tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21453275881295232542024-03-26T23:37:58.035-07:00Life less hurried, living in the slow laneSimple living for the modern world. whole food recipes, natural living, gardening, preserving, home remedies, and life skills taught.happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.comBlogger247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-73215827908220325692015-05-29T13:54:00.001-07:002015-05-29T13:54:40.270-07:005 skills to help keep you from continually doing dumb things. <span style="font-size: large;">My friend Jimmy and his wife are doing great things. They are making great strides in helping people overcome addictions and other troubles in their life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They are offering hope, help and healing for the many struggles we have in life. Check it out by clicking the links below. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.jimmyandshelly.com/" target="_blank">Jimmy and Shelly website</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.jimmyandshelly.com/smartwebinarvideo/" target="_blank">Jimmy and shelly's webinar</a><br />
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In this webinar you will learn 5 steps to an effective change plan in other words; 5 skills that you can use to keep from doing the same stupid stuff over and over again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXU7HR9F6NmHxFNNRqdkJmxQmPKRnN_aNYpwPd6gb-xoylIvOniSrD2MNxpsc4T0cWSFwh3yGnZuN6dqwb1kx47IdzvOehdF3GabKkzxuYNst_ZuyNgm1ElJbz985TSj9SInXH-LNe_w/s1600/dumb+things.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXU7HR9F6NmHxFNNRqdkJmxQmPKRnN_aNYpwPd6gb-xoylIvOniSrD2MNxpsc4T0cWSFwh3yGnZuN6dqwb1kx47IdzvOehdF3GabKkzxuYNst_ZuyNgm1ElJbz985TSj9SInXH-LNe_w/s320/dumb+things.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Blessings to you all<br />
Happy Mommahappy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-17302706930680735142015-05-27T10:30:00.002-07:002015-05-27T10:30:52.027-07:00Dear reader<span style="font-size: large;">To my readers here at life less hurried. I am sorry for my absence.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxEndZuUVkDPtEBliIzrXHxanMtjXXIL0kliydyGcgO1JPs7Sn8AeKy0njPhx-Jr1P2q3SMIyERQRR6o9Iv2MTMkFmR5qD-TDPT8F4SjSqyds0w3Te0Go4sw8eSIeb9TpkR81IjaN_jk/s1600/back+to+blogging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxEndZuUVkDPtEBliIzrXHxanMtjXXIL0kliydyGcgO1JPs7Sn8AeKy0njPhx-Jr1P2q3SMIyERQRR6o9Iv2MTMkFmR5qD-TDPT8F4SjSqyds0w3Te0Go4sw8eSIeb9TpkR81IjaN_jk/s400/back+to+blogging.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had to stop writing to take time for me and the things of most importance. Life became a bit more hurried and in crisis. I could not in good conscious write here about living in a way that was not so in my own life. Work, family, and my health became the main focus, therefore the blog went on the back burner for a while. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am proud to say that my life is not in crisis mode anymore, and we are cooking full force. The blog is off the back burner. I look forward to getting back to blogging and writing more. There are many recipes to enjoy and discoveries to be shared with you. </span><br />
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Blessings to you all,<br />
Happy Momma<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-65659129877470307522014-12-03T08:58:00.000-08:002014-12-03T08:58:42.507-08:00Seek Him this Christmas<span style="font-size: large;">It is that time of year again where I go off on a rant about Christmas and how society has lost focus as to what it is all about. You can read my previous posts by clicking the links below</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2012/10/avoid-holiday-insanity.html" target="_blank">Avoid the Holiday insanity</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2013/12/am-i-grinch-because-i-do-not.html" target="_blank">Am I a Grinch because I don't participate in Elf on the Shelf</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2013/12/am-i-grinch-because-i-do-not.html" target="_blank">Getting Christ back in Christmas</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have a desire to go off and rant and rave about Santa, snowmen, and elves, and how people tend to focus on these things instead of Jesus, but I have done enough of that in the past. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><strong>This year I would simply encourage you to put up a Manger, Crèche, or Nativity.</strong></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We have made it a point over the last few years to look for other believers and to keep our eyes out for baby Jesus. Kids naturally have a keen eye for Santa he is everywhere, but we are changing that at our house. <u><strong>We make it a game to see who can find baby Jesus first</strong></u>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TmYeZcHJfu1BTgkioYF9vgU2XDpuuEyuzwQx7ChrEeSzTFUss4cGD6L1L_ML30YXYqQcxkZ6ZT_mSt6X43giIApK9seQtjFhdVOk0EPOmQ7Q3v8THJ_HS2u49Pt1Vywzx0z-ZLKMw_s/s1600/SEEK+HIM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TmYeZcHJfu1BTgkioYF9vgU2XDpuuEyuzwQx7ChrEeSzTFUss4cGD6L1L_ML30YXYqQcxkZ6ZT_mSt6X43giIApK9seQtjFhdVOk0EPOmQ7Q3v8THJ_HS2u49Pt1Vywzx0z-ZLKMw_s/s1600/SEEK+HIM.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <strong><em><u>We spend the season seeking HIM.</u></em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is a simple thing that has made a big difference in how we celebrate. It keeps Christ at the forefront of our minds during the season. It changes our thoughts and actions. This year, I didn't even mention it. It is now natural for the kids to seek him and be watching for him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">May you be inspired to change how you think about Christmas, may you feel the love of Christ this season is my prayer for each of you. </span><br />
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Happy Momma<br />
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Here are some of my favorite nativity sets <br />
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<img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00164M9XA&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=lifelesshurri-20" height="320" width="320" /><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00164M9XA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00164M9XA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00164M9XA&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=LK2NXDTPBKDL2YHY">Willow Tree Nativity Set</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00164M9XA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043RSSHI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0043RSSHI&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=PUF7YWVGW3MKPMUL"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0043RSSHI&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=lifelesshurri-20" height="200" width="320" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0043RSSHI" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043RSSHI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0043RSSHI&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=CI5PFFSJ5BYQ3JON">Melissa & Doug Nativity Set</a><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0043RSSHI" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00496GZ4G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00496GZ4G&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=C6VZLDWVLRYQXLZK"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00496GZ4G&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=lifelesshurri-20" height="288" width="320" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00496GZ4G" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00496GZ4G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00496GZ4G&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=5AUKYYP4VHU3JOYF">Teak Isle Christmas Outdoor Nativity Set, Yard Nativity Scene</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00496GZ4G" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000067R86/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000067R86&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=XHZDYMMLNZDSSDGO"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000067R86&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=lifelesshurri-20" height="238" width="320" /></a><br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000067R86" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000067R86/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000067R86&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=S4R5GLFU46DWXLFX">Little People Christmas Story Nativity with Lights and Sounds</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000067R86" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009LRPZFI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009LRPZFI&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=ZNIOWACATIKFOOX6"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B009LRPZFI&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=lifelesshurri-20" height="148" width="320" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B009LRPZFI" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009LRPZFI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009LRPZFI&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=P256OMGTX5P4VRTE">Nativity Scene (Fits On 8x20 Frame Or Piece Of Wood) wall saying vinyl lettering art decal quote sticker home decal</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B009LRPZFI" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002EIT1VA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002EIT1VA&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=OEJJ7RDPO4Y5PG5B"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B002EIT1VA&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=lifelesshurri-20" height="151" width="320" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002EIT1VA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002EIT1VA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002EIT1VA&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=TYECVJCGSPWNVTXG">12-Piece Woodland Inspirations Driftwood Christmas Nativity Figure Set</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002EIT1VA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000CFWLK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0000CFWLK&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=L67UAVPFRYJQT5CY"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0000CFWLK&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=lifelesshurri-20" height="311" width="320" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0000CFWLK" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000CFWLK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0000CFWLK&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=WPEEFAFYHHCYQZWN">Fontanini by Roman Classic Holy Family Nativity Set, 3-Piece, 5-Inch Each</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0000CFWLK" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Please note: the above links are affiliate links. You can read the full disclosure by clicking on the privacy policy tab at the top of our webpage. happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-80877872916984477482014-11-13T13:49:00.000-08:002014-11-13T13:49:05.209-08:00Give a little lunchbox love<span style="font-size: large;">This year as we began packing lunches for school we started a little something we call "lunchbox love". As the lunch packer I hide a heart somewhere in the kids/ husbands lunch box and they find it. It is a reminder for them of how much I love them and that I care for them even when I am not there. For our family it also represents the love of Christ. It helps the family to remember to share God's love with others around them. </span><br />
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The rules are simple.<br />
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1. The lunch packer hides a heart some where in or on the lunchbox<br />
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2. As lunch is eaten, be on the lookout for hidden hearts. <br />
