Saving the Planet One Mug at a Time

I'm no longer using styrofoam cups even though that requires me to clean an extra cup a day.

It's the least I can do ... that's like 260 less cups a year I throw in the trash.

Let's not talk about the fact that I've left my reusable grocery store bags at home for the past two years every time I've gone shopping.

Hey ... it's a work in progress.

Is there no end to the ridicule? (and a giveaway)

My family often makes fun of me.

I know. I'm as shocked as you are.

The one who takes care of all their needs and pours out love upon them ... that's the one they choose to make fun of.

To make matters worse, the objects of their teasing are things beyond my control. Really beyond my control.

Would you tease someone because they were crippled? Or blind? Or deaf?

I think not.

These issues are just part of who I am and yet, they mock.

They mock because of my unique burrito hold due to double-jointed fingers.

They mock because I always display the numbers 1-5 with my fingers when I speak them.

They mock because I rhyme all the time. (never meaning to and always doing it at times I don't want to)

They mock because of my triangle toe.

The main mocker = Beau.

Beau is the sheriff of the English language. If there were a badge, he would wear it with pride.

He is strongly bothered by my misuse of the words "bring" and "take," which I continue to misuse just to irritate him.

And, the way I say and have taught La Petite Belle to say "button," with strong emphasis on the "t." ("BU - TTUN") Perfect to me.

All this nonsense to say, Jackie made this cute little button for me. BU-TTUN!

See the code on the left side there?

I'm resorting to shameless bribery here.

Any takers?

I'm going to have a little giveaway. Yep, it's true.

If you grab my button and stick it on your sidebar, you will automatically be entered to win. And, you'll get a second entry if you post about the giveaway on your blog.

So, I'd better make this good, huh? That's a hefty task.

I started thinking about a gift card to a place you could buy buttons, which left me with only a few spots like Hobby Lobby, which some don't have in their town, or WalMart, which if you've read my blog long enough know I find that place equivalent with hell and only visit in dire emergencies.

So, I settled on Target. Whether or not you can buy buttons there or not, I don't know. But, it's one of my favorite places, and I know you can get most anything there, so that's it.

Target it is ... $15 gift card.

Leave a comment letting me know you posted my button and if you posted about the giveaway so I can check it out and enter you.

A winner will be randomly selected on Thursday evening and I will post who the winner is on Friday morning. Please leave your email in your comment so that I may contact you.

Cliptomaniac

When La Petite Belle was just a little girl, we discovered she had a tiny obsession with scissors.

She loved scissors and cutting anything.

Literally. Anything and everything.

In her K-4 class, she had her scissors taken away because of the constant confetti that filled the floor under her desk. When the teacher asked the class to cut triangles, her triangles ended up being 128 tiny strips of paper.

In addition, she has cut her hair (especially her bangs) a total number of six times. She sported a mullet for a day or two until we had to do an extreme short and sassy hairdo.

(Here she is a month or so after her haircut.)

I've posted before about how she has cut almost all of her Barbies' hair ...

and the time where I had a coniption fit about what she did to our new bedroom furniture.

She's getting older now, but we're still dealing with the same issue.

In the last week, I discovered these.

(The wall next to my toilet ... scissors were laying on the floor next to this piece of work.)

(Even WORSE ... one complete line cut through her entire box-spring)

Mama is not happy and must find a cure for this.

I saw her change in an instant.

Disappointment is always hard ... even for adults.

But, I'll take a hundred disappointments if it means my child won't have to experience one.

Every year La Petite Belle attends a camp where she, of course, wants to audition for a solo part.

If you've read my blog long enough, you know that she's quite the performer and has always been.

When she was three, she would stand on her chair at any restaurant, recite The Pledge of Allegiance, and sing "The Star-Spangled Banner," along with any other song she knew. This was usually the entertainment at any place where we were dining with friends.

She's not shy and has never been.

(Need I remind you of a few of her past performances ... here ... here ... and here.)

And, though I may be biased, I must say she has that special je ne sais quoi. Oh, heck, she's just good at stuff, especially when it comes to acting or performing. She's quite a ham and enjoys it.

