Is the grass always greener?

I read a quote the other day. It read: "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." -Abraham Lincoln

It caught my attention that day because I had been thinking a lot about how life is what you make it. Life has a lot to do about your persepective on situations and experiences. On this particular day, I was feeling kind of down in the dumps. It was one of those days where something just felt off, where worries seemed to creep in on my every thought.

That day I really didn't feel like going to class. I just felt like cuddling up on the couch all day watching movie after movie, avoiding the real world. But, if you know me....you know I didn't skip class..... :)

When I got to class, I noticed that someone had taken my seat. You know, that seat that you sit in on the first day and then mentally claim as yours because it's a spot that makes you feel half way comfortable in a room full of strangers? Well, that spot of mine, was filled by a butt that wasn't mine. So, I casually went to the back of the room on the far right hand corner. (Probably stealing someone elses "seat").

As I sat there in class, I thought about how the view point seemed so different in this particular spot. How I saw the teacher was different, the people surrounding me were different. It may sound funny, but this particular situation made me think about life. Maybe when we are having a bad day, we can mentally try and switch spots. By switching spot, we can try and look at the room (or life) from a different perspective, from a different view.

I know, switching our thinking isn't as easy as it sounds. It's hard to try and cheer yourself up. So, maybe when you switch seats, sit next to a new person, or someone that can share what they see from their view.

A speaker recently told the audience to shut there eyes and try to remember what was red in the room surrounding them. He told them to keep their eyes shut for awhile a really think about the area. When he said to open their eyes, he said, "If you're not looking for the color red, it's sometimes hard to notice, but when you have your eyes open and are purposely picking items that are red, it's a lot easier." That kind of applies to life. If you go around looking for good, postive things with your eyes open they'll pop out more. If you keep your eyes shut, stay in one spot, and focus in on the "non red" items, you might miss out!

Are you complaining because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoicing because thorn bushes have beautiful red roses?

Pinterest Inspired Creations

I always liked to think that I was a "creative" person, but it wasn't until I was told about Pinterest that I was a confident crafty person! When I see certain things in stores now, sometimes I tell myself....oh, I could make that! (Something I would have said, but never done before). Lately, I've found that I get a lot more satisfaction out of buying all the material and making something, rather then just purchasing and hanging it up. I like to create it! Make it something that no ones else has.

So, I just wanted to share with you some of the things I've created! Some I did get from Pinterest, while, others I thought up (probably when I should have been sleeping).    (:  Let me know what you think!

I was graciously given my great grandma's old buttons. So, one day Corissa and I hot glued them to bobby pins. I did notice that some popped off easily, so I might sew them on next time.

During Christmas time, Corissa and I also made "Grinch cookies". They are regular sugar cookies with andes mint chips and green food coloring. Delicious!

These cute frogs were made at The Boys and Girls Club this past summer. The mouth is made out of two slices of apples and peanut butter in between. The eyes are stuck on the apple slices with peanut butter and are made of grapes and chocolate chips. The kids loved them!

 

This is an advent calendar that I made for a friend. It is made out of a mini muffin pan. I then covered the wholes with scrap paper and sticker numbers. Then, I stuck the scrap paper on the pan with tape. For each day I wrote a Bible quote that related to Christmas time.

This is one of my most recent discoveries. I bought a yard of fabric and wrapped it around an old pillow. The best part? You don't need to sew! You just wrap it like a present and knot it in the middle. Super easy and a fun/cheap change! Here is the link I found  on pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pin/172614598189175055/

I am a college student, so grilled cheese is a typical meal. BUT...this is no ordinary grilled cheese...Corissa and I made a "Cheese burger pasta dish" shown here: http://pinterest.com/pin/172614598189383417/ Then, the next day, we used the left overs to make this grilled cheese. We started by making an ordinary grilled cheese and just added the pasta dish to it.

For one of my Early Childhood classes, I had to make a puppet. I chose to make a spider puppet out of a black glove (from the dollar tree). Since I can't sew very well, my friend helped me sew on the three extra fingers (8 legs) and then I decorated it! The bow is made out of felt and ribbon. I named her Stella the spider.

This is one of my favorite projects. This is a wall hanging made out of toilet paper rolls & spray paint! Yes, you heard me right, toilet paper. I would be more than happy to sell you one for $5! Let me know!

