Music - Good for the Soul

Music has always been a part of my life. I grew up listening to good old country music. The older I got, the more of a variety I would listen to.
Music has a way of making you feel so many emotions all at one time. You can hear a song, whether it’s the lyrics or the notes, and it can create a wave of feelings that overcome you....or at least it does me.

Music can give your purpose in a way that you don’t even realize. It can create a passion in you to donate your time, teach a child, dance, or learn an instrument.
Music accompanies commercials on TV, parties, dinners, football games...many parts of your life. Listen to the “Wedding March”, or a gospel song. So many emotions. Oh goodness...if you know what I mean by this....can you listen to “Freeze Frame” without wanting to roller skate??? LOL I can’t!

Watch a child as they hear music for the first time. Even if they don’t understand the words, the notes themselves move them. It warms my heart to see they are interpreting those notes as individuals. We all have different experiences and interpret music in our own unique way. Even our little ones.
Music is a part of my life every day! I listen to “my jam”! Keeps me happy....moving and grooving! I sing out loud for all to hear! IT’S OK...everyone can sing....might not be perfect but we can all sing! So what if people make fun of you. Do they look happy?

Music is good for the soul! So do it...sing out loud! Sing to the top of your lungs riding down the road. You may very well lift someone’s mood and put smiles out into the world! That’s what music does...puts smiles out into the world! Life is good! Live it!

Wishy Washy about Winter

Here in the south, we do not get much snow.  I am always so excited for the anticipation of that one “great” snow storm we could possibly see!  In our reality…..that almost never…happens!! Boo! Makes me sad.

This year I am not as fond of the idea of that one big snow!  Seems the older I get, the colder I get.  LOL. I used to make fun of my grandparents and my Mom…I mean gosh…the heat is on 72 degrees!  Cold??? Really???

Well someone smack me silly for making jokes about them just being cold because this year; I am freezing!!!  I need some warmth, some sunshine, or some whiskey…lol.  Anything to stay warm.

Haha, once I wanted to “frolic and play the Eskimo way” and now I want “chestnuts roasting on an open fire”!  I need that open fire roaring!

No matter how cold I am, I still enjoy seeing all the beauty in a picture perfect white wonderland.  There is something serene about it all. The stillness…the quietness of the snow falling flake by flake.  Nature's beauty! It even could be considered, in my opinion, a way of grounding yourself. A way to let go of stress.  Sitting by a window watching the snow falling can give you a sense of release. Then add the roaring fire and you can really release anxiety, stress and look forward to a calmness of the mind.  Looks like I have talked myself right back to wanting that one big snow! 😊

No matter which season is your favorite, find the beauty in nature and enjoy every minute of every day.  You don’t have to do it right, just do it! Loving life, find your inner peace, life is good!

By request.., here is my latest work that I did for a friend. Got to have something to do while its cold outside.

It's Fall Ya'll

🍁It’s Fall🍀

My favorite time of the year has arrived!  It’s “fall” ya’ll!  Oh how I love the colors, which seem to offer me comfort and that warm, fuzzy all over feeling and I am super excited.  🍁

Ah the foods…so delish!  Yes, I am a nut over fall.  Fall everything.  I decided this year I wanted to decorate my porch and make my very own fall baskets.  I think they turned out great.  Oh and I am painting a picture of a pumpkin patch!  We will see how that turns out a little later.

So what is it about Fall that I love soooo much?  It’s the apple festivals, bonfires and sweaters!  Every fall I can’t wait to have bonfires.  It’s relaxing and a time of reflection for the soul…a slow down.  Life is so busy and hectic in the summer months.  Fall just slows down time for me.  Seems as though life is already happening too fast.  Why rush life?  I want to enjoy all the colors and beauty fall has to offer.  The leaves changes with such vibrant colors is so beautiful!  Drinking a cup of coffee or apple cider while watching the beautiful colors of fall gives your soul something to smile about.  One of my favorite fall drinks is the “Crockpot Hot Spiced Apple Cider”.  It’s so easy to make.  

