List #4: Small, Medium, Amazing

I realized I forgot to post this from January...

A 

Small

Medium 

and 

Amazing 

thing that happened this week.

Small:  I ran into one of my favorite English professors as I grabbed a handout for my class.  I hadn't seen her since last semester.  She gave me a huge hug and we caught up about our winter break activities.  She also told me about these anthologies the English department was getting rid of.  Guess who has two new anthologies of stories and poems to use for teaching?  THIS GIRL.  I was so happy.

Medium:  I got to catch up with my friend who stayed with my host family this last year.  It made me so sad and so happy at the same time.  We reminisced and compared semesters abroad.  My host mom sent my favorite cookies with her to give to me.  My host sister sent along a little pouch for change.  My heart yearns for my other home in a country far, far away.  I miss it so much every single day.

Amazing:  I am obsessed with sunrises and sunsets.  Lately, it has been incredibly sunny and semi-warm.  It does not feel like January weather.  Over the month I have worked from 7:30am-9:30am every single day.  Although it's early, I love staying in the habit.  Next semester I will have to get up even earlier for teaching.  This week I was making my frozen waffle with peanut butter and I wandered over to the window where I saw the prettiest sight I have ever seen.  I ran back to grab my phone and snap a bunch of pictures.  As I walked to work I just kept looking over my shoulder at the beautiful sky God painted just for me.

May every sunrise hold more promise and every sunset hold more peace. 

Con mucho amor. 

List #3: Posts that Inspire

What I'm reading:  My mom always forwards me amazing blog posts that really fill me with joy.  I have also been seeing amazing articles popping up on my Facebook feed, as well.  Putting more joy in the world is always a good thing.

1) Eyes Up

2) Bravery

3) Be Beautifully Human

4) Don't Date a Girl who Travels

5) Stop Doing These Things

6) Let Go

Con mucho amor.

List #2: Favorite Places and Spaces

What I've been doing: I have been busy taking a creative writing class.  But it's still my resolution to take time to blog and be creative.  Here's list numero dos.

1) My bedroom at school: It's where I watch television and where I do my homework.  It's where I take naps and where I read.  It's filled with people and things I love.

2) The coast: My grandma has had a beach house since before I was born.  I grew up spending summer weekends playing in the sand and walking along the shore.  The Oregon Coast never ceases to leave me breathless.

3) Bookstores: I could easily spend hours wandering Barnes & Noble.  In high school I would rather receive books than anything else for presents. :)  Good thing I want to teach Language Arts.

4) Costa Rica: My second home with my second family.  A place that will always have my heart.  Sunsets and hills filled with lights.  Doesn't get much better than that.

5) Wildhorse aka Washington Family Ranch: The summer camp that changed my life over and over again.  I have transformed and learned so much at this amazing place.  I have seen other high schoolers and leaders change, as well.  Jesus does big things here.

6) The couch at home: My favorite place to nap.

7) Hawaii:  Going to Oahu last spring break was incredible.  Getting to spend time with loved ones and enjoy the warm waters and lush scenery was priceless.  The fact that I get to go back this year is too perfect for words.

8) Forever 21 & Nordstroms: A girls favorite place.  Putting together outfits and hunting for deals.  Heaven.

Con mucho amor.

List #1: Significant Events in 2013

What I'm doing: Back in the day I read about 52 lists in 52 weeks.  The idea came from this blog.  I was going to participate several years ago, but I never got around to it.  Since 2014 has just begun, I thought list making would be a perfect way to write and create and doodle throughout the year.  So my first list will be...

Significant Life Events of 2013

1) 21: Getting dressed up and fancy for my 21st birthday.  Good thing people still think I look like I am in high school, though.  Mom says I will appreciate it someday when I am older.

2) Heaven gained an angel: My grandma passed away in April.  I miss her so very much.

3) Student teaching: This is a photo of my first teacher gift ever.  A yummy caramel apple on Halloween.  7th graders can be so difficult sometimes, but it is so incredibly rewarding.

