So like I have said before, thanks to quarantine, I do not have very many summer clothes and am in dire need of shorts and short-sleeved tops.
And also like I have said before, I decided to make some short-sleeved tops because I'm sick of waiting for quarantine to end. Also, it'll be something fun to do.
Well, guess what... the first one is done! I am so proud of it!
I had this gorgeous fabric that I'd been holding onto for forever, just waiting for that perfect project... and, well, this project was THE ONE.
I decided to use my dress pattern. Except, since this is a shirt, I drastically shortened the skirt, so now it's a pretty peplum top!
I decided not to do the darts on the front, which I kinda regret, but also kinda don't regret...
But over all, I really like it and am so proud of it!
Also I made a matching scrunchie... because why not? ;0
On Monday, I read this uber inspiring book called "Be Obsessed or Be Average." It's legit the coolest book I've read this year... so far (You can find it here)
Published in 2016, best selling author Grant Cardone lays out his secret to success- being obsessed. In other words, finding what gives you satisfaction and meaning, and then chasing it!
If you do decide to read it (which you totally should!), I highly recommend doing all the activities therein. It will make your experience 10x better... (get it? that's a pun... Grant Cardone also authored The 10X Rule.... which is going on my to-read list).
And you know what, it's a very liberating read! The idea that I can live with passion and totally not listen to anyone who says other wise is, while not new to me, still exciting.
I think this is one of the most important books that Gen Z's and Millennials can read. If everyone read (and applied) it, it would completely revolutionize our educational system, our families, and our culture.
My sixth grader sister recently introduced me to Who I Really Am. It's a super cool website filled with music, stories, and inspiration. It's aim is to help one discover who one really is.
They have a cool story about the journey of discovery, music about the guides of the journey of the discovery, and honestly, it's really cool. And... it's free!
So yeah, I'm excited! My first pair are probably going to be horrible, but I'm still pumped! Now Elisabeta will have millions of shoes in addition to millions of pieces of clothing. She's so spoiled...
But it's fine... she's going to boot-camp this year(more about that later! )
Those of you who know me probably know that I love fashion and fashion history.
While gathering inspiration for my school project, sewing two 1950s outfits for myself, I ran across a super cool blog called Vintage Dancer.
Hosted by Debbie and Oscar Sessions, it features everything from Victorian, to the 1980's, covering about 100 years of fashion.
It's full of fashion history articles, with images from old catalogues and more. It also houses lots of outfit ideas (for both men and women). It's, like, so cool!
You guys should definitely check it out if you like vintage clothing.
This is my second update in my New Way to Read. So I only had the chance to read one book this week (because I accidentally put holds on the WRONG book ) but I got some really good stuff out of it anyways. Only one is Otulissa-related, so that's all I'm sharing this week. Don't worry... next week's will be way more... meaty.
So, cue the anticipation music.... dun dun dun....
And without further ado, I give you the lesson I got from The Golden Tree (which is book 12 in the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series)...
-Know when to say no!
Does that make sense, or not? If not, allow me to explain.
This one is about respecting yourself and your limits. For example, if your schedule is packed full, and someone wants you to do something more, its best to say NO. If someone wants you to do something that will harm yourself or others, it's best to say NO.
And so on and so forth...
But also... make sure you say yes when it's time to say yes.
So yesterday, despite this being the week before finals, I decided to binge-sew and make a lot of doll clothes.
It was so fun... and super satisfying because when you are making doll clothes, you can finish them in 15-70 minutes. So much quicker than sewing clothes for myself!
I also made four shirts for my sister's dolls, Abby and Mia. Oh, and a skirt. But I already gave them to her so you don't get a picture. Next time I sew stuff, I'll make sure to take pictures before I give it away.
I read a lot. And because I read a lot, I find a lot of really great books. I want to share my top sixteen (though it’s actually far more because I am counting series as a single book) with you, along with WHY I like them (because I think no book recommendation list is complete without the WHY).
So without further ado (and in no particular order):
Words On Fire, by Jennifer A Nielsen
Wow, this book is incredible. I recently read this for the first time, and this one is definitely worth rereading. It tells the tale of a young Lithuanian girl who's country is occupied by Russia. The Russians want to destroy the very culture of Lithuania, so they ban the Lithuanian language, religion, and books.
