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Thursday, January 31, 2013

A Goal Bigger Than My Problems: Financial Freedom


13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: nforgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for othe prize of the upward pcall of God in Christ Jesus.
Philipians 3:13-14




As I wrap up my One Thing for the month of January I wanted to focus on Finance and Tithing. 

My problem is, I'm broke. 

My goal bigger than making money is: Being completely out of debt by 2016. No more credit cards, no more bills other than *hopefully* a mortgage, no more car payments, no more subscriptions, no more unpaid doctors bills, no more unreturned library books.

I'm done. I want to have freedom from money problems. 

So, for the month of February I will continue my tithing habit (though I haven't made any money since my last contribution to the collections plate) and I will change my focus for the month of February to Family and Community. (I think that's appropriate for the month of Valentines)

Until then-

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Chosen Chapters 40-50




Sadly I do not have a recipe for you today. I have been so sick this week and am still suffering from nausea and a headache. I don't even want to look at pictures of food right now.


CHOSEN BOOK CLUB CHAPTER 15-40


A few guidelines while participating in this book club
How to participate in a discussion
1. Watch your language! Try to avoid words like "awful" or "idiotic"—even "like" and "dislike." They don't help move discussions forward and can put others on the defensive. Instead, talk about your experience—how you felt as you read the book.

2. Don't be dismissive. If you disagree with someone else, don't refer to her as an ignoramus. Just say, "I'm not sure I see it that way. Here's what I think." Much, much nicer. 

3. Support your views. Use specific passages from the book as evidence for your ideas. This is a literary analysis technique called "close reading." (LitCourse 3has a good discussion of close reading.)

4. Read with a pencil. Takes notes or mark passages that strike you—as signficant or funny or insightful. Talk about why you marked the passages you did. 

5. Use LitLovers for help. Check out our Litlovers Resources above. They'll help you get more out of what your read and help you talk about books with greater ease.
(Discussion tips by LitLovers. Please feel free to use them, online of off, with attribution. Thanks!)

We'll conduct this discussion in a similar fashion as the bible study. I will post a series of questions. You can use them as a jumping off point for the discussion. Answer any you like, or none at all and come up with your own comments or questions.

Soooooo I'm TOTALLY confused? At first I was so upset with Cyrus for putting both of them in danger and now????

Who was the guy in the garden?

How did he know about Cyrus?

How could Xerxes tell that Esther didn't love him? What did he expect from her? 

How does Esther’s “palace treatment” change her externally and internally? If you could set aside a year in your own life, what would you want to focus on?

 Esther wrestles with her heart and mind as she marries one man, yet still has loving feelings for another. How hard is it for married women to forget old boyfriends? What would you have told Esther to do as she struggled to banish Cyrus from her thoughts?

 wanted to provide a better format for us to discuss this book. Of course you can discuss it here, but my-bookclub.com seems like a good platform to keep you in the loop.

For next week I would like us to make the goal to read to chapter 60.




Esther Chapter 4: You Were Born for This


I am so terribly sorry....again... I came down with the stomach flu, and am just getting over it. I haven't been to work in two days and am not able to eat solid food yet. 

I AM awake however, and though I feel completely awful, I feel a lot better than I did yesterday!

Not so much historical information this week though I AM really excited about the message in Chapter 4. 
Tim Keller on Chapter 4 (the download is $2.75)
Mars Hill on Chapter 4 

This weeks memory verses: 

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
(Esther 4:14 ESV)

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
(1 Timothy 2:5 ESV)

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
(Joel 2:12 ESV)

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
(1 John 4:18 ESV)

We are reading Esther 4

The Players

Esther
Mordecai
Hathach

Continued Rising Action

Mordecai, devastated of the consequences of his actions, goes to the gates of the Kings palace, tears his clothes, and spreads ashes over his face, while he wails and cries for the destruction of the Jews.
Upon hearing this, Esther sends clean clothes for Mordecai to put on. Mordecai refuses the clothes and sends word to Esther that she must go and speak with her husband about the edict that had been passed. 
Esther sends word back to Mordecai, that if she goes and speaks to her husband she will surely be killed because she was not asked to come into his presence. Mordecai sends word BACK to Esther to inform her that if she DID NOT do what he was asking her to do, she would probably die anyway, along with the rest of her family, and help would come from elsewhere. Esther replies "If I perish, I perish" pray for me, and accepts her calling.

