Covergirl

As I have mentioned before, I am a BzzAgent and therefore I am able to try new products for free. I receive great coupons for these products to share - so please let me know if you are interested.

I am currently sampling Covergirl's new Natureluxe Collection.

I must admit when I was selected for the campaign I was sooooo excited. Who doesn't love free make up? I was giddy like a teenager.

According to the information I received with the product this "smooth silk foundation trades in a heavier emollient for a touch of cucumber water and a hint of natural jojoba and rosehip extracts. It provides a flawless coverage and a silky lightweight feel."

I agree and disagree. Before trying this new foundation I was/am using a powder foundation. So it was a bit of a change to go back to liquid. But I've used liquid the majority of my adult life so I was up for the task.

I agree that the product is silky. I really liked the texture of the foundation. But I don't necessarily think of it as light. It provides excellent coverage - although I found myself needing to use powder on top to control the oil. That's something I haven't had to do since I was a teen.

Along with the foundation came a Gloss Balm. There isn't a lot to say about plain lip balm, other than I wished I could have tried a different shade.

I've been using these products for the last three days. While my opinion may change as time goes on, I don't think that the products are amazing enough for me to change back from powder to liquid.

I will give you an update on my opinion after more time has passed. Who knows...I may fall in love with this stuff!

A long hard look at....

Myself. I know, I know. But this blog is FOR me. Some of you crazy people just decided to come along for the ride.

So I'm in the shower this morning after I worked out. (Go ME!) As I've mentioned before the shower is my thinking time. So I realize that I'm processing a post from a "friend" on facebook from yesterday.

By "friend" I mean an acquaintance that I met at MOPS and have NEVER spent any personal time with her.

I realized that most of the times her posts are usually about abortion and how ppl that believe in abortion should be treated or she posts videos of extremists etc.

Abortion is her soapbox.

I get it. Totally. She is a conservative christian with a strong belief and very strong fingers to type said beliefs.

But here was my thought process this morning:

Wow...she is starting to get a little overzealous in her posts. I wonder if she thinks that's what she is supposed to do. I wonder if she realizes how that makes her look to the general public....

Then, for some unknown reason, I start getting angry. I'm guess that at this point Satan or some other demon stepped in and started soaping up my back....

All I could think was.....Is this what Christ would do? Is this how HE would handle the abortion thing? I mean, I studied Christs life in some detail and I don't recall ANYTHING that would point saying these types of things or acting like these extremists are.

I was mentally writing my response to her post. I was calling her out and making points that would show her ignorance and I could just feel this rage building and building...

Then I heard a still, soft voice say - Bekki - I will take care of it.

That's it. That's all it said. But it was enough. Who am I to take on a challenge like that? I run my trap about how I can't believe in anything until I get Holy Spirit Conviction - and then I'm trying to shove MY personal views down this poor girls throat.

It's not up to me to act just like the people I can't stand. It's up to me to act like Christ. To show Christ through my actions and not just my words.

So for now I stand in prayer. I prayed really hard in the shower, and I hope it caused the demon in there with me to burn a bit. I prayed for wisdom and understanding and authority.

I'm not sure what else to do but to unfriend her. We never actually talk, and her posts are just become to "crazy extremist christian" for me. I don't really want to be associated with anything like that. I think it limits my ability to show people what Christ is like.

Until God sees fit to tel me what to do - I will sit back and pray.

Wendesday What???

Last night I was driving home from taking my civil service exam and I was able to catch a sermon on the radio.

I caught it in the middle, so I'm not certain who was preaching, or what the title even was.

But I like it. It was all about giving praise for EVERYTHING. If you hate your job, if you are broke, if you hate your house, if your husband irritates you....GIVE PRAISE for it.

God cannot bring you greatness until you do this. You must surrender all to him, otherwise he will keep these irritations and bad things so that you seek him!

So today I am making that change. I am going to start praising the Lord that my children don't pick up after themselves.

I'm going to praise the Lord that my husband is never home anymore, thanks to his job.

I'm going to praise the Lord that I have enough facial hair to grow a beard.

I'm gonna praise the Lord....

Tummy Tuesday

I was lucky enough to find some ricotta cheese on sale the same week I found pasta on sale! You know what that means...

Stuffed Shells

I could not find my tried and true recipe, so I just used my imagination.

