What can I give?

Christmas is when everyone gets excited for presents, family in town, music, goodies, and traveling. But Christmas is a time for giving, God gave us his son. Be safe and have a Merry Christmas!

Tis' the Season to Rock Ugly Sweaters!

On Saturday we had a dance, and the theme was Christmas/Whoville/Ugly Sweater. This is what I came up with:

I'mma TREE!!!!

 

 

"Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree"

 

 

(Ugh my curly hair got in the way, oh well.)

"Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, laaaaaaaaaa

DIY Christmas

Thanks to Pinterest and my creative mind I came up with these two wonderful DIYs. I also made some steps just in case you wanted to do them.

                                                          DIY #1- JOY wreath

Items:

-Wooden "J" and "Y"

-Red Bow

-Wreath

-Christmas ribbon

-Christmas paper (optional)

 

I found all these items on Thanksgiving because Michaels was having a sale on Christmas décor. The paper is optional because you can have white letters, but I saw this cute sparkily Christmas paper and thought it would sooo cute on the letters.

 

For the letters I traced the shape of them on the paper, cut the letters out, and modge podge the paper on.

 

 

I wrapped ribbon around the wreath and secured it on with the red bow (it has a little twisty tie on the back).

 

Ta-da!

 

Cute place to hang it up would be above your mantle or on the wall.

 

 

 

DIY #2 Little tree

Okay, my mom always wanted to put a tree above our door cause we have like a window seal above it. It's 2" wide so we had to find a small tree. But all the pencil trees were around $40 dollars. Nuh uh, let's get creative!

 

Items:

-Tomato cage

-Wreaths

-Lights

-Mini ornaments

-Christmas ribbon (optional)

-Wrapping paper (optional)

-Box (optional)

 

The reason the Christmas ribbon, wrapping paper, box is optional is because the tomato cage isn't tall enough. (You'll see why later)

 

Wrap the garland around your tomato cage. I had to use 5, 9' garlands to cover it. (I got the garlands at Michaels also)

 

Put your mini ornaments on and lights. I added a cute sparkily star.

 

For the box I wrapped it up like a present so the box would look nice instead of just a card-board box.

The wrapping paper is so pretty!

 

Putting up the tree and box. It was a two "man" job. See why I needed the box. Sadly the box wasn't quite tall enough so we put some of my dad's old college books underneath it, hehehe.

(Go Beavs!)

 

(This is at night) So that's what it looks like. I added some extra presents so it looked better. If you look at it from the outside you don't see the ornaments, but you can definitely see the lights.

~Thanksgiving~

One of my favorite holidays to celebrate is Thanksgiving! It's the time to eat and be grateful. This year I was in charge of the turkey. It was soooo much fun!

Taking my turkey out of it's bath

 

Playing with the turkey

 

The finished product!

 

Our Thanksgiving feast

 

I'm grateful for my wonderful amazing family (all of them of course), my friends, who make me laugh, Nutella, Netflix, the gospel, The Book of Mormon, my Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ. I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful a filled with food!

IT SNOWED!!!!!!

  *   _n_    *
*     (**) *
  *   ( * )      *
*     ( * )*          My snowman




Yes it snowed in GEORGIA!!!! How long will it last, I have no idea.  But at least we got to enjoy it while it lasted:)

Clarissa and me doing selfies!

Check out them muscles!

 

Hanna & I throwing snow at Clarissa

 

YAY it snowed!

 

 

This lasted about half-an-hour till we came inside to get warmed up.

Driving

I had to take a class on driving so I could get my license. It was kinda boring, but SUPER important that I learned about everything they taught me. The only reason why I had to do the class to get my license was because a boy name Joshua died. Well, that sounds like I'm blaming him. Actually, I'm sad he had to die so we had to take a class about driving. Joshua died because he didn't know EVERYTHING about driving. Yes, he had his license, but he didn't know about hydroplaning, which is how he died. In the class I learned about how to drive, back-up, freeways/highways, pedestrians, and texting. Texting was talked about a lot. It is important to talk about. So many teenagers died because they were sending one word or 4 words to someone. I was scared that maybe that would happen to me. But I know if I follow the rules it won't happen. Your more likely to get into a car crash by texting on your phone then by drinking. 100,000+ get in car crashes a year by texting and driving. This is an important subject. I don't want to lose my life over a text message. IT CAN WAIT

Am I seeing stripes?

How obsessed am I with zebra stripes? On a scale 1 to 10, hmm........ maybe an 11:D See for yourself.

                                             This is about half of what I have that's zebra.

