My Favorite Things - February Edition

Sharpie pens - the kind that click on top so I don't lose the cap

Reader's Digest on my iPad - lots of great videos and extra features

Old 90s songs on the treadmill - "I've Got the Power! It's gettin it's gettin it's gettin kinda hectic.."

Butter Toffee Almonds in the purple bag by Blue Diamond

The transparency of Tina Fey in Bossypants - not the greatest book ever, but funny photos

This website - www.bryanallain.com - he helps my blog brain stay motivated

And this website - www.rabbitroom.com - great music reviews and superb writing about art/faith

Okay, one more website - www.iamsecond.com - testimonies from athletes/actors, inspiring

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter - this stuff is awesome. Try Brown Sugar, honey.

Looking at old scrapbooks and remembering moments you'd forgotten.

Cool moleskine notebooks sold now in Target!  One can never have too many...

Two 90 Year-Old Men I Love

The grand prize goes to this fella right here:

 My Grandpa will hit 93? 94? this coming October.  I really believe his secret to long life is laughter, spaghetti, and Jesus, not necessarily in that order.  He and my Grandma will celebrate 69 years of marriage in just a few weeks.  Try and wrap your noggin around that!

Second place goes to Mr. Truett Cathy, shown here with his lovely wife of 63 years.  Cathy started and owns the Chick-fil-a franchise.  He is one amazing dude.

He recently spoke at Indiana Wesleyan University, my alma mater, at their May graduation.  He received an honorary doctorate degree from the college as well as the honor of being inducted into their "Society of World Changers."

One of my favorite quotes from that speech is, "We all need encouragement.  I get a lot of encouragement, but I never got an overdose." 

True!  Who can we encourage around us today?

My husband is currently out of town for business, but couldn't resist sending me this photo this morning.  I'm sure he delivered these to some extremely happy steel customers of his.  

I personally didn't find it very encouraging.

David Crowder Band - SMS [Shine]

This is quite possibly the most amazing music video I have ever seen.

If you've got a chance, go back to YouTube and watch the clips about how they made this video. Wow! Those are dedicated Lite Brite folks. It also makes me a little sad because the David Crowder Band is on it's last tour, closing their chapter as a band. Bummer.

I cried a little the first time I watched it.

You've been warned.

Kickin' it Old School

 We've been watching some Cosby DVDs in our house and it's made me nostalgic for the 80s. 

Here are some oldie goldies:

 Alex P. Keaton just turned 50.  That's wierd.

NAME THAT SHOW!! 

I admit - I had a teensy crush on Tony Danza.  Oh come on, I know I'm not alone!

The King of Teen Hearthrobs, circa 1980s.  You win the prize, Kirk.

Places I Love

 Kemah Boardwalk in Texas, near Galveston -- so many great memories with kids and our friends, the McBrides -- nice bangs, girl!

 

 This pool in Arizona -- it makes me happy -- and makes me miss Beth W!

this house we rented with extended family in Panama City Beach, FL

Mexico Beach, FL

 this family cabin in northern Wisconsin

 fireworks over Green Lake

 my boys on Green Lake

 Mexico

 my parents' living room

 my classroom!  

cabin in Wisconsin

Stuff I Love - April

I love those editorial letters where the writer shares her favorite three things for the month. 

So allow me to be a bit of a copycat here....

Let's get the girly beauty product out of the way first. 

I have thick, unruly hair and this heat protectanct spray rocks my world.  I spray it in especially before using a flat iron.  It's light, but conditioning.  Others I've tried have either been too stinky, or feel heavy on my hair.

Adventures in Odyssey!  Have you started your own collection yet?  I think they are as necessary in my house as Pepperidge Farm Goldfish.  I mean, my kids LOVE these stories.  We listen to them everyday in the car on the way to school and a couple boys in my house have been known to play with Legos in their rooms while listening to Odyssey for looooong periods of time.  Divine.

This Adventure Bible is so amazing.  I looked at it in the library at school today and fell in love.  It's written in a comic book format so each page has brilliant illustrations.  You can find it here with a great promo video about it at the bottom.  Again, a must-have if you have boys in your house!