Recipe Day!

Today, I am going to give out some of my favorite recipes, which implement Baby Steps 4 and 5. 


Honey Oatmeal Cookies


1. Mix together the following ingredients:
-1 cup whole wheat flour
-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1 tsp. cinnamon
-2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats


2. In a separate bowl, mix together the following ingredients:
-1 stick of softened butter
-1/2 cup honey (or a little more to taste)
-1 egg
-2 teaspoons vanilla


3. Stir together dry and wet ingredients until thoroughly combined.


4. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. 


5. Enjoy with a glass of whole milk!

Cabbage Slaw with Feta Cheese


-1 head green cabbage(preferably organic), chopped
-4 ounces feta cheese*, crumbled
-4 green onions, sliced


-1/3 cup grape seed oil
-1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
-1/4 cup white vinegar
-1/4 cup filtered water
-1 garlic clove, crushed
-1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
-1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
-2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper


1. Mix cabbage, feta, and green onions together in a big bowl; set aside.


2. Mix together remaining ingredients in glass jar. 


3. Shake well and pour over the cabbage just before serving.


4. Enjoy with a glass of filtered water with freshly squeezed lemon!

* If you don't enjoy feta cheese, you may omit this ingredient.

What To Do for Do's

Here are three great videos on how to do different types of braids! Have fun and let us know if you try any of them!

Silk and Purple does not claim the rights to these videos. All rights belong to The Beauty Department.

New Vlog Post

For more information about our biggest giveaway, click here.

Hurry! Time is running short!

Finishing School

From elegance and social graces to impropriety and indecent behavior.
Emily Post would not be pleased.

Manners and etiquette have become arts of the past and, at times, are even looked down upon in young society. I will not make the statement that all people in our culture disregard civility and chivalry. I come from a long line of Southern ladies whose hospitality and social graces are second to none. Unfortunately, even a scoundrel knows the persuasive power of manners. Social graces are performed for others around us. If we were never in the company of anyone, there would be no need for manners. The disappointing fact is that we live in an extremely self-centered culture. Has etiquette become an object for personal gain? Is the social grace card pulled out only when we're trying to impress?

The word "etiquette" can easily be replaced with "humility," and that is a lesson Christ lived out even to death on a cross. Are you and I willing to regard others and their comfort and ease higher than our own? I believe Christ would want us to.


"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Philippians 2:3-4

So where do we start to bring back the ideas of civility and chivalry? Young ladies in well-bred societies of the past were trained in what was known as a finishing school. Finishing schools were created to polish a young lady in etiquette and education. We've decided to add a virtual Finishing School at Silk and Purple! We'll be posting about etiquette and manners in future posts, but to begin, let's talk about...

Posture

Your posture says everything and more about you! Good posture is also very healthy for your body, so give it a try!

Step One: Think of lengthening your body and engaging your abdominal muscles.
Step Two: Take deeper breaths. A long, deep breath fills the diaphragm, automatically lifting the rib cage and upper body.

Step Three: Relax your shoulders; imagine someone pushing down on them.
Step Four: Elongate the neck.

Step Five: Wear suitable undergarments to help you achieve good posture.
(A quick way to check your posture is to vertically hold a pencil next to your ear -- it should line up with your shoulder.)

Try your best to keep good posture (especially in public) at all times. It will become a habit with a little practice :) 

Question and Answer

Here is a great question we recently received from a mom:

Q: What is the recommended age to follow Silk and Purple?

A: Silk and Purple was created to reach a wide age range. While we have many women reading and gathering creative ideas from this blog, we do not believe we have biblical jurisdiction to instruct and lead wives and mothers in the ways of scripture. Our focus is on unmarried young ladies! We love for wives, mothers, and grandmothers to read the blog, and our prayer is that they will share it with the young ladies in their lives. 

We all mature differently. The Victorian idea that girls are not concerned about appearance until 15 is a long-forgotten thought. We believe that the maturity level of a girl should be determined by her parent or guardian. We desire Silk and Purple to be a wonderful resource to girls entering the years that can be the most exciting and productive -- the preteen, teen, and young adult years. Preteen may mean 12 for some girls, others as early as 10. We encourage parents to determine when it is best for their daughters to engage in outside instruction regarding their outward appearances and the deeper heart issues.

We will always strive to place disclosures to help parents censor sensitive subjects in protecting young, pure hearts, as well as provide admonition to the young lady to seek the counsel of her spiritual head!

~ Abby and Elyse

Find more QnA here!

