TMS Show & Tell - April 1-30

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IT'S SATURDAY GITTING TIME AGAIN

For those of you who are somewhat new to TMS you may not know what a GIT Challenge is - GIT stands for Get It Together!

The idea with the GIT Challenge is to play catch up with whatever we need to get done. Just leave a comment saying you'll play along, minimize this post so you can easily come back to it throughout the day, stop what you are doing (meaning get off the computer and stop procrastinating!), take an hour right now to catch up on things you need to do and work as fast as you can!

Come back every hour or two and leave a comment with your progress. Check out what other participants have accomplished - all in the comment section, no blog hopping necessary. After updating, get back to work for another hour or so until you're done for the day. We always accomplish so much during these challenges!

Jump in anytime, there's no special time to start or finish. It's fun working together - join us!

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Frugal Fridays With Jen- A Little Splurge

Photo courtesy of amazon.com

You all know I've been slowly winning Swagbucks since the beginning of the year in hopes of getting enough amazon.com gift cards to buy myself an Amazon Kindle. Well, we just paid off the first of three loans a couple months ahead of schedule (go us!), and our 5th wedding anniversary is coming up next Friday. The 5th anniversary is traditionally the "wood" anniversary, and e-readers are the new replacements for killing a tree, right? So, my husband decided to get me a Kindle! We never exchange gifts, period, so this was a surprise.

Now, I will be winning those Swagbucks, earning those amazon cards, and buying e-books instead. At least, those books that have been published since 1923. Almost a million titles that were published before then are free to download!

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Thursdays With Linda: Spring Tasks…

How was everyone’s Easter… The Easter Bunny has come and gone… The decorations put away and the candy eaten…

Lots of Egg Salad Sandwiches to be eaten… What clever recipes do you make with your boiled eggs…

 

The kittens are growing every day… And getting into everything…

 

Need to make them a scratching post/cat tree for them to scratch and play on… We have a bit of carpet to cover some wood or a box of some sort…

The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming… Calling us outside to play and garden…

We are helping son3 with a diorama that it due May 20th…

I have many drawers, closets and piles to sort and declutter… I’m pondering where to start… What are you working on this week… May is coming, a whole month of tackling our to do lists….

Spring Commitments Update: 

My first goal is getting back to my weight loss… Last year I had lost 33lbs… and then winter and the holidays hit and I gained 8 back… I am happy to report that I am already 2lbs down… My goal for the next 40+ days is to lose the remaining 6 I gained plus 7 more for a total of 13lbs, giving me a total of 40lbs lost since May 2010…

I did not lose the 13lbs… I did lose the same 5lbs up and down all month… It is still my goal however to lose these 13lbs…

In doing this my second goal will be exercise: walking, stair stepper, crunches and weight system… also portion control when eating, drinking water, pedometer and keeping a diary of what I eat…

I did not exercise… With my new work schedule my daily walking went way down, nor have I been doing heavy labor at work of opening boxes… So adjusting my daily exercise is a must… also the battery in my pedometer died so must find a replacement battery… I have not been controlling portions very well nor keeping a diary…

My third goal will be forming daily habits of completing tasks around the house… not saving everything for my day off, only causing stress that I can’t get it all done in one day…

I did acquire a daily and weekly routine of tasks around the house…

And my fourth and biggest goal that will enable me to get the above three goals accomplished will be less time on the computer, meaning Facebook games… Blogging will be my reward for accomplishing tasks, not games… The children are not allowed video games until their work is done, so neither should the Mom…

I did not play Facebook games!!

I was not very committed to my Spring Commitments… I will go forward from here… Onward with the Motivation!

Happy Spring Cleaning…

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Cleaning Out My Closet - When It's More than the Blues

Personal Health Questionnaire for Depression Screening*

Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following
problems? Yes No

1.During the past month, have you often been bothered by feeling
down, depressed, or hopeless?

2.During the past month, have you often been bothered by little
interest or pleasure in doing things?

