C is for The Civil Wars

A friend told me about this band last week and, since then, I've listened to this song about 150 times! I think one of the reasons I've fallen for this song are the powerful lyrics. The song is this awesome, but somehow broken, love story played out in a tug-a-war between each verse.

In addition to song itself, I am completely smitten with the voices of Joy Williams and John Paul White. Simply blissful. Around the 73rd time in listening to Poison and Wine, I stumbled upon an article about the duo and how they came to be. After singing together for one song, they both said, they just knew they were meant to sing together. Something like musical soul mates. I just love that...

So, I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Have a listen.

Poison and Wine
By: The Civil Wars
You only know what I want you to
I know everything you don't want me to
Oh your mouth is poison, your mouth is wine
Oh you think your dreams are the same as mine
Oh I don't love you but I always will
Oh I don't love you but I always will
I always will

I wish you'd hold me when I turn my back
The less I give the more I get back
Oh your hands can heal, your hands can bruise
I don't have a choice but I still choose you
Oh I don't love you but I always will
Oh I don't love you but I always will
I always will

R is for Rachel's Sunshine and Smiles, Deliciously Good Omelette/Omelet Recipe

My sweet friend Rachel came over the other day when I was held up in my house by painters all morning. I couldn't leave, so she offered to come over, have a good chat and make me breakfast. To that I said, I'll make the coffee! (Cinnamon of course!)

After just a few minutes, here's what Rachel made...



Doesn't that look delicious?! It definitely was, and I thought I'd share the recipe.

Rachel's Sunshine and Smiles, Deliciously Good Omelette/Omelet
3-4 Egg Whites
A good amount (not a lot) of olive oil
A bunch of basil leaves, cut
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Salt
Pepper
Tomatoes (strong suggestion!)

Directions:
Wear a cute apron like this...



Heat pan on medium heat
Pour in "good amount" of oil
Add the egg whites
Add cheese, tomatoes, salt, pepper and, the golden ingredient, basil
After it sets up/firms, fold in thirds and cook until golden brown

Serve on white plate with cinnamon coffee and a napkin and wait for this...



I hope you all love this as much as I did. Thanks Rachel! Enjoy!

Note: I wasn't sure how to spell, umm, well I'm sure you know what I'm talking about!
Note #2: Apron is from none other than.. Anthropologie!

P is for Photography

I have friends that are legit, professional photographers. They tote around their awesome, high tech cameras that have crazy zoom lenses and super fast shutter speeds, seemingly saying, "Yeah, I'm cool. I'm a photographer."

Well, I don't have a camera that could even compare to that, but my little Canon Elph Power Shot, works for me and gets the job done. I went back through some of my pictures over the last year, reliving some of my favorite trips and moments, and I came across some images that, in my opinion, could rival some of my professional friends' work. You be the judge...









And my personal favorite...




This last shot was taken in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This was the most amazing experience of my life. We saw so much in such a short amount of time that it was somewhat overwhelming to take in while we were there. Looking back, this image humbles me and is a good reminder of my many blessings. Yet it also encourages me to not overlook people, but love them and be an example of truth whenever, and wherever I can.

G is for Girl Crush

However inappropriate you might feel right now in reading the title of this entry, it's true. I have a legitimate girl crush. Sara Bareilles will always be someone that I not only admire as an artist, but just all around love. Ok sure, she's a bit crass, cusses like a sailor and probably doesn't bathe regularly. But to me, she's wonderful!

I have to admit, shamefully, that I heard of her after her first song, "Love Song" dropped. To be honest, I thought it was bobby and fun, but very trendy and surface. Then, a dear friend and former co-worker at Starbucks gave me her CD to burn (oops, I know). After one run through, and literately gasping during the middle of "Gravity," I was sold.


Since then, I have been nothing but all things, Sara B. In September, the Grub and I are heading to Charlotte to see her and... we may, or may not, have VIP tickets! (We do, we totally do!)

It's something about her arrangement of real, transparent words and true emotions that get me every time. The lyrics and tunes ooze beautifully together and it's simply magical. (Rolling Stone, I'm ready for a job!) I love her. Love what her lyrics and life story have done for my life and am so excited, the time has finally come, I get to see my favorite, do her thing...live! Pics and my overwhelming reaction to come!

C is for Cinnamon

Only true cinnamonaholics need to continue reading. Ok, here goes... I'm about to change your life. The other morning, I was sleepily making coffee the same way I do every morning. Grab the new filter, grab the coffee, scoop the coffee, fill the water... you get it. Boring and vanilla, UNTIL my eyes glanced in the direction of my new spice rack. (Thanks Grub for the house warming gift!) The first spice I saw was the cinnamon. Simultaneously, in mid thought and mid action, I wondered what it would taste like if I added some ground cinnamon to my ground coffee and brewed it. ...PAUSE... For the visual readers of this blog, here you go...



After a few moments, my kitchen smelled like goodness and my coffee never tasted better. All I have to say is... you're welcome. ;)

T is for Today

Today I had a revelation. I realized that I need a challenge. Something that will move me out of my cozy comfort zone and stretch me into a better form of me. In thinking deeper through this, I tried to think of what I could do. I also thought about how long I could do... it.. to be significantly substantial in my life. Within those passion driven, somewhat aimless thoughts, I remembered how inspired I was by the movie Julie and Julia. Not so much by the movie, although I do love Amy Adams, but the idea, motivation and determination she had to successfully complete a challenge... no matter what.

So, as you can see, I immediately started thinking about what I could do that would radically change my life in one year. In order to do this, you have to do something that you're passionate about. How hard would it be for someone who can't sew and is clumsy around a pair of scissors to say that they want to make a new dress everyday for a year?! That wouldn't be exciting, that would be utter torture.

After much thought, and a few Sara B. songs of encouragement later, I thought of what I'm going to do. For one year, 365 days, everyday (to the best of my ability) I'm going to commit to one blog entry.

Lame? Anti-climatic? Were you expecting something more? Well, let me explain. Writing, has always been something I'm passionate about. I have started, stopped and restarted, to only stop again, numerous books. Over the summers, my parents, both master's barring educators (you know we didn't get away with anything!) would give me one word. Red. Boat. Sun. And I would write an entire story around that word. Ha! I loved it! (Stop laughing, that's what I thought was fun during the summers!)

Even though now, I get to write on a daily basis at work, I don't always have the free will to write about anything I'm feeling or experiencing.

I'm definitely not promising a novel every entry, but I am going to (try) and promise at least one entry on a thought, something silly, a picture, etc. I had throughout any given day. That shouldn't be too hard, right?! Hopefully, on August 26, 2011, I can sit here and type my final entry. An entry I'll go ahead an title, A is for Accomplishment.

R is for Ring

On my amazing trip to Ethiopia last year, I bought this ring I saw a lot of Ethiopian women wearing and it has quickly become a signature piece I wear everyday. I love this ring. It consists of seven thin rings held together by a band. The Ethiopian story behind this type of ring says that the rings represent the seven days of the week and the band is a prayer over the seven days that binds them together. Simply beautiful.

The interesting part about this is that today, was such an awfully hard, taxing, bad day... and one of the seven rings broke. While that brought a baby tear to my eye, the awesome part about this is that the prayer band is still in tact.

Moral of this story you ask?! Whether in a piece of jewelry or in life, prayer holds everything together.