Monday, December 13, 2010

Have you done something Good for Yourself lately?

Have you done something GOOD for yourself lately?

I started out on this blog at the lst of 2010, done well for awhile then, I got sick and things went down hill from there!

A few months back, I lost 26 pounds and that did me good, but I still haven't found my "thing" just for me!
It is harder than you think! 

 I am, was a stay at home mom for the last 26 years!  My youngest is now a freshman in college and yes he "needs" me occasionally, I am left to think and ponder now?? 

 I don't think that is a good thing for most people, I have to many things going on in my head most days!
I am a creator, I love to make things, paint things, write things, the list never ends!  I have to stay busy even when I am watching tv!
I have 20 different craft projects started and occasionally get one done. 

 But yet, there is something missing just for me :(
What about you??  How do you do good just for you??  I really want to find a part time job that fits me!  NOT easily done!  I really want to start yoga for me, why haven't I don't that??? 
I would love to hear from you all and see what is going on with you and any suggestions out there!  Thanks so much!
And by the way, here are my selling places for all those crafts www.etsy.com/shop/artbylisak
I could use the money to do something for me :)
Thanks for following! Lisa

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and facebook creations & artbylisak

Monday, January 11, 2010

Good Foods??


Foods, Foods, Foods, Everywhere!!

Most everyone's lives revolve around FOOD! sadly!!  We eat because, we are Hungry!, we eat because are happy, we eat because are sad, lonely, celebrately, and WHO KNOWS!!  FOOD, FOOD, FOOD, everywhere!!
 
BUT!! There are many, many reason to eat FOOD!  Let's find some GOOD reasons to eat food!

Foods for Strong Bones

*Spinach-Fold fresh spinach into omelets; use raw in a salad.
*Tomatoes-Stuff tomatoes with rice and spices and bake, add tomato paste to soups.
*Carrotts-roast with olive oil, juice and add to smoothies.
*Watermelon, puree and mix with lemonaide, add to fruit and honey for a dessert salsa.
*Sweet Red Peppers-use as a garnish for fish, roast and add to portobello burgers.
*Collard greens-saute and serve with greens, add to lentil soup.
*Peas-Add to grain pasta salad, blend with chickpeas when making hummus.
*Yellow corn-Grill corn on the cob with lime and chilis; mix with black beans and salad.
*Kale-Saute with Garlic and white beans; toss with grains and avocado for a salad.
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Did you know??? Vinegar can come from NaturaL  sources like corn and apples.  OR it can come from Petroleum!! AND labels DO NOT have to tell you which!!    Can you imagine Petroleum??  Just a Helpful Reminder! Go with Heinz!! Distilled Vinegar!  All Natural Choice


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Yes These do Work
•Chicken soup fights congestion that comes with a cold. Chicken has an amino acid that thins the mucous lining of the sinuses, thus relieving stuffiness.


•Garlic and onions kill flu and cold viruses.

•Fish is good for your brain. The mineral zinc is found in fish and shellfish. Studies show that even a minimal deficiency of zinc impairs thinking and memory.

•Blueberries fight the bacteria that causes diarrhea.

•Bananas are a natural antacid. They soothe heartburn or gastric distress.

•Spinach is good for your spirits. It contains lots of folic acid. If your body doesn't have enough folic acid, you may feel depressed.

•Ginger root fights nausea caused by motion sickness and relieves migraine headaches. Make a tea of fresh ginger root by simmering it in water for ten minutes.

•Eat onions to fight insomnia. Onions contain a mild natural sedative called quercetin.

•Yogurt with acidophilus fights the bacteria that causes vaginal yeast infections
Give them a try and see if they help you out!  God gives us the all naturals things to help us with problems that ails us!
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Positive Thinking Reduce your stress and
Enjoy your Life more!
Is your glass half-empty or half-full? How you answer this age-old question about positive thinking may reflect your outlook on life, your attitude toward yourself, and whether you're optimistic or pessimistic.
 



Positive thinking also is a key part of effective stress management. Positive thinking doesn't mean that you keep your head in the sand and ignore life's less pleasant situations.  We all need to take a refresher course of how to how to lead a positive life!
Learn how to put positive thinking into action in your own life, and reap the benefits.
Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:




■Increased life span

■Lower rates of depression

■Lower levels of distress

■Greater resistance to the common cold

■Better psychological and physical well-being

■Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease

■Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

It's unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body. It's also thought that positive and optimistic people live healthier lifestyles — they get more physical activity, follow a healthier diet, and have reduced rates of smoking and alcohol consumption.
Identifying negative thinking


Some common forms of negative self-talk include:
Filtering. You magnify the negative aspects of a situation and filter out all of the positive ones. For example, say you had a great day at work. You completed your tasks ahead of time and were complimented for doing a speedy and thorough job. But you forgot one minor step. That evening, you focus only on your oversight and forget about the compliments you received.

■Personalizing. When something bad occurs, you automatically blame yourself. For example, you hear that an evening out with friends is canceled, and you assume that the change in plans is because no one wanted to be around you.

