Sunday, November 9, 2008

Give Away, Give Away

For all you giveaway fans. Here's one you'll love. This one is from simplemom.net. I love her posts and make sure you enter soon!

Here's what she's giving away.I know. Please try to contain yourself. It has a TON of features you can check out over at simplemom. Thanks for letting us know about this one friends!

On a side note let me tell you how helpful simplemom.net has been. I love getting organizing and simple life advice and I can tell you she's where it at. Cheers to simplicity that will live forever!

Monday, October 6, 2008

The Rich Young Ruler

In light of some things I have been learning and been challenged with I decided today to post a song that has been on my mind.... a lot. This is a song by Derek Webb of Cadmen's Call. It's on the album Mockingbird. He is a great artists and he talks about some of the things I have been thinking on and thinking on doing! I hope it inspires you as it has me. You can listen on i-tunes.



Lyrics to Rich Young Ruler :
(vs. 1)
poverty is so hard to see
when it's only on your tv and twenty miles across town
where we're all living so good
that we moved out of Jesus' neighborhood
where he's hungry and not feeling so good
from going through our trash
he says, more than just your cash and coin
i want your time, i want your voice
i want the things you just can't give me

(vs. 2)
so what must we do
here in the west we want to follow you
we speak the language and we keep all the rules
even a few we made up
come on and follow me
but sell your house, sell your suv
sell your stocks, sell your security
and give it to the poor
what is this, hey what's the deal
i don't sleep around and i don't steal
i want the things you just can't give me

(bridge)
because what you do to the least of these
my brother's, you have done it to me
because i want the things you just can't give me

Monday, September 22, 2008

Go out and SERVE SOMEONE!

Recently we have been learning a lot about what Jesus requires of us to follow Him. We will always rely on faith alone, by grace alone, in Christ alone but what next? Try to live a moral life that even people who don't follow Jesus can do? Survey says, "not quite." I have been pondering over the hard questions in my won Christian walk. Questions like what doe sit mean in Luke 14:33 when Jesus says, "In the same way (taken from the previous verses in context), any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." Ummmmmmm most of the time we try to skip over these parts of God's Word and say well surely Jesus is not asking these men to give up EVERYTHING and follow him. Is He? Would He not have said something different if that's what He meant? Sooooooo here's what I have surmised as I have been asking the Holy Spirit to lead me. I have been reading a book about C.T. Studd and have been very encouraged and challenged to do some things I have never done. Most of the time, I have been so enthrawled with the work of ministry that I have not done much ministering. So, I have made a weekly commitment to serve the Hispanic community each Sunday in ESL (English as a Second Language) and become the children's coordinator. I LOVE children and God has allowed me to be a part of some wonderful children's lives and while I don't want to de-value that, I know my time spent in Latin American countries can serve me well. God allowed me to go to those places and see what I have seen to bring Him glory. I feel the Spirit leading me in this way. Woo hoo! This will add 'one more thing' to my schedule but let's be honest. What would I spend that time on otherwise? Oh wait, myself. If my life is exausted by the love I have for Christ in serving the world for Him then so be it. I want to give myself wholeheartedly to this mission of making disciples of all nations and showing the Love of Christ. So hold me to it! Whew. I feel better now that I got that out!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Can I Be Honest?

OK, I can't sleep tonight because I'm thinking of the 500 things I need to do but in stead of doing any of them I decided to blog. Ahhhh the freedom we have. So I thought I would take a minute to blog about my favorite celebrity. MARTHA. She's doing a fun contest on her blog about bloggers. Check her out and give me a shout out if you wouldn't mind. You can post about her too so go take a look see.
I also just saw Martha's section in Wal-Mart the other day (I avoid Michael's at all costs knowing her stuff is there). I just went and walked through the isle for about 20 minutes. It's shameless but I'm such a fan. It's like she know exactly what I like or something.

Friday, September 19, 2008

A Whole Lotta Scrapping Could be Going On!

Here it is friends. I just found a new blog that I REALLY like. It's called Vanilla Joy. They are giving away a fantastic Minibox by The Original Scrapbox. (Applause now!)


I have to say with Vanilla Joy's nice colors and totally helpful posts I'll be adding this to my blog reader soon. By the way, I must have been living under a rock but I just found out what RSS is from On Simplicty and I totaly love it. I can read all my favorite blogs, like Vanilla Joy, and get to customize the read list.