About three months ago I answered a solid "yes" to both questions when I found myself in the grips of a depression as bad as when my brother died 27 years ago. I was in the perfect storm- hormones, work, family, responsiblity, my own mortality, and even my work with several suicidal patients seemed to be contagious.

The scary and sad part was, that even though intellectually, I knew I was in trouble, deep weeds as they say, I was not well enough to do anything to help myself for a couple months. It took all my energy to meet my daily work and home obligations, and learn to set down my own troubles and focus on something outside myself to function. My work is a source of satisfaction and pride, and that helped keep me going. I am also mindful and appreciative of my blessings, especially when friends and patients have struggles much greater than mine. I recognize my cup truly runneth over and this insight helps sustain me.

I felt better enough to seek some help, and I am finding my joy and balance again. It's a slow process, but certainly beats the alternative. I am enjoying my hobbies again, like gardening, and crafts, and have actually completed an embellished tank and jeweled bookmark.

I am thankful for the genuine love and support of family and friends, near and far who humble me with their caring. You all are part of this inspiration and support, for which I truly thank you.

I hope by "cleaning out my closet" with sharing about my depression, that I might help someone who is struggling, or help those close to the person recognize it and reach out.


*The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) sets are self-reported depression rating scales. For example, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a self-reported, 9-question version of the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders.[12] The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) is a shorter version of the PHQ-9 with two screening questions to assess the presence of a depressed mood and a loss of interest or pleasure in routine activities; a positive response to either question indicates further testing is required.

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Tuesdays With Kris: Holiday Bliss

Hello everyone. My sincere apologies in not posting sooner. My flight was delayed a bit and I was unable to check the blog to ensure my scheduled posting was up. Sometimes it doesn't cache. Anyway, while I was away, some AMAZING bloggers took over my site and I really want to share all of the wonderful recipes and ideas they offered up. It's the least I can do for their generosity! Enjoy!

Homemade Quiche Recipe

The Perfect Beach Dress

Southwestern Breakfast Cups

Asparagus & Procuitto

Khachapuri

 

Travel Essentials

Peanut Butter BACON Pie

All it takes is an idea from another to spark your creativity in the kitchen, in your closet... where ever!

Happy Tuesday!

-Kris

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Motivation Monday - Frugal Facial

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter filled with fun, family and of course lots of candy and eggs!

Speaking of eggs, I have a great frugal beauty routine for you. 

My mother gave me these tips many years ago, she had beautiful skin well into her 70s.

photo credit 

Separate the white from the yolk from an egg. Discard the yolk or use it for another purpose (great time to make egg strata or frittatas for brunch or dinner). Put the egg whites in the freezer for a few minutes to get them nice and cold.

Meanwhile wash your face and then drape a towel over the back of your head and turn the water on as hot as it will go to give yourself a steam facial. Next, spread the cold egg white on your face - yes really! Go ahead and put slices of cucumber over your eyes while you're at it. Now take 15 minutes to lay back and really relax!

The steam opens the pores, the egg whites act as a terrific mask to pull out any impurities. Rinse your face with warm water once your egg mask is completely dry. Apply witch hazel with a cotton ball (a perfect and cheap astringent that happens to be the main ingredient in the expensive stuff), finish off by applying your regular moisturizer.

This is gentle enough to do weekly and you'll have the best facial ever for just pennies!

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Wishing you a Motivated Monday and a great week!

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R & R for Sunday, April 24th, 2011

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us.

That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand.

Emily Kimbrough

R and R Tip #46: Release yourself from resentment

Harboring resentment wastes time and robs your energy. Holding grudges against another takes a tremendous amount of energy and slowly erodes your happiness. You have so many better things to do with your life, so don't waste a moment of it.

Instead, let your considerate and loving nature dominate thoughts and actions. You can choose how to live your life. Free yourself from resentment and you will regain all of your energy. Try it. You’ll feel great when you do!

Proven ways to get along better with EVERYONE:

• Before you say anything to anyone, ask yourself 3 things:  Is it true?  Is it kind?  Is it necessary?
  