Catastrophizing. You automatically anticipate the worst. You refuse to go out with friends for fear that you'll make a fool of yourself. Or one change in your daily routine leads you to think the entire day will be a disaster.

Polarizing. You see things only as either good or bad, black or white. There is no middle ground. You feel that you have to be perfect or that you're a total failure.
 
Focusing on positive thinking
■Check yourself. Periodically during the day, stop and evaluate what you're thinking. If you find that your thoughts are mainly negative, try to find a way to put a positive spin on them.


■Be open to humor. Give yourself permission to smile or laugh, especially during difficult times. Seek humor in everyday happenings. When you can laugh at life, you feel less stressed.

Follow a healthy lifestyle. Exercise at least three times a week to positively affect mood and reduce stress. Follow a healthy diet to fuel your mind and body. And learn to manage stress.

Surround yourself with positive people. Make sure those in your life are positive, supportive people you can depend on to give helpful advice and feedback. Negative people, those who believe they have no power over their lives, may increase your stress level and may make you doubt your ability to manage stress in healthy ways.

■Practice positive self-talk. Start by following one simple rule: Don't say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to anyone else. Be gentle and encouraging with yourself. If a negative thought enters your mind, evaluate it rationally and respond with affirmations of what is good about yourself.
 
So the next time negative thoughts start drowning your life and mind, take charge and let those positive thoughts FLOOD your mind and soul! 




Bible Verse For Today
Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they




Monday, January 4, 2010

Empower For Yourself


Living Longer??

Did you know that finding deeper meaning in the everyday, could help us live longer!! It was found that in a study of those that had a higher purpose in life were about half as likely to die than those who had little sense of purpose!!! SOO!!!

Ask yourself what you most want from life right now.... whether it's a change in career or more connection with others. We need to decide what will bring us joy and do something about it within the next 5 years! Make that our goal!

Make a list.. of 3 or 4 actions we can take now to work toward our goals, such as VOLUNTEERING!!, take a class, go back to work, learn a new exercise, get involved in the community!

Commit to atleast 1 thing on our list for atleast 1 month!  "The key is to take active steps toward achieving that vision we have set for ourself" and then STICK TO IT!
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Secrets To Giving

*Start with Gratitude-Write down what you're most thankful for and make a point to share aleast one item on your list!


*Keep it Simple-Small gestures often make the biggest impact.  Smile at a stranger, offer a coworker a sincere compliment, or buy someone lunch for no reason.

*Give up expectations-Let go of judgments about how your gift will be put to use.  Once you've given it, your gift will take care of itself!

*Receive graciously-Giving without receiving will deplete your energy.  Remember to be receptive to what others are eager to share!

*Wing it- Resist the urge to plan all  gifts in one sitting.  Stay open to the gift gifting opportunities that occur naturally throughout any given day!  Start Now for next year!

*Challenge Yourself-What are you hestitant to give?  Your Time?  Unconditonal love?  Ask yourself.  Why? and try to let those hang up go!
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Do you like to be by yourself?

I found this and thought it was very interesting, is this you??
If more than one of the following statements makes you say "that's totally me!" you may very well be an introvert-or at least have strong evolving tendencies toward orientation.  Make it your top priority to honor your own personality.

You
#feel perfectly comfortable with periods of silence in a conversation; idle chatter irritates you.
#feel more lonely in a crown than at home by yourself.
#become overwhelmed by too much information at once.
#perfer to think first and talk last rather than blurt out ideas just to keep a dialogue flowing.
#rarely feel bored when you've got a few hours alone.
#often feel drained and exhausted after a big party or social event
#get grouchy without "me" time.
#have a rich and active inner life-so much so that external stimulation can overwhelm you.
#often fell secretly thrilled plans get canceled and you have the evening to yourself. 

There's nothing wrong with an introvert-Introverts simply looks at the world from the inside out!!  Introverts tap into  their greatest strengths.  Naturally and reflective and sensitive, they have qualities that manifest in vast contributions to the world!  Introverts tend to fare better later in life.  So Honor Who you are and Relax~~~
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Fend off Fatigue

1. See Red or Orange!! View a vibrant hue first thing in the morning-try using a pillow, it will help jumpstart your energy~!

2. Fuel up with a Mulit-it is nearly impossible not to drag if you're low on certain nutrients, such as zinc, which helps more than 200 enzymes in the body function properly.  A daily women's multi is the best way to avoid shortfalls.

3. Shed Energy Sappy Stress with Timeouts-Just taking a quick break-say 3 minutes to breath slowly, close your eyes and visualize something relaxing-is proven to deliver a stress-reducing effect!

4. Guarantee Restful Sleep with a Snack-Blood sugar swings and hunger pangs during the night can disturb your slumber and even cause you to awaken frequently without you even knowing it.  Solution: Eat a high protein snack, such as hard boiled egg or a chunk of cheese, to help keep your blood sugar levels steady and tummy tamed till morning.
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Positive Thought

The mind is easily distracted; it loses its focus and becomes restless. If it is not directed positively, its power will be diffused.

Bible Verse For Today

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." ~I Timothy 2:1-2