Ok Friends, I have big news!

Over the past few months I've been mulling over the idea of starting a whole new blog, and after much thought and consideration I've decided it was time to say goodbye to Daily Bread With Emily.

I've had a wonderful two years here with all of you, but the time has come to move on.

Thank you all for your years of friendship and dedication to my blog. I will miss this space dearly, but I'm excited for my new adventure to begin over at Her Peerless Eyes (click here to visit!)

Autumn Season

I love the fall. I think perhaps it is my most favorite season of all. And even though I never seem to find myself living in a climate that experiences such beautiful weather, I like to pretend I do... and who knows, maybe someday I will.

But for now, I'm content to marvel at the fall season. Here are some of the thing I love most about it.....

1.) Cozy socks and warm fireplace fires 2.) Dark green painted nails
3.) Brightly colored autumn leaves
4.) Hot apple cider
5.) Concord grapes 6.) Pumpkin patches
7.) Layers and layers of scarves, hats, jackets and other fall clothing items

Love this song, love this band, had to share!

PLEASE read the lyrics as the song plays...

I'm a wandering soul
I got no place of my own
Well I got nothing to give
Well I got nothing to show for it
And I'll be wondering on, for all my years
What I become no one could know

If you're feeling what I'm feeling c'mon
All you soul searching people c'mon

And I got something to say my friends
I will never lay down without a fight
And when I die it will be the day
When every one of my wrongs will be made right
Only times gonna heal my pain
Lord knows the mistakes I will make
Yeah there'll be peace on my soul someday
Reconciled I'll be on my way

And I'll be wondering on, for all my years
What I become no one can say

If you're feeling what I'm feeling c'mon
All you soul searching people c'mon
Oh no, if you're feeling what I'm feeling c'mon
All you soul searching people c'mon

And I'll be wondering on, for all these years
What I become no one could know
If you're feeling what I'm feeling c'mon
All you soul searching people c'mon

This Present Darkness

I'm so sorry blogging world for my absence from you. I could probably think of every excuse in the book for why my writing has been lacking- but I think I'd rather be honest and say, it just hasn't been a priority lately. Life is different from the last time I wrote here. A lot has happened. Mostly good, some bad, and all of it highly uninteresting to anyone who isn't me, so I shall not ramble on. Instead I'd like to share a book with you. Yes, with everything that happens in my life I will always manage to find time to read a good book. As a matter of fact, its not an unusual occurrence to see me planted in a tucked away coffee shop with a chai tea latte and four different books on my lap- all of which I am currently reading. So yes- I love literature. I could eat it for every meal and be sustained for life.
For the past few weeks I have been heavily engrossed in a Christian fiction book entitled "This Present Darkness". For the most part, I tend not to like "Christian fiction" as it can often be cheesy and a bit cliche, but this book is most definitely an exception. It may not ever be considered a work of literary genius, but its message will forever haunt me. The novel touches on the concept of spiritual warfare and its effect on humanity. Sometimes we get so engrossed in our own little worlds, that we forget Christ tells us there is currently a war being waged for our souls everyday. I would be foolish to think my everyday doubts, my negative thoughts, my poor body image, or my anxious heart were not do to the whisperings of Satan and his legion of demons. Have you ever felt that feeling of dread wash over you as if out of no where? Have you ever had a day where you do nothing but harp on yourself all day long? Have you ever made yourself sick over worry? These thoughts and feelings do not come from the Lord. And when we are engrossed in such emotions or negativity we often feel distant from God- it is usually the time we feel least like praying or reading The Word. But this book has reminded me that Satan CANNOT be in the presence of prayer. When I am on my knees in prayer I am unable to keep my mind glued on what Satan is feeding me.
I'm sure it is no coincidence that while I'm reading this book I experience a day where I feel totally and utterly attacked. Today has been filled with worry, negative body image thoughts, and lies upon lies. I have felt anxious, sad, depressed, and angry... and I know my loving God is not responsible for this. So I'm fighting back. If Satan wants to wage war, then lets get down and dirty, because I ain't goin without a fight!

Ephesians 6:12-18
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Today I got the urge to paint my kitchen this color blue.
Finished product pictures coming soon....

