I know this is a week late, but I was just thinking about how this time last year I was so blessed to be in one of my best friend's weddings..Here's the awesome video of Haley and Jason's awesome block party wedding. Love you harmons happy one year!!
Jason & Haley from Michael Schwartz on Vimeo.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
the belly button song
AHH THANK YOU ANDREA SWATSKI for sharing this with me!
If you have known me for longer than 5 months you have probably heard me sing "the" belly button song....
"me take care of me belly button" I will sing it for you if you ask, its my favorite song ever. But for now I need you all to watch the veggie tales version of a different belly button song.
If you have known me for longer than 5 months you have probably heard me sing "the" belly button song....
"me take care of me belly button" I will sing it for you if you ask, its my favorite song ever. But for now I need you all to watch the veggie tales version of a different belly button song.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The bright side to working in a cave
When you are grumpy, there is always the option to look on the bright side. When you are annoyed, you can always look on the bright side. When you are frustrated by your current employment, you can always look on the bright side. The problem remains...finding the brightside.
Today I found the brightside to working in a window-less office. Let me preface this by stating I love being outside, whether its raining or sunny, hot or snowing I prefer being outside (give or take some days when all I want to do is cuddle up and watch a movie - but who doesn't have those days??). So when I walked in to my office for the first time, the first thing I noticed was the extreme lack of windows. Not only was I inside, I was highly aware of how "inside" in I was. There are days when I come in and do not see the sun until 4:30 when I leave. When I work from 1:30-10pm it's worse because when I come to work its bright and sunny and when I leave its dark! I don't know if it raining, sunny, cloudy or snowing. I know nothing of the outside world other than what weather.com tells me, and we all know how accurate weather.com is. And Lord knows I'll never listen to accuweather again (storm of the century cancels vermont ski trip 2010 when there was absolutely no storm at all).
Today I found my brightside.
I emailed my friend Michele this morning and said "good morning, is it a good morning so far?" and her response was "Eh, morning could be better if it were a bit 'cheerier' looking outside :/ How am I supposed to work when it's the perfect weather to have stayed in bed all day??!" I read this e-mail and checked my work e-mail and received this from the librarian, bold letters and all:
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR NEW JERSEY AND EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
This is when it hit me. The weather has no effect on my productivity at work! I have NO idea whats going on outside! So when its beautiful and sunny, I don't want to go outside. When it's gloomy and raining with the chance of a tornado, I don't want to get into bed. I am quite content, sitting here in my office working with students.
I found the brightside to my windowless room full of pictures of my friends and families and picasso and gustav klimt paintings. And also when the end of the world comes, I won't have time to panic.
Today I found the brightside to working in a window-less office. Let me preface this by stating I love being outside, whether its raining or sunny, hot or snowing I prefer being outside (give or take some days when all I want to do is cuddle up and watch a movie - but who doesn't have those days??). So when I walked in to my office for the first time, the first thing I noticed was the extreme lack of windows. Not only was I inside, I was highly aware of how "inside" in I was. There are days when I come in and do not see the sun until 4:30 when I leave. When I work from 1:30-10pm it's worse because when I come to work its bright and sunny and when I leave its dark! I don't know if it raining, sunny, cloudy or snowing. I know nothing of the outside world other than what weather.com tells me, and we all know how accurate weather.com is. And Lord knows I'll never listen to accuweather again (storm of the century cancels vermont ski trip 2010 when there was absolutely no storm at all).
Today I found my brightside.
I emailed my friend Michele this morning and said "good morning, is it a good morning so far?" and her response was "Eh, morning could be better if it were a bit 'cheerier' looking outside :/ How am I supposed to work when it's the perfect weather to have stayed in bed all day??!" I read this e-mail and checked my work e-mail and received this from the librarian, bold letters and all:
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING
FOR NEW JERSEY AND EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
This is when it hit me. The weather has no effect on my productivity at work! I have NO idea whats going on outside! So when its beautiful and sunny, I don't want to go outside. When it's gloomy and raining with the chance of a tornado, I don't want to get into bed. I am quite content, sitting here in my office working with students.
I found the brightside to my windowless room full of pictures of my friends and families and picasso and gustav klimt paintings. And also when the end of the world comes, I won't have time to panic.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Can Will Smith adopt me?
