Wednesday's Words to Remember

The world needs more of these kind of woman!!!

To All My Friends in the East Cost

Day 235

Do you want to trade????? You can have our sunshine and I will take your freezing snow ;):);)

Days 225 - 234

Day 225

Studies in Black and White

 Day 226

 Beams of Light

Day 227

 Peeling Paint

 Day 228

 Clouds

Day 229

 Golden Sunset

Day 230

 For Purple Mountains Majesty

Day 231

 The Old Wooden Fence

Day 232

 Baby Mine

 Day 233

Going for a Bike Ride!!

Day 234

Step Dancing Down the Road

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffins

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffins
This recipe is a spin off of the leftover oatmeal muffin recipe that I posted. Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal was my favorite instant oatmeal flavor. Whenever we had instant oatmeal I always had that kind. When I stopped eating instant oatmeal I figured out how to make regular apples and cinnamon oatmeal. Yesterday when I

was at a loss for what kind of muffins to make I decided to try to make my favorite flavor of oatmeal muffins. I also thought that adding the apples would make the muffins heartier and more filling. (Hearty, filling recipes that go a long way are kind of my thing right now because I have two teenage brothers who would eat every edible morsel in the house if I would let them.) I also tweaked the recipe a little bit to hopefully get fluffier muffins. MY family loved how they turned out and they said that they tasted very similar to apple cinnamon instant oatmeal!!! :)

Ingredients:
Muffins:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1\2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup oil
1 cup applesauce
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups leftover oatmeal
2 cups apple, peeled and chopped (about 2 medium apples)

Topping:
1\2 cup brown sugar
1\2 cup oats
1\2 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl combine the first seven ingredients. In a separate bowl whisk all the liquid ingredients. Add apples. Fold the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients. Do not overstir. Scoop into lined muffin tins. In a small bowl combine the topping ingredients. Sprinkle on muffins. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
Enjoy!!
Yield: 3 dozen muffins

Day 224

Day 224

Golden Light

Day 223

Day 223

Golden Globe

Wednesday's Words to Remember

"Children of the same family, the same blood, with the same first associations and habits, have some means of enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connections can supply... "

 ~Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814

"What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it?"

 ~Jenny DeVries

"How do people make it through life without a sister?"

  ~Sara Corpening

"To the outside world we all grow old.  But not to brothers and sisters.  We know each other as we always were.  We know each other's hearts.  We share private family jokes.  We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.  We live outside the touch of time."

  ~Clara Ortega

"I don't believe an accident of birth makes people sisters or brothers.  It makes them siblings, gives them mutuality of parentage.  Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people have to work at."

  ~Maya Angelou

"Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring - quite often the hard way."

  ~Pamela Dugdale

"I know some sisters who only see each other on Mother's Day and some who will never speak again.  But most are like my sister and me... linked by volatile love, best friends who make other best friends ever so slightly less best."

  ~Patricia Volk

"When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us?"

   ~Pam Brown

Day 222

Day 222

Scratches on Glass

Skin Care

A friend of mine asked me to do a post on skin care which I am very happy to do but I have two confessions to make. First, I don't know a whole lot about skin care. I have done some research to prepare for this post and I have read bits and pieces here and there. Second, my skin is extremely low maintenance. I can probably count on my fingers the number of times I have gotten a pimple on my face and I do not have an extensive skin care regime. Both those things being said here is what I have learned and here is what i do to take care of my skin.
First off, everyone's skin is different. Thus what you need to do to take care of your skin and your skin care regime will look different than the person's next to you. Peoples' skin types fall into three broad categories; dry, normal and oily. People with dry skin rarely break out, most likely won't get acne and only have to clean their faces once a day. Their disadvantages are that their skin is most likely very sensitive, they have to moisturize regularly and are prone to wrinkles as they age. People with normal skin have.. well.... normal skin. Very few people are blessed with perfectly normal skin. Usually they are normal bordering dry or oily. My skin is normal bordering dry. People with oily skin have to wash their face at least twice a day, usually have trouble with acne and pimples. But also their skin is not usually as sensetive and they are not as prone to wrinkles.
Our skin is very absorbant but it also is one of our bodies ways of getting rid of waste material. That is why we must make sure to clean our skin regularly. Since our skin absorbs everything we put on it we should be very mindful of what is in the products we stick on our skin. It is up to each person to decide how natural or unnatural they will go in regards to skin care.
The basis of beautiful skin is a healthy diet. If you eat poorly it will be reflected in your skin. Make sure your diet includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, protein rich foods and healthy fats. 
No matter what type of skin you have there are four basic things that are essential to healthy skin besides a healthy diet.

