I Am Just Like Garfield on Mondays "): October 2014

Well everyone is gearing up for Halloween this week, if not done so already! It happens to be on a Friday, which is going to be extra fun for all the sugar wired kids .... and some parents. :)

In the meantime, I have had my nose to the grindstone so I barely had time to decorate and my place quaintly decorated with some fall and working on Halloween, but I like to save money and also make things myself. I will be glass painting some clear generic candle holders into Halloween them, and make them cool and creepy ones! Perhaps, when I have them complete and lit up this week, I will post the pics on the IAJLGOM's Facebook group or here.

Until then, I have some Halloween safety tips and then some really cool things you can make for Halloween with you kids. Perhaps you can go over these Halloween safety tips with the kids, and make it a safe and fun night for all!

Remember, all regular pedestrian rules are going to apply. Be sure to cross the road at marked cross walks, or well lit corners only. It is safest to work your way up one side of the street, and then cross once to the other side, not zigzagging. Also, consider sending your children with a flashlight for additional safety and to increase visibility.

Kids, let you parents know where you are going to be at all times and advise them if you will be returning late, or if you are a young trick-or-treater be sure to be accompanied by an adult. Pre-determine the boundaries to trick-or-treat within, and establish a firm time to return home.

Advise your children not to eat anything until they return home, where you can view the candy in the light and dispose of any items that appear to have been tampered with, or not properly wrapped.

When you are buying or making costumes, look for materials and accessories that are labelled flame-resistant. Ensure your child is wearing adequate foot wear that takes into consideration weather conditions and lots of walking. You know they don't want to go home with only a little bit of candy!
And choose bright coloured costumes that are highly visible. Add reflective tape to costumers that need further increases visibility.

Now that we have went over the safety stuff, we can get into how to make some creepy Halloween masks!

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Papier Mache Faces
For ages 8 to 12+.

You can decorate these papier mache faces with any colors or ghoulish looks you want, or you can make them into a masquerade mask, but it can be messy to work with Papier Mache so be sure to cover your work surface with lots of newspaper, and here' s how to make the papier mache face mask.

What You Will Need:
Flour                                                                               Sale
Newsprint (newspaper)                                                  Balloon
Water                                                                              Tempura Paint

Mix two parts water to one part flour to form a thick paste. Mix well to remove lump. Add some salt to the mix to discourage mold.

Blow up your balloon- this forms the base for your mask. Tear newspaper into strips about 3 cm wide and 15 cm long. Dip each strip of newsprint into the Papier Mache paste, and smooth off excess paste with your fingers. Drape across the balloon pressing gently to remove air bubbles.

Continue to add strips of Papier Mache to your balloon until the front is completely covered with four or five layers. **For a mask, leave the back of the balloon uncovered.

Add some features to your mask. Dip a strip of newsprint into the paste and crumple it up. Shape that like a nose. Press against the your mask. Add more strips of Papier Mache across the mask and over the nose to secure.

Add other features, like a mouth, ears and eyebrows the same way. Make sure you let the Papier Mache dry between layers. Once it's dry, paint your mask in any style with tempura paint. You can make your mask look like a green goblin or monster, or like Jack Skeleton, a witch or even Frankenstein! I hope it turns out scary anyways!

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Now to make some cool slime for your Haunted House. It is slippery and fun to make slime but maybe not fun to get slimed! Scroll down for my Slime recipe, but also be sure to keep slime away from clothing, furniture and carpets!

Slime

What You Will Need:
1/2 Cup of Wood Glue (Or white glue)
1/2 Cup Liquid Laundry Starch
1/2Cup Water
Food Colouring

Put the glue and water into a cup and stir well to dissolve. Add a few drops of food colouring for colourful slime. Add liquid laundry starch and continue to mix.
As the new material starts to form, remove it from the cup and knead it well. If the mixture is too sticky, add more starch.
Store slime in a zip lock bag so it does not dry out or make this Glow in the Dark Slime Recipe

Have fun! Scroll down for some links to more fun and easy Halloween crafts, including 19 printable Halloween decorations and ways to have fun and save money!

It's not always easy to get back into the "Spring" of things if you are lacking energy for any type of reason. Personally, once I am off track on accomplishing things, it can be difficult to gain momentum again. It is especially if you have been hit with the seasonal cold or flu. Blah!

Perhaps, you have been been having some health issues you are dealing with and also, you possibly need to get into or back into the routine of taking walks, getting exercise in and getting more fresh air. It's also nice to clear your mind and take inventory of what is going on in your life on personal walks. So you actually do more on a walk than you think, as well as it burns off toxins from your brain. So maybe that is why you think better and more sharply afterward!

