tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45477172496746865442024-02-06T18:25:44.723-08:00 Lady LydiaSharing my whimsy with the worldsadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778424098848698951noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-56437631724556281662017-12-14T13:50:00.000-08:002017-12-14T13:51:17.379-08:00Painting 101Not feeling so well today, but I am muddling through as best I can. I came to joyfully share some paintings that I did recently under the tutelage of a talented sister in Christ. Her name is Adrianne and here is her <a href="https://www.adriannekari.com/">website</a>, you can find her art work for sale.<br />
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Without further ado!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8C8lZhRCx1nkxowyKeHcDiDFzELWv8GO58Qg_mRbtesPouqQ-66Pp87FmJBietWW6GX-97t2SQKDQsQPax_B8MYNYNH5AHPG0pfuIB34VUih0VEDfz86cyrLPdkyMxLI9ompJGH1Xo8/s1600/IMG_5882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="1600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8C8lZhRCx1nkxowyKeHcDiDFzELWv8GO58Qg_mRbtesPouqQ-66Pp87FmJBietWW6GX-97t2SQKDQsQPax_B8MYNYNH5AHPG0pfuIB34VUih0VEDfz86cyrLPdkyMxLI9ompJGH1Xo8/s320/IMG_5882.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was done on canvas, using tape. I love it.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUqAqCzC9umlaH6LUDa5N7BbTSWA_dmtNOuqOBR08DcT7QKrvhkR20DtLuBacJUZ3nWvnei5WOprQQtwumuDskpgfx1V8Eozc0mjNbHOHNuMk7oycssUz2M9dQYumxNB3XzkhEOlIKzs/s1600/IMG_5884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUqAqCzC9umlaH6LUDa5N7BbTSWA_dmtNOuqOBR08DcT7QKrvhkR20DtLuBacJUZ3nWvnei5WOprQQtwumuDskpgfx1V8Eozc0mjNbHOHNuMk7oycssUz2M9dQYumxNB3XzkhEOlIKzs/s320/IMG_5884.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And my first landscape! </td></tr>
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There were done up in acrylic. I must say that I now have the painting bug and have added it to my list of hobbies. I have a good array of brushes, graciously gifted to me by a friend and a small set of acrylic paints I got off of Ebay.<br />
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Adrienne alo gave me some basic exercises to practice techniques and shading; I am eager to do it. Expect to hear much more of this process as I go along this path. I am eager to share it with you all.sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-12280937604206921182017-11-30T18:17:00.002-08:002017-11-30T18:17:46.366-08:0030 Days of November, Day 30: Independence DayToday is Independence in Barbados. My beautiful island turned 51 today and I celebrated it quietly, by writing my Christmas cards and heading to work. It has been a long road from the colonial rule of Britain to democracy for Barbados and I believe that I have been supremely blessed to grow up here.<br />
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I will share with you a few of Barbados' symbols and culture:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/vt/data=Ja2PO4KSMic576B3pYa5uggMOOuKmFWOx6aV14qCioeynBFclXJHqrKLElzG__DOqsQx1Lz4kXqhDpjfgVwaVr5BuHe2W39lATOR9wqNF_0quTqnKJWMYna5dxocBq8qJw84fNW1dT3Kt4jgXkygHjkvygngSm77Y2hu49pRV_E4WPadmgmLZQysHRzqRdGjc97IFMThjmHimdGfQ_NlXYOAdcwnSBfDWXOC0c2CCb4Pp0hwHPbB5e0SN9GS_Oab8l9FsyMEV2qbHR5aqAjQRzIJD36mMZ9jDGAx" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="632" height="207" src="https://www.google.com/maps/vt/data=Ja2PO4KSMic576B3pYa5uggMOOuKmFWOx6aV14qCioeynBFclXJHqrKLElzG__DOqsQx1Lz4kXqhDpjfgVwaVr5BuHe2W39lATOR9wqNF_0quTqnKJWMYna5dxocBq8qJw84fNW1dT3Kt4jgXkygHjkvygngSm77Y2hu49pRV_E4WPadmgmLZQysHRzqRdGjc97IFMThjmHimdGfQ_NlXYOAdcwnSBfDWXOC0c2CCb4Pp0hwHPbB5e0SN9GS_Oab8l9FsyMEV2qbHR5aqAjQRzIJD36mMZ9jDGAx" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of Barabados</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Flag_of_Barbados.svg/2000px-Flag_of_Barbados.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Flag_of_Barbados.svg/2000px-Flag_of_Barbados.svg.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbados' Flag</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Barbados_Coat_of_Arms.svg/250px-Barbados_Coat_of_Arms.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="250" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Barbados_Coat_of_Arms.svg/250px-Barbados_Coat_of_Arms.svg.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbados' Coat of Arms</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtp0P8z8ktqOaB-5hq9r1_rSBfB6U50lOx1Tb3QIfrsfiP94u6YP-6gaFuxLOizofNVwQ18oq8ramieSuF-u3vRIcJDFGxF-_MK90bphos8_v4HraEFvXZ9yoAYlceEO5qvwshL6Iu3I/s1600/money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtp0P8z8ktqOaB-5hq9r1_rSBfB6U50lOx1Tb3QIfrsfiP94u6YP-6gaFuxLOizofNVwQ18oq8ramieSuF-u3vRIcJDFGxF-_MK90bphos8_v4HraEFvXZ9yoAYlceEO5qvwshL6Iu3I/s1600/money.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbados' Money</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Wishing you all the best for the holiday season! Thanks for sticking with me through this November challenge. Onward to to December!<br /><br />sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-38403135911085335472017-11-29T12:15:00.000-08:002017-11-29T12:15:15.536-08:0030 Days of November, Day 29: Off The Loom: BeansMy scarf Beans is finally finished being woven. I have cut it off of the loom after hem-stitching and all that remains to be done is sewing up the ends. I am not too sure how to do about that efficiently, so I am holding off of it for now.<br />
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Here is a wonderful set of images showing off the scarf in all of its glory:<br />
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Hopefully next time I'll have some pictures of me setting up the next project on my loom. Until tomorrow!sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-22210101712222443062017-11-28T17:25:00.003-08:002017-11-28T17:25:56.574-08:0030 Days of November, Day 28: Of The PastToday I find myself in nostalgia overload as I think back on my past, especially the recent past. This year has really be a tumultuous one for me and now I can say that I am definitely not the same person I was this time last year. It would be prudent to mention that this is not the first time in my adult life that I have gone through such a change, I can think of three or so, other moments where I could see clearly that I had evolved from one state of being to the next.<br />
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It is comforting to know that there are somethings about me that have not changed. I still like hamburgers, tribal music, listening to the waves and creating wearable crafts. I still smile when I hear the Golden Girl theme song and I wiggle 'rhythmically' to a music in my head. It is comforting to still consider black my favorite color, but to be grown up enough to admit that I do like yellow after all.<br />
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On the other hand, somethings had changed with such a cataclysmic force that it is a wonder that I am still standing. My heart was bolstered by a love so passionate that it swept me up into the universe and scattered my senses into the cosmos. I had never fallen in love before, so it was new, painfully new.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETkYjxhItxioZ7V0Uj6iVLVK_pTfT_VT-y1B-A7JYiCLVxc96tve0x4LC_N70wE75bo2LmTeH3fgESjsBJvErEdtd5-C9b7By36rbjy93YGbMH7Ejx2NLoxJWkUGCNVc5ovno0pc1FYE/s1600/universe-2742113_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETkYjxhItxioZ7V0Uj6iVLVK_pTfT_VT-y1B-A7JYiCLVxc96tve0x4LC_N70wE75bo2LmTeH3fgESjsBJvErEdtd5-C9b7By36rbjy93YGbMH7Ejx2NLoxJWkUGCNVc5ovno0pc1FYE/s320/universe-2742113_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Everyday was a blooming rose, until it was suddenly, a dried rose with sharp thorns. In between the inevitable demise of new love, was the discovery that there are a million ways to break a heart. There is in fact only one way to mend it, and the words that would mend it can sometimes be so far away that you realize that in order to heal, you have to leave... and start walking.<br />
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And walking and walking, until the memory of love is like dust in the distance.<br />
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And then when look up, your former love affair is now just a leaf on an autumn breeze; and there are a thousand leaves blowing by and no one notices when that one leaf, that is all your hopes and dreams, hits the ground and disappears in the pile of failed romances.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUs4l9HHmK2Q3BXNGlbQhDXsC7LHkEiE9xjnj47vKfkyFS5ZsBDVGl-1Id3V4ulE2G5RxKkUjPbgy-h8xTOfnVoEgwzDCkbb9ND1qrc6vNtK5ypl8h65sL_k2a8E5nIvDJa7IyfQgHcfI/s1600/leaves-984544_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUs4l9HHmK2Q3BXNGlbQhDXsC7LHkEiE9xjnj47vKfkyFS5ZsBDVGl-1Id3V4ulE2G5RxKkUjPbgy-h8xTOfnVoEgwzDCkbb9ND1qrc6vNtK5ypl8h65sL_k2a8E5nIvDJa7IyfQgHcfI/s320/leaves-984544_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I tried to be strong to resist the urge to run back to the nothingness that is a dried up brook when you know you are dying from thirst. To resist the out-stretched hand of reconciliation when you know that it is nothing but a mirage in a desert.<br />
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To put a life back together, when it didn't really fall apart because you finally realized that when you were in love, you stopped living your life, and lived a half-life. Life had just paused.. and now it was on play again and all you had to remind you of that time in limbo was an empty heart, and empty purse and a tee-shirt.<br />
