For the days after Christmas

Sometimes we get so catch up in Christmas that it passes us by and then there is the let down after Christmas... This song is for all the days after Christmas!

Day After Christmas by Matthew West 

From the album The Heart of Christmas

Happy "Day after Christmas"!!!

Merry Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas JOY Blog readers!!!

I pray you have a blessed day filled with loved ones!

Here is a passage from the the Bible. It is found in Luke 2. Remember this is what Christmas is all about!!!


Luke 2:1-20 ESV

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

YOU - 10 Uses for Lemons – Part 2

YOU - 10 Uses for Lemons – Part 2

I found so many great things that I wanted to share with all of you that there has to be a Part 2! Check out Part 1 for more ideas if you missed that article!

Remember most of these you can use lemon juice for and you do not have to use a whole lemon.

The ones that I have tried are marked with a star (*)! The others I hope to try at some point, but be careful when you try them because I cannot guarantee that they will work! Comment below and let me know what you have done with lemons. Have you found any cool uses for them?
 

All purpose cleaning solution *(I haven’t tried this on everything, but it is nice on counter tops!)
Add lemon juice, vinegar, and water in a spray bottle for a natural, all-purpose cleaning solution.

Clean your microwave - Got hardened food stuck in the microwave? Don't reach for harsh chemicals, use lemons instead! Add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to 1-1/2 cup of water and microwave on High for about 10 minutes. The water will boil and steam will condense inside the microwave. The icky stuff will easily wipe away with a paper towel or cleaning rag.

Lift tough grease stain - Put lemon peel in a water with some water in a blender. Apply the mash to the tough grease stain and scrub.

Brightens aluminum pots and pans - Fill the pot with water and add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, then boil for 15 minutes. For the outside of the pots and pans, scrub with a half of a lemon.

Soften rough hands and feet - Soak in equal part of lemon juice and water. Rinse, then dry with a towel. Repeat daily as required.

Get rid of dandruff - Got itchy, scaly dandruff? Apply lemon juice directly to your scalp and massage it in before you hop on the shower. Then rinse away and wash your hair as usual.

Treat insect bites - Apply a slice of lemon onto insect bites to help soothe the irritation.

Treat acne and blackheads - Got blackheads? Dab lemon juice directly on the acne breakout once a day for several days until the condition improves.

Relieve a sore throat * - Either add lemon to Hot water, Hot tea, or just plain water to help with sore throat. If you are putting in hot water or tea, I recommend adding some honey, too. This will soothe the throat.

Air freshener - Put a mixture of lemon juice and water into a spray bottle. Voila! A natural and inexpensive air freshener. You can also put slices of lemon in a dish or a dish of lemon juice and baking soda mixture to help absorb bad odor and freshen the room.

Resources:

http://www.rd.com/home/34-reasons-to-load-up-on-lemons/

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/101-new-uses-for-everyday-things-10000001030084/index.html

http://www.cluebert.com/unusual-uses/unusual-uses-of-lemons/

(Or just google “uses for lemons”).

YOU - 10 Uses for Lemons – Part 1

YOU - 10 Uses for Lemons – Part 1

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade…” or you can do many other things with them! I found some fun things. The ones that I have tried are marked with a star (*)! The others I hope to try at some point, but be careful when you try them because I cannot grantee that they will work! Comment below and let me know what you have done with lemons. Have you found any cool uses for them?

(Most of these will work with just lemon juice, too.)

I found so many great ideas that there will be a “Part 2”!

1. Clean your face
A rinse with lemon juice and water will clean and exfoliate your face for pennies as compared to expensive facial soaps.

2. Clean your hands *
If your hands smell from peeling garlic or cleaning fish, rub your fingers with a lemon wedge to remove the odor. (Sometimes I use baking soda, too)

3. Spa Water* (Just did this yesterday)

For a nice, refreshing drink, fill a gallon (or quart or even just your glass) pitcher with water. Slice cucumbers and lemons and put them in the pitcher. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. Enjoy your refreshing water!!! 

4. Remove tough food stains (or tea stains) from plastic or glass *

Slice a lemon in half (or just use lemon juice), squeeze the juice onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with water.

5. Neutralize cat-box odor
Cut a couple of lemons in half. Then place them, cut side up, in a dish in the room with the kitty-box, and the air will soon smell lemon-fresh.

6. Clean tarnished brass
Make a paste of lemon juice and salt (or substitute baking soda or cream of tartar for the salt) and coat the affected area. Let it stay on for 5 minutes. Then wash in warm water, rinse, and polish dry. Use the same mixture to clean metal kitchen sinks too. Apply the paste, scrub gently, and rinse.

