Oh What a Beautiful Morning

I spent the morning with my wonderful friend, Missy. She and I shared some conversation over Coffee at Quixotic, and then explored Half Priced Books and another adorable little shop on the corner. It was a lovely time!

 

I bought some records that I cannot wait to listen to. (I work in about an hour, so I can't right now...but I will most certainly will be listening to them when I get home!)

It was such a beautifully sunny day that we could not resist taking pictures outside without coats. It was also slightly funny that we both decided to wear shorts and tights today. Ha! Great minds think alike.

What a weird December it has been for Minnesota! It snowed last night, and as you can see is clear this morning. I wish winter would make up it's mind to stay! I would love a white Christmas.

Love,
Miranda

Candles Gleaming Inside

I very much enjoyed decorating for Christmas this year. It was a Sunday, so neither Ian nor I worked. We put on Christmas music, tore the apartment apart....and then slowly and thoughtfully put it back together again with the new holiday additions. What a wonderful husband I have - one who will drop playing video games to help me decorate our apartment.

My house is now cozy as I bake some peppermint mocha brownies and listen to She & Him's Christmas album. I hope your day is merry and bright!

Love,
Miranda

Simply in Love

It has been a while since I posted about things I love right now. Ha - and that would be because I was so busy with my Senior year to bother with things that I loved (except for Ian, my darling man). Speaking of - being out of school. Whoa. Who knew it would be so relaxing after a hard semester to wake up and not have to worry about anything except making it to work on time? Love it. Love it so much.

And speaking of Ian - he is my number1!  Since we both are done with school, we have had more time to spend together and be a happy married couple. I am totally loving it. He is so sweet to me: he even agreed to do my Biggest Loser DVD with me today, which brings me to number 2.

Number 2 would be actually feeling the burn of working out. Odd, I know - but it is a constant reminder that I did something to better myself - and as much as it hurts, I would rather have this feeling instead of looking in the mirror and wishing that I had worked out today. Yay for me.

Number 3:

Picture from Here

I am really enjoying the idea of home-made flags. I think I am going to make a strand to put up above our bed, and maybe hang inspirational pictures on. They just look so beautiful!

Number 4:  I LOVED the Muppet Movie. Go see it, if you haven't. (I know this isn't from the movie, but it's the original version of Rainbow Connection, which is featured in the new movie).



Number 5:

I took this picture (and for those of you who know better...yes, it is Disneyland, not Disney World).

Disney World, with my love - in LESS THAN A MONTH! So excited. It's going to be wonderful to go on a real vacation!

More to come tomorrow - I still haven't shown you my Christmas Decoraded house!

Love,
Miranda

Stock and Zombies

Ian and I had some friends over this past weekend. It is always a good time when Craig and Ian get together - you never know what is going to happen. Well - this time, this is what happened:

Delightful, isn't it? Hehe. Keeley wrote the book for us for our Christmas present. It is so awesome! We had a glorious time last night- a little Christmas party, ugly sweaters included! We all looked so christmasy!

Since it was just a small group of couples, I devised a contest between the girls and the boys: who could get the best present for each other? Katlin and I rushed off to the dollar store and target to put together our amazing gifts: monster energy drinks, glow weapons, and sentimental messages to our sweethearts in frames. Ian and Craig made picnic starter kits, with candles, snacks (angry birds fruit snacks for me, and chocolate for Katlin), and sparkling grape juice. Needless to say - the boys decided that we won. :)

It was a fantastic evening! In the morning, I roasted a chicken while we were at church, and we came home to a wonderful meal. Now, I am relaxing - doing only things that I enjoy - while I have a pot of simmering chicken stock on the stove.

(If you would like the recipe, you can find it here) I think I'll make some soup tomorrow!  This evening is as lovely as the last, in a completely different way. It is great to have some time to be me!

Love,
Miranda

Goodbye Yesterday

And so it ends. I have eight days until graduation - and my mind is trying to grasp at how life will change so little - and so much in the next week.

I won't have to wake up so early to make it to class.
I won't have the option to go to chapel every weekday.
I won't have my friends as close...although I will be living here still, it won't be the same.
I won't have homework.
I won't be at North Central anymore. Whoa.

