resort dreams

In a few days I'll be in sunny Florida. Thinking about warmer weather has got me thinking about sand between my toes and sun on my face. I love snow and sweaters and curling up under blankets, but it's a little ridiculous to need a break from the cold in OCTOBER!



ps. sorry for the weird formatting... polyvore + my blog don't get along well.

resort dreams by laurarennie featuring strap sandals

the day I quit my job

It's true. On Monday the 14th I'll wake up and not have to go to work. Why you ask?

Because I'll need the last few weeks in November to pack OUR ENTIRE HOUSE! We don't know exactly where we're moving to yet, but we do know that it will be in the Warrenton or Culpeper area. 

Back in August I explained why Andy and I chose to live apart for a bit and how this move might end up happening. My bosses weren't too surprised (but obviously not too pleased either). They had also known that this was always a possibility. It's frustrating, because we thought we'd only be living apart for one month and that become two and then three... and the wait was all because we wanted to stay in Harrisonburg. (but you might remember that the wait wasn't ALL bad...)

I was so thrilled when I got the job back in late January. I'm bummed to leave! I'll write more about that on my "last day of work" post.

I've seen one place so far, and it was in Culpeper overlooking the dumpster behind Food Lion. No thanks.

On Tuesday I'll venture up to Warrenton to see a house, and *hopefully* love it and get it and live in it. We shall see...

I can't believe we're leaving Harrisonburg. This news has been overwhelming and disappointing and confusing and stressful and exhausting. 

My sister and I were chatting on the phone yesterday and she said something to me that made me start quietly sobbing as I was driving back from Culpeper. 

She said, "I'm glad that you are so sad to be leaving Harrisonburg. That shows that you invested in relationships there and that you got involved and that you made great friends."

Isn't that beautiful? She captured it perfectly - the reason why it's painful is the same reason it's joyful.

God gives, and He takes away. And then He gives again. I know what it is to be content with my portion, and I know that this move is not a surprise to God. I was going to simply type this verse out, but how beautiful is this stamped piece of art? 

snippets from around the web

'cuz everyone needs a little clip art in their life

even fashionistas have bad days
I’d never classify myself as the patient type, but lately I’ve found myself even more irritable than usual. I’ve been avoiding movie theaters due to the loud breathers/talkers/seat kickers that inevitably sit beside me, I find myself irrationally annoyed when drivers park their cars too close to mine, and recently I ditched an interior design project because it was taking longer than expected.

on what she loves about Christmas
- Moments like this morning when Leta asked, "You know how Santa, like, is always aware of when I'm bad? Well, then why doesn't he just know what I want for Christmas?" And because I hadn't even put on my clothes or had my coffee, I hesitated a little too long. So she answered her own question, "I just have to say it out loud so he can hear it, right?" I'm pretty sure she's safe to raise herself from here.

one guy's thoughts about going in for a kiss
"Mary and I had been friends from the age of 3, and I had always had feelings for her. One night, as college friends, we went to dinner, and I told her, 'I think there's something here,' to which she responded, 'I think you need to think about that.' I said, 'Ok, I've thought about it for almost 20 years, but I can give it another week or two, I guess.' She ended up staying with me that night, so I just went for it! I kissed her while we were about to fall asleep, and she was like a rock! Nothing! No response, no reaction, no reciprocation. So I thought, well, that was a great friendship that I just screwed up. Fast forward, a few weeks later we were on spring break together...yada yada yada...now we're married." -- Austin, 29

on finding amazing deals on overstock
You know how shelter magazines make the homes they feature seem lived in thanks to great prop stylists? Well, while the way they position throws to look perfectly imperfect baffles me (although I am pretty darn good at styling), that little touch—with all of its texture—really makes a huge difference in creating a welcoming feel. Check out the Oxford Decorative Throw Blanket in its array of colors. And after you purchase it, let me know how many hours it took to make it look perfectly imperfect. NOTE: Speaking from experience, this is bound to drive you crazy.

good luck trying to get into one of these restaurants

Exactly 19 lucky souls (chosen at random from the membership rolls of Match.com and the New York City Municipal Credit Union) gather on the corner of Keelhaul Terrace and St. Flocellus Street in the Rottenwood section of Brooklyn exactly 19 minutes after sundown every evening (a security force of pensioned-off Guardian Angels enforces the temporal parameters), mill around aimlessly until the unmistakable rat-a-tat-tat of a driveby gang shooting is heard from two streets over, and then line up in ascending order of height along the curb while Blutwurst and his team race by on their vintage Schwinn Couriers and toss exquisitely crafted morsels (Mangalitsa pork-fat shooters, rattlesnake-and-cannabis hand rolls, rabbit tartare with catfish-liver crostini, and the like) — though never quite enough of them to go around —into the air above their heads. Hilarity ensues.

He will quiet you by his love

God is my favorite author.

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;

shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;

he has cleared away your enemies.

The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;

you shall never again fear evil.

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

“Fear not, O Zion;

let not your hands grow weak.

 The Lord your God is in your midst,

a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,

so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

 Behold, at that time I will deal

with all your oppressors.

And I will save the lame

and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into praise

and renown in all the earth.

 At that time I will bring you in,

at the time when I gather you together;

for I will make you renowned and praised

among all the peoples of the earth,

when I restore your fortunes

before your eyes,” says the Lord.

-Zephaniah 3:14-20

lessons from the weekend

If you want to make your dog frustrated -
     a) put your hand high up in the air at an awkward angle and tell her to high-five it. she'll automatically put her paw up in front of her and high-five the air, but when you say "no, high-five here" and wave your hand a little bit, she'll frown a puppy frown and huff and puff and sink to the floor and bark under her breath. don't stop telling her to high-five you until she at least TRIES to reach your hand. then you can praise her (but she'll still be exasperated).
     b) sing the first ten seconds of this song over and over with your husband. (is it singing or humming? it's a mix, right? it's weird.) your dog will HATE you. but it's funny, i promise. her ears will twitch and she'll sigh heavily and look worried/bored (she's trying SO hard to act nonchalant but goshdarnit she hates that noise). she'll shift positions so she's no longer looking at you, but her ears will still twitch. then you'll raise the pitch and volume of your voices and she'll stand up really fast and shoot you a dirty look and then high-tail it out of the room with her hair sticking up.

When your husband says he wants tuna and popcorn, he means he wants you to make him tuna and popcorn at the same time. Not tuna for dinner and popcorn for dessert like a normal person. Tuna and popcorn on the same plate. He'll look at the fancy tuna sandwich you made him that has lettuce on it (see? fancy) and the sun chips on the side, and he'll say, "so did you not make popcorn?"

If you've been trying for years to get your husband to dress up with you for Halloween and every year he says no and acts like that is the most embarrassing thing you could possibly make him do, DON'T GIVE UP. One year he will surprise you and go with you on a giggle-filled trip to the store and you'll hold hands and discuss outfit options and it will be pretty stinkin' cute.

Orange juice really does help when you have a cold. If you're not much of an OJ drinker, try it anyways. I think I have more OJ than blood in me right now.

making popcorn on the stove is really fun.