Life at a "Swell's" pace: 2024

Five Simple Things (October 25)

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These lights.

We frequent an antique store near us and we visited the store this week. I didn't have a plan for a purchase before we went in, but once I saw these wall sconces, I couldn't leave without them. The antique store is large, and you can easily get lost inside. I love how there are different sections for different things, and some things just stand out more than others. I need to get smaller light bulbs for them, but so far, I love them!

2. These boxes.

Birch Box and Might Nest came this week. My favorite thing in the Birch Box shipment is the Salt & Stone Bergamot and Hinoki Body Lotion, but I do love the Lué by Jean Seo Erase. It helped clear up a lot of my troubled acne on my cheeks.

3. This iron.

I recently found this Conair Steam and Iron that I plan on using while traveling. One of the things I missed when we traveled across the country in the bus was a way to iron some clothing. There isn't a full closet system on the bus yet, so it would have been nice to be able to iron a few pieces, or even steam them straight while on the road. This should come in quite handy for that. Here is the link to my storefront to grab one for yourself.

4. This jar.

A few months ago Skylar accidentally broke my vintage bee jar trap when he moved it from one shelf to another. Although it was an accident, he went on a hunt to find me a replacement. These jars are very hard to find, and I do love these trap jars, so I am glad he was able to find one similar. I can not find one online similar, but if it peeks your interest, keep your eye out for them being sold at estate sales.

5. These clothespins.

It's the end of the season and time to take down the clothesline. I had a canvas bag that I kept the pins in, but over 20 years of use, it gave out, sadly. I found this jar at Walmart, of all places, and it is working perfectly for the clothespins, for now.

One last thing:

I have been going back to counting calories. I lost 68 pounds doing this a few years ago and after my surgery in 2020, I developed an eating issue that is still currently being addressed. I've lost more than I should have during that time, so I am getting back on track with my health. I enjoy sweets from time to time, so counting out the serving size and making sure I am not getting too many calories from the wrong sources helps me keep track. These two sweets are some of my favorites, too. Yum Earth Giggles, and Yum Earth Gummies.

Positive affirmations this week:

One thing that helps keep your mental health on track is keeping a solid routine. Even a routine with three things is worth doing daily than nothing at all. I am a notorious routine keeper and when I feel like my mental health issues are getting worse, it's either something/someone has done something (the life of an empath is hard sometimes), or my routine hasn't been kept for a day, or even two days. I've had my mental health issues peek so bad that I have gotten away from my routine for over a week. It is then that I realize that I need to get back on track and cut out a few things in order to do that. The image below is a sample routine, but you can add or take away anything that doesn't suit your lifestyle. Just remember, some days just getting out of bed is an accomplishment, so don't push yourself too hard, and don't expect yourself to be a super hero. This is about progress, not perfection.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (October 18)

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This cookie.

We stopped at Whole Foods for lunch this week, and they have Halloween-themed cookies right now. We grabbed three different ones for each of us, but I just loved this mummy cookie.

2. This shadow.

Morning shadows got me thinking...

3. This measure.

When you're Rick-Rolled by the state for cannabis. Does it get any better than this? I love Oregon!

4. This sticker.

I get it! You brake all you want.

5. This sky.

The amount of rainbows I have seen in my 20 years of living in Oregon are amazing! It's one thing, of a list of many, that I love about the state.

One last thing:

Skylar's fossil collection is amazing! I love him and his creativity, and his loves. Jeff gave him this box from his job, and Skylar immediately created a showcase box for his collection. This picture was taken from when he took it to class to show it to his professor at college and his classmates. It was a hit!

Positive affirmations this week:

Every day should be a day that you think about what you are grateful for. Never forget, even in the most disparaging moments that there are still things to be grateful for. Your life is one of them. Just remember to keep thinking of positive things that are in your life. If depression has you in a hold that you can't get out of with positive thoughts at the moment, remind yourself that it's only temporary. You are strong! You are! Remind yourself that you are strong and you will get through this.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (October 11)

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These muffins.

The week called for banana muffins.

2. These flowers.

I got flowers from two different people this week, and it sure does feel good to be loved.♥

3. These subscriptions.

Mightynest and Kiwi Eco Box came this week. These jar lids from Mightynest are awesome! They fit on regular mason jars and can be used for syrups, sauces, or dressings. They definitely were the talk of our house this week. And, in the Kiwi Eco Box, my favorite thing is the bread bag. Although, I do love these wooden cotton swabs, the bread bag is going to come in handy, because I have taken up making homemade breads a lot more. More on that soon.

4. This fog.

I love a good fog picture.

5. This dog.

I mean... Get it, girl! She was ready to round up some sheep. I've seen this dog a few times on my way to work, or coming home. My parents had a cattle dog just like this named, Rosebud. They love to work, and this dog was ready to get it done!

One last thing:

These are now in the shop. Great gifts, or school supplies. The Dinosaur Egg Crayons are so cute, and the Beeswax Crayons and the Colored Pencils are so bright in color. You can check out the shop here, or click each name for what's pictured above.

• Colored Pencils-set of 12 (tall or short)

• Triangle Beeswax Crayons-Set of 8

• Eco-Kids Dinosaur Egg Beeswax Crayons

Positive affirmations this week:

I love this statement from Amber Fillerup Clark. It is such a true, and sad statement that really makes you think as a parent. I've had a lot of weeds planted in my life, and I am not alone. This statement doesn't just have to apply to your kids, it can apply to other people, and even yourself. Planting love blossoms is how all of us should go about life. Unfortunately, there are people that are wanting the weeds to grow and they don't care about how they take over. These people, mostly, are ones that need to love blossoms the most. But, in order to start the blossoms growing we have to focus on planting those love blossoms in ourselves, and making sure our children have a garden full of them. Self love is the best place to start.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (October 4)

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These flowers.

A lot of pops of color in the garden this season.

2. These sets.

I found these two sets, the LEGO Tiny Plants set and the LEGO Botanicals Bonsai Tree set for Skylar and there hasn't been a day yet that we haven't enjoyed them both. Here are some other great gifts that have been a hit in our house, too.

3. This rainbow.