Cool Things...of the Last 2 Weeks

I've taken a bit longer break from blogging, so this "Cool Things" list is for the last 2 weeks or so. Here is my:

• Favorite thing about the holidays: Visits from family and friends like family who normally live far, far away. (I love you Holly & Devyn!).

• Cool Bible passage: I Thessalonians 5: 12-18 (The Message) - I know this is a longer passage than I usually highlight, but I just love how the Bible is so real, so straight-up honest, you know?
  
  And now, friends,
  we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you,
  who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!
  Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part.
  Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on.
  Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted,
  pulling them to their feet.
  Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs.
  And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other,
  and always do your best to bring it out.
  Be cheerful no matter what;
  pray all the time;
  thank God no matter what happens.
  This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
  
• New lunch place: Capers downtown on Pacific. Capers is within walking distance from the office and has this amazing white bean chicken chili (and I think it's actually kinda healthy, too!).
  
• Secret Starbucks drink: Short non-fat, no-whip mocha. Short Starbucks drinks are the secret beverages not listed on the menu (shh....). They're the perfect size, cheaper and give you the same amount of caffeine buzz.
  
• Fun Christmas gift to give: I actually ordered a "Support the Rabid" bracelet for my sister from "The Office." This only makes sense to Office fans who have seen the Rabies Fun Run episode--mmm hmm, it's real.
  
• Relaxing Christmas gift to receive: Thanks to Mom and Dad, an oh-so-lovely gift certificate to Chardonnay spa for a massage...ahh....(and yes, I've already used it!).
  
• Innovative CD: One Republic - "Dreaming Out Loud" So this is my sister's new CD, but I had it in my car for a week (love the perks of sharing with family). I think One Republic is innovative because they mix instrumental elements of rock and classical music (not usually my fave--but cool when mixed with other stuff).
  
• January holiday: Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day (Jan. 11) - Watch out! :) Somehow, I ended up chatting and laughing with some friends about wacky holidays and this one is my January favorite. Check out the weird holidays here.
  
• New personal holiday: Sacred Sleep-in Saturdays - This is the new name I've given to the one day of the week where I can sleep past 7:00.

Cool Things of the Week

New Tacoma Hotspot: Hello, Cupcake! (No, that's not a corny pick up line for 75 year olds, but an AMAZING cupcake bakery near UW Tacoma).

Quote: "Love outside the lines."

Work Perk: Yay for Labor Day off!

Chick Flick: Becoming Jane - Okay, I saw this a few weeks ago, but I hadn't blogged about it yet. It's great...but be prepared because it's also kind of sad.


Cheap Eats: Check out the Olive Garden's Never-Ending Pasta Bowls (though I can't usually finish one!). At $8.95 (including soup and salad), it's a steal. And you've gotta have a Bellini Iced Tea
(iced tea with a bit of peach/raspberry syrup) just for me. :)


Cheesy (But Fun!) Day Out: Monday mini golf with the gang

Cool Song Lyrics

I love words. I love music. Put them together -- and you've got cool song lyrics. So I decided to write a quick post about song lyrics I like ... and why they inspire me, make me smile, make me laugh, etc.

What's amazing about good lyrics? They're short. They stick in your head (or in your heart). And yet they can make you think, get a new perspective or remember a moment in your life.

So here goes:

Song:

"Hosanna" By: Brooke Fraser - Hillsong United - All of the Above

Lyrics:

Break my heart for what is Yours /

Everything I am for your Kingdom's cause

Why I Love Them:

These words express a pure heart to live full-on passionately for God -- to be a person "after God's own heart." It's about seeing people, life, situations, the world -- like God sees them. All in two lines.

Song:

"83" By: John Mayer - Room for Squares

Lyrics:

Whatever happened to my lunchbox? /

When came the day that it got thrown away? /

And don't you think I should have had some say in that decision?

Why I Love Them:

These lyrics just make me smile. John Mayer has the ability to paint relatable pictures with words (it's probably why he's won several Grammys for songwriting). "83" is all about childhood and remembering that good time in his life (for Mayer, it was being 6 in '83).

Who can't relate to having a favorite lunchbox (I remember mine in the first grade was purple and had these cartoon puppies on it!)? But whatever happened to it? And why didn't I get more of a say? :)

Song:

"Love on the Rocks" By: Sara Bareilles - Careful Confessions

Lyrics:

Here’s a simplification of everything we’re going through /

You plus me is bad news /

You’re a lovely creation and I like to think that I am too /

But my friend said I look better without you.

What I Love About Them:

These lyrics are honest. I haven't personally been in this situation with a guy. But I've seen plenty of friends who have (guys with girls in their lives, too, by the way).

It's like the point where you see something you don't want to see about a relationship -- you see it, your friends see it -- but you don't want to. Sometimes, it even happens when both people are good people, but just not good together.

Song:

"Your Love Will Never Change" By: Dave Barnes - Brother, Bring the Sun

Lyrics:

So tell me there’s nothing that you can’t do /

You’ll love me though I’ve hurt you /

You’ll take my blame /

Your love will never change /

Your love will never change

Why I Love Them:

I honestly had a hard time picking my favorite lyrics from this song -- it's that good. These lyrics sound like a love song, but it's actually written to God (another part of the song talks about He created the world but "somehow knows my name" -- that's incredible in itself).

I guess they just express that sense of awe for His unconditional "no matter what" kind of love. No matter what I do that may miss the mark and break His heart, He loves me. He takes on the blame and paid the price for my stupidity, pride, weakness -- sin. But despite all of that, and all I may do to hurt His heart today or tomorrow, His love for me is unchanging.

Pretty amazing.

Summer Music Faves

It's summer. And time for some fun music. Here are some of my favorite summer CDs (no Beach Boys, I promise!):

John Mayer "Room for Squares" - You have to love "83", "Why Georgia" and all the classics on this CD.






The Afters "I Wish We All Could Win" - "Beautiful Love" is the best summer song. I also like "All that I Am" - a great prayer.





Dave Barnes "Chasing Mississippi" - This one is a little bit country (my mom and dad would be proud!). Best songs? "Everybody But You" and "Butterflies".




Switchfoot "The Beautiful Letdown" - My favorite songs on this CD are "Meant to Live", "More Than Fine" and "On Fire".






Mark Broussard "Carenco" - Gotta love "Rocksteady", "Save Me" and "Where You Are".

Favorite things of the week

I know I'm not Oprah, but I thought you might like to hear some of the cool things going on in my world during the past 7 days:

• Favorite celeb sighting of the week: Nick from "Survivor: Outback". I haven't met very many celebrities, but last Thursday at a fundraising event for Project U (see below), I met Nick from "Survivor: Outback". Nick's a cool guy with an interesting life (he was also a prosecuting attorney on the Watada case).
  
• Favorite fundraiser: Project U at the Melting Pot in Tacoma. Chocolate fondue with strawberries? Supporting a good cause and meeting cool people? How could I say no?


• Favorite Starbucks beverage: Tall, 1 pump sugar-free Cinnamon Dulce, nonfat, no-whip mocha. Whew! What a mouthful ... does that mean I'm high maintenance? Or just an original?


• Favorite celebration: My sister's 25th birthday is today! Congrats, sis, on making it to a quarter century. :)


• Favorite CD of the moment: "Albertine" by Brooke Fraser. Some of you may not be familiar with Brooke, but I was introduced to her music last year by a friend from New Zealand. She also sings on the Hillsong "United We Stand" album ("None But Jesus"). Her CD isn't even available in the States, but I special ordered it because I loved her last one so much.