1 box Pasta Shells
1 Large Container Ricotta Cheese
3 Eggs
2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 Cup Frozen Spinach - thawed
1 Jar Spaghetti Sauce
Salt
Garlic Salt or Powder
Parsley
1 Large Freezer Bag



Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add pasta shells and cook for about 12 minutes.

Meanwhile mix together Eggs, Ricotta, Mozzarella and Spinach. Add a couple shakes of Garlic Salt and Parsley.

Take the large freezer bag and put a scoop or two of the cheese mixture in the bottom.

After your 12 minutes are up drain the shells and rinse with cold water.

Cover the bottom of a 9x13 pan with a little of your sauce.

Snip the bottom corner of the bag with your cheese mixture in it. Start squeezing the mixture into your shells and place them in your pan.

Once you have used up all of your cheese mixture cover the shells with the remaining sauce.

You can now refrigerate the shells for a future meal, or pop them in the oven at 350 for about 35-40 minutes.

Add some garlic bread and a salad and you have a complete meal!!

Monday Movie

This week's movie was actually a mini-series, but is now available in movie form via Netflix.

Lost in Austen

Here is the Netflix description:

After a dispute with her boyfriend, Amanda lands in the 19th-century world of author Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. While helping the Bennet sisters find husbands, Amanda accidentally causes problems that could alter the course of the tale. Throughout this British series, Amanda must balance her feelings for Mr. Darcy (Elliot Cowan) with her responsibility to the one of the world's greatest love stories. Jemima Rooper stars.

I didn't read far enough on Netflix to see that this is a United Kingdom drama. I mean, in my mind ALL movies are made in America.

However my ignorance didn't detract from this witty movie one bit!

I found myself thinking about it even after I watched it. I played certain scenes over and over in my mind and imagined how I would have handled certain situations.

This is a must see for any Jane Austen fans, time travel fans, and plain ol' romantics.

I rated it 5 stars.

Tummy Tuesday

Fish version

I made a delicious fish this week and my family has requested that I make it part of our regular menu.

It was so simple and made up that I agreed. It didn't take much time and my daughter, the pickiest eater, had 2nds and 3rds, asked for it for breakfast (was denied) then ate 2 helpings at lunch. Good thing I made alot!

Ingredients:

1 bag frozen tilapia filets.
Lemon Juice
Paprika
Season Salt
3/4 Stick of butter
Pam
9x13 Pan


I purchased the whitefish Tilapia at Aldis. It's in the frozen section. I can't remember the price, but I will edit this post to reflect it next time I go.

I let the filets thaw, then "pammed" a 9 x 13 pan. I lay 4 filets in the bottom of the pan. I didn't want it to be too crowded. Since I made the whole bag I used 2 pans. I think I may have had 3 in one and 4 in another.

I sloshed drizzled lemon juice over all the filets. Then I took about 3/4 stick of butter and cut into "pats". I put a few pats on each filet.

Then I sprinkled season salt and paprika over top. I baked at 350 for about 40 mins total. Depending on how many you are cooking you want to start with 20 mins and go from there. You want them to be flaky but not dried out.

I served them with white rice and JJ's fried zucchini.

Let me know if you make them and what you think!

Homemade Laundry Soap

A few months ago my fellow Frugal Frannie shared with me a recipe for homemade laundry soap.

I must admit this is a nice way to shave a few dollars off your monthly grocery bill. I've been using it for several months now and am still pleased with the product.

Here is the basic recipe:

1/3 Bar of Fels Naptha
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
A 2 Gallon Bucket
A clean Gallon Jug


Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

I have played with this recipe to suit my hard water. I've added an additional bar of soap grated and added with the Fels Naptha. I've increased the Fels Naptha to 1/2 a bar and I've changed water amounts to be 8 cups to start and dissolve, then 6 cups in the bucket and 1 gal plus 8 cups to the bucket.

When it gels it will look a little like egg drop soup.

I've also added some scent into the mixture. It doesn't seem to scent the clothing, but it smells nice when you start your wash load.

A few more tips:

Do not use fabric softener with a load of towels. This makes the towels develop a film and causes them to not dry as well.

If you fill your fabric softener cup with vinegar in each load the vinegar acts as a natural fabric softener. I promise, your clothes will not smell like vinegar once they come out of the dryer.