I'm trying a new thing this week. Instead of taking Tuesday and Saturdays off from the computer, I'm giving a 2-days in a row trial. Since I tend to be busy on Fridays making challah and helping the children clean house before the Sabbath, I've decided to take Friday and Saturdays off.
Hoping this break will seem even more beneficial, while it might also be more stressful (?) . But this is a great time to give it a try. Rauchelle is coming for the weekend to help celebrate my birthday, and it will help me prep for family time.
So, wish me luck!!
Showing posts with label changes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label changes. Show all posts
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Charter of Health Freedom
As a Canadian, do you have any idea that your Freedom to choose concerning your own individual Health is greatly jeopardized? Do you know that producers of supplements and alternative health products are being denied product numbers so that they can't sell to you and I any more?
Earlier this week I went to the local healthfood store to ask about Colostrum. (You can check out this if you are curious). Anyways, its not on the shelves and I wanted to know why, while in pill form it is still on the shelves at a store up island (I know, because I asked Rauchelle to check for me). I discovered that once Naked Naturals supply is gone, they won't be able to carry it either.
Why?
Because in this lay-persons words, our government thinks that I am not smart enough to read literature, research for myself, and decide for myself what products I think would be healthful for me to ingest or even use topically. Like, I'm not wise enough to decide whether taking cinnamon in capsules would or would not help me with blood sugars. Or that MSM lotion would be beneficial to lather on my scar tissue. Or if I might find that butcher's broom helps with my varicose veins.
Instead, they are limiting all of this Freedom to Choose so that I have the freedom to choose their pharmaceuticals or nothing. Or grow my own, I suppose. But then they would likely come and confiscate even that because it would appear that I am undermining Canada's Healthcare by not purchasing their chemicals to ingest.
In scenario, if I were to discover that I had some type of cancer, I would be able to chose allopathy protocol of surgery/radiation/chemotherapy; Invasive and Chemical. Or I could choose to do nothing.
Or I could pay tens-of-thousands of dollars to go internationally and be treated by some alternative health practitioner (with a greater success-rate than North American rates concerning cancer, I might add). But I can't go to a local business and purchase natural products (herbs & supplements, etc) that have a long history of being successfully used to help ones body heal itself. Because it hasn't been tested in their labs and because it can't be patented, it won't be available to us.
Why?
Because they will lose too much money.
Let's face it, people. The whole talk about Health Care isn't about Health. It's about Sick Care and the money they make off of the citizens being sick and staying chronically sick. If we stay healthy, or get better ...........where is the money in that?
PLEASE!!!! go to Charter of Health Freedom and find out how you can add your name to the petition, or sign at a healthfood store that has a petition already underway. We need 3 million signatures by March. There's a long ways to go, but it can be done.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Digital Sabbatical, What It's Looking Like
I am still practising taking breaks on Saturdays and Tuesdays from my computer. It's a practise because it isn't habit, yet.
I am doing well at it, looking forward to the breaks where I don't surf, where I ignore FB, let my emails pile up, etc.
I get more book reading done and am more likely to play board or card games with the children. I am finally getting around to doing projects with them that I've been intending on doing for quite some time but just haven't gotten around to.
You know, things like teaching them to sew.
Everette and I often sneak in a 'coffee break', even if we aren't drinking a coffee. It might be a quick walk somewhere, a jaunt to the grocery store where we are able to get some adult conversation done without little ears listening in.
Or lots of Saturdays now we go to the Royal BC Museum, or take in the IMAX , or the aquarium, or the Art Gallery now that we have a bunch of annual passes (thanks, Ministry of Education!)
When the weather gets drier and warmer I'm sure we'll be taking more family walks at Whiffen Spit, or down at the river or at the Potholes. Or checking out the Galloping Goose Trail.
Like so many people, I enjoy the wealth of information and experiences made available via the internet. But there are some things that I don't like. ...and that includes the Time Sucking feature of it. I want to be able to find a balance. I know it doesn't have to be an All-or-Nothing scenario. This tool can be beneficial, and that's what I am actively pursuing.
I don't have an iPhone and a bunch of other digital and techno stuff (although I do now have an hTC but I don't use it for much more than a phone and a voice recorder), so taking a Digital Sabbatical for me is mainly just taking a good-sized chunk of time away from the computer. And I take that time to refocus, and do stuff I often (ashamedly) neglect.
