Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. - Psalm 37:7 I don't know about you, but I am not very good at waiting. Just last week, I was sitting in a doctor's office (for what seemed to be an unreasonably long time), and I began to feel a bit frustrated. We've all felt it at some point. Waiting forever in a line at the post office, at a red light, on food to come out at a restaurant... surely this isn't just me?! In life, we are ALWAYS waiting on something. A 5-year-old is excitedly waiting to start Kindergarten. A high school senior can't wait to graduate. A college graduate anxiously awaits their first job. Becoming a homeowner, falling in love, starting a family, a healing, retirement - it's never-ending. As an educator, I can attest to the fact that, if we're being honest, we are usually always on the countdown. I have been counting down the weeks until school starts again because I love my job and the promise of a new beginning. But...I also know there are 78 school days until Christmas break (Where my teachers at?!). What is something you are waiting on in your life right now? It can be disheartening to feel like I spend my life waiting for the next great milestone or promise of God, instead of just appreciating where He has me RIGHT NOW. No, I am not married yet, and I haven't started my own family - I am still waiting on those desires of my heart to be fulfilled. But God did not intend for us to live like this, wishing our lives away, full of worry and "what ifs." There is SO MUCH He has for me RIGHT NOW, and I can have peace in knowing He is in control. No matter where you are in life or what you're waiting on, God has a plan for you. He wants to use this season to grow your faith and strengthen your relationship with Him. Waiting doesn't have to be a bad thing! Enjoy the valley because there is a great mountaintop up ahead. Patience is a Virtue As the oldest grandchild on my mom's side of the family (and the only girl), my Grandmother was constantly telling me to have "the patience of Job." When I was younger, this would annoy me - I did not want to wait for my little brother to stop nagging me... I wanted to put him in a headlock. But, as an adult, my Grandmother's words have been written on my heart. Job faced unfathomable trials and yet persisted through the valley to the other side. His faith was unshakable. Patience in the waiting draws us closer to the Lord as we learn to depend fully on Him. How do you wait? Because waiting can be so difficult, sometimes we wait by filling our lives with things to take our minds off of the stress - reality TV and social media scrolling are just two of my guilty pleasures. But is this how God wants me to wait? I have a feeling the answer is probably no. Instead, I can focus on spending more quiet time with Him through prayer, journaling, and reading His Word. The Bible also says to praise Him, even in the waiting. When I am upset or feeling stressed, one of my favorite things to do is kneel down at my flower beds to plant something new, play Christian music, and praise Him. It's humbling, and I always feel a little closer to Him when I'm on my knees. I recently bought these olive and sage plants, and digging in the dirt as I planted them was honestly therapeutic. It is amazing what nature and a little Jesus jams can do for the soul! Go for a jog, watch the sunset, mow the grass, star-gaze. Spend your wait glorifying Him and appreciating all of His amazing creation! I promise you won't be disappointed. Teachers and Librarians, I am praying for you at the start of this new school year! Don't wish away this first semester waiting for Christmas break, but instead, pour into every child God places in your path. Use this time to plant mustard seeds and make a difference for His Kingdom. Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” Luke 13: 18-19 ... Read more
In the Waiting
15 Blogging Tips for a Beginner by a Beginner
This post may contain affiliate links which won't change your price but will share some commission. If you want to blog, but don't know where to begin, you have found your starting point! From one learner to another, I've got your back. Two weeks ago, I didn't have the slightest idea of how to get started, and now, here I am, ready to help you begin your very own blogging adventure! Tip #1 - Reach out to bloggers you know or love to follow The first thing I did was reach out to my friend over at Kim's Cravings for some blogging pointers. I told her one of my summer goals was to start a blog - I love to write and was hoping to make a little extra money on the side. But getting started felt like the hardest part! She gave me some tips about domains, hosting, and advertising, and then she recommended I sign up for the Fantabulous Blogging 101 course. This was the BEST blogging decision I could have ever made! Tip #2 - Sign up for Fantabulous Blogging 101 TODAY First of all, if you do not follow @fantabulosity_blog on Instagram, you are missing out! Jessica is the sweetest, and her blog - Fantabulosity - is a-mazing! #goals. I learned SO MUCH through her