Coconut Flour Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Cooking with coconut flour is still a relatively new thing for me. My first few attempts were complete disasters. I had a cook book that was written very early in the grain-free movement and Lord bless, things have come a long way since then! There are countless resources to find really yummy recipes made with coconut flour now, and this recipe was a happy and welcome find. I really like it because, I don’t know if y’all have noticed, but most coconut flour-based recipes call for like a dozen eggs…Good grief! If I had a herd of chickens in my backyard, maybe that wouldn’t be a big deal, but I don’t, so the fact that this recipe only calls for 2 eggs was great! They also have a really great texture, which I have found is really tough to accomplish with coconut flour. Some of my failed attempts have come out either hard and dry, or kind of a gooey, mush, mealy consistency. Ew! These however, I actually made to celebrate my birthday last night. I didn’t want to have the temptation of a birthday cake sitting around the house, because I know I won’t stay out of it. The beauty of this recipe is that it doesn’t feel like a compromise, they are actually quite decadent! I added a hand full of chocolate chips to make them feel more celebratory for my birthday, and less like breakfast. And as we all know, a muffin is just a cupcake without the frosting, so if you wanted to make these for a party, you could just add some cream cheese frosting sweetened with raw honey or maple syrup.

Let me just say, this is also an ingenious way to get veggies in your kids. I have a couple of family members…who will remain nameless…who gag at the sight of any organic matter that has undergone photosynthesis or which produces chlorophyll in any form. Talk about frustrating, but honestly, they can see the little flecks of green in these things AND YET they STILL GOBBLE them up. VICTORY!!!!!!

The original recipe I found is from a blog called PaleOMG. Here is a link if you want to check it out. http://paleomg.com/moist-chocolate-zucchini-bread/

She has a print option and I actually have this recipe hung on my fridge. It has become a standby for make-ahead breakfasts and snack options. I even doubled the recipe last night and they turned out delish! Enjoy!

(BTW, this is not a difficult recipe. Everything is thrown in a bowl and mixed together, so you don’t have to worry about mixing wet ingredients in one bowl, dry in another…ain’t nobody got time fa’ dat! The hardest part is squeezing all the water out of the shredded zucchini, but think of it as an opportunity to get all your aggression and stress out.)

Ingredients

• 1 medium zucchini, shredded (equal to 1.5 cups shredded zucchini…for a double recipe, I ended up using 4 small(ish) zucchinis)
• 2 eggs, whisked
• ¾ peanut butter (she calls for sunbutter, but just use whatever your allergies/sensitivities…or wallet allows.)
• ⅓ cup raw honey
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons coconut flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
2. Shred zucchini with a box  grater or use the chopping attachment on your food processor.
3. Squeeze water from shredded zucchini…I placed mine in a tea towel, folded both long sides of the towel over the middle, then twisted both ends. Don’t be bashful…the more water you get out, the better.
4. Place zucchini in a bowl with all the rest of your ingredients and combine with a hand mixer.
5. I have found the easiest way to make muffins is to get an ice cream scoop with one of those wind-shield wiper type gadgets (for lack of a better description….) to fill each cup with the batter.
6. I baked these muffins for around 20 minutes, checking them at 15. It seems like everyone’s oven cooks differently, so just check with a toothpick to make sure they’re not gooey on the inside.

ENJOY!!!!

Primal(ish…) Fudge

I am always a little leery of food trends because it seems they are as fickle as the catwalk in terms of staying power. The latest frenzy has definitely been the primal/paleo movement. Let me just say, I am not a primal nor a paleo person. There are certain aspects that I think are good and beneficial, but I am not a ‘disciple’ of either. However, I am not above cherry picking some of the lovely recipes from this latest food fad, this fudge being one delectable example.

