Learn To Beautify What You Already Have !

Hi Girls!

Let's jump right into the topic for today which is - work with what you already have! Start with what you have and do your best to beautify the things you've been given. If you're human, then I know you've already experienced this on some level, that life isn't always fair. Right? Life doesn't pass out it's most coveted gifts equally, but seems to favor some over others.

 So consequently some girls were born with beautiful dewy skin and the best hair, while others have been given a head full of frizz and sallow skin that's prone to acne. Life certainly isn't fair, that's for sure. So what can we do? Well, we can learn to take care of what we DO have, and make it as beautiful as we can!

         So Let's Work With What We've Got!

Let's start with the girl who feels insecure around her girlfriends who have great skin.  Maybe she suffers from acne and has tried every medication on the market without any results. Should she give up? No! Never lose hope, there's always something we can do! Have you tried nutrition or supplements? What about giving up wheat and dairy? That strategy has helped many, not only clear their body of acne, but has also eliminated dark circles and stopped hair loss.

 Wheat especially, is very inflammatory and we know that inflammation causes a lot of problems in your body, including acne. However, if you tried changing the way you eat and your skin still isn't better, did you give your new  eating program enough time?
Maybe it was working and if you just stuck to it a little longer you would have seen dramatic results.

 These skin problems aren't solved over night, so you must be determined to stay the course until you find the solution. That 'stick to it ness' is what separates the winners from the losers and is necessary to get you where you want to go.

If something didn't work for you and you're sure you gave it enough time, then just keep doing your research. Search for new information. Continue learning, and then when you've gathered enough new knowledge, or maybe you feel like you understand the problem a little better then you did before, then try something else with that new knowledge. Gather up all the information, pray about what you've learned and make your plan. Test out your ideas. Especially those that come to you while in prayer. Eventually something you do, will finally work. The key is not to quit.

 There is an answer to every problem, you just have to find it! But you must have faith and persist, don't ever give up. Pray to God, asking Him to guide you to the solution to your problem. Ask Him to strengthen you, so that you'll be able to discipline yourself, in whatever way you must, to be able to reach your goal. If you want good skin, you can have it! You may have to work a little harder than others to get it, so are you willing to do what it takes?

       Everyone Can Improve Their Skin

Everyone's skin can be improved, doesn't matter if we're young or old, there's always something we can do to improve ourselves. The cells in our bodies are constantly dying off and being replaced with new ones. This cycle will go on till the day we die, so don't give up! Do something today to feed your skin with the nutrients it needs to be healthy and be sure to flush out any toxins by drinking a good amount of water every day.

                                                  

 Knowing what you should do, and actually doing it, are two different things. You can sit there and envy your friend's good skin or you can do something about your own. I can almost guarantee you that the girl born with perfect skin who never seems to have any problems with it, even though she eats junk food, no fruits and vegetables, smokes and drinks, eventually those things will show up on her face. Whether it be premature aging, sallow skin, dark circles or even brown spots. We can only sin against our bodies for so long before it shows up. So don't envy her. Just keep on taking good care of your skin, keep it clean and do what you know is right. Your hard work will pay off eventually, so don't give up!

                                                      

Eat lots of fruits and steamed vegetables, especially those with an exceptional amount of Vitamin C, which is so necessary for good skin. And take Vitamin C supplements as well as Co Q 10, if you can afford it. (It's a little pricey) Drink water all day long with an orange or cucumber chunk in it for flavor or a bit of lemon squeezed in to make your own version of vitamin water.

Just know that what ever plan you choose, it'll take months to see results because you're working from the inside out, so don't be too impatient. I think people give up too soon, when they don't see results as quickly as they hoped for. That's where faith and your will comes in. Your will is a powerful force! Make up your mind that you're going to see your plan all the way through, to completion. Be determined! Don't let any person or even the thoughts in your own head talk you out of what you're trying to achieve, telling you it will never work. It will work if you don't give up! Stay focused and stick to your plan. Focus on the end results.

                        Let's Talk Hair!

Now concerning your hair. If you think your hair is too frizzy, then start researching products that can help you. There are products out there that can really help frizzy hair be less frizzy and more manageable. They don't have to be expensive to work. Naturally frizzy hair needs moisture. It's dry and fragile and so it craves water. Be sure to water it from within as well as without. 

 Be careful not to damage your hair using excessive heat to dry it, just because you're in a hurry. You can undo all the good you did previously, by frying your hair with a hot blow dryer or curling iron. Think of a fine silk blouse that you babied and handled so carefully, by only using a warm iron for years but one day in a hurry you used a hot iron and the blouse was ruined. Same thing can happen to your hair if you're not careful.

 For the same reason never brush your hair when it's wet and at it's most fragile state, but take your time and using a wide tooth comb and your fingers, remove any tangles. Be clear about exactly why you're doing, what you're doing, so you don't undo all your hard work.

Give your hair a rest every so often and just feed it, (within and without) focusing not only on repair but also encouraging new growth. Fish oil is very good for the hair and will make it shine. So will hot olive oil treatments once a week. And be sure to condition your hair often. A trick is, when you're rinsing the conditioner out, try to leave some of the product still on your hair. It will smooth out and weigh down some of the frizz. Every so often "shampoo" your hair only with conditioner, skipping your regular shampoo which can be drying. You'll notice a difference immediately.

