3-Step Teen Acne Solution

     

First Homecoming makeup trial

Dreaded pimples. They ruin everything! I can't even say that this post relates to teens only because I'm in my mid-thirties and still break out occasionally. In fact, I went through a tough situation in my mid-twenties that caused my hormones to run rampant. My face went crazy. Talk about embarrassing. I even had someone say to me, "What happened to your face?" True story! Do me a favor. Don't ever ask someone that. ;)

I've been helping Grace get prepared for her Homecoming dance which is coming up in two short weeks. She needed a new skin care regimen and this was the perfect opportunity for me to share what I learned about skin all those years ago. During that ordeal, I had done so much research on acne. I had gone to the doctor. I had even ordered and tried Proactive. Why didn't any of it work?

I wish I could remember the website that saved my skin. I tried to find it, but couldn't. I am not a dermatologist and I do not claim to have answers for everyone. All I know is that this worked for me and it's working for Grace. Maybe try this before you spend tons of money on prescriptions and expensive products. It's super affordable and works for guys or gals!

ONCE A DAY 3-STEP ACNE SOLUTION

1. Wash your face(preferably at night) with a VERY gentle hypoallergenic cleanser like Johnson & Johnson PURPOSE from Walgreens. ($5.79)

2. Follow with an acne spot treatment with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide like PersaGel 10 by Clean & Clear. Only apply it to existing breakout areas. ($5.99)



3. Finish with a fragrance-free hypoallergenic moisturizer like Cetaphil. Moisturizing is so important! I know it seems counter-intuitive but it is an essential clear skin product! ($13.49)



Follow these three steps once a day, that's it. I can't even tell you the science behind it. Maybe it has to do with the fact that these products have less chemicals. Maybe it's the washing once a day. I don't know, but give it a try! Grace's forehead cleared up almost completely in two weeks!

I'll leave you with this scripture from Proverbs 31:30 NIV: "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

Remember one thing. Beauty comes from the inside out.

The Secret to Inner Peace

Galatians 5: 22-23 (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

If you think someone's too nice, maybe God's trying to show you how to be nicer.

If you think someone's too laid back, maybe God wants you to relax a little.

If you think someone's too opinionated, maybe He's showing you how to stand up for what you believe.

If you think someone is too offensive, maybe He's showing you how to be more tolerant.

If you think someone's too religious, maybe He's trying to show you that you need Him.

If you think someone is too goofy, maybe God's trying to show you how to laugh.

If you think someone is too ugly, maybe He's trying to show you where to find true beauty.

If you think someone's too sensitive, maybe He's trying to show you how to be more compassionate.

If you think someone's too slow, maybe He's showing you how to be more patient.

If you think someone's unlovable, maybe He's trying to show you how to love them anyway.

          I was watching a Joyce Meyer special the other day(months after I wrote the above). The lesson is about our consciences, but towards the end she spoke about how she used to be one of those Christians. You know the ones. They are always concerned with what everyone else is doing, or NOT doing. Always finding something to complain about. Sometimes they are like a tornado of destruction! She didn't realize until later that she had all of this uneasiness about what others were doing, but that "pit in the stomach" feeling came from her relationship with God. She had to ask Him, "God, what is not right between US?" Once she realized that the lack of peacefulness she was feeling was between her and God, she no longer had to worry about what everyone else was doing. All she had to focus on was her relationship with Him. Was she honoring Him? If she didn't and if she sinned against him, that uneasy feeling would return. When that feeling returned to her, she would say to God "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me." We also need to realize that sometimes our sins against God can many times be our wrongdoings against others. See, our lack of inner peace comes from that too, because God intends us to live out the fruit of the Spirit. If we offend someone, or hurt them, all we have to do is say "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me." No excuses!

Wow! What an "ah-ha!" moment! We ALL fall short. True peacefulness within comes when we are right with God! Look within!

If you would like to see Joyce's special, The Voice of Conscience, it can be found here. 

