Guest Post / / "La Santé Café" Health Blog

Hey, y'all!  I apologize for it having been awhile since I've posted here.  I hope to make another post very soon, but I really wanted to share with y'all Chelsey's (Jesse's sister) new health blog!  It is amazing and y'all should definitely go and check it out.  Below is her guest post about it:

 

  Enchanté fellow readers! I hope your day is going splendidly. I would like to introduce you to my blog new blog, La Santé Café.

La Santé Café is french for The Health Café. I started writing this blog because I have recently gone through a weight loss program that has caused me to lose 40 pounds so far and my over all goal is 70-80. I've done this through a month and a half long juice cleanse, which I m currently in the middles of! (before and during pictures below)

  Throughout this process I have been learning how to listen to my body and give it what it needs instead of just what it wants. Turns out, when you do this, your body is a lot happier and treats you better in return.

I've spent most of my teen years and now into my early twenties dealing with obesity and being overweight. Trying many times to do something about it, but to no avail. Until one day I decided that what I needed to do was not lose weight.. but become a healthy person. And so my goals changed, I no longer wanted to eat anything I desired so long as I could burn it all off on the treadmill later. Instead I wanted to give my body the things it needed to begin healing itself from years of mistreatment at my hand.

I've learned that losing weight is about more than just losing weight. It's about being kind to yourself, loving yourself and believing in yourself before you ever even begin. These things are essential, I assure you, to living a healthy lifestyle.

For me juice fasting is only the beginning. My plans are to reach a healthy BMI ( Body Mass Index ) and once I'm there begin introducing foods back into my system one thing at a time. But not the kind of food I used to eat. Live foods instead, or at least mostly live food. Like fresh veggies and fruits, nuts, seeds, lean meat and homemade bread. Yes, I said homemade and not whole grain. ;)

I believe that eating in a healthy way can be delicious and much easier than we think! And absolutely achievable and essential.

I am no dietitian or nutrition specialist, I only plan to share with you what I have learned so far and how it has worked for me. I promise to be honest and straight forward and only tell you about products and dishes that I would use myself. And I promise to write for as long as you promise to read.

So come on over and check out what we've got so far and be sure to like our facebook page  for daily updates where you can keep up with my weight loss journey, and learn what I'm cooking up each week that you can use in your own kitchen! 


Yours Truly,
Chels

 

Y'all be sure and go check it out at:
 www.lasantecafe.blogspot.com

 

 and like her facebook page too at:

www.facebook.com/thehealthycafe

Funeral & Outfit Post / / Gray Stripes, Black Maxi Skirt

 Hey y'all!  Our family has had a very busy week and weekend.  Jesse's grandmother, Linda Crumpton Harris, passed away at the age of 74 after living with Huntington disease for many years.  She was a strong woman who devoted her life to raising up her five daughters, including my wonderful, mother-in-law Denise.  Now she is at rest in heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in perfect peace.

"Grandmother" Linda Crumpton Harris

Though I wish it could have been under happier circumstances, I did enjoy getting to know all of the cousins, aunts, and family better over the weekend that we all spent together.  I also want to say a big thank you to everyone who helped, we really appreciate everything you did, and for all your many prayers.

We had been staying for nearly a week, over at the Wright's, working at the office for our online business (Wright Resale).  Then, towards the end, came the sadness. We hadn't brought any dressy clothes, so this entire outfit that I wore, was bought the day before the funeral.  It is sometimes difficult to find new, and stylish clothes for special occasions that are also modest, so that's why I decided to go ahead and include what I wore in this post.  Maybe it will give y'all some ideas for next time y'all have to dress up a bit.  Actually, this was a very comfortable ensemble that I'll probably wear to church a lot as well.

I'd never really had an official "maxi skirt" which seems to be a fashion trend lately, but I absolutely love this new one that I got!  It so versatile, easy to wear, and super comfortable.  Also, I went a little out of my comfort zone by wearing ballet flats.  I generally stick to my boots in the winter, but I'm glad that I went ahead and got these shoes.  The best thing about this outfit is that it didn't break our tight budget.  The entire outfit only costed about $29.99.

// outfit details //

Shirt (the cardigan and white part are actually connected): Walmart

Tank Top: Walmart

Maxi Skirt: Walmart (also you can

find it on Amazon click here)

Shoes: Walmart

Necklace: Christmas Gift

Bracelet: Borrowed from Gina (my sister-in-law)

I also wanted to share with y'all our little, guy's outfit, because it was so cute.  I found the little dress shirt (that snaps on the bottom, keeping it tucked in) for $.54 at a thrift store!

Both of my handsome men all dressed up.

I absolutely love studying and recording family history.  So, now I will be working on the genealogy and write out a family tree, as detailed as I can make it, for that side of the family.  I don't want to let our family get forgotten just because no one's ever taken the time to write down what we know.  I personally want to find out all that I can, and record it all so that we can pass that on, down to our next generations.

Family is very special and we should each take the time to tell our loved ones, as often as possible, how much we love and appreciate them!  Thank you so much for stopping by. :)

How do y'all normally wear maxi skirts?

What kind of shoes do you usually pair with one?

Medieval Braid Wrapped Braid / / Hair Tutorial

 Hey y'all!  Here's a really fun looking, medieval, braided hairstyle that I did on Gina the other night just for fun.  It's not that hard, but it looks complicated with all the different braids.

 First, do two normal, three-strand braids; one coming from either side of your head.

 Then combine them and split the hair in half, being careful not to let the braids come apart.

