Paper Heart Chain

Yesterday I was in the mood to do a craft, and made this cute paper heart chain!

The idea for it came from 28 Simple DIY Paper Craft Ideas on Snappy Pixels. I changed it a bit by creating an inner and outer layer of paper, and used a blue pastel on the edges of the outer paper. This is really fast and easy to make, and it can be changed to however you like!
To make this paper heart chain, you really only need a stapler and evenly cut strips of paper (I cut my paper 1 inch wide by 5 inches long), unless you want to color the edges or embellish the hearts. You can also try cutting the strips of paper with decorative edge scissors instead of cutting them straight. Here is a simpler version of the chain with just one layer of paper:

Line up two strips of paper and staple them at one end so it forms a "V" when you separate them.

Bring the separate edges back down toward the stapled end and past it to form a heart.

Then, before stapling the bottom of the heart, add one strip of paper to each side, so it forms a "V" around the heart.

Staple all of it together, and repeat the process to add more hearts to the chain.

When you've added as many hearts as you want, simply staple the bottom of the last heart without adding more strips of paper.

You can also use this process to make one, or several big hearts!
Here, I cut yellow and white strips of paper (2 inches wide by 11 inches long), and used a Martha Stewart decorative edge punch on the yellow strips. If you use two layers of paper, make sure that whatever you want as the outer layer is actually behind what you want as the inner layer, because they will fold outward.

 Have a wonderful Tuesday, everyone!

Morning Pictures

Now that my school semester is over, I finally have some free time. This morning, I woke up and couldn't decide what I wanted to do! But, the sun was shining and the skies were blue... so it looked like a great day for pictures. I pulled out our camera, and walked outside into the sunshine. It was surprisingly warm, even though it was three degrees below freezing! I snapped a few quick pictures outside, and came back inside to take some more. I was inspired by the peaceful feelings that I get while sitting in the warm sun on a cool day. Here are some of my favorites!

Not Depressed in January

It's only the fourth of January, and we have already had some fabulous weather. My cat is thoroughly enjoying her naps in the sun.

For a lot of people, January is a depressing month, because Christmas is over and everything seems dull. At first, I also thought that I might be upset when December came to an end... but I wasn't. As soon as the first day of January came, I felt energized and happy. I took the day off from schoolwork and decided to clean and organize my room. It has been great to start off the new year with a clean room!

January is a great month for cleaning and organizing, and for remembering that the true reason for Christmas doesn't just disappear after December 25. We can be happy, because God is with us all of the time, not only on Christmas. I am looking forward to spring, but I am also appreciating this lovely winter weather!

I truly hope that every one of us can be thankful for this beginning of a new year!

Christmas Lights

Sometimes you just need to relax, and sit on your windowsill with a cup of hot chocolate... while listening to a Bing Crosby Christmas CD, and inhaling the smells that are coming from both a Christmas candle and the open window.

The roof outside of my window is somewhat flat, and therefore lends itself to the putting up of Christmas lights. My mom decided to brave the cold, sharp air, and stepped onto the roof with bunches of Christmas lights in hand. I watched her as she began to attach the lights, and occasionally handed her the necessary tools and more bunches of Christmas lights.

As the dark sky began to wrap itself around our house, my mom started to work faster in order to get all of the lights up before it was too dark and cold. I decided to make some coffee for her and hot chocolate for myself to enjoy once she was finished.

She sat right outside my window, dunking her gingersnap into the steaming coffee, and I sat on my windowsill, dunking my candy cane into the rich hot chocolate.

Everything was beautiful, and even our animals seemed to enjoy the moment as they peeked out the window!

Yes, sometimes you just need to relax, and sit on your windowsill with a cup of hot chocolate... while listening to a Bing Crosby Christmas CD, and inhaling the smells that are coming from both a Christmas candle and the open window.

Christmas - Once a Year(?)

I have recently been listening to Christmas music. Okay, I've been listening to it for a couple months now, and as I have asked before, what is wrong with that? When I listen to the deep words of each and every song, it makes me wonder why it often seems like a crime to listen to Christmas music in June. As I was listening, a very special song came on that seems to speak my thoughts well right now. This is a song by Josh Wilson called "Once a Year". Here are the lyrics:
Christmas Eve
Mom and dad
Load the car
With grocery bags
They take the kids
And drive downtown
And spend the night
Passing food out

Once a year December's here and our hearts open up
Once a year we give with cheer to those who don't have enough
Wouldn't it be something if we all learned to love
Like it's Christmas more than once a year?

No one rings a bell
At the mall in June
But nobody said
We can't give then too
And when Autumn comes
With its changing leaves
Could we spend more time
With the least of these

Once a year December's here and our hearts open up
Once a year we give with cheer to those who don't have enough
Wouldn't it be something if we all learned to love
Like it's Christmas more than once a year?

Love is patient, love is kind

Love will always find the time

Love is now and love is here

Love is more than once a year

Once a year December's here and our hearts open up
Once a year we give with cheer to those who don't have enough
Wouldn't it be something if we all learned to love
Like it's Christmas, oh, more than once a year?
Once a Year- Josh Wilson (song)

These are some powerful words. Why is it so often only Christmas time when our hearts open up? I've heard people in real life and on movies constantly say that Christmas time is when the mean, grumpy people are finally nice. I'm not trying to imply that you, my dear friends, are acting selfish and rude all year until Christmas comes around. Please don't think that that is what my point of this post is. It's simply to bring attention to the fact that it is certainly okay to be in the "Christmas spirit" year-round, and it should be so. It shouldn't matter that I get excited when I think about the day of Jesus' birth when it's August. Maybe that's not always why I get excited about Christmas, but ultimately, I think that it is. That very special, cozy feeling doesn't come from material objects. It comes from spending time with the ones we love and remembering Who loved us first.
To be honest, whenever a Christmas song comes on (and no, I don't mean Jingle Bell Rock or Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer, sheesh!), I feel like bursting. My emotions build up, and I often sing along to the song, because it feels comforting and it helps me remember the meaning behind Christmas.  

