Freckle Dear

The Muppets

2011-11-27T13:03:00.001-05:00

I love the Muppets.

More specifically, I love all things Jim Henson.

So here are some scattered thoughts about the Muppets and Jim:

Like many of my fellow 80s kids, Sesame Street was a staple of my childhood. I learned everything from how to count to 10 in Spanish to how to be a friend. Bert and Ernie were my favorites - little did I know that their friendship echoed the creative collaborations between masterminds Frank Oz and Jim Henson.

Once I hit pre-school, I would watch the Muppet Show on Nickelodeon in the afternoons. As Jason Segel recently said, The Muppets are a gateway drug to comedy like SNL and Monty Python. How right he is! The Muppets led to my love of 50s, 60s, and 70s classic television. I would stay up late each night to watch Nick At Night for Dick Van Dyke, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and my favorite: I Love Lucy. The clean, cheesy, and clever humor in these shows echo the vaudevillian roots of the Muppets. The only thing that has come close to the creativity, humor, and heart of the Muppets is Pixar.

A Muppet Christmas Carol will always be my favorite movie - [nerd] so much of a favorite that I sang "When Love Is Gone" as a sophomore in High School nearly 10 years after the movie was released. [/nerd] The sheer joy of the Ghost of Christmas Present brings me to tears as he sings to that crotchety geeser. It was also the first movie after the deaths of Jim Henson and Richard Hunt.

Then there's Labywrinth. It's such a freaky movie for a child to watch yet I preferred it to the princesses of Disney. It was about the journey made by a real, angsty teenager in an unreal, fantastical world - the first time I saw a flawed character that really did "come of age" in a non-children's movie way.

Jim Henson understood the need for humans to imagine and create. I really wish I could have met him. I'm still hoping I can meet Frank Oz one day. And Dave Goelz. And Kevin Clash. And Steve Whitemire. I'd just like to meet every Muppeteer.

My closest brush with Muppet-dom was meeting the original cast of Avenue Q, including John Tartaglia, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, and Rick Lyon. All were puppeteers for Sesame Street and other Henson productions. Rick also designs puppets - AWESOME! They were so warm to me; Stephanie even took me backstage and showed me around. I mean really, who does that? It just solidified my dream to work for Sesame Street one day. I don't care what I do, as long as I can work for their program.

Another memory is with my husband. On our way back from our Honeymoon, we stopped by the Muppet Exhibit at the Smithsonian - I walked in and nearly ran over a kid in my excitement at seeing Kermit. Jonathan had to run to catch up to me and tell me of the child's near destruction. The exhibit allowed me to share all of my geekdom with him; The Muppets are my Star Wars. My Lord of the Rings. This was my childhood.

And now just in time for my daughter to join the world, the Muppets release their first major motion picture in over 10 years! Our first date sans baby will be to see The Muppets on Friday. I'd say I've come full circle, but that implies that there won't be any more contributions from the Muppets. How sad would that be? Instead I'll say that is just another tier to a sweet, delicious cake.

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The movie was AMAZING! Without giving anything away, it exceeded every expectation I had. We are huge Muppet fans AND Flight of the Conchord fans. James Bobin (director of FOTC) directed this movie, AND Bret McKenzie was the Music Director. The music was incredible: heartwarming and funny. I was in love within minutes of it starting. I also cried at least ten times - I stopped counting. It was the best first post-baby date ever!

Palin v. Weiner

2011-06-08T11:33:00.008-04:00

I was going to post on Facebook, then I realized about 70% of my FB friends are Conservative. Rather than open myself to "Weiner is the devil!", I decided to post here so I can fully explain my personal opinion (which by the way is neither right or wrong because it is an opinion.)

The Sarah Palin phenomenon really pisses me off. The media loves painting her as an idiot and I know she's not - I think its less of her being stupid and more of her believing she's an invincible patriotic underdog. She's too proud to admit when she's made a mistake and would rather have the "liberal media" paint her as an idiot. Being too proud to admit a mistake is far worse than stupidity. Much like Paris Hilton, she is well aware of the image she has and she knows it solidifies her as a Conservative sweetheart in our severely partisan political climate.

Now onto Weiner. Weiner made a mistake and lied about it. Did he lie to everyone? Yes. Did he commit emotional infidelity? Yes. Did have sex with these women? No. Those cyber relationships began prior to his marriage and he did not stop them when he wed his hot wife a year ago. Should he have ended the relationships? Of course! Is he Satan? No! He's human! If people remembered history and previous scandals, they would learn that others are far worse. Just looking at our current political climate, you can see that Weiner is a bit of a weenie in the shadow of these scandal giants: Bill Clinton (D), Newt Gingrich (R), John Edwards (D), Larry Craig (R), Eliot Spitzer (D), Mark Foley (R), and many more.

Am I defending Weiner? No. All I'm saying is that we are really overdoing his scandal. Bill Clinton is still the heart throb of the Democratic party and Spitzer has his own show on CNN. I sure can't say the same for Edwards and Foley.

On a side note, I was having a great conversation with a friend of mine about the Tea Party. We are not members of the Tea Party and never intend to be. However, we are both thankful for them and their potential to break up our ancient and worthless two party system. Here's hoping for the future!

Tearful Shadowfeet

2011-05-22T09:54:00.000-04:00

I have the privilege of serving on my church's solo worship team. Every few months, we get together and sing a song so we can work on our craft and receive feedback. This time around, I sang Shadowfeet, written and sung by Brooke Fraser.

(Note: I'm a cryer and the entire team - and church - are aware. If the song is beautiful, has powerful lyrics, reminds me of my past, or even has an amazing chord progression, I tend to at least shed a tear.)

I was last on the lineup, immediately after my friend Megan who sang Kari Jobe's "You Are For Me". I'm not sure what the main cause of the tears were - the Kari Jobe song's message, Megan singing it and revealing her heart, the message of Shadowfeet, or all of the above. Whatever it was, I couldn't sing but a few words until the second verse. Rather than stop the song, my worship family used it as a teachable moment for the team.

"What do you do when a song grabs you emotionally and you can't sing it?"

It was amazing how everyone has had those moments of finding the balance between allowing the emotion to reveal the realness of the song and pushing it out so you can communicate the message of the song. It's a fine line that depends on the context - what is the message and who is the (intended) audience? Our church family isn't shy about God's grace in their lives - we will gladly show our battle wounds because we know they give God the glory for where He's brought us. This makes singing these kinds of songs especially difficult because they know where you've been and how amazing His grace really is.

This is what I couldn't sing:

Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet, toward a home, a place that I've never seen

I am changing. Less and less asleep. Made of different stuff than when I began

And I have sensed it all along.

Fast approaching is the day.

When the world is falling out from under me, I'll be found in You still standing.

When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees, when time and space are through.

I'll be found in You.

These lyrics remind me so much of who I was before I knew God. I was a child riddled with depression, confusion, and misplaced emotion. I knew there was something bigger but I didn't know what it was. I sought love and acceptance in people, dance, television, creativity, music; everywhere except God. I didn't even know God was an option! I began my journey with Him when I was 14 and went through the most crap after that point. Deeper depression, abuse, escapism, and deliberate disobedience to His word. His grace swept me into His arms again and I'm becoming "less and less asleep" each day.

I remain the only Christian in my family. It's heartbreaking that even after 12 years of following God, they still attribute my change to my own strength. I think they're excited that I have a hobby that I'm passionate about, but my walk with God is far more than scrapbooking or stamp collecting. I make choices every day that either bring me closer to keep me from God. Regardless of the shame I have for my past, "He makes all things new" (another powerful lyric in the song and a powerful truth!).

