Splurge On A Truly Decadent Smoothie – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
Sitting in front of the television late at night after the house is finally quiet is one way I like to relax. Summer television is often filled with re-runs, which is fine with me because I miss some fun shows during the school year. This mindless entertainment is one of my guilty secrets – it’s mind numbing and sometimes that’s all I need.
This got me thinking about some of my favorite topics here on my blog that you may have missed when you were busy. And I thought “why not post some “re-runs?” So, I’ve been rummaging through some old posts and found this one that I know you’ll appreciate.
I am a big fan of Jamie Oliver. His cooking style is very rustic and down-to-earth, which I can appreciate. When I ran across his recipe for this particular smoothie I realized he has quite a sense of humor, too. I mean who can’t appreciate the decadence of this wonderfully rich and simple concoction? I hope you’ll try it. It’s a great break from your otherwise nutritious diet… and we all need a break once in a while. Enjoy this “re-run.”
Today, just for a few minutes, forget nutrition. I know, I know… I’m all about good nutrition. It keeps us strong, it keeps us healthy, it keeps us bright and energetic. But, everybody has to indulge once in a while.
So, for just a few minutes, forget about eating right and counting calories and fat. I believe that we work so hard planning and making nutritious meals for ourselves and our families that if we don’t take a break once in a while, we become exhausted. And what happens when we become exhausted? We start driving through the fast food place again because it’s too hard to think of something for dinner. It’s a vicious cycle.
Most people who develop nutritious eating plans know that they need to include a few “slips” every week just to keep the stress of meal planning at a bare minimum. Then, after we’ve had our little indulgence, we feel so good when we get back on track.
Okay, so here’s what I found that is absolutely decadent. Right off the scales in my diet, but so well worth the slip. This little recipe comes from Jamie Oliver’s second book, The Naked Chef Takes Off. Well worth a read. When you’re ready for your 15 minutes of escape today, throw this drink together and you’ll be on your way. Here you go.
Malted Milk Balls Smoothie
- 1 package of malted milk balls
- 1 cup cold milk – use skim if you like. It actually froths up better and is better for you.
Put the malted milk balls into your blender or food processor and pulverize them into a powder. Then add the milk and give everything a real whirl until your drink is nice and foamy.
When I read this in Jamie Oliver’s book I thought, “Oh, I can’t imagine actually drinking anything so bad for me.” But, in the back of my mind, or was it the bottom of my tummy, I thought “Oh! This is going to be so wonderful! The man’s a genius!”
So, thank you Jamie Oliver for your wonderfully sinful, yet heavenly, indulgence. For dinner I will make a huge green salad chocked full of goodness, but for now, I’m sinking into a creamy, cold, sweet, and decadent fifteen minutes of blissful sipping. I suggest that all you hard working homemakers join me.
You may not want to routinely indulge in this particular smoothie, so I’ve included a couple links here for other delicious beverages to try that are equally as relaxing and soothing. Give them a try the next time you need a lift.
photo credit: _neona_
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From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Take Yourself For A Bike Ride – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
Some time back, I posted a call to action for all Mommies. I know you have taken care of making sure your kids all have their own bikes ready for the summer. This is standard operating procedure around most households with kids – tires are pumped, chains are checked, and any maintenance that needs to be done is done.
But, what about your bike, Mom? Don’t you deserve to ride around the neighborhood with your family? Besides good family fun, bike riding is good exercise.
I’ve decided to re-post this call to action to encourage all parents (Dad, too!) to get their bike in order. Please read on…
Gorgeous days are upon us, and being a good Mom, you’ve already gotten out your children’s tricycles and bicycles, pumped up the tires, adjusted the seats, greased the chains, and made sure they were all ready to ride. Good job!
But, didn’t you forget somebody? When you stand there wistfully watching your youngster riding in circles around and around the driveway or joyfully riding around the neighborhood with friends, are you wishing you could feel that joy, too?
There is nothing better than a bike ride to make a day fun. Like most busy parents, you find the time, somehow, to make sure your kids are given all the opportunities for fun you can possibly provide. Naturally, your kids are going to want to be out on their bikes, so you make sure that happens.
When is your turn? Mom, you need to clear your head, get some fresh air, and have a little fun, too. Riding a bike around is the perfect way to do all that and feel like a kid again. Including a bike ride in your day will go a long way to improving your physical and mental well-being.
Consider using today to treat yourself to a bike ride. I guarantee, if you haven’t been on a bike for some time, you’ll remember how to get out there and pedal. And, once you take a spin or two around the block, you’ll remember what it felt like to be 10 years old! That is a very fuzzy-wuzzy feeling!
