5 favorite things: get ready quick

sometimes you have to get ready in a hurry. some mornings you sleep a little later or your little ones need extra attention or you completely forgot about that appointment or someone is stopping by for a surprise visit in 5 minutes or you just ran out of coffee and have to make an emergency Starbucks run. you know those days? those days you have to get ready quick.

on days when i'm already dressed (although not always the case) and everyone else is ready but me (almost always the case) and we have to be out the door 5 minutes ago, these are my 5 favorite things for getting out-the-door-ready quickly:

1. my brown leather Flojos flipflops. seriously these babies look good with just about everything. and somehow the brown leather makes them more fancy then the $2 rubber flipflops. i feel a tad more put-together with these on. they are soooo comfortable. they are light weight and have soft little cushions for arch support. i got mine at Costco but i've seen them on amazon and zappos. throw them on and i'm ready.

2. Everlasting Light Shine Necklace. this sweet little necklace is my everyday go-to now. i love how it's gold and the word shine is sparkly silver. and on the back, it's stamped with PHILIPPIANS 2:15. it's dainty, a simple but pretty accessory for the finishing touch on a basic outfit. i got it at Declare but you can get one at DaySpring.com. the entire Everlasting Light collection is absolutely beautiful. i'm thinking Christmas gifts!

3. peace & calming. ahhhhh. peace & calming is a YoungLiving essential oil blend with two of my favorite scents: orange and patchouli. one whiff of it is like a mental massage. i started using this oil topically to help me sleep better and hopefully prevent me from clenching my jaw in the night. and it has helped! some days, though, especially days when i'm rushing to get ready, i dab a little on the insides of my wrist and behind my ears as a peace & calming perfume. because when i am rushed Lord knows i need some PEACE AND CALMING.

4. hairbun! i call it a bun sponge. you can call it whatever you'd like. put it in your ponytail, roll it down, and you have a pretty hairbun. when i'm in a hurry to get out the door, this is THE EASIEST way to tame my thick, long, layered hair - whether it's wet from just out of the shower, in need of a wash, or somewhere in between. the bun sponge makes a pretty up-do that looks much more put-together than a top-knot or ponytail. although i do love a messy top-knot. :) i found my bun sponge at Forever 21 for less than $2. they come in different sizes, too.

5. The "Wet" Brush. remember when i said i had thick, long, layered hair? i finally found a hairbrush to manage it. i LOVE this hairbrush. my daughter has wavy hair that acts crazy in humidity, and this brush manages her hair, too! it's called The Wet Brush because it safely brushes wet hair without pulling it or stretching it. it also works wonders on dry or tangled hair. i have a Wet Brush and my daughter has a Wet Brush and i'm considering buying a few more because the Wet Brush is one of those things that when you find something that works well, STOCK PILE amiright!? a quick run-through of my hair with The Wet Brush, top it off with the bun sponge, and i am adios amigos.

and one more thing! before rushing out the door, don't forget strength, dignity, and peace:

free printable

*affiliate links included

50 women wrote

i am reading this incredible book that you have probably heard of by now, 50 Women Every Christian Should Know by Michelle DeRusha.

i don't know if Michelle intended for this book to be read with a highlighter in hand, poured over and studied, but that is what's happening here. these women are true heroines of our faith, Christian women pioneers, and i only wish i knew about them sooner. they weren't taught about in any history class i took, and most of their names aren't familiar to me at all. but wow, i am so thankful now to know about them and their stories- heartbreaking, triumphant, and inspiring.

these women lived hundreds and hundreds of years ago. it completely amazes me that sitting here in 2014 i can read about the life of Hildegard of Bingen, how she interpreted God's word, experienced supernatural visions, and obeyed God, despite the cost...in the twelfth century! times were very different then. but God was the same. 

as i read about each woman, i imagine their faces, their homes, their day-to-day lives, i'm overcome with gratitude that these stories are knowable. these women aren't famous and they didn't necessarily do anything outstanding to earn them a place in Michelle's book. but who they are and the impact they made on their community for God's glory - just in their daily choices- is what makes them godly women worth remembering. 

a commonality i'm finding among the 50 women, other than bold faith and courage, is that they wrote. they journaled. they kept a diary. they logged their days. they wrote their stories down as they were happening.

were they thinking "i should write this down because some day my life will be worth talking about!" no, i'm guessing not. they wrote because it seems as though it was their way of working through struggles, keeping track of their days, processing their thoughts, prayers, and their faith-walk, and communicating with God.

Florence Nightingale, in the 1850s, kept a notebook constructed out of scrap paper and old letters. she recorded what she prayed for, and God's answers. she kept a diary when she traveled and wrote about her dreams. 

