What's In My Purse?

Kate from The Small Things Blog recently had a series featuring different bloggers and what they carry in their purse. I thought that was such a neat idea and decided to do it here!

There's a saying - Never look through a woman's purse. Well, starting today, and throughout the week, you'll get to see everything or a glimpse (depending on how much they want to show :)) into the purses of some bloggers. We'll start with my purse today, shall we?

I love this purse, but as you can see it can get kinda messy!

1. Sunglasses & glasses cleaning cloth

2. Lint roller & hair brush...these really come in so handy

3. Lotion, mints & pens, lots of pens...there's nothing more irritating than searching through a big purse and not have ONE pen in it! Lol

4. Keys & ear buds

1. Calendar book - a must to keep everything straight!

2. The polka dots has gospel tracts inside and then that's a little notepad sitting on top

3. My wallet...my checkbook is hiding underneath :)

4. Pocket New Testament...you just never know when you might need it!

1. I got this bag from a little girl that I had in my kindergarten class. It's perfect to keep all of this stuff together! No more searching for chapstick at the bottom of your purse!

2. Mirror, powder puff & oil blotting sheets (last two from Birchbox)

3. Heart-shaped nail file & fashion tape (both from Birchbox), lotion & hand sanitizer. Ok, so I realize the fashion tape is kinda strange, but like I said I got it from Birchbox and I figure you never know when you might lose a button or something! lol It just might come in handy one of these days!

4. Bobby pins & Lipstick/gloss/chapstick

1. Camera, which is usually in a case...for some reason the case in on my dresser...hmmm

2. Phone

3. Calculator...not necessary since I have one on my phone, but it's in there :)

1. Yes, that's a straw...lol...it was an extra and I just threw it in. That's what happens when you carry a big purse.

2. Change - I gathered up a bunch of change a week or so ago and it's been in here ever since. It came in very handy when we had a garage sale to raise money for the kids to go to camp!

3. Pin cushion...haha...you guys I'm cracking up at myself. Let's see, why do I have a pin cushion in my purse...some of the girls that are going to camp found some skirts and they needed some hemming. I'll be hemming/taking them in for them, and I needed to pin a couple skirts so I knew what changes needed to be made. :)

4. One Dayquil & a magnet for the ladies meeting next year

5. Fabric swatches for Josh & Liz's wedding. Maggie & I will be wearing a dress similar to the blue.

There you go! I hope you enjoyed it. It's very revealing! Make sure you come back every day this week for a new post featuring other bloggers!

Lizzie-girl

On Wednesday, Lizzie will be turning ONE! It's amazing how much she has changed since I started watching her in October. She's starting to talk more, almost walking and getting more personality every day! She's recently picked up on saying 'Bible'. We've been singing the B-I-B-L-E to her and would raise our arms at the end when you shout BIBLE. She started doing that and will do it when you sing the song, or even just randomly throughout the day...Baba!....too cute!

Today was her birthday party and I knew I wanted to make something for her. So, last night I spent my evening sewing away! Wouldn't you know that the little bloomers took me the longest! I love how it turned out and can't wait to see it on her!

I'm definitely keeping this in mind for future gifts. It's just too cute! It was pretty simple too. As any new sewing project goes, it was a learning experience in what to do and not to do next time. Overall, I'm pretty happy with it. :)

Here are the tutorials I followed: Dress (she used a onesie, but I just used a tshirt) - Bloomers - Headband Flower

Linking up to:

We Love Mom!

Hello Monday

Hello Monday. It's been a long weekend.

Hello bridesmaid dress. I'm so glad you're taken care of. Can't wait till you arrive in the mail!

Hello Mother's Day. It was a beautiful day. Perfect weather for a bbq with friends, and celebrating the Mom that the Lord has blessed me with!

Hello children's books in Spanish. We need to spend some time together this week.

Hello Lizzie. I love how you're crawling around with a squeaky toy in your hand. Squeak Squeeeaaak. Squeak Squeeeaaak.

