Bookcase of the Day

Found at MadeByGirl

Snow Patrol at The Hard Rock Cafe

Nate and I went to see Snow Patrol tonight at The Hard Rock's Wasted Space
Any one a fan? I went for Nate but it was really good!

I am Second is a movement where significance in life is a shared value among people of all kinds. Actors. Musicians. Business leaders. Your next-door neighbor. People just like you. Their authentic stories here on iamsecond provide insight into dealing with typical struggles of everyday living. You’ll meet people who overcame destructive lifestyles. Plus you’ll discover those who’ve tried to go it alone and have failed, yet still found a life full of hope, peace, and fulfillment.

We believe there is a reason why you are here. We all have needs and could use some help. Here you’ll find issues relevant to you as well as answers to challenging life questions. I am Second is designed to help people discover their purpose in life. Have you discovered yours? Visit the full site.

Trail Mix in a Jar Cookies

I am thinking about making some of these.

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup quick oats
1 cup raisins
1/3 cup packed flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup flour mixed with 1 tsp. baking powder
(makes 4 2/3 cups of mix )

Layer ingredients in jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient.

Recipe to attach to jar:
Empty cookie mix in large mixing bowl; stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg slightly beaten and 1 tsp. vanilla; mix until completely blended. Roll dough into walnut-sized balls. Place 2" apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350°F for 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. (Yield: 2 1/2 dozen.)

* I also found 63 Gift Ideas for Under $10

Kids Helping Kids

MAC Cosmetics.
A set of six assorted Kids Helping Kids greeting cards with envelopes in a shiny red metallic carton. Each card features children’s art specially created for this seasonal program. 100% of the selling price goes to support pediatric AIDS organizations around the world.

* Thanks Tina!! You Rock!

Christmas Cards

I really need to get Christmas Cards.
I like these because its WARM here so far this holiday season.
These are from here.
Where did you get yours?

Yummy Pumpkin

I don't know how good the cocktails would be but the dessert looks awesome!
I can't wait for Thanksgiving...
Found: Hostess with the Mostess
Source: Simply stated

Give One Get One!

Thought this was really cool- a friend sent it to me.
Find here.

Water for Christmas

Statistics show that Americans spend 450 billion dollars on Christmas every year. Experts estimate it would cost 10 billion dollars to give the whole world clean water. This has become a national campaign to see if we can change these statistics. To swing the pendulum from consumerism to compassion.

To see what happens when we come together and buy Water for Christmas.

charity: water is a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. We give 100% of the money raised to direct project costs. With the help of exemplary organizations on the ground and individuals here, we can drill wells and provide people with this basic, essential need.

Look of the Day

love her.
JustJared

PostSecret of the Week

My prayer for those that have been hit by the economy-
that is doesn't tear families apart.
PostSecret

Beautifully written blog post

Josh Bottomly's Reflection Blog

I'm still excited about the history that was made yesterday!

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible," declared the President-elect, "who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

Election Overview...

This is a historic day!
'Change has come to America' if you don't believe its a good change
all you can do is pray.

Even though it ended up not mattering I was excited we went BLUE.
A little more on politics from Donald Miller.
My friend Steph's sister Lizz wrote a great blog about her voting experience.
I kept an eye on Dina Titus and Prop 8.

If your still undecided...

Maybe check out the Tax calculator.
We get back alot with Obama and NONE with McCain.

think happy and be eco friendly

think happy stuff - 10% of the sale of each think happy stuff item will be donated to these non-profits who are committed to lots of really good stuff.

Alternative Apparel - Make a difference with what you wear.

Make sure you do!

I don't want to get attached...but I can't help it.

Studio 60 ROCKS!
I am a HUGE fan of West Wing and...Bradley Whitford
aka Josh Limon and I hope to love him as Danny Tripp but I also like Danny from West Wing (who is also on Studio 60...)
If you don't know what I am talking about you need to get ALL the West Wing episodes
and then I believe Studio 60 but I have only seen a few episodes.

The Curse

A guy that has been helping us out A LOT at church has a passion for film and thinks there should be more Christina films. So he is making his own. Check out the website here, knowing him it will be a great film.

I love Fall

Its still in the 80s here but I feel like its fall...I love it
This is Blake... I love him more

Ugly Betty + Toms Shoes + My Church + Fun

Saw this Ugly Betty star wearing Tom's Shoes.
This is very cool because I love this non-profit organization and their coming to
my church on Sunday to our Student Ministry to show a documentary
and sell some shoes! And I LOVE...Ugly Betty!