Teen Bedroom Makeover + Renewing Your Spirit For a New School Year

Psalms 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit with me.

Tomorrow is Grace's first day of high school. What better way to start a new school year than to ask God to renew your spirit so you can start fresh? Let go of what happened last year, good or bad. Don't let past experiences cast a shadow on what you think the coming months will bring. Go in with a clean heart and mind. Take what comes your way. Start the new school year off right!

Speaking of renewals, we've been working on a little project. Little? Haha. Ok, we've been working on a BIG one. We've been remodeling Grace's bedroom!! I couldn't have imagined we'd have so much fun doing this bedroom makeover! Here's what we started with:

Grace knew she wanted turquoise, hence the paint sample. So that's where we started. Then, we bought her a new bedroom set. It 's been a long time coming. The girl's bed was falling apart and she had one skinny little dresser that would fall apart every time she pulled out a drawer.

We also found a few necessities at amazing prices. And here's her room now:

There's still work to be done. The walls are pretty bare, but we're not too concerned about that just yet. The important stuff is there. And it's all fabulous!

Here's what we found:

Comforter: Bed, Bath & Beyond Sidney 7 piece comforter set $99
Sheet set & Sequined Black Pillow: Steele's $14.99  & $9.99
Rug: Hobby Lobby 5' x 7' Chevron $50 (rugs were 50% off)
Cross: Hobby Lobby $20(also 50% off)
Paint: Lowe's Valspar Signature Paint + Primer in Aqua Ocean $25.99
Curtains: (not shown) 4 sheer white panels from Dollar General for $5 a piece, curtain rods, 2 for $3

We are so pleased with the results and cannot wait to keep adding to it! We'll post more pictures as we complete her room. Until then, we hope you love it as much as we do and wish the best of luck to all who are starting school in the coming weeks!!

The Best Lip Gloss Ever + Keeping Those Lips Sealed

Proverbs 17:28

Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they're smart. 

In other words, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” Our mouths get us in trouble. Sometimes we get so caught up in being right, that we forget about what's important. It is more important to argue with a friend about miniscule things, or to agree to disagree? Is it better to gossip about someone who has hurt you or to forgive and pray for them? It is better to talk yourself in circles, or to admit that you don't know the answer? I've always thought the most honest words someone can say are "I don't know." It's ok to not know something! People who can admit this are being honest with themselves and you. 

Can you think of any current situation in your life where it will be better for you to stay silent? Are you struggling with whether or not you should stay silent? I've struggled in this area myself. I've always been an honest person, but I've had to learn that sometimes silence is the best way to make a point. I've seen light bulbs go off when someone I know is explaining a situation and because I was silent, they've had the opportunity to listen to themselves and find the answers within. 

If you can't or shouldn't say something, but you REALLY want to, pray about it instead. You can say everything it is you want and need to, and God will always be there to listen!

We just spent a week in Florida. It was an amazing vacation. I love the ocean. I also love shopping, and my vacation had the perfect mix of the two. This time, I took my first trip to Ulta. It's like Sephora, but it includes drug store brands as well. The have a brand called NYX(I've pronounced it as N-Y-X, but the saleswoman referred to it as nix). I don't know which one is correct. See what I did there? ;) 

Well, I've been a Mac fan for a couple of years, but I may be a convert to NYX. Their packaging is beautiful and the products mimic the high-end brands without the high-end prices. Then I found this...drum roll please...........

 This is NYX "mood" lip gloss, my new favorite lip gloss and it's less than $5!!! It goes on CLEAR and then changes to your perfect shade of pink! I don't know how it works, but it does. You can see it on Grace above. Look at that shine! Here is it on me:

Tip: Don't go too heavy on it. If you do, it can stain your teeth and who wants to brush their teeth again AFTER they've applied their lip product!

See? It's not the same shade on me as it is on Grace, but it looks amazing on both of us! I'm telling you, you NEED to have this gloss! And for $5, what do you have to lose? If you don't have an Ulta near you, you can buy it online here.