Fantabulous Blogging 101 course, and by following her step-by-step through the modules, I was up and running with my very own blog in just two days! I cannot say enough good things about Jessica and this course! If you're reading this and want to start a blog, go sign up. Right now. You will not be disappointed. Tip #3 - Pick a color scheme on Pinterest Start with your favorite color. For the purposes of my blog, I knew I wanted to include mustard yellow (shocker). So I went to Pinterest and searched "mustard color schemes." There is definitely no shortage of options! I saved some of my favorite images, but then thought to myself, "These are pretty colors, but how do I know EXACTLY what colors codes to use?" Enter HTML Color Codes - You can upload a picture and hover over each color to discover its exact color code. Hallelujah! I started a Google Slide with notes for my blog, including the color codes and fonts I liked in order to keep my site coordinating throughout. In the examples below, I just inserted the color scheme pictures I liked into my Word document, then overlaid text boxes for each color code so I could remember which was which. *BONUS Tip - Try to narrow down to 3 colors (and maybe one neutral) you want to use on your blog. Any more than that, and it can become too busy and overwhelming for readers. Tip #4 - Design your logo using Chicfetti's Free Logo Maker I started off designing my logo in Canva (which is a great resource for creating blog graphics), but I never could get it quite right. Then, I stumbled upon this Free Logo Maker by Chicfetti, and BOOM! - my header was done in 5 minutes! This is a super simple interface to use and has cute fonts and design elements built right in. My advice when it comes to a logo is to keep it simple - less is always more. * Update: Since beginning this blog three years, ago, I have since gone back and recreated my logo and header using Canva. However, this is still an excellent, easy-to-use resource! Tip #5 - Purchase a Wordpress theme from Etsy Wordpress.org does provide many free blog themes, but if you're looking for cutesy (and I was), go straight to Etsy. The amount of themes available can be overwhelming at first! I chose to purchase Farmhouse by Tinselpop, and I'm loving it! Here's why: The theme was easy to install and has a clean, user-friendly layout.The seller responded to my messages quickly and was super helpful in walking this newbie through how to customize different aspects of my site (colors, fonts, etc.).For a first-time Wordpress blogger, I was SUPER appreciative of the "Set Up Instructions" included with my purchase! Tip #6 - Change font colors in your blog posts using Classic Editor Sometimes, you just want words to POP, right?! When I write Mustard Seed Reads, I want to change the color of the font to mustard yellow. With the new Gutenberg editing experience in Wordpress, I haven't found a way to ONLY change the font color of a few words. However, if you download the plugin Classic Editor, you can activate it, go in to your post, change font colors, save draft, then go back in to Plugins and deactivate it when you're not using it. Tip #7 - Use Unsplash for copyright-free images As you begin blogging, you may find yourself in need of a generic image to use for a post or maybe for the background of a blog graphic you're creating. For my first post, "He Alone is Able," I just wanted a simple, open Bible. But, the Librarian / copyright police inside me knew I couldn't just use any random picture I found on Google. Then I discovered Unsplash, which offers "beautiful, free images and photos that you can download and use for any project." All they ask when you download an image is to give credit where credit is due. Easy enough. Tip #8 - Buy photo presets from Etsy We've all seen the Facebook and Instagram ads for the presets that lighten your photos and make them look profesh. I love Etsy (probably a little too much), and they have SO MANY presets you can purchase to give your pictures that extra oomph! Follow these steps to make sure all your blog photos are on point: First, download Adobe Lightroom for your mobile device (because we all take our pictures with our phones now, right?). You'll also need the free app iZip (for iPhone users).Then, search "Adobe mobile presets" on Etsy. Again, an overwhelming amount of choices! Good luck.Purchase the one you like. I bought "10 BRIGHT & AIRY Lightroom Mobile Presets" by KalaRathPhotography just to get started. BONUS - The seller included a very helpful "Installation Guide for Lightroom."For these next steps, I created a short video to walk you through the installation process: In Safari, open the zip folder from your Etsy purchase and click "Open in iZip." "Would you like to extract all files?" Click OK. Select the first preset you would like to install (click the arrow to the right). Select "Open in" and then "Copy to Lightroom CC." A generic photo from the seller should appear. Click the three dots in the top right corner and select "Create Preset." Name the preset and save it to the preset group of your choice. It's