College Closet Essentials

Well, yesterday I cleaned out my closet and drawers so when I pack, I'm not so overwhelmed! As I was digging through my piles of clothes, I started mentally creating a clothing packing list! So, here is my list of what I'm for sure planning on bringing with me to IWU! (I even broke it down to what you should bring when! You're welcome!)

For All Seasons!

1. Nude cami: I seriously cannot live without this beauty. I wear them with practically everything. I'm kind of OCD about having my cami show through my shirts. For example, with a white t-shirt. My bra shows through so I always need a cami, but white was just so obvious. But tada! Magically hidden with my nude cami. I also love it was lace shirts! Lace is such a hot trend every single shirt seems to have it somewhere. A nude cami covers everything perfectly, and you don't see the obvious cami! So seriously. Get one. (I actually have 2 I use it so much.)

2. Cardigans: Cardigans are also a fashion staple for me. You can literally wear them with everything. Graphic t-shirt? Cardigan. Dress? Cardigan. Tank top? Cardigan. Shall I continue? Okay, I will. Just kidding (; They are perfect for transitional weather. I just push up the sleeves when it's warmer outside or keep them down if it's cool. I think I have 8, all in different colors, and I wear them all. You seriously cannot have too many and you will wear them all the time.

3. Dark Wash Jeans: This one is probably super obvious, but I had to mention it. Dark wash jeans look good with every single color. I have not found something (other than maybe black) that I wouldn't wear with my dark wash jeans. They just look classy. You can dress them up, or you can dress them down and they'll still make you look like you know what you're doing. I am bringing 2-3 pairs of dark wash skinny jeans, and one pair of dark wash bootcut jeans.

4. Solid Color T-Shirts: What is more classic than a t-shirt? Maybe blue jeans, but I already mentioned those (; T-shirts are great, they don't take up much room and you can style them in so many different ways. They really are a blank canvas. Get a long statement necklace to dress it up, or pair them with patterns to liven them up. I love wearing my t-shirts with...

5. Scarves: SCARVES! You never can have too many of them. They're seriously so easy to wear and love. They can liven up so many outfits and you don't have to worry about looking plain in them ever! My favorites are infinity scarves. I get ones with bright patterns and I just wear shirts that have a similar color in them somewhere. I'll wear them with cardigans, t-shirts, and sweaters in the winter!

6. Chambray Shirt: I love these shirts! I always wear mine with colorful/patterned skinny jeans! But, you can wear them with so much more! If you don't have a denim jacket, just wear a chambray shirt! So, I've worn mine with dresses as a cover up a few times! You can roll up the sleeves in the warmer days or keep them down when it's cool.

7. Accesories: Don't go overboard, but get some relatively simple pieces in a neutral color so you can wear them with lots of outfits! Some of my favorites are extra long silver/pearl necklaces, white bubble necklaces, and something with gold in it! Then you have the basics for literally every outfit.


For Colder Months!

1. Knee High Boots: I have a pair of chocolate brown knee high riding boots and I love them in the fall. They're easy to pull on, keep your feet warm, and obviously look stunning! Buy some long boot socks for an extra warm touch! Maybe sure you waterproof your shoes (if needed) so they'll be safe in the snow/rain.

2. Leggings: Get a good, quality pair of full length black leggings. (You can do opaque tights, but they're not as warm!) You will wear them with so many things! You can give some of your dresses an extra month of wear time by adding some leggings. The only condition? Wear a long shirt. Please. Please. Please. It doesn't have to cover your whole behind, but you have to try.

3. Oversized Sweaters: Sweaters are perfect for your lazy winter days. It's dark and cold outside, the last thing you want to worry about is getting dressed up. Grab a pair of skinny jeans, your sweater, boots, and a knit scarf. You'll be featured on Pinterest in no time without even really trying. I have 3 or 4 oversized sweaters and I wore them on repeat all winter.



For Warmer Months!

1. Dresses/Skirts: Dresses and skirts are super popular now, so jump on the trend! Find 2 dresses you love and wear them when you're feeling cute! I'm sure you'll be complemented! You can wear one of your cardigans with it and a cute pair of sandals and you're ready to hit the town with some girl friends! I would also bring 2 maxi skirts! They're super easy, look cute, and are really comfortable! Pair them with a jean jacket or chambray shirt!

2. Colorful Skinny Jeans: I have like 5 pairs of colorful skinnys because they're so stinkin' cute! I usually roll them up to be capris, but you can wear them as traditional jeans as well! They're bright colors can't help but make you think of summer as you close out the school year!