Cleanse:
You should wash your face everyday at least once. There are several ways to do this. Studies are showing that regular soap is probably not the best thing to use on your face because it strips your face of all the natural oils leaving your face dry and vunerable. There are lots of face cleansing creams, liquid etc. available. You should decide which one to use based on your skin type. If you have dry skin look for cleansers that say
gentle, hydrating or moisturizing. If you have oily skin look for cleansers designed just for you. scrub your face in an upward circular motion because your pores on your face face downward and scrubing them in this direction will help make sure you clean them thoroughly. After you clean your face rinse with cold water to close your pores.

Moisturize:
After you clean your face you need to replenish it's moisture even if your skin is oily. Again, the moisturizer
you choose depends on what type of skin you have.

Protect:
It is very important keep your skin protected from the sun even if you are blessed with skin that naturally tans. I don't tan; I turn pink which is most unattractive. I need to put sunscreen on if I go out in the sun for any extended period of time (i.e. anytime longer than 15 minutes) because I am very prone to sun burn which puts me at a high risk for skin cancer. But even if you don't have light skin you need to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. The damaging rays of the sun lead to skin cancer and early aging. When looking for sunscreen products look for ones with either titanium oxide or zinc oxide because those work the best.

Exfoliate:
You always have skin cells that are dying and it is important to remove the layer of dead skin cells regularly otherwise they will clog your pores. There are several ways to do this including scrubs and masks.








Here is what I do and use to take care of my skin.
I clean my face in the morning and at night with Trader Joe's tea tree oil face cleaning pads.
then I rinse with cold water.

 In the morning I moisturize with Aveeno natural body lotion with oatmeal

  I like it because it does not leave me all shiny. In the summer I will use a lotion with sunscreen in it.
 At night I use Tropical Traditions Lavender Moisturizer.

Coconut oil is super good for your skin and the scent of lavender is very relaxing.
For sunscreen I use Coppertone for sensitive skin.

It stays on even in the water and smells pretty good too. Sometimes if I am just going for a walk in the neighborhood in the summer  I will use coconut oil because it acts as a sunscreen and it moisturizes at the same time.
 To exfoliate my sister and I make face masks and try to use them twice a week. Our recipes are always different but here is one of our favorites.

I hope this was helpful to some of you! What do you do to take care of your skin?

Day 221

Day 221

Hard at Work

Days 218-220

Happy Saturday, Y'all!!! Guess what!!?? It is cloudy here!!!  I know, some places in the U.S. are getting record breaking freezing temperatures and the last thing they want to see is a gray cloud; but here in California we are living up to our nickname, Sunny CA. It has been very springish minus the new growth due to a lack of precipitation. It has been a month and four days since we last got a drop of moisture. All this to explain why I am excited about the gray clouds. They could be evidence that God is about to send us some much needed moisture!!!!

Here are my 313 pictures from the last couple of days.

Day 218

 On Thursday our dear neighbors invited us over for high tea in authentic British style. It was so much fun. We got all dressed up and ate British high tea food and learned British and Scottish customs.

