Friday's Freebies

Hi Friends - well, it's Friday and you know what that means!! Freebie Day!!!

I've taken a look at last month's statistics and it appears that Monday thru Thursday are your best view days.  So I'm going to let this be the last Friday blog for a while.  I'm cool with that for the summer at least because most people are so busy and trying to get ready for the weekend.

For today's freebie I'm just gonna touch on some easy stress relievers...this heat has really raised my stress level so I'm guessing you might be experiencing the same thing.  So here are some ideas to manage stress on these hot days:

1.  Drink plenty of fluid.  Whether it's water or your favorite iced tea or some fresh lemonade, fluids help to keep your body's temperature regulated and therefore, will keep your heart rate at a regular rate...just watch the caffeine!

2.  Touching your forehead, wrists, back of your neck and bottoms of your feet with an ice cube can quickly lower your body temperature.  It's quite relaxing if you have just finished up with exercise too!

3.  Candles scented with vanilla or lavender will lower stress.  These scents are familiar and comforting and will help you relax after a long day or stressful trip home in traffic.

4.  Make some cinnamon toast and munch.  Mix sugar and cinnamon and then spread butter on some whole wheat bread.  Sprinkle cinnamon mixture generously over the butter and toast to your preferred crispness.  This is a great comfort food and quite relaxing!

5.  Give yourself a foot massage.  Using a tennis ball, roll back and forth with your foot.  The ball will give the muscles in your foot enough resistance to relax them.  Do this for 2 or 3 minutes per foot.  When finished massage some lavender scented lotion into your feet and prop them on a comfy pillow...I hear you saying, "ahhhh!" now!

6.  Epsom salts, essential oils and baby shampoo make a great bubble bath.  Pick your favorite essential oil and add 1 cup of salt, a few drops of oil and a little baby shampoo into some warm but not hot water.  Soak your troubles away while reading a good book - nothing stressful -- try a magazine or light-hearted short story.

7.  Pet your pet...studies have shown over and over that pets help to lower our stress level.  Spending time with them is absolutely what they love and petting, brushing or playing with them will both relax you and them, too!

8.  Take a long walk near water.  There's something about being near water that takes the stress away.  If you can go to a park or near the ocean where there's a ready source of water, it may still be hot, but the water focuses your attention away and before you know it, the stress begins to melt away.

9.  Do a repetitive task.  I know people who iron clothes, cook, sew, knit, etc. who say that it's a great way to let the stress go.  They play music they love and sing along or sway while doing the repetitive motion of the task...it's worth a try...it might be the thing that works for ya!

10.  Dance!  Turn on your favorite music and wiggle.  Whatever the style - make sure that you move.  You don't have to be good at it - just wiggle -- before you know it -- all the achy muscles, fatigue and ill mood will be gone...

Lastly -- spend time with those you love.  Laugh, play cards, games, cook out - whatever you enjoy the most - surround yourself with those people -- it's the BEST way to unwind after a tough day, week or month.  Make time for this -- you'll never regret it!

I hope you have a GREAT weekend!  See ya Monday!!!  Amy

Friday's Freebies

Happy Friday, Happy Weekend, Everybody!!!  I'm guessing that we're all ready for a great weekend ahead!  Woo Hoo!!

Since today is freebie day, I think I'll give you a few decorating tips.

I need to be in a 12 step program for fabric addiction.  I absolutely love designer drapery and upholstery fabric.  It's so full of life and ideas for me!  I know, I know - it's not for everybody...but for me -- it's just one of life's beautiful things!

There are some great ways to use designer fabrics even if you don't know how to sew or have very basic skills and just like Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade meals (Food Network) - you can make semi-homemade decor, using ready made products and combining them with gorgeous designer fabrics.

Window Treatments - to the average person, making draperies from scratch seems a daunting task.  But if you add designer fabric or trims to ready made panels, you have a custom look without all the stress and mess.

Here's some basic ideas:

1. Exchange 18" of the plain panel by adding 18" inches of designer fabric across the bottom.  You can get really creative with decorative trims to hide the seams and if you're really good with a hot iron and press-on tape or hook/loop tape - you can have them done quickly without sewing at all!  If you want to make them fancy - add a ruffle of fabric to the panel or pleats -- use your imagination!

