need some inspiration for the day?

Get yourself a dreamcatcher! It can wisk away all your happy thoughts and save them and bring happiness to your home. Right?

Listen to the new Adoleo cd (the worship band at salt). 11 songs for 11 dollars- can't go wrong.

Or read yourself silly!

Favorite verses of the week:

- Romans 5:3-5 "Not only so but we glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

-1 Corinthians 6:19-20- "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God with your bodies."

Stayin' Cool

Here are some ways to enjoy life even when the weather is not awesome.

- Listen to Lovin' you by Minnie Ripperton. I don't know. It's just been in my head all day.

Lovin' You

- Go to the Iowa City landlocked film festival

Check out this years lineup!

I'll be there.

- Learn French so you can talk to me!

Favorite phrases so far:

-C'est La vie.

- J'mappelle Betsy.

- Bonne Journee.

-Enchante.

Free Beautiful Autumn

" Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance , character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearths through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

-Romans 5:3-5

Life can be difficult. But also it is full of joy.  If there is no joy and contentment in each day now, then it will not be in the future once something is achieved.  It is a daily attainment, despite suffering.  And I think we can all say we have become better people because of this. And then we may be free.

This is called "Free beautiful Autumn" Perfect.

Real

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real, you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out, and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real, you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

-The Velveteen Rabbit

Born to Run.

"Perhaps all our troubles - all the violence, obesity, illness, depression, and greed we can't overcome - began when we stopped living as Running People. Deny your nature, and it will erupt in some other, uglier way." 
— Christopher McDougall 


I am almost finished reading the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. I would highly recommend he. He basically makes the argument that we are, born to run.  Some really sweet things I learned:

- Chia seeds are incredibly healthy.  The greatest runners in the world, the Taramuhara have a drink called Izikiate made of mostly chia before going on hundred mile long run. They have more omegas then salmon, more antioxidants than blueberries, etc. etc.

2. The Taramuhara live in caves and run with only rubber on their feet.  When given actual running shoes they found them so awful they found pieces of rubber and tied them to their feet for the last 85 miles of a hundred mile race.

3. Running shoes cause injuries. The more stabilizing and expensive a shoe the more injuries.  People who buy shoes for less than $40 are much less likely to get injured. And this is taking into account mileage and all other factors.

4. We were created to run. So get on it!

My favorite things

Okay, I know and entirely believe that things will not ever make you happy, but I will confess I gave into materialism a bit on my recent trip to Boulder.

My new favorite styles:

Anything 80's. Fanny pack. yes. Scrunchies. yes. Spandex. yes. Neon. yes.

Floral fedora (this is actually the one I have :) ) what a hipster. I know I'm a little behind on this one.

high waisted anything? So much more flattering and comfortable.

Riding boots!!

What ta do?

I will leave Iowa. I will leave Iowa. I will leave Iowa. I will leave Iowa. I will leave Iowa.  I will leave Iowa. I will leave Iowa. I will leave Iowa. I will leave Iowa. I will leave Iowa.  I will leave Iowa. I will leave Iowa. I will leave Iowa. I will leave Iowa. I will leave Iowa.

My loyal five readers. Quiz? Where should I live next year? I love Iowa and my family, but I just need to leave at least for a bit.

Options:

Colorado

Oregon

Northern California (Sorry South!)

Vermont

Washington

Suggestions and advice pulllease?