Prom 2012 + it's almost graduation! :)

Hey everyone!  I didn't fall the face of the planet, I promise, I've just been super, really busy.  :)  Which is what everyone says when it's almost the end of school and everything has picked up.  My mom and I just got home from the most fun weekend I've had in a long time and I would post pictures on here but I haven't had time to sort them/get group shots from Facebook.  I'm not going to promise that pictures will be on here soon because that probably won't be happening. I really need to go and put stuff away before I get to bed.  I have such a busy week ahead it's just craziness! :)  I haven't updated my journal in a while either which I'm kind of mad at myself for because that's what's going to last...anyways, hope you all had a great weekend and have a great week! :)

What's your phone number? Well, I use smoke signals...

I had this story sitting in my draft box since February and wanted to publish it for you.  Hopefully you'll get a few laughs from it, maybe. :)

Here's the background info:

Since I'm a senior, I'm graduating in May. Since I'm home-schooled, I decided to not graduate with the local high school's class, although I take 4 classes there.  Instead, I'm graduating with a bunch of other home-school kids from the state I live in.(Not going to say where - Internet safety :)

Anyways, our first meeting was in January. I knew one girl before all the grad stuff started because she and I are in the same Bible study group that my cousin is in charge of, so we see each about once a month or so.

Well, my mom and I went to the first meeting - it's about 4 hours away. I'm so nervous because I like meeting new people, but I tend to try to impress them to get them to like me. Not the best idea but usually once I'm in that kind of situation, I'm make friends and honestly enjoy myself.

 Anyway, back to that first meeting.

All of us seniors went to another room so the parents could talk about volunteer positions, etc.We chose our class song, verse, and quote. It was really fun! :)

After that, the meeting was technically over so I went back with my friend, Grace, to where the parents had been.  My mom was talking to another mom who I recognized as being a part of a family that had sat two or three rows in front of us at the beginning of the meeting.

I went over to them and was introduced.  Then I met the dad.  Their son was over talking to someone else.  The mom was like "Hey, why don't I introduce you to my son.  That way you two will at least know one other person at the next meeting." (which was in February.  This meeting was in January).

So I was like ok, that would be fun. (not exactly what I said but you get the gist).

So we go over there and his mom's like, "Hey Josh, this is Rachel."

We do the whole shake-hands, hi-nice-to-meet-you thing and then we kind of just stand there, the three of us.  We asked each other a few questions, it was kind of awkward because 

1) I don't know a whole lot of nice, Christian boys.  In fact, I have don't know that many guys.  There are a couple of them in our home-school group (completely different group from the meeting one) that I know, but not that well. 

2) He's kind of cute - and if you know me, you know that cute guys don't generally congregate around me .  Unless they're sophmores or younger...just my lot in life I guess. :)  He's not drop-dead gorgeous but I wouldn't want to hang out w/ someone like that because then all the girls would be hitting on him.  

So fast-foward to the next meeting, which was February 25th.  Dad was able to come to the meeting this time so he met Josh and his parents and we all kind of hung out after the meeting.  This other girl came up and started to talk to Josh and I saw that they exchanged phone numbers and I was like - ok, so that's cool, whatever...and I didn't think much more about it.  Then I saw her leave.  And Josh said,"Hey, Rachel, come over here." I was like 3 feet away but other people were talking around us and it wasn't that easy to hear.  So I went over there and then he said,

"What's your phone number?"   I honestly was so surprised when he asked me that question that I said,

"I don't have a phone." Bombshell...he was surprised and I explained why, blah-blah-blah...I felt so bad. 

Later, when my parents and I were driving back to my cousin's house after the meeting and I told my parents about it, (Hint: don't tell your parents about things like this - it'll save you grief later :), my dad was like,"He probably thought you don't have a land-line...we're typical homeschoolers here - we use smoke signals.  We'll have to build a huge fire for him to see it where he lives."  I was inconsolable.  I was almost crying and so frustrated.  Here it was - the chance of my life.  I'd never had a boy ask for my phone # before and here the whole chance blew up in my face.  I defended myself by saying, "I explained it to him - that my parents don't have cellphones, I don't have a job yet, I'd have to help pay for it...he can't hate me for that."

So now I have over a month to wait and find out what he really thinks of me.  We're not really friends, more like acquaintances really.  I went and looked him up on Facebook - there's a billion and one of him.  And not one of them is him.


