Wednesday, December 29, 2021

The Bakers Balancing Act



The Bakers Balancing Act


Let’s pretend I was known for making THE BEST pumpkin spice cookies with a melt-in-your-mouth maple glaze. And let’s say you wanted to impress your new in-laws with some festive baked goods at thanksgiving dinner this year. The glitch? You’ve got two left feet in the kitchen and you have no idea the difference between a whisk and a spatula. But—you’re willing to learn, so you ask me (the master chef) to let you borrow my famous recipe. 


However, just like most famous bakers, my recipe somewhat resembled a ancient treasure map. The treasure is the mouth-watering, ultra impressive cookies. How to create such a masterpiece had yet to be discovered through all the master chef lingo. How many teaspoons is a, “pinch of salt?” Was is really necessary to sift the confectioners sugar? (And why such a fancy name for a simple ingredient like powdered sugar??? #hadtolookitup #newbiebakerhere) Since you don’t know me that well, you don’t want to bother me with your amateur questions, so you just give yourself a little pep talk. 


Deciding yourself a fully capable adult, (and armed with YouTube just in case...) you set out to the store to gather the ingredients. Baking might not be your forte but shopping sure was! You easily maneuvered the tall rows of baking supplies with your squeaky cart and managed to leave the store with only a few extra snacks. “Reesie‘s cups will help me bake,” you absently tell yourself as you stare at your cart full of flour, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, maple syrup, and all the things. 


Your confidence was boosted as you unload the groceries onto the kitchen counter. You can now breathe a little easier because you have everything you need. All the ingredients are accounted for. The kitchen is clean, you crank up some Air Supply to set the mood, and you roll up your sleeves. 


Not more than 30 minutes later, the kitchen looks like the aftermath of a tornado... or maybe more like a flour dust storm. Your dance moves have lost their gusto, and you are covered head to toe in that don’t-inhale-unless-you-want-to-choke confectioners sugar! Defeated, you toss the despised recipe of jibberish into the trash and sink to the floor with your half-empty Reesie’s bag & a “how to separate the yoke from a egg” YouTube video. 


Let’s pause the story for just a sec. You poor dear! Can we all agree that baking is not for the faint of heart? And even harder if you don’t understand or misread the recipe? I actually don’t like using recipes, but I also see the need for them. After all, you don’t just wake up with the knowledge of how to make a new recipe and know it by heart. That’s why having a fool proof recipe can come in handy! 


In the slightly exaggerated story above, we see how crucial it is to have the right measurements. In the story, you had all the right ingredients. You had all the tools you needed, but something was missing. And that something was balance. The recipe would simply flop if you added 5 eggs and only a half a cup of flour. Did the ingredient list have eggs and flour on it? Yes! But the delicious cookies cannot be made without the right amount of each ingredient. 


Are any lightbulbs going off in your head yet?? Good, because here’s where the analogy comes in. As Christians, we might have everything we need for a overflowing life. We have all the resources. We have our Bibles, a church family, nature, sermons just a click away, etc! But often times, we feel like we’re still missing something. Maybe it’s the relationship. If you would have known me better in the story, you could have called and I would have walked you through the process of cookie baking. But on your own, we can all agree, you made a mess of things. 


Maybe it’s the balance of ingredients. Maybe a couple minutes a day of Bible reading is not going to fill us up. Maybe prioritizing devotion time as opposed to scrolling time is where it’s at. (I’m literally calling myself out in this post *headdesk*) Maybe the ingredients call for love, joy, and peace but we don’t know how to live them out in our lives in practical/daily ways. Maybe we get distracted by what other bakers are creating that we feel less-than qualified to even try our hand at it. Maybe we blame the recipe or the One who gave it to us. 