ready to go! From now on, for any photo you upload into Adobe Lightroom, just scroll over, click "Presets" and find the one you want to use! Tip #9 - Set up Mailchimp for your blog subscriptions Whatever plugin I initially used for my "Sign up to follow" subscription widget...it did not do the job for me. When I had my mom sign up as my guinea pig, it sent her this ugly-looking confirmation email from the 90s, and there was no way to customize it. Delete. Then Jessica suggested Mailchimp, and I love it! Mailchimp is an email marketing platform that allows you to customize the automated subscription emails that are sent out, as well as create and send newsletters to your audience. Now, my opt-in confirmation email looks like this - clean, consistent with my brand, and no more "Howdy." Tip #10 - Sign up for an address using Viabox I got my Mailchimp account all set up and cute and then BAM! - they hit me with the following message: Nope. I'm out. I don't want the whole world knowing where I live! I've seen way too many Datelines gone bad. But then Jessica (from Fantabulosity) told me some of her other blogger friends have used Viabox, the global leader in package forwarding that provides you with a forever free physical US address. I signed up within minutes and now use my Viabox address in my Mailchimp email footer. Maybe I live in Oregon, maybe I don't. Privacy protected. *Side note - Make sure you follow through with Viabox by submitting PS Form 1583 and two forms of identification. Even if you don't plan to send or receive much mail using this address, you still need to verify it and stay on the up-and-up. Tip #11 - Create an email specifically for your blog If you are using SiteGround for hosting (like me), follow these steps to set up your own, professional blog email: Log in to your SiteGround accountClick "My Accounts"Click the red button "Go to cPanel"Scroll to the middle of the page and under Mail click "Email Accounts"Enter your information and BAM! - yourname@yourdomain.com.The email runs through Webmail via cPanel, then I chose Horde as my default Webmail application. Tip #12 - Link Google Analytics with Google Search Console Google Analytics is "a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic [and] gives you the tools you need to better understand your customers." Google Search Console is "a free service offered by Google that helps you monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your site's presence in Google Search results." In order to promote your blog through Google and really get your name out there, you'll need to link the two by following the steps Google provides. Just search "Configuring Search Console data in Analytics." BUT, here's my tip that Google didn't share with me: Add your website property in Google Search Console using "URL Prefix" (on the right). When I did it as "Domain" the first time, it wouldn't let me sync with Google Analytics for some reason. Using "URL Prefix" worked! Tip #13 - Secure your site It's always a little sketch when you visit a site and it says "Not secure" in red up in the address bar. It makes me stop and think, "Should I really be here? This feels wrong." Am I taking you back to your high school days yet? You do NOT want your blog making people feel that way, so you need to make sure it's secure! Follow the steps in the video below to install a free SiteGround SSL certificate (assuming you're using SiteGround, like me). Now everyone will trust you. Tip #14 - "Inspect" your blog to find specific codes you want to change Did you find something about your blog theme that you don't really love? For me, it was pink everywhere, and there was no option to change the colors I wanted to change. Frustrating. But, when you are in Appearance - Customize, you can right-click on any aspect of your blog that you'd like to change the code for and then select "Inspect." A bunch of gibberish will pop up on the right (I'm a Librarian, not a coder). But, you can figure out how to change the code for fonts, colors, etc. using a combination of this method and Googling. Once you figure out the code you need, you can just add it to the Additional CSS over on the left. Which brings me to my next tip... Tip #15 - Use Google and YouTube - they are your best friends I promote coding in my Library, but I'm all about the drag-and-drop blocks. I have never dealt with HTML or CSS in my life (did I even use those correctly in a sentence?). The good news is that SOMEONE out there has probably had the same questions you're having, so Google it and watch YouTube. Whatever you do, don't give up. There is a code to fix every problem you have and a genius somewhere out there willing to help you! ... Read more
Bitmoji Library Rules