Maybe you need to practice a Digital Sabbatical too.
For some people it might work to take 2 days off in a row. Or during certain hours each day, say from 7pm until the next morning. Or lots of moms who have little ones at home, they are well disciplined to stay off the computer unless their littles are sleeping (& no, I don't think they are drugging them to sleep longer hours!!).
My system is working well for me.
I've been hashing over some stuff with Everette over the last few weekends (see, the Sabbatical lets me fit that in!) and am likely to be implementing some more changes in my life concerning the internet, blogging, family time and health topics, but that's all a work-in-progress. This week I already cut about half my 'friends' on FB who I really didn't converse much with anyways(& that's usually superficial) and I feel better with that already. Not that I spend a lot of time on FB as it is, but each thing I spend a little bit of time at seems to eat away all my days. You know what I mean, don't you? You are likely experiencing the same thing.
Even the good things seem to be robbing from us. And we are letting them. I know I am; that's my present struggle.
Being careful of the little foxes that ruin the vineyard (Song of Solomon 2:15).
If you take a Digital Sabbatical, what does it look like for you?
I am doing well at it, looking forward to the breaks where I don't surf, where I ignore FB, let my emails pile up, etc.
I get more book reading done and am more likely to play board or card games with the children. I am finally getting around to doing projects with them that I've been intending on doing for quite some time but just haven't gotten around to.
You know, things like teaching them to sew.
Everette and I often sneak in a 'coffee break', even if we aren't drinking a coffee. It might be a quick walk somewhere, a jaunt to the grocery store where we are able to get some adult conversation done without little ears listening in.
Or lots of Saturdays now we go to the Royal BC Museum, or take in the IMAX , or the aquarium, or the Art Gallery now that we have a bunch of annual passes (thanks, Ministry of Education!)
When the weather gets drier and warmer I'm sure we'll be taking more family walks at Whiffen Spit, or down at the river or at the Potholes. Or checking out the Galloping Goose Trail.
Like so many people, I enjoy the wealth of information and experiences made available via the internet. But there are some things that I don't like. ...and that includes the Time Sucking feature of it. I want to be able to find a balance. I know it doesn't have to be an All-or-Nothing scenario. This tool can be beneficial, and that's what I am actively pursuing.
I don't have an iPhone and a bunch of other digital and techno stuff (although I do now have an hTC but I don't use it for much more than a phone and a voice recorder), so taking a Digital Sabbatical for me is mainly just taking a good-sized chunk of time away from the computer. And I take that time to refocus, and do stuff I often (ashamedly) neglect.
Maybe you need to practice a Digital Sabbatical too.
For some people it might work to take 2 days off in a row. Or during certain hours each day, say from 7pm until the next morning. Or lots of moms who have little ones at home, they are well disciplined to stay off the computer unless their littles are sleeping (& no, I don't think they are drugging them to sleep longer hours!!).
My system is working well for me.
I've been hashing over some stuff with Everette over the last few weekends (see, the Sabbatical lets me fit that in!) and am likely to be implementing some more changes in my life concerning the internet, blogging, family time and health topics, but that's all a work-in-progress. This week I already cut about half my 'friends' on FB who I really didn't converse much with anyways(& that's usually superficial) and I feel better with that already. Not that I spend a lot of time on FB as it is, but each thing I spend a little bit of time at seems to eat away all my days. You know what I mean, don't you? You are likely experiencing the same thing.
Even the good things seem to be robbing from us. And we are letting them. I know I am; that's my present struggle.
Being careful of the little foxes that ruin the vineyard (Song of Solomon 2:15).
If you take a Digital Sabbatical, what does it look like for you?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Jack LaLanne
A health icon has died, at the age of 96.
A great role model for a lot of Americans, and the creator of one of our favorite juicers (for citrus juices) Jack LaLanne died after a short illness. Full of life until the very end. What a great example of Living Life.
Edited: to add a Natural News link honoring the man.
A great role model for a lot of Americans, and the creator of one of our favorite juicers (for citrus juices) Jack LaLanne died after a short illness. Full of life until the very end. What a great example of Living Life.
Edited: to add a Natural News link honoring the man.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Regrets of the Dying
I look at this list as a guide as to how I might chose How to Better Live.
