Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Thrive

I cannot help but post about Jon Foreman once again.






Switchfoot's new CD, Vice Verses, has been my constant companion for two weeks now.

It is so good.

And one song especially has really spoken to me.  It's called "Thrive."

Have a listen...






I know I said this before, but I'm going to say it again -- it amazes me how he can take things that I'm feeling and put them into words so effortlessly.




been fighting things that i can't see
like voices coming from the inside of me
like doing things i find hard to believe in
am i myself or am i dreaming


i've been awake for an hour or so
checking for a pulse but i just don't know
am i a man if i feel like a ghost
the stranger in the mirror is wearing my clothes


no i'm not alright
i know that i'm not right
a steering wheel don't mean you can drive
a warm body don't mean i'm alive
feel like i travel but never arrive
i wanna thrive not just survive







Friday, October 7, 2011

Must Share

Last week I had a chance to go to a Switchfoot concert.

So, of course, I went.  Phil had to work so I took my mama and my cousin with me.  The opening bands were ok.  I wish they would have played half as much so that Switchfoot could have played twice as much.





You see... Switchfoot and I have a very special relationship.  It is sacred.

Their lead singer and songwriter -- Jon Foreman -- well, he is a poet who speaks right into my soul.

Seriously.

I've always told Phil that he puts all these thoughts and feelings that I have into beautiful, beautiful, beautiful words.

It all started with an album called "Learning to Breathe."  It came out when I was 13.  And ever since then I've been hooked.

Phil bought me tickets to my first Switchfoot concert the beginning of our senior year in high school.  It was amazing.  So when I heard they were going to be in GR, I knew I had to go.

Thought I'd share a little bit of my experience with you --




He sings and you can tell that he feels the words he's singing.  And I was up in the stands feeling every word right along with him : )



Thursday, September 22, 2011

Thoughts About Life

I'm a nurse manager at a nursing home.

I was in a meeting a few weeks ago and we were discussing a resident who had stated she was ready to die...

{Side note: I hate death.  I think it's stupid...}

But that's an understandable statement for a 90+ year old woman, right?

Well, it surprised me when the other staff members in the meeting started responding, "Well yeah. I can understand that... I think about how I want to just die all the time!"  Actually, they went all the way around the table with each person echoing the same thought.

And then it got to the point where I was the only one who hadn't said anything.

And I said nothing.  I just sat and thought.

Thought about how sad that was.  Thought about how frustrated I've been with my job lately.  How the things that I work really hard at, and spend countless hours doing -- how they seem so pointless.  How each day blends into the next.  How sometimes I feel like weeks are passing me by and I'm in a type of trance... because there's so much to do and so much to worry about.  And how life can feel so overwhelming and so monotonous sometimes.  It's just the truth.  Sometimes life sucks.

And it's hard to stay positive.

But, that conversation got me thinking...

About how much I love life.  How much I have to be thankful for.  About the times when I feel like my soul could burst because life is such an amazing and beautiful gift.



I ran across this quote the other day.

-- She said she usually cried once a day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short.  --Brian Andreas



I feel like that... a lot.

Isn't that the truth, though?  That the times when we feel so sad and overwhelmed are when we are somehow missing out on the beauty in life...

Like being upset with someone you love, or being so busy you can't do that one thing you really love to do {the thing that makes your soul feel full}, or being so distracted by the craziness that you don't take the time to stop and appreciate just how beautiful life really is.


Please, please, please...
Today, stop and smell the roses with me : )
It will make us feel happy, like we should be.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Happy Things

Wanna know something?

Pinterest makes me happy.

I don't even remember how I found out about this lovely website... but it is a-ma-zing.  It's like a never-ending magazine.

I'm not even really sure how to describe it -- wikipedia describes it as a "vision board-styled social photo sharing website where users can create and manage theme-based image collections."

In other words, you scan through endless pages of pictures and group your favorites in to categories that you can continue adding to and editing.  You can also follow other peoples favorites.

I have been enjoying Pinterest since the beginning of the summer and since then I've introduced quite a few friends and family members to its many joys.  Just a warning-- it is addictive.