       I have

• fabric
• sunglasses
• hair things
• clothes
• jewelry
• bathroom stuff
• stapler and tape dispenser
• makeup brushes

                                                           Now for a quick zebra fact:
                                      Did you know zebras are black with white stripes?

                                                         

                                                             Now my lovely models

She is styling a-one-of-a-kind zebra bonnet & apron that would totally would've been worn in the 1860s

 

Next-

She is styling a zebra scarf, aviators, headband, and watch, which is worn nowadays

 

 

Drum roll please FOR THE AWESOMEST ZEBRA ITEM YOU WILL EVER SEE!

(Drum roll)

 

ZEBRA MICKEY EARS!!!!!!!! (modeled by Stitch)

These are my all-time favorite zebra item I have!

 

 

I've actually started growing out of zebra "collecting" if that's what you would call it.

I think zebras are really unique and beautiful animals. One reason I love zebras are because each stripe on a zebra is different, meaning not one zebra in the whole entire world is the same. That's just like all of us, not one of us are the same. But they are all the same animal and created by God, just like us! Kinda cheesy, but it's true.

"From sea to shining sea"

Aren't these the cutest charms ever?!

 

They are the states made out of polymer clay. Just a cute simple charm to wear on your necklace!

 

Here is the video that I got the idea from, if you want to try it out!

It's beginning to sound like Christmas

One of my favorite things to do at Christmas is to listen to Christmas music. Its fun to hear all of them and I never get tired of listening to Christmas music. Well, I started listening to Christmas music pretty early this year, thanks to Clarissa and Hanna. I caved and listened to it a week before Halloween. I usually start listening to Christmas music on Thanksgiving or Black Friday.

           Here is my top 10 favorite Christmas songs:
          10.Let It Snow, Let It Snow by Michael Buble
              9.Winter Wonderland by Johnny Mathis
        8.It's Christmas Time Again by The Backstreet Boys
           7.Do They Know It's Christmas by Band-Aid
                6.White Christmas by Bing Crosby
5.O' Come All Ye Faithful by Josh Groban ft. Mormon Tabernacle Choir
            4.Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson
             3.God Bless Us Everyone by Celine Dion
            2.Christmas in Heaven by Scotty McCreery
        1.Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee

I love all Christmas music, some uplift me, bring up memories, and just are fun to sing/dance too. I can't wait for Christmas!

Happy Birthday DJ!!!

Today is my best friends birthday!!! His name is DJ Paap and he turned 16 today! My friend Lauren and I decided to throw him a surprise party. We did it right after seminary. It was awesome!!!

                                                                  He had no idea!!

We were talking to DJ about what he wanted for his birthday, and he said he didn't want anything. Well of course we got him something! Actually many things:). Everyone was supposed to bring him a random key-chain for when he gets a car.

These are his lovely key-chains.

DJ said when he turned 16 he wanted his first kiss. So I go him a giant KISS. And Lauren got him a kit to help him out.

Super creative!!!

It was really fun! He was happy and laughing!

His reaction to Lauren's gift was priceless.

Eric had a lot of fun with the party horn thingies.

 

 

Happy 16th Birthday DJ!!

 

(DeeJay is his nickname:)

We actually surprised him like 3 times. At the beginning of seminary we sang him "Happy Birthday" instead of the hymn. He had no idea what was going on. Then his party. And then we followed him to school and seriously announced to everyone at school that it was his birthday.

 

 

 

 

Leaves are falling everywhere!

Temple Square is so beautiful!

(This is a painting I found off the internet)

 

 

 

Fall is my favorite season because everything is changing colors. Yes it happens at every season, but I feel like the colors are brighter and better. Nature is a wonderful thing. Summer is over, and there is school, but your one more season closer to Christmas!!!

 

Every time I go outside I see the leaves changing colors and the weather is getting cooler. I just love it! I put all my summer stuff away and go digging for my hats and giant scarves and enjoy being outside. I actually spend more time outside in the fall than I do in the summer (that's cause its really hot here.)

 

Autumn Equinox happened September 22, which is when the equator passes the center of the sun. Right now its spring in Australia. I love it how God created 4 different seasons, so everyone can experience hot, cold, warm, etc.

 

And of course we can't forget all the holidays that happen in the fall. Halloween and Thanksgiving. We get to spend time with family and friends which is something I love to do.

My Halloween was really fun! I spent it with my friends by playing games, eating A LOT, taking pics, and having an awesome time. I was a bit sore the next day, but it was totally worth it. I do have to admit that I started listening to Christmas a week before Halloween. I tried so hard, but Christmas music is just the bom-diggity-bom.

