My Choice Monday: Let An App Help Keep You On Track

January 18, 2016 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres2 Comments

Well it’s Monday! It’s a short week for us with our trip to Minnesota and Maine on the horizon, so the day has actually flown by! What’s that saying? “So much to do, so little time!”? #StoryOfOurLives 🙂

Today, in the spirit of being crazy busy, ‘my choice’ is for the Best Apps to keep you on your Christian walk – BUSY OR NOT! No excuses!

Blue Letter Bible –

This app is hands down the best Bible app on the market and it’s now available for both iPhone and Android users! Numerous translations of the Bible plus commentaries and concordances right at your fingertips!
Our Daily Bread

There is no excuse to miss reading your daily devotional with this app – NONE! I have the app read my devotion & Scripture references to me via Bluetooth on my way to work each morning. (Helps calm road rage too! #Bonus)
Abide

Abide is an app that guides you in prayer. There are many different topics and some beautiful prayers available. If you ever have a hard time knowing what to say when you pray, this app with help!
Bible-Minded

David, in the Psalms, tells us to hide God’s Word in our hearts…Scripture can help re-center you back on the things of the Lord; It can be such a comfort when times are tough…This app helps with that! Use Bible Minded to begin to memorize Scripture!!
K-Love

Christian music -Anytime. Anywhere. This is another awesome app to keep on your phone or tablet. No matter what sort of stresses are going on in the world around you, you can always pop in your earbuds (or strap on your BEATS!) and tune out the world – and turn ON worship!
Skip Heitzig – The App

Skip Heitzig, one of our FAVORITE pastors and the head of Calvary Chapel in Albequerque. If you’ve read our blog for long, we have mentioned him (and this app) on multiple occasions. It’s that awesome! I have learned so much about the Bible and gained so much that has helped me strengthen my relationship with the Lord from the sermons available on this app. Another perfect companion for your drive to (or from) work, a flight, or your exercise routine. This app has followed me across about four phones…and I have NEVER even considered not having it! It’s FREE – You have nothing to lose!

So there you have it – Six apps YOU NEED on your phone or tablet to help strengthen and guide your walk with Christ. Colossians 3:1-3a says this:

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.…

When you’re alone in the car, don’t turn on the depressing/maddening/outrageous news or listen to the songs on the radio (not only played over and over and over again) full of lyrics of innuendo, cursing, violence…Listen to the Word of God or worship Him in song or pray…All of these apps help to ‘keep your mind on the things above’, just where it should be!

Have a wonderful evening! God Bless You All!

My Choice Monday

My Choice Monday: Naturally Amazing Skin

January 11, 2016January 11, 2016 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Hello & Happy Monday!

I was so sad to see this past weekend end! Craig and I finally had a nice weekend together and we cherished every single moment – relaxing. It’s been awhile! 😉

I spoke with one of my best girls this weekend, who asked if there were any essential oils that would help with skincare… Well, yes ma’am, there sure are!

Whether you have dry skin or acne/problem prone skin, there is an essential oil remedy for you! Here are two I love:

Acne Prone Skincare

Let’s begin with tea tree oil. WebMD says, “The chemicals in tea tree oil may kill bacteria and fungus, and reduce allergic skin reactions.”

I, personally, use the following skincare regimen daily to tame my skin:

12 drops Tea Tree Oil

2 oz Pure Jojoba Oil

2 oz Isopropyl Alcohol

I mix these into a spray bottle and apply to my ‘problem areas’ everytime I wash my face.

Seriously, this works SO WELL for me – when nothing else has! I wash my face – using one of my favorite Christmas gifts, my Clarisonic (Thanks, Mama!) – and then spray this mixture on my clean skin – twice daily. Cystic acne caused by PCOS – gone.

2. Dry Skin/Psoriasis

Frankincense. You may be familiar with this essential oil – It was one of the gifts brought by the Magi to Jesus. This oil is known to actually repair cells, so it’s perfect for treating dry skin and specifically psoriasis.

