Want to sanitize surfaces naturally during a PCS move?!

 Hey Everyone,


 I LOVE natural cleaning products, this post is an oldie but goodie! Currently my husband and I are PCSing to California, and we are close to being done with packing, which it wasn't too bad, I thought it was going to be a lot of craziness but its smooth but there is a lot of misc. stuff around the house that can be frustrating but my husband and I did a lot of planning and research as well. 


We live in an apartment and that are some requirements we have to meet before we leave, I was searching on pinterest during my past time cause that's what I LOVE to do. I found a not so natural and natural way of cleaning stove burners. I don't know about you but for me I sometimes have a hard time cleaning it, Below is a note on how your burners can get cleaned.


Also here is an awesome use of the essential oils, you can use in your home!

You can use it wherever you need to sanitize surfaces (I use mine in the bathroom, kitchen and for wiping counter tops!) 

Ingredients:

8 drops Orange 
8 drops Lemon 
4 drops Clove 
4 drops Cinnamon
4 drops Rosemary
2 drops Thyme



Directions:

Put 2 cups of distilled water into a spray bottle. Add the essential oils. Shake before each use to incorporate the oils into the water. Spray onto whatever surface you're disinfecting, then wipe with a damp cloth.



How to clean stove burners!

Source: onegoodthingbyjillee.com via Trista on Pinterest

I saw this on pinterest and thought this was great, right on time! Like I said in the above article, my husband and I are PCSing to Cali and we are getting ready for a move, while living in an apartment there are requirements we have before leaving. 


Making sure the stove is looking brand new is one of them.


And this is one of the methods I will be using to clean!


You can use:


A Lag Ziploc bag
Ammonia
Baking soda
Peroxide 


How To:


Inside a large ziploc bag put the burners inside, add a cap full of ammonia.


Let it sit for 24 hours and it will look brand new! If there still stuff baked on, you can use the baking soda and peroxide to keep it clean and there you go!

Let me know if this worked out for you!

Be Blessed!

Check out:


My Facebook
My Twitter
and Pinterest

Laborn Family Operation R&R 2012

Hey Guys!


My Family and I was blessed to be part of a program called Operation R&R. This program is is a non-profit organization designed to provide our service men and women an opportunity to reconnect with their family upon their return from Worldwide Deployments.


Property owners, represented by many property management companies, are donating their homes and villas on Hilton Head Island, and Charleston, SC and Austin, TX for this purpose.


All of this is to ensure that our military families have a chance to spend some time away from their everyday lives to strengthen relationships that have been strained due to long separations and extreme circumstances.


Operation R&R is in 3 places, Hilton Head, SC Charleston, SC and Austin, TX. For more information you can stop by Operation R&R and sign up for you and your family.


My husband got back from a 6 month deployment and when I found this information, I thought this would be a really great time for us to spend together and have fun! My husband deploys a lot and we hardly ever get a chance to spend "FAMILY time". This was an AWESOME opportunity for us so I filled out the application and here we are!


The Link also has the requirements and application if you are interested in this program. They also have a facebook page if you would like to join, or just gain more information.



During our vacation we sight see in Hilton Head, SC, went bike riding, played in the park, we went to look at some horses, pigs, billy goats, deers, more horses, rabbits. Watch TONS of movies, ate at different restaurant's, I mean we had a blast! No, We had an AWESOME TIME! Check out the pics here on my channel.

We took a lot of pictures that day! Check out my channel to see the place we stood at for the 1 week we were in hilton head: God, Me and Family Channel 

Be Blessed!

Immune Boosting Infusion Recipe

I LOVE natural herbs, I can use on everyday concerns in my life. I came across this recipe of an herb store I LOVE online called: Bulk Herb Store You can even get ALL Natural Lotions, of course Herbs and they even have videos about it.

Here is a simple herbal recipe you can use to fight the cold season and boost your Immune System!

Immune Boosting Infusion Recipe

1/4 cup ginger
1/4 cup dandelion leaf
1/2 cup dandelion root
1/2 cup ginkgo

Instructions: 

• Boil enough water to cover herbs with an extra inch of water. 
• Layer all dried herbs in a glass pint jar and cover with the simmering water. 
• Set aside for 12 hours, strain herbs 
• Enjoy sipping your Immune Boosting Infusion throughout the day!

Note: If you would like to make in larger quantities use 1 part both of the ginger and dandelion leaf, and two parts both of the dandelion root and ginkgo.


