Kitchen Table Idea Board

Ok friends. I'm going to redo my kitchen table. We've looked around for a new one and I can't seem to find one I want to pay good money for. So instead we've gotten some new chairs and I'm going to repaint the table. The chairs that came with the table are top heavy and not very comfortable so they needed to go (the tall ladder back chairs). We got the set with a matching buffet at a yard sale for a steal...$150.

So...here is the table and chairs (the buffet is another project altogether):

Here are some ideas...

Do you have any ideas for me? Share your thoughts.

Daspri

Soothing Spring Allergies/Sinuses Naturally

Spring and I have always had a love-hate sort of relationship. I love when the flowers and the trees start blooming and the birds begin chirping outside my window. I love the cool breeze in the morning and in the evening with the warmth of the sun in between.
I don't so much like the fact that as soon as that very first bloom appears, my body feels it. I start sneezing, my eyes begin to feel heavy, my head feels full, and then it happens....I can no longer breathe through my nose!

Now, I will say that these symptoms do not arise near as often as they did before I began eating clean (no gluten, dairy, sugar or processed foods). However, they do still show their ugliness more than I would like. As in this week, right now, I cannot breathe.

So, based on the assumption that many others are probably experiencing similar things right now, I thought I would share a few natural ways that help me during this season.

 Drink lots of lemon water!
The excess of water will help flush your system, keep you hydrated, and loosen up all of the junk in your head that needs to come out!
For more info on the health benefits of lemons, check an older post here.

It's so sad to me that we have been trained to immediately call the doctor and run to the drug store to load up on anything that says it will give us fast relief. I used to do this very thing.
Why not educate ourselves on the many natural ways that we can come along side our bodies to help strengthen and boost our immune system rather than continue to get sick and take medicine that simply masks our problems?
Now, there are certainly things that do require a doctor and some serious illnesses that modern medicine can really help. I am talking about the sniffles, stuffy noses, etc. Things that our bodies can handle if we just know how to take care of our bodies.

In the photo above, you see:
-BioAllers Outdoor Allergy- a friend told me about these and they have replaced medicines like Claritin and Zyrtec for me. Not only does this help my symptoms, but it is building a strong defense in my body against these allergens so that eventually, they do not cause my body so much grief.

Fenu-Thyme- LOVE this stuff! It works just like sudafed used to work for me-relieving me of all of the sinus pressure and helping to clear my stuffy nose. Only now, I am taking a pill that simply has 2 herbs in it and not a pill that is filled with harmful chemicals and dyes that are hurting my body and actually weakening my immune system.

 Vitamin C Powder- this stuff is the bomb! Yes, I just said that, but I don't care because it is! 1 little teaspoon of this boasts 5000mg of straight Vitamin C! I put this in a small glass of OJ or water and chug it.

Calcium Magnesium Zinc- this little pill helps tremendously in boosting your immune system and making your body strong. Read more here.

Elderberry Zinc Lozenges- I just found these at our local health food store this week and am loving them. Did you know that if you start taking zinc within 24 hrs of a cold, it can literally knock it out by shortening the life of the cold and lessening the symptoms? And these have elderberry in them as well. Check out this old post to learn more about elderberry.

When I am sick like this and can't breathe or taste anything, all I ever want is soup. So, I whipped up this recipe today for my lunch.
I knew I wanted something that had a lot of broth to warm my throat but I also wanted some substance so I added a small handful of brown rice noodles as well.
I also wanted something that would open up my sinuses a bit so I threw in spices such as: cayenne pepper, garlic, and ginger.

Soothing Sinus Soup
1 can of organic chicken broth
3 green onions- diced
1 TB olive oil
Small handful of brown rice noodles
1/2 to 1 tsp of garlic powder
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
*you can add more pepper or ginger if you want it a bit hotter.

