He's just SO social.
On my right sits eat-and-whisper lady. I've decided to call her that because that is all she does. By 9:30 am, she had answered her CELL PHONE three times already! During training. It blew my mind. And she walked out around that time this morning to get Chick-Fil-A from someone who dropped it off (presumably the same person with whom she was coordinating this covert op via hushed cell phone conversations during class). It doesn't help that she eats fried chicken and pickles every meal. Barf. Pickles are just cucumbers soaked in evil.

I'm done with my little tirade. And very happy to have this awesome, awesome job. I just thought you should know how it's going :) I wish I had you (seriously, no matter who's reading this, I'm almost positive that I'd rather have you) as my neighbor in training class.

Cramming at the library

2009-03-18T15:23:00.002-04:00

It's midterms week here at SEBTS. I've been studying a lot, and not doing much else. Last Saturday I spent several hours there, trying to get a thesis proposal worked out (because assignments don't take a break for midterm exams). I wasn't planning on doing anything that night, besides studying, so I took a study break just to say hello and let the parents know I'm alive once I left the library. Here's the conversation:

Dad: Hey buddy.
Me: HI dad! How are you?
Dad: I'm good. We worked around the house today. What did you do?
Me: Oh, just studied. I have midterms next week, and assignments. So I spent most of my day at the library.
Dad: Ok. You got tired of studying? It's only 5.
Me: I had to leave at 5. That's when the library closes.
Dad: Wow. How different from FIU.I remember when you would pull all-nighters there.
Apparently I was on speakerphone, because at this point I heard my mom laughing in the background, mockingly saying:
Mom: So, she pulled an "all-afternooner."

I don't know what it was, but it made me laugh so much.
Oh, this school that I go to. And this library that they have, with their odd "hours"...

Mis Padres

2009-03-18T01:27:00.009-04:00

Latinos are more entitled to be attached to family. At least, that's my justification here in Wake Forest. But it's getting to be a little old. How often can a girl in her mid-twenties, living on her own, miss her parents?

Oh, but I do.
Today, I miss them so much it aches.
I hope this goes away for good (but I also kinda hope it never does). They're such amazing people.
Last week (Mar.10), we had a chapel speaker talk on the cost of following Christ. I'm not gonna lie... I wasn't too crazy about some of the things he had to say, even though they were true.

The Godfather of Church Planting

2009-03-16T22:39:00.006-04:00

Ed Stetzer.
He's kind of a big deal.
Not that he would ever say that. Or even think it.
But he pretty much wrote the book on church planting. Technically, he's written several. I've only read "Compelled by Love" but I follow him on Twitter, we're friends on Facebook, and I subscribe to his blog... I guess it started with a couple of posts of his that just really resonated with me-
When he spoke with a church planter working in Moravia
When he explained Why Europe
When he wrote about Mark Driscoll
I don't know. I just like him.
Imagine my excitement over the fact that he'll be here on campus tomorrow. Southeastern is hosting a Lifeway conference, and seeing as how he is Lifeway's President of Research, he'll be talking in Chapel.
So, my question to you is, should I ask him to sign my copy of his book? I would kind of be really excited to even meet him.
What a dork I am.

Social "No-work"

2009-03-15T17:30:00.000-04:00

Facebook. First, to the lovers of all that is Facebook: Calm down. I won't say anything terrible about it, nor you. Second, I like Facebook. I do. Maybe a little too much.

Three weeks ago today I got off of Facebook. I just stopped logging in. Stopped checking people's statuses, becoming 'friends' with people I've only met once, scanning dozens of pictures and chatting with people with whom I could easily have face-to-face conversations.

The idea was that I would stop getting on Facebook all the time, and start a habit of doing more worthwhile things more often. It's basic really. It's the Principle of Replacement, and it's found in Ephesians 4. A few years back, A pastor and friend of mine encouraged me to "Put off, put on." Put off the things that hinder. Put on the things that encourage. Put off the attitudes that undermine. Put on an attitude that raises up.

While I have spent a lot more time on worthwhile things, I found that it has been just as easy for me to do equally wasteful things. Just because I got off of Facebook didn't actually make me crack open the Bible. Just because I stopped checking statuses didn't actually mean that I walked across the street to visit a friend. But it has made those things more likely. Even if just a little. And not because I haven't had a choice, but because I have become more aware of my desire to make the right choices. So I did. I've gone on nice walks and drives. I've spent great quality time with beautiful people. I've started memorizing the book of Ephesians. I've just enjoyed the quiet. And I've also enjoyed music, having a chance to just listen to lyrics.

I'm not saying that Facebook is a hindrance. Well, not per se. I just saw it becoming too huge of a distraction in my life. It probably still would be. When one of my favorite bloggers took a blogatical, it was a real surprise to the web community because he was always twittering, blogging, texting, uploading, facebooking. What if that didn't lead anywhere? What if it caused him to miss out on greater things in life?

I'm a huge fan of the internet, and the awesomeness of the web2.0 community... but what if it was a hindrance to community? Ironic that I choose the internet as a platform for communicating these thoughts.

I'll be back on Facebook soon enough, I'm sure. But for now, I'm content to just not know when, and to instead focus on what I can do today instead. Like study for exams :/

Gratifying Ourselves to Death

2009-02-24T13:13:00.008-05:00

Originally, I had just one post in mind for this. But things keep coming up. It started with a mom who was just unashamedly initiating a pattern of unhealthy lifestyles for her sons... and brought home for me the whole epidemic of child obesity we placate by slapping a 'No Trans Fats' or 'Organic' sticker on foods. The solution to which, of course, is a healthy video game.

