New Life: Exercise - Striving for Improvement

When I started my exercise regimen, I weighed almost 200 pounds and I had reactive asthma, sciatica, and uncontrollable back pain. Even more disconcerting was the fact that I couldn't pick up my 20 pound child for more than about 30 seconds or walk to the park that is 2 blocks from my house. I was truly out of shape. But when you're starting at the bottom, the only place to go is up.

We'd had our Wii Fit for about 4 years, and most of the time, it just collected dust. I wasn't convinced it was a great workout, but at the time, I figured it was all that I could handle. I dusted it off and stepped on only for the cheeky little voice to tell me I was obese. Maybe the point is for it to make you mad enough to work off the weight. The first time I was on it, I did 20 minutes of the free step workout which is basically stepping on and off of the 2 inch platform. I burned 94 calories, and I thought I was going to collapse.

The next day, I did it again. It was a little easier, but it was still giving me a workout. Besides the 20 minutes of free step, I added a couple of 1 minute games that burned an additional 6 or 7 calories. It wasn't a lot, but it was an improvement.

And that's the idea. Improvement.

I didn't start out with goals of running 5K races and climbing hundreds of flights of stairs, but I accomplished those things because I only had 1 goal: For every workout, I was going to get a little better. I would do more minutes or increase my intensity or try something new. It didn't matter what I was doing as much as it did that I tried as hard as I could and tried to better myself.

I worked my way up from the Wii Fit and started visiting a gym when my husband's company gave us memberships. When I walked that first half mile on the treadmill, I felt the same way I did taking those first steps on the Wii FIt. But again, I just kept making it better. I would raise the speed, incline, or duration every time. I started off walking 3 mph for 10 minutes at a 0 incline. Now when I need a "quick" workout, I can go at 3.8 mph for 30 minutes at a 15% incline with no trouble. But that has taken almost 10 months of work!

Yes, work.

Exercise isn't easy, and it's not always fun. It takes dedication and persistence. But it does get easier. The best thing you can do is to just start moving and find something you can tolerate for a few minutes a day. Find out what works for you even if doesn't work for anyone else. So go ahead and walk around your block, jump on your Wii Fit, or do some jumping jacks in your living room. And tomorrow, do a little more. Just keep improving.

Relief in the Dry Winter

Winter can play havoc with our bodies and our homes. The cool, dry air can cause houses to pop and shift, heating bills to jump, and skin to dry out. It can also cause static build up that can make laundry a pain, literally. The people of the prairie knew how to overcome this burden, so here's my techno twist on some prairie wisdom.

Even a small humidifier can add needed
moisture to your home with little
maintenance. 

1. Use a humidifier - Ever notice that in movies about "the old days" that there is always a pot of water boiling on a log stove? Nothing dries out a house faster than pumping heat into. Replenishing the moisture is necessary to maintain the humidity level. While we can still boil water, running a humidifier is a quick and easy to way to fill your home with moisture. It will help prevent the house from shifting and settling, and it will also help your home heat faster and more evenly so there is less of a need to raise the thermostat. Adding humidity to your home will also ease respiratory ailments. Many new humidifiers have monitors that check the humidity of your home so you can adjust it up or down. Remember that too much humidity can induce mold, but keeping it at 40-50% is ideal.

2. Use 100% cotton towels and clothing - Ever pick up a microfiber towel only to discover an "icky" feeling? Microfiber and fleece are made from recycled plastic bottles. When they are washed, they break down so they can absorb fats and pollutants. That "icky" feeling is the microfiber absorbing the oils from your skin.  Using cotton towels and wearing cotton clothing will help you keep the natural oils on your skin and allow your skin better air exposure. Cotton also does not build up static charge like polyester does.

3. Drink, drink, drink - Just make sure what you drink is water! Prairie people depended on water for their primary beverage, and this should still be the case because the body hydrates best from the inside out. Since the skin is the last organ to receive water and nutrients, it takes more water to make sure the skin gets enough. Caffeinated beverages like soda act as diuretics, so it's important to flush out the caffeine with an extra glass of water.

4. Use natural products to moisturize - Synthetic lotions and creams are not the best at moisturizing because in order to prevent bacteria growth, they contain alcohol which in turns increases the drying effect. To get the full benefit, use a natural moisturizer like coconut oil which can be applied to your skin to sooth dry spots and hair to prevent frizzies. A little dab will go a long way!

5. Greenify your surroundings - If you love plants, this is the perfect time to get some. Keep plants indoors helps to prevent static in your home by adding moisture. As an added benefit, certain varieties, such as Boston Fern, palm varieties, and spider plants, can help purify the air, and they are safe around pets and children.

Techno Prairie Menu Plan Monday

Today I'm linking up with Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday. 

Menu planning is an essential tool for busy moms. By planning the week's meals on Sunday evening, I don't have those midweek moments when I panic and think "Oh no! What's for dinner?!" I can also plan around work and activities and figure out what I need to pick up at the grocery store.

