july 2011 faves

in no particular order...

fave #1: KitchenAid Architect Blender.  (We registered for it at Macy's).

pretty obsessed with this little "can-do-everything" machine.  seriously.  in it i've made everything from smoothies to fresh basil pesto (who needs a food processor?!)... this is a fantastic and relatively inexpensive blender (compared to some other super-duper high-end models).  go get one.  :)

fave #2: Jami Nato's blog. http://thenatos.blogspot.com/

she is hul.ar.i.ous.  absolutely slays me with her wit.  but not only will she make you pee your pants laughing--- she is an incredible wife, momma, and sister in Christ who has been through a TON and has consistently chosen Jesus, truth, life, and love over whatever life brings her way.  even though she most certainly doesn't know i exist, i hope to meet her someday for a coffee and a laugh. :)

fave #3: learning more about Fair Trade products.

http://www.transfairusa.org/products-partners

i heard a really convicting, poignant, and beautiful sermon on Sunday about slavery, and how it still exists today, all over the world.  [click here to listen-- just choose the sermon out of the player called "The Descent Into Slavery"].  since hearing this gripping message, i've really started to research how to fight for justice and love in my purchasing of various products.  i know it's only a beginning, (but you have to start somewhere!).. and i've recently discovered a SWEET coffee shop called "Georgette's"-- very close to my apartment that sells fair trade coffee AND gifts (through the ten thousand villages network).  click here and you can buy stuff, too, from Georgette's even if you aren't close to Maumee, Ohio! :)

fave #4: the Toledo Zoo.

it's awesome; check it out!  there is a baby elephant (lucas!), fantastic exhibits, educational opportunities, feeding demos, enrichment lessons, and more!  one of the BEST things toledo has goin' for it, in my opinion. :)