I happened upon this recipe from Practical Paleo via Pinterest and oh my goodness, what a discovery! I have such a terrible sweet tooth. It has been a real challenge for me to overcome because I know sugar is a nemesis to any form of weight loss or vibrant health, but it often beckons to me like a saccharine siren seductress…

The beautiful thing about this recipe is that it is sweetened with raw honey, which is rich in natural enzymes that are easily broken down. It is also very beneficial in building the body’s immunity to allergens so, if you are able, it is best to get local honey. It also is delightfully helpful in that the main component of this recipe is coconut oil. This might come as a surprise to some who have spent years avoiding fat like the plague, though I feel like there is somewhat a turning of the tide among the nutritionally aware, that there are great benefits to be gained from healthy fats. You might not have realized though, that coconut oil is among the healthiest of fats. I think that it has had a bad reputation in the past because some scientist in some lab decided to categorize it as a trans fat. I would encourage any of you who might be a little dubious, to do some reading on the topic. I highly recommend anything written by Bruce Fife…the guy is the international poster boy for anything involving coconut. He has written several books on the benefits of coconut including The Coconut Cure. It’s an easy read and gives detailed descriptions of the molecular structure of coconut oil and explains how it is beneficial to the body.

I also recommend reading Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. She is the founder of the Weston A. Price Foundation and is a champion for traditional ways of eating. She is also co-author of Eat Fat, Lose Fat along with Mary Enig. Mary Enig is a world renowned authority on fats and has dedicated her life’s work to researching the effects of fats in our diet. Her work is an excellent resource to discern which fats are good for the body and which ones have seriously damaging effects.

I just want to say, don’t be overwhelmed. This seems like a lot of information just to introduce a recipe, but I often tell people, a really good first step toward natural eating is to take a look at the fats in your diet. If you use margarine, switch to real butter. Nature always wins over a chemistry lab, in my humble opinion…So, that is a great first step! You can do this! =)

Primal(ish) Fudge:

1 Cup Coconut Oil (Make sure you use unrefined.)

1 Cup Cocoa Powder

1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter

1/4 Cup Raw Honey (or raw Maple Syrup)

1 teaspoon Vanilla

(I put -ish in the title because I’m not sure if peanut butter is allowed in primal foods, but I didn’t want to pay $7.00 for 8 oz. of Almond Butter…)

Gather your ingredients.

I am SO grateful to have a sweet friend who happens to sell honey harvested by her husband! If you can’t get local raw honey though, it’s fine! Just use what you have!

MAKE SURE you melt your coconut oil LOW and SLOW! Heat kills all the good stuff, so be patient!

Use a mesh strainer to sift in your cocoa powder to avoid any clumps.

Shake in a little at a time.

Mix well.

It should be really smooth, with no clumps.

In another bowl, add your honey to the peanut butter.

Now add the Vanilla.

Bring out the ‘power tools.’

Mix in the cocoa powder/coconut oil mixture slowly.

Time to fill the cups!

Fill each muffin tin liner with the chocolate mixture.

Place in the freezer for at least 15-20 minutes. Coconut oil solidifies when the temperature exceeds 76 degrees, so this part won’t take long.

When you get tired of fiddle-farting around (pardon my French) with those tiny muffin tins, pull out the big guys.

Add some extra’s! My son requested banana.

Give it a double punch of coconut !

Finish filling your tins and place in the freezer.

Here is the finished product. Make sure you store them in a tightly sealed container in the fridge, or the freezer.

Enjoy!

A Princess Evening

Growing up in a household of seven…on one income…meant that going out to eat was very special–and very rare. I mean, even a fast food joint was a treat. I remember going to Taco Bell in Wapakoneta after church and being thrilled about those 2 soft shelled tacos and free refills at the soda fountain. Sometimes we would go to the McDonald’s at Indian Lake and eat outside on the boat dock. We would feed some of our precious french fries to the massive Carp that were lazily swimming in the channel behind the restaurant. What a thrill to watch the boats glide by and enjoy food that someone else prepared, bought and paid for in an instantly gratifying exchange.  On the very rare occasion in which we were able to go to a sit-down restaurant with an actual menu, we were all well versed in the understanding that our choices were only among the cheapest items. I had never ordered a steak…or eaten a steak, that I can remember…until after I was married.  I remember feeling that it was super indulgent to do so for the first time. I was tinged with guilt at such extravagance, but oh, what a treat!

