52 Reasons Why I Love You, Mom

I think I got this idea from Pinterest, and thought it was a sweet idea.

My mom died several years ago, so I won't be able to give her this, but I thought I would share it with you guys.

Required Materials:

• A deck of playing cards 

• Plain white or colored paper 

•  Scissors 

•  Stickers, photos, other decorations 

• Pencil, pens, or markers 

• Hole punch 

•  String or ribbon

Directions

1.  Cut squares of plain paper to fit the cards; glue a piece on each card.
2. Decorate one side of the card with stickers, photos, and fun doodles. On the next card, write the "reason."
3. Punch holes in the cards; tie together with string or ribbon.

This would be a great gift for Mother's Day, a birthday, or any other time. Enjoy!!

10 Lessons From the Dalai Lama

I forgot where I got this from, but I love these lessons, and decided to share (if anyone knows where this is from, please let me know, so I can give credit to whoever created this list!!)

1. Nothing is permanent
2. Smile if you want a smile from another face
3. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to achieve it.
4. Once a year go some place you've never been before.
5. Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.
6. Follow the three R's: Respect for Self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for all your actions.
7. With realization of one's own potential & self confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world.
8. The ultimate source of happiness is our mental attitude.
9. You have to start giving first and expect absolutely nothing.
10. Kindness is the key to peace and harmony in the family life.

Remember these lessons, and things will (hopefully!!) turn for the good in this world.

All Are Welcome Here

While out volunteering recently, I noticed that quite a few homes had lawn signs out, saying "All Are Welcome Here." Both sides had colorful backgrounds, with one side having that saying, and the other having a picture of the United States.

I wondered where they got them from, so I Googled it, and found a website you can order them from (if you want to check it out, the information is HERE).

With everything that has been going on lately, it's sad to see that we have to resort to things like this, where we don't know if someone is going to be accepting or not, kind or not, human or not.

But, it's nice to know that there are still people who care about others, no matter who they are. I hope to be able to get signs like this one soon, to show my support for others. That I care.

30 Ways to Focus on Self-Care

I recently saw this article on Pinterest, and thought I would share it.

The 30 ways to focus on self-care are these:

1. Read a new book
2. Diffuse essential oils
3. Take a walk
4. Take an epsom salt bath
5. Light a candle
6. Make a homemade body care item
7. Write in a journal
8. Practice yoga
9. Listen to your favorite music item
10. Drink a green smoothie
11. Make and apply a face mask
12. Go to bed early
13. Make a homemade meal
14. Organize your closet
15. Treat yourself to a cup of coffee
16. Doodle or color in a coloring book
17. Walk somewhere new
18. Cozy up in a blanket
19. Buy yourself flowers
20. Listen to your favorite podcast
21. Take pictures in nature
22. Turn your phone off for a few hours
23. Declutter your workspace
24. Go through a stretching routine
25. Give yourself a manicure
26. Scroll through Pinterest
27. Try a new way to break a sweat
28. Lay in the sunshine
29. Have a solo dance party
30. Pray

It doesn't hurt to put yourself first on occasion, and taking care of yourself. If you can't take care of yourself, you can't take care of, or help, others. Be kind to yourself; you deserve it!!

Recipe: Eggless Cookie Dough

Yes, I am posting another recipe. The first time I tried this, I instantly fell in love with it. It is SOOOOO GOOD!!!!

Ingredients:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Mix everything together, and enjoy!

So easy, so simple, yet so very good. If you try it out, let me know how you like it!!

What is Operation Christmas Child?

A few years ago, I happened to pass by a local church that had a sign up, saying that they were a collection site for Operation Christmas Child. I went online to see what that was all about, and absolutely loved the idea of what they do.

So, what is Operaion Christmas Child?

Basically, it is a Christian organization, where people can pack shoeboxes with items for children, who may not otherwise get anything, for Christmas.

Items like school supplies, toys, clothes, and more.

I was able to pack and send two boxes (one for a boy, and one for a girl) a couple years ago, but haven't been able to do it since, because I had limited money. Now that I have a job, I hope to be able to pack and send many more in the future.

You can pack and send boxes at any time during the year, but there is an annual collection week in November every year, and you can check online to see where the nearest collection spot is.

This is a great organization, and an amazing thing you can do for those in need. If you are able, and would like to do something for those who aren't as fortunate as you, please try and pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. You will feel great about helping others in need, and many times, those who receive a box go on to become successful, and they in turn help others.

Do good for others, and good will come to you!!

Recipe: Top Ramen Salad

This is one of my absolute favorite recipes!!! The first time I tried it was probably about 7 or 8 years ago, when my sister made it for a birthday celebration she was having for one of her children.

For the salad:
2 (3 oz) packages chicken flavored ramen noodles, broken into pieces, seasoning packets reserved
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 (16 oz.) package coleslaw mix
3 green onions, chopped

Dressing
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread ramen noodles, sunflower seeds, and almonds onto a baking sheet.
2. Bake noodles, sunflower seeds, and almonds in the preheated oven until fragrant and toasted, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
3. Combine coleslaw mix and green onions in a large bowl. Pour cooled noodle mixture over the top.
4. Whisk olive oil, reserved ramen seasoning packets, vinegar, sugar, and black pepper together in a bowl until dressing is smooth. Pour dressing over coleslaw and toss to coat.

