Simply Wonderful

randomness...

2010-11-06T16:52:00.003-05:00

So, clearly I suck at blogging these days. It may have to do with the fact that I no longer have internet at home but who knows. I feel like I'm back on the World Race again and finding coffee shops to use internet. Sad but true.

In small group this week we decided that we are going to figure out a "risk" to take in the next 2 weeks until our next meeting. This can be simple, hard, whatever. Lately I have been awful at doing my quiet time so I made it my "risk" to read the Bible every day even if that meant getting up before 6am (which would be dreadful). So far I'm 1 for 2 but today's not over yet so I think I should be good...that and I have an extra hour to do it. :)

Here's a few randoms...
-I'm starting to get really, super excited for Christmas. Now I just need to find my Christmas decorations....hhhmmmm....

-I'm also really loving the Caribou sayings. Like the "hold hands, not grudges" one...or the "dance to your own rhythm" one.

-I learned I am the color orange when it comes to my personality. I love personality tests. I think I'm going to make my whole family take the quiz at Thanksgiving. Family fun time!

-Matea was a ladybug for Halloween. SO cute.

-I'm sad that garage sale season is over. :(

-I'm happy that there is brand new Goodwill opening up by my house soon!

-Tomorrow the Vikings play the Cardinals. I think I'll be happy with whoever wins but I still hope that Vikings win. Although they have been a slightly pitiful lately so who knows.

-I made Roman-Style Chicken this week. It was AMAZING. Everyone should probably make it.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/roman-style-chicken-recipe/index.html

That's it for me. I am heading to babysit now. I lead such a fun life, don't I? :)

it's time to start writing again...

2010-10-11T20:53:00.002-05:00

Back on the Race I used to write lots of blogs. Blogs about what God is teaching me. Blogs about the hard times. Blogs about the amazing experiences. They weren't well written or too insightful but they allowed me to process. I sometimes processed when I didn't know I even needed to process.

Yesterday I brought my journal to church so I could take notes that would be permanent rather than thrown away at the end of the service or the next time I cleaned out my purse. As I flipped through the pages I was reminded about what I went through this past year. Sometimes it's so easy to forget. It's easy to forget that this time last year I was in Montenegro gardening, cooking and carving pumpkins at the English Cafe. It's easy to forget that just a few months ago I was going to the bar every night with Hope (literally and figuratively) and Mel praying that our new friends would understand how much God loved them. It's easy to forget the many lessons God taught me...or how He taught them to me...or maybe that's just me selectively forgetting those times. :)

Brandon and I were hanging out before we went to dinner last night and I started talking about Phuket and Diamond and going to the bar. An hour passed and I was still talking. I didn't even realize it had been that long...it had felt like 10 minutes. Then I realized something. I don't really write anymore. I don't really blog, I don't really journal...at some point I just stopped. I know that God is still teaching me things and I'm still processing but I remember how I felt on the Race when I would finish a blog and think, aaahhh....it feels so good to get that out. Even if nobody reads it or even cares, I was able to express myself, think through things that were going on and really understand them. It's kind of like you really understand something when you teach them to somebody...I can really understand what I'm going through when I can write it out for other people to read.

So here's to me being intentional. To really write and learn and process. Enjoy. :)

#85....check

2010-08-23T18:53:00.003-05:00

Good news! Remember my list? Well I can officially cross off #85...buy a car!!

Friday night I officially purchased a 2003 Ford Escape. Yes, it's a 2003 and yes there's more miles then I probably would like BUT it's a 4 wheel drive so I will no longer have to call Aaron to come pick me up when it's snowing so I'm not stuck in my apartment by myself like the good old days. It's also big enough for my skis (so I can officially learn how to ski this winter) and it'll be great when I find a job and an apartment and I have to move. Another bonus, it's yellow. :)

All it needs is a good name...it's fondly being called "the short bus" for now but I think a more fitting name needs to be found. Any ideas?

God did.

2010-08-16T09:16:00.003-05:00

Back on the World Race we always talked about "God dids". Like the little things in life that make you smile...for example, losing your favorite pen and being really sad about it but then stopping outside to pick up the trash bag that had fallen out of the garbage can only to find your lost pen in the midst of all the garbage. God did...found my pen.