I will have completed my degree!
I will have much more free time to devote to things I love to do...(this blog included!)
I will have more time to spend with Ian.
I will not have to worry about skipping class if I don't get up on time, don't want to stop working on a project...or if I just don't want to go to class.
I'll still have places to be - mainly a job, instead of classes!

See...not so different, and yet, it'll be so different. Life will go on, and myself along with it.

North Central - I have loved you. I treasured every moment within your walls, with your people, and as one of your own. You will always have a special place in my heart!

Love,
Miranda

P.S. For those of you wondering, the reason that I have not been blogging lately is because I have been swamped with papers, my Senior Project, helping out with the Christmas play at church, and work. At the end of these next eight days, I will once again allow myself to fully devote time to blogging!

Brussels and Bruises

Happy Halloween! :)

This morning has been productive, and it is not even 10:30! Already today, I have gone to class, went grocery shopping at Cub, gone to the bank, put up raspberries and strawberries in the freezer, eaten breakfast, and now I am in the process of soaking brussel sprouts so that I can freeze them too! Whew!
Side note - I received the brussel sprouts as a gift from my great friend, Missy, when we visited the Farmer's Market this Saturday. Thanks, beautiful!

So...funny story. Two days ago, I slammed my finger in the car door. Ian and I were on a date to The Good Earth (wonderful restaurant - one of my favorites!) I don't know what happened - I just got out of the car and BAM! I was stuck. Ian had to come around and unlock the door....and by that time, my finger was crushed. Luckily, I didn't break anything - but I am definitely loosing my nail on that hand. And it is REALLY fun to type.

On the other hand (haha, get it?) Ian has expressed an interest in eating all organically. I am supportive of this decision, so, we are now trying to buy and eat all organically. It is a stretch for us (being that we  mainly just shop at Cub or Rainbow), but luckily there is a Trader Joe's relatively close to us, and Cub just started their new Organic/All Natural campaign. This makes things way easier. I'll let you know how things go. So far - so good!

So! That's my life lately. How's yours?

Love,
Miranda

Short Again

So...I was trying to grow my hair out. I failed. I hit a stage. I have deemed it the - 


Bieber Mullet. 


I couldn't stand it any more. Today while I was at work, I looked in a mirror, and grimaced. I did not feel sexy at all. I felt frumpy. So, I went and got my hair cut after work. I never thought I would say this - but I love my short hair. I love seeing my collar bone, and my neck. I love wearing it messy and how I feel slightly boyish - and I love how much Ian loves it too.


"With short hair you begin to crave pearl necklaces, long earrings, and a variety of sunglasses. and you brush your teeth more often. short hair removes obvious femininity and replaces it with style. When it starts growing out a little and losing its style, you have to wear sunglasses until you can get it to the hairdresser. That's why you need a variety. Short hair makes you aware of subtraction as style. You can no longer wear puffed sleeves or ruffles; the neat is suddenly preferable to the fussy. You eye the tweezers instead of the blusher. What else can you take away? You can't hide behind short hair... you may look a little androgynous, a little unfinished, a little bare... but your face is no longer a flat screen surrounded by a curtain: the world sees you in three dimensions."

- joan juliet buck for american vogue, c.1988

A while back, I was reading one of the blogs I follow, The Glamorai, and she included this quote. I couldn't forget it.  


It truly does sum up how I feel. 

Love,
Miranda

Pumpkin Chip

I baked some cookies today. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip. And I made a sign. :)

Enjoy some "fall" in your life!

Love,
Miranda

Morning Joe

I recently discovered the wonders of cold brewing coffee. Not only does it take less than three minutes to prepare, but it is smoother and easier on my stomach (less acid than warm brew). Finally - a method that I like!

Here is my recipe:

 (I adapted it from someone else, but I couldn't find the site again.)

2 cups water
1/4 cup coffee grounds (I use fresh, you could use already ground)
2 tbs sugar (I like mine sweet - so adjust as you like)
1 tsp cinnamon

That's it! The night before you want to drink it, you combine everything in a mason jar, or other container with a lid, and toss it in the fridge. Leave it there overnight (the longer you leave it, the stronger the coffee). In the morning, put the blend through a french press, and rinse out the original container. Fill a glass with ice, and pour yourself a glass of iced coffee! I usually have left overs, so I put it back in the container for a later time. It will last up to a week!

