Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash: Pink Grapefruit

oh, and the chicken using the McCormicks spice thing turned out SOOO yummy!!

perfect season...

so i was grocery shopping today and came across these. GENIUS. they are all the spices you need for that particular dish, ALREADY MEASURED OUT!! oh yes.. and then the back pops out to be a recipe card. it tells you on the back everything else you need...a full recipe. so easy!

this is the one i got, i'm excited to try it... i'll let you know how it turns out. (it was a buck something fyi)

anyways, the kiddos and i are making witch fingers so i gotta run. hope you all have a great evening!

Joy

today as i was driving home with my son, a huge piece of heavy metal that was tormenting the freeway hit my car. ruined my tire and the parts on the bottom of my car. we saw 3 others being towed for the same reason..and then at the shop my husband said 4 more came in from the same thing. horrible.

funny thing is, it doesn't have me down. we are safe, no one is hurt... and that is most important.

we dont' have an extra car.. and we don't have money to pay for it.. BUT it doesn't seem to bother me.
God is my provider, and regardless of what happens.. He is Good.. and is still my Provider.

Happiness is based on circumstances, situations. happiness comes and goes, depending on what is going on. Joy on the other hand comes from within. The core root of it coming from Him because He is my source. so, regardless of circumstances or happen-stance...
I still have joy.
i think of it as joy is part of who i am... happiness is a welcomed side effect.

hairstyles dad can do!

so this is by request of my loving hubby.

i freak out when he takes out my daughter with 'crazy lady hair' as i call it. so he asked me to do these for him. she has curly hair that grows in all directions, so just leaving it down is not an option... hope its helpful to you to!

goodbye bra!

ok... most women own ATLEAST 10 bra's... but always default to the one or two that are super comfy. we wear them to death. we forego the pretty colored, lacey, cute bras we thought we would wear and go for comfort. some of our favorite bra's need to be let go...

for instance, when:
-color: the bra use to be a gleaming white, is now a how do i say this nicely....a vanilla-ish color?!. c'mon girls. what if someone SAW it?!
also, i often see people's bra strap poking out. and i KNOW its not suppose to be that dingy grey color!
-structure: the wire is poking out the side or in the middle..and all day you are shifting and squirming, trying to poke it back in.
-shape: when the cups are no longer round, but look deflated, squished, lumpy, saggy.. just like how you DON'T want your boobs to look... get rid of it!
-fit: when the back rides up and is not level with the sides and front... it does not fit right. most of the support comes from the back. so if its riding, its too loose and stretched out and your shoulders are gonna pay for it.

if they are SUPER yucky, throw them away. invest in a new bra, one that's comfortable. you know you will wear it EVERYDAY. so think of it as an investment. your girls will thank you for it.

now what about all those neglected bras that never made it to the favorites list and are shoved to the back of your drawer or are hanging lonely and unused in your closet? you can DONATE them!
here are a couple of places i've found that you can donate, most of them donate to homeless women and those who sufferfrom domestic violence, help support breast cancer research, or use them towards a good cause:

http://www.BreastTalk.co.uk

http://brarecycling.com/index.shtml

http://www.softrock941.com/

my monster friends....

here are my little halloween-ee nails. i would like them a bit neater, but the brush was all out of whack and i was tired! but you get the idea right?
hope its easy to follow along. have a beautiful day everybody!

God doesn't love us because we are so lovable...He love us because He is so loving...

here we go again...

so i have been trying to grow out my bangs.... for about 10 years.
every time i get close to having them grown out, i see someone with bangs and want mine back.
maybe bangs and me are destined to be together forever.
i DO have an insanely large forehead... maybe its for the best. haha!!
so i attempted to make a video of how i cut them, hope its helpful!

JCLU forever winners!

