They say that our economy is hitting a wall---recession is what everyone is whispering about and we hear cries from the media of our nation's declining state. I am praying along with the rest of you that this situation passes and passes quickly, but until then---let's look at the bright side of things:
1. Higher gas prices---Topping off at $4 a gallon is definitely going to tighten many families belts. What a blessing in disguise though, this means more time at home! Yes, we can work on our homes and our families and not feel we have to run somewhere because we have some gas in the tank. We get to focus on what is best and not consumed with the rest.Take some opportunity to really relax, invest time in your children and love husband. Be busy building up your family and home life and actually slow down enough to smell the roses. (When was the last time you slowed down enough for a board game?)
2. Real Estate--sluggish realty and foreclosures can affect everyone, I pray that no one will have to lose their homes. Americans today pick up and move quite frequently, while there is nothing wrong with that, I do remember a time when our forefathers bought homes and lived there the entirety of their lives. Did they have more contentment? Were they happier with the simple? Perhaps. Sometimes I get tired of hearing the cries of the rat race to upgrade. I think we would be wise to be content, no matter what our situations, even if we are in small homes. The American Dream is not the large home and big toys---the true American dream is finding your life through Jesus Christ.
3. Stretching Budgets--surely times can get tight---remember the stories of the Great Depression? Where they would save yards of string, and when they would finally have enough they would make a doll for little Susie (and she actually cherished it)!? Most of us moms today cannot remember ever going without a thing or our children for that matter. This is a great opportunity to learn to cook from scratch, be frugal, be better stewards of God's money. It is a great time to teach our children to not have every desire met on demand. It forces us to stop eating out and start eating at the dinner table and engage in lively, heart-felt conversation. Children do not need fancy clothes, gourmet food, or the newest toy but they DO need a mom and dad that are available to love them. Take this opportunity to teach them what really matters.
4. Time for Prayer--take time to be still and pray for our nation and it's leaders. Remember that God holds the kings hearts in his hands and directs their ways. Even though times here on earth can spiral downward, God is always in control of it all. He hasn't forgotten us and in fact, the Bible declares that He is our Helper and He hears our cries. I understand that the elderly have been impacted --perhaps we can find ways to give them a helping hand with their limited income. What a great way to show the charity of Christ in our lives.
I think this is a great lesson for us all... if we take the opportunity to learn from it.
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Don't forget tomorrow to get your free iced coffees at Dunkin Donuts tomorrow. For locations go to www.dunkindonuts.com. I'm going to pick one up on my way to the airport. I was telling my husband that honestly, I don't know if I save time in flying. By the time I ride the subway to the airport (1 hour), check in, find my gate, and sit the recommended 90 minutes before boarding, flight time (1.5 hrs), and then walk out to find my parents car that would equal 5-6 hours! It takes 7 hours to drive there. I am saving money since we have a wonderful elderly lady that let's us have several buddy passes a year, and my Dad got me a good deal on a rental car while up there. I'm not complaining about flying today, I'm blessed to have the chance. I just realized that in the past it used to save time to fly and now with the security wait times and going to such a large airport (Atlanta is the busiest in the world) I don't think we save time. No biggie, what matters is seeing my family and friends this weekend and getting a much-needed break from stress. I will be taking a quick blogging sabbatical. I'll check in on Monday. Have a blessed weekend! ~Farrah |
Posted in Homemaking
