Christa Taylor - White Coat Dress

Cute and modest. To most women those words go together like mustard and watermelon! But Christa Taylor has proven that your curves can be covered and you still look great!

Christa Taylor - Swingy Tunic

Christa Taylor has designed fashion forward clothing that is still modest and affordable. Not only are you supporting a woman in business, but 5% of your purchase rescues and shelters widows and orphans in Cambodia. Now that’s something I can get excited about!

Christa Taylor - Babydoll Jacket

Get ready for the Modesty Carnival on February 2nd (see the details at Empowered Traditionalist)!

Have you noticed that whenever you get together with a friend that all your stress seems to vanish?  I don’t know about you, but there’s just something about visiting with a girlfriend that brightens my day!

I am married to the sweetest guy in the world, but it’s unfair to expect him to meet all my emotional needs. When you talk to your husband or boyfriend about something going wrong in your life, they usually think you want them to fix it. But, all you really want is some understanding or just some one to listen to you as you think out loud!

Most guys would freak out if we talked to them the same way we do our girlfriends. You know how we are: never taking a breath, jumping from one subject to the next in a nanosecond, and taking care of the kids– all at the same time!

I just want to encourage you to spend time with your girlfriends.  Get out of the house if you can, but even a phone call or email would be great!

Remember that by nurturing your friendships you are also nurturing yourself.

(By Laryssa Herbert – As published  on Blissfully Domestic)

As a mother with young children I don’t have a lot of time to get ready in the morning. But, that’s ok because I have a makeup routine that only takes me five minutes before I’m ready to head out the door.

Here’s all I do:

• Start with a moisturized face (Let your moisturizer soak in for a few minutes before applying makeup so your powder won’t cake up on your face.)
• Sweep on  a mineral foundation
• Put a mineral blush underneath my cheekbones
• Fill in my eyebrows a little (I’m blond)
• Sweep on some mineral eye liner
• Curl my lashes and add some mascara
• Put on some lipstick and I’m good to go!

I always feel so much better when I take a few minutes to take care of myself.  Try fixing up a little and see what it does for your day!
Take good care of yourself, you’re worth it!

(As seen on Blissfully Domesctic)

The Archeo Copper Bathtub

I promised that I’d give you more spa recipes in my last Works For Me Wednesday post, so here they are!

(Be sure to stop by Rocks In My Dryer for more tips by awesome women!)

There are few things as nice a sinking into a nice hot tub on a cold winter day. I like to use natural products and I work hard to keep my spending low, so homemade bath products are perfect for me!

Last week I told you about the bath salts I use, so this week I’ll share some favorites and some recipes I’d like to try.

Brown Sugar Scrub

1 cup almond meal or ground up oatmeal

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup of melted coconut oil, almond oil or light vegetable oil

Mix all the ingredients together and use about 1/4 cup every time you scrub. When you are in the shower just take a small handful of the mixture and add a little water to make a paste. Apply to wet skin and scrub gently. Rinse off and your skin will be soft and smooth! This scrub smells good enough to eat (and you could, but I don’t recommend it)!

Here are a few recipes that I’d like to try:

Bath Bombs

Milk and Honey Bath

Bedtime Bath

Come back tomorrow to find out about 5 minute makeup!

Head on over to Like A Warm Cup Of Coffee for proof that modest doesn’t have to mean frumpy!  Sarah Mae is hosting a modest fashion show!

Sorry for the bad pic! It was the best I had to work with.  This is what I wore to church last Sunday and no you don’t have to wear tights to be modest!  It was just cold and pantyhose sounded a bit drafty.  I feel rather “poofy” in this picture, but I’ve lost 15 pounds so far.  (I’m just trying not to get discouraged about how many still need to come off!)

Image from Coastal Living

Sunday night was one of the most relaxing nights I’ve had in a long time.  I went to a spa!  No…it’s not what you’re thinking.  I didn’t drive to the nearest pampering spot, I just walked into my bathroom!  (My sweet husband got my bath all ready for me!) We are working VERY hard to pay off all our debts, so a spa trip is not in the budget.  But,  I’m not the least bit upset.  Want to know my secret?  Well you’ll just have to come back tomorrow!

No… I wouldn’t do that to y’all!

Here’s spa recipe on the cheap:

Ultimate Relaxing and Skin Softening Bath Salts

(This is enough for two baths, but it’s great to double if you have something to store it in.)

