My Attempt At Learning to Sew. It Can't Be That Hard...Right?

I have this natural tendency to underestimate the amount of effort a project will take.  Or maybe it's more that I overestimate my ability.  Regardless, my famous last words are usually, "How hard can it be?"  This is the same logic I used when I convinced myself I knew how to sew.  I had never sewn a thing in my life, but I was sure I could figure it out.  Most people would start with a pillow or curtains.  Maybe they take a class or learn from a sweet grandmotherly figure.  I saw this great little black dress from J Crew and figured that a strapless dress couldn't be that hard to make.  It's pretty much a big tube of fabric with a zipper, right?  How hard can it be? 

12 hours and one ill fitting blob of black fabric later and I had learned my lesson.  My next sewing project was a nice chevron pillow that was probably much better suited for my sewing ability. 

But...this is the Year of Do.  No excuses.  So, I pulled out my sewing machine one more time and attempted a new project.  This time, I would make Christmas gifts for the women on my staff team.  They work ridiculously hard and deserve much more than a homemade gift, but I was hoping the thought and personal touch would go a long way. 

I decided on aprons.  You wouldn't think that a job in campus ministry would require much baking, but between cookies for bible study, snacks for staff meeting, and Christmas/Thanksgiving dinners for students, I would say I bake for my job at least once a week. 

So off to the fabric store I went.  Did I use a pattern?  Of course not, because once again, how hard could aprons be.  Apparently I didn't learn my lesson the first time.  (If you haven't guessed it by now, this will not be a tutorial on how to make aprons.  Sorry Pinterest.)

Christmas came and went, and I was still knee deep in half finished aprons.  I almost had them done at one point around the beginning of January when all of a sudden my sewing machine stopped working and started emitting a pretty strong smoke smell into my house.  The sewing machine got fixed (mom saves the day once again), and the saga of the aprons continued...and continued....and continued. 

Yesterday I had all of our staff women over for a Staff Women's Appreciation Brunch.  We encouraged and prayed for one another and ate our fill of freshly baked cinnamon rolls, and just when we were about to leave, I finally gave them the aprons that had become a labor of love. 

 

 

And it was completely worth it.  Have I mentioned lately that I love my job and the people I work with?  If I haven't said it yet, just a warning, you may hear that a lot this year.  

Happieness Is Cuddling With a Couch Full of Sleeping Puppies

Today was one of those days were few things go right.  Not to the point where it's considered a bad day, but just so that at the end of the day when your soda explodes all over you and you stand dripping in the kitchen, you think to yourself, "That sounds about right."

It all started as I overestimated my ability to drink coffee.  Next time I'll have to remember that one doughnut is not enough to absorb the caffeine in 4 cups of coffee, no matter how tired you are.  If attempted, it will result in hours of uncontrollable hand tremors. 

The day really went downhill from there.  By the end, I had tripped and fallen flat on my face (not at all caused by my over consumption of caffeine I'm sure), been peed on by a sweet little puppy, managed to run a consistent 10 minutes behind all day, and then, there was the exploding soda incident to top it all off. 

But...there is one thing that I'm convinced can redeem any day. 

 

 

A couch full of sleeping puppies snuggled up under a blanket.  If you can't tell, that is my, "Just kill me now because life can't get much better than this" face.

 

There may have also been chocolate chip cookies involved in this moment, contributing to the coma like state I seem to be deeply immersed in.

 

 



The Year of "Yes" and "Why Not"

I'm starting to think this year is less about doing those the things that I have always had in mind to do, and more about saying yes to random opportunities.  Not that I wont actually accomplish the things I've wanted to do for a long time (don't worry, I'm still planning on traveling, repainting my coffee table, and reading through the bible in a year), but I've found that the best things so far this year have come by saying "yes" to completely unforeseen circumstances.  Want to eat pizza by a bonfire on the beach?  Of Course!  Want to drive to DC for a spontaneous visit to one of your best girlfriends?  Why not! 

This past weekend was a great example. 

Who wants to load up their car and take 7 students to Charlotte for a conference about how to invest their lives in a significant way?

This Girl!

 

 

It's supposed to rain and be 26 degrees for the entire four hour drive to Charlotte.  Are you sure you're still up for this?

Sure...why not!  As long as we stop once an hour to chip the ice off the windshield and drive slow we should be fine.  It's an adventure...right?

 

 



You have two free hours during Saturday afternoon.  Stay in the hotel and nap or load up the car and help your students explore Charlotte?

