Little Dresses for Africa

I checked out a magazine today from the library, called Kiki Magazine. It's a fashion magazine for girls, and it's pretty interesting.

In the most current issue, there is an article about an organization called Little Dresses for Africa.

Little Dresses for Africa is an organization a Michigan woman started, when she had gone on a trip to Africa several years ago, and saw how poor the childrens' clothes were there. She decided to start making pillowcase dresses for them, and that is how this organization came to be.

People can make their own pillowcase dresses, and send them to Little Dresses for Africa, to be given to girls in Africa.

This is a wonderful thing to do, and I hope to make some dresses, once I become a better sewer.

You can also donate money, or other items for these precious children. You can find out how here.

Please consider helping out for a great cause. It is well worth it!!

I Really Need to Take Better Care of Myself

For ages now I have been meaning to take care of myself. But I couldn't bring myself to actually do anything about it.

I tend to gravitate more towards junk food/less healthy food, and I usually spend my days sitting on the couch using the laptop, or watching a movie, reading, playing games, and the likes.

I also am a major night owl, staying up until about 2 or 3 am most nights.

So, I really need to start working on a healthier routine for myself. I want to try out yoga, Zumba, and maybe Pilates at some point.

I have checked out exercise DVDs, and they seem really interesting, and have also checked out some cookbooks that have healthier recipes that interest me as well.

I am also going to pick up walking five days a week again, which I did a few years ago. It actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, walking that often, but I just lost momentum after a while, and I am hoping to have an exercise buddy with me this time.

I also need lots of encouragement as I try to become a healthier person. I would have started sooner, but this past winter was really crazy, with extreme cold and snow storms bringing a ton of snow, so I couldn't really do much outside.

So, please help me with encouragement if you can. I really need it. Hopefully I can do something that will stick longer this time.

Always Be Humble and Gentle

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Act of Kindness for my Dad

For a while, my dad has been wanting to get a new pair of shoes for himself, but couldn't because things kept coming up that he had to pay for, and new shoes had to be put on hold.

A couple weeks ago, I thought of asking two of my brothers (the ones that still live at home, along with me) if they wanted to put in some money for our dad, towards a new pair of shoes. They said yes, and today we finally gave him the money ($100 between the three of us).

My dad was very, very happy to get the money, and decided on getting his shoes next week sometime. Now, he doesn't have to worry about something popping up that he has to pay for, and having to put off getting new shoes even further.

I love how happy, thankful, and grateful he was to get the money. He said thank you to us several times, which felt really good to hear.

He deserves this, as he has done a lot for me and my siblings over the years. I love you dad!!

100 Things About Me

I probably did this before, but I figured I would do this again. So, here goes.