Maybe our life is so messy that we don’t even have time to decipher the ingredients for a overflowing life. Are the maple glazed cookies really worth all the blood, sweat, and tears? (Um, yes! If you’ve ever tried my mom’s cookies, they are 100% worth it!) But let’s wrap up this little funny-turned-deep story with this: 


You might not have all the answers or know the big picture, but don’t give up on your quest to live the life you were created for. You have a unique purpose that only you can fill. You have a Savior who did a lot more than pull a few stings to give you a inheritance—He gave his life for us. And He so wants for us to come to Him. 

To ask Him our questions (not mater how trivial they seem to is.) He wants to give us good gifts and healing from pain. He wants us to accept His love and forgiveness. And it’s our choice how we will respond. We might have all the ingredients, but are we striving to prioritize them in the right order?


Thought's on this lil' story? 

Comment below and I'd love to hear them! 

Many Blessings, 

Brooklyne Elysse 

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Christmas Movies

 


Friendsssss! It's THREE DAYS until Christmas! Who else feels like December flew by? But anyway, I hope everyone has been enjoying this time of year. I know I'm loving my winter break and looking forward to some vacation time coming up! Today's post is going to be featuring some of my favorite Christmas movies. Also, be sure to check out Rebekah's blog for her list!!! 

These are in no particular order!



Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas 
I really liked this one! 


What I did for Love 
This one is a favorite for sure!! And we even quote it!


New in Town
Pretty funny... XD


The Nine Lives of Christmas
Watched it this year and really liked it! 


An Avonlea Christmas
Haven't seen this one in a while, but it's Road to Avonlea!


Snow Bride
Super good! 


While You Were Sleeping
Probably my favorite one! 



Hearts of Christmas
I thought this one was pretty sweet!


Elf
Ok, watched it for the first time this year... very funny! 


Home Alone 1 
Very very funny!


Home Alone 2
Maybe even funnier than the first one! 

Have you seen any of these?? What is your favorite Christmas movie! 
I need recommendations! 

Many Blessings, 
Brooklyne Elysse 








Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Favorite Books of 2021

 


*dances around* 

Who else found some new favorite books this year? I sure did! So this post will be about my favorite bookish finds of 2021. 

Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin 
Ok, ok, I can’t say enough good things about this one! If you want to read my fangirl, check out THIS post where I talk about the whole Waves of Freedom series. Basically, this book earned every one of those five shiny stars I gave it. 

Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin
Sundin outdid herself with this whole series. The characters are so relatable and their values are admirable. I gave this one 4.5 stars.


When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin
JUST. GO. READ. THIS. WHOLE. SERIES! A solid 5 star read!

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin
This book had a slightly different vibe than the rest of Sundin's books, but I loved the plot and writing style and Evelyn as a main character! 5 star!

A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano 
New author alert! I was really impressed with this authors poetic writing style and the depth in it! Bravo! (and even though ballet isn't my thing, this story was super intriguing...) 4 star!


A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White
Ya'll! This book was so good! 4 star! I loved the characters and the quality of writing style! The whole plot to this series was epic. 

An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White
4.5 star! This is the last book in the Shadows Over England Series and this was probably my favorite out of the whole series! Love the historical detail in these books.

A Question of Honor by Jessica Wheaton
4 stars! I'm super glad I got the opportunity to read this book at the beginning of 2021. It definitely didn't disappoint! 

Seeing Voices by Olivia Smit
Another new-to-me author with a fun writing style and great themes! This was the only contemporary that made it on the list (if you haven't already gathered, historical fiction is my favorite.) Definitely recommend this for a summer read! 4.5 star!

~~~

Well, I hope you liked getting a glimpse of my favorite reads of 2021. Now it's your turn... 

What was one of your favorite books of the year? 

Many Blessings, 
Brooklyne Elysse 




Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Guest Post // Faith & Hope


Make sure you don't forget to read the other guest posts by Gabrielle! 
Today, we have a more serious guest post about the topic of faith and hope--how they are different. 
I hope you enjoy this quick read with great insights! 

~~~

Are Faith and Hope Different?

When I first think of the word faith, I usually think of religion or having faith in God. The Bible defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Faith has many different meanings, for example, someone having faith that the other person will not lie to them. Or another example is having faith that there is a God even if we physically cannot see Him with our own eyes. 

