erin

change of address

2010-05-18T06:26:00.000-07:00

A month into marriage and I still feel just as excited!

A friend of ours recently asked me, "So how is it now that you have to spend every day together?" I smiled and said, "It's great now that I get to."

So after years of storing some memories away onto this blog, it is with great excitement (and just a bit of a bittersweet move) that I get to join forces with my husband and "talk to the world" at a new spot: Slice of the Sintos Life!

Please come and visit!

photos by the amazing husband and wife team of Matt and Kate Altmix

This blog began as a way to catalog the wonderful adventure of working abroad and keeping up with my family and friends stateside. The new address also proves to be the start of an amazing journey (and perhaps begins in just as small a living space:)

So I shall not bid adieu, but rather à tout à l’heure! Having this blog has proven to be perhaps more fun for me than for those it was originally created for. But in any case, I say with much humility and love, thank you for coming by once in a while, thank you for the comments and many thanks for the love and support. See you at the new place!

great anticipations

2010-04-23T06:57:00.000-07:00

overflowing joy. bucketfuls of blessings. unending love.

this was our weekend...

On Saturday, April 17, I officially became Mrs. Sintos!
We had a beautiful day (well, several days), but before I share any wedding photos, I should probably change the name of the blog (and the crowd shouts, "Finally!")

The photos for this post were generously taken by my beautiful Canadian sister, Vanessa, and my dear friend, Patti Futrell at the rehearsal dinner at the Chupp house. Their roles in the week's events extended way past photographer, but I'm thrilled they were able to capture these pics for us!

The knot of great anticipation that was in the pit of my stomach slowly released as everyone arrived into town, and I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful time.

Pawpaw regaling the crowdthe originals:)

beautiful flowers arranged by a talented florist (another hat for Patti!)

my dad and bryan's mom--welcoming guests

filipino food!

These dishes came from Rico's World Kitchen--amazing stuff! I had leftover pancit again last night for dinner--delicious! "Mama" really did some wonderful cooking!

enjoying the evening on the deck

dearest lauren (another woman of many hats! like mother, like daughter)

Kyle and Vanessa--LOVED having them home for a whole week!

friends from Jacksonville

still Chupp and Sintos here....but very, very excited to have everyone come together for such a wonderful weekend. We're blessed beyond measure!

in spring, all things anew

2010-04-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

my beautiful friend, michelle, and her husband, ben holding baby boy monk outside their Alabama home

even the horses knew she was due any minute!

and on Tuesday, March 30, God gave us Daniel Reid Monk--6 pounds, 15 ounces and 19 inches!

welcome to the world, little one.

one proud father

beautiful are the feet that bring good news

not a bit camera shy...even at three days old:)

a mother's love

mister daniel, you've stolen my heart.

bryan and i had the wonderful pleasure of driving to birmingham last week to visit some of our closest friends as new parents and meet their precious miracle.
congratulations, monk family!

and speaking of big spring events, i can't believe we'll be getting married in less than two weeks! my how it's hard to blog when you can't put up pictures of shopping for a wedding dress or trying out things to do with your hair:) but this past thursday gave us one great reason to blog away before the big day!

(as a p.s. yes, we're thrilled for our friends and their new baby boy...and no, we're not looking to give him a little friend right away! :)

seeing green

2010-03-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

this St. Patty's began in a great way, like many others...with my mom's famous green buttermilk biscuits

this year, Bryan and I got the chance to celebrate with my lovely former college roommate, michelle...as well as her husband, two doggies and a very special little boy who is due any minute!

The crazy thing is remembering that last year at this time I was reading at least a book a week-completely enveloped in completing my master's-and my mom and I were visiting my sister studying in Singapore! Funny what a year can do.

If I keep this blog for no other reason than to look back at pieces of my life, it would be worth it. I've really enjoyed looking back at where I was when this whole thing all started. And for that, I think I'll keep it up. (Plus, like my friend Lauren, I like reading the blogs of other people, so it's slightly less stalker-like behavior if I do my fair share of--sharing.)

Cheers to the years of blogging that provide for some great memories.

first flower

2010-03-04T11:59:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago, I remember laying in the hammock in the backyard and grazing on sweet muscadines as the leaves fell off the trees. I hated that this was a sign of the upcoming winter, but I knew I couldn't wait to see fresh buds and spring blooms--this would be the sign of warm weather and the nearness of our wedding.

Thus I introduce to you: the first flower of the season. A sign of new beginnings all around.

don't like the weather?

2010-03-02T11:02:00.000-08:00

it will change tomorrow!

a few more flakes

2010-02-18T08:15:00.000-08:00

snow angels:)

snow devils?

we had to call in re-enforcements--perhaps we got a little ambitious with our snowman building, but it was exciting to see how easily it all packed together!

snow by the bank

this bridge has seen quite a lot in less than a year!

master charles

ta da!

I've also enjoyed celebrating two very special birthdays in the past week: my dad's and sintos'!
Part of the celebrating included birthday mister's choice of eating out, so I've enjoyed a night at Ted's Montana Grill and Taco Mac:)

I also think they both win an award for other birthday activities: my dad spent part of his day filing taxes and sintos spent a good couple hours with me on his day picking out wedding invitations. Three cheers!

love*ly shower

2010-02-14T18:16:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's Day this year, Bryan was working--but I did get to share a day showered with love at my first wedding shower! The four inches of snow we got Friday night were great, but it made for icy conditions Saturday morning (original shower time), so we had a quick reschedule to make sure and enjoy all the great food Aunt Pat had in store (but missed the wonderful people who could not come so I could hug them in person).

My mom and Carly--probably really happy because Aunt Pat made "gorilla bread" for dessert-cinnamon, sugar and cream cheese bread-yum!

So happy to receive an Emily Martin print from my Saree!
(though so sad you had to work today)

opening a bag from my sister, who stocked me with Method cleaning supplies!
how wonderful to already have all of this when bryan and i move into our own place:)

an ice cream maker from Debbie--isn't it nice when you get something you didn't know you wanted? very!

Kara and Elizabeth showing off their baby bellies:)
Michelle is looking good too--due in five weeks!

lovely ladies in my life*

*

heart warmed
stomach filled
arms loaded

thanks to everyone who made today such a wonderful time

February Frost

2010-02-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Carly and I put out some mugs (after we danced on the deck with our tongues hanging out) in anticipation of the snow to come--and the ice cream we would make from it.

the late evening loot

this morning's batch
(never fear, my dad scooped up a big bowl and we had snow ice cream for dessert last night while we watched the opening ceremonies--where they're having to ship in snow, oddly enough)

a news reporter said today you can tell the tourists from the locals in downtown atlanta last night--and this time, it's the locals who have their cameras out!

i really love this one-some for it's journalistic nature and composition-and a lot for the two people in it (my dad and carly being two peas in a...snowy pod)

A Winter Eden

A winter garden in an alder swamp,
Where conies now come out to sun and romp,
As near a paradise as it can be
And not melt snow or start a dormant tree.

It lifts existence on a plane of snow
One level higher than the earth below,
One level nearer heaven overhead,
And last year's berries shining scarlet red.

It lifts a gaunt luxuriating beast
Where he can stretch and hold his highest feat
On some wild apple tree's young tender bark,
What well may prove the year's high girdle mark.

So near to paradise all pairing ends:
Here loveless birds now flock as winter friends,
Content with bud-inspecting. They presume
To say which buds are leaf and which are bloom.

A feather-hammer gives a double knock.
This Eden day is done at two o'clock.
An hour of winter day might seem too short
To make it worth life's while to wake and sport.

Robert Frost

i'll have cheesecake with my toast

2010-01-24T14:58:00.000-08:00

On Friday, January 15 (yep, magazine deadlines make for one delayed blogger), Bryan and I were leaving for the 70th anniversary gala of the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta when we received a call from Carly

she's engaged!

Andrew asked her while they were hiking Friday afternoon

after Mr. Smith went to Washington, we met up with the newly engaged couple at Apres Diem for a celebratory drink:)

the manager was so excited, we got to toast with complimentary champagne!

and our cheesecake came on plates with a ring and a heart made of chocolate syrup:)

excited for my sister!

snowy scenes

2010-01-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

yes, it's the crazy cardinal...he's still here...but he does look nice in the little bit of snow we got last night

a fun site to wake up to! (no making fun of us too much, Vanessa--this is "heavy snow"--and yes, we heard people scampering for milk and bread yesterday--not to mention how school was canceled today :)

charlie tracks!

maybe the cardinal camps out here

99 days till our wedding! (yes, that called for making a newspaper chain!)

carly's back home:)

new decade celebration

2010-01-04T19:41:00.001-08:00

taco fixings for our new year's fiesta

My favorite part was when David's new wife Alba (from Honduras) saw the cheddar cheese and lettuce (apparently not so available in her home country) and said, "Oh, it's Taco Bell." The silly things we Americans do---the Hondurans brought over some delicious fare that resembled what we would call a taquito with cabbage on top--YUM!

Jonathan and my dad talking and laughing per usual (and always a pleasure to see!)

Vanessa and I ringing in the new year pots n' pans style

Carly joining in adding a little horn to our percussion section (and is it just me or does she look a little bit like Melman the giraffe from Madagascar? a cute Melman:)

the next photo in the sequence :)

Kyle and Jonathan shooting bottle rockets

carly and andrew

me...continuing the celebration

a new year's call from my dear fiance (who said it took him nearly 10 tries for the call to go through--guess many people were doing the same)

Kyle and Vanessa (who we had to drop off at the airport this morning at 5 a.m.--sad to see them go after such a great week, but glad I'm planning an April wedding they'll need to be at!)

Happy New Decade Everyone!

frozen fountain

2010-01-03T12:51:00.000-08:00

We don't know whether it is due to cold weather they brought with them or a sign that it is time for their return, but today after church, we walked to Zucca's and noticed this fountain was icing over! I'm sure Vanessa was laughing as we all touched this "frozen stuff" with excitement. And then the excitement ended just as quickly as it started when my mom announced it would be in the teens next week--eek!

christmas wrap-up

2010-01-01T17:22:00.000-08:00

Adding Vanessa into Christmas morning festitivies was much fun--she went along with all of our crazy traditions and we had a really great time!
Kyle is sporting one of his day-of-the-week mustaches and trying out a new self portrait taking device:)

Carly trying on her new frog toboggan.

We got some great surprises from the Bells!

A new warm hat...that matches his pajamas!

Unwrapping presents, practicing duck calls, eating bacon...the fun of the morn:)

Today we saw the sun come out, so we traversed Sweetwater Creek a bit--and we did pretty good at this family self portrait!

Found the perfect log in the sun to stop for a sandwich break.

the sound of the rushing water was so much fun--it's still quite full after all the rain it has gotten this year

trying out the new poles i got for christmas

verdict: winner! they helped me get up slippery slopes, across water and rocks, and they even saved my clumsy self from going face first a time or two:)

Our time all together has been really wonderful--just like being warm and cozy by a big fire.

Carly leaves with the Georgia Tech band in the a.m. for Orlando and then the bowl game in Miami--sure would be fun if they won her last year!

festive with a fiesta

2009-12-31T15:45:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

The Chupp clan is celebrating this evening fiesta style with a big spread of taco fixings and, of course, plenty of chips from La Parilla:) Charlie is even in the spirit of things!

