Tangled - I See The Light (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

I saw this movie, Tangled, this past August at All-State Camp and I fell in love with it!  If you haven't seen the movie yet, you have to! It's probably my all-time favorite Disney movie besides Cinderella.  We're singing this song, "I See the Light" for our Pops' Concert and I really hope I get the solo!! :)  We'll see what happens though...

Have you seen Tangled? What did you think of it?

If you were in choir, did you ever sing any Disney movie songs?

What is your favorite Disney movie?

Rachel

Thanks to all my followers...

I can't begin to say how much I appreciate you all - you all have impacted me in ways you may never know.  You have helped to encourage, challenge and remind me and that is a gift that I am more than willing to receive.  I only hope that I can do the same for you.

Here's to the Year 2012 - to all exciting things that have happened and will happen and all the hopes, wishes and dreams that will come true.

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I love you guys!!!! <3 <3 <3
Rachel

Summer trip to Washington D.C.

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I am so, so excited!!!!!! As of today, I have been accepted to go to Washington D.C. I am going through 4-H on the Citizenship Washington Focus trip.  Only 50 kids from the state of MN can go and I'm one of them!!  Whoo-hoo!!We get to meet our state representative and tour the White House.  The only downside is that we only get 4 days in D.C. because it takes 4 days total to get out there and back.  But hey, at least I'm going!!!  I'm studying Government this year, I've always loved History and I probably won't be able to get there again for a really long time if ever! My day was made today!! :)

Have any of you ever been to Washington D.C.?

What was your favorite part about it (buildings, shopping, etc.)

Rachel

October Baby Stories 01: Shari

Shari's story is incredible...if you haven't watched the official movie trailer, do that first before you watch this clip.  All I can say is - wow...God's hand was obviously in this movie and I'm so excited to see it! :)

Rachel

October Baby: Official Movie Trailer

This movie is coming out in March and I am so, so excited to see it!!  I feel like it's such a timely message for this culture and my generation.  I hope you enjoy and are moved by it like I was...<3

Rachel

Women of Faith / Revolve

I went to a really fun Girls Lock-In at our church on this past Friday night.  We had a blast!!!!  Among other thing, we watched video/devotional about "The Way Guys Think" by Chad Eastham, who travels with the Revolve Tour (the movie clip above is a promo video for the tour).  We girls really wanted to go but the closest one to us is in Nebraska, so that's not really an option.  Anyway, check out the site here...I think the topics and issues the speakers discuss are so relevant to what teenage girls face today.  Besides that, they have awesome music!! I just wish the girls in school who maybe don't go to church and don't have a Christian home could hear these things too...


Rachel

Winter Spa Ideas

Nothing beats the cold in the winter like warmth and relaxation.  Instead of paying for an expensive spa experience, why not create your own?  Here are a few ways to create your own retreat:

First off: 
~ Play soothing music.  Doing this will help to calm your busy thoughts.  Try nature sounds or soft classical music.

~ Make your own steam. Make sure you wash your face with a cleanser first before doing the steam and mask.
 
  Mint:  Refreshing.
  4 cups warm tap water, 4 mint tea bags (use herbal tea only) or a handful of fresh mint, slightly crushed.

Lavender: Soothing and restful.
 4 cups tap water, 8-10 drops of lavender essential oil.    

 Citrus: Fresh and clean.
 4 cups warm tap water, 1 lemon, cut into 1/4 in. slices, 2 drops tangerine essential oil.

- Choose a recipe and assemble the ingredients.  Pour them into a medium-sized bowl.  The steam should be warm enough that you can feel the heat rise off of it.  Anything over 140 degrees is too hot and could burn you.  Pull your hair out of the way.  Drape a towel over your head and the bowl to catch the steam.  Relax and enjoy your steam for about 10 minutes.  Afterwards, apply a mask (see below).


~ Create facial masks.

     Oatmeal: This mask works well on all skin types.  If your skin is dry, use whole milk or cream, otherwise stick to low fat or nonfat milk.  The oatmeal will leave your skin feeling soft and toned.
     - 3 Tbsp. regular, uncooked oatmeal, ground to a fine flour.
     - 2 Tbsp. milk or cream.

Combine the ingredients in a small bowl.  Pull your hair off your face. Apply the mask all over your face and neck (if you like), avoiding your eye area.  Let the mask work for 10-15 minutes.  Use your washcloth to gently wipe the mask off your face, shaking the bits of mask into the trash (a trick to avoid clogged drains).  Once it's almost all off, rinse your face in warm water. 
     Yogurt: A good choice if you have sensitive skin.  The yogurt and cucumber combine to leave your skin feeling soft and gently toned.  Choose whole milk yogurt if your skin is dry, otherwise nonfat or low fat will work the best otherwise.
     - 1/4 cup yogurt
     - 1/4 cucumber, peeled.

Place the yogurt and cucumber in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.  Pour it into a bowl and use a cotton pad to pat the mask all over your face.  It will be a little runny.  Let the mask work for about 10 minutes before rinsing off.


After you're all done:
~ Drink herbal tea.   Try chamomile to help you relax even more or ginger and lemon to invigorate you!

Sweet dreams <3

Rachel


*All recipes taken from "The Natural Beauty Book: Create Your Own Natural Spa Experience" by Anne Akers Johnson.

*Images copyright of GoogleImages.*

Talent + sidewalk chalk = a work of art

     I couldn't wait to put these amazing pictures on here - check them out:

I think the kids are drawn in the picture - maybe?