(Here she is at home backstage during our last Christmas production, where she really shined.)

(Waiting with Mom to go back onstage)

Is she the best singer in the world? No, but she can sing well when taught the song.

Is she the best dancer in the world? No, but she's got some moves. (She gets that from me.)

Acting is definitely her cup of tea, but she can do all three if she needs to.

One of La Petite Belle's strong suits until today was the optimism she always had. I could see it in her eyes every time .... hopeful and expecting. Always. Never doubting or thinking that she might not get what she wants. Never.

She's not gotten parts before, but that expectancy was still there. That joy for what she was participating in was still there ... even yesterday.

I, with my cynical mind, kept reminding her that there might be a possibility that she may not get a solo part and that was OK. I affirmed her and said I thought she was wonderful and said the ever-so-popular, "don't get your hopes up too much."

Well, she didn't get a solo part.

I spoke to her on the phone this morning and she seemed OK, but, of course, disappointed. She sadly said, "This is the third year I haven't gotten a part."

I continued to encourage her. And, then, told her that she could still possibly have some neat parts within the performance, dancing and all.

To which she responded, "Probably not. I probably won't get that either."

My heart ached.

It's finally hit her. The disappointment of the world has now become her reality.

No more joy. No more expectancy. No more hope.

Just another cynic.

It's hard for a mama to continue to encourage, knowing that another disappointment is just around the corner that could affect so much of who she is.

But, I did it.

I encouraged. I gave the whole speech about how she can't just stop trying out for stuff. And, when at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

But, I can't help but feel her disappointment.

Possibly the best dessert I've ever made ... possibly.

Did you notice?

Did you notice the new tab up there Jackie made for me? Up at the far right end?

Yep, there it is ... "Mama Belle Cooks."

Jackie's so good. I can't even begin to imagine how to do something like that. I feel successful after I've uploaded a picture and put it in my post where it's supposed to go.

I had recipes I had posted through the years that were either my own personal recipes or those I found from different places and thought were worth sharing.

From this point on, all my recipes (which I may be posting more of now), will be in that one location. Hope you find something you like!

I definitely liked ... no, loved this dessert I made for Father's Day! The entire family, including my parents, sang its praises (well, minus La Petite Belle who doesn't like cheesecake ... weird). I promise you won't be disappointed.

White Chocolate-Raspberry Cheesecake

2 c. graham cracker crumbs

3 T. sugar

1/2 c. butter, melted

5 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1 c. sugar

2 large eggs

1 T. vanilla extract

12 ounces white chocolate, melted and cooled slightly

3/4 c. raspberry preserves (I added another 1/2 cup or so for topping. You really can't have too much preserves if you find you want to add more.)

Garnish: Fresh raspberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine first 3 ingredients; press crumb mixture into bottom of a lightly greased 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes; cool slightly.

Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add 1 c. sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Add melted chocolate, beating well.

Microwave raspberry preserves in a small microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 30 seconds to 1 minute or until melted; stir well.

Spoon half of cream cheese batter into prepared crust; spread a little more than half of melted preserves over batter, leaving a 3/4-inch border. Spoon remaining cream cheese batter around edges of pan, spreading toward the center. Cover remaining raspberry preserves, and chill.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until cheesecake is just set and slightly browned. Remove from oven; cool completely on a wire rack. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.

Run a knife around the edge of pan, and release sides. Reheat remaining preserves briefly in microwave to melt. Pour preserves over top of cheesecake, leaving a 1-inch border. Remove sides of pan. Garnish each serving, if desired. Store in refrigerator. Yields: 12 servings.

Bon Appetit'!

The Things You Do

I know it's gotta be rough living with all girls. Not even the dog shares your gender.