Discussion Questions 


Again, answer the questions that peak your interest, or ask your own. Please feel free to make your own observations.

I just really love this chapter in Esther. From a young age I feel like I was taught that Esther was this great and virtuous girl, who did the right thing and was willing to sacrifice herself for her people.

In the same way I have learned to love the apostles more for their flaws and imperfections, I am learning to look at Esther in the same light. 

Chapter 4 is the point in which we see change in the hearts of Mordecai and Esther. 

What parallels do you see between Joel 1:13-15, 2:12-14  and Esther 4

What reality does Esther face in her situation? 

How has Esther changed? 

At what point in your life did the page turn, and you found God had been working on your heart? 


The lead pastor at the church I attend did a Sermon on Galatians 5 a few weeks ago:




If you imagine the fruits of the spirit as a grapevine, or a fruit bush, how is your fruit growing? 

Up until this point in the story, Esther and Mordecai have been assimilating into the Persian world. 

What sets you apart from a non-believing world? 

Where do you see God in this passage? 

Where do you see the gospel in this passage? 

Why are you in the place you are in? What is God asking you to do? How can you take down the enemy in your situation? 

When you look at your life, can you see a purpose for your life? 




Dear Lord, 

We know that sometimes we are in trials and tribulations,
that we might turn back to you. 
We know that you have plans for us Lord, 
you have plans for our future, 
of goodness and of hope. 

Lord, grant that we might know your will, 
the next step you ask us to take. 
Let us repent from our sins of conforming to this world, 
let us grow in the spirit. 

Let us not be content with the ruts we live in because they are comfortable,
but let us know that you have great plans for us. 

Let us return to you with all of our hearts, 
in prayer, and in fasting.

Let us come close to you Lord,
teach us your will, 
and cast out all of our fears with your love.

I ask these things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Movin' Right Along




I've been linking up with Holley Gerth on Tuesdays.

Last Tuesday Holley asked us:
What’s one thing that helped you move forward that you could apply again now and someone else could benefit from hearing too?

 Wow. Moving forward. 

Moving. 

You just have to keep moving. 

I think Holley brought up this point in her book "You are Already Amazing," but I think moving forward requires you to look at the patterns in your life, and realize that you actually are just treading water. 

Stagnate waters usually grow mold, algae and breed mosquitoes. We need to move in order to breath.

As my mom says, "If you keep doing what you've been doing, you're going to keep getting what you've been getting." 

Change = Growth

You've got to change it up.

Sometimes I wonder if stagnation isn't why God instituted the practice of the year of Jubilee. You got to switch it up yo!

I know when I need this time, my spirit is restless. I can't focus, and I live in extreme discontent. If you are not growing, the Lord is calling out to you. You wake up every morning alive for one reason only; you have a job to do today, and it's to do the will of the Lord.

If you can't hear God speaking, it's time to shut up. sit down. and be quiet.

Sometimes I feel called  to be around and meet new people so that I can get new and different perspectives on the world.

I've met some pretty amazing people just by signing up for classes of things I'm interested in. Making new friends, or getting involved in clubs and other organizations can give you a fresh perspective on your life.

 Other times I feel God pulling me away from the world for a time, to be silent in his presence.

I love going on personal silent retreats. My longest was five days. I stayed in a seminary, woke up early, walked around the lake, prayed, read, journaled and studied. The clarity that comes from complete immersion in His presence is unbelievable.


                                                              
                       Movin' Right Along


Sunday, January 27, 2013

Faith is a Baby Step





I prayed for faith once.

 I need to come to a place of utter brokenness to realize how  high and deep and long and wide the love of the Lord is, and how much I actually do need to know that God exists, that he loves me, and that he has a plan for my life.

 Sometimes I imagine my life being a line in the palm of his giant hand. He can see the end of the line, how it meanders across, and the other lines it bumps into. It's all right there in front of Him. If He truly has the world in His hands, how small we are compared to it and yet, he loves us more than the birds, more than the angels in heaven. 

