As the days get darker, start to look for comfort you can keep.

Hello lovelies!
I hope your week was amazing, full of peace and magic.
Last week I wrote about radical self love and body positivity.  I know this is a hard topic for a lot of you and as the seasons turn, it may just get harder.

I spent a lot of time this week trying to figure out the best way to help our readers in these dark days ahead.  Fall can be a lot of stress for all of us.  We have a lot of holidays on the horizon.  There's a lot of work that goes into these celebrations and a lot of family time.  That family time can be just as stressful as the work!  Combine that with the days getting shorter and you have a recipe for stress, depression, and hard times with mental wellbeing.

With the day light hours getting shorter, we're also entering a colder period.  The colder it is outside, the more likely we are to stay inside away from the sunlight our bodies deseperately need to maintain proper vitamin D synthesis.  Low vitamin D levels are linked to depression so its essential that we all take good care of ourselves during this time.

So what can we do? Well first, I encourage all of you to reach out.  If you don't have at least one friend who can handle you at your low points, please reach out to a community.  Find groups online.  Facebook has tons of options for support groups in any situation.  Make sure you join several, you won't necessarily feel comfortable in the first one you find and your comfort is what determines how much help and support you end up with.  If you never share, you never connect.  If you have a large enough local community you may be able to find support with in person groups as well.  You do have to be careful in these situations.  Don't get so wrapped up in helping others cope with their lives that you let it drag your own situation into an unmanageable territory.  You count too.  You deserve to receive support too.  You deserve your own healing.  You can't clean up everyone else's mess.

I absolutely suggest that any of you who are financially able to, get a pet.  Studies have shown over and over again that owning and investing your time into a pet can be incredibly beneficial on the pet owner's mental wellbeing.  You have to be considerate of your cirumstances before you invest.  As much love and adoration as a dog can give you, they come with greater expenses than a fish.  I love my dog and Spirit loves her dog, we both have small chihuahua mixes.  While our dog food bill may not be crazy with dogs well under 10lbs, we have to think about shots (some states and counties require specific immunizations so be sure to research your local ordinances), grooming, leashes, emergency vet care (which can be very expensive and must be considered), and pet desposits on rental homes.  Cats come with similar expense lists.  I love a good floof (cat), they have such a strong nature and when they love you its because they choose to love you.  Its just that not everyone can afford the care that goes into them.  Thankfully there are so many other options out there, from turtles, to lizards, to fish, to snakes, to hamsters and beyond. Do some research on what it will take to give that pet a great life and what it will cost to maintain that life.  A pet can help you center.  Having something to nurture, care for, give affection to and watch after can be amazing for your sense of self worth, your confidence, and your mood.  People with pets live longer and enjoy their lives that much more.

If a pet isn't an option in your current situation you can still get the benefits of a pet through volunteer work!  Every humane society, shelter, and rescue wants your help.  Those with a phsycial location want you to come and interact with the animals.  You can help them socialize, take them on walks, assist with vet care, and help with simple daily care tasks.  Volunteering can be incredibly rewarding and you can help in any way you are able.  You don't need to put in full time hours, you don't need to be the vision of health.  All you are required to do is to show up and put in some effort when you're ready.  Many of these organizations offer short training classes to familiarize volunteers with policy and practices of the organization, but once you have your training you are welcome to come and go as you can.  They welcome the help!

If pets aren't your thing, I still enourage you to find your volunteer passion  Even if you only have one hour to give once a month, you will find that helping people with that hour gives you peace, purpose, and joy.  The people you are helping will be thrilled to have you.  You are an asset afterall!  Never forget that you are an asset.  You can meet a lot of like minded people if you put yourself out there in a volunteer capacity, and its never a bad idea to build your tribe.  If you have anxiety that prevents you from more hands on volunteering please don't let that stop you from sharing your gifts.  Every organization needs filing help.  You can give of yourself a little bit a time until the day you feel that you can take the next step, if that day comes.  If it doesn't, that's ok because you are still doing something great.

No matter what you choose to do this fall, please remember to take care of yourself.  Find a support group, adopt a new pet into your family, branch out in your volunteering or just read a good self help book to keep you motivated on finding and keeping your self worth.  They are all worthy causes.  You are worth investing in.

Stick with us lovelies.  Spirit is sending me a book soon to read over.  Once that happens, we'll be working on a giveaway with that book!  I can't wait to work out all the details and share them with you!  I can tell you this much, there will be multiple winners and at least one of you will win an essential oil diffuser AND a book.  We are so excited to host this giveaway and share some of our favorite things with you all!

The concept of radical love.

By now, I'm sure you've heard of the concept of "radical self love" and the concept of "body positivity."  These phrases sound incredibly simple, but they can be beyond challenging.  These concepts are so heavy on my mind right now.  I couldn't stop thinking about them yesterday.  In fact, I stayed up all night thinking about how self hate and lack of acceptance has harmed society as a whole. Deep stuff.

Now, as I said, I'm an adult.  I don't know many adults who haven't been on antidepressants at least once.  I haven't met an adult without bouts of unreasonable and uncontrollable anxiety.  I'm not saying I can fix your mind.

I repeat, I'm NOT saying I can fix your mind.

I do think that I can help you start to feel better.  I do think that changing our dialogue can help.  I do think that if we could start appreciating ourselves, that we'd also feel better.  I think that if we had started trying to love ourself when we were kids, we might to be so anxious or depressed as adults.  Some of us have big life situations that caused our anxiety and depression, but some of us have just hated ourself far too long.  When I was a kid, I was told "Its called SELF esteem - I can't make you like yourself."  True...but let me teach you how to start.

So what are radical self love and body positivity, and how do they relate to your mental health?

