The biggest thing I've achieved...

Another #projectpositive prompt I'd like to expand a little bit on! (I kind of like these prompts! Get's my brain churning!)

The biggest thing I've achieved...

This is yet another one that just seem so difficult to put one moment on. I feel like I have achieved a lot! And over came a lot. But you might not think some of them are all that impressive. But when you are the subject, when you achieve something, it's a great feeling! Whether big or small!

One of the biggest thing's I've achieved is a temple marriage. The steps that I took to get there also were an achievement on their own.

Just like everyone else living in this world, we all make mistakes. Big one's as well as small. I have had my share of bad decisions (along with good ones!) But for a portion of my life I wasn't happy. Nothing I did could give me complete gratification. There was a lot of instant gratification but eventually it faded and left me, again, with that void. When spiraling down, you don't really notice the journey getting there, you just realize that you are there once you've reached the bottom.

I found complete happiness for myself again through the gospel of Jesus Christ. My spirit began to grow and strengthen and I began to have a positive outlook on life. I would wake up in the morning full of life and energy and I just wanted to love! I found purpose and true meaning to life. Yes, it was a journey to get to where I needed to be, and I'm still progressing and growing, but I got out of my downward spiral and now I'm looking up! And up is the best way to be headed. There is one book that will bring you the most happiness and bring you closest to Christ. And you can learn about it here.

I've also have had other achievements like every time I complete a new sewing project! Especially when I make a mistake and try it again. It is great that we are able to make mistakes because we learn SO MUCH from them! Just think. You will appreciate something that you've done way more if you have to work for it and learn from it. It isn't always as satisfying when we do it right the first time. Where is the challenge? Where is the growth? When that happens to me, I just think... "Well, that was easy..." Putting your blood, sweat and tears into something will make you cherish it more.

I have also had achievements while in Track & Field in HS and college. Getting a new personal best is such a great feeling and accomplishment! I worked hard and I got better!

You cannot achieve anything without working for it first. We cannot expect to sit around and wait for things to come to us. If you want to achieve or accomplish something, go out and get it! Don't give up until you have completed it! All those annoying, tedious or hard steps along the way are shaping you and getting you ready to reach the end goal. You just can't give up. And don't let the success of others discourage you. We are all different! No one should expect more from the best that you can do, whatever that may be. And your best and my best are not the same.

We can all achieve anything we put are minds do. We just have to take the first step!

<3 Until next time

The biggest thing I've overcome...

So this month in the twitter world I decided to join #projectpositive. Each day there is a prompt and you finish off the sentence, followed by the hashtag. I feel like going into depth a little bit more on a specific prompt. There aren't enough characters allowed in a tweet!

The prompt for September 15 is as follows: The biggest thing I've overcome is... #projectpositive

(If you don't know, the hashtag is a way to join everyone involved so we can see what other people are saying and connect and so forth)

I don't think I can really pinpoint the biggest thing I've overcame because at the time, each individual trail is hard. But they are supposed to be. Each trial that we go through is essential to our growth; physical, spiritual and mental. If we didn't have to over come anything, how would we be able to become better? How will we progress?

Some of the things each of us goes through might not make sense at the time and I'm sure we often wonder, "Why is this happening to me?" And there are probably times when things just seem to never go our way. One thing to remember is that you don't have to be able to see the entire staircase! Just the first step. And sooner than you think, you will have made it to the top!

I think sometimes we go through certain trails simply for being able to have empathy for others going through a similar trial and be able to help others through their struggles. This also allows us to love, support and comfort. One of the worst feelings ever is feeling alone and feeling like you are the only person going through a specific trial. Being able to see that the people around you have overcome something similar is such a strength and a blessing. It's a confirmation that you can also get through it and things will get better.

If you ever feel alone, remember Christ knows exactly how you feel. He is the one person that can have full empathy on how you are feeling because he has felt every pain, sorrow, heartache. Don't forgot that he has also felt all the joys and happy moments! So don't cut Him out of the good times. 

We also need to remember that each and every one of us is different. This means we all have different trials, struggles and different reactions to things. We all make different mistakes. We need to be mindful to those around us and simply love and support instead of judge and condemn. In times of struggle is when we need love and kindness the most. 

