Congratulations: Bathing Suit Winner!

April 30, 2009 2 Comments

Claire TankiniThe random winner of the Lime Ricki bathing suit is Doreen (doreen.gertsch@)! You should have an e-mail from Pierce My Heart that includes simple instructions on how to claim your prize. If not, please contact us within seven days.

If you didn’t win this month, you can still get a really great––and modest––bathing suit at a great price (especially if you shop their clearance section!) because Lime Ricki’s special offer is still available for all Pierce My Heart readers. You will save 10% off your entire purchase just by entering the coupon code HEART10 at their checkout by May 15, 2009!

Thanks to everyone who participated in this contest by leaving comments on our article. We have another fun clothing giveaway coming up in May, so check back soon!

Congratulations, Connie! We hope this bathing suit will help give you a great start to a stylish and modest summer wardrobe.

– Davonne Parks

Filed Under: Giveaways, Style Sense

Last Chance: Bathing Suit Giveaway!

April 28, 2009 Leave a Comment

Sophia One-PieceToday is the last day to submit photos or recipes of things you’ve baked or cooked to us for use in our Gifted Girls article next month. You can send pictures to Info @ PierceMyHeart . com (remove spaces).

This is also the last day to enter to win our April Giveaway. The winner, who will be announced on April 30, will receive a new bathing suit!

If you have any questions, let us know, and we will respond to you as quickly as possible.

– Davonne Parks

Filed Under: Giveaways, Style Sense

Cooking with Kids

April 27, 2009 2 Comments

cc1Children were created by God, and while their parents are ultimately the ones responsible for shaping them into well-rounded adults (Proverbs 22:6), we can help to care for them by being godly influences in their lives, whether we’re babysitting, hanging out with a sibling, or inviting a kid from church over for the afternoon.

Titus 2:3-5 instructs older women to teach the younger women, and while that verse is specifically speaking of teaching younger women how to become godly wives and mothers, we can still teach young girls how to behave in a godly manner. One of the ways we can do this is by spending time with them and setting a pure example. As we keep Matthew 19:14 in mind, we can also set an example for, and spend group time with, the young boys we know.

Safety tips

It’s important to keep safety in mind when working with young children, so remember, or print, a few safety tips to use when you’re cooking with them.

Prepare age-appropriate foods. A two-year-old may only be able to help pour ingredients and decorate a finished product, but an eight-year-old will probably be able to assist in cooking an entire meal. It may help to ask the parents in advance what the child is capable of in the kitchen.

Always keep handles toward the back of the stove. Even if they’re old enough to not pull on pan handles, the handles could still get bumped as someone passes them, burning the person the contents spill on.

Supervise all appliance usage. Children should never use a stove, microwave, oven, or any other appliance by themselves, so make sure to help them when appliances need to be used. Even if they’re normally allowed to use these items at home, remember that when you’re with them, you’re responsible for their safety, so use extra caution.

Keep sharp objects out of reach. Don’t allow children to use knives, even if they’re allowed to at home. If they object, explain that you are sure they could handle the job, but that you just want to keep things extra safe. Remember that you are in charge, so don’t give in if they complain; if they learn they can argue to get their way with you, it will only make similar situations more difficult in the future. Then give them a job they can help with to occupy themselves while you cut food. (Better yet, do all of your chopping in advance so this doesn’t become an issue.)

cc2Wash hands often. If either of you coughs, sneezes, handles raw meat (including eggs), or licks your fingers, wash your hands! Germs spread quickly, and things such as raw meat can be extremely harmful, so take precautions to avoid problems.

For more safety tips, visit Kraft Foods or iVillage. Keep in mind that these articles are directed toward the parents of the children, so even though they give directions on how to teach the children to handle some items, it’s better to leave those jobs to the parents for safety reasons. Keep the cooking activity fun, friendly, and kid safe for an experience you’ll both enjoy!

Kid-friendly cooking sites

Recipe Sites:
Nick Junior
Kraft Foods

Printable recipe box:
Instructions
Decorative strips
Recipe card collection

Fun, Un-edible Recipes:
Play-dough
Slime
Clay

Please note that Gifted Girls is featuring recipes and photos of food items next month, so take a photo of something you’ve baked or cooked, and submit it to us by April 28 for use in May’s Gifted Girls column.

By Davonne Parks

Filed Under: Cooking Corner

The Eyes Have It

April 26, 2009 1 Comment

On a recent trip to the mall I decided to get my eyebrows waxed and found a new store that advertised “threading.” Since it cost a few dollars less than what I had planned to pay for waxing, I decided to try it out and save some money. My results were amazing!

