consider a field

No matter where you are right now in your life- a daughter still at home, a wife and mother, a college student, or someone with an occupation, I think we both can agree that having some earnings/extra earnings is always nice! That being the case, I want to share with you some of my favorite cottage industries!

For the Creative and Crafty

If you have an eye for design and are pretty nifty with a computer, there are several ways to turn that creativity and skill into a way to bring in some earnings!

Become a Designer for The Cutest Site on the Block

What's so great about this, is that you're not working directly for TCSOTB, you're more like a freelancer! Read up on the design requirements, create a website template design, which you can make in Photoshop or a free downloadable design software (google: paint.net), and then just e-mail it in! TCSOTB will turn it into a real functioning website and every time your design sales (like on consignment), you'll get compensated.

I've personally submitted one website design using paint.net and digital scraps (ones that are okay for commercial use). Just a note: if you use paint.net you'll need to download a free software that will convert your paint.net designs to a file that can work with Photoshop for when you submit it in to TCSOTB (google: convert .pdn files to .psd files). Making a design was pretty simple and, since I like crafty things, fun!

Do Web Designing or Other Digital Media

With the Internet becoming the basis of many businesses (big and small), the need for quality online advertisement is growing. If you think you're capable of designing a quality and attractive digital advertisement, consider doing this form of freelance designing!

Also, some bloggers don't mind paying for a quality layout, signature, buttons, etc. If this is something you're interested in, check out alchemy on etsy.com: custom requests for digital items. You can also change the search to something more specific like blog layout or banner, to find potential customers who would like a designer for those items.

You will need to sign up with etsy.com (which is free to do) in order accept a job that is listed in their alchemy section.

Reap What You Sew

If you have a sewing machine and a knack for sewing projects, there is definitely a market for you! There are people who have things that they'd like sewn for them which they've listed, along with what they'd ideally like to pay, for someone to do for them. These listings are found on etsy.com in their alchemy section: freelance sewing projects. You will need to sign up with etsy (it's free) before offering to do a project you see listed.

Open a Virtual Shop for Your Handmade Things!

Having a virtual store may sound intimidating, but don't fret friend! It's pretty easy and incredibly affordable with etsy.com. Esty.com is all about things handmade! Do you have a skill for making jewelry? Sewing projects? Candles? Homemade beauty products? Art? Scrapbooking? If you make it with your hands, and you do a quality job, you most likely can sell it here. So check it out!

Here's a video from the Dave Ramsey show of a stay-at-home mom who started a home-based business with only $100 designing and making tote bags!

Check out her website at: http://tolivebeautiful.blogspot.com/

For the Personable

Be a Beauty Representative

Selling cosmetics is not only a profitable business, but it's an awesome window to reach out to woman, encouraging them and reminding them what a beautiful creation they are of a loving God! You've probably heard of Mary Kay and Avon. These products pretty much sell themselves; however, it does take someone with discipline, responsibility, organization, and personability! Find more information about Avon or Mary Kay!

These are just a few of many businesses you can have from home! There really is so much you can do! So if this is something you're interested in, put your inhibitions aside, tap into that determination and creativity, and go for it!

Check out the cottage industries of some of my friends!

Pure and Simple, Natural Care Solutions by Sarah

Marvelous Things Photography by Tori

Anna Elise Photography by Elise

Emily E's Beauty Business by Emily

Bit and Bridle Magazine by Emily

With Love,

sin and spinach

I was talking with my younger brother the other night (he's 17 and seems to always have interesting thoughts on almost any subject) about friends. He asked me, "What to you consider to be the best kind of friend?" After a pause to think about it, I concluded this person to be someone who is honest- who if I were going down the wrong path would tell me so, or if I did/were about to do something that could hurt my testimony would confront me out of love and concern.

It's the same principal as if I had spinach in my teeth. After seeing the spinach, what if no one bothered to tell me? Then I could be going along, smiling as I go and not knowing! Wouldn't that be aweful? In fact, I do have a similar story...

At an all girls camp, one night we campers delighted ourselves with yummy oreos topped with peanut butter (a truly delightful snack! One almost can't help but bond with those they eat it with). After a good time had passed, I somehow I came to notice I had black oreo cookie stuck all in my teeth! Talk about embarassing. A good friend of mine was with me at the time. "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked her. It was that night that she promised to tell if ever something like that happened again. And you know what? Being the great friend she is, she has kept that promise.

What is it about some family and friends, that they can sometimes be so blunt and honest, yet when all is said and done, it is generally understood that there is love between them? In my case, though I may be upset for a time when reproached/corrected, in the end, I know that which was said was for my benefit and growth, and so I can't help but have gratitude, respect, and trust with that person. In fact, a friend that would care enough about me to reproach me when I'm doing wrong and tell me the truth (out of love and genuine care) would be one I would treasure. I am so thankful to have a few of these treasures in my life, and I want to be brave enough myself to be the same.

Proverbs 27:6 says," Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." What is the best kind of friend? The "sin and spinach" kind. Look out for your sisters!

End Note: The phrase "sin and spinach" was shared with me by my good friend, Elizabeth, who I think heard it from someone else. All that to say, no, I'm not the clever one who it originated from. :P

P.S.

