Bahamas Recap

Hello everybody. I re-read my last post and I am horrified that you were left with such an uninteresting post (unless you went and looked at some of those dresses, in which case, it was probably well worth it). But seriously, I should have left you with something more exciting. My apologies.
For all you guys that didn't know, my family and I sailed to the Bahamas this week. WOW!! Did God ever use His imagination when He made that place. It has such astounding beauty.
We were only 27 hours of sailing to get there. I totally thought that it was going to take longer than that, but it turns out when you get into that golf stream, you really fly. We spent four days in Bimini. We swam in oceans of bright blue, found shells, and had evening walks and watched the sun set. It was so relaxing. It was just what I needed.
We were out at this sandbar searching for sand dollars and starfish and had sharks and stingrays swimming throughout the water around us. It was SO cool. I would have loved to have spent so much more time there. It was relaxing and it gave us all a chance to have some family time together before I fly home.
Yup, that's right. I fly home in less that a week. The 5th of April will find me back in the freezing north of Canada, job hunting, and trying to drink enough Starbucks so that I don't freeze rock hard. But that's a post for another day.
Hugs <3

Sidetracked

I had this long, interesting blog planned out for today. It was going to be all about the end of my winter, cross-stitching, and plans for the summer. All interesting enough stuff, but I made the mistake of surfing the web and finding sites that I just couldn't pull myself away from. 
Sites like this one where the wedding photos are just magical had me totally mesmerized. I was on this site for hours. SO BEAUTIFUL!!
And this one too. I can't believe how stunning all these outfits are. The 'Sidesaddle' outfits are SO pretty. I want them all. I like ALL the 'Set Sail' dresses as well. The 'Carousel' dresses will someday be mine. Mark my words. And all the 'Up and Away' dresses are so vintage and fab. Seriously people. I LOVE THEM!!
If you checked out these sites, then you totally understand why I didn't do a proper blog. I was sidetracked by beauty. You can't fault me for that.
Hugs

Monday One

Ladies and Gents. The new Sevenly shirts are up. The money from these shirts go toward giving clean drinking water to children in India.
These tops aren't my fave but they are still really cool. If you like them, then get one. It's a great way to help people in need. All it takes is 20+ bucks. A great deal if you ask me.
Hugs everybody, and please, just check out the site. You don't have to buy anything, but at least it's getting the name out there. I personally haven't bought a T yet (It's the first thing I do when I get back to work) but at least I know what's going on around me. Please check it out.
Hugs

Light Bulb Necklace

 Yesterday was "light bulb changing day" here on the boat. We went through Mom and Dad's room and changed all three roof lights and changed out the bulbs with new ones. We fixed one light and I was astounded to see that as it burned out it turned into this cool swirly sort of blue. I decided that there was something that needed to be done with this. It was too cool just to throw out. 

So here's what I did:  This is a small light bulb. It's not like the ones in a normal house. First, I twisted the metal base off the light bulb. Now I just had the glass. (This step is a bit time consuming. You have to be patient and just slowly work the base off. You don`t want to break the glass.

Next, I made a loop out of crafting wire.

Then, I filled the groove of the light bulb with hot glue and stuck my loop inside.

Finally I slipped a black chain through the loop and low and behold, I had a light bulb necklace. It's possibly my most favorite necklace. 

Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of the making process. Sorry ladies. 

Ts for Missions

Everyday, there are people who put their hands, hearts, feet, souls, and minds into helping the people around them. These people are called missionaries. Missionaries take the world upon their shoulders and do everything within them to change what little they can in a dying and broken world. These missionaries take time from the comfort of life and family to do what most people aren't willing to do. They endure pain, heartache, loss, discomfort, and fatigue with their only reward being silence. But, these people have heart. They know that the small amount they are doing is changing lives. It's making a difference, and in the end, they will get that final "Well done my good and faithful servant". I think this will be the best reward of all for those people.

But, there are also people who do what they can from their home. They feed the homeless, they rescue the weary, they pray, and they support from a distance.

I love looking on the internet at sites that devote their time and resources to the hurting world. My favorite site is Sevenly. Sevenly is a website where every week they pick a new organization and make a T-shirt devoted to that organization. For that one week, you can buy that T and seven dollars from every purchase will go to that organization. It's a GREAT way to get informed about different organizations and how you can help them.  It's also a great way to get cute Ts. Come on now people, don't tell me you don't like cute clothes (PS: Dudes, they have epic Ts for guys). 

You really need to check this site out.http://sevenly.org/ .

They are really doing a great thing. So, from now on every Monday when they update the T, I will let you know. You really don't have an excuse not to check it out!!

Hugs

 

Tag

The lovely ladies over at Polkadots and Moonbeams have tagged me. I am virtually computer illiterate (unless it has to do with Microsoft Word and Itunes) so this should be interesting. Hopefully I do it right. 

The Rules:
1) Post these rules.
2) Post 11 random things about yourself
3) Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post
4) Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer 
5) Go to their blog and tell them they've been tagged
6) No cop-outs in the tagging section like, "If you are reading this" or "if you follow me". You have to legitimately tag people! 

Okay. 11 random things about me.

1) I hate small spaces when they're full of people. I could sit in a tiny, tiny box and not care, but you put me and a hundred people in a room and I get claustrophobic. 

2) I'm pretty sure Seasonal Allergies are going to be the death of me.

3) I LOVE nail polish

4) I cross-stitch and adore doing it.

5) I'm addicted to Starbucks

6) I have always wanted to learn to play the Violin but I learnt the Piano instead.

