The Learning Curve

My years in college have been some of the best of my (relatively short) life. Now that I am here I feel like everything else was just building up to this really incredible time.  Even though I still have two years to go, I have learned so many things here that I am thankful for!

Find what you are truly passionate about and pursue it

College is a great time of trial and error. Testing out new clubs, experiences, activities and hobbies. There is no time like the present to find your passions, because sooner than later you will be thrust very quickly into the real world.  If you leave college knowing what you love and are good at, it'll be that much easier to figure out what you want to do with your life.

Find good friends.

My college experience would've been extremely different had I not been with the friends I am with now.  Much of high school ended up being difficult largely because I did not end up with good people to spend my time with.  I learned from this, and when I got to college I decided to seek out the people I knew that exuded happiness, love, and most of all followed God.  These people are some of my best friends and I know that they will be for a long time. On a similar note...

Friendships come and go, which is perfectly okay.

Unlike what we assumed in elementary, not every friend you meet will be one that sticks with you forever. God may bring people into your life for a reason, and he may lead them out for another. I have had quite a few of these friends, and while we may no longer talk or see each other, I know that God brought them into my life for a reason.  People change and relationships change; this is a fact of life. It is okay to let some people go and invite new ones in.

Take responsibility.

Going to college means embracing a lot more responsibility then you did when at home.  You buy your own groceries, make your own food, do your laundry, work a job, etc.  Our parents aren't here to help us with any of this. Being on your own is awesome and freeing, but you do have to take responsibility for your actions and life.

Persevere.  

This is definitely one I have learned quite a few times.  Whether it be continually pestering people to find a job, going in to see a counselor over and over while changing majors, or studying nonstop to pass a class, perseverance is a big thing I have figured out.  My parents always told me "the squeaky wheel gets the grease," so I guess they trained me well for this one. :)

No matter what, stay true to who you are.

All throughout high school I was slightly insecure. I wasn't sure who I was or where I fit in, so I would act differently around different people simply so I could feel accepted. The problem was that this never made me feel any better about myself.  It just made me feel worse because all of these people saw different sides of me.

That is partly why college has been so amazing for me.  I came here and had a completely fresh start where I was able to find the friends I really wanted and be myself around them because I knew they accepted me completely.  I now and perfectly comfortable being myself around everyone because I have friends, family, and a God that love me for me.  I've learned that I am so much happier being myself and sticking to my beliefs and values.

...

These are just a few of the things I have figured out in the past few years.  Since coming to college I have learned so much about myself and about the world around me, and I know that I have a lot more learning ahead of me. I have made incredible memories, met amazing people, accomplished some really cool things, and I can't wait to see what comes next!

Inspiration

Here are some wonderful quotes and sayings that I have found lately.  I love collecting these little things to go back to in harder times.  It's always nice to have a reminder of who you are, what you're here for, and how great life is.

Hope these little guys provide you with some food for thought! What do you look to when you need to be inspired and have your spirits lifted? 

DIY Donut Coasters

If you know me even a tiny bit then you know I love donuts.

I love these doughy, frosted wonders so much that when I saw this DIY the other day I knew I had to have a set of my own.  So I frolicked to the store, bought 4 cork coasters, and got ready to work!

Here is what you need:

-fun paint colors
-a large and a small paint brush
-craft blade
-cutting mat (not pictured)
-small cork coasters


Step 1: Use something small and round to make the hole in the middle of the donut.  Trace it out with a pencil.

Step 2: Use the craft knife to cut out the circle in the middle.  Make sure you cut on your rubber craft mat. I did a rough cut of the circle just to get it started and then perfected the edges afterwards.

 

Step 3: Use the paint of your choosing and the large brush to make the 'frosting'.  I went with pink! Flip over the coaster beforehand so the pencil marks are on the bottom and out of sight.

Step 4: Paint on the sprinkles!

After this you are good to go! You may want to coat them in Mod Podge if you have it just to ensure that the paint stays on.

