I love things mini. Mini M&M's, mini vanilla wafers, MINI Coopers, munchkin diet cokes, mini skirts, and now mini cupcakes.
Two of the cooler (and skinnier - how does that work??) women I know started a cupcake company this year and it has swiftly moved to one of my favorite things....and favorite websites.
Nicole and Pollye make mini cupcakes infused with one of their scrumptious icings....cookies and cream, cream cheese, and more!
Then, they are packaged in the cutest little box and delivered if you like. What a delivery to receive at the front door!
So I have been feeling a little under the weather the last two days. Luckily, Brad has been a great nurse. He did all the house chores yesterday all the while fetching my favorite soup and some ginger ale and oyster crackers - another favorite mini thing! I haven't really had much of an appetite for anything but GRACIE BLAKE cupcakes! What? I am not one to obsess over sweets usually but as I lay here on the couch for the 27th hour I can think of nothing but a chocolate chip cookie cupcake! Anyway, if you are looking for a fun Holiday gift or even a special treat to take to a birthday party - you should check them out. And if you feel like helping me feel better today you can send me some, too.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Family Fall Fotos
Amos is my favorite thing I have ever bought...or we have ever bought. He represents stability and consistency. I love that he jumps on me when I come home. I love that he rubs Brad's head when he takes a nap on a Sunday. Dr. Amos for President!
And, we are so excited that fall is fully and finally here. There is nothing like a fall Saturday in Athens with good food and family and friends to visit. I am so glad I married a good ole' Georgia boy!
DD for TP
This situation is so pathetic that I must confess to the public. This is like detox for bad habits.
Brad and I have attempted to "makeover our money" Dave Ramsey style in the last few months. Mostly out of desire but partially out of necessity. We figure we could at least attempt to enact positive spending and saving habits in these first years so with the hopes that the good habits will follow. Note: this attempt only works because we have a separate line item for Taqueria Del Sol. If we didn't do it that way we would go over in our dining out budget every month.
Anyway, each month seems to be longer than the one before. August was a nightmare...5 weekends with a Holiday weekend at the end. Needless to say, we were stealing money from Amos' account to try to pay for basic necessities. We made it though! So this month I got a little happy at the grocery store. Really, I just thought I would go green for a month...you know, the thing to do. So I bought lots of veggies and weird things that I never thought I would spend my money on....Earth friendly cleaners, flax seed and Stevia to name a few. Monday of this week comes around and we are down to a pack of koolaid in the pantry and some frozen edamame in the freezer. I think Brad and I think it is a fun game to try not to go to the grocery store until the budget starts over - which was yesterday. Well, yesterday was a wash. I am not sure what I did but it wasn't productive and I didn't get out of my pajamas until I took Amos on a walk at 5pm. Yuck. Needless to say, the last square of toilet paper was squandered the night before on a spill in the kitchen. Yes, that is what paper towels are for but for some reason the last square of tp seemed more fitting. So, this morning.....I tell you no lies, I head out with the Famous Dog at 7:12am while Brad was in the shower to get him a "treat." How about a little Dunkin Donuts? America runs on Donuts but the Bagwells just need some TP. I attempted to order the new eggwhite flatbread concoction that I see on tv but they tell me they don't carry those. I hate misleading commercials that actually do their job and get me out the door to buy the thing so improperly advertised. I settle for e low-fat blueberry muffin (the "green" eating only lasted last month) and a bagel sandwich for Mr. Brad. And, yes, while I was waiting I chose to kindly use the washroom. I admit, I stole a few squares of toilet paper! PATHETIC. I am extremely embarrassed but all the while extremely proud that I have yet to go to the grocery store! Do you blame me?
Let's see how long we can go without making a trip to the grocery store....I just remembered though that we have guests tonight and I didn't consider that when evaluating the squares needed for the day. Decisions decisions. Thank you DD!
