my life lately

sorry guys!  i've been slacking in the blogging area.  no excuses, just apologies.  i'll get back into the swing of things.  now that we have warm weather in michigan, i spend more time outside which makes me feel much more creative.  creativity gives me loads more to blog about. promise.

here's what ive been up to lately

grand haven pier//i LOVE this town
my cat charlotte//i can't get enough of her
tulips//tulip time in downtown holland
chicago//beautiful city
baby boaz//favorite (and only) nephew

can't. stop. laughing.

enjoy :)

how neat is that?

Hey guys!  I wanted to share some things with you that I think are pretty neat.  I generally keep current with my favorite blogs, learning and getting my creative interests peeked.  I recently wanted to change up my header and wanted to use a watercolor font.  I looked and looked and could not find a free font. I, being my cheap dutch self, decided that I would make one instead.  I found a website that showed how to make your favorite font into watercolor using photoshop.  It was super fast and easy.  If you look above, you can see my finished product. Do you like?
With this, I thought that I would share a few of my favorite things from the internet lately.

1//Making your favorite font into a watercolor font.

2//These delicious Hi-Hat Cupcakes from the talented ladies at A Beautiful Mess.

3//How to capture readers attention with your blog.  (I'm still working on this)

4//Searching and searching for good moving out ideas and tips.

5//These captivating DIY Marquee Letters.

6//These yummy homemade tortilla chips from Margeaux over at A Snapshot of today.

What are some things you think are neat?

my life lately

1// the snow FINALLY came

2// my lovely niece Lily Shannon and her parents came for a visit during Christmas

3// Charlotte

4// blog party with ms. Margeaux Knight

5// Amanda and I

6// homemade Nutella cinnamon rolls

7// my new favorite nail art

8// Desha

9// after a year of being apart and living far from each other, my very special friends were able to get together

9// snowy night

10 & 11// Lily at her finest

12// a glorious "snowed in" evening

13// delicious chocolates from my wonderful mother

today's verse

some of my favorite winter moments

1//i love taking pictures of my dog Desha in the snow. i'm not trying to brag, but she is just one pretty dog.  she absolutely LOVES being outside in the snow.  she is a siberian husky, so snow is home for her.

2//my friend kristina's birthday is in january.  one year we went downtown grand rapids and ice skated outside in rosa parks circle.  it's such a dear and fun memory for me.  also, the skates only cost a dollar to rent and skating is free!  can't beat that deal

3//this winter, my church small group went to up north for a weekend retreat.  we spent some of our time serving the camp that we stayed at.  we cut and hauled a TON of wood.  this will be a memory i will never forget.  i got very warm when we were hauling wood, so i got sweaty and took off a bunch of layers.  afterward we rode horses and it started to snow and freeze...oh boy, i was an icicle at the end of the ride.  i just remember taking a hot shower for at least 45mins and i still hadn't warmed up.

4//and of course my favorite winter moment....CHRISTMAS!  i just love christmas.

what are your favorite winter moments?

a new year

hey guys!  happy new year to you all!

a new year means new beginnings.  in the past i haven't made many new years resolutions (except the continuous weight loss goal), but this year i decided to do something that would be very beneficial and very obtainable.  i plan on taking notes for every sermon/study that i am apart of AND go back and look at it.  my brain always does better with an outline.  in the past i usually sit through speakers and just let my mind wonder.  i intend to soak up as much as possible, Lord willing.

do any of you have resolutions?

some of my favorite christmas albums

like i said it my last post: I LOVE CHRISTMAS!  i've been listening to christmas music since a week after halloween (yes i am one of those people).  i just can't help it, it makes me so happy.

i thought it would be fun to list some of my favorite christmas albums.  some new, some old, and some  super tacky.  but that's me, that's what i like.

1. hanson - snowed in (my very favorite and hardest to admit) 

2. michael buble - christmas 

3. mariah carey - merry christmas

4. she & him - a ver she & him christmas

5. sufjan stevens - songs for christmas

6. bing crosby - white christmas (a popular favorite)

so what's your favorite christmas albums/songs?

christmas time!

my mom and i spent today getting a tree and decorating the house for christmas time.  christmas is my favorite!  i love christmas music, the smell, the snow, and most of all spending time with the ones i love.

that's me as a youngster.  i also made the well crafted frame

halloween a little late

i know, i know, it's been almost a month since halloween but i wanted to you all some photos from a very fun party hosted by my friend donna (aka gilly).

i dressed up as mary poppins.  i hit the jackpot at some thrift stores and ended up paying no more than $15 for my entire costume!  my friend peter dressed up as bert musically talented and hilarious chimney sweeper!

exercising my photag skills

so i have some beautiful friends.  have i said that before?  well, they are, both inside and out.  my friend jessica asked me to take some pictures of her and her husband jon during the fall when the leaves and colors are gorgeous.

i was able to practice a little bit of what i've learned about taking pictures.  i'm very far off from being a pro, but i was really excited to get some practice.  i also was able to work on my editing skills.  i didn't use photoshop this time (because i still don't really know how), but i'm getting there. 

so...enjoy :)

please do not copy/paste any photos without permission first. thanks :)

holland state park

last week, my sister and i went to the holland state parks to take some pictures and to get out pup out of the house and move her legs a little bit.

it was pretty cold. we walked the pier and it was even colder, needless to say, we didn't stay long.

desha, our husky, really enjoyed herself.  she chased birds and greeted everyone in site.

my life lately

as you can see, fall is in full swing here in Michigan and it is beautiful!

mmmmmmm nature

two sundays ago, my sister and i took a nature walk at a park just down the street.  it was so beautiful outside.  this time of year in michigan, the colors are so pretty.  every different hue of orange, red, and yellow.  the park that we went to didn't have near as much color that i have seen elsewhere, but it was still beautiful.