Souvenirs

Here are a few pictures of my trip to California {Much Needed Trip} & tomorrow I will be off to Mexico to see what new adventures unfold. Blesses beyond words to have a family who genuinely cares about each other. & While it's to always easy to love everyone, I do love them!

I give everything over to You Lord!!

And After It's All Said And Done

The years or defining, aspiring, rethinking, pursuing & striving to build a character that is honorable, uplifting & worth following usually comes down to situation that offer you the chance to be selfish or selfless. Sometimes being the person God has called us to be looks like a phone call in the middle of the night. Someone needing you to listen not talk. Other times it's driving your car because you know it will save the other person gas. There is also times where it comes down to offering a shoulder & not being annoyed when someone actually has to use it to cry on.

I look at historical, memorable and influential people who have left a legacy or kindness, love, generosity, selflessness and passion and find myself contemplating situations in my life that require more of me.

I find that God has impeccable timing and placement of situations that lend us the option of being utilized by Him. I thank God for every life trial and tribulation that He has ALLOWED me to go through. Because if I can relate to someone else on a personal level, everything I have gone through becomes worth it. I try my hardest to build my character and life's desires on a solid foundation, so that if the world around me shakes my foundation stays strong.

I have never been so excited to live. {I am SO excited}. & no, that doesn't mean I don't have any stress or deadlines or trials or hardships or school or work or whatever else this world spits at me... I am just so excited to wake up and breathe, learn, challenge, succeed, strive, accomplish, wonder, dream and desire. I am so excited to live! I know I already said it, but I mean it every time!

Use these hands. They are Yours.

I give everything over to You Lord

ABOUT.ME

I have recently made a profile on ABOUT.ME - Here is what it says: Or VISIT HERE

God Breathed Life Into Me

I am passionate about living & passionate about God, people, dance, photography, art, writing, creating, spoken words, music, and relationships. I get inspired by the uncommon and always try to listen for where God is leading me. I feel lucky to have my life, solely because I get to be molded, grow, encourage, achieve, accomplish, fail, try again, succeed, learn, forget, forgive, remember, and know who I am as a child of a King, a sister, friend, best friend, aunt, cousin, daughter, co-worker, crew member, youth leader and as ME! I really don't know much about anything, but I have the desire to become knowledgeable about most things! I am excited to live and can't wait to do great things in this World!

"My flesh may fail, but God you never will!"

I give everything over to You Lord

Christmas Party!

As I have stated HERE I had been wanting to have an ornament decorating party and FINALLY I was able to spend time with a few girlfriends and Dan! We planned a little get together for the people who went on the Ensenada missions trip and while only a handful of us can make it - it was still so fun!! Here are the pictures I promised from the party!

I give everything over to You Lord

Check!

It wasn't to long ago when I created a Bucket List of different adventure I wanted to do within a reasonable amount of time. Well I have been successful with crossing one off my list:

It was number 9: To go on a missions trip!

I was totally inspired by Gods love and sufficiency when I was there. The trip allowed me to downloaded a different way of thinking and living. A new perspective on life - just in the short 4 days I was there. I was blessed to be able to go and get my hands dirty while building a house for a MUCH NEEDED family. I was and still am humbled and honored to have been a part of such an amazing project and for such a deserving family!

Here is some photos from the build:

I finally got to check one off my list - although going on another missions trip with never fully be checked off! I love people - In State - Out of State - or Out of The Country!!

I give everything to You Lord

GINGY PARTY

So a few of my friends and I got together last night for a Gingerbread-man-making-party! We got a sushi dinner, wore fancy dresses, listened to Christmas music and decorate our oversized gingerbread men. (Trader Joe's - $3.99) I few of us brought frosting, others brought candy and we all brought a themed idea of how our Beautiful Gingy was going to look. Here was our ideas:

1) Nabih - Jeti Gingy + Terrorist Gingy (He had two!)