Well, yesterday was the start of my BIRTHDAY WEEK!!! My birthday is probably my 2nd favorite day of the year...after Christmas of course...so birthday WEEK is like the week of Christmas. In other words, amazing. I had gone to a wedding Saturday in Rochester and woke up Sunday morning too late for continental breakfast. Bummer. My 2 friends and I headed out to this restaurant we found on our GPS only to find out that it was CLOSED. Double bummer. We whipped out that trusty GPS again to find a new restaurant only to find that there was a PANNEKOEKEN just 2 blocks from where we were standing. I was beyond excited since I thought that all of the Pannekoeken's in America had gone out of business. I frolicked the whole way to the restaurant in sheer delight of the fact that God gave me a Pannekoeken to start off my birthday week.
The pannekoekens were fantastic and the boys are now in love with them as much as me. Or close. The only sad thing is the coffee was SICK. It was the weakest coffee I've drank in a long time...think so weak that you can see the bottom of the cup. Gross. Nothing that a little Caribou couldn't fix though. ;)

So happy birthday week to ME!

anybody want some jewelry??

2010-07-18T20:32:00.014-05:00

While I was in Thailand, I worked with an organization called SHE. Here's their website. SHE gives girls working in the sex industry a second chance. When a girl decides they want to get out of the bars she can go live at SHE for one to two months. If the girl chooses one month then SHE houses her and gives her a full day of hands on training to work in a hotel Monday-Friday. The one moth option does not include any sort of pay. If the girl chooses the two month program she spends half the day getting training and the other half of the day making jewelry. The jewelry is then sold so the girl can make a set salary each month. Most of the girls choose the two month program since many of them send money home each month to their families.

This is where I come in. SHE is in need of more people buying their jewelry. They have it online and they have a few people selling it in the States but the more jewelry they sell, the more money they can make to fund their ministry and give the girls a salary to live off of. Before I left Thailand, I bought quite a bit of jewelry from SHE to sell back in the States and I am happy to announce I am finally ready to start selling them!

Below are pictures of a few of the items. Some have multiple colors as noted below the picture. If you have any questions at all feel free to email me (jennifer.lee.flavin@gmail.com) or call (763-464-5726). I can always take more pictures so you can see length or other colors.

Thailand is known for their pearls so all of the pearls used in these pieces are real.

Shipping costs $3. If you spend $50 or more, shipping is free! As of now I can receive payment via checks...I'm setting up a Pay Pal account and will put that information up when it's all done.

NECKLACES

also available in brown

also available in blue

BRACELETS

also available in purple and pink

EARRINGS

also available in blue

RINGS
also in blue

101 in 1001

2010-06-23T10:01:00.005-05:00

To start the transition home and away from the World Race I decided I'm going to start blogging here for a bit. And I just finished my very own 101 in 1001 list so there's no better time to start! The idea is from the Day Zero Project website...it's basically making 101 goals in 1,001 days.

So here's the list...let me know what you think!