What are your thoughts on friendship?

encouraging style without compromise

Hello Friends!

I truly hope you've been able to participate in the AmandaBeth Fashion Week which started June 1st. If not, you to check it out! Be inspired by "encouraging style without compromise!"

The Look Book: Your Portable Fashion Consultant!

Hello friends!

Check out an Authentic Beauty guest blog post on Joy's SAH blog:

The Look Book: Your Portable Fashion Consultant!

With Love,

extreme makeover: blog edition!

Unless you're visiting here for the first time, you have probably noticed how much of a physical change the Authentic Beauty blog has been going through lately, and I must say that the most recent look is my favorite yet. ;-)

While trying to find a style that fit the theme of "authentic beauty", I came across some amazing sites for free blog backgrounds! Personally, my favorite styles are those made from digital scrapbooking art. Not only are they vivid and attractive, but they're personal looking, and often very well done.

Take a look for yourself, and go for having an extreme makeover: blog edition!

The Cutest Blog On The Block
On this website, not only will you find some really cute blog looks, but you'll also find tutorials on how to cutsomize your blog header, make your own blog template, and create a personalized blog signature!
Allie Browns Layouts
Allie Brown has a wide variety of blog styles that I just love! Which is obvious, because my current one is from her. She does a very quality job. :)
Paisley Cat Scraps
Aqua Poppy Designs
Hippo Scraps Blog Layouts
Scrap My Blog


With Love,

sing!

There's some so beautiful about girls busy at work and either humming or singing a tune. I think it's one of the most evident signs of joy and being content, for one cannot sing a cheerful tune with a heavy heart, right? Here are a few of my favorite movie clips displaying just that!










You call me cheesy if you like. ;-)

With Love,

get lost

There is something marvelous about taking time to be alone with God and His Word. Away from from the busyness and care that come with the day before you. To just be quiet for a while and listen- to refocus. I hope you have a special place to go and get lost for a while. It could be under a tree, it could be a closet. Both places can be considered the court of the King.

On that note, I thought you might enjoy this prayer:

Give us grace, Almighty Father, so to pray, as to deserve to be heard, to address thee with our Hearts, as with our lips. Thou art every where present, from Thee no secret can be hid. May the knowledge of this, teach us to fix our Thoughts on Thee, with Reverence and Devotion that we pray not in vain.

Look with Mercy on the Sins we have this day committed, and in Mercy make us feel them deeply, that our Repentance may be sincere, and our resolution stedfast of endeavouring against the commission of such in future. Teach us to understand the sinfulness of our own Hearts, and bring to our knowledge every fault of Temper and every evil Habit in which we have indulged to the dis-comfort of our fellow-creatures, and the danger of our own Souls. May we now, and on each return of night, consider how the past day has been spent by us, what have been our prevailing Thoughts, Words, and Actions during it, and how far we can acquit ourselves of Evil. Have we thought irreverently of Thee, have we disobeyed thy commandments, have we neglected any known duty, or willingly given pain to any human being? Incline us to ask our Hearts these questions Oh! God, and save us from deceiving ourselves by Pride or Vanity.

Give us a thankful sense of the Blessings in which we live, of the many comforts of our lot; that we may not deserve to lose them by Discontent or Indifference.

Be gracious to our Necessities, and guard us, and all we love, from Evil this night. May the sick and afflicted, be now, and ever thy care; and heartily do we pray for the safety of all that travel by Land or by Sea, for the comfort and protection of the Orphan and Widow and that thy pity may be shewn upon all Captives and Prisoners.

Above all other blessings Oh! God, for ourselves, and our fellow-creatures, we implore Thee to quicken our sense of thy Mercy in the redemption of the World, of the Value of that Holy Religion in which we have been brought up, that we may not, by our own neglect, throw away the salvation thou has given us, nor be Christians only in name. Hear us Almighty God, for His sake who has redeemed us, and taught us thus to pray.

Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Written by Jane Austen


With Love,

Abigail

your best hairstyles

Hair by scarscar93 on Polyvore.com

With all the many hairstyles out there, sometimes it's hard to determine which ones will work for you. Knowing my face shape (diamond) has helped so much in narrowing the selection down to only the hairstyles that are flattering for my shape. I was able to find out what my shape is from a cosmetology friend, but there is a simple way to find out your face shape at home!

Do you have a shape that is oval, square, round, oblong, heart, or triangular? Check out these videos and resources to find out:






Here's another resource for finding your face shape.

Now that you know your face shape, you can look at some hairstyling tips that are tailored for you:

My face is...



Round Face Shape:
Circular shaped. Length is approximately equal to width.


Oval Face Shape:
Curvilinear shape. Length is equal to one and a half times width, with forehead and jaw the same width.


Oblong Face Shape:
Face is longer than it is wide with a long straight cheek line.


Heart Face Shape:
Wide at the forehead and cheekbones, narrow at the jawline.


Diamond Face Shape:
Forehead and jawline are narrow with wide and high cheekbones.


Triangular Face Shape:
Forehead and cheekbones are narrow with a wide jawline.


Square Face Shape:
Strong and broad forehead with angular jaw.

Source:



Check out another great resource for your best and worst type of hairstyle from totalbeauty.com, here. You can also look here for even more tips!



-Abigail