DIY Flowers; Use Your Resources

Some people daydream about laying on secluded beaches

with waves of crystal clear water 

flowing ever so softly onto white sands

all while sipping on a pina colada.

{don't get me wrong, I would venture to this place in a heartbeat}

But I,

I spend my days daydreaming about getting lost in 

lush, moss covered, fern filled forests,

groves of aspen and pine trees

and of course running care free through meadows of wildflowers

{picking only the perfect ones to make a bouquet of course}

I'm a sucker for wildflowers.

I melt at the sight of them

and I swoon at the thought of them.

So any opportunity I get to snag some

you bet I will.

I was biking home from work the other day and couldn't help but notice

 large patches of queen anne's lace as I was trucking along.

I didn't have any pruning sheers with me.

Yeah, that didn't stop me.

I picked me some wildflowers,

put them in my backpack and biked a couple more miles home.

As I pulled up to my apartment I couldn't help but notice the 

ballerina indian hawthorne outside our complex,

{in full bloom}

 and of course I snagged myself some.

A few minutes later

and we had wildflower bouquets in the apartment

My heart and soul were oh so happy.

For anyone who is into DIY flowers 

I suggest picking your own.

Don't pay for them.

Use your resources.

They really are everywhere!

Queen Anne's Lace is a great example.

This is big in the wedding circuit right now.

People pay actual money for this stuff

when it's a weed that grows wild on the side of the road.

So grab your garden sheers,

hop out of your car

and grab some wildflowers for yourself.

An Extremely Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday to you!

Today,

I am extremely thankful.

I am overwhelmed by the graciousness of my Heavenly Father.

He has poured out blessing after blessing,

none of which I have deserved.

The past couple weeks have been a struggle.
I have been battling feelings of inadequacy, failure and disappointment.
I've been left pretty battered and bruised.

But, God and all of His faithfulness
are beginning to restore and rearrange the pieces of my life
that have felt so scattered and messy.
He is growing me.
And boy does it hurt.
The good kind of hurt though.
The kind of hurt you feel after you have a great work out
and your muscles are sore and your body aches.
You can't help but enjoy it because you know it's good.
God is good.
And among the messiness of life,
His blessings are magnified.

Today I am beyond thankful for
a God who knows exactly what I need
{because I never do}
how God answers prayer
that He is a God who desires to hear our prayers
every relationship I have
{and every relationship yet to come}
long car rides with my roommate Margo
trips to SLO

walking through the greenhouses where I spent most of my time in college
being done with school
visiting my best friend
being able to see God's purpose in my past
my time spent at Cal Poly
{I honestly never thought I'd say that}
tri tip sandwiches from Firestone Grill
morning coffee at Sally Loos with sweet friends

watching pitch perfect
pulling over to take pictures on the side of the road
laughing until I can't breathe
spending an afternoon wine tasting
roaming around Cal Poly for hours and being extremely senitmental
visiting the spot on campus where my dad gave his life to Christ
and later proposed to my mom...

{and it absolutely melts my heart}

parents that love me and support me

going on dinner dates with my brother

{yes he paid}

getting my brother to watch pitch perfect

snuggling with our family pup

being an aunt to the most precious 2 year old
that come October I'll be an aunt to yet another precious babe
{baby brady is due October 22nd}

learning about unconditional love from my niece

teaching and watching my niece as she made her first floral arrangement

{proud auntie right here}

time spent with my sister's and brother in law's

home cooked meals

planning summer adventures to Utah and Idaho

celebrating this wonderful woman's 25th birthday

picking wildflowers

the smell of fresh rain through my open bedroom window

the sound of wind moving through pine trees

my tiny garden

each and every sweet woman that I get to disciple

my freshman bible studies

my staff team

riding my bike to and from work

picking out flowers and making bouquets for my friends proposal

sweet friends getting engaged

booking weddings

daydreaming about the future

dreaming big

skyping with far away friends

being surprised with beautiful flowers

a God who has big and great plans for our lives

What are you thankful for today?...

