by | Life Application
photo credit: pinterest
I’ve found another thing to be addicted to.
But…
I think this is actually a good addiction. I was introduced to Pinterest a couple of months ago, but just recently started to dive in a little deeper. I’m pretty happy with what I have found.
If you’re not familiar with Pinterest, check it out. It’s the one stop shop for storing and sharing things you love and find on the internet. For example, I’m finding new recipes I can’t wait to try out. I’m not the craftiest person in the world. I may be able to write a song, but ask me to make a homemade card and you’ll think a kindergartener decorated it. But, it has inspired me to get off my tush and start making do-it-yourself crafts.
I’m actually going to try my hand at making my own toothpaste. Yes, there will be a blog to come I’m sure.
Plan your wedding. Find your vacation dreams. Save that framed art you can’t afford now, but hope to someday. Clip your favorite recipes and make your friends and family think you’ve been doing it for years.
Organize your organization.
I’ve actually been using it for a company I work for, Devo Olive Oil, to post our recipes. Not only is it great for personal use, but I believe it can be another asset to the world of Social Media Marketing.
Give it a shot. Get an invite today!
Are you currently using Pinterest? What do you love most or dislike about it? Comment below…
by | Life Application
photo credit: all american mortgage
Have you ever tried to make a decision based simply on the list of pros and cons? More positive items on the list than negative usually means the decision is obvious. Or is it?
Here’s what I’m getting at:
Let’s bring The Smurfs into the equation.
I, along with my little cousin, Caleb, have been patiently waiting for Smurfs in 3D to hit the theatres this summer. I grew up on that cartoon and was super excited. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a child at heart. I’ll probably never grow out of it. Actually, I should say I hope to never grow out of it.
Caleb and I ventured to the movie theatre ready for an adventure. We got our ticket, our 3D glasses, popcorn and drink. It was showtime! I walked out of the theater with a little less excitement than I went in with.
I decided to make a list about the positive and negatives of the movie. Here goes it:
Positives
- It had an endearing message of learning what’s important in life
- It provided laughter
- You can’t help but fall in love with those cute, blue people
- It was the usual bad guy loses at the end. Who doesn’t love that?
- It was a cute love story
- No profanity
- No drinking
- No drugs
- No inappropriate music
Negatives
- Insinuated foul language by substituting the cuss words with “smurf.” Example: “Smurf This!”
- One scene involved a cleavage shot of a woman whose breasts continued to grow due to a magical potion
- The movie wasn’t completely 3D
That’s it. That’s all the negativity I saw in the movie.
What now?
Based on the list, if I had it to do over again, knowing in advance what I would be seeing, it wouldn’t matter to me that the list of pros were larger than the cons. When I watched The Smurfs as a kid, my mom never had to wonder if it was safe enough. As I sat in that movie theater munching on my popcorn, it occurred to me how many millions of children would see the unnecessary sexual images displayed on the big screen. It also occurred to me how many parents would walk away without a second thought about what their children had seen.
Five years ago I wouldn’t have noticed either. It would have been no big deal to me. But today it is. It’s a big deal! Everyday, we have thousands of images that pass through our minds. If we don’t protect our children and ourselves, who will?
What do you think? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Comment below…
by | Life Application
photo credit: marcn (creative commons)
Life is hard. That’s simple enough right? But, what does that mean for us?
I was listening to Joyce Meyer the other day talking about planning our pleasures and our pain. It really got me to thinking how much better I could do, and reminding me that I’m doing better than I think I am.
Here’s some questions for you to answer..
- Do you want to lose weight but haven’t done anything about it yet?
- Is debt piling up and you can’t see over the stack?
- Do you hate your job and come home depressed everyday?
Here’s my next question:
What are you doing about it?
I used to sit around and make excuses for why things weren’t happening. Then I learned that I was wasting my time, others’ time, and wasting my breath. I was making excuses for things that were not beyond my control, but I was looking at the situations as if they were.