Faith

1. Lead or co-lead a study on The Life You’ve Always Wanted

2. Find a church

3. Join a small group

4. Do in-depth studies of 5 books of the Bible (0/5)

5. Start a Bible Study at my workplace

Health/Wellness/Vanity

6. Run a marathon

7. Meet Kendra somewhere in the U.S. and run a half or full marathon

8. Qualify for Boston

9. Learn how to cross country ski

10. Compete in a cross country ski race

11. Buy dumbbells and use them twice a week for a month

12. Rock climb twice a week for a month

13. Take a ballet class

14. Get back to my normal weight

15. Do a detox of some sort

16. Fast from sugar for one week (0/7)

17. Eat ice cream every night for a week (0/7)

18. Run a half marathon in under 1:40

19. Run a 5k in under 21 minutes

Exploring

20. Go to Applefest

21. Go sailing

22. Go to DC

23. Go to a local art fair, meet an artist and buy something

24. Eat at 10 restaurants I’ve never been to (0/10)

25. Go to Canada

26. Go to the MN State Fair

27. Go for a picnic

28. Go to 5 states I’ve never been to (0/5)

Artsy Fartsy

29. Begin designing my own jewelry

30. Learn how to make jewelry

31. Paint a painting that is cool enough to hang in my house

32. Make a coffee table book with pictures from the WR

33. Go to a ballet

34. Figure out how to use my sewing machine

35. Sew an apron

36. Sew a skirt

37. Take a pottery or glass blowing class

Family & Friends

38. Pick up the bill at a family dinner

39. Bake everyone in my family a special dessert on their birthday

40. Cook Grandma a meal including some African food

41. Visit Andrew and Joanna in CA

42. Take a trip with Athena

43. Have a sisters weekend

44. Send Becca a care package at grad school

45. Spend a weekend with Matea

46. Send Mom flowers just because

47. Go to IHOP with Dad

48. Go to a show with Aaron

49. Do a beer tasting with Gary

50. Take Grace and Sophie on a fun date

Being an adult

51. Find a job

52. Find a place to live

53. Create a business plan for a fair trade shop

54. Start my business

55. Make a budget and stick to it

56. Pay off my student loans

57. Learn one thing about the government every week for a month (0/4)

58. Have 3 months’ salary saved up

59. Sponsor a missionary or a Compassion Child

60. Not stress for a day

Volunteering/Encouragment

61. Put on a fundraiser to raise money for Alice’s school

62. Send someone flowers just because

63. Send out 25 random cards (0/25)

64. Randomly give out 3, $5 Caribou or Starbucks gift cards (0/3)

65. Pay for someone’s drink or meal behind me in line

66. Serve at the homeless kitchen with Mom and Dad

67. Help an unexpected citizen cross the road

68. Go back to either Mexico or Poland for a mission trip

Cooking

69. Make sushi on a regular basis

70. Make a cookbook of some sort

71. Try a new recipe once a week for a month

72. Make a homemade pie for Thanksgiving

73. Host a dinner party

74. Take a cooking class

75. Perfect Vicky’s bread

76. Do a wine tasting (preferably in Virgina)

77. Learn how to make really good pad thai

78. Learn how to make martinis

79. Learn how to make scones

80. Host tea time once a week for a month (0/4)

81. Learn more about wine

82. Learn how to make Euro Cream pancakes

Splurge

83. Get a facial

84. Get a pedicure

85. Buy a car

86. Buy a great pair of heeled boots

87. Buy a really good facial lotion

88. Buy a really cute winter coat

89. Buy a bottle of OPI nail polish

90. Invest in a really good hair staightener

91. Revamp my underwear drawer

Misc.

92. Go horseback riding

93. Have fresh flowers in my house every day for a month

94. Go see a movie alone

95. Get a pet

96. Take a community ed class

97. Build a snowman family

98. Plant a tree

99. Go on a sleigh ride & bring hot cocoa

100. Take a car class

101. Dress up really fancy and then go to a fast food place

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T15:58:00.004-05:00

My mom is amazing.

At everything...
She can draw perfect circles.
She can answer any cooking question.
Her house is always clean.
She runs....far...and fast.
She's very organized.
She decorates fabulously.
She is very generous with her time, money and possessions.
She is spontaneous.
Her garden flourishes instead of wilts.
She can bowl, play mini golf and swim. I can't do any of those.
She sends me Caribou gift cards and bags of chocolate chips...life's necessities.
Her faith in God shows in her actions every day.
And of course, she's beautiful.

So, Mom, thank you for being just a phone call away to answer all of my silly questions and to let me vent, or share stories, or just simply say hi. You are amazing and lovely and I don't know what I'd do without you.
I LOVE YOU!!!

the "Jen Boot"

2009-05-07T20:59:00.002-05:00

Part of the duties at my job is trying on the shoes we will be selling in upcoming seasons to make sure they are comfortable, fit well, etc. Last summer I was brought the most amazing boot to try on...it was love at first sight. I was so in love that it became known as the "Jen Boot". 2 pairs later (thank you discount!), I'm still wearing them. My sister is a photographer and I got to be her model the other day and she took this amazing picture of the Jen Boot. When I get home from my trip I'm going to blow this up and put it in my shoe closet (that is, if I have a shoe closet...).

Role Models

2009-05-02T10:49:00.005-05:00

My dad called me yesterday. He made me repeat after him, "I am NOT going on a mission trip. I am a short term missionary." I am quitting my job, leaving my family and friends and giving a year of my life to God and letting him do whatever he wants to do with it. I AM A MISSIONARY!!

