Avett Bros!

Tonight I went to see the Avett Brothers with my handsome boyfriend. Track 29, a local concert venue, put their tickets on sale at 10 a.m. one morning in December and in 27 seconds over a thousand tickets to the show were completely sold out. I, being awesome and all, was one of the lightning fast clickers and reserved two tickets to give Dillon as his Christmas gift.

Dillon, also being awesome and all, decided to take me so I could enjoy the savory sound of their creative sounding bluegrassy-althernative band. They. Were. Incredible.

The Avett Brothers sounded just as spectacular on stage as they do on their CD's and I had a blast, which says a lot considering my 5'1 stature didn't exactly give me a view of the stage.

I must say if you ever get the opportunity to attend a show - go.

Attached is my personal favorite song of theirs - The Ballad of Love and Hate
It's a lot slower than most of their material, but this is a good representation of how beautifully written each of their songs are.

navy and simple

navy and simple by mishsunshine featuring a pea coat

Just Female knit sweater
€105 - welikefashion.com

Scotch Soda pea coat
€119 - scotch-soda.com

Met jeans
£119 - profilebrighton.co.uk

Givenchy black kitten heels
€398 - jades24.com

Dorothy Perkins rose ring
$11 - dorothyperkins.com

Scarve
romwe.com

BH Cosmetics, BHCosmetics - 10 Color Camouflage and Concealer Palette
bhcosmetics.com

Nagellack - kläder och märkeskläder online - NELLY.COM
£135 - nelly.com

last minute

Sparkles, lace, confetti. That's what I hope my Saturday evening will look like when I'm surrounded by my best friends celebrating the end of something so memorable and the beginning of something new - 2012.

I decided last minute to invite my friends to come to my place and celebrate this holiday with me and I admit I eagerly look forward to it being 9:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve. 

To me, there is something so beautiful about New Year's. Some say it's overrated, and maybe it is to you, but the way I see it is this: who wouldn't want an excuse to celebrate the past and future with their dearest friends? 

That's why I plan on making Saturday night full of class, character and red lipstick. Well, that last thing is really meant for me, but it's relevant - I promise.

Here's some decorative inspiration I've found to carry into my personal celebration. I didn't find much, but I've got even more ideas in my head so expect pictures! 

I Design Love

Style Me Pretty

Everything Fabulous

Divine Party

Fiskars Craft

What are you doing to celebrate the ending of 2011 and entering into 2012? Anything memorable? If so, what are you cooking, or decorating?

Be safe, and let your light shine! 

Modest is Hottest

Sometime during last semester I went to a lunch with a dear friend, and I heard someone say "modest is hottest." Tonight, after seeing multiple people (in the middle of winter I might add) wearing too tight of pants, shirts that are too short, and skin-showing clothing - I decided to make a small tribute to that saying.

So here it is, let's bring a little more awareness to the way we dress, ladies, and take a second to focus on what clothing really looks good:

I got on my indesign, (which I must say is a great way to procrastinate) and I made this little banner.  I made it as a way to remind us what it means to be a woman of God. Carrying this title comes into affect every second of your life. It's not only about what you say and do, but also about how you carry yourself visually. What you wear, and how you wear it. Not to mention, living for Christ especially means not tempting your brothers in Christ. I know being a girl we want to look nice, and be complimented, blah blah blah -- but what are you intentions when you "dress to impress"? Our identity is not in being beautiful. Our identity is being a daughter of God, an heir to the throne, being unconditionally loved by a Father who is far greater than this world we live in. 

Modest is hottest, dress with class! Do not conform to the trends of tight, skin-showing, flashy attire. Yeah, with today's society it may be a lot easier said than done, but start today. Plan your outfit accordingly, and as a youth once said: before you leave house in the morning, look in the mirror and imagine Jesus standing next to you - then go from there.

SWAG

This Christmas was amazing. Each holiday I am reminded of how truly blessed I am, and this year I was reminding in a way that amplifies my love for the Lord and how grateful I am for the life he has given me.

