Joyous-The Word of Wisdom

Okay, I have fallen short with my blog, some for good reason, I got a job and worked, but that was April and May. My last post was January, when I launched the plan for a New Me and my plans to loose weight. That didn't happen. Depression really is a struggle for me and I was dealing with a lot of it during that time off.

I still have work to do, but am doing much better, especially if I do not talk about the things that were hurting me, that would only be digressing.

I wanted to write again and keep up with WHY I started this blog in the first place, to look past the negative things in my life and and focus on WHO I Am.

I AM a Beautiful, Compassionate, Creative, Joyous woman.
I AM also a LDS woman. And I would like to thank Sister Ann Dibb (President Monson's daughter) for putting an extra special spin on this. "I Know It, I Live It, I Love It." Her talk given at the October 2012 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Plus Sister Julie Beck, former Relief Society General President "Mother's Who Know".

With this year we are studying the Doctrine and Covenants in sunday school and 2 weeks ago we had the lesson on The Word of Wisdom. I was nearly finish with the book The Word of Wisdom-A Modern Interpretation by John A. Widsoe and Leah D. Widsoe.

I have since finished it and am excited to share it.

When you think of the topic of the Word of Wisdom, what first comes to  mind? No coffee, tea, tobacco, alcohol?

It is true that that is a good part of it. Most people outside of the church point those things out when they talk about mormons. But that is not all what it is about.

This book really goes deeper into health and nutrition and it's really what we as members and non-members as well should really take a deeper look at ourselves and if WE are really living the Word of Wisdom as it is written.

I know for me, we do not eat meat a lot, but we do eat it far more then we should as it is laid out in the scriptures.

I had an experience when I was 19 that caused me to look at myself deeper. I cannot remember exactly how it went, but the topic came up that I didn't drink coffee or caffein sodas at that time, and another lady chimed in of how YOU MORMONS don't really live the Word of Wisdom with your WHITE bread, sugar consumption and other ways you eat.

It set me back a bit as I was just out of my parents home where my mother made white bread, meat was at every meal, yet my mother was really good at having a big garden, and canning. This lady was right.

I learned to make whole wheat bread and made it a priority to have a garden and to can and freeze and all those things we do as members. Yet we (my family) have not fixed all the things we need to do better.

The book really kicked my behind and got me to really take a better look at how I feed my family, even though I have been taking a closer look at in the past 2 years with two other books:

I got the top one when I watched a video on YouTube on Healthy Homemade Cold Cereal and it directed me to more videos on the truths about Oil, Raw Milk and many other things pertaining to our current food and the bad health we have especially here in the USA.

I got the bottom book because I was concerned about possible food allergies in myself and my question of the numerous people with food allergies to wheat, milk, eggs and others.

I will tell you, eating better is in deed a big change for me as well as many of us. I am certain that so many of our health problems today can be resolved or at least minimized if we take better care of what we put in our bodies.

This picture below was one a friend shared on FB that is comical and sad at the same time.

I hope that I have given some help to someone to take a better look at yourself, that we can ALL do better at living The Word of Wisdom and receive the promised blessings when we do.

Beautiful/Update

Okay, so we are off to a rough start by not doing our RAW MILK FAST, because both of my suppliers were out.

So off to the next stage. Measurements and the workout.

Bust 47 1/2
Waist 48
Hips 56
Right Arm (upper) 8
Right Thigh 28
Weight 230 lbs.

When I told Charly and Bill that I was going to get up at 6 a.m. to start my workout, Charly piped in saying she wanted to get up to. She wants to be my trainer (my Jillian)

Sunday night I found my work out on YouTube and watched it so I knew what to expect. Finding it on the downstairs TV would be easier then on the computer downstairs. It was a good workout. I AM OUT OF SHAPE.

Before my workout I got my water ready with Slim and Sassy Metabolic Blend in it, and drank a glass of milk.

Last night I also put together my Log book where I will keep track of measurements, workout, and what I eat and drink. I will also use it as a journal when I need to write about my experiences.

I will be purchasing a mat today as the carpet is not enough (it's thin).

This is my adorable trainer, one of the reasons I am doing this. I want to be able to play with, hike with, walk with, run with, and be around for her when she marries and has children and grandchildren.

Beautiful

A sweet friend posted this on FB, and I agree totally, however I am tired of my size.