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Good Morning, Dear Friends! Today I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I'm sorry for not blogging as consistently. I have been beyond busy, and I have not been feeling 100%. My esophageal attacks and anemia are worse than ever, and that is not acceptable. Thankfully my husband is finding things for me such as Floradix, probiotics, digestive enzymes, and B12/Folic Acid sublingual tablets. I just have to remember to take it all! After I get back I think I am going to do a juice cleanse to give my body a rest. I couldn't do the colon cleanse, but a good lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper liver cleanse sounds like just what the doctor ordered. Tomorrow I leave for my weekend trip to Kentucky. Today though I need to get a ton completed. Here is my list: finish laundry, Well, I think I should get started. I hope everyone has a wonderfully productive day! Blessings, ~Farrah |
Posted in Homemaking
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FOR TODAY Have a Blessed Week ~Farrah |
Posted in Family Life
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Yesterday was my Mother's Day, rather than today. My darlin' husband had a big surprise for me. First, he and the boys took me to the Blue Willow Inn (www.bluewillowinn.com). It has awards from FoodNetwork, USA Today, and many from Southern Living. It is a Greek Revival home from I believe 1840's. One of the owner's son's married Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With the Wind. Mrs. Mitchell based her character Rhett Butler on this son, Mr. Upshaw. Now, The Blue Will Inn is a wonderful restaurant. It is in the middle of nowhere in Social Circle, Georgia. It is a little over an hours drive from Atlanta. The food was deelish! Afterwards we drove to Madison, Georgia. It is known as being "a town so beautiful that Sherman couldn't burn". It has a neat downtown district with beautiful antebellum and Greek revival homes and cute shops. One store called The Laughing Moon has all these neat Southern items, including a pink (of course) shirt my husband bought me that says A.S.A.P As Southern As Possible. We ended the day with Costco. He got me a toaster oven, since that must be the only appliance I don't have. Does anyone have any recommendations on using one? This morning I didn't feel really well so we stayed home from church. Bryson gave me a sweet card he made at school, they all gave me a hilarious ecard from Hallmark, and Bryan gave me a really pretty triple strand pearl necklace (he got it on sale, yay for him). They really spoil me! It's nice to feel appreciated. My husband especially really made an effort to let me know all weekend long that this is my weekend and they are just "celebrating with me" because I do so much for them. Aren't they sweet? ~Farrah |
Posted in Family Life
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Dear Mom, First of all I love you oh so much. But finally, after being a Mother myself for 10 years I now appreciate you. You and I do not have the same lives (though Jennifer is definitely following after you and I am following after Nana) I appreciate all you taught, ways you loved, ways your provided, and lived your life. It's sad that it takes growing up and having our own children to have a proper understanding of what it takes to be a Mother and raise her children. Any woman can give birth, but it takes someone special to be a Mother. I am so thankful to God that you are mine. Your loving Daughter, ~Farrah PS I was going to put a picture up of us, but I know it bothered you the last time. |
Posted in Menus and Recipes
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Beans and Rice Casserole 3C cooked brown rice 1-10oz can black beans, rinsed and drained 1C sour cream 1C softened cream cheese 2C shredded sharp cheese, divided 3/4C salsa (I use Peach Mango-yum) Preheat oven to 350. Butter/spray 8x8 or 13x9 casserole dish. Combine sour cream, cream cheese, 1C shredded cheese, and salsa. Add brown rice. Slowly and carefully add black beans. Cook for 20 minutes. Add rest of shredded cheese and then bake for another 5 minutes. This is good on its own or with blue corn tortilla chips. ~Farrah |
Posted in Menus and Recipes
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Can anyone please give me some baby food ideas? I do not have a baby, but my digestion is so bad right now that I am eating pureed foods. 2 years ago I had to do this, but I don't think I can handle the sweetness of jarred baby food. I printed off some at www.wholesomebabyfood.com. Thanks, ~Farrah |
Posted in Healthy Living
