Snow Patrol... really?

Last night my cousin Brad informed me that there is a new Snow Patrol album out. I love Snow Patrol so I didn't waste any time buying it. I really like everything that I've heard so far... Except for... in their song "Disaster Button" they have these lyrics: "Cool your beans my son; You look a f***ing mess"

I have never been a fan of cussing because I feel like it is unnecessary and unoriginal. Get a little more creative with your vocab and don't risk offending someone. Say something besides the 5 words that our society has decided aren't so appropriate. How can anyone follow the line "Cool your beans my son" with that? I'm a little disappointed.

Other than that, I really like everything I've heard. So if you like Snow Patrol, I don't think you'll be too disappointed.

It's Officially Christmas Time!

Many people have a hard time doing anything Christmas related before Thanksgiving. I very much enjoyed Thanksgiving but now it is over. Although I have been for the past couple of weeks, as of today I can officially start doing Christmas things!!!

My cousins Julie, Anthony, Brad, my brother Cory, and I made it out to a local shopping center at 12:00 last night/this morning. They said they would give away $25 gift cards to the first 1,000 people there. We thought that would be no problem. Boy, were we wrong! There were SO many people and the lines were insane so we didn't end up buying much! BUT, we did get to enjoy the beginning of the Christmas season. There were beautiful Christmas trees, lights everywhere, Christmas music, we even saw a Santa. It was great! I am SO ready for the Christmas season! (Brad and Cory are below... they were just kidding.)

Disc Golf

"I ate way too much." I probably have said that about 7 times this afternoon. Our Thanksgiving meal was incredible as always. I would say I most enjoyed the stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls and broccoli and rice casserole. Carbs galore!

After all the food settled a bit, a bunch of us went to play disc golf at a course close to downtown. I loved it! I haven't played since this summer and it was just so much fun. The weather was beautiful and it was incredibly refreshing to walk around after eating so much. Although we all got killed by my cousin Anthony, the company was great. I would recommend disc golf after your Thanksgiving meal to anyone.

Though I must admit, the first thing that I did when I got back was eat some pumpkin cheesecake... I undid all of my exercise, but it was AMAZING.

A First

I went to the laundromat for the first time tonight. We have guests coming and needed to wash a few bedspreads that wouldn't fit in our washer. I attempted to take creative pictures but couldn't so here are some just normal pictures to document my experience. It was interesting to people watch. You wonder... are they here because they don't have a washer, or their's is broken, or they are traveling, or... You just wonder.

Thanksgiving is near... Well, technically it's 12:11 am so it's here! But I don't consider it here until tomorrow morning when I wake up. Thanksgiving means tradition in our family and my awesome brother Joel will be blogging about it here and will do it so much more justice than I ever could.

Baking with the Momma!

I am home for Thanksgiving break and with Thanksgiving comes a LOT of food in the Thomason house. I have had the chance to bake with my mom the last two nights and it has been splendid.

Last night she taught me how to make pie crust (pictured above) and tonight she gave me tips as we made chocolate chip cookies, puppy chow, and scotcheroos.... (You better believe I won't be visiting the scale anytime soon.) There is something special about baking with your mom. It's like one of those things they show in holiday movies where they have cheesy instrumental music in the background and zoom in in slow motion on everyone's smiling faces. I wish we had cheesy music in the background tonight because I thoroughly enjoyed myself and it deserved to be documented like a holiday movie. It was just great!

Kansas City Love

I had the chance to drive through downtown Kansas City today on my way to lunch with my wonderful cousin Julie and my friend Becca. I love driving downtown. There is just something about the Kansas City skyline that I can't get enough of.

I will even risk sitting in traffic to experience the city. Today I noticed that there was traffic heading north and that I would probably hit it on my way back home. But I wasn't about to take the 635 way because I was willing to add an extra 30 minutes on to my trip just to see the Sprint Center, the Kansas City Star building, and of course, the Scout one more time.

Luckily the city didn't disappoint and the traffic was gone by the time I returned. Oh, Kansas City... It's the greatest.

What a great day...

Today has been one of those days close to perfection so I thought I should write about it.

I went shopping with my good friend Jessie and it was just so great... I like her so much. Jessie and I's friendship is interesting because there is about a 10 year age difference but I still feel like we connect so well. I love hearing her insight about things and sharing stories with her because my life as a college student and her life as a mother of two are a bit different. She is simply a wonderful friend.