 It seems Gods way of teaching me faith is leading me to some turbulent waters and asking me to cross. After thinking “ARE YOU CRAZY?!” I hear his still small voice, I close my eyes and take the first step.
 Sometimes, at the very last minute, He grabs onto my hand and through His strength he allows me to make it through another day. Sometimes he scoops me up in His arms, and I have no idea how I made it to the other side. He will never leave me nor forsake me. When I feel like I’m about to be dropped, He will always catch me.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
(Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV)

Updated Blog

Melanie over at Only a Breath inspired me to get to thinking about what I want my blog to evoke. So I've been re-decorating.
Eventually I'm thinking I might just have Melanie work her own magic on my blog but what do you think?

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Sharing my God Sized Dream

by Julio Pineda

I gave up my dreams of living a life uncommon years ago and set my mind to the task of getting through my days. I didn't believe that God cared if I was happy or not, because it had seemed as though He had shattered everything I had ever hoped for. From that point on I just rode the waves that life takes you on when you are not intentional. I lived to work, to support my self, so that I could live. I honestly felt like I was in a rut, and the more I continued walking it, the more impossible it was going to be to climb out of the ditch. Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever lived without hope? 

          A few weeks ago I started Holley Gerth's God Sized Dream challenge. I said that I "wanted
 to build a life centered on God's dream for my life and be open to what that is...I'm praying that it includes a family of my own, a group of girlfriends who are believers, and a job that benefits, and encourages at-risk teenagers and youth."
This has been a multifaceted discovery on my part. My God Sized Dream requires a whole change in lifestyle, and an openness to what God has given me, and what He is offering me in the world. 

Lately God has been focusing my heart in two different areas. Career and Soul

I want to be a counselor to at-risk teenagers. I want to be an arts therapist, and eventually an educational psychologist.  It encompasses everything I learned and knew about myself. Everything I loved, and everything I’d prayed for. I want  to go back to school and learn counseling in-line with the gospel. I want to speak hope into the lives of teenagers, and provide American school systems with viable teaching strategies to empower struggling students. I want to develop programs that use stories that echo of redemption, to teach character education. I want to run summer programs for inner city kids where they put on musicals and plays with professional actors, writers, crew and producers.

 I also want to begin a ministry that focuses on the development and realization of our God given femininity. This blog is a little piece of that. I have this idea to open a little store that sells yarn and crafting supplies, along with gifts and books about faith, with a little tea room attached. I want it to be a place where women can come for knitting circles, book clubs and devotionals.

An additional piece to this dream that has just recently rattled around in my brain is beginning a ministry for women in their 20's and 30's in the St. Louis area. I've been praying about. I have NO idea where to begin. But it is not letting my mind rest. 

I brought up the idea to all three of my mentors, my friend Jeanne, and my mom. They have all been really encouraging and excited about the prospect. 

I love having older and younger women in my life. I think it is SO so SO important to have mentors that are not your mother, but love you almost as much. I am so thankful that God has placed these lovely women in my life, even if I had to pay them for singing lessons, and career coaching, I would not be who I am today without my conversations and encouragement from them. 

I am also sharing these dreams with you cyber-blogo-sphere. If anyone has any ideas as to where to start with beginning a womens ministry I am all ears. PLEASE HELP!
My mind explodes with my “God-sized” dreams. I'll keep you posted!


Friday, January 25, 2013

Freebie Friday DIY Cosmetic Printables

I LOVE                EAT DRINK CHIC     I loveloveloveloveLOVE her designs.  Check out her freebies you can match up with the fun bath items you made on thursday

diy apothecary bottles



DIY Bubble Bath and Labels

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Brilliant! Freebie!

While I'm dreaming about recieving a pay check. I'm planning how to be smart about being a good steward of my money. I have not been a good steward of my money and, while I had a mind to saving for my future. I didn't use it as a goal.

Anyway I found this really nifty printable diy envelopes for envelope budgeting. I feel like I need to cut my debit card out of my life.

Love 'em

http://www.todaysnest.typepad.com/todays-nest/2010/09/todays-money-budgeting-with-cash-envelopes.html


Here's another similar diy. So Cute!
http://kelleighratzlaff.com/featured/free-envelope-template-and-a-tutorial/

And here is a fabric version

http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/2013/01/diy-wallet-for-cash-envelope-system.html?m=1

and another one




Make sure you leave them some luv!

