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Jul 30 2015

Budget Saving Tips for the Fashionable

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 2 Comments

Budget Saving Tips for the Fashionable

I love accessories and I can spend much of my time in those departments. I love how a simple scarf, pin, jewelry or shoes can change the whole look of an outfit with so little cost. Helping you can get great mileage out of your basic wardrobe.

Today I thought I would show you some tricks with scarves. There are so many beautiful colors, combinations and sizes which will add pizzazz to any outfit. Also giving you many great alternatives for your wardrobe.

Be creative, try using scarves in different ways, be imaginable you may start a fad!

Use them for:

Blouses under your jackets
Belts for both casual and evening events
And even used them as jewelry, with pins, pearls and necklaces intertwined.
Hair and head designs
Don’t overlook large scarves, they make wonderfully elegant shawls for evening
Also remember the men in your life, masculine scarves in wool’s, plaids and plain colors look great but also add warmth on chilly days.

I have added a PDF for you, of different scarves and styles to try: scarves

Next week I will continue with other Budget wise tips to save money. If you enjoyed this blog and found it helpful let me know.

Thank you Julie for sharing this scarf video, of Wendy’s Lookbook from youtube.com Hugs

“Fashion is about something that comes from within YOU.”
Ralph Lauren

No matter what your style or fashion, It is such a wonderful comfort that when God see’s us He thinks we are perfect. Like the flowers of the fields He has personally clothed us with His design and purpose. In Matthew 6:28-29The Message (MSG) it says,

“Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference?

Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

Thank you for spending your time with me, I love this time together. Also thank you for your prayers, I am doing better and feeling much stronger with more energy. I am honored by your friendship and compassion, Hugs

Lovingly, Karan

Jul 13 2015

Interviewing God

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

Interviewing God

“So you would like to interview me?” God asked. “If you have the time” I said.

God smiled. “My time is eternity and it is enough for me.” “What questions do you have in mind for me?”

“What surprises you most about human kind?”

God answered…
“That they get bored with childhood, they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.”

“That they lose their health to make money… and then lose their money to restore their health.”

“That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, and they live in neither
the present nor the future.”

“That they live as if they will never die, and die as though they had never lived.”

God’s hand took mine and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked…

“As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your children to learn?”

“To learn that true happiness is not to achieve their goals but to learn to be satisfied with what they already have achieved.

“To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves be loved.”

“To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.”

“To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.”

“To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open deep wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them.”

“To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most,
but is one who needs the least.”

“To learn there are people who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned how to express or show their feelings.”

“To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.”

“To learn that it is not enough that they forgive each other, but they must also forgive themselves.”

“To learn that they can never do something extraordinary for me to love them; I simply do.

“Thank you for your time,” I said humbly.

“Is there anything else you would like your children to know?”

God smiled and said,
“Just know that I am here… always.”
-author unknown

*** Karan’s Update: Thank you for your love, prayers, wonderful notes and cards. I have been trying to do some walking everyday to regain my strength.
F unny how fast I fizzle out. Lol

Thank you dear friends for sharing your time with me, I love connecting with you each week. Have a great week!

Lovingly, Karan

Discussion Question: If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

Jun 18 2015

Are Our Eyes The Windows or Frames?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 2 Comments

Windows or Frames?

Karan Gleddie had come for a visit; all the way from Calgary Alberta to Port St. Joe, Florida, where I live.

It was March and Karan was looking forward to lots of sand, sun and surf. Unfortunately, Florida was experiencing some of the coldest spring weather in history. Needless to say, she was disappointed, graciously disappointed, but nonetheless, disappointed.

I did my best to make her visit fun. The truth is we always have fun no matter what we are doing.

After plenty of retail therapy at all the malls within a fifty-mile radius, we headed to the local video store to rent a movie or two.

Right from the beginning I knew this last stop was going to go badly. As we walked into the store, Karan caught her purse in the closing door, then stumbled off one of her three inch heels. There was a loud, yikes-kind-of-squeal and everybody looked our way to see what the commotion was about. Karan adjusted her hair and pressed on as if this sort of thing happened to her all the time. (it does).

We selected our movies, without incident, and headed to the checkout counter. A very pretty teenage girl was clerking and I, never being one to miss an opportunity to strike up a conversation, said, “Gee you have beautiful skin and your eyebrows are perfect.

The girl smiled shyly and said (as they do here in the south), “Why thank you, ma’am. How sweet of you to mention my brows. I just had them done.”

Where upon Karan says, matter-of-factly, “Well, you know, the eyebrows are the windows to the soul.”

There was a pregnant pause, while the girl and I, and another clerk on a ladder, considered Karan’s remark. It had a familiar ring, but was definitely off-key.

Then the guy on the ladder says, “I think that would be ‘the eyes are the windows to the soul’.

Knowing her as I do, I could see Karan formulating a recovery. Then the laughter started (me less than the others since I am, after all her best friend.) But the guy on the ladder actually looks weak and the clerk behind the counter is so amused she is gasping for air. Meanwhile, Karan patiently waits for the laughter to die down. She is neither embarrassed, nor does she seem the slightest bit unhinged.

