Life at a "Swell's" pace

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This popsicle.

We recently discovered Jonny Pops. We love rainbows in our house and these popsicles are always a treat for us. We found these at our local food co-op, but after some online sleuthing we found some different varieties and you can use their "Product Locator" to find the ones you are looking for. There are also ones that you can order online and have them shipped right to you house. Since June is Pride Month, we love the multicolored flavor this month. The best part about these popsicles, they are organic and made with delicious flavors.

2. These prints.

We just love Hardy (aka Mr. Farts). He is getting older, so we are cherishing every moment with him. He turns 16 this coming November.

3. These subscriptions.

Mighty Nest and Kiwi Eco Box sent some great items this month. I'm not too keen on the metal lint remover, but I love the wool fabric fresheners. They are easy to use and take just a drop or two of essential oil and throw right into a drawer, backpack, and even in a lunch box. With Kiwi Eco Box, I love everything this month, especially the lunch box.

4. These plants.

Some plants thrive in Oregon and some don't. I'm still on a learning curve, even though I've been here for over 10 years. Right now, though there are some thriving plants, and they are putting on their best show. The older I get the more it bothers me when plants die. I have had people make fun of me being upset when one of my plants dies, but the way I see it, how can you value life when plants don't matter? I love that I care about all living things and not just the ones I pick and choose.

5. This day.

Sum... Sum... Summer time!

One last thing:

I have been using more CBD massage oils lately and this one is great. Unfortunately, this company has stopped selling this particular oil blend, but most reputable CBD massage oil companies take pride in their products and offer good oils. The best thing to do is read the label and do research on the company before buying. Here are a list of good ones that was put out through Massage and Fitness Magazine this year and two companies on the list make great CBD products. Remember, reading and doing a bit of research on any product will help you find just the right product for you.

Positive affirmations this week:

Hot Tip! No shame in taking a break. Never feel guilty for concentrating on you. You are what matters the most!

You can do this! 🌈

Have a nice weekend.

This recipe has pretty much become a go-to for holiday snacks in our house. We sometimes make them before we take off to go camping, or before the weekend begins. They can be made up ahead of time and placed in an airtight container in the refrigerator and popped into the microwave, air fryer, or oven for a short time to warm them back up, because they are best served hot.

20-30 jalapeño peppers (seeded and cut lengthwise in half) **use gloves for this**
3-4 (8oz) blocks of cream cheese (room temperature)
1 tablespoon of onion powder
1 teaspoon of pepper
1 teaspoon of salt (to taste)
1 tablespoon of jalapeno juice (this adds some additional spice to the mix)
10-12 jalapeno seeds (more or less to your own spice tolerance)
Cooked bacon (entire package)

Mix cream cheese, onion powder, pepper, salt, and seeds together in a bowl and fill each jalapeño shell with mixture. Be sure to overfill to your desired amount. Cut bacon into small diced pieces and sprinkle on top of cream cheese mixture.