A Christmas Message

My apologies for not writing in a while, you know how busy life can get around the holidays.  But let's take a break from the chaos for just a minute to remember why we in fact celebrate Christmas:  

In Genesis we learn of how God creates the heavens and the earth.  The beasts that roam the land, sky and sea.  He creates man in His image and he says, "It is good."  (Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 1:31) God created us PERFECT in His image-without sin and we reflected Him. We were created to walk with God in perfect harmony, we were with Him, not separated from Him or without Him. Then the serpent, the evil enemy Satan betrayed Adam and Eve, and they knew sin.  The fall had taken place (Genesis 3:1-7).  When the fall occurred, man became eternally separated from God.  

God loved us so much, he knew something had to be done so that He could be reunited with us, His beloved children.  John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son, that whom ever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."  God sent Jesus, His one and only son, to be born of a virgin and live among us as a man.  He sent Jesus, the perfect lamb, He who lived without sin to die on the cross as a sacrifice for all mankind so that we may be reunited with God our father for eternity.           

The Christmas story gives a biblical account of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.  You can find and read the full Christmas story in the New Testament books of Matthew and Luke in the Bible.

So at Christmas time we are celebrating Jesus' birth.  Because this is where the story of Jesus' life purpose begins, and ends of course with the Easter story. We as Christians are reflecting on and remembering this gift God is offering to us-the gift of Jesus birth, death and resurrection offers us salvation and eternal life.  We have a choice: To chose the gift of salvation or not to. It is the greatest gift one could ever be given, or receive.  God extends the gift of salvation to us ALL freely.  Good works, or being a "good person" cannot earn you salvation.  All you need is believe and accept that man has fallen, we NEED Christ's forgiveness, redemption and saving grace.  Know and believe that Jesus was indeed sent by God the Father to this earth to live and die a death we deserve.  So in return, lay down your worldy lifestyle to serve and honor Him by living a life that reflects Him to biblical standards. 

If you are unsure of what living a lifestyle that reflects Him looks like, talk to your pastor, a Christian mentor or friend.  Study God's word, the bible.  The bible is very clear on what living a Godly lifestyle looks like.  If you truly seek Him and a relationship with Him, your life will reflect that and you will bear fruit. 

If you accept this gift, and chose to follow Him, He will enter into your heart, your life, as the Holy Spirit.  Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."  

Merry Christmas Everyone! May God Bless and keep you. 

Remember Jesus IS the reason for the season! Let's keep "Christ" in Christmas. 

Realizing Your Need For Redemption

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  

The enemy tempted Jesus, but he did NOT give into the temptations.  He lived a life among us WITHOUT sin.   

We are all sinners.  If a single one of us was not, we would not need the cross, and Jesus death would have been in vain.  Jesus was the perfect lamb whose blood was shed for us so that we may spend eternity with Him.  When we come to the realization of just how big, how deep and how wide His love is; how great the sacrifice, we realize our need for Jesus and His mercy, grace and redemption.  Jesus calls His followers to lay down their own lives to follow Him.  He asks us to die to ourselves, or our earthly ways, and live a righteous lifestyle that reflects Jesus himself.  Now do not be discouraged, sin may seem inevitable, but anything with God IS POSSIBLE.  If we sin, we can confess to our Lord, and he will again wash us white as snow saying, "Go, and sin no more." (John 8:11) What becomes harmful is when we contemplate sin, knowing we are going to sin and go through with it. This is a STRUGGLE for us, because we are SO afraid of what our peers will think of us.  We are afraid to take a stand, living for Christ because we do not want to face (minor) persecution.  My friends, when the time comes, Jesus will weed out the true believers from the fakes.  We WILL know persecution.  Do you love your Lord and Savior enough to trust in Him and withstand?  God promises numerous times throughout the Bible spiritual protection for believers.  Revelation 7:3 Do not harm the sea of the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.  This is why we should give up-living in the ways of the world that are not Christ-like, if we TRULY seek Him. God warns the church in Revelations 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  What He is saying here, is it is better to disown Him completely, than to claim we know Him and live a worldly lifestyle. This is a misrepresentation of what being a Christian and living for God looks like. If you want to live for God, be ON FIRE for Him! Lay down your life completely, Be a light in the darkness.  Let Jesus be your ultimate goal, striving EVERYDAY to live a lifestyle that reflects Him, sin free.  Trust in Him. 