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From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Shopping Without Money – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
So, you like to shop, hmmm? Many people enjoy a stroll through the stores, looking at all the pretty little trinkets, seeing what’s new and fun. These little strolls can offer a pleasant distraction from the day-to-day life of working to make ends meet.
I rarely can afford to buy anything during these fun little excursions. I am basically a window shopper.
However, I’ve been doing some research lately about buying things without money – in other words, bartering. This is an ancient way of trading goods and services which has come around again with a vengeance thanks to the internet.
Scrolling around a few bartering sites has whet my appetite to shop again. The nice thing about using bartering internet sites is you can shop to your heart’s content from the comfort of your own chair.
Here are a few sites that I’ve found. Full disclosure – I have not actually bartered for anything yet; it seems I am still a window shopper at heart, but maybe some day…
BarterQuest.com – You can actually find a house on this site! But, besides the extremely unusual, there are real honest-to-goodness everyday things that you may be interested in trading for. I found everything from a lamp made out of antlers to an antique kitchen stove to a garden tractor to a vintage bottle of wine. If you feel like a little window shopping today, click on this bartering site and see what you can find.
BarterBee.com – This site is specifically for people who play games, watch movies, and listen to music. If you’ve got a closet full of cd’s or dvd’s that you just don’t pay attention to anymore, this is a great way to get rid of them… and get something in return! Take a minute to explore their site and see if you might be able to take advantage.
CraigsList.org – There has been unsavory publicity about this site, but the people in charge are very vigilant and have been aggressively cleaning things up. Overall, this site is a great way to connect with people who are legitimately bartering goods. If you’re interested in shopping around, just click on the site and choose your state. You’ll be able to tour your interests in your area of the country or world. I was discouraged somewhat to find many businesses using this site to sell their goods, so read carefully, but enjoy the window shopping.
If you like to shop, but don’t have the money to spend, you may want to try bartering, either on an internet site or in your local community. Many communities offer local store fronts where people can come and browse and barter away.
Bartering is a great way to get what you want without a huge outlay of cash. Be aware that bartering, the value of the goods and services traded, is under the IRS radar and is taxable income, so be sure to keep receipts for everything.
When you can shop and get fun goodies in exchange for something you didn’t want cluttering up your house anyway, that is definitely a fuzzy wuzzy feeling! Enjoy your day!
p.s. Want to learn the Art of Bartering? Check out this fun book that gives you the ins and outs to get you started. Click on here or the graphic to take a peek.
Continue reading Shopping Without Money – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Shopping Without Money – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
So, you like to shop, hmmm? Many people enjoy a stroll through the stores, looking at all the pretty little trinkets, seeing what’s new and fun. These little strolls can offer a pleasant distraction from the day-to-day life of working to make ends meet.
I rarely can afford to buy anything during these fun little excursions. I am basically a window shopper.
However, I’ve been doing some research lately about buying things without money – in other words, bartering. This is an ancient way of trading goods and services which has come around again with a vengeance thanks to the internet.
Scrolling around a few bartering sites has whet my appetite to shop again. The nice thing about using bartering internet sites is you can shop to your heart’s content from the comfort of your own chair.
Here are a few sites that I’ve found. Full disclosure – I have not actually bartered for anything yet; it seems I am still a window shopper at heart, but maybe some day…
BarterQuest.com – You can actually find a house on this site! But, besides the extremely unusual, there are real honest-to-goodness everyday things that you may be interested in trading for. I found everything from a lamp made out of antlers to an antique kitchen stove to a garden tractor to a vintage bottle of wine. If you feel like a little window shopping today, click on this bartering site and see what you can find.
BarterBee.com – This site is specifically for people who play games, watch movies, and listen to music. If you’ve got a closet full of cd’s or dvd’s that you just don’t pay attention to anymore, this is a great way to get rid of them… and get something in return! Take a minute to explore their site and see if you might be able to take advantage.
CraigsList.org – There has been unsavory publicity about this site, but the people in charge are very vigilant and have been aggressively cleaning things up. Overall, this site is a great way to connect with people who are legitimately bartering goods. If you’re interested in shopping around, just click on the site and choose your state. You’ll be able to tour your interests in your area of the country or world. I was discouraged somewhat to find many businesses using this site to sell their goods, so read carefully, but enjoy the window shopping.
If you like to shop, but don’t have the money to spend, you may want to try bartering, either on an internet site or in your local community. Many communities offer local store fronts where people can come and browse and barter away.
