#mycurrentsituation

Have you ever read this hashtag; #mycurrentsituation on a friends social media sight under one of their pictures?

: #mycurrentsituation Her Daddy is about to have a heart attack in his new truck!

I always get a good laugh out of the ones that pop up in my news feeds because like myself, most of my friends are mothers and so their #mycurrentsituation pictures usually consists of a humongous mess that they are left to clean up! It’s a sympathetic laugh not a mean laugh!!

For instance, you may see a picture of an adorable little girl who looks like she is auditioning to be a clown after playing in Mommy’s makeup while Mommy was busy cleaning house. How about the one with Walls and baby covered in black sharpie? Sometimes there are even photos of big boo boos, and broken or spranged bones.

Maybe it is a bigger situation that requires Immediate Medical Attention, Or maybe it’s so personal, so upsetting, so emotionally damaging and deep you would never hash tag and post a picture of it.

#mycurrentsituation Sick baby girl day before vacation!!

If you are having a #mycurrentsituation that seems to be lingering into what feels like a #mylifesituation, cheer up my friend! Let me encourage you with some words of #TRUTH!! 🙂

Remember time is fleeting! Psalm 89:47

Seasons in life are temporary. 2 Corinthians 4:18

This, whatever you are going through, will soon just be a distant memory.

Human feelings and emotions are fickle.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Our desire to want is way more then our desire to be content with what we have, leaving us unstatisfied and incomplete.

Hold on, trust God, believe in hope, and have a little faith in whatever your #currentsituation may be.

Excuse yourself from being the Healer, Fixer, Mender, Doctor and take your #mycurrentsituation to God. He can clean up any mess that we or anyone else for that matter may have gotten ourselves in today!

xoXO

-Leigh Leigh

Like me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter so we can stay connected! http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks http://www.twitter.com/ash_leighharris

“Working Out” My Transformation Story (pics)

Good Morning on this Fabulous “Fit” Friday!!

You may have already checked out my Body after Baby post, if not you should check it out now!

Today I wanted to share with you how working out has changed my perspective on the way Faith operates in my life! But Before I share this with you take a look at some physical evidence for yourself!

In the photo to the left I am 20 years old Mother of zero kids and I was probably if I could guess around 136 pounds. I am also five foot 6 inches in case you were wondering. The photo to your right was actually taken about a month ago. I am 29, 128 pounds a Mother of two Children that came from my belly. I am actually a mom of 5 but I can’t take credit because only two came from this tummy! As you can see from the two photos there is quiet a bit of difference going on with my body.

I actually made this photo collage for a Friend’s Facebook Page “God’s Fit Girl.” I was hoping to link her page her to my blog, unfortunately at this time she has taken a break from Facebook and deactivated her accounts, therefore I can’t link. I would like to come back in the future and try to link her up here.

She was giving away a God’s Fit Girl Tank to the first 5 transformation stories posted to her page. I was her first one! I have to admit, besides putting up before and after pictures on my blog for the world to see a few months ago, I have never been brave enough to do this and was freaking out a little to go through with it. Free Cute Tank Tops have that power over me! 🙂

The reason I wanted to share this Transformation with you today is not just to inspire you to work out or take better care of your body, of course those are a given, but today, rather I would like to share with you how working out has helped me understand how faith works and proof that I can trust God.

First of all let’s define Faith, shall we!?

¹faith

noun \ˈfāth\

: strong belief or trust in someone or something

: belief in the existence of God : strong religious feelings or beliefs

: a system of religious beliefs

Merriam-Webster.com

There are so many beautiful scriptures on Faith in the Bible. I do suggest a Web search on Faith scriptures.

In my human mind I tend to be wired to be skeptical and analytical by nature. I also have a flesh that wants instant gratification! This desire for instant gratification has grown with my ability to access the Internet and all of it’s information in the palm of my hand, 24/7.

When I began working out I didn’t seem to acquire the results I wanted because I had no faith in what I was doing and didn’t trust the process. We all think if we go on a diet for a week we are going to lose the weight we put on over a long period of time. It DOES NOT WORK that way!

As I have been praying for a way to get this across to you so that you can understand it I have been dealing with a challenge. But I am going to try my best so here we go! Faith is a belief; something that we commit to fully, and we trust. But we can’t see it. This confuses us because we want to see tangible evidence that faith actually works and can be trusted.

I ran over 2 Peter 1:5-7 a few years ago in my bible. Something about this scripture just ingrained in me that there is a natural process that occurs when we step out in faith and keep digging in. Our Faith, Our Hope, Our Knowledge, Our Desires, Our Character, etc.. they all GROW!

2 Peter 1:5-7 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control;and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.”

I actually remember writing this out on card stock and posting it on my dresser mirror so that I would continue to read over these words so that they would start to stick.

While this scripture was helping me grow in my Faith in Jesus and encouraging me to stay in his word and pray for knowledge, self control, kindness, it was also inspiring me to test this theory so that I would be able to see transformation take place physically!

We know that when we give our hearts to Jesus he fills us with his Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit produces fruit in us. Here is a reminder of the fruits of the spirit: LOVE, PEACE, GENTLENESS, PATIENCE, FAITH-FULNESS, SELF-CONTROL, GOODNESS, KINDNESS. I know that I have access to all of these “fruit” and were I lack, I can pray and ask God to develop these fruits in me!

In my mind I took the scriptures from Peter and I connected them to my life style change.

Since Faith was going to represent my Body this is what I ingested from this scripture.

