Worlds Largest Sand Castles (?)

Spring is here. Which means spring break. Which means beaches. Which means sand castles!! When I was a kid I loved making castles in the sandbox and occasionally on the beach. The problem is....they never looked like actual castle. On the other hand, some people, given the chance, can put together on heck of a castle made of sand. Here's what I've found online.

How are you at building sandcastles?

Etsy Finds: The Power of Purple

Purple is my favorite color. It's the color of royalty and looks beautiful in nearly every shade. Here are some beautiful purple items that I found on Etsy!

Silk and Merino Sock Yarn by 19projects

POP Clock by whitevan



Purple Mini Purse by TylerHandmade

Satin Peacock Pumps by LaPlumeEthre

Click to see 12 more beautiful purple items on Etsy, hand-picked by me in my treasury, The Power of Purple



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Bible Study #1: Is There Anything Left You Can Trust? (Part 2 of 3)

Amazing  Facts Online Bible Studies
Bible Study #1: Is There Anything Left You Can Trust? Part 1

6. Are the historical statements of the Bible accurate?

The Bible says, "I the Lord speak the truth, I declare what is right." Isaiah 45:19, RSV.* Ancient artifacts unearthed by archaeologists repeatedly confirm the accuracy and truth of the Bible. Answer: Yes, Bible historical statements are accurate. What God says in His book is true. Sometimes, temporarily, evidence may not be found to substantiate certain historical facts from the Bible, but in time the evidence surfaces. Note the following: A. For years skeptics said the Bible was unreliable because it mentions the Hittite nation (Deuteronomy 7:1) and cities like Nineveh (Jonah 1:1, 2) and Sodom (Genesis 19:1), which they denied ever existed. But now modern archaeology has confirmed that all three did, indeed, exist. B. Critics also said that Bible-mentioned kings Belshazzar (Daniel 5:1) and Sargon (Isaiah 20:1) never existed. Once again, it has now been confirmed they did exist. C. Skeptics also said the Bible record of Moses was not reliable because it mentions writing (Exodus 24:4) and wheeled vehicles (Exodus 14:25), neither of which they said existed at the time. They, of course, know better today. D. At one time the 39 kings of ancient Israel and Judah who reigned during the divided kingdom were authenticated only from the Bible record, so critics charged fabrication. But then archaeologists found cuneiform records that mentioned many of these kings and, once again, the Bible record was proved accurate. Critics have repeatedly been proved wrong as new discoveries confirm biblical people, places, and events. It will always be so. 7. One of the greatest miracles of the Bible is its unity. Please ponder the following amazing facts: Answer: A. The 66 books of the Bible were written: 1. On three continents. 2. In three languages. 3. By about 40 different people (kings, shepherds, scientists, attorneys, an army general, fishermen, priests, and a physician). 4. Over a period of about 1,500 years. 5. On the most controversial subjects. 6. By people who, in most cases, had never met. 7. By authors whose education and background varied greatly. B. Yet, though it seems totally inconceivable, 1. The 66 books maintain harmony with each other. 2. Often new concepts on a subject are expressed, but these concepts do not undermine what other Bible writers say on the same subject. C. Talk about astounding! Ask people who have viewed an identical event to each give a report of what happened. They will differ widely and will virtually always contradict each other in some way. Yet the Bible, penned by 40 writers over a 1,500-year period, reads as if written by one great mind. And, indeed, it was: "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:21. The Holy Ghost "moved" them all. He is the real Bible Author. The four Gospels do sometimes differ in the way they report the same event, but they complement each other. 8. What evidence of Bible inspiration is found in the lives of people? Accepting Christ and obeying Scripture changes a drunken, immoral, profane sinner into a loving, sober, pure Christian. Skeptics cannot explain this fact. The Bible says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17. Answer: The changed lives of those who follow Jesus and obey Scripture constitute the most heartwarming proof of Bible inspiration. The drunkard becomes sober; the immoral, pure; the addicted, free; the profane, reverent; the fearful, courageous; and the rude, kind. An American skeptic was visiting an island whose natives were originally cannibals. When he spotted an old man reading the Bible, he ridiculed him for reading a book "full of myths which had already been exposed." The native smiled at him and said, "My friend, be grateful we do believe this book. Otherwise, we would be serving you for dinner." The Bible really does change people, and this amazing fact confirms its inspiration.

9. What evidence for Bible inspiration emerges when we compare Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah with New Testament happenings in the life of Jesus?

