Knowing Where You Stand + An Amazing {Mint-Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe}

"The heart is not so easily changed, but the head can be persuaded." Disney's Frozen

             True, right? I look back on my teenage years, and I think, "Yowza! I really should have thought some things through before I made some of those choices." (Oh! You too!?) And how many times have we told our own children to "think before they act" or tell them about the dangers of society and the decisions WE want them to make? In my heart, I truly believe that if I had seriously thought about a few major things before they came up, you know, REALLY thought about them, AND decided how I felt about them, I would have felt confident enough to follow through with what I believed was right. 

               Teens have it hard and even though I know it's hard on boys too, I especially feel for the girls because there is SO much pressure on them to be perfect. School, physical appearance, sex, alcohol and drugs are just a few of them.

                I suggest you ask your girls questions like "How do you feel about pre-marital sex?" not "Please repeat how I feel about premarital sex and what The Bible says about it and tell me you're going to remain abstinent until marriage." All I want to know is that she's thought about it and that she knows how she feels about it. Because if she has an opinion and she truly believes it, it will be that much harder for someone else to convince her otherwise. 2 Corinthians 11:14 says "And no wonder, for even Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light." Anyone can convince you to do anything, if you don't know how you feel about it! Her opinion will remain in her heart, yours might not. Teens are notorious for doing the opposite of what their parents tell them to do. Not saying I did that or anything. Nope, not me! 

                  That was just one example, but when Grace goes to a friend's house, or to a party or a function where there's lots of kids, I ask her "If there was alcohol there, what do you think you would do?" And I reiterate the importance of knowing how she feels about these things so that WHEN(not if) she is pressured into doing otherwise, she knows how she feels about it which will help her make her  decision!

           "I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything..." Katy Perry's Roar  (<--- THIS)

     
                  Well, since I did finally see Frozen and I loved it, I thought it only fitting that I give you a recipe for homemade ice cream! It's mint chocolate chip and it's DEEEEE-licious!

I use this recipe from AllRecipes.com except I added whole milk instead of 2% because it's more fattening creamy. 

                                             MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP ICE CREAM

You need an ice cream maker for this recipe. I got mine at Amazon.com.

Ingredients:
2 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
green food coloring(I used 5 drops, but if you want it more radioactive looking, add more)
1 cup of your favorite chocolate(chips or chopped) I used chopped chocolate bark

1. In large bowl, combine milk, cream, sugar, salt and both extracts. Stir with whisk until sugar dissolves. Add the food coloring until it reaches your desired color. 

2. Turn on your ice cream maker and add the mixture according to the manufacturer's directions. Mine mixes for 20 minutes. While it's mixing, chop the chocolate. Once your ice cream is set, add your chocolate and mix until combined evenly. Transfer your ice cream into a container w/ lid and let it set in the freezer for 1-2 hours. Enjoy!

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!