Faith and hope are similar, but also different. Hope is for the future and faith is more present. An example of hope is someone hoping they will get the job. Hope is used in the future.

The Bible says if we have faith as big as a mustard seed, then we can move mountains. Faith comes first, if we have faith then we can have hope. Having hope is a joyful experience, because if we have the hope of God in us, then we have a brighter future. As Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” 

God wants us to have faith in the truths of the Bible so that we may have hope in Him coming again. Faith and hope are different and it is important that we have both, especially in God!

How do you think Faith and Hope differ? What about faith and trust? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Comment Below!

Many Blessings, 
Brooklyne Elysse and Gabrielle 

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Guest Post // Chocolate Factory

 


Welcome back to another guest post by Gabrielle! If you happened to miss the first guest post, be sure to check it out by reading THIS post! Now on with her next creative writing installment: 

~~~

Chocolate that is Literally out of this World!

Where is your chocolate from? Chances are it could be literally out of this world!! Most of the population of America has eaten a Milky Way, right? But do they know that it was actually created on Mars... the planet!! Well, come to find out, in 1923, Frank C. Mars discovered a way to travel to the planet of Mars in less than three months. This timeframe was unheard of. Normally, it would take from six months to a year to travel to Mars from the Earth. Mr. Mars did this by the use of a fast rocket which he built himself. What made his rocket faster than the other rockets out there? Well... Frank C. Mars’s brother George E. Mars created a fuel called petroleum, which is highly refined kerosene; this special fuel helps the rocket to hit a maximum speed of 6,519 miles per hour. With this special fuel, Frank C. Mars had successfully built the fastest rocket in the whole world. His next step was to create the fastest route to get to planet Mars.

Finally, after three years of perfecting his route, Mr. Mars was ready for blast off. It was now 1922, on March 20th, the day Frank C. Mars tried to reach planet Mars! The excitement was building as crowds of people came to watch this magnificent feat. 5..4..3..2..1.. Blast off! The rocket didn't budge. The sound of the crowds mocking him made things even worse for Mr. Mars. “Disappointment rushed over me all over again. You see, I was a Harvard University dropout. No one thought I was smart enough to make it through Harvard, but why I dropped out was because my real dream was to start a chocolate factory on Mars,” Mr. Mars told the New York Times interviewer. Now he had failed at both.

It was now 1923, on March 20th, one year had passed and Mr. Mars had finished building his rocket launchpad. He decided to try to go to the planet Mars again, but this time, without anyone knowing. When People magazine asked, “Why was the second launch a secret?” Mr. Mars answered, “Because I was too afraid of failure, plus I don't like being made fun of.”

Frank C. Mars had built his secret launchpad in the privacy of his own 100 acres. No one was going to make fun of him this time. 5..4..3..2..1.. Blast off! The rocket was launched into outer space in less than a few seconds!

Three months went by and no one had seen Mr. Mars.​ However, when Mr. Mars arrived at the planet Mars, he found that there was less gravity on the planet Mars compared to the planet Earth. As a result, he could build his dream chocolate factory much cheaper, faster, and with little to no maintenance on machines! He began planning how he would get the supplies needed to build his dream chocolate factory. Over the next year, Mr. Mars made four trips from the Earth to Mars with building supplies needed for his project.

After seven years of building, Frank C. Mars finally got his dream chocolate factory. He named it Mars, Incorporated.

What did you think of that story? Have you ever wondered the stories behind major chocolate companies? Don’t you love my sister’s creativity?! Comment below with your favorite chocolate bar!

Many Blessings, 
Brooklyne Elysse and Gabrielle 

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Guest Post // Nightmare Island

 


My sister graciously offered to help me out with some epic new content for y'all! 
She will be guest posting and share some of her creative writing assignments with us. I found the following story to be especially entertaining so I hope you enjoy! 