The weather here has been very nice. There were some cold days, but big scarves always help. There has been some really warm days, and those days I was wearing boots, long pants, and long sleeves. So I have to check the weather every day just in case.

 

 

I'm so not good at taking pics, but here are some that I found on the Internet;)

 

 

 

Hope your enjoying your fall weather!

Time Out for Women

Wow, Time Out for Women was amazing!!!! I felt the spirit every time the presenters spoke. And it was amazing because of these wonderful people!! It was at Columbia, SC.

 

 

 

Photo Booth;)

For those who don't what Time Out for Women is, it's like a retreat where the moms (or 16 and older) go with their friends/family or by themselves to feel the spirit and have an enjoyable time. They also do Time Out for Girls, which sounds really cool! But it's only ages 12-15, oh well.



We started our 4 hour journey to Columbia around 9ish. We stopped to get some snacks so we didn't starve;). Also had to have nummy delicious breakfast from Chick-Fil-A.

Clarissa driving and Mommy chillaxing in shot-gun

 



Hanna reading and being silly:P

 





                            

                                We took out the middle seat so we could put all our "stuff" in the middle of the car.

 

 

So we got to our hotel (which was totally camouflaged) around 2:45ish. We went and got some Linner at a yummy Mexican restaurant. I got a Mexican pizza, it was really good (I didn't get a picture though). We walked around Columbia to see what "cool" things were there. They have some nice restaurants there.

 

The first session for Time Out for Women started at 6:30, so we waited in line cause we got there an hour early.

 

Us waiting in line

 

And other people waiting in line

 

 

Yay!!!

 

We got to our seats and it was HOT in there. They said there was a problem with the AC, but they got it figured out. And then it was FREEZING in there. But the spirit was warming me up with all the messages:).

 

Guess what?! Jericho Road was there!!! AHHHHHHHHHH! They opened Time Out for Women.

 

Jericho Road *faints*

 

Totally check them out! They are sooooo good! Their songs are energetic, but still spiritual.

 

The first presenter was Brad Wilcox. I didn't get a picture of him because he spoke to everyone over Skype. Why he had to do that is because his flight from SLC was delayed and then canceled so he was stuck there. But thankfully to today's technology he could Skype us. It was a great message. He talked about temple work.

 

 

Something that made Time Out for Women really worth while was Jenny Oaks Baker was there!!!! Eeeeeeeeppppp! She is such an amazing violinist. Check her out too! She is the daughter of Elder Oaks (Twelve Apostles).

 

Jenny Oaks Baker

 

 

 

 

It really impressed me when she was playing the violin in like 3" heels! She probably practices with them on. Okay, that takes talent. I can barely walk in heels, okay:). And I love her dress of course! She played "A Whole New World" in a tango flair, it was awesome!

 

 

We were going to hear from Sister Barbara Thompson (Relief Society), but she got stuck in SLC also. She did speak to us on Saturday though. So they showed us a recording from the Logan TOFW. I can't remember who spoke, but she spoke about being prepared.

 

So the first session of TOFW was awesome!! Such a long day, so we quickly headed back to the hotel to get some sleep. (Well us three girls didn't really sleep;)

 

 

 

Saturday morning was crazy! We quickly got up, packed, ate breakfast, and headed over to TOFW, just in time for the doors to open. As we entered we got "TOFW bags", which are sooooo cute. (Sorry forgot to take a pic) They are blue with yellow chevron pockets.

 

Jericho Road started off the morning with some songs.

Oh yeah!

 

 

And our presenters! (Oh and Jericho Road)

 

 

 

We heard from a couple of presenters and then it was lunch time! We went to Five Guys. Yummy burgers! My mommy is so nice she got us a souvenir! I got Jenny Oaks Baker's Christmas CD, Hanna, a mystery book, and Clarissa, Piano Guys CD.

 

 

Jericho Road sang to us again. And this time the room erupted with screams and singing.

They did a tribute to "boy bands"

 

 

Us screaming/singing/dancing/clapping

 

 

After that, Sister Ulrich spoke to us. This was the last presenter we stayed for cause we had a dance that night.

 

 

Sister Ulrich

 

 

There was a 20 minute break, so that's when we left. 4 hour drive back to Georgia. I didn't take pics from the dance cause I forgot:/. The theme was "Game Day". Clarissa and I dressed up in BYU gear. GO COUGS!!! It was fun!

 

 

*Side note- Yes, Hanna was to young to go to TOFW, but we just didn't tell anyone her age.