{30 Days of Mind and Body} Challenge

hey all!

I'm linking up with Betsy at A Wanderers Soul  for 30 Days of Mind and Body.

This really came at the perfect time because I just started doing Yoga, its said to help headaches. I got a beginners DVD from the library and have done it twice and I'm really enjoying it! While I love running and high cardio workouts, this has its benefits too. it helps relieve stress and just helps me breathe. ;)  I'm also learning that pushing my body so hard like that with Jillian Michael's dvds might not be the best thing overall. Anywho, I'm looking forward to doing this challenge which will really be a challenge because I'm still real sick. I'm feeling pretty much miserable actually. my head aches so bad and my sinuses are a mess. but i know i can do an hour{the DVD practice is an hour and so my goal is to do the whole thing but if i simply cannot I'll just do half or something.} of yoga everyday starting today.

 

i encourage you to join me, if not yoga then another sort of workout or healthy commitment.

happy wednesday♥
Samarah

favorites from the week.

happy saturday friends! here are some favorites from this past week including both things i've found online and little things in my life :) [warning, there are a lot ;]

stunning photos of London over HERE

THIS adorable couple Christmas/winter shoot.

THESE gorgeous wedding photos that I LOVE

keep stepping.

getting and finding all kinds of wonderful new free food including Glutino's Gluten Free Chocolate Covered Pretzels. SO good!

got this album on Amazon for $2. some lovely holiday tunes.

yes.

Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer

watching Murder She Wrote and Monk with mom at night

Coldplay. a band I recently discovered. Viva La Vida is a favorite right now.

before i die.

Jennifer's inspiring post about being original. {not to mention that her photos are downright gorgeous. like the one above}

these 2 Tim Hawkins videos. hilarious.




 what are some of your favorites from this week?

*all photos that do not have a link are from pinterest.* 

I slept in till 11 this morning and that was very nice. I ate breakfast and I'm now spending my time relaxing. {i.e.-- being lazy on the computer ;} and then later tonight I'm babysitting. what are YOU doing today?

much love♥

its 1 am...

Who is still up right now?? Well definitely NOT me. Because I go to bed early because I am for sure NOT a night owl. I am not tweeting, reading blogs, commenting and finding some beautiful new blogs and writing a post because I'm not that kind of girl. and I for sure DID NOT tell my mom I was headed to bed like an 2 hours ago because I definitely don't get sucked into computersphere and can't get out [maybe that's a lil' too dramatic].  Ok *maybe* I am still up BUT I promise I'm headed to bed as soon as I push publish! ;] I've been busy with school, babysitting and such and haven't had the time or energy to blog. I'm hoping this weekend I'll be able to put together some posts :) Till then enjoy this tune that I'm lovin'.

Feel It In Your Heart by Abandon. 

They are an awesome group and their sound and voices are unique. love the message of this song :)

There's a sound in the air
Can you hear it everywhere?
Voices trying to be heard.
Love is more than just another word

Oh, you can turn it up loud as loud as it will go.
But it will never make its way to your soul.

You gotta
feel it in your heart

Feel It In Your Heart (Official Music Video)

ABANDON | Myspace Music Videos


night{or should I say, good morning}lovelies!
♥Samarah

♫ i wanna be in the background♫ & baby Lily ♥

Ok, so I wasn't gonna post any tonight but I heard this song on Air1 and I was hooked so of course I had to share with y'all ;) I've had it on repeat all night and its stuck in my head ;] Please take a listen, please. This song has a nice clean beat, not overwhelming busy vocals and noises, and a powerful message. I really like hip hop/rap but I get really annoyed and tired of the irritating beats and overwhelming voices/rhymes. This a perfect one for me =)
Its Background by Lecrae featuring C-Lite.

I could play the background

I could play the background

'Cause I know sometimes I get in the way

So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?

So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?

