Eating Healthy While Traveling
Whenever we travel, we are more than likely tempted to stop at gas stations, fast food places, and restaurant chains. This is definitely one way that you can throw your healthy eating off track. However, I have a few tips to share with you that will leave you satisfied and happy with yourself! You can eat healthy while traveling.
How To Remove Floating Coffee or Tea Grounds from Your Drink
Have you ever had this happen to you? You’re making yourself a single cup of coffee or tea, or you are preparing a jug of sweet tea, when all of a sudden, the tea bag with all the grounds in it bursts and gets all through your freshly brewed drink?
First instinct is to throw it out! However, I have learned a neat trick that helps you remove those pesky grounds and keep your freshly brewed pot of tea or coffee.
Tips for Starting Your Weight Loss Off Right
Many of us use January as a place to start eating right and making changes in our diet. Over the years, there have been just a few tips that I have used to help me stay on track. Here are my tips for starting your weight loss off right.
5 Tips for a Successful New Year
I don’t know about you, but I am the world’s worst for setting resolutions and then never following through with them. Oh sure, I start off strong, but then somewhere around the third or fourth week the desire begins to fizzle and I find I no longer want to follow through with what I set for myself. So how do we keep that from happening? Here are 5 tips that you can follow to ensure you have a successful new year.
Feeding a Family on a Tight Budget
If you have a large family and you are looking for a more frugal way to feed them, then my friends Tawra and Jill from Living on a Dime have some great tips for you! Tawra feeds her whole family of 6 for only $400 a month! That price even has my interest peaked!
Tawra Kellam, editor of LivingOnADime.com , does something that most people think they can’t do today. She feeds her family of 6 for $400 a month. Most people say that’s an impossible feat but what’s even more impressive is that she does it without using coupons.
How does she do it?
The Housekeeper’s Symphony
I came across this in a very old coobook and just had to share!
“To do the best that I can, from morn till night.
And pray for added strength with coming light;
To make the family income reach alway,
With some left over for a rainy day;
To do distasteful things with happy face,
To try and keep the odds and ends in place.
To smile instead of frown at Fate,
Which placed me in a family always late
For meals; to do the sewing, mending and
The thousand small things always near at hand,
And do them always with a cheerful heart,
Because in life they seem to be my part;
To know the place of everything and keep
It there, to think, to plan, to cook, to sweep,
To brew, to bake, to answer questions,
To be the mainspring of the family clock.
(Or that effect) and see that no tick, tock
Is out of time or tune, or soon or late,
This is the only symphony which I
Can ever hope to operate.”
MARION WILEY.
Getting Motivated To Clean House – A Homemaker’s Story
Jill and Tawra from Living ON A Dime just sent me a great story to share with you. It’s called “When Queens Ride By” and was written in 1926.
The story is about the big difference an organized and clean home can make in our life. It’s so easy to let decluttering, straightening up and cleaning go undone when there are so many other “more important” things to do. Read this beautiful story and find out why that may not be a good idea.
Jill wrote a very inspiring introduction to the story that shows how the lessons learned still hold true today. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I have.
You are welcome to share this free ebook with family and friends. Email it to anyone who could use a little inspiration during tough times.
Enjoy
Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife
A Mothers Day Reminder – Sometimes A Little Push Is The Right Thing To Do
All Mothers know that it’s hard to let go of the notion that our babies will always be our babies. Sometimes we watch them spread their wings and we say ‘STOP!’ Not yet!
But then there are other times when we know the right thing to do is to give our youngsters a little nudge, maybe even a push, to get them out into the world so that they can grow.
This Mother’s Day, I just wanted to give all the Moms out there a little encouragement. It’s hard to know when we’re doing the right thing, sometimes until years later. Have faith in your abilities and your instincts. Motherhood is a tough assignment, but you have the strength and wisdom to make the right decisions.
Happy Mother’s Day!
When It Isn’t About Saving Money
Today I have a guest post for you by my friend Ellen Braun. It’s a little different from what you usually see here at Hillbilly Housewife, but Ellen brings up a couple of really good points. There will be times when being frugal and saving every penny isn’t the right choice for you and your family and you have to do your homework well before making larger purchases (especially when they involve your family’s safety).
Even if you’re not in the market to shop for a carseat (most of us aren’t), take a minute to read through the article. I learned quite a bit about doing online product research from what Ellen has shared in this guest post.
Enjoy,
Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife
A guest post by Ellen Braun From Raising Small Souls.