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It is easy to do. For us we keep it simple. Most of the time it is a heart drawn with a marker on something in the lunchbox. Sometimes it is a paper heart slipped into the lunch, or a heart-shaped sticker stuck to the lunchbox itself. Treats have been sent in a heart-shaped box left from valentines. Most often it is super easy to spot (it will reach out and grab you) but, sometimes the lunch packer can be sneaky and hide it well. It is all part of the surprise and the love. You never know where hearts will show up.<br />
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Below I have included links to Amazon where you can buy stickers, a heart shaped paper punch, heart shaped molds and other items that may assist you in sending out lunchbox love.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Please be advised that the above links are affiliate links. This just means that by clicking on them I am referring you to Amazon. If you purchase from Amazon I receive a small portion of that sale. This helps to keep up the work here at life less hurried. You can read the full disclosure by clicking the privacy tab at the top of the page. </span>happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-90156511455229369032014-09-30T08:18:00.001-07:002014-09-30T08:18:20.808-07:00Taking the challenge<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://eatingrules.com/october-unprocessed"><img alt="October Unprocessed 2014" border="0" src="http://cdn.eatingrules.com/assets/ou/october-unprocessed-2014_300x250_transparent.png" height="250" style="border: 0px currentColor;" title="Take the challenge: October Unprocessed 2014" width="300" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have joined the challenge.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Less processed food for me and my family.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We are already on our way, but this gives me the</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> needed boost</span><span style="font-size: large;"> to keep it up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Join with us! </span><br />
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<a href="https://eatingrules.com/october-unprocessed-2014/" target="_blank">click here to join and make a pledge to better health</a><br />
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happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-27922779390806391862014-09-17T13:00:00.000-07:002014-09-17T13:00:15.700-07:00why is processed food so bad?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>When I cook I use things like.....</u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>eggs, milk, spices and herbs, along with other real food ingredients.</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But <strong>when the factory cooks for me it is a different story. </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If I was to create a recipe for the commercial market these are some of the changes it would go through in order to even think about putting it on the store shelves. </span><br />
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Whole food (fruit and vegetable) supplies are a big challenge first because of spoilage. Real food is quick to spoil. The second thing is that the food can change in price and quality throughout the year. For example, strawberries are available year round, during peak season they are reasonably priced they are really yummy, but winter strawberries are very expensive lack that "summer strawberry" experience which brings me to the next part... <br />
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Taste. Each batch of vegetables, fruits, and other whole foods tastes slightly different because of variations in the seeds and growing conditions. Often food companies do not want to use the real food which can be unpredictable in color and flavor. So what do they do, they substitute with colors and flavors that are very predictable in order to achieve the taste and color they desire. It is important that they create the same product each and every time with the exact same flavor profile. Spices and fresh herbs are often lost in the process because they also change throughout the season, therefore dried herbs may be used, but more often "natural flavors" is seen on the label instead so that you will get the same taste each and every time. Natural flavors is a very deceptive term and is widely used to cover up the unpleasant truth about what is really in your food. I will include some links at the bottom of the page for those of you who want more reading on that subject. <br />
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When I cook I often use milk and eggs. In the commercial food business these are foods that require refrigeration and have many rules and regulations for their use as they are considered "potentially hazardous" They are foods that are easily spoiled, plus there are allergy factors involved. Many large companies are shying away from the use of eggs and milk and are substituting chemicals that perform the same function in recipes. These chemicals are deemed "safe", but are they really? I would suggest that they may be more hazardous to your health than the milk and eggs themselves. <br />
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Cost is also a major factor in food production. The chemicals that imitate the flavors and colors of real food are a lot less expensive than the real thing. They are often used to keep the food cost low. Cutting the cost of food is quite a concern to the leaders of these companies (how else can they pay for the massive machines that are required for the processing of large quantities of food). Which brings me to the next point; the health cost associated with the machines and processing of foods.<br />
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As the food products are pumped through these massive machines, often times there are chemical additives that are used for the sole purpose of making the product run through the machine more smoothly. Not to mention the chemicals that end up in our food from the cleaning of the machines. I once had to throw out an entire gallon of milk, because it tasted so bad of cleaning chemicals (this at a time when money was so short that it really hurt to throw it out). There are a lot of health risks associated with these chemicals, not to mention the heat that is produced by these machines when they run at such high speeds. The heat and chemicals destroy any goodness that is left in the food and we haven't even got to the stabilizers and preservatives used to keep the product "fresh" and shelf stable so that it can travel to the store and then get to our home and be used, not to mention the chemicals and things added during the packaging process. I am amazed at the amount of chemicals that are used in the processing that do not even end up on the label they are just overlooked by the FDA as "part of processing". <br />
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<strong>What may start out as a "good recipe" turns into a chemical cocktail by the time it is done with the food manufacturing</strong> <strong>process, and yet people still wonder if it is really all that bad for them. </strong><br />
YES! processed foods are bad for your overall health. They are full of toxins that will not kill you right away, but repeated exposure to all of these things can kill. <br />
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<strong><u>I choose to cook from scratch and eat real foods. It helps to keep down the toxins so that I am not in a constant state of toxic overload. My body is thanking me, after years of overload it is finally finding some relief.</u></strong><br />
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I find that the saying FOOD SHOULD COME FROM A PLANT AND NOT BE MADE IN A PLANT very helpful when I am making food choices.<br />
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Additional reading:<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavor" target="_blank">Wikipedia on flavorings</a><br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavor" target="_blank">Beaver butts as natural flavorings</a><br />
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W<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_slime" target="_blank">ikipedia on pink slime</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.care2.com/causes/is-processed-food-safe-fda-doesnt-know.html" target="_blank">Is processed food safe?</a><br />
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<br />happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-60358680856404445802014-09-08T12:15:00.002-07:002014-09-08T12:15:11.692-07:00Seasons change<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have not written in a while here at life less hurried. As fall approaches and the seasons change, I to am entering into changes and a new season in my own life. It is a challenging time that does not allow for writing as much as I would like. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I will continue writing as I am able. Please keep checking back. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Momma</span>happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-82566156388739708142014-08-25T05:50:00.001-07:002014-08-25T05:50:23.394-07:00The best beer batter for fish or vegetables.<div style="text-align: center;">
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This is a great simple batter that we use for fish, vegetables or anything that we want to deep fry</div>
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Basic beer batter<br />
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1 cup all purpose flour<br />
1 Tablespoon garlic powder<br />
1 Tablespoon paprika<br />
1/2 Tablespoon Salt<br />
1/2 Tablespoon ground black pepper<br />
Mix these dry ingredients together in a large bowl.<br />
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Add to the dry ingredients: <br />
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1 large egg<br />
1 1/2 cups beer (12 ounce bottle or can) <br />
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Whisk until a smooth batter is formed<br />
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Happy frying! <br />
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happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-44953542883975061312014-08-18T09:36:00.000-07:002014-08-18T09:36:08.669-07:00Cut your grocery bill.<strong>Feeding a family on a budget can be such a challenge</strong>. It seems that lately at our house the budget is shrinking as the cost of food and other supplies are rising at a rapid rate, but never fear there is hope. There light at the end of the tunnel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqaTeICRze72c21yco8Aha7B4UhjStss3uJ2CQaEk1J9GzKpwyovKj7Fo1hsnXEspMczWgHlNM0UkOrjV_ttqdKyRgy89kGIJ0CdnfwQNFq6bkSMcTTgP6U5kxasYIE_6nAvsuJacFGo/s1600/cut+your+budget.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqaTeICRze72c21yco8Aha7B4UhjStss3uJ2CQaEk1J9GzKpwyovKj7Fo1hsnXEspMczWgHlNM0UkOrjV_ttqdKyRgy89kGIJ0CdnfwQNFq6bkSMcTTgP6U5kxasYIE_6nAvsuJacFGo/s1600/cut+your+budget.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Money saving mom, Crystal Paine has partnered up with some incredible people to bring you Grocery University. I have been a follower of Crystal and <a href="http://moneysavingmom.com/" target="_blank">her blog</a> for about 5 years. It began as I embarked upon learning how to coupon and how to save money. During the process I stumbled upon her blog and have not looked back. I have learned many a skill from her writings. She is a true inspiration. <br />
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The information that she and her associates share should prove itself invaluable. They have spent many years learning how to win at the "grocery game" They are ready and willing to share and teach others the skills that they have spent a lifetime learning by trial and error. I am grateful for those who have learned and are willing to help me so that I don't have to learn by trial and error. I love having someone that will help me see and avoid the most common traps and pitfalls. <br />
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<br />
<strong><u>You can get your own Grocery University Course by clicking the link below.</u></strong><br />