Buy of the Week

If you caught our post about classy classics, then here is the buy for you! This coat is a beautiful color and perfect for dressing up or down. The best part -- it is on a big sale! Regularly $47.80, now for only...

$23.99

Catch this deal while you can here!

Please note that not all items from this store are recommended by SnP!

Happy Shopping, but be mindful of what you purchase as an ambassador of Christ!

Baby Steps to Health - Step 5

Today is our final baby step for the month of January. I hope that you have been blessed by my efforts to help you experience better health!

Baby Step Number 5:

Eat more whole foods!

 You may be thinking, "What are whole foods?" By whole foods, I mean raw fruits and vegetables, whole milk, eggs, butter, and plain yogurt.

-Raw fruits and vegetables increase the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream (which is proven to cure cancer) and they give you energy and life.

-Whole milk provides calcium (which prevents osteoporosis later in life) and vitamins which are necessary for our health.

-Butter is rich in vitamins A, E, and K. Butter is a source of the vital mineral, selenium, and it also prevents tooth decay. 

-Eggs contain much protein and many essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein).

-Plain yogurt contributes to colon health, boosts the immune system, lowers cholesterol, and is a rich source of calcium.

God has designed our bodies to be consuming these wonderful whole foods, not processed junk food! Whole foods contain life-giving energy and vitality, unlike any processed food. 

So indulge yourself in eating the way God intended for you to and experience vibrant health!


Don't forget about our biggest giveaway! ~ http://silkandpurple31.blogspot.com/2012/01/31-days-for-500-likes-giveaway.html

Classy Classics

When you think of classic style, do you think of Audrey Hepburn? Or maybe you think of Jackie O, Grace Kelly, or Kate Middleton? These icons of fashion always seem to be so put together, yet it looks so easy.

That, Ladies, is the secret. When I was a ballet dancer, I was continually reminded that no matter how hard the dance, I had to make it look easy and graceful while performing it. Classic style, I believe, is a lot like ballet. It might take a little more thought, but if done with an air of ease, you can accomplish the difference between preppy and classic. Here is a classic style list to give some inspiration for clothing and accessories!

1. Black dress -- well-tailored to your form
2. Red- or camel-colored pea coat
3. Flesh tone pumps -- not too high
4. White fitted blouse
5. Neutral over-sized, lady-like purse
6. Ballet flat -- black or metallic
7. Fitted cardigan
8. Over-sized sunglasses
9. Red lipstick
10. Navy or black fitted skirt

Clothing of quality will never go out of style! Basic classic pieces can build your wardrobe and make your personal style pull together.

From mud pies to bubble baths...

It's magical, in a way. Little girls running around with no concern of grooming, then, almost overnight, turning into young women who care a great deal about how they look. From pony tails to curling irons and mud pies to bubble baths!

The transition from girlhood to womanhood, when kept pure, is one that can be full of delight! It can be the start to becoming a beautiful biblical woman -- or a start down the path of the wily Proverbs 7 Woman. Little girls who come from a strong family are oftentimes very confident and feel secure. Their biggest concerns are playing with dolls and arguing about what they dislike on the plate of food set before them. My niece is still of the age that she has never looked in the mirror and disliked anything she sees. She believes (and my family and I often reassure her) that she is beautiful, and because she doesn't compare herself to other four-year-olds, she never thinks anything different. The transition between girlhood to young womanhood can cause a girl to feel very vulnerable. She does a lot of comparing and thinking about how she measures up. The world is well aware of this vulnerable time and tries to take full advantage of it.

This transition can be compared to a small tender blossom about to bloom, and every girl is faced with a decision -- will she become a beautiful rose, or a thorn that pierces her family and friends? A tender blossom is in great need of care and guidance. If she doesn't find beauty reflected at home, she will seek it outside the home, looking at anyone who will show it to her. Many times the beauty is fake, but the blossom receives it as truth and then patterns her life after this new source of "beauty." This outside source could be the latest pop star or the most popular gal in town. It is never a question of if the blossom is following someone -- the question is who she is following.

When I was very young, my mother sought out role models for me. In a sense, they paved the way for me in fashion, character, attitude, and relationships with friends, family -- and with Christ! Maybe they didn't realize this little girl's watching eyes, mimicking their every move, or perhaps they did. Till this day I still look up to these young women as they now show what biblical wifehood and motherhood look like. I pray someday I can still follow in their footsteps.

We are either role models or observers -- or oftentimes both at the same time! We all learn by observation and then mimic what we have seen. This is the way we learned to talk, eat, and walk. My concern is that so many tender blossoms are being neglected and unguided by older sisters in Christ who could illuminate the path of the Christian walk; instead, these older sisters choose to live selfishly with no concern for the little feet behind them.