**Here is where you can purchase the herbs and learn more about other herbs! ** 

Exercise Journey

 

I LOVE this inspiration quote! I got this from a fellow blogger on pinterest and this has really helped me in Exercising and motivating me to run 2 1/2 miles twice a day!  YES! Twice a day! If I can, at times I always have errands I like to do in the morning after I run and it some times have me doing other things and I don't get the time to do the run.

In Luke 6:45:

"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." 

I LOVE what this verse says because it goes along with what the inspirational quote above. We have to watch our thought process, because we will eventually walk that out. Staying focus on the goal of completing that 2 1/2 mile run is my focus, I say that its easy because then my body will adjust to the run and eventually it will become easy! Its even more easy to get negative and stay there, it does take some energy to stay positive.

Exercise Means- Activity requiring physical effort, carried out  to sustain or improve health and fitness. I believe this is for the mind and body! Let's Stay focus! 

My goal for this year is to run 3 miles in 18 minutes or less. It may sound crazy but I like to set goals for myself and reached them, it helps me to stay confident for me. Running 3 miles is not bad its running it in 18 minutes that's the challenge. So far Ive been running 2 1/2 in 30 minutes. I Know that I have to run each mile in 6 minutes to run a total of 18 minutes.  For me running 2 1/2 miles is my starting point of moving forward in my goal. Ive been running around my neighborhood and it has helped me to stay focused. Before I leave next week I would like to push for 20 minutes in running 2 1/2 miles and then when I get to California, I can finish my goal!

In the mean time I have been eating healthy and watching how much I eat everyday. I used to take classes at the gym but I just find that running really does the job for me, I do TRX, ZUMBA, KETTLE BELLS, WEIGHT LIFTING , and Running that's pretty much it! I wanted to get into weight lifting but I'm doing it slowly but surely. My diet consist of drinking a lot of water, I drink tea, I LOVE my green/protein smoothies, I eat A LOT of beans, brown rice, steamed vegetables, fruit and chicken. I also take prenatal vitamins because I would like to get pregnant soon. I know....My husband ask me the same question, Why do ALL this work? Then when you get pregnant your body will change and you will have to do it again. 

Well, I feel that exercising now, I'm giving my child more energy and nutrition now if I wasn't exercising and after I have the baby I have a better chance to lose the fat exercising now then if I don't. So Its a benefit all around for everyone! Plus why not take care of my body now, why wait later? That's my question?!

Anyway, Here is my progress of my exercising journey and I will continue to update, update, update! Look out for more! 

Be Blessed!!

God Is speaking...are you listening?

When I first got saved I used to ask questions like, How do you hear God? Does God speak to me? What does He sound like? I was such a babe in christ it wasn't even funny! This morning I was reading a devotional that reminded me of that and it brought up some good points. Eventually I began to grow more in God's word and realized that God is ALWAYS speaking to us, He is always speaking because we will always be facing new situations in life that He wants to guide us through. 

God desires to speak to us on a one to one basis everyday. He wants to lead you step by step to the good things He has in store for you and me. Each of us can hear from God and be led by the spirit but are you listening? 

John 16:13:(amp)

"But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]."

Lets continue to stay close to God, listening and acting on what God is telling us to do, so that we can reap the benefits of what He is doing in our lives! 

Be Blessed!

When I walk by faith.....

2 Corinthians 5:7-(amp)
"For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance."

Good Morning guys,


So I am up VERY EARLY then what I am used to, it is about 4am and I'm usually up about 5 or 530 to spend time with the lord. I have to admit though that I sometimes just roll over and go back to sleep because I get soo tired that I want more sleep and for me I have to repent and ask for God's forgiveness. When I spend time with the lord, its like exercising, the more I do it the better I feel, the more times I get up and spend time with God, I have less attitudes, less unnecessary arguments with my husband, less irritated with my kids, Im just being honest with myself and with you guys, Im trying to better myself and being honest is the first step to deliverance.


I know during this time I have walked with Jesus now during this journey I have realized that spending time with God or making that sacrifice is hard at times, because it goes against the norm of what this day and age tell you. It has been my experience that waking up to go exercise was more easier then spending time with God, I would have my time with the lord but rush and then go work out for a little over an hour and God had to let me know what is more important ME or exercising? That was a no brainer because I felt like I was getting everything done, Spiritually, health wise, but where was my priorities?!


