goodbye Chicago, hello Indy!

As I told you earlier, I am a movin' and a shakin' my way to Indy for the next couple months and yesterday was the big move day! I stuffed my car to the brim (literally) and headed south east to my new home. As I was driving the last little bit of the trip, I came around the bend and saw its cute little skyline and excitement just started to brew within me. What a wonderful adventure- I'm ready for you lil Indy!

Christmas Siblings.

Merry Christmas!! I love my family. I love Christmas. I love my family at Christmas.

Merry Christmas Eve!

This is a little taste of Christmas decorating from my house last year at school. I was proud of this masterpiece holly/evergreen of a centerpiece. Kinda was a mix between modern and Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.

A very merry Christmas to you!

evangelistic JCrew?

It is the Christmas season, so hearing Christmas music blaring in every retailer you shop holds no mystery. Songs ranging from your classic "White Christmas," "Charlie Brown Christmas," Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmas Time" to current hits like Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" and "Last Christmas (I Gave You My Heart)."

And J.Crew is no exception to this wide spectrum of Christmas melodies- once Black Friday arrives, they are bumpin the Christmas tunes, hymns, or any winter/holiday song. non-stop. Not unusual for them, I know. But what I do find unusual (and my eyes were just opened to this in the past couple shifts I have had there this week) is the playing of profound lyrics speaking of Christ our Saviour being born over speakers in J.Crew for every shopper's listening ear to hear. Jesus's beautiful name and birth being sung of at a retail store? What a strange channel in which to evangelize. yet, I love it. who better to sing truth of Jesus to then shoppers? Here are some songs and their lyrics that have played many times:

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings by Barenaked Ladies & Sara McCoughlin
"Remember, Christ, our Saviour/Was born on Christmas day/To save us all from Satan's power/when we were gone astray...Born a King on Bethlehem's plain/Gold I bring to crown him again/ King forever, ceasing never/over us all to reign."

Christmas Song by Dave Matthews Band
"When Jesus Christ was nailed to the his tree Said/oh, Daddy-o I can see how it all soon will be/I came to shed a little light on this darkening scene...One healthy little gigglin', dribblin', baby boy/The wise men came, three made their way/To shower him with love, while he lay in the hay."

New York City Christmas by Rob Thomas
"and a prayer for peace on earth within our time/Hear the sidewalk angels echo halleluja/We understand them, now more than ever"

Again, HUGE ideas being sung and HUGE truths being conveyed yet many times, falling on deaf ears. Falling on people blinded by the love of self and of material things. I keep praying that at least one little ear will hear these powerful lyrics and be attentive to them.

pancakes puhhhlease

Every year, my family goes to breakfast with some close family friends, the Livengoods. Sara and her aunt Babe (her real name is Norma) have celebrated Christmas with us in this way for forever. Babe couldn't make it this year, but we still had so much fun with Sara eating brunch!

Peace on earth and good Sleeping at Last music to all men.

Some of you may know my complete and utter love of Sleeping at Last-go here if you are unfamiliar-so props def go to my sister (who I am forever indebted to) for sending me the tip off for Sleeping at Last Christmas Music Free Download. The download provides 8 beautifully melodic & hypnotizingly wonderful Christmas songs for your listening pleasures.

and just when I thought I couldn't love Christmas music anymore, this happened. Peace on earth and good Sleeping at Last music to all men.

adios & salsa.

Last night, some dear dear friends and I got together for one last dinner before the holidays/my move across state. Thus we dined at Front Street Cantina. Nothing says goodbye and Merry Christmas quite like mexican food. So scrumptious. Salsa and chips may always remain as my number one most favorite appetizer.

It was snowing when we left - hence Barbie and my picture outside. in the snow. with snowflakes in the picture. wonderful night.

gingerbread {open} houses

One Favorite Christmas Tradition: Christmas Open Houses.

This is Katie, Sara, and I at Sara's family Christmas openhouse. Christmas tree, friends, warm cozy homes. I love the holidays.

thought of you.

Dance is beautiful. One of my favorite blogs, Rockstar Diaries, posted this gem of a video "Thought of You" and after one time of watching it, I was mesmerized. You can't deny how dance set to music captures emotions that are just inexpressible through any other form of communication. It made those little girl aspirations of being a ballerina surface to the forefront of career thoughts...forget PR. Ballerina, here I come...

Thought of You from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

10 things I loved this week

1. LED Christmas Lights
A fellow intern and I were sent on a mission to get Christmas decorations for the office on Tuesday. My favorite of these decorations were the LED lights. Cute and energy efficient.

2. Hannah's Bretzels
This adorable sandwich shop called Hannah's Bretzels serves all natural, organic sandwiches on their famous pretzel bread. Hense the name "bretzels." The interior ambiance reminded me of a red IKEA. I went here twice this week. Loved it everytime.

