8am-10am Coffee and Shopping 

(Holiday Decor to Health and Beauty services. Come early for more choices, stay after for deals!) 

10am - 12:30 Morning Session 

12:30 - 1:15 Lunch On-site (Chick-fil-a lunch tickets for sale, day of.)

1:15 - 3pm Afternoon Session

3pm - 5pm Shopping 

I love to decorate for each and every holiday, and Valentine's Day is right around the corner! So, my 5 year old daughter and I worked together to make two different Valentine banners for our home. We did one easy banner and one custom banner. Both were lots of fun!

For our first banner (the easy one), I picked up two packages of pre-cut hearts from the dollar section at Target.  In addition, I used a thick grey yarn and a hole punch.  I used a black Sharpie marker (not pictured).

Using the Sharpie, I place two dots on each heart.  This showed my daughter, Bella, exactly where to punch the wholes.

After the hearts had been hole-punched in two places, I strung them together with the thick, grey yarn.

Super easy and so cute!  We decided to hang this banner over Bella's headboard.

The next banner that we made was a little more customized and required a few extra steps. First, I went to Hobby Lobby and selected four pieces of patterned paper that coordinated well together. We used this paper along with a metal cookie cutter, a pencil, a hole punch, a pair of scissors, and some thick grey yarn.

I started by tracing the cookie cutter on the paper to create several heart shapes on each paper.

Then, I cut out the hearts and placed two dots on each heart for Bella to punch. I used the grey yarn to string together the hearts, and VOILA! Our custom Valentine's Day banner was done! We decided to hang this banner on our living room mantle for the whole family to enjoy!

Pet peeves; we’ve all got them.  Some of us have more than 1 or 2 or…

One of mine: people that don’t say thank you. 

Unfortunately, it seems to happen all of the time.  In fact, it has almost become an experiment for me.  I hold the door open for a total stranger at a store and I wait for something (anything!) that acknowledges my kind gesture.  

Then, there are the roads.  Nothing brings out the best in us like a little traffic. I oh-so graciously let someone in and they don't give me "the wave". 

I know that I shouldn't do things just for a thank you but it is nice to hear.

A lifestyle of gratitude can really impact the way we live.  It can change our perspective on just about everything.

If you know me, you know that I like things neat.  In fact, the term “neat-freak” may be coming to your mind right now.  Thankfully, my husband is neat too, but he is not a “neat-freak”.  So, every now and then, I find candy wrappers in the couch or multiple pairs of shoes left by the door for that impending shoe emergency. And we won't even talk about the toilet seat being left up...

Honestly, it used to all drive me crazy! I didn't understand why the wrappers had to be left on the couch instead of put in the trash can that is, literally, right there, or why the shoes couldn't just go back to their rightful home in the closet.

Then, God, as He so often does, made some adjustments to my perspective. He reminded me of how I had waited and prayed (and waited and prayed some more) to be married and how those prayers were answered (did I mention that I waited and prayed??). Those things that were annoyances, now more often serve as little reminders of one of the greatest blessings that God has ever given to me.  Yes, even the toilet seat reminds me that there is a man who lives in this house with me and I am glad for it. Let me set the record straight on this: I still like my house clean and I still have my MANY moments, but my husband doesn't have to run for cover as often.

Last year, several family members and a dear friend passed away.  As my cousin put it, it's great to remember that they lived a full life, but that doesn't alleviate the sense of daily loss that their loved ones are feeling. To a much, much lesser degree, when my husband travels for work, I am so aware of the fact that he is not here with me. It is on those days especially, that I wouldn't mind picking up a wrapper or two if it meant that he would be home.

My prayer is that God would help me to live my life in constant gratitude. The fact that I can hold the door open for someone means I have arms that are strong enough to do so. If I am on the road, it means that I have a car and a healthy enough mind to drive.

And even when the toilet seat is up, I remember; and then I put it down.

Thank you, God, for all of it.

(This post has been approved by the above mentioned husband, Lance Abraham.)

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Anitha Abraham has been a member of Covenant Church since 1998.  She received her Bachelors of Science degree in nursing and currently works at UT Southwestern as a nurse supervisor.  She serves in various areas of ministry including leading a monthly women’s Bible study and serving alongside her husband, Lance, as leaders in Re-Engage.  Born and raised in Texas, she is a Cowboys and Mavericks fan, coffee enthusiast, and Mexican food consumer.  You can read more of her articles on her blog mythoughtsifyouwanttoreadthem.wordpress.com.

Greetings!

Every now and then I get an itch to spice up or revamp a room in my home. I refuse to start from scratch and completely redo everything because I just want to add a little kick to it. Well, there are 5 tricks that I have used for several years now to make an old room into a new one. These are 5 tips that will not require you to make expensive purchases or to hire high end interior decorators, but simple and practical things that you yourself can add to a room that can literally transform the space and, of course, satisfy that itch to redecorate.