Bartering is a great way to get what you want without a huge outlay of cash. Be aware that bartering, the value of the goods and services traded, is under the IRS radar and is taxable income, so be sure to keep receipts for everything.
When you can shop and get fun goodies in exchange for something you didn’t want cluttering up your house anyway, that is definitely a fuzzy wuzzy feeling! Enjoy your day!
p.s. Want to learn the Art of Bartering? Check out this fun book that gives you the ins and outs to get you started. Click on here or the graphic to take a peek.
Continue reading Shopping Without Money – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Grateful Moments Even At Tax Time – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
Many households here in the United States of America are in a blue funk today. Why? It’s tax time. This means putting the final figuring into the ol’ income tax return and getting it mailed out in time for tomorrow’s deadline. Ugh.
If you’re reading this blog, you are most likely fighting like the rest of us to keep your finances afloat. Most people who are living a frugal lifestyle are doing so to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. We live frugally out of necessity – it’s not for laughs. We really NEED to live frugally.
When we look at our income taxes due, we see a burden. Sure, it can be a substantial burden. Maybe we have to pay in more. Maybe we won’t get as much back from what we already paid in. No matter what, we see this chunk of money as a real burden. Many of us have no idea where this extra money to pay our taxes will come from.
Here’s what I want you to do today. Take a deep deep deep breath. Now, think about what you do each day that your taxes help provide. This is not a political debate – this is a simple exercise in realizing what we, the tax payers, are providing for us all. The political debate about taxation can be left to others. For now, I want to you to take a moment and appreciate what you have. Here’s what I have that I am grateful for:
- I am grateful for the paved road that provides safe travel to my loved ones.
- I am grateful for my local public library where I can get just about anything my little heart desires to read, listen to, or gaze upon.
- I am grateful for abundant meat, poultry, and seafood that is safe to eat.
- I am grateful for the fine schools and teachers in my community.
- I am grateful for our wonderful fire fighters, police, ambulance personnel, and all the people who protect me.
- I am grateful for the financial support and medical care my elderly family members receive.
- I am grateful for the medical care my veteran family members receive at our fine hospitals and clinics.
- I am grateful for the support system that is available to us all in case of financial, medical, or any other emergency.
- I am grateful for the national, state, and county park system.
I know when I leave the house tomorrow, drive along the roads, walk along the sidewalks, do my grocery shopping, breathe the air and drink the water, and even mail out my taxes with an incredibly cheap postage stamp, I will probably forget once again how my taxes helped pay for all this.
We get used to what we have, and we expect it. I, just for one day, want to remember what I have to be grateful for, even, or especially, because it’s tax time.
Continue reading Grateful Moments Even At Tax Time – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Your Backyard Oasis – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
Some of you may remember a post I did some time ago called “Carve Out A Personal Oasis In Your Backyard.” You can take a look if you click on the highlighted title.
I’ve been busy as can be sweeping and cleaning up after a long winter. Once I got my porch and patio swept, I looked around again and thought it’s time to refresh my backyard oasis.
Winter takes its toll on my backyard. Sometimes when the snow melts, I wish we would get another blizzard just to cover up all the damage! It’s nothing serious, just a lot of branches and yard debris. The grass is trampled and brown, and it’s hard to imagine setting up any sort of oasis in that mess.
What I’m suggesting today is using your imagination to envision a great outdoor oasis for yourself. You may not be able to do a lot of work on it yet. The weather isn’t quite cooperating in our neighborhood, so for now I will just do a little cleaning and a lot of planning.
Grab one sunny corner today, pull up a chair, and imagine your own backyard oasis. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Continue reading Your Backyard Oasis – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
It’s Time To Re-Stock Your Sunscreen – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
It’s a beautiful sunshiny day out today and it looks like the weather will remain the same for this whole week. We’re looking forward to spending some nice warm days outside. But, before we do, I have to check our supply of sunscreen lotions, gels, oils, sprays, etc. etc.
Using sunscreen every day with an SPF of 30 or higher is recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology. Be sure to use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (both UVA and UVB protection) sunscreen and apply it to all the exposed areas of your body. Don’t forget your ears! Reapply after you spend time in the water or you have participated in a sport that gets you all sweaty.
If you’ve been driving around with your sunscreen in a beach bag in the trunk of your car for a year, you will need to replace it. Sunscreen does deteriorate over time, especially in the heat.
Buy sunscreen products that suit your body, face, skin type, and family. You’ll want to use products on your face that are specially made for that purpose. Buy sunscreen especially made for children to use on your kids. Buy sprays to make it easier to reach your back to reapply. Buy “chapstick” style sunscreen for your lips. Those are normally heavier and stay on your lips instead of disappearing as you talk.
