20 Things To Let Go Of Before The New Year

I found this and wanted to share it with you. http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11973/20-things-to-let-go-of-before-the-new-year.html


Here are 20 things to let go of in order to reach unlimited happiness.

1. Let go of all thoughts that don't make you feel empowered and strong.

2. Let go of feeling guilty for doing what you truly want to do.

3. Let go of the fear of the unknown; take one small step and watch the path reveal itself.

4. Let go of regrets; at one point in your life, that “whatever” was exactly what you wanted.

5. Let go of worrying; worrying is like praying for what you don’t want.

6. Let go of blaming anyone for anything; be accountable for your own life. If you don’t like something, you have two choices, accept it or change it.

7. Let go of thinking you are damaged; you matter, and the world needs you just as you are.

8. Let go of thinking your dreams are not important; always follow your heart.

9. Let go of being the “go-to person” for everyone, all the time; stop blowing yourself off and take care of yourself first … because you matter.

10. Let go of thinking everyone else is happier, more successful or better off than you. You are right where you need to be. Your journey is unfolding perfectly for you.

11. Let go of thinking there's a right and wrong way to do things or to see the world. Enjoy the contrast and celebrate the diversity and richness of life.

12. Let go of cheating on your future with your past. It’s time to move on and tell a new story.

13. Let go of thinking you are not where you should be. You are right where you need to be to get to where you want to go, so start asking yourself where you want to go.

14. Let go of anger toward ex lovers and family. We all deserve happiness and love; just because it is over doesn’t mean the love was wrong.

15. Let go of the need to do more and be more; for today, you've done the best you can, and that's enough.

16. Let go of thinking you have to know how to make it happen; we learn the way on the way.

17. Let go of your money woes — make a plan to pay off debt and focus on your abundance.

18. Let go of trying to save or change people. Everyone has her own path, and the best thing you can do is work on yourself and stop focusing on others.

19. Let go of trying to fit in and be accepted by everyone. Your uniqueness is what makes you outstanding.

20. Let go of self-hate. You are not the shape of your body or the number on the scale. Who you are matters, and the world needs you as you are. Celebrate you!

Simplified life planner.

Hey everyone! I have become a beta tester for http://danischnakenberg.com?ap_id=Ayane !!!

Her planners are just amazing and she always has awesome deals and ideas to share!

Well I want to bring you a unique code - just for you guys! This code is only good till December 15th,2013  - but you can go ahead and order a planner or some items to go into yours and use code

EvoOfLifeSLP

And that will give you an additional 20% OFF!!! now who doesn't like that?!


I will be bringing you awesome updates about the planner and more things that she has to offer soon!

Periodic table of elements ~ Videos!!!

Periodic table of elements videos! Deffinantly bookmarkable!   http://www.periodicvideos.com/


Granted my little ones are no where near ready for this, but maybe yours are. I am keeping this as some good information!

Links!!!

There are soo many blogs, sites, links, and other stuff out there that when I started to look around I was bombarded with information!!! So I figured I would break it down for ya!

I will add to this list a lot for make sure you bookmark this list. I will try to categorize things as best I can and maybe give a synopsis of the site. Not sure but will try ^_^

If you run a blog and want to be included in the list - just comment or send me a message!





Homeschool :

http://simplehomeschool.net/  This is a nice blog that gives plenty of other resources for homeschoolers to help ease their nerves!

http://www.freehomeschooldeals.com/  the idea is in the name! This site has TONS of freebies from ebooks to intructional packets!! This is a good place to start looking if you want to stock up on free stuff!

http://homeschooling.penelopetrunk.com/  This is a MUST FOLLOW blog from Penelope Trunk!

http://www.openculture.com/free_textbooks   160 FREE textbooks. Various fields and a GREAT resource!

http://www.openculture.com/  This is just a great all around resource!

http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=9506    Homeschool for free links to everything from curriculum to organization.

http://www.k12reader.com/  Lots of worksheets and printables for everyone!

http://ultron.aps.org/forms/aps.cgi?ID=201007  Free middle school physics kit!

http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/homeschool-language-arts-1-6th-grade-for-free/  Language arts homeschool for free first through sixth grade!


