The Last Word...

I don't know about anyone else out there, but I won't be at all sad to bid adieu to 2012. It's been a year of epic highs and lows, with so many major events that I feel as though I've lived an entire lifetime in the space of one year.
It's amazing what can happen in twelve months, isn't it?
On my personal list, I went from engaged to married to widowed. I moved out of my parents' house into a home with my new husband and am closing out the year by signing on the dotted line to lease a one-bedroom apartment where I'll be living alone.
It's been strange and surreal, and I know I'm not alone in feeling that way.
It was an election year. The Eastern seaboard was ravaged by Hurricane Sandy. A tragic shooting took the lives of schoolchildren in Colorado. And those are just a few of major events that I can recall right off the top of my head. 
One happy thing that 2012 will have left me with, however, is something that is invaluable: fresh perspective. And I can't wait to start 2013 with that new outlook, that new appreciation for things.
A sweet gift for a high price, perhaps, but one I will definitely hold on to.

With all that's gone on in life over the past twelve months, my faith has grown and deepened, and sometimes it's been the only thing that's gotten me through. Which makes finding great, faith affirming books all the more important and enlightening. Here are just a few I've had the pleasure of discovering....


In his book, Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into Your Comfortable Life (Moody Publishers) Goins, a writer and blogger, defines being “wrecked” as an experience––a time when a broken world slams into our comfortable lives and what remains is a tension between a lifetime of adventure and our daily commitments. Wrecked centers on stories of ordinary people doing incredible things to be transformed from the inside out, and Goins explains that being wrecked can take place at any time, at any place. Goins touches upon other elements of being "wrecked," including understanding commitment issues, getting attached to feeling good while helping others, learning to know when to walk away, and helping others getting wrecked. The book is both powerful and relatable in its narrative, and Goins is a great story-teller, taking readers along with him as he explores what it truly means to allow your life to be "wrecked" for God's purposes.

Wives who choose to follow Ephesians 5:33 ("and the wife shall respect her husband") make a dramatic impact on their marriages. But many married women struggle with the concept of respecting their husbands. What does respect actually look like? Why should wives respect their husbands? Shouldn‘t husbands have to earn the respect of their wives? The Respect Dare by Nina Roesner is a 40-day challenge that makes the whole concept a little less confusing. Readers are given a series of dares that offer a more intimate connection to both their husbands and to God, and the book is filled with stories of struggle and success paired with practical applications of respect that have dramatically impacted marriages. The book is especially relevant in today's culture, when men and women's roles have become so undefined and have strayed so far from God's original intent for marriage.

 Dear Deb: A Woman with Cancer, a Friend with Secrets, and the Letters That Became Their Miracle. Follow Margaret Terry as she shares stories that represent a full lifetime of miracles, stories that changed the writer as she wrote them and stories that will touch the heart of the reader, one by one by one. These stories are not just stories. Instead, Dear Deb is a collection of letters about living to a dying friend, a search for love and how it’s found in the most surprising places. A book of short stories about past secrets, and the hopes and dreams of a messy, imperfect life. A memoir via email.   

Take a Whiff

Take a peek at any of the magazines on the rack right now, and they're all full of gift guides to help you out with your Christmas shopping. Chances are, one of the things they highly recommend is some kind of smelly something, like a nice new fragrance for your significant other. In fact, research shows that perfume and cologne sales enjoy a huge spike during the holiday season, when people in high buying gear. It got me thinking...smells are important.
Smells have strong emotions and memories and associations attached.
Smells are, in a way, the Rorschach test of the nose.
Think about it. 
You encounter a smell, and you're instantly transported to another time, another place, another feeling.
What comes to mind when you smell cookies baking?
What do you feel when you smell your mother's perfume?
What do you remember when you smell baby powder?
Sometimes, its just a flash of thought that we don't even register. A memory will slip in and out without us even pausing to savor it, to look at it and feel something.
And we should.
After all, who we are is shaped by our pasts, our memories.
So take a deep breath and smell something.
It doesn't necessarily have to be roses.

The Writing on the Wall

I was listening to the radio this morning, and I was amazed at what I heard. 
Well, I guess I shouldn't say I was amazed so much as dismayed.
Dismayed, disheartened, and...a little worried.
One more things seems to be under threat of distinction in the face of this thing we call technology...
Cursive.
They're actually trying to decide whether or not we should be teaching our children cursive in schools anymore, or if it's just too archaic.
Archaic––or inconvenient?
Think about it.
It takes a lot of patience to teach a child cursive. Sometimes it even takes patience to READ cursive. So if we eliminate that aspect of writing altogether, we don't have to worry about finding patience for it. 
But where does it end?
Soon, we'll no longer even be putting pen to paper. Every mode of correspondence will be relegated to an electronic device, and handwriting will become a completely lost art.
What else will we be sacrificing in the name of technology?
We'll lose handwriting, true, but what we'll lose with that is something much deeper...
We'll lose a part of ourselves, of our own individuality. 
Of a connection.
Who else but your mother has your mother's handwriting?
When you've lost your grandfather, won't you still have a little piece of him––of his history, as well as your own––if you have a note or a letter or even just a scribble written in his hand?
I think we need to be careful.
Ink isn't simply ink. 
Words aren't simply words.
And handwriting isn't simply something to be cast aside.