3. Sandals: Everyone loves a pair of super cute sandals. Get your toes done, and then rock those strappy gladiators! Find a comfy pair though as you'll be walking around campus alot!

4. Midi-Shorts: I love me some midi-shorts! My school has rules about what length shorts are considered appropriate, and these typically do the trick! But, even if your school doesn't have these rules, you never know who you're going to meet where and sometimes you may need a pair of shorts that are slightly longer than you typically wear. If I want my shorts to be a little shorter, I just roll them up! No need to buy multiple kinds!


The great thing about all of these items is that they can be totally personalized by your style! You just need building blocks in your closet than you can mix and match to create lots of outfits! But, pack by seasons!


Do you have any suggestions?! Am I wrong about one of these items?! Let me know! I love love love feedback!

A Moment of Praise

Well, as I've hit the 2 week mark since I've shared my blog with the world I have nearly 1500 views. Now, I'm not sure if that's a lot or a little, but I'm ecstatic. I have been blessed with wonderful feedback already from many people. I thought as my blog is starting to (hopefully) gain some momentum, it would be a good time to post my mission statement for Sixteen Thirteen.

My purpose is to:

• Bring glory to God. I have been so blessed by Him in my life and He deserves all of the credit for that. I pray that this blog would speak to people and help everyone understand His love for all of us. 
• Connect with people. I love people and their stories because we all have a unique one. I'm hoping that sharing my experiences will open others up to share their own, which has already happened! Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." We, meaning author and reader, should be helping each other grow. 
• Have fun. I pray that this blog never becomes a "job" or something I'm not excited to add to. I hope it becomes a joyous outlet for re-living life's lessons. I hope I can make a reader or two smile, and that they will do the same to me. 

Once again, praise be to God for getting the blog this far and thanks to all of the wonderful people who've also made an impact in these short weeks. I hope you've liked what you've seen!

Please comment any suggestions you have for the blog as you move forward because this is a 2-way conversation! Don't just let me speak all the time because I know that gets boring for both of us. (;

Learning to Let Loose

There are a few things about me that I have a love-hate relationship with. Being a perfectionist is one of them. I mean, nothing ever looks or sounds terrible because I could not present it that way. However, I give myself a headache over something and it's really not necessary. Another is that I'm pretty book smart. I love that school (thus far) has come pretty easy to me, but it also seems to intimidate some people. I literally had a girl come up to me and say, "I didn't want to talk to you because you are so smart." Uhm, thanks? And last, but not least, God made me a listener. It's a blessing and a curse in my life. If someone is really struggling with something, I am always a person who will sit and listen to their problems. I let them unleash their emotions and usually make them feel better, which I absolutely love! On the other hand, when I am with a group of people, I listen and laugh at everyone's story but I'm not one to speak up and share my own. (Unless I'm really good friends with everyone, then I just blab...)

So, as I make my departure for school in two weeks (AHHHHH!) I know this is something I need to work on. Your first week of school is all about being outgoing and socializing with people you've never met before and it honestly terrifies me. Thankfully I have already met some amazing girls (shout out to Hallie @ Lux Bulbus and Natalie @ Armed and Dangerous (; ) so the transition will not be horrible. But, I still have a lot to work on! Now that I've had the longest intro to a topic ever let's get to the nitty gritty. 

How do I become more outgoing?!

First, you have to think about why you're not outgoing already. For me, and probably most of my fellow "shy" people, is a lack of confidence. I'm always worried about what I am going to say. Like oh my gosh, what if they don't think I'm funny?! What if my story is really dumb?! Yada Yada Yada you get the picture. It has nothing to do with not loving people or being anti-social. I love love love people and learning about their stories. It's a personal issue of not putting myself out there.

My "perfectionist" trait makes it hard for me to make a fool of myself. I don't ever want to look stupid in front of people I'm just getting to know. So, this causes me to put this super boring uninteresting guard up. So, my first piece of advice for opening up is to be goofy. Reality is that you are your worst critic. If you say something dumb or do something silly, people aren't going to remember it forever and judge you. They will laugh for 2 seconds and then move on with their lives. So, don't worry about it so much! I mean, think about someone you know who has messed up and done something silly. You probably can't even think of anything! And even if you do, I bet you still think the same of them. Everyone messes up, and it's okay! So, tell that story that may be dumb or no one will understand. At least you tried. 

