Beauty and Inspiration

Introducing Little Man

2011-05-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

Here's our littlest sweetheart born April 25, 2011.

God has been so good! After several complications including low amniotic fluid, me getting put on bed rest, and having to go in twice a week for a month and a half to monitor baby's heart rate and brain activity, our son was born perfectly healthy!

We're so in love with our newest little one and Baby Boy is a huge help and is always loving up on his little brother.

Huge thanks to my sis who came out and spoiled Baby Boy while we were in the hospital :)

And to Hubby, my love, who is proving to me all over again why he's a wonderful man. I couldn't have begun recovery without him taking care of the boys and me 24/7. I love this man so much!

Praise the Lord for our two boys- such beautiful blessings!

Easter 2011 Baskets

2011-04-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

Hubby's and Baby Boy's Easter baskets.

Baby Boy is going to love that huge thing of bubble mix and then he's going to flip over the green round thing in the back of his basket. Oh yeah, it's a gigantic bubble wand :)

Lots of candy for my sweetie.

If you noticed the makeup wipes and lipstick I threw in for myself, you're one smart sugar cookie ;-)

Bubbles, books, ink stamps, candy, stickers and toys for our big boy.

The toys include the bubble wand, some new cars, an airplane, a truck, a small ball that looks like an Easter egg, a rake and shovel set so he can help Mama with the plants (We already know this is going to be one of his favorite things. He LOVES helping outside), and a kaleidoscope.

Then I had fun putting together my sister's Easter basket. Girly stuff is always more fun :)

She arrives soon and Baby Boy is all in a tizzy about presenting her with her Easter basket because he knows he doesn't get his until she gets here ;-)

I decided to make a sweet girly spring break survival kit for her. I just thought it would be fun since she's coming here for her spring break and the weather's finally warming up around here.

Girly Spring Break Survival Kit

Cute girly travel bag

3 oz refillable travel bottles

A photo of her cute nephew

Chapstick in smoothie flavors. Yum!

Tissues

Antibacterial gel

On the go makeup cleansing wipes

Deodorant

Peeps marshmallows

Cute bright colored flip flops

Shower poof

Mini manicure set

Top it off with some Easter candy and voila! A grown up girl version of the traditional basket.

The women in my family are crazy great about having some kind of a welcome basket for extended stay guests (and I'm one of the worst ones! I usually forget because I'm too busy last minute cleaning, but I always appreciate the thought when I visit their homes). So here I sit feeling decidedly more welcoming and housewife-ish :)

Spa Night: How I Cut My Hair

2011-04-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've been doing my own layered cut for several years now. Yes, at HOME. I know I seem very cheap sometimes, but this is not all about the money. I got so tired of going to a professional salon and telling the stylist exactly what I wanted (A trim. Keep the length and add layers everywhere with lots of layers framing my face from the chin up) and leaving a little less richer and with LOTS less hair! They would always chop off at least 4 inches from the bottom and I would leave unhappy. Well, several years ago I searched online for an at home alternative. I can't find that original video, but the one below is exactly how I cut my own layers. I don't do the really short layers and bangs near the face, but I do everything else, including cutting upwards on the pieces of hair combed forward from the crown of the head.

Every now and then I break down and get a professional cut, but I always come home disappointed. So I vow to keep doing it myself... until the next time I'm sucked in by a great deal.

So give it a try if you dare :) I'm definitely happier with my hair when I cut it at home!

Chocolate Biscotti

2011-04-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

I made chocolate biscotti for the first time last week. It was fabulously easy with this recipe my SIL posted a while back. Hope you get to try it! It's ridiculously scrumptious with coffee or tea...

This was a part of Hubby's gifts during his birthday week :) We're enjoying the excuse to sit down with a cuppa more often so we can have some biscotti. Yum.

Today I'm out on the balcony potting plants in the gorgeous warm weather. It's about time Spring decided to stick around and Baby Boy and I are loving being outside! We spend lots of time out there during the warm months. With the typical apartment lack of a yard, it's the perfect relaxing spot for me and play space for Baby Boy.

I'll be taking some time to work on my hair (still haven't dyed it yet...procrastinator) and hopefully get a foot soak in this evening. Hope you choose to pamper yourself a little today... You deserve some guilt free relaxation. Happy Spa Night, Beauties!

Homemade Interchangeable Flipflop Bling

2011-04-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

So the other day I was in a boutique and saw a thing called Switchflops, which are basically flip flops that have a metal snap where you can place decorative flowers or faux jewels on your flip flops depending on your outfit. Well, I thought I just had to have some, but wasn't going to pay $20 and up for them. I've racked my brain until I came up with a homemade solution and now I cannot wait until the warm weather sticks around so I can show them off! Also, I've got visions of flip flop bling made out of fashion jewelry... but I'm getting ahead of myself.

If you've already done this for yourself, my cheap creative heart salutes you. And why didn't you tell me???
;-) Here you go homemade divas. Enjoy the endless possibilities to prettify your flip flops and show off your pedicure this spring and summer!

Here's the type of glue I use for all my projects. It's amazing! Once it dries it's permanent, waterproof but flexible. Perfect for hair or flipflop bling :)

I started out with 2 pairs of plain flip flops. They're on sale everywhere! Big Lots has them for $2 a pair and Old Navy is selling tons of colors and sizes for $2.50 a pair if you buy 2. I can't get them at WalMart because I have a latex allergy and theirs always seem to make me break out in hives, but anyway.....

Place a line of glue on the underside of the straps in this area.
Let the glue cure for 1 or 2 minutes until it becomes tacky.

Measure and cut a 2 1/2 piece of ribbon. This will work for larger feet which I *ahem* have. You can measure and figure out what length you need once you see what it's for.
You'll need 2 precut pieces of ribbon for each flip flop.
So I cut 8 for my two pairs of flip flops.

Place one piece of ribbon on the underside. Be sure only half the ribbon is glued to the underside. The other half will need to wrap over to the top.

Here's how it should look from the top after you apply the ribbon to the glue underneath.

Place a dab of glue on the end of the ribbon...

And fold it over the top. Press firmly into place. Repeat on other side so ribbons overlap each other.
You'll have a ribbon X with ends glued down and no glue in the center. We need the top center to stay glue free so you can add your bling.

Clamp into place with clothespins or whatever you have. I used alligator hair clips because I have a ton.
Let cure for 24 hours for best results and then remove clamps.

I made a few 2 inch flowers to personalize my flip flops. They're attached to alligator clips. I'd like to find smaller clips than these next time, but it's what I had.

Place the bottom of your clip through the unglued loop we created with the ribbon pieces.

Oh the pretty frilly girly possibilities!

So yeah... now I'm on the lookout for brooches and clip on earrings in the clearance sections to add more bling to my flip flops!

Hope you are inspired to make some pretties for yourselves, Beauties! Have a wonderful weekend!

Spa Night: False Lashes Daydreaming

2011-03-31T10:23:00.000-07:00

I LOVE false eyelashes. Or I used to. Now I love the idea of them and daydream about those good old days when I used to wear them. Here's a quick history about me and falsies.

No falsies, Baby Boy was 3 months old.

Me lately looking at my funny boy in the mirror. No falsies. I miss 'em!

The following photos are all of me wearing natural looking false lashes. I worked very hard (trimming, careful application, etc) to make it look inconspicuous and eventually wore them almost every day because with all that practice, it took me no time at all to apply them. I wanted to wear them for Hubby and my anniversary dinner last year and was frustrated to find that I'd lost the knack! Well, after over 2 years of not wearing them, I guess that's normal. My girly heart was sad, though. Anyway, here's a short collection of some falsie pics. And it's no coincidence that they are all pre-baby :)

Wedding day. I was absolutely wearing them that day! Here I have a mix of soft black and brown lashes with a sheer golden shadow on my eyes. I was really happy with how the brown lashes and gold shadow made my baby browns pop. Plus, we had a great photographer who I'm sure helped me along in the editing department *wink*

Married nearly a year. Very subtle top lash falsies in black.

Pregnant with Baby Boy! Black falsies on the outer corners of my top lids.

7 months pregnant with Baby Boy. Black falsies on my lower lids. They don't just belong on the top! I loved changing it up with wearing some only on the bottom lid sometimes.
I'm with my niece Dianna. Isn't she beautiful?

So... all that to say, I know I'm about to have a child in the next 4 weeks and will probably have even less time to get prettified in the mornings, but I want to wear falsies again! I just bought 10 pair on ebay for about 14 cents each. Ooh yeah. Gotta love buying in bulk from across the pond :) Anyway, I figure when I have the time I won't feel guilty about messing them up while I practice.

For tonight's spa night I'm doing a foot soak, repairing one of my finger nails (yes! I broke one already! So soon after my spa visit. grrrr) and dyeing my hair. Oh hush, it's ammonia free dye and temporary, so don't get all worried for Baby Belly. I'm just trying out a slightly lighter shade of brunette.

What will you do to pamper yourself this week? Take the time... you won't regret it and your family will appreciate not dealing with Mama bear all week :) Have a fabulous Spa Night, Beauties!

Trip to the Spa

2011-03-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

I've been needing some stress free time and have been really wanting a pedicure for some time now. I can no longer do my at home pedicure this far along in pregnancy and the sight of my non-pampered feet was kind of driving me nuts. Yesterday was Hubby's day off so I eagerly looked over a menu of spa services and was excited with the idea of a 60 minute pedicure. Then my wonderful man told me to go ahead and get a few more services I've been wanting. Woohoo! One phone call later and I was booked for a 60 min pedicure, 60 min manicure and 30 min prenatal massage :) I couldn't wait!

When my appointment time rolled around, the boys dropped me off (I didn't want to drive afterward and risk messing up my nails. Ha!). And of course, I took my camera :) This documented trip's for you, Mom! I missed you so much while I was soaking up all the relaxation. You would've loved it! We so have to go there the next time you're in town.

Arriving at Oasis....

In the spa area... Pick a robe and some sandals and head to the changing room.

Time to choose a locker and get changed.

In my locker. Buh-bye cell phone! I'll be ignoring you for the next three hours.

So if feet in general gross you out, just look away. But my mama had to see the state my poor feet were in :)

Before. A sad remnant of my last at home pedicure.....

Ready to get my spa on :).

Of course, they didn't have maternity robes. So glad I took a swimsuit cover up just in case! I used the robe tie to accent my preggo belly so I wouldn't look like a blob and just kept the too small robe open over my cover up dress. I got lots of compliments from the workers there and several of my fellow spa goers in their tied up robes told me "I didn't know we could wear a cute cover up under the robe! I'm doing that next time." Also much commented on were my gray Old Navy flip flops, of which customers also said they didn't know you could bring your own. But I'm paranoid of much used public spaces and sharing shoes. Yuck!

Spa waiting area. There was a juice and coffee bar on the other wall, but my photo didn't turn out.

Loved waiting in this dimly lit cozy area.

Private massage room. That pregnancy pillow was amazing! No strain on my back and I could lie on my belly without smashing Baby Belly. I'm sure he appreciated it. I was off in happy land for 30 minutes while I had the stress worked out of me as I listened to artfully arranged rainforest and beach noises over the room speakers.

The massage ended all too soon, but it was heavenly! My back hurt once I got up from the table, but in a few minutes my joints all snapped back into place and I felt like all the stress I had been carrying just melted away. I could have honestly curled up on that table and fallen asleep right there. But my masseuse gently guided me down the hall to meet my nail technician. I had to laugh later. The masseuse must have lots of experience herding sleepy guests from the massage rooms!

After the 60 minute manicure, which included a yummy smelling sugar scrub & lovely hand/arm massage, I felt so amazingly relaxed. I walked in a dream like state to my cushy pedicure throne where my technician had a warm foot bath, some magazines and water waiting for me. Oh my word! I wanted to move in there :)

I couldn't get a good shot of my manicure. The gray days here make the light tricky for the almost sheer polish. But here's a swatch of the exact shade I have on my finger nails. Pink, of course :)

Another 60 minutes later.

Happier feet! Freshly soaked, scrubbed, lotioned, trimmed, buffed and polished. Yeah, baby!

The bubbling soak and foot/calf massage while I sat in the heated auto massage chair had me falling asleep.

Ooh, I LOVE hot pink polish for toes.

I don't want to leave.....!!!! Hahaaa.. Apparently, there's a hot tub and steam room that is complimentary for any guest having any spa service done. Will have to remember to pack a swim suit for that for next time. Oh yes, there will definitely be a next time.

My boys picked me up and took me to dinner. Yum. Here's the apple dumpling dessert Hubby and I shared.

Yes, we're wimps. We couldn't even finish it!

My lovely handsome wonderful family.

It was a beautifully relaxing day.

Strong and of Good Courage

2011-02-26T20:36:00.000-08:00

That title is so not how I feel. Another trial has made itself known. My human heart just wants to scream "Isn't it enough already??". But I know, I don't feel, I KNOW that the Lord has always brought us through. And He will again. It might not be in the way I would like it. The rescue from this new fear/pain/anxiety may not be all sunshine and roses. But I know that it will come because God's Word promises that He will not leave me desolate. I have nothing else, Lord. Only You. And You are more than enough. Please grant me peace and the courage to walk ahead trusting You.

Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage ; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

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2011-02-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

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Stylish Blogger Award

2011-02-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Wendy @ Learning Through the Heartbreak of Loss for this fabulous award! If you haven't visited her blog yet, I'd encourage you to. It's very thoughtful and heartfelt. The encouragement she finds in God's Word always blesses my heart and I know it will bless yours too.