Here’s my remedy:

10 drops Frankincense essential oil

10 drops Lavender essential oil

2 oz Pure Jojoba Oil

3 oz of your favorite unscented, moisturizing facial lotion:(I recommend this.)

Mix this lotion mixture into a clean small jar (like this one), and you can apply up to 3 times daily to affected areas.

And y’all, I am serious when I say that healing your skin naturally is the way to go. Hands down. And these oils, have tons more uses than simply skin care, too!

All found at Mercola:

Tea Tree Oil :

Toothbrush cleaner – A drop of tea tree oil can disinfect your toothbrush, which is a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.
Mold treatment – Mix a drop with a cup of water, spray on moldy areas, and then wipe clean. For an all-natural disinfectant, you can also sprinkle a few drops of tea tree oil along with baking soda on your bathroom or kitchen surfaces.
Natural pest control – The strong smell of tea tree oil naturally repels ants and other insects. I recommend making a natural insect repellent by mixing a few drops of tea tree oil with coconut oil.
Laundry freshener – Adding a few drops of this oil during the wash cycle will make your laundry smell crisper and kill organisms lurking in your washer.

Frankincense:

“It’s known for its comforting properties, and is useful for visualizing, improving one’s spiritual connection, and helping overcome stress and despair.⁸

In aromatherapy, frankincense oil is either inhaled or diffused via a vaporizer – a very effective sedative that induces a feeling of mental peace, relaxation, and satisfaction, and helps relieve anxiety, anger, and stress.⁹ ”

Lavender:

Added to your bath or shower to relieve aching muscles and stress.
Inhaled or vaporized. You can use an oil burner or add a few drops to a bowl of hot water, and then breathe in the steam.
Used as a compress by soaking a towel in a bowl of water infused with a few drops of lavender oil. Apply this to sprains or muscle injuries.

And it’s easy, you can purchase any or all of these powerful essential oils right here. And if you’re interested in trying some of my recommendations from both this week and last week’s post, you might just want to purchase a Premium Starter Kit. You’ll get all of these oils:

- Lavender 5-ml
- Peppermint 5-ml
- Lemon 5-ml
- Copaiba 5-ml
- Frankincense 5-ml
- Thieves® 5-ml
- Purification® 5-ml
- R.C.™ 5-ml
- DiGize™ 5-ml
- PanAway® 5-ml
- Stress Away™ 5-ml

Plus a diffuser, and MORE. You can find it here. You don’t have to care a thing in the world about selling essential oils, but if you plan to use even just two different oils, buying the starter kit is the best deal – by far. Not to mention that if you sign up, you’ll receive wholesale pricing…That’s a 24% savings right off the bat.

Check it out – I promise you’ll be glad you did – and so will your skin! 😉

Until Tomorrow,

My Choice Monday

Turning Traffic Into Tranquility

August 10, 2015 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Happy Monday Y’all!

I don’t know where all of you live, but here in the Atlanta area, it is BACK TO SCHOOL MONDAY!! Traffic was just dandy and my fellow drivers seemed to be in such relaxed moods!!! 🙂

Obviously, I speak sarcastically, but it brings me to the My Choice Monday topic of the day:

Turning Traffic Into Tranquility

5 Tips For Making Your Drive To Work A Blessing

Audible: Download the app on your phone and discover the joy of listening to great books on the way to work. It’s inexpensive and if you’re busy like the rest of the world, it can make reading that book you’ve been meaning to read a possibility!
Podcasts: Learn about subjects and topics that interest you or delve further into the subject your pastor spoke about on Sunday!
- Podbean http://www.podbean.com/religion_and_spirituality
- Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/stitcher-list/
The Bible From 30,000 Feet: Skip Heitzig, pastor of Calvary Chapel Albequerque in New Mexico, did a series several years ago that is available on both Audible & as a podcast. It goes over every single book of the Bible, not verse by verse, but in detail with attention to historical background and Jewish custom. Craig and I typically read a book of the Bible and then follow-up by listening to Skip’s podcast/chapter on that book.
- http://www.biblefrom30k.com/subscribe.asp
  - Options for iTunes & Android users!
  - Via Audible
Prayer: Make your travel time your prayer time. I find some of my best conversations with God happen in the car. I can worship and belt out some of my favorite songs to Him. I can pray, cry, scream out loud to Him with abandon. Consider this your first meeting of the morning. You won’t have to worry about dialing-in or being late, because He is always right there. Waiting.
Two of my favorite devotional books are by the same author, Sarah Young, who wrote both “Jesus Calling” and it’s ‘sequel’ – “Jesus Today”. This past Friday’s “Jesus Today” reading had this to say:

“When world events are swirling around you and your personal world feels unsteady, don’t let your mind linger on those stressors. Tell yourself the truth: ‘Yes, this world is full of trouble, but Jesus is with me and He is in control.’

I don’t know about you, but I need to write that on my hand with a Sharpie and make a sticky note to put in my car too:

“…but Jesus is with me, and He is in control!”

That should be our mantra for traffic, stressful work situations, family squabbles, disagreements, political issues, the disturbing news of the world. Let us be reminded that no matter what, He’s got the whole world in His hands. We are His children and as long as we follow Him closely, we will be just fine.

When the horns honk and my blood pressure begins to rise as a car cuts me off, I will take a deep breath and, instead of yelling, remind myself:

“…but Jesus is with me, and He is in control!”

If you didn’t grab our free printable on Friday, here’s another chance, because this also fits well into the theme of tranquility in the midst of stress. Isaiah 43 is one of many places in the Bible to be reminded of His great and wondrous, overwhelming love for us:

But now, O Jacob, listen to the lord who created you.

O Israel, the one who formed you says,

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.

I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you go through deep waters,

I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty,

you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression,

you will not be burned up;

the flames will not consume you.

For I am the lord, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;

I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

Others were given in exchange for you.

I traded their lives for yours

because you are precious to me.

You are honored, and I love you.

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.

I will gather you and your children from east and west.

I will say to the north and south,

‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel

from the distant corners of the earth.

Bring all who claim me as their God,

for I have made them for my glory.

It was I who created them.’”

Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind,

who have ears but are deaf.

Gather the nations together!

Assemble the peoples of the world!

Which of their idols has ever foretold such things?

Which can predict what will happen tomorrow?

Where are the witnesses of such predictions?

Who can verify that they spoke the truth?

“But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says thelord.

“You are my servant.

You have been chosen to know me, believe in me,

and understand that I alone am God.

There is no other God—

there never has been, and there never will be.

I, yes I, am the lord,

and there is no other Savior.

First I predicted your rescue,

then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world.

No foreign god has ever done this.

You are witnesses that I am the only God,”

says the lord.

“From eternity to eternity I am God.

No one can snatch anyone out of my hand.

No one can undo what I have done.”

The lord’s Promise of Victory

This is what the lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon,

forcing the Babylonians to flee in those ships they are so proud of.

I am the lord, your Holy One,

Israel’s Creator and King.

I am the lord, who opened a way through the waters,

making a dry path through the sea.

I called forth the mighty army of Egypt

with all its chariots and horses.

I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned,

their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick.

“But forget all that—

it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.

For I am about to do something new.

See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness.

I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

The wild animals in the fields will thank me,

the jackals and owls, too,

for giving them water in the desert.

Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland

so my chosen people can be refreshed.

I have made Israel for myself,

and they will someday honor me before the whole world.

“But, dear family of Jacob, you refuse to ask for my help.

You have grown tired of me, O Israel!

You have not brought me sheep or goats for burnt offerings.

You have not honored me with sacrifices,

though I have not burdened and wearied you

with requests for grain offerings and frankincense.

You have not brought me fragrant calamus

or pleased me with the fat from sacrifices.

Instead, you have burdened me with your sins

and wearied me with your faults.

“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake

and will never think of them again.

Let us review the situation together,

and you can present your case to prove your innocence.

From the very beginning, your first ancestor sinned against me;

all your leaders broke my laws.

That is why I have disgraced your priests;

I have decreed complete destruction for Jacob

and shame for Israel.

Have a blessed Monday, friends!

