Five Simple Things (December 8)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These Danishes.

I experimented this week with making homemade cheese Danishes. I used ready-made croissant dough and worked with cream cheese and powdered sugar to our taste and baked them from the time on the dough packaging. The top drizzle I used a simple white icing recipe of powdered sugar and milk. They were good and definitely will be something I repeat again soon.

2. This light.

We lit the first candle for Hanukkah this week (December 7). We always let Skylar light the candles and spend the first night celebrating as a family without screens, or phones.

3. This bus.

No Rain the Bus goals!

4. This growth.

After the 2020 wildfires here in the Willamette Valley I was worried about a lot of my plants not making it. We lost some longtime plants and trees that we are still upset about to this day. One being our beloved Crabapple Tree that we tried to move during the fires and one of the main roots got damaged and it ultimately died. That one still hurts, because the spring before it bloomed beautiful pink and white blooms and was showing us all its colors. I will mourn that tree until the end of my days. But, our ornamental grasses have slowly been making a comeback. This one already has shown it's green and white blades and I was so happy to see it this week making a slow, but strong comeback. This is 'Cabaret' Miscanthus, for the curious.

5. This lighting..

The second candle lighting happened on December 8 this week.

One last thing:

Would you pass or fail the shopping cart test. I will always pass this test no matter where or what store I'm at. It's a habit to always do the right things, even when no one is watching. What you do when no one is around to see you, is a taste of your own character. I have seen even family members fail this test. Having and taking pride in yourself is the most important step in being a good person. Kindness and humility are free, you just have to want to change and be a good person.

Positive affirmations this week:

Foods that help with the "blues."

•Berries (frozen): polyphenols, fiber; Improves digestion and gut health, boosts mental health, reduced inflammation.

•Fermented Foods: high in probiotics and beneficial bacteria; Immune support, improvement of gut microbiota.

•Dark, Leafy Greens (kale, collards, etc.): fiber, vitamin K1, calcium; Cognitive health, immune support, reduced risk of osteoporosis, and heart disease.

•Fatty Cold-Water Fish (salmon, sardines, herring, etc.): healthy fats (EFA), protein, vitamin D; Immune support.

•Pumpkin Seeds, Dark Chocolate, Avocados: magnesium, healthy fats; Nervous system regulation, could improve sleep.

•Vitamin D-fortified foods, UV-treated Mushrooms: vitamin D; Improved calcium absorption, immune support.

Have a nice weekend.

End of November 2023

 

Five Simple Things (December 1)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This sunset.

The sunset this week has been such a pretty sight to see. I love the skies the most here living on the west coast.

2. This progress.

Getting a little stronger. Hoping to continue this progress. And that's just it, it's about progress not perfection.

3. These items.

We went to a small country fair this week and these handmade "weed" keychains were being sold by a vendor. They are handmade and the man that created them was so happy to talk about them. We didn't buy one, but we did stand there and listen to how he build his business from the ground up and it was really inspiring. We wish him all the luck with his small business goals.

4. This drink.

Homemade root beer experiments coming along.

5. This car.

We saw this Betty White window cling and wiper image in the parking lot of a store. The lady came out while we were taking a picture of it and turned it on for us to see it "wave." Betty White was one of a kind and it's nice to see things like this to remind us of the good people that we once shared this planet with.

One last thing:

We have raccoons that live in the tree behind our house and Eleven likes to sit and stalk them. We saw this week that there were babies with them mama and Eleven watched every step they took, but left them along. It was cute to watch their wide eyes wondering what Eleven was and they seemed like they were as curious of her and she was of them.

Positive affirmations this week:

It takes everyone to reduce the stigma, and never ever be discouraged to talk about what you're dealing with or going through. You are enough! And, you shouldn't ever be afraid, ashamed, or even unworthy to reach out. You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

Thanksgiving (2023)

For the last two years I have been cooking and baking everything from scratch on Thanksgiving. I hate cooking, and only enjoy baking a little throughout the year. On Thanksgiving, though, I enjoy prepping and cooking from Monday until Thursday. It's the only day of the year I actually enjoy it.

Cranberries are always an easy one and I like to get those done on Monday.

Mashed potatoes with paprika on top. All of these get covered and put in our wine refrigerator.

 

Pumpkin pies, and Belvoir Elderflower Lemonade I found at Whole Foods. It was delicious! I will definitely be looking for this each time I go into Whole Foods.

Skylar helped me a lot this year. Last year he was working, but since he has been getting ready for college, he has been home to help me with a lot of the "heavy lifting." He helped me with the mashed potatoes and the sweet potatoes. And of course, Hardy is always right there where the food is.☺

Costco had a large bag of onions and it was a better deal for the amount of stuffing I make. Plus, the leftover onions we always like to sauté onions and have them with lunch or dinner.

Nothing is better than homemade apple pie. Be sure to use Granny Smith apples with cinnamon. It always makes the pie taste so much better. The apple peeler I use I've had for years, but I wouldn't use any other one. It peels and cores it all with the crank of a handle. It also works great for potatoes, too.