Here are the rules that go along with winning this award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 7 recently discovered great bloggers. or less. up to you.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

7 THINGS ABOUT ME:

I love my Lord and my family.
Beautiful things are the bane of my existence :) I MUST make or buy them.
My parents are a huge inspiration and encouragement to me.
Acknowledgment and encouragement from my hubby about my commitment to our family makes me feel more loved than anything else ever could.
Now in my 7th month of pregnancy, I'm craving way too many pop tarts and s'mores.
I'm addicted to bargain/clearance/thrift shopping.
I am particularly fond of making my opinion known....um, working on that.

I've decided to share the love and hand out the Stylish Blogger Award to these beautiful bloggers whom I frequently ~~stalk~~ read.

1. Adventures of a Wannabe Cheapskate

2. Chocolate Covered Chaos
3. Raznoggle

New Etsy Arrivals

2011-02-20T10:25:00.000-08:00

A sneak peak at a few new items in my etsy shop all created by yours truly:

Flirty Jasmine Rosette Headband

Sweet & Sassy Jasmine Rosette Headband

Cloudy Skies Rosette Headband

Spring Fling Pua Necklace

Stony River Embellished Frame

Visit my store ToaSamoa on Etsy to see more handcrafted items.

I just had to say a very quick hurrah before signing off. Today I've had 5 sales and I'm currently working on filling 2 more orders! God is good!

God Always Provides

2011-02-20T09:55:00.001-08:00

So, tomorrow is the start of Baby Boy's birthday week. We have one special gift or activity planned for every day leading up to his birthday. Relatives have been amazing sending boxes and boxes of goodies for our little boy and even sending along little things for our new little one coming in April! So we're pretty much set on the gifts for our birthday boy thanks to our wonderful family.

If you don't know this yet, Hubby works retail and earns a commission, which can be a tricky tricky business. Selling at a large furniture store is hard work! Especially now when the economy leaves more and more people opting to buy used furniture instead of new (ahem, like us!). It goes without saying that some weeks the pickings are slim. But the Lord always makes sure we have enough. Always. Well, our God has just proved again that He cares, even about the little things. We have enough groceries to get to the next paycheck, but the big finale for Birthday Week is to have a picnic at a park & playground. It's more frugal to make the picnic food, but even making it will be a bit of a stretch this week. I know lots of people have it harder than this, I'm not complaining, simply giving you background for the blessing I'm about to share.

It will only be the three of us so we decided on a simple menu of:
Deviled eggs
Chips
Wahoo Sandwiches (already have the ingredients)
Cupcakes (from scratch, always have the ingredients)
Ice Cream
With lots of crystal light and juice (got these in the cupboards too)

So we figured out our budget and were elated to see that we could make Birthday Week and the actual birthday happen! But only if I used some coupons to get a few free items to get us through this week so we could afford the extra and pay our bills (pesky bills).

A few weeks ago, we received store coupons for Dillons where we have a free customer rewards card. I decided to go to the store and use the free coupons. Imagine my surprise when I actually got in the store and took a look at the coupons we had for free items.

Free Cheerios! Baby Boy eats these every day either for breakfast or a snack.
Free potato chips for the picnic!
A dozen free eggs for our yummy picnic side dish.
And free ice cream for the picnic! You can't say God doesn't care about the little things.

These few items are a HUGE blessing to us this week! It may seem silly to some, but I'm overwhelmed with the way the Lord provides. It always happens. Week by week in this terrible economy, we don't have the means and sometimes are a bit anxious. But when we give it over to the Lord, He always provides in big financial ways and in small yummier ways :)

I Chronicles 16:8 "Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people."

==== Giveaway Winner =====

2011-02-14T14:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day, Beauties! The Scentual Samoa Giveaway winner has been chosen.
Using random.org, the number generated was comment #4!!

Congratulations, Ida from Parents Reinvented! You will be contacted today to get particulars so your goodies can be shipped.

Thanks to those who entered the giveaway and thanks again to those noble people who emailed me with suggestions and deferred from entering.

Seems like the most popular item was the Bit of the Islands Wreath and the most popular suggestions for products were homemade bath products, mother of pearl jewelry and more island decor! I was surprised by the suggestions, but very happy for the support :)

Be sure to check out my shop: ToaSamoa, as new items have been added and I have more fun stuff to add in the coming weeks. I'm just swimming in inspiration because of all you beautiful people! Hoping this etsy shop is the start of something good for my little family.

Garden Stepping Stone Turned Trivet

2011-02-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

Take one cute garden stepping stone. They real kind. The heavy kind. Not plaster or plastic.

Add a square of felt to the back...

And Voila: A pretty and useful trivet to place hot meals on without damaging your dining table.

Call it what you will, trivet, hot plate, pot holder..... I still think it's cute enough to leave on the table without looking like you forgot your trivet there after the last dinner :)

I don't have any trivets or hot plates, so this fills a need. Also, our living space is pretty small so I can't really store trivets.

When I saw this stepping stone, inspiration flashed and my problem was solved: Useful trivet that is pretty enough to be stored in plain sight. Happy Lord's Day, Beautiful people :)

Today's the last day to enter my giveaway for some island skin care! Winner to be announced tomorrow on the Day of Luv!

Michaels FREE Valentines Card Making Party for Kids

2011-02-12T11:46:00.000-08:00

Parents in the Joplin area, Michaels craft store is hosting a FREE Valentine card making party for 3 year olds and up! Bring the kids, play with all the pretty Michaels card supplies and take home a free card for each child. They get to decorate it themselves, which should be tons of fun!

Michaels in Joplin, MO
1:00-3:00PM Sunday Feb 13, 2011

Click here for more details.

To find a Michaels store in your area go to Michaels.com, click on Locate a store, then click on Store events.

Homemade Way To Keep Cut Flowers Looking Great

2011-02-11T18:15:00.000-08:00

Check out this helpful article with great tips to help make your Valentine's cut flowers last!

Etsy Shop Celebration and Giveaway!

2011-02-06T14:02:00.000-08:00

Hey, Beauties! If you love homemade pretties, take a quick peek at my ToaSamoa Etsy Shop. You can click the previous link or head over to the sidebar and navigate to my Etsy from there. I've just started it up but will constantly be adding new things to it. Inventory will always be changing too, so please add me to your favorites on Etsy.com and don't forget to let me know you stopped by!

Each person who leaves a comment here telling me the specific name of their favorite item in my (sparse-for-now) shop AND what other things they'd be interested in seeing will be entered into a giveaway! One comment for your fave item and one comment for what you'd like to see in my shop in the future. Bam! Possibly 2 giveaway entries per person!
I am looking forward to suggestions, as this is brand new for me, so thanks in advance, you beautiful people!

The prize: Luscious handmade soaps and a selection of other chemical free beauty products from my favorite little soap shop in the Pacific: Scentual Samoa.

Giveaway ends Sunday Feb 13,2010 and winner will be chosen on Valentine's Day by random generator.

FREE Flavor Friday Coffee Mate

2011-02-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

You can win a coupon for a FREE bottle of Coffee Mate! Here it is directly from their site:

We're giving away 100,000 coupons for a FREE bottle of COFFEE-MATE to try any of our delicious flavors. Request your coupon here or on Facebook starting at 9am PST on February 4th.
Taste one of our newest flavors:
Caramel Macchiato
White Chocolate Caramel Latte
Café Latte

Click here to be taken to the site and claim your coupon for a FREE bottle of coffee sprucing goodness. And yes, since it starts in less than 2 hours, I am stalking the site. Gotta have it for my java!

Spa Night Beauty Tip: Beautifully Curled Lashes

2011-02-03T18:21:00.000-08:00

I am a huge fan of curling lashes before applying mascara. I think it really pulls the eye upward, making you look more awake and definitely shows off your lashes better.

I use a normal lash curler, like the one pictured above. Nothing fancy. You can find it for a couple dollars at WalMart, Target, or Walgreens. Whatever mass merchandise retailer you shop at, really. The problem is, people don't know how to use one to the best effect.

There are several ways to get those va-va-voom lashes. You just have to give 'em a go and figure out which one's right for you.

Method 1: Swipe, Curl, Swipe
- Put a light coat of mascara on.
-Immediately curl your lashes. Don't let the mascara dry. 10 is the golden number for lashes. Hold lashes in curler for 10 seconds before releasing.
-Add last coat(s) of mascara for pretty flirty lashes.

Method 2: Curl and Swipe
-Curl clean lashes. Remember 10 seconds at least!
-Apply your usual coats of mascara for a more subtle, but defined lash line.

Method 3: Heat it Up, Baby! (My all time favorite)
-With your blow dryer on low heat, give your lash curler a 10 second warm up. No more. You don't want to burn your eyes! I still test it with my fingers before applying it to my lashes, just in case.
-Curl lashes with the warm curler for 10 seconds.
-Immediately apply your usual coats of mascara for a very defined and come hither look. No falsies required.

I've used this trick successfully on so many unsuspecting people: girls going to prom, college gals going to a formal event, my sis on her wedding day... Ha! And you know what? It works.
The heating method can make a cheaper mascara go from blah to gorgeous! I use it mostly for date nights but whenever I have some extra time while getting ready and am feeling a little sassy, I heat it on up.

If you try any of these, let me know which worked best for you.
Have a lash luscious Spa Night, Beauties!

14 FREE Songs for Valentine's from Amazon

2011-02-03T17:43:00.000-08:00

Get your 14 Free Valentine's songs from Amazon. Click the link and 'purchase' all 14 at once! They're totally free. Enjoy some good old love songs for you and your sweetie.

The list includes:
God Gave Me You
Let Me In Again
It's Your Love
You and I
L.O.V.
When You Love Somebody

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 12

2011-02-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

Day 12: A photo of something I love.
Being pregnant.

Me and Baby Boy 2008

Me and Little Man 2011

Ok, before you think I'm crazy and will have 20+ kids, let me clarify. Building a family with my beautiful Hubby is something that is full of hope and happiness for me. We wouldn't be the first to choose to have a huge bunch of kids, but you know what? I'll take however many the Lord will bless us with!

I had very definite ideas of how many kids I wanted, but after a miscarriage, the accident, and then trying for so long for this latest pregnancy, I will never judge the number of another person's offspring again. Children are a precious, irreplaceable gift from the Lord and I will be amazingly grateful if we end up having only these 2 here on earth or if we're blessed with 5 (or more)! It's up to the Lord. All I'm going to do is love them and teach them to love God above anything else.

What's For Dinner?

2011-02-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

Appetizer: Homemade egg rolls
Main event: Honey mustard roasted chicken (my dad's secret basting sauce) and potatoes au gratin (using my SIL's delicious recipe).

Mmm.. eggrolls.

sweet and tangy chicken

Creamy cheesy potatoes

Finger lickin good :) LOL

Our cutie seemed to enjoy it too...

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 11

2011-02-02T10:58:00.000-08:00

Day 11: A photo of something I hate.
Being COLD!

I love the convenience of living in the States. Everything moves on time and so much more efficiently here, but when it comes to cold weather, I'm a wimpy island girl through and through. Seriously, if my nose even gets a whiff of cold air I start sneezing and sniffling like I've got a 2 week cold. I look miserable and people think I'm on my death bed, but I tell them "Nope, my nose is just a wimp in the cold."

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 10

2011-02-01T21:55:00.000-08:00

Day 10: Photo of the person I do the most messed up things with.
Since this is my blog and I want it to remain encouraging, I'm changing this to the people I've done the most memorable things with: My siblings.

The five of us at my sister's wedding 2005

Sibs and spouses and kiddos. 2007

Memories that make me smile:
-Swinging on vines hanging from the mango trees (until they break, that is. Ssshh, you know who you are, I won't tell!)
-Snowball fight in below zero weather
-Stopping for gas station coffee and thoroughly defiling our cuppa joe with almost every flavoring available on the counter
-Driving around a parking lot for almost 2 hours singing songs at the top of our lungs and talking story while we laugh ourselves silly. Yes, people did stare, but some of them begged to take a turn around the lot with us ;)
-Spring break. Ha!
-Sneaking into a garage near midnight and filling the car with balloons and writing birthday wishes all over the windows for a special birthday girl
-Tim Tam SLAM! 'Nuff said :D
-Hanging out at Rubbles until they closed
-Sitting on pillboxes near the ocean and talking until sunrise
-Surprise birthday parties and Harry Connick, Jr.
-Cross country road trips for no reason
These are only a few out of a lifetime of moments with my siblings and I look forward to making many more memories in the future. I love each and every one of you, my crazy, wonderful, beautiful siblings!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 9

2011-01-31T18:06:00.000-08:00

Day 9: A picture of the person who's gotten me through the most.

My parents. So, it's not one person, but I couldn't mention one without the other, because they have supported and prayed me through so many situations in life. I am extremely thankful for them and the relationship we have now. My parents have watched me go through rebellion, severe illness, bad decisions, more bad decisions and then some. And you know what? They have truly loved me through it all. Inexplicably, I believe they've grown to love me more as time goes on. And the feeling is mutual. I love you, Mom and Dad, and I thank the Lord for giving me to you as a daughter! Thank you for always loving me and blessing my life no matter what. Alofa atu.

New FREE Redbox Rental Code

2011-01-31T13:35:00.000-08:00

Quick! Use this code as it's been floating around online and has been accepted by everyone who uses it so far. I'm going to try it tonight as well since no one knows the expiration date for it. You never know when it will stop working, so why not? I'm on my way to return some Redbox rentals right now and will try the code to get a free movie for tonight. If it doesn't work, I'm not too worried about it, but will post on here if it went through!

The code is: N6TRWTV

1/31/2011
Big storm headed our way. Didn't try this tonight but will give it a go soon!