Spending time with God brings me peace in situations that I feel I can't figure out, I have joy even when things seem hard. I want that joy that no one can take away from me, or that peace that surpass all understanding in my heart when situations come up, and THEY WILL! At times it can be difficult to make that time to spend with GOD, to make it constant, because it goes against everything you see around you today, It may even appear that you are doing nothing but actually in the spiritual, you are waging war, not with the weapons physically but the heavenly weapons, which have divine power to demolish strongholds in your life. Really spending time with God is life or death because you get instructions, guidance, encouragement when you live close to God EVERYDAY! Its more life threatening (which means: to hang over dangerously) then not exercising!


So this morning I want to encourage you to take the time to make spending time with God a constant strategy (which means:  A plan of action designed to achieve a vision. It derives from the Greek  (strategia), "office of general, command, generalship")  plan in doing the things God (The Command or General) has called you to do in your life and in your walk with HIM!



 2 Corinthians 10:4:
"For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds..."


Be Blessed!

A Weekend to Remember!

My Husband and I attended a Marriage conference in Hilton Head, SC. A weekend to remember. Where my husband and I got a chance to become more equipped and gaining more understanding on how God design our marriage.  What to expect at a Weekend to Remember conference is not a large counseling session, and you will not be asked to participate in small groups. Rather, you will receive marriage-changing principles that you can take home and apply to your daily lives that will strengthen your marriage.

Family Life even have special rates for military, They understand that the military lifestyle is stressful on a marriage. The Weekend to Remember is a marriage getaway aimed at strengthening healthy marriages and healing troubled ones, yet in a fun, supportive and non-threatening environment.

During this weekend you will find practical help during sessions that you can apply over the course of the weekend through projects. Our desire is to send you home with a plan to make your marriage work and with the proper tools to deal with conflict when it happens. This special rate is our way of saying thank you for your service to our country.

You don't just get one oil change for your car, its maintenance, and thats what going to a Marriage conference does for your Marriage!

I did a quick video on the weekend we had, some pictures we took I put together and our date night we had together! *sign* it was sooo nice!

Also....

Here is the schedule for the weekend we attended: 

FRIDAY

05:00 p.m.  Sign in to receive getaway manuals and name tags

07:00 - 07:30 p.m  Welcome to your Weekend to Remember®

07:30 - 08:30 p.m   Why Marriages Fail: Identify and understand the five threats to marriage

08:30 - 08:45 p.m.  Break (on your own)             

08:45 - 09:30 p.m.  Can We Talk?  Discuss factors that make communication difficult.

09:30 - 09:50 p.m.  Application project for you and your spouse.

SATURDAY

08:00 - 08:30 a.m. Resource center and ballroom open.

08:30 - 09:20 a.m. Unlocking the Mystery of Marriage: Realize God's plan for marriage.

09:20 - 09:35 a.m.  Break (on your own)

09:35 - 10:25 a.m.  From How to Wow: Achieve God's plan for marriage by leaving, cleaving, and becoming one flesh.

10:25 - 11:40 a.m. Application project for you and your spouse

10:25 - 11:40 a.m.  So You Wanna Get Married (Optional premarried session)

11:40 - 12:30 p.m. What Every Marriage Needs: Marriage is dependent upon your own personal relationship with God. 

12:30 - 02:00 p.m. Lunch break (on your own)

02:00 - 03:05 p.m. We Fight Too: Understand how to handle the inevitable conflicts of marriage.

03:05 - 03:20 p.m.  Helping Others 

03:20 - 03:30 p.m.  Break (on your own)

03:30 - 04:30 p.m.  Marriage After Dark: Uncover intimacy from God's perspective.

04:30 - 04:55 p.m.  Help for Today (Optional breakout session) 

04:30 - 05:30 p.m. Two Become One (Optional premarried session)

Evening  Date Night**  (You can do whatever you want!)    

**Make Date Night the highlight of your weekend by spending meaningful time together and reclaiming the love and intimacy that is often obscured through the activities of daily living. Rekindle the fire over a candlelight dinner—reserve a romantic table for two. Surprise your spouse with a special gift that you have tucked away in your suitcase. Or simply, hang the "do not disturb" sign outside your door. And, if attending with friends, make sure to reserve this evening just to spend this time together as a couple.

SUNDAY

09:00 - 10:30 a.m.  Woman to Woman / Man to Man: God has given husbands and wives different roles and responsibilities.

10:30 - 11:05 a.m.  Hope for Tomorrow (Optional breakout session)

10:30 - 11:15 a.m.  Application project.