*Linking up to Lisa Leonard's Hello Monday*

Mother's Day Crafts

Where-Oh-Where would I be without Pinterest and blogs that give me SO much inspiration for crafty stuff that I would never have thought of on my own? Here's what I made...

::For Braxton & Lizzie's mom::

The card reads:

This isn't just a butterfly

As you can plainly see.

I made it with my hand

Which is a part of me.

It comes with lots of love

Especially to say

I hope you have a very

Happy Mother's Day!

Love,

[child's name]

::For my Secret Prayer Sister::

Fruit can repurposed into a gift can

Tiles + tissue paper = super cute coasters!

We are also working on something for my mom, but you can't see that until Mother's Day! :)

Lies Women Believe

Maggie, Mom & I have been reading Lies Women Believe together. We finished it a couple weeks ago and let me tell you...it was such a blessing! There are so many lies that we believe that we don't even realize. It's definitely an eye-opener. It covers lies women believe about:

God

Themselves

Sin

Priorities

Marriage

Children

Emotions

Circumstances

She gives several lies with each category and then truths to counteract those lies. Some of the stuff she covers is so basic, yet when we really think about it we find that we can fall into the trap of believing those lies. Take, for example, the lie: God is not really enough. Most of us would automatically say, Of course He is! But, do our lives show it? Are we resting completely in Him? Do we need Him plus good health, plus a husband, plus children, plus *fill in the blank*? The truth is: God IS enough. If I have Him, I have all I need. (Psalm 23:1 ~ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.)

If you get a chance, I highly recommend this book. I think it's definitely something that every woman should read.



Friday Favorites: Cake Edition!

I love cake decorating! I love looking at cakes for inspiration! Here are some that I'm loving right now!

pinned here

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Friday Favorites

::Mexican Food! Homemade beans, tortillas & churros...Mmm! Not pictured - Dalila (a lady from church) taught Maggie and I how to make sopitas on Tuesday night...that was the first time I had ever had them and they are delicious!::

sorry about the really poor picture quality :)

::Soy de los estados unidos y hablo ingles. Hablo un poco de espanol. Dalila also started teaching Maggie & I Spanish. I'm also doing Mango laguages online through our library. I can't wait till I'm able to having a conversation with someone beyond telling them that I'm from the US and speak English and a little bit of Spanish...lol::

::Our garden is starting to grow!::

::English Muffin Bread - this is so easy to make and very yummy!::

!Que tenga un buen dia!

A Few of My Favorite Things

This was supposed to be a Friday Favorites post, but time got away from me so here it is on Monday night. :)

::Ladies SPARK meeting - such a great time getting to know the ladies at church better and being encouraged/challenged by God's Word::

::Josh and Liz are engaged! Preparations for an August 3rd wedding are in full swing::

::SUNSHINE! Spring has finally arrived...it was BEAUTIFUL today! Thank you, Lord! It was wonderful to be able to spend a good part of the day out on the deck for some much needed sunshine and fresh air::

::I've heard this song a couple of times now, and it blesses my heart. No matter what I'm going through in life, it's for my good and His glory!::

He lives!

We sang this in church tonight and I wanted to share it because it's such a great song! Praise God that Jesus didn't just die on the cross and stay in the grave, but He rose from the dead! I serve a risen Saviour!!!

One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
  One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin—
  Dwelt among men, my example is He!


Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;

  Buried, He carried my sins far away;

Rising, He justified freely forever:

    One day He's coming—O glorious day!

One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected;
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He.


One day they left Him alone in the garden,

  One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down o'er His tomb to keep vigil;
  Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He.

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
  One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
  Now is ascended, my Lord evermore.

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
  One day the skies with His glory will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;
  Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!

Friday Favorites

::My salvation! Here is a great video explaining salvation and what Christ has done for us!::

::Last Saturday was Little Man's birthday party...complete with a bouncy house/ball pit.::

::New products in Far Above Rubies! Yay!!::

Spring?

Is it just us, or is everyone else having weird weather this week? Monday it snowed almost ALL day, Tuesday it was really nice and almost all of the snow melted, and then today it's snowing AGAIN! Dear Spring, Please come soon! 