This is one of those projects I thought up when I should have been sleeping. I had a big canvas that I didn't know what to do with...so, I bought a yard of fabric..stapled it on the canvas and sewed on a few buttons! This would also be cute used as a bulletin board.

 

I never enjoyed cooking before Pinterest. Now, I get excited about it. I made these for the Rose Bowl and everyone liked them! Here is the link: http://pinterest.com/pin/172614598188900138/ 

This is one of my favorite versus from the Bible, and I wanted to incorporate it into my room somehow. I bought a yard of burlap (JoAnn fabrics gets most of my paychecks). I then used a black sharpie to write out the verse. The next part wasn't as easy... My loving Dad actually made this custom frame for me! But, you could defintely just go buy a frame and then create the quote to make sure that it fits!

This idea came to me when I was supposed to be listening in class...Seeing that Lent is coming, I was trying to think of something I wanted to do/give up. I decided that each day I'm going to write down a blessing that I noticed that day. I think it's a fun and easy way to see the good in each day & will be fun to look back and learn from. I bought a composition notebook from the Dollar Tree and used Scrap paper to make the cover!

When I got my first apartment, I was trying to find easy and cheap ways to decorate. I found this old screen at Savers for $1. I decided it could be used to hang pictures, letters, and memories. I just pull apart-paper clips to hang the items,

I have to give my Mom props for this one! This is an old T-shirt cut up and put into a frame. This frame was sitting around so I just spray painted it to match my room!

I used the extra burlap from the Bible Verse wall hanging to create this. I put the burlap in a frame (where the picture would go) and then I just wrote with erasable marker on the glass. So, I can change the message whenever I want.

I have a ton of old magazines and knew that there had to be a craft for them! I had three canvases sitting around. So, I cut up pictures and sayings that I liked. I then used modge podge to stick them on the canvas. For the third canvas (the one in the back on the right) I used newspaper. The picture frame also has words and pictures from the magazines glued in it.

Now that I have my own apartment, I didn't really know how to decorate for Christmas. This was one that my mom put together. I found the tiny ornaments in the $1 section at Target. Then went outside to get pine cones and put in a jar we already had. My mom also wrapped lights inside so it would brighten the room!

These are picture frames from the Dollar Tree and pieces of scrap paper from Michaels. (I was just at Michaels, and they had 6 pieces of scrap paper for $1)!

 

Can you tell I like wall art? :) This is actually a painting I got while at the Art Crawl in Eau Claire this past weekend. The artist creates pictures out of yarn. I couldn't resist...The only bad thing was that it didn't come with a frame. So, I went to Savers and bought one for $5, painted it orange, and now I have a new picture for my apartment!

 

I printed these templates from pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pin/172614598187556161/ and then bought frames from Savers. ($1 each). Easy, cute, and cheap kitchen decorations!

 

 

This is the project that I get the most compliments on! I recently bought a huge jar of buttons......and couldn't wait to start button projects! I sewed buttons on elastic to make a headband! I'll make you one for $7! Let me know!

 

 

I also enjoy making accessories! These are a few of the earrings and rings that I've made. The rings are made out of...you guessed it, buttons! (: I'm planning to make a few button earrings soon!

 

 

So.....Those are a few of the many things I've created! I hope I gave you a few ideas. I would love to make any of these things for you especially: wall art, headbands, jewelry! Let me know and I'll cut you a deal!

Beware: This is a deep one!

There are more than 300 million people living in the United States alone & that's just in fifty states...Think about all the people in the world... Now, think about you. You are one. You are a grain of sand on an endless beach. You are 1 out 7 billion people. Now, imagine yourself being in a stadium of over 50,000 people. People who are possibly all strangers, filling this room, breathing in the air, talking in various languages, laughing at jokes, and all living in this moment together. Setting the same day aside on our calendars that will never come again. Isn't it amazing that each of these people holds a story? Each one of these people standing in that stadium carry a talent. Isn't it crazy that each one of these people have struggles, challenges, and dreams? What's even more mind blowing is that each of these people look different. Each one having unique features/personalities.

Think about the people that you've met in your life...Those that you would do anything for...and those that have simply crossed your path offering a friendly smile. 

Now imagine all of those people, or gains of sand that you haven't met. Or, how about those people that haven't met YOU.