Shopping Without Spending Money

2011-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

The other day, the guys did a few errands on their own so I could have some alone time in a few shops. It was so nice! One of my aunts sent me some maternity tops that needed to be exchanged. They were SO cute, but too big for me. So I went and just happened to be there for the Motherhood BOGO sale. I returned the 2 blouses, shopped the clearance racks, and ended up with two different tops and a pair of maternity capris. Woohoo! I'm so happy with them :) I love a good deal.

I have no idea why their mannequins look so... blah. Trust me, they look better on! But anyway, since I can't find our camera, here are the things I came home with:

And that was my little adventure shopping without spending anything :) BIG huge thanks and alofa to my Aunty Annie for making it possible. Have a beautiful weekend!

FREE Maybelline Makeup Sample

2011-01-30T11:07:00.000-08:00

Click here to request a sample of Maybelline FitME liquid foundation makeup from Target.

I use this foundation and LOVE it! Give it a try to see if it's right for you. And hey, free is always good!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 8

2011-01-30T10:47:00.000-08:00

Day 8: A picture that makes me laugh.

Our big little boy cracks me up. He's a ham. A ham bone. A cheese ball. And I love him! He can always make me smile, even when he's being a little naughty :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: DAY 7

2011-01-29T11:29:00.000-08:00

Day 7: A picture of my most treasured item.

My family.
This photo is from a life changing day in early 2010, just after Hubby's big promotion and our move to a new state. On this day, he received a call at work and rushed over to us.

They were watching this being towed away. Our minivan.
Baby Boy and I were coming back from running errands and we were hit by a young person who was speeding and texting. We rolled and slammed onto the pavement and our lives changed forever.

It's sad that the moment of the crash was the first time in my life that I knew... absolutely knew I was saved and that I had nothing to fear if I died that day. Such peace washed over me in the midst of the trauma. I'm sad to say I hadn't known for sure that God had forgiven me and claimed me for His own until that instant. But it was life changing because I also realized I hadn't been living by faith at all. I knew all the words, but if I breathed my last and had to stand before my God that day I would hang my head in shame. I would have nothing to show Him for my time on earth.
Then another horrifying thought hit me. What if my poor innocent baby boy in the back seat was dead? Where would he be for eternity? I hadn't done my job as a mother and prepared him or taught him much about our faith since his birth. Could I handle the guilt if I turned around and saw his broken lifeless body in front of me? In spite of my fear, I had to look. And when I did, there he was: perfect and unbruised and securely strapped into his carseat. He was calm too. And it helped to calm me seeing his sweet face looking at me with complete trust. He was fine because I was there with him. And I was fine because I knew my Lord wouldn't have saved us without a reason.

We heard from the rescue workers that they arrived with sorrow in their hearts. Seeing the type of impact and the shape our car was in, they fully expected to be pulling corpses out of there. But there we were. Totally fine. It puzzled them. But not me. I saw everything with new eyes. They tried the jaws of life on my door and a chainsaw on the windshield. I pulled a blanket over us to shield us from the flying glass and sat there holding our son and whispering Sunday school songs in his ear. Later he told me that he saw Jesus under the blanket with us. We emerged, disheveled and sprinkled with debris, to see Hubby who had rushed over on his motorcycle from work.
For months afterward, if Baby Boy had a nightmare about the crash, I would sit in his room with him underneath a blanket singing songs about Jesus. It was the only thing that calmed him down enough for him to get back to sleep.

After that day, I started searching the Scriptures for truths and was comforted and often convicted with what I found. Baby Boy began learning memory verses and we make a conscious effort to talk about our faith every day. I praise God that I only walked away with a sealtbelt bruise across my chest and a few scratches on my legs. Baby Boy had nothing. Not a bruise or scratch on him. That is a miracle and I will never forget God's mercy.

So yes, the most cherished and precious thing to me besides my God is my family. I will always be grateful for them.

30 Day Photo Challenge: DAY 6

2011-01-28T17:37:00.000-08:00

Day 6: A picture of the person I'd love to trade places with for a day.

I would love to trade places with Iron Chef Morimoto. His cooking techniques are amazing! The way he is constantly learning to fuse the latest tools and methods with traditional flavors just make me want to have a peek into his brain! I've dabbled in Japanese home cooking for the past 2 years and I love it. I could never be as fabulous as this man, but hey, it's kind of his job to be that awesome.

So yeah, I'd love to be Morimoto with a video camera for a day so I could get some cheats on quality Japanese cooking.

Eating My Way to Better Health

2011-01-28T16:42:00.000-08:00

I have the beginnings of an ear infection. Which is really not fun, but at least it's nothing that can harm the baby. However, I know that if it gets worse, my body will start working hard to fix it and that will take away from the strength I need to keep our little one growing strong. So, being totally convinced of the idea that the correct diet can heal sickness, I've been doing research on what foods and spices specifically help ear infections. Here's what I've found so far:

Fresh garlic- either juiced or chopped up and added to food, it's stellar at fighting any type of infection. One of my cousins actually got me interested in this and I've been researching to find out why garlic is good for you. Google it and you'll find a wealth of information. Powder works okay but fresh is always better. Dice it into really tiny pieces and drink it in hot water as a tea or sprinkle over a green salad with dressing.

Turmeric- A spice that is a proven antibiotic and anti-inflammatory. Nice. I love turmeric!

Sea salt- Promotes salivation and when gargled with warm water can help the drainage of all the gunk in your throat (a common side effect of my ear infections).

Ginger- Just like garlic, fresh is better and you can juice it or chop it and add it to whatever you're cooking, a fresh salad or drunk as a tea.

Fish oil- Salmon is my favorite source of Omega fatty acids. I love eating it and I also have supplements I take every day. Omega fatty acids are great for hair and skin and promote the immune system.

So, I've concluded that I'm going to keep taking my Omega fatty acid supplements, and then I'm going to incorporate the rest of the spices/foods into my daily intake. Hopefully the ear infection will be on it's way to healing by next week. I hope so! There's not much you can take for this stuff when you're pregnant and I don't relish the thought of fighting through the pain and dizziness while trying to grow a baby and take care of a toddler. The pain is just beginning so I've got to get a jump on things. Praying it will work!

FREE Redbox Movie Code

2011-01-27T14:29:00.000-08:00

Rent a free 1 night movie at any Redbox location! Just type in any of these codes at checkout:

MOVIENIGHT (valid today only 1/27/2011)

REDBOX (valid for first time redbox customers only)

N3WY3AR (valid at McDonald's only)
DVDATMAC (McDonald's)

DVDKROG (Kroger locations only)

DVDATWAG (Walgreens locations only)

All of these are one time use per customer. So pick a movie and enjoy a night in!

30 Day Photo Challenge: DAY 5

2011-01-27T13:49:00.000-08:00

Day 5: A picture of my favorite memory.

My hubby holding our Baby Boy for the very first time. This is in the OR immediately after he was cleaned up. Daddy held him even before Mama did! It was such a sweet moment and one of my favorite memories.
Our son is nearly 3 years old now and has been a huge blessing in our lives. I literally can't imagine our family without his feisty, happy energy and sweet, lovable attitude. Thank you, Lord for our first Baby Boy!

30 Day Photo Challenge: DAY 4

2011-01-26T16:04:00.000-08:00

Day 4: A photo of my night.

My two loves. Baby Boy and his dad both wiped out from wrestling before bedtime :)
One of a hundred million precious moments that happen every day. I wish I could capture all of them and save them, but then I'd probably have a home cluttered with photo albums. I hope our son will look back on photos like this and remember all those moments he shared with us, because we treasure each and every one.

30 Day Photo Challenge: DAY 3

2011-01-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Monarch of the Glen

Day 3: Photo of the cast from your favorite show.

Ok, so by now you're realizing I'm a very quirky girl. I love Monarch of the Glen. Yes, my favorite TV show ever is cancelled, but ran on the BBC for years.

It's about a quaint little village in Scotland and the noble family who are official leaders of the village. Nobility is no longer treated the same with the switch from monarchy to democracy in this light hearted, but touching show. The story plots and ways people in a small place can make hilarious mountains out of molehills makes this a TV gem!

30 Day Photo Challenge: DAY 2

2011-01-24T09:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas in Samoa 2009

Day 2: A picture of you and the person you've been close with the longest.

My sister :) Even though we're in different states and things are changing in our individual lives every day, she has been the one person I've been close with the longest. And I MISS her! Lots of great memories of times filled with craziness and laughter.

Spicy Philly Cheese Chicken & Egg Rolls

2011-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Made Spicy Philly Cheese Chicken last night. Here are the little beauties now:

Big thanks to my SIL Wendy for the recipe! Mmmm... Read all about her experience with this recipe on her blog Recipes to Warm the Heart. Plus, it's chock full of tasty meals that usually take 30-40 minutes to make. This is a rare one that takes longer. But still great!

We didn't have ham, so that was left out. Didn't have breadcrumbs either, so I dipped the stuffed chicken into dry tempura mix, beaten egg, and then tempura mix again. That's what I love about cooking. Most times, you don't have to stick to the recipe to make it work. You use what you have and make it fabulous, and I'm all about that :)

Anyway, it was a hit and we'll definitely be having this again.

Oh, if you're looking for a delicious egg roll recipe, you can click here to check out mine on Recipes to Warm the Heart. Hope your Monday's going beautifully!

30 Days of Photos

2011-01-23T19:21:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules of the challenge I'm doing for the next 30 days:
Day 1:     A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.
Day 2:     A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest.
Day 3:     A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
Day 4:     A picture of your night.
Day 5:     A picture of your favorite memory.
Day 6:     A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
Day 7:     A picture of your most treasured item.
Day 8:     A picture that makes you laugh.
Day 9:     A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
Day 10:   A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.
Day 11:   A picture of something you hate.
Day 12:   A picture of something you love.
Day 13:   A picture of your favorite band or artist.
Day 14:   A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
Day 15:   A picture of something you want to do before you die.
Day 16:   A picture of someone who inspires you.
Day 17:   A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
Day 18:   A picture of your biggest insecurity.
Day 19:   A picture of you when you were little.
Day 20:   A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
Day 21:   A picture of something you wish you could forget.
Day 22:   A picture of something you wish you were better at.
Day 23:   A picture of your favorite book.
Day 24:   A picture of something you wish you could change.
Day 25:   A picture of your day.
Day 26:   A picture of something that means a lot to you.
Day 27:   A picture of yourself and a family member.
Day 28:   A picture of something you're afraid of.
Day 29:   A picture that can always make you smile.
Day 30:   A picture of someone you miss.

Feel inspired? Join up! It should be a fun way to get to know more about each other.

30 Day Photo Challenge: DAY 1

2011-01-23T19:06:00.000-08:00

Ida at Parents Reinvented is a fellow frugal mama and beautiful blogger who shares great tips for saving money while raising a family. You need to check out her blog! Anyway, she's participating in this challenge and I thought it would be such a fun way to get back into the swing of things.

So here goes Day 1: A photo of yourself and 15 facts.

26 weeks pregnant :)

1. I love being a mom to my feisty toddler boy.

2. LOVE being married to my man.

3. Finding ways to save money is a passion of mine.

4. I love making beautiful, useful things out of what I have lying around. It's a huge stress reliever for me.

5. I like shoes way too much and have to talk myself out of buying a cute pair that I know will kill my feet :)

6. I love dancing, singing and sharing my Samoan heritage with people.

7. Sometimes I have uncontrollable cravings for Chick Fil A's waffle fries and honey mustard sauce.

8. Homemade things speak to my heart and I love making them.

9. I wish I could speak my native language fluently :) Maybe someday.

10. My God and my family are more important to me than anything else.

11. I would drive 6 hours or more to see a family member at an airport layover for 10 minutes. I love my family!

12. I miss the beautifully rough, untamed beaches of my island home. Living land locked is not my thing.

13. About 80% of my diet is raw produce but I love some fried foods and meat way too much to go 100%.
Oooh, and bread. Gotta have bread & pastries :)

14. I adore being plus sized! Call me crazy, but I really really enjoy having curves. I have a goal size that I'm getting closer to as I lose weight, but it's still plus sized :)

15. I'm nearly 7 months blessed with my pregnancy! Another boy on the way, God is so good!

Hope Through It All

2010-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

I Peter 1:3-9.
Verse 5 encourages me to remember to have faith. Because God has already provided a way for me to be saved from all these troubles. I just have to endure the trial first. But even in the worst of it, I am kept by the power of God.
Nothing else is as amazing as that knowledge. To know that these worries and this emotional pain will eventually cease. That no matter the intensity, it is all temporary and in the end God will work it out for good.

Peter also says in verse 7 that as a believer, my faith is counted as much more precious than gold because it will not perish like every costly earthly thing.

Verse 8 describes my relationship with Christ. I haven't met Him, but I love Him.
I love my Savior with all my heart because He continues to be faithful even when I forget to nurture my walk with Him. However, when I continually seek Him out and strive to be more like Him, He blesses beyond compare. He promises throughout the Bible that He will never forsake me and I've found that to be true.

I cannot see Him, but I believe in Him and because of that I can be joyful even when life doesn't hold much reason for it.

So in slowly reading through these verses I am realizing that even when it doesn't seem like it, there is hope. I can't trust my emotions right now. I have to hold onto God's Word and the hope it gives. My Lord has promised to bring me through every trial with a joyous heart if I choose to look at it through faith. And when all trials are over I can be sure of complete happiness in eternity with Him.

Lord, I want to be used of You, even when life is bleak. Lately, my heart feels as if it has been broken over and over again, but when I stop wallowing in the pain, I can still look up and find You there. Thank You, Father, for always being good! And for Your continued faithfulness that teaches me to be constant to You. God is holy and mighty, my Rock and my Deliverer; and He is always worthy of praise.

