nameless

Today is Christmas. Something I'm sure we're all well aware of by now.
I don't have much more to say here, this year it just didn't really feel like Christmas to me, I'm not entirely sure why. I've made no Christmas music, nor winter photography posts. I just haven't felt like it.
Soon, my blog is going to be changing quite dramatically; drastically even. Something that should come around New Years.
I need a change, and right now it's what I can change.

Now all I can do is wish you all well as we closeout 2014, as we celebrate the remainder of it's holidays; as I am not sure there will be another post here.

See you on the other side.

WATCHING: what if LISTENING: 'tenerife sea' by ed sheeran READING: 'The Original Folk & Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm'

small things

Today has been a busy day.
I attempted to wake up early. Six o'clock turned into seven. Which turned into eight. Which finally turned into 8:30 when I finally woke up and got out of bed.
My goal was to jump on my chores early, which I feel I did successfully.
Took some time to check my various feeds, enjoyed a breakfast/lunch and got back on some cleaning.

Today I took care of taking down the Christmas tree, packing away the ornaments.
And stealing the new purple lights to string up in my room behind my computer.
Which my mom wasn't happy about...she wanted them. Needless to say I barely avoided most of the smacks which came from the pair of socks she was holding. (Good natured smacks, but she really wants these purple lights.)

I reminisced over the ornaments, got intensely frustrated with the lights on the tree, as-per-usual.
Drew up some plans with my dad for a tree-alternative for next year. (Top secret stuff ;)
And once again returned my school desk to a clear and functioning state.

I start my college classes officially tomorrow.
Taking down the Christmas tree was part of my preparation, knowing I will be needing my desk.
I am planning to wake up early and shower so I can get down to our college branch to pick up, and pay for my books.

Last night I realized, and decided it's time for a new bible.
While my current bible is the only one to make it this long without falling apart from use, and is still in good condition, it's full of highlighting, notes, and the commentary. While these are all good, teaching, reminding things, it's time for a change for me.
I just know it, I'm not really sure how to put it better than that.
I want a fresh start with my bible. No commentary, no highlighting or notes, no extra bulk.
Just plain and simple. So that, in a way, I can start over. Find fresh insights, and study the way I'd like to; without past teachings, commentary, and highlighting distracting me.
I'm in the market for something simple. I want it sturdy, to last, but something in the slimline family so that I quit making the "it's so massively heavy" excuse about taking it with me places.

I finally got to see The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug on Friday night. It takes what seems like forever to get new releases at our movie theater, but it did indeed arrive and there was no way I could wait another day.
It almost goes without saying, thoroughly enjoyed it so incredibly much. Soundtrack, actors, photography, effects; what's there not to love.

And, of course, earlier this week a point of geeky excitement was the new season of Sherlock starting. It's been two years in the waiting, and I do believe the fans are very happy with the result. Fantastic opening episode, with a new one airing tonight. Only one more episode (they're about an hour and a half long) before the end of the season.
The first two seasons of course, can be found streaming on Netflix instant play!

Though school is starting, I have resolve to read more. To finish all the books I'm in the middle of reading and re-reading, to read the classics I haven't gotten to, and to read more than just fiction. Read to learn.

And, this is top secret now, I've been working on starting a YouTube channel.
It's coming.
Shhhhhhh

here's to life

carpe diem // patientia // memento mori // memento vivre

READING: fellowship of the ring by j.r.r. tolkien LISTENING: the silence by bastille

merry christmas

Christmas was a quiet day for us, hanging out, enjoying special foods we don't get the rest of the year, listening to Christmas movies.

I spent some time over the Eve and Day of Christmas learning to shoot manually with my camera, it's something I enjoyed immensely, and many of the pictures above are posted as I shot them, edit-less (except for my watermark, of course).

From my family to yours, wishing you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

LISTENING: songs for christmas (ep) by branches WATCHING: doctor who christmas special

Merry Christmas!

Just a little something I whipped up yesterday as a virtual Christmas card of sorts to all of you.
I'm not a terribly good artist but I think you'll get the gist of it

from me and my family, blessings this Christmas and in the New Year.

