Naples, FL Gettaway....

  DAY 1: We arrived in Naples with enough time to hit the beach before sunset and then grab dinner.  We found a great little Mexican place- Mr. Tequilas- that I'm sure we'll return to.  It was the perfect way to start the trip.

DAY 2: We slept in and meandered down to the beach after lunch.  We thought 30spf would do it, but after about 4 hours both of us had some pretty sunburned spots.  Poor Holly's back got burned pretty badly.

DAY 3: Due to the sunburns, we decided to take the day off from the beach and drove around til we found a ritzy mall down I-41.  Along with the usual shops like Gap, Banana Republic, and Starbucks, this mall also held higher end places like Tiffany & Co, Saks Fifth Ave, and Neiman Marcus.  It was fun just to wander and do what girls do best- Shop!

After exhausting ourselves from shopping, we headed home to shower and throw on some cotton dresses to head down to a local favorite- The Dock.  This restaurant is right on the water and all the windows are open to the sea air.  We picked a perfect night to go.

DAY 4: Back to the beach armed with some spf50 for the previously sunburned skin.  We only spent 3 hours this day, then cleaned up and headed back to watch the sunset. It was spectacular that night!

DAY 5: Last day at the beach so we were determined to relax and stay as long as we wan....or as long as the meter was filled with quarters.

Over all...it was such a fun gettaway with my friend! 

Now onto 12/12 Holly! :)

Vintage Love....

A couple months ago my friend and I were at Walmart and passed by the toy section where we happened upon these awesome new vintage style bicycles.  We took turns riding them up and down the aisles, but that was about it.  The price tag wasn't exactly where we'd like it if we were even considering buying a new bike.

Over the next few weeks I occasionally thought about that bike and how fun it was to ride and also how much I loved the retro look with the white walled tires, mint green frame, and brown leather seat.

Over Memorial Day weekend there were tons of sales and on a whim I decided to look at Walmart online.  Sure enough, my bike was on sale for a pretty decent price! 

I bought it online and came home a few days later to find a large box leaning against my apartment door.  Dad came over later that weekend to help me put it together.  After managing to pull it out of the box, we noticed that the front fender was completely folded in half.  Obviously this caused the metal to crack in several places and when dad straightened it out, the paint was chipping severely.  Needless to say, I was SO bummed!

After calling the Walmart down the street we were told we could A) bring it into the store to ship back and wait for another one to be delivered, B) bring it into the store and return it, or C) bring it into the store and exchange it, if another bike was in stock at that location.  We made several calls to our local Walmarts, but to no end. 

Yesterday I tried 2 more locations- the Lagrange Walmart and the Shelbyville Walmart.  After being on hold at each store for 15 minutes (you know what I mean if you've ever called Walmart), both sales folks came back and said "We do have one of those bikes!"

Needless to say, I choose to head out to Lagrange, swinging by to grab dad on my way.  I told him I needed his brute strength with the unloading and the loading.

So here it is folks- my new bike!  After we got the tires aired up properly, I took it for a spin in the patio homes across from mom and dad's.  I'd forgotten how great it was to feel the wind in your face, to push the brakes on the pedals instead of the handlebars, and to just enjoy riding a bike!  I felt like a kid again and anticipate riding this beauty all around this summer!

Soakin' up some sun with my bestie....

     This will be the 3rd year in a row that my bestie, Holly and I have traveled to Florida for a week's getaway.  With work, deadlines, family, church, etc. we look forward to getting away.  This year especially we've said many times that we'll be ready by the time June 9th rolls around.
     The first year we went I was nervous about keeping my big mouth shut while spending a week with my friend, because I knew something she didn't.  I knew that a month after our trip her awesome guy would be proposing.  I had to make sure I didn't spill the beans, especially when she pointed out a particular ring in the window and made the comment that maybe she'd like that one better than the one she'd told Quinn!  Thankfully, I didn't spoil anything and a month later she was totally surprised.
     Her wedding is this coming Oct. and so this trip will be sort of like our last hurrah as two unmarried friends. 
     I'm so thankful for her friendship and can't wait to spend a week laying out in the sun and sand, playing rounds of skipbo in the villa, and finding local places to eat at night. 
     9 days and counting til we leave...  Hopefully our fair skin will come back with a little color this year- preferably not red!

Apartment Neighbor Woes....

     I have always been a light sleeper, ever since I was little girl.  When I was in high school the click to set my alarm clock off would startle me awake.  Thankfully I'm no longer quite that sensitive, but I am still a very light sleeper.
     Since moving to my apartment I have loved every minute of it, except my neighbor upstairs.  She seems to have the same work hours that I do and so the noise levels have been within the hours that I'm awake.

But every so often she keeps some very odd hours....
     Take last night for example- I heard her stomping around upstairs before bedtime and I've gotten used to this.  It seemed to quiet down as I was turning out the light around 10:30ish and stayed that way.  But then 2:30am hits and I hear what sounds like drawers being slammed, furniture being moved across the floor, stomping, etc.  I have no idea if this is actually what's happening above me.  I can only relay what it sounds like. 
     Finally I'm able to go back to sleep, only to be awoken again at 3:30 to the same sounds.  Then this time it sounds as though a garage door is being opened.  I can only guess what that might be- the washer/dryer or the disposal? 
     Needless to say, I didn't get a good night's sleep last night.  So I am tired and grumpy and blogging about my neighbor upstairs.
     Since I've not had the change to meet her, I can't really say anything.  Also, when I've seen her getting out of her car she never smiles, never says anything, and avoids eye contact.  I get the impression we may never have the opportunity to meet.

