Recycle. Reduce. I'm going to Reuse.

Hello friends! I am about to embark on a new project, one that will hopefully bring Beau and I closer to our dream. But I need some help. Will you help me? Do you eat a lot of pasta? Drink juice out of a glass bottle? Have Jam and Jelly jars collecting dust on your shelves? Would you like someone to take them off your hands? I am on the hunt for clear glass jars with their respective lids. All shapes, all sizes. 

Criteria:

• Clear preferred (colored glass could be used in a different project)
• Clean
• Free of chips and cracks
• Needs to have the lid it came with

Lids please. :)

If you live in the Arizona area and would like to help me collect these odds and ends bottles I would truly appreciate it. Allow a small collection to build up, tuck them away in a box, and let me know when you are ready for a pick up.  Talk to your parents, friends, and co-workers. Spread the word and help me get this project off the ground. What a great way to recycle your used products and help a friend!

Your Recycling Comrade,

~ Birdie

Dream Catching

Earlier today I updated my facebook status to read:

"This year is a year of making dreams come true. What have you been dreaming about?"

I got some good responses: a newlywed couple striving to move into their own place; my brother wanting to teach English in a non-English speaking country; a close friend wanting to get out of debt; and as always... adventure, adventure, adventure! These are all great dreams for the year and, luckily enough, we all still have plenty of time, fore the year has just begun!


Beau and I had been working on buying a home here in Arizona. We even put in an offer on one that was "perfect" for us... for now. It was a 4 bedroom, 1.75 bath 1963 ranch styled home with a wonderful kitchen, dining area, living room, and reading room. A laundry room tucked away behind an inconspicuous door, and storage like there was no tomorrow. It was a great sized lot: 10,000+ sq feet, perfect for a large garden, a play area, chickens, and a shed that could be turned into my future holistic office, equipped with herb and flower garden. It was in the most adorable neighborhood we could ask for. It was absolutely perfect... for now. You see, it is that "for now" bit that wasn't quite feeling right. 

A little paint to brighten the place up, a garden out front, and its curb appeal is undeniable!

We put the offer in to the selling agent early November. It wasn't until just before Christmas when we finally heard back from the second lien holder who counter offered asking for $19,000 cash from the current owner. Now, call me crazy, but if the seller is going into foreclosure do you really think he would have the 19k on hand? Yeah, I didn't think so either. So here we are, almost 3 months later and we are still in gridlock with the house. We were really frustrated at first, but now we are starting to see this in a whole new light.

This is a blessing because it gave us the time to realize that this "for now" business meant we were settling for less than what we truly want.

"For now" meant that eventually we wanted to move out of the city... once we could afford it. "For now" meant that we wanted to homestead and be off the grid.... once we could afford it. "For now" meant going home to the NorthWest to be closer to some of my family, but to also be back in the beauty of the Cascades... once we could afford it. "For now" meant that this house just isn't going to cut it. We aren't about to accept defeat because what "For now" really meant is that it was good enough and when you get comfortable in the world of "good enough" you stop striving for what was beyond your "for now." Following me still? If you keep putting your dreams off for tomorrow, oh but wait... the next day. And the day after that. And the day after that. And the day after that... it never gets done.

Instead, what you have to do is move now. Act now. Do what you have to do now to get that dream in motion!

 We can't keep waiting. It has been my experience that the Universe conspires to help those who are moving forward. It moves toward the person as that person moves toward their goal. Eventually they meet, and that moment they do is when the dream comes to fruition.

Source

So this is us, taking our first step toward our dream. "What is our dream?" you might ask. That's easy. Our dream is to own land. Not just a little, but a lot! Acres and acres of land. We want privacy and room to breathe. We want to build our own home, have a well full of the most divine water, and power our lives by the energy of the sun and wind. We want to work the dirt with our bare hands and have chickens running everywhere. We want to wake up in the morning to the sun rising over the hills and to fall asleep to the musings of the crickets. We want to be able to raise our children in a natural and organic environment where they spend more time outside in the elements than inside in front of the TV. We want to be modern day homesteaders.

And we don't want to have to rob a bank to do it.

If all goes in our favor we won't have to study Heist then Prison Break to make our dream come true. Instead, we have a better plan. We have post-poned our wedding until next year, although we are likely to still get married this summer. We have done this to save money and to focus on the task at hand. Secondly, we are really watching our budget in general, saving every penny we have. It is very likely I will get a second job unless my current work will let me go full time. We have set a goal of acquiring the land this Spring, prepping the land for a homesite this Summer, and ordering our home-kit this winter for a move in date of next Spring. 

