Things I've learned in Virginia

It's possible to fall in love every day.

Coffeehouses will always make me feel at home.

Do not underestimate the power of magazine parties and wine, even over skype.

I like cats. Not enough to live with them. 

God has perfect timing. 

I love the boy snail (ok, so I re-learned this).

Beach = good

Never complain about the traffic in Kansas City. Ever. 

Make things you love a priority. Blogging (which I didn't do, and I wish I had), writing, singing in the shower, dressing up for no reason, crafting. These things are what make you, you. They make the day pass. They make things feel happy, even when it's rainy. 

Do the right thing, even if you get kicked in the butt for it. You'll feel better. And chances are, the Lord has somewhere else he wants you anyway. 

Never, ever, stop learning. 

Words ending in "ing" of the week:

Jenny&Tyler seeing.

Cake baking. For a very Happy Birthday for my Mama for four months.

Bag making.

Coffeehouse Haunting.

Soon-to-be-sister listening.

"Everything is great. Everything is grand. I've got the whole wide world in the palm of my hands." 

Yes, yes I believe I do. 

Don't forget to enter my giveaway! 

Dancing Coffee Mugs and Floating Prisms

weheartit

There is something I like about being unknown. 

I went to work to study today. And I realized I hated knowing practically everyone that was there. While sometimes, this can be comforting, there is something about going to a coffeehouse where nobody knows you and cozying up in a big arm chair, disappearing to the world outside the front door. 

Where I can pretend to have a "specialized pallet" for coffee tasting and that I really do know all about vintage fashion trends.

And where I can become invisible, in a good way, knowing that I share a space with people who have no business with me nor I with them, completely lost in my own little world of dancing coffee mugs and floating prisms. 

Ragged Wood - Fleet Foxes

A Love Letter: Part II

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.  ~Anna Quindle

I bet you were expecting to see a picture of a book. 

But I choose instead to show you a picture of the place I do a large chunk of my reading. As a poetry major who sometimes wishes she was a literature major, my homework is all reading and writing.

POHO. Potters House. My love letter to coffeehouses was mostly written about this house of flavored serenity. It's where I go to think, play, talk, dance, dream, write, read, be alone, or be around everyone at once.

I think of my favorite word. Serendipidy. 

ser·en·dip·i·ty –noun 

-an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.

-a wonderful coffeehouse discovered by chance and accident

30 day music challenge

Day 10 – A song that makes you fall asleep:

This song makes me fall asleep for the simple fact that I used to fall asleep to it every night when I was 15. 

Angel - Sarah McLachlan

The view from the back of the coffee house...

...is always the best.

photos props to me and Hero's Coffee

And here is why

I can see people come and go, creepy I know.

And I am near enough the main counter that I can exchange random words with the awesome employees.

And I can feel a part of things while feeling apart from things.

And I can spy on the hippie and see if she's doing her homework, or simply blogging like we always end up doing.

But nothings wrong with that eh?

And nothings wrong with a little depressing therapy writing either you.

"i am beautiful
just not enough

i fell in love

just not forever"

At least I'm not as sad as I used to be

I think I've convinced myself that I can't update this thing unless I have something "worthwhile" to write about. Just so you know, this won't be one of those posts. This is purely going to be a write down what ever the heck my fingers decide they want to type.

First on the agenda, a bit of self pity. Now before you completely stop reading just let me defend myself. It was a semi-hard day. I lost my MP3 player (and you know how I love music.) Sad day. Also, I had my poem critiqued today in poetry class (for those of you that don't know, Creative Writing-Poetry is my major) and it got ripped to little tiny pieces. Like we're talking voided check, picture of ex boyfriend, journal entry about a certain boy ripped to shreds. Whew. Tough.

And so I called a friend. And I insisted on coffee. And I ran away from my floor (not that I don't love them with every fiber in my being, just needed quiet time). And now in the safety of my 2nd favorite coffee house I can process some stuff.

Ever get the feeling that Jesus is giggling at you. And you can't just help but giggle with him. I had one of those last night. I literally could hear him in heaven just shaking his head and laughing at me. I remember vividly yelling at my ceiling, "Don't laugh at meeeeee!" while also laughing myself.

It's times like those that I know 110% that God is completely and totally real. Not when I'm having some super-spiritual fall-on-your-knees experience. But when I'm laying in my bed at 2 AM laughing with Jesus. It's hysterical.

