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Okay...giving it a whirl...

Button HTML.

Let's hope it works.  =)

Thoughts: Idols

Every Sunday night, my hubby and I have a small group of friends over for worship prayer and communion.  Since Travis works at a church and we both play on 3 different worship teams, it can be easy to slip into "auto pilot" or "work mode" when we are at church.

We need times of pausing, reflecting, and worship...not just individually, but in community with other believers too.  So this hour and a half has become our little pocket of time to set aside and worship.  Last night my hubby shared what had been on his heart in regards to idols.

This immediately struck my heart and reminded me of an idol I constantly struggle with...acceptance. I want other people's acceptance to satisfy my craving for love and worth...but that is WRONG.  My acceptance and love needs to come from God alone.

So exactly how am I struggling with that?  Well...here on this blog.  There are so, so many good and healthy aspects of blogging for me.  But there is the ever lurking, always dangerous threat of me trying to find my ultimate worth and acceptance in a little number located on the sidebar, or in the amount of emails in my inbox when I wake up in the morning.

Last night I sat and reflected on this.  It will be a constant struggle...I know.  Ultimately, I want to find my self-worth, acceptance, and love in my Heavenly Father.  Because unlike our fickle lives, passions, and minds...

God is UNCHANGING.

He is CONSTANT.

He is WORTHY.

He is my MAKER.

He is LOVE...the SOURCE of Love.

I want Him.

Be blessed.

<3

Instagram: Randomness

Sugar free peeps? / working the Youth group garage sale / my new headbands!!! / more garage sale...look at all that stuff =O / bags from my shopping trip / MY ETSY SHOP IS OPEN! More items coming soon

Liebster Blog Award

Earlier this week, I got an email for the lovely Laura @ Girl in Flight

She was letting me know that she had awarded me the Liebster Blog Award!  How sweet!  I was so excited and honored! =)

The Liebster Blog Award was started as a way recognize small bloggers (200 followers or less).  I am so grateful and excited to be a part of this.  So check out the rules below!

Each Nominee Should:

1. Choose five up and coming blogs to give the Liebster award to. Blogs must have less than 200 followers.

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3. Post the award on your blog.

4. List the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their sites. Leave a comment on their blogs to let them know they've received the award.

5. Share five random facts about yourself!

Five Bloggers?

Sarah @ Light from the Shadows (So sweet and down to earth)
Brooke @ Covered in Grace (Seriously my favorite blogger ever)
L @ All Glorious Within (She has a beautiful heart and express her thoughts so well)
Kailie @ The Breit Side (She is beautiful and her posts are all fun to read)
Dionne @ Raw Christain (Her thoughts are...well...raw and beautiful)


Now Five Random Facts:
1.  I loved (i mean LOVED) to write poetry when I was younger.  I still do occasionally...
2.  My favorite color is pink!  <3  (and coral...but that's a shade of pink)
3.  Before following all you awesome fashion bloggers, I had to ask my mom and/or sisters for fashion advice any time I wore something more complicated than jeans and a t-shirt. (ya..I know...)
4.  I played basketball in high school.  I wasn't good in games because I got so nervous...but I loved it!
5.  I was home schooled until 11th grade.  I loved it!


NOW...go check out all those FANTASTIC bloggers I mentioned and don't forget Laura!



<3


On a random side note...
I'm linking up for the Meet & Tweet on Our Reflection Blog!  =)  Go check it out.

Announcements!

Sponsorship is Here

So I've been thinking about it for a awhile...and I'm going to launch in.

Would you like to sponsor Blessed to be a Blessing for the month of May?

Here's what I'll do.

5 Button Swaps - Goes to the first 5 (approved) bloggers to comment on this post

You will all be featured in a single

"Swapper Feature" in the middle of the month

5 ad spots for sale - $5 for a 200x150 ad on my sidebar for the first 5 (approved) bloggers to email me {alesha.tobless(at)gmail.com}

 (first month sale price!)

You will have the opportunity to participate in a giveaway at the end of the month on my blog.

And you will receive the opportunity to guest post on my blog for additional advertisement time.  =)

So start creating your SUPER COOL buttons and leave me a comment!

I am so excited to have you all sponsor me this month!


Go Check Out my NEW SHOP on Etsy
Crafting4Him

I'm super excited about this.  More products should be coming in the following weeks, but this is what I have for now!  =) Yay!  So fun.


