Blessed

"All gifts in life come directly from above. Living in the present is the ultimate gift, full of promise and possibility. Allow yourself to be open to life’s greatest moments without taking anything for granted. Seize your opportunities and realize that you are divinely and completely blessed everyday in every moment." (Alex and Ani)

Well, its been two weeks since my last post.  I apologize for not keeping you posted with what's going on.  This post will be all about the blessings in our lives.  First let me say that I am truly blessed....and so are YOU!  The blessings that you may overlook or take for granted; and if you don't think you're blessed then shame on you :-p .  Don't be so toxic and ruin it for yourself.  Not seeing the blessings in your life, only seeing the mishaps is a NO-NO!  Did you know that many of those "mishaps" are blessings in disguise?  What you see as a mishap can possibly be God's way of keeping you from danger or God's way of redirecting your path to where you need to be.  Don't close yourself off to thinking things are going bad because you don't deserve good things or because you feel like that's just how life is.  Open your eyes, your heart, your thoughts, your ears to what's bigger (God).  Don't assume you were just dealt a whack life....it's only whack if you allow it to be that (yeah, yeah I used the word whack...lol!).  

Before anybody sees a rainbow, what had to happen? Rain.  Before anybody sees a beautiful butterfly, what had to happen? Changes.  Before anybody learned to walk, what happened? You fell & got back up.  

For anyone reading this and doesn't think they are blessed.  Here are some blessings I can say you have without me knowing who you are:

1. YOU're breathing and alive! You have been blessed with another day.

2. You can read! Awesome!

3. If you're not reading this, but have someone reading it to you.  You can hear AND you're not alone! (Not that you ever are alone if you believe).

4. You found my blog! Woot-Woot! lol!

Here are some simple everyday things that prove I'm blessed...and you can probably count them as blessings for yourself.  I have a place to call home, I have a loving family, wonderful friends, food, shower, clothes, my health, dreams, goals, freedom, choices, ....etc.  I
can list so many other things but I think you get the gist of where I'm going with this.  How are you blessed?  Let me know.  Please know that you are Blessed & God Loves you (huge blessing right there!).

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

Clean

http://vimeo.com/85163111 

I wanted to talk a little about the Toxic you put in and on yourselves and your homes.  Have you ever stopped to read the ingredients in the products in your home?  The ingredients in the products you use on yourself?  I'm not talking about just checking the ingredients in what you eat but really checking the ingredients in everything you purchase, use daily.  Did you know that the cleaning products in your home are compiled with toxins?  While you're cleaning your home, making it "clean"...killing germs; you're also slowly killing yourself and your children and your pets.  Many of the toxins found in cleaning products are linked to cancer, ADHD, autism, dyslexia, headaches and asthma (just to name a few).  Many of us shop looking for a good deal price wise without realizing that its not a good deal in the end.  Not a good deal if its making us sick.  I rather be healthy and pay a few bucks extra.  I don't know anybody who LIKES being sick....I know I don't like it.  Do you?  

Here are just some toxins that you should look out for and you'll find in your body care products and cosmetics:

• Coal Tar (FD&C Red No.6)
• DEA/TEA/MEA
• Formaldehyde
• Fragrance (found in almost everything and a cover up word for hidden chemicals like phthalates).
• Mercury
• Oxybenzone
• Parabens (propylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben,  _____paraben - fill in the blank with the many other parabens YOU WILL find)
• Triclosan

This list doesn't even scratch the surface.  You can go to the Environmental Working Group website learn more about these toxins and the thousands of other toxins that exist today in our daily products.  Make it easy on yourself, collect various products around your home and take the toxic test.

Mommy's Club is helping people to make better choices by providing healthier products.  Products that can bring comfort to you and your family in your home.  Cosmetics, health, household and personal care products.  Please get educated on what is out there.  Then when you're done using your household products instead of buying those products again, visit Mommy's Club, become a member and start using better products.  

www.mommysclub.com/product?ProductId=9424

After reviewing the Mommy's Club products you may say to yourself "that seems expensive"...for example you may think the bottle of "Clean" for $19.95 is a lot but it covers a whole lot and replaces dish soap, dishwasher liquid, laundry detergent, and can be used to clean sinks, toilets, showers, tubs, metal surfaces, pots, pans, windows, mirrors, tiles, floors, pets, fruits and vegetables....etc. etc.  That one bottle is concentrated and just saved you lots by you not having to buy glass cleaner, dish soap, laundry detergent..etc.  All those products that you're use to normally buying would cost you way more than $19.95 and it cost you & your family your health.  We have to take care of ourselves, our children, our future.  

