Greetings from the big TX!

This is really happening! I'm really actually updating my blog like I've been meaning to since I moved to Austin almost 2 months ago!
I'm just sitting at the counter waiting for the dishwasher to finish so that I can pack a spoon for tomorrows lunch and listening to some nice Christmas-y tunes, so I figured if not now, when?
Life is good for me. Austin is a really cool city, lots of things do do & lots of cool places to eat! Living with Patrick and Riley is a little weird because we barely talk, but they're nice and I like having my own space. School is SO exhausting. I like it a lot though, and I'm learning even more. I've made good friends at school and I have no job. That's a brief summary of my experience so far!
I've learned a lot about myself since I've been here, way more and in different ways than I would have thought possible in such a short amount of time. I bake and cook tons on my days off, and I love doing it. I've learned better than ever about the value of a dollar and how to make money stretch. I've learned to appreciate having friends who encourage me in my faith. It's been very challenging for me to be so far from that, and I've really had to rely on God to speak His wisdom into me. It's just exhausting sometimes, but it's also interesting to see and hear other perspectives. I've learned that I love living on my own! I love my days off when I have the house to myself to get done whatever I need to in my own time. It's a great sense of freedom. I've learned that I actually don't hate snow & cold, I just don't care for it after January. It's weirdly warm here. I've learned that I love Chicago! Austin is so artsy and fun, but it's really made me value where I come from and see it in a more positive light. I've met some really cool people at school. Definitely some that I will keep in touch with after we end in May, and some that are really teaching me a lot. I'm the youngest in my class of 14 girls and that in and of itself has proven educational. A lot of girls with a lot of life experience! I've learned that I am secretly an over achiever. I guess I get it from my mom. Mostly I've learned that I am loving this exploring process, even though I get homesick on some days. It's so different here and it's really been a blessing to me and an eye opening experience to see options beyond Illinois. I'm proud of myself for the way I'm handling all of the responsibility I have right now. It makes me really excited for the things to come in the next few years! I keep having to remind myself that I'm only 19 and I have a lot more infront of me than I do behind me God willing. It's equally tiring and exciting to think about, but I am ready for the challenge! I go home to Chicago for the holidays on Sunday morning, just in time to see little women & go to a party! Starting my trip off strong! I have 4 11 hour days of school in between me & some much needed time off, but I am well on my way to being prepared for it! And I am SO excited for Christmas!

Brief

Okay so, I've abandoned my previous idea of DIY-ing my blog. Mostly because I was thinking about it and the idea was annoying me. Always a safe bet that if your own idea annoys you, it's probably not a good one. So forget all that.
I'm dealing with a lot of spiritual warfare right now. As I desire to be closer with God, there is an awful lot getting in my way! That makes perfect sense to me, but it's a total stuggle of flesh and will. I'm working on it.
3 weeks until Austin!

Holla for 25 dolla.

Awlllright. Most people probably wouldn't care much about this, but I love my jewelry so I do, and it is may blog after all!

My mom and I did our annual rounds at Heritage Fest downtown West Dundee yesterday, stops including a church rummage sale, craft fair, and antique sale. My favorites! I am happy to announce I walked away from the antique sale with these 4 treasures for $25! All real metals (I'm so allergic to nickel it's ridiculous), and all wearable pieces. The bracelets are '30s, the necklaces '60s and I am happy :) We also came away from the rummage sale with tons of crafting materials (frames, pillows, fabric, shoes, etc.) + one awesome find, a vintage fully opperational Singer in it's original sewing cabinet! $15. Love it.

We've been eating lot's of good food, and going to many-a-festival. It's been a grand birthday weekend for my Mom! We refer to her as mom 5.0 now that she's 50. It's really catching on... or it will. Ahead is a very full week of work that I am determined to get through. We shall see!
On the brighter side, after years of driving by, I finally visited Cafe Firefly downtown Algonquin. Good coffee, lovely prices!
Off to bed!

