7 Ways to Saturate Your Life with Scripture

If you’ve chosen to read this post, chances are you have met or are one of those Christians who aim to read the Bible every year. Bible reading plans are often printed out and laid next to our reading areas, but somewhere around February (Or 1 Chronicles - whichever comes first), the boxes stop getting checked off. The important thing is you tried, and you realize the importance of reading God’s word. But don’t let the discouragement stop you.

Since this is not a post about why you should read the bible, but rather how you can saturate your life with scripture, I will not go deep into that topic.

Just know that the Bible is literally God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) and is God’s very word to us! It’s His love letter and His guidance for our lives, and the very key to knowing who God is.

Reading the Bible guards against false teaching, changes our hearts to be more like Christ, challenges us in every way possible, and is for each of us.

I would say that is reason enough! So how can we saturate our lives with Scripture and keep God’s word in our hearts? I am sharing 7 practical ways that have helped me personally. Please stay till the end and tell us in the comments how you practice keeping scripture in your hearts!

Set aside times every day

I’ve caught myself go a whole day without stopping to read the scriptures. Don’t let this be you! Set timers to wake up early in the morning. Set alarms to remind you to read before bed. Whenever you feel you want to spend time in the Word, do it - but it helps to create habits. We are, after all, creatures of habit.

Don’t just Read The Bible - Study It

In this fast-paced world, it’s tempting (and unfortunately common) to read fast just to say we’ve done it. Resist! Take your time. Don’t just read the Bible. Study it. For more on how to study the Bible, check out this post here.

Memorize Scripture

“Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.”

Take time to memorize scripture. It will make it easier to resist temptation and help you discern what is good in your life.

Use Scripture Art in your home

Sure, you could keep some sticky notes on your bathroom mirror, but you could also try putting up framed verses on your walls to make it pretty. Display your favourite scriptures all over your home in sweet, attractive ways.

Listen to an Audio Bible

This is a fantastic thing to do, especially when you have a long commute. The Bible itself talks about the “hearing” of the Word, so I think this fits quite nicely. Sometimes you will hear something that you missed while reading, and when you go to read it later, it will be reinforced by what you heard. You can even find audio Bibles that are dramatized or read in an engaging way if you’re afraid it will put you to sleep.

Share God’s Word

Don’t hide your light under a bushel! Share what you have learned with others! This not only spreads the Good News but also reinforces what you have already learned. You never really know something until you tell someone else. That’s probably why my friend in medical school tells me all about the things she learns before a test now that I think about it …

Pray through Scripture promises

I talked a little bit about this before, but pray through Scripture promises! The Bible is full of promises for us to claim. Once I became aware of this, I couldn’t stop seeing them every time I picked up the Bible! God has so much He wants to bless us with - all we need to do is humbly ask!

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How do you saturate your life with Scripture?

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Crochet Mood Blanket // Year Long Project

I posted a picture of my mood blanket on Instagram a while ago and got a bunch of questions about it. I decided to share what exactly it was, and some photos. Maybe it'll inspire my crocheting (or other craft) readers?

In January of 2017, I finally ended a project that took me just over a year to completely finish.

The task? Every day of the year, I was supposed to crochet a simple solid coloured granny square according to my mood. To crochet a mood blanket. I was inspired by other year-long crochet projects and this one appealed to me. Why? I'm not sure, but I will definitely say that I never realized I had so many moods....I have never considered myself terribly "moody," but hey!

The moods and colours were as follows:

Sad- Sky Blue
Inspired- Soft Grey
Loved/thankful- Scarlet
Happy- Light Teal
Productive/motivated- Damson Purple
Unproductive/unmotivated – dark denim
Frustrated/Annoyed- Medium Rose
Excited- Medium Teal
Exhausted- Dark Rose
Hormonal- Gold
Sick/crampy/crappy- Medium Denim
Relaxed/Content- Cream
Determined- blush pink
Anxious/stressed/nervous/overwhelmed- Buttercup
Not Sure-Dark Teal

I think the most fun of this whole project was picking all of the colours! It was hard to imagine what it would look like since I couldn't exactly predict my mood each day, but as it came together, I liked what I saw! Some of the colours apparently make no sense when you think of the mood, but that is alright. 