It's On-Board

So the Holiday season continues...and now you're having to think about Christmas vacations that stretch a couple of weeks...How will you keep your kids' brains from turning to mush during all that off-time?! Keep them busy and learning––and make it fun! Long car trips can still be entertaining without ever turning on the DVD player. Rock it old-school style with a KleenSlate paddle. KleenSlates have a double-sided dry erase board that provides hours and hours of doodling fun. It even has a dry eraser marker with an eraser tip snapped right into the handle. The markers are non-toxic, low-odor, and the points don’t push in. For shutter-bug families, KleenSlates are a great way to hold up captions in travel photos. And while you're en-route, handwriting practice is made easy with lined sheets. Use the little grey calls and come up with car games...your KleenSlate will come in very handy! For more info, visit www.kleenslate.com  

Your Stuffing is Showing

Ahhh, Thanksgiving Day.
It's evening, and by now, most of us have consumed the Meal of the Day and cleared all evidence away. There is, of course, the occasional wander into the kitchen to pick at the leftover contents of the fridge (but only when nobody is looking)...but by and large, we're all set for the rest of the night. 
Than again, the pumpkin pie on the counter might be feeling a little bit lonely in a couple more hours...
So what, other than consuming the much-awaited-meal, did you do today?
Did you visit with family and friends?
Did you make a thousand phone calls?
Did you set up camp on the sofa and watch special "holiday programming"?
Did you boot up the computer, crack your knuckles, and prepare yourself for all the Black Friday sales starting online today?
Did you take a disco nap in prep for getting out of bed at o-dark-thirty for the impending insanity at the mall?
In all of it, did you stop and remember to say Thank you? 
Thank you to the God who gave you food, family, home, health, and money? 
Thank you to the people in your life for being there? 
Thank you to all the people who work at those crazy sales everyone waits all year for?
Thank you to the people who protect and serve so that we can breathe a little easier every day?
What are you thankful for, this year, especially––and are you showing it?
Take a lesson from the turkey––let your stuffing show.

Watch Your Veggies!

The holiday season is getting into full swing, which means not only gift-giving, but travel time. And, for those of you out there with children, both of those provide the perfect opportunity to hit the DVDs...Here are a few view-worthy picks from the creative minds behind the Veggie Tales––

VeggieTales: The League of Incredible Vegetables

It was a bright and sunny day in Bumblyburg until Dr. Flurry came to town...This chillin' villain wants to freeze the entire city in fear! A job like this is too big for LarryBoy to handle alone, so he turns to "The League of Incredible Vegetables" for help! Thingamabob (Bob the Tomato), S-Cape (Mr. Lunt), Vogue (Petunia Rhubarb), and Ricochet (Junior Asparagus) are up for the task but find that their own fears could land them in Dr. Flurry's deep freeze! Will they remember to turn to the One who is bigger than all their fears before the whole town ends up on ice? Find out in this heroic new VeggieTales episode with a lesson in handling fear! 


CollectionVeggieTales: The Ultimate Christmas 
This awesome set contains VeggieTales’ entire Christmas collection. Now your family can enjoy classic holiday shows The Toy That Saved Christmas, which teaches your children a lesson in giving; The Star of Christmas, an illustration in how to love; Saint Nicholas, a fun story in joyful giving; It's a Meaningful Life, a wonderful lesson in being content; and The Little Drummer Boy, a story about hope, love, and forgiveness. Keep everyone singing after the stories are over with the VeggieTales: Christmas Sing-along Songs DVD and 25 Favorite Christmas Songs! CD.

For more info on both, visit http://www.veggietales.com/

A little note of thanks...

So it's Monday...Again. But it's not just another Manic Monday. At least, it shouldn't be. After all, today is the day we're supposed to stop and reflect and thank those wonderful men and women who keep us safe. Those people in uniform who protect us and have defended our way of life and the freedoms we often take for granted. Like the right to vote. The right to pray. The right to make our own decisions about what we wear, who we marry, where we live, where we work...What would we do without our military? Take a few minutes and say thank you to the men and women who serve. Post a Facebook note, pick up the phone...do something as simple as smile. Let them know that they have your respect and your gratitude. 

This may seem like just another Monday, but this is also the beginning of a brand new week. A week full of possibilities that might not have existed without the sacrifice and service of those men and women.

Thank you.

I Voted

So were you at the polls? 
Did you dance around the living room or stew unhappily after hearing the results of the election? 
Are you celebrating the next four years or dreading them? 
I don't know what's going to happen over the course of this Presidential term, but I know that it's supposed to be a very important time in history––not only for our country, but for much of the world.
And with the global economy and international relations being what they are, with such a big world now having become so small through the mind-bogglingly unifying abilities of technology, it's no wonder these next years will so greatly shape things.
It's little scary. It's a little exciting. And it's a lot out of our control.
As much as I, Control Freak Extraordinaire, hate to admit it, it's very, very much out of our control.
But maybe that's a good thing. 
We're so flawed, and sometimes it seems we become increasingly flawed. Which means that, if any one of us were in control, we'd screw things up even more.
So remember that you don't control things and try to learn to trust.
There's someone much more important than any president watching over things, and He knows what decisions need to be made. He knows when to make them, and how to make them.
Trust and listen.
Maybe then you'll truly feel like dancing.

Soup's On!!

I don't know about you, but I'm certainly not a lover of winter. Sure some of the sweaters can be super cozy, and the whole boot thing is a fun way to mix things up, a few sartorial happy additions does not a lover of winter make. Even if your idea of winter would only rate on some people's radar as tropical (I speak of the Florida winters that make people from Minnesota smirk). Well, you try living down here for awhile and see what happens to your cold tolerance. I guarantee you, sixty degrees will become as welcome as the Abominable Snowman. 
But. I digress....
Even the bitter cold of winter can have a few silver linings, and it's definitely the prefect excuse to break out the bread maker and Dutch oven. And here, thanks to the wonderful publishers at Robert Rose, are two fantastic cookbooks that will help keep the winter blahs away...For a little while, at least...


300 Best Soup Recipes
This fabulous book delivers with hundreds of recipes that will make even Seinfeld's Soup Nazi look like an amateur. Whether you're preparing dinner for your family on a busy school night or an elegant dish for entertaining guests, you'll have the perfect solution for making use of that soup spoon. And this comprehensive book has more than the soups you grew up loving...they've even got DESSERT SOUPS! Didn't see that one coming, did ya? By Carla Snyder & Meredith Deeds (Visit http://www.robertrose.ca/)


300 Best Bread Machine Recipes
Trick out your bread machine and make it one of the most valued small appliances in your kitchen...this book features all the information you need about baking bread using older and newer bread machine models. There are a great variety of both traditional and innovative recipes––including low-fat, international, sweet, savory, and even gluten-free recipes. These are breads taken to a whole new level! They've got cake recipes, pretzels, and bagels...Heck, they've even got some pasta recipes for making the machine pull double-duty! By Donna Washburn & Heather Butt (Visit http://www.robertrose.ca/) 

Trick or Treat?

Okay. So you think you've got the Halloween costume thing all nailed down, and all of a sudden, your little one has a change of heart? Don't panic––MacGuyver it! Take a look around to find a little inspiration in things you have on hand...like those goggles you bought for summer. Never again will you look at them and see a mere pair of goggles. Take a cue from the geniuses at Aqua Sphere and whip up these costumes. You'll save your sanity and your budget! Not to mention the fact that you'll finally be given proper credit as the innovative genius and fabulous parent you always knew was in there somewhere... 

Little Scuba Diver

Your little boy can dream of exploring the underwater world all while trick-or-treating!
Have your little one pull on their Aqua Sphere’s Seal Kids Mask and hold a snorkel as a prop, then dress them in a blue shirt and swim trunks. Take an empty liter of soda, cover it with tin foil, and strap it to your child's back with duct tape––instant air tank! For added fun, cut sheets of blue foam (can be found at any craft store) in the shape of flippers and stick to the top of your child’s shoes! 

Pretty Little Pilot
Your little girl can be the next Amelia Earhart with simple steps:
Use Aqua Sphere’s Vista Jr. futuristic-looking goggles in pink to safeguard her eyes in the blue skies. Hold her hair back during her flight with a swim cap (Aqua Sphere’s Youth Swim Caps), and dress her in clothes from her closet––a sweatshirt or leather jacket, comfortable pants, and black or brown boots. Tie a scarf around her neck and add gloves...and get ready to fly high!!


Silly Superhero
Your little girl or boy can create their very own Superhero costume with props you already have at home!
Use Aqua Sphere’s Seal Kids Mask in bright green for a comfortable prop and pair with a colorful beach towel, tied to your tot’s suspenders for a bright-colored cape! Take scissors to felt (or other scraps of material) to cut out your child’s initial and tape it to the front of his or her shirt. 

Voila! 
Great costumes all without having to break into their piggy bank! Now you've really earned the right to raid the candy stash!

Impressed?

First impressions might just be more important than you’ve realized.  In your everyday life, you make all sorts of firsts impressions on people, but being a single person seems to add an extra element of consequence to the first impressions we make on people.  You never know where an opportunity to find the love of your life might lie––whether it’s through direct contact, or by way of a third party, like someone you meet who might introduce you to the person you end up spending your life with.  The way you present yourself in those first moments––your smile, your words, your overall appearance––can make or break you.  As much as we would like to think otherwise, there are no do-overs.  There are, certainly, second chances, but that first impression is always there, and it can damage things beyond repair.  
     
As I’ve gotten older, I have had more time to learn and observe the effects of first impressions––both in my own life and in the lives of others.  One instance, in particular, stands out in my mind.  
     
When I was about twenty-five, I dipped my little toe in the strange, wonderful world of being a Sample Lady.  My official title for my three-day gig at two of the local Wal-marts was Axe Angel.  Yes, you read that right.  I was an Axe Angel.  As in Axe Body Spray and Body Washes.  The product line that bills itself as making men absolutely irresistible to women.  I stood at a table for four hours with a display of body washes, trying to get people to buy my wares.  First of all, standing in one place for hours isn’t as easy as one might expect.  Add to that the fact that I was trying to peak people’s interest in a product that seems to have a very limited target market, and things got even trickier.  I wasn’t handing out tasty little samples of food.  I wasn’t even passing out coupons to try and ingratiate myself with passersby.  I had nothing except me, my Axe Angel tee-shirt, a cardboard display cabinet set up on a card table, and my charm.  My first impression.

Four hours, three days.  I got smiles and questions.  I got dirty looks and scornful comments.  And I got bored and discouraged.  What to do when faced with boredom and discouragement?  Add a little bit of mischief.  I changed my first impression.  How exactly?  I added a British accent.  Suddenly, people seemed much more interested in what I was trying to sell them.  My smile and my charm went that much further, simply on the merit of the way I sounded when I opened my mouth.  People stopped to chat and ask questions, first about me, and then about the product I was trying so hard to convince them to buy.  And one of those people just happened to be a really nice-looking guy who decided I was worth asking out. 
     
