Top 2 Tuesday...Things I Collect!

Things I Collect

1. Anything Teal! Close friends and family will tell you that I'm obsessed with the color teal, robbin egg blue, sky blue, etc. So much so, that my entire living room, dining area, and guest bedroom are decorated around that color. As I'm typing now, my fingernails are even painted that same minty blue color. I just love teal!

Candlesticks 

Dining Room Table Arrangement

Guest Bedroom

Vase

2. Candles! My mom got me hooked on candles at a very young age - like junior high. I remember when I used to live at my parent's house having a mess of candles on my dresser, which strangely resembled a candle prayer altar that you might see in a Catholic church...just sayin. While I don't have any candle altars going on in my home, I do have a lot of candles, incense, and reed diffusers all over the place! I just love candles and the like, they smell so good! There's nothing like lighting a candle - the ambiance and smell is so relaxing and definitely sets the mood, if you know what I'm sayin. ;)  My favorite brand would definitely be Yankee Candle, Co.

What are some things that you like to collect? Link up at The Undomestic Momma and join the fun!

Top 2 Tuesday...My Favorite Drinks!

My Favorite Drinks

***Please note I am an avid water drinker. Water is definitely me go-to drink of choice and it is super healthy for you! But, because it's a boring drink I listed some of my other favorites that are quite fun!***

1. My all-time favorite drink, and the one you will most likely see me drinking at least once a week, is a Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino. I would say that Mocha Frappuccinos are definitely one of the little things in life that brightens my day just a little. There's nothing better than enjoying an ice cold frappuccino on a beautiful spring day, discussing life with friends/family nearby. For me, drinking these things is borderline obsessive, an addiction really. However, I've cut down a lot! I love Mocha Frappuccinos, they are just so good! 

2. I also love strawberry lemonade! Fresh and Easy sells a strawberry lemonade that is to die for! It is so sweet and perfect for summer weather! 

I know I've been M.I.A. for awhile, but these past few weeks have been super busy. There's so many projects we've been doing around the house and different events going on that I haven't had much time. But now that most of the projects are finished, I should have more time to post more often! 

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” – 1 John 5:14-15-

Link up at The Undomestic Momma and join the fun!

Top 2 Tuesday...Songs on My Ipod!

Top 2 Songs On My Ipod!

{Disclaimer: I'm probably the only one you'll meet who doesn't own an Ipod. I laugh at this because my husband is totally into technology and loves his Apple products! You would imagine that I would have one...but no. So, for now here are a few songs that are on my Pandora Radio.

1. Never Let Me Go by Family Force 5

2. Remedy by The David Crowder Band

3. Tiny Heart by Flyleaf

4. Comatose by Skillet

Link up and join the fun at The Undomestic Momma! What are your Top 2 songs on your Ipod or Pandora/Playlist account?                      

Top 2 Tuesday...Celebrity Hairstyles!

Top 2 Celebrity Hairstyles: The Bob

***Please Note that I am currently obsessed with short hair right now!***

• Kristin Cavallari - With Laguna beach and The Hills aside, I absolutely love any hairstyle Kristin Cavallari has! Especially when she chops it all off for a cute summer-time bob look. I recently got my haircut and brought in this exact photo so my hairstylist knew exactly what I wanted. Here are some before and after shots. 

Before

{Before chopping my hair off my hair was super long}

After

{I know my bangs look kinda crazy, but here is a shot of my hair from the front...}

{And, from the back...}

• Rihanna - I also love Rihanna's short bob too! She always has fun, spunky hair and I love it. She is definitely not afraid of taking risks with her hairstyles. Maybe at my next visit to the hair salon, I will get my hair cut a little bit shorter and something more like what Rihanna has.

Link up to The Undomestic Momma and join the fun!

Top 2 Tuesday...Dream Rooms!

1. Kitchen Dream Rooms! I absolutely love kitchens and I love my own, but if I had to dream...my dream kitchen would look something like this. One day, I would love for my kitchen to have granite counter tops, an island, lots of dark wood cabinets with hardware {but I also love the idea of white or teal cabinets}, double cooking space, vintage inspired farmhouse sink, chest for fine china or nice dinnerware, gooseneck faucet, wine storage, and open floor plan. Wow, this quite extensive, but a girl can dream right? 

