Things I remember most about you. For my Grandparents.

There comes a time in all our lives when we know that the time could be near that our time together is getting shorter. You where around for my whole childhood, you knew me before you saw my face and then held me in your arms. Half of who I am comes from you two, you have imprinted amazing memories onto my heart. You taught me to fish, hit a T ball, pick green beans, eat my crust, sponge paint. I only like my green beans the way you cook them, I love bear hugs, and you are the best person to get them from. When I smell black coffee, I often think of you. You and your cowboy boots... those will always make me think of you and smile.

You have lived an amazing life, what amazing events you have lived through. I wish I would have learned more from you, a navy man, my own Rosie the Riveter, what history you both embody. (if I lived closer to my family I would show you a picture of these two wonderful people in my life, :( )

Thing I will not forget, wonderful camping trips, sleep overs, western day dress up at your church, fishing, teasing cousin Ben with fake rubber snakes, that knock at the door at the house after church pretty much every Sunday, dinner and games at your place, gardening, watching Grandpa fixing something, you always had your hands busy.

You are both such amazing people, I wish I could pick your brain. All my love, your last Granddaughter. 

My thoughts for this week.

As a Christian I celebrate Christmas because it reminds me of our lords birth, being thankful for who he is and what he has done in my life, like many other Christian holidays. Does it matter when it started or the fact that he wasn't actually born in December? I don't think so. I don't spoil my kids with gifts, and try to instill in them what the reason is that we celebrate Christmas is.

Part of me was wondering why non believers even celebrate. If your going to argue with me as to why I believe what I do or what the TRUE reason for the season is.  I don't celebrate holidays in which I don't believe in or that I disagree in... Wait a minute, don't I? One could argue that I do, Halloween was started because of pagen followers, I don't believe in what they stood for and yet I allow my children to dress up in costumes and ask for candy like the rest of the neighborhood.

The biggest reason I have heard  that non believers celebrate is to just celebrate friends and family and the gift of life, which really isn't a bad thing, but that isn't Christmas. You don't go around celebrating Boxing day or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or even the winter solstice, do you? I believe that Christmas is just as much a religious Christian holiday as Hanukkah is a jewish holiday. So if your not a believer in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, why are you going to celebrate it??? Don't criticize me for celebrating a wonderful birthday, and I won't criticize you for your non beliefs. Other wise you can start your own holiday!

food from the heart.

You know what I love about my cooking? knowing I am making something healthy and and tasty, that is something I can be proud of. I love cooking from scratch. I really love to try new things and experiment with what I have in my house, something I am doing more and more, it makes me feel like I am instilling a love of real food in my children, even if they don't always eat it. I have been going through my cook books and just picking out meals that sound good and putting them on that weeks dinner list. I have made a  few things that were good but likely won't be made again, but who cares, I tried something new and it was healthy. I have really been into soups lately, which is odd cause I don't really like store bought canned soup, but it is different then homemade soup or restaurant soup. tonight I am making baked potato and ham soup, hoping it turns out well because it sounds amazing.

Conclusion, It was amazing. I think one of the best soups I have made in a while. 

Dressing up

As a girl I love to get dressed up and party once in a while. This last week I was in a fashion show at a local club, here are some pictures. Originally we were going to model clothes from a local shop but they backed out, so that is my outfit, it may look like something I have shown in the past... :) So we showed off my favorite salon. Salon Surreal. Hair, tan and makeup all done there. 

Getting my makeup done at the salon. 

 My friend Melissa and I 

Strutting my stuff

Showing it all off at the end

ME!

Three of my favorite health and beauty products of 2011.

I have found a few things that I really like this year. They are things I try not to leave the house with out.


The first is,

My Enfuselle facial cleaning products from Shaklee. I use the cleansing gel, Toner and A.M. time repair with SPF moisturizer. Also I have the Acne clarifying complex and the P.M. night repair. I love all my Shaklee Face products, I still may not have perfect skin, but I truly think it would be a lot worse if I didn't use it. 

My second Favorite is, 

We started taking Shakeology a month ago when I did a 10 day fitness overhaul with a friend. We started out thinking it was just a meal replacement and that it would help with our holiday fitness goals. After a week of taking it we both noticed a difference in our energy, our appetites, cravings, weight, I could go on and on. Our energy is amazing, my husband says he doesn't feel the need to drink other energy drinks such as monsters or Rockstars any more when he drinks his Shakeology.  I love how it curbs my appetite so I don't want to snack so much during the day, and it also helps with any cravings of sweets I might have, so then I am not scarfing on desert when I shouldn't be either. I can't tell you how excited I am that they are coming out with a third flavor in 2012, Tropical! 