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. Disconnecting somewhat from my religious upbringing has helped in this area. Fear is another common issue.
2. I wish I didn't work so hard. I think I have a fairly good grasp on this one. And learning to live more minimalistic helps Everette not live with such pressure to produce.
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. Not so good at this. People-pleasing is an issue.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. I have few friends, but some close friends. And my family truly are my friends. But sometimes I think I have bailed too often.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. A real issue with me these days and has led to many discussions with Everette. I understand "that happiness is a choice."
"The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives."
Yup, I can identify.
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. Disconnecting somewhat from my religious upbringing has helped in this area. Fear is another common issue.
2. I wish I didn't work so hard. I think I have a fairly good grasp on this one. And learning to live more minimalistic helps Everette not live with such pressure to produce.
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. Not so good at this. People-pleasing is an issue.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. I have few friends, but some close friends. And my family truly are my friends. But sometimes I think I have bailed too often.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. A real issue with me these days and has led to many discussions with Everette. I understand "that happiness is a choice."
"The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives."
Yup, I can identify.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Four reasons why people become vegetarian
Four reasons why people become vegetarian
We aren't Vegetarian, although friends and family might say that we are. (what about a Sometimes Vegetarian?) We just don't purchase & cook meat in our home (only fish). We may or may not eat it when we are out, depending on the situation and our circumstances.
But the 4 reasons stated for why people have become vegetarian all ring true for me. I guess I just haven't internalized it all yet. I suppose I've been convinced of the arguments, but haven't been convicted in my heart yet. And maybe I don't need to be convicted. Just willing to follow through with what I am convinced of. (???)
I heard The Skinny Bitch sharing how she instantly became a Vegetarian as she was raising a burger, I think, up to her mouth and thought of it as if she was going to bite into the back of her hand. She had no plans on giving up meat, but in that unsuspecting moment she couldn't eat anymore of the meat and has since become an animal activist along with a successful author and foodie.
How about you? Are you Vegetarian? Vegan? Ever consider being one?
We aren't Vegetarian, although friends and family might say that we are. (what about a Sometimes Vegetarian?) We just don't purchase & cook meat in our home (only fish). We may or may not eat it when we are out, depending on the situation and our circumstances.
But the 4 reasons stated for why people have become vegetarian all ring true for me. I guess I just haven't internalized it all yet. I suppose I've been convinced of the arguments, but haven't been convicted in my heart yet. And maybe I don't need to be convicted. Just willing to follow through with what I am convinced of. (???)
I heard The Skinny Bitch sharing how she instantly became a Vegetarian as she was raising a burger, I think, up to her mouth and thought of it as if she was going to bite into the back of her hand. She had no plans on giving up meat, but in that unsuspecting moment she couldn't eat anymore of the meat and has since become an animal activist along with a successful author and foodie.
How about you? Are you Vegetarian? Vegan? Ever consider being one?
Thursday, January 6, 2011
One Thing at a Time
Like I quoted from Kevin Gianni here we actually need to be just trying to change One Thing at a Time.
Look back at all the New Years Resolutions you've probably made over the years, and how many have you actually succeeded at? I would venture to say that most of them fell by the wayside. You worked really hard at change for the first couple of weeks in January, and by February you were probably feeling guilty that you failed yet again. You want change, but you don't successfully achieve it.
If we keep doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.....isn't that the definition of insanity?
Well, I agree with Kevin G, that we need to be making just one change here, making it successful, and then building on it. Don't try and fix your life all in one sweep. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The journey of changing oneself also begins with a single step (change).
Take for example, Diet. Many people start the New Year with the intentions of changing their eating habits in some way. Maybe its to lose weight. For a few people it might be to actually put some weight on. Or it could be that you want to improve your eating habits, or incorporate super foods, or eliminate sugar. All of those are somewhat interrelated, but just start with one. One thing that you will focus on, make a change, make it a permanent way-of-life for you now. Get it under your belt, so to speak, before you move onto another thing to change.
HINT: eliminating the bad things out of your diet is actually more important usually, than trying to put the good things in. What I mean by that is that although its great to start putting super foods into your body, it will be of greater importance to curb your sugar addiction. Tame the sugar monster. Then do the next step which might be to incorporate super foods, or drinking more clean water, or starting your mornings with fresh juices.
