The Thanksgiving in my Heart

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and we are all looking forward to wonderful time with close friends and family and that mouthwatering feasts that will be spread before us, We shall all eat to much and all gain that dreaded holiday weight. Okay so maybe that is just me, but still Thanksgiving is upon us. I thought it would be a smashing time to make a list of a few of the things I am truly grateful for this year. So I made a list of 10 to limit myself from writing a book, because I truly am one very blessed woman. So lets begin the list which I assure you is not in any specific order.

1.) My heart is overwhelmed with gratefulness that I know that I am one of God's warriors. I am made in His perfect imagine, and while I am far, far from perfect He still spread His arms in love for me. He knows my heart, my desires, and my hopes. He breathes love and joy into my life on the brightest of days, and becomes my light on the darkest of days! I am thankful for my Jesus!

2.) My beautiful husband this section could be a blog all on it's own. I am so grateful that he loves me. He actually does more than just love me, he puts up with me even when I swing my mood into Ice Princess mode. He spoils me with extra sleep on weekends, and he has fit into the mold of fatherhood with style, and wisdom. I am truly thankful for him. I am thankful for finding my soul mate so young in life and already being able to spend 9 plus years filling our lives with memories and adventures. I look forward to so many more years with him....

3.) Parents I can't say enough how blessed I am for my parents, my in-laws included. I am grateful for them always being around for advice, love, and support in so many areas of my life, and the lives of my own little family. They have become more than just parents they have blossomed into our friends. I cherish every second of time I am able to soak up with these special and beautiful people!

4.) Siblings during childhood they annoy us one minute,then stick up for us the next. Not much changes when you reach adulthood. I really believe that the greatest gift my parents ever gave me was my kid brother. He is my life long friend who knows me probably better than anyone. He has been my shoulder to lean on so many occasions in my life. I am so very thankful for him and his beautiful family!!! P.S. I am pretty sure I can still kick his tail at some old school street fighter! =)

5.)Growing up has brought me many things to be grateful for, but my three babies are my greatest treasure. They are a piece of my heart walking on the outside of my body. they are my greatest success, and the beginnings of the legacy I will someday leave behind. They are my smile and my joy. No matter how difficult motherhood is they never fail to make it all better with an "I love you Mommy", or a great big hug!

6.) My heart holds a spot for all the doctors and nurses who have done their jobs well, and have made a difference in my Wesley's life. I believe some of these special folks have been answers to my prayers. I am so very grateful for their hard work. These folks have a speical gift to help others and for that my heart will forever be grateful.

7.) Last year we finally started settling down at a new church. This year we have started becoming more apart of the church body. I am thankful for all the new and fresh things the church family has brought into our lives, and for the friendships I see sprouting, and growing.

8.) I am thankful for small and simple things like, music and books, There is nothing more satisfying than a rainy day with a good book, and your favorite blanket, or dancing in the living room to some fabulous music with the sound of children giggling because they think mommy is silly!

9.) My memories! How thankful I am to have such beautiful ones. Both from my own childhood, and the ones I have made with my husband and children. My memories are living treasures in my heart. Something that brings me smiles on even those I don't want to get out of bed days!

10) Rounding things out at number ten is how incredibly thankful I am this year that I have learned the true meaning of forgiveness,and for allowing love to take over and come out triumphant. What a glorious good thing it has been to finally discover how to let go, and allow love to be the true guide in life, no matter what skeletons haunt your closets. Love is truly a golden, and magical thing! It brings peace and heals even the most damaged of relationships! Three cheers for love!!!

Well folks that is a bit of my hearts thanksgiving this year. I hope you will take a moment to reflex on whats important to you, and maybe even tell a few of those special folks in your life what they mean to you!!! Happy Thanksgiving enjoy turkey day!!!! =) Peace and love to all!!!

I <3 Polyvore

Rae by MysticIris

My newest obsession is a website called Polyvore. The website allows you to clip imagines from other websites and use them in your own unique and creative way to make collages or better know on the site as sets. You may also use imagines that have already been clipped or collected to the site by other users. You can be clever as you want in making your own layouts. You can role play, remake celebrity fashion statements, put your own twist on your favorite fairy princess, design album covers, or just make beautiful or scary pieces of art. It's kinda like a blank art canvas or paper dolls for grown ups! You can gain inspiration from anything around you from favorite movies, to the song that has been stuck in your head for weeks. Personally my favorite inspiration comes from books that I have read. I feel like I am bringing to life the characters that are inside my own head. The site is also just entertaining to surf around on. So many beautiful ideas in one place it's pretty impressive. You can even make a list from some of the fashion sets and go on a thrift store treasure hunt or gather ideas for next years costume parties. You can even just take some hints to dress like your favorite fashion idols or trendsetters. Polyvore also includes a section for you to shop to your hearts desire. Every item clipped to polyvore is linked to the website it was originally clipped from. This website is just jam packed with fun for the art, fashion, costume, etc lovers out there... It's pretty much where I have been spending all my free time lately. At first I was just hoping to gain some fresh ideas for my blog. Which I did indeed, but I also feel in love with the website. Now I just can't stay away! I warn you if you love art and fashion this is where they mingle and party together. That said you could become totally addicted, which may cause family members to panic =). If by chance you do join the Polyvore family be adventurous, be inspired, be unique, be colorful, be enchanting, be creative, and show of your flare!!! Oh and don't forget to look Mysticiris up while your there! I would love to see what your making. See you on Polyvore where fashion and art fuse together!