So that's my dilemma.  I have to wait until May to see and talk to him at graduation rehearsal and then the graduates are going on a dinner/boat cruise that same day and I'm so pumped!!
He's going to look pretty cute in a suit. Just sayin'. :) On the other hand, he might be the kind of guy that he'll wear dress pants, dress shirt and a nice tie too.  Oh, well, I have enough suspense for now.


Arrgghh....I hate it when you make assumptions about people.  I'm not dating him, he's only a friend and his parents are really nice. Oh and he has 4 brothers.  I always said to myself that whenever I marry, my hubby's going to have to have kids or otherwise my kids won't have any aunts or uncles. (I don't have siblings...) Not like I'm marrying anytime soon...don't get me wrong here. :)

Rachel

Update on my life

Hey everyone! :)  Sorry I didn't given you a notice about me not being on here for a while...life has just been crazy busy! Here's a rundown:

~ I'm in Sound of Music this coming weekend (13th-15th)...I'm the second daughter, Louisa who's 13 and is the general prankster of the family.  I honestly had to get used to my role because I was expecting a bigger role when I auditioned;  however, it's been a good learning experience for me and it's been fun too! I'll hopefully be posting pictures on here sometime soon! :)

~ I didn't know that to apply to one college took so much paperwork...my goodnesss! We're in the middle of getting financial aid stuff figured out and it's kind of overwhelming. I know I'll be glad to be done w/ it though! :)

~ I have an English draft due tomorrow...and I'm on here. Kind of shows you where my priorities are now, right? Well, let's just say I've started working on the pre-writing but am no where near being done w/ the draft...and I really don't know what I'm going to do if I'm not done w/ the draft by 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

~ I will be so glad to be done w/ high school.  Honestly.  It's been great but right now I really wish I was done w/ my dual-enrollment classes.  I'm really tired of being the only senior in Spanish class w/ a bunch of sophmores. I'm tired of not having a Bf and going to prom (I am going on a dinner cruise though in May and it will be like prom so I have to get a dress for it...so excited! :) ...and am generally sick of kids who are immature.  Granted, I have some awesome friends there- I really do.  But I want to move on.

Well, I better go...and work on English...ugh.  Wish me luck.

It's good to be back on here again.  Can't say how consistent it's going to be because of school and graduation things...I can't make any promises.

~Rachel <3 

Bloglovin' - another way to follow your favorite blogs

In case some of you were trying to get into my last post from yesterday, I put it back into draft form because I want to revise it.  It's waaaayy too long to even be enjoyable to read, even for myself. 


Getting to the main reason for this post, the only reason I'm on bloglovin' is because I keep hearing that GoogleFriendConnect will no longer be working as of March 1st.  So I decided to be safe.

I put both of my blogs on Bloglovin' but for some reason I couldn't get the links to cooperate.  But if you'd like to follow me on there, there are two ways to do it:

1) If you have a bloglovin' acount, go to either of my blogs HERE or HERE and click on the button that looks like this:

 2) If you don't have an account, sign up for one! :)

If you have trouble with anything on Bloglovin', here's what to do. 
After you create an account, click on the little arrow by your account button and click on one of the topics.
- Widgets: the buttons like ^ above for you to put on your blog.
- Blogs by me: You have to claim your blog before you can put the "Follow this blog with bloglovin'" button on your blog.
- Manage blogs you follow: it does just that.
- Settings and sign out: you can figure that out. :)

I hope all of this wasn't too confusing - I tend to complicate things even more by explaining them to other people.  If you still have troubles, check out Ashley's post about Bloglovin' HERE and while you're at it, follow her blog too! :)

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I may post another post today, but I'll have to wait until I get my English essay draft done first...:)


Rachel

Eyeshadow palattes come in lots of colors

I found this awesome website a few days ago on Pinterest 

Makeup - All Women Stalk 

and here's a sweet article on how to apply eye makeup. 

For those of us who have, well, makeup hindrances (for me, it's a lack of time + I'm not willing to dish out lots of money for really expensive makeup), this article will make things seem a whole lot easier.

(For some reason the pics wouldn't center - oh the joys of computers! :)

10 Tips on How to Apply Eye Makeup …

How to apply eye makeup. While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re peering into your makeup pouch, I know it’s where I spend most of my face-time. Shadows, liners, mascaras, and more — it can be so overwhelming, and what if, heaven forbid, you do it wrong? No one wants to leave the house looking like a clown. But I can help! Here are 10 tips on how to apply eye makeup, perfect for beginners or for anyone looking for a brush-up or something new.