As for my cup...I add half and half. I love the smoothness vs. milk, and it holds up more to the ice. Today, I also experimented - I added half the sugar last night, and put blackberry flavored syrup in this morning. Brilliant.

So there you have it! Today is my day off, so I am going to enjoy this day - and still try to be productive. I hope you have a splendid morning!

Love,
Miranda

A Place to Be Us

About two weeks ago, I re-arranged and decorated the guest bedroom to become a den/family room for Ian and I. It has been so wonderful to have a place for Ian to be on his computer, and for I to read my magazines (or whatever I am doing) with him. I love it.

I kept the yellow and blue themes, but now I added some red....and lots of bawls bottles. Ian randomly collected them, so I put them all over the room. I love the fact that all of our little knick-knacks have a place to be displayed. It truly is a room that is all about us!

Love,
Miranda

Raining Cats and Thoughts

Awww...Vala wanted to come to school with me! 

Today is rainy day, and I love it. Unfortunately, because of all of the roof work that is going on in the church (which is a good thing) we have a few leaks in our apartment. I spent last night and this morning switching out towels to catch most of the water. If you think about us today, send up a prayer? Thanks.

In other news, I have decided to not cut my hair shorter again, in favor of growing it out. Right now, it is in the awkward stage where there really is no shape to it, and it is kinda mullet-ish. But I must press on! The rewards will be worth it. And then, once I have succeeded, I'll just chop it all off again. Oh, the irony.

I am in my 1st Corinthians class this morning, freezing because although it is in the mid forties outside, the air-conditioning has not been turned off yet. The teacher is a Pastor at a church in the area, so he tells lots of stories - so it is easy to multi-task in his class. Wonderful.

Yesterday, Ian and I cleaned the whole apartment, and I cannot wait to go home to my (yes, wet in two small areas) clean apartment and do some homework - and by that, I really mean bake something warm, and listen to some soothing music (you all know I mean Christmas Music). I might still get some homework done.

I hope your day is relaxing, soothing, and full of life.

Love,
Miranda

Isn't she adorable? 

Five in Two

Picture Credits

In the next week, I will have two days off in a row. This is a rarity in my life, and therefore am going to set some goals for myself. I want to accomplish five things in these two days:

1. Clean and Organize my closet for Fall.
2. Make two/three batches of soup that I can freeze for easy lunches.
3. Move the old couch into the guest bedroom so that it can now be a place for Ian and I to hang out together.
4. Re-arrange/Decorate the guest bedroom.
5. Work on my Senior Project. (Really, this should be first on the list. But I put it last so it doesn't seem as intimidating. Ha.)

There you have it! Now that it is all written out....I have to do it. Isn't that the way it works?

Love,
Miranda

Red Sky

I had an interesting experience this morning.

I am sure that you have heard the old rhyme:

Red sky at night, Sailor's delight.
Red sky in morning, Sailors take warning.

I was getting ready before the sun rose, when all of a sudden, our bedroom was absolutely pink. I peeked out to find a red sky over Minneapolis - and I was reminded of this rhyme. Most likely, it is just a fall storm (one that I will relish every second of), but for a slight moment, I felt as if something else was coming - and it made me uneasy. Who knows? Only God does.

Other than this unsettling moment, the morning was fantastic. It was raining when I left the apartment, as predicted, so with my heels tapping the wet pavement, I danced down the sidewalk to Vince Guaraldi. Brilliant man, I tell you. Wonderful music. And what a wonderful morning it has turned out to be.

Love,
Miranda

Photography Pix

Finally

Hello, blogging world! It's been a VERY long time, and a much needed break. Let me fill you in on what has been happening:

First off - my absence from the blogging world. If you read my blog before, you know that I have not blogged for at least a month. To be honest, I don't really understand what made me want to stop blogging for as long as I did, but I know that I loved the break. I wanted to live life, and not have the accountability that I put on myself through blogging. It was great to just experience things and not document them - and it was good.

Well - now I'm back. :) Hello! Since my last post, I have started my last semester at school, surprised my family at Disneyland, Keeley has moved on to South Dakota and then Arizona, and it is FALL! I am truly loving the brisk weather, and my house smells like cinnamon and spice with all of the candles I have been burning.

So...what have you been up to? How's the blogging world? I guess I'll soon find out!