Lastly, something I didn't expect. A product that comes from Norway, called Norwex. These aren't your average microfiber clothes. 

"Norwex Antibacterial Microfiber Cleaning Products
Our line of cleaning products will save you time & money, improve health, and move towards creating a better environment.  Norwex microfiber goes beyond "surface clean" with the innovative use of silver particles integrated into synthetic microfiber cloth ensure:

• Single-celled micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeast, and viruses cannot survive or adapt in silver exposure
• Surface-to-surface cross-contamination is eliminated
• Rapidly drying cloths prevent bacteria growth in the cloth itself

Cleaning with water only produces a healthy outcome for us and the environment.

Laboratory tests have proven that Norwex antibacterial microfiber reduced bacteria by 99.99% in 24 hours!"

I won a facial towel at a friends party she was throwing and I was stoked to try it out. In just a few days I noticed a difference in how my face felt. I really need to get more so I don't have to worry about throwing one in the laundry, cause I see how not using it for just one or two days effects my face. What I think is great about it too is that you get 3 in a pack for under $20 and they are guaranteed for 2 years. 


All of these companies sell an array of products so you can go check them out. 

One our newest family pictures.

The kids home made tree ornaments.

I didn't have to buy much for this easy project with the kids. Really already had most of it, but this is what we used. 

The air dry clay (I paid under $5 for this at Walmart)

kids paint

pipe cleaners (.89 cents)

Cookie cutters

A straw to make a hole 

 I rolled out the clay and let the kids use the cutters to make shapes for their ointments. Use the straw to make the holes in the top.  It takes about three days to dry. Then I had my kids Paint and use marker to decorate them, put the pipe cleaners through the hole and then hang them on the tree.  

Our day.

What a great week. My husband has been home for most of it, so it was a great time to have fun and relax. Yesterday my son and I went to one of the many local missions to help and and serve food. When we got there I noticed that they had a LOT of volunteers and wasn't sure what we would get to do. Really we didn't do much, Glenn and I picked up trash and walked around talking to people.  Later on I was able to talk to Chaplin and found out that they had 170 people signed up to help and twice as many come. There was about 3 volunteers for every homeless that got served. I tried to explain to Glenn why we were there and what Thanksgiving was about, I feel like it went in one ear and out the other. We did have a good time just the two of us though. 

Glenn and I out side the mission. 

Later we finished the kids ornaments, (see new post) then we went to a friends house from church and enjoyed a wonderful meal with friends and out kids. We were stuffed and tired. I hope you all had a great day. 

So I skipped yesterdays photo share, which was my favorite color. If your wondering it is purple. Today is someone you love. This is my son, and tonight he lost his first tooth! I have to tell you, I am super excited about it. I am wondering how soon it will be till the next tooth gets loose, Maybe he could sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth". HAHAHA!!!! My little boy is growing up, and you know whats funny to me? I still feel as young as I did when I had him! 

Just in case your wondering, this is what I am following. Tomorrow is day 6. 

Photo share- Clouds

What I wore today, (an awful picture)

This was all I had, my full body picture did turn out.

My head band was made by my friend Betsey @ Framed living Boutique

My scare I bought at Goodwill, I am wearing a black tank top from Target and a black sweater from a friend, no tag. Then I wore jeans from Old Navy I have had for like 5 years. 

Tomorrows photo share is Clouds. 

I am late, and almost forgot, what a week.

I wanted to start my photo share on monday, but it has been one busy week. The first day is a self portrait.  I really like this one. it is one of my fav's I feel amazing in this one. if you want to do this with me link your picture in the comments below. Tomorrow will be what I wore. 

11/11/11- Man what a year.

I am still up at my wonderful and amazing woman's retreat. I have been thinking about how last year at international conference in TX what a tough time I was going through and how depressed I was feeling so alone and out of touch. My husband was deployed and had only been gone for two months at that time and boy could I not wait till this year was over. It amazes me that it is one year later. I have been through so much, not sure how much I have grown from it all, but I know I have learned many lessons. I am here feeling that this year I will learn to do much more with my life for God and have more direction. (which is a huge blessing) I am not here asking for help and seeking for God to heal my wounds, I am here with a heart to grow and be more for God. My wonderful sisters and I have been so blessed to have heard from a great speaker and author Lysa TerKeurst, she had amazing words from God to speak into all our lives tonight I wish I had video taped her, because not only was she funny but very encouraging.She talked about how she improved her prayer life, and so long story short she told us about a family tradition she has, that on Christmas she and her family give a gift to Jesus during breakfast, (something like, I will try to be better at obeying my parents, or I will pay more attention to my wife...) anyway there family said this... "I ask lord that during my day you bring someone into my life, interrupted me, so I can be an encouragement to this person, or so that I might bless them with some cash I might have, or that I may pray or help this person, Everyday lord bring a person into my life. So that by the time this time next Christmas I may have touched 365 people for you lord." So they have 7 people in there family, that is 2,555 people that they touched in one year for Jesus Christ. Can you imagine praying that every morning, instead of something too the effect of... Lord please bless me today as I go forth with my day with my kids or work, help me to be a positive and Godly woman. Sounds great right? But to me it also sounds a little selfish, God wants me to impact others for him and spread his love. Do you think you can do that? I think I want to try. Well I learned so much today,but I am tired and it is now way past my bed time. Love to you all.

