Confessional Friday

Time to resuscitate this here blog of mine! It was a packed and wonderful summer and has been a simply delicious fall. God is still good. So much has happened I'm not sure where to begin, so I'll get straight to the bullet points.

• Cardigans are my favorite article of clothing. If I could own all styles in all colors I could die happy.
• If you've been reading here for a while you may have heard of a local restaurant called Buon Cibo. Well, I am their #1 Customer. Don't believe me? My mother went in to buy me a shirt and gift card for my birthday and said, "You should know that I am getting this for your biggest fan!" The cashier replied, "Do you mean Anna Kate?" In other news I really need to get a life.
• One of the best feelings is when your checkbook finally balances. I kind of feel like a ninja when it happens.
• I recently discovered chocolate peanut butter. Watch out Nutella, peanut butter is still the classic!
• This Monday I am taking my last credit-bearing psychology exam, and in December I will finish my last college course ever and apply for graduation through Thomas Edison State College (receiving my diploma in March). I'm finishing more than an academic achievement - I'm finishing a phase of my life. There are no words. Just thankfulness.
• I dislike poetry for the most part, but I could listen to this kid all day long. I want one just like him!
• Some of the happiest current news in my life is that I am going to be an aunt! That's right, end of April 2014 my brother and sister-in-law, Mitchell and Tiffany, will be welcoming a baby into the family. Aunthood here I come!
• Here's a recent favorite Tweet for you: "Probably the worst thing about being a penguin is after you're in an argument you'll try to waddle away angrily but still look adorably cute."
• One of the best decisions I have ever made was to take my last two college courses at the community college rather than study on my own and take the credit-bearing exam. For one, they were both maths (algebra and statistics) which would have been difficult for me without an instructor, but for another, I have never taken a class at an actual college. It was a little intimidating at first (took algebra in the summer and am taking statistics now), but it has turned out to be one of my absolute favorite things. It has been stretching, academically interesting, and just plain fun honestly. Yep. Good times.
• Some friends and I had a Harry Potter movie marathon last month and we made these cupcakes for a themed snack. They are actually some of the most delicious cupcakes I have ever made. Thumbs up.
• While this year has been the best of my life so far for numerous reasons, my favorite reason by far is that I started dating my favorite person in the world (it works out 'cause I think I'm his favorite too). His name is Kenny and we met headed to a mission trip in Mexico last summer (don't worry - he lives half an hour away). All I can say is that a lot can happen in a year. God is good and He loves His children, and loves to bless them just because He can. I am so full of joy and just thankful for all of the time Kenny and I are able to spend together, getting to know each other and making memories along the way. Hashtag blessed. :)

Pictures (of course!)

In September my parents, Kenny and I road tripped to Auburn (where he graduated) for the MS State vs. Auburn game.

I, of course, wore Auburn orange. :) However, I couldn't forget my roots, so I wore a maroon ribbon in my hair!

Here's a little summer action! Dad, Mark and I went to a Memphis Redbirds game in August.

This is Mitchell, Tiffany, and Baby Minyard!

Confessional Friday

It's rainy in Hernando today. It's also cold, so I've been wearing my pea coat. At the moment I'm curled up in a booth at my favorite restaurant Buon Cibo with a slice of the best coconut cream pie in town and a mug of coffee. Other than wondering if I was somehow the cause of the restaurant's sudden power outage, since it occurred just as I crossed the threshold, this is perfect. (Don't worry. After a few moments of sharing this unexpected turn of events and funny commentary, the power came back.)

Shooting for actual "confessions" today...