Most days I would do multiple squares to either catch up or get ahead of the project. By the end, I was getting as much done as I could. Life happens, but I was pretty good about writing down my mood for each day, even if I wasn't able to crochet a square that day. 

Once I was finished putting it all together, I definitely procrastinated putting the borders on it. Spring crept in, then Summer, and I purposed that it was too hot to actually wrestle with it to add it on. 

I completed the whole thing in January, and my sweet mother-in-law helped me sew in all the ends. Good thing too, because that is probably my least favourite part. I've since learned, and I make sure they're in as I go. 

My husband put a ban on more blankets in our house, but I've been whipping up all sorts of projects. I never planned to share my crocheting endeavors on the blog, but since I got such an overwhelming response, maybe I'll start doing so!

In hindsight, I would have probably made the squares a little smaller - the finished project fits over our king sized bed! But at least it's warm? :)

UPDATE: 11/17/17

It turns out our new kitty, Astra, loves the mood blanket too! When it's draped over my office chair, she uses it as a blanket fort, and when it's folded and about ready to be put away, she delays the process by jumping up and taking a nap. A long nap. Even when it finally gets put away, she'll hop on top and watch the world around her. We've found out that this kitten loves knits as much as her fleece!

She's so stinking cute though!

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Do you crochet or craft? I'd love to see and hear about your projects, too!

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Vegan Pumpkin Pie (nut-free)

Fall is here, once again, and once again, it's time to consume our favourite seasonal yummies!

It's no secret that pumpkin pie is a craved thing in our household. I do, however, refuse to make it until it gets chilly out. So how perfect that the temperatures have finally dropped! To be honest though, as much as I love Autumn and everything about it, I was sad to see Summer go. Probably because Winter is ahead, and the last Winter was so long and unbearable that I have no heart left to face the upcoming one. But at least there is pie!

I always look forward to picking out my perfect pie pumpkin. If you ask my husband, I love small, round, and cute things, so it's naturally something I love to do. Even though making homemade pumpkin puree is a real chore sometimes, the difference in taste is worth the extra effort. Sure, it's a mess and opening a pumpkin is not as easy as opening a can, but you'll thank yourself when you taste the finished product. 

The best part? It freezes well, so you can use it all year round - if it lasts that long! Anyway, this year, I wanted to try making a pie that was nut-free. I know I use a lot of cashews in my recipes (I just love cashews!), so I wanted to try something new that was more allergy-friendly. Pumpkin pie seemed like a great place to start since it's that time of the year. 

While this pie takes a little longer to get firm than the cashew version, it is still crazy delicious. By the way, if you hop over to that recipe, I give a little rundown as to how to make your pumpkin puree the easy way :)  

Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie (Nut Free)

What you ned:

• 2 1/3 cups pumpkin puree

• 1/4 cup maple syrup

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

• 1/3 cup unsweetened plain non-dairy milk

• 1 TBSP olive oil

• 3 TBSP arrowroot powder

• 1/4 tsp of each: cinnamon, ginger powder, nutmeg, & cardamon

• 1/4 tsp sea salt

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 1 pie crust (unbaked)

What to do:

1) Make pumpkin puree by cutting open and cleaning your pumpkin. Drizzle some olive oil on it and bake in the oven until tender. Remove from oven, scoop out the flesh into the food processor, and process until very smooth.

2) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

3) Prep pie crust.

4) Mix all the ingredients for pie filling and whisk until perfectly blended.

5) Put filling into prepped pie crust and bake for 55-60 minutes.

6) Let cool completely - for a firmer pie filling, put in the fridge for a few hours.

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I like my pie cold and topped with coconut whipped cream. What about you?