3. Siblings & Friends Being Home from School
So college kids are now off for break which means I get to see them...all the time! I've enjoyed every moment I have been able to spend with my sibs and with friends who are now free of finals and homework. Let the gallivanting begin. Go here to read of the beginning of my sibling shenanigans.

4. Olgilvie Decorations
The Olgilvie Train Station in Chicago has set up all these vignettes of animatronic Christmas scenes so walking through the station is a bit like walking through Santa's work shop. One of my fave's has Mrs. Clause in it. This week, they had different elementary school choirs singing in front of the decorations. What Christmas spirit. So cheery.

5. Wrapping Up the Internship
This week marked my last week of being an intern in Chicago! We ended the week with a wonderful office potluck lunch (I brought a raspberry feta salad. delish.). Great way to say goodbye. So thankful for everything I learned from the experience.

6. Christkindlmarket Boot Shaped Mug
Chriskindlmarket is a German market in downtown Chicago north loop specially set up for the Christmas season. I have walked past this market throughout the last couple weeks, and have been yearning to visit. So goes to show at small group on Tuesday, a friend had gone there and tried their famous hot spiced wine which comes in an adorable boot shaped mug and had the mug for me to use. Love the market and love the mug. Hope I can make it there this year.

7. With Christ and the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray
Whoa. This book is changing my entire prayer life. We are reading it in small group and I have gleaned so much wisdom about how the Lord wants us to approach prayer and asks us to pray. Get this book and read it. You will be changed. To get a FREE copy of the book online go here.

8. Lonny Magazine's December Issue
This is an online interior design magazine you can subscribe to for free soooo of course, faster than you can say "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" I became a subscriber. Their December issue came out this week and is beautiful. b-e-a-utiful. Go here to see the issue. obsessed.

9. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings" by Barenaked Ladies featuring Sara McCoughlin
This is by far one of my all time FAVE Christmas songs. The lyrics are powerful and moving, describing why Christ was born. At first, I was a little scared of this version because I am not a huge Barenaked Ladies fan, but their voices combined with the pure sound of Sara McCoughlin make it incredible. Sara has the voice of an angel. My favorite part is when she sings "King forever, ceasing never." Gives me chills. Love it. Listen to it now.

10. Candles, Candles, and Some More Scented Candles
I am currently burning Bath & Body Works scented candle in Eucalyptus Mint as I am typing this. The candle is on its last leg, but I am milking it for all its lovely scents I can. Downstairs, I think we have vanilla, cinnamon, and apple scented candles burning in every room (excessive? actually I really don't think so. ha). I forgot how much I love candles until the holiday season reminded me (thanks holiday season!). Pretty light and lovely scents in the air. Can't get much better than candles. And apparently, B&B can capture any holiday memory in the form of a candle scent, so your house can smell like any holiday memory you want. mmMMmm. I love memory scents.

i'm terrible at pool

JCrew friends! I played a game of pool with some friends I worked with at JCrew, Ruth and Laura, Friday night and found out that I am not gifted with the ability to shoot pool. in any sense of the word. I got the idea of the game but getting the game does not translate into winning. bummer. Loosing was a little tough on the ego. Spending some time outside the walls of retail is also more fun with these two!

last days are some of the best days.

So Thursday I had to give up my dearly held titles of "commuter" and "intern" for it is, alas, the last day of being both those things. And on this blustery last day in my favorite city, I took in every little piece of the commute, the city, the office, and the weather as much as I could.

The 6:54 am Train
The parents joined me on my way into the city so we were able to sit in the facing benches on the Metra (I love the facing benches!). It was also my last two rides on my 10 pass. They didnt know I included them in this picture or else they would have flashed their pearly whites (sneaky I know). Thoroughly enjoyed having them to talk to on my way. Loved our time together.

The 5:34 pm train
On my way home from the city, my brother and sister were making their way back from Taylor for Christmas break and happened to be driving through Wheaton just as my train was passing through Wheaton. (My train line passes through Wheaton and is about 30 minutes away from my train stop). As soon as we figured this out, this was the scenario:

My sister calls: "We are sitting in front of your train passing by right now!"
*the train slows to a stop at the Wheaton station*
Me:"wait, the train stopped at the Wheaton station- should I get off and just meet up with you now?"
Sister:"(gasp) What?!? Yessss!! ...actually nooo...we will just see you at home."
Me: (As I start gathering up all my belongings, and the train doors are about to close)" Are you sure? Should I get off?!?"
Sister:"Actually...YESSS! Rebecca get off!"