So be warned if you are a teen and beyond -- you are being watched by little eyes who will pattern their lives after you. That is not said to "puff up" your ego; this is just a simple truth. My prayer is that tender blossoms will grow into beautiful blooms with the opportunity to pattern themselves after godly young women who seek to follow the Lord.

Silk and Purple was created, in part, to act as a positive role model for young ladies where none else can be found. This is a role we take very seriously, and we continually examine all we do in the context of pointing girls to Christ.

So will you lead these tender blossoms into a beautiful bloom showing them the difference between flowers and thorns? Will you model Christ?

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

1 Timothy 4:12

*******************************************

This is a book my mother and I read when I was young. A great read for girls!

To find this book, click here!

Buy of the Week

An easy to wear khaki skirt is a basic for any young lady's wardrobe. Whether you're running to the store or picnicking with family on a Sunday afternoon, this skirt will serve you well!

$24.95

Find this skirt here!

Please note that not all items from this store are recommended by SnP!

Happy Shopping, but be mindful of what you purchase as an ambassador of Christ!

Baby Steps to Health - Step 4

Hello, and welcome back to Silk and Purple's health theme of the month... "Baby Steps to Health"! Today, we will talk about the dangers of white sugar and how to substitute natural sweeteners for white sugar when we are baking.

Baby Step Number 4:

Use pure maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, or unrefined organic cane sugar in baked goods instead of white sugar.

In America, the average person consumes 1/4 pound of sugar a day, which adds up to about 90 pounds of sugar per year. Sugar feeds cancer cells; causes poor eyesight, migraines, and food allergies; it can damage your pancreas and lower the ability of enzymes to function; and these are just a few symptoms of what a diet high in sugar could eventually produce.

We are in a pickle, because most food from the average grocery store contains white sugar, for example: cookies, soft drinks, crackers, juice, bread, peanut butter, jelly, yogurt, ice cream, and many others. 

The only solution is to replace white sugar with natural substitutes, as named above. I use maple syrup and honey instead of white sugar when I bake cookies. You won't be able to find a container of white sugar in the Jones' household!

Please don't let the above facts overwhelm you. Simply start cutting out baked items made with white sugar, and make your own using natural sweeteners, which can now be found at most grocery stores! Hopefully, if you have implemented Baby Steps 1 and 2, you have greatly reduced the amount of your sugar intake already!


I hope that you all have a wonderful day serving the Lord Jesus!


With love,
Elyse

Godly Garments-Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Here is a wonderful radio program from Nancy Leigh DeMoss about clothing and what it says about us!

Here is the link!

http://www.reviveourhearts.com/radio/revive-our-hearts/godly-garments-2/

"Our clothing and our appearance, women, is one of the most powerful, important means we have as women of communicating, sending a message about our hearts, our values, and what we believe." ~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Thrifty Shopping

Let's face it, even if we do find clothing that is becoming to our forms, is modest, and expresses our personalities, the most disappointing factor can be the price tag!!!

Clothing prices are as open and varying as art prices. Many clothing brands and designers designate the price using the value of the name on the tag, not the true worth of the clothing. It is true that clothing made from natural fibers has a longer life than synthetic clothing, but many times what seems real can be fake. (That is a truth within a truth.)

I enjoy shopping, but my bank account does not. I have to exercise a lot of self-control! The secret to looking polished and spending very little money is taking advantage of sales, consignment, and thrift. These shopping avenues take a bit more digging and patience, but I like to think of it as treasure hunting! I have found many jewels in thrift stores!

Here are some tips I keep in mind when I shop:

1. Have a spending plan before I shop.
2. Don't allow myself to become overwhelmed by disorganization. 
3. I find consignment and thrift stores that offer quality clothing.
4. Remind myself to never feel defeated when I walk out of a store empty-handed. Clothing at these type stores change every week, so I'll just check back another time.
5. When going through a rack of clothing, if an item doesn't catch my eye, then I pass it quickly. I start from one end of the rack and go as fast as I can.
6. It's great if the consignment or thrift store has a dressing room, but not always necessary if the store has a good return policy.
7. Brand names on clothing are important to view.
8. I check to see if the garment looks old, e.g., holes, fraying, missing buttons, zipper problems, faded color.
9. Remind myself to not be tempted to over-buy because of the great deals. Keep to the budget!
10. I search for clothing that is up-to-date, not necessarily trendy -- clothing that is classic and fresh.

Happy Shopping and Treasure Hunting!