One gift that I so desperately desired was a shirt from 147 Million Orphans, it's an organization that is spreading the message and hope for millions of orphans worldwide. The entire company was started by two moms who just had an intense love for parentless children. It is so inspiring, and this year I asked for a shirt.

I got one. Dillon was thoughtful, he looked past the steep prices for shipping and gave me a shirt that means more to me than any article of clothing I own. Not only is it from the boy I love, but it brings awareness to those who see it, and the proceeds of the shirt go towards someone's adoption process.

How beautiful is that? Here's the shirt I bought:

The front of the tee has the scripture of James 1:27 on it: “Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for the orphans and widows in their troubles  and refuse to let the world corrupt us.”

Seriously, check out their site. I desperately want to own so much of what they have! It really is a reminder to me personally how blessed I am to be able to live the life I live. God is good, and God is faithful.

With that said, here's some other goodies I found that one day maybe I'll own - it's another way to remind those around us about our living savior. JCLU Forever has some pretty nifty designs. I'm a big fan.

Most of us will wear our favorite band shirts, favorite store, and favorite vacation spot. How about we start to sport our lifestyle? Imagine the difference it could make.

Go out in the world and let your light shine today, tomorrow and every day.

Red Velvet Sandwich

One thing I love more than most things is red velvet cheese cake. It's delicious! So, because of this obsession, I thought I'd make something similar for my friends. For Christmas I made a large amount of red velvet cookies for the people whom aren't easy to buy for.

I made a batch for Dillon's colleagues, some mentors at my church, and my roommate's boyfriend. Everyone said they were consumed quickly, and had I left any more at my house I would have gotten a little bit vicious if someone else tried to eat them.

They were that good.

I found the recipe on Bakerella, and I just added a little bit more powdered sugar to the mix because my consistency came out a little wet which flattened the cookies to be "unsandwichable" after cooking. I also didn't have time to make an icing (I'm working a lot, ok?) so I just bought some cream cheese whipped icing from the store - which worked perfectly fine.

Take the time to make some for a loved one. They'll be thankful, I promise.

1 Box red velvet cake mix
1/2 Cup butter, softened to room temperature
2 Eggs

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix ingredients until combined.
• Drop spoonfuls of cookie batter onto baking sheet about two inches apart.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes.
• Cool.

Cream Cheese Filling
1/2 Cup butter, softened to room temperature
1 8 oz. Package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 1lb. Box of confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp Vanilla

• In a mixer, cream butter, cream cheese and vanilla.
• Gradually add sugar and mix until smooth.

Makes about 24 cookies or 12 cookie sandwiches 

Gibson loves when I cook - he wait patiently for droplets to hit the floor.

Lemon Cookie Delight

So, there's a bakery near my work that sells some of the most delicious treats in the world. (Or, at least in Chattanooga.) Regardless, this bakery is something I've grown up on, and I had a brilliant idea to attempt at making some cookies that taste like their delightful, melt-in-your-mouth lemon cookies.

I am proud to say, I found a recipe that tastes JUST like these cookies and it's exceptionally EASY.

I brought them to all the family festivities, and they were a hit! I unfortunately left a batch at home which means they're sitting in my kitchen taunting me to devour every single one of them. I should be upset about this. But darn, what's 11 more pounds, right?

I found the recipe on yummly and trust me, they will make your heart, stomach, and friends you serve them to the most happy they've ever been. ever. ever.

dough:

1 lemon cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

icing:

1/4 tsp lemon extract

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp milk

1	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with foil.
2	Mix together cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto baking sheets and bake for no more than 8 minutes. Do not overbake! Once all the cookies are done. Remove the foil. You have a no need to clean baking sheet.
3	To Make Lemon Icing: Mix together confectioners' sugar, lemon extract, and milk. Mix ingredients together (more or less to your desired liking). When the cookies are warm or completely cooled, place as much icing on them as you like!

