2015 in Review

2015 wasn't the best year for my blog.  But I did have a few interesting things happen, in my opinion!

Here's a look back.

Observations after 6 months of living in Alabama.

Wisdom from my mother that I need to be reminded of.

I finally posted pictures from Sugar Loaf!

I shared my experiences with medicine side-effects.

We finally visited the beach!  It's only 70 miles away but takes 2 hours to get there.

We visited a local historical park.  And we took an "adventurous" hike.

"I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere."

"The internet is starting to show me all the things about myself that I didn't know I was supposed to hate."

Art Journal Challenge Week 1 Update.

Art Journal Challenge Week 2 Update.

I found some pretty things to photograph around our neighborhood.

I revisited some pictures from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Art Journal Challenge Week 3 Update.

Art Journal Challenge Week 4 Update.

Art Journal Challenge Week 5 Update.

I made my first vlog!

I made some DIY Essential Oil Rollerballs.

I made some DIY Glass Lanterns (Dollar Store Craft).

I wrote about our love story.

Another Art Journal Challenge Update.

Finally *almost* finished my Brazil photo album.

People are different here...

The travel essential you've never heard of.

I finally made a photo album of our wedding.

Art Journal Update. (lost count at this point)

The pros and cons of growing up in a small town in the middle of nowhere.

More Art Journal.

Some things I can blame on Rio.

Some of my favorite Art Journal pages.

I tried my first Umba box.

I answered some "would you rather" questions about travel.

We carved some pumpkins!

I got my first "Try the World" box.

I posted my first "picture an hour" of a weekend trip to Michigan.

I shared some tips for moving across the country.

I let you know 10 random facts about me.

Whew!  That's a lot more than I expected!  Basically what happens is when I'm working full time I don't blog as much, but over the summer break I cram a lot in!  I hope you had fun revisiting my year-on-the-blog!  Thanks for continuing to read my little corner of the internet.  Here's to many more fun posts in 2016!  My 2016 goals are coming soon.  Hope you have a great New Year!

XO,

Julie

Art Journal || Week 5 || Update - Flower Garland

I can't believe I've already finished 5 weeks of summer vacation!  Where does the time go?!?!?!

This past week I didn't really work in my art journal very much because I was too busy with diy projects.  The one project that I was able to finish was inspired by this post.  I made a small paper garland to hang on my gallery wall.

I used the templates provided by the original post, but I made it uniquely my own by watercoloring each flower (instead of using card stock or construction paper).  The only flowers that are not watercolored are the yellow ones and the leaves.  I probably spent way too much time on this project and paid way too close attention to details that no one will ever notice now that it's on my wall, but I had fun doing it and I'm glad I finished without giving up!  I think I might need to add a couple more leaves and sprigs in there, but so far I'm liking it.

Don't judge my wall, it's not finished yet!!!

This week I am planning on finishing this diy and hanging it above my bed.

Hope you had a great weekend!  What are your 4th of July plans?  I'm going down to Florida to visit family and enjoy some beach time!

P.S. The lettered art work is from this Etsy shop.

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Art Journal Challenge

Week 1 Update

Week 2 Update

Week 3 Update

Week 4 Update

Linking up with Anderson + Grant and Craftberrybush

5 Happy Things

|| 5 HAPPY THINGS ||

1 ||  I've started The Stretch Project with Cassey from Blogilates.  I'm also going to try to get through the entire beginner's calendar this summer.  I don't expect to do it every day, but I'll do as much as I can.

2 ||  I read this book (free download) a few months ago and loved it.  I think I'm going to buy the sequel and read it this summer.  Do you have any other book recommendations for me?

3 ||  I want to make this and this.  Anyone want to come over and craft with me???

4 ||  I've been loving my art journal challenge so far.  Here is a sneak peek at one of this week's pages.  Check back tomorrow for the full week's rundown.

5 ||  Our doggie makes me smile.  I'm so glad I have "someone" to keep me company during this summer.  I get really bored when I'm home alone!  He loooooooves riding in the car!