Waiting for My Love by MysticIris featuring Forever21

Sigh...Yes I am a Twilight Geek!

In honor of the midnight release of New Moon, and to stay true to my motto embrace the geekness. So to stay absolutely true to the geek that I am I thought I would write a little about Twilight and even feature a New Moon inspired fashion set I made with the help of the website POLYVORE. A blog soon to come featuring that super awesome and fabulous website. okay back to New Moon. I am excited for the appearance of Aro and the whole wicked Volterra crew. Although New Moon is the one book in the series that I was tempted to put in a shredder or at the very least throw at a couple walls, and maybe out the window of a moving car. Okay so I am really just kidding kinda, but yes I am that passionate of a reader, yes those thoughts really crossed my mind embarrassingly so. Lets just say it's a darn good thing Alice is smart enough to grab Bella whisk her off to Italy to save Edward. Else the book would have never survived my geek wrath =)...Okay Okay so what if Alice gets visions of the future and has nothing to do with how smart she is. She is still totally my favorite!!! I will admit Bella is so not my favorite she is a tad to much of a whiner, and I have a feeling the melodramatics will come flying in this movie with the whole tug o war with Jacob and Edward. Silly girl she is!!! Yet I love Twilight, and the story the book series has illustrated. I am a sucker for a good love story, and yes it is a great love story. Bella and Edward are a typical oil and water love story couple only they get lucky and get a happy ending unlike poor Romeo and Juliet. As the movie releases tonight and the super fans are standing in line for tickets. I admit I am tad bit jealous because I can't wait for Alice to steal the bright yellow Porsche with her cute little style, and Jane to get uber pissed a take it out on Edward. Don't worry all you Twilight haters out there I don't think that it's going to take over the world or anything at least you hope not! =)

Below is a Fashion Set Inspired by Jane making her first appearance in the Twilight Series New Moon.

A Dangerous Gift by MysticIris featuring Junya Watanabe

Items in this set:
Red Valentino dress, $790
Cafepress.com hoodie, $30
Cafepress.com top, $28
Junya Watanabe outerwear, 450 EUR
Cosplaysky.com coat, $110

Whats For Dinner?

Today I thought I would simply share one of my favorite slow cooker recipes. I love pasta so this recipe quickly became a favorite of mine! I hope you all enjoy. Feel free to leave a comment with your favorite recipe or send me some mail and maybe I will feature your recipes on my blog in the future! Like what does your family always ask you to make. What do you make at least once a week? What do you fix as your dish for family holidays? What do you make for a quick easy dinner? These are all some fabulous questions I would love to know the answers to from my readers? Plus I might want to steal some ideas for my own cooking needs =)!


CHEESY ITALIAN TORTELLINI -Slow cooker Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 lb of ground beef
1/2 lb of ground Italian sausage
16 ounce jar of marinara sauce
1/2 small onion
1/2 small green bell pepper
4.5 can of mushroom -drained
14.5 can of Italian style tomatoes -undrained
9 ounces of tortellini noodles ( I like the cheese stuffed ones in the frozen food section)
1 cup of shredded cheese

Directions

Step 1 Crumble beef and sausage add the halves of the finely chopped onion and pepper brown in a skillet on medium heat.

Step 2 Combine contents of the skillet with the mushrooms, tomatoes, and sauce in a slow cooker, cook on low heat for 4 hours covered, cook another 2 hours uncovered

Step 3 Stir in tortellini and sprinkle with cheese, cover and cook for 15 minutes on low. Don't over cook or your noodles will me to soft!

Show Hope, Live Hope, Have Joy

Sometimes our worlds seem to come crashing and a darkness falls over out hearts. A gloomy grey color lurks around our souls, and sadness or worry overwhelms our thoughts. Sometimes it is brought about from our own struggles, sometimes by circumstances we can't control, or even sometimes it comes by sharing the hurt of another person. There is just no denying that the human heart breaks, and storms will brew in our lives. It's in those dark moments we must hold on to hope, believe in love, and live off faith. Understand we don't have all the answers, and trust that we are strong enough to hold on to joy. We must be confident even when we feel our hearts breaking, and the confusion of our emotions spinning in our heads. Believe in the people that love us. Trust in them to shower us with support, hold us when we cry, walk beside us, and celebrate with us in hope. We are not alone. God knows our hears, and loves us despite our weakness, emotions, and short falls. So believe....show hope, live hope, have joy, and know that you can not be that easily overcome by the darkness of one little storm!