 Now, fishtail braid it all the way to the ends, by taking a small strand from the left half and adding it to the right half, then add a small piece from the right to the left, and repeat all the way down.  Tip: the smaller the strand of hair you braid, the more intricate and awesome it will look! :)

 At this point you could just be done, but to make it more amazing, make a tiny braid with the hair from right beside and underneath your original, three-strand, crown braid from earlier. (see picture below)

 Do the same thing on the other side.  For the final step, wrap these two braids around the fishtail braid and fasten off at the ends.

 And voila!  A really complex looking, medieval hairdo.

For another really cool Celtic tutorial, check out this one
Celtic knot hair tutorial

What kinds of complex braided hairstyles have y'all tried?

Do you have any favorite historical hairstyles?

If there are any hairstyles that y'all would like to see a tutorial on, just leave them in comments below.  Thank you so much for stopping by! :)

Reasons to Keep a Journal

Hey, y'all!  Since it's the beginning of 2015 and everyone has made new plans and goals to achieve, I decided to write today about one of my most favorite things that has kept me inspired for so long; keeping a daily journal.  I've kept journals on and off since I was about 6 years old and could barely write.  I wasn't very diligent about them though until I was 10 (in 2005).  Keeping a daily, personal journal has been one of the greatest things I've done, keeping me focused and constantly amazed with how the Lord's been working so amazingly in my life for the past ten years.  Whenever I'm feeling discouraged or confused, one of my favorite things to do is look back and see how far I've come in my personal growth as a Christian, my relationship with Jesus, and my family.

If you've known me very long at all, you'll soon find out that I am a huge lover of history and studying the past.  The main reason that I started a journal was originally to record the present happenings of my life for future generations to look back on and learn from.  Since I began writing though, I've found more and more benefits and would like to encourage everyone else to do the same!  Here are just seven great reasons to keep a journal:

Thankfulness.  Writing daily in your journal helps you to see the good in every day.  It always reminds me of all that I have to be grateful for and keeps me in a constant state of thanksgiving to God.

Record of Memories and Significant Events.  As you continue to write, you'll end up with an in depth record of memories and significant events that have occurred throughout your life that you may possibly have forgotten otherwise, or at least not remembered all of the details.  I didn't know it would be important then, but since I was keeping a daily journal at the time, I have detailed writings of time when I first met Jesse (who I would marry 5 years later).

Answered Prayers.  One of the most amazing parts of keeping a journal is that if you use it as prayer journal as well, then you will see how amazingly God has and is working through your life!  You may not understand now, but if you look back 5 or 6 years later and see how God answered your prayers, or how a situation turned out for good, you'll be astounded.  For instance, I really enjoy reading all of the prayers that were answered, and how the Lord worked through my life from the years before I met Jesse, until the day he asked my daddy if he could pursue a relationship with me, all the way through to our wedding day, and then to now with my life as a mother.

Sort Your Thoughts.  A lot of times just putting it down into words on paper will help me to sort out my thoughts, get clarity, and solve, work through, or better understand problems or situations that I may be dealing with or going through.

Be More Focused.  I would recommend also writing down your dreams, plans, and goals.  Keeping written goals can keep you more focused, help you to stay on track, and be more likely to accomplish what you've set out to do.

Track Past Victories.  You'll be very encouraged and inspired by being able to go back and read all of your past victories and see how what all you've completed and accomplished.  You can smile at how far you've come in your own personal growth.

Capture Your Awesome Ideas.  We all have tons of brilliant ideas, but just can't ever remember them all.  If you have a place like your journal to jot them down, then maybe they won't go to waste.

I always try to write in my journal at night, but everyone is different and there may be a better time for you.  I do think it's important though to set aside a specific time to write in your journal, have your personal devotions with the Lord, and read the Bible.  Make it a habit.  The reason I chose right before I go to bed is because I like to look back across the day and write down everything that happened, or that I dealt with, and I'm more likely to remember it that night then I am the following morning.

Everything that's happening right now is the history of tomorrow.  Write encouragement and loving words for your future spouse to let him read after your wedding, or loving words for your children.

Keep your journal handy with its own special pen.  Write down what you've been learning though scripture, or what's been inspiring you lately, or your passions and hopes for the future.  Put pictures, pressed flowers, etc. throughout it as you go.  These are just some of the things that have helped me keep writing diligently in mine.  This is the record of your life, your personal story; make it your own and be creative! :)

Do any of y'all keep journals?  What are some of your reasons? 

Topknot Hair Tutorial / / Nature Walk

Hey y'all, Happy New Year!  I don't know about you, but where we are, it's been raining constantly for over a week and when we took these pictures was the first time we'd seen the sun in what seemed like forever!  So, we were so excited to get out and go on a nice long walk (and go hunting!).  This is basically the way I did my hair during all of those rainy days.  It also worked great for a practical updo during our long walk in the woods and it's so simple.

Topknot How To:

Lean all of your hair to one side (same direction as your natural part), lift it all straight up, then twist and pile loosely on top of your head. I fastened it with spin pins.  You can make the bun messy and loose or tighter by how tight or loose you twist it.

It was a gorgeous day and  Gavin was being such a good little guy.  I haven't posted many pictures of him in a while.  So, here are a few pictures of our cute, 7 month old (I can hardly believe he's already that old!), baby boy, Gavin all dressed up in his hunting clothes. :)

 He had fun riding around on his daddy, but finally fell fast asleep.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by!  How do y'all wear your hair on rainy days?  Or when hunting?  Or on long walks?  I hope your New Year is off to a great start!  Time flies by so fast, so be sure and take the time to stop, slow down, and appreciate the little things.