One Word. One Thing. Cutting the Lifestyle.




I received my first email today from Dave Ramsey's "My Total Money Makeover"
You can recieve his emails as well click here and subscribe to his emails.

Dave Ramsey's suggestion is to "Cut the Lifestyle" this fits my One Word Carve perfectly. The first thing Dave suggests is to sell your car, purchase a car for $2,000-$4,000 and cut up your credit cards pay off your debts and put $1,000 in a savings acct.

I don't have any credit cards.

I love my car, but honestly I've been thinking about selling my car all week. But then...my car is worth between $5,000 and $6,000 dollars and it's not paid off. I would be able to trade my car in for a $3,000 car, but I'm not sure that I'll get any cash for it.

I am not paying rent at the moment. My goal is not to pay rent until I can afford a house. That's a HUGE lifestyle cut. I am lamenting my twin sized bed after I've been sleeping on a king, and then downsized to   a queen.  I've sold or given way everything anyone would accept. All that I have of value now are books.

There are so many things I want for my own luxury, or because I'm used to having them.

I think only a combination of "accepting my cut lifestyle" and working as much as possible are going to put me in a situation where I can sock away an emergency fund and focus on paying down my debts.

I started substitute teaching on Tuesday. I learned my lesson today to accept the first phone call you get. Unfortunately I played the odds and lost. I did not receive another phone call today about subbing. Prayerful for tomorrow.

I'm also still in the running for a job, I've been inadvertently praying for for years. They said they are excited about me. Please keep praying.

Thank you Lord for your provision.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Natural Kitchen Made Beauty Round Up




While we're talking about beauty etc. I wanted to do a craft project that showed you how to make your own organic, homegrown cleansing products. But there is just TOO much good stuff out there!!! So I thought I'd do a little beauty round up and you can make your own line of cosmetics.

In Ginger Garrett's Book "Beauty Secrets of the Bible" she provides recipes and advice on Cosmetics that were used during bible times. On her website she provides a shopping list for when purchasing items and creating your own cosmetics.


Shopping List 

Find the original printable on Ginger Garrett's Website

Here are a few of the items I recommend in the book, Beauty Secrets of the Bible. You’ll
notice I divided the list by chapter, and some items may appear more than once if they are
mentioned in several chapters.

Weight

Almonds, whole, raw
Flax seed, whole (grind fresh daily in coffee grinder)
Fish
Cinnamon
Cloves
Figs
Vinegar (any flavor is fine)
Whole grains

Skin

Oatmeal
Goat’s milk
(I recommend Meyenberg Powdered Goat’s Milk, which is found at health food stores
and WholeFoods)
Honey
Olive Oil
Apricots, pistachios
Pomegranates
Walnuts
Raisins
Dark chocolate chips
Frankincense essential oil*
Myrrh essential oil*
(* it’s less expensive to buy the type that is mixed with jojoba oil)

Hair

Flaxseed
Coconut oil
Vinegar
Rosemary, or rosemary essential oil

Cosmetics

Minerals
(There are lots of brands to try, but you might want to start with this blog, which has a
link to affordable mineral makeup: http://www.innerbeautygirlz.blogspot.com. I
especially like the eyeshadows, bronzers and blushes from this line. For foundation, I
recommend sampling brands at a nearby beauty store.)
Olive Oil
Aloe Vera plant
Spritzer bottles

Perfumes & Scents

Candles
Essential oils: choose your favorite scents
Sugar for creating a sugar scrub
Linen spray



Ingredients Watch List 

Find the original printable on Ginger Garrett's Website

Even in familiar, trusted brands, we simply don’t know what we’re really using. The simplest of products can contain an enormous number of chemicals. These chemicals aren’t just used in cosmetics, either—they have double lives. My former “gentle” eye makeup remover contains chemicals also found in antifreeze, pesticide, toilet bowl cleaner, furniture stripper, tire cleaner, and gas treatments.
The more you know about what you’re buying, the less pretty you feel. The problem isn’t chemicals—after all, you could say we’re made of chemicals—but the problem is with synthetic chemicals that may be affecting us in ways we don’t yet understand.
Below is a partial list of ingredients you’ll want to watch for on labels. For more information, and a detailed explanation of each ingredient, please see Beauty Secrets of The Bible.