• This is my new favorite dress. I've loved ModCloth for a long time but this was my first purchase from them. I'm in love.
• As crazy and even sometimes stressful as Bonnaroo was last year, I still wish I was going again this year. I'm going to miss all the hippies, hipsters and wanna-be-hipsters. The music and blankets and colors and fun. Just not the smell of marijuana.
• fun. actually played Bonnaroo last year so there's ^ that.
• For loving vibrant colors and generally being a colorful person myself I'm actually very drawn towards neutral colors. Navy, gray, brown, tan... 'cept when it comes to marigold yellow. Then I'm really gone.
• "I'd rather waltz than just walk through the forrest."
• No srsly. I know they're Owl City song lyrics but I'd rather waltz than just walk. I'm just saying. If I were in the forrest.
• But I can't read it without singing the melody in my head.
• Speaking of Melody, she's my favorite. We had a photo shoot Monday (below).
• I once said that if my soul were a song it'd be Can't Take It In by Imogen Heap. I still hold to that.
• Last week we had the wonderful Mask family over for dinner. We ate food, played CatchPhrase, talked a lot and laughed possibly even more.
• This is what happens when I try to write actual confessions. Or maybe it's just my mood. Either way, I'd love to keep writing, but I've got a homeschool graduation to catch! My brother is the MC and he's going to knock it out of the park.

Melody & Me
{fyi, Melody is my sister by unofficial adoption, the sister of my other adopted siblings Austin and Audrey}

possibly one of her first encounters with PhotoBooth?

ahh, favorite.

"Seriously, what is this?"

her current favorite toy: empty water bottle

buuut pulling hair is more fun than even the water bottle

oh, sisters.

Confessional Friday

It's been a packed and unforgettable couple of months (my last Confessional Friday was in January - oops!). Olivia and I are headed to a play, so I'll leave ya to it!

• Think I have decided that I want gray somewhere in the color scheme of my wedding.
• My friend Laura recently got me into pear with brie. The salty but creamy cheese pairs nicely (pun intended) with the light sweetness of the fruit.
• A few weeks ago one of my best friends surprised me with tickets to see Ben Rector in concert in Oxford on April 3rd. Ladies and Gentlemen, you simply must see that man someday. It was probably the best concert I've ever been to and an all around incredible night of happy, tasteful music, fun friends and boatloads of laughter.
• I love soft-boiled eggs (boiled 5 minutes; the white is cooked and the yolk is hot and runny). I have them for breakfast, lunch sometimes, and snacks.
• In May I am headed to Colorado for a friend's wedding. There are so many levels of awesome in that statement. Favorite state. Beautiful time of year. Amazing friends. Wedding. Love.
• I recently made this cake. It was quite the ordeal finding the pistachios and figs, but it was worth it! A unique dessert for sure.
• For the first time ever I followed the NCAA March Madness tournament (didn't know what it was before this year). I even made a bracket! It was so fun dialoguing and "competing" with friends, and being even slightly educated on this topic has provided so many conversation opportunities with people with whom I typically have very little in common (in other words, I can hold a legitimate conversation with a grown man about basketball; it's fun and a total blessing). My champion pick, Syracuse, made it so close to the end! I'll never forget this tournament, and I encourage any girl who has never experienced March Madness to jump in next year. It's fun for everyone. :)
• Currently I am obsessed with fresh clementines.
• Several weeks ago I finished my Liberal Arts Capstone course at Thomas Edison (a 100 on my final project and an A in the class. Praise. God.), and this week I passed another test, gaining 3 more credits. Literally I have two Excelsior tests and two ALEKS courses before I finish college.  Excelsiors are tests similar to CLEPs, and ALEKS are self-paced courses, which means? I should finish this summer. Let's not talk just yet about how I will FREAK OUT when that day comes.
• I. cried.
• In June my mom, Mark and I are headed to Richmond, Virginia for the Farewell Extravaganza of the one-and-only Lydia Shanks. Lydia will be moving on from TeenPact after so many years of service, and we're sending her off right with a massive cocktail party. I just ordered what will hopefully be my dress for the event. It will be unspeakably wonderful to see so many good friends from my TeenPact years.

Olivia and me at the play Medea at University of Memphis; it was frightening but good!

thought I'd show you my yellow tights; I'm rather fond of them.