1.) A pop of wall color: Accent walls

I don’t know what I would do without paint in my life, seriously, ha! One can of paint in a jazzy color on one wall and you are in business. Adding touches of color to your room by means of an accent wall allows for the addition of bold and vibrant flare, while not requiring you to go out and purchase outlandishly expensive pieces of furniture in wild colors that will not be in style in a few years. My motto as a designer is that walls really do talk. They truly "say" what that room is all about, and that message is up to you! Here is an example:

This is a photo from a living area in which the major color themes in the linen and furniture were pretty neutral- tan, black, white, and a little bit of red mixed in. I could not just leave the wall white, so I thought to myself, "What do I want this room to say?", and I came up with three words: Inviting, homey, and warm. Since I was already working with neutrals, I thought I would keep it in the same family, but do something out of the norm and against the “rules”. So, I got bold and paired brown and black. I used a fun, medium chocolate brown as the accent wall color and it changed the room completely. Everything on the wall became highlighted simply because of the striking color that it was contrasted against. One $30 can of paint created a new room!

2.) Fun Pillows

Maybe the honeymoon is over and the thrill is long gone between you and your sofa or love seat.....

The love that you once had for it is just, well, not there anymore....

But you can bring the fire back! Try pillows! Pillows are fun and inexpensive. There are countless designs, styles, colors, and sizes that you can find them in that can add that zest back to that old sofa or chair. I loathe sofa covers. Unless they are custom made to fit perfectly, then leave them on the shelf. There is nothing worse than seeing a sofa in a bad outfit or one that does not fit. Instead, I recommend just adding and/or removing pillows.

Here was a sofa before "pillow rehab". It was a beautiful, classic tan piece that needed a little life added to it. Take a look at what a few fun little plush puppies did for it!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Dare to add pillows with bold colors, prints, or, as I used here, some with quotes or words.

3.) Find a new way to display your photography

I don’t believe in traditional, boring frames just adhered to the wall or sitting on a side table. There are countless fun ways to display those family photos that can save space, add flare, and make them stand out even more. Here are a few tips within this tip that I, personally, fancy most:

Wall Shelves

Use wall shelves to display your photos. These are one of the trendiest and most inexpensive ways to utilize wall space well and to show off those kiddos' school pictures. I created this wall shelf by combining several short wall shelves from IKEA and making them into a long one.

I included mixed media on this shelf as well which breaks up the monotony of just plain photos. I included an oversized book and a hand painted cross along my wall mixed in with my photos. Although this photo was shot in black and white and it cannot be seen clear, the photos were printed in black and white and some in color to liven things up a bit as well.

Photo Collages

The first time that I completed a wall collage was for a commercial design project and I fell in love. Building a photo collage really allows for artistic expression and creativity, and can be as clean and classic or as bold and chic as you want them to be. From frame styles, to frame colors, to the wall positioning of the frames, photo collages can be personalized and can become your own personal work of art. Here are a few examples:

(Photo provided by www.projectphxhome.com)

(Photo provided by )

4.) Get loose with the lighting

Have fun with your lighting! I am a little biased and believe that you should shop Ahava Design's lighting, but you can find funky new lamp shades to add just the right touch to that living space just about anywhere! Lamps and lighting are where you can go bold or super contemporary, without “retrofying” the entire room. Look for shades of different shapes and sizes and ones made from various materials. Try a fabric for your shade that is outside of the box. One of the most gorgeous new trends in lighting is the burlap look. Here are a few Ahava Designs in burlap.

Or, try something even more daring such as these contemporary top sellers shown, the chevron and grey skies prints, also by Ahava Designs.

5.) Unique and crafty accent pieces

The last trick is the most fun. Break up the known in that room with something unique and unfamiliar. Odd accent pieces can make for trendy additions to those boring or traditional spaces. I am a huge antique and thrift shopper, and I recommend taking a second look at some of those random vintage pieces you pass by. Here are a few that I have bought here and there from antique malls or trade days that have stamped my spaces with a special uniqueness.

An old vintage birdcage

An old book turned picture frame
 

An old ceiling tile turned wall chalkboard

A fun quote or saying as wall art

There are so many things that you can do to revive what you have quickly and without breaking the bank; but these 5 are great ones to begin with. Small changes can indeed make big differences in your space. Save money and feed the creative, decorative niche within you and DIY- Design it yourself!

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Are you so busy twittering the moment that you forget all about enjoying the moment?! Social media is a powerful and helpful communication tool, but it can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how it is used.

In the last ten years, there has been a 120% increase in milkshake multitasking amongst American youth who use multiple social media sites. Teens are exposed to an average of eight and a half hours of electronic media per day. According to the Archives of General Psychiatry, this increased simultaneous exposure to electronic media during the teenage years is associated with an increase in depression and anxiety.

