Au Revoir, 2013

Hello!

I can't believe 2013 is only two days away from being over. It will probably take months for me to be able to write "2014", as happens every year. It's been lovely, this year, with my first trip to Florida, the birth of my first nephew, admittance into the School of Art and Design, my second year of college (but my first year with my sister attending), etc. etc. 2013 has had its rough spots as well, as I had to say goodbye to a couple of close friends and relatives.

I just found this video today and thought it quite nicely summed up the year. It was very considerate of Google + to put it together. :)

Hope you have had a perfectly perfect year as well.

xoxo, Sara

Merry Merry Christmas from the Ladyhood

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmastime today! I thought I would share some snapshots especially for the holiday. And maybe a little Josh Groban, because who really doesn't like Josh Groban? He sings O Holy Night just beautifully.

I'll just leave this for all you Santa Claus believers out there. If you live on the second floor, you might want to lock your windows before you go to bed. :D

A lot of people will put the perspective back on Jesus this Christmas (though not as many as there should be), so I'll just keep this short and sweet. In all of the advertising gimmicks, consumer sales, commercialism, and societal expectations, there is just one reason we celebrate Christmas. It's not for the presents, food, or even Santa Claus. It's for Christ, and hopefully this Christmas we will take some time out to thank him for going through humanity to be closer to us and save us.
 Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown when thou camest to earth for me, but in Bethlehem's home, there was found no room, for thy holy nativity. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

 "And ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
Best Christmas wishes from the Ladyhood.

xoxoxoxo, Sara

DIY MIni Notebook

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!

Finally finally I am on Christmas break after my third semester at the University. I've been wanting to share some DIY's etc. for quite a while now, but the whole guilt trip about studying for finals always got in my way. -_- But hark! Today I am sharing my DIY mini notebook. Usually it makes a good gift, but considering today is Christmas... it's a bit slow on the draw there. But better late than never, right? Also please forgive the lighting. I blame my curtains.

 1. Cut two pieces of thick cardboard to equal widths and lengths. Also cut a strip of cardboard the same length as the cover pieces, but about 1/2 an inch wide. This will be the spine.

 2. Cut about 10 pieces of paper to a slightly smaller length and width so that they will fit inside the notebook when folded.

 3. Poke three holes in a straight line down the middle of the stacked paper. Try to make the holes large enough for a string to fit through.

 4. Wrap a piece of wire around a piece of string to help navigate it through the holes. Both ends should come out on one side of the stack, as shown above.

 5. This is how the notebook will be bound to the spine.

6. Remove the wire and tie a secure knot in the ends of the string.

 7. Now, if the material you want to use for the cover and back is a bit sheer, you can glue a piece of paper to the cardboard front. After that, cut a smallish oval and glue to the front. I put mine in the bottom right corner.

 8. Cut the material to be about an inch or so more in length and width than the cardboard pieces.

 9. Glue to both pieces of cardboard and spine. The material should be glued to the front piece of the cover where the oval is.

 10. Secure the edges of the material down on the insides of the pieces. I used fabric glue for this part.

 11. Now poke two holes in the inside of the spine at the opposite ends.Thread the string through the paper stack ends and through the spine, pulling the paper stack tight to the spine.

12. The string should come out through the spine and material and be knotted, as above.

You can add a personal touch by drawing an initial or symbol on the oval.
This little notebook makes for a good diary, place for thoughts, or grocery lists, and will fit in purses or pockets.

Enjoy!

xoxo, Sara

The Last Rose of Summer--I mean-- Fall

Hello hello! It's that lovely time of year where finals wipe out any Christmas spirit and good cheer you had begun to grow previously. Well, not all of it. I just participated in an Elfster Gift Exchange and loved the gift my partner made me. Let's just say, Paris is my weakpoint. Also I had to go through and deep-clean my room in one night-- I was up 'til 3 AM cleaning. And then I hallucinated once or twice before I actually got to sleep. Not fun.
Anyway, I just want to take a moment to talk about an issue I have recently experienced. As I've previously mentioned, I go to a secular university. This week I again got to experience what that means, as one occasionally does. While talking about gender roles in friendship, the instructor said that "unfortunately" society today put an emphasis on gender, meaning that apparently it is wrong to have a set distinction between males and females, and the differences that go along with that distinction. Frankly, I was appalled. Where would our society be if we had no distinct genders? Some people believe that people put too much emphasis on what it means to be a woman, because it always implies inferiority. I don't believe this for a second. Men and women both have a special place in society, which God ordained when creating Adam and Eve. Just because women are perhaps smaller, daintier, more emotional, and require more protection, does NOT mean that we are in any case weaker. I believe our place in society is to serve men as wives and mothers, and it is the duty of men to do the same for us as husbands and fathers. Neither gender could exist without the other.
  Today, women wear pants, they cut their hair short, and they try to be like men in almost every aspect. Likewise, men are showing the same disturbing change. More men are becoming "feminized", and personally I just find it so depressing. We, as men and women, are here for distinct purposes which relate to our gender. We can't control it, and we shouldn't try to. Let us be the men and women God intended, with women showing what it means to be a true lady and men showing what it means to be a true man. Chivalry and Ladyhood must never die.

Handbag: Gift, Other pieces: Thrifted
xoxo, Lady S.