I love saving money, and get a rush of adrenaline when I find a valuable sale! However, there are times that money is not something that I consider during my shopping. For example, when it comes to safety equipment, no price is too high for the security of my family.
Several months ago I needed a new convertible car seat for my son. Since we had recently been involved in an accident with a drunk driver, I was interested in the safety ratings of the car seats I researched. I headed to the Consumer Reports website to see their crash data, and I found that the Britax Boulevard scored the same as the Evenflo Triumph Advance car seat.
I specifically wanted a convertible car seat because they are the best value for your money; they can be used from birth until a child is about five years old, depending on her height and weight. They can be used rear-facing in the beginning and then turned around for forward-facing use.
Upon further research, I discovered that although the price gap between the Britax Boulevard and the Evenflo Triumph Advance was over $150, there were very few differences in the features of these two convertible safety seats.
The Britax Boulevard costs about $300 and has over a hundred Amazon reviews and a 4.5 star rating, while the Evenflo Triumph had the same 4.5 stars and two hundred fifty mostly happy customer reviews who paid about $150 for their car seat.
You are probably wondering if there are any significant advantages to the Britax Boulevard over the Evenflo Triumph. Here is what I found after extensive research:
1. The Boulevard has velcro which adheres to the harness straps and holds the straps out of the way while you are placing your baby in the car seat, which eliminates the need to fish under your baby for the straps. While this is a convenience, I am unsure that is worth the significantly higher price.
2. The straps of the Britax are much thicker than the straps of the Evenflo, which means that impact would be distributed more safety in the event of a motor vehicle crash. However, it is worth remembering that Consumer Reports did rank both seats similarly in their crash test.
3. Many more parents reported that the installation of the Britax Boulevard was much simpler and faster than that of the Evenflo. If you plan to keep your car seat in one car all the time, this is not a big deal. However, if you plan to transfer the car seat between vehicles on a regular basis, this could be a feature worth paying for.
Both the Evenflo Triumph Advance and the Britax Boulevard convertible car seats are a terrific choices for your baby. If the three additional features mentioned above are not necessary for you personally, then save your money and go with the Evenflo Triumph rather than the more expensive Britax. It is worth nothing that the Britax Marathon is very similar to the Boulevard and costs about $50 less, so you may want to look into that seat as well. Travel safetly with your child!
The Wilma Rudolph Story – Beating Unbeatable Odds
Wilma Rudolph was born prematurely, weighing only 4 1/2 pounds. She was born into a large family – a very large family – she was the 20th child of 22 children. Millions of people were poor in the 1940’s, but Wilma’s family was not only poor, they were African American, living in a segregated society.
Being born premature was just the beginning of Wilma’s medical troubles. Because of the racial segregation at the time, the family was not permitted to have the same medical treatment as white families. So, when Wilma suffered with one terrible illness after another, it was her family who tended to her. This was no small task for a poor family.
The moment came when the family received the dreaded diagnosis – polio. According to the doctor, Wilma Rudolph would never walk. However, the family never gave up hope. Instead, Wilma’s parents and siblings learned how to do the physical therapy needed to help her get strong. This family sacrificed everything they had to help Wilma walk again.
And so it was, by the age of 12, with hard work and dedication, Wilma Rudolph walked again – without braces or crutches. Then and there, she decided that if she could learn to walk, she could learn to run.
Four years later Wilma won a Bronze medal in the 1956 Olympic games.
Wilma Rudolph became an Olympic legend. In 1960, she became the first American woman to win 3 gold medals, and paved the way for women to compete in areas previously barred to them.
Why is this an inspirational story, aside from the obvious Olympic story? The real inspiration is the fact that Wilma and her family never gave up hope and fought with fierce determination against all odds; odds which included poverty and discrimination. Even when the world and all the rules were stacked against them, the fierce love of family along with the desire to “win” overcame every obstacle.
Healthy Crockpot Meals
My friend Angie from Sizzlin’ Circuits shared some of her favorite crockpot recipes with us here recently. Today I asked her to share her thoughts on crockpot cooking in general and why it works so well for her family. I also asked her to give us some tips on healthy crockpot meals and lat but not least a little more information on her new home workout program.
Here’s Angie:
Why Do I like crockpot recipes?
1) We’re a busy family, and to be able to put the ingredients into a crockpot and have the freedom to leave the house and go about our day while it’s cooking is ideal for us. Most recipes cook for 6-8 hours so kind of like, “set it and forget it.” It’s not like cooking in the oven or on the stove, where you need to be close by to keep on eye on it and be ready when the timer goes off. This is great because you don’t have to be standing in the kitchen all day over a hot stove.
