Not all mineral makeup are equal!!

If you are like me, I love playing with makeup and play with samples whenever I have the chance. I was once in the cosmetics industry for several years and learned a few things about skincare and makeup.

A few years ago, my skin started doing some crazy stuff, like easily irritated by conventional beauty products. I heard that is common being that we women have ever-changing, uncontrollable hormones that control our bodies... especially before and after pregnancies, menstrual cycles, menopause, ...,etc.

Anyway, I was forced to look into natural products, like chemical-free, fragrance-free, preservative-free type of products. I started shopping for skincare and makeup at Sprout(my favorite place)and Whole Foods. I discovered some wonderful brands of products like Aubrey Organic, Kiss the Face, and now my favorite Mychelle (pronounced as "my-shell").

I was using some very popular brand of mineral powder makeup for over a year, then, one day someone educated me about mineral makeup that shone new light on it.

There are 3 things that we need to stay away from in mineral makeup: bismouth oxychloride, talc, and paraben. I have learned to not just take someone's word for it but to do my own research when I am told something.

Bismouth Oxychloride is a mineral and one of the most common ingredients found in mineral makeup. It's used as a filler but advertised as something that gives you that glow, which it does. However, it could irritate senstive skin and cause irritation when you sweat.

Talc is found in asbesto, which could cause lung cancer when inhaled. Morever, it can also clog pores and thus cause acne. I once called a cosmetic company and asked why they'd put talc in their mineral makeup to be their #1 ingredient. Their defense was that it was a cosmetic-grade talc and it doesn't really penetrate into skin, only lays on the top layer of skin. That's not true! Our skin absorbs about 60% of everything we put on, that means even toxins.

Paraben is a preservative with estrogenic properties, there are a variety of parabens like methyl-paraben and propyl-paraben. It is an inexpensive way to increase shelf life. Parabens can cause cancer due to their estrogenic activities. It is very commonly used in skincare, body care, cosmetics, and so on.

That's why reading labels are so important as sassy consumers. Just because you are in a "health-food store", don't assume that everything in there is good for you. Just because a brand calls itself "natural" and "healthful" doesn't mean that you can take their words for it.

Mychelle has an incredible stick foundation which I love. It's a big pricey but since a little goes a long way, it seems to last quite a while. Aubrey has a pressed silk powder make up, similar to the mineral, but it's pressed silk (doesn't it sound so delicate and fancy already), and it is fairly priced. I love their makeup and the blush as well.

Since we put lipstick on our lips, it goes directly into our digestive system. I feel that we especially have to be careful about that. Some lipstick carries lead, which is toxic for our bodies. Whole Foods has a makeup brand called Mineral Fusion. They have some good lipstick and lip gloss selection that would be safe to swallow.

Hope this has been helpful for you. I will give you more tips as I get new information. :)

A Lie - being demolished one blow at a time

One of the biggest lies in the world is that a fetus in the womb is not a person until he/she is born.

I remember at my very first OB appointment when we found out we (well, I) were pregnant and heard our baby's heartbeats, he was a real person, alive and well, a precious life given by God. I remember going back to work that day sharing my uncontained joy with my co-workers and baffled at how anyone could say that this is not a life in the womb. God said to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." God knows everything about you and has loved you before you were even conceived. That's amazing!

I used to be one of those that said, "A woman should be able to do whatever she wants with her body." How wrong was I!! We are not our own, our bodies belong to God.

That was all changed when one day my best friend, Karen, from high school told me one day shaking and said, "I will NEVER have an abortion!" I was surprised at such a statement and asked her what had happened. That day in school, they showed a video on what happens during an abortion, which changed her view completely on the subject, which subsequently changed my mind as well. Karen briefly described to me how gruesome an abortion procedure is in ending the life of an unborn.

God is the ONLY life-giver, and should be the ONLY life-taker. He does not make mistakes, even babies with disabilities carry special purposes to be here on early by our Father King. Some over 70% of down-syndrome babies are aborted because they were not wanted. I have also heard numerous stories of misdiagnosis; so how many "normal" babies were aborted because of doctors' mistakes.
These so-called "unwanted" babies to be aborted, healthy or not, are desperately wanted by many, many couples that would love to adopt them but are not given the opportunities.

The saddest story I have heard on this was from a nurse named Jill Stanek in Christ's Hospital in Chicago, IL. She had no idea that abortion was a routine procedure done when parents-to-be agreed to the procedure after being told that their baby had down-syndrome. One day, Jill saw a nurse carrying a 20-week-old baby in the hall. She asked the nurse where she was taking the baby. The nurse was taking the baby to the utility room to leave him there to die. This was a baby that survived an abortion, and by law, no medical treatment was required to save his life. Jill was shocked and asked if she could hold the baby for the rest of his final moments. Jill held that baby for 45 minutes until he breathed his last breath. That changed Jill's life forever. She became a pro-life activist to help save unborn babies. She led a legislature called the Born-Alive Act, which would require doctors to provide medical care should a baby survive an abortion, and failed in opposition to then State Sen. Obama.

What kind of society have we become? Some people wouldn't even think about treating an animal this way, and we are doing that to the littliest ones.

