Beginners Pottery Class

I recently finished taking a pottery class for beginners. This is something that I have wanted to do since junior high! It was so much fun and I think I will take again next fall. It was a small class of 6 and we met once a week at the local art center. Most nights we made three things. Sometimes we were trying for a certain thing: mug, bowl, etc. and other times we decided after the fact what it was based on what the clay wanted to do!

 Ready to clean up the bottom.

 Ready for the kiln.

 Cups!

 My only mug. It's so interesting how some of the glazes turned out. 

 The little triangle dish in front is one of my favorites and is a result of a lost pot! My pot collapsed and this was the amount of clay that was still on the wheel. Some might have scraped it off and started again, but I’m not one to waste anything and salvaged what I could and made what I think is a very cute ring dish.

 One of the yet to be determined items!

 Bowls!

 This dark blue is my favorite glaze!

 I put two small holes in the bottom of this one. I envision succulents going into some of these pots.

The inside of this one is so cool! 

Growing Pumpkins

As my favorite season has come to an end and the color has fallen from the trees, I feel it’s time to recap October and this year’s garden. Last year I purchased a number of pumpkins and gourds from various places and saved the seeds to plant this spring. This was my first attempt at saving seeds and I’m happy to report they all grew! We had about 12 orange pumpkins and a dozen small striped pumpkins.

 My 2 two favorite pumpkins! 

Turks Turban Squash! 

 Flower pots got re-purposed after the flowers were done! 

 I wasn't ready to put away the wash tubs yet, so they got some pumpkins and sunflowers!

This year I went to an apple orchard with a friend and while she picked apples, I picked up a few new beauties. Prices ranged from $2-5 dollars each and I knew that I would get way more seeds this way rather than ordering seeds online, plus I get the benefit of enjoying the pumpkins this fall.

Porcelain Doll Pumpkins

 I don't have a great photo of the one I got, but I took a photo of each type and name at the orchard so that I could remember all the variations of each pumpkin. 

Peanut Pumpkin

Long Island Cheese & One Too Many

Cinderella

Its not like I have a favorite or anything!

One special pumpkin got to be Iowa State's mascot for trunk-or-treat! 

I can't wait to see what we will harvest next fall!!!

If Review

In his new book If, Mark Batterson examines the If’s in life, Trading your if only regrets for God’s what if possibilities.  

Having read the cover alone I opened this book expecting to read about if only regrets, the things we’ve wished “if only I hadn’t done/said/bought/gone” but instead he says the greatest regrets are the things you didn’t do but wish you had. Of course as Christian we tend to hold on to the things of the past and practice holiness by subtraction (the don’t do this, don’t do that). The problem with this mindset is that while we might not be doing something wrong we are also not doing something right.

“Righteousness is more than doing nothing wrong-It’s doing something right. It’s not just resisting temptation-it’s going after God ordained opportunities. Holiness by subtraction is playing not to lose. Righteousness is going all in with God. It’s playing to win. It’s living as if the victory has already been won at Calvary’s cross. And it has.” (Pg. 12)

Don’t fixate on the wouldas, couldas, shouldas and strive to make the most of your God given potential.

Potential is God’s gift to us. Making the most of it is our gift back to God. Anything less results in regret. (Pg. 12)

Mark examines Romans 8 verse by verse. The ten ifs in Romans 8 add up to infinite possibilities. (pg 15)

God led Israel out of Egypt in one day but it took years to get the Egypt out of the people of Israel. It takes time for us to leave the past in the past but if you are in Christ, you are no longer defined by what you’ve don’t wrong. You are defined by what Christ has done right. You are a new creation, but sometimes it takes time for your new nature to become second nature. (Pg. 32)

Just like Israel, God forgives us the day we call upon His name, but it takes time to break old habits and create new ones.

We need to define ourselves by what Christ has done right and not hold onto the things we’ve done wrong.

Just like Hester Prynne in the Scarlet Letter and the woman caught in adultery in John 8, we label others and ourselves for the things we’ve done wrong but Christ labels us with F for forgiven. Grace is the catalyst that turns guilt into gratitude. (pg. 31) The moment Christ said “go and sin no more” turned her if only regrets into what if possibilities. 

To find out more about If or Mark Batterson checkout the links below. 

Mark Batterson's website.

Buy book on Amazon.com.

Dessange VoxBox

My latest VoxBox from Influenster contained the Oleo Miracle Treatment Collection from DESSANGE Paris. The collection includes a replenishing shampoo, conditioner, and oil. I was super excited to try these full size products and have enough to truly see if they lived up to their claims!

The smell was the first thing I noticed, it is quite strong and the description says it has notes of orange, gardenia petals and sandalwood. It reminds me of incense and the Holy Land, so it’s probably the sandalwood I’m noticing the most.

The replenishing shampoo is runnier than my other shampoo, but it seems to do the job well. Described as “DESSANGE's first shampoo infused with micro-drops of precious oils, the lightweight formula offers supreme nourishment to hair without weighing it down.” I would agree that it does weigh down my hair and does leave it feeling nourished.

The replenishing condition is creamy and claims “shine-boosting conditioner repairs the external layer of the hair's fiber for healthier, restored strand”. My hair feels soft and manageable.

The last step is the replenishing oil. Now I was a bit confused as to when/how I should use this. It doesn’t say anything about applying it to wet or dry hair. It does state that it is a leave-in treatment that nourishes dry damaged hair without leaving a greasy residue. I always use a leave in conditioner but have never tried an oil because I was afraid that it would weigh down my hair or make it greasy. I use one pump on my wet hair and only put it on the bottom half of my hair.