Since those days, my sisters and I have started a tradition…a Princess Evening tradition. But in order to fully understand how priceless these evenings are, it helps to know where we have come from. If anything, our humble beginnings have made this tradition all the sweeter. So what is a Princess Evening? 

A Princess Evening is our chance to be Cinderella on her way to the Grand Ball at the Palace. We dress up and celebrate our beauty. We pay extra attention to hair and makeup and we pull out all the gawdy jewelry and all the stops. We try to make it a really special occasion…and we go to a really nice restaurant where the food is over the top and the atmosphere is fun and sets the tone for celebration. We order appetizers and whatever entre we want, and if we’re feeling especially celebratory, we share a dessert. But most of all, we just drink in the time together and enjoy each other’s company. We talk and laugh, and I must confess, we are probably way too loud. It has all the makings of incandescence. It is simply magical. Shauna Neiquist said once, that tables are sacred spaces, and I truly believe that. Some of my absolutely fondest memories have centered around a table with food and my dearest friends and family.

If going to a swanky restaurant isn’t in the cards for you, do not despair! Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life that you may LIVE!! (emphasis added…) There are any number of ways to lose hope in a given day, Lord knows. But I am telling you, hope is always there, standing on the cusp, waiting for you to FIGHT. FOR. JOY. Sometimes you just have to carve out the time and effort and CHOOSE to celebrate, even in spite of your circumstances. Put a table cloth on your table, light candles, put on some yummy music, invite your dearest friends over and celebrate life! Wear something that makes you feel beautiful!  Wear a red dress, or that Little Black Dress that has been neglected. Cook something delicious, but make sure it is something easy. Simple food is always the tastiest. Especially when prepared with love. Take time to cultivate your inner princess and inspire your loved ones to do the same. You are WORTHY and Abba Father delights in your JOY! Indeed, you were created to be a part of His joy! His joy is made complete in us through Christ Jesus and the invitation is always open.  Believe it…and JOIN IN!!!! ~Shanna

 

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Frugal Storage Solution!

I wonder if there is another word in the English language that excites a girl’s heart like the word, “storage”…well, maybe the word “chocolate”…haha! You get the idea though, we are all suckers for storage. Think of how a woman responds to a walk-in closet. Be still my heart! When we were house hunting two years ago, we toured a house that had a butler’s pantry off the kitchen and, I’m not gonna lie, I could have bought the whole house on that one merit. Never mind the rest of the house was in major need of some work…it had a butler’s pantry! Ah! Thankfully, God had other plans, and although this house has great closets in all of the bedrooms, we have had to come up with some furniture pieces to provide storage solutions elsewhere. I have an old TV cabinet that has a new life as a pantry in my kitchen, and I have a dresser that is now a media cabinet in our living room. For some reason, the drawers of the dresser were always coming off the tracks and there were several times when the drawers seemingly jumped out and became a safety hazard for our little ones. So, we took out the drawers and my husband installed shelves and painted the inside black. This allows all those ugly media components to blend into the background. It was a great solution that has worked well for us. I told my husband to hold on to those drawers because I was sure I could come up with some DIY project for them. I had them stacked in a corner for a long time and my husband staked claim to them to store his tools. However, he has recently been forced to relocate as I have finally found a new purpose for them.

Recently, we embarked on a new adventure. We started homeschooling. It’s still crazy to think about, especially considering we just dropped this little bombshell of an idea–both on ourselves and our children–right in the middle of the school year. There was not a huge amount of time to prepare and I found myself in desperate need of some storage solutions in our sun-room-turned-classroom. Here is where those old drawers came on to the scene. They have been given a new lease on life as a book shelf for all of our home school books and supplies! It became a really cool project for the boys, and we all worked together to complete it. We took out all the hardware, stacked them one on top of  the other, and screwed them all snugly together. I paid $3 and some change for a 1x3x8 piece of pine, and the boys cut them into pieces to place in the front of the drawer to hold in the books. They had so much fun doing this and they are learning how to be handy. You’re welcome, future daughters-in-law! Haha! I hope you enjoy this little project! God bless! ~Shanna

Your Beauty is Now

Art class my junior year.

