Dedicated to Besties

Here's just a TON a random pix me and ma' friend Erin took on the way home from her Senior Portrait Shoot. Who knew we were almost 16 and 18? hAHAHAHAA!!!! Had a BALAST!!
Till next.time (or... whenever I actually think about my poor.little.4gotten blog again.... LOL!)
xoxo <3
van

HAAAAHAHAHA!!!! cracks me up =P

lol =P AWESOME!! now this is when blurry and... really weird lighting works. tehe*

LOL!!!! yup... that's pretty much our friendship in just 1 pic for ya =P I can NOT remember a time when I got together with this girl and didn't wake up the next morning with my sides hurting like CRAZY!!

ahhhh... love it =P

Favorite things...

ok... ;) so I KNOOOOOW i did 1 of these posts on my photography blog =P but i love so many things!! what can i say =P lol. so this isn't a very long "writing segment"... but TRUST me!! there's plenty of commentary throughout this post ;) I mean... when have you EVER known me 2 put less than 3 or 4 sentences?? yeah that's right! NEVER!! LOL
anyhoo... i'm SOoooooooooo sorry about not posting recently =( And I hate 2 be one of those people who says.... "OHmygosh!! my life is just ~so~ busy!! i seriously never have the time" but.. it's SOO true =P With work... school... and everything in between... it can get a bit crazy!! =P So you better feel pretty dang special! cuz this one is especially 4 you (if you're reading.. whoever you are =P hahA!
Love and tons of hugs<3
van

NOOO!! i'm not 1 of my favorite... things =P BAHAHAHAA!!!!! i just thought this was a cool/artsy shot of mua... taken in a moving vehicle mind you!

Is this not the freakin' cutest little cameras you've EVER seen in your ENTIRE life?!?!??? well... it is 4 me =P found this digi on urban.outfitters 4 only about... $100.

don't ask me why... but i think this little clock is BRILLLLLLIANT!!!! lol =P I ALWAYs loose track of time in the shower (get caught up singin'.. ya know how it works ;) HAHAAA!!!! I mean... WHO in the worLD thinks of... a clock on a suction cup?!??? a GENIUS i'd say =P

My SPECTACULAR little bottle of Mary Key hand lotion... i'm telling you folks! this stuff works WONDERS!!!! my hands feel SOOOO.RIDICULOUSLY.AMAAAAZINGLY.INCREDIBLY smooth!!!! It's QUITE lovely <3 (and it don't smell half bad either! lol)

Photography tip!

If you want to get STUNNING lighting on any subject! Place yourself so that you have your back on a window... and the subject is before you. Just about any time of day will do, it doesn't matter. As long as you have light. The color is asTONishing!! And it is guaranteed to give your subject a really good overall "even" tone. Try it sometime, I would love to see what you come up with =)

These little guys are... (2 say the least) INCREDIBLE!!!! hahaaa!!!! you stick 'em on your zippers. AGAIN! WHO in this entire world THINKS of these kind of things! OMYGOSH!! (also got these on urban outfitters ;) and if you want ANY birthday gifts... i would suggest just about everything on that site =P

I WANT A PANDA BEAR TOOTHBRUSH.COVER.THINGY.4 MY TOOTHBRUSH!!!! CUZ... it's too adorable =P heehee*

I mean... i SERIOUSLY must meet all these genius's... i mean! WHAT if u get a... cut or something on your thumb?!?!??? then you can make a FACE by using these.. radical MUSTACHE bandages!! INGENIOUS people!!

Since I am completely obsessed with the French culture & everything about it... these little notebooks are TOTALLy meeeeeee!!

It's an elephant... ANDDDDD... it's HOT pink! I just died... thought i'd let ya all know... hAHA!!

I am in dyer need of a new boombox... and this one is completely recycled!! *gasp!!* tehe*

There simply are NO words to describe how... CRAZY incredible I think this little shower cap is! UGH!

This little clutch is a MUST have for my summer wardrobe (once again... Urban Outfitters is the way to go!) this blue beauty was only about... $10. I think

You can get these little peeps for $4!!!! at mibostudios~ OMYGOSH!!!! I want one of these 4 every day of the week =P They're just.. TOO adorable 4 words!!

