!Feliz Cumpleanos!

On Thursday my baby brother turned 20!  Ugh... that makes me feel SOOOOOOO OLD!!!

Since Zack is on his mission down in Mexico, my familia decided to get together and celebrate for him!  We had yummy yummy chicken and shrimp enchiladas...

Ate ice cream cake (don't worry, we took off the mustache first)

Took a few pics to send to Zack

And then watched Nacho Libre!

It was a celebration that Zack would have enjoyed, and that's the way we wanted it.  My mom even watched Nacho Libre with us!  I couldn't believe it.  I think I might have even seen her laugh once or twice!  I'm pretty sure it was only for Zachary.  

Happy Birthday Brother!  I am so proud of him for choosing to serve a mission.  I know it's not an easy choice.  I had a lot of people tell me I should serve a mission, but I honestly don't think I was a strong enough person to make that choice.  I love my brother so much and he is such an example to me.  I miss him everyday, but I know he is where the Lord needs him to be.  So have a freaking awesome day, and remember that sometimes men wear stretchy pants in their room for fun.

Weekend Project

If Nick and I don't go to the zoo tomorrow, I think I'm going to make this:

What do you think?  A black cami underneath to make it modest, and bam!  Super cute new shirt!

Sew What?

This is Patty.  My sewing machine (well, actually, the most similar to my machine that I could find on google.)  She is old, and a hand-me-down, and to be honest, I have no idea where I got her or who handed-her-down to me. 

I love to sew.  I love to create.  I love taking raw materials and transforming them into something beautiful, whether through sewing, hot gluing, stitching, mod podging, cutting, painting, crocheting, or whatever I choose to do.  It's so much fun for me.

Some people might think I'm nerdy.  Sew what?  Some people might think sewing/crafting is for old ladies.  Sew what?  Some people might think I'm the coolest person they've ever me (which might actually be close to the truth...).  Sew what?  I think I'm awesome.  And so is sewing. 

Okay, so maybe I am nerdy for using "sew" instead of "so."  I'll give you that one.

Bomb Book Bag

I adore this book bag.  When I get my silhouette (hopefully) I want to make this.

Home Decor Idea Roundup

Loving this idea.  Super cute, and super cheap. 


Excited to make these.  She made it for her nursery, but I think it would be great for anywhere in your house!  And they would be a super cute gift idea too!


I love window boxes :)  Hoping I get a house that has a window I can use this on.


I have always loved this eclectic photo wall look.  And I want to do it on a wall as you go up the stairs.


I LOVE this.  I've actually already used this tutorial to make one for a gift for a friend with sheet music.  I want one out of vintage sewing patterns for my craft room

Grateful

I am grateful.  I cannot even begin to put into words the emotions I feel right now.  The events of these past couple of days have me feeling so humble and so grateful that I'm finding it hard to speak/type/text/communicate...

I know a couple of you know what is going on right now, but for the rest of you... I'm sorry but it's not really something I feel like putting out into cyberspace just yet.  If you want to call me, I would be happy to tell you all about it.

Thank you for your prayers, and also thank you for your continued support and prayer.  Nick and I really appreciate it, and if you want to leave your name, I will give you a big hug the next time I see you.

Just Keep Searching, Searching, Searching...

The house hunt has begun.  I went out with my real estate agent yesterday to look at houses for the first time...  It was a mess!  Okay, so I lied....  it was just me that was a mess.  I don't know how many of you know this about me, but I worry.  A LOT.  All the time.  We actually went and looked at one house that would have been amazing for us, except for the fact that we would never be able to open any of our windows, or go in our backyard, and we would have to run from the house to the car with our noses plugged because there is a dairy right next to the housing tract.  Sorry Amy, but I just don't think I will we will be neighbors...  Did I mention though that this house would be perfect?  A cute little one story, 3 bed, 2 bath, nice open floor plan, perfect price, and my agent has an in with the selling agent, so we were almost guaranteed that house if we put an offer in.  Oh, and it had brand new paint and brand new carpet...  But I'm not willing to settle.  I just can't deal with the smell from the dairy.  I left that house with my stomach in knots. 

"What if I don't find anything I like as much?"  "What if nothing else comes along?"  "What if that was the house for me and I just passed it up because of a bunch of stupid cows?"  (what are they doing there anyway?  Geez.)  What if, what if, what if.  I have another one for you:  What if I could just CHILL OUT????  I'm sure Nick would appreciate it if I could, I just don't know how!  This is something I've wanted for so long and my living situation is SO AWFUL (can you believe we have been living in that teeny, tiny, itty, bitty, small, little room for THREE YEARS now?) that I just feel so anxious to move on and have our own place.  A home.

My mom told me to relax and my agent said that I need to have fun.  And I know I do.  I also need to find a home.  Soon.  My breakdowns are happening more and more frequently.  Sometimes I think about having my own space and I start crying and can't stop.  I would really appreciate all of the prayers, and thoughts, and good vibes that you could send my way.  I know I'll get through this.  Neal A. Maxwell said "Faith in the Lord includes faith in His timing."  I have to trust that as long as I keep searching, and praying, and looking, and touring, and praying, and searching, and praying some more, the Lord will lead me to the right home at the right time.

Sometimes...

• Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky.  To be born in the United States to a wonderful family who has the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Sometimes I have difficulty seeing myself as beautiful.
• Sometimes I look back on the choices I've made and wonder how my life would be different if I had chosen differently.
• Sometimes I wonder if my friend Amy would notice if I took her daughter home with me.  Ava is my new best friend.  She's "fwee" and the cutest, smartest little girl ever.
• Sometimes I close my eyes and imagine myself 5 years down the road... in my own house with a bedroom big enough to fit more than just my bed, with beautiful children and then I open my eyes and look around me and just want to cry.
• Sometimes I wonder why I bother with this blog.  I don't even really think anyone reads it, but it makes me happy.
• Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with how talented I am in certain areas.  I totally don't mean than in a boastful way, in fact I'm constantly amazed that the Lord saw fit to bless me with this creativity.  I feel like the older I get, the more talents I discover I have and the more my creativity blossoms and flourishes.  I love discovering and developing these talents and sharing them with you guys.
• Sometimes I wish I was back in Primary... it was so much less work!  But then I go to Mutual and I look around at the girls and the amazing women I serve with and my heart swells so much I feel like it's going to burst.  I KNOW the Lord put me in young women's because I desperately needed them in my life.  I had been feeling so incredibly alone and friendless, and the young women's program is slowly changing that.
• Sometimes I drive around and look at the houses up for sale...like today.  I saw a cute little one story and actually parked and walked up to the house.  I looked in some of the windows and stood on my tippy toes to look in the back yard.  I could most definitely see myself there.  I got in my car and cried all the way back to my place of residence because I want a home so badly.
• Sometimes I run... sometimes I hide.  Sometimes I'm scared of you, but all I really want is to hold you tight, treat you right, be with you day and night... Sometimes I listen to Britney Spears.
• Sometimes I am convinced that God is an artist.  Why else would he create such amazing colors, shapes, patterns, etc in nature?  I try to stop and appreciate it often... after all, He created it for me.
• Sometimes... okay, fine... all of the time I wish I could work part time so I could have more time to do the things I love instead of the things I have to do.  I wish I had more time to visit friends, go to the temple, create beautiful things, sleep, write in my journal, read...  Darn responsibilities seem to get in the way so often!
• Sometimes I just feel like screaming! AHHH!!
• Sometimes Nick and I will start laughing and not be able to stop.  I love those sometimes's.