Have you ever watched the show on TLC called Hoarding: Buried Alive? So. Much. Stuff. Just watching that show makes me feel anxious!
I love organization, I love when everything has a place to go! I hate clutter! Clutter actually gives me major angst! Usually, if my house and surroundings are cluttered it is a sure sign that my mind and soul feel cluttered as well.
Quite often, when things in my life get hectic, and I have a lot on my to-do list or there are important decisions to be made, I tend to be a hoarder of information. I look for more and more input and advice, rather than less.
During these times, I often put the cart before the horse and start thinking about the “what ifs” and “but maybes” of potential situations… I basically become filled with clutter in my mind. Instead, I need to take a minimalist approach to my daily decisions and plans for the future! I need to clean out the clutter in my mind.
While I am in no way a minimalist, I love the idea of minimalism. I recently heard minimalism defined as “not owning nothing, but instead that nothing should own you.” What a simple way to put it!
The Bible says in Ps 46:10 says Be still and know that I am God.
Stillness is to the soul as de-cluttering is to the home. By taking some quiet time for reflection with God’s word, I am making space to quiet my mind, to clean out the clutter, to be still, and hear God’s voice.
I am not a political person, I am not looking for a fight, argument, or a big discussion. I am just so tired of unkindness being the normal thing.
Evil prevails when good men stand by and do nothing! I don’t know what to do personally, but something needs to be done!
Just because someone has a different point of view, perspective, or culture does not give us the right to disregard, look down on, or ignore their presence.
Just because we disagree with what someone else believes doesn’t mean we have a right to treat them insensitively or with anything other than love and kindness.
There’s so much anxiety, unrest, and strife in our world! We have made things all about which side we’re on, you against me, us against them. I’m right, so you are automatically wrong.
When it comes right down to it, we are all people, we are all imperfectly flawed. We all make mistakes.
We are all different. These differences are what make us special. These differences are not what makes us weaker or less than.
It often seems hopeless, as if bad people are getting rewarded, and it seems that hate will win. In the end, doing the right thing is still the best thing to do and being kind is still worthwhile.
So while I cannot change a lot of things about the world, I can be kind to those I interact with. I can smile at, and acknowledge those around me. I don’t want to stand by and do nothing!
The product claims are “Visibly reduce wrinkles. Re-firm skin. Smooth skin’s texture.” I’m not going to say that it has made my “wrinkles” and fine lines go away, or maybe even lessen, but I feel as if using this moisturizer consistently has helped to make my skin look brighter and more youthful. I have not noticed any “re-firming” but I have noticed an increased smoothness to my skin’s overall texture.
It is a medium consistency off-white cream that absorbs quickly into the skin making it perfect for being worn under makeup. It provides a deep moisture to the skin without feeling thick, greasy, or heavy on the skin. Not too much is needed, and I find that if I apply too much at once it does seem to ball up on itself.
What does the Loreal Website have to say about it?
Over 10,000 women across the US said they trust it.* Try it yourself today and see why. #RevitaliftChallenge
*Out of 14,000 women who were polled after using a complimentary Revitalift Triple Power moisturizer for 2x a day for 14 days
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift presents its beloved anti-aging moisturizer to address multiple key signs of aging skin. Formulated with Pro-Xylane and Hyaluronic, this intensive moisturizer visibly firms, smooths, and hydrates for younger-looking skin in just 1 week.
See results or your money back, guaranteed.**
*Money back guarantee, up to $24.99 (sales tax will not be refunded). Restrictions apply. For details, call 1-800-630-5585.* Valid in the 50 U.S/D.C. and only on purchase of a Revitalift Triple Power skin care product made between 8/14/17 and 12/31/17 with original store receipt. Request must be postmarked by 1/29/18 and received by 2/12/18. Void where prohibited. Limit 1 refund per person and per household.
How To
Every morning and evening, smooth over the face, neck, and jawline until thoroughly absorbed. For best results, use with other Revitalift products.
This song has been running through my head the last few days. I love that God can take someone who is broken and still use me!
If grace was a kingdom
I stopped at the gate
Thinking I don’t deserve to pass through after all the mistakes that I’ve made
After all the mistakes that I’ve made
Oh but I heard a whisper
As Heaven bent down
Said, “Child, don’t you know that the first will be last and the last get a crown”
Now I’m just a beggar in the presence of a King I wish I could bring so much more
But if it’s true You use broken things
Then here I am Lord, I’m all Yours
You use broken things
The pages of history they tell me it’s true.
That it’s never the perfect; it’s always the ones with the scars that You use
It’s the rebels and the prodigals; it’s the humble and the weak
All the misfit heroes You chose Tell me there’s hope for sinners like me
It’s always the ones with the scars that You use
Now I’m just a beggar in the presence of a King
I wish I could bring so much more
But if it’s true You use broken things
Then here I am Lord, I’m all Yours
Grace is a kingdom
With gates open wide
Grace is a kingdom
With gates open wide
There’s a seat at the table just waiting for you So, come on inside
Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:39
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For a while, I have been going back and forth between growing my hair out and cutting it into a pixie cut. As for now, the longer hair is winning…
Since I am trying to grow out my hair it is more important than ever to protect it from heat damage. While I don’t heat style or blow dry my hair every day, I do still want to protect it on the days that I do.