When you have a society, you also have a generally accepted standard of beauty.  Its been a different standard in different times, but one thing has always been the same - its been near impossible to achieve that general standard.  When the standard said that being overweight was ideal, the general population was starving.  When the standard said you must be very thin, the average person was overweight.  Part of the standard is that is hard to acheive.

We have applied these standards to our lives as being the only acceptable way to be.  We have decided that what we are naturally is not good enough because it is not that standard of beauty.

Radical self love means we stop applying that standard to ourselves.

Not only do we stop with this impossible standard, we start to appreciate the things we have and even enjoy the way we are.  We have to stop looking purely for the aesthetic and start to appreciate the function in our form.  We have to accept and love our bodies for what they do, how they work, how they make us FEEL and not just for the visual.  That's radical self love.  You stop putting on make up to "fix your flaws" and start wearing make up because its fun or just stop all together because you don't enjoy it.  You stop shaving your legs to be feminine and realize that your legs are not what makes you a woman.  Your womanhood is in your soul.  Shave because you like how your smooth skin feels, or stop shaving because its a chore and it doesn't make you anything but natural to have body hair.  Don't pluck your chin hair because someone told you that it was ugly to have facial hair as a woman!  Grow a damn beard, weave a daisy in it and smile at your own playful beauty.  Own your body.  Take control of it.  Stop saying "yes" because you are conditioned to think its the only answer.  Say "yes" because you want to say it! Say "no" because its what you feel!

Radical self loves starts with loving your mind.  Understand that your opinions are valid and your voice is important.  You have something worth contributing to the world and you are so much more intelligent that people will ever give you credit for.  Give yourself credit.  Smile at your own knowledge.  Marvel at how your mind works and how you connect dots that not everyone sees. Appreciate your humor, no one else has a sense of humor quite like yours.  You are a match to none, you are so unique and so bright.  You're a wonder in this world, you need to own that.

Body positivity and radical self love are sides of the same coin.  You have to practice both at the same time if you're going to make a big difference in your life.  You can start with one and work towards the other if its just too hard to break those patterns, but you will see a huge shift when you start to actively practice both every day.

Look at your body in the mirror.  I don't want you to see scars, stretch marks, sags, bumps and lumps right now, we'll get there. I'm serious here, you have this amazing collection of parts and no matter what works on you and what does not - you are a person who is amazing.  Look at what your body does just on a lazy day.  Think about how much blood your body is pumping every day.  This of how many breaths you take in a single day.  Don't worry about the tone of your skin, love your skin because it protects your body.  This amazingly large organ literally protects every other organ.  That's mindblowing.  Think of the bones that give your body shape and form.  Those bones hold up to so much wear and tear and they last through it all, they heal themselves and they keep going on.  Look yourself in the eyes and think about all the beauty those eyes have taken in.  Cover your ears and hear the blood rush through your vessels.  Stop taking you for granted, you are beyond understanding and full of wonder.  Now go back to those scars, appreciate that your body rushed to heal and protect you.  Look at those stretch marks and see how your body accomidated your growth.  Those sags are signs that you've lived and loved in this body.  That bumps and lumps are part of the journey that got you this far.

It won't fix your brain chemistry to love yourself.  It won't get your debt paid off.  It won't make your problems disappear.  Radical self love and body positivity will make your life better.  When you cut yourself some slack, you allow yourself room to grow.  When you appreciate yourself, you also appreciate others a lot more.  When you radiate love through yourself, you attract loving people.

It doesn't happen overnight.  It's work.  There are days where you don't want to be positive.  There are days where you'd like to go back to hating yourself because its easier and familiar.  Its worth the work.  Its worth comitting to yourself.

If you can't love yourself today, that's ok.  Today I'll do it for you.  I love you.  You are amazing.  You are intense.  You are interesting.  You are important.  If you need me, I will be there for you.  I'm on your side.  Please try to be kind to yourself.

Introducing Sparrow!

Hello Lovelies!

I am Sparrow! I've know Spirit through the crunchy/naturally minded community for several years, even before her last child was born! It's been a long and beautiful time!

I am a 30something year old mother and wife living in central Oklahoma.  I have two beautiful children.  My daughter is eight and my son is turning thirteen on Monday!  Where does the time go?

I am a lot of thing.  I'm crafty.  I'm creative.  I'm smart.  I'm disabled due to a spinal cord injury, but not paralyzed.  I advocate for body positivity and human rights.  I'm a product junkie.  I'm a lover of makeup.  I'm a pet lover with a current herd of 4 cats, 1 red eared slider turtle, one common snapping turtle, and one very goofy chihuahua mix tiny dog.  I'm a research junkie.  I'm naturally minded.  I'm spiritual.  I'm constantly inspired.  I'm assertive.  I'm loud.  I'm also sometimes very reserved.  I'm chronically anxious.  I can muster up confidence in situations that are very challenging.  I'm silly.  I play pranks on my kids.  I'm a mess and I'm happy.  That's who I am.

I hope to bring you all some positive, uplifting support.
I hope to review fun and inovative products for you all to consider.
I hope to make you laugh with me.
I hope to learn from you and teach you as well.

I have done some professional writing in my life, but its been years so please bare with me while I get myself comfortable with this beautiful audience.  Thank you for allowing me in your world!


Sparrow

Changes and Growth

The last few years have been filled with changes and growth for me.  I have moved from Texas to Oregon to Washington.  My husband has retired from the military gone to school and is now working with the BLM, a government agency. 

I have completed school and I am looking to grow my own business.  I am learning that this is a process.   

Yet some things have stayed the same.  I still have 4 wonderful kids that need me, I still have to budget to make it and for me that means discount shopping, reviewing items, and affordable healthy meals. 

I am still my same old spiritual self and I am going to be sharing more of that with all of you.  I have recently joined the Sisterhood of Avalon.  This has been such a spiritual growth curve for me that somedays I feel like I am not the right person for the group and I can't do the spiritual work.  Then I remember it's my ego talking.

