My Favorite Things (:

The nice thing about summer is that you can do pretty much whatever you want.  This summer especially, I am free to indulge in some of my favorite things. In no particular order, here is a VERY modified list of some of my favorite things, and why I love them so much. (:

sushi, with lots of wasabi!! I love everything about sushi, and pretty much every kind of sushi. Its so delightful (:

Peacock feathers. All the colors are perfect, and its such a beautiful display of our Gods creativity

Starbucks Passion Tea. First of all, its pink so it MUST be good. But also its super cold and refreshing. I drink probably at least 10 cups a week!

The beach. My favorite thing about the beach is the water. I love that its so cold and untamable.  Its such a serene beautiful place to relax and appreciate our creator! 

This photograph by Scott Mutter.  I have it hanging over my bed and something about it, i love. I'm not sure why but from the time i first saw it, I adored it.

I love all zoos. I seriously could watch animals for hours upon end. But the Santa Barbara zoo is my favorite! Its not too hot, so the animals aren't sleeping, and during the week is usually isn't over crowded! I love this place (:

Deer! Over the many road trips my family has taken Ive seen thousands of deer. I love watching them graze and just walk around because of their graceful beauty. They're such calm and lovely creatures.

The Twilight Saga. I love the movies and the books. I could never read/watch them enough.

Don Cucos!!! My favorite restaurant EVER! All the food is delicious and mouthwatering. While waiting for you food there is endless chips, salsa and sour cream.  I would definitely recommend this place!

 

Avocados. Aside from being delicious, they're also good for your skin and hair. I eat them on EVERYTHING.  And theres also a salsa i make with avocados that is YUM!

The Grove. If you've never been to the grove, you're in for a real treat. Located in the heart of LA Its a beautiful shopping strip along with tons of yummy places to eat! I love going here on a summer night and walking around and grabbing a bite to eat with friends. 

Yes To Carrots skincare line.  All their products are buttery smooth and naturally good for you!

Sunflowers. Theres no flower that really looks like a sunflower, and they're so beautiful! I love the joyful air they give off.  

Quarterback Sacks in football. I am WELL aware that it is not football season yet, however I am anticipating its arrival!  My favorite part of the game is when the quarterback gets sacked and pounded to the ground. I don't know why I love it so much I just think its the most non-textbook part of the game. It doesn't seem refined or planned, which is my favorite thing about sports: everything is unexpected.

Bleu Cheese. I think this is a love it or hate it kinda food. And i definitely love it! I could eat bleu cheese by the pound.  One of my favorite treats is a bleu cheese, grilled cheese sandwich, cooked on thick cut sourdough bread. Its so rich and creamy, nothing beats it.

The Habit! If you haven't eaten at the habit, you are either living under a rock, or you don't have a pulse yet.  They make the best burgers and fries ever. Its the perfect combination of ingredients, and not expensive at all. I really wish i ate here more than I do. Its by far my favorite fast food restaurant, and if you have yet to try this place, please do! For your sake :)

 

Last, but certainly not least: Oneighty.  Oneighty is the youth group at the church i attend: Grace Community Church.  The staff is a group of the most godly people I probably will ever meet.  They always show us an example of what it truly meant to pursue personal holiness in every aspect of our lives.  Each and every event they plan us is a blast and the fellowship with the other students in the group is always great! The best part is only about 9 days away; Summer Camp in New Mexico! Best. Week. Ever.

<33

The Always Elusive Pink Flamingo

       Last Thursday while i was pulling up to my home I glanced across the street to my neighbors yard and noticed a new addition to their house.  Gathered in the front yard was a group of about 7 pink flamingo lawn decorations.  My mom and I joked about going out that night and moving them all to the other side of the lawn as a joke.
      Well after going to dinner with a friend that night, I returned to see all the flamingos were gone!  I was perplexed and rather peeved because we wouldn't be able to play our little joke on our neighbors.  Throughout the next week I would casually glance over into their plain, flamingo-less yard wondering why they ever decided to take them down. (aside from the obvious reason; fake pink flamingos are not exactly considered to be a refined choice in lawn ornament) Well today (a week from the first flamingo sighting) I woke up and, to my joy, saw all the birds back in their yard!!! I was so happy and my mom and I were planing to do our dirty work of rearranging the birds once the sunset.  After coming home from dinner I looked outside and to my terror - All the birds were gone again.
       I'm sad to say i have been out smarted TWICE by pink tacky lawn ornaments.  I have no idea why they are peacefully there and then gone the next minute, BUT next time i see those birds outside, I'm moving them, even if its broad daylight.  I know this probably sounds stupid and pointless, well thats because it is.  But its just a bit of harmless fun (:

<3 

Summer Smoothies

Today, in my opinion, was the hottest day of summer so far.  As i was sitting in my room reading a book, I thought a good way to beat the heat, or at least cool down, was to make a smoothie! So i went to our kitchen to see what I had to work with. when i opened the refrigerator door, i saw a carton of fresh strawberries and knew i was in luck.  In a blender i combined;

12/14 Strawberries; halved

1/2 cup milk

Half a mango; sliced

Two spoonfuls of chocolate Nestle powder

One handful of ice cubes

After blending these ingredients together for about two to three minutes I had myself a cold, delicious treat. I've never been one to make smoothies or protein shakes, but this was yummy and refreshing.  The next day its super warm, pop these ingredients in a blender and enjoy! 

