not the halloween-y kind of girl

it's been a full weekend of people watching -- seeing adults of all ages dress up and walk the streets of fort worth looking interesting (actually silly).  it's never been my thing to dress up for halloween.  so, for the parties that we went to, i brought yummy baked goods.  last night- sugar cookies with sprinkles.  fan fave at the party...and it took me back to the days when i got to bake every week.

so today- being a sunday.  resting, and watching lottsa football.  i baked a pumpkin loaf at the boys' place.  by the time, the loaf came out of the oven, they were both drooling over it and saying my baking always makes their place smell better. ;) ladies we know the way to a man's heart...don't we??  make their condos smell like baked goods and let them eat them. :)

on the baking note, it's definitely reached fall in north central texas, and it thrills me to wake up in the morning and need a sweater!  i love the fall.  not quite ready for the christmas tunes, but i am getting there....  just a few weeks and it'll be thanksgiving.

what do you enjoy about the fall?

here are a few of mine:

fall walks via here

Grilled cheese and tomato soup via here

hot drinks via here

tweed, stripes, and florals found via here

boots and boats found via here


have a wonderful week!
xx, h

sales, thank yous, and oldies

so 1/2 my job is marketing/sales.  i told my mom tonight, "I am quite the little sales woman." and, regardless of what all my past professional dreams (oh you know, age 6 gynecologist,  age 10 banker, age 15 teacher, age 18 artist, age 19 interior designer, age 20 chef, age 25 dietitian....), i sit in awe at where the Lord has brought me.  haha. i never thought medical sales would fit, but it does, and i am learning that the most genuine people have the hardest time breaking into the realm of sales (ie field of hyenas in Lion King), yet gain and sustain the best relationships (i like to think of Jesus, here).  i laugh as i write it....thinking as humans we will never be complete in our jobs, life, etc, but oh, how thankful i am to have a Savior who is complete and exhibits to me what  "not lacking in anything" as referenced in James (1:4) looks like. it takes faith, perseverance, and being open to trials.  thank you Lord for showing me the ultimate faith, perseverance and being willing to undertake the ultimate trial, death.

so, this leads me into thankfulness.  i thank the Lord for my current situations (instability, missing answers, missing questions, uncertainties, etc) and He reminds me of the grace He gives and the complete control He has of my situation.  what have you given praises for?  what is the Lord revealing in you in this season of your life?  how is this tearing you down and humbling you?  have you witnessed the hope that is there with sacrifice?  if not, what are you waiting for?

i am always reminded of life when i visit my residents ( i know you're thinking, but they're 80+ years old!). true, but as i visited two of my favorites tonight...helping them pick out their pajamas and turn on the rangers game, i thought to myself how life looks so different for us...yet we all have the chance to live it.  i am so amazed at how different the times were in the 30s and 40s compared to now....yet people remain people.  all i can think of is what my life represents, and most importantly why would i even consider living it on my own or for my own good....

i'm going to think on that for awhile.

have a blessed night, friends. :)

found via here

The great outdoors

This post comes to you from a hammock (please pardon the phone-formatting). Under a tree. After a day of (attempting to surf behind a boat) at the lake. New friends. Good food and UT football.

Chase and I have enjoyed this wonderful fall together with friends, family and a ton of good fellowship. It's been a wonderful balance to a semi-stressful workload and adjustment period with us both having new jobs. So...we rest and relax and have fun every chance we get!

A couple weekends ago we went to his papa's ranch and got to enjoy beautiful scenery, teased a few cows, ate pbj sandwiches and relaxed with Cody and Meredith. Quite the change of pace after such rigorous work through Aug and Sept. Note to those of you reading, if you work hard, get tired of your little apartment and feel like a run outside just isn't enough fresh air, get to nature...a ranch, lake or even nature center or reserve and rest. It's so refreshing.

these cows were right outside cody's tahoe window. i mooed at them. :)

the sun was so bright!

no hogs this time.... however, i think he shot a squirrel. :P

view

mer found a high place to sit after our hike thru the woods

That's all for my spill.

