I love pretty!

I love pink!

I love chic!

I love Schick!

One smmmmmmmmmmmoooooooooooooth shave!

Dear Schick Quattro,

Thank you for the four blades, two comfort strips, and comfortable grip your Schick Quattro offers women.  Thank you for making it easy to change the blades.  Thank you for considering what women want and for loving our legs.  I thank you for no nicks or cuts or scrapes.  My husband thanks you for the silky smooth shave my legs receive.  Well done, Schick!

Sincerely,

Pretty, Pink, and Oh-So-Chic in Brissy, Australia

P.S.

Thank you for making it pink!

]]> http://acupofjoy.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/pretty-pink-and-oh-so-chicschick/feed/ acupofjoy http://acupofjoy.wordpress.com/2008/06/21/keeping-in-touch/ http://acupofjoy.wordpress.com/2008/06/21/keeping-in-touch/#comments Sat, 21 Jun 2008 02:20:25 +0000 acupofjoy http://acupofjoy.wordpress.com/?p=871

Hey, family and friends who read this blog o’ mine…

…are you regularly reading my Joyful Jottings page?  This is where I post about life here in Australia.

Today I posted a couple of Aussie commercials I just had to share with you…

Fair Dinkum Aussie

Warm Tinny

Be sure not to miss . . .

New Zealand Haka

Also, lots of pictures of what I see everyday…

Birds of Paradise

Jacaranda Trees

Kookaburras

Wallabies

Still hoping to get a koala picture posted…not yet…be patient, please!

Find me here today…especially if you are feelin’ flat…

Have you ready any good books lately? I have. This is one! I found it so encouraging, like a tall, cool, refreshing drink to a thirsty soul. Looking for a book that will minister to your heart and build your faith? Look no further. Visit the author’s site, Joanna Weaver, leave a comment to win one of seven copies the gift edition of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.

I haven’t been busy…not like Martha was the day Jesus arrived at her door.  But, I have been down.  I found this book uplifting.  I can relate to the Three Deadly D’s discussed in this book:  distraction, discouragement, and doubt…which all lead to WORRY!  Yeah, I’m a worrier.  I, perhaps like you, cloak my worry as concern, but let’s be honest with each other…we are really worried, aren’t we?  Joanna compares Concern and Worry in Chapter 3 in this way (p.44):

Concern involves a legitimate threat…Worry is often unfounded

Concern is specific (one thing)…Worry is generalized (spreads to many things)

Concern addresses the problem…Worry obsesses about the problem

Concern solves problems…Worry creates more problems

Concern looks to God for answers…Worry looks to self or other people for answers

This simple contrast spoke so clearly to me.  God used it to show me where I have been kidding myself with “concern”, showing me how much I am worrying.  God wants me (and you) to cast our cares upon Him and be anxious in nothing.  He loves us so.  In the words of a retired missionary, “Snuggle up to Jesus for He is altogether lovely.”

About the Book

An invitation for every woman who’s ever felt she isn’t godly enough, isn’t loving enough, isn’t doing enough.

The life of a woman today isn’t really all that different from that of Mary and Martha in the
New Testament. Like Mary, you long to sit at the Lord’s feet…but the daily demands of a busy world just won’t leave you alone. Like Martha, you love Jesus and really want to serve him…yet you struggle with weariness, resentment, and feelings of inadequacy.

Then comes Jesus, into the midst of your busy life, to extend the same invitation he issued long ago to the two sisters from Bethany. Tenderly, he invites you to choose “the better part”–a joyful life of intimacy with him that flows naturally into loving service.

With her fresh approach to the familiar Bible story, Joanna Weaver shows how all of us–Marys and Marthas alike–can draw closer to our Lord: deepening our devotion, strengthening our service, and doing both with less stress and greater joy.

About the Author

About the Contest

Happy Aloha Friday, Everyone!

Today’s Question:

What is your favorite food to barbecue/grill?

My answer:

Meat!  Steak…chicken…hamburger…hot dogs.

For more of Aloha Friday, visit Kailani at An Island Life.

I don’t know what this kitty finds so funny! I’ve caught the giggles from this photo alone anyway!

Click here for more Make Me Laugh Monday.

…of housework, that is!

I found this meme at Housewife Hiccups…so fun!  If you are a housewife, like me, join in the fun and share your ABC’s of Housework on you blog.

aprons - y/n?
No.  I’d love to say YES!  But, sadly do not own any.  Ah, but I keep trying to win them at The Apronista.  Hey, I should just make my own.  There is this old and too small shirt of my husbands I have been eyeing for possible apron material.  What do ya think?  If I decide to alter it into a sassy apron, I will be sure to blog about it with photos…I promise…perhaps, a tutorial, too!

baking - I love to bake!  I’m a member of The Daring Bakers, though have not been able to participate in recent challenges due to a nonfunctioning camera.  Hallelujah!  Praises all around!  I now have a camera that works!  Daring Baker’s here I come…again!

clothesline - y/n? Yes!  I love hanging my clothes outside to dry!  Not only is it energy efficient and environmentally friendly, there’s that fresh-air frangrance…Mmmmmm….AAAAhhhhh!

donuts - ever made them? Yes, but not recently.  I should soon.  My husband would love them!  Okay, okay, I will share my recipe here and photos.  Let me find the recipe first.  “Oh, MOM, Help!”

everyday - one homemaking thing you do everyday? dishes

freezer - do you have a separate deep freezer? Yes, but it’s not very full.  That reminds me, there’s some chicken drumsticks waiting for me to take them out and thaw them for my next meal.  How does some Cuban Chicken sound?  Oh, would you like that recipe, too?  All you have to do is ask!