It sure looks real to me...

This is so cool!!  It looks like you're going up but this is on the floor!

Want a fly, frog?

Hey, I found gold!!! :)

Pretty scary!!

I would just sit down and try to type...

Looks like you're going to fall right down there...

Here's the link if you want to see the rest of the pictures...some of them are...well, kind of strange/different.  I only put the ones on here that I thought ya'll would want to see.

http://www.nickcannon.com/post/insane-sidewalk-chalk-art/

If only I could draw like that...that would be so cool!! :)

Rachel

My Wish: Tim Tebow

I cried when I saw this.  Mr. T is simply amazing...that's all there is too it.

Rachel

Pinterest

One of the main reasons I want to get Facbook is to get a Pinterest account.  Now I've heard more than one person say that it can be a huge waste of time and knowing me, I'll probably get addicted...but the main reason I want to get it is because then I can put some pics in my posts on here.  Nobody wants to read boring posts filled with nothing but letters...and I don't always have time to upload pics from my camera on to here anyway.

Maybe once I get my long-awaited laptop I'll be able to get Fb...I'll keep my fingers crossed. :)

Rachel

My life has been a little crazy...

I'm sorry that I've been so MIA over the last few weeks - it really has been busy around here.  Between the end of the semester (and trying to get a very long-overdue health test done), starting fruit sales for 4-H and juggling school and music lessons, I haven't had time to be on here. And I know I've said that a lot, but I will be on this weekend - I hope to anyway.  I do have homework I know I have to do before Monday...things I really want to finish before 2nd semester starts.  Hope you all have had a great New Year so far - isn't it crazy how fast January has flown? :)

Rachel

The Year 2012

I would like to say that I started this year out on the right foot.  But I didn't exactly do that.  You see, during Christmas break I got into the habit of staying up until 11-11:30 pm and not getting up until 9 am or later.  That's not such a good thing because I have school starting back up tomorrow  morning and I have Show Choir at 7:30 am...which means that I really should get up before  6:30 am.  And I watched Rawhide nearly all day today so I didn't get hardly any school done so I have a whole bunch of Government to do tomorrow (along with other schoolwork).  And needless to say, I'm not excited.

I'm honestly waiting for the day when I wake up and I'm the person I really want to be.  Mature, disciplined, always on top of things (school specifically), non time-waster, and someone who generally does things when they're supposed to.  That definitely didn't happen today.  And I think it was because I got really lazy over Christmas break and didn't apply myself.  Second semester starts in two weeks and I have 8 classes to attend/take.  Choir is a class but I don't have homework so it's really only 7 classes but still...and I have voice and piano lessons - and I have to practice really hard this semester.  Not only because I'm doing a senior recital but we (my parents) pay money.  And honestly, I'm scared for when I go to college...scared that I'm not going to be responsible enough for myself.  It really does scare me.  And I don't like it.

Anyway, all this to say: I really hope that I can change for the better this year...I don't like being the type of person who is always wishing that a) they were someone else or b) always wanting to do better and be more responsible and get things done on time.  So I guess I'll see what happens. 

Rachel

Movies to come out this year

Here's a sneak peak of some movies that are coming out in 2012.  Check out the links below the pics for the websites and synopsis of the movies.  I'll hopefully be watching them and after that, I'll do movie reviews on them over at The Media Mix...Enjoy!!

October Baby

                                                                      Jimmy Valiant                                                

Rachel
Rachel

Remember our heroes...

I know that Christmas is already long gone, but I really love this poem.  It really makes me think about who protects our freedoms...we should be grateful.  Thanks to all our military men and women and their families - we owe a lot to you.

A SAILOR’S CHRISTMAS

Twas the night before Christmas, the ship was out steaming,

Sailors stood watch while others were dreaming.

They lived in a crowd with racks tight and small,

In a 80-man berthing, cramped one and all.

I had come down the stack with presents to give,

And to see inside just who might perhaps live.

I looked all about, a strange sight did I see,

No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stockings were hung, shined boots closed at hand,

On the bulkhead hung pictures of a far distant land.

They had medals and badges and awards of all kind,

And a sober thought came into mind.

For this place was different, so dark and so dreary,

I had found the house of a Sailor, once I saw clearly.

A Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone,

Curled up in a rack and dreaming of home.

The face was so gentle, the room squared away,

This was the United States Sailor today.

This was the hero I saw on TV,

Defending our country so we could be free.

I realized the families I would visit this night,

Owed their lives to these Sailors willing to fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play,

And grown-ups would celebrate on Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom each day of the year,

Because of the Sailor, like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,

On a cold Christmas Eve on a sea, far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,

I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The Sailor awakened and I heard a calm voice,

“Santa, don’t cry, this life is my choice.”

“Defending the seas all days of the year,

So others may live and be free with no fear.”

I thought for a moment, what a difficult road,

To live a life guided by honor and code.

After all it’s Christmas Eve and the ship’s underway!

But freedom isn’t free and it’s Sailors who pay.

The Sailor says to country “be free and sleep tight,

No harm will come, not on my watch and not on this night.”

The Sailor rolled over and drifted to sleep,

I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent so still,

I watched as the Sailor shivered from the night’s cold chill.

I didn’t want to leave on that cold dark night,

This guardian of honor so willing to fight.

The Sailor rolled over and with a voice strong and sure,

Commanded, “Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas and all is secure!”

HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT

Rachel