5 Essentials to Survive Travelling with 100 Students

Yes, 100. 104 to be exact. For the next 5 days Ty and I are in mountains with our junior highers. Excuse me, "middle schoolers". (I always get scolded for that.)

Anyways, we started registration at 8:00 yesterday morning and have been going going going non-stop. I wanted to think of a creative way to share the next 5 days with you so I've logged the 5 absolute necessities for traveling with "middle schoolers".


Here we go.


1. Coffee
A no-brainer. If your body is not filled with some form of caffeine, you are signing your own death sentence. I like to go with the venti caramel macchiato with 2 extra shots.


2. Mega Phone/Loud Voice
This is a must for traveling in groups of 3 or more. With girls you'll have less of a loudness/yelling problem and more of a giggling/perpetual convo problem. With boys you'll have the loudness/yelling issue...and sometimes giggling. :)


3. Headphones
When you're NOT using the megaphone, you'll be using these bad boys. They will help you keep your sanity. If you have noise canceling ones that's a bonus.


However, though my headphones get plenty of use when with my lovely middle school girls, I also like to listen in and engage in the convos they are having. 99.9% of the time they'll be about boys (newsflash right?) and I like to think that I can help shape their view of the hormonal opposite sex. Sometimes.


4. Riddles
They LOVE riddles and I love giving them riddle that takes the entire car ride or bus trip ( or week) to figure out.


5. A Heart for Teens
This is essential because you will burn out faster than you can say, "Please pick up your trash". If you've followed me for any length of time you know being a youth pastors wife wasn't on my Bucket List. [More on that story here.] But after a year of working with these kids and watching them grow and change and learn and thrive and desire more of God, my heart has shifted. I was scared and way intimidated by them. But some of them have become like brothers and sisters to me. I care about them. I care about what happens to them. I care about the decisions they make and what friends they choose. 


And it's the care that keeps me there, every day. Youth ministry is very different from Worship Ministry. But that's another post, for another day :)


Hope this gave you a giggle, and if you work with youth, what are your "survival tricks"?

A Letter To My Brother on His Wedding Day

* UPDATE Y'ALL, what they're up to now :)  

To My Dear Brother, 

Today you are getting married.

My little brother. The 2nd in our clan of 3 Mustakteers. 


You are the best around. You love people. You love helping people. You love making, building, fixing, remodeling anything you can get your hands on. You're a fire-fighter at heart and saving people is part of who you are. 


Since you were 15 there has been only 1 girl for you, and today you get to [finally] make her your wife. 

Alot of people say that marriage is the beginning of the end. [Some joking, some not.] But I think that marriage isn't the beginning at all. Nor is it the end. It's just a very big intermission where you, the man of the hour, get to introduce a new, beautiful character onto the scene. The character that takes every one's breath away. The character that will change the entire feel of the play. She'll make it a little better.


The thing is, is that she was always there. In the back, getting ready. Makeup, hair, life, love. She's been here the whole time. Since you were 15 she has been the thing that drives you. 


Everyone knew it. Even you two. And today is going to be magical. 


Two families, who are now "officially" joining as one, but have been fusing together for the last 7 years. 


So brother, I am so, so very proud of you. 


Happy Wedding Day! This will always remain in my mind as the day when all our friends and families gathered to say, "It's about time!"


Love,
-Julie

My Blogging Story: Part 3

*In light of the publishing of my new e-course [So You Wanna Start a Blog], I am writing out my own personal blogging story. Today is Part 3. Go here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.]*

Chapter Three

From then on, my blogging journey has been a whirlwind. From no readers to hundreds of readers, Bad, bad blogging ideas to guest posts, to giveaways and series. It has been a fun development to watch and look back on. I'd say the top 3 things I've learned from blogging are:

    1. The more I write, the better my writing gets.

    2. Negative writing or feedback benefits no one. 

    3. People love stories and everyone has one. 

The next step in my blogging journey is to tell them. I want to tell everyone's story and/or encourage them to tell their own stories because when we don't tell them, we feel isolated and alone. When we do, we realize that we're not alone. There is someone out there somewhere who knows what we're feeling and someone else who has been through what we're going through. With this giant web called the internet, I think it's silly that people feel alone. 

So whether your blog starts out as private and become public, or you start out public, or you stay private for a while, tell you story. Someone, somewhere, at some point in time will need to hear it. 

I promise.

To be continued...

What's up for tomorrow: Tomorrow will be a trip down memory lane. My best and worst posts of the "olden days". 

*Interested in blogging but don't know where to start? I wanna help you tell your stories! Read more here.*

My Blogging Story: Part 2

In light of the publishing of my new e-course [So You Wanna Start a Blog], I am writing out my own personal blogging story. Today is Part 2. Go here for Part 1.]


Chapter Two

When I left MI, I had to readjust to life in Cali. It was more difficult than I had expected. It wasn't just being re-immersed in my old life, living with my parents, connecting with old friends, going to my home church, but also letting go of my future in Michigan. 

