Spread Joy

Yesterday a dear friend passed away after a 3 year battle with cancer. Growing up she was my second mom. She has a daughter 2 years older than me, a daughter my age, and then a child the same age as each of the rest of my siblings (6 kids in each family). Our families did church, 4-H, summer camps, camping trips, chicken pox, sledding, school basketball, etc all together. Her passing was peaceful, and we are all so glad she is not in pain anymore, but our hearts are broken. I'm sad for me, but my heart aches for her husband, her kids, her grandkids, her mom, and her sister.

 My best friend, her mom, and I on my best friend's wedding day. 

My "2nd  Mom", myself, and my Mother on my wedding day. 

I am currently getting things situated here so I can get packed and ready to make the drive up (2-3 days depending on how the little guys handle it) and will be gone for most of this next week. I do not have posts ready for this coming week, and I know I won't have time during the week to write; I'm sorry I'm not more ahead of the game.

So what is your assignment for this week while I'm gone? Hug a friend, hug your mom, hug your friend's mom, and do something to spread joy. Take a plate of Pinterest inspired cookies to a neighbor. Leave a cute wreath on someone's door. Make a sack lunch to give to a homeless person. Snuggle with your cat on the couch and write a letter to your brother. Just do something to spread joy. That is the message for this week. Joy.

(P.S. If you feel like helping out an amazing family you don't even know,Crystal's brother-in-law started up a gofundme collection to help pay for funeral and medical expenses.)

The Black Dahlia

Now that summer is winding down to a close (sniff), I'm starting to see quite the increase in fall and Halloween pins in my Pinterest newsfeed. Costume ideas, table runners, nature bouquets, etc. Today I thought I'd follow the trend and give you a Halloween Pinstrosity we were sent in. 

The Original Pin

http://www.welke.nl/lookbook/RSylvane/zelf-maken/MarMeer/Zeer-eenvoudig-een-wand-decoratie-maken.1360184779

"I attempted to make black dahlia wreath for Halloween. I believe my mistake was using poster board paper. There are no direction in english so I guessed. WRONG!! But I still hung it up. I added spider webs and spiders and everyone loves it. A win after all."

The Pinstrosity

Not quite the dahlia look, but it definitely still works for Halloween! That's one thing I love about Halloween crafts. If they go "wrong", they often still work. 

A more lightweight paper would definitely work better for this, as would smaller pieces of paper. I found a great (English!) tutorial on how to make these over at the Hi Sugarplum! blog.

http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2012/10/halloween-craft-black-paper-dahlia.html#_a5y_p=870079

If you want a more dense look to your dahlia than the above photo, roll up your "petals" more tight. But, just as above, if it doesn't work out, throw some cobwebs on and it still looks great for Halloween!