30 Days of Lists - Day 30

Today was a crazy, crazy day, and thus perfect for the list topic: To-Do List

1. Do laundry.(check)  I ended up doing four loads, including the bed sheets, comforter, John's dress shirts, and some towels. I folded the laundry while watching 18 Kids and Counting on Netflix streaming. It made me feel productive to watch the Duggars (all 18) running around the house whilst I was busy keeping my own home tidy. This fact becomes even more relevant to list item #6. 

2. Go to workout class. (check) Today was a mixture of cardio, kick-boxing, and crunches. 

3. Find birthday card for Grandpa Jim. (check) It's a cute one with birds and a mailbox with cards inside. 

4. Email John about mom's computer. (check) He's watching out for her and making sure she gets enough RAM in her new computer. I have no idea what that means, but I conveyed the information.

5. Send off our taxes. (nope) The tax guy has yet to confirm that the forms are correct and complete. Hopefully tomorrow (fingers crossed...)

6. Go to Walmart. (check) I went to get John some tennis shoes and to look at purses for the summer. While wandering through the aisles, I was blocked off by two ladies in denim skirts talking at the aisle cap.....MRS. DUGGAR AND A DAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!! NOT TWO HOURS PRIOR, I WAS WATCHING HER CLEAN THE KITCHEN ON 18 Kids and Counting!!!! Is there a hole torn somewhere in the universe? Have I broken through to the fourth dimension? Is she judging me for wearing jeans? None of these questions have been answered...

After all that excitement, I almost forgot what I went into Walmart for, but I recovered and made some sensible purchases (Mrs. Duggar would have been pleased). I came home, finished folding laundry, and updated facebook with my amazing adventure. I think tonight I'm going to watch Atonement and Penelope just to see if James McAvoy shows up at Starbucks tomorrow. Fingers crossed....

30 Days of Lists - Day 26-29

It's been a few days, and I apologize for that. I was gone this weekend and didn't even have a chance to look at the lists until last night. So, I will now attempt four lists at once. (drumroll, please...)




#26 BOOKS I'D LIKE TO READ THIS YEAR

• Elisabeth Elliot's Passion and Purity: Learning Christ's Control and The Path of Loneliness
• Amy Carmichael's If
• A.J. Bueltmann's White Queen of the Cannibals: The Story of Mary Slessor of Calabar
• Jamie Zumwalt's Simple Obsession
• C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity
• Carolyn Mahaney's Feminine Appeal (reread)
• Joshua Harris' Dug Down Deep

#27 LESSONS LEARNED

• Marriage is harder than you ever thought it could be, but it's also more rewarding than you could ever imagine. 
• At 27, it's still okay to miss your mom sometimes.
• Wax paper is not oven-proof, and it's not the same as parchment paper.
• If you follow the recipe, chances are you can make pretty decent food.
• God blesses us so that we can, in turn, bless others. 
• It's completely possible to live without cable television. You'll probably even learn to like it.
• Sometimes, you just have to admit you're wrong. 
• Taxes are just inherently evil. 
• Every girl likes to dress up every now and then.

#28 VACATIONS TO TAKE

• The Gospel Coalition 2011 in Chicago - yep, we're going. We are super, super, super pumped about this one. Three days of awesome Christian speakers, authors, bloggers, and pastors such as: Matt Chandler, Mark Driscoll, Don Carson, Kevin DeYoung, John Piper, Joshua Harris, Tim Keller, and tons more. 
• The Grand Canyon (maybe next year?) - I've never been.
• Seattle - we went for our honeymoon, and I fell in love with it. I want to go back!
• New Zealand - John and I are thinking maybe we'll save up and go for our 25th anniversary. Fingers crossed. 
• Switzerland - I so, so, so want to stand in front of Swiss chateaus and nibble on Swiss chocolate...

#29 FAVORITE FOODS

• Favorite Dessert - cheesecake, hands down. On our honeymoon we had red velvet cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory, and I almost melted with happiness. It was the best thing I had ever tasted in my life, and I am pretty sure if I had a week to live I would consume the entire tri-state supply en masse.
• Favorite Vegetable - sweet potatoes. They're delicious in pretty much any form you prepare them: baked whole, baked as fries, mashed, cubed and roasted, boiled....yep, pretty much delicious all the time. 
• Favorite Side Dish - broccoli and cheese. Yum.
• Favorite Italian Dish - lasagna. It's been my favorite since I was quite little, and I still love it.
• Favorite Mexican Dish - chicken enchiladas. With sour cream and no guacamole (I'm allergic to avocados).
• Favorite Snack Food - Ritz peanut butter snack crackers.
• Favorite Splurge - Pretzel M&Ms. Especially if they're frozen.
• Favorite New Food - Greek yogurt. I think I like it because it reminds me of cheesecake. I just found it about a month ago and have been seduced by it's health benefits. 
• Favorite Coffee - skinny caramel latte from Mama Carmen's on College Ave. 

30 Days of Lists - Day 25

Today's list was supposed to be entitled "Things I'd Rather Be Doing," but since that takes on a somewhat negative tone, I'd like to modify it to "Things I Get to Do." Here we go...

• I get to go to dinner tonight with an awesome couple who make their own yogurt, grill bratwursts, and host community group in their home at least twice a month. Plus, they both teach full-time at different schools. They're kind of awesome. 
• I get to visit my in-laws this weekend in Mena, which means a 2.5 hour road trip with my husband. We're going to listen to Matt Chandler's series on Habakkuk, which we have both been waiting patiently on (we agreed not to listen to any of the series until he was finished). 
• I get to write, and have it published in the newspaper. Like, as a job.
• I get to make my husband homemade trail mix because I love him and care about his health. This week's recipe includes Cascadian Farms granola and dried blueberries.
• I get to ride my bicycle. 
• I get to experience a shooting range (this weekend, under supervised conditions, because I'm a Southern girl and that's what we do). 
• I get to collect craft ideas with the hope of someday actually "crafting," and in fact "crafting" so well that I no longer have to buy Christmas or birthday gifts but can simply give my crafts away as presents to those I adore most. 
• I get to look at pictures of the cutest newborn baby in the world, Evelyn June. 
• I get to pull my hair to the side because it's long enough to actually work and I think it looks really retro.
• I get to stream movies and tv shows live because my husband and I decided Netflix was a good investment. 
• I get to buy fresh vegetables and flowers and fruit at the Fayetteville Farmers' Market (in 8 days!!!)

Retro hairstyle. And retro sunglasses.

30 Days of Lists - Day 24

DAY 24 - "I Make Lists For..."

30 Days of Lists - Day 23