Five Simple Things (May 17)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These gifts.

I have been wanting to get a television in our front room for awhile. Not so much to watch television, but to be able to use for my yoga and Pilates workouts. Skylar and Jeff decided it was time for me to have that and surprised me on Mother's Day with a nice sized smart TV, flowers, and a home cooked meal that they both planned out. I was definitely surprised and grateful.

2. This doggy.

Hardy loves rolling in the grass, especially after it's been mowed. He has horrible allergies and him rolling around always makes them worse, but life is short, right? We just let him do it and enjoy himself.

3. These ducks.

We got the ducks their own stock tank, similar to our cold plunge tank, so they can swim around and get off their feet. Fern and Mallie seemed to enjoy it right away, but Quappy took a little bit to know that it was a safe space.

4. These ladybugs.

This week we released some ladybugs we purchased at a local farm supply store. We released them near some rose bushes we recently planted along a fence line that we share with the neighbor's house. I hope they stick around.

5. These boxes.

We tore apart our garden boxes this week. We have had these garden boxes for over 10 years and they were in need of some care. We evaluated whether to repair them and decided they were in too rough of shape to save them. We are hoping some of the boards will be okay enough to use for new boxes for a smaller garden space we are creating in a different part of the yard for next year's growing season.

One last thing:

This week's Misfits Market grocery shipment came in on Friday. We did a smaller order this week, but I think we ordered some great products. You can still get $10 off on your first order here.

Positive affirmations this week:

You are allowed to say no to things that you really don't want to do. Whether it's family, friends, or even work related projects that are not your responsibility. Saying no more often to things that don't serve you, or that don't require your energy gets easier the more you do it. If you don't want to go somewhere, say no. If you don't want to help someone, say no. If you just don't feel like it's a day that you can give much energy, say no. The people that understand that will respect that and give you that space. Setting boundaries for yourself isn't wrong and if you aren't being respected for those boundaries you set, then maybe it's time to reevaluate the people you give your time and effort to.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

Aurora Borealis

 We had a great view of the aurora borealis here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. We went to an area where we were away from city lights and had a large view of the sky without any other obstructions. A few others had the same idea we had, but it wasn't too crowded overall. We went to the top of a hill at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge. It was the perfect spot to see the full aurora borealis.

Five Simple Things (May 10)

 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.