Top picture: http://www.universetoday.com/22227/the-christmas-star-fact-or-fiction/

Let's Have a Party!- My Seventeenth Birthday

About five months ago (yes, I know this blog is quite late) I celebrated my seventeenth birthday with a delicious Indian dinner. Not only was the food incredible- the decor was incredible as well. Bright pink, orange, and yellow pieces of decor filled the back patio as we began to set up the tables. It was so beautiful, and just like what I had imagined when I first thought of the idea! This was not just an ordinarily themed party. I wanted a few pieces of the decor and the overall style of the party to remind me of India. And, it sure did! The bright colors and use of flowers on the tables brought back memories of the times that we celebrated birthdays during our trips to India. As you can imagine, I was very excited about the result of everything! We had the tables decorated with orange, pink, and yellow pieces of fabric, flowers, yellow birdcages, an Indian Barbie, and more! My mom also decorated some paper lanterns with beautiful ribbons and jewels, and created fantastic napkin bands using bright paper and a paper punch (the punch used to create the napkin bands resembled the border of saris). Here are some pictures of the decor!

For food, we had Pork Vindaloo, Chicken with Coconut Curry Sauce, Paneer Tikka-Masala, garlic and plain naan, two kinds of rice, and an Indian salad! I have to thank my mom for her incredible dedication in making this delicious dinner, and for her dedication in helping with all of the decor! I have to also thank my other family members who were willing to help with some of the food and the preparations for the party! I'm lucky to have a family that enjoys helping so much!

Of course, the food and decorations weren't the only things Indian style. To enhance the atmosphere even more, I turned on my favorite Indian CD, which played awesome music throughout our entire dinner. My mom and I also wore traditional Indian outfits as shown in the picture.

I even played Badminton in my sari!

For dessert, we ate a chocolate cake that I decorated with pink and orange fondant flowers, a fondant ribbon, silver dragees, and stitching on the side. We also enjoyed some delicious Indian candy-coated fennel seeds, sugars, and Jalebi (Indian fried dough).

Overall, I think that this birthday party is probably the best I have ever had! I thoroughly enjoyed the food, the decorations, the gifts, and most of all, the family time! I hope you enjoyed reading about my birthday, and seeing the pictures! (Most photos were taken by Yana Mironov-Helmes of Hint of October Films + Photography) 

Election 2012

I can hardly believe it. I didn't finish watching all that happened tonight… I watched a Christmas movie instead. I decided that it would be wiser for me to take my mind off of the politics and settle down for a nice quiet evening with my mom and a movie. But in the back of my mind, I was sure that God had it in His plan for Mitt Romney to win this election. I felt very peaceful about the whole situation as I heard the mumbling voices on the TV near my bedroom saying, “Yes, if Mitt Romney gets these specific votes, then he will surely win this.” Or sometimes they would say, “Oh, Obama is definitely leading on these votes. We may have yet another four years with our president.” No matter what those people on the TV said, I just had such a calm heart tonight. Though I may have come downstairs every once in a while to announce, “Hey! Romney’s winning right now,” I didn't feel very excited or nervous about the election. But now that I get onto Facebook, I see almost every single one of my friends posting about Obama’s winning. In the past I haven’t really cared about politics at all. I guess I was just ‘too young to worry’. These past several weeks have been different though. I found myself writing, talking, and even debating about politics. I couldn't believe that I was actually getting myself into a couple huge disagreements over who should win the election. I guess my mind is just at peace tonight even though I had those disagreements and debates. At least it was. Now, as I clicked through all of the status updates and comments, I actually felt quite overwhelmed. My head started to buzz, and my eyes started aching after looking at the brightly lit screen for so long. I sat in confusion as I read about Obama’s winning and all of the things which are now legalized. I experience much discomfort and sadness after each new status I read about how horrible the next four years will be. I scrolled through a few comments which talked about how we should get Obama impeached. I certainly ‘liked’ those comments! But that isn't really what matters… is it? I’m not sure if they have yet finalized that Obama has absolutely won this election, because I didn't watch the whole thing… but if he did… he did! We no longer have control over the situation! Those of us who were able to put in our votes and did what we saw was right. I sure would have voted for Romney if I was of age! I can’t fully understand the people who thought of voting for Obama even after these past four years. After what he has done to our debt, and practically everything else in his control, I don’t know how on earth people could still possibly vote for him. But obviously they did. All we can do now is rely on God for help. He still watches over us no matter what the outcome is. We have to trust that He knows what is best for us. If this was in His plan… then let His Will be done! He knows what is best for this country! Who knows, maybe the only pieces of good we will receive from this is learning from our mistakes. A lot of people may regret voting for Obama if he continues to treat this country like he did in the past. The only practical option we now have is to pray that God will bring peace to this country. And I hope that God will work in Obama to turn this country around! Let’s focus on God for now and put our anxiety about the election away. Either way, we still remain in God’s hands.