I ordered some pendants off eBay the other week, and they finally arrived yesterday. Today was a bit of a DIY Day, so I made some presents for some of my lovely friends and siblings. The necklaces were so simple to make, and since we had everything except the pendants already, they only cost about 35c each!
What You Need:
Wire cutters
pliers (jewellery pliers are best but I couldn't find mine)
"crystal" pendants (or stones, etc.)
chain (I just used old necklaces)
wire
All you need to do is wrap the wire around the pendant a few times, folding over the sharp edges at the start and finish with your pliers, and pop your creation on a chain! I was lucky because these ones came with a pre-attached finding to put it on a necklace, but if they don't, I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to end the wire in a loop instead. It's too easy, really!
Don't they look so pretty?
I also made a dream catcher for another friend... Maybe a tutorial another time, but once again, they are almost too simple to bother! I just make it up as I go along.
After work yesterday, Mum and I paid a visit to an op shop, so I could find a birthday present for my sister. No luck in that department (I ended up making her one of those necklaces instead), but I did come out with two brand new Factorie black t-shirts, a black beaded dress and a faux leather jacket, all $2 each. Not bad for a quick stop, ay?
Right now I'm looking at missionary care package and letter ideas, and getting a teensy bit too excited... I wish the best friend would just hurry up and go, so we can both start our new adventures :) I hope that they bring us closer together, but if the Lord has other things in store for both of us, that's okay, too. I know that He loves us both so much, more than we could possibly love each other right now. That's enough for me to have the faith to just let him go. I used to think that it meant (or would seem?) that I didn't love him as much as other girls who wait for a missionary, but I've learned that it's not true. Not waiting has been a pretty hard decision (as has not going on a mission right now!), but it's one we made before we even started dating (I love that he always wants the best for me), so that has helped a lot. I also used to worry that people would just assume that we were waiting for each other anyway, and not bother dating or anything, but I've come to realise that if a guy doesn't bother getting to know me enough to understand, or to try to win my heart despite this, then he ain't worth it, anyway. I don't have much time to focus on boys, anyway; I just need to focus on getting through uni (I have a feeling it will be pretty intense these next two years) and bettering myself, but I'm willing to embrace whatever opportunities in love and life come my way. For the first time in a while, I don't just feel excited for my best friend and his mission; I am excited for myself, and what challenges and triumphs the Lord has planned for me. It's been too long since I let myself see how amazing I can be.
He leaves us nice little messages in the middle of the war chapters, just like He always gives us little reasons to smile in the hardest of times, if we look for them. :)
I've been reading article after article about love and marriage and virtue on lds.org. At first I just wanted to clarify something, and then I couldn't stop; there were just too many good links. It's like Youtube surfing, Mormon-style. Nothing is getting in the way of my hopes and dreams of Happily Ever After. Nothing. I'm so blessed to have a best friend (or boyfriend, if you like) who respects me and has the same goals, in terms of marriage and purity. I don't know what the future holds for either of us, but I know that when we meet again, I will look him in the eye, no regrets. Except perhaps not appreciating him enough. But that's something I can work on now.
On Wednesday, I took the day off uni to accompany the best friend to the dentist, to have his extra wisdom tooth removed for his mission. Because he was such a brave boy, I surprised him with a cuggly teddy bear, some L&P and some mushy food like Le Rice and Up & Go. Apart from the pain that ensued when the anaesthetic wore off, we had such a wonderful day. The tooth extraction ordeal was finished by 10.30, so we had the rest of the day to spend together. We went shopping with his family (where we bought me a new jumper and three dresses! D:); watched the first two episodes of The Mentalist, Season 5; blew bubbles with his little sister, though the wind blew more than we could; invented our own rugby game; made a video diary and video messages for a friend in America; and had a delightful little pickernick at the Temple before Institute (religion class).
Anyways, I haven't done an outfit post in a while, so I'll just grab some more pics off my Instagram (sariah_x).
Valleygirl jeans, thrifted shirt, Rubi loafers, Equip necklace and Big W cuff bracelet.
I wore this on my first day back of uni after our midsemester break, which went far too quickly! It was one of those outfits that I just felt really good in, and didn't need to keep adjusting throughout the day!
