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first snow day of the year!

Except for one brief, freak snow day in October, we haven't seen the white stuff all winter! Until today. And there was a lot of it! Surprisingly, I found myself rather joyful to see it, at least for the first few hours. It's so beautiful as it's falling and until the cabs are back on the streets to ruin it. I think I've had my fix for the year now, so if it didn't snow again I would certainly be ok with that...

fiction book club

































Last night was the first night of my new book study: fiction book club! I'm really excited because the impetus for starting this group was when my friend Bethany became an avid fan of Harry Potter this past summer. We were constantly discussing how well-written the books were with such undeniably present and strong gospel undertones. So that's exactly what this book club decided to explore: gospel IN fiction. We meet once a month, each month discussing a new fiction book and the presence of the gospel in that particular story. We started this month with Flannery O'Connor's short story "Revelation". (I actually didn't read it before group last night, oops, but I am so excited to catch up this weekend after hearing the discussion last night.) I wasn't a big fiction reader until a few years ago, and I now I can't get enough. I'm especially excited about hearing some of the older women in my group (like Kathy Keller) give their wisdom and insight on how to read fiction looking for the "good news" that is there!

Next month: Harry Potter!

on my 'to-do' list this weekend

A lot of my keys look very similar, and I've been meaning to get a new key identifier so I can actually tell them apart (the yellow dot I painted on one of them wore off long ago). But why buy something, when I can make my own that is way more beautiful anyway! This looks simple and easy, and...glittery! I can't wait to have my own. Maybe I'll glitter all my keys...

glitter key in progress































Check out the tutorial on this blog. Again, thanks pinterest!

polka dots

My regular, old black converse have definitely seen better days. I've had them almost 4 years now, and they look every bit of 4 years old. But, for some reason, I can't bear to get rid of the perfectly broken in and worn out pair that I still wear so often. But if ever I decide to retire them, I'm keeping these in mind. Aren't they adorable! I love the gray and the cute polka dots to make them so much more girly. Ah, cute. You can get your very own pair at Delia's!


cute, for the kitchen


These aren't the colors I have in my kitchen now, but if they were I would surely have these printed and framed and hung on the wall. They are so clever and witty, and would make me laugh every time I looked at them. I'm holding onto them, though, for a future kitchen somewhere!

You can download a free high quality image of these, too. Just click here. Thanks pinterest!

is it cold out there or what?!

































I guess I should consider myself fortunate. It is January 14th, and I am just now feeling miserable about the weather. I don't know what it is this year, but the cold seems so much colder! I had two drinks from Starbucks yesterday because I was so cold (actually wanted three, but talked myself out of one). Today I bought a small space heater for my room. The puffy coat just isn't working like it used to. Here's to staying warm in this blustery cold!

a saturday in hoboken
































Last Saturday I ventured over to the other side of the Hudson for a few hours because my former coworker Andy was having a baby shower. I got off the bus a few stops early and found my way to this door: 927 Willow Avenue. I know, from the looks of this picture it may only look like a hideously ugly brown door (and, it is.) but this door has so much more meaning than meets the eye.

This is the door to my brother's (and shortly thereafter, sister-in-law's) first apartment in the New York/New Jersey area. Buck moved to Hoboken in December of 2006, and for Christmas that year I got a trip to New York City...finally (!), and to visit Buck's new pad. My mom, Monica and I visited the week between Christmas and New Years, helped Buck move and settle in a little, and did quite our share of galavanting in the city...

5 months later, I moved to New York for a 3 month summer internship. 1 year and 5 months later, I moved back to New York for good. And now, here I am. Still.

So you can imagine what a beautiful sight this door was to me when I found it again on Saturday. It was the start of my journey here in the Big Apple! Thanks, 927.

soup & football

I would have much rather been celebrating in the same way I did last year for the college football National Championship game, but in the absence of that, I still celebrated. I made my go-to winter soup, Cowboy Stew, and (sorta) watched (mostly talked during...) the game with fun people! I always love an occasion to pull out this easy-peasy & delicious soup recipe. And what's better than football and soup, even if it isn't Auburn?

paper polite


If you're looking for adorable stationery, take a look at this: Paper Polite! My friend Addie designs the cards and they are soooo cute. You can find them online at the link above, or if you're local to NYC, they're on the shelves at Paper Presentation (and, that's big time!). Check them out.

I've already got my "thanks a ton" cards and can't wait to stock up for Valentine's Day!