~~~
Rescue From​ ​Nightmare Island
Written by Gabrielle Sage, October 2020

The cruise ship started its motor when all listed passengers were aboard the ship. As the Jewel of the Pacific departed the harbor, I stood there on the deck in awe of the vast ocean ahead. The salty sea breeze gently touched my face, while my long brown hair flowed in the wind. It was as if I transcended into a world of peaceful bliss.

A day later, as the Jewel of the Pacific made its way south on the Pacific ocean, I leaned over the side of the ship to see a large green sea turtle swimming peacefully in the clear blue water. Suddenly, I heard a crack and felt the rail give way. I struggled to hang on as I plunged downward 30 feet from where I stood. The cold ocean took my breath away, and I was stunned. Panicked, I yelled for help and started swimming towards the ship. I was in shock, and my eyes stung from the salty water. I was thinking, will someone hear me and save me? Grasping for something, my fingers found the ropes that held a little yellow raft to the side of the ship. Quickly, I untied the wet rope releasing the raft. I climbed onto the raft, hoping I could signal someone on the cruise ship, but by the time I got on the raft, it was too late. The ship was slowly, but surely, moving out of sight. I looked to my left, and all I saw was never-ending water; however, as I looked to the right, I saw what looked like a little rugged island. Thankfully, the wind and the strong waves were carrying my little raft to this unknown island.

My raft crashed with force onto the rough rocks of this unknown island, gashing a hole in the little yellow life raft. Right then, a sense of unease washed over my cold body. Howling wind blew sand in my saltwater-burned eyes, making it hard for me to see the carcasses of unknown creatures scattered across the filthy shores. As my eyes cleared, I saw dark blue storm clouds and sheets of rain far above the raging ocean.

“Ouch!” I yelped as the biggest and scariest fly I had ever seen sank its teeth into the flesh of my leg. Then I heard the cawing of seagulls in search of food on the barren island. They must have felt the storm approaching the little island as they spread out looking for shelter. After being thrown from the raft against the rocky shore, I looked down and stood in shock bleeding from cuts all along my legs and arms. To my horror, what I thought were crushed shells, I saw were actually the remains of past human bones.

Sheets of rain that were in the distance had already arrived at the island in full force. The sound of thunder was followed by a gigantic flash of lightning, igniting a palm tree into a flaming ball of fire. Adrenaline kicked in, I was so frightened that the only thing in my exhausted mind said was to run. So I ran barefooted on the island’s jagged rocks until I finally found a mango tree. Unfortunately, all of the fruit was rotten. However, the sounds of my stomach growling forced me to try to eat the rotten mango. Yuck! I said with disgust. I had bitten into a fuzzy worm! The combination of dead fish, rotten fruit, decaying mushrooms, and the smell of my own body odor made me want to vomit, but I had nothing to vomit up.

The rain finally stopped so I sat on a hard and cold rock feeling homesick and sad. In a moment, I flew to a standing position at the sight of shark fins above the ocean water. I had to find a way out of here! I thought. My only idea was to make a “HELP” sign on the beach for possible planes or helicopters to see.

I gathered bamboo and slimy seaweed from deep into the island’s forest and ocean so I could form a HELP sign. I finally got the sign ready in time for a helicopter to fly by. “YAY!” I shouted in excitement. Jumping up and down, my heart fell when I saw the helicopter fly right on by and into the gray clouds. “What am I going to do,” I said quietly. In desperation, I fell on my knees onto the rough shores. When I looked up I found hungry little crabs eating the seaweed from my help sign. I burst into tears, “Well, at least I helped some crabs with my help sign.”

When I thought things couldn’t be any worse the baking hot sun appeared. Damp, hot, tired, scared, hungry, thirsty, and bleeding I sat there helpless with no hope of ever seeing my family and cozy home again!

