My Favorite Fill-In-The-Blank Ever Is ...

Hey, y'all!

Have you ever stopped by Beth Moore's blog? Watch out - you will instantly be encouraged/challenged/or both. For reals. She and the other amazing women at Living Proof Ministries share about everything from how God's working in their lives to leading an online scripture memorization challenge, Siesta Scripture Memory 2011. More about that here.

Just yesterday she posted a fun link asking readers to list their favorite something - anything from their favorite dessert recipe to favorite Bible verse or favorite ever place to visit [for me, that would be NYC. Hands down]. Over 1,500 favorite responses makes for a really neato assortment of things that will brighten up your day. Think of it as 1,500 reasons to smile. As if you needed that many.

"But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful." [Psalm 68:3]

[Image via: we heart it]

Full House, L-O-V-E, & Other Musings

Good afternoon! Hope you're having a splendid day.

•  Remember the show Full House? I'm totally a '90s kid so my sis & I watched it absolutely all the time. Well, Candance Cameron Bure who played DJ, the oldest of the Tanner girls, is all grown up and has just written an awesome new book about her journey to finding physical & spiritual health.

 Snatch it up now on Amazon!

• Thump thump. Thump thump. Hear that? It's the sound of these adorable sparkly clips approaching, and just in time to for V-day. Kudos to ban.do for letting us play dress-up with our shoes.

 Wear your heart on your shoes. Or - say it with your hair. Ahh. Must I choose between the two?

• And I have to mention the ever-lovely Diane Kruger who graced the cover of Glamour this month. Holy jumbalaya. She looks amazing. Her style is effortless but chic and eye-catching all rolled into one.

 

•  In other news: my roommates are still hilarious. Just a brief sampling of some things they've said over the past week:

          "What do you mean you can't find the house? That's what you do. 

That's your job. Your job consists of you driving around and finding people's 

houses, for a living."
-CS to a delivery man who was over 11/2 + hours, um, "lost"

and

"No, no. You're no longer pregnant at this point. Girl, you're just holding
that baby hostage!"

       -CM to our 9th mths pregnant friend who claims that by simply crossing 

her legs, she will determine when her coming-any-minute baby will be born

Because He* lives,

Lorin

* "And so we know and rely on the love that God has for us."
I John 4:16

[Images via: we heart it, Access Hollywood, ban.do, Glamour]

New year, new books. Any recommendations?

I'd like to start off by sending out a quick shout out:

Hello there, weekend.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for getting here.

Please stay longer than last time.

Sincerely,

Girl who can't wait to turn off her alarm clock

 

Are you overjoyed like I am that 3 really great days are upon us - Friday, Saturday, & Sunday? What are your weekend plans? I just recently picked up a copy of Wuthering Heights and I know I'm years behind everyone who has already read it, but it's really great! Excited to take in another classic novel. Do you have any good books you're currently reading? This is one former English major who is on the hunt for really great novels/memoirs/ non-fiction. 

What's currently on your Kindle/ in your purse/ on your nightstand?

[Images via: we heart it]

Feeling a lot under the weather? Check.

There's nothing quite like starting out the week with a spontaneous, out-of-nowhere cold - and losing your voice. Awesome. My first official sick leave day of winter.  If you're feeling blah and about as jolly as the Grinch like I was earlier today, here are some easy ways to rest and recoop. After all, we can't stay home from work forever . . .

-Drink lots and lots of fluids. For me, that meant OJ, water, hot tea, more water, plus my mom's ho cho recipe [Heat up milk, add 1 heaping spoonful of Hershey's dark cocoa and some organic honey,  sprinkle in some cinnamon and nutmeg, stir, and enjoy].

-Fluff those down pillows, pull up the covers, and take a loooong nap. Wake up only to roll over. Then proceed with lovely dreaming.

-Read some of that book you've been meaning to but before today didn't have the time. I pulled The Normandy Diary of Marie-Louise Osmont: 1940-1944 [translated by George L. Newman] out of my stacks of neglected books and got to reading.  Let me just say that Marie-Louise was a tough, kick-butt kind of lady: during the war, she was a widow who managed her household, helped out at the Red Cross, and worked in a nearby library. Oh, and kept her cool while enemy troops took up residence in her château. You know, everyday stuff. 

-Spend time praying. For family, friends, our nation, a pure heart, to hear God's voice. And if you're up for it, journal some of those prayers.  It's wonderful to be able to look back and see how God has been faithful and answered when we cry out to Him - whether His answer was the one we wanted or not, He's in control and will work all things out in for His glory.

-Tune in to some cheery holiday chick flicks.  ABC's 25 Days of Christmas is featuring lots of feel-good movies on TV.  Exhibit A: Christmas Cupid.

Because, really, who wouldn't want to sit back and watch the adorable Chad Michael Murray try to woo his way back into Christina Millian's life as the ghost of her dead, martini-drinking celeb client haunts her with ghosts of boyfriends past? Classic.

-If you're feeling a tad bit stir crazy, bundle up and go for a walk.  I don't know about you, but I always feel better once I get my heart rate up.  And since the wind factor outside has been ridiculously unbearable, that's when the treadmill in my apartment's gym comes to the rescue.

With these tips, you can get through any sick day. Bring it on, winter flu!

With love and chicken noodle soup,

Lorin

[Images via: Inspired Occasions, ABC Family].