NuNaturals Stevia A Review and Give Away!

I was thrilled to learn I was accepted to take part in an NuNaturals sampling as part of Christian Women Affiliates! I have used stevia products in the past but I was excited to learn more about this particular company and why their products are superior to others on the market. I thought I was going to to be sampling lemon, orange, and vanilla NuStevia, but I was given so much more to try than that!

Just look at all the wonderful products I was sent!

In addition to vanilla, orange, and lemon NuStevia,

I was sent a box of 50 packets of NuStevia Powder,

Peppermint NuStevia,

Alcohol Free NuStevia,

and a 3 oz. container of NuStevia Prebiotic Blend!

My daughters and I set to work right away taste testing each of the NuStevia Pure Liquid products.

The orange and lemon were FANTASTIC! So bold and flavorful, so true to their names, they tasted just like orange and lemon!

The vanilla was wonderful, but it was the peppermint that got me excited! We put drops of NuStevia Peppermint our tongues and it was like we were in in one of those York Peppermint Patty commercials being whisked away to a winter wonderland! Our taste buds soared with the fresh taste of peppermint and sweetness of stevia minus a bitter aftertaste that can come with other stevia products.

My sample products also came with a pack full of recipes to try out our new NuNaturals pure liquids.

I found so many wonderful recipes, particularly if you have a gluten-free allergy or if you are diabetic. We have none of these in my family, so why would I want to use stevia products in my home and in my cooking? Well, the number one reason I love NuNaturals products is to cut back on the amount of sugar we all consume in our home. These NuNaturals stevia products do not raise your blood sugar levels like when we use real sugar.

Here is a little bit about blood sugar levels and how they can effect your health:

"Blood sugar levels are one of the most discussed aspects of health with regards to diabetes but proper maintenance of blood sugar levels is also an important part of maintaining overall health. This article will give you blood sugar management tips as well as explaining just what blood sugar levels are and how they affect our health. First lets begin by explaining what blood sugar is. Glucose or sugar is the primary energy source for mammals and other animals, lipids (i.e. fats and oils) are another source but they are primarily a compact energy store. Blood sugar or blood glucose level is a measurement of glucose present in an animal, in mammals this level usually stays in a closely controlled range called the reference range and it is tightly regulated as part of metabolic homeostasis. Changes in blood sugar levels either increases or decreases from within the reference range do not usually have many negative consequences but chronically being outside this range can lead to many serious health conditions."

You can read the rest of the article here.

Orange NuNaturals Stevia and Blueberry Scones

(Here is a photo of my scones made for my family of 8!)

These were delicious! I used packets of powdered stevia for the scone batter and orange NuStevia to flavor the batter and the glaze. The recipe I used said it was for two people. I have 8 in my family so I octupled the recipe! The recipe called for two packets of stevia with 1/4 cup of flour. I used 2 cups of flour and 16 packets of stevia. Obviously I would have to buy the stevia in cans to cook this recipe frequently but for two people, two packets of stevia would be easy on my wallet.

Here is the original recipe:

Blueberry-Orange Scones For Two

1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

2 TB oats

2 packets NuNaturals NuStevia White Stevia Powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

2 tsp dairy-free butter

3 TB dairy-free milk (unsweetened So Delicious Coconut Milk)

20 drops of NuNaturals Orange Liquid Stevia

1/4 cup blueberries

(Optional Glaze)

2 TB powdered sugar

Few drops of water or dairy-free milk

Add drops of NuNaturals Orange Liquid Stevia to taste

Stir until you attain the consistency you desire

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In small bowl, mix together flour, oats, stevia packets powder, baking powder, and salt. Cut butter into the mixture, and mix until combined.

Add milk and Orange Liquid Stevia to the dry ingredients.

Fold in blueberries, don't over-mix.

Flatten dough into a 3 X 3 inch square. Cut diagonally to form 2 triangles.

Bake for 17-20 minutes on a greased pan.

Drizzle with glaze and enjoy!

