Saturday, April 28, 2012

beautiful, natural curls...heat free!

[photo credit to ericalea.com. by the way, this isn't me. don't you think she's so pretty?]

      I actually tried this way once, and it turned out perfectly! I loved it, though I had to sleep with a certain hairstyle (but it didn't hurt!). And, as I mentioned earlier, it's heat-free. No more curling irons for me!


      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYxS1ohz4Ao


Love, Love, Love it!

pt 1: natural, feminine beauty...

[unknown credit]

       Good morning! :D

      It is a truth universally acknowledged that health is something most of us women strive for. It's true. There are so many diets out there that say that they are THE one, and it can be really confusing. I know from experience. After many years of eating the typical junk-food diet, I was eight years old when my brother Levi was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. We did everything the American Diabetic Association told us to do: consume sugar-free, fat-free--EVERYTHING--but we felt no different. In fact, we felt worse. We still felt tired and sick, and my brother was still unable to control his blood sugar. Some of our friends told us over and over again about the dangers of aspartame and hidden MSG and other additives, but we refused to listen to them, unfortunately. Then my mom developed migraines. And I mean the kind that are ten-days long and you're literally in bed 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Then, after all that, she got stomach issues. Last year, my sister Tessa was also diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. So, long story short, we went on a long journey through raw foodism until last year. It wasn't an easy diet, but we were determined to make it happen none-the-less after being inspired by the famous FoodMatters and Fat, Sick, And Nearly Dead documentaries. It HAD to be the one. It just had to. But yet, I wasn't happy. I couldn't enjoy the foods which I had grown to love so dearly, such as (whole-grain) bread, meat, or dairy. I felt *so* pressured to follow this perfect diet. 
      
      But one day, I grabbed one of my mom's health-books (because we had been buying quite a variety in those years) for a quick read on the way to Seattle. I knew it wasn't a raw-food or Natalia Rose book, but, hey, why not? I read it. I studied it. I learned from it.
      
      It changed my life. It changed all those myths of the perfect "eat-only-raw-fruits-and-veggies-and-you'll-have-perfect-health-and-body" diet. I had accepted so many lies. So many misconceptions. So many wrong ideas about how God intended us to eat, and why.

      That book was Real Food by Nina Plank. It's not a Christian book, but it's about eating food in the form that God intended it to be in. Yes, there are raw fruits and vegetables, but that's not all. Un-processed meat. Raw milk. Raw cheese. Raw nuts. Farm-fresh eggs. Yup. You probably just went,"UUUUUGGGGHHHH!" when you heard me mention raw milk. I had finally found not a diet, but a lifestyle of eating right. I won't always be perfect. I won't always discipline my flesh when it comes to binging. I won't always be perfectly trim and toned. I won't always make the right (food) choices. 

      But I'm still happy. Happy that I can still eat meat. Happy that I can still enjoy food. Happy that I can (occasionally, of course :D) eat a nice, big platter of Fettuccine Alfredo from the Olive Garden and not feel guilty. Happy that I can skip a day or two of exercise and not be afraid of becoming fat. But, please, don't get me wrong: I don't think you should indulge on pasta all the time or stop exercising or eat all the food you want all the time. But we shouldn't feel guilty to try some of our little niece's first batch of brownies or Great-Aunt Sue's homemade dinner rolls.

      We do, of course, need to eat healthy on a day-to-day basis. We need to strive to honour our bodies, which are temples of God. Do we want a body that is sick and tired and lacks in the energy to do the things God has called us to do in this life? I don't know about you, but I don't! And yes, there are times to decline an unhealthy choice to make a more healthy choice. I'm still working on how to balance that. I'm not perfect at it. But I want to be able to feel my best. A big reason I've chosen this lifestyle is so...I can be the best me I can be, and be able to do the things which God has called me to do.

stay tuned for pt. 2!

       


     
      

Thursday, April 26, 2012

a favorite quote!

[unknown credit. all i know is that i got it from http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/. somewhere]

"Her expectations are my inspirations." ~Eric Ludy

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

no knead bread...so yummy

     [photo credit goes to cookingforseven.com]

       In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings cannot be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love...this bread. (mr. darcy, anyone?) It's so true. This is the best bread I could ever have. I could never settle for less. It's so soft and airy, but yet has such a rich, authentic flavour. 


      Check it out here: [http://www.cookingforseven.com/2012/03/best-bread-ever/]

cinnamon roll recipe: THE BEST

      [all photo credit goes to pioneerwoman.com]
    
     This is literally the best cinnamon roll recipe I've ever tried. It's not my recipe, but I don't care. I'm famous in my family-friend circle for making them, and they are always a hit. Satisfaction Guaranteed :D

      Even the dough is from scratch!

