Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes Review

Cool ideas for cheap make your own yard and summer project!

Sometimes you just need to go into a cuteness coma. & nbsp;Our & nbsp;Golden & nbsp;retriever has played mommy to all our kittens, which is pretty hilarious as he is a male! & nbsp;Scenes like this are a common occurrence at our house.

Wordless Wednesday - Places I want to go!

Dealing with a Drugged up Psycho In our Back Yard and why I'm glad we have guns

The biggest weakness in & nbsp;preparedness & nbsp;planning is not a & nbsp;forgotten & nbsp;survival item, or too few bullets. & nbsp;The invisible weakness is lack of real time & nbsp;experience & nbsp; & nbsp;It's one thing to say your going to raise your own food, and maybe you have all the seeds and tools to do it stored away. & nbsp;But if you have never actually planted a huge garden and tried to live off it your first year is going to be full of failures (see: learning opportunities) that could be potentially deadly in real survival time. & nbsp;The same goes for every aspect of survival and emergency situation response. & nbsp;Personally I have always wondered how I would react in a real SHTF situation. & nbsp;Would I freeze? & nbsp;React too slow? & nbsp;Freak out?

Police agencies recommend that you think out potential dangerous situations & nbsp;frequently & nbsp;and plan how you would react. & nbsp;Such as an intruder in your house, or someone trying to break through the door. & nbsp;This helps when you actually are confronted by the situation. & nbsp;My husband and I have talked about what we would do, and even discussed it to a certain extent with out daughter who is 15 so she can be safe and help keep her younger siblings safe while we deal with the situation. & nbsp;She often complained about it because we have always lived in the country or in small rural towns. & nbsp;I have tried to tell her that drugs are still just as much a problem in these kind of communities, but like most people, she thought that if you live in a small community is must be safer. & nbsp;Most people do not realize that while the population is small, the statistical drug abuse rates and alcohol rates are as high or higher than large cities.

As a woman moreover, my concern is how I would react and & nbsp;effectively & nbsp;defend myself against a man coming onto my property or into my home and threatening me and my children while I'm alone. & nbsp;I am a & nbsp;home-maker & nbsp;so I am alone with the children most of every day. & nbsp;This is one reason I keep firearms as protection. & nbsp;Guns have been called The Great Equalizer and for women this is especially true. & nbsp;I know that when it comes to a confrontation with a man I am not going to win. & nbsp;Men are bigger and stronger and no PC foolishness is going to change that fact. & nbsp;My father stressed that women should know how to handle guns and carry one because violent crimes against woman are common. & nbsp;He taught his daughters how to use all styles of firearms with proficiency and safety so while I wish that I lived in the world of puppies and rainbows I see the necessity to posses guns.

Yesterday morning started out just like normal. & nbsp;I was making breakfast for my four children and drinking a cup of coffee. & nbsp;Everything was fine and dandy when suddenly my four year old son said "Mommy a man just walked through our side yard!" & nbsp;I was surprised and concerned since it was 7:00 in the morning and nobody should be in our yard. & nbsp;I called to my husband, who was luckily still home. & nbsp;If it had been 15 minutes later he would have been gone. & nbsp;I told my husband what our four year old had said and after asking which way the man had gone, which was towards the back yard, he went out to take a look.

While all this was happening our amazing guard dog golden retriever was snoring gently in corner! & nbsp;My husband first looked out that back window and sure enough a man was out at our chicken run. & nbsp;He let me know that and then walked out to talk to the man. & nbsp;Almost instantly he was back in the house.

"Lock the doors and call 911, he said, this guys is off his rocker" & nbsp;The man was at that time trying to pull down our chicken fence and when my husband asked him what he was doing he said "This is a mirror and it must come down". & nbsp;He had no slurred speech and was walking just fine but my husband said the way he looked was extremely creepy. & nbsp;The man was obviously on some sort of drugs or in the grips of a psychotic episode.

My first thought was bath salts or spice, as both of those have been in the news allot. & nbsp;People in the grips of these drugs are extremely dangerous as it can cause violent psychosis to the point where they strip off their clothes and attack people. & nbsp;There have been constant and increasing reports across the country of people on these drugs not just attacking but also trying to eat other people! & nbsp;They do not respond to pain and have unnatural strength.

Needless to say neither my husband or I wanted to get into a physical altercation with this man. & nbsp;My husband monitored him through a window while I immediately got the children upstairs and into a secure room. & nbsp;Our back door is very unsecure, I could probably break through it with one kick so I was concerned what would happen if this man tried to come in. & nbsp;I also considered that this man may be armed and wanted my children as far away from flying bullets with as many walls between them as possible. & nbsp;This took about 20 seconds and then I was calling 911. & nbsp;I felt no fear or panic, just an eerie calm with very clear thinking. & nbsp;Every thought of mine was to & nbsp;keep my children safe and remove the threat from my family. & nbsp;As soon as I got to the phone my husband went and got the pump action shot gun loaded with slugs. & nbsp;He stood by the window and continued to watch the man and report what he was doing so I could then tell the 911 operator.

After trying to rip down the fence the man was now hitting his head repeatedly against it. & nbsp;I told the operator to warn the responding officers that the man appeared to be hallucinating. & nbsp;Now my husband told me the man was shaking and twitching and had & nbsp;again & nbsp;switched to trying to tear the fence down.

Within four minutes of the initial 911 call the officers were on our property, which is one of the great things about living in a small town. & nbsp;As soon as they arrived and had engaged in conversation with the man my husband went and put the shotgun away. & nbsp;No need to get into an uncomfortable discussion on our firearms.

The man went with the officers with no struggle thank goodness and we then gave our statements. & nbsp;Apparently the man had been causing trouble all night but since the previous people had not wanted to press charges he was allowed to walk. & nbsp;We pressed charges for trespassing simply because the man otherwise would have been let go to terrorize some other family. & nbsp;In jail he would be evaluated and not let go till he sobered up off of whatever he had taken.