“make every effort to add to your faith goodness”

(Make every effort to add GOOD things to my body; water, protein, fruit, veggies, complex carbs)

“and to goodness, knowledge”

(Make every effort to add knowledge about Working out and making my Body healthy) I would ask questions about weight training, portion control, cardio, realistic goals, how to burn fat, calorie intake, etc.. Knowledge goes A LONG WAY!

“and to knowledge, self-control”

This was and probably still is my biggest obstacle! SELF CONTROL! I was going to have to put in the effort to practice self control on what I put in my mouth, and how committed I would be to a work out routine! Self control will always be a work in progress!

“and to self-control, perseverance”

Good old perseverance! Just when you think you have the self control down, you actually have to continue to keep the self control, continue, to practice the self control, continue to live out that self control! Whew!! Persevere through those hunger attacks, those negative comments from others, preserve through those days when you feel like it’s not working, you don’t have what it takes, you will never accomplish your goals. Persevere through insecurities you have established along the way own your own or by others. Persevere through the pain of getting through your first cardio class and you think your body if fixing to fail you.

“godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.”

Godliness! I just took from this that God did design my body, it was made for his glory not mine, and I should take really good care of it so I can be around in good health to complete the mission he has set before me here on Earth! Brotherly kindness, eh well motivating my friends and my family to fight the good fight of self doubt and no hope of achieving success with their Weight struggles! I need to be kind to my body as well! I should intake healthy foods, drink plenty of water, and get a good amount of sleep each night. Showering is also good too for my hygiene! 😉

Finally LOVE! I should absolutely LOVE my body! This ties in again with taking care of what God gave me to begin with! I should not only love my body, but My soul as well! Working out increases endorphins which make you happy! It reduces stress, and helps you tire out so you can sleep if you struggle with not being able to sleep at night! Working out has a magnitude of perks, just look them up for yourself!

Now back to the Fruits of the Spirit. I know first off, I can do and accomplish all things in Christ who gives me strength, Philippians 4:13. Did you notice that when I am building my faith I actually use some fruits of the spirit? Love, Kindness, Patience (to persevere), Goodness, and of course Faithfulness.

When I started to focus on my Body and use all these tools found in 2 Peter 1:5-7 guess what? My BODY STARTED TO CHANGE! It started out with small changes, but after time, dedication, commitment, and faith in myself, trust in the process, my body started to change! My chunky tummy started to shrink, My legs began to get firmer, for once in my life I could actually see that I did in fact have some muscle under my skin after all! I could lift more weight over time, run farther, and I had so much more energy! My clothes dropped sizes, and the pounds of weight dropped as well.

IF I COULD TRUST THIS PROCESS in 2 Peter 1:5-7 TO WORK FOR MY BODY AND ACTUALLY SEE PHYSCIAL EVIDENCE THAT IT DID INFACT WORK, I COULD BELIEVE THAT IF I COMMITED MY LIFE TO CHRIST IN MY FAITH I COULD TRUST THAT ALL THE PROMISES THAT GO ALONG WITH LIVING MY LIFE WITH CHRIST WOULD BE EVIDENT IN MY LIFE!

Hebrews touched my heart when I learned with out faith it is impossible to please God, because he wants us to have faith;trust in him and his word and what he commands us to do!

If you have been struggling with your weight or your faith in Christ, can I just challenge you today to test the theory!? Maybe you have little faith or are weak in your faith and you need physical proof? Use your body as a test. Start focusing on the challenge to change it through the process of working out and eating healthy. Maybe you don’t need or want to test it that way. Then use 2 Peter to build your faith in the Lord. Seek him through bible study, prayer, but friend you must, must, have a little faith, dig in, be strong, be kind, love, have patience, endure, preserve, and fight the good fight of Faith in Christ Jesus!

Maybe you have little doubt or feel like your faith is too small! Let me leave you with another life changing, faith building scripture.

Luke 17: (NIV)

⁶He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

I didn’t just transform by body, but my mind, my faith in Christ, my hope for a good future, and my love for others. I can’t give God enough thanks, praise, and credit for all the good things he has done within my heart and my life! I pray the same for you reading this!

Transforming YOU is a BEAUTIFUL thing!

Be you, Be Beautiful!

–Leigh Leigh

follow me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks or Twitter http://www.twitter.com/ash_leighharris

24 Hours of NO COMPLAINING Challange completed

Let me first say, there were ample amounts of moments where I literally had to force my hands over my mouth to keep quiet!

I witnessed a little anxiety along with slight anger rising up in me yesterday as I completed tasks on my to do list with four children. So what did my day look like exactly? Let me explain!

7:10am I woke up to a text message from my dear Step Son. He didn’t make it to practice this morning and had requested a ride to the gym at 6:50am. I did not receive this message because I was off in dream land. When I hurried to get ready to take him, he decided it was too late and didn’t want to go.

I also woke up with this huge painful bump on my left arm pit (What? Really who gets a bump on their arm pit?) I shrugged it off, oh well, it will eventually go away I decided. No complaining over a painful bump.

8:41am After closing my notebook after writing my blog vowing to not complain for the next 24 hours, I grabbed my phone to check the email. My phone had completely froze as in it was not powering on at all. In a panic I began to push buttons to reset it, nothing, it was lifeless. I know it wasn’t dead because I had like a 86% charge when I woke that morning. I kind of chuckled to myself and proceeded to plug it up, of course it came on and I was able to check my email.

