Thursday, April 21, 2016

Things on my Bucket List + My Favorite Holidays!

Hello Everyone! It's ~O~ here! It's been forever since I've posted anything...LOL! Hope you all have been doing well! It seems like the "fast forward" button has been hit on 2016! Is it really almost May?!?? Where oh where does the time go? I thought today I might share a few things on my bucket list and my favorite holidays and why! (I know it's a bit random...HAHA!)

My bucket list:

1. Go on a missions trip~ I'm thinking and praying about going on one to China!
2. Travel to all 7 continents
3. Travel to all 50 states
4. Have lots of kids~ Maybe around 12
5. Go visit the Northern Lights
6. Donate my hair to Locks of Love or Pantene
7. Read the entire Bible
8. Lead someone to Christ
9. Own a grand piano
10. Learn sign language
11. Be a harp teacher
12. Ride in a hot air balloon

My favorite holidays are:

Christmas~ Because we celebrate Jesus' birthday!
My Birthday~ Because I get to celebrate the day I was born!
Valentine's Day~ Because we can show our love and appreciation to people we love.
Easter~ Because Jesus rose from the grave and HE IS ALIVE!

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Packing Tips:

~C~

Hi! I hope everyone is having a good week and had a great Easter! Today I thought I would share some packing tips that I have kind of made up. But they work really well!! So here we go!

If you know me you know that I LOVE packing! I don't know why but I do. Anyway, I make a packing list just about wherever I to stay somewhere. Ok, that might be a little over organized but I like to make lists. Haha! So if you seem to always forget what you want to take or just forget to put something in your bag.... a check list might be helpful for you. For me I get really excited about going and usually make my packing list two weeks ahead of time print it off and then... Of course forget where I put it but usually remember everything on it. But just to be sure I make another one about three days before we leave.

If it's a big trip and I'm going to be gone about a week then I start packing or pulling my stuff out about three days before. If we're only going to be gone a couple of days I just pack the day before I leave. I would suggest that you pull everything that you are going to be taking (clothes, shoes, socks, jackets, coats, ect.) out and lay the stuff on your bed or near your bed that way you have everything in one central location and don't have to go running around your room or house to find everything. Or thing you're absolutely finished with your suitcase, zip it up and then remember "Oh! I didn't put shoes in there!" Pull it back out and try to find room,to cram them in. (I've done that way to many times!!) If you're going to do a lot of walking take comfortable shoes!

I would also check the weather before packing your clothes. I'm sure that is something most everyone does but just in case... It's very helpful!

It's also helpful to check how long you're flight, train ride or car ride will be. If it's a long ride wear comfortable clothes! If you are going on a plain check for thing you can and can't take! If you're going out of the country check the date on your passport. In some countries if your passport expires in six months they won't let you in. So to be on the safe side make sure it expires in over six months.

When I am going on a trip I always try to take snacks, If I get hungry and don't eat I can get weak. So I always try to have something to snack on to keep the hunger at bay. (Peanuts, almonds, cashews, ect.) But remember if you're going to museums some of them might not allow food/water.

Take lots of pictures! I personally always take my camera on trips. I'm sure most people do, but it's so fun to look back on the pictures!

Be sure to pick a hotel that you will be comfortable in and that meets what you will need during you stay. But also make sure you stay within your budget. :)

Most importantly HAVE FUN!!!!!

So in summery:

  • Make a packing list if you need one or just want to (for me I just want to I don't necessarily need one)  
  • Pull your clothes out so you don't have to chase them down 
  • Pack comfortable shoes
  • Check the weather of where you will be going and pack accordingly
  • How long is the ride? (car, train, plane) 
  • CHECK THE DATE ON YOU'RE PASSPORT! 
  • Snacks (crackers, nuts, ect.) 
  •  Take pictures! 
  • Pick a hotel that will be comfortable for you. But don't brake your budget.
  • MOST IMPORTANTLY HAVE FUN!!!!!! 


I  hope you have enjoyed this weeks blog post! See ya next time!
~C~

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Favorite Board/Card Games

Hey Everyone!! It's ~O~ here! This week I thought I'd share with you my favorite board/card games!!

