10% off through Sunday

Receive a 10% discount off your entire product order from www.InnerBeautyGirls.com by putting the word augustine in the coupon section at check out. This offer is good from now thru Sunday 3/30.

Please note that the office of Affordable Mineral Makeup will be closed Monday 3/31
and Tuesday 4/1 so orders placed Friday evening and there after will begin processing on Wed. 4/2. (No, this is not an April Fools joke.) :)

What Makes this Friday "Good"?

Today is "Good Friday," the day we commemorate the death of Jesus Christ. What "good" is there in a day where God-in-flesh was murdered so wrongfully? The good, no the AMAZINGLY GREAT, is that His death was not the end of the story! As I remember the ultimate sacrifice of a Father who willingly allowed the torturous death of His only biological Son to pray the price of my eternal adoption, I am humbled and awed all over again. How incredible that He offers the forgiveness of my sins and the assurance of Heaven for simply believing that He is who He claims to be, that He led a sinless life, died in my place, and overcame death by resurrection. Forgiveness and peace are mine for the asking, His gifts freely offered!

While nothing in contrast with the Greatest Gift, I have a couple special little things I would like to give to you today as well. First, I would love to share with you an idea that has become a special part of our family's Easter tradition. Neither of these alternatives are original with me, but they have been so widely duplicated that I am unable to site any original sources. And my second gift is the special discount code for Affordable Mineral Makeup that you will find at the end of this post. :)


Here's a great activity for Sunday morning, called Resurrection Rolls. Thaw 1 package frozen roll dough (can use canned crescent roll dough if you prefer) and press each roll into flat circles. Place one full-sized marshmallow into the center of each roll and pinch the dough around it. Roll the marshmallow-filled rolls into round balls then dip in melted butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and let rise until doubled. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. Cut one open - it's empty like Jesus' tomb!


A similar idea, called Easter Story Cookies, can be done Saturday night:
1 cup whole pecans (or substitute chocolate chips or a chocolate bar)
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon or a wooden meat hammer
duct tape or packing tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300*F.

Place pecans (or chocolate) in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon or hammer to break them into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.


Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl.

Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.


Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life.

Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.


Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste. Then put your pinch of salt in the bowl.

Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27


So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing! Add 1 cup sugar to the bowl.

Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know and belong to him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.


Beat with a mixer on high speed for 10 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form.

Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.


Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.


Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape to seal the oven door.

Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.


Leave the kitchen. If you've been making these cookies just before bedtime, GO TO BED!

Acknowledge that the kids are probably sad that they've worked hard to make these cookies, and now have to leave them in the oven overnight. Explain that Jesus' followers were in sad when Jesus died and the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.


On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Ask the kids to notice the cracked surface. Have them bite into the cookies. The cookies are hollow!

Explain that on the first Easter morning, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

HE HAS RISEN!

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From now until midnight EST on Easter Sunday (3/23/08) take 11% (yes 11, as in the number of disciples after Judas betrayed Jesus) off your entire Affordable Mineral Makeup order from www.InnerBeautyGirls.com by putting the word "easter" in the coupon section at check out. :)

Guest Blog with author Camy Tang

Something many of you may not know about me is that I was raised in Japan for seven years of my childhood. So is it especially fun for me to share today's blog with Camy Tang who describes herself as "the loud Asian chick who writes loud Asian chick lit." She used to be a biologist, but now she is a staff worker for her church youth group and leads a worship team for Sunday service. She also runs the Story Sensei fiction critique service. On her blog, she gives away Christian novels every Monday and Thursday, and she ponders frivolous things like dumb dogs (namely, hers), coffee-geek husbands (no resemblance to her own...), the writing journey, Asiana, and anything else that comes to mind. Visit her website at www.camytang.com for a huge website contest going on right now, giving away five boxes of books and 25 copies of her latest release, ONLY UNI.

Welcome, Camy. Thank you for joining us to share your reflections on beauty!

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Thanks for having me here, Jenni!

I love the verse for your Inner Beauty Girlz website, 1 Peter 3: “Beauty should not come from outward adornment... Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.”

It took me a long time to understand my inner beauty and to be happy with who I am. For most of my teenage years and even my twenties, I spent too much time being embarrassed for being awkward, nervous about making a social mistake, shy to put myself forward.

