Bethinks

Sep 30, 2008

In my heart there rings a melody...

My monkey & I went to see his favorite guitar player, Tommy Emmanuel, at the Texas Union Ballroom on Sunday!
























The concert was beautiful and inspiring. Even though I'm not a guitar player, I feel like Tommy & Carl both write "soul melodies". And I'm not talkin' 'bout James Brown! More like this:

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Hey, Mr. Postman...

My super awesome friend from Portland who always wears a smile, Chanda, ordered my CD because she's cool like that. Then I completely desecrated the envelope with these five easy steps:

1. I found some old decorated envelopes that we used to send out Sweetestday CD's in. "Cool, I'll use these!"

2. Realized that they already had our old address on them. "Oh well, I'll just put another label over it and write our new addy." (Carl frowned)

3. Weighed the enveloped on a postage scale to make sure there was enough stamps already on it. "Nope!"

4. Added more stamps and took it to the post office. Guess what? Apparently CD's are considered "parcels" because they don't bend, so there still wasn't enough postage on it! Hence the parcel rate stamp and additional first class stamp. "Holy crap, Chanda's gonna laugh when she sees this mess."

5. Got an email from Chanda a couple weeks later saying she hadn't gotten anything in the mail and then I found that I'd sent it to her old address. That's why I can show this pic to the public, because she don't live there no mo'. The USPS added the Hand of God/Uncle Sam pointer finger label and returned it to me so I could feel ashamed.

Count 'em! Eleven different stamps. 12 if you count the one I covered up.


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Sep 29, 2008

Who wants to be the Pied Piper?

I apologize in advance for posting this, because it's so creepy!!!

www.WarmAndFuzzyFeeling.com


(make sure your audio is on, the song is awesome)

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Sep 27, 2008

Saterrrday...

'twas a lovely Saturday. Indoors & out. I'm thinking upper 80's, which is totally badass weather for Tejas. Lucky for the ACLers!

Carl played some original instrumental music for a Men's Breakfast early this morning and they said I could go, too! Everybody was super nice and they offered up 5 different dishes made of swine. I opted for a muffin & banana. ;) Carl did an amazing job and even earned a standing-o at the end! I'm so proud.

We've been meaning to go to the library down the street to get some new reading material for our noggins. I saw about 50 books I wanted to check out, but I settled on these:

1. Fight Back with Food (using nutrition to heal)
-always wanting to learn more about this topic.
2. Eye Witness History (first hand accounts of history)
-looks potentially interesting.
3. The Power of Arrogance (the secret world of Richard Nixon)
-i was reading paul newman's biography today since he just passed, and it said that he was on nixon's "enemies list". this intrigued me, so i thought i'd find out more on the topic.
4. Dude, Where's My Country? (by Michael Moore)
-we just watched "sicko" last week and it was very thought provoking.

Since we had to get up at 6am, we came home, cleaned the place up a bit and then laid down for a power nap. Then our buddies Ben & Omarr came over for a worship team practice. Good peepo.

After that, we were hungry, so we went to our current favorite restaurant, Blue Dahlia Bistro and dined on the garden patio. I had a mesclun greens salad with tomatoes, cucumber, white cheddar, avocado, and vegan basil pesto and Carl had the hummus/avocado/tomato tartine (open-face sammich) on their homemade wheat bread. We followed up with the "Le Dahlia Bleu" for dessert...vanilla ice cream with chopped mint leaves and some sort of red wine poured over it. Delish & romantic. :)

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He's a Winner...

heehee...

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Sep 26, 2008

Never gonna give you up...

Sep 25, 2008

That's What She Said...

Is anybody else totally excited about the season premiere of The Office tonight???

It's my favorite.

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Sep 24, 2008

You Dirty Rat...

Our office building is about 100 years old. And some of the offices have found evidence recently of rodents partyin' at night. Our landlord hired a pest control company to come in and when we arrived yesterday, there was a nasty odor floating in the air. There was this little hole in the wall and when Carl looked in it, he saw a tail!!!!! One of them crawled in there to die. :( So the pest guy came out and determined that he couldn't get it out without drilling into the wall, so he just filled the gap with this foam stuff!

