Pencil Thin

Have you ever known someone who just couldn’t find a job that made them happy? This is such a frustrating position for a person to be in. Some people know from a young age what they want to do with their life. Other people bound from job to job with no clear path. I wish it were as simple as saying here is a list of programming jobs that are sure to make you happy. Life would be so much better if we didn’t have to spend our time trying to find our purpose but could just step out into the world knowing what we were meant to do.

I bought and planted some chocolate mint, because…well…I couldn’t resist it! Now what I’m wondering is, what do I use it for? I bought it mainly, I admit, because it smelled good. I was also somewhat curious about it. I would love to be able to use it somehow in homemade ice cream or in baking. There is nothing I love more than the combination of chocolate and mint.

Our older son was recently diagnosed with a disability. According to everything I have read online this would qualify him for social security disability payments. We really aren’t sure if this is something we will pursue. On one hand it will help us to afford many of the activities that are useful for him in overcoming his disability. On the other hand the process is so daunting. I know there are companies such as Allsup that will guide you through the disability process. This might be the route we decide to take if we pursue this for our son.

Last night, hubby and I put up electric fence around our gardens and man was it a chore. I don’t have a normal size garden…..if you put my 3 gardens in a row….they would be the size of a football field. No Lie! My shoulders ache and my legs. My neighbor would do it because of the bunnies though. They drive him nuts. They like his garden better than mine though.

This is technically the final week of school for my oldest son. Because he attends a virtual charter school we actually finished the school year out much earlier because we had worked so hard. Now all we have to do is sit back and relax until August 31st when we get to do it all over again. I am so glad that my husband installed some discount ceiling fans in our house this winter because the weather is already starting to warm up. I can’t imagine spending another summer in a sweltering house with two stir crazy kids! Now I just need to get myself motivated to start packing up and shipping back this year’s school supplies. I don’t know why it seems like such a daunting task.

I read an article that there is an attempt in Arizona to make gardening illegal. Some would argue that this is an attempt by the government to control people who grow pot instead of vegetables. Others would say it is not about marijuana. It is about control by government and by big money corporations involved in agriculture. Neither of whom care about the day to day needs of the general public. I believe that the ones that want to grow the bad stuff, will find a way and it won’t be in their yard like my garden is!

This weekend we are heading out for our first camping trip in our pop-up camper. We are not really sure how most of the stuff on the camper works because we bought it second hand. I do know that one thing we need to do is put led light bulbs in the camper. From everything I have read these bulbs will save on our battery usage which is very important when you are camping. You never know when something might happen and your primary power source becomes your battery instead of the campground electric. It should be an interesting weekend!

Gods love
friends
family
singing and worshiping in church
the smell of flowers in the summer
long walks with my dh
my children being goofy
my dogs who love me no matter what
the smell of coffee in the mornings
sitting on the porch listening to the rain fall while reading a good book
letters in the mail
snuggling with a crocheted blanket or quilt on a cold day
sleeping in
breakfast in bed
surprises
listening to the radio
dancing with the kids
acting goofy in the car(dancing to oldies music etc lol)
baking with the kids
watching a sunset/sunrise
sitting on the beach listening to the waves
days off work
my grandmas stories(how I miss her)
long talks with my mom
hugs and kisses
helping others
window shopping
praying
picking wild berries
trips to the library
kissing in the rain
writing letters
getting in touch with long lost friends
Spontanous road trips(even if just driving around where you live)
Pennsylvania in the fall(the trees are breath taking)
sunny days
seeing a rainbow

There are probably a million more things but this is all I can think of off the top of my head It makes me feel good to think of all these things.

I have been doing some healthy eating since October. I went to a sale at Target yesterday and bought the digital scales that read out your weight, bmi and calories needed to maintain that weight. It gives pounds and 1/10’s also. Even more encouraging. I am not due for a weigh in until June 1st. I am going into it knowing there is a slight difference using a different scale. It came with a free pedometer and its a “Taylor” from the biggest looser show. It weighs up to 400 pounds….it tells you how many calories to cut to loose weight. It has hydration levels also. I can’t wait to start using it. It was on sale for $25.00 My other digital scales were getting hard to read, even with a new battery, they were used when I bought them and I had them for a year. I freecycled them to someone who had no scales. Now I just need to spend some time reading diet pill reviews and see if there is anything good on the market to boost my efforts to loose weight.