If you're in town, stop by anytime and say hello!

Cheers!

gangs all here!

2009-12-28T20:44:00.000-08:00

Kyle and Vanessa arrived safely last night and the Chupp's had quite the wonderful Christmas today---there were several times we even forgot it wasn't Christmas for everyone else. When our new telephone books were delivered I expressed how unfortunate it was that this woman had to work on Christmas:)

More to come, but there were two noticeable things right away: Vanessa's chopped off her hair, and Kyle...well...hasn't cut his since the wedding!

Happy Christmas Eve (again)

2009-12-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

self portrait: fam in the van

We may have waited to celebrate Christmas day, but we couldn't pass up a trip to the Varsity after the Christmas Eve service at church! Today now marks our second Christmas Eve...does that mean I get to have some more onion rings and a PC?

my mom digging in--the once a year treat:)

hmmm...the next time I hop on the elliptical, I'll remember how it was worth every bite:)

After some greasy food, we decided to stop by Memaw and Pawpaw's. We ended up staying there long enough to ring in Christmas and learn about one of Pawpaw's yearly traditions.

At the stroke of midnight (while we were watching a mass on TV), my grandparents hopped up and headed toward the kitchen. Apparently, when the clock strikes 12 on Christmas Eve and Christmas day officially begins, Pawpaw always enjoys a slice of cake!

I was excited to learn of, and take part in, this tasty tradition. I think Bryan would be in favor of adopting this one!

Enjoying Memaw's pound cake:)

Food and fun coma:)

Another extended birthday

2009-12-24T08:21:00.000-08:00

A big roaring fire, presents being wrapped and Christmas music playing in the background...

in many homes, today is Christmas Eve, but in the Chupp house, we're just getting ready!

Our Noel may be up on the mantle, but our actual Noel will not occur until Monday, December 28. Kyle and Vanessa arrive the night before, and we couldn't imagine celebrating Christmas with some of our family missing, so we didn't give a second thought to waiting a few days. (Plus we'll have the option of getting after Christmas sale items!)

As one of our favorite shows reminded us, Jesus probably wasn't even born in December--we're good at extending birthdays, right?

three cheers for the new alumnus!

2009-12-20T15:41:00.000-08:00

cindy (proud aunt), bryan (elated grad) and caron (proud mom)

On Friday, Bryan graduated from Jacksonville State University!!!
Felicitaciones! ("Congratulations!"--from the banner that Carly made him)
After a semester consisting of 23 hours of classes and a part-time job, he has definitely earned his BA in music--a successful Gamecock!

My sickly self with my handsome graduate fiance (Although I was excited to share in this event, I may have looked overly emotional during the ceremony as I was suffering from sinus stuff.)

Shaking hands with JSU's esteemed president, Dr. Meehan.

After the graduation celebration, it was time move Sintos out of the loft in the square. It was a little sad to leave such a nice space knowing that we'll have to pay four times the amount for a place four times smaller in Atlanta, but good times were had by all. He took a last skate board ride through the living room:)

(I'm not that talented, so I just sat on the board and he pushed me around.)

happy movers

seventh floor, please

2009-12-07T15:54:00.000-08:00

Bryan is one day into a full week of finals. Two finals down, three more and a paper to go!
{insert your own prayer here}
Last week, I introduced him to my floor of the library at JSU--the seventh floor (a library organized by subject, it's the "literature" floor). As mentioned before, I simply love this 12-story building and most of the aspects it includes. Even now as I sit completing research on some articles while Bryan studies, I'm enjoying the multi-colored bindings full of possibilities surrounding me, the smell of all these pages in one place and I even have a small crush on the sixties, boxy office-looking furniture.
Although I already have a growing list of books I would like to read, I can't help but to walk around and be enticed by what worlds might be within the words inside each cover.

*update on the bird brain: putting up the birds and The Birds proved more interesting to human house guests than the cardinal. the paper was supposed to deter his vision of his own reflection and the black birds were supposed to scare him, although i now believe this only angered him. an entire afternoon went by peacefully and then, peck, peck, peck. this time, he was fogging up the window with a small circle with each peck...time for another variable in this experiment before the control kills himself.

the crazy cardinal

2009-12-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

Every day since Thanksgiving, we have had a bright red male cardinal fly himself into our kitchen windows...repeatedly...for hours...ad nauseum.

He stands post and then thrusts himself into the glass. I wondered if he is troubled psychologically or if there is a natural explanation.

Upon asking google, I found a few possible answers:

an old wives tale says a bird flying into a window means someone is going to, or has, died
the beginning of "the day our feathered friends ran amok..." (Hitchcock)
the male bird sees his reflection and is fighting to defend his territory

Out of the choices, including my first idea that he was troubled, I think we'll go with the last theory after learning how territorial cardinals and robins are.

Carly would be happy to know that I'm going to reach back into my science brain (it's very little) and remember how to perform an experiment using the hypothesis that our feathered friend sees his reflection and reacts violently to defend his territory. Today I'm going to create a new variable in his scenario: hanging something in the window to reduce or remove the reflection.

“The Cardinal is at his wit's end -- it is true that he had not far to go.”
Lord Byron

revolutions

2009-11-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

No, not yet time for reSolutions, but the word revolution seems to be fitting right about now...and perhaps it explains a bit of why I seem to have disappeared from the blog for nearly half a month (how did that happen?):

revolution: a noun that means both radical change and coming full circle at the same time

found a wedding dress! i know, this sounds like a strange revolution, but it happened in the perfect Chupp way (i.e. not in a scary bridal superstore) and committing to a dress has made everything more real--I have more focus and actual planning can commense:)
getting the chance to see my close friends, who are all pretty far from me, comes way before blogging! this is not a new revolution, but it's an important one--i've had lunch with Carly, dinner with Lauren and Corinne and brunch with Michelle all in the past two weeks--now that's the life!
Bryan's revolution: he's the groom. Yes, one would have thought he already knew this, and he did, but he had not put it in print before. We just decided on amazing photographers and had to sign a contract to save them. His face was too funny when we got to the part where we had to sign our names on the "bride" and "groom" lines:)
the I'm-not-in-"ultimate"-shape revolution: proved when I tried to play in a Frisbee tournament last weekend and was sore for several days after:(
the dish revolution: even after you spend a lovely afternoon looking for dinnerware with your husband-to-be, if you settle on plates that are on sale now, they probably won't be here when your wedding actually comes around, and, therefore, not good for the registry.
Crepe Revolution: a delicious new resto find. I'll admit I've already been there three times in the past two weeks. But I'm not ashamed and the menu has hardly been exhausted. Although, I believe I was sold before food even arrived to my table when I was delivered my very own French press full of coffee and little silver pitcher of cream. So far I've tried three different crepes and can vie for all of them equally: smoked salmon, portobello and a fruit with brie.

happy anniversary!

2009-11-17T11:57:00.000-08:00

my very wonderful parents are celebrating their 30th anniversary today!

it began with a bike ride and will be ending with dinner at bacchanalia, a celebrated restaurant my mom has been eying for quite sometime

how much fun are they:)

sincerely love these two and the example they set: love and faith without end.
cheers to 30 years and to at least 30 more!

this strange, satisfying pattern

2009-11-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of the folks over at Desiring God. They maintain a number of resources that come in almost every medium possible. They have a number of great materials already on sale, and they also have this great "whatever-you-can-afford" policy for those who truly need it.

Me, I simply subscribe to the daily blog which is emailed out. Today's blog by Jon Bloom struck me as something interesting to share because of its universality and importance. The following is an excerpt from today's blog titled When You Don't Feel Like It, Take Heart:

Think about this strange pattern that occurs over and over in just about every area of life:

Good food requires discipline to prepare and eat while junk food tends to be the most tasty, addictive, and convenient.
Keeping the body healthy and strong requires frequent deliberate discomfort while it only takes constant comfort to go to pot.
You have to make yourself pick up that nourishing theological book while watching a movie can feel so inviting.
You frequently have to force yourself to get to devotions and prayer while sleeping, reading the sports, and checking Facebook seems effortless.
To play beautiful music requires thousands of hours of tedious practice.
To excel in sports requires monotonous drills ad nauseum.
It takes years and years of schooling just to make certain opportunities possible.
This goes on and on.

The pattern is this: the greater joys are obtained through struggle and pain, while brief, unsatisfying, and often destructive joys are right at our fingertips.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

Give us strength to overlook brief joy in search of eternal joy.

eating your greens

2009-11-11T10:45:00.000-08:00

Lately in my meals, I've really sought out the look of a plate as well as the taste.

My great-grandmother, Bebe, had a rule about food. She used to say, "There should always be something green on your plate." And she was right! In fact, in most occasions, your plate should be full of bright colors! Not only does it boost your mood because of its pleasing aesthetic appearance, you're probably getting some great nutrients--plus, if it looks good, it usually tastes great! Yesterday I enjoyed bright green stuffed peppers-yum!

In the South, eating your greens usually refers to collards (which I also love), but a little something green every day really isn't hard to do. A good green to always have on hand to enhance the shade of any meal is lettuce. Other quick green options can come in the frozen, non-perishable variety: sugar snap peas and edamame are some of my favorite frozen greens to go with a meal.

Today's green: spinach speghetti. A way to still get a little green with a bowl of comfort food:) And using the leftover sauce from the stuffed peppers means lunch was ready in the few minutes it took for the noodles to cook--even better!

What are some of your favorite "greens"???

a little more mallow

2009-11-05T08:08:00.000-08:00

roasting away at what was left of the bonfire after my mom's preschool came over last week

Mmmm, delicious!

Although I think the kids looked a little cuter doing it--their gallery is now up HERE.

Caught in the act--Sir Charles thanks everyone who built this bridge for him to more easily get across to the pasture for his late afternoon jaunts.

today screams FALL in a beautiful way

2009-10-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

What a way to start a beautiful fall morning...coffee and roasted marshmallows!

This morning my mom was outside at daybreak to start a bonfire with Pawpaw and meet up with cousin John to get a tractor hay ride set up. Her school kids came over and took a hay ride in the pasture, discovered pumpkins on their ride, painted the pumpkins, played games, ate hot dogs and smashed open a pumpkin pinata full of candy.

It was fun to watch the faces of kids eating roasted marshmallows for the first time in their lives!

Mrs. Chupp-pup preparing the tractor yesterday. I took a nap in the hammock by the creek--70 degrees and yellow leaves falling--can you blame me?

A couple of green peppers begging to be stuffed with couscous.

One last piece of red fruit left on the vine. Reminds me of a favorite record by Pink Martini called Hang on Little Tomato:)

But fall is definitely here---welcome!

workin the cotton gin

2009-10-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

Continue on 278 another hour and a half past Jacksonville and you will pass cotton fields, barns, boiled peanut stands and come to a little town called Holly Pond. The church where Kenny and Bethany got married over the weekend is situated 278 right past the town hall and five minutes from her parents house.

The bride and groom decided to see each other before the ceremony to be able to get some great couple shots around town and be able to go right into celebrating with friends and family after the service. Kenny arrived early at the "getting ready" house in his suit, carrying a red rose for his bride. Capturing the moments of their "first look" was simply sweet and I'm honored to have been a part of the entire day.

