Can you feel the temperature change?

Just because something may not be colorful...

Does not mean it is not beautiful.

Give everything a chance.

if you ever wondered why i went to Arkansas.. this is why...

yep, these guys are shooting live right at the UofA campus. 
and they are even making National TV

I LOVE IT :)

Way to do us proud boys! 
Love, from OZ.

Happy friday/saturday friends :)

Have a lovely weekend!

it's simple really...

It's all I can do and say today. 

Happy Thursday friends.

Let's get to sewing!

WHAT'S UP PEOPLE.

Long time no chat.. I apologize about that. (poet and I didn't know it?!) 

I have been busier than a cat with two liter boxes. 

Thank you guys so much for you sweet words from my post below about my party! It was amazing to say the least. More on that coming soon. 

TODAY(!) is a oh-so-very-special day... Because today we will be talking to a dear friend of mine, Ms. Valerie! {Some of you may remember me talking about her here.}

She lives in NYC with her hubby, Vanessa, and her lovely sewing machine. 

This interview is a little lengthy, but that's just because EVERY detail matters and I promise friends... YOU WANT TO READ THIS :) 
PLUS! There's a totally awesome video.

This girl is more than talented ((and might I say, lovely)) and she is here to inspire!

Let's get the third "Interview the Crew" on!

-Hey Val! I am so beyond pumped you are here today. Seriously. I don't tell you enough how totally awesome I think you are :) How is life in Valorie world?

• Hi Sam!  Things are going well in the Valerie bubble here in NYC!  It's a tad cold for my taste (ok, it is bitterly cold, if I'm going to be honest), but all the more reason to spend lots of time under a big blanket with the husband, right?  
• don't like the cold, but I do love this time of year:  January is such a feel-good month, coming off the warmth of the holidays and spending time with family, so full of hope, and a time for making plans, lists, and goals (WHICH IS MY FAVORITE THING OF ALL TIME). 

-Ah, yes! January is a GREAT month for goals, lists, and plans. It's like you're revving your engine for the entire year :) Now, speaking of GOALS, LISTS, AND PLANS... Can you share with us what you have written down, planned, reaching for in 2011?! Especially with your sewing career!

• Oh, where to begin?  First, non-sewing related:
  • 1).  Explore this gorgeous city we live in much more than we did in the past year.  We're only going to be here once, so we HAVE to take advantage of all that we can here!
  • 2).  This past year I cooked at home 3 times a week; I want to up that to 4.  (P.S. I am NOT a good cook...yet.  Practice makes perfect, so I've heard.)
  
  And now, sewing related!
  • 1).  I challenged myself to buy only 1 clothing item per month from a store this year.  The hope is that this will force me (in a good way) to both sew more and sew a bigger variety of things, but also do a better job when shopping to buy pieces that are really necessary and worthy of buying, as well as doing better to reuse/re-wear/make better use of the clothing I already do have.
  • 2).  The "26 Things" Project - I've been thinking about this one for awhile, and actually plan to start it on my birthday (in March). I'll be turning 26, and in my 26th year, I want to make 26 Things that I absolutely love, that fit me well, and fulfill a need in my closet.  My hope is that by the time I turn 27, my closet will be filled with things I have made, and I'll be able to dress on a daily basis in me-made items!
  • 3).  Spread the sewing love!  Within the last year, I have had 3 good friends buy sewing machines and delve into sewing themselves.  I want my friends (in real life, or in blog life!) to feel free to ask me for any advice or help on projects they may be working on, and to encourage sewing as much as I can!  Sewing isn't one of the most widespread of the creative arts, but it could be!  BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME!!

-You just got even more awesome because of all your plans {which i didn't even think was possible}. Those are all such amazing things to reach for, and I KNOW you will do them all, and ROCK them too! You mentioned sewing a 'bigger variety of things', could you maybe elaborate on that for us? Is there maybe something you feel you would have difficulty actually making? (btw, in my mind you can move sewing mountains). I mean after all, you DID sew an amazing winter coat. 