My Choice Monday

A Case of the Mint-Free Mondays

August 3, 2015 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Happy Happy Monday Folks!

…and what a Monday it is! I shipped Craig off to Texas on Saturday, so this weekend was one of the first in my re-training myself in ‘How To Be A Single Wife’. These days his schedule means about 6 days in Texas and then, hopefully, enough time to catch a stand-by flight (or 2) home to re-group, have his laundry done, and pick-up some new home-cooked meals before he heads back out for another 6-in-a-row… I have to admit…I love him with every nanofiber of my being, and I wouldn’t trade our life together for a nanosecond, but the Pilot’s Wife’s Life is tough.

I look at those of you with kids and I think, well, at least you have COMPANY! 🙂 It’s just me and the furs at our house!

Anyways, getting to my point :-)…in the re-training process, I am learning how to sleep in an empty house again. It’s something I have never been good at, and having to wake up around 5:00AM means it’s something I need to improve upon! I got in bed last night, sure I would fall fast asleep, quickly. I was soooo exhausted. But my mind had other plans…I tossed and turned and heard (and jumped) every time the cat jumped off of the bed to wander around – which seems to be about every 45 seconds. Finally, I decided I would put on a podcast of a sermon to fall asleep to. International House of Prayer App? Check. Sermon? Check…

But the moment I close my eyes and get comfortable, I realize this must be a sermon about the Book of Revelation and the End Times. Nope. I can’t listen to that when the cat and the dark are scaring me and keeping me awake!! Eyes open again and it’s on to the sermon search…ok…I find one that seems to be about Jesus’ Sermon On The Mount, and drift off to sleep.

My alarm blares me to life at 5AM…I hit snooze…or so I thought…

When my eyes slid open at 6:22AM, I realized I must have turned my alarm off. Yay. And today’s the first day of school for much of the Atlanta area….I knew traffic would be worse than usual – by a longshot, and I only had 15 minutes to get ready and leave for work.

While I did manage to corral the dogs in the kitchen, make one cup of coffee for the road, and pull my hair into a barrette, I had that rushed feeling that I despise since I prefer to arrive everywhere with 15 minutes to spare.

So, today, is a Monday. For sure. I am praying my quiet time in the car at lunch proves successful in de-stressing me for the remainder of the day. The Orange Essential Oil didn’t do the job…Although I think the Lavender may have worked too well – once I got to sleep!!

…which brings me to today’s product recommendation:

Auromere Toothpaste

Y’all. I have a confession. I cannot STAND minty toothpaste.

Yuck.

The idea of brushing my teeth and then having to wait an hour before I drink my coffee or a glass of orange juice really drives me batty, and at night, that crazy strong mint flavor keeps me awake.

I know. First world problems.

However, much to Craig’s chagrin, I found this toothpaste which is a game changer. Not only is it free of fluoride, gluten, bleaches, artificial sweeteners, dyes and animal ingredients, it comes in a non-minty, licorice-ish flavor, and makes your mouth feel so clean.

Craig does not like the licorice flavor (aka Mint-Free, although there is a ‘Licorice’ flavor), but agrees it makes your mouth/teeth feel clean. We are going to sample the Fresh Mint flavor for him.

The link I’ve included lists the toothpaste at $6.99, but I was able to find it at TJ Maxx for $4.00. Similar to using salon shampoo, you don’t need as much, so one tube should last a long while. We bought ours at the end of May and it hasn’t changed shape at all.

So, whether you’re into minty toothpaste or licorice, this toothpaste could be the answer for your pearly whites too.

*Please note: We were not compensated in any way for the aforementioned product review. Above, please find an honest, consumer’s opinion of a product.*

Have a great day, friends! We send our love!

My Choice Monday

Restored By The Master

June 24, 2014June 24, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Better late than never, right? 🙂

Today, we are sharing a beautiful devotional from one of our favorites, Our Daily Bread.

http://odb.org/2014/06/23/restored-by-the-master/

Our Lord calls us to become RENEWED and RESTORED, to turn from our old lifestyle to follow Him! And trust us when we tell you, His restoration is miraculous…and I feel like that’s a ridiculous understatement!