Since I was on the top deck of the train, I finagled my way down the stairs, 3 books, scarf, gloves and coat in one arm, large food-filled macy's bag, purse, and cell in the other, one hand holding my phone to my ear. I was the definition of a flustered commuter. Just as I was fumbling down the main stairs of the train to step onto the platform (all belongings under each arm), my left shoe fell off and fell between the train and the platform! Not knowing whether the train was going to leave or not, I quickly bent down and grabbed my shoe from under the train and in the mean time dropping most everything in my arms onto the platform, but still talking to Caroline on my phone. Quite the scene (I think my dignity was definitely in question)! All this to say, I got my shoe, got to meet up and ride home with the sibs, and got to make a memorable last train ride from the city.

I'll miss you dear Metra Rail. You will always have a special place in my commuter heart. Thanks for not running over my shoe.

last ride to work: ticket. parents. facing benches.

My commute buddies for the morning. Such great Metra models.

well look who I found in downtown Wheaton :)

winter weather must have {wool socks}

If wearing wool socks on a bitter cold december day could be translated into a scenario: being cozied up in flannel pajamas next to a crackling living room fireplace while sipping vanilla chai with Bing Crosby belting Christmas serenades in the background. live in person. then receiving a puppy with a huge red bow on Christmas morning named Wishbone.

Yes, they are that wonderful. And yes, I wear wool socks everyday. ev-er-y-day.
My boots are now best friends with my wool socks. They love each other. BFFs.

Indianapolis is calling my name.

I am officially announcing that I am moving to Indianapolis for the next 5 months!

Hurray, hurray, and more hurrays!!

The Lord has been SO SO SO good to orchestrate a job and housing for me in the beautiful Circle City. I am truly in awe of how the Lord orchestrates every detail. ev-er-y detail. And how He knows what we need before we even ask anything of Him. Incredible God we serve. And my moving situation is no exception to His sovereignty. Hallelujah. wonderful. Here I come Indy!

pajamas, basketball, my alma mater. what do these three things have in common?

One of the many incredible aspects of the Taylor University experience: Silent Night. This TU Christmas tradition was featured on Yahoo and ESPN. So proud. So proud. Take a look see at why all the hullabullu is happening.

Silent Night basketball game from Taylor University @ Yahoo! Video

Indiana Winter Wonderland? Maybe more akin to Siberia

A day trip to Indianapolis on Sunday left my parents and I driving in the worst snow storm ever. worst. snowstorm. ever. Going to school in Indiana, I came to appreciate the open fields and plains that made up the Hoosier state. The rolling snow covered fields are a beautiful snow globe-esque scene in the winters, making it quite the Christmas card backdrop. Indiana can really be a winter wonderland. But driving in this state during a major lake-effect snow storm, the winter wonderland thoughts are fleeting, non-existent, an antonym to what is actually going on.

Slippery, snow covered roads so you can't see the lines. Passing cars in ditches on the side of the rode. High speed winds blowing more snow across your windshield. The snow was terribly blinding. We crept along at 25 mph pretty much the length of Indiana on I-65. I half expected the Yettie, Abominable snowman, and Jack Frost to jump into the car to escape the bitter cold and blasting snow (kinda wish they had). Needless to say, after navigating through that weather, I feel I can drive through anything. Come to find out today that Northwestern Indiana declared a state of emergency for its roadways early Monday morning. hmmm. Now they tell us. Well, the Lord really had His hand of protection around us and kept us so safe through everything! The storm itself was a testament to His power and also His sovereignty to protect and keep watch over His children. ahhhhhhh yesssss. Thank you Lord for your power and protection!

photo from life.com

Christmas time is here. Happiness and Cheer.

My first (of many I'm sure) Christmas festivities: Christmas with Taylor friends. In my years at Taylor, I was able to celebrate with so many friends and enjoy many Christmas traditions- Christmas morning, Christmas open-houses, Christmas basketball game, a campus wide Christmas party- all creating memories that I hold near and dear to my heart.

So this year, seeing as it is the first Christmas season after our departure from Taylor, we decided to celebrate Christmas together (just like old times). And celebrate we did. Cheesecake, warm drinks, and good conversation. with a lot of kicks and giggles. Complete with life size Santa and angel figurines.

so glad I found you my lil rhinoceros.

Preface: I l-o-v-e interior design (and design in general. maybe you could tell by some posts of mine?) so fittingly, I visit design blogs & websites all. the. time. allthetime. Through my trips to these magnificent visual candy stores, a recent interior design trend has caught the oh-so-delighted eye of mine. That trend is the ceramic animal as decoration. Thus the hunt for the perfect ceramic animal for my bedroom began.

Main Story: After recruiting some brave-souled hunters (my sibs), we made the treacherous journey to the brightly lit cavern in search of our animal (also known as Goodwill). Dodging many obstacles and barriers (racks of sweaters for $4, old records, stuffed life-sized santa), I slowly approached the aforementioned creature perched high upon a shelf. We found him. A ceramic rhinoceros (for only $3!). So of course I quickly adopted him.