I spent the next 3 hours cleaning my home. We just returned from a week and a half vacation and I do not clean on VACATION! 😉 The house was very much out of order and needed lots of TLC on my part to nurse it back to a soft place to land for dear Husband when he would arrive home from work in the afternoon. During the course of these three hours I got to listen to my children complain about several things. I just kept going, kept positive, and focused on completing the house cleaning. While I was cleaning up the living room, my cat, Thaddeus, decided he wanted to act like a crazy monkey while I was vacuuming. He jumped on the table beside my couch and knocked over my new lamp. As it went crusading to the floor, I thought, NOOOOO, please, please don’t tell me it broke. He has never done this before. I knew right away it was a trap to get me to stumble. I quickly set the lamp up and proceded to straighten the metal part the lamp shade sits on. It was very crooked after the fall. The lamp shade was going to survive the fall. (yea!)

*I should have recorded this with a picture, but my camera was in the other room and of course taking a picture was the last thing on my mind!

I surived the complaints my children made over the lunch I prepared for them. “I didn’t want ham, I wanted turkey.” “Mom, she got more chips then me!” The list of complaints continued. I gritted my teeth, and smiled. After all it was just 12 o’clock, I got this I thought to myself! Piece of cake!

Then it happened, you know the realization of knowing you have to take your taking children into PUBLIC and removing your children from the confined walls of their fortress! If your a Mom then you know what I am talking about. Once you escape your safe fortress your children turn into the creatures you can’t quiet recognize in public settings, the Nice Mommy face comes on and they know they are about to get away with murder!!!

Yes I was about to attempt the unthinkable………….Doctor appointment with four KIDS!

Dear Step Son had to get his Physical for the upcoming football season so we got to wait on him for about 45 minuets. Incase you are wondering when we left this building it was around 2:15pm. I got to literally listen to my 7 year old Son complain for the whole duration of the wait. “Mom, I am so bored. There is nothing to do here!” I am not exatruting when I say, this rant was repeated over, and over, and over again. The anxiety was about to start setting in. Could I sit here and watch them make the waiting room into their own personal circus ring? I mean a few fish in a tank can only occupy these crazies for so long! LOL Crazies because that is what they turn into when you take them to a waiting room! Although I am very proud of myself. I feel like I kept my composure and with the exception of my 7 year old, no one was embarrassed. We survived and no Mommy complaints. ZIIIING!

Our public outings where not complete after the doctor visit. Now it was time to tackle the Grocery Shopping for this week! Again, as a Mom, you know how well behaved your children will act while Mommy shops diligently and gracefully for groceries. (HA)

I believe this shopping experience lasted about 45 minuets. I did however have the lovely opportunity to have my dear Step Son step on my flip flop, causing me to almost face plant right smack on the floor, however I am thankful to add that there was no planting of my face that day. One flip flop went flying out infront of me, and my other foot got a boo boo where the flip flop thong rubs against your big two and that toe beside it, right in front of two Ladies having a conversation in the middle isle of Wal-Mart. Mean while I can hear something of the sounds of Dear Step Son yelling “OH flat tire, and Sorry!” Needless to say I was embarrassed as I hurried to grab my shoe and place it back on my foot, so I could go hide in a hole somewhere. I Didn’t react to it, I was just ready to be checked out and headed home.

Parking lot, shoes, Bubble Gum. Yup you guessed it. Can you believe that on the way to the car I actually stepped in ABC Gum? LOL (Already been chewed) I remember ABC gum was a topic back in my childhood days. Sorry, getting off track focus Ash’Leigh! FOCUS! It just all seems so humors to me now! 🙂

When I took my first step and it stuck for a slight three seconds longer to the pavement, I knew I had felt that heavy sensation before. I had stepped in bubble gum. As you can notice from the image above, I didn’t just step in gum! No, this gum was apparently alive and decided to JUMP on my flip flop. It was a sticky mess. Immediately I just laughed. Not a little chuckle or a giggle, no this was like a Panic Laugh. I think I really wanted to cry but all I knew to do was laugh! Laugh hard, loud, rambunctiously. It had quickly become a very stressful day, but I REFUSED to give up on my challenge! I scrapped my shoe across the parking lot, hopped in my car, and drove home.

Here are my kids leaving the store, as you can see after the doctors appointment and grocery shopping trip they were as worn out as Momma was!

3 O’clock was our present living time. I gave a 60 minuet warning to my girls to finish cleaning the upstairs. Mind you this was a task that they had been working on all morning and still was not even half way complete!

4O’Clock Yea my Husband is home from a hard days work. This is where I needed to pull out the tape to tape my mouth shut because there is just something wired in a woman to want to spew every hardship she encountered that day with the children while Daddy was away. I smiled, grinned, kissed, and hugged him, keeping my lips super glued.

This took a lot out of me, but it was do able!

5pm Gym time. I encountered my friends that I haven’t seen in over a week and a half. It was so nice to talk to each one of them. However, I picked up very quickly how hard it was not to complain about something that had happened over the trip, or anything else for that matter. We are quick and sneaky with our complaints. Heck, half the time I don’t even realize we are saying them. But again, I quickly focused on other things to talk about and kept it positive! No complaining from me! 🙂

7pm dinner and baths.

10pm BED!

