Simply Enchanted

Last month, a friend of mine turned 21 and had one simple birthday request: that we (her friends) make all the celebration plans. I was definitely all over this. I love birthdays, and celebrating, and the thrill you get when you create something really cute with little or no money. Brainstorming didn’t take too long, because soon I remembered how much my friend loved the movie Tangled. The first time I watched it was with her and another friend of mine- I remember being sandwiched in between two sobbing girls, feeling  a little awkward! Ha! But that’s just me, not a crier. Although I am becoming more emotional as I get older…but that’s a whole other blog post.

So knowing how much my friend liked Tangled, I knew that: [Tangled + her + surprise + friends] would equal…FUN! And it really was. Here’s a few pictures of how our party turned out.

There were, of course, cake and presents…

We played Pin-the-Tongue-on-Pascal…

And we made our own Tangled lanterns.

 

Such a fun party! Hit me up if you need a party planned at any time…I would love to do it. :)

We go together like milk and cookies…

Halloween has come and gone. It’s November, just like that. It seems it flew by so fast, but don’t worry! I didn’t miss out. I think my costume this year was pretty spiffy. :)

My roommate and I were Cruella DeVil and a Dalmatian puppy last year, and that was so much fun. We thought it would only be fitting if were were a pair like that again this year. We were totally gonna go Amish. How fun would that be?! But to be legit, to look like the most vunderful-gut Amish people we could, it would have cost us some moolah. Quite a bit actually. So instead of spending tons of money, or ending up looking not-so-legit, we decided to go an entirely different route. After much brainstorming, we agreed we would be milk and cookies!

Once the really hard part was finished- thinking of a costume- then I started on the easier (and more fun!) part: making the costumes. I was home over fall break, with a whole lot of nothing to do, so that was the perfect time to get creative. I can’t believe how long it took me to decide what kind of cookie (chocolate chip or Oreo?) and what style of milk (glass, jug, carton?). I definitely had Google to help me out. And I definitely had my dad to help me, too! It was so great. I asked him a simple question: “Do you have any ideas how to make costumes out of cardboard?” Not only did he give me tips, but he got out all his sweet tools. He drew straight lines and measured with a ruler, and cut with a box cutter. Heck, I was just gonna make a couple of really rough costumes, but he helped me do it well. It was super fun, too!

 

 

Kady and I go together like milk and cookies. No doubt about it :)

This sums it up perfectly.

Yes.

Meanwhile, in autumn

There are things you must do in autumn. There just are.

This past weekend has been good for the heart. Being at home for fall break has allowed me to do so many fall things. Marching band. Cornfields. Playing with my black Halloween cat. A bonfire, not without hotdogs and s’mores. A birthday party. Jumping in piles of leaves. Plus many other relaxing, homey things, like bubble baths, making cookies, and sitting around drinking hot tea and reading books. SO good.

In the last few days, fall has passed from being more summer-like to now being on the cusp of winter. Can you feel it? There is a definite chill in the air, much more so than that crisp, invigorating breeze we’ve had for the last month or so. I brought my winter coat back to school with me. I feel like I’ll be needing it soon, since a simple sweatshirt almost did not suffice this morning! I’m not looking forward to winter all that much, because I know it means the weather won’t be warm again for at least 4 months…too long for this girl. I have been doing some thinking on the matter, though, since it seems the majority of bloggers I follow live in Florida, California, or other such places. They envy our winter. Our frost. Our change of pace to seemingly endless cold. I’ve never experienced life sans winter before, so I can’t claim to understand where they are coming from. However, I do see the goodness of it in the fact that summer seems so much sweeter in contrast to the long months of bitter cold. How much more do we appreciate something, when we realize it is missing? That’s how our seasons work. I will hold onto the loveliness of fall for as long as it lets me, and then move on to winter with renewed appreciation.

For now, enjoy the beauty of fall.

P.S.- Not sure why I’m cheesin’ in all of these pictures…just keepin’ it real, I suppose. :)

I have to write something on here.

It’s ridiculous how uninspired I have been.

I mean, it’s not like I haven’t had things in my life worth sharing lately…I’ve had plenty.

Like…

flying kites through my sunroof while driving

having hopes of dancing with a boy crushed, that led to…

a midnight run- just enough adrenaline to sweep away my energy and emotions

a crazy, crazy Saturday night in downtown Kearney

drawn-on eyeliner mustaches photo shoot

seeing people almost lose their will to live because the Huskers lost

bug bites on the bottoms of my feet

Swear, I have had more than enough thoughts and moments to write about. As I sit here and try to conclude as to why I am so absent, I think it’s because I cannot conclude anything. Lots of things are taking place in my life right now, and I have lots of little philosophies about what they are teaching me, what direction I should be going, what has put me in the place I am in right now.

I know several things,

God loves. He knows what’s up. He only gives good gifts. His truth stands, even when I can’t feel it.

Our God is greater than emotions. He is stronger than circumstances. He loves us individually, and we can feel His love.

That’s where I’m at.

It’s September…

“The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel–
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Drying grass,
New books and blackboards
Chalk in class.
The bee, his hive
Well-honey, hums
While Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze.”

-John Updike, September

****

That is all. :)

As of late…

My blog. I love you.

Tomorrow it will be a whole month since I last posted something. I think I kind of have this unwritten rule in my mind that I can’t let it be more than a month between posts. Because…how will remember if I don’t write it down??? I don’t want to forget all the in-between moments.

So let’s go with a list. A compilation of all the goings-on as of late.

In no particular order:

1. I’ve learned that you can [generally] determine whether or not someone will go to college by the size of their garage. Or whether they even have one. Think about that.

2. I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’m a feeler. This means my logical side doesn’t kick in until I freak out about a situation. Ha! I can see that in so many areas of my life. It’s good to know. Also, I am an external processor. Hence the blog! I don’t fully realize what I’m thinking until I say it or write it out. Pretty cool. Lastly, I am an outgoing introvert. Meaning: I love being around people, but they wear me out. I really do need my alone time! SO much insight into myself lately.

3. I almost always solve the Jumble puzzle in the newspaper by figuring out the answer first, then unscrambling the letters from that.

4. I’ve scored some really great sales lately. $50 jeans for $28? Heck yeah! A book (one that will help me prioritize my life…more on that later) for only $1.98 [including shipping!] on eBay? You betcha!

5. I feel so defeated by school already, and it’s only the 4th week of school. No matter how hard I try, no matter how much time I invest in my homework, I am still behind. It may be a matter of prioritizing my time, but I’m not sure. I thought I was good at that…maybe I’m not. At least in this season of life. All I know is that something’s gotta change, or my whole semester will be so out of balance.

6. Because of poor time management, or kick-butt homework, or whatever…time alone with God has been rarely happening. If I don’t do my homework, there are obvious consequences. But not spending time with God? There are consequences, too. I’m starting to see that.

7. Do I really need that much sleep?

8. I realized tonight that I had a presentation due online in an hour, speed-skimmed the chapter, threw a bunch of words together, and pulled it off. Pretty impressive, I must say. But see what I mean about homework waging war and winning?

9. My goal this week is to look cute for 8 o’clock class at least once. 3 more chances. We’ll see.

10. My laptop battery is dying, and I’m too lazy to get up and plug it in. So this will be it for the night. But hey! I think it was helpful just to write what’s up. Like I said…external processor. Hopefully it will somehow help me solve my problems.

Later.