Guest Post: Funny Lady.

I'm stoked about this guest post.

I know you are all going to love, Heidi.

She is so funny! Seriously.

& I am pretty sure I tell her that EVERY time I talk to her.

She is probably sick of it, but it's true.

Plus, she and her husband are the cutest. 

Oh, and she gets to travel A LOT, which makes me jealous!

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First off I want to say thank you to Colie for having me. I have loved our email/text exchanges over the past few weeks, she is truly a breath of fresh air. And she has fun Instagram pics, you should follow her. Bonus, her birthday is my wedding anniversary! Happy May 29^th to us!

Hey! My name is Heidi and I blog over at Heidi of the Future. What a strange name you might be thinking... yes, yes it is. I started my blog when I moved to China in 2009 to teach English to university students. My family and friends needed to stay up to date with all the weird food I was eating, so my blog was created. At the time I was in the future, aka 14 hours ahead of America, but now that I'm back stateside it sounds like I'm into science or time travel or something...

Life didn't become normal just because I was back home in Oklahoma (love you Oklahoma!). It actually might have gotten crazier, and China is crazy. Ten months after returning from China I was married to my super long distance out-of-the-country boyfriend who stuck with me when I said, "I'm going to China, date me if you want, I'll be back in a year". He is also from Oklahoma (miss you Oklahoma!) but moved to Philadelphia to start optometry school.

So, I found myself married and moving the next day to Philadelphia where he was the only person I knew. China prepared me for this... my independence (I also was living in the city where independence happened… or something like that). I lived there for 8 months before starting out on the next journey of our life... optometry rotations. We move every 3 months to a new state, and there is never a dull moment.

So I write about our day-to-day (or week-to-week, not a lot happens sometimes, that's when I just post youtube videos) crazy adventures. We have no money, no friends or family around us usually (we do right now in Denver!), so it's just us... being gypsies... loving life, trusting God, and seeing the country in a really unique way. I wouldn't have it any other way. Well, okay, maybe getting paid, but that's all. Okay, and having my people to travel along. That would be cool.

So come stop on by, say hi. Who knows, maybe I am moving to a city near you, and I need friends... Like, really, I need friends. Anyone? Also we need a place to live in Miami... anyone?

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So, now go do yourself a favor and pop on over to her blog.

Say hello and stay awhile.

It will make her day! :)

Happy Wednesday, friends.

much love,

xoxo.

Spring is just around the corner!

Today was pretty wonderful!
I had the day off work.
Which means I had some time to snap a few photos in the lovely weather we had!

Then, I soaked up the warm sun while I got to journal, read my bible, and walk around downtown with my momma.

I also remembered that my baby brother, his wife, and kiddos are coming up from Texas in just a few days! :) I love when they are home. My nephews are the cutest! *proud auntie*

And last, but certainly not least, I am sponsoring over on Casey Wiegand's blog this month.

Casey and her art.

She is so down to earth and the nicest gal.
It is a blessing to read about her art, her sweet family, her hopes/dreams/struggles, as well as see her faith in the Lord.
She has a new blog design up and it looks fantastic!
Please take a moment and check out her blog.
You will be glad you did!
Happy Thursday, friends. :)

Oh, happy day!

Today was filled with:

-Sleeping in (9am was pushing it for me!)

-cleaning

-beautiful weather

-much needed hair trim

-driving with the windows down & jamming to 80's rock music

-friend from HS had a 5lb 2oz baby girl!!

-coffee

-went with baby sister for her first set of contacts. woop, woop!

-ate some yummy pizza

-surprise visit from a good friend

-caught up on episodes of New Girl (I adore Zooey Deschanel)

-got to see my precious two year old nephew **see photo above

-laughing, talking, and being reminded how grateful I am for Nathan in my life

-and last, but certainly NOT least:

My new blog design!! :)

I am over the moon with how it turned out!

Don did an amazing job. 

He was very professional & always willing to answer any questions I had about the design.

I would recommend him to anyone looking for something new or fresh for their blog. 

If you have not had a chance, please check out his amazing designs and sweet family at www.adelinesdaddy.com!!