                                                        

Also think about changing the texture and thickness of your hair from the inside (so it's not so fine and wispy) by building your meals around the protein found in good meat, and staying away from too many white carbs. Remember to keep your body thoroughly hydrated with water which will also moisten your hair from the inside out. Frizzy hair is all about keeping it moisturized.

     Learn To Create Feminine 'Up Dos'

As far as styling goes, try to grow your hair out long enough to create feminine 'up dos'. Look at the hairstyles of ballerinas to get ideas. I understand that you can't just wear a neat, low pony tail because it will just look like a wad of frizz with a band tied around it. But what you can do, is even though your hair is frizzy, it can still be shaped and molded into a pretty feminine 'up do' that curls the frizzy ends under.

Use products such as gels and pomades and mousse to smooth it {these products don't have to be expensive. Go to the section at Walmart where they cater to hair products for people of color. Some, not all, of their products are cheaper and better....experiment}  Practice, practice, practice until you've figured out how to twirl your pretty hair, into an attractive up do. Ask God to teach you how to do it or that He would send someone to help you. Keep asking Him every day, until your answer comes. Don't let 'life happen' and distract you from your goals. Remembering always that there's nothing too hard for the Lord. Learn to be persistent in your prayers, and never lose hope. I think we all give up too easily. God will respond to our faith, if we pray " nothing doubting".

                                                    
You might even want to save your money and visit a School of Cosmetology in your area, which is cheaper than a regular beauty parlor. Ask them to teach you how to style your hair, until you feel satisfied and it looks pleasing to you. It's always good to get a fresh pair of eyes to help us solve our problems! Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need to. And be willing to pay for the expertise of others, who can teach you skills that will help you throughout your lifetime.

Another idea is to try braiding. Braiding contains the frizz and controls it. If you think you could never learn how to braid your own hair, don't give up and don't say you can't. Anybody can learn anything with enough practice. If you want to learn to create pretty braided styles , so that your hair will have a neat feminine appearance, then make that your goal, and don't give up until you've learned this new skill.

Once you've become accomplished at creating up dos, the next step is to learn how to accessorize with beaded and jeweled combs, or even flowers, like  in this pretty picture below.

                                                      

So girls, if you feel that you come up short in the skin or hair department, don't stress about it. Just look for solutions. Everyday do the best you can with what you've been given. Strive to be the best you that you can be. You, be the creator of your own beauty. Fix yourself according to your idea of beauty and not according to what all the fashion gurus say is IN right now. In case you hadn't noticed, poker straight, scraggly ends, flat ironed hair, doesn't look good on everybody. Yet so many will follow the crowd, just to be in style.

                                                 

Ladies, if you like curls, don't do without just because others have convinced you that curls are "so out of style". If you love the look of curly hair, and curly hair makes you feel more feminine, then take the time to curl your hair! Do it for your family. Give them something pretty to look at, a living work of art, created by YOU, the artist! Be creative, just like your Heavenly Father!

 We're the happiest when we're expressing our creativity just like God did when He created the world and formed Adam out of the dust and breathed the breath of Life into him. He was satisfied with His creation and said it was very good.

You also, be satisfied when you have created the beauty that pleases your own eyes, your own standard of beauty. Don't go looking for the world's approval because it's not going to happen. They don't know or understand their Creator or His creation, so don't look to the world for approval, but find satisfaction in your own family and in God.

I hope you've picked up a practical tip or two that you can use. If not maybe, Lord willing, we'll talk about your problem next time.

God Bless!

                     

An Elegant Lady Defined

Continued....

*An Elegant lady is feminine, soft spoken, she will not raise her voice above others just to be heard, or to make a point. She will never speak louder then a man.

*An Elegant Lady has also mastered the art of listening more and talking less...this takes practice.

*An Elegant Lady has learned the value of silence. Without silence, how will she possibly hear the still, soft voice of her Maker?

                                                         

* The Elegant Woman will daily seek a place apart, alone, to practice being quiet. She'll do her best to quiet the noise of this world, making sure to catch every word He's speaking to her heart. None of them will be lost.

*However the Elegant Lady will speak up for the down trodden, the pitifully
neglected and those whom the world has kicked around and deemed unworthy of love. There are times when this soft spoken, quiet lady will open her mouth and the forthcoming words will be, as it were, like the roar of a lion!

 

*An Elegant Lady, has an eye for beauty. She strives to look just as beautiful inside her home as she does when outside of her home. She has purchased or made for herself, pretty dresses which are  worn inside to bring beauty and cheer to the inner environment she has created for herself and for her family. She considers herself a part of the adornments.

 

                                                                         

*An elegant lady, doesn't drink strong drink, she isn't in any way vulgar. She doesn't laugh at off color jokes but modestly looks down whenever she finds herself in the midst of profane conversation amongst ungodly, coarse people and silently prays for grace. She naturally flushes when embarrassing subjects come up in the presence of others and will rather excuse herself, deeming her offended conscience of more importance than the offended ego of fools.

 

*An Elegant Lady loves her family and all who know her, know it. She will do everything she can to protect her family, she will seek to do them good and not evil, all the days of her life. Everyone who knows this lady, knows not to criticize her husband or children in her presence, for she will not be silent!

*An Elegant lady continually seeks for wisdom and knowledge, therefore she prays and reads her Bible daily. To maintain a graceful elegance, she seeks the face of God continually.

