Transitioning To Natural Gray Hair & Rocking It!

Many of you have been following me on my "gray journey". I am happy to say that I am one step closer!!! This past week my hairstylist gave me an awesome haircut that is perfect for this transition. The cut blends the color and the gray that has grown out, wonderfully. I could not be more pleased!

As you can seen in the photo below, a lot of my hair was cut off...

When you get to this stage, it is a good idea to have several photos saved from pinterest, blogs, etc. Also talk to your stylist. He/she knows your hair, what will work and be able to advise you on what the best cut will be for the look that you are going for. I had whole board full on Pinterest that I was able to access and show that included several style options for now and what I was going for 1-2 years down the road. 

And then we got started!

Or at least, Brooke, my hairstylist got started. I mainly just sat there. 

I never realized how silver or white my hair had actually gotten. I have been coloring it for so long. 

Click here to see my vlog (YouTube Video)

My new style is so smart looking and looks like it is going to be very easy to care for and fix myself. (You know how hard that can sometimes be!) I do love it and will probably keep it until all of the color is grown and cut out. 

I just love how the back looks! 

Now if I were to be able to start all over again, there are 3 things that I would do differently.

Three Things That I Would Do Differently:

1. I would not color just the roots around my part every 2-4 weeks. In 2-4 months it really just gives a bad "comb-over" effect.
2.  At the very start of the transitioning stage I would have the color in my hair totally bleached/lifted out. 
3. After having the color totally bleached/lifted out, I then would have have it tinted silver (either using a semi or demi tint/color) and maybe some lowlights added. 

The above suggestions will make the transitioning almost seamless. There are many YouTube videos that show you the DIY, but honestly, it might be better to have your hairstylist do the color lifting and tinting for you. They know more about how to mix and apply the chemicals to get the results that you are looking for. 

Are you transitioning? Thinking about transitioning? Comment below and tell us about it.

Hugs,
Missy

Muscular Aches and Pains

https://youtu.be/ToQFrpbE0Ck

Going Natural ~ My Gray Journey Continues

Hi Friends! Many of you have been following my gray journey of transitioning to my natural hair. :-) Here is the latest video on my progress.

Missy's Little Things in Life ~ A Talk About Blood Pressure Monitors

What's For Breakfast?

or Brunch or Dinner or even a snack. 

Frittatas of course! 

A dish packed full of protein, minerals and omega 3s. What is even better, you can make it your own! My family loves this dish. Great for a healthy breakfast, serve with brunch and also great for on the go and a great post workout meal. Stores well in the fridge and reheats well. Only 20 seconds in the microwave and it is ready to eat. 

It is resembles a crustless quiche. My husband's cousin calls it an "egg pie" and basically, that is exactly what it is.  Another great thing about frittatas is you can use up those fresh ingredients that have been sitting in your fridge. You know, the greens that are starting to wilt. I will even freeze these veggies and use them to make frittatas at a later time. They will still work great and be delicious! 

Official Wikipedia Definition: Frittata is an egg-based Italian dish similar to an omelette or crustless quiche or scrambled eggs, enriched with additional ingredients such as meats, cheeses or vegetables. The word frittata is Italian and roughly translates to "fried".

Main Ingredients For A Frittata

Eggs, cheese, greek yogurt, spices, a few of your favorite vegetables and some cooking oil. You can also add meat, whatever you like. I do try to keep ours on the healthy side as much as I can.

And you will need a large cast iron skillet. Your frittata can be cooked in muffin pans, but I have never done that. 

Basic Recipe:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. 

8 Large Eggs

1 Cup of Fat Free Greek Yogurt

1 Cup of Cheese (I used goat cheese here, makes it very creamy) shredded or crumbled

1 Tablespoon of Basil

2 Cloves of Garlic

Salt & Pepper to taste

Cooking Oil (I use Avocado Oil, wonderful flavor and works well in an iron skillet)

Additional Items:

1 Cup Asparagus, Washed & Cut (you can also use whatever greens that you have on hand. I love this with spinach, my daughter loves it with broccoli)

1 Pint of Mushrooms, Sliced

1 Cup of Tomatoes, Sliced, Halved or Chopped

Parmesan or Romano Cheese, finely grated 

You can also add various meats or other vegetables that you and your family like.

You can find a printable copy of the recipe by clicking here.

Start with your eggs. Crack them into a mixing 

bowl and lightly whisk.

Add your one cup of greek yogurt and blend with whisk until smooth as you see in the photo below. 

Seasonings: Basil and Salt & Pep to taste

Next add your seasonings, lightly whisk until blended. Now you are ready to start cooking!

Heat up 1-2 tablespoons of avocado oil (or whatever oil you have on hand) in your iron skillet on medium high. Grate your 2 cloves of garlic and allow to lightly brown. Add your beaten egg mixture to the skillet. (NOTE: you may need to turn the heat down a tad.) 

At this point it is so easy, almost like scrambling eggs. Add your other ingredients like cheese, veggies and any meat you might want to add. (Save the tomatoes for last.) 

Stir the other ingredients into the egg mixture and keep stirring, lightly, mainly to keep the whole mixture from getting solid in places. Check to make sure your heat is not too high or too low. This is very similar to scrambling up a large vat of eggs. 

When the mixture is just a tad less than 1/2 cooked, take the skillet off the heat and add your tomatoes. 

Then top with your finely grated parmesan or romano cheese. 

Place in preheated oven and allow to finish cooking. It will take about 20-30 minutes. When it is ready it will be puffy and golden brown.


Allow to cool for about 15 minutes then slice just like you would a pie. Makes about 6-8 servings.

Garnish with greens, serve with a salad or fruit or both. 

You can even eat it by itself. Delicious any want you want to serve it. 

 So Good!!! And one of those little things in life. 

Tell me what ingredients you like to include in your Frittatas? 

Enjoy!
Missy

Evangelist to the World - The Reverend Billy Graham

Thy Good and Faithful Servent

This morning I got up, as I usually do, check the news to learn that Billy Graham has gone "home". I can just imagine Jesus standing there at the gates of heaven with arms open wide saying, "Welcome home, thy good and faithful servant, welcome home and come into thy rest."  In time others, who have "gone home", are going to come up to Graham and say, "Thank you for giving to the Lord, for I am a life that was changed..." If ever these words would apply to a servant of God, they would apply to the Reverend Billy Graham. With every breath, he proclaimed the Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation that He  (Christ) provides to sinners, just like you and me.

The Evangelistic Crusader

My first memory of Billy Graham was watching him on TV as his Evangelistic Crusades were being televised. As a family, we always watched Billy Graham when he was on TV. During his ministry he did about 417 crusades on 6 different continents. 

Seems like the crusade I attended was in a tent like the one above. The sides were rolled up.

Typical stadium set up for a Billy Graham Crusade

Almost every people group and tongue has heard the gospel through Graham's ministry.  I even had the privilege of going to one of his crusades when I was a youth. I cannot recall the details, as I was young. Maybe in Jr High or slightly younger. I do remember it being a really big deal. Our church sent volunteers to sing in the choir, to usher, be part of a prayer circle and to be counselors during the altar call. In all of my life, I had never seen so many people in one place at one time. 

(Left) A Program That My Husband has saved from attending a Billy Graham Crusade in 1972.

Billy Graham spoke with passion and conviction. I believe that it was J. Vernon McGee who said that when he first saw Billy Graham he was not that impressed. Dr. McGee wondered what in the world could God do with a tall, lanky, skinny rag tag looking of a young man with such a tuft of hair wearing a suit that was too big and didn't fit well. But when he heard Billy Graham preach, fire came from his eyes and the Holy Spirit from his lips. Dr. McGee knew that God had His hand on this young man. 

As Rev. Graham would bring his sermon to a close and do an altar call the congregation and choir would begin to softly sing "Just As I Am". Then he would always step back from the podium and pray.

Thousands would get up from their seats and head to the altar in response to whatever God had put on their hearts. It could have been to rededicate their lives to the God because they have been out of fellowship from being out of fellowship with Him or to accept Jesus Christ as Savior for the first time.

Many many lives were reached because of what vision, passion and evangelistic gifts that God placed in this man. And he heeded the call. That means Graham did with his life what God wanted. And he did not get rich off of it. 