Confessional Friday

Derice: "Sanka man, you dead yet?"
Sanka: "No mon, I'm not dead yet."

[Cool Runnings]

It's been a long time... but not long enough to call it quits. :) Look out next week for a new monthly blog series I'm starting called Throwback Thursday. My hope is that it will be fun, fresh and encouraging as I reminisce and realize the continuity of time, the significance of every day life, and God's grace and sense of humor in the orchestration of our lives.

Until then, however, welcome back to Confessional Friday!

• My new favorite snack is cucumber slices & cream cheese. No surprise that I snagged the idea here!
• This semester is all about my last major college course. (Not finished after this, just only a few tests to go after). It's called Liberal Arts Capstone and it's one giant research project. My topic is cultural adaptation from a missionary perspective. I feel way in over my head but I press on. Somehow, I will have a coherent finished product.
• I have a strange habit of calling "oranges" by the name of "onions." If you hear me do this, just ignore it.
• I won an antique bracelet from Relinked Relics in Tori's blog give-away. I never win things!
• For Christmas we made a quick trip down south to see family but spent Christmas Eve and Day at home (but not without a brunch date with our favorites the Eldridges). We watched White Christmas, It's A Wonderful Life, and The Nativity Story. And ate snacks from those Christmas packages of chocolate, pecans, fruit and cheese and who-knows-what-else.
• Have I mentioned that I love farm fresh milk? It's like dessert to me.
• I check the "In the news" section on Wikipedia every day for updates on worldwide happenings! I've been amazed how informed I've become simply by skimming those snippets.
• Over New Year's Mark and I flew out to Colorado to spend time with our old friend, adopted brother and favorite person Ben Comden. We got up to all kinds of shenanigans while there and maybe I'll do a recap at some point. Two major highlights were getting to know two amazing and totally unrelated people, the Abby Carruth and the Dora Robel, and miraculously getting together all five Americans from the Summer Down Under. Priceless.
• This video made my day.
• I started the Perspectives class this week! If you haven't heard of it, check it out. I've wanted to take it for several years but the opportunity hasn't presented itself until now.

Christmas

family photo shoot at the capitol

Christmas Day

New Year's

he's a weird one.

this begs for an old picture comparison.
they didn't used to look like homeless people, I swear!

because.

northface.

Confessional Friday

Well, it's the end of the "semester" for me!  I'm positively shivering with excitement about the holiday season and seeing family and generally being cozy.  (The fam just finished watching an Andy Griffith 'round the fire.)  Every time I finish these "confessions" I am more convinced that they are anything but.  What do you reckon?

• I attempted to make my own yogurt and. it. worked.  It's sad that I get that excited when an old-fashioned/raw/natural recipe works, right?  It is delicious.  I only have access to low-pasteurized non-homogenized milk currently, but it still turned out beautifully.  I added raw honey and a few golden raisins.  Perfection.
• Today marks the END of my Thomas Edison Worlds of Childhood and Psychology of Personality online courses!  Took both finals today and I'm officially done.  So thankful.  It's been more than an academic journey: it's been a spiritual one.  God was unbelievably faithful.
• My new favorite way to cook sweet potatoes.  (It helps when you've got fresh, straight-from-the-farm potatoes.  Thanks, Murphrees!)
• This week we decided to fly to Colorado for New Year's instead of drive, and we bought our tickets Tuesday. December 26th-January 2nd.  Can't believe it.  :)
• The X Factor UK is rigged.  Okay, melodramatic, but I've been loosely following this season through YouTube for fun, and they eliminated the better boy band District 3 over the lesser Union J.  Forget what I ever said about moving to the United Kingdom ever.
• This.  <3
• Thanksgiving is next week and I am pumped!  I'm giving myself a week off for the holiday and to transition into studying for individual tests again (Excelsiors this time).  Can't wait to see family and enter the holiday season.
• Last week Mark and I saw Wreck-It Ralph with Austin and Audrey. It was a jolly good time and the movie was pretty grand.  I do think I missed several references because I wasn't quite old enough (the now 30-somethings video game generation), but it didn't matter.  It was well made, I laughed a ton, and even teared up.  And Owl City closed out the movie.  End of discussion.
• Later, I made both sweet salad dressing and chicken salad with my homemade yogurt.  Both were fabulous!
• This weekend I'm headed to the delta with my mom to visit family and attend my second cousin's wedding!  Something about picking some garden fresh turnip greens, too?  Love.
• If you couldn't tell, I'm really into this blog right now.  Let me tell you, she has inspired me like no one has before to start living and eating well.  She's the cousin of some friends, so there's a bit of personal connection, which makes it nice.  She responds to questions directly and swiftly.  Yep, she's a winner.