All you need is the following:

·        2 quarts (64 ounces or 8 cups) apple cider

·        A couple cinnamon sticks

·        1 medium orange

·        2 tablespoons whole cloves

1.      Pour apple cider into a 2.5-quart or larger Crock Pot or other slow cooker. Add cinnamon sticks to cider.

2.      Poke holes all around the orange using a toothpick.  Carefully poke the cloves into the toothpick holes.

3.      Place orange into the cider in the slow cooker.

4.      Cook on low until hot, about 4 hours. Ladle into mugs. Place a cinnamon stick in each glass if desired and serve.  You can also ladle your favorite Rum into the mug if you would like to make an all adult version!

Every year I make this and it doesn’t last through the night.  Everyone loves it…even the kids (minus the rum for them).  It just warms the soul.  Yummy goodness.  Even a night by a bonfire drinking hot spiced apple cider can be an adventure.  Life, after all, is what we make of it.  Enjoy these crisp cool fall evenings with all your loved ones!  Reminisce about the long days of summers’ past and remember life, my dear friends, is complete with the love of a family.   Life is good............💖💖

As promised...my pumpkin patch!  What-cha think?

Finding Creativity Within

Finding Creativity Within

I would have never thought I could paint..heck I can’t even draw. Still to this day, I can NOT draw! Years ago, I was a stay at home mom. My sweetie and I decided I should learn something new. Find my creative side. I decided I would love to learn how to paint beautiful pictures. I honestly did not think I would be able to paint…but I wanted to give it a try.


I began my at journey at an Art class taught by Mr. Jack here in our home town. He is an amazing artist! I was so nervous that first few months. As you start to paint, you think…oh gosh it looks like a 3 year old painted this…but then the magic happens. You begin to see your painting come together as you start with the background and paint forward. It was so fascinating finding out how the mind works when you turn on the creative side! And just like that…I was painting. Haha..Instant artist! At least in my mind.










I found that while I was painting, it was ok to take a little time for myself! I could relax and focus on something that makes me happy. Creating something beautiful that I could appreciate.


I stick with what I love to paint…landscapes. I paint birds and owls and dogs and yes…even people. I find I do not care to paint people. Very difficult for me. However, I love painting landscapes and if a little birdie is in the picture then I do not mind painting “God’s little creatures”. Stick with what you love!




So..these are just a few of my paintings. Not too bad if I do say so myself! You never know what you can do vs. what you think you can’t do. SO..always try something new! I have found that I love painting! I paint every week and I am still learning new techniques! It gives me a sense of accomplishment with each finished painting. Something that will be here long after I am gone!







Find your creative side and learn to appreciate those moments you have with yourself. It will help you find inner peace while creating your “masterpiece”…..Loving Life!

Wine anyone??

So...is wine really good for you?  There is pretty good evidence that it is!

My bestie and I decided to check out a wine tasting over the weekend.  We headed down to a place in Lenoir, NC with not only a unique name, it is also producing some unique wine...Twisted Vine Winery!  It was awesome.  They have a variety of wines..dry to sweet.

I enjoy a sweet wine..but not too sweet.  This was my first time at the winery so I opted for the sweet wine tasting.  I sampled all 6 of the "taste of the day"!  From "Beachin' Good Time" to "Cindy's Select", I walked away with a new favorite....."Bodacious"!  So, so, so yummy.  This wine has a scent of white peaches.

Oh goodness and I haven't even mentioned the "Sangria Slushy"!  Haha....a whole new take on wine for me.  It is so good..and no, it doesn't taste watered down.  We couldn't leave without a glass of this yummy goodness...yes, remember there is evidence that wine is good for us..hehe.

This is such a quaint spot.  Make sure you stop by and grab a few bottles. Nice to grab a bottle of wine, sit overlooking the vineyard and have a relaxing drink with a great friend.  Now this is how to relax on a nice cool day.

So thank you "Bestie" for sharing this wonderful winery experience with me.  I will make sure it is always a stop on my list when in Lenoir, NC.  My opinion, everything in moderation.....RIGHT?

Click here to visit the winery

Until next time...take your journey to health and happiness...life is good, have some wine!

Time to Unplug and Recharge!

