Some of my favorite Pinterest DIY crafts!

 

 Sources – WhereHomeStarts - GeekFill – PrincessPinkyGirl – Lenasekine.Blogspot – MakelyHome – Rashoncarraway

8 ways to relieve anxiety

Meditation

Most stress-reduction techniques can help relieve anxiety, including abdominal breathing, guided visualizations or meditation. The basics of the meditation (listening to your breath or paying specific attention to various parts of your body) are easy to learn. The important thing is to make practicing mindfulness a part of your daily life so you’ll be prepared when a stressful situation arises.

 

Yoga

 

By combining relaxation exercises with controlled breathing, yoga can help you deal with both physical and mental stress. A study at the Boston University School of Medicine found that any type of yoga practice may increase brain levels of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is associated with relaxation and lowered anxiety. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 27 percent increase of GABA in the brains of experienced practitioners following an hour-long yoga session, versus no increase in a group that simply read for an hour.

 

 

 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT, which refers to any therapies that teach you how to think more realistically so that fearful thoughts don’t build into anxiety, is most commonly recommended for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). “What we think about an event affects our feelings more than the event itself,” says Bourne.

As you examine the thoughts that underlie your feelings with CBT, you can determine whether or not they really make sense. If they don’t, you can replace them with more realistic thoughts. For instance, you might think, “I am in danger” while walking on a crowded street; the therapist would help you see the situation more clearly, so you instead think something like, “There are no real dangers here.” Therapy sessions are combined with “homework,” such as keeping track of your moods and challenging your negative thoughts.

 

Exercise

 

 

A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that, on average, patients who exercised regularly reported a 20 percent reduction in anxiety symptoms compared to those who did not exercise

 

 

Supplement your symptoms

 

Research has linked a variety of nutrients to lower levels of anxiety. In one study, omega-3 supplementation led to a 20-percent reduction in anxiety symptoms. In another study, supplementing with calcium, magnesium and zinc significantly reduced anxiety and perceived stress. And still another study found that taking 200 milligrams of magnesium plus 50 milligrams of vitamin B6 for one month relieved premenstrual-related anxiety. I suggest looking up Moringa Oliefera.  Packed with all natural vitamins and minerals, It is considered the miracle tree, Also the Superfood of all superfoods.

 

 

Sleep well

 

Getting enough Z’s allows your nervous system to recover and helps your body to produce the “sleep hormone” melatonin, which helps to mitigate anxiety.

 

 

Don’t drink or smoke

 

 

Caffeine, excess alcohol and cigarettes can all overstimulate you and affect your sleep, and are all associated with higher levels of stress and anxiety.

 

 

Mind your meds

 

Various drugs can cause or worsen anxiety, including certain cold remedies, diet aids, inhaler medications used for asthma and thyroid drugs. Discuss with your doctor everything you’re taking.

Source.

 

Cumberland Falls State Park

Imagine a wall of water falling 60 feet into a boulder-strewn gorge, a whispering mist that kisses the face and a magical moonbow visible on a clear night under a full moon. Known as the "Niagara of the South," the 125-foot wide curtain of water is dramatic day or night. But it's only at night during a full moon that you can see the moonbow, a phenomenon not found anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere!

Here are some pictures, of the Cumberland Falls area.  Breathtaking.  If you've not been, I would go!  It's been called the Niagara of the south!

This is the Moon Bow, Yes it's at night.  Beautiful.

I really enjoyed going white water rafting here.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Little gems everywhere on the hike.

Breathtaking views.

Climb on up.

It's a stunning area, and great (as you see) for gorgeous natural photography.

 

Hope you enjoyed!

 

As for the credit of all of these, I can't take it.  I've been multiple times, Very great place, I found these photo's on Google images, If they're yours, I hope you don't mind that I used them, If you would like to email your name to me, I'd be happy to put your name under them!  Thank you!

I'm officially back!

Finally I have my computer up and running.  Doing (or trying) to do a blog on my phone was just NOT happening very easily, I missed being able to sit and just type! 

With that said, there will be more posts from me again.  Exciting! 

I posted a tutorial today on dried leaves and mason jars.  Check it out, I will be doing another that has dried leaves, and cardboard for a nice fall leaf wreath for your door.  All using mod podge and simple steps, I'm looking SO forward to FALL! 

I'll have the other tutorial up soon.

Fall leaves and a mason jar!

1. Dry beautiful, colorful fall leaves. A heavy book will do!  We put them between pages!

 Drying should take only about two weeks.

