Staci's Bridal/Bachelorette/ (&lingerie) Shower

The wedding was last Saturday and was so magical and everything I could have ever dreamed! And I was only the Maid of Honor, I can't imagine how perfect it must have been for the bride. A week before that, along with the other women in my family we threw Staci a fun shower (just for girls!) I had the most fun preparing the decorations and the party. We wanted to keep it classy so it wasn't too wild of course, but also a bit fun and sassy...so we made it a lingerie shower where she would get lingerie for her gifts. It was a great time! Lots of laughing and talking, and lots of information I cannot disclose on this blog because they are reserved for girl parties only. Here are some photos I took because I felt very crafty and creative!

Marriage in the late 20's

So! I have a question for the world out there. Does anyone know of people who have been married (first time, no kids) in their late 20's and found it joyful and magical as if they were young? I want to hear stories!! Please fill me in! I am interested in hearing about people who got married 25-30 years old and it was wonderful for them. Tell me your success stories! Tell me the good news! I want to know. How did you (they) meet? What was different about falling in love at an older age than a younger age? What are some benefits having waiting longer to tie the knot? What are good points about it? Is having kids the same, or what is different?? All love stories are welcome!

Heart Therapy- from another really cool blog.

This week we are listing what we value. All too often we choose what we value based on what we think people want us to value, rather than what we really love. I found this exercise helpful to remind me of what I really enjoy doing, what I love because of who I am, not who anyone thinks I should be.

Here is my list:

What are my values?

Education: I believe education is extremely important for the betterment of an individual and for the betterment of the entire world. The more we educate ourselves, the less room we have for prejudice and ignorance. I do not believe you have to go to a specific college or be enrolled in a college to be educated and smart. Education is opening up ones mind to gain knowledge about as much as possible.

Politics: I don't love politics, I like to stay out of them as much as I can. I feel that too many people get so heated over it and it doesn't need to be. I am an optimist, and I believe in seeing the best in everyone. I like to be informed, but I like to stay out of politics as best I can.

Religion: This is a life-long struggle for me...I have sought to find my self identity with religion since I can remember. I know there is God, and I know we are one family. I strive to be better, and I strive to be open minded, but hold firm values and morals as well. I appreciate so many things about so many religions, its hard for me to just define myself as only one. I believe God is ultimately Light, and everything good is Light, and that we are all seeking after the Light. So I consider myself a follower of the Light. Which in arabic, "follower" is the word "i" and "Light/Glory" is the word "Baha." Which together means Baha'i.

Parenting:I want to be a stay at home mother with a husband who can help provide for our family. I want to instill great values in my children, and guide them to have purpose in morals. I want them to look up to me as an inspiration for their lives, and want to choose good because of the way I live my own life.

Love Relationship: Patience, communication, trust, core values, similar life visions, compassion for one another, and also joy and laughter!!! Magic, romance, fun and mystery!

Men: who is the ideal man for you: My ideal man is kind, honest, hard working, has a soft and gentle heart, accepting, easy going, fun, motivated, determined, and inspires me to be a better person. Someone I am attracted to and find joy and love with. A man who will tell me I am beautiful when I don't feel it, who will listen and pep-talk me when I cry, who I can laugh and be silly with and will laugh at my nerdy-ness, who can dream big with me, and hold my hand and sit with me until my tears turn into a smile.

Friends: I like to have friends that I can be one-on-one with. I like to have friends that we can be real together, that we can share our hearts with each other. I like to have friends that are fun, and excited about life. I like to feel like I can make a difference in their life or give them memories, talks or laughter that they can hold dear to their hearts.

Movies: Comedies and romances or a bit of both!

Books: Secrets of the Light is a great one I recently have read. I do enjoy reading, I want to do it more!

Jewelry: Almost always just earrings. I love to wear sparkly earrings with any outfit.

Fashion:

Kind of simple/classic style with a few trendy accessories here and there.

Cars: My own SUV.

Architecture and House Style: Something absolutely beautiful and full of light. Lots of windows, and everything fresh and clean. Ahhhh.....Something on a hill would be great too, something where I can see over a valley or a city.

Furniture:

White, classic, dark wood, things that are bright, simple and fresh.

Gemstone: I love rose quart- they represent the heart chakra....which is a healing stone for your heart and love.

Weather: I guess I can enjoy it all. I love warmth especially, I feel freer when it is warm. But I love love love rain. Rain is magical and mystical. Rain is so magical!

Geography: Ireland, Europe.

Season: Summer, Spring, Fall is beautiful too.

Music for Listening:

A lot of things, it depends on the mood. I love classical, spiritual music, I love pop music on the radio, I love anything that is up beat, fun, and lively.

Music for Dancing:

Pop music is fun!

Leisure Time Activity:

Blogging, relaxing in my clean room, baking cookies...writing things down, reading or pondering life.

Kick-up-your-heels fun:

Dancing and feeling alive and joyful!!! I miss those young and fun college days...(last year lol)

Exercise:

YOGA! It is the best of the best.