In Norway, the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale was developed in response to research showing that addiction to social media causes the same damage in the brain as addiction to alcohol and cocaine. They have even found that it is as addictive as drugs, alcohol and chemical substance abuse.

You just have to look around you to see that the great number of people who are glued to their phones instead of making eye contact. This is a communication pathology!

I am not saying don’t use social media tools – I personally love them and use them to communicate with all of you and my family and friends. And, social media is a science; God made all the sciences. What I am saying is that it’s all about balance. The devil is a master of trying to destroy balance – overuse, incorrect use and obsessions with are all forms of imbalance. We need to be aware of these probabilities that he is trying to turn into realities through us. He has no power and he is defeated! All he can do is try to influence our decisions. Being addicted to social media is the result of a decision to not lead a disciplined, Spirit-led life.

See my new book, Switch on Your Brain, at www.drleaf.com and my 21 day brain detox at www.21daybraindetox.com to help you overcome these addictions!

Every day for many, many years, an artist went to work on high ladders, painting each corner and space of this ceiling with extreme care and detail. I am sure there were many days the monotony of painting got overwhelming, and it would have been tempting to quit or cut corners from the back breaking intense work. But, the craftsman made a choice that even if this art work was so high that no one may ever see the detail, or even if he may never hear the applause or appreciation for his years of labour, he was going to give it his best. He was going to dedicate every day to making something beautiful appear on what was once a blank stone space.

Every day, we also have a space to fill, a page to write, a canvas to paint. Maybe like this artist you can feel as though your hard work goes unnoticed, and even at times question what the point is in being so committed. Maybe you feel like the labour is in vain, or you are tempted to ignore the tough corners. But hundreds of years later, that person’s dedication to this painting inspires millions of people. Every day, people go to visit this building; and as they enter, their eyes are drawn up to this artist’s work. They stand, staring in awe at this amazing ceiling in Rome, taking photographs, and commenting on the beauty that his dedication brought. Though they may never know the name of the artist, they know the heart and passion that artist held.

So, today, as you look at this painting, I pray you would be encouraged. Don’t cut corners today because you think it doesn’t matter, don’t come down from your ladder thinking no one can see this, and don’t care if you ever get the credit. Commit to give whatever you have to do your best, pray as you work that the work of your hands would bring glory to Him, for He sees it all. And remember that everything we do leaves a trail for others whom we may never meet but they will meet the legacy that we leave behind. So, my friend, today, pick up whatever your paintbrush looks like and create something beautiful.

I bet you are saying to yourself that it might be possible to get them to do it, but you can’t make them want to do it. Well, you’re wrong! I am about to show you how!

I have three daughters ages 24, 22, and 9. I have always dressed modestly. As the older two were growing up we frequently discussed how the way you dress says more than anything. Think about the last time you were at the mall and saw the Goth chic headed your way… you probably instantly made a judgment call. Or, what about when you went to the office party with your husband, and as you entered, you noticed the office secretary dressed provocatively? You probably made a mental note that you didn’t want your husband to ever be alone with her, thinking that she might make an advancement toward him. 

What we wear tells the world who we are.

We all go through a rebellious stage. From my experience, for girls it usually starts around 11 when a young girl is trying to figure out who she is and starts pushing the boundaries anywhere she can find them. It begins to taper off around the time that they turn 20. So, what do you do in the in between years?

You have to give your daughter the tools she needs to manage her own self esteem. 

The desire to dress appropriately needs to come from within. If it doesn’t, then you will have the girls hiding clothes in their backpacks and changing when they get to school. So, help her manage her self-esteem with a few of these great tools:

Physical exercise 

Physical exercise can work wonders for balancing mood swings. As girls go from child to tween to young adult, there are a variety of hormones driving them to behave in ways that you haven’t seen before. Encourage your daughter to participate in some form of physical activity as often as possible. If she doesn’t want to participate in sports, invite her to go walking or biking with you.

Give them chores  

From as early as age 2, kids can help around the house. Picking up toys, vacuuming, and folding laundry can all help build your child’s self-esteem, according to experts. My 9 yr. old’s chores are making the bed, doing her laundry, and emptying the dishwasher. She earns $1.00 -$3.00 a week. It teaches her that you have to work to get money. It also gives her a sense of power. She is responsible for her chores and the outcome, whether she chooses to do them or not.

 Train their brain 

As an adult, you are aware of how the brain stores everything we do, see, hear, and say and that we carry it all within us. During our waking hours, we are led to decisions 80% of the time by our unconscious mind. 

As a parent, you must be vigilant as to what movies, TV shows, and podcasts that they are watching. Do you know what music she’s listening to? The music today is very sexually provocative and if she is repeating those lyrics, she’s speaking that over her life unknowingly. 