• Right now, I basically sew a few main types of garments:  skirts (TONS of skirts...too many most likely), dresses, a few tops, and a few pairs of pants - and all mostly that I will be able to wear to work at my office job.  That kinda seems like it covers all bases of types of clothing, doesn't it?  But it doesn't!  
• There a couple things I have never even attempted to make, but I would like to:  jeans (they seem terrifying to me), and tank tops or t-shirts (it seems like it's just so much easier to buy them for $10 at the Gap than actually make them!).  
• And then are things that I have attempted to make, but would like to try again, such as:  outerwear (I did successfully complete a winter coat, but I have failed miserably at attempts to make a blazer, and I would like to try some warmer weather jackets and I'm even thinking a down vest at some point!), shorts (I've made one pair, and am itching to make more!  Hurry up, spring!), and loungewear (I'm thinking leggings, pj pants, maybe even some nighties...ooh la la).  
• Anyway, I feel like there is a whole other world beyond skirts and dresses that still needs exploring!

-JEANS! Holy smokes if you make jeans... can you just imagine the freedom? IDK about you but jeans are my worst enemy while shopping. I just never know how they are going to fit that day. So, girlfriend BEST OF LUCK making jeans! Although, I know you don't need it :) I think that will be the biggest asset (no pun intended) for you! So many AMAZING things ahead for VKB! How long have you actually been a seamstress and what made you even think to get started? {SOOOO glad you did}

• Oh, you have just put words to all my fantasies about making the perfect-fitting pair of jeans!  I think jeans shopping is a headache for most women, so yes, it would be so awesome if I somehow perfected my very own pair that fit all my curves just right, and then I could just make myself 100 pairs!  I am chasing that dream...
• My seamstress-ing abilities actually go back pretty far in my life.  My Granny has always sewed, for her entire life.  When we went to visit, she was always working on a quilt or some kind of decoration or something.  My Grandad even built her an entire sewing room onto their garage!  Anyway, when I was in early elementary school, we would go visit my grandparents, and Granny taught my sister and I how to sew simple little projects like pillows and quilt blocks.  We were pretty addicted!  My mom is also somewhat of a seamstress (and learned from her grandmother!), so she helped me sew a few little sets of clothing - most memorably, a red and blue plaid short/vest combo (oh, the 90s) and a bright green 60s style dress with daisies that I wore like every week in 6th grade.
• I didn't sew much for the next 10 years until the year after I graduated from college, when "Santa" happened to get me a sewing machine for Christmas!  I was pumped, and immediately hatched all sorts of ideas in my head about the fabulous things I was going to make for myself.  That was in 2007, and I started slowly re-teaching myself how to make clothes then.
• There are two main reasons why I wanted to start sewing garments in the first place and why I continue to love to do so today: 
• First, it gives me a sense of family history and carrying on an artform.  I have a mother, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother who all love to sew - it would seem it is in my genes!  And I know that sewing goes back even farther than that in our family, as most of my ancestors were farmers, and I am certain the matriarchs of those families made clothes for everyone else.  For them, making clothing was a necessity; for me, luckily, it also gets to be an art.  
• Which brings me to my second reason:  I love getting to choose, down to the finest detail, what my clothing is going to look like.  I believe that what you wear is very personal and says something about you; it's a glimpse into your personality through colors and prints and silhouettes and it's an outward expression of how you hope you will be viewed by the world.  Now, sometimes, of course, it's not that serious, and we just throw on the nearest clean t-shirt.  But sometimes, it is that serious.  And I love creating that image of myself with my own two hands.

-HOLY AMAZING!!!! What a great feeling knowing that sewing is literally embedded in your DNA! And I truly LOVE your outlook on people's attire reflecting who they are. I couldn't agree more. I like to think mine is a mix of every style combined into one which in turn makes me a jumbled up mess just trying to find her way! Haha, maybe once I become an actual big kid my wardrobe will get consistent. I definitely think yours speaks ROCKSTAR in it's own Valerie way. For reals...   

READERS: What would you say your personal style says about you?!
 

-Ok, now back to Valerie :)
What would you say is your proudest or most meaningful piece?!

