Warm Caramel Apple Cider.....

Last Friday I did a post on a drink, Maple Limeade, and I am back again with another drink "recipe"...only this one is even more enthralling! Apple cider (especially hot apple cider) is one of my favorite drinks of the fall/holiday season, and its even better when you doll it up with a little caramel. Here's how to make this super yummy cider!

Hot Caramel Apple Cider:

-8.oz of regular apple cider

-1 tablespoon of caramel sauce or dip

-1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

-Whipped cream (optional)

 *Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan, heating over medium heat while stirring. When the caramel is melted and the cider is hot, pour into a mug. Top it off with whipped cream and drizzle the caramel over the cider to your liking. Prepare for heaven! 

I hope you guys enjoy this cozy drink as much as I did, and have a fabulous evening!

Tonight's Love: Maple Limeade

For the past couple days I have been loving to drink a little concoction I like to call Maple Limeade. It began when I saw a bottle of fresh lime juice sitting in the fridge, and then something beautiful happened....

Here's how I did it: 
*the glass I put it in was 16 ounces, but you could cut the recipe in half if you only want 8oz.

-3-4 tablespoons of lime juice (depending on how tart you like it, and you could also use lemon juice)
-2 tablespoons of maple syrup
-15 ounces of water

Just mix everything together and add some ice! Even though you can't taste it too strongly, the maple syrup really compliments the tang of the lime. And it you using all natural syrup, its a great alternative to sugar.

Limes are also know to be great for your hair, skin, teeth and eyes, they help digestion, they're an awesome source of Vitamin C, and their citric acid will even help burn fat, great for anyone out there trying to loose weight. So eat (or in this case, drink) your limes!

The Skin You've Always Wanted

Today I came across this recipe on thebeautydepartment.com and I wanted to share it with you all! It's a brown sugar body scrub, perfect to achieve smooth, exfoliated, glowy skin.

Here is all you need:

• 
  
• -half a cup of brown sugar
• -three tablespoons of (preferably organic) olive oil
• -a few drops of water.
• 
  
• 
  
• Mix all the ingredients together, and use in the shower as an all over body exfoliator!  The brown sugar smooths away dead skin cells (gross, huh?!), and the olive oil give your skin tons of moisture. I will definitely be trying this soon and hope you do too :) 

Will you choose joy?

When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I usually think of is how I can get ready faster so I can squeeze in a few more z's before starting the day. I sluggishly hit the snooze button and go back to sleep wishing it was a Saturday, and hoping that the time will pass by slowly. I don't always wake up and happily thank God for the beautiful day he created (this usually takes an hour or so of "waking up" for me to do ;) and then start my morning with a bright smile.

But the truth is, I have absolutely no reason to start my day with a frown. Every morning I wake up there is a new day, a new sunrise, and a new chance to serve my Creator with all I have. The Bible considers joy a very important aspect of being a christian...after all, knowing that Jesus died so that we can wake up each morning with a clean slate should be more than enough to put a smile on our faces! Here are some verses I found that talk about joy:


"The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living." Psalm 19:8


"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy." Psalm 30:11


"When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing." Job 33:26


"So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy." John 16:22


And finally,


"But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy." Psalm 5:11


So from now on, it will be my goal not to think of waking up in the morning as a burden, but as something refreshing: a new start.  Farewell my friends, and remember...choose joy!