While I am blogging this I am enjoying this lovely cup of raspberry tea flavored with Lemon NuStevia. I was looking at their website and one of their suggestions was to add a few drops of vanilla too. What a delicious taste! I never would have thought of that! The raspberry tea is flavorful, the lemon is bold, but the vanilla is oh so soothing and sweet! The flavors blend and my tongue is just bursting with happiness in so many areas with the mix of flavors!

I've also been adding the NuNaturals  NuStevia Prebiotic Blend to my tea.

This is what the company has to say about the Prebiotic Blend.

"NuStevia™ PreBiotic Blend™ uses Tagatose a natural sweetener that is produced from milk. NuStevia™ Prebiotic Blend™ will have absolutely no effect on blood sugar levels and is safe for both Type I and II diabetics. It is very low on the glycemic index as well.

The Tagatose used in NuStevia™ PreBiotic Blend™ helps feed the good bacteria in your digestive system.

NuStevia™ PreBiotic Blend™ contains 60% more Stevia extract than most other brands on the market. The cost to get the same sweet taste of other brands can be up to 2 1/2 times more expensive compared to NuNaturals. NuNaturals NuStevia™ PreBiotic Blend™ will save you money.

NuStevia™ PreBiotic Blend™ come in a convenient spice jar with a multiple opening cap. This makes it easy to sprinkle or pour the powder."

I'm all for feeding the good bacteria as I have read all about how sugar feeds the bad bacteria in our guts. I also like the added value.  I can use less to get the same sweetness level I crave at a fraction of the cost of other prebiotic brands on the market!

                                               

You can "like" NuNaturals on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

And because you have been such a wonderful follower of my blog and these products are really that fantastic, I am able to offer you 15% off your ENTIRE order when you use the Discount Code: BLG1212

This offer is good through December 31, 2012. Also, all orders placed totaling over $35 will receive FREE shipping to the Continental U.S.

a Rafflecopter giveaway I received NuNaturals products free to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

Crowned By The King

I was sitting in church this past summer and had the most incredible experience. 

I was standing there, eyes closed, hands raised, and as I sang praises to Jesus, I encountered Him in a very personal way. 

Now this wasn't the first time God had met me here like this. I had had two other very emotional visits with Jesus and the Holy Spirit over the last few months. One of those I received the gift of tongues, and another, Jesus set me free from some sort of a prison I had been unaware I had kept myself locked in. But back to this moment.

I saw Jesus, step down off the stage where we were worshiping him. He was smiling and swaying with all our praises, keeping step with the beat of the music. He was so happy with us! He started coming down the center aisle and began to sway and walk in my direction.

 Again, still smiling. I looked away as he locked eyes on me. He couldn't be looking at me! I opened my eyes and looked to my left and saw my family standing there worshiping God, so I closed my eyes again and lifted my praise to God even higher. Jesus was closer than ever! He came down the center aisle and stopped at my row! He leaned in and began to lift the most amazing crown from his head.

photo credit

(It didn't look anything like this, but you get the point!)

 It was royal and clearly the most amazing crown anyone would ever lay eyes on, covered in jewels and very regal looking. Jesus, smiled, and began to lift the crown from his head and toward me!

I opened my eyes and again looked away from my vision to my left where my family was still standing and worshiping. "This can't be!" I thought, so I closed my eyes again wondering what on earth this was all about and sang and worshiped my Jesus with all my heart and soul and strength. But Jesus was closer than ever this time! He leaned in and placed His crown on my head!  

"This can't be!" I thought again, but Jesus kept smiling and said, "this is for you!"

So I have been trying to process this "crowning moment" all summer. I've been trying to figure out why Jesus wanted to crown ME while also trying not to figure it out and just embrace the moment and relish the fact that Jesus wanted to meet me in a real way, even though no one would probably believe me! 

Then last month I was introduced to this amazing necklace ministry called, "Crowned By The King".

I was chosen to be a part of this amazing ministry to encourage women to remind them of their beauty, their value, and their purpose in Christ.

When I received my necklace I fell in love with it!

