easy exfoliant!

Forget dumping lots of cash into skin products, most of which are damaging your body's largest organ! I'm learning so much about the benefits of olive oil and I'll be sure to share as I continue to learn more.
The cold winter air combined with dry indoor heat are a killer on my skin! I have highly sensitive skin and have very little luck with store bought facial creams and scrubs. My latest discovery has been scrubs and masks made with- you guessed it, extra-virgin olive oil!

Moisturizing Scrub
Step 1 - Gather and measure the following
1 T brown sugar
1/2 T olive oil
(really! that's it!)

Step 2 - Smooosh it all together and lightly apply to your face, paying close attention to the dry patches (exfoliate). Mine happens to be my "T-Zone" (forehead, nose, chin)
Remove (don't scrub) sugar with a warm, wet washcloth.

You may find you have too much scrub.
I highly suggest you use the left overs on your (probably) neglected tootsies!

After my mini-facial, I like to bask in a little steam.
Unlike many nasty oils found in many store-bought products, olive oil (high in antioxidants and Vitamin E) won't clog your pores and trap in the dirt and suffocate your skin. The skin is able to breathe and the steam opens your pores and leaves you feeling very refreshed!

A good rule of thumb is to only exfoliate once or twice a week. Even though it's natural, the rough texture of the sugar can be a little harsh on your skin.
Mix it up a little bit and go for a MASK!
I'm due for one pretty soon... and I'll be sure to share!

on this day...

... a precious boy was born into this world, 4 amazing years ago.
Happiest of days to you my sweet little man!

healthy rays

BENEFITS OF SUNSHINE

Droppin' in just to give a little THANK YA JESUS for the gift of SUNSHINE in Michigan today!
Yes, we do recieve some Vitamin D from the healthy foods we eat, but did you know that nearly 90% of the benefits come from the big light in the sky?
Click between the pictures to find out more!

aim for the tar-jaaaaay

Click here for the insider's scoop on GREAT DEALS at your local Target!

daddy's arms.

say it with... pancakes

... off to start the day's festivities!

happy to shelter, thanks.

Do you "shelter" your children? (by G. Suarez)

We're finding that's a bad word in some circles. Something is creeping into the church (and even the homeschooling community), and it isn't biblical. It is an "anti-sheltering campaign" of sorts, and it's full of holes. Think about it. What does it mean to shelter? Protect. Defend. Guard. Preserve. Watch over. Shield. Safeguard. Hmmmm, so far so good, right? Sure, until "pop psychology" comes in and tells us we should allow our children to taste a little of the world in order to understand it or pray for it - that we should not "over-shelter" them. Nonsense.

What's the opposite of shelter? Expose. Endanger. We parents are called to be like our Father in Heaven. He is the greatest "Shelterer" there ever was, and it is us He shelters - or watches over; protecting us, preserving us, shielding us. Praise Him for this! Glory to God who knows how to parent (shelter) us perfectly. May we as parents follow this model - His model. Let's continue to shelter (love) our children as He loves us. Dismiss the garbage that crawls in; don't buy it. We're promised there will be false teachers, liars in the church (and there are many). I want to keep my eyes focused on Christ, come what may.

Parents: Keep sheltering them. You are bringing them up in the love and admonition of the Lord, not in the latest "homeschool philosophy." God's word trumps any speaker! It dwarfs any author! May you be blessed as you continue to walk in obedience of His word.

Lord, thank you for sheltering me. Please never stop. "Over-shelter" if You will (if there is such a thing). Fine with me!

Over-protect, over-defend, over-guard me; please do! I'll take it all, Lord. Keep me tight to Your side. I'm safe in that place. There, I can breathe and thrive. It's where I live.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. - Psalms 61:3

the TRUTH does not hurt.

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

smiles lost.

It's an uphill battle keeping the smile on this time of year - for me anyway! Thankfully, I "do community" with a message board chock full o'moms like myself, and a very wonderful woman had this to say about the battle with her own blues... I couldn't agree more and wanted to share her to-do list:

read the Bible, pray and be thankful for so very much you have

surround yourself with uplifting people

take a hike outside regardless of the weather

have a pamper me night or whenever...paint your toenails a new sassy color, dreamy lotion, pluck your eyebrows, etc.!

exercise and eat right

laugh

serve other people .... it's hard to be depressed when you're making a meal for a shut in neighbor or tray of cookies for the rest home!

smile, smile and smile some more...it's an instant mood-lifter

declutter your home

visit with someone elderly

play uplifting music (pssst! don't tell...but I popped in a very old John Mellancamp from my pre-mom years and danced around my kitchen!) it felt so good!

visit inspiring blogs

It's real, my friends... this Seasonal Affective Disorder. As hard as it may be to "shake it off", there really are some things you can do to lift your spirits until the trees bud and the days become longer.
Hang in there!

how will i know joy when i see it?

today is -

... not a good day.
Looking back, I woke up with the best of intentions.
Multiple circumstances have made this house next to unbearable for me right now.
My hands are tied, my children are fighting, there's no one to blame.
I want so badly to live in the moment, but right now I'd like to trade this moment for a peaceful, joy-filled one.

pride, i suppose.

I got a great present at my meeting yesterday.
It's been 1 month since I started WW.
It has been so great to consciously take control of my health, and I've really developed some great habits!
I look forward to learning more, feeling better, and reaching my goal!
(and staying there, darnit!)

Zeke-a-licious!