A little more modern than this. Source

After doing an extensive amount of research I have found that while this plan may be ludicrous it is absolutely feasible! Not only that, but achieving our dream will actually turn out to be less expensive than buying that perfect home... "for now." We would be crazy not to take advantage of this opportunity! The only thing holding us back? Jobs. Where we would be... ahem.. are moving to is not a highly populated area so jobs can be scarce. There is a community college in town, but they aren't hiring currently. Neither are the schools. So Beau might have to find something else. There are a lot of family services in the area, zero are hiring, but that could change. My job background is a little more flexible so I could find work at a preschool, restaurant, office, or cashier if necessary. Fortunately, our cost of living will be significantly lower than what it is now, so minimum wage jobs would be able to survive us and who is to say the job market won't change by Spring of next year?


Moral of the story, folks? Stop waiting. Stop waiting for the right moment. It will never be the right moment.

Just go. Do. Make it happen.

Create a plan, do your research, and make it happen. It is possible. You just have to find a way.


Yours in the Pursuit,
~Birdie

Crazy Like a Fox

This is on my mind this week... oh how I love how plans change overnight! Now this is something worth really, truly getting excited over...

Let the countdown begin,
~ Birdie

*All photos courtesy of: here

Finding a Cure

During an aromatherapy class I took at my local community college I learned about a man named Dr. John Christopher. His son had written a biography on him, as he had passed away some years ago, leaving a very detailed account of Dr. Christopher's life and priceless contributions to the world. You see, Dr. Christopher was a master herbalist. Rather than paraphrase the entire biography you can find it for free, here, on his website.


Black Walnut

When I first read his biography I was transfixed. Here was a man pushing through the stigmas and opposition that comes with natural healing; a man whose life work was dedicated to sharing his knowledge and empowering the people to heal themselves; a man who defied all odds and lived 40 years longer than conventional doctors gave him. In a nutshell, Dr. Christopher has validated everything I am working towards for my own family and the families of others. His selflessness and eagerness to educate speaks volumes of his character. He didn't want to get rich from his knowledge, although he surely could have, he wanted to help people help themselves and he saved countless lives in the process.

Chamomile

Dr. Christopher's son, David, has continued his herbal legacy, bringing his knowledge into the 21st century. You can now visit his website for formulas and treatment plans for various illnesses and ailments. Here is a good start. Take a gander, you won't be disappointed. I have a close friend who recently moved from NYC to Olympia, Washington and is now having troubles with her complexion. She is breaking out more than she had in NYC and wanted it to stop. I told her about Dr. Christopher and she took a look for Acne treatments- he recommended a red clover tea treatment alternated with a burdock root tea. She gave it a shot and while the jury is still out on the final results (as she is still in the process), she received immediate results of change in her body. She was able to sleep better at night (beauty rest, anyone?) and her blemishes came to fruition faster than normal. We agreed that this was likely caused by her body ridding itself of the toxins which are causing her breakouts. 

Burdock

I really could go on and on and on about Dr. Christopher, I will leave you to discover his greatness. The last thing I want to mention about him, and something I am greatly interested in, is his school. The School of Natural Healing is located out of Utah, Dr. Christopher's home state. It's not too far away from where I live now which leads me to think that sooner or later I will be making a pilgrimage there. I'd like to earn my Master Herbalist's degree from them once I am finished with my preliminary education.


Dandelion

It amazes me the ailments and illnesses Dr. Christopher was able to cure, which I suppose is why I am so excited to go into the field I am going into. Holistic and natural health care is about healing and curing the disease instead of focusing on the symptoms. Yes, that medication can make your symptoms go away, but not before it leaves some fun side effects behind. What about what is causing the symptoms? Isn't that a concern? It should be. And that's why I'm here. I want to find the cause and cure it, just like Dr. Christopher. And like him, I want to teach people how to cure themselves, empowering them with the knowledge of how to best take care of their family's health.
Working Towards a Healthier You (and me),
~ Birdie

*All photos courtesy of here

Blackbean and Corn BBQ Pizza

I discovered this recipe some time ago and I'm not really sure where I got it from. It is made for the BBQ grill, but I am slowly perfecting it for the oven. The recipe is as follows:

Yum!! Half chicken, half veggie.

Ingredients

• 1-2 plum tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed
• 1 cup fresh corn kernels, (about 2 ears)
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal
• 1 pound prepared whole-wheat pizza dough
• 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped
• 1/2 cup frozen spinach, chopped and thawed
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella, preferably smoked mozzarella

Preparation



1. Preheat grill to medium.


2. Combine tomato, beans and corn in a medium bowl. Sprinkle cornmeal onto a large baking sheet. Stretch the dough into about a 12-inch circle and lay it on top of the cornmeal, coating the entire underside of the dough.


3. Transfer the crust from the baking sheet to the grill. Close the lid and cook until the crust is puffed and lightly browned on the bottom, 4 to 5 minutes.