I wanted immediately to give one to every woman I know, including my daughters, my mother, my sister, my cousins, my friends! What an amazing necklace to remind us that we are daughters of the King of Kings! 

But the one woman I knew in my life whom I wanted to give this necklace to I knew could really use it. She had just recently had to step down from leading our moms group at our church in order to take a full time job. Sometimes life can be difficult and while her heart was still very much with us moms this amazing friend has stepped back from leading our moms group in order to provide for her family. I know this has been a difficult time for her. She has spent the last three years running our moms group and raising her two children while working part time. To work full time meant giving up all the things that she loves to do with her children like story time at the library and reaching out to new moms and inviting them to our moms group. While her children are in good hands, I thought my friend could really use a "crowning moment".

I pulled her aside after church today and thanked her for all she had done in the past for our church's moms group. She shared her joys and a few of her struggles with her new job. I told her about my own "crowning moment" and that I wanted to "crown" her. I was wearing the crown necklace and so I told her I wanted to give her my necklace. She told me she thought she was going to cry! As I took it off her she told me that she really needed this encouragement. My timing couldn't have been better and she asked me to put it on her. I was so thrilled she accepted my necklace!

I shared with her how much I appreciated her and all the things she has done to bless our church with our moms' group and thanked her. I shared with her that I thought she might be the perfect one to carry this "Crowned By The King" ministry forward, simply by being who she is and sharing her love for God and love for people. I shared with her how this necklace might just be the centerpiece and conversation starter she might use to help her at work or wherever life takes her! I gave her a  little bit of information about the ministry in case she wanted to know more about the necklace as a ministry.

It was just about one of the most amazing moments of my life being able to not only thank this amazing woman but to also encourage her and lift her up before God and remind her how much God loves her!

We shared several hugs and then I had to leave. I plan to pray for my friend and her new necklace that she will cherish it enough so that one day she would be able to give it away to someone who desperately needs to know how much God loves them!

If you would like to hear another testimony to another "Crowned Moment" you can see the video below.

Here is one woman's testimony after receiving a necklace.

If you'd like to know more you can check out the website, Crowned By The King.
Here you will find out about How the ministry works.

You can also like them on On Facebook or On Twitter


 I received two free necklaces. One to give away and one to keep. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

The Best Anniversary Gift I Ever Received

After courting for three years, including surviving a year-long long distance relationship between Maine and Okinawa, I married my best friend. That was nineteen years ago! I can hardly believe its been nineteen years!

Two and half years into our marriage we welcomed our first child, a son.

Two years later we were blessed with another child, another son!

These two boys have become my driving force to my life's purpose in raising them up to be men of God, strong, and of good character. Phew! It's not easy! The tempers can flare (mine more often than theirs). I fitfully surrendered my plans for my life and dug in deep to God's promises for my kids. I took them home and began homeschooling them. You can read more about that here.

These two boys it seems have always been together!

And we have welcomed four more children since these first two boys joined our family!

My three boys!

Then we were blessed with our first daughter!

And a second daughter!

And a fourth son!

But back to my big boys and the reason for this post!

They are not so little any more.

My time at home homeschooling them is almost over.

They are growing up!

The oldest has his license now and drives himself and his brother to their JROTC class two days a week.

In this class they learn wonderful things about our country, good citizenship, reaching out to our Veterans, and the value of community service. They write speeches and essays on the military. They wear uniforms and learn to appreciate all our military does to protect our freedoms.

And occasionally, they get to go out to lunch. They are homeschooled so they are free to leave school after their class and grab a sandwich and return later in the day for outside activities. They bring their homeschool work I have sent along with them to do.

If you've ever heard the saying that "having children is to have your heart go walking around OUTSIDE your body", well, I have never felt this to be more true than now. These boys are my world, and yet they are not mine. They are God's. But the best anniversary gift I could have ever received was when they came home last night after their whirlwind of an activity filled day and told me that the lady at the sandwich shop where they were getting their lunch said to them, 

"School's out for the day already?"

