I Adore You

What about this look?

Take That Phelps

My favorite thing about the Olympics - hands down- was watching President Bush in the stands...

Hilarious. Truly.

Over and Over

Over and over and over again we see the call to grow and to give in the New Testament.


I wonder, are we really doing those things?

Ten Songs You Should Buy On iTunes Right Now

1. Brooke Fraser, The Sound of Silence
2. John Mayer, Free Fallin
3. Patty Griffin, Up To The Mountain
4. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Falling or Flying
5. Brooke Fraser, C.S. Lewis Song
6. Audio Adrenaline, Until My Heart Caves In
7. Hillsong, Fire Fall Down
8. Missy Higgins, Where I Stood
9. U2, All I Want Is You
10. The Beatles, Come Together

101 in 1,001

I've noticed this goal post on a few blogs I love and thought I'd make my own since I'm a rather goal oriented person. So, below are the rules and my set goals. My estimation says I should be complete with them by Spring 2011. If you make a list let me know so I can read yours!

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

NOTE: WIP means "work in progress"; if it has a strike through it, consider it complete!

Start Believing God study.• Take a full day off each week. - WIP

• Finish The Aftermath by September '09. - WIP

• Edit and send out The Christmas Book My Mom Wants Published ASAP.

• Back up my computer files and print out important writing.

• Learn 10 new iMac tricks.

• Make a Blurb book.

• Send out The Invitation to interested parties.

• Get business cards made up.

• Create 4 new blog freebies.

• Write a bible study how-to lesson.

• Incorporate the business.

• Write ahead for my blogs - at least 10 articles banked. -WIP

• Donate to OneVerse.

•  Start Believing God Study

• Complete 10 weeks of the study and ALL homework. -WIP

• Record specific prayer requests and their answers! - WIP

• Memorize 52 new Scriptures. -WIP

• Do a study on the book of Leviticus.

• Give to New Moms in need.

• Bring meals to homeless.

• Volunteer somewhere.

• Donate Clothes

• Learn how to use Moonpennies to her full potential.

• Organize bedroom closet.

• Re-decorate bedroom.

• Design a creative Christmas card for our first married Christmas.

• Make 4 seasonal wreaths for stand out holidays - WIP

• Keep one plant alive and well for at least 6 months.

• Decide on wedding photos for final album. -WIP

• Research homes/property in New York.

• Put The Oldies on DVD.

• Put favorite recipes onto cards and into binder. -WIP

• Get wedding dress made into blanket.

• Start a sewing project of some kind.

• Finish that project.

• Start going Organic with our food over the next few months.

• Create canvas shopping bags.

• Make Mom's stuffing recipe...and make it good.

• Scrapbook a wedding album.

• Get a fish tank and some cool coral.

• Bake homemade bread.

• Go on a hiking trip.

• Visit the Redwoods.

• See Solvang with Eric.

• Go whale watching.

• See a great concert.

• Reach 10,000 + on my iPod. -WIP

• Upload all my CD's to said Pod.

• Get a puppy. (Maltese!)

• Host a theme party.

• Plan 2009 Grandchild Weekend.

• Get awesome t-shirts made for that weekend.

• Get a tattoo.

• Go horseback riding on the beach.

• Read (re-read) 4 Jane Austen masterpieces.

• Attend Giants game with my brothers.

• Have a few only-candle-as-light nights.

• Stop and listen to the rain for an hour. (Whenever I'm around it again!)

• Memorize 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.

• Take a road trip.

• Customize a road trip soundtrack for the drive.

• Decorate the Christmas tree Thanksgiving Night. ; )

• Host a Mystery Science Theater showing/popcorn fest for my peeps.

• Memorize a page of Hugh Grant dialogue.

• Hike near a waterfall.

• See a real penguin.

• Attend another Broadway play with Eric.

• Make a necklace.

• Do Gilad 3x a week. - WIP

• Work with Pilates ball 2x a week. - WIP

• Bring Eric breakfast in bed on our anniversary days...

• Visit Eric's parents in Oklahoma.

• Plan a Spa day for my Mom, Kate and I.

• Start adding more to my teacup collection. - WIP

• Locate and buy vintage Beatles records.

• Write more fiction.

• Keep going with the novel idea.

• Move back to New York.

• Go with Eric on a photography trip.

• Organize bookshelves in the house.

• Give away books we won't read again or have duplicates of.

• Catalogue our books with our stamped on name.

• Comment on three new blogs a week. - WIP

• Hand journal more. - WIP

• Type less. - WIP

• Choose to write more handwritten notes as opposed to emails.

• Send someone something special.

• Do not go camping. Under any circumstances. No matter what they say to get me there.

• Forgive.

• Encourage 4 other writers.

