Best Posts of 2012

So fun looking through the past year. 

Its like looking at a personal photo album/journal. 

Here are the best posts of Blissfully Blessed (by popularity and by my personal opinion). Links are in the titles.

I DIY-dyed my own colored jeans

How to make a lovely tank dress

Easy Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

WIW... Budget trends and how to wear them..

Faded Sparkle Tip Nails

Family Bloopers

Antique Lace Bangle Tutorial

Have a very happy and blessed New Year everyone!

How we spent Christmas

We made gingerbread houses. 

And a big mess!

We cuddled with our labs. 

They do make the best pillows!

We patiently waited while the gifts were passed out....

Then we ripped and ripped!

We got everything on our list and MORE!

It was a very Army themed Christmas as you can see.

Got some cute handmade goodies (LOVE)!

My hubby got me a Keurig, nothing says love like coffee!!

My husband knows me so well!

Unfortunately this was how I spent Christmas day... 

Coughing, hacking, fever, boogers and more boogers (hence the toilet paper nose plugs)..... blah!

My wonderful hubby took care of me. 

He got me some pho (my fav), put away gifts, cooked, and did laundry. 

That was the best gift EVER!

Hope you all had a great Christmas!

Light shines in the darkness

I have very little words to express my feelings about the tragedy today. 

My heart breaks and leaks with emotion.

I can't even comprehend the pain and suffering these poor children, teachers, friends and family have to endure. 

I pray without ceasing.....

Lord let your light shine on this dark day.

John 1:5

New Life Version (NLV)

⁵ The Light shines in the darkness. The darkness has never been able to put out the Light.

2 Samuel 22:29 

 You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.

Psalm 43:3
3 Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

Trim Healthy Mama~book review and amazing results!

I have never worried about my weight. I guess because I never had too. I have always been petite with curves in the thigh and booty area. Even after gaining weight from having my boys I was able to shed without extreme dieting, the weight naturally fell off over time. I eat pretty healthy over all and have most my life. I never deprive myself of the occasional treat here and there either.

Last year I had so much nausea (from my health issues) I lost weight and I felt uncomfortable. My clothes hung on my body. I didn't have my womanly curves anymore. I was just under 100 lbs, my normal weight is around 115-120 lbs. I am only 5'2 so 115-120 is my normal healthy weight. As my nausea started to go away I felt starved. I ate and ate and ate some more. I made many poor food choices. I started to crave sugar like I never have in the past. As a result I gained much more weight than I had lost. My jeans grew tighter and soon they wouldn't even button. So yet again I felt very uncomfortable and unhappy.

I am NOT into radical diets to loose weight! I know many women that are on a different diet every few months. Most often they are restrictive and unrealistic. I see these women loosing weight initially, but soon after they start "cheating" and gain the weight right back. Then they are on to the next one, and the cycle continues. I see their diets interfere with their lives and their metabolisms slow with every diet. In the end their health suffers.

This is not what I wanted for myself. Nor do I have the will power (or time) for such restrictive diets. 

About a month ago I was reading a christian womens magazine and I saw an add for a book called Trim Healthy Mama. This description grabbed my attention.

"No more fads!"

A common sense guide to satisfy your cravings and energize your life.

I felt a pull to purchase it.

I received the book about a week later. Once I opened it, I devoured it! Over 500 pages about nutrition, health, super foods, hormones, recipes, fitness and much more. I was so impressed with the wealth of information this book has to offer. This book sheds light on a Biblical way of eating. YES, God tells us in the Bible how to eat right and be healthy! Coinciding with a Scriptural perspective on diet and nutrition there are many scientific facts and studies to back everything up.
These ladies are amazing!

This is a eating plan! Not a crash diet! It is about eating for health and energy, and that in turn will bring you to your God given natural and healthy weight. I think no one should starve to be skinny!


I immediately applied the nutritional principles to my diet. I don't feel deprived, in fact I feel completely satisfied with all the amazing food I get to eat. No counting calories, no weighing, no expensive food, no cooking separate meals for myself. I even enjoy desserts and LOTS of them! I eat chocolate and slather a ton of butter on my food (yummmm) AND I still dropped the extra weight!

I feel more energy and my jeans fit again!!!!

