WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE IN 5 YEARS?

This Sunday I was sitting in church looking around at all the incredible women surrounding me. I couldn't help but think about the mix of confident ladies varying from magazine editors, nurses, bloggers, cheer coaches, concert pianists, lawyers, devout wives, and incredible mothers and how I would ever achieve a similar status myself. In all honesty, it is sometimes really overwhelming for me to think about the future because I know exactly the kind of person I want to be but the to do list to become that seems to go on forever. It is so hard to break it down into the day by day responsibilities. I made this little to do list with intentions for it to just be a therapeutic way for me to organize my thoughts and stop stressing but I also thought it would be great to share with the rest of you. I know that with high school graduation, going to college, choosing my major, and possibly getting married or going on an LDS mission, the next 5 years of my life will be crucial. The prospect of greatness is sometimes so overwhelming that I don't even know where to begin but this little chart helped me organize my thoughts perfectly. When my head hits my pillow every night, I want to know that I did everything in my power to become who I want to be a few years from now. I know that with time my goals may evolve and some of these may even become irrelevant but at least for now I think that setting your sights high will eventually help you straighten things out in the long run. I don't know if I will accomplish all of these things but I know that while aiming for them, I will end up where I want to be. You can download & print your own list below if you please. If you fill one out yourself I would absolutely love to hear about it!

 

 

WORK SPACE MAKEOVER

 There is a serious back story that goes along with this desk/table. A loooong time ago (pre-thanksgiving time ago) GAP was moving locations and selling everything at discounted rates. The clothes, the mannequins, and the furniture. So my mom ended up spontaneously buying 2 tables from them with intentions of replacing our kitchen table. From what I heard of the story, she didn't know which would look better (the circular one or long one) and they, of course, could not hold any items long enough for her to go home and think about it. The round table ended up being the winner, leaving the other suspended in our living room waiting for a home. Finally we decided to give my book shelf, chest, and desk to my little sister and put the long table in their place. It was no easy task getting it up the stairs (as many of you probably saw in my latest vlog). I have a super dad. I had to deal with a few days living in the rubble of my bookshelf's contents before my shelves came and I had a chance to go through everything but it was a small price to pay for the result. My dad seriously is the best handyman in the world and knows how to get a job done. We had my mirror and all 6 of my shelves up within a few hours. I absolutely love how it turned out (super sad I'll only be able to enjoy it for a little bit before I move away). Here are a few pictures of the end result!

I tried to take a lot of what would normally have just been sitting on my desk top and put them on the shelves. That gold box is full of note cards, the tin case (which is my up-cycled Anthropologie candle lol) is full of paper clips and tacks, and if you look closely my pink ruler is strategically placed behind all this to stay somewhat hidden hah!

The peonies were a great finishing touch so thank you to the sweet boy that got them for me ;) 

I'm hoping I can keep this whole clean desk thing up because I love it hah! It makes me feel so much more productive to have a nice work space. I am so so lucky that my mom came across this awesome find!

8 WAYS TO HAVE AN AWESOME JOURNAL

I have been working on this little post for quite some time. A draft of this has stayed on my phone for at least 6 months and whenever something came to me I would jot it down. I've always been pretty good at keeping a journal- something just feels so good about having all my memories pressed safely between the pages. I figure that this time of the year is perfect for resolving to document your life on paper. Even though I love instagramming & blogging nothing could ever replace my journal. I love the thought of my favorite moments being tangible in a way. It's also somewhat therapeutic to be able to pour your heart out onto the pages. It's like your own personal time capsule that never expires and you can look back on it as often and as soon as you'd like. So with that said, here are a few of my tips for having an AWESOME journal:

1. You don't always have to have a hard copy of your journal with you

I almost always have a draft of journal entries on the notes app of my phone then end up writing them down in my journal later on when I have a chance to. I especially do this on trips & vacations (I'm crazy paranoid about my suitcase getting lost and something happening to my journal so it hardly comes with me in my travels). This is also great because you can just jot a few ideas down while you're out and about to help you remember those topics once you get a chance to write. Also, if you have a ton to say it's easy to use the voice command on your iPhone and just speak out what you want to type. I also write down 3 things every day that I'm thankful for in a section of notes then just screen shot that and print it out every couple of months. I also have it up on my blog and post my gratitude lists monthly which helps me keep track of it and stay motivated to do it.