I was in Tupperware. I signed up for just the discount. My up line wanted me to sell but I am not a seller. I am a behind the sences person. But she pushed and pushed and I thought…ok….. I’ll give it a try. I found myself on the phone a lot and I mean A LOT! It was like I was a TM. I also found myself spending more then I made. I know in Tupperware you make 25% of what is sold and in Mary Kay (I have a friend in it) you make 50%. I also understand that it is 50% in Cookie Lee, too.
I know a lot of ladies that are doing good in a “Sells” home business. But it not for me.
My thoughts on it is this….
If you like doing the “party” thing and good at making friends and coaching people to buy, then it is a way to make money. I just see it as making pocket change. Not enough to pay high ticket items - house, car, boat, etc. It can be a good side job to pay off some CC’s. The income is not stable. Plus if you have little ones at home; it is hard to do the ‘calls’ on a professional level. Keep in mind that this is MY VIEW. I do have a friend in Tupperware that has done very well. She is the breadwiner and her hubby does nothing (bad marrige). All of her bills are paid with Tupperware. She has done good for herself but it took her 11 years to get to this point. I see it as a sloooow way to climb a ladder.
I am no longer in Tupperware. I still help my friends out when I find someone that is interested but as for me….I’m not selling…..and not planning on to do anything like it again.

It is census time and we are starting to see evidence of it in our neighborhood. I have watched this woman wander the streets with her census bag in an aimless manner for the last week. Apparently she needs some sort of pet talk or a bit of sales training to boost her confidence. It really seems like she needs something to give her the drive to actually do something other than walk around the neighborhood not ringing doorbells or approaching people to do her job.

I used to collect Boyd’s Bears but I haven’t really bought any in a long time. As a matter of fact, all of mine have sat in boxes since we moved, I need dh to put up shelves for them. I still collect Longaberger baskets when I can, those things can be pricey. I love to collect cookbooks and cooking magazines such as Taste of Home.

Our toddler has just started to get into playing dress up. I swear every time I turn around he is doing something that makes me want to get out the camcorder. The other day he put on my husband’s socks, shoes, and coat and was walking around saying “I going to work”. You think these little buggers are oblivious to what is going on the so many parts of their lives but they truly are just little sponges sitting back and absorbing it all. Thankfully most of it is coming back at us in cute ways like this!

In my opinion this is just another “new” flu to get everyone excited about. Every year the regular flu mutates and is less likely to be effectively fought by the drugs the swine flu is no different.

I’m not getting excited, if you get it, you get it, and chances are you’ll recover from it without even knowing you had the swine flu.
There are some reports out that say the US had already had a bout of it, but because no one did a strain check on it people just thought they had a worse than normal case of the flu.

You can tell the weather is finally warm in our part of the world. I love the warm weather and being able to get outside. What worries me about the weather is the number of motorcycles now on the road. So many of them fly past our house so fast I can only hope they know a good bunch of motorcycle accident attorneys! Last night I know the guy going by our house had to be doing 80 miles and hour in a 35 mph zone. If just makes me wonder what would happen if a small child ran out in front of them or a car didn’t see them and started to back into the street.

I got this email today and thought it was pretty powerful.

Guess our national leaders didn’t expect this, hmm? On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton , Colorado , was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.

They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

“Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women.. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven chi ldren who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out f or answers.

“The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used… Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain’s heart.

“In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don’t believe that they are responsible for my daughter’s death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel’s murder I would be their strongest opponent.

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy — it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You’ve stripped away our heritage,
You’ve outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question “Why?”
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

” Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational
systems for most of our nation’s history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine’s tragedy occurs — politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. The! y immedi ately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

“As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA — I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your
own heart before casting the first stone!

My daughter’s death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!”

Do what the media did not - - let the nation hear this man’s speech…. Please send this out to everyone you can

Last week I started going to physical therapy for my back. My MRI report states I have a herniated disk, arthritis, and something called a interosseous hemangioma. I understand what the herniated disk and the arthritis are but can’t seem to find a good answer as to what if anything the last thing is. When I asked the physical therapist to explain it to me you would have thought I was asking him to tell me about mesothelioma or some other disease. He gave me this look that implied I wouldn’t understand no matter how he explained it. Clearly the man has no idea that I work in health care! I have been looking on the web but can’t find anything that explains why this would be of any significance in my back pain.