If you know me @ ALL... you'll be quite aware that this is 100% COMPLETELY and TOTALLY me =P Plus I love coffee (and tea ;) so it's a steal!! =P (PLUS my nickname is Van... so the V would of COURSE b my fave ;)

Lastly... my favorite above ALL favorite necklaces...

My owl necklace =) my sissy bought it for me.. it matches with pretty much every outfit... and I would wear it everyday if I could =)

1 more photography tip I must add ;)

Contrasts so drastic as this one make pictures come alive, make the subject look SO good, and make the picture really interesting!! You're sure to get great pictures with good contrasts, guaranteed!

=) So yes... that's it for now. I hope everybody has a fanTABulous rest of the week and an AMAZINGLY.INCREDIBLE weekend =D

xoxo <3

Healthy Living:::Part 1

I'm so excited!! =D This is my first post about my healthy lifestyle ;) About my FABULOUS new eating habits =P heehee* rather proud moment- lol

Tonight when my parents went out 4 a little date, my & m'sista ate QUITE the healthy little din. Here's some pix- & directions because I think everybody should have these items in their house 2 make these little wraps a LOT!! tehe*

xoxo <3

van

1st you take some of this really healthy, but OOBER delicious bread...

2nd you grab some AMAAAAAAZING hummus!! (look gross i know... but you'll b surprised!!)

then you put them together =P

4th you buy this REALLLLLY good stuff @ TJ's. (very healthy 4 ya as well ;)

:::mix in a bowl with some of this creamy dressing:::

:::then you stick it on:::

:::our wittle spread =P:::

Lastly you roll it up & cut it =D or u can just eat it like a burrito!

ANDDDDD if you have an AMAAAAZING little sister {like happen 2 have} you'll get this spectacular little... "yogurt.blueberry.chocolate.with.whipped.cream.thingy" 4 dessert! haha! (exact word people!! tehe*)

All in all this is a pretty fantastical meal that is filling, very healthy! & OH so delectable!! Try it out sometime =) and let me know whatcha think. Now, I should probably get some sleep =P haha! Lots 2 do tomorrow... ahh tomorrow (a post 4 another day ;) heehee*

Workday: entry one!

Well, the world has welcomed me with opened arms =) tehe* I started my first "real" job today!! Quite the exciting moment in my life (as well as my family's- HAHA!! OHHHH yes!! there were pictures =P BAHAHAAAA!!) Anyhoo, I have already started labeling people as characters from "The Office". I simply can't help myself =P Though unfortunately, we have no Stanley or Dwight!! WHAT??!?!??????!!!!!??? Yes people, this is true =( Sad, but true. So I'm hoping that some black guy will walk in, and I can just say, "you're hired!"- HAHA!! I.... am Pam (my bestie graciously gave me that title =P
Anyhoo, (getting off subject ;) it was TRE fun! I got to use my high "phone voice", I got to smile a lot at people who smiled back =D And I did a LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!! well, QUITE the substantial load of paperwork & filing!!!! =/ haha! Tomorrow I'm learning about everything there is to do on "the computer" =P yay! {i guess =/ But, something I'm looking forward to all the same. This environment was so great! I brought in (healthy ;) snacks- used a lot of post-its =P HAHA! And overall, it was a great experience =) I am happy and proud, I got all my school done early so I now have nothing to regret except...!!!!!!!!!! =( I missed my workout- WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *SNIFFLE* HAHA! Well, tomorrow is another day... now I know what I must do to make time for my workout then =P I'm off to eat some yummy din. and.... well... I haven't planned the rest =P but I'm sure some of my favorite G. Girlz will fit in there somewhere ;) haha!
xoxo all <3 <3
van

Ready, Willing, and Waiting...

Here is a little segment from the book Whiter Than Snow that I have been reading through & thuroughly enjoying (idthink i spelled that right ;) oh well =P Anyhoo, It really spoke to me and hopefully it will bring some conviction to you as well =) Paul Tripp is such an amazing writer! Simplicity at its finest.
xoxo <3
van