The Bible says, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He [Jesus] expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:27. "For he [Apollos] vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." Acts 18:28, NKJV.* Answer: The Old Testament predictions of the Messiah to come were so specific and so clearly fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth that both Jesus and Apollos used these prophecies to prove to the Jews that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah. There are more than 125 of these prophecies. Let's review just 12 of them: Prophecy Old Testament Scripture New Testament Fulfillment 1. Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:1 2. Born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:18-23 3. Of David's lineage Jeremiah 23:5 Revelation 22:16 4. Attempted murder by Herod Jeremiah 31:15 Matthew 2:16-18 5. Betrayal by a friend Psalms 41:9 John 13:18, 19, 26 6. Sold for 30 silver coins Zechariah 11:12 Matthew 26:14-16 7. Crucified Zechariah 12:10 John 19:16-18, 37 8. Lots cast for His clothes Psalms 22:18 Matthew 27:35 9. No bones broken Psalms 34:20; Exodus 12:46 John 19:31-36 10. Buried in rich man's tomb Isaiah 53:9 Matthew 27:57-60 11. Year, day, hour of His death Daniel 9:26, 27; Exodus 12:6 Matthew 27:45-50 12. Raised the third day Hosea 6:2 Acts 10:38-40 Jesus fullfilled more than 125 Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Dr. Peter Stoner, former chairman of the departments of mathematics, astronomy, and engineering at Pasadena College (California), worked with 600 students for several years applying the "principle of probability" to the prophecies of the Messiah's coming. They chose just eight from the many available and finally decided the chances of all eight being fulfilled in one man in a lifetime is one in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. What would the odds be on the more than 125 prophecies of the Messiah? It couldn't just happen! If you have any questions, leave them as a comment and I'll do my best to answer them. If I don't know the answer, I'll find someone who does. Have a great weekend! :)

WHY ME?! Embarassing Teen Stories



“I was 13 and I had just bought my first real high heels! They were pretty high, but I wore them everywhere. One day.. as I descended down a steep hill, I fell and ROLLED down the hill. The rest of the day, everyone who was with me kept asking if I needed help walking in my heels. Ugh.”

"I was working at an after-school event for a committee with the guy that I have a crush on. We were in the teacher’s lounge filling envelopes when suddenly I got a paper cut on my finger. It was no big deal, so I went over to the sink to wash it out. We were joking around, and he came over to me and gave me a surprise hug while I was smiling. So I hugged him back, and when I pulled away, my braces were caught onto his shirt. I was completely embarrassed and he ran away telling the whole committee what just happened."

"I was in a rush to get out of class because the bell to go to the next period rang, so I ran up to my teacher’s desk to get a paper signed. When she signed it, I whipped around to leave and knocked over her picture frame AND made her drink fall all over her! To make matters worse, my crush was standing behind me waiting to get his paper signed!"

“In French class, we were told to study with partners for a test. I got paired up with my crush, and we ended up flirting. Finally, I got up the nerve to ask if he’d be interested in going out with someone like me. He paused and I got so nervous waiting that I let out a gigantic fart! Everyone stared at me and laughed!”

From Seventeen.com

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Funny Picture: "Parenting is easy"

Random Act of Kindness: Operation Beautiful

I love doing random acts of kindness, especially the kind that make people feel better about themselves! Operation Beautiful's mission is "to end negative self-talk or 'Fat Talk.'" and to "[help] readers realize how truly toxic negative self-talk is — it hurts you emotionally, spiritually, and physically."

To participate in Operation Beautiful, all you have to do is write a positive note such as "You Are Beautiful!" or "You're wonderful, don't change a thing!" Leave these notes anywhere you think women will see them. Public restrooms, gyms, grocery stores, and even fashion magazines are great places to start. If you email a picture of your note to operationbeautiful@gmail.com they'll put it up on their website!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, and remember: You're Beautiful! :)

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How-To Tuesday: DIY Cupcake Stands!

Cost: About $2

What you need: plates,small vases, and a glue gun.

Tutorial: Last Train to Pooksville

Have a happy Tuesday! :)

My Piece of Pi

Pi T-shirt by darkcycleclothing

Pi iPhone case by LOVEofMIN3

Pi Tie by buffalonerdproject

Catnip Toy by heartfeltwool

Pi Pie Necklace by incrediblejewelry

Happy Pi Day!  

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Bible Study #1: Is There Anything Left You Can Trust? (Part 1 of 3)

Amazing Facts Online Bible Studies


In these morally challenged times when it seems that there is nothing and no one at all that you can trust, you can trust the Bible! Why? Well lets take a look at the evidence.