As I was sitting in despair, I got a glimmer of hope when I heard the sound of another helicopter drawing near. He must have seen what was left of my “HELP” sign and the smoke of the burning palm tree. Although the pilot could not land the helicopter on the rocky shores, the pilot dropped a rescue basket down to the disgusting shores. Wind from the propellers of the helicopter blew my wet, sandy hair in my face as I climbed into the recuse basket. While the helicopter lifted me up off of the shores of the “Nightmare Island”, I sighed in relief.

High above the Pacific Ocean in a rescue basket, I prayed, Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending this helicopter to rescue me from the horrible island, just as you promised in Colossians 1:13. Please keep me safe through the rest of my journey home.

I woke up with relief that this was just a nightmare and realized even in my nightmare my guardian angel was working overtime even in my dreams. Now I must pack for my cruise on the Jewel of the Pacific. What should I bring?

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves... Colossian 1:13

Wow! What a wild ride! Who else was surprised when the palm tree caught on fire or the crab ate the "help" sign?? What was your favorite part of the story? Comment below!

Many Blessings, 
Brooklyne Elysse & Gabrielle


Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Crosshairs // Book Review

 



NEW TO ME AUTHOR ALERT! This book was another review copy, so if you are a avid reader and love finding new books, read on! But if book reviews aren't your thing, hang around for next weeks guest post! 

*winks* 

~~~

Back of the book: 

"Investigative Services Branch (ISB) ranger Ainsley Beaumont arrives in her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, to investigate the murder of a three-month-pregnant teenager. While she wishes the visit was under better circumstances, she never imagined that she would become the killer's next target--nor that she'd have to work alongside an old flame.


After he almost killed a child, former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele couldn't bring himself to fire a gun, which had deadly and unforeseen consequences for his best friend. Crushed beneath a load of guilt, Linc is working at Melrose Estate as an interpretive ranger. But as danger closes in on Ainsley during her murder investigation, Linc will have to find the courage to protect her. The only question is, will it be too little, too late?

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley continues her Natchez Trace Park Rangers series with a story about how good must prevail when evil just won't quit."

~~~

⭑⭑⭑⭑✬

4.5 Stars! 


What a ride! Crosshairs was nothing like I expected, yet it captured my attention with realistic characters, mysterious diaries, and a unique location!


The characters. 


Ainsley Beaumont was independent yet knew when to accept help. I loved her role in solving these cases. She was quick on her feet and I liked seeing how her character grew to forgive those who hurt her in her past. Also, her earlier career choice was cool because it’s not often found in the books I’ve read.


Lincoln “Linc” Steele was a really great guy who had his morals straight. I appreciated how he didn’t see his weakness as what defined him and eventually overcame his fear. For a “hero,” the fact that he was vulnerable was a point for his character in my mind. However, I didn’t care for how he handled the attention from the reporter. Since he knew that their relationship wasn’t going anywhere, I feel like he should have stood up for himself sooner.


Cora and Gran were awesome side characters! I love insistent/bossy elderly ladies with strong Christian views. Plus, they were just cute ‘kay? (They vaguely reminded me off the Baldwin sisters in The Waltons, without the moonshine of course!) 


The setting/plot.

 

I had never heard of the Investigative Services Branch Rangers before, but I loved the setting of Natchez, Mississippi. It was eerie enough for the investigation to take place, and yet still held a small town charm. The plot was good! It was suspenseful and kept me guessing what would happen next. There were a few twists and turns with multiple layers of crime investigation. One thing I wasn’t expecting was there to be such short chapters throughout. The book has 71 chapters in all! Most are varied in length, but a few of them for the “bad guys” POV were as short as half a page.


The short chapters didn’t bother me as much as the main reason I took off half a star. There was some twisted plot twists at the end. Without spoilers, there was some mentally ill motives for murder that had me very disturbed and I felt like that was an unnecessary plot extension that was added last minute. Also, I would have liked to see some of the the cases solved without killing off the bad guy(s).


To sum up, this book was exceptionally good for the suspense genre! The romance didn’t feel skin deep and the themes of forgiveness and second changes were meaningful. I look forward to reading more of this series with book 4 in the coming year! 


