Movie Endings

There is this part of me that is always trying to figure out the end of the movie. While watching I will look for foreshadowing, actors micro expressions, and I take into account what society would accept as a “good” ending. My husband just watches the movie and let’s the story unfold. I have tried to stop the Nancy Drew in me. But, trying to figure it out is part of the fun. 

A couple weeks ago I was so frustrated with God saying to stay at my mom’s house. I want my own home again and I didn’t think this “stay” part would last so long. 

So, I found myself trying to figure out what God’s next step was. Much like I try to figure out what the end of a movie will be. As I brought life’s current options up trying to find out what hubby thinks. He corrected me he said, “If God says  stay I stay.” He isn’t trying to figure out the end, the why God said stay he is just obeying. I find the beautiful to watch and excruciating to do. 

If God said, “I need you to work 80 hour work weeks” I could do that (with the help of coffee). But, God told me to rest and be still. I am convinced this is part of the lesson. But, of course, that is me again trying to figure out what is next not focus on what is now. 

Rest

In my mind it is not possible to be a mom and truly rest. After all there is always something else to do. Something on the list that didn’t get done, a part of the routine that got missed because I ran short on time. 

Somehow I came across Hebrews 4. I think Pastor Robert Morris may have preached on it a couple weeks ago. The header says, “The Promise of Rest”. This shocked me a bit. I never knew God promises us rest. It is a gift from God to us. A gift I don’t allow myself because of all the responsibilities I feel the need to fulfill. 

Today I didn’t know what or where I wanted to read on my God date. So, I just opened the Bible and my eyes feel right on Hebrews 4, again. And I feel it, God is telling me, “you still haven’t learned and accepted my gift.”

What in me makes me so works based? I even qualify my love for my husband based on how much I did for him that day, thankfully he doesn’t hold me to that standard. 

If God rested on the seventh day, what I mean is if even God needed rest, why don’t I allow myself rest?

When I try to rest it feels forced. I can feel my to do list lengthen as the time in the day ticks away. 

 Seems like I am believing the lie, “I don’t deserve rest. I didn’t get enough done today” and then I flip mode and think, “do you know how much I did today?” As if someone owes me. 

Not resting is actually disobedience (Hebrews 4:11)?

Living Wild in Obedience

I keep starting to post then deleting my 2 starting sentences. I just can’t figure out how to summarize all the amazing things God has been doing. I can’t even find the right word for things, because amazing is just not enough, English isn’t enough.

Let me paint a picture of two months ago. I had just given birth to a beautiful little girl. I came home my two story, dated but nice, home in a quiet neighborhood. My husband put me on bed rest and catered to my every need. Neighbors and friends from our Life Group brought us meals. I spent my days cuddling my newborn and watch movies with my 3 other children.

This morning I write this from my current home. I am over 30 and live with my mom. And we live in the hood. At one point we were phone less, car less, and homeless all at the same time. It wasn’t for lack of money. It was because we followed God.

Let’s clarify, I am not blaming God, I am giving him credit. I would have never imagined myself here. I probably would have fought the idea. Come on, who trades a happy life in the burbs for living with their parents in the hood? But, I know I am where God wants me. Even though the worlds eyes see it as a step in the wrong directions. I don’t want the world’s standards.

I am watching myself make decisions based on God’s lead. I am watching God change my wants to match his. I am seeing miraculous healing and communication between my husband and I and my mom and dad. Healing I have prayed for for seven years. I am watching my self, selfishness, step out of the way more than ever before. I am becoming a better daughter, wife, mother. I am watching that grow so fast I can actually see it happening!

Why even bother?

Today I am struggling with, “Why even bother…

… Cooking. He just complains about the food

… Correcting my children. He always says I do it wrong or not enough. 

… Being nice. He just tells me what a horrible person I am what a bad friend I am. 

… Trying to explain myself. He never believes me and tells me why I am always wrong

… Being married. 

Somewhere in me something still is trying to try. But, mostly I want to roll over and let him be “mom”. He doesn’t think I do a good job so why do I keep working, why don’t I quit. I just want to check out physically and mentally. 

