Lipstick empowerment.

Mornings have been really hard for me this week.  Usually the morning is a calm, quiet time, but in the last few days I've been feeling really stressed, that was repressed during spring break, but emerges again with the start of work and getting back to, well, "life."  My morning shower consists of me talking to myself about everything I have to accomplish, the order I have to accomplish it in, and how I know I won't be able to get it all done. 

That's where the lipstick comes in.  I have a million tubes just sitting around that I haven't used in ages.  Remember when that really ugly brown color was "in" in the late 90s?  (I know it's gross that I still have makeup from this long ago...).  That ugly brown "caramel mocha" just became my morning empowerment.

I began to write encouraging verses, sayings and quotes on my mirror... the words I need to hear.... to stare back at me and lift me up.  Maybe I need to hear about peace.  Maybe hope.  Maybe I need to be reminded to believe in myself... it's very liberating.  And surprisingly fun to write on a mirror.  Try it sometime.

So scribbled across the top of my mirror are the simple words, "for the battle is the Lord's" (1 Samuel 17:47)... from the most powerful story of David and Goliath.  I read it the other day in it's entirety for our Starting Point group, and it is my new favorite of the moment.

Happy mirror writing :)

la nube de ceniza...

...aka..."the ash cloud" preventing airlines from flying ANY PLANES in Europe.  Traveler's nightmare :(.  I was reading in El Pais that there was a time in the 1800s when this volcano erupted for an entire year. Hmmm....let us hope that June is clear for travel. Don't the pictures below just make your skin crawl? I think that's just about the worst headache imaginable....I feel so bad for these people.  Mother nature is a forced to be reckoned with.

I love traveling visiting new places.  Who am I kidding?  Traveling is HORRIBLE!  Jet lag, missing/almost missing connected flights, tons of people, crappy and expensive food, airplane headaches... blah.  Somebody want to invent teleportation?

Still, with each international (and national) flight that I take, I learn more tricks of the trade that make it a little more bearable.  I don't know what helps you...but this is what helps me...

1. DON'T GET ON THE PLANE.  Okay, you need to get on the plane, but what's the rush?  Everyone wants to be first in line to be on the plane with a 13 hour flight ahead of them...take a back seat.  You've got lots of time to sit.
2. DON'T SIT IN THOSE AIRPORT CHAIRS.  Sit on the floor by a window.  So much better.  Try it sometime.
3. PACK YOUR OWN FOOD.  It's like $10 for a sandwich.  This seems obvious to me.
4. AISLE SEATS ARE THE BEST.  Window seats seem like the winning place (views and a place to rest your head), but they are more cramped, and with the aisle you have the ability to stretch your legs out.  Just don't trip the flight attendant.  They are pretty good at stepping over you, though.
5. NAB THE BLANKETS AND PILLOWS, STAT.  The flight usually only have a limited supply, so if they aren't already on your seat ask for one right away.
6. BRING YOUR OWN HEADPHONES.  They charge you $5 for the in-flight movie and you can use you i-pod head phones to watch.
7. GO WITH THE FLOW.  There's not much you can do to change a delayed (or even canceled flight).  So sit back and ignore the stressed around you.
8. DON'T TAKE NAPS WHEN CROSSING TIME ZONES on an overnight (new time) flight.  Sleep if you can...if you get a wink, great.  When you arrive in the "morning" stay up a normal day and crash at local time.  You will be delusional, but it will help you adjust faster.

Celeb of the moment

Okay, so she really isn't a celebrity, but this lady is AMAZING. She's coupon mom!  She makes money at the grocery store and cuts bills in half.  I'm pretty coupon savvy, but after watching her I look like a wannabe.  Check it out.

:)

For me, today was a day of hard-core phone calls and errands-- my most productive day of Spring Break so far.  I also had my doctor's appointment this morning.  Still I did find time to sneak away Victoria's Secret to use my $10 gift card.  I decided to spend it on lip gloss, which was exactly $10 (making my total come to only 86 cents for tax).  I think I heard the sales lady groan a little bit putting free underwear and a basically free lip gloss into my bag.  I love the stuff though...the shine lasts forever!  It's called Lip Lacquer. :)  (And no I did not buy that ugly hot pink color...I bought "blush").