All in all I think we handled the situation just right with only a few mistakes. & nbsp;The first mistake was my husband going out and confronting the man without any defensive weapons. & nbsp;Due to the fact that people hyped up on street drugs are often impervious to pain and display extreme strength this could have been really bad if the guy had gone after my husband. & nbsp;My husband is very physically fit and strong. & nbsp;He also is pretty confident on handling dangerous situations, but if taken by the element of surprise he could have been overpowered before he could react. & nbsp;I of course would have gotten the shotgun immediately and dealt with the situation but my husband would have been injured.

Also I should have been armed as well. & nbsp;That way if the guy had gotten through my husband and the shot gun he wouldn't have gotten through me.

The & nbsp;after-effects & nbsp;of this incident were what you would expect. & nbsp;There was much soothing needed for my children, and we had to explain why the man was acting the way he did. & nbsp;That night both me and my husband had a hard time sleeping. & nbsp;Also my husband came up and hugged me right after the police left. & nbsp;We had been having an ongoing marital debate about locked doors. & nbsp;I always keep the doors double locked even though we live in a small town and this annoyed my husband when he would come home at night. & nbsp;My statement every night was the same. & nbsp;"I don't want anyone able to just walk into my house!" to which he would then blow off as unnecessary paranoia.

After this incident however he told me that if he ever gave me trouble about the locked doors again I was to punch him in the face!

During this whole incident I & nbsp;certainly & nbsp;felt concerned, but not & nbsp;panicked & nbsp; & nbsp;The main reason for this was because both my husband and I are armed and know how to use them. & nbsp;This man was not getting into our house. & nbsp;This gave me a real calmness. & nbsp;I cannot imagine what I would have felt like if we had not been armed and had to rely on nothing more than a locked door to protect us. & nbsp;I have been teased often by anti gun family members about my penchant for carrying defence weapons. & nbsp;But as I have heard stated many times before you & nbsp;don't & nbsp;need a gun until you really need a gun. & nbsp;And then if you & nbsp;don't & nbsp;have one your screwed.

What really disturbed me was what would have happened if one of my children had gone outside to feed the animals like they & nbsp;usually & nbsp;do while that man was out there. & nbsp;They would have tried talking to him not realizing he was unbalanced.

I & nbsp;definitely & nbsp;recommend planning out what you would do in situations like these. It is so important to think out your priorities and who does what in a crises. & nbsp;From our & nbsp;previous & nbsp;discussions it helped us spring to action and not panic.

As a last note we are this very weekend re-enforcing our back door so that it will take more than a hard tug to get through it.

The thing that is the hardest struggle for us humans is to be content. & nbsp;Everywhere we look people are wanting more. & nbsp;More money, more stuff, more relationships, better careers, more popularity, more more more! & nbsp; It of course doesn't help that our culture glorifies and encourages & nbsp;consumerism & nbsp;and and the & nbsp;pursuit & nbsp;of more. & nbsp;We are told from the day we can watch tv that we must buy more and have more or we cant be happy. & nbsp;And most of the things we need more of is not what will make us & nbsp;happy in the long run.

But as Christians that is not what God says. & nbsp;He doesn't want us to seek anything but more of Him to be content.

Contentment is the true key to & nbsp;happiness.

For many years I struggled with contentment. & nbsp;I was & nbsp;constantly & nbsp;striving for more and worrying about everything my family didn't have. & nbsp;I felt I needed to make as much money for my family as possible by babysitting or having night jobs which stressed me horribly. & nbsp;As a result my true calling as a mother was & nbsp;sacrificed. & nbsp;It seemed like the more things I tried to do the more unhappy I became. & nbsp;I rarely prayed to God for guidance in my life but I prayed plenty for him to make me a happy wife. & nbsp;It frustrated me that he never answered and I was angry all the time with my life as a stay at home mom. & nbsp;I saw my duties as a pointless slog of never ending work and hated every minute of it. & nbsp;I prayed and prayed for God to make me a contended mommy, but never once prayed for God to show me how to be contented. & nbsp;I just wanted my own way, my own goals, my own lifestyle! & nbsp;I never asked what God's plan was for my life. & nbsp; & nbsp; And the sad thing is that even if He had come down and said "OK here is what I want you to do, and if you do it you will be happy and content" & nbsp;I would have rebelled and been angry. & nbsp;After all God's plan for my life wasn't like my plan. & nbsp;I wanted my plan!

I went on like this for years and then I came to a crises. & nbsp;I believe it was the most absolute form of intervention God could do. & nbsp;I had a total health breakdown. & nbsp;I was terrified all the time and thought I was going to die. & nbsp;Through it all I simply clung to God. & nbsp;I prayed all the time, I read my bible constantly and I did something I have never in my life done. & nbsp;I gave up my will. & nbsp;I just gave it up and said "God, I don't know what the heck is going to happen, I don't know if I will ever be better, so your just going to have to work it out and I'm going to just trust you." & nbsp;Over and over I thought of the words from Job, even though you slay me, still I will praise you! & nbsp;And I did praise Him. & nbsp;He showed me time and & nbsp;again & nbsp;through my illness that He was with me.

When things were at their worst I swore to God and my self that if I ever felt better I would be so thankful just to & nbsp;vacuum & nbsp;the floors or cook a meal.

Slowly I did get better. & nbsp;My illness has changed my whole outlook on life and being a stay at home mom. & nbsp;I am so happy just to be able to smile again. & nbsp;I now love being able to clean my house and care for my children. & nbsp;First because I woke up and realized how being a Mom is the job God gave me. & nbsp;That's pretty amazing huh? & nbsp;The creator of the universe gave stupid Ole me a job! & nbsp;The second reason is because I now trust God completely. & nbsp;I have faith that no matter how dark the storm of my life He is in control and will guide my Husband and I in the way to go. & nbsp;That way may not be what we envisioned our life to be, it might in fact be the polar opposite, but he will give us peace and joy through it all is if we just trust and have faith. & nbsp;One of the most comforting verses that God kept showing me through my illness was below.

