Modesty Matters - Links to Help You Shop Smart

     We feel your pain when it comes to finding modest clothes-especially during the summertime. So here a few hopefully helpful links to assist in your closet filling quest.

noVae Clothing -  We love this lady alone just for putting modest clothing in her web address and sticking to the claim in her merchandise. This site is the product of a stay-at-home-mom of four, who got fed up with the tiring search to find modest fashionable clothing. While some of it is pricey, keep in mind she makes these items herself, in limited quantity so you're buying a nearly one-of-a-kind item. Also be sure to sign up for the newsletter to be alerted of the great sales she offers. And I'm pretty sure if you spend much time on Pinterest you're going to recognize several of these pieces.

The Skirt Outlet - Not only will you find awesome denium and knit maxi skirts on this site (also seen in abundance on Pinterest)...you'll find modest shells/tank tops/sleeveless shirts! How many times have you purchased a spaghetti strap "shirt" or tank top to layer under an immodest top only to have it fall short as well?! Is that not the most frustrating feeling??? It is for me. That's why I love this type of tank top-you know you're covered. Another big plus about this company? Free exchange shipping! Who doesn't love that?! Now that I've had my say about this company listen to how they describe themselves:

The Skirt Outlet was founded from a desire to provide affordable, classic and comfortable long skirts for women and girls, without hours of shopping disappointments. We are committed to providing a real alternative to today's extreme fashions and yesterday's out-dated look.

Founded in 2008, The Skirt Outlet started out as a retail brick-and-mortar store in Eureka, Illinois. As word spread about the store, The Skirt Outlet began getting calls from out of state, requesting skirts to be shipped to them. This website was thus founded to meet the needs of those who were unable to make it to our store. However, we still welcome all customers to come and visit our retail store in Eureka!

ThredUp - Online consignment shops are huge right now, which is to your advantage...it means more affordable available clothing. ThredUp does a great job accepting and selling only gently used clothing-much of it looks just like new. Be sure to check out their stock and keep them in mind when you clean out your own closet.

-M

7 Steps to Help You Become a Better Worshipper

1.     Rest well on Saturday night by going to bed early. It is very tempting to plan activities on Saturday night, but it really is better not to. Pick another night to go on a movie date or bowling with friends. We should never feel like preparing for service is an inconvenience. It is a privilege and we should treat it as such.

2.     Avoid the “Sunday morning rush hour.” Get up early. Don’t wait on your parents to drag you out of bed. Set your alarm the night before and get up on your own. (When you’re grown and no longer living under your parents’ roof, you will have to do this anyway. Get used to it. It will happen sooner than you realize.)

3.     Eat breakfast. Hunger deters focus. By eating a filling breakfast, you avoid a growling stomach and slowed senses.

4.     Avoid disagreements with your siblings and parents on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Help everyone keep a clear focus on worship.

5.     Plan your contribution and have it ready.

6.     Bring your own bible and notebook/iPad/laptop to take notes.

7.     Don’t be late. Do not assume this does not apply to you just because you are not the driver. Be ready to go on time. Once you arrive be sure to take care of restroom needs before worship service begins. Take time to get settled and focused.

“Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.”

-Paul “Bear” Bryant

list adapted from Ready For Worship podcast

available via The Light Network

Homemaking 101 - Kitchen Tips & Habits to Develop

                  For gals who hope to one day hold the title homemaker, it is never too early to begin gleaning knowledge from those with more experience. By no means do I claim to be an expert in the field of homemaking, but I do have some tips and lessons that I am able to share. Some is from my own experience, but much of my knowledge comes the wisdom of those older and wiser. So get your notebooks out, today I’m sharing 9 tips and habits that make life in the kitchen better.

                  Whether the first time you move out of your parents home is with a college roommate, on your own, or as a newlywed, it will be up to you to fix something to eat which equals time in the kitchen. Lots of time in the kitchen. If you marry a man who likes to eat and then you have children, just go ahead and accept the fact that the kitchen will be the room you spend the most time in. So with that said, tip #1…

1.     Make it a place you enjoy being. Decorate with your favorite colors. If you love new modern style, decorate with bright, bold colors. If you’re a vintage lover, create your own by framing handwritten recipes from your mother and grandmother. If you need music to help motivate you, find a designated spot for a radio/iPod dock/cd player. Be creative and use resources such as Pinterest for decorating ideas. Make your kitchen your space and you will enjoy spending time in it. (For those

2.     Wash as you go. You are not going to want to do this, but trust me on this one. If you wait until you completely finish, you are going to hate that you didn’t heed this advice. Washing as you go means less clean-up and a more relaxing space to work in.