I've been asking people to stop saying this for years...

Maybe Hillary Duff can make them stop...

Blue Bucket Photography

The following blog post I found through Sara Jane who has some beautiful picture on Blue Bucket blog. If you live in the Charolette, NC area you need to look up this fabulous photographer- I am WAY moved by this project.

It's time to BELIEVE

Today I am officially kicking off the BELIEVE project! This project, originally concepted by Erin Vey, has been stirring in my heart for quite some time and with the help of copywriter extraordinaire, Kristin Kelly, I have wrapped my words around my thoughts and I'm ready to help make this come to life here!

The quote:
"Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is beautiful."
Sophia Loren

The goal:
The goal? Empower you, the women around me, to see yourself from a new angle. To enjoy what others love seeing in you—grace, love, humility, confidence, talent, sincerity, fierceness, loyalty, laughter and joy. The fact of the matter is that we are bombarded all the time with images that tell us how we should define beauty, and I have had a lifetime of wrestling with how I fit within these definitions of beauty. This project is all about empowering women to believe in their own beauty.

Think about this: when you look around your house, how many photos do you have displayed of yourself? I’m guessing there are wedding photos, family photos, and maybe a few random snap shots. But what about a beautiful image of you? Just you? Well now is your chance.

The style:
Each image will be unique to each woman because our definitions of beauty can range and my desire is for these images to capture that uniqueness. I will shoot on location in natural light.

How does this work?:
- Email me if are interested in participating in this project: amy.noon.free@gmail.com
- I will offer you a photo/portrait session, free of charge.
- Ideally groups of 4-10 women will participate in this together and I will work to schedule shoots with each woman over the course of several weeks.
- Either before or after your shoot I ask that you write a few words about why you are participating, claim a quote or verse that captures you, or something about how this has impacted/influenced your perception of your own beauty.
- Once all the shoots have been completed for that group, a “BELIEVE Reveal Party” will be scheduled. At the reveal party all the women come together to have some wine/cheese/dessert and to reveal the final product from their shoots, gallery style.

The adventure of this project excites me beyond measure because I believe in the captivating and unique beauty of the women who surround me, and I am convinced that anyone who participates in this project will truly believe as well. Again a HUGE thank you goes out to Erin Vey for creating this idea and inspiring me to make the BELIEVE concept come to life here in Charlotte.

Donald Miller...why he supports Obama

Don is currently touring with the Obama campaign's "Faith, Family and Values Tour", conducting forums in battleground states. On Tuesday, Don spoke in Colorado Springs. We wanted to give him a chance to explain why he made the controversial decision to campaign for Barack Obama.

Burnside: Can you lay out your biggest reasons for supporting Barack Obama?

Donald Miller: First off, I know this is an odd thing for somebody in my position to do, to support a candidate for President. But I do feel this candidate is unique. Barack is the only candidate willing to talk about his faith in Jesus. Other candidates are reluctant, but Obama is not. He is the only one who has consistently talked about the cross, about redemption, and about repentance. Many white evangelicals have a misconception about Barack...they believe that because he is a Democrat, he cannot be a Christian. But times have changed, culture has changed, and political parties change. So one of the reasons I support Barack is because he is my Christian brother, and other Christians are rejecting him.

But that has little to do with his candidacy. In short, there are a few issues I agree with Barack on.

Senator Obama is going to move us past the impasse in our cultural war, something I think of as a cultural Vietnam. On the issue of abortion, he is the only candidate who has a plan to reduce the number of abortions. John McCain's only plan is the same old trick: say that you are pro life and offer no plan at all other than to criminalize abortion. I simply think that plan hasn't worked, and we have to face that fact and look for other ways to make progress.

I realize this is controversial, that there are many who would rather vote for a pro-life candidate and keep the abortion rate the same, on principle. And like them I believe in the sanctity of life, I simply think we need to begin making progress, and Barack is offering progress. He is also standing up to his own party on the issue and moving the party forward to elevate the issue of the sanctity of life within the Democratic Party. I also see this as progress. I do wish we could end abortion completely, but the Republicans have not spelled out a realistic plan to do so, and until they do, I won't vote for a candidate who simply throws us a pro-life line and no plan. It seems insincere.

But let me add this: I do wish Obama were pro-life. His plan to reduce the rate of abortion is a great step for the party, but I also wish he would defend the unborn to a greater degree.