1. What does the Bible claim about itself?


The Bible says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." 2 Timothy 3:16. "Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:21. "The scripture cannot be broken." John 10:35.

Answer: It claims to be inspired. It was written by men who were guided by the Holy Ghost. It cannot be broken or proved untrue.

2. How did Jesus demonstrate His confidence and belief in Scripture?

Jesus quoted the Bible and stated that it was true. Jesus said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone." "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." "It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Matthew 4:4, 7, 10. "Thy word is truth." John 17:17. Answer: Jesus quoted Scripture when meeting the temptations of Satan. He also stated that the Bible is truth (John 17:17). Jesus often quoted Scripture as authority for the truth He was teaching.

3. Do Bible prophecies confirm inspiration?

Before Cyrus was born, God's Bible prophet named him as the general who would overthrow Babylon. The Bible says, "I am the Lord . . . new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them." Isaiah 42:8, 9. "I am God . . . Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done." Isaiah 46:9, 10. Answer: Bible predictions of things to happen in the future confirm the inspiration of Scripture as they come to pass. Notice the following examples of fulfilled Bible prophecies: A. Four world empires to arise: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome (Daniel chapters 2, 7, 8). B. Cyrus to be the warrior to capture Babylon (Isaiah 45:1-3). C. After Babylon's destruction, it would never be inhabited again (Isaiah 13:19, 20; Jeremiah 51:37). D. Egypt would never again have a commanding position among the nations (Ezekiel 29:14, 15; 30:12, 13). E. Earth-shaking calamities and fear toward the end of time (Luke 21:25, 26). F. Moral degeneracy and decline of spirituality in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-5) 4. Can we expect scientific statements made in the Bible to be accurate? The Bible says, "Thy word is true from the beginning." Psalms 119:160. "The Spirit . . . will guide you into all truth." John 16:13. Answer: Yes, the Bible is true. The Holy Spirit, who guided the Bible writers, always speaks the truth. Here are a few Bible statements that have been confirmed by science: A. "He . . . hangeth the earth upon nothing." Job 26:7. This scientific fact is from Job, the Bible's oldest book. B. "He . . . sitteth upon the circle of the earth." Isaiah 40:22. The Bible said the earth is round centuries before man found out. C. "To make the weight for the winds." Job 28:25. Long before scientists knew, God said air has weight. D. "By Him [Jesus] all things consist." Colossians 1:17. The word "consist" here literally means "hold together" or "cohere." Many Bible translations put it "hold together." This is the answer to the nuclear physicists' worrisome question about the atom. The real mystery of the atom does not involve its benumbing mega-power, but rather, "Why doesn't the atom fly apart?" Scientific knowledge says it should, but it doesn't. Some scientists are wondering what puzzling power, completely unknown to them, is holding it together. The Bible says that mysterious power is the Creator, God Himself. 5. Are biblical health principles tuned to the twenty-first century mind? The terrible plague of AIDS would not exist if God's ancient laws regarding morality were obeyed. Answer: A. Cover body waste with dirt (Deuteronomy 23:12, 13). The Bible provision of Moses' day that body waste should be buried was 3,500 years ahead of its time and saved countless thousands of Jewish lives. Major problems still arise when sanitation is not properly handled. B. "Neither let us commit fornication." 1 Corinthians 10:8. The word "fornication" denotes all kinds of immoral sexual conduct. There would be no AIDS epidemic if this up-to-date Bible counsel were obeyed, nor would abortion be the international scandal that it now is. C. Leave alcoholic beverages alone (Proverbs 23:29-32). If this extremely effective Bible solution were implemented, just think what it would mean: Refusing to abstain from alcohol has brought untold woe to many. 1. Millions of alcoholics becoming sober, respectable citizens. 2. Millions of families reunited. 3. Millions of broken homes mended. 4. Multiplied thousands of lives saved by sober driving. 5. Thousands of government, business, and professional leaders making clear-minded decisions. 6. Billions of dollars available for humanitarian use.  If you have any questions, leave them as a comment and I'll do my best to answer them. If I don't know the answer, I'll find someone who does. Have a great weekend! :)

WHY ME?! Purse Horror Stories

In honor of my new purse listing, these horror stories all involve purses. Enjoy! (but not too much :P)

Today, I went shopping with a friend. She picked up a hundred dollars on the floor that somebody dropped. I told her, "I feel sorry for the retard who dropped the money." When I got home, I checked my purse and realized that I was missing a hundred dollars.  -Anonymous, Canada