These two preview photos are shots taken at a nearby cotton gin. These two really worked it and were excited to jump out of the car within a moment's notice to shoot some photos. He was handsome and she was flat out gorgeous and they were surrounded by love, love, love. The silences of the ceremony, which they wrote themselves, were filled with many sniffles by guests.

A few other sneak peek shots are online HERE.

What a wonderful weekend!

a celebration of love in holly pond

2009-10-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

Remember beautiful Bethany and her beau, Kenny?

I photographed their engagements in April and now I'm going to Holly Pond, Alabama to shoot their wedding!

These are some of the sweetest people you'll meet, and I'm thrilled to be able to capture the weekend's events for them!

Plus, getting to go to dinner and a movie with my handsome fiance last night wasn't a bad deal either:)

great gastronomy!

2009-10-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

I spend more time than I'd like to admit looking at lovely and inspiring ideas on wedding blogs. I even have a little folder on my desktop labled, "inspiration" in case something catches my eye:)

Recently, I was one of the lucky winners of The Gastronomy of Marriage {A Memoir of Food and Love} at Brenda's Wedding Blog! According to her blog, this book is the "story of Michelle and Rich, two engaged foodies that are merging two cultures together both in life and at the table." Sound familiar?

I wrote in about a new favorite dish, pancit bihon, that I've enjoyed eating and learning how to make from Bryan's Filipino family. Come to think of it, I'm craving some right now (hint, hint...)!

Thanks so much to Brenda's Wedding Blog!! Can't wait to try out some of the recipes included in the book!

facts and figures from an evening at tech

2009-10-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

Fact #1: Saturday was Carly's last Homecoming game as an undergrad at Georgia Tech. My dad got to play in the stands with her since it was alumni band day as well!
Figure #1: Five of us were in attendance to watch the game; six, including Carly.

Fact #2: Before the game, the band entertains fans. The tubas are known to perform from atop this building. Since Carly's a senior, she's in the front and sometimes she gets to start the band off playing "Bud."

Figure #2: Carly spent four months last semester living 9,959 miles away in a much warmer climate. She was happy they were winning, but oh-so-cold!

Fact #3: Tech won their Homecoming game and we all had a wonderfully bundled up time! It was a great game to watch--with thousands of our closet friends.
Figure #3: With a final score of 28-23, this is the first time Tech has defeated a top five team since Bobby Dodd's team beat Bear Bryant's number one Alabama boys in 1962!

Fact #4: The north end goal post was torn down and all the students cheered and sang along as the band played after the game. A portion of the bright yellow post was sawed off and delivered to the president of the institution.
Figure #4: A gazillion students rushed the field and climbed the goal post when the clock ran out, but no one was reported injured or arrested.

treasures unearthed

2009-10-18T14:50:00.001-07:00

With the temperature drop, my mom decided to check to see if we had any "treasures" yesterday. With threats of freeze warnings from good ol' Glenn Burns, if there was anything growing in the ground, it might not make it much longer.

To our surprise, we turned the sweet potato mounds over and unearthed a whole basketful of golden orange gifts!

As we kept finding more and more sweet potatoes, my mom and I talked about how amazing it is that these vegetables grew through strong winds, flooding waters, ravaging animals and who knows what else. So even after all the pressure life throws at you, you can still unearth great treasures.

my mom snagged a few pics on her phone...

We're having some blackened amberjack for dinner, so I'm thinking I've just got to slice up some of this goodness and roast them in the oven sprinkled with a little cinnamon and sugar--or a lot of cinnamon if my mom gets her hands on them!

bosses, bedknobs and broomsticks

2009-10-16T11:02:00.000-07:00

Cheers to the bosses on Bosses Day!

{Sorry the pic is a little blurry--I revel in how quickly I can take a photo from an iphone and put it on the blog (and no, I'm not cool enough to have one...it's my mom's).}

My dad and I celebrated bosses day with some hot cocoa and a warm fire last night while watching Bedknobs and Broomsticks on TCM (I love how there aren't any commercials during movies on this channel). I haven't seen this movie since I was small, so it was amazing to watch in nostalgic manner and see parts I don't remember existing before. (i.e. I remember the animated sections of undersea dancing and jungle animals playing soccer on the isle of naboombu. I do not even remember World War II being involved! Not to mention how much this movie has in common with Mary Poppins!)

I decided I could celebrate bosses day because as a freelancer, I'm my own boss:) And it seems appropriate that I celebrate with my dad because this national day began when Patricia Bays wanted to honor her boss, who happened to be her father, on his birthday.

So cheers to all the bosses! Treguna, Makoidees, Trecorum, Sadis Dee!

And a special shout out to freelancers alike and great moms hard at work too!

from park to pavement

2009-10-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

Meet soon-to-be-married Brian and Nicole. I'm shooting their wedding in the spring, but we went out a couple weeks ago on one of the most perfect weather days in Atlanta (i.e. before all this chilly, drizzly rain started) to capture some engagement shots. We went from a natural park setting to an urban city setting with an outfit change.

I've been trying to hold off posting to many "business" pictures on my personal blog, but if you like what you see, there will hopefully be a new home for all these photos and updates soon!

Until then, here is a preview of what is ultimately in one of my galleries at: www.erinkay.smugmug.com
Piedmont Park

They were awesome to shoot with--I love anyone who says, "We're up for anything!"

the McDon't

2009-10-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

Funny but sad but true...

If you can make out the writing in the iphone pic I took from a copy of yesterday's MDJ, you'll understand the comedy behind the Obesa Lisa eating McDonald french fries.

Yes, the end of the world draws nigh as a McDo (as the French call it) will open in the Louvre this December. I'm calling it The Great McDon't. According to USA Today, this fast food chain is celebrating its 30th anniversary in France.

And although I detest the word 'diet' over healthy living, the woman on this video makes a strong point. At least watch the first 30 seconds...in celebration of the 30th anniversary.

then came the rain

2009-10-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

Waking up to the pleasant sound of raindrops on the roof and a soft sky was wonderful. Then I looked outside my window and noticed the rushing river in the backyard.

Remember the bridge we built before Kyle and Vanessa's wedding? And how it scaled over a small creek? And remember the garden with chalked sunflower markers?

A river has been flooding over it! And the rope swing has been submerged!

After this rain and the "flood of 09," I can't believe the bridge is still standing strong!

a little life on the banks by a mossy tree

Water flowing up and over the bridge. Knowing we received this much rain, I'm a bit worried about our friends in Austell. Even though our yard is a flood plain, our house was built upon a hill. But several areas in Austell are like the bottom of a bowl.

Among other things, the rain water carried two basketballs to the bridge. Who knows who they belong to...nature, I suppose.

Ah, the garden--now a little lake with floating wooden markers.

Although a somewhat dismal day, I love the bright green life growing up this tree (and the gorgeous light an overcast day provides).

And although today is Columbus Day in the states, here's wishing the new part of my family a HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING!
{I hear Kyle is making some hot cranberry punch for the occasion}

bountiful fruit

2009-10-07T20:59:00.000-07:00

so many scuppernongs! don't want to waste...

Thanks to Pawpaw, we discovered that when the hulls are softened, they are completely delicious!

so we made jam, jelly, sauce and...scuppernong cake! Turns out, it's a pretty delicious cinnamon delight:)

In other, not so related news, Charlie now thinks no one notices when he crawls onto the couch to rest...but since we love him so much, we think it's cute:)

beautiful colors and settings

2009-09-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

My mom and I went to the backyard for a daily pick of muscadines and scuppernongs--the fruit is so bountiful this year!

I feel slightly awkward showing off jewelry, but I know I won't see some of you for some time and the grapes and vines made for a wonderful setting, so I got a little distracted with my camera while my mom picked a basket of goodness.

I would say, "Here is the ring that made me say 'yes'," but actually, he had the boxed closed while asking me! In any case, this is the specially designed ring that made me swoon soon after:)

My mom picking away after our bike ride. We've shared and shared, but I swear I can't even tell where people have picked, so we're on a mission to find and develop recipes with these sweet fruits.

Just to give you a hint of how wonderfully sweet they smell, I could smell this basket of fruit sitting on the kitchen counter over the stir fry we made for dinner that night!

Ok, one more shot :)

And we did get to try out one recipe this evening. We got together for a little birthday extension with Memaw and Pawpaw and did our best to remake the delicious muscadine ice cream we all remember having at Callaway Gardens on trips to Pine Mountain. And we didn't do half bad! (I'm guessing this is true because the Ice Cream King himself--Pawpaw--had about four helpings!)

70 and 27

2009-09-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

Today marked another year in the life of Erin. But with the most current events, it seems I did not mind turning 27:) I didn't even mind not having a cake this year.

I have no self control regarding cake and cake-like food items (cookies, brownies, cupcakes, cookie cakes, etc.), so instead of keeping a whole cake lying around, I had a birthday almond croissant from Douceur de France--to go with the croque madame I had for lunch--a delicious treat!

Thanks to Kyle and Vanessa for even thinking about my birthday while on their honeymoon in Bermuda and getting my mom to hide a present at home when they returned and flew back to Canada:) You guys are great!

And much fun with Carly tonight when we met at Atlantic Station to celebrate the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz by watching it on the big screen! The lovely Corinne and my parents came too, and Bryan drove over from Alabama (he gave me the tickets for my birthday a week ago--I know, ruby slippers and a ruby ring...what more can a girl ask for?!)

I had the idea to hit the thrift store to see if I could add a dash of fun to the evening. Although, when we walked in the door, my mom quickly spotted the wedding dresses and was excited that Wednesdays are half off day, so I could get a real deal on one of these beauties.

If you know my mother, you'll love that she said, "Aw, our first mother/daughter wedding dress shopping. This is a moment to remember; let's take a picture." She also said I was welcome to sleep on it for a week and come back next Wednesday.

These beauties, however, were a perfect find for the evening. And they even have the ruby slipper bows on them already! And at half price, they were only two dollars!

From thrift store to theater!
Once home, I got out some craft glue and garnet glitter and went to work. I love the way they came out and got compliments on them at the movies tonight:) One girl even asked to take a picture of them!

Sitting in my ruby slippers, Corinne and I tried to hold ourselves back, but we did end up at least lip-syncing to the songs and doing some dancing using small motions. We all had a great time:)

And in one minute...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KYLE!!!

engaged and ecstatic!

2009-09-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

me and my fiance!

A week ago, when I was publishing the last blog post, I had no idea that I would be engaged just hours later! Sitting on the seventh floor of the library blogging, reading and gazing at the mountains, I had no inkling I would soon feel like I was at the top of one of them!

I scheduled a meeting with a bride last Sunday afternoon for the following day in Jacksonville. With such short notice, Bryan used this as the perfect opportunity to really surprise me.

It was a beautiful evening, so after he got off work, "we" decided to walk to dinner (I now realize this was part of the plan). We walked and talked, and I was just excited to see him. As the story goes, a couple of things aligned so that our path to dinner took us right by the spot where we first kissed five years ago. Here, under the same stars, he asked me to spend the rest of my life with him!

I said, "YES!"

(This is the dress shop under his loft.)

My ring--which he designed--and I love!