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<a href="https://gr161.isrefer.com/go/GroceryU/cookie263" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://cdn1.moneysavingmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/grocery-university-125x125.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It gets even better! They are launching a brand new updated version of the course TOMMORROW: Tuesday August 19th. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mark your Calendar (and your alarm) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday August 19th</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Beginning at 5 am central time</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5 am price is $2.97</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">8 am pricing is $3.97</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">11 am $4.97</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 pm $5.97</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">5 pm $6.97</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">8 pm $7.97</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">11 pm $8.97 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy shopping</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">This post contains affiliate links. You can read the full disclosure by clicking on the privacy policy tab at the top of the page. </span>happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-6709841880370486442014-08-11T06:09:00.001-07:002014-08-14T07:36:02.051-07:00How to remove chewing gum from about anything. <span style="font-size: large;">Chewing gum, what a sticky icky mess when it gets in places it does not belong, but never fear, there is an easy and economical way to remove chewing gum from almost anything.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bfVEDcRjMBM-n9_6TplHj4w_lsUl4WpF6eRtm5k_GUkeOkWioc8teIOul-WNL7FeOl_GhL6H4G4VXmq-Z3kWPiJFbIfllElFb4ucIoVex1-9gfOj9DfE2MtA9niC-fujnE2P-cBZ_bs/s1600/wad+of+gum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bfVEDcRjMBM-n9_6TplHj4w_lsUl4WpF6eRtm5k_GUkeOkWioc8teIOul-WNL7FeOl_GhL6H4G4VXmq-Z3kWPiJFbIfllElFb4ucIoVex1-9gfOj9DfE2MtA9niC-fujnE2P-cBZ_bs/s1600/wad+of+gum.png" height="309" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Who knew, that <u>peanut butter </u>could unstick the gum from nearly anything</span></strong><br />
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Peanut butter will remove gum from things like:<br />
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Carpet, and tile<br />
Clothing<br />
Furniture<br />
Hair<br />
even a bubble popped on the face and into the eyebrows can be cleaned with peanut butter<br />
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The oils in peanut butter have a way of neutralizing the sticky part of the chewing gum. It begins to dissolve the chewing gum into a soft and almost slippery mass that is then easily removed from whatever it is stuck to. <br />
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<strong>It is really easy to do: Just smear the peanut butter over the gum and rub it in. Let it sit for a minute or two then work the gum and peanut butter mass loose with your fingers. </strong><br />
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I have used this trick on several occasions and it works perfectly. <strong><u>The only trouble is getting rid of the grease stain that can be left from the peanut butter</u></strong>. I have found that on carpet, clothing and other items that <strong><u>Dawn dish soap</u></strong> is a great agent for getting rid of the leftover peanut butter residue. <br />
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I saved my favorite blouse this way and I have saved several children and parents from the frustrating thoughts of having to cut the gum from hair. I hope that this helps. <br />
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Disclaimer: Please use this at your own risk. The peanut butter could stain some items. I would not use it on a dry clean only items. <br />
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<br />happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-17830842059938557712014-08-04T14:46:00.000-07:002014-08-04T14:46:30.225-07:00Making wontons<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Wontons have become one of the new obsessions at our house. Several times a month we make them. My daughters love to help fill and fold them. It makes for some fun times and great conversation as we cook together. I love spending time with the kids in the kitchen. </span></strong><br />
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To make wontons you will need<br />
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1 package of store bought wonton wrappers<br />
about 1/3cup filling per dozen wontons <br />
oil for frying<br />
Sauce for dipping<br />
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You can fill wontons with just about anything you desire.<br />
Here are some of our favorite fillings<br />
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Crab Rangoon makes about 36 wontons<br />
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4 ounces of softened cream cheese<br />
1 clove finely minced garlic<br />
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce<br />
1/2 teaspoon onion powder<br />
3/4 cup flaked crab meat <br />
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Mix softened cream cheese with spices. Then fold in the crab (can use fresh crab, imitation crab, or canned crab meat) <br />
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Pork wonton filling makes about 50 wontons <br />
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1/2 pound ground pork<br />
2/3 cup finely chopped celery<br />
2/3 cup grated carrots<br />
2/3 cup grated onion<br />
2 cloves minced garlic<br />
1 Tablespoon soy sauce<br />
2 teaspoons ground black pepper<br />
2 teaspoons sesame oil<br />
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Heat the sesame oil in a small skillet over medium high heat. Add the pork and vegetables. Cook for about 2 minutes until the vegetables wilt and the pork is nearly cooked. Add the garlic, pepper, and soy sauce. Cook the mix for about a minute more. Remove from the heat and cool until it can be handled easily. <br />
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To make the wontons,<br />
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Place about a teaspoon of filling into the middle of a wonton wrapper<br />
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Wet the edges of the wonton wrapper with a clean paintbrush or your finger dipped in water <br />
Fold the wrapper in half (corner to corner) to create a triangle shape and press to seal the filling inside.<br />
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Some people leave them just like this and cook them but we take it one step further,<br />
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Take the top corners and bring them together and press them with a dab of water to create a tortellini type shape. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQOePWlBPiMOWZsPeYuZoGH31PLPEFobpa4R6K-GA3kd0UCMi0pAVv7V8ODfTYjsxJ5TcUXhky0Mx6tgKYHHmbPM4weLeTHxpSh15JgUjh1PWxaBT9aJO_FZDSgLLEPxyLu7Kci23alI/s1600/wontons+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQOePWlBPiMOWZsPeYuZoGH31PLPEFobpa4R6K-GA3kd0UCMi0pAVv7V8ODfTYjsxJ5TcUXhky0Mx6tgKYHHmbPM4weLeTHxpSh15JgUjh1PWxaBT9aJO_FZDSgLLEPxyLu7Kci23alI/s1600/wontons+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Once they are filled you can pan fry, deep fry, or bake them in the oven for a crispy treat. <br />
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We usually pan fry them. <br />
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To pan fry the wontons: Heat oil about 3/4 of an inch deep over high heat for about 2 minutes, then carefully place the filled wontons in the hot oil cooking about 2 minutes per side. If they are browning too fast, adjust the heat down a bit. Drain on paper towels. Can be kept warm in a 200 degree oven<br />
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To deep fry wontons: Heat the pot of oil to 365 degrees and cook the wontons about 4 minutes (If the oil is deep they will float when done)<br />
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To bake the wontons: Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray, Place the wontons on the baking sheet and brush with oil (or spray heavily with a spray oil) Bake in a 375 degree oven for 6-8 minutes.<br />
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Serve wontons with your favorite dipping sauce. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBvzePc1LH_hzUpXWAoiRNEKoRD-lE0lKP1fvGj4AW3q9mts7NzK8Htu9RGLki_7u33twK-hrqQSfqw0mI6JWfSLdYo7VWI1lb-xWMzt9BlRRGULDIyyzapnLJlB5NU2oUpEMpsvf72c/s1600/wontons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBvzePc1LH_hzUpXWAoiRNEKoRD-lE0lKP1fvGj4AW3q9mts7NzK8Htu9RGLki_7u33twK-hrqQSfqw0mI6JWfSLdYo7VWI1lb-xWMzt9BlRRGULDIyyzapnLJlB5NU2oUpEMpsvf72c/s1600/wontons.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo taken from taste of home website</td></tr>
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Be on the lookout as we will be posting some of our favorite choices for dipping sauces in an upcoming post. <br />
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happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-41404609946384939942014-07-28T06:33:00.000-07:002014-07-28T06:54:05.439-07:00DIY frozen blueberries <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF14ZSU5X404iuMjimUEpbn07eNTYtCPnYd6i3O45-UTdRGTyp9MGNleZ6o8AT3aP8vbV2AqRwOk0IMQj24778wSuUKKGLFToYoTGdylzCg7jI_XpFg2G2GYZ63q4EAsfq7TeMxHCKJU/s1600/got+berries+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF14ZSU5X404iuMjimUEpbn07eNTYtCPnYd6i3O45-UTdRGTyp9MGNleZ6o8AT3aP8vbV2AqRwOk0IMQj24778wSuUKKGLFToYoTGdylzCg7jI_XpFg2G2GYZ63q4EAsfq7TeMxHCKJU/s1600/got+berries+3.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></div>
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I got a great deal on blueberries today! I love blueberries. They are very healthy for you full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant power.<br />
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Blueberries are one of the easiest berries to add to your diet and one of the most nutritious. <br />
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Blueberries are easy to prepare; just wash and eat. They are easy to stir into oatmeal, or yogurt for an added breakfast boost.<br />
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They add a nice flavor to smoothies, and who doesn't love a blueberry muffin?<br />
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One of our favorite breakfasts is blueberry pancakes, and pancakes with berries make a nice dinner treat.<br />
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Blueberries are wonderful to use fresh and they freeze nicely for later use. <br />
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<strong>Freezing blueberries is super easy</strong><br />
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1. Wash the fruit with clean, cool water<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKvjKLore50jc0OK0GaI4jkNaDBZeySf1OC8eWpM6vNWQH7AxJ2jVfTVZrxTLCaoxZ4eeTFFtuzH9GMtelSi1UXe7c8ETojaliACTk12cRDljff70uND_6ZMTZlAqSP7yoaHFilwq1CA/s1600/blueberry+bowl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKvjKLore50jc0OK0GaI4jkNaDBZeySf1OC8eWpM6vNWQH7AxJ2jVfTVZrxTLCaoxZ4eeTFFtuzH9GMtelSi1UXe7c8ETojaliACTk12cRDljff70uND_6ZMTZlAqSP7yoaHFilwq1CA/s1600/blueberry+bowl.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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2. Pick over the fruit, discard any withered, moldy, or squashed berries. <br />
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3. Place the fruit on a dishtowel and gently blot with another dishtowel (or paper towels) to remove any excess water.<br />
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4. Gently place the dry berries into zip-top style freezer bags and seal them up. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XPVJZpc9pvGBoED2Z-k9xDTydGsxToHU5ml6OzPbEHTwvQdlsv9r0qYXzqLcWolFoJE6-Y4NibO6GBsjOahcKhj5Ek-La37w-JOyna2TbVnDuzvpWeOlXTJTp1cyBcgWmD8w_zVyP2g/s1600/blueberry+ready+for+freezer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XPVJZpc9pvGBoED2Z-k9xDTydGsxToHU5ml6OzPbEHTwvQdlsv9r0qYXzqLcWolFoJE6-Y4NibO6GBsjOahcKhj5Ek-La37w-JOyna2TbVnDuzvpWeOlXTJTp1cyBcgWmD8w_zVyP2g/s1600/blueberry+ready+for+freezer.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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5. Place the bags full of berries in the freezer for later use.<br />