McGraw Hill Science Workbooks!

http://www.mhschool.com/instructional_materials/ca/pdf/sc08_1_se.pdf
grade 1

http://www.mhschool.com/instructional_materials/ca/pdf/sc08_2_se.pdf
grade 2

http://www.mhschool.com/instructional_materials/ca/pdf/sc08_3_se.pdf
grade 3

http://www.mhschool.com/instructional_materials/ca/pdf/sc08_4_se.pdf
grade 4

http://www.mhschool.com/instructional_materials/ca/pdf/sc08_5_se.pdf
grade 5

http://www.mhschool.com/instructional_materials/ca/pdf/sc08_6_se.pdf
grade 6





Online Homeschool Curriculum:

http://allinonehomeschool.com/  Easy Peasy offers a great resource to help you to either have a full online homeschool program or supplement what you are already using!





Organization :

http://danischnakenberg.com/  If you need to simplify your organization, she is the one to help you get there!

http://www.organizinghomelife.com/  This woman gives great printables and shows you how to organize your house!! Great blog to follow!

http://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/home/  She has all kinds of stuff from homeschool to basic household organization printables! Great starting point!













Like I said - there are TONS of sites out there. I am just starting this list! There will be MANY updates to come so please bookmark this.

Thanksgiving week!!

This week we will be working on some Thanksgiving themed work. While the majority of schools will be out for this week, we will still be schooling. When I was in school we only got off the weekend.

I have many different lesson plans around the pilgrimage to America, the first Thanksgiving and all kinds of other stuff that is based around that. There will be all kinds of shows on the television that is based around Thanksgiving. This is a great opportunity for us to take this holiday and learn about it as a whole.

I would love to hear from everyone what you do for this holiday as a family and as homeschoolers (if you homeschool that is). For some people it is soo much more than just the food and that is where the values come into place and that is what I hope to start instilling on my boys.



Can not wait to hear from you! I will be posting up this week what we are doing and where you can find some of my resources!!

Pork Chops with Tomato Cream Sauce

I changed up the menu a little today. I made a pan fried pork chop with diced potatoes and the tomato cream sauce. 

The Pork Chops were fried in a little bit of olive oil, vigo bread crumbs and basic seasonings...

The potatoes were diced to almost hash sized pieces.

 I cooked these in a 2 inch deep pan with :

just a little olive oil,

 garlic,

 1/2 cup diced onions,

 and pepper. 

Look at the post for Tomato Cream Sauce for that recipe. 

This is great for the whole family! Even the baby loved it!

Chopping

So we had a lesson ( because he wants to be a cook ) on cooking. Every time I walk into the kitchen I have a little follower. Now as long as he is paying attention and following directions we are able to have our cooking lessons. By age 6 or 7 I was cutting my own foods. By age 10 I was cooking dinner for the family by myself. I want to make sure that no matter what, if something happens that my boys are okay and can take care of themselves.


ANYWAYS!

Here we go. We had a lesson in chopping. He wanted to cut up the onion for me. He LOVED it!

Needless to say he made sure dinner was delicious and helped in finishing up to cooking! I can not wait for our next lesson!

Beta Tester.

I just became a beta tester for a new planner from Dani Shnakenberg!!! I am very much excited and hopefully will be able to bring you some awesome reviews and maybe a even a promo code for you guys to be able to get her stuff as well!!


She has some great organizational printables for everyone so be sure to stop by and take a look!!!





http://danischnakenberg.com/

Tomato Cream Sauce

Tomato Cream Sauce dinner.

This is a unique recipe.

I made boneless por ribs ( just a small amount ) and pan seared them in my skillet. Had onions, garlic, olive oil and a few other seasonings.

Once that was done I took out the pork and added
- 1/2 cup of water
- one can diced tomatoes ( used the basil and oregeno flavored ones)
- one can corn...
- diced onions
-approx 1 cup of milk.

Let this simmer for a feew minutes with lid to cook the corn and tomatoes down a little.
( to thicken add a small amount of butter/flour rue in at the end and let it heat for a coupl minutes )

I served this sauce over bowtie noodles and chopped pork with greenbeans. Soo good!

 

 

 

Changed a little more!

I really feel this is going to be a work in progress to get together everything that we need/want to have done. Here are some of my more recent updates.

