Getting Crafty- Burlap Wreath Edition

I'm not usually that crafty. I spend a lot of time on Pinterest admiring things other people have done, but rarely do I give those crafts a try myself. But one of my co-workers recently got into making wreaths. She showed me how she made them and I decided to give it a shot. This is how it turned out:

Not too bad if I do say so myself.

I didn't take pictures of the step by step but I'll try to explain it. I took a wreath frame like this one ($4.99 at Michael's): 

I bought two rolls of burlap from Walmart ($3.47 each) and two rolls of black mesh ribbon from Michael's ($9.99 each).

All I did to make my wreath was feed the fabric, burlap/ribbon/burlap/ribbon/etc., up through each of the three layers all the way around. The closest tutorial I found is the one below:

http://www.kenarry.com/diy-summer-burlap-wreath/

The M was actually attached to the bow at the top and was given to me by my boss for Christmas last year. I think she got it from Kirklands. I attached it to the top with pipe cleaners. 

It was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be. I did make it twice because the first time I made it too tight. I like wreaths to be floofy. All in all it took me about an hour and a half, but that was making it twice. 

Even if you don't think you're crafty, give it a shot every once in a while. You might surprise yourself.

The Art of Not Being a Loser + Money Saving Tip

Do you ever feel like a loser? Do you ever see an article about someone your age or younger doing something extraordinary and think to yourself, what am I doing with my life?

For instance, I saw two articles today that gave me pause. One talked about a 30 year old woman who was just elected to congress. Personally, I would never want to be elected to congress but I feel like that is a major achievement for someone so young. 

The other article I read was about a 27 year old man who is now a millionaire. He began planning ahead when he was a teenager by saving all money he made in high school, joining the military (free education and life skills), and investing. Once I read about him, I could understand and accept that his path would not have worked for me. But why haven’t I managed to forge my own path? I want to be a millionaire too dang it! Actually, I'm not sure I do.

I suspect that much like people who don't have money worry about getting it, people who do have money worry about losing it. If I ever won the lottery I would tell no one. People already ask to borrow my money and I don't even have that much.

Such a materialistic world we live in. I can claim no innocence though. I love things! Actually, my love of things is why I'm having a bit of trouble saving $$'s right now. 

Since most of you are like me and like to spend money so much more than make money, I want to share my current method of saving. Bear in mind this comes from a single gal in her mid-twenties who lives with her parents.

This past year I've been completing a 52 week money challenge. One of my co-workers introduced me to this last year. Basically, you put back $1-$52 each week for one year. Here's a chart:

Actually, this is a reverse chart. The original chart I found started at 1 and went to 52, but I thought it would be better to start high and end low as I usually have less money at the end of the year.

It’s actually easier than I thought to stick to it. Instead of putting money aside weekly, I have been transferring the amounts per month from my checking to my savings account. (It's all about the interest. I've already earned $0.06!!) I've put my money in for November, only $26. Only $10 left to go for December.

Sure, it’s only $1,378, but that’s $1,378 that has been put aside and not spent on (maybe) unnecessary  things like new clothes or Nook books (I have an addiction to buying cheap Nook books). Eventually I plan to move into my own house and get a new car. My savings this year might not get me that, but it’s an excellent start. Saving this way can also be a good way to ensure you get that vacation you want to take. Now you can afford to take off work and travel to the beach or mountains for a few days. Or help you pay for that Hawaii trip you've been dreaming of forever. (My exciting life adventure next year!)

I’m not sure what my saving plan for next year will be. Maybe I’ll do a repeat of the 52 week challenge. If any of you have tried any other methods of saving that worked out, let me know!

Or maybe I should start trying my luck with the lottery.

It’s like Eddie Popko once said, “Somebody’s gotta win it. Might as well be me.” 

So yeah, it's easy for me to feel like I'm a failure when I look at other people's successes. I'm constantly reminding myself not to compare me to other people, whether it's because they are more or less successful than I am. I try to remind myself how fortunate I am. Count my blessings instead of my shortcomings. It's easy to say that we shouldn't look at these people with a feeling of resentment and jealousy. We should feel a sense of admiration and determination to follow our own dreams. But sometimes following through can be the hardest part.

Actually, in my case, figuring out my dream is the hardest part. 

But I'm still young and have plenty of time to figure it out. I may still be envious of others from time to time, but will strive to remember that my time just hasn't come yet.

So perk up! We’re not losers just because we’re not well on our way to congress! What makes losers is giving up! 

That book pictured above was written by a kid, btw. 

Going on 30...

There are a lot of things you expect to have accomplished by the time you turn 30. As a teenager you think, one day I will have things figured out. I will know exactly who I am and what I want out of life. I will find the perfect career and the man/woman of my dreams. I will have my own house and a car and maybe a few pets. I will be well on my way to having a couple of kids. Life will be so different.

But then, next thing you know, you’re only 3 years away from the big 3 0 and have done exactly zero of those things. 

Sure, you graduated from high school, and yeah, you went to college like you were supposed to. But you majored in business because you couldn’t decide what else to do. Now you’re working as a bona fide secretary, a job which only requires a high school diploma equivalent and pays only slightly better than working as a cashier at a fast food restaurant. You would look for a job in another field if you knew what else you wanted to do, but you don’t.

As for your love life, forget it. You haven’t been on a date in years and the prospects are not looking good. You may very well die alone. And kids? Not likely to happen anytime soon.

You live with your parents because… well, frankly you can’t afford to live on your own. It seems like a sweet deal, only pay a few bills and live in the basement in your own little “apartment”, which works out great until people feel free to let themselves in whenever they want and when everyone calls you when you’re out because they know you’re not home. Not that you stay out late very often because you have to get up for work at 5 a.m.

If your teenage self could see you now…

Does this sound familiar to anyone? 

I’ve spent the last few years of my life watching my friends, Facebook and real-life, getting married and having kids, buying their own homes and working in fields they love. And here’s me, not doing any of that. I've envied those who appear to have things figured out. And maybe (probably) they don’t either. But they blind us all with their smokescreens of happy marriages and babies.

HOWEVER, after all of my initial complaining (see above), I’ve come to realize that life is never going to be some picture perfect dream sequence. Most likely I won’t be married nor ready to have kids at 30, and I’ll probably still be working in the same job 3 years from now. And that’s okay! 

From now on, I'm turning over a new leaf. No more feeling sorry for myself because I won't be hitched by my 10 year high school reunion! No more sulking because my friends make more money than I do! My life is pretty great and it's time to just enjoy the ride.

I'm almost 27 years old and I've decided to dedicate the next three years to figuring out my true passion in life. I like to read those 30 before 30 lists and I may make one of my own. But my main goal is to take chances. I'm a bit shy and my confidence could use some work but I am determined not to let fear stop me. I'm on a mission to find myself.

If somewhere along the way I also find my prince of nothing charming (love Tyler Hilton), then great! But if not, I want to at least reach 30 with a better understanding of what I want to do with the rest of my life.

I decided to start this blog to document my journey to self-discovery. It won’t be of Eat, Pray, Love caliber, but we’ve all got to start somewhere right?