God is good and His grace makes me new. His strength allows me to sing through the tears - I can only rely on Him to communicate His messages.

Vent

2011-05-18T15:57:00.003-04:00

I'm going to vent for a moment.

Because of a friendship that went sour, I now have to tip toe around at work and church for fear that I may run into this person or cause them to speak poorly about me to others that we both know. I stopped all of my communication attempts back in November per her request (if you read my other blog, you know how horrid my November was). I still miss the friendship we had before things went sour. I'm still unsure what caused the sourness in the first place, but I know that after witnessing the recent behavior of this individual, I have no intention of pursuing a close relationship with them unless God prompts me otherwise. I honestly still pray for this person and want them to heal from their past hurts. We confided in each other about our pasts and our struggles so I'm thankful I'm able to pray for this person in specific ways.

Anyway, I just hate the fact that I have to be careful around her friends for fear that they know about the bitterness she (may still) hold for me. I hate that we can't even say hello to each other when we pass. I hate that I'm so bitter with how she easily discarded our friendship with no communication as to why. I don't hate her, I don't even dislike her. I know that something must be going on with her to make her do this to me and the countless others that she was once close to. Something is wrong and I want to help her through it - but she's rejected my help. I've mourned the friendship and moved on.

Alright, I'm done venting now.

Mother's Day

2011-05-18T12:36:00.000-04:00

(post from 5/6/11)

It's kinda sort my first Mother's Day!

weird..

To start the wonderful weekend, my wonderful baby daddy bought me flowers! His awesomness is heightened because of the stress that is going on at work:

I work in Higher Education Administration at a large University (the 8th largest school in the US). One of my major tasks, on top of managing 20+ employees and their duties, is to help plan Commencement. It takes the entire year to plan all of the details that go into one day (i.e. vendors, transport, "props", conferrals, diplomas, locations, pre-emptive strikes, website updates, communicating with staff, faculty, and students both digitally and in hard copy, etc). It's a whirlwind of AHHHHH that comes to head in the final two weeks leading up to the actual ceremonies. These flowers blissfully arrived to my office on the Friday of the first week of AHHHHH. My husband is freakin' awesome.

Now as we approach the second week, I am trying to eat as often as possible and stay as stress-less as I can under the circumstances of people not reading/doing what they're supposed to read/do. I love my staff and they are wonderful - I am so blessed to have them! They've been helping me maintain my sanity while picking up on ways they can help prepare everything.

On another note, Commencement also collides with the end of term excitement of final grades, exams, and Summer/Fall registration. Praise God for all of Jesus' little helpers!

Word Play

2011-05-03T22:42:00.001-04:00

This may not be the blog for this post, but humor me. My brain is fried.

There is a difference between the "sex" and "gender" of an individual. Even though they are used interchangeably in everyday American conversation, they are medically very different. For example, in June we will learn the sex of our baby (male or female). The gender of our baby will not be known until their personality comes out (masculine or feminine). Ultimately, one can be a masculine female or a feminine male. Although to make sure I don't sound like a pretentious d-bag, I let it slide when people ask, "when do you find out the gender!!"

However, I will continue to dismiss resumes with typos and spelling errors.

13 Weeks

2011-04-18T13:23:00.002-04:00

My kid is the size of a peach :)

Nausea is subsiding - I haven't barfed in 4 days!!! That's a new record!! Slurpees are still a constant companion. I still love dairy but can't eat as much meat as before. Steak is starting to get gross, chicken is a little better, but peanutbutter is tasting more edible each day.

My belly seems to be on schedule, too judging by this artists rendering of a behbeh inside a belleh. My next appointment is a week and a half from now. This weekend will be super fun- I get to see my family and go maternity clothes shoppping with mom and Lisa! yay!!

For all of my prego updates, please visit my other blog at http://askaprego.blogspot.com/

WOOO!

2011-04-14T11:15:00.001-04:00

I've been bad at updating this blog - most of my energy is spent updating Trying For Life. I'm now in my second trimester and am enjoying every moment, from the weight gain to the barf - it's a beautiful reminder of God's grace that allowed us to get pregnant in the first place!

Things are going so well for us. Financially, we've been able to put money into savings each month which is something we hadn't been able to do since we first got married. We are so thankful for our church body, our home, our cat, our everything! God is great and life is good.

We're PREGNANT!

2011-03-25T11:57:00.002-04:00

Hello friends!

I am overjoyed and shocked to announce that Jonathan and I are expecting a baby in October! We went through a long and difficult season of trying and we are thrilled!

I had been keeping a blog chronicling our journey to conception and now to parenthood. It's called Trying For Life and it is now open to anyone who wants to read it. I do not censor myself in the blog - it is full of frustration, sarcasm, hope, medical jargon, and personal experiences.

Here is a glimpse into our story:
We decided to start trying around Christmas of 2009. The blog itself started in February of 2010 when we thought we were pregnant - I misread a pregnancy test and started the blog within hours of the good news. A few hours after starting the blog, I re-tested with another brand and it was negative. (I never thought I'd be one of those women who would misread a pregnancy test, but turns out its a lot easier than it seems!)

Our town is a young town with conservative values, which means people get pregnant all the flippin' time. Everytime I logged onto Facebook it seemed that someone else was either announcing they were pregnant or just popped out another kid. I was especially frustrated with those younger than us or who had been married for less time (or not married at all) who were having children before us. I started charting, taking my temperature, and becoming overly aware of my ovulation, but nothing was working. In November, we had a chemical pregnancy which is essentially a very early miscarriage. It was devastating and we were more determined than ever to do whatever it took to conceive. We had testing, samples, extra doctor visits, and nothing happened.

Finally, at the point of surrendering everything to God and letting Him control our futures entirely, God allowed us to conceive!! Looking back, we wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Every bit of this pregnancy, from the nausea to the weight gain, are things that I am so thankful for and will not take for granted.

Good sign

2011-03-20T21:12:00.000-04:00

Jonathan and I just had lunch at Fridays and the server asked if we needed separate checks. Apparently we were having so much fun that we didn't look married!

I think that's a great sign of a healthy marriage.

Ultimate Playlist

2011-03-18T18:07:00.000-04:00

I made one of my new favorite road trip playlists:

1. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel
2. Accidentally In Love - Counting Crows
3. King of Anything - Sara Bareilles
4. Who Says You Can't Go Home - Bon Jovi
5. Motown Song - Rod Stewart
6. I'm Alright - Phil Vassar
7. Feelin' The Same Way - Norah Jones
8. Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
9. Come On Over - Christina Aguilera
10. The Two Of Us - NSYNC
11. Let the Music Get Down In Your Soul - Marc Broussard
12. La Vie En Rose - Pomplamoose
13. Falling For the First Time - Barenaked Ladies
14. Roly Poly - The Little Willies
15. Hope For Me Yet - Marc Broussard
16. Anthony - Nickel Creek

Presidential Nerdom

2011-03-11T14:46:00.001-05:00

I'm geeking out over this graph:

http://www.creditsesame.com/blog/net-worth-of-american-presidents-vs-national-debt/

Friends

2011-03-08T08:45:00.000-05:00

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another,

'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" - C.S. Lewis

I am blessed to have amazing friends that think I am interesting, funny, and worth loving. Even when I am feeling worthless, they still want to be my friend. I am blessed with these sisters and I am looking forward to even more laughs, tears, and adventures!

Ukulele

2011-02-27T19:12:00.000-05:00

I bought a new toy - a ukulele! Her name is Ukulola and I have already doubled my guitar repertoire. It's WAY easier to play than a guitar and it makes everything sound very cheeky and adorable.

