Saturday, June 16, 2012

Denver Aquarium - Photography Series

This is one of my favorites. I love the way I caught the ripples on top of the water.

I love going to aquariums. The Denver Aquarium is one of my favorites.  It s fun because my sons like to go.   Now my sons are 26 and 23 years old but they still love going to places like zoos and aquariums with mom. It makes me feel good.

One of the things that I love are all of the colors.  They are truly amazing, because they are real life. These are some of the most beautiful living creatures that I have ever seen. They come in the most amazing shapes, sizes, and colors. They are so graceful as they glide through the water.  Their beauty is like the Laura Story song Indescribable, they are indescribable and undeniable. They are some of God's miracles.

Today I decided that I was going to do a photography series.  The first in the series will be pictures from the Denver Aquarium.  These are some of my favorites, I have them framed and hung in our home. The colors are incredibly vibrant. I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do.

I love the colors and stripes on this Emperior Angel fish.

I love this Zebra Lionfish.  He is really beautiful.

I am not sure what fish this is, but the turquoise stripes are spectacular.

This is a cowfish.  Love his colors, yellow with white polka dots.

I just liked the color of the blue in the tank, with the green grass and the fish hiding.

I love pictures of Jellyfish.  I have been stung before, so I am happy that these guys are in a tank.

They are so beautiful the way they float in the water.  They look so graceful.

I was able to catch a picture of the lone Sea Horse.

These Sea Horses look so cute just floating in the tank.

There are two tigers, I was able to get a decent picture of this one.  He is so majestic.

This is a Panther Grouper,  his white and black spots make him so unique.

I think this one is a Yellow Tang.  I love the yellow.


Now I am not an expert on fish, so I hope that I have all of the names correct.  Forgive me if I have gotten some of them wrong.  I just love the beauty of all of these fish.  

I would love to hear from you about what your favorite pictures are, and what you like taking pictures of. Send me you comments. I always try to respond.

Enjoy!!!
Debi

Friday, June 15, 2012

Favorite Friday Blog Links #5

I can't believe it is already Friday again.  It seems like the weeks just fly by.  I love writing my Favorite Friday Blog Links post.  It is really to highlight these talented, beautiful women.  So onto this weeks favorite blog links of the weeks.

Ready Set - Drool Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars





This blog is written by Kristy from Kristy's Cup of Joe - Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars. This recipe looks so good, and I am a goner once you put chocolate and peanut butter together.  When add whipped cream, carmel, and peanut butter cups to the mix I am in heaven.  I can't wait to try this recipe.  I hope all of you take a look at her blog, it is fun, with lots of good information.  Take a look and see for yourselves.

Twigg Studios - Vintage Effect Mercury Glass
This next blog always has the most beautiful and creative ideas.  Twigg Studios - Vintage Effect Mercury Glass post is as amazing as the rest of the Twigg ideas.  Aimee is the creative mind behind Twigg Studios, and let me tell you creative she is.  I am sure you have seen her paper flower tutorials in other post links.  It is always a treat to open my emails and see what new idea she has come up with.  I hope that you check out her blog, to see what you might like to try your hand at.

from Six Sisters' Stuff

We also have Six Sisters' Stuff: 50 Man Pleasing Meals.  Six Sisters' is another blog that is written by, as you can tell from their name, six sisters.  They started writing their blog as a way to keep in touch and it has grown from there.  I love reading their recipes, and I know that you will also.  I thought this was a perfect post for Father's Day Weekend.  I know I am thinking about using one of their recipes for dinner on Sunday.

Rustic Living - Knobs and Necklaces
 The last blog for this week is blogger Ashley from Rustic Living - Knobs and Necklaces.  I thought this was a beautifully done post and I also want one.  I was at Hobby Lobby two weeks ago, looking for a board and knobs to make one of these.  Then I realized, I don't really have anyplace to hang this, but I really liked it.  So I at least didn't spend money, but I wanted too.  She is a really talented young woman who lives in Idaho.  You should see some of the furniture that she has restored.  You can see what she is up to at her blog Rustic Living.

