John 15:13 - For Family and Friends of Aurora's Tragedy

I live in a suburb southeast of Denver and about 15 minutes away from the Aurora Mall.  The tragedy at the movie theater early Friday morning is beyond my comprehension.  

I had planned another post for today, but I preferred instead to send out a simple message of sorrow and sympathy to the family and friends of all of the people affected by this tragedy.   There are no words that will make this senseless violence any easier to cope with.  All I can say is that there is an entire community mourning with you and praying for you.

I was originally going to post this on Monday morning.  If you have been reading my blog you know that my son Danny just got out of the marines, and on early Thursday morning a friend of his died in Afghanistan.  This is a verse that these young marines think about often.  Danny is on his way to Wyoming to attend the funeral of his friend, so my prayers are also with Ashley's family in their time of sorrow.

Even with all of tragedy surrounding us this morning I felt like these two verses from John are so beautiful.  It reminds me of the lengths that we will take to help in other, even as things seem to be falling apart around us.  Jesus instructed to love one another as he loves us, and to take care of each other.

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

There were so many brave people trying to help each other on Friday morning.  Just as my son's friend, was protecting us far from home.

Please say a prayer today for the families in Colorado, and also for Ashley's family in Wyoming.  The grief will seem unbearable at times, but with God we can survive anything.

My prayers go out to everyone today.
Debi
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Favorite Friday Blog Links 10

Well we have another week of Favorite Friday Blog Links.  I am also going to add a book review today.  I just finished a wonderful book called The Harbinger by Jonathon Cahn, and would like to share it with all of you.

On to my Favorite Friday Blog Links.  I am so happy that you are joining me this week.

I loved reading Tamara's Easy Summertime Purse at Etcetorize's post.  Isn't it beautiful?

Ann Dunagan of Harvest Ministry's Post Making a "Place" in your Life for Prayer was so beautiful, and truly spoke to me.  My prayer is that it speaks to all of you also.  She is a contributor at the Passionate Homemaker.

I have really enjoyed all of the fashion ideas from Mary at Happily Grey.  She always has the cutest clothes, and she always tells you where they came from and how much they cost.  Which is helpful when you are on a budget.

I love the whimsy that I find on all of the pages of Guerilla Crafter's Enliven Update.  She is so creative, that I love looking through her posts.

It would be great if you would post this link on your page.  I am featured on Friday Favorite Blog Links at Adorned From Above

Well I hope that you enjoy reading my Favorite Blog Links for this week.  Let me know who your favorite bloggers are.  I would love to hear from you.

Enjoy!!!

Debi

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Fried Pork Chops Low Carb

This is a really easy recipe and it takes care of the craving for something that is breaded and fried.  I especially love fried pork chops and fried chicken, they are normally dredged in flour, but I have found a new twist.  These are coated with crushed pork rinds.  They taste amazing.

Fried Pork Chops - The Low Carb Way

Ingredients

1 1/2 bag pork rinds crushed
2 eggs beaten
6 pork chops
1/2 cup bacon fat

Directions

Heat your oil in a frying pan.

Make sure your pork rinds are really well crushed.  You can do it in a food processor or with a meat mallet.  Either way works well.  Then put them in a bowl.

Put the pork chops the egg and then dredge in the crushed pork rinds, then set the pork chop in a cookie sheet until you have done this with all of the pork chops.

Once all of the pork chops are coated in the pork rinds.  Put them in the hot oil.  Fry 10 minutes on each side.

Take them out of the oil when done and set on a paper towel to soak up any extra oil.

Serve.  I like them with fried yam or sweet potato french fries.

Serves 4 to 6

I hope that you like this recipe.  I know it is not necessarily the healthiest recipe, but I believe it is okay every once in a while.  It is really simple and good.  Let me know what low carb alternatives you have come up with for fried food.

Enjoy!!!
Debi
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Surf Spray and Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop 9

Sorry this is up late today.  I did not get home until 10:00 PM last night, and since internet was not always available where we were I could not see the links until this morning.  Plus I am waiting for my coffee, an important part of waking up.