The shopping was fun. We hit up Marshall's, Stride Rite, Gap Kids, Old Navy, and then Dillard's. I would say my shopping trip didn't really begin until we made it to Dillard's. My intention of going there was to try on some Sperry Topsider's so that I could ask for the right size and style for Christmas. After putting them on my feet I just didn't think I was going to be able to part with them. I made a quick call to my mom and asked her if she wanted to give me an early Christmas present and she did! So I bought them! They look like the shoes below:

We then made it over to the MAC counter where I tried on department store make up for the first time. SO much fun! Jessie introduced me to a whole new world of shopping. We finished the shopping trip in the perfume section. If someone asks you if you want to try Kate Moss's new scent, say no.

Anyway... today was great. I loved spending time with Jessie. She's an incredible woman. And I love my new Sperrys. They are great, too. As for Kate Moss... I still smell like old lady... Thanks a lot.

Twilight

My curiosity about Twilight has gradually been building as I have heard more about this phenomenon. I had planned on reading the book over Thanksgiving break all along just to see what all the hype was about but I ended up seeing the movie last night with some friends who read the books and are big fans. The movie was pretty awkward... But the love story... was great. I'm ashamed to say that I saw it again this afternoon (for the record, I went with my best friend Mary who works at the theater so it was free which is why I saw it a second time.) I started the first book tonight as well.

I know, you are thinking that I have become just like every teenage girl in America in the matter of 24 hours. I don't think I have though... I'm keeping my guard up.

I'm not really sure if I should read the book. Chick flicks and books like this do things to girls... not good things. Some people refer to it as "emotional porn." Every girl will tell you after seeing a movie like Twilight they leave the theater desiring a boyfriend and the perfect relationship, and that is just not healthy. We need to be desiring the Lord and His love. We need to work on being content with either the relationships we are in, or in my case, with our singleness. Not dreaming about and desiring Edward Cullen, the apparent "perfect man" (ahem, vampire.)

I'm just not sure. So here's the deal. I'm going to read it, but it is your job to hold me accountable. Ask me if I have fallen in love with Edward Cullen yet, and if I have... take the book that is likely in my hands and run in the opposite direction. Thanks for helping me guard my heart!

A Cheesy Post About Hugs

Like before mentioned, I work at Kaldi's Coffee as a baker. I have to be there at 4:30 in the morning and people often ask me, "What? Are you crazy? How do you manage to get up that early?" Coming from a person who sleeps in until 12:00 or 1:00 p.m. if allowed, I understand the disbelief. But... I love my job! And the reason is the people I work with! Friends will ask, "How was work today?" and I often respond, "It was great! I know I've said this before, but I just love the people that I work with!" They are great...

...Today was my last day to work for the next week and a half because I am headed back to the GREAT Kansas City (we haven't discussed my love for KC yet, but no worries, it's coming) for Thanksgiving break! I was saying bye to my two favorite co-workers, Eric and Jessica... and we all hugged! I mean, there were no tingles or anything but something about those two hugs meant something special. It was like we were solidifying the friendships we are making. I know that is silly, but I'm not going to lie, I smiled about it for the rest of the morning.

Overall... hugs are great. And so are the people I work with. I can deal with a few less hours of sleep if it means that I get to hang out and laugh with some of the coolest people I know...

(For lack of a picture I decided to show the picture I took for my mom of the baked goods that I make every morning. This is what I do! I'm a baker at Kaldi's who hugs her co-workers!)

Let It (FAKE) Snow!

So the other day my lovely roommates Sarah, Valeria, (I don't remember if Meg was around or not, she was there in spirit), and I were hanging out, working on some homework when Valeria randomly said, "I'm really in the mood to have fake snow around." Meaning the cottony kind that sometimes can be found in cheesy (as in the great kind of cheesy) store displays... We brainstormed how fun it would be and then got back to work.

Yesterday I was at the store with my good pal Jonathan. He was getting Christmas lights for his apartment's incredible Christmas display when I looked over and across the aisle was a big, cheap package of fake snow! I went crazy and bought some snow and some white Christmas lights. (By the way, Jonathan noticed on the snow packaging it said, "...perfect for all kinds of Christmas decorations, only limited by your imagination." Amazing...) So I got really excited and decked our apartment out to surprise my roommates.

Long story short, here is the result. It is funny how cheap $3 fake snow and a couple strands of white Christmas lights can transform a whole afternoon. It's the little things, I guess...