1. Know your palette

Consider your skin tone, eye color, and even hair color when choosing a palette. There are a few basic rules to know, for instance that, to bring out green eyes, purples are a good choice, especially if you have a more olive complexion.

2. Get the tools

If you’ve always wondered how the pros can apply eye makeup with so few mistakes, and with such marvelous results, consider that they have all the right tools. So you need to get the right tools, too! Invest in a few good brushes — and in good eye makeup and makeup remover, too!

3. Use a primer

Here’s another protip most of us don’t think about: primer. If you’ve finally figured out how to apply eye makeup, but are frustrated that it just doesn’t last long, then try a good primer as a first layer. Urban Decay makes a GREAT one.

4. Apply with a light hand, in layers

Here’s something else I picked up at the MAC store: always apply eye makeup with a light hand, and apply in layers, rather than just glopping on a thick layer and wondering why you don’t have the look you want. You’ll also find that you’re making fewer mistakes if you’re using a light, even touch.

5. Don’t forget the liner and mascara

Why is that we always forget there’s more to eye makeup than just shadow? Don’t forget the polished, wide-eyed look a good liner and layer of mascara can add. And they’re really fun to play with — have you ever tried blue mascara? Fun!

6. Groom your brows

I can’t tell you how many gorgeous eye makeup looks have been ruined by poorly groomed brows. Before you begin applying makeup, be sure your brows are groomed… and don’t wait til the last minute to tweeze or wax, either, because your brow line will be tender and red and swollen, which doesn’t make for a good foundation for eye makeup.

7. Have a routine

I have two routines when I think about how to apply eye makeup. There’s my everyday routine (tweeze, line, mascara) and my fancy night out routine (much more complex). Play around with eye makeup and figure out a set of at least routines that works for you, and stick to them! You’ll save time, and effort, if you have a routine for when you’re rushed, and a night out routine to fall back on when you’re just not feeling creative.

8. Don’t rush

When you’re wondering how to apply makeup, chances are, you’re getting ready for a night out type of event. Don’t rush yourself, or you might make a mistake that means you’ll have to start over again! Take your time. Enjoy it! This is fun, especially when you don’t have to make multiple goes.

9. Experiment

Have some time to kill? Break out your makeup pouch and figure out new ways of how to apply eye makeup! Watch some tutorials on the MAC website or on YouTube or just let your own creative juices flow. Perhaps this is why the name “palette” is used for fine artists as well as makeup artists!

10. Have fun!

While some of us think applying makeup is a chore, I think doing eye makeup is fun! It’s especially fun to experiment on yourself, or better yet, on a friend! Host an eye makeup party (but don’t share the makeup), and make it a girls’ night in!

Now that you’ve skimmed my tips on how to apply eye makeup, do you feel a little more confident? I hope so! Applying eye makeup can be fun, so don’t’ be afraid to play with it… and what’s the worst that can happen? If you make a mistake and hate the look, just use some eye makeup remover and move on! Which of these tips on how to apply eye makeup do you use? Or is there another eye makeup tip you have to share? Let me know!

I learned a lot from reading this post.

If you want to read more great articles like this one, click on the link at the top of the page 

the "Makeup - All Women Stock" one.

What did you think of this article?

 

Rachel <3

captions make cute pictures even better :)

I found this super cute post on Sierra's blog that's found HERE

seriously aren't these animals so cute?

"Don't look! My fur is mussed up!"

Oh no! The 2:00 o'clock kiss!"

 

 

 

 

To see the other pics, click Adorable Animals

The captions are a hoot to read!! :)  

 

Rachel

New layout...

Hey everyone - how was your weekend?  Mine was filled with lots of fun and now I'm sick. :(  I was sick before then but yesterday I was speaking in a whisper most of the time.  I was supposed to sing in our school's Pops concert tonight but I don't even sound like myself, so I had to scratch that.  I wasn't very happy about it either because I was singing a duet with another girl for the Show Choir number and then I could have worn the black dress that we Show Choir girls got to wear.  Oh, well...we still have Large and Small group Contests, the Spring Concert and we sing for Graduation in May. 

