Goo Goo for Gaga

I really enjoy Lady Gaga as an entertainer.

I love her crazy makeup and fake eyelashes and weird wigs and tights and shoes and other things that she wears that could hardly be called clothing. I love that she values originality and theatrics and expression. I am entertained by the fact that she doesn't care that people question her sanity or talent. In interviews, she discusses her art so seriously, as though she is, as a performer, creating something important and noble for the world. Misguided though she is, she intrigues me. She's just ridiculous...everything about her. And...I kind of love it.

She never fails to entertain me. Deserved or not, she definitely has my attention...and I wonder what crazy thing she'll do next!

In the Brood

Does the name Michael Schoeffling ring a bell? No? Trust me...you know who he is.

Look familiar?

He's only made a handful of films, yet he's in three of my all-time favorites. And he's perfectly cast in each of them, which makes sense, since the characters he plays are not entirely unique to each other.

In Sixteen Candles, he plays hunky Jake Ryan, the desirable high school dude every girl loves, yet he doesn't realize how desired and beautiful he is...he's quiet and unassuming. He's brooding, he's waiting for something, he's unfulfilled and sensitive and anxious. And he's adorable.

In Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, he plays a young man named Al Carver, who assists his father with a diving horse show during the Depression. His father is abusive, yet Al seeks his approval every day. Al's a tortured soul who never feels he can do anything right in the eyes of his dad. He needs rescuing, he's pensive, and he's brooding again...he's broodiful.

And then there's Mermaids. Michael plays Joe, the quiet outsider who works at the town convent. He's the victim of small-town gossip; he's misunderstood, he's a loner, he's brooding, and again, he's so cute.

These characters make me think that it wasn't just acting, but that Michael--or as I like to call him, Mikey--was kind of an emo dude. These days, he's keeping it real in Pennsylvania, where he sells handmade furniture. I hope it makes him smile more than acting did.

But seriously...what it is about brooding men? Mr. Darcy, Heathcliffe from Wuthering Heights, Luke from Gilmore Girls, Jack from LOST, Spock, Ryan from The O.C., and of course Twilight's Edward Cullen...they're unfailingly attractive. (One of my favorite brooding musicians? Jakob Dylan.) Is it the mystery? The intrigue? That touch of a tortured soul about them?

I don't know. I don't get it. But it works.

(Oh, one more thing: If you haven't seen these movies, please do. They're all so, so great!!)

The Forgotten

It's trendy to be part of a cause, but when it comes down to it, not many people believe in something enough for it to impact or change the way they live their lives. It's easy to wear TOMS Shoes or a rubber bracelet, or to purchase something you normally would that just happens to benefit a cause. But when a world problem asks more of us, the answer is often no.

That's not the case at Crave, the college-age ministry at Saddleback Church. Some of the most compassionate and mobilized students on the planet are involved in this ministry. They are not afraid to sacrifice their time or money or energy or resources. They do what it takes to make a difference in the lives that society has ignored and forgotten.

A few weeks ago, Crave held an art show to promote "The Forgotten," a new name to the face of Crave's outreach ministries. (These pics are all from the show.) 450 people attended this event! Over 40 artists displayed 100 works of art, including paintings, drawings, photography, graphic design, fashion design, and video media. There were also performaces--music, skits, and poetry. These weren't professional artists, just college kids from Orange County--talented students who have been moved by their experiences with serving those who society has deemed the least, the last, and the lost. Their artwork was a response to the poverty, pain, disease, and needs that they've seen around the world and in Orange County. These students have slept in the streets of Skid Row, spent months in Africa, gotten up at the crack of dawn on Saturday mornings to go to Compton and do physical labor all day, spent their own money to show Christ's love to people in developing countries instead of on vacations with their friends. One student is learning Russian at Saddleback College because she wants to devote her life to serving the people of Ukraine.

These students aren't rich or spiritual nutcases. They are just ordinary students--18 to 24-year-olds--responding to God's call to serve and love. And it's not always easy finding the courage or strength to be obedient to that call...

The point of the art show was to create an awareness for "The Forgotten" and to give students the opportunities to sign up for outreach ministries. Over fifty students signed up to serve! These students will start tutoring high schoolers in Santa Ana, building relationships with kids at juvenile hall, supporting orphans in Orange County and street children in Rwanda and Ukraine, and visiting the elderly.
I'm so proud of this ministry. Our students are constantly challenging me and teaching me about what denying myself, taking up my cross, and following God really means (Mark 8:34). I'm so thankful for them...it's a blessing seeing God changing their lives and the lives of others through Crave, a ministry that God has used to change my life, too.

Support The Forgotten on facebook!

Mad for Magazines

Contrary to what my roommates (a.k.a. my parents) might say, my room isn’t that messy. What really creates the clutter is the scattered magazines all over the floor and haphazard stacks of periodicals everywhere. If those towers of magazines toppled over, they could smother me to death. I subscribe to a ton of magazines, and they pile up fast, especially since some of them arrive in my mailbox weekly.