What One Thing are you planning to change in your life this year? I'd like to hear from you.
Look back at all the New Years Resolutions you've probably made over the years, and how many have you actually succeeded at? I would venture to say that most of them fell by the wayside. You worked really hard at change for the first couple of weeks in January, and by February you were probably feeling guilty that you failed yet again. You want change, but you don't successfully achieve it.
If we keep doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.....isn't that the definition of insanity?
Well, I agree with Kevin G, that we need to be making just one change here, making it successful, and then building on it. Don't try and fix your life all in one sweep. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The journey of changing oneself also begins with a single step (change).
Take for example, Diet. Many people start the New Year with the intentions of changing their eating habits in some way. Maybe its to lose weight. For a few people it might be to actually put some weight on. Or it could be that you want to improve your eating habits, or incorporate super foods, or eliminate sugar. All of those are somewhat interrelated, but just start with one. One thing that you will focus on, make a change, make it a permanent way-of-life for you now. Get it under your belt, so to speak, before you move onto another thing to change.
HINT: eliminating the bad things out of your diet is actually more important usually, than trying to put the good things in. What I mean by that is that although its great to start putting super foods into your body, it will be of greater importance to curb your sugar addiction. Tame the sugar monster. Then do the next step which might be to incorporate super foods, or drinking more clean water, or starting your mornings with fresh juices.
What One Thing are you planning to change in your life this year? I'd like to hear from you.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
100 Thing Challenge, an interview
Man vs Debt did an interview with the creator of the 100 Thing Challenge which I found encouraging, and hope to pass that encouragement on to you too. A great way to start the New Year.
Check it out!
Check it out!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Crunchy Minimalist
Come visit me over at my new blog Crunchy Minimalist.
....where I'll try to keep it more on-topic, covering being a Crunchy Mama and the Minimalist Lifestyle.
I enjoy writing here at Be En-Couraged more like a memoir ~ whatever is going on in my life and whatever is interesting me at the moment. So I'll keep it going. I enjoy sharing about my life & what's happening with my children, and the good photos some family member occasionally captures.
But do come over to Crunchy Minimalist for a visit, and leave a comment.
....where I'll try to keep it more on-topic, covering being a Crunchy Mama and the Minimalist Lifestyle.
I enjoy writing here at Be En-Couraged more like a memoir ~ whatever is going on in my life and whatever is interesting me at the moment. So I'll keep it going. I enjoy sharing about my life & what's happening with my children, and the good photos some family member occasionally captures.
But do come over to Crunchy Minimalist for a visit, and leave a comment.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Non GMO Shopping Guide
Months back we rented 'Food, Inc', a highly recommended documentary on how much of our food stuffs are being handled, and the control that the Big Guys are trying to impose on the farmers raising our foods. It's not Business as Usual. And after talking to one of my cousins who is an Organic Farmer in Saskatchewan, he verified that what is talked about in Food, Inc is most definitely happening. There is much pressure, blackmail, etc happening to our farmers to produce foods in ways that are neither natural nor healthy for us, our animals nor the environment.
Anyways, whether we like it or not, there are already genetically modified foods in our supermarkets and likely in our cupboards. What are GMO foods? GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms. They are made by forcing genes from one species of life (ie animals, bacteria, etc) into the DNA of a food crop or another animal in order to introduce a new trait to the host. In other words, its mixing genes between different life forms. So you could be getting pig genes within the DNA of your carrots.
And the reasons you want to avoid GMO foods is because "The American Academy of Environmental Medicine reported that 'Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food' including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system."
If you aren't yet sure how to shop and avoid these foods, here's a link for a guide to help you become informed and make wise choices with your dollars spent.
Non-GMO Shopping Guide.
The #1 foods to avoid are soy, corn, canola and cottonseed, followed by Hawaiian papaya, and some zucchini and yellow squash. But be aware that even if the animals themselves are not GMO's, the food that they are fed might be.
Anyways, whether we like it or not, there are already genetically modified foods in our supermarkets and likely in our cupboards. What are GMO foods? GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms. They are made by forcing genes from one species of life (ie animals, bacteria, etc) into the DNA of a food crop or another animal in order to introduce a new trait to the host. In other words, its mixing genes between different life forms. So you could be getting pig genes within the DNA of your carrots.
