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!
Continue reading Old Fashioned Help For The Common Cold – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
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.
Grab A Book And Take A Moment To Yourself – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
What? A moment to myself? But, it’s the busiest time of the year for me!
How on earth will I ever find time to read a book? I’m getting my menu and grocery shopping list together for Christmas dinner, putting the tree up, decorating the house, shopping for presents, and doing all the regular stuff, too. I find it difficult even to find the time to get a shower in, let alone sit down and read a book.
But, I was waiting for a prescription to be filled the other day and wandered over to the book aisle. Oh, the books I’ve been missing! It just about broke my heart. You see, I used to read a lot of books. Then I got busy with family, home, and work – all those things that fill up my days. Yes, a busy life is a blessing, but I do miss my reading.
So, I’m making a commitment to myself today. I’m adding “read” to my to-do list. I’m going to set an alarm clock to go off during the day, grab my book, and sit down for a half hour and read. I think I can afford to give myself thirty minutes.
I’m also going to buy a purse that’s big enough so I can carry my book with me where ever I go. That way I can pull out my book anytime I have to wait for something as I’m running errands, like waiting for a prescription.
Now, what to read… there are so many books to choose from! I could go straight to the bestsellers display in the bookstore, but that’s really not the best strategy for me. Just because a lot of people are buying a book doesn’t mean it’s a good fit for me. So, I did a little searching online and this is what I came up with.
There is a site called The WILLA List wiki which was designed by a group of women called Women In Letters and Literary Arts, or WILLA.
Because women authors were woefully left off of Top Ten lists like the one in Publishers Weekly, this group of women developed a website and started a list of their own using a wiki format. You’re probably familiar with this format from the site wikipedia. It’s an interactive site so you can sign up and add your own input if you so desire.
But, the real draw for me is their list of favorite books by women authors. There are hundreds of books listed by category; fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc., with links so you can read the synopsis of the book as well as some of the critical acclaim. When you click on the link, which is the title of the book, you may be taken directly to the author’s webpage or you may get a wiki review. This website is worth a few minutes of your precious time.
Another great place to search for books is a nice little website called Indie Bound, which is a site in which independent booksellers across America post their own Indie Bestseller Lists. Because independent booksellers often attract independent thinkers, their lists contain titles that are both interesting and unusual. This list lets you know what indie readers are buying right now.
I’m thinking I found a few places to start searching for my books. So, I’ll set my alarm now and spend my first half hour scrolling around these two sites. Reading through these sites may take a while, but it will be a labor of love!
I hope you’ll join me and take a minute or two, or maybe even thirty, and pick out a book for yourself today. I just think we all deserve to treat ourselves as well as we treat others. Have a great day!
p.s. I found one title already that I can’t wait to dig into. If you’re interested in what I’m reading right now, you can find it by clicking here. Enjoy!
Continue reading Grab A Book And Take A Moment To Yourself – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Honor Your Vegetarian Guests At The Holiday Dinner Table – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
Nutritious and delicious meals are important to everyone when feeding a hungry family. However, food is more than nutrition for many people. If you’re like me, cooking a beautiful meal is one of the ways that I show love. Cooking makes me feel good.
Our holiday meals feature a traditional stuffed turkey as the centerpiece of the meal. Then we surround the bird all the fancy fixings. I’ve shared some thoughts last week about how to choose your holiday turkey – if you’d like to read it just click here. Then come on back and I’ll tell you what that post got me thinking about.
As I was writing about choosing a turkey, I thought back on several holiday meals at which we had guests who were vegetarian seated at our table. These guests were wonderfully polite and dug into all the vegetable dishes we had available, and there was quite an array. But, here’s my thought – why should our vegetarian guests be limited to eating our standard side dishes? Why can’t we create dishes that are more appealing, make more of a statement than a plate of, for instance, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes?
This year I am dedicating myself to making ALL my guests feel as special as I feel having them around my table. I’m working on some “bountiful” dishes that will qualify as fancy vegetarian main dishes for our holiday meals. I’ll share what I have so far with you so you can start developing a plan for your own vegetarian dishes.
Lentils & Pumpkin Curry with Apples
- 1 cup lentils
- 6 cups water
- 1 Tbsp. Canola oil
- 1 large sweet onion, diced
Cook lentils in water gently over medium-low heat for 45 minutes. Drain and reserve the cooking liquid.
Heat oil in large sauce pan, add onion and cook over medium-low heat until onion starts to get transparent.
Add the following ingredients to large saucepan with onion:
- 1 small can diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoon curry powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- pinch of ground cloves
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper
Now, stir in the drained lentils and add 2 1/2 cups of the reserved liquid.
Add the following list of ingredients and continue to cook over low heat until vegetables are just fork tender, not mushy. This should take around 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how low you let this simmer:
- 2 cups of diced pumpkin (make sure it’s the cooking kind and not the jack o’lantern kind) or other winter squash that you like will be good too.
- 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes or may like to use red potatoes. Just scrub the potatoes, do not peel, and coarse dice.
- 1 small head of cauliflower, just the florets only cut into bite size pieces.