I woke up this morning at 5:20am to make my husband a lunch for his day. I had to wake my smaller children up around 6:30 to take big brother to summer strength and conditioning practice. I prayed, prayed, and prayed God would give me the strength this morning to make it until 8:40am. It was quiet hectic early morning and so to my surprise, when my daughter used my kitchen towel to clean up some cat poop that some how made its way on her leg,

I lost it! Out it came.. “Why do you always get Momma’s good things dirty!! I use this to dry my hands off in the kitchen while I am preparing meals. NASTY!!”

How she even got cat poop on her leg is way beyond my reasoning at this point. I knew I had just complained out loud!

But guess what!?

It was 9:00am WHEW

I MADE IT!!!!

I will blog tomorrow about my reflection of this challenge. I have learned so much and I most certainly recommend everyone to take this challenge. If you took this challenge with me and were successful I want to know! If you weren’t successful I want to know too! Did you learn anything more about yourself or others?

Don’t forget to stay in touch! Like me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks Tweet me http://www.twitter.com/ash_leighharris or sign up for email updates on new posts here!

xOxO

-Leigh Leigh

Can you handle this 24 hr challenge?

*image found on facebook

Happy Monday!

Usually on Mondays I like to write something encouraging for the week ahead. I found this picture on my Facebook news feed and the ideas started flying for my blog.

Instead of just going the next 24 hours consciously aware that I’m about to make a 24 hour commitment not to complain, I will document how this challenge will play out! (This will be posted tomorrow, so make sure you come back to see how I do!)

Do you think it’s possible to go 24 hours without complaining on a Monday? 🙂 It’s a Scary challenge!!!

I promise you that I will be honest and if I do slip up, I will let you know.

To prepare my heart for this challenge I will mediate on these words from Philippians 2:14, 15 NIV
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky..”

When we complain we are immediately expressing that we are ungrateful. I know how frustrated I get when I hear my children complain about silly stuff like being bored when they have everything a child could want and more, or complaining because they wanted their bowl of cereal in the blue bowl, not the white bowl. I can only imagine how God must feel when I, myself, complain about the silly things in my life.

When we remember that the world doesn’t just revolve around us, we quickly realize how blessed we are. If you have a warm meal and a hot shower you are blessed beyond your means.

Don’t complain about the mess your kids made in the kitchen, or the 4 hours you are about to spend washing dirty laundry, be thankful you have children.
Don’t complain about your coworkers or your boss, be thankful you are employed and have stability at your work place.
Don’t complain about your circumstances that you can’t change, instead allow this to be a growing season for your character.
Don’t complain about your weight, be thankful for your health and if you are unhappy, change your eating habits.

I once heard when you complain you remain. Why? Because you are allowing your thoughts to stay focused on the negatives and not the positives!

When negative complaints come sneaking up in my heart and traveling up to my mouth I will say these words out loud
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 ESV

So do think you can handle this challenge I present to you on this fabulous Monday?

Do you think I will make it the whole 24 hours or are you betting I slip?
Where is your faith my friend?? 😉
Only time will tell!

If you are taking this challenge please comment below. Or check in with me on Facebook! I could use some encouragement myself! http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks
Or tweet me @ash_leighharris

WE CAN DO THIS!

8:40AM let the games begin!

Big HUGS
-Leigh Leigh

FAST PAIN RELIEF in a Drinkable SHOT

FIRST AID SHOT THERAPY

I received this First Aid Shot Therapy Liquid drinkable shot from my Influenster #SurfsUpVoxBox. Thankfully headaches are not my MENACE, but my pesky little wrist pain is. I was in the gym yesterday working on my chest, and the irritable pain that comes and goes came on strong while working out on the bench press. In my anguish, I remembered that I had thrown my First Aid Shot Therapy in my gym bag a few days prior, so I thought to myself, what a great time to try this product out! Within 20 minuets, my pain had decreased immensely. The liquid shot went down very smooth. This has a yummy berry flavor. In my opinion it gets a TWO THUMBS UP!

Walgreens, 7Elven, Amazon carry the F.A.S.T. FIRST AID SHOT THERAPY! To find OUT MORE INFORMATION go to

Home

Price $2.99

*I received this product from influenster for free for product testing and review. #SurfsUpVoxBox

xOxO

-Leigh Leigh

*Follow my blog here, LIKE me on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks, or Twitter @ash_leighharris

Beautiful Women keep their mouths SHUT!

*image found on Facebook feed

“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” Proverbs 18:21 NLT

It’s Monday! You know what that means! We need a little piece of encouragement to move us forward on a positive note for this new week we will journey on.

I actually found this picture on my Facebook feed not too long ago. The instant it caught my eye, I thought to myself, this has to be blogged about and shared! I mean isn’t this so true!?

Wow, this scripture found in Proverbs 18 could not paint a more vivid picture of the one I found on Facebook. We see a fish who has the opportunity to swim past the hook dodging danger by keeping his mouth closed, or the fish could come running towards the bait with mouth wide open ready to seize what he thinks is going to make him feel satisfied and full, happy, and joyful, only to have his whole world turned upside down with destruction or death concluded. How many times have you been in a conversation with another friend and someone who you may have bitter feelings about pops up? Just the sound of that name could become the bait dangling from Satan in front of our little fishes faces. In that moment we want to so desperately begin to open our mouth and let all the ugliness about this person come spewing out in hopes that we convince our friend to take our side, like us more, gain alliance to us, dislike them too, as we spew our insecurities out like a volcano erupting. I use volcano as an analogy because the lava is extremely hot, and damaging, life terminating, to everything it touches. We have now pushed our opinions, hate, bitterness, onto this other person we care about, causing strong influence on their opinion of this other person as well. We cause GREAT DANGER and DEATH when we take the bait of gossiping and devaluing others!

