tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19184899402393391962024-03-06T00:40:45.808-08:00Trying Before DyingKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-45223948036795165012011-10-07T15:47:00.000-07:002011-10-07T15:47:01.618-07:00Learning how to be wrong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH0d2CmwjcWQu0TuijjgOn6y649mUTf2JIJ8pclOR_b_wYiEAb_DmTB30dHh2lfmrwQELSli3VNtk41lpvanAZ6wrEqEjM3YV-yFY64wPvqudrJPcHfAJJHhngJdlPFb5hXj_YDL4ScfD/s1600/im_right_youre_wrong_deal_with_it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH0d2CmwjcWQu0TuijjgOn6y649mUTf2JIJ8pclOR_b_wYiEAb_DmTB30dHh2lfmrwQELSli3VNtk41lpvanAZ6wrEqEjM3YV-yFY64wPvqudrJPcHfAJJHhngJdlPFb5hXj_YDL4ScfD/s320/im_right_youre_wrong_deal_with_it.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Ok, so the the title of this post is a little inaccurate. I don't really have much learning to do in the "being wrong department." I'm wrong plenty of times; possibly more than I am right. Even though I will be the first one to admit that I am not always right, I've been thinking lately that I probably don't always mean that. I tend to think I am right way more often than I actually am. I have this tendency to think that I am so much more enlightened, informed, etc than a lot of other people, and it's just too bad that all those small minded and ignorant people out there just aren't on my level. I know that's an incredibly ugly thing to think, which is perhaps the reason that it has taken so long to acknowledge it in me. I haven't really noticed this side of me, because frankly, I didn't want to. When we realize something negative about ourselves, it's much easier to ignore it. If it's ignored, we have one less thing about ourselves that we have to recognize as imperfect. We can go about our lives and not have to think about all the things we need to change. Sure, we can recognize some mistakes, because after all, "I'm not so arrogant to think I'm perfect. I can admit when I'm wrong..." and yet, we only allow ourselves to take it so far. <br />
Recently, for one reason or another that I can't really pinpoint, I have come to realize just how often I think I am right, and everyone who disagrees is completely wrong. I'm much quicker to argue my point of view and opinion, and not quick enough to really consider the fact that this person who has a completely opposite point of view might be right. Recently, I just kind of woke up and thought to myself, "Who up and gave you all the knowledge and wisdom of the universe?" It just kind of hit me that it's basically impossible that I am right as often as I think I am. This was a sobering thought to me, and I realize it's something I need to work on. For all of my life, one of the most detestable character traits I might find in someone has been arrogance. I can't stand an arrogant person, and yet, I never saw the arrogance in me. Carl Jung, a famous and renowned psychiatrist has said, "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." I feel like ol' Carl really hit the nail on the head with that one. <br />
I'm trying to learn, I'm trying to grow. I don't want to keep ignoring this part of me; I've been ignoring it for long enough. It's something I need to work on, and hopefully in doing so, I can get a little closer to the person that I am meant to be.</span></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-32507045949151051462011-07-29T15:20:00.000-07:002011-07-29T15:20:28.371-07:00Homemade Natural Face Mask and Toner<div align="center"><img height="337" id="il_fi" src="http://www.realbeauty.com/cm/realbeauty/images/nh/rby-33-beauty-myths-cucumber-eyes-de.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="337" /></div><div align="center"></div><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">I found this recipe on a YouTube tutorial while I was looking for a natural face mask, and it works really well. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Mask:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">2 teaspoons green tea (cooled)</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">7 teaspoons sugar</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">1 teaspoon honey</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Mix into a paste and apply it to skin. Rub on gently, and let it sit for 10 minutes. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">The apply cider vinegar dissolves dead skin cells, unclogs pores, and detox's the skin. The sugar will exfoliate dead skin and scar tissue. The honey is a natural skin cleanser that is anti-inflammatory, moisturizes, reduces redness, stimulates skin cell renewal, and will firm the skin. The green tea will also detox the skin, as well as repair skin cells and has anti-aging properties. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">The mask can be stored in the 'fridge for 1-2 weeks. Use the mask once of twice a week for best results.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Toner:</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">1 part apple cider vinegar</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">2 parts green tea (cooled)</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">1-2 teaspoons lemon juice (optional.)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Enjoy!</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-51740954921143711052011-07-01T15:50:00.000-07:002011-07-01T15:50:21.334-07:00Thoughts from our campsite<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.adirondacknorthway.com/schroon_lake_pics/campsite1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img height="337" id="il_fi" src="http://www.adirondacknorthway.com/schroon_lake_pics/campsite1.