Faith Triumphs in Trouble

5 & nbsp;Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have^[a] & nbsp;peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, & nbsp;^{2 & nbsp;}through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. & nbsp;^{3 & nbsp;}And not only & nbsp;that, & nbsp;but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; & nbsp;^{4 & nbsp;}and perseverance, character; and character, hope. & nbsp;^{5 & nbsp;}Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

So now I have peace, and what is peace but true contentment? & nbsp;Sometimes I falter and start to get discontented in my life but I quickly remember what I learned and take a breath and let go of all my worries. & nbsp;

I hope that you do not have to go through what I did to find real contentment in your life. & nbsp;But as to how each of us can find it there is really only one answer. & nbsp;

Trust in God, truly trust Him and ask for Him to guide your life. & nbsp;Never go a day with out praying for guidance on your life, even the really small things. & nbsp;And then when He does show you the way to go don't fight it! & nbsp;I can tell you that I never thought I would be happy with the life I have now. & nbsp;It is so different from what I planned. & nbsp;But I am so happy now and just so & nbsp;grateful.

Settling In and pics of our new life

So everyone we moved! & nbsp;Now we live in a new state (northeastern Oregon) and a totally new environment. & nbsp;We moved mainly because my husband could not find a job even semi close to our home (there are no real & nbsp;businesses & nbsp;in our little town that pay well or even & nbsp;hire), so we had to make a decision. & nbsp;We could no longer afford the massive & nbsp;experiences & nbsp;of the commute so it was move. & nbsp;So Hubby started looking around at places to work. & nbsp;Fortunately & nbsp;for us my husbands skills make it to where we could get a job just about anywhere, but most are in or near big cities which we & nbsp;don't & nbsp;like. So even though he was offered jobs in many places they just weren't right for different reasons. & nbsp;Our biggest priority was going where God wanted us to go. & nbsp;We prayed, our friends prayed, we asked for & nbsp;guidance & nbsp;and affirmations to make sure this was God led, and God was so & nbsp;faithful. When we got the offer for Hubbies new job everything just clicked, and we had so many affirmations that there was no doubt this is where we should go. & nbsp;The company payed for us to move here and we are in a large town small city kind of place. & nbsp;There is way more shopping than our old town, meaning two grocery stores and a dollar store and lots of & nbsp;restaurants! But the main draw for us was the massive amounts of outdoor recreation that is just minutes from our front door.

& nbsp;For those of you who & nbsp;don't & nbsp;know I have spent my whole life in the desert. & nbsp;Yes Washington state has a desert, a pretty big one actually but no one ever really visits. & nbsp;It's nice in its way but I have always wanted to live somewhere green and preferably in the & nbsp;mountains. & nbsp;I love to be in the & nbsp;mountains & nbsp;and forage for berries, mushrooms, fish, hunt, and camp. & nbsp;Unfortunately & nbsp;in every place we have lived we were hours away from any & nbsp;mountains & nbsp;for recreation. & nbsp;But now we are & nbsp;literally & nbsp;at the foot of the wallowa and blue & nbsp;mountains. & nbsp;Every morning I wake up and see snow capped peaks and every day I take my children for a long walk next to the Powder River and marvel and all the natural beauty.

fishing less than 20 minutes from our house

viking boy on the stairs going to the kids bedroom

Princess in Waiting and & nbsp;Captain & nbsp;Submarine on a fishing trip

We have already gone fishing and I am scoping out areas for berry picking as the most & nbsp;delicious & nbsp;wild berry grows here! & nbsp;The & nbsp;huckleberry! & nbsp;I cant wait to pick them for pies, jams, and syrups.

I have a great book on wild berries and mushrooms and I am spending my time on learning identification.

We are living in a cute little house with a nice fenced yard only three blocks from my husbands new work so no more two hour commute and all the & nbsp;expense & nbsp;that went with it. & nbsp;So far I love our new town and the people we have met, I miss my garden and fruit trees and our old church family but I know God has great things in store for us here.

Sabtu, 22 November 2014

Ecolunchbox review

Like many parents, I want my child to have what's best for them. This has started me on a quest to make sure I find the most eco-friendly options available for most things, since stuff that is ecofriendly is often times the best for you and your family (less toxins, natural ingredients, etc). I've been slowly transforming the way my entire family lives, and snacks were bound to come up eventually.

With summer fast & nbsp;approaching & nbsp;one of the things I was looking for was a portable snack container for my daughter. & nbsp;She goes to tons of activities in summer and takes & nbsp;frequent & nbsp;bike rides as well so a way for her to transport a snack and drink along was essential.

Searching the net I found EcoLunchboxes. The stainless steel alternatives to plastic containers intrigued me, and these products offered me a back-to-the-basics solution. They were generous enough to send me out a sample of some of their products to review: The Solo Cube (square) and the ECOsnacksack.

I have to say that I love the stainless steel because it is durable and also wont leach chemicals into food. & nbsp;And the minute I saw the snacksack I knew my daughter would love it! & nbsp;They come in a variety of colors and all are cute.