back in the day when we lived in Colorado (since it really was not a dream <3)

awkward stages fo sho

I miss the leaves.

Christmas cookie baking, circa 2004

let me tell you, this is old school. we look kind of different now.
[i can't bloody wait to see him.]

Confessional Friday

Afternoon! Over a month since I last updated, but it's all right. Much has been going on and real life is a bit more important than internet life. Since last post, I have been to the fair with Austin and Audrey (it's tradition), performed a musical with the children of my church, had midterms, started back my K-2 class on Wednesday nights, been to Arkansas for another wedding (THE James and Sharon Rutherford), and attended a missions conference that may or may not have changed my post-college course of action (either way, it definitely changed my perspective on missions, or The Mission, as I should say)...

• I turned 24 years old a couple of days ago. It's funny to think about where you thought you'd be at what age. I can't really remember... pretty sure though I didn't think I'd be where I am. While I am anticipating the next phase, there is no question that I love and am grateful for the here and now. Slow, peaceful, preparatory, normal... which in my case means abnormal. :)
• My philosophy is: if in doubt, use a comma.
• My church choir has begun practicing for our annual Christmas Cantata (December 16th for those who want to come). This simply means that I am WAY TOO EXCITED FOR MY OWN GOOD.
• I've made this a few times. It's dessert in itself.
• Midterms for my 2 psychology classes were a few weeks ago. They went well and now finals are approaching! Can't believe they're almost over. Looking forward to starting my next subject and being finished with college so, so soon.
• Remember last time I said I was into the British Isles part of the globe? Well now it's southeast Asia (Philppines, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc).
• Several weeks ago when Mark and I went to Georgia for our friends' wedding, we stopped in at an Australian bakery in Marietta, which happened to be 5 minutes from the wedding venue! Below are pictures from our delicious late afternoon lunch.
• We are officially going to Colorado for New Year's. This trip will include but is not limited to seeing real snow, eating way too many Pueblo green chilis to make up for the severe lack of them in my life, going clubbing, visiting our old church, seeing favorite people, and basking in the vast blue sky of my favorite place on earth.
• This past weekend my church hosted a missions conference with To Every Tribe. They train and send out missionaries. This conference was so providential in my life. I don't know what's in store, but I am praying about potentially going through their program with the intention of entering the mission field. Scared and excited. :)
• Amazingly, yet another hairstyle idea worked for me, the sock bun! Pictures below.

photographs that are actually recent and somewhat relevant!

Australian Bakery

the classic Shepherd's pie and a Cornish pasty; it had been toooo long :)

mini pavlova; it was all right - Ellen's homemade was better!

inside the shop; flags of the various states

obviously.

they also sold a variety of Australian foods and ingredients you can't get in the states, including Violet Crumble <3

The Sock Bun

the sock bun, with a couple of added braids

from the back; it looks super fancy for only having taken about 8 minutes

I just adore it.

the other cool thing? your hair looks like this afterwards (okay well for stubbornly flat and straight hair people it's amazing - so much body and a few curls)

the crimped sections were the braids :)

Confessional Friday

Just finished class assignments for the week and now getting ready to leave town, so I'll just get to it! Happy weekend. :)

