Food.

Food has always played a huge role in my life. Well, eating it, really.
Growing up, my mother cooked often and well.
She still does:)
But we also ate out a lot- probably more than the average family.
When we woke up on the weekends we talked about what we'd be having for dinner. Our's was a highly social family and the rest of our day functioned around who we'd be eating with where and when. What we were having for dinner impacted what I would eat for lunch, so it was a critical decision.
My family ate around the table.
We drank milk with dinner because it was a rule.
We talked and ate slowly.
I love that feeling. I love that intimacy.

I love food.
I love eating.
I eat the food that I love.
but

I'm not liking how I feel.

Food has changed for me. Jonathan and I are on a poor people budget now, we can't just go out to eat every time I don't feel like cooking.
and so I'm eating more crap.
Well, I've always eaten crap- it just looked better when my mom cooked it or when it came on a pretty plate in a restaurant.

The only time I've ever thought about regulating what I eat is when I've wanted to lose weight. And that's never lasted.
For the first time, I just want to be
healthy.

I want to KNOW what I am putting into my body.
I want to rid it of toxins and garbage.
I want to fuel it so that it lasts a long time.
I want to set an example for my children some day.
I want to be around to set an example for their children.

Scripture says that our bodies are temples.
They are a gift, they are something we have been entrusted with.
So I want to take care of mine.

Many of you, (from both the blog world and the real world) are responsible for this growing conviction, this change taking place in my heart- so thank you.

I don't know what comes next.
I don't know if I can cold turkey this stuff.
I don't know if I can learn to shop, cook, eat, live differently.
In fact, I know that I can't...

Romans 7: 15-25

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am!
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Father, do in me things that I cannot possibly do on my own.

Today's goosebumps brought to you by...

these vocal magicians:)



enjoy the ear candy while I read some soul-inspiring criminal procedure.

Introducing for the FIRST time:
the marvelous,
spectacular,
amazing,
unbelievably good-looking...

Law LADIES!



















As you can see, we had some fun at our "photo shoot" yesterday!
I hold this lovely group of blogger ladies close to my heart, and I hope you will too!

Meet the law ladies:

Cole

I am a law lady who is learning to find balance and beauty in all the craziness of life. A Space of My Own lets me focus on the good things, vent about the difficult ones and document the process of life and all its twists and turns.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Lauren

I started my blog Luxlucy randomly after finding and following a few amazing blogs. After reading the blogger's posts for a few months I decided to give blogging a shot. It was a rocky start and I rarely kept up with my posting. When I started law school a year and a half ago I began to see my blog as a creative outlet instead of a burden and have started posting more and more. I love that so many of my law school friends also have blogs--I enjoy reading their posts and am inspired by them everyday!

*~*~*~*~*~*

Ambria

Inter Alia (should be italicized, in legal language, means "among other things" During my second semester of law school, I realized I needed an artistic outlet that had nothing to do with the law. My best friend Jess always inspired me with her blog, so I decided to try it out!!! Currently, my posts have focused on my journey to lose weight and become more healthy, but the beauty of "among other things" means I can talk about anything my li heart desires (Including tributes to Michael Jackson and Kanye West v. Charlie Sheen debates)!!!!

*~*~*~*~*~*

Jessica

Crafting Happiness is my project to celebrate the creative spirit and passion in all of us, one day at a time. I want to encourage the creative spirit is each one of my readers through: daily inspiration, fashion outfit posts, vintage finds, thrifting advice, various cute collections, home decorating, advice on translating your style to all the areas of your life, yummy food, supporting local businesses, music reviews and suggestions, and all sorts of lovely guest post by inspired souls.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Me


I’ll be brief is a place where I can channel my daily frustrations, revelations, and inspirations :) For me, blogging has been a very necessary outlet during this crazy era of my life. Law school brought with it tons of new experiences, new friends, and new challenges. Having a place to sort things out and bounce ideas off other bloggers has been so helpful—and having this small community of fellow law ladies/bloggers within the vast blogosphere has been the icing on the cake!

Be sure to visit all the girls' blogs (linked in their names), and keep checking back for more of our fun projects- starting with a dinner party Sunday night!

To see our group blog, click on the new link over thereon my sidebar :)------->

12 minutes till the bus comes

So I'm rushing to post something.
anything.

a million things on my mind, as usual. But hardly anything that I can share with you in 12 (now 11) minutes.

So for today, let me just say a few things.

1) I've been wanting to eat healthier, but I made 5 pounds of sloppy joe for the super bowl, virtually none of which was actually eaten. So guess what I'm having for lunch every day this week?

2) I was craving orange sherbert last night like nobody's business and it didn't taste like I wanted it to. Maybe tonight it'll be better.

3) I absolutely hate taking the bus, however the bus is taking me to "class" at Zen Clay where I will be sipping tea and discussing some fine (and some not so fine)legal memoir pieces. Which, I feel, is one of the better places a bus can take you.

wedding planning time:)

I made this little wedding inspiration page for Ray, my soon-to be sister in law.
It was complete with little comments, but they're too little to see! sad face :(
If anyone knows how to make it bigger, pleae let me know!
In the menatime, enjoy the teeny tiny pictures :)

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you...

today's forecast!

sure, it was raining when I left home this morning.

and, yeah, I had to tromp through gray,melting, slushy snow to get to class.

BUT

I did not feel every muscle in my body tighten when the cold blast

of outside stung me in the face.

AND

Punksutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow and announced that

SPRING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!

ahh....

Spring.

yes please.

Today won't go down in history...

..but here are some things that made me smile :)

catching up with Cass

I love this girl with all my heart.

our hearts are permanently attached...which i love.

When I took this picture years ago, we were on a mission to find my puppy who had run off.

I miss getting as much time with her as I used to.

But phone dates help a little :)

iced chai-

I'm taking a legal memoir class which I LOVE!

There are only two of us in the class (weird, i know...)

and we got Professor Elkins to move the class to Starbucks.

yes, that's right folks- class. at. starbucks.

so while you're all busy pouring over case briefs-- I'll be casually discussing literary masterpieces over cool, refreshing, chai.

:)

Ok- mushy gushy alert!

When I got home from class/work/class today,

I walked in the door still going 100 miles an hour,

and Jonathan stopped me in my path

and gave me the

sweetest

most loving

romantic

kiss.

mmm....happiness:)

i'm sorry...but can you really look at this and NOT laugh?

I cried.

I literally cried.

tears. actual real life tears.

and lastly, this video!
I've probably watched it at least 400 times over the last couple of years...

it still makes me tear up :)

So even if today hasn't been especially noteworthy,

even if you feel exhausted and blah,

think of something that made you SMILE today, and jot it down!