Ok, so back to the minibox. It's ABSOLUTELY fantastic. It's like an organizer's dream mixed with an artistic scapbookers. I really like this one and although I ususally don't participate in contests like this I could REALLY use this in the good old craft room. So here's ot hoping I'm chosen for the top 20! Thanks Vanilla Joy!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Some Words of Wisdom

Hello again. I was reading a new article from a newly found blog and I thought the words were so insightful and simple so I decided to post it here. Although I believe we should not just 'fly solo' but fly to the flight plan of Christ but it's a good reminder anyway of where we DON'T find our worth. It's only in Christ that we can find any worth or satisfaction.

On Simplicity

Post: September 16th, 2008

I’m way more knowledgeable than the average person on a couple of pretty arcane topics. (Doesn’t everyone?) Does that impress you?

No? Well, in that case why don’t you come to my house and check out the artistically displayed books on these random subjects. Are you impressed now?

No? Well, crap. See, a bit of my identity is tied up people seeing those signifiers and thinking I’m well-educated and culturally sophisticated.

For me, these books are a form of social proof. They attempt tell the world who I am and why I deserve to be listened to in the absence of any other information. The problem is, to the rest of the world I’m intent on impressing, they’re just books. No one reads the messages that I assume they’re sending. Their only true purpose at this point is to comfort me and prop up my self-esteem.

The Message Your Stuff Is (Or Isn’t) Sending

If you’re surrounded by stuff with the sole purpose of conveying a message to the world about your worth, it’s time to rethink the true value of those items. These things don’t show our imagined audience anything. In fact, they may even hinder us from actually creating the impression we wish to.

Instead of actually going out and learning new things and being genuinely interesting, I use these social proofs as a crutch and don’t bother to learn new things that would actually be interesting. Instead of talking to people and engaging with them, I’m counting on inanimate objects to tell the world my story. How stupid is that?

The Joy of Flying Solo


In essence, the concept I’m talking about is flying without a net. Could you go into the world without any evidence of your talents or success and be confident that people would be able to recognize who “you” are? If not, it’s time to go out and become that person you want the world to see. Stop hiding behind books, playlists, friend counts, and designer labels. Because in the end, your jeans don’t make your sassy, your books don’t make you smart, and your friend count doesn’t make you popular. They’re just meager byproducts of you.

Try flying without a net, and discover that your own wings take you farther and higher than any social proof ever could.

photo credit: ClevelandSGS

photo credit: Photo_Mind

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

A New Goal

On the road to a healthier me there are really two goals that I am working toward. The first is to lose 20 lbs before going to Sudan and Uganda with my sweet husband in November. The second is to run a 10k (what the crap am I thinking?) October 2009 in race for the cure.

I have been working out at least 3 times a week for the past 3 weeks. I have to admit I have been a bit discouraged with my results. In the first two weeks I didn't lose even 1 pound! Booooooo! But I weighed in at the beginning of this week #3 and to my little heart's delight...score 2 lbs. gone! I want just 2 lbs a week so I don't think my goal is unrealistic it has just taken a while for my body to realize what is going on. And can I tell you I feel GREAT. At first I felt crummy. Like ym body was wondering what in the world was going on. Isn't that sad but now I'm feeling great. I really do have lots of energy and while I'm not like a chiuaua on crack I'm doing pretty well I think.

Let me share with you some reasons for going down this road to health. First,to let my body know who is boss and second, to be at a health that if the Lord told me to go anywhere in the world today that I would be able to obey in my heart, mind and (you guessed it) body immediately.

This is a big step for me in radical obedience to Christ. I know I can make it and I have great friends who are backing me up and holding me accountable! Praise God for the body of Christ.

Next time you hear from me I should be a little thinner, healthier and lighter! Until then.....

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Slim Fast. Really?

Ok, so I have to do it. I have to do it, but I hate to do it. And drum roll please......... get in shape. Awwwwwwwwwwww! I hate cardio. It's no fun. It hurts and I don't get results for like a month. Soooooooo I have decided to keep myself modivated. I have gained WAAAAAAYYYYYY too much weight from being married ot a skinny buff guy. Arg! So I have registered with Slimfast to do my own pan. I'll have to say I'm pretty impressed with their layout and options.


You can get a perosnal meal planner, workout log, and many other features. Go check it out adn have a little fun. And for those of you little subscribers Wal-Mart is running a special on the Slim Fast Shakes (which are tasting much better than I remember) 8 for 6. So here's to loosing weight and being healthy.