 <3 B

Changing the Way we Pray.

Today while in the car ride to lunch after church, my mom was telling me about the sermon she heard in her fellowship group Gracelife.  Don Green taught this morning on Proverbs 3:5-6, which read

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;

 in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight."

Although i did not hear the whole sermon, my moms recap was amazing, and really changed the way i will look at things from now on.  She spoke about how often when we are going through a trial, or dealing with unsaved and unrepentant people in our lives, and how we pray for their salvation and that they would come to know the Lord.  When she said this i immediately thought about how i pray about the certain trials in my life right now. And praying for that unsaved persons salvation was definitely number one on my list.  But as she kept explaining the sermon, she said that praying for their salvation shouldn't be our first response. If your'e like me you're probably thinking "HUH?" right now. But she said that theres a possibility that the people who we are struggling with, or who are causing us great heartache, aren't going to be saved, and will never repent. And if we're so focused on that person coming to Christ, but in His sovereign plan, they never do repent, we can end up feeling let down, or like God didn't pull through.  Then she explained how truly trusting God is looking ahead and to the whole picture, praying for his will to be done, trusting wholly on his faithfulness and holiness, and to not be so wrapped up in someone coming to Christ that we forget; that may not be Gods plan! For me this truly hit home. I have been going through trials in which my main prayer is that the other person would get saved. But now i see how truly trusting God isn't relying on my own solution to the problem. Not to be misunderstood, we DEFINITELY should be praying for those people in our lives who are not repentant, and asking the Lord to save them from the fallen world we all are born into, BUT we should, more importantly trust in the Lords plan and not relying on that persons eventual salvation. I hope i explained this clearly enough, and I'm very sorry if i didn't! The whole conversation really made me think, and will change the way i pray during trials! Our God is so faithful!

".....The LORD is faithful in all his words 

and kind in all his works."

Psalm 145:13b

the emily monster!!!!!

About two years ago, my close friends Emily and Elyse moved up to Castaic because their dad got a job as an associate pastor up there!!! Although it was very hard to see them move so far away, it's been a blessing to see how their new life has brought them closer to the Lord!  Last Wednesday Emily came down to spend three days with me!!! Our activities included movies, shopping at the AMERICANA,  a photoshoot, and lots of girl talk; of COURSE! Here are the pictures from our very small photoshoot we did around my house and neighborhood! After three hours of editing, the pictures were done. We loved the way they turned out!!! I Love you Emily!!!! <3 

isnt she hot??

my dad owns a '66 mustang. boy did we have fun with that ;)

Emily is such a great encouragement to me in my daily walk with the Lord. She truly lives out the verse Proberbs 27:6 "faithful are the wounds of a friend..."

love you em!!!!!

a Fireworks and Food Filled Fourth of July!

My family doesn't have very many holiday traditions. I guess we just kind of do whatever the moment calls for at holidays.  However the fourth of July is an exception to this unspoken rule.  For the past 19 years we've gone to our friends, The Crumb's, independence day party. They live in an enormous five-story house right on the marina of Marina del Rey. Its so absolutely relaxing and beautiful! You can sit on one of their four decks and look out into the sunset, and see the glassy water down below. I guess the only way to describe it is serene. So this year, in keeping with 'tradition' we all got dressed and headed on down to their house. I brought my sweet friend KAT with me this year. It was SO fun. 

we got ready for the night (:

leaving!!! (:

on the way!! (: 

After we got there we had an amazing dinner. All the food is put out buffet style. The menu included: homemade crab cakes, ribs, tacos, shrimp, smoked salmon, Caesar salad, apple pie, and fresh fruit. And thats to name half of it. Bliss, right?? 

Then we put our legs in the heated pool....

then we gave in, put our suits on, and hopped in! There was about 9 little girls in the pool with us. It was so fun to talk to them and play around with them. Although we tried to avoid the splashing, we got nailed a couple times... (: We also watched the spectacular fireworks show from the pool. 

 

on our way home! (:

It was such a fun night. One of the most interesting things was seeing how much everyone had changed over the past two years. Last year the family that hosts the party went to Hawaii so there was no party. But their grandson was about 5'9" the last time i saw him. And when he walked in yesterday....he was 6'4". CRAZINESS!!!! 

But as the rest of the country celebrates Americas freedom from England, we can not help but remember OUR freedom from sin, provided in salvation through Christ's death and resurrection! 

"We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin." 

Romans 6:6-7