Vacation time yet????  Go on...find your happy place!  Unplug, re-charge and enjoy life!

We all need to relax for overall health benefits.  Have a glass of wine, enjoy the sun, breathe and just enjoy doing NOTHING!

There are many wonderful benefits to "re-charging".  It is as simple as resetting your mind and your energy.  Everyday life is not simple.  It's now busier than ever.  I believe everyone today is always running through life.  With checking social media, returning emails, text and constantly checking status updates, our lives and minds are working in overdrive most of the time.  We should recharge our mind and body at least twice a year.

Some benefits of "unplugging":

• Reduce stress
• Body and Mind rest
• Improved sleep
• Decreased risk of Cardiovascular disease
• Increased productivity

UNPLUG!  Mentally remove yourself from work, social media and other sources of distractions!  Take a few days and recharge for yourself, your family and your job.  

Not a vacation person...well take a stay-cation.....Our grandparents idea of relaxing was stringing green beans under a shade tree in the back yard or shucking corn!  Find an activity you enjoy and go for it.  There are so many activities that do not include use of a computer, smartphone or tablet that you can enjoy!  Teach your children to unplug...this will help them form a healthy habit from the beginning!

So....come on everyone...let's unplug, regenerate, recharge...whatever you want to call it...do it!

Until next time...take your journey to health and happiness...life is good!  UNPLUG!

Garden Growing....

Garden Growing.....

Yes, last blog I said I was definitely going to try my hand at growing a garden!  All organic.  So here's the update/progress for this week.    

So far, we have pressure canned our first run of beans, which was easier than I thought!  It was time consuming but I believe worth it!  The beans look amazing!  I figured we can use these beans through out the year in soups, or with potatoes or roasted.  So many options!  I am excited to have fresh green beans this winter!  

We have already roasted some squash!  The squash is so good.  It has a sweet taste when roasted with salt, pepper and avocado oil.  So yummy and simple!  AND...organic, just like my grandparents grew their garden.

Cucumbers...yum.  What can I say?  So crisp, cool and refreshing.  We have picked quite a few!

Waiting on the tomatoes.  They are still green.  Idea:  Fried Green Tomatoes.  Who likes them?  See below for a recipe.

Corn is still growing.  Starting to see the silks growing out..I am thinking that's a good thing.

Idea:  Fried Green Tomatoes would be great!

Fried Green Tomatoes
Ingredients:  

  Tomatoes

  1/2 c cornmeal

  1/4 cup of all purpose flour

  1 tsp sugar
  salt and pepper
  cayenne pepper - use as little or much as you want
  Oil for frying
Directions:
  Slice tomatoes and lay on a towel to absorb moisture.  Combine the next five ingredients.  Heat a cast iron skillet with oil (about 1/4" of oil).  Drench the tomatoes in the mixture to coat and then fry until golden brown - Turning once.  Remove to a paper towel to drain.  Add salt and pepper while hot.  AND Enjoy this tangy treat.

Take a second to comment below your ideas for gardens and how to use the beautiful bounties we receive.

Until next time...take your journey to health and happiness...life is good!

What's Your Go To Healthy Eating Plan?

With so many healthy eating lifestyles to choose from, which one really does a body good?

Since I was about 40 I started to realize I couldn't eat like I used too, meaning eating anything and everything I wanted.  Yep, that way of thinking caught up to me fast.  Now I am trying to find a healthy way of eating that will benefit me and who I am.  

From Vegan to Paleo to Keto diets - they all promise a healthy way of living....but can they do more harm than good?  Everyone needs to be the judge for themselves when they try a new type of eating. What works for one doesn't work for everyone.

I tried several lifestyles changes over the years and have dealt with issues and some changes.  It's very hard to maintain a lifestyle when you are counting calories, macros or eliminating certain food groups from your diet...makes you want pasta even more when you can't have it...LOL.  Surely I am not the only one that struggles with healthy eating, right???