CONGRATULATIONS!
if you are a winner, please message me your address within 48 hours or we will have to pick another winner! yay!!!! thank you for all you entered.
http://www.jcluforever.com

ruffle boots

got my second pair of FREE boots using my swagbucks! wooohoo!
for those of you who don't know (and i'd be astonished if you didn't since i seem like a swagbucks salesperson). swagbucks is a search engine like google, only you win points by searching and using that engine. you can trade your points for prizes or giftcards. i was skeptical and didn't really believe it until i got my first prize in the mail. now i'm addicted, its FREE STUFF!!! i trade mine (so far) for amazon giftcards and i buy stuff i want that i normally wouldn't buy myself.
both the boots i got so far are from 'make me chic'. they retail for $25 i think.
anyways... here is my swaggernaut swagbuck pitch for today! hahaha!!!

cutting it off

so i just gave myself a little haircut. it was WAY overdue...
made me think about so many things in my life i need to 'cut out'. we carry things around that we know we need to get rid of, but its always 'oh i'll deal with it later' or 'its not THAT bad, i can wait a little longer'.
the reality is, when its dead.. its dead. keeping things around, in or on you that are not healthy will affect the rest that IS healthy.
I need to get rid of some things inside of me that i've been hanging on to. things that i have always said 'i'll deal with later' or 'its not THAT bad'.
those little things that i think aren't such a big deal, keep me from living the to the fullest of my capacity. it steals bits of joy that i don't even notice are mine.

so 4 inches of hair later, i feel a little lighter and a little more enlightened.

hope you are having a beautiful day. :)

treasure

these are two of my treasures.
i value them so much, i cherish them. beautiful, irreplaceable treasures.

as i grow older i realize how much harder it is to make good friends, and keep good friends.
life changes and its not like high school or college when you do the same things, see each other every day, tell each other EVERY small detail of everything. people move. grow families...change. so friendships take so much more effort. they have to be intentional. days go by, details are forgotten and before you know it... you have no clue what is going on their lives, and they don't have the slightest idea what is going on in yours. so when something 'happens' its just too much effort to get into it ALL. so you just leave it, don't bother with it and move on. except with those select few. you make effort, you ask questions...you try. with these friends no matter the days, months, years... it is like it has always been. just deeper. stronger. your heart is an open book to them. they see you. they get you. they understand.

i really believe that people were made to be relational. we grow and thrive through relationships.
good friends are like mirrors, they show you things about you, that you can't see yourself. true friends let you be honest, raw, ugly...and they still love you. no judgement. they take what you say and take care of it. they want the best for you. they celebrate your success and hurt when you fall. they help you heal and nurture your wounds.

i have been blessed with a core of good friends. but this week i am especially blessed by these two beautiful ladies. so much love, encouragement, wisdom and compassion.
thank you for loving me like you do. i know and feel God's love for me with such a deeper understanding through my friendship with you. my beautiful irreplaceable treasures...

i like to give: giveaway

so i can't say i'm good at a whole mess of things, but i do like to give...
especially to those that i love. i want to give them everything and anything. i always daydream about things i would get people if i became an instant gabillionaire (that's how much i need! hahah)
i've even had dreams of taking people to car dealerships and saying 'will your mom or dad get mad that i got you a car?' hah!! i wish.. I WISH. or atleast own a huge company where i could hire everyone i know that needs a job and pay them WAY too much.. and get them to do stuff, just so they 'earn' it..but it would be stuff that was fun, that they enjoyed to do. or own a HUGE complex of homes where people who needed a place to live could stay for free, have community and bbq, swim, sing, dance.. play games together every day..the dream can just go on and on.
me and my daydreams.. anyways...
so for those of you who encourage me and support me, this is for you...
all entries need to be submitted on http://facebook.com/alittleaboutalot
you can write anything and everything. it could be long or short.. tell me what is new in your life :)
good luck! love you.... (and sorry i got all emotional! i'm such a girl!)

tired

do ever just get tired? tired orf trying, tired of hoping, tired of doing, tired of being?
I often get to this place where I'm just tired.
I know my life is good, I am blessed...
I wish I could be bundled in the warmest, softest, cuddly-est blanket and sit on the beach and watch the waves, have not a care and just marvel.
marvel at the beauty, the wonder, the mystery.
Just a moment of silence, even from myself..from my thoughts and breathe.
a long deep breath.

I have moments throughout the day that I wish I could log in the 'don't forget this' part of my brain, and I could go back to that moment at any time. see it, smell it, touch it, feel it. There are so many beautiful things in the world that get so clouded by the busyness of life...

I often wonder when I see people walking, driving. I wonder where they are going, what they're doing.. what their story is. So many people get up, go to work, come home, go to sleep...just to do it all over again. working to live, living to work.