I spent some time trying to get this blog looking a little more spiffy...are the colors too bright?

I had a hard time trying to figure everything out, and um...well...I'm supposed to be doing

Anatomy right now, but I got a little side-tracked.

:)

That's just how I am.

And I'm kind of freaking out about everything I have to do before I graduate in May.

School projects I haven't finished; 

Non-school projects...

And on top of that, I'm kicking myself because I have two whole months to anticipate

what *he* thinks of me.

Who's he, you ask?

Well, that's the story that sitting in a draft post right now, just waiting for me to hit 

the publish button.  And it's not even written out.  It's all in my head.  It is a true story though - 

no matter how funny it's going to sound when you read it.

And the title is very interesting too...it was my Dad's idea.

Except he doesn't know that.

Anatomy's calling my name...as is my English essay research that I still have

to do before we start drafting in class tomorrow.

Life is so fun right now.

Especially when you don't have a cell phone.

:) 

I can survive...it's just hard to wait.

But I'm hoping for my birthday that I'll get one.

And I'm really procrastinating in not wanting to end this post.

I'm sure you're all rolling your eyes right now, wondering if I'm done.

I am.

Have a great Monday night! :)

And I'm so looking forward to that *smoke*signal*story*...

maybe tomorrow it'll be on here...

Until then...

<3

 

Rachel

I Am So Random...and so me :)

Hey everyone!  I am still in the land of the living, but just so barely. :)  

Sorry I didn't really give an MIA notice on here - I've been keeping up with your blog posts but

I just haven't had time to post any of my own! 

 I got tagged a while back by Nadia over at Gracie's Adventures here...and finally decided 

to complete this long overdue tag post.

I hope you have fun reading my answers -  

I had fun typing them!! :)  

(And just to warn you, some of them are really random...but hey, that's how I roll! :)

The rules are:
1.) Post these rules.
2.) You MUST post 11 random things about yourself.
3.) Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.
4.) Creat 11 new question for the people you ask to answer.
5.) Go to their blog and tell them they have been they have been Tagged.

 11 Random Things About Me:
1) I love eating coconut straight out of the bag.  Don't ask me why I do it because I don't know...but it sure is good! :)

2) I'm more of a 'real' candy type of person - give me something with caramel, chocolate, peanut butter, and nuts in it (not all of those at once, though :) over what I call 'fake' candy, the artificial tasting and colored kinds.  There's a time and place for that kind but I'm much more of a 'real' candy lover! <3

One of my favorites! :)

3) My current book genre that I love right now Christian Crime/FBI/Romance thrillers; I just finished a 3-book series called "Heroes of Quantico" by Irene Hannon and oh my goodness, they were soooooo good!!!  I really hope to do a post on these books soon over at my other blog, The Media Mix here ...I have about 20+ posts to do over there....school is so time-consuming!!! :)  Oh and not to mention Pinterest...:)

Like the best series ever! <3

4)  I think that I have a patience issue.  Here's an example: I really want a laptop right now. I type everything on our home computer...so why do I really need a laptop when I/we already a computer?  I guess it's because I want it to be my own.  I could keep all my pictures there from my camera, have iTunes, Pinterest, Facebook, Blogger, Gmail, Etsy and also, do school in the car when we're driving somewhere and I have homework to do and I have to type it out.  School's the main reason.  I really would like one for my English class right now...maybe for my bday...:)

5) I really want to watch NCIS, CSI, BurnNotice but...we don't have cable.  And I love me some exciting chases, gun battles, and hot, cute guys.  Enter the problem: I don't have time to spend watching those shows on the computer.  For one thing, I'd really have to get glasses.  *Cue a big, huge sigh*...I'll just have to get over it. :)

6) I'm addicted to Pinterest.  Not that big of a surprise really.  And I've spent way too much time on it.  Enough said.

How true is this? :)

7) I love Huskies and polar bears, among other animals, but those were the only two I had pictures of right now! :) Besides, they're winter animals and that's what season we're supposed to be in right now, but it sure doesn't look like it outside...(contradiction: when I first started on this post, don't ask me when, we had no snow.  But now we do!) 