1. Parabens

A preservative used in almost all beauty products, parabens have been linked to breast cancer. It is still unclear whether
parabens simply accumulate in breast cancer tumors, or actually incite tumor growth. Check back on my website, www.
gingergarrett.com for updates as information becomes available.

2. DEA

The National Toxicology Program found an association between topical applications of the cosmetic ingredient DEA (and DEA-related ingredients) and cancer in laboratory animals . DEA is diethanolamine. A closely related chemical is TEA, ortriethanolamine.

3. Phthalates

A Harvard study has linked phthalates with abnormalities in sperm and adult male infertility. You may have seen labels on children’s toys promising to be “phthalate free.” The scare was significant enough to prompt manufacturers to get rid of any phthalates in toys that could be chewed on or handled by babies. However, the cosmetic industry continues to put them in products that adults, including women of child-bearing age, use daily, and the CDC has reported elevated levels of phthalates excreted in the urine of women of child-bearing age. Phthalates include dibutylphthalate (DBP), dimethylphthalate
(DMP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP). Because these can be used in fragrance, and fragrances don’t have to list the individual components, this ingredient is not always easy to detect on a cosmetic label.

4. Sodium lauryl sulfate

This is a detergent used in shampoos and soaps. It can be harsh and can cause irritated skin and a flaking or irritated scalp.While not toxic, I don’t like to see this as a main ingredient. If it is the first or second ingredient in a product, look for a milder alternative.

5. Petroleum

Petroleum and petroleum products (mineral oil, petrolatum, petroleum) are used in many cosmetic preparations, and there is a lingering debate over whether petroleum products are completely safe or effective. Advocates for banning petroleum say it does not allow skin cell turnover and increases premature aging, and that potential contaminants from the manufacturing process can cause a health risk.

6. Slaughterhouse Waste

Ingredients manufactured from slaughterhouse-waste may include tallow, oleic acid, glycerin, collagen, keratin and gelatin. There are currently twenty-five facilities in the United States that convert slaughterhouse waste into cosmetics raw materials. Your best bet is to look for labels that say “No Animal By-Products,” or “100 percent vegan.”




TOP TEN ANCIENT BEAUTY SECRETS©!

Find the original printable on Ginger Garrett's Website

Excerpted from Beauty Secrets of the Bible by Ginger Garrett

1. The ancient women cared for their skin with oatmeal and milk, and Cleopatra was
legendary for her milk baths. To recreate her recipe, try this at home:

Rich Milk Wash

1 cup powdered goat’s milk
1 cup quick-cooking oats
Process in a blender or food processor until extremely fine. To use as a facial scrub, use 2
tablespoons, moistened with warm water. Gently rub into skin and rinse. (You can also
add these into the bath.) The lactic acids in the milk are a natural source of alpha hydroxy
acids that help fight the signs of aging, and the oats soothe and manually exfoliate the
skin. Together, these ingredients will leave your skin unbelievably soft and supple.

2. Honey was extremely valuable in ancient days and a symbol of divine blessing.
Women applied it to their skin, along with oils, as part of their bathing ritual. “Honey is
not sticky when used on damp skin,” Christopher Watt, facialist to the stars, says. “Honey
works to give the skin a beautiful glow and to plump up fine lines. It’s a natural
humectant and exfoliant, and gives the skin better absorption of product.”
Try the ancient healing power of honey at home:

Honey Tonic

Apply 1–2 drops honey to wet fingertips and massage onto wet face. Do not rinse. Pat
dry. Use wherever fine lines, or blemishes, are a problem.
3. Ancient women invented mineral cosmetics, and used eyeshadows, face powder, blush,
and lip tints. Look for minerals that contain titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and mica. Avoid
cheap fillers like talc and also bismuth oxychloride. Remember, rocks don’t “go bad” and
so your minerals, if truly pure, don’t need preservatives like methylparaben.

4. Ancient women did more than perfume themselves before a romantic evening: they
perfumed their beds. The most common scents included cinnamon and spices, which
modern science confirms may work to increase a man’s arousal.
To recreate the scented linen secret, try this at home:

Romantic Linen Spray

In a clean spritzer bottle, place spring water and 3-6 drops of your favorite essential oil.
You can also substitute pure baking extracts, such as vanilla, anise, and cinnamon.

