Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons

Good skin care and a healthy lifestyle can help delay the natural aging process. I, for one, don't want to grow older any faster than I already am!
A weekly facial prevents the clogged pores and dull skin that come from heat, sweat and sunscreen. Below are some tips on how you can save money by giving yourself this daily treat. A facial should be given after you shower, while your skin is still damp, to achieve the best results.

1. Exfoliate clean skin with a sugar (or salt) scrub. The crystals are gentle because they dissolve quickly, unlike walnut or apricot shells. Sugar and salt are both humectants, so they hydrate. Skip this step if you use an acid or a retinoid daily.

2. Smooth on an algae mask. Packed with antioxidants, algae masks soften skin and boost circulation. Some are made with oil-absorbing clay and others add emollients to moisturize dry skin.

3. Get rid of those blackheads. Don't even think about using your fingers to dislodge a blackhead! Instead, hold two cotton swabs on either side, in a V, then gently press down. If the plug doesn't loosen, don't force it.
Do not, I repeat, do NOT go near red, swollen zits! Instead, cover them with a layer of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream followed by 1% hydrocortisone once a day for three days.

4. Apply moisturizer every day. Moisturizers don't just prevent and treat dry skin, they also protect sensitive skin, improve skin tone and texture and mask imperfections. This is an important step after you've removed the dead skin cells and natural moisturizers using the scrub and the mask.


Flawless skin is a thing of beauty. Take care of it!

Thirty-One Gifts and Planned Parenthood

There has been some discussion lately as to whether or not Thirty-One Gifts supports Planned Parenthood.
To be clear, Thirty-One in no way gives donations to support and/or fund PP. Thirty-One does, however, give to these charitable organizations:

• Dress for Success Worldwide
• Blume
• GOGO Gives: Get One Give One Gives
• Safe Horizon
• Domestic Violence Intervention Services
• YWCA of Central Ohio
• Girl Scouts
• Salvation Army
• Project Woman
• Interfaith Hospitality Network
• The Women's Fund of Central Ohio
• ROX ­ Ruling Our Experiences

Some of these organizations do give to Planned Parenthood, but that doesn't directly include Thirty-One Gifts. 

I did a search for companies that directly supported PP and I was quite shocked! If we, as a Christian community, decided to boycott ALL the companies associated with Planned Parenthood, I think we'd be quite limited as to what we bought. 

Just to give you an idea of companies that do indeed send support funds to Planned Parenthood, below is just the tip of the iceberg:

Pernod Ricard (alcoholic beverages, including Absolute, Ballantine's, Beefeater, Bancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Chivas Regal, G.H. Mumm, The Glenlivet, Graffigna, Havana Club, Jacob's Creek, Jameson, Kahlúa, Malibu, Maretll, Mumm, Perrier-Jouët, Ricard, Royal Salute).
TD Bank Group(financial services).
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts(lodging, including Baymont Inn & Suites, Days Inn, Dream Hotels, Hawthorne, Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Microtel Inns & Suites, Night, Planet Hollywood, Ramada, Super 8, Travelodge, TRYP Hotels, and Wingate).
NACCO Industries (appliance manufacturing, including eclectrics, Hamilton Beach, Proctor Silex, Traditions, TrueAir, plus Kitchen Collection and Le Gourmet Chef stores).
Whole Foods Market
JPMorgan Chase (including Chase Bank, & Bank One).
Bank of America, Lost Arrow(Patagonia)
Danone (Dannon products).
Wells Fargo, Bob Evans (restaurants).
Chevron (includingCaltex, Texaco, Xpress Lube).
eBay (includingPayPal).
Arthur Murray (dance studios).
Bikram's Yoga, Midas (auto care).
Nike
Marriott Hotels & Resorts (lodging, including Courtyard, Fairfield,Renaissance, Ritz-Carlton). 
Johnson & Johnson
Staples (office/school supplies).
Darden Restaurants (eateries, including Bahama Breeze, The Capital Grille, LongHorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden,Red Lobster, Seasons 52).


I am very pro-life, which means I'm very opposed to abortion, but I've also come to the conclusion that we all have to pick our battles. What will we fight for that will make the most difference in the lives of those around us? In the end, God will have the final judgement. He will reward those who have furthered His Kingdom and He will punish those who haven't done so. 
For me, I will choose not to support Planned Parenthood directly. However, to even begin to boycott ALL the companies that are affiliated with PP, would take up too much of my energy and time and quite frankly, I'd rather spend that extra time loving on my family and showing the love of the Father to those who are lost. 


Until next time....

How to Keep Your Hands Healthy

Our hands broadcast a lot about you - from your marital status to whether you're a Ballet Slippsers or Vamp kind of girl. They can also, at a glance, indicate your real age (or one that's older than our years, due to a hardworking, sun loving lifestyle).
By age 30, skin-cell production decreases by 10%, making your skin less efficient at repairing itself. The tops of the hands, where the skin is thin, can show signs of age first (unlike the thicker-skinned, often-under-cover palms.
Taking care of your most useful appendages requires commitment and a few well-honed tricks!

