Summer Blessings

Summer is here and I can say that I am truly enjoying it. God has blessed us in a way that I can spend my summers at home with our family doing the things we enjoy doing the most. One of my favorite hobbies is gardening. I'm learning so much as I grow and experiment with different techniques of gardening.

Ginger has become such a staple in our home. We've recently learned about it's wealth of  health benefits.
So, we decided to try our hand at growing our own!........So far so good! From what I learned, ginger plants like relatively dry soil and temperatures that are above 55 degrees Farenheit.

 I planted  four pieces of  ginger root about 6 weeks ago. From the root,came these  beautiful, aromatic  plants......

Ginger plant

Now that the plants  have grown to be nice and strong with roots, it is now time to separate and re-pot! I cut each plant just underneath the root......

The remaining part of the ginger root can be replanted to grow more ginger plants and roots! Just make sure each piece has a" knob" or two on it. These knobs are where the plants grow from.  

Happy planting! I'd love  to hear about your experiences with growing and using ginger. 

She's So Crafty!!!

Homemade Wipes 

Well howdy beautiful people!! It's been a while since I've posted on She's So Crafty!!! Working full time, caring for a family and going to school full time can have a girl pooped at the end of the day. Whew! Today I tried my hand at homemade wipes that can be used for the entire family;not just for little ones! I'd like to thank Tiffanie Walker-Labeau for sharing this great idea on her YouTube channel! You have such great ideas!

You will need:

• 1 roll of Bounty paper towel (be sure to get a paper towel with the strongest absorbency. Viva work well also.)
• 1 wipes container or any large container with a lid
• 1 strainer
• 1 full leaf of an Aloe Vera plant 
• a mild soap like a baby body wash
• almond oil
• 2 cups of water
• a blender
• a medium sized cooking pot
• 1 table spoon 
• 1 very sharp knife or sharp scissors
• your favorite essence oil (optional)

Now we're ready to begin!

Step 1- cut the paper towel roll in half. ( this is the most time consuming and tedious part.

Step 2- Cut 1 fresh aloe vera leaf into small chunks.

Step 3- Add water and aloe vera chunks to the blender and liquify until aloe is in very small pieces.

After blending, add the almond oil and stir.

Step 4- Bring to a boil. (Boiling is important because it will kill bacteria. you want to do this because your wipes will be sitting up moist in it's container)

Step 5- Strain the liquid.

Step 6- Add in 1 tablespoon of the mild detergent and stir well. This is the time when you would add 6-8 drops of the essence oil and stir well. Pour this liquid over the paper towel roll.

Step 7- After allowing the paper towel to absorb the solution for about 10 minutes, pull out the cardboard roll.

The wipes may now be pulled from the center of the roll!!! Thread through the dispenser. Guess what?? You're done!! Enjoy! 

You may have to experiment with the paper towel to find the absorbency that you desire, so have fun and please return to the blog to comment!

You can feel confident that you have created a product that is gentler and safer for your family will saving good bit of money on wipes!

Feel free to let us know when you try it and how the wipes are working for you and your family! We'd love to hear from you!! Be blessed!!!

Cakelicious Cake Ideas!!! Inspirational Moment

Just had to share this...

I am in awe of God right now!!! He NEVER seems to amaze me.  That's why you should NEVER, I mean NEVER doubt Him because no matter how it looks He ALWAYS has your back!!! #cantwaittoseewhatHehasinstorenext

The hubby just got offered to teach a cake decorating class at his discretion.  All I can say is But God!!!! (Insert the shouting music) 

Inspirational Vitamin

WOW, another good devotion!!! This time it's like they are working hand in hand.
This is a devotion about patience. I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.


Prime Time With God

Today's Prayer
Dear God, You know how eager I am to jump in and take matters into my own hands. Sometimes, I don't take time to think and talk with you about a situation first. I know I should take matters to You; I should slow down a little to think and pray. Help me to not be so hard-headed all the time, but to slow down and wait on Your guidance...even Your intervention. Please give me wisdom, so that maybe I won't have to spend so much time wandering in the wilderness because of my ignorance. Thank you. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Joyce Meyer Daily Devotion

Wait for the Wisdom of God

People often ask me, "How can I know for sure whether I'm walking in the truth or walking according to my feelings and emotions?" I believe the answer is found in patience.

Emotions urge us to hurry, telling us that we must do something and do it right now! But godly wisdom tells us to wait until we have a clear picture of what it is we are to do and when we are to do it. Godly wisdom tells us to seek wise guidance and counsel before we rush into decisions.

We need to be able to back off and view our situation from God's perspective. We need to make decisions based on what we know rather than what we feel. We need to receive His wisdom and the wisdom of the trusted people He's placed in our lives.

When faced with any difficult decision, wait until you have a clear answer before taking a step that you may regret. Emotions are wonderful, but they must not be allowed to take precedence over wisdom and knowledge. Seek God's guidance and let Him show you what to do.

Prayer Starter: God, I won't rush into decisions and be led by my emotions. I commit to seeking Your wise guidance for the choices I make.

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers. (Proverbs 11:14 NIV)

Naturally Yours...

