Thank You, Lord!

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me...
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised!

Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
from Martha Stewart

3 1/4 cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising)
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
7 ounces (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
5 large egg whites, room temperature
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners.

Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add vanilla to milk and stir lightly.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy.

Reduce speed to low. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk/vanilla mix and ending with dry. Scrape sides of bowl.


Beat egg whites to stiff peaks, and fold into batter. Fold in chocolate chips.


Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.

Bake cupcakes until testers inserted into centers come out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks. Cupcakes will keep, covered, for up to 3 days, unless otherwise noted.

More DIY ideas

Simply DIY

Here are some ideas for DIY Masks, toners and makeup remover. Try it ^^

Homemade Makeup Remover

Makeup Remover 1
Apply milk or plain yogurt to face with a cotton ball, then rinse.

Eye Makeup Remover

• 1 Tbsp castor oil
• 1 Tbsp light olive oil
• 2 tsp Canola oil

Blend all ingredients together. Apply with tissue or cotton ball to remove makeup on and around the eyes.

Banana Hand & Foot Cream Recipe

Your dry hands and feet will become smooth and soft overnight if you mix these:

• Banana
• Honey
• Lemon juice
• Natural margarine

Smear on hands and wear white gloves to bed. Wash off in the morning.
For dry feet, smear the mixture on and wear heavy socks to bed and wash off in the morning.

 

Homemade Oily Skin Recipes

Recipe 1
Make a puree of fresh tomatoes, apply to the skin

Recipe 2
Beat together 1 egg white, 1 tsp spirits of camphor, 1 heaping Tbsp skim milk powder and a scant drop of essential oil of mint. First apply a thin film of odorless castor oil to the skin , then apply a thick layer of the egg white mask. Lie back for about 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water, then rinse with an apple cider vinegar and water solution or witch hazel.

Oatmeal Facial Mask

Make a creamy paste of oatmeal and water. Apply to face and let dry completely.
Remove by very gently rubbing off with your fingers.

Papaya Facial Mask

A fresh mashed papaya applied as a face mask removes dead, flaky skin.

 

Homemade Skin Toner Recipes

Eggwhite Toner

Clean face thoroughly using any natural cleanser. Apply raw eggwhites to the skin and leave on for at least 15 minutes. Wash off with tepid water. 

Lecithin Toner

Dissolve lecithing granules in jojoba or almond oil. Apply to face and throat as a day or night cream.

Lemon Toner

• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup distilled water
• 2/3 cup witch hazel

Combine all ingredients. Pour into a clean bottle or decorative cosmetics container. Shake well before using. Apply with a clean cotton ball. 

Protein Toner

Beat together 1 Tbsp milk, 1 tsp honey and 1 egg. Apply to face and neck. Leave on as long as desired. Rinse off with warm water followed by a splash of cold.