Sister Dopplegangers

Either these girls stole our baby pictures or Aimee found our sister dopplegangers! I know we don't look like them now but look at the young photo. It's uncanny and very, very odd and I'll admit a little creepy.

P.S. Boo is doing extremely well - creating a bladder and beginning to practice breathing. The creation of life amazes me. 

P.P.S. Attempting to make "The Best Chocolate Ice Cream You'll Ever Have" today. Tell you about it later.

I know I'm married but I still love looking at beautiful engagement rings. =) Saw these vintage inspired beauties and had to share. More here.  

Just a thought, why does vintage=pricey nowadays?

Answered Prayers

My back has taken a few steps backwards these past few days. It feels super tight and like something bad could happen with one wrong turn or reach. I have been icing it all day and not sitting. Hopefully this heals up soon. But that's not why I'm writing.

I'm not sure if you've noticed my Daily Prayer List down there on the right. I update it every so often with praises and burdens that are on my heart. Just a few weeks ago I added #6. For God to break through to family members who don't know him. I actually had some specific loved ones in mind but today I received an email that had been forwarded many times saying that some family members whom I don't know accepted Christ! I will probably never meet these people but I know in heaven I will run up to them and tell them God had me praying for them and I didn't even know it. God works in wondrous ways doesn't He?

Keep praying for whoever is on your heart. I tell ya, the Big Man upstairs works miracles.

The Best for Last

The Grammy's and the Oscars are my favorite award shows. This year I missed the Oscars because Josh and I were on the 5 just about passing Paso Robles and heading north fast when it came to an end. So of course I relied on my trusty friends to text me their best dressed, most memorable Billy Crystal moments, the new stuff, and touching acceptance speeches.

I perused the Red Carpet at length. I must say, in my humble opinion it was the best dressed awards show of the year. It seemed everyone upped the anty (or shelled out more for the better stylists). Outfits seemed fitted and everyone so pulled together from head to toe. It was shiny and pretty and well, I like shiny and pretty.

My top four (and 1/2):
Michelle Williams, the ruffles, material, the fit, the shiny pin, and the pixie - just perfect.

I know Octavia announced to the world she's getting a boob job after awards season, but I must say - she looked all prim, proper, put together, and looking like she didn't need any surgery whatsoever. So pretty!

Emma Stone just looked fabulous without appearing like it took too much work. Plus I thought her little bit was funny. Oftentimes those little speeches bomb but she pulled it off like a pro.

I never think Guiliana Rancic looks good on the red carpet so I was amazed when I saw her! The red lips,  subdued hair, and that stunning dress. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

 And I didn't like Stacy's ensemble when she was by herself. Seemed a bit much or something...

But when she stood with Clooney I thought she looked like the perfect arm candy/man jewelry and her whole thing just began to work for me. Do you think so too?

There were many others this year but a slow internet and a long drive are only letting me bring you my idea of the cream of the crop.

Until next year RC's. :) Thanks for the show.

#Moneysaving and #Littlejoysinlife*

Josh and I have turned into tight wads and me into a coupon cutting, find the bargain, machine. I recently fell into the most beautiful little life breathing thing. Since Starbucks and $4.05 Grande Nonfat Vanilla Latte Extra Hot's are out (miss you GNVLXH!) I've been looking for a cheap alternative. I found it and at Target no less.

For a whopping $6 you can get like billions of cups of hot Chai tea whenever you want. It's marvelous and I had to share because if you like hot cups of chai goodness at your beck and call, well then I just placed a whole lot of happiness in your hands. Happy Weekending folks. See you in LA. :)

*Homage to the Twitter machine because that is where I first found the funniest thing in 2012.

Ash Wednesday

I have completely lost control. I can't stop watching the sloth video. Right before I go to bed, while I'm cooking, walking, grocery shopping, and every in between. I can't stop myself!

It's so much goodness rolled into one and it's taking over my life. I need to stop.

Wednesday night Josh and I attempted to go to church. I've never been on an Ash Wednesday and we both thought it would be a nice beginning to our season of Lent. Well, through this means and that pamphlet we ended up at a Christian Korean/American blended service in Mountain View. I knew I was going to have a hard time focusing (hmm, good word choice J) when we walked in and the pastor was reciting a verse in Korean. Odd night. Afterwards (okay, 3/4ths into the service) we stopped to get some gelato. I did not miss the irony of getting dessert on the first day of Lent.

I'll leave you to your day. Hope the start of lent was smooth sailing for you. Here's a picture of Wednesday night. Sepia'd and edge blurred in an attempt to spiritualize. Did it work? :p

P.S. Boo's already showing off 10 toes and 10 fingers. Booya! I KNEW Boo was going to be advanced. I just KNEW it. And lookey here, baby can practically take the gifted test. #beaming auntie

So Far The Funniest Thing in 2012

Have you ever found something to be so funny that the tears just flow and flow and you can't catch your breath, and for days after the thought of that funny thing will make you laugh out loud and sometimes tear up?

Let's be honest, those good times only happen once or twice a year. Well, it's only February and its happened and it was from the most random thing. Are you one of the 9.5 million people who have seen Kristen Bell's Sloth Meltdown? It's epic. So epic, that I need to give you a warning - do not watch this in a quiet, public place because if you're like me, you won't be able to control yourself.

Happy Laugh-Out-Loud Thursday.

Lent

I know a few people who gave in to the spirit of Fat Tuesday yesterday. I know I succumbed to that Samoa girl scout cookie...dang that coconut goodness.

Theoretically I always enjoy the season of Lent. In a world of indulgence and immediate gratification there's something to withholding as a reminder of whom we should be dependent on.

Are you giving up something? I am. And many people I know are. Which I think is great. But this morning a nagging thought kept creeping in. Am I giving up something relatively inconsequential to deepen my relationship with Him or to just to make myself feel better?

My friend Andrew said it so poignantly, "Somehow, modern faith gets so sanitized to the point that Christianity means finding the way towards more security, more control, more comfort. And maybe that's why the invitation toward being a disciple includes some measure of selling or leaving or dying to follow Him, as if experiencing the sensation of loss and dependence is essential to the Jesus Way."

 Praying that I experience a new dependence on Jesus as a reminder that He is essential to the Way.