Virtuous Girlhood

Meaningful Words

What if it didn’t happen to you,

but it could have?  Will it?

Why do these things leave you spinning

and unable to redirect?

The reality of it crashes down on you…

You don’t understand.

Will you ever?

Think, how could this be?

The truth grips you,

you’re left swirling

in leftover emotions of an event far removed from you

but so close.

Feelings flood,

they are a waterfall,

crushing you,

you can’t stop it, have to get out.

But to leave would be to deny reality.

What is real? Is anything?

Is there any good left?

Can we pick up the pieces?

Return to life?

Nothing is the same.

Nothing should be the same now.

There is nothing to say to those affected… we are affected.

Grace?

Who can think?

Thoughts are a current, winding down.

out of control.

Move on, hold onto hope.

Faith comes from the Living God.

Cry on their behalf to Jehovah, oh my soul.

Taken from Fly Far

Product Review: Celery Street

I received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

Celery Street has some great eco friendly products from writing journals to handbags. I chose their Beautiful Bold Writing Journals Lined Slims to review and was very pleased with the journal. It is very pretty and slender. I liked that it was small and could fit in my rather large purse. I liked that this journal is lined and that this journal was very colorful and has a inside pocket at the back which is very handy! It has a really nice magnetic clasp that closes nicely. But one of my favorite part is that this journal is eco friendly! I thought that this journal was too nice to be eco-friendly but it is! You may purchase the Beautiful Bold Writing Journal for $14.95 here. 

These eco friendly writing journals are one of the most unique, unusual, and planet friendly journals available. The acid-free paper is made with only sustainable forest pulp. The binder boards for these beautiful writing journals are European-made with 100% recycled paper.

I really like Celery Street’s products and will definitely be using this journal again in the future and when I’ve filled this one may buy another one!

Miss RJ

Wordless Wednesday - Pretty Gladiolas

Homemaking Tuesday: With All Your Heart

      Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

 I’ve been thinking a lot about these verses lately. I don’t know about you, but I work a lot. I wash dishes, I clean my room, I write e-mails, I fold laundry, I make breakfast, and I could go on. I bet you have a list of things you do too. Sometimes I feel like the list of things to do keeps getting longer and longer.

If you’re like me, pretty much all I can think about when I’m doing these mundane tasks is, I just want to get this done so I can go off and do what I want to do. All I can think about is how to finish up quickly. Rarely do I put my heart into the task. This is very easy to do I can tell my hands to wash the dishes, but it’s much harder to put my heart into a task.

 But God has been changing that. Over the past few weeks He’s been helping me to see this simple truth. In whatever I do, it should be for Christ. I should do everything I do as though I am working for God. So when I wash the dishes, I’m washing God’s dishes. When I vacuum the carpet, I’m vacuuming God’s carpet. When I write an article, I write it for God.

I know that this can sound funny, but when you think about it this verse says that we work for God. So none of our work is for mom or dad or our boss, it’s all for God. All of the things we do on a daily basis should reflect the love of Our Lord.

But how do we work at something with all our heart? First try to start thinking about your work as though you were working for God. Every time you approach a task, approach it as though God had given you the task. Then attack the task with the strength that God supplies.

Then there’s the heart. Put your heart into it. Let your heart spill over as you work. Pick up your feet and do it with every fiber of your being.

It’s not easy to do this, especially when I’m tired and the thought of sweeping is enough to send me deeper into the couch. Yet God always seems to gives me strength to get through those times. I finish the task.  

My challenge for you is to wake up tomorrow morning and whatever you do work at it with all your heart, be that washing dishes, folding clothes, collage, job, vacuuming, loving your siblings, or whatever, work at it the all you heart.

Remember this: God is at work within you doing things that you can’t imagine. Maybe you can’t see it all, but God does. Do what you’ve been called to do for today and let God take care of the details.