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="449" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Ryan and I recently spent a week camping in Maine; our first camping trip together. There were amazing times while we were there (having time together in a beautiful mountainous environment) and not so amazing times while we were there (Ryan had to get 4 stitches in his hand.) One of my favorite parts of the trip were our late night conversations in the tent about all of the distractions in our lives. When you spend a week without any television, radio, phone, texting, and internet you realize how much time these things take up in your daily life. None of these things are inherently bad, but they can become such a distraction from the really important things. Retreating from these things gave us more time to talk, to laugh, to think, and to listen to simple things in life that are so precious. It was so refreshing to have the sound of birds, wind, and rivers take the place of a blaring TV and a phone ringing every 20 minutes. <br />
It made us realize how much of a role technology plays in our lives, and that we need to stop and examine a few things. What would our lives look like if we started to limit the amount of time the television was on? What would happen if we stopped spending so much of our time online? Would it increase our communication? Would it bring us even closer together? We had a few conversations about what we could do to limit our technology use and hopefully replace that time doing other things. One thing we discussed was how much of the time our TV is on. It's not at all unusual for our television to be on, even when there's nothing on that we want to watch. We realized that we default to having it on, just for the simple sake of having some kind of noise on in the background. When I stop and think about that, it completely baffles me that we default to wanting noise. As much as we are bombarded everyday with noise and chaos, you would think we would want a break from it. We decided we need to change that. From now on, we want to limit our television watching to times when there is something specific on that we actually want to watch. It doesn't make any sense to having it on otherwise. We also decided that we want more time to just be together and talk without any interruptions. We discussed limiting our time online to only using it when there is a specific purpose. Check your email, check your facebook, write on your blog. There's nothing wrong with that. The problem (for us) comes in when we're wasting time surfing the web for the sake of filling time. Wouldn't it be better to fill time interacting with each other rather than a machine?</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"> Are we making drastic changes? No, not really. We haven't decided to get rid of our TV or our computer. We haven't sworn off facebook or answering the phone after 7:00. We're just starting to recognize small changes we can make that will hopefully benefit our relationship and overall well being. We'll see how it goes, and perhaps our small changes will become bigger ones as we go along.</span></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-13840522822280137322011-06-11T08:52:00.000-07:002011-06-11T08:52:13.326-07:00We're Buying a House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYY4xuZ2Fcz_JzRK20fXO6F9knjcO31Oc-TkPYTZFivzDmylStu7gpVJMDxTg6nWxDMg-acspe9RckxjlhLzuqK5gwBAalFR7ES9nGNNzff9se7uTB_sNqEw6b1d7QWe860kyZlgpq4_Is/s1600/front+door.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYY4xuZ2Fcz_JzRK20fXO6F9knjcO31Oc-TkPYTZFivzDmylStu7gpVJMDxTg6nWxDMg-acspe9RckxjlhLzuqK5gwBAalFR7ES9nGNNzff9se7uTB_sNqEw6b1d7QWe860kyZlgpq4_Is/s320/front+door.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div> <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">We are now (unofficial) homeowners! We have the home inspection and appraisal this upcoming week, and then we will be able to go to settlement. Ryan and I are extremely excited, nervous, happy, anxious, etc. The weight of buying a house can be a little intimidating, but we are looking forward to this new chapter in our lives. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> The house is a semi-detatched duplex located on a cul-de-sac in Sykesville, Maryland (30 minutes from both our jobs and families.) It has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, a finished basement, deck, and fenced-in yard. I thought I'd give a little tour of the place since many of our friends and family haven't seen pictures yet.</span><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Meet the Entrance/Living Area</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZKkbbrzOybr8tao6vTPDrVl1JiQzN6zQuh1EdpEV3FpNDvlfmsg-em9tHCSkwQ4hjUg2ln1KA8Ps5c0OiVDLUFUJPM5X8eRXwgZXhyphenhyphenr6s_KmQu-ww0ayK9kUX07uQ_TSyEg5E55PA2ca/s1600/entrance.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZKkbbrzOybr8tao6vTPDrVl1JiQzN6zQuh1EdpEV3FpNDvlfmsg-em9tHCSkwQ4hjUg2ln1KA8Ps5c0OiVDLUFUJPM5X8eRXwgZXhyphenhyphenr6s_KmQu-ww0ayK9kUX07uQ_TSyEg5E55PA2ca/s320/entrance.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: purple;">When you walk through the front door, you immediatly enter the living/family room area. This room leads into the kitchen, as well as the door to the basement on the left.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju89Qt8PKh7tpZo_wYlmt6iVfHXDLu2CWs3PIDlBjmLoN8_BBIrAMD9OqeTzt9sc4gCAuCnffPTsd_UnOE2WejD2rRJ0aEkQlLuDycWft0fhvlYVwES1aHFHDkgYvbQlGMoP2kqsFomIUf/s1600/couch.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju89Qt8PKh7tpZo_wYlmt6iVfHXDLu2CWs3PIDlBjmLoN8_BBIrAMD9OqeTzt9sc4gCAuCnffPTsd_UnOE2WejD2rRJ0aEkQlLuDycWft0fhvlYVwES1aHFHDkgYvbQlGMoP2kqsFomIUf/s320/couch.