 It would be great if you would put this link in your post I am a featured blogger at Adorned From Above's Favorite Friday Blog Links Week 5

I hope that you have enjoyed this weeks Friday Favorite Blog Links.  I would love to hear what you think and what blogs you love.  Send me your comments.

Enjoy the reading!!!
Debi


Thursday, June 14, 2012

Banana and Peanut Butter Banana Frozen Yogurt

I am apologizing up front for not having more pictures.  When I was loading my pictures into Lightroom something happened, and I ended up loosing about 75 pictures.  These were some of them.  I was really frustrated, because I thought they were on my computer okay so I deleted the pictures from my sd card.  Silly me!!!  They were not on my computer and then of course I would delete them, not a good thing, but I was able to salvage some least.

Today I am posting a really easy recipe for Frozen Yogurt.  This is one of the easiest things I have ever made.  I feel silly that I had not thought of it before.

I make Homemade Sugar Free Crock Pot Greek Yogurt, and last week I was not eating it like I normally do.  I was afraid that it would go bad, so I decided that I would make Sugar Free Frozen Yogurt with my ice cream maker.

Here is the link, if you would like to make your own Homemade Sugar Free Crock Pot Greek Yogurt.  Otherwise you could use store bought greek yogurt.  I would buy plain yogurt like Chobani or Oikos, they both taste good.  I am going to give you two variations that I experimented with, but you could actually do anything you want.  You will need to add additional Stevia to the recipe, because as I found out the hard way, once it is frozen, it is not as sweet as it is not frozen.

Sugar Free Banana Frozen Yogurt right out of the ice cream maker
Banana Frozen Yogurt

Ingredients:
4 cups Homemade Sugar Free Crock Pot Greek Yogurt
3/4 cup of Stevia In The Raw Powder
2 Bananas sliced
2 tsp vanilla

Just mix the yogurt, Stevia, bananas, and vanilla together and pour them into your ice cream maker.  I have a small Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker and it takes about 20 to 25 minutes to make a batch of this frozen yogurt.

It is ready to eat now our you can pour it into a container and put it in the freezer for later.

Makes 1 quart frozen yogurt.

Sugar Free Peanut Butter Banana Frozen Yogurt

Peanut Butter Banana Frozen Yogurt

Ingredients:
4 cups Homemade Sugar Free Crock Pot Greek Yogurt
3/4 cup Stevia In The Raw Powder
2 Bananas sliced
2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup natural peanut butter (oil stirred in, but still a little lumpy)

Just mix the yogurt, Stevia, bananas, vanilla, creamy peanut butter, and natural peanut butter together and pour them into your ice cream maker.  I have a small Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker and it takes about 20 to 25 minutes to make a batch of this frozen yogurt.

 It is ready to eat now our you can pour it into a container and put it in the freezer for later.

 Makes a little over 1 quart frozen yogurt.

Now I have not made this with store bought yogurt, but I think that this would be an easy exchange.  I would do everything the same except for the Stevia.  Since the store bought yogurt would not be sweetened I would make the increase the Stevia in both recipes to 1 1/2 cups, and that would be it.

Now wasn't that easy.  I can't wait to hear what you think of these two recipes.  Tell me what flavors you would add to them.

Enjoy!!!
Debi

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Natural Translucent Face Powder and Wednesday Adorned From Above Blog Hop 3

Welcome to my Wednesday Adorned from Above Blog Hop 3. This week I am featuring the three top blog that were voted with the most likes by all of you. Make sure that you click on the like button for the blogs that you like the most for next weeks featured links.
 
I am thrilled to feature the following posts this week.  So without further ado, I would like to present these beautiful and informative bloggers.  To those of you that I featured I would love for you to feature this link to the blog showing that you are featured blogger at the Wednesday Adorned from Above Blog Hop.

I am a featured blogger at Wednesday Adorned From Above Blog Hop

Featured Blogs

This is a beautiful blog and post and blog by Natural Living Momma - Lovely Lavender

Handmade Market Tote by Truly Lovely
Next we have this great Market Tote by Truly Lovely how cute is this.  I need to make one.

