Become…

With all the rain we have been getting I am trying to remember this: :)

So lets take a look at life. This week I’m preparing a Young women lesson (lesson 22 manual 3) on Eternal Perspective! Such a great topic. Do you know how fantastic the youth is today? I’m so impressed. I’m also in the presidency with the most amazing women. Seriously. Learning so much from all of them. Feeling so inadequate. The Lord lifts up those he calls right?! Praying for that.

I am using this as my handout just in case any of you want handout ideas too:

 

It’s from Rebecca Cooper, I’m going to print it at Walmart and then either make these cookies, click on the pic for the recipe.

or do something with the Rainbow Twizzlers.

Haven’t decided yet.

Do you know what else I want more of in my life right now?

 

 

LESS of me. More of God. Truly, the closer I get to Him, the better everything else is in my life becomes. I am amazed at His love for each of us. Do you know what I am talking about? I want that love for everyone! It is so incredible. I am realizing that we are constantly becoming. Becoming more like Him, or becoming more like the world. Sometimes we don’t even realize what we are becoming, we can get so caught up in comparing, in wanting, in needing approval from the world and just going about our days lost in the race. Well I’m here to say I DON’T want that. I DON’T want to be like the world, I don’t want my self esteem or my daughter’s or my son’s or anyone around me for that matter to have to feel like their self esteem has to come from approval from the world. Does it really matter what I wore yesterday? Does it matter if I don’t wear make up today? Does it really matter if I don’t look like a super model every time I walk out of the house? Is that what God wants? People to look and stare and need approval from each other? Absolutely not. By the way I’m not saying we don’t need to take care of ourselves, we most definitely do! I’m not saying don’t brush your hair and be beautiful. We should. We just shouldn’t obsess or compare. Which is such a horrible trap we sometimes fall into.

I feel like I am on this journey because I very much struggle with approval from those around me. I struggle with insecurities of every kind. I am finding that it is normal! I am on this journey, a journey that is taking me to places I have never been before. I am seeing things in myself that I despise. Things that aren’t right with my heart. I have some dark and ugly pieces to my soul that I want to get rid of, but I am also seeing parts of me that I love, reasons to let God take over my life and live through Him. I want nothing more than to be content in Him. I am learning. It hasn’t been easy, but I feel like He is slowly peeling back those ugly layers and making something more out of me, something I could never do on my own. Today I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me. Who loves all of us. I am so blessed to know what I do. Do you want to know more about what I know? Go HERE. Or feel free to e-mail me, I’d love to hear from you. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being better than you were the day before.

Two Great Excuses…

It is a BEAUTIFUL day! I’m frantically trying to catch up on my to do list so we can head outside for the rest of the day! I’m pretty behind on well everything in my life, but that is the beauty of this season I’m in. I’m a mom and I have TWO great excuses of why I’m never caught up with anything right now! Pretty great right?!

Here is something else that took up a good chunk of my time. We obviously have been bitten with the travel bug!

We took a week and went to Puerto Penasco Mexico. Oh. My. Word. It was SO much fun! We stayed at the Casa Blanca.

I highly recommend it! It was BEAUTIFUL!

 

     

(I fell in love with the barrel ceiling in our condo!, Maybe in our next house?!)

 

We made these darling butterflies for Mother’s Day. Found the idea HERE. The kids loved making them.

The poem:
This isn't just a butterfly as you can plainly see.
I made it with my hand which is a part of me. It comes with lots of love especially to say,
I hope you have a very Happy Mother's Day!

I also celebrated a birthday!

I have the cutest husband EVER. This is what I woke up to:

My day could have stopped right then and there and been perfect. (Notice the mint, and the fork, I always eat my cereal with a fork because I don’t like milk, the fork let’s it drain right out!, he’s so thoughtful!) LOVE LOVE LOVE that guy!

I honestly didn’t need a thing. But I thought I’d share a few things that I am loving with and that are on my wish list right now.

I think this would be SO fun and if money grew on trees, I would totally buy one for all the ladies I love! Wouldn’t it be fun to get such a fun gift every single month?! Click on the picture to see the video!