My New Friend A.W. Tozer

My Bible study is reading The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer. (I will likely mention my Bible study a lot because I am just learning so much...) I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't really enjoy the book that much when I first started reading it. But as we dig in more, week after week I am continually astounded by the cool truths that Tozer presents. This last week we read something that is so simple yet it completely blew my mind. Here it is:

"The man who has struggled to purify himself and has had nothing but repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the perfect One. While he looks at Christ, the very things he has so long been trying to do will be getting done within him."

This is just so cool to me and makes so much sense. So often I feel guilty about how I am never measuring up. While I can't ignore my sin, if I start focusing on the man that Christ was and is I will be transformed automatically into something closer to the woman that God designed me to be. So simple. I love it.

Midnight Inspiration

I was laying in bed because I have to be up for work in 4 hours (I am a baker at Kaldi's Coffeeshop) and I accidentally left my Christmas lights on... (Yep, that's right, Cory, I have Christmas decorations up, too!) They looked pretty cool so I felt inspired to take some pictures because I haven't quite wound down yet from going out to celebrate my lovely friend Emily's 21st birthday! Here is one of the pictures that I took.

Wisdom from Lewis to Haslag to Me

The other day my Bible study leader, Sara Haslag (one of the coolest women I've met) sent an e-mail out to our Bible study. She ended the e-mail with this quote:

"If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this." -C.S. Lewis

Interesting. I like it a lot. (That's me pondering to your right, ha!)

Sufjan and Heroes

Two Things That Made My Monday Happy:

-Sufjan Stevens' "Songs for Christmas" album(s) is(are) amazing. I was late joining the Sufjan bandwagon but I now love him, especially his Christmas stuff. I know... it's November 17th... Some say it's way too early for Christmas music. I disagree and I especially disagree in order to listen to Sufjan's Christmas stuff. I find myself craving this music throughout the year, not just during Christmas time. It's original and different yet still has something classic about it. I would say a few of my favorite songs are:

-That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!

-Holy, Holy, Holy

-Sister Winter
-Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!
(It was difficult for me to narrow it down even this far. It's all just so good!)

-Heroes is great. The critics say it has gone downhill from the first season. I just read they are firing people to attempt to bring it back to its roots. It's true. Heroes is not AS amazing as it was the first season but I haven't lost faith. I just finished watching tonight's episode and I continue to love it. Maybe it's because they have made Sylar good. Even when he was bad I liked him. I felt like a creeper feeling sympathy for the guy who telepathically cuts heads open, but now I have a reason to like him, and that just makes me feel better about myself. I would say if you watch Heroes or watched in the past, don't give up. Tonight's episode got me excited all over again!

Ode to Coffeeshops

I'm sitting here at the Artisan, one of my favorite coffeeshops in Columbia, listening to Coldplay, and drinking some coffee. This is one of those moments that I consider to be pretty close to perfection. I mean, truthfully I'm putting off a 3-page Spanish paper that is due tomorrow morning, so I have that in the back of my mind. But I just love coffeeshops.

I have said before that I feel like I am the person that I want to be when I am at a coffeeshop. I become more artistic and creative. I put my headphones in and music surrounds me as I look around and there is homework being done and deep conversations being had. I have had some of the best "me and God times" in coffeeshops. There is just something about them that inspires me to be something that I don't allow myself to be when I am living my unnecessarily busy and hurried life. If I lived like I live when I'm surrounded by the walls of Kaldi's, the Artisan, It's a Grind, etc... I would be a cooler person. I should start working on that.

Anyway... I love coffeeshops so this is my ode! I feel like they deserve the first mention on this crazy blog of mine.

Ah hey...

Sometimes I appreciate little things or have thoughts and I think, "I want to get this out there..." I generally journal about it, but then no one sees it but me and God...

So, I decided to follow the rest of my generation and start a blog. I don't really know if what I have to say is worthy of a blog... or your time, but I figure it is worth a shot!

I don't really have a lot to say except I feel like I should address the title of this blog. It comes from my favorite song, "Noticed" by MuteMath, my favorite band. It goes...

"You are reaching something that is beating
I can't believe I never noticed my heart before
Over and again, racing out of my skin
I can't believe I never noticed my heart before"

Nothing profound but I feel like sometimes I experience something or something will just click and it's like I'm noticing my heart. Cheesy. I know... But I figure those are the things I will likely mention here so it might as well be my title.

We'll just have to wait and see how this goes... Goodnight!