Here are some of my latest and favorite pins...

There are lots -- but hopefully you like looking at pictures of pretty things as much as I do : )


amen... just look at that face



whole wheat brown sugar banana pancakes



the perfect bouquet


i could eat breakfast here every day of my life



need to learn how to knit



red cardigan love



dream nursery



yup... perfect sink



embroidery hoop wall -- so pretty



love this idea x 100



life without dogs {especially goldens} would suck : )




perfect color combination



sigh... that is all i have to say about this one

jim and pam love



...



want this skirt




backyard movie night perfection




this is paper!




did you know i love russell crowe? well, i do.


 

i wish i could live in a treehouse




truth




awesome diy tee



That's it for now : ) 

Have a beautiful week.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Cello Dreams

Last year I started a bucket list.

It actually consists of just a handful of things... but it's a work in progress...

I think I posted some of it on here at one point.

Anyways, one of the things on it is learning to play the cello.

You see, I love music. Always have.

I love to make music -- I play the piano and I played the clarinet in band all the way through middle and high school { that's where I fell in love with Phil actually -- but that's a story for another time :) }  And I love to sing...

And I love listening to other people make music.

It lifts me up.

So, I decided I loved the cello when I was young.  But, since I was already taking piano lessons, and participating in sports and band and everything else I never got the chance to pursue my cello dreams.

I've told Phil a hundred times, "I will learn to play the cello before I die."

He laughs at me and then says, "Then do it!"

Anyways -- on to the point of my post -- I stumbled upon this video recently.  It gives me goosebumps.  And makes me want to play the cello that much more.

Enjoy.



Monday, August 22, 2011

Hunger Games

Almost every time I go into Target, I scan through an aisle called "recommended reading."  And I always get ideas as to what book I should read next.

So, awhile ago I saw this one...




I quickly skimmed the back cover synopsis (I never read the entire thing because it always gives more of the plot away than I wanted to know) and decided this would go somewhere near the top of my mental need to read book list.

Then I started seeing it on my kindle top 100 list... and then on pinterest...

So, I decided it would buy it and take it camping at Higgins Lake.

And let me tell you...

It was so good.

I had to pace myself so I wouldn't sit down and read the entire book in one sitting.

There are a total of three books in the series, and I highly recommend them. I don't want to give away any plot points, so I'll just say it's an action packed series that had just the right amounts of sci-fi, action/adventure, and romance.

If you love to read, this is definitely a can't miss series.  Read it!!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Talent

So, I was introduced to a new singer/songwriter recently.  Her name is Jilian Linklater.

She's actually my cousin's cousin.

Have a listen...






Isn't she excellent!?!?

I was not expecting her to be so good.  I'm so impressed by her!

She has a gorgeous voice and I love the way her fingers flow over her guitar...

And you can just tell she's enjoying herself.  And that makes me happy  : )


Friday, August 5, 2011

Friday Night Extravaganza

So my Friday night started off pretty good.

Let me elaborate...







Yup... a mocha coconut frappuccino and walking aimlessly around target equals a very happy Rachel.

Whoever decided to put Starbucks inside Target was a freaking genius  : )

So, now I'm back from my excursion and my plans for tonight are wonderful...

Phil's at work so it's just me and the dog at home, enjoying some of the following:


  • California Pizza Kitchen - Garlic Chicken Pizza
  • SoCo and Simply Lemonade
  • Endless episodes of Lost on netflix
  • Pinterest, pinterest, and more pinterest

Sounds like a pretty satisfying evening to me.

Hope your Friday night is as relaxing as mine!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Liking This

So, during their visit, my sister and cousin introduced me to a new song.


"Oh Darling" by Plug In Stereo and Cady Groves.


Downloaded it last night. 


Super sweet and charming and I love the acoustic guitar.


Have a listen and see what you think...










I think I'm liking it.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Special Treat

My sister, her boyfriend, and my cousin all came out to visit last night and stayed the night with us.

We browsed pinterest together, watched some sweet youtube videos, ate sushi, made sopapilla cheesecake and cinnamon french toast, and went swimming at the pool.