 

 

I also fell in love with these cute purses! EEK! Crazy cute they are! The problem is she posts new one in her etsy shop all the time, and so I can’t choose which one I like the best! Here are a few of my faves. Find them HERE.

I want this knife to cut up my watermelons this summer too!  My mom saw it first, isn’t it CUTE and it’s extra long to get through those thick watermelons! ♥

 

Well, I’ll try to be more consistent in posting, I love sharing! That is why I keep on blogging! I’ll leave you with my new mantra-maybe you’d like to use it too! ;)

 

Random Obsessions…

In the dead of winter, I get a bit stir crazy. Here are a few things that are adding a little sunshine to my life right now.

This bottle of leave in conditioner is saving me & my daughter countless morning meltdowns!!! ;) Highly recommend it!! Thanks Krystal for introducing it to me!!

LOVING the 2011 Nail Polish Trends-

This is one of my favorites that I just happened to paint my toes with last night.

To see all the 2011 Nail Polish Trends go HERE.

The new Bath & Body Works Vanilla Berry scent has me craving summer. And the Butterfly Flower spray mist is lovely too.

Catching up on my pile of magazines, I read a fitness article. It said that if you hoola hoop it up for just 5 min. a day, your abs will look great in no time. Well I’m on day 4. I’ll let you know how it goes. :)

Me and my kids are enjoying this every. day. for lunch.

Cracked Pepper Turkey sandwich with fresh alfalfa sprouts & THE. BEST. BREAD. EVER.

Grandma Sycamore’s Sunflower Seed & Honey Wheat Bread. YUM. (The cracked wheat is also divine)

 

This is a new product that just came out in January from JD Premium.

 

It’s called Adapt Energy. I’ve never even tried a regular energy drink, like red bull etc. I know alot of people use them though. My concern is just how much sugar, calories & caffeine are in them. Well the Adapt Energy is a healthy alternative. The ingredients are all natural. It won’t give you that high and then crash on you. It’s a steady healthy energy, and only 6 calories per serving.

To read more about Adapt Energy Drinks go HERE .

 

Let’s not forget my on going hot chocolate obsession. I was freezing cold last night, so I had a little bed time snack. The Vanilla Creme peeps added just the right touch to my French Vanilla hot cocoa. Warmed me up & put me right to sleep. I am in love.

Well, I totally want to share some of my sunshine with you. It’s GIVE AWAY time, just leave a comment, and I’ll draw a winner for a random package of a few of my obsessions right now.

Have a HAPPY Wednesday friends!!

Eleven Things…

Here are 11 random things I am loving today. Happy  1/11/11 .

1. Did you know that TODAY is National Clean Your Desk Day?! Got to love that.  Want to get motivated or inspired? GO HERE.

2.  LOVING this song today. YOU ARE MORE.

3. Already lost that motivation to Move More Eat LEss in 2011?

Check this out. Inspiring for sure. We can do it!!!

 

4. I think this Snowman Party is ADORABLE! Click on the picture to see more! Wouldn’t that be so fun for a little January get together?

5. This blog has me motivated to try new things concerning FASHION.  FUN!

(CAUTION: This blog will keep you busy for a while! SO don’t click unless the kids are down for a nap, or in my case cleaning her room which is the one time I’m grateful she DOES NOT like to hurry! lol.)

Articles like HOW TO DRY SHAMPOO

How to wear cute ACCESSORIES

FASHION Trends. What to wear all year long.

How to line the waterline of your eyes with eyeliner.

Moving ON now-

6. One of my goals this year is to get my FOOD STORAGE all caught up and nicely organized.  this site. is fantastic for giving me inspiration.

7. When Miss Brooklyn decides it’s time to get an Easy Bake Oven- which she will I’m sure, what little girl doesn’t want one at some point in her life?!  I want to remember THIS site, it is full of recipes to make your own easy bake oven recipes, so you don’t have to pay $5 to make two baby chocolate cakes. :)

8. She makes me laugh, cute cute sense of humor. My SIL told me about her blog actually it was around Christmas time, I’m sorry I held out on you all for so long. She is DARLING. She is local, well sort of an implant since she is going to BYU I you know? ANd well I WISH I had the guts to wear fashion like she does. I don’t , so I’ll just keep on a wishin’. Check it out HERE.