Guardians of Ga'Hoole, by Kathryn Lasky
This series of fifteen is absolutely thrilling as you follow the development of the main character, an owl named Soren, and his friends. These books are powerful classics on leadership, friendship, duty, and freedom.
How To Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell
This delightful series of twelve follows our unlikely hero, Hiccup, as he develops his unique gifts, deals with a mischievous dragon, saves his life and the lives of his friends many times, and discovers and claims his destiny in order to save both the dragon and human world.
Rise of a Legend, by Kathryn Lasky
This powerful prequel to the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series follows the life of the greatest Ryb at the Great Tree. This book is INCREDIBLE, it might be my toppity-top favourite. You have to read it.
Wolves of the Beyond, by Kathryn Lasky
A series of six, this takes place in the same world as Guardians of Ga'Hoole and Rise of a Legend, except it focuses on the wolves, not the owls. It's super interesting to see a different culture surviving and thriving in the same world. Except... that world is falling apart, and it is up to Faolan to save it.
The Screwtape Letters, by C S Lewis
This fictional book is a very entertaining series of letters from a devil official, Screwtape, to his Nephew, Wormwood, who he is mentoring in the fine art of leading souls to hell. Profound, funny, and hard to put down, it's a great read that I highly recommend.
Macbeth, by William Shakespeare
Macbeth is my favorite play by Shakespeare. Murder, madness, and magic... this tragedy has it all. Killing the king, Macbeth usurps the throne, assured by three witches that he would rule until the trees of the forest marched up to battle him. A little hard to understand at first, I recommend finding a production of the play on YouTube to watch and following along in your book.
Animal Farm, by George Orwell
When the farm animals overthrow their drunkard master, they think they are bound for prosperity. But then the pigs take control, become above the law, and subject the other animals, leaving them worse off than ever before. This distopian is deep, and a little sad, but I still highly recommend it. It's an incredible freedom classic. If you choose to read it, I recommend doing so with a notebook and pen, and keeping a list of exactly HOW the pigs usurp power. You'll learn a lot!
Voyage of the Dogs, by Greg van Eekhout
What if... humans had found a way to shrink space, making it possible to travel to a planet in a whole other galaxy in less then a single human lifetime? And then... what if a meteor hit the spaceship, forcing the human crew to abandon it? And what if, the crew dogs had to be left behind? That is the premise of Voyage of the Dogs, a fictional account of pack of dog's attempt to finish the mission their people had started.
Property of the Rebel Librarian, by Allison Varnes
When the majority of books are banned at her school, June decides to take action. She starts a secret library, distributing books in the school so that other students can read too. When her resistance is uncovered, it is up to June to make a difference with her words.
The Giver, by Lois Lowery
Extremely dystopian, The Giver transports you to a world of 'sameness,' a world without color, music, love, or choice. When Jonas is chosen by his community elders to be a holder of memories of the past, he discovers these forbidden things -color, music, love, and choice- and decides that life can not go on as before.
Perloo the Bold, by Avi
A shy scholar, Perloo is tasked with leading his species. He does not want this leadership position, but is forced to take it, stop a war, and restore freedom to his people.
The Ascendance Trilogy, by Jennifer A Nielsen
This riveting trilogy tells the tale of Sage: an orphan, a prince, and a king. Filled with death defying action and phenominal story telling, this trilogy is absolutely inspiring.
Camp Half-Blood Chronicles, by Rick Riordan
This series twists modern with ancient, reality with myth. It's beautiful! Full of Greek mythology and lots of adventure, it's a page turner.
Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Cofler
This eight book series is filled with villainous genius! It follows the adventures of Artemis Fowl as he interacts with the fairy folk and outwits everyone.
Beauty, by Robin McKinley
This retelling of the classic story Beauty and the Beast adds a whole new depth of characters. Beautiful plot, beautiful writing; it's a very easy and engaging read. Even if you don't like the original tale of Beauty and the Beast, this is still a great read!
And so there you have it... sixteen of my favourite books! I hope you'll take the time to read some of them, and don't forget to comment below about your reading experiences!
Some people believe in fate, a life dictated by birth.
That is the thought of slaves -slaves by birth, slaves to tyranny, slaves to evil.
I do not think that there is such a thing as 'fate.' I do not believe in 'accident' or 'coincidence.'
I believe that some things are, indeed, prearranged by a Supreme Being, but never to the point that we are helpless. No, we have agency. We can choose what we become, and, to a large extent, what happens to us.
