No Words Necessary ...

March Favorite Things

The Magic Bullet. This thing is probably the most used item in our kitchen. It makes great sauces (like Pesto or Alfredo sauce), but we also use it to make AMAZING milkshakes. I love trying new flavors. This fall I tried a lot of pumpkin milkshakes, and I created a pumpkin cheesecake milkshake that was to die for! The Bullet is a must.

WubbaNub Infant Pacifier. Isn't that thing adorable? I actually don't own one of these yet, but I registered for one. I love the giraffe, but they only sell that on Amazon.com - so I can't register for that one. It's an adorable paci for infants that has a stuffed animal attached to it. A lot of my friends have them, and the babies love to hold the animals ... and when they get dropped they land on the animal - not the paci!

Baby Shower #3

The wonderful church/Bible study women in my life threw me & Bree a baby shower. It was extremely special to celebrate with them, and I enjoyed the time we spent crafting and talking! The hostess decided to forgo baby shower games and do a craft instead. It ended up being adorable, and we all loved it! The dessert was a pumpkin cheesecake - two of my favorite things! We also got a lot of really nice gifts, too. God has truly blessed Brent and I with a wonderful spiritual network of friends here.




Me & the hostess, Julie





My finished product, a picture holder to put in our bedroom!

If only Giselle pooped Reese cups ...

The dishes are dirty - three times a day - and piling up again on the counter. I think there's even some sort of plant growth on that bowl. The laundry bin is overflowing with dirty clothes. I guess if I need that sweater in there, I better smell it to see if it's acceptable to wear again. Dust bunnies are taking over my floors. Soap scum is taking over my shower. I'd love to fix that up, but it's not in the budget. Giselle is having a poop party back in her room - and it never seems to land directly on her pad. Dang - did I forget to get stuff for dinner tonight?

Do these thoughts sound at all familiar (maybe not the poop one, Giselle is a "special" dog)? I realize womanhood is special. I also realize being a woman can sometimes be overwhelming. We have houses to run, husbands to love and support, kids to take care of, pets to look after, and usually not too much time for us. I thought I'd offer a personal tip on staying sane that has worked for me, most of the time.

Contentment.

We see the things other people have, and it makes us feel lacking. We see the things society tells us we need, and we feel like we are always a step behind.

If we look at our lives, are we really content with the things we have? Or are we always looking for the next thing on our list? Sometimes the things we "need" - we don't need. We want. And I don't know if you have noticed, but the constant wishing and wanting causes me personal drama. A lot of times, I need to step back and pray, "BE CONTENT, MISSY."

Because let's face it, some days the laundry doesn't get done. Some nights we eat Arby's rather than a homemade lasagna. I probably won't get to re-decorate my bedroom anytime soon, and Giselle will never poop on her pad.

But I am blessed to have a great husband, a daughter on the way, an awesome family and friend support network, and a ton of material things that God has given to me that make my life wonderful.

I just have to remember to be content.

Give-Away Winner

Congratulations to Jamie Griffith over at Blessed Simplicity for winning the $20 give-away to any CSN store. Thanks to those of you who entered (ahem, mom and Cara). It was nice to see your favorite verses on my Facebook wall! I'll do another give-away later on down the road!

My 100th Post Give-Away!

"She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple." Proverbs 31:22

A thought-provoking portion of my Bible study this week was reflecting on what my house says to people when they enter it. It's not about wealth and luxury but about taking care and time creating beauty in my home. The challenge was to walk through my house and write down one improvement I could make to each room. It's not about spending money; it's about spending time, effort, and care. I thought of three things I would like to do:

1. Paint rooms to add life and color!
2. Work on our office - furniture and layout need some serious attention (I found some cute desks that I might look into!).
3. Hang some homemade art in the bedroom and hallways.

This challenge came at a great time. Because it's my 100th post, and I wanted to do something fun! In celebration, I will be having a little give-away for all my faithful followers.

To enter the give-away, you can do three things:

♥ Become a follower of my blog.
♥ Leave a comment letting me know what little "home improvement" you would love to do.
♥ Write your favorite Bible verse on my Facebook wall.

I will choose a winner and announce it on Saturday morning, March 5th!

My March Verse

"'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:29-31