first homecoming

Very good things about my first Baylor Homecoming....

1. Beating K-State! Baylor is now RANKED and FIRST in the Big 12 South! Yes, I did listen to the game on the radio. Because it was not on TV.  And I did not brave the hurricane force rainstorm at Floyd Casey. But still, SO EXCITING!

2. The bonfire on Friday!

brother & me at the bonfire

3. Watching Pigskin with my little's parents - nothing like it.  It was my first Pigskin and it was wonderful!

4. Common Grounds, of course

my Rodeo Clown had bear paws!

5. Columbus Avenue on Sunday

6. Sleepovers on the floor

7. The Rangers going to the World Series!
This video is from inside the Student Union Building, crammed with people watching the last moments of the game... 

So great, right?! GO Rangers!
By far the best thing was running into/hugging/catching up with friends and neighbors and professors and family and NYC girls!  (Linds, you were missed!)

SO thankful for my alma mater this weekend!

whew.

photo courtesy of weheartit.com

very thankful for a weekend.  especially one in WACO!

I MET HERB TODAY.

photo courtesy of dallasnews.com

he kissed my cheek in Albertsons.

no big deal.

flashback: Gorrilla Coffee

This gem of a coffee shop serves up quite possibly the best espresso I've ever had. Miss you, Brooklyn!

before & after: hallway art

start with some thrift store frames and a secondhand dictionary...

add a little spray paint and some printer ink, and voila: 

a new (and still in progress) wall collage!  

 Please note that Texas is on this page... this was a happy accident!

pumpkin.

'Tis the season for all things pumpkin!  Pumpkin muffins and lattes, pumpkin carvings and patches, toddlers in pumpkin costumes... pumpkin mixes beautifully with chocolate, it's the color of falling leaves (if my memory isn't failing me - Dallas is still quite green), and it makes my house smell delicious. What is not to love? This pumpkin bread has been my little breakfast treat this week:  

Thanks for the recipe, Good Housekeeping Research Institute! 

Keep up the great work in that gorgeous kitchen. 

that's love.

Oswald Chambers' Utmost for His Highest is a daily read for me.  I've been reading it for at least a couple of years now (okay, not every single day) and it continues to stretch my thinking and bring new things to light in scripture and push me to dig deeper. I was hit hard a few days ago when Chambers wrote about Mark 10:21.  Here Jesus is talking to the rich young ruler, a sad story for the most part.  It is clear that the rich man knows Jesus has something that he wants, something he can't buy, yet he still can't see past all of those things that make him feel comfortable and powerful and secure.  But Jesus can.  Jesus sees past all of the junk and looks the man straight in the eyes.  In the King James Version (below), it reads that Jesus looked at him and loved him.  Instantly. Simultaneously.  There is no distinction here between the look and the love.  That is how God loves us.  He sees through the junk and loves us for who we are, even if we don't really know who we are, even if we're completely screwed up.  No questions asked.  I want to love people like that.

Behold God beholding you, and smiling. 

[Anthony de Mello]

two for tuesday

recently spotted things that I like:

A bit of sturdy ribbon makes this blanket easy to carry over the shoulder... perfect for picnics!

I'm a huge fan of tall sugar packets!  Love that these are so colorful. 

little kiss of europe

photo courtesy of flickr.com

A big group of Baylor friends all got together for breakfast yesterday, and my friend Laura made these incredible strawberry mascarpone crepes.  Such a treat!  She just made them on the stove - I was amazed that they turned out so well! 

Casey rolling up the crepes!  

The strawberry topping. I got to garnish! 

It was a perfect reunion breakfast... nothing like a big home-cooked meal with friends.

HOOKEM.

Dallas really does turn to insanity during Texas-OU weekend... I had no idea! I'm excited about this afternoon!

(longhorn pride in nyc)