But then, I was struck by how often I rely on Google for information. It seems I am remembering less and less information, and taking in more and more. What I take in through various mediums, sadly, is becoming like upwardly mobile suburbanites crowding an otherwise peaceful and enjoyable beachfront neighborhood. In an effort to facilitate the 'crowding' I just lower my standards. Maybe this is the one that bothers me the most, as a grad student and... well... as a person. I am convinced that 100 years ago people my age were much more intelligent. We are inundated, watering down our intellect and stripping us of our successful utility of valuable and worthwhile communication. Still, we are blissfully ignorant, referring to our Wiki App on our iPhones in everyday conversation. It reminds me of one of the most compelling secular books I've ever read- and I can only imagine how the author would react to 2009 (since he was raising these issues in 1986 when TV was the issue).

One of the books I've been reading here at seminary is called 'Lies Women Believe And the Truth That Sets Them Free.' It truly is an excellent book. I happen to think that the lies she addresses affect all mankind - not just half. One of the striking issues she raises points out our need to meet our own needs. Even if we don't actually believe it, we sometimes make choices on the premise that God isn't meeting our needs. The bane of our conscious. And our conscience. The proof of this is in the 5,000 books on 'Finding God's Will' which he already makes so clear to us, or the money we spend on the next cool gadget that will distract us from our real lives, or the 13-billion dollar porn industry. You name it. We do it.

Like a dog returning to its vomit, we keep trying to gratify ourselves. Feeding kids junk that end their lives sooner. Entertaining and informing ourselves enough that we understand a little about a lot, but not a lot about a single thing. Asking stupid questions, and chasing after the wrong answers.

When did we forget that we could be perfectly content in Him?

Why I Heart Wake Forest

2009-02-18T11:50:00.003-05:00

There are starting to be more reasons than I can keep track of. At the top of that list are the people and the climate. But I have added another reason, as of last night. Behold, the Party of the Century:
They made a schedule. They've calculated the times. I think that's my favorite part. I love that they're going to sing Happy Birthday (not to a person, by the way) exactly four times at precisely
4:43 pm
5:28 pm
6:13 pm
6:58 pm

What's not to love about these people? I feel like I live in Punxsutawney.

Mi Abuelo

2009-01-31T10:59:00.003-05:00

God gave me the two greatest grandfathers. In the world. I miss my dad's father terribly.
I love my mom's father very much, and am so glad I still have him in my life.
I call him Tati.
I honestly don't know how to describe him, but I'm going to try. If no one else cares, at the very least I'll come back and read this some day...

He's not warm, or touchy-feely, or nurturing, or open. Nope. Tati's more the tough-love type. He's probably the only tough-love family member I can think of. My grandma (Mamita) says that she came from a well-off family, and that she married for love. Me entiendes? She had money; he did not. But they were happy together, raising my mom in Caibarién.
When things started to take a turn for the worse in Cuba, my grandfather did a very brave thing. Tati left everything he knew. He came to this country with his tiny wife and young daughter without anyone else to provide for his family. And he somehow pulled it off.

He became a screen-guy. I don't really know what the title is, but basically he installed screens. And in a city like Miami, where there are many pools, and even more apartments with screened-in patios, there was plenty of work.
One of the buildings he was working at had him installing a screen with the ladder leaning on the building. It fell backward while he was working, and he landed on his head. In a pool. An empty pool.

Things haven't been the same ever since. He had major head trauma, from which he still suffers, and it's a miracle that he even lived. I've only known him after the accident.

I wish I would've known him before. Because this injured man is so amazing. I can only imagine what he was like before.
Tati is generous.
Tati is proud.
Tati is opinionated.
Tati is strong.
Tati is selfless.
Tati is loved.

Self-defeating much?

2009-01-29T00:36:00.002-05:00

I'm talking in third person in hopes that it makes self-observation a little easier...
Anne Marie thinks she is a wall. A tall, deep, dug-in wall that can't be taken down. No one can really know what's going on inside. Only when Anne Marie lets down the little drawbridge so someone can cross the moat can anyone get past the gate.
But lately, the guard has been sleeping on the job. She wears her emotion on her sleeve, and it's a little harder to keep people out. Inside there's quite the wretched storm, but outside... well outside has to stay outside. So having the guard falling down on the job makes it a little easier for people to know that the proverbial poop has hit the fan.

And I just hate it.

And I equally hate the fact that I'm supposed to just share it with people that care about me. Can't the solution to my loneliness be to shut everyone out? I wish it were so. Against my will, God has kept nudging me, and people that love me have stood at the edge of the moat. And it seems that some of them have been hurt by what I thought was only hurting me.

For that, I am sorry. I never feel the need to be completely open, but it seems that I have to now... more than ever.

My name is Anne Marie, and I'm self-defeating.
What do you do, that you wish you wouldn't?

Lost!

2009-01-21T19:44:00.003-05:00

This blog post is almost more pointless than the last post, but I couldn't help myself.
Lost is starting up again tonight. I've got the Oceanic 815 cupcakes baked and decorated...

and I'm throwing together some Apollo Candy Bars.

I couldn't be more excited about a season premiere.

Oh, and school starts tomorrow.
I'm taking New Testament 2 and Greek 2 (just continuing from last semester) and I'm also taking Theology. The class that I'm psyched out of my mind about is apologetics... with Dr. Little (who is this seminary's MVP :)

Did I mention I'm excited to watch Lost tonight?

I'll meet you at the corner of Ne and Ver

2009-01-19T14:50:00.002-05:00

I saw Mall Cop. Kevin James is my hero.
And now I really want a segway.

Try and get this song out of your head. Just try.

We're Cool Like That

2009-01-12T20:25:00.006-05:00

Right after Christmas, my parents and I went to D.C. for a couple of days. As soon as we got there, we drove right past the Washington Monument, Capitol Hill and even the White House. Where were we headed?
Ben's Chili Bowl.
What an amazing place. Their chili half-smokes are Washington DC's signature dish. And they're awesome. The best thing about Ben's, though, is the whole vibe. Super crowded. Not the best part of town. Simple, cheap food. No organic tofu here. Chaotic to order and to get your food when it's ready. People from all walks - and I mean all walks - of life eat here. They have a sign behind the counter that says "Who Eats Free: Obama Family. Bill Cosby"
Well guess who did today (just a few days after I did)... Obama.
I'm not saying anything political. I'm just sayin'... we're cool like that.

Testing Out the New Kitchen

2009-01-05T00:29:00.003-05:00

I just moved. Across the street. Hey- don't scoff. Moving is moving. You still have to pack up your stuff, and lift furniture, and feed helpers. Now that I'm back in Wake Forest, and working with a new (although identical) kitchen, I figured it was time I test it out.

I lie. I just wanted to try out this recipe. Flan Cake. 7 eggs. 1 cake. Seven. Eggs.

This cake was something to behold. It came out of that pan like a newborn caramel baby. Custardy goodness on top. Moist cake on bottom.

I feel like throwing in my thoughts about this cake - just because I can. It was weird. When I saw the recipe, I let out a quizzical-half-intrigued 'huh.' I actually got the cookbook it was in for free. Seminary students have this awesome place called the 'Sharing Shop' we can go to on Saturday mornings. I call it a Garage Sale where you don't pay for anything. Seriously, picture walking around a garage and picking out a coffee pot, some dish towels, a brown purse and a Methodist Church Cookbook. And then just walking away with those things and not paying a cent. There are perks, I tell ya. (Still, it is just garage sale stuff)...

Ah, but I digress. I flipped through the pages of the Methodist Church cookbook (church cookbooks are the best!) and Flan Cake caught my eye. Maybe because it put two things I love together. Or perhaps because I thought they didn't really go together. I also thought it might come out like an eggy tres leches...but it didn't! It came out very neat-and very separate. And it was much better than I expected. The flavors worked together. It was nice warm out of the oven, and even better cold (just like flan).

What I liked most about it, though, was that it kind of represented me. Not just flan. Not just cake. A little Cuban-American concoction that was both complex and incredibly simple. I think I'll make it again. Just to get in touch with my roots, of course ;)

Home Sweet... Where?

2008-12-14T22:58:00.004-05:00

After a very exhausting two weeks of sickness, and then finals, and then moving, I find myself looking for some comforts of home. They don't really come. I was ready to relax after three all-nighters in a row, stopping only to disassemble all my furniture, pack all my stuff into boxes and stare at a very bare room. That room was the first room in my first apartment. It was more than a little odd to pack everything up in just 2 days, and have it all unpacked just a day later. Even though I do have a lot of things, I don't have much "stuff." Really, the fact that I can pack up and move in just two days with everything I own in the world shows just how little "stuff" I have. On top of that, I'm packing a few things into a suitcase and flying back to Miami for just 10 days. I'm so excited to see family and friends, but I just don't miss much about Miami itself (besides the diversity) and am pretty sure I will probably never feel "at-home" there again...

Instead of getting down, and feeling like I have no home, the weirdest thing happened. I know that my home is not where my furniture is, or where my best friend lives, or where my favorite restaurant is. I know that I know that I know that my home is not even on this planet. But to look at my empty apartment, just four months after having moved to this state, was so very very eye-opening. I have nothing that will last. I have nothing that is really worth anything. And everything that I do have, I will have to give up in a year and a half when I go overseas. It was freeing. My home is in heaven. Not lollipops and rainbows heaven. But God-of-the-Universe, Lover-of-my-soul, wonderful-and-mighty Savior heaven.

I'm pretty excited about that.

Though, I should add that my new apartment is looking pretty swell. I just moved from apt. 728 to 722 (literally across the street), and enjoyed setting things up the way I like. Also, in my new apartment is my very first, most magical perfect (though, slightly crooked) Christmas tree. Thanks to all my friends that helped me make this new apartment feel like home. You mean so much to me.

Does hugging your Christmas tree make you a tree hugger?
And yeah, my tree's short and crooked, but it's my first, it was really cheap and I love it.

Not-so-silent Cone of Silence

2008-12-10T19:57:00.003-05:00

My first semester of grad school is over. It was exhausting, I can translate (some) NT Greek, tell you where just about any passage is in the gospels (well, I am only really good at Matthew), and outline any passage in the Bible for a sermon (with some success). So... I'm no scholar, but I am learning a few things.

Let's face it: seminary couldn't really change me that much. I think some people were afraid it would (and other people were hoping it would). After I finished my last exam, which was translating and parsing Greek, I was walking on air. Part of that is probably due to the fact that since Saturday night (my last whole night of sleep), I had gotten a total of 10 hours of sleep. Today's Wednesday. That's four days. Ten hours. In 30-min or 2-hr increments. I was narcoleptic. Needless to say, when this was finally over, I was just. so. happy. I called a friend, and talked her into celebrating with me. I just needed to get my car and pick her up. I could barely contain myself walking off campus. I got to my car, opened the backseat door, threw in my books and sweater, and then got in the front seat. As soon as I closed the door, I screamed. Screamed with all the joy, frustration, exhaustion, and accomplishment that I felt. "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! I'M SO HAPPYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!" Seriously, friends, it was loud. I heard someone walk by. That was weird, since my door was closed and my car is made of steel, not tissue paper. One problem. I only closed my door - not the backseat door. I looked around, and there were three guys (from my class) talking in the parking lot. Well, laughing now, since I just made an idiot of myself. If you know me, you know this is something I regularly do...

I could only laugh, and think of the Cone of Silence from Get Smart.
This is almost exactly how it happened.
Enjoy laughing at my expense. It's 54 seconds in...

Get Smart - Movie Trailer 2008 - Funny bloopers are a click away

All I Want For Christmas

2008-12-09T13:23:00.000-05:00

For more reasons than you want to read about, Christmas this year is going to look different (for me). I have next to no money, so buying a bunch of people useless gifts seems... unfitting. I did some Christmas shopping at an amazing Craft & Bake sale, and I've written some letters to loved ones. I spent very, very little on things... and hope to spend a lot more time on relationships.

For the first time in five or ten years, I don't care about gifts. I don't care what gifts I get; I don't stress about what gifts I'm giving. I think at this point most people that know me also know not to expect much in regards to Christmas gifts. And that's a good thing! Christmas isn't about gifts. iPods, Wiis, gift cards and even cars seem to have nothing to do with Christmas, and everything to do with our insatiable need to have more stuff. I'm not setting out to ruin Christmas; far from it! I just hope that it can be about what it IS about, not what we're TOLD to make it about. This Christmas, my parents' gift to me will be an ESV Study Bible and three weeks of shared meals, funny stories, good conversations, and afternoon walks.

If you haven't gotten this by now, I don't really want anything for Christmas.
Though, that's not entirely true. Here's my wish list for Christmas:
- Quality time with loved ones
- New adventures/outings that don't cost anything
- Time to sit down and read a good book, listen to some new music
- A changed paradigm about Christmas (for me AND you)
- Fresh conversation with the one who came that first Christmas

Oh, and one thing that you could actually give me this year (or next) is...
Prayer and support as I prepare to go to Morocco in 2009. I'll update more on this over the break, but if you were going to buy me something, I hope you won't! I would much, much, much rather have you "in my corner" as it were, because this is such a big deal to me. I'm excited, nervous, eager, terrified, ready, and psyched to be going to this corner of the world. It'll be my first time in Africa, my first time on a mission trip with the IMB, my first time being in a predominantly Muslim country and my first time actually doing what I have felt God leading me to for the last eight years (or really more!)

It's pretty costly at $3052, a lot of which is just getting there :( So if you know me, and this is something you'd like to be a part of, and you were debating what I would actually like for Christmas... look no further! This would be the best Christmas gift ever! Seriously, even five bucks towards this would mean so much more than 20 bucks on something else...
Email me at annemarie5353 at gmail dot com and I'll get you more info.

For all the other people in your life that wouldn't understand if you gave them quality time or a nice letter, maybe you should buy them some TOMS. Check out some ideas my friend has over here, and especially watch this video he posted.

I Live in the South

2008-12-04T00:23:00.000-05:00

I've let these daily reminders of life in the South slip by, off the radar, unnoticed by this blog.
No longer.
Behold- in my egg carton, right next to Nutrition Facts, is a Bible verse.

Yep. I live in the South. The real South.

Death Warmed Up

2008-12-03T01:17:00.004-05:00

For the last four months, I have been amazed that I haven't had a cold. Not even a sniffle. Back home, I would get colds all the time. But since I moved up here, sick people have come up to visit me, friends here have gotten sick, and I haven't been phased. Not even a sneeze. That is, until Sunday.
Now I have a tissue stuck up my right nostril and I've been inside the apartment all day. Since last night. I am pitiful. Behold, the arsenal of remedies that I have next to (and on) my bed.... sadly, they aren't helping much in the face of this super-cold that won't go away!

Honey lemon cough drops, Vapor inhaler, sore throat spray, Airborne, Vitamin C, Vicks VaporRub, DayQuil, NyQuil and tissues. I also have ThroatCoat (the world's most amazing tea when you're sick). And I'm wishing I had 2 more things: ShowerSoothers, and Dole PineappleOrangeBanana Juice.
By the way, I could not have gotten sick at a worse time. It's the very, very end of the semester and I have a million school things to do.

Not as funny as I thought...

2008-11-23T14:57:00.003-05:00

Driving around today, I spotted a license plate like this:

The driver was going about 12 mph BELOW the speed limit. After a block or so, I said "If she doesn't speed up, I'm goin' Dew-cho-ca!" My friend didn't really laugh, so I used it another way about 10 seconds later... "Boy! If she goes any slower, someone might come out dew-cho-ca.... (still no laugh)... Get it? Like 'to-choke-her'?" And she just half-laughed and said, "I got it the first time you said it."

It was then that I realized that I am much, much funnier in my own head than I am in the real world. Oh well. I had a good laugh.

When I Grow Up...

2008-11-20T21:12:00.004-05:00

At Frankie's last weekend, my friend came across this "school" notebook. In one of the pages, a kid had started writing up his masterpizzle. What do you think he wants to be when he grows up?

I'm so ill that the doctor couldn't heal me
I'm so bad even the Devil fear me
Like Kiesha Cole I told you once, no twice
Don't be hating Marcus because I so nice
Like Hubaba I'm always to the max
Marcus you full of bullcrap; you don't need no snacks.

Majority Wins

2008-11-19T21:21:00.000-05:00

And I've gotta say, you chose well. The Thai turkey burgers were pretty great, and I made an Asian slaw and some egg fried rice to go with them. I decided to make baby burgers and stuff them inside Pitettes with peanut sauce. Yum! Thanks. Wish I could have fed all of you who voted :)

You decide my dinner

2008-11-11T00:19:00.002-05:00

There's this ground turkey in my freezer that I got on sale for $1.29/lb. I was so excited about that steal that I bought 3 lbs. For a single girl, that's like 6 weeks of turkey. I'm down to the last pound. I'm thinking I'll cook the whole package. I have random stuff in my fridge and pantry, and want to use it all. There are a few options as to what I could do with it, but I'm at a loss and cannot decide. So... you decide. What should I cook with this turkey?

