Photo Friends

This cracks me up... I was next to the same two guys from 7th grade to Senior Year, and actually one was all the way from Kindergarten. We should have totally done this at some point!

Little bit of happiness: Slept in and then got some work done at school... plus its always good to catch up with old friends!

Daily quote: Even the nicest people have their limits.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

My Name is Audra...

and I'm addicted to books.

Amen, sister. Today I ordered my course textbooks off Amazon, but not before I found 5 novels by one of my new favorite authors for diiiiirt cheap... YAY!

Little bit of happiness: I had a lot of fun today with my good friends here! Went to the parade in the morning and then we went to the concert at night and hung out in the beer garden. GIRLS' NIGHT!!

Daily quote: "The happiness of your life depends on the quailty of your thoughts." -Marcus Aurelius

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

50 Shades of Funny

So I finally finished getting through the first book of 50 Shades and thought I would share some e-card humor about the quickly imfamous trilogy...

Little bit of happiness: Spent the evening at the park hanging out with everyone while the guys did their favorite thing, BBQ. Good food as always, and it was relaxing to just sit around and shoot the breeze.

Daily quote: Try not to take things personally; what they say about you is a reflection of them, not you.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Mmhmm

mmmhmmm.

Little bit of happiness: Finally got around to watching 21 Jump Street today... not only did it have the most gorgeous actor, but it pretty funny too!

Daily quote: "If you don't know where you're going any road will get you there." -Lewis Carroll

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Trash to Treasure

One of my co-workers gave me old lamps to up-cycle.

So... after spray painting the base,

spending 2+ hours hot gluing hemp rope around the shade,

and then a few hours on making felt flowers from scratch,

here is the finished product....

And here is a close-up of the flowers: 



 Even though this project was super time consuming, I loved every minute of it and actually willing to say that I am proud of this one. Plus, I found a new craft I love making now, felt flowers!!

Little bit of happiness: We had the normal Wednesday routine of going to the Learning Center and then to lunch. Then tonight, we all got together for another yummy dinner! Always a great time spending time with friends.

Daily quote: "Art is anything you can get away with." -Andy Warhol  

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Fun.

If you have watched TV or listened to the radio in the last 6 months you have heard this song....

And I am loving their newest single release as well. 

The whole CD is actually very good... and their group name is well, Fun.

Little bit of happiness: Another great summer day to be grateful for. It started out with a missed call from my great-grandma, so I gave her a call back. Turns out she was "playing with her phone" and accidentally called me without knowing it. But that's okay because it was good talking to her, going to have to call her more often! :)

Daily quote: "Where ever you are, be all there." -Jim Elliot 

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Crafting like Crazy

6 buttons and 5 minutes turned into 3 new pair of earrings!

In the process of turning old lamps into new ones... wrapped one shade in hemp rope, going to work on the felt flowers next.

Turned old burgundy throw pillows into fresh new ones for the living room.

Little bit of happiness: After sleeping in, I made a quick trip to my favorite place, Hobby Lobby! Then I worked on the 3 projects you see above. YAY!! :) Trash into treasure complete.

Daily quote: Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.  

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Zebra Cake!

Crossed another thing off my bucket list for the year... Bake A Cake! Not just any cake, a ZEBRA cake!! :)

Little bit of happiness: It was a great day here in Spearville, America for this girl! My parents came out for the day. Then I baked the cake that you see above... and got to share it with some of my closest friends here and catch up on some girl talk.

Daily quote: Your life is your message to the world. Make sure you're inspiring.  

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Five Truths About Reality of Teaching

Saw a great article from the Wichita Eagle about the reality of teaching that I thought I would share since it's about that time to gear up for a new school year...

"As a 33-year veteran of the public high school classroom, I am increasingly both puzzled and disheartened by the overwhelmingly negative criticism of teachers – puzzled because each school year I meet hundreds of parents who seem genuinely appreciative of the excellent education that their children receive, and disheartened by the knowledge gap between public sentiment and the challenges that teachers face.
Thus, I’d like to “teach” a few truths about the realities of teaching, in hopes of closing this gulf of misunderstanding:
• Schools have changed dramatically over the past decade because of technology, changing federal and state mandates, economics, and a host of complex sociological factors at play. If you have not “darkened the door” of a school in the past few years, then you are not qualified to criticize teachers.
• Students’ needs are overwhelming – so much so that teachers alone simply cannot meet them. Students are not empty vessels, sitting quietly with hands folded, eagerly awaiting their teachers’ outpourings of wisdom, which they quietly record in their notebooks. Poverty is their greatest foe, second to hunger and lack of adequate guidance from parents. If you believe that all kids jaunt off to school well-fed, well-clothed and ready to learn after a good night’s sleep, then you are sadly mistaken. Teachers simply cannot meet all the needs of children – although many desperately try, by committing their emotional energy and money from their own pocketbooks.
• Teachers do not work eight hours a day, 10 months a year. The eight hours a day that school is in session is only the beginning of a teacher’s day. Teaching demands countless hours of planning, reading, grading, coaching, writing, meeting with colleagues and taking classes. Teachers often work 12- to 15-hour days, often sacrificing time with their own families. Unless you are a teacher or live with one, however, you likely do not fathom what goes on behind the scenes on behalf of students.
• Most teachers are capable, caring and competent professionals. However, just like in all professions, a few are probably better suited for other jobs. Such is the case with lawyers, doctors, businesspeople and politicians. To hold teachers to a different standard than other professions, and pay them much less than they might otherwise earn in the private sector, makes no sense.
• Our best and our brightest students are not entering the profession because of poor salaries, lack of public respect, and impossible and unrealistic expectations. Older teachers are retiring the minute they possibly can, and young teachers often leave the profession after only a few years. This trend spells disaster.
Understanding the challenges that teachers face, and supporting and recognizing them for their efforts, are the first steps in address this serious problem that threatens to undermine our civilization."