It was nice : ) I'm glad they came

_________________________________________________________


In other news...

I went to the opening night of Harry Potter a few weeks ago.

It was amazing.

Listen to this quote --

"The stories we love best do live in us forever.  So, whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."  --J.K. Rowling

Goosebumps.  Every time.  She is so cool.  And I am so glad she chose to share her amazing story of Harry Potter with us : )

Then I saw this on pinterest...





Pinterest is addicting.

That might be an understatement for me.  It is mind-blowing. hahaha

Look at all of this...




Butterbeer Recipe


























And that's just stuff on my Harry Potter board.

Amazing.  There are no words...

Just a big smile on my face.

Have a beautiful Friday!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Long Day

Today was a Monday to surpass all Mondays.

Yes... it really was that bad.

But, now I am home.  Relaxing, eating, drinking, doing a little bit of cleaning, cuddling with the dog, watching old episodes of Lost, browsing through some pretty sweet blogs.  So... it's better now.

Just got home from a few days camping at Higgins Lake.  It's one of my favorite places.



Every July, we go up for 12 or so days with my Dad's family.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins, etc. The first year I went, I was 3 months old.  And I've been every summer since.

There's just something about it that I love.

Another year has passed and I feel so thankful that my family is able to come together and enjoy each other's company.

They've been going for 30+ years... and I hope it continues at least another 30.

_____________________________________________


I guess that's all for now.  Have a beautiful evening.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Monday Night

Hello all.

Just hanging out tonight.  Phil cooked me dinner.  We went for a walk and then got some iced coffee.

Pretty good night.

Listening to this song...






I love it.  I'm not even going to elaborate at all because I think the song says it perfectly :)


_______________________________________________________________________




Other exciting things...

My little sister got engaged a few weeks ago : )







Super excited for her. The wedding will be next summer.

So, I've been looking at wedding stuff.  Dresses and decorations and wedding blogs.  I wish I could get married again...

To Phil, of course : )

Found a pretty cool site - greenweddingshoes.com

I especially liked this post.





I love weddings.  I love love. 

_______________________________________________________________________



And, to continue with the random theme of this post, here is my dog...





Yes.  He likes to dress up like a gangsta.

Ok... maybe not.  But I like him to.  

He lets me bug him... he's a good dog.  I love him.

Goodnight!!


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Office



I am slightly addicted to this show.

You should be too : )

Tired

So very tired.

I am just very tired lately.  I get home from work and I feel like I'm completely drained.

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I'm still adjusting to my new job.  I'm not used to working 40+ hours a week.

And I miss being able to do everything I was doing before I started working full time.

I miss having more than 2 days off in a row.  I miss cooking dinner every night.  I miss our apartment being clean and organized.  I miss having the time to create stuff...

Seriously, all I want is time to paint and clean and organize my guest room... and make it pretty.



I know it sounds like I'm whining.  But I'm not.  I love my job.  It's just very stressful right now and I need to vent.

Ahhhhhh... I feel better already  : )



So, I've been trying to think of things to do that will make me feel better... more energetic... more full of life.

I made a list.

  • Reading my Bible more often
  • Spending more time outside
  • Exercising... especially Pilates
  • Being creative
  • Blogging more often : )

And lots of other random stuff... but I think I'll start with just those few. 

I guess it's just a matter of making time to do things that I love to do. 

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Randomness

Just laying around tonight.  Relaxing after a long day at work.

Windows are open... enjoying the warm spring breeze.

Laying on the couch, browsing through pictures of beautiful things.

Here's a few...




leaf ring





bernese mountain dog puppy



bolthouse farms mango lemonade -- yummy




whitney bed from pottery barn -- love it, want it





grand haven pier -- yes this is just minutes from our apartment : )




phil wants to can strawberry rhubarb jam this year -- oh my



seriously? i want her hair. i want her cardigan.



rainbow cake makes me smile


can't have a post like this without a pioneer woman meal -- short ribs in tomato sauce
i would love to experience this


Have a beautiful day!!