Sunscreen provides protection from the sun. But, it’s not the only thing you should do to protect your precious skin from diseases and early aging caused by the sun. The following tips also come from the American Academy of Dermatology:
1) Wear protective clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses when possible. You can even now buy clothing with SPF protection added. Click here to view a fabulous shirt for women that fits well and looks great.
2) Seek shade when you can. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. A simple test – if your shadow appears to be shorter than you are, seek shade.
3) With children, think triple protection. Shade – protective clothing – sunscreen products. Click here to view a cute little sun protection bonnet.
4) Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand because they reflect and intensify the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chances of sunburn.
5) Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.
And finally…
6) Check your birthday suit on your birthday. If you notice anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.
Be smart about sun exposure. We want you to be happy and healthy, able to play in the sun for many many years to come – with your sunscreen on, of course!
I hope you have some time today to relax and enjoy the great outdoors!
Continue reading It’s Time To Re-Stock Your Sunscreen – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Take A Break From Your To-Do List – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
Unrelenting to-do lists can cause stress hormones to weaken your brain’s ability to make endorphins – the happy hormones.
Who knew? You and I already understand that stress causes a host of physical problems.
But did you know that if you have those unending to-do lists nagging at you day in and day out, your brain is actually going to have trouble making any of those happy little endorphins we love?
And, what happens when our brain quits making happy hormones? We quit feeling happy. In other words, the blues, or worse, sets in.
According to Pamela Peeke, M.D., author of Body for Life for Women, we need to give our brain a rest. More importantly, we need to give our brain something other than unrelenting tasks to focus on.
Please click on the graphics below to take a look at Body for Life for Women in either book form or Kindle form:
Let’s say that, in the morning, the first thing you do is check your mile long to do list. You are now on task. The day BEGINS with stress hormones on high alert.
Instead of checking your to do list first, what if you would sit outside, soak up some daylight, gaze into the sky, and sip your cup of tea or coffee? Now your day begins with happy hormones! What a difference it makes to give your brain a break!
If you focus on something pleasant, something other than your tasks and your worries, your brain will take that pleasant time and use it to produce endorphins. Your brain will like those endorphins so much that it will want to keep producing them, which in turn will make your days a little brighter.
Today, take some time to lift your mood by giving your brain a refreshing break. Find a pleasant place, think some pleasant thoughts, enjoy some pleasant sounds, write some pleasant words, and you’ll find out just how pleasant your day can be.
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From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Old Fashioned Help For The Common Cold – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
Contrary to what some drug companies may say, there really is very little you can do to prevent catching a cold. Ask any parent. I know when the sniffles and sneezes start making the rounds among my family and friends, we’ll all eventually have a few miserable days.
All the cold remedies in the world don’t live up to the claims to guard us from the inevitable. And, as seasons change, hot to cold, cold to hot, we always seem more susceptible to catching a cold. There is, of course, no scientific proof for that. Catching colds just seems to happen to us when the weather changes.
With the anticipation of cold season approaching, I gathered a few tried-and-true “remedies” for the cold symptoms we dread. Here’s a couple suggestions I found at Woman’s World magazine that I thought were worth repeating.
Eat a big breakfast. There is a Dutch study out that found eating a hearty breakfast increased blood levels of a virus fighting protein called gamma interferon. An interferon is a protein produced by cells that have been invaded by a virus, like the cold virus. This protein inhibits the replication of viruses. Too much technical information for me. I just think the idea of a big breakfast makes sense when fighting a cold. Your body needs fuel and a lot of it to keep from letting those little bugs get you run down. That’s my simple non-scientific thought.
Open a window. This may seem like lunacy considering how cold it has been. However, our elders knew a thing or two about fighting germs naturally. Stale, stuffy, recirculated air tends to make people feel sick for a couple reasons. One reason could be because the hot, stuffy air that you and everyone in the house keeps breathing is laden with germs. You can’t escape the germs unless you let the germs escape. Open the window and bring in the fresh, germ-free air. This is not scientifically proven, but again, it makes sense to me.
The other reason you want fresh air from the outdoors is because it has some moisture in it. Your heated air is dry and that dry air is wrecking havoc on your nasal passages and sinuses. When your nasal passages and sinuses get dry your nose plugs up. If your poor nasal passages can’t drain, your head plugs up and you suffer. Moisture is key to keeping your nose running clean. Yucky, but true.