• You are just TOO kind!  Thank you for all the compliments; you are the ultimate ego booster!
• I had to think about my most meaningful piece for a long time, and went through about five different choices before I settled on just the right one:  the Patchwork Dress.  I've only worn it once my whole life, to one of my bridal showers, but what I really dig about it is the story behind it!
• I made this dress after I had been sewing seriously for a little over a year.  I was looking at all the scraps I had from the projects I had worked on thus far, and decided I wanted to combine them all into one.  I literally got the idea for and started this dress at about 6:00 PM on a Saturday night, and worked for 8 hours straight until I finished it!  (if you want to see slap-happy, see video)
  From the top down:
• • Light blue ruffles:  from a sheath dress that I washed once with a pair of jeans, and the zipper punctured a bunch of holes in it!  Bummer.  I think I only wore it once or twice.
  • Dark blue bodice:  from my Little House on the Prairie-Inspired Mini Dress.
  • Tan and white seersucker strip:  part of my Little House on the Prairie top
  • Paisley strip and maroon strip:  a tunic top that was more of an experiment and I never, ever wore in public
  • Blue and white seersucker strip:  from the aforementioned failure of man shorts
  • Yellow floral:  part of my Little House on the Prairie top
  • Teal strip:  from a sundress I made for a friend
  • Black and ivory paisley:  From the Not-That-Cute Shirtdress
  • Tan floral:  another part of the failed tunic.
• Now, I don't know if you're keeping score here, but from the 7 projects that birthed this dress, two of them look like something from Little House on the Prairie, and only one of them is actually something I still wear and like!  Which I think is what makes this so meaningful to me:  out of a variety of mistakes and failures came a dress that is full of memories and reminders of where I have been before.  Isn't that kind of just a metaphor for life in general?!

-HA! Well you are so welcome. But, I'm not blowing smoke up your skirt sister :) I mean every single word! I LOVE that you chose that dress. It's seriously probably one of the most unique pieces of clothing I could imagine, and the meaning behind it is just the best. I think it's even MORE perfect that you wore it to your bridal shower. Kinda like (you said) life in general: "Hey I made mistakes, I failed a few times, but it all added up to make Valerie and my hubby loves me because of all my flaws and now we are going to make a perfect combination, together." JUST.LIKE.THE.DRESS. :) ANYWAY.. My last question of the day is one I know SO many readers are going to want to take heed to... WHAT ADVICE, TIPS, SUGGESTIONS, INSTRUCTIONS WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE WANTING TO PURSUE, ADVANCE, OR BROADEN THEIR SEWING EXPERIENCES?!?!

• 1.  Try it on for size.  Like many hobbies, sewing can be expensive.  You don't want to make a huge financial commitment only to find out you don't really like it all that much!  So, take a beginner sewing class.  Find a friend or family member who sews and ask them show you how to make something simple.  If you find that it's something you like to do and you think about sewing all day long when you aren't sewing (or maybe that's just me?...), then get yourself a sewing machine, y'all!
  
  2.  Pick your poison.  The great thing about sewing or learning to sew is that it opens up lots and lots of doors of things you'll be able to create!  It isn't all about making clothes; that's just the avenue I have chosen for myself.  You can also make home decor (pillows, curtains, placemats, couch covers,...) or accessories (purses, belts, tote bags, scarves,...) or other miscellaneous crafts (laptop covers, aprons, shoe embellishments, fabric flowers,...).  The list truly is almost endless.  My sister, for example, is always quilting up a storm!
  
  3.  Practice makes possible.  Know that you won't start sewing and be a perfect seamstress on day one.  The logistics of sewing can be confusing, you might not understand the instructions, your fabric might not turn out the way you wanted it too, you might sew things in backwards or upside-down, you might have trouble sewing straight!  And all of that is OK.  I've been sewing for 3 years now, and I have never finished a garment and thought, "Everything on here is absolutely perfect."  The more you practice, the better you will get, but don't aim for an impossibly high standard!  Odds are absolutely no one but you will even notice or see your little imperfections and mistakes.  And if they do, who cares?!  You MADE something with your own two hands!  That is what really matters at the end of it all.
  
  4.  Befriend the internet.  Whether you are just beginning, are currently a seamstress, or haven't sewn in a long time, I promise that any questions you could possibly need answered, you can find somewhere on the web.  The sewing community has a big presence here, and you can find hundreds of tips and tutorials and suggestions and adorable ideas for new projects.  And even FREE sewing patterns!  Here are just a few places to start:  Grosgrain, Burdastyle, Threads, Sew Mama Sew, Sew4Home.  Always remember, you are not alone in the universe of sewing!
  

