Freshen Up Friday

September 26, 2014July 19, 2015 RefreshHer4 Comments

A few years back when I made my first mission’s trip, I doubted there would be accessibility to daily showering, so I looked into purchasing my first ever can of Dry Shampoo. It was a handy item on that trip, because my inclination was correct!

Since then, I’ve learned that mission trips aren’t the only time one should substitute a spray for a the real deal of washing your hair. The whole process of washing and drying hair is really hard on your hair, and it seems that dry shampoos can even add a boost of volume to your hair, and who doesn’t need that?! Since my hair is short, I need to wash it every other day. Otherwise, I’d have to sleep standing up!

I found a can of this shampoo on clearance at TJMaxx for $5 – a great deal!

Oscar Blandi - Pronto Dry Shampoo Invisible Spray

I love it because this dry shampoo absorbs excess oil and product build-up without stripping the hair. The formula sprays clear, making it undetectable in any color hair, cleanses without water, and instantly boosts volume.

I brush my hair out, then spray the shampoo on, targeting the roots. Let it dry a minute or two. Brush hair. Proceed with normal styling.

It’s great stuff, ladies! Freshen up your hair and give this great product a try! You’ll also be out the door in half the time on the day you use the dry shampoo!

I have heard that there are other reasonably priced dry shampoos, but haven’t tried any others yet. If you use a different kind that you love, please leave a comment and tell us about it!

I’d love to see you at Boones Creek Bible Church Sunday!

Stay refreshed,

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Eliminating and Concentrating

September 25, 2014March 13, 2015 RefreshHer3 Comments

You have so much to do today! How will you ever accomplish everything that is before you ~ especially if you stop the first thing in your morning and spend thirty minutes alone with the Lord? There’s the housework, going to work, taking care of the children, cooking the meals, and so many other decisions to be made today! You’d better get busy!

Wait! Consider this first:

Without having time with God our housework will be just cleaning up after others. When we do it after time with God, it’s our way of showing God’s love to those who live with us.
Without having time with God, going to do our jobs will be part of our daily grind. When we do it after time with God, it’s a ministry to others.
Without having time with God, spending time with the children all day will be a display of gritting our teeth and waiting it out until nap time. When we do this after time with God, it is pouring out our life to point them to Christ.
Without having time with God, cooking a meal will only seem to create more messes to clean up for people who don’t appreciate it. When we do this after time with God it is done with purpose.
Without having time with God, a decision to be made will be decided based on our energy level. When we do this after time with God, He guides us and gives us strength to take the next right step and we find our day is profitable for eternal purposes.

We can literally do nothing without the Lord. Is that really what we want? To get nothing accomplished for the Lord? Then we will “discipline” ourselves to make it happen.

Disciplining isn’t forcing yourself to do the miserable – it means focusing yourself to do the best. It means eliminating and concentrating. A river can be spread out all over the place, sluggish and slow. It has little force that way, although it can do great damage. But if you channel it, narrow it down, limit it, then you increase its drive and force, and it can power a hydroelectric plant.

That’s what discipline does. “It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Restraint on the one hand. Commitment on the other. “Eliminating and Concentrating!”

“If we as women say yes to everything that comes our way, we will eventually end up saying no to the things that matter most.” We may need to say to good things – like …sleep, shopping, time with friends, or leading a ministry, if it means that would keep us from the best things.

Proverbs 8:34

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates,

waiting at the posts of my doors.

What do you need to eliminate from your schedule so that you might have time to concentrate on the thing that matters most?

With love,

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A Peek From My Porch

September 24, 2014March 13, 2015 RefreshHer3 Comments

Yesterday marked the first day of Autumn. Tennessee welcomed it in with a low of 45 degrees! My husband and I sat out on the front porch Monday night with steaming cups of coffee and the chilly night air about us. As much as I love summer, I have to admit that it was lovely. To sit out there and listen to the stillness, the geese flying into the corn field across the way and hear the corn stalks on the porch crunching in the breeze was a reminder that this season is one of slowing down a little. That is a blessing from the God who created the seasons. I’m thankful!

Last week I drug out the bins of my fall decor to give the inside of my house a touch of fall here and there. I decided not to do my mantles yet, but just add some subtle touches in a few spots. If you peeked in from the porch this is what you’d see:

This is my favorite Yankee Candle scent ~ Autumn Pumpkin.
It smells so wonderful in the house when this is burning!

The twinkly lights in the basket in front of the fire place are a pre-cursor to the fireplace being lit!

Foyer table

The place where I did go all out was my front porch. If you’re friends with me on Facebook you’ve seen pics, but for those that haven’t seen it, here it is:

Liza sweetly posed for this shot! =^..^=

Have you put out any fall decor yet? I hope this will inspire you a little to add a few touches somewhere. Then sit down with a cup of coffee and slow your pace.

With love from my country porch,

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Sensory Memories

September 23, 2014March 10, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

I turned on Pandora Radio on my computer while I was doing housework. A familiar sounding song began playing, and then all of the sudden the recognition of it enveloped me – Somewhere My Love! Immediately, I was taken back to my childhood when my sister’s alarm clock played that song so beautifully. I loved hearing it play. It was soothing and comforting. Suddenly, I could remember my childhood home, and feel the warmth and love I found there. Music will do that.

Yesterday Whitney posted about a Pumpkin Muffin recipe that I made while she was growing up. She recently made the recipe, and while enjoying the baked good was “transported back (to) the kitchen table, laughing and talking with my family.” Food will do that.

The smell of a candle awakens a memory of a place. A perfume scent recalls a person. In short, our senses remember things. Because of that, we should use that in a favorable way to create memories for our families. May I suggest a few ways?

Play the same few CD’s for several months at dinnertime. Or play a certain CD during a particular season each year. Playing music at mealtime is helpful in keeping the atmosphere calm and quiet, but it also creates an audio memory.
Have seasonal foods that are your signature recipes. For instance, make a pumpkin bar in the fall, your famous sugar cookies at Christmas, Lemon meringue pie in spring and blueberry muffins in summer. Those tastes and the smells of those baked goods will bring back memories of mealtimes at home.
Burn candles in your home, or use potpourri scents to fragrance your home. It will freshen your house and create a memory of the smell home.

God gave us our senses and they can be used to create a homey atmosphere that will bring back times from the past. Let’s be wise and use it in a positive way!

What sensory stirs up memories of your childhood?

With love,

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