  • Make promises sparingly and keep them faithfully.
  • Never miss the opportunity to compliment or say something encouraging to someone.
  • Refuse to talk negatively about others; don't gossip and don't listen to gossip.
  • Have a forgiving view of people. Believe that most people are doing the best they can.
  • Keep an open mind; discuss, but don't argue. It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable.
  • Forget about counting to 10. Count to 1,000 before doing or saying anything that could make matters worse.
  • Let your virtues speak for themselves.
  • If someone criticizes you, see if there is any truth to what he is saying; if so, make changes. If there is no truth to the criticism, ignore it and live so that no one will believe the negative remark.
  • Cultivate your sense of humor; laughter is the shortest distance between two people.
  • Do not seek so much to be consoled, as to console; do not seek so much to be understood, as to understand; do not seek so much to be loved as to love.
  
  
  When you cleanse your mind and soul of grudges and negative thoughts, you make new room for positive emotions and joy. Let the energy you'll feel bursting through take it's place.
  
  
  RELAX and let it all go.
  
  
  Time is something we treasure and we need to all stop wasting that precious gift we've been given. The gift is called the present. More and more I've realized just how valuable each present moment is. The only thing we can control is what we do now. You cannot control what other people do. You did what you did, the past is the past. Leave it there.
  
  
  For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.  ~Author Unknown
  
  
  
  Relaxation makes way for many beautiful moments in our lives. Meditate or go for a walk...find a way to release that anger and move forward. Accepting what is, and the releasing the resentment through forgiving the past will make you ready to embrace the future with a REFRESHED body and mind.
  
  
  I wish you all a very Happy Easter!
  And I hope that you have a wonderful Sunday!

  
  

  See you all next week!

  Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

  ma

More about → R & R for Sunday, April 24th, 2011

PACKING TIME and TIME TO G.I.T.

BY THE CUPFUL

A heaping cup of happiness,

2 of love and caring,

1 of understanding,

1 of joyful sharing.

A level cup of wisdom,

1 of artful living,

1 of thoughtful insight, 

1 of selfless giving.

Mix ingredients together,

Toss in a little flair,

Serve to everyone you know

Topped with a tiny prayer.

~Author Unknown

Yes, gas prices are rising and yes the economy is still at war with itself, but after the year we've had, we've decided to take a vacation and go to hubby's family reunion camp out.  You know what that means?  Well it means packing to go across country and to go camping, so today I'm organizing the gear, the clothes and the family and that always creates a mess which also means it's time for a G.I.T!

For those of you who are somewhat new to TMS you may not know what a GIT Challenge is - GIT stands for Get It Together!

The idea with the GIT Challenge is to play catch up with whatever we need to get done. Just leave a comment saying you'll play along, minimize this post so you can easily come back to it throughout the day, stop what you are doing (meaning get off the computer and stop procrastinating!), take an hour right now to catch up on things you need to do and work as fast as you can!

Come back every hour or two and leave a comment with your progress. Check out what other participants have accomplished - all in the comment section, no blog hopping necessary. After updating, get back to work for another hour or so until you're done for the day. We always accomplish so much during these challenges!

Jump in anytime, there's no special time to start or finish. It's fun working together - join us!

More about → PACKING TIME and TIME TO G.I.T.

Frugal Fridays With Jen- $3 Frittata

Eggs, even organic eggs, can be a great and cheap source of protein. I've never made a fritatta before- it has a fancy European sounding name that immediately makes me think it must require a special cooking technique. Really- it doesn't!

This recipe has only 5 ingredients. I used 4 whole organic eggs and marked-down portobello mushrooms. I ended up putting it in a pie pan to broil it, as I don't have an oven-proof skillet. It tasted great! The total was under $3 and fed myself and my husband.

