Happy Friday!

I love doing experiments, gotta love being homeschooled as well! 

Messing around before soccer practice

If you ever come to Florida, you will have to make a special stop to Sunrise, they have amazing treats!

Beautiful sunset at Abby's soccer practice. I love the coloring!

My special Christmas gift from a pen-pal! So yummy!!

Today was the first day doing a class with my mom again for homeschooling. I am doing a History class with her instead of taking it online. My online course load is way too big at the time so I decided I would ask her to teach my History. I never knew how much I would miss sitting down and getting the opportunity of my mom teaching me. It went great! As for my online classes, the schedule I created for this week has been working out great! I have been listening to lots of calming music while getting my work done, I think this year is going to be wonderful. 

A few new pictures from this evening. I was outside enjoying the cold weather and decided to snap a few shots.

Chat with Patrice

I enjoy getting to do the Chats on the Farmhouse Porch. I always look forward to doing these, they are quite fun!

QUESTIONS

1. How often do you wear a skirt or dress?
2. Did you feel unmotivated after Christmas and New Years?
3. What was the last thing that made you say "Wow"?
4. Do you shop with a list, or do you "wing it"?
5. I enjoyed this so much that I will ask this again. What questions would you like me to ask on our Chat?

1) I wear a skirt rarely, but I love wearing dresses around the house, or to Church. I love sundresses, especially living in Florida, they are perfect for the summer time!

2) When Christmas came around, I didn't feel like it was time for Christmas.. I don't think I was ready! Same for the New Years, I was not ready for these to happen. 2011 had passed too fast! Now that Christmas and the New Years has passed, I have been motivating myself to stay organized. 

3) The last thing that made me say "wow" would have to be, finding out where we are going on our Mission Tour.. which we are going to West Virginia!

4) I like to shop with a list, it makes me feel organized and ready. Sometimes I will "wing it" though.

5) That is a hard question.. There are so many questions that could be asked. How about a question somewhat like "Would you prefer living in the cold, or the hot?" 

Did Someone Say.. Photo Challenge?

For the photo-challenge I will be entering this photo! 

I love this picture.. the lighting is perfect! 

I am loving my new camera! I took a few pictures just to play around with it last-night.. here they are! 

I am going to try and put it to use a little more today, see what I can capture! 

A few Sales!

Adult Snow Cap

Regular price: $20 

Sale price: $10

Shipping: $3

Total: $13

Baby Owl Earflap

Regular price: $15

Sale price: $8

Shipping: $2

Total: $10

Adult Snow Cap

Regular price: $20

Sale price: $10

Shipping: $3

Total: $13

Seafoam Baby Beanie

Regular price: $12

Sale price: $5

Shipping: $2

Total: $7

Adult Earflap Beanie

Regular price: $22

Sale price: $12

Shipping: $3

Total: $15

Message me with which item you would like or comment with your email address and which item you would like. 

All money made from these sales will be going towards my 'Until the Whole World Hears' mission tour! 

The Good Life

New Year, new week! 

To get myself on track with school so that I am nice and organized I created a schedule for each of my classes. Hopefully it works! I'm ready for this week, ready to take the challenges it holds for me. 

I've picked out a few songs that I'm really enjoying this month, I enjoy them always. I just feel like they are hitting a spot they've never hit before. Here is the list of songs:

Brave - Nichole Nordeman

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri 

A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton

Blessings - Laura Story

How He Loves - David Crowder Band

This is Home - Switchfoot

Just a few of the many I have been listening too lately! 

I am ecstatic about the Mission Tour coming up this Summer, my younger brother will be going as well. And I love when he would randomly whisper to me "We're going to West Virginia!"  

I think he's pretty excited as well!  

Not only will I be going on the mission tour, I will also be going to 'Camp Wekiva', at Wekiwa Springs to do the Leader in Training program, that should be absolutely wonderful! I will be doing that with a sister this year. I might even get to go to another camp called 'The Wilds' it is a christian camp / conference. 