"No, we're homeschooled." they replied.

She then went on to ask if they had other siblings and if they too were homeschooled.

They told her.

Then my son told me that the lady said to be sure and tell me...

"that I was doing a good job and I should keep up the good work"!

The best gift I could have ever received on my 19th  anniversary, was some simple, kind words from a stranger who saw a good work being completed in my children. And I am in awe, and give God all the glory! For it is by His grace I have been saved and by faith I continue this race to run it well and complete the task the Lord has set before me. A little bit of encouragement goes a looong way. The Lord encouraged me today through the very blessings I am working so hard at home to raise! I will continue to roll up my sleeves, die to self, and get to work. To not just be a hearer, but a doer for God's Kingdom. For I have at LEAST nineteen more years to go!

Do you have some simple, kind words for a weary mom today? Don't hold back. You words just might be exactly what she needs to hear to carry her for a very long time!

"The right word at the right time

    is like a custom-made piece of jewelry" Proverbs 25:11

I can't wait to share how this verse ties into my life right now!

Here is a sneak peak!

Not Just A Hearer But A Doer by Yolanda Shanks-Review

"We sit in the pews. We sing the songs. We recite Scripture–Scripture we know by heart. And yet buried in the midst of this routine are commands and requests straight from the Most High that go ignored. We’ve become so reliant on God fulfilling His end of the bargain that we fail to follow through with ours.

WE’VE BECOME HEARERS.

In 31 days, Yolanda Shanks’ devotional study, Not Just a Hearer but a Doer, will help you find calls to action within scripture ... and then act upon them. Starting with small things, like seeing that the Lord is good and working your way up to bigger actions, such as being a bold witness for Christ, you’ll soon have the tools, desire and confidence to put scripture into practice. Just as God intended."

GOD WANTS DOERS.

About the Author: Yolanda Shanks

"Multi-published author, speaker, blogger, teacher, wife, grandmother—Yolanda Shanks wears many hats, but the one she most resonates with is her role as an advocate for living life to its fullest.

Shanks’ award-winning first book, Destined to Live, Despite Me, continues to be a source of hope for those battling effects from a prior suicide attempt. It garnered an enthusiastic Kirkus review, which stated the book was “a commendable guide for finding meaning after considering suicide.”

Her second book, Not Just a Hearer but a Doer (released June 2012) challenges the body of Christ to act upon scripture. In the Fall of 2012, she released a third project, entitled Destined to Live, Despite Me – A Cause to Be Thankful."

My Thoughts:

This may look like a short book at only 143 pages but it is filled with some really deep inspiration and thoughts to challenge your faith and help you move from being a hearer of God's Word to a doer!

This is a devotional book meant to be finished in one month over a 31 day period. Each day you open the book to a title followed by a paragraph or two to open the chapter then a Bible verse. 

Yolanda Shanks labels this first Bible verse, "Observation".

She follows this by a little background to help you get grounded in what this verse is talking about and a bit of history about the verse.

Then each day has an "Interpretation". This is where Shanks helps you apply this Bible verse to your own life. It is here in the "Interpretation" where Yolanda's heart spoke the most to me. From the very first day she invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good! I had read that verse many times in my life but I had never actually stopped to consider what "taste and see" really meant. Yolanda explains that while everyone's taste buds are different, we all will sample God in different ways, so why not at least try Him out and "Taste and see that the Lord is good"?

After the "Interpretation" follows the "Application". This is where we are challenged to become a doer and stop being just a hearer of God's Word. Day 16 she begins the "Application" with, "It is your destiny. What do you hear God saying to you? Have you chosen to obey and trust Him, or do you prefer to pay more attention to what others will think or say?" Her challenge then is this:

"1. Intentionally put distance between yourself and those who are not focused on God's will, especially in sharing the Gospel and making disciples.