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P.S. I may have found the perfect planner, (to use for work, overview lesson planning, organizing field trips, etc.) but I don't know how I feel about spending $55 plus shipping.  Any advice?

Art Journal Challenge || Week 1 Update

If you recall from this post, I gave myself a challenge of working in my art journal every day while I'm on summer break.  So now that I've completely my first full week of summer break, here is my update!

I did work on my journal every day, but I did not complete a whole page each day.  A couple of days were spent trying to figure out what to do with the cover.  I messed with it and messed with it until this is what I ended up with:

I don't really like it, so I'm going to work on it some more this next week.

And here are the pages that I did complete:

Testing out my white paint pen

Trying out lettering styles

Trying out flowery designs

What have you been up to this week?

Linking up with http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/ and http://www.katerobertsonstudios.com/2015/05/28/express-your-creativity-week-22/

Blogtober 2014 Day 1

I decided to follow the #blogtober14 prompts for this month.  I thought they were interesting prompts and it takes the pressure off a little bit of thinking of interesting things to post about.  I don't like to post just for the sake of posting, so my blog tends to be neglected when I don't have any good ideas.

Even though I still have more Rio pictures to share, some heart-felt essays already typed up, and some other post ideas sitting in my drafts, I can't bring myself to drum up the emotional stamina needed to go back in and post them.  I'm in a weird place, emotionally, right now and especially when I think about the year in Rio, so I don't really want to post those particular posts quite yet.  Hopefully someday I'll be ready.  I hope that makes sense.  Anyway, on to the prompts!

October 1st: If you won the lottery you'd...

First of all I'd pay off all of my students loans and pay off the rest of my parents' debt.  If there was any leftover I'd take a trip to Europe with Peter.  Then if there was still any leftover I'd like to help my siblings and close friends out with any financial issues they might be having.  We also have a bunch of friends who are missionaries who could really use our support, and I'd really like to sponsor another child through Compassion again (had to cancel last year, after 8 years, because we couldn't afford it.  So sad.)

So, what would YOU do if you won the lottery?

Are you following along with #blogtober14?  If so, please leave me links to your posts!

XO,

Julie

The Pen and Paper Challenge - #3

Art supplies are expensive here.  All I have on hand are blank pieces of paper and pens.  So I decided to challenge myself.  How creative can I be with just a piece of paper and a pen or two?  

See Part 1 and Part 2

The Pen and Paper Challenge - #1

Art supplies are expensive here.  All I have on hand are blank pieces of paper and pens.  So I decided to challenge myself.  How creative can I be with just a piece of paper and a pen or two?  

Here goes "The Pen and Paper Challenge"

Art Journal - Nature - and mini tutorial

I bought a new multimedia notebook to use for the Destroy this Journal event.  It was ugly, so I had to decorate the front cover!  Consider this my installment of this week's art journal challenge.

This week's theme is "nature," so I put a flower on it.  :)

Supplies needed:  Notebook, Decorative paper, Scissors, Glue

Step 1: Cut out ribbons from decorative paper (this package was 50% off at Hobby Lobby)

Step 2: Glue ribbons to notebook cover

Step 3: Use Sharpee or black paint on the remainder of the cover.  I was dumb and should have put down a black background before gluing the ribbons.  So I had to compensate with Sharpee.  :(

Steps 4 - 5: Cut out petals from decorative paper.  Glue Petals in the shape of a flower.

Step 6: Destroy the journal.  In other words, use it up, every page, every spare inch, write, draw, paint, color, make lists, put down thoughts, write letters to your future self, express yourself...

Have you started your art journal yet?

Art Journal Challenge - NATURE

ART JOURNAL CHALLENGE

For the week of July 30 - August 4

THEME:

Nature

Who will join me?

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What is the Art Journal Challenge?

See last week's entry.

Art Journal Challenge Begins Now!

Art Journal Challenge begins now!  Will you join me?

Theme for the week of July 23-28:

THE WORLD

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Many of you know I have an art journal.  I was using it almost every day, then I sort of slacked off.    

So I decided that I will start an art journal challenge!  


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