Life at a "Swell's" pace

Sometimes Wants (Summer '23)

2023-06-21T10:30:00.001-07:00

These are the summer time, "Sometimes Wants," that have caught my eye lately.

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

9. 10.

Lately I've taken to seeing a lot of spice racks change their jars out for ones that are more uniform and minimal. Although we purchase organic spices, and all of them come in glass containers anyway, it would be nice to have some that look cohesive in the cabinet. I have had my eye on these lately, because they have bamboo lids and come with labels. I am also liking these from KonMari, as well. The black bamboo lids look sharp.
You can never have enough good quality cotton t-shirts and these are so soft and comfortable. They come in three colors, but the company makes a lot of great cotton items to add to your wardrobe and clothing rotation. I've replaced a lot of my lesser quality cotton shirts with these and I love all three colors and sizes from XXS to 6XL. FYI: They are perfect for yoga sessions and working out, and if you size up about three sizes, they are great for sleeping in and lounging around, too.
This was a pricier purchase for me this season, but one that I will be making again. These are some of the best lip balms I've ever used. They are smooth, classy, and feel great on the lips. They are just under $50, and are 16 ounces each. I've been using them now for about two months and I love them a lot. The colors I have are the Clear, Translucent Garnet, and Sheer Rose, but will be purchasing the Clear, Peony, and Tomato soon. The Clear along is a great lip balm to just have on hand, too.
I have been using these pot brushes for everything lately. We've been cleaning up areas on the bus and these have come in handy to get into small cracks and crevices to really get the grime out of them. We recently finished placing insulation is the wall areas and these little pot brushes came in super handy to be able to clean the small areas before putting in the insulation sheets. I've also been using these around the house to clean and scrub appliances, floors, and even walls.
Been rethinking how I ship things lately and the amount of waste that goes into packaging items to ship through the mail. I recently found these biodegradable shipping bags. They come in a 50 count package and are perfect for smaller items being shipped. They are compostable poly mailers with eco-friendly packaging that break down over a short period of time. The company also makes other biodegradable packaging and other items that make me feel just a bit better about doing my part of the environment.
Looking at light puffers lately and I fell in love with this longer puffer from Everlane. It's a nice color for fall and can be worn clear into June here in the Willamette Valley. It's comfortable and does a nice job of keeping even my legs warm on road trips. Comes in black, as well and is made from 100% recycled polyester material. Easily packs up and can be worn alone or in layers, I just love it. It comes in XXS to XL and tends to run a bit larger.
Along with going more eco-friendly in our house, I have found better ways to help the environment, while not compromising my cleaning habits. We have been using better sponge options lately and these are great. They are all natural, biodegradable, made with hemp/sisal plant, non-scratch, chemical-free, and odor free. With a bit of elbow grease, they really get the job done. I use one for about three weeks with my regular daily cleaning routine and toss them in our compost bin. They work for household cleaning, as well as dishes, and countertops.
We are still loving our Daxlena Safeparty Firepit Mat and when Summer Solstice hits we always know it's time to break it out for the season. With having the school bus now when we go camping, it has definitely come in handy no matter where we end up. We loved ours so much we ordered two more to use in different locations. We use it under anything hot to save the surface of what's underneath. We also use it in the sand and on our lawn when needed, as well. It's a great addition to your camping box, or just to use every day at your own home. Check out my blog post on the Safeparty Fire Pit Mat here.
These notebooks were a random find while working with some Amazon affiliate companies recently and they are perfect for what I needed at the time. We are planning a big trip here soon and I'm hoping we can document the trip in our own words in a notebook. These pastel colored notebooks will be just the right thing for that. I can't wait to be able to get back and read what all of us put in our notebooks about our trip. These come in the pastel colors pictured, more bold colors, and vintage colors and are 16 to a pack.
We've taken to coffee scrubs lately and not to discredit the companies that make quality coffee scrubs, but some are way overpriced. We found a good recipe, after some trial and error, that works for us and have been making it now for about three months. It's a simple recipe that has ethically-sourced ground coffee in it, coconut oil, sugar, and a bit of essential oils. The essential oils we change out depending on the season and whether we want to mix it up for a more uplifting scent. We create about a pound at a time and separate it into 20 ounce containers. We keep one of the 20 ounce containers in the shower and use it at least three times a week. The coffee we use is from Ethical Bean Coffee and we love that their coffee is better for the environment and the farmers that grow and harvest it. They carry whole beans and ground. If you're a coffee drinker, this a great brand to add to your morning brew.

Happy Summer Solstice!

Bacon Jalapeño Poppers

2023-05-31T18:29:00.004-07:00

This recipe has pretty much become a go-to for holiday snacks in our house. We sometimes make them before we take off to go camping, or before the weekend begins. They can be made up ahead of time and placed in an airtight container in the refrigerator and popped into the microwave, air fryer, or oven for a short time to warm them back up, because they are best served hot.

20-30 jalapeño peppers (seeded and cut lengthwise in half) **use gloves for this**
3-4 (8oz) blocks of cream cheese (room temperature)
1 tablespoon of onion powder
1 teaspoon of pepper
1 teaspoon of salt (to taste)
1 tablespoon of jalapeno juice (this adds some additional spice to the mix)
10-12 jalapeno seeds (more or less to your own spice tolerance)
Cooked bacon (entire package)

Mix cream cheese, onion powder, pepper, salt, and seeds together in a bowl and fill each jalapeño shell with mixture. Be sure to overfill to your desired amount. Cut bacon into small diced pieces and sprinkle on top of cream cheese mixture.

Place on baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes in a 350 degree oven, or until the tops are browned and bacon becomes crispy.

Enjoy!

Nuts and Seeds Banana Bread

2023-05-17T15:42:00.005-07:00

1/2 cup melted salted butter
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon, or more to taste
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground or grated nutmeg
2 eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. vanilla extract (not imitation)
4 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup, or more of seeds and nuts (peanuts, pumpkin, flax, sunflower, almond, cashew, chia)

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), and butter a loaf pan.

In a mixing bowl, mix together the ripe bananas and melted butter. Mix in the baking soda and salt. Then add in sugars, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix in the flour last.

Pour the batter into greased loaf pan and sprinkle 1/2 of the nuts on top. Halfway through baking, sprinkle the remaining nuts on top and finish baking.

Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely before slicing.

This recipe is customizable in so many ways. Instead of bananas, try canned pumpkin, zucchini, even watermelon. Instead of nuts, add raisins, cranberries, currants, blueberries, or even strawberries. The possibilities are endless. We have tried all different ways to incorporate foods into this recipe. It should be called, "Everything in the Cabinet Bread."☺ I hope you enjoy it, because it's a huge favorite in our house! If you give it a try, let me know by tagging me on social media. I would love to know what you think of it, or if you added something fun.

