Recently, I've gotten into hand lettering. It's so cool and is on major trend right now.
I found a book I really liked, Hand Lettering 101 by Chalk Full of Love.
This book is fantastic. It shows how to make each letter with the down strokes and leaves room to practice. Since I borrowed the book from the library, I put tracing paper over the top of the letters. Then I would try to write the letters on my own. I've since used my new skills in making cards. It's been fun to learn and use my new skills. I think hand lettering is so pretty. The book also shows how to mix different styles of font and how to use flourishes. My examples below show two of the styles of font I learned. Great book!
Part of what I love about hand lettering is that you don't have to start out with tons of supplies. I started out with a sharpie and craft markers I already had. I've even started making my own cards using my new skill.
My progress:
Next is Hand Lettering 201! I will also share my journey through that book with you. Here's to learning more!
I just loved the song, Rewrite the Stars from the movie, The Greatest Showman. It's sang by Zac Efron and Zendaya. They play two people from different world's who fall in love. If only we could rewrite the stars...
I first heard this touching song while watching Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas dance last season on Dancing with the Stars. The dance is the story of Lindsey's relationship with her beloved father who passed away several years ago. I loved their dance and the song. The emotion of it all made me cry. I hope you enjoy the dance and song as much as I did. Tell me it's not beautiful.
Over Christmas break, I was hoping to see a movie. Upon seeing the previews for The Greatest Showman, I knew I wanted to see it. Thankfully, my mom and grandma were game. I thought that since it was essentially a musical they would possibly enjoy it. Well, enjoy it we did! It stars actors Hugh Jackman, Michelle, Williams, Zac Efron, and songbird Zendaya.
The movie is about P.T. Barnum who began the Barnum & Bailey Circus. It begins with his childhood. It was just him and his dad growing up. His dad was a tailor. P.T. had a crush on a little girl of a man his dad made suits for. The man wanted P.T. to have nothing to do with his daughter, Charity. He sends her away to boarding school. There P.T. and Charity write letters back over the years. They talk about their dreams for a big life. Once she graduates and comes home, P.T. comes to take her away, against her father's wishes.
They live a meager life and later have two daughters. P.T. works an unmotivated job until the company until they close. Now jobless, he sets to make their dreams come true. At his time, a circus wasn't a thing. He wants to create a place for people to see things they've never seen before. He starts with setting up a museum of sorts with replicas of wild animals. Soon he recruits a bearded lady who can sing and a little person. He makes it into a show with singing, dancing, and acrobatics. It's all things people have never seen and soon becomes wildly popular. All these people who never belonged like the bearded lady and the little person, etc. now have all have a place they belong. They become like a family. Meanwhile, there are people in the community that harass the performers, call them mean names, protest outside the theater, and try to fight them.
Finally, P.T.'s family moves into a mansion. They can finally afford to let their daughter take ballet lessons. His wife and daughters now wear beautiful dresses they could never afford before.
P.T. is invited to go to London to meet the Queen. He brings his circus. There he meets and hears the voice of Jenny Lind. He's mesmerized by her voice. He convinces her to come sing in New York. She agrees. He focuses all his time on promoting her. Unlike his circus, she reached even the top echelon of society. Since he grew up poor, he desired to crack into that. At Jenny Lind's New York show, Charity sees the way P.T. looks at Jenny. P.T. decides to take Jenny around the country on tour. His circus feels abandoned. He won't even let them into her concert reception.
The tour is going well, but back home things aren't as good. The tension is rising among the bullies who like to harass circus performers. They set fire to the circus. Jenny stages a kiss with P.T. that's captured on camera at the end of her show. That photo, obviously, ended up in newspapers across the country. The photo is then seen by Charity...
Jenny and P.T. have a falling out and she ends the tour. Unfortunately, P.T. put a lot of money into the tour. It was going to take 40 shows in for the project to break even. Sadly, they hadn't made it to that many shows, so he's now ruined. They're behind in their house payments, so they get evicted. Charity and the girls move in with her family.
P.T. comes to his senses and reconnects with his family. He patches things up with the circus squad. With their theater burned down, they have to figure out how to rise from the ashes. From there, they come up with the idea to have shows in tents and travel around the country. P.T. doesn't want to leave his family, so he hands the reins over too his partner, Phillip Carlyle (played by Zac Efron).
This movie reminded me of the movie, Saving Mr. Banks. The parallels were the poor upbringing of the main characters and how they turned things all around through hard work.
The singing and dancing in the movie were so fun! The two hours passed fast. I can't wait to rent it when it comes out on DVD.