Another thing that holds me back is that I am a people pleaser. I want to make everyone happy and be everyone's friend. Well, that's not going to happen. Ever. But, I used to really guard what I would say so that I would not offend anyone or pick a side/group. Where I ended up though was this grey area of all of my friendships. I didn't really have a core group to be with and I was just an acquaintance to many people. So, find some people you like and stick to them. Talk to them and don't worry about what everyone thinks. Because you're not going to make everyone happy! Just go for it!

My last piece of advice is that you need to understand it's going to be uncomfortable. The transition from being a listener to a talker is a hard one. It's going to feel unnatural at first because well, it is for you! But, stick to your guns and really put yourself out there. I guarantee people want to hear what you have to say! Especially when you're moving into your new dorm, everyone is in the same boat. It's really not a great situation for anyone, so just try to make the most of it. You don't want to look back on your college years and regret anything. 

You Are I Am

Sometimes we are too quick to forget about God's power. We start to put God into a box that we think we understand have can relate to and "You Are I Am" by MercyMe really convicted me and opened my eyes today.

"I've been the one to try and say,

"I'll overcome by my own strength."

But,

You're the one who conquers giants,

You're the one who calls out kings,

You shut the mouths of lions,

You tell the dead to breathe,

You're the one who walks through fire, 

You take the orphan's hand, 

You are the one Messiah,

You are I Am. "

Our God is so powerful, He can accomplish any of these tasks with a second thought. He controls all of the elements of our world, yet has such compassion and love for us. And we're sinners. I mean God grabs not only the orphan's hand, but your's and mine. 

And now I live with the Spirit inside.

The same one who brought the Son back to life. Hallelujah! He lives in me!

What a testament to God's never ending love. We have a small piece of His amazing grace living within us through the Holy Spirit. And yet, we are so quick to forget that. It was such a great reminder, I had to share.

If you'd like to listen to the full song, here it is!

There are Many Fish in the Sea, but...

Have you been feeling lonely?! Do you want to be in a relationship?! Are you ready to find your Prince Charming?! Hi, my name is Kayla and I'm here with Sixteen Thirteen to tell you how. In one easy step, you'll be on your way to lifelong happiness with the man of your dreams! The best part about this deal?! It's absolutely free! Want to find out the secret to love?! The key is to realize YOU'RE A CATCH.

That's it. No gimmicks, no special hairstyle, no fancy make-up, and no exercise program. If you want to find a genuine, friendly, kind, honorable man you just need to know you're a catch. 

You need to be a strong woman of God who recognizes that she is a unique and beautiful person! I mean, think about who you are attracted to. Are you attracted to the guy who has no confidence and constantly puts himself down or the guy who is charismatic, confident, and likeable. (I would go for the second one...) And guys are the same way! Good guys do not want to date a girl who sees herself as worthless. They want to be with someone who loves themselves and doesn't settle! It doesn't matter if you have been single your entire life, you need to believe that a man should be honored to date you. Psalm 139:14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." You are a beautiful, unique creation of God and you need to give yourself some credit!

If you start to focus on how you have been single for a long time and drain your confidence, your standards will go down. Is the confident girl ever the one who is dating a jerk? Nope. She realizes that she is worth more than how those men would treat her. However, if you are wallowing in loneliness you're going to jump for the first guy who texts you. And usually those types of relationships lead to a lot of regret.

So, I urge you to know you're special! If you start thinking that way, not only will you feel better about yourself, but guys are going to notice! (If they don't I have a money back guarantee on this advice. (; ) Once men realize you're no longer going to settle, they will step their game up! So, there may be a lot of fish in the sea, but you're a catch!

Before You Move In: Dorm Packing

Well, we already went over what you need to buy in part one of this three part series. (Missed it?! No worries. Catch up here! Before You Move In: Dorm Shopping) Now, it's time to pack it all! I was able to fit all of my items (besides my clothes and futon) into a 4'x4' area in my room.  Want to see how I did it? Check out my pictures and tips! 

 Okay, well my first piece of advice is to use any space you have. For example, I stuffed my shower caddy into the ottoman I'm bringing. I plan to just Seran Wrap it shut for the car ride. The more you use space you already have, the less boxes you'll need, and the less to haul upstairs!

 Next, organize everything by where it's going to go. This is my "bath" bag so I have razors, shampoo, conditioner, feminine products, hand soap, body wash, Advil, Blistex, whatever is somewhat bath related.

 Here is my personal products bag. I was about to fit two bulky boxes into this one bag! So, that saved some space! People are hopefully going to be less likely to steal my stuff from this as opposed to when it was just sitting in boxes. It's also easier to just grab if you're spending the night with a friend.