Tweezing

bb2I would have to say that by far, tweezing is the most economical way to trim your eyebrows. Other than the cost of tweezers, all it takes is some time. Many people have no trouble with tweezing; however, my eyes water so bad that I can’t see. Now, since I had such a hard time tweezing, I have asked around for some tips that have enabled me to tweeze without the unbearable pain, or the bleeding that I always had due to sensitive skin.

1. Soften the hair first with some hair conditioner.
2. Tweeze after a hot shower or use a hot cloth for 5 minutes to help open pores so the hair will be easier to remove.
3. If the pain is too much, use some baby orajel or other tooth numbing product on the area before plucking.
4. Always pluck in the direction of hair growth.
5. To close the pores after plucking, apply warm petroleum jelly.

If you choose to pluck at home, also keep these tips in mind:

  • Use a magnified mirror your first few times if possible. This will help you to really see which hairs need plucked and which ones to leave alone.
  • The highest point of the arch should be diagonal from the outer corner of your eye.
  • The start of the brow (inside) should line up above the inner corner of the eye.
  • In this case, less isn’t more. Pluck one hair at a time to avoid over-plucking. Too thin brows take a long time to grow out.
  • Always follow the natural shape of the brow. Don’t pluck above the brow – just pluck the stray hairs underneath and on the side the brow.

bb3Waxing

Those who are avid fans of waxing boast about how long this treatment lasts (usually 3–8 weeks). And, while I admit that it does last a while, it also has drawbacks. Waxing takes off a lot of hair at once. We’ve all at one point or another had a band-aid that needed to come off. Some people peel it off slowly to try to lessen the pain, while others rip it off to get the pain over with. Waxing is more like the latter. With waxing, it can also take off the top layer of skin, and in my case I always bleed when I have my eyebrows waxed. Usually the redness lasts around a day or so (possibly longer for people with sensitive skin). With waxing there are many different kinds of wax, some of which can cause skin irritation.

I personally have not waxed my own eyebrows. Usually if you go to a salon to have it done it costs $15 or less, and by doing this, you have someone who does it all the time and is accustomed to shaping brows and using the wax. However, for those of you who want to try it at home, there are several options for you. You can use a hot wax. This method is best if you are going to have someone else help you. Or, if you have the patience to try it, use wax strips (often referred to as cold wax). I have used them several times, and although it takes some time (and a little pain), it does not affect my skin as negatively as hot wax does. Another plus for this method is that it is a lot less mess than the hot wax and is more economical at around $6 and usually has enough product to wax twice depending on how much product you use.

Threading

This did hurt. However, for me, it was not as bad as waxing, and I didn’t bleed afterward. This technique uses sewing thread to pull the hair out. This cost me $8, which I feel was worth it. My eyebrows looked great, there was no bleeding and only slight redness, and it lasted for 3 weeks. The great thing is that I have found a video how-to that really seems to help. I do recommend, however, that if you decide to try this yourself, practice with the thread for a while before doing it on yourself. Try it out on other unwanted hair first (like before shaving), just to practice. If you practice and are able to do it at home, this method would be about as cheap (or cheaper) than tweezing because all it takes is about 2 feet of thread each time you do it. However, for the price of doing it at a salon, I would recommend having a professional do it, at least at first.

Home Tweeze

bb1If you decide to do any of these methods yourself, there are some things you can do to help ensure that you don’t take off too much hair. It’s far better to take off too little at a time than to take off too much! Use an eyebrow pencil to color what hair you want left. Then only remove the hair around it. Take your time. Trust me, through my own trial and error, I have been that girl who took off too much of my eyebrow and had to let them grow back and start over. And always…always remember that beauty is really what is inside (Proverbs 31:30).

By Sarah J. Ancheta

Filed Under: Beauty Buzz

Spring Clean: How To

April 25, 2009 1 Comment

jft8aNow that you’re prepared to clean your room, let’s get started!

The cleaning

Turn on the music you’ve chosen and, if it’s nice out, open the windows. This will help you get in a cleaning mood. Start in your chosen area, and make sure your cleaning supplies are nearby. Pull everything out of your intended cleaning spot. Even if you’re planning on keeping the item, take it off the shelf, out of the drawer, etc. Then clean the area with your cleaning wipes (or if it’s under your bed, vacuum it).