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The past though is just that. It's gone and all that is left to do is focus on today. I try to head the Lord's words, as he said in Matthew 6:34: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."<br />
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Even so, when today is filled with nostalgia, I remember. There is no use in forcing the memories to go away. It is best to sit, and to acknowledge the past and to learn from it anew; the future is built on a foundation formed by a million mistakes.<br />
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<br />sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-50859022055946528512017-11-27T14:48:00.001-08:002017-11-27T14:48:23.737-08:0030 Days of November, Day 27: Of Study Plans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As you may have realized if you have been following along with my ramblings over the last few weeks, I am deep in the planning stages for 2018. While most of my planning in the beginning was financial, when I received my copy of 2018 My Shining Year, Life edition, this branched out into more general planning.<br />
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The book wanders through all areas of life from family, to creativity, spirituality and also learning. I have used this workbook for three years going now and I also struggle with the same sections. Family is one of them, and learning is another. Although I feel like I <i>should </i> be applying myself to learn <i>something </i>academic, I struggle to come up with anything, and even if I do start something on Coursera I fizzle out after a few weeks. <br />
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I want this year to be different and so I have decided to be very purposeful and dedicated to this task. I have managed to identify four major areas of study which I will detail below:<br />
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a) Chartered Finance Analyst Institutes - Investment Foundations Program<br />
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I have been interested in finance for a while, and this is a way to see if I would be interested in becoming a financial analyst. This course is free but you can pay 250 US to take the exam. If I end up being interested in the material, I may go forward and take the exam.<br />
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b) Air Traffic Services Refresher Course<br />
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This is a self-guided study I plan to put together to refresh myself on the relevant procedures with in the air Traffic manual that governs my day to day work. This will be of great benefit to me in many ways but will also help me to be of use to others that I am working with.<br />
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c) Trading on the Stock Market<br />
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I recently opened a trading account and I am overwhelmed by the information presented. One way to combat this is by setting aside some time to learn the ins and out of the industry, the risks and the rewards and seeing what if anything I can apply to my investment strategy. My uncle has offered me some study materials to help with this, so I will get started soon.<br />
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d) Bible Study<br />
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I plan to read through the entire Bible over the course of the year, as well as go through several Bible commentaries to help as well.<br />
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Gosh that seems like a lot! But I believe that I can do it once I make a study plan and stick to it. I will report on how I am doing, on this and other goals through the next year.<br />
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That's all for now, I hope you all have a wonderful week.sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-63338678366985368412017-11-26T17:01:00.001-08:002017-11-26T17:01:29.728-08:0030 Days of November Day 26: Of BaptismJust a very quick post to express my emotions on having been baptized today and being joined into church membership. It was such a wonderful moment of fellowship and the showing up of God's grace in my life.<br />
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I have been truly blessed to come to faith and to find a church, and a church family that are caring, loving and willing to help me excel. It is a good thing in my life to have this support on my Christian walk, and I thank God for it.<br />
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We had an evening service on the beach, before I was baptized and it was good to have an experience of worshipping in public and withstanding the glare of curious onlookers. I am usually was very private person but this evening was a very public moment of affirming my Christianity to the world.<br />
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It is truly a day that I will never forget. I feel drained and tired now, and my mind is somewhat weighed down with other concerns but I am overjoyed to be part of the body of Christ.<br />
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<br />sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-72305355391872269372017-11-25T15:02:00.001-08:002017-11-25T15:02:22.851-08:0030 Days of November, Day 25: Of Cooking Up A StormI went to town this morning to do another bit of grocery shopping and to pick up my prescription. Once I was back home, it was time to start cooking!<br />
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I did a chicken veg pizza on a pizza dough made from a package. I wasn't up for trying the GF pizza again today. It turned out really well, and I enjoyed the cheddar cheese much more than the Edam.<br />
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I also did a boxed chocolate cake, which I ended up eating as dessert before my dinner. It was a bit hard to ice, and very dense and rich. Not something I would make a habit of. My next great adventure will be a GF chocolate cake for my birthday next year.<br />
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Lastly, I put on the crockpot tp simmer on low for 6 hours, with a chicken tomato sauce. When it is finished, I will add in some rice pasta shells, turn it to high and let it go for about 20 minutes or until the pasta is tender. This will be my work lunches for the upcoming week.<br />
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That's all for now, I hope you have a wonderful weekend.sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-53646350564770726242017-11-24T13:57:00.000-08:002017-11-24T13:57:50.503-08:0030 Days of November, Day 24: Of Gratitude Happy Thanks Giving!<br />
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Yesterday was turkey day in the USA. Here in Barbados we don't celebrate that holiday so I went to work as normal. It did however get me thinking about giving thanks for the numerous blessings that I have in my life. Gratitude is one way to grow in contentment. It can be a very useful tool in curbing impulsive spending habits and also to reduce the amount of time a person spends complaining.<br />
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For me practicing gratitude helped me to realize exactly how good my life is now in comparison to when I was younger. I have come a long way in the last eight years of my life. I have gained a lot of knowledge and even managed to turn a bit of it into wisdom. I can see how everything that happened, good or ill, lead me to being the woman that I am today.<br />
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To celebrate this fact, I decided to list a few things for which I am very grateful:<br />
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1) God's Grace<br />
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2) My family and friends<br />
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3) My home<br />
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4) My job<br />
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5) My intellect and sense humour<br />
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6) More than enough food<br />
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7) Clean water<br />
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8) Living on an island<br />
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9) The use of my hands<br />
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10) My five senses<br />
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I could go on and on, but those are the ones that strike me now. I hope it isn't too early to make New Year's Resolutions, or goals as the case maybe because I have one in mind. I want to add at least 3 thing I am grateful for at the bottom of each of my daily journal posts, so that gratitude becomes a habit. I believe that this will help me to keep perspective and to not get over run with undue worry.<br />