Now I know we all know this song, Amazing Grace, but today really LISTEN to the words.  God is good! 

  

70 Spectacular Thanksgiving Sides

Pslam 100

1	Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
2	Serve the LORD with gladness;
	Come before His presence with singing.
3	Know that the LORD, He is God;
	It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
	We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4	Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
	And into His courts with praise.
	Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5	For the LORD is good;
	His mercy is everlasting,
	And His truth endures to all generations. This Thanksgiving remember to give thanks to the Lord who is good, and whose love endures forever.  Give thanks for all the blessings in your life, because all that is good is of our God.  What are you thankful for?   Looking for a great dish to pass at your holiday party? Today I have a link for you from Southern Living.  Here are 70 spectacular side dishes.  Hope you find one you like, and I would love to hear back from anyone who tries any of the recipes on your thoughts and feedback.   http://www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/thanksgiving-dinner-side-dishes-00400000055576/page46.html

Exercise: Taking a Hike

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.

Elizabeth Lawrence

Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn.

Emily Dickinson

One of the best ways to get your exercise this fall is to take a hike.  You can go on this excursion by yourself, or with others.  If you choose to go on your own, it is an excellent opportunity for you to connect with God, when you are surrounded by the beauty of autumn-leaves turned, blue skies, crisp fresh air.  It will nourish your soul as well as being physically good for you.  If you go with your spouse, or a friend, it can be a very inexpensive bonding experience for the two of you.  So figure out where in your area there are state parks and or hiking trails and make a day of it! Take a Saturday to enjoy the breath taking views this season.  And remember to thank God for the wonderful world he has created for us to live in.   

Fall and Winter 2012 Wardrobe Essentials

Colors and Prints are essential this season! Just because winter can be cold, dull and drab does not mean your wardrobe needs to reflect it.  Today I am going to share with you a few essential items to add to your wardrobe to spice up your look, while staying warm this season.  

1.  A bold colored fashion jacket such as a pea coat.  This is an item you will really get your money's worth out of.  It is something you can wear daily, and will hopefully get a couple years wear out of.  Find this look for less at Jc Penny or Old Navy.

2.  Incorporate animal print into your look by adding it as an accessory such at a scarf, wrap, handbag or shoes.    

3. Baroque is in.  The dramatic is stylish.  Metallic,  feminine lace and sparkle! You can try H&M to achieve this look, or another affordable option is Forever 21.

Fall and Winter Nail color Trends 2012

Matthew 20:80 Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

You may be thinking, how does she link nail trends with serving God?  Well, it is not a direct connection.  But we should always be thinking about how everything we do affects who we are in Christ.  So here is why I picked this verse to accompany our Beauty and Wellness topic today:  We use (or should use) our hands to serve others, just as Jesus came to the Earth to serve us.  God gives each of us blessings, and because he loves us so much, and does bestow his love and blessings upon us, we need to do the same for others, and serve those around us.  Maybe it's volunteering with the financially less fortunate.  maybe you donate your time to teach children about Christ.  But whatever we do, in the presence of God, we want to present ourselves AT OUR BEST to honor and glorify Him.  So, I think he adores your new mani, when your hands are used for His Great works. =]

My absolute Favorite Fall and Winter nail color collections  the Germany Collection, and the Skyfall Collection by OPI.   This season, across the board, we are seeing lots of deep puprles and plums, light and royal blues, oranges, reds of course, and even light greens.  Also, lots of neutrals including nudes, taupes, silver and charcoals.  

The Skyfall Collection is OPI's holiday Collection.  It  has some really fun shimmery polishes, metallics, and a confetti polish.  Most of the same Polish Design trends are the same as we saw during the summer months (see Summer Nail Color Trends, July 27, 2012).  However, this time of year, nail bling is a hot trend.  All the shimmer, glitz, and glam.  This is why the confetti polishes are so popular.  

Here are a few ways Confetti Polishes are used.  They can be applied to the whole nail, or you can use them to create an ombre french tip.  

Gems are another great way to add a little bling to your mani. 