2. Do that which you have been given a vision of.

3. Reach for that which the world says is impossible.

4. Go where you have not been."

How's that for a challenge?! To go where I have not been and follow what God has given me a vision of. This has really inspired me to complete my book I am writing. I've been working on it on and off for about three years. God isn't going to write it for me, but Yolanda's words have challenged me to just go and DO IT! The final chapter titled "The Importance of Telling Your Story" really cemented this in my heart to keep on writing because she explains, "The telling of your story, your testimony of deliverance by God, isn't just for you! God's grace has allowed each of us the privilege to be the bearer of good-news to someone who needs to know that with God "all things are possible"." Now not everyone has a book to write, but we do all have a story, a testimony we can share and should share with others!

After each "Application" the author encourages you to write down today's scripture texts in your own words. There is plenty of space to record your thoughts. It is in writing down our own definition of the Bible verses that I believe we really cement a new idea into our hearts, allowing us to become a DOER and not just a HEARER!

I definitely recommend this book as a Bible devotion. You will be challenged to grow and stretch in your faith as you move from being a hearer to a DOER!

You can read more about the book at the website here.

You can follow her Facebook page or  Twitter account.

 I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

Why I Like To Wear Skirts and Some Thoughts on Modesty

Here I am in my lovely new skirt, compliments of my Mom.
This was taken back in May.
I've lost about 18 lbs of pregnancy weight here.
The skirt is light weight and a fun color. My son thought I should start doing a Hawaiian dance when he saw me wearing it!

Whenever my mom is out and about she searches and often finds the most lovely skirts for me! I love to wear skirts now. They have been the perfect transition during and after my pregnancy. Because I have been breast feeding for nearly five years straight I also wear shirts that I can easily breastfeed in.

With a houseful of boys I also have been becoming increasingly more aware of how I dress around my teenage sons. Along with the fact I have two little girls watching every move I make. My girls love to wear dresses too!

We put on our dresses and head off to run errands. Almost every outing lends a wonderful compliment and a question as to why we're all dressed up! No reason, we enjoy being feminine! We are girls so we want to dress like girls! My husband loves it when my girls and I are all wearing our dresses!

In the summer months, skirts and dresses are the only way to dress!

So lest you think we are of some strange religious homeschooling order where I am forced to wear skirts by my church or my husband, I wear skirts because I like them! I don't feel fat in them, I can move about rather easily in a skirt, and I'll tell you a little secret....

The number one reason I found to where a skirt....

I respect myself! 

(It also can bring out the chivalry in old men. Sometimes when they see me approaching a door wearing a skirt, they will stop to open it for me. If you ever wanted to try this as an experiment for all of you who don't wear skirts, I dare you! It's quite delightful to see a man take a few extra quick steps to grab a door for you! Now this is not done in disrespect to my husband or with total disregard for my marriage, this is about RESPECT.)

Take a listen to this video below, it explains what I'm talking about.

(Here is a little background on it.)

He begins with a recent study done by Princeton of what happens to men's brains while viewing women with little clothing on. The study done is very revealing (pun intended) that women who dress modestly allow men to see them for more of who they are and not just for their bodies. Something in a man's brain actually turns off when he sees a woman wearing little clothing. Take a listen, it's less than four minutes long but definitely worth viewing.

 

When practical, wear pants. As often as I can, I wear a skirt!

Moving into the colder Fall and Winter months, I've lost more of my "baby" weight and can fit back into my jeans and pants again. You can read about my journey here.  Even though I can fit back into my jeans better than ever I still long to wear my skirts. Raising Homemakers has a great blog post on how she wears her skirts year round. Adding long socks and fun leggings are great ideas. I think I will try using some of her techniques!

 

"I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God." 1 Timothy 2:9-10

Just some thoughts to ponder!

Is the Constitution Still Relevant?

Here is my son's paper he wrote for his JROTC freshman class. He wasn't chosen to be in the top 10 to be recorded and entered in the annual contest only because his teacher said he spoke too fast. I think next time we'll have him practice it at home and time it. This is his first assignment for public school of which I did not assign to him. I think he did a pretty good job. His personality comes through his writing for sure!