I turn 21 in 10 days. Not that I'm counting. It's a weird feeling. I feel very little. I don't feel that it should be legal for me to consume alcohol. I'm weird enough without it.

The song of choice...very much my mood right now. "At least I'm not as sad as I used to be." So true. Cause no matter what, I've got Jesus. I can never been as sad as I used to be. He's pretty awesome that way. Just FYI.

Also, I'm seeing Fun in just a few weeks. Booya! And in honor of the beautiful band...here you go!

At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used To Be) - Fun

photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanesflyingdiscshow/

Closed Doors

Coffee - check
Music - check
closed door - most definitely check

The world was spinning a few days ago. I didn't think it could get faster...

...it has.

I haven't had my door closed for a long time, at least not while I've been in my room. I have been on constant go since I got back to school. It's taken all I have just to keep on top of my school work. I've been so happy I didn't even notice that I haven't stopped. Think rapid energizer bunny.

The funny thing is, I haven't felt overwelmed. Maybe that's why I didn't realize I've been on the go forever until I opened my day planner and realized I didn't have anything to do. Weird. I kept telling myself I would get to a coffee house sometime soon to blog. I can only seem to write when I'm at a coffee house. Why? I've developed a few theories.

1. An abundance of coffee to keep me awake.
2. Music and lots of it. And earphones too, so it shuts out all other noise.
3. The bustle that doesn't have to do with me. There is something about being in a place that is busy, but that has no obligation from me, that I love.
4. The big reason. Nobody interupts me at a coffee house. Yes there is the occasional hello from a friend, but if I'm in the corner with my earphones in there is like zero chance people will disturb me. It's nice

I don't keep my door closed much. If I'm in my room it's open. Kind of like my personality right? If I'm here I'm open. I wear my heart directly on my sleeve for all to see. I like this about myself. I like having connections with people because of it. Problem: open door=people. Ha. I love people. Seriously...but I think I underestimate how much I need me time. I haven't had me time for awhile.

I haven't written for awhile. Me time=writing. I can't tell you how good it feels to have my fingers move over the keys and process what's in my head into coherent patters. I love words.

So I sat down about 30 minutes ago and opened my planner, with my door open, to see what I had to do. And everything I could do...was crossed off, except for "write." Yes, I put "write" on my "To do" list. How pathetic. I have to schedule time to write. And I freaked out momentarily. I couldn't get to a coffee house. But Jesus reminded me of something. I have a door, and it closes.

And so with a lot of difficulty, but with much excitement, I made myself a cup of coffee, put a favorite song on repeat, and shut my door.

Ahhh......perfection.

On Your Porch - The Format

"Cause whats left to lose?
I've done enough,
And if I fail then I fail but I gave it a shot"

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seraphimc/

Aaaaaand....cue coffeehouse.

Yeah, I found one here at home. Hooray. Cause pretty sure I was already going through coffeehouse withdrawal. Not coffee withdrawal mind you...I can get that at home. Just coffeehouse withdrawal. Ah, smell that fresh ground coffee? Mmmmm. So good.

And so on to work on my book. I have no idea if it's actually going to be any good, but I really need something to do over break other than making Christmas presents. BAHA. I'm so poor. I'm so poor that I don't have jeans without holes in them right now. My mom thought it was funny.....I didn't so much.

Ok, so true story. I was talking to my brother this morning and he wants to go se Avatar tomorrow night. Wow.....Avatar was not caught by spellcheck...weird. Anyways, I told my brother that I wanted to bring my Happy Meal Avatar toys to the movie. He had no reaction....he just kept talking. I suppose people do realize how weird I am. Made me laugh anyway.

I had a melt down with my mom yesterday. Not a bad one though, a nessesarry one. It was about time too. I knew I was about due for a full on mom melt down time. Usually they happen over the phone since I'm at college, but this time I was able to have one in person. It was good. Jesus talked to me a bit. He even bought me Endurmints (via my mom.) Funny. And because of said meltdown and talking some stuff out with God, today has been a joyful day thus far. About time. It's making me happy.

And now I'm off to write and drink coffee and pretend I'm at POHO. :-)

P.S. - A song for your enjoyment that I wish I would have remembered for my post about stereotypes. Yes Mmhmm. Enjoy!

Everybody's Got a Story - Amanda Marshall

and also cause I love it

House to Clean - Lee Ellen Starks