Series on Modesty: Modest Dress Photos

As the adage goes, "A picture's worth a thousand words."  With that in mind, here are the first of many posts of photos, in our Series on Modesty, of women and girls of all ages, shapes and sizes wearing modest clothing.  If you have thought about the subject of choosing your clothing based on not causing men to stumble or lust in their hearts, and wanting to please God in all things, then I hope that you've taken the time to read, "Does What I Wear Matter To God?"  and "Why Do You Dress That Way?"  This is a topic which is so important in our day and age.  I don't pretend to have all the answers on this subject, but I, with you, want to explore this subject, and ask God to lead us.

Our church did a survey of men on what caused them problems in women's dress.  Check out the results of the Modesty Survey.


I am purposely choosing a vast array of styles to show that anyone can look nice, and express their own style, and still dress modestly.  It's sometimes difficult to find appropriate clothing at an affordable price, and in your size.  I have found success at finding skirts and tops at reasonable prices in thrift stores.  I like dressing in skirts and tops, because of the flexibility this gives me to mix and match.  Also, my body type looks better in separates than in dresses.  What works for you?

Mother's Day Photos

These are photos of Mother's Day.  We spent the day with my mom.  Kelsey was a sweetheart and made the whole meal, but more than that, she totally made all the decisions, bought the groceries, everything.  Right now, making one more decision is harder than making a meal!  It was all delicious, of course.  I was very grateful.

Today and tomorrow I'll be sharing some photos with you, because I thought you might like to see them, and also, we are in the middle of our remodeling project, and I don't have much time to post.  I'm still checking in, and will respond to comments!  I took a video of the "Before" and some pictures after we began ripping and tearing, so we'll see if I can get them on here in the next few days.

There's still time to link up to Mondays Are Great.  I don't know where you all were this week, or what you were doing, but I'd really like to read testimonies of God's helping you, and protecting, and encouraging you this past week.  If you're still breathing, that's proof that He was there and was at work in your life.

My kids and husband gave me a blue topaz necklace and a gift card to my favorite restaurant, Olive Garden!  I gave her some pretty paper plates and matching napkins, and I wrote a letter of thanks to my Mom, as I mentioned I might.  I think she was pleased.

After dinner we played Dominoes (Mexican Train).  Dane won.

We had a lovely day together.

The Flowers Kelsey bought for Mom and me

The Trifle was scrumptious!

Yes, the recipe will be on Food Friday:)

Spring Cleaning: Timely Tips on Tuesday

I have learned that the key to finishing any large task is tackling small chunks of it at a time. Though I am not fanatical on Spring or Fall Cleaning, I do like to do a deeper cleaning yearly.  Here is a non-comprehensive list of tasks which I try to accomplish at least once a year, either in the fall or spring (this list is from memory, so I might forget some of the jobs, and I will have to add them later):


Kitchen:
Wash the outside of my cupboards
Clean the oven
Wash the curtains
Wash the windows
Clean out the Pantry cupboard
Wash out and straighten the silverware drawer, the spice drawer, and any inside cupboards which need it.

My Spice Drawer

Living Room:
Wash the valance
Dust the woodwork
Vacuum the registers
Wash the cloth on top of the piano


Family Room:
Thoroughly dust the Computer center area, the hutch, decorations, bookshelves.
Clean out and organize the two cupboards beneath the other two bookshelves, and straighten the books.
Rearrange the furniture, and vacuum the cushions, and underneath and behind the moved furniture.
Dust the woodwork
Vacuum the registers


Bedrooms:
Wash the curtains.
Change and/or wash the bedding:  bedspreads, comforters, replace or clean pillows.
Straighten drawers underneath our bed.
Dust any cobwebs in corners or behind bedstands, etc.


Bathrooms:
Wash outer shower curtains.
Replace shower curtain liners.
Wash out and straighten the medicine cabinet.


I am nowhere near getting done with all these jobs:)  It usually takes me all spring, summer and into the fall to get them all done, and often I don't make it, but it gives me "something to shoot for," as my husband always says.

My Kitchen Pantry

Do you do Spring Cleaning? What jobs are on your list?

Food Friday: Recipe for White Velvet Cutout Cookies

I know it's not Christmas anymore, but I've been looking for an excuse to post photos of the beautiful cookies that Kelsey made at Christmas!

And there's another holiday coming up:  Valentines Day

is just around the corner!

Wouldn't you like to make heart-shaped cutouts for your husband and children to show them how much you love them? This would be a fun activity to do together, too!

Or maybe you're signed up to bring something to a Valentines party?  Everyone will be so impressed with these cookies!

Not only are they beautiful, but they are delicious!

I don't know about you, but in the past I haven't had the best of luck with making cutout cookies. But, over Christmas, Kelsey found this recipe, and they were amazing.  The dough was so easy to work with and was a luscious consistency and made the most perfect cutout cookies.  I really hope you like them!  Here's the recipe for:

White Velvet Cutouts

Yield:  3-1/2 dozen

Ingredients:

2 cups butter, softened

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

2 cups sugar

2 egg yolks

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

In a bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy.  Add sugar, egg yolks and vanilla; mix well. Gradually add flour.  Cover and chill 2 hours or until firm.

Roll out on a floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness.  Cut into 3-inch shapes; place 1 inch apart on greased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until set (not browned).  Cool 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool.

Glacé Frosting 

1 lb powdered sugar (about 3-3/4 cups)
6 Tbsp whole milk
6 Tbsp light corn syrup (6 Tbsp  is equal to 1/4 C plus another 2 Tbsp)
1 tsp extract (almond, peppermint, vanilla)
Combine sugar and milk until smooth (no lumps!) Then stir in corn syrup and extract.

Kelsey didn't have good luck with the consistency of the frosting for piping (maybe you'll have better luck) though, when she tried it this night, she added lots of powdered sugar, the frosting still wasn't thick enough, so she opted to decorate with colored sugar and sprinkles!  Especially if you make these with your children, they'll enjoy the sprinkles option better anyway! :)

I'm sure your family and friends will feel very special and everyone will be so impressed with all the love you poured into your gorgeous cutout cookies!

Enjoy!


(This cookie recipe originally came from Taste of Home online and the frosting recipe from ourbestbites.com)

Love That Louisville Slugger Museum and "Old Louisville"

Ted Williams

At first I wasn't sure if I would like a museum dedicated to baseball bats:)
But the tour, and the information on how professional baseball bats are made, was fascinating, and the museum was very fun!  I highly recommend it,
especially for those who are avid baseball fans.

"Babe" Ruth's Baseball Bat

"Babe" made a notch for each homerun he hit

Dane with the bat of Mickey Mantle

Ken Griffey, Jr. and me

Babe

A real slugger.

WOW! THAT'S A BAT!

It weighs 68,000 lbs (it's made of steel) and is 120 feet tall! It is an exact replica of Babe Ruth's 34" bat.

The Architecture in the area is amazing!

After touring the museum
we drove through
"Old Louisville"

The largest contiguous area in
the United States
of Restored Victorian Homes.
"Old Louisville is a National Preservation District, the third largest in the nation,
and the largest Victorian district in the United States."

(For a description of architectural styles, go here.)

Walking tours

Leaving Louisville

One more architectural wonder

A very fun and interesting morning, and well worth the stop, if you're ever in the area!