Thrifted Temt skirt/dress, gifted Target shirt, Rubi boots, Equip rings and necklace, Big W bracelet.
I turned this dress into a skirt, since it was too short as it was. I adore the soft colours and the pretty floral print, and I'm loving my new boots!
I had a presentation in Sociology of Youth and Childhood this week, so I decided to wear my 'Forever Young' t-shirt and my Converse ultra hi-tops, which I bought secondhand for $4 years ago but have hardly ever dug out of the closet!
Factorie jumper, Cocolatte dress.
The jumper the best friend and I bought on Wednesday. I know it's coming into warmer weather, but it was only because it's American and so is he. And it was $5, down from $50 so I think it was just meant to be. The dress, though you can't see it very well, has light grey and white stripes, and was also $5... which is why I bought three (including one in plain grey, and one pink-and-white-striped).
Well, I've just started reading Agatha Christie's Poirot books, and I want to finish the one I've started and get enough sleep for General Conference tomorrow. By some small miracle, I have the day off work, so I can attend the Saturday sessions at our chapel. I have so many things to work on, and so many areas I need guidance; I can't wait!
Two of my favourite things, and I wore them both today. :)
I bought the boots yesterday, a bit of an impulse buy as I was searching for a birthday present for my brother's girlfriend. Luckily, I've cleaned my room during the uni break, so I actually have a spot to put them!
Rubi shoes Brodie boots, $15.
Oh, and I also bought a new cuff bracelet, and lost one of my favourite rings somewhere whilst shopping.
This week (starting from last Friday) has been rather wonderful. Temple baptisms, EFY training, Church with the best friend and his family, fireside, lots of extra work shifts, new friends, two whole days with the best friend, mission prep class, finishing the best friend's mission papers, four-leaf clovers, family time, Skype dinner dates and Preach My Gospel study, ward conference today and so much more.
We found SEVEN four-leaf clovers! We can well and truly cross that off the bucket list now! :)
We're not very good at getting both of us in photos.
He is so silly, but he loves taking photos of me.
So after my shower, when I quite closely resemble a drowned rat, he stares at me like this and says, "You are so beautiful." asfkjagljsl. <3
Speaking of best friends, I really want to improve my relationship with my little sister as she is, after all, my birthday buddy. Today we started a little diary with letters to each other, which I suspect won't last very long but it's a start. At any rate, we're both focusing on being kinder and more patient with each other, because it has been pretty hard lately, which becomes a bit of a problem when we share a room! I just want her to be able to look up to me and know that I am always here for her. She is so beautiful, but she's at that stage where she doesn't even know it yet. Well, I don't know if you can really call it a stage, because some people never learn how wonderful they are, but I don't want her to end up like that. I want her to know it and show it and help others around her feel it about themselves, too. I know I'll need to be praying a lot for help with this, but I know that it's possible. After all, "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). :)
Lately for university, I've been reading up on the commercial exploitation and sexualisation of tweens, particularly in terms of dress and appearance. I was thinking about this as I walked into work, and I saw this girl, probably about 11 or 12, walking past in the teeniest top and shorts you can imagine. It barely covered anything. I just automatically kind of rolled my eyes to myself, feeling even more depressed about the state of the world and the products that are shoved in the faces of young girls through the media, whether they like them or not. In that moment, I felt like the most horrible person in the world. What if she had seen my expression? What if she thought I was laughing at her, at her style, at her brands, at her body? I'm sure she already has enough pressure to be perfect; she doesn't need any more of it. No matter what she is wearing, she is still a beautiful, precious daughter of God, and I wish I had made her feel like that.
Today I was blessed with so many reminders that Heavenly Father knows and loves me. He sent so many friendly faces and embraces and little joys to make me smile. And even though I realised I had lost my phone somewhere at uni when I was already on the bus home, He put so many blessings in my path to be able to just hop off, find it and get home safely, including bumping into my older brother on the way back up to uni, who stayed with me while it was getting dark. Then it was home to a delicious, warm chicken dinner, a loving family and a short but sweet email from my brother who only just left on his mission on Monday. And to top it all off, now I'm just sitting back, listening to newfound, soothing music as I wait for a Skype date with my best friend. Life is good.
