$35 CSN Winner!

Thank you for all your input! The majority of the votes went to this lovely little chair:
I'll have to admit... I was leaning toward this chair from the beginning. It's just so pretty and classic, but different at the same time. ♥!!!

So, who get's to spend $35 at the CSN store of their choice?

The winner is Nicole at Suddenly I See! Nicole said:

"I am now a follower - love your blog!
I would choose the Napoleon Farmhouse chair. The back legs of the chair reflect the legs of the table. It also has the same visual weight in reference to the table. And it's really unique and gorgeous. :)"

Thanks Nicole, and enjoy your prize! Please contact me with your email information. :)

Have a happy Tuesday everyone!~~

Sunday Reflections

"But it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
~1 Corinthians 2:9

Enjoy your Sunday~

A Chair Post... you heard me... and a GIVEAWAY!!!

***This giveaway is now closed***

About 7 months ago, I bought this table off Craigslist:

Isn't she loverly?

Well, I haven't put it in my kitchen for dining yet. It's just been sitting over at my parents house being stored. Why? you ask? No CHAIRS! My current kitchen table is a high top table with ENORMOUS bar stools. They simply will not do. :) I wanted to accent the table with some pretty black chairs and have yet to find them. They would have to be perfect...

That's when I remembered... CSN has a store dedicated strictly to dining sets and dining room chairs! But, here's the new problem... There are just sooo many to choose from!

Shall I go with a crossback chair?
Maybe Parson chairs (with a pretty black and white damask fabric)...
Perhaps this pretty ladderback chair?
This one is called a "Napoleon Farmhouse" chair...

Or a classic Windsor?

I just can't decide! So, here's the deal... I'm gonna give you a chance to win $35 to use at a CSN store of your choice! You have over 200 to choose from! Here's how to enter:

1. Help me out with my chair dilemma by leaving
a comment telling me which chair you
would choose and why.

2. For an extra entry: Become a follower and leave
me a comment telling me. If already are,
leave a comment telling me so!

*This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. (Sorry to
my continental friends...) International shipping rates may
apply to Canadian residents.*

I will close the giveaway Monday, October 26th at noon and announce the winner Monday night.

Good luck and have an awesome day!

Mmm...Monday... Pumpkin Love in a Bowl

I'm a little late getting into the spirit of fall, but the weather has finally cooled down over here (low 90's-high 80's...that's pretty good for AZ), and I'm finally feeling Autumn love! It's about time too, with Halloween around the corner and Thanksgiving peering around the bend!
Well, I have this passion for soups...and stews...and chowders. Pretty much anything hot you eat with a spoon from a bowl. It's ultimate comfort food. But, because it is fall and pumpkins are the star of the season, I wanted to share this delectable recipe with you! If you like all the tastiness of pumpkins, you will love this soup! I found it a few years ago, and I've made it every year since. I've been told it is like liquid Pumpkin Pie... I don't know if that speaks to you. Not being a pumpkin pie lover (it's about the ONLY thing pumpkin I don't like), it sounds weird to me, but *ANYHOO*--- It IS tasty! Try it for yourself and see!

I hope you enjoy it!Creamy Pumpkin Soup

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 small onion, chopped
1-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 teaspoon packed brown sugar
1 can (14.5 fl. oz.) chicken broth
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 can (15 oz.) pure pumpkin (not pie filling)
1 can (12 fl. oz.) evaporated milk
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and sugar; cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until soft. Add broth, water, salt and pepper; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Stir in pumpkin, evaporated milk and cinnamon. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. remove from heat.

Transfer mixture to a food processor or blender (in batches...careful...it's HOT!). If you have a hand blender...even better! Process until smooth. return to saucepan. Serve warm.
Yields: 5 servings

That's it! It's really easy, and it only takes about 25-30 minutes to make. Mmm!

Enjoy and have a splendorous day!

Linking up love here:

Sister Sister Sunday

Sunday Reflections

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
~Matthew 11:28-30

Wishing you a lovely Sunday~

Natural Beauty No. 1

....au naturale....

How I love it! I am constantly looking for natural remedies for ailments and recipes for beauty with what I have on hand in my refrigerator or pantry (and sometime the medicine cabinet).

So when I went through the "skin section" back in beauty school, and were learning about the different properties in foods and how to use them in facials and such, it was only natural that I was really excited to learn!

There are just sooo many ingredients that you can use! Far too many to list in just one post. I will be posting more in the future. :) So that being said, here are just a few of the foods and their properties that you can use from your own kitchen to help beautify your skin! This would be oodles of fun the next time you have a "Girls Night In"! Make it a spa party!