Earlier I was telling my awesome Rock N' Roll loving Uncle about my experience at the Joan Jett concert and how I managed to get front and center out of several hundred crazed fans. He then made me laugh when he said I reminded him of the girl Sammy Hagar sings about in his song "Heavy Metal" -

"Tight pants and lipstick
She's riding on razor's edge
She holds her own against the boys
Yea, cuts through the crowd just like a wedge
Ohh, can you feel the static
So many contacts being made
We've got up front fanatics
Tearing down the barricade
To reach the stage
Can you feel the rage "

Take a wild guess who this is....

4th of July Escapades- take one!

WOW! Its been a crazy four days, but also some of the best four days I've had in a long time.

I dont think I realized just how much I needed a girls trip away until I actually took one. And while I'm on the subject- Let me just say I have some of the BEST girlfriends anyone could ever ask for!!!! (special shout out to Kalie and Jamie... love you both!)

Our girls weekend getaway consisted of four days of pure adventure and bliss- but of course four whole days is too much to cover in one blog post, so I'm splitting it up. And while it would probably make the most sense to start with day 1 of our adventure, I simply MUST start with day 4- the much anticipated JOAN JETT CONCERT!!!!

Thats right, yesterday the girls and I spent a total of 9.5 hours at the Del Mar Fairgrounds waiting anxiously to see the greatest female rock n' roll legend of all time.

The first part of our afternoon was spent eating crappy fair food, going on sketchy rides that spin and twirl you around until you think your jumbo order of fried onion rings might come back up, and of course engaging in some intense people watching. In the blink of an eye 4 o'clock managed to roll around, which meant it was time to get in line for the 9:30pm showing of Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. To our surprise there was already a young woman in line, but we were happy to be the lucky second. After about an hour of waiting the three of us had made an adorable group of fellow Joan Jett fan friends and before we knew it, all six of us had spread out a blanket, whipped out some yummy snacks to share, and were chatting, laughing, and playing games to pass the time. Five hours later the gates opened and the six of us ran to the stage to secure our spot. Initially I found myself behind some of the women we had waited with, but 30 min before the show started Karen turned around and told me to switch spots with her. I politely declined, but she explained that this was her 30th Joan Jett concert in which she has always had front row... and it was now my turn. HOW AMAZING IS THAT?!?! Minutes before the show started I somehow found myself pressed up against the gate front and center of the stage- no one in front of me except Joan Jett herself..... AHHHHH!!!! It was beyond surreal!

I screamed, shouted, and hollered during her entire 90 min set as I watched her rock out on her guitar, sing like a crazy woman, and sweat all over the stage.

Unfortunately, cameras and videos were not allowed on the concert grounds, so therefore the only pictures I was able to get were from my phone. Excuse the poor quality, but enjoy the greatness that is Joan Jett.....

(and yes, I was THIS close to the stage!!!)
I love this picture even though its blury because Joan is smiling.

Me and my new Joan Jett fan friends!! Love ya girls- it was awesome rockin out and sharing that experience with you all!

And last but not least, this afternoon I happened to come across a video from last night's concert that someone took from their cell phone. I wish I could have recorded my own videos from the front row, but this will have to do- its still exciting watching it and knowing I was in that crowd singing along!

Yesterday was a rough day. I found myself having to continually push myself to move forward.

My mind simply would not let me forget how much my joints hurt, how much my rib cage ached, or how awful the side effects of the medication I'm taking are.

It's been difficult lately trying to accept my broken body for what it is, but step by step, inch by inch, I've begun to make progress.

Unfortunately with ever 5 steps forward, I inevitably experience 3 steps back.... and yesterday was a 3 step back kinda day.

I was sure nothing would turn this day around. I was positive no one would succeed in putting a smile on my face. And I was confident I wouldn't be able to find joy in the midst of sorrow.....

But then came a knock on my door. As I opened it, there stood my wonderful boyfriend holding a bouquet of flowers and a lovely "feel better" card.

*SIGH* my heart melted. Suddenly a smile came to my face and for a second everything in my world seemed right again. It was a simple gesture, but it meant the world.

Bad days are inevitable, but he always seems to cheer me up- and for that I feel so very blessed!

Bubbles and Candles

There's something about a bubble bath that can turn a "so-so" day into one of greatness.