So, I know at this moment I am supposed to pull out my note card with Phillipians 4:8. The one that says “Mind Check” that got lost weeks ago. But, it doesn’t need to be here for me to know I am not correcting myself the way I ought. I am supposed to make sure my thoughts are…

True

Noble

Just

Pure

Lovely

Good report 

Is any virtue

There is anything praiseworthy 

These are the things I am supposed to mediate and think on according to ‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬. I am not supposed to focus on how mad I am that the man who taught me I am precious now tells me what an awful person I am. Now, after years of growth. After I can finally see some change and start to like the person I am becoming. I am angry and hurt and selfishly dwelling on negativity. 

God, I am so thankful that you don’t expect or want me to do this on my own. Because, I need you to do this through me. I will do my best to get out of your way. Shutting off my negativity. Praying in tongues instead. Show your love and servants heart through me. 

Slipping and falling and thankful God still loves me and that the Holy Spirit is my comforter. 

If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. (‭Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭18-19‬ NKJV)

Bracelet Organizer from a Candle Holder

So, my jewelry used to be in a plastic shoe box. It was as organized as a wad of tangled necklaces can be. Afterall, I wrote “Jewelry” on the side of the box with a permanent marker.

I have a framed window screen I had made for my earrings. Even have one not pictured that stands up so I can easily put up the earrings with backs. And, I had even twisted up Christmas ornament wires to be able to hold my rings.

My necklaces hang off of a necktie rack turned diagonal. The asymmetry appeals to me.

So, all that was left in my box (which had cracked by now) was bracelets. My original thought was to find a paper towel holder and screw it to the wall. But, while thrift shopping for it this is what I found instead.

Now, I am pretty sure it is a candle holder stand. But whatever it was meant to be. I paid only 99 cents and…

Took my favorite spray paint (favorite because it works on wood, metal and plastic) and colored a couple light layers if a paint to match my other decor. This paint costs $3.97 a can. But I am obsessed with teal (they call theirs “Lagoon”) so I had a can handy.

I didn’t even have to add anything to hold it on the wall. I justI screwed three screws right up against the metal, far enough apart that it can’t fall off.

Now, that I know exactly what bracelets I have I wear them a lot more.
 

And if you can tell from the above picture. The tie rack’s original color was not a match so I unscrewed it and put a couple coats of color (black and teal) on it too.

I had so much fun and it looked different so fast that I can’t wait to start another spray paint project.

Trendy Scarf Necklace from Tacky Tie Dye Tshirt

I had been wanting to try to make a T-shirt scarf out of tie dye. So, this shirt beaconed to me and though I thought it ugly I did like the colorfulness.

I don’t know if you can read it but that price tag says, “1.99” and I happened to make it during the thrift stores, “Monday Night Football Sale” which meant 30% off clothes. Not sure how it is supposed to support football because if you are there during the sale you aren’t watching the game. But, I don’t argue with people giving me discounts.

Make your life easy, pick a shirt with no side seams (No stitching up the sides). And avoid screen print, the strip won’t curl the same in the places with screen print. But this could add to your own style if you like the look.

I cut the hem off. Then went in at an angle until I hit somewhere between 1/2-3/4″.

I cut all the way around until I.got close to the starting point. That is the funny little angled point. Below is how I fixed it so I could keep cutting my long strip.

I cut the point off 🙂 Then I kept cutting 1/2-3/4″ all the way around, and around, and around. I stopped when I hit the armpit seam.

I just eyeballed the width. It is very forgiving if you get a little off.

To the left is my pile of strip. On the right is where I began to pull the strip so it stretched and rolled itself up.

I ended up with a very long piece of cord. Ok, who I am kidding. I got over zealous and pulled it out so much that a couple times it broke and I had 3 long pieces. And there was so much I ended up making 2 scarves.

Time to wrap it around. I have my handy dandy mannequin that helped me plan how I wanted it. But the floor would work just as well.

Make sure you make the smallest loop bigger than your head. Other than that play with it until you get the look you want.

The back side. Yep, all those extra tales are from when I broke the strip.

