The Color Orange

Okay, so if you know me AT ALL, you know I have a passion for interior design and decor! I was so excited when moving into a brand new home because of all that I could do! Living here almost a year now and the choices have seemed actually quite daunting to me and I have been trying out furniture placement, wall colors and decor schemes to find just the right one. 

My love for blue is constant, but I wanted to add some "happy" into the blue scheme and so I took a stab at orange. I was scared to death! I started by purchasing some clearance orange accessories at TjMaxx and pulling out some orange items from my fall decor box. I slowly added them and have waited to see what I thought, feeling them out for a week or two. 

Yesterday I got the courage to post a few picture on the Houzz website. This website is full of professional designers and ordinary people all sharing decor ideas with each other, I love the app!!! While I received some not so nice criticism, design is so subjective, so I waited. I received some great advice for professional designers and some BIG TIME compliments! It looks like I am on the right path. Some might say, "It's my house, who cares what others say!" For me, having a passion for design, enjoy the feedback, for the most part, lol. 

So I am excited about this orange and navy journey and now to find the "perfect" gray for my walls.

Crystal

"You have an eye for appeal and balance. The orange accents punch the blue , I think a few unexpected touches of orange bring out what you have done so far. . What about orange placemats in the dining room, or runner with orange bowl, or an orange framed piece of art. You have a spacious wall that could be the place to frame out textured orange toned art work or an orange and blue toned material. Purchase a large frame and mount the material inside to give a personal touch to the room, add family photo's mounted on the material for interest and warmth."

My inspiration pictures........

The Beginning

After months of praying for the right time to open this door, I have finally become an official Tupperware Consultant and I am so enjoying every minute! Each week I give it back to The Lord as I endeavor to pay off debt and build savings with the profits. 

My actually Tupperware story begins before I was born. When I was still in my mother's womb, I was attending Tupperware events as she sold Tupperware! It is in my blood, lol!!! I have had many parties, catalog and online parties. I have saved so much money, by not throwing our produce that was saved by the "fridge smart" line and made my life easier as a mom. I can't wait to share this with others! 

So will you pray and stand with me for Gods blessing on my business? That support will do more for me than any order you would place and if you want to hold a demonstration to see what is new, that would help too! 

Thanks, to each of you who will stand and pray with me EVERYDAY!!!!!

Crystal

"Epic Tupperware Lady"

Sweet Mornings

For years I was a "night" person. I'm not sure if that was due to my age, or because it runs in my family, but I loved nighttime and was able to get so much accomplished at night.

Today, I find my self a lover of the morning for just one reason, solitude and peaceful moments with my Savior. I enjoy waking up knowing the house will be perfectly quiet and my thoughts uncluttered. I sit and read my devotional and Bible uninterrupted and there is something so lovely and necessary about that.

I love my boys and their noise, but to have my day start with solitude and moments with my Father is what I have learned to cherish.

 

Back to My Roots

It has been a year since I used this blog. I ventured out onto Wordpress land, dipping my toes into the world of blogging for a living. I would not call it a big fail, rather an eye opener to the massive world of blogs. I took a step back and for the past couple months, trying to decide what I wanted to do, or even if I wanted to do anything at all.

I remembered this blog, my first one and realized I missed it dearly, so here I am. Oh sure, I will probably blog here about my passions of decor and coupons, but I like having the freedom of this "coffeehouse", where I can be me.

So, what has happened over the past year? A lot! Not too mention, AMAZING things!!!!! We moved, bought a house, found new friends, a church family, started homeschooling AND I've lost 15 lbs., reading the book, "Made to Crave". God has been so good!

 I am so blessed, growing in my relationship with The Lord and focusing on Him being my everything! This path is tough, but I hold onto His power and strength functioning in my life. Am I better than anyone else. Nope. Just a mom, with a passion for coffee, striving to be closer to my Heavenly Father than I have ever been in my life!

-crystal

My Thoughts are my Enemy

I sit here quiet, sick, confused. It seems as if my faith and efforts to be a better steward has gone up in flames. Understanding is an enemy and the heavens are silent.

I sit here staring, overwhelmed, frustrated. Packed boxes fill our house. Unpack and resign myself, or wait?

My hope of owning a home was murdered on Thursday. Run to the creator? How can I emotionally allow myself to when I gave Him all during this entire process. A little heads up would have been nice. Is this my fault? Should I have prayed more than I did? Did my financial missteps have this situation from the start?

I am trying to be a better steward. My intentions are worth gold, but I am told that us not enough. I am not perfect and finances are my nemesis in life, just like my weight, but I try and try and I have NEVER given up at either.

To cry out to Him feels like spending time with a thief that took something from me.

My life has been lived with a passion for Jesus, my everything. Yet in these painful, confusing moments, I see him as a foe, not a friend.

I am angry at the situation. Prayer is linked with faith. My faith did not result in what I thought was the right, practical, responsible action to take.

It is difficult for me to find a balance between faith and things that are practical. Why? Didn't I learn this lesson already?

Wrong Way of Thinking

My way of thinking is currently being rearranged. I will share with you the first one today.

Perfectionism.

I have always been a perfectionist and admitted that without apology and prided myself on that trait. What the Lord is teaching me is that it is not a good thing at all. 

It took me weeks to process this. It is how I have lived, for years and thought it was a good and Godly trait.. Now, I have to change that and say to myself, "It is okay if it isn't perfect. You give it your best and that is great. No stressing and forget about what others will say or respond." I have to keep telling myself this about EVERYTHING, it is actually a little painful to type it out. 

 This  is life changing and freeing. The heavy weight I always placed on myself to be perfect is now gone, well I am giving it my best, lol. Why am I surprised? Didn't Jesus say that His yoke is easy and burden is light?

Perfectionism is a driver, a destroyer and just plain mean.

 No matter how hard I tried at whatever, it never seemed PERFECT. This led to me pretty much despising myself in most areas and feeling like a failure most of the time. Something I kept hidden very well from everyone,very well. Placing such a heavy load on myself, I then expected those around me to be perfect to or at least be striving for it as hard as I was and when I soon realized they were not, it made me angry that they were below "perfection" and NOT upset about it, it seemed so unfair to me!

This ruined friendships a little bit back. This ridiculous expectation that I had from those around me caused me to be mean and just plain stupid. I regret this now, but not condemned, because I know I am not perfect and that is okay. 

My loving Heavenly Father understands my humanity, human flaws, general weakness and although I will always give it my best, if it is not perfect that is finally okay with me, I have put that weight down. I have decided, chosen, to walk in freedom and grace, not only with myself but all of those around me and I know there are only great rewards to reap! :)