Day 219

 On Friday I drove to Fresno for the first time. Daddy had a meeting and so he let me drive him there. It was alot of fun and easier than I expected. The nice long drive helped my greatly with my goal of 50 hours ;)

Day 220

Today is a pretty normal Saturday. We are working around the house and getting ready for tomorrow. Today I ordered a 5 in 1 light reflector and a lens hood. I am looking forward to them coming! I love getting packages in the mail!!

Wednesday's Words to Remember

"You may be whatever you resolve to be."

Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

Good Resolutions

 "Though I'm now in younger days, 

Nor can tell what shall befall me,

I'll prepare for every place

Where my growing age shall call me.

Should I e'er be rich or great,

others shall partake my goodness:

I'll supply the poor with meat,

Never showing scorn or rudeness.

Where i see the blind or lame,

Deaf or dumb, I'll kindly treat them:

I deserve to feel the same,

If I mock, or hurt, or cheat them.

If I meet with railing toungues,

Why should I return them railing,

Since I best revenge my  wrongs

By my patience never failing?

When I hear them telling lies,

Talking foolish, cursing, swearing,

First I'll try to make them wise,

Or I'll soon go out of hearing.

What though I be low or mean,

I'll engage the rich to love me,

While I', modest, neat, and clean,

And submit when they reprove me.

If I should be poor and sick,

I shall meet, i hope, with pity;

Since I love to help the weak,

though they're neither fair nor witty.

I'll not willingly offend,

Nor be easily offended:

What's amiss I'll strive to mend,

And endure what can't be mended.

May I be so watchful still

O'er my humours and my passion,

As to speak and do no ill,

Though it should be all the fasion.

Wicked fashions lead to hell;

Ne'er may I be found complying;

But in life behave so well,

Not to be afraid of dying."

Isaac Watts

Day 217

Can't you see the steely resolve in his eyes?? ;)

313 Pictures

Good evening to all you wonderful people!! As I mentioned a couple posts ago, one of my New years resolutions was to take a picture every day. I have been doing pretty good at that so far (which is good since it has only been a week since I made that resolution :P) It helps that I have been keeping my camera on my dresser so it can stare at me and remind me every time I go into my room that I need to take a picture. I had forgotten to mention on my new years post that another one of my resolutions is to be a better blogger. Which means I won't forget I have a blog and go for weeks without posting anything. Anyways, here are my most recent 313 pictures. I am sorry but they are not as creative as my friend Haley's most recent pictures. I have been focusing on portrait photography; thus all the people pictures :):)

Day 207

 Lying in the Leaves

Day 208

 This Little Light of Mine

Day 209

Arms full of Light

Day 210

 Pretty Girl, Typical Pose

Day 211

 The Warmth of Winter

Day 212

 My Small Prince

Day 213

 Hannah II

Day 214

 Sharpies!!!

Day  215

 Circle of Friends

Day 216

Cutie Pie!! I love his chubby cheeks!! ;)

New Years 2013\2014

Happy 2014!! I know it is the 4th day of 2014 but I thought i would still wish you a happy, blessed and adventurous year. For new year's eve we were originally planing on getting together with some of our other friends but they were sick so sadly we had to call off the get together. Instead we went to some of our other good friends' house for a party. It was really nice because it was just our hosts, us another family. We played Catch Phrase, took goofy pictures, took time to share what God has done in our lives over the past year, ate pie, watched a slideshow and welcomed the new year in with poppers and listened to the sound of the fireworks on Bass Lake. It was so nice to just relax and fellowship with each other.
I am going to double these pictures as my 313 pictures because I am so terribly behind/

Day 195

Day 196

Day 197

 If you have ever played Catch Phrase then you know how fast paced and funny it can be. It is even more fun when you have sibling playing it. It can be hilarious then!!!
Day 198

Day 199

DAY 200!!!!

Day 201

Day 202

Elianna greatly enjoyed her pie as you can plainly see!!!

Day 203

Day 204

Day 205

Day 206

How was y'all's new years? Did you stay up till midnight and party or did you go to bed at eight o'clock sharp??;)