So.....I enjoy playing card wise:

Phase 10


Russian Rummy (A twist on Phase 10)


Racko


Apples to Apples:


Swish


And for board games....I enjoy:

Monopoly


Battleships


Thank you for viewing my blog post! Have a blessed week!

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Easter Cookies:

Hi y'all! I hope you're having a great week! It been super nice outside where I live recently! Anyway, I personally love to cook and bake!! I decided that since it's near Easter I would post an Easter cookie recipe! I hope you enjoy!!


You need:
  • 1 cup whole pecans
  • Mixing bowl
  • 3 egg whites
  • Wooden spoon
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. vinegar
  • Zipper baggy
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • Wax paper
  • Cookie sheet

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Place pecans in the baggy and  beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Add egg whites to the vinegar. Sprinkle the salt into the bowl. Add 1 cup sugar. Beat with mixer on high speed for 11-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Fold in broken nuts. Drop with a tsp. on to the cookie sheet with wax paper.
Put cookies sheet in the oven. Close door and turn oven OFF.  Leave cookies in the oven overnight and on Easter Morning give everyone a cookie. 

Enjoy!! 


(There are other recipes out there but this is just the one we use.) 

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

My Story Of Playing Harp

So, I wanted to share with everyone the (long) journey of finding a harp and a harp teacher!!

So I always attend FASA (Fine Arts Summer Academy) and one of the harpist there had always inspired me to play harp and I literally thought..."I'm never going to be able to play such a big and hard instrument!"

One day I told my mom "I really want to play harp one day." and she said "Ok." So, we prayed for over a year for a harp teacher where I live (we live in a small town).  I continued waiting and then it was time for FASA and I was able to have a private lesson with the harpist. That made my motivation level to play harp go WAYYYY UP! Haha!

So, after another whole year of praying and looking.....we found a harp teacher!! PRAISE THE LORD! I met with her and she was super sweet and was amazing at harp!

Now the search for a student rental harp...they are so expensive to rent so the search was on....and the Lord was good and ended up sending a lever rental harp that was in pretty good condition...for a good price!! Harp was SO much fun! I was progressing and enjoyed it lots! Then....I needed a bigger and nicer harp!

So, here we go again praying and looking! We looked for about 5 months.....and I saw many beautiful ones that were WAY too expensive or too far away.  I finally find two good priced harps about 5 hours away! Yay! Well, have you ever heard the saying "Its too goof to be true?" that was the case for me....yes, they sold the week before we were planning to go and look at them!

Theres still hope....one more about 4 hours away!! It again sold two days before we were going to look at it.....so now im pretty upset! So the plan for this trip is to look and learn more about harps....not buy one.

We arrive at the harp center and low and behold a used pedal harp (the kind I needed) for a good price and almost brand new sits there. Im speechless....we ended up buying it the next day! Im so thankful for my parents and mostly to God who made this harp playing dream possible!

Thank you for reading today's post! God Bless You!

(I haven't had time to download pictures of the harp....but here's the same model!)

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

March Monthly Post

Hello Everyone! Hope you are all doing great! Hope you enjoy the March monthly post!!

Chapter 6~

 Vivian’s POV~

Oh my goodness! So much has happened lately! Natalie, Taylor and I are ALL expecting at the same time! On top of that, David is recovering from his broken arm and Nicole will be turning 5 this month! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE??? I remember when my sweet Nicole was first born! Now, I have 3 precious kids and 1 on the way! I am a blessed lady! Taylor and I need to think of  some ideas for our “Baby Announcement Party!” I’m trying to think of some ideas….I should call Taylor because she is the most crafty person I know!

Taylor’s POV~

Wow! I can’t believe that Vivian and I’s due date are only 1 week apart! It’s so fun being pregnant at the same time as your sister! We are both 3 months along now! Next month we find out genders! Ahhhhhh!! I can’t wait till our precious babies make their way into the world! I wonder if Vivian has any plans made for our “Baby Announcement Party?” I know I do!! Haha! A WHOLE list!

 Vivian (Calling Taylor): “Hello!”

Taylor: “Hey Viv!! How are you feeling today?”

Vivian: “Great! What about you?”

Taylor: “Good!”

Vivian: “I was just calling to see if you have any ideas on our “Baby Announcement Party?”