 Here is my office bag, pretty self explanatory. I use wrapping paper to decorate everything so, I made sure I bought a cute one. (;

 Here we go using storage you already have! I opened up my laundry bag and stuffed a lot in it. In the little pocket I have my dryer sheets, a Tide To-Go pen, and Tide Pods. In the main compartment, I stuffed all of my bath towels, some hand towels, two decorative pillows, and a 4'x6' rug!

 School supplies! I love to color coordinate, so I usually buy white binders and color them. (As you can see!)

 This is a basket I'm bringing to the dorm, so I stuffed it with cups, filtering water bottle, chip clips, utensils, and my two sheet sets. I'm also planning on Seran Wrapping this basket to keep everything inside!

This is kind of my extra bag. I have an over the door towel hook, Ziploc bags, popcorn bowl, cereal bowl, and plate. Also, I'm keeping all of my Command Strips in here.

Last, but not least, is my biggest packing achievement. I used the XXXL Ziploc bag to store my comforter, duvet cover, pillow, sham pillow case, blanket, and mattress pad. ALL IN ONE BAG.

So! Use all of the storage you already have! Don't add extra if you don't need to!

Forgetting Passion

Luckily, I have known what I wanted to do with my life for a long time. I was the one my peers would ask for help on homework problems, and I actually enjoyed finding new ways to explain it to them. I chose my career of being an elementary school teacher because it was what I absolutely love to do.

As I start my transition into the college world, the most common questions you are asked is "where are you going?" and "what's your major?"Since we're already in August, everyone is pretty quick to answer the first one. But some the answers I received for the second troubled me. "I think I'm going to go into _________. I mean they make so much money." I can't even tell you how many people from my high school said they're going into pharmacy, and strictly for the paycheck. I smiled at them, but my heart sank.

God gives everyone specific talents and passions so that we can fulfill His purpose in our time on Earth. 

2 Corinthians 12:15-20 says, "15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body." 

So, God gave me the skills and passion to teach children. If I were to ignore that calling and become a doctor so that I could have a bigger paycheck, I could be ruining God's plan and purpose for my life. Is fulfilling God's will for your life not as important as a large paycheck? According to some people, it is. 

Now, people don't just abandon their passions for money. Others choose a different path because they don't believe their career is actually obtainable. Time and again I've heard people tell me that they have a back-up plan for their career before they've even tried. They'll tell me "Well, there aren't a lot of jobs in that career, so I'm going to have this as a safety net." Maybe it's just me, but I don't remember the Bible ever telling me to set up a safety net. Where is your faith? If you're one of these people, do you not trust that God will get you that job? Or even get you that record deal? I mean He can  move mountains, has given you the passion and talent to succeed, but you don't think He'll follow through and get you the job? 

Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established." 

It's not a mistake that you have those passions! God gave them to you! So, if you set out to glorify Him through your work, He will provide! God is rooting for you! So, I urge you to have faith in Him and do not base your career choice off of a paycheck or back up plan. Reach for your dreams and allow God to show himself by answering your prayers.

Roommate Initials

My latest project to fill the wall space in my dorm is a pair of initials! I originally went to Michaels to buy some wooden letters, but the biggest size they had was the size of the "&" and I wanted something a lot bigger! So I bought....

• 20"x 36" Foam Board from Office Depot
• Paint
• Foam paint brush
• Exacto Knife
• Circle sponge paint brush

Before I even begin the project, I cannot rave enough about these circle paintbrushes! I got 1 1/4 inch and it's the exact same size at the Pepsi bottle caps! So, I just traced them on my "K" before painting. Such a life-saver!

Now, the project is pretty self explanatory, so just check out the pictures and ask any questions!

Having a Modest Heart

The one thing I have always felt the most uncomfortable about around my church, Christian friends, and other religious people is the way I dressed. I would be afraid that they would think what I was wearing was immodest and that I was a bad example. I mean, I never wear anything scandalous. I'm a pretty straight laced girl who really doesn't like to draw attention to herself ever. I was wearing things I thought outside of the religious setting to be perfectly acceptable, but I was questioning my outfits when I went to see these people. It was not because I thought my clothing was immodest, it was because I thought they would talk about me in a negative way. I just simply felt uncomfortable and I know I'm not alone. So, I decided to really dig into what modesty truly means and how we, as Christian girls, can obtain it with confidence.

The logical place to start is with the Word.

