If you haven't read this yet, you probably should. It's an incredibly easy read, full of girl power, and introduces a charming love story.
There are 3 other books in the series, but I haven't read them yet. But I hear they are equally fantastic. :D So...if you are looking for something light, charming, and even the tiniest bit inspiring, check out The Goose Girl.
Shannon Hale also wrote The Princess Academy, which is another fantastic read.
I like Ikea. Call it what you want, it works, especially for city dwellers. There are not many places where you can buy stuff that doesn't look too terrible and have it be as cheap as Ikea is. However, sometimes, the ol' birch veneer just doesn't quite cut it. I am going to attempt this weekend to repaint one of our Ikea bookcases and found this handy little how-to guide online......if you care to join me in my attempt this weekend....I will let you know how it goes.
"Painting is a great way to add some personality to your furniture by hiding the cheap, Swedish, utilitarian vibe. Ikea's material of choice is usually particleboard covered in a faux-wood veneer, so getting the paint to stick is your biggest challenge.
The required supplies are cheap and available at your local hardware store.
-Rollerbrush or paintbrush
-Paint Tray
-Plastic drop cloth (newspaper will work fine if you're painting outdoors)
-Water-based primer
-Indoor hi-gloss latex paint
1. Disassemble your piece as much as possible. I chose to makeover my little birch BILLY bookcase.
2. Hold on to all your hardware. Remove the nails securing the back panel, then slide it up out and out of the track along the frame's edges. Use a damp sponge to wipe the dust from all the surfaces you'll be painting.
3. Use your roller to coat each side of the shelves, frame, and back panel. Stand the frame upright and you'll be able to reach all sides. You'll only need to paint the front of the back panel, and the shelves can be turned over, and edges painted after one side of the shelf has dried for a few hours. Let the whole thing dry overnight.
4. Cover each side with a coat of latex paint. Let dry 4-6 hours before applying another coat. 4-6 more hours and another coat should be all you need (although you can skip that third coat if you're lazy like me).
5. I chose to paint the back panel a bright blue to stand out against the stark, glossy white of the shelf. The idea is to have the whole thing blend in with the white wall, with a peek of the blue back panel over my books giving an unexpected splash of color. If you really want to give your bookcase a unique look, use wallpaper to cover the back panel. Bright geometric patterns look best, but anything will work.
When you've given all pieces ample drying time, reassemble the unit. If yours is a little wobbly like the BILLY I've dragged to 5 apartments in the 7 years I've lived on my own, you can take this time to reinforce everything. Hammer in nails to keep particleboard pieces from chipping away and losing their grip on other parts."
Today I wanted to take time to celebrate and honor one of my beautiful and wonderful best friends--the one and only Kaitlyn Ruth♥. Kaitlyn has always been an inspiration to me, in SO many ways. Her generosity, her kindness, her intelligence, her dedication, her friendliness, her goals, her warm spirit, her joy in life, her love of others..basically she is just AMAZING! I know Kaite hears this all the time and already knows the many wonderful traits she has, but I wanted to remind her on this day how special she is. So here is a little list of things I love about her:
♥Her desire to always choose and DO the right
♥Her sweet disposition in all situations
♥Her zest and enthusiasm for life
♥Her perfect smile--and she's ALWAYS smiling!
♥Her love for Jordan--seriously it's inspiring
♥Her crafty creativity
♥Her encouragement of others--she's the most AMAZING friend!
♥Her support of others
♥Her generosity
♥Her love for her family
♥Her beauty and grace in all she does
♥Her dedication to others and her responsibilities
♥Her happiness for others
♥Her style--always the most fashionable and beautiful in our group
♥Her testimony
♥Her energy and excitement in life
♥Her photography
♥Her strength
♥Her willingness to help and give to others
♥Her ability to think of others
♥Her fun and friendliness
♥Her thoughtfulness
♥Her laugh and ability to laugh with others
♥Her friendship.
Love you so much Kaitlyn, thank you for being in my life and being the most amazing friend!! Happy birthday!!!