French Market Baskets from Heaven's Walk
We also have the beautiful French Market Baskets from Heaven's Walk.  She has done a great tutorial with these also.

I want to thank everyone who linked with my Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop.  All of your projects are wonderful and I would post all of them if I could, but I think that the blog would probably be a little too long.  I hope that all of you link more posts today.


Your posts can include:
  • anything DIY
  • Recipes
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Sewing
  • Knitting and Crochet Ideas and Patterns
  • DIY Cleaning Solutions
  • Natural Beauty Product Recipes
  • Decorating Ideas
  • Thrifting
  • Book Reviews, Movie Reviews, Christian Music
  • Inspirational Articles, Poetry, Life Stories, or Short Stories
  • Bible Studies 

  1. Bloggers, use the linky tool on the bottom of this post to share your best post. Non-bloggers, feel free to add a comment here with any ideas or thoughts you have. 
  2. I would love for you to add the blog hop link posted below to the post that you are linking also.  It will give us additional opportunities for more people to see our blogs. This is not a requirement just a request.
  3. Please take a look at what other people have posted and vote on the ones that you like.
  4. I would also love for you to post a comment in my comments section telling me a little about yourself and your post.  This also is not a requirement just a request.  I would love getting to know you and your blog.
  5. Please link your posts back to my blog hop. Linking back here helps build our little community by sending your readers to all of the other posts shared.  Just create a text link somewhere in your post back to this blog. (Especially since I do not have any buttons yet.)
  6. I would love to have you follow me.
This week my post will be a recipe for a Translucent Face Powder.

I decided that I needed to make an All Natural Translucent Face Powder.  Sometimes my nose gets a little shiny in the afternoons so I thought maybe a little powder would help.  It certainly does.  There have been several tries, and I felt that this recipe was the best and does not seem to clog pores.  I read through all kinds of recipes, and eventually came up with my own.  It is very simple with basic ingredients, especially since there are only 2 ingredients.


Natural Translucent Face Powder

2 TB Arrowroot Powder (I use Bob's Red Mill)
2 TB Potato Starch          (I use Bob's Red Mill)

Whisk these two ingredients together really well, and pour into a pretty decorative jar.  I put a powder puff in this jar, but I do not use it.  I dip my powder brush into the powder and shake off the excess over the sink before I put it on.  I then lightly brush over my face, focusing on the forehead, nose, and chin.

Natural Translucent Face Powder
I would love to hear your comments on this face powder.  Please let me know what you think.

Enjoy!!!
Debi

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Spearmint Lavender Scented Oil

Spearmint Lavender Scented Oil



I love this smell of this refreshing oil.  I have not been able to wear perfume or be around people wearing perfume for years.  I am severely allergic to something in perfumes and I get severe migraines when I am around them.  I was so excited when I started making my own beauty products and I realized I could make my own perfumes and scented oils.  This is the second scented oil that I made and I was really thrilled with the smell.

For years I have loved the smell of Zumi Goat's Milk Mint and Lavender Soap, so as I was making scented oil I thought this would be a great one.  It is light, refreshing, and energizing.  I absolutely love the smell.  When I put it on I just keep smelling my wrist.

I use jojoba oil my scented oil, because it is an oil that is easily absorbed into your skin.  That way you do not feel greasy after you put it on.

Spearmint Lavender Scented Oil

2 oz. jojoba oil
30 drops Spearmint Essential Oil
7 drops  Lavender Essential Oil

Pour oil into a small dropper bottle with a dropper.  Then add the essential oils.  Put the lid on the bottle and shake.

You can use this oil right away, but the scent will get a little stronger as time goes on.  I normally put several drops on my wrist and then rub them together.  I will also put 2 drops on the tips of my fingers, rub them together, and then rub behind my ears.

I love this as an alternative to perfume.  I am finally able to feel like I can wear a pretty scent again.

I hope that you enjoy this recipe.  It is so easy to make and use.  I would love to hear what you think of this scented oil in the comments below.