Diego made a tombstone:

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Great Guitar...

This makes me feel melancholy, but Carl is selling one of his guitars. :( If you know anyone who might be interested, please pass along this info.

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Gaiken...

OMG, Clay Aiken just announced that he's GAY!!!? I, for one, am SHOCKED.

;)





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Sep 21, 2008

Party Pics!!!

The Great Cookie Crusade...

I brought up this Cookie Crusade idea to my Husband, and being my ever-supportive partner in crime, he went along with yet another "crazy concept by Beth"...

We picked out 5 people that helped with the CD Release Party and baked cookies for them, then showed up at their houses unannounced and snapped a photo with them when they opened the door. I yelled "you've been cookied!!!" and then handed them the sign to hold.

Becky Perez was in charge of refreshments at the party:
















John Church was one of your greeters:
















Michelle poured the Jesus Juice, seen here with my boyfriend Nicolas:























Michael videotaped and took some pics:























And Ben was another greeter. He wasn't home today when we dropped by, so I'm just really really glad that his car alarm wasn't set, because I left the cookies on his seat. This might've been hard to explain to the cops:























There are many other people to thank and no one is safe from a cookie ambush!!!

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Sep 20, 2008

We shall gather on the morrow...

This morning, we were watching that show, Girls Next Door. They were visiting a renaissance fair where they learned an olden term for a whore: "sausage wallet".

Think about it.

Think about it.

Visualize...

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Sep 19, 2008

Don't fear the one-eyed snake...

I only wore mascara on one eye yesterday.

I usually apply my face during our commute, but I got a phone call while I was painting the first peeper. And then things were chaotic when we got to the office. I sat through 3 meetings with a lazy viewfinder and didn't realize it until I washed my face last night and only one side ran like a hooker in tears.

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Sep 18, 2008

Casing the joint...

Carl & Diego put together a new bookcase yesterday and then I decorated it with about a billion "design inspiration" books and magazines...and a pumpkin.

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Good for the body, good for the soul...

We went to Central Market to find a new soap and Carl was surprised to see this Sappo Hill vegan soap made near his hometown in Ashland, Oregon! He remembers using it as a kid! We picked up the oatmeal and the almond oil bars and they smell sooo good!!

















Over the last year, we've been eliminating household products that contain nasty chemicals and replacing them with natural alternatives. I really like Method products (surprisingly available at Target) because they keep the ingredients really simple...their air freshener only contains purified water and fragrance oil. The KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid) applies well to the things we breathe and absorb!

***

My Lynsey sent Carl & I some vegan shoes. What a cool gift...and aren't they cute? So comfy, too!! (I'll take a pic of Carl's next time he wears them)

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Sep 17, 2008

Our very own Super DB...

Apparently Diego read my blog from yesterday because he walked in to work this morning dressed like this:

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Sep 16, 2008

Super DB...

We were leaving the office yesterday when we saw 3 dudes going to a bar. One of them stood out due to his baggy pants, hat cocked sideways, both ears pierced and a puca shell necklace.

And that's when we realized that some douchebags are on their own level! We now refer to them as "Super Douchebags". Similar to Super Delegates. They are special and should be approached with great care, as they will attempt to drive you straight to Abercrombie & Fitch in their mom's station wagon, rap along to Eminem songs, and call you "yo".

Here is an example:



Confused? Here's an instructional video:

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Gwyneth must've had this when she was pregnant...

This morning, Carl brought me a caramel apple cider from Caffe Teo...

If Chai Tea tastes like Christmas, this fruit & spice nectar tastes just like Thanksgiving. :)

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Sep 13, 2008

emObama...

heehee...

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Quite a Quote...

“To a worm in horseradish, the whole world is horseradish.”
-Yiddish saying

Love it!! Author, Malcolm Gladwell, said that during this lecture:

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Whose Shoes...

I went to DSW with my friend Lisa today because she needed new flats for a cruise she's taking. When I saw these, I asked if she would PLEASE buy them. I'm so happy she liked them, too, so I can admire them on her tootsies!!

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Sep 12, 2008

Elvis Lives!!!