 But Mod Podge should NOT be applied to your dried leaves if you are intending to use them for this jar candle project.

Use ONLY dried, pressed leaves that have NOT been coated with Mod Podge when you make this candle jar.

2. Smear Mod Podge all over the sides of the jar.  Do not apply Mod Podge to the bottom or the grooved lid area. (For large areas like this, I prefer using a regular brush, but a foam brush will work also).

3. Place your dry leaf right onto the Mod Podge and press into place.  Brush over the leaf with more Mod Podge.

4.  Continue adding leaves and Mod Podge until your jar is covered with leaves.  I like to overlap a few, but keep in mind that overlap areas do reduce the light that can pass through.  I find that lighter colored leaves work best.  Use the darker leaves as accents.

5. Once you have finished placing your leaves around the jar surface,  use the flat end of your brush to create a stippled pattern in the Mod Podge areas NOT covered by leaves. This step will create a more pleasing pattern than will brush strokes when light shines through these "open" areas on the jar.

6.  Let the candle dry thoroughly and then apply a second coat of Mod Podge, again "stippling" the open areas.

7. Let the jar dry several hours or overnight.  Overspray with acrylic spray. When dry, pop a tea light in the bottom and you are done!

I am thinking that several of these, in different sizes, would be gorgeous on a Fall Party table.  And you can continue using them right through Halloween and  Thanksgiving.

And then... fill them up with buttons, pompoms, fall theme stamps, pumpkin seeds for next year's harvest necklace, orphaned beads....

I hope you enjoy the warm glow of your fall candles as much as I am!

 

 

Use your imagination! You can really do a lot with leaves and mod podge!

Thanks Gingerbreadsnowflakes! I loved this so much!

 

Vegan Spaghetti

Meatless Balls. For this recipe, I decided on a combination of beans and mushrooms, simple seasonings and a splash of red wine really boosted the flavor too. Plenty of garlic, some onion, Italian-seasoned Panko (gluten-free) bread crumbs, other spices and some parsley. I chose pinto beans simply because
A. I had them on hand and
B. I know their brownish color would look "faux meatball" like.

..that being said you could easily use any soft bean like cannellini or even black beans. You just need to be able to mash the cooked bean with a fork. Garbanzo beans are probably a bit too firm and flaky for this recipe. The mashed beans really help to bind the rest of the ingredients with their natural stickiness.

You can also change up the variety of mushrooms you use. I used oyster mushroom, but shiitake or portobella would work too. Even plain old white mushrooms (which are a bit firm and crumbly when raw) would work since you are sauteing them first to make them tender.

Method. Yes the instructions are long, but the technique is very similar to making veggie burgers. Mash and saute. And yes you could totally form your balls and just BAKE them to perfection. (I know many of you prefer not to fry.) I did a simple saute + braised them in my sauce until warm and tender.

After saute, before sauce-dunking..

Spaghetti & No-Meatballs
vegan, makes about 8-12 no-meatballs (depending on size)

No-Meatballs:
1 1/2 cups (1 - 15 ounce can) beans, drained/rinsed in hot water
*I used pinto beans
3/4 cup white onion, diced
1/3 cup parsley, finely chopped
1 cup mushrooms, finely chopped
*try soft oyster or shiitake mushrooms
2 Tbsp red wine
1/2 cup Italian-seasoned Panko breadcrumbs (fine)
2 tsp chopped garlic(roasted or raw)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fine black pepper
1/2 tsp chili powder (or 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes)
1/4 cup nutritional yeast (or more bread crumbs)
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, for saute

Also:
spaghetti pasta (any variety)
marinara sauce (bottled or make your own, my marinara recipe)
chopped basil or parsley garnish
vegan Parmesan on top (optional)

Directions:

1. Start by opening your can of beans and rinsing the beans very well in hot water. This will help soften the beans for easy mashing.

2. Add the rinsed beans to a large mixing bowl and mash with a fork, very well.

3. Prep your ingredients by chopping the parsley, onion and mushrooms.

4. In a large saute pan, over high heat, add 1 Tbsp of olive oil. When oil is hot add in the onions, mushrooms, parsley and garlic. Saute for about 4-5 minutes, reducing heat to medium about a minute after cooking.

5. When the saute mixture has reduced in volume quite a bit and onions caramelizing, turn off heat and add in your splash of red wine. Turn heat back on to high for one more minute.