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2012/07/15/2407402/five-truths-about-reality-of-teaching.html#storylink=cpy

- Jennifer Stark Fry

Little bit of happiness: Got the house cleaned and ready for a visit from my parents tomorrow. Also, the dog and I got a change of scenery when we took a different route on our evening walk... it's the little things :)

Daily quote: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view -- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." -To Kill A Mockingbird

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Puzzled Pieces

Little bit of happiness: I spent the day working on my 1000 piece puzzle!! It's done... but only has 999 pieces, which is just my luck. Oh well! I'm still crossing it off my list. :)

Daily quote: Forget all the reasons why it won't work and believe the one reason why it will.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Pitt. State Gorilla!

Little bit of happiness: I am making the next step in starting my Master's and becoming a Gorilla. I just had one hold on my account... from 2005. Yes, I was still in high school. Very confusing, but it is all straightened out and I hope to get enrolled next week. I will be getting my degree in Educational Technology with an emphasis of Library Media Specialist!

Daily quote: "If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it." -Jonathan Winters

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Lion King Wisdom

Got to LOVE the Lion King. I think it is about time to start counting down the days until the Broadway show in Wichita!! :)

Little bit of happiness: This morning we went over to work at the Learning Center and then onto lunch. When we got there there was at least 50 Amish getting off the bus to eat there. It was a sight to see!

Daily quote: "All your dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." -Walt Disney

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Mexico Scrapbook!

I finished the Mexico scrapbook in just two days! Hard work, but I loved every minute of it. If you click on the pictures I believe it will enlarge them in another window.

Little bit of happiness: In addition to finishing the scrapbook I also went to Hobby Lobby and got more knitting yarn, and supplies to teach myself how to crochet. Let's see how it goes! 

Daily quote: Don't think too much... you'll create a problem that wasn't even there in the first place.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Creative Minds

Been doing more crafty things here lately! Worked on the upstairs yesterday, hanging a bunch of pictures and flowers. Today I started my Mexico scrapbook from last summer. Here are some pictures of what is going on in the Oasis Room so far:

Keep Calm and Carry on Mirror

May Your Weeds be Wildflowers and the flower garland

Traveling theme reading nook... sooooo excited about this part! :)

Little bit of happiness: It was a lot of fun looking at pictures from Mexico and working on the scrapbook while watching my Monday shows.

Daily quote: Self-pity dries up sympathy for others.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Someday Someone

Little bit of happiness: Another great Sunday at church, followed by a 3 hour afternoon nap... whoopsi!

Daily quote: "Sometimes the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary, simply by doing them with the right people." -Nicholas Sparks

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Wedding Wit

Several of my friends are preparing for their weddings or constantly thinking about it, some much that it has started to affect me! I've even had dreams about the "wrong" bridemaids dress. So these pictures are to create a little laughter, and forget about the stress.

Little bit of happiness: Tonight I went to the 2nd birthday party of Big Blue. He was just 2 weeks old when I moved here and it is amazing to watch that little boy grow up!

Daily quote: "Have an attitude of gratitude." -Thomas S. Monson

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Your Inner Self

Little bit of happiness: This morning I went to my first ever "farm show" kind of event with a friend and her little boy. It was actually a lot of fun and I got some dip spices, summer sausage, and Scentsy warmer/wax so I did pretty well! :)

Daily quote: "Be silly, be honest, be kind." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Live the Life

Little bit of happiness: Today was the first day in a long while where we didn't have any sort of volleyball practice... it was good to relax at home!

Daily quote: I'd rather have a life of "oh wells" than a life of "what ifs."

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Daddy's Girl

Haha...

watch out for daddy's girls!

Little bit of happiness: Last day of volleyball camp! It went well and now I am looking forward to the season to begin!

Daily quote: The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Said No One Ever!

AMEN!

Little bit of happiness: I had the cutest little visitor on my doorstep this afternoon... one of my friends' two year olds woke up from his nap and asked, "Audra home?" and that he missed me, so his mom brought him by. Nothing can make my day better than seeing that little guy happy and healthy! :)

Daily quote: You were given this life because you are strong enough to handle it.

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

In the Month of July

Another month is gone and summer is flying by!

This month I will be focusing on my CREATIVITY!

No matter what mood I'm in -- happy, sad, stressed, bored, busy -- arts and crafts plays a big part of my life and happiness. So this month I'm going to use my time off from work to focus on some projects that I haven't set aside time to get finished. Yet, again the Oasis Room is a top priority. Everything has been put together, now I just have to clean out all the storage (what a drag!). Then I will be onto other projects on my bucket list like finishing a knitted blanket, 1000 piece puzzle, Mexico scrapbook, write a poem, handwrite a letter, and maybe even through in the song on piano, build something, turn trash into treasure, publish something, and make a cake into the mix! The possibilities are endless when it comes to creativity. Looks like I will be super busy, but I'm super excited to get started!

Little bit of happiness: After a horrible near drowning accident involving one of my friends' two year olds yesterday, we got word this morning that he is progressing very well! He's brain activity is doing great, and they are working on the possible infection in his lungs. Prayers have been in abundance and he is doing well!

Daily quote: "Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts." -Charles Dickens

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra