June's Blog-Follower GiveAway Prize...

I've decided to start a monthly blog giveaway to show all my followers how much their support means. This month, I've compiled a gift-basket of awesome things I have in my Etsy shop, Night Owl: The Shop. Here is what ONE, lucky follower will receive:

Aren't these items JUST AWESOME?! I'll announce the winner on the last day of each month - the prize will be shipped the next business day after the winner is announced. Spread the word: The Crafty Night Owl Blog is super awesome! You are too (nudge, nudge)!

Betsy, Reunions & Five Guys...

For those of you who don't know, Betsy is my car and she's been out of commission for the past 7 months. Yes. It's true. I've had this car since I was 18 years old - the 1st and only car I've ever had! Here are some photos of Betsy:

I took her for a much-needed bath today - isn't she pretty!

Yep, I still have a cassette player. I LOVE it. LoL.

I've been stuck in the apartment during the days for THAT long.

It hasn't been a total loss, though. I mean, I've used the time wisely sewing new items for my Etsy shop:

Night Owl: The Shop

(Please, Please, Please spread the word about my shop. I need some business to pay for tuition!)

Let me know what other cutesy items you'd like to see in the shop - won't you, please?

Ok. So, maybe that's not the most exciting part - my dad (yes, the REAL one) help fix it! Eeeee, I'm so excited. To catch you all up: I haven't seen my dad due to some family issues for the better part of 5 years!

Here's a photo of my dad, myself and my grandpa from a couple weeks ago.

After some talks, many nights of prayer & putting the past where it belongs (in the past), we've re-united and it's been pretty awesome. I can't even express how happy I am. It's such a weight lifted off my shoulders. He and Josh spent some hours under my car bonding, talking car parts & laughing... I'm so glad my dad is getting to know my husband (and that they get along very well)!

I spent those hours, inside (out of the blazing heat) with Julia, my dad's girlfriend. We watched Law & Order and tried to hide our feet from the vicious kitty, Kiwi (she had a little too much catnip... or something). 

Since my dad paid the tab on the fuel pump, I thought it only fair that Josh and I pick up the dinner tab - we went to.... 

It was my dad's first time eating there (he's un-american, I know)! We were there for the better part of 3 hours reminiscing and sharing wild, hilarious stories. Needless to say, we had a BLAST and shared a ton or much-needed laughter. 

May Blog GiveAway WINNER...

CONGRATS

***Ashleigh Sandoval***

FOR WINNING THE MAY {BLOG-FOLLOWER} GIVEAWAY!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING MY BLOG. ENJOY!

Do you want to win one of the monthly giveaways? All you have to do is follow THIS blog and you'll be entered - there is one giveaway per month to one blog-follower. 

Memorial Day Shenanigans....

I could write a novel about all the wonderful adventures Josh and I had throughout this past weekend... but,  I'll let you experience them all through pictures. Cool?

Memorial Day Weekend WORE US OUT... and we loved every minute of it!

FRIDAY

RockBand: Blasczyk/Jackson Style. 

Apple, Angela & Abby (Now THAT'S an awesome trio).

I showed Abby & Izzy my pet photography. They recognized an iconic pup - Mister Boaz Terry (our pastor's pup). Abby LOVED them all. 

SATURDAY

It was SOOO hot. I stood on the patio for 10 minutes just to see if I could stand laying out by the pool. I did this because our apartment pool has only 2 chairs worth of shade. Seriously. It's ridiculous. 

My honey thought I was "cute" so he snapped a photo. I think it turned out pretty cute. 

We had the pool to ourselves for a good half-hour... then EVERYONE decided to join. Needless to say, quiet & peaceful turned into noisy & obnoxious really fast. Sigh.

SUNDAY

Our WestGate Church Kickball Team: Crush (Pre-Game)

Valarie, Myself & Gabby (Post-Game = EXHAUSTED)

We came in 3rd place out of four teams. Not great but NOT LAST! Haha. I didn't wear my knee brace so I was pretty limpy afterwards. 

Even though we were completely worn out, we got a group together to see the following movie at 10:40pm (and it was a 2hour, 5minute movie):

The BEST, most hilarious movie adventure, EVER! We had a good group, too: Rob & Chasity, Derrick & Valarie, Josh & Myself and Mrs. Cassie. 

BTW: This movie is make-you-cry HILARIOUS (way better than The Hangover & equally as funny as The Other Guys). 

MONDAY: MEMORIAL DAY

Josh worked until 2pm then we ventured out to my momma's for a family cookout/pool party. I didn't have time to take any photos because I was having too much fun (which is CRAZY because I, usually take photos of EVERYthing)!

Josh and I played Heather and Cody in MANY, MANY games of Pool VolleyBall - talk about F.U.N.

My grandmother and momma prepared some amazing food:

 Grilled Steak

Grilled Chicken

Potatoes

Salad

Rolls

Sweet Tea

Chips & French Onion Dip

Kuddos to them for being so amazing in the kitchen and on the grill. I have much to learn. 

