Every winter we break out the Christmas tree,

(this is probably 5 years old)

We Bake goodies!

(Me and my brother Josh made this monster!)

And my favorite we Read the Christmas story!



But in all the confusion of pleasure we have to find time to change are Beauty necessities to a more winterish style.

For example, our faces get dry during the winter because of a lack of moisture.
So we need to make sure to moisturize daily!
My personal favorite moisturizer is Clean and Clear Moisturizer!


Any way I came up with 10 necessities for winter!


1. A everyday curly hair style!


This one is honestly tooooooocute!

2. A easy romantic updo!

A romantic updo is a necessities for Winter!

3.A soft makeup look!

I would prefer this one without the wing but it is so cute either way!

4. A Bold Christmas makeup style!

Love this!

5.A warm fashionable coat!


6.A cute pair of boots!


7.An adorable outfit!

This is so cute!

8.A nail style.

Aren't those cute????

9. A Gold lip!

I have a lighter version of this and it is a go to lip!

10. Christmas Socks!

These are the most normal pair i could find!
hahaha

Any way hope you enjoyed my necessities!

My mk story.

In the year 2000 my family, the Leslie family, moved from Arlington, Tx to Čakovec, Croatia.
I don't have afull picture of our family at that time but here's one of us 3 kids.
(Cody-7, Josh-4, Me-2)

(Yes that cute little Shirley Temple Beauty is me.)

I Didn't Have very much family to leave behind because I was so young and I do not really remember being sad.

So My life as a Missionary Kid had begun.

People have asked me where I am from before and my impulse is to say Croatia, but I'm really from Texas.
It's funny because after 14 years here I have begun to talk like the Croats, I have an accent(People describe it as either British or I think it sounds faintly Irish), and I dress Like the Croats. lol

There are a couple old wives tales in Croatia that I actually believe and it's funny cause if i had grown up in America i would have thought it crazy.

The First Wives Tale(WT) is that if there is a full moon you won't sleep. So True because many times without even looking out the window I have had trouble sleeping; so i would look out the window sure enough to see and there would be a moon as full as a sea. Creepy huh?
 
The second WT is that if you go outside in cold weather your ear will ache. I have only believed this for about 2 years and man is it true!


#3 WT, If there is a South wind people will be grumpy.
I have found this to be true.
Take yesterday for instance, every one was being mean and grouchy and automatically I suggested to my parents that it was a South Wind and they agreed.

I also have begun to Dress like they do.
When the Croatian people go to the store or to a neighbors house they usually dress very, very nicely.
This is not hard for me since I love to dress up but in America most people go out in there night clothes.

I never have had a real American family because I was not there in America often; I was blessed though with a wonderful Croatian  family!


For 9 years our family was alone and it was really very depressing, and btw missionaries want to hear from Americans especially when they are alone.
And let me tell you the worst feeling you can feel is when your'e alone.
When you know you are Obeying God and serving Him but your heart aches for someone to talk to.
Any who the boy's made friends and I was friends with older people(it's always been a passion of mine.)
However there wasn't much of a substance to it.
Then about 5 years ago God sent the Holcomb family here and praise God they had a young girl only 2 years younger than me, Trinity.

We became "friends" right off despite a huge deal of squabbling.
 We really clicked.
Let me say that Trinity Holcomb is one of the sweetest people I know.
I was really blessed also with my parents getting a Vonage(American) phone so I was able
to call my  best friend Elizabeth (her blog is awesome.)

I remember always getting my self into some sort of a mess.
When i was young i remember getting a lengthy piece of glass stuck in my foot, and my appendix was taken out when I was 4, for no reason.
God really has blessed me and i know that it is really lonely in a foreign country, but to all those missionary kids out there God puts you in uncomfortable situations to toughen you up.
One day you'll look back and say Thank you Lord.
 

The best gf sf and guilt free strawberry mug cake with cream cheese frosting!

I was so excited when I found a recipe for gluten free strawberry mug cake!

I softened the butter, got the ingredients ready, until I noticed that it was a guilty recipe, it wasn't gluten free, it had sugar and I wanted it!

So I found a way to make it my own, and hopefully you will enjoy this recipe and I forgot that when you add the straw berries or berries of choice make sure to keep any excess water out of the cake.

I havn't had a problem with extra water because I already drain them.

So I am going to shut up and turn the recipe to you.

Notes: Add less vanilla if you don't like a strong vanilla flavor.

And add any berri you want;)

Ingredients:

1/4 c. Flax flour or almond

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla 

1 egg

1 tbsp butter softened

1 tbsp Splenda

4 large strawberries diced (I used thawed frozen ones)

In a bowl combine all the wet ingredients.(except strawberries)

Add dry and mix well then fold in the strawberries.

Microwave for 1:30-2:00 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Now let's make the frosting!😋

Ingredients:

1 tbsp softened! Cream cheese

1/2 tbsp Splenda

1/2 tsp vanilla or more according to your liking.

Mix every thing well before putting on top of your cake.

Serves:1 

Home!!!

So, after 2 months in America we are headed home!!!!

I can't express him happy I am to be able to see my people again.

Originally we were heading home the 15th of October, our plans were changed when we became home sick for the people, the language and  , our wonderful dog Zoi!!!!

Whilst in America we stayed in a trailer on the back lot of the church.