-I think everyone readying this probably has a pen and paper out jotting down notes! (or at least, you should be!!) 
Val, you are something else, miss. You have such am amazing future ahead and I know that you will be taking sewing to new levels+heights and I CANNOT wait to see how successful you become. You deserve nothing but the best and I hope you get just that and so much more! 

 I know I speak for us all when I say thank you for taking the time to answer these questions today and we all can't wait to see what's next from VKB!! Thanks again, and give NYC my love :)  

Don't you just want to go find the nearest sewing machine and have at it?! If you have questions, you can find Valerie here. Drop in and say hello!

Also, to get a look at ALL of Valerie's pieces of art, GO VISIT HERE!

Happy Tuesday loves. 

i'm rubber and you're glue, whatever you call me bounces off and sticks to you!

Someone done you wrong........?

Don't stoop to their level. Vent to a friend, let your emotions out, and move on. You anger is only poisoning your mind, body, and soul. 

"How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours."- Dr. Wayne Dryer

finding your inner 'creative' self!

Hey ya'll!!! Welcome to my second "Interview the Crew." Today we are going to be talking to the pretty lil' Kendra. We're gonna talk to this lady about all things crafts. Let's get this party started!

-Hey Kendra! I can't say enough how happy I am that you dropped in to chit chat with us today, thank you! Let's start off with telling everyone a little bit about who Kendra is :) Because I mean I know who you are, but I wanna show everyone else how cool my friends are too! {Yes, I'm bragging.} 

• hi ms. sam!
• let’s see, i live in oklahoma with my husband ryan (the other half of our blog), dog – zia, and cat– penny.   i love going to concerts and finding new music, one hobby i’ve carried with me since college, taking not-so-professional photos, traveling, learning and creating.  i have to say my biggest passion is relationships and hearing other’s stories.   otherwise, i enjoy: hiking, rock climbing, backpacking, & camping.  i really feel closest to God when i'm outdoors. 

-Well I'm glad you enjoy listening because I know being friends with me requires lots of that, ha! Now, one of the many things I've always admired about you was your... how do I say this.... "crafty-ness".... or creativity! You always seem to have the neatest DIY projects and really dabble in it all. Where do you get that awesome inspiration from? And what makes you choose the projects you choose? 

• ha, the street definitely runs both ways!  i should have added that i really like to share as well.
• the internet is a magical magical place and i find SO much inspiration from blogs and websites.  sidenote: everyone should take the time to learn about google reader, it makes reading and organizing sites so very easy.  also, i’m lucky enough to have some pretty talented friends who continue to inspire me every day.   
• i enjoy taking on projects that have a definite purpose, so the finished product is something i can use in our apartment or a gift for a friend, etc.
• and can i say that i admire YOUR creativity with words?  your blog is always an inspiring little haven of words and thoughts.

-Ah shucks* Thanks girly :)
YES! I think we can all agree, the internet is a wonderful place. That's such a good tip too about google reader. I'm ashamed to say that I have not mastered it yet, however I have not tried that much {NOTE TO SELF}. So, to go along with your creativity {and for those of you that don't know} you got married this past June {so fun!} and you incorporated A LOT of your own handy-dandy craftiness for the big day! The centerpieces, decor, etc. Tell us a little about that! I mean I got to see it all, but for those less fortunate :) 

• yes!  almost a complete DIY wedding that i’m so proud of and had such a fun time creating. the inspiring, talented friends i talked about earlier had a big (huge) hand in helping me research ideas, brainstorm, and create many elements of the wedding.  no way could i have done it without them. 
• many projects centered around mason jars that were my grandmothers: they held the flower centerpieces, candles placed on the mantle for décor, and candles that each guest held for our sendoff.  i placed them anywhere and everywhere!  otherwise, the invitations, programs, guest book “tree”, lawn games signs, outdoor décor (tissue paper pom poms), and indoor garland around the cupcake area were all handmade by my wonderful friends and family.  i can’t take much credit at all!

-WOW! That all is amazing. I'm so glad that you have such a great group of family and friends that were able to help make your day perfect.  So glad I was able to be apart of that special day. AND even more glad you're sharing the details with us here today :) What advice would you give to other people wanting to have a DIY type of wedding? Or even advice for people wanting to tap into their inner creativity? I know a lot of times people get discouraged and think, "I could never do that..."

