Soapy Saturday

Has anyone missed me? I think this is the longest I have gone without making a post. Every time I would sign on to create a new one, I couldn't help but  keep it just the way it was. That beautiful niece of mine was/is just too perfect to put anything else in front of her. After a full week, I had to convince myself that life must go on and Joyful Expressions must journey forward.

 Indeed I did just what you are thinking. 

Made my own Mint Lavender Soap.

It was fairly easy and what a great little house warming gift to bring someone! 

Here is the recipe if you are interested. 

However, I added my own "flare" if you will to it by adding a few drops of peppermint oil along with it... (what is it with me and mint??)

 Enjoy Dear Friends.

Welcome to Your World

Where does this story even begin...

Words cant express. 

Tears can't talk.

 Thoughts aren't enough.

 To describe to you the peace and joy that dwell within my heart. 

I am an Aunt.  A proud one.

Poached Pears

Anyone tired of me posting recipes on my blog yet? Hope not, because you are about to get another one. 

Straight atchya!

 Any recipe that uses the word "wine" usually catches my eye and automatically makes me think it's going to be pretty snazzy. Also, a recipe with the word wine in it  means I get to drink while cooking, and those two lethal combination's make for a great turnout.

When I first saw this recipe on the Food Network, I wasn't so sure about it... wine, pears, cinnamon, cloves, and oranges? But I'm glad my parents taught me the meaning behind try it before you knock it.

It's the perfect blend of winter spices.
Add a little vanilla ice cream on the side and you have yourself a healthy, winter dessert!

 HERE is the recipe if you're willing to try it.

Sassy Water

It started a little over six months ago when my suv which I love so dearly, wouldn't start for the life of me! What does a girl with no experience working on cars do in a situation like this? Simple... give the old Pops (My Dad) a buzz to come over and fix the problem. Ten minutes later he's at the garage door with cables in hand all ready to get this baby going again. 

Unfortunately, the issue wasn't that the battery had died, but that it had lots of built up acid on it. Solution to this problem: my beloved diet coke I drank religiously. After pouring a couple tablespoons of soda on the battery, I watched in disbelief as it quickly dissolved and ate away all the acid. 

This was my defining moment...

I couldn't help but be completely disgusted and blown away by the fact that it not only ate away at the acid, but after doing research, found that it eats away at the calcium in your bones too! Ew- no thanks.  I have not had a sip of soda since this incident and am proud of it. My face has cleared up, I have shed a few pounds, and I feel so refreshed. I certainly don't tell this story to brag, I tell it so that everyone is aware of the damage it causes your body.
 
Solution? Water Water Water! Think water is  boring? Try this recipe I found inside the book "Flat Belly Diet" called  

 Sassy Water : 

2 liters water

1 tsp fresh, grated ginger

12 mint leaves

1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

1 lemon, thinly sliced

Do you feel refreshed yet?

Blessed Am I.

Sunday again? Really? I swear I was just here a week ago. The older I get the faster time just soars past my face without even knocking to say "hello, I stopped by." I suppose it's in relation to the list of to do's we carry with us as adults, and once one item gets checked off the list you better expect two more to be added to it. This is one reason right here I'm glad I started blogging; it gives me a sense of organization and tracking system to my life. 

 Recently I have been asked the question, "How do you always come up with something to blog about?" my response to that is, "how can you not?" Doesn't everyone see the world in one way or another and analyze it through their own eyes? That's where I start and that's where I end. Joyful Expressions was created to document the way I see my world through my own two God given eyes. 
 

 So here is what I saw this weekend: 

 Two great friends in love and ready to start their life together...

A cozy home owned by two wonderful parents who always open it up to me and fill it with lots of love and good food ...

One lucky little fella named Charlie Ray who experienced his very first hair cut by his best friend and companion, his Momma...

and so much more that was thrown my way to make my life a little more Joyful; just didn't have my camera with to document it all. 

I am blessed.

Mint Hot Cocoa

 There is nothing like a warm glass of hot cocoa in the middle of the cold, dead winter. With the weather changing from no snow and green grass showing, to very cold and a few inches of snow covering the ground, I decided to make this recipe to keep warm from head to toe.

( The chocolate simmering made my entire house smell good; also, I usually prefer skim milk, but to get the full enjoyment out of this recipe, I went for the 2%)

 (this recipe does not call for it, but for the minty flavor I added some Deans Chocolate Chip mint ice cream, D-Lish) 

You can get the recipe here and enjoy it yourself!

**CAUTION** If you are on any type of post holiday diet STEER CLEAR

For those that are not... Cheers and Enjoy!