7) I have four brothers and sisters.

8) I used to have a pet dog, fish, and turtle.

9) Shopping is fun but only when it's at a bookstore or if I'm with a bunch of friends.

10) Owl City is some of the cutest music in the world.

11) I lived in Hong Kong for six months of my life.

*sigh* That was a lot of work.

Here are the girls 11 questions for me:

1.Would you rather be invisible or fly?

I would rather fly. I would love to be able to see the world from up there. I think it would be like sailing through air.

2. Who is your best friend?

My little sister is my best friend. She's incredible. Strong, beautiful, brilliant, and funny. Gosh, is she funny.

3. Your current favorite book?

First off, I think it's cruel to only ask for one. Pride and Prejudice. Pride and Prejudice will always be my favorite book. I've read it more times than I care to count.

4. Favorite hero of all time?

This one is so easy. Captain America. Have you seen that guy? He could save the world with his pinky finger.  He's also the best looking super hero...just saying.

5. Do you wear glasses, contacts or is your eye sight pretty good?

I wear glasses. It's time for new ones though. 

6. Are you artistic? If so, how?

I guess I am. I write, cross-stitch, and craft.

7. Everyone either has a word or a saying that is always coming out of their mouth, what's yours?

Dang and True Dat. I'm not sure why.

8. What is your favorite color combination?

I really like vintage blue and pastel pink (my blog colors).

9. Cat, dog, bird, fish? What is your favorite pet?

Dogs are the bomb. Nothing compares.

10. Is there a particular genre of movie/book you like best?

I really like adventure. Like the Bourne movies. Those are some of my faves.

11. Favorite humorous movie quote?

Hmmm. There are so many funny ones out there. 

Okay. I LOVE the movie "Nacho Libre". Legit. It is super hilarious. My family and I watched that movie just before we went sailing for the first time and I think we quoted that stupid movie a billion times.

Fave quote:

Incarnacion

"My favorite color is light tan. My favorite animal, is puppies. I like serving the Lord, hiking, playing volleyball."

Nacho

"You've got to be kidding. All those things you just said are my favorite things to do. Every. Day,"

Hahaha. I think it's just hilarious. I know, what a weirdo.

Here are my questions for you:

1) Who is your favorite author?

2) If you could have only one piece of furniture in your bedroom, what would you pick?

3) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?

4) If you could go on any missions trip, where would you go and what would you do? (After you answer this question, go do it.)

5) Starbucks or your local coffee shop?

6) Hiking in the wilderness or jumping out of a plane?

7) Mars or Jupiter (why?)?

8) Favorite kind of chocolate?

9) Math or Science?

10) Best place in the world to eat dinner?

11) NIV or King James? Why?

I don't have many people to tag, but here we go:

I actually only really follow two blogs so Bethany over at Bethany's Blog

And Riah and Lys over at novelsandbits.blogspot.com 

Hahaha. Sorry to tag you again ladies (You don't have to do it again)

Mean What You Say

A few days ago, one of my favorite bands (Sent By Ravens (SBR)) came out with an incredible new CD. They blew me away when they came out with their first Album, Our Graceful Words, and now they did it again but on a much larger scale. They have really found their mark. They have defined their sound and I can see these guys having a fantastic career. They are something very unique. This CD, Mean What You Say, has really deep lyrics. They have been forcing me to think about things, life, what I believe. (Can you tell I'm really proud of what this band has become?)
The hit song, Mean What You Say, is my favorite. I think it's climbing up into my top played pretty quick.
Here's some of the lyrics:

Every inch we talk
They make a sound we walk
You better mean what you say
You better mean what you say
Less God...more gun
They aim for the heart but we ain't got one
You better mean what you say
You better mean what you say


I don't need to hurt with my hands
I could find some value 
Destroy it with my mouth
Hey, could you ever love again


From the womb...we're taught
You make a sound...I walk
You better mean what you say
You better mean what you say
With words like drugs
We speak of heart
Like we know what one does
You better mean what you say
You better mean what you say


How often do we really think before we speak? How often do we destroy with our mouths? I sure don't think before I speak. I hurt people all the time with the words I say. We live in a "fast" society. We want things now. We want to drive, fly, sail, and walk faster. We want things in an instant. Because we are so impatient, we don't pause to think of what we say. Our mouths are probably the fastest things in this world but we aren't willing to slow it down. It's okay to go slow.
Think before you speak and mean what you say.

Baggy Wrinkle 101

 Today was a fun day in the sun. We cleaned out the back storage compartment of the boat, sorted all our rope and anchors, and made rope mats and baggy wrinkle. That's right. We made baggy wrinkle. What is baggy wrinkle you ask? It is an anti-chaffing gear that sailors use on their boats so that their sails don't rub on their rigging. 

 Here is a step by step guide to making your own baggy wrinkle (trying saying it ten times fast)  in case you ever take up the life of a sailor.

 1) Baggy wrinkle is made from old used rope. You cut it into six inch lengths and separate each strand until you have a good amount of rope. Just like in the picture below.

2) You loop each strand onto two lengths of whipping twine.

3) Finally you tie off your ends and wrap the finished product around your rigging and say good-bye to chaffing. It's as easy as 1,2,3. And a great way to work on your tan .

 

We are planning a trip to the Bahamas before I fly home (there was a fire on one of the islands and we are going to bring some aid to the families that were affected) so it will be a great opportunity to test out our baggy wrinkle. I'll try and post a picture of it up before we leave.