Facing 2016

   As 2015 fades and 2016 looms, I pause and remember. I look back over these past twelve months. I think of their joys and sorrows, their love and pain. I see what I learned and what I should have learned. It makes me glad, but it also makes me sad.
   The year 2015 has been relatively good for my family and me. We laughed, we sang, and we learned. We also grew. Our family now includes a golden retriever, Cooper. Yes, I've enjoyed this year, but I wonder what the new one will bring.
   I expect joys but also sorrows. A part of me wants to avoid the pain life brings, to hid from it. I know I can't live that way, yet sometimes it seems like it would be easier to. But I don't do it.
   Instead, I trust in God, knowing that the coming year is in His hands. I don't know what's coming, but I do know who controls it. That is enough for me.

Happy New Year's!

Never Look at the Christmas Story the Same Way - A Book Review

   Want a new perspective of the Nativity story? Have I got the book for you! The Prophet, the Shepherd, & the Star by Jenny L. Cote gives you the whole story. And I mean the  whole story. It begins with Isaiah and goes past the wise men (who come at the correct time, by the way). Written with the author's usual humor and told through animals, this book reveals the entire seven hundred years that lead to that night in Bethlehem. It's a great way to laugh and learn at the same time, and do you ever learn! Mrs. Cote does her research; pick up her book and read for yourself. Available at Amazon and  Family Christian Bookstores. Also available in ebook form.

December! December!

    Is it seriously already this time of year again? Where has 2015 gone? This year can't be almost over already! But as it is, how about I help y'all out with something.
   With the coming of Christmas comes (what else?) Christmas parties. This season can be stressful enough without worrying about your hair. So why don't I give y'all an easy style for all your holiday worries? Let me see... how about an updo? What?! Y'all want something that will keep your neck warm too? Picky, picky picky, but your wish is my command.

Easy Front French Braid

Prep- You may want to curl your ends outward if you have short hair. Otherwise, the only thing you need to do is add something to defrizz and smooth your hair. (I like SheaMoisture's coconut & hibiscus smoothie cream. It's available at Walmart and Target.)

1- Brush your hair thoroughly.

2- Make a deep side-part.

3- Section off all the hair closest to your forehead for about an inch back from it. Go down 'til you're roughly in front of the ear, and then stop.

4- Temporarily secure the rest of your hair away from your face. (I use a clip.)

5-  Pick up the hair at the top of the still-free hair, and divide it into three sections.

6- Cross the left piece over the middle one. You now have new left and middle pieces.

7- Cross the right piece over the new middle. You now have new right and middle pieces.

8- Add a small strand of free hair to the new left piece. 

9- Cross the left piece with additional hair over the middle. You now have new left and middle pieces.

10- Add a small strand of free hair to the new right piece.

11- Cross the right piece with the additional hair over the middle. You now have new right and middle pieces. (You are now French braiding.)

12- Repeat 8-11 until you you run out of free hair to add. 

13- Finish with a regular braid and secure with a small ponytail holder (optional).

14- Release the rest of your hair.

15- Pick up the first layer or two of hair behind the French braid. You may want to temporarily secure it.

16- Using bobby pins, secure the braid under the hair you picked up .

17- Drop the hair and you're done!

Variations: Curl the free hair. Do a Dutch braid, French fishtail braid, or Dutch fishtail braid.

   Merry Christmas!

P.S. I up dated the link from the last post, and it works now. Shout out to my friend/reader, MaryBeth, for pointing it out to me.

Creighton Hill - Book Review

   Creighton Hill by Morgan Elizabeth Huneke is the first book in the Time Captive Trilogy. Remember how I did a cover reveal for a friend's book awhile back? Well, this is that same book, and it's been released!(Actually, it was released several months ago in the spring.) Following in the footsteps of C.S.Lewis, Morgan weaves a tale that is unique in its own special way. Mysterious family disappearances come to a fantastical head in modern-day Georgia. It really is a wonderful story that leaves plenty of room for expansion in the remaining books. Book Two, The Crossways, came out this past fall. Creighton Hill  is available in paperback and ebook at Amazon.

   Also, before I stop, here and here are links to a couple of my friends' blogs. Be sure to check 'em out.

Priss' Prophecy

   Is it really October 21st already? Oh yikes! I've neglected my blog and y'all for way too long. It's been almost a month since my last posting. (If that's the correct term.) And speaking of neglect, I haven't done anything about my book, Inkling Adventures, in awhile either. Let's remedy both of these problems right now.
   The first half of my book is guided by a prophecy about my main character, Priss . Of course, it's very important to the storyline and should give you a glimpse into my creation.

As two are made one,

A new fate is begun.

The only child shall rise

and fight for earth's prize.

Elflings shall hear the call;

The Black forever will fall.

Deepest dark they will face,

Seeking to match evil's pace.

Freedom they will defend, 

With blood it shall end.

The broken made whole;

The lost gain its soul.

One,through trials of fire,

Shall find his sire.

This the greatest cost,

A father shall be lost.

For eyes truth will open,

After the heart is broken.

  Who are the two? What new fate is begun? What is earth's prize? Who are the elflings? Will evil's pace be matched? Who are the broken and the lost? Why will the heart be broken? 

Find out in Inkling Adventures, coming Spring 2016!

   
Find my new blog here.

A Braid for a Friend

   Today's post is for my friend, Mary-Beth. Mary-Beth is the biggest fan of Disney's Frozen that I know; so I thought I'd surprise her with this post of Elsa's messy French braid.

Elsa's Messy French Braid

Prep: You'll need dirty hair for this one. You may also want to curl your hair-ends outward to prevent spiky ends from sticking out.

1- Brush hair thoroughly. You may want to brush it so that you have no part.

2- Lift up the hair on the top of your head.

3- Carefully hairspray the underside of that chunk of hair. You'll need to use a good amount of spray.

4- Using a comb or bristle brush, begin teasing the sprayed hair. To tease start at the top of the hair & comb/brush downwards. Once you reach the bottom, carefully the comb/brush out of the hair. DO NOT push it back to the top. NEVER go up & down when teasing.

5- Repeat step 4 until you have plenty of volume. You need to achieve the 'cartoon look'.

6- Once you're satisfied with the volume, bring the teased hair down. Check to make sure the teasing can't be seen from the top. Smooth any places where it can be.

7- Begin French braiding. To French braid pick up the top section of your hair (that'll probably be the section you teased). Divide the section into 3 pieces. Cross the right piece over the middle one. Then cross the left piece over the new middle. Add some loose hair to the new right piece & cross it over the new middle. Then add some loose to the new left piece & cross it over the newest middle. Repeat the last 2 steps 'til you run out of loose hair to add. Be sure to braid loosely so you don't crush the volume & so that's messy. 

8- Once you do run out of loose hair, finish with a loose basic braid.

9-  Pull out some wisps of hair around your face, then go back. (You may want to keep the wisps from falling in your face using hairspray, gel, or smoothing cream.) S-T-R-E-T-C-H  O-U-T the braid including the Frenched part. To stretch simply pull on the sides

10- Flip the braid onto your shoulder & you're done!

Variations: If your hair isn't long enough for the side-braid, simply let it hang down your back. Don't be discouraged if your hair isn't long enough even for that. Pull it into a loose ponytail instead & flip the end onto your shoulders if that's possible.

   What do y'all think? Can you do it? I know it sounds complicated, but it really isn't. I just went into great detail so that y'all will have the best chance.

   If y'all have any suggestions for tutorials, I want to hear them! Leave a comment and tell me, be it a movie-style or not. Also if you need help, I'll try to .

Happy Hairstyling!