Tuesday's Tip #9

I was a reading a book about a jungle doctor a while back and it's unbelievable how much they did to preserve water - water was so scarce and they were experiencing such a drought that they had to be very creative with it's use. For example, a bucket of water would be used to watch your hands first and then the excess would be caught in a pail and used for washing the floors and rubber sheets, and if they were very short, the patients. The excess water was also used to water the vegetables. The drain from the bath ran outside and the dirty bathwater was not too dirty to use to scrub the outside concrete floors. The hose nozzles were also adjusted so that they only produced a fine spray so that not a drop would be wasted. 

Let's do our small part in recycling water! Here are a couple easy ways:

 - sit a bucket under your hanging flower baskets and use the excess water that drains out to water other flowers (or stick another potted plant under the hanging basket so that you're killing two birds with one stone while watering!)

- empty the water from your dehumidifer into your watering can instead of pouring it down the drain (thanks for this tip Ange!)

- bathe several of your small children at the same time in the bathtub
- invest in a rain barrel to place under your downspout and use this to water your flowers 

Can you think of any others?

Musical Monday #9

Josh Turner - Long Black Train

Fun Friday #8

Last Saturday we went biking around Niagara on the Lake. It was beautiful weather, the sights were lovely and the company enjoyable :)

 

 

Wednesday's Woe #8

Why am I 26 years old and still getting zits?? Hello! I left my teenage years behind SEVEN years ago! Sigh... oh the trials of adult acne. Anyone else struggle with this and know what you can do about it? My thought is that it is primarily hereditary and hormonal so lotions and potions only have minimal effect... help me out if you can!! Lol. 

Tuesday's Tips #8

There's nothing like the good old "insert foot into mouth" feeling, is there! Here are a couple of tips on things you should avoid saying, and what to say instead:

When trying to compliment someone:

Wrong thing to say:

"Wow you look good tonight!" 

Why you shouldn't say it:

The person might very well take offense and wonder "do I really look that bad other days??"

What you should say instead:

"Wow you look particularly good tonight!" or "You look really great in that outfit!"

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When trying to empathize with someone:

Wrong thing to say:

"I know exactly how you feel! I've had the same thing happen to me."

Why you shouldn't say it:

It shifts the focus of the conversation onto yourself and your experience rather than the person telling the story and invalidates the person's story

What to say instead:

Ask the person about their experience and keep the focus on them, provide a listening ear

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When trying to take back or excuse a rude comment:

Wrong thing to say:

"It was just a joke!" or "Don't take things so seriously!"

Why you shouldn't say it:

The person you have offended is now completely unable to express their annoyance or defend themselves because if they do they're just going to prove that they "Can't Take a Joke"

What to say instead:

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you, I take that back." 

OR just don't say anything rude to begin with :)

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Here are some more faux paus that we often say unthinkingly when speaking about others who are different from us. Avoid these at all cost!

“Some of my best friends are (white, black, Asian)…”

“I don’t think of you as…”

“What do ‘your’ people think?”

“What are you?” or “Where are you ‘really’ from?”

“People with disabilities are courageous.”

“I don’t see difference. We’re all part of the same race,
the human race.”

“I don’t care if you are pink, purple, or orange, I treat all
people the same.”

*the gist of these thoughts are taken from the book called "35 Dumb Things Well Intended People Say" by Maura Cullen

Musical Monday #8

LIBERA-HOW SHALL I SING THAT MAJESTY

Fun Friday #7

What a glorious summer day! Sunny and breezy with no humidity... Add to that enjoying my new (used) bike from Holland and puttering in the garden with my Nederlander bro-in-law Wouter...

Tuesday's Tip #7 (Late)

I think it's safe to say that men who are Christ followers appreciate girls who are modest.

Ladies, isn't it frustrating when you have simply the cutest top but the neckline gapes when you bend over? Here's a simple tip that enables you to hang onto your purchase while solving your immodesty problem. Simply sew/thread a thin elastic into the hem of the neckline and adjust the tightness accordingly. Voila! The neckline of your top should now lay flat across your chest.

Musical Monday #7

A flashmob forms in a village square and performs Ode to Joy by Beethoven

Friday's Fun #6 (late)

Friday is sparring day for Taekwondo - we counted and I know 7 kicks already - alright!!

*please excuse the poor quality of the pictures - they were taken with my phone. But they give you an idea :)

Woeful Wednesday #6

This woeful baby robin was having a hard time learning how to land... here he is perched on the car and when I tried to coax him off it he flew off flapping wildly, tried to land on the side of the house and plunked smack onto the ground. Better flight next time buddy!

Tuesday's Tips #6

I'm going to try to make my Tuesday's Tips cover a variety of topics. Today's tips are brought to you by Reader's Digest and the subject is WEIRD BEAUTY TIPS!

1) Pepto-Bismol makes a refreshing facemask

This stomach remedy is a surprising multi-tasker. Not only can it settle your tummy after a rich meal, it can also be used as a facial mask. Pepto-Bismol contains bismuth subsalicylate - a common ingredient in facial creams. “We use salicylate in over-the-counter acne products to gently exfoliate areas that are more oily, or built up with dead skin, blackheads and whiteheads,” says Dr. Jang. “Put two teaspoons of Pepto-Bismol on your face, leaving it to dry like a mask. After 15-30 minutes, rinse it away with warm water.” Your skin should feel smoother, however, Dr. Jang suggests that users “should be careful as Pepto-Bismol can irritate sensitive skin.”