Sometimes Wants (Spring '23)

2023-03-21T09:25:00.023-07:00

These are the spring time, "Sometimes Wants," that have caught my eye lately.

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

9. 10.

BunchaFarmers Stain Stick. I have been on a mission to completely overhaul my cleaning routine and this has been added to my arsenal. It's all natural and 100% biodegradable. The outer packaging is recyclable and is completely environmentally friendly. The best part, it actually works for a wide range of stains, even ones on furniture and car upholstery.
QALO/Pela Women's Rubber Silicone Ring. Such a great ring that you can feel good about wearing. It's breathable, durable, and comes in a wide range of colors. It's compostable, made from plants, sustainable, and affordable.
CBD Pain Relief Stick (Sport). This CBD stick has been my go-to for over a year now. I am actually wearing some on my right shoulder as I type this out. ☺ I absolutely can not say enough about it. The CBD helps with mild pain relief, while the cooling camphor and menthol bring much needed aid to the area asap. It's non-gmo and vegan, and works great for period cramps and migraines, as well.
MountainHares Organic Cotton Body Pouf. This pouf, as well as this shop are a self-care lovers dream. If you've been looking for some items to add to your Self-Care Sunday routine, this is it. This body pouf is a good start. It's 100% organic cotton and comes with a crocheted loop to hang dry. It feels more like a smooth pouf than an exfoliating one, but it is a nice "hug" in the shower while using.
Hugs Blanket (Minky Couture). I can't do weighted blankets, but this is a great alternative to that. It is so soft and comforting. It comes in a wide range of colors and sizes from (infant (30in x 30in) to (grande 60in x 84in).
NARS Audacious Lipstick. These lipstick colors have been a new change for me. Some days I feel upbeat enough to wear *Scarlet* and other days I want to disappear, so I wear *Pink Beige* to kind of "blend in." The texture of the lipstick is a nice smooth feel on the lips and doesn't rub off onto glass rims. It's paraben free and well worth the price. I may venture out and try other shades, too.
SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore. I've been using this lipid restore since my breast surgery in 2020 and I will say that it has definitely made a difference. It's a bit pricier than other brands, but it's well worth it. It has drastically reduced the appearance of my surgery scars and also helped in softening and the stretch marks I gained from before my surgery from the size of my breasts previous. I highly recommend it. I like it so well that I sometimes cheat and use it on other areas of my body, as well. ☺
Your Super Life: 100+ Delicious, Plant-Based Recipes Made with Nature's Most Powerful Superfoods By Michael Kuech, Kristel de Groot. I love their powders, so of course I preordered my book. Excited to see how to incorporate my mixes in everyday recipes.
Monster Away Spray. This is such a cute and relaxing way to help children with their "scaries" at night. It is made with cedarwood, chamomile, vetiver, orange, and ho wood essential oils. I already use a spray similar here, but this one I would definitely try just to see how relaxing and mind calming it is for adults. But, if you have a child with nighttime worries about monsters under the bed or in a closet, definitely give it a go.
The Self-Care Planner. For anyone that knows me, like really knows me well, will tell you I have to have a routine and I am very OCD about that routine. One missed moment in my routine and it sets me up for a lot of mental health issues later in the day, or even in the week. It seems to be something that helps keep me from falling apart, honestly and this self-care planner has helped a great deal with me staying on track and focused. Through the last several years I've even gotten better at telling people, "NO!" Just to be able to stay the course and on my routine. The best part of it all, though, is the ability to change up a few things if I wanted to do that for myself. Say I have a dentist appointment one day, I can move and shuffle my routine around that fits best for me to be able to fit that appointment into my own personal schedule. I do suggest this planner if this sounds like you, too. You'll love it!

Happy Spring Equinox!

Five Simple Things (March 10)

2023-03-10T16:46:00.216-08:00

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This Weather.

The above pictures all happened on March 8. We got a large amount of sleet early in the morning and it sleeted off and on until around noon, to which a rainbow appeared shortly after and the sun stayed out for another few hours. It was unusual, but it seems to be the norm in this area now. After the March 8 weather, on March 10, which is below, we had a little bit of snow in the morning and then the rest of the day we got a large amount of snow that fell in a short bursts throughout the day.

Skylar and I love to always see the snow coming down. We are like the delightful little kids running out to play without a care in the world when the snow starts to fall. It was not only a beautiful sight, it was also neat to see it falling at random times throughout the night.

2. This Moment.

My humidifier created some ambiance against my vintage lamp one night this week and I just loved how it looked. I love old history, and this moment sort of made me feel like I had gone back in time for a brief moment.

3. This Kitty.

She's always up to something that makes us laugh. If it's not her laying on the television area, to sleeping, to exploring her grass/water station, she's always doing something to make us smile. We just love her so much. With having Meia gone, we are glad to have another great cat helping fill that void from time to time. Meia's absence, as well as Milo's, is always felt, but Eleven makes that hole just a bit less painful with her personality.

4. This Box.

Another great hit from Kiwi Eco Box this month. Love these colored pencils, candle, and Eco Hero Handbook. Looking forward to utilizing everything in this month's box! You can sign up for the April box here and get $5 off.

5. These Washes.

Loving these Necessaire body washes. Skylar and I absolutely love the eucalyptus scent, and the bergamot is a close second, for sure. Definitely recommend these products. Necessaire also sells body lotions with the same scents, and unscented, and they are top notch! You can try the Eucalyptus here and the Bergamot here. You'll love them!

One last thing:

Lately we have not been feeling 100%, so this week a made a homemade immunity shot and we drank one ounce of it a day all this week and we are feeling a lot better. This is something I am going to start making each Sunday, so we have a shot every day for a week, especially when the weather turns colder and more people seem to be getting sick. This season, knock on wood, we haven't had any sickness pass through us, but it's always better to be prepared. Here's how it's made.

Turmeric Immunity Shot:

1 cup water
2 tablespoons ginger (chopped)
1 orange (chopped)
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 lemons (chopped)
1 tablespoon turmeric

Pulse everything for 20-30 seconds in a food processor, or blender. I use a blender with a metal drive and it works great to grind everything up. Strain through cheese cloth and pour into individual two ounce bottles.(I use these) Store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Drink an ounce to two ounces a day, which is about a shot glass size. If you don't use the one ounce containers you can store all of it in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and just pour a shot glass size every day instead.

