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Five Simple Things (November 11)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These Brushes.

I've been dry brushing now for about three weeks and I am definitely seeing a difference in my skin. I am hoping to build a routine of it and highly recommend you starting. It's not so much a rough brushes, but a light skin exfoliation before your shower. I like to do my workout in the morning, dry brush, then shower, and finish my routine with my skincare and body care creams and serums. It's been such a nice self-care addition that I am fully enjoying. The ones pictured here are what I use and you can pick them up here.

2. This Cleanser.

I've been really enjoying this brand W3ll People, and I am totally into their charcoal face wash right now. On my path to change all of my face care and skin care products to ones that are better for me and the planet, W3ll People definitely hits that mark. You can check out their products here.

3. This Sponge.

Skylar was stocking the shelves at Autozone this week and saw this shark car cleaning sponge and immediately thought of me. It's sold mostly for washing your car, but I added it to my surf bag and am going to use it as a body sponge after surfing. A few rounds in the washing machine and I think it's perfect. And, I love that he thought of me in such a great way. 

4. This Eclipse.

 


Did you catch the full lunar eclipse this week? It happened for us here on the west coast on Tuesday morning, about 4:00 a.m. We made sure to wake up a few minutes before totality to see it and it was well worth it. I make sure to tell Skylar how important events like this are and how sometimes they are once in a lifetime. We are hoping to head down south to watch the next total solar eclipse in April 2024.

5. These Flurries.

 
We had a bit of snow flurries this week. I always love when it snows here, even if it isn't a lot. Once it sticks and covers the city everything looks so clean, white, and pretty. These flurries didn't last long, but they were a nice change from all the rain lately.

One last thing:

A few measures I've been keeping an eye on with this year's midterm elections. Oddly, I've never been invested in keeping track of anything political until recently. I do not claim to pick a side, I just follow what I think is important and decide accordingly to what will have an impact for future generations. I feel that short-term gains are a long-term loss when it comes to elections. And, with many being so focused on the now and how it impacts them currently, or take thing personal, the long-term should be the main focus for everyone. Anyone that reads this that disagrees, that's okay. The best part of living the United States of America is how diverse we are and how different views and opinions shape our land. With that said, here are the measures I feel will impact all of us and future generations in the long-term.
I am glad this finally got the votes to pass. Although it will be held up in the courts for awhile, I am still glad it passed with most of the state agreeing that this measure will help. I made some comments about this measure before and during the midterm and you can read that here.

This measure not passing is unfortunate for those that struggle and have a safe alternative to heavy medication. Hopefully, it will be brought to vote again and will pass.

This measure did pass after all votes were counted.


Positive affirmations this week:

If you're struggling with coming to terms with your body and losing weight, here are things that helped me.

  1. Wake up and get on the scale every day. Weight yourself every morning and write it down.
  2. Drink at least 16 ounces (2 cups) of water right when you wake up. After that, try to aim to drink half your weight in ounces of water a day.
  3. Eat at least two cups of vegetables by 2:00 p.m. and again by 6:00 p.m.
  4. Stop eating anything that doesn't taste good, or isn't filling, especially bad foods that lose their appeal after the first few bites.
  5. Chew gum to keep your mouth distracted from wanting to eat out of boredom.
  6. Write down your feelings when you feel they are tempting you to eat. Emotional eating is a habit and it not normal. Finding triggers that makes you learn towards food is the best way to break that habit.
  7. Set reasonable weight loss goals. Example: Eight pounds in a month, or 30 pounds in four months, etc.
  8. Exercising is always optional. You can either exercise and help your weight loss, or you don't. You always have a choice, but exercise in the long run will definitely be to your best benefit. Remember what I said, you always have a choice.
  9. Stop the excuses. It's either now, or later, and the sooner you do it the better you will feel.
  10. Keep reminding yourself that you are worthy of this and you CAN do this. Say it every day, every moment you have doubt, and every time you feel like you aren't doing enough. Progress, not perfection.
You can do this!

Five Simple Things (November 4)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These Lights.