Phoebe Palmer was a prolific writer, pouring her heart out on pages of her journal, in letters, and eventually published books.

we know about Elizabeth Fry's very personal struggles to find her faith-footing in 1811 because she wrote about them in her journal. 

in the 1600s, Anne Bradstreet wrote poems, a private memoir, and a lengthy, heartfelt confessional letter to her children documenting her testimony of hardships in her faith journey, and offering them hope for theirs.    

page after page, story after story, i'm able to read and know because these 50 women wrote. not for their fame, but for their own sake, as they persevered. we know who they are and why they lived that way. we learn big parts of their stories because they took the time to write.

this encourages me. when i log in to blogger.com and write about our first day of homeschooling or a recipe our family loves or how God's word is speaking to me in a certain season...i'm writing in the same way they were writing. i'm not thinking about what my words will mean or what my stories will read like 800 years from now. i'm writing to document, to work stuff out, to share, confess, and to persevere.

my 9 year old daughter keeps a journal. from the time she could make out the letters, she's been a diary-keeper. she writes almost every day, documenting what we do, how she feels, her dreams, her prayers, her struggles. (and lots of "OMG!") she doodles. she writes. she tells her own story in her own words, she logs her days, she writes.

it's fascinating, isn't it? consider this: the same God these 50 women prayed to, wrote about, dedicated their lives to, is the same God i write about on my blog and the same God my 9 year old writes about in her little diary!

i want to keep writing out our days, writing out my faith-journey, my personal stories and reflections, my prayers and my dreams. not to make a list or be famous or known in that way. but because years from now, i want my children and grandchildren and great grandchildren to know who i was and why.

50 Women Every Christian Should Know is fast becoming one of my favorite books of all time. i'm learning so much about women who were faith firecrackers of their day, and the legacy they left for women and Christians and humanity. not only do they inspire me to keep living for Jesus, they also encourage me to keep writing.

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i don't drink // we can still be friends

i used to enjoy adult beverages from time to time. but a few years ago, alcohol lost it's appeal. even socially.

drinking an adult beverage or two almost always led me down a path that i knew wasn't right for me. instead of feeling relaxed or content, i would always wrestle with guilt, shame, and fear. it wasn't fun.

there is nothing fun about being scared of alcoholism or alcohol poisoning or drunk driving or liver failure. there is nothing fun about watching from the backseat as your drunk parent swerves in and out of lanes on the highway. there is nothing fun about praying for a family member who might be addicted to alcohol. there is nothing fun about explaining to your children that you can't get out of bed because of a hangover.

with all of this in my heart, adult beverages tasted bitter, disgusting. 

abstaining from drinking alcohol makes much more sense to me and the way i want to live my life. i knew it was the right decision the first time i said no to a beer at dinner. it was easy and i had peace. not drinking alcohol lines up with my morals and makes me a better me.

this is my decision. it is very personal. know this: i am not judging you if you drink. please don't judge me (or anyone) for not drinking. we can still be friends. *cheers*

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hi, i'm eryn.

#fridayintroductions is an instagram thing hosted by @jessaconnolly and @thetinytwig. here's how it works: every friday, take a minute to re-introduce yourself to your friends and followers on instagram, AND answer the weekly question offered by Jessi and Hayley. i am sharing my #fridayintroductions here today in hopes that you'll pop over to instagram to see today's question and join the fun :) just search the hashtag #fridayintroductions. 

@mamahall

hi, i'm eryn. my husband and i have been married almost 12 yrs and we have 2 darling children. i work @theseedcompany + co-host @declareconf. this photo was taken on tuesday when i wore a dress and had a purple monster smoothie because i felt like it. i love Jesus, dancing, and coffee. 

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good coffee + good books

i like to start my day with a good cup of coffee, and end my day with a good book. but ideally, i'd like to sit in a cushy chair reading a good book and sipping a cup of good coffee. there's just something about a good cup of coffee and a good book that makes me really happy. i have always loved Barnes & Noble for ingeniously combining the bookstore and the coffeeshop.

let's talk about good coffee and good books, shall we?

my husband makes the best coffee. he has the water to grounds ratio down to a science, and i wouldn't trade a cup of coffee he made for any other coffee. we have a reliable Mr. Coffee pot that gets the job done every morning. but recently, we discovered a new (to us) way of brewing coffee. 

i'd like to introduce you to the Bialetti 6800.

the Bialetti is an Italian-made stove-top coffee and espresso brewer. we have the 6-cup version. it is so easy to use...it's almost primitive. it's so simple, it makes our Mr. Coffee pot seem complicated. it works like an upside-down percolator. the water goes into the lower "chamber" and the coffee grounds go in the filtered funnel. put it on the stove over medium to medium-high heat, and wait for it-- the glorious sound of gurgling coffee and intoxicating aroma of hot, fresh brewed joe. a really good cup of coffee is yours in about 7 minutes.

   

the Bialetti would make a great Christmas gift for your fellow coffee snob connoisseur. (it's made of aluminum: 10th anniversary gift idea!) pair the Bialetti with a good book and a pound of coffee beans and wow- best. gift. ever. 

  

A Light in the Wilderness by Jane Kirkpatrick // i finished reading this a few weeks ago, but the story has stayed with me since. it's based on true stories of three women travelling the Oregon Trail. i felt like i was on the journey with each of them- praying for their successes, empathizing with their losses, and celebrating their bravery.

50 Women Every Christian Should Know by Michelle DeRusha // speaking of brave women! to be honest i wasn't sure if i could get into this book. before bed especially, i prefer to read stories not facts. but DeRusha did this right. one by one, i'm learning about women who boldy stepped out in faith and impacted their families, their communities, and the Kingdom of God. DeRusha brings these women to life in such a way that is leaving me challenged and inspired by their courage, and mindful that our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Kingdom Woman by Chrystal Evans Hurst and Tony Evans // this is on my night stand to be read next and i'm so eager to dive in. i met Chrystal at Declare last year, and she was there again this year, and fingers crossed she'll be at Declare again next year. i just love her. :) Chrystal co-authored Kingdom Woman with her dad, Dr. Tony Evans. i flipped open the book and saw this quote: You don’t have to seek anyone else’s approval for the life God has given you. and that right there is the message i need to read. i imagine i'll read it and then pass it on to my daughter to read, as well. this video says it all: http://youtu.be/rOjDmDQzEZk

happiness is a cup of coffee + a really good book.

wouldn't you agree?

*amazon affiliate links included.

i was provided with copies of the books for review. the opinions expressed here are honest and my own. 

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gluten-free chocolate chewy granola bars

even though i am well aware it's the most important meal of the day, i am not a breakfast person. my kids, however, are definitely little breakfast people. they take it pretty easy on me though. Big Girl likes to have either cereal, a bagel, toast, yogurt, fruit, oatmeal, or even a protein shake. Bubba's breakfast of choice is even simpler: granola bar. he's developed quite the breakfast granola bar addiction, in fact. and because he eats gluten-free, all-natural, and organic, i was spending $5 or more each week to support his breakfast bar habit. and then one day, the brand of bars i always bought was discontinued. the spot on the shelf in the granola bar section where we found HIS BARS was empty. vacant. tragic.

i searched all the other stores. i used the brand website store locator. i asked the grocery stocking guy to check in the back. nothing. Bubba's favorite breakfast bars were gone forever. we tried other brands but it just wasn't the same. Bubba holds pretty high standards for his breakfast bar- it is the most important meal of the day, after all.

well, you know what they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. i decided it was up to me. i had to make my own gluten-free chewy granola bars. i found a really great recipe and modified it a little bit, and yall, these bars have completely replaced Bubba's beloved $5 breakfast bars. they are a HUGE hit! i make a batch every week now. the whole family loves them. and not only for breakfast either - they make a yummy snack any time! i have told enough people about these delicious gluten-free chocolate chewy granola bars to warrant a blog post, so here you have it.

<< click here to print the recipe >>

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups gluten-free quick-rolled oats
• 2 cups gluten-free Chex cereal (any flavor, crumbled)
• 1/4 cup chopped almonds
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons organic coconut oil
• 1/3 cup natural brown sugar
• 3 1/4 cups marshmallows (small size)

TO MAKE:

• line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper & set aside.
• clear space in your refrigerator for the cookie sheet. 
• in a large bowl, combine oats, cereal, almonds, chocolate chips, and salt. mix well.
• IMPORTANT: your kitchen is about to smell amazing. melting coconut oil and brown sugar is the scent of heaven, i'm sure of it. dear Yankee Candle: Melting Coconut Oil and Brown Sugar. you're welcome. 
• in a large saucepan, melt coconut oil over medium heat stirring constantly. add the brown sugar and keep stirring. 
• IMPORTANT: keep stirring and do not walk away from the stove because you do not want this to burn. trust me. 
• when the heavenly melting coconut oil and brown sugar reaches a thick paste-like consistency, add the marshmallows and reduce heat to low.
• continue stirring constantly and inhaling heaven's aroma. you want the marshmallows completely melted and well combined with the oil-sugar. it'll be thick and gloopy.
• turn off the heat and pour the marshmallow mixture into the oats mixture bowl. 
• stir stir stir until well mixed together.
• spread the sticky granola onto the parchment paper lined cookie sheet, patting it down with the back of your spoon or spatula to make it flat and even.
• refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• when you take them out of the refrigerator, slice into bars with a pizza cutter or sharp knife. if they crumble or fall apart, refrigerate for longer. 
• store cut bars in an air-tight container (separating layers with parchment paper so they don't stick together) in the fridge.

enjoy!