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Frozen berries will keep in the freezer for up to a year (they don't last that long at our house) <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Get some of these wonderful berries in your diet today. </span></strong><br />
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<br />happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-85253983143897309932014-07-21T13:50:00.000-07:002014-07-21T13:50:20.947-07:00When the box has better nutrition than what's inside<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We all have had a chance to poke fun of Twinkies and other foods that have been the stories of urban legend. You know the ones that may or may not be classified food, those foods that will outlast every other thing because of the preservatives. But what about these foods and the other things that we eat on a daily basis? </span><br />
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It is said that "you are what you eat" I do believe this to be true. If we eat nutritious foods in its whole form we will also be whole. We should be eating our fruits and vegetables and whole grains as the main staple foods in our life. God did not make a mistake. He made our bodies to run off of whole foods. <strong><u>We should be eating food that comes from the farmer's field not the battlefield of food marketing.</u></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoLn32LGa9fhpm7bHfRjn_DNig4eCWIoVCjNiw1BMxz218ehITqEESD1zzHv4zo_rGd5zl1ZhF1pe1b6UqbzChuCLDFLwH8X3qOJ_ldUM9m_7tO_46sWj9J_Ule2vNhV5ALY2ND4Y04I/s1600/WMD3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoLn32LGa9fhpm7bHfRjn_DNig4eCWIoVCjNiw1BMxz218ehITqEESD1zzHv4zo_rGd5zl1ZhF1pe1b6UqbzChuCLDFLwH8X3qOJ_ldUM9m_7tO_46sWj9J_Ule2vNhV5ALY2ND4Y04I/s1600/WMD3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://peelingbacktheonionlayers.com/krisped-flaked-and-sugar-caked-a-dangerous-way-to-start-theday/" target="_blank">Here is an interesting article from peeling back the layers.</a> </span><span style="font-size: small;">In this article they discuss a group of researchers who were looking at the effects of fortified breakfast cereals in mice. During the research someone got the idea that it would be interesting to feed the mice the box that the cereal came in. The results were interesting. They found that the rats fed the box lived longer than those that ate the cereal. Needless to say, this research was never published because it did not fit the needs of the cereal manufacturers. It would ruin them if the truth was really known.</span><br />
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<strong>What is a person to do to escape from that battlefield of food marketing, and how do we know if the foods we are eating will really harm us? </strong><br />
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<strong>1. Be aware. </strong>You should know that the studies we hear about are usually paid for by the big companies. The results are usually "spun" to fit whatever it is they are selling and often studies like the one quoted above are never published. <br />
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<strong>2. Your attitude about food makes a big difference</strong>. There was a time that I did very well. My thought process was this "I eat to fuel my body, not feed my emotions!" I had babies and forgot all that. I let myself get caught up in the attitudes of those around me because it was easier, therefore I have had to start over on the process of eliminating the bad food and gaining ground with the good stuff. <br />
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<strong>3. Begin with a few fruits and vegetables, and keep adding them</strong> until you have some great recipes for nutritious and delicious foods. It will be easier to make the transition and make it stick as a lifestyle change if you have some good recipes to rely on.<br />
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For more info you can check out the <a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/" target="_blank">Weston A Price foundation</a></div>
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There is also an interesting book about the tricks that the large food companies employ</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062GJPS4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0062GJPS4&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=PHTLWFCQEY6VOMJH"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0062GJPS4&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=lifelesshurri-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0062GJPS4" height="1" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Check out some of these resources and see what happens in your life. <br />
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happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-39803649384898013532014-07-14T10:37:00.000-07:002014-07-14T10:37:15.064-07:00Use this simple trick to clean and restore your car headlights<span style="font-size: x-large;">Who knew that regular old <strong><u>toothpaste </u></strong>could easily shine and restore your headlights? I tried this trick and was pleased with the results.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHNMeDe9XBkQitdKrendXYkQPMgqRfpV7l_qG1oKhyphenhyphen_xC_CCp66zmV1EsNtgDSv2eUzaZfY8sjn17ha-3_J1H6t2h99LdWXdRiYDjSFv6hxrtS2ml11_0Ayp7AgQbVGfwKywiq_c2Xe8/s1600/headlights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHNMeDe9XBkQitdKrendXYkQPMgqRfpV7l_qG1oKhyphenhyphen_xC_CCp66zmV1EsNtgDSv2eUzaZfY8sjn17ha-3_J1H6t2h99LdWXdRiYDjSFv6hxrtS2ml11_0Ayp7AgQbVGfwKywiq_c2Xe8/s1600/headlights.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">While there are several methods for doing this, I chose a direct approach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Apply a good amount of regular old toothpaste directly to the headlight cover. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. Use a soft cloth to rub the toothpaste across the entire surface of the lens cover</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. Wait 3-5 minutes</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. With a clean cloth and a bucket of cool water scrub the lens cover clean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. Repeat step 4 until all the gunk and goo is removed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. Wipe dry </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My experience with this method: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The toothpaste dried up fast as I rubbed (maybe it was the fact that I stopped to take a few pictures). I had to add more toothpaste as I went to ensure complete coverage. The other trouble I had was I had three young helpers (as Mom's often do) so I ended up with toothpaste in places that I didn't really want, like on the hood of the car. It took quite a bit of rinsing to get rid of all the extra toothpaste that comes from my helpers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was well worth it. I have looked into lens restoration before, it is expensive to have someone else do it. Do it yourself kits are less expensive but still cost quit a bit. I got as good results with toothpaste as I did with one of the commercial cleaners that I used several years ago on another car before I knew about toothpaste. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>I give the simple toothpaste method 5 stars.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong> </strong></span>happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-18938867508690641662014-07-09T21:22:00.000-07:002014-07-11T10:45:16.703-07:00Don't heat the house making breads, make stove top breads instead<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wow, the summer heat has come! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What do you do when you don't like to eat store bought breads and heating up the house to make a batch of home-made bread is not a very good option?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong> Make stove top breads! </strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO330MJxLGrVy8hXbj4EXn1EaWU1q7RInvAE2GXPIGhJ2-fhYJ7uvjGS0B_9fhAqPg1jlalgj7bei2dVoAHA5U9Mk3LGEg9_ZW1NpfkrkPOq6Q9WGlqgFpPhaTWaGarCeE8HauZqjOel0/s1600/stove+top+bread+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO330MJxLGrVy8hXbj4EXn1EaWU1q7RInvAE2GXPIGhJ2-fhYJ7uvjGS0B_9fhAqPg1jlalgj7bei2dVoAHA5U9Mk3LGEg9_ZW1NpfkrkPOq6Q9WGlqgFpPhaTWaGarCeE8HauZqjOel0/s1600/stove+top+bread+2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We make......</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2012/09/homemade-tortillas.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">homemade tortillas,</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2014/03/making-herb-flatbread.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">flat bread</span></a><a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2014/03/making-herb-flatbread.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">,</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2013/07/making-english-muffins.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">and English muffins</span></a> (<span style="font-size: large;">just to name a few).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They are all very easy to make and can really </span><a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2012/06/no-boring-brown-bag-lunch-for-me.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">spice up a brown bag lunch or a summer picnic</span></a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2012/09/homemade-tortillas.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCSaCVNcmFokyEoEP7IzIsrvt-gG-3GKTCVjdmWNJrdG1BQ1ntZEsAP-rzDsf_UFphwY8B36UdmKsSBXVlSljVM9SnmYxvQGPYBA1Z8Ollz3WG0AMkAb62FS2Vaw8uePzLgDL8ncnSjE/s1600/tortillas.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2012/09/homemade-tortillas.html" target="_blank">Life less hurried homemade tortillas</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2012/09/homemade-tortillas.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazcklFeWTQR7G4e8moRlxrN9EgmQlmPaPUsNKhXzgML6lkiCPJ8VZavjMwMwLjSqeIv_KFz17wAMBaLuVEs5opxSAiVs5pCpogMmmd1hRCZ_5_qzAet8dTXEZ1S7Roq0wK0qfvApRWls/s1600/picture+%25286%2529.jpeg" height="229" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2012/09/homemade-tortillas.html" target="_blank">Herbed flat bread @ life less hurried</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2013/07/making-english-muffins.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkIgjNY157ToXumKNGlMyxK9zrWq3vceq6z6TIiaCLjdsWqBlyDb0A1njBGmuWArVT5uO0W2lS2n5O7ZhywYXT0aPkSnlCc72DToY-eViLHreqMIoZIz8lYsIRTRsA53edaQS4_r0NlE/s1600/english+muffin+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2013/07/making-english-muffins.html" target="_blank">Life less hurried English muffins</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can check out these recipes and more in my cookbook </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1499573332/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1499573332&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=G4KOJ4BQ7O3AXEGR"><span style="font-size: large;">Quick breads made easy from A-Z: with over 30 recipes for every season</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1499573332" height="1" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><u>For a limited time (Through Saturday July 12th) you can pick up the kindle edition of my cookbook for free! </u></strong></span><br />
