The Little Things That Count

I'm a firm believer that it's the little things in life that count....and sometimes they almost matter more than the big things.

Little things put the extra oopmh! into the essentials: four walls, ceiling, and floor.

Add:

the required furniture (bed, table, chairs)
+

necessary tools and accessories (plates, knives, screwdriver, hammer)
+
a closet or two (or four)

&
you have the basics.

And for some people that's enough.
But not quite for me.
I believe in creating and cultivating beauty.


Why? God calls me to do so.

God tells me  (via Noah and his arky, arky) to

Source: jonesdesigncompany.com via Grace on Pinterest

which is partly why I feel the need to create and cultivate beauty.

God tells me to live my life by Philippians 1:27: "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."

So, I strive to deny myself, take up my cross daily and follow Jesus.  -Luke 9:23

To follow Jesus daily means that I
  speak the truth in love.
  take care of the poor and needy.
  love the unloved.
  put the needs of others before my own.
  humble myself.
  strive to produce the fruit of the spirit.
  choose peace and not strife.
  forgive and not hold grudges.
  repent and change for the better.
  spread and give joy.
  and live in obedience.
   daily.

And you know what that creates?
Beauty.
Me, being fully alive in Christ.
Having ashes exchanged for beauty.
And glorifying God by my very existence and salvation in Him.

Therefore, beauty is a call.

And creating beauty in my surroundings, life, and space is a natural flow from that lifestyle.

To play my note, live out my gifts and talents, and create beauty, I feel compelled to have beauty around me.

A lovely lady once said that she was  "the creative director of [her] surroundings."
I think that sums me up. God takes care of my environment, and then gives me the role of being creative director of my surroundings; pretty-fying my basic walls+floor+ceiling, if you will.

And if it is a goal in my life to live out and create beauty, why would I want to live in a plain (or ugly) space?
After all.....

Source: etsy.com via Grace on Pinterest

part two coming soon....
Any thoughts?
What does God call you to do with your life?

Lately & Links

An awesome music video:



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And this is what happens when you type something out on a keyboard your fingers aren't used to:
Amd tjem tjere
s tje ever [p[i;ar
(supposed to say 'And then there is the ever popular...')

< < ........................................ > >
I find it awesome & highly ironic that The Office airs on the tv after my dad falls asleep with it on.
Especially since he doesn't like the show.
It's like the most awesome poetic justice ever.
......Take that Dad! You're still watching it : )

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This lady is awesome!

Her book is so intriguing and captivating.

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I'm itching to find a cheap plastic platter/plate to make one of these cute things!

from this lovely lady

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My older sister is way into infomercials.

It's kind of her hobby.

It's her thing with my dad.

I like comics with my dad.

But she likes infomercials with my dad.

No joke, after eating dinner on my birthday, they sat around talking about their favorite infomercials.
We thought they were crazy.

Anyways, I was at her house the other day and she said, "Look! It's my first infomercial purchase! It's a spice rack! Look- it swivels."

Like it was a big accomplishment.
Like getting her first Kitchen Aid mixer or adopting her very own dog. (her 2 other big accomplishments : )
...Geez, she makes me smile.

.....And laugh.....constantly : )

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Apparently when I play tennis or badminton, (which has been a lot in the past two weeks), I tend to kick up my back leg whenever I hit the ball/birdie.

Kind of like how Mia wants her foot to pop when she gets her first kiss in The Princess Diaries.I finally realized that's why my butt hurt so bad after the first time I played badminton with my twin.

So when I played tennis with my older sister and her roommate's brother, they both laughed and made fun of me every time I would kick up my back leg.
It was funny after awhile when we realized that I couldn't return a ball without popping my foot : )Kinda ri-dic-uh-lous!

(I watched this movie maybe 20 times after it came out. I liked it alot. Julie Andrews + a princess + a mustang + a cute boy? =any 7th graders' fantasy : )

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My older sister makes lots of squawks that my Dad affectionately termed her 'chicken squawk' years ago.
She will squawk when she's startled (which is very often), surprised, happy, or frustrated by certain things.
It's pretty funny.

While playing tennis at a court in a park with a nearby enclosed pond area with geese and ducks, she squawked after hitting a ball.
And then a goose honked right back.
It was hilarious.
And awesome!

And when I told her what happened, she smiled really big : )

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On Thursday night, my mom was flipping through the channels on our local-stations-only-tv.
And she found my korean soap opera tv show!
The show includes three characters who are in never-ending chef-type cooking competitions.
And on that night?
Well, they were competing over the best cow carcass?
(Like the kind you see in a meat packing plant...hanging from the ceiling.)
Needless to say, my mom and I were very confused.