The products are certified organic, toxic free, no GMOs, BPA free, Vegan, Cruelty Free and made in the USA! Woo-Hoo! 

NOTE: When purchasing please use my member number#504498 so I can get credit for your sale! Become a member and save on all your purchases.  

Friends

I almost did it to myself again.  I almost got in my own way...again!  I almost allowed something, someone, some little bit of information derail me, distract me, lose focus, discourage me from my goals.  I thank God for the people he has put in my life.  I was able to get in my car, place a phone call, start my vent....but quickly and calmly my friend (my wonderful, lovely, dear bestie) helped me get focused again.  

Ok, don't get upset for what I'm about to say...these are MY opinions.  Family is wonderful.  I am blessed to have a great, loving family.....but let's be honest; just because someone is "family" doesn't necessarily mean its a good connection to have.  We can love and care for (some/certain) family members from a distance; it is what it is.  It doesn't mean you hate them, or wish them wrong doing, or don't want to be around them.  It just means you're different from each other and it mean you're NOT necessarily "friends", and that's ok. It's ok to be just family to each other with no real commonality....so don't force it.  Then there are "friends".  TRUE friends, not the facebook, instagram, twitter, linkedIN, pinterest, etc. etc. friends.  Those friends are cool also but there is nothing like a TRUE friend.  One that listens to your up and downs, one that can give you advice, constructive criticism, one that doesn't judge you and accepts you as you are, for who you are; a friend is one that in return can confide in you, share their ups and downs, listen to advice, take constructive criticism and know there is no judgement in return.  A TRUE friend doesn't envy, doesn't boast, doesn't wish you harm, understands if time has gone by (because life has a way of getting in the way) and they haven't connected it's nothing personal.  That is MY definition of a TRUE friend.  If you have at least one of those then you are blessed.  I am very blessed.  I have a wonderful friend who I've been friends with since the age of 16 (AWESOME!).  Love her to stinkin' pieces! LOL!...She knows who she is.  In addition to her, the Lord has blessed me with other women who are strong, loving, independent, faithful, caring, honest friends! A couple more from childhood/teen years and other friendships that have been made in my adult life; and if you're like me, making true friends as an adult tends to be harder...I'm not sure why but it just tends to be harder.  Maybe, its because we're so busy being married and being moms and working and the house and blah, blah, blah....maybe, we're just cautious of people based on passed relationships, maybe, maybe, maybe. Whatever!  We all have some kind of past "friendship" that went sour.  Don't let that keep you from future friendships.  

I'm saying all of this because we as humans need other humans in our lives, whether you want to accept it or not.  Don't be toxic to yourself by being by yourself.  I don't mean "alone time" which we all need every now and then...I mean don't seclude yourself from society.  Closing yourself off to people will make you depressed, angry, miserable, blah!  You don't want to be blah! Right? Blah is whack! lol! That could lead to sickness, which leads to medication, which leads to side effects from the medication, which leads to more medication, which leads to more expenses, which lead to mis-managing your budget, which leads to not paying your bills, which leads to not having hot water, which leads to being stinky....oh gosh! Don't get stinky...because then you won't even want to be around yourself, ewww.  Connect with people please!  Make friends!  

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their hard work.  If either should fall, one can pick up the other.  But how miserable are those who fall and don't have a companion to help them up!

So with that said go out and make a friend, or a few!  Need help?  Start with a kind word and a smile :)

Ephesians 4:29

Don't let any foul words come out of your mouth.  Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say.

OH, P.S......I'm back on track, feeling encouraged and focused.  Thank you! ;-)  More information on that is coming in the near future! Stayed tuned.

Quoting a beautiful young lady, Carly Ortiz: 
Blessed. Learning to embrace the positive, and ignore the negative. Constructive criticism is always welcomed, but don't try to shoot me down, because its a waste of time.