Decking the Halls

I feel like a grown up, wanna know why? Well, I attended my first adult-like dinner party! It was delightful. My dear friend, Nadine, had us all at her house, where we ate a delicious meal and scrumptious dessert!

I brought bread, and made, yes MADE a pie recipe from my own mind! I didn't find a recipe for a "cheesecake pie" so I made one myself. It was alright, but just the fact that I braved the concept of concocting something that could be a failure.

On a completely different side note, I so don't recommend testing something that can't be cut into. I loath when I want to try something I've made and it's undoable. Cornbread, cake, pie - they all need to arrive at their location intact. Unlike cookies, which you can eat pieces of.

Anyways, here's some moments from such an amazing evening, with amazing friends celebrating such an incredible and meaningful holiday.

God is good, and I am so blessed.

Craving more...

Do you ever feel like sometimes you're just wanting more of things? I mean, I guess it's the season where people are constantly adding things to their Christmas list, or buying prizes for their loved-ones... but this year I have something completely different in mind.

There are two things I really want this year - the first and most important being money so I can go on a mission trip this summer, and secondly I would to expanding my photography. Which, if you ask me, the two can totally go together. I love seeing pictures of people living their lives in another country with children surrounding them with love. And I would so love to be the one capturing those priceless moments, ahh - how beautiful.

This summer I thought I was going to go to Zimbabwe, but lately I've been wondering if maybe, just maybe the only reason I'm being put through four semesters of Spanish is so I can reach people by knowing (kind-of) their language - some place like Brazil. So, lately I've been in turmoil about where to go, and when. Did you know it's not really that easy to find mission work, and organizations? You'd think the internet would be crawling with opportunities for people to serve abroad, but I've yet to find a legit program that will give me what I want.

Regardless, I plan to serve my God where ever he so puts me, and until I know where that is I will continue to ask for money. God is good, and God will provide.

The real point of this post was to talk about how I wish I was taking more pictures. Oh, how I want to have photoshoots with friends and go places to expand my knowledge of my camera! Lately I've learned so much about lighting and lens, it's hard to behave and not buy all kinds of new trinkets for my SLR... First I will use what I have and I hope that I can find some victims to take some portraits of.

For now I will leave you without any pictures, because I've been boring and haven't had much fun with my camera.

And just like a lens, I want you to let in the light and beauty will be captured.

Have a manic monday!

Tasting Heaven

The other day, I was on Pinterest, which honestly is more addicting than chocolate, yum...  now, while that may seem random, it actually leads me into my next point: I was on Pinterest, and I was searching recipes of deliciousness, and I found one.  


By "one" I don't just mean any recipe, I mean on of the best, easiest, most belly-happy-making, delicious tasting recipe I've made in a while. Are you ready? 


I shall call them, Yummy Ginger Bread Deliciousness with Cheesecake Awesomeness Inside... Or maybe I should just stick with the name the founder, Created by Diane, called them: Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites. But no offense, that is a little boring for all the sha-zam that is packed into these treats.


Here's all you need: 


1 (30 oz) package Pillsbury Gingerbread Cookie Dough (refrigerated section)
4 oz cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

- Roll two teaspoons of cookie dough into a ball for each cookie. Place balls of dough into paper lines mini cupcake/muffin pan. Make a well/indentation into each ball of dough with a flour dipped mini rolling pin or the back of a measurement teaspoon.
- Beat room temperature cream cheese with powdered sugar. Stir in vanilla. Place filling into a piping bag, cut off edge of bag. Place one teaspoon or so of filling into each area of cookie dough.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes or until cookie tested with tooth pick comes out almost clean.
- Don’t over fill the cookies with filling as they will rise when baked.
- Let cool before removing from cupcake pan, but definitely try one warm because they are so scrumptious out of the oven!

(Did I mention it was EASY?!) Here are some snapshots of my day cooking with my dear friend!