Motivation Monday :: 100HappyDays

I heard about the 100 Happy Days challenge from a blog I follow: A Beautiful Mess. They have such fun and cute stuff over there, check them out. It took me about 3 seconds to jump on this bandwagon! I love challenges and ideas that will remind me to be happy and enjoy life every day! I started this challenge on March 22, and I'm going to do my very best to do this. Even if I don't do it every single day in a row, I know it will be beneficial.

Will you try it along with me?

Here is the website and registration to the 100 Happy Days challenge. Check it out and feel some happiness! :)

Then every day we can sing this song, because it makes me want to dance every time.

What I've been reading...

Howdy! Welcome back to hear about what I've been reading the last few weeks. I am so glad that I'm doing well in my goal to read more, and to read a variety of books. This set of three books was really great. I've got some new favorites.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think?

The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern Abridged by William Goldman
I've haven't seen this movie in quite some time, and I've heard this was a really good book. Why not give it a read, right? This was different than any other type of book I've ever read. It was witty and fun to read. I loved the author's sarcasm. It's rare that I laugh out loud when reading, and I was actually laughing and chuckling pretty much during the whole book. I would recommend reading the abridged version. I didn't realize I had gotten that version until I read the first few pages of the introduction. But after reading the bits where Goldman abridged things, I'm glad I got the abridged version -- because I didn't want to read 60 pages about trees. Ha!

You know this book is going to be a win -- it's a tale of love and adventure! As usual, the book brings more depth and interest to each character. The thing I enjoyed most was learning more about the "villains." I put that in quotes because I do not consider Fezzik and Inigo as true villains. But their backgrounds and inner thoughts were so nice to learn.

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
As you can imagine, this book is good, because look at the author! If you didn't know, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is part of a big series of books by C.S. Lewis, and is a beloved book of mine. I read the whole series once upon a time when I was probably in middle school. I remember loving it so much that I wanted to re-read the series.

The Magician's Nephew is the first book in the series. It's about a man that accidentally-on purpose sends his nephew and his nephew's friend to a different world. In the end, you get to learn about Narnia's beginnings and how different people were involved in its founding. It was a really quick read, and I enjoyed it very much. I'm glad I'm starting the series again.

Persuasion by Jane Austen
Like all of the Jane Austen books I've read so far, it always seems I have a problem with the beginning or the end. Why, Jane, must you rush things so much without any explanation?? Alert: the next sentence is kind of a spoiler! I love love love stories where people are in love, then separated for some reason, and then somehow find their way back to each other. Like, really. Hence, why Jane Eyre is one of my top 5 favorite books.

At the beginning, I felt she rushed some of the story line. I had to re-read a page because there were three big events on the page, but each event only took like a paragraph. I was confused because I felt like those events should have been given a little more explanation...you know, to show they were important to the story! And the first volume (half) of the book was a little too slow for me. But the second half really picked up with the action of figuring out Anne's dilemma and what she was going to do. This is the first Austen book that I've read and really enjoyed the ending.

March Date Night

I'm sharing our latest free date night. It was super cheesy - figuratively and literally. As I mentioned in my post about the 12 dates of 2014, I made all of the dates this year free - or free if you don't have to buy snacks or materials ... so maybe they're like 98% free.

Anyway, the date for the month of March was to make a blanket fort, make some fun snacks, and watch a fun "kids" movie. I put "kids" in quotes because some of the so-called "kids" movies are our favorites.

We made our fort - and it was pretty great. We had small vice grip things, so we used those to tie yarn to the sheet and pull it tight so we could see the TV. The treadmill is holding up the back. I wish there had been a little more room so I could lay on my stomach to watch the movie, but it was still fun.

We also made some new treats. We made some pretzel bites (flavored in parmesan and cinnamon), some garlic chicken puffs, cheesy bread, and some chips and dip. It was so yummy and so not good for us, but it was date night, so no worries, right?!

I got the recipe for the garlic chicken puffs here on tidymom.net. I was actually pretty surprised that I liked these as much as I did. The only thing we changed was that we added some more chicken to the chicken/cream cheese mix because I don't like really creamy textures that much.

I got the recipe for the pretzel bites here on justgetoffyourbuttandbake.com. Next time I'll follow the directions more carefully. But these were great with some cheese dip. And the cinnamon sugar flavor was YUMMY for just a little bit of dessert.

