Life at a "Swell's" pace

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This Advent.

This is the second year we're done the advent calendar. It's a large part of Skylar's gift giving, but it also adds in a lot of great, little gifts he has asked for throughout the year. I will probably continue to do this each year, no matter how old he gets. It really is a lot of fun. You can see what I put in these little bags per my Instagram post here.

2. This Test.

Skylar finally got into the DMV here in our city after waiting what seemed like two years. It was hard to get an appointment where both Jeff and me could be there to watch him. He did a great job and the lady that did his test was a perfect match for his personality, too. He told her that he has a slight hearing issue and she really helped him out in being able to hear the instructions clearly. He is now a licensed driver, and he gets to retire his permit. Next thing will be him driving by himself, but I am still not really.♥

3. This View.

If you've never seen the western side of the Cascade Mountain Range, well there it is. Covered in snow and looking lovely. Honestly, the people that have lived in this area their entire life really take these mountains and views for granted. I've lived here for almost 18 years and I never take any of it for granted and sometimes, the view is so amazing I actually tear up. Oregon is such a beautiful state.

4. This Box.

This is the November Kiwi Eco Box and the soap in this box smells amazing! The Happy Thanksgiving card is a plantable greeting card that can be soaked in water and planted in dirt to grow wild flowers. This box is always my favorite one to receive and I can't say enough about it. You can sign up for it here.

5. This Wine.

I honestly hate wine, but these wines by Snoop Dogg I just can't pass up. I love the old crime labels on the bottles and now there is one with Martha Stewart on it. I will probably snag any of these I find and hang onto them. I love these two bottles with the Sepia-toned criminals on the label. Reminds me of our podcast and all the 1800s serial killers we've covered.

Did you catch the Winter Hexagon this week (11/29), or the Moon near Mars (12/1), or Venus at its brightest (12/3)?

Positive affirmations this week:

One thing I learned during therapy sessions is the five-point recentering method. It's called many different names, but overall it helps you focus on other things and helps get your anxiety, PTSD, or any other moment of mental health distress back to a more manageable level. If you aren't familiar with this method here are the key points to remember. It's five points with your senses-sight, feeling, listening, scent, and taste.

*Five things you can see around you at that very moment.

*Four things you can feel at that very moment.

*Three things you can hear at that very moment.

*Two things you can smell at that very moment.

*One thing you can taste at that very moment.

When you're in a moment of uncertainty with your mental health struggles, this is a good practice to get into in order to bring you back to where you need to be to be able to handle what you're going through. It won't fix things at that moment, but it does help with the disassociation. It's always good to have someone there to support you in those times, too, that can help walk you through the five point-centering. You can do this!

Have a nice weekend.

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This Holiday.

Thanksgiving was great this year. This holiday always means something different to me than it does for most people. I tried to take my own life a few years ago and was placed on suicide watch for 72 hours. When I finally came out of the clouds it was the day before Thanksgiving. I had a lot to be thankful for that year and every year after that. I have a lot to live for and people around me every day that help me, support me, and encourage me. It's a constant battle with the demons of my past, but I am always grateful that I make it to another Thanksgiving each year. We cooked everything at home this year and I even made my very first pumpkin pie. I hate cooking and baking, but every once in awhile I will get in a weird mood to try something. A lot of things I cook or bake aren't the best, but sometimes I do okay. Happy Thanksgiving.

2. This Hat.

Recently we took a hike at Silver Creek Falls and in the nature store I snagged this hat and the soaps below. It was a nice time getting out and about after being inside for several weeks. This beanie will get some great use in the coming weeks. It's supposed to get down pretty cold and stay there for awhile.

3. This Soap.

4. This Meal.

Haven't been feeling 100% lately and sticking to my bed has helped me recover. The meals in bed by Skylar and Jeff have also helped. For a bit I thought I might have coronavirus, but all tests I took, which was four, showed a negative.

5. This Aid.

Along with not feeling my best lately I have also been sore. I've been working out a lot more lately, so I think my feeling of being drained and "sickly" could be contributed to that, as well. I have had this pain relieving cream for awhile and really put it to good use these last couple of weeks. The ingredients are all natural and the arnica has done a lot of my sore muscles, especially my back. I don't remember who made this cream, but it I run across it again I will share.

Did you catch the moon near the Shoe Buckle Cluster this week (21), or the moon passing the Beehive Cluster (24)?