I've had these for quite sometime now, but I always love the different shadows and glow they let create.

2. This Kitty.

She's very loving when she wants to be and being sick with Coronavirus these last two weeks, she's been extra attentive and a great "nurse."

3. This Costume.


Skylar dressed up like Emperor Palpatine for Halloween this year and I helped create the look of his face with makeup. He had a great time and I always tell people, you're never too old to dress up each year and celebrate. You can see other images of him all dressed up on my Instagram page. And, did you get a glimpse of the Demon Star on October 31?

4. This Heart.

When Skylar was little he would draw little hearts on my fingernails, and now that he is older he lets me return the favor from time to time. I am so happy that I have such a close bond with him. He is my buddy and always will be.

5. This Snack.

Even though they aren't in season I am still enjoying watermelon when I can find it.

One last thing:

We have started pumping these humidifiers nonstop since the winter season has started. This dry winter air is definitely causing a lot of dry skin and dry coughing lately. If you are dealing with the same, I highly recommend Pure humidifiers and air purifiers.

Positive affirmations this week:

Eight Dimensions of wellness:

How can you optimize your mental and physical health? First developed by Dr. Margaret "Peggy" Swarbrick, the eight dimensions of wellness is an interconnected model used by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, among others, to show the framework for mind, body, and self health. (Source)

•Emotional 
•Spiritual 
•Intellectual 
•Physical 
•Environmental 
•Financial 
•Occupational 
•Social 















Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (October 28)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This Weather.

 
We had a sudden sleet shower this week and it fell for about 10 minutes and then the sun came out. I've seen more sleet and hail showers since moving to Oregon. Definitely some interesting weather here in the valley.

2. This Run.

Trying to get back into a running routine, but some days I have trouble just getting out of bed and getting through the day. I never regret working out, but lately I have not felt like doing much of anything. I think seasonal depression has hit me a bit early this year, but I am pushing through the best I can. Progress, not perfection. 

3. These Tests.

Someone not covering their cough while Jeff had his mask down at work got us. This week has been extremely rough. We have the Omicron variant and the coughing and sneezing is extremely painful. We all three have it and have been doing our best to take care of each other when we can. With being immunocompromised, this variant has hit me the hardest. Explains a little on why I've been feeling down and out more than normal. Please cover your cough, and wear a mask in public when you're sick, or better yet, stay home.

4. This Doggy.

This sweet little doggy has been on guard with us since being sick. He is very concerned.

5. These Edibles.

Every morning I take one CBD gummy to help with mental health issues, and pain. At the end of the day I use THC gummies to relax, bring down my anxiety, calm my PTSD and nerves, or even help me push through the evening to be productive if I need to get something done before going to bed, without being overly anxious in the process. I love my weed, gummies, pens, joints, prerolls, CBD gummies, oils, creams, and bath salts.-The works. People feel they always need to be defending themselves if they use cannabis or CBD due to the stigma surrounding the relationship and history of how cannabis has been portrayed, especially women. I try not to let the stigma others have of it take away the benefits it does for me. CBD has been a savior for me on a daily basis, and when I don't take one, I feel it. Gummies are definitely and every day thing, but oils and creams I use as needed. For the curious, Wyld is my go-to brand of choice for CBD and THC gummies, with local brands being second.

One last thing:

With fall crops coming into season don't let any go to waste. You can dehydrate just all citrus and just about any fall crop. It's easy to do, you just need to make sure you either dehydrate them in a food dehydrator, or follow the oven method for each crop. For apples and oranges, pictured above, you want to set your oven to the lowest setting, which is about 150 degrees, or 200 degrees. Just make sure it's the lowest setting your oven will go to, and dehydrate for about four to five hours. You can check on them throughout that time to make sure they aren't burning. Once dehydrated, you can string them on thread and have them for decoration, or save them for you holiday decorations. I like to have mine hanging all year around.