But, we so appreciate all you do ...

the Saturday morning breakfasts you prepare with the help of La Petite Belle,

having to share one of your favorite things with K Belle or "Lord of the Ribs,"

all the girlie birthday parties,

especially recording that song for all La Petite Belle's Hannah Montana wannabes (this was pre-inappropriate Miley),

seeing every Disney princess show and attending every princess dinner and breakfast at Disney World, not to mention suffering through "It's a Small World,"

always having to be the driver no matter where we're going,

braving torrential downpours to make sure your daughters see and remember their visit to Washington D.C.,

all the girlie movies you've had to sit through, especially "The Hannah Montana Movie" in 3-D (yeah, even I didn't want to sit through that one),

dressing up and participating in their events,

always holding their hands and protecting them,

baiting their hooks and teaching them to do things I never could,

and just simply being you and making every day wonderful.

We love you.
La Petite Belle pretty much says it all.

Tomorrow I will be posting the recipe for possibly one of the best desserts I've ever made. For real.

Pure

I can't get this verse out of my head, "To the pure in heart, all things are pure."

I've heard it a million times before, but it really stuck out to me this week.

What does it really mean? And, how can it actually be accomplished?

Because, honestly, my mind and heart automatically go the opposite direction of purity.

I have to make a conscious effort every day to turn my thoughts around to purity. It just doesn't come naturally AT ALL. I have first-hand experience with the verse that says "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked."

So, again, how is it possible? I don't think it is ... at least not within our own power.

Our only help is dwelling daily in prayer and God's Word. Not just daily, but constantly. Otherwise, there's no hope that any of us will see God. The Bible says that only the pure in heart will see Him.

Here are the verses themselves - Titus 1:15-16 (Amplified)

¹⁵To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled and polluted.

¹⁶They profess to know God [to recognize, perceive, and be acquainted with Him], but deny and disown and renounce Him by what they do; they are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and [they are] unfit and worthless for good work (deed or enterprise) of any kind.

Read it from The Message: Titus 1:15-16

Everything is clean to the clean-minded; nothing is clean to dirty-minded unbelievers. They leave their dirty fingerprints on every thought and act. They say they know God, but their actions speak louder than their words. They're real creeps, disobedient good-for-nothings.

That's serious business right there ... "disobedient good-for-nothings."

God, that's not what I want to be.

I want to say I know God and know that I know God. I don't want to say I know God and proceed to live like I don't.

I want my heart to be pure. I want to see things as pure.

That sure would make my life a lot easier. Then, I wouldn't have to do so much of the "taking thoughts captive" process. And I really want to see God ... or should I say, fall down on my face before Him because honestly I think that gazing upon Him would be too much.

Not only do I want my heart to be pure, my thoughts to be pure, but my love for God to be pure.

I want to strive toward having pure love for God ... love that has no strings attached ... love that doesn't require anything in return ... just pure love for my Creator, my God, my King, my Savior, my Lord, my Father.

My Guilty Pleasure

Sometime last year, I happened upon BRAVO's "The Real Housewives of New York City."

It was one of those Saturdays where nothing else was on and they played the entire season back-to-back. I got hooked. They sucked me into their drama and relationship dilemmas.

These ladies are quite catty and make me laugh. I watch in amazement at these ladies' lifestyles ... fashion shows, lunches at Le Cirque, charity events, highfalutin business ventures, girls' trips to the Caribbean, weekends in the Hamptons, and weekdays at their apartments on the upper east side of the city.

One day, NYC, you and I will be neighbors.

Something great has come out of this hour of melodrama for me.

I've discovered Bethenny Frankel.

I absolutely adore her. I don't always agree with everything she does, but I still adore her.

It's OK to like someone even though you don't always agree with their decisions.

I just finished reading her book, "Naturally Thin." I loved it because it's not a diet, but helps you think more about what you're eating and not depriving yourself of anything.

I already ate a lot of organic food before, but am adding more and more items lately because of her. My family has loved everything I have cooked. No complaints at all.

Last night I made this dish. Loved it, mostly because I used fresh tomatoes and basil from my yard.

Whole Wheat Fusilli with Tomato, Basil, Pine Nuts, and Smoked Mozzarella

(These measurements serve 8. I like to make a little more for leftovers the next day.)