                                                       

 

*An Elegant Lady is a precious, rare jewel, a one of a kind these days. She stands head and shoulders above the crowd and will out do any one of them in kindness, generosity and graciousness. She is the first to help anyone in need and is not afraid to get her hands dirty for a good cause.

 

*An Elegant Lady may get tired in her body but never in spirit. She faces each day with faith and hope, and works hard in what ever her hands find to do.

                                                        

 

*An Elegant Lady is pleasant to be around, always smiling, and is equally kind to all, therefore she is continually sought out and given various opportunities to touch many lives. She has been gradually molded, ( inside and outside ) and refined until finally she's become a useful tool in the hands of the Master, who seeks her out, often.

 

*An Elegant lady is known by her kindness and compassion for those less fortunate in body as well as spirit. She seeks to keep her good deeds - secret.

 

*An Elegant Lady may wear the same outfit more often than others, however her cloths will always be fresh, clean and neatly ironed. Since she's careful to keep her feminine wear and outer wear fresh, her lovely fragrance follows her wherever she goes. It's the fragrance of clean.

*Her spirit also has a fragrance which is manifested in her words. It's the fragrance of purity and holiness.

                                                     

*An Elegant Lady, has a morning and evening routine that she adheres to religiously. Each morning she makes beds, and wipes bathroom sink and counters right away.  After breakfast, she quickly washes every pot, dish and spoon until her kitchen sparkles and shines. At night she puts everything right, until she's satisfied that harmony's been restored. It isn't hard to do, she's practiced these things over and over till it's become second nature to her.

*An Elegant Lady freely shares her wisdom with others. Freely she has received, freely she gives, fulfilling the law of the Kingdom of which she's a proud citizen. She has learned that the more she shares, the more wisdom God will pour into her. The Wonderful, Mighty God freely pours a never ending supply of wisdom to hungry seekers, bringing practical answers to every problem a person might face.

 *If we want more, we'll share what we have with others. This goes for physical things as well as spiritual things. It's a never ending, never changing spiritual principal.

*An Elegant Lady's home has a freshness you can smell just as soon as you step inside. There are never any off odors in an Elegant Lady's home, as she tends to any foul odors shortly after they occur. Her home will never smell fishy, and her bathrooms will always maintain freshness.

                                                       

*An Elegant Lady's kitchen is ready to cook or bake when inspiration hits. Her counters are kept pleasingly bare, except for a vase of flowers or a pot of lavender. In her lovely kitchen, you will never find a continuous overflow of dirty dishes spilling onto the counters. You won't find crumbs perpetually on the floor.

* This Lady considers herself a steward over the home God has entrusted to her, and so as a good steward she will quickly tend to each mess in a timely manner to maintain beauty, elegance and order, and so that the environment she's created might  reflect favorably on her King.

*An Elegant Lady's bed is luxuriously beautiful in its simplicity and easy to make each morning. She trained herself well, in that she will not leave her room, without first tending to that chore. Her sheets are clean and fresh and there is lace on the pillowcases. All her linens have the faint fragrance of lavender.

                                                  

*An Elegant lady will teach her children proper manners, while she consistently disciplines them according to Biblical precepts. She will  teach them kindness, patience and humility and ignore the parenting advice of this world. They will learn quickly for she models this behavior herself.

*The Elegant Lady is humble herself, she will not tolerate pride in her household. Even her pets are trained in obedience.

*An Elegant Lady's sleep will be peaceful, for she has learned to put her trust in the Lord of Heaven and Earth. She has placed the care of her family, herself and everything she has into the hands of the God of all mercy. She knows that with out His constant care, there would be no Elegant Lady.

                                                      

*You see, she remembers the day He found her, filled with sin and filth, there was no elegance in her, only shame. He didn't hesitate for a moment, but lifted her into His loving arms and tenderly cleaned her up, washing all her sins away. He perceived a willing, contrite heart and so He patiently taught her the good way, the way of obedience that leads to Life.

*Without Jesus Christ as Lord of her life there would be no elegance for this lady. What she now teaches others is what she learned first hand herself, that the root of all dignity and elegance is found only in Him. Without Jesus Christ, there is no elegance for any lady, just a superficial shell, clothed with temporary beauty, destined to die. No depth, no true love, no real purpose or meaning.

*The Elegant Lady has discovered the secret of Life, that is, that all Life comes from the Lord Jesus Christ and without Him there is no truth, no lasting beauty, only darkness.

*Dear Reader, everything the Elegant Lady knows, everything she is, and has become, she learned it all from Him and so can you!

God Bless!

 

There Are Some Things An Elegant Lady Would Never Think To Do, And Some She Wouldn't Do Without !

Hi Ladies,

In order to become an Elegant Lady we must first define what an Elegant lady, actually IS. Exactly what is an Elegant Lady?
How shall we describe her?

*First and foremost, an Elegant Lady will unashamedly reverence God all the days of her life. She knows that everything she is or ever will be, flows out from her faith in Him. That faith is her core, the center of her being. She would be the first to tell you that true wisdom begins, with the fear of the Lord. That alone makes her far above others, for through the power of that faith, she will not live the life of common women.

 

*An Elegant Lady looks well to the ways of her household. She understands the job falls squarely on her shoulders, and takes her domestic responsibilities seriously. She doesn't ignore her duties but fully tends to what needs to be done, always with a contagious, charming enthusiasm and an overall love for life.  

