May21

Tipsy Tuesday-How You Can Help Oklahoma

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Tipsy Tuesday-How You Can Help Oklahoma

My tip for today is how you can help my state in the aftermath of 2 days, TWO days, of deadly tornadoes. While the 19th of May was destructive, the 20th of May is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. And we lived in OKC when the May 3, 1999 tornado occurred. I’ll be surprised if this tornado isn’t upgraded to an F5 simply because the destruction appears so much worse than even the ’99 storm.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Pray. It’s free & it works.

2. Donate to the Salvation Army. Text “storm” to 80888 to make a $10 donation. My understanding is that they DO NOT WANT CLOTHES at this point in time. That may sound strange, but I’m sure there is a plan in place for those that need fresh apparel.

3. Donate to the Red Cross. Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

4. Donate to the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s Disaster Relief Fund. Donations may be made online at www.unitedwayokc.org or by mail to United Way of Central Oklahoma, P.O. Box 837, Oklahoma City, OK  73101 with notation for May Tornado Relief.

5. Donations to the Moore & Shawnee Tornado Relief Fund can be made securely online at www.TulsaCF.org. Donations can also be mailed to TCF offices at 7030 S. Yale, Suite 600, Tulsa, OK, 74136.

6. Donate blood at your local blood bank. A blood donation only costs you some time &, well, blood, but they give you a cookie afterwards. It’s such an easy thing to do. And it’s free!

7. Check with your local law enforcement, churches & businesses (be sure they are legitimate businesses) for any plans to take supplies. I know that there are suburban cities joining with private business & churches in gathering needed supplies. Check your home-town sources to see if you can help!

As I type this, my heart is heavy for the parents waiting to hear the fate of their child in the school rubble. I hurt for those waiting to hear about family & friends. I am faithful that God is in control, but I can not imagine the torture of not knowing, the realization of loss, or the joy of a miracle. As the sun rises and more bad news is sure to come, please blanket the people of Oklahoma with your prayers of peace, comfort, & strength. Pray for us to remember to lean on our Heavenly Father, to ask forgiveness amidst our anguish, and for Him to carry those hurting the most.

Items 2-5 sourced from http://kfor.com/2013/05/20/how-to-help-okla-tornado-victims/

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Photo Credit: S. Anderson-Crosslin via Facebook
May17

Be The Real You

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Today I’m sharing a blog entry from The Creative Princess that really inspired me. Actually I meant to post it two days ago, but the lazy days of summer just aren’t here yet. Anyways, I don’t know if it was the timing, or the simplicity, or just that I needed some confirmation that it’s ok for me to be myself; whatever the reason, I love this post. I happen to know the author & I adore her, as most people that know her do! I appreciate all that she strives to do as a mom, wife, church volunteer, & blogger.

Last week she posted about putting our surface image aside & encouraged readers to get real in social media. I love that concept!

Read it here http://www.creativeprincessbrandi.com/2013/05/this-is-me.html

May14

Tipsy Tuesday-Vicks VapoRub for…Sunburn?

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That’s right.

Vicks…to soothe a sunburn. Who knew!?!

Vicks Vapor Rub

Vicks Vapor Rub

Next time the SPF wears off & you wind up looking more sun-blasted instead of sun-kissed, rub some Vicks on the sunburn to help alleviate the sting and itch. I know it sounds crazy, but it works!

I learned this from a neighbor years ago when I was miserably itchy & had tried every store & home-remedy I could find. I thought she was full of it when she told me, but I was desperate & slathered myself up. If I hadn’t been afraid of cracking my skin open, I would’ve done cartwheels over the relief I felt!

I wouldn’t recommend using this on blistered up or broken skin. Can you say ouch?! But if your skin is still in tact, put a nice thick layer on. For extra cooling relief, refrigerate the Vicks before putting it on.  Be sure to not wear your nice clothes when you do this because I guarantee they’ll get stained. Unfortunately, I can’t give you a solution to keep yourself from smelling like vapor rub. But if you’re desperate enough for relief, you won’t really care that you’ll have the ability to clear the sinuses of anyone in a 50 foot radius.

