Keeping Motivated

    Well, so far I have been up at 9am or before every day this week.  However, I have been going to bed at about 1am.  It is hard for me to just turn everything off, lay down and sleep.  1am is still better than what it had been so I am on my way.
     I exercised yesterday and ran around town today so I feel like I have been more active.  Tomorrow I want to try Zumba for Wii that we have.  I may even do it with my kids when they get home from school.
     Still working on some crafty things to share.  Hopefully I will finish something tomorrow. 

Until next time!!!!!   JJ

GOALS!!!!

I am finally feeling better and decided to write down a couple of goals for the next 5 weeks.  I really want to make some changes this year and I am hoping frequent little goals will help.  I also read that the more you share the more you are likely to succeed so here goes.

1.  Begin my day at 9am by showering, dressing and eating a healthy breakfast
2.  End my day at 12 pm with lights out listening to my I-Pod if I am unable to fall asleep.
3.  Exercise 3 times a week for 10 minutes. 

I am hoping that by breaking things down smaller I will be able to succeed a them.  I am also pulling out my stuff to create card and memory albums again.  I do not have a designated space so my kitchen table has become it.  I have to keep picking it up when we eat and that gets old.  My husband has promised to make a desk for me and help organize a room in the basement for crafting. 

My energy has been better the last 2 days with my fibromyalgia.  I started taking a medication and realized the third side effect was fatigue.  Only 30% of people who take this medication have it, but leave it to me to be one of them. 

Well, off to bed.  I hope to share some of my craftiness soon. 

Until next time!!!!  JJ

Where Has Time Gone!!!!

     I can hardly believe that January is almost over.  I have been sick for the whole month and now I have a monster of a migraine.  However, I thought I would share with you the many projects I have been doing.  I had so much fun giving homemade gifts over the holidays. 
     First, I will show you the gift I gave my nephew.  It was a new experience for me and he seemed to love it on Christmas day.

     Sorry the last one is sideways.  Someday I will figure out how to edit it.

     Next, I created a card and a memory book for my Aunt.  My Grandma passed away a couple of years ago so I asked my Aunt, Mom and Sister to send me some of her favorite recipes.  I unfortunately only got my Aunts done for the holiday, but am still working on the others.  I thought I would share it with all.

     This is the card I created. Next is the memory book with some of my Grandma's recipe's copied to show her hand writing. 

     I am not the best photographer, but as with everything, we learn as we do more.   I had alot of fun with this and my Aunt seemed to enjoy it.

     Last, but with more to come, I talked about the visionary boards that I wanted to do with my children.  It was relaxing to look throught the magazines, dream over the pictures and spend time with my wonderful children.  Here are those pictures.

     This one was done by my 8 yr old Beth.

     This one by my 8 yr. old Kina

     And this one by myself.  We chose to put these on poster board and hang in each of our rooms.  However, I want to do this every year on New Year's Day so I am starting to look for canvas that is on sale and save them.

     I do have more creations in the work and I will keep you updated.  It is so nice to be back in the creating mode.  It is something  have been missing in my life.

Until next time!!!!!   JJ

Christmas

     I know I haven't posted anything in almost 3 weeks, but I have been so busy with Christmas, decorating, shopping and wrapping gifts I don't have enough hours in the day to get things done.  I am making several homemade gift and will post them after Christmas and everyone opens their gift so as to not spoil their surprise.  I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas with their family and friends. 
     I have a great idea for New Year's resolutions if you make them.  It is called a vision board and I am planning on doing it with my three girls on News Year's day.  Here is the link


http://www.blogher.com/own-your-beauty-month-3-how-my-daughter-and-i-made-our-vision-boards?page=full

I think this is such a wonderful idea.  One of my resolutions will be to keep this blog up to date and to spread it to more people.  What are some of your New Year's resolutions???

Have a wonderful holiday

Until Next Time!!!!!   JJ

Extra books and dvds

Have you ever wondered what to do with those extra DVD's and Paperback's?????

Try these sites to trade what you have.

For Paperbacks:
http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php

For DVDs:
https://secure.swapadvd.com/members/login.php

Hope you find some great deals!!
Until next time.    JJ

FAITHFUL FRIENDS

Today was rainy and cold here and we even saw a little bit of snow falling this evening.  I had such a great day today that I wanted to share it with you all.  I met my best friend in the whole world for lunch and some shopping today.  We went to several craft/scrapbooking stores and had so much fun looking around.  She always wakes up the creative side of me and I start to daydream of all the wonderful things that I could make.  Now I just need to win the lottery. 
I am so thankful for her.  She has been with me through everything.  I love that I can be myself around her and that she will never judge me.  What are some of your most important traits in a lifelong friend?
I am adding her blog here so you can enjoy as I do her creative side.  She has a wonderful talent and is truly gifted.  Go check her out.

http://scrappinforlife.blogspot.com/

Until next time!!!!!  JJ

HALLOWEEN

     BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!!!!!!

      So we finally found the chord for the camera so I can upload pictures and I though I might share some pictures from Halloween.
      This is the first year that the girls were old enough to carve pumpkins so we brought out designs that I have been saving over the years and here is what we came up with.  First, the family carving the pumpkins.

