Sunday Social ~ All About 3s

Top 3 Favorite Kinds of Food:

1) PICKLES

 

2) a juicy steak

 

3) anything chocolate 

First 3 Things you do in the morning: Bible Study, walk Daisy, check email

Last 3 Things you do at night: Brush teeth, check email, Bible Study

3 TV shows you NEVER miss: The Bachelor, America's Next Top Model, and Forensic Files

3 Places you want to visit: the beach (never been, I know.....I'm deprived), New York City, Italy

3 People you can always count on: Besides the obvious family and boyfriend:

 

These three girls.... DUH! :)

Crystal's Bread In A Bag

Ingredients

* 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
* 3 tablespoons white sugar
* 1 (.25 ounce) package rapid rise yeast
* 1 cup warm water
* 3 tablespoons non-fat dry milk
* 3 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Directions

1. In a large resealable freezer bag, combine 1 cup of flour, sugar, yeast and warm water. Squeeze most of the air out of the bag, and seal. Squish with your hands until the well blended. Set aside to rest for 10 minutes at room temperature, or until bubbles appear.
2. In a separate bowl, stir together 1 cup of flour, dry milk, oil and salt. Pour into the resealable bag and squeeze out most of the air. Seal, and squish until well blended. Add the last cup of flour to the bag, and continue mixing in the same manner until well blended.
3. Remove the dough from the bag, and place on a floured surface. Knead for 5 to 8 minutes. Form into a small loaf, and place in a greased 8x4 inch loaf pan. Cover with a towel, and allow to rise for about 30 minutes, or until your finger leaves an impression when you poke the top of the loaf gently.
4. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
5. Bake the bread for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown

It's Ok Thursday ~ Cute Stuff And Such

It's ok that I have the cutest dog in the world!  My dog is totally cuter than your dog!!!!!!

It's ok that I totally loved Wreck It Ralph.....yes, I'm a 9 year-old-child trapped in a 34 year-old's body!   I'm pretty sure I fell in love with Venelope! 



It's also ok that I totally called my friend Chris after watching this movie and repeated everything he said to see how long it would take for me to annoy him....didn't take long. :)  LOVE YOU CHRIS!

 

 It's ok that I'm totally digging the Justin Bieber song "As Long As You Love Me".  I be jammin'....

 



 

 

 

Hope you all have a WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!!!!!!

 

xoxo...Crystal

A New Year Brings New Smiles

So, I haven't yet written about my 2012.  Since I have been blogging, I have always made it a point to write about the year.  However, this year, I was hesitant.  I suppose I did not want to be "negative" and was trying really hard to just stay away from it all together.  2012 was not my favorite by any means.  It was a year filled with lots of not so pleasant experiences BUT it was definitely a year of GROWTH and for that, I am so thankful! 

The year was definitely a year of ups and downs.  To just give you an idea of how my year was.... at the beginning of the year, I watched a first cousin take his last breath and at the end of the year, I watched my best friend give birth to Andrew.  Literally, I watched somebody leave this earth and literally watched a baby enter into this world.  Both of these experiences impacted and changed me!  I really have no desire to discuss the in betweens of the year.  Bottom line is that the year's changes have brought me back home with my family in Texas and it has been a GREAT thing!  I'm super excited to see what 2013 brings! 

I was able to bring in the new year with my best friends and her kiddos and that was a WONDERFUL way to start the year!  I'm totally blessed with such great family and friends!!!!!  LIFE IS SOOOO GOOD!  GOD IS AMAZING!  BRING ON 2013!!! WOOT WOOT!

High Five For Friday ~ Momma's Encouragement and Lots Of Preciousness

High Five Number One:

I spent a lot of time with Momma this week!  We had a pleasant week filled with Bible study and her motivating me to follow my photography dream to the next level.  She gave me so much encouragement this week and really reignited the fire in me for my business.  Needed that!  THANK YOU MOMMA!


High Five Number Two:

I have four opportunities for four different missions trips this summer.  I need prayer on where God wants me to serve.  Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, or Kenya...... all are wonderful opportunities with wonderful groups!  I just need direction on where HE wants me!

High Five Number Three:

Daisy is cute!



High Five Number Four:

 

I love my new Antonio Melani boots that I finally got to wear today!  I'm in love.....oh why do I love shoes so much....

 

 

 



 

 

High Five Number Five:

 

This morning was a neat one because Regina and I got to check out the KAMC Weather lab with Matt Posgai. 

 



Isn't she cute? I love my cousin!

and isn't he precious?? I kinda have a crush on him....shhhhh....don't tell anybody.

Gina and I learned some neat things and it was really cool!

Glad it's Friday and now it's time for a very busy weekend of photography jobs! WOOT WOOT!!!! Hope you all have an amazing weekend!

xoxo....Crystal

Crystal's Deviled Eggs

Ingredients

* 4 eggs
* 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
* 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
* 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
* 1 pinch paprika, for garnish

Directions

1. Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and boil eggs for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove eggs from boiling water and place in a medium saucepan of cold water until cool.
2. Remove the shells and cut the eggs lengthwise to remove the yolks. Place yolks in a medium sized mixing bowl.
3. Mix in the mustard, mayonnaise, garlic salt and onion powder with the egg yolks. Scoop the mixture into the hollowed out areas of the egg whites. Garnish with paprika. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

What I'm Loving Wednesday ~ Life is FUN and God is GOOD!!!!!

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."  Isaiah 26:3-4

I am loving all that God is doing in my life right now.  He is working so much in my heart.  I am so happy with everything right now!  I am so happy with the joy He has placed in my life and I'm so happy with the wonderful blessing of His love that He gives me every day!!!!!  He's so amazing!