- 1 or 2 carrots, peeled and diced.
Now stir in the following ingredients and let cook for an additional 8 to 10 minutes, stirring once or twice. Be sure you don’t let this cook too long. You want the greens to be just wilted and the apples to be just fork tender, and not turn into applesauce.
- 2 tart crisp apples that are a good size. Wash but do not peel. Just core and coarse dice.
- 2 cups fresh chopped greens (kale, spinach, or what have you). I like kale because it stands up better than spinach does.
Serve in a pretty serving dish on a bed of brown and wild rice.
Here’s how you can make this dish even prettier. Serve it in a baked pumpkin or other winter squash “bowl.” Bake a pumpkin by cutting off the top to form a “lid” and scooping out the seeds and stringy stuff. Set the pumpkin in a baking pan and put a little bit of water in the pan. Place a sheet of foil over the opening in the pumpkin and place the “lid” on the top of the foil. You may want to wrap the “handle” with a little foil to keep it from burning up. Bake your pumpkin in a 375 degree oven for about an hour, but check it at 45 minutes by sticking a fork inside to see if the flesh is soft. Keep the pumpkin bowl warm until your dish is completed.
Here’s another spin on a traditional dish, especially for Thanksgiving.
First Thanksgiving Succotash In Butternut Squash Boats
Wash and cut lengthwise 2 medium butternut squash. Scoop out the insides and bake cut side down on a baking pan with a drizzle of canola oil covering the bottom of the pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes or until fork tender. Remove and let cool.
Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil and saute these ingredients until the onion just starts to get transparent:
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced small
- 1 green bell pepper, diced small
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
Now, add to the large saucepan the following ingredients, and cook over low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally:
- 2 cups frozen baby lima beans
- 2 cups frozen corn.
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- pinch of nutmeg
When the baked squash has cooled down, carefully scoop out some of the flesh from the skins, being sure to leave the shells intact for filling. If that means you have to leave some flesh in the shells, that’s okay. Chop the flesh that you’ve removed and add to the saucepan. Mix together, then scoop the mixture back into the baked butternut squash shells. Top with a sprinkle of breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
Place the stuffed squash underneath the broiler (about 6 inches) away and allow to brown, about 4 or 5 minutes should do it.
These dishes are pretty and festive, yes, but more importantly they are main dishes, not sides. These dishes are not an afterthought; they honor your vegetarian guests just like your vegetarian guests honor you by accepting your invitation to share a special holiday meal.
Choosing harvest vegetables, beans, lentils, and colorful brown and wild rice, will give you plenty of opportunities to create dishes that will not only please your guests, but will make you feel good about feeding them!
That is why I chose this topic for Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday, because the holidays are all about making our family and friends, and ourselves, feel good inside! I hope you have a great day today and a warm and wonderful holiday season.
Continue reading Honor Your Vegetarian Guests At The Holiday Dinner Table – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Shop Goodwill On The Internet – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
Does it make you happy when you shop at thrift stores and find really great bargains? Do you especially feel good when money spent on those bargains help provide services for people in need?
Charity and non-profit organizations like Goodwill Industries do just that. When you shop at a Goodwill store, your money goes directly into programs like job training and job placement for folks who need help finding work due to disabilities or other barriers to employment.
I’m sure you’ll agree that this is a vital service, one which benefits everyone in a way. Working folks are happier, healthier, and feel a sense of purpose and connection with their neighbors. Our communities thrive when the population is productively employed.
This all sounds great, but what if you don’t have a Goodwill thrift store in your town? How can you shop and contribute?
Here’s how… Goodwill Industries has their very own auction-type website. It’s called ShopGoodwill.com and is operated by Goodwill of Orange County, California. Participating Goodwill stores from all over offer a wide variety of items for auction; items from antiques to housewares to clothing. New and nearly new items are pulled from their inventories of donated goods and placed on the auction site to sell. Because Goodwill is so large, the resources for these items is enormous.
This is not a small charity or a small auction site. Goodwill’s presence extends to five continents, and in 2005 alone, Goodwill Industries International and its affiliates served over 846,000 individuals.
Just like shopping at a Goodwill store, the money you spend at ShopGoodwill.com supports programs designed to help people with disabilities and other barriers to employment who are otherwise left out of society – programs like education, training and job placement.
How does the ShopGoodwill.com auction website work? Similar to eBay, but your money is going to charity.
Start by scrolling around the items you are most interested in just to whet your appetite. I guarantee you’ll see something that appeals to you. For me, it was the wonderful cast iron Dutch ovens, griddles, and skillets. There were even a few enameled cast iron casserole dishes. Once I was sufficiently impressed, I just clicked on the “Sign-in” button, clicked on “I’m a New User”, and followed the simple instructions to register.
Of course, you’ll see some expensive antiques, art work, and jewelry, but you’ll also find things like a $10 Sunbeam Mixmaster, a $9 Pampered Chef baking dish, and even a vintage wedding gown for under $20!
The shipping should be factored in as you know, but seems to be what you would expect to pay. But, it may be worth the cost to ship if you find something that you haven’t been able to find locally; maybe a missing piece from a set of dishes that you would like to complete.