But another change to the blog is that I will be adding an a friend.  She will be posting reviews, things of interests as well.  I hope you guys give her a warm welcome.

I also invite you to join us on facebook.

I really hope you will enjoy this journey with us.  I hope you will find what we share funny, enlightening, helpful and fun.  At the end of the day this blog is about fun for the both of us.  Welcome to our world.

Basil and Grain Pizza Stone ~~ Review

I received this pizza stone to review.  I love stoneware pans to bake in and used to use them often.  But while we were in the military they seemed to always get lost, or broke that I stopped replacing them until Basil and Grain.

I jumped at the chance to review this stone, because I am now in a home where I feel the love to cook again.  Our last place I just hate the kitchen and didn't like to cook like I did when we lived in Texas.  Now I can't wait to bake and cook more.

If you read me when I posted before you know that I love to make bread and my family loves to eat it.  I have two favorite methods of baking bread, one is in or on stoneware like this Basil and Grain stone, and two in a cast iron pan.

When you get this stone one thing you are going to notice that is different from the stones you get at walmart and that is the weight.  This stone is heavy.  But solid now, know that with shipping breaks can happen.  I didn't have any as my stone was well packaged with padding on all sides.  They also included an instruction sheet that let you know how to condition your stone.

You wipe it down with a damp rag, don't soak it as you pain will take forever to dry.  Once you wipe it down to get the dust from transit and manufacturing off you put in your oven.  A cold oven and then you crank your temp as high as it will go and leave it there for about 2 hours.

Now when I did mine, I forgot that the oven was on until about 4 hours later and my husband turned it off.  My pan is fine.   There were no cracks, I did have a little discoloring but that is normal with stone.

Then I heated rolls on it for dinner,  It crisped up the bottoms so nicely and heated them so evenly they were yummy and perfect for our dinner.

Then I cooked a frozen pizza on it.  I am going to tell you something I was lazy and didn't wait for the oven to preheat.  The stone worked well and I had minimal sticking.  Now we put a second pizza in the oven on the stone after it was up to temp and it stuck a little more but it didn't shock the stone and the stone worked perfectly as it was suppose too.  But the pizzas those cheap little ones came out perfect.

This is the second pizza cooked on the stone.  Might be cheap pizza but it was good.

The stone is well made to allow the heat to get all around it and it heats everything beautifully.  And clean up is a breeze.  For me personally I haven't had to use more than a warm rag, I always place it back in the oven between use and normally I leave it in there when making other items for me it works.  I don't see my oven cycle to keep hot as much as normal.  And my stone is always ready when I need it.

I love Basil and Grain, I really can't wait to see what other kitchen products and hopefully stone pans they have.  As I feel they really support me as a cook.

You can get your own Pizza Stone Here

I did receive the pizza stone for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.  

Welcome, to my new direction!!

I am making changes and starting blogging over.  You will find more reviews, I will start adding more recipes and budget tips as I find them.  You will also discover magical living tips and even reviews and readings from my many oracle card decks.  This is still staying a blog of my walk in life just one part of the walk in my life.

So since my last blog I have gone to school, graduated with a 4.0 and have my degree.  I am a hypnotherapist as well as a life coach and a mystic minister. I have moved to Southern Washington state and loving it.  Life has been crazy but fun.  I can't wait to welcome you back into my life and share with you all that I have learned.


Welcome,

Day one is in the books!

Well, day one is in the books and I wish that I had done better but at the end of the day I tried and that's all that really matters right?

So for the book challenge I managed to read two SHORT books.  The first one was Feng Shui for Beginners:  Learn How to Apply Feng Shui by: Susannah L. Williams

I picked this book up for free on 9/4 from Amazon.com.  I am using this challenge to read a ton of the free books I have picked up over the last couple of months there is a great facebook page that I follow that post links to these freebies.  Pagan E-Books for Free almost daily they post tons of free books from different sources all over the internet.

Anyways back to the book at hand this book was short Amazon.com estimates it to be about 50 pages long. So it was a quick read before I went to bed.  This book was great for introducing me to the world of Feng Shui.   It give many of the basic info that one would seek out, but what else it does is state that what you personally feel is better.  I liked that because I didn't agree with all the rooms the colors were oked to do in to and everything.

The only down fall this book was that it needed an editor, there where a few places that were hard to read because of the editing, like words missing or the wrong word there and such.  But over all it was a great intro to Feng Shui.  Do I think it's worth the .99 they are asking for it?  Yes if you can over look the editing.  

I also managed to get in another book yesterday and it was short as well.  This book I picked up for free in May and honestly when I started it I thought it was longer but in fact it's about 6 or 7 pages long that's it!  It was Pagan Sabbats of the Northern Hemisphere by:Shanddaramon 

This book is still free should you want to pick it up.  I honestly don't think it counts in my read a thon challenge but I thought I would give it a quick review.  This book gives the bare bone basics of the Sabbaths. It give the name date and a one line reason for the holiday and an idea or two of what you can do on those days.  I really found this book lacking in info.  And I really didn't like it.  I am happy I picked it up for free and didn't pay for it.  When I pick up books on the sabbaths I want more to them.  It's my fault though Amazon tells you the book is short and it was my fault for not paying attention to the info given to me.

Now on to the Get off your Broom Challenge

Lets see I think I did much better in this Challenge now that I look back.  Lets review it by the elements.

Water~~Well I drank more yesterday but not as much as I should but I did drink more which was my goal so Yahoo!

Earth~~Well I was outside but near as much as I should have.  So while I did met my goal it wasn't how I wanted to so I am going to work at this one more.