Affordable and Trendy Boots for Fall and Winter 2012

This time of year we are all looking for a great pair of boots! A couple basics every girl needs are a dressier pair of (black) boots with a heel, and a casual pair of flat bottom boots for everyday wear.  I think for an every day pair a khaki color is nice because it matches anything. 

  I have found numerous different colors and styles (including booties)  at great prices to share with you, from one of my very own favorite online places to shop: 

http://www.gojane.com/shop-by-category-shoes-boots.html?sorttype=0&size=0&page=404

Enjoy! 

Remember to spray your boots with a waterproof treatment after purchase to protect against the wet winter climate.  You will get many more years out of your boots by doing this. 

Test of Fire: Election 2012

It is critical that Christians pray for the coming presidential election. There is amazing power in united prayer. Pray with others whenever possible. The power of prayer can overcome any obstacle or ungodly influence and, indeed, do great things!

This is an amazing commercial brought to you by the catholic church.  This is powerful!  As Christians, we all share the same core beliefs and should not let denominations segregate us.  This is addressing ALL Christians.  Will your faith affect your vote? 

Reflection of the soul

^{Romans 13:11} And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber,because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 

Did you know that the Bible tells us that God has placed an anointing upon music? Go ahead and really listen to the words of these songs, make them your own.  Let the Holy Spirit draw you near.  What is your favorite worship song?

Fall/Winter 2012 Hair Color Trends

And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. 

As fashion trends change and evolve with every season, so do hair styles and colors.  It's that time of year when you are probably catching the "I need a change" bug, most of us are.  It's time to update your look! We can learn a lot about what our new color trends are by watching and taking ques from the celebrities on the red carpet.  I'm going to share with you the three most popular hair color trends for fall/winter 2012.  

1. Brunettes:  The most sought after color trend in 2012 has been the ombre color.  Ombre hair refers to hair color fading from dark to light, or vice versa. Instead of the color starting from the roots, it gradually becomes lighter, or darker, towards the ends. The word "ombre" in French means shadow or shade.  This trend can be worn on short or long hair, and can have different levels of how bold the results are. 

2. Reds:  This season reds will be as stunning as ever!  Red violets and copper shades are making their mark.  Moving away form the rich, ruby reds we saw last season, many clients are opting for a less extreme red that fits with more skin tones. 

Bold Red Violet Hair Color

3. Blondes:  Ash Blondes are where it is at this year.  Ash Blondes are more natural looking and are multi-dimensional.    

DIY Beauty Secrets of Lemons

John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

It is important for us to wash away and cleanse our physical beings.  Did you know that lemons are an awesome "At Home" remedy to a lot of your beauty needs? In fact I use lemons daily in my beauty regime.  Our fridge is always stocked. The high amount of vitamin C in lemon juice makes an effective and safe skincare remedy.  Helping to treat acne, reduce redness and brighten and even skin tone. Lemon juice also helps oily skin because of its astringent properties, and helps to heal acne marks because of their antibacterial properties.  With more acne medications hitting the market, some people have begun paying exuberant amounts of money to treat their acne. Some medications cost hundreds of dollars per month, so these treatments can be out of many people’s price range. You can make your own revitalizing solution from the comfort of your own home. Lemons have been used for their health qualities for years.  You can try this just on your face, or you can use to treat other areas on the body.  It can be used as a chemical exfoliant for elbows, knees and ankles. This will leave your skin fresh, beautiful and glowing.   

1.  Exfoliate your face using a gentle facial brush moving upwards in a circular motion.  Do this on dry (clean, no makeup) skin.  The purpose of exfoliating is to remove all dead skin build up so that our product, in this case lemon, can penetrate deep into the skin tissue and really work so that you can see amazing, fast results.  This step needs to be done about 3 times a week in the morning.  
2. Wash your face with an antibacterial facial cleanser.  Daily, twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.  
3. Apply a mask after cleansing 2-3 times a week.  There are all different kinds of facial masks, so make sure that you purchase, or make one at home that fits your specific skin care needs.  If you like, I can help you with that.
4. Use the lemon in place of/as an astringent by slicing the lemon in half and squeeze half the lemon onto a cotton round.  And applying generously to your skin.  You can put the other half of the lemon into a Ziploc baggie and store in the fridge.  This step should be done twice a day, in the morning and evening.  This may sting a bit at first if you have sensitive skin, but remember it is for a good cause.  
5. Once lemon is completely dry, apply repair lotion and or facial cream to entire face and neck.