If you enjoyed this devotion, be sure to check out Our Daily Bread in our sidebar. They have a great FREE app, as well, with included reminders to spend time with God! Not that any of us forget…right? 🙂

Have a great night all!
Love,
Pier & Craig, straight from our kitchen tonight to your computer screen

Posted from WordPress for Android

My Choice Monday · TTC Tuesday

Matthew 6:26

May 27, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

You’re in for a double dose of the Newlywed Lefebvres today! Being off for the holiday weekend meant finally getting to sleep in a little bit late, and completely spacing on writing our normal Monday post. To be completely honest, this weekend was such a blessing my mind was elsewhere. 🙂

So, better late than never, we have two posts for you today: Monday & today’s regularly scheduled programming!

Typically, neither Craig nor I are much of the movie-goer type. I think the whole time we were dating we went to the movies once – maybe twice. There just hasn’t been anything worth going to the theater for — until recently. Especially as Craig & I grow closer in our relationship to Christ, more and more of the aspects of “Hollywood” in the world hurt our hearts, and we steer clear of those items. Whereas once upon a time we were able to go to the movies and see anything that ‘sounded good’ to us, now we are more discerning about what we take in.

So far in 2014 we have been truly blessed with the amount of Christian movies airing on the silver screen:

Even the questionable Noah…

Last night, we had the privilege of enjoying this one:

We didn’t even realize this movie had a Christian influence until Casting Crowns posted about it on Facebook:

While Craig and I, obviously, aren’t parents – yet (Hurry up, Jonah Elizabeth!!! 🙂 ), this was a refreshing film for any Christian. It was funny without being vulgar. The language was colorful without being crude. The costuming was beautiful and vibrant without being immodest. This storyline was compelling without being full of sex or violence.

Trace Adkins even spoke about Jesus’ amazing love for us, in spite of who or what we are.

If you’re looking for a night out, this is a movie for the whole family to see! Be sure to support films like these!!

And now, for our regularly scheduled programming:

Folks. If you still don’t believe in the power of prayer, let me tell you know that you better open up your heart and your ears.

I have been praying for something to happen for about six months now – maybe a little bit longer. I won’t divulge what that is to protect the person for whom I have been praying, but know this: I knew I couldn’t change the situation. I knew God was the ONLY ONE who could do anything in this situation. I prayed for His Hand to work. For His Will to be done – not mine.

And the impossible happened.

In all seriousness, it would be like my telling you I wanted to wake up and find our neighbors on our doorstep, check in hand, letting us know they felt sorry for us and knew we were ready to move, so they were going to buy our house – with cash. And then that happening.

What I prayed for is something I felt God wanted to occur, but I knew it was just outrageous to even begin to consider. I didn’t know how to get from Point A to Point B, and so I asked Him to take over. I told Him that if it was really His Will, He would have to handle things because it would be a miracle if it happened.

And people, it HAPPENED. It may have taken a little time and a little patience. But it happened. My prayers were answered and His Will is being done.

To God Be The Glory.

If there is anything you are struggling with, ask for His help and have faith.

All our love to you friends. We pray for all God’s blessings upon you.

My Choice Monday

#loveonpurpose

May 5, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Happy Monday Everyone!! I hope everyone’s weekend was as gorgeous as ours! The weather just couldn’t have been any more perfect!

This week marks the beginning of Love On Purpose Week and “my choice” for you today is to get involved in your community by loving on purpose!

Monday: Today is all about saying THANK YOU to our first responders – police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, armed forces.

If you can’t think of anything else to do, pray for our troops, police, firefighters and EMTs’ safety and well-being! Let them know they are loved and appreciated with baked goods!

Tuesday: This is Intentional Act of Kindness Day. Do something intentionally kind, for no reason at all – other than sharing the love of Christ. Pay for the person behind you in line at Starbucks. Buy lunch for your co-worker. Bake brownies for your neighbor. Wash that dirty car in your cul-de-sac.