I threw a needle and tread through the back side for two reasons 1) All those loose ends from breaking it 2) I wanted to make sure my lengths didn’t change during wear.

But you can skip the sewing to make it a no sew project just…

Tie a loose end, or scrap of strip, around the back in a tight knot. But, I had ribbon with my website on it. So, my vanity stitched that around the back.

Finished… My trendy scarf necklace. It won’t keep my neck warm in the winter. But it will look cute with almost every color outfit out there!

 

Body Con Skirt from Yoga Pants

I recommend using pants with at least 5% spandex and the rest cotton. Mine happen to be 12% spandex. So, I am expecting a lot of hug a butt.

The tshirts are part of the Fringe Skirt here.

Cut the inseam. That is from inside ankle and the way up through the crotch and down the other inside of the led to the ankle.

Flip the pants inside out. Lay them out with front to front and back to back.

Working from the waist down, carefully, smooth out the layers and pin them together.

So we need to get rid of that extra crotch fabric and get a smoother line.

Now if you have a tailors curve that is great. If not just draw a straight line on the front. But, curve it out in the back to leave room for your tush.

I wanted to shorten this so I didn’t sew a tea length skirt when I just need a mini. I know I want it longer in the back so I marked a straight line from 14 3/4 inch in front to 15.5 in the back.

But, I actually cut it on a bit of a curve because I wanted it to be a little longer on the sides as well. So, it is only shorter in front a bit.

See that red triple line the sewing machine is set on. That is called a stretch stitch. A zig sag is supposed to work as well. But I never like the finish as well.

Stitch it along the white line and cut off the excess about 1/4 inch from the seam.

Flip it right side out and you are done!

I tried to get a photo of me in it but my 5 year old is still learning her photography skills.

I made this in order to make the fringe skirt here.

It’s a 10 Miracle Leave in Conditioner

Awesome, easy to use product. I have tried a ton of products and they were either not enough moisture or coated the hair instead of penetrating it. I tried expensive conditioners, heating oils,  waxes, butters, ethnic hair products and even grease. All I need was this point and spray product and now I have silky hair.

This stuff ROCKS!

My daughter’s hair doesn’t make oil (she is mixed, soft but ethnic hair). When she was a baby we tried countless products and nothing kept her poor little scalp from flaking until we found this. Now it is a staple in her hair routine. I can tell from the feel of her hair if she misses putting it on after her bath. It is much silkier if she uses this. And easier to brush, bonus points!!

I decided to get a perm in hopes of easy beachy waves. Instead I got kinky dry as straw locks. This leave in conditioner helped bring it back to softness, although I still have to fight the kinky.

So in short, I highly recommend this and always have it in my cabinet.

Laundry Detergent Recipe

Recipe (yes, it is high efficiency safe)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
1 bar Fels Naptha (Ivory works but you need 2 bars, I have heard other soaps work but I haven’t tried any others)

Some folks say they have problems finding washing soda and Fels Naptha. I found them all nicely in a row in the laundry detergent aisle at Walmart.

The Math:
Washing Soda $3.24 for a box of 5.2 cups = $ .62 per cup
Borax $3.36 for a box of 7.25 cups = $ .46 per cup
Fels Naptha for 1 soap bar $ .97
Total of $2.05 to make 48 loads (takes 2 Tablespoons per wash)
For a grand total of $ .04 per load of laundry

I chopped up the soap bar tossed it into my lovely food processor (blender should work as well).

I suppose you could mix them together in a bigger bowl without the next step. But I really like my food processor. So I tossed half the powder and have the soap balls in my food processor then into a big bowl. Repeated with the other halves. Then stirred them together and put in a storage container.

I use 2 tablespoons of this super concentrated detergent in my wash and save a ton.

Pan Scraper

This is my new favorite tool.

Not only is it great for scraping food off of dishes. But I also keep one with my leg sugaring. I use it to spread my leg “wax” in the direction of growth then quickly yank it in the opposite direction and out the hair comes. You can find the Sugaring “Wax” recipe here. Now I don’t have to use muslin fabric strips.

I found my scraper for 97 cents at Walmart in the kitchen utensil section.