This is my master binder. I keep all subjects lesson plans in here. There are 13 tabs here - just to keep all the individual subjects organized. Yes we have tie-ins were our subjects join together so I just copy the page in each subject just to keep up with what is going on. I label each sheet as "Lesson one or Lesson Two"  When we get to it we write the date started and the date ended. I plan a few lessons ahead of schedule to make sure there is plenty there if we start to zoom right through it. When we need to cover something in between lesson plans ( like a holiday topic or world event ) then I put that 'lesson' paper in there between the other ones. Make sense? ^_^

I made this PEMDAS ( order of operation ) sheet. The other ones seemed a little more complicated than I needed for my son at the moment. 

Here I have him put the completed work he does, we grade it and then either it gets returned to review or put away for the end of year folders. I also keep track of all the grades in the final folder and he will get a progress report every other month or so. Then before review time we will see his final standings. 

I LOVE these! Great charts for parts of speech! Got this from Teacherspayteachers.com !!! I have these on the wall now too so we can se them as reference!

This is this weeks worksheets. While I do not expect them all to be completed, some are just busy work and some are oriented to the lesson plans that we have in place. 

The classroom

I have changed my office into our classroom. I have yet to have any funding or resources for anything so I am doing what I can with what I have. Thank goodness I have this weird addiction to office supplies.

This is what our classroom/office looks like currently. It is ever changing so we will see how well this works.

I am working on getting a larger dry erase board or the paper boards that teachers use. I need a better desk for him and better organization. Need to get proper curriculum for him also. Starting to load up on any and everything I can get my hands on. 

I have been finding a number of resources that will send you things for free, whether it is posters, curriculum, videos or what have you... As the stuff comes in I will start to make a list of everything so that you can get your hands on everything also!

Beginning of Homeschooling.

I have embarked on a journey with my family and within this journey I was having problems with the school system. From the lack of communication with the staff and the less than adequate curriculum, I wanted something better for my kiddos. I only have one kid in school right now ( thankfully) so this will be a 'trail' to see if we can do this. We have a crazy schedule trying to plan everything around the school day and the vacation times that they schedule for the kids. I can not stand that it has really come to the schools getting their test scores and then they let the kids move on. I am not bashing the schools or teachers but there has to be a better way. I have been contemplating home school for some time now; this is in NO WAY a pop thought to see if it could happen. I feel that if I can take education for my kiddos in my hands then maybe I can give them more than what they would have gotten in public school. Lord knows that I can not afford private school at all.

I have done some extensive research in trying to find a curriculum for my son and getting ideas and information from around the country. I found that there are so very many different ways to home school and that there is no set way to make it work. So much different than the Common Core teachings. Which I feel is good and bad. We have to have a schedule. We have to have a way of doing things to make sure that we are following the proper teachings and have some way of discipline in the school atmosphere. I will be uploading my way of doing things and hopefully it will help you also if you are in the start-up point also.

Here I have a basic set up with some of the text books that I have found to start with. While my son is a second grader there are great points in the few first grade books that we can always reference. The computer lab stuff is Hooked on Phonics. He has some issues with reading and comprehension so I am hoping that will help him along the way. The Completed/Graded box. I love this. I took two cereal boxes, cut the tops, put on some construction paper and we have paper slots. ^_^ I also have a folder for this weeks worksheets. 

I have made a Donald Box. In this box I have his basic school supplies. A big box of crayons, two sets of markers, a set of colored pencils, his daily journal, and his pencil box. In this pencil box he has: pencils, a couple pens, a highlighter, pencil eraser tops, a big eraser,  glue sticks, index cards, scissors, and a calculator. Of course there is a BIG dictionary to be able to be used. 

This is the front of the door. I have paired a strength with a weakness in his blocks and each day will focus on a different educational block. We will have P.E. during his recess time and we will have Art class once a week, music theory weekly, computer lab every few days and library time at least once a week. Every day we will cover our vocabulary and test information; and reading will be done daily. Even on our off days. Field trips will be taken frequently. ^_^

Here is our 'school day' schedule. Seems a little crazy right? We do the basic fun simple things first thing in the morning. Do the more in depth stuff after we put the little on down for a nap - that way when he wakes up there will be more independent time and self study. 

I have more stuff to share but I will get there as I can. I am very excited about this and I am always learning and finding new things. Thanks so much to everyone who is there to help out! This is going to be a fantastic journey and I really think this will be a great thing!

Small Plate Challenge!

IMPORTANT: To fully understand how this challenge works, it’s important that you read the entire post.