Baths have an uncanny ability to cleans my mind and center my focus.

Maybe its the warm sudsy water, maybe its the peaceful music I play, maybe its being surrounded by candles as my only source of light, or maybe its the conversations I have with the Lord. I don't know what it is that makes my baths so magnificent- but they are indeed a source of joy in my life... and we all need a little joy now and then right??

Someday I'd love to create a bathroom that looks like these....

Crochet Away

With the ever present stressors of life heavy on my mind, I've recently come to the realization that perhaps I need a new hobby in my life to serve as a distraction and mind cleanser.

And although reading and playing my guitar are both hobbies I enjoy abundantly, they both require brain power and deep concentration... two things I seem to be lacking at the moment. So after a bit of thought and contemplation, I've decided to take up crocheting! The world of crocheting isn't completely foreign to me, as a matter of fact, back in the day (circa 1996) my mother taught me how to crochet my first blanket. It was a simple pattern with no extravagant detail or complicated stitches, but I remember feeling a sense of peace and calm and I sat for hours with my fluffy ball of yarn, my powder blue crocheting needle, and my busy hands working away as I lost myself in a different world all together.

So today begins my new and exciting crocheting journey. I'm sure I will encounter countless moments of peace, frustration, boredom, and excitement... but I couldn't be more ready for the challenge. I'm already counting down the hours till I get off work so I can head over to the craft store to pick out some beautiful yarn!

I thought I'd also include some lovely crocheting pictures to serve as inspiration for the journey ahead....

Yarn, coffee, and a good book- doesn't get much better!

I am just in love with the idea of having a crocheting fort... brilliant!

What a bright, creative, and fun work space. Someday I would love to have a"craft" room in my house.

Colorful yarn makes me smile

I want this bag!!

How great is this yarn holder tea cup?!?! I don't just want this... I need this.

Thanks Mom and Dad

(Warning: super sarcastic post ahead)

Among the many things wrong with my body, I had the privilege of inheriting the oh so lovely string of autoimmune disorders my parents both managed to accumulate over their lifetime. Why I couldn't have inherited my mothers knack for organization and cleanliness, or my dads intelligence and ability to fix anything, is beyond me.

Every so often my body goes all haywire on me and my lovely immune system decides to start attacking my own body for no apparent reason... as if my joints did anything to deserve such vile treatment. Unfortunately when this occurs there is very little I can do about it. Except for a little thing called Prednisone. This powerful steroid is able to take down inflammation in my body and help me to return to feeling normal.

Unfortunately, I hate Prednisone.

Its amazing how one little pill can make me sweat like a pig, disturb my beauty sleep for weeks on end, turn me into a non stop eating machine, give me acne on my chest and back, and make me into this super cranky and emotional women no one wants to be around because she's got pit stains on her shirt, chocolate remnants in the corners of her mouth, and tears streaming down her cheeks. It's not a pretty sight.

I suppose this is my new normal.... super fun!

My God is a Comfort

It has been a roller coaster of emotions lately as I've attempted to navigate my way through a difficult season in my life. I've experienced a plethora of highs and lows over these last few months, but through it all the Lord has steadily been teaching me how to find contentment in my soul even when my surroundings feel chaotic and messy.

I would love to say I have found this so-called "contentment"- but that would be a lie. My journey is far from over, my path is far from complete, but my God is close at hand. Each day I desperately cling to God's word, and there I find peace and encouragement beyond comprehension. So for now I will leave you with two scriptures that have tugged at my heart this past week... maybe you too will find it a comfort as well.

Psalm 94:18-19

"Your loving kindness, O Lord, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your consolations delight my soul"

Hebrews 6:19

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure"

Thoughts for the Day

Happy Tuesday!

I've decided to make this day (despite the fact that I'll be working a 10 hour day) one filled with positive thoughts and long conversations with the Lord.

The constant worry and anxiety I battle in my head does not belong dwelling here, therefore I'm trying my best to surrender it to the Lord today.

I will probably slip and fail, but my heart is insitant on trying.

Deuteronomy 31:6

"Be strong and couragous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you."

Monday's have a tendency to be a drag- don't you agree?

Monday's mark the official termination of the weekend, which comes to mean the next Saturday is now a gigantic 6 days away.