12 Days of Christmas Music // Day 12

Christmas Song // Flyleaf

12 Days of Christmas Music // Day 11

Santa Claus is Thumbing to Town // Relient K

12 Days of Christmas Music // Day 10

Hallelujah (Light Has Come) // BarlowGirl

12 Days of Christmas Music // Day 9

We Wish You a Merry Christmas // Relient K

12 Days of Christmas Music // Day 8

Go, Tell It on the Mountain // BarlowGirl

12 Days of Christmas Music // Day 7

Feliz Navidad // David Crowder Band

12 Days of Christmas Music // Day 6

Panis Angelicus // BarlowGirl

12 Days of Christmas Music // Day 5

Angels We Have Heard on High // Relient K

12 Days of Christmas Music // Day 4

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year // BarlowGirl

12 Days of Christmas Music // Day 3

Carol of the Bells // August Burns Red

12 Days of Christmas Music // Day 2

Carol of the Bells - Sing We Now of Christmas // BarlowGirl

12 Days of Christmas Music // Day 1

12 Days of Christmas // Relient K

Posting Everyday!

Going to be doing something special this year.

Every day, for 12 days leading up to Christmas I'm going to be posting a Christmas song from my personal 'Christmas' playlist!

Posts will publish every day, at midnight.

Don't miss the festivities!

12 Days of Christmas kicks off tomorrow!

all the new bits

NEW DESIGN!

Yes, again. But since the last big update was at the beginning of this year, with a slight header refresh for the summer I thought it was time.
I had really wanted to have a special one for fall, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

p.s. You may notice that I have links to both my Flickr and YouTube accounts above the header. My flickr currently only features a handful of instagram pictures and I don't have but one public video on my YouTube. However I'm hoping both will have more to offer in the coming months.

boots are fantastical

frye women's engineer 8r boots pictured with an assortment of random socks

I like boots. I'm a boots type of girl. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore my TOMS, especially in the summer. And my Converse are all around great. However, I'm not one to pass up a good pair of boots.
But I am pretty crazy picky.
Some girls have a checklist for what they require in a guy. Me? I have a checklist for boots. It includes things like no zippers and real leather. That they need to actually be able to fit me i.e. wide enough for my feet, preferably with a large enough shaft circumference/short enough to allow for thick socks and/or leg warmers. Decent soles. Realistically and diversely wearable. Also good craftsmanship. That type of thing. Also, made in the USA is always a plus.
Honestly? I didn't think they existed. That is, until I discovered the oldest manufacturer of shoes in the United States. Frye has been around since 1863, family owned until the late 1940's and is still around and making quality footwear today. And they make a boot that I think is the closest thing to boot perfection. As in they boot pretty much fulfills all of my criteria. I mean look at them ------->

<-----THIS makes me happy in inexplicably geeky ways

I have something of an avid love for soundtracks and probably at the top of my favorite soundtracks is the Lord of the Rings.
For the longest time I was wondering why the version of the soundtrack for Fellowship (and Two Towers) that I had was rather (though in the case of Fellowship: completely) different from that which I knew in the films.
The other night I discovered that the reason is because in the extended editions (which is what we have on DVD) they completely re-recorded and expanded the score to completely polish the "deleted" scenes so it was like they were never deleted. (*squee of intense geekery*)
Which lead me to the discover that I have the complete score for Return of the King but I most definitely need the complete recordings for Two Towers and Fellowship of the Ring!

The Hobbit

WHO ELSE IS CRAZY EXCITED FOR THE HOBBIT?!!!!

Also, did you guys know that there's extra bits on YouTube via Peter Jacksons channel?
I found out the other day and ended up watching several of them.
Because I love extras.

new photography

Up on my deviantART is some new photography. So check out my profile and browse the gallery!
There's a picture I just took a couple days ago as well as some from August and September, with more to come!

new glasses

I finally got new glasses with my updated prescription.
As a by-product, I can actually see in the dark again and it doesn't look like the ground is on the same level as my chest. Lack of depth perception is not fun my friends. It's side effects include walking into all manner of objects and people as well as a heightening one's power of klutziness.

school

I'm rather happy that here in less than two weeks the current college quarter is going to be over, followed by a nice and long winter break.
And then, winter quarter classes start at the beginning of January.

{available for prints here}
For me this means that I'm getting to take a course I have much anticipated, on Photoshop usage in web design!

New Horizons

Flyleaf's final album, New Horizons is utterly fantastic.
From beginning to end it's packed with songs that I have already committed to my lyrical memory library. I am still saddened by the fact that it is going to be the last album featuring Lacey, but the album is nonetheless fantastic.
Long time fans of Flyleaf will love it, but I think as one of them I also see that it's very different from past albums. Maybe it's just because of the bittersweet knowledge that Flyleaf will never be the same, but after the harder more edgy rock of their debut album and Memento Mori, and the softer tones of Remember to Live, New Horizons seems to be an amalgamation of these two points in Flyleaf's growth as well as something completely different.

For me the album still holds as much meaning as any of the previous, but at the same time it seems like there isn't as much of the Flyleaf feeling that I know so well in the writings of the songs. I think that maybe it has something to do with the fact that Lacey wasn't as involved in the making of the album, only traveling to the studio to record vocals.