A Spicy Summer Salad + Christian Roadblocks

             Romans 14:13 (NIV)
             Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

The Bible instructs us NOT to judge others, no matter what! If we ridicule someone because they sin, we aren't being very Christ-like. After all, aren't we all sinners? If we do judge, and do so openly, aren't we causing others in the world to be further away from Christ? Absolutely. We should be doing everything we can to love and accept others. It is not our responsibility to hold the Word of God against others. If we do, we become a road block in their journey to or with Christ. It is our Christian duty to live according to His Word and, through our words and actions, inspire others to do the same. 

Alright, guys. You are going to LOVE today's recipe. This is the perfect accompaniment to any grilled dish. Have I ever mentioned what an awesome cook my dad is? Grilling, baking, boiling, steaming...you name it, he can cook it. This is his recipe for a refreshingly delicious summer salad.

 Pop's Spicy Summer Corn and Bean Salad

1 can Whole Kernel Corn (drained)
1 can black beans (rinsed)
2 Roma tomatoes
1/2 red onion chopped
1 lime(for juicing)
1/4 cup cilantro(chopped)
1/2 jalapeno (cored and seeded*, then chopped)
1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Kosher Salt
Ground Black Pepper

 This is so easy. The directions are practically in the ingredient list. Prepare and stir to combine all of the ingredients.

*leave the jalapeno seeds in ONLY if you want this salad REALLY spicy!!

My dad likes to let this salad sit in the fridge to develop the flavors. Tonight, I served it right after I made it. It's great both ways! This is definitely a hit if you need a side dish to bring to a cookout!

YUMMY!


 


 

Coffee Filter Wreath + How to Live Forever

        John 3:16 NIV
        "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

I think it's amazing that once this life is through, just because I believe in Jesus Christ, I get to live FOREVER. And, in the words of Prince, "Eternity means forever..." Sorry, I had to, the song is stuck in my head. Also, my husband, Hank, is not just a Prince fan, but he's always telling me how amazed he is at the amount of people that go through the motions of life without even thinking about how they will spend eternity. Have you thought about it? Did you know that your belief is how you get there? John 3:16 says it all!

This craft project we've been working on is what reminded me of this scripture. It's a coffee filter wreath. The circle has no end, and neither does eternity.

 

We've seen these ALL over Pinterest, but lets be honest, what haven't we seen on Pinterest? We didn't have much to spend on our next craft, so this is definitely budget-friendly. Here's how we did it:

      

 

 

 

 

Supplies: One foam wreath form, hot glue gun and sticks, and coffee filters

First, heat up your glue gun. Then, grab a coffee filter and pinch the bottom.

Put hot glue on the pinched portion(bottom) of the filters and glue them around the form. We glued them pretty close together, but you could space them out a bit, depending on the look you're going for.

Your wreath starts to take shape.

This is a time consuming process, so have a little fun with it!

Attach ribbon of any color and hang wherever you like!

This project took about one hour and thirty minutes. We really loved it hanging over our dining room mirror. We've also seen these wreaths dip dyed in tea, or even spray painted. You can really customize it to work with any room and color palette!

Summer Nails for 2013 and Other Ways to Brighten Your Life

Proverbs 15:13

A glad heart makes a cheerful face...

That's right, there's nothing more beautiful than a glowing smile brought on by pure happiness in your heart. I might even go as far as saying that we may not need to wear makeup if we felt so much joy on the inside. Of course, I'd still wear mine *wink*! 

Try to find little ways to add "pops of color" into your every day lives and the lives of others. It could be calling up a friend for lunch, doing an unexpected favor for someone or writing a sweet note telling someone how you feel. Go outside, lift your arms up to the sky and look at the beauty God has created in this world. That alone should put a smile on your face. And while you're doing that, take a peek at your fabulous nails against that gorgeous blue sky!

 

What better way to celebrate the arrival of Summer than treating yourself to a pop of color on your fingers and toes?

