PENS FOR PRAYER

Don't get me wrong, buying yourself a bouquet of fresh flowers is always a good idea. But sometimes  treating yourself to a bouquet of special lettering pens can be just as wonderful (and sadly, equally expensive.)

I've always loved taking notes, pretty penmanship and expensive writing implements. The internet hasn't helped. Who knew there were so many kinds of exotic Japanese calligraphy pens, just a click away? Over the years, I've fallen in love with a couple kinds of pens, specifically ones that are ideal for prayer journaling. My only tip would be to run hard and faster after "Love is blind" when purchasing these pens. Just ignore the price tag and follow your heart. 

Prayer journaling is a huge part of my walk with the father. These pens make writing in said journals all the better. Therefore, I have no choice but to take the plunge and purchase them, right? At least, that's what I tell myself. Maybe it'll work for you too.

1.) Le Pen

By now you know full well that anything in French is automatically my favorite. I love these pens because they're fine, small and come in a bunch of colors. The size is by far the best part, as they're very easy to slip into a purse or pouch and hardly take up any space. That being said, the size is also the worst part: they're very easy to misplace. Proceed with caution!

2.) Tombow Dual End Brush Pens

Wow, that's a mouthful. So are these pens. They're bold, bulky and beautiful. I wouldn't recommend these pens as ones to use in church/take notes anywhere, they're a bit excessive and extra for everyday use. I normally use them for writing out verses, highlighting in the bible or jazzing up some sermon notes after reading through them the next day. 

3.) Staedtler Triplus Fineliner

HEAR YE HEAR YE, Not all Staedtler pens are created equal. Don't be fooled by the other imposters, these are the best. I once fell for the rollerball pens and wow, big mistake. These pens are a little big to use in church (in my opinion) but I love the color selection so at the end of the day, color normally wins over convenience. 

And now, a pen test! Just so you can see how they write. Granted my staedtler's are a little old, so the ink doesn't flow as freely as it did in former years (months, lets be honest) but they're amazing when they are in their prime. 

Buying fancy pens for fancy prayer journaling isn't necessary. Obviously Jesus could care less if you used Le Pen, a sharpie or a tube of lipstick to prayer journal. But if you have it in your budget and you love pens and prayer, these three types should be a good start to your Christ-centered calligraphy pen collection.

Three thoughts on creativity.

CREATIVITY...

it can't be faked but it can be forced.

(This is my take on the ambiguity that is creativity. This is not scientific. Or backed up by astounding data. Just the thoughts of an 18 year old who enjoys coloring and baking cookies. And a few other things.)

I've always considered myself to be creative,  since the days of coloring books and massacred crayons to the present (still coloring, but now I use gel pens!) Being creative isn't always easy. Sometimes its frustrating and incredibly annoying and you just want to not care about every little minute detail,
but you can't. Because that's who you are. And gosh darn it, but I don't want to spend a second on this earth being anyone other than who I am supposed to be.

(Unless I have the option to be Beyonce)
(Pre-Lemonade Beyonce)

Life is busy. There are emails to be read (or ignored, your choice.) People demand your time and vice versa. There are grades to strive for and goals to be reached and when you're a creative kid, it can be seem like a waste time to make time for the things that fuel you. So, three tips! Some I've learned the hard way.

#1 CREATE SOME CRAP
That sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it? (and not very lady like, sorry mom.) But in the process of being creative, no matter your craft, I believe a fair amount of crap is in order. You will make and make and it will be horrible. Don't stop there; Make and create some more and all of the sudden, it will be magic. I've never stumbled upon magic without a little crap first, it comes with the territory.

#2. TOO MUCH ART? NO SUCH THING.
This is one I believe 100%. Even if you're busy and you physically don't have time to create, make sure you're consuming a fair amount of art daily. Consider it like calories, you need them in order to live. So eat your protein and drink your milk, artistically speaking. On busy days it could be a quick scroll through a curated feed or given more time, a documentary on your favorite artist. Visit museums, browse online galleries. Consume Art in all forms! And don't skimp on this one; none of that non fat nothingness for us.

#3. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT BUT PATIENCE HELPS TOO.
Be patient with your artistic journey. It's great to set goals and even better to achieve them but sometimes life throws a wrench (or two) (or five) in our plans. And that's okay too. Relax, drink some tea and celebrate where you are and be encouraged by the possibility of where you will go. And then drink some more tea.

This post was brought to you by emotions, feels, finals procrastination and viewers like you. Thank you.

Broken thumbs are dumb // part three

ALL THINGS REALLY DO WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD.

I guess Jesus knew what he was talking about after all.

It took me 4 weeks to come to grips (ha!) with the fact that my broken thumb wasn't all bad. Sure, it's annoying when you're trying to shave or open boxes (especially when there's food inside those boxes and you're really hungry.) but all things considered, I still have it pretty easy.

The broken thumb threw a wrench in my plans. No going in the ocean over Spring Break, no handwriting for school or pleasure (a blessing and a curse.) It was hard for me to watch softball games at first. I was jealous! And this time not about the fact that they could throw the ball well, but that they could actually throw it at all.

It showed me that I'm not in control.

And I didn't like that very much. 

God has a funny way of teaching us things. Sometimes its through people or experiences. Sometimes, it's a broken bone. And one day it hit me that the entire ordeal of breaking my thumb wasn't just so I could be annoyed or irritated or drop my phone 1000x per day (#coordination), but so that I could learn something. What is God teaching me, you ask? I wanted to find out before another thumb was broken to get my attention.

After checking out at Target a few days ago,  the thought "I'll miss my splint!" popped into my head. I took it back a few seconds later, I hate my splint! It's horrible!....or is it? My right hand has been suffocated by savage looking splints and bandages for the past month, and within that month (and because of that splint) I've had the opportunity to talk to more people than ever before.