One of my favorite actors of all time is Will Smith. He and his wife, Jada, have managed to create the coolest kids on earth. If I could choose, I'd want him to be my dad so that I could be as cool as these kids...
http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/crush/jaden-and-willow-smiths-red-carpet-style/397
his son can karate kick my butt and his NINE year old daughter just came out with her first hit single! what?!
http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/crush/jaden-and-willow-smiths-red-carpet-style/397
his son can karate kick my butt and his NINE year old daughter just came out with her first hit single! what?!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Tara and Joseph are ENGAGED!
I was so happy and excited and thrilled to be part of these two getting engaged. Joseph did an amazing job including the community that has helped keep them accountable and seeking God before themselves these past couple years. He did an amazing job rapping as well. And a big thanks to Honey's for letting us invade for 10 minutes!! Such a great, memorable evening.
I want this video to be the next youtube phenomenon. Let's get these two on Oprah.
I want this video to be the next youtube phenomenon. Let's get these two on Oprah.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Psalm 32
Read this before work. Re read it while at work. Praying it to get through my crazy day.
1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Boys who can shave
Esther sent me this article to read this morning.
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/mark_driscoll/2010/08/the_world_is_filled_with_boys_who_can_shave.html
It is in a response to an article I actually read last week here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html?_r=1
Brut honesty. I like it. And the guys can't even get mad saying the author just hates men, he is a man. He is a Godly man. Thoughts??
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/mark_driscoll/2010/08/the_world_is_filled_with_boys_who_can_shave.html
It is in a response to an article I actually read last week here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html?_r=1
Brut honesty. I like it. And the guys can't even get mad saying the author just hates men, he is a man. He is a Godly man. Thoughts??
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wednesday night.
Tonight was interesting.
The "plan" was to go to the last "nights in the park" for Liberti
And then Sarah T,
and I were going to go to my new house and put up blackout curtains so that I could sleep past 6am. I told Sarah this would probably only take up 20 minutes of her time. This was at around 8:30p. However, we had no idea what we were in for. I think both of our personalities are impulsive do-er type personalities. We just do. But what we do not do is....we do not take time to measure or get ladders or get packs of 12 nails (I bought the 10 pack, we needed 12 nails). Instead, we go headstrong into what we think will be a victorious task. When we succeed at things, we succeed BIG and when we jump in and things don't work out...we fail, badly. Tonight was one of those nights. two hours and two bowls of ice cream later we ended up with a curtain too short, and two curtains that (I kid you not) are TACKED up to the corners. Tacked with thumb tacks tacked...this task took up approximately 2 minutes, could have saved us so much time.
After this, we decided it was probably a good time to actually start talking and praying like we had planned....I asked if it was okay if I started working on the new earring/necklace rack I got on etsy! I was so excited. Little did she know that she would be sucked into helping me with that as well...we did not think this through either. We put on all the earrings as we sat and talked and Sarah looked at me and said, you know, we needed to put this up on the wall before we put the earrings on. This may not seem like a big deal to you, but you must know how many earrings I have....please see below...
Needless to say Sarah did not leave until after midnight. Thanks Sarah :)
As we talked and prayed in between losing our minds and banging our heads against the walls. We discussed our bible study from last night about Eternity and Heaven. This topic has been frequenting my mind because of recently finishing "the shack" This book totally rocked my world and put a new perspective on my thoughts and challenged my old thoughts and gave me new thoughts to mull over and really think about. There was one part at the end that the Holy Spirit tells the main character, Mack.
"...if anything matters then everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again."
I am not normally into cheesy, corny, cliche? Maybe it was because this was at the end after I had spent an emotional night finishing the book and investing in the characters (the characters being God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit). It made me want to ask God questions! But more than that it made me appreciate understanding how the Trinity works in my life and how important it is in everything that I do, everything I do matters because the Kingdom is now and not yet.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
So you think you can dance?
When you spend more than half your life dancing....you just can't shake it out of your system. In fact, more often than not, I am dancing. So I am spending my sick day in bed watching so you think you can dance in between naps.
The two posts below are my two FAVORITE. Beautiful breathtaking contemporary duets. If I could perform again, I would do these two dances.