While the album for those of us who know this music so well is different and maybe even lacking it is nonetheless fantastic in the sound and meaning despite the bittersweet tinge. From the rocking opening and attention call of Fire Fire, to the heart wrenching way I desire to belt out the Saving Grace and the highly anticipated new rendition of Broken Wings this album is truly sending the Lacey era of Flyleaf out with a bang.

Pitch Perfect

My friend Amanda, my mom, and I went to the movies a couple weeks ago to see Pitch Perfect. We laughed a lot. Though Supernatural fans who kind of almost cry whenever they hear Carry On My Wayward Son, be warned, it comes up in the first few minutes of the movie. It caught me off guard...I was awkwardly laugh crying. hahaha (Sarah, I blame you.)

The Big Bang Theory

My grandma convinced us to watch Big Bang Theory, after years of various people telling me I should watch it...and lots of my confusion at being compared to Sheldon (it happens more than you would think...and I'm still not sure whether or not to be flattered or insulted haha).
OH MY GOSH THIS SHOW IS SO GREAT.

My whole entire family loves it and we eagerly await every time the next DVD in a season comes...and when it does we usually end up sitting and watching the whole thing so we can send it back the next day to get another faster!
All of us enjoying it though is quite a feat, there's very few shows we can all watch and laugh at together.

So, as the holidays are nearing and as this is one of my favorite scenes thus far in the series, here's a clip...it's not the best definition but it's pretty great.

and that is where I shall take my leave

I do believe I have thrown enough media, words and rambling at you all for now.
Until my next post, hope you're all doing well! blessings and prayers

reading: anna karenina by leo tolstoy --- watching: lord of the rings trilogy extended editions

Blessed Birth of Our Savior

Flyleaf's Christmas Song

a frightened, virgin, teenage girl
receives a message that defies the laws of this world
all she can do is weep and nod
she's to bring into this world
the Son of God

God's angels sound their trumpets
and blow their horns
tonight the long awaited Savior is to be born
the goodness bound by satan it has been torn
with this baby's precious brow ready for thorns

a star appears fulfilling ancient prophecy
there's an ounce of fear as wise men follow faithfully
the virgin Mary brings forth the human savior
and this future king sleeps soundly in the manger
soundly in the manger

God's angels sound their trumpets
and blow their horns
tonight the long awaited Savior is to be born
the goodness bound by satan it has been torn
with this baby's precious brow ready for thorns

tonight He is born so one day He can die
to heal hearts that are torn and live the perfect life
so He hang upon a cross and we can take His life
so we can live as sinners
and He can pay the price
tonight He is born so one day He can die
but He will rise again

God's angels sound their trumpets
and blow their horns
tonight the long awaited Savior is to be born
the goodness bound by satan it has been torn
with this baby's precious brow ready for thorns

Once again the time of year has come. It's hard to believe that Christmas, and New Year are inevitably upon us.
2011 is nearly gone.
I don't know where this past year went, but 2012 is nigh upon us.

"Unto us a Savior is born, unto us a Son is given..."
-Isaiah 9:6

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us

Tomorrow is Christmas, the day on which we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Despite the glamor, superficiality and all around commercialized scene that has become Christmas, JESUS is the reason for the season.

After all, it is CHRISTmas, right?

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Christmas Tree Campout

My family has this tradition, of camping out under the Christmas tree. It's something I haven't done in a while.

But, yesterday I put up the Christmas tree and we decided to camp out under the tree.

So, now it's night two of the Christmas tree campout.

Here are some of my Christmas tree campout necessities.

a tree or is that kind of a no-brainer?

my bible good time as any to do some reading


my notebook ah to write of course


ipod music, Christmas-y and Enya of course


a good book My literary companions:





The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths
Rather reminiscent of my favorite TV show Bones the Ruth Galloway mysteries have a strong, scientist heroine. Though where Dr. Brennan (Bones) is an anthropologist, Dr. Galloway is an archaeologist. Also, this series is set in the UK, Norfolk to be exact, and focuses heavily on Celtic mythology and history a lot. LOVE. I finished the first book in a few days, very good.


Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
I'm something of  Meg Cabot fan. While I don't like all her books, I've read all the YA series' and she never fails to make me laugh. Since I desired something funnier than the crime novels of late I decided to take crime and comedy and see how Meg did.

 
The exciting Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Discovered this talented author when I read the first book in her fae series Lament. Her newest book is definitely exciting, have barely been able to put it down!

And of course, some comfy warm blankets and pillows.

What is one of your Christmas traditions?