VALENTINE'S PRESENT TO MYSELF

Is it Valentine's Day yet??

Because I cannot WAIT for this movie:

I might just even do the unheard-of (for me) and go to the theater to watch it :) My little Valentine's present to myself.

NOT JUST FOR TEENAGERS

Boys: you may want to skip this post...

And I'm typing one-handed, Mica's asleep on the other, so bear with me.

Ladies, I've decided it's time to let you in on my little secret. My little shopping secret. I think it's safe now, especially since most of you that read this don't even live in the same state as me, so you won't be able to steal my deals :)

The secret is this little place called Platos Closet. If you've heard of it, I know what you're thinking, the same thing I was thinking, that's for teenagers. But wrong-o.

The place is the bomb. I had never been to one until a co-worker took me to one down the street from our office (very dangerous; that's another story), and it changed my life. Maybe that's a little overboard, but it seriously is awesome. Think Salvation Army exploding with the mall. Name brand stuff and designer jeans for a third of the price. And you can sell your old stuff to make room (and money :) ) for the new. Win-win situation if you ask me. Check it out; and then thank me when you fall in love.

...that just took a ridiculous amount of time to type; thanks Mica, hope you're comfy.

WICKED

I'm late to jump on the bandwaggon for everything, I know, I know. And music junkie that I am, you'd think I would've seen this 5 times by now, but no.

Friday night I finally saw Wicked! The travelling Broadway crew (I guess is what you call it) came to Philly and it was nothing short of astounding; everything I anticipated and more. I was blown away and so engrossed in the 3-hour show, it flew by in no time and was over before I knew it. I was hardly ready for it to end.

The memories the show brought back of my last semester of Longhorn Singers were sweet, yet sad. It wasn't until the song, "For Good," that I felt the tears trickle down my face. Longhorn Singers, both the people and the performances, are responsible for some of my most memorable moments from college and I miss it. I miss them. A lot. Thank God for the memories that I will hold onto for my lifetime because they're some great ones.

"I've heard it said / that people come into our lives for a reason / bringing something we must learn / And we are led / To those who help us most to grow / If we let them / And we help them in return / Well, I don't know if I believe that's true / But I know I'm who I am today / Because I knew you... / Like a comet pulled from orbit / As it passes a sun / Like a stream that meets a boulder / Halfway through the wood / Who can say if I've been changed for the better? / But because I knew you / I have been changed for good." - 'For Good,' Wicked  

RESOLUTION SHMESOLUTION

So, remember my News Years Resolution post? About trying to pick up a book, puzzle, or crossword when I get home from work rather than the computer or TV?


Yeah. Well, since then has come along this little TV show many of you may be familiar with:

I remember James especially trying to get me hooked on the series well over a year ago now, and finally on Sunday my friend Todd officially talked me into it. I held out for as long as I could, but now I've caved. So monday night I started from the beginning. Season 1, Episode 1.


...and then Episode 2.


Oops. Sorry New Year's Resolution, it's just so good and free (on abc.com). You understand, right? Don't worry, LOST won't get out of hand like my Felicity marathons, it's just on the back burner for those really lazy nights.


At least I can do a puzzle or crossword while I watch; does that count? :)

HELP SHANNON HELP HAITI

Meet Shannon. My sweet friend, fellow Longhorn and blogger from Austin.

She's wonderful and this week, for every comment left on her blog, she will be donating to Haiti Relief. So I ask and encourage you to go to her blog and comment, about anything, just comment. And spread the word.

Help her help Haiti. 

Thank you, Shannon, for you servant heart. 

FIFTY-TWO DEGREES

Saturday morning I woke up to sunshine and warmth. The heat hadn't kicked on, which could only mean one thing: it was warm enough outside to not need it.


Could it be?


I brewed my morning coffee and rushed to the door hoping I wouldn't be fooled and get hit with a rush of below-freezing chill while still in my less-than-substantial-for-the-winter boxers and t-shirt.


But thankfully, it wasn't the normal sting-your-face-cold that hit me, it was a glorious and warm breeze. If I hadn't known better I would've thought it was April, but just two days ago I didn't want to leave my house because I couldn't put enough layers on to stay warm outside. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but still, whatever this heat wave was I liked it.


I opened all the windows as fast as I could to let the stale winter air blow out of the house and then laid on my bed to take in all the freshness. It wasn't until I started to get dressed and contemplated putting shorts on that I decided to check the actual temperature...


Weather.com said 52 degrees.


52 DEGREES?? How did 52 degrees all of the sudden feel so comfortable?? I remember the Texas days where I'd be pulling out my heaviest jacket and bundling up when it got down to the 50's, and here I was contemplating wearing shorts...