So fun right? Another way you can go about this is painting larger cork boards and using them as bulletin boards. I chose to go with this version though 'cause I love me some funky donut coasters :)

Coffee Talk

If we were to meet for coffee....

...i'd take you to the coffee shop I work at, show you around, and introduce you to my great coworkers

...i'd order a medium roast coffee (black) and probably a yummy muffin!

...i'd ask you how your summer is going and maybe vent about the humid weather a little bit

...i'd tell you that I am obsessed with the Real Housewives shows and I'm not ashamed

...i'd show you the awesome new planner I bought that makes me smile (found here)

...i'd tell you that I just baked chocolate chip banana bread muffins and they are killer

...i'd tell you about this new singer I discovered that sings beautiful songs

...i'd talk to you about God a little bit

...i'd tell you that I am learning that having a relationship with God is based on more than just feeling        his presence, and that even when you can't tell he is there you have to have faith that he is

...i'd tell you that I'm going to Oregon soon and I'm SOOOO EXCITED

...i'd ask you if you have any pets, and if so i'd ask you to show me every picture you have of them

...i'd say we should hang out again :)

DIY Word Magnets

I had a good friend when I was younger who always had these awesome word magnets on her fridge. Every time I walked past I would string together a phrase or sentence - the weirder the better. I loved them so much, but I never found myself investing a few bucks in my own set. Just the other day I happened to see this tutorial on A Beautiful Mess for making fridge magnets, and I knew I had to make some of my own.

All you need to buy is:

-clay
-letter stamps
-magnet tape

You will also need:

-rolling pin
-craft blade (or sharp knife)
-a baking sheet and parchment paper
-an oven

First thing to do is start rolling out your clay. I had to really mold it with my hands because it was extra stiff. Once it becomes pretty soft, start rolling it into a long rope.  You are then going to flatten it out with the rolling pin. I made mine about 1/8" thick.

After you've rolled it out you will want to cut it.  I used my magnet tape as a guide. Simply place it on top and use the craft blade or knife to cut around the tape. My tape left kind of a mark on the top side of the clay, so if yours does the same just flip it over and use the clean side for stamping!

Next is the fun part...stamping out the words! Obviously you'll start thinking of awesome words like chocolate cake and bacon (or at least I did...).  Just make sure as you're stamping your words you throw simpler ones in like and, or and a few a's and s's. I happened to look online at the pre-made word magnet sets and it gives you a list of all the words in the set. You can find it here. This is a good guide :)

Once you have stamped out your words, cut them out and place them on the baking sheet.

After you have cut out all your stamps, you are going to want to cook it in your oven at 275°F for about 15 minutes.

Once they have cooked and cooled all you'll need to do is attach the magnets to the back of your clay. You may need to glue the magnets on just for extra security.

This was a super fun DIY to do. The hardest part was making sure I got all the words I needed! Other than that, it was really easy and totally worth it in the end. I am super excited to bring these to school and see what my roommates and I can come up with :) 

Music Favorites

I love music. It is something that speaks to me in a way that not much else can. I listen to all different kinds, with playlists on my iPod that suit every mood.  One band that you can currently find on my playlists is Kye Kye.

The first time I had ever heard this band was at a Gungor concert (if you don't know who they are, I would suggest you check them out as well).  They came on stage and I was immediately entranced - the stage was dark apart from a soft red glow that came from behind.  You couldn't see their faces, just their silhouetted figures playing this beautiful music.  The lead singer had a really great presence and they did an incredible performance.

That was way back in February. I meant to look them up after that but never got around to it. Then, just the other day a friend mentioned to me if I had heard a band by the name of Kye Kye, and I immediately freaked out and told them this story.  I ran home and listened to their albums on repeat.

Their sound is kind of this ethereal, electronic mix.  The lead singers voice is beautiful and the lyrics are great. They are Christian, with some of their songs centered around their religion and others not. These are some of my favorite songs....

I hope you guys enjoy them as much as I do! If you know of bands with a similar sound please let me know because I love this kind of music :)