{Friday Favorites} 3.18.16

Once again, it's Friday! It's been such a good week and the fun still isn't over! Tonight and tomorrow I am attending the Extraordinary Women's Conference. I went last year and it was excellent! Can't wait to hear some great speakers such as Angie Smith and Kacey Van Norman and a concert from one of my favorite Christian artists, Natalie Grant! Her music has really spoken to my heart over the years but I have never seen her in concert. I can't wait! Some favorites from the week:

ONE >>> The week started out with going to Winter Jam on Sunday night! As usually Sidewalk Prophets, Matthew West, Lauren Dangle, and For King and Country, were all awesome. Already can't wait until next year!

TWO >>> On Monday, I celebrated my 30 (!) birthday. I can't say that I've really been looking forward to it, but turns out it wasn't so bad. I took the day off of work, slept in, went out for coffee with a good friend, opened many cards that were waiting for me in my mailbox, and had dinner with some amazing friends! 

THREE >>> My parents bought me a NutriBullet for my birthday! So far I absolutely love it! I am continually amazed at how quickly it blends.

FOUR >>> Spring is in the air! The buds and flowers are coming out and it has been gorgeous weather in the 70's all week. If only it could always stay this beautiful all year round.

Happy Friday, friends. I hope you all have an awesome weekend! 

Spring is in the Air

Whether spring is really in the air or not, it's that time of year where we are all ready for spring. At least I am! And what is more spring like than a pretty flowered wreath for your front door? 

I moved at a hard time to move, Christmastime. 

And that made decorating hard at first because I wanted to not only decorate my apartment because it was my new home, but also decorate for Christmas. 

But once Christmas was over and it was time to take my Christmas decor down, I felt like I was taking all my decorations down.

Several weeks ago I decided that I wanted a spring wreath for my front door. There is just something about a bright colored wreath that makes it feel like "home" when you walk in. 

I looked and looked and not only couldn't find a wreath I liked but they are so expensive!

I decided that maybe it would't be too hard to make my own and watched a tutorial on YouTube. 

Oh my goodness, if I knew it was this easy, I would have made one weeks ago! 

I bought my supplies at the Hobby Lobby that is right down the road from my apartment. 

The plain wreath was on sale and cost be about $2.50.

I decided to go with pink and off white flowers. That way I can keep it up all spring and summer.

You can't craft without a Starbucks, right?

Thanks Grandma for the gift card!

The tutorial I watched said rather than gluing the flowers directly on the wreath, it would stay better if you glued loops of fabric and then glue the flowers on. 

I bought brown and pink burlap type materiel. 

It was super cheap too, since I didn't need a lot of it, I only got 1/4 of a yard and I think they cost me $1 each!

Once you glue on the fabric loops, you glue the flowers into them.

I decided it do a 3/4 flower wreath rather than covering the whole thing. 

I still haven't decided if I want to do the rest of it, add a bow, add some of the pearls I bought, or leave it alone.

I think it turned out pretty well! I'll make another one for fall I'm sure.

And cost?

It cost me less than $20. Probably about $15.

Much cheaper (and prettier) than the already made ones!

And much more fun.

Throwback Thursday: {Beijing ~ April 2014}: Great Wall

I just can't get over how gorgeous and breathtaking the Great Wall really is. This was my fourth trip there (my fifth will be next week!) and it always amazes me. It is always fun to experience it will new people, makes each trip different and special. The day Laura and I went, it was raining on the way there and it drizzled the first hour on the Great Wall (we were there fore three hours). Thankfully it cleared up!

This is my, "I'm leaving China very soon" face.

And this is my... ummm.... yeah, not really sure. 

What can I say, I am sad to leave (really, I am).

Throwback Thursday: {Beijing ~ April 2014}: Forbidden City

So remember that time like two months ago when Laura and I went to Beijing for a few days? And I said that I would post pictures "next week?" Well folks, I guess it's "next week!" Ok, not really.... I'm really two months late but better late than never, right? Isn't that how the saying goes? 

Anyways, I decided that since I'll be back in Beijing in a few weeks with my mom and sister, it's about time that I post pictures from my LAST trip. So without more to say.... here are pictures from our day at Forbidden City!

Wordless Wednesday: Rainy Days

Macau

I am so behind on blogging, it's not even funny. Laura and I went to Macau on March 22nd, friends. MARCH 22nd.... that was what, three weeks ago? And I am now finally getting around to blogging about it. Never late than never, right? 

Why did we go to Macau? The main reason is because of my visa, I have to make an exit ever few months and my time was up. Second, it's very close and kind of fun to see. It's only about an hour to the border so we decided to just go for the day so I could get my stamp and Laura could see Macau. Let me tell you, however, if you ever plan to go to Macau on the weekend, do NOT go to the main border. This is what you will find...

Rather than wait for hours in line just to cross the border, we took a taxi to the less busy border. It was such a wise choice!

Finally we made it! We ended up having an absolutely gorgeous day. Could not have asked for better weather.

We walked around several casinos. In one of them we decided to get a treat. The crepes looked delicious and so we gave them a shot. They weren't bad although looked way better than they tasted.

The "hidden diamond" in the middle of the casino. Unfortunately it only shows every half an hour and we just saw the end of it, but I wasn't able to get my camera out fast enough. It was still beautiful though.

The Galaxy casino. No worries, we didn't gamble, just walked around!

Inside the "Venetian" casino. Isn't is lovely?

You can even go for a gondola ride! We decided to pass.

SO. MANY. PEOPLE. This is the casino friends and just one. I can't even imagine how much money comes in and out of that place daily. Very sad, really.

After looking around a few casinos, we decided to go the "old town."

St.Paul's ruins.

I love this picture of the cross.

Well there you have it. Our day in Macau. It was a long, tiring day but I got my stamp and Laura got to see Macau so the day was a success. This upcoming Tuesday, Laura and I are flying to Beijing! I'll try not to wait another three weeks to post those pictures...

Spring in the Air

I know I won't get any sympathy and that is fine. After quite a cold, wet spell, today it finally started to feel like spring. I have been sick off and on for the past week so this has been a welcomed sight. 

I have also officially kept my plant alive for one year. Pretty amazing, I know.

Praying for spring weather for all of my western NY friends!