Once an idea has been accepted, it sticks around until it’s challenged. The longer you hold onto it, the more it tends to become a fixed habit of thinking. That’s how we form habits of action, both good and bad. First comes the thought, then the action. So, it’s obvious that if we want to change our actions we have to begin by changing our thoughts. The bible says it this way, “Take every thought captive.” 

Positive praise 

Everyone likes to be told that they have done a good job. Even when your daughter reaches the “everything you say to her turns into an eye roll stage”, she needs to be told. I attended counseling with my youngest and this was one thing that her therapist advocated. Catch her when she’s modeling good behavior and say, “I really like the way you are being patient in the store with me; I appreciate it so much”, to encourage her to repeat that same behavior in the future. Being specific with your praise is important also. Lastly, for a girl, affirmation from her father is key. 

Role model

 If your daughter has younger sisters, this can be the one that seals the deal. Remind your daughter that she has younger children watching her every move. Explain to her that one day in the near future, her sister will be going to the same school and that it’s her job to maintain your family reputation now so that her sister will not be labeled unfairly. Have her picture her sister wearing the same clothes as her and then ask her if she would approve if she was the parent.

Most girls that tend to dress provocatively are doing it for two reasons: as a means to gain attention or to fit in. Peer pressure is debilitating to some girls. When they are hurt or feeling ignored, they don’t care if it’s positive or negative attention. Part of the solution is to date your daughter once a week. Even if she’s not receptive at first, over time you will see her begin to treasure that one on one time with you. It will begin to build her self-esteem and give you time to create precious memories for you both to treasure for years to come. 

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Sandei Struebing is new to the writing world but has over 20 years of experience being a mom. She is inspired to write for other women, to share her experiences, and offer insight into what she's learned raising four children. Her favorite place is the beach. She currently resides in Dallas Texas with her children.

Several months ago, I shared a photo of a project that I created in my home and my inbox became flooded! Everyone wanted to know how to do it or how to get me to do one for them. So, I felt it would be totally appropriate that this next DIY project that I would share would be just that. Here we go!

You will need:

• A copy of your favorite sheet music
• A frame (size and style of your choice)
• 3 foam brushes
• brewed coffee
• A bowl
• A plastic tarp or plastic painters drop sheet 
• Plastic gloves (if you don't like to get your hands a little dirty)
• A jar of original Modge Podge

We’ve all heard and used this statement throughout our lives, “Run for your life!” usually as it relates to one’s need to quickly escape immediate danger of some sort.

Well, today I’m saying it to you with an entirely different spin.  While the bottom line is the same – save your life by running, the intention today is to encourage you to save your life by running TO something.

Since June of this year, I have been in a gradual training program in preparation to run a half marathon in December.  Gradual in my story is probably a bit of an understatement, as I have used the Couch to 5K app on my handy-dandy IPhone since the first three months.  I set the goal in June, fully convinced that even if I walked half of the December run, I would still set my intentions high because I wanted what the daily training would do for me personally.  I knew if I set the goal with some other gals, then I would fulfill it; and it in order to fulfill it, I would have to train.  My exercise choice prior to my new found running regimen was good, but it didn’t include vigorous or high impact aerobic activity.  So, I knew I had a long road ahead.

You see, as I write this today, I am in the middle of my training.  And each week, I get to overcome new obstacles – little victories along the way to the huge goal I am running for.  

My journey is now shared by my whole family. It has become part of all of our lives.  It has created new sharing moments between my kids and I.  My children and hubby are cheering me on and learning the value of taking care of our physical bodies. But, the greater lesson I hope that they are capturing is the power of pushing ourselves beyond our known limitations, and that anything worth doing takes daily, hard work.

This little note began in my mind with the intention to encourage the exercise of running and to emphasize the benefits of cardio and stress relief. But as it turns out, my hope is that you will be empowered to look for opportunities to run towards; challenges that afford you the chance to push yourself beyond what you think you are capable of.  So, while setting this goal may seem trivial to the marathoners, focus on the big picture and find things to run toward and really start living! Run for your life– see difficulties as challenges to find a part of you that has yet to be chartered – a new part of your life.  Maybe it’s a life you’ve only dreamed of.

 

Run for a life of discipline! Run for a life of adventure! Run for YOUR life!!

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Andria is blessed to be the wife to Daniel and mom to Sallie, Daniel Izak, and Emma.  Currently she serves alongside her husband at Covenant Church Colleyville as the Directors of Family Life, as well as her role in the worship ministry there.  

She has been involved in ministry for most of her life.  In addition to serving at her local church, she has traveled with her family to several countries and within the United States to train and develop music departments.  This has cultivated a deep love for people all over the world and for seeing the gifts and purpose of others both activated and developed.  

She would describe herself as just your average girl who loves Jesus and is determined to make a difference for Him.