Elvis & Priscilla, aka Diego & Kate:


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Here Kitty Kitty...

This is my stray kitty friend! I haven't named him/her yet, but it comes to see me every day now!! I love it, it has the cutest meow and gobbles up the food we put out. :)

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Sep 11, 2008

For Hockey Moms everywhere...

heehee...thought this was funny:

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Fight4Love...

I just finished this new song. Inspired by a friend of mine:



i feel like we're losing
our will to survive
i feel like we're choosing
two different sides
we've always been king & queen
now we live like enemies
but i won't let this die

SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOTTA FIGHT FOR LOVE
PUT 'EM UP
AND LET YOUR GUARD COME DOWN
WHEN YOU'D GIVE YOUR LIFE FOR ONE
DON'T GIVE UP
PASSION EQUALS POWER
I LOVE YOU SO INTENSE
I LOVE YOU EVEN WHEN I'M WOUNDED

oh we used to offer
our words in a bow
now we need armor
inside our home
we both are hurt in our chest
we deserve happiness
no more stupid pride

i'll take the battle scars, if i must
if you will try for us

fight for love
please fight for what
our family deserves
you know how much
we need your touch
i know what you're worth
I LOVE YOU SO INTENSE
I LOVE YOU EVEN WHEN I'M WOUNDED

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Sep 10, 2008

The office is like my 2nd home...

Lynsey sent this to me...makes me wish I worked in an office with cubicles!!!

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The Divas and...Hannah Montana?

If you missed this on TV last night, you have to hear Miley Cyrus sing her big featured part!!

Sep 9, 2008

Break The Pattern...

I love art of any medium that makes me ponder. Carl found the following posters on another designer's website and we were both moved. The wording might be a little small for you to read, so I'll type out what each one says below it.

Please take a moment to really think about each one...
























In this country, your health is a business. Medications are products, the cost of treatment makes the world go 'round. Do your research and consider long-term, holistic alternatives. Don't become one of the mindlessly medicated.























Gas is expensive. You are probably fat (or at least out of shape). Consider modes of alternative transportation; better for you, better for the environment, and better for your wallet.
























Developments of cookie-cutter homes are replacing grassy fields and apple orchards everywhere. Urbanization is choking out nature and our historical roots. Break the pattern: plant a tree.

***

Outside-the-box thinking like that really makes me realize how I fall short of who I want to be and what I want to do. I'm on a constant mission to educate myself about improving myself and my health, naturally. And I need to be more open about sharing my findings.

We are followers in this country. And we've become completely blind to what we're doing to our bodies. You really have to become a fanatic to live a healthy lifestyle!! You can't depend on big business to tell you what is good for you and what's not. They're all motivated by money, so they'll label their products with what makes you buy it. And it works! They print things like "low-fat" and "whole grain" that trick uneducated people into thinking it's wholesome. Don't be a fool.

To quote Jack LaLanne, "if man made it, don't eat it". I don't buy products unless I know what every ingredient is AND they have to be things that exist naturally. You have to discipline yourself to do this because the crap Americans consume daily will kill you. It really is no wonder that cancer and disease are so rampant! Look at what we're feeding ourselves!! Seriously, look at the ingredients on the boxes in your cupboard. Carl used this analogy the other day; "There are certain types of food that our bodies were created to handle. It's like pouring concrete into a breadmaker. If you put the wrong ingredients in, eventually it will seize up."

Though it's great to see so many organizations searching for the "cure" to cancer, why are there so few people dedicated to the prevention of disease? Or to the improvement of consumption? I bet the vast majority of Americans would rather pop a pharmaceutical down their gullet to challenge a medical problem than to change their eating/living habits and seek out a holistic treatment.

Think about it. Don't feel offended by my musings...it's all for your own good! Let it motivate and fire you up!! You have complete control over your health, your diet and your future.

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Sep 8, 2008

You have too much crap. No really, you do.

We just launched a new website over the weekend: www.gosellsomethingproject.com

This is an awesome deal through our church that you should totally get involved with! We'll be at the Treasure Sale on 10/18, so load up your junk and haul it down there. :) You'll see Carl & me at the end of this video. Pretty funny:

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Sep 6, 2008

I Call These Disaster Scones...

