Music Mondays

Imagine Dragons.

They are an AMAZING band of 5 students from BYU with an amazing sound. They came to Velour last week and I was pretty sad I didn't get a ticket to go see them because they're awesome. Velour was sold out and jam packed. Oh well… I hope they come again soon!

Here is my favorite song Radioactive

Music Monday's

I have had two songs on repeat this whole entire week. The BYU Library announces that they're closing at 11:45 then proceed to play horribly OBNOXIOUS songs (trust me I'm there till midnight all the time) that make you wanna get outta there as fast as you can… usually. However, last week there was an exception. They played Paradise from Coldplay's newer album Xylo Myloto. Simply amazing… 

and the other I heard from Pandora. I used to absolutely HATE pandora because they played a commercial every other song and they always played songs I didn't like. I created a new station and it was spot on to everything I love. I have had this song on repeat for the past few nights while I'm falling asleep. We Don't Eat by James Vincent McMorrow.

Enjoy!

Shredded Scarf DIY Tutorial

This craft is a cliché craft found on Pinterest and I hate being THAT girl, but I did have this shirt lying around and wasn't really putting it to use… It is REALLY REALLY EASY to make and takes about 15 minutes to make.

Items needed:

Big old T-shirt 

Scissors

1. Cut T-shirt armpit to armpit. 

2. Cut off the bottom hem

3. cut 1-1 1/2 in slits horizontally. DON'T cut all the way to the other side, leave about 1inch of uncut shirt.

4. Take your slits and STRETCH them out.

5. Gather the scarf together from the uncut side

6. Cover the bunched up area with your left over scraps or other scraps you have lying around. 

Music Mondays

From Ingrid Michaelson's new album "Human Again" This is War is such a great song.

DIY headbands

I have a big problem with any other kind of headband besides these. The other ones give me a headache for some reason (maybe my head is weirdly shaped?). I have bought a couple of headbands similar to this one in the past but after looking at it I figured out it was probably pretty easy to make.

1. Cut 2 rectangles. 18x4 and 10x3.

2. Sew both of them right sides together, only on the long side, don't sew the ends shut.

3. Turn both right side out.

Here's where it gets tricky

4. Sew about 5 in of thick elastic on the inside of the smaller rectangle. Make sure the elastic goes to both ends of the fabric. 

5. Sew the ends together of the two rectangles.

Finished! 

Music Monday's

This band is a group of students at Belmont University in Nashville Tennessee and their music is AMAZING. It is mix of totally different music styles but it just works. Formerly known as Gravy and the Biscuits, The Lonely Biscuits have some great music out, so check them out. John, who sings more of the soul type of music, has a heavenly voice. He sounds like a cross between John Mayer and Mat Kearney… sexy I know.

Cloud 9

Yesterday was easily on my "Top 100 favorite days". Not that I have a list or anything but if I did…

I woke up yesterday, got an awesome picture for my passport…

Met with my new AMAZING physiology tutor Becca. She is seriously an angel…

Volunteered at the Nursing Home and painted nails and gossiped for an hour and a half…

Went to class and found out that, oh yeah…

I'M GOING TO LIVE IN GHANA AFRICA FOR 90 DAYS THIS SUMMER.

This is a Field Study Research Project through Brigham Young University where I get the opportunity to spend 90 days in Ghana with three other very lovely ladies and research a topic of my choice. It is in the beginning stages. So far the research question posed is "What traditional/cultural healing treatments are used in maternal and neonatal care compared to the hospitals and clinics with "westernized medicine" in Ghana?" This will change many times and I know there is lots of research I need to do before I even think about pulling out a suitcase. 

But I am on cloud 9. 

LIFE IS GOOD, OH SO GOOD. 

I am so richly blessed in my life and so grateful for this fantastic opportunity. 

If you want updates on my progress you can check out on my other blog strictly for my Ghana research at nataliejblake.blogspot.com 

xoxo Thrifter-Sister

Music Monday

I love music and I love sharing it with others so… Music Mondays! 

Here is two very talented bands put together in a mash-up. Sufjan Stevens and Coldplay are so creative with their beats and lyrics. I am happy that someone combined them to create this beauty.

Décor!

I've been at my apartment for about 5 months now and have done absolutely nothing to help decorate it. I put a few posters up in my room but as far as the common area goes, zilch. Nada. Null. You get the picture. My apartment is a little sad looking…

So today I thought with Valentines around the corner I'll add a little color to the apartment with a craft! And even though it's just a little, it really has made the apartment more home-y feeling. Which is nice when you constantly feel like you're living in a home away from home.

One for my bedroom

Little felt hearts sewn together

and one for the living room!

This was seriously one of the EASIEST projects I have ever done..
If you're nice to me maybe I'll make one for your apartment!

Also I'm thinking of doing these in BYU colors to put up year round!

Back to Busy-ness

I'm back!

I just spent one of the best weekends with 4 girlfriends at venice beach, eating Diddy Riese icecream, playing catch phrase for hours, and spending time at the beach. I made a little trip video and this sums it up pretty accurately… pictures to come!

School is now in full swing and I love it! Some days it is difficult to manage everything but most of my classes are so fascinating I love doing the work for them. My favorite class is Athletic Training and I am loving the hands on lab I have each week. 

xoxo Thrifter Sister

The Golden State

Today I am off to California! Four friends and I are going to spend this 3 day weekend relaxing by the beach. Nothing sounds better than a weekend of sun after living in cold snowy Utah. I plan on doing absolutely nothing but read the Hunger Games and get some sun.

 See ya Monday!

XOXO Thrifter Sister

A NEW YEAR!

Although it is a few days past New Years I still want to be like every other blogger and blog about twenty eleven and how excited I am for the TWENTY TWELVE! Last year brought so much adventure and so much change. 

I met some amazing friends...

Went on way too many road trips with amazing friends… (Utah, Vegas, California, Elko, St. George)

Learned how to ski from my awesome roommate...

Went to some crazy and fun dance parties….

Found out how much I love to sew 

Lifeguarded more than 500 hours and taught swim lessons this summer

Spent Thanksgiving with my cousins in California...

Spent Christmas with my best friends from High school and my lovely family… I miss them!

And realized how important family is to me no matter how crazy we are...

So needless to say I am excited for TWENTY TWELVE! All of the new relationships it brings with it and new adventures… I can't wait. So here is the part where I add my list of New Year Resolutions. I have never been too great about keeping these but these seem pretty manageable… so here goes!

1) Make more friends

2) Strengthen relationships with old friends

3) Blog more

4) Do what I want to do more

5) Be more creative (take photos, sew something complicated…)

6)  Sleep more

7) Study harder and more often…  

8) Get healthier

9) Call my family more often 

10) Let people know how important they are to me daily

11) Learn how to Keep Calm and Carry On

BRING IT ON 2012!!