Thai Turkey Burgers with Asian Slaw
Thai Omelette (I'm pretty sure no one will vote for this, so I won't bother tracking down a link. But I will say that it's awesome.)
Turkey Tacos
Turkey Sloppy Joe's
Turkey Meatballs (or meat sauce) and Spaghetti with Garlic Bread

If you have any other ideas, tell me :) But I might not have the ingredients on hand...

Plenty O' Potatoes!

2008-11-02T20:14:00.008-05:00

Almost two weeks ago I got little red potatoes on sale. At the time, it seemed like a great addition to a meal. Maybe steak. Maybe sauteed veggies. But before I knew it, almost two weeks had passed and the potatoes were sprouting little.... ahem... ugly knobs. I had to do something before my 60 cents of starchy greatness became a science experiment.
So I did what any broke, inventive, stubborn, desperate, single girl does. I cooked 'em all. I know it's a lot of starch. I know you can't have potatoes alone for dinner. I know I could've just let the 60 cents go to waste. But I didn't. Don't judge me. In my defense, I did have some broccoli too.
So here they are, my amazing potatoes. I made mashed potatoes with cream cheese, potato pancakes with herbs, and Hasselback potatoes.

I want to make them all again, just never together.

Locks of Love - Video Update

2008-11-01T23:09:00.003-04:00

It's been a while since I updated. It is officially cold here, and I'm growing my hair really long to keep me warm. The plan is to cut it off in the Spring when it warms up, so I can donate it to Locks of Love.

annemaroo.com Update! Fall temps, long hair and absentee voting! from Anne Marie on Vimeo.

Texting

2008-10-23T01:37:00.003-04:00

Texting. It's like a drug. Or maybe a sport. That's a better analogy. It's addictive, but it's also competitive. That's right - there are levels. Some people text IN ALL CAPS. THEY "SAY" THEY'RE NOT YELLING, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER. ALL CAPS IS YELLING. Other people use codes, like: "Thx 4 gr8 wknd. LOL. CuL8r." It doesn't matter if they know things I don't know; it's still stupid-looking. Other people text in silence. They sense the phone receiving a text or call; they are like animals in the wild. Still, their texts aren't silent. My roommate is this caliber of texter. She can text with the best of them. But there's this constant, annoying "click click, clickclickclick, click!" like this clip shows...

Finally, and possibly the most stealth and competitive of all is the blind texter. No, they aren't blind. But if they were, they would text just the same. Why? They don't even look. They have it all memorized. The sheer amount of texts they have sent have engrained the keypad and sequences of numbers and letters into their minds forever. Bizarre.
I probably, sadly, belong to the third or fourth category. Or another, fifth one, because I am just that awesome. It hasn't even been invented yet.

The Coolest Mom On The Block

2008-10-17T06:47:00.000-04:00

When I have kids, I'm gonna do stuff like this.

They're gonna love it. Geez, I love it. Can I do this for myself?
Thanks to Blissfully Domestic.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

2008-10-15T17:35:00.001-04:00

I haven't shared one of my favorite things with you for a while, as I debated whether or not you would like it. It has been long enough.
Readers, meet Cake Wrecks.
You're Welcome.

I Feel It All

2008-10-13T16:53:00.004-04:00

Pinning down what I'm experiencing right now is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I really like just about everyone I meet. I love driving around my town. What I'm learning at seminary is just... mind blowing. Where I'm going with God is new, and I've never been there before.
As best I can figure, in a word, this is an awakening.
My cooking tastes better. Music sounds more dynamic. Lyrics are more powerful. Relationships matter more than ever. Mornings are brighter. Fall is cooler (which is actually a fact, since it's about 70 degrees right now, instead of the 85 I'm used to). My job is exciting- invigorating even!
Everything, everything, everything is just... more.
I can't say it's all peachy. That wouldn't be true. But I feel it all; I feel the good things and the bad. It makes me wonder how I walked through my everyday life before.
Oh, and I hear Feist singing "I Feel It All" in my head (over and over again) and I don't get tired of it.
"I don't know what I knew before, but now I know I wanna win the war."

A good actress, and a happy ending

2008-10-09T17:23:00.006-04:00

For a couple of weeks now Rey has been planning to propose to his girlfriend (my buddy) Lauren. I have been in on it. Sorry, Lauren. I hated "acting"... and by acting, I mean lying.

No, I lie. It's been fun. We had this whole plan, where we would get Lauren to come to Vizcaya, where he would pop out of nowhere and propose. It was going to be perfect.

And then Rey got impatient (just as Lauren was getting antsy to see him before Thanksgiving). He landed, and he was a wreck. Ready to propose. Ready to see her. Ready to be engaged already. So the plans changed. And I was still a good actress.
While visiting, I'm driving around in my dad's huge truck. It's huge, and it's brand new.

I needed to "break down" near their favorite park (this was the new plan for where he would propose). Unfortunately, with only 5,000 miles, the only thing that might happen to it was a flat tire. "Acting" even more, I called Lauren:
Lau: Hello?
AM: I'm right by your house, and everything was fine, and now I have a flat tire and I don't know how it happened, and I can't believe this and I need help and... and... and...
Lau: Calm down. Where are you?
AM: At the park by your house.
Lau: I'll be right there.