There has to be a greater purpose, there is a greater purpose. I wish more people knew that. I want more people to know that. To live beyond the mundane, the every day...
instead of just 'doing' tasks, really delighting in them. LIVING life, having a destiny, a purpose...a calling.
God has a purpose for each one of us. a purpose that no one else can fulfill. He made you perfect the way you are, the way you were suppose to be and you are able to do things that no one else can.
God does not make mistakes...remember that.

you are beautiful and wonderful. believe it. receive it. live it.

coconut water

ok, just one more thing about coconuts... promise! oh, and it comes in flavors.
the original is 100 % coconut water.. it tastes aight.. but they have ones that taste like peach, mango... check it out!

benefits of coconut water:
more potassium than 2 bananas!
antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
used to regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
boost energy levels and increase metabolism in the human body
used to treat: stomach flu, dysentery, indigestion, constipation, intestinal worms, cholera, urinary abnormalities, urethral stone, malfunctioning kidneys, dry and itchy skin
applying Coconut Water onto affected skin areas every night before going to bed may help with acne, age spots, wrinkles, stretch marks, cellulite, and eczema.
Abundant in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients it is a natural energy drink.
more Potassium, Calcium, and Chloride than sports drinks promotes smooth healthy skin Rich in Potassium and other minerals, Coconut Water helps to regulate our internal fluids and replenish and rehydrate the body.
It has been used to treat dehydration caused by dysentery, cholera, diarrhea and stomach flu
drinking one cup of Coconut Water twice daily during digestive tract abnormalities, hot temperatures, and after strenuous workouts can help rehydrate the body quickly.
For constipation, diarrhea and other common digestive problems drink one cup of Coconut Water twice daily.
boosts immune system
natural electrolyte and isotonic beverage which help increase the body's metabolism=weight loss
settles and calms upset stomach

People who suffer from strangury, polyutra and other urinary ailments drink coconut water to relieve their symptoms.
helps to break up kidney stones making them easier to push out.

ps. my forehead looks awefully wrinkly. my anti-aging cream is failing me. what do you use?

coconut milk

so i'm discovering the world of coconuts.

i've been cooking my rice with a little bit of coconut milk lately and it tastes so good!
i have a cooker similar to this one, nothing fancy:

and then what i do is take about 1/4 of thai coconut milk and mix it in.
just make sure you shake the can before you puncture it, it settles in the the can so the water and creamy part separate a bit.
you can get this at any grocery store. its usually in the 'asian/ethnic' section. it adds just a hint of flavor, but its so yummy. it does make the rice a little less sticky than normal.
yum yum! there are so many things you can do with coconut milk!

Coconut milk benefits: Coconuts are seen by some as a miracle food, helping protect and cure the body of internal and external ailments. Coconut milk has many uses, most of which build up the immune system and the body's defenses.


Nutrients: Coconut milk contains many vitamins, minerals and electrolytes, including potassium, calcium and chloride.

Saturated Fat: The saturated fat in coconut is made up of short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids the body quickly turns into energy instead of storing as fat. Therefore, even though it's high in saturated fat, coconut can aid in weight loss

Lauric Acid: Half the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut milk are composed of lauric acid, which is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal. Coconut milk can help boost the immune system

Dairy-Free: Coconut milk is a dairy-free alternative for those who are lactose intolerant or allergic to animal milk. This vegan drink is also soy-free, gluten-free and nut-free.

Relief of Ailments: Coconut milk is known to relieve the symptoms of sore throats and ulcers.

Skin Care: Coconut milk is used in skin-care products to moisturize the skin and relieve dry skin and rashes. It also can be used on the hair and in baths.

anyways...
had a beautiful day at church today. so many kids for sunday school, and one of the ladies brought drinks and snack bags for all of them. It is so nice to see people joyfully serve and give.

September Musts & Busts

here's just a couple of things I discovered in September that I like...or not like so much...
hope its helpful! have a great day!

oh..and...If you haven't checked out Hautelook yet, its a great website. Free to join... Every day they have different brands selling their stuff for 30-90% off. yup, for reals. Brands you like too. Juicy Couture, Urban Decay... everything and anything, even baby stuff. Its fun every morning just to see who and what is on sale. Here is the link!

http://www.hautelook.com/invite/JBrattrud831