Drink plenty of fluid. This old adage is more important than most people think. Dehydration is a dangerous problem when people are fighting a virus. You need a lot of fluid to get your body draining those toxins produced when you are battling a cold. Juice, water, and tea will flush those nasty viruses out better than all the cold relief elixirs you can buy.
Good old fashioned salt water gargle. Whenever we get a cold or sore throat in our family I have to remind myself to start gargling with salt water. It is a remedy that I keep forgetting about and it’s one remedy that actually works miracles. Dissolve about a teaspoon of salt in a coffee mug filled with warm water and start gargling and spitting. This concoction heals the back of the throat and rinses away the post nasal drip yuck that is irritating your throat. If you do nothing else to relieve your cold symptoms, do this one thing.
Try not to blow your nose. This is a tough assignment when that’s all you want to do is get that gunk out of there. However, as any doctor will tell you, the risk of the back-pressure propelling more gunk back into your sinuses causes more damage than all the drippy noses in the world. Keep a hankie handy and try to just keep the drips at bay. There are some people who swear by sniffing, although that can be a very nasty thing to do, and hear.
If you MUST blow your nose, never close one nostril. Go somewhere private, hold a sturdy hankie under your nose, and blow out of both nostrils. Wash your face, and emerge a happier person. This is NOT an easy assignment, but preventing further problems caused by sending your cold virus deeper into your nasal passages is worth it.
Eat chicken soup. We all know this to be true, but it took a curious doctor to research his wife’s old family recipe in the laboratory to prove it to the non-believers. University of Nebraska Medical Center physician and researcher Dr. Stephen Rennard dissected his wife’s chicken soup in the laboratory to prove what she already knew. The study focused on one element, the most common white cell in the blood that defends the body against infections. Although colds are not completely understood, it is believed that upper respiratory inflammation contributes to cold symptoms. Dr. Rennard theorized if chicken soup can stop or reduce inflammation, it might reduce the symptoms of a cold. It appears his theories are correct. The University of Nebraska Medical Center has even shared the recipe that Dr. Rennard has found to relieve cold symptoms as believed. Click here to read the recipe and more on the research if you’d like.
Like I said, I’m not a scientist or doctor, but these simple remedies sure make sense to me. When the weather starts to change, and we have those months where days turn from cold to warm and back again, arm yourself with some good old fashioned cures for the common cold. Of course, I know there is no “cure” for the common cold, but these little treats will at least help you feel better and get through the next bout with the sniffles!
Stay warm!
p.s. Check out even more chicken recipes by clicking right here. Even if you don’t catch a cold, it’s still good eating!
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From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Time For Mom On A Schedule – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
As you know, I spend Wednesdays trying to come up with ideas and incentives for all of us to take a little time out for a much needed luxury or two. We all know what they say, “If mom’s not happy, no one’s happy.” Yes, it’s true, but how many weeks go by without even spending one moment on something we need to make us happy? Probably too many.
That’s why I think this whole concept of “time for mom” may have to turn into a project in order for it to work. We tend to be really good at filling in our calendars with scheduled events – soccer practice, doctor’s appointments, meeting with the kids’ teachers, and the like. I’ll bet if you look at your calendar right now you’ll notice all the regularly scheduled events don’t include one notation like “soak in bath for 20 minutes.” I think I may have stumbled upon a problem.
Time for yourself may not happen if you don’t schedule and plan for it. I’ve learned recently to set an alarm clock to remind me to exercise. It’s the only way that I will avoid ending up in the same situation every day where I’ve got supper to make and bedtime stories to read and once again I have not exercised.
Using that same method may help with other “time for mom” activities. Whether you mark your calendar or set an alarm clock, you may need to start scheduling your own personal activities in order to stop missing the opportunity to treat yourself well.
What are some of your favorite luxuries? If you really enjoy a soak in the tub while the kids are at school or before you go to bed, mark your calendar. Perhaps you enjoy thumbing through a magazine to unwind after a frantic day. Choose some time during the day or evening when you can treat yourself to something you enjoy and need. Mark that time on your calendar or set an alarm clock to remind yourself to take those minutes.
Whether your luxuries involve lengthy commitments or just short little escapes, you need to remind yourself to take that time. It’s been a long struggle getting to the point where we have accepted the fact that we deserve and need time to ourselves. Now we need to actually give that time an honored spot on our family’s calendar of events. Your exercise class, facial, bath, book, or walk deserves just as much respect as your child’s piano lesson or dentist appointment. You need to schedule time to take care of a very precious member of the family – you!
p.s. Are you unsure about what sort of luxury you want to try? Click here for some ideas to get you started thinking about ways to take better care of yourself.
Continue reading Time For Mom On A Schedule – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.