Brad and I have attempted to "makeover our money" Dave Ramsey style in the last few months. Mostly out of desire but partially out of necessity. We figure we could at least attempt to enact positive spending and saving habits in these first years so with the hopes that the good habits will follow. Note: this attempt only works because we have a separate line item for Taqueria Del Sol. If we didn't do it that way we would go over in our dining out budget every month.
Anyway, each month seems to be longer than the one before. August was a nightmare...5 weekends with a Holiday weekend at the end. Needless to say, we were stealing money from Amos' account to try to pay for basic necessities. We made it though! So this month I got a little happy at the grocery store. Really, I just thought I would go green for a month...you know, the thing to do. So I bought lots of veggies and weird things that I never thought I would spend my money on....Earth friendly cleaners, flax seed and Stevia to name a few. Monday of this week comes around and we are down to a pack of koolaid in the pantry and some frozen edamame in the freezer. I think Brad and I think it is a fun game to try not to go to the grocery store until the budget starts over - which was yesterday. Well, yesterday was a wash. I am not sure what I did but it wasn't productive and I didn't get out of my pajamas until I took Amos on a walk at 5pm. Yuck. Needless to say, the last square of toilet paper was squandered the night before on a spill in the kitchen. Yes, that is what paper towels are for but for some reason the last square of tp seemed more fitting. So, this morning.....I tell you no lies, I head out with the Famous Dog at 7:12am while Brad was in the shower to get him a "treat." How about a little Dunkin Donuts? America runs on Donuts but the Bagwells just need some TP. I attempted to order the new eggwhite flatbread concoction that I see on tv but they tell me they don't carry those. I hate misleading commercials that actually do their job and get me out the door to buy the thing so improperly advertised. I settle for e low-fat blueberry muffin (the "green" eating only lasted last month) and a bagel sandwich for Mr. Brad. And, yes, while I was waiting I chose to kindly use the washroom. I admit, I stole a few squares of toilet paper! PATHETIC. I am extremely embarrassed but all the while extremely proud that I have yet to go to the grocery store! Do you blame me?
Let's see how long we can go without making a trip to the grocery store....I just remembered though that we have guests tonight and I didn't consider that when evaluating the squares needed for the day. Decisions decisions. Thank you DD!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Undeserving
I know You gave the world your only son for us
To know Your name and live within the Savior's love
And you took my place
Knowing He'd be crucified
Cause You love, you love
A people undeserving.
-To know Your name, Hillsong United
This is how I feel. Undeserving.
Even though the lyrics above are pretty intense my feelings of gratitude range from pretty severe to pretty shallow. Right now - I am grateful that the most expensive gas station in Atlanta saved a few gallons of gas for me this morning. I happily paid the $4.39 that I usually drive by without looking on the way to the $3.79 a gallon gas station in the next zip code. It makes sense to use a gallon to save a few bucks, right?? No. It doesn't make sense but it surely makes me feel like I beat the system. Not today though. On the way home from the early a.m. workout I pulled right up to that famous Buckhead gas station that usually rapes it's Buckhead Betty's with a smile...over gas I mean. And though Brad and I try not to fill up there when we can avoid it we do walk there daily to get my dose of gatorade or diet sprite marked a good 30% above any grocery store drink. That makes sense too.
I am grateful for the Last Resort Grill in Athens and I feel undeserving to have partaken in such an amazing 3 course dinner on Saturday as my Bulldawgs were being humiliated....all for a whopping 33 dollars. Not only do I feel undeserving, I feel guilty. Brad and I couldn't get 3 beers plus tip in Atlanta for that price. We even took two pieces of Cecilia Villaveces cake home to savor over the weekend. I am gratfeul that the husband didn't get upset that I ate the white fluffy icing off the entire piece of coconut cake that I didn't deserve. Unfortunately, I think he expected it.
