something to read...

-encouraging post about waiting by megan at night song

-recipe for apple butter in slow cooker (and cute way to decorate jars to give as gifts) by jessica over at lemon tree creations 

-thought provoking post on technology time-wasters by lindsay at passionate homemaking

you can try this at home!

Sorry I've been absent lately!  I have my excuses, but to be honest I have not felt inspired to blog.  Please forgive me. :)

That aside, I want to share about a journey I'm making.  I'll call it my journey to natural and simple living.  No, I'm not going to sell all I have and live as a hermit in a cave somewhere.  God has planted in my heart a desire to learn more about the food I eat, learn more about the products I personally use, and learn more about the earth which makes my home.

Like I said, I'm on a journey.  And I'm taking baby steps on this journey.  Hopefully I will post every now and then ways that I am adjusting my every day life!

Now I will share with you something I did this past week.  I made my own homemade all-natural deodorant!  At first you may think that making homemade deodorant is weird.  I did too!  The whole idea had to grow on me. 

Lindsay from Passionate Homemaking shares the following concerning the harm in deodorant:

Did you know that nearly all commercial deodorants contain aluminum salts, usually aluminum chlorohydrate? Manufacturers like aluminum because it effectively suppresses perspiration but the metal has a dark side once it makes its way into our body. Aluminum toxicity It has been linked to cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, and other health issues. It is especially important for women to take thought to the harmful aluminum materials in deodorant as it has been linked to breast cancer, being that the breast tissue extends up into the armpits.

Most commercial deodorants also contain parabens, which act as preservatives and stabilizers, but which like aluminum can be absorbed into the skin. Parabens mimic estrogen, and though the amounts we absorb on a daily basis might be small, over time, the accumulation can be significant.

Lindsay also has a recipe and video tutorial on making your own deodorant.  Check it out here.  After learning the benefits of this natural deodorant, I think I'm sold! ;)

Christmas time is here...

Christmas is in fact just around the corner!

Enjoy these miscellaneous links!

Girl Talk shares readers favorite Christmas traditions.  

Print out these free adorable gift tags by Amy Moss

Try making monogram mugs for last minute Christmas gifts.  DIY by Gabrielle Blair at Design Home. (I made one too and I'm quite pleased with the outcome!)

Check out Twig and Thistle's Five Days of Felt

watch this.

   

This is an AMAZING clip I found of John Piper talking about adoption.

{drink responsibly}

Reusit.com, my favorite site for reusables, posted some tips on how to create less waste while drinking coffee and tea.  Go over and take a look at their many products!

Waste-free Tips for Coffee & Tea To-go

Bring your own cup

• For hot coffee and tea that stays hot, check out our thermal mugs. Available in stainless steel, porcelain, glass and more, these reusable mugs and cups will replace countless paper cups and cardboard sleeves.
• Pair a thermal cup with a reusable straw - glass or stainless steel - and cut the need for plastic straws with your iced drinks. (And the paper they're wrapped in!)
• If you find yourself without your reusable mug don't buy a new one at the shop! Consuming cheap reusables as impulse buys is just as bad as consuming disposables - maybe worse because they use more resources to produce. Just remember your mug next time.
• Another tip for when you forget a mug - reuse your disposable cup. Check out these great upcycling ideas from Instructables.
• And remember, most coffee shops (like Starbuck's and Peet's Coffee and Tea) knock a few cents off your total when you bring your own cup!

Ditch the sleeve

• When you bring your own thermal mug you don't just save on paper cups, but you also don't need to take a sleeve!
• If you can't bring your own cup, keep a Coffee Cup Cozy in your bag or even on your wrist. Every disposable you can replace counts.

Say no to paper bags

• Ask your barista to pack your pastries in reusable snack & sandwich bags.
• If you're picking up a few items to go, use a reusable bag instead of a paper Starbucks bag. Our I'm Not A Paper Bag makes a smart alternative.
• Use a drawstring hemp bag for buying coffee in bulk. Ours holds exactly one pound of whole bean coffee.

Napkins & more

• Keep a reusable napkin in your purse or pocket - they especially come in handy in coffee shops.
• Opt for sweeteners you can shake out of larger containers as opposed to those wrapped in paper packets

zippers?

                                             

Yep...these are created from zippers!  Check out Apostrophy on Etsy.  

They have super cute rings, bracelets, necklaces and headbands.

                                                          

are you walking on a treadmill?

Resting on Self-Righteousness

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.  Romans 3:20

God is not a mean tyrant, but some of us see him in just that way--hard to please, tapping his celestial finger in impatience with our imperfections, and willing to hand out blessings only when we're arrived at certain spiritual heights.  Nowhere in Scripture do we find such ideas about God.  But that is the image we are going to wind up with if we try to win God's approval by what we do and say.  Surely we want God's acceptance, but we just aren't up to obtaining it.  Seeking the blessings of salvation by self-effort will get us no farther than walking on a treadmill.  We will find ourselves living under an ever-thickening cloud of fear, because nothing we do can make us right with God.  Only Christ can do that.