This week my meal plans are about using up some things I found stashed in my kitchen. I'm still finding some pre-packaged foods and foods in plastic containers (remind me to tell you some day why I hate plastic). I'm also preparing for a big grocery shopping trip in a couple of weeks to fill the freezer, so I want as much as possible cleaned out so I can defrost it before the trip. With all that said, this week's menu may be more "techno" than "prairie" thanks to those modern foods, but waste not, want not!

Since Prairie Dad works during the week, he takes his breakfast and lunch with him and Prairie Girl and I pick whatever we want from our lists. I work at night, so I have dinners prepared early and take mine and PD and PG eat theirs at home. Since this is my first meal plan on this blog, I have no photos, but as I cook up some dishes, I'll post recipes and photos. Enjoy!

Breakfasts
CranBran VitaTops

Even "healthy" pre-packaged foods don't have a place
in my kitchen anymore. I don't need the plastic waste
or added unnecessary ingredients.

Oatmeal
Scrambled eggs
Bacon
Milk
Coffee

Lunches
Leftovers
Salad
Peanut butter sandwiches
Yogurt
Apples
Canned peaches
Juice

Dinners
Monday:
Hamburger patties
Baked potatoes
Broccoli

Tuesday:
Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Rice
(Made with the yellow rice and organic cream of chicken I found in the pantry)

Wednesday:
Mini BBQ turkey meatloaves
Maple green beans

Thursday:
Crockpot roast with potatoes, onions, and carrots

Friday:
Baked white cod fish
Quinoa black bean salad

Saturday:
Whole roasted chicken
Mashed potatoes
Whole kernel corn

Sunday:
Hubby's choice from a restaurant

Snacks
Cereal
Cheese
Frozen fruit
Crackers

Prairie Style (Lack of) Shopping

One of my new year's resolutions was de-clutter my home "to the extreme," and I've been doing just that. For years now, I've been doing annual de-cluttering sessions in my home to get out all the excess. But just as soon as I clear it all out, it starts piling back up. This year is different. This year I'm breaking the cycle by preventing things from coming in while I'm sending them out.

Why am I de-cluttering? After all, my house is pretty tidy, and it's pretty small, so we don't have junk rooms or junk drawers because every square inch of our house has to be usable. I am de-cluttering for a move towards simplicity because I feel like my life is ruled by stuff. Sometime around the new year, I realized that a good portion of my time is devoted to buying, cleaning, and putting away stuff. A lot of it is stuff I don't need.

How did I get all of this stuff? Shopping. I love(d) shopping. My mother and I used to hit clearance sales ever week. Nothing gave me a greater thrill than finding clothes 75% off and dishes 90% off. Who could refuse such bargains?  After all, I used coffee cups on a daily basis and wore clothes everyday, so I'd put everything to good use, right?

Wrong.

I had 20 coffee cups in the cabinet, and we barely used over half of them. Clothes would get worn just a few times. Christmas decorations never got used because I had too many. These things weren't "needs," so I didn't make much of an effort to ensure they got used.

About a month ago, I had a revelation. While falling asleep one night, I had the phrase "you need less but you need more" on my mind. I don't remember hearing this anywhere, and honestly, I'm not sure if God implanted it my head or if it was just my subconscious dwelling on some things I'd read, but either way, I knew God would agree with it. I had placed too much emphasis on stuff in my life and I had ignored how it affected my family. I should have recognized there was a problem when Prairie Girl always requested to go to Wal-Mart when I asked her what she wanted to do for fun.

I'm taking steps to reduce my shopping habit. I try to only go shopping one day a week, and on that day, I try to visit as few stores as possible. When I go into a store, I have a list and the necessary coupons in hand. That list has been carefully prepared at home and only includes things we don't have at home and things we need. We have a running list of things we want, and we're taking time to contemplate the and find the true need for them. Currently on that list are things like stainless steel water bottles, a couple of books, and dress pants. I don't spend time lingering in stores either. I get what I need and get out. Looking at things may not be the same as buying them, but too many times I have found myself coveting dishes or dresses, and that's not something I want to do.

So far I've drastically cut down my shopping. I've only bought absolute necessities like food and medicine. We haven't bought toys or clothes or gadgets. I even returned some things that I'd bought before Christmas because I realized we didn't need them. The great news is, we haven't suffered a bit. Since I've been spending less time shopping, we've spent more quality family time together. Instead of shopping, Prairie Girl and I have worked on projects, watched movies together, and cooked together. And Prairie Dad loves that we're not spending every weekend at a mall.

Something else has happened since I cut back on shopping. I've realized how much we have that we don't need. And as less stuff comes in, more stuff is going out, probably because I don't have new stuff covering up the old stuff. I'm simplifying routines and routines are becoming easier. We're discovery how, much like people who lived on the prairie, we don't need multiples of a lot things, and there are a lot of things we just don't need at all.

Bringing home lots of stuff did not bring us happiness. Time is bringing us happiness. More time is what we needed. Time to love, time to laugh, and time to live.

