Becky and Joel's normal day care lady just got a new job, so they asked me to take over for the two days a week that Becky works, just until I go back to school and Becky starts working from home. Today is my first day, and here is a list of things I enjoy.
1) Laney. This is an obvious one, but seriously, this little girl is so much fun. There is nothing better than hearing "Ishy...Ishy!!!!" from her crib when she wakes up from a nap.
2) Food. Becky and Joel have great food...I love Double Stuffed Oreos, and Sour Cream and Onion chips.
3) Singing! I can sing as loudly as I want to, and there are no apartment neighbors to hear me. Also, Laney things that my operatic attempts are hilarious, so that's a plus. When I stop she says "gain!!" and I get to keep singing. Her favorite is when I go really high and cross my eyes.
4) Television. I got to watch The Today Show AND The Tyra Show today...and a few minutes of Elmo's World on Sesame Street. It's been a while since I've been able to watch anything but DVD's and Netflix.
Love to to all!
Lissa
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Things to Be Thankful For
I stole the title of the blog from Sheryl, who stole it from Becky. So the good news is, all of the women in my family are thankful. Here is my list.
1) I'm thankful for my husband. Every day I think "I can't believe I found him". Pretty sure God custom designed us for each other, because we are freakishly compatible. He is so selfless and giving and loving.
2) Family. I am blessed with an incredible family. My mommy is pretty much the most awesome person I know, and I have four of the craziest, loudest, most obnoxiously wonderful siblings in the world. And now that we've all found a significant-other, we've doubled in number and noise. I cannot wait for them all to come home!!
3) Theatre...and school. These sorta go together, because I took a short break from both of them this fall. I'm so glad I did, because now I am anxiously awaiting the start of second semester so that I can get back to what I love...the classroom and the stage!!
4) I'm not pregnant. This is a random one, but I'm so paranoid about getting pregnant that I always think I am. I'm not. So thank you, Lord, for birth control.
5) Books. Every time I spend a few hours immersed in a story, and then pull myself from it, I'm amazed at how far out of this world my mind can travel. Literature has allowed me to experience things that would otherwise be impossible.
6) All the little things that I can't get enough of...coffee, snow, fireplaces, coffee, volleyball, high heels, coffee, shopping, coffee, big cities, NBC news, lip gloss, peppermint, candlelight, snuggles, and coffee.
And of course, I am thankful for all of you.
Love to you all,
Lissa
1) I'm thankful for my husband. Every day I think "I can't believe I found him". Pretty sure God custom designed us for each other, because we are freakishly compatible. He is so selfless and giving and loving.
2) Family. I am blessed with an incredible family. My mommy is pretty much the most awesome person I know, and I have four of the craziest, loudest, most obnoxiously wonderful siblings in the world. And now that we've all found a significant-other, we've doubled in number and noise. I cannot wait for them all to come home!!
3) Theatre...and school. These sorta go together, because I took a short break from both of them this fall. I'm so glad I did, because now I am anxiously awaiting the start of second semester so that I can get back to what I love...the classroom and the stage!!
4) I'm not pregnant. This is a random one, but I'm so paranoid about getting pregnant that I always think I am. I'm not. So thank you, Lord, for birth control.
5) Books. Every time I spend a few hours immersed in a story, and then pull myself from it, I'm amazed at how far out of this world my mind can travel. Literature has allowed me to experience things that would otherwise be impossible.
6) All the little things that I can't get enough of...coffee, snow, fireplaces, coffee, volleyball, high heels, coffee, shopping, coffee, big cities, NBC news, lip gloss, peppermint, candlelight, snuggles, and coffee.
And of course, I am thankful for all of you.
Love to you all,
Lissa
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
My Life in a Painting
Once upon a time, a little girl, about 9 years old, went to the Mall of America with her aunt. Toward the end of the expedition, they wandered into an art store. While the grownups around her had a very long and boring conversation about frames and interior decorating, she flipped through a pile of prints sitting on the table. It was there that she stumbled upon a piece of art known as "The Accolade". And she was in love.
I can remember that day like it was yesterday. I remember how reluctant I was to go into a boring art store, and how much more reluctant I was to be dragged away from that beautiful, beautiful print.