2) Prep time is really quick. We usually just add the frozen whole chicken, roast, or fish and add in some veggies and spices.
3) It’s great to know that you don’t have to cook dinner at the end of a long day.
4) Clean up is quick too!
5) We love how the meats, such as chicken and roast soak in the flavor of the seasonings and the veggies… especially sweet potatoes, when they are blended together all day long.
6) The variety and possibilities are endless. You can almost throw in anything that you want.
How do we make sure they are healthy?
1) When cooking with chicken we only add water or chicken broth. We stay clear from the creamy soups the majority of the time. We find that the chicken absorbs the flavors from the spices and veggies better this way too.
2) Same with Roast… we only add water or beef broth.
3) We make lots of soups that do not need cream. For soups and chili’s we usually just add water or a tomato base.
4) Typical ingredients that we add to our crockpot recipes are chicken, fish, roast, sweet potatoes, carrots, kidney beans, corn, broccoli, lentils, and tomatoes.
About Sizzlin’ Circuits
Our latest program is called Sizzlin’ Circuits. It’s designed for women and targets specific problem areas, such as the butt and thighs. It’s a home based workout that can be done in a small amount of space and only requires a stability ball and some dumbbells. The workouts are time efficient, burning loads of calories and boosting your metabolism all day long.
Sizzlin’ Circuits includes follow along workout videos (digital), a workout journal to record your progress, 3 motivational audios, a 7 day meal plan with behind the scenes videos of the meals that we eat (much like the crockpot videos in this post), our Fat Loss Quickie Mindset Bootcamp book, and the Fat Loss Quickie Support Community.
Fourth Of July Holiday Safety Tips
With Independence day weekend just around the corner, it’s important to keep a few simple things in mind to make sure you and your family stay safe.
Be Careful Around Fireworks
Quite a few serious holiday related accidents happen each year around fireworks. Your safest option is to enjoy the display from a distance. Most cities and townships put on a professional display. Find out where yours is, get there early and find a comfy spot. We like to bring out blankets, chairs along with some drinks and snacks and then just sit back and enjoy the show.
If you do want to shoot your own fireworks start by making sure it is allowed in your area. A quick call to the fire marshal will clear things up. He can also give you some additional tips for staying safe. After that, use common sense. Don’t drink and shoot fireworks and always keep kids at a safe distance. You should also have some water and/or fire extinguisher close buy just in case. It is also important to buy your fireworks at a reputable dealer and never try to make and shoot your own.
If your child will go to a fireworks display for the first time, try to explain what will be going on, especially the noise. Choose a spot that’s a little ways away from the display (to muffle the noise), but which will still give you a good view of the fireworks in the sky. For a few years my daughter was afraid of the loud noise. I started bringing her some ear plugs and she had a ball.
Water Safety Tips
Beaches, Lakes and Rivers are always a popular 4th of July destination as are pools and can get pretty crowded. This makes even more important to use caution. Keep a close eye on kids in and around the water. Put life jackets on kids in the water as well as on boats. Of course it goes without saying that being in, around or on the water while drinking is never a good idea.
Don’t rely on lifeguards to keep your kids safe. You always want to keep an eye on them yourself as well and be ready to jump in and get them.
Don’t Forget The Sun Screen
While we are on the topic of water… it’s easy to get sun burned around the water or even if you are just hanging out at a local park or in your own back yard. Apply sun screen and make sure you reapply throughout the day as water and sweat wear off the protection from the rays.
Just as important is staying well hydrated (bring plenty of water to drink) and to avoid over heating. Find some shade or head inside for a bit with the kids to allow everyone to cool down.
Simple Food Safety
Last but not least, let’s talk about food. After all, we tend to celebrate this holiday with lots of yummy dishes. Here are a few tips to keep the food from going bad.
Skip the Mayo or Serve it Right Away
Salads with mayonnaise based dressings (think pasta and potato salad) are always popular, but can go bad rather quickly. Your simplest option is to skip them. If you do want to serve something with mayonnaise, keep it cold (at home in the fridge, outside in a well iced cooler), then serve it right away. Toss any leftovers.
Careful With The Meat
Meat outside is also often a concern. Start by being very careful not to cross contaminate anything with raw meat. Use separate cutting boards, plates, containers, knives etc. and be diligent about cleaning everything that has come in contact with raw meat right away.