Riding the bus for summer gym. Ha!

Striking a pose!

National Honor Society award ceremony.

Dinner with friends my senior year.

A recent photo of me at my birthday dinner.

 

 

Over the years, a little file of school photos that I took from my student ID file my senior year, has moved from one USB stick to another, to my parent’s PC and eventually, the file has ended up on my portable hard drive. I haven’t opened my hard drive for quite a while, but just the other night I was sifting through it looking for something specific, and low and behold, there sits the file of old school photos. I opened the file and literally saw the photos of myself with new eyes. It hit me like a ton of bricks. There was this pretty young lady with long wavy brown hair and a pretty smile. She looked happy! Alive! Comfortable in her own skin. She was in shape, she was vibrant, she was fun. My mind immediately traveled back in time to how I thought of myself back then. I hated my teeth and thought I had a cheesy smile. I thought I was fat because I was one of the tallest girls in class and didn’t wear a size 0. I thought my hair was scraggly and plain. Yes, I definitely did a great job hiding my lack of self-worth at all times. As my friend Sarah describes it, “You gotta fake it till you make it!” And that’s just what I did. I faked it till I made it. Why could I not see my charisma and my beauty then? I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of regret that I had not realized those things. I regretted not realizing that I was beautiful.

Fast forward three nights and I am in the process of trying to find something to wear to my company Christmas party. Why didn’t I go shopping to find something festive to wear?! I scrounged and dug, I threw every dress and pair of dress pants out of my closet trying my hardest to find something nice enough for a semi-formal Christmas party. I didn’t think I wanted to wear a dress, but I thought I would try a few on just in case. This one was a little too tight, and so was the next one and the next one after that. What in the world?! I know it’s been a while, but two or three years ago these dresses fit like a glove! Then I try on a pair of dress pants….nope, those are a little too tight as well, and so is the next pair. Words cannot describe my disappointment in that moment. I literally could not believe my eyes. What happened? I have been trying so hard. I was on the precipice of giving up on the whole evening when I just decided to invite Jesus into the entire situation. I just started praying that I would not lose heart and that I would embrace who I am. Suddenly He spoke to me in a very quiet thought, “You’re beauty is now, Sierra. It’s not sometime in the future. It’s now.” I suddenly realized that I was doing just what I had done in high school- losing sight of my beauty in a way that I would only regret. Soon I found something pretty to wear, put on my makeup and curled my hair. And you know what? I looked beautiful. Thanks, Jesus.

We cannot love our neighbors as we love ourselves if we have no love for ourselves. God has made woman to bare His image in her tenderness, mercy and beauty. We cannot bare His image if we believe we have no beauty to offer. Embrace who you are right now, ladies. Your beauty is now.

Be blessed!
-Sierra

When Jesus Speaks Through Classic Rock From the 70’s

In my last (brief) blog post, I mentioned that my sisters and I have been going through a season of “Life Boot Camp”. I keep thinking of how the heart experiences growing pains far more intensely than the growing limbs of the days of our youth. Learning to trust Jesus to be your strength in the places of your weakness, to provide what you do not have, to build those characteristics inside of you that you never thought you could possess…these are the places where he does battle for us. It is also where he expects us to step out in faith to participate in the process. This has been a difficult revelation for me at times. I have had to learn to let go of the “genie-in-the-bottle-Jesus” that I thought existed, which all the time was an allusion. Growing in faith or grace or maturity in Christ always requires something of us. It requires stepping out of your comfort zone, doing hard things, going to work and persevering until the results Jesus has intended for you have been accomplished. The key, of course, is Christ Jesus IN ME! Not by my strength, but by HIS. I won’t grow or become more holy by scratching and clawing my way to holiness, no matter how hard I try.