Positive affirmations this week:

Unfortunately, when you start to get better, you're also going to get really sad. The hard truth of getting better means revisiting things we aren't comfortable with. During my therapy sessions there's many times I had to stop to reposition my mind in order to be able to talk about the hard things. One incident in particular took me almost three months to completely get my feelings, trauma, and emotional state out, because it was hard for me to get past the sadness. Overall, it's something that has to happen and it's the worst part of therapy. A positive with it is that once we get past the sadness you start to get better. It's true and it's such a wonderful feeling getting past that sadness. You can do this! You can get better! You are going to be okay! We are broken for a moment, but then repaired for a lifetime. Remember, you aren't your trauma. It happened to you, it doesn't define you and you are strong! ♥

Have a nice weekend.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Five Ways

2023-03-10T11:49:00.006-08:00

Nothing is more comforting in our house than a warm chocolate chip cookie straight from the oven. I have about 20 different ways to make chocolate chip cookies, but these five are our most loved.

#1 •Coconut-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies:

2/3 cup butter, room temperature

2/3 cup coconut oil, solid

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

Cream together until light in color and "fluffy"

2 eggs (add one at a time)

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix until well combined

In a separate bowl:

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups rolled oats

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

Add dry to wet

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes

(Makes three dozen)

***

#2 Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies:

1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 cubes butter

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup cocoa

2 tbs. honey

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

2 cups rolled oats

2 cups vanilla chips

Cream sugar, honey, butter, eggs, and

vanilla together until light in color.

Sift dry ingredients together until combined.

Add vanilla chips and drop by tablespoonfuls.

Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

(Makes three dozen)

***

#3 Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies:

2 cups butter

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

5 eggs

5 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 package chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.

Add vanilla and eggs. Beat well.

Add dry ingredients together and add to

butter mixture. Add chocolate chips and mix

to incorporate. Drop by teaspoonfuls and

bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Of course, all of these recipes are a bit different, but give the same result of a chocolate chip cookie. Bake all of them at random times and find out which one is your favorite. The quality of ingredients are important here with these recipes. Keep in mind, when you use lesser quality ingredients you will get a lesser quality cookie. We eat only organic in our household, and your tastes are geared towards what you eat on a regular basis. If you are not completely organic, change one ingredients in your recipes at a time when you cook or bake and eventually you'll be using all organic for certain recipes. Try on of these chocolate chip cookie recipes with all organic and see how you like it.

#4 Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 large eggs

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line two baking

sheets with parchment paper.

Cream butter until smooth and add peanut butter,

and both sugars, beat well until combined.

Add eggs and beat well. Mix dry ingredients together.

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients gradually until combined.

Stir in chocolate chips by hand. Scoop small portions onto sheet.

Bake 15 minutes until just firm around edges. Don't overbake.

(Makes two dozen)

***

#5 Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies:

3 1/2 cups flour

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 sticks melted and cooled butter

1 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 egg yolks

1 tbsp. vanilla

2 cups chocolate disks

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Beat butter and sugars until fluffy.

Add eggs, and egg yolks. Combine after each addition, but do not

over mix. Add vanilla. Combine all dry ingredients until combined and

add dry to wet mix and mix well. Add in chocolate disks by hand.

Bake about 10 minutes until edges are just golden in color.

And lastly, since we can all admit that we eat some of the cookie dough before it reaches the oven, here's a better version of cookie dough that won't have the potential to possibly make you sick.

Edible Cookie Dough:

1/2 cup melted butter, cooled

1 tsp. vanilla

2/3 cups water

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

2 1/2 cups (heat-treated flour)*

1-2 cups chocolate chips (depending on taste)

Combine melted butter, vanilla, water, and

sugar until smooth. Add salt and flour to mix.

Mix thoroughly before adding chocolate chips.

Eat right away, or refrigerate for up to three

days. Try freezing into balls and dip in

melted chocolate.

*How to make heat-treated flour:

Heat by one cup at a time in microwave.

30 minutes at a time, stirring between,

Make sure the flour reaches 165-170 degrees

before removing. Or, place in oven at 300 degrees.

Spread evenly on a cookie sheet and bake for about

five minutes. Check the flour in several places

to make sure it has reached 165 degrees.

Picnic-Style Potato Salad

2023-03-06T12:18:00.021-08:00

One thing is certain in our house and that's the fact that everyone in this house loves potato salad. But not just any potato salad, it has to be made right. There's a lot of different versions out there, but this version is by far, our favorite. And it's easy to make, which is a plus. I hate cooking, baking, all of it. I can't stand being in the kitchen longer than 10 minutes making anything to eat. So, the easier the recipe, the better. You're going to love this potato salad, and the best part is, you can add anything to it that your own family loves. Here's how it's made.

Ingredients:

5 red potatoes (this recipe can be double, or tripled, just work in single recipe batches)
2 hard-boiled eggs
1/4 cup dill pickles
1 green onion
3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons green onion dip mix
2 1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar (or less to taste)
3/4 cup minced parsley
3/4 cup mustard (or less to taste)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Boil potatoes for about 10-15 minutes. Drain and cool to at least room temperature. Chop into medium to small chunks, size depends on your preference. Chop hard-boiled eggs, pickles, and green onions. Rough chop the eggs, dice the pickles into small pieces, and chop the green onions into smaller pieces. Combine pickles, onions, mayonnaise, dip mix, vinegar, parsley, mustard, salt, and pepper together into a large bowl. If making a double batch, or triple batch, mix everything in separate bowls for each recipe. Add chopped potatoes to mixture and toss, then add eggs last. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

Enjoy!

Five Simple Things (March 3)

2023-03-03T16:44:00.205-08:00

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This Snow.

The Willamette Valley got another light dusting of snowfall this week and the little feet prints across the lawn were just too cute not to share. From tiny Chickadee feet to large Quappy Duck feet, I just love it!

2. This Sandwich.

Shout-out to our local food co-op (First Alternative) for making the absolute best sandwiches. Nothing beats them!

3. This Before/After.

We recently downsized our main closet and ended up giving it a complete overhaul. This house is over 80 years old and a lot of the original built-ins and hardware still remain. We've tried our best to seek out period lighting, metals, and items that would have been put into homes back in that time. Unfortunately this house caught fire in the 80s, so we aren't sure exactly what was replaced during that time, but going back to when we "think" what would have been in the house during the 1930s has been a lot of fun.

The first task was to remove everything from the closet and give it a good wash. Dust collects in this house quite easily, because the seals around the house need to be redone, but we do our best to keep the dust at bay by doing a weekly and thorough cleaning. It's become part of our weekly routine now. While cleaning out the closet, even though there's a lot of light in the area, Skylar put on a headlamp to really get into the dark corners of the closet.☺

Once everything was out and the closet was thoroughly cleaned, we began patching up holes and using plaster for other areas that haven't seen love in a very long time.

