Currently Reading

I love to read! Unfortunately with school I have not been able to read books of my choice. One reason is because I had other books to read for various assignments, but another reason is because I just really did not have time. Well the semester if finally ending and I now have time to read again! Here's the book I'm currently reading. 

The Happiness Project

by Gretchen Rubin.

This is a self-help book. I am not unhappy by no means, but I have ran across this book more than once and it always catches my eye. I had to order some book for school off of Amazon, and I needed to add one more item to have my order over $25 so I could get the free shipping. Well I ended up finally getting this book. I haven't read much of it yet, but so far it is really good!

 

I'll let you what I think about it when I finish it!

Have you read this book before? What did you think?

 

xoxo

Chevron

So I'm pretty sure you've noticed, but the chevron print has become pretty popular these days. I really don't even know how it got started, but I love it! I am right in line with all the other people who are currently obsessing with the print. It can be on anything, it really doesn't matter as long as it's the chevron print I'll love it. Ha ha. Now, if you have the grey and white or a coral chevron print I'm in love even more (if that is even possible!). I am currently trying to master the art of painting the print, but I have not successfully succeeded yet.
For now, I will just continue to admire anything and everything I find in chevron!

 

 

Here is some fabric I recently purchased! I actually have some pillows like this already, but I bought this fabric for an order. I just love these colors!

 

How do you feel about chevron? Do you have another pattern you are obsessing over?

xoxo

 

Scarves

Scarf season is finally here! I seriously think I have an obsession with scarves. I buy WAY to many! Every time I go shopping I am instantly drawn to the scarves...like seriously INSTANTLY! ha ha. I do try to hold myself back so I won't go broke just from the scarves. Luckily I have figured out how to make scarves, so being able to make them helps me not buy so many. I love how scarves help keep me warm. I am always cold! I am always the one in class who is freezing while everybody else is sweating. Scarves are a way to help me stay warm and still look cute.

Here are some pictures of the scarves I make:

 

 

 

If you would like one, check out my Facebook page! Or you can email me at brittneyraedesigns@gmail.com

The scarves can be many in any color!

xoxo

Relax

Well this week is midterm exam time. I don't know if I'm happy about it, or if I'm stressing out. I can't believe it is already have way through the semester. I have had to do so much homework this semester. This semester by far has been the hardest one I have taken! I have been struggling to find things to do to help me not freak out and to just relax. Everyone MUST relax at some point. I know if I stayed stressed all of the time and never took time to relax, I would possibly explode.

 

Ways I like to Relax:

 

 

Go on a walk.

 I love going on walks, but my problem is finding someone to go with me. I guess I need to start going by myself. This is a local walking trail in my town; isn't it just beautiful! 

 

 

 

Exercise.

This main sound strange, but I really do enjoy exercising. I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment I get once I have finished. I usually either do the Wii Fit or I do Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30 DVD. The Jillian Michael's DVD defiantly works! I can tell the moment I turn it off.

I also like to do the Wii Fit. The activity I enjoy the most on the Wii Fit is the yoga. I'm not sure if I doing the yoga moves correctly and I usually lose my balance, but I enjoy how calming yoga can be (once I can actually stand still and hold a pose ha ha!).

 

Taking a Bubble Bath.

I absolutely love taking bubble baths, but I don't have the time to take them as often as I would like. Taking a bubble bath helps me relax because I am basically forcing myself not to work on anything. I just sit in the wonderfully hot water and enjoy it. I usually light a couple candles to make it start smelling good in my bathroom. Sometimes I will turn on the radio or play a CD, but I usually just sit in the silence and enjoy every minute of it!

 

 

Painting.

I truly love to paint. I discovered a couple of years ago that I actually do have a talent for it too. I started out just painting stuff for myself or stuff for gifts. It eventually got to where a few people asked me if I could paint them something for their room/house. Now I have expanded and I offer so much. I now have a name for my little "business." I also have a steady amount of orders coming in. It is a wonder feeling to know people are actually interested in my items!

 

I need to try to give myself more relaxation time. I tend to stress out easily, especially this week during midterm exams. I just have to make sure I am balancing my time and not staying up late completing assignments and then trying to wake up early to go to class. That will make you completely exhausted!