A little Q&A based off of inquiries we've already gotten:

Q: When's the big day?
A: We're just spending some time being excited right now:) We chose to spend a short while stress free in order to share the news with family and friends, get used to calling each other fiance and fiancee, and pray about our future together before we get too ahead of ourselves.

Q: Where will you get married?
A: When we know, we'll let you know! (reference above:)

Q: Will we have to call you "Sintos" too?
A: I've been known to look up from behind a store shelf at the sound of someone "cawing" like a crow, so I'm sure I'll answer to this as well:)

Q: Why is your ring so "colorful?"
A: Bryan worked to design a ring he thought best fit me (better pictures soon to come). It's silver with a vintage setting with a ruby in the center (I know this isn't the correct terminology--I've already been learning ring theory:). It's really unique and I simply love it because he created it just for me. (He also told me how members of the royal family always give jewels instead of diamonds as engagement stones:)

Q: Where will you guys live?
A: We ask ourselves this same question! And we won't know the answer until Bryan goes through basic training. He's currently in the process of auditioning for a military band. After basic, as a musician, he'll get to choose what city we'll reside in from a small list of choices. (My fingers are crossed for Germany:)

sittin' on a dock in the bay

2009-09-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

A few photos from the recent trip to Florida--one morning, I went down to sit on the dock with my camera and watch the fisherpersons (is this the pc way to say fishermen?)

pictures, peaches and progress

2009-09-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

Now appearing in a gallery near you: The wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Chupp

And if those 782 photos are just not enough, we take a moment to enjoy the last few moments of summer with the peaches that became wedding favor preserves:

First, start with A LOT of fuzzy, ripe peaches (these are from good ol' Woodbury, Ga).

Second, peel and slice then "lather and repeat."Slice with friends and music

One slice for the bowl, one slice for moi.

Simmer in a little sugar and stir, stir, stir.

Boil lids and top and twist jars full of yummy preserves.

Wait for the lids to pop (all but one did!)

Decorate and put out for guests (who have already called "needing" more)!

Enjoy!

beautiful branches

2009-09-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

vine-ripened muscadines and scupernongs in the backyard

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes ^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:1-4, TNIV

This evening we got a wonderful surprise--our friend, Ginger, was driving down the road and her car turned down our street so she could drop in and say hello:)

Normally when you hear John 15, people start reading from verse five. But I love how we are reminded before this verse that no branch can bear fruit by itself. Not only do we need the Vine and the Gardner, we need to be surrounded by other fruit-bearing branches.

So it's only fitting that my mom got to spend time picking fruit off the branches with Ginger this evening. How nice to see a friend...just because.

Charlie even got to get out and run!

to all my closest branches, i cherish our times together and hope you continue to bear much fruit until i can visit with you again

michelle monk and guest

2009-09-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

So when my dear friend Michelle came to help out the weekend of Kyle's wedding, she said her husband (a coach) wouldn't be able to come because of football season starting up at school. But she didn't tell the whole truth until she got there.

I'm always showing her pictures, but this time she had pictures for me to see...she handed me sonogram pictures of a little baby in her belly! Yay!

So even though no one really knew it at the time, this is a photo of "michelle and guest" at the wedding:) Congratulations, dearest! I've already been told I can be Aunt Erin, so I'm really excited for this whole process:)

my lovely ladies:)

coffee in concerto with Chaucer

2009-08-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

Twelve ounces of coffee and twelve stories of books? Yes, thank you!

Scaling the foothills of the Appalachians, the Houston Cole Library at Jacksonville State University has always maintained a certain charm. Boasting more than 600,000 titles and eight micro-libraries (with subject professionals working each one), it was nearly the perfect place to research and read. I say nearly perfect because until this fall, I have always frowned a little at the sign stating no food or drinks. The library has great long hours, but who can study too terribly long without a little caffeine?

Over the summer, the university took on a number of new projects to enhance the institution. Starting this fall are the Gamecock Express, free and green routes to class and town, an exceptional honors program, a renovated cafeteria, new dining options and hours in the student center AND...drum roll please...a cafe and bakery in the library called Jazzman's!

Also exciting--a certain Mr. Sintos is one of the first employees of this cafe, putting his excellent Starbucks training to good work. This is actually really great because most male students have to seek out work at least 30 minutes away. You see, there is some unspoken law about having to be female to waitress anywhere in Jacksonville. Some conundrum involving a small Southern university town and similarly small uniform shorts.

I'm not going to lie, some strange part of me wishes I started new classes yesterday. The thrill of learning and such. Now I'm sad I won't get to experience studying with a latte in hand. It's a great move for current students, though, and I might just have to become an official "friend of the library."

the celebration continues

2009-08-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

A shot by Arnold. I'm thankful for this photo and for the hug and love I feel every time I look at it.

It turns out a Chupp kid's ability to extend a celebration does not lie solely with the birthday:)
Tonight, Kyle and Vanessa will be celebrating their marriage with a big Canadian crew. After successfully leaving Bermuda, only days before Bill hit the small island, they are now safely in Canada visiting her parents and having a Canadian reception.

Another from Arnold
the whole crew

I believe I tossed my camera in John's hands and asked him to take this one.

This is another photo from this day that is so special to me. It's me and my grandmom's sister, whom we call Aunt Ann--love her dearly. If there's any question as to what I'll look like in years to come, you're answer is here:) Can't wait to see this half of the family again soon!

flea market finds

2009-08-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

Coming to you this week from sunny, well, rainy, Clearwater, Florida.

Bryan, Steven and I drove down here to visit Bryan's mom and uncle. Being a Georgia girl, I forget about things like hurricane season, so it has been stormy at least once a day, but I really can't complain! I've been working on photos of my beautiful brother and sister-in-law, reading and just enjoying the time to rest and rejunvinate.

Yesterday I walked to the pier two blocks from Bryan's house to watch the fishermen and take a few photos. I don't have my camera cords with me, but I did use Bryan's phone to snap a shot of my latest flea market finds. Steven and I woke up around 7:30 Saturday morning to be one of the first to arrive at the flea market in town.

We wandered through the stalls as vendors set up for a hot day by plugging in fans, pulling out carts and parading their wares. Steven and I get along great because we're both avid readers and lovers of film. On this muggy morning, we found three excellent book shops selling everything from The Riverside Chaucer to Milan Kundera to dusty Disneys and Golden books.

I snagged four books, including a new Jodi Piccoult one I was handed out of a store owner's trunk (she said she sells them as soon as she puts them out), for about ten dollars. (This includes my discount for the possibility that I become a teacher.) A pretty good deal:)

Now for a walk to the water before the rain comes.

new preview

2009-08-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

Hello again! I've got another wedding preview for you!

My friend and fellow photographer, Arnold, came to Kyle's wedding as a second shooter. He really helped out when I couldn't be in two places at one time. I think he got some great shots...you can look at a few at his Flickr site at the following link: Arnold's photos. (just scroll down a little)

a preview of mr. and mrs. chupp

2009-08-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

The wedding on Friday was quite the amazing day. God's presence was definitely evident as family and friends watched my brother marry the girl of his dreams.

I played photographer and sister, so I'll have tons of photos to share with you! While I work on other photos due to clients, I couldn't resist putting some preview photos online at the following link: chupp wedding.

More to come!

kyle and vanessa got hitched

2009-08-08T21:41:00.000-07:00

beautiful-
everything about this day was beautiful.
the sweet bride was beautiful-
the groom's love, beautiful-
the sun shone through the trees
praise of crickets and birds were carried on a breeze.
they made a vow to last a lifetime
and every movement and moment was
beautiful

symbol of love

2009-08-05T07:50:00.001-07:00

As we work to make and create last minute details for Kyle and Vanessa's wedding, I took a little time to photograph the ring that is queen of all these DIY projects we've undertaken.

This particular engagement ring is made with tremendous amounts of love as Kyle fashioned it from a Canadian quarter! When we visited his flight school in Canada last week, Carly and I heard stories of people who saw him hammering away hours with the back of a spoon in the hanger.

He really did an amzing job, and this ring was only the beginning of handmade projects to surround these two. Can't wait to blog about all the neat aspects of their wedding!

A big theme color for the wedding (and for Vanessa) is yellow, so I thought the ring looked fun here. Although, if you're a farm guy or gal, you'll perhaps notice that these are actually blooms on a tomato plant! (shhhh...)

photo preview of a canadian review

2009-08-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

Sunset Flight

Carly and I got the awesome opportunity to flying with Kyle our first full day in Canada! More photos to come, but a couple shots to set the mood of the trip.

Carly and Vanessa--sitting on a toe of the world's largest dinosaur!

A preview of the crazy Guzoo.

Wonderful cool nights and dinners by the garden that made me feel like we should be featured in a summer magazine.

We had a really great time hanging out with Kyle and getting to know Vanessa better before Georgia wedding festivities commence. It was so neat to get the chance to see where they will be living and get to experience the city and its beautiful (yet very flat!) natural surroundings. Now when I call them in the future I can ask about the chickens, the newest yard sale finds and how Zoe from IGA is doing.

More to come, but much more to do here first!

a few more photos

2009-07-21T14:06:00.000-07:00

Corinne working on the final touches

I'm super busy working on photos from shoots, but I wanted to put a few more up from Lauren and Joe's wedding day. I'm also excited to announce that Carly and I are leaving tomorrow to go to Canada and visit with Kyle and Vanessa!

Amanda enhancing the eyes of the girls in the wedding party--she did an amazing job!

To Lauren's surprise, and our excitement, Joe planned for a Marietta trolley to take the wedding party from the ceremony to the reception site!

One of the flower girls resting against her mother's shoulder

becoming a bride

2009-07-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

I have been absent from the blogosphere--my apologies.
My hands and heart have been at work with who, as of Saturday, is Mrs. Lauren Dunaway!

Many friends and family members had a hand in helping Lauren and Joe make this day special--very DIY.

These photos are a little peek into Lauren preparing to become a beautiful bride.

Stamping programs brilliantly designed by Patty and Lauren--it's quite the bonus to have a mother who is an expert in publications and editing.

beautification tools

A practice make-up session with Amanda--there's no one else we'd rather see at 9 a.m.!

A polished and natural look

mirror, mirror...

We decided the best light was the sunlight, so we headed outdoors.

Getting pampered the day before the wedding. I believe many of the bridesmaids chose nail polish based on the creative color names...mine was a deep plum called "We'll always have Paris."

The mother of the bride having her very first manicure and pedicure!

Lauren still checking things off the big list.

I borrowed her ring to take this shot...this book begs for it!

Painted up and ready to rehearse.

Corinne and I: the lovely co-mohs (that's co-maid of honors for those learning wedding speak) getting ready to practice walking...which we both probably need:)

The bride and her mother talking details at the rehearsal.

A photo taken by Bryan who patiently played the part of wedding guest during the rehearsal. I just think this shot is a funny mixture of expressions:)

Other photos still to come, but these are some of my favorite from the weekend. Lauren and Joe had excellent photographers hired for the day of, so I enjoyed the day and celebrated with one of my very best friends and her new husband. (I'll be sure to post a link to the professional photo site once it arrives...rest assured I'm checking often!)

bon anniversaire ma soeur!

