tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3473505112681302162024-03-19T14:33:45.411-07:00It Goes to Show You Never Can TellJust stuff...stuff and ....things...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-56165162267254946752014-09-15T16:13:00.000-07:002014-09-15T16:13:00.994-07:00I Still Don't Know What I Want to Be When I Grow Up <b>I have a problem with expectation. </b><br />
I tend to expect too much from myself. For that matter, I probably expect too much from other people, too. How do I know this? Because disappointment in other people is a prevalent theme in my life. Not all the time, but when I'm really, really down or really, really upset about something, I can usually boil it all down to "I wanted it to go <i>this </i>way and it didn't." I build up these standards in my head, not only for other people but for myself, as well. And when these standards aren't fulfilled because, as John Lennon said so eloquently, "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans," I tend to go into a self-hate spiral.<br />
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Recently, my life underwent a pretty drastic change. My husband and I moved, bought our first house, and are expecting our first child any day, now. Those things are big, but the biggest thing of all is that I'm not working at the moment. I've set aside career-ing for the time being to be a stay-at-home mum, wife, and student. This is kind of major for me since I've been in the work-force since I was fourteen. I moved out and have been supporting myself since I was seventeen. To suddenly not have my own income is...daunting, to say the least. Anyway, with this major life-shifting I've been forced to sit down and reconsider a few things; to make peace with myself now that I'm not running in fifty different directions. Here is the conclusion I've come to:<br />
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<b>I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, and that's o.k. </b><br />
When I was four to six (o.k., let's be honest, it's still a pipe-dream) I wanted to be an orca trainer at Sea World. For a long time, I thought I wanted to be a librarian. For my whole life I thought I wanted to be a professional writer. Now I realize I really don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I see all these people with passions, with careers, with things to strive for, and I got nothin'. It scares me, sure. What is my life about? What is <i>my</i> thing? When I first started this housewifery gig that question made me frantic. I was panicked thinking "I have to find my thing. I have to have a driving passion." Maybe I'd write a book. Maybe I'd start a business. There had to be <i>something</i> I was passionate about...right? But you know what I discovered? There really isn't. Not in the all-consuming sense I wanted, anyway. Not in the mad genius way or the way that earns your an epitaph in society. And when I figured that out, a whole lot of weight fell off my shoulders.<br />
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<b>I don't have a thing. And that's o.k.</b><br />
I did some soul-searching and one night I just released the expectation. I gave myself permission to <i>not</i> have a thing. It's o.k. to not know. It's o.k. to not be the person you expected yourself to be. It's o.k. to accept the person you are now, even if that person doesn't know who they are or what they want. It's all right to just float and go with the flow for a time until inspiration strikes you.<br />
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If I could parcel out some advice to anyone who might be listening, it would be that you are fine. Just as you are, just as you will be. It will all be o.k., even if you can't see it now. It's all right to be a little lost and confused. That season comes for everyone - trust me, <b>everyone</b>. This, too, shall pass, and when it does you will be so glad you chilled out in that cocoon for a while. You are fine. I am fine. This whole crazy whirling planet is fine. At the end of the story, everything will work out exactly as it's supposed to do.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-41043217203030194062014-04-08T14:52:00.003-07:002014-04-08T14:52:36.532-07:00Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-ChangesOh boy. Where to start?<br />
My husband and I have moved from out charming little apartment in Smalltown Illinois to a rather larger suburb of Chicago. Into our own house. Let me just reiterate that for momentum: Our. Own. House. Yikes.<br />
About three months ago we also learned that we are expecting to welcome our first child into the world on September 29th of this year. <br />
Talk about big changes! As such, I think I might create another blog that deals with more of the specifics of my evolving state of life. I would still maintain this blog as a sort of sounding board, but it would be mostly more personal, interpersonal, holistic, and mental issues discussed. (In other words: a giant ego party - it's all about <i style="font-weight: bold;">meee</i>!!!) The new blog would deal with the new challenges of motherhood, home-ownership, natural living, and family life. Two facets of the whole: inner and outter. <br />
If I do decide to do this, I'll add a note down below with the new blog title, address, etc. for you to visit and keep in touch. <br />
'Till next time, I'll catch you on the flip side.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-10056317935701197582013-10-07T12:03:00.000-07:002013-10-07T12:05:41.505-07:00Raw Challenge - COMPLETE<b><u>*Huge sigh of relief*</u></b><br />
Whoo! I made it! For Friday night I celebrated with a Corona and some Mexican food with my hubbles. We went to a nearby Mexican restaurant. Then continued on to a friend's house for some Red's Apple Ale. I gotta say, probably the thing I missed the most were my beverages: almond milk in my black tea and alcohol.<br />
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<b><u>Things I learned</u></b><br />
I did learn some things about my body on this challenge, though. I had never gone so long completely raw before, so it was a bit of an eye-opener. I learned that my digestive tract is way loosey-goosey when raw. It's happy, don't get me wrong, but it's just very... efficient. I'm pretty sure I also lost a lot of excess water weight, which was fantastic. I had been feeling a bit bloated beforehand. Not while raw, that's for sure!<br />
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<b><u>Conclusion</u></b><br />
I think I can successfully incorporate some of the raw habits without feeling deprived. Maybe one or two raw meals a day. It's just when I go overboard on the bread (more than one meal with bread in it) or refined/fast foods (more than one day a week eating fast food) that I start hurting and noticing the bloat.<br />
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The lesson here, boys and girls: in everything, moderation.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-39181036884091113442013-10-03T15:56:00.001-07:002013-10-03T15:56:09.125-07:005-Day Raw Challenge: Day FourSoooo close! I've almost made it! I think today was the first day I've actually felt it. I was wiped-out exhausted today (despite getting plenty of sleep last night). I know I was a little undercarbed, so that might have been the issue. I don't know, I just was not feeling the fruit today. But I made myself eat it. I was a good little fruit bat: no cooked food or processed crap for me. I can tell you, though: that tea and toast on Saturday morning will be heaven, itself!<br />
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<u>The breakdown</u>:<br />
Breakfast = two or three bananas on my way to class and some tea. Also about half a glass of smoothie (what wouldn't fit in my to-go cup for lunch)<br />
Lunch = smoothie (banana, pineapple, strawberry, raspberry), almonds, and apricots<br />
Snack = two bananas<br />
Dinner = three bananas, some dates, some apricots, and some almonds. <br />
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I'm doing ok. Optimistic. My body <i>feels</i> great, but I was just way exhausted today. And I'm looking forward to a little more variety in my food. Ya know, being able to eat with my husband again. It's the little things. I'm thinking about proposing a Mexican restaurant for a celebration on Saturday. I never say no to colourful chips and margaritas!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-68050592048199534182013-10-03T15:50:00.001-07:002013-10-03T15:50:05.201-07:005-Day Raw Challenge: Day 3Woot woot! Day three! Half-way through! I'm not sure I want to stop, but I know my husband would probably contemplate divorcing me if I ate nothing but raw from now on.<br />