I hope you've been having some good date nights!
Next time I'll take better pictures, promise.

What has been your favorite free date night?

Thanks, everyone!

Thanks so much for all your support on starting my Etsy shop! I have felt an outpouring of love and excitement! Here is my happy little Thank You note just for you and your support!

There are a few new items in the shop since I made that announcement. Go check those out!

If you have any genius ideas that you think would be cool to see in Stitches and Stills, let me know. I would love to hear your suggestions!

A Big Announcement

Hey everyone! It's official! The shop is open and ready for business!

Tell your family! Tell your friends!

We are all kinds of excited up in here!
Keep checking back for more items like these and even more!
New items will be added as they're made.

Visit the shop here: www.etsy.com/shop/stitchesandstills
Or click on my Etsy button on the side of my blog ----->>>>

Many thanks to my friends and family that supported me and encouraged me to start this. I am very nervous, but very excited!

It's happening...

Soon.

Sometimes when I look at the things I've created, silly things come to my mind -- like this. I just had to make one. I think I might make another one that's even sillier.

Anyway, check back tomorrow morning for a big announcement.

Laughable Moments

You know those moments where you just have to laugh? You just think, "Did that just happen? Wha...ok..." This is a silly example, but still.

After I washed my hands in the school bathroom today, I went to get a paper towel. And this happened:

I followed the directions! And it still ripped the paper! So lame that I had to laugh...and obviously take a picture.

So next time, don't tell me what to do, paper towel dispenser! You don't know me!

Motivation Monday

So I watched this TED Talk this morning. (It's Spring Break on campus and I was all alone in the office for a few hours. I decided to learn something. Whaaat?! I know.) I suggest you watch it - it's only about 12 minutes long and it's profound. I knew some of what he said, but I learned some new things that can be quite helpful. Also, he's pretty funny.

So I'm putting something he said into practice. I don't know that it will be every day ... I'm sure it won't be every day ... but I'm going to do some gratitude journaling, and write about a positive experience I've had in the last 24 hours.


Gratitude:

1. Singing and music. I love singing - especially with my hubs. We got lucky, and our voices blend well, and we both enjoy singing for family events or church events. It's just fun and we definitely enjoy sharing our testimonies of Christ through the songs we sing. Music has an unbelievable ability to touch the hearts of people in ways that are inexplicable.

2. Rain. We have had an extremely warm winter the last few months. We really only had 2 or 3 big snows. And it all melted so fast! Living in a desert, we were a little concerned about our water supply for the summer and for our plants. Our stake (and I'm pretty sure most stakes in Utah) have been fasting and praying for some sort of precipitation to help us with our concerns for the summer. And you know what? It rained! A LOT. And I'm so glad it did.

3. A warm bed. Even though we've had crazy warm winter weather (jealous?), I still get cold. I am so grateful that I have a soft, warm bed to climb into every night.


We were asked to sing a duet in a ward yesterday. We love the song we sang. It was a great experience to share my testimony and belief in Christ with others - especially through song. I know that music has a way of reaching people's spirit that may not be reached otherwise. And when you truly believe in the message that you are singing, your heart overflows with love for Christ.

My favorite lines from the song are:
Every sorrow will be swallowed up in Him.
For in His hand is healing for the weary soul.
This I know, this I know because He lives.

There are times lately when my heart has been weary, and I'm physically tired because of my weariness. I have experienced the cleansing relief that is felt when you lay your burdens on Him. He can and will heal and mend my heart.

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Have you read or heard any good TED Talks lately?

Here comes the bride...

Ok, so not really a bride. I just made a set of bunnies that are a bride and groom. Ever since I have made these cute spring bunnies, I have envisioned a bride and groom set. Because ... marriage + bunnies? How much more adorable can you get?? Not much, friends.

Here is my little bunny that is quite gentlemanly. With his top hat rolled up and between his ears he looks like he should be on an old BBC show or something. So cute. Maybe I should add a little mustache...?

Here my is my little bride/fancy princess-looking bunny. And this gave me the idea to do princess bunnies. Good idea, right?!

And here is the happy bunny couple! I have a friend getting married this year that likes bunnies. So I told her I'd make a set for her and she can see how she likes them. We thought they'd be cute centerpieces or cake toppers.

These will definitely be appearing in my store. I've set a date on my calendar to shoot for as far as opening my store. My sister and I will both be selling items. More info on that soon!