The lemon should be worn under makeup during the day as well to protect skin.  It will also keep working to improve your complexion through out the day.  And also should be worn through the night.  Here are a few other DIY beauty recipes using lemons you might want to try:

http://www.beautyandgroomingtips.com/2006/04/lemon-as-beauty-aid.html

Football Food

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare.  They are consumed in twelve minutes.  Half-times take twelve minutes.  This is not coincidence.  ~Erma Bombeck

(American) Football season is here! And I don't know about you, but one of my favorite things about gathering to watch a game is the food. Here are a few different easy recipe ideas for your next football party.  

This link has a ton of different crock pot recipes from BBQ, to homemade soups and dips.  I love this because It can be prepared ahead of time and everyone can leisurely help themselves.  It is easy, and I love the warmth and comfort these types of foods bring.  

http://punchfork.com/recipes/slow-cooker

Kissed The Girls and Made Them Cry-Must Read!!

"God cries to this generation, Even Now! When everything looks so hopeless, and you feel so dirty and helpless.  Even Now! When everyone else has failed, and everything you've tried has disappointed you...I will not.  Even Now!  When it looks as though it is already too late...it is not!  Return to Me with all your heart.  The battle has always been for the hearts of women, and God is asking for your broken, bruised, and wounded heart." -Kissed The Girls and Made Them Cry

Kissed The Girls and Made Them Cry is an amazing Love story between you and your prince charming, Jesus Christ. Written so well by Lisa Bevere. This book is geared towards young women, women in general and mothers, but I believe EVERYONE men and women alike can gain and learn so much from reading this book. Please humor me and pick it up! I promise it will not be easy to set down.

Jiselle's Testimony

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

September is national Suicide and Self harm awareness month.  Did you know:

http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?page_id=04ea1254-bd31-1fa3-c549d77e6ca6aa37 (Please click the link for further reading)

• Every 14.2 minutes someone in the United States dies by suicide.

• Nearly 1,000,000 people make a suicide attempt every year.

• 90% of people who die by suicide have a diagnosable and treatable psychiatric 

• 
  

• disorder at the time of their death.

Today I want to tell you, if this is you or someone you know, THERE IS HOPE!!!! And that hope is found in our Lord Jesus Christ.  We live in a fallen world.  Here life is not pretty, it's not always fun.  As human beings, sin is of our nature.  Only Jesus is perfect.  Here people will hurt you, they will betray you.  That is just the ugly truth.  But if we are Christ followers we have ETERNITY to look forward to.  And that life will be PERFECT! Now, following Jesus will not take the pain away, but it can make it better.  There is HOPE!  Do not be ashamed or afraid to seek help, or confront a hurting friend.  This is a real, serious issue and SHOULD NOT be taken lightly.  

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

One of the most amazing women I know is my sister, and one of my dearest friends, Jiselle.  The fact that she is alive today is an absolute MIRACLE!  Please take the time to read her testimony below, she has taken the time to write this out to share with all of you.  Knowing her, hearing her testimony just proves how big God is, and shows just how much he loves Jiselle, just as he loves me and he loves you. I hope this gives you as much hope and comfort as it gives me.  God has promised to NEVER leave us, not forsake us.     

Jiselle- "As I entered that court room, bedazzled in an orange jumpsuit and silver handcuffs, I realized that something needed to change.  I listened to sentence after sentence given out to the criminals before me and I understood that there was so much more for me.  But I didn’t know where to start.  I didn’t know what change looked like and I definitely didn’t know what it meant to move on from my past.  I was stuck in a rut, dug by the world around me and I so faithfully buried myself in. 

Let me tell you a story; the story that explains but does not excuse; the story that led to me-sitting in a jail cell-as numb as the concrete blocks that held me in and the iron bars that covered the windows. 

