Critty Joy

Waiting and Good Things.

I must admit in a time of waiting it is hard on some days not to get discouraged.  I am working on actively waiting (taking small steps forward and trusting Him) but some days I get down and it's just one of those blah days.  There's now rhyme or reason to the blah days they just come and it's hard to see anything other than the hard things.

So to shake myself out of my blahs I have been thinking of things that are gifts to me.  Gifts of moments, of time, of beauty.  Things that remind you life is wonderful.

Gifts like....

Gmail chatting with a heart friend.

Skyping with another heart friend.

Friends that call you knowing you will listen and trusting you with their inner most thoughts and feelings.

Spring like days with the birds singing, the trees budding, daffodils and yellow belles blooming.  The gentle breeze blowing and the sun shining.  I sat and just reveled in it all.

Cooking.  It just makes me happy.

Creating.

Favorite television shows (hello netflixing Doctor Who for hours....I can't help it...David Tennant just makes me happy!)  and favorite books to re-read.

Discovering that my friend Kristen and I are literary sleuths.  Let's just say.... we are geniuses.  ;)

Favorite authors having new books!  (see...literary sleuth!)

A Friday day out with another heart friend.  (seriously...can you tell how blessed I am in the friendship department?!?!)

A lazy weekend ahead.

Jeans that are getting looser thanks to the daily time on the elliptical.

Fun plans for something coming soon!

Blank notebook pages waiting to be filled.

Seeing friends go after their dreams and callings.  It's a beautiful thing.

Two evenings spent with my favorite girl.  

When my favorite girl comes running to my arms...or when she says my name....Kisstee.  

And this.... her laughter.  (also if you listen closely you can hear her say come here...which is one of her favorite phrases!)

 

 

What are some gifts you were given this week?

 

Have a lovely weekend Peaches!

 

<3,

Simply Quotable.

There is something this year calling to my heart.... simplicity.  When I created my current blog design I only meant to use it for a week or two while I figured some things out...yet here we are almost 2 months later and it has stayed because the simplicity of it makes me happy.

I have been looking for a wallpaper for my macbook for over a week.  Nothing seemed to draw me in (is anyone else this picky about their desktop wallpaper?) and I was frustrated.  One of my dearest friends in one of her emails mentioned to me about a sticker she had on her macbook....it was simply a tangerine background with the words Today is the day. written in pretty white script.  Something about that struck me so I made a simple desktop wallpaper....and I had finally found one that made me happy.  ;)

I began to think about how I missed doing quotable wallpapers yet did not want to do the same ole thing.

I looked at the art I had created on my wall and decided I wanted to do some simple wallpapers.  A colored background with a focus on the words.

Simply Quotable was born.  :)

So today I share 3 wallpapers with you.  Please feel free to use them if you would like!   (Just click on the image to enlarge it and then save to your computer!)

The first two are inspired by song lyrics and my wall art:

And the last one? It is inspired by my sweet friend Kim and her blog post Rhapsody in Blue III.  :)  Her words and photos are inspiring!

 

What is a favorite simple phrase or lyric that makes you happy?

Insta-Fun.

I must admit to always having my iphone with me.  Sadly not really for the phone part but more for the texting/app part.  haha!

My favorite app is called Instagram.  It's an amazing photo app that you can choose different filters and automatically post to social media.

I use it often as it has been really helpful in my Project 365 :: Captured Moments.

So I thought it would be fun to show you a glimpse of my weekend through my instagram photos.  :)

 

 

I started the weekend with some blank canvases.

 

 

Prepped my canvases for color.  Grey is my most favorite right now.  And got messy.  I like that creativity can be messy!

 

 

After my canvases were ready I added words.  This is my word for this year.  :)  What word would you put on canvas?

 

 

I watched a LOT of this show... if you know what show and who that is...you are one of my favorite people.  ;)

 

 

Just when I thought she could not get any cuter?  She does.  Photo from a text message...

 

 

I made biscuit beignets.  Merciful heavens they were yum!  Easy to make and a fun unique snack.

 

Some of my words on canvas.... which became....

 

 

my word/lyric wall!  It is for inspiration and to remember the beauty of this life...and His love and grace.  I am so glad I get to see this every day.

 

 

My other little wall project.  I saw a piece of art with these lyrics on it on pinterest and could not resist creating it... a beautiful prayer in so many ways.  

 

And that was my weekend.... what did you do this weekend?

As of Late :: February 2012

<a href="http://www.crittyjoy.com/" _mce_href="http://www.crittyjoy.com/critty_joy/as-of-late.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n202/cmaemac/aol2012.png" _mce_src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n202/cmaemac/aol2012.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Welcome dear Peaches to this month's As of Late!  

For more information on As of Late and how to participate you can go here.

Just grab the button code above if you want to use the button in your post.

Let's get this party started!

 

Lately I have been praying for God to open doors for a part time job.   Or to open the doors for Nashville.