• Start a book club.

• Bake something delicious once a week. - WIP

• Use my planner daily. - WIP

• Sit outside with my tea 2 or 3 times a week.

• Cut my hair.

• Get a desk filing system going.

• Lay under the stars at night with Er.

• Have a thrift store hunt day.

• Spend a day at The Farmer's Market.

• Make a meal with only Farmer's Market items.

• Complete these goals in 1,001 days. - WIP

When Cats Attack...Marshmallows (Take 2!)

While home in New York a few weeks ago, I found my Mom's cat, Savannah, pulling marshmallows out of a bag on the kitchen table and devouring them with hilarous sugar craving hunger. I tried to grab my camera fast so you could see her in action. Priceless in my eyes.



Okay, ladies, let's try this video again! Hope it works for you this time...









You'll notice my concern didn't trump my intrigue.

Why Memory Books Mean So Much To Me...

Dear Mom and Dad,







Now that I finally have had a moment to sit down and read again (Dad, I?m still curled up in my sweater, blanket, hat and scarf even in California!) I took out the ?Our Little Girl? memory book you wonderful parents so tenderly kept for me as a baby. (Read: Mom, the one you kept and Dad probably never saw.)





Anyway, on page 17 of this fabulous read pertaining to all things me, under the heading ?Her First Birthday? I came across this shocking statement:

?Kristen had 3 (underlined) parties for her first birthday.?

And there we have it folks.



Mom and especially Dad, I cannot believe you would challenge me all these years since then! NO WONDER I?ve had a birthday party obsession. NO WONDER the day Christmas is over I start gearing up for my February birthday. NO WONDER I still have the birthday cassette tape Grandma and PopPop had made for me when I was four. You know the one where the man sings, ?Hey Kristen it?s your birthday?you?re a big star today?my name is Zoon and we live on the moon?and we?re here just to say?Hey Kristen, you?re the BIG STAR today!?



NO WONDER I had that song converted to an MP3 file and have had it in heavy rotation on my iPod ever since.



NO WONDER I?ve always thought every single store was decorating their shelves with red hearts and garland in honor of my February 13th birthday! I admit I never understood their choice of fat baby angels as d�cor, but who am I to judge?



I am truly appalled you two would try to talk me off the Birthday Bash Bonanza Wagon and laugh at my deep love for birthday crowns, balloons, special order cakes and birthday vacations.



Another tradition I can kindly thank you for.



(And I know, Mom, you tell those other kids of yours my birthday vacations have nothing to do with special treatment and ALL to do with the school calendar?s idea of winter break. I want to thank you publicly for that fib as I have now stumbled across written proof you think I?M A BIG DEAL.?)



In closing, I feel I must point out the part of this fabulous memory book where you wrote: ?You?re  a funny, loving, caring child. I admit you?re a little difficult but most of the time you make us laugh.?



I guess much hasn?t changed.



Except of course for the now etched-in-time, legally binding proof I have that I?m a Birthday Princess because of your doing.



I look forward to February 13th this year. I?m dying to know what you have up your sleeve!



?3 Parties A Birthday? is my new life motto.



I?m thinking a 24 day cruise throughout Europe, one day for each of my years on earth. You?



I love you,

Kristen

Someone Call Jay Leno.

Okay, I have no choice but to tell you about the ?tags? I saw under the new Jessica Simpson country video on Yahoo.







I kid you not (under filed categories) it read after the obvious ?country? tag:

Extreme Country Makeovers. 



  

Um, can we say downright classic!

If you are just visiting Taste Buds for the first time today, scroll down to the next post for some real information. Again, have a great Monday!

An Honest Rant

Can I be honest for a moment?

 

I?m one bored Christian.

 

Now, I hope you don?t take that as I am bored with Christ because I most certainly am not. I am consistently challenged by Him and urged to move forward into a deeper relationship with His Holiness. I?d swim the deepest seas, walk through fire to get to Him?

 

But in terms of things ?Christian?, I am bored. 

 

The music doesn?t really do it for me. I?m a Beatles-Buffet girl. 

 

The movies. Please don?t make me give my take on them.  I was taught if you have nothing nice to say?

 

The websites. They lack things I need. Actually, this is a main reason I love all of your blogs. They offer a Christian perspective that is actually interesting. You?re living life alongside me and I love to hear what works for you, what challenges you, what makes you feel alive. I really find Christian websites are geared more toward Moms, Dads or kids in subject matter.



 

And I mean, where are the Christian magazines? For adults?  I want to pick up a magazine and read about all of the things secular magazines offer without the worldly spin. Doesn?t mean I don?t like their basic idea though: fashion, love & sex, advice columns, COOL interviews, entertainment, articles that are funny, that challenge, that are worth my reading time. 