  

8) I don't have a boyfriend, have never been on a date, never been to prom and I'm still planning my wedding.  I probably have 200+ pics on the computer/Pinterest that I've collected for that special day that's probably down the road, oh maybe 5-10 years...not very exciting if you ask me.  And it sure can be a time-waster.  But it's so fun!!!  And besides, it's not fair when you have a crush on a guy you know will never ask you out...*sigh* <3

Our school is doing the "Sound of Music"musical in April - can you guess which part I want? :)

9) I love my friends.  Seriously, they are the best people ever.  If I'm ever super frustrated about something or life seems like it's coming towards me and washing over me like a tidal wave and I'm in over my head (you get the picture), talking on the phone and laughing my head off is so beneficial.  There is nothing like laughter to help you relieve stress.  And it helps when you make your friends laugh by telling a story a little more dramatically than it probably really happened...:)

My 16th bday party - sorry this is so dark :( - I'm in the middle w/ the candle in front of my face :)

Models?  Elizabeth (cousin), me, Mom, Anna (friend)...I think so. :) <3

10)  Painting my nails is fun but for some reason, I only put nail polish on one finger, go like that the whole week, tell myself that one day I'll paint the rest of my hand, but I never do (mind you, that's not all the time :) Oh, well...at least I can look at pics like this one: 

And think about summer...and how much I can't make my right hand nails look as nice as my left hands nails.  I think it's because I'm right-handed. :) Agree?

11) I'm honestly excited that this is my last year.  I only have 4 months left - Yeah!! (I have commencement in May but my open house/senior recital isn't until the 2nd weekend in June).  I'm so pumped!! And then I'm going to Washington D.C., then it's the County Fair and I might go to Orchestra Camp...I have a lot to do this summer! But for now, I just have to focus on school...which is good because I'm really liking what I'm studying right now. :)

Take note:  That will be me in exactly 3 months and 4 days (May 19th) :)

Washington, D.C.

I'm excited! :) 

<3

 



Questions to answer:
 
1.) What is your favorite book?  "No Safe Haven" by Kimberly and Kayla Woodhouse (as of right now :)
2.) If you could go any place in the would where would it be?  Probably somewhere in Europe or the Caribbean.
3.) What is your favorite type of ice cream?  Either Moose Tracks or anything w/ chocolate and caramel.
4.)If you could have any super power, what would it be? To have night vision or be an amazing fighter.
5.) What is your favorite Joke?  Don't have one...sad I know. :)
6.) If you could accomplish one thing in your life what would it be? Be organized and motivated to get things done when they need to be done.
7.) What is your favorite color? Pink, blue, purple, gray, navy and green.
8.)What five adjectives would you use to describe yourself? Sociable, a would-be prankster (nice pranks, of course), love to laugh/make my friends laugh, story-telling, good listener and a procrastinator. :)
9.) What is your pet peeve? People cracking their knuckles!! Honestly, I think it sounds like it hurts and it sounds gross.
10.)What is your favorite song? Can't pick one - I have English assignments running through my mind...probably a Taylor Swift song or a Starfield song. (just off the top of my head).
11.) Which of these questions did you like the most? The super power one or the describing-yourself one.

11 questions for the people I tag:
1) What is your favorite quote and why?
2) What is your favorite color?
3) What is your favorite type of book/movie/tv show/music? (any of these :)
4) What is your favorite hobby or pasttime?
5) If you could meet anyone in the world, either in the past or now, who would it be?
6) What is/was your favorite and least favorite school subjects?
7) What is your favorite kind of candy?
8) What is one exciting thing you're looking forward accomplishing or doing in the near future?
9) If you are planning to go to college, are in college or have graduated from college, where are/did you planning to go/going to currently/graduate from and what did you go for/going for/planning to go for?
10) What is your favorite color?
11) What is one thing you love to talk and/or do blog posts about?


People I'm tagging:
Lauren at Bits and Pieces
Emily at mist of the blossom rain
Laurie at Rejoice!
Rissi at Scribbles, Script and Such
Sierra at Sierra's BookList


Have fun answering away! :)

Rachel

The Birds Say "I Love You": How to Get more Comments

I thought this post by Ky over at The Birds Say "I Love You" was a great learning moment (for me anyway) on how to get more comments on your blog posts and I wanted to share it all with you!! :) 

Below is the beginning of the post...

Alright all my lovely followers... 

I don't really want to vent, too much... but: 

I really do. 

I don't feel like typing a paragraph of nonsense to post a comment on your wonderful posts. I really don't. So, I am going to show you how incredibly easy it is to turn this little pain-in-the-butt off. 