Lately Elijah and Elisha have been my my favorite Biblical fellows to learn about.  

Lately daring to move has been challenging...but I am taking that challenge!

Lately rediscovering letter writing has been fun.  Plus it's fun to receive "real" mail!

Lately being re-addicted to Doctor Who has made my evenings fascinating.  David Tennant is my favorite.

Lately Sass has been learning more and more words every day.  It's amazing to watch her grow.

And just for fun....a photo of my darling niece.  ;)

 

 

Lately I feel as if He is growing and stretching me in so many ways.  

Lately mornings (before 1 p.m.) have been computer free zones.  I am so enjoying the quiet.

Lately I have realized how blessed I am to have the dearest of heart friends.  

Lately hope has been easier.  

Lately I continue to be challenged by the messages from Crosspoint Church.  The internet campus on Sunday night rocks!  The current series is called Waiting on God and my heart needs it.  

 

And so I have been wondering...what has been going on with you as of late?

 

 

 

Seeing Beauty in Front of Us. :: Wisdom From Henri.

I am a fan of Henri Nouwen's writings.  When I read this yesterday...it spoke to my heart so and I wanted to share it with you Peaches.  Then I got to thinking... from time to time I might share wisdom from writers I enjoy... so today...

Wisdom from Henri on Seeing the Beauty and Goodness in Front of Us...

 

You can click on the image to make it larger for easier reading.

I hope you see beauty and goodness today.  

 

<3,

 

Don't forget about our As of Late monthly link-up tomorrow!  I so enjoy finding out what has been going on with you lately.  

Dare... To Move.

My one word for the year is dare.

It is a big scary word to me.  

It involves things such as risk and courage and fear.

And one thing I want to do this year is move.  Which I took as a physical move.... Oh how He likes to teach us :)

Over the last few weeks I have constantly had a song stuck in my head.

It's an old Switchfoot song called Dare You to Move.

 

 

That tension.  I have been feeling it so much.

He has been daring me to move in my life this year.  In more ways than I can imagine.

To take steps of faith.  Some big and some small.

You see I am comfortable sitting and waiting when something is scary.  I wait for that big sign He is going to give me when I am suppose to do something.  I wait for that big sign that never comes because our God does not do things that way very often.  I am learning that still small voice is how He most often chooses for us to hear Him.  The more I have thought about this the more I have realized I have missed some opportunities.  

Fear has a way of doing that.  Helping us miss moments and opportunities.

 I am tired of missed moments.  

I am tired of sitting in fear.  

So in my year of living life daringly I must put fear aside.  Take up the courage I know that is within me and move.

He has given me some of what this looks like and I am already moving in some of those areas...even though it is scary!

For the month of February I am really working on moving in some way every day.  

Each day it's a little different but 12 days in...I must admit excitement over-rules the fear.  

I had never thought of moving in so many different ways.  

I am already learning daring to move means putting a lot of faith and trust in Him.  

Now I have a daily reminder to live life daringly...

 

 

Dare.

It's so much more than I thought it would be.

I would not have it any other way..because in the daring and the moving...I get to know Him deeper.

 

How are you getting to know Him deeper this year?

 

 

Joining with Jen and the SDG sisterhood.

Don't forget As of Late is Thursday :)

Memorization and Accountability.

As I mentioned in my finish year January update post I am not doing so well with my scripture memorization without the accountability aspect!

After doing the Siesta Scripture Memory Team last year I realized doing 2 verses a month was very doable...even for someone who is not good a memorizing.  I am also realizing that having to comment twice a month with my verse was great accountability because I did not want to miss even one time!

Several of you mentioned you were interested in doing some accountability.

So I thought I would ask those of you interested to comment here and with any ideas on maybe how we could do it as a group.  (Please make sure that you leave an email address with your comment!  That way I will have all the information in one place.)

Emails could get a little crazy but it's an idea.  Or we could have a blog.  Or a FB page but some of you might not be on FB.  Or I could host a Memorization Monday twice a month where we post our verses in the comments.  

I would really appreciate the accountability aspect with as many of you that want to join... and I would adore your ideas for how we could do this.

I will be in the comments today discussing ideas with y'all!

Breakfast on the Beach :: Talk21's Launch!

Y'all.

I am over the moon excited.

Some of you met my delightful and dear friend Kristen last week when she shared part of her story and some of you already knew her.  She is special...no doubt! 

Today she launches her new ministry podcast!

The first series is called Breakfast on the Beach.

I must tell you I have already listened once and she made me cry...in a good way of course.  Tears of joy that my dear friend is encouraging others and teaching in her unique and beautiful way about our God and tears of wonder that the God we have is SO MUCH MORE that what we think.

 

So I encourage you to go listen!   You will hear her plans for the new ministry and the introduction to the series which is going to be excellent.

 

So scoot on over there... just click HERE and be blessed.