2009-06-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

carly's traditional puppy cake

the start of the birthday celebrating (like all good Chupp kids, it will be extended for at least a week while getting to see everyone on different days:)

the memaw:)

(on a side note, it was really wonderful to see memaw, pawpaw, granddad and jo sitting on a row together at our patriotic performance at church sunday night)

practicing smiling with our eyes
(from watching tyra on america's next top model)

Happy Birthday Carly!!!

chapter 1, summer weddings

2009-06-26T09:48:00.001-07:00

Last weekend Bryan and I drove to Pell City, Alabama to celebrate the wedding of our college friends Wes and Kimberly. (We met them in Southerners as a trumpet player and a ballerina.)

At the reception with friends Kelly and Katie:)
Last weekend I played attendee and this weekend I'm playing photographer (this will be the general rotation for this summer! haha).

Kim changed into a bright pink number to dance the front line of Quilting Party with all the other ballerinas at the reception--this has become quite the tradition for these ladies.

After everyone else left, Tick Tock and I cut a rug at our own dance party as Sintos was the dj for the evening! He played some music for us while beginning to pack up his gear:)

an alaskan adventure

2009-06-21T13:48:00.000-07:00

I took the liberty of stealing some photos off of my parents' computer because it just looks like they had so much fun on their trip to Alaska.

{Happy Father's Day to one of the people I most respect and cherish in my life!}

My dad singing on the boat

My mom looking beautiful in some natural sunlight (which stays around more often at this time of year there, so they were happy to have an interior cabin!)

Getting into a dry suit over clothes and a fleece layer--preparing to stay warm in chilly water

suited up and ready to go!

a helicopter ride to a glacier for a short hike

They said part of the fun was filling up your bottle with fresh water while on the hike:)

"the call"

They had so many fun pictures, it was hard to choose which ones to share...but that just means they had a really great time! I'm so glad they got to go experience a new part of the world and just have fun together:)

...and they got some great use out of the hats Kyle knitted us for Christmas!

new photos from new orleans

2009-06-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

a few more shots from a wonderful long weekend!
lauren and frances in the french quarter after a lovely meal at muriel's

fountain in the city park botanical gardens

city park--we sat wondering how many hundreds of years old this tree must be!

what we did find out is that hansen's sno-bliz is 70 years old this year!
i highly recommend you experience a snoball new orleans style--i had cream of nectar with cream of almond!

taking a walk through audubon park with frances, lauren and corinne

lauren getting dressed up for her bachelorette evening out by tilly

corinne and i missed our first days' flights out...but we were ok with that after a delicious dinner cooked by lauren's aunt and dessert at creole cremery!

my kind of snow

2009-06-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

Although my parents spent a week hiking up ice glaciers in Alaska, I spent the last few days in New Orleans enjoying my kind of snow-capped mountains...beignets from Cafe du Monde toppling with powdered sugar!

Corinne and I traveled to New Orleans this past weekend to take part in some pre-wedding festivities for our sweet friend, Lauren. Free lodging, good friends, amazing food...we were happy to go to the creole capital!

an order of beignets with cafe au lait:)

a saturday morning treat with friends, new and old
(cambria, corinne, mary, lauren and frances)

frances and i digging in
(note to self: do not inhale quickly when you take a bite or the powdered sugar will fly to the back of your throat...but do feel free to exhale upon biting so as to puff a cloud of sugar and make those around you laugh)

quite satisfying--as was the entire trip--more photos to come!

a call from the top of a glacier

2009-06-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

My parents taking off...just the two of them!

The Georgia Festival Chorus, the choir with which my father sings, has performed in many cities in Georgia as well as around the world. My dad has not been out of the country with them yet, but as soon as they announced this year's Alaskan Cruise tour, my mom was quick to get him to sign them up!

I'm so excited for them and all of the fun they're getting to experience together! I saw the chorus perform at First Baptist Marietta before they left and it was just amazing--a truly wonderful experience (if I do say so myself). One of my favorite pieces from their last concert was "Total Praise"--it will give you goosebumps from measure one. But I also really loved their selections of secular song like "Somewhere" from West Side Story and "Georgia On My Mind."

So far the chorus has performed a couple times--on land and at sea. And my mom called from the top of a glacier (where there was apparently excellent cell service) to ask Carly how her first day of work went (she's interning at Lockheed!). I always knew my mom would "climb a mountain" for us, but now I know it's true in a literal sense as well-haha:)

At the Atlanta airport before taking off.
We had some spare minutes and decided to test our blood pressure in the free machine. We also tested a theory using this bright yellow kitty critter pillow. We found out that, in fact, cats do make my moms blood pressure go up! Perhaps this theory is not relative to real cats and other odd factors, but this is our story, and we're sticking to it.

up a creek without a {paddle}...

2009-05-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

Today we went with JSU Field Schools to Terrapin Creek for a day made for kayaking--great weather, just enough rainfall, refreshing water and fun people.

Sad disclaimer: This photo is pre-kayaking and pre Sintos losing his shirt and glasses trying to help someone get off a rock:(

Even though it was just a class 0-1, we learned some great paddling skills and did some swimming and relaxing too:) We pulled out at one point and had a little lunch on a sandy bank.

Post glasses and shirt after getting flipped

Our seasoned guide--the fun day began when we asked him about what time we would finish our trip and he replied, "Depends on how many ham n' cheeses we go through."

Our friend Bryan (otherwise known as Tick Tock and 1/6 of the reason why we call Sintos Sintos--a whole handful of Bryan's entered the Marching Southerners trumpet section the same year)--he may also be the culprit for flipping Sintos' kayak.

Just before the end of the day (and at just the right time) we "pulled over" and got to fill up our water bottles with fresh spring water coming from the ground and feeding into the creek. It was icy cold and really refreshing!

a message from his majesty

2009-05-28T10:34:00.001-07:00

As the story goes (info here): It was 1939, and the setting is Britain. War with Germany is more than foreseeable. The British government commissioned propaganda posters to be displayed throughout the country. The idea was for the posters to be reassuring messages from King George VI to his people.

This particular poster, in all of its simplistic elements was never officially issued and remained, for the most part, unseen until an auction more than 50 years ago. An original red poster with white lettering was discovered with a stack of dusty books.

The author of the slogan is unknown to this day, but the message is reaching millions. According to a May 21 Chicago Tribune article, replica prints have been spotted in an art show in New York, in Buckingham Palace and on a shirt donned by David Beckham.

“'At the end of the day, whatever may happen, all you can do is keep calm and carry on. You can’t panic,' said Mark Coop, 34, of Surrey, England, who runs the Web site keepcalmandcarryon.com. 'It appeals to everyone from young mums with screaming babies to people in the big financial institutions who are going up the walls.'”

And oh so true--I ordered a sunshine yellow poster to keep me smiling through the end of school and it will move with me now to Marietta. The little guy clipped to my food rack in the photo above was a bonus postcard in my package.

one man's junk...

2009-05-25T21:29:00.001-07:00

Continuing visits of places near Jacksonville I've yet to venture to, I accompanied Bryan on his hunt of BMW parts at Merrill's Cars and Parts. I pass this place on 278 around Piedmont on the way to and from school and have always thought it looked fun. Since Bryan's wheel recently fell off his car (that's about as technical as I can get), we had a good excuse to check it out.

It was a treasure find for both of us--just in different ways. They have only foreign cars, and he found a whole line of his type of car, whereas I found tons of things to photograph. I'm hoping to convince a future engagement couple to take pics here!

Bryan got a great deal on some parts and the endearing 90-year-old man who owns the junkyard (and will tell you as many stories as you have minutes to spare) said he wanted to brag on me for tromping through the yard instead of sitting in my car and honking the horn:)

-just another little treasure in this town-

lake haven

2009-05-19T20:52:00.001-07:00

Last week was my mom's last week of school (hooray summer!) and when I called to congratulate her, Mr. Chuck Duck (who also went to Jacksonville State) said I should go to Lake Haven sometime. It's only a 15-minute drive from campus and he said it was the spot of his first date with his now lovely wife, Paige.

I asked Bryan if he wanted to grab some food and go have dinner at a fun pic-nic spot and he was up for spending some time in this beautiful weather we've been having. We didn't suppose what we would find upon arriving near our destination.

Chuck, I'm sorry to say, but this is as far as the little red Honda made it before the road gave out while following the directions. We went to a nearby house and a nice woman said the lady who owns the Lake Haven property is in the nursing home and her children aren't selling the property. She explained this place used to be a wonderful retreat 30 years ago before people stole everything on the property (paddle boats, diving boards, pic-nic tables and more) and nature took over; kudzu is climbing over the old pool house.

We decided we still had food, good weather and good company, so we drove as far as we could, parked the car and went walking to find this lake.

(Kyle, you're the expert here, but isn't Bryan stepping in poison ivy? If so...he must not be allergic. You would have had fun adventuring with us, but you would definitely be covered with red bumps:)

We did forget that with good weather comes hungry mosquitoes. Bryan thought vinegar would ward them off, so he had the idea to open up the jar of olives we had and rub the juice all over his arms and legs. I wore jeans, so I opted to just eat the olives:)

Walking into a clearing, we found it: Lake Haven. Nature has kept this place looking beautiful--it's a shame humans haven't.

With a little bug spray, this still makes for a lovely little spot:) Thanks, Chuck!

solace in sorrow

2009-05-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

I rode my bike to see the Horton flowers again Friday. I should have remembered that once you learn a great spiritual truth, God gives you the opportunity to practice your faith through it.

My dad called Friday afternoon to tell me some sad news. Our faithful friend and four-legged family member, Scarlett, had been hit and has passed away. I was home by myself and was crushed by this news. I hopped on my bike. The wind pushing past my face made my tears cool, and I peddled fast to the bright purple flowers I had just discovered the day before.

I managed to remember some of what I've been studying in the scriptures and thanked God for the many years we were given the opportunity to care for one of His creatures and the joy she provided us. It's ok to feel sad and miss all her funny ways (we certainly do)--she was a good little rat:)

Seeking out solace in sorrow, it's nice to remember how fun this little dog was. She had the very best emotions I've ever seen a dog generate--she could practically cry on command! And she was always fairly compliant to let us put huge Christmas bows around her neck, sweaters on her body, rain boots on her feet and a pink dog pencil sharpener on her head.

Her ribs showing and a rope around her neck, we're glad this little dog found us. (And I'm glad Carly named her Scarlett and snuck her in the back door.)

when we're the whos down in whoville

2009-05-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

On a bike ride today I had to laugh when I spotted what has to be the clover flower the Whos live on in Whoville!

Under a closer inspection, this little purple flower provided great delight to my day.

I recently watched Hayward and Martino's Horton Hears a Who--the film version of the classic 1954 Dr. Seuss story. I know there can be great stories hidden inside children's stories, but I realized a new one from this particular one. Most have read or seen Horton say, "A person is a person, no matter how small." Although this moral is good, what I found recently is a little more hidden...in fact, it's on the tiny spec on the clover that only Horton can hear.

My thoughts stem from a great conversation with friends last week--we talked about how often people pray for things, but they usually don't wonder if they're even praying for the right things. How many times do we catch ourselves praying for someone to get better when God's will might be that they come home to Him? We pray for things that we think will make our lives more peaceful, but our peace, contentment and joy lies in hands higher than our own.

