Halloween Costume: Snow White

I had a Halloween party to go to this year, but needed to come up with a costume. I'm not creative and I hate coming up with costumes. I don't like to buy costumes, because I'm frugal. So, that's when I decided to check out Pinterest. There I found this easy costume: Snow White.

I had a royal blue shirt already, so that made it cheaper. I had to buy a skirt. Since it's fall, finding a yellow skirt was unfortunately out of the question. I settled for a red skirt that I bought at Goodwill for $5.24. Then I also had to buy ribbon. So, the whole costume cost about $8. Here's the finished product and it turned out better than I thought it would.

Ellie Holcomb Music

At this year's Wonderful Weekend for Women the worship leader was Ellie Holcomb. Over the course of the weekend, I feel in love with her music. So, I bought all three of her CDs and listen to them everyday. They remind me of the promises of God and are TERRIFIC to sing along to. :) Every single song is one my favorites list, but here's my Top 10 favorites:
1. Marvelous Light

2. As Sure As The Sun

3. The Valley

4. My Portion and My Strength

5. Tho Broken Beautiful

6. Place My Hope

7. Anchor of Hope

8. Magnolia

9. Night Song
10. May The Words

I actually got to meet Ellie and she was so sweet and kind. Her favorite Bible verse is Hosea 6:3, "Let’s do our best to know the Lord. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime." That scripture was the inspiration for her song, As Sure As The Sun.

Unsteady by X Ambassadors

I'm enjoying lyric music videos lately. So, this was my jam, last week; I think, I was feeling a little unsteady myself.

Meghan Trainor Music

I love this happy upbeat dance song! I could play it on repeat all day. What can I say? I LOVE dancing!


My grandma laughed when I played her Meghan Trainor's song, "No" on one of our weekly grocery store trips.

Lyrics to No by Meghan Trainor
I think it's so cute and I think it's so sweet
How you let your friends encourage you to try and talk to me
But let me stop you there, oh, before you speak

Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no
My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no
My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no

First you gonna say you ain't runnin' game, thinkin' I'm believing every word
Call me beautiful, so original, telling me I'm not like other girls
I was in my zone before you came along, now I'm thinking maybe you should go
Blah, blah, blah, blah
I be like nah to the I, to the no, no, no

All my ladies listen up
If that boy ain't giving up
Lick your lips and swing your hips
Girl all you gotta say is

My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no
My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no

Thank you in advance, I don't wanna dance (nope)
I don't need your hands all over me
If I want a man, then I'mma get a man
But it's never my priority
I was in my zone, before you came along, don't want you to take this personal
Blah, blah, blah, I be like nah to the ah to the, no, no, no

All my ladies listen up (all my ladies)
If that boy ain't giving up (ain't giving up)
Lick your lips and swing your hips
Girl all you gotta say is

My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no
My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no

I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
(Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no)
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
(Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no)

All my ladies listen up (say, all my ladies)
If that boy ain't giving up (ain't giving up)
Lick your lips and swing your hips
Girl all you gotta say is

My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no
My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no

I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
(Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no)

Songwriters
ERIC FREDERIC, MEGHAN TRAINOR, JACOB KASHER
Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Meghan Trainor - No Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Why I'm Pro-Life: The Beginning of My Story

I've been wanting to share this for years, but my story isn't just mine, but others that I wanted to make sure were comfortable about what I'm sharing. It also took me awhile to find my words and the strength to share my heart with you.

I'm pro-life for many reasons:
1. God gives life; thus, ALL life matters
2. No one asks to be born into the situation and circumstances they come into
3. I was that unplanned baby, born to a single mother with no job or degree

When I say the lives of the unborn matter; I'm saying I mattered when I was unborn and I matter now.

I'm saying that I know babies can be an "inconvenience," but they are a blessing and so was/am I.

I'm not only advocating for their lives, but in a way, I'm advocating for my own life.

