High Five for Friday!

High Five for Friday!

1. A month ago I got laid off.  After seven years at my company, they didn't need me anymore.  To say I was heartbroken is to put it mildly.  But....after a month a girl in my office decided she didn't like her reduced hours, and they called and offered them to me!  My office hadn't even been touched. I brought my box back that I had packed my stuff in and never opened, and settled back in!!

2. Thankfully I ordered some Ningxia Nitro.  Like 5 Hour Energy but without the chemicals.  I wouldn't have been able to make it through the week without it!  Daily naps have made me lazy!!

3. This kid.  I can't even.  This was the day he wanted to come back in the house sooo bad.  But when I opened the door, he just stared at me.  When I shut it....you would have thought that I had signed him up for a life on the streets.  (for the record, he was only in the sunroom.  he thinks that is the real outside).

4. I have a hard time sticking to healthy habits.  This time, I'm only committing to 30 days.  Maybe I usually fail because I think of things as life style changes and figure that if I am going to do something for life, skipping a day won't matter.  So this time it's just 30 days.  30 days of green smoothies and 30 days of daily walks.

5. My deck.  It has been in process for over five weeks.  The deck guy is also painted 16 auto parts stores an hour away, soooo my deck isn't getting done very fast.  Just a little more railing and we should be all set.  Cross your fingers!!

Don't forget to visit The Lauren Elizabeth blog for other High Five for Friday posts!

Coma in a bottle!

I know you would all love to hear about my adventures in sleep, right??!? When we first started this essential oils journey, Steve and I were putting lavender behind our ears at night and the sleep was awesome. So great. And then I added some cedarwood to the mix. People were raving about it and it's super inexpensive so I thought "why not?!" and that made the sleep even better.

Apparently, even through all of that, I had no idea what good sleep was. I kicked it up a notch and got Tranquil, a blend of lavender, cedarwood, and chamomile.

It is a coma in a bottle!!

Plus, it rolls on. So easy, a Steve can do it. I asked him last night if he minded if I stocked up in case it ever goes out of stock and his response, "uh...yeah...I count on this stuff!"

Deep Relief is right!!

When I first learned about essential oils, I thought they were a little too hippy for me.  With a mix of voodoo thrown in as well.  But then I started thinking and realized that they've been around many times longer than Excedrin and multivitamins, yet I have no problem taking those on a daily basis. (yeah, that's too much Excedrin, but stay with me...)

Sometimes you are desperate enough for a solution, that you will step out of your comfort zone.  My husband has HORRIBLE pain in his left arm and hand.  It started on Father's Day weekend in 2010, and the pain was so immediate that he thought he was having a stroke.  He wasn't.  After many appointments with specialists and a few surgeries, there still isn't any improvement.  So, yeah, we are desperate.  

So I hesitantly climbed on that essential oil bus and placed a few orders to Young Living.  First was Panaway (and some Lavender for myself!).  No improvement.  Next I added Peppermint which was supposed to intensify the Panaway, and also Deep Relief - to deepen I suppose.  None of those made a big difference, but I haven't given up hope.

That said.....remember when I mentioned the Excedrin I take daily???

Sometimes its more than once a day.  I know....my poor liver.  Anyway, I was feeling a little crazy one day when my headache started brewing and tried out the Deep Relief. Oh my goodness, the angels started singing.  It was like an ice pack on my forehead, without having to lay still. Within 20 minutes I was feeling 100%.  I haven't even had to take anything OTC since this miraculous revelation.  I will never be without my little roll on of Deep Relief.  Handsome Steve might still be in pain, but I'm feeling so much better! 

Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic Drizzle

I remember growing up loving brussels sprouts.  My mom made the frozen kind often, and I ate them right up.  That changed a few years ago when I bought one of those little boxes of brussels sprouts.  You know the ones, I think they are actually supposed to be two servings, and usually have a sauce of some sort on the veggies.

Well....they tasted like mushy shoes.  And I never ate another one until my brother in law made some for Christmas last year.  Roasted in the oven?  Sign me up.

Wanting to make some, I did a little googling and this happened!!

I cannot even tell you how tasty these were.  My mouth is watering just thinking about them!  And easy?!?  You have no idea! 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Cut brussel sprouts in half.
• Toss with some olive oil.  I didn't measure, just make them shiny.
• Lay out in a single layer on a pan.  Sprinkle with salt.  
• Roast for 25 minutes.
• Halfway through, flip them over and give them another salt sprinkle.  

And the leaves that come loose when you tossed with olive oil?  Lay those on top and when you take the pan out at the half way point, eat them.  They will be crispy and salty and a little bit like heaven!

Did you think I would say that this is when we eat?  Not quite yet.  Let me introduce you to my friend Rachel. 

Have you met?  Oh my goodness are you in for a treat.  This is the only brand that I can find in my local grocery stores that makes balsamic vinegar already reduced.  It is just chillin' in this bottle, waiting for you to drizzle.  On anything.  Particularly some fresh from the oven roasted brussels sprouts.  Yup.  Fantastic!!

Do you have a special way you make this tasty veggie?  Tell me about it and I'll try your way next!