11:15 - 12:00 p.m.  How Marriages Thrive: Learn the three essential elements to a healthy marriage.

12:00 - 12:30 p.m.  Leaving a Legacy: Detect and implement your family's legacy.

12:30 p.m.  Getaway ends! ;( (After the tools you have gain from this conference it doesn't have to end in your marriage!) (Practice makes perfect!) ;D

Be Blessed!

Healthy Shamrock Shake!

Hey Guys! 


Every year in march, McDonald's come out with a Shamrock Shake in promotion of St.Patrick's day. I wanted to find out more about St. Patrick's day and the meaning behind shamrock. I also DO NOT like anything with mint in it, at all. In cakes, chocolate nothing, I LOVE it in tea though, LOVE IT! 


The Shamrock shake isn't exactly healthy for you, (if you didn't know that!).  Let's go over the nutrition facts. A 16-ounce serving of the Shamrock Shake has 550 calories! 13 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, no fiber, 82 grams of sugar and 13 grams of protein.


The Shamrock Shake is made with McDonald's low-fat vanilla soft-serve ice cream, Shamrock Shake syrup, mint extract and then topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. 

The Meaning of Shamrock!

The shamrock is a type of clover with three leaves. The most well-known meanings were imparted to the shamrock by St. Patrick, who compared the plant’s tri-part leaves to the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Host Spirit. Occasionally shamrocks are found with four leaves. These are rare and considered to be very lucky for the finder. 
(Information from: http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/meaning-shamrock.html)

I saw a recipe from Lean secrets by Brenda turner and she had her version of the Shamrock Shake with a protein. The Benefits of this protein shake I made is similar, but you can add anything you want to it, according to your taste. 


Benefits Include: 

• NO artificial colors or flavors or sweeteners.
• Packed with minerals, vitamins, and healthy phytonutrients
• Filled with healthy omega 3s
• High in antioxidants
• High Protein
• High Fiber

Here is my version: (Again you can do whatever you want, according to your taste, Like me, I don't like minty  anything, so I omitted that, try this to see what you like and go for it!) 

Ingredients:

• 3 or 4 Ice cubes
• Unsweetened  Almond Milk (1/2 cup) *According to taste and Thickness*
• Chocolate Protein (1 scoop) *You can use vanilla but I didn't have any so I used what I had*
• Spinach *Handful*
• 1 Banana or 2 *Depending on sweetness* OR Honey, Truvia/Stevia
• 1 Avocado

I LOVED this drink! THIS is VERY DELICIOUS!! You can try the healthy version or you can try McDonald's version! You decided!

Be Blessed!

I LOVE to dance!

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to share some things with you guys that have been on my mind for a while. As you know, We will be leaving from South Carolina to California in a FEW WEEKS! I'm VERY excited about the move, my husband is still dragging his feet, and I'm already in California mentally! 

Anyway, I'm looking forward to new things, changes in my life. Ive been thinking about becoming a zumba instructor. I actually been thinking about it for a few months now and its looking good every time I do more and more research.  So that will be something I will look forward to while Im in cali, it would be more of an hubby and side gig then actual income. Just something for me to do on the side. I can't wait.  As I ponder on how to go about it, the scripture: 

Psalm 37:4 (amp)

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart."

I feel as though the desire for me to dance did not just come because I felt like it, God knows the desires of my heart, when you aline yourself with the things of God your desires match HIS. 

I also praise dance at my local church here is South Carolina, I've been doing it for the past 6 years and I LOVE it! I LOVE to dance and I've been dancing ever since I was a young child, not professionally though, God has blessed me with the talent to dance for HIM and I LOVE IT and I am VERY thankful and grateful!

I would LOVE to hear from you guys on zumba. Have you done it and do you want to become an instructor? Let me know!

Be Blessed!

Sweet and Spicy veggie chilli!

Sweet Potatoes and Black bean Chili!

I LOVE to try out new recipes that look easy! Here is a SUPER easy recipe, you can use in a slow cooker or you can even make as a salad! (I will try that later!) I also LOVE spices!! Especially cumin, garlic, black pepper. Yummy!