A Woman After God's Own Heart

2010-12-29T15:22:00.000-08:00

I'm going through a major trial. God has never been more real and I have never felt so broken. The only thing that keeps me from giving up and giving in to despair is God's grace. I hold to His Word and His promises because I feel like my life depends on it. I am choosing not to share the nature of this trial, but I needed a way to vent and this blog has always been the place I have been brutally honest about myself.

I'm going through a book that is part of the study "A Woman After God's Own Heart". I will be writing my thoughts as I complete each day's devotion.

I Peter 1:1-2
"1.Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
2.Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace, be multiplied."

Because it was written during a time when the early church was being persecuted, that passage shows me that trials will always be a part of life. Also, it promises hope through the darkest times because of my salvation.

I see through Peter's writing that I am chosen and cherished by God and can I tell you just how much that comforts me right now? Because of this situation, I struggle with thoughts of worthlessness, but when I take the time to soak in the Bible, I see that I am far from worthless in God's eyes.

The last sentence of verse 2 encourages my heart in the middle of the tears and heart ache and doubt.
"Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."
Because I am a daughter of God I am promised grace and peace! Those are two of the things I desperately need right now. I'm so thankful that I can pray for grace and peace. And I'm confident that because God has promised, I will receive them every time.

Tutorial Tuesday: S'mores Preparation

2010-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

We're planning on having Christmas Eve S'mores, and I had an idea that would allow us to cut down a bit on our larger than usual grocery bill. You know how it is, when there's a holiday dinner to be planned, ya splurge a little. I'm so happy we'll be having a 'splurgy' dinner, but I also don't mind saving a bit too ;-)

So when we went to pick up our groceries I was excited to see a flavor of Graham crackers I hadn't tried before: Cinnamon. They look the same except topped with cinnamon sugar. Yum! So we grabbed that for our S'mores and were about to pick up some chocolate bars when inspiration hit. I was having trouble finding some chocolate that hadn't been made on the same equipment as chocolate with nuts in it and then I remembered I had a bag of nut free chocolate melts at home. Y'know the kind, you melt 'em down and then pour them into molds for pretty shapes without having to temper the chocolate? Well, we came home with our Grahams and large marshmallows and today I 'tweaked' the crackers to make them ready for Christmas Eve.

Two ingredients: crackers and melts. Add melts into a bowl and microwave, following directions until chocolate is a smooth liquid.

While chocolate is melting, break graham crackers in half.
Baby Boy was very insistent on his truck helping by holding down the wax paper.

"Butter" crackers with melted chocolate and let cool.

Oh yeah, we didn't waste any :)

After they were fully cooled, here they are all bagged up and ready for some roasted marshmallows :) Ah, I love using what I have! It makes life more fun.

Wishing you lots of delicious holiday goodness!

Lots To Do

2010-12-18T11:08:00.000-08:00

Company arrives in a few days and there's so much to do!

There are several presents that have arrived in the mail that still need to be wrapped. It seems like we've been waiting forever for the last of the presents we ordered and then they all came at once. There's heaps of laundry to be done, a ton of organizing, cleaning and making things shiny and ready. Along with the last minute holiday preparations for the food and fixing dinners between now and Christmas, I feel just a little bit overwhelmed. So, I'm trying to play Flylady Bingo and get the chores done 15 minutes at a time. We'll see.

If you're a terrible procrastinator like me and have miles to go before making your home holiday ready, you can click here to like Flylady on Facebook and then click here for the instructions on how to play Bingo. It makes cleaning a little easier for me on most days.

Hope everyone's further along in their holiday preparations!

Sugar Cookie Countdown Chain

2010-12-14T12:27:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make an advent calendar for Christmas, but Hubby got me a perfectly cute one last week, so that was covered.

Then I made too many sugar cookies the other day and realized after stuffing the stockings and sharing some, we could use them to count down for another event. We have been building up the excitement for Baby Boy because his Nana is spending Christmas with us. She arrives a few days before Christmas, so I made an angel cookie chain to help Baby Boy keep track of when we get to see her.

I want to remember this and make it our advent calendar next year! It's really cute and a fun way for kids to look forward to counting down.

Here's how the chain was made:

Lay out as many cookies as days down the center of a long strip of plastic wrap.
Be sure to leave a bit of room between them so they can be tied off.
I have the cookies face down so the folds of the plastic wrap will be in the back.

Fold one side, then the other of the plastic wrap to seal the cookies in.
You can tape it shut, but the wrap clings to itself so I left it.

Using a simple knot, tie one end off. Make sure it's secure! I tied it several times and left the ends long.
Work your way up the chain, tying between each cookie.
Slide a scissors blade across the ribbon strands to curl and voila!

Make a loop at the top for hanging.
Baby Boy loved holding it while I explained what it was for.

Then we hung it with our advent calendar so we can move the snowflake marker to count down to Jesus' birthday, and snip off the daily cookie to count down to Nana's arrival.

I would love to make one of these chains for the entire month of December next year!

Visions of Sugar Cookies

2010-12-13T11:45:00.000-08:00

Major sugar cookie craving hit the other night and I ended up making over a hundred. I know.

Then nearly sprained my wrists trying to ice them all with melted chocolate.

I finally gave up on the chocolate and realized that oddly, all the un-iced ones were angels. There are a bunch of chocolate covered angels because I happily stamped tons of them out of the dough thinking it would be cute. Y'know, the host of angels that announced Jesus' birth? Well, iced or not, they are sugary and delicious!

Some close ups of the chocolate covered ones.

Mmmmmmmm!

So I bagged them up and stuffed our stockings with 'em, shared some with friends and still had enough to leave on the cake plate for daily munching. Baby Boy is very happy :)

Christmas Village

2010-12-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Since we've been married, I've collected light up Christmas village items. Our collection is still small, but I still love the thrill of setting it up and turning the lights on.

It all started our first year of marriage when Hubby wistfully remarked that he would someday like to have a little Christmas village display of his own. We were browsing a huge department store at the time and they had a gorgeous, sprawling village set up at the front of their Christmas section. So that year I bought the only thing our modest budget could afford. A blanket of "snow" that our future village would sit on.

The next year my sister gave us a beautiful miniature toy shop, complete with gorgeous detail and a back lit window display of toys and cute teddy bears careening in glee down a slide attached to the shop.

The year after that I bought a pair of battery operated mini street lanterns at Goodwill and would spend long trips gazing at the little villages they had for sale, but knew I couldn't buy them that year. One day, a few weeks before Christmas, I went back to look at the villages again and the Goodwill ladies called me aside. One of them said "You shop here a lot and are always so sweet to us. You never throw a fit if we can't find what you want and always have something nice to say. We've seen you looking at the Christmas villages for a few weeks and a few of us decided we wanted to give you these. Merry Christmas, hon."
She reached behind the counter and pulled out a plastic bag with some mysterious bundles in it. The newspaper wrapping on the items couldn't disguise the fact that they clinked a little as I took the bag from her. I said, "No way...", as I unwrapped the nearest bundle. The three of them watched me smilingly, and I nearly broke into tears when I saw that I held a beautiful little country church with a light dusting of snow. It was part of a light up set. I followed the wires connecting the bundles and found that the bag held two more adorable light up buildings: a bakery and a house. They all looked so wintery and Christmas cozy and well... just perfect. After telling them I loved the gifts but couldn't accept them, and being lovingly threatened by the sweet ladies, I hugged them all and left with a full bag and an even fuller heart.

That same year, I was surprised with some Christmas money from some wonderful relatives and decided to make use of a coupon and sale going on at JoAnn's crafts. I was tickled pink to find an amazing deal on a large light up church and some people and trees to populate our village with!

So that's our Christmas village story. The buildings are mismatched and out of scale, and while we'd like to add to them, I would never get rid of any of the misfit originals. I think they're beautiful. And this year it's even more special because we get to see it through Baby Boy's eyes. The wonder and curiosity behind his gaze as he scrutinizes the little village and it's populace adds to the Christmas feeling in our little home.

In order of acquisition:

Toy shop

Country church

House

Bakery

Bigger church. What village only has one church, right?

A few of our villagers relaxing after some toy shopping :)

And here it is in all it's shining glory.

Ornament Bling on a Mirror

2010-12-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

I was inspired by this ornament 'curtain'.

This thrifted mirror has been sitting in a corner since I bought it because I couldn't find the right place for it. I love the frame, and thought it would look great outside, but then thought better of leaving something breakable in our outdoor sitting area.

I really like it this way :)

Baby Boy nods his head when he passes it saying "Niiiiice balloons, Mama."

Snapfish 50 FREE Prints w/ FREE Shipping

2010-12-08T21:03:00.000-08:00

Hip2Save posted another deal earlier that I just couldn't afford to miss! Check out her post here.

I ended up with 100 free prints for $2.55!

I was immediately credited for 50 prints because it was my first time signing up on Snapfish. Sweet bonus!
Once I saw that, I uploaded 50 more photos because I figured I should take advantage of the deal.
I used the promo code HPINK50 (suggested by Hip2Save) to get my other 50 prints free as well.

Here's my order summary:

37	4x6 print(s)	3.33



63	4x5.3 trueDigital print(s)	5.67




50	Credit 4x6 print(s)	-4.50

cost of prints:		4.50
HPINK50:		-4.50


	subtotal:	0.00
	standard S&H:	5.89
HPINK50:		-3.44
	MO sales tax:	0.10



total:		2.55

So if you're new to Snapfish like me, you can pay less than $5 for 100 prints, depending on tax where you live.

Or just stick with the original plan and get 50 free prints with free shipping by using Promo code HPINK50.

Cardboard Tube Flower Wreath

2010-12-08T07:57:00.001-08:00

So I had a bunch of these. Yes, those are empty toilet paper tubes.

As one of my oldest, dearest friends asked, "Why are you using those?"

And I answered what seems to be a running theme for my frugal crafting: "Because I've already paid for it!"

I used to be the girl who saved up to buy cardboard/chipboard/construction paper from a craft store for my projects, not realizing that many of those items formed the packaging of things I normally buy.

I just hate to waste packaging. Now, if it can be recreated into something beautiful or functional, I'll use it.

Anyway, I had the tubes, but hadn't figured out what to do with them. Until looking at different wreaths people are making out of unusual materials.

Then all it took was cutting up the tubes into 1/4 inch crosswise pieces and hot gluing them together in flower shapes. Some more hot glue to attach them in a circle and soon I had a wreath. I hoped to paint it silver, but the weather hasn't allowed it. And since I don't have a garage, it's had to stay as is.

I'm itching to slap a big bow on it but am trying to enjoy the minimalism for now

It's starting to grow on me, though, and I think it will serve as a pretty frame for the Christmas cards from friends and family. We received our first two cards! Which means, I'm late in sending mine out. Ah well. Now I have a project to work on tonight :)

Anyone Else Having Trouble Uploading Photos?

2010-12-07T18:05:00.000-08:00

Blogger gives me an error message saying my storage is full. So, I've just upgraded to more Picasa storage and it will take 24 hours to register. Lovely. Toodles until then.

Salt Dough Snowmen Are Up!

2010-12-07T16:40:00.000-08:00

View as you walk into Baby Boy's room. He's tickled silly to have them on his wall.

I'm so happy he loves them so much!

Thomas & Friends Playset $10

2010-12-07T10:11:00.000-08:00

Thanks Hip2Save.com for another awesome deal!

Just bought this and finished up my Christmas shopping for Baby Boy!

Walmart.com has Thomas & Friends Playset Orig: $24.75 on ROLLBACK for : $10!

Choose site to store shipping for FREE shipping to your local Walmart store.

Homemade Holiday Spice Mocha

2010-12-07T09:07:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas countdown is quickly turning into the Twelve Days of Coffee. And I'm not complaining :)

Today, I woke to find my sweet Hubby had left half a pot of coffee for me. YES! I love my coffee and appreciated the thought, but I couldn't help being a little bummed because I had been walking to the kitchen with visions of different spice combos to sprinkle into my coffee grounds that morning.
Then inspiration hit and I am now completely content as I sip on my Holiday Spice Mocha while Baby Boy watches his morning cartoons.

Here's the non-recipe:

Homemade Holiday Spice Mocha
Coffee
Powdered hot chocolate
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Whipped cream

-Pour a mug of freshly brewed coffee.
-Add powdered hot chocolate to taste and sugar if needed. I added a BUNCH of hot chocolate because it smelled so good!
-Sprinkle nutmeg and cinnamon to taste. Stir well.
-Top with a dollop of whipped topping and sprinkle a little nutmeg and cinnamon on that as well.

Enjoy your rich cup of homemade mocha :)

Check out my Homemade Vanilla Pumpkin Spice Coffee recipe.

Homemade Salt Dough Ornaments

2010-12-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Baby Boy and I made some salt dough for the first time. I'm hoping that we can continue the crafts we've done as yearly traditions, because they're so much fun and are so personal.

I wanted to try colors so I cut the dough in half and added blue to one, leaving the other the normal dough color.

A crafter's battle scars

Here are some shapes I made to test the recipe.

I've never used salt dough before, so I wasn't prepared for the porous look after baking. Didn't really care for it.

For the actual batch I decided to coat my shapes with egg wash to give them what I hoped would be a rustic, antiqued look.

Toa's huge little hand

They came out darker than I wanted, and they puffed unevenly, but still looked kind of charming.

We ended up with 6 snowmen ornaments and Baby Boy's handprint ornament, which I've been meaning to make. Just need to write the year on the back and it will be a little keepsake to bring out year after year.

Casualties

Cook time: 40 min per batch at 400 degrees.