Positive affirmations this week:

Food for thought, if you think organic foods are too expensive, or you don't have time to exercise and move your body. Taking care of yourself is no one else's responsibility, but yours. Don't listen to others in what they do, try to find what works best for you and stick to it. Others will try to deter you from your own self care, but stay the course and keep doing what works. You can do this! 
Dr. James DiNicolantonio offers great advice on nutrition and healthcare tips. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (October 21)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This Eye.

I mean, sometimes things are worth taking a picture of. I love creepy stuff and Skylar looking through this air duct in our house really touched my horror-loving heart. ☺

2. These Lights.


We put these glass solar lights up on the back of the bus this week and we love how they look. They are removeable, so we can place them up when we camp and easily remove them when we are traveling, or when the bus is sitting in the driveway. You can see more of them at our "No Rain the Bus page at the top of the blog.

3. These Shadows.

Halloween is 10 days away and I am loving the decorations people have been putting up this year. Halloween is always one of my favorite holidays and I love how creative people are this time of year with their costumes and their decorations. This one definitely is one of my favorites.

4. This Plate.

Always love a simple meal and this one is probably the most simple. Chicken cooked in the crock pot and sliced cucumbers. Doesn't get any easier than that.

5. This Vote.


Politics haven't been a blog topic in the past, but with the recent Measure 114 hitting the ballot and also this being Skylar's first time to vote, I have made it a point to make sure readers are aware of where we stand. My thoughts on Measure 114 can be found here, and this post this week is to bring awareness that Skylar's generation are paying attention and are looking for some solid, mature, and valid changes. No matter where you stand in your political views, I think we can all agree that change is needed and change that comes with a positive mindset and an open mind, as well. Please consider your choices in people when voting in this midterm election. Consider the person before the party. If that person doesn't have your same values, or share your same future goals, regardless of the party, vote accordingly. In 10 years, some of the negative aspects of elections won't matter, so consider your short term vote having an impact now.

Positive affirmations this week:

New goals! Let's do this! Check out Project 50 here if you want to join.

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (October 14)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This Trail.

Build Lebanon Trails (BLT) has finished a part of the trail system here and the lighting has been turned on, as well. These trails are part of the city initiative to promote a more active city and to also provide a walking, biking, or running path for those that want to exercise, but are wanting a more secluded area away from busy streets. We were first part of the BLT group when the idea was just a concept. It's nice to see how far it has come over the past several years. There's still more trail systems being updated and going in, and eventually the entire city will be connected north to south, and east to west with trails.

2. This Moment.

Skylar has been enjoying his first job at Auto Zone. He has learned a lot about cars, and car parts, as well as how to have extreme patience with the public. Living in such a strange part of Oregon where there is mountains, farming, and even a lot of car enthusiast, he gets to see a lot of those people firsthand. Many of the customers know him by name now and also ask for him for certain repairs or parts. He is hoping to stick it out at least a year before he heads off to college next spring.

3. This Fog.

Always love seeing great shots of any fog and this one was perfection. You can see more of my fog and mist shots at my Instagram profile Fog Pictures.

4. These Props.


Spirit Halloween always has some of the best items for horror fans, like me. I bought the Camp Crystal Lake socks, but the other things were just some of my favorites I saw while we walked up and down the many shelves of stuff. It's incredible how much stuff they have geared around horror movies, alone. Love it all!

5. This Day.

Today is World Mental Health Day. Take some time to yourself today and every single day. Please remember, you, above anyone else in this entire world, are the most important person to you and deserve your own love, respect, kindness, and support. You are amazing!

Positive affirmations this week:

I recently started incorporating Your Super powders into my daily calorie intake. I am using the super greens in the morning, and the golden mellow in the evening. I am loving them so far, and will post more about these at a later date, but their positive community and their positive messages that go along with the powders have me hooked in. I love how I get random emails, and text about staying on track and to prioritize myself physically and mentally. I'm hoping to start the entire powder system on January first and work my way through their physical, mental, and dietary schedule to get a jump start on my new year. This message below is part of that path. If you're interested in learning more about Your Super, check them out here

Have a nice weekend.