Fire~~This one well, I went to bed at 11pm but didn't sleep until about 2 am.  And I didn't work out yesterday so umm ya needs work. LOL

Air~~ I controlled my emotions much better than normal and I did meditate for about 10 minutes last night.   Funny story the music that was one while I meditated from Pandora was from an elemental series and it was EARTH last night.  I thought it was fitting.  I find it hard to quite my mind sometimes when I meditate.  Maybe I will read on of my books on that today.

And Spirit~~I think the books that I read helps enrich my soul and the meditation as well.  But I really didn't focus on my spiritual self to be honest.  I spent so much time cooking, cleaning and studying and some time with a friend which I really enjoyed and needed, that I didn't focus on myself.   I am hoping to improve this as the week goes on.

I know that I can't be prefect running out of the gate but I wish I was.  I wish that yesterday had gone much better.  But all I really can do is focus on today and improve today from yesterday right?  I can't wait to see what the other challengers did and what they will do.

I am worried about when we move and we are in the car for five days or so moving.  That normally means bad for you food and not enough exercise.   So I am going to try and come up with a plan now though any tips from you would be great!

New challenges!!!!

I am going to start school next month as long as paper goes through.  And I should be moving next month as well.  And yet I think this month I need some challenges in life things to push me to continue to improve myself.

So I joined two Challenges that start tomorrow!  One is the

You can click to photo to read about the Readathon.

Put basically you read as many books as you can that fit the theme and since I have gotten so many free on amazon that I want to read I can't wait to do this!!  I will blog about them with a mini review and keep count I am hoping to read at least 1 book a day,  this is next to my school work, homeschooling my one child and just being mommy and a wife.  I really hope that I can get 2 books a day in if not more.  But who am I kidding I have family that needs me.

My other challenge is 

Click photo to read the post about the challenge

I love that this is call Get off your broom challenge!  I also love that it's about all around health and wellness!  And I love that we are to tie in the 5 elements.  Air, Water, Earth, Fire, and Spirit.  I have spent all day coming up with goals for these elements and I am going to share them with you.  I am going to change them up every week or so.  So here are my goals:

* For the Element Water: This one is simple I am going to just aim to drink more water every day.  I suck in this part of health and wellness even though I need to drink more.  So my goal is to add  more to my diet.  Then next week it will be to replace one drink with water!

* For the Element Earth: This one is simple as well it's to spend more time outside and communing with the earth.  I hope to do some school work outside.  Play with my children outside.  Walk barefoot in the yard and feel the energy from the earth.  Walk my little Coco around the block every night stuff like that.  I will change this goal probably next week.

* For the Element Fire:  This one is where the work is. The overall goal is to raise my energy levels!  This one includes aiming to be in bed by 11pm every single night!  No more staying up late to read to 3 am in the morning.  I have a goal of 30 minutes of working out no less than three times a week.  I am also hoping to have at least one of these work outs be a hot work out or hot yoga!

* For the Element Air:  This one was hard believe it or not.  I mean working on breathing seems to be like the smart choice.  But I think I am going to work on breathing with meditation but that doesn't seem to be enough.  I think one thing I need to work on is controlling my emotions better.  The reason I placed this under air is that they seem to change like the wind.  And while you can control air or wind I would like to try and at least control my emotions better.

* For the Element Spirit:  This one is something I have been trying to do.  Get in touch with my spiritual self more.  Focus on enriching my soul.  So that's my goal to do one thing every day that enriches my soul and spiritual self!  I think this should be fun and I hope to learn more about myself at the same time. 

So that's it these are my goals and challenges for the next week for reading and the next few weeks with the fitness one.  I will work on improving my whole self and not just one part of me.  I hope to keep up with it while we move.  I know it will be hard when we are on the road for a week.  But I am up to the challenge.  I hope that you will join me.  And if not I would love to have you encourage me while I do this.  This is a start to a new me.  Which is great as my family is about to have a new start in life after the military!  It is time! (from Lion King)

Thank you for reading this!

Spirit

Pity Parties? Good or Bad?

So yeah I haven't posted in awhile and on my first post back it's about a pity party I held for myself a couple weeks ago.

Here is the back ground I have decided to continue to go to school but this time for something different.  I am finishing up my business course.  And moving on to an AOS in Holistic Health Care with a concentration in Mind-Body Transformational Psychology Majoring in Spiritual Studies and Minoring in Holistic Nutrition (I hope to extend this to be a certificate in it as well).  And I am doing it on line through The Shouthwest Institute of Healing Arts.  I saw they had finical aide and accepted it from the government, one of the few to do so.  I was so happy I started researching the school and looking for what they offered and wow here is a course that has everything I have every wanted to study (well not everything but a ton).  And I can use Government help to pay for it.  Yes!

So I apply I do everything I am told to do I even check the website the government tells you to check to see if you owe them money, but I only checked with my married name thinking my ssn will catch anything from my maiden name.  Nope I was wrong.  After I applied and signed everything I was on cloud 9.  I was going to be something else in my life I was going to finally study something that I truly truly wanted to and so my kids that no matter what you passion you can follow it even years later and many searches for the right school.  But then the school contacted me to tell me I had an overpayment.  And this is when I lost it.

This is when I through the world largest pity party for myself.  I said I was never going to be more than a wife and a mother (which isn't bad I just feel the need to be more you know).  I cried and cried and said I couldn't get away from my past mistakes and really the fact is yes.  This one was coming to bite me in the butt but it was my mistake.

So for 24 hours I allowed myself to through a pity party.  I allowed myself to be mad, pissed, and sad.  And then I said enough was enough and I stood up and made the calls and emails I need to fix the issue.  I called the school that I had the over payment too.  Found out what I needed to do and how much I owed.  Sat and though ok I owe X amount where can I get it and not harm my family.  You see my husband is also getting out and we are working on paying off debt big time as to not worry about it when he is out.