I am no art expert. Show me a painting, and the only thing I will be able to say is whether or not I like it. But for me, that is what art is all about. Beauty is, after all, in the eye of the beholder. I enjoy Monet. Picasso often freaks me out. But for me, if an artist can make me feel something, something genuine, real, something connected to what I see before me, then he or she is a success. If I look at a painting, or a drawing, and my emotions overwhelm the obnoxiously critical part of my brain, and I find I cannot critique at all, that artist has truly created.
It must be noted that I do not always necessarily like the pieces that summon such emotions. A piece that upsets or angers me is not likely to find its way to my living room wall, but it is no less appreciated for what is has done.
Edmund Blair Leighton is such an artist. Perhaps the part of me that loved him when I was 9 is the part that hasn't really changed much. You know...the part that likes Lords and Ladies and Castles and Masked Balls. The part that wants to put on a long, flowing renaissance gown and promenade dramatically through fields of harebells and thistles. That is what keeps me going back to my computer to stare at his paintings again and again.
Nathan bought me a tapestry of one of my favourite Leighton paintings, The Accolade, as a wedding gift. Its gorgeous, and it hangs on the wall right next to my bed.
I look at it every night as I'm falling asleep. There have been so many times when I've wished I could pull a Mary Poppins, close my eyes, and jump right into the picture. Wouldn't that be wonderful? To be able to live all of my favorite works of art.
And recently (within the last few years) they stumbled across this painting, also by Mr. Leighton. In the picture, the lady (whom you should recognize from "The Accolade") is tracing the shadow of her lover so she will have something to remember him by as he goes off to war. I adore it.
Of course, even just prints of this particular piece are several hundred dollars right now, so it will have to wait. It does make a lovely desktop background for my computer, though.
Thanks for reading my random ramblings about things that have little significance to anyone except myself.
Love to you all,
Lissa
I can remember that day like it was yesterday. I remember how reluctant I was to go into a boring art store, and how much more reluctant I was to be dragged away from that beautiful, beautiful print.
I am no art expert. Show me a painting, and the only thing I will be able to say is whether or not I like it. But for me, that is what art is all about. Beauty is, after all, in the eye of the beholder. I enjoy Monet. Picasso often freaks me out. But for me, if an artist can make me feel something, something genuine, real, something connected to what I see before me, then he or she is a success. If I look at a painting, or a drawing, and my emotions overwhelm the obnoxiously critical part of my brain, and I find I cannot critique at all, that artist has truly created.
It must be noted that I do not always necessarily like the pieces that summon such emotions. A piece that upsets or angers me is not likely to find its way to my living room wall, but it is no less appreciated for what is has done.
Edmund Blair Leighton is such an artist. Perhaps the part of me that loved him when I was 9 is the part that hasn't really changed much. You know...the part that likes Lords and Ladies and Castles and Masked Balls. The part that wants to put on a long, flowing renaissance gown and promenade dramatically through fields of harebells and thistles. That is what keeps me going back to my computer to stare at his paintings again and again.
Nathan bought me a tapestry of one of my favourite Leighton paintings, The Accolade, as a wedding gift. Its gorgeous, and it hangs on the wall right next to my bed.
I look at it every night as I'm falling asleep. There have been so many times when I've wished I could pull a Mary Poppins, close my eyes, and jump right into the picture. Wouldn't that be wonderful? To be able to live all of my favorite works of art.
And recently (within the last few years) they stumbled across this painting, also by Mr. Leighton. In the picture, the lady (whom you should recognize from "The Accolade") is tracing the shadow of her lover so she will have something to remember him by as he goes off to war. I adore it.
Of course, even just prints of this particular piece are several hundred dollars right now, so it will have to wait. It does make a lovely desktop background for my computer, though.
Thanks for reading my random ramblings about things that have little significance to anyone except myself.
Love to you all,
Lissa
Monday, September 20, 2010
In Which I Share My Love of Autumn...
Things I love about Autumn:
1) The crisp air, without humidity or allergies. Seriously, fall is the only season that I can have the windows open without a full blown allergy attack or poofy hair. And I love that.
2) Snuggles. This comes with having windows open and the apartment being really cold (but the good kind of cold...the fresh air in my lungs cold). And being cold means I need more blankies, and more snuggling time with my husband.