Breakfast was a few bananas and two beautiful pears. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGxx5vRRmA-oFB3i1STBEA36wx7ODZWtcw8Ntx0h-H7nR6DyaKzppAeTcLCJa0K9zuI2f09M-uAnvmh1aVDHDxVKcX0yDvUdft1BPKDpiuxPF6RUaDHs85qR96Xd4fiavoNRN2gYZGXc/s1600/brekkers+10-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGxx5vRRmA-oFB3i1STBEA36wx7ODZWtcw8Ntx0h-H7nR6DyaKzppAeTcLCJa0K9zuI2f09M-uAnvmh1aVDHDxVKcX0yDvUdft1BPKDpiuxPF6RUaDHs85qR96Xd4fiavoNRN2gYZGXc/s320/brekkers+10-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Yum!<br />
Had some tea on my way to work and a cup of coffee at work (for the days when I only get three hours of sleep because of my work schedule, coffee is an unfortunate necessity).<br />
For lunch, this bounty --><br />
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Apples, bananas, dates, almonds... mmm-mmm-MMM!<br />
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And for dinner, I had a potato and some broccoli and <i>this</i> gorgeousness!<br />
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It's banana apple date strudel. Delish! Tastes just like homemade apple pie... except a little bit messier. Admittedly, I could only eat a couple bites before I got full, so I set it in the freezer for later. I also made "fudge" balls. (Fudge balls: toss dates, cocoa, and a few almonds into a blender or food-processor. Then moosh into balls, roll in cocoa (optional) and freeze for an hour or two.)<br />
Pretty good day; I felt maybe a little more tired, but it was my super busy day and I had only had about three hours of sleep the night before, soo....<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-79190984352276711142013-10-01T18:04:00.000-07:002013-10-01T18:04:53.775-07:005-Day Raw Challenge: Day TwoThis morning started out GREAT with some bananas from this huge box --> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHLKMrZOEQmRbdfWjmiwpGuei0Y78WTvBFqQRLOm6-n8Vbk8Pi4Ue9QBMmEZFzI2MtEGTHC71PXkB63pqyDwQUIq0qmnxQlrwy3TKZW-yOJZdKAOpOYh0zGjpTCp9yxa0LgTVDXOC760/s1600/nanass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHLKMrZOEQmRbdfWjmiwpGuei0Y78WTvBFqQRLOm6-n8Vbk8Pi4Ue9QBMmEZFzI2MtEGTHC71PXkB63pqyDwQUIq0qmnxQlrwy3TKZW-yOJZdKAOpOYh0zGjpTCp9yxa0LgTVDXOC760/s200/nanass.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
$20.00 at Wal-Mart, can you <i>believe</i> it!?!<br />
I brought some bananas with me to breakfast with my mum and friend. We had coffee at the coffee shop down the street and a lovely chat.<br />
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For lunch, a tasty fruit smoothie I blended up just before going to class. Bananas, raspberries, blackberries, and some "tropical fruit blend" frozen fruit. It we deeee-lish!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi484_qGdiQxzo3K6JyGZfRwCG6Enaec3Vxi5LjYEEfGimbfEjHcELm0soucnkYj6v70aNAUXXxMGusVxXX8mZLe1mzv7TiBP3K_E1NMLdTBAMIG9P_xC4nTN2UU0fQeDnvy2P_fpxieYc/s1600/lunch+10-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi484_qGdiQxzo3K6JyGZfRwCG6Enaec3Vxi5LjYEEfGimbfEjHcELm0soucnkYj6v70aNAUXXxMGusVxXX8mZLe1mzv7TiBP3K_E1NMLdTBAMIG9P_xC4nTN2UU0fQeDnvy2P_fpxieYc/s200/lunch+10-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQtdBZmJfWsKpKVBXqsvNlo094s7diNXG4_FFVqOl5D_8bYK26pLp4V6LfMszIu35Pg-V-S4nhbyHsxJ74aouTfcBitIdQG2woykcZ52JwMeN2ttDakHsT4ZowZSx9I1FXm7U6Ijnq6Y/s1600/dinn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQtdBZmJfWsKpKVBXqsvNlo094s7diNXG4_FFVqOl5D_8bYK26pLp4V6LfMszIu35Pg-V-S4nhbyHsxJ74aouTfcBitIdQG2woykcZ52JwMeN2ttDakHsT4ZowZSx9I1FXm7U6Ijnq6Y/s200/dinn.jpg" width="200" /></a>For dinner, the good ole' apples and pineapple with some almonds thrown in for protein. Sippin' on tea, ending the night at work in style.<br />
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I'd say it's been a pretty good day. My energy has remained up and I haven't been cranky or anything. I noticed my clothes felt like they were hanging off me today (which is just fine with yours truly!), and I think I'm... <i>*echem*</i> ...cleaned out pretty well. <br />
Day two: success!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-39739103083159863102013-09-30T16:59:00.002-07:002013-09-30T16:59:43.743-07:005-Day Raw Challenge: Day OneDay one started out well:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQNHl0oBoovG-z4v3XBbCA1sFY8jfvQHqSFa4KQI3EDN3WCWT3NJa1Crw0YPzC2Xgye-9wymMtliK6YiEMMgpW5P3P3nOMUT0bg3MA_Ofz5BBYsq2XLaivHaQqpOWS9T-vTjVdm1vddM/s1600/snacks+9-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQNHl0oBoovG-z4v3XBbCA1sFY8jfvQHqSFa4KQI3EDN3WCWT3NJa1Crw0YPzC2Xgye-9wymMtliK6YiEMMgpW5P3P3nOMUT0bg3MA_Ofz5BBYsq2XLaivHaQqpOWS9T-vTjVdm1vddM/s200/snacks+9-30.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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For breakfast: two bananas and two pears, washed down with some Tazo Zen tea and a glass of water (forgive me, I forgot to take a picture)<br />
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For a snack, I nibbled on almonds and dried apricot pieces (yum! My favourite!)<br />
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For lunch I had packed two tubs of pineapple (cut up fresh last night!) and two apples. In reality, I was able to only eat one tub of pineapple, one apple, and a few nibbles of almonds.<br />
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For dinner I lapped up a potato and some broccoli, lightly steamed. And for dessert...<i>this</i> beautiful little creation:<br />
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Isn't it lovely! Fudge balls. Dates, almonds, and cocoa. Oh. Em. Gee. Amazing.<br />
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All in all, it's been a very good day! I've felt energized and serene the whole day through. One of the perks I was really hoping to see by eating this way is the high level of sustained energy that raw people are always talking about. That and a rosy, clear complexion. We'll see what tomorrow brings. I'm expecting more of the same!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-53539214859413554652013-09-30T07:13:00.000-07:002013-09-30T07:13:23.405-07:005-Day Raw Challenge Intro Today I am embarking on a special challenge. This challenge scares me and excites me at the same time. When I first heard about it, I couldn't wait to start. That's how I knew it was for me.<div>
The challenge: eat raw for one week (five days). This may not be as bad as it sounds. I already eat primarily raw throughout the day. The only time I eat cooked stuff it at night. This just means not having a glass of wine with dinner and eschewing that tempting bag of chips when I get home from work, ravenous. Instead, replace with nuts and fruit. Duh. Super easy! I know it looks easy from this side of hunger, and that as soon as that belly starts to growl I will no longer be in love with this plan, but that's ok! That's why it's a <i>challenge</i>.</div>
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So, what I'm <i>planning</i> on doing (let's emphasize that, because you know no matter how much I plan, I can never make everything go 100% as it should) is sticking - loosely - to the loose meal plan Freelee set out to help those doing the challenge. Wait a minute... who's Freelee, you ask? I forgot the most important part! <u style="font-weight: bold;">I'm not alone!</u> This is a big challenge that people all over the world will be taking part in. It was started by this insanely healthy chick called Freelee. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxJHUxjW8AocKLTzLhHWk_p1xmS6HhYonYVuF3B3zC9tCUzjzUuUZdBVLCOjU1wj7pkNjiTOFXz6a1njV7iGj3gMApkHdldbqi9dNPpm-ywwAAoVOqJR4WoPWApyXOHZ1EhvY9ADcZko/s1600/raw+vegan+feast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxJHUxjW8AocKLTzLhHWk_p1xmS6HhYonYVuF3B3zC9tCUzjzUuUZdBVLCOjU1wj7pkNjiTOFXz6a1njV7iGj3gMApkHdldbqi9dNPpm-ywwAAoVOqJR4WoPWApyXOHZ1EhvY9ADcZko/s1600/raw+vegan+feast.jpg" /></a>You can check out her YouTube channel <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtB4wLrekao&feature=c4-overview&list=UULwUd5KtYONsRJ3UAOojZ0w">here</a></div>
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Her website <a href="http://www.30bananasaday.com/">here</a></div>
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and the facebook group (in case you want to get in on the challenge, as well)<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/BananaGirlDietChallenge/"> here</a>.</div>