Cook the meat to at least 165 F before serving. Make sure it stays hot until your guests are ready to eat. Keeping hot foods at above 140F is usually a good idea. (Cold foods by the way should be kept below 40F). Cover finished items with aluminum foil to keep up the heat. Your best option is often to cook meats on the grill to order.
Above all, just toss anything that has been left out for a while. It’s not worth the risk of salmonella or food poisoning.
Stay safe and have a wonderful Fourth Of July!
Make The Most Of Each Day – Learn To Live A Proactive Life
I love it when I find smart people talking about the lessons they keep learning. Even the most “together” people have bad days. It’s what we learn from those days that is important.
We’re all trying to live a good, wholesome lifestyle; one that’s full of fun and time for our family and friends. When we get off track, have a bad day, we lose the time we spent spinning our wheels being angry, frustrated, late, or whatever happens to us during those bad times.
Learning how to be “proactive” rather than “reactive” during life’s stressful moments can make all the difference in the world to you, your family, your whole life.
Please take a moment to read this article written by Joy Chudacoff and learn how you can stop “reacting” to daily stresses and become “proactive” instead.
Smart Women Live A Proactive Life
Written by Joy Chudacoff
Yesterday, as I was on my way to pick up my kids from school, it occurred to me that I was feeling exhausted—I mean really tired. As I made a mental scan of my day, I realized that I had been in a “reactive” mode most of the day rather than a “proactive” mode. We do need to react to situations that occur in our lives as best we can at that moment, however, Smart Women know that living a “proactive” life where you plan, prepare, and practice conscious living is clearly more rewarding.
Living a “reactive” life can be exhausting and frustrating. There are a lot of quick stops and fast starts–most of them unplanned. The best way for me to describe my day was it felt like I was in a ship without a rudder. No direction, just floating out in a big sea of confusion. No real direction, just reacting to each wave. There was no planned course or clear navigation. I was just trying to keep this rudderless boat afloat and get back to shore.
In contrast, when you are living a “proactive” life, your days are on course with clear navigation, doing things that will lead you to your Big Ideas, Dreams, and Goals. Being “proactive” about your life is being conscious and thoughtful about how you spend your days. You are queen of your ship, with a well thought out map on where you’re going, what you’re going to do, and with whom you will do it.
As I reflected on yesterday, I felt a calling to share it with you. Many women are living a “reactive” life day after day, without a clear plan of action to take them where they want to go. Most of my days are quite “proactive”, with a plan in place to keep moving me toward my goals. As I reflect on my day yesterday, if I was living in this “reactive” mode most of the time, I would be a very unhappy, restless, tired and exhausted woman! How can you get more “proactive” and get out of “reactive” mode?
Here are a few tips and solutions:
1. Change “Yes” to “No” – Women are nurturers by nature. We like to be helpful and supportive. It’s a challenge for us to say “No.” The next time someone asks you to do something, I invite you to pause for a moment and ask yourself if this request is one that calls you to action. If someone’s in a real bind, that’s one thing. But if it’s to take on a role that really doesn’t serve you or there may be someone else better suited for the role, maybe you should consider a “No” response. In my Women’s Success Circles, I share with women that there are actually four answers to a Yes or No question!
2. Plan for Downtime – When you see that you have a busy day, plan for some breaks in-between meetings or events. Even 10 minutes can recharge your battery before moving on to the next big task. Make sure you take time to eat lunch in the middle of the day, take a few moments to breathe, get re-focused, and refreshed for the afternoon.
3. Get some support – Find ways to automate, delegate, or delete more of the “to do” items on your list. This is essential for women who are committed to living a life that is passionate and on-purpose with meaning. You can do it all, but you can’t do it all by yourself. It was a tough lesson for me to learn but one that I clearly embrace in my life today. I just brought another person onto my team, as there is no way that I could achieve my “Proactive” life without more help from others.
What I just shared with you is what I left out of my life yesterday. Making too many commitments to others, not giving myself enough downtime in between appointments, and not taking full advantage of the support I have in my life. The above solutions are simple to put into place and they will help you to navigate a clear, well thought out plan for your day and your life. Will there be unavoidable storms on the horizon? You bet. But as I share with the women in my Success Circles; if you can navigate a “proactive” life 85% of the time, you will be sailing into the high seas with plenty of blue sky filled with energy, passion, purpose, and meaning.
“How we spend our days, is of course, how we spend our lives.”
~Annie Dillard~
Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.
Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions(tm), a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at CreatingTheSpark.com .