Source

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2. Master Bathroom Dream Rooms! For my dream bathroom, I would simply love to have a large, jacuzzi style tube...large enough for two of course. ;) My dream bathroom would also have a large shower for two with stone or large tile, more cabinet space, and a vanity for moi!

Source

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Link up and join the fun at The Undomestic Momma!

Top 2 Tuesday...Relationships!

Top 2 Things I've Learned About Relationships/Marriage

1. It's all about love & respect! "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." ~Ephesians 5:22-33~ It's clear to many, that men and women are different. Similarly, the way men and women feel loved are different as well. We can see this perfectly in Ephesians 5:22-33. In these verses, the husband feels most loved when he is respected by his wife. The wife feels loved when she is cared for by her husband. The husband is called to love his wife as Christ loved the church. Conversely, the wife is to submit to and respect her husband. Submit is not used here in a negative context. Submitting to your husband, is not out of force, but is an action done out of free will and love. Because the wife loves her husband, she will respect him, support him, follow him, thus allowing him to be head/leader of the marriage relationship/household. The husband's love for his wife makes it easier for the wife to respect her husband. In the same way, her respect for her husband makes it easier for him to love her. These verses have definitely shaped our marriage relationship. It's our model for what a healthy marriage relationship looks like. It's also a clear explanation as to why your "love-tank" may be running on empty. 
2. Never stop dating each other! One thing that I've learned about relationships, especially within marriages, is that dating each other should never stop. As you get older, have children, and life gets crazy, it's vital for husbands & wives to focus back on each other. Scheduling a date night once a week will help you to focus on your relationship, grow together, learn from each other, create new memories, and simply have fun with one another! Writing love letters, poems, creating date-night-ins, etc., can also show/remind your husband or wife just how much you love him or her. Your relationship with your husband or wife, is the second most important relationship in your life, the first being your relationship with Your Lord and Savior! The marriage relationship takes special care, work, and time for it to be healthy and strong!

Raymond & I - August 2007

What have you learned about relationships? Link up and join the fun at The Undomestic Momma! 

Top 2 Tuesday...Things I've Learned About Money!

I'm getting a head start on The Undomestic Momma's Top 2 Tuesday now, because tomorrow is going to be crazy busy!

Things I've Learned About Money...

1. DON'T PUT YOUR TRUST IN MONEY OR THINGS OF THIS WORLD, BUT PUT YOUR TRUST IN CHRIST AND HIS RICHES THAT ARE ETERNAL...."And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 ~ Putting your trust in the economy, your bank account, employer, etc., is not a good idea. All of these can serve you well one minute and then fail you the next. The idea here is to put your trust in God and trust that He will supply your needs. God is always faithful and will always provide for His Children. “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:31-33
2. Be content with what you have. "For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances may be. I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous. In general and in particular I have learned the secret of eating well or going hungry of facing either plenty of poverty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me."Philippians 4:11-13

And...

• If you don't have the money...don't buy it! and If you can afford a high priced item...always pay with cash! "Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you." Proverbs 22:26-27 ~~~ "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law."Romans 13:8

What have you learned about money? Have a happy Tuesday everyone!

Top 2 Tuesday...Things I've Learned from My Parents & Grandparents!

Today I'm linking up with The Undomestic Momma's Top 2 Tuesday. The topic for this Tuesday is to list two things you've learned from your parents and grandparents.

What I've Learned...

May 30, 2008

1. From my parents, I've learned that all things are possible through Christ and to trust God with every facet in life, no matter how big or small it may be.  
2. From my grandparents, I've learned that marriage is one of the most special relationships shared between a man and a woman on earth. Marriage is not easy, but takes work. It's not always 50-50, sometimes the spouse may have to put in 100%. Marriage is not about the self, but serving, meeting the needs of, and loving the other person unconditionally. When I look at my grandma, I see someone with a servant's heart, faithfulness, and love for her husband. My grandpa has always been pretty stubborn, but my grandma always stood by him and loved him. She was there caring for him through his constant battle with cancer, surgeries, and lots and lots of chemo and radiation treatment. She was definitely there to be his support, when he couldn't. Now that my grandma has Alzheimer's, the tables have shifted a bit. My grandma can no longer care for herself nor for anyone else and grandpa now has to be her support. My grandparent's have been married for about 65 years and I admire their marriage and commitment to each other. 

Grandpa & Grandma Anderson Summer 2004