He is Mighty to Save!!!

As a military wife there are times that I only truly feel at home with other military wives. I am so blessed this weekend to be attending the Southeast regional PWOC (Protestant woman of the Chapel) woman's retreat at Ridgecrest North Carolina. To come together with other amazing ladies that understand what my life is like on a daily basis and want to give God praise for everything even in the crazy times that the military gives us. The feeling of seeing an old friend from another duty station or making new friends from where you are at already is a gift from God, these are bonds you make that you will always have, no matter where you are you can call on that friend.

One of my favorite seasons is Fall, you get to watch the beautiful leaves change colors and to me that is true beauty. Driving up here today I was in awe of the creation around me, it makes my heart jump. During our wonderful worship this evening I just kept thinking of that scenery, loving all that God does for us and around us. What a mighty God he is!!

This evening we were so privileged to get to have Laura Story as our worship leader. She is amazing as well as humorous. She was a riot. In the midst of laughable moments she brought up an amazing point that we so often forget, "Not my will, but your will be done". How often do we make planes for our lives and also say that we give our lives to God, you can't have both, and I feel that this is my most recent struggle. Will I ever learn to give it all and understand that God has my best in mind? I never thought I was a person that needed to be in control so much of the time. Although I hear that being in the military you feel that they take so much control away from you, that you hold on to all you can.

It is amazing what getting away from our day to day life, secluded up on a hilltop with 400 ish other woman praising and seeking God will do to your heart. The true test is what you do with that now renewed heart. Are you able to go home and continue the love and prayer you seek with God on that daily or weekly basis? I know it is tough, I at times feel that I continue to take baby steps always questioning what is to come next. What am I willing to do or maybe give up to be that woman of God, God wants me to be? What kind of person am I to be to raise the children God wants?

I hope you get to feel that love I feel when I sing to the God almighty. The filling of peace and pureness.

Lord, bless this weekend as my sisters in Christ are here to give you praise and learn to live you out in our lives. We thank you so much for all you do whether we ask for it or not. Your love is all consuming and everlasting. I pray you open our hearts to learn what you want us to, and be a friend to those who are in need.   Your loving and grateful daughter, E


Currently listing to Laura Story, 'Faithful God' (amazing)      

My little helpful tip for the day!

Did you know that Green Tea is a great snack! There is no Calories in it, which I didn't know. But I put milk and honey in mine so it changes it a bit. But still, if your trying to cut out meaningless unhealthy eating, try a cup of tea or a glass of Water. It will help curb your hunger until a proper snack time or your next meal. 

We made Body scrub!!

So fun and so easy. My friend Kristen (Mrs T.) and I made body scrubs today. There where two different kinds that we made, it was so easy. I got the directions from my Pintrest pictures I found. 

You will need:

2 cups Epsom salts or organic cane sugar
1 cup coconut oil
8 drops essential oil(s)
1 drop food coloring
Special equipment: plastic pipette, canning jars

This is where this came from.

We used Epsom Salt, Coconut oil and Lavender essential oil.

Mix it all together and ...

Tada!!! 

We put it in fun jars, and later I will make them cute. 

We also made a brown sugar scrub that turned out well. You can find that recipe here.

I Heart Faces- Black

I am reposting this picture for my IHF entry. These are the two joys of my life. We were having a good morning, and I am so glad we took advantage of the sunny morning and went for a walk.

My brain hurts.

I have so many things on my mind this week, I just really want a break. Lets see, if I sound negative and like I am venting, please just let me. I think a list would let it come across better.

1. We suddenly out of the blue got orders. If your not military, it means we are leaving here, but don't know where to yet. In March Weston goes to school for recruiting. I don't even know what to think about this. when ever I start to think about it I get knots in my stomach and start to fret.