• A couple of weeks ago my entire family and I watched Die Hard. At 10 o'clock on a Monday morning, with the morning light streaming in. I just find that funny.
• I recently discovered this and I especially love listening to it while studying and writing.
• Just discovered the fabulous Ed Sheeran. He's a phenomenal, very British, very ginger singer/songwriter.
• The closer I get to finishing school, the more skipping country and starting somewhere else seems like a grand idea. It's a bit terrifying and exhilarating to think that I could go literally anywhere.
• I've always adored maps. There is always a specific section of the world map that I am particularly interested in. It was eastern Europe, but recently shifted to the British isles.
• Tomorrow Mark and I are headed to Georgia for the wedding of our dear friends Caleb and Rebekah. They were on our TeenPact intern team a few years ago, and it's been so wonderful to see God orchestrate and bless their relationship.
• I collect movie tickets. Except a few here and there, I still have every ticket from every movie I've ever seen.
• Emma Watson and Louis Tomlinson are my fashion icons of sorts.
• I've always thought wedges were cute but I never thought I could pull them off. However, last week I found a red pair, loved them and thought I'd give them a whirl. (Actually, Payless had yellow and red, and I had to text Olivia and Macy to help me decide which pair to choose.)
• One of the librarians told me that they were going to write my name on the table that I always use near the children's section. I am simply always there. :)

the aforementioned wedges (+ new navy & white striped tee. locals! prepare to see this shirt. a lot.)

Confessional Friday

Hey folks. This week was interesting because for the first time ever I "started classes" the same week that most of my friends started school as well. Granted, I only have two classes and they're online, but it's still much more structured than usual for me. I think it'll be good. :)

• There is a tiny French bakery called the Boulangerie Olivier in the basement of an office building on our town square, 'bout five minutes from my house. They bake white chocolate bread.
• I am on the fence when it comes to Owl City's latest album, The Midsummer Station. Still a massive fan, but I can't deny that I am a bit wary of the direction he appears to be going.
• This was pretty accurate and hilarious: 50 State Stereotypes
• I am obsessed with navy & white stripes. In everything, but particularly shirts and sweaters.
• When I am quoting someone, I have to speak (read: try to speak) with their accent, however subtle it is. If I don't I feel like I'm lying.
• Thursday I passed my last CLEP test ever. Now I'm taking two psychology courses, and after that I've just got a few more online credits to get, a couple of other tests, and I'm finished with college. Still a lot to do, but it is the home stretch.
• When I'm ravenously hungry and decide suddenly to do something about it, I just end up taking out tons of random completely unrelated food from the pantry and refrigerator because it all sounds good. I don't even eat all of it, I just get it out.
• There is a vase of flowers that always sits in the middle of our kitchen table. When this vase of flowers is not sitting on the table, my whole world is off balance. It feels like something has gone terribly wrong. The height that it adds to the general area is pleasing to the eye and something that I am used to. I can't handle its absence.
• I am just now getting into Michael Bublé's latest album, Crazy Love, like some kind of cray cray (my favorites are Cry Me A River (epic; what a stud), Georgia On My Mind (meeellllttt), Baby (You've Got What It Takes) (makes me go nuts dancing).

Aaaand now! For more thoroughly unrelated photos of my past!

favorite boys, circa 2009

so much cheese

bein' all g in Fort Collins

always been one of my favorites :) The Daily Grind in Pueblo
[we never knew two years later we'd be in Australia. together.]

graduation pictures at Summit; they make me laugh

Confessional Friday

Oi! It's been a couple of months. I'd love to do a full summer recap, but for now I'll just stick with the usual Friday tradition, and maybe do a recap later. Summer is winding down, my favorite season is approaching, and a good dose of structure and normality is around the corner. Praise God for... well, being the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