So in an effort to shed a little light on your Monday blues, I thought I'd share a few new favorite things of mine...

1. Drinking tea in bed until my heart is content to start the day

2. Kipi- my new favorite artist from Brooklyn. Her whimsical graffiti like paintings are always done on pages of old used books... what an inspiration.

3. Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray"- I couldn't be more in love or more haunted by this work of genius if I tried.

Books Books Books

Nothing brings joy to my heart more than the aroma of a second-hand book store. Every time I walk in my soul smiles a little as I glance around the room hopeful of the treasures I will surely come across that day. Of course, my pocketbook is not near as fond of the used book store as my heart is, but I like to justify my purchases by telling myself ....

1. I'm living a more "green" life by buying used.
2. I'm purchasing something that has its own unique history- and nothing can put a price on that.
3. Its not like I'm spending money on frivolous items, books last forever are sources of great knowledge and personal growth.
4. Only used books contain fun inscriptions written by past owners.
5. And finally.... because they look prettier on my book shelf than anything you could ever buy at Barns and Noble.

After a wonderful Saturday afternoon, my two girlfriends and I wandered into The Book Tree here in Scottsdale, and had a brief look around. Our intentions were to take a quick browse and nothing more- but of course nothing could have been farther from the truth. After only 20 minutes inside, I walked away with four beautiful new treasures. And what exactly did I find you ask??

Two beautifully old Oscar Wilde books ("The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The Importance of Being Earnest")

One 1945 edition of John Steinbeck's "The Pearl"

And a sweet children's book of poetry called "Is Somewhere Always Far Away?"

I'm so excited to start my new stack of reading material... I just love the way books beckon to be read- its poetic.

It's Saturday!

Why hello beautiful Saturday morning!

The sun is shinning, the weather is dreadfully hot, and the day ahead is perfectly unscheduled.

I was thinking I'd have lunch with a cute boy, drink ice chai lattes on a blanket in the park while reading books with a dear friend, and chat it up for hours with my most favorite girlfriends!

I'd say after the hard week I experienced, today is the perfect day to surround myself with the people I love most.

I'm inspired by this vintage photo-

The woman in saddle shoes is perfectly sassy!

I couldn't sleep last night.

After hours of tossing and turning, I finally threw up my hands at 4:00am and gave up my desperate attempts to sleep. I knew operating on 2 hours of sleep would seriously mess with my head today, but sometimes your body simply fails to care.

So here I am- its almost 8am and already I've cleaned, gone grocery shopping, showered, done my makeup, and made my boyfriend a homemade cheesecake I've been promising him.

I'd say that's darn productive for only having slept from 2am-4am!!

I doubt this boundless energy will last me all day, but with a whole new day on the horizon I'm optimistic on what could possibly be in store.

Happy Friday everyone!

Enjoy the weekend!

(FYI: my cheesecake doesn't look nearly as pretty as this picture- but its the taste that counts!)

Whenever I have a bad day there are a few things I can count on to cheer me up...

1. Having my sweet puppy Tirzah cuddle up to me when I take a nap on the couch.

2. Listening to the Beatles (I'm currently playing "Here Comes the Sun" as I type)

3. Playing games that take my mind off whatever it is I'm upset about.

4. Getting down on my knees in prayer and telling God EXACTLY how I feel.

5. Having my favorite boy come over and make me laugh as I rest in his arms.

6. Having a good cry... or ten.

7. Venting to my best friend over the phone.

8. Wearing my sweat pants

9. Putting on my favorite pair of shoes as I chill in my apartment

(Christian Louboutin shoes just have a way of making me feel pretty) And yes- wearing sweat pants and 5 inch pumps are a sure way to make me feel happy.

10. Ice cream, smoothies, or any other yummy desert

11. And of course crappy TV shows that serve no purpose.

What do you do when you have a crappy day???

Summer in Arizona- my enemy

Its official- summer in Arizona has arrived!

I almost cried when I saw my car temp read 105 degrees this afternoon.

I suppose I should have expected summer to rear its ugly head eventually, after all it is June, but I dont think my body is ever prepared to bare the heat of hell.

So today I finally broke down, open my summer wardrobe, whipped out the shorts, gathered together all my "barely there" tanks, and loaded my freezer with yummy fruit pops.