New Life: Grocery Shopping - Prairie Style

I know some of you are wondering where the "Prairie" part plays into my life. There are two answers. One is that when my parents moved us to the country, my mom said she felt like she was living in Little House on the Prairie because we lived in a small, one bedroom house on a sparse piece of land. I loved my prairie home, and I lived there up until I got married. The other part of my prairie life is that I love all things associated with the old-fashioned prairie life style. I love the combination of hard work and simplicity. Throughout my days, I find that I often ask myself "is this what people would do on the prairie?"

One of those things I often question is grocery shopping. I was once a convenience food addict. And sometimes I still slip up with a bag of cookies or a frozen pizza. But for the most part, my grocery shopping is guided by the simple question "Could this be found on the old-fashioned prairie farm or in the general store?" By asking myself this question, I can rule out most unhealthy foods pretty easily.

I start with the basics like fruits and vegetables. I buy as much fresh and organic as possible because I'm pretty sure that Laura Ingalls didn't have a freezer or DDT. The key to buying fresh produce that is affordable is to consider what is seasonal. Seasonal produce will taste better, be more nutritious, and cost less. It can also help to prevent that dreaded burn out effect from eating the same thing too many times. This time of year, there is less of a selection, but things like potatoes, spinach, broccoli, apples, sweet potatoes, and carrots are still good choices. In the summer, I like to buy a lot of whatever is cheapest and freeze it myself to put back for winter. I still have frozen goods like tomatoes and peppers that we grew in our own garden last summer.

When it comes to meat, I admit that we are blessed. We come from ranching families, so we can still get beef from my in-laws, and we know that it is organic and farm-raised. I know that many people can't do this, so I always advocate buying local and talking to the butchers to find out where the meat comes from and how it is raised. I do buy chicken at the grocery store, but it must be hormone and antibiotic free, and when possible, free range. In the fall, my husband deer hunts, and we usually have a good stock of frozen venison.

Meat is expensive though and too much is not healthy. It eats too much of our budget just like we eat too much of it. To supplement our protein, I cook a pound of some type of beans in the crock pot at least twice a month. They are cheap, nutritious, and filling. Even though I buy organic, $2.99 for a pound of dried beans can feed us for 3-4 meals.

When it comes to dairy, I have to stretch my definition of prairie-style a little bit. We buy milk, butter, and a little cheese, but sometimes I do buy cottage cheese and yogurt if I feel like our diet is lacking. Eggs are a staple in our house too, and I hope we can someday have our own chickens.

Besides milk, the beverages in our house are tea and coffee the old-fashioned way. We make tea on the stove or in a cup with tea bags or infusers. While we do have a Keurig to make our coffee (Praire Dad and I never can agree on a flavor), we have bagged coffee that we use to refill a reusable filter for the machine. I admit though that this part was a recent switch, so we still have a stash of K Cups in the cabinet, but they will be gone soon enough. We do keep some glass-bottled juice on hand to flavor water for Prairie Girl, but one bottle can last a long time.

As for our baked good, it's mostly prairie-style there too. I buy the necessities like flour and salt and I try to sweeten with things like honey and maple syrup instead of sugar. I keep my recipes simple to save money and time, and we avoid nasty preservatives and artificial flavors and colors. Our grains are kept simple too with plain containers of oatmeal, rice, and quinoa that I cook and season myself.

And that's about it. I don't load down the cart with bags of chips or pretzels or cartons of ice cream. I avoid frozen dinners, and we stay away from almost all canned varieties of food. If we're really going for a treat, we might get some dark chocolate or a box of crackers for Prairie Girl. Instead of keeping treats at home, we like to have fun experiences, so we will go out for ice cream or cupcakes at some place we can enjoy.

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I spend a lot of time in the kitchen sweating over a hot stove to cook everything. You're wrong. I actually spend less time than I did when I bought convenience foods. How? Well that's a post for another day.

Never Trust the Asparagus

I should have known better. I should have followed my instincts. Where were my instincts?

I can't stress enough how important it is to read food labels. No matter how innocent you may think a food is, it can have plenty to hide. I was reminded of this tonight.

A while back I purchased a simple bag of frozen asparagus. While I hate buying anything in plastic, I make a concession for frozen vegetables when my local selection is lacking. Now when I looked at the package, I knew it said there was sauce on the asparagus. This should have been my first tip off. Sauces are typically filled with preservatives and strange ingredients. But for whatever reason, I ignored the warning signs and purchased it anyway.

Tonight I was scrounging for a green vegetable to take to work. I grabbed the asparagus, and looked at the boiling directions (don't cook food in plastic in the microwave! Just don't!). As I was reading the directions, I found an unusually long list of ingredients for what should have been a simple food. To my horror, I saw things like high fructose corn syrup, alcohol (yes! it said alcohol!) and chicken fat among many other unsavory things.

Now let me clarify that chicken fat isn't necessarily a bad thing - I've used it in my home cooking. But I'm pretty sure they didn't use a hormone, antibiotic free free-range chicken like I would prefer. Also, those cute asparagus tips in the picture? I'm still not sure where they were in the bag.

What did I do? I ate some of the asparagus. The taste was ok, but even if I hadn't read the bag, I would have sensed the chemicals. And it didn't really give me the pick-me-up that my fresh veggies always do.