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: purple;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This is the other side of the living/family room, and on the other side of the room is a big window.</span></span><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Meet the Kitchen</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTRea-UxF2CryHnUxCuL8HNlASCtMUF2Mc-ZJf2g2oqWT9Ooo3fsD1cyennCMlhbDdxUEn7c5rwG78KedR8p4YPL7szODys58Z729uFtn4920ttbvo8J8jLvu3FqtCbTB9Wbh5jIFtilx/s1600/kitchen.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTRea-UxF2CryHnUxCuL8HNlASCtMUF2Mc-ZJf2g2oqWT9Ooo3fsD1cyennCMlhbDdxUEn7c5rwG78KedR8p4YPL7szODys58Z729uFtn4920ttbvo8J8jLvu3FqtCbTB9Wbh5jIFtilx/s320/kitchen.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">The kitchen is nice and country (which I love.) You can't see it in this picture, but near the 'fridge is a good sized pantry. That'll be a nice change for us since we haven't had a pantry in either of the apartments we've lived in since getting married.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Meet the Eating Area</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCs3GPS-0Dm4LA287Zmf9_QwP90xZICSfwgNXkXK_DW_yLGYNocCKhLnIa0B-mJgz5yVl4jmRQXuuzZWBEvPWxxodXx3c8Ip2-2HJMjThb8HAkaXGGO1aXskmGTKAfB-zmrn6tbYVL2ku/s1600/table.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCs3GPS-0Dm4LA287Zmf9_QwP90xZICSfwgNXkXK_DW_yLGYNocCKhLnIa0B-mJgz5yVl4jmRQXuuzZWBEvPWxxodXx3c8Ip2-2HJMjThb8HAkaXGGO1aXskmGTKAfB-zmrn6tbYVL2ku/s320/table.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: purple;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This is on the other side of the kitchen where we will have room for a kitchen table (which is also a change for us.) You can barely see in this picture the sliding glass doors that lead out to the backyard.</span></span><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Meet the Deck</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG-eavJgILQDkZ6wNa2_mMAryssmvZCl8X5NZnVpr6TH1GzioZSd2a3DC7zE8QDTIEcfmuGj_lMYMbVDxJ15mmazIALlwT-GqGcXxfvRQoN0aZZAz8lGpUkFq1q0DQwoQ_w48hqUD6Gga/s1600/deck1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG-eavJgILQDkZ6wNa2_mMAryssmvZCl8X5NZnVpr6TH1GzioZSd2a3DC7zE8QDTIEcfmuGj_lMYMbVDxJ15mmazIALlwT-GqGcXxfvRQoN0aZZAz8lGpUkFq1q0DQwoQ_w48hqUD6Gga/s320/deck1.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzz29bzguizzrrZJjOimPuYbKoTaOVTvM-Vlsz0c6zjgq0KU3J6BGnmEIsBqByKtjCKyriZs1krdED4AUQRCb2H5kh4yZMfgoRrOOjQq9q9S5kLIug_u-aXIcaeZZkAwER5Gu1nZqewSBA/s1600/deck2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzz29bzguizzrrZJjOimPuYbKoTaOVTvM-Vlsz0c6zjgq0KU3J6BGnmEIsBqByKtjCKyriZs1krdED4AUQRCb2H5kh4yZMfgoRrOOjQq9q9S5kLIug_u-aXIcaeZZkAwER5Gu1nZqewSBA/s320/deck2.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: purple;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Right off the kitchen you walk out to the deck which is complete with boxes for flowers (the previous homeowners planted lavendar there.) On the "roof" of the deck is a kind of screening/netting that lets light shine down, but keeps it from beating down on you too much. </span></span><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Meet the Basement</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBK7l9PWtjoQvhhBm7tQwcecIa6GJP9QYmd1FkNpCxqqpFp12sdjGqUYqfArXi2-2RvaugJnmarogGnvNSmfKm7jtaPBQ8Qn1Oho9RtmzSFrwvf1qWoPOG2_psxBlxzV3fl6SMHk7lsmb/s1600/base2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBK7l9PWtjoQvhhBm7tQwcecIa6GJP9QYmd1FkNpCxqqpFp12sdjGqUYqfArXi2-2RvaugJnmarogGnvNSmfKm7jtaPBQ8Qn1Oho9RtmzSFrwvf1qWoPOG2_psxBlxzV3fl6SMHk7lsmb/s320/base2.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><span style="color: purple;"> <span style="font-size: large;">When you walk down the stairs, you come to a full bathroom on the side, and then into the basement. The door you see in the picture was an entrance to the outside, but when they put in the deck they covered the entrance. Now it can be used as a space to store bikes or something. There is also a little woodstove in the basement, and (although it is not shown in the picture) a laundry room off to the side.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBM0ZA3ixSc99vJ37uTvwKqVv5iquYvpqBceT15WSOgMaF3Y2nfBcriCViIDLRqtbdG0AQcOuRiYenxXsOZuDTXExIPnL_IgBi6qa4CqOw7zeoEyG5sAR4lz6UMU-TnDnaHuM97KuDButq/s1600/base1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBM0ZA3ixSc99vJ37uTvwKqVv5iquYvpqBceT15WSOgMaF3Y2nfBcriCViIDLRqtbdG0AQcOuRiYenxXsOZuDTXExIPnL_IgBi6qa4CqOw7zeoEyG5sAR4lz6UMU-TnDnaHuM97KuDButq/s320/base1.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> I was surprised at how much closet space we have in the basement. The double door closet has a decent amount of space to it, but the small door you see in the corner of the picture goes all the way under the stairs, so it's plenty deep and allows for a lot of storage space.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> Meet the Master Bedroom</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7iQVtKqsQxZb04MwBcL_v87x10JcB8kgV0MG-aHjaPu7SINCY6pak3NM98ryeZdZ0fKaxTOEkzzG5n1AhG4ecnUoB0p2IJb1UsLyhXhImU6hqs4kZXChCQtNFE_5UASgNcgBG3XV6LPK/s1600/master.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7iQVtKqsQxZb04MwBcL_v87x10JcB8kgV0MG-aHjaPu7SINCY6pak3NM98ryeZdZ0fKaxTOEkzzG5n1AhG4ecnUoB0p2IJb1UsLyhXhImU6hqs4kZXChCQtNFE_5UASgNcgBG3XV6LPK/s320/master.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: purple;">The bedroom has two windows, and off to the left of this picture is a walk-in closet.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CaC3gPEYwgf83TMphjEvDMbiM9-E0ha1qFfEzi_jHFSfJSlk2YSZPpOsHYh0CLNd6ueTGU2HWgruXcMWnRt2O14STBH77Tx3_tOHDj9XdiJOLKA6xauloUNZFoEfnn4l0wN1W3S9_1EV/s320/master+2.