• meee too!  so thankful for everyone who helped AND who were able to come celebrate the day with us. i really love sharing the details,  wedding talk never gets old :)
• my advice to anyone wanting to tap into their inner creativity (whether that be for a wedding or for a special project) is to let go of the “perfect outcome” idea.  for me, nothing turns out exactly how i imagine, yet in a unique way, it’s turns out better because of its flaws and differences.  at least, that’s how i see it!  
• and there are many helpful with tutorials from individuals who LOVE to share their creativity.  we found numerous ideas for the wedding ceremony and reception from other’s on the web.  you can take their ideas and mold them into something that is unique and personal to yourself.  it’s pretty amazing, really.

-That's such good advice! I swear that's me when I do a project. It NEVER seems to go as planned. Then I get discouraged. That's why I'm such an admirer of creativity, like yours! I promise to have a better attitude about DIY projects from now on though :) what project are you most proud of??

• it’s easy to get discouraged (i definitely have myself), but you just have to keep calm and carry on!
• hmmm, that’s a tough question… can I have 2?!
• 1.)  i made a framed wine corkboard for my friends’ adam and kirstie.  i used corks from the wine served at their wedding reception and then pinned photos of us as a going away gift (they moved to california soon after the wedding).  the cork board was not an original idea, but the meaning behind it was really special to me and hopefully pretty special for them too.
• 2.)  another project was for my friend, valerie.  she needed a headpiece for her wedding and i took on the project!   it was a fun DIY project and it really meant a lot to me as well.  paying it forward only a bit since she made my WEDDING DRESS for me. 

-Oh, I'm sure those meant a lot to them as well! It's amazing how special "handmade" gifts can be. Are there any sites you'd recommend to others? For of course creative ideas, but also just general ones you look forward to reading? 

• one of the first blogs I started following was jeremy & kathleen (http://jeremyandkathleen.blogspot.com/) and i continue to find inspiration there.  i mean, they just hiked to everest base camp!  it’s pretty extraordinary.   the blog is a good mix of design, art, the outdoors, recipes, and the everyday life of another couple living in OKC.  and how about orange (http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/) is a great place to find crafty things to try out. 

-I love jeremy and kathleen too! Plus, I always feel a connection to fellow Okies. Cheesy, yes I know :) ANYWAY, are there any big hopes/dreams/crafts/aspirations for 2011?!

• not cheesy at all, i feel the same way.
  this year i hope to move to a new state, dream of perfecting my new camera (dreaming BIG here), plan to craft every card i give/mail, and aspire or seek adventure every day.   

-Those sound like amazing plans! Especially the card idea. So neat! Well lady, thank you so much for doing this interview today. I had so much fun showing you off! :)

There you have it kids! Interview with Crew, Kendra style. Hope you all enjoyed todays feature. Now, go say hello to Ms. Kendra and check all sorts of more fun things this lady has to offer! 

Have a beautiful Monday my lovies.

a girl of few words today.

A tribute to The Daybook

So, if you follow Sydney.. I know you are obsessed with her just as much as I am. You can admit it, it's just the way the world works. I blogged about her before and I want to again.

I started following Mrs. Poulton back when she only had 300+ followers 

--which guys seriously was like mid october...

yeah, she has exploded all over the blogging world--

And that's because she is awesome. I have had the priveldge of chatting with a her every now and then and she is more patient and kind than you can possibly imagine.

I wanted to share things I have learned/been inspired by/or all around just loved from Sydney Poulton of The Daybook:

• How to not have a cookie-cutter layout.. She helped me get my very first think-outside-the-blogger-box look, which is partly still here! 
• How to discuss your religion+faith in a very respectful and graceful manner; even to those who do not feel the same or understand your decisions. 
• A love for boots. 
• Those same boots, DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT have to be worn with just jeans. I never really knew how an ordinary, everyday girl ((aka, anyone not in a magazine)) could pull off all the fab looks she does with her trendy booties. And especially in everyday life at that!
• An appreciation for layering.
• Belts aren't a bad thing. 
• You must work the outfit, it CANNOT and must not EVER work you.
• I now put on makeup and dress semi-cute before going to class. Surprisingly, I feel so much better each day because of that! It's amazing what a little motivation from a blogger can do.
• I want to wait and find an all around awesome guy like her hubs, Tyson. They really seem to have it all together and follow Christ in a way that I hope to have with my husband one day. Settling isn't an option.
• New hair styles. Enough said.
• Red lipstick is totally do able. Even if you are not a brunette.
• There is nothing better in the blogging world than just being yourself. 