I don't know about you, but I'm a strong believer that everything happens for a reason. I believe that people come and go in your life to teach you things, to challenge you, and to make you grow in some way. Most of these reasons, we may have to wait what seems like an eternity, to realize their purpose. While, others may hit you right in the face the moment your paths cross.

I never really realized it until the other day, but isn't it cool how one day in a random spot, you run into someone you haven't seen in along time. Isn't it interesting that you both were in the same place at the same time.

Just think about how busy our lives are, how each person has so many things to do in one day, but yet, sometimes our lives meet together in the same place at the same time.

I think there is a purpose.

That person may be a reminder; they may be a lesson. Your paths may be crossing to give you something, or to take something away. Any of those options may be true, but there is a purpose. The purpose may sometimes be heartbreaking, while other times you're heart skips a beat. It's your life. You know.

I realize this concept is quite abstract. Each one of you reading this, sees it with different eyes, and different thoughts. Every view depending on your unique experiences or circumstances. When I think about 7 billion people it scares me, but comforts me. Think about the possibilities. The coolest part is, we're all in this thing called "life" together. Even though we may see life and even death differently, and even though we may have different values, beliefs, struggles, & joy.....

We're all in it together.
We're each one teeny tiny grain of sand making up a beautiful beach.
We all have a purpose helping eachother find our purpose.

Just think about it.

The Riddle of Love

I read a funny quote the other day. It went like this: "You don't actually love a person unless you occasionally want to kill them."

Which made me start to wonder...

Why do we put such high expectations on those we love most? Why do we take out our problems on the ones we would never want to lose?

The answer could simply be that you start spending so much time with that person, that it's nearly impossible not to come across a situation you don't see eye-to-eye on. Or maybe we have such high expectations for that person because we would be willing to do that much for them.

I also read a quote that said "Love is spending the rest of your life with someone you want to kill, but not doing it because you'd miss them."

Maybe we have this image  of love in our minds due to the romantic movies, or the advertisements shown daily. In a Bible study I went to recently, the speaker talked about how in most movies, the ending is of the glamorous wedding. The movie skips right over the part where the wife gains 40 pounds and the husband loses his job.

 I guess I'm slowly learning that the part the movies skip over, is what defines love the most. Love means you're a team. Love means that no matter the circumstance, you are in it together. Love means that you don't have to worry about the other person giving up when things get hard.

I can think of a time, where I was yelling at my mom and she simply said "Wait, why are you taking your bad day out on me?"

 I didn't get it then, but it's so obvious now. It's like I was trying to make the world feel sorry for me, and the only way I found that possible, was to bring the people around me right down with me. Even though I was yelling, and even though I was not being easy to love, she looked passed my anger; she looked beyond my bad day....showing me love.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that when you love someone you can't expect everyday to be perfect. If you do, you're never going to be satisfied. You have to realize that there are going to be days that you want to "kill" that person. Yet, if it's true love, the good days will, by far, outweigh the bad. Plus, it's getting through those bad days together that creates the best love stories.

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

I'll be honest...I've never been a huge fan of snow. Sure, it's pretty and Christmas wouldn't be the same without it...but I'd be perfectly happy getting an inch on Christmas Eve and then having it all disappear January 1st.

So, a couple days ago when the weather man came on TV saying to expect 3-8 inches of that white stuff, I wasn't very happy.

That is until Monday morning...

Sure, I spent Sunday looking out my window thinking...why.....why this early....now how am I going to get to class....now I have to scrape my car....now I have to shovel....now I have to leave earlier to get anywhere on time....

Without really realizing...I was focusing on all of the negative things.

Sunday night after being pumped about the Packers victory, I looked out the window watching the snow STILL falling...and felt my mood change. I really wasn't ready for winter.

Which brings me to Monday morning.

I woke up to this annoying sound... something was scraping against my wall. When I looked out my window I was reminded of that nasty cold stuff piled up everywhere, but the next image might have changed my outlook on that white stuff forever.

After looking beyond the snow, I noticed that the noise I was hearing, was of a nice old man shoveling a path from my steps to the sidewalk. Of course, this view warming my heart. I went on getting ready when I heard a noise coming from my steps....I ran to that side of the house and noticed the old man was now shoveling off my 15 billion steps.