I know we may not want to think about it right now, but school starts back up next month, and I have the cutest FREE, editable printable for you to get back in the swing of things! Bitmoji Library Rules! On your desktop or laptop, make sure you are signed in to your Google account, then click on the download link below. Go to File - Make a Copy - and BOOM, they're yours to customize! A copy can now be found in your own Google Drive! Add/change rules, Bitmojis, colors, and more! Adding Your Own Bitmoji There are a few different ways to do this: If you are using Google Chrome as your browser, the easiest way is to go to Apps - Chrome Web Store and install the Bitmoji Extension. Once you sign in to your Bitmoji account, the icon will be located in the top right corner of your browser screen (at the end of the address bar). You can copy/paste your Bitmojis directly onto your posters from this extension! Easy peasy. And now you'll be obsessed with adding your Bitmoji to everything! You can also use the Bitmoji app on your phone. Go in to the app, then click on the Bitmoji you'd like to use. You can share each Bitmoji with yourself (airdop to your Mac, add to your Google Drive, email, and more). Then, you'll need to upload each image to your posters one by one. Printing To change the print size, go to File - Print settings and preview. I hang my posters near my circulation desk in a limited space, so I print mine as "Handout - 2 slides per page" in Portrait. But if you want your posters larger, just print as "1 slide without notes" in Landscape. Displaying Since these posters are in Google Slides, I have them running on a loop on the large screen in my Library for the first few weeks of school. To do that: Go to File - Publish to the web...Choose the amount of time you want your slides to auto-advance (I do every 5 seconds)Make sure both boxes are checked ("Start slideshow as soon as the player loads" and "Restart the slideshow after the last slide")Click PublishCopy/paste the link it provides into a new tab, and let your Bitmoji Library Rules run! I hope you love customizing and using these Bitmoji Library Rules this upcoming school year! Drop a comment below with ideas for more rules you have in your own Library or classroom. ... Read more
Gluten Free Girls’ Getaway to Charleston
Last summer, my mom, aunt, and I decided to take our first-ever, girls-only trip to Charleston, South Carolina. We had less than four full days to explore, and we packed in as much fun as we could! As excited as I was, I also felt very overwhelmed. This was my first vacation to plan since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease, and the last thing I wanted was to be on this vacation and not know where and what to eat. Or even worse, to wing it and get sick. In preparation for the trip, I researched gluten free restaurants and menus for hours, even taking the time to call and speak to managers on the phone. So, if you are headed to Charleston and need to eat gluten free, I hope this itinerary helps relieve some of your anxiety so you can focus on having a blast with your girls! Day One Checked-in at Andrew Pinckney Inn. This was the cutest hotel, located within walking distance to downtown restaurants and shopping. They also offered complimentary breakfast each day, so that took some eating stress off of me right away (fruit, eggs, coffee...I'm good to go!).Explored Charleston City Market for the first time. We loved watching people make the sweetgrass baskets and learning about the history of this craft being passed down from generation to generation. Palmetto Carriage Works - We took the "Daytime Group Carriage Ride - Residential District" and were able to see several historic landmarks (without all the walking!). Bonus - Our tour guide was full of interesting tidbits about the city. Dinner at Fleet Landing Restaurant - I had the Pan-Seared Tilapia with Fingerling Potato and Sun-Dried Tomato Hash, Charred Asparagus, and Citrus-Basil Butter. Delish. If the weather is nice, ask to be seated outside - the view is gorgeous.Explored East Bay StreetWaterfront Park and Pineapple FountainRainbow Row - This is one of Charleston's most-photographed spots and a must-see before you leave. I bought a souvenir Christmas ornament of Rainbow Row at the City Market just because I loved it that much! Day Two Boone Hall Plantation - This was by far our favorite plantation experience of the trip! Boone Hall is the oldest working plantation in our country, scenes from The Notebook were filmed here, AND Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds chose this beautiful place for their wedding. Obsessed.Lunch at Mercantile and Mash. They offer yummy salads and gluten free bread for their sandwiches. Plus, this place doubles as a cute little store. Who doesn't love to eat and shop?Fort Sumter Tour - This boat excursion takes you out to explore the grounds of Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. If you're a history buff like me, you'll love it! Bonus - We saw some dolphins along the way! Explored King StreetAmerican Theater - Another scene from The Notebook was filmed here. You know the one... Noah and Allie lay in the street watching a traffic light before getting up and dancing.King Street Cookies - Stopped in for a gluten free cookie and some milk. Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams - SO MANY gluten free options! I had Gooey Butter Cake in a cup.Blue Bicycle Books - My Librarian heart had to at least peek inside.Dinner at Charleston Crab House. I had Cheesy Shrimp and Grits, which is not on the menu, but ask for it and you won't be sorry! This was my favorite meal of the trip. Seriously. I'm craving it now just thinking about it. Day Three Explored DowntownSt. Michael's Church - Robert E. Lee and George Washington attended services here and sat right where I'm sitting / totally geeking out, in pew No. 43. Circular Congregational Church Cemetery - The city's oldest burial grounds with monuments dating from 1695!More shopping at Charleston City Market.Lost track of time shopping = snacks in the car for lunch.Drayton Hall - Now a National Historic Landmark, Drayton Hall is the only plantation house on the Ashley River to have survived through both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Original hand-carved trim around the fireplaces and ceilings still remains intact.Magnolia Plantation and Gardens - These are the oldest public gardens in America, and they were beautiful! We enjoyed the Historic Gardens (and all the roaming peacocks), then took the Slavery to Freedom and Plantation House tours.Dinner at Hyman's Seafood. I had Shrimp and Grits again (When in Rome. No judging). These weren't as great as at the Crab House, but cheaper if you're on a budget like me, and the atmosphere was fun. Day Four Angel Oak Tree - Estimated at 400-500 years old, this gigantic, beautiful tree is believed to be one of the oldest living things in the country. Charleston Tea Plantation - If you're a Southern girl like me and you love tea, then you'll love this stop on the trip! Charleston Tea Plantation is the only tea plantation in North America! We shopped in the gift shop, tried out different flavors of tea, and took the free factory tour; unfortunately, due to rain, the trolley tour wasn't running the day we were there.Lunch at Corys Grilled Cheese. So, when we ate here, it was actually their last day to be open at their storefront, but now they have a traveling grilled cheese truck that you MUST track down! I had the Philly Grilled Cheese Steak on gluten free bread...YUM! Bonus - They were SUPER knowledgable about Celiac Disease.Folly Beach - We couldn't leave Charleston without setting foot on a beach and putting our toes in the Atlantic. This was a beautiful beach, and we loved seashell searching along the shoreline (say that 5 times fast)!Quick dinner at Mellow Mushroom - a pizza place not far from the airport that offers gluten free crust and topping options.Home again, home again, jiggity jig. I can happily report that my planning paid off, and I did not get "glutened" at all! However, things can change over time, so as always, please double-check with your server before ordering and always advocate for yourself. *** Note: I've also heard great reviews about Minero, Gnome Cafe, and Burton's Grill, but we just ran out of time! Charleston is filled with so many gluten-free friendly options... I'll just have to go back someday! ... Read more
He Alone Is Able
As I was spending time with God in His Word this week, the same idea kept popping off the page to me - "He alone." Just like everyone else in this world, I struggle with different issues, and, by nature, I try to control them. I worry. A lot. What are some things you worry about? No matter what it is, He tells us in Matthew 25:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." And so, even though I've known it my entire life, it hit me - He alone is able. The same God who performed miracles in the Bible is still our same God today. He can calm my fears, give me strength, and fill my heart with peace. He alone will direct my path in the most perfect way. Unfortunately, I won't be able sit on my throne and have all of my dreams handed to me on a silver platter. He alone is ABLE to do that, but it doesn't mean He WILL. God calls us to be active participants in following our dreams. Sometimes those dreams may not be part of His plan for our lives, but His plan is ALWAYS greater! Although I WANT Pilot Pete to randomly come knock on my door and sweep me off my feet (and God is certainly ABLE to do that for me), I have a feeling I should probably be doing something more realistic on my end in the meantime. Maybe I'll apply for The Bachelor... What can I (really) do? So, I know one thing I CAN do right now is pray for my future husband every day, and trust that God is preparing us for and leading us to one another. I can: focus on ME and loving myself, continue working towards my independence, strengthen my personal relationship with Christ, explore different churches, and meet new people. All of these things are things I can do in the waiting, and God is able to give me the hope and patience I'll need as He leads me. He alone is able, and He alone is all I need. He alone can move mountains and part waters! Even if we can't see it in our lives right this second, we can know everything that happens is all part of His greater plan. Continue to trust in Him, have faith (even if it's as small as a mustard seed) and always remember.....He alone is able. ... Read more