Thank you Sydney for being the great little you that everyone loves so much! You have made me want to reach for a lot more in blogging, but more importantly, in life.

Recap on inspiration:

grace while talking about Christ, good husband, an incredible fashion style, 
be yourself--it's beautiful, red lipstick, good hair, 
and a killer pair of boots.

So, you may be asking yourself, 

"What the heck is the point of this post? 
Sam, you kinda-sorta-maybe sound like a crazy person.."

 Some of you may say even look a little dumb or ridiculous.

I'm fine with that.
That's a fair thought to think.
But before you judge...

Let me explain. 

The point of addressing these inspirations is to give an idea of what I want to do with my blog. I want to inspire. Some how, some way... I want to contribute something good to this world! And when I have days like yesterday (ick...) I want to look back on this post and remember why I type the things I do.

Fashion will NEVER be my thing... but I do think finding and posting positive, inspirational things might be. If I can just reach ONE BLOGGER to do something good for this world, like share a compliment, choose happiness over sadness, believe in Him, or reach for more in life; I will consider all the time spent blogging, worthwhile. 

We all have to have some sort of inspiration, why not be that for someone else? 

Big Kid Workspace

When I 'grow up', aka become a RD (registered dietitian), I'm not sure that I will actually have an office type cubicle to work in. However, if I do... I can only hope to have as cute of a working space as this fine lady does! Check out her ridiculously adorable layout.

 

Maybe I can hire her to design/set-up the cuteness for me! I am not sure I could pull of that sort of creativity. ALTHOUGH, we do have the exact same Marilyn picture you see in the background. That's a good sign, right?! 

Elizabeth Berg

"Women do not leave situations like this; we push up our sleeves, lean in closer, and say, “What do you need? Tell me what you need and by God I will do it.” I believe that the souls of women flatten and anchor themselves in times of adversity, lay in for the stay.” –Elizabeth Berg

Gratitude

Gratitude. It’s recognizing, even in times of struggle, that you have all you could ever need, that there are moments every single day that ask you to notice, and to celebrate. It’s in these moments, for me, especially the small ones, where gratitude lives.

The Gingham Dress

A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a Homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston , and walked timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office.

The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge.

'We'd like to see the president,' the man said softly. 'He'll be busy all day,' the secretary snapped. 'We'll wait,' the lady replied.

For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't, and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president, even though it was a chore she always regretted.

'Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave,' she said to him!

He sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them, and he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office.

The president, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple. The lady told him, 'We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus.'

The president wasn't touched. He was shocked. 'Madam,' he said, gruffly, 'we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery.'

'Oh, no,' the lady explained quickly. 'We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard.'

The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed, 'A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? 

We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard.'

For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now.

The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, 'Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don't we just start our own?'

Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment. Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, traveling to Palo Alto , California where they established the university that bears their name, Stanford University, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.

You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them.

-A TRUE STORY By Malcolm Forbes-

What a way to go out on a friday

Wow. All I can say is wow...

I know 10 minutes seems like a long time to set and watch a video, but if you have the time it's worth every second to watch. I cried literally through the entire thing and was filled with so much joy, happiness, hope.

I really hope it touches you all as it has touched me. Thank you to all the men and women overseas serving our country. And thank you for the families and loved ones of those soldiers. You are just as brave.

Grab some Kleenex.

Compliments

Have you ever noticed how much we search and yearn for compliments from others but yet, we rarely seem to give them? Think about it. When we change our hair or get a new outfit, we'd like someone to notice and say something to acknowledge it. But do we do the same for others? Or not even only when they have a noticeable change...

• When was the last time you told a co-worker how nice they looked? 
• Or the last time you told a fellow employee or a friend good job on something? 
• How about your mom, dad, grandparents, siblings... When was the last time you told your mom how beautiful she is or how that outfit makes her eyes pop? Or let any family member know how much they mean to you and how you wouldn't have been able to get through this, or finished that without their assistance? 
• Or told someone how much you appreciate their hard work? 
• Maybe a spouse/dating partner how hard they work to make sure you're happy?

