Saturday, June 30, 2012

Handmade Goats Milk Soap review and Give-away!


Have you ever tried Goat milk soap?? I never did but was very curious about it.  Especially after seeing that the bars made by Rhen from Yes, They Are All Mine are handmade by her, in her own kitchen and are completely natural. I looked around on her soap website and learned so much about her soaps.

Here are some facts taken from her page:


Why goat's milk?  Just a few of the benefits of goat milk soap are:  protects skin from daily bacterial and chemical invasion,  very moisturizing, perfect for sensitive skin, helps kill acne, won't leave residue on oily skin, sloughs off dead skin cells, and helps to soothe a variety of skin conditions like eczema.
     Do you use animal fats (tallow or lard)?  No!  The only animal product is the goat milk.  My soaps contain an array of Vitamin E rich oils, including olive oil that nourishs and helps hydrate your skin.  Stress, dietary choices, environmental pollutions, medications and exposure to ultra-violet rays all take a toll on the health of your skin.  Olive oil replaces the moisture and elasticity lost to these elements because it is naturally rich in Vitamin E and other powerful antioxidants that have tremendous healing and preserving properties.
     Do you use artificial/ liquid dyes?  No!  I use no harmful dyes, preservatives, parabens or SLS.  I use clays, purified muds and herbs to add any colors or textures.  
     How do you add scent to your soap?  All of my soaps are scented with 100% pure essential oils!  No fragrance oils or alcohol carriers.
     Who or what makes the soaps?  My soaps are made by me.  I hand cut, trim and label each and every one.  Each batch I make is unique and has inherent differences, swirls, variations and "flaws" that give them charm and 
character.  No machines here! 


After reading all of this information I was even more intrigued and placed an order. The scents I chose were "Sweet Pooh Bear", "Muscled Farmboy", "Lover's Leap" and "Frolicking in the Dead Sea". Don't you love the names of the soap?
I quickly received my soaps in the mail and was already impressed as soon as I opened the box. The aroma of each soap was amazing!
I couldn't wait to try them and the first one I tried was the Sweet Pooh Bear. I cannot believe how much I liked it even after one use. It is unbelievably creamy.  My skin was incredibly soft and smooth with no residue or tight feeling afterwards.  After using it for a few days, my skin felt even softer. It really is amazing and very hydrated. The texture and tone of my skin has improved also.
The real test was my hubby. He is an auto mechanic and his hands are extremely rough. His first response after using the soap the first time was "what is this creamy soap"? Now, I don't know about your hubby's, but mine never notices any soap I buy and just uses what is there. This- he noticed. He liked it so much, especially the scent, that when I told him it was made from goat's milk and was all natural, he asked if he can eat it or at least use it as a mouth wash!! LOL Oh, how I love him! I told him, of course not, it IS soap.
We are both very impressed with these wonderful soaps and have decided to only use these from now on. It has been over a month now and the changes in our skin our fantastic. Even hubby's rough hands are much smoother! I highly recommend her soaps. 
Now for the give-away....
Rhen from Yes, They Are All Mine, is offering *2* bars of her wonderful handmade goat milk soap with  choice of scent to one winner! How exciting! 


.a Rafflecopter giveaway





*see terms and conditions


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Monday, June 25, 2012

Cucumber, tomato & celery salad!



This is one of my favorite summer salads! Mostly because tomatoes are delish and in season right now and also, it is SO easy to make and keeps for days.

Here ya go:
Cut up tomatoes,celery and cucumber (as big or small as you like)
Mix with olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder
DONE!
Easy, right? It's best when it's nice and cold.


I make my cucumber fancy when having company for dinner.
Just wash the cucumber, cut off both ends, peel and then take a fork and run it down the whole cucumber-from end to end. Keep going all around the entire circumference. 
so easy!
voila!
isn't it pretty? :)





I am linked up at

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Friday, June 22, 2012

Are you wrestling with God?



It breaks my heart to see so many people still resisting God.
He loves us. So much. All of us. Yes, even you.
I've been there. On the losing side of the war. I've resisted. I wrestled with all that I have. 
And when I gave up, guess what? I WON.....


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I was you. The one who wanted things my way; the one who fought my way through arguments; the one who let my anger and temper take over; the one who wanted nothing to do with God.....


I was you. The one who hated someone more than anything;  the one who did something that seemed so unforgivable; the one who was always frustrated and never satisfied...
I battled hard. Suffered severe anxiety. Hit rock bottom only to find, it was the Rock I needed all along. 

2 Samuel 22:2
And he said: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;


I finally threw in the towel and stopped fighting. I took a knee, surrendering my life to One who CAN and WILL and HAS forgiven me.  Even the unthinkable sins.

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Now, there's no more anger. No more hurt. No more hatred. No more guilt. All the weight of the years of countless sins has been lifted. Peace. Comfort. Joy.... I can breathe.....

John 3:16

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

That means everyone. Even YOU.
Stop resisting Him. Yield to His Spirit. Ask Him for forgiveness. Turn from your sin. Follow Him.
He is full of mercy, grace and love.  He is gentle, patient and so faithful. You will not feel defeated. You will feel victorious! The battle has already been won. Jesus became our sin and died on the cross, taking on the wrath of God so we won't have to.


Your sin does not define you. Your sin is not your identity. Your past is not who you are.  Let. It. Go.

Praying for every one of you reading this, that you will let go and give your life over to Christ.






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Monday, June 18, 2012

Think. Before. You. Speak.

My friend Melissa from LifeWithLissy.com wrote an interesting and much needed article about the way people prejudge a large family.  Basically, people think that if you have more than 2 or 3 kids, you live off of the government, you are always busy and overwhelmed and you can't possibly be a good mother to "all those children".
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Well I am at the other end of the spectrum with no kids, yet, (Lord willing) and I have the same problem of too many people telling me how to live life and knowing what's best for me.   For the record, saying things like "You're not getting any younger" and "what are you waiting for" are kinda personal and frankly,  rude to say to someone.  You don't know everyone's situation or reasoning.  Some women don't announce their pregnancy until a far enough stage and you may be asking someone who just had a miscarriage, why they haven't had a baby yet. Think. Before. You. Speak.
 That doesn't mean you should jump to conclusions of fertility issues, marital issues, financial issues, or that you need to keep telling them how wonderful babies are.  I'm pretty sure everyone knows that babies are a huge blessing from the Lord.



I've heard it all:
"You would make such a great mother you should really start having babies"   
" You are so great with kids, why don't you have any?"
"Does your husband not want any kids?"
"You know you are 30 now...."
"Well if you ever have kids you'll understand what it is to really love" ~YUP, they went there! 
And the list goes on..........................




 Either way, lots of kids or no kids, we never have the right to push our offensive opinions onto people or tell them what we think they need to know about their own life. Ultimately, it is the Lord's plan for our lives and whether that be 10 kids or none, He is in control and always has our best interest in mind. 


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



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