worth a second chance.

you know how sometimes you see or hear something, think it's particularly awful and vow that you could never like it? here's a few that i have recently seen in a new light:



kings of leon, "use somebody": i once loathed this song because of the lead singer's whiny-screaming voice. now i can't get the catchy tune and lyrics out of my head.


chuck bass from gossip girl: proof that even the worst of people can be redeemed. chuck went from an utterly despicable ladies' man to a sweet, protective boyfriend. i kind of love his relationship with blair now (yes, i'm talking about these characters as if they are real. don't judge).


sushi: i won't describe all the reasons why i disliked sushi before, but now i can say that it is most delicious. i'm glad i gave it another shot.

an esoteric taste.

frequently, when asked what kind of music i listen to, i find myself replying with, "you've probably never heard of them."

while i try not to subscribe to the notion of exclusivity, it's quite nice to feel like i know of an artist that few others know about, one that is a little off the beaten path. it's like being a member of a secret club. not only is it fun to "discover" an artist myself, but it's also a pleasant surprise when i find someone else who is a fan, as i can assume that they probably dig past the surface to find music too. and of course, one of the greatest things about being a fan of an obscure artist is being able to see them perform live in the tiniest of venues.

in some cases, it's not so bad to be exclusive.

old maid? not in the cards for me (hopefully).

so, i was having a chat with my grandmother on thanksgiving. she asked the question: "do you have a boyfriend?" of course, i replied with the usual, "no, i'm single." easy answer. that was supposed to be the end of the conversation.

then my grandma decides to add, "you're not going to be an old maid are you?"

umm, no, grandma i have no plans of becoming an "old maid," but i am in no hurry to get married either. sure, it would be nice to have a boyfriend, but i'm quite content without one right now. i'm only 24, and i'd prefer to be selective when it comes to dating and marriage. i really wouldn't want to be Cath (see below).

so adorable it's ridiculous.

revive me.

lately i've been in a pretty odd place in my life, feeling really apathetic and out of sorts, for seemingly no reason. the best conclusion i can draw is that i haven't been seeking God nearly enough, and oh, how much i need Him!

I spread out my hands to you;

my soul thirsts for you

like a parched land.

Psalm 143:6

the yellow house.

i have just begun reading a book called The Yellow House. it is about the two months that the artists Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin lived together in a little yellow house in the south of France. as i delve into the glimpse of their lives during this period of time, i am just fascinated by the pieces of information i have already learned about Van Gogh. from his battle with mental illness to his desperate desire to stave off loneliness to his explosive creativity (much of which was never recognized during his life), his time in that yellow house was spent finding the balance between light and dark, fullness and emptiness, joy and sorrow. so far it is a very interesting portrayal of such a brilliant man.

i also just found a blog composed of the letters and notes that Van Gogh wrote over the years. it is quite intriguing.

christmas comes but once a year.

winter. december. christmastime.

i could not be more happy about the arrival of this season. a few of my favorite things:

tree with lights.

peppermint mocha.

classic christmas movie.

however, of all the things about this season that make me happy, there is one that is better than the rest. please check out Advent Conspiracy, and help begin to make Christmas less about the superficial and more about Jesus again.



p.s. thank you to my dear roommate for the inspiration for this post's title!