Television Show:
Modern Family

Food to cook/eat

Cupcakes, muffins

Restaurant:

Biaggias Italiano Ristorante MmmMM...I love the location and atmosphere just as much or more as the food.

Shopping Place

Craft stores or anything like that! I love Davids Bridal too, because I like to dream about getting married and being fancy!

Vacation

Anywhere really. I want to go anywhere. The beach, the east coast, across the world....anywhere.

Sport to play

soccer or basketball

Color

to wear: Navy Blue, Pink is nice, or blue of any color.

to decorate: Just depends! There are so many pretty colors to spice up life!

Fabrics: I don't know, it really depends on where you are decorating.

Flowers: Peonies, tulips, roses, lilacs, lilies....all of them.

Conversation: So many! I miss having conversations with friends. I love talking about life, about feelings, about dreams, spirituality, inspirations, new ideas for life, new hopes, romance, decorating, something funny!! Funny stories!

Favorite Age Group to hang out with?

My age or older. I love older women who are a little ahead of me that I can get inspired from. It is so nice!

What is YOURS?

I am 24 years old.

Puff Poms!

Two summers ago I saw these in a flower shop display. I looked at them a bit closer and figured out how easy they are to make at home!!! They are sooo cute for any part in the house, or for a party. I made these for a bridal shower this weekend. Which, I am going to blog more about with pictures afterward because my crafty-ness has gone to an all time madness high with this shower. ha ha! Anyway, here is a photo:





These cost me about $1 to make.

1.All you have to do is buy tissue paper with your color that you choose....you can spice it up and do a few different colors too.

2. Separate the tissue paper and cut in half...

3. Fold it down like a fan back and forth all the way.

4. Clench in the middle and wire it in.

5. Do this several times to make several puffs, and then wire them all together.

6. Separate the tissue paper to make them puffy and attach a ribbon to tie them!!!

Some answered Questions

Hey friends! So...I wanted to write this blog for a while but hadn't gotten to it. A lot of people when they ask about the Baha'i Faith, their first question is in regards to Jesus Christ as the son of God. Well! Great news is that you don't have to hold back on your feelings about Christ, because Baha'is believe and accept him as exactly who He said He was! :) Jesus Christ IS the Son of God. Here are some very enlightening Writings about Jesus himself. :) My brother Josh, recently put it into great perspective. He said he had recently been reading the New Testament, and thought, Sheesh! This is great!! And for centuries and centuries people have been fighting about this!? It's SO simple what Jesus taught!! I love it. It really is so simple!!

"The brilliant Star of Jesus rose from the horizon upon the Israelites, brightening the world, until all sects and creeds and nations were taught the beauty of unity. There cannot be any better proof than this that Jesus was the Word of God." (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 42

"All the Prophets of God, including Jesus Christ, appeared in the world for the education of humanity, to develop immature souls into maturity, to transform the ignorant of mankind into the knowing, thereby establishing love and unity through divine education and training. The Prophets have not come to cause discord and enmity. For God has wished all good for His servants, and he who wishes the servants of God evil is against God; he has not obeyed the will and emulated the example of God; he has followed Satanic leadings and footprints. The attributes of God are love and mercy; the attribute of Satan is hate. Therefore, he who is merciful and kind to his fellowmen is manifesting the divine attribute, and he who is hating and hostile toward a fellow creature is satanic. God is absolute love, even as Jesus Christ has declared, and Satan is utter hatred. Wherever love is witnessed, know that there is a manifestation of God's mercy; whenever you meet hatred and enmity, know that these are the evidences and attributes of Satan. The Prophets have appeared in this world with the mission that human souls may become the expressions of the Merciful, that they may be educated and developed, attain to love and amity and establish peace and agreement." — The Baha'i Writings ('Abdu'l-Bahá, in The Promulgation of Universal Peace)

Ps. Why am I so fascinated and enthralled with religion?!?!?! I don't know any blonde haired girl who likes to paint her nails bright pink and has sparkly things surrounding her room that loves the study of religion as much as I do!!! Ha ha. I love it! I am so intrigued by it.....and so it is!!! I think it is fascinating, it is something that I am interested in always to learn more of! :)

A good old Tum saved the day

So.....for a few several days I have been having this severe pain in my chest....right around my heart. This happened all at the same time that I have been feeling pretty depressed. I've let myself slip into this depression lately, and I hate it! So....I felt that this pain in my heart was coming from this sadness. I told Chris that I was having exceptional pain in my chest and that I was so sad my heart was going numb! I told him I needed prayers because my heart is in so much pain....spiritual and emotional so much that its causing physical pain! Sooo sad for me huh? Anyway, it started spreading down my arm. It got so extreme that my ribs were tingling, my arm, my whole heart. This had been going on for days. Finally, last night, I said...hey....maybe it's heart burn? What does heart burn feel like? Chris explained it to me......I was like hey! Give me a Tum. lol....so I took 1 baby little pink tum, and within an hour, I was able to burp...(haha, like a baby!) and guess what...the pain went away!!!!!!!! ha ha ha ha. I can't believe it. I was thinking this pain was from being so depressed lately. But All thanks to a TUM, it saved the day!

