Valentines day!

My Valentines day was a hit!  No, I did not have a date to go to the movies, receive chocolates and flowers or any of that jazz.  Matter of fact, It was just like any other day.  Valentines day was originally a day to show those you love, just how much you care.  Somewhere along the lines of time, It has become a materialist holiday, cheapening the whole idea of love down to a box of chocolate and roses.  My parents have never really celebrated Valentines day with all the materialist views, and I have come to love this about my family.  When you cheapen love down to money spent and stop looking at love as spending time together, that’s when relationships are in the danger zone.  There are times in life when one may not have the funds to spend money on non necessities, but they can find time to spend with their special someone.  I am just curious as to when romance became wrapped in tin foil!  What happened to the handwritten notes, instead of hallmark cards?!  The wild flowers instead of hot house roses?!  Yes, I know everyone has their own personal preferences and nothing is wrong with hallmark cards or hot house roses, but when whether or not someone loves you is based on whether or not they bought you something, then you have lost touch with what love is.

love

noun

1.a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

 2.a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

From what I have been taught, none of the above definitions are materialist.  They are all a more “Spiritual” sense.  A feeling, emotion, spiritual connection, ect.  Not something you can buy, but something you can give.

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” ~Kahlil Gibran

So spend some time with the ones you love, show them you care by giving of yourself.  Let everyday be a holiday filled with Love for those around you, and just maybe, you can help make the world a better place.

My day was pretty ordinary, but I got to spend time with:  my brother, making all sorts of crazy memories, with just a camera and a half an hour of time  (I am not going to regret this either, because these pictures will be great come time for him to graduate  my Dad and some of my church family, working at the tract league (we were able to be part of reaching out to a lost and dyeing world.)  And then to top it all off, I got to give myself a nap, from me to me this afternoon.  My sleeping schedule has been off so bad, that I really needed that extra sleep just to be able to function.  So all in all, my ordinary day was quite a hit for me!!   Love is all you need!! <3

Blog Giveaway #1 ~ Celebrating my completion of “The Hunger Games” Trilogy!

It is not often that I read a book and get really excited about it.  That all changed the moment I opened the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  Not only was I drawn in from the very beginning but I found myself putting myself in the shoes of the characters so often, that I was beginning to think I was one myself.  The writer did such a good job bringing the story to life and the plot has twist and turns that no one would expect to happen, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat till the end.  While I would not recommend this book to younger children, for the older children in my book, it is a must read.  Especially if you have a small bit of imagination and get drawn into things easily.  The second book, “Catching Fire” and the third “Mockingjay” were also really well written, however my personal favorite is still the first, with the exception of a few lines from the others!   With the release of the movie being March 23rd, I have been debating on wether or not I would want to buy a t-shirt, just to be one of the “Cool people” with one on at the midnight premier. However, I am still undecided, seeing how as I would have to justify a $25. shirt.  That same $25. could buy half a wardrobe at the thrift store on a half off day. Decisions, decisions!  Anyways, I did decide that if nothing else, I was going to have a Peeta Pearl Necklace.  *If you have not read the books, you more than likely will not know what this is, or the significance .*  So instead of buying one necklace, I just bought the stuff to make several, that way i could share/sell a few to others who are just as excited as me!

So here is what I am going to do! 

Totally Belle Blog Giveaway #1 ~ In celebration of completing The Hunger Game series!

I have one extra necklace available for one special friend! All you have to do is, Share this post  on your blog, facebook, twitter  ect.  OR   follow my twitter and refer this blog to a friend. Then post a comment here so I know you did it!!  The contest will go through March 1st, at which time I shall select one winner for the Peeta Pearl Necklace!  I need at least 10 participants in order to do this, so get to sharing!!