And I could play the background, background

And you could take the lead

Also, the lovely Mandy over at She Breathes Deeply is bringing sweet Lily into the world! Earlier, her hubby Kyle posted that she was in labor! :] I'm so excited for them to meet their precious baby girl :) Please pray for them during this joyful(but also painful) time! You can leave them so love here. 

much love,

Samarah 

Day 25: A recipe, workout fail and friday anthem!!

day 25- a recipe-

to be honest, I don't cook/bake very often. It requires me to follow directions and because I'm head strong, I don't really like that. sometimes it just takes so much time and energy that I don't really have.But when I do, its usually enjoyable and the food usually comes out pretty good and now that I'm gluten free I usually have to actually make my meals. So I'm trying  to embrace the idea of being in the kitchen and creating yummy food ;) but I'm having a hard time thinking of a recipe that I've tried and I've liked *think think think* I still don't have anything...oh I know! I'm gonna post a recipe of a gluten free treat that I want to try :] very soon! ;)

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Brownies from Celiac Teen

*please note that this image from celiacteen.com I do not own it.  I'm only using it for the purpose of showing you what the brownies look like*

don't they just look delicious I cannot wait to try them! and when I do I will definitely let you know what I think of them :] Lauren has a bunch more lovely recipes for gluten free goodies that I can't wait to try out!

I haven't worked out all week :/ I was doing so well but then I don't know what happened, I just stopped! and I'm regretting it. Why do I do this??!! I am going to workout today and get back on the every other day routine :] I'm praying God gives me strength, consistency and diligence in this :)

My birthday is in 3 days! 3 days!! wow, time has flown by! :)

hope you are having a great friday! I shall leave you with my friday anthem :]

much love,

Samarah

catching up on 28 days (part 2) and a giveaway you DO NOT wanna miss!!

Be sure not to miss the bit about an amazing giveaway! :]

Day 20: A hobby of yours- 

soccer

i've played for every year for 7 years. and I love it. love the team work that it takes to play a good game. involves your whole body and its great exercise. and its so much fun :) 

Day 21: Something you know you do differently than most people-

I can be me, like no one else! :]
I'm strong willed person and I don't fall under the pressure of this world to be someone I'm not. I'm true to myself and I don't care if I'm an Outcast. Kerrie Robert's song "Outcast" is my anthem right now because I'm having a hard time fitting in at church and with some other groups. I'm definitely not the popular one, probably the least popular but I'm ok with that. I'm gonna keep my head , stand my ground and be who I am because God made me who I am and He has big plans for me. I am alive and beautiful in Him :) and so are YOU!
I'm not living for them I'm living for something better! 

Day 22: A website-

I can't think of an interesting one so I'm just gonna say Air1 Radio because they play some awesome music. they've introduced me to new artists and i've been so blessed by them :)  


I'm going ahead and doing tomorrows :)

Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered- 

this kinda goes with day 21.

I want to be remembered as a person who loved Christ and lived for Him and because of Him. Who showed some crazy love to the world and didn't fit in. Was an outcast for Christ. :] 

Alright, now onto the amazing giveaway! its pretty amazing and you definitely don't wanna miss it.

Ilene at much love, illy in honor of her blogiversary is giving away 5 lovely items! to 5 lucky much love, illy readers! :]  I just love her blog. she's gorgeous for one thing and I could spend hours on her blog reading about her love for Christ, family, friends, her Ryan and Chicago ;) I mean this picture just says it all. doesn't it just wanna make you run straight to her blog?! don't deny it. it does.

She is giving away some super cute things that any girl would l.o.v.e to get her hands on! seriously they are adorable. and you could be one of those lucky winners! click here to enter! 

I'm struggling a bit with getting school done. I just feel overwhelmed and so tired. I'm sorry to whine but its true. 

hope you all are having a better day/week than I am! 
much love,
Samarah

New camera= pictures!!!! & Day 13: A pastime favorite

 first of all, thank you to all the girls who have joined me in the Crazy Love Challenge :) ♥

eeekk.... we got the camera last night!! :) its pretty amazing :] There is going to be a lot more pictures on this lil' blog for sure! I've been having some fun with it, here's some pictures :)
except for the first 3, all these are straight outta the camera :)

can't decide whether I like the black & white or...

or the sepia...

or the cross picnik...

which one do you like best??

ah lovely algebra.. not.

don't worry... I don't cheat by looking at the answer key ;]

I've received all my wonderful prizes! :) 

I LOVE my bag. I took took it to church this mornin' :) 

love

gonna read Do Hard Things then read Start Here :)
and can't wait to spend my gift at target!

the Freedom cd, gonna put it on my ipod and take a listen:)

i know its not good to love materiel things but i love this thing...

sweet Bailey... love this dog!

well that's all the pictures for now but be sure there will be more! :)

Faith over at Something Fun is having a photography contest in honor of her 100th post! This is my first time entering a photography contest so I'm excited! the theme is Nature. I'm entering this picture :) i took it on a hike and there's no editing. simply beautiful isn't it?!

if you wanna enter,go here!

Day 13: A pastime favorite- 

pastime- an activity that occupies one's spare time pleasantly

well honestly I love kickin' back with some of my favorite snacks and watchin' a favorite tv show or movie with my parents or friends or playing around with some photography ;]

I'm off to get ready for the upcoming week!

with love,

Samarah

Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding.

Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding-

honestly I've been kinda stressing over this, during this morning because I couldn't really think of a song. sooo I'm not going to make it a big deal.  just gonna give you these 2 songs and that's it ;] 

I really like Say Won't You Say by Jennifer Knapp. I remember singing that song with my dad when I was little but I can't find a video for it :/ bummer! You could google it or whatever and see if you find something :) its a great song.  

Jessica posted this song today and I really like it! so go here and listen to it :) 


Well we are taking my dad out to Chick-Fil-A tonight for his birthday :] hope you are having a great weekend ♥

with love,

Samarah


{and there is a special crazy love post for Valentine's Day coming up in the next few days!}

Day 9 & 10, new camera and new blogger :)

 First of all, thank you SO much for all your sweet comments on my last post {really on the past few posts}!! you girls are so encouraging and sweet. love you all so much :)


sorry I'm a bit behind on the 28 day challenge. I was really feeling bad yesterday, I even had to stay home from Latin class. I think I've only missed 1 other day in the entire 2 years I've been taking Latin. Today I was exhausted. exhausted. I took two 1 hour naps. that's NOT like me. We even had 3 extra kids(almost 1, 3, and 5 y.o.) and I managed to sleep for 2 hours amidst the very loud little people. I still feel really weak and tired. I didn't get any school done :/ I really hope I'm not getting sick.

Day 9-A photo you took- 

this is a hard one because I've taken like tons of photos :P I have lots of ones that I'm quite proud of that I took of my siblings and my "adopted" sisters but I can't post them on here because their faces are just too cute to share with the blogging world ;] So I'll choose another one (or 2 or 3) 

none of these have been edited. straight out of the camera :)

I really love this one. my good friend's converse :) i really love the purple

ahh the lovely sight of spring!

took this on a hike. love God's creation

pure beauty

having a little fun ;) 

Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago. 

I can't do this one or tomorrow's because I don't post pictures of myself (my face) on my blog. Maybe in the future but not now. I'm just too gorgeous, ya'll aren't ready for me yet ;] But for Day 11 I will post a picture of me but not showing my face. 


Ok onto the exciting camera news!!! We(my family) are getting a new camera! the one we have now is really old and the zoom stinks. see? 

We've gotten by with it and gotten some really good shots but its just time to look for a better one. One of the reasons we are getting I'll share with ya another time. so excited :) so be on the look out for that! anywho, I'm really pumped about the one we're getting because it has a super sweet zoom and stuff like that. I will be able to put off my efforts for a more "professional" camera because this one is sooo sweet.and the cost is really reasonable.  I really want to explore photography. I love beauty and photography can capture it. wanna see it??!! here its is....

 Nikon Coolpix L110

ain't she a beauty??

I'm really excited to get my lil' hands on it!! ;D And getting it means that I'll post a lot more pictures! :]

I want to welcome Stephanie, Emily's {Grace Like Rain}sister to the blogging world! Check out her blog, While I'm Waiting. She is super sweet and her blog posts are encouraging and inspiring! :)

hope you are having a good night and I don't know about you but I'm glad tomorrow is friday! oh yeah, its my dad's birthday! :D I'll be doing a special post for that ;)

much love,
♥Samarah

28 day challenge Day 1 and 2

Jessica, Lily, Anna and a few others are doing a 28 day challenge where you post something everyday answering these questions:

Day 1: A favorite song.
Day 2: A favorite movie.
Day 3: A favorite book.
Day 4: A favorite band.
Day 5: A favorite quote.
Day 6: A moment you wish you could relive.
Day 7: Five things you couldn't possibly live without.
Day 8: A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life.
Day 9: A photo you took.
Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago.
Day 11: A photo of you taken recently.
Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding.
Day 13: A pastime favorite.
Day 14: A vacation you would like to take.
Day 15: A person you admire.
Day 16: A song that makes you cry.
Day 17: An art piece.
Day 18: A time when you felt passionate and alive.
Day 19: A talent of yours.
Day 20: A hobby of yours.
Day 21: Something you know you do differently than most people.
Day 22: A website.
Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered.
Day 24: A movie no one would expect you to love.
Day 25: A recipe.
Day 26: A childhood memory.
Day 27: A physical feature you love.
Day 28: Hopes, Dreams and plans you have for the next 365 days

sounds fun right?! feel free to join us :)

here's yesterday's
Day 1-a favorite song

As most of you know, its really difficult for me to pick just ONE song! but I will try. *determined look on face*
this is a song that I will never get tired of hearing. its by a group that will always be loved and remembered by millions. they were an extraordinary group and they've imprinted Christian music forever. its a song that causes us to stop, think and not be afraid to say, "I don't really care if they label me as a Jesus Freak, there ain't no disguising the truth"  {i found a dcTalk shirt at a goodwill for a few bucks, score! ;) it says "freak for life" on the front and " Jesus Freak" on the back :) i just love it, I'll try to post some pics of it sometime} 

today's

Day 2- a favorite movie

oh here we go again! im so bad at just choosing one! :/
I really really love The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Its my favorite Narnia movie. Even though PC and VDT are really good, nothing can beat the first one :)  its such a wonderful movie: fantastic storyline, great actors, beautiful scenery, awesome battles between good and evil and of course Aslan ;) . its a reminder of what Christ did for us and how we are fighting in the battle against the world. and with Christ we can have victory! I especially like watching it in the winter :)

this dude is my favorite... :)

hope you are having a great, safe and warm day! :)

till tomorrow,
Samarah

gluten free girl,what I'm listening to and blog design!

 {yes I keep adding songs after I published it ;)}

wow, February 1st is tomorrow! Wasn't it just January 1st? well I really want to be in good health by birthday at the end of this month. the best gift I could receive would be my health. and I'm going to work hard to do that. I'm not making any promises but i will try. and I took the first step towards that today!

Today I officially became a gluten free girl :) and its feeling great!

(soon I'll be doing some blog posts about going gluten free, recipes etc.)

I haven't done a "What I'm Listening To" post in a long time! :/ my bad...anyway, here's whats rockin' my world ;)
(I'm not going to post the videos on here but I'll post the link to the video)

ok seriously I'll stop adding songs ;) 

love love love this song!! such a catchy song and its an awesome song to start your day off with! i am posting the video to this one because its soo good! please take a listen :D 

No Plan B by Manafest

I'm not a huge fan of Manafest and some of his songs are a bit too much but I like this one. it really applies to my life right now. I have changes I need to make and I'm not looking back :] 

music video here

Closer by Shawn McDonald
I've heard this song a lot on Air1 and its been stuck in my head for past few days. and its such a good song so I think I'm gonna buy it so it can be stuck in my head all the time ;) this is my prayer-

{chorus}

I just want to be closer to you

I just want to be closer, I am yours

You can have all of me anything, everything

I just want to be closer

listen to it and see the lyrics here

Echo of Love by An Epic No Less
ok seriously. this is one beautiful song. this is what I want my life to be. an echo of love. Go here to watch the music video.

{chorus}

I hear an echo of love
We are the echo of love
I feel an echo of love
We are the echo of love

{verse 2}
You are the strength when we are weak
You are the breath inside of me
You are the love that pierces hearts
You are the light thats shown into our darkest parts

A powerful song right?!

This is the Stuff by Francesca Battistelli

a fun, catchy song and oh so true :)

listen and see the lyrics here

Outcast by Kerrie Roberts 

kinda reminds me of Jesus Freak by dcTalk. same idea, I don't care if people cast me out because I know who I am in Christ. Let no one stop you from loving Christ with all your heart and living for Him :) 

video with lyrics here

Ground Zero by Mr. Talkbox{aka Byron Chambers}

sadly there isn't video or anything for this song. so you can only listen to it by hearing it on the radio or buying it. its such a good song and I gave in and bought it ;) which is saying a lot because I don't spend itunes money on any 'ole song! ;)

Hope you check out those songs and enjoy them :)

Also, I'm working with Lulu from Polka Dot Blog Design on a new look for my blog! so be on the look out :)

Hope you are having a nice start to the week :)

with love,

Samarah

and I'm proud to say that there a quite a few of you that are cheering for my Packs! thank you very much ;]