3.     Clean out the sink after the dishes are done. I hear you-this is a gross job, but the jobs we dread most are the ones we need to go ahead with and get out of the way. Don’t put this one off, you’ll be sorry.

4.     Label the leftovers. You will not remember if you made that hamburger casserole last Wednesday or Tuesday. When this happens you either take your chances eating spoiled food or you follow the old rule: “When in doubt, throw it out.” Label what it is and the date it was prepared. You can even keep a roll of tape and a sharpie on top of the fridge to make this super easy.

5.     If it can be frozen, freeze it. The list of foods that can be frozen for later use is practically endless. Do your research and make the most of your freezer.

6.     Make a meal plan. Have a list of go-to meals and do your best to keep most of the ingredients in your pantry. It’s also a good idea to keep a list of foods to take to families who have lost loved ones or have new additions to the family. This makes last minute meal prep a breeze.

7.     Stick to your grocery list. Make your weekly meal plan and base your list on ingredients you’re missing. This will cut down on spontaneous purchases, which often leads to wasted food (and money).

8.     Transfer bagged food into mason jars. I store beans, grains, dried fruit, trail mix and so on in inexpensive canning jars. It’s a great way to keep my pantry and cabinets neat and organized.

9.     Prep vegetables and fruits at the beginning of the week so that you snack on healthier foods. If you’re like me you will eat healthy snacks, but only if they’re as easy to grab as a handful of potato chips.

(P.S. – For those of you still living with mom & dad, I doubt they’d object much if you want to put a few of these into practice. Give them a break sometimes and get some much need experience for yourself!)

Don't Feel Guilty, Resting Is Essential.

Rest is one of those words that has become almost taboo in our society. We are encouraged to push ourselves to the limit. We are bombarded with advertisements of drinks and foods that will assist in our quest to be super human, but that's just it-we are only human, not superhuman. Sometimes even as Christians we feel guilty resting because we want to be busy for the Lord. However, we need to consider that the Lord designed us with physical bodies that require rest. He even set an example for us when he created the world-on the seventh day, he rested! Jesus also knew the importance of rest. In Mark 6, He told the apostles, “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while:for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.”

Resting is not quitting. Resting is essential for our bodies. So-called experts have found that we focus and retain information better when studying if we do so with a pattern of taking a ten minute break every twenty minutes. We want to do our best in everything. God expects our best in everything. Part of giving our best is providing ourselves with adequate rest.

As summer break approaches for many of you, make a point to take a break from pushing yourself so that your strength can be renewed. Evaluate where you’ve been and where you are now. Marvel in the small things that you have accomplished so far while your mind is being rejuvenated and don’t ever let quitting become an option. Balance is the key.

- adapted from Under the Juniper Tree podcast

available via The Light Network

-M

Mention Worthy Monday

I recently discovered a new (to me) author and I wanted to share her amazing work with you.

Her name?

Emily Nelson. Read all about her here and here.

What I've read?

The Locket.

Why was it so great?

"In the end, after time and

breath steal the rest away, some things linger still.

Some memories whisper in your heart forever. 

Love goes on, even when life doesn't."

 Emily is a Christian author. You do not have to worry about encountering foul language, inappropriate scenes or such like when you read her work. The Locket is a beautiful love story. Although it is short fiction, it is a true-to-life story of overcoming hardships and celebrating life's beauty. (I read this in one day. Yes, it was that good.)

What's on my list to read next?

Reflections: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories

When the Church Forgets to Blush

I cannot wait.

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There is a fairly new podcast over at The Light Network called The New You. It's a short, daily devotional and a great resource for new and seasoned Christians alike. And while you're over at TLN be sure to check out The Royal Family podcast. Who doesn't love hearing about what the British royals are up to? Emily does a great job keeping us up-to-date with the goings-on and has wonderful insight to show the similarities between the earthly royal and spiritually royal family. Be sure to give these great podcasts a listen and then go rate them in iTunes to help spread the good work the folks over at TLN are doing!

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When Christians Should Stay Off Social Media - So often people, even Christians think social media is an outlet to voice their frustration over various issues. This post is a good reminder to keep our attitudes in check even (or should I say especially) when using social media-remember that those are words you will answer for as well.