       

         Is the Constitution Still Relevant?                     

by Jacob Smith

Is the Constitution still relevant? This can be a very difficult question, however, I think the Constitution still protects my rights. A lot of people would say that the Constitution is losing its power. Now that is partially true in some cases, however, I will tell you my thoughts on this subject. For instance, many kids still in school might say that they don't have all the rights that they think they deserve. Many will say that it is their freedom of speech that has been violated. I however have thought this over and have seen that the reasoning behind the banishing of rude or demeaning language in schools is for public safety. Now the public safety lies mostly in the public school system, it is there to protect the students from offensive language and harm. Now on the other hand, when you are an adult and not in the public school building, you have rights that allow you to speak any kind of language that you want. It may be disrespectful to other people but you have a right to talk in that manner.  It is the first amendment that allows to have this freedom of speech. We also can see that the Constitution is still relevant because if it were not I might not even be able to say this out loud to all of you! We also have the right to choose the line or kind of work that we do. So if I want to be a carpenter then all I have to do is get a certification and I can work. If I want to be an engineer then all I have to do is get a degree in that line of work. I even could be President if I wanted to, although I would have to be a U.S. citizen my whole life. The first amendment also has the right of the freedom of the press. The freedom of the press is the right that allows us to be able to express and or communicate our products or information to the general public. Speaking of general public, on October 15th through October 20th, there was an Occupy Maine Movement that was going on at Lincoln Park. The occupation was broken up by law officials because it was violating the rules and closing time of the park. Some by standers say that the occupation was getting rid of the beautiful landscape that they said they enjoyed. This proves that the Constitution is still relevant because if it wasn't, the occupiers wouldn't have made these actions, at least not without thought of persecution. There also is the second amendment that allows us to have the right to bear arms. This right allows us to carry or own a fire arm as personal protection or other uses for a fire arm. In the past, people have tried to get rid of this right as to stop the violence of crime and murders, however, if you were a criminal, you would not obey the law and would obtain a firearm through illegal sources We also have freedom of religion, that allows us to choose if we believe in God, or if we don't. So as I look at just a small fraction of these rights, I would have to say yes, the Constitution is still relevant.

Download a copy of the Constitution here.

Ramblings from the Shower by Faye Bryant-Review

When I read the title Ramblings from the Shower, by Faye Bryant, it made me kind of curious as to what this author might have to say about the issues listed in her subtitle, Integrity, Faith, and Other Simple Yet Slippery Issues.

My package arrived with a special little note card tucked inside. It read on the outside, "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice" Phillipians 4:4. and inside Faye wrote to me, "Thank you for agreeing to review my book! I hope you understand "Southern", I'm afraid it's written in that language!"
-Blessings!
Faye

This made me even more curious to read her book!

About the book:

What do you think about in the shower?

And where do those thoughts take you?

In "Ramblings from the Shower," author Faye Bryant shares some of the thoughts that have come her way during the mundane task of everyday hygiene, and how those thoughts have compelled her to ask, "What about this, God? What do You think?"

Follow along as Faye shares through personal experience and revelation her conclusions on just what God does think.

About the author:

Faye Bryant at Living Real, Musings of Simple faith




One-Line Bio:
Author, Blogger, Scopist, Amateur Photographer, Church Communications Student, Wife, Mother, Step-mother, Grandmother

My Life in 140:
unaccepted. saved. stupid choices. married-abused/child/divorced. loved accepted. growing/serving/learning. live real, love raw

Faye was born in Florida and lived there until age 25 when she moved to Tennessee and has lived there ever since.

The first church Faye ever attended of her own free will was a fundamental Baptist church in Kissimmee, Florida. While she did meet Christ there, she says it was only as a Savior who wanted to redeem her soul, but who wanted to impose a ton of rules too. Now she says it's a joy to know Him as the One who loves me with a crazy, humanly incomprehensible love!

When Faye was 17, she worked at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World. A dream job, such fun for a teenager! Other jobs she's held include clerk in a bulk mail room for a small college, teaching assistant at a Christian school, Avon Lady, Tupperware representative, retail sales, bookkeeper and postal carrier. Her last "public" job was as data entry clerk that grew into inventory control clerk/systems admin for a convenience store chain.