During the film, I realized all the little Whos banged on every kind of instrument they could get their hands on and yelped their loudest to save their little town even though they had no idea who was going to save them or what they could possibly need saving from. They had never seen a Horton and they had no knowledge of the outside world. They heard Horton and followed his guidance, his will, in order to save their lives.

So today when I rode past a handful of these tall (extra pokey and tricky to obtain) little purple flowers, I smiled and thanked God for the fun little surprise. I've lived in this town for about 6 years and have never seen them before. In a time when I'm about to move out and head in new directions, I hope to remember to remain in His joy and actively seek out His will.

new roots

2009-05-09T09:58:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting to "officially" announce some family news, but now I'm excited to blog that while hiking in Banff on Easter, Kyle asked Vanessa to marry him!

(She said, "Yes!")
Although I've only gotten to see Vanessa in person for one evening, I already know she'll be a really fun new part of the family. Kyle met Vanessa at school in Canada--that's right, folks, this Southern boy is marrying a Canadian! While Kyle has been getting his pilot's license and working on survival skills (of many kinds), Vanessa has been studying nursing (actually, she's leaving on a nursing mission trip to India May 20!). She's friendly, adventurous and has a passion for serving the Lord, among other things, and that makes for a great match for mister Kyle.

(She also loves to read, write, take pictures (note the self portrait engagement photos) and she speaks French...I think we'll get along pretty well too!)

My dad and Kyle working in the yard...Kyle is getting poison ivy again, but doesn't yet know it at the time of this photo.

Since Kyle stayed home for the week, we all pitched in and got to work clearing out the creek bank in the back yard. Why? Because it's going to be the wedding ceremony site!

We're pulling up some roots and planting others--literally and metaphorically (so it's a neat parallel).

Of course Carly only owns flip flops--these are her work pair because they're worn out and she doesn't know where the "friends" to each pair are. She wore these and shorts and did not get poison ivy...

Scarlett looking pretty regal perched on the wheel of Kyle's jeep. The dogs really enjoyed hanging out with us outside this week:)

Carly and I fighting an overgrown vine. In this photo, it's vine-1, Chupp sisters-0.

My dad working on another vine...which he found out was strong enough to hold him for a swing into the creek! As you can guess, we were all excited to try that out!

It took all five of us to get those vines down!

Newest family photo:) Thanks, Mr. Chuck Duck (he teaches at the pre-school with Mrs. Chupp-pup and came to visit at just the right time!)

Certainly a wonderful week at home--I'm truly blessed with a great family of people that make pulling up roots not seem like work. We took Kyle to the airport yesterday and he's safely back in Three Hills now (ready to work on night flights!).

And a big Happy Mother's Day to my mom for helping to shape the bunch of us:) It's really great to have a mom we all love to hang out with as well as lean against (even when it's hot outside).

Graduation Exercises and Big Surprises!

2009-05-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

We wouldn't be the Chupp's if we weren't a little cheesy:)...for my parents, I put together a photo of my first day and my last first day of school. They helped and supported me every step of the way!

Getting ready to graduate (and eat the Greek food my parents brought from Marietta)!

It's official, I'm a master!

It was also interesting to watch how things have changed. There were several people around me on cell phones: one calling family members, one updating their facebook status and another tweeting away.

Bryan got a front-row seat to the ceremony--he played in the commencement band! I got to see him and a bunch of other friends right before I walked across the stage (so I think he has some more really great pics...if I can get these other people to update their blogs too...ahem...).

But the best part of the day was yet to come...

The doors to my house were open when we walked back...weird, I thought. So I walked through to the back door and got the best graduation present ever!

The surprise look on my face when I saw both, yes, both of my siblings standing in a yard fully decorated and ready for a party!!!

I took off running toward Kyle and Carly:) Wow, what a BIG surprise!

My mom didn't talk to me for about a week because she was scared she would blow the surprise.

Kyle flew in from Canada...

and Carly changed her ticket and came back two weeks early from Singapore!

Love these two!An eight-year-old cake apparently instigated this entire plan.

When I graduated high school we had a cake with my photo that was left uneaten (no one wanted to take a knife to my face I guess). So we vacuum sealed it and froze it-the joke was that we would use it for college graduation.

It didn't make it in 2005 to Jacksonville, so Carly was bound and determined to get it to me herself this time! And the funny part is...it actually tasted pretty good and everyone enjoyed it!

Carly and Andrew

me and my sister:)

Michelle reuniting with her "Georgia family" sister

A wonderful, wonderful evening!

soaking up spring

2009-04-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

I know Spring has already sprung, but I was happy to grab these shots in between studying (what's that?) in Marietta. Even though I'm just now posting them, they remind me of two great things: 1. catching moments when nature provides them...

and 2. the first time you realize it's warm enough to forget the socks (and the shoes too!).

Let's add a third thing: sleeping in the sun! Whether laying on the beach (my favorite) or just a few moments here and there, it's quite wonderful!

it's safe to go back in the water

2009-04-27T14:46:00.001-07:00

I was a little worried that after many strenuous laps through the reading pool I would be turned away from books for a while--so we planned an evening out to include catching a flick! With group of friends, I went to Friday Night Jazz at Eagle Point last week and after coffee and dessert there, we went to see Jamie Foxx in The Soloist.

The movie was great and I expected nothing less from the actor who took lessons from Ray Charles before "becoming" Ray for his last major music movie. For The Soloist, Foxx had several cello instructors, and his work was, again, authentic. But it was a preview to the movie that sparks this post.

A preview came on the screen for My Sister's Keeper, a film starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin and based off a novel by one of my new favorite authors (thanks to Kari), Jodi Picoult. Wanting to read the "real" story before seeing the movie, I bought the book right away and dove in, taking advantage of the beautiful sunny days this weekend. Before I realized it, I was a couple chapters in and didn't want to stop--and then I suddenly realized...I still enjoy getting lost in a good book!

Enter the dynamic photography duo Matt and Kate Altmix.

Amazing Atlanta photographers (and recently hired to shoot Lauren's wedding in July), these two recently blogged about needing reading suggestions...so I was all over that! They're so great, they even gave me some iTunes money for diggin' the comment I left on their blog! Can't wait to meet them this summer:)

From stalking the Altmix Photography blog for a little while now, this couple now officially serves as my "sun-spiration." Their love for, and use of, natural sunlight in their photos is wonderful and inspiring.

I've been holding off blogging about my own photography, but as I slowly step into this world, I can't help but get excited about it! Since I was inspired by a movie preview this weekend, I thought I would give everyone a photo preview of what I've been up to. Word around the street is a photography Web site is in the works!

The two photos above and below are of sweet Bethany and her fiance, Kenny. Bethany helps me retain sanity while working on articles for the mag or the paper and besides being a great writer/editor herself, she has become an awesome friend--so I was ecstatic to shoot their engagement photos (and even more excited to shoot their wedding in October!).

I'm loving that they said they were open and adventurous and didn't blink an eye when I asked them to tromp through the woods and climb up on this rock-Bethany in skirt and all! Thanks for such a fun afternoon!

just bee-cause

2009-04-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day, Friends!

I'm excited about Earth Day 2009--mostly because tonight I'm taking my final final for school!

After receiving an email from Anthropologie (a store I can only window shop at!), I wanted to again highlight our little yellow and black-striped friends, the bees!

Click here for a Web site showing just how much we depend on these little buzzin' buds! And visit this site to learn about what is going on this year with the "green generation!":)

Go outside and enjoy some green today! If you're at JSU, there's a baseball game at 6:30--we're playing UGA, join us as we grill out behind the outfield (and perhaps play a CD of Georgia Tech fight songs:)...just bee-cause!

done and done

2009-04-17T22:20:00.000-07:00

Since my last post...I passed orals and Bryan gave a great recital! Whew!

A bit of an update through pictures:

I thought this book expressed my sentiment one evening while studying for orals--I don't believe I've studied for this many days/hours before-but it was with due cause and worth the effort.

Where it all happened.

Bear found me in the same spot every time he came home--he would just laugh and shake his head.

A certain someone got me out of the house one day in order to get some sun and fresh air-I suppose I am looking kinda pale :)

A little bike ride was in order. We decided it was ok to eat at the Rocket (good ol' fashioned bbq) if we rode there.

The delicious pizza Bryan made me for passing orals-this is a repeater!After walking out of orals, I felt so much lighter-the sun was out and a nice breeze was in the air-quite lovely! I have papers and finals to do, but I felt done...and most importantly, relieved:)

Bryan, however, was in his last week of practice for his recital. With a little extra time on my hands, I decided to do some PR for him and made a couple posters to put up.We went out one day for about 30 minutes a block from my house after rainy tornado weather-I just love a reflection shot!His recital was last night at the First Baptist church--he sounded really wonderful! I think I even saw him smile a couple times while on stage as well. I've been hearing bits and pieces of all this music for a while now, so it was awesome to finally hear the finished product with piano accompaniment.We held the reception in my backyard afterwards and had a great time getting to eat and hang out with a lot of our friends. I was really excited to find what I call "carnival lights"--the big bulb lights--because they remind me of the great atmosphere I enjoyed during a couple carnivals in Europe. (Plus they provided a lot of light for my pitch black yard.)Caron (Bryan's mom) and my mom look cute here:) I'm glad they got to eat and relax after helping with food and decorating-a big help!Speaking of good Samaritans, thanks to everyone in Georgia and Alabama who made pies for the reception. This dessert was Sintos' only request and he was ecstatic--there was even some fighting going on over the last piece of Memaw's chocolate pie! Thanks so much!A big thanks especially to my parents and Mr. Mario for bringing some delicious food, serving platters, decorations (thanks, Cindy!) and their wonderful giving spirits--love these people and they were such a huge help (and fun to see for the evening)!

Great to have conquered more steps toward graduating--done and done!

just breathe

2009-04-03T10:08:00.001-07:00

Hello!
Trust that I have more fun stories and pictures to share about our time in Singapore and Malaysia, but orals are now less than a week away...so for now, just gotta breathe:)

Fortunately, I have wonderful friends and family and find God revealing himself in messages like the one above when I took a break yesterday morning and met Antoine and Bryan for coffee and a morning glory muffin. And oddly enough, I find that journaling at night can free my mind for a peaceful (but not long enough) sleep-even if it's just writing about the stories or themes I've been looking over.

Toine got his BA in communications as well-we met in undergrad and he's been my body guard ever since. He's now working on his master's as well.

And this guy---he passed his hearing yesterday!
All suited up, he had to play his entire recital with the piano for the brass staff at school yesterday morning. They approved his pieces and he is now able to perform his recital April 16! A recital is required to graduate, so yay for him passing the first step!

see you real soon!

2009-03-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

We've had such a wonderful time here with Carly and her friends; we hate to go, but we know Carly might like the floor to the left and right of her bed back:) Plus there's that whole school and work thing to get back to. Tonight we had our farewell dinner in Chinatown and at 3:30 am (that's 3:30 pm Atlanta time), we'll be in a cab on the way to the airport. We've packed and will take a small nap and we hope to be safely back home Sunday evening after another 28 hours of flying. I'm sure to put on more photos later:)

So long Singapore!

