Music Monday: Her Morning Elegance

Today's music featured isn't an artist/band like I normally do, but a song rather and the amazing video.
I first saw this video on the blog A Beautiful Mess and I thought it was one of the bet videos i've seen. Then learning how it was made made it way more better. So here's the brilliant video:

How they made this is super inspiring. I am getting into photography and I think it would be so cool to do a session like this, photo by photo. Here's the making video:

This is totally incredible. The website is cool too. I do like a few of Oren Lavie's other songs, but this video in my opinion, is so far one of the best!

Oh and good news, my mattress set came today! I've been wanting to go to bed since it came, well it is late and i'm tired so to bed it is.
Good night!
-Jen

Financially Brilliant Friday

Hello!
Since I do enjoy finances and learning more about it, I thought it would be good to do a financial feature. I am not a financial expert or anything, but I know a little bit, and wouldn't mind sharing what I learned!
So this is just a brief intro to the feature. I think currently the most important advice I can give and is good for any age is start saving early. The earlier the better. I had a job since I was 16 and I didn't save anything from it. I definitely learned from it, but also regret it too. But it's ok. Saving can start anytime really. The rule is you should have 3-6 months living expenses saved up and don't touch it. This would be your emergency fund. It's also good to start saving for retirement too. And also for major life purchases like a house. I am looking to a house currently. My goal is June. Which means I have to save over $4,000+++ for closing cost/ down payment. Not a lot of time, but i'm believing I can do it. So start saving early!
That's my financial 2 cents!
-Jen

Headboard Ideas

Good Evening!

So I just got a new mattress. I splurged on a queen size. Im so excited to have the whole bed to myself (a benefit to being single). Well i'm not getting a bed frame with headboard/footboard yet. So my plan was to make my own headboard. Now i'm just thinking of ideas, checking out pictures online. Here's some I found that I kind of like:



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I like the idea of a chalk board. I love chalk board paint . I would probably just get a sheet of plywood or something of that nature and maybe just keep it rectangular. It would be cool to decorate it via chalk drawings, even take notes. I always write before I fall asleep, so it would be cool to have


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I do like the idea of  a shelf. I'm big into storage and bookshelves. And putting the bed against one might be cool. Extra storage space plus a place to put a notebook or book.

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I'm addicted to fabric. There are so many great colors and prints. I could just hang up fabric on the back. And it's cool before it can be any cut to any size and really any print or color you want. I think I need to pick out bedding before this, but then again, fabric is pretty inexpensive. 2 yards would be more than enough length wise, it's just figuring out the width. So less than $10-15 with sales or coupon!



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I like the idea, but i'm not sure if I would hang stuff from it like that. I like the simplistic and wood look of it.


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This picture isn't really about the headboard, but I love the fabric on the wall. I currently live in an apartment and we can paint anywhere we want. But I don't want to take the time and paint and then paint over it with primer. But this is a fun idea to add color to the wall without doing anything major.
Well, that's all I found for now. A lot of ideas! Now to choose to!
Have a creative night,
Jen

Music Monday: Misty Edwards

Hey guys! So this week'ss music monday is featuring an amazing artist who leads worship at IHOP-KC.

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Misty Edwards. To be honest, I didn't really like listening to IHOP music, mostly because it was repetative. But after reading psalm 13, I searched on youtube for worship songs and I came across her. Oh my goodness, now I can't stop listening.

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The first song I heard from Always on My Mind

 All of her songs are written so beautifully, and powerful. I can't stop listening and it gets stuck in my head, which is actually a good thing. I haven't felt more connected to God. I love it.

This song is a amazing as well. I definitely recommend, if you haven't, to check her and IHOP-KC out!

Well, that's all I have to share today. I think i'm going to listen to Misty Edwards before bed tonight.

Good Night!