Today, I was relaxing on the couch after a long day with my annoying aunt when I heard my sister come in from the garage. I loudly asked, "Do you think Aunt Stacy knows everybody doesn't like her?" It wasn't my sister. It was my aunt returning my purse I had left in her car. -katara, NJ


Today, I was getting off the bus, when these two guys behind me started commenting on my bag, oblivious to the fact that I could hear them say, "Look at his ugly man-purse," and "It that looks like the satchel that Indiana Jones has". I'm a girl. Who is planning majoring in fashion studies. -Indiana, Canada


Today, I was helping my friend pack her carry on for her vacation. I drove her to the airport, and after her plane took off, I noticed I put my cell phone in her purse. Her vacation is 2 months long. -Anonymous, California


Today, I fainted on the sidewalk. When I woke up, I was still lying on the sidewalk, people were stepping over me and my purse was gone. -blackedout, Singapoe

A Red Pump, Red Tie Affair

Today's blog post is brought to you by The Read Pump Project :)

Every year, the United States recognizes March 10th as National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD). It’s a nationwide initiative to raise awareness about the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women & girls and encourages ladies to take action. While progress has definitely been made in the areas of AIDS prevention and treatment, women still represent 27% of all new AIDS diagnoses, with African-American women accounting for 66% of that group. This year focuses on this statistic, “Every 35 minutes, a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States.”

Will you rock the red pump tomorrow for HIV/AID awareness? Even better, go out and get tested! Guys can participate by wearing a red tie :)

Blouse: Belk

Jeans: Wet Seal

Pumps: Charlotte Russe

New Listing! Purple Bangle Mini Purse

Its been a long time since I've added something to the shop, so I'm super excited! You can find the link to the listing here, and since you're following me, you get to see ALL of the photos--not just the 5 photo limit on Etsy.

Here's the description:

This purse was designed to keep your valuables close to you while doubling as a stylish accessory. This little purse dangles from your wrist, keeping it safe from straying hands at all times.

Its just big enough for you have the bare necessities on hand for a party, wedding, or other social event. 

Ease your mind during the hours before a flight by keeping your passport, boarding pass, and cellphone safely tucked away in a tiny bag on your wrist.


And the photos:

Oh, and about the name. "Purple Bangle Mini Purse"--I'm not really sure about it. Any suggestions? It has to be descriptive, and with words that people would search for, so an obscure name won't do. What would you name this purse?

Cool Graphic Tees

A girl can never have too many graphic tees....at least that's what I tell myself when I'm at the mall. Here are some really cool tees I found while clicking away online. Enjoy!

Oh Whale by TrueSanctuary

Geometric Cityscape by kimmchi

Diana Vintage Camera by happyfamily

Carbon Cycle by nonfictiontees

Team Jesus by JCLU

Third Outfit: Stripy Cardi

I think I may me getting a little better at this outfit post thing. Watch me strike a fashion blog pose:

Not too bad, eh?

I think I was in the process of smiling when the camera's timer went off. Lol. Live a little, learn a little.

Cardigan, Graphic Tee, and Jeans: Wet Seal

Flats and stocking-socks: Walmart

Deutschland

I just looked at my stats and saw that I have several readers coming from Germany. Hello Germany!

For my other readers, here's a few fun facts about Germany:

1.There are over 82 million persons living in Germany. And that, for a land about the size of Montana, U.S.A.(Germany is 357,021 km2, slightly less than Montana). Making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world.

2. Even though there are that many people living in Germany, the Germans have succeeded in keeping almost 1/3 (31%) of the country covered with forests and woodlands. And, as you rarely see buildings on top of the mountains, you have the feeling of being surrounded by green vegetation and of wilderness close by. Which makes Germany one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. (source)

3.Over 150 castles exist in Germany, making it one of the most castle-populated countries in the world. Many are used as hotels, but most are still being habited by the rich.

4.Germany is the birthplace of the Garden gnome. They were first crafted and displayed sometime in the 1800's in Germany and soon spread across Europe and eventually around the world.

5.The Germany highways, commonly called Autobahns, contain no speed limit.

6. Germany has more than 400 officially recognized zoos, which is the most in the world. If you included wildlife parks, aquariums and other natural reserves or parks, you can visit almost 700 registered zoos and gardens. (source)

As for my readers in Germany, I don't speak German, but I'd love to read some comments from you!  :)

Bezüglich meiner Leser in Deutschland spreche ich German nicht, aber ich würde lieben, einige Anmerkungen von Ihnen zu lesen! :)

Purse Teaser pics

Just another glimpse of what's soon to come to my shop