Oh my baby! :)

Anyone who knows me at all, knows that I love to be around little kids.  They are so full of imagination, filled with curiosity and so super cute, that I don’t see how anyone could not just be head over heels in love with them.  Yes, I will admit, sometimes those cute little stinkers can be a bit of a handful, but in the long run, they add so much more to your life, that all those little trying moments are totally worth it.  After saying all that, little kids are awesome and I love them to pieces, but in my humble opinion, babies top all!   They snuggle close to you, with their head on your heart and just sleep listening to your heartbeat.  One hand may be curled tightly around your finger, (or hair) to make sure you don’t abandon them while they sleep.  They are very dependent on people (mostly the mother) and want to feel secure.  I’m sure even as adults, you can relate.  Everyone wants to feel secure and know someone is there that loves them.  Everyone wants to be able to count on others.  Who, in their right mind wouldn’t?

Anyways, that is just a tidbit of my thoughts on the subject matter of “Babies”.  I could go on and on for hours, if given the time and the energy to do so. However, once more that is beside the point.  Friday, January 3rd was Baby Day for me, which worked out perfect as it was also my half birthday. Not every girl is so lucky to get to spend her half birthday doing what she loves!!  I began my day watching my 5 month old cousin, and ended it holding my “little man” who was sleeping soundly.  For the record, my little man, is the youngest of the clan I babysit.  I watch 6 little kids, from age 13  down to the 5 month old.  Me and their eldest was having “girls night” last night and I got the lucky fortune of getting some baby time in there too!   So enough chatting, as I’m dead tired and not thinking 100% clearly, and onto photos!!

I would have taken more pictures of my lil man, but it just so happens that the good camera was at home, and he was not happy unless he was being held. I do believe he is cutting some teeth!

Frostbitten

The past few days it has been almost 60 degrees around here during the day, and no frost or anything at night.  But this morning I woke up to icy beauty all around me!  The sparkle and shimmer of the grass was to much for me to pass up, and though these pictures do not do the beauty justice, here they are!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beauty is as Beauty does…

Today I was going through a tub full of keepsakes and stumbled upon a ‘Photography Inspiration Journal’ I had put together a while back. I had somehow managed to completely forget it’s existence, so it was almost like finding a long lost shirt or an unopened Easter egg several months later.  I took a few moments to thumb through all the photos I had at one point or another ripped out of fashion magazines.  I couldn’t help but realize how perfect one ladies hair was or how wonderful another’s makeup was done, all in all they looked perfectly put together.  I can’t help but look as those photos and be a small bit jealous of that perfect movie star look, but this jealousy is quickly stomped out as I remember something… These pictures have been photo shopped and corrected till there is not a single visible flaw.   How much of their completely flawless beauty is real?  How long did they spend fixing their makeup that morning?  I don’t know about anyone else, but I have neither a personal makeup artist , enough time to spend slathering on makeup till I look flawless, or the desire to wear that much ‘gunk’ on my face.  Then my thoughts wonder to the fact that so many girls today are so hung up on looking perfect .  One has to ask themselves, “What is perfect?”  ”Who is allowed to set the standards for the perfect girl?”  Last I knew, everyone was created different.  No one looks 100% exactly the same, even though some twins look close, there is always differences in everyone.  This is the very reason I’ve come to just love myself just how I am over the last year or so.  I may never line up with others opinion of the perfect girl, but then who are they to set the standard?  I am beautiful because I was created special by God, and because I am me.  I am not like anyone else in the world, and no one can do me better than me.  That makes me special!  Not only am I special, but I am an Independent, Strong, Beautiful young lady.  Beauty is way more than just what is on the outside.  I mean yes, every girl wants to be drop dead gorgeous on the outside, but with time that all fades away.  Beauty on the inside can last forever.  I would rather be remembered as a “plain jane” who loved others and was loved for who she was than some celeb hot shot who never was loved for anything other than her pretty face or built body.  I really love what Audrey Hepburn said…”The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows.  The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair.  For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”  Beauty is as Beauty does.  Are you making sure that you are as Beautiful as you can be?  

~ I just had thought about this a lot today and thought I would share this with my readers Hope you enjoy!