Growing an Avocado Plant

We've taken up the trend of growing avocado trees from seed. We have been saving our avocado seeds throughout the year and trying our best to get them to root. We've has a bit of success and therefore we've planted them in small pots and then combined them into a large pot all together. They've struggled a bit, but they are growing. We haven't read about how long it takes for them to grow larger, but for now we are happy with what we've created. The plants currently share a pot with some ginger found in the back of our refrigerator a few months ago. Waiting to see what happens with that, as well.

There's different way to get them to root, but I've always found that the toothpick balanced on the top of a glass has worked best for us.

I like to wait until there's a good group of roots showing and a small sprout coming from the seed before transferring them to soil.

These are the plants that the seeds above created. This is about a year's worth of growing. There is ginger in the pot with these, but overall there's definite success with the seeds. It's kind of satisfying to know that you can eat the avocados and with a little patience allow it to continue on with life. Everything in this world has a purpose, and I feel that sometimes giving other living things a chance to continue on living, is a great way to appreciate life on a different scale.

Easy Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are one of the first things I learned to bake once I was out on my own. But having to ice them and decorate them, is mostly something for holidays and special occasions, unless you have the time and patience. Just having a simple sugar cookie on any day of the year, or even just a quick cookie to take somewhere, or to eat on throughout the week, is something a lot of us enjoy. Sugar cookies, just baked and left by themselves, is such a simple cookie to mix together. The key to these easy sugar cookies is to roll them in sugar before baking, without the hassle of cookie cutters, or icing. Here is my version of "Easy Sugar Cookies" that you can make any time of the year. And the best part, they're soft.

Here's how to make these easy, soft sugar cookies:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking power
• 3/4 tsp. sea salt
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk

Mix dry ingredients together and set aside. Using a stand mixer, mix wet ingredients together starting with the butter. Combine butter and sugar, and add the eggs. Combine dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix well. Form into balls, about two tablespoons for each ball. Roll in granulated sugar, or colored sprinkles, flatten just slightly and lay on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for about 30-45 minutes, or freeze at this point to bake later.

Bake for 12-16 minutes at 350 degrees.

I would add to allow them to cool before eating, but nothing is better than a warm sugar cookie straight from the oven, so enjoy!

Five Simple Things (March 28)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These wraps.

These Earth Therapeutics hemp foot mask were just what I needed this week. My feet have been a bit more dry this season and these helped restore some moisture. They have hemp seed oil in them and you apply them to your feet and just wait. They also helped peek away some light layers of dry skin, too. You can get them here, or here. And, you can check out all of the self care items I recommend here.

2. This bath.

A score I found this week. I am excited to place it outside and watch it weather naturally. Patina weathering is my absolute favorite, but cast iron is second. Here is one for sale on Etsy. This are hard to find, so grab it while you can!

3. These bees.

I did an IKEA shopping trip this week on a hunt for a few items for an upcoming event. I saw these honey bees and I had to have them. I saw the little ones first and scooped up five of them. As we came around the corner I saw the queen bee. I immediately grabbed her and had her join the hive. I love honey bees, so this was a given. IKEA's stuffed animals are always catching out eye. I will never forget walking into IKEA after losing our dog Baz and seeing a stuffed animal that looked just like him. That stuffed animal has given us a lot of comfort on many occasions.

4. This addition.

February 13, 2025, we welcomed my brother's third boy. Andrew Michael Hardage came into the world. He looks a lot like my brother, as did all of his boys. They also sent me pictures of all of the other kids in their Oregon Ducks shirts and little Andrew in his Oregon Ducks onesie. Seeing all of them in their Oregon gear made my heart sore this week.

5. These items.

I also get excited when Kiwi Eco Box comes each week. Trying to live a more sustainable life it always helps me stay on track. Some waste cannot be avoided, but a lot of it comes down to habit. Each week I reevaluate where we are and shift our behaviors accordingly. It's a never-ending focus, but it is something I feel strongly about and will do everything I can to help mother nature. You can't save the world, but you can definitely help improve your little piece of it. You can get $5 off your first box here.