My favorite songs to play are Justin Bieber's "Baby" and Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance"- SO much fun!

Birthday of Love

2011-02-14T17:39:00.001-05:00

I feel very loved today. My staff decorated/trashed my office with streamers, baloons, and a Laura look-alike. It was such a welcome surprise as I trudged in with a sinus infection. They also surprised me with a birthday lunch!! I am beyond blessed - my staff is awesome.

Birthday

2011-02-14T16:57:00.001-05:00

It's my birthday :)

26 days

2011-01-18T13:57:00.000-05:00

I turn 26 in 26 days. When I was in high school, I thought by the time I was 26 I would be married with a Bachelor's degree and staying home with one or two kids and a dog. Instead I'm married with a Master's degree, a job I love, a wonderful cat and no kids. I have more than I ever thought to ask for yet there are things I want more than anything I've ever wanted in my life.

Perhaps this is what John Mayer was thinking about when he sang "must be a quarter-life crisis"?

My Problem with "Susan Boyle"

2011-01-06T21:58:00.000-05:00

I have a problem with this Susan Boyle phenomenon. Last year, this video went viral and put Susan Boyle in American and UK headlines. Reporters coined her as the ugly duckling with the voice of an angel.

Susan Boyle has a great voice and her story is both intriguing and heart wrenching. She really is a rags to riches story of perseverance and a little bit o' luck. My problem is that people seem shocked that a beautiful voice can come from an average exterior. We seem to think that 'ugly' people can't have beautiful voices. Barbara Streisand would never have the fame she had if she started her career in 2011. Judy Garland would have been ridiculed before she opened her mouth. We've grown so obsessed with the face behind the voice that we won't listen unless the entire package is beautiful.

Susan's popularity is the result of three things:

Her talent
The viral video
People's guilt for judging her

In a perfect world, her success would be dependent on her hard work and talent. In our world, she is successful because she is a walking contradiction. That's my problem with 'Susan Boyle'.

Hairchop!

2010-12-28T19:08:00.000-05:00

I chopped about 9 inches off of my hair :) I LOVE IT!

Before and After!

I'm donating my hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths hair donation program. It's similar to Locks for Love but they don't charge cancer patients for their wigs.

I adore having short hair - its low maintenance and fun to style in different ways. Long hair had its benefits, especially in the winter. I had fun curling and braiding, but it got to be a hassle every morning to make it look nice for work. My new cut can dry and style quickly. I also like the way it frames my face.

On a semi-related note, God has been molding and changing so many aspects of my attitude and perspective. Change is so exciting!

Don't Ask Don't Tell

2010-12-18T16:05:00.001-05:00

Goodbye DADT!

It seems the Senate actually did something worthwhile this week after they fumbled the Zadroga Bill that would have given much needed benefits to 9/11 First Responders. (Didn't hear about it? Click here to see Jon Stewart from the Daily Show gives his biased opinion that I completely agree with.)

Those who serve our country at home and abroad deserve our respect, regardless of their sexual orientation. They selflessly sacrifice their time, talents, and their lives so that we can live in a country with very minimal oppression. Congratulations, soldiers! I'm thankful for you, no matter who you are or who you love.

Snow and Decorations

2010-12-16T21:39:00.001-05:00

My "Office" Office!

Yay for the first snowfall of the season!

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Android app

2010-12-14T23:34:00.001-05:00

Testing the new android app. Cool!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Merry Digital Christmas Card!

2010-12-14T08:39:00.001-05:00

Feel free to click, save, and put us on your mantle. Merry Christmas Carding!

Professionalism and Facebook

2010-12-12T19:57:00.000-05:00

In our office, we consider ourselves members of one large family. We have a broad range of ages, educational backgrounds, professional goals, geographical origins, heights, fashion styles, you name it. Like any group, there are pockets within the family that form friendships that go beyond the office. This is healthy and I'm thankful it happens. However, where is the line drawn between managers and non-managers? When should a manager be Facebook friends with employees, if ever?

I recently encountered a slightly awkward situation when one of my former employees was still connected to me on Facebook. I was not sure whether to "unfriend" them or not. I didn't feel like we had a friendship that would extend outside of the office, which is no fault of this person's or my own, we just didn't have that kind of connection. So, as a former manager, what do I do? I ended up "unfriending" them along with a dozen or so other former colleagues. If this had been several months ago when I had about 1,500 friends I likely would have kept them on my list. However, after multiple de-facebooking processes I couldn't justify keeping them. They have my work email address which is more than my Facebook friends have. I will be reachable for them in the future but they don't need to see what I had for lunch or what my hair looks like.

Another cool feature on Facebook is to group contacts together and set privacy settings based on the grouping. This helps give not-so-real friends limited access to your personal life.

So in our newest chapter of technology in the marketplace, what is appropriate for a manager in terms of their workers? What do you think? Is it a case by case basis or is there a one ring to rule them all philosophy?

Good day

2010-12-03T19:16:00.000-05:00

I need to come clean - I've been keeping another blog from you all. It's a safe place for me to really vent and have a conversation with God. I tend to be cryptic in 'Freckledear' about touchy circumstances because it is viewable to everyone. I still love you and all, but a girl needs her space, ya know?

Anyway, hi world! Life is good. I have few complaints and many blessings. Professionally, today was a difficult day that I knew I would have to face in my career as a manager. Through prayer and Godly council, I think everyone involved walked away ready to face our next chapters. God knows what He's doing.

Jonathan started working in the same building as me! I am thrilled to be sharing my morning routine, commute, lunches, and day-to-day life. It's fun to have a partner that understands the need for alone time and the time for togetherness. I'm not sure how I managed to receive such a wonderful husband. God blesses me beyond what I deserve.

Our office is decorating for Christmas!! I will definitely be posting photos soon. Everyone in our office is doing a beautiful job expressing their creativity. I'm excited for my own "Office" office, complete with wrapped desk and filing cabinet as well as a bobblehead, exercise ball, Shrute Bucks, and nutcracker. I'm hoping to find a Princess Unicorn this weekend.

Ta ta for now, until we meet again.

wtf - where's the finish?

2010-11-22T12:51:00.000-05:00

I know valleys aren't supposed to be short.

I know struggles aren't supposed to be easy.

I know that God is good and He knows what He's doing.

I know that this world has no mercy.

I know that I have been plucked from my depression to be here in this moment, right now.

I know all things happen for a reason.

But c'mon!! Really!??!?!

Gen-uh-veeeev!

2010-11-20T09:21:00.000-05:00

My friend Genevieve visited this past weekend and we had a blast! We went to the LU v. Stony Brook game and saw LU earn their 4th consecutive Big South Conference Title!! The Marching Band was awesome, as always. (My husband is a percussion instructor for them.)

Pink Elephant

2010-11-16T16:34:00.000-05:00

Don't think about a pink elephant.

No I mean it, stop thinking about the pink elephant.

STOP IT.

That's me right now, obsessed with a pink elephant.

Nothing will happen if nothing happens

2010-10-28T15:17:00.000-04:00

I don't think elections are about right or wrong, or even about right and left; it's about what candidate best represents you. We live in a representative democracy, also known as a republic. We elect those who best align with what we believe and how we want our city / county / township / state / nation to be handled. There is no correct way to handle a group of people. I probably shocked half of you, but it's true! There is no "one ring to rule them all" principle when it comes to people. Diversity is good! Differing opinions are good! How boring would it be if we were all the same?