You are invited to take the Small Plate Challenge for the next 30 days and become a member of the Small Plate Club. If you are ready to slim down, get healthier and change your eating habits for good, this challenge is for you. This is one of the first steps toward living a healthier lifestyle and shedding some of those unwanted pounds. Keep in mind this challenge is not a ‘diet’ but a step in the right direction toward making healthier food choices and eating smaller portions…about the size of your palm, fist or a deck of cards. We encourage eating healthy and doing so as a lifestyle choice.

Here are the guidelines:

Small Plates = Salad Plate Size (about 7″)- Whether you are at home, work, or even a picnic. When you can, even in a restaurant… all meals must be served on a plate the size of a salad plate.

Portion Sizes – The portions of your foods must be no larger than the palm of your hand. That means ‘normal’ restaurant portions have to be cut down in size to fit on your plate.

Number of Portions – All Small Plate meals are limited to no more than three portions. For example, if you are having chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas and rolls…BEEP!!! Only three of these foods are allowed and must fit comfortably on your Small Plate.

Foods to Eat – It’s about taking baby steps and this is one of those steps that will help get you into the habit of eating smaller portions and less food with every meal. This challenge encourages eating whole foods, unrefined sweeteners, lean proteins and drinking plenty of water throughout the day. However, the guidelines for this challenge do not require eating particular types of food. The choice of what foods to place on your Small Plate is yours.

Number of Small Plates per day – Eat the same number of meals as you normally would. This challenge is about portion control.

Here are some Q & A’s about this challenge:

Q: What about desserts? A: Desserts count as one of the three foods and must also be no larger than the palm of your hand.

Q: Does my drink count as one of the three foods? A: No, your drink isn’t included in the three foods. If you’re having anything other than water or unsweetened tea, limit the amount to a 12 ounce serving or small size. We do encourage you to

drink more water and a lot fewer sodas, fruit drinks containing sugar, shakes and water with artificial sweeteners and flavors.

Q: What about soup? A: Soup does count as one of your three foods…so choose wisely.

Q: Can I have a salad that fills the plate and count that as all three foods? A: Yes, as long as it isn’t weighed down with a cream dressing. We recommend EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil) & vinegar (red, white, apple cider, balsamic, white balsamic, etc..) or freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Q: Can I have three of the same food items for my Small Plate? A: Yes, but it’s not recommended. Nutritionists recommend a balanced plate with a lean protein, complex carbohydrate and a healthy fat. Examples of complex carbs are: fresh fruits & vegetables, whole grains, dry beans/legumes, low-fat dairy and raw nuts and seeds. Some examples of healthy fats: olive oil, unrefined coconut oil, avocado, salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, trout, sardines and raw nuts and seeds also fit into this category. Lean proteins are of course meats, fish, eggs and low fat dairy. As you may have noticed some foods fit into more than one category. This list consists of examples and is not complete.

Q: I love good old-fashioned hamburgers…is that considered one item or are the bun and condiments separate items? A: A hamburger will be considered one item with the normal bun and condiments. However, think slider, White Castle or a burger that will be no larger than the palm of your hand. Easy?

Q: Can I have snacks and if so what about the portion size? A: Two snacks a day are permitted. Snacks consist of items like raw nuts, raisins, one piece of fruit, etc

Q: How can I become a member of the Small Plate Club, and is it free? A: Yes, it is free. You become a member after successfully completing the 30 day challenge. This simply means, after the 30 days has ended, you take a pledge to continue to eat smaller portions, as defined above. It’s an honorary membership!

From my Beach Body Coach friend Sarah!

Chicken Salad 'Tacos'

Chicken salad 'tacos'

This is a different type of chicken salad. 

1 minced garlic clove
2 tablespoons diced sweet onion
1 chicken breast
5-7 green grapes cut in fours longways
1/2 of large firm roma (plum) tomato
approx 3 tablespoon light mayo
1 tablespoon sweet relish

add pepper to taste


I served this on romaine lettuce slices. eat like a taco or roll it a little for a 'burrito' and enjoy!!! Served with a side of grapes.

Great stuff!

My boys.