Enjoy!!

Joni and Friends Family Retreats

A few years ago, I heard about Joni and Friends Retreats (you can find more information HERE, if you are interested to learn about the organization) through a friend, and, when I learned about what it is, have been wanting to volunteer at a retreat ever since.

These retreats give those with disabilities five days of fun, faith, and friends, and can help them escape from the stresses of life for a while.

Giving them a space to have fun, to be themselves, to forget their troubles for a while, to make new friends...sounds like something I would love to be a part of

I have been wanting to go very much, but I couldn't go because of money issues. Hopefully next year I will be able to go on a retreat. They sound like soooo much fun!!!

The closest one to much, which I would love to go to, is in Michigan. But, these retreats are kind of expensive ($300 plus, on up to over $1,000 for some of them), so I have to wait to go (which stinks; I so want to go on one!!!). But, I think with what these retreats offer, it is worth the money, and the wait.

I am a very shy person, and I would love to be more outgoing, so something like these retreats would definitely help me with that, while I get to be a part of something much greater than me.

That is what makes life worth living. Helping people out. People who will in turn help others, and so on.

My To Be Read List

I absolutely love to read, although I haven't done much reading lately, with work, school, and volunteering.

Here is my list of books I would like to read:

• Dorothy Must Die by Danielle PaigeOr
• The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige
• Yellow Brick War by Daniell Paige
• The End of Oz by Danielle Paige
• Voice of Gods by Eleanor Herman
• Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman
• Empire of Dust by Eleanor Herman
• Queen of Ashes by Eleanor Herman
• Reign of Serpents by Eleanor Herman
• Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
• Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken
• Firstlife by Gena Showalter
• Lifeblood by Gena Showalter
• Shibumi by Travanian
• I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
• The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain
• Orphan #8 by Kim van Alkemade
• Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
• A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
• I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
• Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
• Lamb by Christopher Moore
• The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes by Anna McPartlin
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
• The Memory Box by Eva Lesko Natiello
• Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
• Second Life by S.J. Watson
• See Jane Run by Joy Fielding
• Broken Harbor by Tana French
• You by Caroline Kepnes
• Dying to Be Me: My Journey From Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing by Anita Moorjani
• Caraval by Stephanie Garber
• Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
• Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton
• Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcsen
• The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich
• After You by Jojo Moyes
• Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
• The Shack by William P. Young
• Boosypants by Tina Fey
• Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs
• Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
• East of Eden by John Steinbeck
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• One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
• Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
• The Stand by Stephen King
• Christine by Stephen King
• Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
• The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
• The Second Sex by Simone Beauvoir
• A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
• Hard Choices by Hillary Rodham Clinton
• The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
• The World According to Garp by John Irving
• A Visit from the Good Squad
• Look at Me by Jennifer Egan
• Beloved by Toni Morrison
• Cinder by Marissa Meyer
• Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
• Cress by Marissa Meyer
• Winter by Marissa Meyer
• Fairest by Marissa Meyer
• Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
• Paper Towns by John Green
• Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill
• What's Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges
• #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
• The Irresistible Introvert: Harness the Power of Quiet Charisma in a Loud World by Michaela Chung
• Eat Pretty: Nutrition for Beauty, Inside and Out
• Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
• It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken by Greg Behrendt, Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt
• Self-Help by Lorrie Moore
• Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon
• It's Not Like a Secret by Miss Sugiura
• Speak of Me As I Am by Sonia Belasco
• A Psalm for Lost Girls by Katie Bayerl
• The Heartbeats of Wing Jones by Katherine Webber
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
• The Education of Margot Sanchez by Lillian Rivera
• Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
• The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles
• After the Fall by Kate Hart
• Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
• The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
• Love Yourself: A 10 Step Guide to Becoming the Best Version of Yourself by Alyse from Raw Alignment 
• Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth
• We Can Be Mended by Veronica Roth
• Black Moon by Romina Russell
• Zodiac by Romina Russell
• Lost in London by The City Works
• Creative Cat by David Sinden
• Pies, Fries, and Ice Cream
• The Gender Game by Bella Forrest
• The Gender Secret by Bella Forrest
• It's Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too) by Nora McInerny Purmort
• Who Says You Can't? You Do by Daniel Chidiac
• Dare to Be Kind by Lizzie Velazquez 
• Unbreakable by Kami Garcia
• Inhuman by Kat Falls
• The Rose Diaries: The Weaving of The Fates by Natalia La Fey

There are more books I'm sure I would like to read, but this is a long enough list for this post!! I don't want it to go on for ages.

What is on your To Be Read (TBR) list?

10 Steps to Self-Esteem

I saw this on B You Magazine's Instagram account and loved it. I don't have very much self-esteem, so this helps (yes, I know the magazine is geared towards girls quite a bit younger than me, but this is a really good magazine, and can be for pretty much anyone!).

The ten steps are:

1. Know yourself.
2. Understand what makes you feel great.
3. Recognize things that get you down.
4. Set goals to achieve what you want.
5. Develop trusting friendships that make you feel good.
6. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
7. Stand up for your beliefs & values.
8. Help someone else.
9. Take responsibility for your own actions.
10. Take good care of yourself.

These are really good steps, and I would be very willing to work on these. I never really had all that much self-esteem growing up, and I really want to work on that.

I want to be the vest version of myself, that I can be, so any help/tips are always welcome.