2 c. whole wheat fusilli

4-8 tsp. olive oil

8 cloves garlic, smashed, peeled, and minced

16 Roma tomatoes, chopped

Salt & pepper to taste

2 c. fresh shredded basil

4 T. toasted pine nuts

8 oz. smoked mozzarella, shredded

Cook pasta according to package directions, until firm but tender. While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a nonstick skillet. Saute' the garlic in the oil until golden but not brown. Add the tomatoes, salt, & pepper. Simmer until the pasta is done cooking. Remove the pasta from the water with a slotted spoon and add it to the sauce. Add about 1/4 c. of the pasta cooking water as you go. This helps thicken the sauce. Stir in the basil, pine nuts, and mozzarella cheese to combine. Add extra basil for garnish and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Did I mention I'm adding a "Mama Belle Cooks" tab to my blog? I'm working on it and hope to have it up soon, where all my recipes will be located.

Sue Venir

(name taken from a gift shop in the Houston Airport ... Did you think I could make that up on my own, much less want to?)

When I was gone last week, I did talk with La Petite Belle once on the phone. Her first question to me was, "Did you get me a doll?" Not, "How are you doing?" Not even an, "I miss you."

I, of course, did not tell her.

But, she did.

To add insult to injury, when asked if she missed me last week, La Petite Belle said, "Not really. We were really busy."

Nice.

K Belle, that sweet thing, said she missed me. Well, thank God.

Beau, of course, was thrilled that I was home. (I think he missed me the most.)

And, I'd say he was equally thrilled when he opened his gift.

It's engraved, mind you. How cool is your own machete with your name engraved on it? I don't think any of his friends have one of these. He will be the envy of the neighborhood when he takes this out to work in the yard.

Now, he can finally chop that path through the forest he's been longing to. Or it'll just be placed in the kitchen knife drawer for serious meat-cutting.

Something's wrong here.

America obviously has its priorities out of whack.

PETA goes berzerk when companies mistreat animals or use animal parts in their products. Absolutely berzerk.

They will go to the extent of putting naked people all over the street because "they'd rather go naked than wear fur." And, have you seen the commercials for PETA? Geez Louise. Saying they're inappropriate would be an understatement.

So, here's a random observation:

Why is no one up-in-arms about SkinMedica's TNS Recovery Complex Facial Cream?

You ask, "Why would someone be up-in-arms over a facial cream?"

No, it's not made with pig placentas.

To state it simply, this facial cream has male parts in it ... baby male parts (you know the parts that get cut off at birth).

No lie.

And, no one says anything about this?

Weird.

I discovered this little gem of information from my friend, Courtney, when she claimed she received a sample of this from Sephora. To which, I, and everyone else in the room was sure she was mistaken. We said it must have been from cows or some other animal. Who would want to put that ingredient on their eyes? And, what is the benefit to that ingredient? Sorry for not believing you, Court. You were right.

You can read about it here.

I only have one question:

Would parents be happy to know that doctors are taking this skin and selling it for around $100,000 without their consent?

Now, I am not totally opposed to this because honestly the skin I'm assuming would just be thrown out. So, why not make some use out of it? There are some good uses for it, like grafts for burn victims, or eyelid replacement procedures, etc. But, facial cream?

But, here's the most interesting part of this whole discussion which could raise many more ethical questions.

Research is being done where scientists use this skin to create human embryos. Here's the link, but I warn you, unless you're a microbiologist, you probably won't understand a word of it.

So, I'm curious.

Would you have a problem purchasing this cream? (It is $100 a bottle ... less than an ounce.) Why?

And, what do you think about this skin being used to make human embryos?

If the skin were being taken from a cow, PETA would be throwing a fit, breaking down doors, and painting some naked lady like a tiger and putting her in a cage on the street (true story ... as protest to circus coming to town). Just sayin' ... something's out of whack.

Don't say you're not called to go.

Everyone.

We're all called to go to the mission field.

Yes.

Everyone.

However, the mission field is different for everyone.

It may be in a foreign country. It may be here in the states, where there are plenty of people that need Jesus. Plenty.