Homemade biscuits. These have yeast in them, but I am not afraid of using yeast. I have been interesting in sourdough, but I haven't played around with it yet. Maybe one of these days I will get brave and give it a shot.

I also made spiral ham, brown gravy, roasted carrots, deviled eggs, stuffed celery, black olives, baby dill pickles, baked green beans with bacon bits, corn. We always cook and bake with organic ingredients. It was a full spread that we ate on all day and again for three days. Thanksgiving in our house is always a good time to rest, reflect, and give thanks for all the wonderful things we had come our way throughout the year. We always take the time to say the things we are thankful for and also use this time to reflect on things we can make better.

Happy Thanksgiving, from our house to yours!

Five Simple Things (November 24)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These teas.

These positive messages should be the norm on all food and beverage products. The world needs more positivity and less hate, jealousy, backstabbing, score-keeping, bullying, and politics.

2. This box.

I received the Kinder Beauty box for November this week. My favorite product from this month's box is the Clover by Clove and Hallow Glow Stick Illuminator in Cleo Golden Pearl.

3. These powders.

I am on a power foods kick right now. Your Super has been my go-to for ready powders and I am loving these six currently. The Moon Balance for when I am on my period, or about to start. Gut Feeling for when I need a good digestive aid and a cleanse after a large, or not so healthy meal. Plant Collagen for everyday use. Golden Mellow in the evenings when I need to wind down. Super Greens with everyday use for getting my daily greens. And, Forever Beautiful for everyday use for an added punch of antioxidants. Check them out!

4. These meds.

Perfect timing for this box I was sent for testing. I loved the Robitussin Honey Soothers. The burst of honey in the middle was warm and definitely knocked my cough out immediately. I am a big fan of Theraflu and when we all caught Omicron in 2021, it was a big help with the horrible cough we had. Coronavirus is awful and honestly, it was the sickest I have ever been. These products were sent to me to test for free from Robitussin and Theraflu. I love the honey combo in both of these products. You can snag these two products from Amazon. The Theraflu Flu Relief Max Strength comes in nighttime and daytime. The Robitussin Medi-Soothers come in Honey and Elderberry flavor.

5. This subscription.

I love these little box when it comes. I feel good about the products that comes in it each month, and that I can support Ukraine at the same time is a plus. Kiwi Eco Box is owned by two women based in Austin, Texas, whose families are stuck in the middle of a conflict they don't deserve. It's a great subscription and one I will keep until they no longer send it out. My favorite product in this month's box is the ornament for our tree. You can get this box here and continue to help me support these great women.

One last thing:

Good things are coming in January 2025 and this beeswax will be part of that. I can't wait to share. Look for a link above in my blog for something new and awesome. I am so excited!

Positive affirmations this week:

Five minute self-care.

•Drink water

•Journal

•Stretch

•Tidy up your bed

•Play your favorite song

•Compliment yourself

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (November 17)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This display.

We love Stranger Things in our house and this Halloween display was in our city. Of course, we knew exactly what it was - whoever made this did a great job recreating Max listening to Kate Bush as Vecna tried to possesses her.

2. This moment.

Skylar had his bottom wisdom teeth cut out this week. I was on the fence on whether to take any pictures or take any videos of him after the procedure, but he told us beforehand that he wanted to see himself and what he says. Apparently, a lot of people talk nonsense and babble on about how tiny things upset them. Well, needless to say, Skylar was upset that he didn't have a stack of papers and a bucket of pens to write down notes. He then started talking about his horse "Blacky" and he was going to make him a millionaire. It was funny, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for him for the pain he was in.

 

Once we were home I set him up in his own area downstairs and let him sleep. He slept most of the first day and then watched movies and cuddled with Hardy. 

3. This doggy.

He has been a trooper this week and we love the way he loves us.

4. This muffin.

I made homemade blueberry muffins this week and they were delicious. This last one was all that was left after everyone grabbing one on the go. We all have been slowly picking away at it, but I finally ate it and savored the moment.

5. This window.

I love the way the sun comes through this window in the morning. We have rearranged rooms in this house and this room is now a study/office space. When I go into the room to start my day, it's nice to have some sunshine beaming through while I work.

One more thing: (trigger warning)

This bad boy was in our bathroom this week and it is the biggest house spider I have ever seen inside. I grew up in the country in the south and tarantulas are everywhere there, but they never were inside our house. This one scared me because it was sitting on the edge of the sink about ready to jump. I'm not afraid of spiders, but he did give me a startle. Skylar quickly scooped him up and set him free.

Positive affirmations this week:

Don't forget your breathwork: 

Breath in FOUR seconds>>>>Hold for SEVEN seconds<><><><><><><>Out for EIGHT seconds<<<<<<<< Repeat THREE times><><>< This method helps with stress, helps with falling asleep, and helps with anxiety.

Have a nice weekend.