I stopped at New York and Company and picked up this blue top (below).  The fabric is really nice and it's perfect for a hot day at work. It's practically like a tank top but with a little cap sleeve.  I also picked up a pair of wedges I have been eyeing for a while in pearl white (call me crazy).  They finally went on clearance.  30% off plus my 15% teacher discount.  Can't beat that! 

This afternoon I went out and picked some of the beautiful lilacs growing by the apartment.  They are in full bloom right now and so stunning!  Katy had bought me a bud vase for our shower to put them in.  I love lilacs...they just brighten up any room!  Although we did find out that Luna is prone to eating them (this is not a joke), so we had to move them to the bathroom.  :)

Ride on!

Yay Carowinds!  Charlie and I bought season passes yesterday!

We both hadn't been to a theme park in 6 years (unbelievable, right?).  Still, whenever I go back after a hiatus, I get really nervous for the first couple of rides.  My stomach turns,  I get really quiet, and I have to look around to see how many small children there are so I can say to myself, "Look, Kathryn.  See?  They are all doing it!  You can, too!"  Charlie is a thrill seeker, and he'll do the tallest, fastest coaster... no matter what.

But, after the first couple of the "tallest, fastest, newest", I remember why I love roller coasters so much.

• I love how you feel like you are flying, and you lose gravity for a couple of seconds.
• I love the view from the top.
• I love the speed.
• I love how much I hate the first drop...it's so scary... and so thrilling.

I was so afraid of going on the NightHawk.  You don't sit up like in a regular roller coaster.  They strap you in like you are "flying."  I about freaked out before getting on it, but I'm so glad I did.  Two HUGE thumbs up!  It's my new favorite.

Here I am in front of NightHawk.  YAY!

Easter Sunday :)

So this is a bit belated, but we've been on our feet for the last two days...go, go, go! :)

Easter Sunday at Elevation was incredibly moving experience-- our church rented our Time Warner Cable Arena with more than 10,000 people in attendance!  The house was packed, the music was fabulous, and pastor's sermon was on point.  Our church started out with such humble roots...4 years ago it was just over 200 people big, and their first Easter Sunday was held at a retirement center. Now, with over 11,000 people in attendance, Elevation one of the fastest growing churches in the nation with an amazing cause that is changing our city: "That people far from God will be filled with life in Christ."  And they were :)

We came and set the table to Easter dinner.  Jamie came over to celebrate with us and to enjoy an Easter ham, green beans, souffle, and dinner rolls.  Oh, yes, and chocolate cake.  Nom, Nom!  Here's a picture of the table I set.  We finally have a fitting opportunity to use the new China.  It's so beautiful!

Happy Easter! :)

He is risen (Matthew 28:6)

Enjoying Spring Break :)

Today Charlie and I went for a walk again at the Greenway. (And yes I took the picture to the left!  Isn't it pretty?) We were out and about for about 2 hours and 6 miles of trekking, but it was worth it on this beautiful day!  We left around 9:00 am equipped with water for us and the dog, a backpack, sunscreen, and good walking shoes. :) The Greenway is really beautiful because you walk over decks on flood planes.  We kept saying how we couldn't believe that we hadn't done this before, considering the trail even crosses by where we used to live. 

We look gross and tired!  It was a workout!

After that it was spring cleaning time!  Finding a place for scattered junk, re-organizing, grocery shopping...the works.  You know how I roll on spring break.  I LOVE our new apartment, and we have so much more room...but cleaning two bathrooms is a lot more than just one.  And dusting two bathrooms takes a lot more time than dusting just one.  Everything seems to take twice as long.  I can't imagine adding yard work on to that.  Geeze.  I'm lucky if I get the porch swept!  Eventually when we buy a house one day, I can't see us buying a monster.  I like smaller, cozy, and ORGANIZED.  I stumbled upon this youtube sensation video the other day... can you imagine living like THIS!?!?!  Pretty wild.  Although I can't say I disagree with many of his points.  

Happy almost Easter everyone!! :)