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Anywho, so I'm going to be sticking more or less to this meal plan (except substituting broccoli and carrots for lettuce because I just can't eat a whole head of lettuce by myself, and possibly allowing a cup of coffee per day {I tried no coffee this morning and it is <i>not</i> working, folks}) and trying to remember to take pictures for you guys so you can see portion size, etc. Mind you, when you eat raw, high-carb, vegan foods, you are going to be eating <i>a lot</i>. But that's ok! That's what it's supposed to be! These are the foods our bodies process the most efficiently, and - personally - I think that's because it's the most basic food. These are the foods that human kind has been eating from the very beginning, so our bodies <i>know</i> what to do with each and every calorie. You don't have to worry about getting fat when you eat like this (even if you eat an entire bag of apples in one sitting for a meal.... guilty), for one because your body will digest it so efficiently that there will be no excess to store as fat, and for another because you naturally need to eat more of this stuff for it to stay in your system and keep you full for longer.</div>
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There you have it. I'll try to keep you posted on my adventure (as it is sure to be).</div>
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Yours fatfully --</div>
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("'Faithfully,' dear, he means 'faithfully.'" "Well he can't spell.")</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-21331209618119485572013-08-02T06:41:00.001-07:002013-08-02T06:42:21.557-07:00Forging Forward Through Fear Good morning, lovelies.<br />
It's a sune-shiney day here in the ole' midwest, but I have the feeling it won't stay that way for long. Clouds smatter the horizon and there is a distinct nip in the breeze. That's all right. That just means fall is right around the corner. The first harvest festival was yesterday, so it is the slow descent from the heady days of summer into the nesting days of autumn. I can't wait. I love this time of year!<br />
Along with the transition of the seasons, I have been going through some transitions, myself. Some mental - working through some personal issues and emotional blockages, slowly but surely - some physical. There's been a lot of clutter-clearing and a lot of fear-staring-down. This brings to mind a couple things - a few tips, if you will - on how to move through fear. With any resistance, change, or transition, there will <i>always</i> be fear. That's one of the great assurances with life, and it's one of the beautiful things about it, too! When we learn to conquer our fears and live the lives we were meant to live, anyway, we can't help but be insanely happy, inspired, and relieved that we got through it.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1.) Acknowledge the fear (the what-if's)</span></b><br />
-what if we can't pay our bills?<br />
-what if we can't afford food or clothing?<br />
-what if I fail?<br />
-what if I succeed and the outcome still doesn't make me happy?<br />
-what if my family doesn't support me and my husband leaves me and the whole world falls to shit?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2.) Answer the fear</span></b><br />
Answer the questions that the fear brings up.<br />
Q What if we can't pay our bills?<br />
A Then we'll go down to just the basics, borrow money, maybe have to shut off the internet, etc.<br />
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Q What if we can't afford food or clothing?<br />
A Chances are, there's a food pantry somewhere near you. I used to utilize this great resource when I was young and broke, and they really fill you up with groceries! There's also charity shops and clothing drives if you're <i>really</i> down on your luck. Chances are, though, if you just watch what you're spending and where, you'll get by just fine. For example: skip Hollister and pick up a new pair of jeans at Goodwill, Plato's closet, or Wal-Mart. It's pretty much the same darn pair of pants... I promise! If you want to be super thrifty, you can always look into <i>making</i> your own clothes. That saved our family bouquoo bucks when I was younger and we had little money for luxuries but growing children.<br />
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Once you are able to think rationally and answer one step at a time, you'll calm down a lot and the road before you will be a little bit more clear.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3.) Keep the goal in mind</span></b><br />
Now, breathe deeply, and remind yourself that the problems are answered and dealt with. You can move past them. Move through it and remember why you are doing this. Is the goal to spend more time with your family? To move forward with your career? To establish the life you truly want in a new town/state/country? Remember why you're doing this and why it is so important to you.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4.) One foot in front of the other</span></b><br />
Just remember this may be a slow path, or it may be hurtling you down-hill. Either way, it is <i>exactly</i> what is supposed to happen. Quiet your mind, trust the Divine, listen to your own intuition and gut reactions, and move with the flow of life. When you're in the current, you will go where you need to go. All you have to worry about is putting one foot in front of the other. Like Gandalf said (yes, I went there. Dude's boss, like the hokey-pokey - he knows <i>exactly</i> what it's all about.) "...that is not for us to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."<br />
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Forget the "supposed to." Forget the standardized list of things you can and can't do, things you should and shouldn't try, etc. Make you own path. Try stuff. Nine times out of ten, you can always try again and pick another path if that one doesn't pan out. You might go through some minor inconveniences, sure. Might have to live with you parents or a friends for a couple months (<i>worst</i> case scenario) or scale back on the fun activities you spend money on. You might get a little behind on bills or have to apply for unemployment. Again, these are all <i>worst</i> case scenarios. And they don't really sound that bad. You're still alive. Once you get over the shock of failure, you can breathe, move through it, and say "ok, that didn't work... what do I need to do to clean up the mess? Ok, great. Situation contained. Now, what do I want to try next?"<br />
There is an old proverb - I think it's Tao, but to be honest I can't remember correctly and I can't find it anywhere (of course) now that I want to quote it. It goes something like this: there is a flow to life (chi). Things that are supposed to happen will happen, whether we can see every angle or not. Problems only arise when we put out resistance to this flow of life. Kind of like if you were floating in the river. When you put your feet down, you provide resistance. The current will push and batter you and you will not be able to walk very far or very fast. But if you let go of your resistence, the river will carry you to the end.<br />
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Have a beautiful day, little peace-buckets.<br />
Much love.<br />
~Namaste<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-49736300396193260572013-07-31T09:06:00.000-07:002013-07-31T09:07:00.960-07:00Living the Good Life<br />
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Are you living up to your true potential? If you could do anything in the world, what would it be? If you had no restrictions about what would earn or spend money, if you didn't have to worry about job retention, if you didn't care what family members and friends thought, what would you do? What would make you happy?<br />