I don't deserve to have someone truly accept me just the way I am...with no revisions. He accepts my attempt to control things that I obviously have no business controlling. He listens to every phone call of tears or weariness nearly every single work day. And somehow he never seems to get tired of me calling. He already knows my imperfections but he doesn't hold them against me. I certainly don't deserve this type of grace. This tangible grace that tastes and feels so good. And this is the big one....he listens to every one of my daily ailments and doesn't downplay them. For someone who is rarely sick and never broken a bone or spent a day in a hospital - I have more aches and pains in places I never knew could hurt. Sometimes I'll even let him know about my hangnail that is driving me insane throughout the day as if his listening might just make it a little better. Bottom line Brad is a saint and I don't deserve an ounce of his acceptance but I guess that is the beauty of a "Covenant relationship," much like the relationship we have with a God who is present daily. We live under a covenant of unconditional acceptance despite our selfishness or worse, our self-centerdness. We are in a binding covenant through Christ's death. Yesterday morning we walked into church late during the song above. I am pretty good at feeling undeserving. It is part of my personality or upbringing or some mixed up view of reality....that I have to earn everything. And while I guess this is reality, this isn't how God works. I can't bring anything to the table. I truly have nothing to offer but yet so much to receive and there is truly nothing I can do to earn God's favor. I don't always get that everyday. Or I may get it in the morning when I wake up but by lunch I have to have cleaned the house, or gone out of my way for someone , or made huge progress to feel worthy of even enjoying the afternoon. This certainly isn't a freeing place to be. So, yesterday I just hummed those words all day long. Not only am I undeserving of so much in my life. God loves that I am undeserving and loves to give to those who finally realize they don't deserve an ounce of grace but can have every bit of it.
One thing I do deserve right now is a nap. I was awake all night and up at 5am to do insane things. Why do people excercise in the dark? I am addicted but I just don't understand why. Luckily, I am still semi-unemployed and I will enjoy a nap that I have earned.
To know Your name and live within the Savior's love
And you took my place
Knowing He'd be crucified
Cause You love, you love
A people undeserving.
-To know Your name, Hillsong United
This is how I feel. Undeserving.
Even though the lyrics above are pretty intense my feelings of gratitude range from pretty severe to pretty shallow. Right now - I am grateful that the most expensive gas station in Atlanta saved a few gallons of gas for me this morning. I happily paid the $4.39 that I usually drive by without looking on the way to the $3.79 a gallon gas station in the next zip code. It makes sense to use a gallon to save a few bucks, right?? No. It doesn't make sense but it surely makes me feel like I beat the system. Not today though. On the way home from the early a.m. workout I pulled right up to that famous Buckhead gas station that usually rapes it's Buckhead Betty's with a smile...over gas I mean. And though Brad and I try not to fill up there when we can avoid it we do walk there daily to get my dose of gatorade or diet sprite marked a good 30% above any grocery store drink. That makes sense too.
I am grateful for the Last Resort Grill in Athens and I feel undeserving to have partaken in such an amazing 3 course dinner on Saturday as my Bulldawgs were being humiliated....all for a whopping 33 dollars. Not only do I feel undeserving, I feel guilty. Brad and I couldn't get 3 beers plus tip in Atlanta for that price. We even took two pieces of Cecilia Villaveces cake home to savor over the weekend. I am gratfeul that the husband didn't get upset that I ate the white fluffy icing off the entire piece of coconut cake that I didn't deserve. Unfortunately, I think he expected it.
I don't deserve to have someone truly accept me just the way I am...with no revisions. He accepts my attempt to control things that I obviously have no business controlling. He listens to every phone call of tears or weariness nearly every single work day. And somehow he never seems to get tired of me calling. He already knows my imperfections but he doesn't hold them against me. I certainly don't deserve this type of grace. This tangible grace that tastes and feels so good. And this is the big one....he listens to every one of my daily ailments and doesn't downplay them. For someone who is rarely sick and never broken a bone or spent a day in a hospital - I have more aches and pains in places I never knew could hurt. Sometimes I'll even let him know about my hangnail that is driving me insane throughout the day as if his listening might just make it a little better. Bottom line Brad is a saint and I don't deserve an ounce of his acceptance but I guess that is the beauty of a "Covenant relationship," much like the relationship we have with a God who is present daily. We live under a covenant of unconditional acceptance despite our selfishness or worse, our self-centerdness. We are in a binding covenant through Christ's death. Yesterday morning we walked into church late during the song above. I am pretty good at feeling undeserving. It is part of my personality or upbringing or some mixed up view of reality....that I have to earn everything. And while I guess this is reality, this isn't how God works. I can't bring anything to the table. I truly have nothing to offer but yet so much to receive and there is truly nothing I can do to earn God's favor. I don't always get that everyday. Or I may get it in the morning when I wake up but by lunch I have to have cleaned the house, or gone out of my way for someone , or made huge progress to feel worthy of even enjoying the afternoon. This certainly isn't a freeing place to be. So, yesterday I just hummed those words all day long. Not only am I undeserving of so much in my life. God loves that I am undeserving and loves to give to those who finally realize they don't deserve an ounce of grace but can have every bit of it.