 

:)

 

Finish Year :: January 2012

I am working on my finish year goals and I decided that at the end of each month I would do a goal check-in with how I was doing.  This way I know at the end of each month I have to come here and put it out there how I am doing.  It's some good motivation.  ;)

I set 8 goals.  (read the original post)  Okay I do have 9 but one is a private goal for now.  

Goal 1:  Journal at least once a week.  I have done well in this.  It's been fun to get my thoughts on paper.  It helps me deal with things and see things more clearly at times.  I think I will really enjoy looking back to my journal later and to see what happened and what I was learning. 

 Goal 2:  Start and finish 1000 gifts.  I am using the iphone app and my journal to do this.  The app makes it really simple since I have my phone with me most of the time.  This has been challenging...especially on the hard days but looking for the simple beauty of this life.

Goal 3:  Read 150 books.  I adore books.  So reading is important to be.  I have a few subsets in this goal...such as reading 25 nonfiction, and reading 10 classics.  I do use goodreads to keep up with my progress and so far...15 books this year.  :)

Goal 4:  Finish C25K.  This goal has been modified slightly because of the doc's suggestion.  I will be using an elliptical most days to keep the pressure off of my joints.  I cannot wait for it to get here this weekend so I can get started!  (this is another thing that goes with my bigger goal of move!)

Goal 5:  Finish Rosetta stone French.  Okay I did not do well with this one in January but I went back over the weekend and redid the first two lessons.  I am going to try to do a lesson a week and then the last week of the month review.  

Goal 6:  Memorize 2 verses each month.  Yeah.  Another that did not go well.  Sigh.  I do think I need some accountability here.  Anyone else want to have a little memorization club?  We could email or something each month with our verses.  ;)

Goal 7:  Be more intentional in my friendships.  I have a small group of ladies that are friends of my heart.  I really wanted to invest more into them this year.  If they live near me that has meant visiting and seeing them face to face as often as I can.  So far I have seen at least one friend face to face each week.  I also text with them (those that enjoy texting!) on an almost daily basis...even if it's just a hello or a thinking of you or a love you!  This has been such fun. 

I do want to do more skype stuff with the gals that live farther away and I need to get more intentional about that.  And my prayer is face to face with those gals this year.  

Goal 8:  Move.  Okay so I thought this goal would just be about moving to a different city.  Yeah.  It's more than that.  It's about moving in my life.  The lyrics to the song Dare you to Move have been stuck in my head for weeks.  I have a tendency to sit and wait on certain things.  I have realized that I need to be more intentional in moving in areas of my life.  Not only physically but emotionally too.  I did a few things in January (that I am keeping private for the most part) that require me to move.  I am learning that faltering steps are better than no steps at all.  This actually would make a good blog post about daring to move. 

 

Did you make some goals for 2012?   How are you doing with them?

Strange Confessions.

So. 

I have been wanting to tell y'all about this.

I am calling it my strange confession.  ;)  Because I am sure some people are going to find it odd.  haha!

 

Because of some health issues my face looks horrible.  Constant breakouts... scars...dry and oily... just gross.  I hated looking at my skin in the mirror.  

I tried every product I could think of from the expensive stuff to the natural stuff and one night I came across something called...

The oil cleansing method.

Yes.  You cleanse your face with oil.

Castor oil to be exact.  (you add other oils too.)

I decided to share about it here because some of you may be looking for something to help your skin like I was....plus hey... this is a safe place for strange confessions!

 

I was skeptical.  But I decided to try it.

After reading this post... I found this post... and then this post which explains it the best in my opinion.

I liked how she talked about it being relaxing.

So I got everything I needed.

I decided to just use the castor oil and olive oil.

I found a little bottle at walmart where I found the castor oil and olive oil.  I also bought 8 cheap washcloths one for each night of the week and an extra.

I made a mixture of the castor oil and olive oil in my little squeeze bottle... I did half of each.

Here is what I do every night:

I shake the oil and pour a good bit out into my hand.

I start with my face dry and rub the oil in all over my face and neck.  I then massage the oil into my skin for several minutes.  I also do some deep breathing exercises because I do it about 20 minutes before bed and it helps me relax. Truthfully it feels really good!  

Then I take a washcloth soaked in hot water then wrung out and steam my face.  I do this three times.  

Then I massage my face for another minute or so then I rinse with very warm water.

Then I splash cold water on my face to close my pores.

I then take just one dot of the oil mixture and massage it onto my still wet face.

 

The first time I did it I felt odd...but my skin was so soft after it dried!  

The next morning I woke up and my skin was just a bit brighter and still just as soft.

For a month and a half I have used this method nightly and my skin is looking so much better!

Plus the combination of the dry and oily skin is gone!

It took about 2 weeks for my skin to adjust but now... very minimal break-outs with glowing soft skin.  This is the best my skin has look in a long time.  

I am feeling more confident and don't have to wear make-up every day.  

It's funny how something so simple really helped! 

 

So I shared my strange confession... now it's your turn...

What is your strange confession?  ;)