There are so many mroe important things in life than feeling crummy for being chubby!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Coupons, Coupons Everywhere!

I remember when I was a little one and I saw my mom go through the Sunday paper and get useful, money saving coupons out.

I really like coupons but as it were, I don't use them. I don't use them hardly ever because I don't get a Sunday paper in order to clip those little boogers and have major savings. That was, until NOW! I found a site that show all the weekly ads for national chain places such as Publix, Wal-Mart, World Market, and many others. The link is below and I hope this little tip will save you some dough! I'm sure I'll be browsing this site much, much more now when I know there's a little item I need. It never hurts to see if there's savings out there thanks to the crazy internet.

Sunday Saver

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Kraft Foods to the Rescue!!!

Ok, so I realized after talking with a friend that I had not posted about my favorite place to get recipes. I guess I forgot because I use it so much and it has really become second nature to just jump online and grab what I need. You guessed it (ok it was in the subject line...don't get too excited) it's Kraft Foods Recipe Site.

Here are a few reasons why I use this site time and time again:
  • They allow you to put ingredients in and vualah! You have dinner. I really like this feature and it helps when I have potatoes that will go bad it I don't use them and onions and then.... abra cadabra I get great recipes to chose from.
  • Simplicity. Ok I love to cook but I'm no Martha Stewart. I don't have time to make my own pasta for crying out load. Most meals take 30 minutes or less which makes it great for my family and for actually having time to hang out with them.
  • Food & Family Magazine. Ok, I adore this magazine , which is FREE by the way, so much that I cut out the recipes that I like from them and have put them in my own self made recipe book. Pretty impressive, right? To do it I got a folder and colored paper to tape the recipes and separated it by paper color. Very easy but sometimes you just want the recipe in paper form in stead of on a computer in your kitchen. Not to mention those who don't have room in your kitchen the homemade Kraft Recipe book is a winner.
  • Photos. I am such a visual person and almost all their recipes you can get a picture of it by rolling your mouse over top the recipe name. Well done Kraft!
  • Sorting. Once you have a list of the recipes you can sort your results by a myriad of categories. I love to sort by number of ingredients because it helps with the amount of time I will actually spend on the meal. Woo hoo for features.
  • Healthy Living Section. This is the only portion of the site I think Kraft could really work on. They've got great tools but not as many recipes as I would like to see. They have an online meal planner and workout planner to help motivate healthy eating and meal planning. It's fun to play with these tools. I wish the meal planner were more customizable but hey that's what feedback is for.
So needless to say I REALLY enjoy this site. I love that you can go to any grocery store and you can actually find what you're looking for. Now I know Kraft Foods is no Food Network but hey. I'm looking for easy and quick most of the time. While I love to cook I want to actually enjoy the time I have away from the office not dread it. So I hope you found this little ditty helpful and if you ever want to "talk kraft" you know where to find me.

Yay for Kraft!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Cook Book that Rocks My Face Off

Ok, So I just had to share this with you! While perusing the All Recipes site. I found it..... the jewel hidden by layers and layers of tasty recipes. Know what it is? Your own customizable, full color cook book. It starts out at $29.99 with 50 recipes inside and you can add 50 more for $5! You can add recipes at any time too!

You can add recipes, take them away, even put your favorite picture on the flippin cover.
Pretty sweet huh? Now technically you could just look at the recipes online but sometimes I want to have a good old fashioned notebook in front of me or it makes a wonderful gift for a new wife or a mature one. :0)

So here's the link and a pic. Enjoy! The Best Customizable Recipe Book Ever!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The Best Form of Flattery

So I heard somewhere that the best form of flattery is to copy. If that's true then here's a website for you. I know I love the restaurant style foods but I HATE to spend $20 on pasta at Cheesecake Factory when i can make it for like 6 people. Ergo....... copycat. Just click on the highlighted link for the site. It's pretty good. I have not tried any of the recipes yet but the ones I looked at sounded pretty good. Here are a few:

California Pizza Kitchen`s Tuscan Hummus Recipe

A&W Clone Cream Soda Recipe

Applebee's Fiesta Lime Chicken

Bonefish Grill's Bang Bang Shrimp

Chili's Salsa (I'm trying this one tonight now that they raised their prices to $4 for chips and salsa!)