One thing I do deserve right now is a nap. I was awake all night and up at 5am to do insane things. Why do people excercise in the dark? I am addicted but I just don't understand why. Luckily, I am still semi-unemployed and I will enjoy a nap that I have earned.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Where do you begin....
When everything in your world seemed to change in a week where do you even begin to say where you are? Oh, how I could sit and "talk" to you for days about the change in my heart, the cool fall weather, and the assured presence of not just a God who loves me but a God who is still writing my story....despite my lack of trust at times.
Last week I learned of my friend, Megan's passing as I was on the boat with friends and the stars danced and John Mayer soothed in the background. It was there that God literally reached down and stole my heart and assured me that He had a purpose for me, too. Later that weekend I literally "bumped" into a stranger who may not end up being a part of this story but he was a fresh reminder at the right time that God was before me and believed in my purpose here in this life. How can it be that one minute life is as you know it and literally within an introduction to someone or a reading of a text message or the awareness of sudden life change that things are just like it sounds....forever different? Like if you were drawing the path of events - one minute you are going NorthWest and literally within a flash you are veering due East? Needless to say, I am so grateful that this is how things come about... this is how change comes. Literally, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away and I am so grateful that He does even if we can't even begin to understand it.
So, that is where I am. God has stolen my heart again though no circumstance has changed....yet. God has shown me through a life lost that my life is fragile and that people around me are impacted by me and my attitude despite how isolated I feel. Megan's life was felt by so may but not only in her leaving this world - it was felt before hand in hand written, personalized notes - several that I will never let go of. It was felt through her joy just being the way God made her - creative, genuine, and with a desire to teach others. I know it is easy to look at the death of someone near and vow for as long as you can to live life meaningfully. I have no super human powers that you dont have so I have done the same thing. And I know soon enough the hard knocks of life will try to knock me down a little but I do know one thing - Megan's journey will always be a place I can remember and literally feel God's hand writing a story. More so, I will remember what I prayed under the stars, in the dark, on the water last Saturday when I learned of her news....God dance over her right now and welcome her. I know that you are saying "Well done my good and faithful servant." I can not imagine how those words might really sound but they break me every time I think of them lately. This is where I am today...in a new place.
More so, my precious grandaddy is not doing well. The yucky Alzheimer's disease is literally taking everything away from him. My Nana continues to love on him so beautifully and it is the perfect picture of unconditional love. Part of me wants to apologize for being so sappy on here today but I just know someone needs to hear of both Megan's life and the unconditional love of my Nana. More so, someone needs to read about the hope I have found through a season of a stinky mess in trying to figure out my identity. My true identity - not the one that I have created but the real one, the genuine one, the one that gives me life rather than slowly sucking it out of me. I am fully present now and more able to experience this type of love that Nana is just so good at...it's just her way.
I know this is a big season in our lives.. in mine and Brad's life and in my family's life. Amid the change ahead I have never felt so much quiet joy in my heart. I feel right where I am supposed to be even as I long for things to be different. I am right where I am supposed to be and God is right before me putting people in my way, the fall weather as a reminder of change, and even books in the way to encourage me. I just have to tell you this to - I need you to do something - today. You need to shut down the computer and if you are so lucky to walk to the Borders in the 78 degree weather than do so. But get there and buy this book and read it by the weekend. It's a true story and it has so many fun thoughts about the South so I am sure most of you readers could relate. You won't regret it. Rarely do I tell you you have to do something so do it. It's called Same Kind of Different as Me. No thank you's, please.