I've been sitting down with some big career questions like this lately. I think the main thing is that I've just reached a point in my life and in my career where enough is enough. I know I'm not where I should be and I know I'm not doing what I need to be doing with my life. I believe we all have control over our own lives, but that we each have a destiny. We came here for a reason, in some way to further the human race or agenda or to bring about the Divine Plan. I think we all knew what this mission was before coming to this world, when we were just disembodied souls waiting to be sent to our bodies with a loving pat on the back and a reassuring smile from the Great One. The hardest part of this life is the struggle of trying to remember why we're here. When we're doing what we came here to do, we come closer to the Divine and we are inimitably happy.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIAAMFKfgDdK0hvusV2Dkd-g7pCW7yP-fERDSGzKc6UVDPHpNUD74nc5QfmUzXjugZa-aCzOiMwaDxpFxHkq3v-8x4EQ45y640VvFxlLkKCz3qIWAmfvJKvp70pY3yKAQdd6sgKvaM1w/s1600/images+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIAAMFKfgDdK0hvusV2Dkd-g7pCW7yP-fERDSGzKc6UVDPHpNUD74nc5QfmUzXjugZa-aCzOiMwaDxpFxHkq3v-8x4EQ45y640VvFxlLkKCz3qIWAmfvJKvp70pY3yKAQdd6sgKvaM1w/s1600/images+(2).jpg" /></a> We all seem to walk around with this idea clouding up our minds that there is only a finite amount of happiness available in the world, and if we take too much, we're skimping someone else. This couldn't be further from the truth. The truth is that the more happiness you take, <i>the more you create!</i> You manifest the happiness you need which always ends up spilling over into other areas of your life. Notice that when you focus on what a good day you're having it seems to get even better? When you put in a request for joy with the Universe, it's not just going to give you a little, it's going to give you A LOT. As much as you can handle. As long as that's as much as you accept. Like any gift, it can only give you what you accept. So if you accept all the joy and happiness and satisfaction in the world, guess what: you're going to have more than enough to go around. Thing is, same goes for sadness. If you accept all the disappointment and stress and sadness that you <i>think</i> you deserve, you're just manifesting it for yourself tenfold.<br />
Where I need to be is at home. I have felt the pull of home and family for some time, and the pull is getting stronger and stronger with each passing day. I feel like I'm just wasting my time doing anything. When I get home, I'm so exhausted from working all day that I fall asleep as soon as I sit down. This is a major problem because then I can't do the things around the home that I need to do and I have no time to do the things I want to do. I have little or no time to do the things that make my life feel fulfilled and happy. I'm trying to manifest this happiness for myself, but without being in alignment with my mission it's going to be a losing battle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQIw4q_UNR7tiJACQFqfPQ5GGtjM_bAiqjy39cYnrPdysAB618rMD5X__Y1uouy6NIObGuzNxSAWUx-VoLyX8qzSPOxS6h_bXaoj0vmfbo4LVVUoiFuLrJqWvbD-jpKynYt6NpDBbYgk/s1600/images+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQIw4q_UNR7tiJACQFqfPQ5GGtjM_bAiqjy39cYnrPdysAB618rMD5X__Y1uouy6NIObGuzNxSAWUx-VoLyX8qzSPOxS6h_bXaoj0vmfbo4LVVUoiFuLrJqWvbD-jpKynYt6NpDBbYgk/s1600/images+(3).jpg" /></a> So what am I going to do about it? I have a little five year plan going. I know (or think I'm getting an inkling about) the thing(s) that I came here to do. I know it because every time I sit down to write, every time I counsel someone, every time I sit down and have tea and a chat, every time I do something nurturing I feel right, whole, complete, serene, where I should be. With every other path I've taken (we're talking career-wise, here) I have felt apathetic, lethargic, depressed, hopeless, useless, not-good-enough, tired, stressed, stretched-too-thin. This is a clear sign to me of what I need to be doing. It's like the Universe tugging my sleeve saying "Try this, try this! See how good it feels? Now look as that. Ick, you don't want to feel that, do you? Try this, again! Isn't this wonderful? Doesn't this feel so right?"<br />
Next few years will be a lot of work and soul-searching, but I cannot wait!<br />
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What does your five-year plan look like? What's your dream job? What's keeping you from going after it, or how did you muster up the courage to go for it if you already have your dream job?<br />
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~Namaste<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-6280747892495474732013-07-25T08:47:00.000-07:002013-07-25T08:51:03.982-07:00Manukah Check In: the good, the bad, and the ugly Thought I'd forgotten about the Manukah honey trials, didn't you? Well, I didn't. To be honest, I've been waiting for the trials to finish! Here's what happened:<br />
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Week one, two, and three - fantastic! My skin was clearing, it was an even tone (which I've never experienced since puberty), and even my husband commented on how smooth and clear it was getting. Then, about a month in, I started breaking out a little. <i>Ok, </i>I thought, <i>no big deal.</i> I had read some reviews saying that some people's skin would have a slight adjustment period but that it wasn't intense and would <br />
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even out presently. Week five... six... It wasn't evening out, and it was getting worse, not better! My skin tone was still even, but I had tons of tiny little cysts all over my face... even in spots where I normally never get them (my cheeks, etc.). Finally around week seven I was starting to panic. I asked a friend who had also switch to the Manukah method and not had any trouble at all what my problem could be. She agreed that this was beyond the initial adjustment period, and that something was reacting badly. Could it be my diet? Seeing as I'm all vegan, 75% raw, and everything else is in tip-top shape (not to mention I've tested for just about every food sensitivity out there), this solution was unlikely. Then she said "had you been using benzoil peroxide before you switched." "Yes, why?"<br />
Oh that sneaky benzoil peroxide. Touted by doctors and dermatologists (not to mention the pharmaceutical industry, which should be a red flag right there!) to be the best medication for acne, benzoil peroxide has a built-in buy-back guarantee. Within three weeks of its use being discontinued, benzoil peroxide will actually cause you to break out. And not just a little bit... a <i style="font-weight: bold;">lot</i>. The theory is, it will keep you running back to your handy BP every time because when you don't use it, you break out. So clearly there must be inherently wrong with your skin, right? Wrong. Actually, BP is hiding in your cells like a devious little ninja, waiting for its moment to strike to cause you endless worry and self-loathing. There's nothing wrong with your skin. Most of the time, the medication is causing the problem.<br />
So why not just wait for it to detox itself completely from your system? Good idea. I tried that. After a few more weeks, I started asking around. Some people had to wait several <i>years</i> before their skin even <i>started</i> clearing up from BP-induced acne! I couldn't do that to myself. But, I really <i>really</i> didn't want to go back to BP, especially since (in all my research) I found that it has been unofficially linked to some forms of skin cancer. Either way, if I can't pronounce the ingredients, and ingestion of the product sends you to the ER, I don't want that on my skin. So I had to use it, but I'm morally against it... what's to do?<br />
Luckily, my buddy Tracy over at <a href="http://www.thelovevitamin.com/">TheLoveVitamin</a> suggested that I pare back on my BP usage. If I wash my face with it twice a day, go down to once. Then, in a few weeks, once my skin has gotten used to that, go down to once every other day, then once every two days, etc. until I'm no longer using it at all. I've started doing that, in addition to the Manukah honey (it just feels so good and keeps my skin smooth and even) and some witch hazel astringent. My skin is by no means clear, but it is getting there. Slowly but surely it is starting to improve. I'll check back with this topic later, but right now, I'd say my skin is about 60-70% clear (as opposed to the 30-40% it was before) and I'm down to washing with benzoil peroxide once every two days. Right now, my skincare regime looks like this:<br />
<br />
Morning:<br />
either tea tree oil or BP (tea tree oil I apply with a cotton ball, then rinse off in the shower, BP I apply in-shower)<br />
Manukah honey mask after shower for about 1/2 hour<br />
<br />
Evening:<br />
Take off makeup with jojoba oil<br />
Rinse face<br />
Witch hazel astringent for dirt and lingering traces of makeup (I don't wear much- just a little eye shadow and some concealer/powder for my face-but you'd be surprised how much can stick in your pores!)<br />
Acne Free Cleansing Brush (wet the brush head and let it do its magic for about a minute)<br />
Manukah honey mask for about 1/2 hour to a full hour<br />
<br />
Twice a week I will do a mask with Moroccan red clay. It really helps to draw out the impurities, plus I love the feeling of it stiffening up on my face. I rinse this off and lightly apply a clean, warm, wet wash cloth to get the rest off. Follow up with a couple drops of jojoba oil for moisturizer.<br />
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<br />
So that's what I do, now. I'm seeing some improvement, but it's slow. I guess that's a good thing. Chemicals promise overnight results, and that's a surefire way to know that something isn't quite right. As with all things worth having, good, vibrant, healthy, natural skin is worth the wait.<br />