Funny how things change.

PRAYIN' FOR HAITI

It's pretty late in the afternoon so I'm assuming most of you have heard about the earthquake that hit Haiti. I feel blessed to say that Haiti has become rather close to my heart in the past year and a half through mission work and friends and blessed that I can be just one of the thousands out there praying for them.


It has been so humbling to watch the United States and organization after organization get involved in disaster relief; to hear of ordinary people putting their daily lives aside to help in any way they can. This is what God's grace is all about. We are blessed so that we may bless others. I pray that the Lord uses this tragedy to unite Haiti and that God's grace is magnified in the lives of its' [Haiti] people.


Thank you for praying, thank you for serving.


Looking for somewhere to get involved?
1.) Text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti
2.) Makarios
3.) Austin Stone Community Church
4.) Kids Alive
5.) World Vision
6.) Real Hope for Haiti

BUBBA WITHDRAWAL

Look at that face.

Through the holiday travel and then me dog-sitting for a couple weeks, it was easiest for Mica and my parent's cat to keep each other company at their house for a while. 

Now that 'while' has been almost a month and I miss her. I'm sure she's enjoyed her RitzCarlton-esque vacation in the neighborhoods of the rich and famous (probably what she thinks of my parents' house vs. my house), but girl needs to come home!

I need her back in my life. After all, WiiFit's been quite boring without my partner...   

VEGAN WITH A SIDE OF FISH

Vegan vacation, you've been good to me, but now it's back to the grind.


Don't get me wrong, it was wonderful to indulge in Christmas cookies and non-vegan holiday meals, but I've since been noticing that I don't crave or appreciate dairy products like I used to. I realize I'm perfectly content eating vegan.


So after 3 long weeks away from it, I'm going back...with one minor addition...


FISH


The one food I don't have a strong opinion against eating or not eating. And I love it. And it's good for me. So I will be adding it to my vegan diet. The end.

WHAM JAM

Since leaving Austin my attendance of live-music shows has seriously dwindled. Like, down to an embarrassing low. Granted, Austin is the live-music capital of the world and a large percentage of my friends there are in bands; it was definitely much easier and more fun to attend shows there.


But, I miss them; standing outside at a little hole-in-the-wall bar on the eastside of Austin, the heat, skinny jeans, hippies, lonestar, sweet tunes...that's the life.


Well, most of my friends here are not in bands. So, when a couple co-workers and I heard that our friend, Scott (or rather my co-worker's friend that I've adopted as mine), was playing tonight at World Cafe Live, a huge venue in Philly, obviously we jumped at the idea. Not exactly the Austin-y setting I'm used to, but an amazing venue none the less.And of course, the talent of the musicians always seems to leave me in awe.

Scott Wham opening for Brian Aglira - World Cafe Live - 1.10.10 

Sweet coworkers; Janet, Germie and yours truly :)

Mr. Wham himself

Brian; amazing guitarist and totally threw me off with his piano skills (and big muscles)

Jamming together at the end; great pair, awesome show!

A LETTER TO THE NEW YEAR

Dear 2010,


How did you get here so fast? I think you kicked 2009 out in record time, I feel like I barely got to settle in to the past year and enjoy it; now it's gone. Please don't let 2011 do that to you, I can't handle another year flying by before I blink an eye.


Now that we're on the same page, though, welcome. I'm glad you're here. It makes me laugh hearing everyone try to decide what to call the past decade. The OhOh's? The Zeros? The Millenium? The 2000's? (which makes the most sense if you ask me, I mean, we don't call the 1900's the zeros, we call them the 1900's, then the 10's, 20's; so relax people) Anyways, it's all pretty comical, aren't you glad you're not a part of that?


Although I'm secretly a bit afraid of you and what you plan on bringing to the table, I trust that you have great things hidden in your pocket. As for me, well, I plan to make a couple changes now that you're here, too. I hesitate to call them resolutions, but for lack of a better word, here they are:

1. Become less electronic-dependent. Not sure how this will look, but it involves more books, puzzles, crosswords, journaling, crafts, music, sudoku, playing outside as soon as it's not 10 degrees (ya know, all those things we USED to do before technology went crazy) and less computer and TV, except for blogging...

2. With that said, Blog like I did a year ago...more often.

3. Make more Jesus time.

4. Run a race; length to be determined (at least 10k)

5. Travel more. Not sure where or how, but with no ties, now's the time.

That's all I've got. I think that's a safe list that I can realistically accomplish while you're here. So here's to you 2010, we've got a year together, let's make the most of it. I'm excited to see what you've got coming.

Love, Kara