I am loving that I was able to spend the evening with my cousins Regina and Sarah.  Regina made us fajitas...they were aMaZiNg!!!!!!

I am loving being able to see my Mom everyday if I want to.  Moving back home is by far the greatest decision I have made in a long time!  I asked God what He wanted me to do, He told me, I obeyed, and He is blessing me so much in every area of my life!!!!!!  He's so wonderful!

I am loving the rain today!!!!!  I was able to sport my rain boots and splash around in them!  Yes, I really did splash around outside in the puddles....fun fun fun!!!! Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." 

Life is FUN!

 

 





It's All About Love



 

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18

 

 

With Valentine's being right around the corner, I have been thinking a lot about the word "love".  Yes, I said it, like it or not, Valentine's really IS right around the corner.  Retailers have already started to market this day and couples have started making plans on how this special day will be spent.  As I was walking through Wal-Mart the other day and looking at all of the cute pink heart decorations and Valentine's Day cards, I started to really think about the true meaning of love and the amazing beauty that eliminates from that one little word. 

 

LOVE.

Love is known to be a human's greatest need.  We all need it.  We all walk this earth with an inborn hunger to be loved and accepted.  We want to feel valued by the people around us.  We want to be valued for who we are and not just the outer appearance but valued for who we are deep down.  We want our path in life to be honored and the struggles that we have walked through in life be noticed and accepted.  None of us want the pressure of having to be perfect.  That type of love is not of God, yet we tend to walk around wanting perfection from the people we "love" the most. 

Perfection is just not a reality.  Sure it would be nice to have the perfect family, the perfect spouse or significant other, the perfect friends, the perfect job, the perfect children.....but it just isn't a reality.  If life were perfect then why would we need God?  Why would we need one another?  Imperfections and struggles are the very thing that bring us to our knees in worship and the very thing that humble us. 

God loves us so much that He gives us the freedom of choice.  Love is freedom.  There is no freedom when there are shackles of expectancy around it.  Who wants to be covered with criticism or nagging?  Love is freedom.  Love is peace.  Love is unconditional.  That is the type of love that God bestows upon our lives every single day, so why is it so beneath us as Christ followers to offer that type of love to others as well?  Isn't that what we are called to do?  To love others as He loves us? 

We each have a past and we each have made mistakes in life that we are not proud of.  That is why it is so important to have loving and supportive people in our lives.  We need others in our lives to help us with life's struggles.  To help us if something in our lives need to be corrected.  Love heals, repairs, and supports.  Love does not lecture, nag, or criticise.  Love prays.  Love accepts all.  Acceptance is loving a person for all they are and all they have been through in life, whether it be good or bad.  Love is accepting a person's history and a person's general makeup. 

People all to often are quick to reject another person.  Parents reject their children for not going to the right college or getting the right career or even marrying the "right" person in their eyes.  Friends reject one another because somebody said the wrong thing or didn't wear the most stylish outfit.  Marriages are ending and families are being torn apart every day because a spouse is rejecting the other because they aren't perfect or because they allow stress to step in and take over.  Relationships end every single day because we simply do not know how to LOVE!  Love should always replace rejection and we should always hold back from being critical towards one another. 

At some point in life we all have a moment where we just need love.  We want somebody to accept us for who we are and all the imperfections we come with.  In order to give this type of love, we must first accept Christ's love for us and be able to love ourselves with this unconditional type of love.  I have learned over the last few months that love is so precious and so fragile.  It is only from God that we can truly love others the RIGHT way.  The "love" word is thrown around every single day but to truly love somebody we must truly be willing to accept His love above all!  If you are reading this today, I pray that you take a moment to close your eyes and just feel His love surround you and know His mercy and love are in your soul!  It is a part of your makeup!

Be Blessed Today All!!!!!

xoxo...Crystal

High Five For Friday ~ First Week Of 2013

High Five For Friday Number One:

Got notification Tuesday that I was selected to be a part of the missions team to go to Guatemala in the summer to help with an orphanage there!  I'm so excited!  Mission work is my dream!  I'm truly excited to see how God will use me to work in other's lives!

High Five For Friday Number Two:

It's a new year.  A time to reflect on last year and to refocus!  I'm so excited to see what 2013 brings!  It is going to be AMAZING!  I already know this!

High Five For Friday Number Three:

Watching Justin Bieber Takeover while sick all day has been sweet.  Hush, I know I'm old enough to be his mother, don't judge....it's Justin Bieber. 

High Five For Friday Number Four:

This was the first week that I felt at HOME.  Since I have moved back to Texas, I have felt like I was visiting and would be returning back to Arkansas in a few days.  This week, I finally felt at home and I love the feeling of HOME!

High Five For Friday Number Five:

The first week in 2013 has been pretty good even though I have been sick.  My eyes were opened this week to several different things.  Who I really was and who another individual really was, it wasn't a pretty eye opener but I now know what I can work on to be a better me and I know 2013 is my year to be the best me and I will only get better from here!   SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

Bacon Crisp Recipe

Ingredients

· 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

· 1 sleeve buttery rectangular crackers (recommended: Waverly Wafers)

· 1 pound sliced bacon cut in 1/2

Directions

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

Place 1 teaspoon of the cheese on each cracker and wrap tightly with a strip of bacon. Place the wrapped crackers on a broiler rack on a baking sheet and put the baking sheets on the oven rack. Bake for 2 hours, or until the bacon is done. Do not turn. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot or at room temperature

Cook's note: You can also bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes if you're in a hurry. Happy cooking!