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Five Secrets for Sustainable Shopping Success

Shopping is a time-consuming adventure that many gladly take part in. Confessedly, I was no different. I loved the thrill of going into stores, hearing their relaxing music, and seeing the bright new trends on the shelves. Whether I was shopping to take my mind off a problem or to just window shop, none of it was sustainable. I was picking out pieces that I would soon forget about. I just didn’t know it yet. And how could I? When you’re shopping, sometimes it can feel like you really need that super cute blouse. You can’t wait to wear it to work or out to brunch with your friends. And I was just the same. But after a while, I started growing weary of the superficial feel of it all. I had countless tops, pants, shoes, and bags that I no longer was excited to wear. No longer do I take an amiable stroll throughout the shops, eyeing the mannequins, shoes, and accessories. Because now when I approach the stores, I have a solid plan in mind.

The Focus of Fast Fashion

Everywhere you look, whether it’s on social media or the magazines at the grocery store, you’ll see ads. The main thing these ads are doing is busy pressuring us to look better by paying more money. Fashion is one of the worst culprits. You’d think that four seasons is plenty, but you’d be wrong! The thing about fast fashion giants such as Forever 21, Topshop, and Zara is that they are constantly adding new shipments and styles into their stores. Fast fashion is all about making the consumer feel like they’re suddenly off-trend even though they just had a massive haul a week ago. With new trends and styles continuously flooding in, it lends that “must have it” feeling to shoppers who didn’t even know they needed it, much less wanted it.

But it’s fine to splurge every once in awhile, right? Because it’s not like you’re always stocking up on pricey jeans and jackets. Surely there can’t be much harm in grabbing a $10 hoodie. However, a big problem of the inexpensive clothing is that it’s cheap. Not just cheaply priced but cheaply produced. With big stores like H&M, they have outsourced their work to massive factories. The factory workers put in many long hours in order to put together clothing to be shipped back to the stores. These workers are underpaid and not taken care of properly during their shifts. It’s also very cheap to order clothing in bulk from these factories. Large, popular brands like H&M can even get away with reselling items for a fractionally higher cost than manufacturing. For smaller brands, they’d never make enough profit if that’s how they operated. But for big brands, they drop the prices to entice shoppers to give in and buy a nicely priced blouse or a pair of pants. And because millions of people shop at these brands, the fashion industry is raking in the cash. It’s a dark picture to think about. The good news is that many indie fashion labels are beginning to burst into the scene. Lots of people like a good DIY project or knowing someone handmade something. There are definitely ways that you can buy beautiful, reliable clothing that will stand the test of time while even remaining stylish.

The Simple Guide To Sustainable Shopping

So now I want to break something down for you. It’s something I’ve been compiling over the last several months. I want to share my sustainable shopping tips and tricks.

#1: Avoid Shopping

Perhaps this is the most obvious tip. However, if you take a day to reevaluate your wardrobe, you could be surprised. Document what you have. Try to work with it. But let’s be serious, we can’t avoid shopping forever…

#2: Limit Your Shopping Trips

Okay. So you’ve got to grab a pair of jeans because the ones you have are just a bit too snug. That’s fine. Hold onto that. When you go out to shop, shop with intention. Don’t go for one thing and end up coming home with multiple bags. And when you do shop, shop for quality over quantity. Seek out brands that have sturdy clothing. Try to stay away from the fleeting fads. If you invest in a nice pair of jeans for $150 that will last you, it’s going to be a lot better in the long run than if you had snagged a pair for $15.

#3: Seek Out Consignment Shops

If you’re not willing to give up shopping so easily, there are always solutions. Rather than heading to outlets or shops, try consignment stores. There are many different sorts. From local consignment stores with specifically chosen consigned pieces to polished online storefronts with practically new pieces for a fraction of the price. A couple of the more upscale consignment shops are ThredUp and TheRealReal. They specifically carry luxury brand clothing. That means no poorly-created clothing for cheap prices.