31 Days for 500 "Likes" Giveaway!! (Expired)

Hello, Ladies!

Here's the news you've been waiting for! To those of you who have been telling your friends about Silk and Purple, great job and thank you! If we can gather 500 likes for Silk and Purple, then we will hold a drawing for a super giveaway. If you're a fan of the facebook page, your name will be entered in the drawing once; if you're a follower of the actual blog, along with being a fan on facebook, your name will be entered twice!

Our deadline is February 2, 2012, so time is ticking away!!

Winner will select from one of the following giveaways:

Selection 1

Win a shopping trip with Abby and Elyse! 

Winner will receive a $50 Visa to go shopping with Abby and Elyse at a favorite vintage/designer consignment shop in Birmingham, AL -- Zoe's. Winner is welcome to bring a guest to enjoy fellowship and shopping in a fun and insightful way.

Selection 2

If the winner lives too far away from the Birmingham area, she will receive a $50 gift certificate to Abby and Elyse's favorite vintage-inspired online store, ModCloth -- and will have a Skype meet-and-greet via the internet with Abby and Elyse! 

We can't wait to see what the Lord will do! Silk and Purple doesn't desire to push numbers for the sake of numbers, but to give opportunity to as many young ladies as possible to learn more about modesty, femininity, style, and the Author of beauty, Christ. Let all your sisters in Christ know about this opportunity!

Facebook page ~ http://www.facebook.com/silkandpurple31?sk=app_129982580378550

Buy of the Week!

This top is a two-in-one deal. Available in only Junior sizes, you can dress this up or down. It seems to celebrate a time women embraced femininity and will do the same for you!

$24.99

Find this top set here!

Please note that not all items from this store are recommended by SnP!

Happy Shopping, but be mindful of what you purchase as an ambassador of Christ!

Baby Steps to Health - Steps 2 and 3

Welcome back to "Baby Steps To Health"! Today we will look at two very easy steps that everybody can accomplish.

Baby Step Number 2:

Replace two junk foods (chips, cookies, crackers, popcorn, etc.) with two raw fruits. Fruits are wonderful for our skin, and help aid in digestion. They are full of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. If you have a sweet tooth, fruits can help satisfy your cravings without eating any sugar!

Baby Step Number 3:

Drink 6-8 glasses of pure, filtered water every day. Water is essential for our bodies to function properly. Did you know that 60 to 70% of our body is made up of water? Therefore, you see that drinking pure water is vital to your health. So drink away!

Remember girls, make Jesus the Lord of your day!

Blessings,

Elyse

Tutorial 2 - Everyday Eye

Kate has a creamy skin tone so she doesn't need dramatic eye makeup to draw attention to her eyes. 

This everyday eye is for young women on the go. Play with these eyeshadow colors, but keep the colors neutral to your skin tone with a little shimmer for a perfect everyday look! Have fun!

{This tutorial is not suitable for all girls. If you are young, ask your mother or father before applying any makeup.}

365 Living

LOSE 50 POUNDS IN 3 WEEKS AND EAT ALL THE THINGS YOU LOVE!!!!

Have you ever heard something like that before? Or maybe you've heard this one...

I'm going on a diet and exercise more when the new year starts!

I believe most people look upon the New Year with anticipation of starting fresh and gaining a new outlook. Among the popular resolutions in America, statistics show these two are at the top:

Lose Weight 

Get Fit

On the surface, they sound great! What's not to like about being physically stronger with more endurance for your day... but why don't we keep these resolutions? So many of us drop our new goals within the first month or so, leaving our new juicers under the counter and our gym enrollments unused. Americans spend millions and millions of dollars on diet pills, exercise equipment, health programs, etc. -- so many promising programs, so much merchandise -- to experience only fleeting results.

So is it our lack of commitment, or are we buying into extravagant nonsense? I think it's both, but is it biblical to exercise and diet?


The Bible is filled with references regarding food and physical strength. Within the short verses describing the Proverbs 31 woman, food is referenced three times* and physical strength twice**. The Lord created us to eat and be active! When we keep food and exercise in balance, then we can enjoy all the good things the Lord gives us! He desires this balance in our lives so that we can be efficient for the tasks He has planned for us! 


I was once a ballet dancer. I had the blessing of dancing at schools that didn't emphasize weight. Many professional ballet schools routinely weigh their dancers which can push girls to become anorexic or bulimic. Unfortunately, I still observed many young women waste away to unhealthy weights in order to be "beautiful." You do feel vulnerable and conscious when you are in a room in only tights, leotards, and ballet skirts. I was never tempted to become too thin, because I loved junk food too much. I was a "sweetaholic" and my unhealthy balance was the overindulgence of sugar. I would eat what I wanted, then feel guilty because of my unwise choices. I'd try a diet for a few days, only with the hope that someday I could eat the same junk food again. It didn't work.