And the reasons you want to avoid GMO foods is because "The American Academy of Environmental Medicine reported that 'Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food' including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system."
If you aren't yet sure how to shop and avoid these foods, here's a link for a guide to help you become informed and make wise choices with your dollars spent.
Non-GMO Shopping Guide.
The #1 foods to avoid are soy, corn, canola and cottonseed, followed by Hawaiian papaya, and some zucchini and yellow squash. But be aware that even if the animals themselves are not GMO's, the food that they are fed might be.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Thumbs Up for the House
wWe are moving to Sooke!
I heard from the landlady today and its all set for sometime next week. Depending on how much cleaning and any fixing up she might have to do this upcoming weekend after the current tenant moves out, we will be residents in Sooke no later than Oct 1st.
Of course we are all excited. Envisioning ourselves resident in the house isn't as cool as actually physically being there, but we'll practice patience for just another week!
Everette is excited to get his Victoria-area business going, and we'll all be working on our New Normal~ New Schedules. So many routines get put on hold when you live in transition, and especially while we are staying with friends. There are so many people to spend time with, more activities to do, less space, stuff unpacked, etc., so much goes by the wayside. But in 2 weeks from now our family will be tweaking out how we want things done in our new house, and where we should store everything. I love doing that. And its a good thing, since Everette and I have had more than our share of moves.
Like I've mentioned before, I am excited to see what living a Minimalist lifestyle will look like for us at our new house. It has much more floor space than I think we need, and a garage that doesn't fit our 15-passenger van and we don't own stuff to store in there (hallelujah!). At present we don't even own couches or any living room furniture, and no kitchen table or chairs, or bar stools for the kitchen island. So it will be sparse..... and lovely!!
And lots of places to store our books probably. Books and games. And we'll be setting up our infra-red sauna there too. Everette's excited about that.
There are 2 bedrooms upstairs (besides the master bedroom) perfect for making a Boy's Room and a Girl's Room. The obvious arrangement would be for the girls to take the pink room, and the boys get the girls room. But those of you who know Maret know that she's going to be sleeping in the Boy's Room!!
That's it for the news about the house for now. I can post pics when we get moved in.
Danica (she likes that spelling better than Danaka) and I had a good weekend in Vancouver area. She joined me along with my Mom and Layne at a free event with Amega Global on Friday night, and then I spent Saturday at a training day while the 3 ladies shopped at Value Village and then Danica and Layne hit the White Rock beach for awhile.
Us girls stayed up way past my bedtime chatting which was enjoyable, and I got to sleep in Sunday morning and awoke to yummy smelling (but absolutely not healthy) crepes suzettes made by mom. Then Layne and I watched 'The Living Matrix' which was a fascinating documentary we had to keep pausing so we could discuss it. Its all about energy fields, particularly about zero point energy field, and the amazing creation and functioning of our bodies.
The best part about going away is the coming home. It's true. I was a proud mama to find Everette brought 5 of the children to the ferry to pick D and I up. The hugs and kisses are always so precious. And I have such a handsome man to greet me.
I am Blessed.
More Update?.....I have a new site I'm building and will be moving some of my applicable posts from here over to there. It's at www.crunchyminimalist.com but you'll have to give me a few days to get something up! It's extremely minimalist (blank) at the present time (hehehe).
Much on my plate, actually. Everette and I decided to enroll 4 of the girls for distance schooling. They are in practicality still homeschooled as they won't be attending a day school in a building, but this year we will be meeting goals of the ministry of education and being answerable to them with weekly contact and some portfolios throughout the year. It will be more structured than we are used to, but I know that all of us can rise to the occasion, and in a weird sense I am looking forward to some accountability, not because I believe I need to answer to others about the successes/failures of my children (I do that before God) but because knowing that someone else is checking up on me might just be what I need to pull up my socks and do more of what I actually say/think I want to be doing. I'm sure you all know how easy it is to procrastinate. Easy as pie!!
Danica and Maret are both planning to take some online courses, and the rest will be facilitated by Yours Truly.
I heard from the landlady today and its all set for sometime next week. Depending on how much cleaning and any fixing up she might have to do this upcoming weekend after the current tenant moves out, we will be residents in Sooke no later than Oct 1st.
Of course we are all excited. Envisioning ourselves resident in the house isn't as cool as actually physically being there, but we'll practice patience for just another week!