I’m very pleased that my hair hasn't lost volume and isn't greasy since all three products have the natural oils: Argan Oil, Camelia Oil, and Pracaxi Oil. The information I received doesn't have prices listed, so I’m not sure how much they cost. I would recommend these products to anyone that wants well-nourished hair. I will definitely continue to use these products as I have not seen any ill effects.

 "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Frosty VoxBox from influenster

This week I received another VoxBox of products to tryout. It’s always exciting to see the orange box on my doorstep! Here is a peek at what was inside:

Fruit Vines Bites are a new, soft, chewy fruit candy, from the Red Vines family. I got the strawberry flavor. To be honest I wasn’t sure that I was going to like these because I prefer Twizzles over Red Vines but they don’t have a bad flavor. As with other licorice candy I prefer them a bit harder so I left the bag open to see if they wouldn’t be quite as chewy. I’m not sure that I would buy these, but they are a nice treat.

McCormick Gourmet's Thyme uses FlavorSealed technology to lock in the fresh thyme flavor.  Their all Natural Thyme is a staple in our house and McCormick always come through on quality spices and seasonings.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in black. This product claims to be waterproof, smudge-proof, and sweat-proof. They aren’t lying either, I had a hard time getting this off, which I see as a negative. I don’t like to have to scrub my eyes to get my makeup off. With that said, it went on very smooth and is easy to apply. I would definitely consider buying this if it came in a non-waterproof option.

Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Maybe influenster knew that the above product would be hard to remove, because the next product says that it “gently removes all eye make up, including long lasting & waterproof make up, with no oily residue”. I like that this remover says that it suitable for sensitive eyes and is dermatologist & ophthalmologist tested.

NYC New York Color Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum. I don’t wear lipstick so I don’t have much to compare this to, but it went on easy and feels very light on my lips and doesn’t feel sticky. I haven’t had a chance to see if it lives up to its claim that it lasts up to 6 hours.

Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea. The prefect tea for Christmas time! I like that it is decaf so that I can enjoy a warm beverage before bed without worrying about it keeping me awake. I enjoyed my tea with some honey and it was delightful.

Boots No7 Protect & Perfect ADVANCED Serum. I’ve seen Boots products at Target before but have never tried them. I wish this sample was larger so that I could see some of the results that it claims, “After 2 weeks skin looks younger and more radiant, by 4 weeks skin looks clearer and fine lines are visibly reduced”.  

EcoTools Full Volume Styler Hair Brush. I was super excited to try this brush! I have other EcoTools products (ps they also have great customer service) and have been very happy with them. The handle fits well in my hand but I have thick hair and the bristles don’t go all the way to my scalp like my other brush does. I used it when I blow-dried my hair the other night and it worked great.

*I received these products to test and review free from influenster. 

Influenster: Surfs Up Vox Box

I received my second Influenster VoxBox this week and can’t wait to show you the goodies inside!

Influenster #SurfsUpVoxBox

Jamba Juice Smoothie Kit free with coupon. I haven’t been able to find them in my grocery store, so I will have to look in another town. I love smoothies and am anxious to try these! The smoothies are described as “Loaded with delicious fruits and yogurt, our fat-free, gluten free smoothie kits include healthy antioxidant boost, one full serving of fruit and 100% daily Vitamin C.” 

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration After Sun. Described as a combination of “gel and lotion to leave your skin feeling luxurious and refreshed.” It has a great smell, hydrating, and doesn't leave my skin sticky or greasy.  I’m definitely using this after my next sunburn!

First Aid Shot Therapy(FAST) is a liquid pain relief drinkable shot that is designed to elevate headache/migraine, sore muscles, and back pain. I haven’t had a reason to use this yet, but I’m curious to know how medicinal it tastes.

SinfulColors Professional Nail Polish in Fire Red. This nail polish has great coverage with one coat and came just in time for the 4^th of July! I would definitely consider buying more polish from this company!

 

COVERGIRL Bombshell Curvaceous by LashBlast Mascara. This two-step mascara claims that step one will add loads of volume, thickens, and curls lashes. The second step is a dark, intensifying topcoat that gives bold, noticeable lashes. I like this mascara but find that I only need step one to get great coverage, curl, and color. 

Before:

Step 1:

Step 2:

*I received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

#JollyVoxBox

I recently joined Influenster and got my first VoxBox in the mail today!  Influenster is a program you can join that sends you free (often full size samples) in exchange for sharing your feedback about the products.

 

Here is what was in my #JollyVoxBox:

Skinny Cow Candy – Milk chocolate and delicious peanut butter crème. I’ve always wanted to try Skinny Cow snacks, so I’m super excited to see these in my box!

The Puffs Plus Lotion To Go pack came at just the right time! I’ve been sick this week and the lotion will be soothing to my poor nose!

Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer in Luna. I don’t where a lot of lip gloss but this seems like a nice neutral color. It isn’t sticky and doesn’t have a bad taste.

NYC New York Color HD Color Trio Eye Shadows – Long Beach Sands. These browns and tan will go with a lot and they are labeled as highlighter, all over lid, and crease for easy application.

Ducklings Mini Rolls - Paint Splatter. I’m a fan of Duck Tape and this little duckling is adorable. Can’t wait to use this!

 

*I received these products free from Influenster