So while I had my pity party, my husband was finding away to pay for school.  Man I love that man.  And he went to the VA and asked if my overpayment would make it where I couldn't use his 9/11 bill and they said no.  So score now we have time to wait for taxes to pay the over payment back and I can still start school when planed!

But I learned something and this is the reason for my post.  Is that pity parties can have a place. Listen I don't think throwing them all the time is the best thing.  But I can see them having their place.  Some times you need to pity yourself and work through your feelings to see it's not really that bad.  That there is a fix or a way or something for you.  A light at the end of the tunnel if you will.  See while I pitied myself I learned this wasn't a past biting me in the butt.  It was a past coming back that I didn't take care of and now is the time to do so.  And it was better to find out now with the time that I had than later.

But the pity party also showed me just how much I really really wanted this.  I mean I have had other schooling plans fall through and I was like ehh.  oh well.  This one was something I couldn't let go.  It was something that I had to do.  And while my Dad offered to help with the over payment.  I knew that wasn't something that I could do.  I had to fix my mistake and I had to go to school this is what I needed to do.  I was called to do!  And then the pity party was over.  But I found that this is a must do in life and something I will do.  I already have plans for what I will study after wards.  And I can't wait I know that life put bumps in the roads, forks in the roads and we all have to got on over them or pick the right way to go.  But it's ok sometimes to throw yourself a pity party.  It's ok to be upset and mad.  But the thing is don't let it last long.  Get out of it and do what you need to do to fix the problem!  Make a plan and work it.  It may not happen as you first dreamed it would but it will happen as long as you work towards it.

Life is just like that though sometimes everything goes as planed and sometimes it doesn't. I learned a lot about myself and what I want for my life in the last few weeks.  And I am making plans.  Going to school, paying back my over payment and moving on.  In the next few months my life will be crazy with the hubby getting out of the army.  But I am no longer scared I was but I am not now.  Because we are planning and making a lot of them for just in case.  I am going to go to school so when it's time for me to work it's not at a fast food place but doing something that I love.

I went from pitying myself, to empowering myself and loving myself.  And that's why I think some pity parties can be good.  I think you can learn and grow from them.

Super Moon and changes!

Taken on May 5th by ME.

I know that I haven't posted here in awhile and I am sorry. This year the super moon has inspired me to make changes that I MUST make.  And one of them is living my faith more.   A special holiday came around and I was just there.  I didn't feel moved to do anything and it was another day.  This WOKE me up!  I realized in life that I had let work, children, wife duties and other stuff bog me down.

I forgot to live my faith. I forgot to put it first and find that time for me and for prayer.  It was scary to realize that.  I panicked because it bothered me.  I though OMG did I lose my faith.  So I meditated and came to a conclusion.

I didn't lose my faith meaning I still believed but I had hid it so much because I worried about others being offended or hurt.  I realized I shoved it to the side.  I shoved the Great Mother to the side like she wasn't important.  I decided then and their that this wasn't ok.  That I would make the time to talk to the Great Mother every day.  I would stop worrying if people would like or love me because of what I believed.  I stopped caring about how my faith could offend others.

And that leads me to this post to coming back here.  I named this Blog Spirit's Walk In the World.  Meaning my everyday life, and now that means my walk back to the goddess, back to my faith and back to a more balanced life.  So I want to take the time to welcome you to the NEW Spirit's Walk!  Join me as I find the goddess and god, the great mother and father again.  Join me as I find me.

Spirit

What to do with all that left over wrapping paper, bows, and ribbon?

It's the afternoon of Christmas and it looks like your tree threw up everywhere.  You have piles and piles of wrapping paper, bows and ribbon everywhere.  But what to do with it.  You know it's wasteful to toss it but what do to with it.  Well I have some ideas, here they are.

• You can make paper bows with them for next year and save yourself some money in the process.  Win Win. 
• You can use them to make some paper ornaments for your tree next year, or for gifts for next year and have a real big head start.  Also it would make a great reminder of the years that past like a yearly ornament.
• I posted earlier about keeping your children writing this winter break and making thank you cards.  Think how cute it would be for your friends and family to get thank you cards made with some of the wrapping paper that their gift came it.  And knowing your child made it.  
• You can use it to make garlands, you know those paper chains.  For next year for the tree or decorations.  You can make them during the break with your children and put them up in a box or flatten and save the paper for next year and start making the chains after Thanksgiving.
• You can reuse the left over bows and ribbons on other gifts in the upcoming year as well.
• You can use the smaller pieces of paper to make gift tags for next year or when ever. 
• You can shred it or just wad it up and use it for packing materials.
• Use it to make Christmas cards for next year.
• Use it in your scrapbooking with your holiday pictures.
• Use it for stuffing for your purses, hats, shoes and boots and anything like that.  It will help them hold their shape while in storage.
• You can use them to make Origami a great craft to do with kids.  
• Use the back side as scrap paper by the phones and on the desks.
• Use it to line drawers and shelves for the year.
• You can use the wrapping paper with decoupage, from boxes (think shoe boxes) to anything wood like ornaments.
• You can use them to mat your holiday photos.
• Use time to line the envelopes for your Christmas cards for that extra special touch. 
• Use it to make clothes for a paper doll. Dolland clothes templates 
• Frame a nice piece and you have decoration for next here.  Find some great subway art to add to it.  Makes a great gift as well.
• You can use it to make book marks for your favorite holiday books.     
• Cover your holiday storage boxes with it.
• You can use it as book covers use the white side and it can be used year round and kids can draw on it
• You can use it as a liner in the kitty box or any other critter cage
• You can make place mats with it.  Attach it to cardboard and then laminate it. This would be a great craft to do with the kids.
• You can make coasters, you can use the same process as for the place mats or you can decoupage it to coaster size wood titles and seal it.  Same with normal tiles from the hard ware store.  This idea but with wrapping paper.    
• Use it to decorate picture frames, a great way to make the ones from the dollar store look nice
• Use it as filler in gift boxes and gift bags
• You can make magnets with it,  attach the wrapping paper to cardstock or a light weight card board and laminate it, then attach a magnet to the back.
• Make a festive bulletin board, take wrapping paper and cover cork board.
• Make paper jewelry.
• Use it to make Sculptures.
• Make paper with it.  For a how to video click here         

This list is a great starting off point, please be inspired and have fun.  And if you come up with an idea share it please.  I would love to see anything that you make with your left over wrapping paper.  It will be nice not to toss such pretty paper.

