little things can make you happy

-putting up a string of lights in your room.
-doodles you find in your notebook that your friends have drawn.
-playing online games with friends during the school day.
-finding your little brother sleeping with your dog tucked up into the covers next to him.
-art journaling.
-finally finishing exams.
-the smell of flowers.
-when the rain pounds against the roof.
-always typing in lowercase letters.
-The fact that it's Friday.

xo, Hayley
(p.s. sorry to all of you who missed me last Friday. It was a long day and I apologize for not posting.
*slaps self in face* <-- that was for you.)

a pre-summer list that includes playing in the bathtub.

there are atleast three things that your average person looks forward to. 1} their birthday, 2} Christmas, and 3} summer. so we're in the homestretch of the school year, and the world seems to be itching to get on that sunscreen and take off to the beach, but since we're not quite there yet {unless you go to a private college, in which case, i envy you} here's a pre-summer list of things to do to make the end of your school year just-plain-old-beastly. 

• read on the porch. i'm not exactly sure where all of you live, but if you live down south like me, the heat isn't always the best thing in the world. so, get a good book or a journal, and read or write in the morning. it tends to be cooler, and you can snap some pictures as well!
• make a motivational playlist. we've all got finals coming up, haven't we? {i don't, huzzah!} whether you know you've got it in the bag or you're totally scared of the outcome, you can still put on the rocky soundtrack get hyped. besides, who doesn't love rocky?
• have a party in your bathtub. i'm serious. if your neighborhood pool isn't open yet or the beach is far away, just get a bathing suit, some sunscreen, kool-aid and some rubber duckies and enter into your beachy paradise. let's not forget those sunglasses from tiffany's. 
• buy something new. i'm not one to shop often, but when i do, i always try to take something home with me. whether it be a hand or a headband or that new volume of kinfolk, indulge so you can show it off during the summer months. 
• try something different. i'm the type of girl who gets the exact same thing at a restaurant. so next time you go out to eat? try something new, and surprise the waiters! you never know what you'll like. 
• and lastly: eat a cupcake. that needs no explanation. 

xo,

jocee

adventure is waiting

did you know that an adventure is waiting for you in your own backyard?

instead of dreaming of foreign places, why don't you open your back door and head outside.

just grab your camera, a notebook and pens, or whatever makes you happy, and go document your ordinary adventure. make note of all the little flowers around your house, the dew drops in the morning, and capture the messy and boring things that make life beautiful.
xxxxx

“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.”  ― L.M. Montgomery
xxxxx
xoxo,

gracie

like a rainbow after a storm

it is always in the dark that the Light shines brightest

always when problems are big that I realize God is so much bigger

like a rainbow after a storm, He is beautiful

I stand in awe of Him

xo,

abby

Ending April

With it's happy smile and vibrant greens, we're ending april. It seems like this year has gone by so quickly! But with the coming of a new month, I've stuck to my tradition. Every last day of the month, I go through and write about the past month; things I learned and favorite moments. Then, I make a list of goals for the next month. It's so much fun and motivating because it gives me something to work toward. This month?

MAY GOALS:

• reread all 7 Harry Potter books. (guys. best series ever. Right, abby? :))

• write to chapter 5 in my novel (currently finishing up chapter 2)

• restock etsy and coffeehouse shelf (on my list for last month but wasn't ever completed)

• finish math book (I'm always behind on math, guys. always.)

• have lots of brainstorm sessions (guys. these are the best. not even kidding.)

Do you like making goals? What are your goals for may?

xo.

Megan

+. top two photos by my little sis, Mallory. She's so silly.

Letter Writing Kit DIY

Well,  I figure that practically 99.96% of us love to write letters, so I'm giving you a little creative boost on how to dress up your stationery.

you will need:

First, let me say something: this DIY tutorial isn't really a tutorial. It's really just a bunch of pictures to get your creativity flowing, and to use as a guideline. You can copy the cards I made, but I'd encourage you to think up something creative, too! Just have fun with it!

part one: pencils

Cut a long strip from your newspaper, about 1/2 inch wide. Cover your pencil in glue and wrap the newspaper around the pencil in a spiral motion.

The end with the eraser will probably be uneven, so you can cut a strip from a magazine to cover up the mess and add a bit of color.

If you don't want to use newspaper, or even if you do, you can use your fabric scraps to give your pencils a nice little bow tie. :)

part two: cards

For this part you will need to go crazy with your scissors and cut out a bunch of random pieces of magazine page. circles, hearts, amoebas... whatever. 

Then get creative! Glue 'em on however you want and doodle a little note...

... or cut out some newspaper letters to say 'hello' for you...

... or doodle something else (just make your character look better than my 30 second sketch :).

 part three: little notes

Lastly, take out your 3x5 cards and mix some more stuff together and glue it on... haha, can you tell I'm tired? Well, I'm tired. :)

(please pardon the over-exposure of this photo)

There you have it! Your very own letter writing kit! Now you can use it up or give it away.

xo.

Lindsey