Inexpensive Gift Idea

I needed to get a quick gift together to give to my neighbors who were both sick the broncitis. I wanted to do it as frugally as possible. I found these boxes of meat, cheese and crackers in the Pharmacy.There original prices were $15 and $18. They were marked down 75% because the meat was near due date.

I took both home and opened them up. I threw out the meat as it was no longer sealed tight and I placed the other items together in a tin that I had laying around. First I filled the tin with the filler that had come in the boxes. So then, I used what was in two boxes to fill one and had a nice gift. Then I tied a ribbon aroung the box, found a get well card and added a get well helleum ballon that I got at the dollar store.

Then I drove out to the neighbors in the mud and delivered the gift to their door.

It only cost me a few bucks.

Daring to go outside the box

The Metabolic Power of Relaxation

I'm reading the SLow Down Diet again.
I have to read this book with a grain of salt.
Much is worthy though and I am working hard at living by the first 'rule'.

Take this thought and really meditate on it. I mean really, really chew on it.

If you're a fast and furious eater, it's time to change gears.
That's because the slower you eat, the faster you metabolize.

I thought on it long and hard and I am ready to change. To me it means, no more meals in the suburban, no more meals while running around the house setting things in order and no more mindless meal where I am reading a book.

I want to be more aware, I want to learn to love food once again. I want to eat for pleasure more then for nessecity; for energy more then just to fuel up.

I have learned that this statement above is oh, so true. If I become aware of what I am eating, I need so much less, and I do not get that horrid gut ache that follows crazy eating. Though I do not nessecarily eat what I eat fast, I do eat mindlessly and in 'furious atmospheres'. Yesterday, I had a scant handful of nuts and seeds, like I always do for an energy boost at about 4:30. But I ate then on the run. Then, yes, I felt almost as if I hadn't had any at all and wanted more. Then I decided to experiment. After supper I again ate a handful of nuts and seeds, but slowely and with awareness and lo and behold! I was satisfied. This is only one example, I have tried it in other ways too, but it does make a difference how you eat, not just what you eat.

As I learn more about how this helps me to metabolize faster and better I will post.

SB 2, Pages 44 + 45, Mari's Photo Shoot

SB 2, Pages 40 + 41, Monster Tractors are better than Monster trucks!

Scrambled Egg Wrap

This recipe is so simple and quick that there is no more

any excuse to go without breakfast.

Ingredients

• 2 whole eggs, whisked
• 1 tsp butter
• 1 whole grain whole wheat wrap
• 1/2 tsp pure maple syrup

Preparation:

Heat frying pan on medium. Add eggs to pan. Place wrap on top of eggs and let then heat up together. When cooked through, remove from heat. Place egg on the wrap and drizzle with maple syrup. Roll egg in wrap. Serve immediately.

This can also be served cold for lunch. Add some fresh fruit and you have a complete meal.

Remember the paving stones?

Still wonder why they flip out of place?

Check This Out!

Oil Pulling! Now what! I am going to give this a try. What do you think?

SB 2, Pages 38 + 39 Observe your World

More than a Tuna Salad

Tuna is one of those ingredients I always have in my cupboard.
This salad packs loads of nutrients.



Ingredients

• 1 can water packed tuna, drained
• 1/2 med. Cucumber, diced
• 1/4 cup alfalfa sprouts
• 1/4 cup radishes, sliced
• 1/4 cup carrots, chopped
• 3/4 cup cabbage, chopped fine
• 1/4 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 apple, chopped

Dressing

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• juice of 1/2 lemon

Preparation

1. In medium mixing bowl combine all salad ingredients.
2. Pour dressing over ingredients.
3. Serve immediately or cover and chill.

This Tuna salad is also a perfect filling for wraps.

SB 2, Pages 36 + 37, Cuddles

Just add water

What: Drink 10 to 12 glasses of pure water daily.

Why: Water restriction actually increases the laying down of fat!

How: I will fill a jug with at least 80 ounces pure water and keep it in my fridge to refill my water bottle every few hours. I will sip from my water bottle throughout the day.

Notes: I will keep three water bottles full and waiting in places I frequent. A bottle in the livingroom, my kitchen and in my bathroom will remind me to sip up often.

Action: Fill jug and bottles every morning.

First Healthiest Eating Principles

What: Eat six small meals a day.


Why: Increasing the frequency of my meals causes my metabolism to be stimulated while preventing me from getting too hungry.


How: Eat at these times...

• 7:00



• 9:30



• 12:00



• 2:30



• 5:00



• 7:00

Notes: Every morning I need to begin to make a *list of things I plan to eat* during the day. If I need groceries I need to buy them before my 9:30 meal.

Action: Have food in the house! *Have a plan!*

* I will make having a plan one of my 52 Healthy Lifestyle changes.

SB 2, Pages 22 + 23, Nature Walk

SB 2, Pages 20 + 21, Garden Foliage

Early Morning Routine

What: Have a consistent routine to follow each morning.
Why: It will help me to wake up and motivate me to start my day with energy and enthusiasm.
How: When alarm rings...

1. Slap the snoose button and start waking up.
2. Think about my dreams.
3. Think about what I will be doing today.
4. Pray for a blessing on the day etc.

When second alarm sounds...

1. Get up.
2. *Stretch.*
3. Deep Breathe.
4. Brush teeth.
5. *Wash face.*
6. Comb hair.
7. Moistureize face, hands and feet.
8. *Slip on socks and clothes.*
9. Leave bedroom.
10. Drink lemon water.

Notes: I have been doing this for months already, but I need to keep doing it as this simple routine makes such a difference in how my day goes. If I don't take these first steps I can't seem to get going and often the whole day flops.

