Girly Do's Giveaway

You know how I said I loved She Does Hair? Well, I found another great hair blog (there are many out there, but, well, some are just blah). Girly Do's has the cutest and most unique hair styles...I can't wait to try them!!

Girly Do's is having a giveaway right now. You can choose between Trash Ties, pink polka dotted curlers and a rubber band/comb set. The first drawing will be on Thursday September 4th and the second and third on Monday September 8th.

Oh, and if you enter, tell her that you heard about this great giveaway from me!

Redoing my Room Part 2 - My Bedroom

Last we left my room, this is what it looked like! We had dumped everything out of my closet and neatly put away all the things that we wanted to keep. And... there was a lot of stuff left over.

After cleaning the closet out, Mom was on a roll. She suggested that since we still had a little while till lunch time (my dad had agreed to watch the kidlets from 10 to 12:30 - which is time to eat at our house) we should go ahead and hang up the shelf she had bought at a yard sale a few days before (which matched my already existing shelf behind the door you see here). After getting the tools together, we were off. It took a few times to get right, being that even though the level said the shelf was straight, we thought it didn't look right. After a bit we decided to trust the level, and what do you know, it was right all along. I think it turned out fabulously!

I'd had some lace curtains sitting folded up on my desk for a couple of weeks that I'd planned to hang up, but was waiting for curtain rods to do so. I asked my dad to bring me some when he came from work and he had, right in time, that day.

We moved the bed away from the wall to make it at an angle, and that night we put up the canopy that I'd been waiting for (literally!) years to put up. I'd had it in my room in the house we live in about four years ago and it has been in the box ever since. In just minutes it was hung. What a difference it made in my room!

My mom had brought home some little stickers for walls a couple of nights before. She found some pink ones that said, "Dream" and thought they'd be great for my pink room. We stuck them up all over the place along with pink stars that came with the set. There were some that we put over the dresser that said, "Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess.... " (We thought this was perfect because we are daughters of the King.) I think the result was very feminine and girly!

The last thing I did was pick out some pictures of my sister (Mother in Training #2) and I, and placed them in various spots around the room. We decorated the shelf with these and the homemade teddy bears that a family friend had given all the girls for their birthdays. I love how it turned out!

I am so happy with my "new" bedroom. I really enjoy going in there now, where as before I was always so down trodden when I walked in to my hum drum room - and I sure HATED to get anything out of my closet.

On to my bathroom!

A New Stage

Yesterday afternoon, August 24th, 2008, our little 5 1/2 month old, Baby Mother In Training, crawled! For about 3 weeks she has been up on her hands and knees rocking back and forth, so we knew it was coming soon, but we were still surprised when she did! :)


Today she has been very content hanging out on the carpet, crawling (Not well of course yet. She kind of moves her knee, then her arm and dives for whatever she's trying to get.). She's also been sitting in the boppy pillow, kind of diving to her stomach, then getting up on all fours. What an active little one! In honor of her, I think I'd like to share some pictures of her with you...

Redoing my Room Part 1 - The Closet

It all started about two weeks ago when my mom and I cleaned out my closet. As you can see, I needed some organization, and maybe even a Goodwill pile. Of course, who else would I ask to help me to organize anything, especially my closet, than the Queen of Organizing?

So, first we turned on something to listen to (What's a Girl to do - by Doug Phillips)...

then started to work. First we took everything out of my closet, including my clothes. It took a good 20 minutes at the least! Seeing it all layed out made me realize I had a lot of stuff, and a lot of it, well, I really didn't use or even want.

So, we started figuring out what things I didn't use/want, and if any of it needed to be kept, just put away somewhere else in the house. For instance, my big box of Polly Pockets I never play with anymore: those were put with the rest of the toys for the girls when they get bigger.

Here's my Goodwill pile. Ahhhh. Just seeing all that stuff go made me feel so much better!

Then it came to putting everything back in. I think Mom did most of it, while I hung skirts on skirt hangers (Mom had a bunch she wasn't using, and I definitely needed them!).

Most keeper things went into my closet, while a few things found new homes. My set of plastic drawers that formerly held yarn and all my little gifts I like to have on hand, now empty, went into my little "bathroom" (really another closet someone installed a sink into), and a small bookshelf that I really didn't need went into the big storage closet off of Mom and Dad's room.

Finally, we put my shoes (and nothing else! :) into the hanging cloth shoe rack, put my box of craft stuff and a few other things onto one of the high shelves and put my key board behind my clothes. Ta-da! It's finished!

Great Bath Product Giveaway

Here's another great giveaway! I'm all into them now. :) The Fun House is giving away a whole basket full - about $100 worth - of LUSH bath products. Ahhhh...

Just for fun, I decided to enter. I'll probably not win since there are already 132 comments from people who have entered, but we'll see!

Fajita Mix Recipe

This recipe makes the best fajitas ever!

1 T chili powder
1 1/2 t cumin
1 t black pepper
1 t salt
1/2 t paprika
1/2 t oregano
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 t onion powder
1/4 t crushed red pepper flakes (leave these out if you have lots of littles at home!)

Cut about 2 lbs. of chicken in to strips and fry. Remove chicken from heat. Cut 2-3 bell peppers and about 2 onions and fry them in the same pan. Add chicken back in when the vegetables are done. Add spices and about a cup to a cup and a half of water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until it is the consistency that you like. Serve on tortillas or over rice. Yum!

Cherishing Your Brother

Well, I am terribly sorry for my lack of posting. I've been pretty busy lately! My biggest project: re-decorating the bedroom I share with MIT #2. It should be done here sometime this week, so I'll be blogging about that shortly. Stay tuned!