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NamasteUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-41723849866158525612013-05-29T09:04:00.001-07:002013-05-29T09:04:19.956-07:00Cray-cray?Am I crazy? It is a distinct possibility. I experiment <i>a lot</i>. The average person might think I'm a few meter shy of a mile. But it's like I told my husband: I don't <i>know</i> what works for me; that's what I'm trying to figure out! If honey on the face works - great! If I have to take a mud bath once a week - what the hey! But I find great joy in experimenting with foods and DIY stuff and homemade-all-natural-this-and-that. It makes me feel thrifty and green... and just plain <i>healthy</i>! I don't subscribe to the notion that you should live in a bubble. Heck no! Experience your life; it's your to live, afterall! If dancing on a stage brings you joy - go for it! If riding a bull is where you find inspiration - bless you both (you and the bull). For some reason, poking and prodding and testing and experimenting gives me pleasure. So I'll keep figuring out "what works for me" and in the mean time, I'll have fun trying new stuff. Like a very wise woman once said:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jIVLI0poWI3NwHK3px1sp1Q1BMaqGHv-M0T5l5g57OULRcdCwR-lOzuxN47bTo_8FJrqz5vrabmKI3p4YxyU_qcSlKgV_ha-MqBQaim91cEOsX0fJKkcIVrOmA6Aw2L5PxYDMX-8eXA/s1600/a1+MissFrizzle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jIVLI0poWI3NwHK3px1sp1Q1BMaqGHv-M0T5l5g57OULRcdCwR-lOzuxN47bTo_8FJrqz5vrabmKI3p4YxyU_qcSlKgV_ha-MqBQaim91cEOsX0fJKkcIVrOmA6Aw2L5PxYDMX-8eXA/s200/a1+MissFrizzle.gif" width="114" /></a>"Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!"<br />
Afterall, what is life for if not to learn?<br />
~Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-59733288500566130452013-05-29T08:26:00.003-07:002013-05-29T08:26:25.585-07:00No Poo... Yeah, I Went ThereToday, I am going to talk to you about poo.<br />
<br />
O.k. Probably not what you think. <i>Sham</i>poo. <br />
<br />
I have been no-poo for over a month and a half, now. Meaning, I do not wash my hair with shampoo anymore. (Collective gasp of disgust) No really, guys! It's ok! My hair is clean, I just don't wash it with commercial soaps that are harsh and strip the scalp of its natural oils!<br />
Allow me to 'esplain:<br />
Shampoo as we know it didn't break onto the scene until the 20s or 30s. Even then, it wasn't recommended that anyone wash their hair more than once a month or once a week. In the 1970s, Fara Faucet spawned a follicle revolution when she said that she washed her hair with shampoo every day. From then on, it was mandatory that we wash our hair every. single. day. And when we don't, our hair gets nasty and greasy, right? So then we have to wash it more! What's actually happening is the harsh chemicals in commercial shampoo (especially the sulfates) is stripping the hair of any and all oils. The problem with this is the shampoo chemicals can't distinguish between your natural sebum (healthy oil that your scalp naturally produced to keep your skin hydrated) and grease from dirt, so it just strips everything out. As a result, your scalp says "aaaaah! It's so dry in here! Quick, make extra oil to compensate!" Thus, your head gets greasy again, causing you to need to wash it again. Your hair may feel squeaky clean, but you're severely messing with the scalp's natural checks and balances, and harming your scalp and hair in the long run!<br />
What did our foremothers do before shampoo? Was their hair a nasty greasy mess? uh... no. In fact, up until the 1900s, women were advised to wash their hair only once a year. <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Once a YEAR</u>. But in the photographs of your great-great-grandmother, is her up-do disgusting? Does your flapper grandmother have greasy waves? No, actually. Their hair looks pretty lustrous and awesome. Why? Because they didn't mess with it!<br />
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So what is no-poo? It's washing your hair with natural alternatives. The most common method (and the one I have been employing) is baking soda (BS) and apple cider vinegar (ACV). There are many different ways to get the BS and ACV onto your hair. The method that I found works best for me is keeping a jar of BS by my shower. Before I step in, I scoop a tablespoon into my hand. In the shower, I mix a teensy bit of water and work it into a paste which I then work through my hair. I let it sit a while as I wash my face, then rinse it out. Then I use a spray bottle with 1 TBS ACV and 1c water and spray just the ends of my hair. The ACV is a natural conditioner. I let this concoction sit on my follicles while I wash my body. Then rinse it all out (your hair won't smell like vinegar when it's all rinsed out of your hair, don't worry!) and you're done! Boom. Simple as that. I do this every other day.<br />
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The first week was great! No nasty greasiness. The second week I started heading into the dread transition period. See, when you go off these harsh chemicals, your head goes "wait a minute, what happened to that stuff? Shouldn't it be here by now? I'm supposed to be double-timing sebum production right now! Does not compute! Does not compute! Aaaah!" so it overproduces sebum while it's adjusting to the lack of regular chemical baths. This is ok. It's natural and - like all things - this, too, shall pass. My transition period took about a month. Some people never go through it, some people go through it for several months... it just depends on the person.<br />
So there you have it! Now my hair is frizz-free, easy to style, and it just feels... <i>happy!</i> I comb and brush it often, so any excess sebum is well distributed and (I think) unnoticeable. But really, the only time I notice anything other than squeaky clean is on my second or third day of not washing. Even then, though, it's not visible, it's just a feeling.<br />
But we hippie chicks are all about our feelings, aren't we?<br />
Happy washing!<br />
<br />~Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-81208398192253118742013-05-29T07:55:00.002-07:002013-05-29T08:28:05.594-07:00Manukah Honey trial day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Morning, ya'all! <br />
So in an attempt to make my life more natural (because I am super over-the-edge-mother-earth-hippie chick and <i style="font-weight: bold;">proud of it</i>!), I have started washing my face with manukah honey. <br />
<br />
Why you may ask? <br />
Because a.) slathering chemical stuff on my face is just icky, and I don't want to justify it any longer! b.) countless testimonials and science has confirmed the usefuleness of manukah honey as a natural cleanser that is gentle enough for facial skin.<br />
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<br />
<b><u>Why manukah?</u></b><br />
Manukah is a natural, raw honey. The good stuff is grown, packaged, and imported from New Zealand. It has excellent natural antibacterial properties and scrub down into the pores and draw out any impurities. Honey is also a natural moisturizer. (What's the main ingredient in so many natural lip balms? You guessed it! Honey!)<br />
<br />
<b><u>I put it... <i>where?!</i></u></b><br />
On my face. That's right! All over my face. Ok. This sounds weird, I know. My husband is pretty sure I've missed the bend in the road and barreled right on through to crazy town. First the no-poo thing and now this... ?!<br />
<br />
What I'm doing (and I may switch it up as time goes by to see what works best for my skin)<br />
<i>In the morning: </i> 1.) wash hands... smear honey on... let sit for 30 minutes or more<br />
2.) then rinse and do my hair and stuff<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>In the evening:</i> 1.) take off any makeup with pure, organic coconut oil ( a little goes a long way here!)<br />
2.) a little witch hazel for astringent to get any nasty dirt or excess grease sitting on the surface of my skin.<br />
3.) honey on (make sure hands are clean when putting anywhere near your face!), let it sit a few minutes while I brush my teeth, etc., then rinse off. A few minutes is good, but no need for a long mask since I already did that in the morning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2V6yRW7_aeu0dG4fsr_RUYqqVqG0sCW9vGg3NnUbAlrK5vIjIDVvavwhXLJ3Kt1ip0ymxd5osgQXTXdW1_y2mkLPnsELvUCGYyHT7ws3Fc0VwpbeqsFxOxmeV1DSL65S8DwhmDRmU8U/s1600/Manuka-Honey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2V6yRW7_aeu0dG4fsr_RUYqqVqG0sCW9vGg3NnUbAlrK5vIjIDVvavwhXLJ3Kt1ip0ymxd5osgQXTXdW1_y2mkLPnsELvUCGYyHT7ws3Fc0VwpbeqsFxOxmeV1DSL65S8DwhmDRmU8U/s1600/Manuka-Honey.jpg" /></a></div>
