The Campaign

The other night I went to a surprise birthday party for one of my friends from college.

Several of my friends from college were there.

It was so refreshing to see all of them and to reconnect with them.

This party gave me an overwhelming sense of how much I adore and miss these people being in my day-to-day life.

All of this got me thinking of how much our relationships, next to God and our person, are the only things we have true possession of in this life.

I want to make my relationships better.

I have an idea of how to do this.

What would our relationships look like if we loved unselfishly?

What if we let go of our insecurities in our relationships- what I mean by this is I have a vision of loving others just to love them for what they are right then and there...without any thought of ourselves and how they might make us look better or worse.

All days should be days to celebrate the love that we are allowed to give and receive from those we adore- not just birthdays, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.

What if we said, "Thank you for being you!" and actually meant it?

What if our heart songs were allowed to come out?

Some of you may have already found peace in this idea.

I believe I am beginning to- beginning to love those I love in a way that Jesus would call us to know so intimately in our friendships, our business partnerships, our marriages, our family ties...

This year I want to begin a campaign for myself- you may come on it too

I'm calling it The Campaign for Heart Songs.

Through this personal event I pledge to write a letter, at least once a week, to those who have given me the honor of being in relationship with them.

Anything can happen in this life and I want to know that those I love know- with some sort of physical proof- of that love I share with them.

You may not feel so strongly about writing a letter to one you love, nor as strongly as my motives in doing this, but I am sure you feel strongly about at least one person in this world. So, tell them. Somehow.

Everybody deserves to know at least one man or woman in this world loves them.

Everybody.

You too are included in this.

So, treat others as you would want to be treated.

I've never found fault in loving.

Have you?

Play your heart song.

...until next time...

Girl Scout Cookies

Ahhh...Girl Scout Cookies. They come but once a year...now they are here.

Every time this year my thighs cry up to me and say, "We just aren't fat enough, please add more cellulite to our horrible existence! Make it so we cannot fit into your pants!!"

To help soothe these cries I buy Girl Scout Cookies.

I then eat on them as slowly as my free will can muster- which usually is not very long.

My favorite Girl Scout Cookies are:

Number 1: Samoas- I talk about these sweeties ALL year long!

Number 2: Tagalongs. I have a tagalong booty to prove my love for these delicious cookies.

Number 3: Thin mints. They're classic. They're great! But they are my third favorite.

Anyway, I got my supply of Girl Scout cookies this week. (Side note: I gave up cookies and chocolate for Lent...well, that's over now...)

I was really, really excited!

I kept them in my car for a couple days just so I could relish in knowing that I had them.

On the first day I got them I allowed myself to eat 2 Samoas.

The next day I allowed myself to eat 2 Tagalongs.

My free will was still in full force.

I had not yet hit a Saturday where the Girl Scout Cookie (GSC) Fever could take over.

Okay, so Friday night comes and some of my friends from church and I had an "old gal's sleepover"

It was delightful.

I ate way too much food, and had a fabulous time.

On Saturday morning I made my way back to my house.

I get there...and the GSC Fever comes upon me.

I greedily looked in the pantry- my mouth salavating...just waiting for the taste of a Samoa on my tongue.

I throw open the pantry door and all I see are a box of Thin Mints.

"Cooper, where are the Girl Scout Cookies?!" I ask.

"I ate them!" he exclaimed.

"Oh." I say...still in shock that my cookie lovers were no longer.

I think I started plotting a way to pump Cooper's stomach at that moment.

My dispair overwhelming me...

Then it hit me...COOPER ATE ALL OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!!

He left me with a box of Thin Mints- did I mention my third favorite...the bronze medal of girl scout cookies. Sure, it's a medal position...but is it the best?

Cooper stole from me.

Cooper stole from a little girl.

Me.

I wish I could say that Cooper hasn't even touched the Thin Mints...but he has. I've had at least 6 of those...but I think we only have about 6 cookies left.

Next year, Cooper is getting his own cookies and I am getting mine.

And when he eats mine too that's when it's all gonna break loose.

I'm gonna go nuts.

Crazy Laura is going to come out.

Until then my thighs are just going to have to wait anxiously for an expanse in their girth.

...until next time...

I love this!

This is beautiful, no?

What do you think of this:

Yes, I love it too.

These gorgeous beauties, along with many other eye candies come from one of my favorite online stores Nest Pretty Things.

I stumbled upon this fabulous shop when I was browsing papernstitch.com (another something you must fall in love with if you have not already).

There were these earrings.

And I had to have them.

So I ordered them and they should be at my house in 2-7 business days.

I know you're jealous.

But don't be- because you may purchase them at a reasonable price at nestprettythings.com

So, do it.

You'll be glad you did.

Hope you all have a FABULOUS week!

...until next time...

number: always a great gift

So, I happened to stumble upon this incredible company about a year and a half ago:

Compendium, Inc.

They have the BEST stuff! The have the best stuff especially if you are looking for a thoughtful and meaningful gift. The type of gift that the designated person will call you crying on the phone after they get whatever you get them.

I know this because I've sent my mother, father, sister, and friends gifts from them.

*Okay, to be honest, it was just my mom who cried after she got hers...but it does sound pretty dramatic, huh?*

Compendium has in no way asked me to promote their products (as if they would...), I just wanted to throw it out there. They have wonderful books full of inspirational quotes for all occasions as well as journals as well as these pop-out window cards that display a quote when you open them (they're my favorite Compendium product).

Anyway, hope you guys find this company as inspirational as I do!

You may find them at www.live-inspired.com.

Enjoy!

...until next time...

number: library

Today I did something I have not done in a long, long time.

Today I traveled back in time to memories of summer reading, cool air conditioning, and the hope of finding a journey to embark upon.

Today I went to the library.

I forgot how wonderful libraries smell.

What's more, I forgot how wonderful the books in the library smell.

Like memories coming to life, really.

This is all very dramatic, I know, but this entire experience made me question myself:

When did I forget to go to the library?

When did I get too rad to rent books- for free mind you- from such a great establishment?

Probably about the time I started thinking I was not a dork anymore and coffee shops were my safe haven.

Coffee shops are overrated.

I actually am a total dork.

I'm going back to the good 'ole days.

This year, 2010, I am going to get back to my roots.

So, here's my pledge: I'm going to the library at least once a month!

AND, even better, I pledge to visit every museum Little Rock has to offer this year.

Lofty goals- I know- but maybe I'll learn something and become a bit more cultured.

So, what are you doing this year to better yourself?

...until next time...