Video Blog - Rag Curls

Have you ever wondered how to make rag curls?

Watch and learn how!

Discovery Fridays: Thanksgiving Decos

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching! It is a beautiful time of the year, and while I believe we should be thankful each and every moment...it is nice to have a holiday dedicated to thankfulness.  My husband's parents and sisters will be visiting us for this holiday, and I wanted to make the time special and memorable.  I wanted to decorate...but I didn't want to have to pay an arm and a leg for decorations.  So here are some creative things that you could do for very little money to make this upcoming holiday special. :)

Why not make a beautiful fall wreath - with paper and glitter?  It is definitely much cheaper than most wreaths you could buy.  I also love this one as it is unique, sparkly, and, yes, inexpensive. :)

Photo Courtesy & Tutorial

What about making a garland with leaf shapes spelling out "Give Thanks," "Be thankful" or something similar? It is very inexpensive and a simple afternoon project.

Photo Courtesy & Tutorial

Many people have vases, popcorn (unpopped), and candles lying around the house.  Why not combine these for a beautiful centerpiece?  Check out this (and other) decoration idea from My Heart's Desire!

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

Simply Vintage Girl has an amazing idea of a "Thankful Tree."  I love this idea and hope to implement it this year.  Ever played that "game" (for lack of a better word) where everyone goes around the table before the Thanksgiving meal stating something they are thankful for?  I've got to admit, I was never a fan of that game.  Not because I'm not thankful, just that by the end everyone was coming up with crazy and silly stuff because they didn't want to be repetitive.  I also just don't like talking in front of people, and I know many people are the same way.  So why not set up a thankful tree where everyone can leave their thanks.  This allows for a beautiful decoration, a place to leave thanks, and, when people have nothing else to do, it would be fun to read about what other people wrote!

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

Something cute to hold utensils is also a great idea, and the Idea Room came up with a winner (at least in my book).  This could work for both plastic and regular utensils, and it would just add a little spice to the table or buffet.  I am definitely going to print these out and use them for this holiday season!

Photo Courtesy & Free Printable

What are some of your ideas for this Thanksgiving? I hope that you all have a wonderful, thankful season!

Discovery Fridays: Kiddo Gifts

For my last installment on kid gifts, I thought I'd hit a broad range of age here... Some of these can be used for little kids and big kids, but they were just a couple more ideas I found and really wanted to share!

I can remember being a little girl and really wanting to have beds to put my stuffed animals and dolls in.  So why not make some sleeping bags for their special toys?  Creative, inexpensive, easy, and just plain fun!

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

If you know a family that is often on a road, a portable checkers game is an excellent idea! This idea from Stacy Vaughn is brilliant! (I don't know where some of these people get their ideas -- but I wish I was that creative!)

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

As a little girl, I can remember wanting to cook with my Mom all the time.  She made me an adorable little apron that I still have to this day.  I am sure any little girl would love an apron like this! And if you changed the themes, some boys might even want to help Mom cook, too!

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

So there are a few more hand-made gift ideas for kids! What other ideas might you have for all the different ages?  Happy crafting!

Discovery Fridays: Toddler Gifts

Last week we came up with a few ideas for baby gifts... And this week I thought we could look at a few toddler gifts along the same lines! Hope you enjoy more gift project ideas! :)

Quiet books are amazing.  They are quiet and keep the kid quietly playing with his book.  They can be very simple...or completely beautiful.  For my little boy, I so want to make him a beautiful quiet book.  I believe my Mom and sister may help me with some of the pages and that will make it even more special!  One lady has come up with some AMAZING quiet book pages and patterns - and I do hope to use some of them. :)  Here are her links, but I think the idea of a quiet book is just to be creative... Use your imagination and have fun! Most likely, the toddler will love it no matter what!

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

As a toddler, kiddos can definitely begin to learn their letters.  But a toddler is less likely to be interested when sitting down with a book and studying.  So why not make all the letters out of fabric scraps.  The toddler will be entertained by the bright, fabric letters and Momma will be thrilled to have the toddler learning at the same time!

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

At the toddler age, little people love coloring.  But, quite honestly, combating that flimsy cardboard box can be trying and impossible.  So why not make a cute crayon tote?

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

Want something a little larger, extravagant, and certain to bring squeals of delight?  Make your own tent out of hula hoops and sheets! I can't wait for when my little one is old enough to use this idea!