My grandma was a missionary. She sent me this picture after my last post about travel clothes...her friend, Glenna made her this skirt and she said it was perfect for Africa! Looks like I'm going to have to call up Glenna and see if she can make me one too.

At one point I was talking with Grandma about my year of mission work and I asked her, "What if I get malaria??" Nonchalantly, my grandma replied, "Oh you'll be fine, I've had malaria twice." TWICE?! And she's still alive and kicking it! My grandma trusts God with her life and every aspect of her life...what an inspiration! My grandma has always been an amazing woman of God and has been an incredible role model throughout my life. And now I get to be a missionary like her! My year will be spent in 11 countries while my grandma spent a couple years in Nigeria, Africa but nevertheless, we are both missionaries.

Another person I am inspired by is a girl I went to college with. I wasn't great friends with Suzanne in college and I can't say we're close now, but I stumbled onto her blog yesterday and learned a great deal about the woman of God that she has become. She is so open about her faith and excited to share with everyone...I wish I was more like this! Check out her blog. I'm sure you'll be inspired as well.

So, THANK YOU Grandma Lynn and Suzanne Thompson! You have both been role models in my life...I'm excited to be a missionary like you, Grandma and to begin to share my faith like you, Suzanne. And THANK YOU to God for bringing these amazing women in my life!

Travel Clothes

2009-04-27T19:44:00.007-05:00

Seeing as though I will be living out of a pack that I have to carry on my back for 11 months, my wardrobe is going to be extremely limited. This could be quite difficult to pick seeing as though I have a Carrie Bradshaw-style closet that is bursting at the seams. It'll be good for me, though.

I've been trying to figure out exactly what to bring...it needs to be light, something that can't get extremely wrinkly, versatile, and of course...cute! Any ideas??

Here are a few skirts I am hoping to buy...the annoying thing is good travel clothes aren't cheap! Oh well...I guess when you're wearing the same 3 skirts and 5 shirts for a year it won't matter if they're a bit on the expensive side.

The cranberry one is a Patagonia Vitaliti Skirt the black one is a PrAna Sunburst skirt. I love them both. :)

Thoughts on good travel clothes anyone?!

Shipping Season!

2009-04-14T18:46:00.013-05:00

Shipping season officially started here in Duluth! I love shipping season...yeah, I know, a weird thing to love but whatever. So anyways, I ran Monday morning and I got to the bottom of the hill and saw a ship! The sun was rising and I thought I could get a beautiful picture so I bolted back up the hill (mind you this is 2 blocks and one of the steepest blocks in Duluth...so it was a slow bolt), got my camera and bolted back down the hill to the pier. Sadly, by the time I made it to the pier the sunrise was already over.

So, I snapped a few photos and started to head back to my apartment and then I saw the ship moving! It was coming through the harbor! Oh what a glorious morning. :) So I waited for the ship to come through, waved at the sailors (like a tourist), took a few more photos (again very touristy of me) and ran back home. Needless to say I was late to work. It's a good thing my manager is cool.

So here are the pictures I got...none of them are stunning but fun nonetheless. Oh and I have to mention yesterday was my sister's 29th BIRTHDAY! Lucky for her she's in San Diego so I didn't get to see her on her birthday. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY SISTA!! I LOVE YOU!

the itsy bitsy spider

2009-04-12T16:14:00.002-05:00

Matea and I had the most fun Easter drive EVER...

and let me just tell you my niece is SMART. :)

I heart your bike

2009-03-17T21:49:00.003-05:00

So I've been a terrible blogger lately. Please forgive me. I'm working on another blog these days so feel free to check it out. It is my World Race site. Check it out here.

A while back I found these I heart Your Bike tags to stick on bikes that you like. They look like this:

My friend Karley and I used to ride our bikes to the beach on Park Point and we saw some very sweet bikes throughout the summer. When I found these tags I was SO excited to make something similar to these for this summer. Well, Karley had a birthday and her friend Mary sent her a pack of these tags!! She gave me one yesterday and I am extremely excited to put them on fun bikes this summer. Aren't the fun?!

Head Scarves

2009-01-28T21:01:00.004-06:00

Head scarves are my fave. And they allow you to not do your hair which is always a plus. :)

And soon I will have long hair so then it will be even more fun!

