Shine ON (Tres)

It's Friday night...and I jus jus jus jus just got paid.

Money Money Money.

(NSYNC whats up?!)
I'm sure this is going to be another moment
when you have no idea what I am talking about.
Sigh.

anywho

TGIF!

I have been waiting for this day since...well Monday.

I love Friday's because I can  get my SHINE ON.

And as you've heard me say before I'm a little obsessed with The Shine Project.
And by a little I mean a lot.

This weeks challenge:

START BRAINSTORMING IDEAS FOR A SHINE SERVICE PROJECT.

This challenge made me giddy. Mostly because I have been planning what I am going

to be talking about for 6 months now.

Well, at least in my head planning.

I guess I made a facebook page too, but that's it.
And I only told one person......so ya doesn't really count.

So I am more than happy that this was this week's SHINE challenge.

My Goal in LIFE: To Start a Non-Profit Organization (AKA Change peoples lives).
(Besides having a large, wonderful healthy family.)

One way I thought of doing this was having a "Cookies for a Cause" Event.
Or something to that effect.

During Christmas time this year something hit me pretty hard.
I took a look around.

I stopped for a brief moment and just took it all in.

Christmas.

Love.Joy.Happiness.

People who act like the grinch become angels.

It is a magical time.
It really truly is.
Then I realized, not everyone has the same experience I do around that time of the year.

Some kids don't even get to experience Christmas like you (general term here) and I.

Some kids aren't blessed to wake up to presents, cookies half eaten from santa, and

a tree full of colorful and bright glowing ornaments.

That breaks my heart.

So, I want to start something that allows for children

that may not get some of these privileges at home to

be able to experience such magic.

Cookies for a Cause
Name subject to change.

GOAL:  Give students an experience that they will never forget.
I want to have one day where kids can come in and decorate cookies, make ornaments, read holiday books, play games, make presents for their family members, and listen to christmas music all day.

Every year my familiy holds a cookie contest. It gets intense. People even started making their OWN cookie cutters. (Okay my brother and his wife are engineers and are creative like that).
But it is really something I ALWAYS look forward to about the season.
I love traditions.
I love buying gifts.
I love watching my family open their gifts.
I love it all.
I just love the happiness that is in the air.

I may not have down all the details yet, but I want to make this an annual event.
An event kids look forward to, just like I look forward to my holiday traditions.
I want it to be a day they will remember, a day that holds a special place in
their heart.
I want them to have zero worries for one whole day.
Nothing to think about but being happy.

I cannot wait to start the process.
Any ideas, suggestions, and help
are welcome.
=)

Swimming with the fish today.
Wanna join?

**Pray for Alabama**

Happy FRIDAY
&
Happy Royal Wedding!

Earth Day & Shine On!

YAY.

Happy Friday!

I am so glad to be introducing

I Shine Friday #2.

If you missed last week just click here to

see what all the hype is about.

I PROMISE you will not be disappointed.
And I don't promise for no darn reason, that's for sure.

This week's challenge was relating to Earth Day.

This week, our challenge is to GIVE BACK TO THE EARTH

what we've taken.

Which IS today if you did not know.

So....HAPPY EARTH DAY!

For Earth Day this week I decided to

do something I've wanted to do for awhile.

Start RECYCLING.

(I still think in my head how to spell recycle by singing the song off of Ren & Stimpy.)

"R.E.C.Y.C.L.E Recycle.
R.E.S.E.R.V.E Reserve.
Dont you P.O.L.L.U.T.E polute the air and environment or you will get....
what you deserve."
Ya. That is a song on Nickelodean.

I hope someone knows what I am talking

about or I will look like an idiot.
Or old.

We have two trash bins in our house so I decided
to dedicate one to recycling.
I really wanted to plant some flowers, but sadly our duplex
doesn't really allow for cool things like that.
My future house better be prepared :)

I think The Shine Project is amazing.
Simply amazing.
I also love the new direction it is going in.
I cannot wait to make a DIFFERENCE
in my community.
Anyone in Kansas?
Let's do this.
Seriously.
I want to change this crazy ol' world.
Who's with me?!


Here are some fun happenings for Thursday I feel I must add:



Yup.Love him.



How cute are they? Seriously I want to squeeze them all. Oh, and they were kind of embarrased I was taking pictures. Can you tell? Whoops.

 

GO REDS!

Love me some #7!

What are you looking most forward to this weekend?
Did you celebrate Earth Day?

I get to see J tonight for the first time in THREE weeks today.
I cannot wait.
Seriously.
Also, guest post tomorrow :)

I hope you have the happiest of Fridays!
Shine, baby!

I Shine Friday's

We got a lot going down in this post today.

Important things first.

What are "I Shine Friday's" you ask?
Well only the coolest things EVER.
No but really, listen up. Please?
;)

It all began with Ashley over at The Shine Project.

Which so happens to be my favorite blog....in the whole entire world.

Not is she only gorgeous, but she is changing the world one weekly challenge at a time!

Truly inspiring.
She continues to help me grow as a person daily, and I cannot think her enough for that.

"This is what The Shine Project is all about:
Going out of your comfort zone
to bring light to those who need hope.
The Shine Project emulates love, sacrifice, and
CHANGE. "

She has is selling Shine neckaces for $11 with $1 going towards the first ever Shine Project Scholarship award for an inner city school students college education.

(They are ADORABLE. I had to pick one of these beauts up!)

 "Every Monday a new challenge is posted that pushes us out of our comfort zone

so we can SHINE and sparkle and and just feel good!

Knock yourself out.

(not literally, please.)"

So this post is me completing her weekly challenge.

Her challenge for this week was to pick ANY challenge from the previous weeks.

I did a duo.

I decided to "create" & "spring cleaning".

I have been crazy busy lately with school coming to an end

and wanted to take some time to calm down, take a deep breath,

and create something.

What I chose to create came in the version of FOOD.

I decided to make Jessica's Crunchy Honey Chicken.

Mmmm Mmmm Gooooooood.

High recommended.

I chose this one because it was a little out of my comfort zone.

Honey? Eh. Soy Sauce? Eh Sugar Snap Peas? Eh.

I chose to venture away from my belowed b sauce.

I am very glad I did.

I made extra so I could take it to my co-worker tomorrow

to give her a little surprise lunch!

The second one I chose to do was "Spring Cleaing".

This challenge was "to donate clothes to a charity or a

person/family that could use them a lot more than we could!"

I chose to dig through my closet and find clothes that I could

give to a little girl that needed them more more than myself.

So many times I get caught up in keeping clothes because I have 

a hard time parting with them.

Or think "Maybe I'll wear that someday".

"Maybe it'll fit better next year."

Well not today.

I packed some things I found

in my closet to give to a girl back home

since I am going back this weekend.

I think she will appreciate and love them more than I ever did.

A couple of the goods.

These weekly challenges are so fun and truly do make a difference.

Try it!

It'll make your soul happy to see the smiles you create.

ALSO

If you haven't been to The Shine Project.

Youmustgonow.

You will love Ashley and all the good she is doing!

TGIF.

For real.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!
Home Sweet Home I Go!