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Looking from the wall of where the bed sits, there is the second closet (not a walk-in, but still a decent size,) and right outside of the door is another full bathroom. Coming up the stairs there is also a linen closet (no more having to store our blankets/sheets/towels in my closet.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Meet the Second Bedroom</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPNr50K944lG-e_NedCK-69IesLx-3tjfjBJ4bsVOLA9h231C56_zSCq6dewuEVoukSOkKI25abeX-8bongqblg554rFKDP-agGt7imHaH2QXWMzLsx6oKJHdiCRiPKdtyg191JZEGlkY/s1600/bed+2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPNr50K944lG-e_NedCK-69IesLx-3tjfjBJ4bsVOLA9h231C56_zSCq6dewuEVoukSOkKI25abeX-8bongqblg554rFKDP-agGt7imHaH2QXWMzLsx6oKJHdiCRiPKdtyg191JZEGlkY/s320/bed+2.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> The room is small, but big enough for a little kid's room (down the road.) Until then, we might just use it for storage, a music room, computer room, etc.</span><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Meet the Third Bedroom</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UrN-EfiyJSC9WK3C1udhap4vcFUyW3WlqF8whtMRG2lcxyorrjN4w62TrUZUqOuxVQR0Q2iJLPiF_e60-qRDslP1h2Y3wHNXFElY_ppcMO6YxvPDGryurGlvrRqCHyAnqIy0z-JPjYVy/s1600/bed+1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UrN-EfiyJSC9WK3C1udhap4vcFUyW3WlqF8whtMRG2lcxyorrjN4w62TrUZUqOuxVQR0Q2iJLPiF_e60-qRDslP1h2Y3wHNXFElY_ppcMO6YxvPDGryurGlvrRqCHyAnqIy0z-JPjYVy/s320/bed+1.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: purple;">The little boy who slept here is also named Ryan. It is a little bigger than the last bedroom and has a closet to the side. We're not quite sure what we'll do with this room either prior to having kids. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">And, I've saved one of our favorites for last...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Meet the Back Yard</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9T5i4gqM_Cbrx20qRGwLkSwXDIn5CpKW2M48SfoABjiRJTO8XKYmWrxo32SvEofXFPe0vUqaniUPSj9SgoZ9kNTqyAlLUx-FtWIyCWvPIT_57Ky3af6mqWX8-W8lkRYThCPIBKd7_Wek/s1600/yard1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9T5i4gqM_Cbrx20qRGwLkSwXDIn5CpKW2M48SfoABjiRJTO8XKYmWrxo32SvEofXFPe0vUqaniUPSj9SgoZ9kNTqyAlLUx-FtWIyCWvPIT_57Ky3af6mqWX8-W8lkRYThCPIBKd7_Wek/s320/yard1.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: purple;">This is the view from standing on the deck. There is a decent amount of flat space for a dog and swing set, but when you go past the little gate you come to that first tier of space. We plan to put in a vegetable/herb garden here, which we've been wanting to do since we got married. We also have honeysuckle growing there, which I plan to keep since it smells so nice.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> When you walk past the first tier of land, you come to a second tier where we could put a few more veggie plants, and also where the shed is kept. I would like to see if I can grow some flowers to climb the little chuppa there. There is also a little bit of land behind that second tier, but I don't know if/what we will use it for. It also has honeysuckle growing there.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vgphCWY32ll2JQk1ITicSjD5iOyRVvFhvb5SWivTSZDlFAsQScjuLVDDkO8T3hHWZVKROhG4_uvnSH-1_-l0o1kR65Z3_5v9i4oh7at9xOj2mAOYAvJ6HVuqAlkAGO2tVEhxSiKvJIeJ/s1600/yard2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vgphCWY32ll2JQk1ITicSjD5iOyRVvFhvb5SWivTSZDlFAsQScjuLVDDkO8T3hHWZVKROhG4_uvnSH-1_-l0o1kR65Z3_5v9i4oh7at9xOj2mAOYAvJ6HVuqAlkAGO2tVEhxSiKvJIeJ/s320/yard2.bmp" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> This is also from the deck, where you can see a little bit of the flat part of the yard. We plan to have a compost somewhere here, and we may or may not have a clothesline as well.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> That's the house, although I plan on calling it "The Big Rock Candy Mountain."</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-39226108432346102612011-04-07T16:05:00.000-07:002011-04-07T16:05:47.851-07:00A Call to Simplicity<img height="228" src="http://www.lifeofjustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/voluntary-simplicity.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Ryan and I are always talking about pursuing a simpler lifestyle; one that doesn't revolve so much around technology and excess as so many people are prone to doing (ourselves included.) We like our cable TV, our Internet access, our daily conveniences. Even though we're so accustomed to having these things, we both have a deed desire to lead a much more simple and natural life. We talk about spending less time in front of the TV and more time enjoying things like playing catch outside. We look forward to the day when we will have a yard so we can grow our own vegetables and raise chickens. We both see God in nature and in a simpler way of life, and we really feel compelled to embrace. It can definitely be difficult though to break old habits. For example, I love to declutter. I get a sense of productivity and peace from getting rid of excess amount of junk that we end up stockpiling without even realizing it. The thing that really amazes me;however, is how we can get rid of a whole lot of stuff, and in no time at all have a ton more we need to declutter. Where did all of this stuff come from? When did we start accumulating all of this? It just goes to show us how desensitized we are are building up stuff that we really don't need (or even want.) </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">We really feel a calling to live a simplistic life. At church, they have been talking about having margin in your life. Margin in your time, margin in your finances... something that will keep you from filling your life up so much to where there is no room for the things that really matter. We're still figuring out what a simplistic life is going to look like for us, but I'm excited to see what is down the road for us and how we will adjust to it.