When we finished the patching and plastering, we then brainstormed what to do next. We decided to pull up the linoleum someone had laid at one point on the bottom of the closet and replace that area with clean plywood and sand it down to fit the bottom of the closet floor. We also scraped and sanded the back of the closet where the lower shelf meets the back of the closet wall. At one point someone had taken spray foam and sealed that area up. We scraped all of that away and replaced it with a bead of caulking, plaster, and a coat of primer.

We went with two different paint colors. For the back walls and the shelves we used Scandinavian Minimalist Line at Lowe's in the color of Morning Fog. For the trim, border, and surrounding walls we used the Industrial Refresh Line at Lowe's in the color of Greek Villa. We loved how it turned out and we have even incorporated the Morning Fog color, which I immediately fell in love with, throughout the rest of the house. We painted the open squares on the door leading to the room with the build-in closet, and are working on painting all the frames of the doorways with the same color. There is also a nook near the staircase that will get a fresh coat of Morning Fog, as well.

4. This Kitty.

When I lay down in the evenings and get situated, I can always count on Eleven to come and seek me out to lay down with me. She has become really attached to me since my surgery in 2020. It's odd how she didn't have much to do with me until she knew I was hurting and "sick." I love how she's opened up to me and shows her affection now. We really bonded over the almost six months it took me to recover. Now she follows me around and watches me to make sure I'm okay.

5. These Shipments.

These two shipments came this week and I always love getting mail, even as an adult. First was the Might Fix for this month. This little Fruit Buddy goes over fruits to help protect them from moisture and to help them last longer. It's the cutest thing over an avocado in the refrigerator. You can try Mighty Nest for free here. It's a great addition each month to help you switch your home to be more sustainable.

The next box that came was our shipment from Misfits Market. We love this grocery subscription. When we are pressed for time and can't fit in a trip to the grocery store for pantry staples, it's a great way to help us out in a pinch. This month as be hectic and this week alone has been extremely busy, so this shipment has really come in handy. They have organic options that we love since going completely organic in our home. As you can see from the picture above, this haul was a good one! You can sign up here and get 10% off your first order from us.

One last thing:

With all the snow falling lately it's important to know how to make the perfect snowball, right? Per the instructions below, and the help of Elf, it's good information to have on hand. It's also the time of year where snow skiing picks up and ski etiquette is a good lesson to learn, as well. Both of these illustrations are from the ever so informative site The Art of Manliness. It's not just for men anymore.

Positive affirmations this week:

Just a reminder, it's always better to check on someone than not. This is your reminder to give someone a call, or text that needs to be check up on. Always reach out to those that can't reach out for themselves. If you yourself are struggling, please reach out for help. My email address is in the "About" section on my blog. I am here, too. Let's keep each other afloat.♥

Have a nice weekend.

End of February 2023 (1 Second Every Day)

2023-03-01T14:54:00.001-08:00

Our Cancer Scare

2023-02-28T16:46:00.001-08:00

A few years ago Skylar had a lump suddenly appear on his chest, like right in the middle between his rib bones. It was such an odd lump that we initially thought he might have been hit in the chest somehow and it was a scar. He has played baseball and been hit in the chest, as well as karate and there's been many times where he was hit in the chest by random pop flies, or Bahng Mahng Ee during combat with Taekwondo. Skip ahead several years to now. He started complaining of the spot around Christmas last year, saying how it was hurting him sometimes when he was in the shower, or barely bumping it putting his clothes on. I told him to let us know immediately if it started hurting worse and last week it did. It was hurting him so much so that he would tear up at the pain. Jeff made at appointment at a dermatologist right away and this week they were able to get him in for an evaluation.

During his evaluation we learned that the lump was actually a cyst that needed to be removed. Of course that was the easy part to understand, the hard part was that the tissue needed to be tested to make sure it wasn't cancerous. His evaluation took place the day before Valentine's Day, so the office iguana was all dressed for the holiday and it was a nice thing to see during our stressful time there.

His next appointment to remove the cyst took place 15 days later and Skylar was nervous and so were we. I hate to see my baby in any sort of pain and the anxiety we all had was pretty high. We knew this was a routine biopsy, but this was our first time going through something like this. Skylar brought the stuffed "Swells" dog that we all take to serious operations or procedures for comfort. It does help when something familiar is near you, or in your arms. I used the same thing during my breast surgery in 2020.

The dermatologist numbed the area and cut open the area and removed the mass in a matter of 10 minutes. He cauterized the area and sewed it up and quickly as he removed it. The mass was a lot larger than we all expected and I couldn't help but cry watching Skylar go through all of that. It still is a bit emotional for us. Next we wait on the results to see if there's any cancer cells. Our hearts are still heavy.

We are just glad the first part is done and we can focus on positive thoughts until the results come in. We decided that we are not going to react until we get the results. We have high hopes that it will be negative, so we are focusing on good things right now. The iguana in the office was all dressed for Saint Patrick's Day coming up, too. So again, that was a nice distraction for us again.

When we got home I had made Skylar's favorite apple pie and it was waiting on him to enjoy. Jeff and I also got him all his favorite foods and drinks and he will be taken care of 100%. He said his chest is sore and burns a little, but overall he is tired. He has been sleeping a lot and we make sure he is comfortable while he heals.

Five Simple Things (February 24)

2023-02-24T14:17:00.174-08:00

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These Snails.

Skylar's snails got a new home this week. We found a smaller enclosure for them, because they one these had was too big now that we are down to only two snails. One of the things we enjoy the most about snails is how active they are at night. Nothing is cuter than watching a snail munch on some lettuce leaves, or drink a drop of water. We just love them.

2. This Weather.

Earlier in the days this week we had a few bouts of sleet, but we got a nice surprise on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning and woke up to snow fall. It didn't last long coming down, but it was beautiful falling against the night sky and the lights.

3. These Muffins.

This month we took a trip to IKEA and I picked up these two canvas recipe prints. This week we decided to give the blueberry muffin recipe a try. They turned out great and our next task is to try the pumpkin soup recipe. When we do give it a try I will check back in and give feedback. Definitely keeping an eye out for anymore recipe canvas prints at our local IKEA every time we go now.

4. These Ducks.

We are looking to move our duck house soon and not quite sure where to place it, or even if it's worth repairing and moving. We have noticed it failing in some areas, especially around the bottom parts of the coop. This coop is several years old and has been moved a few times to different locations. Over those years and moves, it has slowly starting showing its age. Stay tuned for an update on this. Hopefully we can save it, but if not, we will come up with something just as nice for the little duckies to live in.