Trials and struggles are an essential part of God's plan. There is a talk by Elder David A. Bednar that has such a great explanation on this. I love it and couldn't agree more.

I love this quote from his talk:

"Each of us also carries a load. Our individual load is comprised of demands and opportunities, obligations and privileges, afflictions and blessings, and options and constraints. Two guiding questions can be helpful as we periodically and prayerfully assess our load: "Is the load I am carrying producing the spiritual traction that will enable me to press forward with faith in Christ on the strait and narrow path and avoid getting stuck? Is the load i am carrying creating sufficient spiritual traction so I ultimately can return home to Heavenly Father?

Sometimes we mistakenly may believe that happiness is the absence of a load. But bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness. Because our individual load needs to generate spiritual traction, we should be careful not to haul around in our lives so many nice but unnecessary things that we are distracted and diverted from the things that truly matter most." 

Also, remember what the Savior has said:

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

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30)

 Have faith! And know that things will get better. Serving others will also uplift your spirits.

<3 Until next time!

Music Monday

Here we have us a little list of some of the tunes that have popped up on Pandora. I'm still waiting to be able to make a station based off of Taylor Swifts new hit 'Shake It Off'! Hopefully they will get that fixed sooner than later!! But I love that song. And it came on the radio when I was driving to lunch. <3

1. The Virgins - Private Affair
2. The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
3. Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know
4. Iyez - Replay
5. Flo Rida - Good Feelinh
6. Gym Class Heroes - Stereo Hearts
7. Boys Like Girls - Dance Hall Drug
8. B.o.B. - Magic
9. We The Kings - Heaven Can Wait
10. All American Rejects - Gives You Hell

Well there you have it! Some nice toons for the day. :) 

And anyone in Arizona, hopefully you didn't get too wet this morning or get your car stuck in a wash!! 

Lots and Lots of Legging!

So if any of you haven't noticed lately, I am obsessed and addicted to leggings right now. I just can't make myself enough! And what's even better? They are SO EASY! It's ridiculous. I love it. I can't stop thinking about it. <3

If you look at my IG at all, you will have an idea. I just got some fabric in the mail yesterday? Sheesh! That's all?! And this is what I got!

And now..... I have two new pairs of leggings!! (Keep scrolling..)


I also have way more fabric in the awesome lightning material that I'm going to make a matching shirt!! This one except it's going to look so much cooler. :) I'm also going to opt out of the pockets. But anyway....

Where I go for material is GirlCharlee. But you can also find something at your local fabric store, however I don't really think they ever have very good options. (And they cost more. Just saying.) The only downfall about buying them online is you have to wait. for. them. I hate that part the most, honestly. I just get super excited. And I'm a little addicted to fabric, especially when they are cute and on sale. You can never go wrong with those!

Anywho...so when I was visiting my family, I went to a local fabric store down there and found a pattern for leggings for only a couple bucks! Great, right?!

The only downfall is, inserting elastic sucks if there is another way, and one of the fabrics I got and make a pair with only had a two way stretch. VERY BAD for leggings for an FYI. You need to make sure your fabric has at least a slight 4 way stretch! Or else they might fall off your bum when you bend down!! The Craftsy leggings explains the best type of fabric for them down below.

These are great and all, and I've made 2 pairs like this BUT I found a better one! And it's free! 

So little back story here. I occasionally like to find craft websites and search for whatever patterns they have for free. So when I was on Craftsy, that's exactly what I did. And voila! Found me another legging pattern! More of the yoga style.

Okay... so it looks like the pattern is no longer available... *annoying!* So if you REALLY want it you can contact me and we can maybe work something out? Or you may be able to find something similar on pinterest or something.. sorry!

I don't need to really make a tutorial out of that because it basically comes with its own tutorial. However, I have really small ankles according to that pattern and I took them in a bit more on the bottom and made them a little bit longer so they would be tight on my ankles and also have a little extra gathered looking fabric.

You also may want to check out these Custom Fit Leggings. You can check out more of her tutorials (I think they all are free!) here!