Me, my smile, and my fictitious British self.  
     
My first impression.
     
Sadly, I had to confess to him later that evening, over the phone, that I was really a local girl who had just tried on a London accent for the afternoon.  I suppose it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that I had to convince him that I was worth a second look, a second chance.  That my second impression could really be just as good as my first––maybe even better.  He agreed to meet me for coffee, and I even had the chance to meet his adorable son, but by then, the damage was done.  I had made my first impression, and it was one he couldn’t forget.
     
I had made the impression, incorrect as it was, that I was a liar.
     
At the risk of overusing the word, the impression the experience made on me was an invaluable lesson.  As we make our way through our days, crossing paths with countless people, we need to keep in mind that every contact we make is a first impression.  It is an opportunity.  We have the power to make or break it.   
    
Just as important as the impression we make as single people is the impression we give as Christians.  Our actions and our words are the first––and sometimes the only––opportunity we have to show the love of Christ.  Whatever we do, wherever we go, we are leaving people with an impression of our beliefs.  Just what are we saying in those first few moments?  Be open, be honest, and that first impression can change the future.  

Mirror, mirror

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see the person––the life––that you always dreamed of, or is there something there that you don't recognize? Is there someone staring back at you that you never expected to become? Is the reflection a good one, or a bad one?

I think that our lives, our minds, and our hearts are much like the reflections in the mirror. They change, depending on a myriad of factors. Environment, circumstances, age...We grow, we mature; sometimes we regress. Sometimes we become the worst version of ourselves. What's important is what we do about that reflection. Do we take the quick fix or truly change it at the source? Because, like face lifts, the quick fix will constantly need fixing. It'll look good for a little while, but it'll be costly and temporary. 

Take a good look in the mirror and study what you see. Does it make you smile, or are your worry lines becoming more of a worry? I don't know about you, but I want the story my reflection shows to be one I can be proud of. I want the lines to show struggles that have been overcome. I want to meet my own eyes in the mirror and not have to look away in shame.  

Skin Deep

I admit it. I think a lot. Maybe too much, sometimes. But somehow, I don't see that changing any time soon. And that shrieking little voice in my skull that yammers incessantly all day gets just a little bit too loud sometimes. Needless to say, long stretches of complete silence are not always a good thing. Not in my case, anyway.
So when my car was in the shop for repairs recently, the two days that I drove a loner car were a little bit on the torturous side. The car itself wasn't really the issue. It was what was inside the car that was my biggest problem: a radio that didn't work. Which meant silence. Big, bad, deafening silence. Everywhere I drove. 
And you can guess what that meant. Thinking. Lots and lots of thinking.
Many, many things have been going on in my life lately. Some good. Many bad. And many, many confusing. Worst of all is the hurt, though, that's resulted. 
And in all of this time I had thinking, I began wondering what people would look like if we could see all of the hurt that they've been through. Kind of like those scanners that show you all the damage your skin has undergone–all the stuff that is invisible to the naked eye. How would we treat one another? Would we be more careful if we could look at someone and see their emotional scars, their open wounds, just as easily as we can see a physical injury? 
Think about that next time you meet someone. They might look fine on the outside, but you never know what they carry. What stories they hold in their hearts. What wounds they bear.
Take care and be kind. You might just make more difference than you know. 

Book Smarts

A Year of Biblical Womanhood, Rachel Held Evans (Thomas Nelson) 
For readers like me who hate the dry tone of so many non-fiction books, this is really a great book. It's funny, relatable, well-written, and interesting. If you're drawn to navel-gazing books of stumbling self-discovery like The Happiness Project and Julie and Julia, this is sort of a mash-up of those two, only much more church-library-acceptable. Take a break from the novels and gain a little insight into what makes you special as a woman, and how you really can fulfill your potential to live Biblically without exiling yourself to a tent and calling your husband "Master"....


Lifted by Angels: The Presence and Power of Our Heavenly Guides and Guardians by Joel J. Miller (Thomas Nelson)
Miller incorporates historical reference with modern accounts of angels in both the everyday lives of people and in momentous events, tracking them through the Bible and showing just how much influence they are given. Check it out if you enjoy books that explore the role of angels and demons. 

Grab Your Apron!

Quinoa...You can hardly pronounce it, much less come up with any ideas of your own on what to do with it. Heck, you're not even really sure what it is! Take the intimidation out and make it seem like you've been using this versatile little grain-like seed (yup, it's a seed) for years. You'll be the Quinoa Queen...or King.
But first, say it with me...keen-wah. You have to be able to say it before you can convince people you can actually cook it.
To make quinoa part of your repertoire, pick up a copy of 500 Best Quinoa Recipes, the new cookbook by Camilla Saulsbury. This great book has oodles of recipes that your family will love, and the beautiful photos will leave you salivating. Visit www.robertrose.ca


While beans, lentils, and tofu might not seem like the most interesting ingredients, they're extremely versatile and can be really great building blocks for a fantastic meal. They don't have to be sides, either. In fact, they can become the star-player in your recipes! Make Meatless Mondays fun and really tasty...you might even go meat-free more than just Mondays. I'm thinking Tofu Tuesday...
Recipes in 250 Best Beans, Lentils & Tofu Recipes will give you protein-packed meals that make healthy, meat-free eating seem like a scrumptious adventure! Visit www.robertrose.ca

Keep your seat in the upright position....

So you're stuck on a plane for nine hours, and you don't have the luxury of having your cramped little row of seats to yourself...Who would you want sitting next to you?