I knew my self-esteem was low, but I thought it was “natural” or that I needed to exert myself more in order to raise it. I knew that my self-esteem ought to be dependent solely on Christ, but I didn’t know how to go about doing that, and couldn’t get what I knew in my head to make an impression on my heart and how I felt.

It wasn’t until I reached my late twenties that I started to understand how to let Christ determine my self-esteem. I’d been under the misapprehension that I needed perfect social graces to be acceptable to other people. That mistakes on my part would make people think of me as strange or odd, and at all costs, I didn’t want to stand out or be thought of as a weirdo.

But slowly I started to understand who I really was, who God had made me. Slowly I started being happier with exactly who God had made me—a bit awkward, with an unusual sense of humor, a bit out of the ordinary.

And that was okay.

I made an effort to stop being nervous about social mistakes I made. I learned to ignore my mistakes or laugh at them. And I discovered that while some people DID think I was odd, I started making friends with people who DIDN’T think I was odd.

God sent me friends who loved who I was—awkward, strange, a bit of a dingbat. He gave me people to be my sisters in Christ, and a husband who completes me in ways I didn’t realize I needed him.

I have found my inner beauty, and realized it was there all the time, the beautiful person God had made me to be. When I could accept who I am, and stopped trying to be who I was not, He drew people to me who also saw my beauty. He helped me see myself as His child.

And because of what He’s done for me, this is my prayer for all my readers, too—that they will co me to see themselves as God made them, and to accept who they are.

Be Happy and Save 10%

We all know there is a big difference between the emotions of happiness that come and go and the true job that we find in God that goes beyond circumstantial reaction. I pray that the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your heart today and that your joy would be deep-seated in Jesus Christ.

But just for fun I wanted to tell you that March 19th is "Act Happy Day".
This day is celebrated to simply just be happy!

From now through midnight 3/19 you can get 10% OFF your Affordable Mineral Makeup order at http://www.InnerBeautyGirls.com

Place your product selections in your cart.
Add the word acthappy in the coupon/voucher section at check out an 10% will be deducted from your total automatically!

You must also put in the comments section one thing that you're happy about!!!

Then, in a few days you'll get your order. ENJOY and BE HAPPY!

Funny Video and Great Prize Package for Vonda Skelton

I am pleased to introduct you to author Vonda Skelton today! Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win Vonda's new book, Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe along with a huge prize package (pictured to the upper left and details listed at the end of this post). Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe is now available at bookstores nationwide, at online bookstores, and on her website where you are welcome to read the first chapter for free.

Please take a moment to enjoy this fun look at "Solomon's Beloved" as presented by Vonda. It starts out a little slow, but stick with it and you will soon be laughing! If you can't view it here, watch it on uTube at Solomon’s Beloved at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEmhI8FL_ZI. Of Solomon's Beloved Vonda writes, "She’s so much fun! (And people think we Christians can’t have fun! A lot they know!)"

(If you are reading this via email and can't view the video, be sure to drop by the Inner Beauty Blog to see this funny, can't miss skit for yourself!)

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Seeing through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe

We have been seduced by half-truths and whole lies since time began. Remember the garden? In Seeing Through the Lies, author and speaker Vonda Skelton humorously addresses the disappointments women experience as they search for truth while believing a lie. Each chapter opens with amusing anecdotes from real life and ends with answers and guidance straight from God s Word. Exploring topics such as pride, fear, motherhood, and the busyness of life, this book offers practical steps for peeling away the layers of deceit and finding the joy of living in real truth. Through honesty and humility, Vonda takes women on a hilarious journey through all things female and brings them to a soul-searching point of decision. Readers will identify with both the positive and negative examples of women in the Bible, and will be encouraged by Scripture, as well as quotes from notable men and women. Each chapter ends with five steps for exposing the lie and embracing the truth of God s Word.

Are you striving to be a woman of excellence, but feel you're landing somewhere between mediocre and unfit?
Do you want to be your husband's lover, but feel more like his mother?
Are you convinced that busyness is next to godliness?
Are you trying so hard to be everything to everybody that you feel like you're nobody to anybody?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you're not alone--you've simply fallen victim to the lies of Satan! But you don't have to be seduced by his masquerade any longer. Join the fun as we take a hilarious journey through all things female on our search for real truth in a counterfeit world.

