Have a Better Life

A lot has been going on lately and I haven’t been able to post as regularly as I wanted to. The tiredness and muscle pain hasn’t gone away even after five days of holidays. I am feeling very down, depressed and not even the baby announcements I received from two friends cheered me up.

Today I went to do a blood test and on Friday I will know if I am anemic again or not.

The weather isn’t helping me. It’s raining and not being able to go to the pool or beach with the kids really sucks. Big stores and hyper markets are not the ideal places to go now because of the Flu A so staying at home and going to the local coffee store are the best we can do.

If the diagnose of all the symptoms I am feeling is that my body is really exhausted, I don’t know how I am going to cope with that. I just hope some vitamins and minerals can help me. Let’s wait for the blood test results.

Landscaping:
If you are considering creating a nice flower garden area, shopping for plants even on sale, can be expensive. Before you go out and start spending, look around to see if you have other plants that can be split from your existing flowers. Additionally, if you have a good relationship with any of your neighbors, you might ask them if they have any plants you could use as a starter. Another great idea is the next time you are in the market to buy a lawnmower, purchase one that mulches leaves. This way, rather than buy mulch for your flowerbeds every year, you can simply use the mulch you make.

Allowance:
Do not forget to give yourself an allowance for things you enjoy. Even if on a tight budget, buy something that you enjoy, which could be as simple as buying a new shirt or grabbing lunch at your favorite café. If you do not allow yourself this small “splurge”, you could find yourself in the same position as if dieting. Total deprivation leads to overindulgence.

This last weeks I’ve been posting less post. My full time work, the tiredness and some headaches haven’t allowed me to spend much in the computer at night.

Some time ago it was easier to write some post at work but now I am alone i the office and I have twice the work I had before. I really try to write but with people coming near me all the time it’s not easy to keep the windows hidden from them.

I love to write and I really prefer to write because the public speaking fear is not present. Speaking face to face to a person it’s much difficult for me so writing it’s my escape.

Next week I will star my holidays and I hope I can rest a lot to catch up with all the blogging.

Image via Wikipedia

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I know that but I never eat a nutritious breakfast myself. Next week I will be on holidays and I intend to eat better once usually I don’t even have lunch. I know I should eat more, that I have some vitamin deficiencies and that reflects on my body metabolism.

Changing my eating style it’s a priority for me. Most people decide to go on diets or take diet pills like ephedra but in my case, I need extra calories to keep up being an healthy person. So, let’s start the day with some Healthy Multi-Grain Waffles.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2/3 cup whole-wheat flour
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ or cornmeal
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:
Mix buttermilk and oats in a medium bowl; let stand for 15 minutes.

Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, wheat germ (or cornmeal), baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.

Stir eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla into the oat mixture. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients; mix with a rubber spatula just until moistened.

Coat a waffle iron with cooking spray and preheat. Spoon in enough batter to cover three-fourths of the surface (about 2/3 cup for an 8-by-8-inch waffle iron). Cook until waffles are crisp and golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter.

For more healthy recipes visit EatingWell website.

This year, due to financial issues we won’t be able to go on holidays again. It has been 6 years since we last went somewhere on holidays.

I really that at this stage of my life I would be able to go on vacation at least one week per year, but things are not working out and money is scarce. I am not looking for Orlando vacations or Cancun vacations, I just want to spend a few days resting and enjoying the time without worrying about cleaning, washing, cooking, etc..

I really need to rest and I hope that on my summer vacation (starting on July 20) I will be able to get over my exhaution, muscle pain and general tireness.

What about you, are you going on summer vacations this year? What is your destiny?

Guest Post:
Author: Mark Pappas

Teach the Children
My children love the outdoors, because my wife and I expose them to it. They also love computers, and I am sure if we exposed them to fast foods they would love that as well. It’s all about making good choices and being a good example. I’m not talking about wearing hemp clothing or eating granola all day long although there are those who do. You do not have to be that committed to be a part of the “Green Initiative”. For those who merely have a healthy respect for the world we live in and want to take action to help improve the environment, there are many simple changes that we can make, and teach our children to do the same.

Recycling
There is more to recycling than paper, plastic and bottles. Organic waste is one of the largest contributors to landfills which causes methane gas, the principle component of natural gas, is released into the atmosphere and is a contributing factor in the depletion of the ozone layer, which in turn plays a major part in global warming. Organic waste such as leaves, grass clippings, and non-animal food scraps do not decompose efficiently enough in landfills yet makes the best compost for your vegetable garden, flowers, trees and shrubs.

Composting is Easy
Composting can also be fun, especially if you enjoy gardening, and are even more rewarding when you think about the thousands of acres of open space being saved through the very simple practice of recycling and composting. All good gardeners know that there is nothing better for your plants and turf than good old fashioned hand made compost. There are many different types of composters on the market today that make the task of composting very easy and will protect against attracting stray or wild animals. You can even quicken the process of making compost by using safe and organic composting accelerators giving you compost within a few weeks.

Use Organic Products
Using organic fertilizers and control products also cuts down on soil, air and ground water pollution. Sure it’s easy to buy a bag of name brand fertilizer or pesticide; however it is just as easy to find organic products now more than ever. In fact, it is also just as cheap. The larger name brand companies are beginning to put out their own lines of organic gardening products, so be sure to keep an eye out.

Getting Rid of Insects
Rather than spraying for insects which would be both timely and costly, install a bat box or two in your trees and let them take care of the bugs for you! Adding ladybugs or praying mantis to your garden is much more fun than spraying weekly for bugs. If you live in a rural area and zoning allows for livestock, chickens are an amazing bug control. Yes, just a couple of chickens running loose in your yard will eat up to 1 million fleas and ticks daily.

Conserving Water
Where droughts are prevalent each year conserving water is a must. Watering your yard can account for up to 40% of water consumption. Catching rainwater with rain barrels to water your yard or garden is just as easy as dragging out your hose and will save you a substantial amount of money on your water bill. One 80 gallon rain barrel can capture 3,275 gallons of water per year and you’ll be putting the water back into the underground aquifer. Not routing rainwater from your roof to your garden will only serve to tax drainage systems rather than benefit vegetation or replenish natural, underground aquifers.

Most rain barrels are made from either 100% recycled plastic or reused food industry barrels, so either way you will also be putting renewable resources to good use and your plants and flowers will thank you for it.

Plant a Tree
Every tree planted helps remove CO2 from our atmosphere, depletion of the ozone layer. There are many other benefits to growing trees in your own yard or community for that matter. They provide homes and a safe haven for the many wild animals that still reside among us. Mature trees help shade our home from the sun, cutting down on energy consumption when using air conditioning. One of the more proactive and well established non-profit organizations is the Arbor Day Foundation which encourages the planting and care of trees worldwide.

Pervious Patios and Walkways
For every 1,000 square feet of pervious patio, driveways or walkways, you can prevent an average of 12,100 gallons of storm water runoff from going into your communities drain system. This same water will help to recharge our lakes, wetlands and groundwater.

Make a List
There are many changes that you can to help improve our environment. Gather everyone in your household and discuss how your family can contribute to the health of the world we live in. Children are the most receptive to new ideas and will have a lot of fun making their own top ten lists. By making good choices today, our children will make even better choices tomorrow.

About the Author:
Mark Pappas writes articles about sustainable outdoor living and is co-owner of GreenNationGardens.com which hosts sustainable outdoor living products.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Essence of Living Green