One stumbling block I have encountered is the fact that I struggle with being a weird kind of perfectionist. Either I have to do things in a very specific way, or they simply do not get done. For example: I don’t make my bed every day….like ever, really. But on the rare occasion that I get the notion to make my bed, it will take me approximately 30 minutes to do so…and it will in fact, be done immaculately.

I also struggle very heavily with the Spirit of Overwhelm. Believe me when I say that it really does not take much to rock my world and I find myself on the precipice of panic in a complete state of overwhelm.

Combine these “fun” personality traits and just imagine how they handle “Life Boot Camp”….not too swell, as you can imagine.

So here is where I found myself a few weeks ago…overwhelmed, fearful, exhausted by life’s demands, facing decisions to be made that seemed too vast for me to handle.

Enter random classic 70’s Rock.

“Just Remember I Love You” by Firefall.

This is what Jesus gave me. This song was in my head all day long. It was so random. It came out of nowhere…and I almost missed the larger story at work within the melody.

Dallas Willard explains that God is at work within a “Divine Conspiracy” in the lives of human beings. It’s a covert operation that we often miss because we are too absorbed with just getting by in life to notice. But, if-through the help and training of Jesus-we have the presence of mind to catch a glimpse of it, here is where we participate in the divine nature of our Father. Here in these tender, deeply personal moments is where we witness him at work. Would Jesus really use a song from 1977 by Firefall to speak to me? Yes, he did…and it was so. very. comforting.

Obviously my circumstances were not an exact match to the lyrics of the song, but I think the overall message is that things do get rough. Times get hard or lonely, confusing, painful, etc. in the verses, but then comes the sweet words of the chorus: “Just remember I love you, and it’ll be alright, just remember I love you, more than I can say.”As women, don’t we just need someone to love on us every now and again and to hear those words: “I love you. Everything is going to be alright.” Do you ever feel that way?

This was just what I needed to hear. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for caring about the minutia of our lives. Thank you for sending subtle, loving messages to each of us, catering to our unique desires and needs. That song might not have meant anything to anyone else, but it spoke exactly to what I needed to hear.

I love you Jesus! I praise you because you are worthy!

For some additional words of comfort, which were also a sweet kiss sent to me by my Jesus:

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3

Check out this song. You might just be surprised by how comforting it is. 😉

God Bless! ~Shanna

 

Random Musings….

So, it’s been quite some time since Starla, Sierra or myself has posted anything here lately. Admittedly, we have never been the types to pump out loads of blog posts to begin with. I would like to think that our motivation is quality over quantity…but even more so, that our writing would reflect the natural movement of our lives, our learning, growing and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

So why the recent drought? I will risk going out on a limb to speak on behalf of my beloved sisters and say that perhaps we have all been in the throws of boot camp….Life boot camp.

I believe we all have a heart to grow in our faith and maturity and sometimes when you are up to your eyeballs in that process, the last thing on your mind is to stop and write about it….though, perhaps that is exactly what we should do, because herein lies the heart of this blog. Our desire is to share in our growth and inspire others in their own journeys, and I have always felt that inspiration is contagious. Just get a group of ladies together, sharing stories and watch as excitement/encouragement spreads throughout the room.

There is also the reality in which we live where growth and beauty and all that is lovely and good is deeply opposed by the Enemy, the one who roams the earth seeking out whom he may destroy. So this is me, touching base with anyone who has happened upon this blog in the past, letting you know that we are still here. We still have a heart for beauty and fashion, cooking yummy food and sharing that with friends and family, creating beauty in our homes and sharing life lessons within an attainable budget and real life circumstances. More to come soon! God bless!!!!

~Shanna

Pack~Ratting With a Purpose…

When I first dreamed up the title for this blog, I was going to call it “Channeling the Inner Pack Rat”…but I think that most of us have no trouble channeling our inner pack rat…in fact, if you are anything like me, you spend most of your time and energy suppressing that old rat! Ha! I come from a long line of pack rats…it’s written into my DNA. We are experts when it comes to looking at random items and coming up with infinite possibilities for its usefulness. It’s a talent, really. Not everyone can tap into that level of creativity….