Welcome to my Wednesdays Adorned from Above Blog Hop 9. This blog hop will run for 2 weeks.  I have been in Mexico, which is why this last blog hop was for two weeks.  I hope that all of you have fun, and I can't wait to see all that you did over the last 2 weeks.  I was really organized though, and did get my posts done ahead of time, so check back everyday to see my new recipes and other fun things.

This week I am featuring the three top blog that had the most visits. Clicking on the like button will also help to pick which posts you like the most.  Right now I am picking the links with the most page views.
 
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. Just copy and paste the link below somewhere on your page.

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

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent from A Blossoming Life

Having a Deja Vu Bag Pleated Bag from Happy in Red

Canning Water for Emergency Preparation from The Nerdy Farm Wife

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 this week.  Let's Party!!!

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 copy and past the link below onto your page.
6. Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop Link
7. I would love to have you follow me in some way, either through RSS feeds, email, or Google. 

I made this great Surf Spray for my hair a couple of weeks ago and I couldn't wait to share the recipe with you.  It was really easy and it made my hair wavy and beachy feeling, and I love the coconut smell.

Surf Spray

Ingredients

Ingredients

8 oz water

1 tsp epsom salt

1/2 tsp himalayan salt

1/4 tsp Red Gold Sea Salt  ( for blond hair use substitute sea salt )

1/4 tsp White Silver Sea Salt

1/2 tsp macadamia nut oil  ( for blond hair use jojoba oil )

1/2 tsp aloe vera gel

8 drops coconut fragrance oil

Directions

Put all salt in a measuring cup and add 1/2 cup boiling water to dissolve salt.

Once salt is dissolved add the 1/2 cup cold water.

Then add oil, aloe vera gel, and coconut fragrance oil.  

Pour into a spray bottle and spray in damp hair.  To get waves scrunch hair in hands on top of head.  I turn my head upside down, and wad my hair in my hand up to the roots and use the blow dryer.  I will then put my head upright and do this with the rest of my head.  I just wad my hair in my hand and then blow dry the hair in my hand.

My hair is stick straight, so this really worked well.

My very straight hair

Hair with waves

Let me know how you like this recipe.  I would love to hear from you.

Enjoy!!!

Debi

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Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Lava Cake

 
This ended up being such a great recipe.  I am really excited to share it with you.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Lava Cake

Ingredients

1 box Duncan Hines Brownie mix
2 eggs
1/4 cup water
2/3 cup vegetable oil
6 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Directions

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray 6 ramekins with nonstick cooking spray.

Mix brownie mix according to directions on the package.  Then fill ramekin 1/3 full with brownie mix.  Then put the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup on top of the brownie mix.  Next fill the ramekin to 2/3 full with brownie mix.   Do this with all of the ramekins.

You can see the peanut butter cup at the bottom.

Bake for 40 minutes.  Take out of oven and let cool for 5 minutes.  Then serve.

Serves 6

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Psalm 91 - The Warriors Prayer

The IED Detective Dog Handlers homecoming from Operation Moshtarak July 2010

This week I am sharing a Psalm 91.  I have told you that my son Danny was a marine.  He just got out, and this is the prayer the marines say.  It is truly fitting.

This is such a beautiful prayer, and I am so happy that Danny found it comforting during his two tours in Afghanistan.  I am grateful that he has faith.  Just faith.  Enough Faith to come home.

Psalm 91 - The Warriors Prayer

1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6  Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8  Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13  Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Wasn't this beautiful.  What a great way to start a Monday morning.  Isn't it wonderful to know that God is with you and will protect you.

As you go through this week, I would like you to think about our men and women in the military.  They are far from their families and from home.  I would love it if you would say a prayer for them.

God bless you!!!
Debi
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Otters - Photography Series 5

I love otters. They are so cute and playful.