</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-4664759281017449732011-02-02T16:48:00.000-08:002011-02-02T16:48:09.979-08:00Homemade Eco-Friendly Deodorant<div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><img height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOThmno0JgA5SqpEMw1MRPgOMUSdPdq8wAb5whEk7HiueWvYY93OVldlPpm_QW9fLxogrTP3ND-0GC1GSe9r13c5I9i7gSwKYJvjVbLNtAVEgzh6stJtfXvw0FCvdkxe3cv4hfTTXXFotZ/s400/homemade-deodorant.jpg" width="400" /></span></div><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">As I transition to using homemade shampoo and conditioner, I have decided to throw in homemade deodorant as well. Most commercial brands of deodorant have aluminum in them, which has been linked to cancer and other physical harms. Not to mention, most commercial deodorants are expensive and harmful to the environment. In an effort to purge our home of toxic chemicals, I am experimenting with making my own deodorant with the hopes that it will work well and replace our commercial brands. I have been using my homemade mixture for the past few days, and so far so good! I have found it lasts longer than commercial brands, smells amazing, and is definitely the cheaper way to go! You can apply the mixture by rubbing it on your underarms like lotion, or you can spoon it into a deodorant container (but you will need to keep it in the refrigerator if you want it to stay in a solid state.) This mixture does not leave any residue on your body or clothes, and keeps your perspiration to a minimum. You don't want to use full on antiperspirants since this is your body releasing toxins. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Deodorant recipe:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">1/4 cup baking soda</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">1/4 cup corn starch or arrowroot powder (I use corn starch, but for some this will irritate the skin. Arrowroot does not contain talc in it, so it will not irritate.)</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">6 heaping tablespoons of coconut oil</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">5-6 drops of tea tree oil.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">The baking soda eliminates odor, the corn starch (or arrowroot) is a natural thickening agent, and the coconut oil and tea tree oil are antibacterial properties (and smell super good!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">My hope is that this recipe continues to work so that we can get rid of our commercial brands and contribute to a healthier lifestyle for ourselves and the planet. </span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-1085463178536173762011-01-25T14:16:00.000-08:002011-01-25T14:16:24.425-08:00The Vegetarian Experiment<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.carryabigsticker.com/images/btn_love_animals.png" /></div><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Growing up, I was never a huge fan of most meat. Put a piece of steak in front of me and I would rather not partake. However, I do like some meat like pepperoni, bacon, sometimes chicken, fish, etc. Although I eat a lot of vegetarian dishes, I also tend to enjoy meat products. However, I really want to try giving meat up altogether.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">The other night, Ryan and I sat down and watched a documentary entitled, "Earthlings." This is a movie depicting the horrors of how where are meat comes from. I always knew that animals were being slaughtered for our meat and that it wasn't the most pleaseant of experiences, but I had no idea the extent of it! The best way I can sum up the situation is that the lives that are being taken are not being respected. All life (humans and animals) should be respected and treated kindly. I am not against eating meat, but the ethics behind it are seriously lacking! I don't want to support an industry that unnecessarily tortures and ridicules animals. Having an animal be shut up in a small space for it's whole life, subjected to injury and disease due to it's cramped living conditions, hung upside as it has its throat slit and left to bleed to death (which can take a lot longer than you might think) is not acceptable. For an animal to have a metal rod shot through it's head, have it's throat slit, and dropped to the ground (all while it's still alive) isn't something I can support. So...</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">I'm going to try to cut out meat. In some ways I could fool myself into thinking this will be pretty easy. I prefer tofu to chicken, I prefer soy sausage to the real thing, I don't enjoy most red meat (even veggie burgers are fine by me.) However, I know that old habits die hard. The types of meat that I do usually eat could be a struggle to cut out. Unfortunately, it's been so ingrained into our minds that meat is meat and it's acceptable to eat it, regardless of how it comes to be on our plate. Ryan made a good point when he mentioned that this moral issue isn't something that will ever be called into question in your life. Most people are not going to question your choice to eat meat or keep you accountable about where that meat came from. Most people don't want to think about it. This decision is something that I have to commit to on my own, because the majority of people think the notion of giving up meat is silly.