Once again I was late getting this up, I believe. I'm getting quite good at that. In fact, so good that I was thinking it might be easier to move the challenge from every week to every two weeks. What do you think?
I had been going to do a giveaway on my blog when I reached 50 followers, but then I moved and that bumped my followers way back. I just found out thought that I now have 25 followers, and since 25 is half of 50 I thought it would be the perfect excuse!
I wish I could say it was signed by the author, but since that is next to impossible I'll just have to tell you that it is a darling, diminutive volume, only a few inches (approx. 6 1/8"x4") in length and width. It is perfect for slipping into your handbag.
So, do you agree with me that it is a sweet book and you must add it to your library? Fabulous! Let's get to work!
Mandatory Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me something that you have learned this summer
(even though summer has just started!).
Optional entry
Optional is meaning you don't have to do it if you don't want to or feel like it! Don't worry, it won't hurt my feelings if you don't!
Simply add this button to your blog sidebar, leave a comment saying that you've done it, and that's it!
This giveaway will run from today, to July 12, when I will use a random number generator to discover the winner!
It's a well known fact that soda tastes better out of a glass bottle than out of plastic or aluminum. Just sayin'.
This video is downright adorable. I defy you not to roar. Ok, it's not that funny, but it is pretty darling.
3. It makes me sad to think of things and friendships that have changed so drastically. Thankfully I have a Heavenly Father who will always be my friend, and will never change.
4. Does your heart have vacancies? I know that I am sadly full of them. Let's fill them up with Christ!
5. Need help coming up with some great ideas to serve others this summer? Kristen Welch over at Weare THAT Family compiled a list of 100 ways for Your Family to Make a Difference. It's a great list!
I was debating about finding a new meme to participate in for this post, but decided against it. I love meme's as much as the next person, but for me they can often become a cop out, instead of actually using brain power to come up with a good post.
I have been thinking about love a lot lately. Don't jump to conclusions about me and my life please, because I am merely talking about love as it is defined in 1 Corinthians 13 and how it relates to my relationships with my siblings, parents, and friends. It's a pretty amazing passage really. Especially the really practical part of it, verses 4-7.
Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
It seems like a lot to remember, but I think the main thing that we should remember is that this is a description of true love. Although these are things that we can try to implement in our efforts of loving those around us, they will only naturally fall into place if the love for that person is already growing in our hearts.
Conversely, love is a choice that can be made every second, not a random act of fate or destiny. Even if we have met the most annoying and challenging person in our acquaintance, we can certainly choose to love them whether we get warm, fuzzy feelings or not.
Finally, true love comes from our Heavenly Father. If we have His love, then it will spread out through us to touch those we come in contact with.
So, those were just some thoughts that I had on the subject. Nothing profound I'm sure, but I thought I would share what I have been pondering of late.
I've been rearranging my room lately, trying to finally get it the way I want, but I've been having a hard time deciding what I really want. I'm definitely leaning toward some kind of cottage-like feel, so to inspire myself, I created this Etsy Treasury, full of cottage style goodness! Enjoy!
Bird Nest Necklace - I know this isn't necessarily home decor (depending on how you look at it!), but it was too cute to pass up. Just to prove it to you, here's a picture of the one that I made!
If you know of any good vintage-y or cottage style tutorials, let me know! I've got my eyes open to find some good ones!
We had three submissions in this last category, and I'm sorry about how late I am in getting it up! I thought that I had said it was to be open until the middle of June, but it was actually to the 10th. Oops! Anyway, here are the great submissions for Musical Instruments!
Since I've been on a vintage kick lately, I thought that it would provide the perfect theme for this week's challenge! Vintage it is. Don't forget, that sometimes adding a texture, or gradient to your picture will give it just the right feel.
Every girl has that beautiful dream of what they want their wedding to look like. Some want pink roses, some want carnations. Flowers are almost always included, no matter what they are. The dress is almost always white; long, full, and flowing, or sleek and elegant. There are bridesmaids to be thought of, decorations to plan and place, refreshments or a meal for the reception, a photographer and so many other little details that one has to think of.
I have had my dreams, just like any other girl, although it's a good possibility that mine may change more often than others. I've wanted to wear a top hat, be married outdoors, have the groomsmen wear vintage vests and hats. I've wanted my dress to be long, and short by turns.
It had always been a plan of mine, to NOT have a tacky wedding. No matter what the budget (for I know there will be a budget!), I have always wanted it to be elegant and beautiful. Just as every girl does, I suppose!
Today, however, I had a wake-up call.
I was discussing weddings with my Mommy, which isn't an entirely unusual thing. Once again, I was desperately trying to get across my desire for a truly beautiful wedding. I didn't want to look back at pictures and see too many flaws in the surroundings.
It was then that Mommy said, "So, you're looking at the material things then, and not what a wedding is really all about."
A stinging feeling flooded my heart, and I looked down as I realized what she said was true. Am I really so incredibly materialistic? Have I really forgotten what a wedding, is and should be?
A wedding and marriage is the symbol of the close relationship between Christ and His bride the Church. Most Christians know that, or should. But how often do even Christians forget that symbol in the hurry and flurry of getting ready for their big day? How often do girls forget it when they dream of the style of dress they want to wear? All too often.
I'm not saying that it's bad to plan a beautiful wedding, but let all of us young girls just remember one thing, and it is that if your wedding is laid upon a foundation of faith in the Lord, with both the bride and groom honoring HIM with the glory of the day, then it will certainly be a beautiful thing, no matter what the material things look like.
I just wanted to share with you a few tidbits. Links, thoughts, and one or two updates to amuse you with. I hope.
