I cannot even explain to you the way I feel about what you are about to see. I happened upon this website, my dream website, just the other day by complete accident. I was on Facebook...nothing new there...and a random ad was calling my name, from the top right hand corner of my screen. It called yelling, "Vintage Clothing...you know you want me, you know you do, so click here..HeRe..HERE!!!" Okay, not exactly that way, but the "Vintage Clothing" was really there. So...I clicked! My computer screen zoomed through the vortex of cyberspace and brought me into heaven on the screen. Lets just say, the pieces of fabric looming there before my eyes, took my breath away, I passed out, came back to life, and still thought I was in a dream! Some of you may think I am a bit ridiculous and may think of this as stupidity, but guys, I mean really...this was something else. I immediately thought of my sister knowing she will love this website just as much as I do! What's on this website you ask? Mod. Retro. Vintage...that's all I need to say. 1940's and 50's era clothing...shirts, pants, short, sweaters, swimwear, and DRESSES! In the words of my Grandpa DeBerg, "Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!" Now...these pieces of clothing are 100% me, but 0% in my budget. Why is it always that way? The stuff you love is always out of price range...so disappointing. Just to put my Mother and Father at ease, I will let you know, that although all of these pieces of fabric should be hanging in my closet, none will come from this website. I keep all of these photos so I can remember what I'm looking for when I go to Saver's and Y's-Buy's. Now I can't tell you all about this clothing without showing them or telling you the website! So the website: http://www.modcloth.com/store -- and please, if you ever have any thought that you need to buy me a gift...go here for inspiration! You will never fail me!

My future closet...

(P.S. - You can click on the pictures to maximize

 P.P.S - All captions on the photos were done by me, not the website...don't drool on your keyboard!)

Amen. The End.

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday, my mother made cookies and cookies and cookies! Chocolate Chip Cookies and Peanut Butter Cup Cookies! For lunch today she made Twice Baked Potatoes! They were delicious...along with her cookies! The storm is coming full speed ahead so today, the 24th, my Father ran to get some milk! Especially with cookies in the house, milk goes fast in our family!

But beyond the fact that the house smells like Christmas baking, we're listening to Christmas music, candles are burning, present are wrapped, and we're watching Christmas Classics...today is something more than the memories and the family! It the day we celebrate Jesus' birth! He is born, our King has come to rule the earth! Amen!

Matthew 1:23 - "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" - which means, "God with us."

Luke 2:13-14 - "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Isaiah 9: 6-7 - "For unto us a child is born, 

to us a son is given, 

and the government will be on his shoulders. 

And he will be called 

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace 

there will be no end. 

He will reign on David's throne 

and over his kingdom, 

establishing and upholding it 

with justice and righteousness 

from that time on and forever. 

The zeal of the LORD Almighty 

will accomplish this."

How can anyone not want to celebrate this Mighty Lord's birth at Christmas time?! That is the greatest story ever told, and true! Hallelujah! Christ the Lord is born!

Wait...

BIG correction! What on earth was I thinking!
December 5th...My cousin Rebecca and Sara came up to Sioux Falls and took me out for lunch to Texas Roadhouse...we went to blind side...and shopped until 9:30! So fun!

December 6th

December 6th...

Me and Jessica (Maurer)

i didn't have the time to blog the 5th...its okay, nothing exciting happend...
and today...it was my birthday!
I'm twenty...whoo
if you didn't notice, I had to change the title of the blog.

Die Hard Phoenix Suns fans

December 3rd

December 3rd...
The Plans...
go to a surprise (early birthday) present with mom and dad at 6:30...I don't know where were going, but i have a pretty good guess
plan on making homemade Christmas cards soon
paint my toe nails a Christmasey green (since it didn't get done yesterday)
try to enjoy this fridgid weather
look forward to going out for my birthday with Beccies and Saries for an early birthday bash on Saturday...out to eat and seeing Blind Side in the theatre
contiune Christmas gift planning/shopping
receive a call from my personal trainer to schedule our first session
not get into a car crash on these icey roads
listen to more Christmas music...all day at work
make a Christmas CD to bring into work instead of listening to the radio and commercials
look forward to Spaghetti and Monkey Bread on Sunday!

For Real?

Is this really happening? Yes, yes it is...I have a personal trainer. My one-day PT, of this evening, has turned into a 6 week commitment. I cannot wait. Here comes an in shape, toned, never been there before, Amanda.

Lets just say, I am probably going to regret this personal trainer decision for at least the first couple weeks...due to the fact that the most "shape" I've ever been in consists of me being able to do one sit up a day...half in the morning to get out of bed, the other half laying down at night...like you've never heard that lame joke before...but for real...this body is in for a rude awakening and, again, I cannot wait...but in the end I will be oh so happy to be in shape and healthy!

As of now I have ran on the treadmill for two days in a row...I already have shin splints, my thighs muscles feel like they're going to cramp with every step, and I have officially started walking like I have a cob in my rear end...

No pain, No gain...right?!

December 2nd

December 2nd...
My Plans...
restart my "Prayer Journal" and continue faithfully
finally wear my heaviest, warmest, coat in the closet for the first official day of winter weather...20 degrees...why am I not living in Arizona again?!
start wearing gloves and scarves on a regular basis
start reading Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer
paint my toes Christmas green
begin reading a book in the Old Testament...some of those Bible stories are just like reading a fiction book...but it really happend! Kings and Queens, wars, slaves, miracles...I love them
write an encouragement note to someone, anonymously
meet my one-day personal trainer at the gym at 6:30 to learn how to use the machines effectively
anticipate Monkey Bread for my "Birthday Cake" on Sunday afternoon
anticipate wearing my birthday outfit...which I will debut a photo of on the 6th of Decembre...so excited
burn a Christmasey scented candle
continue the Christmas gift search...$5 to $10 gifts this year...makes it fun to have to spend time searching for that perfect present for the fam
find that perfect winter sweater that I can wear casual or dressy

December Plans...December 1st

December...one of the most eventful months of the entire year. Christmas Eve, Jesus' Birthday, Christmas, my Birthday, New Year...just to name the "biggies".

My goal is to have a plan for each day of the month of December. Besides work and working out, almost everyday...I have made a list of all the Have-To-Do's for this blessed month! I hope I can follow through with the plan each day and (the plan is) to blog about each and every special day. If I get behind on blogs I apologize, somestimes working the time in to blog each night can get a little heck-tick, but I will try my best.You will not know my plan for the day, until the morning of each. So we must get started since today marks the first day of December, hence the first day of my plans...

December 1st...
My Plans...
thank the Lord for the month of November and all His goodness in it
eat pizza with my parents
work out for the first time at "my" gym...I got a membership people...whoo
think about Christmas gift ideas for the family
anticipate painting my nails a Christmasey Red or Green...or both
recognize my addiction to gum and admitt to people that I couldn't wait until it was December so I could chew Big Red and consider it my "December/Christmas Gum"...because it's red...Hmmm, I think of wierd things
remind my mother it's time to put out the Christmas decorations...hopefully tomorrow after work
look forward to reading the Christmas story in the Bible
start listening to Christmas music religiously
start recording all the Christmas movies on the DVR
continuing wishing i already had my Walmart discount card that I don't get until January 6, 2010
start looking forward to being able to put "Amanda Maurer is not going to shower until next year" as her facebook status on December 31
continuing harrasing my family about the fact that my birthday is officially 5 days away
anticipate finally being out of my teens
begin thinking about which Christmas song to sing at church on the 20th
watch the new episode of White Collar that recorded on the DVR Friday