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I am well aware that the official Earth day is over, but I believe every day should be Earth Day. Here are some more tips from Natural Health Magazine (www.naturalhealthmag.com/energysavers) 1. Choose Matches, Not Lighters- Even Greener (EG) use flip top matchbooks 2. Keep your tires inflated- EG- Accelerate slowly and brake gradually 3. Buy 12-pack of recycled toilet paper 4. Wash your c ar at car was-(EG)- Was by hand with Green Earth's biodegradable, no-rinse Waterless car was (www.greenearthcarwash.com) 5. Go paperless at the ATM 6. Use pans that fit your burners - (EG) pick pots and pans with flat bottoms 7. Dry your razor blad after each use - (EG) use environemntally friendly razor like Preserve's (www.recycline.com) 8. Take a one-minute shorter hot shower 9. Cool and cover foods before storing them 10. Use the airport bathroom before boarding a plane - (EG) offset your flight's carbon emissions by donating to renewable energy projects like wind farms (www.nativeenergy.com) 11. Install your air conditioner in a shaded window- (EG) forego air conditioner for ceiling or window fan 12. Use powder detergents instead of liquid ones - (EG) Avoid extra packaging by choosing loose powder over individually wrapped tablets or by refilling an old container with bulk detergent from health food store 13. Clean the lint out of your dryer after each load of laundry 14. Wash your clothes in cold water 15. Send e-mails (or text messages) from your cell phone or handheld device instead of from a computer 16. Switch to voice mail - (EG) Choose long-distance provider like Earth Tones (www.earthtones.com) which offers paper-free billing and donates 100 percent of profits to environmental causes |
Posted in Healthy Living
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Friday night Bryan, Bryson, and I went to Christ Church of the Apostles to hear Dr Jordan Rubin speak. Bryan has worked with him on several functions so this wasn't at all new to him. I have read all of his books, plus I live in the "natural" world so not all of this was new to me. However, the way he delivered his speech was really well done. I thought I'd pass on some of the main points in taking control of your health and eventually weight. Why do diets fail? Primarily because they do not go on one. They say they have, yet they do not completely follow them or they are wrong for them. Also, when we go to the grocery store or we are cooking our meals we buy and make the same items so there is no variety in our diet then we lose interest.l Eating for Perfect Weight Myth #1- Have to eat cereal for breakfast. There is more sugar and toxins in cereal than many foods. Myth #2- All dairy needs to be skim. We need the fat to help stabilize blood sugar. Myth #3- Red meat is bad for you. Red meat has the highest amount of zinc and iron than any other food which are necessary. It should be grass fed and/or organic. Order in which you eat your food determines weight 1st protein 2nd veggie 3rd sweet veggie or fruit 4th bread Don't eat carbs naked Combine carbs with fat or fiber Key to controlling weight is controlling glucose How to cheat? 2-3 times per week have a healthy breakfast and lunch, then for 60 minutes eat whatever you want. Never/Drink eat artificial sweetners They do not work They are addictive because they are poisoning your brain and then your brain wants more They are a drug They are dangerous because of neurotoxins Extra virgin coconut oil helps your metabolism May use in cooking high heats. When sauteing veggies use coconut oil instead of butter sometimes. Drink for Perfect Weight Water- 1 oz for half your body weight HealthyPerceptions filters out more chemicals than any local spring water. You do not want to drink chlorine. However, purchasing bottle water is terrible for the environment and sometimes the plastic can get into blood stream. May drink organic herbal teas and/or organic coffee with cream. No sugar except honey or agave nectar SPE (Snacks ready to Eat) Need to eat every 3 hours to stabilize blood sugar. trail mix Jenny's macaroons Fucothin protein bar Supplements needed Cod liver oil is a must Fucothin (seaweed) to increase resting metabolic rate Get fit for Perfect Weight FIT (functional interval training) can find these exercises at www.perfectweightamerica.com Reduce Toxins for Perfect Weight 1- foods- organic or local (to find where go to sustainableharvest.com). All meat, eggs, dairy and poultry HAS to be organic. 2. get shower filter to eliminate chlorine in your skin cells 3. open windows, get houseplants, hepa air filters, change your skin and hair products to natural. Think for your Perfect Weight Reduce stress Love yourself Forgive others Help the world 1. Be more environmentally friendly- 400x more toxins now than 100 years ago. 2. Raise healthy children 3. Choose life (live and share your experiences. 4. Have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. For more information go onto his website www.perfectweightamerica.com. ~Farrah
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Posted in Homemaking
