Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - Lighting an apple-scented candle...the cure for cabin fever?
So I'm reading the new issue of First Magazine and one of the tips is about curing cabin fever. We all know that "a day spent cooped up indoors can induce stress and feelings of claustrophobia", right? I'm certainly feeling that, but mostly because this winter seems never-ending and the sun rarely makes an appearance lately!
Lighting an apple scented candle eased cabin fever for 86 percent of the subjects in a study at Chicago's Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation. "An apple scent makes rooms seem larger than they actually are," says Alan Hirsch, M.D. neurological director of the foundation. "One reason is that it evokes the outdoors, alleviating that 'boxed in' sensation."
Okay....so I'm heading to Target tomorrow and buying an apple scented candle or two and lighting up! I'll let you know how it goes.
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Tuesday, March 3, 2009 - Back to blogging??? The Bachelor....A Parents Prayer Calendar...
I doubt anyone has missed me, but I'm thinking about getting back to blogging..... not sure where I'll find the time, but who does, huh? It's more like we make the time just like we do for anything else. I think instead of trying to make my posts be so "profound", I'm gonna focus on just sharing with you all what's on my mind from day to day.....whether anyone cares or not! ha!
I guess the thing that's on my mind right now is still being quite upset at The Bachelor, Jason Mesnick. I know...shallow, huh? I love reality shows! Now some of them are quite gross and show way more than anyone would want to see...and I guess The Bachelor could be guilty of that too. I don't see how those girls can do this show knowing that he's kissing all the other girls too!!!
Honestly I've not watched any other season! Not even quite sure how I got into this one. We don't have cable, so I end up watching some shows online after the fact. I think I just stumbled across it and before I knew it I was hooked! Has anyone else been watching it?
I think the thing that ticked me off the most was the fact that instead of just breaking up with Melissa privately, he felt the need to bring her back on national TV and break her heart in front of everyone? I mean, yes, the whole show was in front of everyone, but in the end she won the prize....she knew what she was getting into. She knew that she would either be one of the girls he didn't pick or be the one he did pick. No surprises there. But to think you're coming on a taping to talk about what's happened since the show ended and end up getting dumped by him? Soooooo mean!!! And I really thought Jason was a nice guy!
And to top it off, he can't get Molly off his mind and that's one of the reasons he broke it off! I mean at least he was "honest" in the end...but then within 10 minutes of breaking it off, he's on there with Molly asking her out! I'm very surprised that she jumped at the chance so quickly knowing he just broke it off with Melissa! And to get that physical with him right away?? If she's smart, she'll hear his side then see the way he humiliated her on national TV and wonder what the heck she's doing....and when he'll do it to her!
Anyway..... that's the shallow thinking I have about that..... The thing is, it made me soooo thankful that I'm not single anymore ....... so thankful that I found the man of my dreams..... so thankful that I have my four kids...... so thankful that I have Christ in my life! The thing that does make me sad is that this guy does not .... and he's raising a little boy who will not know Christ either unless someone crosses their path and shares him with them. It also made me my heart so heavy for my kids...... and made me feel more of a burden to start praying for their future spouse and the path they take to get to that point. I pray that they allow the Lord to guide every step they make and that they turn to Him in everything! I also pray that they make being with someone who knows Christ the number ONE priority when they start even thinking about a future spouse!
So.... I guess The Bachelor show made me think about a lot of things..... what a jerk Jason was and how I need to pray for my kids future spouses ....
With that thought, I searched for an organized way to pray for my kids...
Check this out! A Parents Prayer Calendar
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Sunday, September 9, 2007 - Scrapbooking...my lost hobby?
I really, really want to get back to scrapbooking. If you remember (or maybe I never told you) I lost ALL of my scrapbooking paper in the flood we had in our basement over Christmas. sigh. Therefore, I've been kinda out of sorts in the scrapbooking area.
I got together with my friend Christina a couple of weeks ago and "re-did" a scrapbook that was made for another friend in a magnetic *GASP* album. It was really refreshing to handle pictures and arrange them and decide on colors and get the creative juices flowing and then sit back, take a look at the page and at the moment of satisfaction, slide that page protector on. Ahhhhh.....yes, you know the feeling if you're a scrapbooker. :)
So, having said all that - hmmm....not sure why I said all that ;)... If you feel sorry for me, you could always send me some scrapbooking paper ;)
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Sunday, June 4, 2006 - And the winner is..."Extreme Clean: HomeSchool Edition" by
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Thursday, June 1, 2006 - Julie's Journey to a Clutter-Free Home CONTEST -- Win a free one-year subscription to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine AND the two e-books!
Well...it's only about 32 hours until my Mother arrives to stay for 6 weeks. Yep, you read that right -- 6 weeks!
Bless her heart, she's coming all the way from Louisiana to Ilinois to help me organize my house. I have for too long been enslaved with stuff.... bargain hunter that I am....it takes it's toll. Especially since we bought our first house and moved 18 months ago -- I have yet to catch up. And since I started working with TOS...and well....since I've inherited being a pack-rat...it goes way back. 