Recipe of The Week # 45 Chocolate Sauce

Homeade Chocolate Sauce

1/2 cup Coca
1/2 cup Cane Sugar
6 TBSP White Flour
2 Cups hot Water
2 TBSP Vanilla
1 TBSP Butter

Mix the coca, sugar, and flour together. Add water and stir about 2-4 minutes or until thick and resembles thick chocolate sauce. Add vanilla and butter. This is great for ice cream! And plus it makes a really great pudding when you double it. You don’t really need to add the vanilla and butter. Usually I forget it and it works out great!

Enjoy!

P.S. Sorry there is no button I am using my little netbook, and I really need to upgrade my browser as NOTHING works on it, so I can’t get pictures.

Modest Monday:Designer Clothing………

So, what do you think? Should we as Christians go all out over a dress simply because it has Ralph Lauren emblazoned over it or a shoe? Should we go all crazy because some flat has Miley Cyrus’s name on it?

As Christians it’s okay to  be concerned some what that we are dressed appropriately and are dressing nicely but I think that if we go crazy simply because our favorite Ralph Lauren shirt is on sale it doesn’t mean that we should act like the world.

Just a thought: God want’s us to be in the world but not of the world. Now to be really honest most designer clothing is NOT modest. It is very immodest and un-practical. So, if you are not sure whether or not it is modest, I encourage you to check out this modesty checklist.

How are we being a light to shine to others if we choose to wear a immodest, skimpy, tight skirt? Should we wear it just because it has a designer tag on it?

I don’t mean to come across as “preachy” but what matters most your modesty or having a designers name on your backside?

Now I am NOT saying that all designer clothing is wrong or immodest, as I did come across two designer products that where not immodest but, they where EXPENSIVE! They are below:

http://bit.ly/cIUB9O (this is $325 so it is un-practical)

http://bit.ly/9fihH3 (This shoe is $269)

Even after reading this post if you must have your designer fix remember, God looks on our hearts! Oh, and by the way thrift stores have great bargains!

Miss RJ

Beauty Tip Monday: The Right Shampoo

First let’s identify your hair type, for example oily hair often looks greasy and dull, it becomes oily too quick, attracts dirt easily and needs frequent washing. Dry hair is characterized by split ends, frizziness, it feels tough to the touch and is difficult to comb or brush.

If your hair is oily:
If your hair is oily you should look for products designed for oily hair. The shampoo should be strong enough to cleanse your hair and at the same time it should be appropriate for a daily usage. This doesn’t mean that it should be harsh, because if the product contains harsh chemicals it can easily strip your scalp of its natural oils and your sebaceous glands may begin to produce even more oil. Make sure your Your best choice will be a clarifying shampoo and a light conditioner specially designed for oily hair. If you have oily hair you can wash your hair two/ three times a week. A cleansing shampoo with mint extracts is ideal for oily hair.
If you hair is dry:
If your hair is dry you should look for a shampoo that is specially designed for dry hair. Choose a hydrating shampoo that is mild and contains more natural ingredients such as olive oil, almond oil, honey, chamomile, essential oils. A moisturizing conditioner is should be used for those with dryer hair. You can use thick conditioners as they are excellent for dry and damaged hair as because they nourish the hair deeply.

Some Recommended Shampoos:

For Oily Hair:

Any Burts Bees Hair Care Products

VO5 Shampoo and Conditioner (not at all organic but it works nicely!) For Dry Hair:

John Masters Organics Evening Primrose For Dry Hair Shampoo

John Masters Organics Lavender and Avocado Conditioner

VO5 Shampoo and Conditioner (not at all organic but it works nicely!)

Any Burts Bee’s hair care products

Miss RJ

Bible Verse: Psalm 21:2-4

“You have given him his heart’s desire, and You have not withheld the request of his lips.  For You meet him with the blessings of good things; You set a crown of fine gold on his head.  He asked life of You, You gave it to him, length of days forever and ever.”

Product Review! Hemp Harmony

I received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

Lindsay from Hemp Harmony sent me the Woven Hemp Bracelet with Wooden Bead and I was REALLY pleased with this bracelet. It was very “chic” And loved the brown bead accent against the tan woven bracelet. The bracelet, was not scratchy on my wrist and was rather comfortable so I was surprised! The only thing that I didn’t like about this bracelet was that it was hard to get on my wrist. But I wore the bracelet for almost the entire day and got the bracelet a little wet and it did not fall off at all, so I guess it’s a good thing that it doesn’t come off!