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Lastly, I want to thank you for reading. I am grateful for this space to express myself freely and to share my life with the world.sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-59531160077914120352017-11-23T08:13:00.002-08:002017-11-23T08:13:15.932-08:0030 Days of November, Day 23: Of TenacityThese days I have been doing my best to stand up for myself. I find this difficult because I hate confrontation and shy away from dealing with issues. I often feel like I am bothering people when I ask them for something that I am entitled to more than once.<br />
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Being ill however, has truly given me a different perspective and highlighted that I am finally learning to advocate for myself. This comes up in my mind because of an issue I am having trouble receiving results from a series of tests I did for a neurosurgeon that I am consulting with to try to get to the bottom of whatever is wrong with my back.<br />
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I did a CT Scan on the 25th of September a month and a half plus later I have yet to receive any word. While my back is not as bad as it was before, it still isn't better. I need to know what if anything, he can tell me to help me fix this problem.<br />
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I have called back two times now and I admit that I am really starting to feel frustrated. My Granny says at least I know the results are not very bad because if they were he would get back to me, but still I would like to know what is going on so that I can lay my worry to rest at the very least.<br />
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I hope that I can really build up my back bone from incidents like this, so that in the future I am more ready to go to bat for myself. It can not be over-stated how important it is not to simply let go of an issue because it is easier than fighting.<br />
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I truly hope that he gets back to me soon and that I can move on to what the next step for mitigating whatever is wrong with my lower back so that avoid another lengthy convalescence. Wish me luck!sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-85966400378460236352017-11-22T17:04:00.004-08:002017-11-22T17:04:44.297-08:0030 Days of November, Day 22: Of Self-LoveI used to struggle a lot with what really loving yourself meant and I didn't truly understand why it has become such a huge deal in the self-help movement. I think that love is a topic that human beings talk about an awful lot, from young love to heart break, every on has an opinion on what it is and isn't.<br />
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For me loving someone is when you genuinely care about their well-being, and thus consider their happiness to be an important thing. You treat them well, even when they don't 'deserve' it because you want the best for them. You are honest with them, even if it may hurt their ego a bit, because you want to see them push pass the difficulties they are facing to really thrive. It is not selfish, it is not seasonal and it is not conditional.<br />
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Even as I say this, I know that no one can truly love another person unconditionally. As humans we are innately flawed, sinful and fickle; we can't always put other people's wants or even their needs ahead of ourselves all the time. Frictions in relationships if left untended can lead to resentment and bitterness which can easily cloud out love.<br />
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I believe much of these same principles apply when you look at Self-love. Much of our life is lived to please ourselves. Even when we do things for other people, we often have a motive that is rooted in our own sense of duty, need for fulfillment or wish to engender a feeling of gratitude in others.<br />
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The idea that people lack self-love because they feel like they spent their life living for other people is a false narrative. In many cases, the persons were trading in social currency of a different sort. That feeling of being needed or essential in the lives of our family and friends was more important to them at the time than having an honest relationship with self.<br />
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Self-love is not just wanting to do what you want. It is realizing that often we get caught up in the short term future, and forget to tend to the now and the long term future. Taking time to assess how our body is feeling, and taking care of our health whether spiritually, physically or mentally is the foundation of expressing love to yourself.<br />
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When you take time to assess how your are doing, you may realize that what you thought you wanted is not what you truly need to do. Just breathing, meditating and praying can slow you down enough that you can clearly see that your current trajectory is out of alignment with your inner compass.<br />
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Loving yourself is not selfish because human beings need genuine relationships with other people to thrive. I find that when you are taking care of yourself, that you can better take care of others. When you fill yourself up with abundance, it flows out to those around you. Appreciating where you need to be in life, and yes embracing the struggles you have, can lead to deeper compassion for others.<br />
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Ultimately self-love points you to an outward expression of your inner light because when you tend after your soul, you light the way for others.<br />
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<br />sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-59516397107262571722017-11-21T17:31:00.000-08:002017-11-21T17:31:09.481-08:0030 Days of November, Day 21: Of Schedules<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am still working on making the most of my time, and so I am trying out a daily schedule. I found a simple Excel spread sheet that created time slots of 30 mins from 5AM-430AM and adapted it to fit my needs. Because I work shift, I can't really go by the days of the week alone, so I decided instead to create a schedule based on my shift cycles.<br />
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This turned out to be a really good idea because when I plugged in the nonnegotiable items like work, meals, exercise and sleep I was left with very small pockets of time in some cases. These time slots shrunk even more when I put in the tasks that are connected to being responsible such as household chores, getting ready for work, bible study, regular study, finances and light tidying up. I also designated a couple slots of time to work on my projects for the Worker's Union in my capacity as PRO.<br />
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The left over time slots were soon swallowed up by gaming, crafting and time spent generally doing online stuff like checking forums, shopping, answering emails etc.<br />
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Having a visual display of how much of my day I have to diligently pursue my goals was very sobering. It is no wonder that I hardly get things done some days because it is very easy to get distracted when I am in the midst of a task, like writing a blog for instance and then it ends up taking almost an hour to get any one thing completed when perhaps 30 mins of focused effort would have be enough to effect a similar result.<br />
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I plan to work with the template I have for a few weeks to see how it holds up to real life, and tweak it if necessary. It is also necessary to see how it pans out on days where I have standing tasks like Saturday being my day for shopping, and Sunday when I spend the whole day in worship.<br />
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Once it has been finalized and any kinks worked out, I will update the digital version, complete with different text colors for each task to make them more easily distinguished and then I will take it to a printing house to get it printed and maybe laminated so that it doesn't get ruined by an accidental spillage of water or scuffed by dirt.<br />
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Hopefully this adds the final cog in in the system of my organization that allows me to systematically achieve all of my goals, while having a balanced life. I will keep you updated on my progress.<br />
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<br />sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-42616838673392490332017-11-20T15:39:00.000-08:002017-11-20T15:39:02.818-08:0030 Days of November, Day 20: Of Budgeting<div style="text-align: center;">
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My Top Four Goals included a couple of financial goals and so I have been trying to make a detailed plan on how to put those into action.<br />
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In addition, I am trying to control my purchases, balancing my wants with my needs and saving steadily towards things instead of giving into impulse purchases. Putting things down on paper has helped me get clarity and also forced me to prioritize; If I try to meet my main financial goals, it causes me to have to be more frugal other parts of my budget.<br />
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The main goal I have is to retire early. This requires me to save at least 21% of my income a year to Retirement. I currently have my budget named Recovery, set up in this way. This is a big chunk, and as it is in addition to my second financial goal of saving 15000 dollars; that goal requires 3% of my yearly income.<br />