Now it’s time to make a decision! Since everything is already pulled out, you’ll find that it’s much easier to get rid of it––it’s either toss or make a place to put it away (remember that if you put it away, you’re going to have to go through it the next time you clean out your room). If there’s a t-shirt that hasn’t fit you since middle school, put it in your giveaway bag. Shoes that give your feet blisters every time you wear them? Get rid of them! Maybe you have old school papers crammed into a drawer somewhere––glance through them and toss anything that isn’t very sentimental. (Maybe you want to keep that poem or painting, but seriously, who needs a copy of every math test they’ve taken?!) Try giving yourself a limit for sentimental items––for example, “I can keep ten old books”––then get rid of any children’s books that weren’t among your ten favorites. This will help to keep clutter down, and it will make those ten books you are keeping even more special.

As soon as one trash bag is filled up, tie it and label a new bag so you won’t be tempted to go through it. If you’re not sure about something, toss it in your unsure box––that’s what it’s there for! Don’t waste precious time, energy, or momentum thinking about something you can easily do later.

Once you’ve decided what to keep, put the items neatly back into the area you’ve just cleaned, if they belong there. If anything you’ve taken out belongs elsewhere in your room, just put those things on your made bed until you’re ready for them. Now that your designated first place is organized, take a moment to look at it and enjoy what you’ve done! Then move on to the other areas in your room. Work quickly, efficiently, and refuse to get distracted by things you’ve forgotten you have––remember that you can enjoy those items after they’ve been put away where they belong!

Once you’re done cleaning out all areas of your room (including jewelry boxes, nightstand drawers, and dresser tops), neatly put away the items you’ve placed on your bed. This should be fairly easy to do since you’ve already completed the work of placing like items together and organizing everything.

After the clean

jft8bNow it’s time for the “unsure” box. Since your room now looks pretty and is well organized, this should be easy. Many of those items you originally thought you may want to keep might now be easy to toss. Go through this box as quickly as you can. If you have to think awhile about whether or not to keep it, it’s probably something to get rid of. Ask yourself if you need, love, or use the item in the box. If the answer is “no,” add it to your giveaway bag. Someone who does need, love, or can use the item may have it.

Go through your organized bedroom with a dusting rag and vacuum cleaner to finish the job––this will give the room a fresh feel and scent in just a few minutes. Put away the items in your last box––the box specifically for items that belong somewhere else in the house. Then, run the trash bags outside and put them in the trash can.

After that, place the giveaway bags in your vehicle (or ask a parent if you can put them in theirs). Then take the giveaway bags somewhere––a woman’s shelter, Goodwill, etc. Try to do this as soon as possible, or the bags may end up riding around with you for weeks.

Now that your space is clean, and you’re probably feeling renewed (Psalm 51:10), stop at the library on the way home from dropping off your giveaway items, then head to your room with your book and enjoy relaxing in your (spring) cleaned bedroom!

By Davonne Parks

Filed Under: Just for Today

Spring Clean: Preparation

April 24, 2009 Leave a Comment

jft7aPsalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Spring is a time of freshness and renewal. So let’s refresh our rooms!

Supplies

To clean out your bedroom, you’ll need several trash bags, a permanent marker, two laundry baskets or boxes, cleaning wipes, and a vacuum cleaner. Label one bag “trash” and one bag “giveaway” with the marker. One box will be used for items you come across that belong somewhere else in the house––instead of wasting time putting items away as you find them, and getting distracted in the process, you can just toss them in the box and put everything away at the same time as soon as you’re done going through your room. The other box is for “unsure” items. If you can’t decide whether to keep or get rid of something, don’t waste time mulling over it while you’re cleaning––just throw it into your “unsure” box ––we’ll come back to this later.

Preparation

Decide where to begin. You can go about this two ways.

One way is to choose the most dreaded place in your room––does the thought of cleaning out your closet overwhelm you? Start there! Maybe it’s a bookshelf that’s full of childhood knick-knacks and books. Or maybe you haven’t been able to see more than three inches under your bed in years. Start in whichever place feels like the worst place. You’ll have a fresh mind to clean instead of being worn out from doing everything else first. Once you tackle that spot, you’ll feel like you can accomplish anything, and the rest of your room will be easy to clean in no time!

The other way to decide where to start is to simply choose a random spot. Maybe your nightstand drawer will be really easy to organize but you just haven’t taken the time to do it. Do that first! If your dresser seems like a good place to begin, do it. The important thing is to start somewhere––it really doesn’t matter where. Just pick a spot, and determine that you’ll stick with it until it’s done. If it helps you to stay on task, set a timer, and try to get done within that amount of time.

jft7bYou can also choose some upbeat, appropriate music to have ready for the actual cleaning.  This will help you stay motivated to keep moving.

