Shin On

Exfoliation.  Something that I knew I needed to do but was not really sure why, how or what to use.  As a skin care consultant I had some basic product knowledge regarding what was available for my face so I was somewhat diligent in that area, however the rest of my body was very neglected.

When you are younger neglecting your body is typical, not until we start to get older do we notice these signs of mistreatment.  For me it was to the point of covering up my legs due to sever ingrown hair issues and the bumps and redness that comes with them.  I tried sugar scrubs, shaving every other day, a loofah etc. Nothing worked or changed how my skin looked.  Finally I found an esthetician that I trusted and asked the embarrassing questions (you would have thought I would have looked it up on google a long time ago!)  Way to ask an expert!  She gave me good reason for my issue, age and lack of proper exfoliation and then something new to try. 

If you are looking to add a bit of a glow back to your skin then read on.  With the help of my expert and some online research here are 4 steps to healthy looking skin that feels great.  

1.  Ditch the loofah or wash cloth and get Exfoliating Gloves.  They are exactly what they sound like and are much easier to use then a loofah.  Check out this pair and the reviews they got here. 
Use the gloves daily on wet skin to exfoliate before shaving and then daily thereafter.  I use mine with soap and that has been working great.

2.   If you are prone to razer burn in sensitive areas or all over your legs then try a pore cleansing product.  The one that was suggested to me is Tend Skin.  My legs are too sensitive to use this on right after I shave, I use it the next day and it keeps my pores cleaned out and ingrown hairs at bay. It comes in a roll on applicator making it super easy.

3. Find a deep moisturizing lotion to apply after exfoliating.  I like the body butters that are out there from The Body Shop, perfect to keep my skin moisturized for long hours.  Since becoming a skin care consultant I have learned the benefits of moisturizing, this is the key to your anti aging regiment.  Dry, taunt skin will eventually crack and add lines and wrinkles to your face and body.

4.  Rinse and Repeat.  That is it!  Do this regularly and you will notice a difference in how your skin looks and feels.  If you see any redness that last all day then you may need to be a bit more gentle when scrubbing and switch to using the gloves every other day.  

These gloves and products are only recommended for your body, not your face.  The skin on your face is much more sensitive and needs specialized products when it comes to exfoliating.  



Doesn't that sound beautiful and relaxing?  As a Mom I am sure that this is what showering is like for you every day.  Leisurely time to exfoliate your skin, apply ample moisturizer and slowly get ready for the day ahead.  Uh? Ya Right!  This is Mommy Mayhem, let me tell you what my beauty care really looks like in the morning.

1.  Put on a show for the kids to watch while I quickly gather my clothing and run to the bathroom.  As I am hoping into the shower I remember that I have a delivery guy showing up any minute.  Extra time??? No way!  

2. Vigorously scrub my legs and body with soap and my exfoliating gloves - no time to put them onto my hands just grab them and scrub away!

3. Hop out of the shower, quickly dry off, listening to see if that was a knock on the door, only to hear that it is my two year old waiting in the hall outside the bathroom.  "Mommy done, shower?  Apply Tend Skin, thankful for a quick and easy roll on application.

4.  Half get dressed and open the door for said two year old - apply lotion after first giving some to the toddler as they insist on doing and being where ever Mommy is.  Finish getting dressed as delivery man knocks on front door.

Rinse and Repeat!

What have you found successful in keeping your skin looking healthy and glowing?   Leave a comment below with your ideas and suggestions. 

Resources:
Dr. Oz - Skin Clinic
She Knows - Beauty and Syle

Waiting

The reason for the season.  Jesus!  I am enjoying the advent crafts that me and my children have been attempting to do.  The season is all about grace and I am taking a hold of that and not feeling bad about the days that we have missed. 

All the days that we have left to do :)

Growing up I always enjoyed the tradition of advent that my family did.  Every week we would read a section of scripture and light a candle.  It was the way that I learned the prophesy behind Christ coming and who the characters were that made up the Christmas story (our advent tradition and all the Christmas plays that I participated in at church).  