1 Samuel 16:7 - But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Modesty cannot be measured with a ruler. Every time I come across someone who speaks of modesty, they are looking to put an exact measurement on where your clothes should start and end. However, that is not modesty at all. Man focuses on the outward appearance  Using man's definition of modest, I would be modest simply by wearing a turtle neck and full length skirt. However, man is not the one who is judging our modesty. God is. God looks deep within our hearts to see if we are truly being modest. 

1 Timothy 2:9-10 - Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

Biblical modesty is about becoming humble. Our purpose as Christians is to not draw attention to ourselves, but let others see God through us. If I were to wear extravagant attire that covered me from the top of my neck to my ankles and walk through my school, I would not be dressing modestly. In order to be truly modest, I have to examine my heart and my motives in wearing an item of clothing. Are you wearing that outfit to get attention from a boy? Maybe you're really wanting a compliment from some of your girl friends, so you wear a dress you bought from an expensive boutique. Then, you're probably not being modest. Even if it covers you completely.  Your motives are no longer to give the glory to God but  to bring attention to yourself. Let people notice you because of what a great person you are and what you've done to make their lives better. 

There is also the age long debate on causing your brothers in Christ to lust. A lot of people put this burden on girls. It's our fault that the guys are lusting so we need to cover ourselves. While that can be true in some cases and the girl is dressing provocatively, it's a battle that needs to be fought on both sides. Guys need to avoid the thoughts and guard their minds, and girls to need to help them with that. My rule of thumb is that if a guy can look at you and see something, you're encouraging his sin. If he looks at you and everything is covered, then it's out of your control. So, just be aware of how you can be causing someone to stumble in their walk. 

Now, understand it's also important to honor your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

The solution to modesty is not wearing the same shapeless white t-shirt and jeans everyday so you do not draw attention to yourself. You have to care for your body, but just not excessively. You have to make sure you look presentable and are not drawing attention to yourself because of your lack of effort. That can also be seen as immodesty because you're not longer glorifying God with your body. He made you beautifully, so care for yourself!

 The key to modesty is within your heart and between you and God, not a ruler. Pray to God and ask Him to put modesty on your heart. You need to really consider your motives in how you are dressing. Once your heart is set on becoming a modest woman and you understand what God is asking of you, then you can dress modestly with confidence.

We Have a Jealous God

Yesterday at my youth group, we were challenged to think about our idols. My pastor had us ponder tough questions like "What gives you the best sense of self worth?" and "What consumes your thoughts and actions throughout the day?" Now, I have a tendency to compare myself to others. Well, I'm not doing as bad as them in my walk, so I'm doing pretty good. But last night, I felt so convicted. Relationships consume my life. I'm not even talking romantic relationships (although that does cross my mind a lot too). The times when I feel like I am at my lowest of lows is when I am lonely. When my "friends" decide to have a girls day and I'm sitting alone at home because I was not included, I feel like dirt. I just want to wallow in my loneliness and eat food. ALL DAY. I have no hope anything will get better and I just get depressed! I would ask God, "WHY! I try to follow your Word as closely as I possibly can, I do good deeds, I do this and that but WHY do you let me get so lonely. Why don't I have a good group of friends like all of the worldly people." (Guys, I'm sounding really pathetic here, but it's all for you readers!) I, unfortunately, did not end my high school career with a great social life. In fact, it was pretty non-existent. Now college is a brand new start for me, so the idea of having a brand new sea of wonderful people to meet excites me! I would spend hours looking at all of the profiles of people belonging to the (insert your college's name here)'s Class of 2017 Group and think "I wonder if I'll get to know her! Oh, he looks fun! Wow, she's super pretty! Oh man, maybe avoid that person" and I would just go on and on and on and on.

But, last night when I was listening to the message and questioning things that may be an idol for me, it dawned on me. How do you think God feels? I mean, when I'm ignored or pushed aside I hit my lowest of lows. But here I am doing the EXACT same thing to my GOD. God loves me and you so much and yet I will choose time with my friends, boyfriend, peers, etc. over HIM. I mean God always has a purpose in our suffering and it occurred to me that maybe this loneliness was happening so that I could feel what God feels. I mean God sent HIS SON to DIE for my sins and yet I STILL was not making enough time for Him.

Relationships are so important to us, so I'm not saying "don't talk to people ever again. Just read your Bible and pray!" Well, no. You also need fellowship with other believers. My point is, have checks and balances with all of your relationships. I was no longer measuring my worth through God's eyes, but through people's eyes. I cared more of people's opinions than God's. I spent more time with them than God. That's why I had a problem. And I know I'm not alone in this problem. Find strength in these words.