I rarerly wear any at all, just for special occasion, if then. The other day though, I realized they now make a tinted moisturizer. I made my own, a one time use, by putting baby lotion into the palm of my hand and adding a couple drops of makeup, mixed it in my palm, with the lotion and applied it to my face. It worked. There was no make up ” look ” but it evened out my ruddy skin tones and dried to a powdery finish. The baby lotion had an SPF to it, so I felt as if I was doing something good for my skin. In the past, any kind of regular make up just accented my wrinkles, this doesn’t….

As I sit here typing my older son and my husband are outside building earth boxes. We are getting industrious this year and going to try our hand at gardening. We have selected a variety of vegetable plants to grow in our boxes and simply can’t wait to see how they grow. Whether we have a bumper crop or not I will still consider the process a success. As a family we decided on a project and saw it from beginning to end which is really what is most important. It doesn’t stop me from hoping our plants thrive but I won’t be overly disappointed if they don’t.

We all sometimes need reminded about the friends we have in this world. I certainly loose sight on occasion of the people who are there for me no matter what.

You’re…
My Friend,
my companion,
through good times and bad
my friend, my buddy,
through happy and sad,
beside me you stand,
beside me you walk,
you’re there to listen,
you’re there to talk,
with happiness, with smiles,
with pain and tears,
I know you’ll be there,
throughout the years!

Author unknown..

The front porch on our new house is enclosed and I absolutely love it! Essentially it is a three season room. It is so nice to be able to sit our there and read the paper and enjoy time with my family. We have done quite a bit to make it feel homey. Aside from a table and chair we added a radio and a couple of comfy places to sit. There is cable running to this room so if we wanted to watch television out there we could. Right now I don’t know where we would put even one of those small tv stands but it sure would be nice on a hot night to sit outside and catch a bit of television!

With the housing market as low as it is, is anyone else seriously considering purchasing rental properties? Currently we only own our own home. But, we are seriously considering a small property, to rent out previously owed by family, so we are already familiar with it. With the going rate of rent in our area, we could almost double the mortgage payments. ( we wouldn’t always do that, we know to keep some back for a rainy day fund for the house…We’d still have it paid for in 5-7 yrs.) Houses here are cheap, cheap, cheap right now, but no one wants to buy or are able to buy. We paid more for our truck than we’d pay for this house. Our bank has already given us the go ahead with it. (and, they are one of the small local banks that are still doing well because they never jumped on the big corporation ban wagons, making all of these risky gambles.) And, we could swing the pmts should it ever be vacant for a few months every now and again. Even if the rainy day fund would get depleated. Though, the realtor said that really shouldn’t be an issue either, they claim there aren’t enough rental properties in the area. Now, we just have to decide if it’s really a GOOD idea for us. It’s one of those, I’m not sure we should just because we can…But, I can also see how it could be a very good investment for us in the future. Just trying to consider all sides of it at the moment. Anyone have any input on this one?

i have been desperate to get back in shape after putting on a few winter pounds. The problem is that I recently found out I have some herniated discs in my back. I have always had pain in my back but not to the degree I am now experiencing. It makes working out difficult because I seem unable to move for the next couple of days after I exercise. I guess I am going to have to look into what is the best weight loss pill. The doctor has me set up to start physical therapy and I am hopeful this may give me some direction as to exercises that I can do without paying the price afterward.

I have to share this afternoon’s accomplishment!! I adapted my favorite banana bread recipe to use whole wheat flour. This go-around, I also replaced the sugar with Splenda brown sugar blend and honey. Kinda defeats the purpose when you add chocolate chips, but it’s the thought that counts, right? I thought it was neat that they formed their own streusel topping.
Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
(makes 12)

1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 c packed brown sugar (I used 1/4 cup Splenda BSB here)
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c ripe banana (it took 3 mediumish ones)
1/4 c honey
2 lg eggs
2 c WW flour
1/2 c chopped walnuts (subbed 1/2 mini choc chips)

Preheat oven to 350. Line 12 muffin cups with liners or spray with Pam.

Beat butter, sugar, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla until smooth. Add banana, honey, and eggs. Beat again until smooth. Add flour and nuts (chips), stir until mixed but do not overmix.

Fill muffin cups (they were almost clear full) and let rest about 10 minutes. Bake 23-28 minutes. Let cool only a couple minutes in the pan before removing…you don’t want the bottoms to steam.

You could also make this in a 9×5 loaf. Baking time is about 1hr…if it’s getting pretty brown on top, I’ll lay a piece of foil over it with 10-15 minutes to go.