I'm unable to share the recipe for these with you because I don't recall everything I used.

I found a vegan scone recipe online and about halfway through making them, realized I didn't have all of the ingredients. That happens to me more often than it should. My poor Husband. He still eats everything and says he loves it, because he is a total dreamboat.

So after the first batch came out rather bland, I got "creative", which is never really a good idea when I'm the one baking. This consisted of me adding random items from the cupboard. A dash of pumpkin pie spice, some agave nectar, extra cinnamon, a little molasses, and some oats to thicken it up. I now present to you "Disaster Scones":


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Veg Out...

Here are a few veg recipes I made this last week!

1. Spaghetti, the healthy way.
I cooked whole wheat pasta, topped it with organic tomato basil sauce, and garnished with fresh tomatoes, green olives and a variety of seeds and nuts.

















2. No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
These are vegan and delish! See the recipe here.

















3. Garden Vegetable Pasta & Avocado Bruschetta
We made the yummy pasta for a dinner party and it was a hit! It's quite cheesy, so most non-vegetarians will dig it, too.

I made the avocado bruschetta to accompany the leftovers. Found the recipe in a magazine:

2 tbs lemon juice, 2 tbs red wine vinegar, 3 cloves minced garlic, 3/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup chopped parsley, 2 avocados (peeled, pitted & cubed), 6 slices of toasted bread.

















I've heard quite a few people complain that avocados are too high in fat, but you need to know that they contain the "good" kind of fat, called monounsaturated. They are also rich in potassium, fiber, folate, and vitamin K!

Everybody needs fat in their diet. Just make sure it's coming from a healthy, natural source!

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Sep 5, 2008

You say no, I say Jess...

Jessica Simpson is pure entertainment. Make sure you listen all the way through. She makes some awesome statements and sings a masterful version of Amazing Grace (with her own made up words):



"I like smiling! Smiling's my favorite!!" -Will Ferrell in Elf

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Sep 3, 2008

What's New Pussycat?

Over the last few months, I've noticed a scraggly looking cat wandering around our condo complex. After seeing how skinny it was, I mentioned it to Carl and he suggested that we buy some food and leave it out for the unkempt kitty.

We ended up at Central Market the other day and were pleased to find that they sell vegetarian pet food! It was serendipity because when we got home yesterday, I saw a silhouette under our neighbor's car...not to be crude, but it looked like a flattened feline because of how the meow-maker was wasting away. When I looked a little closer, I saw that it was okay and then ran upstairs to get a dish of food...

After returning with the nourishment, I spoke sweetly and moved slowly so my new furry friend wouldn't be scared away. Surprisingly, it just laid there while I came up right next to it. It seemed to be breathing heavily and was trying to meow but couldn't make any sound! So I poured some food right next to it and it immediately started chowing down like it was Thanksgiving at my Aunt's house. Realizing that cat cannot live on bread alone, Carl brought out a container of water, too.

We got home around 7pm tonight and Mr. or Mrs. Puddytat (I'm not sure which it is yet) was sitting under the neighbor's car again. I poured some more food and encouraged it to come over for dinner. It obliged and meowed the whole way across the lawn. I hope we become close friends.

***

And now it has me thinking, how many times have I passed by a metaphorical "hungry kitty"? How often do I see a person with a need, but assume someone else will take care of it?

A random, selfless act I hope to never forget happened this year. I was walking down a busy 6th Street on a freezing cold January night when I saw a homeless woman standing on the corner. A young man, probably in his early 20's was on his way somewhere quickly when he took off his gloves and handed them to the homeless lady. He didn't say a word, didn't stop his stride. The woman was so stunned that she was speechless for a moment before yelling out a heartfelt "thank you!!" to the good samaritan already half a block away.

If I were wearing gloves, would I have given them to her? Would you?

***

It's funny, my first instinct when approaching the cat yesterday was to speak gently to it, to comfort it. To make it feel like things are going to be okay. Sometimes that's the most impactful thing we can do.

Let love be your gloves.

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