Cheers to summer!

Hello Summer!!!!

Summer has officially arrived.  Yesterday, I celebrated by making a batch of lemonade.

I found a recipe on Pinterest.

When you need a recipe - search Pinterest.
When you need inspiration - search Pinterest.
When you want to know the natural method to do anything - search Pinterest.
When you want to know how to style your new top - search Pinterest.
When you need ideas for how to decorate a room - search Pinterest.

Pinterest - it's the new Google.  (More on Pinterest HERE)

Lemonade recipe pin:

Source: foodnetwork.com via Melany on Pinterest

I cut the recipe in half so that it would fit in my boring 2 quart pitcher:

Boo - boring pitcher.  It makes me want a pretty, round, glass pitcher.  Maybe something clear with a little splash of color.  Hmmm, maybe something like this:

Source: crateandbarrel.com via Melany on Pinterest

Well, at least I got to drink out of a cute glass:

And some cute straws would just make it perfection:

Source: etsy.com via Melany on Pinterest

Cheers to a wonderful summer!!!

Wrap it up - fabric style

A few weeks ago, I had a gift to give to a friend.

I had no wrapping paper - boo.

But here's the thing about being a super creative crafty person ...

... in the boxes and boxes of supplies that you have there is always something that makes pretty packaging.

Grab some fabric and wrap it around the present.

Then grab another strip of fabric and make a bow.

Cutesy cute :-)

Happy Birthday Sista

Today is my sister's birthday.  She's 21.  This is the "Happy Birthday Demi" blogpost.

I remember when she was oh so little:

I remember the day when my mom went to the hospital to give birth to this special lady.  I was left with my grandparents.  We got BBQ from Corky's (mmmmm - BBQ) and I remember eating ice cream.  I also remember me and my 13 year old self being sick with worry and begging my grandparents to go to the hospital.  They would tell me that we would either sit and wait at the hospital or sit and wait at the house - we might as well sit at the house (it was only 5 minutes away from the hospital).  But I wore them down :-)  I think that I just got annoying and dramatic enough that they caved so we went (and waited) at the hospital.

I remember the days when this little girl adored me and would drop everything to hang out with me.  I also remember the day that she chose to go to a friend's house to play instead of going to the mall with me - it was heartbreaking.

We have had many wonderful memories together.  My most treasured memory with my sister is when she was in the 2nd grade and I checked her out of school to go see a movie (it was Finding Nemo).  I hope I never forget the look on her face as she rounded that corner in the halls of Ross Elementary School. The look of excitement at seeing me there waiting for her was absolutely priceless.  I then explained to her that I was checking her out of school to go see a movie.  She was shocked and excited and we were on our way.  We were the only ones in the movie theater when we arrived and my sister celebrated by going down to the front and dancing around - she still does this when we are alone in a movie theater :-)

I love my little sister.

I love that she always greets me by singing "Sister, Sister" from the theme song from the show:



I love that she gets embarrassed by how loud I laugh in movies, but that's ok because she really does not know how to whisper during a movie :-)

I love that she takes our favorite picture and turns it into a painting for me.

I love that the only thing that we have ever really fight about is what music to listen to in the car.

I love how she practically knocks me to the ground when she runs through the airport to greet me.

I love our road trips.

I love that she puts up with me running into her room on Christmas morning, jumping up and down on her bed, and telling her that "Santa Came!!  Santa Came!!" - except for the one time that she told me that it was too early and to go back to bed - she is supposed to be on my side, not acting like mom and dad :-)

I love how completely different we are.  (check out this post for more on that)

I love our tradition of going to IHOP for breakfast every time I leave town.

She is my special sister and I am glad that she was born on this day 21 years ago.

Happy Birthday Demi!!

Parking woes

Not everyone will entirely get this post.  But if you live or work in a big city, you will probably find yourself laughing along with me.

Today I sat in a coffee shop before work and giggled at the scene I saw taking place across the street.  There was a man who was looking very intently at a parking meter.  He then crossed and studied the other side of the parking meter.  Then he went and looked at the parking sign.  Then he went back and studied the meter again.  I really wish I had video.  It was really funny.  The whole scene was probably about 3 - 4 minutes of this guy looking at the parking meter and struggling with if he should actually park or not.  At one point, he got that pensive "Should I park here or will I get a ticket?" look on his face.  Then he got in his car and drove away - I guess he decided against it :-)

Parking in DC - reason number 215 why I don't drive to work.  I like the Metro :-)

Well, at least we don't have meters like the ones in the following video :-)

Arguments with God

Today I escaped to Great Falls to spend some time with God.

Life is pretty crazy right now and my discouragement hit the ceiling last night. I felt the need for a getaway today and drove out to Great Falls, VA.

I hiked out to find a sunny spot on a rock, sat down, pulled out my journal, and said "Ok God, let's talk."

I love that I can be completely honest with God because He knows all the thoughts in my head anyway.  I really just needed my moment of recognizing how I was feeling and being honest about it.

God revealed to me areas of my life that are - hmmm, how to put it - in need of improvement :-)  I found myself saying, "But God I..."and my excuses always come up short.

I realized that there were many areas where I was not turning to God and completely trusting Him.  I felt Him ask me, "Melany, when have I ever not provided for you?"  I tried to come up with a good example and had some things come to mind, but every time I came up with something, I was reminded of His hand in the situation.  It always worked out in the end - EVERY - SINGLE - TIME.

God has never ever left me hanging.  He has always provided for me.  Even as I reflected on my current circumstances, I was able to see that He is here with me working things out.

When I look past God's Presence in the present, is when things start getting stressful.  I just need to continue to rest in His peace because, as He reminded me today - He has always come through for me ... and He is not going to stop coming through now.

So, I learned today that there is no use trying to argue with God - He is always right and He is always good.