Be blessed!
<3

Dirty

I had a wonderful day today. Amanda and I have been talking about heading to a Nordstrom Rack together since last summer. Neither of us had been able to do anything more than a short drop in before. So today was the day. We also went a nearby mall that had dozens more stores than we are used to!

It was so fun!

I went into stores like Lush, H&M, Sephora, and so many more that I had only heard about! They blew my mind!

I didn't buy stuff at every store, but shopping was fun. And I knocked a few items off my summer list (including coral capris!)

Now I'm home and Travis is at a meeting. I'm tired and dirty physically...and I feel the same mentally to be honest! I love shopping and spending the time with a good friend. And I got tons of DIY inspiration! =)

But sometimes it is easy to become unsatisfied. I see all the better dressed people out there...all the clothes I can't (or choose not to) afford...and slowly, discontent can begin to set in. At a moment like this, I feel as though my heart has gotten dirty. It is not the joyful, thankful heart that headed out this morning. I need to be refreshed. I need to go back to my Savior, to be washed in Him.

I need to meditate on Him. To take joy in my Savior and to return to a place of contented thankfulness.

I need to be washed and satisfied.

Not satisfied in what I have. Not a satisfaction conjured up by reminding myself how lucky I am compared to poor people in Africa.

I need to simply sit at the feet of my Savior and let Him satisfy me! How? I need to find peace in the knowledge of who He is and what He has done for me (the gospel)!

So that is what I am going to do. Worship music, prayer, and maybe listen to a sermon on my iPhone. =) I hope you can find time today to be refreshed in Jesus today!


What do you do when you needed refreshing and cleansing? Do you ever get "stained" by jealously and discontent?

50 Followers!

Today I hit 50 followers via GFC!  Wow!

This blog is not about numbers, but I just wanted to let you all know that I am blessed to know you.  Please comment and interact.  I love getting to know you, sharing life with you, and discussing...well, anything.  =)

So thank you all for following along.  I have some exciting changes coming this week!  Stay tuned!

Be blessed!

Blog Hop...s!!! =)

Head over and check out these awesome blog hops! =)


LiveLaughLowe


Blissful and Domestic

The Post that Should Have Been...Yesterday

What I wore...on my Birthday!

I love this cool "dusk" effect on PicMonkey!  Isn't it awesome?

But here is one without the filter so you can see truer colors.

It was really windy...my hair was ALL over the place! Yikes! Oh well.  =)

Like the Maxi Skirt?

It was another birthday gift from Amanda and Timothy.

<3

I had been keeping an eye on it at Wet Seal. I actually had gone to the store to get it the same day she gave it to me, but they only had extra smalls left. =( We were at the mall because (unknown to me) Travis was keeping me out of the house so my friends and in-laws could get our apartment read for a surprise birthday party for me!

 Well...I found out why they were sold out of smalls a few hours later when I opened gifts. She had bought the last small for me!!!

Thank you Amanda!

<3

What do you think? Maxi skirts = Yay or Nay?

 Be blessed!

Instagram: Mostly Birthday...

Weekly Photo Drop

1. Sisters - matching on accident! =)

2. Coffee on the way to my test.

3. Sunday outfit.

4. I won!

1.  This is who I beat!  (after my surprise party Sunday night - most people had gone home)

2. My new Revlon Lip Butter than I got for my birthday.  I LOVE IT!  Go buy some!  Seriously!

3. At the Gum Wall in Seattle

4. Pretty flowers in Seattle

1. My gorgeous tulips from Pike Place Market

2.  Yummy white mocha...with pretty latte art

3. I love Friday morning coffee dates with my hubby!

4.  My new favorite color...okay, not really new...but favorite none-the-less!

Linking Up:

Be blessed!

<3

Eleven (I got tagged!)

Hello Everyone!Two weeks ago, I got tagged by the wonderful and sweet Brooke from...

She is truly super sweet and I love her blog!  Go check her out!
So here are "The Rules"

The Rules:

*Post these rules

*Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you

*Create 11 questions of your own to ask the people that you're about to tag

*Tag people and link them with your post & let them know they've been tagged!

See? Isn’t that awesome!? Such a great way to get to know each other & make some bloggin’ friends :)

So here are her questions for me!

1. What is one of your quirks that other people find endearing?

Ummm...endearing...  My husband loves that I sing and dance around the house when I'm happy. =)

2. Room, desk, car...which one do you clean first?

Kitchen?  Does that count?  I am constantly cleaning the kitchen. Then our room and the bathrooms...my car kinda comes in last.