Going natural was not an easy decision at the beginning because I was so concerned about society's opinions of what African American hair should look like.  When I was introduced to natural hair as an adult, I thought it was beautiful on "those" women but definitely not me.  I don't have so called "good hair."  I began my transitioning phase in 2008 that was going great because I had discovered a wonderful product called DivaSmooth.  This product allowed me to transition with keeping the integrity of beautiful hair (LOL).  During this transitional phase, the season was changing from cold to hot; therefore my mind was changing along with it.  So I gave in and put a relaxer on my hair.  After about a year in half later, I decided to go through with.  My mind was finally made up.  I decided to get braids as my transitional phase but of course getting braids on a regular basis was to time consuming for me.  I decided to do my "BIG CHOP" in 2011.

Going natural was the best thing for me and my hair.  Of course, it was a BIG adjustment because trying to look at myself with a "boy cut" was very different coming from having long locks of hair.  Some of my loved ones loved it and others had to adjust but I wasn't turning back.  I was going to post some pictures of my "boy cut" but realize, OOPPSS!, I don't have any because I was still adjusting.  Yes, I was still feeling a bit pressed by society.  So taking pictures was just not what I wanted to do.  I was just ready for it to grow to a length I liked. 

I have allowed my hair do what its expected to do, GROW.  I have now been natural for two years and growing.  Now I have cut my hair several times because as we all know hair has to be maintained with delicate care.  So my hair hasn't made it down my back as of yet but it is growing.  I have now definitely embraced my hair and all its trials.  I have been able to look at several videos but what I have learned is everyone's hair is very different; meaning what works for me may not work for you.  So learn your hair and be patient.  It was the BEST transition for me.  So I'm leaving you all with "Just A Thought", love your hair in its natural form because it will love you back.

 

I will be posting my favorite products... Stay posted

Cakelicious Cake Ideas!!!

Hello Blogging Family...

Welcome to my blog.  As you can see my blog will be about CAKES!!!

Not just any cake but those delicious, custom cakes baked and designed with love by no other than the infamous Ms. Alice and Cake Daddy. 

This blog will be filled will wonderful pictures of our cakes but first let me share the story from Cake Daddy, my wonderful husband and Ms. Alice, my beautiful, virtuous and inspiring mother-in-love (mother-in-law)...  But first lets look at our story as told by my husband...

2013 was NOTHING short of God showing Himself STRONG in my wife and I's life! On my 8 year anniversary date on March the 8th earlier this year I was told my services were no longer needed after giving nothing but hard work and loyalty to the company I truly had planned on retiring from. BUT GOD said different! I left that day NOT with my head hanging down nor was I a disgruntled employee. In fact to his surprise I actually hugged my boss and told him I loved him and thank you! You say how could I do that after being done wrong? It's the GOD in me! I called my wife on the way home and told her the news and we both agreed to give it two weeks to see where God was going to lead me. I then called my mom (Ms. Alice) and said I believe we may be about to go full time in the cake and catering business. She said LEGGO!!! Lol! We have been doing cakes on a small level since 1992 when she made me attend a cake decorating class at J C Penny which I did NOT want to do but I'm glad I did! Now get ready to shout because I'm hear to tell you that we have NOT missed one mortgage payment, car note or bill being paid since my being let go!!!! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!! We haven't slowed down since we made the decision to go full time!!! 

Now enjoy the ride of the wonderful world of the cakecoaster...  

You can check us out on FaceBook at Ms. Alice's Shop Cakes & Catering-Cake Daddy, Instagram at mannyfresh71, Pinterest 71mannyfresh71 and our website at www.ImYourCakeDaddy.com.  
Thanks again and enjoy.

Inspirational Vitamin

I pray that this devotion will touch you just as much as it touched me. Enjoy

Prime Time With God

Today's Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven, please hear me this morning. I am sorry for my failures as a family member. I pray that you will forgive me where I have messed up, and will give me wisdom and knowledge and grace to do better. I pray for every family, that you will bind them together in love, that every member will uplift and support one another daily--in all circumstances and challenges that come. Help us to be forgiving and understanding. I pray for your blessing upon those who seek your will and your continued anointing upon the family unit. May we all look to you with our whole hearts and turn to you for help in times of trouble as well as look to you with praise and celebration in times of joy. You tell us in your Word that we are to be thankful in all things. So I am thankful for even the trials that bring us closer together. Thank you, Father, for loving me and surrounding my family with your protection. Please continue to have mercy upon us and bless us according to your will. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

Joyce Meyer Daily Devotion

 Love Yourself So You Can Love Others

It's tough to enjoy life when you don't like yourself. People who haven't learned to accept and get along with themselves tend to have more difficulty accepting and getting along with others.

I personally spent years having a hard time getting along with people, until I finally realized through the Word of God how my difficulty with other people was actually "rooted" in my difficulties with myself.

The Bible says a good tree will bear good fruit, and a rotten tree will bear rotten fruit. Likewise, the "fruit" of our lives comes from the "root" within us. If you're rooted in shame, guilt, inferiority, rejection, lack of love and acceptance, etc., the fruit of your relationships will suffer.

However, once you have a revelation of God's unconditional love for you and begin to accept yourself and others, eventually these new roots will produce good fruit, and your relationships will thrive.

What are your roots planted in? Examine your heart today and pray that God will firmly plant you in the soil of His love, so that you can genuinely love yourself and then love others. Make sure you are rooted in Him today.

Prayer Starter: God, I want to be rooted in Your love for me. Without Your love, I can't love myself or others, so I receive it today.

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31 NIV)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)