Adios. I'm going to go sit on the dock and watch the sun go down :)

new job, rangers, rain! woot.

there's a lot going on guys!  can you believe it?!

well let's start off with the newest thing:
1. my job- enteral nutrition/nutrition support (medical nutrition specialist, if you want to get detailed) what is enteral nutrition?  people who can't eat by mouth (NPO) receive their nutrients/nutrition via tube or IV. for my patients, it's via tube.  something i never knew that i would enjoy! (rather was intimidated by for 3 years, yet the Lord is so faithful and fulfills His purpose in our hearts and lives)
bottom line
i love it.  it's hard. stretching me.  getting me out of my comfort zone. i'm still learning. will never have it mastered or completed...just the perfect job for where i am at in life. bringing hope and help to those who need it as well as letting Christ love work through me.
"how's it going?" everyone asks.  "great!" then i hit a hard day and think, "why am i struggling? i told everyone it's going well"  then something happens (usually a heart thing, sometimes tears, occasionally a drive, or coffee break) and Praise God because He is good and everlasting and never changing...unlike our moods. :/  (ladies, you know exactly what i mean!) don't kid yourself.  the Lord gives and takes away and I am learning that the taking away part has never been my cup-o-tea...especially when it means losing and becoming less. some of the events that i have most recently endured, i have realized this more than ever in my life.  Lord, You are Good.  You are Good.  Your Mercy endureth Forever. (You Are Good- by New Breed)

plus, we have things like this hanging around: (he was attached to a nasal canula...)

2. our rangers are in the ALCS again this year...heading for the win against detroit.  :) woo hoo!  get your antlers up, texas!

3. rain- did you hear it this morning?  because i heard it at 4:30 am and i thought it'd be reason enough to get up and do a short workout inside or something, but it's not what happened....i pressed snooze. about 3 times. (this about-to-be-daylight-savings-time is really making me tired)

anywho. how are you friends?  any special plans for the fair, fall weddings you are attending, family time?  i just love this time of year.

~~Best wishes for a productive Thursday and Friday!~~

via Lucky Magazine
I like to think she's pinning on her lunch break ;)

it's fall, y'all

day 2.

fall started yesterday and i am so excited!

that being said, it was interesting to have a warm enough day to sit by the pool, yet the water was very cool....too cool to swim.  i just cooled my toes before laying back down in my lounger.  a few games of wwf...and relaxing.

what have you guys been up to?
football?  shopping?  sleeping?

a few inspiring fall looks. :)

love this blazer and scarf
Kendi Everyday

scarf love
meggielynne.tumblr.com

weakness in weekends

i've realized after working the past couple years 9-10 hour days, that weekends must be utilized for rest.  i guess it's my nature to keep going full-speed on weekends the way i do during the week days, however lately, by fridays, i just need sleep ... a good movie never hurts either :)  as we creep into fall (100 degree days are winding down, the sunlight hours are fading, and the fall fashions all over the web and inside shop windows excite me).

so, as we get into a new day...sunday...i snack on a small homemade pancake, drink a full coffee press, and am searching through my favourite blogs as i watch cinderella man in my man's apartment (while he's away). my body cries, "give me rest!" i am thankful that the Lord has given us the strength that we need to get through each of our circumstances, no matter how trying they are on our physical and mental selves.  as i fall lazy some evenings, i realize that in my (lacking) human strength, there is power in my weakness and turn to Him to receive rest (and strength). 2 Cor 12:9-10 (Paul's experience with weakness and the Lord's reply)

i pray that in reading this too, if you've been recently struggling, reciting your self-talk and wrestling with trying to do too much, you might turn to Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith and give Him the glory for His mighty ways. 

here are a few inspiring blogs to read for this nice sunday afternoon:

Note to Self - design student's blog. creative eye.  i like browsing her site for pretty things.

English Muse - phrases we owe to shakespeare. i like that she did this @ 3 am in her moleskin.