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Ultimately, saving 24% of my gross represents 30% of my Net. The last finance book that I read advised that you save 50% of you income which is even more than that. I can't even imagine how I would construe my budget to fit that mandate, but I am willing to give it a try!<br />
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To help with that, I am taking a look at my wants. Here is a list of some thing in on my wish list and the moment.<br />
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1) Reusable pads and wipes<br />
2) Glass Spice Jars<br />
3) Essential Oil Diffuser and Oils<br />
4) Birthday Lunch<br />
5)Bath Cloth<br />
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My wishes are also to come in line with my plan to own less than 500 items because, I am trying not to add more clutter to my life. I also need to embark on a campaign to downsize what I already have to the minimum that is essential to maintain my life at the standard that makes me comfortable.<br />
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My final financial thought for the moment, is just to remind myself and others that the race to financial stability is a marathon. It is also a race in which the course you have to run can change dramatically at any moment. The key is to adopt good habits, and the breathe deeply when it gets hard, and push through. Also, don't forget to take in the scenery as you jog along.sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-3918211168969840232017-11-19T03:32:00.002-08:002017-11-19T03:33:24.212-08:0030 Days of November, Day 19: Of Crafted Things 2Hi there, it is time to do another update on how my crafting is going. This week seemed to have fly by, but I made sure that I made some time to knit and weave. I have felt really thoughtful this week, so it was actually really nice to unwind and rest my mind as I worked on my projects.<br />
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Now let's take a look at my knitting. My Vinegar scarf, pattern Potato Chips, is still going very well. It is growing steadily and is really starting to show its style.<br />
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I am finding that I am able to knit for longer than before but I don't want to get to over optimistic and overdo it. It would be lovely however to know that I can take on more complex projects in the future and really use up some yarn that may be less suitable for weaving.<br />
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And speaking of weaving I am on the last multi-colored band of Beans, before I start hem-stitching. The race is on to see if the section will reach 24 inches before it runs out. Here is where I am at right now. I am really in love with this yarn, it is so pretty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObr05z7HyxWCSZJs_4TPE5r1Yvo9WQAiOHH8Tl1eLQD1INcJaKjY9CIrNbmO2ZUHQytQzJmVlqOv1_ob1KhNFx3TpvLJ0iMwXgAQmXoetYmT7A0pjr3JAACwMU1zv1KCb_LVvLdPGFdU/s1600/IMG_5828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObr05z7HyxWCSZJs_4TPE5r1Yvo9WQAiOHH8Tl1eLQD1INcJaKjY9CIrNbmO2ZUHQytQzJmVlqOv1_ob1KhNFx3TpvLJ0iMwXgAQmXoetYmT7A0pjr3JAACwMU1zv1KCb_LVvLdPGFdU/s320/IMG_5828.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicVqWW3v5TSgb3xYs7YpcxE6m_theVpsnJcIyRdW88hWRckPrGbSDAsfdmJ3ymFoosaROCBWCLrmo1SUV1fIRe0l1H_wgjeFk9jTDvu4JTHfeH4BHhuHOZGVlrvPS1kT2OWRTWA-e26s/s1600/IMG_5819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicVqWW3v5TSgb3xYs7YpcxE6m_theVpsnJcIyRdW88hWRckPrGbSDAsfdmJ3ymFoosaROCBWCLrmo1SUV1fIRe0l1H_wgjeFk9jTDvu4JTHfeH4BHhuHOZGVlrvPS1kT2OWRTWA-e26s/s320/IMG_5819.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Since I am at the end of this one, I have in earnest set my mind to selecting yarns for my next project. As I have suggested prior I was looking for a neutral but strong yarn to show off the colours of my mini-skeins. Here is what I have found so far.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCVxgGWKfhW3swVCxNW5YF6n6xCsOMQUGSA2OG7e0bvGNF81MZ80k0nGg6qXCVAsin1d26deA00eJrcWi8xCrC344ck1_8IopLcBwcRsIl1BgLnsmfR8B55EgPw_CdjqFDZY5w2JukmQ/s1600/IMG_5823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCVxgGWKfhW3swVCxNW5YF6n6xCsOMQUGSA2OG7e0bvGNF81MZ80k0nGg6qXCVAsin1d26deA00eJrcWi8xCrC344ck1_8IopLcBwcRsIl1BgLnsmfR8B55EgPw_CdjqFDZY5w2JukmQ/s320/IMG_5823.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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On the right is Relax cotton, it is about fingering weight and a kind of sand colour. To the left is a generic acrylic which is off-white. It is about sports weight. I may do a small sample of each and see how I like it.<br />
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The mini-skeins I will be using will come from the below batch.<br />
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All right, that's all for now I think. Hope you all have a wonderful day.sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-26775622408351542742017-11-18T18:26:00.000-08:002017-11-18T18:26:32.652-08:0030 Days November, Day 18: Of ForgivenessForgiving someone sincerely and moving on from the offense can be on of the hardest things to do in life. It is not at all uncommon for grudges and feuds to span decades and even generations. Releasing the pain, anger, resentment and injury can be a monumental task, especially if the perpetrator of the offense has shown no remorse for the incident and further more continues to be the same person that they always were.<br />
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Jesus, in Matthew 18:22, famously instructs Christians to forgive each other seventy times seven times. This amounts to 490 times. This is an enormous amount as most of us struggle to extend forgiveness even once, far less to forgive an offender over and over again.<br />
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I do not for a moment think that the Lord is asking us to be push overs. He is however asking us to be compassionate with one another and extend the same mercy to each other that we would want for ourselves.<br />
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In my own life I have been faced with difficult situations where the very idea of extending forgiveness felt like a personal affront. It took realizing that I was carrying a heavy load of toxic emotions and pain, while the other people carry on their lives, seemingly unhindered. I was figuratively tending my garden full of weeds with much effort, while hating on them for tending flowers and achieving beautiful blooms.<br />
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Even when I recognized this I still had to fight through a big wave of bitterness as I ruminated over how unfair it was that I was suffering and they were not. I was angry at the world in general, that it was filled with such an unfair paradigm and that no one was doing anything about it.<br />
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Once I got over myself, I was able to see my problem clearly and do something about it. For me, I prayed about it and laid it at the foot of the Cross. It was no longer my burden to carry alone, and thus I shared it with my Redeemer.<br />
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This doesn't mean that it has evaporated into smoke. I still feel it from time to time but I do the same thing once I come back to myself. I am grateful that I have a Heavenly Father that never asks of me somethings that he has not already provided a way for me to bear. I truly cannot say the same of humans, we are fragile creatures, each imperfect and so that is all the more reason to forgive each other and to keep extending grace to one another.<br />
<br />
I encourage you to do the same, because that weight will drag you down and make your life a heavier burden than it needs to be. If you find yourself telling the same old stories, with the same villains and the same sad outcome, it is time to rewrite your story and get to work on a different ending.sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-60008701547661987722017-11-17T17:08:00.001-08:002017-11-20T14:29:23.859-08:0030 Days of November, Day 17: Of Gift-buying<br />
I am immersed now in Holiday shopping for all of the little people in my life. In total I have 9 gifts to buy and a budget that was only geared towards buying 3 gifts. Oops. It has been a fine task to search the internet, from Amazon to Ebay looking for suitable toys.<br />
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There is no shortage of choice but when I try to look for something inside my limited budget which still seems to be durable, fun and educational I end up perfectly frustrated with the amount of toys that fall outside of that range.<br />
<br />
When I further constrain myself by looking for toys that aren't too heavy, to avoid shipping charges, I end up scrolling through dozens of options before I finally settled on one toy.<br />
<br />
I this point I have three more toys to go and I am already ready for this to be over. I have received two in hand from my shipping company and I wrapped them up today. I really detest wrapping, but I had some help and I got through it.<br />
<br />
