Candles, Cupcakes, Twin Nieces & a PARTY!

Candles, Cupcakes, Twin Nieces & a Party

A few weeks ago my 2 beautiful twin nieces Meghan & Paige turned 8 years old - how time flies!!  I was so blessed to be able to attend & help out with this birthday party.

My sister is such a cool mom - she created a themed party - the theme was CUPCAKES.

The location of the party was a local candle shop where all of the young party attendees made a Vanilla scented Cupcake Candle.  After the candle making and the gift exchange we were all treated with twin Cupcake Cakes!!

A wonderful time was had by all!!

Later on today I will share with you the details of making the candles and of decorating the cakes.

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Related Posts:
Making the Cupcake CANDLES
Decorating the Cupcake CAKES

March GREAT BLOG TRAIN Results

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The third GREAT BLOG TRAIN was a blast! - We all safely reached our destination. It was a wonderful trip with 58 boxcars!! I'd like to thank all of you for travelling with us and I hope that you all had a wonderful time!

Since there are 3 Hostesses & 3 Rules I decided that I will "Pin" my 3 favorite boxcars from each Blog Train every month.
Visit my "Great Blog Train" Pinterest Board to see if your boxcar is one of my top 3 picks!!

The next "Great Blog Train" will be departing from your local digital train station on APRIL 3RD 2013 - I hope that you will join us!

And don't forget - next month the March "Caboose" will be featured on all 3 of the Hostesses blogs!

 

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God's Thoughts Are NOT Our Thoughts

" 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord.  'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;  the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.  Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.  This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.' "  Isaiah 55:8-13

To me these verses are all about Trust.  When we try to figure out why something is happening in our life or what purpose God could possibly have in allowing something  to occur - we are actually trying to think on God's level.  We do not know the future but God does.  We do not have a plan but God does.

- God's thoughts are not our thoughts 

- God's ways are not our ways

- and God's timing is not our timing

Look at the poetic way that God's provision is described:  "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater....."  - This all takes time.  God's plan is not in our modern timing of instant gratification.  God has a purpose & an exact time: ".....so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."  We need to trust our heavenly Father in every aspect of our life - He has the detailed plan and knows exactly what we are going through and why it is necessary.  We might not learn the reason why we are put into certain situations until we reach the pearly gates of heaven! - but we still must walk in faith knowing that God is in control.

I just love this descriptive verse:  "...the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."  Have you ever watched trees during a windy storm? - It really does look like they are clapping their hands! (I'm not a tree hugger but if you look closely you might even see a smiling face in the knots of the tree trunk - God's creation is amazing!!) 

I believe that the "thornbush" symbolizes "thorns in our flesh" like weaknesses and illnesses and the "briers" symbolize the hardships and difficulties in our life.  Only God can turn our thorns into healthy strong pine trees (or turn our illnesses into health).  And only God can turn our briers into smooth and prosperous myrtle (or turn our hardships into comfort). 

We need to live one day at a time and one decision at a time - always following God's plan in God's timing.    

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Smoothie Saturday #8 - Peachy Keen Kale

Smoothie Saturday #8 - Peachy Keen Kale

A while ago I bought - The "NutriBullet". Since then I have been creating many smoothie creations.

Today is the seventh "Smoothie Saturday" where I will share one of my smoothie experimentation.

In this recipe the healthiest ingredient is Kale.

Kale - is high in vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, potassium, Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, Iron and much much more.  Kale lowers cholesterol, is a good source of fiber and protein and is said to have anti-cancer properties. (again - I'm not a doctor - please see my "disclaimer" at the bottom of this post).

CAUTION:  Kale contains chemicals called "goitrogens" which inhibit the absorption of iodine - so if you have "hypothyroidism" you will want to keep this in mind when eating Kale.

Click HERE to view different Kale varieties 

1 large peach (washed & pitted - if you don't like the skin then you may peel)

1 small apple (washed & cored)

3 tender Kale leaves (washed & deveined)

1 teaspoon flax seeds

1 tablespoon walnuts

1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder

1/2 cup kefir (or yogurt)

1/4 cup water (if it is too thick)

Begin with the smaller "NutriBullet" container and use the "nut & seed" blade to blend & chop the walnuts & flax seeds. Now place the remaining ingredients (including the processed seeds & nuts from the first step) into the larger "NutriBullet" container and use the "smoothie" blade. Blend for about 30 seconds (or until fully blended).

ENJOY!!

IMPORTANT: All of my smoothie recipes on this blog are measured for the "NutriBullet" and are a single serving - if you have a different kind of blender that has a larger capacity then you may increase the amount of ingredients according to your desired smoothie needs. The ingredients in this recipe measure close to the max line of the NutriBullet. 

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The Great Blog Train #3

All Aboard!!!

The Great Blog Train

A monthly blog hop departing from your online train station on the first Wednesday of every month!

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Train Facts

The "Railroad Revolution" only took 50 years in the United States!!  Between 1830 and 1880 - these locomotives were the main force in building new businesses and new communities.  North America wouldn't be what it is today if it weren't for this RAILROAD REVOLUTION.     Information from railroadheritage.org

 Remember!! - If you want to join in on the "Twitter Boxcar" - use

hashtag blogtrain (no spaces and no capitals)

#blogtrain

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Chugga chugga! Chugga chugga! Toot! Toot!

