7 Cool Things I Can't Live Without

Oprah has her list and I have mine. Sadly, you won't find a bag with all of my favorite things under your chair, but you can check if you want. Fortunately, these are all super easy to find and affordable. 

In no particular order, here are my coolest, most beautiful things of 2012:

Preserve Toothbrush

I have David Manning to thank for this introduction. This toothbrush is made out of recycled yogurt cups. How cool is that? AND...after three months, put the toothbrush back in the self-addressed, postage-paid packaging, mail it, and they will recycle it. Shut up, right? I love the angle. It did take a few times to bond with the curve but now I'm crazy about it. The toothbrush is also BPA-free. You'll find it for under $3 at Trader Joes. 

NeilMed Sinus Rinse

Better than a neti pot, this nasal gem has kept me off antibiotics as well as kept me from becoming infected with colds countless times. Think of it as a system to wash your nose like you wash your hands. It's unbelievably easy to use, promise. (Gross alert: We inhale an unthinkable amount of germs through our nose every day. Eww!) Find this miracle worker at Walgreens for under $13.

OXO Good Grips Twisting Tea Ball

What can I say? It was love at first sight. It's cool, fun, serves a critical function in my life and delivers extreme bliss. SOLD! Find this prize for about $10 at Bed, Bath & Beyond (Hello coupon!) or throw it in with your Amazon order for FREE shipping. Tell them "Leslie sent me" or not.

The Body Shop's Vitamin C Moisturizer

One would think I put as much time into picking a facial moisturizer as I did my husband. For the money, this facial moisturizer is unrivaled. Period. I feel as though I've tried ALL the similar products out there, and I keep running back, through the fields, to this one. It has 30 SPF, is smooth and easily spreadible without feeling greasy. It's not too strong for my sensitive skin, has no known-to-me bad stuff in it and you only need a wee bit. Lastly, it has vitamin C rich Amazonian camu camu (whatever that is) in it and the package is recycable. Hooray! It will set you back about $20, but I always seem to have a Groupon around and have never paid more than $10. 

Clic-Tite Bento Box

Green brag moment if I may, my daughter Olivia uses one of these and we have never used a plastic sandwich bag, thus far, all school year. And, are you sitting down? It doesn't leak. Yes, that's right. I use mine on adventures and it hasn't leaked yet. Plus, how fun is it to place food in these organized sections? Oh yes my friends, it is the little things. I found this at Marshalls for under $5. 

Vapur Water Pouches

Shout out to Andrea of Amazing Adventures With Andrea for this one. Oh the water bottle envy I had, it was big. Until I picked up these friends of my own. I used to carry a heavy water bottle on adventures. Never again. They are obviously reusable, and clip on to just about anything. You can even fold them up when not in use for smaller storage. Please only buy Vapur, it's okay to be a Vapur snob. The green size is under $10, the blue size is under $14. I see them everywhere such as Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Powells, Eddie Bauer, etc. 

How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong

by Leslie Vernick

No, David Manning, my aforementioned boyfriend/husband, is not acting wrong. Well, sometimes he does, but so do I. The fact is every now and then a book comes along which profoundly changes our lives. This is one of those books. Trust me. I had the privilege of meeting Leslie Vernick and hearing her speak on happiness and then again on marriage. She is spot on. You can interchange "spouse" in the title with daughter, son, friend, co-worker, mother, sister, boss, etc. I behave differently because of this book. Buy a copy here for as little as about $3 and as much as $8. (Sorry, yours won't come with a cool zebra bookmark.)

I hope you benefit as much as I have with these cool and beautiful things.

Thanks for reading,

L.

The Beauty of "Downton Abbey"

You have undoubtedly seen or at least heard about the PBS sensation "Downton Abbey". I can assure you, the cult following is warranted. Season three premiered last Sunday, January 6th on OPB. Watch it here. (Disclaimer: While I rate the show PG, a couple of scenes earn PG13/R ratings.)

Here are three reasons I'm hooked:

The Writing 

Wouldn't it be fantastic to have every word out of your mouth be brilliant? Where every response effortlessly waltzes off your tongue was clever and befitting? 

From Lord Grantham:

"No one wants every chapter of their life published."  

"Are you afraid someone will think you're American if you speak openly?" 

From the one who steals countless scenes, Violet, Dowager Countess:

"No guests should be admitted without the date of departure settled." 

"I'm not a romantic...But even I concede that the heart does not exist solely for the purpose of pumping blood." 

"What is a weekend?"

"Sir Richard, life is a game in which the player must appear ridiculous." 

"Don't be a defeatist dear. It's very middle class."  

From the faithful servants:

"Better to pay money to a doctor than an undertaker." -Mrs. Padmore

"I'd rather have the right man than the right wedding." -Anna 

The Cast 

While Matthew Crawley remains no match for my Lord Manning, his ocean blue eyes ordain him as the perfect love interest for Lady Mary. Who doesn't need consolation in the fatherly arms of Mr. Carson? I envy the passion for social justice in Isobel Crawley and the meekness of Lady Grantham. No story is agreeable without characters we confess we love to hate such as Thomas, O'Brien and Sir Richard Carlisle. Boo! 

The Messages

Everyone has a story which will break your heart. 

We must never put anyone on a pedestal, ahem, Lord Grantham and his foolish, lamentable choice. 

No one is above forgiveness, think Lady Mary and Mr. Pamuk. 

What money can't fix, tea certainly can. (You know how I feel about tea.) 

Do not abandon your family, everyone makes big mistakes. 

Unconditional love is the best kind. We love you Anna and Mr. Bates. 

Share and do hard things. How beautiful to see Downton Abbey turned into a place of healing and recovery. Mr. Bates willingness to protect the honor of Lord Grantham at a colossal cost is more than admirable and self-less. 

I believe "Downton Abbey" also provides the perfect escape for a brief history lesson, for beautiful scenery, and for lovely accents. 

Thanks for reading,

L.

 

 

 

The Queen of Purge

Some people have named me "The Queen of Purge".  

My coronation originated over a decade ago after I helped sort through my mother's home encompassing 40 years of marriage. Her home felt like something was hung, stored or displayed in every square inch. Let's just say there was a voluminous amount of crap stuff.

I knew without question I never wanted to subject my kids to the overwhelming, tedious and unpleasant responsibility of having to one day sort through my excess stuff crap. 

Upon my arrival home from my mother's home, I could not purge excess fast enough. The experience proved exhilarating on every level. I learned quickly, less belongings equals less things to dust and worry about. Less belongings equals more free, creative space to enjoy your favorite things.

Later on, I held a "free" party.

You: "What's a 'free' party?"

Me: "A 'free' party is what you have after you've collected your 'excess'. Invite your friends over and offer them free stuff." 

Talk about FUN! Leftover excess after the "free party" is donated. 

Every day I try to donate or give at least one thing away. 

After reading a hilarious, thought-provoking and inspiring book "7" by Jen Hatmaker", I am in the process of implementing my own deeper mutiny on excess. 

Every item in my home must do at least one of three things:

1. It must bring me total bliss. Like this teacup:

After the hubs and kids, I just may grab this in the unfortunate event of a fire. I adore this teacup. It never fails to make my tea experience a thousand times better. And, I'm pretty sure I can bring this to heaven. 

2. It must bring me closer to Jesus. For example, I think of my fave books which have helped shape me.

3. It must perform a needed function. Think a toaster, a lamp, or a hat. 

Take control of your stuff. 

I promise, you won't regret it. Your friends, neighbors and family members will ooze with jealousy over your giddiness. 

Trust me, you will inspire them with your new, svelte home. 

Thanks for reading,

Queen L. 

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Remember the Bobby McFerrin song? It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: 

"Here is a little song I wrote 

You might want to sing it note for note 

Don't worry, be happy 

In every life we have some trouble 

When you worry you make it double 

Don't worry, be happy......"

I don't know about you but I've been making it double and doing a whole lot of worrying lately. 

Kid worries. 

Financial worries. 

Friend worries. 

Truth is, most things we worry about never even happen, right?

John Haggai says, "Worry is an intrusion into God's providence."

Martin Luther offers, "Pray, and let God worry."

"Worry is like praying for what you don't want to happen." is my new favorite going around.

And yet, I still worry.

In true Jesus fashion, my Bible reading today just so happened (wink, wink) to be Luke 12. 