From my expertise in searching and finding one toy in every thirty-six to be suitable I have come up with a few guidelines for myself that I hope I remember next year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Check carefully for the suggested ages, the listing and the product packaging may differ</li>
<li>Don't buy anything that doesn't have a comparison size picture so you can see a child playing with it. Even though you think you understand dimensions and can gauge the size you can't</li>
<li>If you have a weight limit, don't buy anything that is too close, it will inevitably arrive in a ginormous box and cost you extra.</li>
<li>Wooden toys are great, except that they may weigh a ton.</li>
<li>Always buy more wrapping paper than you think you'll need</li>
<li>Do ask parents for guidelines, really helps to narrow things down!</li>
<li>Always budget a little extra!</li>
</ul>
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<br />
Wondering what I got so far? Here's a few of my favorite ones.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81JCasJPtKL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="800" height="196" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81JCasJPtKL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LYD3OD9/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">Wooden Giraffe Pull Toy</a><br />
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<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/612hzhCgKJL._SL1200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="800" height="163" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/612hzhCgKJL._SL1200_.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007Y9NWGE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">Wooden Peek-A-Boo Panda</a><br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="499" height="141" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51LIZrcz5SL._SY351_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545079632/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">Garbage Truck Book</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81bjLSolexL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="800" height="150" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81bjLSolexL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I19QR9K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">Wooden 24-piece Puzzle</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
Well, that's all for now. Good luck with your Holiday shopping! May the force be with you!</div>
I am hoping that when my list is done and all the gifts are wrapped and tagged that I will feel more cheerful!sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-64846314094235520062017-11-16T18:01:00.000-08:002017-11-16T18:01:54.875-08:0030 Days of November, Day 16: Of VirtuesEach day we go through life interacting with people and trying to navigate as best we can. I tend to try to avoid creating strife and discord and to the best of my ability, I want to leave people with a good impression. It is my firm belief that a reputation is built up day by day, and that each interaction you have affects how you are perceived by others.<br />
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It is important to have virtues in life because if you don't stand for something you will be a push over. This means that I won't always be able to avoid disagreements or confrontation because at some point my virtues will come either under scrutiny by a dissenter or tested by a tough situation.<br />
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It is easy to be quiet or to let things slide, but often afterwards you feel cowardly and regret not speaking up at the time. It is often too late to go back and change anything. It is also too easy to fall back into old habits even if the situation warrants that we step out of our comfort zone to give a more appropriate response.<br />
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Everyone's virtues would be different and it is important to note that virtues are something to attain to, and not a constant state of being. For me I want to be Kind, Generous, Compassionate and Faithful. This is a daily struggle because my default mode of being can be irritable or miserable depending on the stressors in my life.<br />
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I do my best to remind myself in the moment that everyone has a story. There is no one on this earth who is blameless or without struggles in their life. As far as I can manage I should try not to put more on them than they are already carrying nor should I accept more from them than is my fair share.<br />
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Here are a few ways I try to live by my virtues:<br />
<br />
1) Consider how I can help<br />
<br />
2) Take time to think before I speak<br />
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3) Admit when I am irritable<br />
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4) Apologize when I have wronged someone<br />
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5) Don't make loose promises<br />
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />I think it is important for everyone to articulate what their virtues are, and to take some time to think of how they can better live up to them each day.<br />
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<br />sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-28749150104494621492017-11-15T13:52:00.002-08:002017-11-15T13:53:33.732-08:0030 Days Of November, Day 15: Of MemoriesAh, memories. They are some of the most precious things and also some of the most painful. I am feeing thoughtful today as I have been flung back into my past after a Membership interview for what should soon be my new church.<br />
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I decided to share some of my favorite photos from my last couple of vacations. These shots may be from the Netherlands, Paris, Michigan of Boston! I hope you enjoy.<br />
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<br />sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-35165136342356348662017-11-14T18:08:00.000-08:002017-11-14T18:08:16.322-08:0030 Days Of November, Day 14: Of GoalsI had a very quiet day today and I took the time to review my personal index cards. One of these is a list of my Top Five Life Goals and I decided to share them with you. Making goals isn't easy for me because I get very anxious when I start to think about the future. The farther out you go, the fuzzier everything gets.<br />
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I can't deny that I think it is important to make goals, but promulgating any list such as a Bucket List or a 35 Things to do before 35, only makes me feel like either the most boring woman alive or the least adventurous.<br />
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None the less, I bravely put together the following list by making a larger list and then ruthlessly paring it down. I eliminated goals that were vague or two similar and really tried to only leave behind goals which resonated with me on a fundamental level.<br />
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The criteria I used for this also included the guide lines that goals needed to be such that they were attainable and finite so that there would be no confusion as to if I had reached a milestone or not.<br />
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Armed with this I ended up with less than Five goals in the end but the four I had remaining fit my criteria well, and also felt 'right'.<br />
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1) Run Out Of Yarm<br />
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I used to be a yarnholic and have accumulated two shipping barrels worth of yarn. My aim is to use up or give away every last skein. This may take me several years, and it also has an additional caveat of not purchasing any more yarn during that time to make this goal attainable.<br />
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2)Be able to Retire at 60<br />
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This goal is pretty straight forward. Retirement age in Barbados is currently 67 and it may increase. With my health issues I would like to be able to Retire before then if I wish. This requires me to adequately fund a private Retirement account so I can create an annuity to cover my need for income before my National Insurance money kicks in.<br />
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3) Save 15000 by 2027<br />
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Aside from Retirement I want to save this much in cash by the target date. It is doable at the moment, I should with the help of interest be able to save extra with how much I plan to put into the account each month. I'll be 40 by the time this happens. 40! I can't even imagine what life will be like for me by then.<br />
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4) Own less than 500 Items<br />
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This is something to work on over time, and something to hopefully maintain. Running out of yarn will help this total a lot and I will note that I don't count food stuff like cans of tuna in the total. The number is some what arbitrary but I think it is doable! Minimalism FTW.<br />
