Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Helpink.org

Helpink.org is a cool new website where artists can submit their art work. Helpink.org turns the artwork accepted into posters and sells them. All of the proceeds go to the charity of the artists' choice.

The End of LOST

This is not a post about my thoughts on the Season Finale of LOST. LOST is what it is. Confusing, magical, sci-fi, and unanswered. This is a post about me being sad that LOST is over.

I  will never forget watching a complete season of LOST on my honeymoon with Jonathan and then searching for a Target because we needed to get season two in our hands well before we headed home from Florida.

I also vividly remember reading the article when the producers of LOST announced it would end in 2010.

I feel like I said goodbye to my friends on Sunday night. I am not sure if it will fall into the ranks of The OC and Veronica Mars as a show I will watch over and over (I have exhausted both the DVD's and Hulu when it comes to those two shows). The intensity and need for me to watch something light hearted as soon as the LOST logo comes across up at the end of an episode may keep me from putting it on as background noise. But Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and Hurley will be always be close to my heart. The writers of LOST could fill my head with a million more unanswered questions and I would still faithfully watch the show every week.

Signing off for LOST.

Bad Robot.

500

This is my 500th post. It seems like it should be a big deal, but it also seems like it took me a million years to reach this benchmark.

Here's to the next 500 posts.
Cheers.

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

 

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Saving My Pennies

This weekend when Jonathan and I were doing some chores around the house I turned on the Ella Fitzgerald Pandora station. I have talked about my love for Ella before, but as my home was filled with her beautiful voice I was reminded again just how much I really love her (which of course is further proof I was born into the wrong decade).

Although I have known it has existed for awhile I was reminded how much I would love to have this:

It contains every song that she recorded from 1956-1964 in order of release. If I were to buy the actual box set it would contain 16 CD's! However, I have my eye set on the itunes version - which includes 254 songs and would be much quicker to get on my computer and ipod. Now...all I need to find is an extra $160 to add this to my music collection.

In the meantime I will settle for my Ella Pandora station and Christmas album.

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Headed to Lynchburg

We are headed to Lynchburg on a red eye tonight to visit Jonthan's parents.

I am such a lover of the East Coast, and it has been SO long since I have been there! I can't wait to just take it all in!

We are hoping to sneak a trip to Washington DC in there as well - I love love love love love Washington DC. You can guarantee there will be lots of pictures!

See you in a week!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Home Sweet Home

Have I mentioned how much I love my cute little home?
True after living in our four bedroom two-story house it did take some getting used to our 900 square foot one-bedroom apartment...but I love it. We have everything hung on the walls and every single box unpacked, and I am pretty sure everything has a home. There is nothing that seems to be missing, and I am not on that constant search for that one last thing to make the house complete. I just love it.

Even when I have the day off and Jonathan is working about 15 feet away from me.
Even when I have to get really creative with counter space while making dinner.
Even when I can hear my neighbor talking (loudly) on the phone in the morning, or smell cigarette smoke lingering up through my window while I am laying in my bed.
Even when I have to carry my groceries up two flights of stairs.
Even when there is someone in our one bathroom and I have to pee.

I especially love it when it only takes me five minutes to dust the whole house.
And when I turn the air conditioning on and within minutes the whole house cools down.
And when birds come and hang out on our balcony.
And when I can see what my neighbors are watching on TV.
And when I DON'T hear any neighbors screaming at their kids.
And when I leaving to go out of town the task of coming home a totally picked up house is not unattainable.
And when I have the day off and Jonathan is working 15 feet away from me.

I just LOVE it.

Saying Thank You

Part of my job is to say Thank You to people. Well really I am supposed to appreciate and encourage people in such a way that they they know I am saying "Thank You!"

Thank You for loving students.
Thank You for taking time off of work to come on this trip with us.
Thank You for giving tirelessly EVERY week to your small group even though your students never acknowledge this.
Thank You for showing up at that freshman baseball game and sitting in the ninety degree weather in your business suit so that one student had a fan.
Thank You for calming that parent down...for praying with that student...for inviting him over for family dinner...for listening to her talk about her break-up with her boyfriend.
Thank You.
Thank You.
Thank You.