Remember

Keep in mind that like items should be grouped together––all t-shirts get hung up or placed in a drawer. Separating them will just add to a cluttered feeling in your space. If you have a desk, place all pencils, paper, scissors, etc. into a drawer, or corralled with like objects. Put things where they’ll be used. If you put your make-up on at your vanity every day, keep your make-up in a vanity drawer. The easier things are to get to, the more likely you’ll be to put them away when you’re done using them.

Prepare your room and your mind for cleaning today. Tomorrow we’ll post cleaning suggestions.

By Davonne Parks

Filed Under: Just for Today

Earth Day and Free Stuff!

April 22, 2009 Leave a Comment

jft4Go here to read our recent Earth Day article, here to read our article about organic cleaning supplies, and here to read all of our April articles about caring for God’s creation.

Just for today deals

Today only, you can take this coupon to any Walgreens, and they’ll give you a free reusable tote plus 15% off your entire purchase (time to stock up on that summer nail polish!).

If you’re planning on eating out tonight, you can get a free made-from-scratch Strawberry Lemonade from O-Charley’s.

You can take three plastic bottles to any Disney Store today to receive a free gift.

Deals after today

If you’d like something free, but aren’t going out tonight, check out this offer from teeccino.com – just register online and they’ll mail you caffeine-free herbal coffee!

There are free Dave Ramsey events all over the nation tomorrow night (April 23)!  He is a practical financial expert who has great advice to offer, and this will be a great event for anyone who will eventually need to know how to manage money (which is probably all of us!).

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway for a free bathing suit.  Whether you win or not, you can still get a 10% discount on your entire purchase.  Details are in the article.

If you’re planning on getting a summer job, check out this offer from Office Max – they’ll print 25 copies of your resume for free now through May 30!

Thanks

Thanks Crystal for sharing most of these freebies.

Let’s enjoy and appreciate the earth that God created, not just today, but every day!

– Davonne Parks

Filed Under: Just for Today

Sew Cool

April 22, 2009 1 Comment

We recently posted an article about how to make bears, bibs, and blankets for other people, helping others in need, much like the virtuous woman did in Proverbs 31:20: “She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy.”

Today we’d like to share a few photos of things other young women have sewn, also similar to the Proverbs 31 woman. Proverbs 31:22 “She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.”

(Click on images to enlarge.)

Blanket made by Michelle Jane

Blanket made by Michelle Jane

Dress made by Michelle Jane

Dress made by Michelle Jane

Pillow made by Lily Parks

Pillow made by Lily Parks

Coming up

Gifted Girls is featuring cooking next month, so please send recipes or photos of baked goods to Info @ PierceMyHeart . com (remove spaces) by April 28 for use in next month’s article.

By Davonne Parks

Filed Under: Gifted Girls

Ten ways to care for God’s creation

April 20, 2009 11 Comments

tt2The earth is a big place of which we are the custodians, and we need to take care of it. Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’”

Below are some simple ways we can help to take care of the wonderful creation God has given us.

10) Use re-chargeable batteries.

9) Take a nature hike and see many of the different aspects of creation first hand.

8 ) Go fishing or hunting with your family to see a different facet of creation.

7) Start a garden and compost! Tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and corn are relatively easy to start.

6) Plant a few trees – this will encourage the CO2 and O2 cycle (plants take in the CO2 and release clean O2 ).

5) Read some facts about the earth and energy, and what you can do. (When reading, keep in mind that many articles about the earth were not written by people who believe God is in control of the earth’s time as we know from Mark 13:31-33.)

4) Tackle a recycling project.

tt13) Find recipes which use what you have grown in your garden.

2) Get your church engaged in a project that involves restoring some part of the earth.

1) Read about the Creation in Genesis.

By Megan Skinner

Filed Under: Top Ten

Bathing Suits: Giveaway

April 15, 2009 204 Comments

Lauren TankiniThis month’s giveaway, with a value of up to $75, and an additional special offer, are featured at the end of this article. Keep reading for details.

Yesterday we discussed the importance of modest swimwear, so today we’re going to get straight to the fun stuff––shopping!

We all know that bathing suit shopping can be stressful––it’s so difficult to find suits that are cute, modest, and affordable. Mall shopping can be discouraging, because those oh-so-cute bikinis are everywhere, tempting us to give into our fleshly desire to fit in, even when we want to do what’s right (Matthew 26:41). So, last year, I decided to avoid the mall completely and try my hand at online shopping! The task of finding a good web-store was very difficult, but I finally found a store and made my selection. The service and bathing suit were both so great that I want to share this store with you so you can possibly enjoy the experience too!