2. Rather than cutting the solid panels, simply sew the fabric on top of the panel.  Just press the raw edge neatly and either top stitch or iron on using press-on tape (stitch-witchery is one brand).  You can make stripes, boxes, frames, shapes - the sky's the limit!

3. Simply adding decorative trim to ready made window panels or valences can make a huge difference in the way they look.  Just be sure to measure the panels and allow 2 extra inches on each end for tuck under and finishing.  You must allow for any raveling that WILL occur.  Don't trust the measurements of the panels on the package -- they are mass produced and may be off just a little bit -- take the time to measure accurately and you'll be glad you did.

4.  Just like panels can be embellished, valences can as well.  Using decorator fabrics you can add extra style and color.  Same thing with trim.

5.  This is the easiest of all - buy two different colors or 1 solid 1 pattern pair of panels for each window.  Gather 1 of each color for each side of the window and you'll have a personalized touch in literally the time it takes to put them on the rod and hang them in the window!

I think the point is - you don't have to settle for ready made if you don't consider yourself a decorator.  Just adding some personal touches to the ready made stuff will make it all your own.  Look at magazines that have the same style decor as your home and when you're out shopping for clothing pay close attention to the detailing on the clothes you like.  Add that type styling to your home decor and it's sure to please.

I hope you have a great weekend.

See ya soon!  Amy

Verse of the day:  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:13

It's FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to Friday, Everyone!!!  This has been a long week, but it's been truly wonderful to see the sunshine, blue skies and the outpouring of love and generosity that so many are showing to the storm ravaged cities and victims of last week.  If you are one of those people -- May God return a magnificent blessing according to your generosity!  Thank you!

Since Fridays are our freebie day, I thought I'd share some really wonderful Bible studies that I've had the opportunity to facilitate in the recent past.,.  If you are looking for some ideas to deepen your walk with the Lord or maybe you are interested in putting a group of folks together to study God's Word - these are just terrific and really have made a difference in my own life as well as those who have joined me for the studies. 

The first one I'd recommend is "No Other Gods" by Kelly Minter.  This study focuses on the First of the Ten Commandments and through personal encounters, stories and Scripture, she leads us to a deeper understanding of everyday idols - functional gods - that creep into our lives so subtly and aren't always material, bad things -- but many times they can be the really good things in our lives - but because they require so much of our attention, by definition they become idols.  Upon first glance at this study, I must admit, I honestly didn't think there would be much to it -- but my goodness!  Was I wrong!  The content, depth and combination of Scripture that Kelley uses in this short 8 week study are very powerful and eye-opening.  It's one I would do again and again and never tire of God's teachings.  Check it out at www.kellyminter.com

Second on my list of great studies would be "Fool-proofing Your Life" by Jan Silvious.  Whew!  If you have any type of relationship with anyone who is difficult, inconsistent, full of self, manipulative, has an addiction to anything, or just wears you out in general - then this study is for you!  Centered on the book of Proverbs, Jan uses a Scripture rich text to teach us practical applications of God's Word to gain sanity in dealing with "fools" - as defined in the Bible.  It's confronting, no nonsense, straightforward discussion that allows anyone who is seeking wisdom and sanity in relationship issues.  Jan isn't shy about speaking the truth in love and offers the reader a clear path for digging out of the dangerous behavior patterns in relating to these people.  There is a book, DVD and study guide for this study which is 8 weeks in length (including intro week).  Check it out at www.jansilvious.com 

A third study I'd like to recommend is one by Priscilla Shirer.  It's called "One in a Million" and centers on the time that the Israelites spent in the wilderness, just after leaving Egypt and before entering into the Promised Land.  For anyone who desires to gain an understanding of the purpose of the wilderness journey and try to make sense of things when nothing makes sense, this is the study for you!  Centered around the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy and Joshua, Priscilla takes us on a journey of a lifetime offering practical application to gaining peace, contentment and purpose during those times in our lives when nothing seems to be happening and we seem to be walking in circles in our faith.  Again, this is an 8 week study.  The leader guide is in the back of the workbook and the course may be done with or without the dvds.  Of the studies that I've done by Priscilla Shirer, this is one of my favorites.  Take a look at www.priscillashirer.com