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

How about something that allows a toddler to have their own "space" while out and about...but is also very cute and useful? Moms might like this one, as well, as it has a distinct purpose! Create a nap mat! :)

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

What other ideas do you have for toddler gifts?  We'd love to hear some of your thoughts!

Video Blog - How to Make a Swirly Hair Bun

I rarely ever put my hair up in a swirly hair bun

without someone asking me how I do it - 

and so I finally decided to make a

video to show others how.  :)

What Do You See? By Guest Writer, Emily

What do you See?

From Guest Writer, Emily

 

I recently watched a DVD that taught me a very good lesson. The DVD was an old-fashioned story about a man who had an awful lot of problems! He was about to lose his land because there was an awful drought which meant he couldn't grow anything on his land and make any money to pay his bills. His well dried up, so he had to haul water from the river. When he tried to dig new wells, he just hit rock. Secondly, his wife died of scarlet fever. Then his young daughter caught their house on fire trying to make dinner.

He was complaining about all his problems to his father. His father took him up to the top of a hill which overlooked his house and land. The father said to him, “What do you see?” All the son could see was the dry fields, his land that he thought he was going to lose, the house that had nearly burned down etc. His dad said to him,”That's your problem. All you see are the bad things. You don't see all the blessings that God gives you.” Their discussion went on further, but I learned a lesson right here. 

 

When we look at things in our life, what do we see? When we look at our parents, what do we see? Do we just see their mistakes and faults? Or do we see all their good points (which are usually far more than their faults)? When we look at our family, what do we see? Do we see how annoying they can be sometimes and all the ways that they could be nicer and better? Or do we see the things that we can appreciate? When we look at our school or schoolwork, what do we see? All the work that it takes? Or the big blessing that we are able to learn and get education when there are many in the world who never can? When we look at our church, what do we see? Just the things that we think should be done differently or that ways that it could be much better? Or are we thankful for the good things?

This was a lesson for me! When I look at my home, what do I see? Lots of never-ending work?! Or a lovely place that God has provided us with? When I look at my children, what do I see? Dirty nappies, noise, interrupted sleep etc?! Or do I see the fun they bring, their cuteness and the joy they are? When I look at my husband, what do I see?! His few faults? Or the great blessing and help that he is?

 

Sometimes it's like we are wearing dark sunglasses and everything seems so dark and gloomy! But if we would just take them off, we would see the sun and the blue sky.

 

Let's be thankful and focus on the positive things, and then pray about the negative things! It will make a world of difference.

 

Focus on the good things!

 

“In everything give thanks.”

To Follow Emily, please visit her blogs here:

http://forchristianteengirls.blogspot.co.nz/

http://encouragementforbusymums.blogspot.co.nz/

Discovery Fridays: Baby Gifts

Christmastime is steadily approaching! Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year as it is a time of giving.  I love giving!  However, oftentimes as I walk through the store I am very much turned away by all of the plastic and impersonal gifts.  They just don't mean anything.  This is where my love for creating comes in.  I LOVE making gifts! Some of the hardest people to make gifts for are babies, in my opinion.  In reality they shouldn't be - if you gave them a cardboard box filled with paper they'd probably be very content! But I like to make things that are just a little more creative. :)  So here are some ideas to entertain the littles or help the parents out! I hope you enjoy them! And if you have other ideas, I would love to see them! :)  Happy creating!

If you are a Mom, older sister, or baby sitter...or if you are just someone who is around kids a lot...you have probably seen a baby methodically sitting with a diaper wipe container quite contentedly pulling the diaper wipes out. This is actually a great coordination skill, but it wastes the wipes, and it can be a source of irritation for a Momma.  So why not provide a baby with a diaper wipe container filled with his own fabric scraps! You can make those scraps complex, or just squares of fabric... Either way, that baby will enjoy pulling the fabric out of that wipes container!

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

Fabric blocks are another great idea.  You can make them simply with fabric and cotton stuffing, or you can put bells and crinkly paper inside to make noise, or you can appliqué to the outside. Use your imagination! The baby will love them no matter what - especially if you use bright colors! This is a great use for fabric scraps.

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

You know those ring stacking toys?  The plastic ones? Babies love them (at least in my experience) and they are also great for coordination and size identification.  But the plastic ones just leave me feeling like something is missing.  So why not make your own?  There are several tutorials out on the web which are very easy...and oftentimes you can even make them with fabric scraps!