If you are looking for a Christian suspense novel with action-packed crime solving that will have you reading at 4 a.m. in the morning (true story) then I’d recommend giving Crosshairs a try! 


Plus, I love the book covers in this series side-by-side! 


**Thank you Revell for a complementary copy of this new release! 


What is your favorite suspense book? I've only come across a few that I actually like, but I'll read an occasional suspense book if I get board with Historical fiction. 

Have you read anything by this author? What is your current read? 

Comment below! 


Many Blessings, 

Brooklyne Elysse 

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

What I Love About Autumn


It's November 10. Who else has been loving all the fall weather and cozy vibes? Today's post is just going to be a random compilation of fall-ish things that make me happy! 

~~~

↟ Leaves changing colors ↟ pumpkin patch ↟ Hot cocoa ↟ 
Windy days ↟ Reading books ↟ Leggings ↟ Photos ↟ Boots ↟ Tomato soup and grilled cheese ↟ Maple cookies ↟ Movie nights ↟ Messy buns ↟ My birthday ↟ Warm Candles ↟ Rainy days ↟ Fuzzy socks ↟ Warm Cinnamon Spice soap ↟ Listening to music ↟ Morning jog ↟ S'mores ↟ 5k races ↟ Apple Cider ↟ Bonfires ↟ Flannel ↟ Crocheting ↟ Foggy mornings ↟ Hiking ↟ Trail riding ↟ Cabins ↟ Cornfields ↟ Caramel apples ↟ Catching the sunrise ↟ Whittling ↟ Crisp air ↟ Thanksgiving food ↟ Road trips ↟ Camping ↟ Thankful ↟ Nature walks ↟ Pie ↟ Fall decor ↟ Anne of Green Gables quotes XD ↟

~~~

What's on your list of fall things? 
What did I miss? Comment below!

Many Blessings, 
Brooklyne Elysse 


Wednesday, November 3, 2021

A View Most Glorious // Book Review



I'm back with another book review! I hope you 
like reading my thoughts on A View Most Glorious by Regina Scott!

Back of the book blurb: 

Headstrong Coraline Baxter has worked all her life to be more than the spoiled socialite others expect. When her fellow suffragettes in Tacoma, Washington, suggest that she should climb to the top of Mount Rainier to prove that a woman can do anything, she instantly resolves to do it. And if she can climb Mount Rainier, her mother promises to stop pressuring her to get married to the wealthy Cash Kincaid. All Cora needs is a guide to get her to the top of the mountain.

Nathan Hardee may look like a mountain man, but he once ruled the halls of high society. He left all that behind after his father broke under financial pressure from Kincaid. To best Kincaid now, Nathan agrees to guide Cora up the mountain.

Climbing Rainier will require all of Cora's strength and will lead her and Nathan to rediscover their faith in God and humanity. These two loners make unlikely p
artners in righting a wrong and may just discover that only together is the view most glorious.

My Review: 

 3.5 star!

After reading A Distance Too Grand back in August 2020, I wasn’t sure if I should give this series another try. A Distance Too Grand fell short of my expectations, however, A View Most Glorious may have redeemed the series for me. 


A View Most Glorious was a story about new-found faith, determination, and choosing love for love, not based off of financial security. 


The Characters. 


Coraline Baxter was a fun character who didn’t back down from a challenge. I liked her grit and her willingness to fight for a cause she believed in. I also like how her view of faith shifted throughout the book to more of a relationship with God and less of a keep-up-appearance based faith. The reasoning for her actually setting out to climb Mount Rainier was slightly far fetched in my opinion, but it made for a exciting plot. I wished the actual climbing had taken more of the storyline, it only lasted a couple chapters.


Nathan Hardee. Nathan was a down to earth kind of guy. I really appreciated how he decided to leave society life to find a life with more meaning and purpose. I really liked both characters’ love of nature, but his especially stood out to me. He made time to be quiet in nature and soak in the beauty around him. Other than that, his character didn’t really stand out to me. I did like the backstory to his character and how he made amends with his past.