3. If you could take a month long vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I would go "back East".  I would visit WA DC, NYC, and civil war historical sites.  And it would be amazing!

4. You have the entire day to yourself, what do you do with it?

Blog, craft, read my bible, cook myself something delicious.  Maybe read Harry Potter (I'm about to start book five!!!). And eventually I'd get bored and want to see people.  I don't do very well without other people around. =)

5. What is one of your favorite childhood memories?

Playing dress up with my sisters and friends.  We would spend all day in imaginary lands with each other.  It was awesome!

6. What is your favorite post/topic that you've written? Tell us about it.

I'm going to cheat and list one in each category:

• Cooking - White Chicken Pasta - I love this cause it was entirely my own recipe and it tastes so yummy!
• Crafting - Warmers - Once again, entirely my own designs and so fun to wear!
• Thoughts/Faith - Really, all of them.  But probably the most personal to me was the post We have All Eternity - I wrote this out of the sadness of seeing people leave and move away and know that someday would probably be me.

7. Why did you start blogging? How has it evolved?

I've toyed around with the idea of starting a blog for years.  I wanted a place (other than my journal) to get my thoughts out and to share with others what I was thinking and learning.  Especially in regards to my faith.  I finally started a blog after I started following some crafting blogs and creating things of my own.  The conversation in my head was like, "I can do this just as good as they can.  I should share my stuff.  I've always wanted to start a blog.  I could just combine the two ideas and write about my faith and my crafts.  Is that weird?  No one else does that..."  Well, shortly after I started my blog, I discovered all sorts of other bloggers who do exactly that!  =)  I am not alone!
It has only been 4 1/2 months, so it hasn't had much time to evolve yet.  But stay posted...it is evolving soon!  (How's that for a teaser?)

8. What is the last book you read? Would you recommend it?

Well...other than the AEA Instructor Certification Manual...I last finished Harry Potter Four.  And YES!  I would totally recommend it!  I think J. K. Rowling is an incredibly talented author and I love reading her work.

9. What is your perfect pizza topping?

Sausage, mushroom, and olive...with pepperoni too.

I also love white sauce pizza with grilled chicken, fresh tomatoes, and spinach.

10. What song has been inspiring you, or been stuck in your head, lately?
Stuck in my head - "Washed by the Water" by Need to Breathe

Encouraging me - "Remind Me Who I Am" by Jason Gray

11. If your present-self could go back and give your past-self advice, what would it be?

I would tell myself to go to God and to pray hard for my pride to be dealt with.  I would help myself understand grace better and I would tell myself to STOP BEING SO LEGALISTIC.

Now the Questions from Me:

1. What was the first artist/band that your started listening to/following when you were young?

2. Cats or dogs?

3. (Stealing from Brooke)  What is your all-time favorite blog post?  Why?

4. What was the first blog you started following?

5.  What refreshes you?  What place or thing do you go to when you need to be refreshed?

6. What is your favorite age of child to be around?

7.  Favorite coffee or tea drink?

8.  What is your go-to meal when you need something quick and easy, but still good?

9. What book has most influenced you in your life? Why?

10. What is your favorite color?

11. If you could move anywhere permanently, where would you move and why?

And...drum roll please...I am tagging these AMAZING bloggers.  So excited to hear your answers if you choose to play along (no pressure though). =)

Annelise from Aunie SAUCE

5oh Wifey

Amber from Life...Unscripted

Katy from Sweet Verbena

Erin from Sweetness Itself

Gussy from Gussy Sews

Elise from Elise's Pieces

There you go!  Hope you all enjoy this little bit of randomness...and if anyone else feel's like it, go ahead and leave a comment for me answering these questions! I'd love to hear your answers!

Be blessed!

Birthday in Seattle

Hello everyone!  I missed you all while I was studying my head off for my test.

It is DONE now and I will get my results in 4-6 weeks...so I am waiting...

In the meantime, I get to be back here with you all!

Today is just a simple, personal post about my birthday!

My sweet friend Amanda (see this post) planned a surprise party for me Sunday night.

(With help from my hubby of coarse!)

It was so fun and special to have people come and to just hang out!  The cupcakes were good too!  And the plastic dollar store wine glasses.

Me and my sister!

Then we had our normal worship and communion with friends, followed by a game...Settlers of Catan of coarse!

I won! =)

Then on my ACTUAL birthday, my hubby and I drove to Seattle and spent several hours at

Pike Place Market!

My feet ar very sore today. =)

The Gum Wall!