Today my youngest son turns one. It has been a long year and I can not believe it has ONLY been a year. Now if only he would sleep through the night and until 7 or 8 in the morning and get off the bottles we will be fine! LOL


Him and his brothers' birthday are soo close together. Now the holidays are just around the corner and I am soo not ready for them! My boys are amazing and growing everyday but it seems that their list of wants gets longer too! LOL


I am thinking about creating a list that the boys change once a month. Obviously you would have to be able to talk or write for this so the baby would not be involved yet. But this list could be revisited each month ( and after birthdays ) to see what they really want ( maybe a top 5) and what other things that they want.

Then send the lists to family who are buying for the kiddos. The one thing that bothers me is when family/friends do not want to follow the list. Granted if you find something of better quality or something - then by all means go ahead. Then you have these family members that buy something from the list but say -oh hey, we are keeping it at our house for when the kids come over here......  PLEASE tell me I am not the only one who has this problem!


I was very scared that because there was such a gap in their ages that they would not develop the bond that they have. They are 6 years apart and I am so proud of them. My oldest tries very hard to be such a great big brother and he shines when he does something with him. It is great! I am glad that I did not have them closer together. Sometimes it becomes very difficult to be able to raise these boys like this. Between my 7 year olds homework and learning chores to when he gets in trouble his little brother laughs at him and says "bad" and I can nto help but laugh. I know it will get easier with them and I need to enjoy these times now as they happen.


What about your kids? I have friends that have kids back to back. I am talking 11-15 months apart. That would drive me insane! I do not know how they are able to keep up with that! I am very happy for those ladies and gentlemen who can do that though!

Cravings!!! We all get them!

Oh man! We all get that craving.. Mine? Chocolate and a Coke! Oh yes! Don't forget twinkies! LOL!!!


What is your craving?? Do you always get that craving for red meat? Never able to satisfy your craving for pizza? There may be a real reason for the craving! Not just because you are used to it and you want it - but maybe because you lack something that your body needs!

Here is some good information:

Sweets

If you crave sweets of almost any kind, you may be experiencing blood sugar fluctuations. Giving in to pie, candy, cake, or other goodies only makes the problem worse by causing blood sugar roller coasters that lead to more cravings.

Instead, choose a piece of fruit—preferably one that's not loaded with natural sugars when you're craving sweets. And, in general, choose more high-fiber foods like beans and legumes and complex carbohydrates like whole grains that keep your blood sugar stable.

Chocolate

Cravings for chocolate often indicate that your body may be deficient in magnesium. Many nutritionists estimate that more than 80 percent of the population is lacking in dietary magnesium, which may explain why so many of us reach for chocolate.

While chocolate can contain beneficial antioxidants, they usually come alongside plentiful amounts of sugar. If you eat chocolate, be sure to reach for dark chocolate—about 75 percent cacao or higher—which is usually lower in sugar and higher in antioxidants. Additionally, eat foods high in magnesium, such as nuts, seeds, fish, and leafy greens.

Salty Foods

Cravings for salty foods like potato chips or popcorn often mean chronic stress may be taking a toll on your adrenal glands—the two triangular glands that sit atop the kidneys and give us energy and help us to cope with stress of all kinds.

Getting on top of the stress in your life is essential. Try meditation, breathing exercises, or other stress management techniques. Research at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City showed that people who take a break to breathe deeply or meditate before reaching for salty snacks reduced their stress hormones by 25 percent and cut the bingeing in half.

Red Meat

Not surprisingly, cravings for red meat usually indicate an iron deficiency. Often people crave burgers or steaks. Menstruating women are especially vulnerable to iron deficiencies. Beans and legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs, and other dried fruits are high in iron. However, eat dried fruits in moderation, since they are high in sugar and are acid-forming foods. Too many of these foods will counteract your best weight-loss efforts.

Cheese

Cravings for cheese or pizza often indicate a fatty acid deficiency, which is common since few people get enough omega-3 fatty acids. Reach for raw walnuts, wild salmon, and flaxseed oil, and add ground flaxseeds to your diet.

Most cravings are actually signals from our bodies that we are dehydrated, but we misinterpret them as hunger pangs. By drinking a tall glass of water first, you may be giving your body exactly what it wants and alleviate the craving altogether. By some estimates, 80 percent of people are chronically dehydrated. So before you reach for food to nix your cravings, quench them with some water. Then wait half an hour. More often than not, they'll be gone.



