Life at a "Swell's" pace

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This rainbow.

One must endure some rain in order to enjoy the rainbows.

2. These trees.

These Hawthorn trees always put on such a grand show in the spring season every year.

3. This backyard.

Being gone for several weeks on our cross country trip left much to do when we returned.

4. These bookshelves.

Two new bookshelves we purchased at IKEA are doing a great job displaying our things of love.

5. This soap.

Simplifying our routine has been the best thing we have done for our household and our family. We recently added Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soaps (peppermint) to our bathing routine. We have always enjoyed Dr. Bronner's, but getting into a more simple way of personal care with this brand has saved our skin, and Jeff's face. Plus, the soap bars come wrapped in paper instead of plastic, which is a win/win in my opinion.

One last thing:

I've been using collagen a lot more lately, internally and externally. Collagen powders in my morning and afternoon drinks/soups, and collagen masks and creams for my skincare routine. I recently discovered that Rael, the same makers of the period underwear I've talked about before on my blog, makes skincare products, too. These Rael Collagen Face Masks were an "on the fly" purchase from Might Nest this month. I have tried two of them so far about four days apart and I have noticed a difference. Not only are they hydrating, but I have noticed some of the finer lines fading a bit. I am not afraid of aging, and honestly I am eager to see how I age over time, but being over 40 I am at the point where I want to hold onto my youth just a bit longer.

Positive affirmations this week:

"I realize how subtle are the influences that shape our destines." -Nikola Tesla

The quote reflects a common theme in human experience, where small, seemingly insignificant events or actions can have profound and far-reaching consequences on a person's life path and future. Keep this in mind when navigating through your mental health issues. The best kept secret is that other people's influence and options have no baring on how you live your own life. But it's a hard task to practice from day to day. But remember, practicing letting go of those subtle situations can be done and will be more beneficial to you in time.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This window.

Sometimes the view is different outside this window where I work, but it's always a view I enjoy with the half curtains closed. With my noise-canceling headphones on, I sometimes daydream as I did in school. No shame here, because daydreaming from time to time helps clear my head for good and productive work.

2. These souvenirs.

I am still going through souvenirs from our trip and these three are a treasure. They are from New Mexico and handmade from local Native Americans in that area. As someone that is part Native, it gives me great joy to be able to buy from other tribes. The nightlight is handmade pottery, and the ornaments are made of earthen clay. And, when I unwrapped them, the newspaper the lady wrapped them in read, "Gallup, New Mexico." I will be keeping the ornaments wrapped in the same newspaper so I can relive the moment year after year.

3. This city.

Portland, we love you!❤

4. This wind.

It started storming this week, but only a little rain fell. We were hammered with more thunder and lightning than anything else. Our fingers are crossed that none of the strikes start wildfires.

5. This post.

As a proprietor of a Free Little Library, there are no banned books in our library. All are welcome and we are a LGBTQ+ ally.

One last thing:

I have been loving the Dae Prickly Pear Hair Oil lately and along with the other products from Dae, this is another one I am adding to my everyday use. After surfing, I rinse the ocean water out of my hair and apply the hair oil. The smell is incredible, but it leaves my hair less damaged overall. Right now, you can get 10% off your first order, too!

Positive affirmations this week:

"True happiness, consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice." -Ben Johnson

But what does that really mean? It means that the amount of your friends doesn't matter. You could have thousands of friends, yet still be lonely. The importance of your friends needs to come down to the worth of the friends, are they good people, are the trustworthy, etc., and the choice of friends. Chosen the people around you that you can count on and know they will always been there for you is important. As we age we realize that our amount of friends goes down, because we start realizing our own worth and cut contact with the "so called friends" we thought we could count on. So remember, even if you have two or three solid friends that are by your side no matter what, that's all that matters. It's best to keep your circle small and trusting, than large and questionable. This goes for family, as well. If they, too, aren't good for your mental health, rethink how they will fit into your life. Keeping certain people, even family at arms length isn't shameful, it's growth.

And on another note, if you're having issues fallen asleep, try the tip from Life Hack. Stretching is always a plus and as we age, it's even more important. But do it slowly, and stop if anything hurts.

(I am not a medical professional. All tips here are things that have worked for me and I am passing on the information to you, the reader. If you are concerned about stretching before bed, please consult a healthcare physician.)

You can do this!🌈