Graham praying during the altar call

The Life of Billy Graham

Billy Graham was born November 7th, 1918 and passed from this earthly life February 21st, 2018. Just 8 & 1/2 months shy of his 100th birthday. Accepted Christ as Savior at age 16. Was married to his bride, Ruth Bell Graham, for 64 years. She passed in 2007. They had 5 children. She was a partner in his ministry in every way. A wife, mother & home manager. Because of his schedule, they would go months without seeing each other. But she knew this was all a part of God's plan for them. One of the funniest things I have ever heard her say in an interview was in response to the question if she had ever considered divorce. "Divorce? No, never. Not an option. Now murder....." Meaning that their marriage was not without their trials, but God was at the center and head of their marriage. 

Ruth & Billy in their younger years 

Rulers would seek Graham out for probably photo opps, but also seeking his counsel. Queen Elizabeth II considered him a friend. Always invited him to visit when he was in GB and wanted him to preach at their family services which he obliged. He spoke with "clarity & certainty". They had an unlikely friendship as Graham quoted in his autobiography, “No one in Britain has been more cordial toward us than Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II...” 

Graham with Queen Elizabeth II

L-R Queen Elizabeth II, Graham, Ruth Graham, Queen Mother Elizabeth, R-Prince Phillip

Graham & The Regans

Graham & Obama

Living Humbly & Modestly

The Grahams did not have extravagant lifestyles. The monies collected went back into the ministry. One morning I was watching one of the network news programs. This was in the early 80's when there were a lot of scandals, financial & otherwise, being uncovered in the world of televangelists and the Judeo-Christian ministries.  A, at the time, well known televangelist couple and Billy Graham were guests being interviewed by the show hosts concerning the different financial scandals happening in the different ministries. And how televangelists are always making a plea for money & donations. When asked about the finances and monies coming into the Billy Graham Crusades, Billy Graham's response was that they have never had to ask for money. They pass the plates at every crusade and the offerings are used to support the ministries. "God has always provided what we need. The day we have to ask for money will be the day that we will know God is no longer in our ministry and it will be time to quit." Billy Graham was adamant about financial accountability in the ministry. BTW, the televangelist couple who appeared with him were later accused, charged and convicted of fraud with their ministries. 

Legacy

I daresay that no one has done more to lead others to Christ than the Reverend Billy Graham. I expect over 1,000,000, because this man answered God's call and used the special gifts that God gave him. Amazing what God can do with one person, if that person will surrender to the call. 

"Thy good and faithful servant."

John 3:16, the first Bible verse I memorized, after watching a Billy Graham Crusade on TV.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." 

That, beloved, is my prayer for you. 

To watch/listen to some of Billy Graham's sermons and videos of his crusades, follow this link: Billy Graham Crusades and Sermons

To learn more about the Reverend Billy Graham and his ministries, follow this link:

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

What are your memories of Billy Graham? Has his ministry affected your life or the life of a loved one in anyway? I heard the gospel of Jesus Christ many times before I accepted Him as my Savior. Several of those times were sitting in front of an old black & white TV with my family watching and listening to Billy Graham deliver the gospel, "with clarity and certainty." 

Missy

Are You Gluten Intolerant?

Do You Need To Go On A Gluten Free Diet?

I have to say, I am so thankful that I AM gluten tolerant. In fact, for lunch I had a slice of whole wheat peasant bread with crunchy almond butter (the kind that has to be stirred) topped with sliced ripe banana on top. In my blessing I actually thanked God that I am not gluten intolerant and that I do not have celiac disease. In all seriousness, I am thankful. 

My sister has issues with gluten, dairy, most meats and so many other foods. I have so many friends with dietary issues, having to cut out almost all grains, dairy, certain meats, and now my daughter is being tested for these issues. I will admit, as far as for myself, there are certain things I cannot eat, but not many. And, if I were to sit and eat a lot of bread at one time, my tummy would not be happy. In moderation and always using the rule of thumb: a service sizes is the size of "my" palm/fist and always eat a protein with my carb. Oh, and one more thing, always eat whole grains staying away from refined foods. All of this being said, I have heard of many people, who do not have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, enjoying benefits of going "gluten free".

What are your thoughts?

You can read more by clicking the link below:

Should I Be Gluten Free?