Enjoy!!!
Debi

Monday, June 11, 2012

Bible Study Week 6 - Sharper Then A Two-Edged Sword

Sharper Than a Two-Edged Sword


Link to buy the book Sharper Then A Two-Edged Sword 

I am going to cover Chapter 5, The Nature of God, from Andrew Wommack’s book Sharper Then A Two-Edged Sword over two weeks, rather then just this week.  Once I finished writing it I realized that this post would be too much information to take in at one time.  So today we will do questions 1 through 4 of the workbook, and next week we will do questions 5 through 7.  I hope that you enjoy this weeks Bible Study.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:17
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 17:3
Question 1:  Can you recall a time in your life when someone got the wrong impression of you?  How did it affect your relationship with that person?

  • I would like all of you to think about the question and answer it to yourself.
  •    We have all had something like this happen to us at some point in our lives.   It leaves us with that sick in your stomach feeling.  You want to repair what has been done, but you don’t know how.  Sometimes we can be hurt or angry that we have been misunderstood.
  • In similar ways I think this happens with God also.  Especially when we are reading the Old Testament.
  • If you are just to look at specific incidents you might get the wrong impression of God, such as God flooding the world in Noah’s time

And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, 
to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; 
and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
Gen 6:17

or God killing the first born of the Egyptians when Moses 
asked Pharaoh to let his people go

And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the
dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
Exodus 12:29

  • You might actually that God is cruel and unfeeling, but this would not be the full picture of God.
Question 2:  Is the God in the Old Testament different as the God in the New Testament?  Did he change?
  •  God has always been the same God.  He has never changed, we are the only ones who have changed.
  •  Jesus tells us,
For I am the LORD, I change not;  
      Mal 3:6

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Hebrews 13:8
  •  He has only changed how he deals with us between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
  • Like a child he threatened punishment to teach people, he was acting like a parent acts, he was acting out of love.
  •  In the Old Testament God dealt with people under the laws given to Moses, but once Jesus came (God in human form) ( he was born, died on the cross to save us, and rose from the dead to sit in Heaven) God was able to interact with people through the Holy Spirit.  He could interact with us directly.
  • Once we were filled with the Holy Spirit, God was able to deal directly with us with Grace and Mercy.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
  • God loved us so much that he sent Jesus so that our sins could be forgiven and we could have everlasting life.  Under the laws we could never be perfect enough, but through the Grace of Jesus we have received forgiveness.
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,
and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Hebrews 1:3

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good:
 for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 136
  • I believe that Psalms 136 really says it all God is good, and his mercy endures forever.  What a beautiful gift he has given us.

Question 3What is the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant?
  • The old covenant want the law.  People had to be good, that had to fight being evil, and God needed to show them that there were consequences to not following the law.
  • Under the old law people go to heaven by works, but it was impossible to be good enough.
  • We are human beings.  We might try our best, but we can not achieve perfection, which left all people separated from God.
  • Under the new covenant, when Jesus died on the cross for us, we received grace for all of our sins.  The whole world received grace for their sins.  All people for all time received forgiveness for their sins.  Once we accept Jesus we are forgiven.  That is such a blessing that we were given.
  • When we accept Christ we receive the Holy Spirit, and we are made righteous.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21
  • That was such good news for mankind.  This is the new covenant.
  •  The old covenant is below.  God did not know us, because we were separated from him by the original sin in Eden.
 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: 
for they are foolishness unto him: 
neither can he know them, 
because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14
  
  • What we can see is that the old covenant and the new covenant are not compatible.  You can  not be partially saved by your good works and then have Jesus do the rest.  Good works will not save you, because we can never be perfect enough, try as we may, we are human beings.  We can only be saved through the blood of Jesus.

Question 4Why did God give the law to the Jews?
  