Here are some pictures from Monday!

So happy to be out in the snow!

We bought him a set of garden tools for his birthday and they came in handy for one of his favorite things...shoveling!

Shoveling/raking blocks :)

We ended up with 2-3 inches, but like I said it was pretty much gone the next day. Now it's looking like this again.

He thought it would be a good idea to put some lotion in his hair. LOL

Don't you just love that smile?! Can't believe he's going to be TWO tomorrow!!

Shoveling with 'Jeffey' :)

Looks Can Be Deceiving

These look like ordinary chocolate cookies...

Think again!

ROLO COOKIES

1 pkg. Rolo's
1 box Devils Food Cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 c. oil

Mix cake mix, oil, and eggs. Take a small ball of dough and form a ball around the rolo. (Only use enough dough to cover the rolo so it can spread through the cookie.)

Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 7-8 minutes. Let them sit on the pan for a few minutes and then enjoy! Mmmm....

Another Year

Quarter of a century...Half way to 50...However you want to put it, I turned 25 on Thursday! I had such a wonderful day much thanks to my family and friends who showered me with love and birthday wishes!

For my 23rd birthday I gave you 23 random facts about me, and this year I thought I'd give 25 things I'm thankful for. Here we go...

1. Salvation by grace and the absolute assurance that comes with it!
2. God's Word that brings conviction, comfort, direction, and so much more!
3. Family - both immediate and the many, MANY extended family members =)
4. Church family - they are such a blessing to me
5. Friends - both old and new!
6. Health
7. My job - adorable kids and great parents
8. Musical abilities - piano, flute - it's only because of the Lord that I'm able to play these!
9. Spring is on it's way!
10. A Christian home
11. Being single - don't get me wrong, I would love to get married and pray that one day I will, but at the same time...there are so many opportunities I would have missed out on if I was married.
12. Heartbreak - "A heartbreak is a blessing from God. It's just His way of letting you realize He saved you from the wrong one." ~ Via Mariz
13. Far Above Rubies is now selling hats at a local consignment shop!
14. The 5 senses
15. My Sunday School class
16. Heat in the winter & air conditioning in the summer
17. Color - how boring would things be if everything was black and white
18. Food and the fact that I know how to cook/bake
19. Nature - I can't wait to spend some time outside when the weather warms up, especially my favorite spot!
20. Modern conveniences - dishwasher, washer and dryer, plumbing, etc
21. A yard big enough to garden...can't wait to get started this year!
22. Kindred spirits - meeting someone for the first time and feeling like you've known them for years
23. Being able to attend and serve in a church without fear of persecution
24. Men and women who put their life on the line to protect our lives and the freedoms we enjoy
25. You! It's fun to see all of the visitors that come to read my little blog. Please, don't be shy...leave a comment sometime. I'd love to hear from you and how you found my blog!

Apples!

A family at church gave us a big box of apples a while back. Slowly we've been eating them and using them for cooking/baking, but it was time to take care of the rest before they went bad. Yesterday I set out to the task and here's what I ended up with.

I peeled, cored, cut, boiled, strained, mashed...you name it! We've got 2 jars of apple juice, 2 jars of apple sauce, 5 bags of apples cut up and ready for pies or crisps, 4 mini jar pies plus one jar crisp & apple fruit snacks. Phew!

Unfortunately the fruit snacks didn't turn out. They didn't have any flavor (the recipe calls for juice concentrate) and the consistancy was kinda weird. I want to give it another try though. If they turn out I'll let you know and share the recipe!

I'm excited to try the jar pies. I got the idea from HERE and have been wanting to try it for a while, so this was the perfect opportunity. I used THIS recipe for the filling and topping [minus the oats because we were out. :( ]. Now they're just sitting in the freezer waiting to be eaten. :)

Etcetera, Etcetera, Etcetera...