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Just click on one of the links below and you will be taken to Amazon where you can pick up your free kindle book. <br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00J5QEN4E" height="1" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J5QEN4E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00J5QEN4E&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=V735M6YUVPTZN2D3"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00J5QEN4E&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=lifelesshurri-20" height="200" width="200" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00J5QEN4E" height="1" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J5QEN4E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00J5QEN4E&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=HVOJMOIP453DYIC2">Quick breads made easy from A-Z: with over 30 recipes for every season</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00J5QEN4E" height="1" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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While you are there, check out my other book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1499738706/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1499738706&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=IP6XQTST6XJCK5KB">For the love of popcorn: a cookbook for popcorn lovers of all ages</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1499738706" height="1" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=lifelesshurri-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00J5QEN4E&asins=B00J5QEN4E&linkId=I2TTEE7UZIXH7O3K&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=lifelesshurri-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1499738706&asins=1499738706&linkId=CDRSJEWBUABLTDTR&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe> happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-82593877872980997202014-07-06T09:29:00.001-07:002014-07-06T09:29:06.772-07:00Earn stamps as part of a mail tracking program<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For the last two and a half years I have been part of a mail tracking program. It has been a simple way to get stamps for free. As part of this volunteer program I help them track how long it takes the mail to arrive. They send me 10 stamps each month as a thank you for helping them. It has been a blessing to our family. <strong>It is fairly simple work. When the mail comes you take a few moments and make a phone call to the 800 number to report on the publications came that day. Usually it takes less than two minutes to call in and report. </strong></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo2GBxM6R-YlkFJ_6BTg7Yg5TU66Kom4V6uK8N8TUsUONLVrXafbfWm1Pycqjy-18waCbZcYTrh6HL6hmTzFIlcBbfJSvVtLRQoc1vsJ5-CfmU22Pz0hlmEFt-ZEU2_ORwndE5RKTN10/s1600/MAIL+TRACKING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo2GBxM6R-YlkFJ_6BTg7Yg5TU66Kom4V6uK8N8TUsUONLVrXafbfWm1Pycqjy-18waCbZcYTrh6HL6hmTzFIlcBbfJSvVtLRQoc1vsJ5-CfmU22Pz0hlmEFt-ZEU2_ORwndE5RKTN10/s1600/MAIL+TRACKING.jpg" height="640" width="545" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once you have reported you can do whatever you desire with the magazines, catalogs, and flyers. <u>Our children have loved some of the children's magazines that come to us through this program. They read them for a while and then we send the magazines to our local Elementary School for classroom use.</u> The teachers have been appreciative of our donation to the classroom. The majority of the mail that comes to us through this program goes to the recycle bin that supports our local community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The company is in need of people all across the country</strong>. If you would like to find out if there is a need in your particular area you can e-mail me kookykeck @ yahoo (dot) com and I will get you in touch with the company. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-67035963172107160952014-06-25T15:02:00.001-07:002014-06-25T15:02:56.296-07:00Winning the grocery store game part 3In case you missed them........ <br />
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<a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2014/06/winning-grocery-store-game-part-1.html" target="_blank">PART 1</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2014/06/winning-grocery-store-game-part-2.html" target="_blank">PART 2</a><br />
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In part 1 I covered how to navigate the store to avoid getting caught by impulse buys, Part 2 covered how to navigate the ads to find the best deals. Part 3 is all about finding the markdowns and unadvertised/less advertised deals. In other words, <strong>know where your store hides the best deals.</strong><br />
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<strong>1. Know your store. </strong>Some very important information to know is......<br />
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a. Where are the discount bins found? <br />
b. When does your store mark down things like produce, dairy, and meat items?<br />
c. How do they label the marked down items?<br />
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Nearly every store has a place that they put discounted items (scratch and dented, or close to expiring foods). Oftentimes it is found in a corner. Sometimes it is a shopping cart that they have placed with a sign. Being aware of, looking for, and finding these items can lead to huge savings. I save quite a bit by buying foods that are near their expiration dates and freezing or otherwise storing them. Check out <a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2014/04/is-it-safe-to-eat.html" target="_blank">my thoughts on nearly expired foods</a>. Just be aware and buy only those things that you will use. <br />
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Knowing when they mark down food can lead to the best choices. I know that one of my favorite stores makes mark downs in the afternoon, so if I go to that store in the late afternoon I get the best choice. By evening, everything is pretty well picked over and the best of the bargains are gone. <br />
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Knowing how to spot the markdowns is useful information. My favorite store uses a yellow tag on the shelf to show a markdown. I keep my eyes open for them. These can be great deals, but the killer deals (in this particular store) comes when the food has been marked down already and they want it gone. When this happens, they will add an additional savings with a bright yellow store coupon which I also love. My heart jumps for joy when I find a yellow price tag on the shelf and a yellow coupon sticker too (Double whammy).<br />
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I have had several friends ask if I could come shopping with them because I have a habit of being able to sniff out those great deals from across the store. It takes a little practice, but well worth the efforts. <br />
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<strong>2. Does your store have a rewards program/ shoppers card? </strong><br />
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Using your shopping card is a great way to save at the grocery store. I frequent Smiths food and Drug. They have the shoppers card/rewards program. I can save on groceries with the card, but more than that, I save up points to use to save on fuel. Another bonus is they send coupons tailored to me and my shopping habits. The send me paper coupons was well offering e-coupons which are loaded right to my card. It is nice because the coupons savings comes off automatically.<br />
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<strong>3. Sign up for e-mail or text alerts/ become a Facebook or Twitter fan.</strong><br />
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This can be a great way to find extra savings, sometimes stores will send out an e-alert about a special one time buy. Remember to use the skills learned in the other lessons and not get caught up in impulse buying just because you got a special invite by text or e-mail. With the information age there are many more ways to find a bargain. There are websites and apps that can alert you to special clearance items that may be lurking in your store, just beware that in the large chain stores, clearance items can vary from store to store, so just because someone in a neighboring city found a great deal, does not mean that you will have the same luck in your store. Keep your eyes and ears out and deals will begin to find you. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">I hope that you have found some useful information in this series, and that it has blessed your life. Come back soon for more frugal adventures here at life less hurried. </span></strong><br />
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<br />happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-43355126552161469642014-06-20T10:00:00.000-07:002014-06-20T10:00:44.996-07:00Love those leftovers<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Does your family enjoy leftovers? We love leftovers because at our house we give leftovers new life. We love to make new things out of leftovers.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few excerpts from some previous posts that show how leftovers can become new.</span></strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2012/09/leftovers-with-purpose.html" target="_blank">Leftovers with purpose</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Meal 1</span> We made a large <u><strong>London broil</strong>.</u> It turned out fabulous. We ate our fill for dinner along with some side salads. <br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Meal 2</span> We used the sliced beef to make a wonderful <strong><u>sandwich</u>.</strong> We sliced a loaf of French bread in half and filled it with the meat, and piled on the toppings (avocado. peppers, onion, lettuce, tomato, olives)<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Meal 3</span> <u><strong>Fajitas.</strong></u> Grilled meat with spicy peppers and onions wrapped up in a warm tortilla, what could be better than that. <br />
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My husband loves homemade pudding. Whenever we cook rice he wants to be sure that we have leftovers so that we can make <a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2014/01/using-up-leftovers.html" target="_blank">rice pudding</a>. He makes sure to remind me that we need to cook enough to make pudding. He has been known to request rice for dinner just so we can have rice pudding afterwards. <br />
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Check out our recipe:<br />
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<a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2014/01/using-up-leftovers.html" target="_blank">Life less hurried rice pudding recipe</a><br />
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<strong>Whenever we cook ground beef we always cook a little extra to make Mexican "pizza" for lunch the next day</strong>.<br />
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These are so quick and easy. They are great for lunch or snack time.<br />
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You will need<br />
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flour tortillas<br />
sour cream<br />
salsa<br />
cheese<br />
toppings of your choice <br />
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Heat a large skillet or griddle to a medium high heat<br />
Spread the tortilla with a small amount of sour cream and salsa as the "Pizza sauce"<br />
Top with cheese and whatever else you have on hand;<br />
We have topped these with ground beef, shredded chicken, onions, mushrooms, olives, green chilies, bell peppers, tomato just to name a few things. <br />
Cook until cheese is melted and the tortilla is crispy and brown on the bottom (about 4 minutes)<br />
slice into "pizza wedges" and serve.<br />
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<a href="http://mkeckblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-we-made-three-meals-out-of-couple.html" target="_blank">Making three meals from a couple of steaks</a><br />
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Meal 1. <strong>Steak dinner</strong>. We had a really nice steak dinner with some friends. I seasoned up the steaks and grilled them outside. I cooked more steak than we really needed. It made it look and feel like we had an abundance of food, and everyone was able to have their fill. <u>I have an abundance of good things in life, and I want others to feel of that</u>. We were able to sit out back and enjoy the nice weather at the picnic table that my husband built out of scrap wood. It was enjoyable.<br />
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Meal 2. <strong>Beef Stroganoff</strong>. From those leftover steaks I was able to create a beef stroganoff dinner. It was a good way to use up the mushrooms and sour cream in my fridge. My kids and husband ate it up. We made a big pot so that there was enough leftover for meal #3<br />