garbage disposal - y/n? Nope.  Trusty ol’ trash cans.  Friday’s Garbage Day around here.  Hubby takes the trash out.  I’m so thankful for his help with this domestic duty!  Kisses, Honey! xoxo

handbook - y/n? Ha!  Ha!  Ha!  No.  I was happy to put my lesson planners away for awhile.  It’s nice to have a break from planning all the time.  I’m happy to wing it for now!

ironing - love it or hate it? Shiver….I’m not too keen on ironing.

junk drawer - where is it? Ha!  Ha!  Another funny!  Better question is “how many?”  Honestly, the kitchen is where the junk drawer is…though that is the only place in our little space where you will find any drawers.

kitchen - design and decorating? Renting doesn’t allow for much of either…boring sterile cream/white nothingness.  But, oh the dreams I have of the kitchen I hope to one day have!

love - what is your favorite part of homemaking? Making home a haven.  A place where the stresses of the day roll off my husbands shoulders as he walks through the door.  A place where guests feel welcome and sense love and peace abiding in this home.

mop - y/n? Sponge mop.  Though, sometimes I do the Cinderella thing…by hand.

nylons - wash them by hand or in the washer? Avoid wearing them…no washing then.

oven - do you use the window or open it to check? Always open it.

pizza - what do you put on yours? ham, pineapple, cabana, hamburger, red pepper, mushrooms, olives (mush rooms & olives are hubby’s choice) LOTS OF CHEESE

quiet - what do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment? Blog or sew.

recipe card box - Cook books, food blogs.

style of house – townhouse apartment

tablecloths and napkins - y/n? Yes on special occasions…holidays, birthdays, anniversary, romantic evenings.

under the kitchen sink – Cleaning supplies.

vacuum - how many times a week? once

wash - how many loads do you do a week? ten

x’es - do you keep a list of things to do and cross them off? No.  But, I should.  I did this before I married…why am I not doing it now?

yard - who does what? We live in a gated community.  So, whoever is hired to do all the lawns by the coorporation at large does the yard.  Hip-Hip-Hooray!

zzz’s - what is your last homemaking task for the day? dishes…right now it is just the two of us, my husband and me…so few dishes…I wait until the end of the day to do them…so I am only doing them once a day.  Something for me to enjoy now…before children.

Have a homemaking tip you’d like to share?  Leave a comment.  Happy Homemaking!

Hooray! It’s Aloha Friday! Play along with me and Kailani!

Today’s Question:

Do you enjoy participating in Memes?

My Answer:

It depends on the Meme.  Here are three of my favorites:  Girl Talk Thursday, Aloha Friday (of course), My Walk Monday.

Visit An Island Life and sign up with Mr. Linky to play along!

I’ve been reading What Women Want: The Life You Crave and How God Satisfies by Lisa T. Bergren & Rebecca Price.  Sound familiar?  I’ve posted about this book before. I’ve really been enjoying this book.  It has been challenging and encouraging.  Lately, I’ve been thinking about the first chapter which addresses Pit Thoughts.  You know them.  You have them.  We all do.  Thoughts from the PIT…they creep in and badger us all day long…sounding something like this:

I’m nothing.  I’m not special.  I can’t do anything right.  I can’t do anything well.  I’m worthless.  No one cares about me.  I’m not worth caring about.  I’m a failure. (p. 16, What Women Want:  The Life You Crave and How God Satisfies, Bergren & Price)

Yes, you aren’t the only one with those thoughts.  The Enemy would like you to think that you are unique in that way, making you feel isolated.  Take heart, sister, you are not alone!  Good news!  Victory can be ours for the taking!  Lisa and Rebecca suggest this activity for squaring off with our Pit Thoughts:

Pit Thoughts vs. His Thoughts

Materials needed:

- two different colored paper (one a horrible color, the other a happy color)

- pen, pencil, marker (something to write with)

- Bible (if you don’t have a Bible, visit BlueLetterBible.org and search by keyword)

Directions:

• Write Pit Thoughts at the top of the horrible colored paper.
• Write His Thoughts at the top of the happy colored paper.
• On the Pit Thoughts paper, write down the negative thoughts you have…yes, those that keep you from believing you are loved and a wonderful work of God.
• On the His Thoughts paper, write down Bible verses, quotes, thoughts, song lyrics that tell you God’s thoughts about you.

(p. 238, What Women Want:  The Life You Crave and How God Satisfies, Bergren & Price)

Here are some Pit Thoughts common to us all and His Thoughts to conquer them (found on page 15).

- I can’t forgive myself.  I feel so guilty.

He forgives me.  I need nothing more than that (I John 1:9).

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

- My life is so hard; he must hate me.

He loves me and I can learn more about his love, even through these hard times (Hebrews 12:11).

“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:  nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

- He doesn’t know the real me.

He knew me in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13)

“For thou hast possessed my reins:  thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.”

- I am unworthy.

Christ has made me righteous.  (Romans 3:22)

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:  for there is no difference.”

- I do not deserve love.

I am loved and forgiven and worthy in Christ (I John 4:9).

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

(p. 15, What Women Want:  The Life You Crave and How God Satisfies, Bergren & Price)

I urge you beloved to God, think on these truths!

For more of My Walk Monday, visit Carolyn and Mr. Linky at Scrapping Servant.

Cozy and warm! Am I absolutely bananas?  Could be!  All I can say is . . . this tickels my funny bone and makes me laugh! Join me in the laughter . . . click on the laughing donkey for more fun!