Hope you enjoy these and find some to tell me about! Here's the main site and you can make your own recipe box and everything. It's a pretty neat site now that I have played with it a bit.

CDKitchen

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The Best Tool Ever!


Ok, so I am slightly addicted to hand tools. We live in an age where it isn't unheard of for a woman to know more about hand tools than her husband. That may very well be me. My husband knows lots about hand tools, don't get me wrong, but I use them on every day things while he uses them for one time projects. So the greatest tool I use (drum roll please!).........

THE STAPLE GUN!!!!!!!
I must admit there is wide array of projects you can do with a staple gun (not including hushing a overactive mouth). Here are a few websites I found that have simple projects (yay for simple) that you can do at home.

Tu Tu Frame
Upholstery Project
Bulletin Board
Staple Gun Bow
Lattice Projects



If there were only a few more hours in the day..... I would certainly do a few more projects. I found so many different ways to use my staple gun that I can't tell them all to you so come up with some of your own!

Happy Stapling!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

I LOVE neat things

I suppose the term they used in the 1940's was 'swell' and boy do I have a dandy for you. I found this on the site Organizing Junkie which is one of my favorites.

It is a menu helper and if you know me. Menu building is one of my hobbies (I know, I know the exciting life I live). I think it's the planning you get to do beforehand or spending less money at the grocery store or some strange cosmic force within me drawing me to it. Either way I thought I would share the little wonder. Now I have not tried any of the recipes but it's certainly a good idea even if you make your own. I love finding something and then making my own thing to suit my needs.

Check it out.
lily on the fly


Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Ok, so I'm back

I have been out for a while now and have not blogged at all. Let he who is without a post throw the first stone....or something like that. So here's the great thing I found today while online.

It's called the Cuponizer site. Cute name huh.

The Cuponizer.com.

Just might save you some money. I'm all about that!

My husband and I have found another thing worth writing about too. It's a scooter. I know when you think about scooter you think ummmmm what? Do I live in Europe. Well no, I don't but with gas prices at $4 a gallon and only rising I'm willing to put my preconceived notions to the side. So my husband and I found a honey of a scooter and at a great price!

It's called a Legacy 250 from Qlink Motor and can I tell you it's pretty sweet. First off check out the gas mileage at 70 miles to the gallon. WHAT? I know but it's true. It's a two seater and feels really nice to ride. A local place in B-ham (that's Birmingham for you out-siders) that actually let us ride around the parking lot (Shhhhh! That's usually not allowed) with it. My husband, Daniel fell in love with the thing. Here's picture from the Quick Motor site above.Pretty sweet huh? So we were able to get it brand new in black for $2800. I think that's a pretty sweet deal and they'll service it (local dealer is the way to go) and it comes with a 2 year manufacturers warranty. Pretty sweet huh. So we're pretty much sold on it as our second car and we'll be picking it up hopefully on Friday. The local place in town is called Star Scooter. Check them out. And ask for Jimmy. He's the man!

Sunday, June 1, 2008

The Gospel and Parenting


Today our Pastor (Dr. David Platt, The Church at Brook Hills) preached on the gospel in parenting and may I say it was one of the best messages on parenting I have heard.

Key text: Ephesians 6:1-4

We learned how the gospel translates into how we parent and honor our parents. Let's just say David brought the Word today and praise the Lord that he said in the beginning he wanted to stay as close to God's Word and bring clarity to it without his opinion is truly a rarity in American Contemporary Christian Culture.

Based on today's message the thing that gets me the most is how we as a Christian culture have relegated the responsibility of teaching and training and discipling our children to the "professions" in stead of doing as the Lord commanded. There really is no excuse for us here in the west with our Bibles in every form imaginable to first not know this and next not to live by it.

Feel free to download the podcast/message/outline notes and not only listen to it but put it into practice. Just click HERE.

I know this will change the way I respond to my parents and even help me send a little letter to them thanking them for who they are and how much I value them. This is something I surely did not do in my teenage years, but have come to realize.

My prayer is that we will transcend our culture (even this contemporary Christian culture) to be true disciple makers for His glory. For ever and ever, amen.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Beginning A New

I begin a new today. This is the first. The first of many. Profound, interesting, colorful, simple, me.
Here are a few things you might like to know about me.
I love the 1940's.
Organization is really fun.
Menu planning rules!
Music - good.
The world is my classroom.
Who needs money.......crap.
Funny and nice.

That's not all of me but you'll have to tune in to see.