Giving Thanks

Well, I'm a little behind schedule because of the holiday and because our internet went a little haywire for a few days, but I am going to start today to stick to the plan of blogging each day about something that I'm thankful for.  Where is this coming from??  Not exactly from Thanksgiving, but from the following link.  http://darrenhardy.success.com/2010/11/to-be-great-be-grateful/  It's a challenge to take 3 minutes for the next 21 days to think of something you are grateful for.  You know, we all have those days, where we just feel like life never gives us a break.  We try, and try, and work our butts off, but never seem to get any closer to our goals.  It's tough.  I know, I feel like that every day.  And it's never about just one thing, but many things.  Relationships, work, family, finances, body image, etc.  There are always people that you will be envious of, people who you look at and think they have it all.  But what we fail to remember when we are stuck in those funks, is that those people do not have perfect lives either.  And that no matter what life throws at us, there is always something to be thankful for.  So, to go along with my friend, I am going to try to blog everyday about something I am thankful for.  And I am actually stepping it up a few notches for myself.  I'm not only going to blog about the little things, but I'm also going to challenge myself to be thankful each day for something that my husband does, for my child, for my pets, and for myself.  I plan on starting Thanksgiving Journal for my husband, like the person in the link did for his wife to give to him as a xmas present.  I already keep a journal for my daughter, but I want to write something everyday in her journal to thank her for.  AND, I want to get back into journaling for myself...so I not only want to be thankful each day for my wonderful critters, but also for something for myself.  ARE YOU up to the challenge????  Try it, see what it does for you.  As for today, I am thankful for my family, my health, my job, and my life.  What are you thankful for??????

Halloween Candy

On another note, I have a great suggestion for leftover Halloween Candy Bars.  Take your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and instead of using chocolate chips, chop up those leftover candy bars!  I did it last night and it turned out pretty good.  I made mine into bars instead of cookies (because who has time for cookies!).  Here is the recipe:

1/2 cup butter or coconut oil
1/2 cup yogurt/baby food (such as banana puree or sweet potato), or baby food prunes
1 egg
3/4 c. granulated sugar (or a little less)
3/4 c. brown sugar (packed loosely)
1 t. vanilla extract
1 t. baking powder
dash of salt
1 c. all purpose flour
1 1/4 c. whole wheat flour
roughly 2 c. of chopped up candy bars to your liking (reese's pb cups, 3 musketeer, and milky way work well)

Preheat oven to 375.  Grease a 9X13 pan (or make into cookies).  Mix all ingredients.  Bake until golden brown.  Delish!

crying....

Lately I feel like all I do is cry.  I cry because I can't help it, I cry because my daughter is so beautiful and amazing, I cry because I fear for her future, for my future, for the future of our family, I cry because I am so exhausted all of the time and I don't know how I'll make it through another long drive back and forth for work, I cry because I have no time to exercise and I despise my body right now, I cry because I want to be a good friend, a good wife, a good mom...but sometimes I feel like I'm failing on all accounts, I could probably list more, but don't have the time or energy. 

I know crying is a good thing.  It's good to release the pent up emotions, to FEEL emotions, but it makes me feel weak and frustrated.  I feel like there is something wrong with me that I cry so much.....that it happens all to easily these days.  Is it normal??  Almost 6 months after the birth of your first child to still feel this way?  Why do I feel this way so much?  What do I really have to cry about?  I ask myself these questions, and others, because I feel like sometimes there is no concrete reason. 

Don't get me wrong, I love my life.  I am thankful everyday for the gifts I have been given.  I have a wonderful daughter, cute and cuddly pets who have transitioned relatively well to the addition of our daughter, a loving family, a husband that despite our differences and marital issues - I believe would try to move the world for myself and our daughter if he needed to, I have a job, I am healthy, I have good friends.  You know, the list could go on there as well. 

Sometimes I feel like there should be a happy medium, or perhaps I just need to try harder to see the glass as half full instead of half empty.  Honestly, I know that it's okay to cry.  That it's normal, you don't always need a reason, it just happens.  It's just hard sometimes.  To think about things and see things in a positive light.  To realize that I'm not weak just because I cry.  Because really, I am just being me. 

Heartburn and headaches

I think I finally figured out that part of the problem with my heartburn and headaches last week was due to the wonderful recipe I posted with the peanut butter.  I think I have a peanut intolerance.  Not an allergy, but intolerance.  You know, I always get heartburn after eating something with peanuts or peanut butter and I realized that I was feeling pretty crappy last week but I was eating those noodles all week for lunch.  I quit, b/c of my sudden suspicion and lo and behold...no headache or heartburn!  Who knew!!  The recipe was still good though.  I'll just have to make some modifications in the future!  Another thing that is supposed to really help remedy heartburn and headache for those of you interested are Hazelwood and Amber necklaces.  A great site to check out is http://hazelaid.com/C_Products_Ad_Hazelwood.html.  Interesting information and cool jewelry to boot!  Hope it's been a Happy Monday so far!