2. Journal especially when it's hardest to/ during changes 

It can be overwhelming starting a new school year, moving to a new place, beginning a new chapter in your life, or doing anything that involves a variation in your normal routine. It's all too easy to just forget about writing down your thoughts. But out of all my journal entries the ones I re read most are the ones I wrote during changes. It comforts me to be able to look back on that point in time and see the growth and progression over the months/years. 

3. Have titles on each page (other than dates)

When I look back on my journal and try to find a specific time, I don't remember the calendar date at all practically. It helps me organize my journal when I put a little recap/title in addition to the date (example: while in Hawaii I just put "Hawaii" at the top of every page). And if those days were really important I might even hilight the title (just because I'm so OCD) 

read about my trip to Hawaii here>>

4. Print pictures

It's hard but do it. The best thing about my journal to me is that it's full of not only words, but pictures too. Yes it takes a little extra effort to go get them printed out and tape them in but it is so worth it. I'll usually leave space (a half page to a page depending on how many images I think will make it in) then once every couple of months get my pictures printed at Costco. They practically know me there because I always try to sneak in with my moms membership ID (whoops). Having those visuals just makes my journal so much more valuable to me. It's so great to think that someday my little kids can read through my journal and the crazy things I'm going through right now and have pictures to go along with it all.

5. Print all your pictures in one

If you don't have the time/energy/motivation to actually go through and print out pictures to put in your journal another way to do it is just print out a few pictures in one every month. By that I mean arrange your pictures into a word or pages document, take a screen shot of it or save is as a jpg and print that out. Another way I like to do it is just add pictures into the app pic collage and then save that to my phone then print it out. I always post my monthly reviews on my blog so it's easy for me to print them out with all the other pictures I am getting.

read about my monthly posts here>>

6. Don't just save pictures, save stuff

I got quite the collection on my church history tour of postcards, pass along cards, little notes, leaves, maps, and ticket stubs. It's so great because to me it makes everything so much more authentic. It's so satisfying knowing a few special keepsakes are arranged safely with my words and thoughts about where it came from and what I was doing there

read about the trip in the pictures above here>>

7. Keep it short and sweet if you have to

I ordered this journal for my mom a few years ago from Anthropologie to inspire her to start journaling and documenting all the fun things that happen to our family. As far as I know, it has been so helpful for her to be able to jot something down so quickly. I went ahead and bought the same one for myself this year (Anthropologie no longer has it but Amazon does!) because a lot is going to change for me by the time 2021 comes around. I think it will be so cool to make a daily documentation of how my life changes over these next 5 years. There are tons of other journals you can get just like this so I liked a few below.

I couldn't resist snooping in my mom's 5 year journal and I came across this little gem from last year... "Jacob here with Madison all day every day!" it's so weird to think how fast the time since last year has gone hah!

5 year memory journals: $15 anthropologie // $17 paper source // $17 paper source // $23 5 minute journal

8. Try to stay positive

A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles. Yes, some days we just need to let it all out and put the struggle into words, however, writing down the happy things that occur on a daily basis will help you remember them. It puts a silver lining on the day no matter how hard it what's when you count your blessings & the silver lining becomes permanent when you write it down.

Journaling makes you happy. It's a fact. Especially when you're sure to document the wonderful things (even if they are small). I hope these little 8 things inspired you to get started on your journal for this new year. I promise you won't regret the 5 minutes it takes every night to jot down your life story. 

*I have gotten all of my journals in the past from Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters (I LOVE these ones) or shopbando.com. I also love the variety that Paper Source has- they carry moleskin, kate spade, bando, and all that good stuff.

GENERAL CONFERENCE

One of the absolute best parts about fall is the chance to hear from the prophets and apostles in General Conference. It is so great to spend a weekend just snuggled up in bed getting refined and inspired by these incredible men. I thought I'd share a few bits from my notes & my favorite parts from this session.

SATURDAY MORNING-

Dieter F. Uchdorf: 

-Satan uses our weaknesses against us to discourage us

-if we look only through our eyes we may not seem good enough but the Savior sees all that we can become

M. Russel Ballard:

-we make a mistake to only see the natural man in people rather than God's divine creation

Richard J. Maynes:

-the center of our lives must be Jesus Christ so that he can mold us into what we need to be to return to live with him

Larry R. Lawrence:

-we must be willing to act if we receive an answer from the spirit

-the holy ghost will give customized counsel when we ask "how can  improve myself?"

-the spirit works at our own speed

-examine yourself when you take the sacrament

-"what is keeping ME from progressing?"

-be persistent but never discouraged

SUNDAY MORNING-

Thomas S. Monson:

-speak to others with patience and respect

-it is our opportunity to bring hope to the hopeless as Christ did

-as we emulate his example, we will bless lives, including our own

-read, study, and ponder the scriptures to increase your faith

-"search diligently, pray always, and be believing and all things will work out for your good"

-purity will qualify us for the Savior's promises

-the Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom should I be afraid?"

Dale G. Renlund:

-the Lord hasn't called you for what you have done but for what you will do through Him

-to correctly serve others we must see them through Heavenly Father's eyes

Henry B. Eyering:

-the spirit makes what is right seem more appealing

-"this promise alone should make us want to live in a way to qualify"

-the spirit will send you more impressions as you obey

-obey with confidence and Heavenly Father will send the spirit to help you

-"ALWAYS remember him and keep his commandments that they may ALWAYS have the spirit to be with them" is a divine promise

SUNDAY AFTERNOON-

Allen D. Haynie:

-do not decieve yourself about what it takes to be clean for Heavenly Father

-Heavenly Father understands it all perfectly and will never deem us too far gone

-things of eternal significance are rarely easy

Kim B. Clark:

-"we do not need to be perfect but we do need to be good and getting better"

Elder Bednar:

-adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing

-the older I get, the more I realize family is the center of happiness 

To read/learn/listen to more >>

To read last October session's notes >>

A Dreamy Week

these past few days have been so much fun. I think I am finally starting to get used to summer-- the waking up whenever you want and the hot and sunny days. The past few days have been such a joy. Some hilights included:

a wonderful trip to the temple

getting some fresh & new succulents

summer treats including an in-n-out run & picking fresh tomatoes with the kids I babysit

outdoor plays (adventures) with Hannah

without a doubt the best movie experience I've ever had at the galaxy theatre 

those seats felt like a reclining cloud (!!!)

latest book obsession: paper towns. John Green is great. 

favorite quote/thought ^^

also, One by Ed Sheeran currently holds the spot for favorite song

(Thinking Out Loud is close second)

May Flowers (+other obsessions)

I just love the spring time. Even though it took a bit longer to come this year I couldn't be more elated that the warm weather is here at last (finally my friends & I won't have to compete for spots in the sun to escape the chill at lunch time). So with that, a few of my favorite things from this lovely season.

I love these shoes so much I want to mary them. Also, mom boyfriend jeans. They're great.

Flowers + Stripes

Gabri's birthday macaroons were an absolute delight

I Got This

lately my life has been consumed by a never ending pile of worksheets to finish, notes to take, books to study, and tests to (attempt to) ace. So pictured above is my main source of motivation/inspiration in this treacherous journey through learning (it's been especially treacherous lately). Enjoy.

//via

Art Post #7

I love the opportunity Sundays and the weekend give me to relax and take a pause of the stresses of life. It is an outstanding time to just paint. This weekend (especially because I was feeling way less than 100% and had my contagious self quarantined to my room) I did a LOT of watercoloring. Below are a few of my favorites. 

Of course this weekend there was also the winter formal. The result of being expected to dress like this is everybody having an ensemble that looks something like this. Its not good. (but ya know I'm not complaining… modest is hottest and everything) However, a select few looked absolutely stunning. Even though I (along with the other unfortunate 15 year olds) couldn't go to formal this year I was so inspired by some of the dresses the girls wore. 

Savannah's dress was especially lovely. 

What's Yet To Come

It really just hit me that it's a new year & a fresh start. So I just thought I would take it upon myself to share the fact that some of the most wonderful days and wonderful moments of our lives will occur on days in the future. Surely the best is yet to come.

 

Resolutions + Quotes

With a new year and fresh start fast approaching I thought it was completely necessary to record & share this lovely organizer to keep track of the goals I have for the upcoming year along with a few of my resolutions. I really am looking forward to the new start and new opportunities that the 2014 will bring. Enjoy!

1. be superior only to my former self

2. be more concerned with how my life feels

3. have more adventures

4. be the one who smiles

my new years resolutions