For now, you still have time to make some ornaments of your own! So here's the recipe that I found earlier this year and I wish I could remember where I got it from.

Salt Bread Dough

¼ Cup Salt

½ Cup Boiling Water

1 Cup All-Purpose Flour

¼ Teaspoon Vegetable Oil

Food Coloring (optional)
Pour boiling water in a bowl and add salt. Add remaining ingredients. Knead dough to desired consistency for crafting. If coloring dough with food coloring, work it uniformly into the dough as you knead the craft dough. Keep slat dough wrapped in plastic when not in use.

Model Dough as desired. It may be helpful to keep a bowl of water nearby while crafting to smooth dough and attach pieces.

Bake at 300 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes. Ornaments will puff a little when baked.

Completed ornaments may be painted, or brush with beaten egg and water mixture prior to baking or a darkened, shiny appearance.

A benefit of making Christmas ornaments with salt dough is that it can be colored with food coloring when it is made, and so does not have to be painted when it is finished. On the other hand, if you enjoy painting your Christmas ornaments, salt craft dough can be made plain and painted when it is dry. Salt dough is easy to work with and makes a lot of inexpensive Christmas decorations.

When crafting your Christmas ornament from salt craft dough, you may choose to cut the craft dough with cookie cutters or go for a more personal keepsake Christmas decoration. This salt dough recipe works well for baking handprint keepsakes; make handprint plaques, or with little hands, make a handprint Christmas ornament that can hang from the tree.

Now if only I could figure out where to put them. Baby Boy loves the way they look so I'd love to place them somewhere he can enjoy seeing them. Have fun decorating!

Manly Stocking Stuffer- FREE Spinner Ring

2010-12-06T09:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks, Hip2Save for making me aware of this awesome deal!

Tanga is offering a stainless steel spinner ring for $0.00. Valued at $59.95!
Just pay $4.99 shipping for a sweet little stocking stuffer for a wonderful guy in your life :)

Fragrant Cinnamon Ornaments

2010-12-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

Cinnamon Ornaments

1 cup cinnamon

3/4 cup apple sauce

Mix well

Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters of your choice to cut out ornaments.

Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.

Use a straw to make a hole for hanging on each ornament.

Place ornaments on ungreased cookie sheet.

Place in oven for 2 to 2.5 hours until hard.

Cool completely before stringing.

Enjoy the pleasant cinnamon fragrance! May be packed away for future use and will keep their scent for a while.

Here are mine coming out of the oven. I made stars for hanging and rolled the leftover into little balls to place in a decorative bowl. I added flour to roll it out and they ended up looking snow dusted. I like them!

Using the recipe above, I got 23 stars and 7 balls.

Made a simple (and yummy smelling) garland to hang above the stockings.

We can't find our stockings either, which is a shame, because they were gorgeous velvet in different shades of blue. We personalized them with silver letters. Ah well. Found some that will do for this year from Dollar Tree. Baby Boy picked his out especially.

Then Baby Boy helped me hang the rest on the tree.

The pomanders and these stars are so Christmasy smelling! You get a light whiff whenever you walk by. Love it :)

Homemade Holiday Flavored Coffee

2010-12-05T09:15:00.000-08:00

Rachel, one of my amazing, frugal mama friends has been making me drool every morning with her Facebook status, talking about different holidayish drinks she's starting her day with. Hot cider....pumpkin spice coffee... egg nog... Pure torture!

This morning, I was determined to try a homemade version using what we have in our cabinets. Why not just buy some gourmet coffee at the store? Um, have you read my blog? I like to find homemade.... hacks, if you will, to my dilemmas. I'm the girl who tried to create homemade allspice substitute just because!

So right now, Hubby and I are loving my latest experiment: Vanilla Pumpkin Spice Coffee. Mmmm! It's delicious and so easy. In case you, frugal diva that you are, wanted to try it for yourself, here's the recipe:

Homemade Vanilla Pumpkin Spice Coffee
-Coffee grounds, enough for a full pot
-1 tsp pumpkin spice
-1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Fill your coffee pot with water.
Add filter filled with coffee grounds.
Add pumpkin spice and stir into coffee grounds
Drizzle vanilla extract into grounds. You can stir. I didn't and the flavor was still great.
Turn on coffee pot and brew.
Serve with sugar and/or creamer to taste. Enjoy your cozy cuppa :)

I'm so excited that this worked! Think of all the spices you usually keep in the kitchen. The possibilities are endless, and oh so deliciously budget friendly.

I think Cinnamon Nutmeg Coffee is somewhere in our near future. If you try any fabulous new combos with your own kitchen spices, be sure to share your recipes!

Hope for OCM Ravaged Skin

2010-12-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to post a recent photo to let any of you who are dealing with fallout from the Oil Cleansing Method, if you stop now there is hope! Click here to read my post about how bad my skin became after faithfully using OCM in hope of better skin. Warning: The photos are gross and embarrassing, but true. I'd rather post them and save someone else the trouble than care about my being embarrassed.

So here I am now. Yay! I know I look tired. Forget that. Look at my skin.

I am not wearing foundation. My skin is not totally healed, but it's looking much better and I have to say with all my frustrations, there's only one combination that works: Drink lots of water, keep skin clean and pray pray pray! I'm back to using only my herbal soap and water. If I get really oily, I swipe a toner soaked cotton pad over my Tzone. That's it! Hope to be able to wear foundation again soon :)

Christmas Shelf

2010-12-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

A few things piled onto a shelf for some Christmas cheer

-Dollar Tree stretch canvas painting I've had for a while. Painted it black and added a decal I had custom made from Vista Print. Check them out! Their promos feature free customized items you only have to pay shipping for.
-Recognize the Dollar Tree glasses from my Valentine center piece? A quick makeover and I had a pretty display for my extra ornaments.

Probably my favorite part of this shelf is this simple wreath I made with Samoa in mind.
-The beautiful fabric was leftover from this made over key holder craft.
-The flowers were part of one of the many flower hair clips I wear and the silk leaves were found at the bottom of my craft supply box. A little hot glue can be magical.

-Next we have one of the large Ball jars we buy our milk in, with a little scrap silver silk ribbon tied around the lid.
-The last of the Valentine glasses.
-A cleaned out candle jar with lid. I tied a bit of the fabric from the wreath around the lid to cover that white plastic seal candle jars have and tie the whole shelf together.

The last jar makes me all misty- eyed. It's filled with all of Baby Boy's ornaments from his first Christmas. They are heavy white and blue clay figures in the shape of a stroller, teddy bear, baby shoes, blocks, pacifier, baby bottle, and rocking horse. A few of them say "Baby's First Christmas".

Tiny Christmas Tree

2010-12-04T14:42:00.000-08:00

We were debating on getting a tree, but then found a great deal on a small one, the perfect size for us right now.

Picked up a prelit 4ft tree and had it up within minutes of getting home :)

I was so happy to find my silver and turquoise ornaments. A lot of our Christmas stuff was either given away or lost during the move, so having my favorite ornaments means a lot.

One of the things that we can't find is our tree topper. I made a simple cone hat out of wax paper (y'know the cone hat we all used to make out of newspaper as kids) and then covered it with bows in colors that would complement our ornaments. It's one of Baby Boy's favorite parts of the tree, and I quite like it too.

Christmas Pomanders

2010-12-04T14:01:00.000-08:00

This year, we're focusing on using what we have and making new decorations out of simple, inexpensive materials. This is the first of several posts showing what I've been working on:

First pomanders. Made them months ago and they are finally cured just in time for Christmas!
They smell amazing. Click here to find out how to make your own.

Did you know pomanders will keep their lovely smell for years and are a natural moth deterrent? Hang in closets or keep one in a drawer or chest to keep your clothes pest free and fresh.

Little present pile is growing....

2010-12-03T09:02:00.000-08:00

No, Christmas is not about the presents. And we're going to have a simple celebration with a total of 4 people. But I still get a thrill watching the gift pile grow and stockings magically fill up over the weeks.

Here it was a week ago.

And today :) What's funny is most of these are addressed to Baby Boy. We're going to have so much fun watching him tear into them!

Oil Cleansing Method FINAL REVIEW: Be Warned

2010-11-30T15:03:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: Sorry about the gross photos, but it's my proof. I'm not just being a brat about this, I truly think it ruined my skin. As far as I'm concerned, OCM will no longer be on my beauty regimen.

Early September
Clear skin

Ok, I loved the OCM and raved about it in this post. However, a few weeks after that I started breaking out all over my face. I stuck it out, knowing that most people go through a purging period before skin stays totally clear and pores are finally shrunk down beautifully. So I waited, faithfully doing OCM every evening, and then the pimples became painful cysts. I finally stopped using it and was so self conscious about my skin. It looked horrible!

Late September
Acne & cysts, Right side

I stopped using OCM. After a ton of research about natural methods and my particular skin type, I have been taking measures to 'fix' this horrible mess. I now spot apply tea tree oil morning and night and am back to using my all herbal soap to cleanse. The problem is, my pores are clogging up again, but the cysts have shrunk and all but one has disappeared, but thank the Lord it's no longer is painful! I still have pimples scattered about my face and neck, but they are healing and breakouts are happening less and less frequently. I have been applying calming masks and continue to use the rice water toner. All this seems to be helping, but I can't help being frustrated at this method for ruining my skin!

Late September
Acne/cysts, Left side

Before OCM, my skin was clear from using the herbal soap and rice water, but I had read so much about how wonderful OCM was for clearing clogged pores. I thought it was just what I needed. And at first it seemed like a miracle! My skin tone was evening out and pores were getting unclogged and shrinking, but then the terrible breakouts happened. It has been months now and I wish I had never heard of the Oil Cleansing Method. I now have full blown acne and it isn't going away. I'm faithfully using weekly masks and herbal soap and fresh aloe daily but the tiny bumps, scars and pimples do not stop appearing. Thankfully, there are no more painful cysts, but I could do without the acne covering my chin, neck and cheeks.

October. Right side.

October. Left.

I've been reading about others who experienced the same as me and it seems like they all had acne prone skin before. I've never had acne prone skin. So, now I'm about ready to throw in the towel and purchase some commercially made cleansers to see if they'll get rid of the last of it. I've changed my diet and drink water with a splash of apple cider vinegar every day, along with an omega fatty acid supplement and vitamin E (all supposedly miracle workers for the skin) but it hasn't stopped the breakouts. You can see why I'm so frustrated. I haven't taken recent pictures, but it looks a little better (not much) and the bumps are no longer inflamed.

Conclusion:
OCM is not for everybody and if you choose to try it, I would recommend using it maybe once a month to clear pores only where you need it so you don't risk overstimulating your skin and causing nasty breakouts.

Recommendations?
Are you using something, natural or commercial that has worked miracles on your skin? Any suggestions would be welcome!

Day Before Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T16:17:00.000-08:00

Today I'm thankful for:

1. The lovely holiday smells floating through our home.

2. That I have a family to cook for and groceries enough to do it!

3. Baby Boy's happy lilting voice singing "Happy Birthday Jesus" (he's got his holidays a little mixed up).

and a few more because there's so much to be thankful for:

4. A loving husband who is always eager to get home to me and Baby Boy.

5. Family and good friends who always show they care no matter how long it's been between phone calls.

6. A warm dry place to sleep.

7. Group hugs with Hubby and Baby Boy.

What are you most thankful for today?

One Day Till Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T18:38:00.001-08:00

Today I'm thankful for:

1. A praying toddler, even though it means we sometimes pray 4 or 5 times before we can eat :)

2. Our Heavenly Father who blessed us with a loving Baby Boy we can call our very own.

3. A wonderful Almighty God who is always good and is never too busy to hear even the sweet innocent prayers of a child.

What are you thankful for today?

Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas....Cards

2010-11-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

Have you joined Pampers Gifts to Grow? I usually check Hip2Save (she posts lists of codes. Awesome!) and do an internet search every few weeks to find new free codes. Joining Gifts to Grow is free and if you rack up enough codes you can get some great rewards. You can buy pampers products and receive codes on the packaging, and also collect free codes online.

I just cashed in some of my points to get our Christmas photo cards for FREE, all I had to pay was shipping!

25 Christmas photo cards from shutterfly.com $0.00
Order Total: $5.38 (shipping+ tax)

Aahhh... I love bargain shopping :)

Two Days Till Thanksgiving

2010-11-22T18:04:00.000-08:00

Today I'm thankful for:

1. Hubby having an unexpected day off! We ran errands but it was good to be together :)

2. God's Word and the encouragement it gives.

3. Nearly 3 years of being Mama to a beautiful little boy, and nearly 5 years of being wife to a loving man.

What do you find yourself thankful for today?

Three Days Till Thanksgiving

2010-11-21T13:17:00.000-08:00

Today I'm thankful for:

1. Leftovers. Very handy for feeding a hungry toddler when you're not feeling up to par.

2. A sweet hungry boy who doesn't complain and gobbles up leftovers like it's the best food in the world!

3. Our wonderful family near and far. Wish we could see them all during the holidays...

As Thanksgiving draws nearer, do yo find yourself thinking on all the good things in your life?

What are you thankful for today?

Holiday Sweets

2010-11-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Check out Mrs Claus' Cookbook for a great collection of holiday recipes. I've been trying to find easy (and cheap) sweets recipes for the holidays and will be making a few of the candies from this cookbook. Awesome! Now if only I can find my candy thermometer. It never stays in the last place I put it.

Four Days Till Thanksgiving

2010-11-20T07:59:00.001-08:00

Today I'm thankful for:

1. Half asleep morning snuggles on the couch with Baby Boy

2. Saturday Jammie Days full of cartoons and playtime

3. Waking up and finding the dishes done. Very nice!

What are you thankful for today?