My hair is growing, slowly but it’s growing!
A heat protectant works by forming a protective barrier over the hair cuticle preventing the heat from damaging the hair. A heat protectant will also add moisture to your hair as well as preventing the natural moisture from evaporating as the hair is heat styled.
When I first decided I wanted a heat protectant I tried a few different oils. So far, the oils have just been too heavy for my fine straight hair. Maybe once my hair is a bit longer I can use one on just the ends, but for now, no good.
I want my hair to be protected from heat, but I don’t want a product that is going to make my already fine oily hair look thinner and more oily. Thankfully, instead, when I use this spray, my hair looks sleek and shiny all day. It doesn’t weigh my hair down at all. It has a nice clean scent that lasts all day!
Due to my fine hair, it takes me no time at all to blow dry my hair anyway, so I cannot testify as to whether or not this spray cuts down on drying time. It does make heat styling my hair quicker and easier due to the fact that my hair smooths into place more effectively.
There are several other heat protectant products from Loreal in this line. I’m planning to try out a few others. I’ll let you know if any of them work as well as or better than this one.
If you are looking for a product to help protect your hair while also adding a smooth shine, I recommend this product.
“DESCRIPTION Reacts with heat to reduce blow-dry time. Shields against heat damage. Formulated with fibralock technology. Our lightweight primer formula accelerates your routine by cutting blow dry time while protecting hair from heat damage.
HOW TO
Apply on clean damp hair. Spray evenly 6-8 inches away from hair. Blow dry as usual.
Every once in a while I stop and ask myself “Laura, why are you doing what you are doing?” I made a decision about 6 months ago to stop doing things for the wrong reasons. I decided that if something is not bringing joy in my life I need to stop doing it. I can’t say that in the last 6 months I have always followed that decision, but I have tried to keep a check on my motives.
Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives.
Psalm 139:1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
Jeremiah 12:3 But You know me, O LORD; You see me; And You examine my heart’s attitude toward You.
Jeremiah 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.
“Why are you doing what you are doing?”
After making some changes, I have had more peace in the last few months than I have had in a long time. I will continue to ask myself “Why are you doing what you are doing?” and I will also continue to answer myself honestly. Sometimes being honest with ourselves about our motives is one of the hardest parts.
There have been times that social media has been more of a drain on me than an enjoyment, so I have chosen to distance myself from it. There have been people in my life that have been more of a drain on me emotionally than an enjoyment, so I distanced myself from them. The choice isn’t always permanent, but sometimes a bit of separation gives a chance to get things back into proper perspective.
Instead of letting others determine what we do, what we wear, how we decorate our houses, where we choose to go, we need to make choices for ourselves. We should only be trying to make right choices for ourselves and the people and things that are truly important to us.
Saying yes all the time won’t make me Wonder Woman. It will make me a worn-out woman.
I am not talking about becoming self-centered, I am talking about becoming secure in yourself and making choices for yourself, not because of what other people want or what “they” will think.**
I heard this song the other day and the message of it really made me think. It is so similar to what I have been pondering the last few months. What really matters is that when I am alone with myself, do I like the person that I am on the inside?!
Try by Colbie Caillat
Put your make-up on
Get your nails done
Curl your hair
Run the extra mile
Keep it slim so they like you, do they like you?
Get your sexy on
Don’t be shy, girl
Take it off
This is what you want, to belong, so they like you
Do you like you?
You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to, give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try
You don’t have to try
Mm, mm
Get your shopping on, at the mall, max your credit cards
You don’t have to choose, buy it all, so they like you
Do they like you?
Wait a second, Why, should you care, what they think of you When you’re all alone, by yourself, do you like you? Do you like you?
When you’re all alone, by yourself, do you like you?
You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to, give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing
You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to bend until you break
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try
You don’t have to try
Mm, mm
You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to, give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try
You don’t have to try
Take your make-up off
Let your hair down
Take a breath
Look into the mirror, at yourself
Don’t you like you?
‘Cause I like you
**A great book with a lot of great information about a similar topic is The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst. She is the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the New York Times bestselling author of Uninvited. (Totally not sponsored at all, I just really enjoyed the information in this book.)
Instead, I need to take a minimalist approach to my daily decisions and plans for the future! I need to clean out the clutter in my mind.
I have been using the 
It is a medium consistency off-white cream that absorbs quickly into the skin making it perfect for being worn under makeup. It provides a deep moisture to the skin without feeling thick, greasy, or heavy on the skin. Not too much is needed, and I find that if I apply too much at once it does seem to ball up on itself.
What about you? Have you ever tried this 
Looking Joli Good 