We can't all afford a fabulous new wardrobe every time the seasons change, but you can update your looks affordably with some chic nail polish. These are my personal picks for Summer 2013:

Ciate in Big Yellow Taxi  $15 Nordstrom.com

Essie in Bottle Service $8 online or at Walgreens

Maybelline Color Show in Tenacious Teal $2.99 anywhere that sells Maybelline

Zoya in Sharon $9 zoya.com 

When it comes to color these days, it seems like none of them are out of style and you can change your nail colors as much as you change your moods. I mean, we are female, are we not? Try something daring, or go with a different shade of an old standby. No matter what, have fun with it!

Nutella Popsicles + A Word on Patience

“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them– every day begin the task anew.”  ~ Francis de Sales

This quote really hits home for me. It's important that if you have a goal in mind, that every day you take one step closer to achieving it. Don't look too far ahead or the task may seem too big. That makes it so much easier to give up. Instead, take it one day at a time. The days will pass whether you do it or not. It only takes 17 days to create a habit and before you know it, you will look back and say, look what I've accomplished! And if you fall one day, you get back up and do it all over the next day. It CAN be done!! It's a lot easier to be patient when you're working towards something, rather than waiting for it to happen.

Speaking of patience, have you ever sat around waiting for popsicles to freeze? That's practically what I did today. I couldn't wait to show you all the Nutella Popsicles I made. 

By the way, if you like the taste of Nutella, but find it too rich, you will LOVE these popsicles. If you are already an all-around Nutella lover, you shall remain one. 

I was inspired by this recipe, doubled it, and instead of using full fat milk, I used 1%. They came out deliciously amazing! Here's what you'll need:

 

A bowl, 2/3 cup of Nutella, 2 cups of milk, a popsicle mold and a blender.

You can use any milk you'd like. Coconut milk would be delicious, and soy milk would work just as well. Blend the two ingredients together and pour into the mold. The mold I purchased is by Norpro and I got it on Amazon(my home away from home).

 

Stick it in the freezer and wait....tick, tock, tick, tock. Try and find something productive to do. Don't spend all day wiggling the sticks to see if they're set yet! Not that I know anyone who would do such a thing(eh hem).

Once they're set you get this:

These looked so delicious, I had to take a bite before I took a picture. I'd pick these over store-bought fudgesicles any day!

Cake Pushpops You Will Love + Advice on Prayer

                  P.U.S.H.

                  Pray

                  Until

                  Something

                  Happens

How many of us only pray when bad things happen, or when things simply aren't going our way? How many of us don't pray at all because we either think we won't receive an answer, or we don't have to time to wait for one?

By the way, whether it's quick or not, God answers prayer. This is something I am 100% sure of. I know this because I've received answers to my prayers numerous times and I used to be a "prayer skeptic." The truth is, God has his own timing. We have to be patient. Just know that whatever the answer is and whenever He gives it, it is the RIGHT answer! I've waited years for some of my prayers to be answered, and some of mine have been answered within minutes. You have to trust Him! He knows what's best for you, and no matter how hard you try to control everything in your life, He is truly The One in control. So, my advice to you is that you keep praying and pray often! Praying doesn't have to be kneeling by the side of your bed, either. You can have a constant dialogue with Him in your head. Just mean it. Pray with all of your heart. Let Him know you love Him and let Him know about all of the things you are thankful for. After that, all you have to do is LISTEN. 

So, along with our P.U.S.H. theme, we have something that has hit Pinterest by storm.

Cake pushpops! How cute are these? The best part is, you can experiment with so many flavors, ice creams, cakes, frostings...anything! Just search for "cake pushpops" on Pinterest and be amazed. Ours are chocolate cake(box) with this amazing peanut butter frosting. When I say amazing, I mean OUT OF THIS WORLD and yes, it includes an entire stick of butter.

Here's how we did it. First, we bought the containers on Amazon.com. These were $8 for 6 pushpop containers. You can buy bigger lots and save money, if you so choose. These would be GREAT for a party!