2) Meagan - Hurt soldier complete with a non existent heart

3) Lyndsey - Atomically Correct Gingy's (A girl and a Boy)

4) Ei - An Asian Gingy even included Asian eyes!

5) Sheena - A Ninja Gingy (Nike Name is - Ninjy) & a Fancy Gingy (I also had two!)

From Left to right (Jeti, Ningy, Soldier, Asian)

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Santa sat on my lap to tell me what he wanted for Christmas!! : )

(Nabih & I being random!)

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MY FREAKIN AWESOME NINJY - AH - I LOVE THIS LITTLE GUY!

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I didn't take any pictures of the atomically correct gingers for fear that my blog would get a different rating!! But Good job anyway Lyndsey!

Overall, it was fun to spend time with people I love and care about. It just happens to be the perfect season to throw parties! Each of us are so unique that is makes each event more exciting and unexpected. Loved our Gingy Party - Thank you for making it fun Meagan, Ei, Nabih, Lyndsey & Oleg.

I give everything over to You Lord

Appearance

The eat less to fit the little black dress. Crash diets to keep the boyfriend quiet. Budgets tight and name brands become your life. Makeup to make up for what you think should be made up. Magazine covers become your ideal while your striving for what is unreal. A gym membership is your new relationship solely focusing on how to get fit. Hair extensions should not be your main concern, instead extending life while you are still here. Don't forfeit your body to feel like your desired because "Plan B" should never replace who you were created to be. Step out of your heals and give your sole soul some room to heal. Put down the blow dryer & unplug the curling iron, because you need to remove more than just your nail polish. Fake fusades to match your fake eye lashes, reprogram your perspective and get rid of your spam detections. Real is a realm rarely reached by more than just the girl next door. So to every marketer who has a say in what the media distributes to the public eye, eye I personally thank you for demonstrating unhappiness that happens to come in a size zero. For showing what an airbrushed eating disorder looks like. & providing examples of dysfunctional self images, unfulfilled and unsatisfied emptiness. Dead end endeavors that leave you more broken than the hopeless place you started will always be this worlds latest fad. Put on a dress of purity. Cover your hair head with knowledge. Pour life into others instead of pouring your money down the drain. Wear shoes that are worn so you can relate to those around you, showing how you have walked the walk. Let your hands be open for giving and let your hands also be used for feeding yourself food life.

God breathed conquerors, redefining real, opening locked doors and giving others permission to be free. Start looking for life - with meaning - purpose - love - & God. It will rock your world!

I give everything over to you Lord

Christmas Ornament

I want to throw an ornament party! Having people together to decorate their ornaments and share hot coco and laughter. I suppose I am just getting into the holiday spirit! Maybe I will try to find a week to plan a little get together for some girls. I have been really wanting to do something other then work, dance functions and homework every weekend - So maybe this will be a nice change. If it does actually happen I will be sure to take pictures and share the decorated ornaments! Even if I don't throw a party and I just do some myself! We'll see!

I give everything over to You Lord

Man Returns Money He Stole

Have you ever thought about Righting Your Wrongs before? Knowing there is things in life that you wish you could take back? Redo? Start over? Correct Mistakes? WELL... start now! I read an article about a 60 year old man - for whatever his reasoning was - decided to right one of his wrongs!

It was in the 1940's when a man went to a Sears store in Seattle and while no one was looking he said, "I stole $20 or $30 dollars." This 60 year old man was speaking with the manager of the store, confessing what he had done. He felt compelled to pay back the money he stole - but with interest. He gave the store $100 and the manager said, "It seemed like it has been bothering him for the past 60 years."

For whatever reason, Sears refuses to show or release the video recording of the man. Instead Sears took it upon themselves to use the $100 towards helping needy families in the holiday season.

So if you feel like there is things in your life that you want to redo or correct - start now! Don't wait till your 60 to realize that you want to correct mistakes. I suppose better late than never!