Pretty Trees on a Seattle Street

My AMAZING lunch - Tuscan Chicken Sandwich

Cream Soda from the JONES SODA FACTORY

My pretty tulips from Pike Place

I also so got amazing gifts from my sweet family and friends...including
These AWESOME running shoes from my hubby!

And this AWESOME lip butter that I've really been wanting from Amanda.

(She also got me a maxi skirt I've been eyeing, but I'll make you wait til that outfit post.)

I will share more with you all later.  And tomorrow, I'll be back with a "tagged" post.  =)

Be blessed.

Guest Posting!

Hi everyone! My test is over and I am almost back! Today I am off on a birthday adventure with my hubby at Pike Place Market in Seattle! Yay!

But I am also guest posting at one of my FAVORITE blogs! Life...Unscripted!

And I'm posting about one of my FAVORITE topics...our wedding! =)

(All on one of my favorite days of the year! Wow!)

So head over, check her out, read about my wedding, and hen follow along with Amber's blog! You'll love her - I promise! =)

Instagram: I&apos;ve been Slacking

Two weeks worth of photos people. And it's only 8 of them! =( Well...here you go. Test tomorrow so hopefully I'll have more time soon!

1. Studying/lounging 2. Studying more 3. Driving home from work in the SUN 4. On a coffee date with my hubby! <3

5. Easter Dress 6. Spring Flowers 7. My latest craving/addiction - peanut butter toast 8. I finished reading the book for the test yesterday! Now to review...

Enjoy! I can't wait to be back with you next week! =D

Beautiful Day

It was such an insanely gorgeous day today, that I decided to walk to hubby's work to read after tutoring. It is only a mile, but I should have worn better shoes. (I have small blisters in the back of my heels.)
Anywho...this post is just checking in to let you all know that I will be rather scarce around here this week. I am studying for a big test on Saturday (yes I have worked on it the past six months...just maybe not as much as I should have). So now I'm studying like crazy...seriously. It took me almost 2 hours I read and take notes on 5 1/2 pages. =( And I'm a fast reader! It is just such an intense book.
(Btw...did you know that lightening strikes the earth approximately 8 million times a day? Random fact I just read about safely procedures for lightening storms.)
What is the certification? I am getting certified a Water Exercise Instructor! Yep...I teach water fitness once a week (I wish I could teach more)! I've been teaching for about 7 months and love it. So as of Saturday, I will be "official"! Woohoo! (assuming I pass of coarse)
Here is a photo from my beautiful day for you all to enjoy! Have a blessed day and week! I will miss you all!

White Chicken Pasta

I made this delicious dinner a few weeks ago and then promptly forgot to share it with you all.  =(

But here it is now!

(Sorry for the blurry photo)

For lack of a better name...

White Chicken Pasta

Ingredients for Chicken:

1-2 Defrosted chicken breast sliced into 1/2 inch strips

Olive Oil

Fresh Garlic

Cayenne Pepper

Directions:

1. Saute the strips of chicken in olive oil.  Cook on medium heat until partially cooked

2.  Add one to two cloves of freshly pressed garlic

3.  Add a 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

4.  Continue sautéing chicken until cooked through

Ingredient for Asparagus:

Olive Oil

Garlic Cloves to Taste

Salt 

Pepper

2 tbs. water

Directions:

1. On medium low, saute the asparagus in the olive oil, fresh pressed garlic, salt, and pepper (to taste).

2. After 10 minutes of gentle sautéing, add the water and cover.

3.  Let the asparagus gently steam, stirring occasionally.  Add more water if necessary.

(I didn't stir mine enough because I wasn't paying attention was too busy taking pictures so they burned.)

Ingredients for White Sauce:

2 tbs butter

2 tbs flour

(or equal parts of the two)

milk

onion powder

garlic powder

fresh ground pepper

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in your sauce pan on medium heat

2.  Whisk in the flour

3. Add about a 1/4 cup milk

4.  Whisk in the milk until it begins to thicken.

6.  Add onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper to taste. Whisk.

5. Continue to add milk until you have the desired consistency.

6.  Add a little water (because it will continue to thicken as it cools).

7.  Take it off heat.

NOW...serve it all up and enjoy! 

Delicious!

Let me know if you try it.  I LOVE this meal!

Be blessed!

Random Views of Springs

Look at all these beautiful spring photos!  All unedited and glorious!  =)

I've taken these photos during my morning runs.  Enjoy!

Be blessed!