3) Pumpkin Spice Lattes. They are the epitome of Autumn. I have as many as I can between the day they arrive, and the day the barrista tells me that they no longer serve them.
4)Fashion. Fall fashion is my favorite, without a doubt. I can wear enough layers to make my outfit interesting, but I don't have to bundle up to the point of frumpiness (not that I do that in the winter anyway...I usually opt to look good and be cold). But fall brings back boots, legwarmers, tights, knee high socks, and trench coats. And what is better than that? Also, the September issue of "Instyle" is my favorite.
5) Books. Yes, I love literature year round, but there is something sitting in front of our (fake) fireplace with hot cocoa and a really thick novel.
6) Volleyball. Have I mentioned lately that I love coaching? It's official...I'm addicted.
7) Gossip Girl. Yes, that is right. Gossip Girl returns to me every fall, and I bask in the guilty pleasure of my favorite television show. I just watched the first episode of season 4 and it BLEW MY MIND.
8) Renaissance Festival. Other than Starbucks and the stage, this is my favorite place in the WHOLE WORLD. I get to dress up in a pretty gown and pretend I'm a princess all day, and no one thinks it's strange. Also, everyone tells me that I'm pretty, which is always something I enjoy. And this year, the king remembered me from LAST year. That's fairly awesome.
Yes, my husband made that costume himself. Without a pattern
9) Imogen Heap. She's my soundtrack for Autumn. I was listening to her when I first glimpsed the Chicago Skyline. I was listening to her when I first glimpsed the NYC skyline. So happy memories all around. Nuff said.
10) Color. For a few brief weeks, the world is neither white nor green. It's not cold or humid. It's perfection.
Love to you all,
Lissa
1) The crisp air, without humidity or allergies. Seriously, fall is the only season that I can have the windows open without a full blown allergy attack or poofy hair. And I love that.
2) Snuggles. This comes with having windows open and the apartment being really cold (but the good kind of cold...the fresh air in my lungs cold). And being cold means I need more blankies, and more snuggling time with my husband.
3) Pumpkin Spice Lattes. They are the epitome of Autumn. I have as many as I can between the day they arrive, and the day the barrista tells me that they no longer serve them.
4)Fashion. Fall fashion is my favorite, without a doubt. I can wear enough layers to make my outfit interesting, but I don't have to bundle up to the point of frumpiness (not that I do that in the winter anyway...I usually opt to look good and be cold). But fall brings back boots, legwarmers, tights, knee high socks, and trench coats. And what is better than that? Also, the September issue of "Instyle" is my favorite.
5) Books. Yes, I love literature year round, but there is something sitting in front of our (fake) fireplace with hot cocoa and a really thick novel.
6) Volleyball. Have I mentioned lately that I love coaching? It's official...I'm addicted.
7) Gossip Girl. Yes, that is right. Gossip Girl returns to me every fall, and I bask in the guilty pleasure of my favorite television show. I just watched the first episode of season 4 and it BLEW MY MIND.
8) Renaissance Festival. Other than Starbucks and the stage, this is my favorite place in the WHOLE WORLD. I get to dress up in a pretty gown and pretend I'm a princess all day, and no one thinks it's strange. Also, everyone tells me that I'm pretty, which is always something I enjoy. And this year, the king remembered me from LAST year. That's fairly awesome.
Yes, my husband made that costume himself. Without a pattern
9) Imogen Heap. She's my soundtrack for Autumn. I was listening to her when I first glimpsed the Chicago Skyline. I was listening to her when I first glimpsed the NYC skyline. So happy memories all around. Nuff said.
10) Color. For a few brief weeks, the world is neither white nor green. It's not cold or humid. It's perfection.
Love to you all,
Lissa
Friday, August 13, 2010
Five Million Years Later...
So maybe it hasn't been quite five million years since I last blogged, but it has been quite a while. I sort of forgot about it for a while...I still read everyone else's blogs, though. :D
Life has been really great lately. Nathan and I finally found a church we both like. That's not an easy thing to do when you come from different church backgrounds. It was sort of an accident, actually. We'd been going to Bethlehem Baptist lately, but I didn't feel at home. Then we were staying in Eden Prairie for the weekend because we had a conference, and we decided to go to Grace Church there because Nathan had been there before and liked it. And also, we overslept and they have a 10:30 service. :D
And I loved it. It's a big church, but it has endless amounts of small groups that we can get involved in. The worship was great (contemporary, but I didn't feel like I was at a concert either), and the pastor is awesome. The preaching is extemporaneous, which is something that I really wanted in a church. The down side is that it IS in Eden Prairie, which makes for a good half-hour drive on Sunday mornings, but a good church we BOTH like is worth the drive.
