As in, renovation. You say it like “reh-no,” not “ree-no.” Just so you know. I learned this from Sarah. Sarah has a house. And a show. On HGTV. It’s called Sarah’s House. And I want to be her friend. [Sarah, can we be friends?]

As you know, I am currently nesting.

I have no idea why. Maybe it is because two good friends are having babies in the near future (example – Adam and Ansley) or maybe it is simply because I’m tired of living in a house that looks exactly like my third apartment at the University of Georgia. Either way, if real “nesting” is much worse than this [shall I ever be with child], you are all in a WORLD of hurt- I mean, window treatments have been my staple conversation for three weeks. When I’m actually “nesting”? Lord help the mister who comes between me and my reno.

Back to reality. Last weekend, I called in the professionals.

Caroline and Katie B.E. came to the rescue. Well, it wasn’t exactly “we’re driving from Atlanta just to measure three windows,” but that’s the quickest explanation.

So we measured and brainstormed. We laid down a rug, which makes a world of difference in the living room.

[Baby items courtesy of Katie B.E.'s new traveling companion, baby Lydia. We like her. Like whoa.] And while I was taking that picture, they were doing this….

They would. Then, with a flip of a wrist and a toss of a few beams, my bedroom went from this….

to THIS!

Are you dying or are you dying? I know. I’m dying. Every time I walk in my room I totally swoon [to use a fav word of my fav friend Mary Catherine- and this post about NYC is, well, my fav].

I’m a renter, much like my sweet friend Nester, so I took much advice from her blog. And I figured that if I couldn’t paint, I needed to use fabric to bring in color and wowsa. It has totally changed my room. And I heart it. Mucho.

The window treatments? Well, here’s the thing. Katie B.E. and Caroline aren’t settlers. They don’t settle. So. We are going fabric shopping in Atlanta in a few weeks.

Good things come to those who wait. And those who nest at abnormal points in life.

I used to have two friends named Katie/Katy. I call them my Homophones. [nerd joke nerd joke]

[Dear Annie, don't post horrible pictures of yourself AND make nerd jokes. Unless you want to die alone.]

Back to why I lost my friends.

I’m not longer friends with Katie because she took this picture.

And then posted it on facebook.

And then. THEN. Katy, also known as Hercules, posted this picture of me.

And she also heartlessly posted this on facebook.

LORD. HAVE. MERCY. I mean, my friend Wendy is funny, and I’m laughing at her joke. But no one, absolutely no one, needed to capture THAT second of my laugh.

I untagged myself on facebook.

Then, bizarrely, I decided to post it on my blog.

Because I think I still have some sense of pride on facebook. Gotta keep those tagged pictures looking good.

But here? Well, we all know the truth- you and I both have the same sick sense of humor, so I knew y’all would enjoy this.

What can I say? I’m a giver.

You’re welcome.

[No friendships were truly damaged in the creation of this post. But revenge will be sweet.]

I have literally never said this before and I’m afraid I will never say it again. But this article, Turning, is probably my favorite thing I’ve had the pleasure of writing. I’m so so proud that I get to post it at (in)courage- it’s like my beach house for writing, so I go there as much as possible.

I don’t say all this “favorite article ever” junk to brag. I say this to say, “you better check it out cause it’s all downhill from there.”

But I will brag about this. My friends Amber and Ash have done their second installment of Amber&Ash- a super cool idea where Amber, a stylist, gives Ash a room to design based off of a stylish outfit (Ash is an interior designer) and then Ash gives Amber a room and she makes a sassy outfit to fit the room. It is possibly one of my favorite things to read.

Amber’s blog = outfit to room

Ash’s blog = room to outfit

Y’all have a great weekend. Mine is packed with great friends in town, a wedding, a baby shower, time at the pool [fingers crossed], brunch at Marche, finishing my talks for Lake Geneva, and pretty much running full force into as much awesome as possible.

TGIF, people. TGIF.

Well, this will keep you [ME] up at night and make you [ME] rewrite and reread every talk you [I] have planned for Lake Geneva to make sure that you’re [I'M] not a total tool.

[This video is obviously a parody. But maybe close to true? Sc-uh-air-eeee. Scary.]

Thanks to my awesome friend Missy at It’s Almost Naptime for reminding me of every single thing I don’t want to be. Ever.

Except that sweet girl at the end. I wanna be her.

Youth ministry is hard.

My stomach hurts.

[By the way, I'm not freaked out. I'm just very aware of the weight of the responsibility that all youth workers- be it volunteers or speakers or youth ministers or parents- have, and watching this video was like having someone scream in my face DON'T TRY TO BE A BIG DEAL! And when they screamed in my face, they had bad breath.]

That’s all. Watch the video. Laugh at it. And then pray for people who try to show the love of Christ to teenagers day in and day out.

And… my stomach still hurts.

What I’m [sure is the weirdest post title ever] = this one.

