Five Simple Things (April 29)

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These Prints.

We received foot prints and clay imprints from the veterinary clinic that handled Happy Duck's sudden death. They were so kind and caring when we took Happy to them, and for them to go above and beyond for us means so much. We forever have Happy Duck's little webbed feet and her beak imprint to treasure. We miss her so much; her quacking in the backyard and her curiosity. Ducks are incredibly smart and her breed combination of Mallard and Pekin is a perfect mix and made her one of a kind. We wish she could have been with us a lot longer, but knowing she was in pain gives us a little comfort that she's not hurting anymore. I will add her prints and imprints to the box of keepsakes from our other pets that have passed. We are so grateful that we had five years with Happy Duck. I hope her five years of life were the best!

2. This Box.

Kiwi Eco Box for the month came this week. I am loving everything about this box each month it comes. I love the silicone bowl covers and the soap bar. This is one box I definitely look forward to each month. You can get on the mailing list for next month here.

3. This Smudging.

It's that time of year where it's out with the old and negative in with the new and positive. Smudging is an ancient Native American technique and a lot of people think it's "witchcraft," but really all it is is bundled herbs that are either paired with sage, or wrapped in sage like the one pictured here. It's mostly a ritual, so to speak, that helps us feel a bit more at peace with clearing and cleaning our personal space. You can smudge your home, your car, your office, and even yourself. Smudging is a practice that I like to do once a season, when someone has been sick, or even when I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by negative people, situations, or even to welcome in a new season.

4. This Lesson.

Learning about water displacement and buoyancy in the classroom this week. We used a homemade pirate ship to help with the lesson. Creating fun, interesting ways to help with learning exactly why certain things do what they do, and how they are able to do those particular things is always a fun time for both Skylar and me. Jeff joined us on this lesson and he added to the experiment, as well. Skylar having both of his parents teach him from fourth grade to his senior year has been a great thing for him in his education. I always wish I had been able to have a better educational approach to my learning, but I am glad I am able to give that to Skylar and allow him to learn in a different way than "by the book," "don't ask questions"-type of learning. And, don't you dare fall behind mentality of the public education system. Public schooling works for a lot, many people even, but for us, and given how my education was, our homeschool classroom has been great for all of us. You can follow what we're doing in our little classroom at the Rain Valley Red Snails link at the top of this blog, or here.

5. These Meals.

Breakfast for dinner one night and avocado toast were a couple of our meals this week. I hate cooking so much, so it's always nice when someone else takes on that task, especially when you can have a hot, home cooked meal. And, the avocado toast was the first time I've ever tried it. I have to say, not bad. It really does live up to all the hype.

Positive affirmations this week:

Selfcare is something a lot of us seem to neglect in ourselves. As I get older I realize just how much selfcare and downtime was missing from my life as I grew up. Especially in a world where we are always forced to go go go and never stop, it seems that mentality is causing a lot of havoc on us as we age. There is no shame in taking care of yourself in a way where you aren't constantly having to pour from an empty cup. Along with basic selfcare there are a few things you could be lacking in that process. Although, selfcare is a learned behavior and must be done in a way that works for you and your life. Someone else's selfcare may not be the same as yours and vice versa. Here are some other selfcare tips that could be beneficial for you.

Replace all conventional personal care and cleaning products in your home with toxic-free products. It's best to actually use up what you already have and as you replace them, go for more toxic-free, or better yet, organic products that are packaged in containers that are better for the planet and yourself.
Trach nonstick pans and plastic food containers; opt for cast iron, stainless steel, and ceramic pans, and store food in glass. To add to this, if you are using plastic containers over and over again, they aren't single-use. Make sure to opt for BPA-free and plastics that can be recycled once their life is done. There are also other containers that are great for storing food in. Although, glass is the best, there's also bees wax wraps, stainless steel, and compostable plastic wrap and bags. Whatever works best for your lifestyle, make that choice.
Drink filtered water from systems such as reverse osmosis. This is definitely a plus. Reverse osmosis is the best way to remove a lot of contaminates found, especially in tap water, but it also gives the best tasting water, in my opinion. And, you deserve clean water to drink.
Breathe clean air with HEPA filters. This is to guarantee that you're giving your body the best air that you can. Breathing clean oxygen is important for your brain function, skin, and organs. HEPA filters are best, especially if you have indoor pets. With our dog and cat being inside at night we make sure to keep our HEPA air filter going all night and into the morning. You deserve clean air.
Passively sweat with sauna sessions. One things is true, if you can do one thing every day that makes you sweat you will be able to release toxins through that sweat. Especially, toxins that have built up in your body. The skin is our largest organ and sweating is our bodies way of, not only regulating body temperature, but also a way for us to remove too many toxins that we come into contact with every day. If you can't get into a sauna, a hot bath, or hot tub, or spending time outside working up a sweat with exercise. Your body and you will benefit with each session of sweating.