The little neighbor girls ask about it every time I walk by, it'll be the thing to stir up a conversation with an old friend. Heck, even the 7-11 employees are convinced I broke it doing extreme thumb wrestling. I've heard more life stories, regaling of broken limbs from strangers and I've loved every second of getting to talk to different people. And I'm grateful for this fractured, fragment of a thumb because without it, I wouldn't have had the opportunity or a reason to talk to any of them.

So next time you break your thumb, it's okay to be mad at it and yell about it if you must and eat some chocolate (if you can get the package open). But then, take a chill pill (or some ibuprofen) and see what God is trying to teach you. Because whatever that is, it's always worth the pain, the tears and the difficulty of showering with your dominant hand wrapped a garbage bag.

I PROMISE.

(Thanks to sarah for these photos! And thank you to everyone who has been so wonderful to me during this process.)

Haiku time!

So yeah, I wrote my haiku.

And, yes, I did have to Google how to spell it. Thankfully, Google's always got our backs...and the right spelling. I guess when I signed up for this haiku writing business, I didn't know I'd be actually LEARNING too! We ladies do know how to multi-task don't we?

Just say it: OH YEAH.

(I painted these ballet slippers when I was 5. They've been hanging over my closet since. I've decided that they ALWAYS need to be hanging over my doorway. Future College roommates, I hope you don't mind. )

Where I get them

Since I went kind of crazy yesterday (and posted only about journals) I thought I should tell you where I got them all.

Basically, Target!

I know, HUGE shock there.

Most are priced reasonably, and to be honest, they're the cutest! I've looked places like Barnes and Noble and Anthropologie, but I haven't ever found any I loved as much. Problem is, I need to find a new store I like just as much because I own just about every one from Target.

Clearly, I have a big issue on my hands.

Know of any good places to get journals? Let me know!
XOXO, Kryn.

Today (an epic title)

Today I had the house to myself. In other words, I didn't accomplish much. I doodled and wrote and wrote some more and read and busted my eyes out and paint 6 of my toenails and gave myself a facial. And used the word and a lot.

I'm sure you are wondering what is up with the blog design. Fear not, it will look normal soon. I just wanted to get it so there was no border around the pictures, and I did! Yay! Okay, maybe it wasn't yay worthy? How about hooray? Anyway, horray or yay aside, I can now contiune with the design. Yippee! (How was that?)

Xoxo, Kryn

Make your Mailman happy

Did any of you celebrate Thank your mailman day? I did and I got the most greatest results. This is what I made for our mailman


Yes. I called her Mrs. Mailman. I'm sure she rather liked it. I was worried that maybe she would be gone that day and a man would replace her - he'd be horrified to be called Mrs. But! I was relieved of my fears when I found this
I seriously have a thing with car/truck visors. When I was growing up, my grandparents kept my alien pictures. Now, my notes on Mrs. Mailmans visor. I'm continuing a tradition. Plus! I am old enough to say "When I was growing up!" That is so amazing.

I get amazed easy. I hope you celebrated and thanked your mailman or Mrs. Mailman. If you didn't you should do it tomorrow, I know they'd appreciate it.

Journal love.

I love writing.

I like sharing my thoughts, opinions and ideas. I like writing things down. I adore making lists. I think snail mail letters are the greatest. I like blogging because its fast. I just plain love communicating.

Today is about journals because....of course, I love them!Apparently I like floral/damask print journals.

I love writing things down. The main reason I do it is so that when I'm a cool adult I can remember things about my childhood. I don't want to forget a single thing. So I write everything down and then some. I also have a prayer journal, bible verse journal (hopefully, you'll see more of this stuff soon) blog/craft journal and journal that mom and I share.

So today because its nearly valentines day, and because that has nothing to do with it, because I love journals and because I love you, you get to peek in my diary! For AHG, I had to keep a journal for 3 months. Of course, I already had a journal (diary, whatever.) so I just copied sentences from it and made a little thingy. (Gettin' real descriptive here!) I'm showing you that.

May 2011
I got my hair cut, I look like someone from 1940. All I need it two barrettes and I am ready to go. Today is the day people think the world is supposed to end. Am I writing this from heaven? Am I sitting on a cloud? Am I hearing harps? Nope. I’m still on my bed,. Hang on - I hear a trumpet…..Just kidding. The drive here was good. Except there was some insane lightning in North Dakota. And then to top it all off, its only 50 degree’s here! You can bet your china teapot I’m not the least bit happy. ____________________________________________________________________ June 2011 This weather is bugging me. My teeth hurt. And we have a fire on June 3rd!! Yes, we are bad. But cold! I had a sleepover with the Nuxoll’s and Jana. We found a man eating chicken and a man who collects cans and eats girls. Yeah, it was spooky. Today, at the farmers market, I found a rock that was painted like a lady bug and had glasses. I named her Beatrice. Right now, I am wearing my dress with rosettes on one shoulder - it has magical powers! But I made bread and each loaf weighed 2 pounds. So, I guess that proved that it does not have magical powers. ______________________________________________________________________ July 2011 Tomorrow is that dreaded dentist appointment. I failed in trying to get Dr. Silcher sick - bummer! (Next day) I actually felt nothing, getting my gums cut was a breeze! Thank ganache for modern medicine. Casey Anthony will be free on Thursday, can you believe it? I am in need of a new purse, so I ordered another Vera Bradley. I hope it comes before camp. I watched Justin Beibers Movie, his fans are pretty scary. Life is more than a boy who sings and wears purple high tops (and who has a rhinestone heart on one shoulder of his jacket!!!!)

So there you go. A little peek into my diary/weird thoughts.

Oh, and did I mention I love journals?