Wednesday: Make an INTENTIONAL effort to spend time with the Lord today. Learn about His Love by worshipping Him and spending time in the presence of His Holy Spirit.

Thursday: Thursday is the day to show your appreciation for teachers! We don’t have children, but we do have a very good friend who is a teacher and she is getting dinner out tomorrow on me. 😉 If you do have children in school, here is an awesome idea I saw this morning on Facebook:

Friday: Friday is the day of the Paulding County Meth Walk – Click here for more information. If you live in the area, you can walk or run to support the fight against this horrible addiction, or, if you live in another area you can make a donation by clicking the same link!

Saturday: Saturday is the day I am most excited about! We are collecting women’s (gently worn) clothing and shoes, and new, full-size containers of women’s hygiene products to create Princess Packages in support of a ministry called “Out of Darkness” which rescues women from the world of sex trafficking and prostitution. By clicking the link, you can find out how you can help! If you live in the Atlanta area, you can drop items off to me at my office or our home (e-mail me), or to FullTurn Church. I’ve begun a collection at my office for items, as well as raided our local Dollar General and my closet! Help us help these women turn their lives around!

And on a lighter note, this little “app”/game I found on Google Chrome this morning has me entertained…

I’m stuck at “59” elements…Help. 🙂

That’s all for today folks! Let’s show Christ’s love all over the world this week (and always!)! And take pictures to post, using the hashtag #loveonepurpose all week long!

My Choice Monday

Healthy & Simple…& Delicious

April 28, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

I missed y’all on Friday!!! But work was crazy and the day just ran out on me…So I promise today’s post is going to make up for it, because you are going to come away with a brand new, super healthy, and utterly delicious recipe to make this week!

As we mentioned last week, we have been meal-planning and trust me, it is the easiest way to simplify your life and lighten your budget! You do not have to be organized or decisive to make this work for you and in the midst of it all, you will end up discovering some WONDERFUL recipes that are both healthy and extra simple to make.

Each week, scour Pinterest and Facebook and Ziplist and your old cookbooks, collecting dust on the shelf, and find 3-4 recipes that sound like good, healthy meals that aren’t a 40-step process to make. It’s super easy to do. Instead of pinning all those recipes, print them out and make a grocery list for the week using those recipes as your guidelines.

Remember, you can create lighter lunches or “Leftover Buffet Night” from your dinners!

You really can’t even imagine how much this will simplify your life. No more, “Ugh! What can we make for dinner? There’s nothing in the refrigerator!”

It’s all planned out. With awesome dishes like this one:

Grilled Avocado & Mango Chicken

Ingredients

Package of chicken breasts (3-4)
Annie’s Naturals Roasted Red Pepper Dressing
(2) Mangos
(1) Avocado
(1) Jar Roasted Red Peppers
(1) Package of Baby Spinach Leaves

Directions

Marinate your chicken breasts in a ziplock bag filled with 1/2 bottle of Red Pepper Dressing. (I did this in the morning, prior to cooking the chicken that night, but marinate to your specifications.) Skin the mangos and the avocado, and then dice these and place aside in a bowl. Dice a red pepper (amount is to your specifications) and add to the bowl, set aside. Grill marinated chicken breasts – about 7 minutes/side. If you are grill-iterate, like me, you can use a cast-iron grill pan inside, with the same results. After the meat is completely cooked, add a little bit more of the Red Pepper Dressing to each side of the chicken, and then flip to sear in the flavor. Place the baby spinach on your plate, add the chicken breast on top and cover with the diced mango/avocado/red pepper mix. VOILA!

You can eat this for lunch the next day by turning it into a grilled chicken salad, or make extra for leftovers! So easy and so delicious!!

Well, my dears, it seems Caroline has escaped from our fence, so I need to run home and retrieve her…Goodness gracious, what a mess that little girl is! 🙂

Enjoy the rest of your Monday!! We will chat again tomorrow! 🙂

My Choice Monday

Music Monday!

January 27, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

Good Morning!

I know a lot of you may be a little cold this morning! The weather report on my drive into the city this morning seemed pretty dismal for both the South and the North. Bundle up and stay warm!