Taylor: “Yes! I do have quite a few things in mind!”

Vivian: “Awesome! I knew you would have some good ideas! Unlike me! Haha!”

Taylor: “Well…we could pick up some shirts that can announce the newest additions!”

Vivian: “That’s such a cute idea! I love it! We can have the family over for dinner this coming Saturday!”

Taylor: “Thanks! And…let me check my calendar really quick to make sure I’m free this Saturday! Yes! I don’t have anything!” 

Vivian: “Okay! Sounds like a plan! How about 6:00?”

Taylor: “That’s great! Do you want to have it at your house or mine?”

Vivian: “I would be happy to host it at my house! The kids always like having company over!”

Taylor: “Ok, sounds great!”

Vivian: “Love you! Bye!”

Taylor: “Love you too!! See you soon!

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

25 Fun Facts/ Random Facts~C~

~C~
Hey y'all! ~O~ did a blog post last week (See it here) "25 Random Facts About ~O~" I loved the idea so here goes my version of "25 random (or fun) facts about me! Hope you enjoy!

1.) I love math!
2.) I don't like McDonald's or banana's but I love all other foods!
3.) I have very curly hair
4.) I love to cook/ bake
5.) I love to swing but especially on tire swings!!
6.) I love animals (all except for cats, sharks and snakes) I have a dog named Sara
7.) I am always out of state for Christmas with family
8.) I was born on Mother's Day
9.) I have a fear of shots, lighting,snakes and sharks
10.) I play the piano ( I used to play the fiddle)
11.) I love to write (and blog!)
12.) I sleep with my bedroom door open most of the time
13.) I wake up around 7:00 am every morning sometime earlier
14.) I usually eat lunch at 11:30 or earlier everyday
15.) I love to knit (Maybe in a later post I will do a knitting pattern)
16.) I have a full sized bed
17.) I count stairs when I walk up or down them. My Mom says I get it from my grandmother
18.) I really enjoy swimming
19.) I love hot tea, hot chocolate and hot chi (Chi is sort of like tea but with with milk added)
20.) I don't have any siblings
21.) I have brown hair and brown eyes
22.) I have a ton of cousins, aunts, uncles, etc!
23.) I don't drink soft drinks
24.) I want to open a bakery
25.) I love nuts and sun flower seeds!

Well, I hope y'all enjoyed that! Thank you for taking an interest in our blog!!

~C~



Saturday, February 20, 2016

25 Random Facts About ~O!

Hey You All! As a southerner, we would say "Ya'll!" Haha! Hope everyone's week has been great! I thought for my post today, i would do the "25 Random Questions" tag!! Enjoy!!!

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Closed!
2. Would you rather be attacked by a swarm of bees or a big bear? Probably bees!
3. Do you have freckles? Sometimes in the summer when I tan!
4. Do you ever count your steps when you walk? Sometimes...when I'm going down the stairs!
5. What size is your bed? A twin!
6. Do you still watch cartoons? Yes, sometimes with my younger cousins and sister!
7. What do you drink at dinner? Normally water or Sprite!
8. What is your favorite food? Wow! That's a hard question...I love Chinese or Japanese food!
9. Favorite kind of sandwich? Nutella or Turkey, Cheese and Mayo!
10. What is your usual bedtime? 9:30!
11. How many languages can you speak? Well, 1...but I'm studying Latin currently!
12. Which are better, Legos or Lincoln Logs? Legos!
13. Are you afraid of heights? Yes, VERY!
14. Do you sing in the shower? Yes! Sometimes!
15. Do you cut out coupons but never use them? I used to when I was younger...just to be like my mom!
16. Ever used a gun? Less than 5 times!
17. Occupations you wanted to be when you were younger? I used to wanted to be an astronaut!
18.  Wal-Mart, Kmart or Target? Target!
19. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? Sunflower seeds!
20. Ever take dance lessons? Yes, Ballet and Lyrical when I was younger.
21. Can you curl your tongue? Yes...haha!
22. Who would you like to see in concert? Moriah Peters or Tim Hawkins!
23. Hot tea or cold tea? Cold!
24. Can you swim well? Somewhat!
25. Do you enjoy blogging? Yes!