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">In my discuss with Ryan after viewing the documentary brought to light the importance of moral consistency. If I am alright with eating meat, I need to be alright with the way it is slaughtered. If I'm not alright with the way it is slaughtered, I can't be alright with eating it. So, I'm going to give this a try. We'll see how it goes, and hopefully I will be on my way to a life of vegetarianism! </span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-2612202623830547902011-01-25T13:45:00.000-08:002011-01-25T13:49:25.360-08:00Homemade shampoo and conditioner experiment<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><img src="http://www.kidscareblog.com/wp-content/uploads/baby-hair-care.jpg" /></span></div><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">I have tried making my own eco-friendly shampoo before out of baking soda and water. I couldn't tell if it was working or not for the first couple days and eventually just gave up. I was making it in the morning and pouring it into a jar. I would pour the whole jar over my head until it was empty. This was a little bit of a pain because I would need to prepare shampoo each morning before showering. However, I'm going to give this another try and store it in a pump bottle so I don't waste any. I've been researching it and a lot of people use this recipe for their regular shampoo routine. Apparently it takes a few days before your hair gets used to the new shampoo (just like when you switch to a new brand of shampoo that you bought at the store.) I also wanted to make my own conditioner, but all I could find were recipes using parashibles like mayo and avocado. However, I've finally found one that I can store for a while! I'm going to give this a shot and see how it turns out. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Lately I've been washing my hair with Dr. Bonner's Castile Soap, an all natural fair trade liquid soap. It works really well, but it's a lot less money to simply make your own shampoo. I'd rather save Dr. Bonner's for body wash. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><strong></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Shampoo Recipe:</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>1 teaspoon of baking soda</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>1 cup water</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><strong></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>That's it!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><strong></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Conditioner Recipe:</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>1 cup water.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>(Honey is supposed to be good for conditioner as well, so you can add a tablespoon or two of this if you want.)</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><strong></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>I've heard that your hair won't smell like vinegar when you rinse it. We'll see....</strong></span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-37976683895152686772010-12-04T09:32:00.000-08:002010-12-04T09:32:48.864-08:00Learning to live in the moment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rQz-OLFQjCG4aJpqUQW8GPu_jsj2WZnam9zskItaNTRcOn6KcpDHp9GJoCZCJby67gbnvosdKW3SlxQBWh1fb78IK42OIFUBiabxDgqzqryQSxxEkAmULAX7MdXhYgd6gtMx2cJ8k6Cc/s1600/now+and+later.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rQz-OLFQjCG4aJpqUQW8GPu_jsj2WZnam9zskItaNTRcOn6KcpDHp9GJoCZCJby67gbnvosdKW3SlxQBWh1fb78IK42OIFUBiabxDgqzqryQSxxEkAmULAX7MdXhYgd6gtMx2cJ8k6Cc/s320/now+and+later.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">By nature, I am someone who tends to look down the road a lot and plan for the future. I seem to always be looking forward, and sometimes that means missing what's right in front of me now. I love to sit and dream about what is in store for me and Ryan 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, 30 years down the line. I like to think about having a house of our own, children, a small farm, etc. These are things that sometimes I wish I could rush into. For example, I have always wanted to be a mom. I see friends with their new babies and my heart aches to have one of our own. I truly long for the day when Ryan and I will be parents, but I also know that with that comes major life changes. While some of those changes are wonderful, it also means having less time alone together. We wouldn't be able to focus on each other and our relationship as much; all of our attention would go towards taking care of an infant. We would be tired and stressed out at times, and that can always invite some bickering between two people. We would have a new financial burden, and that would only contribute to more stress and anxiety. I know that one day it will be amazing to be parents, but that I also have to take time to smell the roses now and enjoy where we are in our lives at the moment. It's something I have to fight myself on, but I always know deep down that we are where we're supposed to be right now. We'll let God take care of timing, and we'll enjoy the life He has given us now.</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-88636539779021397302010-11-26T12:42:00.000-08:002010-11-26T12:43:08.031-08:00Give The Gift of Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9V2IOVB66LfsLa7oGm6nxO9VvtOxXNxzdUs2ZkNuyCMySdkL2u494OGDpWbjxR_eI1YjmD9ISSj7-Tqx-H7NfRJsG8WZ5MqxzVGANHc0K3DK9K4VaoXNPFFCWyXZzOCZu1TQh39pUVn9m/s1600/944give-blood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9V2IOVB66LfsLa7oGm6nxO9VvtOxXNxzdUs2ZkNuyCMySdkL2u494OGDpWbjxR_eI1YjmD9ISSj7-Tqx-H7NfRJsG8WZ5MqxzVGANHc0K3DK9K4VaoXNPFFCWyXZzOCZu1TQh39pUVn9m/s320/944give-blood.