4. Using a large spatula, flip the crust. Spread barbecue sauce on it and quickly sprinkle with the tomato mixture and cheese. Close the lid; grill until the cheese is melted and the bottom of the crust is browned, 4 to 5 minutes.
 
Nutrition



Per serving: 316 calories; 6 g fat (3 g sat, 0 g mono); 13 mg cholesterol; 48 g carbohydrates; 3 g added sugars; 14 g protein; 4 g fiber; 530 mg sodium; 94 mg potassium.


Nutrition Bonus: Calcium (15% dv).


3 Carbohydrate Serving


Exchanges: 3 starch, 3 medium-fat meat
 
Delicious!!!
 

For the oven, I preheat the oven to 350* and spread the dough out in a cookie sheet. I place the dough in the oven for about 5-10 minutes to let it cook. I take it out, flip the dough, and continue the process as it states in the above recipe. I also add some BBQ sauce to the tomato mix as it keeps it nice and moist while baking. Be careful not to add to much, otherwise it will be an overpowering taste. I then place it back into the oven and cook it for an additional 10-20 minutes, checking on it every so often to make sure it isn't getting burned. When it is ready to come out, I let it cool for a little bit and then start slicing! We like to dip it in ranch! Yum!!! (But it tastes great on its own!)
 

*For this batch Beau wanted chicken so I added some pre-cooked chicken breasts that he had picked up from the store the other night. I just mixed it in with the tomato mixture in a separate bowl and put it on the dough. Easy peasy.
 
Enjoy!
~ Birdie

Home Grown

I don't have much to write or at least I'm not inspired much at this moment to write, but I feel it is something worth noting, as I munch on these mild radishes dipped in ranch, that even though we aren't able to go to the local farmers market right now we can still get "local" foods from our supermarket. Beau and I usually go to the Saturday morning Farmers Market every weekend where we would buy all our produce and bread, pasta and granola for the week. It is a great tradition that we love very much. However, my work schedule has changed and I am working Saturday mornings. We have tried to go to other Farmers Markets in the area during the week, but they just didn't have same atmosphere as our Saturday Market. Needless to say, we have been shopping at the grocery store until my Saturdays are free again. Tonight, on such a trip, I took note of the labels on our food. I'm surprised I hadn't looked before, as I am becoming increasingly interested in knowing where my food is coming from and who produced it. Such a luxury of the Farmers Market, not so much the grocery store.

Grocery Cart

This is the beginning of our shopping cart. To the left (Red potatoes, carrots, broccoli, blueberries, mushrooms, radishes, apples, and onions) were all produced and grown in the United States. The items of the right (Plums, Avocados, tomatoes) came from Chile and Mexico. I was happily surprised to see how much of our food was coming from the USA. We were shopping at a grocery chain called Fresh and Easy. I challenge you all to check where your food is being grown. Keep in mind that the FDA and USDA have rules for our country (politics aside) regarding what kind of pesticides can be used on our produce. This means that pesticide companies can only use certain "non-harmful" pesticides on our food, however, this does not stop these companies from manufacturing illegal, extremely harmful pesticides and shipping them to other countries where the rules and regulations are not as strict. These countries, who are using these harmful pesticides, are shipping their crops over to the US where the American people are consuming the food and pesticides. This is creating a Circle of Poison. A small book was written by two scientists in the 70's-80's regarding the dangers of pesticides. I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in making healthier decisions for themselves and their family. If anyone needed reason to buy organic, this book would give plenty.

Side Note:

Vegetables that Izzie LOVES:

Broccoli

Tomatoes

Radishes

Carrots

Lettuce

Spinach

Vegetables that Izzie HATES:

Celery

What are you eating?

~Birdie

Attack! Of the Free Radicals!

I've been hit! I've been hit! (Wo)Man down!!!

Yes, I'm sad to report that I was struck with the cold/flu that has been spreading viciously throughout my friends and family this season. I didn't even see it coming! A scratchy throat one minute and BAM! Fever, achy body, oozing/congested nose, and the energy of a dead Duracell battery. Quickly, I went from unsuspecting victim to the take charge-get better-naturally-(soon to be)-health counselor that I am. I did some research and drew from my own knowledge to find the quickest way to conquer this invasion of free-radicals.

First, I changed my diet. Bye bye unnatural sugar! No need for that until I am 100% better! A liquid diet was next; soups and water all day. No dairy (that makes the mucus buildups worse!)

Then I decided a hot shower would be nice. Hot shower in the morning, cozy, warm clothes, and a space heater to keep me warm throughout the day. I didn't want to lose my fever. Did you know that fevers (until they reach extreme temperatures) are good for you? That's your body battling the free-radicals that are making you sick! The body raises its temperature to make the body's internal environment unsuitable for the free-radicals, making them die and go away. Knowing this made "feeling the burn" worth it. It was uplifting to know my body was fighting for my health, was it uncomfortable? Absolutely. But it helped to know that I needed to have this "healing crisis" in order to get well. So I tucked into the couch with Izzie and a soft blanket my mom sent me for Christmas and watched a movie or two while dozing in and out of sleep. If I wasn't on the couch then I was on the floor in front of the space heater sleeping. (I had Beau there to monitor me- no need to set fires.)

