Faux Bun Tutorial

I do not have enough hair to create a bun by wrapping and twisting my hair. So started to do this faux bun. Its great for unwashed hair or the day after a blowout. Plus it EASY, I am not good at doing hair so if I can do it, you can too.

Start with dry hair. Put into a ponytail on the highest part of your head. I run my fingers through it because I want a messy look.

Take 1/3 of your hair and fold it over and tuck it into your ponytail.

It will look like this. You can pull some hair out  for a larger size bun.

Then take half of the remaining hair and do the same in the front, tuck it into your pony and pull a little out.

Tuck your last section of hair into your pony. You will have some strays and the ends of your hair might stick out. Just keep tucking in strays and use bobby pins if needed.

Here is the finished look. I like to pull on it and shake it to make it more messy and casual.

Here is the back.

Wha La! Easy Peasy, right?

My testimony, My Blessing

I was 17 years old. I grew up in a christian family and I felt I knew everything about God and Jesus. But being a rebellious teen I wanted to live my own life and have "fun." I walked away from Christ and did my own thing.

I moved away from home. I was doing drugs, drinking and partying to my hearts content. It felt good to make my own decisions for once. I was having the time of my life after all! But after a short time living in that environment I started to hurt physically and mentally. Bad decisions and drinking left me vulnerable to being raped by an older man. Even after that I was still stubborn and wanted to live my own life, I could handle it. My health was quickly declining. I ended up getting UT infections and my teeth were in desperate need of dental care. Drinking and drugs could no longer mask my pain. I ended up being an emotional mess. Living my own way wasn't ending up exactly how I had planned. I was a wreak. I felt hopeless.

I asked my parents to move back home. I cleaned up a little bit but I was still trying to do it my way. I got a job at a local restaurant where I met Kevin. He was the most handsome guy I had ever seen. We had chemistry from the first time our eyes locked. He was different, very different. I knew he must have liked me too because he introduced himself to everyone in the restaurant but me. We argue about this, but I remember breaking the ice and introducing myself first. My blog, my story ; ) After our introduction we were never separated, not once. 

I was feeling better and living better but I still wanted to live my own way. I was still drinking on occasion but not much. Only 3 weeks later another bad decision left Kevin and I pregnant at 17 and 18 years old. I knew my life would be changed from that moment on. Several people whom I trusted told me to have an abortion and said my life would be ruined by a baby. Out of panic Kevin handed me a paper with abortion clinic addresses and phone numbers on it. My heart sank. At that point I realized I needed God. I could not handle my life on my own anymore because it wasn't just MY life anymore. There was a precious baby with me now. God led me to a christian friend whom I trusted to help me sort through this situation. She simply told me, "Babies are a blessing from God." From that moment on I was forever changed. I knew that I had made some huge mistakes, but God was still going to bless me? I felt so undeserving. I asked God to forgive me for my sins. 

I told Kevin I was going to have our baby with or without his participation. This is when my stubbornness was actually useful. God worked in Kevin's heart and he was willing support me and our baby. He never missed a doctor appointment, he was a great father. I changed my life. I devoted my life God and to my beautiful baby growing in my tiny teenage belly. I was just a baby myself but God gave me the strength and capability to take care of this precious blessing. As I look back I can hardly believe the capability I felt at such a young age. It was a miracle from God. Kevin and my relationship grew into a deep love. No one expected us to stay together for more than a few months. But we married and three months later our little blessing came into our lives. Our little Caleb Robert Matteri. I never knew I could be so in love with someone I just met. God revealed His love for me through this little baby boy. I developed my own relationship with God again. God has continually blessed my marriage and my family. Kevin and I have a wonderful marriage nine years later. It has not been easy but God helped us through the tough times and continues to be faithful to us.

God is my compass of light in times of darkness. 

I cant live life in my own, I NEED God. 

He is my rock and fortress.

Thank you God for giving me hope and a life filled with great joy. 

Thank you for my little boy who reminds me every day that he is my blessing from You and he brought me back to a relationship with You.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Blessed

Do you know what "blessed," or even giving someone a "blessing" really means? 