I'm so happy that Josh and I are able to have days like this with my family... we can be ourselves, be real and still be loved & supported. Now, that's something to be thankful for. 

Kuddos to all the military personnel (past & present) for all their hard work, dedication and sacrifice. You make precious freedom possible.

College Bound, Baby...

Josh had applied for college at Regent University a couple weeks ago, so we had anxiously been awaiting the results. Well, they arrived yesterday..... AND..... HE GOT ACCEPTED! I can't even explain how proud I am of him. He took the step and got the reward. This means so much for our family... for our future. The only thing we have to work at now is funding the tuition without taking lifetime loans out. If you know anyone willing to help or want to know more about our campaign to raise tuition funds, please visit Our Path to College Fundraiser. 

I would ask that you keep my in your prayers as I'm, officially, applying to the same university next week. I'm quite nervous! I didn't take college seriously the first time around and am hoping and praying for a second chance. 

If you know of any ingenious ideas to raise money OR earn money, let us know! We would so, greatly appreciate it. Thank you, in advance!

May's Blog-Follower GiveAway PRIZE...

I've decided to start a monthly blog giveaway to show all my followers how much their support means. This month, I've compiled a gift-basket of awesome things I have in my Etsy shop, Night Owl: The Shop. Here is what ONE, lucky follower will receive:

Isn't that JUST AWESOME?! I know I'd be excited to receive all these hand-crafted goodies. I'll announce the winner on the last day of each month - the prize will be shipped the next business day after the winner is announced. Spread the word: The Crafty Night Owl Blog is super awesome. You are, too (nudge, nudge)! 

Visit my Etsy shop and tell me if there's anything you'd like to see in the future! Feedback is welcomed & appreciated!

I do so Love my Camera: Pets

I love my camera. I love that fact that it allows me to capture such beautiful moments, so many different people. crazy pets, unfiltered emotions, etc. My wonderful husband, Josh, bought a Canon EOS 60D for me some months ago - oh, how he knows my little, creative heart. I've been super busy with life, church, family & Night Owl: The Shop that I've barely managed to get "camera time." However, here is what I have so far...

Mister Boaz Terry

Mister Tigger West

Miss Kiwi Jackson

I'm available for hire to photograph YOUR four-legged friends!

I charge $50 for a 60-minute session with your pet. You can get in on the fun for an additional $10.

Do you like what you see so far? Do tell.

Pray for my Enemies? Seriously? Part 2...

Yesterday I explained what it means to actually pray for your enemies. So, I found it only fitting to discuss, today, what praying for your enemies is NOT. If you think praying for your enemies means "desiring wonderful things happen to them or blessings be poured out in their life," then you've misunderstood. 

When you read the phrase "Love your enemies," I want you to think about it this way: The word 'love' in this instance intrinsically means "a commitment to chase (or seek) the absolute highest good in another being." So, what's the highest good for any given person? The highest good for those who are wrong is that their hearts come to know Jesus and for them to become genuinely right. 

The intent is NOT for our enemies to receive tangible blessings (more power, more money, more publicity) but to pray for that persons highest potential, their highest good.

Obviously, there must be some need that's been unmet in their lives or they wouldn't cause us so much turmoil and hurt. 

So, let us pray for our enemies to allow Jesus to start healing what is broken - both in us AND in them.

You will NEVER know the immense blessings you receive from praying for your enemies until you actually do it! When we look at our enemies and, instead of seeing all the faults and wrong-doings, see the need, God begins to change our own hearts. He molds our hearts to be more like Him - who wouldn't want to be like Jesus (he's perfect)! I have witnessed both ends of this point. I've prayed and seen change in my enemies but I've also prayed and seen change in myself. When you pray and you don't see change in your enemies but you see change in yourself... you feel a renewal of yourself. It's incredible.

A dear friend of mine has always said, "It's impossible to pray for someone consistently without developing compassion for that person." I couldn't agree more. Through prayer, Jesus softens the hardened pieces of our hearts - all the crap (hatred, bitterness, un-forgiveness and hurt) is obliterated and beauty replaces all those ugly spots. Praying, even when we don't "feel like it", for others allows us to be controlled by His Spirit, not by our enemies.

I have, many times, found myself in the past refusing to pray for my enemies... that mentality led me down a dark and dreary road. It didn't "show them" anything - it gave them illegitimate power over me. Only after I gave up hating them did I realize what I had actually been doing - giving my enemy the upper hand. That's not cool!

Going out of our way to pray for those who have wronged us may seem like a tall order... and it is. Just remember that He never asks things of us without supplying the strength to do it. 

Pray for my Enemies? Seriously? Part 1...

I've noticed that I have an assortment of difficult people in my life lately. In the recent weeks, I've felt deeply hurt by a so-called friend who photographed my wedding. For those of you who don't know, I was married in August of 2010 to an amazing man, Josh - we still have not received our wedding photos. Needless to say, I'm pretty upset. Josh is extremely frustrated. In my attempts to contact her I've been ignored, forwarded to voicemail and, on several occasions, cussed at and blackmailed (to get money). 