I am very anxious to get back to working out on my exercise equipment. About a month ago I started having some pain in my stomach and strayed away from my workouts. I kept thinking it was one thing or another but have never made my way to the doctor’s office. I know this is foolish but I just haven’t found the time given my hectic schedule. Lately it really seems like what I might be feeling is not some dreaded gastric disease but simply a hernia. It makes the most sense that this is what I have considering the abdominal surgeries I have had in the past and when my symptoms started occurring. Has anyone out there had a hernia repair done and if so how did it work out for you?

We as a nation of well blessed people, have taken everything for granted, until we hit a hard patch in the road. Many never hit the hard patch, so some did not grow up grateful for what they have and understanding that you have to work for what you get. There are tons of teens who think that if they don’t like a job, they just quit, before securing another one. You’re right, we needed this to make us less consumer focused and more mindful of using what we have and for us to tell the difference between the needs and the wants.

Wanting means you could get by, just not as easily without whatever it is that you want. ie: you can wash dishes in a sink, making a dishwasher a want.

Need means there is no alternate method of getting something done, you’re going to wash dishes in the sink, but have no detergent, making that a need. Sadly there are way more wants than needs nowadays. Especially with the young.
One thing I read once about millionaires, they know their needs from wants. They may have a million, but the ones who worked for it, are the most likely to be bringing their lunch to work, the ones who inherited the money wouldn’t think of that, its dinner out. The earners usually drive older cars, the gimmies have the flashy cars.
I think a lot of people are learning how to get by right now. Channel 4 every night is giving tips on how to save $$… Who knows, maybe the younger people will wake up, before we all are dependent on them for our social security checks

For some time I have been paying a little more than the amount due on each of our bills. My plan is to have a credit built up so that if something should happen and we are tight on money our bills are not going to be an issue. Apparently my plan went a little overboard because instead of getting an auto insurance bill this month I was sent a refund check for overpayment on our bill. It was a bit of a surprise to find out that not only am I paid for the next few months but I also have extra money to put towards other bills.

I went to CVS last night and got 6 or 7 bathrobes (red, white, or pink) on clearance for $1.49. They were still marked $14.99 but rang up for $1.49. I’m going to use them for Christmas gifts for the women in my family. I’m thinking about maybe getting some more to give to the kids’ teachers also (I think I’ll have 6 next year!) Today I was at my local Krogers and they are having a sale on a new brand of diapers called “Comforts.” They were $5.99 on sale and then had a $3.00 peelie coupon on them. I got 4 bags for $2.99 a bag. They are also had a clearance buggie that had Softsoap bathroom soap for .59 and 3 pk. bars of soap for $1.49.

I am one of those people who just doesn’t like to see the doctor or take medicine. Something has to really get to me to make me go to the doctor. For over a year I have been having lots of pain in my neck and shoulders. I had an MRI but it didn’t really show anything. I have tried different computer desks and chairs thinking that these might be the problem. The pain will go away for a while and then it is right back. Finally, I went out and got my prescription for muscle relaxers filled. At last I have some relief from the pain. It does make me wonder just what could be causing the pain since it never really goes away?

These are amazing and take only a few minutes to make.

Gourmet Flatbread Crackers
1 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
2 T. cold butter
1/2 t. herb of choice
1/4 t. ground black pepper (opt)
1/4 c. water

Preheat oven to 400*. Process all ingredients but water. Slowly add water until misture holds together. Process until mixture forms a ball.
Turn dough out onto a floured 9X13 baking sheet. Divide dough into two equal portions. Roll reach portion on baking sheet as thin as possible. (Pay close attention to the middle). Prick all over with a fork. Score lightly with a knife for breaking crackers apart after baking. Bake 10-12 minutes. Crackers will start to turn golden at edges. Repeat with remaining dough.

My favorite is dill (& no pepper). A great recipe to mix & match different flours & herbs.
Try a batch and post your favorite combination.
Would be good with garlic and parmesean cheese mixed in too. I have been experimenting with different flours but am still trying to find the perfect combination to make a high fiber cracker that is savory. I am open to any suggestions if you try the recipe

This week has taken the energy right out of me. I am just sitting here dreaming of being at one of those Outer Banks rentals hundreds of miles away from here. I love my house but living close to my family sometimes adds a certain degree of stress to my life. Today was one of those days where I just wanted to run away and hide. I am at a stage in life where my parents are starting to rely on me for more and more. I love them but it is kind of sobering to have to start taking on the role of being their care taker.