For now, here is an article from Handmaidens of the Shepherd about cherishing your brother. I think all ladies who have brothers will benefit from this. I certainly have!

A. It has inspired me to invite Brother #1 to a luncheon on our "grounds" (you'll know what I mean after reading the article). :)

And B. It also reminded me that even through I do love my brothers, I really need to make that clear to them. I can't expect them just to "know". Since I know that Brother #1 loves hugs and little notes, Brother #2 loves it when I give or make him things and that Brother #3 loves it when I play with him, I've got to really make it a large priority to spend some time doing these things each day, expressing my love for them.

I hope this encourages and inspires you as much as it has for me. Enjoy!

Cherishing Your Brother - by Handmaidens of the Shepherd

It is heartbreaking to see the lovely relationships of Christian brothers and sisters remain uncultivated and allowed to crumble away. This is not what it was meant to be! Despite popular belief, brothers and sisters can be best friends - and should be! In hopes that you will be moved to cherish your brother (or sister) more, I wish to share with you something I was able to do to make my brother and I the very best of friends!

I yet remember the day I decided to show my eldest brother that I loved him and wanted to encourage him. First, I sent him a formal invitation written in the most elegant language I could muster, and which I still treasure in my Box of Memories:

Sir:
It would be my highest pleasure and honor to be gifted with your presence at a small picnic tea held in your name upon the date of Wednesday, May 18, 2005 at the beautiful east grounds of our beloved Little Compound.
Your Eldest Sister,

The young man replied with all the elegant language Mama could muster:
My dearest, darling sister, [what flattery!]
It would be my most fondest wish to attend you graciously planned event. However, I must inquire as to the time if I am to avoid appearing at an hour not expected.
Awaiting your reply, I remain,
Your faithful brother,
[with a flourish!]

We settled for an o’clock sometime in the early afternoon. I spent the late morning preparing simple, yet delectable “tea things.” When I was finished, I had lovely platters stacked with moist pumpkin bread, sugary raspberry thimble cookies, and a pitcher of iced lemonade. I spread a flowery tablecloth on the grass by the shade of Palm Parliament (the name we have given to a band of palm trees sitting by the seawall!) and dressed in my finest raiment. My brother emerged from his bedroom at the appointed time, decked out in a tie and handsome gray suit. Playing the part of the gentleman he is, he escorted me to the picnic grounds. Soothing instrumental music was carried to us by the breeze from where the portable CD player was ensconced in the ferns.

What a joy it was to spend quality time with one of my brothers! We prayed, laughed and talked about both trivial and serious things. We shared the ways in which we were blessed by each other, and how happy we were to be brother and sister. Not only did my brother and I become closer to each other that day, but he committed himself to protecting womankind and defending the weak as a White Knight for the Lord!

Since then, I have seen a marked way in which I relate to this brother. More than ever before, we are sharing our thoughts, dreams, troubles, and laughter with each other. We read books together, laughing and crying at the same parts and discussing lessons we have learned. When I think about how much closer we are to each other now, I am so happy it hurts!

Please, girls, don’t allow this opportunity of joy slip by! Take the initiative, thrust aside any embarrassment you may have, and tell your brother how much you love him! Don’t wait!
Now, I will make no claim that this brother and I still don’t have our “disagreements” (aka. big fights); but, because we love each other so much, we are always in a hurry to reconcile ourselves to each other and continue on the wonderful journey of sister-brotherhood.

There are two books I would highly recommend to sisters who want to cultivate a precious friendship with their brothers. The first is Stacy McDonald’s Raising Maidens of Virtue. It was from this book that my family came up with having “Brother/Sister Teas” and other “events” we are going to make family traditions. The second is Home-Making by Victorian writer J. R. Miller (published by Vision Forum). In its chapter “Brothers and Sisters” it gives an absolutely beautiful vision for siblings to share. It shows you how truly wonderful the relationship with your brother or sister can be, and you will come away resolved to make things different! You will be blessed!


Study Notes
1. Describe your present relationship(s) with your brother(s).

2. Does this relationship reflect the will of God for your lives?

3. If not, what can you do to begin or restore a right relationship with him?

4. Once you have, how can you ensure that this wonderful relationship endures through the trials of daily living?

5. Many have commented that the way a sister treats her brother is reflective on the way she will treat her future husband. Do you agree or disagree, and why?

Text: Cherishing Your Brother. © Handmaidens of the Shepherd, September 2007.
Photograph: Untitled. From Art Explosion.

Another Femininity in a Feminist World First....Entering in a Bloggy Giveaway

Miss Jocelyn, over at A Pondering Heart, is having a great giveaway! From now until August 22nd, you can enter to win any pair of your favorite shoes from ShoosShoos, a cute site selling leather shoes for babies. Here's my favorite:



Way cute! How fun and girly.

Baby MIT would look adorable in those, don't you think? Wait, let me rephrase that... Those would look adorable on Baby MIT (she looks cute in anything :).


For now,

Hair Experimentations

Last week I was cruising the blog world, and found this deliciously delightful blog - 100% devoted to hair!! She Does Hair is a girly girl's dream.

This lady has three daughters, who, from what I can tell, are extremely patient, which she uses as guinea pigs for the new hair styles she creates. Most of the 'do's are just normal styles she tweaks a bit, so if you've had some experience doing hair, they shouldn't be too much of a challenge. If you don't, well, now is a good time to learn! I've had lots of fun learning to tame my sissy's tresses. In fact, here's MIT #2 now (please pardon the bad pictures; she was absolutely not in the mood for posing or sitting still).....














If you have some cute hair pictures you've blogged about, I would love to see them! Also, tell me what you think of this great site. :)