Study, Study, Study, Bake, Study, Study....

This week is going to be one of those weeks.  With three exams and two papers due in the next four days, I just know its going to be a rough one.  I spent the majority of my weekend studying, with the exception of about an hour or so tonight.  My friend Christine did me the service (or disservice?) of turning me on to what is now one of my new favorite blogs, Bakerella.  (Really...check it out...she's amazing!  She makes the most adorable treats ever.  Ever.)  So, in an effort to give my brain a rest, I did the two things I can always count on to let off some steam:  bake and feed people.

In honor of Palm Sunday, I made peanut butter eggs.  The ladies at my church growing up always made them around Easter time and they always proved to be a highlight.  After browsing around Bakerella, I found an oh so easy recipe for peanut butter balls and thought...hey!  I can make those into eggs!  Click here to see pictures and get the recipe.  I think my housemates pretty much liked them!  I'll hopefully be making them next weekend for Easter celebrations in Reading (we're big peanut butter/chocolate/nutter butter fans), so I'll be sure to take/post some of my own pictures then!

Oh, how'd I'd like to take a year off from life to just bake!

A Product I MUST Rave About!

So I know I just posted, but I got this new Camelbak water bottle yesterday and I need to sing it's praises!

Besides being super cute, this bottle has a straw inside with a flip-top that allows you to drink without tipping your head back....perfect for the gym, driving, etc!  And there's no risk of having a rush of water come pouring out all over you because you were a little too zealous about drinking, and it doesn't leak!

It's like a sippy cup for grown-ups!  

Currently I'm...

Listening to:

 

Ingrid Michaelson, Be Ok

Eating:

oranges

Reading:

 

In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan

...and seriously procrastinating.

Some reflection

I just returned from evening chapel where my dear friend, Lacy, spoke about finding hope amongst suffering.  As always, her words were sincere, intentional, and thought-provoking.  In my case, the thoughts that were provoked were ones of gratitude and, well, for lack of a better word, hope.

As I sat there listening to Lacy, it occurred to me, as it does every so often, that I've never experienced any real heartbreak.  Sure, I've had my share of disappointments, I've seen things that I've longed for not work out, but heartbreak?  I don't think I can attest to that.  Maybe that's a good thing, something I should be grateful for.  And maybe it's not so good.  I worry that I don't know what it really means to hope.  To loosely quote Lacy, I'm not sure what it is to realize that the thing I long for the most or am searching for so avidly simply doesn't exist in this world, and that my hope should not be placed in an event, a relationship, etc., but in my Lord, Jesus Christ.

I've been preparing for my upcoming trip to Zimbabwe and have taken a bit of time to think about what I would like to gain from this adventure.  I've had a lot of people tell me that it is going to change me.  I've seen good friends wrestle with how to process and understand what they've seen and experienced during trips to Africa.  I've seen their faith shaken, their views of the world drastically changed, and have cried and prayed for friends who find themselves broken from the experience.  Part of me is terrified of it all, but a much larger part is excited for it.  Is that okay?  I mean, in some way, I feel like I'm ready to get a first-hand sense of the suffering that exists in this world.  I lead a pretty sheltered and privileged life and I'm pretty sure I don't appreciate it nearly as much as I should.  I'm also not sure that anything short of an eye-opening experience is really going to change that.  I'm so excited to see the work that God is already doing in Zim, and I'm excited to see what He's got planned for me and my team while we're there.  I certainly am hoping that it changes me...that it brings me back a more gracious and grateful person, ready to take what I've seen and respond with hope.

*I'm so grateful to have friends who are wise beyond their years, and believe me, I'm lucky enough to have quite a few of whom that can be said.  Check out Lacy's blog here.

Tequila Sunrise

No, it's not what you think....
it's a nail polish.

One that I'm really fond of at the present moment.  See, I don't normally paint my nails any color...I'm a clear or french manicure kind of girl, but after finding this polish at Target for $.73 tonight, I simply had to try it out!  Here's what it looks like:

In other news, I took some pictures at a few stores of crafts and inspiring colorful beads in NC that I'd like to share:

Cute, right?  My mom said to me that she doesn't quite understand me...I'm making an effort to "grow up" by cleaning out and rearranging my room at home, but I'm still in love with cute headbands and paper flower garlands. I say that a girl's still gotta have fun.

Carolina on my mind

I got to spend last week with these two:

making these:

and doing other fun things.

happiness!

Here are 10 things that make me rather happy:

1.  The fact that I get to spend 4 days in NC with these girls VERY soon:

2.  Baking.  Anything.

3.  Spending an entire day floating in the ocean

4.  Having a day to do nothing but read

5.  Tazo Vanilla Rooibos Tea...or any tea, really

6.  This dress from Anthro (even though I will never own it)

7.  Driving aimlessly around looking for an adventure

8.  Getting caught in the rain on a warm day

9.  Going for walks

10.  Taking pictures

...and I have so much more that I could list.