It is so easy... 

Just follow these steps...

 

 

 In order to see the steps, click this link: The Birds Say "I Love You": How to Get more Comments

I hope this helps!! :) <3

Rachel

I'm stressed...and not happy about it

And it's Valentine's Day on top of that.  I will just say one thing: it seems like everyone else either 

a) has a boyfriend 

b) is engaged 

c) is a newlywed 

d) or hasn't lost their camera card, like I have.

Ok, so the last one didn't tie in w/ the Valentine's theme I had going there.  

But it's officially true: 

I can't find my camera card!!! And I'm kind of freaking out about it because I have a huge choir concert this weekend and I need my camera to take pics for my 4-H project and I've looked through all my bags, backpacks and purses twice!!!  

So what am I going to do?

Well, to start off, the day isn't my favorite because:

I don't have a boyfriend.

I know a boy isn't everything, I've heard it all before.

But it still would be nice to have a "significant other."

Especially since prom is coming up in a few months, I'm a senior,

I've never gone to one before, and I really want to go.

I know it's not the most important thing, but I want to experience it.

That's beside the point.

On top of everything, I have a ton of homework to do before Friday

because we're leaving really, super early the next morning (on Friday).

And here I am, writing a blog post.

How bad is that?

And I have a piano lesson on Thursday that I have to practice for,

I have Awanas tomorrow night,

Mom and I might observe court tomorrow morning,

I have a ton of English to do.

I have to cook my own supper tonight because Mom and Dad are out on a date - <3

I really wanted to take pictures of 

my plant that Dad gave me yesterday for Valentine's Day (I do have someone who loves me! :)

And we got our dresses for Show Choir today and I wanted to show you 

pictures of it, and I don't have my camera card!!!!

Ok, so I'll be done now, because I know it must be pretty boring to read a whole, long post of just words...

Sorry.

I guess I'm just stressing out.

And not just a little bit either.

Oh, well...

I'm headed downstairs to practice piano, listen to my music for this weekend, make supper and 

try to accomplish my mountains of homework before tomorrow night.

And be in bed before 10:30pm.

Did I forget to mention that I still have to do laundry?

Call me lazy or whatever...

I don't mind.

Goodnight.

Happy Valentine's Day...
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

p.s Sorry that I seem so grumpy tonight...not a really good post to leave on here for a few days...I guess I just am really frustrated w/ myself about a lot of things...like not being disciplined enough, deciding whether I should do this or just keep a journal, and beating myself up over not getting things done when I should.  I guess I could just delete this post in the morning...not like it really matters much...I'll stop now, because I'm just rambling.  Goodnight!!

Rachel

Sweet and Delicious...

And I'm talking about fruit.

ahem,

moving on.

The real reason I'm doing this post

is to tell you that I can't wait for summer

because of these:

Don't they look delicious?

I love the fresh ones, 

sweet juice dripping down your chin

as you sink your teeth into bliss...

ok, so I'm not the greatest at poetry,

but hey - I tried!! :)

I had frozen peaches on my pancakes tonight.

I will say this warning:

Don't eat frozen peaches when you're cold!!

IT WILL ONLY MAKE YOU COLDER!!!!

.......................................

No, I didn't die of freezing to death, 

but I sure was close!

Those peaches sure tasted good though...

and I'm sure I'd do it all over again if I was hungry enough!! 

:)

 

Rachel

Stark blue icyness...in pics

I thought these pics were perfect *enter tone of sarcasm* for the lovely winter weather we've been having lately.  Just to let you know, we have ZERO, ZIP, NO snow on the ground!!! How crazy is that?  I mean, it's the middle of February, for crying out loud! And there's supposed to be a couple feet of snow on the ground for me to hop through on my way to school in the mornings!

Actually, it's been kind of nice not to have snow, but it sure has been cold!!  :)


Enjoy the pics below - I thought they were pretty awesome....:)


 

This is really tall...like ginormous!! :)

See that little person towards the left? That's one big wave!

Love the layers of ice...looks so cool!

Couldn't think of something to say...

Love the stripes...reminds me of a...um...well, not really a candy cane, but something like that...lol :)

Pretty impressive break there, huh? :)

Reminds me of an agate...love the color bands <3

Pretty cool pics huh?  Thought you'd like them...anyway I thought they were pretty cool!! :)

Which picture is your favorite?