*image found http://amazinggeologist.blogspot.com/

“The gossip of bad people gets them in trouble; the conversation of good people keeps them out of it. Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well done work has its own reward.” Proverbs 12:13 MSG

The best thing to do, would be to just avoid these “bad/negative” people in our lives during conversation with others. It’s simple, just don’t go there. If they are brought up, simply dodge the topic or skip to another topic of choice. If you can’t change the subject, then just simply don’t respond. The other person will eventually get the hint and move on to another subject. Love covers a multitude of sin, so in saying this, cover their wrong doing to you. You don’t have to tell everyone how nasty they were by going behind your back last week or lying about you. Our friends nor any ones else for that matter really needs to know all this. Why? Because God is all seeing and all knowing. Our enemies can not escape him!! He will take care of them some way or another. So smile, relax, don’t worry, and by all means talk about something good!

*image found on pintrest

“The words of a fool start fights; do him a favor and gag him. Fools are undone by their big mouths; their souls are crushed by their words. Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly?” Proverbs 18:6-8 MSG

I love, love this mental picture! Have you ever ate cheap candy? Cheap chocolate comes to mind. You know the kind that has lost it’s shelf life and is all dried out. Sugarless! Oh my gosh, it’s disgusting isn’t it!? Not only does it taste bad, it lingers with bad after taste in your mouth! Are you seeing the similarities here? Although this scripture is talking about listening to gossip, I think it goes for sharing gossip as well. Just like bad lingering candy, so do our words and gossip we hear. After they flow out of our mouth and heart they make it into someone else’s heart and then later their mouths.

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the moth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45 NIV

So next time Satan lures you in with a big piece of Gossiping bait, don’t be a fool like a fish is! Keep your mouth tight, resist the bait, and swim to SAFTEY! )

*image found at http://opendoor.tv/tongue-power/

We are human and we all are guilty of speaking ill of another person and listening to a friend bash on another. I don’t want this post to bring condemnation to you, but conviction. We all need to be reminded of how damaging words really our to others and ourselves.

This picture on my news feed was a great reminder to me, so I hope it can be a good reminder for you that will bring blessings to your life!

Being a Woman who can keep her mouth shut when it is absolutely the hardest thing you can stand is a BEAUTIFUL thing!

Don’t forget how beautiful you are!

XOXO

-Leigh Leigh

*Follow my blog, Follow Leigh Leigh Speaks on Twitter @ash_leighharris, or Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks

Summer leaves my Skin Thirsty

My Favorite part of summer is soaking up warm vibrant rays of SUNSHINE!

After soaking up the suns rays, my skin gets really thirsty for a cool drink! I am Super Happy I found this to quench my skin’s thirst!

Hawaiian Tropics Silk Hydration After Sun is the first and only after sun product that combines ribbons of gel and lotion to leave your skin feeling luxurious and refreshed.

Features & Benefits:

24 hours of luxurious moisturization and refreshing hydrating ribbons

Lightweight feel

Coconut papaya fragrance

Refreshes sun-tired skin with soothing aloe gel

You can add Hawaiian Tropics Silk Hydration After Sun into your Beach Bag for only $8.99/8oz or $2.99/2oz.

This can be purchased at your local Wal-Mart, Target, and other stores.

*I received this product complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster. #SurfsUpVoxBox

You can check out the unboxing of my #SurfUpVoxBox from Influenster on youtube….

xOxO

-Leigh Leigh

LIKE Leigh Leigh speaks on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks, follow me here, or on Twitter @ash_leighharris 🙂

He > I (He must become Greater)

*image from commons.wikimedia.org

As I am diving deeper into God’s word and opening my heart to God’s abounding love for me these past few weeks, I feel like I truly have discovered the meaning of John3:30. He > I

It has definitely been one of those scriptures that continues to pop up continually like a song that gets stuck in your head on replay.

If you are like me, sometimes when I glance at the scriptures the words just seem so plain, confusing, so still, so flat. I am super analytical so I will try to take a three word scripture and try to find the meaning out of it all. Okay over analytical is more like it! Sounds strange, I know, but today these words stretched out with wide open arms, hugging my soul this morning.

“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30

Now I may lose you for a second, but just hang on. It will all come together at the end!

Let’s take a look at one of the promises Jesus gives us over in John 10:10
Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (Other translations say have life abundantly) I like to look at it as this too,”.. and to have abundant life, more and more and more and more, forever!” My translation!

Watch the similarities here in the following versus of “even more.”

2 Samuel 6:22″ I will humble myself even more.”

Jesus said, “Even more, those who hear the word of God and keep it are blessed!” Luke 5:15

Romans 5:20 “But where sin is multiplied, grace multiplied even more.”

Philippians 1:9 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernments.”

But on the flip side watch this…

Ephesians 4:19 “They became callous and gave themselves over to the promiscuity of the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.”

Genesis 37:5 “Then Joseph had a dream when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.”

1 Samuel 18:29″ And Saul became even more afraid of David, as a result, Saul was David’s enemy from then on.”

*Beth Moore’s Women’s Study Children of the Day illustrated these scriptures of being “even more”, and “more and more”.

*image from ifcamedia.org

I began to realize that things we feel, think, and do GROW bigger and multiply! Scary and Awesome!

*image from mobc.org.au

Love and Hate, Sin and Grace, Fear and Peace. Even though they are opposites they are similar in the concept of growing, more and more. But God is good, isn’t he? No matter how far we let fear grow in our Hearts, he gives us peace, and instantly we are rescued to shore from the swallowing waters of fear.
No mater how much we have sinned, he tells us that his grace multiplies. Love covers a multitude of sin. “Fear not, for I am with you,” Jesus says.

So back to my topic here because I may be side drifting. When I put my faith in Christ I know that it will grow more and more. But before he can become Greater and me Less, I have to yield to he is love, his forgiveness, his patience, his endurance, his grace, his teachings, his will, his humility, his mercy, his gentleness, his meekness, his kindness, and obey his commands. I have to believe he is who he says he is.

As I emulate his ways, his attitude, his behavior, his compassion for others, like a seed planted into the soil of my heart, out springs forth a tree of Abundant Life of unspeakable joy, happiness, peace, etc.. more and more. As I focus on all these things, my flesh desires becomes less, and less, and by abounding in Christ’s desire for the abundant life he died to give me, I am living out 2 Corinthians 3:18.

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

This can not be accomplished apart from him! I am nothing good and I can do no good with out him.

Jesus’s influence in my life has to be greater then any other influence.

My Focus on Jesus in my life has to be greater then the focus on myself.

Jesus has to be the Center of my life.

Jesus has to be the Father I run to, and the friend I confide in.

*image from aristotles-muse.blogspot.com

Sweet Friend, if we truly want to follow Christ and walk in his ways, we must become less, and he, JESUS, must become Greater!

xOxo

-Leigh Leigh

Follow me here, or on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks, or @ash_leighharris onTwitter!

#SurfsUpVoxBox Unboxing Review

Oh my goodness the wait is finally over because I just received my first ever #VoxBox from Influenster.com!

I am super excited to be able to finally blog about my review of my complimentary products that I received.

Influenster is a fun website that allows you to take surveys and write product reviews on your favorite products. When you participate they send you VoxBoxes containing free products to review for them based on your interest, surverys, and badges you accure.

I wanted to share the unboxing of my first #VoxBox that I published to Youtube! I will be blogging product reviews here in the next fews days as a follow up to my unboxing!

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

*This was my first ever video review, so please extend your grace and don’t make fun of me too much! HAHA

“I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.”

If you are interested in receiving free products to review yourself for FREE, I can invite you via your email address.

Surfs Up Dudes!
-Leigh Leigh

Like what you see? Let’s stay connected! Follow my blog, subscribe to email, Like Leigh Leigh Speaks on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks or Tweet me! @ash_leighharris

Busting the Monday Morning Blues

Monday’s happen to be one of my new favorite days of the week. I use to look forward to Friday’s because it was a sign of things ending and time to be spent resting with the Husband and kids. Don’t get me wrong I still enjoy Friday afternoon around 4:10 when he comes walking through the door from work, but there is something inspiring about Mondays!

Monday marks new beginnings. Last week is behind us, a new week hangs in the mystery of the future. Maybe the older I get the more I seek after challenges. I am really not sure!

Picture found on newtritionblog.com

As you journey into a new week today I would like to give you some words of great wisdom found in Proverbs 21.

“Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor.” Proverbs 21:21

To pursue something means to follow, to get, to be involved in.

Righteousness means morally good.

Prosperity is a condition of being well, successful, or thriving.

Honor means you are respected or judged of good character.

So when we put this all together it looks like this….

Whoever (anyone) goes after; chases; gets in involved in morally good things, and loves, will find life, the state of being well and thriving, and respected and esteemed by others.

How does this look played out in ones life? Well I don’t know about you but for me it looks like this.

I can pursue my husband in love. I can put him before myself by thinking of his needs first above mine. This may be taking an extra ten minuets of my afternoon to rub his back after a hard days work. Cooking his favorite meal, when I would rather pop in oven pizza. Running his errands, instead of lounging by the pool.

I can pursue my children by putting their needs above mine. I can do this by spending extra one on one time when I would rather send them up the stairs to play together. Take them to the park to feed the ducks, instead of making sure the house is absolutely immaculate for 5 minuets! Reading them a bible story instead of turning on the television.

I can pursue my friends and family by picking up the phone or sending a text to let them know I love them, that I am thinking of them, and I am praying for them. I can invite them over for play dates, or lunch.

Pursue my blog so that it will be fruitful to those who read it. Pursue my laundry so that it doesn’t collect to be the size of Mount Everest and take me down in defeat while my children holler out they have nothing to wear by Wednesday. Pursue my home so that my family has a clean, organized place to land after all the weeks events unfold outside of them home. You get the point! 😉

Pursue my relationship with Jesus by praying, reading my bible, singing songs of worship.

I can pursue righteousness by making conscious efforts to set my thoughts in heavenly places. Pray to not fall into temptation of road rage, impatience at the grocery check out line, laziness, negative thinking, nasty critical snap judgments of others. Stopping and pausing before I speak. Remembering to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Fixing my eyes on Jesus.

*photo found on tumbler18.com

Pursue is the exact opposite of Passive. We are creatures made to move not lie doormat.

Be inspired! Be excited that it’s Monday! It’s a new fresh start and as you go along this week remember to pursue, pursue, pursue!

Pursue love, righteousness and be amazed at its return of LIFE, PROSPERITY, and HONOR!