5. This Rosemary.

We gave our rosemary bush a trim this week and it was much needed. A lot of it was overgrown so much that we had to pull the bush together with twine and trim it that way to prevent large gouges out of the bush. We were able to trim enough to where the bush will have a chance to grow out this coming summer season. Can't wait to use the rosemary clippings in other ways, though. I love rosemary and the fact that it's such a versatile herb.

One last thing:

We love our local food coop (First Alternative Co-Op). These pictures above are the north and south store locations in Corvallis, Oregon. The best thing about these co-ops are the fact that they are part of the Food Cooperatives that are located nationwide. They offer organic and local products that are better for you and the environment. Check here to see if there's one close to you.

Positive affirmations this week:

Trust the process when it comes to healing trauma, anxiety, and/or depression. Someone else's healing time will not be your healing time. Give yourself plenty of time and trust the process needed to heal your brain and your struggles. Once you let go of your expectations and your comparison to others, it really does get better. You can do this!

Have a nice weekend.

Rosemary Hair Rinse

2023-02-23T19:13:00.014-08:00

Recently we trimmed our rosemary bush in our side yard and after making a few firepit bundles to ward off bugs, mainly mosquitos, we still had a lot left over. Brainstorming on how to use them so they didn't go to waste, I decided to create some homemade rosemary hair rinse. It was easier than I thought and I have definitely been enjoying rinsing my hair in the rosemary tea after my shower is over. I've also added a few sprigs bundled together with twine to hang in our shower for a nice scent when we shower.

Rosemary is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasodilator, meaning it dilates the blood cells. It also helps stimulate hair growth, improves circulation, and soothes the scalp to some degree. Rosemary hair oil has become more popular lately and creating your own rosemary tea will give the same benefits from the rosemary just in a different form. Rosemary tea is great for hair breakage and what I found out while using mine was fuller hair and less oiliness. Of course, these are only my personal experiences with the rosemary tea I created, and everyone's hair is different, but there are no harmful side effects known of rosemary tea. Another added benefit I noticed with daily use was a shiny, more manageable hair to style.

Here is how it's made:

Working in batches, I added the clipped rosemary sprigs from the previous rosemary trimming of our bush to a large stock pot (mine is from IKEA and hold five quarts) and poured 10 to 12 cups of water over the rosemary. I added about 20 sprigs per pot and allowed them to come to a boil.

Once they started boiling I allowed them to remain boiling for about 10 minutes.

The water will slowly start to turn light brown in color. This is where the heat should be turned off. I let the rosemary sit in the water for about 10 more minutes to get the most out of the herb.

Remove the rosemary sprig from the rosemary water and set aside. I used tongs for the large pieces and a slotted spoon for the smaller ones. Allow the rosemary water to cool to room temperature before bottling. Be sure to compost your rosemary scraps, or throw into a brown paper sack and toss on a firepit or campfire. Rosemary helps keeps mosquitos and other bugs at bay.

Once cooled place a funnel and a fine mesh strainer over the top of your jars and fill jars as much as you want per jar. I like to leave a bit of space, about two inches at the top of the jar, to help with pouring it into the applicator bottles later. I use an applicator bottle that has a small resealable top on the bottle in the shower to apply it, similar to the one pictured below, but you could pour straight from the jars onto your hair, as well. Store the jars in the refrigerator in the meantime. They will last about a month when refrigerated. The applicator bottle that I keep in my shower, I make sure to use that rosemary hair rinse in about three days and then refill it. I've been doing this rinse for about three months now and I do see a difference. Less hair in the shower drain, less itching, less breakage, etc. Everyone's hair is different, so if you are concerned about truing this on your own hair, speak to your hair stylist, or physician beforehand. Overall rosemary is a safe herb and I just love the benefits of it all the way around, from eating, to topical, to even medicinal, it's a great addition to your routine from head to toe.

Amber applicator bottles Ball Wide Mouth Jars (32 oz.)

Ducks at Grand Prairie Park in Albany, Oregon

2023-02-20T16:40:00.001-08:00

Five Simple Things (February 17)

2023-02-17T21:54:00.001-08:00

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These Scissors.

The Mighty Fix from Mighty Nest last month was these herb scissors. I've wanted some of these for awhile now, so this Fix hits just right. We decided to have baked potatoes this week with all the fixings, including chives. I used my herb scissors to make quick work of the herb to use on our potatoes. It was the perfect cut and size. Definitely a must in any house that cooks, or like me, attempts to cook. ☺

You can sign up for the Mighty Fix from Mighty Nest here and get on the mailing list for next month.

2. These Cookies.

We tried a new festive way to dress up sugar cookies. I am not really big on icing sugar cookies, mostly because I don't want to take the time, but sprinkles I'm all about. These sprinkles are non-gmo and USDA organic and they bring such a fun addition to anything, really. We used a basic sugar cookie recipe and then shaped the cookie dough into a log and rolled in sprinkles. You can also freeze the log and then coat with a little melted butter or water and roll in sprinkles. Either way will work and still bake up the same.

The recipe we used is as follows:

2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. sea salt
2 sticks cooled, room temperature butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and whisk/sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix in an electric mixer the butter and sugar and mix until fluffy. Add egg and yolk one at a time, mixing after each addition. Slowly add the flour mixture and mix until combined. Form dough into a log and roll in sprinkles. Slice into 1/4 inch cookies and bake for 12-14 minutes. Don't over bake.

3. This Box.

Kinder Beauty Box this month brought a few things that I haven't tried before. A body mud mask, flyaway hair gel, and apple cider vinegar gummies. I love having an opportunity to try different items that I have thought about, but never purchased. The body mud felt amazing and I've already started taking the apple cider vinegar gummies. I also got a chance to try the hair gel to help with baby hairs. Such great products, and I'm never disappointed in each box that comes. You can sign up here to get on the mailing list for next month.

4. This Weather.

We got a random sleet storm this week and it left as quickly as it came in. It lasted all of five minutes and was gone. We didn't realize what it was right away until we heard the sleet hitting the windows and had to look outside to be sure. Sometimes these freak sleet storms are cool to watch and listen to.

5. This Milk.

This milk was something new that we saw at our local food co-op and I loved the message behind it. It's a carbon-neutral milk and helps fight the damage on the climate. It's from a brand named Neutral. We purchased a half gallon of the milk to taste it and it tasted perfect to us. You can read more about their efforts here. They also create half and half and cheese products.