Hope everyone enjoyed it!! Thank you again for taking time to keep up with our blog!

~O

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Happy Belated Valentine's!!

~C~
Hey y'all!! This is out like a week late and I'm so sorry but things around my house have been crazy busy!!! So I'm putting it up today and you will be hearing from ~O~ on Friday or Saturday!

Anyway, do you have any traditions you do for Valentine's Day? I do!

It started when I was about three years old at my grandmother's house. I was up there spending a couple days with her and it was the day before Valentine's. She was going to be drinking a cup of hot tea and fixed me a teeny tiny cup since I was only three years old. It has now become a tradition! Yes, we drink hot tea through out the year and do it quite a bit but Valentine's Day is a special time I get with her fixing some of the food the night before (such as the cupcakes or jello, bread dough to make rolls with the next day, moose, etc.), decorating everything in pink and red, getting ready on the day of the tea, etc, etc. She always makes it really special time for me as she always does where Valentine Tea or any other time during the year! If time allows then I give her a foot massage the night before the tea and if we don't have time then I always go back and give her one the next time I'm there.

It has defiantly grown though! Now instead of just being me and her at the tea my aunt, my Mom and three dear friends come at three-o'clock on the Saturday before or after Valentine's (a couple of times Valentine's has landed on a Saturday and we do it the day of.)  It has also gotten more fancy! I really love this tradition and can't wait until next year's party!!!

Hope you enjoyed this post and have a wonderful day!!
~C~

Saturday, February 6, 2016

February Monthly Post:

So sorry this is late!! We've been extremely busy!! Hope y'all enjoy chapter 5!

Chapter 5~
Vivian's POV~
Taylor ran into Chick-Fil-A to get us some sweet tea to drink. I still haven't told her "the big surprise". David and I have four children, with each one of them we told the family a different way... I just have to think of someway to tell Taylor so she can help me brainstorm ideas. Oh here she comes gotta go!!

Taylor's POV~
I'm in Chick-Fil-A getting Vivian and I some sweet tea. I haven't told her that I'm expecting yet. I want it to be just at the right time... Well we are going shopping next maybe I'll find someway to tell her there! I hope she has some ideas on how to tell the whole family...

Vivian: "Thank you for the tea!"

Taylor: "You're welcome! Have you heard from Mom about Nicole?"

Vivan: "No. Well here we are! I just love this thrift shop! Don't you?"

Taylor: "Yes! We should look at baby girl clothes for Natalie’s baby!"

Vivian: "Oh Yeah!! Totally!! I mean what are Aunts for?!"

(Inside the store)

Taylor:" Oh Vivian! How cute is this?!"

Vivian: "Oh my word!! That is so stinking cute!!!! We are totally getting that for Natalie’s baby!!"

Taylor: "Well, we could but I was thinking for mine...."

Vivian: "Oh yeah... WHAT DID YOU SAY??"

Taylor: "Or we could get it for mine...."

Vivan: "Your b...ba... Baby??!?!"

Taylor: "Yes!"

Vivian: "Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Are you kidding???"

Taylor: "No!"

Vivian: "You're pregnant?!?!"

Taylor: "Yes,I'm pregnant!"

Vivan: "You're pregnant!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!"

Store manager: "Is everything ok back here?"

Vivian: "My sister's pregnant!!!!!!"

Store manager: "Oh! Congratulations!!!!!! Well, just wanted to make sure everything was ok."

Taylor: "Yes, thank you! Everything's fine!"

Vivian: "I can't believe this!!! You are pregnant and I am too!!! I am so crazy excited for you!!!!"

Taylor: "Yeah! Thank you! Wait did you just say you're pregnant too?!"

Vivian: "Yeah!!!"

Taylor: "You're pregnant?!?! Are you sure??? Are you kidding?! No you're not!!!!"

Vivian: "Yes I am, yes I'm sure and no I'm not kidding!!"

Taylor: "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!"

Store manager: "Are you sure everything's ok?"

Taylor: "My sister's pregnant!!!"

Store manager: "I know you just told me."

Taylor: "No, my sister, Vivian told you I'm pregnant and she just told me she is too!!!!!"

Store manager: "Oh! Ok well double congratulations. Just making sure!"

Vivian: "Thank you for checking!"