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I had my very first experience giving blood almost 2 months ago. I have always wanted to do it, even as a kid (although I probably wouldn't have gone through with it at that age even if I could have. Needles aren't usually a welcome sight to kids.) I tried to give blood when I was 18, but I wasn't able to because I had gotten a tattoo within the last 12 months. Finally, I was able to do it at work when they brought in the Red Cross to take blood donations. It was an awesome experience, aside from almost passing out a few times and needed to keep cold water running down my face and drinking juice to keep me conscious. Apparently, a lot of people react that way the first time they donate, but it gets better after that. I have definitely decided to become a regular blood donor, and I'm really thankful that I am in a physical state to be able to give.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> According to the Red Cross, one pint of blood can save up to 3 lives. Unfortunately, only 3% of all people in America actually donate blood. Can you imagine what a difference it would make if everyone who was able gave blood even once in their life time? The amazing thing about giving blood is that it's something that can save people's lives, but it doesn't cost the donor anything. We are always making more blood, so we can always be donating. That's an incredible design, and I really think that God created us this way for a reason. We have a perpetual resource of blood that we can always be giving away to those who need it. Unless a person has some kind of condition that would prevent them from giving blood,</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><strong><u>there is no good reason not to donate</u></strong></span>.</span></span> <span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Please consider making a small contribution that can mean the difference to 3 other people, not to mention their family and friends. Besides, you get free juice and cookies. Need I really say more??</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-82467415156036119572010-11-05T15:28:00.000-07:002010-11-05T15:28:41.092-07:00Ways we save money<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3YSxFOOU7dIiYJLor3nClUVvFCNg9oE3XKIvs1D7N_dmtdKglXOlv9DGHzV1PkJXmRWFGptKeGHGLEefzxn6WQrzfgth11sWSg8LgB7Mq_697-g4z4iyWoyWCb5jDHf2PAK2yG-2ai2s/s1600/save-money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3YSxFOOU7dIiYJLor3nClUVvFCNg9oE3XKIvs1D7N_dmtdKglXOlv9DGHzV1PkJXmRWFGptKeGHGLEefzxn6WQrzfgth11sWSg8LgB7Mq_697-g4z4iyWoyWCb5jDHf2PAK2yG-2ai2s/s320/save-money.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center"></div>Although we can always improve on our spending habits, here are a few ways Ryan and I save money.<br />
<br />
1. We make our own laundry detergent, glass cleaner, surface cleaner, yogurt, and anything else we can figure out. Making your own products is a great way to save money (not to mention, it's better for the environment!)<br />
<br />
2. We don't use paper products like napkins, paper towels, or plates. We use clean rags and dishes instead (again, better for the environment as well as cost effective!)<br />
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3. We try to buy things in bulk with a long shelf life. Since we have a membership to Cosco, we can buy our shampoo, conditioner, soap, pasta, rice, olive oil, dishwashing detergent, trash bags, lemon juice (yes, I go through a lot of lemon juice very quickly,) and vegetarian breakfast sausage in bulk. Here's a tip for those who aren't a member of Cosco, BJ's, Sam's Club, etc. DO NOT by regular bath soap. If you buy a bulk container of hand soap at any regular store, you'll only pay a dollar more for triple the amount of soap.<br />
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4. We keep all our change and put it in a bottle until it is full. By the time it fills up, we've saved $30 without even trying. It's surprising how much money you can save if you take the time to collect your spare change.<br />
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If you have any tips or tricks of your own for saving money, please share!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-10980011340421339072010-11-02T13:56:00.000-07:002010-11-02T13:56:58.190-07:00It can be hard to trust sometimes...<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvx5ya2kXQO38NpIGU5_icwWBo1_MTAlybDQUPjdVXyghR9MsvAF33Ovn4Yc7iwEQ_gbRbQG6AR44uNb1RahXH1NjOwomFU-5OWHCY3C3NGAPffWCiK9gmcZk8zGTZA8sbkNj_8xPk8b2D/s1600/doubt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvx5ya2kXQO38NpIGU5_icwWBo1_MTAlybDQUPjdVXyghR9MsvAF33Ovn4Yc7iwEQ_gbRbQG6AR44uNb1RahXH1NjOwomFU-5OWHCY3C3NGAPffWCiK9gmcZk8zGTZA8sbkNj_8xPk8b2D/s320/doubt.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> Recently, I've been struggling a little to really trust that God has the best plan for everything. I know that sounds terrible. I believe with all my heart that God has every single thing, every situation under control. Still, sometimes I struggle with thinking that I would handle things better if I were in charge. If I were all powerful, I would make sure that hungry children had enough to eat every day of their lives. I would make sure that the 5-year-old boy in africa who is caring for his 2-year-old brother because his parent's are dying of AIDS would be taken care of. I would guaruntee that no one would ever have reason to doubt that they are cared for and loved by God. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> I believe with all of my heart that God is wise and good and loving. I deeply believe that He has a plan for this world, and that His plan is rooted in love. I know this. Still...