I think even my ultra conservative friends can agree - we would be straight up boring if we were all mirror images of each other. God created the Heavens and the Earth and every living creature. God created diversity! He created us to make our own actions and choose our own paths. He gives us a choice of devoting our lives to Him or live a life apart from Him. Even within those who follow Him whole heartedly, there can be many different choices that can still honor God.

Getting back to the real world where not everyone is guided by faith, I think a mutual respect needs to occur when we discuss how we can improve our nation. Every pundit on television is a caricature of a thought and rarely represents an actual demographic within the American population. From Keith Olberman to Glenn Beck, these sorts of talking heads are to be treated as characters and shouldn't be used as a gauge to see "how the other half lives". Sure they make valid points every now and then, but when you do an hour long show 5 days a week, there is only so much quality in the quantity of sensationalism and chalkboards. I think it's gotten to the point that even our President has turned into a character and not a respectful leader of this nation. His rhetoric is very divisive and he often blames others rather than rising above division to set an example for the elimination of bipartisanship, like he promised.

By the way, if you believe in restoring the Constitution, then you believe in the same Constitution that gives people the freedom of speech, religion, to bear arms, and the pursuit of happiness. That gives everyone something to believe in: freedom for life at conception, freedom to marry one's same gender, freedom to have and use a gun, and the freedom to have religious expression. It's easy to forget that Obama doesn't support gay marriage. It's easy to forget that not all Republicans are gun-toting Bible thumpers. It's easy to forget that terrorists can be any color, and any gender.

All I'm saying is that if you want to make a chance, then use your American-given powers for good and VOTE. Nothing will happen if nothing happens. If you don't vote, then don't complain.

Cheerful and Tear-filled Lunch Revelation

2010-09-24T12:57:00.001-04:00

I had the pleasure of eating lunch with my friend Angie today. It was technically a spiritual interview, but it was like eating with a life-long relative. Through this conversation, Angie helped me better understand that I'm not defined by my skill as a singer- I am a child of God. It is my identity in Christ that defines who I am, not the gifts He's given.

I loved being on the stage and I was very good at it. I landed many lead roles, collected awards, and even ventured to [the University of North] Texas in pursuit of a career in opera. Throughout high school, my classmates knew me as the girl who sings and does theater. The photo above is from our high school production of Kiss Me, Kate. I won an award for best leading actress out of 60+ area DC schools for my role as Kathryn (Kate). My favorite part of this photo is that I'm slapping my friend Michael who happened to be one of the earliest Christian influences in my life. His family showed me Christ in their actions before I knew who Jesus was. This was one of my final roles before retiring from musical theater and focusing on opera. Thankfully, God took me to Texas for more than just vocal training; He removed me from my small pond so I could really see the life He has in store for me.

I quickly realized that I wanted more than to be known as a talented person -
I want to be known for my contribution to others' lives.

I changed my major then changed my zip code back to Virginia to complete a degree in Communication. Fast forward to today - living in Lynchburg, very few people know that I'm a good singer, and I like it that way. I think our culture tends to place musicians, especially singers, on very high top-heavy pedestals that will fall over. I love being on stage and performing, but I don't like the stigma that is attached to talented people, that they are full of themselves or are only performing to gain attention for the wrong reasons. It's ludicrous to assign all performers the same identity because of the talents they posses. I enjoy performing because I love to sing, dance, and act! I feel comfortable on stage because its a way of expressing myself and a way to show people who I am as an individual.

I did not seek to become a professional singer and I am very thankful for my choice. I am loving my current position as a manager because I am able to pour into others' lives. It puts a pep in my step to be able to take care of others and help them be better at what they do for our organization. Sure I may whistle a tune while I work, but I don't sing while sitting at my desk- I save it for the stage (or my car).

Another de-Facebooking process

2010-09-05T22:10:00.001-04:00

I have cut my friends in half. I have gone from nearly 1,300 "friends" to a little over 600. Many of the folks that didn't make the cut were people who were friends of the time, not friends for all time. (geographic relationships that didn't develop after being removed from the environment like former co-workers, fellow high school grads who would likely not recognize me now if we bumped into each other on the street, etc.)

I want Facebook to be more than a boredom tool to click through everyone's wedding and baby photos. I want it to become a networking tool that I am able to go to, not something I must go to.

We'll see if I can get it down to 300-400 :)

I love my husband :)

2010-09-03T10:13:00.000-04:00

By the way, I love my husband :) I think this is my favorite photo of us. Just look at the way he is looking at me and the way he is gently and firmly holding my hand and back! It doesn't get any better than that.

God, thank you for blessing me with a man I do not deserve.

"How to hire.." : Interview Questions

2010-09-02T10:21:00.001-04:00

After showing this post about How to hire and How to get hired to some co-workers, they've suggested other great interview questions:

Additional Interview Questions

What is your greatest strength/weakness?
What do you do to relieve stress?
How do you measure success?
Tell me about a mistake you have made and what you learned from it?
What motivates you?
What qualities do you look for in management staff?
Do you have any blind spots? (this question threw me for a loop when I interviewed for my current position.)
Tell me about your dream job.
What kind of person would you refuse to work with?
Have you ever had to fire someone? How did it make you feel?
What is your biggest professional disappointment?

Reminder For Applicants

Never underestimate the power of a hand-written thank you note. I recently heard from interviewers about an applicant writing a thank you note. They were very impressed at that individual's professionalism!

Five day Facebook Fast

2010-08-17T08:32:00.000-04:00

Rather than fasting meals, I am choosing to fast Facebook for 5 days. Fasting can be a powerful way to surrender to God. For the next five days, rather than trying to connect with over 1,000 Facebook profiles, I will intentionally be connecting with God and learning more about Him.

This morning while I was still waking up, I opened my computer, checked my email, paid the power bill, then typed "facebook.c.." and realized what I was doing. I think this fast will be more challenging than I thought. The most challenging experiences tend to be the most rewarding.

-------------
DAY ONE
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First day of no Facebook and it's been great! I think that God is challenging me to connect with people in the Lynchburg area instead of trying to maintain close connections to those in Northern VA and Texas.

Tonight I had the chance to be with my husband's students. He is a Marching Band Tech (like a coach) for the drumline. The entire marching band went to a putt putt place and it was wonderful getting to know current students and hear their stories. God allowed me to connect to a group on a deeper level than I had before.

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DAY TWO
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More professional development occuring.. wow God. There's no time for Facebook today!

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DAY THREE
----------------
Without divulging details, today was another opportunity to connect, this time on a managerial level. I inherited a stressful situation at work that has been brewing for a number of years. I was given the responsibility of speaking with those involved and coming up with a solution. Even though conflict is not necessarily fun, getting to know my employees better is something I am very thankful for. Thanks for more connections, God!

When I came home, I found myself wanting to relax and go on Facebook to just look at pictures or maybe poke a friend or two. It was hard to resist, but I did and I am thankful for it! Facebook is a habit I am looking forward to breaking.

---------------
DAY FOUR
---------------
Today was no exception. I was able to move to the next level of the previous work-related situation. On a happy note, I had a wonderful evening with Jonathan :)

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DAY FIVE
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Okay, I kind of cheated today.. I logged on with the intention of, "well, I need to see what time I posted my '5 day' status update so I can know when the 5 days are up.." I logged on with the anticipating of my notifications being in the triple digits! I was quickly disappointed to see that I had 6 updates. Six! 2 people wrote on my wall, 2 people commented on a photo I commented on, and 2 people "liked" my status. God already humbled me with a broken nail, but this exceeds my cosmetic conundrum of what color to paint my fingernails.