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday to you.

My mind is a bit fuzzy this morning.

  I'm slowly recovering from one of the worst migraines 

I've ever had and some serious jet lag that seems to be getting the best of me.

But I'm determined to get through this post.

This morning as I sip my coffee,

I am thankful.

Thankful for so much.

Today I am thankful for...

trips around the world

taking in sites and smells I've never experienced

learning and experiencing new cultures

meeting people and learning their stories

listening to other languages being spoken around me

being reunited with great people

eating delicious foods

medicine

conquering fears

seeing plants I've only read about

beautiful african countryside

seeing wild zebras

laughing until my stomach hurts

imessaging

every one of these phenomenal people

my home

my bed

sleeping horizontally

having a bathroom and shower

a mom and dad who still continue to provide for me

coming home to my roommates and the comfort they bring me

hearing my roommate Erin shout at her laptop as she watches 'How I Met Your Mother'

listening to the Spanish flowing freely and beautifully as my roommate Arggi talks on the phone

knocks on my bedroom door as my roommate Margo peeks her head in to just say hi

being held by people I love

roommates who take care of me when I'm sick

once again medicine

being awake well before the sun

 for great friends who have changed my life

that 8 years ago I met a dear friend in AP US history 

and that we've been friends ever since

for the inspirations she is

for the adventures we've had

and that today we get to celebrate her 25th birthday

{Happy Birthday Lianne Marie}

most of all today I am thankful for the opportunity 

to celebrate the death and resurrection of my savior.

 I am thankful that there is a God who deeply and unconditionally loves me

a God who loves each person He has created more than I can fathom

and for a God who pursues us, touches us and changes lives

who has {and continues to} change my life.

I am thankful for the tangible reminder of 

His love, wonder

and promises that come straight from His Word.

What are you thankful for today?...

DIY SucculentTerrarium Tutorial

I love Terrariums.
I love the oohhss and  aahhss I hear when people glance at them.
I love the wide eyes kids get as they inspect
 the tiny, magical, enclosed garden.
I love the smiles they bring people.
I love that they can spruce up a bookshelf, coffee table, desk
or even add that perfect touch to a windowsill.
And I love that I can bring my oh so favorite outdoors indoors.

Another thing I love?
How incredibly easy they are to make.
Here is a little tutorial on how to make your very own succulent terrarium.

Materials:
any glass jar
{found mine in the cupboard}
potting soil and assorted Aloe plants
{great prices and selection at my local Wal Mart}
rocks and twigs
{from around my apartment complex)
moss
paintbrush
big bowl
spoon

{1} place a layer of rocks at the bottom of your glass container,

this helps with drainage.

{2}cover rocks with a layer of your potting soil,

as much or as little as you desire.

{3} remove your succulents from their containers,

break up the root ball and get rid of excess soil.

{I actually split my larger Aloe plant into three}

{4} Use your finger, a spoon, etc. 

to dig and make spaces in the soil for your plants.

{5} place plants in desired locations.

{6} after plants are placed in the container,

add more soil to cover any exposed roots 

and to help secure the plants in place.

{7} When you're plants are planted and you're done adding your soil,

use a small brush to brush of excess soil that may be stuck in the plants crevices. 

{8}now it's time to add those personal touches!

add twigs, moss, rocks or whatever tickles your fancy to give your terrarium some character.

{9} enjoy your new little, bitty garden

{10} enjoy your new little, bitty garden.

Happy terrarium building to you!

Thankful Thursday {and it's actually thursday this time}

Happy Thankful Thursday 

{and last day of February}

to you!