**photos above were done in the Picture Show app from iPhone.**

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Photo Challenge V.1

I am a little obsessed with instagram.
(if you don't know what it is, and you have an iphone, then check it out here.
then download it & add me under the username 'theplaidsparrow'.)


This month they had a 'January Photo a Day' Challenge.
It looks like this:

I obviously had to take on the challenge!

Photos, instagram, friends ... who could say no to that??

Anyhoo, so I decided to break this up into two parts.

I'll start this post off with Days 1-15.

& at the end of the month I'll end with Days 16-31. 

 Day 1. Me.
(standing all awkward)

 Day 2. Breakfast.
(looks kinda gross, but i love coffee w/ biscuits & gravy)

Day 3. Something you adore.

(my owl ring. *love*)

 Day 4. Letterbox
(letters, photos, memories, and more)

Day 5. What I wore.

(this day was super warm outside, but i really wanted to wear all my scarves) ;)

Day 6. Makes you smile.

(planning trips down to dallas to see one of my best friends, kim)

Day 7. Favorite.

(nathan sent me flowers @ work!!!)

 Day 8. My sky.
(the view from my backyard)

Day 9. Daily Routine.

(almost every morning, folks)

 Day 10. Childhood.

(my FAVORITE photo of my mom & i. do you love how clueless I look, yet I have my "thumbs up" sign!?)

Day 11. Where I sleep.

(nothing too exciting here. simple. the way I like it.)

 Day 12. Close up.

(big eyes!)

 Day 13. In my bag.

(i could live in my purse.)

Day 14. What I'm reading. 

(books I'm finishing, starting, or rereading ... it is never ending!)

Day 15. Happiness.

(playing DK on the super nintendo with the guys!)

I really am having a blast doing this challenge. 

I may come up with my own for next month as well! 

Hope you enjoyed!

I'll be back in a few weeks with the rest. 

much love, colie

It's Friday!

Today wasn't too bad at work, but has left me exhausted.
I think knowing that I have to be at work by 8 in the morning doesn't help.
Plus, I'm a weirdo and I have to be up 2 hours before I go somewhere to prepare myself for the day.
Its a process for me, folks. ;)

Anyways, I decided to do Friday links again.
I always enjoy sharing with you all my favorite blog posts of the week, interesting news, and cute things that make me happy. :)
I will also be posting a photo with every Friday links, for "flashback fridays".
I hope you enjoy!

sisters eating lunch @ Epcot. :)

Danielle knows how to start her morning off right with this oatmeal.

This dress is so adorable. :)

Can we please talk about how amazing these salt & pepper puzzle piece shakers are??! 

Lauren is doing her Valentine's Day love post from around the world!

(if you would like to include yourself & a loved one, then contact lauren asap)

As I have an obsession with scarves, I also have an obsession with hats.

This time of the year makes my lips stay chapped, luckily I started using this so now they stay nice and smooth. 

Isn't this the cutest bicycle and puppy since Dorothy & Toto?! :D

I adore this store!

Casey's blog is absolutely one of my favorites! This post is one reason why.  <3

The always lovely Katie shows us how to make party hats in a pinch. It looks easy & fun! Something I will definitely be doing soon. :)

& ending Friday links I wanted to send you over to a new blog I am reading. Enjoy!

Happy weekend everyone!

much love, colie

an uneventful day. a wonderful day.

I had planned to start a new feature on my blog today, which I will continue for the next 14 weeks every Tuesday.
However, that did not happen.
I spent very little time around my laptop ... which was kind of refreshing in a way.

My day was spent sleeping in, reading, getting a phone call from the hospital (the job position is still up in the air until the end of the week : / ), grabbing lunch with mom, heading to the old bookstore, singing and dancing to glee, picking up the girls from school, making a sonic run, and watching a movie.
It was pritty wonderful.

Oh, and two other great things happened.
Last night I got to watch "We Bought a Zoo" and it was absolutely fantastic.
It made me laugh, cry, and seek for a little more courage.
(+ I may have formed a slight crush on Matt Damon...)
AND... i found out that Jordan's aunt got me some scarves!!!
**might have done a happy dance after receiving that news. ;)

Now, everyone is asleep.
I am curled up in bed with a blanket, sweatshirt, and my jammies.
I have a peace of mind to just reflect on life in these moments.
When it is silent, it feels as though the world has slowed down a bit ... even if for a few minutes.
That is when I feel God speaking to me the most.
There is something special about that.