Love,
Miranda

Wishes

According to my husband, I do not need any more sweaters! But you all know the truth...a girl can never have too many sweaters. Am I right? Yes.

I found one that I really love. It is part of H&M's Fall collection.

H & M

Isn't it beautiful? Mmmm. And then, there are these shoes. Mmmm.

Minnetonka Moccasins

They would be absolutely spectacular with a skirt and one of my sweaters. Mmmm. :)

Love,
Miranda

Twenty Minute Project

The other day, while I was trying on fall outfits (yes, I have done this quite a lot in the past few weeks), I decided to modify one of my blouses. It is one of the blouses I have thrifted (you can see it here) - and the collar is beautiful, but the sleeves were not working for me. I wanted a shirt that could be worn under sweaters and dresses this fall - and the sleeves just wouldn't lay right.

So...I took the sleeves off.

This is what it looks like as is. It is still pretty boxy. If I wanted to wear it as a sleeveless top, I would need to modify the shoulders more to give it some shape...but for it's intended purpose, just hemming the existing seam was perfect. It took around 20 minutes by hand. (I also listened to my Glen Miller record while sewing...it was very enjoyable!)

And this is the final product! I love the fact that I can wear it under anything, and it doesn't feel bulky and make wierd wrinkles around my armpits. :)

Well, there you have it! I can't wait to break it in with all of my sweaters this fall.

Love,
Miranda

A Perfect Date

Ian took me on a date last night. :)  It was wonderful - he planned everything all by himself, and I had a wonderful time!

He told me that he wanted to take me somewhere new - so first, he took me to The Anchor Restaurant. It is a cute little Irish restaurant in North Minneapolis.  It was adorable, the service was great, and the food was fantastic!

The Anchor

Ian had the Fish and Chips (pictured above), and I had the Meat Pastie (which is a ball of mashed potatoes, vegetables, and pork rolled up and fried!). Both dishes were fantastic.

After this, we went to McDonald's and got ice-cream cones. :) The weather was perfect, so we ate them outside. While trying to keep the cone from dripping everywhere, Ian suggested that we go on a bike ride.

Now, I like biking, but the bike I have now is very different from my old bike, and the handlebars are smaller, the back brake doesn't work, and it is so tall that I have to jump on it to get started. I wasn't keen on going down hills - but he took me on the Greenway, which is super close to our apartment. It is a beautiful ride, with no hills - and no cars! We went all the way around Lake of the Isles. 

It was beautiful! I wish I would have taken the camera - the sun was setting, and there was a lovely breeze that kept us cool the whole time. I had a wonderful time! Ian was very excited, because he LOVES biking.

Yup - he did a great job! :)

Love,
Miranda

Test Run

redbubble.com

As of the 31st of this month, I will be starting school again. I am enjoying the anticipation of waiting, the back to school shopping, and the planning. There will be something different this semester though - I'll be a full blown commuter.

Since I plan on taking the bus everywhere (it is so much easier, and I can go straight to work from school), I will have to take everything with me when I leave in the morning. I had the urge to come downtown today (I'm at Panera right now. Ian met me for lunch earlier, the dear!) and test run the bag I got for my travels. It is heavy with everything that I need in it (and believe me, I made sure I was down to the bare essentials!) It's going to be difficult...but I am up to the challenge.

Here is what my schedule will look like:

On a day that I work in the morning - Leave the house at 7:00. First class at 7:45. Leave immediatley via light rail to the MOA, and open the store at 9:30. When I am done, take the light rail and bus back home.

On a day that I work later - Leave the house at 7:00. First class at 7:45. Find a quiet place where I can plug my computer in and work on homework (School Library, Down Town Library, Barnes and Noble, Panera), and stay there until I leave via bus or light rail for work.

I am hoping with the time that I have for doing homework, I will actually get my Senior Project (a 50 page paper) done with little to no stress. Knowing me, and my love of procrastination - we'll see how that goes.
I'm going to give it the old college try, though!

Love,
Miranda

Grey Forrest

I love everything about this house tour on Apartment Therapy! Someday, I'm going to paint a wall like this.

Isn't it beautiful?

Right now, I am watching The Ghoul (1933) with Keeley, while waiting for the homemade coconut ice cream to be done. Also - there was a storm today...and it was my day off.

Life is grand, isn't it?

Love,
Miranda