Five Days Till Thanksgiving

2010-11-19T08:45:00.001-08:00

Today I'm thankful for:

1. A car with heat that works

2. Sweet unexpected notes from Hubby that I find throughout my day

3. Our little sweetheart who reminds us to pray before we eat :)

What are you thankful for today?

Six Days Till Thanksgiving

2010-11-18T19:13:00.000-08:00

I wanted to begin a week from Thanksgiving and each day write 3 things I'm thankful for.

1. Little arms that give the best hugs.

2. Knowing we're safe when we go to bed.

3. That contented feeling that sometimes creeps up when Hubby walks through the door and I think "Ah, we're all together again."

Thankfulness is an attitude. What are you thankful for today?

Sweet Potato Bread

2010-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

So, after reading on another blog that they had a favorite recipe for pumpkin bread, I decided to make it and freeze it for Thanksgiving. One less thing I'd have to worry about, right? Well, in the middle of getting out all the ingredients this morning, I realized I didn't have any pumpkin puree. Well, great. But we were saved by the presence of a can of sweet potatoes in the cupboard! I followed the recipe along with some of the modifications in the comment section. I used the canned sweet potatoes that I pureed in the blender instead of pumpkin and just hoped for the best.

It smelled great and the loaves turned out beautifully. Here they are in all their freshly baked glory.

Hubby helped by getting me all the ingredients, greasing and flouring the pans.

What a sweetheart :) Ok, so I'm just lazy, but I love cooking together!

We'll probably fall like locusts on the first one, the second goes in the freezer for Thanksgiving, and the third will be given away to thank somebody for being awesome.

I really love that this recipe was so easy and makes three loaves. I'm definitely hoping to pick up some canned pumpkin and make more to freeze. It would be lovely to stock up on some yummy bready goodness we can have with coffee on cold mornings.

REVIEW: It tastes great! Very buttery and a nice blend of spices without being overpowering. Beautifully moist, bready / cakey texture with a sweet finish. My favorite part was a very thin little crystallized sugary crust that formed on top. I don't like coffee cakes and these types of fruit breads if they are too sweet or drowning in sugary glaze. This recipe will make a repeat appearance in my kitchen, whether it's made with pumpkin or not!

Prayer Request

2010-11-17T18:45:00.000-08:00

Visit the blog Praise Through the Storm to read about a truly inspirational young mother who dearly needs prayer as she grieves for three children who never drew a breath here on earth.

She is my dear friend and sister and has been searching for God's will in her life even through the pain of losing her precious little ones. She and her husband have been blessed with being able to raise two amazing, sweet spirited children, but it doesn't make the loss of the other three any less devastating.

I can't even begin to express her faith and strength, or her struggle now in the midst of a new trial. Please go and read for yourself and please, most of all pray for her. She and her husband are grieving their latest loss, an angel baby girl named Natalie Hope whose spirit was taken from her mother's womb just a few days ago, 14 weeks into the pregnancy.

Thank you for your prayers for Wendy and her family.

Hummus, Sour Cream and Paneer

2010-11-17T17:59:00.000-08:00

We had some raw milk about to go bad, and after a couple of quick internet searches I was able to find a few easy ways to make it last longer by making sour cream and paneer! Since I was in a creating mood today, I also decided to whip up some hummus to go with the fresh veggies Hubby picked up the other day. Yum. I love hummus.

You can see the recipe I used to make sour cream here, and the paneer recipe is here.

Click here for a delicious (and simple) hummus recipe.

All these homemade goodies are good news for the celery sticks, bell peppers and cucumbers in my fridge! The sour cream can be used to create a homemade ranch sauce and other nutritious dips for veggies, or served on the ever popular baked potato. It's also an ingredient in some of the tastiest coffee cakes.

Homemade sour cream :)

I think hummus is the perfect savory veggie dip or mayo substitute in sandwiches. And it's packed with iron too. It turned out lemony with a beautiful sesame flavor and just the right hint of garlic.

And of course I had to sample a little during lunch.

Clockwise from the top: One jalapeno pickle, fresh cucumbers for dipping,
hummus with a little olive oil and black pepper, spicy thai cucumber salad,
and some sweet gherkins. So GOOD!

I've never made paneer before but love it in Indian dishes. Now I can try making a vegetarian dish with paneer here at home. I'm so excited!

From over 1/2 gallon of milk, I got 1 cup of paneer and 4 cups of liquid.

I can't wait until we get more raw milk so I can try my hand at making a small amount of butter and then cream cheese after our next yogurt batch. Who knew milk could be so much fun? I know it may seem like I play more with the milk than anything else, but we do actually drink tons of it too :).

Homemade Yogurt from Grass Fed Milk

2010-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

We bought grass fed whole milk for the first time and I couldn't wait to taste it and then try making yogurt. The milk itself is so rich and I can't believe I've never had it fresh before! It's totally worth it, especially with it being unpasteurized so the healthy enzymes are still present. Well, here's our first ever yogurt made with raw cow's milk:

-Place 1/2 a gallon of whole milk into slowcooker on low for 2 hrs 30 min. Turn off slowcooker and unplug.

-Leave covered and sitting in base for 3 hours.

Milk with the cream floating on top.

-Stir in 1/2 cup of yogurt starter. Whisk in well.

-Replace lid. Remove crock pot from base and wrap in a few thick towels or a thick afghan.

-Leave in cold oven for at least 12 hours.

-After 12 hours, remove afghan and check consistency. If all was done right, yogurt should be ready!

Look how rich and thick it is! We like it with a little honey.

Voila! Half a gallon of yogurt :)

This is the best tasting yogurt yet. The yogurt we made regularly with store bought whole milk was really delicious, but this is a hundred times richer and creamier and all around tastier.

Next, I want to try making clotted cream with the grass fed milk. We'll see, I might have to wait until our next order. Until then, Baby Boy and I are really enjoying having this yogurt every day :)

Lock up your yogurt or this guy might swipe it!

Tutorial Tuesday: Homemade Herbal Salve

2010-10-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in an earlier post about the salve I made for my dad this summer, but never typed up a tutorial. Well, since it was time to make a new batch, I figured I'd take new photos and post the recipe. It's surprisingly easy, and this salve can be used on wounds, diaper rash, sore nipples when breast feeding, and chapped lips/skin. Making it at home saves so much money and makes quite a lot. Also, with how versatile it is, we don't buy diaper creams or chap stick much any more.

Ingredients: Extra virgin olive oil, dried herbs and any additives. I forgot about my vitamin E and tea tree oil (both for healing and prolonging shelf life) until the last minute and added them before finishing, so that's why they aren't pictured.

To get a really great salve, you don't have to put anything other than oil and herbs, I just know this combo is super healing and we love it.

Close up of dried chamomile

And dried calendula. Both these herbs are really inexpensive and pack lots of benefits.

Over medium heat, add a large handful of each herb to your oil.
Heat until gently bubbling. Simmer for 5-10 minutes until herbs change color. You don't want to cook the herbs, just infuse the oil with the properties they carry.
Turn off heat immediately and strain. Be careful, it will be HOT!

Strain hot oil through cheesecloth or sieve into a clean container.
The reason I don't let it cool is so I can use the warmth of the oil to melt the beeswax.

Add 2 Tbs of beeswax for every ounce of oil and whisk in quickly to melt.

This is the point where I added 1/2 tsp each of tea tree oil and vitamin E.

To test the consistency of your salve, dip the back of a spoon into your oil and swipe a swatch of salve on a small piece of wax paper.
It will cool in seconds and you can add more beeswax if you want the mixture thicker.

TOP: First swatch. A bit too thin.
BOTTOM: Second swatch after adding a bit more beeswax. Perfect.

I bought a small candy tin because it was the perfect size for keeping salve in the diaper bag for any rashes during changes away from home. I had wanted to spray paint it a different color, but didn't get around to it. Oh well, it's diaper cream in disguise :)

Ladle your still warm salve into clean containers and leave it to cool completely before replacing the lids.
All done! 1 and a half jars of salve to ship to my dad and one travel sized tin for Baby Boy's diaper bag.

FUN FACTS:
Excerpt from Wikipedia- Calendula in suspension or in tincture is used topically to treat acne, reducing inflammation, controlling bleeding and soothing irritated tissue.

Go to this site to read about the many wonderful benefits of Chamomile when used topically or internally.

Missing Sunday Dinners with Family

2010-10-24T15:27:00.000-07:00

Growing up in Samoa, Sundays always featured a huge dinner for my family, filled with tons of family and an abundance of good food. I remember a time when my grandfather wanted only turkey or ham to be served on Sundays and I never got tired of it year round, but that's me :). But what I remember as the best part of those Sunday dinners was that I got to see my grandparents, aunts, uncles and all my cousins. It really was a haven in my frantically busy childhood. My parents' schedules (and subsequently ours as their children) were chock full daily from morning till night, so I considered those brief hours on Sunday afternoons to be my only bit of sanity before having to rush off to another function.

I see the merit in having a simple supper on Sundays so families can relax and not be stressed out with cooking. But for me, I really would love to keep the tradition of having a big dinner on Sundays. It's not always that festive since Hubby works, leaving Baby Boy and I alone, which is decidedly different from the happy bustle I remember during Sunday dinners. But some day our family will grow and we'll be able to enjoy the noise of having a large family settled around us at the table as we talk about our week and just soak in being together.

Usually, the solitude leaves me so not in the mood to whip up a big dinner on Sundays, but today I'm feeling particularly homesick so I've decided to make ham, steamed rice and some side dishes. I've also determined to clean off my poor dining table (which is constantly cluttered with my latest craft/spa project), scrub off the latest toddler stickiness and use our best dishes. And you know what? I think we'll even have candles. Maybe. Now, at our huge family dinners we would use paper plates most of the time. And with the naughty kids we were (and the sometimes oppressive heat), the last thing on my aunts' minds were to light candles within our reach. But a candle-less table and paper plates didn't matter, it was family time and I miss it. I guess right now for our home, with so few of us, I want to make a bit of an event of it. Because I'm weird. But mostly because I miss home. I miss my family and I wish we weren't so far away.

Anyway, to make you forget a bit of my rambling, here's a recipe:
I found it on this website and decided to pair it with the ham we'll be having for dinner. Because of a sensitivity to the acid, the guys can't handle much citrus, but I thought it would make a nice change since we have a fruit basket filled with oranges at the moment. Hubby was sweet enough to pick up a whole sack of them so I could make pomanders for the very first time for the coming holidays. Fun! Unfortunately, I need more cloves after making only three, hence the excess of oranges. More on that later. On to the recipe:

Provencal Orange and Honey Salad

3 oranges
2 tablespoons honey*
1 lemon, zested and juiced
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or to taste
Fresh basil or mint leaves, cut in chiffonade (thin strips)**

* Use a light-tasting liquid honey, such as clover or orange blossom
** Vary the herb garnish according to how you plan to serve the salad. Basil is best when it is a first course or salad, while mint suits as an intermezzo or dessert.
Using a sharp knife, cut the top and bottom off the oranges to expose the flesh. Stand the orange upright, cut away the peel, following the contours of the orange and removing all white pith along with the peel. Trim off any bits of white left on the orange.
When all the oranges are peeled, slice them crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Put the orange rounds and any collected juices in a shallow bowl or deep-dish pie plate.
Pour the honey over the sliced oranges and gently toss with a rubber spatula to coat. Set aside in a cool spot (or the refrigerator if you like) for 1 hour.
To serve: Grate a heaping teaspoon of lemon zest from the lemon and set aside. Squeeze the lemon. Drizzle with the olive oil. Scatter over the lemon zest and herbs, and serve.

For individually plated salads: Pour about 1 1/2 teaspoons of lemon juice on each plate. Drizzle with the olive oil. Scatter over the lemon zest and herbs, and serve.
For a platter presentation: Pour 2 tablespoons of juice onto the platter. Spoon the orange slices and the accumulated orange juice onto the plates or platter. Drizzle with the olive oil. Scatter over the lemon zest and herbs, and serve.
Variation: Layer the orange slices with slices of ripe tomato and sprinkle the whole dish with Fleur de sel or sea salt.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Here's hoping you get to relish some family time with those you love most.

A Break

2010-10-09T18:23:00.000-07:00

Things have become very complicated, not to mention hectic around here. The Lord continues to bless, though and all's well. Just a little crazy :)

I've decided to take a break from the Love Dare, even though I have less than 10 dares to go! With circumstances the way they are, I've become stuck because I haven't been able to focus on the dares. There have been big changes lately and even though we're thankful that God is good through it all, I do believe the less I have to stress about the better. That's where the Dare break comes in. I hope to pick up where I left off very soon. I don't mean to leave it for very long at all because it's such a great study and I've learned so much from it. As it is, I'm looking for inspirational literature on encouragement so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Love Dare #30 Love Brings Unity

2010-09-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

DARE 30: Isolate one area of division in your marriage, and look on today as a fresh opportunity to pray about it. Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your own heart that is threatening oneness with your spouse. Pray that He would do the same for them. And if appropriate, discuss this matter openly, seeking God for unity.

This was surprising because a potential area of division has just cropped up. And the reason for it is, as is common in most marriages: Money.

We may have to make some changes regarding finances and we're really struggling deciding on the issue. This has caused some tension and we are trying to discuss things constructively with the rules we set in Dare 13, but it will take many more talks and a lot more prayer before we can decide. I am torn because we do need to make a decision, but it's a little frightening. Lord, we need You now. Lead us in our decision and give us wisdom. Also, soften our hearts so even if the right way is not what we would willingly choose for ourselves, help us to determine to follow Your will no matter what. Let us be reassured that You know how it all turns out and that You will order things for good to those who love You! Help us to pray for each other, Father, and grant us unity and the faith to take the next step.

