No Sleep? Really?

Ugh, I can't sleep. It's so annoying. I feel tired. I yawn. I just can't sleep. I've been trying for over two hours. I finally just got sick of it, and decided to do something with my life... or at least something to distract me.

blah.

Two Weeks

I go to Paris in two weeks.

Fritz and Flickr

Meet Fritz: my brand new, Canon Rebel XS D-SLR camera. (Yes, his name is Fritz. Swanky, huh?)



Say "Hello," Fritz.
You can see all, or most, of Fritz' work online at my flickr account. Visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/greywall/ to look at my pictures.

Only one album up, but don't worry: more to come.

Resist

My sister, Laura, introduced me to the wonderful life of "Wishpot." It's so easy to add things to my wishlists now, that I spend most of my spare time doing that. Bad use of time, but OH SO addicting.

Also, now I really want to buy things. All sorts of things. Everything that I can get my hands on.

Must resist using credit card. Must resist feeling that getting packages in the post is a necessity. RESIST.

Here's something I'm having a hard time resisting:



$48 from anthropologie.

i really want it.

Chanel?

So, I am not the type of person who loves big name designers. I don't obsess over having a designer bag, or designer glasses, or anything. But I do love these shots from Chanel's Spring-Summer 2009 line. If I wore designer, I would want to own these beautiful looks. They are melancholy, which after seeing the Coco Avant Chanel, I really appreciate.

Enjoy.

Coco Avant Chanel

I would like to start out by saying that I just adore Audrey Tatou! She is just such an amazing actress. Also, I adore Coco Chanel's sense of fashion. Every outfit she wore, I wanted. Especially her fisherman inspired top. Yum!

The story was incredibly sad, but then again, most geniuses' stories are sad: Vincent Van Gogh, John Constable, Nick Drake, etc. The movie seemed real, though. Some biographical movies don't seem all that real. But this did. I loved how cynical she was, but then how she became so happy because of her love for "Boy." I didn't think he was especially cute, but I loved their relationship: how he wasn't ashamed of her, when they'd quote philosophers, ect. It was sweet.

All in all, I liked the movie. A lot. I'll probably buy it when it comes out, and add it to my "Beautiful Memoirs" collection. (which is currently Miss. Potter and Finding Neverland.)







My favorite outfit


Compare this picture with the one below. They could be sisters.


The woman, herself.

A Little Cheesy...

But fit my mood perfectly.

"Wings Of Forgiveness" By India Arie

I just want you to know
After everything that we've been through
I just want you to know
That I still love you
That I still love you:

Had to go
Across the water
Just to find
What was here in my heart all along
Spend so much time
Trying to be right
That I was dead wrong

If Nelson Mandela can forgive his oppressors
Surely I can forgive you for your passion

You're only human
Let's shake free this gravity of resentment
And fly high, and fly high
You're only human
Let's shake free this gravity of judgment
And fly high on the wings of forgiveness

Had to run
To the arms of curiosity
Just to find
What was here in my life all along
I had found that the art of simplicity
Simply means making peace of your complexity

If Gandhi can forgive persecution
Surely you can forgive me for being so petty

I'm only human
Let's shake free this gravity of resentment
And fly high, and fly high
You're only human
Let's shake free this gravity of judgment
And fly high on the wings of forgiveness

I've searched for romance
Flowers and affection
What I found is a lesson
Of what love really is
Found the game of love is
Not about how much you can take
In fact authentic love is about
How much you can give

After everything that we've been through
I just want you to know
That I still love you
I want you to know
That I forgive you
(thank you for teaching how to give)
And I wanna let you know how much you changed my life
I wanna let you know you taught me how to fly
And I wrote this song to tell you this
I'm better cuz you taught me how to give

I took a swim
In the sea of guilt and misery
To find myself in an island
In the middle of nowhere
In my solitude
I asked to know the highest truth
And what I was told
Is to let own self be true

If Jesus can forgive crucifixion
Surely we can survive and find resolution

Let's keep it moving
Let's shake free this gravity of resentment
And fly high, and fly high
You're only human
Let's shake free this gravity of judgment
And fly high, and fly high
Let's keep it moving
Let's shake free this gravity of commitment
And fly high on the wings of forgiveness

After everything that we've been through
I just want you to know
That I still love you
I want you to know
That I still love you
[...]

I still love you
I want you to know
I still love you
Want you to know
I still love you
(And I always will love you)
And I wanna let you know
I forgive you
I wanna let you know
That I still love you

Just Some Thoughts

"When we do not retaliate- when we turn the other cheek and resist feelings of anger- we tood stand with the Savior. We show forth His love, which is the only power that can subdue the adversary and answer our accusers without accusing them in return. That is not weakness. That is Christian courage."

"As true disciples, our primary concern must be other's welfare, not personal vindication."