Other new events...well, as most of you know, I am not returning to school this fall. Nathan is, however, and he's looking forward to classes starting at the end of this month. Summer has gone by so fast! But to all you college fanatics, you can relax, because I am, without a shadow of a doubt, returning in the spring. It's all set. I'm sure by the time first semester is half over, I'll be dying to go back to school. Nathan is glad I'm taking a break, because it will give me time to do his homework. :D
I do start volleyball on Monday, which I am looking forward to with both excitement and nerves. What I'm NOT looking forward to is all that time in an unairconditioned gym. On the happy side, this preseason I will be the one blowing the whistle, not the one running my ass off. :D
So there you have it...a Lissa Hoarn Life Update. I'll try to keep up the whole blogging thing...no promises though.
Love to all!
Lissa
Life has been really great lately. Nathan and I finally found a church we both like. That's not an easy thing to do when you come from different church backgrounds. It was sort of an accident, actually. We'd been going to Bethlehem Baptist lately, but I didn't feel at home. Then we were staying in Eden Prairie for the weekend because we had a conference, and we decided to go to Grace Church there because Nathan had been there before and liked it. And also, we overslept and they have a 10:30 service. :D
And I loved it. It's a big church, but it has endless amounts of small groups that we can get involved in. The worship was great (contemporary, but I didn't feel like I was at a concert either), and the pastor is awesome. The preaching is extemporaneous, which is something that I really wanted in a church. The down side is that it IS in Eden Prairie, which makes for a good half-hour drive on Sunday mornings, but a good church we BOTH like is worth the drive.
Other new events...well, as most of you know, I am not returning to school this fall. Nathan is, however, and he's looking forward to classes starting at the end of this month. Summer has gone by so fast! But to all you college fanatics, you can relax, because I am, without a shadow of a doubt, returning in the spring. It's all set. I'm sure by the time first semester is half over, I'll be dying to go back to school. Nathan is glad I'm taking a break, because it will give me time to do his homework. :D
I do start volleyball on Monday, which I am looking forward to with both excitement and nerves. What I'm NOT looking forward to is all that time in an unairconditioned gym. On the happy side, this preseason I will be the one blowing the whistle, not the one running my ass off. :D
So there you have it...a Lissa Hoarn Life Update. I'll try to keep up the whole blogging thing...no promises though.
Love to all!
Lissa
Thursday, May 27, 2010
A Lovely Day
So the weather today was fairly perfect. It was sunny and warm, but a nice breeze kept everything comfortable. Nathan and I packed up a lunch and made our way over to campus for a picnic with our friend Seoyon. We ate on "The Island", which is a lovely little island on Lake Johanna connected to campus with a bridge. There is a tiny little chapel up on a hill, which is apparently a popular makeout place, although we have yet to experience that for ourselves.
After said picnic, we signed out a canoe and spent an hour or so perusing the lake. It was lovely...and I actually ENJOYED all this time spent outdoors, which is a bit strange. And I didn't have a single sneeze or itchy eye...although I did develop a serious case of the hiccups. It gives me hope about the upcoming trip to Montana.
I apologize for poor picture quality. These were taken on my cell phone.
Love to all!!!
Lissa Hoarn
After said picnic, we signed out a canoe and spent an hour or so perusing the lake. It was lovely...and I actually ENJOYED all this time spent outdoors, which is a bit strange. And I didn't have a single sneeze or itchy eye...although I did develop a serious case of the hiccups. It gives me hope about the upcoming trip to Montana.
I apologize for poor picture quality. These were taken on my cell phone.
Love to all!!!
Lissa Hoarn
Friday, May 21, 2010
Here's to Paying Jobs I Enjoy...
Two major things since my last blog.