One more thing:

Skylar and I have been watching the LEGO livestream this week and we are loving it! You can watch a small snippet of it above, or watch the entire two hours here.

Positive affirmations this week:

Talking more about what I struggle with has helped me a great deal. We must keep talking about mental health to destroy this stigma attached to it and those that suffer with issues get heard more. When we brush things under the carpet, so to speak, it builds up and also causes a lot of issues later. Talking and speaking about topics more helps everyone handle it better, and helps those that need it to be heard. Below is a list of 10 ways you can help reduce the stigma behind mental health issues that could very well save someone's life.

Have a nice weekend.

Valentine's Day 2023

2023-02-15T11:09:00.013-08:00

This year for Valentine's Day I got up early and made heart-shaped waffles and heart-shaped eggs for us. The waffle maker I used is from Dash and when I saw it online I knew immediately that I had to have it. We had snow on the ground and it made the day even better having a warm themed breakfast for thing in the morning. We started the fireplace and just enjoyed the day together. Everyone loved the heart-shaped waffles, which were blueberry, and the heart-shaped eggs. I also incorporated the Love Day breakfast with fresh strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. It was a perfect start to the day. Scroll to the end of this post to get one of these super cute waffle makers for yourself.

DASH heart-shaped waffle maker and other shapes here.

♥♥♥♥♥Happy Valentine's Day! ♥♥♥♥♥

DASH Mini Waffle Maker

Five Simple Things (February 10)

2023-02-10T22:23:00.116-08:00

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This Mug.

Rainbows have always been something we love in this house. The day after Baz passed away there was a huge, bright rainbow in the sky. We all were so heartbroken that he was no longer with us, but the rainbow helped us feel like he was telling us he was okay. We have been drawn to them ever since. Every time we see a rainbow, they seem to appear when we are having some rough days and we always yell out, "BAZ!" We feel it's his way of saying, "Hey, I'm here and it's going to be okay." There are several rainbows in this house on random items. From doormats, to neon light, to now a mug. This mug I found randomly after a horrible mental health moment and it came with perfect timing. You can get one here.

2. This View.

Saw the sun for just a moment today. The winter season is so long and can affect mental health issues a lot, but every day there's sun I try my best to soak up as much as I can.

3. This Kitty.

Eleven goes from wild kitty to comfort kitty in a matter of minutes. First she's fighting the enemy of the bathroom rug to jumping on my bed and kneading the biscuits. She's such a funny cat.

4. This Night.

This week started Skylar's college life. He had to take a test this week and he felt pretty good about it, so we'll see where that test puts him, as far as his classes.

5. This Lid.

Always.

One last thing:

We have been having a lot of fun with these Colorforms Brand mini games. We love the Monopoly's little pieces and four times in a row I beat Skylar at Battleship. ☺

Positive affirmations this week:

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Keep that in mind the next time someone tries to get a rise out of you. Not everything is yours to carry and if you can, get away and stay away for those that want to cause you emotional and mental harm. You can do this!

Have a nice weekend.

Quick Surf Trip

2023-02-06T12:21:00.029-08:00

We got in a quick surfing time this week, but only for about four hours. We have been so busy lately that we haven't had the time to get over to the coast for more than a few hours. We are on a desperate hunt for property for sale near where we surf, so we can have a week of surfing over just a couple of days here and there. This trip was a nice getaway from our schedule, though, so we can't be too upset, even if it was just for a few hours. To see more of our surfing trips click the surfboard icon on the righthand side of the blog, or check out our surfing blog at High Society Surf.

Five Simple Things (February 3)

2023-02-03T22:21:00.142-08:00

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This Day.

We took a trip up to IKEA this week to get a few random things. We enjoy walking through IKEA later in the evening when it isn't so crowded. Today was one of those days, with maybe 60 people max in the store when we were. We took our time and looked at a lot of the new displays and grabbed a few things for the school bus and for our home. Skylar found some great future college dorm ideas and this stuffed snake he named Hank.

2. These "Lights."

One of our favorite traditions is creating ice lanterns to place outside during the winter months. We make sure to place them outside on nights that get below freezing, so that they will last for several nights in a row. We like to create different sizes and also create ones that allow us to place a tea light inside of it. We have been getting more creative every year with them and this year we created our own "glasses" to hold our tea lights. These are easy to create by using anything that allows you to freeze water in it without breaking. You can use plastic containers and use rocks as weights. You really can't mess these up. Just freeze your creation in the freeze the night before you plan to place them outside.

3. This Drone.

Skylar got to finally try out his drone he got at Christmas this week. He had a great time learned how to fly it and also learned what tricks the drone can do and what pictures looked best taken by the drone. The one he has here is not available right now, but the one pictured above is another great beginner drone, especially for kids. You can click the picture of the drone to learn more about it.

4. This Moment.

This week we spent the day looking at different colleges for Skylar to continue his education. We explored different ones and are planning a campus tour of a few of them soon. During our time exploring different campuses, we also had lunch at Starbucks and tried their grilled ham and cheese. Perfect sandwich for a perfect day.

5. This Kitty.

Eleven (aka The Snatch) is always doing something silly to make us laugh. She's also up to some funny something showing her personality. She spends a lot of time with me when I work while sitting on my bed. She loves to be near me and I just love how she loves me.

One last thing:

I've been having some minor knee pain lately and have gone on a pursuit to find the best muscle cream/salve/oil to help ease the pain. These three are my favorites right now. The first one (on the left) is Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Gel. It has a pleasant scent and works in a way that is different from other muscle creams or gels. It works best in the morning, for me. The second one (in the middle) is my favorite out of these three pictured. It is by +Plus CBD pain relief sport relief sport recovery stick. It's the one ounce size and it works quickly and effectively. I like to use this one during the day when I have some nagging pain that won't seem to go away. I've also used this one at night, but I don't recommend that, especially if you use it in areas that are close to your face, like you neck area. It's a great pain reliever, and if you've been wanting to try CBD, this is a great one to start with. The last one (on the right) is from one of my favorite essential oil brands, Pranarom. It is their Warming Muscle Rescue Oil. I use this one mostly at night. It's not greasy when used lightly on affected areas. It's a great oil that helps with joint pain.

Positive affirmations this week:

Have a nice weekend.

End of January 2023 (1 Second Every Day)

2023-02-01T21:25:00.002-08:00

Soft Gingersnaps

2023-01-30T11:04:00.081-08:00

One cookie that gets made yearly in our house is gingerbread. I've yet to attempt to create a gingerbread house from this recipe, but I'm eager to try, so maybe next year I will give it a try and see if I can create a house from my recipe. But for simple gingersnaps, this recipe is our all-time favorite. It's a quick recipe that combines the great taste of gingerbread with a snap to them that you get from store-bought gingerbread cookies.