...and uphold me with a willing spirit.
~Psalm 51:12

Lord,
I think I can honestly say I am ready, willing, & waiting.
Reading, willing, & waiting to see my sin as You see it
To acknowledge that I am my biggest problem.
Ready, Willing, & Waiting to seek Your help.
Ready, Willing, & Waiting for my mind to be clear,
for my heart to be clean.
Reading, Willing, & Waiting to acknowledge what You see,
to rest in Your compassion.
Ready, Willing, & Waiting to hide in Your unfailing love.
I am ready, willing, & waiting to be washed by You,
to admit that I acted against You.
Ready, Willing, & Waiting to prove the You are right & just.
Ready, Willing, & Waiting to confess that my problem is from birth,
to examine within.
I am ready, willing, & waiting to be whiter than snow,
to hear joy & gladness,
for brokenness to give way to joy,
to have a steadfast heart.
Ready, Willing, & Waiting to celebrate Your grace once more.
I am ready, willing, & waiting to teach others Your ways,
to help them turn back to You.
I am so ready, willing, and so waiting
to have You save me... from me!
Ready, Willing, & Waiting to sing songs of Your righteousness,
to declare your praise,
to bring the sacrifice of a broken heart,
to see Your people prosper,
and to see You worshiped as is Your due!
But I am also
Ready, Willing, & Waiting... to be protected by Your love.
To be held by Your grace,
To be hidden in Your mercy,
and to be defended by Your power.
Because I know
that I won't always be ready, willing, and waiting.

::: 2 questions to ponder :::
-If someone watched a DVD of your last 6 weeks, would they conclude that you are a person who is totally ready, willing, and waiting to have God do exactly what he has promised to do in, with, and through you?
-Are there any specific places in your life where you are less than willing to answer God's call and to do His will?

I hope this has encouraged you, to delve deeper into your heart, examine things you may not have thought of before, or just bring you closer to our glorious Savior =)
till next time...

omg! I'm like... so fattttt- ugh!

Today, my sister said to me; "If I had a cuter nose and your lips... I would have the perfect face!" This of course made me laugh, but then it got me thinkin'. I am so ridiculously obsessed over every little {God given} trait that I don't particularly like! It's almost comical. I find myself constantly complaining about my butt, my eyes (whether they're too small 4 that day =P my legs (how they can never get skinny enough) my stomach (UGH! lol) or how short I am- tehe* It all seems so trivial as I see this in front of me right now. I really want to try and be more content with myself; but that isn't exactly easy! I'm never going to be completely ok with what I look like- there will always be something to work on! {and I know this seems very cliche} But it really only matters what's on the inside! If I am this shallow, self-consumed individual... then that is just as unattractive as a bubble butt or a poochy belly (though mine's not as bad as that! =P haha! Yes of course there is some balance- LOL! And here is the part where I brag about my achievments =P haha!
Exactly 2 weeks ago, I came to a conclusion that changed my life. Savanna! {I said* heehee} get your lazy bum off the chair in front of the computer- and go work out! (taylor also helped motivate me as well ;) heehee- For a long time now I was never content with my body, but I would never exactly do anything about it. (ok, maybe a few fruits & veggies like... twice a week {if I was lucky =P } and a walk once in a while) but never exactly anything that stuck, I would always go back 2 my old routine of no working out and eating whatever I wanted. I was SO sick of it! I realized that nothing or nobody could motivate me enough, but myself! So I did, I got motivated, and I can only attribute that to the Holy Spirit- seriously! I am proud to say that I have been working out for 2 weeks (with about 2 days off cause i was sick =( and I have lost about 6 pounds!!!! EEK!! lol- This came with diligence, with perseverance {even when this was the NOT the thing I wanted to be doing!} with a will, and with Jesus.
So, I only have three things to say to you readers...

- Jesus made you, and you are where you are because He has you there! He loves you for your precious heart, which is such a treasure! You are made uniquely, everybody is different- and not all can look like an airbrushed, stick-model (trust me! I'm not of them! lol)
- Care for your body! It is the only one you have, and we are all called to use them for the glory and advancement of God's kingdom, to the best of our abilities. Don't just say you need to work out and then do nothing! Treat your body well, and you will only see good results!
-Eat well! I cannot emphasize that enough. And I truly understand how hard that can be while we are all being bombarded with crap 24/7 in today's fast-paced world. Only you can make the decision to get the salad... over the cheese pizza. Or the fruit for a dessert... instead of the super-sized fudge sundae. Eating well provides you with so much more energy, it is invigorating! And you can feel healthy, which {I don't know about you} is so worth it to me! I love that feeling more than anything.

I hope this post was not confusing, and above all! I hope this will motivate any who want to lose weight, any who are insecure about their bodies or physical appearance, and I hope you will just get out there!
Remember... nothing tastes as good as thin feels!

xoxo forever <3
Savanna

an assignment that changed me...