I added some extra ingredients for my family taste. I added honey which made it SOOOOO good and delicious! If you want to try here It is:


Ingredients and directions:

• 3 medium sweet potatoes
• 1 can of black beans (Seasoned recipes)
• 1 can of red kidney beans
• 1 can of rotel diced tomatoes with lime juice and cilantro
• Diced green, red and yellow peppers
• Onions (diced)
• Vegetable broth
• 1 tbs honey
• cumin
• black pepper
• garlic
• sea salt

Here is ALL the ingredients in one pot! Slow cook for about 4-6 hours on low, let the spices dance and fill through your house and when the kids and hubby come home, their be ready to eat! 

ENJOY!!!

Early Riser!

Rise up! and spend time in God's Presence and do it constantly. 

I Know that I sometimes struggle with this, I go to bed WAY too late, and then I get up later and miss my time with HIM, but I try to get it later on in the day. But there is nothing better than getting in HIS presence early, I learn by trial and error that waking up early would be better for me because I get sooo busy during the day that if I do get my time to God it would be rushed. Getting it early for me helps me with my attitude, I get instructions, directions, because I never know what will happen in the day but God knows and he gives me the strength to take on the day.


If you rise early to pray you can stop demonic influences from taking your day in a different direction (Exodus 14:24). You can literally re-route demons. Taking this time will transform your life. You can stop the enemy from attacking your children, touching your finances, Your marriage and break off generational curses. Spending time with The Lord does all of that and then some, we serve an awesome God! 


Exodus 14:22-25: (The Message)
  "The Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground with the waters a wall to the right and to the left. The Egyptians came after them in full pursuit, every horse and chariot and driver of Pharaoh racing into the middle of the sea. It was now the morning watch. God looked down from the Pillar of Fire and Cloud on the Egyptian army and threw them into a panic. He clogged the wheels of their chariots; they were stuck in the mud.
The Egyptians said, "Run from Israel! God is fighting on their side and against Egypt!" 


The devil will do everything he can to keep you from spending time with God and discovering His sufficiency. He will put people in your way and keep you so busy and tired, that instead of things getting better, they get worse. I want to challenge you. Set aside some time in the morning, evening, (or if things are so hectic) on your lunch break or when you are lying in bed and get into God's presence undistracted. Take a deep breadth and focus on God's promises.


Here is one way you can focus on God, I LOVE this song by Brian Courtney Wilson, "All I need" Just listening to the lyrics brings me RIGHT in God's presence. I LOVE this song and thought you guys would love it to. When you get your mind prepared to be in God's presence and spend time with HIM, listen to this song, I know that my mind starts to go down a list of this I need to do for the day, but spending time with God is more important and can distract me, but once I listen to this song, I begin to think of how good God has been and is to me! ENJOY!

Here is a song and lyrics by: BRIAN COURTNEY WILSON - ALL I NEED 

Lyrics:

Hmm.. hmm.. hmm...

Real simple prayer

All I need is a touch from you

No one else can do the things you do

Take the wrong in my life and make it right

even me All I need lord Jesus

is a touch from you from my master and king

all I need is a touch from you

Oh God Ho... God

Lord I'm standing in the need of prayer

When I call Lord I know your there

Reach your hand down from heaven And pull me through

All I need is a single touch

a touch from the master oh god

All all I ever need is a touch from you

If you touch me

hey... I'll change my lose to win

I will not loose I'll win, I win

And live again New life I win

You'll Take the wrong and make it right

you'll make it alright (All i need is a touch from you)

you wont forsake me (All i need is a touch from you

you'll touch me Jesus and hold on

That's why I need (All i need is a touch)

That's why I need (All i need is a touch)

that's I need your touch tonight (touch me)

you unchanging hand (touch me)

that will not waver (touch me)

even when I'm worked (All i need is a touch

weak and worn out

and fill with doubts about tomorrow

cause I felt this pain yesterday

cause I made so many mistakes I mean I stumbled and fell

and I did not think

I could ever be made over

Cleaned up

But somehow I believe tonight

That if you put your healing hands on me

Everyone of my sins Everyone of my sins

Will be washed away I wanna be made over

I wanna be made over Everything I've ever needed

Healing, peace, joy unspeakable joy

Till you touch me lord Jesus

Till you heal me lord Jesus

Till I shine in the light of your glory

One more time, I will, I will, I will

All I've ever need is a touch from you

Even me a r like me

All I need, all I need, all I need

Don't be afraid join me at the alter

God is here love is here

Read more: BRIAN COURTNEY WILSON - ALL I NEED LYRICS

 http://www.metrolyrics.com/all-i-need-lyrics-brian-courtneywilson.html#ixzz1oGQcxWkX