While working there, God put Faye on her back -- literally. She had ruptured a disk in her back. While resting at home before surgery, and finding TV too boring for words, she started studying the Bible for myself, digging deep -- something she'd never done before. Faye says she heard God speaking to her very plainly, calling her to full-time service to Him. Funny thing was, the service He was calling her into -- the position -- it didn't exist at the time. He worked it out and she's never looked back.

In 2003, God called Faye and her husband, Jack, to join a group of others to start a new fellowship in Townsend, and thus Church of the Cove was born. She says it has been an amazing ride!

Now Faye serves as the Ministry Assistant and Communications director for the church and also own my business working as a scopist. Just ask, she'll explain that one. Faye loves being able to work from her home office most of the time.

What Faye Says:

"When reading through the Bible, I would ask questions of God, then head off to the shower. With all that thinking/praying time, I would then get out of the shower with an answer and saying, "Someone should write a book about that!" 

I wrote a book about integrity, abuse, grief, putting people on pedestals and even how a little toy poodle can teach us about worship. 

Weird, I know. I wrote these words like I would talk to the person who is sitting there reading. I simply shared the answers I got while seeking God. My hope to share with folks who need the answers, but haven't every looked for them.

Faye"

My thoughts:

I really liked Faye's book. I love her chapter titles and subtitles. Since taking a shower is one of the few times I have in my day entirely to myself, I could see myself standing in the shower scrubbing my hair and crying out to God with very similar questions. Her chapter on judging and being judged starts with a subtitle question, "God, why are people so amazed by the way our church just accepts them? Why does a person care so much more about how he or she looks when coming to church, as opposed to going to the grocery store?" I've wondered that before. Faye tells the reader up front in a disclaimer that she" is not a theologian, nor a doctor of psychology, nor any expert in any field other than her own life". When read from this perspective it is much easier to grab a cup of tea and sit down with Faye and read as though she is talking right there with you. Faye uses colorful southern style writing to share her life and how she has overcome painful things in life to offer a refreshing perspective on issues that Christians struggle with. From living to please God and not running from God, to overcoming hurt, grief, what people look like, to integrity, abuse, to love, I think many will find this book worth the read!

Be sure and "like" Faye's new Facebook site! And follow her on her Twitter!

You can pick up your own copy over at
Amazon or Barnes and Noble
















 I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

#ShapelyGirl Fitness Final Post And GIVEAWAY!!!

Here we are, November 1st, the beginning of a new month, and you are reading my final post on my #shapelygirl fitness DVD challenge. If you missed any of my previous posts, you can see them HERE. I do hope you will check out my previous posts as this has been a MONTH long journey for me to take steps at getting moving toward a better (and hopefully thinner) new me!

So what is this all about, you might be asking? Well, I was chosen along with 26 other women to try one of Debra Mazda's ShapelyGirl Fitness DVD's for one month and report weekly on my progress along with a full review on the last day. I got to choose from a couple of different DVD's and I chose the "Let's Get Stepping" DVD. I took a step class at the gym about 9 years ago. I really liked it and have had three babies and haven't done any step classes since so I thought it would be fun to get this DVD and try it at home. What I never realized was how much MORE I would get out of this than just a step class. I went to Debra Mazda's website and learned all about her testimony and how she began her own personal road to fitness. Here she is below when she weighed over 300 lbs.

You can read the full testimony at Debra's website HERE.

 What I love about Debra's story is that it is so much less of focusing on dieting and exercising.

 Her motto is,

 "Fitness comes in many sizes. 

Get off the couch, start moving and feel better, today."

I LOVE this no-nonsense approach to getting in shape. Over the last month I had MANY days when I just struggled to get off my couch to fit my workout in, and then I would remember Debra's words. Just "get off the couch"! So I would find the time to get my workout in. Some days it wasn't until after 7 p.m. other days it was early afternoon or before lunch. I always tried to make sure my body was fueled but not full (of food). I worked out with this video at least twice each week, sometimes 3 or 4 times which is what Debra suggests if we really want to see the big changes.