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
7 tbsp. sugar
1/2 stick cold butter
1 tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. molasses
2 egg yolks (separated)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Mix dry ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl. Add butter to mixture, honey, molasses, and one egg yolk. Mix until it forms a dough. I mix with my hands, because it's easier than using a spoon. Mix until smooth. If mixture is too wet, add more flour, if too dry add more honey, or molasses.

Roll globs of dough into a ball, depending on how big you want your cookies to be. Mine are about two tablespoons in size. Place dough balls on cookie sheet and lightly press down just a little bit. Beat remaining egg yok and brush a small amount on top of each cookie and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake for about 10-12 minutes for soft ginger cookies, or 14-15 minutes for harder cookies. Do not overbake.

Ginger is known to help aid in digestion, provide some relief from varicose veins, and reduce inflammation. These cookies can be paired with ginger tea to provide an even more ginger experience. Take freshly grated ginger (1-2 tbsp.) and one cup boiling water. Steep for about 10 minutes. You can add honey, lemon, or even cinnamon to your tea and enjoy up to three cups a day.

Five Simple Things (January 27)

2023-01-27T22:16:00.191-08:00

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These Stamps.

We rarely mail anything anymore, but when we do we make sure to purchase Forever Stamps with meanings. These bring awareness to the struggles behind PTSD and how all mental health issues need to be talked about more without judgement. As someone that struggles with mental health issues, especially PTSD, these stamps make me feel seen and heard. You can get a sheet of these stamps here.

2. This Light.

We went to IKEA this week and I just loved this little mouse nightlight. I've been finding some really cute and interesting lights lately, and adding this one to my collection was a solid.

3. This Box.

Kiwi Eco Box is always a welcome arrival in our house. This month's items are definitely being put to use soon. The bamboo clothes pins, the hand soap, the bottle brush, and the mesh produce bag will all be a great addition to our sustainable household. You can sign up to get on the February mailing list for this monthly subscription here.

4. This View.

On January 23, this week Venus and Saturn lined up with the moon and gave off the brightest views. I've always loved how the moon and planets sit from our view on Earth, but when the planets can be see from our own planet and light up the night sky, that's incredible. What a time to be alive, right?

5. This Dish.

On our Diabolic Evil Discord server we share a lot of random horror topics and pictures, but we also share things from our real life, including food. This week one of my moderators shared this Shepard's Pie recipe and I gave it a shot. It was delicious and definitely something we will be making again in the future. Here's the recipe:

For filling:

1 pound ground beef, cooked
3/4 cup frozen carrots, fresh or canned
3/4 cup corn
3/4 cup green beans
1 tbsp. minced garlic
2-3 mini tomatoes, or Roma tomatoes, diced
2 small jalapenos, diced
1 onion, diced
Olive oil, enough to coat a medium cast iron skillet
1 tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tbsp. salt (or less to taste)
1/2 tbsp. pepper
1/2 tbsp. garlic salt
1/2 tbsp. garlic powder
1/4 tbsp. paprika
1/4-1/2 cup beef or vegetables broth

Oil pan and on medium high heat add garlic seasoning and vegetables. Cook about 10 minutes before adding the cooked ground beef. Add remaining seasonings and stir. Add broth and cook for about five to six minutes. Turn off heat and set aside.

For top:

6-8 medium to small potatoes, cleaned and cut into 8tbsp.
Half a head of garlic
1 1/2 sticks of butter
1/4 cup milk
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
fried onions in a can

Boil potatoes and garlic until fork tender, drain water. Add milk and butter and smash together, or mix in an electric mixer. Mix well to combine everything together. Add salt and pepper and taste the potatoes. If more or less salt and pepper need to be added, add them now and mix once more.

For cooking:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Spread out meat and vegetable filling evenly into cast iron skillet
Cover with mashed potatoes like you're icing a cake.
Sprinkle with a bit more pepper.
Cook for 10-15 minutes, checking often for spill-over.
Sprinkle with fried onions and return to oven.
Broil for about 10 minutes for a crisp top.

Serve hot!

One last thing:

This week was Skylar's last week at AutoZone. It was bittersweet, but for his first job outside the household, he learned a lot. Especially, how to deal with the public. He ended up working his way up to management while he was there and turning his key in was a sad moment. I told him that his first job is one he will never forget. Now his path takes him to college and we couldn't be more proud!

Positive affirmations this week:

While going to therapy these last few years, I've also been working with a dietitian. Eating disorders come on and stick with you for a variety of reasons, but with mine it was a form of control and punishment over myself and my body. Being raised in an environment where you're constantly having to live in fight or flight and not having control over your own decisions in a healthy way, you only cope so long before the trauma and abuse hit you. And, what I went through hit me like a freight train hard. I not only developed the absolute worse case of PTSD and CPTSD, I was also hit with a serious eating disorder. Over the course of therapy I came to realize I was only hurting myself and regardless of my past, I do have control of my present and my future. One of the things I've learned is a better relationship with myself. Exercise is no longer a form of punishing myself, but also reasons to love my body and what all it can do, and how strong I really am. I am now on a great path to healing physically and mentally and along the way I learned that exercise is beneficial other than just to lose weight. The image below may help you on your exercise journey. And if you're struggling with an eating disorder, just know that your body is yours. No one else is going to hurt you, but you. Love yourself the way you are and make peace with your past. I promise it does get better and those bad days are just that, one day. It will pass and you will have a fresh new day to start again. You really can do this. We can do this. We are going to be okay.

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (January 20)

2023-01-20T22:05:00.001-08:00

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These Views.

The sun has been out most of this week and each time I caught a glimpse of it, it seemed so calm and peaceful. Some weeks are tough, but this week has been a good week. These different views reminded me of the good things that are around me. Good things that make me just a bit happier this week and I am grateful for them all.

2. These Shoes.

We went shopping at Natural Grocers (Vitamin Cottage) this week and they had limited edition NOW Brand walking shoes with the Natural Grocers logo on the heel. We grabbed up three pairs, all under $20. I will be honest, these are the most comfortable shoes that I've ever worn. I love my Adidas Cloudfoam running shoes, but these are definitely a close second. These were a special through Natural Grocers, but you can get a pair from the NOW Brand website for about $30 plus shipping cost. Every five pairs of shoes sold during the winter season, Natural Grocers donated a blanket to a local shelter. So, it's a purchase we can feel good about making that will go towards helping someone in need.

3. This Rainbow.

Found this neon rainbow desk light this week and we absolutely love it! You can pick one up here.