A freeman, a leader, a slave (yes, even a slave!), a mediocre person, a great person. We get to choose.
It was not fate that launched Adolf Hitler into the role of head of Germany - it was conscious decisions, hard work, and talents that he had to put time and effort into developing.
It was not fate that an angle appeared to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove - it was the result of earnest study and prayer.
I do not believe in fate. I believe in people creating the circumstances they want, to paraphrase Earl Nightingale.
I believe in choice and accountability.
No, I do not believe in fate; I believe in being the creator of one's own life.
My charter school requires four leadership credits for graduation. So I've been taking leadership... and really enjoying it. It's been transformational. Now you might be wondering what on earth this has to do with the title of this entry. Well, in the leadership courses, students are required to use the Best Self Journal, which has one set and the achieve 1-3 big goals over the course of thirteen weeks.
For one of my goals (I set two), I decided to design, draft patterns for, and sew two 1950's outfits.
The first step was, of course, finding inspiration. VintageDancer was HUGELY helpful with this. Great historical articles, and images. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in fashion from the 1900s to the 1970s.
So after I gathered all my inspiration (and spend way too much time on the computer), I analyzed my 'data' and figured out WHY I liked each dress/outfit.
After I did that, I sketched a lot of ideas... picked my favourite three (a blouse, a skirt, and a dress), and started drafting patterns.
This was my first time drafting a pattern for a piece of clothing made from woven material (other than my doll...) and so I had a lot of struggles there.
But I finally got the patterns right... went shopping for fabric and other sewing 'notions' (going to JoAnn was the weirdest thing ever thanks to CoViD19 ). The trip was actually pretty stressful... but it went well.
Then I started sewing! Inserting the invisible zipper was a new skill for me, so that was super stressful, but it went well!
Oh, and then I made matching scarves, because in the 1950s, everything a women wore had to match perfectly... dress, shoes, gloves, belt, scarf, underwear... all of it.
And then I got to wear them! And here are some picture of me... because I'm cute and I'm so proud of the two outfits...
Today is May 12. In other words, Mother's Day. And here in Cache Valley, it's an absolutely gorgeous day.
So here is how I have celebrated Mother's Day so far:
-I made her a card the Wednesday before
-I woke up at seven to make breakfast for her with my oldest (but still younger than me) sister.
-I said "Happy Mother's Day!"
And that's about it!
But to get a little more serious, mothers are amazing! They kiss your ouchies better, they make you breakfast, they clean your laundry... and all along, they are there with love, a smile, and a bit of fun.
Mothers are amazing. Matriarchs in their family, they lead and teach with love and compassion.
Their ability to influence others for good and nurture them can literally change the world -for better or for worse. Motherhood is power!
So hooray for mothers! And don't forget to tell them thanks for all they do, not just today but every day.
Today, I have officially lived in my house for ten years! Holy cow, I've spent two thirds of my life in this house!
May 8th, the anniversary of our moving to Cache Valley, is a family holiday for us. We eat pancakes at IHOP, sleep out in the living room, and listen to our parents telling us the story of how we came to live here. Moving Day is definitely one of my favourite holidays.
This year, Moving Day is going to look a little different thanks to quarantine.
We're going to have pancakes at home... extra big ones... with eggs and sausage... and whipped cream (with dairy-free coconut milk whipped cream)... and lots of real maple syrup... it's going to be delicious!
And geez, I'm so glad I live in Cache Valley and in my awesome house with my awesome family!
I want to introduce my lovely doll to you! Yes, I am a teenager. But who cares about that… here on my blog, I get to create the rules. So now it’s cool to have a doll when you’re almost fifteen. YAY!!!
Her name is Elisabeta Margaret and her birthday is October 22, because I got her on October 22, 2016. She is an American Girl Doll Truly Me. I had to pay for her with my own money so it took me over a year to get the $100+ needed. She’s a very prized procession.
She likes reading and fashion and reading and hanging out with friends and more reading. Hmm... that's sounding kinda like me...
Here is a picture of her:
Guess what, I sewed those pants and crocheted her shirt. They both turned out very nicely, in my opinion.
And another picture of her (and yes, I made this outfit as well):
(You can find it 
) but I got some really good stuff out of it anyways. Only one is Otulissa-related, so that's all I'm sharing this week. Don't worry... next week's will be way more... meaty.