Add your oil to your saucepan, toss in your onions and saute  for a few minutes. Add your broth, spices and noodles and cook on med-low for a few more minutes. That's it!
This soup hit the spot for me today. It warmed my sore throat and helped my breathe a bit easier. Perfect!

And now, I think I will sip a cup of hot tea. This is the Yogi Echinacea Immune Support tea. I added a bit of honey and enjoy.

Do you have some natural remedies for allergy season? Share with us.
Stay healthy!
-Jenny

*disclaimer- I am not a licensed anything. What works for me might not work for you. I am simply sharing my journey to better health in hopes to inspire and help someone else. Please read, enjoy and decide for yourself.

Calzone

There is a local restaurant here in town that makes a great supreme style calzone. The hubbs is a big fan and so am I. So, why not make one at home...ish. It's pretty easy. You can either make your pizza dough from scratch or grab a store bought one. Make your dough up (I always add Italian seasoning and some garlic powder to the crust. Roll it out into a rectangle. Add your yummy fresh ingredients to the middle. 

Some like to skip the sauce on the inside and dip it once it comes out. You can sauce your way! Cut slits down each side and then lay them over the top.

Bake according to your dough recipe and viola! Fun twist on pizza if you want to mix it up.

Daspri

Inspiration 

He is no longer here...

What an amazing time of remembrance and celebration is upon us! 

He is no longer in the grave for he has risen.

Mat 28:1  Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

Mat 28:2  And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

Mat 28:3  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

Mat 28:4  And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

Mat 28:5  But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

Mat 28:6  He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

Mat 28:7  Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you."

Mat 28:8  So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Mat 28:9  And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

Mat 28:10  Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

Mat 28:11  While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.

Mat 28:12  And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers

Mat 28:13  and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.'Mat 28:14  And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."Mat 28:15  So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.Mat 28:16  Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.Mat 28:17  And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Mat 28:19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,Mat 28:20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Thankful! Little more do I have to give this great savior than my gratitude and humble heart. But I am so very thankful.

Daspri

Easy Mirror Update DiY

This mirror hangs in the dining room. I like to have it there so I can do I drive-by before I head out the back door. It has been this dark wood color for all its life but this weekend I decided it needed a new coat. Don’t we all like to be freshened up every now and then?

First, I cleaned it off well. Then I used some yellow acrylic paint around some of the detail. 

After that almost dried I got some white interior paint and put on a coat of it. I didn't want it to be stark white so not letting the yellow dry completely allowed some of it to bleed through. I didn't sand any but I made sure not to cover too well with the white.

Wet

Dry

I contemplated doing a stark white and may still add another coat but for now I like this look.

Easy and updated! Happy Thursday!!!

Daspri

Tribute To The Queen

Today, the woman that I know as queen, left this earth in peace. This beautiful lady is my grandma. To tell you the truth, I don't really remember exactly what started her title and reign as queen in our family, but I do remember all of us teasing about it and her happily accepting the title and role. From that point on, she was known as "the Queen" and/or "Queenie" and according to her, I was known as princess.

She quickly accumulated all sort of "queenly" gifts because everything pretty, sparkly, royal, and especially adorning a crown, reminded us of her.

I was so very blessed to live right across the street from my grandma and grandpa for almost my entire childhood. There have been many, many times over the years that I have talked negatively of living in that small town growing up, but today, I realized that if I had not lived there, I would not have all of the precious memories that I have with my queen. It's good to be reminded of the things that really matter.

If I wasn't following her around the house, I was following her around the yard and flowerbeds. If you couldn't find me in her lap in her favorite chair and her rubbing my back or playing with my hair, then you could find me rummaging through her box of fabric and her jars of buttons. If I wasn't sitting at her table eating her yummy fried eggs and toast with jam, then I was probably sifting through her closet looking at her clothes and shoes.  She was a stylish lady; always looking her best and presenting herself as just that, a lady.

