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11.23.2012

Giving Thanks on Friday

I still have one.more. Thanksgiving. But I'm not complaining, because tomorrow I get to see lots of people I do not get to see often. So sitting here-smack dab in the middle of my Thanksgiving celebrations I have time to reflect on yesterday's festivities and anticipate tomorrows celebration.

I am thankful for family, the people who scare me because they are so awesome and crazy. The same people who worry me sometimes because I see myself in their actions and I couldn't possibly be like that, right? We laugh, tease, and hug and it makes the holidays the best time of year simply because we get to spend time together.

My immediate family, extended family, and friends family, ah yes I'm thankful for them all.

Blessings!


11.22.2012

Giving Thanks on Thursday

IIIIt's Turkey Day! Happy Thanksgiving to all! This post is going somewhere I'm just not sure where yet.

I spent last evening with friends. But just not any friends but old friends. We sat around 3 different kitchen tables throughout the night as we made our way from house to house seeing people on the block. We talked, we laughed, we drank orange juice. It was so nice. I think I am going to narrow this thankful note down to memories. The kind that make you feel warm and at home. The kind that take you right back to the time and place and you feel like you are there, you are living it again. Memories that you share every time you are together-and it never gets old. I just can't quite put into words how beautiful it is to feel that connection with the girls I've known for years but haven't seen in months, while we are sharing memories.

The laughing, the slapping of the knee, the clapping of the hands, and the occasional snorts-right Whit?
It's all these things while sitting in a Mama's kitchen, that about had me bursting with joy.

Yes. I am thankful for our memories.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving.

Blessings!

11.21.2012

Giving Thanks on Wednesday

Today I will be beginning a bit of a baking marathon. I'm planning on making this Brittle and then these Sweet Potato Cupcakes, but I'm not planning on telling certain folks that they are sweet potato. Because some people are ridiculous and think they do not like sweet potatoes-fools.

Anyway as I was writing my list, I realized how Thankful I am to live in a community where I can just run in and get the things I need. I love rural living but gesh things would be a little tricky if I didn't have access to a wonderful grocery store-even if it is small. A store that carries the essentials and then some, that's clean, and willing to work with you. 


So today I'm thankful for my location and my grocery store. And chocolate. But who isn't Thankful for chocolate?

Blessings!

11.20.2012

Giving Thanks on Tuesday


I'm thankful for nature. It wasn't too long ago when I was more or less indifferent about the out doors. I enjoyed it but never really felt connected. Funny how my world view has changed in the last couple years. I never want to lose my awe of nature, I want to always see things like a child. To marvel at the stars, to crunch through the leaves, and to catch snowflakes with my tongue. I am so thankful to live in a place where I am surrounded by these things at one time or another, a place where they have been relatively undisturbed. Quite a bit of nature shows up on this blog and I guess that's because of my love. So today I am going to go touch the Earth with my bare feet, you should too even if it's chilly out, I think I may even get some dirt under my nails for good measure. I will leave you with this ridiculous video about Nature, because it's pretty neat. 

Blessings!

11.19.2012

Giving Thanks on Monday

Today I am Thankful for Senor Smarty Pants. He has naturally came up often in the last 3 years of blogging and in the last 4 years of my life. Sometimes I worry that I'm too hard on him and that I give him a bad wrap on this blog, but ya'll he's great. I often wonder what in the world he's thinkin' sticking around with me so long. Because honestly, I feel like I'm getting the better end of this deal. But I've heard before that that's how it should be, you should feel like you are getting the better deal. So I'm thankful for him. For his patience, for his kindness, for the version of me that he brings out, for his practicalness-even if it gets in my way some days, for his convictions, and for the way he organizes his closet.


Blessings! 

11.16.2012

Friday's Letters


Dear bed risers, I understand the logic, but an option to buy individually would be nice. (insert snarky, sarcastic comment about Senor Smarty Pants' lard...) Dear Coconut Oil, it's official. You are my friend. Dear December 13th, wake me up when you get here. Please? Dear Wild Sweet Orange Tea, Thank you for soothing my throat and tasting delicious. Dear Chocolate Creme Cake, Stop staring at me, begging me to consume you. I hear you, I see you, ok...fine you win. Dear Scripture, thank you for being so refreshing and rejuvenating. Dear Extreme Cheapskates, thank you for making me feel normal. More, importantly thanks for making Senor Smarty Pants seem normal, he is thanking you as well.

Have a beautiful weekend friends!

Link up your Friday's Letters here. 
Blessings!

11.08.2012

Going With My Gut: Deodorant

Have you ever thought much about the deodorant you use? Today we do not like sweat in our underarms and we definitely do not like that funky smell that happens. But what makes the stuff in that roll prevent the sweating and the smelling? 

While I do not know the exact science behind the properties of deodorant, I do know that I started to feel uneasy about putting the stuff on. So I looked into it. And this is what I have found. 
  • First, we are supposed to sweat our Creator made us this way, and blocking sweat glans probably isn't such a good idea. Sweating releases toxins, and helps cool us when we are hot. We don't pant like dogs, or pigs. Inhibiting a necessary bodily function isn't wise. 
  • Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex, mouth full huh? It's classified as a carcinogenic and raises developmental and reproductive concerns. We put this chemical, under our arms, near those lymph nodes, everyday. Remains of this chemical have been found in cancerous lymph nodes. i.e. breast cancer.
  • Finally, we all know that our skin is our largest organ, when we think about that it can be a wake up call to all the junk we expose it to, also our skin is extremely absorbent. 
I have used an all natural product called Hippy Pits, I liked it. However, I needed a more manly option for Senor Smarty Pants who was also interested in switching. So I decided to make our own. Using simple and easy to find ingredients and it takes a total of 10 mins! We have also found this recipe makes enough to last a while and works wonderful! Just as good or better than the junk you can buy at the store.

The recipe I used takes:
6-8 tbsp of coconut oil 
1/4 c of baking soda 
1/4 c of corn starch or arrowroot.

You can store it in a jar like we chose to and smear it on, its really not as messy as the wor smear makes it sound. Or you could use an old deodorant stick. Adding some essential oils for scenting and more antibacterial properties (even though cocnut oil all ready is antibacterial on its own!) is another natural way to dress this stuff up! 



So hop on over to Passionate Homemaking and read what she has to say. Plus check out the other sections of her blog, it's a goodie! 

Going natural is quite a process and can be overwhelming. I have found it is less overwhelming to take it one section of life at a time or even one product at a time. Baby steps you could say. 

Blessings! 

11.06.2012

So Close


Funny huh?! 

I'm right there with you Abbie. Right there with you, hang in there, it's almost over. We are almost done with this mess. 

Happy Election Day! 

Blessings!