My first recommendation for energy boosting is to add more fruits and vegetables to your breakfast and lunch. I admit not all of us have time to eat as much as we should. Sometimes even making juice on the daily is something that can be time consuming, and if you are like me and always seem to be crunched for time, breakfast can become all together not as important as being "on time".

That is actually a backwards way of thinking, because we should make time for eating something nutritious in the morning. Complex carbohydrates found in fruits and vegetables is necessary for long-lasting energy, along with whole grains. High proteins such as almonds are also energy boosting foods. I know yogurt and eggs are supposed to be nutritious, but I am trying to move away from eating animal products so as to help stop the nasty practices of the meat industry. So one might opt for more vegan or vegetarian options, but I have had an egg once in a blue moon on toast.

After all, there are plenty of foods to give you clean energy and if you turn to whole foods, instead of processed and animal product foods you will be better off. You will find you feel more energy and stay well through out your days, but perhaps if are taking on too much and have no time, or just plain don't care for taking the time you, then you might not be eating right.

Buying a healthy smoothie when you are on the run, to add to your nutritional requirements isn't such a bad idea as you can have wheat grass or spinach included. While both are nutritious it's up to you and what you like to taste and try in your smoothies. Beware of the sugar filled bottled "smoothies", at least all the time. I admit though, they can be tasty and feel nutritious if you are feeling like you need a pick me up or on the run for something to get energy for. My favorite are the pineapple and coconut smoothies, but if you are serious into getting started with blending smoothies or making juices then there is so much information on You Tube or on the web.

You may also want to start making the time to juice or make a smoothie the night before, if you are that pressed for time and then you know what went into it. Store it in a mason jar with a lid. Put it in the fridge and although it's not as good than when it's freshly made,it's a better bet than nothing. If you are up a little earlier with the daylight savings time, you might appreciate a moment to yourself and try to whip up a smoothie. Overnight oats are also a time saver! Look that up and make any of your favorites the night before. It really doesn't have to be complicated, a couple of fruit or vegetable items and you have one together. I encourage this as making time for yourself to sit and have a moment in the morning also gives a person more energy as well. 1/2 a small pineapple or an orange, a carrot peeled or washed very well, and 1 piece of (about 25 grams worth) of ginger is delicious and a very good way to get started for breakfast.

So, you may be asking what is so great about smoothies? Well, in order to fuel your body, you need well, just that..... we call it food. Food is supposed to be fuel for you and you need it for every day living. Obvious right? You need more high quality fuel and quantities when doing strenuous physical or mental activity. Your body and mind require a certain amount just to maintain, and let me tell you something I have learned along the way. Smoothies and juices are already broken down foods, so when you ingest them, your digestive system doesn't have to work as hard and thus, distributes as fuel to your cells quicker and more efficiently. Bam, you get instant energy!

This can also help you in the case of having a chronic health condition or are sick. It's because your system has to work hard to fight off or heal what is going on with you, and the whole food takes longer to break down. You need to step it up and look into smoothies and pure juice in order to make a speedier recovery! Of course, if you eat certain vitamins with other minerals and vitamins, they absorb faster as well. So look into which vitamins compliment each other in order to get the most benefits. Try to make conscious choices of what you are eating, because scarfing down a burger and fries is not the combo I mean. Here I did a quick google search, and this is the first blog that came up and Lindsay has 20 years of experience in nutritional education. Brilliant Nutrition . So it's that easy to get started, and take it step by step. Hire a nutritionist if you want to fast track your health knowledge and personally, I keep a folder of links to health sites and keep stepping it up a level, everyday. Your doctor is not going to hold your hand and tell you everything you have to know about your health. So take it upon yourself, to be the captain of your own ship ~ it's you I am talking about. Be your own health advocate and stop throwing the buck to someone else to do it for you.

If you make your own lunches and snacks, try adding an extra apple in here and there for your snacks. Replacing poor quality snacks with organic is best as it provides more clean nutrition, instead of pesticides that are used to grow conventional apples; although there is some question as to how "organic", organic labelled foods are. But at least that I know of they are better, and I then don't have to peel the apple and can simply wash it well and eat it. If you cannot access organic, at least wash or peel your produce very well. I recommend this vegetable wash of baking soda and vinegar. I just eyeball it, especially when rushing. I put about 1/4 cup of baking soda into a fairly large bowl of water (3000 ml/11 cups) and add a good splash of vinegar into the mix, until it fizzes like a mini science project. Now, this is to do a "batch", so say 4 apples or a bunch of kale. Then I put the veggies or fruits in and let them soak in there for a good few minutes. I take my veggie scrub brush to the veggies and scrub a bit, fairly methodically if they are non-organic, let them soak more and finally rinse them off well under running water. I let greens soak a lot longer actually, and you will see the dirt residue at the bottom of the bowl when you are finished this process. I have been using it for years now.