This bracelet is $8.00 and you can buy it here at Hemp Harmony. She ships really fast too! We have a giveaway coming up with her in September! So check back soon!

Book Review: With An Everlasting Love

 Set against the backdrop of the holy land, this book is an allegory of God’s love for us.

Christiana is a despised daughter who has no hope and no future. That is until Joshua the son of the great King decides to marry her.

She is thrilled and begins to prepare for the marriage. As she waits she will learn many lessons that will change her life forever.

Writing Tips: 10 Ways to Create Funny Moments

Thanks Sarah for your tips!One of the things I like to add in my books is funny moments. They keep intense parts of the book from being overwhelming, they give your readers a good feeling inside, and it gives you a great opportunity to use your writing skills.

1. Have a comic relief character. This can be someone who is always making well-intentioned mistakes; it can be someone who takes their job too seriously or it can be someone who is a bit rough and blunt. These types of characters give you great opportunities for making funny moments.

2. Have kids in your story. Children do some of the funniest things. If you don’t believe me, go watch a group of kids at play. They will say and do things that will have you on the floor in stitches.

3. Have and intense, scary, life threatening scene that leads to…. nothing. Think about it, we often worry about a situation or think something is going to be awful, and it ends up being no big deal. If written correctly, these can be really funny moments.

4. Have your main character make mistakes. Not only do these mistakes make them human, but they also can be very funny.

5. Have someone tell a joke in your story, but have it be poorly told so that no one laughs. This can be a little tricky, but also very funny.

6. Get off your computer! Half of creating funny moments is to have real life experiences to draw from. If you spend all your time on your computer you will miss a lot of life.

7. Have food moments. Have things spill at the wrong moment, get a guy covered in mashed potatoes, let the main character take a sip of tea and realize she put salt instead of sugar in it. How funny is that?

8. Have some silly misunderstandings. Have the Dad buy lamb instead of ham or the daughter get enough plates for two hundred instead of two dozen.

9. Let your characters have their habits and pet peeves. They could always wear something pink, make a big deal out of how you should eat pizza, or go on and on about one particular subject to the point of driving others mad.

10. Laugh more yourself. Watch more comedians, read a funny book, spend time with your younger siblings. Whatever it takes to make you laugh, do it.

Product Review! Eco Lips

I paid $1 to receive a full size lip balm and here is my review.

I got the Eco Lips SPF 15 Berry Lip Balm and liked it. It smelled really nice. It wasn’t as waxy as other lip balms, so that was nice. And plus this lip balm has sunscreen powers in it to protect your lips. And it did protect my lips.

 I really liked that it is all organic, and has no dyes or synthetic ingredients.  It was a nice lip balm. But I still like my all time favorite lip balm. And in my mind nothing can beat that lip balm. (I won’t say which lip balm) I have tried a lot of organic lip balms. And I think this one is probably my 3rd favorite out of all of them.

I encourage you to check out Eco Lips. And all of their other great products!

Miss RJ

Wordless Wednesday-Gorgeous Flowers!

Gorgeous flowers

Recipe of The Week # 44 Summer Squash Casserole

Ingredients:

3 cups Yellow Summer Squash

1 cup Milk

2  beaten Eggs

2 cups Cheddar Cheese

1/2 Onion

Salt

Pepper

Directions:

Add peeled, seedless squash, beaten eggs, and remaining ingredients cook in 350 F oven for 40 minutes.

Enjoy !

(On side note do NOT use zucchini as it makes the dish taste like  acid.)

Homemaking Tuesday: Rose Scented Potpourri

Here’s an easy way to get some potpourri without spending a lot of money. If your or one of your family members buys some roses, wait until they are about to die. Then take the roses and gently pull the petals off of the roses. Throw the stems away and put the petals in a box or a basket. Let the petals sit for about two or three weeks stirring occasionally. And there you go. The petals dry out and you have a lovely sweet-smelling potpourri. Enjoy.