We had a great trip last  month! Thank you to everyone who hopped on board!

Remember to join the fun even if you are running a little late. The last entry will receive the Caboose Feature!

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If you have been featured - please grab the "Caboose" button for your blog :-)

February's Caboose and featured blog is:

Sweet Love and Ginger

Congratulations JC (a.k.a. Jessica)!  She is a civil engineer with “back country roots” and an Irish heritage.  She loves the outdoors, is an avid reader and hopes to travel the world.  The recipes that she shares on her blog are mouthwatering!

Checkout some of her most recent blog posts:
“What I read February: I’ll Just Dip A Toe In” & a very interesting
 “Foodie Pen Pals February”

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Angie           Marci            Helen

 

OPTIONAL:You may grab our “Great Blog Train” button and post it on your sidebar or link page.
Also, feel free to spread the word – the more the merrier!

 

Remember to check all 3 Hostesses Blogs to see who was featured from last month. Click here to see: My February Favorites from the second Great Blog Train.

  

 

 

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Fiery Hot Deviled Avocado Eggs

Fiery Hot Deviled Avocado Eggs

This is a perfect carb friendly snack or lunch for those who have spring fever  ;-)

A few basics:

To learn How to Cook Hard Boiled Eggs - click HERE

To learn How To Cut An Avocado - click HERE

Printable Recipe

9 Hard Boiled Eggs (peeled & the yolk removed & set aside - see bottom left picture)

1 Avocado

1 package of Spicy Guacamole mix (buy "mild" if you don't like hot & spicy)

1 to 2 tablespoons sour cream

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (omit if you prefer mild)

Begin by boiling, cooling & peeling the eggs (my "Deviled Egg Container" has 16 spaces which equals 8 eggs - I always boil an extra one just in case there is a problem peeling the shells).  The egg yolk will scoop out or pop out easily - set the yolks aside in a mixing bowl and place the whites on a platter of on your special Deviled Egg container.  Prepare the avocado & place the cubed avocado chunks in the same bowl as the yolks.  Now add the sour cream, Guacamole spice package & the cayenne pepper (I found that the Guacamole package was not spicy enough - but if you prefer mild then omit the extra cayenne pepper) to the egg yolks - mix with an electric mixer until blended & creamy (see bottom right picture).

  

Now, scoop a heaping tablespoon amount of the Fiery Avocado Filling into the Egg white base (it looks nicer if you pipe the filling with a "frosting piping bag" but I just used a soup spoon).

Chill in the fridge for an hour then ENJOY!!

IMPORTANT: Avocados turn dark the longer they sit - just keep that in mind when serving these devilers. I always serve these soon after making them - don't chill for more than an hour)



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Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing #6

I miss the old hymns that I remember from my childhood - there were no drums, no electric guitar and no mind numbing beat. It was just voices and maybe a piano or an organ. The choir led the congregation in singing - and the words of these hymns are poetic. I realize that there is a need for the modern "seeker oriented" worship music - but it is also necessary to have deeper songs (no offense intended to anyone who prefers the newer church songs).

I decided to have an "Old Fashion Sunday Hymn Sing" once a month on this blog.
I personally do NOT have a great singing voice - I used to play the guitar & piano but my voice is NOT an instrument. That's the great thing about this digital hymn sing you can warble along without being embarrassed or without offending anyone else.

The hymns that we will be studying are taken from an old hymnal from a Baptist church that is no longer in existence - "The North American Hymnal" published in 1956 by "THE ROGER WILLIAMS PRESS"

I will also try to find a version of the featured hymn on "YouTube" to share with you each month.

Today's feature song is "At The Cross" by hymnist Isaac Watts, (1674-1748) and composed by R.E. Hudson.  Isaac Watts was an English theologian and hymnwriter and wrote about 750 Hymns!!

I included 2  "YouTube" videos below - the first one is the traditional way to sing this Hymn & the second one is a Jazzy Louisiana version.

Turn with me to number 139 in your hymnals and let's sing:

At The Cross

by Isaac Watts (1674-1748) composed by R. E. Hudson

1. Alas, and did my Saviour blee? And did my Sov'reign die?  Would He devote that sacred head For such a one as I?

CHORUS

2.   Was it for crimes that I have done, He groaned upon the tree?  Amazing pity!  grace unknown!  And love beyond degree!

CHORUS

3.  Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut his glories in.  When Christ, the mighty Maker died For man, the creature's sin.

CHORUS

4.  But drops of grief can ne'er repay The debt of love I owe:  Here, Lord, I give myself away, 'Tis all that I can do!

CHORUS

Chorus

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, (rolled away) It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!

A special thanks to SoulfulMusic100 for posting this on YouTube



A special thanks to brandinreed for posting this on YouTube

Other Hymns on this blog:

In The Garden

It Is Well With My Soul

Count Your Blessings

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

I Love To Tell The Story
Crown Him With Many Crowns
He Lives
Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus