Summer To Do List | Southwestern Ontario Adventures

We are loving the family day trips right now. We were blessed with some serious family time and got a start on our summer bucket list. One of my friends suggested I do a round up of fun family activities and I was so grateful for her content suggestion. Here is a list of things we could do this summer on either a day trip or weekend trip. Please comment with your ideas as well so we can all have the most fun summer!

We captured our adventure day to Greenview Aviaries in the video below, I hope you will check it out.

Pinery Provincial Park

Baseball Game

Brander Park

Greenview Aviaries

Detroit Zoo

Ripley's Aquarium

Adventures On Wonderland

African Lion Safari

Cox Youth Centre Splash Pad & Pool

Story Book Gardens

Grand Bend

Canatara Park

The Movies 

Rondeau Park

Swimming or Indoor Playground At The YMCA

Rock Glen

Toledo Zoo

Bluewater Boarder Fest

Fishing & Having a Fish Fry

Strawberry Picking

Fry Trucks Under The Bridge 

Parks Blueberries 

Toronto Island 

Beach Days 

Pool Days 

River Days 

Boat Day 

Picnics 

Goderich Beach 

Culbert's Bakery Goderich 

Purdys Dockside 

Mad Taco 

Point Pelee 

Purposeful Motherhood

I have been learning what the Bible says about being a woman, wife and mother and I think it is beautiful and empowering. I love Proverbs 31, The Wife Of Noble Character, I read it all the time. Right now this portion below is speaking to me.

Verse 13:22 NIV

13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Knowing that there is purpose in all I do brings joy and passion to my everyday work. I know I was designed to care for my family as only I could.

The cleaning has purpose.

The cooking has purpose.

The watching kids do tricks and jumps has purpose.

The folding and putting away of laundry has purpose.

The encouraging words,

Application of bandaids,

Endless hugs,

Approving or not approving of television shows,

Sleepless nights,

Picking up of the same toys everyday,

Singing of songs,

Just being there, waiting, watching and ready for what work is needed next, has purpose.

In the mundane routine or chaos of wife life and motherhood, I can lose sight of the big picture or maybe I don't even know what the big picture is yet. But slowly I am understanding that the small pieces that are my responsibility everyday, are my great purpose. 

We have a great purpose in all we do as women, the helpers of this earth.


Genesis 2:18
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

And we are the answer!

Who is pumped?!
I love you!
Audrey

Caryl Baker Visage Vitamin Enriched Defence Cream | Product Review

I get a lot of questions about what skincare I use. I change my skincare routine all the time because I love trying new products. One product that I used for years and I have been using again recently is the Vitamin Enriched Defence Cream from Caryl Baker Visage. I have combination skin and as I get older, despite my oiliness, I need increased moisture throughout the day under my makeup and at night. I love the creamy texture of this moisturizer and how well it absorbs into my skin because of it's water based formula. I also love that it includes an SPF 15. This level of SPF is great for my everyday wear. If I am going to be in the sun for an extended period of time I will layer on an SPF 60 but I like that this moisturizer has me covered for a baseline protection.

As you know, I also love to wear makeup most days and in my experience this moisturizer works excellent for a base. This moisturizer is just hands down a great every day cream at an affordable price. If you are unsure if this is the right hydration product for you, just pop in to your local Caryl Baker Visage and their Face Experts would be happy to help you find the perfect skincare for your unique needs.

High Neck Tank Top | American Eagle Basics

Basics with some extra special, I just love them. This high neck tank top is one of those everyday items that has a little something special about it. The cut shows off arms and shoulders in the best way and its cropped so you can show a little belly or pair it with a high waist bottom and keep it more modest. I picked these up at Lambton Mall. You can shop your local American Eagle store or the links below. 

I have also been having fun mixing patterns (as you can see in the images above). I think the stripes and flower pattern work great together because the colours match perfectly. They are both small prints but because they are completely different, I think it works. When wearing two different floral patterns, I think you would want them to have different scales. 

Happy weekend!

Happy dressing!

Audrey

Obedience To God Through Faith | A Lesson I Learned Last Week | HAL

I have been learning about faith and last week God revealed to me how my strong faith can help me improve my obedience to the will of God. I hope you will check it out and also join the conversation.

At Home Spa Night | HAL | Monat First Impression | Self Tanner

I am all about my at home beauty regime. Taking care of my skin, hair and nails helps me to feel like a woman amidst the messiness of my everyday life. Check out what I was up to a few Saturday evenings ago.

Products Used Vita Liberata 10 Minute Tan Monat Kendra Woltz Arbonne Cellular Renewal Mask
Caryl Baker Visage Red Berry Gommage

Summer Memories

I cant say I watched a whole lot of baseball at the Jays vs Tigers game in Detroit on Sunday but I did have a lot of fun watching my kids take in the excitement of their first professional baseball game. We went with Tyler's family for my brother-in-laws birthday and we had such a fun day. We watched a little bit of baseball, ate some really yummy food and rode the rides with the kids.

When we were at the top of the ferris wheel, we could hear the announcers of the game perfectly over the speakers. The sound of baseball over the radio brings me back to summertime as a child. It is a defining memory for me when it comes to summer. Driving in the car to the cottage, with the windows down, everyone almost asleep, dad driving and listening to the baseball game on the radio as the summer air swept through our car. Whenever I hear a baseball game through the muffle of a speaker, I am taken back to those days.

Now I get to create summer memories with my children. I wonder what will stick out for them?

After the game on Sunday, all the kids were invited to run the bases, I captured that moment in the video below.

I would love to know some of the moments that shaped your summers as a child, please share in the comments or on social media.

By Faith

I have been learning about faith during my Bible Study recently (First 5) and I have also been doing some faith walking in my life. I have always been a faith filled person but sometimes my actions and words did not match my thoughts. By the grace, strength and wisdom of God, I am growing each day and I am learning how to speak from the position of a victor even when circumstances seem hopeless.

Hebrews 11 1:3
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. 
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Reading the Bible has helped me to learn more about who God is. He is always good, just and never breaks a promise. God has spoken promises into my life, some I have seen come to pass, some I am currently witnessing develop and others, well lets just say from my earthy perspective, I am not sure how they could come to pass. I am choosing God's perspective though. I can not see what He can see, I do not know what He knows, but I do have faith that He is working it all out for my well being.

In my small experience speaking light into dark situations, good things have come. At the time it is challenging though, I have looked around at a personal circumstance and thought, "what the heck, how can this be fixed". Faith is produced through focusing on Jesus, joy is produced through focusing on Jesus and right and just action is produced through focusing on Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

When we choose to trust Gods perspective, we are free to then be the people God designed us to be, equipped with the skills we need to navigate all of life's challenges. My Saviour came to give me life, covered me with His grace so that I could stand on His promises and then serve as His hands and feet. I will walk more boldly each day by faith! I will speak more boldly each day by faith. I am victorious over what has already been accomplished by Jesus on the cross.

Accepting Jesus as my saviour and learning to walk with God each day is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. If you have a prayer request or would just like to chat about God, please send me an email heatherlapier@gmail.com You can also follow me on Instagram  and join more conversations on faith.

May Favourites | Fashion & Beauty | HAL

Nickel & Suede Rose Gold Leather Tear Drop 

Good Catch Lipstick Queen Lipstick 

Classic Denim Jacket 

Smashbox Primer 

KISS Lashes
http://shopstyle.it/l/Ldhb

http://shopstyle.it/l/Ldf3 

http://shopstyle.it/l/Ldgm