 

Let's be honest here, that's not even a real question.  We'll just hit up the best coffee shop in the world...Amelies French Bakery

Followed by the best burger in the world...Bad Daddy's

 

 

It really was a fun weekend.  The students there were challenged to consider how they might serve God in whatever it is God calls them to after college, and I really do love a good road trip.  I would normally talk myself out of taking such a trip.  The weather is too bad, I've been to so many conferences already this year, there is probably someone else on our team who could have gone.  But if I had talked myself out of it, look at all the things I would have missed, icy adventures and exploring my old town with new friends.  It makes me wonder what else might be in store this year if I keep saying "yes" to opportunities in front of me.

 

Who knows...literally anything could happen.

Tennis Balls, Chicken Timers, and Other Hostess Gifts

In my last post, Spontaneity Is Great, But Sometimes You Have To Plan For It, I recounted my weekend as my good friend and former student, Brittany, visited town and took part in the Year of Do with me.  We sat on the beach, talked about life and future plans, discovered a hidden mailbox in the dunes of Wrightsville Beach, attempted to eat like vegans (a hard feat for a girl who loves hamburgers), and then promptly gave up eating like birds and ate pepperoni pizza next to a campfire on a beach. 

It really was a great weekend.

Although, not nearly as great as the house-warming/thank you gift my roommate and I received from Brittany today. 

(The house-warming gift, complete with a typed out explanation for why she included each item)

 

 

Let me take a moment and share with you her gifts and insights.  I promise, this is word for word.  I can't make this stuff up.



 

 

Explanation of This Random Belated House-Warming Gift

 

 

Guacamole Bowl- Y'all officially have the BEST guacamole bowl ever!  It's totally legit.  Now you have to invite friends over for Guacamole Parties...and by friends I mean me!  You can also now go to Mexican restaurants and B.Y.O.B (Bring Your Own Bowl), that way they have less to wash and you can feel environmentally friendly.



 

Chicken Timer- This is Cluckapoo.  His nickname is Clucky.  Everyone needs a chicken timer in their kitchen to let them know when their lovely meals are ready!  As a vegan, I would ask you to not harm this chicken in any form or fashion.  Never call him Cluckapoo on Mondays from 6:39am- 8:43pm, Wednesdays from 5:03pm- 1:23am, and Fridays from 2:14am-5:31am.

Nerf Guns- To Practice for skeet shooting, or to just shoot at each other because that's always fun.  Make sure you carry these everywhere in the event of a Zombie attack, and because they include travel clips!  They also come with permits, so no worries.

                             

 

Tennis Balls- To practice tennis so y'all can be the next Wilmington Tennis Stars.  I heard that the next big reality show is going to be "Tennis with the Stars" and Wilmington is so big in the film industry, so where else would producers be looking than where you live!  Start brushing up on your skills so you can be on the show and then meet Sean from the Bachelor (because you know that all reality stars hang out together all the time) and woo him with your tennis skills!

 

                         

 

 

Garlic Press- Even though I taught you that nifty trick on how to mince garlic...a garlic press is much easier to use.  This should help you make guacamole a lot faster to put in your awesome guacamole bowl for your life changing Guacamole Parties.  Once y'all become reality TV stars y'all can use your garlic press when they ask each of you to be on Iron Chef: Tennis Star Edition.

 



Chocolate- Who doesn't like chocolate?

 

 

THE END

 

 

It's ok...you can say it...I have the coolest friends in the world.

 

But really, I know I have said it before, and I have a feeling it won't be the last time this year, the Year of Do would not be nearly this fun if it weren't for friends who join in on all the excitment.  I mean, eating a pepperoni pizza next to a bonfire on the beach after a failed attempt at being a vegan just sounds sad.  But, doing it with friends...now that just makes a great story.

 

Here's to lots of great stories with fun friends this year!

Sponteneity is great, but sometimes you have to plan for it

I like to think that I am spontaneous, that I could decide on a moments notice to take a road trip, pack my bags in 10 minutes and run out the door on a great adventure.  But the reality is that I'm really not.  I like a good plan.  Not one that is necessarily written in stone and can't be changed if the feeling strikes, but I like to know what to expect, and what I'm doing, and I hate missing out on something I'm looking forward to because I didn't plan well.  I'm not talking a minute by minute agenda, but I do like to know where I'm going and what I'm doing, or at least know that someone else has it covered. 

 

So, when my good friend, and former student, Brittany came into town for the weekend to partake in the Year of Do, a little bit of planning was in order for our spontaneously fun weekend.  And it was indeed fun. 