The next 10 years were planned out in my head of who I was going to marry, what I was going to do, my life-long friends, my favorite restaurants, what church I would be at and even my favorite study place ;) I never thought of what would happen if I left it all behind. 

I was sad, hurt, lonely, emotional, confused, disillusioned by the whole thing. 

So naturally, I started a blog. 

Yup. That's how it started. Nothing fancy or cool or compelling. I just needed a place to spew my thoughts and stories. I needed a place outside of my own head that I could close at any given time. 

It wasn't a public blog at first. I kept it private because I was afraid people would judge me. Both in Michigan and Cali. But as I started talking, like really talking and connecting with people about the nitty gritty of life I found myself often saying, "You know, I just wrote something on that the other day. I'll email it to you when I get home." 

Then, in December of 2008 I realized my story was no longer my own. I had always been mostly open and vulnerable with people about my past, present, and future. But when I was asked, in an emergency, to speak at a women's dessert [with 800 women in attendance] I knew God was fashioning something in me, yet to be determined. I blogged about that night to myself and at the end realized, "This is it. I need to be telling my stories to the world."

So I did. My blog became public.

To be continued...

*Interested in blogging but don't know where to start? I wanna help you tell your stories! Read more here.*

My Blogging Story: Part 1

*Alot has been happening here in the Morlet house which I will most definitely share with you soon. I started a series about what I taught at the recent Women's Retreat but have a bit of a turn of events since then and am not ready to conclude that story quite yet. I will though, I promise. 


On the other hand I've had quite a few of you ask how I got started blogging so I wanted to start this season with that. The current happenings will follow. There will be 5 parts. Here is part one.*

Chapter One

So I started blogging 3 years ago, totally unintentionally and on no type of schedule or routine. 

My very first post was August 11, 2008. I had just returned from Grand Rapids, Michigan where I was attending Grace Bible College for the past 2 years. I had every intention of returning for my Junior year, however due to the recession [and God's ways] my loan company had frozen all student loans across the state and I was out $9000 for that year's tuition. 

I stayed up all night with my parents trying to figure out if a second or third job would help my financial situation and after way too many numbers and a river of tears, we decided the best thing would be for me to come home to California. It was not what I wanted. I felt like a failure. I felt like I couldn't complete anything and I loved my college and friends in MI. I had so many plans and dreams wrapped up in this school and in one phone call they were shattered. 

So now I'm in Cali. Don't get me wrong, I love California. I knew this was where I was supposed to be, given the circumstances, but I was still sad to leave my life in MI. I missed my friends who had, over the last 2 years, become my family. It's kind of inevitable when you live with people for an extended amount of time you become friends, but add on dillusion from studies, a ridiculous amount of candy, soda and popcorn, American Idol and chick flicks [because that's what you do all Winter!], you become more than friends. They were my family.

To be continued...
*Interested in blogging but don't know where to start? I wanna help you tell your stories! Read more here.*

New E-Course: So You Wanna Start a Blog

Hello Friends, I have been working on a NEW E-COURSE [woot woot!] for the last couple of months. It's called So You Wanna Start a Blog... and it's a blogging course for beginner and intermediate bloggers. Since I started getting a little more serious about mine, [not too much of course ;)] alot of you have asked how I got started, what inspired me to do one, and how you can start one. 

I felt like I was copying and pasting alot of my response emails because your blogging questions seemed to be similar in nature. So the last two months I sat down and wrote it all out. Everything I did + all your other blogging options. 

From servers to fonts, pictures to post titles, I've covered all the basics to get your new blog rollin. 

People start blogs for one of two reasons. {1} ONE, they have something to tell the world. {2} TWO, they just want people to like them. If you are #2, you shouldn't start a blog. You'll be very discouraged and let me tell you why, through this course.

It's such a huge world wide web out there and there is no right way to do it. There are however, some wrong ways to do it and I talk about those in the course too. 

The Sessions include:

-Let's Talk About Your Niche: What's your story?

To write without purpose is to set oneself up for failure. Just writing, journalling online will not give you any satisfaction in and of itself unless you are doing it just for you. But if you're journalling for readers, you'll need more than Dear Abby sparsity. You need consistency. I do too, but I found out the hard way. 

My Blogging Story

I started blogging in 2008 in a fluke, non-chalant sort of way. No one read it but me and I absolutely LOVED that. There was no pressure. So why did I go public? You'll have to see. Alot can happen in 3 years.

-Everyone Starts at [Square] One: Setting Up

Once you've brainstormed through Your Blogger-Self, you're ready to setup your blog. With so many options and avenues out there, starting a blog can be a bit overwhelming. This lesson walks you through the set up from the top three blogging servers. I also have a series of questions for you to think through regarding the fashioning and overall appeal of your blog.