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When I was growing up I had no intention of ever being one of those boring 'ol stay at home Mothers. So, when in actuality I became a (really not boring) stay at home Mother, I needed help. My family all lives 400-600 miles away, so I had to learn on my own. First off I watched Martha Stewart everyday and got hers and Southern Living cookbooks from the library. Eventually, when we got a computer, I began looking up websites for help. Now that I have discovered blogworld there are tons. Every so often I like to give y'all links because if you are just learning, or if you're like me you enjoy seeing how other women are living out their lives as homemakers. Anna at http://pleasantviewschoolhouse.blogspot.com/ has really neat sewing ideas and I love her cute description of a homemaker through Victorian fiction books. Her photgraphs are so beautiful, very clean. Mrs Wilt at http://thesparrowsnest.typepad.com/ is doing a series on frugal living, including really neat decorating ideas. Emma at http://charmingthebirdsfromthetrees.blogspot.com/ has a commitment to lovliness weekly post as well as neat ideas for decorating. Lindsay at http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/ always has really neat ideas for natural and frugal living. The 50s housewife http://50shousewife.blogspot.com/ does not give her actual name, but I love her ideas and pictures. I promise y'all that I do not spend 24/7 in blogworld, but sometimes I need inspiration and these are some of the ones I turn to. I hope you enjoy them as much as I. |
Posted in Family Life
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Good Morning Friends, First of all, thank you to those who gave me some advice on dealing with social issues with the boys. I am so grateful to have friends that care like y'all. This morning I dropped Nick off at school for his trip. Of course it was an anxiety felt ride. All I can do is pray and hope he knows what's right and what's wrong and does it. Yesterday was a bit of a rough day. It started with my nauseousness being really bad (terrible acid reflux), Nick arguing with me the entire way to school, 3 hour dentist appointment (including 5 shots to get a filling!), pain when shots wore off, 1 of closest friends husband told friend that he is moving out, Bryson not knowing his spelling words for his test today and him not wanting to study, missed National Day of Prayer at City Hall with bible study because of dentist and nausea, prices raised at grocery store sent me over my budget, traffic, didn't get enough bread made because was gone all day and they are out of banana bread, and last but not least, my power window in the drivers side door will not work. This is the 5th time in 6 months I have had to go to the mechanics for this window! Okay, sorry, needed to vent a bit. Praying today is better. Praying everyone here has a wonderful day. I'm headed out to the mechanics. I'm going to get some letter writing done. Then come home and make the banana bread then take it to the produce stand. They want several loaves for the weekend. Tonight Bryson and I are going with my husband to hear Jordan Rubin speak at a local church (Church of the Apostles in Sandy Springs for local readers). I will talk to y'all later! Blessings, ~Farrah |
Posted in Family Life
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Once again the boys are gonna send me to the loony bend (jk). If you could please give me some advice on handling some situations with them. First, my oldest, my stepson Nick, is going on a weeknd trip to Savannah with his 8th grade class this weekend. I was fine with him going until I found out that I cannot be a chaperone because they already have enough. And, Nick got a new girlfriend in his school that he has already gotten in trouble with for hugging in school. First of all I do not approve of him having a girlfriend, but that is SO uncool not to have one. Plus, she's a popular girl, and for the last 2 years of attending this school has been looking for acceptance. When I was in the 8th grade I went to England for a trip and though I didn't join there were tons of hotel parties. I really worry that with Nick's insecurities and with not being properly chaperoned he could do something that could change his life. I told my husband that I am tempted to just follow behind the bus. I guess my question is how do you live according to Christ, but still fight the urges of acting like the rest of your fellow teenagers? How can I as a parent protect him without being there or making him upset with us? My youngest son Bryson, has taken to lying and manipulating