The only problem with my love of magazines is the pileup. When the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly or InStyle comes in, rarely does the last issue hit the trash. I can’t ever just throw a magazine away. I always, always have to flip through it one more time before I throw it away, no matter how old it is. It’s quite a consuming task…

I have to tear out the pages with beautiful photos for that huge collage I’m planning on making someday, check out the movie reviews for films I’ll never see, rip out the recipes that I’ll probably never try, and re-read the interviews and articles about people I don’t know or even really care about. I also usually have a notepad by my side, to write down things like “visit Palihouse Hotel in West Hollywood,” “go to papercupdesign.com,” “add Trueblood to Netflix,” or “look up ‘erudite.’” I can’t just throw away the tips, pics, and info!

Magazines are so much fun. There’s one for every interest and demographic! I love the fashion ads, smelling the perfume samples, punny article titles, and the glossy pages. I definitely get the most out of my subscriptions.

What are your favorite magazines?

Was Paul a Twilight fan?

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. --Colossians 2:16

(PS I am 100% joking.)

Another Christmas List

My Christmas wish list wasn't really for the purpose of you buying me gifts; I hope you got that. Those things are fun, but I’d just be temporarily entertained by them. And I would smell really good...

I actually thought about what I really want over the weekend…you know, the good stuff that can’t be bought.

Here's what you can't get me for Christmas:

Self-awareness. What an awesome thing to have. Sometimes our oblivion causes us to unknowingly hurt others with our tone, words, actions, and even negligence. We’re also unaware of God’s voice in our lives and don’t see the areas we need to grow in. Self-awareness is a powerful thing that I’d say most of us don’t have a firm grasp on.

Kindness. I want the ability to love people to be less of a choice and more of an automatic reaction. I can definitely improve with showing people how much I love and appreciate them.

To be myself and like it. I’ve underestimated myself my entire life, and I often say self-deprecating comments or make fun of my interests before anyone else has the chance to, just to show that I’m aware of my nerdy tendencies. But that nonsense needs to stop. I really, really do like myself. I just still need to learn to be unapologetic about it.

I don’t ever want to be in a place where I don’t feel I’m learning, growing, and changing for the better. I want to be God’s best. And with his transforming power, I have no doubt that I will grow in these gifts...

Check it Twice!

My birthday's in exactly one month, and Christmas isn't long after that! So I thought I'd provide you with a gift guide, not only to ensure that I get what I want, but, more importantly, to help make your shopping experience easier.

Here's what I really need:

Opera glasses. These are so cute and much more dainty and practical than lugging my dad's binoculars to the theater.

Gossip Girl season 2. Even better than season 1, this show is so dramatic and ridiculous...and I can't get enough. I love the aesthetics of the show--the clothes, the architecture, the New York landscape. Add a stellar cast and well-written dialogue, and you have the ingredients for a great show. "Sew much to do necklace"--I mean, it's a sewing machine. On a necklace. Why wouldn't you want this? It's just sew cute...
J'adore by Dior--This isn't even a new scent, but I just discovered it last month. When I first smelled this perfume on a friend, I wanted to nuzzle my face into her neck. It's scrumptious!
Novel Destinations--the perfect gift for bibliophiles who love traveling, this is a guide to over 500 literary sites across America and Europe.
Starbucks gift cards--easy and practical.

What do you want for Christmas?

Travel Tips Part III

Speaking of travel, my friend mentioned to me the other day that she had been planning a trip with a couple of her friends. She just got her first passport, was approved to get a week off work, and then...nothing happened. Her friends didn't follow through. And I'm sad to say I'm not surprised.

Trips take a lot of intentional dedication and work to become realities. If you are ever planning a vacation with friends, keep the following in mind:

1. People, even the dearest and most sincere, will flake when it comes to committing financially to things. I'm including myself in that, too. I mean, duh. It's easy to say you're "in" during the planning stages of anything. But when that deposit needs to be put down, backing out is inevitable and the truth is...you should expect it. I never count on anyone being in on the plan unless they've forked out a deposit right along with me. Money talks.

2. Communicate with your friends before the trip about expectations. Unless you have come to an understanding about things like comfort levels, areas of interest, physical limitations, how much you're both willing to spend, and even things like food choices, you will be in for a rude awakening once you realize that your friend wants to visit a mall while you want to visit a museum, someone wants to take a five-mile hike when you want to sit at a café, or your friend expected a five-star hotel instead of a hostel. Never assume someone's expectations are the same as yours. We all know what happens when you assume...

3. If, after you've discussed expectations and made plans, you're having second thoughts about the trip...explore why you're feeling that way. Does your vacation already look totally different than you thought it would? Maybe you're planning to travel with the wrong person. Traveling can bring out the best in people...but it can also bring out the worst. You don't want arguments, differences, or petty annoyances to ruin a trip you're paying a lot of money for.

4. That being said, do be prepared to compromise...most often on things that don't matter (like which bed you prefer in a hotel). Be a team player. This is your friend's trip, too.