Everette is excited to get his Victoria-area business going, and we'll all be working on our New Normal~ New Schedules. So many routines get put on hold when you live in transition, and especially while we are staying with friends. There are so many people to spend time with, more activities to do, less space, stuff unpacked, etc., so much goes by the wayside. But in 2 weeks from now our family will be tweaking out how we want things done in our new house, and where we should store everything. I love doing that. And its a good thing, since Everette and I have had more than our share of moves.
Like I've mentioned before, I am excited to see what living a Minimalist lifestyle will look like for us at our new house. It has much more floor space than I think we need, and a garage that doesn't fit our 15-passenger van and we don't own stuff to store in there (hallelujah!). At present we don't even own couches or any living room furniture, and no kitchen table or chairs, or bar stools for the kitchen island. So it will be sparse..... and lovely!!
And lots of places to store our books probably. Books and games. And we'll be setting up our infra-red sauna there too. Everette's excited about that.
There are 2 bedrooms upstairs (besides the master bedroom) perfect for making a Boy's Room and a Girl's Room. The obvious arrangement would be for the girls to take the pink room, and the boys get the girls room. But those of you who know Maret know that she's going to be sleeping in the Boy's Room!!
That's it for the news about the house for now. I can post pics when we get moved in.
Danica (she likes that spelling better than Danaka) and I had a good weekend in Vancouver area. She joined me along with my Mom and Layne at a free event with Amega Global on Friday night, and then I spent Saturday at a training day while the 3 ladies shopped at Value Village and then Danica and Layne hit the White Rock beach for awhile.
Us girls stayed up way past my bedtime chatting which was enjoyable, and I got to sleep in Sunday morning and awoke to yummy smelling (but absolutely not healthy) crepes suzettes made by mom. Then Layne and I watched 'The Living Matrix' which was a fascinating documentary we had to keep pausing so we could discuss it. Its all about energy fields, particularly about zero point energy field, and the amazing creation and functioning of our bodies.
The best part about going away is the coming home. It's true. I was a proud mama to find Everette brought 5 of the children to the ferry to pick D and I up. The hugs and kisses are always so precious. And I have such a handsome man to greet me.
I am Blessed.
More Update?.....I have a new site I'm building and will be moving some of my applicable posts from here over to there. It's at www.crunchyminimalist.com but you'll have to give me a few days to get something up! It's extremely minimalist (blank) at the present time (hehehe).
Much on my plate, actually. Everette and I decided to enroll 4 of the girls for distance schooling. They are in practicality still homeschooled as they won't be attending a day school in a building, but this year we will be meeting goals of the ministry of education and being answerable to them with weekly contact and some portfolios throughout the year. It will be more structured than we are used to, but I know that all of us can rise to the occasion, and in a weird sense I am looking forward to some accountability, not because I believe I need to answer to others about the successes/failures of my children (I do that before God) but because knowing that someone else is checking up on me might just be what I need to pull up my socks and do more of what I actually say/think I want to be doing. I'm sure you all know how easy it is to procrastinate. Easy as pie!!
Danica and Maret are both planning to take some online courses, and the rest will be facilitated by Yours Truly.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
My Life List
I've heard about Bucket Lists and now My Life List and I think I'm going to give it a whirl. Lots of people talk of how helpful it is to actually write things down, and I am not a big List person....well, not on paper but still in my mind. And that might explain why my head often feels overwhelmed and hurts. I need a place to unload some of the thoughts and ideas I have.
Lots is going thru my mind these days, about the children's education, about moving, about being a minimalist, about my diet, about my spiritual life, about.......everything.
So, I'm going to take a bigger sabbatical than just a Saturday, or a weekend. At least a sabbatical from blogging. I'm planning to revamp, even change my blog to another site. So I'm going to take some time off and away from it to make some plans.
I'm also going away with Danaka for the weekend, so nows a great time to break.
I'll see you next week sometime. Hopefully with some plans in the works, and my own Life List to share.
Blessings
Lots is going thru my mind these days, about the children's education, about moving, about being a minimalist, about my diet, about my spiritual life, about.......everything.
So, I'm going to take a bigger sabbatical than just a Saturday, or a weekend. At least a sabbatical from blogging. I'm planning to revamp, even change my blog to another site. So I'm going to take some time off and away from it to make some plans.