So Rey hides by a tree about 50 feet away from me. Merari and Brigitte hide in the bushes like paparazzi. And I start pacing because, of course, I am just. So. Upset. by the flat tire. (What a good actress I am).
My great acting skills only got me so far, however, because Lauren is the girl version of MacGyver. She ignored my wailing and attempts to lead her in my direction (and Rey's) and walked towards my truck. Noooo! So I started fake crying, "I can't take this." "I'm so upset." She replied, "Where's the flat?" and when she went all the way around, "You don't have a flat tire."
At this point, I am not a good actress, and must resort to flat-out lying. "No, Lauren, you can't see it because I added air. But my dad said if I keep driving I'll ruin the tires." Lies. Lies. Lies.
Whatever, she realized her friend was being ridiculous and came to my side, because at this point I was still incosolable.
And then she saw him.
And he took a knee.
After about 100 kisses and yeses, it was official. They're engaged.
I couldn't be happier for them.

Donate to a charity... for free!

2008-10-01T18:43:00.002-04:00

It may not be much, but Squidoo is letting YOU choose how they donate $80,000. I chose Blood:Water Mission.

Click and vote! Your vote represents $2 for the charity of your choosing...

This Won't Go So Well

2008-09-27T00:18:00.007-04:00

I was thrilled and honored to be invited to be a bridesmaid in my good friends' wedding next weekend. And I still am. There's just this one thing...
The wedding is at the Palms hotel on the beach in Miami. Beautiful.
Only, it is on the lawn.

And I just found out that I must wear these:

If you know me, then you know that this is going to end with me tripping and having some sod in my teeth.
Great.

Tonight's Vice

2008-09-22T15:46:00.003-04:00

You know where I'll be from 8-11 tonight? My living room.

Watching Heroes. I just can't help it.

Switchfoot Live!

2008-09-21T00:10:00.004-04:00

A long, long time ago (in 1999), a 15-year-old girl went to church camp in a church van. She somehow got stuck in the very back with "G-Unit," "brace-face," and "headphones" (who all turned out to be lovely people). "Headphones" had a CaseLogic CD case larger than an Encyclopedia. (Some of my readers may know "Headphones" as Vlad or Vladimir). Anyway, he did not approve of the young girl's choice in music. It was "too popular" he told her. He taught her about Tooth & Nail, and recommended she give a listen to a band with a funny name... Switchfoot. She did. And she liked it. A lot.
So much so, in fact, that when she got back from church camp, she bought that CD and the one before it "Legend of Chin." She listened to it throughout high school. All... four... years. In her senior year, while her classmates drove their mom's Volvos out of the parking garage listening to Daft Punk, Outkast and Destiny's Child, she would blast "Chem 6a" as she peeled out after school. She found two (count 'em, two) people that liked the band too. The three of them would drive an hour or more to get to the nearest Switchfoot concerts. Well, they were driven. By parents. Because they were only 15 after all, and it was a school night.
Switchfoot was tiny, unknown and made up of only three everyday people.
They got popular though. Real popular. And people knew the words to their songs. They added people to their band. First Jerome. Then Andrew. Eventually, some other guy... It was bittersweet. The band would make it. But it lost its appeal to the girl. She didn't go to their concerts anymore. She heard they had mosh pits sometimes. That didn't sound very fun.
Still, when she found out, six years later, that they would be playing in her new town, in her new state, she went. And loved it. And knew the words (to the old songs, anyway).

Pimp My Toaster Oven

2008-09-18T21:31:00.004-04:00

Hi. My name is Anne Marie and my toaster oven is P.I.M.P.
Technically, it's not mine. It belongs to one of my roommates. It's stylin'. Really, it's got all the right looks. And it's got tints too boot. Now, you may think that the tints are what put the coolness factor over the edge.
You would be wrong. The tints make me want to throw the toaster oven (I call it 'T.O.') out the window! I burn things in there. Until I moved to North Carolina, I was able to toast to perfection. But here, I have burned poptarts, overtoasted bagels and charred toast. The tints are all about appearance. Don't get me wrong; kitchen appliances with shades are cool.
But tints are not functional. Not when you use the glass door to look through and check on your food. So, because this toaster oven is not good for anything except looks, I would like to figure out how to make it look even cooler.
Lower it?
Install some bass?
Put on some rims?
Give it bling?

Job hunting

2008-09-03T17:20:00.006-04:00

It's not so much a "hunt" as it is a "narrowing." I have way too many choices as to where I could work. That's a good problem, right? I guess. My first choice would be to not work. I have plenty of stuff to do with school. Unfortunately, I lack the husband and his income to gain that "housewife" or "stay-at-home mom" title that I would need. I mean, I would just be a "housegirl" or "stay-at-home bum". And a full-time student doesn't exactly put food on the table.
I haven't worked for an entire month, but it's time I hop to it and start again!

Thanks to Dave for this sketch.

So my question to you is...
What should I do?
Here are some employment options:
1. Tutor for a high school guy that canNOT write papers to save his life
2. Country Club banquet server
3. Nanny
4. " for the elderly (it's called ElderCare)
5. Administrative Assistant at a Medical office
6. Dishwasher at local pizza place
7. Server at Italian restaurant
8. Private tutor (through a company like Sylvan) for Elem. Ed., English, Math & Science
9. Secretary at a real estate office
10. YMCA worker (or the local Boys&Girls club too)

I should mention that I've never had a "regular" job before; I've just worked as a Youth coordinator (for 2 years), and a missions coordinator (for 3 years)...So I'm up for anything. It'll be new and exciting.

What do you think? Where do you see me? Washing dishes? Washing butts? :D I want your vote!