I cannot speak enough about bananas. Throwing a banana in a plastic banana case, will also be a great snack later on in the morning when you wished you would have fruited up. I depended on bananas when I was quitting smoking years ago, and it can be hard, but this fruit is a miracle worker when it comes to curbing off cravings of all types. You might find it surprising at the additional and clean energy you obtain from a piece of fruit. Beware again, of the dried bananas or fruits all the time as they have added sugar..... and they taste like they do as well. More sugar is ok if you are burning it off, and maybe not as bad, but if you are not and say have a job where in a cubicle or at a desk all day, can probably find those dried and sugar fruit snacks don't fill you up and add extra calories to compound onto your body.

I personally also try to add in supplemental super foods such as sprouted organic Chia seeds, hemp seeds or oil, someone told me hemp hearts can be great blended into a smoothie. Be sure you are not allergic or have any sensitivities to anything. Perhaps you should consult your doctor depending on your health conditions. For example, someone with a thyroid condition might avoid flax seed, as it is a goitrogenic and can slow down thyroid function.

I do love organic Sacred Lotus Pollen powder in my fruit smoothies, as it's great for uplifting the heart and mind. Basically it supports beauty both inside and out, and it tonifies the Qi, Jing & Shen. It can also be used in desserts or elixirs as well. I also like organic Pine Pollen powder for the pineal gland and is a highly prized food for over 2,400 years. It's rich in amino acids, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins. Use it in smoothies, teas or elixirs or even just taken straight as it is. I personally like it in my green juice or smoothies. Is also tonifies the Qi, Jing and Shen or Spirit.

Organic turmeric powder is great and used in Ayurvedic tonic. Turmeric(previously thought it was spelled as turmeric)..... is a rhizome that is part of the ginger family and it has been used for centuries as a culinary flavour and an important herbal remedy. Use it in cooking or salad dressing and of course smoothies. It can be used topically as well, to make facial masks or skin rubs to address all kinds of skin issues. Overall, if you are helping your health with turmeric as it amazingly cleanses the blood and helps the heart, it will give you more energy in the end. Find out more amazing health benefits. It might seem there is a lot to eating right and all kinds of supplements out there, but here's the kicker, even if you only make juices or smoothies and add one supplement for energy into your diet you might start to gravitate to eating more healthy and your health will start to make you be more abundant in all types of ways. Once you start to make your health #1, energy flows and everything else runs smoother.

So food is not the only energy booster, of course. Similarly, managing stress properly will help you maintain your natural energy and life force and you can look for dietary supplements that could help in the department of lowering stress, strengthening your immune system and increasing your energy and endurance as well as attention and alertness. The *E3 Live products such as the *E3AFA and *Brain ON taken together, help out in that department, but remember to consult your doctor before starting in on this regime, especially if you are pregnant or nursing. *In no way am I endorsed by these companies, but I really like their products! I add the Brian ON into my green smoothies and away I go.

Drinking good clean spring water is also essential for energy. Since your body is made up of a significant amount of water, around 90% it is also important to intake enough water and thus replenish your levels of water in organs and circulation, which will boost your energy. You will also find less ailments, such as dehydration, headaches, dizziness and overall feel much better if you are drinking enough good clean water. You could invest in picking up a proper water filter and if you want to invest in something that is essential, make it be your water. Check out the Water Filter Test Results from NaturalNews.com to find the best one. I would also not be going far out, to say air quality is another ingredient to improving maximum energy and vigor. Look to improve the air quality in your home and also get into the country fresh air when you can. Camping is a nice way to spend time with your family, escape the hustle bustle and get in that extra O2.

The optimum amount of sleep varies with each person but there is one thing for sure, plenty of good rest helps you have more energy. If you are making an effort to get enough hours of sleep and stocking up on plenty of water, you might find you need less sleep, as well as if you're drinking healthy juices or smoothies. If you are trying to stay healthy, think and be your best, and not get run down, there is no doubt to get your rest however, sometimes we still feel fatigued after a night of sleep. Then you might start a journal on the matter, to keep track of what you were doing and how that affected your sleep or rest. So for example, if you were worrying about something and rather than choosing positive thoughts, you might find the next day you wake up feeling horrible. It may be because, whether you remember or not, you had nightmares all night and tossed and turned. So it's something to consider. Try to choose positive thoughts, even though negative ones WILL still crop up. It's up to you to know that it is a choice to dwell, to push that thought aside and go for anything that is better and makes you feel better. Try to choose a time, to let yourself "worry it out", and that might be 20 minutes of set time in your day to address what it is that is bothering you. Then do not give it any more of your energy again that day.