I wanted the pleasure of being successful at things, but I didn’t want to go through the pain of getting there. Sometimes life calls for pain. There is no way around it. You have to plan your pleasure. Plan how you will get there.
Here are three excuses we make instead of planning our pleasures:
I’m Not Losing Weight. Are you getting off the couch? Are you looking in the mirror saying, “I wish I could be skinny?” As Joyce says, “You ain’t gonna get it wishing!” Stop waiting for others to do it with you. Stop waiting for the next best diet. Get up! If I can do it, you can do it. No more excuses. I started small with a tiny walk around the parking lot. I traded McDonald’s for grilled chicken. I didn’t go on a diet. I didn’t starve myself. I went through the pain of excercising and changiing my lifestyle. Guess what? That pain eventually got easier. You have to make the decision today that you will stop wishing for what you could have and start planning for what you will have.
I’ll Never Get Out Of Debt. Not with that attitude you won’t. Here’s my first suggestion: cut up those credit cards now! If you don’t have the willpower to say no, then don’t give yourself the temptation. Just as in losing weight, it takes one step at a time. One payment at a time. One month at a time. But if you plan the pleasure and start walking through the pain, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Let me be honest with you. I have some medical debt stacked up. I started to get defeated by looking at the bills stacking up in my shoe box, but one day I sat down and started opening everyone of them. I put them in a spreadsheet and figured out how much I owed. I was actually happy with the total. It could have been much worse. Then I came up with a plan. I have a certain amount I plan to pay every month, and am hoping that within the year I will be debt free. I’m planning the pleasure of paying off that last bill and will smile at the end of the pain. This doesn’t mean that you have to live a dull life and never grab a movie and popcorn. But make your choices wisely. I am by no means a professional in this area, but God is growing me.
My Job Gets Worse Everyday. Not everyone loves their job. Not everyone is expected to stay in a miserable work environment all of their life. But, you are expected to keep your integrity and good attitutude at work, despite what others around you do. Check your heart and your attitude. Ask yourself what needs to be changed inside of you before you blame your job for negative things in your life. If you’ve worked on you and things are still rough, plan the pleasure of finding a new job, continuing to dig in and do your work based on Colossians 3:23-24.
Obviously I can’t cover all the excuses you or I make, but these are some main ones I hear. Whatever situation is in your life right now, sit down and reevaluate the situation. Plan your pleasure. It’s right around the corner if you decide to make it happen.
What pleasures are you currently working on? Comment below…
by | Life Application
When you hear the word intimacy what’s the first thing you think of? It’s ok – be honest.
From my experience most people seem to associate the word with romance. For example, “My husband and I were intimate last night.” But there is more to this powerful word than that. Let me explain.
I’m guest posting on The Truth About Intimacy over at Mel’s World today. Click here for the rest of the post. You don’t want to miss what intimacy is really about..
by | Life Application
I experienced an amazing dining experience yesterday that I have to tell you about.
A new restaurant in Branson, Table 22, has been open for a little over a month. I have been so excited to go, and yesterday was the day. It was day 11, which meant I got to add protein to my 21-day cleanse.
Table 22 is a contemporary American bistro serving locally grown products with an extensive wine list. Their menus change according to what’s in season. From the moment I walked in, I was in love. The style fit my personality so well. From the art on the wall to the ice water pitchers, it was cool and contemporary.
I ordered the smoked salmon, which was brought out on my plate beautifully displayed in thinly slices, topped with onions and caps. One word: INCREDIBLE! I followed that up with a watermelon salad mixed with olive oil, cracked pepper and thyme. It was sweetly delicious!
Table 22 brings a new and much needed style to Branson. You no longer have to drive to the big city to enjoy contemporary style. If you’re planning a trip to Branson, make Table 22 a must on your list of things to do.
I haven’t experienced the dinner menu yet, but I’m looking very forward to it.
Have you been part of the Table 22 experience yet? What did you enjoy? Comment below..