I'm ready to take on the heat- but make no mistake, I will be complaining about the heat from

now till August.

*SIGH* Arizona sometimes you can be so cruel!

Pig Pen and I are Soul Mates

Sometimes life gets messy. Yes, believe it or not sometimes my humble little apartment looks as if an angry tornado has swiftly swept through it leaving nothing but a trail of dirty dishes and various articles of clothing strewn about. And while my mess bothers me on occasion- mostly I don't mind it. Whether its my car, my apartment, my closet, or my health... things just have a tendency to get a little messy in my neck of the woods. I like to think of myself as the real life "Pig-Pen" character from Charlie Brown

I sometimes plead with the Lord to make me different- to change my habits, tendencies, quirks, and physical well being... but guess what? He seems to always reply with a resounding NO. I'm starting to get the feeling God doesn't want to change me or my messy surroundings, but rather He desires for me to find peace within the mess. He wants me to find "Emily" amidst the chaos life throws my way. And He wants me to somehow look beyond my circumstances and into His heart.

So to all my fellow "Pig Pen's" out there- together lets learn to love our messiness and find peace at our core.

I cry everytime I hear this song... it simply melts my heart.

Lots of New

Ok its officially been too long since I've blogged- but I promise now that finals are over (Wahoo!!) I will be a much more attentive blogger.

So much has happened in the last few weeks that its literally all spinning around in my head like one big jumbled mess... so instead of recapping everything thats happened, I'm simply going to tell you about the new and greatest love in my life....

Isn't she BEAUTIFUL?!?!?

She was given to me as a birthday gift from my parents this last Saturday, and I couldn't have been more surprised. Now let me not give you any false impression that I actually know how to play her, but with my background of playing an acoustic guitar I've been able to fiddle around as I learn all the new switches, buttons, and knobs she comes with. Even more exciting is that I have a lesson coming up with a woman who's been playing the electric guitar for 15 years, and I'm hoping she'll be me new instructor. I probably shouldn't mention her name here on my blog, but here's a picture of her playing in her band...

A woman rocking an electric guitar while performing barefoot- now thats a woman ater my own heart!

Oh and here are a few pictures of my Birthday morning

(excuse the bed hair, glasses, and lack of make-up)

Last night a dear and adorable friend of mine shared a new music video with me, and we both agreed we want to be this girl....

She's so darn cute... its rather annoying to be honest.

Its that time of year again.... finals time (yuck!).

And while I should be busy studying various types of bacteria, viruses, and mixed cultures, my poor brain is begging me to stop. I keep day dreaming of sitting curled up in some cute coffee shop with a good book in one hand and a hot cup of black tea with steamed soy milk in the other. Although I love nursing, I swear my microbiology class is going to be the death of me.

"Only two more weeks"... that's what I keep chanting over and over in my mind, but somehow it brings little comfort. Instead I've been finding subtle little ways to procrastinate- like blogging for example. But no matter how hard I try not to study or think about studying, the weight of my looming final exam simply won't dissipate. I guess I must suck it up and get it done....

Wish me luck (I'm gonna need it!)

PS. Forgive me if my blog posts are few and far between during these next two weeks. Once finals are over my normal blogging maddness shall resume.

I Heart Design

Two years ago God unexpectedly reached into my life and changed my world. Among those changes was my future career path. You see, as I left home for college four years ago, I thought I had my life completely planned out. I was and always have been moved by the arts, and therefore it made perfect sense I would declare my major Interior Design. Growing up, I was always redecorating and rearranging my room to fit my current mood, and I couldn't wait to spend my life doing it for other people. Little did I know I would eventually change my major to nursing and follow in the footsteps of my mom and sister. And while my heart for nursing grows bigger everyday, my passion for design still burns deep inside. My humble little Arizona apartment has now become the canvas on which I paint. My home is filled with things that inspire me, colors that brighten my soul, warmth that emanates to all who enter, and a crazy ecclection of nic-knacks that each tell their own beautiful story. My apartment is much like me in that it is forever changing and morphing into something new- but it will always remain the place that makes me feel "at home" in the chaotic world I live.

Here are a few pictures of rooms that move and inspire me....