DIY iPhone case

I saw this on another website. I'm excited to try it out. I got a clear iPhone case for my iPhone 4 that I found for a great price on Craigslist. :) I traced the back of my phone on scrapbook paper and cut it out. I just slipped it in the back and closed the case around it! It's awesome! Right now I have two festive cases to sport for the holidays! I'm so excited to make more. I wish I could show what it looks like all said and done. But that's kinda tough!

A crafty kindergarten Christmas tree. :)

Last weekend, some friends graciously gave me my first, ever Christmas tree. :) Gave! It's 4.5' tall and it's perfect. And they gave me lights to go on it. Our class had some fun making ornaments and a PAPER CHAIN to hang on it!

I had these squares cut out for another project (thanks to my Cricut), but thought they would make precious ornaments. Cut, hole punched, threaded with yarn, and graced with letters. Like everything in kindergarten should be!

This next ornament was stolen from Pinterest. Not sure if it's a flower or a snowflake, but it's perfect. Take a papertowel tube, cut it, fold it, and glue it. I also have a magnet glued onto the center of the back so it can be used after the holidays!

This wreath was another pinterest find. Cut a hole in a paper plate, and attach green pieces of paper cut in the shape of holly leaves. Then attach a pipe cleaner with which to hang it. :)

Circle puncher. Just way fun to use. So naturally, I punched holes and had the kids glue them onto a cardboard circle. Festive. Simple. Perfect. :)

Another wreath. Same basic idea, but with my beloved circles instead of holly leaves. And smaller.

Found this foam guy at JoAnn with a bunch of his tree friends, and even some snowmen, for 50% off. I grabbed a decent-sized package of each and made some ornaments out of them. All that glitters isn't gold. Some are trees!

That's what my classroom tree looks like. For my first year, I like it. :) And those lights, reason enough for me to leave the tree up year 'round. Thoughts??? ;)

Rockin' a-ROUND the Christmas tree: holiday craft

An art project with just circles. For your little learner. :)

Insert shout out for my AMAZING new circle punch from Fiscars... Picked up at JoAnn Fabrics. Love it!!!!!

Interest and Impact.

Occasionally, I look at my blog stats. I find it interesting to see what other people view, what titles and content catch their attention. Where in the WORLD some of my readers are from.

I might not interest many people (honestly, I might not even interest you!), but I have the chance to impact those few that I touch. My blog has been viewed by people in SEVERAL countries... including (and not limited to)

United States
United Kingdom
Portugal
Russia
Canada
South Korea
Germany
Kenya
Honduras
Hungary
France
Peru
Malaysia

I know people in just a handful of these countries. Seriously, Malaysia?? I'll take it! :) Apparently, my blog is reaching all over the world. My influence might not be as significant as a certain Denver Broncos QB, but I have the privilege and responsibility to share the joy of Christ with those I can reach. This blog might usually be pointless nonsense, but I can take even the little things in life and use them as an... aroma of my Savior.

How are YOU using your corner of the world? :)

So there's this box...

For my overzealous friends, yes, I DID mean to type box, not boy. So quit it.

A few years back, a good "friend" presented me with a box. I was comforted with promises of being safe if this box. I could grow and not be crazy and everything would be wonderful! I shrugged my shoulders and hopped in. During those months I spent in that box, I was blinded, and trapped, but I convinced myself I was happy. Soon after, I wasn't myself at all. Then my box got dumped over, and I had to learn to stand again. I realized what had happened and decided that I couldn't bear to live my life in a proverbial box.

Down the road, I was shown another box. This one was bigger. More wiggle room. Instead of opaque walls, they were translucent. So, I hopped in! This time, I still didn't realize it. It took longer. It took a good friend to point it out.

I've been confined to boxes. I've limited myself based on what others think of me. I've tried to fit into the mold that others deem "perfect" or "acceptable." I try to be the one who always has it all together. I try to say the perfect things, do the perfect things, wear the perfect things, have the right friends...

I have the joy of enjoying freedom in Christ. He gave me desires and interests and personality and quirks. Within the boundaries of obeying what He wants, I can be myself. What an amazing thing!!!

I like me a little CHANGE!

Over the weekend, some girlfriends and I took a whirlwind trip from KC to Iowa and back in less than 24 hours. During my trip, getting my hair done was a MUST. I needed something new. For the person who can't just move or fly across the world in a heartbeat, I feel like getting my hair done is almost as close. Almost. ;) a few inches chopped off and a few shades darker.

These are a few of my favorite... blogs.