Words in Time ~ A fun and intriguing look at research for your writing. Another good reason to read this post is because you'll want to look up what a certain word means. Who knows? Maybe beets will shoot to the top of Google search results! Ha, now you have to go read it to figure out what I'm talking about.
Yellow is the Color of Happiness ~ You can now find me on Tumblr. From what I've seen so far, it's a great place to look for inspiration! However, for some reason Pintrest seems to appeal to me more. I don't know why. If you want to follow me on Pintrest (since that's where I'll be most often!) go ahead!
Do you have a moment...for pure genius? ~ Honestly, when I first clicked on this link, I had no idea what I was in for, but the article that follows is simply amazing. Also, here's a video of the event that the article talks about. Only one woman recognizes him in a whole 45 minutes of playing. (I know that *I* wouldn't have recognized him.) It is slightly depressing, yet inspiring at the same time. Do we really miss so much? I know that this makes me want to start noticing the little things that I usually pass by. Maybe it would be a good time to try a macro project like Olivia, just to start training ourselves to notice things that we usually pass by.
Everyone's heard of Tangled I know, but I just wanted to share one of my favorite scenes from the movie. Actually, I love a lot of scenes from the movie, but the warmer weather has me thinking of this one in particular.
I love her hair, the colors, the joy, the dancing, and pretty much everything.
As far as what is going on in my life right now, I am still looking for a job in this "little" town. It's not really little, but when your only options are grocery stores and restaurants, it sure feels little. I'll probably wind up working at the Fred Meyer, which isn't bad.
I've also been exercising a lot more than usual, and Mommy and I planned out our dinners for the next week. We've really been needing to do this for a while, because actually having a plan helps us stick to it better! I'm really excited to be trying out some great sounding recipes. I think tonight I'm going to be making this Chicken Parmesan recipe. Hopefully it turns out, because this is one of my favorite dishes!
I was reading the Chronicles of Prydain series that I bought at the thrift store, until I misplaced one the other day. It's a little hard to keep reading them when the one you were reading is no longer around. I'm hoping it's either at my Grammy's house, or in the car somewhere. It's rather annoying, where ever it is! So now I think I'm reading Black Horses for the King by Anne McCaffrey. I have read it once before, but don't remember it.
Les Miserables has definitely grown on me. I'm eager to read the book, (the rather LARGE book!), and when I watched the musical the second time, things made a little more sense, because I had looked up the plot on Wikipedia. That was helpful in filling in the holes that I was struggling to jump over. For instance, neither Georgie or I had any idea that Fantine was dying of a disease. In fact, we had no idea that Fantine was dying at all, so when Jean Valjean takes her to the hospital, we were a little confused.
So for now, I'll leave it at that. Not too much has been keeping me truly busy, but I look forward to what this next week will bring!
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. ~ John Steinbeck
Summer afternoon... to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. ~ Henry James
A soft Sea washed around the House
A Sea of Summer Air
And rose and fell the magic Planks
That sailed without a care —
For Captain was the Butterfly
For Helmsman was the Bee
And an entire universe
For the delighted crew.
Feel free to ignore that text if you like. It won't hurt my feelings any, especially since I don't plan on using BlogLovin' myself. Google Reader works pretty well for me, I think.
However, since we're on the subject, how do you read blogs? Do you have a select few that you simply check every so often, or do you use a specific reader? I curious as to what the options are.
I really love bright and cheerful things, and things that make me feel bright and cheerful. I also really like banners, although I don't think I've ever made one until now.
I have a slightly ugly, slightly cool looking mirror in my room that I haven't hung on the wall yet. I'm not sure that will, but temporarily it's standing in a corner. I decided that the mirror and the corner both needed to be brightened up with...something. So here's the something!
Materials
Several sheets of cardstock, your choice of color
Several sheets of vellum paper (Translucent paper often found in graduation and wedding invitations)
A nice black gel pen
A length of lace
Directions
Take one of your sheets of cardstock, and fold it in half lenth-wise so that you have a long narrow strip.
Draw and cut out several banner-shaped triangles, with the wide end on the paper's fold.
Take one of your sheets of vellum and cut out larger triangle shapes, using decorative scissors if you so desire.
Draw your letters onto each vellum triangle. Get fancy!
Open your cardstock triangles and apply glue on the inside. Leaving enough for the end of your banner, place a section of your lace on the triangle, and close it.
Very lightly glue the vellum to the front of your triangle.
Lucia is having a fun blog party, and since she always gives away fabulous prizes, and I love the blog button (see below!), I thought I would join in the fun. :)
What are two songs that describe you?
Well, at the moment I feel like "When will my life begin" from the movie Tangled, is fairly accurate, and "He's Still Workin' on Me" by the Booher Brothers.
What do you most fear?
As silly as it sounds, I think that what I most fear is being a failure, or being unliked. The good news is that I have a Heavenly Father that I can trust in, and what He thinks is all that matters.
What color(s) dominate(s) your wardrobe? White and blue.
It's a fairly varied mix, with white, blue, green, pink, and other lovely colors in between.
How do you normally do you hair?
In a braid, in a bun, in a knot held with a flexi-clip. It all depends.
Do you prefer milkshakes or smoothies?
MILKSHAKES! Right now my favorite is the Rollo McFlurry from McDonalds. Not the healthiest treat in the world, but for some reason I've been really craving it.
Do you like the color pink?
Yes and no. I've decided that I probably shouldn't wear pink, but I think it's a beautiful color for blog templates.
What is your favorite flower?
Hmm, this one is kind of tough. I think my favorites is pretty much anything that is yellow.
I don't really have a "dream wedding location". There have been places that I have thought "That would be a beautiful place for a wedding!", but there has never been anywhere that I dreamed about for my wedding. Not to mention I change my mind so often, in a few months my answer might be different!
