quote of the day

Janna: "You have to judge a tree by its fruit. And that fruit is creepy."

#mythoughtsontwitter

In my book "Crap Katie Says" (release date TBA) there will probably be a chapter dedicated to social media. I think I wrote in a previous blog post about why sports teams need twitter accounts. Actually when twitter first entered the world, I didn't know why anyone needed a twitter account. But as more and more people join, I can see it now. There was that dark period in my life when I didn't have cable this summer and unfortunately the Women's World Cup was happening at the same time. Twitter helped me keep up with all of the scores and each play of the USA games. Similarly, I know every time the Panthers gain 5 yards and who's starting at Quarterback. But if you're not into sports, just pick a favorite celebrity or President to follow, dead or alive. It's cool I know every time Lauren Conrad designs a new outfit, when the cast of Glee is in dance rehearsal, that Obama is using Foursquare, and what Cameron Bunce is growing in his garden. Truthfully if it weren't for twitter, I wouldn't know about some of the world's happenings such as the recent riots in London or when we killed off Osama. Some tweets are hilarious and some are just quotes or website links that I couldn't care less about. But overall I have good feelings toward this form of social media. It's less of a headache than facebook most days and the 140 character limit is a really good thing for some people. So if you haven't joined the twitterverse yet, I think that you should get at it. Have me, your mom, your favorite rapper, and the Twilight vampires all sent to your mobile phone throughout the day. Who knows, maybe I'll start a twitter for the black puppy that lives with me. @iliketochewthings has a nice ring to it don't you think?

Quote of the Day

Amanda: "What if we just did a flash mob of Bad Romance right here in Krispy Kreme, stop I'm just kidding!"

KtB: "I love my TOMS. Don't buy BOBS though. I've got a sneaky suspicion that the same kids that are receiving those shoes are also making them."

Friday Favorites

I don't know if Jon Acuff has added this to his list of "Stuff Christians Like" but this Friday's Favorite definetly applies. Yup, I finally gave in. I bought TOMS. I've always been impressed with the business model and story of TOMS shoes, giving a kid in need a pair of shoes for every pair you buy. I guess it was just that everyone was wearing em and you could only buy em online and I just never put that much thought into it. But I figured for my birthday, a shiny new pair of TOMS is just what I should buy myself. So I did, and shocker, I love them. For as style challenged as I am most days, I do love shoes. And these bright reds sure are comfy. But ya know I've only seen mostly Christians sporting these flats in funky colors. Christians are more likely to back this "One for One" cause as we typically love underprivaledged children in countries we've never been while being stylish at the same time. So next time you're in a crowd and want to spot your future Christian mate, stop your wondering. Just look for their flat feet and a guitar case with the TOMS sticker placed among about 75 others.

Dang it.

Feet.

This weekend I volunteered with Shoes for Hope, sponsored by Samaritan’s Feet and the Rock Hill School District. Basically, underprivileged kids and youth could come and get new shoes and new school supplies. I didn’t know exactly what I was doing when I got there, but I volunteered to be a foot washer. I think some of the kids thought it was weird that some stranger was washing their feet, but that’s actually the best part of it. I was washing people’s feet, having no idea where they come from, where they’ve been, and will probably never see some of them again. Those kinds of situations are the best reminders for me though, about why we should serve people and who we should serve. Because it’s super easy to serve my family or even my best pals, because they love me so much and I love them enough to do whatever I can for them. But kids off the street don’t know me and have nothing to offer me. But that’s the best kind of service, the kind of service I believe Jesus is pleased with. It was really cool to be able to give kids a new pair of shoes to walk into school with on the first day. New shoes was always my favorite part of going back to school, I felt really good about myself if I had cool new shoes on. One girl’s face lit up when I put her new pink converses on her feet because it was her favorite color and I have a feeling she’ll wear those things out! It was also an awesome reminder about how rich I am. I wish I could do something like this every day, just to bring me back down a few knotches. It’s easy to forget how much I’ve been given when I spend most of my time walking my dog in one of the nicest neighborhoods in rock hill. When I go to my super fun job and get surrounded by people who love me and always want the best for me. It’s really easy to forget that some people have nothing. Every kid that sat down in front of me is loved by Jesus just as much as I am and He died to save them too. Our stuff and our status gets us nowhere in the end. That puts us all on the same level when you look at people that way and what a cool thought, how much He loves us.

"How God thinks of us is not only important, but infinitely more important. Indeed, how we think of Him is of no importance except insofar as it is related to how he thinks of us. It is written that we shall “stand before” him, shall appear, shall be inspected. The promise of glory is the promise, almost incredible and only possible by the work of Christ, that some of us, that any of us who really chooses, shall please god. To please God…to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness…to be loved by god, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a Son-it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is."

-C.S. Lewis, "The Weight of Glory"

Fat Weekend

Every year since we were freshman, Brooke, Maggie, Erica, and I would save up all our money and go to Outback to celebrate the end of the school year. Our biggest problem these days isn't finding the money to treat ourselves with good food, it's finding a weekend when all of us are free to be together. Well this weekend, we all arrived successfully at Brooke's pad in Raleigh. Not only was it Outback weekend, but it was my birthday on Saturday, so we ate. We ate a LOT of freaking food. On friday night we went to this awesome place that had grilled cheeses and milkshakes. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory for saturday lunch and got our half-priced cheesecake (in honor of National Cheesecake Day! Convenient huh?) Then we played a hardcore game of laser tag and together won 300 tickets in the arcade. Our Outback night included but was not limited to: bloomin onion, cheese fries, wine, steak, wedge salads, mashed potatoes, and Carvel icecream cake, our favorite thing ever. I love it when friends find time for each other. Even after 7 years and several miles apart, some silly traditions are just too special and fun to give up on. It was a swell 25th birthday!

Quotes happened, of course...
Maggie: "I think I'm autistic."
Brooke: "Don't take this the wrong way Maggie, but you could totally be on the spectrum."

After taking her inhaler...
Maggie: "Now I have to go wash my mouth out so I don't get a yeast infection in my throat."
Brooke: "See, on the spectrum."

Maggie: "My boss is one of those people who are devestated by the fact that she's getting older. I'm like, don't hate me cause you aint me!"