My mom was the youngest of 6 children born to a Catholic, suddenly single mother. She was living out of state and in an unstable relationship. She decided to move back home, not knowing that she was moving back with some extra cargo; me.

The timing was all wrong, but she decided to keep me. She kept her pregnancy a secret for 7 months. Once announcing her pregnancy, she was told to abort the baby; me. Even though, I have a terrific relationship with the person who said that; there's still a tinge of pain that there wasn't joy at the announcement of my impending birth, but rather someone trying to help my mom fix a "problem."

My entire life my mom has told me that she always wanted me and that I'm the best thing that's ever happened to her, but for far too long, I've taken the identity of someone that wasn't wanted. I'm coming to realize that some of the surprises in my life have lead to my greatest blessings. While not planned, I was and am wanted. God had and has a plan for my life; things He has for me to do that no one else can accomplish.

So while, I may not have changed your mind on the debate of being pro-life or pro-choice; I hope I've given you a different perspective to think about.

Recipe #29: Blackberry Crumb Bars

Since my parent's have blackberry bushes just for me, since they're not fans, I was up to try a new dessert recipe.

Let me be honest, I made them and they looked nothing like the picture that came with the recipe.
BLACKBERRY CRUMB BARS

PREP TIME
20 mins
COOK TIME
30 mins
TOTAL TIME
50 mins

Author: Mallory
Serves: 24 bars
INGREDIENTS
For the crust and topping
3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup cold butter, cut into pieces
¾ cup granulated white sugar
½ teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, beaten
For the blackberry filling
4 cups blackberries, halved
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon cornstarch
¾ cup granulated white sugar

I liked the recipe, but it wasn't what I thought it would be. It was kind of like a biscuit mix over fruit...

Recipe #28: Lemon Lime Snowdrop Cookies

I wanted to make something sweet for a pre-concert tailgate. It was for the Zac Brown Band concert with Train and Phillip Phillips, which were terrific. So, I made Lemon Lime Snowdrop Cookies. Thankfully, they were fairly easy to make. My friends loved them! Check out the recipe, here.

Recipe #27: Pesto Pasta Salad

I made this yummy pasta salad for a BBQ a few weeks ago. Pesto always reminds me of my trip to Italy.
I like that it wasn't your run-of-the-mill pasta salad. The pine nuts and sun dried tomatoes made it even better. My only improvise was in using rotini noodles.
Click here for the recipe.

Recipe #26: Wildtree Spicy Cocktail Meatballs

I wanted to try a new recipe so I went to the Wildtree site to see what I could find. From there, I found a recipe for spicy cocktail meatballs.

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon Wildtree Rancher Steak Rub
2/3 cup Wildtree's Organic Ketchup
1/2 cup Wildtree Happenin' Hot Pepper Jelly

I always improvise with ingredients I already have and this time was no different. I didn't have parsley, so I used 1 tablespoon of basil. I used regular ketchup. I didn't have Wildtree Happenin' Hot Pepper Jelly, so I used a half cup jar of jalapeno jelly that my mom made. It turned out terrifically and I know I'll make this recipe again.

Rise Up by Andra Day Music Video

I love this powerful song! I hadn't watched this music video before, but it's equally powerful and emotional. Watch it and feel uplifted. Let's rise up!

The beautiful lyrics:
Rise Up
You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains

And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
And I'll rise up
High like the waves
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
For you [4x]

When the silence isn't quiet
And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we'll take the world to it's feet
And move mountains
Bring it to it's feet
And move mountains
And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
For you [4x]

All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other
And for that we have each other
We will rise
We will rise
We'll rise, oh oh
We'll rise

I'll rise up
Rise like the day
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I will rise a thousand times again
And we'll rise up
High like the waves
We'll rise up
In spite of the ache
We'll rise up
And we'll do it a thousand times again
For you oh oh oh oh oh [3x]

Written by Cassandra Monique Batie, Jennifer Decilveo • Copyright © BMG Rights Management US, LLC