I decided I would look to my grandparents for guidance in this area.  They lived very long and, for the most part, healthy lives.   Here is what I have learned so far: growing up,  they ate with the seasons.  There were no grocery store trips with lots of sugar filled snacks, no buying meat for everyday consumption and no veggies they didn't grow.  Yep, they grew their own vegetables, ORGANIC.  No pesticides, no spraying with chemicals.  Just good old fashion marigolds planted in the garden to deter pests. They used chicken or cow poo to fertilize.  HAHA amazing!  It didn't cost them a fortune to eat organic!  They ate what they could grow for the seasons. Sounds easy, right?  No, I am sure it was a lot of work and yes...they had time.  Life was simple.  Our lives are hectic and everyone is on the go all the time.  Well, if you really want it, it CAN be done.  Growing your own food, that is.

Not only did they eat their own veggies but they only were able to afford to consume meat ONCE a week.  Not everyday with every meal. Everything in moderation, right?  And when they did enjoy a piece of chicken or beef or pork it, once again, was from their farms.  No grocery store!  No previously frozen meat from a packing company!  No antibiotic filled meat with dye to color the meat! Just all organic meat.  They processed their own - and yes it creeps me out, but it was the best.

Cakes, pies, cookies, oh my!  Yes, they ate desserts. If they enjoyed any desserts, my grandparents and great grandparents made their own from scratch!  They knew what ingredients went into their food.  No crazy forms of sugars or preservatives.  Just good ole fashion simple ingredients that you can pronounce.

All this information got me to thinking...  Maybe eating the way my grandparents did is what IS healthy?  Maybe its actually in our DNA--you know our very own region--what our ancestors ate.  Could I really be onto something?  Eat with the seasons and within your own region?  I think about what is usually grown in our region.  We do not grow Avocados; however, they are so good for you.  My husband just does not like them...is his body telling him something?  See Avocados have good fats...but so does peanut butter and eggs.  Guess what, the peanuts can be grown in this area and we have chickens foraging our land, producing eggs.  He loves both eggs and nut butters.  Coincidence?  Maybe not!  At least that is my thinking.  Not saying any of this is "WHAT IS" but it is definitely something to think about.

I decided this year I would plant a small garden to see if this way of eating has benefits.  So far my garden is doing great.  I have already prepared roasted squash and it was amazing!  My husband and I planted corn, beets, onions, squash, beans, peppers and tomatoes.  It is such an amazing feeling to watch these plants grow knowing they are so good for you and that you made this happen!

I am also getting ready to plant my pumpkins!  They should be ready just about time for Halloween!  So excited.  I plan on using them to make pies and chili's AND for the grand babies to paint pumpkin faces :)

We also have planted apple trees, peach trees, pear trees and various other fruit bearing trees.  Already getting peaches...and these are, you guessed it, all organic!  For the cost of the plants and the poo we bought LOL.

I am going to give it my best shot to grow with the seasons!  I feel this is what is for me.  There is no counting anything and no staying away from certain foods.  I will still eat an Avocado when I want but the majority of my diet needs to focus on my ancestors. At least, that is what I want to try.  It worked for my grandparents and their parents and you know...so on and so on.  :)

I will keep you all updated!  In the meantime, let me know what you guys are eating when it comes to a healthy way of living.  I love reading comments and taking suggestions!  That's how we learn so please comment below!

Until next time...take your journey to health and happiness...life is good!

Sunday Funday

Every family needs a “Sunday Funday”!  Why you ask????  The more time we spend having fun, laughing and eating with our family, the happier and healthier we all tend to be.

“Sunday Funday” should be a day of time spent with family engaging in anything you all enjoy together.  My family spends every Sunday having a big family lunch with DESSERT!  The one day a week it’s ok to splurge on a sugary treat of your choice..LOL.  Some Sundays we have a Sunday Sundae Bar..which is pretty cool.  We set up a variety of ice creams and toppings and “have at it”!  It’s perfect for those hot summer days we ve ere in the South!

Ideas to incorporate into your Sunday Funday:

•  Hiking or just taking a nice long stroll and talking about past weeks happenings. 
• Plan a picnic at a local park. 
• Set-up a movie outside with a popcorn bar/dessert bar…of course make sure it’s dark out! 
• Plan a trip to an amusement park.
• Plan a carnival day of treats like funnel cakes - so easy to make.
• Plan a lazy river float day.

