5 Lovely Ways to Celebrate LOVE

Love comes in many forms. It can be romantic, platonic, familiar, religious, or directed at the self.

Despite popular belief, one can celebrate this love EVERY DAY and in many different ways! 

=) With friends - This is always one of the most fun! Who says love has to be about romantic one-on-one occasions? Cheers to the people who are getting together with a few friends to have a good time! Spread the platonic love with little goody bags filled with candy! Nothing says I appreciate your friendship quite like chocolate.

 

<3 With significant other - You can take the traditional route and have a nice date with that "special someone." Get all dressed up and have dinner and watch a movie! I hear Jupiter Ascending was good. Try springing for a thoughtful or practical gift, something they can use for a while that will remind them of you!

>:) With family - They may drive you crazy, but at the end of the day you care a lot about your family. There is nothing wrong with spending the day with your parents, or with your children (pets count). There is no love more pure than that! The smiles of your toddler when you get to their favorite park will be well worth the trip. The laughter of your loved ones is better than any material present on Earth!

;) Alone - If you find yourself by yourself and maybe feeling a little down, stop those lonely thoughts right now! STOP! If you are going to find love you must first learn to love you! So today is a good day to get a manicure and a massage. Or get your favorite take out and watch all your favorite movies!

+ With Christ - When you think about it, there is no greater love than Christ has for his church,why not celebrate that? Dedicate part of your day to reading your bible and praying and then maybe find a way to volunteer. Jesus' second command was "Love your neighbor as yourself." 

Above all, remember the most important commandment given:

As I have loved you, love one another. John 13:34

A Night to Remember: Kuro & Ivy

Yesterday on January 30, 2015 the beautiful wedding of Ivy and Kuro took place in a beautiful church! 

Too bad we were late!! 

(An hour and 15 minutes to be exact)

To pass the time in the car on the way I took a few selfies... 

 

By the time we arrived the ceremony was over, and everyone was preparing to head out to the reception, but at least we made it in time to see some good friends of mine make their love official forever!

The reception was gorgeous! The speeches that were made during the toast were tear-inducing, and events, such as the throwing of the garter, were gut-busting hilarious!

 

Nico did his best to stay awake for mommy and daddy, but the poor little guy fell asleep as he was waiting with the other unmarried men for the garter to be tossed. 

 

It was a night of enjoying a special time with our friends and coming together to celebrate a young love that we witnessed grow since its very beginning. 

 

We even took a dip in the pool for Ivy, who was dying to get in since she walked into the reception area. It was FREEZING! But at least I looked good ;) 

 

The wedding reminded me of how much love we share between us and what a blessing it is to be able to take on life with your best friend.  

Kuro and Ivy, you guys are made for each other, there is no other way to put it. You complete each other in every way and I know that with the help of God you will be Army Strong together until the end of your days. I wish you joy, peace, and abundant, overflowing love! 

New Year, New You!

 

The new year is sure to bring big changes for all of us. Usually, during this time of year we reflect on what our life has been like over the past 12 months in attempts to better ourselves; to prepare for the next big step. Whether it's remorse over not eating healthier, or exercising more, or spending too much money, we all admit that there is something we can improve. 

So, year after year we set a New Year's resolution. And after only a few short months  many of us find ourselves breaking it.

Getting off to a good start is no problem at all, maintaining that passion you had in the beginning is what some of us find difficult. Auspiciously, there are a few key tricks to staying on track!

1. Make a list of motives - On a sheet of paper, write out all of the reasons behind setting your New Year's resolution. Will it make you happier, healthier, or wiser? Will it bring your family closer together? Knowing the "why" will keep you motivated enough to try!

  
2. Tell everyone you know -This all boils down to one word; accountability. The more people you tell about your resolution, the more people are going to expect to see results. So, post it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, MAKE IT KNOWN! When you have a little slip, and you feel like backing down, you will be surrounded by friends who can encourage you to give it another try. 

3. Overcome the obstacles - Figure out what is standing between you and your goal, and then make a step by step plan on how you are going to jump over that hurdle. Most times, there is an easy solution for monumental problems. If you cannot find the answers on your own, ask one of those wonderfully supportive people you told for help.

4. Reward yourself - Treat yourself every time you take a step towards victory! You deserve to indulge every now and then, especially when you do something that makes you proud! Have a scoop of ice cream, or go see that movie you've been dying to watch, or  buy that nice sweater you've had your eye on.

5. Picture it - The most powerful way of achieving a goal is to visualize your success! Imagine yourself in that smaller size, or studying at that college, or in that new car! The more you think about it happening, the more likely it is to ACTUALLY happen!  

Most importantly, don't let ANYONE stop you from being a better version of yourself!

 

Comfortable Christmas Style!

 We were invited to an awesome annual Christmas party where a bunch of old friends come together to celebrate the holidays! 

This year I decided to skip the dress and go for a more semi-formal outfit, with non-obvious Christmas colors. 

(A lacy white skirt, a tight Santa-red blouse, and a dark olive green button down shirt with black booties)

I spent about an hour braiding my hair. 

 And for my make-up I did dramatic eye-shadow, light silver to dark silver, blush, cover-up, mascara, and cat eyeliner. 