My point here is you cannot assume you know what is in your food. You have to read bags, labels, search websites, watch documentaries, and above all, talk to people who actually grow food! Know where your food comes from and what's in it. Just because it looks healthy on the outside doesn't mean it's good on the inside.

New Life: Baby Steps to Healthy Eating

While exercise and other factors contribute to weight loss, the greatest factor is diet. When I use the term "diet," I'm talking about your daily eating habits - not a sporadic program that you try for a few weeks to lose a few pounds. Your diet should be a lifestyle because you won't see permanent results unless you make permanent changes.

Food is a priority in my household. We believe in buying good quality food, preparing it with love, and receiving it with enjoyment. We try to avoid processed foods, artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners, and most importantly, refined sugar. But it wasn't always like this. If you've been following along, you know we used to eat all of those things, and keep copious amount of them in the house. Our transition to healthy eating didn't happen all at once though - it has been a slow, steady process on which I am constantly working.

I think the most important thing I have learned while losing weight is that to make great changes, a person has to take baby steps. Too many transitions too fast will only lead to confusion and failure. I am constantly tweaking my eating and exercise plans to make them cleaner, healthier, and more effective, and this has produced the best results.


Let's put a myth to rest right now: all calories are not created equal. Eating 1200 calories of junk is not the same as eating 1200 calories of healthy food. The types of calories we eat great affect how we process, store, and burn fat.

My lifestyle changes officially started April 1, 2012. On that day, I made a few promises to myself and my family of things we would avoid.

Soda - This was a big one for me. I had been consuming 500-1000 calories a day in pure sugary beverage. Soda has absolutely no nutritional benefits. The phosphoric acid depletes calcium levels in the body and causes bone erosion, and the levels of sodium, sugar, and caffeine affect the liver and metabolic functions. Diet soda is not any better, and many scientists believe it is worse because the artificial sweeteners cause formaldehyde build up in the brain and digestive system.

High Fructose Corn Syrup  - Contrary to what the HFCS companies would have you believe, it is not natural nor is it healthy. HFCS does have corn in it, but it also has several chemicals that if consumed in even small amounts by themselves would be toxic. HFCS is also metabolized differently by the liver. Since the molecules are already broken down, the liver has little work to do and can immediately store it as fat. Natural sweeteners such as honey and maple syrup require the liver to work and break them down.

Partially hydrogenated oils - Partially hydrogenated oils are man made byproducts that are used as a fat source. They are very similar to plastic in composition, and like HFCS, they are metabolized differently than their natural counterparts. They also contribute to heart disease and inflammation in the body.

You're probably thinking "so what's left to eat?" Well - a lot! Instead of soda, I had a lot of water. I also discovered the world of tea. Flavored teas (I'm talking about those made with plant leaves - not artificial concentrates) can be left unsweetened, and they are loaded with antioxidants. And best of all, they are calorie free! Instead of cookies and crackers loaded with oils, I found other things to munch on like homemade sweet potato french fries, fresh fruit dipped in natural peanut  butter, oatmeal with maple syrup, and homemade muffins made with applesauce.

The most difficult thing to eliminate was HFCS. It's in everything from children's juice boxes to frozen dinners. The most popular place to find it is in desserts. So, we simplified. Instead of cookies and candy bars, we keep a bag of natural dark chocolate chips. Just a few can satisfy a craving. I only buy 100% juice for my daughter. As for all the other "stuff" - we don't need it.

Reading labels is key to a good diet. Know what's in your food, and know how it affects your body. If you don't feel like you can cut out several things at once, start with one. Make a vow to remove one toxin from your diet, and when you've accomplished that, you can move on to another one. It's all about baby steps.

New Life: Overcoming the Old Life

I've struggled with my weight since I was 9 years old. 2 days after my 9th birthday, I had my tonsils and adenoids removed. For the first time in my life, I could swallow normal sized bites of food. And even better, I could taste every bite of food, something that had been a challenge since my airways had been so obstructed. So I ate. And ate. And ate. I remember being teased in 4th grade by a boy who referred to me as "big butt." In high school, there were more jeers at my weight as my peers commented on how certain boys couldn't lift me for show choir dance routines. Every comment  broke my heart.

When I started college, I felt like I had a new beginning. I had friends who exercised, so I joined a gym, picked up some aerobics classes, and started doing Pilates and weight lifting. I slimmed down and was in great shape. And as could be expected, I fell in love and got married in 2005. And then the weight starting creeping up as soon as the stress did.

I was still in school finishing my Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and I worked two part time jobs. Then there was a new husband, a new house, and bills quickly followed by graduate school and eventually a baby. Over 6 years, I gained over 50 pounds. I'd been a size 10 at my wedding, but I wound up in a size 22.

But the question is how did I get here?

Before you can begin losing weight, you have to identify your triggers and know what got you to where you are now.

I had my share of sodas, fries, and burgers.

1. The couch and the bag (or box) - I developed a nasty habit of plopping down on the couch with a whole bag of cookies or candy or chips or box of ice cream. I would munch while I wrote papers, paid bills, and watched movies. I am not sure if I was ever really hungry, but it was a habit. Thousands of mindless calories were consumed.