While googling around my computer the other day, I came across 50 things everyone should know how to do. Unfortunately, (or maybe fortunately), I won't list them all for you to read... but I did choose my top 15 to share and they go something like this:

1. Give a compliment: It's one of the greatest gifts you can give someone, and it's free
2. Paint a Room:the true cost of painting is 90% labor. For simple painting jobs it makes no sense to pay someone 9 times what it would cost you to do yourself
3. Smile for the Camera: People that absolutely refuse to smile for the camera seem to always ruin a picture
4. Make a Good First Impressions: Aristotle once said "well begun is half done."
5. Sew a Button onto Clothing: It sure is cheaper than buying a new shirt
 6. End a Date Politely Without Making Promises: There is no excuse for making promises you do not intend to keep. There is no reason why you should have to make a decision on the spot about someone you hardly know. 
7. Hold a Baby: Trust me, injuring a baby is not what you want to do
8. Use Google Effectively: Google knows everything. If you're having trouble finding something with Google, it's you that needs help
9. Tell a Story that Captivates People's Attention: If you can't captivate their attention, you should probably just save your breath
10. Remember Names: Do you like when someone tries to get your attention by screaming "Hey You?"
11.Swim: 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water. Learning to swim might be a good idea
12. Deliver Bad News: Somebody has to do it. Unfortunately, someday that person will be you
13. Speed Read: Sometimes you just need the basic gist, and you needed it 5 minutes ago
14. Give Driving Directions: Nobody likes driving around in circles. Get this one right the first time
15. Listen Carefully to Others: the more you listen and the less you talk, the more you will learn and the less you will miss


So there you have it!

Rainbows and Weekends

"Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them." 

- John Shirley

Pretty true, isn't it?

 To give you a recap of my weekend:

-Finished Laundry

-Returned lost dog (Nice knowing ya Joey)

-Bridal Expo

-Arts and Crafts

-Cleaned Car Inside and Out (thanks Super Suds)

- A walk in the park

-Church

-Restaurants

-Darts

-Listened to a newly discovered and loved musician

 (this doesn't have anything to do with the weekend, just wanted to show off my new tree from Ballard Design) 

Lovely Weekend.

Cold Pillows.

What a morning! It's hard enough to get up for work in the dark of winter, let alone in a house where the heat is broken, making the house a frigid 59 degrees! I will be getting right on this issue as soon as I post this so don't expect a long one because my fingers are numb and my coffee has already turned to an iced mocha... 

Just wanted to share some things I am enjoying as of lately...

Figured it had been a while since I made a new pillow, so I went at it again... 
Made out of linen from one of my fave's... Ballard Design and rosette embellishments from my other fave...Hobby Lobby

 Have a joyful day
Brrr...

Animal Lover.

These boys (or girls?) have been patiently sitting on my computer for a quite some time now and I wasn't really sure how to incorporate them into any of my posts thus far.... So they are going to get their very own today.

Take a close gander at these pictures and tell me a slight chuckle doesn't break away from your lips. I really do believe God put animals on this earth for our pure enjoyment, don't you? He created them with such intricacy, it amazes me! The colors strummed together  to put such a glowing coat of feathers on that bird, and the lines created to split the area around the camels mouth all just remind me that there is no doubt a God out there with pure talent and humor. 

If you haven't already noticed, I am a huge animal lover (I don't know if I'd necessarily enjoy having a camel and peacock living in my house but nonetheless), I enjoy sharing my world with them.

It's almost the weekend everyone! 

Hang in there and Happy Thursday To All !

Roses

Have you ever studied a rose close enough to count the petals that surround it? Me neither until today. As I waited anxiously to deliver my dozen pink roses to a very special someone in my life, I had the time to observe the beauty of such a delicate flower. Did you know that no rose is alike? Did you know that each rose is made up of it's own DNA? Did you know that roses stem from a thorn like stem? Did you know each rose blooms on its own timing?

All pretty obvious answers if you take the time to look close enough... Yet, how many times do we over look the uniqueness of someone just because they look a certain way, or act a certain way. Observing the flowers reminded me that life is fragile, fast, and full of challenges along the way.

Each and every individual you pass on the street, work next to at work, and shake hands with on a Friday night all have a story. We are all made special and created to be... well, who we ARE!

My New Years resolution this year is to not let things be pushed off until a later time. We all have a limited number of days on this earth and compared to eternity it's a blink of an eye. Tell the ones you love, you love them, get face to face with resentfulness, and live life to the fullest. 

My challenge to you and me.

Joyful New Year

Well Dear Friends, we have made it. Another chapter written, set in stone in our book of life. It all comes to an end today only to unfold a brand new story tomorrow. 

I have watched new generations being born...

Goals Achieved...

Friendships grow...

Creativity soar...
Two loved ones take their vows...
First Dates...
Graduations...
Sickness healed...
Victory accomplished...
Independence risen...
Morals strengthened...

Hopefully we are all a little more appreciative, compassionate, forgiving... 