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life..." v22

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" v25

"Do not be afraid, little flock..." v32

It makes it harder to worry when Jesus tells us not to. 

Does worrying benefit us at all? No extra hour for me.

And, did He just call us "little flock"? (Love that.)

Truth is, worry is a heart issue, and I need a new heart. Stat. 

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Come. 

Come to Jesus.

This is exactly what I am going to do.

Then I am going to sing with Bobby, you can too!  Sing with Bobby.

Hello happy, goodbye worry! 

Thanks for reading,
L.

I Thought This Very Beautiful...

Each morning

Night's curtain

Opens on a new day.

You are invited

To join the great opening.

Open your ears.

Open your heart.

Open your eyes

To the sacred path

You travel every day,

The path of the hours.

Greet the hours

With joyful awareness.

Greet the hours

With faithful presence.

Greet the hours

With a reverential bow.

Greet the hours

With a sacred pause.

Reverence each hour

As a small stepping stone

On your pilgrimage

Through the day.

Receive the gift

Of seven sacred pauses.

Practice waking up

Seven times a day.

O Pilgrim of the Hours by Macrina Wiederkehr

Seven Sacred Pauses at Amazon.com

I Hated Today and I Didn't Like It.

I saw it all go down. 

A boy with a plastic cord in his hand cantered down the middle school hall. Suddenly the cord became a whip and he thrust it up in the air and slapped it down across another boy's neck. 

I saw the innocent boy cower in pain. I saw the bully laugh.

Enter my adrenaline. 

I shot up out of my chair and went after the culprit. On my way, I shoved my head in a classroom and shouted at the teacher, "I need help!". I didn't want to lose the bully amongst the massiveness of kids roaming the hall. I said, "Brown shirt, straight ahead at the locker, he hurt someone." When the teacher went after him, I came back to a hurt, angry, and not surprised boy. I'm guessing this is not his first physical and emotional wound.

All was handled well, justice prevailed in the direction of the principal's office. 

I sat back down as hatred filled my entire body.

Not at what happened. Oh no.

Hatred toward the bully.

Justified, right? Clearly the bully did this on purpose. Mean people suck.

And then it hit me. Hard. Instead of being angry and full of hate, I should have been broken with sorrow over the action. I should have wept at what was in this boy's heart to make him do something so cruel. I should have felt just as sorry for the bully as I did for the boy who was hurt. 

Without warning, I was overcome by a overwhelming flood of compassion for brown shirt boy. Who's been unkind to him? Who's hurt him emotionally? Physically? Such mean-spiritedness hides one's own wounds. 

So I started to pray for this broken boy. 

Enter my heart-transplant. 

Precious, made-in-God's-image boy, formerly "the bully", became the recipient of my prayers. He needs the unconditional love of a Father who heals for a living. He needs attention and lots of hugs. Taking a closer look at him through different Eyes, I saw he was unkept, and not doted on at home I am sure.  

Truth is there is plenty of this going on all day every day in the world we live in. May my next response be full of grief and actions that make a difference. Not hatred. 

An hour later as I was leaving the school, I saw the boy who was hurt coming out of the school office. I said, "I hope you feel better." He looked at me, said nothing, but cracked a small smile in my direction. You're most welcome sweet boy. 

Thanks for reading,
L.

FREE is Very Beautiful!

Listed below are books I am giving away. I want to offer them first to you, my dear blog family. I am on a mission to purge and simplify every single area of my life. Most of these books I have read and have been blessed. Time to pass the blessing along. 

This Inspirational Study Bible-Lucado
The Women of Faith Daily Devotional
Experiencing God-Blackaby
My Utmost For His Highest-Chambers
Praying God's Word Day by Day-Moore
The Hole in the Gospel-Stearns
Soul Cravings-McManus
A Voice in the Wind-Rivers
Redeeming Love-Rivers
In My Father's House-Thoene
The Atonement Chld-Rivers
Fresh Faith-Cymbala
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire-Cymbala
The Bondage Breaker-Anderson
The Delaney Sisters
Peace Child-Richardson
The Mystery of Marriage-Mason
The Christmas Hope-VanLiere
The Ten(der) Commandments-Mehl
Children's Letters to GodHample
Traveling Light for Mothers-Lucado

Thank you for being a part of "Every Thing Beautiful".  

Grateful,
L.