7. Polish chrome
Get rid of mineral deposits and polish chrome faucets and other tarnished chrome. Simply rub lemon rind over the chrome and watch it shine! Rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.

8. Prevent apples and potatoes from turning brown
Simply rub them with half a lemon. Or put some lemon in the water that they are soaking in.

9. Get rid of ants
Squirt some lemon juice into holes and cracks where the ants are coming in. Place small pieces of lemon rinds or peels around the house.

10. Soften dry and scaly elbows
Make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda. Rub into your elbows to exfoliate and soften the scaly skin. Repeat daily as required.

Resources:

http://www.rd.com/home/34-reasons-to-load-up-on-lemons/

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/101-new-uses-for-everyday-things-10000001030084/index.html

http://www.cluebert.com/unusual-uses/unusual-uses-of-lemons/

Author Favorites – Websites

You- author favorites

 

Author Favorites – Websites

Rachel’s Favorites

Picnik

http://www.picnik.com/app#/home/welcome

Picnik has so many effects you can use to edit your digital pictures- for free! It can get addicting to play around with...

Homeschool Writers

http://homeschoolwriters.com/default.aspx

Not just for homeschoolers. This website has a list of writing contests (that allow homeschoolers to enter) for each month and some that run all throughout the year.

American Sign Language Finger Spelling Practice

http://asl.ms/

After talking a few sign language classes over the summer, my sisters and I found this great website to help us practice our fingerspelling (for when we got tired of practicing on each other). If you don't know the ASL alphabet, go here, or here if you want to learn more.

Sense and Sensibility Patterns

http://sensibility.com/

Okay, I haven't actually bought anything from here, but I love to look at the patterns and the pictures of what others have made on here.

Project Hopeful

http://www.projecthopeful.org/

I found this website recently and learned so much about HIV, AIDS, and orphans affected by them. Watch out or God may touch your heart like He did mine!

Mandy’s Favorites

College Plus!

http://www.collegeplus.org/

College Plus! is an organization that helps you to earn a college degree “faster, for less, for sure”! It is a coaching program that helps you plan your degree and guides you through it in a Christian setting. For more information, click this link to fill out a free application: http://www.collegeplus.org/?requestinfo?tellafriend=7379

Christian Book .com

http://www.christianbook.com/

I like to shop online and this is a bookstore I really like. Great resources with great prices!

Rebelution

http://www.therebelution.com/

This website says, The official definition of the 'rebelution' is "a teenage rebellion against the low expectations of an ungodly culture." 

Modesty Survey

http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/

This is something that is a part of the Rebelution. It is a survey that over 1,600 guys took telling us girls more about modesty. I find it very helpful!

Shabby Blogs

http://shabbyblogs.com/

This website has a lot of fun “decorations” for your blog! Backgrounds, buttons, and more…

A few more:

http://www.youtube.com/

www.facebook.com

www.amazon.com

Note from Mandy: I have many more websites that I like, there is just not enough room to post them all right now!!! These are some of the websites that I visit often…

What are your favorite websites? And why do you enjoy them???

Give Thanks!

Jesus - Devo, You - Activity

Give Thanks!

With less than a month from Thanksgiving Day in the United States, I want to draw your attention the importance of it. The Bible talks constantly about giving thanks. We are called to be thankful, give thanks to our Father, to remember our blessings, and to share them with others.

In celebration of being thankful, I have chosen to do a countdown to Thanksgiving Day by giving thanks every day and I am sharing it with everyone!

On my personal blog, Musing Made by Mandy, I am sharing sometime I am giving thanks for each day, along with a Bible verse. I would encourage you to join in me on this countdown. Feel free to read what I am thankful for!

Ways you can share what you are thankful for:

Journaling (personal and with God)

Writing letters to people

Blogging about it

Writing it on Facebook

Tweeting it on twitter

Other social media

Telling a friend

Thanking our Father in Heaven!

Here is a preview of what I am doing…(a post from Musings Made by Mandy blog)

Count Down to Thanksgiving

So yesterday marked one month until Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is on November 24 this year! I believe it is important to remember why we are thankful. My way of doing this, is writing down what I am thankful for. I find that when I remember all the blessings that God has given me, I have a much better day.

So for the next month, I will be sharing what I am giving thanks for.

Psalm 35:18
I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.

For the next month, I am giving thanks to God and sharing it with you!!!

What are you thankful for???

For more on what I am thankful for, check out Musings!