Image courtesy of teen vogue

Boho Chic

2009-01-28T20:51:00.004-06:00

Target is my friend. There is a new boho line, Jovovich-Hawk, that is coming in March. I'm in love with these outfits...

And on the plus side, I already have the boots (aka the Jen Boots) from my work!

Running

2009-01-26T19:46:00.002-06:00

My goal for this year's Grandma's Half Marathon is 90 minutes. It might be a bit steep but I'm hoping with the right training I'll be able to knock out a 6:51 pace. I've been reading Daniel's Running Formula to come up with my training program so I'll be ready to go as soon as my physical therapist gives me the green light.

Typically my training has just consisted on specific miles...3-5 miles a few days during the week and one long run every weekend with some cross training mixed in there. This year's training will consist of interval training, speed workouts, and long (longer than my normal long) and slow runs. I'm hoping my plan will be all figured out by the end of the weekend in hopes that I can start it up by February 5th (the day I have my follow-up with my orthopedic surgeon).

I'm so ready to get out there now...

Sled Dog Race

2009-01-26T19:30:00.009-06:00

Every year Duluth hosts the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race. For the past 5 years I have never gone to watch the start of this year. Don't ask me why, I just never have! This year a bunch of friends and I all went and it was an awesome time! Yes, it was below zero but 3 pairs of pants, 2 running/skiing tops, a jacket, 2 pairs of gloves, my amazing $3 Swix hat from a vintage store, a scarf, SmartWool socks and North Face boots later...you wouldn't even know it. :)

The picture below was in the Duluth News Tribune. You can see Athena (with my green and white jacket), Joey (in the bright blue snow pants and yellow hat) and me (well my hood). We're famous!

Spending Hiatus

2009-01-20T18:00:00.002-06:00

I really, really want this jacket. With the new running season quickly approaching, and my knee slowly healing, I really, really want new running clothes. But why? I have 3 drawers FULL of running gear for all weather, -30 to 100, rain, snow or shine. I'm learning to appreciate what I have and spend less time thinking (or looking at/for!) what I don't need.

Over the weekend I did a bit of research on my bank account and how much I spend and where. I realized that even though over the past year I have been doing much better with not spending money on things like going out to eat or shopping, I still do well over my necessary amount. Well, thank goodness for this spending hiatus then! With the month being over half done, I have spent less than half of what I have been spending in a normal month. This is even with buying new running shoes...which some might think is not a neccesity...but it is. My current shoes are WAY over on their mileage and with training for Grandma's Half Marathon starting as soon as my MCL heals, they were a necessity. Now that I am consciously thinking about every purchase I make (thanks to making myself blog about it!), I am spending nothing on unnecessary things!

Overall, so far so good. We'll see how the rest of the week goes. :)

Moon Boots

2009-01-16T20:59:00.003-06:00

I first saw these boots in the December Cosmopolitan issue and loved them so much I cut out the picture and made a birthday card with it. I stopped into one of the local ski shops today and THERE THEY WERE!! Front and center, in all their glory. I never thought I would see them in person but there they were...and I can't buy them. Why oh why did I have to pick now to vow to not spend money on unnecessary things? Is there a way to justify this purchase? I've had mixed reviews on these so far, what are your thoughts?

made by Tecnica

Heidi Braids

2009-01-15T19:38:00.005-06:00

I'm growing my hair out. I can't wait for the day when I can put it in a braid. Just like these...
via here

via here

Simple...Wonderful...Perfect

Simple Decorating

2009-01-15T19:00:00.020-06:00

My built in shelving unit was in dire need of an extreme shelf makeover but this is difficult when your 2009 goal is to go on a spending hiatus and only buy necessities. Luckily 2 heads are better than one. When Karley saw my collection of random jars and vases along with white stones she directed me to this DIY project on Design*Sponge via Craft Stylish.

The designer, Kayte Terry, used this as a table centerpiece with cute acorns filled with felt. Adorable. And resourceful! And perfect for my shelves! I already had the jars, stones and cardstock paper, all I needed was the sticks straight from Mother Nature. I wanted to put fabric behind the shelves and luckily I had a $10 gift card from my big sister so I only had to spend $3 on this entire project. Here is how it turned out...

I absolutely love how it turned out! It makes me want to stay at home and stare at its beauty.

