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Five Simple Things (October 28)
Hello.
Here are five things this week.
1. This Weather.
We had a sudden sleet shower this week and it fell for about 10 minutes and then the sun came out. I've seen more sleet and hail showers since moving to Oregon. Definitely some interesting weather here in the valley.
2. This Run.
Trying to get back into a running routine, but some days I have trouble just getting out of bed and getting through the day. I never regret working out, but lately I have not felt like doing much of anything. I think seasonal depression has hit me a bit early this year, but I am pushing through the best I can. Progress, not perfection.
3. These Tests.
Someone not covering their cough while Jeff had his mask down at work got us. This week has been extremely rough. We have the Omicron variant and the coughing and sneezing is extremely painful. We all three have it and have been doing our best to take care of each other when we can. With being immunocompromised, this variant has hit me the hardest. Explains a little on why I've been feeling down and out more than normal. Please cover your cough, and wear a mask in public when you're sick, or better yet, stay home.
4. This Doggy.
This sweet little doggy has been on guard with us since being sick. He is very concerned.
5. These Edibles.
Every morning I take one CBD gummy to help with mental health issues, and pain. At the end of the day I use THC gummies to relax, bring down my anxiety, calm my PTSD and nerves, or even help me push through the evening to be productive if I need to get something done before going to bed, without being overly anxious in the process. I love my weed, gummies, pens, joints, prerolls, CBD gummies, oils, creams, and bath salts.-The works. People feel they always need to be defending themselves if they use cannabis or CBD due to the stigma surrounding the relationship and history of how cannabis has been portrayed, especially women. I try not to let the stigma others have of it take away the benefits it does for me. CBD has been a savior for me on a daily basis, and when I don't take one, I feel it. Gummies are definitely and every day thing, but oils and creams I use as needed. For the curious, Wyld is my go-to brand of choice for CBD and THC gummies, with local brands being second.
One last thing:
With fall crops coming into season don't let any go to waste. You can dehydrate just all citrus and just about any fall crop. It's easy to do, you just need to make sure you either dehydrate them in a food dehydrator, or follow the oven method for each crop. For apples and oranges, pictured above, you want to set your oven to the lowest setting, which is about 150 degrees, or 200 degrees. Just make sure it's the lowest setting your oven will go to, and dehydrate for about four to five hours. You can check on them throughout that time to make sure they aren't burning. Once dehydrated, you can string them on thread and have them for decoration, or save them for you holiday decorations. I like to have mine hanging all year around.
Positive affirmations this week:
Food for thought, if you think organic foods are too expensive, or you don't have time to exercise and move your body. Taking care of yourself is no one else's responsibility, but yours. Don't listen to others in what they do, try to find what works best for you and stick to it. Others will try to deter you from your own self care, but stay the course and keep doing what works. You can do this!
Dr. James DiNicolantonio offers great advice on nutrition and healthcare tips. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram.
Have a nice weekend.
Five Simple Things (October 21)
Hello.
Here are five things this week.
1. This Eye.
I mean, sometimes things are worth taking a picture of. I love creepy stuff and Skylar looking through this air duct in our house really touched my horror-loving heart. ☺
2. These Lights.
We put these glass solar lights up on the back of the bus this week and we love how they look. They are removeable, so we can place them up when we camp and easily remove them when we are traveling, or when the bus is sitting in the driveway. You can see more of them at our "No Rain the Bus page at the top of the blog.
3. These Shadows.
Halloween is 10 days away and I am loving the decorations people have been putting up this year. Halloween is always one of my favorite holidays and I love how creative people are this time of year with their costumes and their decorations. This one definitely is one of my favorites.
4. This Plate.
Always love a simple meal and this one is probably the most simple. Chicken cooked in the crock pot and sliced cucumbers. Doesn't get any easier than that.
5. This Vote.
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Politics haven't been a blog topic in the past, but with the recent Measure 114 hitting the ballot and also this being Skylar's first time to vote, I have made it a point to make sure readers are aware of where we stand. My thoughts on Measure 114 can be found here, and this post this week is to bring awareness that Skylar's generation are paying attention and are looking for some solid, mature, and valid changes. No matter where you stand in your political views, I think we can all agree that change is needed and change that comes with a positive mindset and an open mind, as well. Please consider your choices in people when voting in this midterm election. Consider the person before the party. If that person doesn't have your same values, or share your same future goals, regardless of the party, vote accordingly. In 10 years, some of the negative aspects of elections won't matter, so consider your short term vote having an impact now.
Positive affirmations this week:
New goals! Let's do this! Check out Project 50 here if you want to join.
Have a nice weekend.
Five Simple Things (October 14)
Hello.
Here are five things this week.
1. This Trail.
Build Lebanon Trails (BLT) has finished a part of the trail system here and the lighting has been turned on, as well. These trails are part of the city initiative to promote a more active city and to also provide a walking, biking, or running path for those that want to exercise, but are wanting a more secluded area away from busy streets. We were first part of the BLT group when the idea was just a concept. It's nice to see how far it has come over the past several years. There's still more trail systems being updated and going in, and eventually the entire city will be connected north to south, and east to west with trails.