I used the ECOsnacksack to hold the Solo Cube and a drink, but it wasn't big enough to hold anything else. It is a "snack" sack and not a "lunch" sack. That's something to keep in mind! (Ecolunchboxes also offers a larger bag called the ECOLunchwrap if you want the bag to hold your full lunch!). & nbsp;I was very impressed at how easy it was to wash the container. I opted to wash it by hand, and they might as well have been unused with me washing them as it was a cinch! & nbsp;

All in all, I love these and so does my very picky teen aged daughter. & nbsp;They make a great idea for summer outings and activities. Obviously you cannot microwave the containers, but that is the only downside. They hold food great, nothing leaked. & nbsp;The containers were easy to open, and easy to clean. They were wonderful! They are also non-toxic and waste-free! The ECOsnacksSack & nbsp;was not only adorable but sturdy. It functions great for a snack carrier, just look for the next size up if you want it to hold a meal. If you want more information on EcoLunchboxes, you can read about the why and story behind ECOlunchbox .

Jumat, 21 November 2014

Helping A Family

Sorry I've been so quiet of late dear readers but I have been wrapped up in a little project for the last week and it has been taking up all my leftover energy after family.

What has happened is as follows

There is a family with three little boys down the street from us. & nbsp;When we first moved in they came over the next day excited about a new family of children to play with. & nbsp;From the first I noticed that the boys clothes were often very dirty, shoes falling apart, and they were dirty too. & nbsp;They wandered about the & nbsp;neighborhood & nbsp;from sunup till after dark

As I got to know them I found out that they were living with their very old grandma and their disabled father. Their mother had just up and left when the youngest was under a year old! & nbsp;My mothers heart was just breaking for them!

So as often as I can I have them over to play (I also push as much homemade food on them as possible). & nbsp;They are amazingly sweet little boys. & nbsp;They are gentle and kind to my 4 year old, and they never say anything & nbsp;off & nbsp;color & nbsp;or snotty.

This fall as it has gotten colder (it gets very cold here and right now it's snowing) & nbsp;I've noticed that whenever they come over they are wearing too small grubby shorts and their shoes are falling apart. & nbsp;At first I didn't worry because I know they dress themselves and if I let my kids they would do the same thing sometimes. & nbsp;But one day I realized that they may not have any other clothes. & nbsp;So as casually as possible I asked the middle boy if he had any pants for winter. & nbsp;No, he says, we & nbsp;don't & nbsp;have any money and dad's trying to get us some but he cant. & nbsp;I asked about his shoes that were literally falling apart and it was the same thing.

Now this was just horrible to me. & nbsp;They had no coats, no pants, no shoes, no socks, and snow and really bitter cold weather was almost here! & nbsp;But what to do? & nbsp;At that moment we had no money and all my boys clothes were either too small or worn out so I couldn't give them anything.

So I decided to post on a classified board on & nbsp;Facebook & nbsp;for our town a cry for help. & nbsp;Here is the whole conversation over about 3 days. & nbsp;I didn't want them to know it was me giving them these clothes because the little boys might feel ashamed that they & nbsp;don't & nbsp;have any, and the dad may have gotten offended and not let them come over anymore. & nbsp;I also kept their name confidential the entire time because I know I wouldn't want to be talked about like this even if it was true! & nbsp;This family tries hard, I know the dad does his best and loves his boys. & nbsp;They are just going through hard times. & nbsp;I know how that feels because we have gone through them too.

People just rallied to my call as you can see. & nbsp;I had clothes dropped off at my house, and I picked up quite a bit too. & nbsp;In the end the each of the boys & nbsp;received as follows. & nbsp; & nbsp;A new bag a socks and gloves from a very nice Christian couple who wanted to buy them (this was an & nbsp;answer & nbsp;to my fervent prayers because they were wearing worn out mens socks from their dad and I so wanted to get them new socks for winter but felt it was wrong to ask for money on & nbsp;Facebook & nbsp; and then this lady up and emailed me, God is Great!), 4 pairs of pants, coats, jackets, shoes, boots, winter hats, t shirts, long sleeved shirts, and snow pants. & nbsp;All of it was nice and in great condition! & nbsp;I separated it all into piles for each boy and then packaged them up with a note saying that the community loves them and cares for them. & nbsp;Then my husband and I put it on their doorstep, rang the bell, and ran.

Now a week later they are wearing their new clothes with such pride and & nbsp;happiness & nbsp;it just warms my heart. You can see it in their faces! & nbsp;They & nbsp;don't & nbsp;suspect me and one of the boys said that his daddy & nbsp;doesn't & nbsp;know where the clothes came from!

I guess I'm writing to encourage you to do what I did. & nbsp;If you see a need & nbsp;don't & nbsp;let it go, reach out your hand because even if you have no money like us you can still do something!

Kamis, 20 November 2014

When it rains.... it POURS!

We've had just under 9 inches of rain where we live. We had about 3 inches one day and we decided to leave and head away for a few days. Then we had 6 more and we've been flooded OUT! Oh well!! We are resting comfortably with family and having a good time being in civilisation for a little while!

The only downside is that my SSCS Swap and Advent Swaps are rained IN! OOPS!

We'll attempt to get home in a few days. But we really can't do anything about it until the roads are reopened. There isn't any way for us to get home right now... short of a chopper!

Selasa, 18 November 2014

The Importance Of B Vitamins for Mental Health

I am not a doctor, but I can tell you what happened to me. & nbsp;I have been struggling with depression and anxiety for a couple of years now. & nbsp;After much research and evaluating my diet I have come to the conclusion that I was seriously deficient in minerals and certain vitamins.

One of those vitamins was the B vitamins. & nbsp;How I figured it out? & nbsp;Well I started taking a B complex and within 2 hours was feeling much better mentally. & nbsp;My energy, which has been very bad, went up and was wonderfull. & nbsp;My mood became much better. & nbsp;All with one vitamin! & nbsp;I kept taking it daily and the way I felt continued! & nbsp;Conclusion.... I was deficient in B vitamins.

& nbsp; Since beginning a simple B complex vitamin I have noticed a major improvement in mood, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and energy.

Needless to say this is a very important nutrient if you look at what even a slight deficiency can do. & nbsp;I now also keep a stock of B complex vitamins in my emergency supplies because this is such and important vitamin for mental health in stressful situations.


