This is how obsession starts.

Ok, so Im not exactly sure how it started.

I could blame it on MCC, their cheap prices and eclectic collections.
I could blame it on tasteless food, prompting me to reach for something to add a touch of flavor.

Or I could blame it on my mom. I dont know why, but blaming mom seems the easiest (at least it was when I was 12 and got a bad perm. It was moms fault, no doubt.)

However it started, this is where it stands today.

3 sets of salt and pepper shakers.

1.

Fancy

2.

Fun

3.

Everyday use!

See? All logical? Well my husband does not get it! "Why do we need 3 sets of them? Theres only 2 of us!"
Nevertheless, he has sensed that none of these sets are being abandoned any time soon, so he has allowed them all to stay... "but ONLY these 3!"

Then yesterday, at work, my client gave me this, telling me "You always tell me how cute they are and how much your husband loves salt and pepper shakers"

You should have seen Andrews face!

And now, some adorable sets that would look lovely in my storage room!

Just for Michelle and her love of all things Christmas:

Loooooong overdue.

Yes, its been a LONG time since I have blogged.
Sorry.
Moving on, the past 2 months have been amazing and fun and hectic and full-on!
Andrew and I got married, we went on our honeymoon (pics to come soon) and are currently setting up our home (and loving married life!).

As I am trying to ease back into blogging, I thought I would start with a few pictures of our special day! I havent gotten pictures back from our photographer yet, so all of the following are from friends.

Our day was amazing. The weather was beautiful and I was happier than I have ever been. Hands down, June 5th 2010 was the best day of my life.

Potential wedding cake?

I just wanted to share this piture with you guys.


(found on cakewrecks.blogspot.com)

The writing really hides the lumps dont you think?
This poor woman made this cake for a Texas wedding, forgetting to take into consideration things like heat and humidity! The thing that kills me is that from afar it probably looks ok, but when you get closer, you see all the droopy bits.
This is what my friends and I would dub a classic "Monet"
(nice from afar, but when you get close, its just a mess!)
This term can apply to anything including paintings, people and houses.
Check out the cake wrecks blog, its pretty awesome.

Time is ticking away.

I havent blogged in a while. Sorry. Its been a bit crazy.
Im getting married in 2 weeks! Who knew that planning a wedding could be so time consuming, and also, a LOT of fun!
I have been so blessed in this time of engagement. Not only by my wonderful fiance, but also by my amazing family and friends.
I have been kidnapped and blindfolded a total of three times! Two of those times by the cutie Jessi who almost ran me into a tree on the streets of Vancouver.
My friends are incredible.
They have whisked me away to the Hotel Vancouver for a girls night(including Thai food and wine, roof-top pictures and 2am pizza, and as always, lots of laughter)





They have thrown me an incredible Mennonite-themed shower, where I had to stuff 12 pieces of Hubba Bubba in my mouth and try to figure out what kind of fruit Andrew would be and why (his answer? coconut. Because hes high off the ground...so logical). They also constructed a very flattering hat for me to wear!

They have even thrown me the most amazing tea party ever. and I do mean ever! look at this!
A beautiful place to lounge in the sun



Wonderful home-brewed teas!


An adorable place to take pictures!


Delicious food!





A beautiful table!


Some amazing friends!


and a very happy and excited Mad Hatter! aka me(Johnny Depp was nowhere to be found sadly)


I have been so blessed during my engagement! My friends are amazing and have put so much time and effort into blessing me and have made this time of engagement so special. Thanks ladies, youre incredible!

Im just about to burst with happiness and excitement! so I had to share it!
I am getting married in 45 days!
45 days until Andrew and I are man and wife! How incredible! Ive been pondering alot of things lately, how much God has changed my life and the direction it was going! I would have laughed in your face if you had told me I would be getting married in 2010! But God did change me, He took my heart and made it whole and able to love Andrew fully. In His perfect timing, He brought Andrew into my life!

Im excited for so many things to happen.
Im excited to wake up next to Andrew each morning and know that, no matter what life throws at us, we will get through it together,
Im excited to build a home with him, searching through thrift stores and garage sales!
Im excited to go grocery shopping and have to buy things like laundry soap and toilet paper!
Im excited to get to know Andrew so much better. I love Andrew now, with my whole heart, but I know that that love will increase over the years. Im excited to know him deeper than anyone elso on this earth.
Im excited to travel with Andrew, to make memories together.
Im excited to grow not only in our relationship with each other, but in our relationship with the Lord. I love praying with Andrew and knowing that he is a man of God who is seeking him actively!

I am marrying an incredible man, I am so blessed.


and Im so excited!

A day to love.

I have had many days lately that I love.
After have a couple weeks of blah, it feels great, so I though I would share some of my favorite "love things" with you.

I love sunshine and days on the beach.


I love the details that we are putting into our first home together (in 6 weeks!)




and on that note, I love thrift stores!



I love my brother (and am so glad he found Jenn to be my first sister!)


I love my best friends.



I love Andrew.


I am so blessed.

Still and Silent.

Ive been pondering this over the past week.
Be still.

I have realized that I do not know how to be still. I live in a world that expects me to be moving all the time.

Wake up
Go to work
Work
Work
Work
Sleep the bare minimum.
Repeat.

This is the expected format of my life.
But God asks something different of us. He doesnt ask us to be efficient. He doesnt ask us to go, go, go. He doesnt ask us to burn ourselves out and become zombie-like slaves to this world.
He asks...no. He TELLS us to be still. The complete opposite of what the world tells us to do in order to be succesful.
I have been learning this lately, what it means to be still.
I like to talk. To people, to Andrew, to God. I talk...its kinda my thing!
God knows this.
He loves this!
He created me the way I am, motormouth intact!

And yet He asks me to do something that is so hard. Be still. Be quiet! Instead of blurting out whatever youre feeling, just take a few minutes, a couple deep breaths, and rest in Him.
Its amazing what that does. When you rest in God and take the time to be still in His presence, Hes there! He heals you, He refreshes you.
I come away from those times with Him feeling ready to face the chaos again. The world tells you that your time in valuable and you shouldnt waste a second of it. God tells you that He is valuable, and any second you spend with Him will not be wasted.


Be still, and know that I am God.
So go. Be still, know that He is God, He is good, and He wants to meet with you.