Beth Moore's study of "Daniel" is another one of my favorites.  It's deep, it's challenging and offers so much insight to the past, present and future according to God's Word.  Daniel was so committed to live justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God and provides us with such a great example of how God will use a faithful servant in spectacular ways if we will commit our lives to Him and hold fast even when things just don't seem to go our way.  Daniel seems to "get the big picture" and has no issue with his role in his part of history.  This study has a good bit of homework but is wonderful for the person who has a passion for digging deeper in God's Word and grabbing for nuggets of great truth along the way.  It's 12 weeks and has a workbook, dvds and leader guide.  www.lproof.org 

A couple of books before I go -- I'm reading one now called "Made to Crave" by Lysa Terkherst.  It's her personal account of the journey into self control according to God's Word.  Lysa is very open, honest and laces humor with the Truth of Scripture to show the reader how to step into the fullness of purpose and calling by letting go of the strongholds of addiction (in her case, food) and allowing the Holy Spirit into those empty spaces to heal the hurts that exist in those strongholds.  The book is filled with Scripture and each chapter ends with questions for deeper thought and study.  Would be a great small group study -- it's not a diet book -- it is more of a heart book -- just a check up to see if there are deeper issues with regard self control.  There are dvds available as well as study guides too!  www.madetocrave.org

Last one (well really two!)  Smart Girls Think Twice (SGTT) and Big Girls Don't Whine (BGDW) by Jan Silvious...don't you just love those titles!  These books are awesome!  SGTT focuses on making wise choices and letting the Holy Spirit teach us to be better listeners, seers and speakers as we represent God's Kingdom.  It's a practical guide to searching out God's Word as a handbook for living in our world today -- a must have for anyone trying to make sense out of living!  BGDW has to do with developing confidence as a woman of God and walking in it.  Both of these books are great for small group discussions or for personal reading.

I hope today you'll find blessings in the small things and enjoy those around you.  Get out in the sunshine and laugh a little!  Have an awesome weekend!!

Be blessed...not stressed!! Amy

It's Friday - Good Friday - a beautiful day...

Hi Everybody!!! Can you believe it's already Friday!  Wow! This week has flown by!  I've had a busy week and I'm sure you have as well - but I hope you've had a moment to stop and thank the Lord for His GREAT sacrifice today - especially today -- Good Friday.

I've decided that Fridays are going to be kind of a "freestyle" day -- kind of filled with lots of different things and thoughts -- just a relaxed conversation of sorts.

I noticed just a minute ago that "The Passion of the Christ" is showing on TBN -- whew! that's a tough movie to watch but I may just have to do that before the weekend is out.  What do you think?


Okay so what to write about today ... My first thoughts would be, of course, on Easter.  Good Friday is usually such a sad day because it's a reminder that Christ hung on the cross and died on this day after suffering beatings that we cannot truly comprehend.  His flesh was ripped and torn so badly that he would have been almost unrecognizable at this point and would have been dehydrated, and in more pain than any medicine could dull even slightly.  Death was surely the desired outcome once the crosses were hoisted and dropped down into the holes that would hold them steady.  The weight that his wrists had to bear - his full body weight would have made it very difficult to breathe and to push up to catch a breath on the nail that pierced his feet (between the ankle joint and tibia) would have been excruciating.  And yet, that wasn't the worst part of Jesus' day - Good Friday.  That came later.  The sky began to darken as God turned His face away from His Beloved Son.  As the sins (our sins) of the world were heaped upon Jesus.  As the sky turned black, Jesus experienced the most pain He would ever have to endure.  He was fully God and fully man, and the Only One who truly understood Him, His purpose, and knew Him intimately had turned His Holy Face away from His Perfect and Only Son.  I've been homesick before, and I've felt lonely and alone -- as I'm sure we all have -- but I promise -- none of us can truly fathom the pain of those moments as the earth turned completely dark, the veil was ripped in the temple and as He bore the sins of the world upon Him...for us my friends -- all this -- for us.  None of us can fathom the pain that God felt in having to do so either.  So, as we reflect on this day, Good Friday, the "goodness" in it comes because of the pain Jesus endured so that we might find favor with God - because of the sacrifice of a perfect Lamb...without blemish, sinless. 

So before sleep overtakes us this evening, let's pause to be thankful and rise tomorrow to live a life of gratitude no matter what comes our way remembering the GREAT sacrifice that was made on our behalf.

But it's not over sweet friends...Sunday's coming!! HE is RISEN INDEED!!  Have a blessed and beautiful Easter weekend...until next week....

Amy