I will be posting pictures of things from my closet/wardrobe that I will be selling to make room for some of my lovely Christmas gifts. I will also be posting things that are going on sale from my shop! So be watching for those things. 

For now, it's time to start school and put that schedule to use! 

Simple Joy

This morning I got my new camera in the mail. I was oh-so excited to see the package! 

I immediately un-packaged it, charged up the battery and played around with it for a while. It takes stunning pictures, and I can't wait to post some of them here!

The chickens have been crazy lately! It's been cold so I've been keeping my back bedroom door open to let the cold out of the room and let in some heat. Well, the chickens have been wanting to come visit me in my room! I will have pictures soon. 

For now, it's time for school, and crafting! I shall blog again soon!

                  Questions

1. What's your favorite kind of tree?
2. How did you celebrate the New Year?
3. Do you have any family traditions for the New Year?
4. I'm so glad I____________ in 2011.
5. Did you have a nickname as a child?

1) My favorite kind of tree would have to be an oak tree. I've always grown up living where there are many oak trees, and I love them.

2) I went to a friends house, and we stayed up past midnight just to say happy New Year! 

3) I do not have a family tradition for the New Year. But those who are home we would try and stay u to watch the ball drop! 

4) I am so glad I went to Germany in 2011. It was an amazing experience, and would absolutely love to go back and live there for a year or so.

5) I have many nicknames, some are not my favorite but that's okay. One of my absolute favorite nicknames is Ocho. I have that nickname because I am the 8th child in the family, and those who gave me that nickname thought it would be an easier way of remembering my 'name'. 

Welcome to the year of 2012

Welcome to 2012! 

How was your New Year? What did you do for the celebration of the new year? 

I had an awesome Near years eve with a friend, we stayed up till 2012 and did lots of fun things! 

Did you come up with a new years resolution? 

I haven't come up with one.. yet!! I will come up with one before the end of this month, I'm sure of it!

This coming Summer I will be going on a mission trip with my Student Choir at our church. I am unaware of where we will be going at the time, it's a mystery! But we are having an 'Amazing Race' this coming Sunday to find out where we will go! 

If you would like to contribute to my Mission Trip/Tour funding I will have a 'Donation' button below, as well on the side bar of my blog!  Every penny counts for my trip, I am very excited to be going on the trip, and can't wait to be helping those in need. 

Also! If you would like to purchase something from my shop, all funds are going towards my trip! 

Some items are listed below.

Removable Flower Clip

$3.00

Pink Owl Beanie (Specify Size)

$15.00

Beard Hat 

$13.00

Regular Beanie

$10.00

Cotton Facial Scrubbie (1)

$1.25

How was your Christmas? Mine was absolutely fantastic! Like every teenage girl, we wanted something special for Christmas.. I wanted just to have a good day. That Christmas wish came true. I had an excellent day. I don't have any Christmas-Day pictures up yet, but I will try to get some up soon! 

Link-Up Party! Post how your Christmas went, or any Christmas post you may have! 

12 Days till Christmas

On my 'About Me' page you can see my latest Christmas post! 

16 Shopping days left till Christmas!

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Christmas is coming soon! Only 16 more shopping days. This has been a very crazy week, I am just now getting back to blogging, school-work, finishing up orders, delivering/shipping orders, reading my favorite blogs, Christmas shopping, and many other crazy things! I have never talked on the phone so much in my life until this past week. So many people showing their love for me, it was very comforting. 

Last-night was our final full-dress rehearsal before our Christmas concert 'This IS Christmas'. We have 3 Concert times this weekend, it will be a busy weekend for the Compton family! One of my younger sisters is also going to be singing in the concert, she will be an angel singing to Glory All Glory with the Choir. The little ones looked absolutely adorable during the rehearsal last-night!  

I will be offering 10% off everything in my shop starting today until Christmas at midnight! Just a little sale to get into the giving spirit. Head on over to S.C. Originals to see the sale items. 