      It does take a little time sometimes, but it is SO worth it. Okay, so maybe it's not sometimes. Maybe it's kinda always. And maybe it doesn't take a little time, but maybe...uh... *perhaps* quite a while. Like three to seven hours. And maybe your feet will feel sore. And maybe you'll feel really tired. And maybe--okay. I'll stop now.

      This is the best part. This is the best part. This is the best part. This is the best part. So many ways to say it in the English language :D.
      Why, you may ask? Well, when you roll the dough which is full of all the divine ingredients which are butter, cinnamon, and sugar, it'll all ooze out onto your fingers so you can lick them and take a trip to heaven and back then will come back to earth again to cut it up and put it in the oven. *pants*


                                                              The frosting (yummy).


      So, anyway, here's the link 
[http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/cinammon_rolls_/]


      You will become THE most popular person in the room if you make these. Be sure to field marriage proposals as needed *grin*.


                                                               ~*~*~*~ Happy Baking!~*~*~*~

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

little dorrit movie review...


     I am currently watching this series for the second time. I loved this movie, and am hoping to persuade you into watching it, if you haven't already. Of course, if you know Charles Dickens, you know he's got some dark stuff. So this may not be your Jane Austen kind of movie but it *still* has romance in it which makes it SO worth watching.

Summary (from back of DVD)

      This gripping new series brings to life Dicken's powerful story of struggle and hardship in 1820's London. When Arthur Clennam returns to England after many years abroad, his curiosity is piqued by the presence in his mother's house of a young seamstress, Amy Dorrit. His quest to discover the truth about "Little Dorrit" takes him to the Marshalsea Debtor's Prison, where he discovers that the dark shadows of debt stretch far and wide in a web of desperation and deceit.

Amy ("Little") Dorrit~by Claire Foy

   
     I think Claire Foy did a wonderful job playing that quiet-yet-always-loyal personality. She (as Amy) had to support her entire family on her income, and had much responsibility on her little shoulders. She did very well for being fairly new to acting!


 Mr. Clennam~by Matthew Macfadyen (I heard that sigh!)





       I like him better in this movie than in the Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly (*gasps in background*). I know. He just...wasn't.......Mr. Darcy (but more on that another time!). He is that character who is rich but is very generous and lovable.


John Chivery

      Aaaaaaaawwwwwwwwww.... If you've seen this movie you know why I feel bad. This man did an UH-MAZING job as this character. He was probably my most favourite character in the movie (look at the youtube link below!)


 and...those characters who make me cringe


Mrs. Clennam (Mr. Clennam's mother)
 Flintwinch
And (the worst of all) Rigaurd...**shudder**


      Okay, so now, *drums rolling* my next means of persuasion...

             

*pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaase* watch it. It's only 4 min and 10 sec long!

     And, to end this post:

       
~*~*~*~* Finis *~*~*~*~


*****NOTE***** I take NO CREDIT for these pics! I just went on Bing and looked them up

Monday, April 23, 2012

some posts and ramblings...

      
                                   [unknown credit. if it belongs to you, *please* let me know!]



      Hey! I just read some *awesome* posts. Yeah, I know they're kinda old, but their messages are timeless.

[http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/06/how-to-raise-geniuses-or-be-bit-of/]

[http://alilyamongthethorns.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-will-not-stay-silent.html]

[http://visionarydaughters.com/2011/05/david-and-nadias-wedding]

    Oh! And here is a spectacular video regarding a Christian woman's true beauty. A Must-Watch.



                     And, while you're at it, check out Set-Apart Girl's magazine!

                     [www.setapartgirl.com]


Sunday, April 22, 2012

october baby movie--better check it out!

 
       Oh. My. Goodness. I am dying to see this movie (*slight* exaggeration :D) The movie "October Baby" is about a girl named Hannah who, after finding out that she was adopted and survived an attempted abortion, decides to go to on a journey, with the help of a few friends, to find her real mom. She not only learns who her mother is, but she also learns to choose to love and forgive. 

       Go to  [www.octoberbabymovie.net] to find out more details and watch the trailer! And, while you're at it, visit [http://god-sdaughter.blogspot.com/2012/04/october-baby.html] to read Raquel's review on the movie. I don't know about you, but it looks pretty good to me!


        Isn't that just romantic? *sigh* Whatever happens, I hope they get together in the end!