2. Bottomless soda - On a dare in college, I'd given up soda, but at a family reunion in 2006, I decided the dare was over, and I took a drink of soda. I remember it didn't taste that great after a long abstinence, but I was hooked on the sugar and caffeine. From then on, we kept soda in the fridge, and I had it every time we went out. I'd order a large and refill it once or twice. I could easily consume 500-1000 calories a day in the sugary drink.

3. Living like hobbit - I rarely left the house. My husband and I worked different schedules, and we had little money, so we rarely went to recreational activities (aside from eating fast food). Gone were the days of ice skating, miniature golf, and volunteer projects. I was bound to my computer, writing and grading papers for my education and career. Sitting burns few calories.

4. Poor nutrition - As a new wife, I bought into whatever the television wanted to sell me. You've read about my couponing downfall, and that greatly contributed to my weight gain. My freezer was stocked with cheap frozen dinners, pies, cookie dough, and ice cream. The cupboards were full of white pasta, white bread, white sugar, and anything else refined that I was told I had to have. I didn't realize nutritious food was just as affordable, probably because the television never told me it was.

5. Pure gluttony - I worked hard, so I felt like I was entitled to every morsel of food I got. I saw food as a reward for finishing my work early or getting an "A" on a paper. When Prairie Girl arrived, I saw food as a comfort, much the way she did as a new baby. But mostly I was just gluttonous. If I wanted it, I ate it. If we didn't have it, and I wanted it, I went out and bought it. I didn't pay attention to how much I ate because I thought I deserved it.

Do any of these sound familiar to you? Make your own list of what your downfalls have been that have caused you to gain weight. Feel free to post them in the comments. The more we talk about problems, the easier it is to find solutions!

The Beginning of my New Life

It's ok. I can admit it. I was fat. I was considered obese. I ached all over with no clear reason why, I had no energy, and I was a nervous wreck. Let's add that I was covered in acne, my hair was falling out, and all I could think about was food. Donuts, cookies, chocolate, pizza, ice cream, cheeseburgers - all of those "bad" things. And I ate them. I ate a lot of them. And I kept getting fatter.

In February 2012, my husband and I visited a museum in Fort Worth. I was hoping to do a write up for the library blog I manage at my job. I found the perfect setting for a publicity picture - a 1st edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Prairie Dad snapped the pic, and I didn't give it a second thought until we got home. I anxiously scrolled the the photos on my laptop until I came to that one. I was instantly in tears. All day I'd been under the impression I looked "little and cute" as my husband used to call me. With a sweater dress and knee high furry boots, I thought I was the picture of youthfulness. But a picture is worth 1000 words, and this one was yelling at me to lose weight.I jumped on the scale, and it confirmed my fears: I weighed 199.6 pounds.

The picture that started it all

For a month I contemplated the idea of dieting. I even managed to lose 2 pounds just by saying no to second portions. But on April 1, something in me just clicked. I was motivated. I told Prairie Dad I'd had my last soda, and I signed up for myfitnesspal.com (or as we call it, MFP). MFP tracks your calories and exercise and basically tells you how much you can eat for the rest of the day. I started logging calories and jumped on my Wii Fit board. Day 1 was logged, and I felt great. Then came Day 2.

On Day 2, I was hungry and sore. I'd gone from eating (as best I can figure) 2500-3000 calories a day down to 1200, and I hadn't had a real workout in years, and 20 minutes on the Wii Fit almost did me in. But I persevered. By Day 5, I was feeling good. I'd adjusted to the calorie drop, and I was already feeling stronger.

Flash forward to today. I've lost 57 pounds and counting. I'm hoping to lose the last 13 by summer vacation. I'm still using MFP every day (even on splurge days), but my workouts have greatly improved. I even ran a 5K in October. And I've learned a lot, and I plan to share it all with you. So stick around while I talk about diet, recipes, good vs. bad calories, exercises, and even how sometimes you have to eat more to lose weight.

I love questions, so post them all! I'm going to tell you the whole story, but if I'm not getting there soon enough, just let me know, and I'll do my best to help.

DIY Organic Coconut Lotion

I hate chemicals. I don't like them in my house, the air, my food, or on my skin. I try to avoid them whenever possible, but a lot of them can be hidden. I've learned a lot in the past year about reading labels to avoid chemicals in my health and beauty products. Just because something says "natural" doesn't mean that it's good for you. In fact, in the health and beauty industry, there is no regulation of what the word "natural" really means. Sure, it could have natural oils in it or oatmeal or honey, but it could also have nasty things like sulfates, ammonia, parabens, and even petroleum.

When I'm forced to buy ready-made products, I like to check the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database to find the safest products available to me. But when possible, I like to make my own. Since winter is a harsh time of year for the skin, I need a good moisturizer, especially after washing dishes and shaving my legs. My little Prairie Girl also has very sensitive skin and eczema, so I need something to help her too. So instead of turning to the cosmetics counter, I turned to my kitchen.