 

We read on the beach...

 

 

(Did I mention this is January and I am wearing shorts and laying on the beach!!!)

 

 



We cooked an entirely vegan meal...

 

(Brittany and Ellen eating Kale, pesto pasta, guacamole, chick pea salad, and pomegranate tea)

 

 

We took a walk to the secret mailbox on Wrightsville Beach...

(If you haven't ever been, I highly recommend it!  People write anonymous notes and leave it in this mailbox in the dunes.  And...it's kind of an adventure to find.)

(Secret mailbox on Wrightsville Beach is no longer a secret...oops!)

(Just one more of the mailbox.  I know...how cool is my town!)

(The long walk back from the secret mailbox.  It took us a lot longer to find it than it should have.)

And, to top it all off, I got a letter from AARP!  Wait...I really am too young for this to be happening right?

(You can kind of see the new haircut in this picture...maybe...OK...I'll post a better one later.) 

 

 

It was a great weekend with lots of laughs, lots of beach time, and lots of girl talk about life.  I'm starting to realize that this whole Year of Do would be far less fun if it weren't for great people to experience life with me.  

New Year, New Hairdo

I haven't had my hair cut in a year.  ONE WHOLE YEAR!  That's 365 days, 525,600 minutes, approximately 730 cups of coffee, two cities I have called home, and just one hair cut that has encompasses it all.  I will be the first to admit that I don't like change.  I once almost cried because I felt a sentimental attachment to my wireless router that had to be replaced.  But, this is getting a little ridiculous (the need of a new hair cut, not the wireless router of course).

So, I made the leap a few days ago.  Not only did I find a new hairdresser (one of the biggest reasons to never move towns), but I also got a completely different look.  Well, actually it's the same look, just three inches shorter with a lot more layers.

A year as epic as 2013 is going to be should have it's very own hairstyle.

Oh, and there will be pictures to come.  I've been trying to take one for the last few days, but they haven't turned out, so, I'll just leave you sitting in anticipation for now.  The fun is in the waiting...right?

If it's good enough for Kelly Kapowski, it's good enough for me

I think it may be time to publicly declare something I've been hiding for years.  Deep breath...here it goes.  I LOVE MY JEAN JACKET!

This isn't the fleeting love of a new or reborn fashion trend.  I've had my beloved jacket since college, and even when the trend started waining, I could never quite bring myself to add it to the Goodwill pile.  But until recently, jean jackets weren't really in vogue, so there it sat, in the back corner of my closet, sandwiched between an Argentine soccer jersey and a 10 year old sea foam green, sequin and taffeta prom dress, sad and abandoned, but never forgotten.  Oh sure, I would pull it out every once in a while for an 80s themed party, but never in a way that showcased my true love for it. 

But (have you noticed all great stories have a game changing "but" thrown in somewhere), something wonderful has happened recently.  Apparently the 80s are back in fashion.  With one small nod of approval from the the fashion industry, it is now culturally appropriate to wear hot pink leggings, off the shoulder sweatshirts, neon green sunglasses, and....wait for it....jean jackets. 

So, I'm making it official.  I...love...my....jean...jacket.  Here are just a few pictures that showcase my true obsession for this wardrobe staple. 

(At a graduation party with the senior girls from Winthrop University)

(That's right, I even wore it while emceeing out weekly meeting last week!)



Spontaneous Spamalot

When it's the Year of Do and a college friend calls spur of the moment with two of the last tickets to see the local production of Spamalot, really the only appropriate answer is, "Why not!" 

(My Year of Do Accomplice for the night)

 

 

And, seeing a show at Thallian Hall has been on my Wilmington Bucket List for the last few months.  Just one more thing I've been meaning to do that I hadn't gotten around to yet.

 

Overcoming Glossophobia

I really hate public speaking.  I blame it on a five minute speech I was supposed to do on Colonial America in the 8th grade.  I say "supposed to'" because I think I only got about 1 minute and 34 seconds into it before I lost consciousness and hit the floor.  And to make matters worse, the assignment required us to dress up as our speech topic that day.  That's right, as if passing out in front of your 8th grade class wasn't bad enough, I did it while wearing a bonnet and an apron.  The only redeeming qualities to this event were a wonderfully compassionate teacher, and that it happened before the days of video capable smart phones and YouTube.  Thank you lack of technology!