"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." -Galatians 1:10

In college, in a relationship, and in a dilemma.

The transition from high school to college is a crazy one. You lose your high school friends (most of the time) and embrace fresh relationships in college. The age old debate is whether you should leave your romantic relationship in high school too. So, what do you do if you have a boyfriend? Even though I've been in an amazing relationship for nearly 3 years, the question still crossed my mind and that's totally healthy! Take these thoughts into consideration when making your decision.

Do I really see us pursuing a lifelong relationship? Whether you have just started dating or not, if you're going to make the transition to college you have to seriously think about it. That is what dating is for! If you're wishy washy, just end it. If you're going to school together, it can cause a big headache when you break up 2 months into college. 

Should we go to the same school? 

You need to think about what your motives are for attending the same school. If your reason is "Well, we can see each other all of the time and it'll be, like, so cute! He'll walk me to class and we'll eat all of our meals together!" don't do it. Your heart is not in the right place. I've seen WAY too many people sacrifice what they want in a school or college experience for a significant other. It will not end up well. For my boyfriend and I, we have never gone to the same school and so we only saw each other approximately once a week. This far into our relationship, we're thinking long term and we really need to see what it will be like to see each other on a daily basis. Things are super exciting when they only happen once a week, but everyday? The spark will either stay or diminish and we need to figure that out before we get anywhere else in our relationship. If you feel ashamed to tell people about the fact that you're bringing your other half, you should also think about your relationship. The transition is going to be hard, so you're going to have to have a confident foundation. 

Another point I want to make is your number one priority should be you when you're choosing a school. Even if you're both very mature and really want to go to the same school for the right reasons, college is expensive. You don't want to pick a school for a person! This is your education. Micah and I both wanted to attend a Christian school within the Midwest and IWU was perfect. We both would have picked it regardless, so I'm confident neither of us will have regrets!

Can we last at different schools? 

If God wants you to be together, it'll work out. So, don't worry about it! Whatever will be will be! Schedule those Skype dates and keep each other informed on what's going on. The only difference between a long distance relationship and a traditional relationship is the physical. If you are pursuing a Godly relationship, you have so much more than just physcial aspects. Yes, the physical part of a relationship is important but you can survive a time without it! 

What if we don't last? 

IT'S OKAY! There are sooo many fish in the sea, so be excited for what will be coming next! God knows what He is doing! Before you go to school, PRAY. And I mean don't stop! Ask for God's

will to be done! And learn to have peace for whatever His decision will be! 

So, as I approach my last few weeks before school, I'm going to be anxiously waiting for God's plan in my relationship! I'll keep you posted and add more as the year continues.

Dry Erase Calendar!

I saw an adorable dry erase calendar on Pinterest and decided to give it my own twist. It's perfect for filling wall space and it totally functional. You can easily hang it up with a command strip or two! The best thing about this project is that the whole thing costs less than $10.

So, to start off, here is the original calendar from Pinterest.  The main differences is obviously the colors, but that's totally customizable anyways. I also did not cut the circles in the top of my paint chips or print out labels for each day of the week. Check out the original tutorial here!

For my version, here are my materials!

•  Paint Chips (FREE)
• Scissors
• Double Sided Tape (Regular works too!)
• A Sharpie
• A Dry Erase Maker
• Wrapping paper (Not pictured. $3)
• 2'x3' Poster Frame (Not pictured. $5.99)
• A paper cutter (optional)
• 30 Minutes of your time

1. Open up your poster frame and remove the edges and plastic. 
2. Lay out your wrapping paper on the floor good side down.
3. Set your poster backing on top of the wrapping paper, good side down. 
4. Cut away the extra wrapping paper and use double sided tape to attached the paper to the backing.
5. Grab your paint chips and cut off the color names if you desire. (You can see how much I cute off in the materials picture.) It was only about 3/4 of an inch.
6. Take some computer paper and cut it into 1/2 inch strips.
7. Use the double sided tape to attached your computer paper stripes to the paint chips. I went down about 1/4 inch.
8. Once all of the paint chips have your added white strip, you can start laying them out on your board. (Sorry, I did not think about adding pictures until I was already almost done. If you have any questions on the steps, comment below!)

     9.   Use the double sided tape to attach all of the chips to the desired location
    10.  I used a pencil to write the days of the week on top, and once I was satisfied traced it with Sharpie.
    11. Last but not least, cover your beautiful creation with the plastic and you're ready to go!