</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> I have a hard time letting go of the illusion that sometimes I could do better. Me, with my limited forsight and wisdom, could do better. The truth is, that's just not the case. No matter what I think is best, I know that God knows better. I'm trying to surrender to that and to really trust Him, even when I don't always understand. I'm so thankful that God is a Father who loves His children enough to want to hear from their hearts, even if their heart is questioning Him. I believe that He wants us to be honest with Him and to be open with Him. How else can you have a relationship with someone if you can't be honest with them?</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> I'm going to do my best to keep in mind that as much as I think I know, I know nothing. I may question Him now, but someday I'm going to see His reasoning behind things and I'm going to say, "Oooooh....that's why You did it this way instead of my way. I'm so glad You didn't listen to my suggestions!!" </span><br />
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</div><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> This is probably something that I will struggle with off and on throughout life. It's part of being human. However, I'm always going to come back to the realization that if God is all-knowing, loving, good, wise, and all-powerful, you wouldn't want anyone else in charge! </span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-32953587755527956902010-11-01T07:17:00.000-07:002010-11-01T07:20:19.725-07:00Still finding my way in the kitchen...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSfp1b7jDMUATO44GwL9OyonjnEQQeX0sXNgH-sUgwcq0rnW9k-IbsH43GPyjJ1vmFGKxB34lxMbPvppn2PcOIiNcSyyxDBhxvEwOJYM_8Pua_h_K1UdfiJo0Vn5WXzGMklZNBu7700cN/s1600/susie+homemaker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSfp1b7jDMUATO44GwL9OyonjnEQQeX0sXNgH-sUgwcq0rnW9k-IbsH43GPyjJ1vmFGKxB34lxMbPvppn2PcOIiNcSyyxDBhxvEwOJYM_8Pua_h_K1UdfiJo0Vn5WXzGMklZNBu7700cN/s320/susie+homemaker.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><span style="color: purple;"> <span style="font-size: large;">So, I'm still trying to develop some cooking skills so Ryan and I can stop eating out all the time. As much as he would like to help me with the cooking, Ryan has never learned cooking skills (since his mom and sister are INCREDIBLE chefs!!) The truth is, I'm not too much more advanced than he is. I'm trying to get better at cooking and expanding my list of recipes, but it doesn't always go too well. Recently, I've been feeling pretty discouraged with cooking. By the time I come home from work in the evening, the last thing I feel like doing is cooking dinner. However, I've been getting better about putting forth the effort. The trouble is, my dinner is usually ruined before I even finish making it. I end up throwing away a lot of dinners-in-progress. I hate this because it's wasteful and it doesn't do too much for my confidence in the kitchen. I think one of the low moments for me was when my co-workers were planning a pot-luck at work, and my co-worker looked at me hesitantly and said she wasn't sure she would be eating whatever I brought (and she was serious!) Ryan always tries to encourage me and let me know it's ok, but I don't feel like it's ok. I want to get a lot better in the kitchen, but it's a work in progress at this point.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> My successful recipes are pretty much limited to pasta dishes, black bean burgers (sometimes,) empanadas (sometimes,) chili (sometimes,) cobb salad, and veggie flatbread. I feel like cooking is one of the ways I contribute to our family, and it's not fun to feel like you can't always deliver on that. I'm trying to slowly get my confidence level in the kitchen back up, and try some new recipes. Keep your fingers crossed for me.</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1918489940239339196.post-10025002621352784762010-10-30T07:18:00.000-07:002010-10-30T07:23:09.742-07:00The idea behind "Trying before dying"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XReKc12m0FQz5W-2XL-6_Rpw7u2NpXXO-bdprJrtUOw9ZSrg57HJza7aNKCIghKlst3_ycl8ulCaKgfHIk-Gx0WPSj8sAU2DycMuK4KqN6F7jZiBXiNRdH4oCd6CaLLlixAUWP50aCsj/s1600/live+deliberately.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XReKc12m0FQz5W-2XL-6_Rpw7u2NpXXO-bdprJrtUOw9ZSrg57HJza7aNKCIghKlst3_ycl8ulCaKgfHIk-Gx0WPSj8sAU2DycMuK4KqN6F7jZiBXiNRdH4oCd6CaLLlixAUWP50aCsj/s1600/live+deliberately.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hello everyone,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I have decided to create a brand new blog (mostly because it's been forever since I wrote in my last one, </span><a href="http://www.halfjewishfullyworried.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">www.halfjewishfullyworried.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, and I forgot the sign-in email and password.) </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Still, this creates an opportunity for me to start something fresh. In the previous blog, I was engaged and getting started in the process of transitioning into a new life with Ryan (my amazing husband!) Now, 5 months married and working full time, I have some new things to say and learn.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I decided to name this blog "trying before dying" because I want to live my life deliberately and with effort. I don't want to live my life stagnant and never getting outside my comfort zone. I want to try to change things and better myself as I live and grow. I don't want to reach the end of my life and look back only to be disappointed. I want to live my life "trying" while I can.</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14775598316811991766noreply@blogger.com0