Today I am thankful...

that tomorrow is March 1st

{the start of a new month and new adventures}

for a great weekend

sleeping in

resting

surprise lunch dates with my mom

time spent with my sweet friend michelle

group phone calls

dollar theater adventures

movie popcorn

vanilla coke

late night trips to Farrell's in brea

life giving conversations

english breakfast tea lattes

my sweet friend steph visiting from san fransico

coffee dates

beautiful spring weather

the sound of wind blowing through pine trees

the smell of freshly mowed grass

finding out i'll be staffing the santa Monica summer project this june

planning summer trips to Idaho

the many endearing faces of my niece

dinner out with cousins

eating peanut butter straight out of the jar

keeping my room clean for a week and a half

{a milestone to be sure}

waking up in the morning and skyping with my roommate margo

that margo is coming home in 6 days
20 days until South Africa

impromptu naps on the couch

getting my car back

{after 2 long months}
that she is alive and well and is currently sitting outside my apartment

dreaming about what's next

planning for the future

falling deeper in love with my passions

how much the Lord persues after us

God's tender but firm voice

john 6:25-59

for the freedom found in Christ

What are you thankful for today?...

Thankful Thursday {Friday}

Happy Thankful Thursday  Friday to you!

Life has been busy as of late and I'm afraid I don't even know what day of the week it is.

 I'm also afraid illness has struck.

On Valentines Day I found out I have shingles.

{so lovely}

and a couple days ago I turned into a 

tea drinking, sore throat, congested, snotty, fuzzy brained mess.

Needless to say I've been a bit of a grumpy pants

{sorry to any of those it has affected}

so this post could not come at a better time.

I'm in need of some reminding of all the the blessings

the Lord has provided.

Today I am thankful for

tea & honey

our comfy couch

medicine

new doctors 

great books

having my own bedroom,

being able to make this space my own

journaling

sweet roommates who take care of me

that in 12 days my other half will be moving back from Florida

nesting & decorating

family dinners

{and the leftovers that come with them}

my tiny garden

picking out flowers at the flower mart

flower arranging

fresh flowers in the apartment

the smell of stock

trips to Lowe's garden center

birthday celebrations

my baby niece holding me and telling me she loves me

giving my niece lessons in gardening

and watching her learn

a successful women's retreat

the snow covered hills around Irvine

facebook messages from friends I haven't seen in a while

candle light

&

twinkle lights

being made aware of areas in my life that need growth

good conversations

getting to know people better

opportunities to be creative

building a portfolio

that in 26 days I will be boarding a plane to South Africa

that tomorrow is Saturday

What are you thankful for today?...

Anticipation.

1.5 days till my favorite flower holiday.

I've been swooning over all the beautiful

{but extremely over priced}

flower arrangements lately.

And I can't wait to make a few of my own

with these gorgeous blooms I found today.

The anticipation in killing me.

Trying to be Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday to you!

As much as I would love to pretend that everything in life is peachy and perfect

I'm afraid I have to be honest.

I've been having a hard time being thankful as of late.

More so I've been having a hard time,

remembering God's faithfulness.

I'm currently struggling.

It's been hard watching those around me move on with their lives

while I feel like I'm stuck, stagnant and going no where.

I'm struggling to fight off thoughts that

I am not good enough

I am not desirable

I am not worth it

I am unwanted, unloved and unworthy.

It sounds so silly as I write this,

but unfortunately it's my reality and it's ugly.

Needless to say I haven't really been in the 

"thankful" mood the past few weeks.

All the more reason to sit and think about all of the Lord's provisions.

He is faithful,

whether I "feel" it or not.

So today I am thankful for

great books

time alone reading in the park

soccer games

letters from Hawaii

the ability to run

apples and peanut butter

gmail chatting

learning how to love from my sweet niece

weddings

 designing wedding flowers

dancing

getting to wear a bridesmaid dress more than once

these two lovely ladies who have greatly impacted my life

and relationship with the Lord

traveling

snugly couch conversations

giving terrarium building lessons

getting to know my friends husband more

babies being born

spending time in Utah with my dear friend Christina

being in the mountains

snowfall

cold weather

really great hot chocolate

adventure

exploring

snowshoeing!

spending time with my family

a dad who takes care of my car troubles

(even when thousands of miles away)

a brother who has allowed me to use his car for the past few weeks

while I don't have one

catching up with friends I haven't talked to in ages

planning reunion weekends with college friends

my sweet roommates

decorating our cozy apartment

watching my front porch garden grow

Downton Abbey

trips to the zoo

learning how to pray

learning about my passions

sweet times with the girls I disciple

I know that today,

I am truly thankful that there is purpose in all things.