  • The law are the rules given by God to Moses in the book of Leviticus in the Old Testament.
  • The Ten Commandments are a part of this, and I say just a part, because God gave Moses over 600 laws, and they were very specific, even as to who could enter the tabernacle of God, and what they had to wear.  God at that time actually lived with the Jews, and no one was allowed to enter the tabernacle when God was there.  Anyway, that Bible Study is for another time, I just thought that it was an interesting tidbit of information.  I was reading the Bible last year when we went to Israel, and that was one of the things that stuck when I was reading Leviticus.
  • God has always been a merciful God.  He showed mercy to Cain when he killed Able.
And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain,
vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a
mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Genesis 4:15
  • Not only did God let Cain live even though he murdered his brother because of jealousy, but he also protected him from anyone else killing him.  I believe that showed mercy.
  • The Jews lived under God’s grace before the law was given.  It was about 2000 years from the time Adam and Eve sinned and were forced to leave the Garden of Eden until the time that Moses received the law.
  • The first person stoned to death after the law was given was a man collecting sticks on the Sabbath, this may seem harsh to us today, but people were not to work  on the Sabbath, and this was considered work.  Once God gave the laws he wanted people to follow them.
 Num 15:32  And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
Num 15:33  And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
Num 15:34  And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
Num 15:35  And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
Num 15:36  And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.
  •  This is the Lord at work.  He took an active involvement in dealing with people, but he did not speak or interact with people directly before Jesus.
  • The law had two purposes:  to show God’s standards of perfection, and to show that people can never achieve those standards.  He was showing the Jews not to be self righteous, because no matter how good you are, you will never achieve perfection.
  • Only through the grace of Jesus, can our sins be forgiven.
  •  People can not save themselves.
Gal 5:2  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised,
Christ shall profit you nothing.
Gal 5:3  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised,
that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Gal 5:4  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
  • The only hope for salvation is through Jesus.
 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:8

This is the end of today's Bible Study.  I would love to hear your thoughts and questions on this Bible Study.  Please comment below with anything that you think of .

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Leather and Rhinestone Bracelet

Finished Leather and Rhinestone Bracelet

Several weeks ago I had bought 2 magnet clasp leather cords, a rhinestone chain, and a ball of black linen from Walmart.  I wanted to make a bracelet, and I did not really want to go to my local bead store to buy the leather.  I liked the Walmart leather because I could use the magnetic closures and make the two necklaces into I long piece and wrap the bracelet around my arm several times.  This way I could get the look that I wanted without having to put in a lot of extra time adding closures.  This was a fast and easy project.

Leather and Rhinestone Bracelet

Skill Level: Easy

Time: Approximately 1 hour

Things You'll Need:

2 18 inch leather cords with magnetic clasps
1 26 in length of rhinestone chain
1 ball waxed black linen (thin)
scissors

Things you will need (2 leather cords, 26" rhinestone chain, waxed black linen)
You will need to attach the two leather cords together attaching them by the magnetic clasps. You will then need to judge where the middle of the Rhinestone chain is and match that up with the magnetic clasps in the middle of the two cords.

Next you will need to tie the waxed linen around one end of the rhinestone chain and the leather cord, making sure that the magnetic clasp is at the middle of the rhinestone chain.  Once you have tied a knot you will hold the loose piece of linen from the knot against the back of the cord, and you will then start wrapping the linen around the chain and the cord.  You want to make sure that you are wrapping that loose between the linen and the cord, so that it is hidden by the linen.

Wrapping linen around leather cord and rhinestone chain.

You will wrap the linen 3 wraps in between each rhinestone, and then move on to the next section of rhinestone.

Wrapping linen

Do this all the way to the end of the rhinestones, taking care that the linen stays secure around the magnetic clasps.  You want to make sure that it also does not go in between the clasps in the center.

As you get to the last 3 rhinestones you will only wrap once in between these links, and when you get to the last rhinestone you will tie a knot.  Then you will wrap the linen going back over the last 2 sets of spaces and tie another knot.  I would make a double know in both places.

Once you finish that last knot you can then cut the linen.

Bracelet wrapped around my wrist 5 times.

Depending on the size of your wrist this Leather and Rhinestone Bracelet will wrap around your wrist four to five times.

I would love to hear how your bracelet comes out, and what ideas you have for bracelets.

Enjoy!!!
Debi