Little did she know...

It seems like I have been on the road a lot lately between work and weddings. Just this past week, we took a quick trip down to the homeland to hug our Brasilian family goodbye for the next couple of years. As we drove across the prairie, I started compiling a list of my top road trip albums. I thought I would share the list with you.  The Outsiders -Needtobreathe. this album never fails to bring back memories of college buddies crammed in the back of vans and miles and miles covered during choir tour. (Honorable mention: Rivers in the Wasteland, but we've already talked about that) Young Love -Mat Kearney it was the winter after I came back from Johannesburg and I was trying to figure out what life was supposed to look like and where I was supposed to fit in. this album kept me company on many solitary drives. Babel -Mumford and Sons lyrics from this album find themselves scribbled all over my pages. trips I did take. trips I dreamed of taking. dishes and lau...

My brother Andrew is leaving our beloved Black Hills to start a whole new adventure this week... I am pretty jealous and super bummed all at the same time. He has the sole ability to make me want to strangle him and hug him at the same time. He makes me laugh. I love his passion and dedication and commitment to his goals. I couldn't be prouder of him and the growth I have watched over the past several years. He went from that annoying little brother to one of my best friends and a guy I look up to a lot.  Ivory Cost sibs: 1994ish I am not sure what his twin and I are going to do without him... pictures are going to be pretty incomplete, that's for sure...  Here's a tiny summation of the crazy (awesome) the past few years have been: Baby faces at Christmas, early 2000's Classic Johnsons, twinner Grad 2009 Holiday Break Shenanigans backyard basketball Fancy Pants and awkward posing, 2010 C...

(Let's just pretend it's Monday, OK? ok.) True confessions: I haven't always loved The Avett Brothers. I got a free song download (thanks, Starbucks), and it found its way into a playlist. I listened to them when they popped up in my tumblr feed and on blog posts. But I didn't go out and buy an album, or youtube obsess over them for days.  HOWEVER. When my mainmusicman (read: brotha) saw that they were going to be in DEADWOOD, there was no way I (we) were going to miss good live music so close to home. (The struggle is real around here. Either you can get country artists or other random and lame artists. This was kind of a big deal.)  We got tickets for general admission a couple days before the concert, and weren't really sure what to expect. After all was said and done, it would have been worth it to pay the extra cash to stand a little closer and be separated from the people who came just to get drunk and be loud. As it was, we were right up against the barr...

Life's all about seasons and change.  I have to remind myself of this often.  Sometimes it feels like I am in multiple different seasons at the same time: personal growth, friend circles, job cycles, planning/waiting. Some I choose, some just happen naturally.  Lately, though (and by lately, I mean the past year), it seems that I have been in a season of sorrow, a season of grieving. So much unexpected loss of loved lives on this earth.  I am selfishly tired and worn out from all the soul aching that this brings. I cling to and believe in my heart of hearts the truths of the Bible that speak hope in resurrection and a God who has purpose in everything that happens on this earth. But I still sorrow. I still have the puffy eyes and raging head ache that comes from processing loss. I still have my breath taken away when I remember that all of those future memories I was planning on making with a loved one are not going to happen, that they a...

It is no secret that I have been a NTB fan for quite a while, but let me just tell you that since they came out with their new album "Rivers in the Wasteland," I have had it on repeat more than any new music discovery/album release in recent Liz History. The last time I overdosed on an album was probably the day that The Lone Bellow released their self-title album last year. I've had "Rivers in the Wasteland" on repeat since it showed up in my mail box. I started loving NTB when I heard their album "The Heat," and by the time that "The Outsiders" came out, they were pretty much a solid part of my life soundtrack (Garden, Girl Named Tennessee, Let us Love). I think I can safely say it's my favorite album yet. They have some fun, new sounds in this album, but they definitely still kept the classic NTB sound. Fo' sho an awesome road trip partner.  I am feeling challenged by the task of picking a small list of favorite songs beca...

this instagram feed . because. all of my adventure feels. this music video . and these artists. because they have been a pretty major  part of my life soundtrack.  this song whilst running lately. late night phone conversations and all day emojis. countdowns. and crossing off days. the promise of a hope. the assurance of forgiveness. the gift of grace . this picture of my brother slaying a ginormous snake. because. um. WHEN CAN I VISIT? cheers from me and the weekend, live saving team. weekends are for work. huzzah!

Happy Monday, friends.

Cardigans. Is "crazy cardigan lady" a thing?  Packages from a favorite artist. And his people.  Keep your Head Up by Ben Howard for being such a great Idon'twanttorunanymore song. Check Lists (and checking things off). Long email conversations and sister bonding time. Co-workers who are the bomb.com. Seriously. I got the best ones, in all of my jobs.  Brother friends.  Dumpster diving and impulsive friends (I miss the college days. Sometimes.) A whole pan of my mother's cinnamon rolls to myself.  Steam rooms and hot tubs. And awkward stranger bonding time. Pictures from my niecephews. I hope we never stop writing each other notes. 

two weeks and four days of fiancé. the best surprise. congrats if you made it through all those pictures. here's the obligatory Valentimes video as a reward. cheers to all you lover and haters. may this hallmark holiday live long and prosper.