Yesterday, my dad and I were at my specialist appointment in Topeka. As we entered the waiting room after my appointment, we saw that a man had fallen in front of the reception desk. I had to make a follow-up appointment, so the man and I were maybe two feet apart. He was probably in his late 60s with blue eyes. His face was red.
The nurses were asking him how he ended up on the floor and he wasn't sure. He came in to see his doctor for shortness of breath. They asked him questions about the day of the week, date, and who was president. He answered all correctly, but in a breathless kind of way. Next thing I know, they say he's about to throw up, so they shifted him to his side. During that time, he stopped breathing. They called for an ambulance, got an AED (to restart his heart), and they called "code blue" over the loud speaker. I remember how his buttons popped off his shirt as they ripped it open to begin chest compressions.
Though I wasn't needed to help the man, I'm glad that I completed first aid and CPR training through the American Heart Association. The experience with that man has made it hard for me sleep or think of anything else. I've been praying for him, his family, the nurses, and doctors. I don't know if he made it and that part is hard. I know that by the time we left, it'd been several minutes since he'd stopped breathing and they hadn't been able to bring him back to life.
Life is precious. Live it; embrace it. For everyone, I would recommend first aid and CPR training. I hope I'll never have to use the training, but am thankful that I have it.
I must admit, in the hustle and bustle, I lost track of the meaning of Christmas. These Advent videos brought me to tears and helped get me back on track. They are by Lo the Poet. Enjoy!
This sweet book by Dean Koontz shares his life growing up and then the adventures of getting his first dog with his wife. The dog they get is a golden retriever that was a service dog. Her name is Trixie and she changes his life. I personally think Golden Retrievers are the best dogs. They're so cute, sweet, smart, loving, and forgiving. Through their lives they teach us those qualities and so many more. At points while reading the book, I smiled and others I fought back tears about Trixie's Big Little Life. My family has had three goldens and each has captured our hearts. Having them in my life has enriched it beyond measure and I dream of the day I can get my own puppy.
Victoria Arlen's life story is so inspiring. Her dance below made me tear up to say the least. I love that dance can bring out so many emotions and can touch your heart in ways nothing else can.
In the competition, I was so impressed by Lindsey Stirling. She's so musically talented, as well as a beautiful dancer. I've really enjoyed seeing her journey on the show. Her freestyle was so original. Her pro partner, Mark Ballas is a spectacular choreographer. What a strong partnership.
I admit it; I binge watch TV shows on Hulu. I'm always looking for my next favorite show.
One of my best friends recommended that I check out the show, The Good Doctor. Generally, I'm not keen on medical shows as I get easily grossed out with all the blood and surgery screen shots.
Thankfully, The Good Doctor doesn't embrace the gore and blood as much as other shows. I generally watch it over lunch and at times just tell myself that it's red kool aid. It follows Shaun Murphy, a surgical resident who is autistic. His understanding of the human body, what patients are suffering from, and treatments is mind-blowing. His faults would be his blunt communication, getting stuck on an idea and being unable to move on, and interpersonal relationships. Despite everything, I always find myself rooting for Shaun. The rest of the cast are also really strong and likable. See what you think:
A student recommended that I check out Designated Survivor. I'd seen promo clips for it and thought it looked interesting, but I don't like political shows at all. I checked it out and am completely hooked. In ways, it reminds me of the now-cancelled, Quantico. Similarly, it has really strong characters. Unlike Quantico, Designated Survivor has several recognizable cast members: Kiefer Sutherland, Maggie Q, Italia Ricci, and Kal Penn.
In the show, Kiefer's character, Tom Kirkland is the designated survivor and becomes president when the capitol is bombed. He was a housing secretary before, so this is a major change. He struggles with the changes and learning curve. His family struggles with the big change, more scrutiny, and threats. His wife is played by Natascha McElhone and she's an absolute natural. This show keeps me on the edge of my seat and keeps me wanting more. I hope you like it too!
Any new shows you can't get enough of? I'd love to know!
Since I've tried a variety of dating websites, I thought I'd share the pros and cons of using Eharmony.
PROS
1. By far, the best quality guys that actually matched what I'm looking for
2. Easy to use website and app
3. If I ever return to dating sites, I'll only use Eharmony.
CONS
1. Most expensive site to use
2. Location of matches. Since it does such a great job providing quality matches based on many facets of your personality, most are out of state, especially since I live in a city of only 55,000 people. :(
3. Guys on that site never respond. Like someone's profile and you'll never hear from them
4. I still haven't met anyone exciting on there
For now, I'm taking a break from dating sites, but I'm always open to finding the right match for me. :)
I'd love to hear what sites you've used and found successful.