Stop and think about it for a moment. How will this week be different for you if you followed Proverbs 21:21’s advise?

xoxo

–Leigh Leigh

Let’s stay connected! Follow my blog, subscribe to email, or like Leigh Leigh Speaks on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks

Quick Beach Wavy Hair Straight from the Bottle

Summer Friday’s have this Busy Momma on the Go, Go, Go! This happens to create some serious #hairstruggles post morning work out. As you can imagine after a hour of Zumba followed by another 30 minuets of a shoulder lifting my hair is a sweaty drenched mess.

A shower is a MUST!

Being that my Friday’s have been crazy busy these past couple of weeks, running madly outside of my home on various errands, leaves me a very small window of time to grab a quick shower. Yes, the wet hair slicked back in a pony or bun can come in handy, but I have found a super easy way to create Beach Wave locks, in minuets!! (quick shower included)

I have to share this picture with you so you can see just how STRAIGHT my hair is. I have very fine hair and volume just does not come natural for me, even with color on my hair! Go, Figure!

This would probably be a good time to post a picture of my sweaty post work out hair, but I will spare you for today! 😉

Here is my hair after a quick shower. Check that volume out! You would have never guessed that I was a sweaty mess just 30 minuets prior to this photo!

Get the Look

Now here comes my favorite drug store find of the season………………….Walgreens!

I have tried several sea salt sprays to get this look with much disappointment.

I LOVE this spray!

Wash your hair , towel dry, then comb out any tangles.

Pick out something fabulous to wear and get dressed.

Go ahead and apply your favorite bronzer, blush, eye shadow, mascara, eye liner, and lip gloss. (If you desire!)

Shake your TXT IT spray and spray all over your tresses. Starting from the bottom of your hair, start scrunching your locks from the bottom to the roots. (As much hair as you can hold in your hand.) Squeeze a handful of hair and release. Repeat until all of your hair has been hand scrunched.

*Feel free to spray in more spray and scrunch some more until desired look is reached.

Now to my favorite part:

Let it air dry and Go!

You will notice that the bottle says “All day (un)dressed Look. If you are going for something more put together, then I suggest skipping the spray, blow dry out, and roll with wand.

Remember we are in a hurry and on the go, that’s why we are opting for the messy beach waves look!

L’Oreal Paris did not give or ask me to review this product. This review is strictly of my own personal opinion.

How do you achieve quick beach waves? I would love to learn other ways as well! Comment below please!

xOxO

-Leigh Leigh

Don’t miss up coming posts. Like Leigh Leigh Speaks on Facebook, wwww.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks, follow me here, or sign up for email!

Spa Pedicure Benefits

“Good things come to those who wait.” – unknown

I am a little embarrassed to admit that I am 29 year old female, who has never taken the time to pamper my self with a spa pedicure. My sweet friend, Tiffany, about had a mini heart attack when I revealed this confession to her a few weeks ago. So, this afternoon she treated me to my very first ever spa pedicure!

I am so very grateful that she did because it was AhhhhhhhhMazing!

Spa Pedicures definitely warrant a…

Did you know that not only do spa pedicures feel amazing, and leave your nails looking gorgeous and polished, they are actually beneficial to your health?

I couldn’t help myself when I wondered what the healthy benefits could be, so of course, I looked them up, and now I am going to educate you! 😉

Benefits of Spa Pedicures

Helps prevent infections and diseases in the nails
Provides a relaxing way to de-stress.
Decreases foot and lower leg pain.
Reduces the amount of odor your feet exude.
Helps prevent bunions and corns caused by dead skin.
Leaves you with soft, healthy, beautiful feet.

*Info found on spa.answers.com

My spa pedicure left my feet feeling silky soft and smooth. My toe nails are now perfectly trimmed and squared away. The polish is precise, not slapped on because I am in a hurry to get out the door. I Guess it was a good thing I decided to balance my check book today because it totally de-stressed me, and I left feeling lighter on my feet!

Check out my feet from my picture above, they are practically GLOWING! 🙂

If you have been holding out for a spa pedicure, let me encourage you to go get one!

You will not regret it!

Do you fit in the “never had one” category, or do you get them habitually? I would love to hear from you so please comment below!

Smiles,

-Leigh Leigh

Don’t miss what’s to come! Follow me and Like Leigh Leigh Speaks on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/leighleighspeaks

#mycurrentsituation

Have you ever read this hashtag; #mycurrentsituation on a friends social media sight under one of their pictures?

I always get a good laugh out of the ones that pop up in my news feeds because like myself, most of my friends are mothers and so their #mycurrentsituation pictures usually consists of a humongous mess that they are left to clean up! It’s a sympathetic laugh not a mean laugh!!

Maybe it is a bigger situation that requires Immediate Medical Attention, Or maybe it’s so personal, so upsetting, so emotionally damaging and deep you would never hash tag and post a picture of it.

If you are having a #mycurrentsituation that seems to be lingering into what feels like a #mylifesituation, cheer up my friend! Let me encourage you with some words of #TRUTH!! 🙂

Remember time is fleeting! Psalm 89:47

Seasons in life are temporary. 2 Corinthians 4:18

This, whatever you are going through, will soon just be a distant memory.

Human feelings and emotions are fickle.

Our desire to want is way more then our desire to be content with what we have, leaving us unstatisfied and incomplete.

Hold on, trust God, believe in hope, and have a little faith in whatever your #currentsituation may be.

Excuse yourself from being the Healer, Fixer, Mender, Doctor and take your #mycurrentsituation to God. He can clean up any mess that we or anyone else for that matter may have gotten ourselves in today!