to get his way. Bryson is very close to being a diabetic. I pack him high protein, high fiber, low sugar/carb lunches every day. Off and on all school year he would say that he didn't have time to get his sack lunch so he HAD to buy a school lunch. I let it go, but when it happened all last week and again on Tuesday, I called his teacher. She says she allows Bryson time to go and get his lunch. Also, Bryson lied to me about being late to class from recess by 20 min! He said he was given a longer recess, but his special needs teacher said that the other students in Bryson's homeroom made it back in time. Bryson was goofing off in the hallways getting to his special needs class. My question is how can we make it so that he never forgets how terrible it is to lie, manipulate or deceive? I don't think just spanking or taking something away will work. I was thinking of an episode of The Cosby Show where the son lied to his parents and they had a mock trial where he was found guilty. He then had to give over his keys and then apologize. That is something he'd never forget. Can y'all think of something? Well, I need to finish some more bread. Thanks in advance for your help, friends! Blessings, ~Farrah PS If you are a faithful reader who knows my children (ie Donna, Doris, or Jen please sign in under anonymous and comment-or text me). |
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Hey Everyone! My bread sold out yesterday so I'm busy making more. I need to make a few more loaves. I took up some banana walnut and 1 more loaf of whole wheat. I have 1 loaf in the bread machine and 2 rising that were made by hand. IF this takes off then I will need to get another bread machine. Until then its just work! It feels good to have hard work to do. I am a stay at home Mom, but I do not have as much hard work to do as those of you that own farms. I work hard cooking and cleaning, but this gives me an additional purpose. Well, I'll hopefully check in later. BTW, didn't get any spring cleaning done. Ah well, it's not going anywhere! ~Farrah |
Posted in soapbox
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I have posted Mrs. Fuentes blog posts before. Please stop by and visit her at www.proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com. She is a refreshment to the soul. I have a few further comments afterwards. Monday, April 28, 2008Recession Optimism |
Posted in Menus and Recipes
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Sunday- Mandarin chicken and fried rice Monday- Sloppy joes and corn on the cob Tuesday- BBQ chicken and green beans Wednesday- Mexican casserole and fire roasted veggies Thursday- Pork chops and broccoli Friday- chick fil A Saturday- depends on who's home |
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It's official. I've ordered the business cards and printed out my ingredient list with Suzy's Natural Southern Goodies. My reasoning is this: My middle name is Suzanne and that's how I got Suzy's. Natural is because all of my products are natural and most are organic. Southern is because I live in the South and my items are southern such as banana bread and biscuits. Goodies is because it allows me to do more than just bread. What do y'all think? My names are all things you'd think of doing outside such as: picnic sandiwch bread, seaside cinnamon rolls, and Georgia peanut butter cookies. My last loaf is cooling and after I slice it I will go drop them off. Oh how I pray this works. I pray that Lord's will is what we're doing and that we are possibly successful. ~Farrah |
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"The chief aim of house cleaning is to produce a sanitary condition and to make the home ready for the bright spring days. March (April in my case) is a busy month for the homemaker; there is a garden to plan, the spring outfits to sew, and standing out above and beyond everything else, the house to clean. Modern devices have so systematized the cleaning department of the home that the annual upheaval from attic to cellar has been partially eliminated. With all the rooms used during the winter they are given a weekly or daily cleaning. But there comes a time in the spring for the more thorough investigation of the closets and cupboards. One never realizes how fast the clippings and papers and magazines put aside to be read at our leisure can accumulate until our attention is called to them when cleaning day comes. During the early days of March with its variable weather, high winds and dark days, there will be an occasionall sunshiny, warm day that brings out the dust streaks on the windows and the smoke covered wallpaper becomes very noticeable. The the