Merry Christmas! Merry Yule! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Holidays!

Holiday Safety Tips

Holiday Safety Tips

This holiday season I want everyone safe and sound so they can enjoy there Holiday.  I have a few tips that I have picked up on over the years and around the web.

• Check your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector and make sure they are working.
• Make sure any holiday guest know what to do in case of a fire and where to meet up.
• Make sure your holiday guests know where the fire extinguisher is and make sure you have one or two just in case you need them.
• If you have a fresh Christmas/Holiday tree make sure you water it daily the needles shouldn't fall off when it's touched.  A well water tree doesn't burn as well as a dry tree.
• Keep you tree and other flammables 3 feet away from heating vent, fire places, and space heaters.
• Use Candles with care, Never leave them unattended, in the reach of pets or animals.  Always blow them out when you go to sleep and leave the house.  
• Keep Candles 12 inches away from any flammable and place them on/in holders that are sturdy and large enough to hold all the melted wax.
• Maintain your Chimney to prevent fires, if you haven't done so already for the winter now would be a great time to do so.
• DO NOT drink and drive, DO NOT get in the car and let someone drive that has been drinking.  You can always pick up your car later.
• DO NOT text and drive, it can wait.  If it can't pull over into a parking let and send the text
• DO NOT talk on the cell phone and drive unless you have a hands free device.  It can wait if it can't and you don't have a hands free device pull over and make the call.  
• Have kit in your car in case of an accident or bad weather and your stuck in your car.  Have bottle water, flashlights, blankets in the car, food and a first aid kit to include flares or other reflective items.  Make sure you have enough for a couple of days and everyone in your car.
• Leave early and don't speed I know this is common sense but it's ok to be late if you get there in one piece.
• Don't leave your car running in the garage because you want to prevent CO (carbon monoxide poisoning) 
• Dress in layers if it's cold out.
• Never Ever put your child in a car seat with the jacket on.  Take it off and buckle them in them put the coat on them backwards or a car seat poncho or blanket on them
• Always clean all the snow off your car
• Before a long car trip check the fit of your car seats.  Check out carseats.org should you need help.
• Food safety, always was your produce.  Cook your meat to proper temps as well.
• Keep cold foods out for only 2 hours at room temp and then put them back.
• Watch the products you use in your home make them as toxin free as you can.  If not please don't mix them.
• Watch for little pieces from gifts and decorations with little ones around remember not all homes you will visit are child proof.
• Check all your decorations for safety.  Frayed and cracked lights need to be replaces an don't plug more than three strands together at a time.
• Watch over loading circuits.
• Use out lights only outside.
 

Well I know I missed tons of tips but this is what I have for now.  Please post below any tips you have.  Please have a fun and a safe holiday!

Family fun ideas and activites for the long winter break.

Winter break starts at the end of the week for me and I thought it's time to come up with fun things to do.  Winter break is different than summer break for me.  Winter break is more fun than summer break but it's so short.  So I sat and came up with some fun ideas of things to do.  Some can't be done everywhere because where you live but I am sure there is enough here to keep you busy or inspire you as well.  Please share your ideas.   Some of these ideas are meant to reduce the time if front of the screen too.

• Up first is one of our favorite things, we do this year round it's family game night.  Now we don't have many board games and it's hard to find one that everyone can play but we have fun.  We also play a lot of card games my 6 yo is learn rummy.  It's such fun.  Lately we put on Christmas Carols and find we can play for hours before we know how much time has passed.  We are going to do this on new years with finger foods to snack on during the day!

• Next is one that involves screen time but is something we enjoy.  We are a large family of six and we don't get to movies much so we do them at home.  My popcorn is better anyways LOL.  So have a family movie night.  If you watch out you can find a code for a free red box movie rental but this time of the year there are many on tv.  We tend to get new dvds for Christmas too so if that's the case we watch one of them or even an old one.

• Before Christmas, go caroling I know no one seems to do it much anymore but you can get a few neighbors and print out songs from here and go and have some fun make some peoples days. 

• I know with the cost of gas these days this is one some people might cut back on.  But take a drive take some or get some hot chocolate and look at Christmas lights.  Nothing I have found gets a child in the mood more than Christmas lights.  Play some carols in the back ground and you have a family fun night without a tv.  Your area might even have a special display.  I know that my area does.  We have nature in lights.

• I don't know about your children but mine love to cook you can have a pizza party and depending on your skills depends on how much you do.  You can use can biscuits and have your children flatten them and top them as they like with their favorite toppings and bake.  Or you can make the dough together  and then make your pizzas.  You can also buy pre made dough as well.  The options are endless.  And if you want to add reading and writing to the mix, have your child make the shopping list before you go shopping and have them read it to you while in the store.   Don't forget to add a salad and help round out your meal.

• This is one I plan on doing on Christmas eve and Yule as we watch holiday movies, have a hot chocolate bar.  Before had you can cover spoons  with chocolate and sprinkles or the end of candy canes with chocolate too.  Don't forget the marshmallows which you can buy or make the same with your hot chocolate too.  Get some fun mugs and just have fun.  Oh and don't forget whipped cream and chocolate syrup.

• You can also make Salt Dough ornaments for your tree and you can do hand prints and foot prints as well.