Here are excerpts from several papers on B vitamins. Honestly I could post pages and pages of the research on it, but if you still have questions just google it.


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that one out of 10 adults in the U.S. suffers from & nbsp;

depression. Several studies have researched the possible relationship of vitamin B-12 with depression alone.

& nbsp;In a study published in the December 2002 issue of the "American Journal of Psychiatry," 806 elderly & nbsp;

people, some randomly selected and some with depressive symptoms or disorders, were evaluated for a & nbsp;

relationship between depression and vitamin B-12. The findings revealed that B-12 deficiency was not only & nbsp;

related to depression but may also be a causal factor.

Read more: & nbsp;http://www.livestrong.com/article/363331-vitamin-b12-mental-health/#ixzz2M6


bQHkxI

Depression is a common symptom of multiple B vitamin deficiencies.¹ & nbsp;Deficiencies of vitamin B1, thiamine, cause beri-beri. Early signs include symptoms like increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, depression and fatigue. B2, riboflavin, is an essential part of the process that builds neurotransmitters. It's also involved in making thyroid hormones. In some inpatient populations B2 deficiency has been linked with a trend toward unipolar depression and riboflavin supplementation with improvement.²

Raising serotonin levels helps calm anxiety. Serotonin is made in the brain from tryptophan. B3 (nicotinic acid/niacinamide) and B6 (pyridoxine) are critical parts of the enzymatic pathways that make serotonin.^3,3a

Estrogens can inhibit B6, leading to lower neurotransmitter levels including serotonin.Women on oral contraceptives should take extra B2,6,12 and folic acid^4,5 & nbsp;to avoid being grumpy. Women displaying behaviors injurious to themselves and others just before the onset of their menstrual cycles non infrequently consume substantial amounts of dairy and sugar and show positive responses to B6 supplementation.⁶

But it's not just a women's issue. Reports have indicated B6 deficiencies may be a factor in a wide range of psychopathologies including autism, Alzheimer's hyperactivity, learning disability, anxiety and depressive disorders.^7,8

At levels only slightly lower than normal, a range of symptoms such as & nbsp;fatigue, & nbsp;depression, and poor & nbsp;memory & nbsp;may be experienced.^[7] & nbsp;However, these symptoms by themselves are too nonspecific to diagnose deficiency of the vitamin.

Vitamin & nbsp;B₁₂ & nbsp;deficiency can also cause symptoms of mania and psychosis, fatigue, memory impairment, irritability, depression and personality changes. & nbsp;In infants symptoms include irritability, failure to thrive, apathy, anorexia, and developmental regression.

Senin, 17 November 2014

Hobbit Hole Houses And Chicken Coops

Ok I & nbsp;absolutely & nbsp;love the books The Hobbit, and The Lord Of the Rings Trilogy. & nbsp;I have read them countless times, before I might add they became & nbsp;popular & nbsp; & nbsp;I am currently reading the Hobbit to our younger children and they have fallen in love as well. & nbsp;In fact this winter we made hobbitats (mini gardens with hobbit houses) to alleviate the winter doldrums.

Anyway I just came across this amazing site with custom built hobbit holes to be used for playhouses, chicken coops, outdoor reading nooks, or guest housing. & nbsp;Oh my gosh I want this so bad! & nbsp;We are going to be buying a new chicken coop and this would be so amazing.

Also just to let you all know I have always wanted to build my own little hobbit home up in the & nbsp;mountains & nbsp;just for fun as a place to go camping. & nbsp;Check out their site for more pics and ideas & nbsp;Wooden Wonders

My kids would love to have one to play in!

This is there chicken coop with the nesting box on left

another chicken coop that I love

This has got to be my & nbsp;favourite, you can almost see Bilbo coming out cant you?

Minggu, 16 November 2014

In love with my new stainless steel teakettle from Lehman's

I just have to let you all know about my most recent purchase. & nbsp;Now as you know if you've read my blog at all, I generally purchase almost everything used at thrift stores or yard sales. & nbsp;So when I actually buy something brand new, even something & nbsp;relatively & nbsp;cheap, I do tons of & nbsp;research & nbsp; read the reviews, and compare prices before I buy it.

My last & nbsp;tea-kettles & nbsp;have all been correll ware kinds found at yard sales. & nbsp;The problem is that even though I quite like them they are small so that they don't fill up my tea pot when I'm making tea. And they don't have a whistle so my eldest daughter who also loves tea, forgets about it and it goes dry and then shatters.

So I resolved to bite the bullet and buy a brand new whistling tea kettle. & nbsp;First I looked at what was in stores, but I wanted something old fashioned looking and also stainless steel inside and out. & nbsp;Then I looked online at wally world and target. & nbsp;And then finally I looked at & nbsp;Lehman's & nbsp;website since I had to order something else that only they carry.

I saw they had several & nbsp;tea-kettles & nbsp;at the same prices as even cheapo walmart! & nbsp;But I fell in love with the above & nbsp;tea kettle! & nbsp;Here is the description.

Our three generously sized tea kettles feature a distinctive two-tone whistle, not the shrill screech of an average & nbsp;tea-kettle & nbsp; The easy-clean stainless steel body helps keep water hot. Your choice of sizes; ideal for canning or a family gatherings.

• Easy clean stainless steel kettles
• Extra large pour spouts
• Plastic handle stays cool
• Made of 201 stainless steel
• Imported

They come in three sizes and I got the one gallon. & nbsp;Ok, come on one gallon! & nbsp;And by the way that is the smallest size available, the biggest is two gallons. & nbsp;This would be perfect for when the electricity goes out and you need to heat large amounts of water. & nbsp;It is & nbsp;awesome & nbsp;and I love it, especially the whistle that is so cool. & nbsp;When I first got it I & nbsp;immediately & nbsp;tried it out and right before it started to whistle gather all the kids around to hear it. & nbsp;They have never heard a whistling & nbsp;tea-kettle & nbsp;before! & nbsp;It sounds just like a train, but of course not as loud. & nbsp;My eldest daughter wants to get one now for her hope chest!