Perhaps you have taken Jesus as your Savior, but you are still lacking assurance that God accepts you.  No matter what you do, you can't grasp the idea of a kind, loving Father who longs to relate.  If so, what have you been doing about that?  Perhaps you have doubled your efforts for God--more serving, better attitudes--in an attempt to secure the divine favor that you seem to be missing.  If this is your default in your dealings with God, chances are good that, instead of the love and joy you long for, God seems more remote than ever.

There is only one way out of the tangle, and that is to stop your efforts.  Stopping feels counterintuitive, but it's actually the only way you find restful assurance that God accepts you.  When you stop trying to get yourself right with God and instead simply rest in Jesus, you'll see that God doesn't go away.  You will be surprised to discover that your efforts to clean up for him were actually contributing to your sense of distance from God.  The only way to get near him, the only way to know him as Father and Friend, is to forsake yourself and rest in Christ.  'Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you,' wrote the apostle James (James 4:8), and the only way to do so is by looking at Christ.

We believe in our hearts and declare with our lips that Jesus is the only way--we believe it, but often we don't live it.  If we profess Christ and sing his praises, yet we aren't enjoying the peace that comes through him, let's see whether there is a performance treadmill under our feet and make a decision to step off.  By uniting us to Christ, God has set us free from bondage, and our liberty is there for the taking.

Trust: A Godly Woman's Adornment by Lydia Brownback

up and away

Cute poster, huh?  Check out the Etsy shop, Small Talk Studio.  There's more where this came from! :)

{dishes}

I just wanted to tell you about some of the latest dishes I found.  Dishes are a weakness of mine! :) I need to be extra careful when I go thrifting because there are SO many for great prices!

The white flower bowl and pink fiesta bowl came from Goodwill.  I would say that Goodwill is the BEST place to find unique dishes.  Because I collect fiesta ware I check the clearance section at Macy's whenever I'm there.  I found the green bowl half-off there AND I used a coupon to get it even cheaper!

This is my flower bowl in better detail.  Priced $0.50!  I know, right?! :)  I find it handy to keep my loose bobby pins in it.  Cute and purposeful!

These blue and white tea cups and saucers came from my friend Katie.  I love the intricate design!  Thanks Katie! :) 

:)

Hey, I just wanted to say that I'll be absent from my blog in the next few days.  I have the privilege of being in my friend's wedding this weekend!  So I will be plenty busy! :)  Enjoy your weekend!

life is short. stay awake for it.

 

I love Caribou!  Not only do I love their coffee, but I love their cups. They are so creative!

The sayings are witty and the pictures are oh so fun to color! :)

These are some one of my favorites: SMILE FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER; MAKE TIME FOR SILLY; GROW OLDER WITHOUT EVER GROWING UP; and LAUGH SO HARD YOU CRY.

take a look!

Some good links for you!

 GirlTalk: A cool testimony from a wayward college student.

MODELmumma: My latest favorite fashion blog.

life observed by {kate}: My future sister-in-law's lovely blog!

{peppermint}

I love peppermint anything!  Candy, ice cream, gum, etc....  Not only do I enjoy the taste of it but I also love the scent!

Recently I've been introduced to peppermint oil.  I found out about some pretty cool uses for it on Passionate Homemaking.

Here's what they had to say:

Peppermint oil is invigorating and intensely cooling. One to two drops can counteract headache pain if applied straight on the temples and neck. If the summer heat is getting to me or I want to cool down after a work out, I put a drop on the back of my neck or several drops in a small spray bottle to immediately cool down my whole body. It’s amazing! Dilute a few drops of peppermint in 1 teaspoon of carrier or vegetable oil and rub on the stomach for tummy ache. Keep the bottle open by you when studying for increased recall power. I’ve used it while driving to stay awake on long trips. It smells like chocolate mint—it’s so delicious!

I tried rubbing some on my neck after running on a hot day and it was SO refreshing!  Just a drop will work wonders! 

Also, I came across this soothing foot bath idea from somewhere: Fill a container with very warm water and add a few drops of peppermint oil.  I haven't tried it yet but I'm sure it feels wonderful!

Anyone have any additional ideas?

18 hours...

photo credit

...until the Road Runner Akron Marathon!  No...I'm not running in the marathon, but I AM running the relay!  This is my first race so I'm starting it slow.  I'll be running the 2.8 mi leg of the race which is in Sand Run Metropark.  It's the shortest leg. :)  See, I told you I'll be starting it slow!  

I'm SUPER thrilled to run with some fantastic running buddies: Hanna, Anne, Katie and Asha! :) 

ponder this.

The Tables Turned
UP! up! my Friend, and quit your books;
Or surely you'll grow double:
Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;
Why all this toil and trouble?

The sun, above the mountain's head,
A freshening lustre mellow
Through all the long green fields has spread,
His first sweet evening yellow.

Enough of Science and of Art;
Close up those barren leaves;
Come forth, and bring with you a heart
That watches and receives.

William Wordsworth