The most beautiful thing about this, is that this man didn't have to do this. He didn't have to think of the girl that lives in the tan house. When I signed my lease I specifically remember it saying I was responsible for the sidewalk and steps outside of my house.

As if that wasn't enough....When I got home today, my steps were salted down and a little bucket sat there labeled "Salt for Ice".

Maybe snow isn't so bad...As I walked down my cleared steps, making my way through the thoughtful shoveled path, I also saw a man helping a women who had just slipped; I saw a girl taking a picture of the snow-covered trees. I also saw a family building a snowman.

Today at the Preschool, a little girl came up to me as I was helping another child make a snow angel. This little girl looked at me innocently and said, "Isn't there something magical about snow?"

I thought to myself... Yes, yes there is.

The Christmas List

The joyful music, the lights & the contagious spirit...these are just a few of the things that make this time of year so magical.
 
I recently was looking back at some home videos where my mom sat my brother and I down in front of the tree to ask us what we wanted Santa to bring us. Granted I was five and my brother was seven, I wished for things like a puppy, an American Girl doll, and a pretend cash register. My brother asked for a football, a real Packer jersey, and a BB gun. I'd be lying if I said Christmas still brings that much excitement to me, but I'd also be lying if I said Christmas means any less today.
 
I believe that as we grow up, things change. Our thoughts, our beleifs, and our views all alter depending on our experiences.  This year when my mom asked me to make a Christmas list, I found myself struggling. Yes, there are a few things that would be nice to have, but do I really need them? Are the things I "need" really something my parents can just go out and buy in the stores, or Santa's elves can make in their workshop?
 
Yes, when I was five years-old, while wishing for material things, there were people struggling, people that were poor, and hospitals full of ill people...but as children we are so egocentric.
 
The bittersweet thing about growing up... we realize that this Jolly guy dressed in red can't logically fly around the world in one night, while checking off our Christmas list.
 
Therefore, our lists change, our views alter. As I grow up, I'm realizing that it's not the items I have that brings me my happiness.
 
This year my imaginary Christmas list would consist of:
 
1. Groceries for a year
2. My loans paid off
3. Good health
4. Family time/traditions
5. Happiness for all
6. Okay....a puppy.....
 
I want to make sure this year, that I don't get caught up on the materialistic part of Christmas. Sometimes I find myself sad after Christmas is over. Like something is lost or missing.
 
So, why can't we all carry this contagious, joyful, magical spirit through out the year? The friendly smiles, the small acts of kindness...if you haven't noticed, money can't buy you everything.
 
And if money could by us everything, would the value be the same?

Father Time

I can't believe that my last post was in May...

It's funny. When I started typing these posts I found it so relaxing, but that crazy thing called life gets in the way and suddenly there is no time.

Time is a funny thing. Just think about it. It guides our every move. (I bet you just looked down at the time on your computer screen, or maybe your phone. Are you on schedule?) Sometimes we want time to just stop or freeze. I'm sure we all have that one moment (or five) that we want to last forever, or put it in a bottle and keep it for a later date. Other times the clock can't go fast enough. Each second feeling like a life time.

At the preschool the other day it was the Director's birthday. She was turning 60. We surprised her by having all the children sing Happy Birthday to her when she entered the room. Afterwards, the children were asked how old they thought she was. One little girl, responded "Two?" Another boy, shot his hand up confidently, "You are 21!"

Isn't it funny how children really have no sense of time? I know that they are too young to really grasp the concept, but I think that's wonderful. I miss that time. When I had no idea what the day of the week was, or what time of the day it was. Each day was just filled with excitement and many new things.

Today, I walked passed a woman who looked particularly sad...I thought to myself... We never really know what the person is going through that we're walking past, or sitting by in the cafeteria, or standing next to in line. That person could have just had the best day of their life getting to see a loved one, or they could have had the worst day of their life losing a loved one. The point is, we never know what storm God has asked the people we pass each day to go through. We don't know what their story entails.

Some of us carry our hearts on our sleeves, while others build up unbreakable walls. No matter what, we all have problems, we all have worries, but we also all have happiness and joy in something. Alot of the time, how we handle these ups and downs is by using our time wisely. Who knows what tomorrow brings.

So, smile at that person walking by. That may brighten their day for that one moment. And that one moment could be all that they needed. And in that moment, is time. Time to show them, that you too have worries, you too have struggles, but we're all in this together.