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1. Have you ever had a blog slump? Yes, all of the time! I love blogging, but sometimes I never know what to write about! 
2. What's your favorite way to serve hot chocolate (cocoa)? Marshmallows on top? Whipped Cream? A cinnamon stick? I love my hot cocoa with whipped cream, and miniature dark chocolate chips. Absolutely delicious! 
3. How do you handle it when you see someone you think you know, but cannot place? Do you approach them and ask, shy away, or just go home and hope you don't think of it at 2am? I would go and say a quick hello and if I got lucky, maybe they would even mention how and when we met. 
4. What was your position in your family? Were you the oldest, a middle child, the youngest or an only child? I am number 8 out of 11 children, we have a big family but I love every single one of them to death!
5. How do you handle accumulated possessions (stuff)? Are you a pack-rat, a minimalist, or somewhere in between? I would have to say I am somewhere in between. I love things that bring back old memories and that could be a simple little picture or even a walking stick.. you never know! But I am definitely not someone who keeps every little piece of everything, I can't stand messiness, so if it is able to fit in an organized way, I will consider keeping whatever it may be. 

What Are You Thankful For?

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch! 

1. What are you thankful for?

I am thankful for God, my family, friends, a home to live in, food to eat, everyday necessities and doctors! 

1. Jellied cranberry or whole berry cranberry?

I would have to say, neither. Not a big fan of cranberry. 

1. How many will sit at your dinner table Thursday?

We have a family of 11 kids (including myself), so there will be around 30 people, possibly more at the dinner table tomorrow. 

1. Would anyone who visits the porch be interested in some  type of Christmas card or small gift exchange?

That sounds like an awesome idea!

1. Do you venture out on Black Friday?

I am planning on heading out to find the camera I have been waiting a long time for. Hopefully I find it with a super awesome price!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, lots of work for our family to get ready! We will be heading over to my brothers house, but we volunteered to do some of the cookies and helping getting ready so some of us will head over early for that. It will be a busy fun-filled day! 

it's that time of year again, thanksgiving! only a couple more days until out family goes nuts about preparing for everyone coming over, preparing meals, and cleaning. much to do, in so little time. this year thanksgiving will be a little different than the past years. we are going to my brothers house, we are still cooking and helping, but we will all meet at his house for dinner. it will be an awesome day. i already know it. 

i am thankful for thriftyseeker, i am now being featured on their website! i am so happy to have had the awesome opportunity to be featured.

this past weekend i attended my first major craft show, with thousands of people who came including over 300 vendors! it was an amazing experience, i met many new people, while getting my name out there. can't wait to do the next one! i will post pictures form the craft show soon. 

enjoy the rest of your day! and if i don't post in-time, happy thanksgiving everyone! have a blessed day!

november 15th.. what am i thankful for today?

november 15th.. 3 more days till my shop will be featured on thrifty seeker i am sooo excited to be featured! today I received my confirmation letter for the craft show, as well as receiving my super cute necklace from say what creations. i am thankful for all of these great things! 

i now have a checklist of things to do before this saturday.. only 4 days, here's what i have to do:

finish washcloth sets

add faces to animal beanies

attach hang-tags to items

finish scrubbie sets

put together goody bags

pack up item props

wrap scrubbies

wrap washcloths

print business cards

and much more.

the craft show will be amazing! i have been looking forward to doing a big craft show for a while now, and i am finally getting to do one. with over 250 vendors this will be an awesome experience. and to make it an even better day, i am bringing along a friend and sister to help me out for the day. i love the support i get from my family and friends, they really are awesome. 

what are you thankful for? november is known to some people as the 'thankful month' where you can blog, or write down something you're thankful for everyday. well, why do we only do that in november? why not every month. i know not everyone is good at giving thanks to God for what they have everyday.. myself included. but why not give it a try, and start now. 

a few things i am thankful for are:

• my family
• my home
• my loving friends
• doctors
• craft shows

these are just a few. but i can name many more things i am thankful for.

today's adventure consisted of teaching elders to crochet out of plastic bags. it was fun! a new thing to me.. i've never taught a group of people something like this before, but i am always up to trying new things for sure!