There are other additional things to do to boost your energy and focus, such as meditate. Here's how to start meditation practice, as it is essential for managing the stress in our lives which can drain our energetic selves, and is also known to help us sleep better which again can increase our energy and lust for life. There is not a right or wrong way to meditate, but there is a way that is best for you. Balance is the key and there is nothing wrong with taking a break.

Energy can also be lost to our environment, so perhaps Tai Chi is also something that could be of interest to you, and can be an art that you practice to maintain your energy. Tai Chi exercise also is said to boost your body's cold-fighting defenses by as much as 47%. Probably due to its slow movements and controlled type breathing. Here's a beautiful 3 minute practice of Tai Chi to start off and if you are interested you can search more videos on You Tube or information, books at your local library, more information on the Internet or search out a club or classes that you can join.

Something I have started for energy and exercise is yoga, and it is a great way to stretch out your body subtly, and use yoga to create energy to flow through your body. If nothing else, it wakes me up and helps alleviate stiffness and sore muscles. I also maintain my body with exercise and walking, and have done this my entire life. I used to ride bicycles more, jog and jump rope as well, but have slowed down a little since a car accident. That doesn't mean I stopped altogether and don't improve to get back to where I was physically.

I once recommended to someone who had a stroke and could no longer exercise like they wanted, (and was complaining of this problem) to do small chair exercises. There was a program on television that came on at around noon time on PBS. They laughed at me, as if I was insinuating they were a cripple or a senior citizen. I was shocked at the attitude, but I explained even though I had not had any paralyzing health causes, I DID do those chair exercises when I wasn't feeling well and to improve wrist strength or what not. Then they understood what I was getting at. You can make excuses, OR you can do something that is at your ability level in order to improve and work your way up to a more advanced alignment of activity. Again, joining yoga classes for beginners if you are starting out, is a great way to get going and feel energized while meeting new people with the same interest. Go with someone you know for walks in the park, or if you are more advanced you can try hiking with a group in nature. Generally, you will find more energy and love to be around people who are like minded.

Nature is a place that gives you energy, as you instantly become calm and intake more fresh air. I recommend getting outdoors as often as you can but always practice safety in the forest. Getting near free flowing and clean water such as a rivers, waterfalls or even creeks, can boost your energy and peacefulness. I also recommend putting a small fountain that makes the water sound in your home and could be helpful because you can maintain a more relaxing environment, so as not to expel energy that you need for useful activities. Bathing in a nice relaxing bath with Epsom salts will not only help you feel calm, but also energized the day after, as it will help you get your magnesium levels up and detox you as it takes away toxins that block your energy from your cells. Here's more on Epsom salt baths and the benefits! Benefits of Epsom Salt Baths

Something that is fairly new to my attention, is Orgonite and apparently it can clear negative energy and help bring you more positive energy. It can also help disperse harmful wifi and EMF signals from all the new technological devices such as cell phones, "Smart" televisions and appliances, "Smart" meters and more, like the harmful radio waves from cell phone towers that might be placed to close to your home. Again, this is new to me but you can definitely google or look into the brief history of orgonite, or check back again and I should have a full post about it put together sometime in the future. I did think it was important to mention this type of energy booster as well and here's a link to a website, so you might find out the basics and head you on the right track about Orgonite: www.orgonite.info

Also, essential oils are fairly new to me, but again an energy booster from what I hear. You can diffuse certain oils in order to reduce fatigue and give you more focus, as it falls in line with aromatherapy. Here's more info on how essential oils can make your brain quick: Make Your Brian Quick & Clear .

There are many more ways to boost energy like stopping bad addictions, such as smoking cigarettes or over-eating on bad foods, that can be hindering your personal energy and health goals. One must stop to think why you are buying supplements and great food, just to hinder yourself with bad addictions.

Take necessary steps towards curbing those habits and seek help if you feel you cannot accomplish managing it on your own. Here are some links to help you get started and also, don't forget mental health is part of health and wellness too! If you are in need of any assistance or feeling overwhelmed and need to talk to someone , please reach out. You might start talking to a friend or someone you trust and then go from there!

Quitting Smoking: www.smokefree.gov/

Eating Right: www.eatright.org

Good Luck & God Bless!

I Am Just Like Garfield on Mondays ")

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Halloween Special

Tuesday, October 07, 2014

Energy Boosters

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