Monkeys and Elephants and Bears...Oh My!

2009-03-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

Hooray!!!
My monkey and me (think of the old "My buddy and me" commercials)

So...Carly only has weekends and Mondays free--we took this opportunity and took a quick flight (anything will now be quicker than 28 hours, but this flight was only 45 minutes) to Kuala Lumpur! We packed as much adventurous fun out of these two days as we could--and this part of the trip can't be updated in any other way except through photos:)

These (very cute) silver leaf monkeys are calmer than most, but they are still wild. They will take anything in sight. The two cautions given to us regarding our afternoon with the monkeys. Our guide knew I loved these little guys and was excited to teach me how to get them to climb up to my shoulders by luring them with green beans!

The little guy in the middle was looking for extra food right when I took this, so it looks like they're all just hanging out together:)

hello, friend!

I convinced Mommie and Carly to let the monkeys climb up to food too--we had a lot of fun! I thought I might get to see them pretty close in trees and maybe feed some they had tamed and on a leash (like at the fair, except without the hat and vest)...but this was definitely amazing!

Seriously, can I keep him?

Our guide took the three of us to dinner with the locals on the water aterward.

Freshly squeezed watermelon and apple juice-yum!

The next day, we continued our adventures. The first day we traveled Northeast and Monday we were picked up and drove West. I knew we were going to a place called Deer Park, but I didn't know it would entail the deer also climbing up to get food! I've seen deer-and deer ate all of the peas in our garden last summer-but this was a new one:)

Mommie carefully holding a hedgehog who tucked under because he was scared--here's his little eye peeking out.

Another great meal-before starting the big adventure of the day, we had a home-cooked meal--delicious. Still rice and chicken (what I've eaten every day here), but different and tasty.

On to the elephants!

First we fed them fresh papaya and peanuts (butter them up so they'd like us later on)!

These Asian elephants are from Thailand. We're hanging out with them at a conservation camp. A translocation team here finds elephants which are hurting farmers' crops (and which will be shot by said farmers) and relocates them to a safer, natural environment.

Carly and I taking our elephant ride! Some other people rode around in a circle, but our elephant left the circle. We were told we'd get to help bathe the elephants, but we weren't quite sure what that entailed or how it would work.

It's strange--it must sound ridiculous for me to say it was a little tough to stay on a gigantic elephant, but it seemed when he moved, his skin slid around on top of his body...and we slid a little with it. It was fun, though:) His ears even flapped on my legs as we walked down toward the river...yes, the river!

We walked slowly into the water, and then, before I knew it, the elephant was given a command and pretty much rolled over on his side! I'm not going to lie...we had no idea what was coming and with both you and a fully grown elephant underwater together, it was slightly scary. Also interesting we didn't have to sign our life away to do this...we didn't sign anything at all come to think of it...But woohoo! it was exciting!My mom and her elephant (and the deathly afraid child clutching her shoulder). She took photos of Carly and I going into the water, so she got the task of riding the elephant back out. She says getting on an elephant in neck-deep water is a bit of a challenge:)

We also got to help wash two baby elephants. Fun, fun!

We dried off, put on some clean clothes and went to the airport to get on a night plane--hopefully the people beside us didn't mind river smell too much.

At the Deer Park (before the elephant fun) we also got to pet and feed a bear. My mom was cautious about getting to close because of watching TV shows where animals like this turn on their trainers, but we braved the elements.

We would also like to point out that this is, in fact, a real bear...not just us at a Gatlinburg statue as it appears--my mom is sure we must already have a photo similar to this one.

Carly feeding the bear some condensed milk

Monday morning (before I met many new animals), our guide decided to take us on a little side trip on the way to the conservation camp since there was only three of us. We got to visit the Batu Caves. Here, Carly and I have conquered step 1 of 272 to the top.

All in all, I already have so much to say and so many photos to share. I'm so glad to be here soaking in these experiences. We'll spend the rest of our time in Singapore and I suppose we have to leave Sunday so I can get back to school and work.

Safe and Sound in Singapore

2009-03-13T19:49:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up to this lovely view from Carly's room and the sounds of some fun birds :) Since we arrived here at 1:17 am (lucky 17!) local time, this is the first time I'm getting the chance to take in the lush scenery.

My mom and I slept great last night...and it's not an overstatement to say that our little camping mats on the floor are more comfortable than carly's bed!

In the beginning: This is how scared we were when we had been flying for a while, looked up and found we were only over Canada and still had a ways to go:) We were also sad we couldn't pick up Kyle and bring him along!

Important reading while on the plane. Actually, because the 12-hour part of the flight was in a cramped plane (with one-screen for everyone movie action), I read a book for school and started on another--check! If I read like that on the way back too I won't have to do homework while I'm here!

Altogether again! In the airport in Singapore--after 28 hours of getting here--totally worth it!

I thought some of you would enjoy that Carly and I took our "excited tourist pose" photo under the French welcome sign:)

The cheese made it too! Carly was so excited to open up the small suitcase filled with goodies she's been missing from the states. First on the list, box mac and cheese and cheese slices (which stayed cold packing in a little lunch cooler)!

We're off to the pool now....man, I've been wanting to say that!

Reading Here and There

2009-03-11T19:47:00.000-07:00

Doing what I do best--reading!

Here, I'm at home in Marietta, but early tomorrow morning I'm going to be stuck in one place for 26 hours, so I'm sure to get some good school reading done. What am I doing? My mom and I are getting the wonderful opportunity to visit my sister studying in Singapore!! This includes a plane ride nearly three times longer than I've ever done before! (And that's just to get there.)

My last class of the week was tonight and I wrote enough articles to cover work through next week. I get in next Sunday night, so the post describing how I manage work and a three-hour class the following day should be interesting:)

Carly, hope to see you soon!

An Elegant and Engaging Evening

2009-03-09T22:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday night in Macon---Bryan and I traveled to Macon this past weekend to officially celebrate the engagement of my "longest bestest friend," Lauren. The event was held at Joe's sister's beautiful old home.

The back door was open and the weather outside was beautiful. I can't believe it snowed last weekend!

Lauren and her brother, Johnathon--both wonderful people.

Lauren and her "co-mohs" (co-maid of honors)--happy to be together again!

We also got to meet/catch up with the other bridesmaids--a lovely time.

I realize my posts are a bit more sporadic, but perhaps it just lets you know how busy I've been. I'm considering making a paper chain to get me through the end of school. Everything is good, just lots to do:)

the good, the bad, the snowy

2009-03-01T11:21:00.000-08:00

My white Christmas came this morning when I opened my bedroom window!

The good: Before leaving for church, Sintos and I ran around with childlike spirit in the snow:) I got to put the hat Kyle made me to excellent use--kept me so warm and dry...and didn't mess up my hair--you should market these bowl caps!

(The bad: all of last week I was in my bed with the flu:( The snowy morning was a perk to my day, but I am pretty far behind on reading and have a mid-term tomorrow--not to mention I was out sick during magazine deadline time at work...perhaps God sent me a batch of snow as a re-energizer!)

We even ran down the street to Tick Tock's to wake him with the fun news...it was Bryan who threw the snowball at him when he answered the door.

The balloon says it all--we're happy to have any precipitation!

Gathering up the main ingredient for some snow ice cream!

This morning begins a fresh new week. It was wonderful to wake up to snow and to go worship God for His creativity--making life beautiful for us.

saving some green

2009-02-22T14:06:00.001-08:00

Green day: the afternoon started off with a green avocado egg sandwich.

Saturday morning I woke up early and went to see Debbie (church pianist) over at Ace Hardware. About this time last year is when I moved into this little house and my dad planted some lettuce out front. It did so well, that I wanted to get a little lettuce garden going again this year.

Spending only $15 on plants, I will save on salad spending--eating some green instead of spending it-- in about 50-65 days!

The choice: bibb lettuce, leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce and Georgia sweet onions.

The spot: a sunny patch in front of my house. Last year, the plants on this side produced the best and brightest leaves.

I started the afternoon with tennis shoes on...but it was nice and sunny and I quickly questioned this decision. I ripped off my socks and shoes and rolled up my sleeves and my jeans and played in the dirt all day.

Progress: It took a while to weed out the area I wanted, but when Bryan came over for dinner he asked me where I "bought" the dirt, so I guess I did a pretty good job of getting it ready:)

I brought out my ipod and played music all day so if plants really do respond to singing then these should take off well!

Ta da! I finished up and watered them just before night fell. Now I sit...and wait for food. Say, if onions grow underground, how do you know when they're ready?

Birthday and Unbirthday

2009-02-21T09:56:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delayed posting!

On Tuesday Sintos turned 25 and we celebrated with friends and red velvet cake!

Excited to finally eat the cake that I made Sunday evening and held hostage until Tuesday.

Friends who were happy to celebrate whether cake was involved or not (though they were pretty stoked about it).

Tuesday morning I had the idea to make Sintos a fun jar to carry around for his birthday. I sent a message to people around campus who would see him that day telling them to dig in their couch cushions and wish him a "happy quarter-of-a-century" by throwing a quarter into his jar.

People seemed to have fun with the idea and at the end of the day he had an old soup jar with a good handful of coins.

I had no idea the next day would be my UNbirthday!

Because I went to a basketball game and out to dinner for Bryan's bday the night before, I had to take Wednesday off work to finish up homework and a presentation I had to give in class that night. While completing my outline, Lee, the UPS man, came walking up my driveway.

I didn't remember ordering anything. Hmmm....

Then he handed me the above box sent to me by my most wonderful friend Lauren in New Orleans.

Inside was the best King Cake I've ever had! It was baked fresh and sent 2nd-day air. And it is simply amazing. What a wonderful new tradition! (this could be a tradition, right? because I don't think I can ever eat a Winn Dixie king cake again:) haha)

There is even a cream cheese filling wrapped by that cinnamon bread goodness! This was a really wonderful surprise-I'm so fortunate to have such thoughtful friends! THANK YOU!

If you want to learn about the king cake tradition (and you're wondering why there's a plastic baby on top), click here.

awesome new book

2009-02-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

This book by Dallas Clayton isn't listed on any syllabus or preferred reading list for my master's, but I think it should be--as you learn on the cover, it's awesome. It's not a children's book...it's an everyone book:)

Take a break to read and enjoy here

Clayton also created other products with little thoughts on them that sold out so quick he's in the process of making more.

Happy Birthday!

2009-02-10T20:01:00.001-08:00

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD---BECAUSE HE'S GRRREEAT!!

I'm apologize if this is too cheezy, but because I've been reading and reading all day, this is funny:) and I think at least my dad will laugh :)

What's Next?

2009-02-10T19:38:00.000-08:00

In a small burst of procrastination, I found a list of actors who all majored in English in college...so who knows what's next?

Edward Burns
Brett Butler
Chevy Chase
Joan Cusack
Matt Damon
Vin Diesel
David Duchovny
Harrison Ford
Jodie Foster
James Franco
Heather Graham
Famke Janssen
Tommy Lee Jones
Paul Newman
Gwyneth Paltrow
David Hyde Pierce
Christopher Reeve
Susan Sarandon
Julia Stiles
Emma Thompson
James Van Der Beek
Sigourney Weaver
Reese Witherspoon
Renee Zellweger

**As a side note, this list is not meant to be a hint of any kind-simply found it amusing :)

***However, on another side note, I do find it interesting that the leading role in one of my favorite plays turned movies is performed by the above mentioned Emma Thompson. In Wit, Thompson plays Professor Bearing, a learned scholar on John Donne's Holy Sonnets; an English professor at a university who is diagnosed with cancer.