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

Babies and Moms, alike, are often fans of soft, cuddly blankets. My favorite material for baby blankets is minky.  It's sooo soft and cuddly.  My little boy has a small one with minky & flannel and it is my go-to blanket, especially when we are out and about, as it is relatively small.  It is warm (a must for our location) and soft. So why not make a small blanket that will provide for some cuddletimes between Mommy and Baby?

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

Hooded towels for bathtime is a "must" in my book.  But the little ones are soon outgrown and are often made of thin fabric.  And the big ones are ridiculously expensive.  However, you can easily make some for about $6 by using a regular towel and a hand towel! Genius, cute, useful, and inexpensive! :)

Photo Courtesy & Idea Source

There are many, many other ideas out there, but I hope you enjoy these selected few! More gift ideas coming in the upcoming weeks! And please share your ideas if you have any, as well. :)

What's at the Heart of Modesty?

A friend and I were talking a while back (you may notice a trend in my posts…oftentimes I get ideas from conversations with others) and we were discussing what is at the heart of modesty.  Some think of it as shame.  Modesty and fully covering one’s self is because you should be ashamed of what you could do with yourself…like use your body wrongly.  But this is completely not the reason why modesty is so important.

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 Modesty, on the contrary, is to protect a precious pearl.  You are beautiful.  God created you beautiful and exactly the way you should be.  And that is amazing.  However, God also created you to share your life in that special way for that one special guy.  Modesty, covering one’s self appropriately, and acting in a ladylike and godly manner, protects that pearl and saves it from the harsh elements of the world.  If exposed, that pearl is beaten and chipped until it is barely recognizable as the beautiful pearl that God created.  But if we behave according to how He would want us to, it is a beautiful thing that we cherish and modesty is one of the means we have in protecting that. 

Photo Courtesy

Getting to Know Him

It’s 10am.  A pretty girl is sitting at her computer going through the list of things that must be done today: homework, chores, family time, work, and other odds and ends that make up a huge list.  It seems impossible to get it all done.  On top of that, there is, of course, Bible time that should take a priority.  With a sigh, the girl decides she needs a break or she’ll go crazy.  She logs into her computer, checks her email, chats with a few friends, and reads some Christian blogs.  While reading the blogs, she posts a few comments while talking to her friends for about an hour.  Then she returns to the crazy tasks of the day.  But at the end of the day, she crawls into bed realizing that she never got to Bible time.  In exhaustion she says, “I’ll get to it tomorrow” and falls asleep.

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 Sound familiar?  I am guessing it does.  We’ve all done it at some point.  And for a day or two, it’s actually somewhat understandable.  I don’t think it is excusable, because Jesus should be our all and we should always make time for Him.  However, life does get crazy and it does happen, whether it should or should not.  The problem with this scenario is that it can often go on for days, weeks, or months – always so busy that we never make time for Him. 

What is interesting to me, is that in order to make ourselves feel better, we often read Christian blogs online and post short comments saying that we agree or longer comments expounding on some topic…  And that somehow makes us feel spiritual or like we have spent our Christian-time that was required of us for that day.  Christian blogs are good.  They can be very encouraging and helpful.  However, they should never ever be a substitute for reading His Word, the Bible. 

It is curious to me how we work as humans.  We can’t make time for reading and studying His Word – but if you think about it, we probably have plenty of time.  We just think of texting and chatting with our friends, email writing, and blog reading as one of the priorities of life.  We probably (or at least, most of us probably) spend 2-3 hours doing these activities each day.  If we even took ¼ or ½ of that time, we would have plenty of time to study His Word and truly get the time we need to learn about Him.

Photo Courtesy

 I’m not trying to judge anyone or condemn anyone here.  Trust me, I’ve done this too.  But I am trying to encourage all of us to truly make time for Him.  He gave us His all, the least we can do is at least make sure He gets some time of day from us.  It is important to spend time in His Word – it’s what gives us direction, helps us grow in Him, helps us make wise decisions, and so much more.  Oftentimes I think we do things because we want others to think positively about us.  This drives us to read what everyone else reads, comment on posts, and write blogs that say a lot of good things.  And none of these are bad things.  In fact, they can be very good things.  Missy, Chip, and I like writing for our blogs.  We like commenting on other people’s blogs and we love reading your blogs and comments on our blog.  But if we did only those things and didn’t spend time in His Word, that would be very serious.  The Word keeps us grounded…not blogs and comments. 

I hope that you will be encouraged to really get to know Him – to study, read, and pray.  Spend time with Him.  He is amazing and He leads and guides us faithfully.  The least we can do is give Him some of our time.  And I know you won’t regret doing it! 