Silk and Purple will never tell you to go on a diet.
DIETS DON'T WORK!


They may for a short time, but not for life. We will always tell you to choose a healthy lifestyle! Healthy lifestyles are not for quick weight loss and not for achieving Olympian bodies. Healthy lifestyles are little choices 365 days of the year. It's not about depriving yourself of what you crave; it's about changing what you crave! The Lord has given us so many wonderful selections of food! Think about food tasting and looking all the same. He decided to bless us with food that brings health, with bodies, when fit, that can accomplish much upon this earth.


Choosing a healthy lifestyle is just that easy and just that hard, because we live in a culture with over-refined, over-processed, and over-commercialized foods. 


I'm no expert, but here are seven things that help me keep a healthy lifestyle.


1. Drink water
2. Eat raw foods
3. Go organic (one food at a time)
4. Keep active (dancing, gardening, walking, and scrubbing)
5. Eat good fats and wholesome protein
6. Avoid sugar
7. Take wholefood concentrate supplements
(If I can't read what is on the ingredients label of a food product, then I don't buy it.)

You might be thinking to yourself, "I'm not over- or underweight, and I seem to be fit. How does this apply to me?"


As young ladies, we have our whole lives ahead of us! Let's try to minister to our bodies by building them up before we are trying to repair decaying ones. If we want to be effective for Christ, we cannot abuse ourselves now, thinking we will feel great when we are old.


Elyse will continue to post about healthy living choices to help us all! My prayer is that we will take baby steps and crave more than food and healthy bodies, but that we will crave our Lord and the richness of His grace!

*Proverbs 31:14,15,16

**Proverbs 31:17,25

First Vlog Post

Vlog post with a few updates! 

Buy of the Week!

There are simply days when you need a little extra comfort. 

Forget the makeup and accessories and just curl up under a warm blanket and read a classic in these outfits. Whether you're blessing your home with a scrub, creating tasty fare in your kitchen, or watching your favorite movie, you'll be comfy and elegant.

$17.90

Find the hoodie here!

$10.99

Find the pant here! 

$15.00

Find the skirt here!

Please note that not all items from this store are recommended by SnP!

Happy Shopping, but be mindful of what you purchase as an ambassador of Christ!

Don't forget about our giveaway!

Baby Steps to Health - Step 1

Welcome to Silk and Purple's "Baby Steps to Health," our health theme for the month of January! We will be looking at easy ways to make our lives healthier in the new year. I will be posting one to two "baby steps" per week. FYI: this is not a diet, but it is the paving of the way to a healthier lifestyle.

Baby Step Number 1:

Cut out all soft drinks and replace with water, unsweetened green tea, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, whole milk, yogurt drinks, and kefir*, to name a few.

Did you know that the average American drinks nearly 57 gallons of soft drinks a year? The average soft drink contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar, which is 100% of your recommended daily intake of sugar. The sugar content in soft drinks is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol, in addition to many other negative side effects. So please take what you drink into consideration, because "...your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you whom you have from God. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Happy and healthy drinking!

*Kefir is a fermented milk drink, which I will be posting about later this month.

  

31 Days for 500 "Likes"

We are trying to reach a goal of 500 likes on facebook in 31 days! If we reach it, we will have a super giveaway (to be announced)! For more info, visit our facebook page and event page.

Find our facebook page here!

Find the event page here!

New Year's Giveaway!!!!! (Closed)

If you don't like working out to boring videos with people whose muscles are larger than life, then enter this giveaway! We are giving away this DVD and purple hand weights to encourage your healthy lifestyle.

Ballet is a great way to tone and strengthen your body in a way that will not injure you, but will also stretch and balance you. The best thing about ballet is that as you are working out, you are having fun! Dancing takes your mind off the pain and allows you to focus on the art.

Here is how you can enter:

"Follow" our blog and/or "like" our facebook page, then post a link about this giveaway on your blog and/or facebook (google+ or twitter works, too).

Leave a comment on this post with the link to what and where you have posted about this giveaway. Giveaway ends this Friday, January 6, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Winner will be drawn at random and will be announced

Saturday, January 7, 2012.

Happy Entering!

***************************************

Winner Announced 1/7/12

Melissa!!! 

Congratulations!

Please email us at silknpurpleprov31@gmail.com for details on how to claim your prize!