***Always use caution when using natural ingredients for preparing homemade beauty recipes. Do not not use ingredients that you may have an allergy to: i.e. nuts, strawberries, etc.***Oatmeal (not just for breakfast :)
Did you have chicken pox as a kid? Did your mom have you bathe in an oatmeal bath? Well, oats have soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. Oats are also highly absorptive, hypoallergenic, and help to soften the skin. It is high in amino acids, full of healthy lubricating fats, and has been clinically proven to help heal dry, itchy skin. Oats also have natural cleansers in them called saponins, that gently remove dirt and oils from the pores. How to use: Process in a food processor/blender and combine with a small amount of hot water to make a paste. Use as a mask over face and neck until mostly dry. Remove with a warm damp cloth. This also helps to exfoliate the skin. Good for all skin types.

Bananas
Got fine lines and wrinkles? Good news! The flesh of the banana can be used as an anti-wrinkle topical skin treatment and mashed banana is commonly used as a facial mask to brighten and tighten the skin as well as clear up acne. How to use: Mix 1/4 cup banana with honey and other antioxidant-rich fruits and apply as mask. Wipe off with a warm damp cloth.
Strawberries
Not just a tasty, tasty fruit! Strawberries are high in Vitamin C and contain polyphenols that have high antioxidant properties. How to use: Mix in your favorite natural mask (i.e. oatmeal or banana.)
Honey
Honey is used as an emollient in many cosmetics. Emollients are substance that soothe and soften the skin. How to use: Mix in with you favorite natural mask to use it to exfoliate the skin. How do you do that? Use your finger to dab a {very} small amount to your forhead, cheeks, nose, and chin. Using your middle and ring fingers, slowly tap and dab honey across face until it becomes tacky. continue to pull honey away from face. This removes dead skin. Pay special attention to areas where comedones (black heads) form: nose, chin, forehead. You will love the rosy glow after this one!

Soothing Oatmeal Mask

2 Tbs. Oatmeal
2 Tbs. Hot Water
1/2 Tbs. Honey
1 Tbs. Strawberry Puree

Process oatmeal into a powder. Stir in hot water and honey. Let stand 3 minutes and add strawberry puree. Let stand and additional 2 minutes.
Wash face with warm water and pat dry. Spread oatmeal mask onto face and leave on for 10 minutes. Wipe off with a warm damp cloth.


Anti-Wrinkle Banana Mask

1/2 Ripe Banana, mashed smooth (eat the other half :)
1/2 Tbs. Honey
1/2 tsp. Vitamin E Oil (or olive oil)
1/2 Tbs. Plain Yogurt
1 Egg White
2 Tbs. Oatmeal (powdered)

In a small bowl, whisk eggs white, then blend in yogurt and oil. Add mashed banana into bowl and blend. Lastly, add in oatmeal and let sit 3 minutes.
Wash face with warm water and pat dry. Spread a thin layer over face and let dry. Add another layer and let dry. Continue this step for 3-4 layers. Remove with a warm damp cloth.


Easy-Peasy Strawberry Anti-Acne Mask

1/4 c. Fresh Strawberries
1/4 c. Plain Yogurt

Mash up strawberries until it becomes a thick paste. Add yogurt. Spread onto clean face and neck. Leave for 10-15 minutes. remove with a warm damp cloth.

I hope you enjoy these recipes and feel free to experiment and play mad scientist with the ingredients! Make some recipes of your own!

Stay tuned for more amazing natural beauty ingredients and recipes!...

Have a beautiful day!

Linkup love:

Sunday Reflections

Artwork by Greg Olsen

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
~John 14:27

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest."
~Joshua 1:9

I've been feeling a little lost in direction as of late. There are a lot of things up in the air for me and my family, and sometimes I feel a bit afraid of what is in store for us. It's especially hard when I can't see what the future holds or the outcome of the choices we have to make.

I guess, sometimes, I just need to put things in a greater perspective. Sometimes life doesn't go the way we plan. If I put my faith in the Lord, everything will turn out in the end... even if it's not MY plan. When I exercise my faith in Him, I can draw upon that comfort and peace He offers.

May the Lord bless and comfort you and yours!

I hope you have a delightful Sunday!

*yawn*

I wish this were me.

Lately I've been tired.

I mean,

really,

really,

tired.

Exhausted.

I would blame it on the new job and the overall busyness of life, but that's not it.

Here's where my friends and family would ask: "Are you pregnant?" And I wouldn't blame them for being suspicious. With 4 pregnancies in less than 6 years, who wouldn't be? But, no. It turns out that I may have a major hormone imbalance. All those pregnancies have left me pretty out of whack and a little (*stifled snicker*) heavier than I used to be.

So what does that have to do with you, my readers? It kind of explains my lack of posts as of late. I haven't been up to snuff and able to do the major multitasking I'm usually able to do. I started seeing a medical professional today to help me with the issues I'm having. We will be focusing on hormone balancing, and hopefully I will be back up to par in the next few weeks.

Until then, I will post as frequently as possible and please keep tuned in. I'll be back as much as I can.

Love to you all~