 

*An Elegant Lady is never in a hurry, because of the good habits she's formed. She knows what to do and when to do it, her day began by planning it all out, the night before.

* An Elegant Woman plans according to the seasons. She plans for Winter before it's actually Winter, she contemplates summer activities before the warm weather arrives. When Summer heat arrives all of the winter blankets, snow boots, gloves and mittens have already been stored away until next year, likewise when winter chill grabs hold of households, the swimsuits, beach towels, and barbeque gear have already been put into storage till next year . Seasonal things are always carefully separated and stored away until their proper time.

 

                                                   
 

 * An Elegant Lady accomplishes household chores in a timely manner. She will not wait till right before bed to wash and put up the breakfast dishes. She will not allow clean laundry to completely overwhelm available surfaces before being folded and placed in drawers where thy belong. Her house is kept up and current to the daily activities taking place. No procrastinator this, Elegant Lady.
 

*An Elegant Lady does not live her life paralyzed by "what ifs" but trusts in the Lord for her well being and security. Since she understands that everything ultimately belongs to God, she often gives God thanks though out the day for everything that has been entrusted to her care. She has learned above all, not to hold on too tightly to the things of this world.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                  

 
* An Elegant Lady has respect for time. She uses the little 'in between' minutes to do things that if left undone could add up, and spoil an otherwise productive day.
 

*An Elegant Lady does not neglect to feed her spirit. Not a day will go by when she doesn't open her Bible to eat her spiritual food. She's careful to take her nourishment first thing in the morning, and sees to it that part of her being stays strong, healthy and fit.

                                                                         

*An Elegant Lady inspires others to reach for excellence. She's careful to always maintain a positive, 'can do' attitude and encourages others to do the same. Always pleasantly cheerful and upbeat, people are refreshed, energized and motivated to go out and make this world a better place, after being in her presence for just a little while.

 

*An Elegant Lady will never take part in gossip, but will gently rebuke if circumstances dictate or simply walk away as an example to others, be they young or old.

 

*An Elegant Lady will have control over her words, at all times. She will not engage in idle chatter but will use her words sparingly and wisely, to build up and encourage others. Never one to waste hours in idle chit chat, you will find the Elegant Lady quietly, busily engaged in productive things.

 

*An Elegant lady's husband's shirts are ironed and neatly hung up with all hangers facing in the same direction for a stream lined, peaceful appearance. His ties and belts have their own place so they're easy for him to find. Her eye for details sees to it that his sock drawer is always replenished with fresh ones when necessary. Because of her thoughtfulness,  he never has to concern himself with the minor details of life since everything is always, 'at the ready'.

*An Elegant lady is prepared for unexpected visitors at all times, since she keeps her home presentable even when no one is there, no one visible that is, since she assumes the Heavenly Angels are visiting her daily anyway, else how can her prayers be answered?

* If she ever fall's sick or an unexpected event occurs, she's already trained her family what they're to do, and how to take over in her absence.

 

*An elegant Lady is a good cook. She has taught herself the art of cooking and faithfully cooks healthy, nourishing meals the whole family enjoys. She's also careful to bake treats every so often to bring the family sweet comfort of  "milk and honey" that makes living life a joy.
                                                                                                     

 

*An Elegant lady is beautiful. She tends to her hair and skin, she watches her diet and exercises portion control, she takes moderate exercise and doesn't overdo it. She would never take up men's sports such as kick boxing or other unfitting things such as belly dancing or yoga. She will do feminine lady like exercises so that if her family walked in she wouldn't have to feel ashamed. She has trained herself to maintain the graciousness of a lady at all times, even in the privacy of her own home.

                                                                                                                                                  

 

*A Elegant Lady practices careful restraint over her emotions. She can feel anger just like everyone else but has learned to restrain her passions. Through practice, she's taught herself not to raise her voice in anger and refuses to argue violently with her spouse no matter how passionate she may feel. She will never criticize her husband or mock him, no, not in the presence of the angels of God, nor in front of the children. She is a teacher of good things and consistently teaches them to respect their Dad. She continually looks for his good qualities, notes those she might have missed and points those out to her children.

 To Be Continued!

 

 

Hello Ladies!

The weather's been cold and wintery around these parts! I hope you're candle is burning, bread is baking, the soup pot is simmering and you're keeping your family nice and warm, where ever it is you call home.

Well, it's that time of year again, when we're forced to stay inside our homes longer than maybe we'd like, and so naturally we're going to instinctively do what women have been doing for ages.... We'll start nesting! We'll happily putter around our homes as we work to make them function better and look prettier. However, it's also the time when we women will start getting that anxious, restless feeling that sometimes tends to also be mixed with confusion. We may feel overwhelmed with too much to do, so much so that we just don't know where to begin. What to do?

                     Let's Get Organized!

Yes, let's get organized. But where do we start? Well, here's the usual scenario.... first we'll go out and buy an organizing book, next containers and labelers, maybe clothes hangers etc., we've done it all before, but somehow for us it never seems to work. We think surely we must have some peculiar problem, unique to us, that no other ladies have. We think, "it's probably me, I'm just not getting it", and so we buy more books, more containers, we make pretty labels, but we never seem to 'get it', and so we struggle with our 'problem', in silence. I think we ladies have an idea in our heads of what being organized means, that's very different from what being organized really is.

