52 Bites to Simplify

by | Faith | 0 comments

“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
—origin unknown

Want to simplify but not sure where to begin? Tsh Oxenreider breaks down the process in 52 easy bites in her e-book One Bite at a Time.

Don’t let the blog title Simple Mom fool you. The bites are beneficial to anyone desiring to streamline their life and redeem their God-given time.

Where else can you get 52 bites of anything for $5.00?

Visit here to view a FREE chapter sample and to read all the raving reviews from other readers (such as Ann Voskamp!)

Thanking Jesus for Cigarettes

by | Faith | 1 comment


I sat on the comfy pew only to have my head hijacked by a headlock. The culprit wasn’t a person, but an allergen.

Only a couple of handshakes—that’s all it took to identify the problem: cigarette smoke—something I’m highly allergic to and the reason we rarely dine in restaurants that allow it.

Sitting nearby was a large group of men from a local missions home who are picked up every Sunday for Bible study, worship, and much needed encouragement.

So what’s a little smoke, right?

That was the question that attempted to budge its way through the stuffiness of my head but instead, was quickly answered by truth from God’s Word:

Exodus 29:18 Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

Just as burnt offerings were voluntary in the Old Testament, so was the decision made by these men to worship the Lord today. God didn’t smell the stench of their cigarettes, only the sweet aroma of their love and obedience to Him.

So, what’s a little headache?

Thank You, sweet Jesus.

2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

–image courtesy of Worship Academy

Blogging Tips by Michael Hyatt

by | Faith | 0 comments


If you blog, check out How to Write a Blog Post in 70 Minutes or Less by Michael Hyatt of Intentional Leadership.

Whether you spend seven or seventy minutes composing your posts, you’ll find Michael’s pithy advice especially insightful. Each point is elaborated on in the original post:

  • Start the night before.
  • Use downtime to think.
  • Go offline.
  • Turn on some music.
  • Set a timer.
  • Use a template.
  • Create an outline.
  • Write without editing.
  • Now edit and format.
  • Add graphics, links, and metadata.
  • Publish a draft.

Which tip(s) do you find most helpful? Beginning the process the night before and learning to write without editing are at the top of my list.

Thanks Michael!

My Friday Fave

by | Faith | 1 comment

My giddy love of gadgets gets the best of me today:

The Pocket Pie Press ($4.99, Target) My favorite part of the pocket press? Once they’re filled with refrigerated dough and your favorite fresh fruit, they pop in the oven—not in the deep fryer.

Kiddie Kitchen Gadgets ($3.99, Target) Okay, so Piper (granddaughter due in November) isn’t quite ready for baking, but I’m prepared! I think she’ll love rolling dough with Mr. Alligator and whisking eggs with Mrs. Giraffe on our time-worn enamel table. My fire-engine red Kitchen-Aid mixer is already humming in preparation for Piper time in the kitchen.

Is there a kitchen gadget that makes you giddy on this Friday Fave morning?

In Bed, In the Bath, and On The Bus

by | Faith | 4 comments


Einstein said most of his best ideas came to him in bed, in the bath, and on the bus—places where it was inconvenient or impossible to write anything down.

Okay, so I’m not a theoretical physicist, but I can relate.

Sound asleep, in the shower, surrounded in traffic, strolling through Target, or in my yard—those are my Einstein moments. After losing more ideas than I care to count, however, I devised a battle plan to overcome forgetfulness.

Meet my weapons of choice:

  • A recorder in my purse or pocket (surrounded in traffic, yard)
  • Mini-notebook that fits in front pocket of purse (Target)
  • Mini-notebook by my bedside (Asleep)
  • Writer’s journal (general ideas, word pool)

Is there such thing as waterproof weaponry? Until then, I’m stuck with jotting down ideas after my shower, but otherwise, I’m without excuse.

So, when do your Einstein moments occur and what are your weapons of choice to battle against losing them?

Pin It on Pinterest