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There you have it. I admit that none of this is very exciting but it is authentic. I will let you know how I am getting on with each as time goes by. What goals do you have that you want to reach in life? Tell me about it in the comments.sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-27067891441576999702017-11-13T15:36:00.000-08:002017-11-13T15:36:00.799-08:0030 Days of November, Day 13: Of FinancesI used to have a finance blog but I am finished with that now. Budgeting is still a large part of my life and I am happy to share about it on my lifestyle blog.<br />
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I am using YNAB (You Need A Budget) online at the moment to budget, but I may move back to the computer version at some point. I mainly switched over to the online version because their strict handling of debt was what I needed to get myself out of a spot of bother I ended up in after some fast and furious medical expenses.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www-assets.youneedabudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/05164108/how-works-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://www-assets.youneedabudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/05164108/how-works-1.png" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Ynab's snazzy graphics.</td></tr>
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The medical expenses also came after a stint of seven months of less than ideal spending habits, during my time living away from home with my then partner. Finances weren't the only thing about that relationship that was a wreck...but maybe I'll leave that for another post.<br />
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The budget is a lot more stable now, especially with all of the Medical reimbursements pouring in. I am in the stage of trying to rebuild my reserves, get serious about Retirement while making sure that I have enough on hand to cover irregular expenses like holiday gifts and my yearly life insurance bills.<br />
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I recently settled down and did my yearly budget for 2018, and so far it look pretty good. It always stings when you see how much is going out to taxes and national insurance! I don't have any plans to travel next year, so most of my 'extra' money should be going right back into savings. I have a pretty lean discretionary spending allowance and I must admit that I think sticking to it is going to take some effort.<br />
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Right now I am gift-buying mode for all of the Littles in my life and the budget is starting to feel the strain. I am on the hunt for cheap, but durable educational toys and it is harder than you think to find appropriate buys!<br />
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Next time I update I will let you know how I got on, and hopefully I will be reporting a success. Until then..<br />
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<br />sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-66179678328999000002017-11-12T04:49:00.003-08:002017-11-12T04:49:54.174-08:0030 Days of November, Day 12: Of Crafted Things<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLeiSERuJ-kSpAL1yjTLV8krrvwhSwqlqq_1gs7MXuJLvXVkuILBkg9cQrB8vyYCOzlzTcPLHp_bAMiXxYpJawKcDNHsJI2mzZdxVGX-D1H56qC20dWIjjRKIvfqdpY6tYkwS212ehLpi/s1600/wool-2742119_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLeiSERuJ-kSpAL1yjTLV8krrvwhSwqlqq_1gs7MXuJLvXVkuILBkg9cQrB8vyYCOzlzTcPLHp_bAMiXxYpJawKcDNHsJI2mzZdxVGX-D1H56qC20dWIjjRKIvfqdpY6tYkwS212ehLpi/s200/wool-2742119_1280.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarn! So tempting! </td></tr>
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<br />Time for an update on how all of my crafting endeavors are going! I have begun knitting again, and it is lovely really. There is something about it that is terribly soothing and I missed it terribly.<br />
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The Vinegar scarf is toddling along, centimeter by centimeter. I give the pattern an A+ simply because I can memorize it easily and don't need to keep referring back to it. The yarn is soft and lovely to work with as well, and my trusty bamboo circular needle is performing up to standard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFR2sJDq_RlARF01I2EqdmcbFPIGQNG9_HPLv-PVbo07b3Ng5zU9lZgA3qkWKZPUW0YuvrtY_10fBe0ploG08IDHq0WsayMjP8M-ifIsb4jNQ03jwYOqJc_H5ptq1jVPBd7xzN4ow1LUiG/s1600/IMG_5802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="1600" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFR2sJDq_RlARF01I2EqdmcbFPIGQNG9_HPLv-PVbo07b3Ng5zU9lZgA3qkWKZPUW0YuvrtY_10fBe0ploG08IDHq0WsayMjP8M-ifIsb4jNQ03jwYOqJc_H5ptq1jVPBd7xzN4ow1LUiG/s320/IMG_5802.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see it is starting to curl already!</td></tr>
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My weaving has also been coming along well. Beans, is now in the later half of the mirrored pattern and I am hoping that my calculations work out for the better. Over the last week I did a Summer Green section, the Brown section and the Multi section that marks the middle of the scarf. Check out the progress picture below.<br />
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I am already looking ahead to my next project which I think is going to be another mini-skien scarf. I am on the hunt for a warp and have found a few potential ones. I am mostly concerned as to the strength of the yarn and the neutral colour so that the mini-skeins shine through in their multicolored glory! Look out for updates on that soon.<br />
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That's all for now, have a blessed Sunday.<br />
<br />sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778424098848698951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-78151226401941050402017-11-11T18:54:00.000-08:002017-11-11T18:54:07.386-08:0030 Days of November, Day 11: Of Apple WatchesI am going to review one of my most recent purchases, my apple watch. I bought it to help motivate me to exercise, although it was not my first choice. I had been looking at several different models of fitness tracker and I had the following requirements.<br />
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1) The ability to track steps<br />
2) The ability to track open water swimming<br />
3) A heart rate monitor<br />
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When I first started my hunt, I truly underestimated how difficult it would be to find all of these in one fitness tracker at a price I was willing to pay. Beyond these functions it was also important that I was buying something with a solid track record because after shipping it to Barbados, I would be up a creek without a paddle if it were to go bad. Therefore we can also add quality, and customer service track record of the company to the list.<br />
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The fitness tracker market quickly become a matter of my price-rage based on brands. The market is not surprisingly saturated with everything from FitBits to Shine and at the top of the market Garmin watches.<br />
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Finally a friend of mine suggested that I look at Apple watches because though pricey, they are less so than Garmin watches, whose target market includes professional tri-athletes and divers. I would feel like a true imposter if I wore one just to swim for a few minutes! Hah!<br />
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Apple had the following benefits:<br />
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-proven customer service record<br />
-proven product durability (I have both a phone and laptop from them)<br />
-great bluetooth security which all of the others lacked<br />
-availability of a store in Barbados to take it to for repairs<br />
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All of these things considered, I upped my budget and bought myself an apple watch. I have had it for about a month and a half at this point and I am very happy that I got it. The Activity tracker, on top of being able to track both swimming, walking and running exercises can also keep track of other cardio exercises and even yoga!<br />
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It is sleek and after you get used to it, easy to use. There are a wide array of apps that you can use for it. Of the ones that come loaded on to it as a default I use the music, alarm, timer and heart rate apps most often. In addition to this I added:<br />
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a) A sleep tracker<br />
c) My YNAB budget<br />
d) My Fitness Pal, calorie tracker<br />
e) Bear notes, for making quick voice notes<br />
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Given that I also have an Iphone, it allows me to receive my messages and alerts from my phone once I am with in range of it, which I think is pretty neat, though not necessary.<br />
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The verdict:<br />
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Although I love my watch and it fulfilled everything I need I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. Not many people swim in open water and other trackers which are cheaper and can be used to track swimming laps in a pool may work out better.<br />
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The price point though not as steep as Garmin, is differently not cheap either and I think the average user will be satisfied with a simpler tracker/watch combo without all of the additional features.<br />