9. I wanted to make this valentine wreath last year, well I didn’t get around to it, so this year it’s a MUST! I DO NOT like having something on my to do list for that long! That being said, don’t judge me if it really doesn’t get done because I may or may not still be in my PJ’s and it is after noon.

10. I REALLY want one of these. I think they are SO stylish, I would feel like I was straight out of Anthropologie if I owned one. *wink

Wouldn’t it be cute sitting in my kitchen with a little cupcake under it – ( I saw one at the Lion House Pantry and fell in love.)

11. Don’t forget to enter the GIVE –AWAY from Shabby Shack ALL THE DETAILS are on the next post down. The pictures don’t even do these hair pieces justice. Seriously. In person, you will die! They are SO cute & SO affordable!!

 

GIVE AWAY!!!!

The first week of every month is well to say the least a bit stressful for me, it just seems like so many activities fall in the first week. When it’s all said & done, I really wouldn’t have it any other way. We had Recipe Group- YUMMY FOOD!!! Check out all the Cookin’ Mama’s Recipes HERE. It really is so fun, we have 10 girls in our group and we rotate hosting each month. Who ever hosts is in charge of the main dish, and usually the drink. They assign all the dishes out and have it at their home.  Here’s a look at the party!

 

I finally had an excuse to make the cute Snow Man Kisses! My dad actually made these up in photo shop for me! ♥  On the back it says

Snowman Kisses

He’s cute, cuddly & full of good wishes. He wants to give you these snowman kisses! xoxoxo

I also had the cute girls in my group e-mail me their favorite cookie recipes- and made these books up for each of us. Super Simple. Can’t wait to try all the cookie recipes out! Thanks girls!!!

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The very next night we had our Relief Society Workshop- (a group for women ages 18 up at church) We had mini classes on Organizing and Simplifying our Lives plus Being Frugal & Fabulous. It was perfect. The teachers that taught were AWESOME! Do you want the 411? (that means information in cool teenager language) I sound stupid saying that. heaven knows I’m not “cool”.

ANYWAY-

I learned SO MUCH and was totally inspired by the sisters in my ward. Why am I even surprised? I am always inspired by them!!!

There was SO much information, I think I’ll just post  a tiny bit of it tonight. Watch for Part II in the series in a couple of days.

The first thing you need to do is

Identify YOUR Clutter Personality.

Which one are You??

The stasher- this individual is surface clean, but open their closets or cupboards and watch everything fall on your head!

The packrat- this is the ultimate hoarder! They hold on to everything for like fifty years. “I might need that someday.” Or “so and so gave that to me.” (then they display it when that person comes to visit)

The messy- these people make messes wherever they go. You can find them just by following their clutter path.

The procrastinator- quite often a perfectionist, this individual is afraid of not doing it right, so they don’t do it at all. Or they are waiting for the right time, or the perfect organizing tools, and… well you get the picture. It never happens.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

So last but NOT least, I bet you are wondering what the GIVE AWAY is right?! Well Amanda, from

Shabby Shack Creations

offered my cute readers a chance to win one of FIVE customized hair accessories! That’s right FIVE lucky readers will win!! That’s a pretty good chance. She sent a couple of clips over to me already, and I’m telling you they are CUTE, not only that but they are a steal! I’ve seen girls selling these all over the place, but no where near the price Amanda is selling them at! Here are just a few of my favorites- but there are SO many to choose from!!!

So there are a couple of ways you can win.

one entry if you become a follower on the Shabby Shack Blog, one entry if you like Shabby Shack on facebook, one entry if you blog, facebook or tell a friend about the giveaway.

Just leave me a comment for each entry.

I will also be picking one winner from the list of followers on my blog.

The giveaway starts today and will close next Friday.