It am always interested to find out what people account for when planning their budgets. Some people only count food items whereas others allow for toiletries and health items in their food budgets.

I will hold on to my receipts, but I think I’m pretty on target with my estimate. although I don’t think I’ve included diapers and toiletries. It might be a little more if I do that. I do tend to spend more if meats and produce are on sale. I like to keep a stockpile so I always have a meal plan.

I want to plant a small garden this year. I don’t have a lot of room, and the sun isn’t so great in my backyard due to large trees. I usually manage to plant some tomatoes in large planters. I’d like to get some peppers and onions planted as well.

There are so many things I love about children. The only thing that really strikes me lately is their ability to enjoy simple pleasures. Our littlest son can find amusement in almost anything. If you give him and empty cardboard box or even a selection of replica watches the child will happily amuse himself for an hour. Right now he is sitting with a set of flash cards lining them up on the floor with the greatest amount of delight. Why does this simple joy escape us as we get older? Life certainly would be cheaper if flashcards were equally amusing to teens and adults.

We probably spend around $400 a month. Family of four with two boys who eat like the man! I buy my staples in bulk- oats, grains, baking goods, sprouted grain tortillas, yogurt, butter, raw cheese, beans, nuts, dried fruits, etc. I buy most of my olive oil and organic broth at Big lots- when stuff like that comes in I’ll buy as much as I can. I’ve been buying meat and eggs from locally raised sources, so I mostly get produce at the grocery. what I buy each month varies a lot, but we always have to have lots of fruits and veggies. I don’t “budget” for food- I do limit how many expensive ingredients I buy- I love gourmet food and stuff like european bleu cheese is amazing, but expensive. If I buy something like that, we don’t go out to eat that month, but we enjoy what we make so much. I have gotten rid of a lot of debt and other expenses- we don’t have cable, we own our cars, etc., so I’d rather spend more on really nutritious food. I also think that in the long term we’ll be healthy and that’s worth it to me. But really, I don’t think $400/month is too bad considering how well we eat!

Just about 2 years ago I purchased a laptop and for the most part it has been great. In the last couple of weeks it has started to act up. It doesn’t turn on every time I press the button. This is just a bit troubling as I don’t really have the money to replace it right now. This isn’t to say I would not love a Toshiba Satellite laptop or something new and fancy. Right now I am just hoping to get at least one more year out of it before I have to either replace or repair it. It always makes you appreciate something just a little bit more when it starts acting sick and my laptop is like my left arm these days.

We decided a couple of weeks ago to try and use as many organic and natural products as possible. This has been a big change for our family. This isn’t to say we have totally made the switch but we are trying.
Tonight I made this recipe and I must say it was a hit!

4 fish filets (8 oz. each)
extra virgin olive oil (for drizzling)
1 1/2 tsp each of ground cumin and sweet paprika
1 tsp each of salt, black pepper, and ground coriander

Preheat a cast-iron skillet or grill pan to high. Drizzle fish the oil. Mix spices together and rub into fish. Cook fish about 3 minutes on each side.

We eat this so often that I just mixed larger quantities of the spice blend and keep it in a shaker. The kids all cleared their plates tonight.

There’s also a recipe for an olive salsa to top the fish with:
3 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
a handful of cilantro leaves, finely chopped
1/2 small red onion onion chopped
12 large green olives, pitted and chopped
the juice of 1 lime
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes.

It has been about two years since I purchased a Linksys router in order to go wireless. Looking back I don’t remember how I ever functioned. There is no way I could get my work done, home school our son, and watch a toddler without wireless capability. Our older son attends a virtual charter school and having a home network is an absolute must. Being able to take my laptop from room to room just makes my life work so much better. It is just me or is anyone else out there really thankful for this age of technology?

I was wondering if anyone else is planning their gardens already? Where I live it’s still snowing here, so hubby thinks that it’s funny that I’m already buying seeds. I went to our local Co-Op and the lady was putting all the new seeds out. I went ahead and bought our corn, green beans and lettuce seeds. Then I went into Walmart and they were putting out all their Lawn and Garden items and I found seed packs for .20 a pack. I bought 60 packages of tomatoes, watermelon, peppers, squash, pumpkin and sunflowers.

Who else is planning their garden and what are planning out planting?

Life has a way of throwing you little kicks to keep you wondering what is next. A couple weeks ago our van was hit while parked in the street. It didn’t look like that much damage from the outside but when they put it up on one of those car lifts they found $2000.00 in damage. Then we took the other car to be inspected and they said it needs rotors and brakes. Today, our cat got sick and is not getting better so we are headed to the vet office in the morning. Just enough to make we wonder what might come next?