God has put this burden on my heart and on so many to pray to see the end of abortion.

A national campaign "40 Days For Life" is held annually across the nation, which just ended Nov. 2 this year. This year, there were over 170 cities participated, thousands upon thousands fasted, prayed, held prayer vigil outside abortion clinics. Over 500 babies' lives were saved, I am sure there were also many more we don't know about.

If you are reading this, perhaps the Lord is stirring that compassion within you as well. I invite you to join me in prayer and fast on a regular basis, whether it be skiping a meal (or fast without TV, or anything that you'd hate to miss) once a month, or once a week to bring yourself closer to God in prayers to petition for the lives of the little unborn babies. www.40daysforlife.com also gives you details on what they are about. They are going to have Spring campaign coming up.

James 5:16-18 in the bible says, "an effective and fervant prayer of a rightous man avails much. Elijah was a man with nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit."

God has a purpose and destiny in His divine plan for EVERY PERSON. Even when a man and a woman get together and make a mistake, a life is formed, God does not make a mistake. That little person could very well be the next Albert Einstein, the next Billy Graham, the scientist that finds cure for AIDS, the person that God has called to bring revival to the world.

Let's press on and pray, and watch our Father work! Jesus said that with faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains. I am excited to see people's hearts change and honor the lives given by our Creator. Let's share the truth with everyone we know, and demolish this lie, one blow at a time.

A Love Story

Where do I begin... to tell the story of how great love can be...

Every woman enjoys a romance story. And our very own story began over 13 years ago….

The day after graduation, I drove myself in a U-haul, with everything I owned in it from Knoxville, TN to Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital to start a new chapter in my life, entering into the workforce. That was the first time I’d ever driven there. As I was driving by the Washington Monument and the Pentagon, it took my breath away. I was finally there!

Prior to that day, I had flown there to visit a couple of times. During my last trip visiting a friend, I had a few job interviews with some of the largest hotels in the city (I had always been taught to dream big, besides, I had nothing to lose.). I was surprised when I got a job offer as a food and beverage manager at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, one of the biggest and oldest historic hotels in D.C. That was divine favor.

The day after I arrived in the city, I started my new job. My new boss took me on a tour around the hotel and introduced me to everyone. This place was enormous, glamorous like a palace. We were walking through all the back ways, and service areas of the hotel. I thought I would never learn my way out of the maze. As my boss was taking me through one of the kitchens, I was introduced to Chef Paul. He was stirring something in the stock pot, we shook hands and he said, “Oh, you are the new manager, great! I’ll have to get your input on the new menu we are putting together.” I thought to myself, “Wow, do I feel important or what? This chef wanted my input on the new menu.” I was impressed with my new position already.

With Chef Paul, it was not exactly love at first sight. I had sat through many meetings with him, and the last thought on my mind was finding a man in my new wonderful job. We had our fair share of workplace conflicts, such as our criticism on one another’s staff. There was even a shouting match on the staircase in the kitchen between us about how my staff disliked his staff and his disliked mine.

Hotel work hours are long. You become like family and the closest friends with the people you work with, not by choice. You spend weekends and holidays together, more so than with your own family and friends. I began to lose the handful of friends that I had because I was the only one that worked odd hours. Paul and I began a friendship. He was serious and uptight at work, and I encouraged him to loosen up. I even told him about a date I was going to have with a very gorgeous and good-looking guy. He didn’t seem too thrilled when I was describing how wonderful and incredibly handsome my upcoming new date was, someone I met through a friend.

While working at the hotel, I had to wear a fake diamond ring just to fight off some indecent proposals and unwanted suitors. Strangely some people travel with that perverse thinking, “what happens there stays there” mentality. As for Paul, the “pick-up” line he heard often was, “So, when are you going to cook for me, Chef?” Our friendship grew to be more, and I even found myself asking him when he was going to cook for me too. Although we tried our hardest to keep our workplace romance under the lid, the chemistry between us was undeniable. We were beginning to get nick names, like John Smith and Pocahontas at work. I even passed up possible dates with politicians and diplomats because I had already realized he was the one.

After a series of failed long-term relationships and declining of marriage ultimatums, Paul realized I was the one for him also. At this time, he was no longer working with me. He was asked to move to the Midwest with his company, and his answer was he would go only if his girlfriend would go with him. And my answer was that I would only go as a wife (I‘ve seen way too many tragedies when women moved somewhere for their love interest, thereafter, only to find themselves in a strange environment, alone, after a breakup).

So, Paul and I decided to get married.

I remember that before our wedding day, I told him that I was not sure if I could marry him since he was not a Christian. This is odd because I had known him for over 2 years by now, so the fact that he was a non-believing Jew was not exactly a surprise. But that fact just dawned on me. Nevertheless, we went ahead with our move and wedding plans. We were married by a Justice of Peace in Ohio while she was taking a break from hearing cases of traffic violators. That was hilarious!

Over the next few years, although I was happy, at times I also struggled being married to someone of a different faith. I prayed, pleaded, begged, repented, pushed, pulled and did everything I could to bring my husband to church to find Jesus. Little did I know, God had a different plan. Paul finally got saved after meeting some Jewish believers from New York, who came from a similar background as his.