• Keep lotion everywhere. Place a hand-cream pump at every sink in your house and stash travel-size tubes in your desk drawer and purse so you’ll never forget to moisturize.
• Pamper your cuticles. After showering, use a wet washcloth to push cuticles gently back so they frame the nails. Avoid trimming, which can leave the area open to infection.
• File nails, then cut conservatively. Clipping the whole nail in one fell swoop can be too aggressive, causing it to tear and peel. Instead, use an extra-fine emery board and file to a rounded shape. “Mirror the curve at the base of your nail to get the best natural look,” says Sirot. An additional benefit: Rounded nails are less likely to break than squarer shapes. If you do need to cut, do so in several small snips across the nail.
• Wear gloves while cleaning and washing dishes. Chemicals and hot water can strip away the protective lipid barrier from your skin, making it susceptible to irritation and dryness.
• Raise your hands above your heart for one minute. Dubbed “draining” by hand models, this trick reduces the amount of blood flow to the hands, making them appear less blotchy. “And when your hands need to look their best, minimize your salt, caffeine, and sugar intake to help make veins less prominent,” says Sirot.
• Treat with at-home ingredients. For softer, more hydrated skin, mix raw oatmeal and honey together and apply to hands; let sit for five minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Read Your Lips

Pinks:

The woman who treasures a pink lip shade possesses a beauty that never goes out of style. Classy and feminine, she’s the measure of a true lady. But don’t be surprised to discover a fun, flirty side winking beneath the pink.

Metals:

A metallic lip luster is the perfect shade for a girl on the cutting edge of fashion. She knows how to add that extra something to make an outfit go from simple to amazing. And when it comes to the next new thing, you can bet she's already there!

Berries:

You'll find shades of berries on the lips of a woman living life to the fullest. She's energetic, enthusiastic and walks into a room with confidence. It's no wonder she's drawn to a lip shade as lively as the life she's leading.

Neutrals:

Don't be fooled by demure lips in neutrals. When it comes to expressing her style, this woman knows how to make a bold statement. Spend an after noon with her and you'll learn to expect the delightfully unexpected.

Chocolates:

Generous and giving, the woman with a loving heart can't resist a lipstick in a warm chocolate shade. She exudes a genuine affection and will make you feel fabulous. And of course, she's sweet as candy.

Tawnies:

For the sophisticated woman, tawnies are the lip shade of choice. Gifted with impeccable taste, she appreciates fine things in life from beautiful art to artisan coffee. When it comes to perfecting her pucker, only a shade of tawnie will do.

Reds:

She's confident and sophisticated. She's glamorous, trendy and classic all at the same time. She's true to the end, and her beauty spans a lifetime. What more can be said of the woman in red!

Need help finding the right shade for you? Visit the Mary Kay website and call me to place an order for you!

4 Skin Care Mistakes You DON'T Want to Make!

1. Forgetting about your neck:

Most people think of the face when you mention anti-aging products, but neglecting your neck is a sure-fire way to show your age before you're ready. The fragile skin on your neck and décolletage has different needs from the skin of your face, and if not protected and nourished appropriately can lose hydration and look flabby. 

2. Not Eating Correctly:

In addition to topical creams and serums, the optimum anti-aging skin care regimen includes nourishing the skin from within. Many dermatologists recommend a diet high in Vitmims A, E, and C as well as Fish Oils and other antioxidants. Unfortunately most of us do not eat exactly right 100% of the time. Try a daily multi-vitamin supplement that provides super balanced internal nutrition if your diet isn't perfect.

3. Skimping on the Sunscreen:

You've heard it many times before: no single product can do more to prevent the signs of aging than sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. The truth is most of us do not apply enough as often as we should. Experts recommend applying about 1 ounce of sunscreen —enough to fill a shot glass— 15 to 30 minutes before heading out. Reapply sunscreen  every 2 hours and after sweating or swimming. An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure when it comes  to sunscreens. If you are outside even briefly use a broad-spectrum, moisturizing sunscreen.


4. Ignoring Your Hands:

Next to your face, your hands are probably the most visible parts of your body and will show the earliest signs of aging. They're always in contact with the elements, household chemicals and extreme temperatures causing sun damage, dryness, chapped skin and age spots. Despite this our hands are often left off the list when it comes to anti-aging skin care needs. To soften and protect your hands try use a well balanced moisturizer.

Are You Successful ?

How God Measures Success

What is success? Most people define success in terms of  achieving  goals, acquiring wealth, and having prestige, favor, status, and  power.  "Successful" people enjoy the "good life" - being financially  secure,  emotionally secure, being surrounded by admirers, and enjoying the  fruits of their labor. Their example is emulated and their  accomplishments are noticed. Most people's definitions of success only  deal with the "here and now" of this life. Even in many churches today  the definition of success is in terms of numbers, size, dollars and prestige.    

                  

But success is measured and defined differently by God. God's measure of success involves our obedience and faithfulness to Him, regardless of opposition and personal cost. His measure of success is whether or not we are being loyal to Him in our personal relationship with Him and in our life, and whether we are accomplishing His goals & purposes for our life. Some examples in the Bible:

Jeremiah was an absolute failure when judged by people's definition of success. For 40 years he served as God's spokesman, but when he spoke no one listened and responded. He was rejected by his neighbors, his family, the priests and prophets, friends, his audiences, and the kings. He was poor and underwent severe deprivation to deliver God's messages. He was thrown into prison and into a cistern. But in God's eyes he was a success. He faithfully and courageously proclaimed God's word and His messages, and he was obedient to his calling.

  Jesus was also a failure, if you measure his life here on earth by people's  measure of success. He had little in material possessions, and did not  even own a home. He was rejected by most people, and was even hated  by some. The religious leaders of the time despised him. Even his friends  and those closest to him deserted him. He was accused and found guilty  of things he did not do. He was beaten, spit on, cursed, mocked, and he  suffered terribly and died the most horrible kind of death known to man at  that time, death on the cross. Measure him by the way most of us  measure success, and he was a failure. But in God's eyes, the redemption and salvation of all of mankind was accomplished through His son Jesus. By God's grace and great love for you and I, He sent Jesus to pay for our sins, and now the gift of a restored personal relationship with God and eternal life can be ours - all because of Jesus Christ.