Pip and Lolly

Hello! How are you?  I still can’t believe it’s August.  I know I haven't been posting often, but I've been very busy.  Guess what?  Tomorrow is National Friendship Day!  I really wanted to do a post about it, but I'm trying to stick to my blog schedule, so I compromised and posted it today.     My friends have taught me lots of things .  Sometimes I’ve gotten a little bugged with them, and sometimes I’ve tried their patience.  But not matter what, we stick together.  Here are a few things I’ve learned from my three closest friends. Lolly (because who is a better friend than my sister?) Stand up for yourself.   Don’t ever let people walk all over you.  If they don’t care about you, then there is no reason to care about them. You are safe.  God will always protect you.  You are loved, and there is nothing that can change that. It’s okay to cry.  Just don’t lose hope....

Hello, hello! I must tell the truth , I have no idea where I’m going with this post.   I had one written and almost ready to publish in a Word document on my Mom’s computer.   Then our Mom went out of town, taking her laptop with her.   So here I am, with no idea what to say.   I guess life is always like that.   You can plan, prepare, and schedule, but in the end, you don’t know what will happen.   Even bad things don’t always end up happening.   I need to learn I have no control.   Sometimes that’s really scary, but isn’t that what our faith is about?   Trusting God to keep us steady when nothing else will? Over the last few years, my faith has been tested in countless ways.   But God always gave me strength to pull through .   I can remember crying and crying, I remember the pain and it brings tears to my eyes, but look at me!   I am happy, healthy, and loved .   No matter what, God was always l...

Hello there! Let's admit it, sooner or later everyone runs out of blogging inspiration.     You have ideas, but can’t seem to write enough about any one subject.  Nothing happens and you end up staring at an empty Word document until you eventually give up.     It's happened to me, it will happen to you.     I have compiled a rather large list of blogging prompts.     They aren't in any specific order.     I'd be honored if you used a or two.     Blogging Prompts - Describe the view from your window - Seen a new movie?     Write a review! - New book?     Another review is in order. - Makeup tutorial/s - Recent photography   - Wardrobe staples - Hair style tutorial   - Tips on something you excel in - Recent DIYs   - Random life hacks - Short story or flash fiction   - Hold a contest - Host a giveaway   - Write about your favorite ...

From time to time I get stuck creatively.   Nothing seems worth doing.  Whenever I pick up my pencil to write, no words come.  When I grab a paintbrush, the paper stays empty.  I'll look through my fabric, but nothing is sewn.  Everything feels bland.   There is no creative click  in the back of my brain. It's hard to get out of a non-creative rut.  Sometimes it happens when I've been doing too much of the same thing.  Other times, when I've been to busy and now have no inspiration.  Sometimes I look on Pinterest for inspiration.  Usually it doesn't do much.  I end up looking at my DIY board and sighing.  Nothing seems worth doing and you have to sit back and wait for inspiration. 15 ways to find inspiration 1. Write a to do list and actually start checking things off. 2. Make yourself a treat. 3. Change your wallpaper. 4. Hide your phone.  It’s insane how much you can get do...

Hey! I really wanted to get into the habit of posting twice a week (on Tuesdays and Fridays), but for some odd reason I can never seem to do it.  I feel like posting every Friday works pretty well, so I'll keep that up until I have more time.  *laughs at the fact I think more time is going to magically appear*  This week has been a whirl wind .  Our aunt was hospitalized, so our Mom was gone constantly, then our other aunt came to visit (she stayed with us).  Plus, Lolly was gone all weekend, then had work/school/social/life, so Willa and I didn’t see much of her.  Oh, and now she’s sick.  As you can tell, I had  have a lot to do.  With keeping the house in kind of running order, taking care of meals and keeping up with Peter Pan and Wendy rehearsals, I'm busy.  I'm not complaining though.  It's a growing experience.  On Monday night, I realized my life felt perfect .  At first I thought it was...

Sometimes I get so caught up in everything.  The good, the bad the in-between-just all of it.  I have fun, loads of it.  But then when things settle down to normal, life seems bleh.  I become discontent.  I start looking on Pinterest more, which leads to subconsciously comparing my life to the picture perfect photographs.  Then, wow, just look at that sunset!  And the smell of the dirt, the taste of that popsicle, the air conditioner blowing on your face, clean water, sunshine, a good book, a new recipe, music.  There is so much to be thankful for.  I'm serious.   Just look around! In today's culture we are so busy doing, doing, doing.  We think we have to be busy to be happy.  Not true.  Happiness is a choice.  You can choose to be discontent, or you can look at the small person sitting next to you and think wow, I'm so glad she's my sister.  Life is really awesome guys.  Enjoy it!  The only thing ...

Wonder.  That's what pushes us to do things we never thought possible.  If you really look around, chances are you will see something that might change your life. Think about how writers have such amazing imaginations.  They think up incredible plot lines, magical places and mythical creatures.  And painters, who capture the most beautiful landscapes in the world, with just a canvas and paint.  Of course you can't forget musicians, who paint their songs on silence, as Leopold Stokowski once said.  There's also dancers, figure skaters and gymnasts, who work so hard to do what they love. When you love to do something, nothing can keep you from it. They do what they love, even if no one is watching, because fame is nothing if you don't enjoy what you're doing.     I feel like many of us never try, because we feel like an underdog.  Not knowing as much as others or yielding the talent.  When it comes do...

Valentine's Day has come and gone, and with it, all of the roses, kisses, and chocolate.  Those things are gone, forgotten, until next year when it all happens again.  That's the problem.  We step out of our way to make others feel loved  one day a year.  Why not every day?  That's what we should be doing, especially as Christians.  We need to give some, even if it's just a little, of the love God pours on us, to someone else.   On Valentine's Day a super sweet lady from our church dropped by to give us each a little bouquet of flowers, some chocolate truffles and loving notes.  It made us feel so cared for and thought of.  Then, in the evening we went to a friend's house for dinner.  Again, they made the night really special for us. The point is, there are so many opportunities to make others feel loved, not just on Valentine's Day.  And even though it might seem too simple to mean ...