P.S. !!!

I will be starting a new blog in the not so distant future. It will be completely on topic (mostly).

Stay tuned, I'm not ready quite yet!

Metabolism

Wanna boost it? 


Eat several small meals every day.

Drink coffee! (YAY!) It burns calories easier!

Drink more water.

Move more. Fidgeting burns calories.

Sleep more. If you don't get enough sleep it can slow your metabolism.

5-7 servings of fruits a vegetables.

Exercise!!!

Eat foods rich in fiber!

Money Saving Tips

Ways to cut back and save money

Buy generic products when possible.

            Shop and low price stores
            Thrift Stores
            Yard Sales

Coupons & Discount Cards!

            Sunday Paper & Online Printables
            Sign up for savings at local stores and pharmacies
            Watch for double coupon days!

Make things at home!

            Gifts
            Decor
            Food - Lunches
            Fix what you already have!

Go to the library

            It is cheaper and sometimes even free to check out a book
            Some libraries have educational movies for kids!

Be aware of Transportation Costs

            Make all stops while you are out
            Fuel savings on purchases made through certain stores saves money too!

Be Content!

            It is easier to save when you are happy with what you already have!
            As yourself if you REALLY need that item before you buy it.            
            Where will it be in one year?

Utilities

            Unplug what you're not using.
            Talk to utility companies about ways they can help you save.
            Shop around for the best rates.
            Try a set payment on utilities like propane or natural gas.
                        -Your bill will be the same all year and more manageable!
            Pay bills on time to avoid late fees.

Make a Budget

            Give yourself a spending allowance to carry in cash.
                        -You see it and spend it slower than if you are just swiping plastic.
            Know how much is coming in and how much is going out.
                        -The "ebb and flow" of your banking account.

Groceries
            Make a shopping list and buy no extras

            Buy meat in bulk
            Have one vegetarian meal a week (if meat is your thing)

            

I found these tips in my "me folder" of random things when I was cleaning up. I just wanted to share and maybe help someone else, feel free to add your own tips in the comments area! 

Religious Research

          I have been doing research on different religions, not for myself but for my oldest child(and the younger two to some extent).
          My son speaks about God and Jesus in Christian terms only through information that was given to him by relatives and attending church a few times. My oldest daughter is getting the idea of Christianity as well now.

          It was at the point when my son informed me, "If you don't believe in God, you'll go to hell" that I came to the realization that I have not been doing my part in religious teaching.
          You see I do not believe that there is a Hell. I do not believe that you should put faith and fear into things like that. It is not healthy and quite honestly, it is terrifying and especially to a child. I remember being young and being told in Sunday school that you had to believe in God and Jesus and if you didn't then you would burn in Hell for all eternity. I never believed that such a horrible place could exist for decent people who don't know what they believe in. The only response I could give to my son was, "Yes, that is what Christians believe."

          I never talk about what I believe, it is personal and should not be aired out in my opinion for all to see and judge. So I will not tell you today what it is that I believe in but I will tell you what I am going to teach to my children.

          I have summarized beliefs on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses, Judaism, Neo-Paganism/Wicca, Primal Indigenous, and Sikhism.  Some were easy and some were more difficult. Some were even hard for me to fully understand myself but it is important that I do. Which makes me think of Gandhi, who said "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."

          I wish that someone would have taken the time to teach me about different religions instead of just trying to make me believe what they believed because they were biased. Ultimately, what my children grow up to believe in is completely up to them and I will not think them wrong for what they believe in even if it is not what I believe. I just want to make sure that they are educated early and do not feel the need to ever judge someone else for believing in that which they do not understand.

          Part of being a parent is giving your children the tools necessary to live up the their full potential as human beings. It is no one's responsibility but your own to see to it that your children are given those tools. Who they are is completely their own choice but you will know that you did everything you were supposed to do while they were in your care and under your wing. 

"Loners" Need People Too

I hate that I am such a horrible friend.
I lack the capacity to make friends and keep them. I get it, I don't blame anyone. I wouldn't be friends with me either. But when I need a friend, I know that I don't really have them and I don't really deserve them anyway.

I don't know how to react to complaining/issues/problems and usually I just try to fix or help others fix the problem they are having before even considering they might just want to complain about it (and have me listen). I have been an awful friend to the people in my life. And I barely talk to family. I don't know how to form all of those relationships with people so I avoid them because I don't want to screw up. But in the end that is exactly what I am doing, screwing up.
Fear prevents me from trying and my inability to be understanding and empathetic without letting others problems consume me messes up any chance of friendships and good positive relationships.

I don't feel like I have the normal relationships that others have with their friends, neighbors, grandmothers, fathers, etc. I feel absolutely secluded. And it is when I am feeling alone and vulnerable that I know I am the only one at fault. 

I take it personally when Bryon thinks I can just call someone up and have a friend to go do whatever with. I find it upsetting that I can't talk to him about how this feels but when it comes right down to it... I don't really want to.
Nothing like running to the bathroom to cry over something that doesn't fucking exist anyway, relationships are an illusion. I hid behind a door to hide from the one person who has always been a friend, who has always been there and who has helped me through some of the hardest things in my life. I don't want him to know how very weak I feel over this.  

That Same Friday Night... Gluten Things

I blogged this LAST WEEK, and forgot about it not posting and it was all saved in a document waiting for me, I post it now.

I have been trying to adjust to this gluten intolerance (or whatever it is) crap but I am really finding it to be far too easy to not follow the diet the way that I need to be. I am also feeling like my lactose intolerance (which is off and on for some odd reason?) is just around the corner again. This makes me sooo nervous. Taking away all forms of lactose containing milk is a nightmare add gluten to that and I'm pretty sure that chickens will be running for the hills clucking away terrified. Because, when it comes right down to it, I'll be all ravenous for chickens and rice. Just the thought of chicken and rice makes me smile. You can do so many things with the two that it almost makes you forget that you're "restricted" from other things.
          THEN just when you are content and going about your own way minding your own business with a belly full of chicken and rice, you see a sandwich... and someone is just stuffing it all in their face hole like NOM NOM. And you start drewling and convince yourself that you can have a sandwich too! Then you tell yourself that "it's not that bad" and "its only one". Before you know it you're spiraling out of control and a week has passed and you're still telling yourself. It's OK!!! IT'S ONLY ONE, DAMNIT!

          But no, really. One gluten containing food has a high likelihood of leading to mouth sores for me, headaches, body/joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes in my neck/jaw (that last one is after about 5-7 days of eating small amounts of gluten). Then I'm basically feeling like I am dying from a flu bug.

          Needless to say. I had a bad week! I need to try harder. Part of me is still in denial. I actually tried to convince myself that it was "in my head". I ended up very miserable and very depressed over it.

          I cannot even attend a simple cookout without eating before I leave the house. I know, that chances are, I will not be able to eat more than a few potato chips and if I am really lucky they might have fruit salad. Usually I try to take a gluten free dish if the function allows for things to be brought.

Side Note: I have had a horrible time with posting and writing blogs today. I can only assume there must be a bunch of boring Friday night bloggers out there just like me. I will let it go this time.. but next time, you better watch your back! 

Mum you're neurotic again!

So I am rummaging through the toys strewn through Gavin's closet in an attempt to assist with bedroom cleaning....

Gavin - that's not necessary
Me -yes it is, it's part of the system!
Gavin - there was no system *giggle & grin*

Pictured during the realization that his mother is a weirdo with a "system" 

He seriously had me laughing so hard ... I love this kid. Poor thing probably knows me better than most people do, *mom's getting neurotic again!*