• I'm that person who carries ALL the grocery bags in at the same time just to avoid multiple trips, no matter how inconvenient or heavy the load is.
• I tried this over the 4th of July and it worked. You've got to realize how shocking that is to me. Hair ideas never work for me, especially when it involves creating curls. It was magic.
• I just finished reading through/studying Genesis (finally) and it was a huge blessing. Over the past few years I've really come to the understanding that the Bible is simply God's story of the world. How He sovereignly orchestrated the line of Christ, showed His mercy and justice throughout, all in the lives of real human beings. I'm thankful for that perspective.
• I am a left lane driver. Olivia knows what I mean.
• In one week I will be starting my first two online courses of my college career. One is on developmental psychology (my favorite branch), and the other is on personality (which I of course adore). I'm excited but nervous for various reasons, mainly because this will be the first time for me to have deadlines on schoolwork in years. I'm used to doing my own thing. However, I am also looking forward to that aspect for just that reason: structure. I think it'll be comforting, in a way.
• I have begun riding my bicycle while listening to my iPod every morning. It's a lovely way to start the day.
• In July one of my favorite people ever, Tyler Avery, who happens to be from Australia came for a visit, which ended up being a highlight of the summer and created memories I will never forget. Tomorrow, yet another Aussie friend, Chanelle, will be popping in as well! I wish they'd keep this up all year round.
• I am in love with avocados and am slightly annoyed that they seem to be a fad currently. I liked them before they started showing up in every food related commercial!
• Mark said we should plan to go to the Olympics in Rio in 2016. I agreed, but also mentioned that I may already be there. For some reason I have a fascination with Rio and a strong desire to go there, possibly serve in some capacity. We'll see what God does with that! :)
• (prepare yourself for an actual "confession") My weakness has simply always been singing boys, from the Backstreet Boys (when I was 8) to David Archuleta (when I was............ not 8). If the direction this confession is going isn't obvious, and that hint still didn't give it away for you, let me spell it out: ONE DIRECTION. Cliché? Oh yes. Too old for this? Probably. Does that change anything? Nope. I'll always be such a girl.

Confessional Friday

Would you like to know why I missed last Friday's post? THIS girl is why. Sarah is going to Africa the same time I am going to Mexico, and we had to carve out some time to see each other before our travels. Last weekend was our chance, so I road tripped on over to the B-ham (read: Birmingham, Alabama) for a completely wonderful overnight stay. There was much walking, and driving, and talking, and eating, and laughing, and reveling together. I love her to death and am ridiculously thankful for her friendship. True to form, I took my camera with me and didn't take the first bloody picture. Ah well, use your imagination. Picture two girls, both abstract people-oriented, yet different in style and demeanor. Throw in some delicious food, the snazzy little town of Birmingham, and deep soul-searching and you got it. :)

• I'm in the middle of Black by Ted Dekker. It's super trippy and intriguing.
• Last Sunday Mark and I taught basic swing dancing to a group of friends in preparation for a banquet we're all attending this Thursday. I will never tire of that dance. It's a part of me.
• I am making these as I write this.
• My "Confessions" are less like confessions and more like random facts about my current life.
• Last night I went to the midnight premier of The Avengers. a) I will always love midnight premiers, whether it's the latest action movie alongside mostly teenage guys or the brand new fantasy flick with more weirdos than is safe to have in one place. b) I have not enjoyed a movie at the theater that much in a long time. Bravo on one phenomenal film. Cannot wait to see it again.
• I'm flipping back and forth between this and this currently.
• I get distracted by maps. Someday I'd love to have a room with a massive wall covered entirely with a map of the whole world.
• My hair is longer now than it has been in 10 years.
• I've been missing TeenPact friends recently. This is probably the longest I've gone without seeing a significant amount of them. At the same time, I am SO blessed by the memories that I share with all of them that can never be taken away from me. They're with me in an abstract yet genuinely close way. :)
• Of all the gifts that I could have, I got spelling. Kind of lame, but it's true. I can spell almost anything. It's a weird instinctive feeling. I just know. *mysterious music*

coffee date with Sarah at our favorite shop, Republic Coffee, in Memphis last October.

favorite ever.