I hate feeling this way lately though! I've been so down, telling myself I am an ultimate loser. I know.....this doesn't sound like Katie....but I have to fix it up immed! I've been down on myself so bad lately, wishing I was everyone else but me! I know, not normal! But, it will get better. I know it will!!! :) (please don't judge me!!!! ha ha)

Would someone like to go get a cup of tea with me?

haha! As I was writing the title to this blog I starting almost laughing and crying at the same time. Laughing because it is so absurd and crying because I am really serious. Ha ha! Well. Here is the thing. I have not had a phone in two months. I don't have a car either. I am going a bit stir crazy! I am at this point where I feel like I can't even get started on anything. I do things of course, like I am planning a bridal shower for my sis in law, and I do crafts and such. However, I've recently reached this level where I feel like I am a maniac that is going around in menical circles! ha ha! (that was a nervous haha with shifty eyes and sweating!) So, this is what I am saying. I miss having a social life. I miss having friends to connect with on a real level. Ahhhh I miss college days! I miss living in the dorms. It was so easy to find friends or someone to chat with back then. I miss all the dances, activities, parties, dates and everything that college gave me. Missing those days!!! But this is now! This is NOW katie danner! Anyway, I am wondering if someone would like to actually get together with me? I think it would be so fun to go out a get cup of tea and talk. I miss talking and having real friends! I spend so much of my time on facebook and blogging, that I miss having real friends and having real social interactions. So...what do you say? My phone number is 801-900-3114. This is my 'google' phone. haha! Nerdy again! If I don't answer LEAVE a message, or text me!!! Or write on here please! Love, KT

I loved/am grateful for these tonight.

I have been feeling an immense amount of anxiety the last few days....an overwhelming amount. I have had troubles breathing even. I have so much on my mind, so many things I am pondering. I went searching for these two wonderful writings that I love, and while looking them up, I came across the most perfect one for me this evening that I would like to share with anyone out there. It was this:

Turning the face towards God brings healing to the body,
the mind and the soul.

(Dr. J.E. Esslemont, Baha'u'llah and the New Era, p. 99)

It's so funny how sometimes a few simple words can be the most powerful thing in the universe. Here are the original writings I was looking up and love so much:

Bestow upon me a heart which, like unto glass, may be illumined with the light of Thy love, and confer upon me a thought which may change this world into a rose-garden through the spiritual bounty. Thou art the Compassionate, the Merciful! Thou art the Great Beneficent God!"(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v3, p.)

And another:

O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.

O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord. - 'Abdu'l-Bahá

MY LIST

I am 24 years old, approaching the big 2-5. I have done so many great things so far in my young age, but this is only just the beginning!! There is so much for me to do, to see, to be, to visit, and so much more! So, here is my list. I will start now, and I will add to it as things come up. Here is MY LIST to DO:

• Visit Ireland. Go to Ireland as a single young girl, and run through the vast green hills.
  
  
• Ride a camel.
• Go to Hawaii or the Caribbean at least once
  
• Visit or serve in the Holy Land
  
• Go off sugar for an extended period of time
  
  
• Get a picture with a penguin
  
• Visit France and Italy
  
  
• Visit Hollands massive Tulip fields
  
  
• Travel to interesting places, capture of a photo of me in front of world monuments, and frame them around my house. For instance, a photo of me and the eiffel tower, photo of me in Israel, in Ireland, at a beach in Hawaii etc...and frame them around my house!
  
  
• Write my very own book or inspirational blog
  
  
• Visit the House of Worship in Chicago
  
  
• Teach classes or seminars about progressive societies and how to unite cultures etc.
• Decorate my own home with flavor, color and beauty!
  
  
• Be a good example for my nieces and nephews

• Marry the love of my life and have a splendid and lovely life purpose together
  

Ok, this is all I have for now. It's so weird that it is so short, but I can honestly say I have done so many of the things I have reallllly wanted to do.

2012!!!

A NEW YEAR! Woo-HOO! I am so excited for this and so ready to begin a new chapter in life. In 2012, this is what I am creating:

-My own apartment with walls that I can paint!! I want to paint the walls, bathroom, and hang white lights in my apartment!

-A job that is very abundant and where I can use my talents and personality!

-Traveling!!!

I want 2012 to be my year to TRAVEL!!!!!! I want to travel this world! I want to go to Ireland first, possibly Israel (I believe I am signed up for pilgrimage in Haifa for March 2012) and anywhere!! Maybe Hawaii? I would love to go to Hawaii!! I want to travel and take photos of all the places I go, and frame a picture of each place on my wall. This has been my dream for many years.

This brings me back to my job. I have a Bachelor degree in Communications, and I have plenty of training and experience in Event Planning. I can do T.V., I can be a representative for a company, I can do ANYTHING! I am OPEN to so many possibilities!!! I literally am open to anything!!! I can create an awesome job that fits my personality so well!! I am so excited, I can feel it coming!!!