-3 Must-Haves for Making Your Blog Pretty

Layouts, pictures and links! I will go into detail on how to create and fashion each of these in your own blogging style and also give you some insight into what's "working" now. 

-Conquering the 2 Biggest Social Media Monsters

These social networks are your bloggin BFF's. If you don't have them, you should get them. [It's super easy and always free!] For the beginner blogger, they are the ultimate forms of exposure, convenience, and efficiency.

-5 Necessities for Crafting Your Best Blog Posts

Crafting your posts is the funnest + most important part of blogging. If you are a seasoned blogger, you know that quality is better than quantity BUT not to the extreme. You can post really good content, but if you only post once a month, your traffic will decrease. This session gives you jumpstart ideas and routines for you to get into to make your bloggin more frequent and well-written.

BONUS: Everyday Resources & Web Tools

Pages full of tips, sites, fonts, tutorials that will open up a whole new world to your new blogging habits. 

The best part about this course is that there is no waiting! 

::Here are the Details::

-This is a 'work at your own pace' e-course. You will have an unlimited amount of time to go through the lessons and projects. So go at your own pace :) 

-The cost: $21. I am so excited for your new journey of story-telling! 

-Login information will automatically be sent to you via email (*so be sure to enter your email address while checking out). If you don't receive your login and password info within the next 24 hours, [and you've check your spam box] email me at jmecourse@gmail.com. 

-And as always, if you need further help or have questions concerning any of the ideas, tutorials, and your new blog, you can email me at jmecourses@gmail.com.

Ready to start blogging??? Register Here! 

$21 So You Wanna Start a Blog [E-Course]

Saturday Obsessions: Family + R&R + E-Course

Family: This little munchkin is turning 1 year old tomorrow. She is the youngest grandbaby on my mamma's side [there's 20 of us altogether!] and she is the sweetest little thing. I could hold her for hours. I did actually, today.  

Rest & Relaxation: Stemming from my post on the tension of my days off, these last few days have been amazing! No agenda, no time limits. Yup, it was nice. The best part about it is that now I am refreshed, recharged, and every other good word that starts with "re-" for the weekend. It's gonna be a good weekend :) [Ps. I really did try the cucumber thing on the eyes. It works.]

My Blogging E-Course: Almost done! It's been alot of work and thinking through details and processes and tutorials and color charts, but it's worth it. For you beginner bloggers, you're gonna love it. Launch date is Monday! 


Happy Saturday friends! Eat a crepe. At the Farmers Market. 


Love,

Friday Feature: My Makeup Lady

Good gracious it's Friday already!

I am so excited about today's Friday Feature not only because this girl is a dear friend of mine, but also because she is a makeup magic worker. She was mine and my sister's wedding makeup artist and I loved my makeup on my wedding day. Not one smear or smudge. Everyone has an art that comes naturally to them. Mine is singing. Hers is makeup.

It is my pleasure to introduce, Crystal-lee.

[Lee is not her middle name ;)]

I am Crystal-Lee Howley: lover of God, wife to an amazing man named Brian.

I love to do many, many things {music, art, design, cooking, etc...}, but I work as a makeup artist focusing mainly on Wedding/special event and photography makeup. I also teach one-on-one makeup application lessons. 


I got an accidental start 4 years ago when a friend who worked at cosmetics store needed immediate help. She asked me to work a few makeovers {and at this point I barely wore liner and mascara}, and like that I was hooked. Now, I've decided to push forward as a freelance artist & seek to expand into airbrush makeup.

Helping women wade through the murky waters of professional cosmetics has become my passion. In a superficial world where most of the makeup photos we see are touched up and fake, it's no mystery why many women feel intimidated at the thought of trying new makeup techniques.  


My hope is to help women gain the confidence and knowledge they need to do professional quality {but natural-looking} makeup. When a women leaves my chair, I want her feeling gorgeous! What I don't want is to ever convey that beauty lies only in a woman's makeup style and abilities. We are already beautiful in the eyes of the Lord. 

Makeup is merely another medium God gives us to experiment with creativity.

As for inspiration, I do what I want. It sounds strange, I know, but there are no real rules when it comes to makeup, be it very natural or crazy-dramatic. 

My looks come from everywhere: movies, walks around town, photography sites, and even my weirdest dreams. If it will flatter the face, I'll try it. And to be sure I have a clear idea of what's trending for weddings and everyday style, I'll spend a lot of time reading through beauty and fashion blogs, magazines, cosmetic companies' websites and more.

- - - - -

Thanks Crystal-lee! 

If you're interested in booking for a wedding or special event, or even taking a few lessons, you can get more information on her blog: www.clhowley.com or email her at crystallee@clhowley.com. 

For anyone who mentions this post, you will receive 10% off of your first makeup trial or lesson.

So whether you want a new look for the Summer or you have a special occasion coming up, this girl is your girl!

Happy Friday! Smell a flower :) 

Love,