And if it was 5:30 in the evening, then you could most certainly find me sitting in the living room munching on cheese and crackers and kipper snacks for the daily snack time....in which I always invited myself to!  We also watched The Wheel of Fortune together during snack time. Both my grandma and grandpa could've been on that show and walked away with lots of money!

If it was Wednesday, there was a season in which you would always find me at the laundry mat with my grandma helping her sort and wash and fold clothes with a trip to the ice cream parlor for two rootbeer floats afterward. 

She taught me to sew a pillow, to play Rummy and Kings Corner, to play the knuckle song and Silent Night on the piano, to always laugh at yourself, to walk like a lady, that you are only as old as you feel and to enjoy life to the fullest, no matter what.

She made the best fried chicken in the world, the sweetest sugar cookies, and the most comforting grill cheese sandwich accompanied by the warmest mug of tomato soup.  

She made me laugh so much and I thought she was so funny that I called her my crazy grandma. Apparently, I would bring my little friends across the street and knock on her door and when she answered, I would introduce her as "my crazy grandma." Then, I would ask her to do something crazy! I was proud of her; I wanted everyone to meet her. I am still proud of her.

Whenever anyone would leave her house, she would stand at the top of the driveway and do a little dance as you pulled away. She did this for as long as I can remember. We would all smile and laugh and wave "happy hands" back at her and I would watch out my window until she was no longer in sight. 

I can still see her dancing.

She might have told an inappropriate joke or two, or three, or four as well. I remember one time in particular. I think I was in junior high and we had moved away at that time. She came to visit and stay with us and as she was whispering her joke in my ear, my dad walked into the kitchen and immediately could tell she was up to something. It was so funny, not the joke (I don't remember that).

I watched her every move. I listened. I soaked her in; her smile, her laugh, the way she would cut her eyes and crunch her nose and the way she could bring fun and joy into any room. 

I held her hand and studied her wrinkles; they were beautiful. I loved listening to her play the piano and sing. I can still remember the smell of her perfume and her voice saying, "I love you always."

I asked questions....about everything she did and she was always so gracious to listen and answer. 

I wanted to be with her every chance I got. I asked to come over all of the time and I LOVED the times that I would get to sleep over!

Once when I was older (in college), a few of my close girlfriends and I loaded up for a small road trip and headed to grandma's house. She stayed up late with us playing cards (Canasta!) and laughing and being her silly, fun self. We tried on all of her old hats and took fun pictures. She looked through old photos with us and told us stories.

She would often be ready for another game when the rest of us were ready for sleep!

There are so many wonderful things to remember and say about her. I am so incredibly thankful for the precious time I had with her. She taught me so much more than she probably ever realized.
I love this woman so dearly and she will forever live in my heart and my memories.

You reigned well my queen.
-Jenny

Spring Break Fun

While we were off last week I and my little family unit got to escape for a few days. We ran up to Branson Missouri and spent a couple days at an indoor water park. Keylee loves water. We thought it would be fun to let her have some water fun even though our weather outside isn’t quite cooperating yet. She had a blast and we chased her all over that place. 

The main playhouse was pretty fun. The next pic is Keylee leading her daddy through it.

Every 30 minutes or so a bell sounds and the giant bucket on top of the playhouse dumps gallons of water. We never jumped into the waterfall but every time the bell rang Keylee stopped to watch. After it was over she would turn to one of us and say "it's gonna be a little while till it happens again." Love that kid!

Of course there is always a lazy river. 

The kiddie play area was a hit and she went down the slide about 25 times on the last day. 

Shortly before we were going to head out she was taking another trip up the ramp to slide down again but she took off too fast and fell. That fall took it out of her and we were finished. Look at this face:

Poor sweet thing. I just want to eat her up. Of course she was not happy I was taking her pictures at all.

In spite of her spill at the end she had a good time and we are still talking about it. We are so fortunate to be able to do fun things like this. Love making memories with our girl. 

Did you have any fun spring break adventures? Share them with us.
Daspri