After opening up our online store, Far Above Rubies, we've already received our first order! That was pretty exciting! We still haven't gotten hats down to the local shop for consignment...things have been kinda busy around here and I just need to finish up a few small details before we're ready to take things down there. For those who have Facebook, you can get updates on our little shop and see pictures of hats that we've done...www.facebook.com/faraboverubies3110.

The weather is at the point right now where it seems like spring *might* be right around the corner, but then it snows. It snowed some over the weekend, but I was thankful for it because it covered up our soggy yard that's not so pretty to look at right now. :) I'm ready for spring though. We discovered a park in our neighborhood this past fall, and I can't wait to take Braxton and Lizzie to it on warm spring/summer days and just enjoy being able to be outside and play.

Speaking of them, Braxton's cut it healing SO well...Praise the Lord! A week after he got it, he ripped it open and they had to butterfly bandage it back together. At that point it looked like it was going to be a nasty scar with lots of scar tissue, but praise God He answers prayer and it's healing really well. Poor little guy is sick with the flu right now and is sleeping next to me as I type. Lizzie-girl is growing so much! She will be 9 months this week and refuses to crawl. Haha. Apparently her mom skipped crawling and went straight to walking, so maybe that's what she'll do. She is sitting up really well and is getting so much personality. I sure do love those kids.

This past weekend Josh's girlfriend, Liz, came up and it was so nice to finally spend some time with her. (We also had a wonderful visit with the Greens and a family from church that come over Friday night!) The reason she came was to help with Josh's move to Arizona. Saturday morning my dad & I bid farewell to Josh, Mom, Maggie, Liz & Guage (and Josh's friend that's moving with him). I hate to see him go, but I know that's where he feels the Lord wants him right now. Mom & Maggie are helping him move, as well as visiting my aunt that lives there, so they won't be back until the 28th.

I've really been getting into crafting lately and have so many things I want to try. With an extra room opening up in the house, we plan on turning that into our craft room. It's going to be so nice to have a room dedicated to that purpose where we can leave sewing machines and projects out and be able to just close the door and walk away without having to worry about leaving a mess. I'm sure I'll be posting some pictures of the room as it comes together as well as some crafts. Here's one that I recently did as a gift for someone.

Just in case you can't read the tag, it's a heat therapy pack (or a rice bag). You put it in the microwave to heat it up and it's perfect for headaches, sore muscles, etc!

To wrap up the post, here's the recipe for the flour tortillas I mentioned in this post. I had a request for the recipe, so I figured I'd just post it.

4 c. all purpose flour

2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

4 Tbsp. olive oil

1 1/2 - 1 3/4 c. warm water

Combine dry ingredients. Mix in oil and water until blended. Knead dough 25 to 30 times. Allow to stand, covered in a bowl for 10 minutes (keep warm). Form dough into balls the size of a golf ball. Then roll out flat with a rolling pin, until 6 inches in diameter (I find it's easier sometimes to form and stretch it with my hands.) Place tortilla on a hot griddle until brown (1-2 minutes), then flip over on other side.

I made a double batch and only cooked half of it, while putting the rest of the dough in the refrigerator. The next day I pulled it out and formed/cooked tortillas with no problem. Having cold dough didn't seem to make a difference.

If you try it, you'll have to let me know what you think. It's alot of work (and be prepared for sore arms :)), but they're SO good!

Introducing!!

Remember when I said I was working on a project? Well I'm ready to tell you what it is!!

I went into the new year praying/thinking about opening up an online store. I wasn't entirely sure what I would sell, but I had some ideas. After mentioning it to Maggie, we decided that it would be something we could do together. Not long after that...maybe even days...Braxton's mom told me that she was out in town and a lady saw the hat I made Braxton and loved it! This lady just happens to own a store in town and wanted to know if I would be willing to do consignment! This got me so excited!! I talked to her and confirmed things and also have something else lined up to do consignment once I have it ready. :)

Maggie and I have been busy making hats to put in her store and have also officially opened our online store! Be sure to stop by and take a look...and pass the word!! Right now we only have hats listed, but hope to add more items in the future. 

Far Above Rubies

You can get to our shop from the button on the side ---->