Frigid

2009-01-14T17:43:00.001-06:00

This morning I went onto the "wind-chill calculator" that the Duluth News Tribune so graciously provided for the great citizens of Duluth. Anyways, I figured out that since the temperature at the time was -19 and there was a 10mph wind the "wind-chill temperature" was -41. Yes, -41. The paper used the word frigid...I do believe that word is quite perfect.

I think we all need some cozy footed pajamas and a bomber hate to get through these next few days...

Boho Magazine

2009-01-14T17:03:00.000-06:00

For Christmas my lovely parents gave me a subscription to Boho Magazine. I had skimmed a subscription during a trip to Barnes and Noble and fell in love. In the words of Gina La Morte, editor-in-chief:

boho is a green fashion-lifestyle magazine founded on the freedom to express your own personal style and live the life you want. each issue offers the latest in fashion, beauty, and more, while inspiring you to help make a difference in the world by giving back and going green. inside you¹ll find its content focuses on both the inner and outer you, infused with new ideas that will fill your spirit and empower you to put your own stamp on things while making the world a prettier place.

boho is an eco-friendly publication. we are the first fashion magazine to be 100% recycled in our paper, packaging and inks.

And with outfits like these? I'm in love...

all-in-one
Bamboo wool jumpsuit, Covet, $125.Vintage boots, What Comes Around Goes Around, $298. Wood Bracelet, Novica, $52.95.

Holly Kiser for New York Model Management | photographed by Michael Frost

taken from Boho Magazine green piece

Now all I need is my first edition to arrive...

MAC

2009-01-14T16:47:00.000-06:00

I'm a MAC Cosmetics girl. Their eyeshadow, lip gloss, mineralize blush, mascara and of course their paint are my guilty pleasures.

For years I had nasty eyeshadow creases after only a few hours of applying my shadow. And then I tried MAC Paints. A thin layer of "Bare Canvas" under any and every shadow and I am now crease free! I really should be their spokesperson. :) Unfortunately for me (or maybe fortunately due to my spending hiatus!) there is not a MAC store nearby. Luckily though, my brother lives near one and is picking me up a new tube of paint to keep creases at bay.

get more info here

Amazingly Red Shoes

2009-01-13T21:19:00.000-06:00

How can anybody not appreciate an outfit as perfect as this? Fabulous white dress, perfect pale skin (no fake bake for this girl!) and amazingly red shoes?! Ideal.

Picture taken from here

A Day of Fun

2009-01-13T18:22:00.000-06:00

Karley and I recently had "Karley and Jenn Fun Day". Prior to Christmas we decided we would give homemade gifts to each other and have a "fun day" to celebrate Christmas. And a fun day it was! Yogurt and granola with organic coffee for breakfast, a trip to the fabric store, a lovely lunch at the local Burrito Union, a quick stop at our favorite running store after heaading back to my apartment for bag making and living room redecorating.

My grandma is an insanely amazing artist and one of her crafts is knitting. Years ago she (or my mom, I can't remember) taught me how to knit. Me being the person who never finishes a craft never finished a knitted project. Scroll forward to 2008 and panicked about what to make Karley, I decided to try knitting a cowl she had been lusting after on etsy. I did a practice scarf (yes, it's finished and being worn by my good friend Joey...only a boy could appreciate it), got new needles, new yarn and started up on the cowl. In the end, she loved it! In her words, "You could sell this for $50 dollars!!!" What are your thoughts? Would you buy this cowl?

New Year's Goals

2009-01-13T17:07:00.000-06:00

I'm not one to make New Year's Resolutions but after making one I kind of got on a roll. I consider them my New Year's Goals.
1. read a book on U.S. history
2. finish a marathon
3. finish a triathlon
4. open an etsy store
5. buy only recycled clothing (vintage, consignment, etc) for 6 months
6. run a 5k under 20 minutes
7. run a half marathon in 90 minutes

To explain one...

After redoing my walk-in closet and putting bags and bags of clothes I never wear together I decided I needed to start revamping my own clothes into fashionable outfits rather than buying more that I'll only wear a few times before shoving them into a drawer or squeezing them in between numerous other similar items hanging in the closet. Also after reading Joslyn's blog here I decided to completely go for it in all areas of life.

There's no time like the present, right?