Psalm 13

Have you ever just had a day where it's a mix of good and bad, but the bad is more magnified than the good at times. Today was kind of one of those days for me. I've been having this struggle (nothing bad, just alittle tight financially at times, especially right now) lately and I can't seem to get ahead. There is set back after set back. I know greater things are supose to be, but they aren't here. I'm believing in God's promises and holding on so tightly to the hope that things will be fulfilled. I'm just getting tired of the same old stuff. I have these huge dreams that I can't get to until I get out of this. I am, however, so thankful for what I do have. I have a home, food, everything that I need, i'm debt free (!!!) and I am too blessed to be stressed about this. but I am... I'm not trying to complain or anything, i'm just sharing alittle glimpse of my day(s). So I had a totally break down today before work. During work was ok, actually pretty good. I got over what I tend to magnify. Then after work, back to this. Nothing is helping.. turned on some music, RED (very good band, and kind fit the mood), and started to look up something in the Bible to find a verse that would help.

I found Psalm 13. King David is one of my favorite writers, he openly expressed what he was feeling, but the fact of God's unfailing love strengthened him.

Psalm 13
For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the LORD’s praise,
for he has been good to me.

I totally feel this verse. I ask these questions, why am I still waiting? How long before my breakthrough? When will I not down? When will I get ahead? etc.
But the best part is the end: But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD's praise, for he has been good to me! Truth wins! Facts over feelings always. The fact is no matter how I feel, no matter the situation God is here, God is good, His love endures forever! He will never leave you nor forsake you, He has amazing good things planned for you. So instead of dwelling on the problem, start praising the Solution: God.
I think I need to do this now..

Thanks for listening,
-Jen

p.s. If you're going through a struggle and want prayer or anything, feel free to email me or comment. I'll be happy to pray for you. Some times when you're struggling it helps to know others are going through something similar. The Bible says in Ecclesiates 4:12- Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Together we can beat this, with people praying together solutions will come!

A Brief Introduction..

Hello! Welcome to the not new but improved blog. This will be my only (except for my business) blog! Expect some new features, more posts, more pictures, and some other new things. I'm pretty excited about this move of all my blogs to this one! Well, this is it for this post, but i'll post another shortly!

Something New...

is happening here soon.... stay tune!

Music Monday: Switchfoot

One of my current favorite bands is Switchfoot. And I am totally in love with their newest album: Hello Hurricane.

There really isn't too much to say except that they are a pretty cool band. They are well known, so I won't go into too much detail about them, totally check out their website or facebook if you want to know more about them though. But I will tell you what I like. One of my favorite songs is "Dare You to Move" from Beautiful Letdown. It's quite compelling song that makes you want to do something, move on your dreams, out of bad things and sins, and live. Another favorite is "Your Love is A Song" from Hello Hurricane. It's an incredible song about how God is everywhere and in everything.
I also really dig Jon Foreman's solo projects as well. His Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter EPs are brilliant.
Here is a playlist sampling of Switchfoot and Jon Forman.

Photo source: 1 and 2
Happy Monday!
-Jen

Sick Day

Hey! Sorry for lack of posting. I've recently decided to combine all my blogs into one, so I'm thinking it's going to be this one, but i'm not 100% sure yet. Well i'm sitting at home covered in a mound full of blankets, camping out on the couch.. sick. I'm feeling a little better now that the day is almost over, but this morning wasn't good. I have a sore throat and a lovely (not) cough with the constant sniffles and occassional sniffles. So I called in, plus a little nauseated, but I think that was nothing because it didn't last long, so I didn't diagnose myself with the flu. But I felt terrible. Well a days full of rest was partially nice, despite the circumstances. It also got me thinking, we are soo busy. People are constantly on the go, no wonder there is so much sickness, people don't rest enough. Rest is needed to get better and feel good. God made rest a priority by setting the example during creation by resting on the 7th day. Which now it's ok if you can't rest on the actual Sabbath (Sunday or Saturday) as long as you pick one day a week too just rest, take it easy. I need to practice this again. Since I get Sundays off, Sunday will be my day of rest. I'm looking forward to it and in much need of it. Well, I better get off and get some more rest. Tommorow I am definately feeling better :)
Love,
Jen