Alas, the fast has commenced. Although I don't feel I was missed by my Facebook universe, I feel so much more connected to my city. I moved here with one friend: my husband. In two years, I have formed many relationships, but I always tried to hang onto my relationships back home without fully investing in the ones right in front of me. This fast has helped me socially, professionally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Lynchburg is a gigantic transitioning mason jar for 20 somethings. I suppose most college towns suffer the same fate. The friends I grow closest too often relocate within a year and I start the process over again with another journeyer. I'm growing out of my habit of connecting with work-based relationships and investing more into my church body. Because I work at a University, most employees my age do not stay in town for long. However, the friends of my local congregation have roots here so they are often in it for the long haul.

So here's to friends that are three dimensional!

Graduation Post (mentally back-dated to May..)

2010-08-14T20:28:00.000-04:00

(Orginially posted on May 20th on my other blog devoted to photos)

I'm a Master. That's right! I'm a Master of Science!... in Management. I actually hate Science so it's rather comical that I am now a Master of it in the ways of Management. Jonathan finished up his Bachelor's of Science in Business - yay!

I completed my degree with Liberty University entirely online and I am so glad I kept pushing through. I was a full-time workin' newlywed with a thirst for an education. Now that I'm done, it's rather strange not being in school. I don't know what to do with myself. I even started reading for fun. How weird is that!

This year's commencement was even more special because I am a Registrar for Liberty. My office plans and puts together Commencement. It's like a really big wedding with no gifts. This year's speaker was Glenn Beck. Love him or hate him, he's a great speaker.

How to Hire and How to Get Hired

2010-08-05T16:11:00.000-04:00

In the span of merely six months, I went from looking for a job via submitting 15 applications in one day to hiring my office assistant via going through 190 applications; from waiting by my phone for the slightest glimmer of a response to feeling helpless to respond to each application. I have experienced both sides of the sword and these are the tidbits of wisdom I have for you all to ponder.

For Employers

Looking for the best ways to widdle down your large pile of applicants? Try the following:

For a quick look that should take about 15 seconds:

Any words or names that are misspelled.
ALL CAPS or no capitalization at all.
No punctuation
A notation of “references available upon request” rather than listing references. (This is a personal peeve of mine. All applicants should place at least one reference number on an application or resume. If there is no reference, that says to me that they do not want their previous experience to be considered.)

For a deeper look that can take about 30 seconds:

Less than one year spent at two or more jobs.
Any disrespectful responses to why the individual left their previous jobs. For example “manager was not a good leader”. This is both not a complete sentence and is also not a good reason for why the individual left the position.
No previous experience in the field.
No previous education in the field.

(NOTE: When you know the applicant is not suited for the job, take the time to thank them for applying and that you have decided to go with another applicant. It’s easy to create a template email to use for such situations. You can also BCC and send a mass email to many applicants simultaneously to help reduce time spent. No matter what you do, always respond to an applicant. The applicant wants to leave a positive impression and so do you.)

After spending up to 30 seconds on each application, you should have at least half of your work complete. At this point, narrowing the selection to the final 10-20 depends on the job you are trying to fill. This selection process can be done through an assessment, survey, an HR-driven point system of the applicant, etc.

Now that you have your final group, you are ready to start learning more about the individuals beyond their standard 8.5” x 11” form.

Use Social Media.

I fully believe in utilizing social media to learn more about a future employee. Many times, you can learn more about a person by what they post in a global forum than what they place on a resume they think you will not read.
As a hiring manager, a vast majority of my applicants are in their 20s and 30s. Of all applicants I have researched, 100% of them have Facebook profiles. Even if your applicant pool ranges from age 20-80, you will be surprised at how many applicants you can find. The fastest growing population of Facebook users are in their 30s-40s.
Another great social networking tool is called LinkedIn (available at http://www.linkedin.com/) LinkedIn has proven to be an interesting concoction of Facebook and a professional resume. It allows other members to provide recommendations and networking opportunities.

Go beyond basics.

During the interview process, try questions like, “What book are you reading now?” “What is a goal of yours?” “What is something you are working on right now?”.
Open ended questions give you a better view of the applicant's professionalism and their personality. It also gives a nice change of pace in an otherwise stressful situation.

For Future Employees

If you have not read the previous tips, please do. Don't be misled in assuming employers are not already doing things like checking your Facebook or calling references. Most employers do read resumes, employers do contact references and employers do utilize social media to research applicants.

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of attire. It's not shallow to judge professionalism on appearance – it is necessary in order to create a positive first impression.
Don't let finances keep you from looking professional. You will be surprised at the amount of new and barely worn professional clothing one can find in a thrift store. A majority of my wardrobe was purchased for under $10 a piece, yet I'm able to wear name brand apparel.

Give the hiring manager an email OR a personal visit, not both.

One visit is all it takes to associate a name with initiative. If you repeatedly visit the hiring manager, initiative can seem like desperation.
If you know of others already in the organization, you can ask them to verbally mention your name and how wonderful you are. However, don't have them continuously bring up your name and don't ask them every day about the selection process. Your name may be memorable, but for the wrong reasons.

Be respectful of your previous employers.

The biggest turn-off for an employer is disrespect. If you’re thinking of a very funny joke at the expense of your previous employer, save it to tell your friends after the interview.
If you are working in the same industry as your previous job, your future employer likely is already familiar with the nature of your previous employer.

On a personal note, I had an interview where I was specifically asked about my previous employment. I knew they knew about the nature of my previous job and I chose to stay neutral and be thankful for the experience. I was able to say that the experience I acquired allowed me to be an ideal candidate for this new job, which was very true. This helped me stand out among the other applicants and ultimately helped me snag the job.

Your interview starts as soon as you leave your car.

Be very nice to the administrative assistant. They aren’t just the person calling the hiring manager to say you are here – they are watching you. They are watching to see how you interact with others, how polite you may be, how nervous you may be, and how disrespectful you may be.
Hold doors for those behind you. You may be opening the door for your interviewer. (Or their boss.)

Be early.

If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, you should have called 20 minutes before your scheduled interview time to say you’d be late, then quickly apologize in the beginning of the interview without telling a 10 minute story about how horrible the commute was. (If you hated the commute, that may be all the reason the manager needs to not hire you!)

Thank the manager.

A thank you goes a long way. Before (or after) the interview, ask the administrative assistant for a business card so you can have the hiring manager’s name and business address. Send a (neatly) hand-written thank-you for their consideration and the opportunity to interview for the position. Try to send it on the same day so it will arrive sooner.
Do not fold your resume 5 times to fit inside of the card. They already have it; they don't need another one.

So what tidbits have you learned on your professional journey?

Anniversary :)

2010-07-17T16:36:00.000-04:00

We celebrated our 2 year anniversary on June 28th :) We celebrated our honeymoon by going up to Amish country!! That's right. Ain't no party like an Amish party 'cus an Amish party has wonderfully baked pretzels and home made root beer. We stayed in the Ellemaker house, seen above, which is owned by Auntie Anne of pretzel fame. How amazing. If you know me, you know I love pretzels. If you really know me, you know I have German heritage which requires I love pretzels. Soo good!

Disneeeeey

2010-05-28T10:35:00.000-04:00

My husband and I had the distinct pleasure of celebrating with David and Dawn Mills on their 30th wedding anniversary. They have been a huge blessing in our lives and a wonderful model of a loving Christian marriage.

To celebrate, they invited 11 of their family members to a weekend celebration in Disneyworld! Their generousity was more brilliant than the sunny dispositions of the Disneyworld "cast members" (staff). Our group of 13 ranged from age 7 to 75. Magic Kingdom was the perfect destination for our gaggle of celebrators. There are rides that can accomodate many passengers of varied abilities, mostly boat rides. (Many choruses of "I'M ON A BOAT!" were sung throughout the day..)