Flower Power & Paper Nails

My project from today!

The tutorial I used can be found here.

I changed it up from the original a bit using more color and adding a button to the very middle, because I love buttons and I thought it would make it easier to maintain the volume of the center. I also used a pillow that I already owned for cost reasons, and used a curved apolstery needle to attach the petals.

The grand total for this project? $0.00!
I used only materials I already owned, and it took about 3 hours! Definitely a nice way to spend a rainy friday afternoon!





I did/loved this idea! I tried to take a picture of my own, but my phone is not a super hero and I couldn't get a better picture than the one I found on pinterest.

Such an easy nail art idea!

Simply Paint a base coat (I did a nude), once dry soak your nails in rubbing alcohol and apply newspaper to fingers one at a time. Hold for 10ish seconds, peel off paper and love yourself for being so hip and happening. I recommend a top coat to finish it off, because the paper makes the base polish look a little dull. Worked out great!

I'm officially all deposited and moving down to Austin October 23rdish! I'm SO excited and a medium/large on the anxiety scale. It will definitely be an adventure, and life will definitely not be the same again. Can I say definitely again? Definitely.
I work a bunch next week... Mixed feelings. Atleast I am replenishing my bank account after the shopping I've been doing(it's fall after all...), and I have something to keep me busy. Life is good. I am blessed!

Ofcourse a baby would be on my blog.

Okay. I don't care who you are, this is adorable and it never gets less funny to me.
I love how much fun the little guy is having!

Revelation!

I've just had an exciting totally-thought-of-before-and-never-followed-through-on idea while getting ready for bed! In the month and change I have before I leave for the big TX, I have so much time to create... and boy are the juices a-flowin'! I'll hopefully be updating with crafty projects I'm working on as well as some of the many recipes I've come across as of late! Get ready for the delicious hipster blog that this is about to become.

Kingdom Underground

Who has 2 thumbs and has been just filled to the brim with joy for the past week? This girl!
I'm just over flowing with it, really.
It all started once I got home from vacation. Since we came home early, mom & I gave our selves the remaining 2 days of vacation to spend time together, go to a craft fair, and scrap book. It was just so relaxing and nice. Then I spent time at the Barlow's house and the love really started pouring out! We got to go down town, eat great food, and just enjoy ourselves! I've had a lot of time to think, listen to music, and get back in touch with my creativity. & lot's of time to snuggle and watch movies! I've been working to dedicate time to prayer, and I'm seeing such visible fruit coming from that as well.
I feel so full!
I've exercised my right to change my mind and am now intending to move to Austin, not Dallas. It fits me. The live music capital, biking, botanical gardens, shopping, a place to live. I'm just too excited about it all.
I didn't even mind going to work today, and I totally don't enjoy my job.
I've decided that my major in life for the next few years is to become a well rounded, Godly woman.
This semester I'm working on music & esthetics school in Texas, or downtown Chi. Next year maybe I will move to Redding and go to Bethel! I'm thinking that would be a good idea because I need some sort of mentorship and constant application for growth. I have a lot to gain from that sort of thing. The year after that I'm thinking Europe. Ireland or Spain or Italy maybe. I want to learn how to cook and sew better than I currently do, and Europe seems to do both of those things well. Definitely some time in Spain, I need to brush up on my Spanish. I'd also like to go to Nepal! I don't really know much about it, but I've heard they have beautiful mountains there. Either ways, what I am trying to get across here is that I have some very exciting possibilities for the next few years.
I've recently been very convicted about the potential of my friends. I am surrounded by some world changers and I never even noticed it! It's very clear to me that there is great potential around me and I am over the moon about watching it happen. I'm hoping that all of the passion currently operating continues for a long time!
Also, I am just in love with Matt Duke. He really is my favorite and is coming to Evanston on the 30th. I will be so sad if I can't go! I've been listening to him and many other talented people all week, on my best mix cd I've made aptly called "killer mix cd."
Life is just very exciting!