Sharing is Caring!

1faith

When I began working out I didn’t seem to acquire the results I wanted because I had no faith in what I was doing and didn’t trust the process. We all think if we go on a diet for a week we are going to lose the weight we put on over a long period of time. It DOES NOT WORK that way!

2 Peter 1:5-7 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control;and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.”

While this scripture was helping me grow in my Faith in Jesus and encouraging me to stay in his word and pray for knowledge, self control, kindness, it was also inspiring me to test this theory so that I would be able to see transformation take place physically!

Since Faith was going to represent my Body this is what I ingested from this scripture.

Luke 17: (NIV)

6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

I didn’t just transform by body, but my mind, my faith in Christ, my hope for a good future, and my love for others. I can’t give God enough thanks, praise, and credit for all the good things he has done within my heart and my life! I pray the same for you reading this!

Sharing is Caring!

Let me first say, there were ample amounts of moments where I literally had to force my hands over my mouth to keep quiet!

Yes I was about to attempt the unthinkable………….Doctor appointment with four KIDS!

Our public outings where not complete after the doctor visit. Now it was time to tackle the Grocery Shopping for this week! Again, as a Mom, you know how well behaved your children will act while Mommy shops diligently and gracefully for groceries. (HA)

This took a lot out of me, but it was do able!

I lost it! Out it came.. “Why do you always get Momma’s good things dirty!! I use this to dry my hands off in the kitchen while I am preparing meals. NASTY!!”

It was 9:00am WHEW

Sharing is Caring!

*image found on facebook

Happy Monday!

Instead of just going the next 24 hours consciously aware that I’m about to make a 24 hour commitment not to complain, I will document how this challenge will play out! (This will be posted tomorrow, so make sure you come back to see how I do!)

Do you think it’s possible to go 24 hours without complaining on a Monday? 🙂 It’s a Scary challenge!!!

I once heard when you complain you remain. Why? Because you are allowing your thoughts to stay focused on the negatives and not the positives!

When negative complaints come sneaking up in my heart and traveling up to my mouth I will say these words out loud “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 ESV

So do think you can handle this challenge I present to you on this fabulous Monday?

Do you think I will make it the whole 24 hours or are you betting I slip? Where is your faith my friend?? 😉 Only time will tell!

WE CAN DO THIS!

Sharing is Caring!

FIRST AID SHOT THERAPY

Walgreens, 7Elven, Amazon carry the F.A.S.T. FIRST AID SHOT THERAPY! To find OUT MORE INFORMATION go to Home

Price $2.99

Sharing is Caring!

*image found on Facebook feed

“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” Proverbs 18:21 NLT

“The gossip of bad people gets them in trouble; the conversation of good people keeps them out of it. Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well done work has its own reward.” Proverbs 12:13 MSG

*image found on pintrest

“The words of a fool start fights; do him a favor and gag him. Fools are undone by their big mouths; their souls are crushed by their words. Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly?” Proverbs 18:6-8 MSG

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the moth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45 NIV

*image found at http://opendoor.tv/tongue-power/

We are human and we all are guilty of speaking ill of another person and listening to a friend bash on another. I don’t want this post to bring condemnation to you, but conviction. We all need to be reminded of how damaging words really our to others and ourselves.

Being a Woman who can keep her mouth shut when it is absolutely the hardest thing you can stand is a BEAUTIFUL thing!

Sharing is Caring!

My Favorite part of summer is soaking up warm vibrant rays of SUNSHINE!

After soaking up the suns rays, my skin gets really thirsty for a cool drink! I am Super Happy I found this to quench my skin’s thirst!

Hawaiian Tropics Silk Hydration After Sun is the first and only after sun product that combines ribbons of gel and lotion to leave your skin feeling luxurious and refreshed.

Features & Benefits:

24 hours of luxurious moisturization and refreshing hydrating ribbons

Lightweight feel

Coconut papaya fragrance

Refreshes sun-tired skin with soothing aloe gel

You can add Hawaiian Tropics Silk Hydration After Sun into your Beach Bag for only $8.99/8oz or $2.99/2oz.

Sharing is Caring!

*image from commons.wikimedia.org

“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30

2 Samuel 6:22″ I will humble myself even more.”

Jesus said, “Even more, those who hear the word of God and keep it are blessed!” Luke 5:15

Romans 5:20 “But where sin is multiplied, grace multiplied even more.”

Philippians 1:9 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernments.”

Ephesians 4:19 “They became callous and gave themselves over to the promiscuity of the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.”

Genesis 37:5 “Then Joseph had a dream when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.”

1 Samuel 18:29″ And Saul became even more afraid of David, as a result, Saul was David’s enemy from then on.”

*image from ifcamedia.org

I began to realize that things we feel, think, and do GROW bigger and multiply! Scary and Awesome!

*image from mobc.org.au

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Jesus’s influence in my life has to be greater then any other influence.

My Focus on Jesus in my life has to be greater then the focus on myself.

Jesus has to be the Center of my life.

Jesus has to be the Father I run to, and the friend I confide in.

¹faith

⁶He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

When negative complaints come sneaking up in my heart and traveling up to my mouth I will say these words out loud
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 ESV

Do you think I will make it the whole 24 hours or are you betting I slip?
Where is your faith my friend?? 😉
Only time will tell!

Walgreens, 7Elven, Amazon carry the F.A.S.T. FIRST AID SHOT THERAPY! To find OUT MORE INFORMATION go to

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