However, at this point, in this election, with these two candidates, I think progress will be made with Barack. Not enough progress, but some progress, especially within the Democratic party, who may soften their stand on the sanctity of life.

A personal connection with me regarding Obama involves the initiative he is taking with responsible fatherhood. He has already drawn up legislation to change the welfare state to stop rewarding families whose fathers leave, and is working to change the economic structure so fathers who stay with their families are given tax relief. This has been an age-old problem that was written about in George Gilder's book Sexual Suicide. (Gilder's) book is a Conservative's economic manifesto, but Barack sees a lot of value in Gilder's ideas. But because Barack is a Democrat, Conservatives are unable to even consider his ideas.

(click link for more about Roe vs Wade)

BWC: Some church leaders advocate an “Endorse no one, advise everyone” policy. Do you see yourself breaking from this mindset?

Don: I suppose so. I intend to vote for Obama, so I would consider that an endorsement. I feel free to talk about that. I don't have a cynicism about elected leaders. I think they are human, that The Fall happened to them just like it happened to me. I recently went to Uganda with a diplomat who, because of his rank and power, could start the court system up in the north, and get kids out of prison who should have gotten off with time served. There is so much good that only diplomats can do.

I think it is very fashionable to remain independent right now, but I don't see the use. I am willing to look uncool to help the first African-American become President, and to have a strong, Christian leader in the White House. Besides, if I were not willing to work alongside somebody, I doubt they'd be calling to ask for my advice. I see this as a historical race, and I want to be willing to take some heat as an early adapter. And there are many early adapters.

Most evangelicals polled will vote for Barack. It is only the very conservative, mostly white suburban churched who are leaning toward McCain. Today on the news I heard a pastor say you could not possibly be a Christian and vote for Barack Obama. I cringed when I heard it, because yesterday in Colorado I met with about thirty African-American pastors who love Jesus and know Jesus, who will be voting for Barack. I wondered what they might think when they hear something like that, an angry white man telling them they do not know Jesus, and that they are going to hell. When we pick up a bullhorn and speak from within our insular communities, without so much as talking to people who come from another perspective, we do a great deal of damage. I don't want to be a part of that. But I don't think my endorsement of Barack is quite like that. I am not saying to the church that they do not know Jesus unless they vote for Barack, or that they are going to go to hell or anything. I am simply saying I am voting for Barack, and explaining why.

BWC: Are Christians participating in the electoral process are being forced to choose “the lesser of two evils”? I don’t mean to say Barack Obama or John McCain are evil, but supporting either side seems to demand a compromise of our beliefs on some level. Maybe our anti-abortion stance supersedes our beliefs on war, and vice versa.

Don: I think this is basically true, but I'm not drawn to the negative tone of that popular phrase. I don't think John McCain or Barack Obama are evil. I think they are both good men. But the fall happened, and so things here on earth are messy and no leader is going to be perfect until Christ comes back. Until then, we educate ourselves on the issues, do some careful math, and vote for a candidate that we think will govern the best

Find more here.
Thanks Cameron!

It's still in the 90s here...

White House/ Black Market

Kenneth Cole

Steve Madden


It's October 1st. I wore a similar outfit today as the above.
I should have a sweater on...I am missing the fall.
Nate said he will get me a pumpkin to make up for it.

Vote with your Tote (or shoes)

Freddy and Ma

TOMS Shoes

If your not registered to vote, please do!
The election is getting close...and yes they have all of these things for you republicans too.

Very Interesting...

A red-meat-eater in a Prius is probably hurting the environment more than a vegan in a Hummer.

The U.N. also is calling for governments to launch campaigns to reduce meat eating. If they do, such efforts will probably start in Europe, then sweep through every city, town, village and hamlet in Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica before the U.S. Department of Agriculture stops propagandizing on behalf of meat without any regard for human or environmental health.

Which brings us back to individual abstinence. We're not calling for a vegan revolution, but this page has noted that a sincere personal effort to fight global warming must include a reduction in eating red meat. Were fish sticks on Fridays really that bad?

*Good foods coop (Lexington, KY)
*A friend of mine sent me this. I had no idea meat made a difference... anyone know more?

Training Time...

Some of that know me know that I use to be a hard core runner.

I got married...and got lazy. Nate says its happiness :)
Well I am starting (slowly) to train for a 1/2 marathon.
The race is in December and I ran 4 miles this morning...
Any fellow runners have any tips?
I heard this book was good... I also need to know what to be eating!