1. I love to bake.
2. I love to take pictures.
3. I am a major night owl.
4. My favorite color is purple.
5. I have 3 brothers, a sister, a brother-in-law, and a sister-in-law.
6. I grew up listening to country music, and recently started listening to classical and Christian music as well.
7. I regret giving up the violin, and hope to start playing again someday.
8. I am an avid reader.
9. Writing & blogging are the best ways for me to communicate.
10. I have been shy for as long as I can remember.
11. I love listening to books on CD.
12. I don't know why, but I love making lists.
13. I have never been outside of the U.S. before
14. In general, I did not like school until I got to college
15. I loved being a girl scout in elementary school
16. I have a learning disability
17. My favorite TV show is Cake Boss
18. My second favorite TV show is Bonanza
19. I have lived in the same house, on the same block, in the same neighborhood, in the same city, in the same state my entire life (so far).
20. My favorite animal is the horse.
21. I didn't get my ears pierced until I was 13 years old.
22. I had my birthmark removed from my neck on Christmas Eve 2003.
23. I prefer summer to winter.
24. I love things that glow in the dark.
25. I didn't get my first cell phone until I was 25 years old.
26. I love thrift stores.
27. I love children, and really want to have some of my own someday.
28. I love puzzles.
29. My biggest fear is death.
30. I don't like being in large crowds.
31. I'm not a political person, and I try to stay away from political conversations and events, if I can.
32. My favorite/lucky number is 14.
33. I am double jointed, and I can crack my neck, fingers, and toes (yes, you read that right!).
34. I can roll my tongue.
35. I prefer long hair to short.
36. I love calendars.
37. I have never worn makeup before.
38. I love notebooks (the paper ones).
39. I believe in angels.
40. I love hats.
41. I broke my right arm (which is my dominant arm) once, in first grade, shortly before Halloween.
42. I do not like getting my hair cut.
43. I love teddy bears.
44. I do not like to exercise, and am not an athletic person, but I love to watch baseball and ice hockey.
45. I love astronomy.
46. I love science.
47. I love linguistics.
48. My favorite drinks are hot chocolate, chocolate milk, lemonade, and water.
49. My favorite musical artist is either Andrea Bocelli or Francesca Battistelli.
50. I've actually had a dream (an REM dream) really happen.
51. I want to be an author, special education teacher or teacher's aide, pastry chef, and photographer.
52. I keep a dream journal.
53. I prefer the quietness of country living to city living.
54. I love beads and buttons.
55. I love stickers.
56. I have never had a boyfriend, nor gone on a date. Yet.
57. I am both a Harry Potter fan and a Twilight fan, but if I had to choose between the two, I'd pick Harry Potter.
58. I hate hearing/seeing swear words and derogatory names/words.
59. My favorite food (besides chocolate) is pasta.
60. I love meeting new people and making new friends, although I have a hard time going up to people and starting conversations.
61. I have had four cats grown up (this includes the two cats I currently have).
62. I also had a teddy bear hamster for a couple years.
63. I want to open up my own bakery someday.
64. I want to go on missions trips.
65. I want to be a "cuddler".
66. I have donated blood on several occasions (blood does not bother me at all).
67. I love spicy foods.
68. The only thing I really like about Star Wars are the light sabers (I really want a purple one!).
69. I hate running. I always have, ever since elementary school.
70. I hate taking tests, unless they are multiple choice.
71. I'm not a patient person sometimes, although it has gotten better.
72. I love bouncy houses, and I'm not ashamed of admitting it.
73. I love to collect things (that interest me).
74. I am not a neat freak, but I do want to work on that a bit (my bedroom looks like a tornado hit it).
75. I love rainy days.
76. I am addicted to Pinterest.
77. Math is my worst/least favorite subject.
78. I love peace signs.
79. I write partially in print, and partially in cursive.
80. Music helps me concentrate on things, like homework and cleaning up.
81. I want to live in a foreign country for at least a year.
82. I have a fear of public speaking.
83. I love working with clay.
84. I love horse back riding.
85. I love looking at yearbooks.
86. I love card games like UNO, Solitaire, and War.
87. I am, and will always be, a child at heart.
88. I love animated movies.
89. I prefer photographing nature, and inanimate objects over people, but I will photograph people as well.
90. I have an extremely long bucket list of things I want to do in my life.
91. I sometimes enjoy playing video games (mainly Harry Potter, The Sims, and Mahjongg).
92. Some bugs/insects don't bother me (like ants, caterpillars, butterflies, ladybugs, moths).
93. I am majorly afraid of heights.
94. I am afraid of spiders.
95. I want to live on a farm someday, and raise horses.
96. I love flowers.
97. I love magnests, and I actually got these cool magnetic color blocks from a neighbor family this past Christmas, that I absolutely love!
98. I love going bowling, even though I'm not very good at it.
99. I'm not all that into dresses and skirts, except for special occasions, or if I feel like wearing them. Which isn't very often.
100. I am a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies.

1,000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp

I heard about this book last year from a friend who had read the book.

The author writes about her life, and how she has come to appreciate everything in her life. She wrote down 1,000 "gifts" in her life, and how she felt about everything that went on with her.

I read some of it, and it was interesting. This book has inspired me to keep a journal of 1,000 gifts in my life. I have 254 "gifts" written so far.

This book has helped me appreciate things in life more, especially the little things.

Life is not meant to be taken for granted. People need to slow down and realize that life is a gift that is meant to be cherished, enjoyed, protected. It is meant to be shared.

So, take the time to enjoy things in life, because they will become only memories once they are over.

I have a blog, where I post my 1,000 gifts, if you would like to read about them. Enjoy!

Some People

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Meetup Event #2: Seeing Divergent in Theaters

Today, I went to my second Meetup event ever, seeing Divergent in theaters. This is the second Meetup event I went to in five days.

Although the others who went to this Meetup and I didn't find each other before the movie, I really enjoyed it.

Here is a description of what the movie is about:

DIVERGENT is a thrilling action-adventure film set in a world where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy by a faction leader (Kate Winslet) to destroy all Divergents, Tris must learn to trust in the mysterious Four (Theo James) and together they must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it's too late. Based on the best-selling book series by Veronica Roth.

 

 

 

After the movie ended, I went to Caribou Coffee and got a hot chocolate. It was a bit chilly out, so I needed something warm on the way home.

 

All in all, today was a good day.