I would not use this on young children without clearing it with your pediatrician or family doctor first. According to WebMD, there have been a few complications in kids when Vicks is used inappropriately. Some children may react negatively and end up hospitalized if Vicks is applied directly under the nose. Though this is extremely rare and only happens to those who are sensitive to Vicks, consumers should use caution when applying it to the face or on young children.*

Here’s a link to the Divine Caroline blog where you can find 12 more uses for Vicks VapoRub.  Check it out! There’s some interesting stuff there. http://www.divinecaroline.com/self/wellness/twelve-surprising-uses-vicks-vaporub

*Sourced from Divine Caroline & WebMD http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20090113/vicks-vaporub-misuse-may-hurt-kids
May13
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Aside

I abandoned my blog. GASP!

For 6 weeks! DOUBLE GASP!

For some of you fellow bloggers, that’s THE cardinal sin. I don’t have tons of followers so I don’t think my ramblings were missed too much. But for those that do care, I’m sorry for the absence. Sometimes life just has to take priority.

Initially, I was absent because I was sick. Then it was that I got busy doing some volunteer work at my son’s school. Then sports started.Then I had technology issues. Then, even more technology issues! It’s amazing how dependent I’ve become, not just on my computer, but on my “smart” phone as well. Finally I just decided to not worry about the blog, taking pictures, or much else outside of my kiddos & hubby.

Then my phone magically started working again. I got a new computer (courtesy of the best husband ever!) Sports are slowing down (sort of) & school is almost out. I suddenly have the time & technology to connect again. And most importantly, I feel inspired to write. I’ve had months of little or no inspiration. Everything I was inclined to share was just sooooo personal. I’m all about sharing, but sometimes it’s best to just keep my mouth shut & my hands off the keyboard.

So here I am, back & ready to share the more entertaining parts of my world. I’ll be back to “Tipsy Tuesday” tomorrow. I’ll also be sharing some links to other blogs that I have found particularly inspirational. And of course there will be a craft or recipe each week. Something new that I will be writing about will be me learning how to walk in faith. I can hear the snorts of some right now, but if someone like me can find peace thru Christ & faith, then I promise there’s hope for you too.

If you don’t like what you read on here, you don’t have to tear me down here or in email or on Facebook. Just click that little ‘x’ button & go elsewhere.

But if you decided to hang around, welcome. I hope I can inspire you the way others have inspired me.

Until next time…

Coming Back To Me

Mar28

How To Make An Easter Wreath

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Looks like Easter had a party on this wreath!

Looks like Easter had a party on this wreath!

So it’s a little late to be typing about Easter decor, but I love this wreath! You saw the partial wreath back in January when I wrote about my chuch’s Pinsperation Women’s Dinner. It’s super easy to do!

Materials for Easter Wreath

  • foam wreath form
  • 8 bags of plastic Easter eggs For this wreath, I used 3 different sizes, but you could used the same size if you want.
  • plastic grass
  • hot glue gun
  • a straw or skewer or something to poke the grass down in between the eggs

Instructions for Easter Wreath

1. Wrap a ribbon around your wreath form so you can hang it when you are done. I forgot to do this again and had to get creative with twine & the glue gun in order to hang it!

2. Hot glue your eggs to your wreath form. I recommend doing the outside edge with the larger eggs first, the inner ring second, then decide what size/arrangement you want to do in the middle.

3. Hot glue around the center of the wreath form. This could be 2-3 eggs wide.  If you’re using multi-size eggs, hot glue your smaller eggs along the “crack”of these center eggs.

Here, you can see how I "layered" the eggs on the wreath.

Here, you can see how I “layered” the eggs on the wreath.

4. After you’re done gluing on eggs, drip a little hot glue on the exposed crevices of the wreath & stuff the plastic grass down with your straw. This is extremely messy so be prepared to vacuum! Or prepare one of your kids to vacuum! ;-)

Be sure to trim the grass with scissors so it's somewhat even.

Be sure to trim the grass with scissors so it’s somewhat even.

5. Hang your wreath!