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If you are a semi-serious athlete and looking for functionality, as well as a sleek design backed with the usual Apple product performance then this would be a good intermediate buy before you step into the big leagues with a Garmin.<br />
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That being said, I don't regret my purchase and I am looking forward to using it for years to come.sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778424098848698951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-15225732082913796332017-11-10T19:42:00.002-08:002017-11-10T19:42:37.199-08:0030 Days of November, Day 10: Of Gluten Free PizzaIn my quest to try to make as many of my favorite foods gluten free as I can manage, and after successfully making pancakes with cassava flour, I decided to try pizza crust. The cassava had a nice taste to it and so, I decided that that would be my base.<br />
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I looked at several recipes until I was able to find one who ingredients seemed to include ones that I could actually find in Barbados. I subbed tapioca flour for arrow-root and was lucky enough to find a pack of coconut flour on a trip into town.<br />
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From there I had to decide what the toppings would be and I settled on chicken, mushrooms and pepper. I bought a new cheese to try, called Edam, because I am not really a fan of mozarella, but I have to admit that I don't like it much. It was quite sharp and it over-powered the taste of everything else. My plan is to buy a small block of cheddar for when I make this recipe again.<br />
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I had my friend to help me, and we had fun with it. The dough was sticky at first, with no chance of being rolled into a ball unless we added more flour but we winged it and I think it came out pretty good.<br />
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Here are some pics:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDnP2b3wub5PEUEykjvUHvSQhaZzuQXDA6B7Y-NrpYwojNz3Bs_0UAsSkmvnhyphenhyphen77CdWwXzbHdu-ZXDW6O8LGo34QJ486-FBkPPvZUOd_DzDcak0Fp23eRCBDePtBO0hGgARRO3bOhmJlv/s1600/IMG_5786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDnP2b3wub5PEUEykjvUHvSQhaZzuQXDA6B7Y-NrpYwojNz3Bs_0UAsSkmvnhyphenhyphen77CdWwXzbHdu-ZXDW6O8LGo34QJ486-FBkPPvZUOd_DzDcak0Fp23eRCBDePtBO0hGgARRO3bOhmJlv/s320/IMG_5786.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flours I used</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPd9kmhLYCcDHrc6Kk4HlejKbzDCoXwmYUtzG1pL260q0wMWRXYs6PCaKBqejSBmcWNzSwUR_DZYkHTcO9OLpeGhuWj5uF7G5A_eD6-g78wxA2GitEDZUlrcCbP-4W5Gw45wmXavObLps/s1600/IMG_5788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPd9kmhLYCcDHrc6Kk4HlejKbzDCoXwmYUtzG1pL260q0wMWRXYs6PCaKBqejSBmcWNzSwUR_DZYkHTcO9OLpeGhuWj5uF7G5A_eD6-g78wxA2GitEDZUlrcCbP-4W5Gw45wmXavObLps/s320/IMG_5788.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The yeast, bubbling away</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdncWfFDfDsDGk126fNuexjSUY-yMjo7HxEFjFxowDrSf3rr8oglHrGHEWV7jpRiKWv7paWy8aaLKian_kyCnlRlxRsQD7J7nynqc99qF53Il_RWTS2GYFa-s1mJMcl-Ca2mUpRti1s5WJ/s1600/IMG_5790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdncWfFDfDsDGk126fNuexjSUY-yMjo7HxEFjFxowDrSf3rr8oglHrGHEWV7jpRiKWv7paWy8aaLKian_kyCnlRlxRsQD7J7nynqc99qF53Il_RWTS2GYFa-s1mJMcl-Ca2mUpRti1s5WJ/s320/IMG_5790.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dough before I left it to rise.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgQuJKE6mKesRJGubP3SxevhotNv1TP5tlmhQ1GfKSY3XgomI4ts0kytWeYCxeophuXdKuDfQ5cuG2aSQuipgaCQ33sxM6-hlxCF2hD2o8FovhdCRoeDWLQ9_6GIzvDWiFOwFAdyXgV-c/s1600/IMG_5791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgQuJKE6mKesRJGubP3SxevhotNv1TP5tlmhQ1GfKSY3XgomI4ts0kytWeYCxeophuXdKuDfQ5cuG2aSQuipgaCQ33sxM6-hlxCF2hD2o8FovhdCRoeDWLQ9_6GIzvDWiFOwFAdyXgV-c/s320/IMG_5791.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It didn't grow a lot, but it did grow some.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzCwY5e0iq5oUf9rYdbNh_cFgMn6tHImD_LPfn4b7Pq7Imer6DhckSany2JMp5G4bHLjBDzeiG93c944m_yKk2U-PV6Arz60NmdiOQXiMJwRn2h2MmGBCdPuzEHqKwZjMFrPRwSFEubLX/s1600/IMG_5792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzCwY5e0iq5oUf9rYdbNh_cFgMn6tHImD_LPfn4b7Pq7Imer6DhckSany2JMp5G4bHLjBDzeiG93c944m_yKk2U-PV6Arz60NmdiOQXiMJwRn2h2MmGBCdPuzEHqKwZjMFrPRwSFEubLX/s400/IMG_5792.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pizza baked and ready to eat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I plan to make this again soon, and I will share my thoughts on it then. Catch you later when have other kitchen adventures!sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778424098848698951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-12644896709089156472017-11-09T17:48:00.000-08:002017-11-09T17:48:33.498-08:0030 Days of November, Day 9: Of Habits<br />
Everyone talks about setting goals, and building up habits that help you to achieve them; in fact that topic has started an entire industry of self-help with everyone who is or isn't qualified trying to sell you the answer to improving your life in 150 pages or less.<br />
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As a chronic procrastinator but avid reader, you would be correct in assuming that consuming self-help books was a favorite past-time of mine, and that with optimistic enthusiasm I would try every tip and trick with vigor believing that this would be <i>the thing </i>that would finally make the difference in my life. And that, not surprisingly, seldom worked or if it did, didn't last.<br />
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Some habits however which I firmly believe are worth implementing no matter how hard you have to fight yourself to do it are as follows:<br />
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<u>Flossing</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwlNGsxTlbbokSsCnio7gWBz6UoHjZpRtOacBPyBnxvu-OO44fXZGm9Om4-DkctlHMXykTFbOJbZElyjUbja2RpSXD8mrdWM90x8gHi6fS9FblGMQQ8iAgTrOIxIf2kQ6LVOJLehj55bj/s1600/dental-842314_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwlNGsxTlbbokSsCnio7gWBz6UoHjZpRtOacBPyBnxvu-OO44fXZGm9Om4-DkctlHMXykTFbOJbZElyjUbja2RpSXD8mrdWM90x8gHi6fS9FblGMQQ8iAgTrOIxIf2kQ6LVOJLehj55bj/s200/dental-842314_1280.jpg" width="200" /></a>If you have problems brushing your teeth twice or even once a day, then start with that first and then upgrade to this as soon as you get into a grove. Flossing is so important for good oral hygiene but yet it is so easy to overlook. If you don't like going to the dentist that it is even more critical that you brush and floss everyday. Although, even if you go religiously to your bi-yearly check-ups and also get a clean and scale, flossing can greatly reduce the pain of the 'pointy instrument of doom' as I like to call it, as the dentist works to scrape plaque off of your teeth.<br />
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<u>Reading</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBlFtPMC0iKhUE4L6yuskrz6hnMqIA4XI-MgtbflKcJ2nkjKS0veh4jIidfpyWpI2pZ0GWtVWFW0bqOVn1K_hKHe1oQl94mOWJm0hKNsHJtliBXowZPW6dEhex40bl44_J9sqOKsSGN6y/s1600/reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBlFtPMC0iKhUE4L6yuskrz6hnMqIA4XI-MgtbflKcJ2nkjKS0veh4jIidfpyWpI2pZ0GWtVWFW0bqOVn1K_hKHe1oQl94mOWJm0hKNsHJtliBXowZPW6dEhex40bl44_J9sqOKsSGN6y/s200/reading.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Even if you don't enjoy reading it is imperative that you find time to read something! Insist on at least ten minutes a day spent with a book, digital or otherwise. The benefits are numerous: it can relive stress, improve your vocabulary, help with brain function and you may even learn something! Challenge yourself to read a book outside of your favorite genre every now and then, and especially to read something of history or a true story. The world is a fantastic, grim, gritty but ultimately wondrous place. Experiencing it through a book, adds a different dimension to the flavor of life.<br />
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<u>Writing</u><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHW8IsrfF5fqoXvGfrLrozNv8JUqWIkRqWnC2sYW6-IPVKJc3mQ63tsVabJNzlmLcQ_poBlHjXsYo7mmFNDYFkJqf1dqCNhJWBpR1zSqDb5SFaGj9MZDBLX5_8m46Sa5bp33Isow3x2EN/s1600/coffee-writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHW8IsrfF5fqoXvGfrLrozNv8JUqWIkRqWnC2sYW6-IPVKJc3mQ63tsVabJNzlmLcQ_poBlHjXsYo7mmFNDYFkJqf1dqCNhJWBpR1zSqDb5SFaGj9MZDBLX5_8m46Sa5bp33Isow3x2EN/s200/coffee-writing.jpg" width="200" /></a>While not every-one is a skilled writer, we will all be called upon at sometime in life to gather up our wayward thoughts and corral them into sentences. Make it a habit, to write something regularly be it a letter to someone, a short story or even a poem. Keeping a diary is also another great way to write which has enough benefits to warrant an entire point on its own. Expressing yourself is a building block to understanding yourself and being understood. Getting familiar with language is very important to self-confidence as well and it like very other skill can be honed with time and practice.<br />
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<u>Getting Enough Sleep</u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Msn6sFlwpgRpxAm_Tq5qBy_dut2LM0YTHN6sFNeQjmjFQjc5gW5TwuD7SzyQ9z3P8lmRY6Zv0YQKNfIGCwMXf7c5qmnvfze3uvO2EiaawTOlSUn3e6C9hLmvuhLcJb8wnVOHXTgFvh4v/s1600/IMG_2070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Msn6sFlwpgRpxAm_Tq5qBy_dut2LM0YTHN6sFNeQjmjFQjc5gW5TwuD7SzyQ9z3P8lmRY6Zv0YQKNfIGCwMXf7c5qmnvfze3uvO2EiaawTOlSUn3e6C9hLmvuhLcJb8wnVOHXTgFvh4v/s200/IMG_2070.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