More about → Frugal Fridays With Jen- $3 Frittata

Thursdays With Linda: Happy Easter

Are You Ready For Easter…

The Easter/Spring cards are filled out and in the mail…

Son3 and I have put up the decorations…

Happy Easter Banner…

Spring Decorations…

 

The Easter Baskets and Goodies are ready for the Easter Bunny…

 

Eggs are ready to be boiled and decorated…

 

The Ham and all the trimmings are waiting in the fridge to be prepared…

What preparations are being readied at your house…

Will you attend an Easter Parade or other outing…

Have you bought a new Easter Hat or Outfit…

The Iris’ are now blooming along with the roses…

Link your blog entry of all your Easter Happenings to the Show and Tell link in our sidebar…

Happy Easter…

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Everything is Earth Day

Spring is a wonderful time of year, full of possibility and promise. I've been clearing my head by getting my hands dirty in the garden. This always entails a trip to my favorite garden store which had this fun display of watering cans.

I got tired of looking at this bare and dry patch of dirt, and decided to plant some water thrifty succulents and cacti that should thrive in the sandy soil. I plan to add more rocks and more plants including cuttings from my jade bush.

Last weekend, I went to an Arbor Day festival at a local park, where an art garden made from reclaimed materials was on display. There were also great freebies - reusable shopping bags, water bottles, a bounce house for the kids, and a selection of free trees for folks to take home.

This kestral falcon from the Placerita Nature Center was also at the festival.

Any Earth Day happenings in your part of the globe?
Thank you so much and hope you have a Beautiful Day!

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Tuesdays With Kris: Happy Earth Day!

Hello, Everyone!

This Friday is Earth Day!
(also Good Friday)

{photo credit}

What a better day to get greener!

The trick is to stick to these tactics for greener living EVERY DAY (try at least) 

and not just on Earth Day!

Some Green Tips

1) Invest in a good stainless steel water bottle.
2) Bring your lunch to work with these cute re-usable utensils.
3) Go for natural make-up and hair products.

4) Cook greener meals, like these from The Kind Diet and Clean.

5) Use natural cleaners around the house.

6) Walk more. Drive less.

What are some of your green tips?

 

Stop by Behold the Metatron this week and next. 

I have a lot of guest posts coming up. 

Some great recipes, fashion tips, and more! Have a great day!

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Motivation Monday - Take a look in the mirror

We are winding down now with the last week of lent. I know I will continue to work on most of my goals especially since mine are all health and fitness related. Lent is always a great kick start for me.

Once Easter arrives the tourists in Florida will begin to pack up and go leaving me the uncrowded beaches that I enjoy so much. I've been doing my beach walks throughout lent but really looking forward to just spending some time relaxing on the beach too. Relaxing at the beach also means wearing a bathing suit - yikes, it sounds like a dirty word even thinking it!

I decided it was time to take a look in the mirror today - Weightmirror.com

You can upload a photo of yourself, put in your height and weight and it will calculate where you are right now. It has a sliding scale on the left to change for weight loss and weight gain and it changes your photo too! I took a screen shot so you can see exactly what it's all about.

I thought about uploading my own photo first but chickened out!

Check out Weightmirror.com, upload your photo and share if you'd like. I think it's a great tool whether it's kept private or shared. Of course sharing our goals is a great motivation for self accountability!

Before I forget - our winner of The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills In Half giveaway from last Monday is Ginger Girl from Out of My Ginger-Lovin' Mind. Congrats Ginger! Leave a comment with your email address and I'll be in touch later today.

Wishing you all a Motivated Monday and a great week!

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R & R for Sunday, April 17th, 2011

It is interesting that one of our popular greetings is Good morning. Somewhere along the way, someone realized that if we get started off right in the morning, we will have a good day.

R and R Tip #45: Rest and relaxation helps you to have a great morning, every morning.

No one plans on starting the day off on the wrong foot. The kind of morning we have can even set the pace for the whole day.  Not getting enough sleep and feeling tired in the morning can impact us all day. If you are getting enough sleep then you should wake up fairly easily when the alarm goes off.

Get up early enough so that you are not rushed and you can easily get everything done that you need to in the morning.

Eating breakfast, which also helps us to control weight, is definitely the right way to have a good morning.

Relax and take some time for yourself in the morning.  Take a few minutes to relax and do your own thing.  Read the newspaper or whatever else helps you to relax and refocus.

If you're not having a good morning, change something.

I hope that you have a wonderful Sunday!

