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Christmas Traditions

12/16/2012

Do you celebrate Christmas? This time of year can be so busy, but it is wonderful in many ways. I try to focus on what is good about this time of year...like traditions. One tradition we have is that each year our girls receive a Christmas ornament that represents some aspect of the year. This year we vacationed at the ocean...and I had no idea how much I would enjoy it! So, we each put sand & shells in the clear plastic ornament of our choice.

Another tradition I have kept alive is giving each girl a new pair of pajamas to open on Christmas Eve. Well, this year it looks like this one will end. The girls say that they have enough pajamas and they don't really want to get more on Christmas Eve. So, what's a sentimental mom to do? I can't argue the fact that they have plenty of pajamas, but I really don't want this tradition to end. What can I replace it with? Please let me know about your family's Christmas trad

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Coconut Oil

12/15/2012

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I'm crazy for coconut oil...just ask my family! I rediscovered it recently...I'm not sure how...but I'm so glad I did! It is a great moisturizer, and many health benefits are discussed on various websites. It is working well on my very dry winter skin, smells wonderful, and adds a subtle coconut flavor to foods/drinks. It is one ingredient in the lotion sticks I made recently, and I have enjoyed a little bit in my morning coffee (with a bit of chocolate flavoring) and on my toast. I'm looking forward to trying it in more recipes...there are so many out there! If you have a great recipe you'd like to share, feel free to leave it in a comment...thanks!

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Forgiveness

12/11/2012

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"Genuine forgiveness does not deny anger but faces it head-on."
Alice Duer Miller

I never really thought about it this way before, but it's true. Forgiving someone, even yourself, cannot happen if feelings are denied or stuffed way down deep. In order to forgive, we must do the messy work of dealing with difficult events and feelings. Sometimes the choice to forgive must be repeated many times before tiny signs of healing begin to invade the space once taken by anger, grief, hurt...unforgiveness. It is often a very difficult choice to make, but I will continue to work towards giving, and receiving, forgiveness.

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Brain Games

12/10/2012

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Today I decided to exercise using Wii Fit Plus. We haven't been on the Wii in awhile, and it was obvious that I was using muscles I hadn't used lately...I'm thinking I'll be a little sore tomorrow! So, I know I need more regular exercise, and more than just a walk. You see, I have not been very consistent with physical exercise lately. Mental exercise on the other hand...

I have been training my brain lately! Lumosity.com is a website with games to help you exercise different functions of your brain: speed, memory, attention, flexibility, and problem solving. I think they still have some free games, but I have subscribed so I have planned training sessions and access to more games. (Right now a subscription is less than $5 per month for one account.) The games are fun, and when I train regularly I can really see improvements...in the games and in every day life. Our younger daughter invited us to play a lumberjack game on the Wii tonight, and I won almost every game against her and my husband. It was obvious that my regular training on Lumosity had helped my brain function better! I've been saying things about how I see the difference in little things during every day life, but the game made it clear to others. Our daughter says she wants an account now, so we might need to look into the friends and family plan!

(I don't get anything for promoting Lumosity...I just think it's fun and it works well, so I thought I'd pass it along. If you do check it out, please let me know what you think!)

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The No (sham)Poo Method

12/5/2012

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I stumbled upon the "No Poo Method" a few weeks ago while I was wandering around in cyber space looking for something else. I was intrigued. There is plenty of information out there about all the harmful chemicals in regular shampoos & conditioners. There are some natural alternatives, but have you seen the price tags?! The health benefits, and, honestly, the cheapness of it, were enough to reel me in! I read a few blogs on how to do it, and a few testimonies on how well it works. It didn't take long for me to decide I wanted to give it a try.

I began using baking soda water to clean my hair, and apple cider vinegar water to condition it. It has been a few weeks now and I have to say I'm impressed! It took a little adjusting to find a the right amounts when mixing things up (in my new handy dandy squirt bottles from GFS), but now the mixtures are easy to make and use. (If you would like to see how I mix it up, you can find that on the Recipes page.) My hair stays clean longer, feels soft, and smells fresh (well, my husband says it smells fresh...it's too short for me to really smell it).

Our younger daughter decided to try it too (because, as she says, she likes to be a guinea pig) and it works well on her thin, course, curly blonde hair. In fact, her hair lost much of the damaged look that always makes people think she swims frequently. I was surprised how easy it was for her to brush through her hair after her shower. I don't know if she will use this method exclusively, but she will definitely continue to use it. A friend of mine who was unhappy with the results she was getting from regular products decided to try it as well and is very happy with the results. If you decide to give it a shot, I'd love to hear about it!

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Time Flies...

12/3/2012

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It has been just over a year since I started a blog...and almost a year since I stopped writing posts! Last year at about this time I decided that I was going keep a thankfulness blog for a year (starting the day after Thanksgiving)...it lasted almost three weeks. Those posts are all those leading up to this one...almost a full year later. I didn't stop being thankful, of course, but I became less intentional and stopped blogging about it. I lost sight of my purpose in typing out all those posts about the things for which I was thankful. I got distracted and forgot about it for too long. Reading through all those old posts, though, made me realize how important it is to record some of those thoughts and feelings. It is so easy to start drowning in the waves of every day life...sometimes feeling like all I can do is break through the surface for a quick breath of fresh air... So, even though I failed to do what I set out to do so many days ago, I begin again with renewed hope...and a different plan. I choose to learn from my failure and strive for "good" instead of "perfect." Right now, that means a blog that does not have to be posted to every single day, and includes thoughts on many different topics. My goal this time is to jump in, enjoy the ride, and hopefully meet a few new friends along the way!

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Welcome!

I enjoy being wife to Chuck, and mom to two beautiful girls. This blog is a record of family fun, thankfulness, mistakes, achievement, frustration, healthy living, unhealthy living, good ideas...in general life as I know it. I hope you find something helpful or encouraging...feel free to share your thoughts.

Christmas Traditions

Coconut Oil

Forgiveness

Brain Games

The No (sham)Poo Method

Time Flies...

Welcome!

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