After a brief hiatus, Top Ten is back. And I am back at work! Temporarily. I’m still chasing down that dream job. Are you looking for someone who loves writing and graphics and web content and communications strategy and teamwork? Email me!

*Note: That made me cringe a little. I generally try to keep things light and personal around here and not all BUSINESS. But I want to put the word out there that I’m job searching so that you guys can keep your eyes and ears open for me. Deal? Ok.

Two

Being off work this past week was actually a blessing in disguise. It gave me dedicated time to unpack and paint my new room. When I first moved in it was this gross Kahlua brown color. Maddie and I soldiered through and painted my whole room on Wednesday and Thursday and now it’s an amazing light aqua blue color that I am totally in love with. I’ll do a whole room tour once it’s actually decorated/all finished.

One thing I learned about myself this week is that I do not deal well with chaos in my house. Between painting and unpacking it was like living in a cross over episode between Hoarders and Design DNA. I was a total grouch all week and could not rest until everything was put away. My poor roomies.

Three

When I do finally decorate, I would like to have at least one painting on my wall. Preferably of a sailboat but I’m not too picky.

(Source)

Four

Did y’all see The Avengers this week? Probably, since it made a kajillion dollars. I am not usually a huge fan of super hero movies. So I went in to Avengers with the absolute lowest of expectations. And I loved it. I loved it so much I went back to watch all the Avengers movies I missed out on the first time around (Thor, Captain America, Ironman). The only thing that is still bugging me is the Black Widow. She has essentially no super powers and she still gets to be in the Avengers? What is that all about?! It could have been any super spy. Why not make Sidney Bristow a part of your crew? Or Jason Bourne. LAME. And don’t try to tell me that Batman has no super powers. He has a utility belt and all kinds of cool gadgets. She doesn’t even have GADGETS. Come on.

Five

My brother was in town this weekend and we had a grand ol’ time visiting with cousins and barbequing in Jeremey’s backyard and watching superhero movies. Kev graduated with an engineering last month and has a sweet job lined up already. Just like that. Whatever. He had a month off before starting work and was down in Mexico and then came to visit me. He also decided to drive down the coast to Northern California and camp along the way. He didn’t even have a map, you guys. Kev is the total opposite of me. I would have needed to plan this out about six months in advance and have at least one travel buddy. He’s happy to just hop in the car and go with it. I really love both my bros and am so proud of the men they have grown up to be!

Also it is really strange to a) be able to go out for a beer with your little brother and b) have him finish his giant corona before you are halfway done your normal sized stronbgow.

Six

I AM GOING CAMPING THIS WEEKEND!! At Radium Hot Springs. With the Douze. I AM SO EXCITED.

Seven

formal shorts. Oh what? You’re not watching this show? Why not? It’s the cutest. I may have squealed out loud a few times during the season finale this week.

Eight

Speaking of TV, they released the trailer for Mindy Kaling’s new show! Ok. I’m not 100% sold based on this trailer. But I will give it a shot because: a) I adore Mindy Kaling and kind of want to be her best friend and b) TOBY ZIEGLER!

Nine

I am not a morning person. I never have been and I never will be. There are some people who can train themselves to get up early and be disciplined and eventually grow to love it. I wish I was one of them but I’m not. One of the biggest blessings in not working last week was being able to get up at a normal time and spend a solid hour of my morning reading the bible. Outside on the patio at Benny’s. It was so peaceful. He himself is our peace.

Ten

You guys, I think it’s actually summertime. I sat on a patio every single day this week.

Can we just talk about how awesome Ashleigh Ball is for a second? Major girl crush. Ask Ariana about the time she saw her at Sasquatch! and yelled “ASHLEIGH BALL!” at her real loud.

This past month I’ve been slogging my way through the Book of Leviticus. Honestly it has been rough. I am not sure that I totally understand most of the laws. But I feel like I’m gaining a new appreciation of just how holy God really is. This verse made me laugh really hard, it’s such a funny mental picture. Or maybe it’s just funny that the word “vomit” is in the Bible?

What are you guys reading these days? Is there anything I should check out since I’m about to have more time on my hands?

I moved. I am exhausted. I feel like I could sleep for days years. But it’s done. I made it through April.

Two

These guys. I am so blessed to have such awesome friends. And to be a part of such an amazing community.

Three

Did ya’ll get VSCO cam last week? It’s VSCO cam madness out there. I’m no photographer but in my humblest of opinions, it is a pretty good little camera app. I really like the filters and how simple it is.

Four

My brother is coming to visit in two weeks! I can’t wait.

Five

Dustin Penner joined twitter. This is super lame, but I was really excited about it and started following him right away. Come on you guys, he listed his website as ihop.com! Hilar. What? Nobody cares but me? Ok.

Six

Setting up all the furniture in my room was the first thing I did on Saturday afternoon. It is so big that I actually have an entire space for my books/piano/grandpa reading chair. I’m so excited for everything to be put away and organized so I can finally hang out and read all the things in that chair. I don’t want to take pictures yet because there are still clothes all over the place. But just so you know, Nat calls it my Parlour.