2. I am hormonal this week. I think this needs no explanation.

3. Have you ever felt like you are constantly being over looked? Well lately I feel that way. I have a photography business that I have been trying to grow for months, and have yet to go anywhere. Am I doing something wrong? I am still an amateur but my cost reflects that and I believe they are very reasonable. Have you looked at how much it costs to get your picture taken lately? I had my first paying job in months, but I was unable to keep the shoot as I already had a previous out of town engagement. in just one year I have really seen my pictures improve and that make me so happy.

4. I can't wait till my son goes to school next year!! Having both my kids home right now is really making me nuts. He asks all the time if he can play with his friends, but all his friends are in school. He is 5 but did not get into the state funded pre K program. He has so much energy and with all the other things I do I don't know how other moms do it. Cleaning a house and having kids seems like a full time job to me. how do I get anything else done with out pushing my kids aside?

5. Maybe it is because of the above, but I have not felt like I want to have another baby, at least not any time soon. Nothing against the other moms I know, there babies are all great, but whenever I see a baby cry or fuss, want food or poop, I just think to myself how I don't want to do that again right now. Living on a half nights sleep, waking to the slightest little moan or peep. My husband and I have talked about adopting in the past, and I just keep having that on my heart more and more, like I would like it to happen sooner rather then later.

Just what is on my mind. Please keep me in your prayers.


Please join me as I start this on the 14th. you will be able to link up with your blog.

Source: theglitterguide.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Are you getting enough water.

Do you drink enough water during the day? Well I heard this great tip for making sure you do. Put rubber bands around your bottle or cup, and when you finish take it off or move it down. I should drink three of these bottles a day, so I put four on just for good measure. :) You should  drink half you weight in oz. so I am 140 lbs, so I should drink 70 oz a day.

Hope this helps. Heres to good health. 

My favorite buy today

I have been looking for a furry vest lately, but had yet to find one till today. I stopped into American Eagle this afternoon because I had a 20% off coupon. Long story short I found this, saw that all there outerwear was an already 30% off, plus I was able to use a military discount. So I was able to get this for under 30$ I was so excited. I admit this is more then I ever spend on one piece of clothing, but I can't find it cheaper.  Even after looking at a few consignment stores in town, the price was the same but the size wasn't right. Anyway I am excited to try it with a few things in my closet and hope that it looks as cute on as it does in my head. Pictures to come. 

I want to share with you one of my new favorite you tube channels. check her out I think you will like her. Also where I go my new scarf fetish. 

Yesterday was day 1!

Yikes! That was tough, and it was just the fitness test. One point I felt like my leg was a piece of lead. This morning I felt ok and even thought about going to the gym for Yoga. So glad I didn't. I have been doing house work all morning and my muscles are sore. the muscles in my back and legs don't want to do much. I wonder how I will do tonight, or feel tomorrow morning! I will post pictures when we do our second test at day 15. 

November 1. Quick question??

So today is the first. hard to believe maybe, but yet I am glad for so many reasons. But we will go into that on another post. Today I wanted to ask you....

What are you most Thankful about right now in your life?

We all have days that are frustrating and wish would go a different way, but I try to remember my many blessings and what I am thankful for. November is one of those months we are all reminded to do just that, so I want to hear about yours.

And if you have a blog that I don't follow let me know so I can check it out.

Insanity!! I hope I am not crazy.

Tomorrow starts my first work out doing Insanity. My husband and I are going to do it together. I am a little anxious, but ready to get it going. Thought I would show you what we are going to do.

New Season, New Blog

I felt like it was time for a change, and who knows it could change again before I decide I feel like it is done. With a change in weather and the colors around me I wanted new colors on my page, you could say lack of color compared to the last layout.

 I love that the fall brings cooler weather, warmer drinks, the change in colors and twinkle lights, whether it is for your home decorations or in the city. Most of us love this time of year. I just wish we were closer to home. 

Captured Beauty Photography photo sessions.

Saturday November the 19th I will be having 45 min sessions to take Fall pictures, at Euchee Creek Trail park in Grovetown. If you want your kids photographed or new family pictures just let me know we will start setting up times. The cost will be 30$ and you will get a CD with your edited pictures on them.

Another Family Funday in pictures, Our amazing Fall day

We went to our local Dairy, where they have tons of things for kids to play on and in. 

Many of these don't need explanation, Just my beauties having a ball in this amazing fall weather. ENJOY!!

Weston was trying to use his GPS to get us out of the corn maize. No luck!

Answering a question to find our way out.

We had a wonderful time out, even though it was Georgia's first below 60 degree temperature day. I am glad we got time to go out and spend time with each other. Here is to you and your family spending more time together and more holidays come our way. 