Sabtu, 15 November 2014

Subscriptions...

Until today I have been the proud owner of a subscription to a very well known and popular crafting magazine. I have had this subscription for a good many years and before I had a subscription I used to stalk my local newsagency waiting for the latest issue to be released. I think I have almost all of them.

Lately, I've really not been as excited about receiving my copy of this magazine. There are sometimes things in them I want to make but more often than not there isn't anything in them that interests me.

Last week I received a letter with my last magazine to say that my subscription had run out. I have decided to not renew it. That means I now have NO subscriptions at all.

Are my tastes changing or is the magazine changing what they choose to put in it?

What is your favourite magazine and why do you love it?

Jumat, 14 November 2014

Art Schools Designing the Technology of Tomorrow

In today's increasingly tech-savvy world, it seems as if the world is at your fingertips. Just think of your daily schedule and more often than not, it includes checking your email, your Facebook, your text messages, and any other such web application. It could be on your laptop computer, your mobile phone, or a device like the iPad. But have you ever asked who made all this accessibility possible and appealing? The program was probably created by those that went to art schools and learned the tricks of the trade. The design was probably conceived and created by graphic designers, those that are trained in branding an image and making it pleasing and memorable to the eye. All of these artistically and technically challenging jobs are within reach more than ever before with the increasing popularity of online education.

And it's only going to get more relevant. According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, in the past 10 years alone, internet usage increased from 49 percent to 79 percent overall. Social and professional networking online has seen the biggest increase over just the past 5 years with about 7 percent of adults to a whopping 61 percent of adults using these kinds of sites. Even the newest service, Twitter, has seen a marked spike in usage in just two years, with usage for adults going from 6 percent to 17 percent.

It's not just laptops and home computer usage that have seen these increases. If you take a look at the commercials and advertisements on the television today, you will see that "smart phones" are essentially the new norm when considering a cell phone. According to predictions made by Neilson Wire, one in every two Americans will own and operate a smart phone by the end of 2011. This is great news to the big smart phone names like Blackberry, iPhone, HTC and Droid. It's also big news to the application and feature developers that create and sell downloadable smart phone features. Within the companies, developers are constantly racing to design more features for their subscribers.

With this kind of competition, it is no surprise at how this field needs more web programmers and graphic designers to keep up with the technology demands in America alone. As in any profession that requires technical or advanced learning, a college degree is likely needed to give you the tools and competitive edge you need to succeed in this vast market. More specifically, a graphic design degree or completion of a web design course will prepare you for these two fields. As with all types of education, the more you have, the more you can earn.

Web designers, those that build websites ranging in complexity from plain text to rich user-interactive platforms, are going to see as much as a 30 percent increase in available jobs in the next eight years according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a substantive increase compared to other fields that have taken a huge hit from the economic woes of the past five years. These jobs include public and private sector positions, but do not take into account the entrepreneurial types that will freelance from home. Graphic designers will also see a similar increase, since many graphic artists work side by side with web designers in the evolution of a project or a business. According to the popular job site, Indeed.com, an average salary of a web designer was about 66,000 dollars with graphic designer salaries at about the same range.

What better way to learn web and graphic design on the computer than on your own time with your own tools at your disposal? With the rigors of daily life increasing for the average American, finding time to get a higher education, continuing education or even changing professions can cause serious stress to the person and to their finances. However, for those looking for an art school that will work within their time constraints, an online option is the way to go.

Online art school provides the student with a network of professionals and a comprehensive and rigorous learning schedule that is more flexible and affordable than the traditional education route. An added advantage to those pursuing a graphic design degree or a web design degree is the immediacy of the internet and its learning tools at their fingertips. Their teachers are working professionals that offer real-time tips according to trending ideas and topics. Not only that, but with more Americans using the internet and applications, the learning and subsequent work opportunities are endless. Those that wish to compete in a world that uses the internet and technology as frequently and as easily as they do today, will find that obtaining or advancing their degree is the best option.

Kamis, 13 November 2014

A great Titus 2 audio study

My number 1 goal as a christian is to do what God wants me to do. & nbsp;God definantly has a plan for each of us but he also has instructions for women and men specifically. & nbsp;One great book in the bible is Titus and specifically for women Titus 2.

Here is a audio bible study on it that is great for me. & nbsp;Sometimes I listen to it every day! & nbsp;It covers so much for older women and younger women and what Gods says for us. & nbsp;It encourages me and & nbsp;reminds & nbsp;my of what my job is.

Rabu, 12 November 2014

Acure Organics Skin and Hair Care Review and A Giveaway!

It's a wonderful feeling when you purchase a product knowing it will do good things for your body and soul. It's an even more wonderful feeling when you purchase a product knowing your choice will do good things for others. Such is my new love-affair with products by a company called Acure Organics.

Watching & nbsp;a family member battle cancer inspired Kristy Guera, founder of Acure Organics, to develop a line of face, body, lip and hair products containing only pure, natural, safe and healing ingredients. No cancer-causing & nbsp;phthalates, parabens, synthetic fragrances or other harmful ingredients ever! & nbsp;This is amazing because I am trying to reduce as much as possible my families exposure to synthetics and chemicals.

Both the products and the packaging respect the planet, the ingredients are fair-trade certified, and a percentage from the sale of every facial care product goes for breast cancer research and awareness.