The difficult part is I've tried (emphasis on tried) to exhibit trust, love and understanding throughout the past nine months. It's been hard, to say the least. So, what did I do you ask? I prayed. I prayed out of anger and frustration, "God, I don't want to pray for her... I can't - not with a genuine heart. Help me get to a place where praying for her isn't so hard. I don't know what else to do."

Shortly thereafter, Sermons and Scripture starting popping out at me; speaking to me in a way they hadn't before: 1 Samual 12:23, "As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you."

The truth is, I had not been praying FOR her - nor had I had any desire to. Yet, motivated by this verse, I began praying... and, I can honestly say, healing has begun in my heart. It's a one-day-at-a-time kind of situation. You just have to keep pushing through each day - don't give up!

The verse, Matthew 5:44 has often been quoted to me, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." While most feel encouraged by the merciful words of Jesus, many feel feel resistant when challenged to actually do it. "You want to pray for them? Pray for someone that hurt me so? Did you see what they did to me, what they put me through? I can't... you're asking too much!"

There was once a time I chafed against the very notion; after all, it runs counter to our nature as humans. Genuinely praying for our enemies, literally, seems impossible but when remember that nothing is impossible with God and He often asks of us things that go against our natural way of feeling and thinking.

I know that it is super difficult to do what is asked in the above text, however I am here to encourage you. I've found that I'm better able to handle tough situations when I have support and love (not necessarily from people I know personally).

The Things I Can't Get Enough Of.....

Lately I've been finding little gems that make getting ready, getting motivated and staying healthy a cinch - talk about excited! Through many years of trial & error with a lot of beauty products, "healthy" juices, magazines & fashion, I can honestly say this year has been chock full of success in all areas. I can't express the joy I feel just being able to say that.

I'll start with, what I've experienced to be, the best beauty products...

This stuff works, period. I have sensitive skin with an oily t-zone area which leads to mild breakouts, randomly throughout any given month. After noticing a friend's flawless, beautifully radiant skin, I insisted she give me her secret - can you believe it's a product that costs a mere 4 bucks? Check out www.noxzema.com to find a product from this line that suits your, individual skin type and prepare to be amazed. Before giving Noxzema a whirl, I had been spending too much money on products that are priced substantially higher:

ProActiv

Clearasil

Neutragena

Biore

Clean & Clear

 I'm happy to give a big thumbs up to Noxzema (and my dear, friend) for saving my face & my wallet!

Sitting in the lotion isle one day (yes, literally, sitting), I discovered 2 things: people get confused if you sit in the isles of any store (haha) and that Olay products are amazing & full of healthy ingredients. 

For those who may not know, there are TONS of ingredients in lotions that are not, necessarily good for you. When buying lotions, try to avoid these ingredients:

Parabens

Polyethylene Glycol

Phthalates (Especially Preggo Ladies)

I trust Olay because, for the most part, they steer clear of manufacturing harmful products for mass distribution. 

Excuse me one moment while I do a happy dance right here in my living room! I'm not a frequent customer of CoverGirl products but this stuff may convert me. Dab this on your face after you've applied lotion and it is sure to cut your makeup time down. It makes everything glide on, effortlessly. 

Next, I'll tell you about my favorite pieces of clothing.....

I have never been able to find a better jean than what I find at American Eagle. Their jeans are of incredible quality and last for YEARS  - that's worth the initial investment! There are fits for every body type though I prefer the 'boyfriend' fit. Want to try them out? If you're shopping ONLINE, check out www.retailmenot.com to get discounts (you can save 15-30% this way)!

I adore simplicity in fashion! I've found that when I pair a great pair of jeans with a simple tank, scoop-neck or v-neck, I always feel "put together". You don't have to wear a loud top in order to make a statement. Take notes from the Victoria's Secret models and go to www.victoriassecret.com to get even more ideas. Wearing simple clothing makes me feel beautiful - something EVERY girl could use. 

This is ONE of my favorite magazines...

This is the magazine I read when I feel like I'll never get to "that size" I want to be and I need encouragment. I've TRIED many magazines but usually all I find are a ton of photos of seemingly perfect celebrities with seemingly perfect bodies. This one promotes health, pure & simple.

Now, there are articles on celebrities however they offer easy-to-follow pointers on the quickest & easiest ways to stay healthy AND fit. It's just an awesome read.

The last item on my list is my current, favorite beverage (other than water)....

Hello, sweet goodness! This drink is not only delicious but it also promotes urinary-tract health. It's smooth enough that you can take a long, refreshing swig and not have to make the tart face that locks your jaw up (ouch). I usually drink water, milk and a variety of juices on a regular basis so finding a juice, like Cran-Apple that I'm 100% happy with, makes being healthy that much easier!

Let's share our secret treasures. What kinds of things can you NOT live without?