For the full story CLICK HERE

I give everything over to You Lord

Merry Christmas - Photo Proof

My beautiful cousin Danielle and her husband Matt and their darling daughter Abby were in town for thanksgiving! We set a time to take some family photos so here is their preview:

I Give everything over to You Lord

Park Pictures - Photo Proof

Blessed to know these Beautiful people - it's been about 7 or maybe 8 years now that I have known and been under the leadership of Jason and Erica. They have had two charming children so it was time for a photo shoot! I will have more posted soon! Keep up with my blog! You can also follow my photography blog HERE.

I give everything to You Lord

Old Town Shoot

Lucky to be able to shoot Lindsay and her daughter Hayden - She is a beautiful mom and Hayden is following alone in her footsteps perfectly! There is more photos to come, follow along HERE to see the rest of our shoot!

I give everything to You Lord

Turkey Day Shoot

I just finished with my most recent shoot - with my Cousin Ashley - You can go HERE for more photos. I should have them posted soon!

I give everything to You Lord

Culture

I looked at the stats of my Blog to see what countries have viewed my Blog and I thought it was really interesting that there is people other than in the United States that has see my blog! The image below shows you the other countries that have check out The Simple Side.

I give everything over to You Lord

Things "To Do"

I have a long list of things "To do" today! Right? {As always} I leave to Mexico in the morning so of course I have to pack, clean, laundry, errands, homework, e-mails, and getting to bed early. Although, before I went to bed last night I said a quick prayer that sounded like this, "God, I have a lot of 'stuff' to do tomorrow, but if you have different plans and need to use me somewhere else, I am all Yours." I prayed that specifically because I never want to get to caught up in the stuff that I miss God-ordained-opportunities.

So, I woke up this morning {still tired} and I started my first task on my list. Editing pictures from a photo shoot I just did. & in the process of editing I get a facebook chat alert that reads:

I can't help but laugh {because of my prayer} and wondering if the rest of my day will be filled with chances to put God first. I could have told my good friend (he's like my little brother) that I was really busy today, I mean I had a good excuse - I'm leaving to Mexico to build a house for a family. So selfless of me right? EW. I never want to sounds too busy to talk, or be so caught up on checking off a list of stuff I have to complete that I can't bring Hope to the Hopeless.

If the rest of my day turns out to be multiple conversations like the one I had with my good friend, and nothing gets checked off my list, I will feel like my day was well spent. So God, I said it once and I'll say it again, "I have a lot of 'stuff' to do today, but if you have different plans and need to use me somewhere else, I am all Yours."

I give everything to You Lord

Inspiration into Recreation

So I decided to dedicate this post to Inspirations I Recreated as my own! To have things that inspire you is awesome, I believe that taking that inspiration and creating something from it is simply allowing you to own the inspiration. Inspirations aren't inspirations if they merely breed thought, inspirations are authentic when they begin to breed action. So here is my stab at creating from my inspirations. I hope this allows you to be free to create your inspirations.

Inspiration: Teacup Tray

Recreation: Teacup Tray Sheena-ized

Inspiration: Sock Bun

Recreation: Sock Bun Sheena-ized

Inspiration: Funky Nail Painting

Recreation: Funky Nail Painting Sheena-ized

{I did Mine!}

{& A Friends!}

Inspiration: Homemade Erasable "To Do" List

Recreation: Homemade Erasable "To Do" List Sheena-ized

Inspiration: White & White Letters on Canvas

Recreation: White & White Letters on Canvas Sheena-izes

I give everything over to You Lord

BOO!

Here is a {preview} of how I spend my Halloween weekend! I worked at an event - Dancing - I was a vampire! Thank you to the makeup artists you are amazing talented! Thank you to E23Entertainment for throwing the event and Barry Gossage for letting us use your studio. Amazing event!

My Bestie Mage took the photos - so big ups to her!

I give everything over to You Lord