     So for now....I'm researching white noise apps on my Iphone and praying that tonight she will actually sleep!


    

Liquid Flair...

I've always loved fun writing pens.  If you're like me, you know when you've happened upon a good one and try extra hard not to lose it.  It's the kind of pen where the ink flows out freely and smoothly and the grip sits just right in your hand. 

I know I'm not alone in my taste in good writing pens.  A few years ago there was a group of 20-somethings that were just getting to know each other.  We were taking a bible study where we met in each other's homes, ate, and had good conversation.  One of the first nights, a few of us had an entire conversation over dinner around...you guessed it...pens!  There were 4 of us at the table and 3 out of the 4 knew exactly what it meant to have a good pen.  We discussed colors of ink, brands, thickness of the plastic, grips, etc. 

Somehow the other gal that was sitting with us made it through the conversation.  When she admitted she'd never really considered what goes into a good pen, the discussion turned to convincing her that it was extremely important.  To this day she still makes fun of the other 3 of us for having a half hour conversation about pens....and probably with good reason. 

But despite the ridiculousness of it all, I still love it when I find a good one.  There's just something about writing a whole page without bumps, or heaven forbid the ink running out! 

I was using one such pen today and noticed the name of it.  I thought it adequately described my pen obsession-  It's called "Liquid Flair" and some days we just need a little of that!

Yes...that's my grocery list. :)

  

Reviving Easter...

    I don't know about you, but holidays have a tendency to become repetitive and mundane as we get lost in the hustle and shuffle of it all.  We're bombarded with things to buy, places to go, and family to visit and many times as Christians we lose the whole reason we are celebrating.
    I am usually right there in the thick of getting caught up in it all, but for some reason this year Easter hasn't gotten sucked into the mess of commercialism for me.  I believe there are several reasons for this.
    A few weeks ago my mom encouraged me to read a book she'd found and loved.  It's called Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo.  It's the story of a 4 year old boy who goes to heaven during major surgery, but his parents don't find this out until months later.  Over the course of the next year they discover bits and pieces of his experience that are backed up by scripture and completely change their view of what awaits them after death.  It's a rock-your-mindset kind of book and it definitely did that for me!  It's changed many of the views of heaven that movies and secular culture blindly lead us to believe.  Read it! You won't be disappointed!

   
I've also been given some amazing and powerful worship songs recently.  They're the kind of songs that leave you with goose bumps at the end because they speak such truth.  One inparticular is the song I was given to sing for my church's Easter Services this year.  It's called "Your Great Name" by Natalie Grant.  There are lines in this song that just move me and cause me to sing louder and with greater passion like "Every fear has no place at the sound of your great name." or "The sick are healed, and the dead are raised at the sound of your great name." 

   

    

    Another song that is older, but still touches me is Nichole Nordeman's "Crimson".  I've been playing this song a lot this week as we lead up to Good Friday, which marks the day Jesus died on the cross.  This song is haunting.  It's set to a well known classical piano piece that rises and falls in melody and intensity.  The words are simple, but pointedly truthful about what he endured and what it meant for us.  No matter how many times I listen to the song, without fail the last line leaves me speechless.  I've included the words below.

Crimson

One choice

One tree

One fall for humanity

One lie

One liar

One bite is all death required

One great regret

One squandered chance and yet

One hope

One day

One name above all other names

One bridge between then and now

One way to discover how

One price

One tree

One drop of crimson covers me 



The Big Move....

    It's been a while since I last posted.  I've been busy moving into my first apartment!  We were able to get the keys about 5 days early which allowed us to paint (or I should say, my sweet parents to paint).  I've jokingly told them that it felt like I hired painters because I'd come home from work and there was a new wall done.  I was able to help some, but they were amazing and did most of the work!
    We were also able to start moving things little by little and taking inventory of things that we still needed to get at the store.  The big move day was last Sat. and a few amazing friends brought their truck and helping hands.  Luckily we made it to the apartment and got all the wood furniture, matress and box springs in before the terrential downpour and hail started!  We began unpacking and within seconds of doing so, the power went out.  Since this is a new place, we didn't have the standard set of candles, matches, or flashlights.  It's pretty hard to decorate or even unwrap things when it's dark.
    Mom and dad waited for the rain to slow and headed back to their house for a rest and later another load of stuff.  My friend Holly and I decided to leave the dark apartment and go spend what little money I had left on things like lamps, trashcans, shelving for the laundry room, etc.  Thank goodness for gift cards and coupons!  :)
    Overall it's been a pretty easy move.  The power eventually came back on and we were able to setup a lot of things.  I've made several trips back and forth from Lagrange to the new place and think I finally have everything moved in.  Now it's just getting everything organized, decorated, and put together so I can settle in and enjoy. 
     Thanks to everyone who helped make my new place the home that it is becoming.  I'm loving the location and being so close to everything.  It will be 1 week this Sat. that I've been living there and so far, so great!


Here are some pics:






             1st Cup of Coffee in the new place!

                                                                     
                                                      New Lamp