Georgia on my mind

2008-08-28T23:16:00.003-04:00

My weekend just officially began (I got 100% on an online quiz) and I am going to enjoy this Labor Day like no other. I'm loading up my iPod, filling up my car and packing my bag... to go to ATL! I'll be staying with my aunt, and visiting family. I leave in the morning and I won't... be... back... til Monday :)

The highlight? I'm finally going to visit Mr.Ragamuffin Soul's church (Buckhead, a part of NorthPoint) and maybe I'll see my favorite blogger, Whittaker Woman. It's highly, highly unlikely considering the size of this church. Really, though, I'm just excited to worship and relax. I have a couple books I'm taking with me, but only ONE textbook, to make sure I sleep in and rest while I still can. I'm ready for a mini-vacation, and I've got Georgia on my mind!

VisualDNA

2008-08-27T22:15:00.002-04:00

Not that I have much time to be wasting, but this wasn't half-bad as far as online quiz/widget things go... Give it a shot! Here's mine:

Call Me Thrifty

2008-08-26T23:18:00.002-04:00

Another birthday, come and gone. I am twenty-four years old. And I feel younger than I thought I would at this age (when 24 was a decade away). Twenty-three was a fantastic age. I did just about everything I wanted to, and went deeper in my relationships, learned more about the arts, enjoyed photography, film and theater, tried out some culinary skills in the kitchen, and traveled just a little bit more. I loved 23.

So now I'm 24. I just moved away from "home". I just moved into my first apartment. I just started grad school. I just made friends... in another state. I just started looking for a church to call home. And I just got serious about being frugal. Money doesn't grow on trees after all.

I'll let you in on my secrets...
Sunday paper coupons, slickdeals.net, moneysavingmom.com, restaurant.com... I could go on. But I won't. Suffice it to say that this is how I've done today - in just one day:
Free Chick-fil-A sandwich (that was my lunch)
Free Coldstone LoveIt - Coffee ice cream with brownie (that was my dessert)
Free Glade Plug-Ins (two of 'em)
Free loaf of bread
Free Bare Minerals make-up from ULTA

Man, I love deals.
I may not be any wiser at 24, but I am learning how to stretch my dollars. Like my friend Merari says, poverty is a skill (and I am acquiring it).

Cake is a Powerful Food

2008-08-22T15:14:00.003-04:00

I guess this is home now

2008-08-20T22:41:00.002-04:00

For the few readers I may still have, I thought it would be good to give a long-overdue update. Since I have a lot of studying to do, it will be random.

* I now have an apartment in North Carolina, which is so weird to say. I share it with two great ladies- Lucy and Catherine.
* I live in a subdivision called Flaherty Farms. It is not a farm, but I still think the name suits it. There are deer that come out from the woods, just behind our porch. It is a little off the beaten path here. The speed limit inside Flaherty Farms is 7 and a half. Yes, all the signs say 7 1/2. I have next to no cell phone reception, if any at all. And Flaherty Farms is like a little commune of seminarians and their families. Not normal. At least not for this city girl.
* This semester, I have four fantastic classes that I'm taking this first semester (it was 5, but I decided I just couldn't handle that). If you wanna know, the classes are New Testament, Hermeneutics, Biblical Greek and Church History. I'll blog more on those classes later. For now I'll just say that I was MORE than overwhelmed at first, but after a week of getting settled (and much study of Philippians 4:13), I think I just might survive.
* Yesterday was my 24th birthday. I cannot explain how wonderful, bizarre, sad and adventurous it was to celebrate my birthday here, in my new home. My friends (both living here and visiting) got me gifts, balloons, cupcakes, and just a great time. I still missed traditions though. I missed my parents waking me up. I missed phone calls (again, I have no reception here). I missed a sense of normalcy.
* We did a huge thing yesterday, which I loved... we took a little road trip for the day to Charlotte, NC to see John Mayer! Yay! What a way to celebrate a birthday. Too bad John Mayer didn't call me on stage or anything. I was about a 17-minute walk from the stage, out on the lawn, so he probably wanted to call me up there, but his manager stopped him. The show must go on, they say...
That's pretty much all for now. I've really gotta study. The humor has been sucked out of me temporarily, due to exhaustion. But as soon as it comes back, I have got some great (crazy) things to share about life up here. So stay tuned, readers. You are not forgotten.

How would you ask them?

2008-08-09T02:05:00.000-04:00

Due to my supposed "moving violation" in May, I had to take an online driving school course. I got to the section on safety (seat belts, child seats, air bags, etc) and I was intrigued...

MAN, MACHINE AND ENVIRONMENT
TOPIC 5: SAFETY EQUIPMENT

SUBJECT 4: Air Bags

When air bags were introduced in the early 1990's, there was considerable debate on how fast they should deploy. Those who argued that the bag should deploy rapidly enough to protect unbelted occupants of the front seat won the day. The force this requires is a problem for smaller people and people who might be positioned close to the air bag - primarily infants, children, and adults under five feet, five inches tall. Infants and small adults should be seated in the rear of the vehicle equipped with dual air bags protecting the front seat. If this is not possible, they should position their seat as far back from the air bag as possible.

I've highlighted the important parts up there. My question to you is:

How would you ask your vertically challenged adult friends to sit in the back seat. What if they are the only passengers? Or better still, I can just see a shotgun scenario, where you have to tell the shotgun "winner" that they are not eligible because they are 5'5" or less. Can you imagine having one of those signs like they have at the fair that reads, "You must me THIS tall to get on."

Movin' On Up

2008-08-06T18:54:00.000-04:00

3 days.
1,128 miles.
18hrs drive-time.
A trail of tears and smiles!
I'm movin' on up tomorrow... to seminary.