 

2) Chammomile Tea with Lemon can lighten hair

Desperate for highlights, but can’t get to your hair salon? Relax and turn the kettle on – literally. The cup of tea you’re brewing will lighten your locks. “Chamomile tea and fresh lemon juice is a permanent hair lightener,” says Popie Poulos, hairstylist and owner of The Salon in Ajax, Ontario. Wash your hair and “use chamomile tea mixed with lemon juice as a rinse instead of conditioner. Then sit in the sun to [let your hair] dry. It will give you natural highlights. It doesn’t fade and will stay until it grows out,” says Poulos. The heat from the sun, or your hairdryer causes the lemon juice to brighten your hair. The chamomile brings out natural looking blonde tones. The key is to use both ingredients together - lemon juice alone can result in brassy streaks.

3) Baking soda removes self-tanner streaks

Self-tanner is a convenient way to have a golden, summertime hue. “It’s a vegetable dye that attaches to the top, dead layer of skin cells,” says Dr. Jang. “People get self-tanner streaks because the product has been applied unevenly, or dead skin cells haven’t been exfoliated properly in advance [of application].” If you have self-tanner streaks, that box of baking soda lurking in your cupboard is your new best friend. Non-toxic and easy to use, just wet some baking soda in your hand and massage the area of your tanning mishap. “It gets pasty and gritty - it’s exfoliating. It’s simply taking off some of the skin cells and lightening the streaking,” says Dr. Jang.

4) Toothpaste kills pimples

Got a pimple before a big event? Dab on a little toothpaste. According to Dr. Frances Jang, a dermatologist. “It acts like an astringent drawing impurities out of the skin.” The paste will dry up the blemish and help kill germs in the affected area. Dr. Jang recommends that users of this quick fix “find a natural or organic toothpaste with minimal addictives. Get an actual paste, not a gel. Apply a small dab to an acne spot and leave it overnight.” Be sure to use a small amount – too much and your skin may become irritated or excessively dry. In the morning, wash away the paste and your breakout should be less inflamed and noticeable.

*http://www.readersdigest.ca/health/beauty/6-weird-beauty-tips

Alright folks, whose first in line for a Pepto-Bismol face mask? ;)

Musical Monday #6

Christmas in July? Enjoy the Carol of the Bells by ThePianoGuys!

 

Friday's Fun #5

Fun on the new swing set that Grandpa made and fun discovering the veggies and berries in the backyard!

 

Thursday's Things #5

I read the following from a blog (http://imcarriedtothetable.blogspot.ca) - the author was writing a review on the popular book "Fifty Shades of Grey." I just took out some excerpts that made me think and can be applied to everyone's lives. Read and be challenged!

"now before you think i'm just stomping on my little soapbox about godly living, please consider that the Bible makes no bones about what it means to pursue holiness. it's not to 'better ourselves', to make us look better in the eyes of others, or to gain 'proper standing' before God or greater approval from Him. Now, it's about a love relationship with the Savior and a growing desire to live with His face filling our gaze. when it becomes about US, it's called 'legalism' - a gross stench in the Father's nose. But when we are walking by the Spirit, in the Word, and lifting up our hands in worship unto the Risen King, we don't want to grieve Him. We don't want to dabble in the dark evils of worldliness. We don't want to fill our hearts & minds with junk. I want to lovingly challenge you to just pause a moment and pray about it. that's all. not telling anyone what to do - not my place. only the Holy Spirit can do that...but are we listening?

think about it...if we are honest with ourselves, we are fine with being "gray Christians" ~ not white, not black, content to fade into the background, to kinda dabble with the world, to be comfortable. Jesus said in Revelation 3:16 ~ "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
 
He's not looking for apathetic, comfortable Christians. He'd rather have you in outright opposition to Him than claiming to be a believer and living like the world. that's sobering."

Wednesday's Woe #5

When it rains it pours. I feel like I suddenly have a lot going on!

I had my first piano lesson with Esther this morning so now I have homework in practicing some scales, practicing beginner songs, learning the bass cleft and learning the notes in relation to the piano keys.

I also have my first Taekwondo class tonight! So in preparation for that I've been working on learning how to count in Korean from 1-10, practicing the only block I know (downward block), doing lots of stretching and practicing the roundhouse kick. I can barely get the block down pat and then I'm going to have to learn it (and all the other blocks) while walking... *groan*. Doing coordinating arm and leg motions is not my forte! I think this class will be such an embarrassment for me from beginning to end. But, likely it will be character building and it's good to get out of your comfort zone once in a while and try new things right! Plus it's excellent exercise :) (see last week's Wednesday's Woe).

Well, I'm off to practice!

Tuesday's Tips #5

Today's tip is brought to you in part by Dan Roth. It's common practice to dust your house every couple weeks or so and more out of the way appliances such as ceiling fans often good dusting a couple times a year... but have you ever thought to dust the inside of your computer? If you want to extend the life of your PC, a thorough bi-annual dusting is a must! All you need is a screwdriver and can of compressed air. (In a pinch, Dan suggested to use your vacuum cleaner with the soft brush end to dust away!). More detailed information can be found at this website.

Musical Monday #5

This spiritual is one of my mom's favorites and seeing that it's her birthday today I thought I'd post it.

There is a Balm in Gilead