This is healthy and cheap which make this an ideal recipe for today’s economy and keeping a budget in line!

2 cans of mixed beans
2 cans of chickpeas
1 celery stick (chopped into rough pieces - not too large)
1 brown onion (chopped finely)
1 box cherry tomatoes
1 can beetroot
1 lebanese cucumber

Mix all that together with a bit of red wine vinegar and it tastes amazing. Very healthy too!

It is looking like I need to look into the best diet pill again. Given the recent stress surrounding the budget in our state I have been in a bit of a panic. Our governor is threatening massive layoffs and my husband works for the state. When I am stressed I find it very hard to focus on taking care of myself. This is something I really need to work on because it isn’t helping my waistline at all. I wish I was one of those people who throw myself into working out to deal with stress but I just am not.

Have you all been following this woman’s story? It just keeps getting better…..

She has collected 168,000 in disability payments…stemming from an on the job injury in 1999. She filed an additional claim in 2001, when her car was rear ended, following a doc appointment for the original injury. She says in her claim, she cannot tolerate prolonged sitting, standing, or walking. SO…if I understand correctly, she doesn’t intend to EVER work….

And are you kidding me?!?! What mother in her right mind, is going to try to raise 14 children, without ever tolerating prolonged sitting, standing or walking!?

The time has come to bust out your Nooka watches because new information has come to light about working out! Did you know that in as little as 7 minutes a day you could be healthy? It may be shocking news but just 7 minutes of REALLY vigorous exercise is all it take to improve your health. We can all give our bodies even that little amount of time each day. No more excuses for not working out are reasonable. I know people who spend 7 minutes a day staring at the fridge looking for something to eat!

I decided to teach my son about being heart healthy. We discussed what it means to be heart healthy and ways to keep your heart strong. We made a healthy meal and dessert of yogurt, fruit, and topping. We also found some cool interactive websites about the heart. And we cut out red paper hearts and put them throughout the house to remind us to eat healthy and exercise. I thought this being Valentines month was a great time to refresh this topic.

The weather here has been so cold that I just can’t seem to get warm. Even after a long workout where the sweat just pours down me I still feel cold. I would love to head off anywhere it is warm. Send me to Beverly Hills, Westgate, Atlanta, or the Keys and I will be a happy girl. When it is -8 degrees below zero the cold just seems to seep into every crevice of the house. I am sitting here right now with the thermostat set at 70 degrees, wearing thermals, and drinking coffee and I still feel cold.

Have you ever taken stock of how you feel after a workout? I noticed that while immediately after I usually feel tired that I do not feel stressed about anything. It is so nice to take this hour for myself, crank up my music and drift off into a different place. I have noticed however that I feel wonderful after a work out as long as I eat within 30 minutes and hydrate, otherwise I get extremely tired once the afterglow wears off. If I ‘refuel’ then I have tons more energy than I started with.

The last time I tried any kind of step aerobics was a few years ago. I could not keep up with the moves for the life of me and could seriously have used some type of safety equipment. Aside from the people packed in around me like sardines it impossible for me do. There is just something in my system that does not allow my body to step up and wave my arms about with any sense of coordination. Recently, I tried step aerobics again on our Wii Fit with marginal success. The Wii Fit told me I was “unbalanced”. At least I provide entertainment for those around me.

I know so many people who work out regularly and watch what they eat but also smoke. I just don’t understand it. Why do people take such care of their health on one level and totally abuse it on another? When I did go to the gym it always seems weird to me when people are gym members and smokers! The two things don’t seem to go together! The OWNER of my old gym smokes and was always going outside for a smoke break! When I first met him I didn’t believe he worked there, because he was smoking, come to find out, he’s the owner and a bodybuilder! How does that work?!

One post on the topic of why I don’t go to the gym just isn’t enough. Seriously, there are so many reason why we no longer have membership cards to the gym! I think I could blog on the topic for an entire week. Aside from the constant profanity in the weight room I just can’t stand people who don’t pick up after themselves. I have two kids at home to clean up after and don’t go to the gym to pick up after adults. If you bring a water bottle take it with you. If you sweat like a human sponge wipe stuff down. When you move from one piece of equipment to another take your stuff with you! Don’t come back a few minutes later and push around me to get your bag, bottle, mp3 player or anything else you left behind.