Action: Make sure to keep these products in my room. Toothbrush, Tooth paste, Spunge, Hairbrush, Hairspray, Moisturizers, Socks and comfortable clothes. When replacing these items, be sure to get healthier, natural, sustainable, green, organic, chemical-free products.

* more details coming soon. *

SB 2, Pages 16 + 17, Pelican

Deep Breathing

What: Deep Breathing at least four times a day.
Why: Deep Breathing for even 30 seconds has a substantial effect on acidic stress hormones and, when practiced over time can have profound healing effect on mood, energy levels and cardiovascular and respiratory health.
How:

1. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. Breathe deeply into your abdomen through your nose-if you are doing it right and breathing into your abdomen and the lower part of your lungs, the hand on your abdomen should rise higher then the hand on your chest. As you inhale count slowly to 4.


2. Hold your breath, again counting to 4.


3. Exhale slowly through your nose to a count of 4, gently contracting your abdomen muscles to eliminate all air from your lungs.


4. Repeat this cycle 4 times, or more if you an make the time.

Notes: I will want to do this the minute I wake up and before I go to sleep plus two other times during the day. I will do this when I take my vitamins as this will help to serve as a reminder.
Caution: Do not take deep breath's with pills in mouth. :)

Action: Just do it!

Master Weekly Grocery List

Produce:

• Lemons x 7

Personal Products:

• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Moisturizer for face, hands and feet.
• Facial Cleanser

Lemons

What: Add fresh lemons to my daily diet.
Why: They supply me with Vitamin C and help alkalize my body. They are great for cleansing my liver and they are great energy boosters.
How: I will squeeze a half a lemon into a glass of room temp. water first thing each morning. I will do this one more time sometime during the rest of the day, especially when I need an energy boost.

Notes: I need to always have lemons on hand. I will do this by adding them to me master weekly grocery list. I will need at least 7 lemons a week. I will store them in a pretty bowl on my island. I will keep a pretty glass just for this drink by my sink.

Action:
To Buy: Lemons x7
To Find: Pretty glass and bowl

Kickin' Acid

I am reading a new book called The Ultimate pH Solution because I am interested in balancing my body's chemistry in order to prevent disease and-what do you know-lose weight. This book's cover promises that I will learn how to do these things if I will only buy it and take it home with me. I did. Buy it.
This read better be worth it!
Anyway, it starts by making the case that balancing your pH is the last breakthrough in weight loss. Goodbye fad diets. Simply alkalize your body and all what ails you will be a thing of the past.
Hear my sarcasm? But its not that bad. The sarcasm. I am willing to learn. So here's what I learned in the first chapter.

• -Because of my SAD (standard american diet) my body is too acidic.
• -Therefor I will be sick. (DUH!?!)
• -Acidic blood is the precursor of almost every disease.
• -Most of the diseases that plague me would not occur in a pH-balanced body.
• -If my blood is acidic I will show signs of age before my time. (Who's to determine that, I wonder?)
• -Cancer cells require acid to survive. So kill them by starving them of acid.

But it's not all bad news...oh no, If I just do these things..........

• -Eat the right foods (with all the contradictory info out there, just what is the right foods)
• -Hop into a luxurious bath with the right ingredients (now I'm listening)
• -Drink more alkaline water. (What's that?)
• -Eat more alkaline fruits and vegetables to help 'melt' off weight. (Finally, the info I am looking for.)

..........I will be O.K.

So, what can I do with this information from this first chapter. Nothing! They give me no concrete advice. I need to read the rest of the book to get those answers.

But I did find a bit of something to get started. As I skimmed the book I saw a little highlighted piece that tells me that if I just put fresh lemon juice into my water everyday and for every drink I be doing a lot to balance my blood. That is something I can take away from this read.

Well, I guess it's off to the grocery store for 15 plus lemons. That should do it for the next week.
Seriously though, I will try to incorporate this into my diet as it makes sense and I feel that it's something I can do with minimal effort and maximum benefit.

Bring on the lemons.

They don't have to be organic, do they?

Cleaner eating

I visited Kira again this morning. I figured that I had been seeing her for diet advice for a year now and DRUM ROLL>>>> I lost 7 pounds........
After a whole year!!!

Good for me............ (groan)

What we are working on this week- Healthy Breakfasts, not just oatmeal.
-No more white flour, white rice, pasta, etc. I will still use white sugar for a while.
-Try to get more vegetables into my kids. Puree and hide it in my meals.

I think that I am going to start posting what I am doing dietwise. I don't know yet how it will look on the blog but I will work on it. Perhaps I will post new things that I am incorporating into my lifestyle in the effort to be 100% healthy, perhaps I will post things I am learning about how our bodies work or/and how I am greening up our lives.

Are you all interested?

Chocolate dipping

Breanne's Life

Names for my babies

Blue-Eyed Girl

Family Reunion

Icy Reunion

Jewel Heritage

I'm still not feeling well.

What I originally thought was simply indigestion was in fact a uterus infection. So I've been pretty sick.

Anyway, I did a few pages which I will post soon. These pages are just to enjoy- they do not yet have to be edited but if you do see something obvious you may let me know.

Cemetery Walk

Snow Day

There!

That will be it for a while.

I got lots done today because I didn't have to go to town, I had a clean, neat house with the wash caught up and the pantry full and I didn't feel well. Channie and I hung out all afternoon with a touch of flu. Came on fast, like Gideon yesterday. He was sick from noon to midnight and then was better again. He even ate two bowls of oatmeal this morning. So it looks like the flu is a short one and I'll be busy again tomorrow. I'll post again next week.

Nature Walk

Little Sister

A 13th Birthday!!!