Photo Courtesy

How to Grow Long Hair - Pt 2

Tips for growing your hair long:

1:) The first and best possible tip for growing long hair is:  Learn to be content with the hair that you already have.  If you are constantly wishing for different hair and trying to change the hair you have, then it is very likely that you will become discouraged and end up having it chopped off.  Contentment is the first step to long hair.

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2:) Avoid using heat whenever possible.  Hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons are detrimental to your hair.  Constant use of these items permanently damages the hair you have and even effects the hair that you have not yet grown.  This doesn’t mean to completely end the use of these items but at least dramatically limit the use of them.

3:) Rinse your hair with cool or cold water whenever possible.  I have friends in the hair industry that could scientifically explain to you why hot water irritates your hair and causes frizzy ness, but I don’t remember the smart sounding explanation so just trust me - Cold water is better for your hair.  I don’t use cold water all of the time when rinsing my hair because I don’t like to be cold, but if I can do a final rinse on at least most of my hair without freezing myself, then I make the effort to.  I usually notice that it is much less frizzy.

4:) Limit the use of styling products.  Hairspray, gel, moose - all such things are typically not good for your hair.  If you need something to help, try looking up natural alternatives that are actually healthy.  There are some neat options out there!   

5:)  On the days when you do end up using a curling iron or another heated object on your hair, make sure that you DO use a lot of hairspray, moose or other styling products.  Such products coat your hair and help prevent it from the damaging effects of heat.

6:)  Trim your hair often.  (Every 8-10 weeks)  If you are trying to grow your hair out long, trimming it often may sound like a horrible approach to achieving your goal - but it’s worth it.  I used to have hair down past my hips but it was full of split ends, very unhealthy and hard to take care of so I finally cut most of it off.  After that,  I determined that if I was going to have hair that long again, it was going to be healthy!  I have not regretted it. Healthy long hair is so much better!  Plus, supposedly your hair will grow faster if you trim it more often, and even if it doesn’t, it’s still more healthy and that is much better!  When you trim your hair that often, very little has to be taken off.  I have learned how to stylishly trim my own hair and save a bit of money - I also enjoy doing it.

7:) Be gentle.  I can’t tell you how many times I have watched as girls rip a brush carelessly through their hair or thoughtlessly pulled out a hair band while not even considering what they were doing to their hair!  When brushing, be gentle.  Start at the bottom, brushing out the tangles and work your way up.  When removing a hair band, remove it just as you put it in by unwinding it instead of just pulling it out.  Avoid the use of hair items that tend to take hair with them when they are removed.  Treat your hair with care as your glory instead of like it‘s damage proof!

8:)  Get the proper nutrition you need.  The typical American diet does not promote health and most of the food packages that say they are healthy and provide the minerals and vitamins you need, usually don’t actually do what they say.  Consider taking minerals or a green or fruit powder drink in the mornings when you wake up.  Getting proper nutrition is worth looking into for much more than just healthy hair.

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9:)  I read once that messaging your scalp regularly is supposed to stimulate hair growth and help rid your head of toxins.  I also read that rubbing peppermint oil into the scalp can help with stimulation.  I have not yet tried peppermint oil but I plan to if I can remember to do it before I wash my hair instead of after!

10:) You probably have heard it before, but gelatin is supposed to do wonders for hair and nails.  Try drinking a little bit of plain gelatin mixed into warm water every day.

11:)  Different herbs are great for the health and color of hair.  I have blonde hair so I use chamomile tea as a rinse after washing my hair.  It’s great for the health of my hair and it really brings out the natural color.  My sister has brown hair and so she uses rosemary and sage  Different herb tea’s are great for different hair types.

12:)  1-2 times a month, it’s great to give your hair a honey - olive oil treatment.  Warm olive oil and honey on the stove until the honey is pure liquid.  Make sure not to boil it or the honey, when cool, will harden and be horrible to get out of your hair! Just make it warm to the touch but not hot and that will be perfect. Generously coat your hair rubbing it into your scalp and combing it through the rest to be sure that every strand is coated.  Put your hair up in a shower cap or plastic bag with a towel turban.  (How cute!)  This helps the oil stay warm and your hair will soak it in better.  Leave the oil/honey on your head for an hour, any longer will not make a difference.  When showering, using shampoo twice is usually necessary to remove all of the oil.  

