some of my favorite things.

i simply wanted to list some of my favorite things... websites, music, books, foods, etc.

websites:

• Style Me Pretty - if you have read this blog at all you have already heard of this website. my all time favorite wedding blog and blog in general. oh, i love it.
• Of First Importance - a really good blog with quotes from wise Christian leaders such as Tim Keller, Paul Tripp, Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, etc. great site.
• flickr - i am sure most people already know of this site. but, i gave a direct link to photos random photos uploaded from the last 7 days. i like to take these photos and make a collage on paint for a background to my computer. i love good photography.
• Martha Stewart - of course. i love martha stewart. lately i have been really into her many different templates for crafts that she has online. just click on the crafts section of her website. you may be exploring for a while!
• I LISTEN TO EVERYTHING - this is a fun blog that just has lots and lots of music advice on new and old artists; musicians you've heard since you were born and some that you have never heard of. it's fun to look at.

books:

• The Heavenly Man - remarkable account of Chinese pastor, Brother Yun. a very tough book to read, but life changing.
• Bruchko - missionary biography of a man named Bruce Olsen who leaves America at the age of 19 to share the Gospel with unreached people in South America. fascinating.
• The Allure of Hope - a book by Jan Meyers that really makes women look at the reality of pain in their lives, face it, and see how the Lord uses it to bring hope to you and glory to Himself. great book for women who feel lonely, tired, and want to understand the hope and peace of God.
• Safely Home - another China book... one of the original books that sparked my interest in China. such a good book! a great story of an American man who experiences the passion of the underground church. it's a great novel.
• Little Women - i just love this book... maybe because i come from a family of four girls. i love the time period and the scenery. i love the love stories and i find it very relatable even though it takes place in a completely different time.
• Passion and Purity - i probably quote Elisabeth Elliot more than the Bible (disclaimer: not a good thing). she is such a wise women and such a good story of her and jim elliot following the Lord.

food:

• Vanilla Chai - ahh. it's heavenly. if you know me, you know that i love Big Train vanilla chai. so good. blended ice is the best, but it's so good hot, too. please try it if you have not.
• popcorn - another Kate Rhodes staple. you can eat a lot of it for few calories, if you make it correctly without any oil. it fulfills that comfort food need. it's so yummy.
• Pita Pit - this is more recent. but you can get so many veggies with a lot of flavor in one meal. i highly reccommend it! lately i've been into pineapple with savory food... so if you get grilled veggies with pineapple and teriyaki sauce it's so tasty and will give you so many nutrients.
• Apples and peanut butter - i don't know many people who don't like this combo. wonderful nutrients in the apple, and protein to fill you up with the PB. as long as you don't overdo do the PB which is very easy to do.
• Weight Watchers ice cream sandwiches - fullfills my massive sweet tooth without going overboard on calories. best lowfat ice cream treat, by far.

music:

• U2 - i haven't always been a huge fan, but lately i have really started to appreciate this band that so many people have been obsessed with for years. i am hopefully going to see them in the Fall, if schedules workout. song favorites - i still haven't found what i'm looking for, with or without you, bittersweet symphony
• Joe Purdy - love his voice and the slow melody. very typical "Kate" music... singer/songwriter. love it. song favorites - why do i, wash away
• Rosie Thomas - such beautiful music. very, very soft and melodic. the lyrics almost freak me out how relatable they are... i've imagined writing songs that she has written! song favorites - have you seen my love, let it be me
• JEM - fun, poppy music. good to run to. song favorites - it's amazing, just a ride
• Carolina Liar - my radio song that i LOVE. i think my friends are sick of it, but for some strange reason i just love this song... show me what i'm looking for
• Sandra McCracken - it's hard to find anyone that does not like her. great lyrics. shelter could be my life song. other favorites - guardian, broken cup
• i could go on... i'll have another favorite music blog later.

movies:

• Walk the Line - i might say this is my favorite movie ever. although that's a hard title to put on any movie. i love the scenery and the costumes and the twangy music, but mostly i love the redemptive like story of Johnny Cash. i love it.
• Sense and Sensibility - i recently realized how much i love this movie. i love the costumes from this time period and i really like the complex love stories. it's interesting how courting was so different during this time period yet i could relate to this movie so much. plus, Kate Winslet stars in this movie. umm, she's my favorite.
• Romeo and Juliet - Baz Luhrman edition. such a beautiful movie, beautiful cinematography. romeo and juliet is one of my favorite stories... i think the idea of forbidden love is so romantic (as cheesy as that may sound). it's such a unique creative film. and leonardo dicaprio stars in it... my favorite actor.
• Bridget Jones Diary: The Edge of Reason - i think i could watch this movie every day of my life and never stop laughing at it. bridget jones is such a relatable character. i laugh so hard. she always makes me happy!
• Slumdog Millionaire - who did not love this movie? beautiful, beautiful. what an interesting way to tell a heartwrenching story of the condition of India and to tell such a beautiful love story. one of the best love stories i have ever heard. and i adore the music in this movie! and to top it all off, dev patel and freida pinto now date in real life! it is just too much.

ok, that's enough of lists for right now. hope that you can find some fun info in there somewhere! let me know what your favorites are.