Some of my second-hand finds:

#4: Turn To Eco-Friendly Brands

It’s time for the next step. Like I mentioned before, there are people and companies out there who strive to bring their own handmade and ethically made goods into the world. They’re created with care. You just have to find them. From awesome fun printed slip-ons by Inkkas to iconic white shirts by Anne Fontaine and more. There are countless indie fashion labels out there. You just have to find the time to locate the ones you love. Fashion labels which bring sustainability, elegance, and minimalism into their very designs are drawing in clients who are hungry to veer away from fast fashion.

#5: Begin Avoiding Fast Fashion Destinations

Starting out, you may find that eco-friendly fashion designers may not have what you were expecting. If you’ve checked out dozens of indie labels and still are struggling finding a classy pair of heels or the perfect clutch, don’t give up. Rather take a step away and use the last resort: fast fashion. For the reasons I talked about before, fast fashion is not the best mode of action. But sometimes, we don’t really have another choice. Heading to your nearest shopping center can work just fine. You just might end up finding a classic blouse that you can wear again and again. Not all fast fashion is poor fashion (or even style). And it definitely will do the trick in a pinch. However, if you want to seek out sustainable fashion at places like Zara or Topshop, go for it. There isn’t anything wrong in using major fashion labels as a backup plan or a minor substitute. Just don’t let it be your first choice and avoid the obvious fads that will be gone in a month’s time. There are so many other hardworking individuals who deserve your money and are willing to trade their sustainable products for it. 

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That’s pretty much how I like to shop sustainably! What do you think? How would you choose to incorporate sustainability into your shopping?

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Nadia Karpov is a founder of Happymalista blog where she documents her journey towards minimalist life style. As a slow fashion enthusiast, she constantly explores the subject and shares everything she learns along the way. You will find simple style, beauty, sustainable shopping, and travel tips on her blog.

To learn more, please visit Happymalista, Instagram, and Facebook

If you are interested in guest posting, check out the guest posting guidelines for Maple Alps, here. 

Almond Coconut Chocolate Granola

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day, and I love having a huge variety of things available every day. One of the things I have always loved to have in my pantry is granola. Not only is it so easy to make and customize, it's fairly easy on the wallet as well compared buying the natural granola in the grocery store. It only takes a few minutes to put together and bake, and even though it also takes only a few minutes for it to disappear as well, it is definitely worth it. 

Now that the weather has cooled off and I can no longer fully enjoy springing out of bed to eat a refreshing morning meal, I decided I'd better switch up my granola to be more Autumn-themed as well. I was working on making a gingerbread granola and decided that would have to wait until at least the end of November. Then this was born in a very good last minute decision. Adding cocoa to granola puts it on the edge - healthy, but with the subtle, flirtatious taste of chocolate. Okay, it may not be sooooo subtle...I added chocolate chips - which adds a whole other amazing dimension.

Does adding chocolate chips mean it is technically a dessert? Nah, though I wouldn't mind eating a bit after dinner. Or for dinner. I am adult, so that means I can do whatever I want, right? Sure.

Almond Coconut Chocolate Granola

What you need:

• 5 cups old fashioned oats

• 1 cup sliced almonds

• 1 cup dry shredded coconut

• 2 TBSP cocoa powder

• 2 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp sea salt

• 1/3 cup pure unrefined coconut oil

• 1/2 - 3/4 cup pure maple syrup (depending on your sweet tooth)

• 2 tsp pure almond extract

• 3/4 cup vegan chocolate chips

What to do:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and prepare a large baking sheet by putting parchment paper on it

2) Mix dry ingredients well in a large bowl

3) Melt coconut oil in a small saucepan and whisk in maple syrup and almond extracts

4) Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and mix until oats and nuts are well coated

5) Spread granola evenly on the baking sheet (you may have to use two)

6) Bake for 15-20 minutes, being careful not to let it burn

7) Allow to completely cool and dry, then crumble the chunks and add the vegan chocolate chips

8) Store in an airtight container

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Do you make your own granola?

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