(Sorry. That's my romantic side getting a hold of me. And I guarantee that that won't be the last time you see it... *sly grin*)

Here's the trailer:



books are food to the soul....






currently reading (at school) :

1. 1 and 2 Peter
 
currently reading (by myself) :

1. What He Must Be by Voddie Baucham

2. Reshaping It All by Candace Cameron Bure

3. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (almost finished!)





(I know. I read tons of books at once. It's just me!)

perfect for a sunday morning!

                                                                  [credit to ericalea.com]
                                                                           
Isn't this gorgeous? And it's so simple!

[http://www.ericalea.com/2011/11/01/bedhead-to-elegant-updo-video-tutorial/]


     

Saturday, April 21, 2012

blogs i adore...

[unknown credit. sorry. pinterest maybe?]

"Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world." ~Anne of Green Gables

I. Cooking

1. http://thepioneerwoman.com/

2. http://joythebaker.com/

3. http://www.cookingforseven.com/

II. Kindred Spirits

1.  http://www.setapartgirl.com/home.html

2. http://www.beggarsdaughter.com/

3. http://www.simplyvintagegirl.com/blog/

4. http://www.ericalea.com/

5. http://femininefarmgirl.blogspot.com/

6. http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/

7.  http://www.rachellerea.com/

8. http://asmileandsong.blogspot.com/

9. http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/

10. http://www.aholyexperience.com/

11.  http://feelinfeminine.com/

12. http://www.acornerpillar.com/

13. http://www.growinghomeblog.com/

14. http://visionarydaughters.com/

15. http://simplebounty.wordpress.com/

16. http://www.confessionsofasleepaholic.blogspot.com/  (my sister! :D)

17. http://plowinginpearls.com/

18. http://www.littlenaturalcottage.com/

19. http://jillshomeremedies.blogspot.com/

20. http://www.bloggingbeth.blogspot.com/

21. http://god-sdaughter.blogspot.com/

22. http://arielleeliseblog.com/

23. http://unlockingfemininity.com/

24. http://becomingahopefulromantic.blogspot.com/

25. http://autumnbouquet.blogspot.com/

26. http://alilyamongthethorns98.blogspot.com/

27. http://freshmodesty.blogspot.com/

28. http://gracesgardenwalk.blogspot.com/

29. http://beautifulblankpages.blogspot.com/

30.  http://jasminecapri.blogspot.com/   (my wonderful cousin, Jasmine)

31. http://themaidenofvirtue.blogspot.com/

32. [http://boh777.blogspot.com/] and [http://frommandy.blogspot.com/]

33. http://womenlivingwell.org/


34. http://peak313.com/


35. http://daughteroftheking89.blogspot.com/

36. http://www.myerscrosstraining.com/


37. http://www.delightedmomma.com/


38. http://www.fashionandmodesty.blogspot.com/


39. http://melindafarmgirl.blogspot.com/


If you're not on this list, don't think that you're a blog I don't adore! I'm just running out of room! If you want to see more, look at the list of blogs I follow. :D

what is stopping you?

     
      Do you remember those Awana days when you and a bunch of six to eight year old kids had to recite John 3:16? Back then you were that little girl with two pigtails, a front tooth missing, and not a care in the world. But do you really think about the meaning of John 3:16, that you're actually free? Free enough that you can run with reckless abandon of all the shame, all the guilt, and all the lies toward the Prince of Peace? What is stopping you from rejoicing in the fact that you may go, and sin no more? Why do you preach to others that the truth will set them free, but yet you yourself live as if you are in chains? If you truly think that you sinned so badly that even Christ couldn't forgive you, you are denying the power of the Cross, denying the sacrifice which Christ gave to save us from hell. 
   
      Is it your little sibling? A bad day? Mood swings? Doesn't Christ's sacrifice outweigh those little problems which vex you? Does it take only a little for your day to be "ruined"? What is stopping you from overflowing with joy because you are forgiven? Doesn't Psalm 118:24 say, "This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it"?

       Basically, my question is:         
                                        
                                            What is stopping you today?


Blessings,
Rae

Friday, April 20, 2012

what a wonderful world...

[unknown source]

Hello, blog world!
        This is my first blog, so...bear with me ;)
        I hope that you receive encouragement, inspiration, and are blessed.
        (Oh, and by the way, "what a wonderful world" is a song by eva cassidy. Just in case you were wondering :D Everyone ought to listen to this song: it is so beautiful. Eva knew she was about to pass away from a fatal disease, so she sang this song at her last concert. *please* take your time to watch it. It's so worth it.)