Do you realize how much that word is thrown around with little meaning? "Ahhchoooo!" "Oh, bless you!" See what I mean? 

Most relate the word "blessed" to mean riches, good health, a sense of well being and so on. But that isn't what the Bible says about being blessed.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you: the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." 

Numbers 6:24-26

No indication of money, health, well being or even sneezing. It is a closeness with our Lord and Savior, an intimate relationship that gives you the ultimate peace and grace through all of life's challenges and hardships. 

His blessings may not be physical items you can see with the naked eye but rather the gift of Jesus Christ. How incredibly sacred!

What an amazing blessing to have the Lords face shine upon you!

Whats for Din din?

Spaghetti sauce is one of my specialties.

*Homemade spaghetti sauce

*Organic roasted squash with brown sugar and cinnamon.

*Sour dough bread.

My sauce recipe:

Keep in mind that this recipe is all in my head and my measurements are not exact.

olive oil

1 onion

6 cloves garlic

1 lb. ground beef

1 pkg. spicy italian sausage (remove from casings)

1/2 bottle red wine 

1 large can whole pealed tomatoes, crush them 

3 small cans tomato sauce 

2 Tbls. dried basil

1 Tbls. oregano

1 Tbls. thyme

sea salt and pepper

2 Tbls. brown sugar (my secret ingredient)

Coat the pan with oil. Saute onions, garlic and meat. Then add wine, tomatoes, sugar and spices. Cook at least 3 hours on low (uncovered). 

This recipe might seem standard but a few things make this sauce extra yummy. Make sure to buy a good tasting wine that you would drink in a glass. Buy good quality tomatoes like San Marzano, it makes a huge difference. And of course the brown sugar, this is my secret ingredient it makes the whole thing come together. Also the cooking time is important, I know 3 hours is along time but it will thicken the sauce and condense the flavor.

I roasted the squash at 400 degrees with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon for 30 minutes. They were very small squashes, I am not sure the variety because they came in my Organic Farm Fresh To You box. They tasted like butternut squash, one of my favorites. My "non veggie eater" even liked them!

My Favorite Chocolate Snack+ Giveaway Winner!

YUMMY in my TUMMY!

Comment #9 Susan! You won girl!

Im Baa-ack! Pictures from our Kauai Trip.

What an amazing vacation we had! 

Kauai is such a beautiful island. It smells like tropical flowers and rainfall and it looks like a lush jungle. 

We enjoyed eating, swimming, zip lining, scuba diving, lazying around and exploring. Kevin and I had such a wonderful time! 

I hope you enjoy the pictures from our trip.

There was chickens and roosters EVERYwhere!

Wailea Canyon. So amazing! You cant doubt that God created such beauty!

Bananas just outside our hotel room.

The ocean was so blue and clear.

We spent a day zip lining. Its been on my bucket list, so I get to cross that bad boy off now!

Backward AND no hands! Such a rush!

Yeah, that was pretty high up.

Lots of movies have been filmed here movies like Jurassic Park.

No hands!

There were wild cats in the jungle. Not tigers or lions, but kitty cats. This one was really friendly.

Rolling around in our Jeep.

We did allot of this!

Wild orchids everywhere. So beautiful!

Plate lunches were awesome! We ate a ton of poke and kalua pork.

I missed The Boys so much while we were gone I plan to spend the weekend cuddling on the couch with them. Its good to be home!

Have a great weekend!

Clinique Giveaway!

Its time to share the love. Its giveaway time!

You could be the winner of some beautiful Clinique makeup and cute little bag!

Rules are simple:

1. You must be a follower of Blissfully Blessed. If you are not please become one. I appreciate all of my followers and every time I gain even just one follower I get super excited.

2. Leave me a comment and thats it! Just simply state you are a follower of BB.

3. For a bonus entry you can share this giveaway on Facebook or even just tell someone about it. Make sure to leave a separate comment that you did so.

This giveaway will run until 11/14.

Thank you and good luck!