"Sometimes true disciples must show Christian courage by saying nothing at all."

-quotes from Elder Robert D. Hales' article entitled "That is Christian Courage"

"More holiness give me,
More strivings with in,
More patiences in suff'ring,
More sorrow for sin,
More faith in my Savior,
More sence of his care,
More joy in his service,
More purpose in prayer.

"... More purity give me,
More strenght to o'er-come,
More freedom from earth-strains,
More longing for home.
More fit for the kingdom,
More used would I be,
More blessed and holy,
More, Savior, like thee."
- Philip Paul Bliss "More Holiness Give Me"

"Sometimes we carry unhappy feelings about past hurts too long. We spend too much energy dwelling on things that have passed and cannot be changed. We struggle to close the door and let go of the hurt. If, after time, we can forgive whatever may have caused the hurt, we will tap 'into a life-giving source of comfort' through the Atonement, and the 'sweet peace' of forgiveness will be ours ("My Journey to Forgiving," Ensign, Feb. 1997. 43). Some injuries are so hurtful and deep that healing comes only with help from a higher power and hope for perfect justice and restitution in the next life. . . . You can tap into that higher power and receive precious comfort and sweet peace."
- President James E. Faust "Instruments in the hands of God."

Positive Thinking

I love my life.

Oh dear...

I really like this picture, which is being sold by nearmoderndisaster on etsy.

One Month...

Alright, I leave for Paris in less than a month! AHH! So excited!



I've done a lot of clothes shopping for the trip, but I still need some things.

What I've Got:
- Navy Trench Coat (Zara £40, SALE)
- Black Straight Leg Jeans (Boden £49, expensive, but they fit GREAT!)
- Dark Wash "Uptown" Jeans (Boden £59, expensive, fit GREAT, need to be hemmed.)
- Stripped Green Jumper (Zara $19, SALE)
- Black Velvet Pencil Skirt (Boden £49, yum! Will be great for nights out!)
- "I Am NOT a Plastic Bag" Bag (Portebello Road £5, perfect size for my new camera!)

What I'm waiting for:
- Canon XOS Rebel (Canon, Price ND, I'm excited to practice with this baby!)
- New Makeup (Covergirl, $20 all together)
- French Scriptures (LDS Distribution Center, forgot price)
- MACBook (Apple, Pride ND, YAY!)
- iTouch (Free with MACBook)

What I still need (but mostly just want):
- Messenger Bag (I've got my eye on this one)
- Sparkly Headbands (like this one, and this one)
- Wool Knee High Socks to layer with boots(like these)
- Hem my green dress
- Small pouch wallet
- More cute jewelry

I'm going to be broke BEFORE I get to Paris. Oh dear.

What A Nice Surprise!

Yesterday my mom and I were completely exhausted from feeding 40+ missionaries for their zone conference lunch, so we curled up on the couch with the leftover chicken salad sandwiches, and we rented 17 Again. I was pleasantly shocked. I had no idea Zac Efron could act when he didn't have to dance or sing, or look brooding (think Hairspray.) I thought the movie was cute, and, like my Mom said, it's so NOT Hollywood, which was a nice change.



Point Efron. (Still two up on you for all the HSMs. Sorry.)

*Random observation: he was quite attractive with his shades, but as soon as he took them off, I was no longer attracted... I just don't like his eyes, they're too young... or something.*

What A Boy Wants

This past weekend was my dad's 52nd birthday (yay!), and to celebrate it, we surprised him by doing something that he's always wanted to do... drive heavy equipment. There's a theme park in Kent called "Diggerland." No joke. It was catered mostly to young boys, but they had the "adult experience" where you learned how to drive a back hoe, dig, pick up tires, etc. It was awesome!


In his "Birthday Boy" Hard hat.










Dad's little boy smile


The group with "Duggy" the Diggerland Mascot

Celebrities I love... (Boy Version)

Nick Drake. Mostly attracted to his music. But he must have been a great guy.


Alexi Murdoch. Cares about honesty as well having as great looks and music.


Sufjan Stevens. Great looks and great music.


Rainn Wilson. Official celebrity crush. Humor. Personality. Confidence.


Jude Law. After seeing him live in Hamlet. I can't help but think he's perfect looking.

Celebrities I love... (Girl Version)

Audrey Tautou. The modern Audrey Hepburn, not just with first name. She's so classy and gorgeous, that it hurts.



Amy Adams. She has such a lovely face. She's just so darn lovable, too!



Zooey Deschannel. Her personality, clothes, wit, fiance.



Emily Blunt in Jane Austen Book Club. Her hair, clothes, everything. Except her personality, until the end at least...

Hate is a strong word....

but I really, really, really don't like math!



It makes me cry and want to throw up. Seriously.

Photo via i429o's flickr