Seven

Have you guys seen that show Duck Dynasty? It’s about this redneck family that invented some special duck call and made like a bajillion dollars. Like the Beverly Hillbillies, but real(ish). It’s my new favourite show. I’m really sorry for the quality of this clip, but it’s the best I could find on Youtube. They are trying to bring some assembly line automation into their business so they build their own conveyor belt, naturally.

Eight

The publication ban has lifted, which means I’m allowed to show you wedding photos!

Nine

Did you guys watch The West Wing? I loved that show. I wish it was on Netflix…let’s send that request out into the digital universe and see what happens. To be honest, this Funny or Die video didn’t make me laugh that hard. I was mostly just super excited the West Wing cast was all back together again. I would totally vote Josiah Bartlett for prez.

Ten

I have no idea what the month of May holds for me. I’m facing the end of yet another contract job. I am so tired of job hunting. I daydream about having an out of date resume because I haven’t had to use it for a few years. I just want to find a place to land where I can work hard and commit myself to at least a few years building towards something. I’m craving a little stability.

But this time around, it feels a little less scary. This time around I have a little more faith. This time around I feel more peace in knowing that God has a perfect plan. So I’ll keep walking with him. And it will be ok.

Alabama Shakes – Hold On

These guys are starting to get a lot of buzz around the internet. I really love that lead singer Brittany Howard isn’t your typical Indie Dream Girl Rocker Chick. Her voice/style/guitar playing are totally, uniquely, soulfully her own. A year ago, they were all still working post office jobs in Alabama and now they’re playing sold out shows in the UK and the US. I have a feeling that in a few years everyone will know about this band.

The Breaking Yard – Working the Ground

Does it seem like there are a million Guy-Girl duos out there right now? I really like this little acoustic project, The Breaking Yard. Even though they aren’t exactly reinventing the wheel, I really like the harmonies in the bridge…it almost sounds like they are singing two different, intertwining melodies. And the whole “recording in a cave” reverby sound. Love it. I found them because they are friends of this designer guy I blog-stalk on the internet.

All this is to say, I’m not going to do a proper Top Ten this week. I need to concentrate on building the box mountain in my living room.

Here are a few activities you could do instead of reading the Top Ten this week:

• Head to the nearest coffee shop. Place your entire order in the voice of Spaghatta Nadle
• Read a book! Suggestions: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 1 Peter, Spoiled, War and Peace
• Collect all the moving boxes you can find. Drop them off at my house.
• Write a limerick/haiku/acrostic poem about dinosaurs. (If you do this one please post in the comments)
• Watch this Hipster Games video

Next week we’ll return to regularly scheduled programming.

Here is a horrible picture of us taken the first year we moved to Vancouver. Yes, I really went out in public with my hair like that.

This week she is getting married to a really wonderful man. And then moving to a far off land, an hour and twenty forty minutes away. Words can’t really express how excited and happy I am for them. Luckily, I am not the bridesmaid who has to give a speech. Because a) I hate talking in front of large groups of people and b) I would probably cry too much. But I do love writing. So I thought I’d make this a very special and only slightly embarrassing Top Ten. It’s about to get cheesy up in here. Here are my ten most favorite things about the girl formerly known as AHepp.

One

She can recite every single line from Clueless and quote them in any applicable life situation. ”I am totally butt crazy in love with Josh!” It’s impressive.

Two

She is wonderfully encouraging and fiercely loyal. You could argue that those are two different things but I think they are connected. Ariana has been vehemently on my side through absolutely everything for the past eight years. Cheering me on through the good and talking/walking with me through the bad.

Three

Ariana cannot get through an episode of Gilmore Girls without squealing at least once. Particularly the episodes with Jess in them. I love this about her because I’m the same way and it makes me feel like less of a weirdo.

Four

She is hands-down the most organized person I know. Ariana is the kind of girl who would make a list of all the lists she needs to make. It’s pretty great if you have to take a trip somewhere that requires a lot of planning.

Five

I can send her an email with one sentence that says, “The Fug Girls just referred to that new Zefron movie as ‘Nicholas Sparks Presents: Making Out with Zac Efron’. Am dead from laughing. “ and she not only responds with a serious answer, it will invariably turn into a 50-80 email long conversation. Seriously, we never run out of things to talk about.

Six

She never makes me feel weird about crying. This sounds like a major “duh, that’s what best friends do!” kind of thing but for the amount of times I cry in an average week (roughly 3-18) there are only three people in the world who I can cry in front of without feeling embarrassed about it. She just hands me the Kleenex box and carries on the conversation like nothing even happened. She never gives me the “ouch that sucks” sympathy face. I never feel like I have to apologize for getting upset or explain my tears away or make an excuse. It’s the best.

Seven

She will give you a ride to the airport in the middle of a potentially life threatening snowstorm. Fact.

Eight

Whenever I go to her for advice, she always takes into account my personality/who I am before she gives it. So often people will speak out of their own experience, or tell you what to do in a given situation based on what they’d do. Ariana listens all the way through, nods sympathetically and then tells me what I need to hear, even when it’s not what I want to hear.