5. Ancient worship rituals included burning incense to God. The rising smoke was
believed to carry the prayers of the faithful to heaven. Certain incense blends were
created to be used for sacred temples and forbidden to be used elsewhere. The ancients
knew that scent sets the mood, allowing us to let go of our immediate concerns and return
to a sacred setting more easily.

Try it at home:

You can duplicate their peaceful, relaxing atmosphere by using a special scented candle
during your meditation or quiet times of reflection. Do not use the scent for anything
other than these special times of relaxation and restoration.

6. Part of the gifts of the Wise Men to the infant Jesus, myrrh was a precious perfume oil
in the ancient world. Renowned for its ability to soothe skin and fight wrinkles, myrrh is
still available today in the essential oil section of any health store. You can take
advantage of this ancient wonder by using myrrh as a facial spritz to moisturize, refresh,
and combat wrinkles.

Try it at home:

Myrrh Facial Spritz

In a small spritzer bottle, combine purified water with 1–2 drops of myrrh essential oil.
Use this spritz to set your makeup, refresh your skin throughout the day and replenish
moisture, and also for a fast stress-relieving break.
7. Vinegar was as common as wine in biblical days, and different varieties were made by
the addition of herbs. Vinegar has been in the news lately for its suspected ability to slow
carbohydrate absorption and encourage stable blood sugar. It may also contribute to a
modest weight loss.

Try it at home:

Vinegar Tonic

Take two tablespoons of vinegar before meals, twice a day. Many people find raspberry
vinegar to have a better taste than apple cider.
8. In biblical days, flax was a common food source and material for linen. Today,
researchers believe the omega-3 fatty acids in flax may help the body regulate leptin,
which helps you lose weight and burn fat more efficiently. Because ground flax seed is so
rich in fiber, it may help keep your blood sugar stable and help you avoid low-blood
sugar munchies.

Try it at home:
One to two tablespoons a day. For maximum benefit and taste, buy a coffee grinder and
whole flax seeds, and grind a little fresh every morning to add onto your cereal, toast, or
breakfast shake.

9. Cinnamon was used as a sacred anointing oil and perfume. Modern research tells us
that consuming cinnamon plays a role in regulating blood sugar. By adding cinnamon
supplements to your diet each day you may help boost your glucose metabolism, prevent
blood sugar spikes, improve cholesterol levels, and help your body return to its natural
weight.

Try it at home:

The studied dosage is the equivalent of ¼ to ½ teaspoon daily. Supplements are a
convenient way to get your cinnamon each day, and are quite inexpensive. Cinnamon
sprinkled on your food may not be as beneficial, since saliva contains a chemical harmful
to cinnamon.

1 Cinnamon, Clove Improve Insulin Function, Lower Risk Factors Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease,”
Medical News Today, http://www.medicalnewstoday.commedicalnews.php?newid=41026# (accessed May
27, 2006)

10. Pistachios were both eaten and used to make skin preparations in biblical times. They
are believed to have been part of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, built by the biblical
king Nebuchadnezzar and considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Today, we know pistachios are rich in carotenoids, the phytonutrient that can help “block
sunlight-induced inflammation of the skin, which leads to wrinkles.
2” As an added bonus,
“one ounce of pistachios contains more fiber than a half-cup of spinach and the same
amount as an orange or apple.
3” More fiber means you’ll stay full longer, which helps
with appetite control.
Try it at home:
Consume 1 ounce per day, preferably from raw pistachios.


© Ginger Garrett, Beauty Secrets of the Bible, September 2007. Information is for
entertainment purposes only, and does not substitute for medial advice.


     I LOVE LUSH products. They are vegan and Organic, they use several of the recommended ingredients from Gingers list and they smell DIVINE. If you can find one of these stores around you you are a lucky girl!!!


Shea Moisture: Organic uses Frankincense and Myrrh




Burts Bees


I do like The Body Shop because their stuff is Free Trade. But read the ingredients of the products before you purchase. I heard that some of their products use animal bi-products, but they claim to not do animal testing?! Please correct me if I'm wrong about this.