housekeeper feels the need of indulgin in the thorough renovation of the house. On all sides come the swish of the broom and the hum of the vacuum clenaer, the sound of the carpet beater and the b ackyard fills with lines of bedding and clothing showing that the campaign is on." -"The Young Housewife"-1927 Taken from Treasury of Vintage Homekeeping Skills by Martha Greene (www.marmeedear.com) Beginning tomorrow I will start my spring cleaning. I have neglected it thus far this spring because of busyness. I feel that it is definitely necessary (and needed) and so I'm going to take the bull by its horns and get cleaning. Also beginning tomorrow I will be selling my bread. I still have yet to decide upon a name. These are the final contenders: Honeysuckle Baked Goods, Naturall Baked Goods, Miss Suzie's Wholesome Goodies (my middle name is Suzanne), or The Southern Lady's All-Natural Goods. What do y'all think? I had originally planned on Eat Thy Daily Bread, but I think that would limit me to bread only when I plan on making biscuits, cornbread, cookies, and hopefully, eventually, aprons and natural cleaning products. Tomorrow I plan on listing all my spring cleaning jobs for the week. Have a great week! Blessings, ~Farrah |
Posted in Homemaking
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"Make a home; beautify and adorn it; cultivate all heavenly charms within it; sing sweet songs of love in it; bear your portion of toil, and pain, and sorrow in it; condaily lessons of strength and patience there; shine like a star on the face of the darkest night over it, and tenderly rear the children it shall give you in it. High on a pinnacle, above all earthly grandeur, all gaudy glitter, all fancied ambitions, set the home interests. Feed the mind on it; feed the soul in it; strengthen the love, and charity, and truth, and all holy and good things within it!" from-The Royal Path of Life, by Haines & Yaggy, 1879 featured in Treasury of Vintage Homeskills, by Martha Greene (www.marmeedear.com) |
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Every once in awhile a girl needs retail therapy. Not necessarily spending copious amounts of moolah, no not at all. Just getting out in your favorite stores and perusing the plentiful racks of "stuff". This past week has been particularly stressful. Ever sincce spring break 2 weeks ago I cannot get the boys, including hubby, blood sugars to remain stabilized and since they are borderline diabetic it can make life difficult. So, today, I needed a few groceries and instead of going to Trader Joes I decided to go to SuperTarget. Oh, how wonderful their sales are at 75% off clothing (spring). Yes, yes, yes, when I saw the Isaac Mizrahi dress originally $40 for 10! Then, I got in the old minivan and trucked right down the street to Kohl's. More clearance racks calling my name! Cute sundresses that actually cover, yet are still casual and feminine for every day wear for $10 and they are giving cash back coupons out. Ya know, retail therapy does a girl a world of good sometimes. Now, let's see if honey likes my dresses! Blessings, ~Farrah |
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Thank y'all so much for your prayers and advice. Today he seems to be a little less afraid, at least of the big bees that do not sting. We looked today and he saw they have no stinger, but just look scary. We have talked about how we are not to fear. So, we'll see! Day 4 of no tv. Nobody has self-combusted though the computer and telephone have been used more. My husband often watches tv at night after we've all gone to bed because he needs to unwind after gettting in late from work. Speaking of work, my husband's company, Progressive Medical Center, and their detox systems company, Detox America, were interviewed yesterday by Jordan Rubin for his show. PMC has completely healed Dr. Rubin's father when no other clinic, including Dr. Mercola nor Dr. Rubin, could health him. So, Dr. Rubin is so very grateful. My husband did a majority of Mr. Rubin's care so I really think I have myself a smart husband! This weekend is the Alive Expo, which is a large convention for all natural products and clinicians for everyone to attend. My husband's booth is going to have all natural restaurant, Dr. Rubin, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, saunas, and footbaths! So, this is a huge show for them. It sure is hot here. We've just been puddlin' while riding in the car! We're trying to save on gas, so on back roads we are riding with the windows down. It's 80 degrees, windows down, traffic, not a great combination! I need to get some things done. Y'all have a great evening! Blessings, ~Farrah |