2. This Moment.
Skylar has been enjoying his first job at Auto Zone. He has learned a lot about cars, and car parts, as well as how to have extreme patience with the public. Living in such a strange part of Oregon where there is mountains, farming, and even a lot of car enthusiast, he gets to see a lot of those people firsthand. Many of the customers know him by name now and also ask for him for certain repairs or parts. He is hoping to stick it out at least a year before he heads off to college next spring.
3. This Fog.
Always love seeing great shots of any fog and this one was perfection. You can see more of my fog and mist shots at my Instagram profile Fog Pictures.
4. These Props.
Spirit Halloween always has some of the best items for horror fans, like me. I bought the Camp Crystal Lake socks, but the other things were just some of my favorites I saw while we walked up and down the many shelves of stuff. It's incredible how much stuff they have geared around horror movies, alone. Love it all!
5. This Day.
Today is World Mental Health Day. Take some time to yourself today and every single day. Please remember, you, above anyone else in this entire world, are the most important person to you and deserve your own love, respect, kindness, and support. You are amazing!
Positive affirmations this week:
I recently started incorporating Your Super powders into my daily calorie intake. I am using the super greens in the morning, and the golden mellow in the evening. I am loving them so far, and will post more about these at a later date, but their positive community and their positive messages that go along with the powders have me hooked in. I love how I get random emails, and text about staying on track and to prioritize myself physically and mentally. I'm hoping to start the entire powder system on January first and work my way through their physical, mental, and dietary schedule to get a jump start on my new year. This message below is part of that path. If you're interested in learning more about Your Super, check them out here.
Have a nice weekend.
Five Simple Things (October 7)
Hello.
Here are five things this week.
1. This Subscription.
Might Nest always is a pleasure to receive each month. These air purifying bags are a must in our house. I purchased two others for the refrigerator, and a smaller one for Skylar's backpack, and I look forward to finding a good home for this one, too. With living in a home that isn't the best at keeping musty odors at bay, these Moso bags are a must! The best part about these bags is that with a bit of time in the sunshine, they are good to go again. And, the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day soy candle smells amazing! I love Mrs. Meyer's Lavender Body Lotion, so I was familiar with the scent, but having it in candle form sets a great tone in my bathroom on my selfcare days. You can sign up for Might Nest's Mightfix here.
2. This Book.
Skylar and I love coloring books and a lot of times we use them to wind down in the evenings. Contrary to what some may think, coloring books do not help with panic attacks, but for mild anxiety they do a lot to help calm the mind. I recently found this Colors of Kindness Coloring Book and Colors of Kindness Crayons and Skylar and I have been coloring our way through it. There's also Colors of Kindness Markers, if crayons aren't your jam.
3. This Cake.
The last of the birthday cake. I'm really proud of myself for baking, icing, and decorating a cake for Skylar's nineteenth birthday this year. I absolutely hate cooking and baking, but when it's for someone I love, I put everything into it. Skylar loved it and we probably ate way too much. ☺
4. This View.
We recently checked out another Macy's location and the center view of their store was mesmerizing. I hope Macy's is able to survive over the next several years. It's one of my most favorite stores. I see almost daily of more of their brick and mortal stores closing. I will keep my fingers crossed that they hold out just a bit longer. One thing is for sure, our family sure does miss Santaland that Macy's in Portland, Oregon, used to have. So many great memories with us in the last 15 years of going.
5. This Reminder.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the best way to detect breast anomalies is to do at-home self exams. The three images above can help get your started. If you feel anything different, or that shouldn't be there, check with your doctor. Better to be safe and it be nothing, than catch something too late. Your breast health is important and you deserve to be healthy and thriving.
One last thing:
We had a small, but worrisome earthquake hit us at about 6:00 a.m. this morning. It was the first time I've ever felt one actually shake the house. I woke up to the shaking and thought my cat had jumped on the bed and was either having a seizure, or was possibly playing with something on the bed. When my brain finally realized what was happening I immediately ran upstairs to Skylar to make sure he was okay. People with high anxiety find small inconveniences a huge deal, but when major stressors hit, we are literally on autopilot and will navigate through it as if we are on a mission. High anxiety individuals are the people you want on your side when there's a major event. We will stay on task and make sure everyone is safe, then we crash hard once it's over. That's exactly what I did. Made sure Skylar and the animals were safe, then I had a panic attack and crashed. But, this earthquake was small, only a 4.2, but the shaking with any of them is something you never get used to, and you never like. 
Positive affirmations this week:
A bit of interesting information for anyone that struggles with "Christian values" keeping them strapped to a toxic family, or toxic family member. It's okay to let go and this is a reminder that even Jesus and God don't want us to be unhappy. I have pretty strict Christian family members and the comments that have been said to me are ones such as, "When you were picking family, you chose them, so it's your own fault for..." Or, "You should always honor your mom and dad no matter what, because..." It's always a blow to hear that, especially when reaching out to family growing up that certain abuse behavior, comments, or even physical abuse hurt me. There are times when I still want to reach out to these people on both sides of the family structure, because I miss them when they have said or done a couple of nice things. I think of those nice things and my kindness tries to convince me that, this time with be different, but it never it. It's always a hard one for me, but now I've found ways to redirect that moment into something to keep my mind busy. People that drag your mental health down, cause or trigger depression, anxiety, or even times that it sparks up PTSD symptoms are not people you should have in your everyday life. It's hard, but it's doable. You can do this!
Have a nice weekend.
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