What was my favorite part you ask? Dinner. We celebrated the Mills' with an anniversary dinner at the Floridian (that looks a lot like the Hotel Del Cornado in San Diego..). We surprised them with a cake and picked up their tab - it was the least we could do to show our love and respect. Jonathan and I sat across from David Sr. and Phil, Jon's grandparents. It was wonderful to chat with them. This was only the third time we've met them, the first being at our wedding and the second being at Jennifer and David B.'s wedding the year prior (Jon's older sister and her new husband). They now live in FL and are very active in serving through their church. It was really fun to chat, joke, and learn.

A highlight for me was the book I was reading : The Shack. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who can read. Seriously, it's that good! While on the plane to Orlando, the wonderfully bubbly and welcoming flight attendant commented on the book. I could immediately tell from the aura and love emminating from her that she was a believer. I wrote her a note describing what an encouragement she was to me and how beautifully she allowed God to shine through her. I gave the note to another flight attendant to deliver. Later, I saw her walk off of the plane later with tears in her eyes - she was so touched. I approached her, we hugged, giggled, and exhanged "God bless you"'s. This book has changed my view of God for the better - it's a relationship, not rule keeping. God has used the book to give me the encouragement to encourage others.

Disney may be the happiest place on Earth, but my joy is heaven sent and heaven bound :)

From a 6 to a 10!

2010-05-03T20:29:00.000-04:00

"I'm not fat.. I'm festively plump"

I come from a "thicker" family. My family members of German Norweigen descent are either over 6' or under 5'. Our hearty European ancestors really knew how to eat and drink and be merry. Myself on the other hand, I've always been the odd one out; I'm 5'4" and usually average size by European American standards. I've still battled with weight, but it was due to my self image issues rather than genetic makeup. 2 years ago for my wedding, my mother and I both got into the best shape of our lives. After the vows, we scurried off to our Honeymoon to eat the food I swore off for 6 months. But alas, marriage is infamous for bringing on the pounds and I don't like to disapoint the status quo in such matters.

So, 2 years later, my mom is still in excellent shape and I have gone from a size 6 to a 10. At first I was really upset about my weight gain, but after a few revelations, I've come to terms that it's not my body I'm upset with, it's my clothes. I love shopping and hate throwing things away. I adore dresses and dressing nicely. All of my favorite outfits no longer fit me due to my increased girth. As soon as I put on clothes that fit my curves, I love my shape. After a few yard sales and proper under garnments, I am more comfortable with my body than I was before my wedding day.

So now, here I sit on my couch watching Dancing with the Stars (Go Neicy Nash!) and eating popcorn, remembering that it's not the number on the scale or even the number on the dress; it's the way it makes you feel. I smile to remember that Marilyn Monroe was a size 14/16 by today's standards (look at Some Like It Hot; baby's got some major back). Most of Hollywood is under a size 6, eating their egg white omlettes and splurging on Diet Cokes. I'll take my medium rare steak with garlic mash potatoes for the win :)

Discover Downtown Lynchburg - it's not that far away

2010-04-10T12:23:00.000-04:00

Hello. My name is Laura and I am from Virginia.

Let me re-phrase that: My name is Laura and I am from Northern Virginia. I know that those of you also from Northern Virginia intentionally make that distinction. However, after living in Lynchburg, aka "real Virginia", I prefer to call myself a Virginian without the geographical pre-fix.

Now, when it comes to Lynchburg, there is also a geographical distinction between "Liberty Lynchburg" and "downtown Lynchburg". I work at Liberty University which is a very new landmark for this 300+ year old town. Liberty has only been here for about 10% of the town's existence. My husband and I lived on the Liberty side of Lynchburg for the first two years of our marriage; close to Target, Walmart, Panera, and every other commercial necessity for a Northern Virginianer.

One day while parusing Craigslist, I stumbled up on a beautiful ranch style home that was built in the 1920s. Being obsessed with anything vintage and historical, I jumped on the chance and we moved in a week later. This house is only 4 miles away from our prevoius abode, yet it seemed to be a world away. We now sit about one mile from downtown Lynchburg and close to small businesses on nearly every corner. We still have the "necessities" of commercial fast food, but what a difference 4 miles can make!

Here is a snapshot of the fun one can have in downtown Lynchburg:

Saturday morning begins with the sound of windchimes and birds chirping. I wake up to see the church steeple of the West Baptist Church as it pokes through the hilly residential neighborhoods of Lynchburg. I kiss my husband goodbye as he heads off to work, then I start my own adventure of estate and antique shopping. A quick car ride to downtown Lynchburg later, I find myself in my normal parking lot that is jam packed with no vacancies. I drive one more block and use my mad parallel parking skills that were perfected on the streets of Washington DC.

I venture to my first antique store, Estate Specialists, where I snag some killer deals. I found the perfect $5 Mary Poppins hat that I plan to use for my newest Halloween costume, a $6 hand painted enamel ring, and a $3 "miscellaneous" bag with two brooches, huge earrings that I plan to use as tiebacks to my new curtains, and an old toy car for my husband. (total of $14)

My next stop was Hardwick's where I headed straight to the clearance section, one of my favorite destinations in any store. I find an adorable and very Southern pineapple candle. (The pineapple is the Southern symbol for hospitality). The woman was incrdibly helpful and brainstormed with me on what I can do for my new blue front porch and how to make it welcoming. She recommended a small table with stained glass or a large vase of flowers that can be brought inside if the wind picks up during one of Virginia's infamous summer storms. (total of $6)

I continued on my way to Scarlett's Main Street, one of my favorite antique and estate stores. The people who helped me were so excited to have a conversation about antiques, old coins, and old books. I found many great deals, including two beautiful $3 scarves (one for my mother and one for myself), a $10 stained glass scene that proclaims "California Perfume" that is reminiscent of my favorite artist Alfons Mucha, and I also bought two amazing $8 necklaces that can pass for modern and vintage in the same breath. (total of $33).

Any trip downtown must include a stop at the White Hart where I bought a delicious cup of organic coffee for $1.60.

All in all, my downtown soiree was a breath of fresh air from the commercial side of "Liberty Lynchburg". Small businesses rock.

is it me or..

2010-03-16T22:24:00.000-04:00

..does there seem to be no shortage of multiple babies and little people on television?

..does it seem like makeover shows have been outrun by "real" housewives?

.. does the media's love affair with Obama seem to be going sour?

just a few things I've noticed.

Snow

2010-01-30T09:45:00.001-05:00

I love snow when we are prepared with groceries :)

The last time it snowed almost two feet, we were planning to leave right after my shift at work to drive 3 hours north to our parents' houses. The road we take is full of hills and heavily wooded. 5 hours later, we were 10 minutes away from our halfway point and we were stopped by three jackknifed tractor trailers. We had to turn around and go back home, with cars in ditches and "manly" men showing off how cool their trucks are as they skid across the highway.

We arrived back home with an empty fridge and barren cupboards. Our plan was to be away for 10 days so we intentionally ate through everything we could prior to that. We survived on water, popcorn, and lots of canned food we forgot we had in the back of our cupboard. We made due and it turned out to be one of the greatest times I've ever had with my husband. :)

'tis the season I suppose.

New Opportunties!!

2010-01-28T13:17:00.001-05:00

Hello Blog world! I come to you a new woman. Well, sort of :)

I have been experiencing a "holy discontent" in my job with LUO for quite some time. I loved my Director, loved my co-workers, but I knew I was being under utilized in my abilities.