You may need some music to keep you company next to that fireplace, so today, our My Choice Monday is a little collection of songs to motivate you through your workout, keep you company in the car, or to sing along to as you warm your toes next to the fireplace. (*DISCLAIMER* If you are reading this post within an e-mail, please click the link to view the post within your internet browser; otherwise, you will be unable to view the music videos below! This is a good rule of thumb to follow for most of our posts!)

Adele – “Skyfall”

This is probably my very favorite song at the moment. This one rounds out the stretch/yoga portion of my Pure Barre workout most days, and it is soothing and energizing at the same time.

Ellie Goulding – “Anything Could Happen”

Another Pure Barre favorite.

Martin Solvieg ft. Dragonette – “Hello”

Great song for a workout. Awesome tune for a road trip!! (Anyone??)

Mercy Me – “You Are I Am”

This is an amazing song. The video below includes the lyrics, and I think it’s safe to say all of us have “been there”. I especially relate to this, “I’ve been the one to try and say, ‘I’ll overcome by my own strength.'” It’s a great anthem and reminder that with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

Tenth Avenue North – “Worn”

If this one won’t bring you to tears, I don’t know what will. These past 17 months of infertility heartache really ring out true for Craig & I in this song. We are “worn” and we are “ready to see redemption win”.

Hopefully, all of these songs brighten and enhance your Monday! We can’t wait to see you back here tomorrow for TTC Tuesday!

XOXO,

My Choice Monday

MY CHOICE Monday

December 9, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Good Morning All!

Welcome to the first week of our new blogging format, and to My Choice Monday! This week’s edition is going to be a little bit overzealous due to some great finds this weekend – Craig and I have three recommendations today!

Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips I found this little gem at our local Target the other day, and apparently, I was unbelievably lucky. This product has been available in the UK for quite awhile, but is hard to find in the US – of course. At $1.99, this is the best lip balm around – not to mention the amazing and light rosewater scent. I have found it works well as a base for lipstick, as well as over lip stick for a hint of shine. And that leftover bit on your fingertip? Dab it on the insides of your wrists prior to applying your perfume (adds longevity to your fragrance), or simply alone for a very faint but beautiful rose scent. Click on the image above to go straight to Amazon to pay a little bit more for a two-pack if you can’t find this at your local Target, CVS or Wal-Mart! It’s worth it!
Handel’s Messiah Ring in your Christmas season by going to see this unbelievable performance wherever you may reside! Craig surprised me on Saturday morning by hopping out of bed around 8AM, rustling around downstairs, and returning with coffee and an early Christmas gift – tickets to Handel’s Messiah, performed by the ASO, and dinner reservations – which will sum up today’s final recommendation. I’m sorry girls, but I got him – the most wonderful husband in the world – and I’m never letting go! 😉 Here’s a little preview of a chorus from the Messiah you all should know. The live performance of this brought tears to my eyes. If this is so beautiful here on earth, I cannot even begin to imagine the glory of the songs the choirs of angels sing in Heaven. This performance felt like a foretaste.

I couldn’t find a version on YouTube with the ASO, but this is a more than adequate example.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Dinner at Fleming’s was the other half of my early Christmas surprise, and boy, did we find a new favorite “special occasion” restaurant! Not only do they have more than 100 different glasses of wine to choose from, they provide an iPad to every table to help with pairing your wine to your meal – or specific course, in our case! Plus, (Men, I’m talking to you!) notice the prime bone-in ribeye on my husband’s plate. He did, indeed, eat the whole thing, and we had some happy doggies when we got home! Fleming’s is a ‘chain’, much like Ruth’s Chris or Morton’s Steakhouse, but in our opinion, WAY BETTER! We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and our experience at Fleming’s! Click on the link above to see if there is a location in your area, and if not, come visit us in Atlanta. We wouldn’t hesitate to return!

Hope you all had a great weekend, and enjoyed today’s recommendations! Join us again tomorrow for TTC Tuesday! Oh, and did you notice our new domain name? We are officially newlywedlefebvres.com !

xoxo,