Being organized just means being able to find your things easily. It's as simple as that! It means knowing where your keys are. It means putting like with like. All shoes together and in one place, all magazines from around the house put together, all coats and hats separated from each other into closets, drawers or containers. The key organizing mantra, repeated over and over is --- like with like!  Get it?

Somehow, though, we really don't get it. Because when we do all they tell us, and we've organized everything in our house, like with like, down to our rubber bands and paperclips, we're still left with the feeling that something is not quite right. May I make a suggestion? Might it be that you weren't really looking to be organized, but maybe you just wanted your surroundings to look better? To feel better? A little prettier, a little more spacious or brighter?

Some homes have been organized down to their q tips, by are extremely ugly! Probably dark too. Ugly doesn't seem half as bad when there's an abundance of light! So throw back those heavy drapes and let in some happy - God's natural light. There's nothing like it! It can't be duplicated with any light bulb. And while we're on the subject, neither can fresh air, so open those windows every day, even in the winter and let that clean, crisp winter air blow through your house for a minute or two before you shut them down again to conserve the heat. Fresh air is clean and will make you feel alive and will effectively energize your whole house! And it's free! Except for the heat loss, so don't keep them open too long, just enough to energize your environment.

 There are many different things we can do when we have the urge to nest, however we always seem to think that getting organized is the solution to all of our problems. That being organized somehow will magically quiet that vague feeling inside that something about our home is not quite right. But when it comes right down to it, it may not be that getting organized is your problem, it may just be a matter of aesthetics.

I'm just putting this out there for you to think about, this may not be true for you. However, if you have shelf after shelf filled with organizing books that aren't doing you any good then maybe, being organized is not your greatest need or desire. So save your money and don't buy any more organizing books, OK? You probably have enough. They're all saying the same thing anyway.

Each new, hot off the press, latest, greatest addition is just being marketed with a new spin, a new twist on the same old stuff, in case you hadn't noticed, so don't be sucked in. Save your money for other more needy areas of your life. Maybe right now, you just need to go to the library and check out some decorating books for inspiration and see if that helps. On the other hand, maybe you just need to pull out your mops and brooms and cleaners and give your house a good scrub. If all that doesn't work than read on, maybe your problem is clutter!

                    Finally Clutter Free!

If your house is organized, meaning you know where everything is, but your house definitely is seriously filled up with too much clutter, may I share some ideas with you that might make the task of becoming clutter free a little easier?

 To just tell someone they need to get organized can seem vague. So let's be more detailed and let's start in your bedroom. Yep, it's full of clutter. There are clothes strewn all over the floor because there's no room in your closets or drawers. There are piles of books on the floor and dressers, and jewelry tangled up in the mix. Well, you can separate the clothes from the books (organizing) and the books from the magazines (organizing) the shoes from the purses (organizing) but your room is still overly full and uncomfortable.(clutter)

So now all the organizing guru's will tell you that you must purge. You must pick up every single item and ask yourself questions such as, when have I last used this, do I love this? etc. how tedious is that? No wonder we dread getting organized! Of course then you must have a discard box, a give away box, and a keep box. We all know the drill we've heard it a 1,000 x's before, but for us it just doesn't work. Ladies, may I suggest a different way?

You see all those shoes laying around, and clothes and books too? Those are the things you're actually using. Open your dresser drawers and look in your closet. You see those clothes hanging up neatly and in your drawers, the things that are folded and undisturbed, those are the things you are not using and probably haven't touched in months. Those things are hogging the space you need to put away all the things on the floor! But instead of housing the things we use we are using this space for storage! Storage for things we're not using such as the lacey bras that itch, ditto for the matching underwear. Gloves and scarves and other things you just never use for some reason or other makes no difference and you don't have to figure out why, either.  Just acknowledge that you're not using these things. Done.

O.K. Here's what you do. You get yourself some containers, and you dump out the contents of the dresser drawers you hardly ever open. Then you label the container "stuff from my dresser drawers." You go to the closet and grab all the untouched clothes hanging there, (you know which ones they are) and you lay them neatly in a large container, trying best you can not to wrinkle them, but at the same time not stressing too much about what your doing. You label the container, "stuff from my closet" Then you go under the bed and fish out those things lurking under there and do the same thing, dump them in a container labeled "stuff under my bed" You get the idea. Now you can either stack these matching containers in a corner of your bedroom or put them in storage. But if being organized means being able to find what you want, you're organized! Because you know exactly where to go to find the stuff that would have been in your dresser drawers or under your bed etc.

Now, you have a nice empty closet and dresser, so what do you put in there?
Of course!! All those things that were lying on the floor and chairs because those are the things you actually use! See how that works!! The goal is to be able to put away all the stuff you use on a daily basis. But if those places are already stuffed with dead storage, dead meaning stuff you hardly ever use, then you have no place to put the things you use every day. That's all there is to it!

 In plain English, all you do is empty out your storage (dressers, closets etc.), to be able to put away your every day items, so that all the surfaces and floors are empty and easy to clean. There is no stress and agony involved with this system. It's easy to start and easy to live with. You don't have to throw anything away and you'll still know where all your stuff is. (organized!)