Think about it.

Nine hours.

Nine. Hours.

And I'm taking your spouse, your significant other, your best friend, and every member of your immediate family off the list. 

If you could pick one person--dead or alive––that you've never met, who would it be? 

Personally, I can think of a huuuuuge list of people I'd want to be sitting next to on that extra-long nine hour plane ride. Many different people, and all for different reasons. Above all, though, one thing they all have in common is that they're people I respect. The fact that I could sell their picture or autograph or lip-stick smudged napkin on e-Bay for a pretty penny doesn't hurt things, but I want to sit next to these people for the sheer pleasure of their company. Because I want to delve in there and know what they think, how they think, and how they got to be where they are (or were, in the case of those I would have to resurrect from the dead...)

Robert Irvine, Julia Child, Gordon Ramsay. Coco Chanel. Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum (yes, I love me some Project Runway, but that's not the only reason I want them as seatmates). Bethany Frankel (I think we might have a lot in common––let's give it up for fantastically neurotic women). Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant...Jeff Foxworthy...I could go on and on. 

Hmmm. Maybe I should rent out the whole plane....

The only problem with that is that I wouldn't get one on one time.

Oh. Kay.

Yeah. In the realm of possibility of me ever being stuck on a plane with one of these people, the chance of that is nil, but still, a girl can dream.  

Sigh. 

Fishing for Ideas

Okay. So you're staring in the fridge, looking for dinner inspiration. And you come up with....nothing. So you move to the pantry. 
What to make, what to make? 
Your mumbling hunger is starting to scream for attention, but you've still got no ideas. All you have is a food-starved brain and...cans of tuna? But who wants just another, boring old tuna sandwich? 
Whip up a canned tuna dish that would rock a dinner party, yet is simple enough not to require oodles of ingredients or culinary skill. Check out 200 Best Canned Fish & Seafood Recipes (Susan Sampson) a new cookbook full of fun, inventive, and tasty recipes that use canned fish and seafood as the star ingredient. Great, colorful photos make this cookbook one that you'll be proud to have on your shelf. Go ahead––make Charlie the Tuna the king of your kitchen! Visit http://www.robertrose.ca/

Thumbing the pages

Ahhh....September. 

Such a momentous month. And who can believe it's already almost over?

Where the heck did it go?

I, for one, am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that summer will officially be over in a mere matter of days. The cooler weather is starting to tickle the edges of the day, fall fashions are creeping their way into people's closets...And The September Issues are out on newsstands.

Say it with me, people: The. September. Issue. 

The issue of issues. 

If you're like me, you love the September issue. Especially when we're talking VOGUE. This year, it's nearly encyclopedic in proportion. No, make that Biblical. It's absolutely huuuuge. And gorgeous. 

But that's just me talking. 

Go ahead, call me a fashion junkie. 

I'm not ashamed.

And really, it's nothing to be ashamed of. After all, fashion is steeped in history and has great bearing on the way people look and feel about themselves. It speaks volumes about people's creativity, and even something as simple as a shoe can make you walk taller...literally and figuratively.

And who couldn't use that?

Powered-up

When I'm a good girl and actually remember to do it, I read the daily devotional Jesus Calling. Today's reading, appropriately, was a reminder not to try to control and plan our lives––perfectly timed on a day when wicked thunderstorms knocked out the power for three hours. I couldn't even leave the house to go somewhere and kill time, since my car was in the garage––which meant that my car was imprisoned in the dungeon whose entree and exit required electricity. (Try pushing the garage door opener when the power's out, and you're rudely awakened to the fact that EVERYthing needs power.) It was unplanned and definitely inconvenient, but it could have been worse. It could have happened in the dead heat of summer, leaving me hot, sticky, and miserable. It could have lasted far longer than just three hours. And, of course, there's always the fact that the wicked thunderstorms could have resulted in something much more devastating...like a tornado or some kind of structural damage to the house. So. In the midst of my monkey-wrenched day, I realized I had many things to be thankful for...like working electricity and the nice people at the power company who come out to fix said electricity when it goes out. As the sun started to go down; and the use of a flashlight became more mandatory than optional for my reading, the power popped on, reminding me that there are blessings even in the most everyday things.    

Gesundheit!

If you're like me, you're always forgetting to toss a pack of tissues in your car or purse...after all, who wants to take up space in the car with a bulky box or have to dig around for one of those tiny packs that gets lost in the abyss? Check out kiss-u Tissue Tubes––tissues that come in really funky tube-like containers that fit PERFECTLY in your car's drink holder! They definitely come in handy, especially when you're having to take longer drives someplace (holiday trips, vacations, random jaunts to really remote locations to score a great deal....) Make tissue-finding easier and safer––no more reaching down in the car to reach a fallen box of tissues. The tubes come in a variety of colors, available online at www.kissutissue.com 

Tortured Beauty

sterling silver ring, Pitted Surface line
 

It's not often that I get the chance to send out raves over a locally made product, but I have absolute love for the Tortured Heart jewelry made by Stephanie Ritchie! I recently had the honor of getting a glimpse into the creative mind behind the inspired jewelry that Stephanie makes, and she truly does put so much love and thought into each and every piece that she makes. I wish that I had so much skill! Take a look at her exclusive designs online at http://www.TheTorturedHeart.com/ or if you find yourself in the Gulf Breeze, Florida, area, make sure to stop in her store. These pieces are rare treasures that will most definitely become heirlooms!

