Dancing in the Minefields

Two years ago tomorrow, it was a Friday.  A quiet boy with a sweet smile in our IT department came up to my office to ask me on a date.  He asked for Saturday night, but I already had plans. Then he asked for Sunday, but I was busy then as well.  So he said, "How about tonight?" and we went out for parmesan chicken pizza on Halloween.

Then, a year ago today, he knelt to one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. I said yes, and we were married May.

Today, we're dancing in the minefields and I couldn't be happier.

Well, "I do" are the two most famous last words,

the beginning of the end.

But to lose your life for another I’ve heard

is a good place to begin.

'Cause the only way to find your life

is to lay your own life down.

And I believe it’s an easy price

for the life that we have found.

And we’re dancing in the minefields;

we’re sailing in the storm.

This is harder than we dreamed

but I believe that’s what the Promise is for.

So when I lose my way... find me.

When I lose love’s chains... bind me.

At the end of all my faith to the end of all my days,

when I forget my name... remind me.

'Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man,

so there’s nothing left to fear.

I’ll walk with you in the shadow lands

'till the shadows disappear.

'Cause He promised not to leave us

and His promises are true.

So in the face of this chaos, baby,

I can dance with you.

Let’s go dancing in the minefields…

"Dancing in the Minefields" by Andrew Peterson

{ Fair warning.  Have Kleenex handy. }

There's a first time for everything.

Not gonna lie, I love me a cheeseburger.  Usually of the turkey variety, but occasionally beef. { Don't tell the Chick-fil-A cows. }

Earlier this month on my trip to the Pacific northwest, I had the opportunity to eat at Burgerville.   It's a pretty unique concept.  Their motto is simple { Fresh.  Local.  Sustainable. } and their menu is stellar.

With choices like their classic Tillamook Cheeseburger, the Echo Mountain Blue Burger, a Wild Smoked Salmon & Hazelnut Salad, and a Rosemary Chicken Sandwich... I had a hard time making up my mind.  Sweet Potato Fries were a no-brainer, but the entree selection was more difficult.  Beef?  Turkey?  Chicken?  Veggie?  { Wait.  I'm sorry.  Veggie?!? }

Now, I am not a veggie burger eater.  They look so processed and I've always thought it was something I wouldn't like.  Up there with things like sweetbread and escargot.  But then again I didn't think I'd like guacamole, and it rocked my world the day I tried it.

{ Yes, veggie! }

So... I went for it.  They have two bean options and I chose the  Yukon & White Bean Basil Burger with Tillamook cheddar cheese.  It was delicious!  As were the sweet potato fries and the fresh, hand-spun Pumpkin Milkshake I split with Amy.  Their seasonal menu changes unbelievably frequently, with some items only being available for a few short weeks while a key ingredient is at season's peak!



{ Click to enlarge }

One more surprise was in store, though.  Burgerville uses a system called Nutricate to print the nutrition information for the exact meal that you ordered on your receipt.  Granted, the bean burger and the sweet potato fries weren't as healthy as I had hoped, and it would've been nice to see the calorie count before placing my order, but the functionality is still pretty cool!

If you're ever the Oregon/Washington area, check out one of their nearly 40 locations.  And maybe give the Yukon & White Bean Basil Burger a try!

A decorating dilemma...

OK.  I need your help.

While home visiting my family this weekend, Mom and I found this beautiful framed piece at an exceptional price.  Originally $300 and we got it for 75% off!  I love how the frame is really intricate and the colors integrate perfectly with our living room.

If there had been two coordinating prints, it would be a no-brainer and I'd definitely put them above the fireplace.  But of course I have just the one.

{ What do you think? }

So, here's my dilemma: is it too tall and skinny for the space?  Do the finials balance it out okay or do I need to keep searching for something else to go alongside it?  Or, should I just hang it closer to the kitchen by my stairs where it fits proportionally without question?  And then there's the question of if we do keep it above the fireplace, should it be propped up like it is now, or should it be hung?

See?  Too many options.  Help!  What do you think?  Use your imagination and pretend you can't see the iron scrollwork peeking out from behind the print.  You see, it's heavy and I didn't think I could get it down by myself without scuffing up the wall. : )

{ And my apologies for the terrible Blackberry picture.  I snapped it on my way out of the house at 6:00 this morning.  You'd think we live in San Francisco for the fog! }

Give a Little, Save a Lot!

When a stellar opportunity for saving comes along, I feel the need to share it.  Especially when said opportunity benefits an awesome cause in the process.

Enter the Camp Twin Lakes Partners Card!

For $60 you can get 20% off at more than 500 Atlanta area restaurants and shops from October 22-31, all while benefitting the kids at Camp Twin Lakes.  CTL is a state-wide network of camps for children with serious illness, disabilities and challenges.  I went on a retreat at their facility near Athens, and it is clear that the work they do is very impactful for these children.

But back to the card.  Some of my personal favorite opportunities to save include:

• Anthropologie
• J. Crew
• Pottery Barn
• Williams-Sonoma
• Paper Affair
• Ginger Howard Selections
• Atlanta Fish Market
• Bisto Niko

... and the list goes on!  Hey, Christmas is coming.  You'd better believe that I'm going to be putting this bad boy to good use.

This may be just the push I need to finally put our Pottery Barn gift cards from the wedding towards the Garrett Glass Cabinet I've been drooling over for months.