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Admittedly, this is day two. But I have high hopes! My skin is soft, and doesn't feel excessively greasy like I thought it might. I actually see my acne marks starting to fade! (Already on day one!? "Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles!") Only time can tell what following days will bring, but I think this can really help me! The ultimate goal is to get my skin used to this, then go off products all together. It's called the caveman regimen, and it makes a lot of solid sense, as well. More to come on this in a later post.<br />
So... honey on the face.... It's not sticky, it's actually pretty nifty, and my hubby says my kisses taste even sweeter, now!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-31044918892959532372013-04-01T18:39:00.000-07:002013-04-01T18:39:18.569-07:00Courage<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"> Today I'm going to write about happiness. Namely, happiness in the workplace. Namely, what makes <i>me</i> happy in the workplace. And I guess that branches out into the rest of life. And I guess I still don't know, yet. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"> I've felt unsettled for a time. Well... More like several years. My current position I just sort of fell into. Mind you, it's a great position and pays well, but as times goes by I see more and more that it is not what I want to do with my life. It does not make me happy. We did a DiSC survey in our last staff meeting that categorizes everyone and how we work and how we work with each other, and I found that my categorization is pretty directly opposite to my job title. Translation: who I am and my personality is, like, NOT suited to my current position <b>at all</b>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"> This only confirmed what I had been thinking for a while. That feeling of lingering restlessness and distress. I don't want to be like that Pink Floyd song - "hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way" - life is too short, and I've felt like that for too much of my life, already. As long as I can remember I've just been hanging on, trying desperately to be ok with my situation. It's a good situation, I shouldn't complain - who am I to complain!? But the simple fact is that the situation doesn't make me happy. And I deserve to be happy, right? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"> I think that's the toughest part for me to wrap my brain around. <b>I deserve to be happy.</b> This is kind of a brand new concept for me. And with the realization of this concept, I've had to take a couple steps back and look at my life. It's pretty good. I'm pretty happy. Except I never seem to have to the time for what I really want to do. I have very little time at home to spend with my loving, wonderful, adoring husband and our fluffy kin (1-5 </span><span style="background-color: white;">hours </span><span style="background-color: white;">on average a night, including chores and homework... so really between 1-3 hours). Not enough time with family and friends, and <b>no</b> time for just me, to take care of myself. And my health is suffering. I'm tired all the time and I've been getting these pounding headaches every day (an occurrence that used to happen once a year, if I was lucky). My immune system has been weakened - I've gotten sick twice in the past three months (also a yearly occurrence, previously). So my physical self is trying to slow me down, too. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Quite frankly, though, the things necessary to do what I want to do really scare me. It would involve big changes and drive and passion and motivation! So I've been waffling back and forth about that. What to do, what not to do? What situation </span><i>would</i><span style="background-color: white;"> make me happy? What can I tweak to make things how they should be? Then a couple days ago I got this in my email from the meditation society that sends me inspirational quotes from time to time:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">To find out what you love to do demands a great deal of intelligence; because, if you are afraid of not being able to earn a livelihood, or of not fitting into this rotten society, then you will never find out. But, if you are not frightened, if you refuse to be pushed into the groove of tradition by your parents, by your teachers, by the superficial demands of society, then there is a possibility of discovering what it is you really love to do. So, to discover, there must be no fear of not surviving. - Krishnamurti </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://meditation.org.au/2013Mar28.asp" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank"><img /></a><a href="http://twitter.com/home/?status=To%20find%20out%20what%20you%20love%20to%20do%20demands%20a%20great%20deal%20of%20intelligence;%20because,%20if%20you%20are%20afraid%20of%20not%20being%20able%20to%20earn%20a%20livelihood,%20or%20%20(via%20@freemeditate)" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank"><img border="0" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Damn. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> That's firm. There's no if's and's or but's about it. Just do it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But there's still the fear. What if I give up everything and follow my passion and we lose our house or we don't have enough to eat? What if Ginge loses his job and then we'll be completely stuck!? I've come to the realization that it takes a lot of courage to do what you really want to do in life. It takes more strength to do the things that make your heart sing that to stand still and make do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Through all this, my husband has been so amazing. He's so supportive and loving. He tells me "whatever you want to do, as long as you're happy. I just want you to be happy." What a guy! He's my rock.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> My dream, my inspiration, is to write. I would love to take free lance jobs and write from home while keeping down a part time job that would supplement our main income. I would also <i style="font-weight: bold;">love</i> to be a yoga instructor. It would thrill me more than words to be able to teach and help people - maybe even branch out into message and energy therapy. To be able to touch people's lives in a profound way... That would just be amazing. But that takes courage. It takes courage to let go and let God, as the saying goes. To trust that Someone will catch you if you fall, but that you must dance anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> So slowly by slowly I'm figuring it out and steeling myself. Because I don't just <i>want</i> to do this. I <i>need</i> to do this.</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-38689457479869823582012-08-16T20:22:00.001-07:002012-08-16T20:25:42.840-07:00The Ren Fest!!!Renaissance Festival 2012, here we come!<br />
<br />
Every year, my family and I make a pilgrimage to the Michigan Renaissance Festival, held in Holly, MI, which is about an hour's drive from my dad's house. Here are a few pictures from years past:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1xJw2FUF-_oPNsaMnD1oajciLrhz5EccEeft22JKgB0b-Q-WMqhq_qcSra0IRT45AfsL3QkfE2cyJbDhBwv3YTFKAJBqYzHKWJSNFv8pdDfZUycOgx4qDX7iv33QC27en788OXQefQ8/s1600/5529_282170440007_4024644_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1xJw2FUF-_oPNsaMnD1oajciLrhz5EccEeft22JKgB0b-Q-WMqhq_qcSra0IRT45AfsL3QkfE2cyJbDhBwv3YTFKAJBqYzHKWJSNFv8pdDfZUycOgx4qDX7iv33QC27en788OXQefQ8/s1600/5529_282170440007_4024644_a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Bridget, back when I was super skinny and had short hair lol</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASxV2SraV7zm6ovktLqAHeJuU8fJI8ghF1rMx_0ILKQaDp2uHJwyMOB9OOhXkTVtbRe9jvrNAJ8GQ8xiWfkilLmxFxWbCW-GtYqS1kuhR06h3gjZ4v0C1D6gyXyP0xroxpySyaWoOrv0/s1600/5970_1207603918640_6813179_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASxV2SraV7zm6ovktLqAHeJuU8fJI8ghF1rMx_0ILKQaDp2uHJwyMOB9OOhXkTVtbRe9jvrNAJ8GQ8xiWfkilLmxFxWbCW-GtYqS1kuhR06h3gjZ4v0C1D6gyXyP0xroxpySyaWoOrv0/s1600/5970_1207603918640_6813179_a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maypole dancing - in September!