We live in a very toxic world and we are tempted at every turn we make. We must try our best to make better choices. Lower calorie choices. Try something new each week. Remember that we crave because that is who we are. We have lived so long listening to our bodies and giving into temptation but we must not give in anymore! Remember that everything we crave is for a reason and when you start to live healthier then your body will be healthy!!

 

Here are some good thigns to do when you are getting that craving! :

Keep a journal

of date/time, what you are craving and how you are feeling. Get a little emotional if you want to!

Drink water!!!

Stay Hydrated!!! This is very important!!!

Check it off

On a 3x5 index card, write a check every time you successfully say no to a craving. You need to do this 15 times in a row before you’ll be able to conquer any craving. On the reverse side of the card, write down some affirmations to remind yourself why you should resist.

Have I been eating less than usual?

If you're eating fewer than 1,000 calories a day or restricting an entire food group (like carbs), you're putting your body in prime craving mode. Make sure that you are eatign the right amount of calories ( 1200 and up) and give yourself a treat here and there. You do not always have to keep everything out and in all good diets - everything is okay in moderation!

Sleep!!!

Make sure you are getting enough sleep. This is essential for the body!








Needless to say - do your research! There is support everywhere you turn! Let me know how you are doing, if your struggling and let me know what you have been doing good! It is HARD to do this alone and even the best of people fail once in a while! It is natural!

 

Take a look at this chart that I found online!

Stay Motivated!

Ya know. Today I was speaking with someone. Very proud of my beginning accomplishments with what is going on and how I am making sure that I am doing what needs to be done to get my life together. I told this person about how bad my knees are achy because of the squats and that instead of me increasing my squats like the challenge calls for, I feel I need to stay at 50 until I am comfortable with it. This person looked right at me and said " In my best day i could not do 50 squats so there is no way in hell you are doing it " and did a snarky little laugh and kept walking. I am trying very hard to do what it is going to take to get to my goal weight. I am doing this diet (as much as I would like to sit down with a 2 liter of coke and a bag of chips with a Hershey bar ) I am doing what it takes. I will stay motivated. It is people like this that bring everyone else down. It is people like this that do not believe in what we are doing!!!

Now a days it is hard to find moral support. This is someone who is very close to me that is saying these things to me. So I just want to make everyone aware that you need to find inner strength to be able to pursue this goal of yours. Whether it is 10 pounds, 50 pounds, or over 100 (like myself) it is hard to do but YOU CAN DO IT! Do not let these negative Nancy's stand in your way. Even if it is someone close to you!

10 healthy tips!

Here are 10 ways to make meals healthier.. I got this out of a magazine and I wanted to share it with everyone. These are some great tips and if you need help with any of them let me know!

1. Add veggies to premade spaghetti sauce - I do NOT recommend you use pasta sauce forma  can or jar but if you do ( because we all need to sometimes ) toss some chopped veggies in.
2. Substitute brown rice for white rice. - Brown rice has a little taste difference but it is very good!
3. Toss fresh spinach into a fruit smoothie. - when you stick everything in the blender stick some spinach in there and you will never taste it.
4. Serve fruit for dessert. -  be careful which fruits because some of them have very high sugar counts.
5. Eat a side of veggies with frozen meals. - this is easy, pop open a can and measure your serving!
6. Use low-fat dairy products in recipes. - I use low fat milk all the time anyways. Makes things taste better.
7. Drink water with meals. - you should be working toward making water your main drink already and this is a great place to start.
8. Top baked potatoes with salsa instead of butter. - this adds flavor to the potato and there are many types of different salsa.
9. Serve dinner on smaller plates.  - people always want to fill their plate so if you have a smaller plate there is less room to fill in. 
10. Remove chicken skin after cooking. - Yes, we all enjoy the crispy skin but it is not good for us. Cook it for the flavor and then remove it. ^_^ 

These are some great tips that will help start and ease you into your diet!

The laughs.

I used to think that family was supposed to be the most supportive people in your life. I used to think that no matter what - there was always those family members who would be there when you fell and needed a lift back up. I guess I was wrong. 

I am not going to say who, but this person, for the past few days has laughed in my face when talking to them about my goals and how I am planning on achieving them. Then to get laughed at? Guess what - results do NOT happen over night! I am so over all the laughs, the looks and the stares... I barely have the support that most people have. I was hoping that family would be the ones to support me the most.... UHG!