Generally these Thank Yous come in the form of handwritten notes or a small token of my affection. I would rather be sending them on all expense paid vacation to Tahiti where they could sleep in a hut over the ocean while basking in the beauty of God's creation...but I can't.

So instead I buy stationary, and $5 Starbucks cards, and little trinkets that remind me of that person and I mail it to them.

How do you say Thank You?

The Land of Enchantment

Last week we were in Shiprock, New Mexico with serving the Navajo people there.
I am so proud of all of my students and adult leaders - they worked hard - slept little - and really gave their all to serve.

Here is MY trip to New Mexico in numbers:
156 students
37 adults
6 kids
4 busses
25 hours in the car
1 stop at Cracker Barrel
500 pages of Harry Potter read
8 trips to Walmart
1440 hot dogs
1440 hot dog buns (every SINGLE hot dog bun in Walmart)
38 boxes of Cheese-its
26 jars of peanut butter
77 loaves of bread
1 trip to Home Depot
4 REALLY heavy buckets of primer
38 pies from The Village Inn
6 times my math failed me
2 times we followed the GPS instead of our instincts
52 times Jonathan and Phil made fun of me
2 dinners at 2:30am
20 total hours of sleep over five days
1 midnight trip to the emergency room

It was non-stop and just when you thought you could sit down to rest (and maybe take a nap) we would be on to the next thing - but it was such a blast to watch our students come back to the hotel each night tired, dirty, and overflowing with God's joy!

Happy Birthday Ange!

My sweet friend Ange is turning 30 today!

Since I can't be with her to celebrate her birthday I wanted everyone to know how great she is and how much she deserves to be celebrated.

Here are 30 things we both love which is why we are the best of friends!

1. We love LOST

2. We love our iPhones

3. We love Sprinkles cupcakes

4. We love tumbleweeds

5. We love 30 Rock

6. We love Bagels and Brew

7. We love traveling to new places

8. We love ministry

9. We love Twilight

10. We love homemade guacamole

11. We love crappy TV

12. We don't really love exercise, but we like to pretend we do

13. We love Starbucks

14. We love to read

15. We love animals (she loves them more than me)

16. We love Christmas decorations

17. We love our families

18. We love blogs

19. We love adventures

20. We love a good commercial

21. We love to laugh

22. We have just the right amount of love for Disneyland (not too much not too little)

23. We love Twitter

24. We love to talk

25. We love trendy pop songs

26. We love to text silly things to each other everyday

27. We love musicals

28. We love to think (maybe over think sometimes)

29. We love to sit really close to each other on the couch

30. We LOVE GNOMES

I love you Ange! You can move back to Orange County now.

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Thoughts

I have always thought of the 5 freeway as more American because Disneyland is off of it. I don't even know what it means for a freeway to be American.

I drive so much differently when I am in the car alone. Especially on the freeway. I am way more aggressive. I am 100% sure it is because I am not talking...to anyone. I feel the need to put "to anyone" at the end of that sentence because there is a good chance I am talking to myself.

On that note...there is no way I could ever be on a reality tv show. I talk to myself so much when I am alone I am sure I would spook the camera man.

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Where do you fall on the TLS?

On the Twilight Lovers Scale I am a 6.

Twilight Lovers Scale (TLS)

1: Has Google searched the term "Taylor Lautner's Abs"

2: Watched the first movie.

3: Read all the books.

4: Has joined Team Edward or Team Jacob

5: Waited in line for the midnight showing of the first movie.

6: Read all the books a couple of times.

7:Waited in line for the midnight showing of the second movie.

8: Has a Twilight blog.

9: Bought tickets to and attended the Twilight Conference.

10: Drinks blood.

I have been a Twilight fan for a couple of years now, but as of last Sunday the Witt household now has two Twilight fans.

That is right...Jonathan has joined the Twilight Fan Club.

We watched Twilight last Friday which peaked his interest, and since New Moon is showing at the dollar theater (our new favorite date spot - how can you beat $2 movies?) we headed there on Sunday evening. And he was hooked. He wanted me to answer all his vampire/werewolf questions with out giving away too much information - which was difficult based on some of his questions.