And that is what is happening in my neck of the woods. How about you?

Sunday

This morning,

...I woke up without using my alarm.....such a good feeling!

...I played badminton with the seester at the tennis/volleyball court ..........(which feels super wimpy after playing tennis yesterday)

...and got super sweaty in the 100+ degree weather

...and then jumped in the nearby pool to cool off

...ate some yummy leftovers from last week

...and then a yummy quesadilla on the George Foreman via the seester

...showered, did a random assortment of things, and then headed off to church

...helped the seester with 2nd & 3rd graders at Kids Connection

...got a BRC burrito at El Pollo Loco

...went to 'the 7' (7pm church service) ............& was challenged, fed, and stretched

...went to Target for some un-fun essentials

...came home, ate some ice cream & watched the finale of Castle


Needless to say, it was a lovely day.
: )


And a Song for Sunday:

{The Altar}  -Nichole Nordeman

I'm at the end of myself,
I just dropped out of the running
I don't recall when I last pulled the shades and said
"here comes the sun, here comes the new day"
Someone remind me again that joy might show up on ocassion
I'm sitting here with my hands on my head, and my eyes on the ground, wondering if I'll be found by You

Will you make me new? Will you take what's left of me?
I guarantee that it won't be a fair trade.
Will you set me free from what's keeping me afraid?
I know I've prayed it all before, but I'm back on the altar

I don't believe what they say about one foot in front of the other
If my life was a map, you'd see every last step just circling around, still lost, never found by You

So will you make me new? Will you take what's left of me?
I guarantee that it won't be a fair trade.
Will you set me free from what's keeping me afraid?
I know I've prayed it all before, but I'm back on the altar

Maybe last year I'd have made empty promises
Maybe last month I'd have tried to pull strings
But I don't have one single chip left to bargain with
The only thing left is me needing You to make me new

Will you take what's left of me?
I guarantee that it won't be a fair trade
Will you set me free from what's keeping me afraid?
I know I've prayed it all before
But I'm back
On the altar

random lately-s

So......

....I'm kinda addicted to picnik....

.....and to staying up late doing nothing important. lame. ugh......

.....I had a super awesome time wrapping up my Life Group (Bible study) with my fun group of lay-dies on Tuesday....

....'twas fun...and we had the healthiest snack of pretty much the entire semester....ha!... you know we be fancy....

....I made a super yummy dinner on Wed. for just my mom & me.. fruit salad + steamed broccoli + grilled chicken sandwiches....yumm!

....I tend to write sandwiches with two 'h's....i.e.: sandwhiches....and I'm a pretty good speller.....

...I don't care for weird abbreviations.....i.e.: totally does NOT = totes   & obviously does NOT = obvs....

...I, um, 'left a rose' one day and totally let my dad blame it on Milo, my sister's dog...in his defense, he has pretty smelly roses...but I sure was giggling to myself though : )
....p.s. 'leaving roses' is a euphemism for, uh....farting/tooting

....I asked the seester to have ingredients on hand so we can make these yummy truffles!!!!!

....rocked out to this song while driving.....

....kinda freaked/geeked out when I stumbled upon this lovely site.......

....entered to win a Polaroid (fujifilm) Instax camera, & was reminded -yet again- of my wish for one of my own someday.....(july 2nd anyone?? : )

....oh, and some happy/washi tape.... preferably in a fun print/cute solid....

....like, ......duh...

....and a new comforter....mine is from at least a decade ago.....

....but probably getting closer to two...

...and because pictures are pretty....

Amber, Alison, Megan, Mirranda, Micaela, Janell, Rach, & me

LG = Life Group (aka: Bible study)

LLT for May 27th - June 2nd

*Warning: I got a little linky happy.....

Love this!!!

riflemade paper co.

**click on captions on all photos for links**

busybeelauren.com

Um, YUM!
Making this tonight!

wishlisted

Freya etsy shop

3 strand crochet headband

crochetme.com

3 strand crochet headband video

http://youtu.be/3YuiiC-WiaE?t=50s

sailor knot headband

youseriouslymadethat

More tutorials from youseriouslymadethat!

sweet little headband   (double layered flower)

youseriouslymadethat

Another great site for crochet tutorials:

lovemyjhook.com

Granny stripe blanket

attic24

Super cute cork board:

Creating Really Awesome Free Things

I want to make this so badly!