O.K., I know what you're thinking, what do I do with the contents of the storage containers? Well, wait a little while and see if you have to go back and fish anything out. If you do, that just means that you should add those things to your daily stuff because you need them, since you're actually using them. What about the rest? At your leisure, take a box, and pull out things you're positive you'll never wear, like the itchy bras we mentioned and throw them away or give them away, then put the box back for another day when you get the urge to purge. You'll get better at this the more you do it and you'll naturally learn to recognize what you use and what you don't. All without a book!

So try this today and see if it works out for you, all the while asking the Lord to help you and teach you what you need to learn. Ask Him to show you how you can love you husband and children in a practical way, by keeping a clean, clutter free house, and how to be a good steward over the things He has entrusted to your care. Let your family see how seriously you take your job before the Lord, by keeping everything running smoothly and all things under your control. And at the same time don't forget to keep things esthetically pleasing to look at, similar to the way they do it in Heaven, where it's always clean, happy and beautiful. We can do this, it's not too hard with our God helping us!

                     The Lord Love's Us

The Lord certainly does love each and every one of us and has many things He wants to share, to make our journey through this life easier and more pleasant, and so that He can use us at will, if He needs to touch others through us. Our lives should be lived in such a way so as to adorn the gospel of Jesus Christ and to cause people to talk good about our God and Christianity. Others may bring disgrace on the Gospel because of their life styles, but not us! We take our salvation seriously! May the Lord richly bless you as you purpose to do His will in every area of your life.

God Bless!

Hi Ladies!

In the last few posts, we've been discussing how to dress in a more feminine way, according to God's way and not according to what the world considers proper dress for women. If we believe the Bible, in which it plainly states that Satan is the 'god of this world', then we can assume that modest clothing will always be out of style and anyone trying to dress that way will be ridiculed (called old fashioned, dowdy, matronly, have her name volunteered for a makeover, etc.). You can be 'in style' if you really want to be, you already know how to do that, and many Christian women have chosen that path. But there are other ways, ways that don't involve compromise. We just need to pray for understanding and God will help us with this.

Once you have an understanding of body types, coloring, and what's considered modest and what isn't, then you'll be able to select the proper clothing and just forget about yourself. You'll finally be set free to help others the way you've always wanted to, because your mind will be less burdened with insecurities. You See? Haven't you noticed that if you feel insecure about the way you look, that you won't readily share yourself with others, let alone confidently share the things of God with them? With a little bit of knowledge and understanding, we can put an end to many of these insecurities that hinder our witness to others.

     Are You Familiar With The Figure 8 Shape?

So with all that said, today I wanted to offer you some practical information that just might make your journey on this Earth a little bit easier. A little less complicated.

Last time we talked about the importance of discovering your figure type. I have noticed that of all the figure types, it is the woman who has the figure 8 shape who has the hardest time finding pretty clothes that flatter but are still modest without looking like a paper sack. Women with this shape get discouraged when they purchase beauty books searching for advice on how to dress their figures, because their particular figure type is never even acknowledged. They search and search sometimes spending a lot of money in search of answers but can never find solutions in how to properly dress their shape. However, when the Lord is your God, there is always a clear path, and an answer to every problem, so continue reading...

This figure 8 type we're talking about, resembles an X shape in that her waist is smaller than her hips and bust. Incidentally, your waist doesn't have to go in dramatically to be an X, it just has to go in. It's the same with the figure 8's figure, your waist just has to be less than your hips. As we age we put on weight through our middle, but our bone structure remains the same.

The figure 8 shape is unique in that she has high hips that are also wide. Her hips protrude out immediately, right under her waist, compared to the X shape whose hips are lower. That lower hip is what makes her an X and the higher hip is what makes the former, a figure 8. Because the waist and hips are so close together makes the Figure 8 feel like she has no waist at all and so she tries to cover up her curves with square boxy styles. That all wrong and is probably the worst solution for this figure type. 

So if you have hips that seem to come out like a shelf  right under your waist, what's the solution, and is there a solution? You've already tried belting your waist but have discovered when you do that belly rolls form above and below your belt. Now what? No, don't run for your husband's over sized t shirt! There are solutions, such as this pretty dress below.

                                                    
                                                                          
In a nutshell, the answer is this: find dresses that are tightly fitted in the bodice with skirts that are slightly gathered with an overall A line shape. The tight torso acts like a corset flattening any rolls and sculpting out your waist (which remember is smaller than your hips). The skirt flows over you problem areas and you feel like the feminine woman God made you to be. You don't have to dress like a man in order to be modest.

And don't be afraid of soft gathers. Stop listening to these worldly fashion guru's. Why would you ever listen to men wearing pink jeans, hair streaked with lime green and diamond earrings?! 

 The worst thing this figure type can do, is to wear an above knee length, close fitting pencil skirt tapered in towards the knee which is what all the books advise these poor women to do! No wonder they give up and grab the biggest shirt they can to hide themselves under and just forget about their dream for beauty!

I'd like to know how these 'fashion experts' keep their jobs after giving women such bad advice? Their 'solution' would accentuate and reveal everything these woman are trying to modestly hide! Throw out all your worldly fashion books! You don't need their advice if the Lord is your God, seek His advice and listen to His children who have been gifted by Him with wisdom in these areas. We should never allow ourselves to be tutored by the lying spirit of this world. That same spirit is in all those who have refused the love of the truth. Seek the Lord, bring Him all your problems no matter how small! He will guide you into all truth.

God Bless!

Let's Get Practical!

Hi Ladies!

