a hot oven & raw dough.

So this weekend consisted of a couple things: a hot oven & raw dough...as the title suggests.  To explain, I spent a couple days this weekend cooking (i.e. a hot oven) and also mixed up some cookies (i.e. raw dough).  Now I know some of you out there take pleasure in eating raw cookie dough and cake batter and if you don't - you're missing out.  Some days I would rather eat the dough than the actual baked good!  Just sayin'!
Also, I live in Wisconsin so I don't just cook and bake for pleasure...I do it for warmth!  Even with the heat on our house can be a bit drafty and if all I'm doing is sitting on the couch then I freeze.  Solution: make something!  Anything to do with turning on the stove or oven provides instant heat or "Insta-Heat" as Andrew would say when we start the car on a winter's day, praying that the heat will turn on instantly!  At one point this winter, it was so cold that I actually turned the oven on and left the door open in order to warm up the house a bit without maxing out the thermostat! 

Dear Diary

It's been quite some time since I've kept a diary/journal - at least 13 years.  I figured I would start a blog as a means of an online journal.  But I've been meaning to put my micron pens to some use and work on my handwriting.  At first I thought whatever I put on my blog would basically be the same thing I would write in a journal.  The more I thought about it, though, I realized how distracting the internet could be.  When I'm writing my blog posts, I'm usually bouncing back and forth between checking my social media accounts, reading other blogs, searching ideas on Pinterest and the list goes on and on.

I bought this beauty at Marshalls - my absolute favorite store!

When writing in an actual, real life, physical journal - its just you, the pen, and the journal.  You can find a quiet space where you are left with your thoughts and the paper.  Its also much less of a hassle to carry around compared to a laptop.  Say you wanted to write your post at the park or some scenic, serene setting - it would be much easier to bring your writing utensil and your journal than it would be to find a green space that also has WiFi.
On this beautiful, sunny Sunday morning I will be thinking of writing ideas for my journal.  Pinterest is very helpful with that, but I've got to be mindful of the time because two hours and 50 pins later I'll have a bunch of great ideas, but nothing concrete in my journal to show for it!
How do you come up with ideas for either your journal or blog posts?  What inspires you?

Make a wish into the well, that's all you have to do...

...And if you hear it echoing your wish will soon come true.

Do what you love.

I love color.  Those who know me well, know I absolutely love color.  It just makes me happy.  So today on this gorgeous first day of spring - Happy Spring, Ya'll! - I decided to make a colorful garland (like this, this, and this).

In no way is this project expensive, just need a few items, and its certainly not perfect (just wait till you see my cutting - I cut like a 5 year old except without those plastic safety scissors).

What you’ll need:

Craft paper - I bought mine in the dollar section at Target!

Bakers twine - Again, another fab find in Target's dollar section.  If you can't find twine, you can also use some yard, embroidery thread, or ribbon.

Tape - I used Scotch's Advanced Tape Glider.  I'm sure you can just use regular tape or even glue.

Scissors - I used everyday scissors.  I will definitely invest in some craft scissors.

Goals.

I want to do more.  Experience more.  I want to steer my life in a direction that makes me happy.  I want to enjoy every moment and be that person that could say I did something with my life.  I often think of what would be said at my eulogy - what will I be remembered for?  I want to have made an impact -- leave a lasting impression.   Sadly, the past couple years since graduating from Marquette I've simply been working to live and keep forgetting to see the beauty in this life.  

Now I've been accepted to USC for their MSW online program and I want to live for my work.  I want to wake up everyday knowing that what I'll be doing will be meaningful, worthwhile, and rewarding.  Its not about how much money I can make or spend, its going to be about relationships, community, and what I can do for others - not only that, but what I learn from others.  I want to expand my perspective and learn how others live and understand their world.