Now, I’m not saying that we should all start hoarding like crazy, but I have one word for you to consider: PINTEREST. Ah, yes, Pinterest has justified many an other wise useless collection of odds and ends. For crying out loud, there are hundreds of pins displaying toilet-paper-roll artwork…and it totally looks legit! Ok, so in all seriousness, I believe that there is definitely something to feng shui and a lot of pointless clutter in your home will certainly clutter your mind and cloud your judgement. At the core of every pack rat is a real issue of poverty mentality. My sister, Starla wrote a really good blog about poverty mentality that is definitely worth reading. You can check that out here:

What is Poverty? Really?

So here’s my confessional: I have narrowed down the weird things that are difficult for me to let go of…boxes. Shoe boxes…any kind of boxes. I know, totally weird, right? But man, I fight it when it comes to boxes. Think of the endless craft projects that start with a humble little box! Another serious weakness I have  is…glass. Anyone who has any kind of packrat sensibilities should never, ever have to pay for glass–well, at least not outright. Here is where we will find the focus of this blog…in the wonderful world of free and/or recycled glass. I found my inspiration for endless crafting projects with glass here at marthastewart.com (http://www.marthastewart.com/268444/bottle-beauty) I absolutely fell in love with the beautiful colors and shapes of these re-purposed bottles.

So, for the last several months I have been collecting jelly jars. Why throw them out when I can recycle them and make something beautiful and useful out of them? Here is the key to being a successful pack rat with a purpose…not a crazy cluttered candidate for the tv show”Hoarders”:

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” ~William Morris

If you start collecting ANYTHING, make SURE you have a specific purpose in mind for it or it will just become clutter…which will just end up being a burden rather than a blessing. So, obviously, I had to pay for the jelly, so I bought jelly that happened to be in lovely shaped jars…and it was free of high fructose-corn syrup, imported from Europe and sold at a discount price at Big Lots. =)  And now, instead of adding them to a landfill, they will be little sculptural pops of beauty and color!

So, what now? Well, I love the art of setting a table. In truth, I rarely get the chance to do it, though I love it so much. It seems a little overly-done and fussy for my household of guys. However, on special occasions, I love to make the table a feature of beauty and celebration. Now I will have my recycled jelly jars to place tea lights in, or to use as bud vases. I have some of them displayed in my china cabinet. Use your imagination! Parties! Baby showers! Wedding receptions! You name it. Recycled glass objects really do have a world of opportunities for usefulness.

Here are some more tips for successful, purposeful pack-ratting:

*A PLAN! Do not just randomly collect junk…have a PURPOSE. Have a PLAN.

*Location, location, location! Have a specific place to store your treasures. Don’t let it take over your house! Out of sight and out of mind is essential. As you collect new treasures, get rid of others that have outlived their usefulness.

*Shopping Savvy: check out buy-out stores like Big Lots (or Odd Lots) for bargains on  jellies, vinegars, oils…anything you NEED for your pantry. Buying staples in containers with dual purpose gives you that much more bang for your buck. Look for containers with interesting shapes and varying heights.

*Collecting Savvy: you can often find bottles for FREE from coffee houses, bars, restaurants, etc. Ask around and often, they will save a few empty bottles for you and give them to you for free. I’m not much of a drinker, but I love so many of the colors/shapes of liquor bottles…people go crazy for the cobalt blue bottles and shades of green. And don’t forget, with a little glass paint, you can have just about any color your heart desires.

*GOO GONE…yes, you read that right. It is an orange oil based product that helps to remove stickers from glass, or any other surface, for that matter. I honestly would have nothing to do with this project without it. There is another product called “Goof Off” which also would probably work well. They also remove paint–even from carpet– which we have discovered to be very useful during renovation projects.

*Creativity: As always, creativity is a must. I am amazed by the creativity of so many people on Pinterest. If you are not the ‘crafty’ type, it is an endless source of inspiration. Copy a project from Pinterest, use your glass treasures as you find them, or paint a series of them in an ombre effect. Most of all, just have fun! God bless!!!! ~Shanna

Favorite Summer Looks

Sherbet Green jean shorts- Tommy Hilfiger, TJ Maxx, on sale for $12.99 White and snake skin sandals, Rampage, TJ Maxx, $24.99

Add an elegant and simple sock bun to top off your look!