Now, as our love grows deeper and stronger in the Lord, we grow closer to one another - sort of like a triangle. (God at the central pivotal point, we draw closer to one another as we both move closer to God). God is faithful and I know He answers prayers in His time. In our love story with each other, Paul and I find our love story with our Savior, the one that grafted the wild branch into the olive tree. Our marriage displays the portrait of how God joined a Jew and a Gentile together, as one.

Well, this is our love story. Many more fun and exciting chapters are being written as we seek our loving Father each day, with 2 beautiful Chinese Jews that our Father has blessed us with.

So, how about an easy meatloaf recipe?

I haven't made meatloaf in a LONG time... so, the other day, I found this amazingly easy recipe and it tasted so good. I have to pass it on, so here it is.

Turkey/Beef Meatloaf

1 1/2 lb. Ground Turkey/Beef
1 egg
1 onion, chopped
1 cup milk
1 cup Bread crumb
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix all of the above and pour into a loaf pan (slightly sprayed with oil), then spread the mixture of the following on top.

2Tbsp Brown Sugar
2Tbsp Mustard
1/3 C Ketchup

Bake meatloaf at 350 degrees F, for one hour. Poultry needs to reach internal temperature at 165 degrees when done.

Tip: YOu can mix everything in ahead of time, then refrigerate it until when it's time to bake.
leftover meatloaf is great for sandwiches. Pan-fry sliced meatloaf with a little oil. They are delicious.

Now We Stand!

The following article written by Kerby Anderson, Christian Radio Show "Point of View", gives us perspective and hope on where we are as a nation ---

While we may disagree with his stand on many of the issues, we need to acknowledge the historic accomplishment of Barak Obama as he becomes the first African-American president in our nation's history.

We applaud the man for his achievement and respect the office but we must still stand for our values. This is not the time to become discouraged but to seize on the opportunities that present themselves to us.

Yesterday, three states voted to pass amendments to their state constitutions that will protect the sanctity of marriage. Two of those states chose Barak Obama as their president. In all three states a large number of people voted for amendments to protect marriage while voting for Obama who opposed them.

The clear message is that the majority of American's still believe in traditional values and will support them when given the chance. As we stand for the values we hold dear, we know that the majority of the people still share those values.

In his campaign, Obama made promises to enact legislation that will run in direct opposition to our values. However, many commentators feel that he is concerned about overreaching early in his administration, having learned from the mistakes President Clinton made in his first two years in office.

That indicates he will listen to us on these issues if we speak loud enough. In his acceptance speech, he promised to listen to the concerns of those who did not vote for him. Let's work together to hold him to that promise.

Even though the 110th Congress was led by the most radical elements of the Democratic Party, we did see them respond to the voice of the people when enough of us spoke up on an issue. Though the ideology of those in power now runs contrary to our values, we still have the opportunity to make a difference.

We are a government "of the people, by the people, for the people" and as long as we remember that and are willing to act, we can still make a difference for the future of our nation.

God is GOOD...ALL THE TIME!

God is good, not based on circumstances... it's an unchangeable fact that He is good at ALL TIMES.

Psalm 125 tells us that "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jesrusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people frim this time forth and forever."

Yesterday, the Lord led me to Isaiah 45:3 before all the election results came out, the verses go, "I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I the Lord, who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.""All things work together for those who love God and those who are called according to His purposes." The essence of our faith is hope, hope that is not found in this world, but in our Lord in heaven.

As most of you last night, I watched America elect our first black president. I had mixed emotions. It was a historic moment, that's for sure, now where do we go from here... There is only one person who holds the answer... our KING. The King that is over all things and all people, the King that we know and have access to through Christ Jesus, the King that has promised to protect and provide for us.

As my friend, Teresa Roy said once regarding concerns over this election, "My plan B is the rapture." Now, that's the Kingdom-perspective. I am rejoicing not over circumstances, but for whom I put my trust and hope in.

As we are called to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks always, today is a new day. We have prayed, pleaded, decreed, and I believe that our Father has heard our prayers. We don't stop praying, the battle belongs to God, He is Victory. The end of the story has already been written. Jesus overcomes!

My friends, let's not grow weary while doing good, for in due time we will reap what we sow. God's plan is ALWAYS BEST. Yes, we've prayed for His will be done, so we have trust that His plan for us has a hope and a future.

As in the 40 days for life campaign (which ended Nov. 2 for this year),to pray until we see the end of abortion in our land, people are committed to continue to pray and fast and spread the word throughout the year, the work continues on...

Let's add Barack Obama and every leader in our government in our prayers. Let's pray the Lord's supernatural wisdom, protection over them, and that there will be genuine and life-changing encounters between them and The Savior. Let's pray that God will guide our nation to restore the moral values established when she was founded. God can do ALL things, no matter who is king or president.

Let us never forget the enormity of our gift of salvation/eternal life in Jesus Christ and by our Father. And, that's the joy we celebrate each day!

God is GOOD, ALL THE TIME! Yes, His glory is seen today!

A Fun trip to the Art Museum