Vera Wang china, don't you get comfortable in that linen closet.  Soon you may have a new home!

Smoky Mountain Weekend

Spencer and I just got back from a much needed weekend away.  We spent Friday through Monday here.  If you're ever looking for a place to rent in the Smoky Mountains, we highly recommend Blacklab Properties!

The place was immaculate and fully equipped. { There was even a salad spinner in the cupboard.  Which, of course, means I brought my own, but still! } Plus, the folks in the management office were wonderfully helpful when we locked ourselves out without a wallet, phone or car keys a mere 15 minutes after unloading the car. : )

The illustrious Maude { aka my sister } gave us a Flip video camera as a wedding gift.  We took in on our honeymoon, but neglected to charge it before we left so it didn't last long.  So, I took this trip as a chance to put it to good use.  Enjoy!

{ Music by Alabama, of course }

It's Awesome, Baby

{ Awesome. }

Sometimes, it's the little things in life that are the most awesome.  Small joys and simple pleasures like new shoes, Cheetos fingers, the smell of cookies, and when the Santa at the mall actually has a real beard.

If that's your kind of thing, then you really ought to check out the goodness over at 1000awesomethings.com.  Add it to your Google Reader { which in and of itself is awesome } and enjoy.

They're literally counting down a thousand things with 400 left to go.   And it's been turned into a book... not surprisingly titled "The Book of Awesome."

Some of my favorites include:

• #965 - Building a stack of pancakes that looks just like the front of the box
• #874 - The 5 Second Rule
• #840 - Popping Bubble Wrap
• #604 - Walking on grass with bare feet
• #606 - The Kid's Table
• #501 - Picking the fastest moving line at the grocery store checkout
• #409 - Kids who dress themselves

And now I've written the word "awesome" so many times I'm not even sure if I'm spelling it right anymore.  AWESOME!

Seattle In A Few Thousand Words

Long time no post!  It's been a crazy week, but it was a good one filled with new experiences.  My first visit to the Pacific Northwest was picture perfect.  Not a drop of rain in sight.

Eleven people in one really large white van.  I ate my first meatless burger at Burgerville { cool place; more on that later }, met with a few folks from Starbucks, explored Pikes Place Market, took a trip to the nation's largest single dedicated yard waste composting facility and a made a visit to the Cascade Recycling Center to see what happens to the stuff in your blue bin after it leaves the curb.

So here's the week in { 15,000 words }.  Well, at least the pretty parts.  I'll spare you the waste diversion photos.  Overall, though, not too shabby for a point-n-shoot if you ask me!


{ The SBUX HQ.  Every bit as cool as you think it would be.  But alas, no photos allowed inside. }

{ Pikes Place Market.  Can we please get one of these in Atlanta?  I could LIVE here. }

{ The first SBUX, at Pikes Place Market.  Pretty sure I drank more coffee this week than I have in my entire life combined. }

{ These people are not kidding about throwing fish.  Watch out! }

{ I was about to pick one of these up for a cute picture when the girl beside me did it, and the little booger pinched her hand.  I'll pass. }

{ Rows and rows of the most beautiful dahlias.  These bouquets were seriously only five bucks! }

{ Home of the "World's Best" Macaroni & Cheese.  They aren't kidding.  And it isn't even macaroni! It's penne.  Whatever.  I don't discriminate when cheese is involved. }

{ The white stuff?  Curds.  As in, "curds and whey."  Who knew? }

{ J. Ashley, this one's for you! I may have very well sampled every single one.  No shame. }

{ We ate lunch at a cute little cafe called The Pink Door. }

{ See?  Not a rain cloud in sight! }

{ "Black Sun" by Isamu Noguchi in Volunteer Park. }



{ I took about a zillion pictures of the Space Needle, but this one through the eye of "Black Sun" is one of my favorites. }



{ Another of the Space Needle. Also taken from Volunteer Park. }

{ Seattle seen from dinner at Salty's across the lake.  Or the sound.  Or whatever it's called. }

 Have a wonderful weekend!


The Instant Outfit

When I think of a onesie, I think of this.

A Christmas Story.  Greatest holiday movie marathon ever.  Source of endless family jokes and incessant quoting.  We even have a light-up Christmas ornament of the Leg Lamp in it's "frageelay" box...

I digress.  Back to the onesie.  The closest I get to one of those things these days is a dress.  It's like an instant outfit, and yours truly is definitely one for ease of getting ready in the morning.  With a dress, all I have to pull together are jewelry and shoes and then I'm out the door.

The folks over at Levi's, however, might take offense at the mental box I've placed the onesie into.  One apparently need not fear bunny ears and non-slip soles.  Observe: the Double Denim Onesie.

These are not your mama's flannel footie pajamas.  Nope, it's a chambray shirt, tucked in and sewn to a pair of straight cut jeans.  And surprisingly not too far off from my typical weekend wardrobe.  Since college, I've had a special place in my heart for Polo oxfords, well-worn jeans... and is she wearing Wallabees?

While I have my concerns { I'm sorry, but I see a Spanx-like conundrum here as it pertains to shall we say, restroom use }, you know, it's not all that bad.  The shirt certainly isn't going to come untucked, and that's a big plus.

The Double Denim Onesie is $194 and available from asos.com.  So tell me, would you wear one?