Fashion Fun

I am so ready for fall weather! I simply cannot wait for the cooler temps and all the cute sweaters and hoodies we'll get to wear. Did a little bit of fall shopping today with my best friend. We braved the mall, chowed down on some delicious Chinese food, and ended up with some fun new clothes! Good times. This fall I will be buying some cute chic sweaters, cardigans, dreamy soft sweatshirts and hoodies, as well as so many colored cami's to layer with. I think layering clothes is one of my all time favorite looks. Today I scored a really fun short-sleeved cardigan that is white and raspberry striped. I could wear it with anything! I think my favorite part about going shopping is just looking around and seeing what everybody else is wearing, and how they pair an outfit together. Lately I've been on the hunt for things to wear to work and my classes. I have all morning classes this semester (those will definitely be written about) so I've been looking for things to wear. As my friend so perfectly put it: "It's 8am. You want to look decent and not look like you've just rolled out of bed. But you also don't want to walk in with layers of makeup caked on your face." American Eagle has some super fun sweatshirts and longsleeves that I'm waiting on my next paycheck to get. They're comfy, casual, and cute. My perfect "8am look"

Misproportioned

I really admire the artists who create and draw mangas. There is so much detail and depth in just black and white form. I love the little doodles and random notes they write among the pages of their stories, and I also love it when they draw out of proportion! While immensely enjoying the Prince of Tennis series, there were some fun photos in between the chapters that just made me laugh out loud. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
(I apologize that they didn't show up as big as I had wanted them too!!)

No Fear

Sometimes my mouth becomes a heavily locked gate, and no words are allowed in or out. Half of me tries to open my mouth and scream what needs to be said, while the other half is pulling me back, wanting me to just keep silent. The words tremble at the tip of my tongue like the hooves of a racehorse pawing at the gate. They keep waiting and waiting, but sometimes the gate remains shut. I bite my lip as the situation fades away, and suddenly my words are no longer needed. Or are they? The words left unsaid are the ones that we regret. When looking back on our lives we always think “Oh I wish I'd said that,” or “Why did I let that go without saying anything?” It's a game we play with ourselves. So often we'll say inside, “Oh I'll say it next time.” But what if there isn't a next time? What if suddenly the chance to say those words ever again are ripped away from you for forever.

We don't know what the future holds. We could die tomorrow. We could die tonight. We'd like so much to believe that we're invincible, or that we'll last forever. But we're forgetting that our lives are but a vapor in the wind. We won't be here forever. I don't know about you, but I don't want to die leaving things unsaid. Tell someone you love them, let someone know you care. I know this is said a lot but they're things that need to be said. We can't just go on acting as if we'll live forever. Laugh often, take chances, say the things you need to say, try new things, and please, oh please, don't be afraid. Just because our life is short, doesn't mean we have to fear death. God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, for YOU. Jesus took your place on the cross, and not only did He pay the price for my sins, and the sins of the world, but for yours as well. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life." ~John 3:16. I'm a sinner. Unworthy and undeserving of life. Yet the Creator of everything loved us, loved you, SO much that He was willing to give up His Son for you. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” Notice that it's a gift.

It's not something that we could ever pay for. How do we receive this gift of eternal life? Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” All you have to do is believe that Jesus died for you, and not only that, but that He rose again on the third day, defeating sin and death. Because He has defeated sin and death, we no longer have to fear it! Believe on Him, and you will be saved. This gift of eternal life will happen the moment you trust in Him, and you can never lose that gift of salvation. John 10:28 says, "I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand." And then again in 1 John 5:13 we are told, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God (Jesus) that you may know that you have eternal life.” No longer do we have to fear death! Once we are saved in Christ we are always saved. All you have to do is cry out to Him, and He will rescue you.

Time Flies

Where did the summer go? Where do I begin! My summer was beyond incredibly amazing. Words couldn't even come close to describing it. I spent most of my summer out in the country among rolling green hills, endless blue skies, and beyond the reach of cellphone service and an internet connection(: Every year, since the time I've been old enough, come the middle of June I come to contemplate the age old question of: How do I fit everything in my closet into my suitcase. Anywho, so I pack up my bags (notice it didn't all fit in just one) and off I go! Where do I go? To my second home: a Bible camp nestled among green hills, gravel roads, a winding river, and a sparkling blue lake. It was a wonderful summer! Now that I'm home, it's back to real life for me (which means more posts on a regular basis). I can't believe that school starts in two weeks! Yikes! Where did summer go? Ahhh it was such a good one though. And I'm looking forward to this new chapter in my life. I'm officially starting college, I have a part-time job, and this fall semester is looking to be an adventure. I'll make mistakes, make new friends, learn new things, try new things, and above all, try to live my life in a way that would glorify the Lord the most.

P.S. I love, love, love the way they filmed/designed this video. Super cool! Way to use the stop-motion technique!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyMhvkC3A84&feature=related

Tennis, Anyone?

I forgot how much I loved to play tennis. Honestly, I'm not very good but I just enjoy playing it. Lately I've been incredibly inspired by the anime series The Prince of Tennis. Oh how I would love to be that good! I also have way too much fun watching that series, it always makes me laugh! Anywho, tonight I got to play with my friend from Singapore, and found out that he watches the Prince of Tennis too! It kinda made my night(: So from here on out you'll be seeing me at the tennis courts on a regular basis. I'll be sure to post if I learn any awe inspiring moves as well ;)

Oh! I've found my new favorite song! I can't tell you how many times I've listened to it today. I keep playing it over and over again on my laptop and my Ipod(: Hooray for the repeat button!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEzas-F_aKA

Unofficial Sisters

So I have these two best friends. Growing up together, we have known each other our whole lives, and for me they're even closer than best friends. Kindred spirits? Definitely. When I'm around them I never have to worry about what they think of me, and I know that they accept me for who I am. So when we hang out I can relax and just be myself. Sometimes I think they know me better than I know myself! They might as well be my unofficial sisters. Seeing them always brightens my day, and no matter how long we're together I always hate to leave. We talk about the randomest things, and we've actually considered about doing a video blog. Even tonight we talked about the three of us sharing a blog and posting all our weird, strange topics that seem to come up when we're with each other. It's always so fun! I'm so thankful for the friends in my life, and I'm especially grateful for these two.

On a random side note, (See, what'd I tell you? My train of thought makes no sense), I found this really funny blog post. I'm determined to do this. http://colormekatie.blogspot.com/2011/06/planking.html

Point of View

Spinning circles, clicking buttons, the sound of rewinding, and a sudden flash of light. A memory captured. A moment in time suspended in a single frame. Smiling faces etched against a brilliant background. Vivid colors twist and swirl as the light and dark collide. Gears are whirling, voices are echoing, and light is filtering through. Twisting, turning, twirling, whirling, and then suddenly: freeze! The wheels in my mind are turning, and a sensation fills me with yearning, as I gaze through a new point of view. A view from behind that sets things into perspective, and lets me see the world in a whole new way. Seeking to capture, seeking to find, that one perfect moment to be embedded forever inside. Creativity flows, imagination glows, and all the while a passion burns. Then the magic of ink and color intertwine as I finally capture that moment in time. The frame is suspended, and the memory embedded, and again the joy is mine. The joy of the moment, the satisfaction of completion, all comes from just one simple thing. Something I like to call: photography