Its definitely worth getting everyone together for a day of family fun.  Making us smile is one benefit to happiness and inner peace that we all can deserve and need in our lives.  Another benefit is relaxation!  Being able to relax will help calm the mind from the weeks pinned up emotions!  So go ahead....relax as a family.

Think of all the activities you would enjoy together and make it the new norm to meet at least 3 Sundays out of the month for some family time well spent.  The memories will last a life time for everyone.  Time is precious so spend it with the people that love you.  Let’s do this one Sunday at a time…take the journey.  Life is good. J  

So, what do you have planned for your Sunday Funday?  I would love to hear your Sunday Funday ideas...leave a comment below. 

Finding Peace

Finding Peace

We all try our best to find inner peace.  It’s a difficult struggle within ourselves. Finding inner peace can entail many sacrifices along the way.  It involves removing negative thoughts, negative people and among all, removing negative behaviors.

So, how do we start?  First things first...you have to realize you are worth all of those sacrifices.  You deserve the personal growth!  It is so hard to put ourselves first.  We have such busy lives now. Nothing is just simple.  When I was growing up it was so simple to just be a child.  Now, children are having to mature earlier in age.  This can be overwhelming...too much stress.  As adults, we have more responsibilities and along with that comes more stress.  It’s no wonder peace is difficult to find.

All things are possible...just believe in yourself.

Once we realize we deserve inner peace, we can look at the many different avenues we can take to help us begin our journey to finding that peace we all so deserve.  They say it takes 30 days to make a change become a habit.  So, for 30 days let’s learn to meditate.  We can all learn to meditate in different ways.  To begin, set aside 15 minutes a day just for yourself.  Turn off all phones, computers, and any distractions.  You can find a time after everyone has gone to bed or school....just anytime you wish.  Play nice soft music and focus on a place of calmness.  That place is yours to choose.  A place that calms you! Focus on that place for 15 minutes listening to the music.  Close your eyes and breath....do this for 15 minutes daily.  It will be hard to focus because you may not be used to the calmness.....just keep going.  Your mind will soon learn to embrace the change.  This practice can help us to remove negative thoughts.

If you prefer, you can try another approach....embracing “Nature”.  Nature can be a powerful grounding tool.  Plan a weekend trip. Nothing stressful...make it close to home.  Take only a few necessities.  Walk outside bare feet and feel Nature.  This will help you become grounded.  Feel the sand beneath your feet plant yourself down and breath.....fresh clean air.  You can find your place at the beach or on the top of a mountain. Just feel the calmness through the sounds of Nature.

It is often hard to remove negative people from our lives.  You may think that people will change..they may change one day, but until then, limit their involvement in your life.  Do not let them control your time or happiness.  Point out the good in their life when ever possible - this may help them as well.

Removing negative behaviors can have a tremendous effect on your life.  Look at your life on a day to day basis.  Do you see negative behaviors?  How about when you gossip at work??  Yes, that is negative behavior.  Work on noticing your negative behaviors and make note of the them.  Each day make a conscious effort to "nip that behavior in the bud" so to speak.  Realize it brings nothing good to your life.  It can also cause a negative impact on others lives!  

Take a minute each day to do something for yourself.......the journey will be worth it.  Share comments below along the way as you search for inner peace.  Let’s do this one day at a time....take the journey.  Life is good. 😊

Welcome.....

Let’s take a journey to finding health and happiness the natural way.

For many years I have struggled with health concerns and inner peace.  I am a worrier by nature. Some say that’s just a Virgo trait....I worry about worring.  About things that haven’t even happened or that never happen.

I am a wife, a mother of four and a MiMi!  I am on a personal journey to finding health and happiness in the non-traditional way.  I am on a search for all natural remedies that will help improve my health without all the side effects.  Exercises that will help me gain energy!  Foods that will improve my quality of life.....all around inner peace.

Inner peace for me is an important first step to gaining all things.  As I have grown older, I have realized that peace is an important part for gaining mental and physical health.

Take a journey with me....let’s find what works and what doesn’t.  For in all reality, health and happiness is what can improve our quality of life and we can start living.