The first time I ever saw an otter up close and personal was when I was a teenager at my Aunt Charlotte's house in Malibu.  An otter lived on the big rock in front of her house for a couple of years.  (It was a long time ago, so some of it is not clear, it may be more or less time)

This otter was very playful and friendly for an animal that was not tame.  If someone was in the water swimming or surfing the otter would hop and and swim around, play, and interact with people from a distance.  It would dive and float and just have fun hanging out in the water.  Almost like it wanted the company.

One day the otter was gone.  I'm not sure why it left, but it was kind of sad that it was not longer around.  It probably left for better fishing grounds.

Anyway,  I was at the aquarium in February with my middle son and my husband and came across the otters in their tank.  I am amazed that I was able to get some of these shots.  I hope you are going to like them.  This otter was really busy, and moving very fast.  Well, you'll see.

So cute.  I can't believe that I was able to get this one.

Beautiful isn't it.

Here's another one.  This guy was definitely on the move.

The glass was catching the reflection of my husbands pants and shoes.

One more time around.  He was going in circles, around, around, and around.

This is my favorite.  He was balancing this berry on his head while he was swimming.

I really enjoyed watching this little guy. He was definitely a little clown.

I hope that you enjoyed this series about otters.  I hope to hear from you.  Tell me what you think about the series.

Enjoy!!!
Debi
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Swiss Chocolate Almond Parfait ( faux Friendly's sundae)

My husband grew up in Hartford, and he loves going to Friendly's for sundaes. Not just any sundae though, specifically Friendly's Swiss Chocolate Almond Sundaes.  Friendly's is one of the first places we go when we land in Hartford.

Now that you know how much he likes them, you will understand my quest to try to make him variations of his favorite desserts.  I hit on the idea of this parfait, and if I do say so myself, it was delicious.

If you do not know what is in a Swiss Chocolate Almond Sundae, I will describe it for you. It is actually a great sundae. It has vanilla, chocolate, coffee ice cream, swiss chocolate sauce, almonds, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. Simple and easy. So here goes.

Swiss Chocolate Almond Parfait

Print Recipe

Ingredients:

2 boxes vanilla pudding sugar free / fat free

1 box chocolate fudge pudding

6 cups milk

1/2 packet Starbucks instant Italian Decaf Coffee

1 7 oz. Container marshmallow cream

1/3 jar hot fudge sauce

Almonds

Whipped cream

maraschino cherries

Directions

Put one box of vanilla pudding and 1/2 packet instant coffee in a bowl. Stir dry ingredients. Then add 2 cups milk and mix with beaters or a whisk.

This will be your first layer, pour into the bottom of 6 pretty glass dessert bowls or even large wine glasses.

Next make your chocolate pudding according to the package directions. Pour the chocolate pudding in a layer over the coffee pudding.

Next make the vanilla pudding according to the directions, and pour it evenly over the chocolate pudding.

In a separate bowl mix the marshmallow cream with the hot fudge sauce. This is your swiss chocolate sauce. You will probably need to heat the hot fudge sauce for 30 seconds to soften it a little to help it mix a little easier with the marshmallow cream.

Next layer the swiss chocolate sauce over the vanilla pudding. It is really sticky, so you will need to do this carefully.

You will then sprinkle sliced almonds over the layer of swiss chocolate sauce.

Then add you whipped cream and a cherry, and viola!! You have a Swiss Chocolate Almond parfait.

This makes 6 servings.

I hope that you enjoy this dessert. Tell me what your favorite desserts are. I would love to hear from you.

Enjoy!!!

Debi

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Favorite Friday Blog Links Week 9

I can't believe we are already up to week 8 on my favorite blogs of the week.  Time has flown by.  I posted my very first post on April 26th.  It has been almost 3 months since I started writing Adorned From Above.  I am so grateful  to all of you for reading what I write.  I am very appreciative that you keep coming back.

Anyway,  we are on to my favorite posts for this week.  I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do.

This outrageously great recipe is Snickerdoodle Bread like a Warm Toasty Cinnamon Roll from Oxford Impressions.  This just looks so good.  I hope you visit this blog to see what else is there.