The final project!!!!  We were all so proud of ourselves.

And then finally,  Halloween night.   (Sorry this picture is not the best, but it was the best that my camera took).

     We got lots of compliments and had a great time doing it as a family.  Next, the kids and Dad went trick-or-treating around our neighborhood.  We had a ladybug, a devil and a witch.  The dog even dressed up as a devil which fit her perfectly.  The kids came home with so much candy that they all got to pick out 20 of their favorite and we donated the rest.

     The trick-or-treating gang

     And even the dog!!  She hated the costume and thought she was being punished but eventually warmed up to the idea.  She barked at every trick-or-treater and drove me nuts!!!

     All in all we had an amazing Halloween and a grand time together as a family.  So on to Thanksgiving we go.  Who knows what we will cook up for this holiday.

Until next time!!!!    JJ

Saving the earth

     One of my favorite websites is www.reuseit.com.  They have tons of items that can replace everyday things that are reusable to help save the earth.  My kids use many of their products to pack their lunch each day and I have a water bottle from them that is glass and is from life factory.  If you sign up for the newsletter they will let you know when items go on sale and send you coupons periodically.  Also, their 1% of their sales for November are being donated to Surfrider's Rise Above Plastics Company.  Check it out.  There are alot of good ideas for Christmas presents also. 

Until next time!!!!   JJ

CATCHING BACK UP

      So I know I have neglected my blog for awhile but I do have an excuse.  As I mentioned before, I had a terrible allergic rash that was all over my body.  I thought I was going nuts because I itched all over and it never went away.  My chiropractor suggested that I do a detox diet for 7-10 day that consisted of a liquid medical food that I drank 5 times a day and then I could have one green veggie for that day.  Now I could eat as much of that veggie as I wanted, but only that veggie for that day.  I went to my chiropractor today and he gave me a thumbs up for an 8 day detox and am on to the 2nd phase of the diet.  It was the hardest thing I have ever done and have given up many things that are bad for me but were my little treat for the day.  I have had to look at my diet in a whole new way and learn to treat myself without food. 
     I now am following a diet that has no hormones and no antiobiotics for the protein source or for the dairy source and organic as much as possible.  I am learning, learning, learnng.  So I thought I would share a simple yet effective veggie and fruit wash I found on the internet. 

Fruit and Veggis Wash

1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. baking soda
1 cup water.

Mix together and put in a spray bottle to use to wash your fruits and veggies.

     I love it and it is a frugal idea as the washes in the store are at least $5.00.
     I do have pictures from pizza night that I will share soon and many more diet ideas.  As well as a promise to keep writing on the blog more frequently.
    
     Until next time!!!   JJ

FREE E-BOOK

      My fibromyalgia has been bothering me for the last couple of days and has made the littlest tasks very hard.  I have been doing just what I needed to to keep my family going.  It seems like when the weather changes my fibro flairs.  I love the fall, but I have come to dread the weather change.
      As for family night, we had a great time and I have several pictures to show you of the awesome pizzas the girls made.  We just have to find the cord for the camera.  It seems to have disappeared in the recent move.  My DH seems to think he knows where it is.
      As for today, if you want a free e-book that has gluten free recipes for Thanksgiving follow the link  http://www.julesglutenfree.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BOOK-TG10
Place this e-book in your shopping cart and checkout.  When asked for a coupon offer put in thanks10 and your will receive if for free.  You will of course have to download it and save it but it has some awesome recipes for the upcoming holiday.  However this offer is only good until 10/14/10 so get it quick.

Until next time,  JJ

FAMILY NIGHT

     Every Friday night my family has family night where we do something together as a family.  Sometimes we go out to eat, other times we rent and watch a movie, we might go to the park, have a WII night, make a picnic and go to the park, etc.  Tonight we are planning on making homemade pizza's and playing board games.  My twins have just learned to play Monopoly so that may be the board game of the night. I will try and upload some pictures of the evening soon.  The point of the evening is just to relax, spend some QUALITY time together as a family and have a good time.  Does anyone else have any creative ideas???  There is no limit on what you can do. 

Until next time,   JJ

Life's Many Changes

     I have been in the midst of an allergic reaction for 3 goin on 4 weeks now.  It is little patches of a rash all over my body that itch like crazy.  I have been to the Dr. and she confirms that it is indeed an allergic reaction and I have been taking Zyrtec to help.  However, the rash keep popping up in new places each couple of days.  I changed my bath soap, my laundry soap, my lotion, watched what I have been eatin, cut out soda pop completley, gave up gluten and even have limited sugar.  Well today I went to the chiropractor and he said that my body is in such a state of disarray that the allergic reaction is my body's way  of letting toxins out.  The only way to get  better is to do a 7 day detox and then do an elimination diet.  I love to eat so this has hit me really hard, not to mention I don't have the most supportive husband in this area.  But I guess we do what we have to do to survive.  So I will keep you up to date on this new journey.  Pray for strength as I ill need it.

Until next time.  JJ

QUOTE FOR TODAY

     Today, my very first post, will be short but sweet as I learn the ropes.  I thought a quote would be the perfect beginning so here goes!

"Your life is a journey of learning to love yourself first and then extending that love to others in every encounter"

Until tomorrow.    JJ