Well, one October day when shopping at Target, I saw desk calendars in the $1 spot. I picked one up and said/thought to myself, "I'm going to use this calendar in my new job." I didn't know where or how soon or even how it would happen, but I had a peace that God would have be in a new place at the beginning of 2010. The next few days pass and our office admin assistant Emails everyone asking what kind of desk calendar they wanted. I did not reply because I knew I would not be needing one from that department.

A full month passes with nothing. I am feeling incredibly discouraged, but still walking in faith that I would not be in this position in 2010. Thanksgiving was a dark holiday because I knew I would have to go back to work again. (It was also a big ol' mess because I was gone on a recruiting trip on Saturday through Tuesday, had to drive back to work Wednesday, then had Thursday through Sunday off for the holiday. I drove 6 hours for a 6 hour work day. Needless to say, this did not contribute to my joy for the job.)

I applied for job after job with no responses that HR would allow me to pursue. (I did hear back from several positions but HR denied sending my application through to them because of various policies). 12 applications go by. In early December, I hear back about 3 opportunities in the same week. I interview for all three in the same week and I am called for a second round interview for 2 of them. God's hand moved and I got a job in a new department with better pay, better hours, and my own office. The Lord provided far beyond what I had been praying for initially. As soon as I started praying for God's will, He showed me what He was preparing.

So here I am today on January 28th in the 4th week of my new job in the Registrar's Office. I LOVE my new job! I wake up every morning refreshed and ready to tackle another day. I am constantly busy with something and I am a manager to 20 individuals who do a fantastic job at what they do.

If you look at my tweets and facebook statuses in the past year, you can see the progression from "okay God.. what are you doing?" to "when does this desert end!" then to "God is so good!!".

One underlying theme to all of this: "God knows what He is doing."

Drive Through Zoo

2009-10-18T22:43:00.000-04:00

There is a fantastic drive through zoo here in Central Virginia. It is called Virginia Safari.

Check out my photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lomasos/

The Green Workplace

2009-10-17T17:23:00.001-04:00

I adore this blog. This article is great in particular.

The Green Workplace

Shared via AddThis

Are you Linked?

2009-10-15T23:29:00.000-04:00

So, I need to confess something. I'm addicted to Facebook. It's such a brilliant invention for socially driven people like me who don't like talking on the phone! I have the chance to upload photos, share great websites, and have a running blog all at the same time. Although lately, it's turned into a breeding ground of false intimacy. People I am "Facebook friends" with aren't necessarily my best buds in real life, yet they may know some details about me that my parents don't even know.

Another almost funny part about Facebook is that employers have started to look at interviewees' profiles while they are answering questions like "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?". My boss is a perfect example of this. He will interview people, find a questionable photo, flip the computer around and say "well, this doesn't look like the same person."

Don't get me wrong, I am very protective of what I put on my profile. I don't have incriminating photos that would make my mother cry. I do however tend to use this platform as a stage to show high school classmates that I'm not the same person I was. But really, who doesn't do that?

Now that I'm all grown up and have my first cubicle (look how far I've come, baby!), I have moved into another rhelm of social networking: LinkedIn. I LOVE this website. I spent hours perfecting my profile with my resume, linking to former professors, current co-workers, and future employers.

If you're looking for that extra umph to your resume, create a profile on this website. It is a brilliant way to not only connect with people you already associate with, but to get their contacts and to further get your name and your skills to hundreds of new people every day.

Here is my page: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lrmills

Check it out! Connect with me. We'll have a grand ol' time.

Being sick while breaking a toenail: A surprisingly fun day!

2009-10-10T22:46:00.000-04:00

Today was actually a very good day, besides feeling miserably sick and tripping up my stairs and breaking my left big toenail off.

Nilsa and Anderson came to visit us in Lynchburg! I took a full dosage of mucinex, tissues, my regular meds, and a bottle of water. I was ready to face the day. We had breakfast at the Blue Dahlia, which is a really nice place to have breakfast. We were there for at least 2 hours, just hanging out, talking, etc. I had tons of water, hot food, and tea which helped clear my clog.

We then showed them where Jon proposed!! (photo) We traveled to campus, dropped by the BN Bookstore for more tea and ventured to the Prayer Garden, Jerry's old office, and the eternal flame of Liberty. We traveled just nextdoor to the stadium to watch the football team scrimage. They were histerical, making loud ridiculous noises and hollars for every play. It was great!

Left campus to go up up up the hill to SNOWFLEX! (oooh, ahhhh). This place is really cool. I was highly skeptical during the planning and construction, but it really is a fun place to hang out. It has gorgeous views of the city, a great coffee shop (that gave me more hot water for my tea!), and its fun to sit on comfy couches surrounded by animal heads (photo) and falling skiiers. Wrapped things up with lunch at Vinny's, my favorite pizza place. All in all, a great way to spend the afternoon.

As I was walking up my stairs, I missed. I tripped and my flip flopped feet flew into the wooden stair. Broke my big toenail and immediately got into Ballet dancer mode. (I danced for 10 years, so I'm used to broken toenails and feet injuries). I didn't waste time as I immediately got my nail stuff, clipped my toenail, and bandaged the damage. It still looks gross, but I am glad to have recovered half of my nail. (no photo.)

We all continued the day watching Madea's Family Reuinion. I was dying with laughter and feeling sick, so I took more meds and laughed my congestion away. Or tried to. Finished the movie, then headed to the White Hart, which is a very fun coffee house downtown. Ate a very light dinner (I had apple cider and a muffin), and we parted ways.

I had so much fun spending time with Nilsa and Anderson, and I probably pushed myself too hard. I tried to sit and rest and drink lots of tea, but my body hates me right now.

Tomorrow, SLEEEP.

Favorite buying / selling websites

2009-10-07T17:21:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to say hello :)

I like http://www.eBay.com, I really do. I have bought and sold about 157 things (at least according to my status). My favorite articles of clothing have been purchased via eBay, my best entrepreneurial opportunities have been seized on eBay, and it's just really fun to see what people buy and sell!

I also use http://www.half.com to purchase all of my textbooks. I save TONS of money, and then I sell them back. I usually spend about $30 a semester on books to buy then re-sell the books. Sometimes the books update to a new addition, but people are still willing to buy old versions for cheaper.

http://www.Etsy.com has turned into my new obsession. I love how creative people are! They have anything you can think of, and if they don't have what you want, there is a place on the site where you can request something to be made!! It's fantastic!

Go visit these website to save money, make money, and look fabulous.

Reclaiming my Bathtub, with the help of KABOOM!

2009-10-03T22:59:00.000-04:00

Billy Mays brought us many spectacular products. The most popular of course being Oxyclean. Oxyclean boasted the cleansing power that surpassed the previous kings of clean, and it held true! Oxyclean flew off the shelves, due in part to the salesmanship of Billy Mays.

Well, he had another product called Kaboom. Boasting the same cleansing abilities but this time in one's bathroom. Toilets, showers, you name it! This product did quite well in sales as well.

Now what does this have to do with my bathtub? When Jonathan and I moved to our current duplex, the tub was not in the best condition. Here is a before picture:

I've always wanted to be able to take a soothing bubble bath after a rough day, but the tub freaked me out. We would clean it and clean it, but the color never changed. Clorox didn't do anything but make small scratches on the surface. After Shower cleaners kept the gunk from getting worse, but didn't make it better. My last try was Kaboom, and it delivered! I sprayed Kaboom, let it sit for about 2 minutes, then I used the rough side of a Scotch sponge to scrub and scrub and scrub all the gunk. It was disgusting, but very rewarding.