The chore

We all know how difficult it is to find a cute bathing suit that fits well and is affordable. Add modesty to the mix (which I hope we’ll all commit to do), and we’ve just given ourselves a seemingly impossible and very frustrating task! And who wants to order online, right? Buy a bathing suit you haven’t even tried on? Yeah, right! But that’s where, last summer, I proved myself wrong.

The store

Lime Ricki is full of cute, modest bathing suits at a reasonable price. They’re slightly pricier than the $20-per-piece bikinis I’ve seen in the mall, but I guess that’s because you’re paying for the extra fabric on them! The store was started when three sisters got together, frustrated about the lack of swimsuit choices available for themselves and their daughters, and decided to design their own suits. This year marks their third summer in business together, and this is one business that’s continually growing and improving. You can read more of their story on their About page.

Our experience

ss7I liked what I saw online, but I had a few questions about their suits, so I decided to contact the owners, hoping they would help me. Unsure of who to call, I dialed all three listed phone numbers. I received the voice mail at each number, so I left messages. Two of the women called back within the hour, and the third called back that evening. They were all genuinely nice and very helpful. One girl spent almost thirty minutes talking to me, and she helped me to choose a fabric that would suit my age as well as my taste. I chose the Emily Halter Top with their Brown Cinch Skirt, and, as promised, it arrived within the week.

Lime Ricki claims their suits don’t need tugged or pulled on to stay in place, and I’ll admit it, I was skeptical. What bathing suit doesn’t need adjusted often? Apparently, the Lime Ricki suits––even with a three-year-old to chase and carry around, plus other swimming equipment to deal with, I rarely had to adjust my suit.

I like my suit so much that when my cousin Lisa (also the assistant editor) e-mailed me in despair over trying to choose a cute, modest bathing suit for herself, I e-mailed her back with a note that said, “Buy a Lime Ricki suit!” I sent her a link to my favorite suit, the Signature Tankini Top (which was out of stock when I’d ordered), and she hesitantly purchased that top with the brown bottoms without ever trying them on. About a week later, I received another e-mail from her, raving about her new suit! She loved the fact that she could go out and look stylish––and modest––without tugging on her swimwear every five minutes.

Your (possible) experience

Lime Ricki suits are made to last, so there’s no need to buy multiple suits for one summer. If you want more variety, you could purchase one bottom with two tops to save money. To save even more, shop their sale page, which offers pieces for as low as $12.50 each. Many of the suits on Lime Ricki recommend a bottom to go with them, and some of them tell which body type would be flattered in that suit, which is very helpful for online shopping!

Their size chart doesn’t measure by inches, but it is very true to size. I ordered the size the website recommended, and my suit fit me perfectly. The only exception is their brand-new, upscale Key Lime collection (I love the Lauren top with the blue bottom!), which runs a size small, so be sure to order one size larger than normal if you choose to purchase a Key Lime suit.

Be careful to avoid suits that accentuate the bust, and wear shorts or a skirt over regular bathing suit bottoms (which don’t cover more than underwear!) the entire time you’re not in the water.

Giveawayss1

Lime Ricki is giving away a bathing suit to one of our readers!  The winner will be allowed to choose any one top and bottom (excluding the Key Lime collection) or a one-piece. To enter, leave a comment below by Tuesday, April 28, 2009, stating at least one topic you’d like to see covered in this magazine or you could simply let us know which suit is your favorite. You may enter to win the bathing suit for yourself, or to give away as a gift for someone else.

Comments are moderated, so they may take a day or so to appear. Make sure to include a valid e-mail address in your information (this will not appear in the post). The winner, who will be announced on April 30, will be e-mailed with simple instructions on how to claim her new bathing suit. The winner must contact us back within seven days of our initial contact, or the free bathing suit will go to someone else.

Special Offer

In addition to their giveaway, Lime Ricki has generously offered a special coupon code for Pierce My Heart readers! If you purchase an item from their web store by May 15, 2009, you will receive 10% off your total order just by using the coupon code HEART10 at the checkout.

We want to give a special thank you to the owners of Lime Ricki for their generosity!  This summer, have a safe and modest swimming experience.

By Davonne Parks

Visit our Monthly Issues page to see all of our past themes, and visit our April 2009 page to read our entire current issue about caring for God’s creations.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Style Sense Tagged With:
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