From spider veins and webs of deceit to cartoon characters and feminist funnies, Seeing through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe will help you recognize the lies and take joy in the light of His Truth.The suggested Bible readings, small group discussion questions, and meditations on the very words of Jesus will help you discover not only the lies that bind you, but the keys that set you free.

Listen, girlfriend, it doesn't matter who you are or where you've been or what you've done, God is ready to give you a fresh start on a new life--one that can only come through the acceptance of His unchanging truth.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Vonda Skelton is an entertaining speaker with a heart for women and their families. Her first women's book, Seeing through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe, "takes a hilarious look at all things female as we search for truth in a counterfeit world." Her first two books are part of the Bitsy Mystery Series for children 8-14 years old. The third book in the series, Bitsy and the Mystery at Hilton Head Island, will be released in the spring of 2008.

An RN and freelance writer, Vonda's articles frequently appear in magazines such as HomeLife, Christian Single, Focus on the Family publications, and New Man Magazine. An award-winning playwright and lyricist, her scripts have been performed in churches around the country. She is a frequent instructor at writer's conferences and enjoys mentoring and encouraging new writers.

As one who tries--and often fails--to be like Christ, Vonda is thankful God continues to take her messes and use them for His glory!



Vonda is on a "blog tour" this month. She has asked each blog tour host (that would be me in this case) to collect all the names from the comments left on their sites (that would be this www.InnerBeautyGirlz.blogspot.com) for Vonda's blog tour, and draw one finalist. Vonda will put all the blog tour hosts' names in a hat and draw a finalist as well. Then all of the finalists from the various blog tours and from the blog tour hosts go in the hat one final time and the winner will receive this great gift selected just for you by Vonda. This is a GREAT prize! The drawing will be held April 2, 2008. The winner will receive:



Designer Gift Box (looks like a piece of luggage with the words "Faith, Family, Friends" on the exterior).

One copy each of three books by the author: Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe, Bitsy and the Mystery at Amelia Island, Bitsy and the Mystery at Tybee Island.
A stretchy bracelet with Sterling Silver Beads, Gold Swarovski Pearls, Turquoise and Blue Zircon Swarovski Crystals and Sterling Silver Masquerade Mask Charm.
Bookmark custom-made with Sterling Silver Beads, Gold Swarovski Pearls, Turquoise, Blue Zircon and Clear Swarovski Crystals and Sterling Silver Masquerade Mask Charm on a 4.75 inch Silver Plated Bookmark.
Gold Tri-fold picture frame.

Pewter-colored oval picture frame.

Jeweled decorated cross.

Peanut caramel clusters.

Caramel Truffles.

Mini-Yankee Candle.

Three-pack sample tea bags.

Sample Columbian Supremo Coffee.

Oh My! Itty Bitty Chai Packet.



So please let me a comment today to enter this great drawing!!!

Good Samaritan Involvement Day

From now THRU 3/13/08 (midnight EST on the morning of 3/14) receive 10% off by your Affordable Mineral Makeup purchase from InnerBeautyGirls.com by placing the word "goodsamaritan" in the coupon section. This special offer is in celbration of "Good Samaritan Involvement Day" on March 13th. :)

Daylight 10% Savings Time!

This month is going to bring some fun and funny posts, introduce you to at least two different wonderful Christian authors and invite you on their blog tours for some great give-aways, and also share some deeper reflections on the inner beauty God desires us to cultivate. Looking forward to enjoying this season of new life and the celebration of Resurrection with you. :)

To jump start March, please visit InnerBeautyGirls.com for 10% off your Affordable Mineral Makeup order from now until 3/10.
Put the word daylight in the coupon section and you will automatically receive 10% off your order at checkout.

And don't forget to "Spring Forward" Sunday morning!!!

Winner of Beauty Secrets of the Bible is...

Yvonne P. of Alberta, Canada!
I will be emailing you this week to confirm your mailing address and get your copy of Beauty Secrets of the Bible in the mail to you.

Thank you to everyone who entered February's contest. Be looking for our new March give-away to be announced later this week! :)