Friday, April 29, 2011

Tidbit #5: Relationships are like Puzzles

Building a relationship is like putting together a puzzle, without the box with which to cheat. It takes time, patience, care, logic, gut feelings,  and of course a little trial and error. And they are so much fun. :)

Sometimes it seems quite easy to give up and just throw all the pieces back in the box, leaving you feeling hopeless and as if you've wasted tons of time.

Sometimes you get almost finished but there is a piece or couple of pieces missing, and you spend forever searching for those pieces so that you can complete the picture, but can never seem to find them. In which case there are two choices, to accept the puzzle as it is and love it anyway, or toss it in the scrap heap because the picture just doesn't make sense without those pieces.

Sometimes half the pieces come from a different box and you realize that no matter how hard you try you can't make them all fit together.

But, if you manage to complete the picture there is deep satisfaction in knowing that you've done something great. In overwhelming joy you glue the pieces together and hang the finished product on the wall to remind you of the beauty of the thing  you've created.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Tidbit #3: Don’t ever quit a job unless you have another lined up.

I'm sure there are extenuating circumstances and exceptions to this rule, but for the most part. Don't do it. Even when the job market is wide open, it still takes time to get started with a new job, and the halt in the flow of income will really put a damper on your lifestyle.

This topic has come up because I am moving to Arizona in a few weeks. This weekend I was offered a job with the Girl Scouts, which is so exciting.

Tidbit #4: Touch Someone Everyday

I mean it not in a creepy way, and not in a figurative way. Literally touch someone everyday. Hold someone's hand. Give someone a hug. Pat someone on the back. Anything. Human contact is essential to happiness. It will brighten their day as well as yours.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Flower Fun: Pressing Flowers Properly

Pressed flowers can be used to make lots of other things, which I will post about later, but first you have to know how to start off this flower pressing activity. It is quite simple. To start, I recommend using relatively flat flowers and leaves. You can press others, (roses for example are not flat) but is much more difficult. Try my favorite, daisies, they are quite simple to use.  You'll also need paper. It doesn't matter so much what kind, you can use news print, napkin, notebook paper, whatever floats your boat really. The goal is to absorb the moisture from the flowers. (I prefer paper towels, because they absorb well and are easier to separate from the flowers later on.) You'll also need several heavy books, approximately 15lbs that stack easily.

Remove flower stems.
Place them in a single layer on your sheet of paper, making sure they don't overlap at all. (They will stick together and become impossible to separate without tearing if they touch)
Then place another sheet of paper on top.
Place this sandwich in the middle of a book. (If this is a book you care about, be sure to place wax paper underneath and on top of the sheets of paper, otherwise there will be stains.)(You can press multiple batches of flowers in the same book if you leave about a 1/4" of pages between them.)
Stack the other books on top and wait for two weeks.


"This morning I counted 14 pink petunias in my flower box. Spring is quite lovely."

Tidbit #2: Babies are Miracles

This topic is discussed extensively in terms of abortion and sexual relationships outside of marriage. I don't want to go in that direction because beating an argument to death will never solve problems. 

I will however say this "Babies are miracles." Each and everyone of them no matter how they were brought into this world is brilliant and beautiful.

This topic is important to me because I have many friends and family members who have had children at times deemed inappropriate by societal standards. Some of them have had parents disowned them or be unsupportive. Others have been harrassed by questions such as, "Don't you know how that happens?" or "Haven't you learned your lesson?"

It is important that family and friends support mothers rather than become angry at them. Once the "mistake" or "decision" has been made, there is no turning back. That miraculous little baby needs all the love that can be given to him or her, and a family that can provide it. It takes a village, and one mother can never do it all alone.

With all of that said I do believe it is best to wait until you are married to have children, but I cannot agree with the idea that you are a horrible person if you don't. Some of the best mothers I know have had children at times when it was "inappropriate" so from me they will always recieve full support.


"Plant a seed, water it well, and watch it grow."

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Flower Fun: Making Blossom Ice Cubes

There are many edible flowers, most of them actually taste pretty good. I will post a list of my favorites later.  Blossom Ice Cubes are adorable to float in a party punch or just in your ice water on a hot summer afternoon. 

Making Blossom Ice Cubes: 

Bring water to a boil, and sustain for at least 3 minutes. (This allows a lot of the air trapped in the water escape, making the ice cubes as clear as crystal.) Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. (Do not try to rush this process by stirring, adding more water, or placing in a refrigerator, let it cool on it's own.)
Rinse your flower blossoms(Be sure they are pesticide-free)
Place a flower blossom in the bottom of each slot in an ice cube tray. 
Fill each slot half full of cooled boiled water and freeze. 
Wait until the water is frozen, and then fill each slot the rest of the way and refreeze. 
Then enjoy. 

(I will add a picture as soon as my camera starts working again) 

"You need the messy stuff (dirt) to make the flowers grow."

Tidbit #1: Stay in school.

Note: This is advice for high school as well as college students, but it is not the same.


High School Students:
Your education is so unbelievably important. I can not begin to express in words how much you NEED to get your diploma. But, since you've heard that a thousand times, think about it in a different way. Senior year of high school is the only time you will be on top of the world without having worked you tail off to get there. You will be the master of you universe and the world just opens up to you after that. If you don't get to senior year, you'll probably be working a low wage job for a long time before you can even think about making really good money.  Don't quit school for a job, no minimal amount of money is worth the sacrifice of a good education.

College Students:
Stay in school, stick it out. College is so super fun, and even if it feels sucky sometimes, it can be an amazing time. It has been the best I've had yet. (I hope things keep getting better in this pattern, because if so by the time I die I won't know how to stop smiling. I already have a hard time making a sad face. I digress)

Withdrawing from university studies is not always a bad thing, but it's important to examine on a case by case basis....(if you need clarification please email me)
Case 1: If you run out of money, and are beginning to rack up a large debt, and are offered a nice job.....you probably should take the job, with the intention of going back to school later.
Case 2: If you have an amazing idea that will change the world and make you a millionaire.....I still recommend you get your degree, but if it just becomes to complicated, don't, everyone will be so impressed with you anyway it won't matter.
Case 3: Um...I can't think of anymore right now, but when I do I will add more....


"Water your flowers and tell them I said hello"