Jeremiah 29:11-14a

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD:

Love Dare #29 Love's Motivation

2010-09-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

DARE 29: Before you see your spouse again today, pray for them by name and for their needs. Whether it comes easy for you or not, say "I love you," then express love to them in some tangible way. Go to God in prayer again, thanking Him for giving you the privilege of loving this one special person- unconditionally, the way He loves both of you.

Loving someone anyway, even when they give me no reason to love, has not been my strong point. The only one I've truly tried to do this with is Hubby, and I've got to say, it's rough! Even with such a good man, there are bound to be disagreements, flat out arguments and the oh so deadly silent treatment.

But I'm beginning to see that perhaps it doesn't have to be so terrible. Perhaps it's my perception of it that is the problem.

After much reflection, prayer and tears, I've realized that in my case, it boils down to pride. I have always been one of those girls who tells you what she thinks. I've lost many a friend that way, and have learned the hard way that sometimes my opinion is better kept silent. However, in this society where women were not allowed to vote until less than a century ago, I sometimes mistake pride for refusing to be a feminine doormat. I see now there are many situations where I use sticking up for my gender as an excuse to cuttingly voice my opinion.

Praying for Hubby is a daily act of love now (Dare 16), but this was such a great reminder for me to use the prayer time to strengthen my love and compassion for him. With this change of motivation, I felt eager to see Hubby today and was very happy to be near him when he came home. Amazing how love and intention can change one's perspective of the every day things, like a spouse arriving at home the same way they do every day. Only it's different now because no matter what's happened in the past and what may happen, you have determined to love them. I'm beginning to see just how deep God's love for us goes, and how thankful I am for it, in light of all my sins.

Lord, thank you for the gift of prayer. Please forgive my sin of pride and help me to nurture and not tear down with my words. Thank you for my wonderful Hubby and the love he has for me and Baby Boy. Help me to fulfill the purpose you gave me when you brought Hubby into my life and allowed us to be married. Let me love unconditionally and to always lean on You.

Love Dare #28 Love Makes Sacrifices

2010-09-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

Alright, I really need to get back in the habit of typing my daily dares. Here's hoping I will keep up with transferring it from my journal to B&I:

DARE 28: What is one of the greatest needs in your spouse's life right now? Is there a need you could lift from their shoulders today by a daring act of sacrifice on your part? Whether the need is big or small, purpose to do what you can to meet the need.

I have realized that my lack of initiative may be contributing to Hubby's stress when he comes home. Well, let me rephrase: My lack of initiative does not relieve any stress Hubby may be under when he comes home.

At the end of the day, I'm dead tired. I've most likely weathered and corrected countless tantrums from our toddler, cleaned, cooked several times a day, cleaned some more, potty trained, fought to keep Baby Boy in his room at nap time, straightened up the inevitable toddler messes, been teacher at learning time, disciplinarian when tantrums fly, and mommy when owies need kissing. Needless to say, staying home is not a glamorous (or easy) job, but it's well worth it. So, this bedraggled, emotionally frazzled, starved-for-adult-conversation mama is who welcomes my man home at night.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see Hubby and I try to make him feel welcome. Sometimes being in his arms and hearing his voice is the only thing that can soothe me after a rough day. Nine times out of ten, there is a hot dinner waiting for him, I greet him sincerely thanks to Dare 9, and now thanks to Dare 15 I honor him by giving my full attention, setting the laptop aside and leaving the TV off in the evenings unless Hubby turns it on. But I believe that I can go an extra step; especially at times when I know something is bothering him.

I can tell when his neck injury is really hurting him. I sense when things did not go well at work, or when being on his feet for 12 hours a day takes its toll. But what do I do about it?
Most of the time I'll ask if he needs a massage and when he says "No thanks, Luv." I leave it at that.

Or I'll ask what's wrong and he'll go into a long monologue about his rough day and I find myself cutting him off, giving him a solution and my very strong opinion on the matter. My outburst usually leaves us both thinking, where in the world did that come from? I have an opinion for everything.
My parents began calling me Miss Opinionated when I was very young and even now I get chided with the nickname when I'm being especially ornery. Why can't I just listen to Hubby? Let the guy vent a little? I will not hesitate to tell him when he's giving me an opinion and I wish he would just listen, so I've decided the least I can do is to give him the same consideration when the situation arises.

So tonight, I saw that Hubby's feet were really hurting. After he ate, he said he wasn't up for much conversation and wouldn't mind if I wanted to use the laptop that evening. I shrugged and opened up the laptop. After a little while, I just couldn't get lost in my usual research/email/general doing nothing online. I shut the laptop and asked Hubby how he was. He said fine, but I saw how he winced whenever he moved his legs.
I asked if he needed a massage. He said "No thanks, Luv."
I tossed one of the couch cushions on the floor in front of him and to his surprise, proceeded to massage his poor feet.

The Bible shows over and over again that when Love sees a need it makes adjustments to fulfill it.
God does it for us, through his provision. We needed salvation and God provided a way through Jesus' death on the cross. The mere fact that we wake up in the morning is due to God's grace and love.

Why can't I see a need in Hubby's life and fill it with no thought of being repaid, just acting out of love? I think it's possible, but will take some practice. I know I can't do it on my own, I'm too selfish. I need the Lord's patience and love so I can in turn love Hubby unconditionally and act on that love.

After a few minutes, I saw that the massage was making a difference to Hubby's aching feet and by the end of it, he was visibly relaxed.
Now, was I tired? Yes. But I know how hard it is to get a good night's rest when ones feet are swollen and throbbing from standing 12 hours a day. I used to work retail too.
And I know the sweet relief a massage can give to those hard working feet.

With that simple act, my love for Hubby was deepened, which is so not what I expected! It proved to me that a selfless act can benefit the giver as well. So selfish motives are the only reason one can be unhappy when showing love because there are high expectations about being repaid. I'm overwhelmingly thankful that the Lord continues to teach, no matter how stubborn I am. And I'm happy to know that such a small gesture made such an impact on both Hubby and me!

Proverbs 28:20a A faithful man shall abound with blessings:

Love Dare #27 Love Encourages

2010-09-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

DARE 27: Eliminate the poison of unrealistic expectations in your home. Think of one area where your spouse has told you you're expecting too much, and tell them you're sorry for being so hard on them about it. Promise them you'll seek to understand, and assure them of your unconditional love.

I often expect Hubby to help me install decor, rearrange furniture, etc on his days off. I also expect him to help with Baby Boy the mornings he doesn't have to work. The way I see it, Baby Boy and our home are both of our responsibilities. I do what I can during the time I am alone, but when Hubby is around, I expect to equally share duties. And sometimes I can be a bit of a pain about reminding him of that. But the more I watch Hubby, I see that he actually does make my day easier when he's at home. He does the laundry, takes the trash out, does the dishes, he cooks, helps with Baby Boy's potty training, and he puts Baby Boy to bed each of his nights off. The bedtime routine is a big deal because it takes nearly 30 minutes to wind Baby Boy down with books, lullabyes and snuggles every night, so I'm very thankful for the free time I'm left with when Hubby takes over.

Obviously, Hubby is very involved in our home and with Baby Boy. The problem lies in my wanting him to do so much more than he does. I do appreciate what he does, but there are some bigger projects that I need
help with and I am easily frustrated when we don't get around to it. But here's what I've realized:

-Hubby's time off is limited and we need that time to shop for groceries, relax from our schedules, and do activities as a family.

-If the decor doesn't get hung, or a project has to wait another week, it isn't the end of the world.

-Most days off, Hubby lets me sleep in and he takes care of our son until I drag my lazy bones out of bed. So I should really stop harping about the infrequent days when he sleeps in.

-I have a wonderful, involved man who is an amazing hubby and daddy.... and who could use some appreciation and a break from nagging about the few things he doesn't do.

Khol's $10 Snail Mailed Gift Card

2010-09-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

Aahhh.... Hubby's day off today and the weather is beautiful! We decided to take a drive and ended up, wouldn't ya know it? At a store. My poor guys! I'm glad they put up with walking around while I'm oohing and ahhing over pretty things ;)

Well, I had a special reason to go to Khol's today and that's because I signed up for their email newsletter and coupons through the mail. Last week, I received a $10 gift card from them! I was ecstatic! Apparently, they sent the gift cards out to everyone on their mailing list and they are good for any purchase, even sale and clearance items. So, yes, that's why, on my first day of feeling much better, I dragged Hubby and Baby Boy into Khol's.

We scoured the clearance racks, hoping to find something for Baby Boy's Christmas presents, Baby Boy's clothes, or some home decor. After some searching, I found the perfect teal/turquoise sheers that were marked down to $4.99 each (originally $10.99 ea). I have been looking for this color everywhere for the master bedroom, but they've always been so expensive. Using the $10 gift card, I ended up paying $1.06 for both curtains! Well, that set me up to feeling great for the rest of the day :).

Well, hello my pretties

No, thank you, Kohl's :)

Stay tuned for a Love Dare post.

Under the Weather

2010-09-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

I've been sick lately. I'm continuing the daily Love Dares in my journal along with my copy of the book, but I haven't had the time to transfer it via posts to the blog. Will continue posting as soon as I'm up to it!

If you are doing the Dares with your own copy, I encourage you to continue, there's so much to be learned from this study.
And for those who may have been following along with me, I apologize. I hope to resume publishing the Dares I have done and have B&I posts caught up to where I am soon.
God bless, Beauties!

Love Dare #26 Love is Responsible

2010-09-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

DARE 26: Take time to pray through your areas of wrongdoing. Ask for God's forgiveness, then humble yourself enough to admit them to your spouse. Do it sincerely and truthfully. Ask your spouse for forgiveness as well. No matter how they respond, make sure you cover your responsibility in love. Even if they respond with criticism, accept it by receiving it as counsel.

So I'm having a rough time understanding the need for this one.
I thought this had been dealt with during Dares 12 and 25. Maybe I'm over thinking the dares, but those dares sparked much prayer and many heartfelt discussions with Hubby where I asked forgiveness of him and the Lord for every single thing I had wrongfully done in our relationship. Maybe I wasn't supposed to go into depth like that, but I'm very thankful the Lord answered my prayers to bring to mind the things I had yet to make right. There have been days since Dare 12, when something from the past came up and God gave me the grace to ask forgiveness right away and square it away with Hubby as well. I can't describe the peace and freedom that comes from being truthful! I would have had a big problem being humble and admitting my wrongs before, but this study has changed my perspective on that.

So, it's silly, but I feel a little guilty, like I skipped forward when I wasn't supposed to, but this dare has been completed. Today I'll focus on prayer and Bible study to maintain the foundation of truth Hubby and I are trying to build on.

For my Bible reading, I'm meditating on some very pertinent verses found in Prov 19.
Proverbs 19:14b "...a prudent wife is from the Lord."

Proverbs 19:16 "He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die."

Proverbs 19: 20-21 "Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord that shall stand."

Love Dare #25 Love Forgives

2010-09-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

DARE 25: Whatever you haven't forgiven in your mate, forgive it today. Let it go. Just as we ask Jesus to "Forgive us our debts" each day, we must ask Him to help us "Forgive our debtors" each day as well. Unforgiveness has been keeping you and your spouse in prison too long. Say from your heart, "I choose to forgive."

I had several grudges I was surprised to realize I had never forgiven Hubby for. I hadn't known I had allowed them to fester and grow. There really are no words to describe how soothing the Bible, and God's forgiveness are to such pain.

Each grudge was from early in our marriage. They developed from the miscommunication nearly every new couple experiences. But by leaving them in place, they grew to influence how I react to Hubby now during disagreements or misunderstandings.

Disagreements are normal.
What's abnormal is the crippling hurt I've felt wash over me during a disagreement.
A recent example: my suddenly offended attitude during Dare 18.

Now I see that my anger was rooted in the past. I can't expect it to go away if all I do is gather the fruit off the tree. More will grow in it's place.
I have to take a bulldozer to the tree itself and tear out the roots.
Then the only way to be truly free is to plant something good in its place to discourage any old roots from growing a brand new tree.

Lord, thank You for the gift of forgiveness! Thank you that I am now free to love my spouse without any reservations or old pain. Please remove that bitterness and replace it with love and compassion for Hubby. Thank You for blessing our marriage and giving me this opportunity to grow.
But most of all, thank You, Father, for my wonderful husband. Thank You for his unwavering faith in You and for his inexplicably deep love for me. Teach me to love, Lord. And to always forgive.

Love Dare #24 Love Vs. Lust

2010-09-18T20:48:00.000-07:00

DARE 24: End it now. Identify every object of lust in your life and remove it. Single out every lie you've swallowed in pursuing forbidden pleasure and reject it. Lust cannot be allowed to live in a back bedroom. It mus be killed and destroyed- Today- and replaced with the sure promises of God and a heart filled with His perfect love.

I claim God's promises and will stand fast knowing, not just hoping, that I do not need more material things. Lord, please give me Your peace.
I want to be content in You.

I renounce the incessant lust for "more"; for something "better". I am a daughter of the King and those things have no hold on me when I am delivered from them by Your grace.

I have access to everything You've ever promised through my salvation by grace and Your Word! I have all I ever need and I confess my sins of wanting that perfect house and that perfect car.

I renounce the lie and the emotional pain of 'needing' a socially accepted body.

And I beg forgiveness and renounce those times of frustration when I've wished for a better, easier or wealthier life.

Please, Lord, cleanse me of my selfishness, vanity and envy.
Replace them with contentment and love.
And grant me the wisdom and strength to bloom where I am now planted in life.

