oh the bliss!

1. Cut off shorts. There's just something about them that makes ya feel like a free spirit.

2. Sunshine... lots and lots of dry sunshine.

3. Knowing how to work my lawnmower. I seriously feel like superwoman after each mow.

4. Baking cookies for people.

5. Spontaneous coffee dates with new friends.

6. Someone genuinely asking what they can be praying for me about.

7. Thursday mornings [my only morning off during the summer months].

8. Heart-to-hearts with my friend Ashley. So incredibly thankful for God placing her in my life.

9. A good long workout complete with sweat drenching my clothes [gross i know].

10. Afternoons spent by the lake soaking up the sun.

be still my heart - Jamiah

"Mrs Emily, are you tender headed?" JWeb

"No not really, but be nice, please."

"Ya don't hurt Mrs Emily, ok?" JWal

"Oh I won't!" JWeb

"No one can hurt Mrs Emily... she's the SWEETEST person in the world" JWal

This conversation happened a few months ago when a few girls and I were just sitting and enjoying each other's company and I was busy beating myself up over things I really didn't need to worry about it.
These two girls saying the sweetest things to me turned my entire day around.

There is nothing like a child's perspective.
Take the time to talk with and just listen to a kid today.
I promise you won't regret it.

You may just hear about how a sweet five year old little girl wants to grow up
to be a princess with a castle so she can use her power to help people smile.

Currently

LOOKING FOR
Ways to encourage people... especially those who don't feel very included or loved on. It's been fun. I was told once that I'm an encourager by nature so I'm trying to hone in on that and use it more often. It's fun writing letters and hiding surprises for people to find. Also just smiling can do a person good - so I've been waving to neighbors and smiling at people in the grocery store more and more. It's fun to see some people's reactions - they either get really creeped out or they get really giddy. One of those two... every time.

WATCHING
What  I eat. This week I loaded up my cart with all sorts of fruits and veggies I've been passing by lately in an effort to save money. Given, saving money is important but I've slacked on making sure my bill is covering fresh produce each week. I've been living off of beans and rice the past couple weeks so my body has been craving more colorful foods. I bought a bag of sugar snap peas that I've almost gone through in the course of 24 hours because they are SO GOOD. I also bought fresh strawberries, blueberries, grapes, mandarin oranges. YUM. I also kind of hate eating salad lately so I bought a new healthy vinagrette to make me look forward to them more and it's doing the trick! I had to go back to the store just today because I had already got through the box I bought on Sunday. PRAISE.

GROWING
More and more anxious/excited for Barry's homecoming [I'm sure that comes as a surprise to no one]. It's going to be so good to have a husband near again. Confession: I think I'm pretty good at being independent, but regardless I really like being dependent on my sweetheart. I like having someone take care of me and someone loving me and building me up. I like it. My introvert nature makes it somewhat easier to be alone, but I'm definitely happier and better with him [ooooobviously]. My apologies for the sap, but I'm just really excited to have him home and starting loving him more recklessly than ever.

READING
Multiply by Francis Chan. It's phenomenal. It's all about discipleship and how it should be done according to the Bible as well as how EVERY christian has the God ordained mission to be discipling the people God has placed in their lives. It's an incredibly convicting read. Every chapter I've gotten smacked around a bit by being shown how wrong I am in my thinking sometimes. I'm reading it and discussing it with a couple good friends of mine which really intensifies the conviction I get from the points he brings up and the scripture he suggests reading. It's made for doing it as a group study with questions and space to journal. 


Linking up this week with Harvesting Kale

Beauty Nuggets: Coconut Oil Moisturizer

My stubbornness caused me to miss out on this wonder for awhile now. I just didn't think putting oil on your face to combat other oil related problems could ever help. I'm happy to be proven wrong though.

In addition to the Miracle Mask I recently raved about, I've been using a dab of Coconut oil for my nightly moisturizer. It hasn't blocked my pores, in fact it's helped minimize them and keep my skin free and clear of blemishes and blotchy skin.

I will say I tried using it for daytime wear under my makeup and it didn't work very well simply because of the oily nature of it causes your makeup to come off really easy. I'm also experimenting with different foundations though - so it very well could work under some makeups.

Coconut Oil is amazing, it can be used for so many things. I think I may try "oil pulling" with it next. Anyone had any experience with it? It sounds weird but oddly enough intriguing.

What's your favorite use for Coconut Oil, when it comes to beautifying?