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Meal 3.<strong> Beef noodle soup. </strong>The leftover stroganoff noodles became the base for a nice lunch of beef noodle soup. My kids love my soups. Soups are so easy to make with many kinds of leftovers. My son is learning to cook with me. He likes to create soups. We talk about what would go good together. He will ask "should we put this in?" we will look at it, smell it, sometimes taste it; then decide if the item will go in the soup. It is a fun learning experience with him.<br />
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We create soups quite often, my children love them and they are a frugal way to feed a family. You can take a few items and stretch them to fill hungry tummies. My biggest problem is that when I make soup I serve it hot. The kids hate waiting for soup to cool. We have started putting frozen vegetables in the kids soup to cool it down. They love it! <u>My kids now think that every bowl of soup should have an extra serving of vegetables added from the freezer</u>.<br />
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This is how we do and who we are. It is something that we have found that works for us.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope this sparks some new ideas for you and your family! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Leave a comment below about what your family does and what your favorite leftover meal is. </span><br />
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<br />happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-43904524210761387482014-06-12T10:25:00.001-07:002014-06-12T10:25:45.919-07:00winning the grocery store game part 2<span style="font-size: large;">Feeding a family on a budget is not an easy task. In <a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2014/06/winning-grocery-store-game-part-1.html" target="_blank">part 1 avoiding the impulse buy</a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> we covered the added expense that can happen when you get caught up in impulse shopping. Part 2 is all about shopping the sales and planning menus around sale items.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">What's for dinner? The answer usually lies in what's on sale this week. </span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Combine the sale items with a well stocked pantry and you have the ability to feed a family well on a small amount of money. </span><br />
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It is hard for me to create a meal using ingredients bought at full price. The bargain hunter inside of me comes out screaming and kicking. <strong>A big portion of feeding my family on a budget is not paying full price. </strong>These are some of the tricks I use to keep the family happily fed. <strong> </strong><br />
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<strong>1. Know the sale cycles and buy multiple items to last until the next sale</strong>. It is typically 2 months between good stock up sales for most items. For example, my local store gets pasta on sale with those deals that go something like this... Buy 6 save $3 with your card. It can lead to substantial savings. This last sale the pasta ended up being 49 cents a piece. I bought 24 of them. It cost me $11.76. The everyday price for this particular pasta was $1.39, I saved 90 cents a package which made a total of $21.60 saved. <strong>With pasta on hand I can make casseroles, pasta dishes, soups, salads etc. </strong>I also use pasta from the pantry to make our <a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2012/05/easy-homemade-mac-and-cheese.html" target="_blank">Homemade mac and cheese</a> for a quick lunch. <br />
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If you notice, the <u>pasta is rarely on sale at the same time as the pasta sauce.</u> They do this on purpose. Most of the time you will pick up the pasta on sale and then buy the sauce at full price to go with it. You can outsmart them. Buy the pasta when it is on sale, and few weeks later when the sauce is on sale stock up on it. I have learned to <u>pick up each of the individual pieces for a meal when they are on sale</u>. Very rarely (if ever) do I pick up all the things for a complete meal in one shopping trip. This little trick alone saves me tons of money. <br />
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It takes some time to build up a pantry, but the results are worth it. You can begin by setting aside a small portion of the grocery budget every week to add to your "Stockpile fund" When the deals come along you will have some money set aside to take advantage of them.<br />
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<strong>2. Get to know your grocery ads.</strong> Grocery stores often plaster a good deal on the front page of the ad trying to get you into the store, once they lure you in, they snag you with an impulse buy which we have already covered in <a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2014/06/winning-grocery-store-game-part-1.html" target="_blank">part 1</a>. So, now you know how to avoid being caught by their snares, be sure to check out those front page deals and use them to your advantage. <br />
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Let me tell you a little secret.... I have come to find out that<strong> the best deals are not always so easy to see. </strong>I have been surprised as I have looked at the ads and found <strong>gems hidden in small print in the middle pages of the grocery ads</strong>. Be sure to check out the entire ad not just those deals that are being "sold" to you on the front page in large print. <em><u>I used to just glance over the ads and often would miss those hidden gems</u></em>. It is worth my time to check out the entire ad. Once I have seen the ad and gone over it, I make a list highlighting the deals. Once I have compiled a list of the good deals, I put a star by those things that I may want to stock up on if the budget allows.<br />
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<strong>3. Combining sales with coupons can lead to great savings</strong>. This is the only way to coupon. This is the way the great couponers have made their mark. Couponing can turn everyday sales into super sales. I always check the ads, then I check to see if coupons are available for the items on my list. With coupons that you can <a href="http://www.coupons.com/" target="_blank">print at home</a>, and companies that allow you to <a href="http://kroger.softcoin.com/programs/kroger/digital_coupons/" target="_blank">load coupons right to your shoppers card</a>, there is no reason to not take advantage of coupon savings. There are also coupon apps that you can use on your smart phones. You do not need to be a total coupon freak, but having a few couponing skills can really pay off for you. <br />
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<a href="http://www.afullcup.com/" target="_blank">A full cup</a> is a great online resource for knowing if there is a coupon available for products that you want to buy. You can use their advanced coupon search to see if there is a coupon available. I also use <a href="http://grocerysmarts.com/" target="_blank">grocery smarts</a> as a couponing source. Many of my local stores are listed and they make it easy to find the coupons that go with the ads. <strong>Knowing what is on sale and what coupons are available to match can really save you money. The time spent is well worth it.</strong><br />
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So, spend a little time, get out and learn some new skills. Make the advertised sales work to your advantage. <u>With a little time and effort you will be putting money back in your pockets. </u><br />
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<strong>What are your best tips for stockpiling and finding sale items? </strong><br />
<strong>Leave a comment below so we can all learn.</strong><strong> </strong><br />
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<br />happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-86920760910480102402014-06-10T07:53:00.000-07:002014-06-11T09:16:44.128-07:00Crab salad for a crowd<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I made this salad for my sister in-law and she loved it. She said it was one of the best she has ever eaten. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsw8PIdp0Ode_jlSbDfSzVBvZYQiW3o1Dw-y6RoOmK4JFWzQZhtMwh4ffjvFcel2_OqS4zZAdGV1zq3ghNLK9AeIfqjfpfXoCbClJTZS3D39CV2MkVDQprnmJ4GrTJ-ucD6ctdxUQXnYQ/s1600/crab+salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsw8PIdp0Ode_jlSbDfSzVBvZYQiW3o1Dw-y6RoOmK4JFWzQZhtMwh4ffjvFcel2_OqS4zZAdGV1zq3ghNLK9AeIfqjfpfXoCbClJTZS3D39CV2MkVDQprnmJ4GrTJ-ucD6ctdxUQXnYQ/s1600/crab+salad.jpg" height="320" width="271" /></a></div>
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<strong>Quick crab salad for a crowd</strong><br />
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1 pound package of noodles, cooked according to package directions (I like the large shells)<br />
1 pound imitation crab meat broken into small bite size pieces <br />
4 large celery ribs, finely chopped<br />
6 green onions, sliced thin<br />
1/4 of a large red bell pepper, diced small<br />
Optional: 1 package of frozen peas, thawed<br />
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Dressing<br />
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1 1/4 cups mayonnaise<br />
1/4 teaspoon celery salt<br />
1/2 teaspoon sugar<br />
1 Tablespoon lemon juice<br />
1 teaspoon onion powder<br />
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt<br />
1 good shake of Worcestershire sauce<br />
1/4 teaspoon prepared horseradish<br />
1 teaspoon dill weed<br />
1/2 teaspoon pepper<br />
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves (sounds crazy in this dish, but it gives it that little something that you can't quite put your finger on)<br />
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In a small bowl mix the dressing ingredients together. Toss the dressing with the salad ingredients. Chill well. Stir once again before service as the dressing tends to settle in the bottom of the bowl.<br />
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This post shared as part of <a href="http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2014/06/real-food-wednesday-642014.html" target="_blank">real food wednesdays</a>happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-6527466909459613222014-06-05T12:20:00.002-07:002014-06-05T12:20:48.582-07:00Feeding the mind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqQ0MmQhm6wba-fengct-wgWs-oqaiCfG1zSut_NfXGAWZum1VwTfP6t-ja0GMqwLe7mKip2yrvVt0E-qWP93XAI_dpTidc_FdYdVYCLO9Mw3hSu0PzGgwMxhCU7-OiImoLIcEl-H4uQ/s1600/feed+the+mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqQ0MmQhm6wba-fengct-wgWs-oqaiCfG1zSut_NfXGAWZum1VwTfP6t-ja0GMqwLe7mKip2yrvVt0E-qWP93XAI_dpTidc_FdYdVYCLO9Mw3hSu0PzGgwMxhCU7-OiImoLIcEl-H4uQ/s1600/feed+the+mind.jpg" height="640" width="552" /></a></div>
<br />happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-19604826958499996732014-06-03T12:29:00.000-07:002014-06-03T12:29:27.300-07:00winning the grocery store game part 1 <span style="font-size: x-large;">It seems like feeding a family is getting to be more of a challenge everyday. With soaring food prices and shrinking budgets how can you win?</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is part 1 in a series of how to win at the grocery store game, be on the lookout for more posts coming up soon. </span></strong><br />
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PART 1: AVOIDING THE IMPULSE BUY <br />
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<strong>Grocery stores do what they do very well! They have a way of enticing you buy more stuff than you came in for. </strong>How many times have you made a run to the store for basics like bread and milk only to come out with six bags of groceries in hand? It can be a real challenge to get in and out of the store without getting caught by impulse purchasing. After all, you usually have to go clear to the back corner of the store to buy milk, So grocery stores try to distract you with cookies and other things to go with your milk. The grocery store is designed that way to entice you to impulse buy, but I have some tricks that can really help see the traps before being caught in them. <br />
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1. <strong>Do NOT go to the store hungry</strong>.<br />