Just make sure you pin well! Especially when doing the waist band! Oh! And also, a twin needle may come in handy to make the bottom hems look beautiful! (I finally just bought one. Yay!!)

There you have it! I hope you enjoy and of course...

Happy sewing! 

Life, Goals and Gratitude

With the start of this new month and new opportunities, I've decided that I would like to share with you some of the things I am grateful for along with some of my goals for the rest of this month, year and beyond! Ready....set....GO! (brace yourself! this is a bit of a long one..)

So recently my wonderful hubby and I had the opportunity to go to NYC for his work, and of course, I had to tag along. With that, I quit my job. I thought it was the best time for that since 1. they won't hold my position for 5 weeks (and I don't blame them) 2. when we got back from NY we were moving into a new apartment, closer to the hubby's work and much further from where I was working at the time and 3. I was ready to seek out some new and exciting opportunities that had the ability to progress within the company! So with that, I had to start searching out for a job once all settled into our new little home. And ohhhhh man! Is that exhausting! Putting your resumé out on the web... getting emails and phone calls for jobs that you don't want... bleck. I'm happy that I can end the search because I start my new job tomorrow! Yay! (though I still get emails...ugh) It's a smaller company and I love that I can grow with them and hopefully be an essential part of the team! I really can't wait.

So with that, I guess that's kind of my rest of this month and year goal all tied together. Meeting new people and building good relationships with colleagues along with doing my best to help out the company.

Another goal that is going to be kind of a forever and continuous to infinity and beyond is my blogging and social media interactions! I'm going to do my best to really start diving in and connecting! I think twitter chats are a really great way for that! I had my first one tonight and I can't believe that it really takes all of your attention! I love it though. It's a great way to join in with different communities and connect, support and inspire with fellow bloggers! I love it! Oh and with this is a goal for this month and that is to complete the #projectpositive for this month! Check out my twitter and instagram if you'd like to check up on that!

Goal number three is finally get my Bachelors degree! Whoop! I'm starting the Pathways Program through BUYI so I can get my degree online, and it's way cheaper. (LDS church schools seriously are the way to go even if you aren't a member. You get a great degree and you won't spend nearly as much!) Anway, I've been slacking so much on this whole school thing. I mean seriously. It's time to step it up! Let me tell you briefly. I applied and was admitted to ASU three different times to three different programs. Elementary Teacher, Exercise & Wellness, Social Work. I went to the first day of classed for E&W, rode my bike in AUGUST (not my brightest ideas) and that was that. I also applied for the Marine Biology program at BYU Hawaii, got admitted and then decided not to go! A lot of my friends thought I was crazy because really, Hawaii would suit me quite well with my easy going, beach loving, travel craze kind of life. But that one, I would have gone, BUT it didn't feel right... I couldn't pin point it but it just didn't feel like where I needed to be (and I am one to trust my gut with any and everything). So I didn't go. Good thing because a couple months later I met my wonderful husband!

Which brings me to some things I am grateful for!

I am especially grateful for my husband, Scott. He is seriously the best ever! He supports me, loves me, and encourages me. He also puts up with my crafting messes, my creative cooking and my kitty that he has grown to enjoy!

I'm also grateful for Temples! There is so much peace and serenity there! I love just being on the grounds and looking at the beauty! Each temple is so unique and magnificent. I wish I could go more! <3 Another goal is to attend the temple at least once a month with the hubby but I'm going to try to go every other week!

If you are a nonmember, live in the Phoenix valley and would like to see what the inside of an LDS temple is like, then lucky for you! The Phoenix temple is having an open house in October and anyone can attend! Reserve your tickets here starting September 29!

I am also grateful for my family and my ward family for all of their love and support! Along with the all the blogging community support at #fireworkpeople and #blessedisshe! Diving in the the blogging world is tough business and I give mad props to everyone who is doing really well!

And of course, I can't forget my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ who make everything possible! Especially for the wonderful Atonement that makes it possible for any and everyone to be forgiven and able to enter again into Their presence! There is beauty in everything!


Sorry again that this was a bit long and I had my bits of rambling but, I hope you enjoyed this labor day weekend and I also hope you have yourself a great week and a great month!

Say positive, stay awesome and stay you!