The first is that I interviewed for a coaching job at North St. Paul High School (Morgan's school)...and I got it!! I am officially the new coach for their 9th grade team! I had a meeting with their Varsity coach yesterday. I couldn't be more excited. The program is so well organized, and I get to do so much! Besides coaching my own team (which is actually 2 teams of 8 girls. The 9th grade team is split into "A" and "B" teams.) I get to go to several camps this summer, and a 2 day, overnight coaching clinic in St. Cloud. I'm going to learn so much!!! The sad thing is that I am going to miss the camp that I really, really want to go to...because I'm going to be in Montana. The camp is for 6th-9th graders, which would give me a good idea of what my team is going to be like this year (since it will be all 9th graders.) But don't worry, family...no thoughts of backing out. I can't wait for June 13th!!!
Not going to lie, though...the whole thing is a bit intimidating. I'm the youngest coach by far...and the only female. But everyone that I have met so far has been great, and great at answering questions. The other intimidating factor is that I'm in charge of 15 or 16 girls...and I'm on my own a lot. The 9th grade team plays opposite the JV and Varsity teams. So if they have a home game, we have an away game. And I don't have an assistant. (Sheryl, I may need some help...) But I plan to spend the summer getting to know the NSP program, and studying the game as much as possible. I'm determined to be a bad-ass coach.
It's going to make for a crazy fall schedule, though. After my two matches (A and B team), I either bus back to the school, if we played away, or drive to the school where the varsity game is. I get to sit on their bench and take stats. I'm almost as excited for that as I am to coach my own team. I think I'll learn a ton.
Go Polar Bears!
The second thing just happened this morning. Nathan's sister Caroline called to offer us a job watching her two older boys 3 days a week. It's basically the same schedule as Mom has...Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. I'm really excited for this, because we were looking for a nanny job we could do together. It's even better that it's with family, and we already know and love Jacob and Nicholas.
So it looks like that's our summer! It's going to be busy, and fun, and crazy! And I intend to accomplish several goals, such as weekly visits to the library to pick up intellect-expanding literature, learning French (we have the Rosetta Stone program...and I am dying to be bilingual), working out regularly, and eating healthy food. All in all, it should be a very productive few months!!!
Love to all!
Lissa Hoarn
The first is that I interviewed for a coaching job at North St. Paul High School (Morgan's school)...and I got it!! I am officially the new coach for their 9th grade team! I had a meeting with their Varsity coach yesterday. I couldn't be more excited. The program is so well organized, and I get to do so much! Besides coaching my own team (which is actually 2 teams of 8 girls. The 9th grade team is split into "A" and "B" teams.) I get to go to several camps this summer, and a 2 day, overnight coaching clinic in St. Cloud. I'm going to learn so much!!! The sad thing is that I am going to miss the camp that I really, really want to go to...because I'm going to be in Montana. The camp is for 6th-9th graders, which would give me a good idea of what my team is going to be like this year (since it will be all 9th graders.) But don't worry, family...no thoughts of backing out. I can't wait for June 13th!!!
Not going to lie, though...the whole thing is a bit intimidating. I'm the youngest coach by far...and the only female. But everyone that I have met so far has been great, and great at answering questions. The other intimidating factor is that I'm in charge of 15 or 16 girls...and I'm on my own a lot. The 9th grade team plays opposite the JV and Varsity teams. So if they have a home game, we have an away game. And I don't have an assistant. (Sheryl, I may need some help...) But I plan to spend the summer getting to know the NSP program, and studying the game as much as possible. I'm determined to be a bad-ass coach.
It's going to make for a crazy fall schedule, though. After my two matches (A and B team), I either bus back to the school, if we played away, or drive to the school where the varsity game is. I get to sit on their bench and take stats. I'm almost as excited for that as I am to coach my own team. I think I'll learn a ton.
Go Polar Bears!
The second thing just happened this morning. Nathan's sister Caroline called to offer us a job watching her two older boys 3 days a week. It's basically the same schedule as Mom has...Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. I'm really excited for this, because we were looking for a nanny job we could do together. It's even better that it's with family, and we already know and love Jacob and Nicholas.
So it looks like that's our summer! It's going to be busy, and fun, and crazy! And I intend to accomplish several goals, such as weekly visits to the library to pick up intellect-expanding literature, learning French (we have the Rosetta Stone program...and I am dying to be bilingual), working out regularly, and eating healthy food. All in all, it should be a very productive few months!!!
Love to all!
Lissa Hoarn
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