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9oPgKFGFJ9RJugy3LKMQPdMAtIyT5CCSKdqpdYTN8qoODdTfkWu45x0Rbf1N1qQoR8y6Jn_Bi4gbiJsQLsg3n2Dla33p1a_7D3NO0uJwxqwFDeXpVh9jCqIV5R2jlGh0NLIXBkS1MEM/s1600/5970_1207606398702_6745173_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9oPgKFGFJ9RJugy3LKMQPdMAtIyT5CCSKdqpdYTN8qoODdTfkWu45x0Rbf1N1qQoR8y6Jn_Bi4gbiJsQLsg3n2Dla33p1a_7D3NO0uJwxqwFDeXpVh9jCqIV5R2jlGh0NLIXBkS1MEM/s320/5970_1207606398702_6745173_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's how we do</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8moxliHVawciUOKTrqtoVYQwQwOZaEBFnURWFJeWnuzpeprANBU6TuU4cpCaKgzWUriYsL8vyS8N_cTvCecQpum_QcNv562kJ2l8uQ9jMfSlxWJHNOSK4xJg0Ps3Aa8s4_XWRnD9_s_o/s1600/5970_1207608838763_4059856_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8moxliHVawciUOKTrqtoVYQwQwOZaEBFnURWFJeWnuzpeprANBU6TuU4cpCaKgzWUriYsL8vyS8N_cTvCecQpum_QcNv562kJ2l8uQ9jMfSlxWJHNOSK4xJg0Ps3Aa8s4_XWRnD9_s_o/s320/5970_1207608838763_4059856_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Queen's parades </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC9NfEvaIyBayYIMa5tFC6gB_-xQCGiBk-Xir_TqElpBBq3jRvG2Hl8cXYBeBcbaWNLqbZQ1HdLYMcLHnGPih8Q6_rCPFJ52GRMemd7fX4O0iXefdtYt99A_PWXFi3THNjtQYfs9dtCM/s1600/5970_1207608878764_4021929_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC9NfEvaIyBayYIMa5tFC6gB_-xQCGiBk-Xir_TqElpBBq3jRvG2Hl8cXYBeBcbaWNLqbZQ1HdLYMcLHnGPih8Q6_rCPFJ52GRMemd7fX4O0iXefdtYt99A_PWXFi3THNjtQYfs9dtCM/s320/5970_1207608878764_4021929_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A merry band</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcD8JYuWXVv6pW6wd47rq_gpGUeoCy3Q4WMc9-Y3-WlXPyV-YQ0dHVN27elXZ_AqkFR0UuwSvMJIzw_hM6xsT8Mjj-qXGuqyy5xjR1Wc1jkDch-wO0oggyewldAINHaECb8OMVB2-RmS8/s1600/5970_1207608958766_4344465_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcD8JYuWXVv6pW6wd47rq_gpGUeoCy3Q4WMc9-Y3-WlXPyV-YQ0dHVN27elXZ_AqkFR0UuwSvMJIzw_hM6xsT8Mjj-qXGuqyy5xjR1Wc1jkDch-wO0oggyewldAINHaECb8OMVB2-RmS8/s320/5970_1207608958766_4344465_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sir Byron and Lady Kim</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHviEA6s6-yNF3eC7h3ZyJB0MiJmPc7fV-_Zln4oDzSYEqL7IT-u6Ml8KbkKTUyG86N-YgHUddMTapIxOVi_Nh-32L0DyPZZ2QlY-oE7Tg34eUpvibt7hCnL5AmDMeljCawXKC2Fsxeo/s1600/59060_1603721461331_8120691_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHviEA6s6-yNF3eC7h3ZyJB0MiJmPc7fV-_Zln4oDzSYEqL7IT-u6Ml8KbkKTUyG86N-YgHUddMTapIxOVi_Nh-32L0DyPZZ2QlY-oE7Tg34eUpvibt7hCnL5AmDMeljCawXKC2Fsxeo/s1600/59060_1603721461331_8120691_a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we have LORD Byron and Lady Kim (Or maybe this is her Queenie outfit...)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRIFVF3h_2a_Ge5tw8zkWm4hTwAXCDL8MioP6DldbXe8kSDqclrTw8jdJAyc8jgdzhBTnL8-FIwk80_IixZR90IGNyrhwsTq9nZkl6kX_FYULxouFTnI7-XQHa3b6e4-5dDe_VU-ggmo/s1600/60332_159938844019917_3848351_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRIFVF3h_2a_Ge5tw8zkWm4hTwAXCDL8MioP6DldbXe8kSDqclrTw8jdJAyc8jgdzhBTnL8-FIwk80_IixZR90IGNyrhwsTq9nZkl6kX_FYULxouFTnI7-XQHa3b6e4-5dDe_VU-ggmo/s1600/60332_159938844019917_3848351_a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't remember seeing this in person, but what a neat group!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdfXM1o9cGuWLJ4ihbUiR13ounC_bjUc0myqFS7CWlLn4c6oZDxDFVMNk2sp6izxdAeffKJMz2OgAZGR663ZCErFe86vNjkfBEzT1-wEXeqbRijujUlkxwQt0Q-OMLoI25CzF89EwdkI/s1600/60570_159938010686667_5669449_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdfXM1o9cGuWLJ4ihbUiR13ounC_bjUc0myqFS7CWlLn4c6oZDxDFVMNk2sp6izxdAeffKJMz2OgAZGR663ZCErFe86vNjkfBEzT1-wEXeqbRijujUlkxwQt0Q-OMLoI25CzF89EwdkI/s1600/60570_159938010686667_5669449_a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the foxy ginger!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQg9ctI587AHGtm3cSd67a9iKqRk_vOzlq6VDPFbk3mj0lb-HwH8fINjqORo3mz5H4KIloHQsR3dAFBfKdFrH6S8NKXuXsunaQEKyWqOLaqt6q155HuOWo_y-TcBaIKKOGkH7OIwig8o/s1600/61108_159937957353339_4194687_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQg9ctI587AHGtm3cSd67a9iKqRk_vOzlq6VDPFbk3mj0lb-HwH8fINjqORo3mz5H4KIloHQsR3dAFBfKdFrH6S8NKXuXsunaQEKyWqOLaqt6q155HuOWo_y-TcBaIKKOGkH7OIwig8o/s1600/61108_159937957353339_4194687_a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Da whole fam-damily</td></tr>
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As is probably painfully apparent, I pretty much live for this faire. (Well, ok, not really...) I am so ridiculously excited!!!!!</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-39274111732396414752012-08-16T19:42:00.002-07:002012-08-16T19:42:46.686-07:00Deodorant ExperimentGaaaah! I thought I posted this days ago! <br />
<br />
The great doedorant experiment of this week was a rampant success! Vodka is most definitely an effective eliminator of body odor. I spritz on a little bit in the morning and - if we had to go anywhere - I spritz a little bit in the evening, just to stay fresh. The first day or two I was a bit nervous, stealing away to the bathroom to check myself at work. But after the first couple days, I just kind of went with it and trusted it to work. Life lesson: never doubt the effective properties of vodka!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-76690714161011892112012-08-10T21:55:00.001-07:002012-08-10T21:55:34.862-07:00Turning of the SeasonHello, Bloggy friends!<br />
How has the weather been for you, of late? We seem to be experiencing an early fall. Really, though, spring came early this year, and our summer was dry and hot, so fall coming early is somewhat of a relief. As long as it lingers and we don't have an early and prolonged winter, that is.<br />
Fall is a good time for reflection. The harvests are coming in, the earth is rolling up its carpets and battening down for winter. Naturally, humans kind of instinctively do the same thing. We slow down, stock up, and find ourselves reflecting upon the past year a lot more (well, I do, at least; I guess I can't speak for the entire human population).<br />
<br />
Fall is coming in. You can feel the seasons are starting to change. The mornings have begun to be chillier and the days are windy. My body is beginning its hibernation cycles - it craves sleep constantly. I'm moving more slowly (definitely a coming winter thing) in my day-to-day tasks. You can even taste the edges of Autumn on the breeze. It's not quite there, yet, but it's most certainly on its way. You can feel the stirring excitement of the change of season in the trees and the air.<br />
As every year, I'm excited for Autumn, but a little saddened by the Summer's departure. I guess that's just the way the seasons turn.<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
What's your favourite season? Was your summer dry?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-29134596114841717572012-08-08T09:57:00.005-07:002012-08-08T12:04:45.733-07:00Learning to RelaxWith the Fall semester will come some <b><i>major</i></b> stress. I'm ok with this. I signed up for it. I knew what I was getting into. But it's still daunting. I'm looking at full time school, full time work, and possibly another part time job on the side. With all this going on, I'm going to need to learn to breathe, let go, and relax.<br />
I'm not a very "let-it-go" type of person. Let me put it this way, I make a list of "fun, spontaneous" things I want to do on my days off. Yeah. I need help. So lately I've been trying very hard to <i>slow down</i>, both at home and at work. I have a tendency to run around like a chicken with its head cut off until a project or task is finished. I am forcing myself to stop, redistribute my energy, take a breath, and be calm before continuing with any task or reaction. It doesn't always work, but I am still trying. Our society as a whole is entirely too busy. We lack the time, focus, and appreciation to sit and contemplate or meditate, or relax, or just be happy <i>being</i>. I know I, for one, need to turn my thoughts inward more. Learn to let things go, to laugh at myself. I will make mistakes, and it's ok. As long as I learn something and appreciate the ride.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_fZlfc6uZNfBsf7ITvYKhIPv4CAUFY7pnrNnU4-5ESEgmAv7voyXdlFTsf-ylaCwrr6iVQJk53qHZ7gu1BuIZTrmqmReji3DhNkGoEYb8E3OcitZFNgP2ok-_O9KZjpLZrzbfFva8SU/s1600/2012-08-04_17-09-15_403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="2px" $bordercolor;green height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_fZlfc6uZNfBsf7ITvYKhIPv4CAUFY7pnrNnU4-5ESEgmAv7voyXdlFTsf-ylaCwrr6iVQJk53qHZ7gu1BuIZTrmqmReji3DhNkGoEYb8E3OcitZFNgP2ok-_O9KZjpLZrzbfFva8SU/s400/2012-08-04_17-09-15_403.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-86523914901817610812012-08-06T07:31:00.001-07:002012-08-06T08:02:31.320-07:00Deodorant CowardGood Monday Morning, One and All!<br />
<br />
This week's eu-natural challenge is deodorant. <i>Vodka</i> deoderant.<br />
