Oh, and the World Spins Madly On: May 2011

5.25.2011

Roam.

I think I might have found my latest ~~time waster~~ inspiration website.

A blog that brings words to life through pictures. Why didn't I think of that?

Anthro, you are so smart!

5.23.2011

People are So Dang Creative!

Source: dougswordclock.com via Anette on Pinterest

Source: us.mc824.mail.yahoo.com via Erin on Pinterest

Source: scotchandscones.tumblr.com via Erin on Pinterest

Source: coolmaterial.com via Erin on Pinterest

Source: designboom.com via Erin on Pinterest

Source: None via Bjorn on Pinterest

Source: fastmac.com via Patricia on Pinterest

Source: dreamfarm.com.au via Heather on Pinterest

Source: design-milk.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Isn't it amazing that God gave people minds to come up with such creative ideas?

5.18.2011

Inspired by this post by the adorable, talented, and real Emily Henderson, the words of Frou Frou, and the desire for this blog to be about not just the pretty parts of life, but the messy parts as well, here are the thoughts that are really swimming in my head a majority of days.

Moving is stressful, emotional, and tiring. If you have moved across the country you know this, heck if you have moved down the street you know that. It is stressful because there are so many moving pieces that have to fit together like the perfect jigsaw puzzle (and all cost money). If one doesn't fit, it makes all the other pieces unusable. Also adding to the stress, in the months of prep for moving there is still normal life going on, and for me that means school, work, friends, and sleep (or lack thereof). It is emotional because if you are anything like me and you are already an emotional being from the start, then add saying goodbye to people you love, leaving a life that is very comfortable, and a city that feels like home into the mix and you are asking for emotional wreckage. Stress plus emotion equals tired, in my life.

This trifecta typically plays itself out (daily) on the phone with my mother one of two ways, crying or cussing. The topic of conversation with my sweet, patient, and loving mother is usually finances (98% of the time), how tired I am (75%), what if I never make it as a Set Decorator and move all the way to California for nothing which inevitably leads back into finances (60%), grades and school (55%), how much I am not looking forward to packing up my house (30%), the fact that I am organizing all of the pieces of my move and packing by myself (29%), what to do if I can't transfer with Anthropologie (22%), how I would love to change my major to Art History instead of Interior Design (10%), how God has continued to show me that He is a God that is good, provides, and is for me, and that this move and my desire to work in film and television come as no surprise to Him and actually He is the one who put them there, and that this right now, this stressful, emotional, and tiring place in life is exactly where God has me so that I will know Him best and that His glory will be revealed to other people (5%).

I feel like if I could take the 5% and put a 10 in front of it all of the other percentages would flip flop. I would start really looking at how the Lord has crafted my heart with a desire for Art History and see what that looks like for the future, my heart would trust that God is going to provide a job for me whether it is at Anthropologie or somewhere else and if it isn't Anthro it is because He wants me elsewhere, I would realize that God is there in every aspect of this move so I am not alone, the daunting task of cleaning out my house would be an opportunity to recognize that every moment no matter how ordinary is a holy moment in life where God has me, my value would come in knowing Christ and his love for me and not in a grade on a sheet of paper, I would remember that the Lord is the one would gives jobs and all I have to do is love God, know He loves me, and go for it, I would ask the Lord to give me strength from Him when I am exhausted, and instead of worrying about money to the point of tears I would hold money loosely, knowing that security in finances is not where real security is found, it is in Christ alone.

I have been camping out in Psalm 131 this week. The Lord has used the words tenderly in my heart...

¹God, I'm not trying to rule the roost, I don't want to be king of the mountain.
I haven't meddled where I have no business

or fantasized grandiose plans.

² I've kept my feet on the ground,

I've cultivated a quiet heart.

Like a baby content in its mother's arms,

my soul is a baby content.

³ Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.

Hope now; hope always!

-Psalm 131
The Message

5.17.2011

Prolific.

Adjective. Producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring.

This week my Photoshop project was to take a word from the list my teacher gave us and bring it to life in a way that represents what the word means. Have you ever thought that much about the word prolific? I hadn't.

5.13.2011

Bird's Nest.

So next time you don't have time to fix your hair and someone says, "your hair looks like a bird's nest" you can take it as a compliment and reply, "why thank you!"

Source: put-a-bird-on-it.tumblr.com via Anette on Pinterest

5.09.2011

The Romantics.

My Art History classes (all 4 of them) have been my favorite courses that I have taken since going back to school. I love learning about the details like brushwork, lighting, form, and composition, as well as the culture at the time and how that formed the artist's or architect's piece of work. This quarter I am in a class that studies Art History from Baroque until 20th century.
We are at the Romantics right now and it is probably my favorite time period to study so far. The Romantics wanted to evoke emotion via art since the church was going through the counter-reformation and trying to bring people back to a place of deep inner spiritual life. I think I would have fit in perfectly art wise during the Romantics movement. They were brooding, looked deep behind the meanings of things, loved poetry, nature, and imagination, and believed that talent as an artist was a God given gift. (Politically I don't so much think I would have fit in with them.)
This past Thursday we were looking at Winter Landscape with Church by Friedrich and it brought tears to my eyes. As a class we were discussing what the painting represented in a life with Christ and I could not help but be overcome with emotion at the beauty of Jesus. That he gives broken (hearted) people (the little boy sitting in the snow against the rock) the chance to sit at the feet of the cross (notice the cross in the tree) and be healed (in their hearts) and have hope in life beyond this one (the gate with the church in the background). Absolutely beautiful.

5.07.2011

Sweet Home Alabama.

Some of you readers may or may not know that I used to live in Alabama. Auburn to be exact. Unless you have been living under a rock the past few weeks you know that Tuscaloosa was hit hard by the tornadoes that ripped through the southeast. You can support the people of the great state of Alabama by purchasing one of Maggie Crisler's awesome t-shirts. A portion of the money goes to Red Cross of Alabama. And, don't worry the shirts come in beautiful War Eagle navy and orange as well as Roll Tide crimson and gray.

5.04.2011

Toes in the Sand.

Yesterday I bought Essie's Sand Tropez nail polish,

and it makes me want to be in Santa Monica,

Source: sunsurfer.tumblr.com via Wendys on Pinterest

or Malibu,

Source: google.com via Jess on Pinterest

or Venice Beach, with my bike of course.

Source: flickr.com via Eva on Pinterest

Oh wait, I will be. Living there! In less than 2 months.

Ahhhhhhh! That is me internally freaking out, with both excitement and fear.

5.02.2011

Awake My Soul.

Friday afternoon my roommate, Melissa, and I loaded up the car, filled up on Chick-fil-A and hit the road for Memphis. About twenty minutes outside Dallas I told Melissa I could finally breathe, obviously my soul needed to be refreshed. Awake my soul...

My sweet Mimi hosted us all weekend...