One side character that I must spotlight is Waldo! He was awesome. Kinda reminded me of Gabby Hayes in Roy Rogers. He spoke his mind and meant well. I liked reading the scenes where Waldo was in it. I also liked Mr Winston. Even though he was too laid back for his own good, he was really encouraging to Cora and was a good step father.


Two characters that especially bugged me were: Mrs. Winston and Cash Kincaid. Ugh, don’t even get me started!


The Setting. 


I love mountains so this book had the perfect setting! The descriptions in this book were especially spot on (and slightly exaggerated, but it’s fiction). I loved the history surrounding this location and the debate on what to call the mountain. 


Concluding thoughts.


The story was nothing to have you at he edge of your seat, but it still was a enjoyable read with lots of fun characters, motives, and inspiration. I especially love the cover design and how well it matched the story. I’d recommend this book for those looking for a slightly cliché storyline, fun characters, and descriptions of nature that will have you wanting to explore the outdoors in search of your own alpenstock!


***Thank you Revell Reads for a complementary copy of this book!


~~~



Do you like reading historical fiction? Id so, what has been your most recent read? 
Comment Below! 

Many Blessings, 
Brooklyne Elysse 

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Happy One Year Anniversary

 


HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY to my sister and bro-in-law! I'm grateful for the opportunity to witness you both grow in your marriage and love. Thanks for always being the fun ones! <3

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Journal entry from a year ago: 

"The ceremony was so perfect. Like a Hallmark--but real. Sissy was a beautiful bride. Everything was perfect. Good food from the food truck. Good music. Dancing. Just really magical. As I write this I'm hit with so many emotions, more than the amount of hair spray in my hair (and that's saying something!)"

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Lots of special memories from their wedding! 







Have you ever had a big sis get married? 
Comment below and share your favorite memory from a wedding you've attended! 
P.S. I've started making blog graphics again!!

Many Blessings,
Brooklyne Elysse


Wednesday, October 20, 2021

What is Art?



I wrote a small essay for my school last year, I thought I'd share it today along with some of my art I've been creating! Hope you enjoy!

~~~

December 17th, 2020

What is Art?

This essay delves into the complex topic of describing what art is to the artist, but also what art can be for the viewer as well. Art is a universal language of creating. 

It is a language that explores all senses. It takes many forms for many different individuals. Art is a tangible display of what the human mind is capable of creating. A mind that reflects a small amount of creativity that the Creator of the universe used when making the entire world and all that is in it. Art is a reflection of the beauty around us. Art can be a simple finger painting by a small child, or it can be a paint brush on canvas by a trained artist. Art can be colors and shapes splashed playfully, or skillfully over a surface with precise strategy.

With many layers to what art can be, there are endless possibilities for the artist. This is one of the things that makes art what it is. The opportunity to create something one of a kind. Each area of art is unique to the one who takes up the challenge and calls themselves an artist. It can be found throughout limitless mediums of material. Through paintings, sculptures, photography, music, graphic design, etc. Art can be seen in the soft colors of a pastel landscape painting, felt through a sculpture’s chiseled shapes, and heard in the rhythms of a song. 

As an art viewer, the art is in contemplation. It’s asking questions about the reasons behind certain kinds of art. When the artist planned that particular piece, what was the message they wanted to come across? What were they wanting you to feel and experience when viewing their art? Why the choice of medium? In conclusion, art is a mindset and a way of life. 


~~~

Now for some of my art! 
^^ This is a drawing I did "after Picasso" 

^^ I love painting! Especially at the lake!

^^ Fiber art

^^More drawings from my drawing class

^^Painting pottery is so fun!

^^not quite how I envisioned this to turn out, lol

^^Digital art is new to me!

^^Working with clay

^^This could have used some more shadowing 

What does art mean to you?? Comment below!! 

Many Blessings, 
Brooklyne Elysse