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You may have heard this before, but I will tell you again. Do not go to the store hungry it spells disaster. <u>It is plain and simple, the grocery stores are set up to trap hungry customers. </u>They count on many of us being hungry when we walk into the store. When you go in hungry you are more likely to make the impulse purchases. From the time you walk in the store, they are enticing you and playing off of your hunger. Everywhere you turn there are foods ready to be opened and eaten nearly before you get out of the store. To the hungry, the smell coming from the bakery almost picks you up and carries you away to a dream land of soft sugary clouds. The deli smells wafting through the air entice you to buy. When you are not plagued by hunger pangs, it makes it so much easier to pass up the temptations and stick to buying only what you came for. You are less likely to toss in a package of cookies to go with the milk. <br />
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2. <strong>Know your prices </strong><br />
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Grocery stores have a way of enticing us with sale prices that are not very much of a sale. It seems like if they have a big banner that says SALE in big letters people will buy it. The stores have a habit of lowering the price of a product by only a few cents and putting it out in a prominent place. Doing this leads people think that they are getting a real bargain. It is not always so. <u>I have actually seen where they have raised the price on a product and put in a prominent place with a "SALE" sign and people are piling up their carts.</u> <br />
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Watch out for the sales that advertise 3 for $5 or 4 for $10 or other such things. These can be real traps. They entice us to buy more than we need. We see something on sale 3 for $5 and <u>how many do we put into our cart?</u> You guessed it, three. Do you really need three? Then this poses another question, <strong>do you have to buy all three to get the deal?</strong> The answer is usually no, but check your stores. It will usually tell you right on the sale tag. <br />
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10 for $10 is really popular in my area right now. My Father got caught in that trap. He ended up buying seven items more than he really needed in order to make up his ten items. He ended up buying things that he didn't even want and justified it by saying that the grandkids would enjoy it. A word of caution here: Drugstores and convenience stores usually do make you buy in the quantities advertised. (The tag will usually indicate that singles are at full price) Read the fine print. <br />
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<strong>This stuff really works! </strong>Let me tell you a true story about my brother. He had a store he frequented. They had some candy that they kept near the register (a place that traps many) This candy sold for a dime a piece. He would often pick up a few pieces and enjoy them as he went out the door. One day he noticed they had changed the prices on the candy, it was now labeled as 8 for $1. He inquired of his friend who worked the cash register about the change and why they had raised the prices. His friend looked perplexed, " They did, they raised the price!" he exclaimed. He hadn't really noticed the price being higher, in fact he though they must have lowered the price by the way people had been acting. He had noticed that more people had been purchasing them, in fact they had been flying off the shelves. As they continued talking the cashier had noticed that people were also buying in groups of four and eight. A lesson was learned by both of them that day. (Amazing isn't it.) <br />
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3. <strong>Watch out for big displays </strong><br />
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End cap displays (the end of the isles) can be detrimental to a budget. It is those prominent places where an item that is not really on sale can take off and sell like crazy. When I find myself picking up something from these areas I have trained myself to ask the question "Do I really need this?" I have also trained myself to go down the isle and check it out. Usually I find a better deal by going down the isle and looking, for example a larger size may only be a few cents more and a much better deal. <br />
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The truth is that the big food manufacturers pay to have their product displayed and sold to you. Product placement is big business. <strong>The products that are prominently displayed are not always the best deals, but are the one that they want you to buy</strong>. A lot of impulse buying happens here. Another trap<strong>, Eye level placement</strong>. You are more likely to buy things that are at eye level. Placing a product at eye level is big deal that leads to many sales for the large companies. They pay big money to keep their products at eye level to tempt you. You can save a lot of money by avoiding the products at eye level. So, <strong><u>look up, and down, not at eye level, and watch out for those end cap displays.</u></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">These are just a few of the skills I use to avoid overpaying at the grocery store. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What are your tricks for saving money on groceries and avoiding impulse shopping? What advice do you have for other shoppers? Please leave a comment below. </span></strong><br />
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<br />happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-81545815214539891672014-05-30T10:29:00.000-07:002014-05-31T19:28:59.794-07:00GOOD NEWS! My popcorn book is available<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>I did it! I got finished with my popcorn cookbook before the end of May. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It has been an incredible journey as I have continued with my two blogs, and taking care of my family. Thank you for all your continued support here at life less hurried. </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How do you enjoy popcorn? Do you eat
your popcorn simple and plain with just a hint of salt, or do you do enjoy it
fancy and sweet; dipped in chocolate, and drizzled with caramel? Whether you like
your popcorn savory, sweet, or a little of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>both---This cookbook is for you.</span></span></i><br />
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<strong>My other cookbook is now available in a printed book version. </strong><br />
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<br />happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-56783294632166821632014-05-26T15:03:00.001-07:002014-05-26T15:03:04.406-07:00Multi-tasking---friend or foe? <span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are times when we must multi task, but to make it a
way of life is absurd (spoken from a woman who used to live that absurd life). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>Women are notorious for multi-tasking and for many, it is an addiction and a way of life. There was a time I thought that
multitasking was a way that I was supposed to live. </strong>It was the surefire way to
get to ahead and obtain the American dream. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had come to believe that to be successful
in life you had to have a great ability to multi-task. I was pretty good at it,
but not near as good as my sisters and others that I used to compare myself
to. I was driving myself crazy trying to keep up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'll let you in on a little secret. <strong>The most successful people in life Do not multi-task</strong>. In fact they are the exact opposite, they are notorious for being obsessed with and focused on only one thing. Those who are truly successful know one of the secrets to success in life is that you get what you think about most of the time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are thinking about twenty things at once, which are you thinking about most? None of them. You have to have a main target that you are shooting. <strong>Shooting at 15 different targets at the same time (even if you hit one or two) does not make you a great archer, but yet this is what we are doing when we multi-task. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was so much into believing in multitasking as a way of life yet my husband didn't get it. I used to get so upset at him and what I called his
one-track mind. He was totally opposite. He would get focused on one thing and I could not get his
attention to shift with me. He would focus on that one thing until he got it,
or finished it (which would sometimes take days or weeks). I got tired of hearing
him talk about this one thing. It would make me crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would be working on a project
and ask me to come help and I would say, " Just a minute let me finish A, B,
and C first."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would hurry and
finish reading the page in my book, switch the laundry over and feed the cat on
the way out the door to help him on his project. I would help for a while, but
my mind would be wondering when we I could leave because I would remember six other things that I wanted to get done before dinner,
what was I going to make for dinner? I would excuse myself from helping
him and be back to doing all the things that I thought needed to happen.<br />
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This pattern was a trouble for us because his love language happens to be quality time. I found myself not spending quality time with him because I was too busy multitasking to get accomplish all the things I wanted to do to show him that I loved him. When I was spending time with him I was absent because my mind was always going over what the next six projects were going to be. It was not working for us.<strong> I was becoming great at multitasking but I was failing at being the good mother and wife I wanted to be. </strong>On the outside I looked like I could do it all, but on the inside I was feeling crushed, overwhelmed, and exhausted by it all. I felt like was screwing up everything in a big way. This was not the way I wanted my life to be. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwvVdL30ZbpBj5yNaSrWRYHttQG4BRzVfkSQ_qFr75iU0H-X6fl_WFt-A0K89QiIqhKJglPcSbpeJsYE5luGtc_kNsmEuRFiJ55Dah8sKxmkPmioyYSpzmjLqHmJVS-g7V_dGMmFpv1k/s1600/multitasking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwvVdL30ZbpBj5yNaSrWRYHttQG4BRzVfkSQ_qFr75iU0H-X6fl_WFt-A0K89QiIqhKJglPcSbpeJsYE5luGtc_kNsmEuRFiJ55Dah8sKxmkPmioyYSpzmjLqHmJVS-g7V_dGMmFpv1k/s1600/multitasking.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></strong></span></div>
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I would get so tired trying to do it all. I was spending my time spinning my wheels trying to do everything but not doing any of it well, in fact I spent most of my time trying to figure out how to get out of the messes I created by not paying attention to the important things. I am making big efforts to have a focus and <a href="http://disciplewalk.blogspot.com/2014/03/juggling-too-many-things.html" target="_blank">quit juggling everything</a>. I am happier now that I have learned to juggle only the important things. I have found that taking time for the little moments really makes a difference. It is better to live in the moment rather than waste the time thinking about what the next moment brings. <strong>I have quit driving my life about at a hundred miles an hour. I have learned to slow down and enjoy life and enjoy the people I am living with.</strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPu-AGcWGcd_PvsDkQUopAO4GkohBjxYaLuCCiJnx5K-foKR9Mvx_tR5Z8yfRDkWIPlICtdN2tFcWUvvv3n4fzGOMtvZBREyaYpSbODFVbwyqDZY-MrMpVKrg1_xw2KSkLMsaq1_YeKuQ/s1600/Moments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPu-AGcWGcd_PvsDkQUopAO4GkohBjxYaLuCCiJnx5K-foKR9Mvx_tR5Z8yfRDkWIPlICtdN2tFcWUvvv3n4fzGOMtvZBREyaYpSbODFVbwyqDZY-MrMpVKrg1_xw2KSkLMsaq1_YeKuQ/s1600/Moments.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">It has not always been easy. In the beginning I would spend time trying to be in the moment with my children and wondering if there was something that would be more productive. I could not find the joy in just being with someone and not having three other projects all going on or lined up to do next. I have learned that time spent really engaged in knowing someone is not time wasted. It has been a journey for us all. My family is much happier when I live in the moment with them, when I show up, <a href="http://blog.petflow.com/a-video-everyone-needs-to-see/" target="_blank">look up</a> and pay attention to what is going on around me. They are beginning to know that they are important to me, it shows through my actions when I engage with them. It is even harder now in our busy world, but<strong><u> it is important to slow down and take part in your own life. </u></strong>You have the ability to make your world whatever it is you want, you just have to decide what is important and let the rest go. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeM0oyMo-LOvpLHbrF7niYXiJ2KvAxnefctxZOSJPPv7Pqr6Wk8fQ_AtMfwfeMShV-ChxYNpbxGZFhzKwALacaG5PoaXj65rVMNxEqkuJzGhj6WXkq1KzA3pbAXULCM9tpYfBb7PSbKs/s1600/reap+the+rewards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeM0oyMo-LOvpLHbrF7niYXiJ2KvAxnefctxZOSJPPv7Pqr6Wk8fQ_AtMfwfeMShV-ChxYNpbxGZFhzKwALacaG5PoaXj65rVMNxEqkuJzGhj6WXkq1KzA3pbAXULCM9tpYfBb7PSbKs/s1600/reap+the+rewards.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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The rewards are great for those who concentrate on living life </div>
