Happy Birthday to my Sister!

 

Today is a very special day. 19 years ago today I went from being an only child and the center of my family’s attention to being a big sister for the first time. You might hear me say that it was a sad day since I no longer was the center of attention all the time, but really it was probably one of the best days of my life.

Taylor is my best friend and even though we fight like a cat and dog (which is very appropriate since she is a total cat person and I am a total dog person), we always find a way to get along again and be there for each other. My favorite times are when the two of us hang out in the bathroom at our house and chat for what seems like hours. I don’t know why, but we end up hanging out in the bathroom all the time.

So happy birthday to my little sister. You’re awesome and I love you always.

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope you are all enjoying this lovely day. It is supposed to be sunny and 80° here in Southwest Michigan today. I am so excited, even though I will be spending my day working until 4pm and then studying like crazy. I have my first big human anatomy test on Wednesday and I have to know all 11 chapters, all the bones, and all the muscles by then. (Class just started a week ago, by the way.)

Have a great day everyone. And thank you to all the men and women who are or have served our country in the military. You are all very appreciated.

Song for Saturday V.3

I have been listening to country music as late and this song has really caught my attention. I relate to it very much. All throughout my childhood my momma taught me that God loves me just as I am. One time she even let me go to church (Catholic church, at that) in a mini skirt, fishnets, big chunky knee high boots, and a skull and crossbone t-shirt. All the old people gave me looks but I thought it was funny. My mom just said, "God doesn't care how you are dressed. He loves you just as you are, no matter what."

My Grampa Alt

This is my Grampa Alt and my beautiful step-momma and his daughter, Susie. My Grampa passed away last Saturday and his soul will surely be missed by us here on Earth. He was always opening his arms to me for a hug and always smiling. Over the past few days my mind has kept returning to one memory when our family was all at the cottages they managed, probably for Christmas or maybe even a summer vacation, and he was making everyone biscuits and gravy for breakfast and it was delicious.

And so, Grampa, Dad, Bud, and any other name people may call you by, know that you are so loved and so very missed by all of us.

I Went to the Zoo!

Friday my sister and I were planning on going to the beach for the day but decided that going to the zoo would be a better choice. So we went. It was so much fun. I love seeing all the animals and getting to photograph them. I wish I could get more up close and personal with them though. That would be amazing.

I was taking pictures of this guy and just as my camera snapped he opened his pretty wings up for me. It was pretty awesome.

This GIANT salamander was pretty insane.

I can't remember what this is called, but he is so cute. I wanted to take him home.

My old friends, the crocodiles.

The red pandas are always hiding on me. It is fun to try and find them though.

You think kitty cat yawns are cute? Check out this tiger yawn.

Baby zebra!

This is one of my favorite photographs form the day. These guys roam around freely throughout the entire zoo.

Don't you just want to cuddle with him?

This was Taylor's favorite animal of the day.

Friday Five V.3

Hello, hello, hello! I had a dream last night that was zombies mixed with The Hunger Games mixed with Angelo telling me how much he loves me and I also befriended Catherine Tate. It was pretty cool. Now here are some things that I loved this week.

This couple's wedding. I have been following all of Elsie's gal pals constantly all week to see more photos.

I love this clutch and the girl who made it is pretty rad too.

This was illustration inspiring to me.

I bought this top online. I cannot wait to get it and wear it.

This reminder.

On Loving and Being Yourself.

I learned this lesson in middle school and again in high school and I am learning it once again in college. I think it is just one of those things you have to constantly re-learn because we constantly change who we are.

The past couple months I have been horrible to myself and not giving myself any of the love that I deserve. I may be the nicest person to others, but to myself I am one big, mean bully. But I am trying to change that. And the first thing I need to do is to learn how to accept myself and stop comparing myself to other people all the time. This is no easy task.

At first the biggest issue seemed to be my body image. I am really good at only noticing the bad things. But here is the thing. I have an awesome body. Please do not think that I mean that I look like a super model or anything. I definitely do not look like any sort of model. But I am a healthy size and weight. I can walk around. I can swim. I can dance when the music plays. I can hug and I can kiss. My body is awesome just because it is a gift from God and I can use it to do awesome things.  The only thing about my appearance that is slightly problematic is my acne which isn't all that bad except for my horrible habit of picking at it. So I am trying to wash my face more regularly and not pick. (That is one thing that seems impossible though. I have been doing for as long as I remember, how am I supposed to stop now?)

Then I realized that I also wasn't being myself because I was more worried about what people think of me than what I think of myself. I have always been a little dorky and goofy, but more recently I have become a real dork. And I love it. I LOVE it. I play Pokemon and Dungeons and Dragons and I have really started to get into more comic book stuff. I am most definitely on the right path in my life. It is awesome because being dorky is something that I have always had the potential for and now I am able to really dig into that potential and I have this amazing boyfriend who I get to be dorky with! I love it. And really I don't consider it being dorky, I think being awesome is more the correct term. However, the other night I went out with my sister and her friends and when I was about to tell Taylor about the new game of D&D that we are about to begin I clamped my jaw shut because what if all of these girls knew that I like to play Dungeons and Dragons and Pokemon and oh gosh what if they judge me on that and think that I am a dork and not awesome like I am? And here is the thing about doing stuff like that. What if you do become friends with one of the people who you hide a huge part of yourself from? What happens when they do find out that you love X-Men? Hmm? Honestly they would probably be sad that they missed out on all that awesomeness that you hid from them. Either that or they will ditch you for not being cool enough and who has ever wanted a friend like that.