The benefits of coconut oil have long been touted for everything from weightloss and blood pressure to skin and dental care. It is antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal. When used for skin care, it can help heal cuts, bruises, and abrasions, and it can relieve problems like eczema, psoriasis, and infections. This makes it a perfect base for homemade lotion.

There many brands and types of coconut oil on the market, but my choice is always organic. By choosing organic, I know that it has no added chemicals, and that it was produced without pesticides. The two types of organic oil are refined and virgin. While the overall benefits of each kind are heavily debated, I chose refined because it is made from dried coconut rather than fresh like virgin oil. I have an internal allergy to fresh coconut, and by using refined oil that is void of coconut scent and taste, I thought I could avoid all reactions. However, if you are not allergic, I strongly recommend using virgin oil

To make the lotion, I whipped 1 cup of coconut oil, 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil, and 5 drops of peppermint essential oil on high for 10 minutes. Experiment with other essential oils to create your own favorite fragrance! The lotion should be smooth and creamy. Altitude and temperature will determine how fluffy the mixture is after it is whipped.

Coconut oil is very temperature sensitive. If it is too cold, it will turn solid. It will also liquefy if it is too warm. This will not affect its benefits.  When using it, just be sure used a small amount and to rub it in completely and allow a minute or two for all the oil to absorb. There should not be any oily residue on your skin.

I've only used it for a few days, but I've already seen great results. My skin is smoother, and all of the red, rough patches on my hands and legs have cleared. It erased my "dish pan hands" and my winter's itch eczema.

When "Free" Is Too Good to Be True

You've heard about "extreme couponing:" people go into grocery stores armed with stacks of coupons and leave with carts full of groceries for just pennies. I used to do that. In fact, I used to be rather addicted to it.

After a year of marriage, we were cutting it close with our finances. We were able to pay our bills on time, but just barely. In my desperation one day, I Googled "how to live for free." Couponing sites started popping up, and I wondered how one could possibly live for free on coupons. In the 80s and early 90s, I had watched my mother clip coupons from the Sunday paper. She'd save 25 cents on potato chips or 15 cents on paper towels. That surely wasn't enough to pay my mortgage. But I looked into it. And the more I learned, the more I wanted to try it.

Using coupons today is a far cry different than it was 20 years ago. Today, coupons are often over $1, and they are everywhere for all major brands. Companies know that if someone tries a product purchased with a coupon, they can get hooked on it, so even when coupons disappear, the person will still want the product. They also know people love free things, so they intentionally allow customers to get items for free. The coupon usually won't say "free" on it, but if you have a $1 coupon for toothpaste, and that toothpaste is on sale for $1....you get the idea. But back to my story.

One of my "free" shopping trips in 2009.

I started gathering up coupons from friends, family, and neighbors. I would check the recycling bins for coupons that were carelessly discard. I'd even order them from coupon clipping sites and eBay. In the beginning, it seemed great. I was getting free popcorn, plastic baggies, cleaners, deodorant, cat food, candy, soda, cereal, soap, flavored water, and more. If I coordinated my coupons with sales just right, I could easily get $100 worth of groceries for under $5, and I did it often. I knew the sale cycles and I watched the coupon previews. My house, and my mother's storage building, was brimming over. I'd get so much that I would give it away to family. I knew so much about couponing, I taught classes about it to try to help others. The couponing project was going great. But other things were happening.

For one thing, it didn't affect my grocery budget very much. I was getting more but spending the same amount of money because there aren't many, if any, coupons for fruits, vegetables, and meat. I was also gaining weight faster than a new baby. In 6 years of marriage, I put on 55 pounds. My skin was sensitive and drying out, my hair was ragged and breaking off, and my allergies were constantly going crazy. My husband wasn't in much better shape. Even the cat was having health problems and was put on a prescription diet.

Here's the problem with couponing: nothing you get is healthy. The food is loaded with salt, sugar, and chemical preservatives. The health and beauty products are full of sulfates, chlorine, ammonia, and parabens. And we won't even go into what's in the cleaning products. All of these things were making me, and my husband, sick. There is a lot of truth in the statement "you are what you eat," and eating a diet full of free Hamburger Helper and Chex Mix was turning me into something I didn't like. Couponing also complicated my life.I had to plan for hours just to go on a shopping trip. I had to research sales and drag my family from store to store. It was a job, and I didn't feel like I needed another job.

I never officially gave up couponing; I just did less and less as I realized what products were a danger to me. I still carry some coupons, but they are mostly for natural products that I feel are still beneficial. I've found new ways that make me feel better and really do save money. And I will be writing a lot about them very soon.

Where is my Underwear?

Before: Too much stuff that not in its proper place

I de-clutter my house at key times in the year. I do one good sweep at the beginning of the year so I feel more prepared for new possibilities. But I don't dive in and do it all at once. I start with small projects that can be effective yet done quickly.

This time around, I decided to start with the chest of drawers in my bedroom. It's all mine, so I can go through it by myself and rather quickly. I like to start at the top and work my way down. The top drawer is devoted to my underwear, slips, socks, perfume, and the phone and iPad chargers since the drawer is next to the outlet.