On the TLS Jonathan is currently a 2.5
Based on this new found interest it only seemed appropriate for me to do a short interview with him.
Me: What part of the movie 'Twilight' turned you into a Twilight fan?
JW: Edward's diamond skin, and whenever Edward goes right by Bella and the van comes and he's like - boooooooom!!!!

Me: What is your favorite part of 'New Moon'?
JW: When Bella is running towards Jacob and Jacob is running towards Bella and Bella yells "Jacob! Run!" and Bella doesn't know and Jacob jumps over her and then phases on the fly.

Me: What question are you hoping will be answered in 'Eclipse'?
JW: Whether Bella turns into a zombie vampire.

Me: Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?
JW: Edward. I have passion for Jacob, but I feel likes it makes more sense for Bella to be with Edward. Like she really digs him, you know what I mean?

You heard it here first. Jonathan Witt is Team Edward

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Kenya On My Mind

We have a team of 20+ students in Kenya this week. They went there to put a three day camp on for street kids in Kitale, Kenya.

Everyday has I have been reading about their adventures on their blog and praying for them I have been so jealous that I was missing that experience.

They start their journey home tomorrow. Be sure to be praying for them to arrive safely!

Eat More Chicken

We are a Trader Joe's family to the core, and we do almost all our shopping (we still need to walk the aisled of Target for Diet Coke and few other name brand items) We definitely could not make it through a whole week with out atleast one bag of Trader Joe's Teriyaki Chicken. You need to trust me I would never steer you  wrong when it comes to food.

(Please excuse this crappy photo taken by my phone)

For Your Consideration

I never thought I would be the girl who looked forward to the Oscars, but alas I have become that girl. Due to my husband I am much more interested in movies that seem to make their way on to the ballot each year. But part of my excitement is our traditional Oscar Party that we attend every year. Everyone brings dishes inspired by nominated actors or films. Puns are appreciated and encouraged.

We contributed three dishes this year.

Based on the movie Crazy Heart...

Based on Avatar...
Everyone's mouth was bright blue.

And lastly, based on Inglorious Bastards...

Overall we considered our contributions a delicious success.

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

I heart Straws

If you come to my house on a Thursday you will see an array of glasses and cups on the ottoman and in the sink with different colored straws in them. A collection of my beverage choices from all week long, that have yet to be picked up due to the business of the week. Water, Diet Coke, Iced Tea - I am not picky...but I do believe that every beverage tastes a little better with a straw (and out of red plastci Coca-Cola cup...but that is a different post). All those pink, green, and blue straws add character to our cute little home.

There are many things I love about drinking out of straws, but I was just reminded of a major reason while eating lunch today. Out of laziness I skipped the search for a straw at work today - although I have them in my desk and there are often some in the lunch room. As I finished up lunch and was taking my last sip of DC, something near disasterous happened, the ice lurched forward and threatened to spill the remains of my delicious beverage on my nice white shirt and cute grey dress. Save from a few drops of DC in my hair I was able to save my outfit for the rest of the day, but the truth is the whole situation could have been avoided with a straw in my cup.

In fact...I am going to go find a straw right now.

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

I heart Fro Yo

If you ever need to have a hard conversation with me, admit that your wrong, tell me of something bad that you have done, or are running late then you should bring me frozen yogurt. I guarantee that the meeting will go better once I am hopped up on the sugar of chocolate frozen yogurt with some chocolate bar topping and hot fudge as the topper. Since the frozen yogurt is low cal there is no need to cheapen the toppings (none of that tart and fruit stuff).

It is basically that simple.

I heart the Olympics

In 2008 for the Summer Olympics we threw a party to celebrate the opening ceremony. The watching of the opening ceremony for this Winter Olympics was a little more low key (the Edwards and us in our comfies eating delicious food that Katie created for us) - but that does not mean that we love the Olympics any less.

I am not sure Jonathan has moved off of the couch in the last three days - well maybe during women's hockey - and the only reason I have chosen to not watch every Olympic event on our DVR is because I had to go to work.

But the real question is why do you love the Olympics? What is your favorite event/moment?

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

A Change of Heart

I used to HATE Valentine's Day.
I described it with every cliche in the book. It's a Hallmark holiday. Why do you need a day to tell someone you love them? etc. etc.