• Weather permitting you can talk a walk through nature, there is such beauty this time of year. 

• Make gifts for your neighbors.  This could be a great thing to get to know them as well.  It doesn't have to be pricey here are some great ideas for something simple.

• Bake or buy some treats and goodies and drop them off at fire house, police stations and er remember those that are working on Christmas and Christmas Eve.  Please call and check what the rules are before you do this in your area some may not allow this.  But some may and this is a great thing to do with your children.

• Check out your local library for story hour and maybe even your books stores.

• Take some toys and books and donate them to the children's ward or hospital.  Again this one may vary based on rules please call ahead of time but think of the children in the hospital for the holidays.

• This one may lead to a new member of the family but call up one of your local rescues and see what you can do to help from cleaning cages to just walking dogs I am sure they will have something you can do to help them out.  And it's a bonus if you fall in love with one and give them a forever home.  Just please make sure your ready to be that forever home.

• Make snowman soup, which hot chocolate, marshmallows and what other toppings you like.

• A good old standby favorite make cookies, (these make great neighbor gifts walmart has tins for about 2-3 bucks each and the dollar store too)

• Go visiting at a senior center, bring a book and have your child read to the members, bring cookies, sign have fun.  Call visit and see the what the rules are.  I believe you want the Rec. Director when you call.  They can also help you visit those that don't get very many visitors.  I know many seniors would love this and children too. 

• Puzzles, pick up a few for the holidays and then spend a day as a family putting them together.  It's funny how something so simple can be so much fun.

• Weather permitting, have a snowball fight or get the neighborhood in on and it and have a block wide snowball fight, then have a hot chocolate bar to warm everyone up afterwards.

• Weather permitting, have a block wide snowman building contest, or coloring contest something that is fun.  Make the prize something simple.  The stuff to make smores or a tray of cup cakes or cookies.  It's just for fun remember.

• Now if you can't go out.  It's time to build FORTS and TENTS.  I have yet to meet someone who didn't have fun doing this.

• You could turn your living room into a drive in make cars out of boxes and have some yummy food and watch a good movie together.  Just a different take on family movie night.

• Read with your child, have them read to you.  Reading is fun.

• Plan a trip to the library.

• Have your children make and then fill out thank you cards.  Or spend the day scrapbooking memories from the holiday or the year leading up to the holiday.

I know it's a long list and I missed some.  Please add yours. 

How to get your children to keep reading and writing over the winter break.

I have fond memories as a child of winter break, from staying up to late to reading good books.  I even practiced writing my name.  I also watched way to much T.V.  but I also spent time with my family.  But I thought I would share some great ways to help your children to keep reading and writing over the break but to make them fun.

• Have you children make and write thank you cards.  I hate to say but this isn't something that I have done in the past and regret doing.  It wasn't something I was raised to do.  But this year we are starting it.  A few days after Christmas have your children start making thank you cards and help them write out a little note thanking the family member for their gift.  This lets them be creative by making the card, also thoughtful about the person that got them a gift, and it has them work on their writing skills.

•  Read holiday themed or any book aloud.   Reading out loud to your children is a great thing to do.  Even if you read just one short book to them it will help.  Did you know reading to children is something that less and less people are doing these days?  I don't like to read out loud but it's my goal to do it more.  Also have your child read to you as well.  This will help them with their reading skills and it will make them feel special.

• Write a winter break journal.  This is something great for those older children, just pick up a simple notebook or a nice special one and suggest that before bed they just write about their day, or their thoughts.  If they are really stuck (this is stolen from my step mom) have them write 5 things that they are grateful for that day.  These can be as big or as little as they want.  This could be fun and really get them thinking.

•  Have them help with the holiday menu.  My children love to help be it from reading a recipe to me to helping measure out ingredients for recipes.  This also helps with math skills.  Also having them follow the step in order teaches them following directions as well.  It's great how something so simple has baking cookies can be so educational.  You can also have them make menus for the holiday meal let them write out what your having and decorate them.  They can then put them on the holiday table.

• Have them help with the grocery list.  Before that last big shopping trip to the store for the holidays let your child help with the list.  Have them write out a part of the list for something that they want to make with you.  Like the items for making cookies.  And then make it their job to pick up those items at the store with your help.  This helps them with writing skills and their reading once they are the stop.  This would also be a great time to teach them about reading labels on products as well.

• Write their own holiday story.  Gather up some supplies to make your own book and have your child write their own holiday story.  This would be a great thing to do year have year and to save them.   And every year they can be one of the holiday stories that your read out loud during the holiday break.

•  Scrapbooking.  Now this isn't something that I have done in a long time but it is something I found fun.  You can have your children help you scrapbook your Christmas memories.  This lets them be creative and you can encourage them to write the captions on the pages which will work on their writing skill.

• Take a trip or two to the library.  I know everyone loves the feel a of new book.  I know that I do.  But there is something about a library and a child that is wonderful.  My children love love love the library.  To them it's like going to the store and really we sign out like every book we can and they read at least ten while we are there.  So take your child get them their own card if you can and teach them the love of the library.  Also find out about the library's story hours and holiday break programs.  They may have some that are fun and your child would like to try out.

• Don't be afraid of tech.  I know that there are children out there that think tech is the coolest thing in the world and the only thing that matters and that reading is boring.  I have a child like this.  I got him to love reading by putting his books on my ereader (I have a sony so pdf files work great for this).  I am also using it as a teaching tool.  There are many of the classics out there free like Alice in Wonderland, Robin Hood, White Fang and many more.  Also many of the bi g stores and ereader companies have software you can download on to the computer to read ebooks. Here is Nook for the PC, Kindle for PC, and Sony.  Some free classics to get you going. Free from Kindle, Nook, and Sony.  Other than a quick glance I didn't see tons for kinds but you can also barrow ebooks from the library so please look into that but this is a great start with the classics and some books for those older children in your home.  And some fun for yourself as well.