Safe and Sippy

So you're doing the fall clearing of all your clutter...Or you should be...And you realize you've got not only the thousand requisite food storage containers without matching lids (or vice versa), but also a thousand mismatched sippy-cup pieces. Here's a great solution for al least one of those problems! Rooware has introduced a new plant-based plastic product called the Roocup to their eco-friendly tableware collection. These great cups make it easy for children to learn how to drink from a regular cup the right way, but without all the spills and mess. They also feature adorable snap-on ear handles––perfect for little hands to hold. And when your little one no longer needs the trainer top or the handles, simply remove them and continue enjoying your cup. Roocups eliminate the need to buy a new cup for every developmental stage. BPA-free, Phthalate free and PVC free; made in the USA ($14.95). Visit  http://www.rooware.com

Parents of children with allergies can feel a little more safe and secure knowing their kids are better protected against unwanted allergens when they wear or use AllerMates products away from home. Send them off to school, daycare, parties, sleep-overs and play dates with the benefit of knowing that their caregivers have been alerted to allergies and have visible reminders. AllerMates products are based on 15 fun, original characters that represent the most common allergies: peanut, nut, gluten/wheat, milk, egg, shellfish, penicillin, insect sting, latex, pollen, fish, soy, sesame, cat, and the newest––asthma. AllerMates are hypo-allergenic, nickel, and latex free and have passed rigorous safety standards and testing. The wristbands are adjustable and fit most children. These fun products make having allergies less of a drag! Visit www.allermates.com and www.diapers.com

Painting Kits and Chewy Hits

Got a budding creative talent in the family? Encourage it! Give your future Rembrandt a fun way to tap into their creativity with the Vase Painting Kit by Family Games America, Inc. Kits include four porcelain vases, paint, a brush, and a stencil sheet. All your child has to do is paint and pop in the oven. Don't have any kids of your own? So what! These kits are great fun for a budget-friendly Girls' Night In! Break out the wine and let your creativity flow! Have a contest to see who can make the cutest vase for their space! Visit www.familygamesamerica.com/

It's time to start thinking about gift giving...and who doesn't love a good cookie? Snap these up for birthdays, anniversaries, hostess gifts, teacher appreciation gifts, bosses day, stocking stuffers...even Christmas party platters will be a major hit when you add the decadent, indulgent cookies from Coyote Oaties! Free of preservatives and made with wholesome, all-natural ingredients, these hearty, dunkable cookies are available packages of 6 or 12. They can also be ordered in a custom-engraved crate––perfect for your gift giving needs. These addictive, sinfully delicious Coyote Oaties are handmade from scratch in Glendale, AZ, and come in 5 varieties, including Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Cashew and White Chocolate Macadamia. Visit http://www.coyoteoaties.com/

Mmmmm...Small and Mighty

Guess what? You're not the only one who's fallen victim to the allure of the Cupcake Maker! And now, they have a great new cookbook to fuel the fire! Pick up a copy of The Big Book of Babycakes Cupcake Maker Recipes by Kathy Moore and Roxanne Wyss. The two women take their expertise on small appliances and rock out a colorful, fun book filled with great recipes that will completely legitimize your passion for that Cupcake Maker. (Yes, the color is beyond cute, too, but still, it helps to have tasty recipes to justify the counter space, right? No one can criticize if they're busy stuffing their faces with your scrumptious creations...) The cookbook is more in-depth, and with slightly more sophisticated flavors that reflect both current cupcake trends and old-fashioned delicacies. It’s a complete and wide-ranging cookbook that still packs in all of the fun of the first book; but also features specialty recipes for holidays, special occasions, entertaining, cooking for and with kids, and gluten-free and vegan diets. There's even a large selection of savory recipes––quiches, lunch and dinner pies, biscuits, appetizers, and finger foods. Dozens of large step-by-step photos depict decorating ideas and skills, providing easy-to-follow inspiration and ideas. They’ll show how to create various cupcake decorations, bake pies and phyllo cups, and more! Both novice and experienced bakers will delight in these photos and clear instructions. Visit www.robertrose.ca/books

Foxy Foxworthy

I have to admit something. I now have a small crush on Jeff Foxworthy. 

Yes, that Jeff Foxworthy.

The You Might Be a Redneck If...Jeff Foxworthy.

Why?

Because he's so much more than that. He's actually something that I really never expected. He's an incredibly well-spoken, passionate Man of God. Who happens to have a wicked sense of humor.

No, he's not Matthew McConaughey hot. In fact, he's slightly dorky. Dude, come on. He's a string bean with a funny accent. But if you look past that, you can see something much greater. And it makes my little heart go pitter-patter.

Yes, I know it's weird.

But I was in my car earlier this week, listening to an interview with him on the K-Love morning show, and he was discussing his new game show on GSN called The American Bible Challenge. What he was saying almost made me fall out of my carseat. Seeing as how I was buckled in, that was quite a feat. 

So just what did the talented Mr. Foxworthy say? While I can't quote him, I can say this much: he's got a huge heart for God, is a proud Christian, a loving father and husband, and wants the world to open its eyes to the true application of the Bible in our lives. 

Surprising, no?

I certainly thought so.

And now I have to admit a slight jealousy of his wife. After all, what's better than a husband who can make you laugh, loves you, and is a true man of God?

   

Are You Courageous?