The following recipes use the ingredients Ginger Suggests above




DIY Oatmeal-Lavender Face Scrub






Citrus Facial Scrub





 Mood Mists






Orange Spice Foot Mask




Homemade Bubble Bath Recipes
http://www.beauty-soap-and-bubbles.com/bubble-bath-recipes.html


Cleopatra’s Milk Bath

Pamper yourself with this luxurious bath!2 cups powdered Milk (dry)
1 Tbsp. dried Orange Peel
2 tsp. dried Lavender Flowers
2 tsp. dried Rosemary
Mix all the ingredients together and pour into a clear glass bottle. Use 1/2 cup of the mixture per bath – soak for 20 minutes. Tie a ribbon and a sprig of dried flowers to the jar for a ready gift!


Find more here 


Savon de Marseille

Olive Oil Soap


http://www.marthastewart.com/269933/savon-de-marseille


15 Natural Beauty Recipes Using Everyday Foods

http://inspiringpretty.com/2011/02/25/15-natural-beauty-recipes-using-everyday-foods/



Detox Baths
http://www.20somethingallergies.com/detox-bath-method-and-recipes/



Rosewater Toner

http://www.beautybets.com/2011/04/rosewater-toner/


DIY Bath Bombs
http://www.intimateweddings.com/blog/how-to-make-bath-bombs-diy-wedding-favors/



Tea Bath
http://www.marthastewart.com/356756/diy-summer-spa-treatments/@center/276964/60-days-summer#/186733

LUSH DIY

http://www.mariasself.com/search/label/Homemade%20Lush

http://www.themotherhuddle.com/1-minute-to-soft-hands-olive-oil-sugar-scrub/

http://lifeasmom.com/2012/12/diy-on-a-dime-mix-lavender-milk-bath.html

I have so many more for you to check out on my pintrest board .

Have some good clean fun!!!

Chosen Chapters 15-40



I REALLY wanted to be able to make this cake with you. (Hopefully I will when I have a couple extra dollars in my pocket, then I'll update this post.)

"Once upon a time, there was a Persian woman madly in love with a prince. To make him fall in love with her, she baked him this cake, filled with magical love powers. So the legend goes for this nightingale of all cakes."

Well she's from France and writes her recipes in weights, so we're going to rely on bon apetite for this recipe. 

I thought it was appropriate considering the part of the story we just read.

Persian Love Cake

via bon apetite 


Ingredients

Candied rose petals

  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • Petals from 3 organic roses

Cake

  • 1 cup cake flour
  • 14 tablespoons baker's sugar or superfine sugar, divided
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
  • 3 large eggs, separated
  • 6 tablespoons water
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
  • 1/4 teaspoon whole cardamom seeds (removed from about 5 green cardamom pods

Frosting

  • 2 1/2 cups chilled heavy whipping cream, divided
  • Pinch of saffron threads
  •  
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon rose water
  •  
  • 2 tablespoons natural unsalted pistachios

Preparation

Candied rose petals

  • Whisk egg whites in small bowl until foamy. Using pastry brush, brush rose petals on both sides with egg whites; sprinkle on both sides with sugar. Dry on nonstick rack at least 6 hours or overnight.

Cake

  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter two 8-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line pan bottoms with parchment paper; butter parchment. Sift flour, 7 tablespoons baker's sugar, baking powder, and salt into large bowl. Whisk yolks and next 4 ingredients in small bowl until smooth. Add yolk mixture to dry ingredients; whisk until smooth. Beat egg whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add 7 tablespoons baker's sugar; beat until whites resemble thick marshmallow fluff. Fold whites into batter in 3 additions. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake until cakes are golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in pans on racks 15 minutes. Turn out onto racks, peel off parchment, and cool completely. DO AHEAD Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap and store at room temperature.

Frosting

  • Combine 1/2 cup cream and saffron in small saucepan. Bring to simmer. Remove from heat; let steep 20 minutes. Chill until cold.
  • Beat remaining 2 cups cream, powdered sugar, and rose water in large bowl until soft peaks form; strain in saffron cream. Beat until peaks form.
  • Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on platter. Spread 1 cup frosting over. Top with second cake layer, flat side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Chill at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours. Garnish cake with rose petals and pistachios.
Hungry for More? If you have a question about this recipe, contact our Test Kitchen at askba@bonappetit.com. To see more recipes like this one, check out our Cake Slideshow.
    • Market tip

      Rose water and cardamom pods are available at some supermarkets and at Indian and Middle Eastern markets, or at adrianascaravan.com.