My family means the world to me but not having their support hurts. My hunny bought me my first bible today. I will be using this for inspiration and guidance in my journey. This is not going to be easy and this is going to take a lot of focus and drive for me to complete. I have taken to keeping a log of what I eat now to and I am working on changing my recipes to be healthier and better for our bodies.

My rant is going on and on and I know this but to everyone out there - please stop pointing, staring. laughing and talking about overweight people. You do not know that persons situation. Some people have medical issues where it is hard for them to even maintain the weight they are at much less loose it. They need support. They need positive reinforcement. Do not tell an overweight person that something is bad for them - trust me because they already know. Do not tell them that they need to do something for their health - trust me because they already know.  There is so much that an overweight person knows that you will not believe. We hear all your laughs and whispers. We see your points and coaching your kids not to stare. There is soo much we can do as a community to be more supportive of overweight people instead of classifying us! Weight-loss products are expensive and damnit a cheeseburger is cheaper than the salad that we need!

We need to step up together and help each other achieve our goals. It hurts some of us to do our workouts. It makes it hard to walk sometimes. Sure - in the end the pain is SSOOOO worth it but it can be such a deterrent for us overweight people.

All in all - family reach out to your overweight family members who are talking to you about their goals and SUPPORT them. Do not put in your two cents unless asked for it. Offer to do a class with them or go for a walk with them if they are talking about it. You would be amazed at how much that will change a person point of view and feel more empowered to do what they need to do to get on the right track! I am in this position and would just like to have that one person come out of no where and walk with me and the kids one night, or do a zumba workout with me, or even help me with stretches or yoga.. i mean there is sooo much a person can do - even a simple text to say " Hey, you can do it! I am right there with you!". Someone who will just help me with what I need to do! Support is an amazing thing and can help people accomplish things they did not think they could accomplish!

Okay I am done for now. There will be more on this. I want to bring awareness for everyone and try and get more support and compassion. Weight-loss is very expensive and sometimes it is out of reach for sooooo many people - so the little things mean so very much to people! I did not start this to become an inspiration figure to anyone, but I think I should. I will offer support and help guide you because I know how it feels! I understand the pain and the hurt! It is hard but YOU CAN DO IT!

This government shutdown. . . . .

This government shutdown. . . . .

It is so unsettling to me. My mom is on disability because she is disabled and has not been able to get her check yet... Veterans are not getting their benefits at all. The Congress still gets paid but all the other government workers have to go without pay - ya know, the ones who make SIGNIFICANTLY less than the Congress....


Oh but we have new heathcare! ....


I am so upset about this crap. We used to be a world powerhouse and now we are a laughing stock. I do not claim to be a full fledged Democrat or Republican because I am not but uhg.. This is getting completely out of control. We need control of our government and stop allowing people to choose how we are going to live. We can afford to feed all the homeless and hungry in the world while the people of America have to suffer every day to try and make ends meet and put food on the table - but not the Congress, Senate or the President. If they all went one month without a paycheck that would help. If they all got paid like we do and we work our butts off - things would change!

It infuriates me sooooo much that the price of everything is going up while there is less jobs and now with the new 'Affordable Care Act' there are NO full time positions. How are people supposed to be able to pay their bills - much less an insurance paymetn the cost of their rent note? Seriously, think about it. No matter what 'party' you are part of - this is tearing the country apart.

That is enough of my rant for now. I will put up more later - just keep your eyes open!

Kitchen items

So I have found in order to do that I need to do to better myself health wise I need a couple things for my kitchen :

1. A blender
2. A set of measuring cups and spoons
3. A scale to weigh my food
4. A juicer
5. A way to steam veggies and such
6. A chopper/dicer thingy


That is just the start of the list. I am sure that there is more but that is the basics. That would make my life A LOT easier to be able to do what I need to do. However, until I do get those items I will just follow the basics. ^_^ Something is better than nothing!

Mexican Casserole

Mexican Casserole

You want to brown your ground beef with a taco seasoning mix.

1 1/2 to 2 pounds ground beef...
tortilla chips
diced onion, green pepper and tomato
approx 2 1/2 cups shredded cheese


Sour cream and salsa for taste


You want to layer your casserole dish like this:
crushed tortilla chips
beef
( a little salsa if you wish)
crushed tortilla chips
1/2 of your cheese
Veggies ( onion, tomato and green pepper )
other 1/2 of cheese


put in your over on back until cheese is melted.