Now I am sure there are other ideas out there that I forgot.   I hope that this is a great jumping off point for you.  Reading is such a great thing and books are a great adventure parents and children alike.  I hope you have a great holiday season and winter break.

What do you get with one half pound of sauasge?

You get dinner for six.  Well ok you get the sausage in our gravy for dinner.  We had sausage gravy over biscuits for dinner.  This was easily under five dollars to feed us all.  I don't have the cost break down as I used left over frozen sausage I had in the freeze.  And I tried a new big biscuit recipe which you can find here.  These were very good but huge. One goes a long way.  I cheat and just use my cookie cutter and cut them into squares instead of rounds this way I handle the dough less.  These turned out to be about 1.5 - 2 inches high they started at an inch high.  I highly suggest you at least try them.  I did make a few changes, I used butter instead of shortening.  And I used 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 unbleached AP flour (I have this premixed at in my flour container on the counter so everything is made with 1/2 WW flour).  Other than that it's all the same.

Excuse my cookie sheet it's a cheapie from the dollar store it does the job.

Then I just made a basic sausage gravy with sage, and peppers and onions since that was mixed in with my pre cooked sausage.  It's simple cook your meat,  once it's cooked if you have a lot of fat drain some off but you want some to use to make the rue.  (is that the right spelling?) cook that a little bit and then add some milk and your spices.  Let thicken and serve over yummy biscuits.

Now just add I nice side of fruit salad or some other nice fresh fruit or veggies and you have a great meal in our house.  It's a great way to feed a lot of people with a little bit of meat.  What is your favorite breakfast for dinner item?

It's Tradition!

It's tradition to start decorating for the holidays the Friday after Thanksgiving.  So I started with my blog.  Please tell me what you think.   I was aiming for something that I could leave up most of the winter.  There will be more changes to come too!  Happy Holidays everyone.

A wonderful Thankful meal

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday meal as we did.  Our day was spent watching movies, playing and just having fun spending time together.  I didn't go crazy over our meal this year but made some favorites and excluded some.  I can't believe the amount of food that is normal for our holiday meal blended from my husband's family and my own.  Thing we thought we had to have but this year we cut it back and I am glad the work was less but the meal still great.

We had bought a 20 pound turkey for the day and for the six of us.  Now I know that's a huge bird but we have plans to make it last.  We are already on day two of it and it's not even half way gone.  And I hot this turkey at a great deal.  I was .79 a pound but I had a coupon from this store for a free turkey up to 12 pounds or the credit for a 12 turkey off you bill so in the end my turkey cost me 6.92ish for the whole bird.  And honest I am sure I did the whole meal for about $20 with enough for two days of meals and more with the turkey.

But by far my favorite thing to make was my stuffing.  I make my own bread with all the spices and herbs in it so it tastes like stuffing.  I will be making more tomorrow for sandwiches with the left over turkey.  I am telling you this is a great way to have thanksgiving later in the year when you want that taste.  So I thought I would share my recipe with you.

Ingredients

4 cups flour (1 cup whole wheat, 3 cups ap is what I used)

2 packets of yeast

1 tsp fine sea salt

1 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning

1 tbsp sage (we love this flavor in our stuffing please add as much or as little as you like)

1 1/2 tsp rosemary

1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups warm to hot water (start with 1 1/4 and add more should you need it depends on a lot of factors with your flour and who dry your home is if you need more than the 1 1/2 add it slowly with buy one tbsp at a time)

1 tsp sugar 

The herbs used are what I use in my stuffing so use what you like it doesn't have to be the same as  mine.  And please share if you change it up and what you used.  

 Add Salt to the bowl

 Add your spices, herbs, and seasonings to the salt

 Add your flour and make a well

 Add your sugar and cover with yeast

 Add water next

 Cover with plastic wrap and let the yeast do it's happy dance.

 About five minutes later it's happy time to mix

 Knead until it's smooth

 Place in an oiled bowl and oil the dough ball.

 Recover with the plastic wrap you used earlier and let rise until doubled in size.  Punch down and form into your loaf (what ever style you like) bake about 20 minutes at 425 until golden brown on top.  I top it with melted butter when it comes out.

 Mmm....yummy bread.  I don't think you can see the herbs and everything but it's there and it smells like stuffing.

 To use in stuffing I just cut it up into cubes and then make your stuffing as normal. I made mine with apples, sage, my bread, sage sausage (we like sage this time of year LOL) carrots, celery, onions and turkey stock.  Salt and pepper as needed.  It's about one third bread, one third veggies and apple, and one third meat (this is really under about one third)

 Apples, celery, carrots, onion Cook them in evoo and butter with salt and pepper and other seasonings.  I like a bite to our carrots so I don't cook them down like the celery and the onion, the apples I leave with a bit of bite too.

 Sage sausage browning in the same pan I cooked me veggies in.

 Once the sausage is cooked I add back the veggies and apple.

 Then I add them to the bread crumbs which after cubing I baked at 325 for about 20 minutes. or until dry.

 Add turkey stock that I made last month

 Mix add more stock if needed.

 Added to your turkey (if you stuff) or to a baking pan and cover bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, remove foil and bake another 5-10 minutes for a crunchy top.  (the pic above was taken before I added more stock but we like our stuffing not as wet as many out there so add what you need and want to get it how you like it)

 My plate of food it was too much but worth it. LOL

So who was your Thanksgiving?  Did you try anything new?  And if you try my stuffing bread please let me know and give me feedback and don't be afraid to ask any questions should you need them I am not in the habit of writing recipes so if I made a mistake please point it out.  And now the last questions....Did you go shopping today?  What is the deal you were seeking out?