Okay, the famous dog is in his new favorite spot on the porch overlooking Peachtree just watching the cars whirl by. He seems to bark at convertibles. I don't get it. Maybe he knows that's where the good times are? He is so happy too that God just reached on down and picked my little heart up and gave it a little kiss and a wink and put it right back where it needed to be...I can tell. He is soo happy!
Last week I learned of my friend, Megan's passing as I was on the boat with friends and the stars danced and John Mayer soothed in the background. It was there that God literally reached down and stole my heart and assured me that He had a purpose for me, too. Later that weekend I literally "bumped" into a stranger who may not end up being a part of this story but he was a fresh reminder at the right time that God was before me and believed in my purpose here in this life. How can it be that one minute life is as you know it and literally within an introduction to someone or a reading of a text message or the awareness of sudden life change that things are just like it sounds....forever different? Like if you were drawing the path of events - one minute you are going NorthWest and literally within a flash you are veering due East? Needless to say, I am so grateful that this is how things come about... this is how change comes. Literally, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away and I am so grateful that He does even if we can't even begin to understand it.
So, that is where I am. God has stolen my heart again though no circumstance has changed....yet. God has shown me through a life lost that my life is fragile and that people around me are impacted by me and my attitude despite how isolated I feel. Megan's life was felt by so may but not only in her leaving this world - it was felt before hand in hand written, personalized notes - several that I will never let go of. It was felt through her joy just being the way God made her - creative, genuine, and with a desire to teach others. I know it is easy to look at the death of someone near and vow for as long as you can to live life meaningfully. I have no super human powers that you dont have so I have done the same thing. And I know soon enough the hard knocks of life will try to knock me down a little but I do know one thing - Megan's journey will always be a place I can remember and literally feel God's hand writing a story. More so, I will remember what I prayed under the stars, in the dark, on the water last Saturday when I learned of her news....God dance over her right now and welcome her. I know that you are saying "Well done my good and faithful servant." I can not imagine how those words might really sound but they break me every time I think of them lately. This is where I am today...in a new place.
More so, my precious grandaddy is not doing well. The yucky Alzheimer's disease is literally taking everything away from him. My Nana continues to love on him so beautifully and it is the perfect picture of unconditional love. Part of me wants to apologize for being so sappy on here today but I just know someone needs to hear of both Megan's life and the unconditional love of my Nana. More so, someone needs to read about the hope I have found through a season of a stinky mess in trying to figure out my identity. My true identity - not the one that I have created but the real one, the genuine one, the one that gives me life rather than slowly sucking it out of me. I am fully present now and more able to experience this type of love that Nana is just so good at...it's just her way.
I know this is a big season in our lives.. in mine and Brad's life and in my family's life. Amid the change ahead I have never felt so much quiet joy in my heart. I feel right where I am supposed to be even as I long for things to be different. I am right where I am supposed to be and God is right before me putting people in my way, the fall weather as a reminder of change, and even books in the way to encourage me. I just have to tell you this to - I need you to do something - today. You need to shut down the computer and if you are so lucky to walk to the Borders in the 78 degree weather than do so. But get there and buy this book and read it by the weekend. It's a true story and it has so many fun thoughts about the South so I am sure most of you readers could relate. You won't regret it. Rarely do I tell you you have to do something so do it. It's called Same Kind of Different as Me. No thank you's, please.
Okay, the famous dog is in his new favorite spot on the porch overlooking Peachtree just watching the cars whirl by. He seems to bark at convertibles. I don't get it. Maybe he knows that's where the good times are? He is so happy too that God just reached on down and picked my little heart up and gave it a little kiss and a wink and put it right back where it needed to be...I can tell. He is soo happy!
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