I've tried this one. It actually works! The theory behind it is that the ethyl alcohol in the vodka kills the bacteria that makes your under arms a bit... well... stinky. I've switched to vodka over the weekends these past few weeks, and have had no problems whatsoever. I can usually go all day, and might need a quick spritz before going out at night (if we do go out, that is). This week, it's time to really test its worth; I'm wearing it at work.<br />
Now, this morning I shaved my pits, so I wore regular deodorant today (vodka in an open wound stings like the dickens). Starting tomorrow, however, I am going to attempt to ride out an entire week with natural deodorant.<br />
Wish me luck! <br />
<br />
Do you have any natural tips, tricks, home remedies that you use regularly?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-3830282204902910292012-08-02T16:56:00.001-07:002012-08-02T16:56:48.827-07:00No-poo for a weekSo, I feel hypocritcal about this, but I wasn't able to go even a week without washing my hair with shampoo. The first day was much better than I thought. My hair felt fantastic, and looked great, too!<br />
The second day looked and felt great, but I might not have washed all the apple cider vinegar out of my hair adequately because I kept getting whiffs of vinegar all day. It made me a bit self conscious. So the next day I made sure to wear patchouli at my hair line at the nape of my neck to differ any vinegar scent. But, despite the fact that I <i>smelled</i> fantastic, I was still self conscious about my hair. I kept looking in the mirror so make sure it didn't look greasy. It just didn't feel quite right. <br />
Today, there were no two ways about it. It felt wrong. Not dirty or greasy per se, but not altogether clean. It got a bit stringy near the middles and ends. I caught myself dreaming of scrubbing luxurious bubbles through my hair all day. *sigh* I'm afraid I'm just too stuck in my clean-freaky ways. <br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-50437368702333326102012-07-31T05:43:00.002-07:002012-07-31T05:43:37.392-07:00Happy Playing with Dirt TimeYesterday, on my way home from work, I stopped by my mum's house and dug up a bag of dirt.<br />
What did I do with this dirt?<br />
I planted.<br />
Squee!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghX0RTxLnNr7HVYgottMtnh3y4NZB4B4jIGnBDZlMcO-ltRStjHwHtkM1d6ns2KDrkzl0viZNejm_tLaOj9q0kFZ5g9ZATyiOTUb2UKoJYM9-9fiwcEBVuq2aKolB59cuSxmWh6bw_XHc/s1600/2012-07-30_16-12-54_661(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghX0RTxLnNr7HVYgottMtnh3y4NZB4B4jIGnBDZlMcO-ltRStjHwHtkM1d6ns2KDrkzl0viZNejm_tLaOj9q0kFZ5g9ZATyiOTUb2UKoJYM9-9fiwcEBVuq2aKolB59cuSxmWh6bw_XHc/s320/2012-07-30_16-12-54_661(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I think Callie approved. But she had to do some investigating, first.<br />
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I took a page out of <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/">Attic 24's</a> book and planted in cups and things I had lying about. Can't wait to see tender little shoots and merry flower faces poking out of teacups!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-6919563975164427352012-07-31T05:22:00.003-07:002012-07-31T05:22:35.765-07:00A Vertiable Feast for under $50Hello again, all ye in foodie and fitness blogland!<br />
<br />
This weekend I put my budget to the test and bought my groceries for the week. (I might have to stretch the purse-strings a bit for some more fresh fruit mid-week. We shall see.) How did it go? Honestly, not too horribly. After walking around Kroger the other day, just writing down prices of the items on my list (that got me some pretty interesting looks, but not as interesting as the guy who was browsing the lettuce with - <b>I kid you not</b> - an iguana under his arm), I decided on Aldi for the not-right-away perishable items and Kroger for the fresh stuff.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Aldi</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Kroger</td></tr>
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I ended up spending $35.11 at Kroger and $14.15 at Aldi. That totals up to 49.26 altogether. Whoooo! Go me! I even got laundry soap and toilet paper! The one thing I forgot: cat food. Oh well, I can scrape together some change from under to bed to get that. Our cats are pretty cheap eaters.<br />
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This all came after an all day orientation to Eureka College, which I will be starting in the fall. I can honestly say that I am so, so, SO excited I can't wait to start in August! That being said, though, I am <i>exhausted</i>.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-21507789576346383692012-07-30T11:50:00.001-07:002012-07-31T05:12:15.841-07:00DIY All Natural Bathroom CHALLENGEHey there,<br />
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You might have noticed I'm a bit challenge-happy of late. Why, you may ask?<br />
So glad you did.<br />
You see, my friend, all natural is better. I'm sure most people agree. What's better for your body, an apple or some potato chips? A candy bar or a glass of milk? A bag of McDonald's french fries or a handful of nuts? If you have the merest shred of common sense, you will most likely have chosen the apple, milk, and nuts, respectively. Why should the stuff you slather all over your body be any different? Your skin is the largest organ in your body, it actually absorbs whatever is laid on it (albeit at a slower rate than if you were to ingest the substance); why lather your body in chemicals if you don't have to do so?<br />
I ran across <a href="http://www.diynatural.com/">this nifty website</a> (thank you Pinterest, and coworker, Susan!) and decided to take this wonderful lady's <a href="http://www.diynatural.com/simple-natural-personal-products/">challenge</a>. Change something in your daily routine every week. Substitute for a natural solution. One week: natural shampoo. The next week: natural toothpaste. See if you don't notice a difference.<br />
I embark upon this challenge with admitted trepidation, but wholehearted enthusiasm, nonetheless. I know I will notice a difference. The only question is, good or bad?<br />
<br />
Do you use any home remedies? Do you brush your teeth with baking soda or condition your hair with apple cider vinegar? Got any recipes for me to try? I'm all ears!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347350511268130216.post-12155347138489695712012-07-27T19:46:00.002-07:002012-07-27T19:46:57.116-07:00The ChallengeHey guys!<br />
This week, I've posed for myself a bit of a challenge. <i>I'm </i>doing it because I really need to strap back on my grocery spending and watch where the pennies are going. Not only am I starting school in the fall (which will be plenty expensive enough!), but there also may be a little bit of tight times on the way for my little family and I want to be prepared.<br />
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The Challenge: the spend $50.00 or less per week on wholesome, healthy groceries (and locally grown, when possible)<br />
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The Inspiration: The<a href="http://www.theleangreenbean.com/surviveon35-menu-planning-grocery-shopping/"> Lean Green Bean</a>. Lindsay and several other bloggers participated in a "Food Stamp Challenge." The idea behind it is that it is TOTALLY POSSIBLE to eat real, balanced meals on a food-stamp budget. Basically, they spent less than $70.00 on groceries for themselves and their families for the week. They bought whole, healthy, real-food groceries, then they blogged about their experience. Were they able to make it a success? Were they able to plan healthy meals and stick to their budget? Were they hungry? Did their family revolt at the creative dishes they made? Check it out. it's a pretty neat idea.<br />
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My Take: Spend $50.00 or less on real, wholesome food. My logic is that I do not have an entire passel of people to feed, just myself and my husband, so our budget can be restricted, somewhat. Also, we've hit a bit of a financial snag for the moment (it will be remedied shortly, do not worry, but for the moment we're playing it safe and close-to-the-vest), so $50.00 on food is actually stretching it.<br />
Plan: 1.) research stores (probably Kroger and Aldi) to see which ones are cheapest and update prices of everything on list to be accurate<br />
2.) find coupons, if possible (most likely it won't be, but it never hurts to look!)<br />
3.) prepare for Shopping - get together bags, list, coupons, supplies, etc. and head to the shoppes!<br />
Goal: to spend less than $50.00 on GOOD food to feed us an entire week <br />
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With the help of my handy-dandy Google docs, I make this work!<br />
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