View Larger Map

Feist-y

2008-08-05T14:47:00.003-04:00

T-minus 2 days.
This is a big move for me. I've never lived outside of sunny South Florida.
Surprisingly, I feel ready...
Only 4 outfits left to pick from (everything else is packed).
Only 1/4 tank of gas (hoping my parents will fill it up for the road trip).
Only one hair accessory.
Only one 6 CD's playing.
Only 50 emails in my work inbox (the rest have been deleted).
Only two dinners left in Miami.
Only a few friends I have put off saying good-bye to.
Only a couple of (inevitable) tiffs and squabbles left with my parents.
Only a few hours at work left.

I couldn't be more excited.
Feist happens to be my soundtrack. Thanks, Yan - that was a great gift.
:)
I'm gonna miss this place, and these people.
But, BOY AM I READY!

Go Before You Know

2008-07-25T10:27:00.005-04:00

It'll be hard to keep up with my blog these days. I am in Miami for less than 2 more weeks, and then it's off to unfamiliar territory. I look at all the things I have to do, pack, change, notify, reserve, plan, move, cancel and begin, and I can't help but feel overwhelmed. I don't see how all the needs I have will be met, and as I shared this with my church the other night, they understood. They prayed for me. And this morning I got a note from one of the girls there, and she sent me a link to a blog that answered my prayers- http://97secondswithgod.blogspot.com/2008/07/chapter-46-go-before-you-know.html. I really needed to hear that. And I really don't need to have everything planned...
Thanks, friend.

Eat Mor Chikin

2008-07-18T01:13:00.000-04:00

I love Chick-fil-A. That's right; I said it. It's out there. Fast food has no business being this good. Their peanut-oil fried chicken must be dipped in crack batter. The waffle fries must be shaped by OompaLoompas. The sweet tea? It's not really sweet tea. It's a blend of black tea leaves, water, rainbows, gold, tree houses, sweet dreams and sugar. Yeah, it's that crazy. So today, I just wanted to put out there that I have a special place in my heart for Christian chicken. And so does he. I can't wait for next week's freebies down the street from me!

A Hand-ful of Picture Problems

2008-07-17T22:19:00.001-04:00

Do you ever have that near-perfect picture, where there's just one thing you wish you could move? I do. I have a hand problem with nearly every picture. There are just a "handful" of scenarios...

1. Steroid-hand: This hand is unproportionately large. So large, in fact, that it could belong to the Rock or Hulk or someone excessively large.

2. Mystery-hand: The connection between this hand and its body remains a mystery. Where is the arm?

3. Mischief-hand: This hand is clearly up to no good. The fingers are sneaky, the hand seems to appeared out of nowhere, just like the others. Only this one clearly has an agenda...

Do you have any pictures ruined by hands?

I'll Love N.C. Part Four

2008-07-15T12:37:00.008-04:00

It's down to the wire here in AnneMarie-world. Just 22 days til I move, time seems to be just flying past. I wish I could be in more places, like in Multiplicity. In the past few weeks, one of the best things I've done with my time is get to know Alex & Kristel Acevedo a little better. They're moving to the same town for the same seminary at the same time as me. I couldn't be happier. Maybe it doesn't make sense to hang out with them right now, but I'm pretty sure I'll need something and someone familiar after a couple weeks up there. They are an answer to prayer.

Seriously, these two lovebirds enjoy life more than your average pair. They're up for almost anything. They'll laugh at almost anything. They'll eat almost anything. They'll spar about almost anything. They'll play almost anything. And they say almost anything that comes to mind. Especially Alex, much to Kristel's dismay. I dig it.

So I think the thing I'll love most about N.C. will be living down the street from them. We're just four "houses" apart. I'd show you, but I don't need any stalkers having my address.

Kristel has humored me for the last year and a half. I've made her read blogs, listen to unfamiliar music, watch mediocre movies, cook and bake, read weird books... you name it. She's done it, and had fun. That's a great friend, if you ask me. I can't wait to get lost in a new town, find a cool shop, throw a dinner party and play Family Feud with her.

Alex deserves some props here too. He has such good taste, after all, that he snagged Kristel for his wife. He designs, teaches, sings, fixes, plays and creates with such energy that it's contagious. He's fiercely protective, but incredibly laid-back. And my favorite thing about Alex? His laugh. It's pretty amazing. When something is really funny to Alex, you can't help but enjoy his laughter. He is crying, after all. Here's the latest Alex-laugh I witnessed, on Sunday night.

And I'm sorry to everyone that we don't get to take with us. At least you have each other. :D

Of course she likes it

2008-07-15T00:15:00.004-04:00

To celebrate Lauren's birthday, a group of friends surprised her with a fun weekend trip to Orlando. The icing on the cake? We finished our trip with a meal at Golden Corral. Rey recently decided to 'go green' and so he saved a plate by putting dessert on his half-eaten dinner plate.

The result? A really gross, unappetizing plate of spinach and chocolate ice cream.

Merari, being the "special" person that she is, proved to us that she wasn't grossed out by his plate. Dave remains nauseous in the background, if you'll notice...

Shameless Plug

2008-07-01T17:00:00.001-04:00

Once upon a time, there was a blogger who loved to read, cook, talk, watch movies, and spend time with all the wonderful people in her life. She spoiled them occasionally with cupcakes, or a card, or a Netflix night. The time came, not so suddenly, for her to leave her home. And she had only a few items she might need in this new land. So she added a button on the sidebar of her blog, and told everyone that if (and only if) they wished to send her off with something pretty, they could find what she really wanted on Amazon.com.

She assured them that none of those things, however, would replace the person who gave them. But it would help to have a jumbo cupcake pan to remember them by, or a GPS navigator so she wouldn't get lost during her long travels. But really, she just hoped all her loved ones would fare her well on August 2nd.

The end.