I've been thinking a lot lately about courage. 
It seems like such a simple concept, doesn't it? But, really, who decides what's courageous or not? What's seemingly so simple, so ordinary for one person to do might be terrifying for someone else––which makes doing that one "simple" thing an act of courage.
Crossing the street. 
Leaving the house. 
Shaking a hand. 
Using a public bathroom. 
Riding in an elevator. 
Crossing over a bridge.
They're things that millions of people do, millions of times a day, without ever thinking about them. But they're also things that many, many other people are afraid of. They're things that it takes an act of courage to do. 
What's easy for you might seem fearless to someone else––someone who's afraid of doing that thing. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, courage is in the eye of the doer. Never assume that courage is achieved only on a grand scale. It's in everyday things. Every day is an act of courage.   

Hit the Books

Finding Faith in Pain

The phone rings at three A.M., and you know it’s not good news. The doctor looks at you with somber eyes and takes a long pause. There are words we all dread hearing, words we brace ourselves for. Losses we never want to endure. If you have ever walked through the valleys of life, you understand how easy it can be to question God’s fairness, doubt His power, or even lose your own faith. In those moments, though, we learn to trust God and look for His guidance...And if we look closely, we can all see His divine intervention. Watch Out for Miracles (Carpenter’s Son Publishing) by Janet Tombow is an inspiring collection of true stories of hope and encouragement. With each story, these courageous individuals share their personal stories of sadness, loss, hope, and victory in order to demonstrate that we are not alone and we are never forsaken. Let this collection of encouraging true stories guide your own personal life. Each of us has a story....each of us are faced with unique challenges and struggles.....but in the midst of these circumstances is a loving and all-knowing God who can see you through to personal victory. Available at www.amazon.com

Faith on the Field

It takes more than heart to win a championship. It takes teamwork, equipment, and––most of all––a great coach. In southern Louisiana in 1957, the best coach Ronnie LeBlanc can find for his struggling American Legion Baseball team is black. Based on a true story, Stealing First (Legacy Publishing) by Drew Golden is a tale of poverty; corruption and bias; and, ultimately, a powerful message of honor and camaraderie. For more info, visit www.stealingfirst.net

Do you have any experience?

Do you have any experience?
Speaking for myself here, I've always hated that question. 
In a job interview, it's one of the first things they want to know. But it's such a Catch-22, isn't it? You're there, sitting in front of the almighty gate-keeper to your Dream Job (or, at least, so you're trying to convince them, with you're willing smile and well-rehearsed spiel), hoping against hope that they'll grant you entree to said job. 
But how does that happen if you don't have experience? And how are you supposed to get experience if no one gives you a shot to even get experience? 
It's ridiculous, really. Like a dog chasing its own tail.
In my personal opinion, it's something that should happen less and less frequently as we get farther and farther out of our teenage years. 
Like zits. Zits should happen less often, too.
But that's an entirely different issue for an entirely different day.
Anyway.
Like zits, the annoying fact remains that experience is still a double-edged sword as you traverse the annals of adulthood and toil away your youth under the watchful eye of The Man.
Just today, in fact, I was informed that what I considered "experience" with one company now made me undesirable to another company. How contrary to what I've read in all those wonderful books about how to grow your career! According to the authors who pen their hard-earned experience into advice, writing for as many publications as possible is a good thing. It builds your credibility, right? 
Right.
Uh huh. Unless the people in charge decide otherwise. 
So what draws the line? Who writes the rules? 
Is it better to have more or less experience?
Maybe one day I'll finally have it figured out. 

Eat, drink, and be tidy about it...

Dirty Veggies?
Before you prep your next salad, take a minute to wash up! Make washing away pesticides, waxes, and other residues an easy task with FIT Fruit and Vegetable wash. You can have peace of mind because it removes 98% of potentially harmful residual substances on your produce, versus washing with water alone. We use soap to clean our hands, shampoo for our hair, and detergent for our clothes––why would water alone be adequate for our food?  Even pesticide-free organic produce needs to be cleaned of dirt and fertilizer residue, not to mention those from all of the people who picked it up and gave it a squeeze in the grocery store before you brought it home! FIT is 100% natural and is the only produce wash certified Kosher and Vegan, and listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute as being acceptable for use on Organic produce. Visit www.tryfit.com

Spill-less Sippies
Make teaching your little one to use a cup a little bit easier (and cleaner!) with Munchkin’s Click Lock cups. The great, colorful cups offer fantastic spill-proof technology. They're easy to grip, BPA-free, and  have physical, visual, and audio cues that confirm the lid is locked in place––which definitely avoids spills. These wonderfully designed cups cups come in a wide variety of stylish designs, colors, and styles. Visit www.munchkin.com

Feeding time...

I know, I know...August is THIS close to being over, but in celebration of the quickly disappearing Breast Feeding Awareness Month, check this out....

Trying to balance nursing with being on-the-go? Here's a great solution! The Ameda Purely Yours Ultra breast pump system offers purity, comfort and ease. Unlike other pumps, Ameda has Proven Airlock Protection––a diaphragm that keeps air from coming in contact with breast milk while you pump and protects milk from bacteria, mold, and viruses. You don’t have to clean the narrow tubing, and your milk stays purely yours. The pump flange (that sucker thingie) is available in 7 different sizes (the 3 most commonly used sizes come with the system) so that the pump is more comfortable and milk flow is more effective. There are even 32 different speed and suction combos! This makes a fantastic gift for the expectant mothers on your list.

Pack up a convenient on the go snack for busy days...