What I don't remember is the meaning behind the word advent, waiting.  Yes we are celebrating Jesus Christ and Him coming to earth so that we could have a relationship with Him.  But we are looking forward to more then that, Christ coming again! 

Church on Sunday the pastor went through Revelations.  Though I won't go through the details what struck me was that Christ is coming back and we need to look forward to that with hope.  In a recent article in World Magazine the story talked about a church in Pakistan that was bombed, killing 84 church goers and wounding 146 others.   We look on these events with horror at the wickedness of man and the world.

"The challenge is to step inside the suffering and grief of this present world with its wars and abuse and hatred of God and men, and there find the testimony the church gives."  What is that testimony?  What are you saying every year in the way that you live your life, talk to others and spread the joy and hope of Christ?  

"In advent season we are waiting.  Mindful of those who wait in darkness for a coming Messiah, we wait for His return, but we wait in the light - the light of His love and the loving example of His incarnation, His willingness to draw near to the hardships and horrors of this world to redeem them.  It's what makes men and women return to a blood-soaked church, and sing."

Do we return to the scene of hardship, hard talks, tough parenting moments and sing with the hope of Christ?  Sing, knowing that He will be returning one day? 

Let us glory in the reason for this season and find joy and hope in Christ, who is still to come.

Sources:
World Magazine, December 2014 Issue.
Truth in the Tinsel - Advent Calender

Bouquet of Thankfulness

God really does send you signs to hone you in on what He wants to say.  This week of Thanksgiving I could see that God wanted me to go deeper into this whole thing of giving Thanks.  I have been going through 'Jesus Calling' by Sarah Young, the one for Nov. 23th talked about God giving you little gifts throughout the day that if you diligently collect them will become a beautiful bouquet of thankfulness.

What bouquet did God prepare for me today?  Did I stop to pick the flowers or just breeze on by?

A day to be with my family, cuddling my kids, playing games

Quiet time for reading

Encouragement from God's Word and a good reminder of how to be content

The blue sky above

Swinging in the backyard

Picture of my cute nephew

Goofy husband curled up with me for some TV time

Nov. 26th 'Jesus Calling'
You give Me thanks (regardless of your feelings) and I give you Joy (regardless of your circumstances).  

This spiritual act of obedience will open up your heart to the presence of God and your mind to His thoughts. 

Psalms 89:15-16
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you.  Who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.  They rejoice in your name all day.

Acclaim means to praise enthusiastically and publicly.  But notice how this is a learned act and one that takes action as you 'walk' in the light of God's presence. 

So how to notice God in your everyday?  Focus your mind on the gifts that He provides, big and little.  Pick up these gifts throughout the day and at the end you will have a beautiful bouquet of thanksgiving to offer up to God. 

Phil. 4:8 may help you get the perspective you need to be able to notice the gifts that God gives you daily.  Realign your thoughts with the truth.  The truth of your situation, the truth of your feelings and the truth of who God is.  If you bring your thoughts back to the truth of who God is; all powerful, loving, good, just, gracious, in-control.  Our feelings and circumstances may not change but God's grace to help us handle, with thanksgiving, the day before us will work to line us up with right thinking. 
Phil. 4:8
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praise worthy - think about such things."

Happy Thanksgiving and may you go into this Christmas season with a thankfilled and joyful heart.

When Stuck at Home - Things to be Thankful for.

So sad to be stuck at home these last couple of days missing out on all the rushing around, prepping for Thanksgiving (not totally true as later today I will have to go to the grocery store).  Both of my children have been having some tummy trouble so we are sticking close to home today to rest to be able to be with family on Thanksgiving.  My son was well enough this morning, however, to whine at me about what we would do today.  His sister assured him that she was too sick to go out (she threw up in front on him, eliciting the reply "oh I guess I did give her my sickness"), so we went on Pinterest to look up some holiday crafts.  Here is what was inspired.

Happy Thanksgiving note for Papa and Grandma complete with stickers and a leaf press.

Fall decor scored from the trees across the street and 'hand' made turkeys.