Friday Funday

This morning I wasn't much in the mood for anything. I had no motivation. Sadly my choices were go to gym, be lazy and stay at home, or stay at home and clean. Well my ending result was stay home, but I went for a walk with the kids then I cleaned the house. But this is how my walk went. It was a beautiful morning and we had an amazing time out together. 

Running down the street after me, sadly out of focus.

Erica eating her Eggo Waffle on our walk. 

Wearing the Converse. I bought them at different times, neat that they fit them at the same time.

Sibling love, this was the best part of our day, they were great with each other while we were outside.

My little Erica likes to pick up and collect rocks, not sure why, but I hate it when they end up in my house. 

A path made by one of the fork lifts.

He said to me "Can you smell it mom? I can smell the forest animals" 

E being E.

Are you Miss forgetful?

A few days ago Mrs T, Naturally wrote on her blog about something she knew about, being organized. Then this morning I saw a post from The Vanilla Tulip, she was showing some fabulous family organizers that you can design and buy that are normally around 50$,  but if you get them though Plum District you get them half off and if you are a new follower to Plum you get get an extra 5$ towards a purchase. That means under 20$, and let me tell you they are pretty awesome looking. But you have to act fast, this deal won't last long. 

Braking rules and making some new ones.

So today is my husbands birthday, ( Happy Birthday Honey) I wanted to do something but hadn't planned anything, so this morning I decided that the Flank I thawed would be perfect. I looked in my Crock pot cook book and found a recipe that sounded easy to throw together before running out the door for the gym. But here is the thing, I didn't follow the direction to the T, I am not good at that with food. I like to explore and experiment. A guaranteed thing when I don't have all the ingredients it calls for. But here is what I did.

  

One Flank steak almost 2 lbs

One onion chopped in slices

One can of diced tomatoes with basil rosemary and olive oil

Salt and Pepper

Beef broth (progresso brand Tuscany Flavor)

Corn starch

and Flour

I added the onion to the bottom of the Crockpot.

I salted and peppers the meat, then quickly browned it in a pan on both sides,

 then laid the meat on top of the onions. 

the original recipe called for beef gravy, I didn't have any, that is why I used the broth. I put it in a pot, brought it to a boil then added some corn starch to thicken it. 

Added the can of tomatoes to my homemade gravy, stirred it a bit and then poured it over the beef. 

Put the lid on, turned it on high and ta da! Fab Dinner in 6 to 8 hours!

Oh yeah, the four is to make gravy with the juice after it's all ready. 

I will be adding mashed Potatoes and green beans to the plate for dinner. Yummy!

ENJOY!!!

Acne! At my age.

Not that I think I am to old to be getting acne, but I didn't think at my age I would be getting acne. I would say that thus far 90% of my life I have had clear nice skin with no acne problems. I had a short period when I was 17 when I had a cat that I broke out but only then. When we moved here to the south, about 9 months later is when I started seeing my face change. More often then not during the last two years I have had painful acne on the bottom third of my face. I know there are triggers as to why I get them, like leaning on my hand while at the desk or at the table. but I don't get why now. If anything we eat better and healthier.   

Why did I go from this,

to this? No lie, this zit has been there for almost 2 months. Getting bigger then smaller, but never leaving all together. 

I get what Doctors call Nodule and Cyst acne. This is what I learned so far about it:

Severe acne vulgaris is characterized by nodules and cysts:

Nodules: As opposed to the lesions mentioned above, nodular acne consists of acne spots which are much larger, can be quite painful, and can sometimes last for months.¹ Nodules are large, hard bumps under the skin's surface.² Scarring is common. Unresolved nodules can sometimes leave an impaction behind, which can flare again and again. Absolutely do not attempt to squeeze such a lesion. You may cause severe trauma to the skin and the lesion may last for months longer than it normally would. Dermatologists often have ways of lessening swelling and preventing scarring, such as injecting the lesion with cortisone.

Cysts: An acne cyst can appear similar to a nodule, but is pus-filled.² They can be painful. Scarring is common with cystic acne. Squeezing an acne cyst may cause a deeper infection and more painful inflammation which will last much longer than if you had left it alone. Dermatologists often have ways of lessening swelling and preventing scarring, such as administering a cortisone shot.

www.acne.org

I have been to the doctor before and asked for help, but all they do is give me the same stuff you can buy at the store, which just dries out my skin. I really hate my skin and hate how it make me feel. I am really blessed to not have severe acne, but still having it hurts, emotionally and physically.  


Have you dealt with acne? When I try to hide it it just makes it worse. Another reason I don't wear makeup. How do hide something that pops out at you.