She smiles that sweet girly-smile, for which she is famous, and as she scoops up the rented videos her last words were, “The eyes are the windows, but the eyebrows are the frame. (Nice save, Karan. Nice save.) © DHD~ 2003

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Girlfriends: God brought us together at a time when we each desperately needed a friend, and for thirty years we have weathered traumatic personal storms, wept through life’s terrible disappointments, rejoiced in one another’s achievements, and have screamed in utter hysteria over our foolish antics.

God brought us together and He made us best friends, because He knew we were the best match to hold each other up in the hard times, and knock each other down a peg in the self-important times, but most of all we love each other unconditionally—just like He loves us—unconditionally, no matter what!

Though we both come from “Jerry Springer Show” backgrounds, here is what we know for certain: We can’t change the shape of our bodies, nor slow down aging. We cannot change our pasts, or the nature of our parents. And though our childhoods may not have been perfect, they are over.

We have prayed and preached and punished each other through two decades of a friendship which was surely made in heaven.

John 15: 12-13 “I command you to love each other in the same way I love you. And here is how to measure it—The greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.”

“A real friend is one who walks in

when the rest of the world walks out.”Kara

–-Anonymous

** Karan’s Update: Tuesday June 23, I will be have my long awaited surgery in Calgary, I am so thankful that God has opened all the right doors and taken care of the details. Thank you each one for your kind thoughts, prayers and card, I am blessed by you all, Much love and Hugs,

Lovingly, Karan

May 02 2015

Do You Have Your Bloom On?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 6 Comments

Do You Have Your Bloom On?

Two mature ladies were sitting on a park bench outside the local town hall where a flower show was in progress. One leaned over and said, “Life is so boring. We never have any fun anymore. For $5.00 I’d take my clothes off right now and streak through that stupid flower show!”

“You’re on!” said the other old lady, holding up a $5.00 bill.

As fast as she could, the first little old lady fumbled her way out of her clothes and, completely naked, streaked through the front door of the flower show.

Waiting outside, her friend soon heard a huge commotion inside the hall, followed by loud applause. The naked lady burst out through the door surrounded by a cheering crowd.

“What happened?” asked her waiting friend.
“Why, I won first prize for Best Dried Arrangement.”

Reflecting:

I love beautiful flower beds, and have long admired people who have a creative eye for designing them. I use to read garden books and how-to books trying to learn the proper care of plants and how to grow them.

My mother could make anything grow, however the growing and gardening gene missed me somehow. I either loved my flowering plants too much with water, fertilizer and conversation, or dried them out with not enough. I have a hard time keeping anything alive but a cactus!

Because of my lack of talent in the floral department, when we built our home I chose evergreen plants that wouldn’t lose their leaves. They looked wonderful but not much color or contrast. So one spring I went to Michael’s, a craft and hobby superstore to buy some beautiful tall silk flowers in pinks and reds. My conditions were large flowers with extra-long stems and they needed to look real. I was so excited about this bright idea, I couldn’t wait to get home. After arranging them in the evergreen bushes and flowerpots, I felt satisfied with my little touch of creativity.

When people drove by they would comment on my beautiful flowers, I was glad they noticed but hoped they wouldn’t get too close and learn my secret to success!

As summer turned to fall, my flowers were still in full bloom, however one evening we had an early winter storm blow in with heavy sleet, snow and wind. It lasted for two days, it was so cold I forgot about my flowers outside. After the storm was over and the snow melted, my flowers were still standing and blooming, my secret was out!

I have learned there are over 230,000 to 270,000 species of flowering plants according to David Bramwell, and each one beautiful and special in its own way. I think God looks at each one of us like a beautiful flower too, made perfect, beautiful and special. He loves and accepts us just the way we are, no conditions!

Luke 12: 25-28, the Message- says;

Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all?

Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it?…

If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

Do you know how special you are to Him?

Lovingly, Karan

Thank you for stopping by and sharing you time with me. Have a great weekend dear friends. Much Love and Hugs

Jan 15 2015

Girlfriend Time!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

Where would we be without those dear sisters we call Girlfriends. The ones we laugh with, cry with, and shop with. Our mother’s, sisters and friends who encourage, teach, and help us to become better women.

Mrs. Mitchell, my third grade teacher who spent extra time with me, teaching me to read. When I repeated third grade, she never made me feel inferior. To this day, I still cherish her memory and kindness.

I think of my mother who raised me even when the stigma of being an unwed mother many years ago. (I will not tell you how many) I know that choice caused her many hardships in her adult life.

For eight months, I had struggled with depression, which a new medication caused. Depression was one of its side effects. During this time, my family and friends constantly loved, prayed, laughed and encouraged me, always reminding me that God knew exactly where I was. Sometimes when we get into a dark place, it is hard to find our way out.

When I hit a wall, I became overwhelmed, and started looking at all the circumstances and stress in my life, I forgot about all the good things. I took my eyes off of the Lord, instead of remembering all that He has done for me. My cup became half-empty, instead of full.

As I had time to meditate and look back, I realized how God has lead me with His love and faithfulness over the years. He is faithful, constant, and everlasting.

In Hebrews 11: 1-3 I am reminded:

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. By faith, we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

I have found Him to be all I need.
I want to thank all the Girlfriends in my life who daily encourage me to be the best I can be for the Lord. Your loved.
Lovingly, Karan

Thank you for sharing your time with me, I would love to hear from you.

What have your girlfriends meant to you ?

Karan K. Gleddie

Offering Love and Laughter to Women who need Hope