4. This Box.

Loving this month's Kinder Beauty Box items. Can not say enough about the Pure'Am facewash. It is my absolute favorite facial product right now. You can sign up for Kinder Beauty here and get 18% off, and get on the mailing list for February.

5. This Raincoat.

Picked up this raincoat for Hardy, but got one size too small. When we were trying it on him, he was hating it, but was a good sport.

I took it back and got the next size up and he enjoys it a lot now. He especially loves it when it's raining and we take him for a walk, or he goes outside. He hates getting wet, so it's perfect.

One last thing:

I have been enjoying a breakfast of protein shakes and mix it up from time to time. Recently I've been Switching out between Pumpkin Spice Protein from Orgain, cacao powder, Sunwink Beauty Fruit Punch (Berry Healthy Skin), Vital Proteins, and Orgain Immunity Superfoods, hemp protein, and just added Your Super Super Greens. The Golden Mellow from Your Super I drink at night to help ease my anxiety and help me sleep.

Positive affirmations this week:

This quote is a great way to remind you that your preparation in life will always be part of your success. If you go into anything unprepared, you will either have a hard time staying on task, or you're going to fail. Always, always go into life's tasks, no matter what they are, prepared as you can be. If a good night's sleep is a must to be on top of your game the following day, prepare yourself for that night's sleep. If studying, or looking over notes is your prep, then do it. Never neglect yourself, and the preparation you need to success. You're only hurting yourself in the end. You can do this!

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (January 13)

2023-01-13T22:00:00.146-08:00

Hello. Happy Friday the 13th!

Here are five things this week.

1. This Kitchen.

We recently went with this simple kitchen setup for the school bus and are looking for an innovative way to create a kitchen area around it. We have some ideas, but for now, we are pleased with the sink and counter setup on this small kitchenette. You can check out our progress on No Rain the Bus here.

2. This Kaleidoscope.

Ever since I bought this kaleidoscope, it has been taking it on every single road trip and have been finding small amounts of child-like joy using it. Marble kaleidoscopes are some of the best images you'll see with your eyes. I highly recommend this one from Schilling, and you can grab one here for under USD$10.

3. This Doggy.

Always the best doggy ever. Hardy turned 14 in December, but he is still the spunky little PITA, that's full of energy that we love

4. These Electronics.

The absolutely best noise-cancelling headphones I've found. If you're noise-sensitive, like me, or need a tool to help calm your anxiety, I highly recommend these by Raycon. I wear them shopping in busy stores like, Costco, IKEA, etc. I also wear them at the dentist office, checkups, and even working out. They have really helped keep filter out intrusive noises. You can get the exact ones pictured above here. Skylar uses this earbud version of these same Raycons and loves them, too. You can get those here.

These index cards and notebook have helped us save a lot of paper waste. The index cards have come in handy for Skylar and me during our college classes. Taking notes and quick study guides has been a breeze. These are from the Rocketbook brand and come with a cleaning cloth and pen. You can get the notebook here and the index cards here.

Grab us a new bus dash camera. This one mounts on the large rearview mirror on the front of the school bus and we have already been using it. We are hoping to get one that's larger for the back of the school bus, too, but aren't quite sure which style we want to go with. You can find this one and similar ones here.

5. This "Village."

We bought these to color and create a neighborhood scene, but we have been enjoying them just being plain white with the black lines. They are from IKEA.

One last thing:

Looking for some good news in the midst of all the negative? Check out the Good Newspaper. It's a monthly newspaper that helps give you some insight on an old Mr. Rogers quote of, "Look for the helpers." The Good Newspaper definitely helps show us all the helpers in the world. You can sign up here for the low rate of $8.

Positive affirmations this week:

Keep this in mind: If a person is successful, society will notice even the slightest mistake. So remember, mistakes are part of any process, especially successful progress, and what others think of this progress shouldn't dictate your success. I've had people that should be supportive, not supportive at all. It took a lot of time to realize these people were not looking out for my best interest. It hurt to finally realize their intentions were to hold me back, but now that I know, they are kept at a distance, rather than by my side. If you, too have people that aren't rooting for your success, then distance them and keep plugging away! You can do this!

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (January 6)

2023-01-06T21:58:00.187-08:00

Hello. Happy New Year!

Here are five things this week.

1. This Cheesecake.

2 cups Annie's graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup melted Organic Valley salted butter
4 tablespoons Wholesome sugar
4 (8 ounce) blocks of Organic Valley cream cheese
1 cup organic sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons real vanilla (not imitation)
4 organic eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and sugar together in a bowl. Press into a light-colored a springform pan and set aside. Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla together on medium speed until combined. Add eggs one at a time until just combined each time. Don't overmix. Pour into graham cracker crust and bake for 50 minutes to one hour, or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool and remove from rim from pan. Refrigerate at least three hours, or overnight. Serve cool.

2. This Decoration.

Still have a few of our Christmas lights up, but we they will be coming down this weekend. This little tree comes out every year at New Year to mark the end of one year and the bright start of a new one.

3. These Gifts.

Skylar got me these two things for Christmas this year and I loved his thoughtfulness. The car freshener smells like banana and the candle is spot on for coconut scented tanning oil. They are both great gifts! You can grab the candle here, and the car freshener here.

4. This Sundial.

We are mystery deep in Hunt a Killer lately. This latest series is taking us deep into the heart of Louisiana to solve a murder. Each episode has come with some of the coolest items and evidence. Really loving this subscription. You can sign up here and get 30% off your first box from me!

5. These Items.

Loving this week's shipments that came in the mail. To the left is Necessaire. Can't say enough about their products. I even got Skylar to start using them, too and he loves the Eucalyptus Body Wash. You can snag a few of their items here. Mighty Nest's Mighty Fix this month was herb cutting scissors. I've wanted a pair of these for awhile now and I'm so glad they came with this month's fix. You can get a free Mighty Nest fix item here and sign up for the next Mighty Fix for February here.

These foaming hand wash tablets, as well as the collagen face masks are from Might Nest, as well. Such great products can be added to your monthly subscription box each shipment. I haven't purchased a lot of things outside the house in a couple of years due to the fact that I just click and add them to my shipment each month and it saves me from having to get them at the store. Not only is it convenient, but it's also all earth-friendly and eco-friendly items that won't harm the planet, my family, or myself. They are products I feel confident about using every day.

Loving my new Bee Kind baseball cap. You can get one here.

Positive affirmations this week:

New year, new positive goals for 2023.

Have a nice weekend.

End of 2022 (1 Second Every Day)

2023-01-01T11:30:00.001-08:00