Nine

She is the best person to go to concerts with. We love a lot of the same music so I can always count on her to be my concert buddy. Plus I can get excited about nerdy music things with her and she not only understands what I’m talking about, she’s probably just as impressed as I am.

There are approximately 100 more pictures just like this on Facebook, of us making goofy faces with some band in the background.

Ten

In the past eight years we have been friends I have watched this lady grow in peace, patience and wisdom. God has done some really amazing things in her heart and her life. We are so different and also so much the same. I feel super blessed to count her as my friend and sister. As she becomes a wife(!) this weekend I’m so excited to see what God is going to do and what he has in store for my best friend.

Music Monday this week is brought to you by the Wayback Machine. I’m going to be listening to these 90s dance hits allllll week. To prepare my moves.

Also, ok. This is not even a little bit 90s but whatever. One of the sound guys at Westside made this mashup of Since You’ve Been Gone and Dragonette and it is 100% awesome.

My heart is so full today. This was a wonderful weekend in so many ways. Sunshine! He is Risen! Friends! I ate lots and laughed much this weekend. I hope yours was amazing, restful and joyous too.

Two

Westside got a whole bunch of media coverage this Easter weekend. Global came to the Good Friday service and then the Easter baptisms were on the front page of the Vancouver Sun. I was honestly very surprised at how positive all the coverage was. I love that there was at least some acknowledgement in the paper that Easter is about celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. It’s exciting not because Westside is so great but because Jesus is getting talked about in the news media in our City.

Three

There is so much change coming in my life in the next few weeks I can barely keep up. Next weekend bestie is moving away. Then WEDDING! Then my work contract ends. Then I move into a new place with new awesome roommates. Life is going to look very different for me on May 1st. Thankfully I don’t feel very anxious about job searching this time around. However, I am definitely praying that God would bring a little stability to this life o’mine.

Four

Have you seen the Goonies? I watched it for the first time on Friday night at the Kneppers and I loved it. Although it’s hard to say what was better: the movie, or watching J.Knepps and Ryan watch the movie. They laughed so loud at every single joke and repeated the best lines right after they were said. At one point Ryan laughed so hard he had to get up out of his chair and jump around a little. If you ever get invited to movie night at the Kneppers, you should go. It’s an experience. The popcorn is pretty great too.

Five

Saturday I went to Easter Brunch with 18 other friends at Marc Ross’ house. You guys, there is nothing better than a waffle potluck, I’m telling you. There was pretty much every kind of fruit you could want. Plus whip cream and syrup. And Roomie & De Funk made a breakfast casserole that used three pounds of cheese and four packs of bacon (not really). I was super proud of myself because I made Coconut Strawberry sauce. I know, culinary genius.

how to fit eighteen people in your living room *

super handsome friends

coconut strawberries

Afterwards the guys went out to the field behind their house to toss around a football in the sunshine. The girls sat on a bench and watched. It was like youth group all over again.

The Breakfast Club

Six

Yesterday after coffee in the sunshine, Jenn and I wandered up main street to Front & Co. to see if they had any jewellery I could wear to the big wedding coming up. Sadly I didn’t find anything that really went with my Bridesmaid dress, but I did get these cute stacker silver rings. I could spend hours in that store.

Seven

The playoffs start tomorrow. I will be passively cheering for L.A. in the first round because a) I unironically love Dustin “Pancakes” Penner and b) I don’t want to still be hearing about the Canucks all the freaking time come June. I plan on burying my head in the sand, reading a lot of books and seeing my friends again after it’s all over.

Eight

I took a bit of a social media break this weekend. The first day it was kind of like quitting smoking and I kept automatically reaching for my phone. But once I got used to it it was really great to just leave my phone in my purse while I was hanging out with friends and really focus on the people I was with in real life. Also, I didn’t have any of those pangs of FOMO** or jealousy you sometimes get when you see people posting pictures of themselves having the most amazing time without you or wearing cute outfits you’d never be able to pull off. I don’t want to swear off of it completely because I do see the value in it. But I think it’s good to find a healthy balance between letting it take over your life and using it as a tool for sharing sometimes. I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything by not instagramming all weekend. I just texted more, which is nicer anyway. If anything, I felt more freedom in unplugging and living in the moment.

Nine

There are a lot of things I’m looking forward to about moving. Awesome roommates, Underground parking. Laundry. Cheaper Rent. A CLOSET. But I think the thing I most look forward to is watching Jeopardy every night with Nat and Maddie. We are best friends with Alex Trebek and his terrible dad jokes. The best is when you can save up a few episodes in a row. I’m pretty sure my IQ has gone up a few points because of this trivia friend time.

Ten

I was really into the Beautiful Exchange album this weekend. This song in particular I listened to about 18 times. Of course it’s Brooke so I love it. But Sometimes by Step is my favourite Rich Mullins song. And the words in the verses are phenom. What a pretty simple and beautiful prayer. God you are my God/I will ever praise You.

–
*photo credits are all Marc Ross except for “super handsome friends” which I took, obvs
** fear of missing out