I have decided I am going to change it. This is how I am going to do it:

On January 12, I will start my Raw Milk Fast, starting with 5 days and not going over 15. (for more info on the Raw Milk Fast go to www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com, type in Raw Milk Fast in the search blank, and read up)

I will be purchasing my milk from:

Located in Orem Utah. For more info go to www.realfoodsmarket.com

On January 15 2013, I will be signing up for doTerra's Slim and Sassy Lifestyle Competition, for more info go to http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=402315903177297&set=a.285212014887687.67603.199257433483146&type=1

using my doTerra New You Kit. The contest ends on April 30, 2013, however, I will not stop there

I will also be starting my workout program using my exercise ball that I got as a birthday present a few years ago from my parents

and my resistant band set I got a few year's ago with birthday money from my MIL, from

doing the workouts Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at http://liveexercise.com/

On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday I will be doing Yoga using my Yoga Cards

I leave at 7:00 a.m. for work on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, so I will be asking my sweet husband to kick me out of bed.

SORRY NO PIC OF SLEEPING HUSBAND :D

My goal weight to loose is 100 pounds. I have no idea how long it will take, we will just take it one day at a time.

I will post regularly with measurements and pics so you can see how I am doing.

I look forward to your support and encouragement.  If anyone would like to join me with there own desire, please feel free.  If you have any questions about anything I am doing and/or using, please feel free to ask.

Compassionate

It has been quite a while since I have written on my blog. I am thankful to say that it is because I have been anxiously engaged in good. From my new job tending two sweet babies, canning, getting the farm ready for winter, bringing a son home from a mission, and celebrating 25 years of marriage to my sweetheart, I have had my hands full.

I have had some emotional set backs too, as I suffer from depression. But this blog is not meant for my asking for sympathy, but to give of myself as I work through my difficulties.

This month brings a lot to mind as we get ready for Thanksgiving and then the holidays in December, particularly Christmas, as I am a christian, but not to overlook the Jewish holidays as Jesus was a Jew.

Thanksgiving can easily overwhelm us with thoughts of what pies am I going to make this year, where are we going to have dinner and all the other good and meaningful things that go into getting together and eating a fabulous meal, however, we all know it is and should be more than that.

Thanks-giving

Giving thanks for what we have, our homes, job(s), education, freedoms, good health (or not as bad as it could be), family, food on the table (even when it's not as much of or what we would rather have), etc.

Look around you--are there others who are doing worse off than you?

It would be really easy to look at what we don't have and complain or even criticize. Let me tell you, I do plenty of that, especially when my depression gets bad and I wonder why I need to go through "this".

Those are the times we need to rise above and really look at the good in our lives.

I have seen many friends on Facebook, post something they are thankful for each day in November.

I would challenge you to start now and do it too. You can even post several a day in order to catch up.

I think as we do this we will find a lot more "thanks" rather than "why me".

Happy Thanks-giving

Beautiful

DIY Cosmetics

Here is a link so you can purchase the ingredients to make your own cosmetics.

I really do like make-up but it can be so expensive and sometimes it's not the right shade, so it goes to waste.

I love being a DIY girl too. I make my own laundry soap, baby wipes, cleaning wipes, bread, butter, (the list really is quite boring to some so I won't go on) and now I want to make my own cosmetics.

This site will give you ALL you need. You can even buy kits to get you started, then just buy the refills of what you need.

They have containers, boxes, brushes, equipment, presses and molds, everything you will need to make your own. You can even make gifts for someone.

Let me know what you think.

Creative

Crocheted Stash Basket

This was easy enough, but I wondered what I was going to use it for. Then I remembered my disorganized cabinet in my bathroom where I keep my essential oils. So this is what I did.

After the basket was done, I made a base:

and the insert (both out of and old file folder):

traced around bottles for holes and put the two together:

Then I put into the basket

Then put it in the cabinet

Cute!

Joyous

Camping with a small car

I love camping and I have a lot of 'STUFF' I take camping, but since we downsized from a suburban to a small car, it's really difficult to find room for my likes and necessities. Plus some equipment can cost a lot of money, so I have some ideas of how to deal with both.

I loved watching 'The Home' show in the late 80's with Diane Thomas, and when I found these two books at a thrift store, I grabbed them.

You may be able to find these on the net at Amazon or Ebay or even look at thrift stores too.

She also has these others available:

She is amazing and has a lot of wonderful ideas. 