Our next post is DIY Peachy Keen Face Cream from Paula Parrish Living A Blessed Life.  This cream looks so wonderful for your skin, and when you read the recipe it gets even better.  Stop by Paula's blog and check out the other things that she is up to.

I love this next post.  It is Super Easy "Screen Print" Dish Towels from Rachael at Lovely Crafty Home.  These are the cutest dish towels, and so easy to make.  Rachael does a great tutorial.  Check out the other things that she is making.

Our last post for the week is Ottoman Upholstery How To from Amy at Aprons and Ambitions.  This is a really cute ottoman, but the tutorial is great.  Amy takes you step by step through upholstering an ottoman.  Take a look at some of her other tutorials, she does a great job.

Well, we are at the end of this weeks favorite blogs.  Tell me about your favorite blogs, I would love to hear from you.

Enjoy!!!
Debi
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Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette from The Pinterest Project and The Leibster Award

 So, I am a lucky lady! Melissa Kaylene from Willamette Valley Wonder Woman nominated me for a Liebster blog award! Terrie told us that "liebster" means "dearest" in German, and its meant for  blogs with less than 200 followers - as a way of encouraging them! <3

So, the rules are:

1. Link back to who gave you the award

2.Post your award on your blog

3.Pass the award on to 5 fellow bloggers with less than 200 followers!

 - and then of course comment on their blog and let them know you've nominated them!

Soooo here are the ladies I've decided to nominate!

1. Linda from With A Blast

2. Wren from For the Love of Lillian 

3.Emma from Intentional Hospitality

4. Amy from A Blossoming Life

5.Erin from Chronic Christian Crafter

- all of these ladies have been kind enough to leave comments and encouraging words on my new blog!

Well I had decided to do a tutorial on this Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette from the Pinterest Project and that has not really worked out that well, so I am just posting a picture of the finished product.  Last week I was downloading pictures one day and the photo editing program on my computer crashed and I actually lost about 70 pictures.  It is a long story, but I had already deleted them from my camera when my computer decided to tell me that Lightroom was not working correctly.  I still had 1/2 jar of the dressing, so I could at least take a picture of the dressing, and give you the recipe.

I did change two ingredients from the original recipe, I used vegetable oil instead of canola, just because I did not have any canola oil in the house, and I used Stevia in the Raw instead of Sugar.  I try not to eat a lot of sugar,  it seems to cause me some inflammation, so I try to substitute Stevia or Splenda for sugar in recipes.

I hope that you enjoy this recipe.  I found it at The Pinterest Project - Vinaigrette To Go

Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
4 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 TB stevia
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro in food processor

Mix the lime juice, rice wine vinegar, garlic, sea salt, stevia, oil, and finely chopped chopped cilantro.

This salad dressing is great, and I hope that you enjoy it.  Please let me know what you think.  I would love to hear from you.

Enjoy!!!
Debi
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3 Face Masks from Your Kitchen - Part 2

I first need to remind all of you that last weeks blog hop is a 10 day blog hop.  It will not end until midnight on July 15th, so you can still link up.  Just click on this link to get to the blog hop 3 Face Masks From Your Kitchen - Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop.

Today I am going to finish with the last 3 face masks, that you can make with food from your kitchen.

Always wash your face before you put these masks on your face.  I also suggest steaming to open your pores first, to get the most out of these masks.

Cream and Almond Meal Mask  -   This is a great mask and really easy.

• Cream has lactic acid which will brighten skin, exfoliate, and hydrate skin.  It is alpha hydroxy acid, in its base form
• Almond meal will also hydrate skin, plus you can use it as a natural exfoliant.

2 TB cream

1/4 cup almond meal

Mix the cream and almond meal together and spread on face.  Gently rub to exfoliate and then leave on skin for 20 minutes.  You can wipe it off with a wet wash cloth and then rinse well with warm water.