The abuse started when I was just thirteen years old.  I was a seventh grader trying to figure out where my place was in this world.  They didn’t know. They didn’t know that they could hurt and damage me so badly.  They didn’t know how fragile and innocent I was.  They didn’t know that the words, the rumors, the lies, the assumptions, and the touches could bury hatred so deep in my soul.  But what does that matter?  It didn’t stop them when scars carved by my own hand began to appear on my arms.  It didn’t stop them when I told them no.  It didn’t stop them when I refused.  By eighth grade I had started to experiment with drugs and alcohol.  I was consistently self harming and thought that love was found in relationships.  People in my life began to die and I saw grief everywhere I turned. 

Freshman year rolled around and I was determined to make things better.  God reappeared briefly in my life and I had sudden hope.  But by the end of the year, my much older boyfriend had taken advantage of me and the lies of my past were engrained into my mind.  Sophomore year-I was the wild party girl.  I had no limits and I truly believed that I was invincible.  I was suffering from PTSD-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-and I didn’t know how to handle the pain.  Counseling was of little help.  I was running away and housing myself in shady places.  I was addicted to several drugs including marijuana, prescription pills, and tobacco and I was participating in criminal activities.  What did I think of love?  There was no such thing; it was a fictional concept that could never truly be found in this world.  In fact, I deliberately denied the love the God and my family was extending me, because there was so much shame and guilt that consumed me.  Death was all around me and I pleaded with God to be next because the self-harm wasn’t enough and I was desperate to end my life.  I ended up in the psychiatric hospital on two separate occasions and returned home with a feeling of numbness.    

And so there I was, sitting in a jail cell staring at the fuzzy reflection in the mirror, wondering, “How did I get here?”  I applied to a Christian, residential, counseling program called Mercy Ministries, but ended the application process before it could truly begin. 

It was one specific moment, when everything changed.  My whole world turned right side up for once.  I had just taken a pregnancy test only a few weeks earlier, and it had turned out positive.  I was eight weeks pregnant-what a surprise-what next dramatic thing was about to occur?  I was so tired of the pain, the frustration, the sorrow and bitterness in my life and I couldn’t control the tears pouring down my face.  I opened a bottle of pills and ran them through my fingers. I tasted the powder residue on the outside and felt my heart tear into a million pieces.  “God, why me?  How did I get here?  There is nothing left for me!”  I contemplated ending it all right then and there.  But I felt an incredible passion for the tiny baby inside of me that I could not yet hear, feel, or see. And at that moment I told God, “If I’m going to do this, then I’m going to do it right.”  You see, at that moment, I CHOSE LIFE. 

I reapplied to Mercy Ministries and after an incredibly grueling application process, I was accepted in-free of charge.  I worked through the most difficult memories of my past, and allowed God to give me back some of the memories that I had forgotten.  I forgave, loved, and let myself be loved.  I chose to parent my baby after working through a basic decision making course where I weighed the options of parenting and adoption-but most of all, I learned how to hear God’s voice and took His direction.  I lived and breathed by faith.  I realized that I am a new creation in Jesus Christ…”Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow” –Isaiah 1:18.  “My beloved spoke and said to me ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.  See!  The winter is past; the rains are over and gone” –Song of Songs 2:10-11.  I learned that HE paid the ultimate price to save my life and give me eternal freedom in the Kingdom of Heaven.  “But HE was pierced for OUR transgressions, HE was crushed for OUR iniquities; the punishment that brought US peace was on HIM and by HIS wounds WE are healed”-Isaiah 53:5. 

I graduated within three months (the average is six) and was nine months pregnant when I left my home of Mercy Ministries.  I returned to my incredible family of Christ followers who embraced me with love and acceptance for my decision to parent my baby. 

So where am I now?  I’m living at home with my parents, baby sister (who’s almost 17) and my incredible eight month old son named Jayden John Thomas.  I am working full time and starting nursing school this winter.  My ultimate dream is to work as a flight nurse (the nurses on the emergency helicopters) so that I can dramatically save lives the way God saved mine.  I am a youth group leader for seventh grade girls and am constantly pursuing my prince charming, Jesus.  I am not working towards the Kingdom of Heaven, but rather, I am living IN it.  Of course, I am not perfect, and I fall short of the glory of God every single day…multiple times…but He throws my sins behind Him and never looks back. "

This is my precious nephew, Jiselle's son Jayden.  Jiselle is an incredible mother and God's love shines in and through both Jiselle and Jayden.  Jayden is such a happy little boy.  

