Sunburst mirror

We have big blank walls in our house. This is a problem that comes with more square footage.However Neeley and I are used to cramming every inch of our wallspace with decorations so these empty patches are literally driving us crazy.
I have been oogiling and googiling some DIY design ideas for big wall spaces. After searching for what feels like a gazillion sites I kept coming across this...









The Sunburst Mirror. I decided this would  be the perfect thing to take up space in our living room. We do not have anythign else like it in the house and who doesn't need a little mirror in their living room. There are probably a couple hundred different DIY's for this nifty little project. You can use wood, bamboo, shis-kabob sticks, dowle rods, or branches from fallen trees or any other straight something  you find plenty of.

I found a great diy here  from Isabella & Max  that I got all my basic ideas from. I am horrible at following directions when it comes to craft projects and usually do my own method.

I went to Hobby Lobby for all my craft needs (not sure it was the cheapest way but I wanted to make it quick instead of shopping around for prices). I did hit the Hobs Lobs at SALE time so everything was half off.

My mirror was originally 24.99 on sale for 12.49 and my bamboo was 5.99 a bundle on sale for half so basically... buy one get one free right!

For asthetic purposes only (and because the BF thought it was cooler) I went with the green bamboo as opposed to plain tan. If I had been thinking I would not have done this. I was kind of hoping I wouldn't want to paint over it and that the green would look cool.. it did but the thought of having a big gold monstrosity was just too appealing and I ended up spray painting all my bamboo. I say it was a mistake to buy the green because I am sure I had to use more spray paint because of it :( I bought 6 bunches of bamboo for starting and then had go to back and buy two more. Now remember I am making a BIG sunburst mirror!

I did not document my process because it was a little sporatic but I LOVE the final product. It is just what was needed for our big empty wall! There are million DIY's out on the blogerweb to follow and tweak to make your perfect sun mirror.

 

lyrics for the moment

You must
You must think I'm strong
To give me what I'm going through

Well, forgive me
Forgive me if I'm wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I know I'm not strong enough to be
everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not stong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough
Strong enough
For the both of us

Well, maybe
Maybe that's the point
To reach the point of giving up

Cause when I'm finally
Finally at rock bottom
Well, that's when I start looking up
And reaching out

I know I'm not strong enough to be
Everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not stong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough

Song and lyrics by Matthew West.


He is Strong Enough

Path of Life

Keep walking with Me along the path I have chosen for you. Your desire to live close to Me is a delight to My heart. I could instantly grant you the spiritual riches you desire, but that is not My way for you. Together we will forge a pathway up the high mountain. The journey is arduous at times, and you are weak. Someday you will dance lightfooted on the high peaks; but for now, your walk is often plodding and heavy. All I require of you iw to take the next step, clinging to My hand for strength and direction. Though the path is difficult and the scenery dull at the moment, there are sparkling suprises just around the bend. Stay on the path Ihave selected for you. It is truly the path of Life.

-Jesus Calling, July 14

looking for joy

joy:
–noun

1.

the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation

This life is so full of uncertainty, full of regrets, lost moments, and fragile life. but there is also an immense amount of JOY to be had in or dailiy lives here on this planet.

It is no secret that life has been a bit of an ugly mess lately. There has been facing of looming devastation and the denial of grief in my life. I try to keep my "happy face" on for the most part but upon coming home I tend to break down. I don't want to talk about what is happening in life. I don't want to face the reality. I don't care. When I am home I want to simply be, just exist.

I have been called out several times over the fact that I have "changed." This I know.

I so yearn for the days of carefree existence when money wasn't a factor, when my mom was within walking distance, when relationships were less complicated. I yearn for when I could walk into a room and make my Grandy's face light up. I long for the times of simplicity. I want more than anything to go back to that.

I am trying really hard to find the Joy in life around me. To not take for granted life's simplicities still. To be present in this moment and not worrying about the next.

For most of my life I have had to grow up far quicker than those around me, I have had to face decisions that others have never faced. I do not regret any part of my life because I know that God has laid out my path and blessed it just for me and my traveling down.

Sometimes though I do get discouraged, I get frustrated, I get tired of it. Sometimes I lose sight of they Joy.

Today I am looking for it. I am looking past the negativity around me and am looking to God for his gift of Joy in my life.

For in all things... This to Shall Pass.

We are Lake People

Growing up we always spent our summer weekends on the Lake.

I am not sure when it started but I remember being extremely young camping out at the lake. We always went to Possum Kingdom Lake, which is between Abilene and Dallas. It was only about 1 1/2 to 2 hours away so it was the perfect weekend get away. My brothers and I would go with my mom and our family friend to the State Park for a couple weekends and then once a month go with my dad to the same place.

We started out sleeping in tents and play on the jet ski's, then we got a pop-up trailer and a boat, and eventually when we went with my mom would get a hotel on the other side of the lake and take the boat out during the days. I loved spending the weekends out on the lake. Not a Care in the world but how long you could hang on to that intertube. My mom used to make killer breakfast burritos and my dad would fix amazing home-made peach cobler on the fire pit.

We knew Possum Kingdom like the back of our hands we were there so much. Sometimes our cousins and aunts would come with us and that made it all the more fun! Neeley and I spent one summer traveling with a family friend and her boat going from one end of texas at Horseshoe bay on lake LBK to a lake up in Arkansas. We mastered the "Chariot" inter-tube that summer!

We started going to Lake Brownwood with my mom and Gary and staying at his lake house spending our afternoons playing on his boat and jet-skis.

All my summer memories growing up are from the lake! So many joyous times spent with family and friends on the water.

This past weekend I went was so excited to get to go to the lake for the first time this summer. Drew's brother has a boat and we decided to travel 2 hours to Ute Lake in New Mexico to take it out for a spin.

It was a weekend full of laughter, and a little screaming on the tube, jumping in the water when it got to hot, eating good food, playing horseshoes, relaxing and a little sunburning. Just what I neeeded on a weekend off!

Photo Booth Props

            

Photo Booths have become a HUGE Hit in Wedding photography these days. People love to put on the faux mustaches, big lips, and whatever other disguises are available to make a cleverly unique keepsake for the bride and groom. 

These are SUPER DUPER SIMPLE to do. And after talking to a bride whos wedding is coming up very soon I decided to jump in to the new phenomenon.

      

There are gazillion different ways to make these cute props. I decided foam paper from Hobbs Lobbs was going to be my method. I found several different templates by googling "mustache template" or "big lips templates." I simply traced around the template on the foam with an Xacto knife, one line of hot glue and attached the handle and BAM! I had some AMAZINGLY CUTE props for my wedding photos!!

I had to jump at the opportunity to have some of my dear family to test out my props upon completion. They were all naturals with the props and if only I had shot them with a real camera and not my iphone.

I did use the props at my last wedding and will hopefully be posting pics on my photography blog soon!!

Fall in love or fall in hate. Get inspired or be depressed. Ace a test or flunk a class. Make babies or make Art. Speak the truth or lie and cheat. Dance on tables or sit in the corner. Life is divine chaos. Embrace it. Forgive yourself. Breathe. And Enjoy the Ride.