When I opened up the drawer, I found a HUGE mess. Despite my organizers, nothing was in place, and there were things there that didn't belong. Not to worry though! I have an easy way to sort through these kinds of situations.

1. Empty the drawer - Get everything out, wipe down the drawer, and replace the organizers to start with a clear workspace.

2. Purge the unnecessary items - It was easy to pick out things that didn't belong - Scentsy cubes, birthday cards, hair bows. Next came things that were worn out like old gym socks. Finally came things that don't fit. Since I have lost so much weight, I had to eliminate some underwear and slips.

3.Only replace what fits - Folding makes a big difference. I love the Youtube videos from Linda Koopersmith, the Beverly Hills Organizer. If things are properly folded, they can fit in the organizers. Organizers also help you know when you have too much. My sock organizer holds 32 pairs, so if is overflowing, I know I have too much.

After: Tidy and de-cluttered. Everything fits!

4. Carry it all away - Things that belong in other places were promptly put away. Things I discarded went in a donation bag. Now don't lose it here - I don't expect anyone to wear my old underwear. But I do know of a local thrift store that recycles anything they can't sell. Fabric can be recycled, and I'd rather see it go on to a new life than go in a dumpster.

When I was finished, I was happy that I'd worked on my resolution to de-clutter and simplify. Now I know what I have and where it is, and I know that I don't need to buy anything, so I won't be tempted when I see pretty fuzzy socks on clearance.

Take 10 minutes, and go de-clutter a drawer!

Confessions of a Sale Addict

I don't want to look like this anymore!

I have too much stuff. Way too much stuff. It's not that my house is overflowing with knick knacks or that my closets won't shut - I just can't handle clutter very well, and if something isn't used a lot or loved, it's clutter to me. Now I consider myself an expert at de-cluttering - I've even taught classes on it. I can clean out a closet and organize it in no time. But that's only the solution to the problem.  I need to get to the root of my problem: shopping. Or more specifically, clearance sales.

I love a good sale. I love finding nice things 75% or 90% off the original price. And that's another thing of which I consider myself an expert. I know when and where all of the seasonal sales are, I know which stores have the best selections, and I know how to use a coupon to get something even cheaper. I once found myself in Target wheeling out 3 carts full of toys for my daughter and niece, and I paid less than $100 for a lot of nice things. Key words: a lot.

My house already has everything I need, so why am I always on the hunt for more? Because it's a thrill. I feel like I've won a battle if I can get a Christmas wreath that was originally $30 for just $7.50. But I do I need it? No. I don't. I have boxes full of Christmas decorations. I don't need more sheets, frying pans, candles, blankets, or picture frames. My daughter doesn't need any more toys, and my husband doesn't need any more video games. And yet I return to the stores because that's what I've always done for fun. But it's time to stop.

I've de-cluttered my house more times than I can count. And I'll do it again this year. But here's the difference. This year I pledge to buy less so the de-cluttering will remain effective. I know, easier said than done. But here's how I'm going to do it:

Limit my shopping trips. If I'm not in a store, I can't buy things. Like many people, I run to the store if I'm out of 1 or 2 things. Unless it's a true emergency, like if Prairie Girl needs medicine, I'm going to limit my store errands to once a week.

Make lists of needs and wants. I'm going to list what we really need in the house and what I want. If we need something and it's on the list, I won't feel guilty buying it. If I just want something, I'm going to wait and think about it.

Ask myself questions. For each item that is on the "want" list, I'm going to ask myself 3 questions: 1) How will I use it? 2) Do I already own something like it? 3) Will I use it/keep it for a long time?

This mission isn't about money. I believe in in living frugally and saving money, but this is about clutter versus simplicity. Simplicity makes me happy. Cleaning, moving, and storing stuff, no matter how cheap it was, doesn't make me happy.

As the year progresses, I'll check in and let you know what I'm doing instead of shopping. I know my family is excited about the prospect of free Saturdays and fewer Wal-Mart trips. Now surely I'm not the only one with too much stuff. What about you?

The Dead Dishwasher

Of all the things I've ever discussed on Facebook, I never would have imagined that my dishwasher would be one of the more controversial topics. About 2 weeks ago, my dishwasher died. We've had it about four years, and the poor thing has never sounded quite right. It's always chewed, coughed, sputtered, and groaned its way through every load, and it got worse every time. Since I am always on a mission to de-clutter and simplify my life, I contemplated not replacing but just removing it and finishing out the area for extra storage. And therein lies the controversy. How can a person live without a dishwasher?

The answer is: very easily.

Before giving my husband my official answer on whether we'd buy a new one or not (because that would be more cost effective than repairing the current one which was our first choice), I decided to take a trial period on handwashing. Upon announcing this to my personal Facebook feed, I was met with an outcry of diverse feedback. The dishes won't be clean, it will take too much time, I can use it as bonding time time with family who helps, it will be more efficient. I never realized dishwashers could create such love 'em or leave 'em attitudes. I decided to do my own research and tests, and this is what I found:

Research results
1. There is no universal consensus on which is more effective for cleaning dishes. There are too many variables on water temperature, soap, water usage, cleaning time, etc. It also depends on the electric dishwasher and person being compared.
2. There is also no consensus on which method is more green. Again, there are too many variables.