4) Senior thesis:  I read at 800 page novel by Charles Dickens for my senior thesis.  I wrote a 20-page paper and presented it to my whole class and the English department faculty.  Never in my life have a read so much for one class.  Good thing it paid off since I received an A on my thesis!

5) Oahu: Spring break trip.  Cannot wait to return this year.

6) Kittens: I discovered my love for cats in 2013.  I got to play with kittens at my aunt's house.  My sister's house at school also has a cute kitty.  I WANT ONE!

7) Lip Sync: Getting to choreograph for lip sync with my little was a highlight of my junior year.

8) Family: They are crazy, but I love them. 

9) Friends: Each year it amazes me how much closer I become with the people around me.  New roommates, friends, classmates, sorority sisters, coworkers.  Here's just a sampling of the many relationships I treasure in my life.

10) Cooking: I also discovered a love for making things, mostly sweet treats.

11) Costa Rica: Getting to return over the summer to celebrate my host brother's wedding was one of my favorite moments of the year.  Seeing them at the airport seriously felt like I was home again.  How did I get so lucky? 

I can only imagine what 2014 will have in store. 

Con mucho amor. 

Best Day Ever

What I'm doing: I saw this quote in a friend's apartment, and I LOVED it!

What I'm listening to:  My friend accidentally downloaded the wrong version of Let Me Love You, but discovered this artist, Alex Lambert, who is so good!  His name sounded familiar since he was on American Idol in season 9.  My favorite songs?  DJ Got Us Falling In Love, Use Somebody, and  Wonderful World

What I'm creating:  So I thought I brought a blank notebook with me to school52WoL prompt for me this week: What describes your perfect day?

What I want to make:

• I found these bracelets while I was on stumbleupon.  So cute.
• These cherry blossom lights to put in a vase on a desk or dresser.
• Pretty paper flowers to put on bookmarks or decorate journals with.
• This cute polka dot shirt from this wonderful website.

Back at School

What I'm doing: I have been back at school for over a week now, and I am going to try my very hardest to continue making things throughout the year.  I have already found how much harder it will be, though!  My goal is to participate in the 52 Weeks of Lists challenge.  I hope to devote a little time each week to make something creative.  I need to start this new challenge this week.  :)

What I'm making:  These cards are so cute and easy to make.  Just take a doilie and use it as a stencil on a card!

Here is my last summer index card.  I have honestly loved this challenge, and I cannot wait to start it again next summer.  I am not going to continue this fall, though since I am too busy!  The quote on the bandaide box was perfect to remind me that it will all be okay, even if life does not go as planned.  

What I'm reading-blogs I love:  As I was reading about the 52 Weeks of Lists (52 WoL), I discovered this blog.  Her post from Wednesday is about blogging, and I loved reading her tips.  So inspirational. 

What my dorm looks like:  I thought it would be fun to post some things about decorating dorm rooms since I live in one like 9 months out of the school year.  Decorating is my favorite part of the school year.

I love the shelf we got for my desk area.  Since I am an English major, I have a ton of books, so the shelf makes it a lot easier to keep everything organized.  We got it from Storables; my favorite part about the storage system is that you can make it taller and buy more pieces for it!  I also love the tie rack we got to hold my necklaces. 

We have an old desk or sewing desk thing at my house.  My mom had an idea to pull out one of the drawers to hold all of my perfumes and lotions.

I saw these flowers from PBTeen, but they were pretty expensive.  So I went to Michaels and bought two boquets of fake flowers.  I cut the stems off and added a small strip of white ribbon on the backs of them to hold them in place.  I used sticky puddy to hold them to the walls!

I cannot seem to find the link to where I discovered this idea, but I took a plate and painted it with blackboard paint.  I painted the clothes pins and hot glued them along the edges once the paint dried.  Then add photos and cards.  :)

These photo mats are my very favorite dorm accessory.  I love displaying photos, so these work perfectly and I can put them up with command hooks and not poke any holes in my walls.  I think the collage look on walls is so cute, so that is what I have on the right side.  I need to add more to it, though. 

I will try to do another post later this week.  :)

Much love.