Check out the after photo:

This is only after 10 minutes of scrubbing. We are nowhere near done, but the worst is over. I'm looking forward to reclaiming my bathtub!!

Viva la Kaboom!!

I love Glee

2009-09-30T21:59:00.000-04:00

My name is Laura. And I have a new favorite show. Its name is Glee. AMAZING!

It's on Wednesday nights on FOX (right after So You Think You Can Dance). The website is http://www.fox.com/glee/ if you'd like to watch episodes.

It's a delightful combination of Pushing Daisies, Ugly Betty, Avenue Q, and the MusicMan. It follows a High School Glee club as they battle through both high school trials and theatrical drama.

When I was in high school, I was the choir / musical nerd in every way shape and form. I was in all the musicals, President or Vice President of Choir and Drama (I forgot which was which because me and Adam had both positions in both clubs). I had such a great time doing theater in high school. This show takes me back and reminds me of how much I loved the stage.

Although I don't do theater anymore, I am thankful for the drive and work ethic it taught me. I still love show tunes and great drama, but now I enjoy it from the audience (or from my couch!)

Wild Blue Yonder

2009-09-29T16:24:00.000-04:00

I'm starting to seriously consider joining the Air Force Reserves as an Officer.

Since I have completed my Bachelor's and Master's degree, I can go to Officer's training school (OTS) and begin my service to my country. I have been researching this extensively, both by scouring the afreserves website as well as talking to my friends in (and out of) the service.

So why Air Force?
Air Force, from what I've heard and seen, is the most family friendly. If Jon and I both decide to go in and we get deployed, we will be more likely to be deployed together. They also, if I get pregnant, are very accomodating. Their education benefits, health benefits, and retirement benefits are exceptional. I'm still learning the details, but I am really liking what I see.

If Jon joins, they will pay for his Law School. They will pay for my doctorate, if I still want to get it. Or I may try to get a second Masters. Who knows!

So why now?
If not now, when? Jon and I do not have children yet. We will complete our degrees in December. He is starting Law School in August so we have 8 months.

Its true it hasn't been a childhood dream of mine to join the military, but it hasn't been a dream to not do the military. I don't want this blog to be political, so I will spare you how much I hate what's going on in our government, but I love my country. I love my Savior. Soldiers sacrifice their time, sweat, tears, and lives for our country and for God. I want to be a part of that. I want to use my managerial and business saavy to help improve the communication and operations of the military. I want to use my testimony to impact our soliders in a spiritual way. I want to go overseas with them and help them be most equipped they can be when they are fighting for our freedom.

So what now?
Well, I will be working out for months to get myself to a place where I can be selected for OTS. I can't just sign up and go - I need to be selected. My background and experience is good, my physical health is not bad but not in pristene condition either. I am looking forward to the challenge and looking forward to God's provision for what He has for us.

Whether it be military or something else, I will do what God places in front of me.

Please be praying for us that we follow God's will.

These are a few of my favorite things...

2009-09-27T21:29:00.001-04:00

I've gone Christmas browsing early...

There are many that I am totally in love with. Like the Mucha inspired pieces, and the "junktique" looking pendants.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
freckledear.etsy.com

Adopt a Pet

2009-09-27T14:37:00.004-04:00

As some may know, Jonathan and I adopted our cat, Adelaide, from the Charlottesville SPCA. They are a no-kill shelter that has hundreds of wonderful animals ready for new homes. We were so excited to get a new pet and to help an animal in need at the same time.

Animals can be extremely therapeutic. I have battled with depression since childhood and although I have come a long way from my low times of soul-searching, Adelaide brings a constant beam of sunshine to my life. To feel loved and wanted unconditionally is indescribable. I am loved and wanted by God, and I have a great hope in my salvation in Jesus Christ. Having and caring for another, whether a child, pet, spouse, what have you, allows us to better understand the kind of love that God has for us. No matter how hard of a day I've had at work, I can come home to the jingle of Addie's collar as she rushes down the stairs to greet me. No matter how stressed I am about a situation in my life, Addie senses the frustration or disappointment and comes to my side. Animals have a keen sense of protection and compassion. We are so blessed to be pet owners, and I know we've blessed Adelaide in adopting her.

We first adopted her in February, as a birthday gift to me from Jonathan. She is a doll. So full of life, full of love, and hasn't been a lick of trouble! She is a full-grown runt at only 7.1 lbs. She will always look like a kitten, and will likely always be curious like one, too!

Adopted animals come with a mixed bag of backgrounds. We think Adelaide was either neglected, abused, or both. She is not like most cats. She doesn't meow, doesn't scratch on furniture, and for a while she didn't even jump up on the couch with us. We taught her that it's okay to lay next to us and even on our laps and that it's okay to jump up onto the bed and other soft furniture. She's only jumped up on the counters once (to chase a bug) and we quickly corrected her with a HISS. She never did it again.

I am a huge advocate for non-violent pet behavior correction. There are many ways to correct a pet that do not involve physical harm. Spray bottles (with water), loud sounds, a tin can with coins inside, and just being consistent in enforcing the rules. There are many ethical ways to train a pet.

Adelaide is a joy to our hearts and a fantastic addition to our home. I think everyone should adopt, whether it is a child, an animal, or a positive action or thought.

Strap Perfect

2009-09-26T21:10:00.000-04:00

I try to stay away from "As Seen On TV" stuff until I see enough reviews, BUT, I absolutely love this product. If you buy it in stores, you get 12 total as well as really nifty fabric tape. I bought the box at Target with my mom, split it between the two of us, and I use it at least once a week. It's a really nice way to hide your straps, and I love the fabric tape.

This product also boasts of increasing bust size. Now, (getting personal here), I don't need any help in the chest department. I have plenty and didn't want to increase them any more. But the strap perfect does take the strain off of the same place in my shoulders. It holds the tension in the same place as a sports bra, but it's not nearly as obnoxious.

I like this product. And you will, too :o)

Cupboard Detox

2009-09-24T22:40:00.000-04:00

I've been looking for ways to detox my body. I recently had a detoxification through my feet this past week. It was disgustingly joyful. Since then, I was looking for healthy, easy, and affordable ways to detox at home.

I found a great article called "Home Detox 101" found here: http://www.ymib.com/daily-inspiration/health-holistics/articles/home-detox-101-4-easy-tips-detoxing-home.html

Breaking it down, there are four great ways to detox:

Skin brushing - taking a few extra minutes in the shower to exfoliate is not only great for looking good, but it improves your health! According to the article, "Dry skin brushing greatly benefits the lymphatic system. It helps in the elimination of toxins and removes dead skin cells."
Solvent Solutions - a cool new way to create your own mix. The article encourages readers to, "Grab a stainless steel saucepan and fill it with 3 pints of water, add 2 slices of fresh ginger and a couple of black peppercorns. Set it to boil for 10 minutes. (During that time, any chlorine will evaporate, and the water will absorb the benefits of the ginger and black pepper.) Once it’s boiled for a few minutes, strain it into a flask and keep it by you for the day. Many who’ve tried this have waved goodbye to headaches and mental fatigue."
Tongue Scraping - sounds just like it is. It eliminates bacteria that many brushers miss. Take a few extra minutes and scrape your tongue, either with the brush or get a separate scraper for it.
Walking - that's right! 20 minutes a day. Park further from the building, take a lunch break on the go, mix it up!

I am going to implement these for myself. See ya on the other side of health!

First Flight

2009-09-24T22:39:00.001-04:00

I used to have a live journal
I still have a facebook
I now have a blogspot :o)

I'm not here to change the world through complaints and prose, but I am here to share cool stories, photos, and adventures. Stay tuned!