Mix your cake according to your recipe, or in our case, the directions on the box. Find a sheet pan with sides and bake. Our cake only took 20 minutes to bake this way, so keep your eye on it!

Make your frosting. Once your cake has completely cooled(cooling is important!!), punch out circles using the pushpop container.

Assemble your cake pops by alternating cake and icing. Ours ended perfectly with cake so we could ice the tops nice and high. Also, we used piece of styrofoam to work these. So much easier than holding them.

There you have it! It's THAT easy! We decorated ours with a tiny Reese's Peanut Butter Cup on top.

Enjoy!

Keeping Productive + 3 Summer Makeup Must-Haves

               Proverbs 10:5 NIV

              He who gathers crops in the summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during
              harvest is a disgraceful son.

How many people sit around all summer long waiting for the next school year? A lot! Well, instead of watching TV and being inside all day, you should get out and be active! Maybe you could go to the beach, go swimming or go on walks! Make sure you get lots of exercise and stay healthy!

You know, The Bible says a lot about harvesting but the only way you can really harvest is if you're an actual farmer. But, maybe you should change your perspective. There are other ways to harvest, too! Like in your community. How about going to a neighbor's house to see if they need help mowing their yard or other projects with their home? Don't be afraid to help other people!You'd be amazed at how good it feels. Below we have 3 summer makeup must-haves, but there really is nothing like the natural glow you get from serving others.

Summers in Louisiana are HOT. It's pretty pointless to put on a full face of makeup during the summer months because it practically melts off of your face! Here are the only 3 products you'll need to look great this summer whether you're spending it at the beach, on a walk or helping in your community!

1) Great Lash Waterproof Mascara in Very Black- Waterproof mascara is a must during the summer. It keeps your eyes looking fresh and alert all day, and you can swim and not worry about it dripping down your face. This stuff stays put. Don't forget to use an eye makeup remover before bed to get it off!

2) Garnier Skin Renew Oil Free BB Cream in Light/Medium- If you haven't tried BB cream yet, it is a must! It has tinted moisturizer and sunscreen in it! It corrects imperfections in the skin AND protects you from the sun. The coverage is great and this one is oil free, so if you're prone to oily skin in the summer you won't have to worry about it.

3) Any lightly tinted lip balm, but we chose Revlon Colorburst Lipbutter in Sweet Tart. It moisturizes your lips and adds a bit of shine and color.

You can do this look in 5 minutes or less and look great like me! Who doesn't want more time at the beach anyway?

The Ties That Bind: An Easy, Affordable Tutorial for Colorful Hair Elastics

Romans 12:10 NIV

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 

For me, this verse is the epitome of family. The ties and the bonds of a family. The mutual respect. The love. God has hand picked our families for us. What greater thanks can we give Him for these gifts other than love and mutual respect for each other?

These elastic hair ties are all the rage in hair accessories at the moment. They don't leave the dreaded dent that other hair ties do, and they don't put your hair out of your head once you take them out. Wait until you see how easy (and cheap!) these are to make. 

First, find an online retailer that sells the elastic. We buy ours from here. Look for the 5/8" elastic for this project. You can make 4 hair ties per yard. 

Cut your elastic 9" long.

Fold elastic in half.

Pinch folded elastic(cut side facing you) with your thumb and forefinger. Knot elastic by pulling bottom part over your thumb.

It will look like this.

Snip end with very sharp scissors on a diagonal. TIP: These will fray. Either use a lighter and gently swipe the flame across the edge(adults should do this part) OR use a product such as Fray Check to prevent fraying.

There you have it! You can make set of these and put them on cardboard if you'd like to sell them. Grace and I did this and added faithful words with stamps to the cardboard so they could be sold. Have fun with this! You can make headbands too! Just cut the elastic to 21" and follow the rest of the directions. By the way, these look exceptionally fabulous on the ends of braids.