Rachel

The Vow Movie Trailer Official (HD)

I am so freakin' excited to see this movie!!!!  It looks so good! :)  I won't be watching it in the theatre though because my parents probably won't let me so I'll be putting it on my "Later Movies" list (a.k.a. the movies I'm going to watch once I'm out of the house and on my own! :) and I have quite the list, let me tell you :)

I mean, if Channing Tatum said he was my husband, I wouldn't ever question it...:P <3  He's so cute, but really, he's married. :( And honestly, if I was his wife, I wouldn't like it very much with him being in movies and kissing other women and who knows what else...when I get married, my husband is going to be for me only! :) <3  But he's still pretty cute...:)

Have you seen "The Vow"?

What did you think of it?

Rachel

I'm on Pinterest!!

I have finally given in to the wave of Pinterest interest that everyone's been talking about lately...I will have to say though that it is very addicting....like I've been on it far too much today...but I get such great ideas from it!! :)   And there are really cute pictures...and other people have such great pins and they're soo fun to look at...

Anyway, my link for pinterest is on the right side under the followers section...I do not have a profile picture yet because I don't have time right now to upload one, but I hope to get one up there soon!! :) 

Do you have Pinterest?

Rachel

This describes girls to a T

This describes us girls pretty well...now if only the boys would read it...:)

Courtesy of Pinterest at this link here

Rachel

Making your blog about you...

Whenever I go check out blogs, there are so many times I find myself thinking that my blog should look a certain way and be like so-and-so's...granted, there are certain things to make your blog look decent and fun for people to read, but I think this clip below from Erin at Living in Yellow sums it all up perfectly:

 

I think it is time we stop feeling the need to justify our blogs-or why we blog-etc etc.

Do it because you love it.

And if you are doing it, you might as well embrace it.

Cheers To You, Me, Your Blog, My Blog.

Whatever it is you write about--

May you embrace it, love it, and own it.

Go check out the whole blog post here: http://www.livinginyellow.com/2012/01/embrace-your-blog.html

Rachel <3

Dave Barnes - God Gave Me You

I love this song...the first time I heard it was on the sweet video I posted yesterday about the soldier who surprised his fiance' at the student union...this song was playing in the background.  Maybe I'll have this at my wedding, at the dance...

Rachel

Courageous is #1!

Courageous Tops DVD Charts Upon Release! In its first week out on DVD and Blu-ray, COURAGEOUS topped the charts, landing as the No. 1 DVD in the country—thanks to you! As director Alex Kendrick says, the ministry of this movie, first in theaters and now in homes, continues to expand: "With each film, we've been grateful to see audiences and theater counts grow. It's been remarkable to witness our church-made films do well head to head with Hollywood movies. When we heard the COURAGEOUS DVD was No. 1 in the nation, our Sherwood family rejoiced about how many families may be touched and how many dads may find something in the film that helps them be better fathers. That's our first measure of success." » Visit CourageoustheMovie.com

Courageous is the #1 DVD in the country - how cool is that? :)  I've seen the movie twice now and I've watched the bloopers, deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes extras...I love that movie!! :)

Have you seen Courageous?

What did you think of it?

What was your favorite part of the movie?

 

Rachel

Soldier surprises fiance' on campus

This video is so sweet...check out the link below for the details.

http://wonthurtabit.blogspot.com/2012/01/watch-it-youll-looove-it.html

Rachel

Tangled - I See The Light (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

I saw this movie, Tangled, this past August at All-State Camp and I fell in love with it!  If you haven't seen the movie yet, you have to! It's probably my all-time favorite Disney movie besides Cinderella.  We're singing this song, "I See the Light" for our Pops' Concert and I really hope I get the solo!! :)  We'll see what happens though...

Have you seen Tangled? What did you think of it?

If you were in choir, did you ever sing any Disney movie songs?

What is your favorite Disney movie?

Rachel

Thanks to all my followers...

I can't begin to say how much I appreciate you all - you all have impacted me in ways you may never know.  You have helped to encourage, challenge and remind me and that is a gift that I am more than willing to receive.  I only hope that I can do the same for you.

Here's to the Year 2012 - to all exciting things that have happened and will happen and all the hopes, wishes and dreams that will come true.

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I love you guys!!!! <3 <3 <3
Rachel

Summer trip to Washington D.C.