One of the first things that made me say "Wow!" about Acure products is how affordable they are! There are many healthy and organic choices these days, but too many are priced out of reach of the average consumer. Acure makes safe products that are accessible to all. Finally! & nbsp;

Here is a little blurb from the company

Acure for your Skin...Acure for the Planet....Acure for a Cure Acure Organics is a family owned and operated company founded on sustainable principles to provide the highest quality fair trade, natural and certified organic personal care products. Our products are created with great care and are a reflection of our values. Each of our products is free from animal testing, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, harmful preservatives and artificial colors. We travel the globe to find the most potent certified organic ingredients that meet our high standards of efficacy and purity. We thank you for sharing in our mission to have a positive impact on the world we live in. I was sent several products to review out of there line and each and every one of them surprised me in several ways. & nbsp; First and most important to me is that they are natural. & nbsp;For some reason I have become allergic to many soaps and facial care products in the last year. & nbsp;I break out in hives and sores, especially on my face which is so embarrassing! & nbsp;Also my son has extreme eczema and is allergic to most cleaning products and lotions & nbsp;so we are very careful what soaps and shampoo's we use on him. & nbsp; I tried all of the products and not one of them caused a reaction! & nbsp;I was truly amazed and & nbsp;ecstatic! & nbsp; And not only that I used the sensitive unscented body wash on my son he didn't break out at all! & nbsp;To finally find a line I could trust with my families skin. & nbsp; & nbsp;I loved all the body washes they sent me. & nbsp;And my teen aged daughter really adored the exfoliating mint body wash. & nbsp;I have to agree it was great and I am not generally a fan of mint scent. & nbsp;At $9.99 for a large bottle that is a great deal! Another product that I fell in love with was the Brightening Facial Scrub. & nbsp;Right away my skin looked better and felt great! & nbsp;I followed this with the Seriously Firming Facial Serum and my skin is looking so nice now. & nbsp;Both products are very affordable at about what you pay at Walmart for a medium end facial care product. The last things I tried that they sent me was the Lemongrass + Argan Stem Cell clarifying & nbsp;shampoo & nbsp;and & nbsp;conditioner. & nbsp;First the scent is really nice with a light lemon fragrance. & nbsp;I love lemon scent, its just so clean smelling. & nbsp;Second it really does get your hair nice and clean. & nbsp;I have been using argan oil for a long time now so it's a major plus that it's in these two products. & nbsp;My hair was shiny and clean after using this! I am not often sold on a skin and body care line. & nbsp;Most of the time they have too many chemicals in them for me to feel 100% confident in. & nbsp;That's why I am giving my absolute endorsement to & nbsp;Acure Organics! They are a company with a heart and a soul and they make products that you can feel safe using on your family. & nbsp;Plus they are affordable even for those of us on a tight budget! If you have been looking for a solution to the usual & nbsp;chemical & nbsp;laden body and beauty lines this is the company for you! The Give Away! Selasa, 11 November 2014 Storms a Brewin Look at our & nbsp;forecast & nbsp;for the next few days! & nbsp; Winter Storm Warning & nbsp;for Baker County, Oregon Active for next 1 day, 12 hoursLocation: Baker County Posted 3 hours, 6 minutes ago & nbsp;– & nbsp;National Weather Service How likely: How soon: How severe: The & nbsp;original text & nbsp;for this alert has been automatically reformatted to correct capitalization. Winter Storm Monday night and Tuesday morning. A winter storm will develop in eastern Oregon and western Idaho Monday night through Tuesday morning as a warm front moves slowly across the area and brings heavy amounts of snow. Winter Storm Warning in effect from 4 pm Monday to 4 am PST Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Boise has issued a Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow in Baker County, which is in effect from 4 pm Monday to 4 am PST Tuesday. Snow amounts, 6 to 12 inches. Snow levels: surface. Winds: northwest 5 to 15 mph. Timing: late Monday and Monday night. Impacts: travel problems on Interstate 84 and other roads. Recommended actions A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow means that significant amounts of snow will make travel dangerous. Only Travel in an emergency. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Excerpted from & nbsp;ready.govBefore: Before winter approaches, add the following supplies to your & nbsp;emergency kit: Rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways. Visit theEnvironmental Protection Agency & nbsp;for a complete list of recommended products. Sand to improve traction. Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment. Sufficient heating fuel. You may become isolated in your home and regular fuel sources may be cut off. Store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove. Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm. More about: What to do before winter storms and extreme cold. During: Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack - a major cause of death in the winter. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside. Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly. Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately. Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your residence cooler than normal. Temporarily close off heat to some rooms. More about: What to do during winter storms and extreme cold. What is a Winter Storm Warning? Senin, 10 November 2014 Friendship.... I know I'm not the only one that has developed great friendships with "imaginary friends"! To be honest, I struggle with maintaining friendships. I think this has been largely due to my life changing alot in the last 7 or 8 years since getting married and starting a family. Lots of my friends didn't do this at the same time as we did. Lots did it earlier than us and others still haven't gotten married or had children. I know it's all in everyone's timing. But it does make things harder when single or childless friends expect us to still be running around like we used to be! Moving to the 'middle of no where' has seriously depleted our friend pool too! Don't get me wrong, we have made some lovely friends out here but the distances make it hard to catch up often. And it's so easy to get very comfortable and not go out alot! I have come to rely on my "imaginary friends" more than I would have thought was 'normal'! I know lots of husbands think that we're weird to have had such strong bonds with women we haven't ever met! But I think it's lovely! I haven't met any axe murderers yet (obviously!)