Serve over a bed of lettuce for a little salad or in a taco shell. Or just eat it alone 

Great for the whole family. This has approx 6-8 servings.

Pineapple Ham

A nice dish.

Pineapple Ham

So here is how you make this! ...

You local grocery store will sell the already sliced ham, so grab one of those. A can of sliced pineapple, a box of pasta and a can of peas.

While cooking your pasta you will want to do the following:
In a skillet cut a few pineapple slices into little chucks and use the pineapple juice in the can as your frying element in the skillet. Heat to high and add your ham slices. Remember that these are already cooked so you are just going to want to fuse the flavor with the pineapple and give then a beautiful brown coloring.

Flip until you get your desired color. Be sure to add a touch of pepper for a little flavor enhancer.

Do this untill all of your ham is done. Add a little bit of pineapple juice here and there when you need to.

Once your ham is done your pasta should be as well. Drain your pasta and add a few more pineapple chunks and the juice into your skillet.

Toss the pasta in the warm skillet with the pineapple and pineapple juice. You will get a little brown coloring and a delicious flavor.

Peas were heated with a little onion powder and garlic powder for flavor.

Serve your portions out and add a little of the 'sauce' to the top of the ham and pasta and enjoy!

 

 

AVON

Just recently I have joined the AVON family. 

This is a MLM ( Multi Level marketing ) job. Commission based. I have seen soo many people soar in the ranks and make a better lifestyle for their family by creating an amazing downline with this. 

I am the AVON lady. I will not be going door to door. I do not feel that is safe in today's world. 

Want to buy AVON? Want to have it shipped to you? You can get it from me! Here are my links :

https://www.facebook.com/pages/AVON-by-Autumn-Semsey/237039986446856

•                                                                         http://www.youravon.com/asemsey

Want to change your way of life also? Well, just give me a shout on my facebook page and we will talk! 

All in all this is a new thing for me and this will probably be the only thing you see from me on it unless I make it big. In which case I will be sure to thank everyone who helped me along!

The beginning of my religious lifestyle change.

I have spent the majority of my life knowing that there was someone up above but just not believing it. I always knew that something was there and that something was watching us. However, I am a scientific person and I want proof. Do I fully believe that there is only ONE being that ultimately watches over us, not fully but I am becoming more and more aware.

I have always been paired with someone who was a nonbeliever so it made it easy for me to not pay attention to the signs that were always in front of me. Well, now I have an amazing man in my life who really makes me feel like I belong, like there is something that brought us together.

He recently wanted to start reading the bible together. I was kind of silent when he brought it up. I just did not know what to say, I mean the last time that I looked at the bible was a very long time ago and I did not understand the writing at all. I mean the old old style English made it very hard to follow. He told me about this New International Version (NIV for short) and that I would be able to understand it.

We sat down together and let me be very honest with you, I felt pretty stupid. I had no idea what he was talking about when he is reading to me the generations to the birth of Christ. I kind of felt like I did not belong in the reading session we were having.   Now let me back up a few years ago. I have been saved and I have accepted Jesus Christ as my lord and savior, but that was a long time ago and after living this lifestyle of disbelief and the image that I have put out I just did not know how to act.

I get chills when things happen, I see and hear things that most people can not, and when we were reading the bible together - it felt real to me. Now I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing, but I am going to take it as a good thing and a good sign. See I have two young boys and I want them to be given the world and be able to have the best possible upkeep that I can give them - and true morals and understanding of self is involved in that.

All in all I want to say this, with things going the way that they are going in the world these days, I think everyone needs to step back - take a good look at themselves and accept Jesus into their lives. Whether it be the one I believe in or the one you believe in - in the end we all go to the same place.

The first post.

First and foremost I want to say hello and thank you for stopping by. My goal for this blog in general is to help everyone through the Evolution Of Life. No everyone's story is different and there is always different ways to solve problems, but we are also similar.
Between being parents, wives/husbands, brothers/sisters, workers/homemakers and so much more - we are all a collective of information.

I want to bring to the table here something to ease yourself with. Topics can include parenting, life events, inspirational living, cooking & recipes, hobbies, DIY's and organization. There will be a lot going on and I hope you can follow! 


I will leave references where needed and if you need anything on a blog post let me know and I will do my best to assist you. Just always remember to breathe, relax, have faith and move forward!