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NOW IT IS YOUR TURN.</div>
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Leave a comment below on how you are engaging with the world around you</div>
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Here are links to the 5 love languages books by Gary Chapman They are wonderful books. I highly recommend them as a great reference for any family. They also make a great wedding gift. </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802473156/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0802473156&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=K7MTTEL4MVOOPPQV"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0802473156&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=lifelesshurri-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0802473156" height="1" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802473156/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0802473156&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=6RDOB3QWSDQ2LDOW">The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0802473156" height="1" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006YYUO98/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006YYUO98&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=U3CN5NRFSYHM6VQV"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B006YYUO98&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=lifelesshurri-20" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802403476/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0802403476&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=NZGEW6L7TUAFEDUO">The 5 Love Languages of Children</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0802403476" height="1" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080247313X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=080247313X&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=6R42HLB5RP3HEX7T"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=080247313X&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=lifelesshurri-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=080247313X" height="1" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080247313X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=080247313X&linkCode=as2&tag=lifelesshurri-20&linkId=QFYFT4ZBJHBPTYSQ">The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers New Edition: The Secret to Loving Teens Effectively</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lifelesshurri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=080247313X" height="1" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Note the above links are affiliate links. This just means that by clicking you are allowing us to refer you to Amazon to buy the product. Doing so helps us to continue the work here at life less hurried. You can read the full disclosure by clicking the privacy policy tab at the top of the page. Thank you. </span>happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2145327588129523254.post-29685429857554805962014-05-21T13:06:00.000-07:002014-05-22T12:26:39.470-07:00Tuning the brain to the real food channel<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As I have journeyed into better eating habits there are still some things that I really struggle with. <strong>These are things that I want to believe, but my brain has been "trained" to believe other wise</strong>. It has been a battle inside to retrain my brain, but it is working. I am changing my thoughts and my actions while improving my health. </span></div>
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1. <strong>Probiotics. </strong>I understand the fact that there are "good bacteria" that are essential for good health. I know that culturing milk to <a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2012/07/homemade-yogurt.html" target="_blank">make yogurt</a> and <a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2014/04/my-kefir-adventures.html" target="_blank">kefir</a> have really helped my gut, <strong>but sometimes my inner germ freak kicks in.</strong> I can't seem to help it when I have thoughts like..... "Food should not be left out on the counter growing things" or, "How do I know that it is not growing the wrong stuff?"<br />
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Being the chef and going through the courses that teach the danger of bacteria because it can kill people, where we heard over and over again "hot foods are to be kept hot, and cold foods are to be kept cold" has made me a wee bit paranoid. Milk (or any other food) left at room temperature for more than two hours, and/or kept in the "danger zone" sends out a red flag, it says "Danger, Danger, throw it out before it kills someone". It has been a challenge to retrain my brain on this matter.<br />
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<strong>2. Fat. </strong>Growing up in the low fat era has really had an impact on me. The more I learn about how <a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2013/05/the-skinny-on-trans-fat-part-2.html" target="_blank">good fats</a> are helpful for the brain and heart, the more I have to turn down and drown out those voices that keep telling me lies about fat. My brain and heart feel so much better when they have the proper fuel (fat). I am finally getting to where I do not feel guilty buying and <a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2012/08/on-butter-and-other-real-food.html" target="_blank">using butter</a> and other good fats. I can use sour cream without the guilt that used to crush me. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB8Rh7iguAYj4n-n1lE9bdPfMN2Qd-X6ApoQvxmyzKNK1hvHUFsy6ukfIHprfp-U_xNfCWMOofOuR3OMzNE65XICSY6lR1vnu66mu399l3gHBKoAljTuX6uFD3tfH3QtIiQETEf6Wt4M/s1600/fat++is+not+the+enemy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB8Rh7iguAYj4n-n1lE9bdPfMN2Qd-X6ApoQvxmyzKNK1hvHUFsy6ukfIHprfp-U_xNfCWMOofOuR3OMzNE65XICSY6lR1vnu66mu399l3gHBKoAljTuX6uFD3tfH3QtIiQETEf6Wt4M/s1600/fat++is+not+the+enemy.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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It is still hard at times. Because I am a large woman, I feel judged when I go to the store and buy full fat milk, butter, and cream. I often feel judged by my sisters who are plagued by the "fat monster" inside of them. They are still of the opinion that fat is the enemy. Fat itself is not the enemy, it is essential to good health, but the wrong fats can be detrimental. When I feel judged by others I have to just know deep down inside that I am getting healthier and the good fats are an essential part of it. I have to remember that they don't know about my inner struggles. They do not understand how badly my brain and body were damaged by a low fat (high sugar and starch) diet. They do not understand how the change of diet has helped my <a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2013/11/healing-more-than-just-symptom-relief.html" target="_blank">digestive system which was out of order</a>. One day my outside will reflect the health that I am feeling inside. <br />
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<strong>3. Starches. </strong>I do not have to have a starch (pasta, potato, rice, bread etc.) at each meal. As a naturally frugal person it has been hard. Meat has always been stretched out in a casserole or such. Sandwiches and cold cereal (cheap foods) have been a main part of life. We learned early on in school that starches are the staff of life and the basis for a good diet. If you look at the 1992 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_guide_pyramid" target="_blank">Food pyramid</a> you will see that starches are at the base it is the foundation of our society. We learn it from a very young age. The first foods we are given as infants are the grains and starches. It is a way of life for so many of us and it is hard to break free. <br />
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It has taken a long time for me to believe that I can have a dinner without a starch. Dinner for me would often start with which starch do I want; pasta, potato, or rice? Then I would build around it. In chef school we spent weeks learning how to prepare starches. This is how food is created, sold and marketed to us. I have had to work really hard at changing things at our house. <br />
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I still have hard time thinking that A piece of fish and a salad or vegetable is a complete meal. I still want the starches to go with it. I am getting better. I used to crave starches so much that I would eat a full meal and then go and eat a bunch of carbohydrates a while later just to satisfy the carbohydrate/ starch cravings. <strong>I was not full until I felt the warm comforting feeling of a carbohydrate load in my body. </strong>Things are slowly changing. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbUiv_UTIzax1KxH2rVhvu0yiWZ41xQ4QSUeNB4f2Sk600uwmnMZSDJh8HbxQ70Cn88scTsMl5W8u8ANM69XGOmYNHvkGofAMro_JYHSEofOLu9OQXQgzlOc8QPVPYgHxZCCuC_u-HKw/s1600/quote-Lisa-Edelstein-if-you-eat-a-lot-of-starchy-1-158158.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbUiv_UTIzax1KxH2rVhvu0yiWZ41xQ4QSUeNB4f2Sk600uwmnMZSDJh8HbxQ70Cn88scTsMl5W8u8ANM69XGOmYNHvkGofAMro_JYHSEofOLu9OQXQgzlOc8QPVPYgHxZCCuC_u-HKw/s1600/quote-Lisa-Edelstein-if-you-eat-a-lot-of-starchy-1-158158.png" height="264" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have enough flavors in my life, I have a full menu, but saying goodbye to a long held carb obsession is hard. I can't help but still hold onto it, my excuse; "it is for the kids." It is time to let that excuse be gone. I have learned that the kids can learn to love new flavors and textures too. They don't have to be raised to be a carb addict. Things can change; your health can change; It starts with changing you mind about food and it's power in your life. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? What new thoughts and behaviors have you had to create to improve your health? Share in the comments below so we can all benefit. </span></strong><br />
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Additional reading<br />
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My first adventures into <a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2012/07/homemade-yogurt.html" target="_blank">making yogurt</a><br />
My adventures with <a href="http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2014/04/my-kefir-adventures.html" target="_blank">kefir</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/high-fat-diet-healthy-safe/#axzz31urSmoWj" target="_blank">Why a high fat diet</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/ex-vegetarian-praises-high-fat-diet-for-10-lb-weight-loss-and-improved-health" target="_blank">Ex-vegetarian goes high fat/ low carb</a><br />
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<br />happy mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962750448521650925noreply@blogger.com7