2 Cups of Epsom Salts (you can find large bags of this at any big box store or drugstore)

1/2  Cup Baking Soda

5 Drops of any essential oil ( you can find these at any health food store or Whole Foods, they are very concentrated so don’t add more than a few drops)

Start your water running and pour in about 1 cup of your bath salts.  (Swish the water around while the tub is filling to dissolve the rest of the salts.) Light a few candles, put on some relaxing music and enjoy your spa bath that cost you less than a quarter!

Come back next Wednesday and I’ll share more budget friendly spa recipes!

Head on over to Rocks In My Dryer for more Works For Me Wednesday ideas.

(Melissa at The Inspired Room has a wonderful bathroom post to read.)

I’d like to tell you about a wonderful Etsy artist named Hannah.  (I go to church with Hannah and her mom Teresa; they are some of the sweetest gals I know.) She has just updated her Etsy shop with something very special–vintage button bracelets.

When I asked Hannah why she makes these bracelets she said,

“I love to make things, especially things that will be special to someone else. They are my great-grandmother’s (Mammy, as I called her) buttons.  Since she passed, my grandmother has a huge container full of her buttons that she let me use.  It is so special to my mom and the rest of our family to be able to wear something that was hers on our wrists.    I really enjoy making them and if someone would want a bracelet made with their heirloom buttons I would gladly do it.”

So, do you have any buttons from your family or children’s clothing you’d like to make into a memory bracelet? Just let Hannah know (contact her at her Etsy shop), she’s friendly and easy to work with.  I know that you will treasure what she creates especially for you!

Go say hi and check out Hannah’s new Etsy listings!

(You won’t want to miss the hilarious video coming tomorrow.  For those who have um..bladder control issues when laughing, you better be ready!)

I promised some frugal tips and so here is my find of the month.
Yall!   You’ll be so surprised to see what happened at to me at DSW.

Don’t be mad, you can find great deals too!

(I pray and ask the Lord to help me find great deals to use our money wisely.  He is always so faithful to help me!)

I had a $10 coupon DSW sent me.  (Sign up for a free membership to get coupons and other perks.)

So…time to buy some shoes!

This is what I found on the sale rack:

Do you see the $2.16 ?  That’s what I paid for a NEW pair of heels! I think this is the best deal I’ve ever found on shoes.  They almost paid me to take them home!  Whoo Hoo!  Happy, happy day!

What was your favorite bargain you found lately?  Do tell!

( P.S.  Be sure to stop by on Monday.  I have a great tutorial in the works!)

Most of the New Year resolutions being made this  year will sound something like this:

“I’m so mad at myself for eating all that_____during the holidays!  I’ve gained____pounds and look so fat!  From now on I’m eating only celery and drinking water!”

Come on girls!  Is that anyway to take care of ourselves?!

Right now I’m in the middle of slimming down and getting fit.  So, I know what you’re going through!  Sometimes my resolve melts just like mozzarella on a gooey cheese pizza!   (Can you tell what I’m NOT eating?)  :-p

Starving ourselves won’t make us look like we did 10 years ago. Unfortunately the only thing that will get us into the shape we want to be in is hard work.  There, I said it.  Hard work.

It isn’t fair that getting “poofy” is so easy.  But, just like the extra pounds came on one bite at a time, the flab will come off one bite at a time.   (Eating healthy food for your body and not eating the things that will make you gain weight.)

I eat pretty healthy foods, but my portion control button has been turned off.   Sigh….

I’ve started using a salad plate instead of a dinner plate to help me keep my portion sizes under control.  I’ve read that when you have filled up a smaller plate that you feel like you are still getting a lot of food.   I’ll just keep repeating that to myself… 

One step at a time…

Here’s to being fit and fine in 2009!

What are you working on this year, do tell!

Drum roll please…..Presenting today’s winner in the cutest haircut category….Laryssa from Heaven in the Home!!!

Ya’ll!  I’m so excited!!!  I think it turned out very well.  I shocked a few people at church.   Everyone seemed to like it. I’m just not used to all that attention!
This cut is not only cute, but will be easy to maintain.  Easy maintenance is a must, because I have small children and a very full schedule.
Thanks for joining in the fun of picking hairstyles in this post.  I guess you can tell I didn’t pick any of them.
My sweet Adam likes my hair longer, so this was a way we could both be happy.  And that is what marriage is all about!

See you tomorrow!