14 Things That Make Me Unique

I got the idea for this from a Facebook post. So, here are 14 things that make me unique:

1. I love children and have a huge heart for adoption.
2. I am a major night owl. I have tried becoming more of a morning person, but it's just not me.
3. For some reason, I love to make lists. I don't know why; I just do.
4. I love to travel.
5. I picked up knitting a few years ago, and have loved it ever since. Even more recently, I picked up crocheting as well. I'm not sure yet which one I prefer.
6. I have been volunteering with my local library for almost two years (it will be two years in May), delivering library materials to those who can't come in for whatever reason, and absolutely love it. The people I deliver to are very nice to me, which has brought me out of my shyness a bit.
7. I am a very shy person, but once I'm around friends, I am very outgoing, and can occasionally get a bit goofy.
8. I absolutely love photography, and people have actually said that I am very good at it (one of them being my dad). I am hoping to get my degree(s) in digital photography, and become a professional photographer someday.
9. I don't mind going to the movies, shopping, out to eat, etc. by myself. I will go with people if the moment arises, but I sometimes prefer going by myself.
10. I love stickers.
11. I collect stuff (beanie babies, stickers, teddy bears).
12. I don't really care for makeup. I will wear it for certain occasions, but in general, I don't wear any.
13. I don't really care for alcohol either, but I will have a rare drink. Ever since I turned 18 (10 years ago), I have probably had about three actual alcoholic drinks. I just don't like the taste of it, unless it's mild.
14. I want to open up my own bakery someday. Baking is one of my passions, so having my own bakery would be awesome.

My First "Meetup"

After being on Meetup for ages, but not actually going to anything, I finally went to my first ever Meetup event, lunch at a local restaurant called Munch.

I had the kale salad and Italian lentil soup, and a cookie dough shake. It was all really good, and I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others!!

I am so glad I was able to go to this Meetup event, because I have wanted to go to Munch for ages. The others who went to this were really nice, and I had a good time.

So, if you're going to be in the area, and would like somewhere to eat, give Munch a try. It's a small place, but it's a great place to eat at.

Surround Yourself With People Who Know Your Worth

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My Reasons to be Happy

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The above photo inspired me to blog about my reasons to be happy. Like the quote says, there are so many beautiful reasons to be happy. Here are mine.

1. I am alive another day.I think this one goes without saying. I do not hate life, and things are going pretty well for me these days.
2. I have a loving family.My brothers, sister, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, niece, nephew, cousins...I love them all and I don't know where I would be without them.
3. I have loving friends. My friends have gotten me through some tough times, and have given some of the best memories of my life so far.
4. I am getting a wonderful college education.I am learning about one of the things I love to do (bake), and I am thankful/grateful that it's allowing me to pursue a career/job in the field.
5. I get to take care of two beautiful cats.And being able to take care of two other cats and a hamster over the years before now.
6. I am an aunt, one thing I have always wanted to be.I have always wanted to be an aunt, and am so grateful to have the chance. I love my niece and nephew, and can't imagine my life without them.
7. Being stronger than I thought I was.In the last few years, I went through a really rough time, and it made me realize that I am a lot stronger than I thought I was, emotionally.
8. I am starting to become more outgoing.For as long as I can remember, I have been a shy person. But lately, I have been starting to come out of my shell, as I meet more people who are genuinely nice to me, and treat me with respect.

I'm sure there are more reasons for me, but these are ones that came to me at this time. What are your reasons to be happy?

School Support

I recently saw this article about a teen who is/was going through a rough time, and his school decided to rally with him.

It's amazing to see that there are still people who truly care about others, and have patience for that. It makes life a lot better when people decide to help others, rather than hurting them.

One of the Greatest Things in Life

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What Would You Attempt If You Knew You Could Not Fail?

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Good question. There are a few things I would do if I could not fail.

Number one: Get my degrees in special education teaching, and become a teacher.
                        I love children, and this is how I want to help them.

Number two: Get my degree(s) in baking and pastry and become a baker.
                        I LOVE baking, so this profession is perfect for me.

Number three: Get my degrees in creative writing (or something similar) and become an author.
                           Another thing I love to do. Writing is the best way for me to communicate, so it's a
                           given that I want to be a writer.

Number four: Get my degrees in photography and become a photographer.
                         Yet another favorite thing of mine. I am always looking for photo opps, and I want to
                         be a professional photographer someday.

Number five: Adapt to a healthier lifestyle.
                        I am not taking very good care of myself, and I really want to change that. I don't
                        always make the best choices in food and exercising.

So, what would you attempt if you knew you couldn't fail?

Everyone Has Gone Through Something

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One of My Favorite Musical Artists Is Coming to Town!!!

One of my absolute FAVORITE musical artists, Andrea Bocelli, is going to do a concert in town this year, and what's even better is that it's the day before my birthday!!!

I really, really, really want to go to this concert. It will be the first big concert I will go to, if I get to go. I have been a BIG fan of his for probably 13 or 14 years now, and would love to hear him sing in person!!!

He's done a concert here before, but I wasn't able to go :( The timing just wasn't right.

Some of the tickets are pretty cheap ($125), so I wouldn't mind paying for myself. I seriously hope I get to go!!!!!! Especially since it's the day before my birthday, so I will make this a special present to myself. I am soooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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