Sleeveless chambray button down shirt with ruffles- TJ Maxx, $8.99 Kelly Green Jeans- Wal-Mart, on sale for $6.99

Blue sleeveless top with metal embellishments- TJ Maxx, $9.99. Dressy cuffed blue jean shorts- TJ Maxx, $12.99.

Add a printed clutch for some contrast! Blue and white printed clutch with wooden clasp: Goodwill, $3.99

White button down shirt- TJ Maxx, $13.00. Floral jeans, Wal-Mart, on sale for $12.99

Like every season, summer comes around and we we have to think about how our current wardrobe can accommodate the current trends…..Sometimes things work from the years before and sometimes they don’t. Going shopping in preparation for a new season can be daunting for a couple of reasons, including but not limited to: How much is this going to cost me? And do this seasons trends flatter my body type? Some people may not have many issues with the latter, but both issues are something that I personally have to take into consideration. I love to shop, but I really prefer to buy things on sale, or at outlet prices (I will make exceptions for shoes). But when you limit yourself to a budget, you also have to consider that things in your sizes and favorite cuts may be limited. That is always a fun challenge for me- it teaches me to get creative. Now, I am 5’7″ and a size twelve, I have long legs and a waist that is only moderately trim, I’ve got some junk in the trunk and strong arms, so I have to take all of these factors into consideration while shopping. Several things really caught my eye this year, which I found a way to pull off with my particular body type. I really enjoyed the button-up shirts buttoned all the way to the top, the floral and solid colored jeans, the edgy metal embellished shoes and shirt pockets, the sherbet colors, the gold jewelry, the chambray shirts and the mixture of different patterns. Over all, I really just appreciated the mix of classical clean lines with a bit of an edge.

Attached here are some photos of some pieces from my wardrobe that I really liked this year, along with where I got the clothing and how much I spent. I hope this inspires you to find great deals and really put yourself out there to be trendy- not matter what shape or size, and no matter what season!

Be blessed!

-Sierra

Pinterest Project: Jewelry Frame

I remember not so long ago asking someone, what the heck is Pinterest?? Haha!!! I tend to be really behind the times, but who can keep up with technology??? By the time I finally get MySpace and Facebook figured out, everyone has moved on to Twitter and Instagram. In truth, my personality will just not allow me to keep up with all the latest and greatest technology has to offer because I am way too easily overwhelmed. It took me forever to finally break down and make my own Pin Board on Pinterest because not only am I easily overwhelmed, I am also extremely easily distracted. I didn’t want to start the whole Pinterest thing and end up with yet another addiction and/or distraction in my life. Thankfully, one of the fruits of the Spirit is self control! Yay! I am learning to partake of the vast and endless beauty and creativity that Pinterest has to offer without allowing it to take over my life. Balance is a beautiful thing and is indeed attainable through the help of Jesus. Good stuff! =)

One thing that I have noticed about Pinterest is that so many people have boards full of recipes they never cook, diet and exercise plans they never use, and crafts they never follow through and create. It is so easy to live out our dreams in cyber space…but how often do we give those dreams legs?? I have a craft board. I have tried to keep it to a minimun and only post projects that I can and will create. So far, I think all of the ones I have pinned are attainable, doable, and affordable. Yay! Creative inspiration AND incentive to follow through!

My first project inspired by Pinterest was a Mid-Century Modern mirror made of wood shims. You can check that out here:

Decorating on the Cheap: Mid-Century Modern Mirror

Here is my latest project…a jewelry frame! I love how it’s both a practical storage solution for jewelry with the added benefit of being a stunning piece of mixed media artwork to adorn your wall! I know that there are tons of these on Pinterest, so it’s not like this is ground breaking stuff, but hopefully this blog will serve more as an inspiration for you to put some legs on your dreams and Pin Boards. Happy creating! God bless! ~Shanna