I'm Going to Stand Up and Sing

Five Things I'm Thankful For This Week:

Fundraisers with good food, great friends, and gratifying causes

Dinners with wise women, choice cuisine, and fascinating fellowship

Projects with hand sketches, creative solutions, and plenty of firsts

Puppies with wagging tails, playful agendas, and muddy paws

Maxi dresses and skirts with pointy-toed flats (or boots), interesting details, and the perfect accessories

I'm also extremely thankful for God's timing and his providential nature over everything we do.

He has a plan.  One that is and always will be better than anything I could ever dream up.

Title: "Too Deep to Fill" by Ryan Bingham

There's No In-Between

    Today I took a much needed break from everything and went shopping.  It didn't feel like a marathon shopping trip that normally takes place when you combine Mom, myself, and the simple fact that we haven't shopped in about a month (or two or three).  What was going to be a simple trip around Southaven, running to return things to Dillard's, picking up framed items from Nebco, and a Target trip turned into a jaunt to Free People and Anthropologie, who just happen to be conveniently located right next door to each other.  We also stopped by a pet grooming store, where I came to the final conclusion that I am going to have to get Oscar groomed (super sad).  How do you pick a groomer?  Dad is pretty convinced that PetSmart/Petco should be in the running while Mom and I are firmly against it.  I really hate the idea that I'm going to have to cut all his hair, but if I don't it will just keep growing until he looks like this:

(Photo Credit for Photo 1 and Photo 2)

And personally, I think Oscar will be so much more happy when he can see and without a literal mop of hair.  (Plus, I don't think his owners, aka me, would really like to manually separate each cord so they don't get matted together.  I am just not that patient.)  So, I'm on the look out for a really awesome groomer.  If you know of one, please let me know.  I'm looking for someone a little artistic because my poor puppy dog is not just going to get shaved and be done with it.  He's going to get hair cuts.

     On an entirely different note, tomorrow the ladies of my church are headed to a weekend long retreat to further commune with God.  A few ladies from the church are giving their testimonies, including my Mother, who warned me this morning that there will be weeping involved.  I can only imagine what she will be talking about but just thinking about her speaking brings tears to my eyes, so who knows what actually hearing her talk will be like.  I'm really looking forward to this weekend.  All of the women in the church are wonderful ladies and I can't wait to get to know them better.  However, it will mean that I will probably be absent from the blog again for a good while (all weekend and even Monday).  Before my hiatus, I had decided that I was going to take Sunday off from blogging, which means I'll really only be missing two posts (Saturday and Monday).  I hope you enjoy your weekend, I know I will mine!

Title: "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest

I'm Waiting on a Sign

     Through a complete accident today (aka Twitter) I found this amazing NEW CD that was released TODAY (well, yesterday) of Christmas songs that are either original compositions or new versions of older hits.  Basically, Paste Magazine took a bunch of amazing artists and got them to record songs of their own for Christmas and released a new CD.  You can read more about the specifics here.  But you also get a super awesome, super FREE Christmas mix as a result.  You can listen to the whole CD before you download (to download all you have to do is enter your email address and your postal code).  Feel free to leave a tip for the artist, if you'd like.
     This evening a good many of the ladies from the church came over for some fellowship, good food, and some much needed words.  I was reminded that God uses everything for good which is a really nice thing to hear someone else say.  It's one thing to tell yourself that over and over and it's another to hear someone else say it.  Somewhat like it's one it's one thing to tell yourself that you can cook well and it's another to hear someone else say it.  Validation.  We all need a little validation now and then.  And a reminder that most of the emotions and desires we have aren't just our desires, they're human emotion and desires.  There's nothing new under the sun.  Nothing I have felt that you haven't. Most importantly there is nothing that either of us have felt that Jesus didn't feel while he was on Earth.

Title: "Tell Him I'm Not Ready" by Brettan Cox

Sayin' That You Oughta Laugh About It

      I know it has been customary for me to feature a collage on Mondays, but this weekend has been filled with migraine pain and other crazy strange pain (that seems to have something to do with the cold weather--I would never make it in my imaginary homeland, England).  Which all translates to I'm not in the mood for collage putting together time.
     However, I do blog for Click Magazine and if you haven't checked it out yet you should (that was my one shameless plug).  I posted my five favorite fall fashion items--collage style, of course.  So I'm using that as my stand in for today.  If you haven't already seen it, you should definitely click on over.  It kinda has some good advice (final plug I promise!).

     But for those of you who have already seen seen the post, I thought I'd add some original content.  My church had its annual Thanksgiving dinner tonight (I'm not sure what year, but it's probably at least in the late teens).  My mom helped decorate the tables, along with some other extremely talented ladies.

Title: "Sweet Sour" by Band of Skulls

My Love Is Faithful

     I love hats.  They are one of my favorite accessories.  Mostly because you can throw a hat on and in an instant become mysterious and super cool.  That and caps look pretty silly on me, but I can get away with wearing hats (you know the ones without a front bill).  I end up wearing them just about every Sunday as it blocks out the lights in my church's sanctuary that give me a headache.  So I've kind of become the self-proclaimed, stereotypical "hat lady."  (I guess that's better than "bag lady.")  Either way, I've always had a thing for hats and I've slowly started quite a collection.  I tend to stay away from anything big and floppy (though I already have two of those in my closet, I always feel a bit ridiculous in them and they aren't practical for church).  I also always make sure it has a bill (otherwise what's the point) and I love neutrals (or to be a little more honest, anything that goes with a lot of different outfits). And while I adore red colors since I've dyed my hair I have to stay away from them for now.
     I thought I'd share with you the hats that I've been dying to buy for myself these days.

1. Biltmore for Madewell Floppy Hat, $78
2. Brixton Avenue Boater Hat, $50
3. Cumbrian Fells Rancher, $68
4. Brixton Dalila Floppy Hat, $55
5. Bow Trimmed Cloche, $15
6. Staring at Stars Braided Felt Panama, $36

Title: "Silver Moon" by Roo Panes

Been a Long, Hot Summer

I know I'm a day late, but here are the 5 things I'm thankful for this week:

Clean puppies

Hardworking volunteers

Part-time jobs

(photo credit: my boss, Sondra)

God's plans

(photo credit: link above)

Lasting Stories

Title: "Road to Somewhere" by Goldfrapp

They're the Memories I'll Always Keep With Me

     Even though it's Sunday and today is usually the day for my five items of thankfulness, I'm going to do something a little different.  I finally got off my lazy bum and posted all of the pictures that I took for City Project on Facebook (I had only posted Wednesday dinner until this afternoon).  I think it's highly unfair for me to keep the final two days from you and not share them until Monday.   So my Five Things post is getting moved to tomorrow and you're finally going to see Friday's work night and Saturday's dinner photos.  You're welcome.

Title: "Glory Days" by Roo Panes

Friday Work Night

Saturday Dinner