Sometimes we all need a little pick-me-up. You may never know how much your words are needed when you say them to someone, or how much they will mean to that person. It could brighten up their whole day, and stay with them for a long time.

So... Be a blessing to someone today. Instead of searching for or expecting compliments and acknowledgement, give it!

A little reminder, a little inspiration, and a whole lot of love.

I stumbled across Michael's blog after seeing where his girlfriend Paige, an old high school friend of mine, posted the link on her facebook. After reading the first sentence I was filled with excitement as Michael talks about their engagement. I had NO idea they had gotten engaged! Hooray. As a lot of my friends know, I just LOVE engagements. 

Then after reading the entire blog, I begin to cry (good tears) because I was reminded of how truly amazing love can be. And how God will always take care of us as long as we have our hearts open to him and to love. I'm so incredibly happy for them both and am excited to see what God has in store for them. Reading this has inspired me to reach for more in life, to be the best I can be... So one day, I can be pursued. 

"Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting." - Ephesians 5:25 

Find Michael's amazing story here. 

Congrats Guys!

Tuesday Love

What a Weekend

I thought about venting of all the obstacles that have occurred over the past couple of days but that just simply is not the way to be. So, instead I am going to list off all my blessings I have acquired over the past couple of days.

• My nana is recovery from her allergic reaction from the pain medicine they gave her rather well.
• We were very blessed to have speedy service come out to our house at 10pm to fix our air conditioner that had gone out. 
• I know now to look on things more carefully (ex. tents) to make sure they do not read "junior size". 
• I am so blessed with good friends. Late night road trips, day spent in the beautiful outdoors and even if it was very hot and very crowded, I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to be with all day. 
• My time was cut short with them, but I'm thankful for the time I was given. 
• My puppy got extremely sick BUT is going to be ok. Things could've been much worse; and even though I wasn't there for him and he does have liver damage.. dwelling on that isn't doing anyone any good. After his medicine cycle, he will hopefully be as good as new. 
• Friends are moving to California to better their lives and prosper in their future together. 
• Change doesn't =bad. Change=new adventures/new beginnings. 
• I am blessed. 

phil 4:13

WOW.

 I don't know if I have ever had a more ridiculous week like this last one has been. I don't want to say it was "bad", parts of it were great, but it all was just too much for a 5-day span.

• Two tests, one project, one quiz. 
• Two of my close friends in Fayetteville moved this week. Horrible, horrible. 
• JAIME CAME HOME! 
• Busted lip from playing with Jackson. Nothing says, "I love you mom" like a hit in the lip with your head. Fat lip does NOT suit me well.
• TV goes out. 
• Unable to attend certain events going on in Oklahoma this weekend due to work conflicts. EXTREMELY upset about this. From what I've heard, it's going to be a lot of fun. 
• And finally... We were informed on Wednesday that we would be getting a new/random roommate to fill the empty 4th room in our apartment. She moved in yesterday. 

Now, don't get me wrong, Caitlin (new roomie) seems awesome. We all had drinks and play time last night to get to know each other a little more. AND she is a die hard Office and Twilight fan... I think we will get along just fine! She also brought an adorable/giant bulldog along with her named Junior. However, I just think my body and emotions have been on overload and right now, things to just be going through the motions. I literally just want to curl up in bed, in fear of more things happening. With my last week of school ahead, going through the motions is the last thing I need to be doing.

Phew. I'm done kids. No more complaining. Here are a few pics from the week...

Footprints

Last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to me, the other to the Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.  “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”

The Lord replied, “My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of suffering, when you could see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

Content

What does it mean to be content?

We've all heard the saying, "Be content with your lot", but are we ever really "content"? Do we ever really just stop, and evaluate all the good things we have in our lives, and even more so, do we ever feel truly satisfied?

I find myself ALWAYS planning for the future. Always waiting for things to get better or happen so to speak..  I find look back and see myself saying things like, "when I do this, when this happens, after this, before that... blah blah blah." Well, what about now? What about the present? Isn't it the only time I'm promised? Why am I/we always planning for the future, and depending on happenings in the future for happiness? Why can't we just look around at what is going on around us and build our happiness from that....

Will I ever be able... to just be?