I am excited! Today I have the first giveaway ever on From this Kitchen Table. What is it for? A Lilla Rose Flexi Clip. I’ve seen this product reviewed on countless blogs over the past couple years. I’ve even tried to win several times (never happened).

Melody Detwiler is an Independent Consultant with Lilla Rose and contacted me to see if I’d like to do a Lilla Rose Flexi Clip review and giveaway. No surprise, I said yes. After I decided which size to get (Melody will help you figure it out if you need assistance) I received this extra-small Flexi clip in the mail.

Except for the few days that I had my hair down and straightened, this clip has been my companion. It works perfectly for pulling my hair back into a pony tail (and makes it little dressier then an elastic band) and if I do a thick half back it will work for that as well.

One of my favorite things about this clip is that it doesn’t pull at my hair like a pony tail band sometimes does. Also, when I used to wear my hair partially pulled back I’d use a smaller claw clip. What happens when you rest your head on the back of the couch or lay down for a second with one of those? Either a piece snaps off, they jab into the back of your head or both. Doesn’t happen with the Flexi. I Don’t have to worry about anything breaking off or poking into my head.

Another great feature of Lilla Rose is how they have something for everyone. Not only do the Flexi Clips come in 7 different sizes they also have bobby pins, hair sticks, hair bands and more. That’s not all. Each product has numerous style options. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll find a color you like.

You won’t have to worry about losing the clip piece in the Flexi clip – it’s all connected!

(Keep reading to the end of the post for the giveaway!!!)

There is also a special deal for all new customers, up to a $16 value. You simply purchases 3 or more items on Melody’s site, then email to tell her you have done so. She will reply asking what you would like for your free item! Free item will ship separately from order, and take a little longer to arrive.

Also, if you love hosting parties, Melody has another special. If you book a Facebook party in February, you’ll receive a pair of bobby pins! Melody will provide pictures, tips, and ideas you just invite your friends!

Now, it’s time for the giveaway! One of you is going to win a Flexi Clip from Melody. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below!

Must be 18 or older and live in the U.S.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking up to Fellowship Fridays, Essential Fridays, Frugal Homeschool Friday

One of my favorite meals is a sesame ginger salad (I’ll get the recipe up here sometime). It has a unique twist, is refreshing, and makes my taste buds extremely happy.

This dip is a play on that salad. A cream cheese base layered with some tasty toppings all pulled together with a dressing that will make you want to come back for more.

Serve with sesame chips and don’t forget you can adjust the toppings to fit your taste and even the ingredients in the dressing. (If you don’t have hoisin and don’t feel like buying a bottle, just leave it out. I think you’ll still enjoy the finished result.)

This post is part of a series. Don’t forget to find all the recipes for layer dips with an international flair here.

Linking up to Recipe Sharing Monday, Happiness is Homemade, Mindful Mommy Monday, Pin It Monday, Motivation Monday, Mama Moments Monday, Living Proverbs 31, TGIM, Natural Living Monday, Good Tips Tuesday, Share Your Stuff Tuesday, Babies and Beyond, Titus 2 Tuesday, Tending Home Tuesday, Do Tell Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, Lovely Ladies Linky, Welcome Home Wednesday, Homemaking Link Up, Wellness Wednesday, Fabulously Frugal Thursday, All Things Thursday, Pin It Thursday, Thriving Thursday,  Proverbs 31 Thursdays, Simple Lives Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, Mommy Brain Mixer, Fellowship Fridays, Foodie Friends Friday, The Weekend reTreat, Let’s Get Real, Family Fun Friday, Follow Our Thrift, Frugal Homeschool Friday, Strut Your STuff, Link Party Palooza, Weekend Wind Down Party, Show Stopper Saturday, Old Fashioned Recipe Exchange

Today’s post is a follow up to How to Go From Surviving to Thriving from last week. Many of us have the ability to cut unnecessary things out of our lives, learn to prioritize, and plan better to take us to thriving. There are people, though, who have said no to everything that they can, plan and prioritize perfectly and still find themselves surviving. Barely surviving even. I have so much to learn from people in that situation and hope you find yourself encouraged and challenged by this post no matter which situation you find yourself in.

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Guest Post

The vast majority of people I see have so much control over their circumstances, hence the ability to learn to plan, prioritize, say  no, etc. With a little effort, their lives can be vastly different.

However, there are many times I see people in the most horrible life situations, and they are such an inspiration. What is it about them that makes them different from others going through the exact same things?

How can one person be inspirational and even upbeat while the other is downtrodden and miserable? They CANNOT change any of their circumstances. They can ONLY change themselves and the way they look at life.

What have they found in their soul and spirit? I want to be like that.

What happens when your season of “just surviving” goes on and on and on. There were years when I felt that survive was all I could do. “I just need the strength to get through today” was my prayer every morning. Thriving seemed to be a very dim light at the end of a very long tunnel.

I know there are others out there in the same situation – single moms, moms of a handicapped child, severely allergic child, or a chronically ill child, a mom with a husband who never helps or is never home, a mom whose husband is deployed overseas, or a mom who has a debilitating disease or cancer.

When will their season of “just surviving” ever end? Is there any hope for them?

I used to pray that I only had to be “on duty” 23 hours and 50 minutes a day. Just 10 minutes of “me time” a day. That wasn’t too much to ask, was it? I looked forward to my 10 minutes, and if I didn’t get it, I was so disappointed and frustrated. I felt sad – life had let me down. It began to steal the joy from my life.

Then, one day I was reading a very old Bible study book. Something jumped out at me and gave me a slap in the face. I was to commit 100% of my life to my family. Not 95%, not 99% – but 100%. Seriously!?!? Was I really willing to do that?

I was convicted that day and began my journey of giving 100%. I couldn’t change my circumstances. I had already cut out all of the unnecessary things that devoured my time and energy. The only thing left to change was my heart and my attitude. I determined that, for whatever reason, God had designed my days to be challenging. I was up to the task. I was in 100%.

My days continued to be exactly like they had been – no sleep, messes to clean, diapers to change, meals to cook, homeschooling, disciplining feisty kids. All of this by myself while my husband was on the road. Just like the previous week, I found myself with exactly zero minutes of “me time”. But, now I wasn’t disappointed. How could I be disappointed when I got exactly what I expected? After all, my part of the bargain was 100% of me. Was I tired? Absolutely. More that you will ever know. But I found my joy was still there. It was not being stolen anymore.

And then, the best thing began to happen. Occasionally, I got ten minutes of “me time,” and I was so excited! I was given a gift that day, and I saw those few precious minutes as a blessing. A few days earlier when I got those ten minutes, I deserved them (or so I thought), so I never appreciated them or saw them as a blessing.

The same life. The same ten minutes. But with a different heart attitude.

Life hadn’t changed. I changed.

Are you in a long season of “just surviving” or do you know someone who is? What kinds of things have others done or what things could others do that could give you a few minutes of desperately needed “me time”? I would love if you would comment and let me know how to be a blessing to you!

Linking up to Mommy Brain Mixer, Let’s Get Real, Thrifty Thursday, Fellowship Fridays, Essential Friday, Faith Filled Friday, The Weekend ReTreat, Let’s Get Real, Show Stopper Saturday, Strut Your Stuff, Weekend Wind Down, Link Party Palooza, Happiness is Homemade, Mindful Mommy Monday, Pin It Monday, Motivation Monday, Mama Moments Monday, Living Proverbs 31, TGIM, Natural Living Monday, Good Tips Tuesday, Share Your Stuff Tuesday, Babies and Beyond, Titus 2 Tuesday, Tending Home Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, Lovely Ladies Linkym Welcome Home Wednesday, Homemaking Link Up, Fabulously Frugal Thursday, All Things Thursday, Pin It Thursday, Thriving Thursday,  Proverbs 31 Thursdays, Simple Lives Thursday