Star sighting...

When my family was in town were were in The Palazzo and I almost ran into Heidi.
Spencer was with her... I got surprisingly excited counting I'm not a fan...

Coco Chanel

I watch the lifetime movie on Coco Chanel today.
I love her. Her story, her clothes and jewelry.
Just wanted to share...

Does this look good to you?

Giuliani

I have been giving the Republican National Convention some attention.
I loved watching the DNC so I thought I would be fair.
I absolutely hated Giuliani's speech.
I understand most of the time they do a 'red meat' speech but Hillary's
"No Way, No How, No McCain" was much more tasteful.
Sarah Palin was better. Giuliani made me mad.

Democratic Convention- Donald Miller's Prayer

This is a prayer we should always be praying...“I make these requests in the name of Your son Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.
Let Him be our example…Amen”

Opportunity Village

2nd Annual O-Vino Wine Tasting
Saturday, August 23, 2008.

World Market Center Las Vegas World View on 163:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Hundreds of wines to sample, great food provided by Trader Vic's, live entertainment with local band. Tickets will be sold at all area Lee's Discount Liquors and all area Green Valley Grocery Stores. You can also purchase tickets at Opportunity Village -
6300 W. Oakey Blvd. (Mon- Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm)
Tickets are $50 in advance, $75 at the door.Must be 21 or older to attend this event.
For more information call (702) 259-3741
World Market Center Las Vegas is located at 495 S. Grand Central Parkway, in downtown Las VegasWorld View on 16 is in Building B

Sarah Wilson Photography

This is Sarah. She loves Africa.
I met her at a friend's wedding in Indiana.
She is wonderful! Check out her website.
If you need a photographer for any occasion she would be great.
(She lives in Indiana!!)

Obama vs. McCain

Did anyone see this? I missed it but got see parts later.
What did you think? I loved Obama's answer about religion.
He quoted on of my favorite scriptures Micah 6:8

Kiva- I'm in love.

We Let You Loan to the Working Poor
Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.
Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.
The people you see on Kiva's site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.
Kiva partners with existing expert microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to outstanding entrepreneurs from impoverished communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them. When you do, not only do you get a unique experience connecting to a specific entrepreneur on the other side of the planet, but our microfinance partners can do more of what they do, more efficiently.
Kiva provides a data-rich, transparent lending platform. We are constantly working to make the system more transparent to show how money flows throughout the entire cycle, and what effect it has on the people and institutions lending it, borrowing it, and managing it along the way. To do this, we are using the power of the internet to facilitate one-to-one connections that were previously prohibitively expensive. Child sponsorship has always been a high overhead business. Kiva creates a similar interpersonal connection at much lower costs due to the instant, inexpensive nature of internet delivery. The individuals featured on our website are real people who need a loan and are waiting for socially-minded individuals like you to lend them money.

*Okay so I know that this is not new NEWS to many but it is to me. Clinton did a big push for it, I'm sure Oprah, and many churches. BUT I got to give $1000 of our missions budget to 40 different people today- by far the COOLEST thing I have gotten to do while working here a The Crossing. Nate and I are going to give tonight, you should too!

Adam Cope

Nate has made a new friend and he is a magician.

Just incase your in need of one any time soon.

Check him out.

A Bit About Adam Cope
Combining creative illusion techniques with a witty comedic show, Adam Cope brings a fresh face to the magic scene. Always wacky and slightly imbalanced, Adam wows audiences with mind-blowing tricks, then causes them to tumble out of their chairs in laughter! Igniting your senses, Adam's illusionary mastery will tantalize and mystify your eyes while his goofy sense of humor keeps the laughter coming.

Just Finished.

I enjoyed it.
I have heard a lot of criticism and I agree with some
but I just let myself love it.

New Blog!

My husband Nate finally started a blog.
It will be totally different from mine, for those of you that don't know us.
Opposites do attract. He is insightful, enjoy.

International Justice Mission

I saw IJM's founder speak today (via satellite) Gary Haugen.

International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local governments to ensure victim rescue, to prosecute perpetrators and to strengthen the community and civic factors that promote functioning public justice systems.

IJM's justice professionals work in their communities in 12 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to secure tangible and sustainable protection of national laws through local court systems.

Bookcases of the Day

Found at MadeByGirl.
Decorated by Micasa.