Recently, my mom assigned my sister and I a school assignment of writing 100 things that we were thankful for. Sounds simple enough? Not true! It may also seem like quite a difficult task, figuring out 100 things that you personally are thankful for? Well, it was and it wasn't at the same time. It was enjoyable for me! It took more than just "writing a paper for school", it delved into the depths of my soul. Drawing out things I never knew I was thankful for! It was sweet to read my little sisters ;) Everything from the ocean, to her fingers and toes was on that list. I believe these will be items that will make me laugh someday. And amazing pieces of work I can look back on and recount just what was important to me then. Even as I look at it now, I am amazed at some of the things I am thankful for. I find myself asking aLOT, "this is really important 2 me?" I am surprised!
And this is my post for now, because I have been SO bad at posting =( sorry!
But, there will be more to come! These are simply my thoughts for today.
xoxo <3
van

food =P

Christmas was very untraditional this year in our house =P But, that's just the way we like it every so often =) This year, we decided, that instead of the traditional ol' Christmas dinner... we were gonna do it our way... FONDU!! =P HAHA!! only us ;) Here's some pix cause... I didn't take any of that day & could only make it up with pictures of... food =P BAHA!! enjoy, I hope everybody had a blessed, safe, SPECTACULAR Christmas =) xoxo <3
Van

uncooked meat... doesn't sound too appetizin? well, let me tell ya!! Cooked in some olive oil... or wtvr my mom made =P it was FAB!!

the DELISH melted cheese that we dipped our bread in- mmmm!!!!

in action =P

We got 2 fondu pots for $15. each!! I'm sorry, but you can NOT go wrong with that!! =P QUITE the buy I must say =) They were pretty big pots as well!

The night was lovely, complete with a showing of tay's favorite ;) You've Got Mail!! It was quite cute! And we all enjoyed ourselves =) So, with our tummies full, we said "sleep.tight" around midnight ;) But Hey!! ya gotta love new traditions =)

babysittin' days...

*real conversation*at the kitchen table while kids are coloring- quite out of the blue I must say, but QUITE adorable all the same =P


Drew: shiyo, who do you wanna mawy?

Shi: um... I dunno drew =D

Drew: But you gotta know who you're gonna mawy! (with an exsasperated look on his little face)

Shiloh: But I don't know drew! Who do you want to marry? (lol)

Drew: I wanna mawy mommy!

Shiloh: But mommy's already married drew, you can't marry mommy ;) *tehe

Drew: Yah but... I'm just gonna mawy mom, she's pwetty! And Beya doesn't know who she wants to mawy yet.

Shiloh: Oh really! that's cool =P I'll tell you who I'm gonna marry later (more like... 10 yrs. later- HAHA!)

Drew: ok



HAHA!! oh I love that kid =P Bella also surprised me today by saying... "Oh, is that so!" When I told her we were gonna have smoothies!! BAHA!!!! What a crack up =P Gotta love those kiddos <3

well, hope you enjoyed a little tid-bit from our babysittin' days. Fun times!! =P

More...

Here's some more pix from the Joy Story production night =) I believe there is nothing more to be said so... without further ado... enjoy!!
xoxo <3 van

Shi &, Sweet McCall who played the little sheep- ADORABLE!!

Miss Raggidy Anne ;)

Miss Savannah as the Zebra!

This little giraffe was QUITE the qt =)

haha!! gotta love it =D

The little Cowboyz =P

Gracie was ADORABLE as usual ;) oh darn!! i didn't get a pic of your Energizer Bunny outfit =/ well! you looked quite FABULOUS my dear =)

Miss Bekah, always the cutie pie =)

Da Boyz Are BACK! lol

What lovely little ladies!! I can NOT get over those blue eyes on both of them- UGH!! haha =D

A self portrait/pic of miss Grace & myself ;) TOO cute!!

Miss McCall & my bestie <3 CUTE!!

Me & McCall <3

AWW!! love ya girly <3

that's some SERIOUS awesomeness goin' on here!! haha =P

AW!! love ya abs <3 haha! *PEACE*

And... I will leave you to ponder this... lovely picture. I probably shouldn't even try & explain it, just don't let your imagination go TOO wild if you know these to guys =P HAHA!! nighty night 4 now <3