6. Just before you turn off the heat you can add in the salt, chili powder, pepper and any additional spices you may like to add. You can taste the mixture and it should be slightly "over-seasoned" since the beans have not been seasoned yet.

7. Fold the saute mixture into the beans. Then fold in the bread crumbs and the nutritional yeast. Your mixture should be quite sticky and thick now. Add more yeast or bread crumbs if your mixture needs thickening.

8. You can either place your mixture in the fridge to chill for a half hour (to help with handling, or just go right into the saute process.

9. Pause a moment and heat up your pasta water pot and also pour your pasta sauce into a large oven-friendly dish. Place the pasta sauce dish in a 375 degree oven to heat.

10. Saute your balls: Heat a splash of olive oil in your saute pan and add your formed balls. I like to roll my formed balls in a bit of the bread crumbs before placing on the pan. Cook over medium-high heat for about one minute on each side. You really just want to cook and caramelize that outside edge of the balls. The remaining "cooking" will be done in the oven. *you could also just keep it a bit lighter and simple and bake your balls. However you will be missing out on those caramelized edges from the saute step, and tender sauce spots from the braising step.*

11. Drop your pasta into the pot when the water is boiling. Cook until tender. Drain and toss warm pasta with some red pepper flakes (optional) and EVOO. Spoon about 1 cup of the pasta sauce over top the pasta and toss well. Set aside, covered for now.

12. Take your sauteed balls and carefully place them in the now-hot pasta sauce dish. Then place the pasta dish back in the oven to braise the balls for at least 20 minutes. Oven heat can be 375-400 degrees. Do not cover the dish.

13. Now for assembly! Carefully remove the braised balls from the sauce and set aside. Then in a large bowl or your serving bowl, toss the hot pasta sauce with the warm pasta. Or you can just pour sauce over top pasta and not toss. Add balls over top to serve.

Freshly chopped parsley or basil on top is very nice.

Make Sun S’mores!

S’mores!

Harness the energy of the Sun to make the best snack ever invented.

Yummmmm!

A solar oven is a box that traps some of the Sun’s energy to make the air inside the box hotter than the air outside the box. In other words, the solar oven is like a super greenhouse.

You will need:

Cardboard box with attached lid. Lid should have flaps so that the box can be closed tightly. Box should be at least 3 inches deep and big enough to set a pie tin inside.
Aluminum foil
Clear plastic wrap
Glue stick
Tape (transparent tape, duct tape, masking tape, or whatever you have)
Stick (about 1 foot long) to prop open reflector flap. (Use a skewer, knitting needle, ruler, or whatever you have.)
Ruler or straight-edge
Box cutter or Xacto knife (with adult help, please!)
How to make solar oven:

CAUTION:

Have an adult cut the box with the box cutter or blade.

Using the straight edge as a guide, cut a three-sided flap out of the top of the box, leaving at least a 1-inch border around the three sides.

Cover the bottom (inside) of the flap with aluminum foil, spreading a coat of glue from the glue stick onto the cardboard first and making the foil as smooth as possible.
Line the inside of the box with aluminum foil, again gluing it down and making it as smooth as possible.

Tape two layers of plastic wrap across the opening you cut in the lid—one layer on the top and one layer on the bottom side of the lid.

Test the stick you will use to prop the lid up. You may have to use tape or figure another way to make the stick stay put.

Put the oven to work

Set the oven in the direct Sun, with the flap propped to reflect the light into the box. You will probably have to tape the prop in place. Preheat the oven for at least 30 minutes.

To make S’mores, you will need:

Graham crackers
Large marshmallows
Plain chocolate bars (thin)
Aluminum pie pan
Napkins!
Break graham crackers in half to make squares. Place four squares in the pie pan. Place a marshmallow on each.

IMPORTANT!

Note that unlike most recipes, our s’mores have the marshmallow UNDER the chocolate. That’s because, in the solar oven, it takes the marshmallow longer to melt than the chocolate.

Place the pan in the preheated solar oven.

Close the oven lid (the part with the plastic wrap on it) tightly, and prop up the flap to reflect the sunlight into the box.

Depending on how hot the day is, and how directly the sunlight shines on the oven, the marshmallows will take 30 to 60 minutes to get squishy when you poke them.
Then, open the oven lid and place a piece of chocolate (about half the size of the graham cracker square) on top of each marshmallow. Place another graham cracker square on top of the chocolate and press down gently to squash the marshmallow.

Close the lid of the solar oven and let the Sun heat it up for a few minutes more, just to melt the chocolate a bit.

Enjoy!