 If you want information on Mercy Ministries, where Jiselle stayed, or would like to donate to help their cause, please visit their website at
http://www.mercyministries.org/

8 Minute Workouts

These are two of my favorite workouts.  Both are fairly easy.  You will not use up a ton of calories; this is not cardio, but you will see results quickly in terms of muscle tone. Both workouts are just 8 minutes long.  

The first is targeted to work the abdominals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNqrkGnkUWc

The second your glutes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnBhn7YSsnM

How To Make Your Lashes Look Incredible Without Falsies

Falsies can be a hassle and tedious to apply.  Let me tell you how you can get that "falsies" look just using mascara and liquid eyeliner. 

1. First You need to make sure that your lashes are clean and dry so that your makeup adheres well.  I would recommend using an eye makeup primer as well.  I do not use an eyelash curler, but if you do, now would be the time to do so.
2. Apply a single coat of mascara to your top and bottom lashes working the wand back and forth from the root out.  For most dramatic look use black.  I like Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara in Very Black.   
3. Apply eye shadow to eye, lining inner rim of lower lash line with a white or silver metallic eye shadow with a makeup brush.  This helps your eyes to appear wider.  
4. Use a black liquid eyeliner to line your lash line on upper lid only.  Create two separate wings coming off the outer corner or lash line.  Applying eyeliner in this fashion will make lashes look fuller and longer.  Also elongating the lash line outward will help to open up your eyes helping them appear larger.    
5. Apply a second coat of mascara, again, working the wand back and forth from root out on both upper and lower lash lines.  

What are your thoughts? Please leave me a comment and let me know if this was helpful to you. Thank you! 

Venison Steak Taco Recipe

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well" -Virginia Woolf

This is my Venison Steak Taco Recipe: 

This makes 4 tacos that are high in protein and low in fat.  Venison is a very lean meat.  Also the spices used help to boost your metabolism.  Apologies if some of the measurements and directions are a little vague; I don't follow recipes, and this is one I made up.  

Ingredients:

• 2 medium size venison steaks
• 1/4 cup water
• half a lemon
• 1 tbsp Tabasco sauce
• seasoning for meat: cayenne pepper, chili powder, celery salt, pepper
• 1 small chopped up onion
• 4 flour tortillas
• a 16 oz can of re-fried beans
• a 16 oz can black olives
• lettuce
• tomato
• shredded cheese
• salsa
• sour cream

Extras If you would like to add them:

• guacamole
• Mexican rice
• corn
• green olives
• chipotle sauce

Preparation:

1. To ensure really tender meat, I begin slow cooking the steak in a small crock pot about 7 hours ahead of dinner time.  So for example: dinner is at 5:00pm, I would start the steaks at 10:00am.  You do not need to defrost the meat, just put into crock pot with a 1/4 cup of water, to keep moist, and turn on high.  Keep an eye on the meat through out the day.  Once the pink coloring has left the meat you can begin seasoning.
2. To season the meat, squirt in half a lemon, 1 tbsp tabasco sauce, add in the onion, cayenne pepper, chili powder, celery salt, and pepper as you see fit. Again, keep an eye on the meat through out the day stirring as necessary.  The steak will eventually begin to shred as it becomes more tender.  you may need to take a fork and gently pull a part once that happens.  
3. About 30 min before dinner will be served you will need to prepare the other ingredients for the tacos.  You will need to cook the re-fried beans at a low setting stirring occasionally.  Also if you wanted to add Mexican rice to your tacos that would need to be made at this time as well.  
4. Turn oven onto low and put the 4 tortillas into the oven on a baking stone to warm them up a bit before serving.  Make sure you do not turn the oven up too high, or else your tortillas will get too crispy.  We want soft, warm shells.  
5. Chop up your tomatoes and olives, and have salsa, sour cream, cheese and lettuce prepared to add onto tacos.  Also any other ingredients you would want to add prepared at this time.   
6. once everything is set and beans are heated-serve!  I usually spread the beans onto the shell first, then add the meat followed by all the other toppings.  Enjoy!

If you try out this recipe, let me know how you liked it!