    Read More http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2005/06/persian_love_cake#ixzz2IqG6TPzC


    Chosen Book Club Chapter 15-40


    A few guidelines while participating in this book club
    How to participate in a discussion
    1. Watch your language! Try to avoid words like "awful" or "idiotic"—even "like" and "dislike." They don't help move discussions forward and can put others on the defensive. Instead, talk about your experience—how you felt as you read the book.

    2. Don't be dismissive. If you disagree with someone else, don't refer to her as an ignoramus. Just say, "I'm not sure I see it that way. Here's what I think." Much, much nicer. 

    3. Support your views. Use specific passages from the book as evidence for your ideas. This is a literary analysis technique called "close reading." (LitCourse 3has a good discussion of close reading.)

    4. Read with a pencil. Takes notes or mark passages that strike you—as signficant or funny or insightful. Talk about why you marked the passages you did. 

    5. Use LitLovers for help. Check out our Litlovers Resources above. They'll help you get more out of what your read and help you talk about books with greater ease.
    (Discussion tips by LitLovers. Please feel free to use them, online of off, with attribution. Thanks!)

    We'll conduct this discussion in a similar fashion as the bible study. I will post a series of questions. You can use them as a jumping off point for the discussion. Answer any you like, or none at all and come up with your own comments or questions.

    I hope I didn't push you too hard to get this reading done! I felt like it was getting juicy! Is this story interesting you too? 

    Has anything surprised you? Confused you? 

    I really thought there were some great passages in this section of the book. I wanted to share some of my favorites with you. 

    "We are all destroyed, everyone, in our lifetime but few will rebuild. You must redeem your suffering Esther." pg 79

    Can you relate to what Hagai is saying? Ar you perpetually broken or rebuilding?

    "Why is it beauty inspires men, and leaves women troubled?" pg 98

    Good question.  What are your answers if you could speak with Esther?

    "I never cease to be amazed at how G-d will use everything, even evil, to work for good..." pg 147

    This reminds me of Jeremiah 29:11

    "I will trust that G-d will still be at work long after I am gone, and that these later women will know how best to use their freedom." pg 147

    What legacy do you hope to leave behind? Is it faithful? Quiet? Bold?

    "Do not let me betray my king, or my G-d, with thoughts of the happy past. Let those be forever sealed and lost, for they belonged to a daughter named Hadassah who walked among the Jews of Susa. She is no more..." pg 150

    At what point did Esther change from Haddasah? Have you experienced a similar change in your life? 

    "I wonder so often what is the nature of love- is it a decision made on earth, of logic and reaon, a choice made in the time here between dust and dust? Is it made in heaven, a supernatural force that binds us together in this world, and the next? I s love made in mans will, or G-d's heart...For who can teach the heart? I can pose my arms just so, I can cast down my eyes and roll my hips, I can seduce, but I cannot control whom I love. The physical arts are just a masquerade, and these jesters pray no one removes their secret, innermost veils, or the deception is lost. Yes, every girl who goes into the king is an amusement, and nothing more, meant for him the way you would amuse a baby by some shinning scrap" pg 151

    I could write an entire essay on this quote alone. 
    What jumps out at you? What comments do you agree with? What touch your broken heart? 

    "Is this all G-d has called me to? Why, Oh Lord, have you endowed me with such qualities that will never be used in my situation? Why have you given me a desire for more, when I know it can never be?" pg 150

    Oh how this is a constant question my heart cries out. Was I born for more than this? Or is my longing of what C.S Lewis calls an unsatisfied desire? 

    "If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world." ~C.S Lewis


    What passages inspired you? What passages touched you? What passages asked you to think differently? 


    I wanted to provide a better format for us to discuss this book. Of course you can discuss it here, but my-bookclub.com seems like a good platform to keep you in the loop.

    For next week I would like us to make the goal to read to chapter 40.



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