See you all next week!

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma

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YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE ~ THE ABC's OF HEALTHY EATING

Many of you know about the ongoing struggle I have been having after being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.  Even before the cancer, I struggled with living a clean eating and healthy lifestyle to cope with the aspects of Systemic Lupus.  Now sandwiched right before the cancer diagnosis was also a a diagnosis of Systemic Scleroderma which now labels me with a "mixed connective tissue disease" label.  Oh and by the way none of them have cures.  This makes want to find a way to live even more healthy so I'll be around for the cures!

Without going into a long story, many years ago after the Systemic Lupus diagnosis when I was in college and after 6 months of taking Progesterone and various other drugs, I went to my Rheumatologist (a fortunate recent referral and a truly great doctor and caring woman after several other doctors who really had no clue) and said I can't live like this!  The Progesterone had put almost 60 pounds on me, I could no longer play racquetball (something I did 3-4 times a week) or jog (something I did 5-7 times a week after being a cross country runner in high school). It took me years just to take off that weight.   LOL at least I was a 90 pound weakling prior to the steroids!

This great and caring doctor sighed with relief and asked me to sit down so we could talk!  Really, she just wanted to chat and chat we did for an hour and a half.  I truly believe that she changed my life forever!

The first thing she did was refuse me a support group - I know that sounds strange, but she truly felt I was better off with my positive attitude working through the steps with guidance.  Step 1 was to change my eating habits.  Remember I was in college, always eating on the run from whatever vending machine was close and diet everything to keep from putting on any more weight.  So, she had me write down my diet for a week and guess what?  When you see it in writing you realize how much all those "a little here" and "a little there" things add up! After that realization was Step 2 - eliminate the "non food" items from my diet.  She qualified these "non food" items as anything that didn't have a direct receptor in the body.  This included saccharin, aspartame, splenda, anything processed with ingredients the average person can't pronounce and preserved in a box or a can.  Below is the new food pyramid in an easy to read and follow format.

And here is an easy to follow breakdown!

It is a personal choice, but she also asked me to stay away from pork and shellfish - you know the bottom feeders of the world that will eat anything!  As she put it, garbage in, garbage out via your kidneys and liver!

Step 3 was to get regular exercise, proper rest and meditation to care for my whole being.  Oh and to avoid stress - yeah right, not easy in this world.  Sound advice for anyone, healthy or not!
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So, the bottom line is that you were given only one body and despite popular belief, it cannot be easily replaced and does require the proper fuel and rest to work properly.  The easiest way is to start with a good diet.

More about → YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE ~ THE ABC's OF HEALTHY EATING

Frugal Fridays With Jen- Bartering and Spend-Free Gift Giving

This article on The Simple Dollar caught my attention this week. I love the idea of the gift of time, effort, and thoughtfulness in place of buying something. Some of the best gifts I've gotten have not cost a penny, especially:

* My mother and sister's weekly free babysitting
* Meals brought by friends during an illness or after our children were born
* My friend and fellow-frugalista Diane, who spent an evening helping me wash walls to prep for a painter
* My father-in-law spending 12 hour days putting a new floor on our deck
* Friends who helped us move into our home
* My friend Bridget who used her amazing Domestic Goddess powers to make the above dairy-free Thomas The Tank Engine cake
* My best friend Val, who helped me paint my master bathroom as a birthday gift'
* My friend Laura, who, as an experienced pediatric ER nurse, has taken my calls at every hour of the day or night and phone triaged my children's symptoms

It made me think, as well, what skills I had to offer, either to give or to barter:
* Who needs nursing skills? No doubt I am qualified to take an elderly parent to the doctor or provide an evening of respite.
* Private couponing lessons!
* Personal shopping service, frugal style
* Experienced infant care
* Cloth diapering lessons
* Using my social work skills to link people with community services

I would surely be willing to trade a few hours of dementia care and setting up a medication set for a haircut and highlights, or trade 2 hours of couponing lessons for a massage.

What about you? Have you ever given the gift of time, or traded services in lieu of cash?

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