So...I'm thinking of doing a "reality show" of sorts here on my blog... taking before and after pics and posting the progress. Talking about the struggles...the fights with Mom (haha)...the fear of failure...grieving the loss of the mess (?) ... the drives to Goodwill....that kind of stuff. What do you think? Would you follow along with me and encourage me? I will need all the help I can get.
I'd really appreciate it if you would...I'm kind of nervous about it and excited at the same time. Why am I nervous?
I'm gonna be transparent here...I have adult ADD....I am highly creative but have trouble focusing! I mean I can REALLY focus when it's something I'm extremely interested in or feel confident about -- like singing, playing my flute, being goofy with my kids, speaking, or marketing...but when it's something I'm NOT interested in like cleaning, or cooking, or organizing or something I'm not very good at...well, I get extremely overwhelmed. Almost paralyzed. I'm soooo much better than I used to be...but there is much to be overcome. So friends...pray with me, encourage me, and stand with me...would ya?
The really cool thing about having my Mom here is that I feel like I'll be getting the mothering and teaching from her that I missed out on in my teen years. See... I didn't live with my Mom during those years...I lived with my Father and my step-Mother...now don't get me wrong - I had a great life with my Dad and step-Mom. But, I feel I missed a lot of the things that my Mom would have taught me had I been with her on a daily basis ... like how to cook!
So, having said all that...do you want to join me on the journey? Julie's Journey to a Clutter-Free Home...yep...that's what I'll call it....at least until one of you can help me come up with a more catchy title... Hey...that's a good idea....who wants to help me come up with a title for my "reality show"?
How about a contest? Oh goody, I love contests!
Okay, here's the deal -- if you can come up with the "catchiest" (is that a word?!?) title for my quest for a clean home....I'll give you a FREE one-year subscription (or extension if you're already a subscriber) to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine AND the two e-books that have been written -- Secrets for Successful Homeschooling and Homeschooling the High Schooler.
Are you up for the challenge?
Deadline for entries is midnight Sunday, June 4th! I'll pick the winner and post first thing Monday morning! Hurry...and tell all your friends, ok? Hey, who can pass up a good contest? (And see me being REALLY transparent...okay...what am I getting myself into here? 
)
Comment here with your entry! Happy Commenting!
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Thursday, June 1, 2006 - My friend Kim...
It's been real difficult for me to keep up daily posts here whilst working for TOS! They are such slave drivers....sheesh... 
My friend Kim sent me the nicest e-card today...check it out.
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Monday, May 8, 2006 - The high cost of raccoons...
Well, we've spent a total of $260 to rid our attic of raccoons.
$95 for the "initial visit" and $55 for each raccoon trapped and hauled away...
$260
The high cost of raccoons.
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Sunday, April 30, 2006 - Raccoon damage...in case you're interested...
Look at all the information I'm finding out about raccoons and the damage they can cause ...
http://www.wegotbats.com/Raccoon_Damage_Page_2.html
And oh my word....read this guy's nightmare of having raccoon in the attic...
http://homepage.mac.com/kykurnal/iblog/B255583918/index.html
But they're so cute...
http://www.247wildlife.com/raccooninwall.htm
http://www.247wildlife.com/raccoonsnareattic.htm
http://www.247wildlife.com/raccoonswallceiling.htm
Yuck, yuck and more yuck!!
http://www.247wildlife.com/raccoonatticcontamination.htm
Okay I feel like gagging now.
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Sunday, April 30, 2006 - We have raccoons in our attic!
So last night I'm awakened about 4am to the sound of what I thought was a child waking up and dragging something in my room. I groggily looked around the room and did not see or hear a child.
I heard more noises ... they were above me .... I then remembered what my friend's husband had told me last week.
He had just cut down a tree in their backyard. I chatted with him about how Daniel wanted to cut down a birch tree by our house because raccoons kept using it to climb on the roof. I also lamented how he wanted to also cut down the pretty purple dogwood tree in the front. Chris proceeded to tell me about some friends of his who had a family of raccoons living in their attic. They didn't realize it until the urine started leaking through their ceilings. GROSS!!! The raccoons had done extensive damage to their attic and it had to be totally redone.
So here I am last night (or rather early this morning) thinking back over that conversation. I'm imagining this family of raccoons in our attic. I'm imagining raccon urine and feces everywhere. I'm thinking (worrying) about the cost of repairing the damage. I'm sick with worry.
I also start imagining them getting in the house and waking up being stared down by one of them. Yikes!
So what do I do? Well of course ... I wake up my husband out of a deep sleep and make him listen for the noises. Duh...
So now we're both awake. I'm listing all the worst-case scenarios. I can't get back to sleep...arrgggg. I finally start praying. Of course that helped. God knows what's going on in the attic. He created these obnoxious little rascals. It could be worse. We're not seeing urine stains in the ceiling.
So Daniel does some research online this morning. We stayed home from church because we were so tired. We have a guy coming in the morning -- to the tune of about $95.
I'm gonna post some interesting things about raccoons in the attic... in case you were curious. 
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Saturday, April 29, 2006 - Our shower issues...need advice :o)
Anyone have any ideas on how to get your husband to stop describing the gunk he just dug out of the drain when he was fixing the shower?
YUCK!!!!!! 
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