The two posts below are my two FAVORITE. Beautiful breathtaking contemporary duets. If I could perform again, I would do these two dances.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Milas day dreams
The most creative idea ever.......
http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com/
Here are some of my favorites....
http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com/
Here are some of my favorites....
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Saw this on the news this morning...
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7603566
Makes my heart hurt for those men who thought they were getting their lives together.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7603566
Makes my heart hurt for those men who thought they were getting their lives together.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
they say...
They say old habits die hard...and in my ripe old age of 24, I am beginning to think whoever said that was on to something. As sinful, stupid humans we will never be perfect, we will never always make the right choice 100% of the time, and we will always be learning and growing from our mistakes, hopefully leaning towards maturity and growth (this comes easier to some than for others). But is is easy to read the words "humans are sinful and not perfect" and think, I deserve grace from others, no one is perfect. But today I realized how much I expect grace from others for my shortcomings but will be quick to notice a flaw in you. During lunch today, a friend and I talked about how the things that bother you most about other people are most likely what you hate about yourself. So I began to rack my brain to think about who annoys me and why. This is not a fun exercise. And while I think it is good and necessary to evaluate the speck in others/plank in your own eye philosophy, be prepared for being disappointed in yourself. I know I was.
Thank God for grace, literally.
Thank God for grace, literally.
Monday, July 5, 2010
blessings
I haven't written on this for a while...mostly because I have been busy graduating and getting a j-o-b.
But I was inspired by Haley's blog because it is just so beautiful. Full of life, pictures, and accounts of blessings in her life. I realized that I need to count my blessings way more than I do because I get caught up in the little things and sometimes it really weighs me down. I forget how blessed I am and how much JOY I have and should be passing around!! I am so thankful for my amazing friends, who when they see the obvious look of distress or torment on my face, they ask me whats wrong. Not just an obligatory "whats wrong" but a compassionate "i care about you and your life and the things that twist your heart and make your stomach turn, its those things that I care about because they are you and I care about you". I have those kind of friends. I have that kind of community. i have the kind of community that says hey I want you to live better, not because i'm judging you or i want our community too look better and more inviting, but because they care about me and know i can live a life that doesn't cause myself so much pain and anguish tomorrow when I'm not thinking about my actions today. I have that kind of community.
You may be jealous or covet my friends and my community, but don't be. Just come hang out with me and I promise you will leave feeling the same way. Showered with love and compassionate mercy and grace.
I re-read a prayer tonight by ted loder...one of the sections really pierced me...
"expose my shame where it shivers
crouched behind the curtains of propriety
until i can laugh at last
through my common frailties and failures
laugh my way toward becoming whole"
I'll type up the whole prayer eventually...its really beautiful. but for now sit on that. think about it and count your blessings.
But I was inspired by Haley's blog because it is just so beautiful. Full of life, pictures, and accounts of blessings in her life. I realized that I need to count my blessings way more than I do because I get caught up in the little things and sometimes it really weighs me down. I forget how blessed I am and how much JOY I have and should be passing around!! I am so thankful for my amazing friends, who when they see the obvious look of distress or torment on my face, they ask me whats wrong. Not just an obligatory "whats wrong" but a compassionate "i care about you and your life and the things that twist your heart and make your stomach turn, its those things that I care about because they are you and I care about you". I have those kind of friends. I have that kind of community. i have the kind of community that says hey I want you to live better, not because i'm judging you or i want our community too look better and more inviting, but because they care about me and know i can live a life that doesn't cause myself so much pain and anguish tomorrow when I'm not thinking about my actions today. I have that kind of community.
You may be jealous or covet my friends and my community, but don't be. Just come hang out with me and I promise you will leave feeling the same way. Showered with love and compassionate mercy and grace.
I re-read a prayer tonight by ted loder...one of the sections really pierced me...
"expose my shame where it shivers
crouched behind the curtains of propriety
until i can laugh at last
through my common frailties and failures
laugh my way toward becoming whole"
I'll type up the whole prayer eventually...its really beautiful. but for now sit on that. think about it and count your blessings.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Cold Tangerines
Reading a book called Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist. It's about celebrating your life and appreciating today and learning from your mistakes.
I love everything about it so far, including the fact that the name on the outside of her book is printed in all lower case letters...this may seem insignificant to some, but makes me feel connected to her because i really like lower case letters.