So, to say that I hate public speaking is probably an understatement.  But, I have gotten better at it the older I have gotten.  My job kind of demands it, and lucky for me, I haven't actually passed out while speaking since that fateful day in the 8th grade. 

Which leads me to Thursday night.  Somehow I found myself on stage, filling in for our normal emcee at our weekly meeting on campus. 

                                                               (a little nervous)

But, isn't that what this year is kind of about?  Taking risks I wouldn't normally take and trying things that are outside of my comfort zone. 

And to be honest, it was actually kind of fun.  Who knew!?!?! 

Cookie Baking at 6 am

6 am

        as in 6 in the morning

              as in, it's still dark outside


I work in full-time college ministry.  Very rarely, if ever, do I see 6 am on a clock.  And I'm VERY ok with that.  But there I was, yesterday morning, wide awake, laying in bed, with an hour and a half until my alarm was supposed to go off. 

If this was any other year, I would roll over and do everything in my power to will myself back to sleep.  But this isn't any other year.  This is the Year Of Do.  This is the year I actually accomplish things, work towards goals, and in general become a more productive person. 

So instead of rightfully claiming my extra hour and a half of blissful sleep, I rolled out of bed.  I walked (stumbled) down the stairs, and I did what any sane person would do at six in the morning. I baked cookies. 

    
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies to be exact.  With the help of a very strong cup of coffee, I was ready to go, cookies in hand, to our 9am staff meeting that morning.  Productive and delicious.  I should wake up at six more often.  Or...maybe just bake the night before.  We are calling this foray into early morning baking a Year of Do success!

The Year of Do

So..."The Year of Do."  One of the first times I mentioned the name of this blog to someone, their first response was, "As in Mountain Dew?" 

Well...not exactly, although the confusion is understandable. 

Like I said in my inaugural post, I love the possibilities of a new year.  Anything can happen.  Call it a gut feeling, or maybe wishful thinking, but there is something about 2013 that feels like it is going to be an especially good year.  In the words of the Black Eyed Peas (who my roommate made me listen to ad nauseum during the summer of 2010), "I got a feelin."

So, after a lengthy discussion about my affinity for the year 2013 with a good friend of mine, this year has been dubbed, "The Year of Do."  As in, I'm actually going to do the things I've been talking about for years. 

We all have that mental list of things we say we will get to one day, the things that have peeked our interest for years but just feels like too big of a risk.  Well, this is the year of doing, as in, I'm actually going to do it.  I'm going to refinish that coffee table I bought 2 years ago from a Goodwill because I said it, "had potential."  I'm going to actually finish unpacking all of the boxes in my house from my last move.  I'm going to make plans to travel, clean out my closet, teach myself how to sew, read through the bible in a year, learn to surf, and who knows...I might even adopt a dog by the end of the year.   It's not so much a resolution, or a list of things I want to do by the end of the year, it's more a state of mind of not putting off for another year my ideas, dreams, and interests.

I don't want to be someone who waited too long to pursue their dreams.  I just want to do it. 

New Year, New Blog

I'm not a huge fan of New Years Eve.  I mean, that actually moment when the count down comes to a close, the cheering begins, and the New Year starts.  There is so much pressure and anticipation that builds up to that one moment.  You spend weeks (or in my case about 45 minutes) contemplating what you will wear, how you will do your hair, what party you will go to, who you will celebrate with.  And in the end, that one second when the calendar flips from December 31 to January 1 is not nearly as exciting as we plan for it to be.  I heard someone say once that, "expectations are premeditated disappointment."  At least in terms of New Years Eve, I think I have to agree. 

But, on the flip side, the moments in life that have far exceeded my expectations were the ones I went into expecting very little.  My first summer I went to NYC, I was supposed to spend six weeks working and living in Midtown Manhattan with college students from around the country.  As my plane landed at Laguardia and I saw the "Welcome to the Big Apple" sign on the tarmac, I started crying.  I just kept thinking, "What in the world made me think a small town southern girl could survive and thrive in a city that didn't believe in sweet tea."  But survive and thrive I did.  My childhood friend, Melanie, says that's the summer my long distance love affair started with New York.

As much as I don't like the build up to New Years Eve, it is actually one of my favorite times of year.  I know...I know...I'm a walking contradiction.  But, I love the idea of starting fresh.  I love all of the possibility and potential that lays ahead of you.  There's something really exciting about contemplating the next 12 months and realizing that anything can happen.  Where will I be living this time next year?  Will this city I just moved to 4 months ago begin to feel like home?  What will I change about my life? 

I guess we'll see....