What I’m [reading] = The Fiddler’s Gun by Pete Peterson. I’m 1/2 of the way through and I’ll give it a B-. Don’t buy it yet, unless you have a Kindle. Then it’s only $2. TWO AMERICAN DOLLARS. Get it.

What I’m [also reading] = The New Kings of Nonfiction by Ira Glass. If you are a fan of creative nonfiction, this is the book for you. Also, if you aren’t listening to This American Life, a radio show by Ira Glass, please start. Right now. [My friend Alan, of Little Brooklyn Kitchen, recommended this book and he's one of the smartest dudes I know, so I went with it. And I'm glad.]

What I’m [eating] = too many calories. The Get Fit Challenge was more of a pressure than I realized. The good kind of pressure. So now that I’m 30, I’m settling back into a healthy lifestyle. But don’t hesitate to ask me about it. You are quite the accountability partner.

What I’m [hearing] = I am [again] addicted to Brooke Fraser’s Albertine album. Twitter tells me a new album is coming soon. I’m impatiently waiting for it.

What I’m [writing] = In 2 weeks, I head to Lake Geneva Youth Camp to speak at the Middle School Girls Camp. So I’ve been furiously writing my talks and devotions for that week. [Pray for me- even now. Please? Seriously.]

What I’m [missing] = Scotland. The team from Riverstone is there this week and I hate missing it. (Just in case you didn’t know, I went in 2007 and 2008.) Luckily, we can read the team’s blog and watch the services live [at weirdo times].

What I’m [loving] = housesitting. This home is gorgie-poo and the cat is totally chill and they have a veggie garden that waters itself. Win. [This is the second time this month I've gotten to housesit for an awesome family in an awesome house, so pretty much- booyah.]

What I’m [googling] = Heaven help me, I’m still looking for the perfect window treatments. I am seven shades of addicted to home decor right now. Why? I don’t know.

What I’m [watching] = HGTV [shocker]. Sarah’s House. The Bachelorette [don't tell me anything, you spoiler readers]. Drop Dead Diva. Clean House. The Dish. Cooking Channel. Ummm…. confession time… I’m also watching Real Housewives of New Jersey and Bethenny’s Getting Married.

What I’m [surprised about] = the crazy amount of links in this post. Sorry it got so linky up in here.

What I’m [wondering] = How are you? How was your weekend? Any books you are finishing? Any blogs you are loving right now that I have to read? Tell me things.

I have a long standing love and respect for Invisible Children.

Last week, in the bombings in Uganda, IC lost one of their guys, Nate Henn.

I didn’t know Nate. But I know and love my friends at IC, and working at Mocha Club- we have a deep love for IC as co-workers on the continent of Africa.

It could have been any of us- IC, Mocha Club, Compassion, Blood:Water – any of us could have lost a friend. Sad. Sad. Sad.

Nate Henn // 1985 – 2010 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

Today, 17 of my friends from Midtown Fellowship head to Uganda, including my roomie Laura and two of my besties, Emily and Marisa, and many others that are important to me.

So, please, take a moment and pray.

For Invisible Children, for the family and friends of Nate Henn, for the staff of IC as they deal with this internally and externally.

For our team headed to Uganda- safety, health, protection, all of it.

Have a great weekend. And hug the ones you love.

Today is International Justice Day. Take a few minutes to watch this video from Mocha Club.

I’m going to let the pictures do the talking. Because truthfully, I can’t talk about my birthday dinner/party without crying. In fact, I didn’t even make it through the creation of this glorified slideshow without boo-hooing.

Because I am overwhelmed. Still. A week later.

Enjoy the gorgie-poo decor… and the delicious food… and the beautiful hearts of the men who served … and the genuine laughter on the faces of a few girls who really love each other.

The song is Home by the most wonderful Dave Barnes. And when this song drifted from the speakers into my ears during the party, I stopped, listened, and teared up. Because these lyrics say it.

Photography by the dearest Skip Hopkins. He not only captured the beauty, he captured the emotion. That’s a gift.

I’ve tried to write thank you notes, but they fail to tell the depths of my appreciation for what my friends did for me. Even as a writer, the English language is failing me. I just know that my heart was massively moved by this night.

I will never be the same.

If you watch the Bachelorette, you know Roberto.

If you watched last night, you met Roberto’s mom.

If you’ve seen Roberto’s mom, you have met my twin.

I mean, truly. Look at this.

That pretty much looks like my face. Bi-za-rro.

Also. Forgive me, my hair is dirty and it was 10:45pm, so I’m not looking my freshest.

So we grabbed an iPhone that records video. [Because I didn't have my flipcam. WHY OH WHY did I not have my flipcam!??] Hence the less than awesome quality. I am so so sorry. More than you know.

We attempted to show you the similarities but I have never. no not ever. gotten so giggly while trying to make a video. We were laughing. So very much.

Enjoy.