Yummy Day

2009-02-03T19:02:00.001-08:00

Breakfast: blueberry parfait.

I am no morning person, but the sunlight that fills my kitchen (and warms my breakfast stool) every morning makes me happy and helps me start my day. I've even started trying to eat breakfast more often! Today I had time to eat a little yogurt and watch some morning news...what's the world coming to? (Well, today, I could tell you!)

Today actually ended up being a really yummy day. I've been promising my friend Jerrod (a stellar photographer who grew up and lives here--and whom I bug with photography questions) I would cook for him. Today is his birthday, so I thought a birthday brunch sounded like a good idea.

Lunch: We had banana bread french toast with fresh strawberries and Guatemalan coffee.

(The really fun french toast recipe is courtesy of the fabulous Flying Biscuit cookbook my parents gave me, the coffee is courtesy of Bryan's friend who works at Starbuck's and generously gave us his free pound for the week and, well, the strawberries are from Winn Dixie.)

Did I mention the goodness called maple cream cheese spread that goes on top?

Smells like...

2009-01-29T17:54:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the last time something you smelled brought on a flood of memories?

I'm currently reading Proust's In Search of Lost Time (don't worry, not all seven volumes!) and the narrator is having trouble trying to sit and make himself remember his childhood. Then, when he bites into a tea-soaked madeleine one day, the smell and then taste of the little biscuit bring back all of the memories of his life in Combray.

Proust's writing is about involuntary memory--that memory which gushes in after one of your senses is awakened.

Your sense of smell is actually the strongest memory agent. The olfactory bulb is part of system (limbic system) located next to an area associated with memory and feeling.

Tonight I prepared chicken and rice with rosemary (borrowed) for dinner (by borrowed, I mean it will grow back from where I gathered it). The craziest thing happened...as soon as I opened the bag of brown rice and took a whiff...

giant tub kindergarten
rice grains slipping through my fingers Mrs. Kelly
stations Mrs. Carlson
scoops
play classroom Hollydale

I was immediately thrown into my kindergarten classroom and had my hands in one of those big standing tubs full of rice during station time (don't worry, we had one full of sand too). It made me smile; I had experienced involuntary memories through smell, or what we call a "Proustian" moment.

Have you had a Proustian moment lately?

In the mood for pet food

2009-01-25T13:59:00.000-08:00

Every Tuesday someone in my family goes to pick up pet food. It's amazingly delicious by itself but really boosts a bowl of cereal. What kind of pet food are we eating?!

Well, it's not eating, it's drinking. About a month ago, my parents signed on to participate in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). A further explanation of this term follows, but what it means for us is that we pick up raw Jersey milk and yogurt from a dairy about ten minutes from our house at My Dad & Me Family Farm--and it doesn't get any fresher than this!

The folks over at My Dad & Me are especially nice. The milk is in half gallon glass jars on their back porch, so you just drive up and pick up. When I visited over the holiday break, the wife was working in the kitchen and came out to meet me when she saw me through the window.

Each jar has a big round label on front stating the contents are "Pet Food-Not for Human Consumption." They are required to sell their milk as pet food under Georgia law, but in other states, raw milk is sold as is from coolers on the back of a pickup truck.

As of January 23rd, My Dad & Me still has a few milk slots available. To learn more about what they do and to try out this great tasting milk for yourself, call Daniel Hammond at 678-567-1826.

(I apologize for the lack of cows in my post about a dairy farm, but it was rainy the day I went and the cows were feeding in the barn. Instead, I got quite the dance from the turkey on site!)

My Dad & Me also sells brown eggs from several types of chickens.

From Jay Weinstein's The Ethical Gourmet; the section called Think Globally, Act Locally:

Thousands of small farms sell produce direct to consumers, through CSAs. What they are is a mutual support system between growers and consumers of farm products that provides a conduit for food from field to table. It's the ultimate in "putting a face to the food." Consumers pay the farmer an annual membership fee, which helps him run the farm. In return, the member receives a weekly share of the harvest during the local growing season...The system benefits the ecosystem in many ways: Most farms involved in CSAs grow organic produce, protecting the land and water, and shipping is inherently minimal, protecting the air and natural resources.

According to Weinstein, the CSA movement began in Japan when a women's group grew concerned with the use of pesticides and the extra cost of transporting produce. They started a movement called teikei (meaning "food with the farmer's face on it").

Kyle Calling and Bryan Blogging

2009-01-19T20:54:00.000-08:00

Kyle called tonight (via Skype) and we all gathered around the computer to check out his new place (he's borrowing a lovely trailer in Three Hills) and see all the fresh snow outside when lo and behold it starts snowing in good ol' Marietta. The falling flakes didn't stay for long, but it was fun and we had a small burst of excitement. More enthusiasm ensued when Kyle told us about his first solo cross-country flight he took today-how awesome!

Also in tonight's news: joining a world of bloggers is none other than Mr. Bryan Sintos at http://www.bsintos.blogspot.com/! Visit his blog to check out some of Kyle and Mario's trip to Jacksonville and leave some comment love:)

Chatting with Carly

2009-01-15T21:45:00.001-08:00

Skype is great.

I recently got to talk to Carly on my computer with Skype. I figure if I get online at night, it will be morning where she is...that's why she's yawning in that last snapshot! It's so good to hear about where she is and what she's doing. So far we've learned that napkins aren't given out in Singapore and that she's a giant who is considered an XL in the "one size fits all store"--can you believe a store like this exists?

This weekend she's on a side trip to Malaysia with some new found friends-how fun! But on regular days she has been doing well at putting some new stuff up on her blog, so check it out and send a greeting her way: www.cchupp.blogspot.com.

And don't forget about good ol' Mister Kyle. He's back in Canada...probably freezing...so I won't complain about how cold it is tonight as the bank sign reads 13 degrees (I know it's probably negative that where he is). Keep on keepin' up with him at www.kchupp.blogspot.com. He'll update again soon when he gets his computer cord fixed...sparking is not so good.

As for me, I've got 11 novels, a textbook, presentations, research papers,critical theories, exams and articles ahead of me...not to mention preparing for orals. A long semester but hopefully the last one to finish out my master's degree in English!

Christmas time is (finally) here

2009-01-04T20:12:00.001-08:00

And to our surprise...we discovered Kyle learned to crochet in Canada-We all got Kyle originals!Wasabi gumballs--she liked them and said they were flavorful but not hot...not quite the reaction we had hoped for:)

A moola maze--Carly got rich quick...me, a little later on that day.

A rubix cube using photos for each panel...maybe this will stump her for longer than two minutes!

Hope you all had a Happy Christmas and relish the joy of the season as you go back to work and/or another semester of school!

Now boarding for the Lion City

2009-01-04T18:18:00.000-08:00

Buckling up for a long ride...about 30 hours to be exact.

Tonight we took Carly to the airport. At this moment, she's sitting on a plane departing for San Francisco. She's going from there to Hong Kong and then from there to her final destination: Singapore! Carly was one of a couple Ga. Tech students who got accepted to study on this island at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula (...under China). In the 11th century, this small island got the name Singa Pura; Lion City.

In the city where it is cited a lion has never even lived, Carly will be living in a dorm, attending the National University of Singapore and continuing her education as an industrial engineer. She's one smart cookie-now, she's going to be one smart warm cookie:)

Chupp kids together one more time before journeying to other places--Carly to Singapore, Kyle to Canada and me to Alabama (man, mine doesn't sound quite as cool, haha).

Carly and Andrew

She's ready to take on the world...and she may have to since her first flight has already been delayed. She's even doing it in style (matching her pack!)

with parents who support us no matter where we are :)

ready to take off

hugs and love from memaw while pawpaw sings her to singapore :)

my apparently illegal photo of carly going through security

I'm so excited for all the new people and places my sister is about to experience. She's going to learn much more than engineering this semester! I'm not sure whether she'll actually try some local food or write too much in her journal (her technical brain just doesn't lean towards my love for recording life on paper), but for now, I simply send her on with prayers for a safe journey and arrival and ask for you to do the same. We should hear from her in Singapore really late tomorrow night.

Celebrate Good Times

2009-01-01T18:28:00.000-08:00

come on! I apologize for posting about New Years before Christmas, but these photos were loaded onto the computer first...

On New Year's Eve we went downtown to watch Carly march in the Chick-fil-A Bowl parade, celebrated at Fanfest in the World Congress Center, watched a less-than-exciting bowl game at the Georgia Dome and rung in the new year on 10th Street.

Since I wasn't marketing myself, at Fanfest, we ran around getting marketing freebies: a Chick-fil-A brownie sample, a Chick-fil-A milkshake sample, free Chick-fil-A chicken biscuit coupon, Camping World koozies, Chick-fil-A koozies, Yellow Jacket t-shirts, beef jerky, temporary Tech tattoos and a ride down the inflatable slide.

We even supported Mrs. OKelleys registers at Chick-fil-A for dinner!

The Tech fans were most excited during Fanfest because the game did not provide much entertainment :(

But...give a stadium full of Tech fans marketing material on their seats and when the game turns sour, they'll begin to engineer some fun. During the third quarter, paper planes soared from every level of the dome. It was quite a sight!

We cheered as paper planes, even some from the top tier, made a safe landing in the endzone!

A sad but good thing was that because the team wasn't doing so well, fans began clearing out before the second quarter ended. By the time we left in the fourth, it was a mellow ride on Marta and an uncrowded walk back to Tech's coliseum parking lot.

Carly got done collecting uniforms with five minutes to go till midnight. Before walking back to her house, we paused in the parking lot to count down to 2009.

Even though the team didn't win, the day was filled with good times!

Dearest Sarah...

2008-12-28T21:06:00.001-08:00

and others who may enjoy:

SuperFoods Rx Salad

Author of SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life Steven Pratt, M.D. has the following to say about this particular salad:

I eat this salad almost every day--sometimes twice a day. Feel free to vary the ingredients using the SuperFoods Rx sidekicks. Add a handful of your favorite chopped fresh herb, 1 TB grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, or 2 TBs roasted nuts or seeds. The quantity is for one person, but you can easily multiply the ingredients to serve more.

1 cup spinach torn into bite-sized pieces
1 cup chopped romaine
1/4 cup shredded red cabbage
1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper
1/2 tomato, chopped
1/4 cup chickpeas; if canned, rinse well
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/4 avocado, cubed
2 TB extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp balsamic vinegar

Combine the spinach, romaine, cabbage, red pepper, tomato, chickpeas, carrot and avocado in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil and vinegar. Toss the dressing with the salad just before serving.

I love this salad and you can add plenty of fun things to it if you want to change it up a bit. It's a great addition to any meal...and a healthy lifestyle :)

trim trim-a-tree

2008-12-20T18:42:00.000-08:00

Covering every inch of the tree

You better watch out

Hanging the tinsel one by one...Bebe would be so proud!

Nothing like a day of decorating and london broil with the fam :)