One last thing:

Birchbox also came this week. Birchbox over the years I've been with them has changed, but the one thing I love about them after all of these years is the brands they introduce me to. Some brands I am familiar with, but there's been a lot that I use today that Birchbox had a hand in. My favorite product from this month's shipment is the Our Lavender Co. Lavender Essential Oil Rollerball and the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Shampoo and Conditioner. I look forward to using both of them in the coming days.

Positive affirmations this week:

Breaking generational cycles of abuse is difficult to overcome. It's a challenging path. However, above all else, one thing that is truly brave and courageous is doing so. Coming from a troubled background of childhood abuse myself, I am pleased with the progress I've made throughout my life. It was a hard and difficult journey, and I dealt with a lot of adult bullying from those who did not understand the path I was on, but I overcame much of it. The abuse still tries to surface, and knowing that I still have unresolved issues with which I need to find closure or try to accept them, but I am so proud of myself for how far I have come. There are people, those who are supposed to be considered family, who came into my life during those times of healing and didn't understand that their behaviors, comments, and actions were also forms of abuse that I had to overcome while dealing with past abuse. I've come a long way with my healing, and I am proof that there is a path in the right direction. If you are dealing with these same traumas, please know that it does get better. Surround yourself with positive supporters; that is the biggest key to recovery. If you feel you are overwhelmed on certain days, reach out to those supporters, or call or text 988 to talk to a trained counselor who can help you see at least a little bit of light. If one day is hard, remember that tomorrow is a new start.

You can and will be able to do this!🌈

(Nate Postlethwait writes of complex trauma and offers a space where those that have experienced those traumas and hurt can feel seen, heard, and supported.)

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (March 21)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These samples.

Receiving these samples this week with my Might Nest order was a nice treat. I love Caldrea products a lot, especially their room sprays. 

2. This cleaner.

Mighty Nest sent all-purpose home cleaner this month and it couldn't come at a better time. I just ran out of my counter top spray and have been using vinegar to clean the last couple of days. I love how this Might Nest cleaner came in a glass bottle. I will definitely be reusing this bottle over and over again.

3. These groceries.

We ordered a small amount of fruits and vegetables this week from Misfits Market. We had already made a grocery shopping trip, but I wanted to support them, too. With grocery prices going up in costs, I have been shopping around more to find the best deal. Unfortunately, a lot of the grocery stores, online and off seem to have organic products at the same price. Hopefully, there's some breathing room coming soon. And, you can get $15 off your first order with me by using my code. They have so many great items, so give them a try!

4. These boxes.

These sleep trailers are such a nice and appreciated solution to our city's current homeless issue. The city I am in has its own share of troubles, like all cities, and one of them is making sure that homeless and unhoused individuals aren't sleeping in the cold or the rain. I try to offer people in need what I can when I can, but one thing I can't offer them is a place to sleep. Sleep Trailers are a great solution to that. These are currently on the far end of a church parking lot and I hope they stick around for awhile. They are managed and kept clean. They also offer bathroom facilities and a handwashing station. The community, from what I was reading, also provided donated blankets, pet food, and dinners for people staying in them. Communities are great when people actually want to help. They also work well when people come together to help each other, too. A lot of people seem to forget that.

5. This view.

We don't ever eat at the Costco food area, but it is a lot of fun to watch the pizza sauce being spiraled onto the dough.

One last thing:

This face oil from True Moringa has been saving my face through the winter. As I get older dry skin is creeping up. I found this face oil and when applied doesn't look oily and actually helps with my dry patches. The smell is light and I apply it morning and night.

Positive affirmations this week:

Trying to find the positives in a day that just doesn't want to allow you see them is a hard thing to do. But, if we let go of what went wrong today and focus on trying again tomorrow, we leave all of that negativity in the previous day. Allowing yourself to feel those feelings and be able to start again the next day can help you focus on moving away from what caused us stress to seeing the new day in a new light. Be sure to allow yourself to find gratitude in the day, too, though. Find five things every night that made the day go right. There is always positives to be able to see in a bad day. Five things you are grateful for will also help your brain to focus on things working out more the following day in a brighter light.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.