Today, why don't we talk about your recent trip to the thrift store, when you went shopping for something feminine to wear. Or if you didn't get to go yet, then the trip you'll be planning soon. Hopefully you've been inspired by what we've talked about to dress better around the house for your family's sake and to celebrate your femininity. That is, if you're not already used to doing that. And in this day and age of woman's jeans and baseball caps, most women don't really know what femininity even feels like.

After being inspired to dress in a more feminine way, the next step is to go in search of the perfect dress for your body type, at the lowest price possible. This task will be much easier for those whose bodies are on the average or thin size but for those of us with say, ample hips, bust or derriere it will be a little bit harder, but definitely doable. It just might take a little more digging through the racks and a little bit more trying on, to find the ideal feminine outfit, donated just for you.

 The floral dress below is perfect for someone who has been blessed with hips wider than her shoulders (most of us). The gathers in the skirt camouflage any lumps and bumps and the neckline and sleeves add width to the shoulders which causes a pleasing balance, over all. And aren't floral fabrics feminine and cheerful? Just what we're looking for! Try wearing something like this around the house and see how much brighter you day will be!

Try it and see, your family won't be able to stop smiling. Something else to note is this: would you be able to put a pretty dress like this on if your hair was all dirty and matted? Of course not! See, this way we motivate ourselves to do other things that will enhance our beauty. One thing leads to another and another and...

                                                      



Right off the bat I want to say that if you have curves, stay away from anything denim. It will not flatter you as it is too stiff. Trust me about this. Stop obeying all those fashion gurus whose taste has been perverted and really don't have a clue. Women with curves need soft fabric that will drape around their curves. Also men wear denim, and remember our goal is to be more feminine than they are, so that there's a distinct difference between the sexes. That might be a little harder to do today, compared to years ago. We're living in a generation where men proudly wear earrings and pony tails, get perms and have their hair "done," they line up to get pedicures and have no problem wearing pink anymore. Pink used to be an exclusively girly color, but not any more. The fashion gurus have even given our most feminine colors over to men to blur the line between the sexes even more, in this lovely unisex age of equal everything, we're all so privileged to be living in!

                                                                               

One tip I can give you is, while you're at the thrift shop, take the time to try on as many different styles as you possibly can and see if you can figure out the colors, fabrics and styles that suit you. Thrift stores offer up the most variety compared to department stores, so you can experiment trying on various different styles to your heart's content. With enough energy and a positive 'can do' attitude, everyone is sure to find something suitable for her particular figure type.

The red dress below is OK if you don't carry any extra weight in the lower torso but if you do then pass on dresses like these because there's not enough volume in the skirt to cover ample hips and derriere properly, and also because it's above the knee which I DO NOT recommend. For me, the prettiest and most balanced length is mid calf, the exact length all the 'style gurus' tell us to shun! Especially with an ample derriere and wider hips, above the knee is the most unflattering length and will make you look like a box because there's not enough length to balance the width of the hip.

 A skirt must be longer than it is wide to be pleasing to the eye and the longer length will also help you maintain modesty. Some who have narrow hips can get away with the just below the knee length. Let your mirror be your guide and don't allow yourself to be dictated to, by any of these self proclaimed fashion police whose ideas have already been programmed according to the mindset of Hell! No, we don't need any of their advice! Turn them all off and listen to the Spirit of God. Let Him be your fashion advisor.

                                                                    Not Recommended

Use your time and any energy you're blessed with, wisely. When I say try on as many different styles as you can, that's going to be within the realm of self built limitations. Meaning, limit trying on, to only one type of clothing at a time. Such as trying on only dresses at one visit. Discipline yourself to focus on solving one problem at a time, instead of being all over the place. It means limiting yourself to trying on only different styles of dresses over and over until you hit on a style that does all the right things for your curves. Resist the urge on that particular visit, to also try on skirts and blouses and sweaters, if your main objective is to understand what suits you and to take home a pretty dress.
                                                                                                                                       

                                                       
 But if you went there to find a skirt, and to figure out what style skirts go with your figure type, then on that visit, only try on skirts, so that by the time you leave the store you have educated yourself to know what type skirts suit you best, i.e. straight, A line, flared, gathered and straight, gathered and flared etc. If this whole concept of understanding figure type is new to you, and you go in there and enthusiastically try on all the different types of clothing trying to analyze each and every one, it's going to over whelm you with too much information. So just focus on one type of clothing at a time and keep trying on different shapes and styles, and fabrics and don't give up until you've cracked the code and know for certain your body type, or at the very least, have a better idea of what you're not shaped like!

          How To Dress Well 101

Part of being perceived as graceful is learning how to dress well. Tastefully modestly and elegantly. It can be done, even in these casual/sloppy times we're living in. If you succeed in achieving the goal of graceful dress, yes, you might stand out in a crowd, but it will be in the most pleasant way and your presence, just by you being there without saying a word, will have a soothing, and relaxing affect on all who see you and will speak volumes about your character. Yes clothes DO talk!