Got an adventurous palate? Try these tasty snacks! Annie Chun's Roasted Seaweed Snacks are now available in Brown Sugar & Sea Salt, Cracked Pepper & Herb, and Wasabi! They're delicious, low-calorie, and nutritious! These salty snacks pack all the benefits of sea-minerals in a guilt-free, handy little pack! www.anniechuns.com 

Talk about yummy! Try out these great new cookies from Skeeter Snacks. They're a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without fear of nut allergies! Now available in Chocolate Chunk, Skeeterdoodle, & Golden Oatmeal. So good, they'll disappear before you can say Skeeter! www.skeetersnacks.com   

Enjoy a serving of fruit with Stretch Island Fruit Co. Fruit Strips. These delicious, portable, 100% natural fruit strips contain no artificial additives or added sugar and are available in seven mouthwatering fruit flavors. www.stretchislandfruit.com

Are You an Ostrich?

So this is it. I'm here, sitting at my computer like a good little blogger, trying to compose some semblance of semi-coherent thought while my mind reels through thousands of things that I could be doing, should be doing, don't want to be doing...and trying not to think about that thing called Isaac that's swirling chaotically toward the Gulf Coast.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is my very least favorite part of the year––that six-month span of days during which we in the Coastal states keep a wary eye on the tropics, fervently praying that we will escape turmoil for just one more year. Call me an idiot, but whenever there's a rumble in Thunder Alley (I think it's much more apropos than "The Tropics"––that's far too vacationy), I like to bury my head in the sand like an ostrich. Or clamp my eyes shut and clap my hands over my ears while chanting "CAn't hear you, can't HEAR you!) at the top of my lungs. After all, it works for toddlers. And ostriches. If I can't see it, it can't see me. Which means maybe it doesn't exist, right?

Wouldn't that be great? If all you had to do to dissipate everything bad was simply to close your eyes and ignore it? Wars would be gone, death and starvation...illness.  Unfortunately, life doesn't work like that, and we have to deal with bad things and challenges as they come. I'm just glad to know that I don't have to do it alone. None of us do.

We have each other.

We have God.

And both of those count for much more than we can ever imagine while we're busy trying not to worry.

Besides, burying your head in the sand messes up your hair.

Back to School

School started this week. Some parts of the country are still basking in the last rays of summer vacation, but here in Pensacola, Florida, they begin (and end) summer vacation earlier than many other areas of the country. Maybe I'm crazy, but it seems to get earlier every year. Or maybe it's just that I'm getting old, and everything seems to happen faster now than it did when I was little and actually had a reason to anticipate summer vacation. Heck, I even anticipated the beginning of the school year. 

Yup, you read that right. I actually looked forward to starting school again after summer vacation. 

Yes. I am a nerd. Get over it.

I happened to love school. Sure, there were aspects of the whole thing that I would have gladly given up (like book reports, science, and tests of any kind), but I really did like the security of that little bubble called academia. It was safe. It was structured. And there wasn't much decision-making to be made on my part beyond what to wear every day (even though that was an extremely distressing decision for me––just ask my mother), who to trade lunch with, and whether on not the boy whose cubby-hole was next to yours was cute or just plain annoying. 

Even when I got older, I still loved the sense of fulfillment I got from a full day hitting the books. And the safety and order of a class schedule. I liked knowing what was next, knowing that, most of the time, there wasn't going to be anything unpredictable about my day. 

Hi, my name is Liesel; and I am a control freak. 

Isn't it funny how, when you're little, you think that being an adult means having more control over your own life? Really, I think the opposite happens. No, you don't have parents telling you anymore what you can and can't do, but there are so many other people you have to answer to. Bosses, spouses, co-workers...the government. Bigger decisions must be made, which means bigger responsibility and bigger consequences. 

There is suddenly more at stake than whether you might later regret the decision to trade your chocolate chip cookies for a chocolate pudding cup. 

As we get older, its easy to forget to take time to enjoy being childlike as we get tied up in the big things. Next time you're cursing the flashing school zone lights for slowing down your commute, take a minute to think about what you loved about being a kid in school...then see if you can find someone at work who wants to trade with you at lunch.

Bug Out!

Just because school's back in session doesn't mean the bugs have moved out...In fact, some of them are out in full force! Keep them away from all of your activities and relax these last days of summer...

Ladybugs might be considered a symbol of good luck, but they're way more than a pretty face. These colorful little bugs are secret weapons...If you have aphids on your roses or other plant-munching pests in your garden, unleash the ladybugs! Organic Control, Inc. (Orcon) provides growers  and home gardeners with beneficial insects and other natural solutions to common gardening pest problems. Ladybugs eat aphids, mealy bugs, scale, leafhoppers and other destructive soft-bodied pests  that can damage your plants. When ladybugs are released at sundown, they'll chow down on those pesty plant-eaters and lay eggs for even more ladybugs.  Orcon Ladybugs are available in a variety of sizes, from containers of 1500 bugs ($15) to a gallon ($160). Visit organiccontrol.com

BugBand insect repellent products provide protection from biting insects while avoiding the risk associated with irritating pesticides. They're even kid, food, and pet-safe! BugBand repellent products use Geraniol, a plant‐based ingredient that has been proven effective in repelling a wide variety of insects, including mosquitoes, flies, gnats, no‐see‐ums, and fleas. BugBand’s sprays and towelettes are effective against ticks, as well. So what's Geraniol? It's a naturally occurring repellent extracted from geranium oil through a unique refining process. Try out BugBand insect repellent wristbands, pump sprays, towlettes (super-convenient for your purse or back-packs), and diffusers. Visit www.bugband.net