Nawasaka's - reads a book a week. check out her booklist here.

enjoy.

h

flying through another week

img1.socwall.com

So friends...we flew threw another week!

my first week is almost complete as a medical nutrition therapist. it's been so good. i mean it.  i love my new position, coworkers, schedule, flexibility with working and driving around dfw and then coming home and being able to chill for awhile...sitting on my porch and enjoying this texas "cold" front.

other exciting things:
1. tomorrow's friday and i get to spend some wonderful time with chase, friends, and have some alone time too. :)

2. PURPLE out- tomorrow! wha wha

3. today was a fabulous day (not to mention the weather did not exceed 90!)  had a great day traveling with gina and learning the ropes.

4. i might have done really well with my fantasy team last week.  just sayin.

5. i heart radio. ok, so i logged in. so far so good. now listening: missy higgins.

on another note:

have you been to the acts 29 or resurgence site yet?  they have great daily feeds and blog updates that you can get via twitter.

have you started pinning yet?

here's what i've been pinning up ....

 atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com

notetoself.typepad.com

 mybluecanoe.tumblr.com

hope you have enjoyed your week.  what have you guys been up to?

xx

h

Sometimes my blog gets quoted

It's funny. Ever since Cody, Chase's roommate found out I had a blog, he likes to quote things for me to post.
Note he's never read one entry...but he still likes to bring me inspiration.

Example:
Hannah, UT is losing. I'm about to win a $20 bet. Post that to your little bits of wonderful.

Hannah, do you realize how smart your boyfriend is? I bet you post that to your little bits of wonderful.

So last night we played skee ball @ barcadia. A new bar-game place in fw. They have Jenga! Big Jenga tiles made out of 2x4s... Such a fun place. So Cody you inspired me... With your ways to have fun in any place, any time....

Here's to quoting it Cody Ray.

thank you for giving me a chance

i heard these few words three times today.

"thank you for giving me a chance."

the ladies who told me this didn't know that their chances were my chance.

my chance to:
trust in the One who gave me a chance
the One who saved me from myself, fear, death

a chance to learn my earthly life is worthless when not spent on heavenly things

tomorrow is my last day at work--- i don't really see it as the finale, however, i know things will never be the same.  hearing these ladies say thank you today really didn't settle in with me until i got home tonight.  obviously, i'm a lot nicer than the last lady (haha).  no, but really, i have grown more spiritually in the last 2 years through my career than ever before.  how?  i don't know all the reasons why, however, i know i took a large step towards the unknown in agreeing to take care of 110 residents, managing 15 staff, and handling the communication matters with many healthcare professionals and family members that i've never worked with/around before.  it's been a struggle.  a joy.  a stretch at times when i felt like breaking.  a joy. tears and sleeplessness.  a joy.

We have so much to learn in laboring and suffering for Jesus Christ.  In 1st Timothy, Paul writes to Timothy regarding good servants of Jesus.   Verses 4:10-11

For to this end 3we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, iwho is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.
~~~
it's about the hope generated in us through Christ.  i am thankful for that hope.  it's the only thing that these ladies saw as i gave them a chance.

thank you Lord for being my hope.

i could live in austin

how's the weekend been?  i know, i know, it's monday, but it's still my weekend.  in addition, it's a three day work week for me, so i am happy.

this weekend we spent time with our dear friends, austin and christine in austin.  chase has known them for years.  it's been really special, because they have become my friends, too and i truly enjoy every occasion i get to see them.

this weekend consisted of: fantasy football, food, laughing, college football, old stories, new and old friends, and traveling around austin (oh and the draft--the annual draft that the guys do every year)...just having fun.  i hate to admit it, but the only pics i took were of food...i need to get better at that.

so instead, i found a few fun pics around the internet and of course on pinterest to share.

Fantasy Football Draft

ATX

mozarts in austin

herringbone also....in UT colors :)

leather boots...to escape my closet soon :)

it's almost fall! pretty excited.  hope you all enjoyed your weekend.  it's going to be a good week.