The party turned out to be fun and exciting! I was comfortable and got to see old friends I had not seen in a long time, and they all complimented my Hot mom Christmas look!

A Special Christmas (; On a Budget ;)

 

 

This is the time of year for GIVING!! 

We all love to shower our friends and family with things that remind them that we care! 

But sometimes, our lists are miles long and our cash is a little short. The most important thing to keep in mind around this time of year is that Christmas is not about the money. It is about celebrating the coming of Christ into this world to save us! It is about being more like Jesus, giving and loving, especially to those you love! 

With these 4 tips, you can still have a very special affordable Christmas:

1. *Gifts - PICTURES!!! What better way to give them something to remember you by? A nice inexpensive picture frame with a picture of the kids is perfect for grandparents, aunts, and uncles! If you don't think they would appreciate a picture, get them CANDY!!! Buy nice small holiday boxes and fill them with Christmas confetti and that person's (or child's) favorite candy! If this person doesn't like pictures or candy, you can never go wrong with a RED BOX gift card. Just 5 dollars can provide a busy couple with 5 movie date nights after the kids go to sleep. Think about it! *Spend the most on 2 or 3 very special people!

2. Christmas Cards - Hand making Christmas cards is a fun family activity! Start out with a fun holiday photo shoot; there are plenty of awesome ideas on Pinterest. Then print 4x6 photos and tape them to the inside of blank Christmas Cards. Fill the inside with a personal message, or a Christmas bible verse; Luke 2:10 or 11 is nice! Don't forget to sign it with love from the whole family!

3. The Tree - If you live in a small apartment (like us) or you can't really afford a tree, getting what I like to call a "Tiny Tree" is a whimsical alternative! A few years ago we bought a $20 tree at Walgreens that had built in LED lights and came with a base and power cord. We put it on a small table and decorated it with colorful ornaments from the 99 cent store. It is absolutely beautiful! 

4. Dinner/ Breakfast - For breakfast have a pancake feast! Make them with egg eyes and bacon smiles! (Turkey bacon is a healthy and cheap alternative to pork bacon.) For extra fun dye them green with food coloring for Grinch pancakes!  For dinner, skip the turkey or ham and have a nice fat roasted chicken, whoever finds the wish bone gets to make a special wish! 

As long as you are overflowing with love it doesn't matter how much you spend!  

7 Suggestions for Surviving Blackout Boredom

 

No matter where you live, you cannot escape the weather, whether it's a blizzard, or a thunderstorm, or a hurricane. It seems like God is constantly reminding us that He has the power to make our plans take a hard left turn! 

Fortunately, storms are not always bad news. Sure, the power could go out and you could be left in the dark for the night, or even a few days, but the good news is that people have lived without electricity for centuries. They got together with friends and family and made the most of the time they were given. Today, we wonder how they survived without Netflix or Facebook. 

What did they do for entertainment? 

If you are drawing a complete blank, here are a few activities to get you through the "dark ages".

1. Make a reading nook! - Before movies and television, people were actually forced to use their imaginations. What better time then to get some comforters and pillows together, on a cozy spot on the floor, next to a window providing sufficient light. This is especially fun to do with kids, or your roommates! Put together an intricate fort that is large enough for all of you and then crack open your favorite books. You can all take turns reading; use funny voices and really get in to it! When it gets dark light a few candles; there is a magical quality to the candle lit pages of an enticing novel. 

2. Indoor camping! - This pretty much speaks for itself, doesn't it?! Make a clearing, set up a tent, and let the games being! Get a candle, and make s'mores. If you don't have anything to make s'mores with, find other food to put on sticks and toast them the best you can. Find "fire wood", pretend you are river rafting, cover the ceiling with glow in the dark stickers, have an epic "sword" fight, etc. This is when you put your heads together and get really creative.

3. Have a shadow puppet play! - Each person takes a moment to decide what and who their character is. Take turns describing your character, the more details the better! The sillier the better! Then put on a play; it could be a reenactment, or a completely original work of art. To keep the fun going, make a rule stating that everyone must stay in character all day. 

4. Create an indoor obstacle course! - Remember when you were a kid and you would pretend that the floor was made of lava? Well, after being dormant for over a decade, the volcano erupted again. Lay down cushions and make blanket rivers. If you live in a 2-story home, the stairs have just become Mount Everest; someone could even stand at the top and throw pillows at climbers simulating an avalanche. You can even sit in boxes and take turns pushing each other to the finish line; make things interesting and race! 

5. Play hide and seek! - Someone counts to 50, and you all find places to hide; good places, where it could take a little while to be found. And once you are found you must help the seeker find the other hiders. The last person to be found wins!

 6. Marco-polo with a blindfold! - I recommend this game to everyone, no matter how old you are. Pick someone to blindfold, spin them around a few times, and spread out! You know the drill, they say Marco you say Polo and you watch with giddy delight as they stumble around trying to find you!



 7. Write a never-ending story! - If you just want to sit around and be cozy, you can still do something fun; the more people the better. You each take turns writing a couple paragraphs or sentences, and when you all have had a chance to write something, read the story out loud. Then go for another round, and keep it going! See where your story adventure takes you. 

Whatever you decide to do during the atrocious weather storm, stay safe and stay warm. Just keep in mind that there is loads of fun to be had inside!