 “My mission is to share my story to help women learn the skills they need to win the battle with food and self esteem.”-Debra Mazda

On The ShapelyGirl Fitness website Debra also shares recipes. I love Debra's "Breakfast of Champions" recipe. I had already begun adding 1/2 cup of Chobani plain non-fat yogurt to my cereal which adds an additional 11.5 grams of protein to my diet even before adding the milk! I LOVE this breakfast and sometimes eat it for a snack. I drizzle a little agave nectar over the yogurt and cereal for a little extra sweetness (I have a huge sweet tooth) but without affecting my blood sugar levels. But back to the DVD!

"At the age of 21, locked into an abusive relationship and struggling with chronic depression and high blood pressure, Mazda took one simple, but daring, step that changed her life. She walked in the door of her neighborhood gym.  Her first workout exhausted her so completely that two bodybuilders had to carry her off the gym floor. But a call from the gym manager encouraged Mazda to come back the next day, and a habit was born. A habit that is at the heart of Mazda’s primary message to other ShapelyGirls, to “get moving.”"

I love this photo of the orange picking itself up. I feel like that some days and Debra's testimony inspires me to pick myself up and carry on, get moving! The DVD has fun music to workout to. Debra is a great motivator too. I feel like she's right there in my living room encouraging me to complete the steps. I love the balance of intense stepping mixed with dance steps like the "cha-cha". I can really get my body moving to Debra's workout during the "cha-cha" and my husband has enjoyed watching me workout a time or two! 

Here is a photo of my new "step" my husband actually built for me to complete this DVD fitness challenge. He even painted it PINK!

 I found if I couldn't fit an entire DVD workout in at one time I could stop the DVD after 20 minutes and still feel like I got a great workout in. In my first few workouts I didn't always add the optional toning session with weight lifting and sit-ups but as I got using the DVD, by the 4th week, I was making the time to do the toning session because I was feeling so much stronger! I could see results from my hard work (and SWEAT!) 

So in one month, I have lost a total of 5 lbs. I would have liked to have seen a bigger weight loss but I am proud of the loss overall. It works out to be about 1 1/4 lbs lost each week. Not a significant amount, but I am most proud of the total INCHES I lost.

Here I am with my daughter at week one.

My total INCHES lost were as follows...

1/2 inch LOST in calves

1/2 inch LOST in arms

1 1/2 inches LOST in thighs

3 1/2 inches LOST in hips

and my biggest LOSS....

(Here I am tonight with my daughter again.)

5 1/2 inches lost in my waist!!!!

Woo hoo! My pants are fitting better than ever!  I feel better. I don't feel like I'm dragging at 2:30 p.m. every single day any more. I not only have more energy, I have stamina. This helps a lot in homeschooling all my kids for sure! My daughter was dancing and running around the room the other day and I felt the urge to (once again) just jump off the couch and start chasing my daughter. I chased her around the room for several minutes and I noticed I wasn't feeling winded in the least like I normally would.

All I can say is that we all KNOW we need to take care of these bodies we have been given. I've had six babies, all by c-section. I KNOW the strain on my stomach muscles and how hard it is to not only carry the extra weight around but also how hard it is to want to eat healthy and get off my couch to exercise. Debra Mazda's videos are SO inspiring. They feature REAL, shapely women dressed very modestly. I felt like I was working out with a group of my friends. I hope some of you check out her videos and take the first step to a new YOU! I am so enthusiastic about these videos Debra Mazda has allowed a handful of our original group to offer a DVD FREE. That's right, one of you can own one of Debra's DVD's for FREE. Enter daily for a chance to win one of Debra Mazda's ShapelyGirl Fitness DVD's! Just follow the link below to enter!

(Noelle Mena-Photo credit)

"You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies" 1 Corinthians 6:20 NIV.

 I received a free copy of this DVD to review and one to give away. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

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