But something changed.
I fell in love.
I didn't just fall. I tripped down the stairs and tumbled into it. And then after that happened, the next time Valentine's Day came around was just...different.

And ever since then I haven't hated Valentine's Day as much. In fact I really love it.
So as I am spreading my Valentine's cheer around I wanted to be sure to pass it on to you, faithful reader. Happy Valentine's Day. You are loved.

Cheeseburger Cake Fail

I had this dream of creating the perfect Cheeseburger Cake for Jonathan's birthday, and set a goal for myself to make one.

I decided to make cheese and tomatoes out of melting chocolate and lettuce out of green marshmallow fluff. I was off to a good start.








Then I came home from work and had about an hour and a half to bake two cakes, frost them and put everything together. I wish I had a picture of the patty (chocolate cake) with the chocolate cheese on it. It actually looked like a hamburger patty.

Then I started to put everything else together and frost the bun (funfetti cake) when it was still warm and all disaster struck. To make a long story short - I failed!



And I was sad...

I Heart Rain

Rain might be returning to us this weekend...and my heart is filled with joy!

During the last storm I took this picture while waiting in line at the Drive-thru Starbucks. There was something about that moment looking at the tip jar filled with water, where even inside my car rain was hitting my face...

Happy Birthday Jonathan!

Today is my very favorite person's birthday. My best friend and the person who makes me laugh the hardest in this world. I can only hope he feels half as happy today as he makes me feel everyday.

Happy Birthday Jonathan Lance Witt!

My Favorite App

I love QuadCamera on my iPhone. You can't help but laugh when using it!

Home.

The move was a success (a big thank you to all our friends who walked up and down two flights of stairs). We are quickly getting settled in our new little home, and there are only a few more items I need to find a home for.

I have been waiting to post this because I wanted to post "after" pictures with it, but true to fashion life did not stop when we moved in so I am not quite ready. I had a day or two to get some stuff out of boxes, but then it was off to work and away for the weekend. I will be out of town for the next three days, so hopefully next week I can deliver some after pictures to match these before pictures!

26 Days

The Final Season of LOST starts in 26 days.
Here are the last five seasons in 8 minutres and 15 second for those of you who aren't caught up.

Packing, packing, packing

Two.
That is how many rooms I have completed. I have packed boxes, thrown out, and donated the heck out of two rooms.

But...even though I still have five rooms left (including the kitchen - yikes!) I am still metaphorically whistling while I work. I am loving knowing exactly what we have, and being thankful that if we got stuck in our house for two months straight we may run out of food, but we would definetly not run out of things to entertain us.

You Can Call Them Goals

As we enter the new year with the hopes of "Less stuff and more experiences" there are ten specific experiences I hope to have in 2010:

Learn something new about myself.

Read the unread books in our bookcase, watch all the movies in our DVD collection that have never been opened, and limit my TV watching to what I really want to watch.

A day of laying in the grass at the park and reading with my husband.

A whole week with nothing on my personal to do list.

Cooking dinner for enjoyment rather than out of duty.

Spend over half of my days off at the beach, the library, anywhere but running errands.

Travel together somewhere neither Jonathan or I have ever been.

Travel together to a couple of places we have both been before.

Spend more time with friends laughing, learning, and sharing.

Spend more time with family making sure they know how much we love them.

A New Motto

I have decided I am not making resolutions this year, but instead I am making change. In our home we have adopted a new motto for 2010: Less stuff, more experiences.

In just a week we will have a new residence. A much smaller more compact, but highly welcomed residence. As stressful as moving around the holidays is, I have been able to be so thankful for how freeing it is at the same time. What better time to have a new start than the new year? So many have asked if I am dreading moving. And the answer is...yes I am dreading just that - moving. I, however, am looking forward to packing. I actually enjoy looking over all of our stuff, and being thankful as well as getting rid of excess. I am also looking forward to unpacking. I welcome the challenge of finding places, and getting creative when putting everything in its new home.

What I am looking forward to most is less space. I know it sounds like the opposite of what people are yearning for - especially in California. I am looking forward to less space to clean, less space to feel like I need to decorate (and therefore fill with more "stuff"), less space to pay for!

And because we will have less space we will be able to do more! See more people, go more places, have more experiences!