When I was in Portugal, I came across several blogs with the help of my friend Krisanna. We spent some of our extra time looking for different blogs within our categories of interest. Now, my GoogleReader is filled with various blogs from all over cyber space. A few of my favorites are...

Young House Love. I get to follow the lives of John and Sherry. Two HILARIOUS DIYers. They have an adorable little girl and they spend their lives completing projects and blogging. Seriously amazing.

Little Miss Momma. Follow the life and adventures of Ashley Stock and her cute little family as she tells the stories of her learning how to be a mom and her projects along the way... including my recent favorite posts about how she and her husband met. DARLING!

The Pioneer Woman. Ree writes all about photography and cooking and making her own shortcuts to store-bought things because she lives in the boonies.

The Dating Divas. Cheap, simple date ideas. PERFECT for you married ladies who "follow" my blog... which let this be a reprimand if you don't follow me. On the right side of my page, click either "subscribe to posts," "follow by email," or down by my followers on the right side, click "join this site" with google friend connect. Be a dear, just do it. :)

iHeart Organizing. Seriously, amazing organizing ideas. And sweet giveaways. LOVE IT!

Petit Elefant. Just fun. Life. Kids. DIY. Gifts. Learning. Fashion. Love it. :)

Less Cake More Frosting. Just love it.

And several of my PERSONAL faves. Friends of mine. Stories that pull at my heart-strings. These are their stories.

Jennifer (NiHART) HARTwig over at Always Keep HeART.

Alyssa Leonard over at Echoes of the Creator.

Erin Wahlstrom over (in Portugal) at Reflections of the Undeserving. SUCH an amazing woman who reflects her love of the Almighty in her posts. SO genuine. LOVE HER!

Jennifer Vaughn and her son's story of living with Leukemia. Vaughn Party of Seven.

Melyssa Dark at Melyssa with a "Y"

Mark Cannon over at Be of Good Courage.

Moral of the story, blogs are like the world you want to follow, rather than facebook which is the world that your "friends" force you to follow, which includes their drama.

Also, someday, I'd LOVE to be part of the BlogHer network, marry money, and blog for a "job." But we'll see how that all pans out. ;) Basically, I'm NOT counting on it. ;)

Thankful Thoughts: summary, surprise, sunrise.

some days, this blog is just a reminder that I really can't follow through with much. One month. 30 days. 30 posts of thankfulness. I failed. Awesome. And now November is over.

I had some bright idea to share different things each day of December, but since I failed at November, I'm just not going to try for another month. lol

I'll do my best to recap the last week-and-a-half of November then get started with a new theme for a new month. :)

November. 19th. The last day I didn't blog about what I was thankful for. Between that day and today, so many little things have happened. I've shed tears, I've made new friends, I've been reacquainted with old friends, I've discovered new possible paths in the roadtrip that is my life, I've gone "home," I've come back "home," I've learned, I've lost, and I've let go.

I'm thankful for my family.
I'm thankful for the vacation that is Thanksgiving break.
I'm thankful for peace.
I'm thankful for my (no longer) little brothers.
I'm thankful for my mom and her friendship.
I'm thankful for my dad and his willingness to work hard.
I'm thankful that my Lord has NEVER given up on me.
I'm thankful that God saves us from things that aren't His best for us.
I'm thankful for hardships that turn into the sweetest of blessings.
I'm thankful for my girl friends.
I'm thankful for friends that let me be real.
I'm thankful for friends that BEG me to be real.
I'm thankful for the friends that care enough to notice my heart.
I'm thankful for my time in Portugal.
I'm thankful for my car that is currently in working order (except for that O2 sensor!)
I'm thankful that I get to watch the sun rise and set every day.
I'm thankful for Chapstick. Seriously.
I'm thankful for chocolate milk.
I'm thankful for my kindergarteners.
I'm thankful for my junior highers.
I'm thankful for my coworkers.
I'm thankful for the blessing of Christmas decorations.
I'm thankful for the hope offered to me by the life and death of Christ.
I'm thankful that this world is the most suffering I will EVER experience.
I'm thankful for a God who not only loves, but PURSUES.
I'm thankful for the chance to pour my heart into my small group girls.
I'm thankful for those who didn't give up on me when I was a teen.
I'm thankful for the surprises God gives me. :)

There are a million other things I could add to my list, but those will come as time passes.

During December, I'm going to (hopefully) share some (pinterest finds) ideas for personalized gifts and such that would be a way to encourage a friend. I wish I gave more gifts and wrote more notes. Maybe this will be the kick in the skirt that I need. :) Enjoy your holiday season!