That no matter what season of life I am in,

God's purpose is great and His faithfulness will be unveiled. 

What are you thankful for today?...

You Know You're a Horticulturist When You...

... take a trip to the amazing San Diego Zoo

and you daydream about exploring forests and jungles

drool over lush, green ferns

swoon over the large array of phenomenal blooms

and come home only to realize

your camera roll is filled with more photos of landscapes and plants

than animals.

Yep.

Just another successful day in the life of

a nerdy horticulturist.

Brittany and Adam's Winter Wedding

Happy New Years to you!

It's my first blog post of 2013

and I can't think of a better way to kick start the new year

than with a dose of wedding flowers.

 I met Brittany and Adam almost 2 years ago,

they're students in our Cru movement at UCI.

I have had the privilege of discipling Brittany for the past year and a half

and it has been so wonderful getting to know her 

and her heart for the Lord.

She is probably the most gentle, sincere and compassionate person I know

and it has been so neat to walk alongside her and Adam 

as they begin this new adventure.

It was this past December they tied the knot,

and it was so fun to be a part of their wedding day.

I absolutely love getting to work with brides,

creating arrangements with personal touches

 that reflect their style and personalities.

Brittany's choice of colors and flowers 

matched the wet, wintery wedding day perfectly.

Brittany's bouquet was overflowing with gorgeous

stems of white Hydrangea and Vendela roses

and accented with antique blue Hydrangea and sprigs of babies breath.

All wrapped in burlap and lace.

For her bridesmaids she wanted contrast,

she wanted their blue to pop.

And pop it did.

Their bouquets were filled with Vendela roses,

babies breath and stems of bright blue Hydrangea.

They were all wrapped in burlap and lace and tied up with 

a blue ribbon.

The men all wore a Vendela rose and babies breath boutonniere

while the moms and grandmothers all carried a single,

long stemmed white rose.

Getting to do the flowers for 

this beautiful, winter wedding was 

pure joy.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Clements,

thanks for letting me be a part of your special day!

It's Friday. But I'm Still Thankful.

A very happy Thankful Thursday Friday to you!

My brain has turned to mush after a week and a half of staff meetings

and I didn't realize yesterday was Thursday.

My bad.

Despite the business of life there is a great deal to be thankful for.

Today I am thankful for...

trips to places I have never been

crossing state lines

spending time with great people

eating delicious food

running my first half marathon

{despite getting really sick the day before the race}

and of course for these two guys who also ran 

the lights, the sounds and the great atmosphere of the race

 ice cold chocolate milk at the finish line

that God has blessed me with the ability to run

for my wonderful cheer squad shouting, yelling

and high fiving me as I ran my way through Vegas...

making new friends

coming home to my sweet roommates

trying new things

face timing with my niece

surviving a dreaded trip to the dentist

making big decisions

learning to be refreshed in the Lord

God's continual 

faithfulness & grace

recognizing areas in my life I need to grow in

learning more about the people I work with

Christmas brunches

baking blueberry muffins from scratch

cozy evenings on the couch

little compliments that make me smile

sweet text messages from dear friends

planning out the flowers for a wedding this coming weekend

free peppermint lattes

great books

crafting

dinners at the Priest household

getting Christmas cards in the mail

 evening runs through neighborhoods twinkling with Christmas lights

a roommate who cooks me dinner

celebrating this cutie patooties birthday

surprise trips home

driving in the rain

Christmas music on the radio

sisters who let me borrow their clothes

seeing my dad while he was back on the mainland 

for a very short day and half

And I am so very thankful that in 3 days 

I will be hoping on a plane

and heading on over to Salt Lake City.

Let the adventures begin!

What are you thankful for today?...