Coffee, Honey,  and Jojoba Mask

• Coffee has caffeine in it and it will reduce the puffiness around your eyes and in your face.  It will also brighten complexion and it can reduce the appearance of fine lines.
• Honey is a natural humectant, which means it will draw moisture into your skin
• Jojoba oil is great for its penetrating properties.  It is an oil that is closest to the oil that our skin produces.

1/4 cup coffee grounds

1 TB honey

2 TB jojoba oil

Mix these ingredients together, and put a thin layer on your face.  After 20 minutes gently rub your face to exfoliate, and then rinse with warm water.

The last is Pumpkin, Egg, and Honey Mask

• Pumpkin has natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids which will help with cell turnover which is great for skin rejuvenation.  It is great for acne prone and aging skin.
• Egg whites firms skin, reduces redness and inflamation
• Honey is our go to ingredient because it will draw moisture into your skin.

1/4 cup pumpkin

1 egg white

2 TB honey

Mix ingredients and spread a thin layer on your face and neck.  Leave on for 20 minutes and then rinse off with warm water.

After all of these masks you can use a toner and moisturize as you normally would.

Let me know what your favorite masks are.   I would love to hear what you use from your kitchen.

Enjoy!!!

Debi
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DIY Dish Soap - Flop

My Flop

Now is the time to show one of my flops.  We all have them every once in a while.  Well this is certainly mine.

I have been making the Homemade Liquid Dish Soap - Frugally Sustainable, and it does work.  I would just prefer to make it a little thicker.

This is what I have been having a hard time with.  I have been using and tweaking this recipe for some time, and I thought I finally had it.  I dissolved 3 additional tablespoons of Dr Bonner's castille soap in this last batch.  It was finally thicker, but, and here is the big but, after it cooled it separated.  So now I have white soap floating in my dish soap.

Oh well,  I will keep trying to make a thicker dish soap, but in the meantime the Homemade Liquid Dish Soap from Frugally Sustainable is a really great recipe.

Tell me if you have the secret to making a thicker liquid dish soap.  I would love to hear your solutions to this problem.

Enjoy!!!

Debi
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Footprints Poem - Bible Study

Last week I wrote about knowing that once we have invited God into our hearts, that he is always with us. 

God is so faithful, he will never leave us and never desert us.  I am so grateful for the work that he does in the lives of my family and myself.  He truly works miracles. 

As I was writing last week about how in times of trouble we sometimes forget to rely on God first, I was reminded of the poem called Footprints, so, I wanted to put that in today for all of you.  I believe that this poem shows how even if we are right with God, we can misconstrue his motives.  We need to learn to trust in him at all times, because he is so faithful.

FOOTPRINTS

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish,
sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
so I said to the Lord,
“ You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there has only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“ The years when you have seen only one set of footprints,
my child, is when I carried you.”

--Author Mary Stevenson--

I really love this poem.  We all have difficult times in our lives, and I am so grateful that during those trying times God is carrying me.

Let me know what you think of this poem.  I have relied on it during some of the most trying times in my life.  (divorce, death of a parent, a child in the front lines of Afghanistan)  Tell me about the times you have relied on God to get you through.

Have a blessed day!!!

Debi

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Cherry Creek Farmers Market Photo Series 4

I really enjoy taking pictures at farmers markets.  I love everything about them; the colors, textures, the variety of foods, and even the signs with the names of the businesses.

The colors are so vibrant and beautiful.  The textures are amazing, whether its a shiny tomato, a rough potato.  There are soft textures of fabric or the hard outside of pottery.  It all gives me a sense of excitement, because it excites all of my senses.
 

 

 It is not just the food and the clothing and the pottery and the baskets,  it is also the colors of the signs and the fonts on them.

I love the creativity of these people.  I adore looking at the food that the food trucks prepare.  They sell everything for a wonderful meal at the farmers market.  They have lemonade, sandwiches, soup, coffee, bread, gyros, and even jambalaya.  It is an amazing smorgasbord of delectable treats.

I hope that you have enjoyed this photo series.  Tell me about your local farmers markets.  I love hearing from you, and what you have to say.

Enjoy!!!
Debi