 

The lack of these resources for women my age is disturbing honestly. That?s right I am disturbed over it. 



 

My age group is a dangerous one in the Christian statistic world. Roughly only 20% of the college-aged dynamic actually consider themselves ?born again?. We are the group falling off the map at an alarming rate, leaving college, entering the workforce, building our own homes?.and many of us who grew up in Christian homes are leaving the faith we so embraced as children.



  

Honestly, I?ve got to wonder if some of that can be attributed to our boredom. 



 

Because I?m telling you, if I didn?t know Christ personally, didn't meet with Him within His Word?

 

I?m not sure I?d stick this thing out based on boredom alone.

Precisely...Un-Pretty, Deja Vu

At precisely 5:13 A.M. on Sunday morning, it came to my attention (as I was shuffling my pillows, trying to hide my eyes from the coming threat of the morning sun) that I am one weird sleeper.





Oh yes, I sleep weird.





As I was trying to fall back to sleep, I noticed my arms were over my face and head (as if performing some kind of awkward dance routine) and my legs were curled up (as if I was being stuffed into a clown car). My face was buried beneath more pillows than I care to count causing me to have to turn my head and create an air hole; so I would not die from oxygen deprivation.





It was at that exact moment (5:13 A.M.) I realized aloud, ?Wow. You sleep really weird.?





And I even said it in second person; that is how far removed I felt from the situation.





Laughing about my sprawled out behavior, and trying not to wake my Man, I buried my face a little deeper into my pillow ocean and smiled when I thought of the verse:

Psalm 4:8



"In peace I will both lie down and sleep,

For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

This made me laugh because while His Word may promise me peaceful sleep; it most certainly does not promise me pretty sleep.





I?m so glad my husband always falls asleep before me so that he does not have to see me this way! Oh wait, that is right, he is always awake (WAY!)before me?Well, I?m just so glad he loves me anyway.

All Glorious

Eric looked at me a few nights ago, love in his eyes and whispered a phrase that nearly arrested my breath within a second. Even with just the way he said it. 

  

?If you could see what I see.?

I am still so captivated by that statement, I cannot even elaborate all that much. It may have been the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me.

Today our Father speaks that over you. Just as he spoke, ?might warrior? over Gideon before the man had done anything of valor; he speaks ?all glorious? over you this day. 

If you could see what He sees.

 

"The king's daughter is all glorious within: 

her clothing is of wrought gold."

Psalm 45:13 

"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither."

"Even in literature and art,

 no man who bothers about originality will ever be original:

whereas if you simply try to tell the truth

(without caring twopence how often it has been told before)

you will, nine times out of ten,

 become original without ever having noticed it."

~C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis speaks to me more deeply than any other author ever could. When I first read (notice I said 'first' because there have been many times since then!) The Screwtape Letters...I tell you I was a changed woman. Well, a changed teenager at the time.



The thing that keeps me hooked to C.S. Lewis and more than willing to re-read his work over and over again is his sincere approach to writing with truth. He doesn't mince words, doesn't sugarcoat the reality of this life and time after time he reiterates, "This place is not our home."

This Place Is Not My Home.

This blog was almost given that title. I had a header created with a 20- someone girl standing next to a stack of suitcases looking ahead. The suitcases were trendy, cool, temporal. Yet the 20-someone girl was more than temporal. She was awaiting More. Something eternal.



I am that girl today. Again. Awaiting what we are promised in The Only One who is able to do it on our behalf. And I am moved to the pursuit of things everlasting as I read the words of C.S. Lewis in his breathtaking, most well written piece of literature my eyes have ever had the privilege of looking upon:

"The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing ? to reach the Mountain, to find the place where all the beauty came from ? my country, the place where I ought to have been born. Do you think it all meant nothing, all the longing? The longing for home? For indeed it now feels not like going, but like going back."

--Til We Have Faces

Waiting for Home...





While you are here - I have a poll going at the top of my sidebar. Care to join?

As Random As Can Be

Um...did you hear about The High Heel Race? I believe one of the rules was that the heels had to be 3 1/2 inches or more! The pictures alone are enough to make my ankles break.

My goodness, these women are brave!

For those of you wondering how my MoonPennies coffee maker is doing, well, ladies, she is officially a part of my family...and my heart...and my morning.

I've mentioned before how my husband takes some awesome pictures. This is a shot he got near a pier by our house.

"Louis the octopus clearly thinks two heads are better than one when it comes to toys.
The 1.8m-wide (6ft) creature is so attached to Mr Potato Head that he turns aggressive when aquarium staff try to remove it from his tank."

When I read that quote in this article, I couldn't stop laughing!

Today have a wildly random day.