I have my healthy curves back.

 Before.
I cringed when I saw this photo.
My jeans (although hidden under my top) wouldn't button.

After!!


I think everyone can benefit from reading this book. You don't even need to be a mama.
Even men can learn a wealth of information and achieve a healthy weight, although they might want to skip the hormone chapter. ; )


I highly, highly recommend this book!


The book is available here for purchase: Trim Healthy Mama


Maybe I can talk the lovely ladies into giving one away here!? Hint, hint!



I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.

Current Fav Beauty Items

I really like Neutrogena products. 

This is really working for the sun damage and dark spots on my face.

I am a mascara girl. I don't feel "done up" without it. 

I have tried pricy mascara and cheap mascara but I always go back to my favorite.

I am super excited about this pallet. I had some Ulta points so I splurged a little. 

I love Stila but I have never tried the eye shadow before. 

I just love these colors!

God is taking care of "why".

I have blogged over the years about my health issues, my tummy troubles and chronic pain. Looking back at my previous posts I was trusting God and He was giving me strength. But lately I have become callus, bitter and resentful. Those worlds are even hard for me to type because that is not the person, mother, or wife I want to be. I am totally ashamed.

A few months ago I was feeling much better. I gained weight, I felt more energy. I was able to reduce my medications. I was really happy. But after a couple months the pain started to appear and exhaustion set in again. After just a few days of mommy work I have to rest even more days. My digestion is suffering and I just feel sick. I started to feel angry, angry at God. Where was He? Why am I going through this? Why cant I find any answers? He could surely help me, even heal me! Why wont He? I kept my bitterness and questions to myself. I didn't even want to talk to God anymore. But of course He could hear me He knows my heart.    

After some time past. I finally cried out to God. I spilled my bleeding heart. I repented for my ugly selfishness, bitterness and resentment. I asked if He was there and could if He hear me. I clearly heard in the back of my mind, "I have things to tell you, read my word, read Job."  

Reading the book Job God showed me that I have no authority to ask "why?" I don't even need to know why. God knows why.

 Job was a Godly man. But Job suffered greatly, he lost most his family, wealth, and his health. But he never turned away from God. God gave Job no explanation of the sufferings he endured but in the end Job was blessed more than he could have ever imagined.

There is suffering and pain in this world. I cant understand or comprehend why. But God knows why and he is the King. I must trust this.  He see's the whole entire picture, while I can only see an outline. He loves me. I know this is part of His greater purpose for my life. Someday I will be blessed more than I could possibly imagine.

 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 

Romans 8:8

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 

1 Peter 5:10

Lord, I pray for you to work on my heart. Thank you for revealing my bitterness. Help me humble and gracious to your will for my life. Help me to trust in you. Give me strength when I am weak spiritually, mentally, and physically. I am comforted in the fact you are taking care of the "why" so I don't have too. Thank you Lord for loving and taking care of me.

Amen.

Dollar Store Peppermint Wreath

I love dollar store crafts!

I made this sweet wreath for less than $5!

All I used is my hot glue gun and some spray paint.

I love Christmas crafting too!

Faded Sparkle Tip Nails

Saw this on Pinterest and I had to try (since it looked relatively uncomplicated).
I used Orly sparkles, Essie No Chips Ahead and Essie Mink Muffs.

First I painted two coats of Mink Muffs and let dry completely. Next I painted the tips with sparkles.
No need to be perfect but make it a little thicker than you normally would.

With clear coat stroke downward from tips to create a faded look.
I used a paper towel to wipe off the excess sparkles.

Let dry and Wa La! Super cute for the holidays, right?

Framed Christmas Ornament DIY

Holiday weekends mean holiday crafting and decorating. 

Yes, my tree is already up and here is what else I made this weekend.

I modpodged some glass ornaments with torn pieces of scrapbook paper.

After they dried I used twine, ribbon and metallic string to hang them up.

I made a bundle placing the ornaments at my desired hight.

Then I tightly duck taped around the bundle.

Then I duck taped them to the center back of the frame. Using duck tape will make my frame reusable for future holiday crafting.

Lastly I embellished it with a bow, tulle, pieces from a wreath and a cute little birdie which I hot glued in place.

Happy holidays!

Have a blessed weekend.