May your holiday be filled with Thanksgiving.  From my family to yours.

It's All About Attitude

If you can't change your fate, 

change your attitude.  

Dr. Reda Bedeir

Ephesians 4:23 "To be made new in the attitude of your minds"
Everything starts in the mind, our attitude, outlook on life, where we process our day and then make the conclusions.   If God's word is not the filter then our mind can not be sound and we won't be solid and firm.  The verse after this talks about putting on a new self that is "created to be like God in righteousness and holiness."  How does this new self come about?  In the attitude of our minds.  A definition of attitude is: a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior. 
Attitude starts in your head but then is quickly reflected in how you behave.  So the question is how do you change your attitude?  Colossians 3:2 gives a clue on how this might be accomplished.  "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Change your perspective!  Look up, play the thankfulness game, count your blessings, turn worship music on, infiltrate your mind with things above.  So many times we get bogged down with the day to day things of life.  Overwhelmed with money issues,  making breakfast for four kids that all want something different, how to fit in laundry, making dinner, and school pick up?  The list goes on and on and it is discouraging how much does not get checked off.  The circumstances of your life may not be able to change or really need to, just how you look at it in your head.
Ann Voskamp's " One Thousand Gifts" is a great book to change your outlook and get some great pointers on how to look for the 'gifts' that God sends your way every day.  During this month, leading up to Thanksgiving many have taken up the challenge of being thankful for something every day.  If you are having a hard time finding 'gifts' to be thankful for then maybe you need to look at your life differently.  Lots of laundry?  Think of your kids that are out enjoying life and getting their clothes dirty.  Arguing kids at the breakfast table, take a deep breath focus on the food your making and being thankful that you have food.  Then start listing off things your thankful for and make your children add to the list to get their breakfast.
It is all about attitude and that is one way to step into the new self that God offers.  Start today and give me a few things your thankful for and find a verse to memorize that speaks to where you are.  When the challenges of the day come you will have resources at hand to get your mind focused on things above.

How to have a Sound Mind - and not lose it.

This is a Mommy Mayhem original series, first installment. 
Do you feel like your loosing your mind at times?  That thing on top of your shoulders is just going to spin off your body and explode if one more little voice whines at you, or your spouse nit picks or misses dinner.  All the  noise you interact with on a daily basis starts to fill up that space between your ears until you just want to crawl into a hole and never come out. 
The crawling into the hole solution is, well, not a solution or even an option so what do you do?  Hide in the bathroom, take a long bath, drink a cup of hot tea while reading a good book?  These are all relaxation tools that are ways to keep sane but there may be a deeper issue that needs to be settled in your mind.
Philippians 1:27 "standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel."  Though I think this verse is more talking about being of the same mind and working with others towards spreading the gospel it got me thinking...How many minds do I have every day?  The crazy mind that over thinks every situation drawing the worse possible conclusion.  The mind that shakes with frustration when the kids wake up and start to cry about whats is on their plate for breakfast.  The mind that decides to hole up at home all day, not engaging the world.   We blame it on hormones, our crazy kids or an unreasonable spouse and out of control life.  Would you consider, however, that it may just all be in your head?
In thinking through this issues I thought I might not be the only one struggling with my mind so I thought I would share my findings with you.  
Some very wise advice that I have received from my Pastor's wife is to always go back to what is true.  God's Word is the ultimate truth so I started there.  Jeremiah 31:33 "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.  I will be their God and they will be my people." For God to be able to write His word in our minds and hearts we have to be willing.  Open up our mind to the truth of His word and search it out.  Take a minute, use an above mentioned relaxation tool and meditate on the truths you can remember from God's word, look up your favorite verse or passage and see what knowledge God would like to put in your mind and impress on your heart. 
Stay tuned for Installation #2 Having a New Attitude.