I just might be going to OSH today & getting some paint chips : )

Paper punch garland:

grace and light studio

Doily Garland:

swoon studio

DIY Silhouette Wall:

caitlin wilson

heart-shaped ice cream sandwiches:

sousahabitat.blogspot.com


Thrift Share Monday
I'm linking soon!

thrift share monday.html

LLT

Camera mail

 source

Ruled v-neck

source

Ceiling Rosette Wall Art

source

Grocery bag invitation

source

these shoes!!

source

this picture....

..........oh, my!

from this lovely girls' etsy shop

fun sign, no?

via: busy bee lauren

on a day like today......

on a day like today.....

I'm eating a really smooshed/melty York peppermint patty.

and thinking about how much my mom likes them  : )

...I need the Lord to help me.

pg. 5 #29

I'm really glad it's not the beginning of finals week.

finally, my first semester without finals! : )

via

I wish I could have this for dinner. I mean, um.... dessert.

Banoffee Pie

I'm reminiscing about my time at my last college.

And I think it's silly that my major, is a part of the college of agricultural science.
I mean, really?

I wish I woke up thinking this.....

and that it was actually true  : )

via

this is making me laugh.

like crazy.

umm. three of my favorite songs.

yes. oh, yes.

Fun new-to-me band: Clarensau. check them out on Pandora.

<

Recipe Exchange

Linked up with Casey here:

When I was in college and my friends and I were all still living in dorms and had to eat in the caf, we tried to have family dinners (cooking real food) together every month. When it was my turn, I decided to make my favorite family recipe: Tater tot casserole.
And geez! it sure was a hit!
Now I am not tooting my own horn- we were forced to have meal plans for the caf and let me just say that the food got a little old after awhile. Four-types-of-potato-entree night, anyone? No? Yeah, I thought so. Thus, we looved having homemade things.

A few of my friends didn't really know how to cook, and a few were also somewhat picky.
And for the one who was very picky, well, ......she loved it.
And she would request I make it if we ever cooked together after that :)

Whenever my mom made a few classics, she never failed to deliver.
And whenever she made Tater Tot Casserole, we fought over the leftovers. Yes, that's right.

By the time we were in junior high, my sisters and I knew how to make our family favorites. Thus, I knew how to cook a lot more than most of my friends in highschool and college.
Thus, the friend in college who didn't know how to cook hardly at all, was uh-mazed that we knew how to make our favorite things. And very awesome comfort food, at that!

{Tater Tot Casserole}

found in here

via my grandma Opal Wilkinson

Cooking Time: approx. 1.5 hours
Serves: makes one large pyrex casserole dish
   feeds: a family of 5 (+ some leftovers) / 5 starving college students (+ hardly any leftovers : )

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium-sized chopped onion
1 (16 oz.) can green beans (sometimes 1.5 cans)
1 can cream of chicken soup (by all means, get the reduced sodium!)
1 can evap. milk
1 pkg. frozen tater tots (Foodmax calls them tater puffs. whatev.)

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef  + chopped onion + salt & pepper.  --Drain fat--

 

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. Spread meat + onion in 9x13 in. casserole dish.

4. Spread layer of green beans on top of meat.

5. Layer tater tots on top. (You can squeeze more in with rows.)

6. Whisk together soup + evap. milk and pour on top of tater tots.

You might not need all of the soup mixture

otherwise it may cook unevenly like in the bottom center of this pic.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour + 15 minutes or until tater tots are brown and crispy.  

Let sit for at least 10 minutes. (It will be HOT! and bubbly : )     
*Note: the tater tots are really hot, so it might be a good idea to smash them a bit for little ones.

Enjoy!

*Note: this is basically a more kid-friendly (tater tots) shepherd's pie recipe. Plus it doesn't have the strange texture of creamy mashed potatoes + chunky vegetable/meat.

*Also note: this is by no means a healthy recipe. Although, it is redeemed if served with some hearty/whole vegetables. When I made this last time, I served it with steamed crook-neck squash & a spinach/tomato salad with dressing I made from scratch. Just like I would have had it as a little kid, and it was YUMMY and much more balanced : )

LLT

a recent addition on bloglovin:

link

a little crafty, inspirational, personal & Chrisitian!

a cool artist & peek into real lives:

link

what a pretty flower!

http://burstsofcreativity.blogspot.com/2011/04/easy-paper-flower-tutorial.html
I'll be making my own version of this quite soon :)

fun grab bag etsy store:

apple blue handmade

I can't wait for this collection to hit the stores!!
Missoni for Target!! via: stephmodo.com

early birthday gift please!

link via: etsy

the 'crochet' thread of a new-to-me blog

link: youwillwontyou.blogspot.com