When I was in the young women's organization, we had a camp crafter's manual that also had some wonderful ideas.

Tent:

For several years, we had a really nice 2-room tent. It was not only used for our family, but girls camps and youth campouts.

Well a couple of summers ago, after and family camp, we set it up in the back yard to air dry. During the night a strong wind storm came up and bent poles and ripped the tent. NO MORE TENT.

We were done camping for the year so we thought, maybe next year we'll get a new one.

Well, a ward campout came up and we didn't have the funds for a new tent, and we really wanted to do.  Charly was little and could sleep on the back seat. I could sleep on the front seat, reclined back, but our tall, teenaged son could not do that.

So we took a tarp and stuck on side into the car doors, stretching it out and secured the other side with stakes. Ta-Da--Instant Tent!

Here are some other ways to use a tarp as a tent.

Cooking:

Fire: If you are able to have a camp fire, this will make your trip a "real camping experience,"

Many times you can get your wood where you will be camping, saving valuable space for other needed items, otherwise you may need to bring your own.

DON'T FORGET MATCHES : )

Follow safety rules of where to put your fire.

A great fire starter that doesn't take a lot of space and is easy to make it the egg carton fire starter:

Fill each cup of a cardboard egg carton with dry red pine needles, pieces of paper or dryer lint. Pour melted paraffin over the material, then place a looped string in the wax to be used as a wick.

Just tear off a cup, light, and you have a lit fire.

Once you have your fire, there are lots of way to cook over the fire.

-stick cooking

-spit cooking

-in the can (opened)

-grill supported by rocks

-pan supported by rocks

-foil packets

-dutch oven (using coals)

-foil reflector oven

-paper cups

-paper bags

For more information on how to use these methods, please refer to the books. 

Camp stove:

We have camped places where fires were prohibited, but propane stoves were ok.

These don't have to take a lot of space either.

They can keep you warm, easy to roast marshmallows over, and of course cooking.

We even have a grill box we set over one of the burners.

There are many options out there for buying them and making your own.

Food:

Food doesn't have to take a ton of space either.

Use ziplock bags as mixing containers for biscuits, muffins, pancakes, cakes, meatloaf, etc. You can even scramble eggs in a bag.

Have food prepped  at home, store in bags, adding liquids when needed. Then just throw the bag away.

Breakfast:

-eggs (can be hard boiled in paper cup or cooked with bacon in paper bags)

-pancakes

-biscuits

-muffins (can be cooked inside of hollowed out orange cut in half

-bacon or sausage

-fruit salad (stored and eaten out of bag)

-or SUPER simple no cook cereal (store and eat out of bag)

Lunch:

-veggies (store and eat out of bags)

-cold cut sandwiches (made ahead of time, adding condiments when ready to eat to keep from going soggy)

-stews or soups

-pizza (can be cooked on a stick or on foil or grill)

-pig in a blanket (on a stick or in foil)

Dinner:

-Meatloaf (cooked on a stick inside of foil)

-foil dinners

-stews

-fry bread tacos

-burgers

-Dutch oven anything

-chicken on a spit or dutch oven

-Pizza (grilled, upside down dutch oven, etc.)

Desserts:

-S'mores

-cobblers

-turnovers

-baked apples

Clean up and Sanitation:

Most camp grounds have bathrooms, at least the ones I go to so that is NOT something I will discuss here.

But keeping clean is important when camping.

Hand washing: 

Keep hand sanitizer around too.

Use a kettle on the stove or in a fire to heat up water.

Washing Dishes:

You don't need to even take a dish pan for this. You can dig a hole in the ground, put a plastic garbage bag down as a liner and fill with water and soap. Remove bag when done and refill with dirt. Leave not trace.

You can even do this for bathing if needed. 

Personal Grooming:

Take a bath towel for each person. Fold up the lower edge about 5 inches and sew pockets for toiletry items such as toothpaste, soap, cup, comb, mirror, and washcloth.

The excess material at the top can become a flap to keep the items in the pocket from falling out and can also serve as a towel for drying your hands an face. 

Sew straps on it so you can tie it around your waist to keep it handy.

Camping doesn't require a trailer or RV (though that would be nice). Nor does it require a lot of money. Camping does build a lot of wonderful memories. 

No need to put it off.  Just 'rough it easy'.

Share some of your ideas.