Friday Links.

Happy Friday loves! I hope you all have a chance to get out and enjoy this weekend...really take a break. I'm hoping to do the same. But, in case you find yourself stuck inside at any point, here are a few articles to read and things to check out...

*For those of you who just started blogging, or those who still need to set up your email so people can respond to you when you leave a comment (please oh please set this up!), check out these awesome blogging tips from my friend Jenni.

*This awesome tutorial on how to "fake Polaroids" from Project Alicia!

*You think you're in good shape until you try to do these ab moves by top Olympic trainers...yeah, not so much. They're fun to try though, and maybe something to work up to?

*I think I need to make Dave some of these DIY sound proofing panels for when he starts recording some new songs soon.

*One of my twitter friends shared this link of 450 free online classes from top universities, I'm definitely going to check some of these out!

...ok, those should keep you busy for awhile! What have you found on the internet lately that you'd love to share?

To whom it may concern...

Dear mason jars,
Thanks for making my morning tea that much more enjoyable. Also thank you for being perfect for holding so many other things around the house- homemade peanut butter, loose tea packets, salsa, q tips...I could go on and on.

Dear Dave,
I'm sorry classes are extra stressful between the final papers and the finals you have for all of your classes, but I am so proud of you for working so hard in everything you do.

Dear iPhone,
Thanks for acknowledging my last letter and working through your issues. I'm so happy we don't have to be in a fight anymore.

Dear laundry,
I swear I just washed and folded you! What's the deal? I know you're feeling neglected, but this is getting pretty old.

Dear Clif builders bars,
I'm so glad the nice lady at Target let me try a free sample of you and gave me a free bar to take home so that we could find each other. You provide me with lots of protein with every yummy bite and I just know we'll be friends forever.

Dear Texas heat,
Pretty please spare the wildflowers on your path of hot destruction? I think the ridiculous summer temps will be a little more bearable if you leave me these beauties.

Love, Mal

Relay for Life.

Last Friday Dave had the opportunity to play at the Relay for Life here in town and he provided music for those walking and running to raise money for cancer research. This is something that's near and dear to both of our hearts and it was so wonderful that Dave was able to do this.

It was so inspiring to watch the men and women with "survivor" on their shirts running and walking around the track all night. One older man ran the whole time, what a trooper. Definitely motivating that's for sure. It was also great to see all the middle school and high school kids out there running and walking for the cause!

Everyone really enjoyed Dave's music and we brought a TON of albums for people and they did not last long at all...

This kid was giving Dave a thumbs up :)

Linking up with  The Paper Mama, And Then She {Snapped}, Project Alicia, Live and Love Outloud, Angry Julie Monday, Naptimemomtog, Jenni from the Blog, and A Little King and I...

Walls.

We all have walls in our lives- things that hold us back, things that we're afraid of, things that keep us from pushing forward and reaching our dreams.

Some we put up ourselves and some are put there by others. Those that we put up ourselves are in our heads, fear and doubt create these walls; while the walls put up by others are often there to make sure we really want what's on the other side of that wall.

But what is it that keeps us from getting over the walls in our life? Some may require we take a step back before we're able to get past them, while others require us to ask for help in order to get a push to the other side.

If we don't get over these obstacles it's our own fault, we allow fear to win. Let's not allow that to happen anymore, deal? Because it can be so beautiful on the other side...