... they've all been lovely. One in particular is so similar to me it's scary!! We get on like a house on fire and I wonder what life would be like if we had never connected through blogging. Thankfully we live relatively close (in the grand scheme of things) to each other and that means we do get to see each other a few times a year. Another... lives at the other end of the country... and I'll be so excited when we finally get to meet! Anyways, this is really a post about my ramblings!! I just think that the friendships that blogging women have got are so precious and special! Anyone met any awesome blogging mates? Minggu, 09 November 2014 Lily Organics Skin Care Review and a Home Spa Kit Giveaway! I have been blown away recently with the quality and effectiveness of natural beauty products. I remember that just a few years ago, it was difficult for me to find products that were natural and really worked. Lily Organics is an award winning natural beauty line that has amazing skincare products including moisturizers, cleansers, toners and treatments. I am thrilled that Lily Organics has products that are free of synthetic chemicals and perfect for my sensitive skin. I recently was able to review HOMESPA the Home Spa Relaxation on the go kit. & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp;When you decided to use your Hope Spa kit you have to set 2 hours aside to enjoy the full effect. You will be able to relax, reflect and re energize. This Home Spa Kit contains cleansers, astringent, herbal moisturizer, facial herbs, hot oil treatment, botanical enzyme exfoliant mask, lotions, creams, incense, bath oil, candle, cotton balls, relaxing tea, meditations and eye toning pads. It comes with full instructions and is a one time use although I had leftovers from most of the products. When I tried & nbsp;it I had a wonderfull time. I felt very spoiled for two hours. The hardest part of this kit was finding the two hours to treat myself. I liked all the products and the scents were & nbsp;very nice & nbsp;I would highly recommend giving this as a gift for your mom, wife, or girlfriend as a lovely pampering gift!! Just make sure to give her a coupon for two hours to do it with. My favorite product that I have tried from the spa kit & nbsp;was the Organic Lavender Moisturizing Cream. This luxurious cream is designed for dry to normal skin and helps to diminish wrinkles by keeping the skin hydrated. A small drop of this moisturizer instantly absorbs into my dry skin and it feels simply amazing after I apply it to my face and neck. The wonderful scent of organic lavender is relaxing and perfect before bedtime. I am impressed with the pricing for the two products that I tried from Lily Organics because I have paid 2-3x that amount in the past for similar products that are far surpassed by the quality of Lily Organics. I can also feel confident that the products that I am using are the highest quality natural ingredients. In fact, Lily Organics is SEED to SHELF™ meaning it has its own organic farm and make all of its own products. Lily Organics skincare is handcrafted, cruelty free, organic and chemical-free. You are invited to visit the Lily Organics website to purchase the products mentioned in this review or you can shop by skin type including sensitive, dry/mature, normal/oily, acne prone and anti-aging. Jumat, 07 November 2014 Homesteading Book Review and Giveaway! Backyard Farming on an acre more or less The dream of having 20 acres of land far away from the hectic lifestyle of a city is the fantasy of many. & nbsp;But like most dreams it isn't always practical or even attainable for most people. & nbsp;Some of us will never be able to afford living in a rural setting, and never be able to keep up with the constant work a real small & nbsp;farm entails. & nbsp;I have done both. & nbsp;From living on 5 acres in the Wyoming farm lands with goats chickens, rabbits and an acre of garden, to living on a small lot right in town and still & nbsp;having a big garden with chickens and meat rabbits. & nbsp;Both have there advantages and disadvantages and you just have to choose which one is the best for your family. More and more I see people tearing up sections of useless lawn and putting in gardens, fruit trees, and chicken coops. & nbsp;The most common reason for this outbreak of urban homesteading is the rising food costs and constant food safety scares with outbreaks of contamination. & nbsp;Since food prices are only going to go up at a rapidly accelerating rate this interest is sure to grow as well. That is why I was so interested in reviewing Backyard Farming on an Acre (more or less) . & nbsp;This is a book geared towards people who are trying to convert every possible space they have into food production for their family on small lots of land. What I like about this book is it is for people who live in town and for what ever reason cannot move to a rural setting. & nbsp;It is perfect for anyone wanting to grow healthy foods, live more cheaply, and not be as dependent on the just in time food delivery industry. & nbsp;I truly believe we have to bloom where we are planted, and while I still dream and plan of the day when I will have my small farm I'm going to work with what I got. & nbsp;And believe it or not you can do allot in your average sized yard. I have read pretty much every book on homesteading, small farming, and gardening. & nbsp;And I have tried out many of the recommended tips. & nbsp;This book is going to be a great resource for anyone wanting to produce food. & nbsp;It is easy to understand, comprehensive enough to be a real guide, and geared towards the newbie. Backyard Farming On An Acre (More Or Less) Review Backyard Farming On An Acre (More or Less) & nbsp;is the & nbsp;ultimate guide for those wishing to eat healthier and save money. Whether you're looking to purchase new farm land or to use what you already own, Angela breaks everything down in an easy-to-follow, comprehensive way, explaining everything you need to know from zoning restrictions to water access. Ready to start producing your own veggies and fruits? Angela's got you completely covered, with & nbsp;helpful tips and advice on planning, planting, raising, and harvesting everything from vegetables and herbs, to fruits, berries, and nuts! The book is organized in such an easy format, you can just open the table of contents, find the plant you want to learn more about, then flip to the correct page to find information, pictures, and down-to-earth advice on all that goes into growing and harvesting that plant. The sections on animal husbandry is very good and Angela's detailed, yet concise,instructions on buying and raising chickens, goats, sheep, and rabbits & nbsp;was well written. & nbsp;I have raised goats, rabbits, chickens, and a milk cow so I can tell you from experience that this is a very good beginners guide. Mengenai Saya Nama: Blogger Keren Lihat profil lengkapku Link Google News Edit-Me Edit-Me Postingan Sebelumnya Say Please Lunchbox Love Cards Review and Giveaway! Homemade Granola- better for you, cheaper, and eas... In Love with Aprons! Easy Homemade Yogurt In a Crockpot Germs... be gone! The 10 things children really want there parents t... Economic Alert: If You’re Not Worried Yet…You Shou... A Clarification Steam Cheese Tofu My adventure with Naan and Lebneh - the kids love it Arsip Oktober 2014 November 2014 Desember 2014 Postingan Terbaru Berlangganan Postingan [Atom]