Post-Script: The next step is to spray paint my adorable little rhinoceros statue matte white. Once that is said and done, I'll post some pictures of the finished piece.

Moral of the story: Goodwill never ceases to amaze what hidden treasure is among the 90s sweat suits, stacks of cassette tapes and broken old lampshades.

Dear Santa, I want 2 goats & a baby chicken. Please & thank you.

Some gift giving ideas this Christmas: Wool socks. Homemade ornaments. Christmas pajamas. Bath & Body Works lotion. A little baby goat adorned with a huge red bow for a collar.

Baby goat underneath the Christmas tree? with a huge festive bow? can you say cute? cute. yes please. With World Vision's Gift Catalog, giving a goat is a reality. A reality that provides for an entire family in need. For example, goats nourish hungry children and families with healthy milk, cheese, and yogurt (mmmMMmm). Goats also give a much-needed income boost by providing offspring and extra dairy products for sale at the market. Literally, a gift that keeps on giving and providing for a family (holiday bow may not be included with goat. but maybe it will?!).

Here is how it works: Select gifts from World Vision's gift catalog and honor someone special in your life by giving gifts that demonstrate God's love to the world's poorest children and families. For every item you select, they'll provide a beautiful card showing your loved one how the gift given in his or her name will impact the life of someone in need.

Goat = unique gift you've been searching for/blessing for a family in need.

I think I know where I am doing my holiday shopping...

deck the halls with bells of holly. and some other beautiful holiday things.

I was overwhelmed with Christmas cheer when I came across this website that combined interior design and Christmas decorating. Deck the halls with beautiful interior design. fa-la-la-la-lovely.

winter weather must have {hot apple cider}

Apple cider is a cold weather beverage that I simply can’t get enough of. Hot, with cinnamon, with caramel, homemade, store bought, plain – I love it all. If it was feasible to install a tap in my house that I could turn on and have hot apple cider like I have running water, I would install it without batting an eyelash. Apart from authentic apple orchard-made cider, the cider I have taken a particular liking to is Simply Apple. The warmness of the cinnamon and apple flavor combine to encompass all that is winter flavor. No wonder the apple is the fruit that brought Adam and Eve to their eternal downfall. They wanted to enjoy sipping their cinnamon apple cider while canoeing down the Tigris and Euphrates. It all makes sense now...

Diclaimer: Apple not actually the known fruit of humanity’s downfall nor was apple cider the known motivation for the fall.

pine needles.

Evergreens. Pines. Frasier furs. However you refer to the beauty that is a conifer, Christmas trees are a staple to any Christmas decoration adorned family room. And cutting one of these fine specimens down is a staple to the Helmke's holiday agenda. So naturally, the day after Thanksgiving, we cut our Christmas tree down.

The entire fam romping around the Christmas tree farm in the freezing cold was worth it to find our fine tree (modeled below by mama and papa Helmke). can't. wait. to. decorate.

music {arcade fire - sprawl II}

8 hrs. of black friday

I still am baffled as to why people choose to be up at 3am to look through cashmere cardigans and lambswool scarves instead of staying in the world of slumberland. Regardless of their reasoning, I am glad they came out to shop because I had to work the overnight shift- 9pm to 6am-for Black Friday. And you can't have Black Friday without the early bird shoppers. Lines outside the stores were quite long. You could smell the bargains in the air.

And as I think about my time spent at the store that night, I say life is about the experiences you have and the memories you can make, so I can check that off of my life list of life experiences/life memories. Work Black Friday - check. Quite the experience -check. Siblings picking me up at 6 am and documenting it - check. Let the Christmas shopping season begin.

Today marks the official start to the Christmas season. So excited. Let the Christmas cheer begin.

Crank up that Christmas music and start getting excited for: Lights, pine trees, Baby Jesus, ornaments, advent candles, wool socks, chocolate advent calendars, cinnamon, pine-scented candles, Black Friday shopping, seasonal flavored hot drinks, peppermint flavored everything, sugar cookies, snow, Christmas music, White Christmas, snow boots, mittens, stockings, family, parties, snow globes, gift giving, candy-canes, seeing your breath in the air, hot apple cider, the Nutcracker, ribbons, wreaths, angels, brown paper packages tide up with string, Christmas cards, hot coco, tree skirt, white elephant gifts, Christmas decorations, holiday meals, Christmas brunch, caroling, reindeer, Santa Claus, Hark the Herald Angels sing, candle light service. *this list is not exhausted by any means.

photo from eye poetry.

thanks & giving

"The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!" Psalm 50:23

My family, joined by some friends, enjoyed a small Thanksgiving feast at home. Unfortunately, we neglected to get a picture of the whole crowd. But, I documented my siblings and I contributing crescent rolls to the dining menu. yum yum yummy. We also enjoyed a post-dinner game of Scattergories. What a wonderful occasion.