Purpose

What motivates you to get up in the morning?  Is it a much hoped for breakfast, exercise to energize the day, kids knocking on your door needing their Mom?  Does necessity get you out of bed in the morning or do you jump out of bed with purpose and anticipation for what the day may hold? 
This is a question that has been on my mind for a few weeks now.  I know all the pat answers, be a mother to my children, be a serving wife.  Give of myself to my family and my church.  What does it say about me if that is not enough?  I have searched for this purpose in work, in my children, in my marriage, in relationships with others.  Some days I am excited about these aspects of my life and full of enthusiasm in pursuing them but more often I have a sense that God has something more, a bigger picture out there waiting to be realized. 
At this phase in my journey in comes the book of Philippians.  It is a book of Joy, about Joy and finding Joy in tough situations.  How, one might ask?  Change your perspective and look at the big picture.  Philippians gives good clues at what that big picture perspective in life is.
Philippians 1:18 " But what does it matter?  The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached.  And because of this I rejoice.  Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,"  
Christ is preached!  Am I doing that in my life?  What does that look like in the every day?  Paul suffered beatings, traveling hardships and ultimately house arrest and then death.  For what?  To preach the gospel of Christ and bring glory to Him, in whatever form that may be through what ever means necessary.  That is the big picture, the purpose, a new perspective. 
What that looks like in your life is different then what it looks like in my life.  So my journey continues as I search for how to be effective in God's kingdom, bring glory to Him and share His truth through and with all the mayhem of everyday life.

Needed - Two Parents

When it comes to making life easier I take every chance I get to cut corners, go down to one bathroom to eliminate extra cleaning, rinse out my blender instead of fully cleaning it before I make my next protein shake, put my daughter to bed in her clothes and not change her the next day.  God knows my weakness and lazy tendencies (or survival technique to stay sane as a Mom with two young kids) and so I believe He places people in my life that push me to get up and do the hard stuff.  Who knows how long it would have taken to start potty training my son if his preschool teacher had not told me that he could not come to class in diapers anymore.  She forced my hand and made me buckle down and not take the easy route of diaper changing, forever.  Currently I am neglecting my duty to teach my son to read, or at least start the 100 Easy Lessons book with him, somehow the day slips by and the book does not get opened (though we do read alot of books together so hopefully that is doing something).
Today I was reminded again of why God saw the need for two parents to raise children and my quick fix parenting style.  My husband was home when my son needed to use the restroom.  The boy did his duty and then required assistance to finish up.  In order to go on with my day I usually just take care of this and move on.  I have had the advice that my son won't require this assistance forever and will eventually grow out of it, so I had run with that and done the easy thing, for me.  My husband has a bit more forethought and generally does not give in to my son quite as readily as I do.  On this day he pushed it with my son and insisted that he take care of himself.  The part that was the hardest for me was the crying "please Mom, please Mom, please Mom".  It took all of my will power and the need of my plants for water to stay out of that bathroom.  The Dad was right though and the boy calmed down, took care of himself and came out apologizing for his fit. 
God knew that it would take two parents to give children what they need.  Grace and a hard line, two parents that love them and love each other, teaching them about God and the joys of life.
Proverbs 13:24
"Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him."

Little Hands

I am the mother of two little ones both with what seem like a million little hands.  My daughter in particular has a thing for touching; my belly button, the moles on my face, the little bumps on my arms and legs - basically any and every part.  By the end of the day, some days, I am ready to run into my purple bubble and hid away (what kid do you know that respects your purple bubble of space?).
Little hands reaching out to me, wanting something, anything, everything.  A cracker, sandwich, me to hold them, swing them, catch them, watch them.  The attention it takes to be a mother at times is daunting and I only have two children.

The other day I was feeling just this way and a thought struck.  I often get glimpses of how amazing God is through my faulty attempts at being a parent.  Does God view us as little children always reaching out to Him wanting something, anything?  As I make these realizations I am so thankful for a God that is infinitely patient, all knowing and always good.  I know that I want good for my kids but do my actions always demonstrate that goodness?  When my children come to me with outstretched arms wanting more of me will I always have something to give?  God does!  When I go to God I know that He will have open arms for me, ready to give more of Himself. 
May I remember to go to God when I am empty, allow Him to fill me so that I will have something  to give.