I kneel, broken, before You praying for a change in me that will strengthen my marriage and family.
Help me to shine Your light every where I go, presenting myself as a daughter of the King should in thought, manner, speech and action. Teach me to put keeping my home well, and physical presentation in it's place, remembering that although I should take care in these things, nothing is more important than Your work.

Use me, Lord, even if it's only as a quiet example of how wonderful and good You truly are.

Love Dare #23 Love Always Protects

2010-09-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

DARE 23: Remove anything that is hindering your relationship, any addiction or influence that's stealing your affections and turning your heart away from your spouse.

I was nervous as I prayed and went over in my mind anything that qualified as a parasite, bad influence or affection stealer in my life. How amazingly grateful I was to realize that the Lord has protected our marriage from anything like that. However, even though I don't have anything to throw out, I do have a few things that have taken up much of my time in the past and have potential to become addictions if left unchecked:
Bargain/coupon shopping (Touched on in Dare 12)
Blogging
Crafting

I pray that by being on guard I can consciously limit the time spent on these things and will commit to put my marriage/spouse first and family second before considering giving my time and heart to these things.

Lord, let me be like the wise woman who builds up her house and not like the foolish one who tears it down with her own hands. Thank you for revealing to me these areas which can steal time away from my spouse and family. I pray for wisdom and discernment as I seek to walk in Your will. Please give me the strength to put these things in their own place and spend no more time on them than necessary. If it comes between blogging/crafting/shopping, and spending time with Hubby or Baby Boy, give me the grace and wisdom to choose time with my family over my own wants. With Your strength and patience, I will guard my heart and my marriage and ultimately my family by not allowing anything past the protection of which I am a keeper in my household.

Love Dare #22 Love is Faithful

2010-09-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

DARE 22: Love is a choice, not a feeling. It is an initiated action., not a knee-jerk reaction. Choose today to be committed to love even if your spouse has lost most of their interest in receiving it. Say to them today in words similar to these, " I love you. Period. I choose to love you even if you don't love me in return."

There are so many times I've tried to love with my own limited human capacity and it has been a train wreck. I realize that I am incapable of loving unconditionally unless it's through Christ. My Savior's love is endless, and deeper and more profound than mine could ever be. That love is freely given to me by Christ and in turn, I can share that never ending, always patient love with my spouse when my patience is at it's breaking point. Praise the Lord for my salvation and His unconditional love! It's a perfect example of how I should love my darling Hubby, rising above my judgmental nature to love as Christ loves.

Love Dare #21 Love is Satisfied in God

2010-09-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

DARE 21: Be intentional today about making a time to pray and read your Bible. Try reading a chapter out of Proverbs each day (there are thirty-one - a full month's supply), or reading a chapter in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). As you do, immerse yourself in the love and promises God has for you. This will add to your growth as you walk with Him.

I think daily time with God keeps my priorities focused and keeps my Lord at the top of my mind when rough circumstances arise throughout the day.

I've been doing this sporadically, when I am able to wake up early enough, but I want to try to make it a priority to wake up before Baby Boy and do my Bible reading. I will usually have a time of prayer in the mornings, studying the Bible during Baby Boy's nap time and after he's gone to bed at night. But I know it will make a huge difference in how I approach the day if I've already done my reading.

Draw me closer to You, Lord, through prayer and the study of Your Word. Thank You for Your many promises that bring me through life's darkest moments. Help me to always give You the glory, Lord, no matter my circumstances. Bless my desire to know You more and show me in Your Word how to walk in Your way.

Love Dare #20 Love is Jesus Christ

2010-09-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

DARE 20: Dare to take God at His Word. Dare to trust Jesus Christ for salvation. Dare to pray " Lord Jesus, I'm a sinner. But You have shown Your love for me by dying to forgive my sins, and You have proven Your power to save me from death by Your resurrection. Lord, change my heart, and save me by Your grace."

The Love Dare experience is now halfway through and at times I felt like a washrag that has been wrung out one too many times. But even after those tough times when I realized there is so much changing to be done in my heart and life, I am reassured and confident. Because I know, through my salvation, that I don't have to do it alone. I can't do it alone. But I have the one God on my side that is capable of healing all my past hurts and showing me a blessed future and how to live in that future full of His joy and truth!

Thank You, Lord for loving me even though I am a sinner. Turn my heart always back to You, Lord, no matter my circumstances. Teach me Your perfect way. Please give me the grace to live and walk in Your will to bless my spouse and our family.

Love Dare #19 Love Is Impossible

2010-09-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

DARE 19: Look back over the dares from previous days. Were there some that seemed impossible to you? Have you realized your need for God to change your heart and to give you the ability to love? Ask Him to show you where you stand with Him, and ask for the strength and grace to settle your eternal destination.

Well, there were moments when the last dare seemed impossible. And the one where I was convicted about finances was rough. But especially with what happened for Dare 18, I understand more than ever that without God's perfect love, there's no way i'd be able to love unconditionally. I'm so thankful for my salvation! But I still need to be actively nurturing a relationship with my Savior to be a vessel of His love to Hubby. There's no other way I could forgive and forgive and learn. If it was left to my own strength and love, I would have given up when things got rough.

Lord, help me to love as You love! And let me be slow to judge and quick to forgive. Let your beautiful love shine through me so I can be a proper helpmeet to my husband. I only want to please You and to serve You in everything, especially in loving my spouse unconditionally.

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Love Dare #18 Aahh... Romance

2010-09-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

DARE 18: Prepare a special dinner at home, just for the two of you. The dinner can be as nice as you prefer. Focus this time on getting to know your spouse better, perhaps in areas you've rarely talked about. Determine to make it an enjoyable evening for you and your mate.

This was a learning experience. I had a migraine so went to lay down before starting dinner, but I had told Hubby in the morning that we were going to have a romantic dinner. He was pleased with the prospect. Well, imagine my surprise when I came out to start dinner half an hour later and Hubby had everything well under way and gave me a quick kiss and a sympathetic "Go ahead and sit down. Relax."
What a sweetheart!

Well, since he had everything almost done, I decided I could decorate our table, which I hadn't thought I'd have time to do with my sudden headache. I gathered simple decorations from other areas of our home and decided to feature tea light candles and the flowers Hubby brought home for me earlier this week.

Used our wall sconce for the very first time for our romantic dinner.
Beautiful!

Oh, I just had to leave that pattern board in the background!
Trimmed a few flowers and placed them in candle holders
interspersed with some tea lights.

So, I'm not the greatest photographer. The steak was delicious, though.
Hubby did a great job!

Anyway, after all that, we were enjoying the evening talking over candle light as Baby Boy happily watched Veggie Tales in the background. Then, something horrible happened. I allowed myself to be offended over a very small thing and.... it almost ruined the rest of our evening! Terrible how selfishness can creep in and spoil an otherwise wonderful, time of pure togetherness, isn't it? So, there I was running to the bathroom in tears and Hubby was close behind me. He apologized over and over and tried to comfort me and you know what? It was phenomenally hard to forgive him! Even though I was basically nit picking I found it very hard to forgive. Thankfully, within the hour, I was able to ask the Lord for forgiveness regarding my selfish attitude and was free to, in my turn, forgive Hubby. Well, the poor man felt terrible, and before my little tirade, we were having an amazing time talking about the future and our hopes. So, I learned the hard way that no matter how much I am trying to be a good wife, there will be instances that trip me up. Spiritual maturity will show whether I handle it well or not. I think, by tonight's display, it's safe to say I am far, far away from being spiritually mature. But, I'm willing to learn and will be praying more that I be on guard for situations like this.

I want to be used of You, Lord! Take away the selfish desires in my heart and replace them with your perfect peace, patience and most of all wisdom! Strengthen my faith so I can recognize and deny the pride that inevitably creeps into my human heart. Leave in pride's place a willingness to glorify You in everything I do, and the wisdom and understanding to serve You (not myself) in every situation.

Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Love Dare #17 Just to Know You More

2010-09-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Summer 2010

DARE 17: Determine to guard your mate's secrets (unless they are dangerous to them or to you) and to pray for them. Talk with your spouse, and resolve to demonstrate love in spite of these issues. Really listen to them when they share personal thoughts and struggles with you. Make them feel safe.

Praise the Lord that critical words didn't come as I listened to Hubby's concerns! I know a short time ago I would have given my opinion instead of listening fully. After a very honest conversation, I was able to acknowledge what Hubby had shared with me and be confident that I can pray specifically and more effectively for him. I hadn't realized how important it is to offer to listen after establishing a supportive environment for him to air his thoughts in. It also made me realize again what a wonderful man he is! His biggest concern is worry for me and Baby Boy and I am now able to do more of my part by encouraging him that he is doing well as husband and father and by praying that these worries will be surrendered to the Lord.

Song of Solomon 6:3 is quoted in the book in reference to this dare.
"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
Hubby and I both love that passage, but it has a whole new meaning to me now. It's not just about ownership, or husband/wife rights like I had thought before. I now see it as an encouragement. We were given to each other to keep each other's hearts, guard each other's peace of mind and when doubt creeps in, to point the other back to the Lord. What a wonderful, reassuring thing to know! And what a blessing marriage is! I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine..... Beautiful.

Love Dare #16 Prayer

2010-09-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

DARE 16: Begin praying today for your spouse's heart. Pray for three specific areas where you desire for God to work in your spouse's life and in your marriage.

I have definitely experienced the power of prayer in the past, and am fully aware of how God can work through this seemingly passive action. After much thought, I have chosen the three areas in which I'll pray for Hubby and I was so thankful to find that praying for him didn't feel forced or unnatural or bring up unresolved anger in me like I feared it might. It felt wonderful to pray specifically for Hubby! I had been praying for him, but praying in detail about three specific areas really helps me focus and pray more effectively for our family. I've begun praying for three specific areas in Baby Boy's life as well as my own and what a difference it makes! Thank you Lord, that we will find You if we seek You with all our heart, and that if we pray fervently, You promise to hear us. God is so good!

Love Dare #15 To Love and Honor....

2010-09-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Wedding day..... when we promised to love and honor each other

DARE 15: Choose a way to show honor and respect to your spouse that is above your normal routine. It may be holding the door for her. It might be putting his clothes away for him. It may be the way you listen and speak in your communication. Show your mate that he or she is highly esteemed in your eyes.

From now on I choose to honor Hubby by trying to actively be in the moment when we are speaking to each other. Being a chronic multitasker, it's very hard for me to do one thing only. So when I'm talking to Hubby, I either have the laptop on doing research on whatever has my attention at the moment (I'm a chronic fact junkie as well) or a few projects, cleaning and the television going. I may occasionally look him in the eye and I am totally able to really listen and respond as well as work on something else, but..... I never stopped to think how it appeared. Now I see the scenario and am inwardly cringing. It would appear I don't value my time or conversation with Hubby and that's not true. So I choose to honor him by giving my full attention to our conversations whether it be on the phone or in person. I especially want to pay attention to this in the evenings, which is really our only alone time since I'm not up early most days. This may take some practice as it's pretty much second nature to me now to have a million things happening at once. But I'm excited about it especially with how much Dare 14 helped my perspective!

I also think that in the future, I need to make it a priority to keep the master bed and bath a peaceful place for us as another way to honor our relationship. That's another ingrained habit I'll have to work at chipping away. It's no secret that I struggle with housework. And while I keep the rest of our home in decent condition (ie: I wouldn't be embarrassed if someone were to walk in at any minute), the master room is increasingly becoming more or less storage for things that don't have a place. It will help me as well, to rest better and not constantly be worrying about the piles of things around us when I'm trying to fall asleep.

Love Dare #14 Just to Be With You

2010-09-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

With my love

DARE 14: Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse. Do something he or she would love to do or a project they'd really like to to work on. Just be together.

I chose to not be on the laptop in the evening. Hubby works late so when he comes home he eats dinner and then we both relax on our respective computers. We carry on a conversation most times with the TV on in the background, but tonight I gave him my full attention, making my mind up before hand not to be offended if he chose to continue to be on his computer. After all, he gets going early in the morning and works 12 hours, so the evenings are his only chance to be off his feet and unwind.

This went off without a hitch, and honestly, I'm not sure Hubby even noticed, but that's not what this was about. I was able to really concentrate on being there with him. I found that without expecting attention in return, I ended up enjoying the evening and our sporadic conversation as he caught up with email and things online. I really was surprised to realize I enjoyed simply sitting there with no pressure on either of us to fill the silence with inane conversation or becoming distracted by what was on TV. The evening ended with a feeling of contentment, even though it consisted of what, a short time ago, I would have considered as a boring time. It truly is a blessing and a joy just to be together! Thank you, Lord for opening my eyes!

Love Dare #13 Fight Fair

2010-09-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

DARE 13: Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement. If your mate is not ready for this, then write out your own personal rules to "fight" by. Resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs.

Hubby was very agreeable and willing to talk about this. I'm continually amazed at how the Lord is using this study to better our relationship! We made a list of rules for future use and I'm feeling unexpectedly relieved and more prepared. Every couple has disagreements, and I remember us making a similar list when we first got married, but we've both ignored the set guidelines at times.
Here are a few of the ones we've decided on:

-We will not bring up unrelated things from the past.
-We will not use absolutes. Eg: You always do this... I never get to do this..."

The list has more rules, but that's just a peek. I don't want to influence anyone else who may be participating. The rules need to be personalized for your particular relationship. As it is, Hubby and I are confident in our new rules and even though we hope to never need them, at least when we do, we'll be prepared to fight fair. Instead of arguments tearing us apart slowly they can be a constructive way to air disagreements, forgive and move on as a stronger couple.