I'm also going away with Danaka for the weekend, so nows a great time to break.
I'll see you next week sometime. Hopefully with some plans in the works, and my own Life List to share.
Blessings
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Industrial Food Sickness
The longer we are eating whole foods, and the cleaner our guts get, the more our body is going to recognize and object to when we ingest foods that are like poison to it. (We thought) We used to get away with it, and now that we eat healthier we seem to suffer when we consume something less-good-for-us. What a bother. Or is it?
Here's a different way to look at it. Read 'Deconstructing Industrial Food Sickness' with Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Food Connection
I was just telling a friend this week about Genetically Modified Foods and Suicides in India by the farmers, and whether there is a connection. Then Dr Mercola wrote this post, so I'm sharing it. Maybe others of you are unaware of what's happening with our food supply in North America.
I still recommend you watch Food, Inc.
and Our Daily Bread
. I know there are other good documentaries out there, but honestly I haven't watched all of them so I can't personally recommend them. But these 2 I can. Our Daily Bread is without narration, so you form your own ideas completely by what you see the farmers and processors doing with the food.
Another great documentary is The Cove, about the dolphin slaughter. Our family was appalled about this.
I still recommend you watch Food, Inc.
and Our Daily Bread. I know there are other good documentaries out there, but honestly I haven't watched all of them so I can't personally recommend them. But these 2 I can. Our Daily Bread is without narration, so you form your own ideas completely by what you see the farmers and processors doing with the food.Another great documentary is The Cove
, about the dolphin slaughter. Our family was appalled about this.Sunday, September 5, 2010
Give Every Day
I've added a new button over on the right sidebar, and wanted to highlight about it today.About the Sheaffers:
"We are a family of four who are planning to travel the country with the intent purpose of giving – every day.
We are selling our house and almost all of our possessions. The next step will be to buy an RV, map our route, and give more than we’ve ever given before."
You can check out their blog and see for yourself what adventure they are beginning, and consider supporting them in prayer and financially, if your heart says to.
I admire the journey they are beginning, and know from our own experiences that it will be greater and grander and a whole-lot different than they could imagine at the moment. And something SO well worth it. What a heritage/experience to give their beautiful daughters. We would all do better to Give Every Day.
Blessings, Sheaffers.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Minimalists
My new vocabulary word.
I love it, and it seems to be fitting our family's lifestyle. And I think the transitions we've been going through both recently and over the past 3 years since we originally left BC are leading us to embracing Minimalist ideology whole-heartedly. Seems we started choosing this minimalist lifestyle 3 years ago without having a label to give it.
Maybe we wouldn't be at this place if all of our plans had worked out the way we originally planned. Maybe we wouldn't be making the changes on purpose that we are now choosing to make. Maybe this is another Beginning of Change that will change us forever. And we will be forever Thankful for.
Anyways, by following the rabbit trail I somehow ended up checking out Everett Bogue's site where he shares how he "adopted a minimalist lifestyle, and discovered that a little can go a long way, if you choose to live the right way." Click here to view more details
And I know that near the beginning of the rabbit trail it was Tammy Strobel that got me hooked. I read this article and then started following her blog, and now she has this Just-Released Book out which is so exciting. Click here to view more details
Then there is a book called The Minimalist Cleaning Method which is right down my alley because I hate the thought of using toxic chemical cleaners in my house, because its bad for our family, and its bad for the environment, and its bad on the pocket book. And I love the look of space under my cabinets, which seems rare to see in the average person's household.
(Note: I've become an affiliate to the above mentioned books because I believe in their message and want to share it with the world. Its not only for your own benefit, but for the world's benefit. So, if you want to read them, please order them through my links so I can benefit from the sale. Thnx.)
I'm feeling a bit like a child in a candy store. I am tantalized by so much that I see here in the Minimalist lifestyle circle. I stand in awe at their creativity, their thinking-outside-of-the-box, their ingenuity, their guts to march to a different beat.
It doesn't seem like such a big deal for me, in a sense, to march to a different beat. It seems we've been doing that for along while now. With home-educating for more than 20 years now, to having more than the average children, to unschooling, to leaving institutional church, and eating High Raw, home- and water-birthing, and, and........
So, not much more to becoming a minimalist........
Well...... change always includes some discomfort and work.
But its so exciting and rewarding.