Take a break from your busy day, click on ShopGoodwill.com, and start with a little window shopping. When you see something that interests you, go ahead and register. It will only take a minute or two and you’ll feel good the rest of the day, knowing the purchases you make are doing more than supporting a business… your purchases are supporting a community.
p.s. If you’ve gotten the urge to visit your local thrift shops now, before you start click here to read a few tips about when to shop and what to look for when you go.
Continue reading Shop Goodwill On The Internet – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Lose Yourself In Your Favorite Tunes – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
I used to love music. My radio and tape player where hardly ever off when I was a teen and later as a young adult. Somewhere around the time I become a wife and mother I stopped listening to music as much. There just seemed to be so much constant noise in my life, the last thing I wanted was more, even if it was music. Sadly, I lost my love for music.
Recently I rediscovered how much the right kind of music energizes me, relaxes me and changes my mood. And that’s what today’s fuzzy-wuzzy Wednesday post is all about. Set aside some time to lose yourself in some of your favorite tunes.
Get out some of your favorite CDs or tune into your favorite radio station and sit back and lose yourself in those tunes for a little while.
Don’t have some of your favorite songs or albums from your favorite artists? Try Pandora.com
I was in the mood to listen to some Fleetwood Mac and Eagles Tunes for some reason today, but couldn’t find a single CD. Instead I went to Pandora, typed both of those groups in, got out my headphones and started listening to some wonderful music while putting the HBHW Newsletter together. I had a blast and it kept me in an upbeat, energized mood all day, even though I’d been up most of the night with a sick little one.
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From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Lose Yourself In Your Favorite Tunes – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
I used to love music. My radio and tape player where hardly ever off when I was a teen and later as a young adult. Somewhere around the time I become a wife and mother I stopped listening to music as much. There just seemed to be so much constant noise in my life, the last thing I wanted was more, even if it was music. Sadly, I lost my love for music.
Recently I rediscovered how much the right kind of music energizes me, relaxes me and changes my mood. And that’s what today’s fuzzy-wuzzy Wednesday post is all about. Set aside some time to lose yourself in some of your favorite tunes.
Get out some of your favorite CDs or tune into your favorite radio station and sit back and lose yourself in those tunes for a little while.
Don’t have some of your favorite songs or albums from your favorite artists? Try Pandora.com
I was in the mood to listen to some Fleetwood Mac and Eagles Tunes for some reason today, but couldn’t find a single CD. Instead I went to Pandora, typed both of those groups in, got out my headphones and started listening to some wonderful music while putting the HBHW Newsletter together. I had a blast and it kept me in an upbeat, energized mood all day, even though I’d been up most of the night with a sick little one.
Continue reading Lose Yourself In Your Favorite Tunes – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Lose Yourself In Your Favorite Tunes – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
I used to love music. My radio and tape player where hardly ever off when I was a teen and later as a young adult. Somewhere around the time I become a wife and mother I stopped listening to music as much. There just seemed to be so much constant noise in my life, the last thing I wanted was more, even if it was music. Sadly, I lost my love for music.
Recently I rediscovered how much the right kind of music energizes me, relaxes me and changes my mood. And that’s what today’s fuzzy-wuzzy Wednesday post is all about. Set aside some time to lose yourself in some of your favorite tunes.
Get out some of your favorite CDs or tune into your favorite radio station and sit back and lose yourself in those tunes for a little while.
Don’t have some of your favorite songs or albums from your favorite artists? Try Pandora.com
I was in the mood to listen to some Fleetwood Mac and Eagles Tunes for some reason today, but couldn’t find a single CD. Instead I went to Pandora, typed both of those groups in, got out my headphones and started listening to some wonderful music while putting the HBHW Newsletter together. I had a blast and it kept me in an upbeat, energized mood all day, even though I’d been up most of the night with a sick little one.
Continue reading Lose Yourself In Your Favorite Tunes – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Lose Yourself In Your Favorite Tunes – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday
I used to love music. My radio and tape player where hardly ever off when I was a teen and later as a young adult. Somewhere around the time I become a wife and mother I stopped listening to music as much. There just seemed to be so much constant noise in my life, the last thing I wanted was more, even if it was music. Sadly, I lost my love for music.
Recently I rediscovered how much the right kind of music energizes me, relaxes me and changes my mood. And that’s what today’s fuzzy-wuzzy Wednesday post is all about. Set aside some time to lose yourself in some of your favorite tunes.
Get out some of your favorite CDs or tune into your favorite radio station and sit back and lose yourself in those tunes for a little while.
Don’t have some of your favorite songs or albums from your favorite artists? Try Pandora.com
I was in the mood to listen to some Fleetwood Mac and Eagles Tunes for some reason today, but couldn’t find a single CD. Instead I went to Pandora, typed both of those groups in, got out my headphones and started listening to some wonderful music while putting the HBHW Newsletter together. I had a blast and it kept me in an upbeat, energized mood all day, even though I’d been up most of the night with a sick little one.
Continue reading Lose Yourself In Your Favorite Tunes – Fuzzy Wuzzy Wednesday …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.