It was tight and internet-less ;(

I had the opportunity to visit Texas Independent Baptist Seminary And School; and I also had the pleasure of meeting with Pastor Bob Gray 2 and I found him to be gracious and kind and a sincere man.

My mother and I stayed in the women's dorm whilst my dad stayed in the men's; I found it all quite to my liking.

I also was given the privilege of attending some of the music classes and I have decided to make my major educational and minor in music.

God blessed me with seeing my friend Beth Rasbeary; and I enjoyed fellowship over shopping and a Starbucks drink;)

Also God allowed me to see Rebekah and Emily Beth's sisters.

And I enjoyed spending time throwing around a football and laughing crazily as if we came from a home. (Well I did any way;D)

Mollie  a good friend of mine from my home Church spent time with me laughing like  idiots and being dorks.(love you Mollie)

I was so happy to see my sweet brothers Cody and Joshua!!!!

And sadly Josh beat me at glow in the dark put put but (happy day) I sorta bear Cody at soccer(can you beat your own team mate????)

If I were to be honest my favorite part of the trip was spending time with my wonderful grandma,Mammy!!!!!

We shopped till she dropped, we joked till we chocked, and we smiled till it were time to say goodbye.

You don't know what it's like to leave a loved one and go to a foreign country; to be friendless to the point where you would nearly go crazy.

To say good bye to some one and lose them while on the field and be unable to go home to attend their funeral because you can't afford to leave the ministry.

Well, luckily though I have faced those thing and much more(you don't know pain until you are miles away from your crush!!!) I have a way of making it seem good:

1.i was only 2 when I came to Croatia so I was not attached to my family.

2. I may not of had friends such as piers but I had Jesus.( and lucky for me I was already crazy) oh, btw my not having friends didn't mess me up!!!! It strengthened me to depend on Jesus and not on giggly worldly girls who do nothing more than gossip and talk about boys as in a fleshly fashion.

3. As I said I wasn't attached, and God gave me a family in Croatia that I could love and sadly he took some away. At least I had someone to care for.

4. Oh and I got over my crushes!

I didn't become tempted to do something foolish.

This had nothing to do with any thing but I felt like venting I hope you didn't mind.

A final word to missionary girls around the world.

Don't let the Devil give you hatred for no reason!!!!

Fight the devil and use the time to draw closer to God( I wish I did sooner )

Oh, back to America; currently we are about to arrive at the airport in Newark and then from their we have a 3 hour layover, and then we head to Brussels, and then to Zagreb!!!!

I don't know when I'll post this but any way God bless.

The Lord has a plan, so don't demand, a life of leisure like Julius Caesar,

Be obedient to Jesus,

And maybe you'll find; he'll not show wrath but, show in you he's kind.

America home sweet home?

Hey gals!

So if you havnt heard I'm in America right now and have been for the last month and the 15th of October we will head back to Croatia!

God has seriously blessed me since coming and he's been such a friend;)

This Sunday I will be at my best friend Beth's fathers church!!!

I'm going to spend the week with her and her family and then go to the ladies spectacular with her!

I have been doing a lot of school and after 60% averages in Algebra I got a 70 and a 85! An geometry I got a 100% and a 97 so I think God has blessed a lot!

In 2015 I will be making a lot of life changing decisions.

And my adult life will start then.

I mean, I'll get my first job, I'll graduate high school, start college and maybe even find that special someone.

So I've decided to do something fun an tell you my plans and preferred jobs etc. for 2015.

Graduation:

Right now I am finishing my junior year of high school(struggling to finish)

I will graduate in May of that next year, at Trinity baptist church in Arlington, Texas

I'm very nervous but I tell myself that God will take care of me.

College:

I will Attend Texas IBS in Longview next fall along with my 19 year old brother Joshua and my best friend(maybe) 

I will major in music and also study secriterial studies.

I will stay in the dorms, and hopefully I can Make it in with my BFF!

Job:

I really would like to work at a Payless or a Claire's where I could talk to be people and be around them.

But in reality if I can pay for my expenses then that's important.

Special someone:

They must:

1.Love The Lord first

2.Be a God fearing man

3.Go to church regularly.

4.Love me

5.Be a child lover

6. Read his bible everyday

7.Hopefully be tall,dark,and handsome but we'll see how that goes. Hahaha

I know that in the end God will provide and he knows tomorrow.

I don't have to worry about tomorrow because Jesus said:

Mathew 6:34

Take no thought for the morrow.....

If he said it then he must have meant.

Homemade all over scrub!

So today I have chosen to do a spa treatment for a homemade body scrub/exfoliate.

It super easy and makes your skin feel super soft so let's begin;)

Ingredients:

Squeeze of lemon juice

1 c. Vegetable oil of choice (you can also use sunflower oil like I did)

1 tbsp of your fav body spray (I used Sweet pea from Bath and body works)

2 c. White sugar

1/2 c olive oil (optional)

1 tbsp cinnamon 

1/2 tbsp nutmeg

2 tbsp flax oil :( also known as LAN oil)

1 jar 

1 fork

Directions:

Pour your ingredients into the jAr and stir.

I used olive and LAN oil to give me a darker more glowy body;)

Put a lid on your jar and set in your bathroom cabinet or by the pool.

When ready to use scrub all over your body and wash off with warm water.

Enjoy your spa day!