I hope these tips will help you to grow long, healthy hair.  Let me know what you think!

How to Grow Long Hair - Pt 1

"The Gift Of Long Hair"

          I was recently asked the question, "Do you have any tips for growing long hair?"
          The answer is YES! I do!  As I started to write a list of growing long hair tips, the list turned into this article about long hair.  I hope you will read it and look at your hair with new eyes and then come back later for the helpful tips on how to grow long, healthy hair.

          In a world of feminism where women are trying to become like men, long hair is becoming increasingly rare in our culture.   So why have long hair?  

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          In 1 Corinthians 11 we learn that a woman’s hair is her “Glory.”  It is a special crown that God made especially for women to make them distinctly different from men.  Today, we are taught that we must compete with men, to be better than them and that we can do anything they can do.  Women are deeply offended when they read verses such as 1 Peter 3:7 when it says, “…husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel….”
    “The Bible just called us WHAT?  I’m not weak!  I can do anything that a man can do, in fact, I can do it better!”
          The writer of this verse did not mean the word “Weak” to be as in wimpy or not capable of doing anything. A husband is to treat a woman gently like one would treat a rose.  A rose is precious and beautiful, but it needs to be treated gently so it can bloom, if not, it will wilt and die.  
          In Proverbs 12:4 it says that “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed (Or she who brings shame) is like rottenness in his bones.”
           To understand this properly we have to look at the word - “Virtuous”  This word means,  “Good, righteous, worthy, honorable, moral, upright, honest”

          If you have ever tried, or are working to become a virtuous woman, then you should know well by now that to become virtuous takes a very TOUGH woman!  It’s so much easier to be bad then good, unrighteous then righteous, unworthy instead of worthy.  To do things that are not honorable, moral, upright, and let’s not forget honest! It’s much easier to force our opinions then to humbly listen to others, to insist on our own way then to consider others as better then ourselves, and it is much easier to be served then to have a true servant’s heart.  Though most women would never admit it, they are not the virtuous woman in this verse but rather the one that brings shame upon her home and upon her husband.  One of the biggest reasons for this is our increasing desire throw away a crown and want to replace it with a dirty shovel instead.  
          So what does this have to do with hair?!   I’m getting to that…
          When God gave woman her long hair, He gave it to her to be her glory, as a precious gift from Him to make her distinctly different from the man.  I find it fascinating that when  God created humans to be made in His likeness, His image, to show His glory, that the distinguishing comment that He made about what He had just created was not of how smart they would be, or how beautiful they would be, or how creative, but rather He glorified the fact that He made them as “Male,” and “Female.”  As “Man” and “Woman.”   He created them so that working together they could form an image that portrayed His ultimate beauty.  Contrary to popular opinion, the Bible never degrades women nor does it demean men but exalts both as being the most precious creation of God.  (But that’s a whole other blog post)
          Our world says that gender no longer matters and that there is no need for anything distinctive difference between men and women, in fact, you can now even chose what gender you want to be!  But to the Lord, gender does matter and so do distinctive factors like hair and outward displays of pure, true femininity. 

          If you have long hair or you want to grow it long, what is your motive?  Is it to draw attention to yourself?  To try to fit a certain style? Or is your heart to treasure the special gift, the “Glory”, that your Heavenly Father has given you as a woman?  If you have short hair, what is your reason? Insecurity? Fashion? Rebellion? Or just annoyance and not wanting to take care of it if it were long?  Would you be willing to view your precious hair, whatever color or texture it may be, as a special gift from your Heavenly Father and be willing to care for it and treasure it as the glory He has given you? Will you use it to ultimately use it to point back to His perfect glory?

          We look at hair as a way to express ourselves, to display our style and our personality.  To be chopped off or dyed in one impulsive moment.  But would we be so rash if we could see our hair as the precious gift that God has given us as women?  Imagine a Father who loves His daughter so very much that He gives her a precious crown to wear on her head and she takes it and discards it in the dirt as if it were nothing.  That would hurt…

          Most of you will probably never have knee length hair or ever hair that reaches your elbow, but would you be willing to look at your hair as the gift that it was intended to be? Not comparing your gift with the hair of others and trying to constantly change it, never happy with what’s been given to you.  Would you be willing to truly look at it as a gift and something that you can use to point to God’s ultimate goodness and glory?  I hope you realize what a special treasure that you possess.

          If so, then you are now ready for tips on how to grow long, healthy hair!  To be posted on October 20th.