Five Simple Things (January 27)

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These Stamps.

We rarely mail anything anymore, but when we do we make sure to purchase Forever Stamps with meanings. These bring awareness to the struggles behind PTSD and how all mental health issues need to be talked about more without judgement. As someone that struggles with mental health issues, especially PTSD, these stamps make me feel seen and heard. You can get a sheet of these stamps here.

2. This Light.

We went to IKEA this week and I just loved this little mouse nightlight. I've been finding some really cute and interesting lights lately, and adding this one to my collection was a solid.

3. This Box.

Kiwi Eco Box is always a welcome arrival in our house. This month's items are definitely being put to use soon. The bamboo clothes pins, the hand soap, the bottle brush, and the mesh produce bag will all be a great addition to our sustainable household. You can sign up to get on the February mailing list for this monthly subscription here.

4. This View.

On January 23, this week Venus and Saturn lined up with the moon and gave off the brightest views. I've always loved how the moon and planets sit from our view on Earth, but when the planets can be see from our own planet and light up the night sky, that's incredible. What a time to be alive, right?

5. This Dish.

On our Diabolic Evil Discord server we share a lot of random horror topics and pictures, but we also share things from our real life, including food. This week one of my moderators shared this Shepard's Pie recipe and I gave it a shot. It was delicious and definitely something we will be making again in the future. Here's the recipe:

For filling:

1 pound ground beef, cooked
3/4 cup frozen carrots, fresh or canned
3/4 cup corn
3/4 cup green beans
1 tbsp. minced garlic
2-3 mini tomatoes, or Roma tomatoes, diced
2 small jalapenos, diced
1 onion, diced
Olive oil, enough to coat a medium cast iron skillet
1 tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tbsp. salt (or less to taste)
1/2 tbsp. pepper
1/2 tbsp. garlic salt
1/2 tbsp. garlic powder
1/4 tbsp. paprika
1/4-1/2 cup beef or vegetables broth

Oil pan and on medium high heat add garlic seasoning and vegetables. Cook about 10 minutes before adding the cooked ground beef. Add remaining seasonings and stir. Add broth and cook for about five to six minutes. Turn off heat and set aside.

For top:

6-8 medium to small potatoes, cleaned and cut into 8tbsp.
Half a head of garlic
1 1/2 sticks of butter
1/4 cup milk
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
fried onions in a can

Boil potatoes and garlic until fork tender, drain water. Add milk and butter and smash together, or mix in an electric mixer. Mix well to combine everything together. Add salt and pepper and taste the potatoes. If more or less salt and pepper need to be added, add them now and mix once more.

For cooking:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Spread out meat and vegetable filling evenly into cast iron skillet
Cover with mashed potatoes like you're icing a cake.
Sprinkle with a bit more pepper.
Cook for 10-15 minutes, checking often for spill-over.
Sprinkle with fried onions and return to oven.
Broil for about 10 minutes for a crisp top.

Serve hot!

One last thing:

This week was Skylar's last week at AutoZone. It was bittersweet, but for his first job outside the household, he learned a lot. Especially, how to deal with the public. He ended up working his way up to management while he was there and turning his key in was a sad moment. I told him that his first job is one he will never forget. Now his path takes him to college and we couldn't be more proud!

Positive affirmations this week:

While going to therapy these last few years, I've also been working with a dietitian. Eating disorders come on and stick with you for a variety of reasons, but with mine it was a form of control and punishment over myself and my body. Being raised in an environment where you're constantly having to live in fight or flight and not having control over your own decisions in a healthy way, you only cope so long before the trauma and abuse hit you. And, what I went through hit me like a freight train hard. I not only developed the absolute worse case of PTSD and CPTSD, I was also hit with a serious eating disorder. Over the course of therapy I came to realize I was only hurting myself and regardless of my past, I do have control of my present and my future. One of the things I've learned is a better relationship with myself. Exercise is no longer a form of punishing myself, but also reasons to love my body and what all it can do, and how strong I really am. I am now on a great path to healing physically and mentally and along the way I learned that exercise is beneficial other than just to lose weight. The image below may help you on your exercise journey. And if you're struggling with an eating disorder, just know that your body is yours. No one else is going to hurt you, but you. Love yourself the way you are and make peace with your past. I promise it does get better and those bad days are just that, one day. It will pass and you will have a fresh new day to start again. You really can do this. We can do this. We are going to be okay.