What do you like to do to relax when life gets stressful?

Rainy Day

I am sure I am not the only one who is not a fan of rainy days. I don't mind them if I get to stay at home all day, but that rarely gets to happen. Usually the rainy days are on the days where I am barely home because I'm busy out running errands.

The one thing I do love about rainy days is that I get to wear my rain boots!

Mine are just simple black, but I still love them. I would like to eventually get some other color ones, but my black ones will work just fine for now.

 

Here are some cute rain boots:

 

 Zora Rain Boots from Target 




I love the string detail at the top of these!
Stephanie Rain Boots from Target




I really do love the color of these!
Anna Neon Rain Boots from Target


I don't know if you noticed, but all of these boots are from Target! I love the boots there because they are so affordable and cute! What's your favorite kind of rain boots?
 

Survival Bracelets

One of my most recent projects is making survival bracelets.

They are make of about 8 feet of paracord! I mainly were mine just as a daily accessory

instead of only while hiking or outdoors.

They can be ordered with just one solid color, or with two different colors.

They can be made in practically any color!

The single color ones are $5, and
the two color one are $6.

Here are some examples of ones I have already made:

Pink and Pink & Grey

Salmon & Turquoise

Crimson &White

Lime Green and Pink & Lime Green

Blue

What do you think? Are there any other colors you think would be great?

xoxo

Stressful

Well this week is only my second week of school and I'm already beginning to stress out. The first couple of weeks are very stressful for me because we are given so much information about all of our classes at once. It's a lot of information to take in at once!

I have two major goals for this semester of school: to not procrastinate (possibly get ahead if I can), and to stay organized.

If I can maintain these goals throughout the semester I think it will easily keep my stress level down.

 

 I have four resources that really help me remain organized and on top of things.

 

1. Planner

 

 

I use my planner constantly! I would say mine is a medium size planner. It's not a pocket size, but it's not a large one either. I love it because it fits perfectly into my purse, but I am currently switching to a large monthly calendar. I need more room to write my assignments. I purchased this planner at Walmart.

 

2. Homework Notebook

 

 

A homework notebook is a new thing for me. I thought it would be good to have a notebook where I can list everything that's due for each class together on the same page. This will help me be able to easily glance and see what assignments I have due for the following week. As you can see I do not have much wrote down, but I'm sure I will soon considering school has just began.

 

3. Notebook Binder with Tab Dividers

 

 

An organized notebook is a necessity for any class in my opinion. Tab dividers make it so easy to quickly put away or find an assignment or handout.

 

4. Be Prepared

 

 

 I take this pencil pouch to all f my classes. I keep it fully stocked with different colored pens and highlighters. I use the different pens when taking notes in class because I try to only use my highlighters when my teacher is reviewing for a test. I also keep sticky notes and little tab page markers in there too. They help me keep up with what page in my books have important information.

How do you handle the first few days of school? What do you do to stay organized?
xoxo 



Coffee

So I have made a promise to myself to write a post everyday. I realized that I had put all the time and effort into creating this blog, and I was letting it all go to waste. I am going to focus this blog on various topics. I will talk about my current items I am creating, but I will also be putting thing that interest me as well.

I am drinking a cup of coffee as I write this post, so it only seemed appropriate to discuss that. I have recently discovered that I absolutely LOVE coffee! I try to drink it every morning, but sometimes I am running late and I don't have time to pour me a cup. If I have the time I'll put my coffee in a travel mug to with me so I can drink it while I drive.

 

These are some of my favorite travel mugs:

 

I really do love leopard print on just about anything! I especially love it on this 16oz Tervis tumbler! I love Tervis! Their cups come in different sizes I just prefer the 16 oz. Their cups can hold hot or cold drinks, and you can get a lid for them all! That makes them great for traveling!

 

 

This mug from Dixieland Monogram is pink AND monogrammed, what else could you ask for!?

 

 

This Jonathan Adler mug from Pea Pod Paper is so cute! There's something about lime green and blue together that I love. The two colors just go perfectly together!

How do you feel about coffee? What is your favorive travel mug?

xoxo