One of my favorites!

I ate homemade, organic vegetable soup for breakfast and tomato soup for lunch. I had beans for dinner- yum! And I drank lots of water throughout the day. My head started to hurt so Beau and I took Izzie for a walk. The cool, fresh air was very refreshing and made me feel better. My body was super stiff and achy from the day so I took a hot bath with chamomile and lavender herbs, peppermint essential oil, and sea salt. I turned off the lights in the bathroom and sank in. When the water cooled I emptied it a little and filled it with more hot water. After the bath I applied a deep breathing application for aromatherapy to my chest and back of my neck- the formula had Spruce, Peppermint, and Lavender essential oils. I climbed into bed and had a fitful night's rest. The next morning when I woke up my fever was gone, my nose wasn't congested, and my throat had seemed to clear. My only ailments were related to the body cleansing itself of the remnants of being sick. More liquids that day, but I ate chips and salsa in the evening to help my nose clear out- spicy food is always good for congestion.


Bird bath, get it? Birdie in a bath?

 In a nutshell:

• Liquids. Liquids. Liquids. Flush the toxins out of your system.
• Avoid sugars and dairy which can make conditions worse!
• Let the body heal itself- let that Fever burn! (unless it gets too high, then consult a doctor).
• Stay warm, sweat out the toxins.
• Rest, rest, and more rest. Fighting a battle is hard work!
• Showers and baths to soothe the aches.
• Exercise to clear the head and get fresh air.
• Aromatherapy to ease congestion- peppermint is good at this.

Things I would have done if able: Sauna and steam room- sweat the toxins out and the steam to help with congestion. Massage- these are always good at cleansing the body of toxins. Just drink LOTS of water- plus it helps with the achy body. Hot Tub- Get rid of the aches, but also helps with the fever.

If you feel that cold coming on, try something new- reach for the garlic. Put two garlic cloves in your mouth- one on each side. Place each clove between your cheek and your gums until the flavor runs out. Your cold symptoms (and future cold) should go away by the end of the day if not within hours. Give it a shot! Can't hurt, right? And while keeping garlic in your mouth isn't the most desirable thing to do- it beats having a cold, right?

Your Companion in Fighting the Good Fight,
~Birdie

Oh. Hello 2011.

New Years Resolutions... who needs them? I am beginning to feel, just in these past few days, that personal change should be a lifelong commitment that happens every day. Why wait until midnight on January 1st to decide to commit to change? There are things I know I need to continue to work on and things I am yet to learn I need. Every day brings a new challenge and everyday we need to face those challenges, learn from them, and work towards not having to see those challenges again. That is why I have to say that this year I don't have Resolutions. I have goals. And I have plans. I have a To-Do List.

Goals, Plans, To-Do:

• Plan a wedding and participate in it.
• Buy my wedding dress.
• Talk to my girls about Bridesmaid's dresses.
• Take inventory on materials already have, what needs to be purchased.
• Make Save The Dates and Invitations.
• Organize my thoughts on the reception.
• Get the boys' stuff figured out.

Mmmm... I think this one is PERFECT!

• Buy a house
• Start a garden.
• Reuse, restore, and recycle as many home furnishings as possible.
• Move away from plastic products; use glass, ceramic, or wood, etc. instead.
• Organize and declutter what we have already.
• Build a two-room shed in the backyard.
• Build a chicken coop and raise some chickens.



Dreamy, isn't it?

• Become more financially responsible.
• Continue to be increasingly more self reliant.
• Commit to my education- really learn the materials to better help others.
• Continue to shop locally instead of corporations. Farmer's Market, Farmer's Market, Farmer's Market.




Yummy!

• Continue to eat healthier and be aware of what I put into my body. Avoid unnecessary chemicals, and practice what I preach.
• Be a better friend to those closest to me- continue to rebuild relationships.
• Know that only I can give people permission to hurt me.
• Continue to teach people how to be better foster parents for children coming from less than ideal home lifes.
• Make it to Frontsight and get some tactical handgun training.
• Be in Oregon for Christmas.
• Meditate more often.

• Get messages as often as possible!!!
• Read more books for fun. (This one should be easy!)

Well, really, I think that is it so far for the things I'd like to do in the year 2011. It is going to be an incredible year of change for me, which is exciting as I love and crave change. Marriage, House, School, Kids? I guess we will see!

May 2011 be filled with blessings and adventure,
~ Birdie