An evening's dishes on the drying mat

Home test results
1. My dishes look cleaner. There aren't bits of food dried on to the plates or rust spots on my utensils. I don't have to re-wash anything.
2. I find handwashing to be rather relaxing. A little Pandora radio and I am all set to listen and enjoy. It remind me of my childhood when my job was to clean up our kitchen. It was a mental break that I loved, and I find I still do.
3. My kitchen is cleaner. Even when I used to run the dishwasher, I still had things I had to handwash like my daughter's special character plates, bakeware, stoneware, and cookware. Many times I'd just leave them setting around for a day or two, especially if I was running the dishwasher because I couldn't get enough water pressure for the sink if I tried to do both at once. Now I just wash up everything at once.
4. It made me de-clutter my kitchen - again. When you wash everything right after you use it, you find you don't need as much. Before, we'd go through 6 or 7 coffee cups in two days because they kept winding up in the dishwasher waiting to be cleaned. Now we have 2 or 3 at most in the sink, and usually it's just one. So I went through all of my dishes and utensils and narrowed it down.
5. My electric bill has gone down. We track our weekly electricity usage online, and while I'm not sure just how much the dishwasher contributed, I do know our bill has dropped by several dollars and all other usage factors are pretty stable.
6. I haven't seen a bug in a week. The thing I really hated about using a dishwasher is that it usually had dirty dishes in it instead of clean ones. There are only 3 of us in the house, so we never used a lot of dishes to begin with, and it would take 2 or 3 days to make a full load. This attracted bugs who saw the dishwasher as a buffet. Since I stopped saving up dirty dishes, my kitchen has been bug free.

Overall, I feel like eliminating the dishwasher has simplified my life. Honestly, I only missed it once, and that was during a family holiday dinner. But we only have those dinners about 6 times a year, so I think I can handle the extra dishes those six times. I know going without a dishwasher isn't for everyone, and I would never suggest someone voluntarily give theirs up. But I would like for everyone to ponder something: how many of our modern appliances are really needed? Could our lives possibly be better without them?

New Year's Resolutions

I love new year's resolutions. I love the idea of setting goals and having an entire year to complete. I like to make some measurable and some not. I don't think we have to necessarily complete our resolutions, but I think any amount of progress towards them is positive. Mine always revolve around my personal convictions and life goals. I also like to work on refining my resolutions throughout the year and developing new ways to accomplish them. So since it is new year's day, and you're still finding out what I'm all about, here are my resolutions and the current ways I have planned to accomplish them:

1. Devote more time to studying God's word and prayer
    * Read Bible stories to my daughter
    * Read from my weekly devotional books
    * Locate and use a Bible reading plan to help me make it completely through the book
    * Focus on setting aside specific time to pray rather than sporadically throughout the day
2. Establish a homeschooling routine for my daughter
    * Devise a curriculum that focuses on Bible study, phonics, math, science, social skills, and life skills
    * Read one story a day
    * Help her complete an art project three times a week
    * Create a loose schedule of when activities should be accomplished
3. Make our home more eco-friendly by eliminating plastics and using more natural products
    * Purge our home of plastic containers and use only glass and stainless steel
    * Use reusable shopping bags in stores
    * Use baking soda, vinegar, peroxide, and castile soap as the basis for my cleaning products
    * Avoid buying packaged foods - purchase unwrapped, organic produce and local eat
    * Avoid using disposable products including frozen dinners that come in plastic containers
4. Avoid buying things I don't need while de-cluttering excess from my home - to the extreme!
    * Only run errands 1 day a week  - if we don't have it, do without!
    * Do not use shopping as recreational family time
    * Do not attend clearance sales unless I really need something
    * Purge my house of items I don't use, clothes that are worn out/too big, and things I don't want
5. Finish the craft projects I started in 2012 and use up my current supplies
    * Use my yarn stash to make things that I need for my home like a table runner, pot holders, and doilies
    * Complete the scarves I've start knitting and give them away at work
    * Create a plan for bringing my daughter's scrapbook up to date and work on it every month
    * Devote a weekend to sewing projects to complete doll diapers and clothes for my daughter
6. Lose the last 13 pounds so I can finally achieve the 120s for the first time in my life.
    * Eliminate white sugar and white flour from my diet
    * Exercise in the gym or at home at least 3 days a week
    * Drink 8 glasses of water a day
    * Focus on overall nutrition
7. Limit my computer usage so that I can accomplish more 
    * Set a timer whenever I sit down at the computer and leave when it beeps.
    * Close my computer after my last session at night so I am not tempted to sit down again
    * Set aside specific times to use the computer rather than throughout the day
    * Create lists of what I want to accomplish at the computer

Whew! I think that's enough for now. I'm sure you've guess that my blog posts this year are going to focus on these topics, so you'll be on the ride with me watching me accomplish my goals. But enough about me. What are your goals? What do you want to accomplish in 2013?