happy weekend

Happy weekend, everyone! I don't usually post on weekends, but it's pretty much been forever since I last wrote here. Sorry about the long absence! It's been pretty busy around here, between job searching and figuring out life. Also, my brother and his girlfriend came home for a surprise visit this week, which was awesome. I think that's the most surprised I've ever been in my entire life. I could not form a cohesive sentence when I found them standing in the living room. It's going to be hard to ever top that surprise! It was fantastic to see them and a much needed break from all this life-figuring-out stuff (I'm still not sure I'm ready for this real world thing. Or ready to be a real adult, for that matter. Nope, nope, nope.)

Anyhow. That's what's been going on here lately! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

pros and cons of going freelance

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Okay, so this is another lazy post, but I really wanted to share this post from The Austin Eavesdropper. This is an awesome article on the pros and cons of going freelance -- something I've always wondered about. It's always super helpful to get some perspective from someone who's actually doing it. The article is about writing freelance, but it's definitely applicable to anything freelance. Go read it here!

monday monday monday

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Happy Monday, everyone! Can you believe it's March already? Seriously, where did February go? I feel like I say this at the beginning of every month. We're getting closer to spring -- thank goodness!

Sorry for the lack of posts. I promise a real post will be coming soon!

2013 oscar best dressed

Who watched the Oscars last night? And, is it just called the Oscars now? What happened to the Academy Awards? Well, I missed the Oscars (or the Academy Awards. Or the not Academy Awards) because I was catching up on the Downton Abbey finale (WHYYY, Downton??? Whyyyy??? I think I'm going to need some counseling.) I haven't fully caught up on the Oscars and its shenanigans yet, but I have perused all the gorgeous gowns (not going to lie, definitely one of the best parts). I couldn't resist sharing my top picks for best dressed!

from left to right

1. I love, love, love Amanda Seyfried and her Alexander McQueen gown. I know a lot of people have been saying that the dress seems a little too big, but I still love it and think that she looks amazing in it.

2. Catherine Zeta Jones looks absolutely stunning in this golden Zuhair Murad dress.

3. Naomi Watts is simply gorgeous in this form-fitting, gunmetal sequined Armani Privé gown. I'm a sucker for anything shiny, glittery, and/or sequined! (clearly!)

4. Jennifer Aniston always looks so effortlessly beautiful, and last night was no exception! This bold red Valentino gown was perfect for the Oscars.

5. Love Octavia Spencer and her flowy, ethereal Tadashi Shoji gown! Classic. Gorgeous.

6. Jessica Chastain is perfectly stunning in this sparkly, form-fitting Armani Privé dress. Love the old Hollywood glam look!

(All images via People.com.)

happy weekend

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Food for thought.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

good advice

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winter can be over now

I am so ready for winter to be over. I think that's the general consensus around here. Winter can happen from December 1st through like now. And then it can be over. Where was all this snow around Christmas? Seriously. That's when snow is needed.

I'm good with snow now.

It can go away.

So can the chilly wind.

We're definitely in the winter doldrums. Well, at least I am. I've felt so uninspired lately, hence the lack of blog posts (sorry!)

I need some warmth, some life and rejuvenation!

I'm so ready for this now.

And this. 

Sigh.

We're almost there! March 20th marks the first day of spring. Of course, around here it will still feel like winter. But, shhhh. We can pretend its spring. Well, it is spring. We can pretend it feels like spring.

Until then, have warmth thoughts, dear readers!

the blizzard

Well, we made it! Snowstorm Nemo is over. What kind of a name is that anyway? Nemo? Who decides on these names for these storms? I think we need a new storm namer.

Anyhow. That is a picture from my window on Saturday morning. We ended up getting a lot of rain/freezing rain/snow on Friday, which made a lovely ice sheet for all the rest of the snow to pile up on. 

And it was super windy, so pretty much all the windows were caked with ice and snow.

Fun stuff.

I have a question about hurricanes, storms and blizzards. Why do people stock up on milk? I don't get it. If the power might go out, why get milk? Milk is going to do you no good. Get granola bars and batteries instead. Those are actual useful during a power outage.

Anyway.

Of course the power went out. It seemed as though the power was going to go out on Friday; the lights kept on flickering, and then power kept on going on and off. I hoped that maybe this was a sign; that maybe, just maybe, this was the extent of the storm. It was incredibly windy Friday night, and I thought, well, if the power can stand this, then maybe it'll stay on afterall! Alas, Saturday morning there was no power. Having the power out for roughly 36 hours really makes you appreciate those things you take for granted. Like warm water to wash your hands. It was really nice to have warm water again. And to be able to take a warm shower. And heat. Saturday night, I could see my breath in my bedroom it was that cold. How did people survive before electricity?? If I ever got stuck out in the wilderness, clearly I would never make it.

Sunday evening, just before 8, the power came back on. I literally cried tears of joy when the lights came on in the kitchen and the microwave beeped. However, about an hour or so later, the electricity decided that it wanted to play some mean tricks and go off again. And then, a few minutes later, it came back on. Then went off. Not very nice, electricity!! Eventually, it did come back on and stayed on -- hallelujah! We didn't have cable or internet for a while, but that was a-okay with me. As long as there was heat. And hot water. 

So over blizzards and power outages.

I hope everyone fared the storm all right and has their power back!

happy australia day! part two

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Have a very, very happy Australia Day.

You're welcome.

happy new year!

  

Well, almost. 

Happy New Year's Eve! See ya next year!

pray & love

I know it's been a while since I last posted something. Since Friday's tragedy, I haven't much felt like writing or baking. I've been doing a lot of thinking, meditating, and praying ever since I heard about the shooting. The other day, I was reminded of the prayer of St. Francis -- I think that this is the perfect prayer to meditate upon. 

The Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Sometimes, there are no words. All we can do is take a deep breath, pray, and love.