I am guilty of struggling with this one, but I feel like I left the best for last. Getting a good night's sleep is the foundation of having a great day. You simply can't be at 100% productivity if your body is tired. Enough sleep is subjective because everyone is different, but the guideline of 8 hrs is ideal. I work shift and so my rhythm is a mess, but if you have standard job hours, take advantage of it and get as much rest as you can! You won't regret it.<br />
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There you have it! This list if is of course not exhaustive but as I have admitted some of these are still a work in progress. Hopefully but the time I grow up just a little more, I will have these ones conquered and can move on to conquer other things!sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778424098848698951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-38141809971607697662017-11-08T13:26:00.001-08:002017-11-08T13:26:10.207-08:0030 Days of November, Day 8: Of FishingRecently a work college asked me to interview my Father about reef fishing. A coral reef is a spectacular feature of nature, that is a living underwater architectural wonder. It is home to dozens if not hundreds of sea creatures, many of which are good for food.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKflTsT4LZWeImcKQ6gReI7aspgE4Cl5bhmMDZx8x8ilEh9p6WByc5_4B6alXOGsh64AilYooVBubYoYLTofs4mFwaUDQennTs1l2vlk8RKBz5O0lS9f89TtwRPh2-qoO6dJIje1NY1BgT/s1600/reef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKflTsT4LZWeImcKQ6gReI7aspgE4Cl5bhmMDZx8x8ilEh9p6WByc5_4B6alXOGsh64AilYooVBubYoYLTofs4mFwaUDQennTs1l2vlk8RKBz5O0lS9f89TtwRPh2-qoO6dJIje1NY1BgT/s320/reef.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I could remember as a little girl going to the beach with my Father and while I was playing, he would swim out with his spear gun to the coral reef, put up his buoy with a flag and dive down to fish. While he was on the hunt, I would run up and down the beach, swim and play in the sand, keeping myself occupied until he resurfaced. He didn't always catch anything but when he did, it could be a wide range of things from lobster to Red snapper.<br />
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We would go home, me chatting nine to the dozen about everything under the sun, and asking questions about the fish he caught. He would put them in the sink for my Mother to clean and I would find a book to read, after getting a shower to rinse off all the sand and salty sea water.<br />
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It is indeed one of my fondest memories of childhood and so I looked forward to finding out more about how my Father ended up with this hobby.<br />
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He started out by saying that he didn't even really remember how he got into fishing. Growing up near to the sea, it was his playground as a child and he enjoyed swimming. He then went on to recall that since they lived near to a fishing village, he was used to seeing men fishing and eventually he started to try it out himself.<br />
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I inquired as to if anyone had taught him to fish, my Grandfather for instance, who I had never met as he passed away before I was both, but that brought a swift denial. My Grandfather had apparently never fished in his life! My Father told me that he had learned by watching others and by trail and error. Overtime he got more experienced and become competent in spear fishing.<br />
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My father explained that fishing could give you a real thrill when you managed to catch something, and it could become addictive. He pointed out that fisherman tended to celebrate their catches by drinking and carousing and because they were paid on a daily basis, tended to spend their money quickly as well.<br />
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My Father never went into fishing as a main source of income, but I remember having plenty of fresh fish over the years that were caught either by him or by his brother, who also is a fisherman. I don't think that I would every go fishing myself but I must admit, that it makes me feel nostalgic.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKN7lLdsp-36iE2oAjLOPASxnJj_TGuqJayf6gc0bJnjvfEXg7NGMbLJS0yG1Pvh7hJN5LpdpP2lji5G0ntEEChJafNP8o0RQTYsq1cMDBZJ0ImZ8HQBoRHPdWvN3g8CyyS1QHM7alRc3q/s1600/IMG_5619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKN7lLdsp-36iE2oAjLOPASxnJj_TGuqJayf6gc0bJnjvfEXg7NGMbLJS0yG1Pvh7hJN5LpdpP2lji5G0ntEEChJafNP8o0RQTYsq1cMDBZJ0ImZ8HQBoRHPdWvN3g8CyyS1QHM7alRc3q/s320/IMG_5619.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach where I grew up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As the sea continues to be threatened by climate change in the arrival of invasive predators like the Lion Fish, I think it is important that we prioritize taking care of the sea so that future generations can enjoy it the way that I do, and make memories like mine.sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778424098848698951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4547717249674686544.post-26491237405018181062017-11-07T12:51:00.002-08:002017-11-07T12:52:13.418-08:0030 Days of November, Day 7: Of Meal PlanningPart of my overall push to be healthy and also to be frugal is centered on cooking more often. Dining out can be expensive and not always satisfying; also you never do know exactly what is the quality of the meal that you are eating. Cooking for yourself is cheaper, and gives you a lot more control over your diet. I also tend to eat more vegetables when I cook for myself than I do if I purchase a meal.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdwsa_yavZMYkTKiuoUCtjxO0mikBgbWqa3pR4DG6WPCsEOWeIkPZFjYf5KfxyW-GZlSZuHu5G8FhpuJu9kLWhRk9h5MoMQG09pXgJkRkpHd2CSKFq77iya2W-4ZJqmCY-0tQbLdUuu0/s1600/veggies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdwsa_yavZMYkTKiuoUCtjxO0mikBgbWqa3pR4DG6WPCsEOWeIkPZFjYf5KfxyW-GZlSZuHu5G8FhpuJu9kLWhRk9h5MoMQG09pXgJkRkpHd2CSKFq77iya2W-4ZJqmCY-0tQbLdUuu0/s320/veggies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum Yum!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Planning meals is an essential part of home cooking.<br />
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It allows me to take stock of what I have in my pantry and fridge to cut down on food spoilage. Wasting food, especially fresh vegetables because you didn't plan properly is a real shame.<br />
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I then make a list of the meals themselves. I don't try to assign a meal to a particular day because that really doesn't work for me. Instead I create a list of what I would like to make that week, tailoring it to use mostly things I have on hand, especially perishables.<br />
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Finally, knowing what I have at home and keeping in mind what I want to make, helps me to create a better grocery list. It stops me from buying too much of a stand alone item or from buying stuff I already have at home. It also keep me from impulse purchases because I have a plan to stick to.<br />
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My list for this week is:<br />
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Cassava-crust Pizza<br />
Stir-FryVeggies and Rice<br />
French Fries and Nuggets<br />
Breadfruit and Eggs<br />
Smoothies<br />
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Baring this list in my mind, I bought fresh vegetables for the stir fry and a couple of specialty items for the cassava crust; knowing I already had potatoes at home, I skipped those and bought some bananas for my smoothies. Easy-Peasy!<br />
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I also try to do one crock-pot meal on Saturdays which allows me to pack out lunches for work. Usually this is a one-pot pasta dish but I also do some lamb, or ribs if the mood strikes me. I plan to branch out and try a few casseroles as well. I bought meal prep containers from Amazon to help with making packing out the lunch easy, and also to encourage me to add a salad to each meal.<br />
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Packaging meals for work has been key in making sure that I don't spend money on lunch, which was previously one of my largest vices.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wZRVlooEL9E8XfacXe9MHIrBZ29Uulv1ouS3tf2iGbFZkSqWWFv6JjSie3jyGUxczygWGFo2FnLkxpk5D7U6nheN2Ji7ak-af_AJstEilXClvU_RL0xw9JfNvD3_Zb6QXUvMFiwVZV0/s1600/lamb+meals.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wZRVlooEL9E8XfacXe9MHIrBZ29Uulv1ouS3tf2iGbFZkSqWWFv6JjSie3jyGUxczygWGFo2FnLkxpk5D7U6nheN2Ji7ak-af_AJstEilXClvU_RL0xw9JfNvD3_Zb6QXUvMFiwVZV0/s320/lamb+meals.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamb with steamed veg and a side salad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I take a crack at the Cassava pizza I will share the adventure with you, so stay tuned for that post. Until next time...<br />
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<br />sadodosahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01430848418162907463noreply@blogger.com0