I am awesome and I need to remind myself that every time I start bullying myself. I am a beautiful awesome human being who loves and is loved.

I hope you know that you are also a beautiful awesome human being who loves and is loved. Don't forget it.

Springtime (Zoo-Time!)

I really want to go to the zoo soon. I love all the amazing animals and taking pretty pictures of them. Also you get so much exercise and I have new walking shoes!

One of my favorite photographs that I have taken. That is one cool croc!

Flamingos are probably my favorite. Sadly the ones at our zoo are closer to white than pink.

I have no idea why I took a picture of a wall. (or is it a rhino hiding from me?)

Who doesn't think giraffes are cool. This year I want to feed them.

This is such a sweet photograph.

Dying Fabric with Kool-Aid

So I realized last night that I didn't have a blog post for today, so I stayed up late last night dying fabric with kool-aid and vinegar. It was so SMELLY! Ugh. it was horrible and I kept breathing in the steam. It was like breathing kool-aid powder. How icky. But it did turn out cool, so that is all that matters. I made some pretty bracelets actually.

Here is what I did: For every packet of kool-aid use 1/4 cup of vinegar. Bring to a boil and simmer with the fabric in it for about 5-10 minutes, depending on what you want your fabric to look like. I only kept mine in for a couple minutes, maybe 5, because I wanted light colors. Next time I am going to leave it in there longer.

The brown fabric that I had didn't dye so well, but I think it would be better if I left it in the simmering mixture longer. I braided the strands of fabric and sewed elastic to the ends. I did finish two of them last night, but I think my sister took hers. She is going on vacation with her beau for a couple days.


And so this post is now done. :) Have an awesome Tuesday!

Doctor Who

I don’t know about you, but I love television. It’s like a continuous movie that you get to watch 30-60 minutes of each week. Brilliant idea, really. My favorite show out there definitely seems like a never-ending story.

Doctor Who is a British Sci-Fi show that started in 1963. Guinness World Records has listed the show as the longest running and “most successful” science fiction series of all time. The show stopped running in 1989, but was re-launched in 2005.

Doctor Who is about The Doctor (who often describes himself as a mad man with a blue box), a time-lord from the planet Gallifrey, who travels the both time and space in his TARDIS, a blue British police box that is much bigger on the inside. One of the most important things you should know is that the Doctor regenerates. Currently we are on the 11^th regeneration of the Doctor, played by the adorable Matt Smith. This infograph explains it all much better than I can.

via BBCA

Currently Amy Pond, a sassy red-head, and her now-husband, Rory are travelling alongside the Doctor. In the past season we have also gotten more acquainted with River Song, a mysterious woman from the Doctor’s future who meets him in reverse order.

via BBCA

The sixth season of the new series started a few weeks ago on BBC America, but you can watch seasons 1-4 on Netflix. I highly recommend this addictive television show.

via pinterest

Song for Saturday V.2: Happy Birthday to my Momma

Every single time I hear this song and think about the most amazing mother that I have been blessed with tears come to my eyes. I cannot thank God enough for blessing me with the most amazing woman ever for my mom. She is my best friend and I aspire to be as great as she is. I love her so much!

Happy birthday, Momma. <3

Friday Five: Bedroom Inspiration

Okay, I know I am only home for the summer but while I am here I want to start putting things together for my future apartment bedroom and fun stuff like that. Here is some stuff I really like.

I adore this bed frame, so much.

Brilliant way to display photographs of loved ones.

I really want a chalkboard.

 Who doesn't love pretty bunting?

 

I am really feeling the raw wood bedroom furniture. This desk would be so pretty to make.

all found on Pinterest

A Special Someone Graduates College Today!

 

This is Angelo. He is the silliest, sweetest, most talented person I have ever met. Today he is graduating from the College for Creative Studies. He double majored in illustration and art education and is heading off into the real world to be an art teacher. I can tell you right now that he will be an excellent teacher because he is the guy who taught me how to use Adobe Illustrator, which I now love (and rock at). I am so proud of him.

So without further ado, here is some of his amazing artwork. You can check out more on his blog.

He is the most talented personI know. How lucky am I that I not only get to call him my other half, but also my own personal art teacher?!

Benny's Prom 2011

Friday was my bay brother's junior prom. His girlfriend Alex, who is a senior this year, looked absolutely stunning. Her dress was so pretty. And of course my handsome brother looked perfect with her on his arm.

So handsome.

Alex loves her cat!

This is probably my new most favorite picture ever.