5. Traveling alone can be awesome. Things always become more complicated when you have to depend on other people to stay with or take you places. There's freedom to be found in traveling alone. I've met many great people and forced myself out of my comfort zone while traveling by myself, and while it's sometimes been more challenging, it's always been a rewarding experience.

For parts I and II of my travel tips, go here and here.

A Stamp is Worth a Thousand Words

A good trip, an adventure outside of my normal living zone, something to anticipate, work toward, save up for, and dream about...it's tantamount to my personal happiness and fulfillment; I've been a blissful sufferer of wanderlust since I was a kid.

But alas, the time has now come...ten years, twenty-one countries, one visa, twenty stamps, and six international trips later, it's time for my faithful passport to retire and to get a new one.

That little booklet was my ticket to making many memories over the years...

I've eaten fondue in Switzerland--the country's national dish. I've tasted the worst pizza ever, in Rome, from a cart outside of the Coliseum. I tried schnitzel and sacher torte in Vienna. I sipped champagne at a Chopin piano concert in Warsaw and tasted vodka for the first--and only--time in St. Petersburg. I've eaten at Hard Rock Cafes in London, Paris, Moscow, and Madrid.

I've cruised down the Rhine River, looking at castles on the hills, and ridden on a gondola through the Grand Canal in Venice. I've played on the Moscow and Barcelona metros. I took an overnight ferry across the Baltic Sea to from Germany to Finland. I've ridden a horse-drawn cart through the Irish countryside and an overnight train from St. Petersburg to Moscow. I've used countless buses, trains, and taxis.

I paid 2 Swiss francs in Liechtenstein to get my passport stamped at the visitor's bureau. I spent €8 for a coke in Florence and €40 for a T-shirt at the Moulin Rouge. I paid 10,851 roubles to make an hour-long phone call from St. Petersburg to Orange County...that's over $300 U.S. dollars. (Yikes!) I bowled a 118 at an underground bowling alley in Bordeaux, France, and it cost €3.40. I've been to Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross station in London. I wasn't allowed to use the bathroom in the Monte Carlo casino in Monaco because I wasn't 21.

I've stayed in some nosedive hotels, like the Regent Palace in London (it sounds nice, right?!). I stood in the pouring rain for forty minutes waiting to get into the Vatican. I stayed in a cockroach-infested hotel in Belarus and one of the most-bombed hotels in Europe (in Belfast). In the Dominican Republic, we found an unexpected house guest--a tarantula! I almost got hit by a car in Russia. My credit card was declined while I was in London and I never did get that Rosetta Stone backpack from the British Museum. In an Irish castle, a spider came down from the rafters and landed in my dinner.

I've seen the Elgin Marbles at the British Museum, chatted with Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and marveled at the tiny size of the Venus of Willendorf at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna, which is considered by some to be the "world's first work of art." In Toledo I saw El Greco's masterpiece, the Burial of Count Orgaz, and saw the sparkling Faberge eggs at the Kremlin Museum in Moscow. I couldn't stop looking at Michelangelo's Pieta in St. Peter's, the most beautiful sculpture in the world. I saw one of my favorite paintings at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg--Rembrandt's Return of the Prodigal Son. I've seen Vermeer's Milkmaid at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. I never looked down for more than a minute while I was in the Sistine Chapel.

I'm so sad that I have to get a new passport and start all over! I don't want an empty, pristine passport...they're for amateurs. I guess I can stomp on my new one and wear it in a little bit before I use it...I wonder what my first new stamp will be...and when!

Yogurt Culture

A couple of weeks ago after Crave, I had a hankering for some frozen yogurt. I prefer Golden Spoon to every other yogurt place…it’s just delicious and classic and they have never disappointed me. But Golden Spoon was closed that night, and I wouldn’t be denied a delicious frozen treat (or dinner!), so I reluctantly headed across the street to Cherry on Top. (You know, the place with red spoons instead of golden ones…stupid.)

This excursion reminded me of why I loathe serve-yourself yogurt places. First, have you noticed that they all adhere to some strange rule that only atrociously uncomfortable quasi-space age décor may be used? Plastic molded chairs and furniture that looks like plastic bubbles? Are you kidding me? I understand that I might not be the target demographic for a frozen yogurt place located 200 yards from a high school, but the static, uncomfortable atmosphere pretty much deters me from spending any more time in there than necessary.

Second…I hate swirling my own yogurt. I have never developed any yogurt swirling skills, nor do I desire to, unless I’m being paid. I’d prefer to purchase yogurt from an establishment that will provide me with a perfectly swirled little cup of frozen yogurt. We all know that pretty food tastes better.

Third, why are the cups at these places, even the smallest sizes, so huge?! These small buckets encourage me to pay for a ton more yogurt that I won’t finish and have to pay for. I’ve never eaten anything larger than a small size at Golden Spoon.

Fourth…do-it-yourself candy toppings? That can’t be sanitary, especially when taking into account the number of young, grubby hands that have probably infested those crushed Oreos and gummy worms with H1N1 and the like. If I want to eat things that have been touched by other people, I’ll go to the salad bar at Sizzler.

I mean, would you ever choose this....

over this?!

Golden Spoon, you will always have my heart.