If your past year was full of hurt and sorrow, may the sun shine down on you this coming year and let you see the world a little differently each and every day.

May you always remember, we are not promised tomorrow so do all you can with what you have today.
Here's to a little bubbly and a New Year!
xoxo- 
Joyful Me

Sick-a-roo

Being sick is the pits, isn't it? Sore throat, coughing, aches, stuffy nose... I would like to revert back to the days when I lived at home and had a bell next to the side of my bed and rang it when I needed some assistance please. Charlie just does not quite get the gist of this service yet. 

With an evening all to myself and a drink of choice at hand (nyquil and/or tea) I would like to take the time to list the 10 worst things about being sick. 

1. All the things that annoy you are 5,000 times more annoying 

2. Everything you eat taste like a stale rice cake 

3. You have to consciously think about swallowing your saliva 

4. Toss and turn at night because your coughing wakes you up 

5. Using up a vacation day at work 

6. No one wants to hang with you

7. You look exactly how you feel 

8. Dog duties still need to be taken care of

9. House turns into a tornado zone

10.  Your favorite oversized sweatshirt becomes your dress of choice for days 

Yep, that's all I have to say about that. 

Re Run

Oh... Home sweet Home ! You know when you've been gone for even just a few days and you walk back in your front door with the grunge of traveling stuck on you, and you take the first big whiff of your comfort zone? I think that should be one of the items added to my list of simple things in life that I enjoy most in my previous post. The joys of being in the comfort of my own house with my own queen size bed, my own toilet (and right kind of paper), and my own kitchen is simply the best.  Being gone from home for four days really makes one appreciate all the little things that become routine for months on end until you leave them all behind. Don't get me wrong, being with family and taking little vaca's is much needed for everyone, but I'd like to put it out there, I wouldn't trade my cozy home for becoming a world wide traveler for anything.

Lots of memories made this year, just like every year... being shuffled to and from one Grandma's house to the next, all in good cheer.

and holy moly- Kids Kids Kids- did anyone say kids? I don't know where they all came from but it seems as if they are multiplying by the dozen every Christmas. Good Lord in Heaven there were a lot of those little munchkins running around this year! All in all, I will tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the magic of Christmas shine through each child's eye. The innocence of every conversation I indulged in with them made all the screaming and crying worth it.

Especially after one of these bad boys was gulped down at a local German bar... 

 Indeed it was another successful year full of tradition that leads me to say one thing... 

Home Sweet Home !!!

Now time for another load of laundry, preparing for another week of work, and a new year right around the corner.
Hope everyone had a Merry, Safe, Memorable Christmas!

Merry Christmas.

For unto us a child is born,
   to us a son is given,
   and the government will be on His shoulders.
And He will be called
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

To Grandmothers House We Go.

Looking forward to spending Christmas right here in this cozy little two story home filled with good food, family, and lots of love... 

Merry Christmas to All !

Winter Walks.

Do you ever notice how silent everything is in the winter? I don't know if it's the snow that drowns out all the noise or the fact that everything living and breathing is probably  hiding under a rock until spring. Either way, I found my nature walk yesterday to be just that way ... peaceful.

As much as this girl complains about cold weather and wanting to move south, I will throw my hands to the sky and fess up to the fact that I do enjoy the scenery in the winter. Now, ask me if I am still enjoying it come mid February, I may have a different answer for you. But for now, I am taking in every sweet God given moment.

Rag Balls

I crafted together a few ornaments the other day... want to see? You're looking at them! Made out of soft linen that  was hand  ripped into several different pieces. Whew! What a stress reliever that was... I should make these things all year long! 

 and there you have it.... my rag ball ornaments. Ripped with stress and glued together with love.

Chalk it up.

My new love... chalk paint. You can make anything with this stuff ! Despite the fact that my fingers look like I have played with tar all night, I made some pretty sweet mugs. How many times do you have family and friends over and have to break out the smelly sharpie pen (although I must admit, I enjoy this smell) and the big red plastic cups to keep track of everyone's drink. Now your guests can have real glassware to use with their own name written on it in chalk. When they leave...wipe off, wash, and it's ready for the next friend!

and the chalk bag just adds a little extra touch (boasting) 
Oh yeah, pretty rad right? 

Christmas Frames

Yikes! I have really been slacking on the blogging this past week. There is no excuse not to blog today with this weather we are having. Charlie Ray can't even go outside without being blown back in from the wind and snow. So I decided to get out a little paint and went to town on some arts and crafts. Cozy day to brew some Starbucks, whip up some Swedish pancakes, and throw on some slippers and sweat pants (wait, I didn't even change out of my sweats I wore to bed yet). 

 These frames really bring some Christmas Cheer to my home and for the right price they can do the same for yours... :)

 

Stay Warm everyone!