PS Realistically, this will be more of a challenge with so many people to 'convince' in our household, but I think my dc are very, very flexible, and so willing to change to better the world and their own health. After all, they've all basically given up raised mattresses for sleeping on and prefer something thin on the floor, like just a couple of blankets or a sleeping bag with blankets on top. That's a huge hurdle for some.
Minimalist.
I love it, and it seems to be fitting our family's lifestyle. And I think the transitions we've been going through both recently and over the past 3 years since we originally left BC are leading us to embracing Minimalist ideology whole-heartedly. Seems we started choosing this minimalist lifestyle 3 years ago without having a label to give it.
Maybe we wouldn't be at this place if all of our plans had worked out the way we originally planned. Maybe we wouldn't be making the changes on purpose that we are now choosing to make. Maybe this is another Beginning of Change that will change us forever. And we will be forever Thankful for.
Anyways, by following the rabbit trail I somehow ended up checking out Everett Bogue's site where he shares how he "adopted a minimalist lifestyle, and discovered that a little can go a long way, if you choose to live the right way." Click here to view more details
Then there is a book called The Minimalist Cleaning Method which is right down my alley because I hate the thought of using toxic chemical cleaners in my house, because its bad for our family, and its bad for the environment, and its bad on the pocket book. And I love the look of space under my cabinets, which seems rare to see in the average person's household.
(Note: I've become an affiliate to the above mentioned books because I believe in their message and want to share it with the world. Its not only for your own benefit, but for the world's benefit. So, if you want to read them, please order them through my links so I can benefit from the sale. Thnx.)
I'm feeling a bit like a child in a candy store. I am tantalized by so much that I see here in the Minimalist lifestyle circle. I stand in awe at their creativity, their thinking-outside-of-the-box, their ingenuity, their guts to march to a different beat.
It doesn't seem like such a big deal for me, in a sense, to march to a different beat. It seems we've been doing that for along while now. With home-educating for more than 20 years now, to having more than the average children, to unschooling, to leaving institutional church, and eating High Raw, home- and water-birthing, and, and........
So, not much more to becoming a minimalist........
Well...... change always includes some discomfort and work.
But its so exciting and rewarding.
PS Realistically, this will be more of a challenge with so many people to 'convince' in our household, but I think my dc are very, very flexible, and so willing to change to better the world and their own health. After all, they've all basically given up raised mattresses for sleeping on and prefer something thin on the floor, like just a couple of blankets or a sleeping bag with blankets on top. That's a huge hurdle for some.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Supermarket Secrets
This is a fascinating (although British) look at the operations behind Supermarkets, including the treatment of animals, the 'perfect' produce, the gases our salads are packed with, etc.
Eye-opening is an understatement.
You can find this video series and others over at NaturalNews.TV
Picture from tolazytodoit.com
Eye-opening is an understatement.
You can find this video series and others over at NaturalNews.TV
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sabbaticals from Technology
I'm not there, I totally admit. I'm not ready to disengage from the internet every weekend, although we've had periods of time when our family takes a whole 24 hours off. I know I(we) can do it, but mentally I'm not sure I want to right now. Although, the way my head literally feels at this moment--like it will explode due to overload of information --I probably could benefit greatly from a sabbatical.
Hmmmm.
Let me think on this a bit more.
This just might be another step towards the simple life, the de-cluttering, the finding time for the things I say I really want to do.
As I blog, I'm thinking "Karen, its a No-Brainer."
Unplug.
PS.... I took this past Saturday off. And it felt good. I sat less and moved more, and felt like I accomplished more. I didn't focus on "Where are we going to live" while searching kijiji and craigslist. And my head didn't hurt.
I think I'll join the Techno-Sabbatical for Saturdays.
Hmmmm.
Let me think on this a bit more.
This just might be another step towards the simple life, the de-cluttering, the finding time for the things I say I really want to do.
As I blog, I'm thinking "Karen, its a No-Brainer."
Unplug.
PS.... I took this past Saturday off. And it felt good. I sat less and moved more, and felt like I accomplished more. I didn't focus on "Where are we going to live" while searching kijiji and craigslist. And my head didn't hurt.
I think I'll join the Techno-Sabbatical for Saturdays.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
An All Around Energetic Life
~ Megan Mauger, member of the Raw Food Rehab
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