So, my hope is that you found the goodness in today.
Whether it was in a big or small way, and even the little things in between.
If not, then tomorrow is a new day. :)

much love,
colie

ps. i will start the new feature next tuesday.
i hope you stop by and check it out. :)

first post of twenty-twelve.

Hello, friends.
I have been absent the past few days from the blogging world.
It has been busy, busy for me considering that I worked the past five days straight.
Work was awful yesterday and I almost found myself in tears on several occasions.
(patients aren't always the friendliest when they do not get their medication ... even when it obviously isn't my fault. -- that is life, for ya.)
It truly was the worst day of work by far.
So, needless to say, I am extremely grateful I do not have to relive it.

Anyhoo, on New Year's I got to spend the evening with great friends!
Jordan & Tyler had a few people over ... and it was filled with snacks, laughter, crocheting, and new friends.
However, I am surprised we all lasted until the ball dropped at midnight.
I was fighting to stay awake past ten, folks.
I'm afraid it must be the old age kicking in ... ;)

jordan & i ending 2011. :)

goodbye 2011, hello 2012. 

I hope that this year I am more grateful for this wonderful life I have.

When I wake up every morning ... the first breath I breathe ... that is a reminder that I am given another day. 

Another day to drink coffee, to look at the sun rise from my back porch, to walk outside and see all the beauty in it, to be surrounded around wonderful friends who love me, to meet new people, to sing in my car (alone, because I don't sing in front of anyone ;), to smile when I get a text from someone, to plan road trips, to dream up how wonderful it will be when I finally get to travel and explore europe, to be an example for my family, to better myself, to never stop pushing myself to grow, and to always fight to walk down this path we call "life". :)

I wish you all the same and so much more!

much love, colie.

long(er) hair, goals, & zooey + joe.

my hair is getting longer... ;)

Hello, hello!

It is that lovely time of the year where one ends and a new one is about to begin.
Joy. :)
Which at times I feel is a bit sad.
We shouldn't wish our life away in any way, and yet we do it all the time. : /
I mean so many of us say, "I don't regret my past, it has made me who I am." or "Life is so short, let's enjoy the here and now."
I obviously think both of those statements are quite true.
I tend to feel that way most of the time.
However, I really think it would be best for us to remember to reflect on the good and bad memories from this past year.
I mean, can you believe how much happens in a whole year.
Some of us are in the very same place we started, and many of us are quite far from it.
We should take the time to ask ourselves how those situations help shape us into who we have become at the end of 2011.
With all that being said, I am truly looking forward to 2012, folks!
A new year always brings us new possibilities, new hope.
To me it feels like that first day of the new year gives us an opportunity to start fresh, to write a new chapter.
I can't wait for it to start! :)

Now, I would like to share with you a list of goals I would like to complete at this time NEXT year!
It is fun and challenging! -- which means you should all give it a try. ;)

COLIE'S 20twelve GOAL LIST:

*get a tattoo

*write at least 1 chapter to a book

*take a LOT more photos

*read at least 12 books

*get organized

*face my problems, not run from them

*learn to speak French

*travel more

*make more time for the people in my life
*make some "blogging" friends. :)
*learn at least one song on the guitar
*do something that scares me
*buy a few more dresses
*take singing lessons
*trust others more ... maybe.
*go on a mission trip
*lose 30 pounds
*make plans for a trip to europe!
*be more understanding with my family
*believe in myself more
*become a penpal ... ya know, with good ole fashioned snail mail. ;)
*watch the hunger games (come on, march 23!!!)
*learn to swim ... yes, yes ... i can't swim. : /
*attempt some DIY projects/cooking
*be a vegetarian for a week
*do NOT cut my hair for any reason ... (except to trim off my dead ends!)
*& a lot more surprises along the way!


HAPPY, HAPPY THURSDAY!
much love, colie

ps. i wanted to leave you with the video below of zooey deschanel & joseph-gordon levitt singing.
it pritty much made my whole night.
i adore them both so much!

check out what zooey had to say about her friendship with joe right here.