When you go on mission trips, you can feel like you're not doing as much for God as the missionaries out in the field. But, if you are applying the same godly principles in your own life, wherever you are, then you are doing big things.

And, that's the part that's hard.

Are we?

I'd say no for me.

I have never prayed so hard in my life than I did in El Salvador. I have never felt a burden for people and their needs as much as I did there.

My compassion for the lost there was great. My desire to reach them was great.

Not so much here, where both those things should be greatest.

To be honest, I might not have much compassion at all for people who don't feel like they need God, that they're good on their own, like most of America.

And, that's wrong.

Everyone needs to be reached ... even your next-door neighbor with his big-screen TV, swimming pool, and bad attitude, or your family member who is the kindest and most giving person you've ever met, but doesn't have a relationship with the Lord.

Everyone, including the poverty-stricken people of El Salvador ... the sexually and physically abused women and children, the gang members, those involved in witchcraft, and the abandoned children.

Everyone.

So, I come back from El Salvador changed ... the faces of the people forever sketched in my mind.

I will pray for them, for their needs, but I am reminded that in America, we have the same needs. The difference is that in America, the needs are hidden more, covered up.

A mighty man of God, Jacob Noel, missionary to El Salvador, said this: Don't have pity on the people. Have compassion on them. Pity is just feeling sorry for them. Compassion is actually doing something to help them.

I want my compassion for America to be the same as my compassion for El Salvador.

There are so many stories I could tell you about the trip ... truly awesome stories, but this one stands out most in my mind.

We went to a place called Nueva Esperanza, one of the most dangerous places in the area, home of the MS13 gang. El Salvador is filled with gangs and the violence that occurs from them. King's Castle has planted a church in the area. The gang members allow King's Castle to come into the neighborhoods because they see the organization as helping their children. Gangs are extremely protective of their territory. We were very cautious, and felt a strong spiritual oppression when we stepped off the bus. A 10-year-old boy immediately sat near the bus and lit a cigarette. The boys nearby were cursing. They looked at us with a look of intimidation. However, we were not intimidated.

We went out into the neighborhood to invite the children and mothers to come to see the program. Many came.

Nineteen accepted Christ that morning.

We prayed for many afterwards in a prayer line and one women actually fell because the power of the Holy Spirit was so strong. After a short while, she said, "What happened to me?" The translator explained that God love her and wanted to touch her in a special way. The woman sat up, crying, and said she felt so good ... so happy. She was at peace.

After that incredible outreach, we headed to the church to have a special women's meeting. This is something that had never happened in this place. Amazing things happened. The ladies in this area are extremely abused and, therefore, quite guarded. I gave a quick message about worth and that they were valuable to God, no matter what their circumstance. Several ladies stepped out of their comfort zone and gave testimonies that were so powerful. We sang some worhship songs and broke up into groups where we could pray for the ladies and had them open up about their needs. Then, we had an amazing altar time. The service lasted four hours.
(Did I mention it was hot? Note the lovely armpit sweat.)

Afterwards, we had coffee and cake with them. Then, we spoke with the pastor before we were heading out. Thank God we did. Because he told us that on Monday (the day we arrived in El Salvador), he had recieved a prophesy that a group of women would be coming to minister to the women there and that God would move mightily. It wasn't until Tuesday that our leader had spoken to him about coming. We had nothing planned and spent most of the week deciding on what we were going to do. God definitely ordained this meeting. And, for some of our ladies, it was confirmation of God's leading and calling them into new giftings.
(Love this young woman. Lily is sold out for God, but her family is not and doesn't know Christ. She is an inspiration and her English is exceptional. Pray that she would have strength, her family would know Christ, and for protection over her family.)
(Our team with the pastors of Nueva Esperanza Church ... Pray for them too, for protection and favor with the community, and that many would come to Christ through their work.)

Basically, it was AMAZING! And, I have said that word at least seventy-two times this week.

We reached over 250 people. Seventy-four decisions for Christ were made and over 170 people were prayed for. All this happened in a matter of three days.

Thank God for making me uncomfortable.

To read more details, you can also go to Kristal's blog.