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I am so, so excited!!!!!! As of today, I have been accepted to go to Washington D.C. I am going through 4-H on the Citizenship Washington Focus trip.  Only 50 kids from the state of MN can go and I'm one of them!!  Whoo-hoo!!We get to meet our state representative and tour the White House.  The only downside is that we only get 4 days in D.C. because it takes 4 days total to get out there and back.  But hey, at least I'm going!!!  I'm studying Government this year, I've always loved History and I probably won't be able to get there again for a really long time if ever! My day was made today!! :)

Have any of you ever been to Washington D.C.?

What was your favorite part about it (buildings, shopping, etc.)

Rachel

October Baby Stories 01: Shari

Shari's story is incredible...if you haven't watched the official movie trailer, do that first before you watch this clip.  All I can say is - wow...God's hand was obviously in this movie and I'm so excited to see it! :)

Rachel

October Baby: Official Movie Trailer

This movie is coming out in March and I am so, so excited to see it!!  I feel like it's such a timely message for this culture and my generation.  I hope you enjoy and are moved by it like I was...<3

Rachel

Women of Faith / Revolve

I went to a really fun Girls Lock-In at our church on this past Friday night.  We had a blast!!!!  Among other thing, we watched video/devotional about "The Way Guys Think" by Chad Eastham, who travels with the Revolve Tour (the movie clip above is a promo video for the tour).  We girls really wanted to go but the closest one to us is in Nebraska, so that's not really an option.  Anyway, check out the site here...I think the topics and issues the speakers discuss are so relevant to what teenage girls face today.  Besides that, they have awesome music!! I just wish the girls in school who maybe don't go to church and don't have a Christian home could hear these things too...


Rachel

Winter Spa Ideas

Nothing beats the cold in the winter like warmth and relaxation.  Instead of paying for an expensive spa experience, why not create your own?  Here are a few ways to create your own retreat:

First off: 
~ Play soothing music.  Doing this will help to calm your busy thoughts.  Try nature sounds or soft classical music.

~ Make your own steam. Make sure you wash your face with a cleanser first before doing the steam and mask.
 
  Mint:  Refreshing.
  4 cups warm tap water, 4 mint tea bags (use herbal tea only) or a handful of fresh mint, slightly crushed.

Lavender: Soothing and restful.
 4 cups tap water, 8-10 drops of lavender essential oil.    

 Citrus: Fresh and clean.
 4 cups warm tap water, 1 lemon, cut into 1/4 in. slices, 2 drops tangerine essential oil.

- Choose a recipe and assemble the ingredients.  Pour them into a medium-sized bowl.  The steam should be warm enough that you can feel the heat rise off of it.  Anything over 140 degrees is too hot and could burn you.  Pull your hair out of the way.  Drape a towel over your head and the bowl to catch the steam.  Relax and enjoy your steam for about 10 minutes.  Afterwards, apply a mask (see below).


~ Create facial masks.

     Oatmeal: This mask works well on all skin types.  If your skin is dry, use whole milk or cream, otherwise stick to low fat or nonfat milk.  The oatmeal will leave your skin feeling soft and toned.
     - 3 Tbsp. regular, uncooked oatmeal, ground to a fine flour.
     - 2 Tbsp. milk or cream.

Combine the ingredients in a small bowl.  Pull your hair off your face. Apply the mask all over your face and neck (if you like), avoiding your eye area.  Let the mask work for 10-15 minutes.  Use your washcloth to gently wipe the mask off your face, shaking the bits of mask into the trash (a trick to avoid clogged drains).  Once it's almost all off, rinse your face in warm water. 
     Yogurt: A good choice if you have sensitive skin.  The yogurt and cucumber combine to leave your skin feeling soft and gently toned.  Choose whole milk yogurt if your skin is dry, otherwise nonfat or low fat will work the best otherwise.
     - 1/4 cup yogurt
     - 1/4 cucumber, peeled.

Place the yogurt and cucumber in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.  Pour it into a bowl and use a cotton pad to pat the mask all over your face.  It will be a little runny.  Let the mask work for about 10 minutes before rinsing off.


After you're all done:
~ Drink herbal tea.   Try chamomile to help you relax even more or ginger and lemon to invigorate you!

Sweet dreams <3

Rachel


*All recipes taken from "The Natural Beauty Book: Create Your Own Natural Spa Experience" by Anne Akers Johnson.

*Images copyright of GoogleImages.*