Strive...to travel

I love to travel. I love to get in the car (train, plane, boat) and go...although getting in the car to go to class has lost it's appeal... I love to see new places, meet new people and learn about other cultures and societies. Growing up, it was important to my parents that I saw a foreign land and was "cultured." Many thanks go out the Girl Scouts of USA for allowing me many opportunities. I was fortunate to go backpacking in the Washington Cascades, rock climbing in Costa Rica and build some habitat houses in central Mexico. I loved every second and wish I could go back and do it again and again...

On the other hand, Alex has traveled very very little. Our honeymoon was his first experience on an air plane and out of the country. He has only been to a hand full of states and never further west of Missouri and east of Indiana. 

This leads me to our Strive moment of the week: We are striving to travel more. Before we were married, living in our "money is no object" bubble, we made a list of all the countries, cities and states we wanted to visit and experience. Our list is as follows:

1. Paris, France

2. Italy

3.South Africa

4. Carlsbad, California and So Cal

5. New Orleans

6. New York City

7. everywhere else.....

There is a lot of World and only two of us, but our hope is to see as much as possible and live life as adventurously as possible. Hopefully we can get ta goin'! But for now, Mt. Zion is our soonest destination...for my Birthday and the "BIG Move!" 

Psalm 121:8 - The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Hanging out on the "back porch" aka cliff in Costa Rick

Honeymoon adventure. We went zip lining! 

Happy Honeymoon!

Alex's Graduation Get Together

Alex graduated from SIU-Edwardsville with his Bachelor's of Science in Accounting, the day after we got home from our honeymoon, so he did not get to walk across the stage or have an official graduation partay! So, being the best wife he has ever had (and the only wife...) I thought we should have a celebration!! 

We called up the family and they headed over to Pinckneyville for some good ole' fashion fun and food!

Guest of Honor playing some washers

Greg 

The Spread! We had Italian Beef, Green Beans, Chips and Dip and veggies! All of which were quite fantastic, if I do say so myself.

Cupcakes from The Cup (formerly known as the Cupcakery) From Paul and Jenny

Even though he was the Guest of Honor, she was the star of the show!
Oh, and I made Ice Cream! It was great :)

Strive...to be creative

Last year, I discovered Hobby Lobby. I know it has been there forever, because Grandma would take us when we were little to get things for her crafts. So, I re-discovered it. I made several failed attempts at crafting. Hair bows and fabric flowers are not my calling. I did make a nice little wreath, but I didn't necessarily break new ground...

It's just yarn wrapped around a wreath mold with a ribbon and hair bow flower....earth scattering-ly creative right?

Dr. Seuss told me(...and thousands of other small children), "Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!" 

Well I'm thinking everywhere I can think to think and my thinking just leads me to Pinterest. I want so badly to be creative. I want to come up with an original craft, thought, theory or invention. Anything that I can claim as my creativity. If you have never ventured onto pinterest.com  you definitely need to, it is my inspiration for...

These are just blank canvases that I circle punched scrapbook paper (some glittery and some matte) and then just glued the random dots on.

And my Mom was my inspiration for....

Paint chip bunting- I am absolutely in love with bunting right now. So, she sent me an article that used big paint chips to make some quick, cheap (free) and easy bunting!. 

So my Strive moment for this week (and beyond) is to be more creative. I am going to strive to come up with my own craft or idea for a craft and attempt to execute it! Wish me luck! 

Exodus 35:31-33 -  He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship.

Apartment #2

Alex got a job with State Farm in Edwardsville (if you're local to that area, I'm sure he would love to give you a quote) and I am in my last year of Dental Hygiene school at SIU-Carbondale. If you're good with geography you would quickly realize that they are about 2 hours apart. So, we are splitting the difference in beautiful Pinckneyville. The town population hovers around 5,000, there is no Wal-Mart or Kroger, no one is ever in a hurry and the average age is 900. So, we obviously fit in.....

But, we were able to stumble upon an apartment that was within our budget and had enough space that we wouldn't suffocate.
With all this anticipation building I'm sure you are all about to bust down my door to see the goodness inside apartment #2. Wait no more....

Everything was virtually all wood paneled and very very dirty.

Our Bedroom & Office...after some paint & elbow grease.

Our Living room and little hallway to the rooms & bathroom. 

I'm a detail person, so here are some of our little Apt.#2 details!
Starting in the Top Left corner going clockwise: "Life is Sweeeeeeeeet, eat a cupcake" plate (From my awesome sister!), Turquoise glass bottles (the biggest one was my Grandma Blair's), Wedding gifts and guest book tree, K-Cup apothecary, Chalkboard I made for the wedding, and last but not least my our Gnome salt & pepper shakers.

Thank you for stopping by and if you ever want to give #2 a real life visit call me! I'd love love love to have some company!