Ladies, I can't stress this enough that you must first understand how your body is shaped. This is bottom line, basic, necessary information that everybody must start out with, whose primary goal is to dress with elegance and grace. It's the very foundation of knowing how to dress well. Everything else you do is built upon that basic knowledge. If you rush ahead and skip this step and never figure out how your body is shaped, you'll never be able to dress right on a consistent basis and you'll waste a lot of money. If you sew, you'll choose patterns that never look right on you and you won't know why. I said consistent basis because you will buy or sew clothes from time to time that will look right on you, but without this knowledge you won't know why they look good and you won't be able to duplicate the winners. To my eye, the dress below is almost winner. It just needs a little more length and for sure a pretty lace camisole underneath to fill in the deep V for modesty's sake. Notice also her shoes. Beige or skin tone shoes go with everything, with the added bonus of making your legs look longer, so they are definitely a good investment.

                                                  

Every time you try something on, look in the mirror and notice where certain styles and fabrics will either accentuate or smooth over your perceived flaws. You know, the lumps and bumps we're all trying to hide. While you're trying to figure it all out, don't forget to pray and ask the Holy Spirit for His help as you try to educate yourself about these things. If we make the effort and do our part, then God will help us and do His part. You know how when something "clicks" inside of us and we finally 'get it'? That's the Lord helping us and giving us understanding. God is more than willing to help us and is just waiting for us to ask. We would save ourselves a lot of time and aggravation, if we would just learn to go to God first.

                                       Pretty Dress But Needs Length                    

Isn't this dress pretty? If you're brunette you need this color. This dress would be perfect except for the too short length and you could also add a little sweater if you wanted to, for more coverage. They have pretty lightweight sweaters with puffed sleeves if your shoulders are at all rounded or sloping. It's length should come to your high hip so as not to lose the line of the dress.

You'll need to learn the basic differences in certain styles that are cut differently from others and how the drape of the fabric can effect the over all look of a garment. Drape is very important. Two dresses can be cut from the same pattern but if one fabric is drapey and the other one is stiff, I can guarantee you that the stiff fabric will cause you to look twice as big as you are. Think of the woman with wide hips wearing a heavy, straight, denim skirt down to her loafers. There is no movement at all in the stiff fabric. She looks like a wide rectangle all the way down. Ladies, this is not feminine! You can do better then that. You chose that skirt, paid good money for it and brought it home and you can just as easily choose a more flattering one next time. Pass on rugged denim skirts, unless you work outside all day in the mud and the grass and your goal is to just to be covered up and you're not at all interested in beauty. I know there is a time and a place for that, but today we're focusing on our feminine beauty and learning to do all we can to accentuate that.

         Gathered Fabric Is Your Friend

There should always be a wavy, rippley affect at the hemline of all your skirts and dresses because the fabric has been gathered. Just like in this beautiful dress below (My favorite). Less fabric around the waist with wider fabric at the hem is what we want, to form a pleasing A shape, enhanced with soft gathers for pleasing drape ability.

                                                       

Always remember no matter how popular it is and how much it's praised, denim doesn't suit curves. I don't care how many darts or gathers they use, its rustic nature just doesn't suit women and any gathering in denim will make you appear bigger than what you are. Denim is an ugly fabric more suited to men, so let them have it, ladies. Can you say Amen?

 If you have curves, stay away from straight boxy styles. What happens is that your bumpy parts will be highlighted because of the contrast of the linear straight line, and especially in the front and back as the fabric rests on the high points of your curves, revealing them in the most unflattering way. The contrast between your curves and the straight line is magnified and exaggerated by the stark contrast between the two. You'll just look bigger and feel bigger and bulky, and extremely unwomanly. You'll feel fat instead of curvaceous. Real woman's bodies need drape. The drape of the fabric causes the fabric to lie closer to the body there by making the silhouette appear narrow.

                                                   

Gathers are good for every body type. If you are tall and overly thin you can use an abundance of gathers in weightier fabric to give you shape. If you're already ample enough, gathers are still good but in drapey fabric only. Gathered fabric is the only way to dress curves, as an unyielding flat piece of fabric will not encompass the rounded body underneath in an attractive way.

 Flat pieces of stiff fabrics can wrap boxes nicely because of their square nature. You wouldn't use gathered drapey fabric to cover a square box would you? But a gathered piece of fabric could be used to cover a beach ball if you had to wrap one for some reason.
Do our bodies more resemble a hard square box or the curves of a soft ball?
Think about it, and when you can, get rid of all your stiff clothes and pull out all the drapey florals they told you were out of style. Who cares what they say? I don't.

         Strive For Elegance And Simplicity

Ladies, always strive for simple elegance, quietness and simplicity. Shun excess in dress, in your home and even your words. Stop running all over the Internet seeking for the answers only God can give you. In order to hear Him, you must learn to be quiet. Live a simple, quiet, elegant life before God and man. Quiet your home, quiet your life, quiet your mind.

If you don't know how, or where to begin, than pray. Ask the Lord to help you and to  direct you to people, to information (found in books and blogs) that will help you on your way. Stay away from the blogs, magazines and books that are just the opposite from what you're striving for, because even though you don't agree with their life style and only came because of the pretty pictures, understand this, that without knowing it or sensing it, they are still influencing the inner you.

 Go on a fast from all unnecessary negative influences. Learn to be still and listen to the voice of God and His direction for your life. God is the one who is working on us from the inside, both to "will and to do His good pleasure."
We already know in our hearts, the world is going the wrong way, so we need to get quiet before the Lord and ask Him to guide us in the right way, the good way. Once we learn that, we then need to be a blessing and share what we've learned with others. Yes, how we live does matter, it matters a great deal.

God Bless!