Picture Princess

My Picture Princess

My sister-in-law, Elizabeth, over at "Life as we live it" blog introduced me to Shabby Apple - a modest and feminine clothing line. I was looking through their new spring line the other day and noticed an ad for "Picture Princess" and had to check it out. They are seeking the next little girl to feature their summer line of Little Girls dresses and thus this post!

Why my daughter is a Picture Princess:

My daughter has captured my heart from the moment she was born and inherited both Nick and I's love for the camera! She is always showing off giving us something to take a picture of! And of course she wants to see every single one you take of her! She has a great spirit about her and loves being outside and picking flowers or playing with her new puppy! She is an easy going baby and is ready for any new adventure! Since I had a handsome son for my 1st child, this is my first little girl to dress all up and do her hair! It is so much fun and I love some of Shabby Apple's new spring dresses that they offer for girls just like my Gracious! One in particular I have my eye on, that I think would look absolutely divine on my lil picture princess is "The CANARY Dress"

(just click picture for direct link)

picture taken from: Shabby Apple.com - check it out to see more of:

Little Girls and Girls Dresses from Shabby Baby

In case you would like to check out Shabby Apple for yourself just click on the title for the link to their home page!

Acne & Aging

If you currently struggle, or have ever struggled with, acne or signs of aging then you will WANT to read this!

When I was a Senior in High School I had already gone through a number of acne treatments and was running out of options! I had tried over-the-counter products, tried several topical treatments prescribed by my dermatologist and even gone through the UV-ray treatments driving an hour one way two times a week for them! I was exhausted and about to give up hope. My mom remembers praying to find a solution and when she was in a bookstore saw this book called the Anti-Acne Diet by Dr. Perricone.

Long story short she asked if I was willing to try a three-tiered program that included diet, supplements, and topical treatments. Now before you go whoa that's a lot of stuff - you can do it with the diet alone!! JUST by changing what you eat can drastically change the effects of acne AND aging. If you want overall better health and want to make sure it stays away the supplements (simply vitamins and minerals) and his specially formulated topical treatments which ensure it follows the guidelines of his study.

So what are the guidelines? NOTHING that is pro-inflammatory! Through his research he found that acne is actually a Systemic Inflammatory Disease. Now I will keep it in layman's terms that it simply means there are certain foods, creams, cosmetics, etc. that will cause inflammation at the cellular level. This is what actually starts the chain reaction that leads to that zit on your face. It's NOT oily skin although yes that will contribute to acne...it's NOT chocolate, lol...although yes the sugar IN chocolate is! Now yes stress, hormones, oily skin and all these things contribute to acne and aging but are not the root cause which means even when those other things still exist if you are on an Anti-Inflammatory Diet and using cosmetics that don't have pro-inflammatory components than you can keep your acne flare-ups away! Good news huh?

I wrote all that to say I went on the entire three-tiered system my senior year and by Senior Picture time was acne free and had more energy than I had ever had in my life! I felt the best I've ever felt and ever since going off of that diet have wished I could somehow get back on it! Well I was blessed that during pregnancy my hormones blessed me with acne free skin. Now with my daughter turning two a couple months ago suddenly here comes my acne again after almost four years of not dealing with it! As soon as I got a few really bad cases I asked my mom to mail me the book.

I have officially been on the Anti-Acne diet since Thursday, March 19th and my face is already almost completely clear - and may I add I am ONLY doing the diet and taking TWO of the seven supplements! I'm regaining energy that I had been depleted of lately and am starting to think more clearly and be more efficient in my work! I'm not kidding! I HAD to tell my readers about this because it is for aging too - and all the bad things that come with it (cancer, Alzheimer's, arthritis, WRINKLES, etc...)

I will be doing a series on this Anti-Inflammatory Diet and have also linked the title to Dr. Perricone's website if you would like more information right away!

Red Envelope Day Project

I recently received this challenge in an email and strongly encourage any PRO-LIFE supporters out there to join! This will be an easy yet strong message to our new President, that not ALL of us support abortion. Please read about it and consider joining the effort. (There are links included for you to research further, including the title is linked to the Red Envelope Day site.)

Red Envelope Day Project

Here's how it works:

Get a red envelope. You can buy them at party supply or office supply stores.

On the front, address it to:

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20500

On the back, write the following message:

"This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion.It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world. "

Put it in the mail, and send it on March 31st (so many arrive at the same time.)

Please forward this event to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died [in the U.S. ] before having a chance to live. It may seem that those who believe abortion is wrong are in a minority. It may seem like we have no voice and it's shameful to even bring it up. Let us show our President and the world that the voices of those of us who do not believe abortion is acceptable are not silent and must be heard. Let's pray that together we can change the heart of The President and save the lives of millions of children. Barak Obama spoke at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event, uttering the now infamous line, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. [Applause.] That's the first thing that I'd do." - And he did!

An empty red envelope will send a message to President Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue [The Freedom of Choice Act, which will essentially undo every law currently in place to limit abortion in the U.S. through parental consent laws, parental notification, waiting periods, prohibition of transporting a minor girl across state lines to obtain an abortion, etc.]. It will be quiet, but clear.

Please read more about The Freedom of Choice Act here: Red Envelope Day website

Obama's Speech to Planned Parenthood
Obama's Statement on Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade

In Christ,
Brian Larson, Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Truckee

Silent Sundays

Please join us for Silent Sundays! Just click on post title to check it out.

These are pictures taken within the last week, all by my friend Jenna, who had been staying with us. BY the way FYI she is a freelance photographer and has a blog for her photography. Just click on the link and check it out!

Bod Squad Petition

Being a youth pastor's wife I keep up with christian organizations that put out product relating to teens. One of them is the Pure Freedom and Secret Keeper Girl. In an email I received this week they informed us of a petition that they will present to the fashion industry on making young girls clothes age-appropriate and modest! I have copied and pasted the next few paragraphs from their website for you. I encourage you if you want to try and see the clothing industry change then please go sign this petition!!

TAKEN FROM SECRET KEEPER GIRL WEBSITE:

In 2009, Dannah Gresh and The Bod Squad (that’s you) will present a petition to both the Council of Fashion Designers of America and the Apparel and Footwear Manufacturer's Association. We hope that as a result Women’s Wear Daily, the global “bible” of the fashion industry, will cover the petition and tell the entire fashion world. Dannah has been interviewed twice by the magazine to discuss the industries marketing of sensual clothing to tweens. She has their ear, but she needs your support to send them a clear message.Will you join The Bod Squad?

It has been endorsed by New York Times Best-selling author Donna VanLiere, founder of Virtuous Reality Ministries Vicki Courtney, internationally known speaker and book author Leslie Ludy, co-host of “The Messenger” TV program Lisa Bevere, bestselling author, speaker, and nationally-syndicated newspaper columnist Shaunti Feldhahn, co-founder of FamilyLife Barbara Rainey, President/Founder of Moms In Touch International Fern Nichols, and Christian recording artist Stephanie Smith.

The Bod Squad Petition: We believe that the fashion industry is pressuring little girls to grow up too fast! The findings of two years of study by an APA (American Psychological Association) task force state that clothing, which makes girls appear older, and the associated marketing efforts are linked to eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression. Ironically, this early sexualization presented to young girls also has “negative consequences on girls’ ability to develop healthy sexuality.” We would like to request that industry leaders send a message to the fashion industry that mothers want to purchase age-appropriate clothing for our little girls and would like the fashion industry to evaluate the clothing they design and the messages they send to our daughters through advertising.

View the Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls http://www.apa.org/pi/wpo/sexualizationrep.pdf

Just click HERE, or the post title to sign the petition!