James

James 1:
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way,
consider it an opportunity for great joy.
For you know that when your faith is tested,
your endurance has a chance to grow.
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,
you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.
Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God
has promised to those who love him.

So now there is a new man in my life: Welcome, James.

To You.

To those who I have lost somewhere between the Fox River Mall, the Grand Canyon..LAX....this one goes out to you.

It seems so long ago I sat with you in a coffee house on a cold Wisconsin evening. Drinking coffee under a dimilit light convinced me I was a wise adult. I hated coffee. I liked you so much that I pretended to like coffee so that we could pretend to have a deep conversation.
We were going to take on the world. I think I was 18.

And him. Your future husband. He became my friend too.
He has always been such a ray of light, a ball of energy, and one of the tightest huggers I have ever known. I loved his mom too. I gave her a pedicure once. She told me I was classy. I still carry her compliment with me and make sure that it remains true in my daily life.

When I witnessed your marriage to him, I wished that I could find the same happiness that you found with him.
I even caught the bouquet at your wedding reception.

Our friend. Her. She and I always caused trouble. From the time we blew up hot dogs in the microwave..to the time we posed for a photo next to a giant velvet martini glass in my living room. Her. She convinced me to stop my car, jump out, and dance to Milli Vanilli on the side of the freeway. I know it's still on video somewhere. Her. I loved her. She never listened to my advice and I am afraid she will never quite know how much I do understand her.

Him. The guy who posed with us next to the martini glass and witnessed the Milli Vanilli scene. He was dressed up like a nun. It was Halloween. What on earth happened to him? He was the good guy. I think my life will almost be complete if I can at least talk to him one more time. He always disappeared around conflict.

Me. I moved to California six years ago. Six years seems like an eternity.
But I am still from Wisconsin. I still love Wisconsin.
To be truthful there will always be the soft part of me that wants to throw it all away and move back to Wisconsin to be with the ones I love.

But you see now time has forced us all to move on.
There are babies. New families. Boyfriends. New cars. Mortgage payments. Careers.
Are we really adults?

Somewhere between LAX and The Fox River Mall my heart broke a little bit from missing you. Life has never been the same since.

My Favorite Things. (Move over Oprah..here comes Amanda!!)

I found this new fun website for a shopaholic like me. It's called thisnext.com. (And nope I am not getting paid for this). I fell in love with this website on a Sunday afternoon.
I can shop for things I dream of owning and make wish lists or recommend things I already own to shoppers like me.
I always create wish lists and send them to my friends.
It's like daydreaming about a wedding shower.. without the wedding.
And this way it's not a mystery if someone wants to buy me a little (or a big) gift. Hint Hint ;)

I've found everything here. From salt & pepper shakers (which I collect) to shelving.. to DDR and a Playstation 2! And of course.. tons of fun culinary kitchen-esque stuff!!

Putting together a list like this really helps me plan for the things that matter to me. Whether they are fun and little wants..or things I truly need.
It's like a cyber vision board.

I guarantee this site is addictive.
Its like a Target Ikea Urban Outfitters NY LA Vancouver Seattle Williams Sonoma all in one place.
Can you tell I am smitten??!!!!

Just click on one of the images above to visit the site. The images here are just a few of my 127 favorite things. Oh and I am sure I will find more!
The images will take you to the site where you can go on your own shopping voyage.. or you can check out the rest of my wish list.
I have to say it's all interesting. :)