I am so inspired to write a book of my own after reading hers. However, she is full of wit and great stories with "learning" always coming at the end. One day I'll write.............
I love everything about it so far, including the fact that the name on the outside of her book is printed in all lower case letters...this may seem insignificant to some, but makes me feel connected to her because i really like lower case letters.
I am so inspired to write a book of my own after reading hers. However, she is full of wit and great stories with "learning" always coming at the end. One day I'll write.............
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Just got on weather dot com to check the ol weather for memorial day and saw this...
Air Quality Alert for Philadelphia, PA
Issued by The National Weather Service
Philadelphia,
PA
3:13 pm EDT, Sun., May. 30, 2010
... AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 10 PM EDT MONDAY...
THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION HAS DECLARED AN AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY FOR THE REGION... IN
EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 10 PM EDT MONDAY.
AN AIR
QUALITY ACTION DAY MEANS THAT AIR QUALITY WITHIN THE REGION MAY
APPROACH OR EXCEED UNHEALTHY STANDARDS.
i'm sorry...should i be concerned for my life while breathing tomorrow?
Friday, May 28, 2010
They're so famous
Here I am with ol Joshy before he was famous.
and one day this famous one will admit she loves me.
But until then I guess I'll just be stuck in the middle of their love...
Monday, May 24, 2010
I don't wanna grow up
This past weekend I got away.
I went camping with some FABULOUS ladies to my favorite state park (Cape henlopen). I told all the girls way too much and talked basically the whole time about my previous memories and experiences and they put up with me and my rambling the whole weekend. There is just something about revisiting your past, especially your childhood, that makes you happy. When I was leaving class tonight, I parked my car by an extremely large amount of honey suckles...this was a scent and a view that I associate, yet again, with my childhood.
I had a great childhood and things were so much simpler then. I could be loud and obnoxious and people thought it was cute (and just a phase I would grow out of..ha ha). I never had to worry about food, because my Mom took care of it for me. I didn't have to pay bills or read the news to figure out how things would effect me.
But as I grow up I am learning to appreciate things like being independent and taking weekends away with my girlfriends. I get to eat the food I want and make decisions about where I want to live and what time I want to go to sleep. I loved my childhood, but I'm learning to appreciate my adulthood too.
Here are some highlights from the weekend of wonderful. Love, Emily, Izzy, Natalie, Diana, Tessa, and Maggie
I went camping with some FABULOUS ladies to my favorite state park (Cape henlopen). I told all the girls way too much and talked basically the whole time about my previous memories and experiences and they put up with me and my rambling the whole weekend. There is just something about revisiting your past, especially your childhood, that makes you happy. When I was leaving class tonight, I parked my car by an extremely large amount of honey suckles...this was a scent and a view that I associate, yet again, with my childhood.
I had a great childhood and things were so much simpler then. I could be loud and obnoxious and people thought it was cute (and just a phase I would grow out of..ha ha). I never had to worry about food, because my Mom took care of it for me. I didn't have to pay bills or read the news to figure out how things would effect me.
But as I grow up I am learning to appreciate things like being independent and taking weekends away with my girlfriends. I get to eat the food I want and make decisions about where I want to live and what time I want to go to sleep. I loved my childhood, but I'm learning to appreciate my adulthood too.
Here are some highlights from the weekend of wonderful. Love, Emily, Izzy, Natalie, Diana, Tessa, and Maggie
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sometimes tragic life events happen to your friends that help put your own life into perspective.
I had a really bittersweet weekend with some pretty quality friends that made me realize just that. I am taking the night to count my blessings and think through the stressors in my life and letting go of the ones that really just don't matter.
I'm listening to Ryan Adams on repeat.
I am finding solace in being alone and the silence between the songs.
I am trusting and taking comfort that I am not in control. There is a gravity to this that I do not think that we, as "young people", think about. We are not immortal. We are not invincible.
I had a really bittersweet weekend with some pretty quality friends that made me realize just that. I am taking the night to count my blessings and think through the stressors in my life and letting go of the ones that really just don't matter.
I'm listening to Ryan Adams on repeat.
I am finding solace in being alone and the silence between the songs.
I am trusting and taking comfort that I am not in control. There is a gravity to this that I do not think that we, as "young people", think about. We are not immortal. We are not invincible.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
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