I used to be that mom who would wake up the kids, and I would rush them and yell, “Come on, we going to be late.”
I don’t know what made me self reflect. Like this isn’t working. I didn’t want to be that mom. Also, it’s not good for the kids frame of mind to be in when they went to school.
My kids must have been about 6,4, and 2. Also the age when I changed my parenting habits. But that’s a story for another time. I came up with a plan that might just help everyone keep their sanity.
I decided to try something new. Which took effort on my part because I was a young mom who loved her sleep. Every day at 6 am, I would go into each one of my children’s rooms and turn on the light to say “good morning” and nothing else.
Then I would go start breakfast or perhaps pick out their outfit for the day if they didn’t do so the previous night. I would also take this time to make sure my stuff is ready for the day.
They needed to wake up at 6:30 am, so about 6:20 am. I would go back to their rooms and say 10 min we need to get up. This is usually when they would slowly crawl out of their beds and start getting dressed. They didn’t get grumpy with me, I didn’t have to raise my voice it was the smoothest our mornings have gone in a while I was like this could work.
Author: fineartstar
This was our routine every school year. Yes, I had to wake up an extra 30 minutes every morning, but the harmony in the mornings were worth it.
Hows It Going
Now fast forward to their teen years. My kids sleep upstairs now. I wasn’t about to yell up the stairs. Besides who likes getting yelled at. Teens can be stubborn about their sleep so this mama got creative. Why should I wear out my delicate voice when I can use doorbells to get the job done.
I bought 3 wireless door bells 🔔 https://amzn.to/48bJeYq (from Amazon of course.)I put the receivers in their rooms and the button-down stairs. This not only helped to give them the extra encouragement to get out of bed. It also doubled as a way to get my child to come down stairs if I needed them.
Although it’s not a perfect system, it does help keep the harmony still happening in the mornings 😀. I hope you enjoyed this post. Until next time, have a blessed day. Don’t forget to hit the like button.
6. “Your $2 coffee = my motivation to keep typing instead of napping. Thank you in advance!”
Hey friends, how was your week? Mine was… let’s just say “adventurous.” I spent two days in bed fighting off some mysterious bug that turned my nose into Rudolph’s understudy. Not exactly my most glamorous look, trust me. But lying there, rocking the sick-day aesthetic (pajamas, tissues everywhere, hair that could scare small children), got me thinking about what actually makes a person feel beautiful.
Because honestly, everyone deserves to feel beautiful — even when they look like they just survived a zombie apocalypse. And with the way models are photoshopped these days, it’s no wonder we sometimes feel like “beautiful” is some secret club we’re not invited to.
I’m going to warn you, ⚠️ this post is a little longer than usual. But I think it is well needed. After all, Beauty takes time. So does talking about it.
I know when I put on a pretty dress, I instantly feel like a Disney princess — until I take it off and remember I still have dishes in the sink. Was it the dress that made me feel magical, or did it just amplify the confidence that was already hiding under the surface? (Either way, 10/10 would wear again.)
And hey, “beautiful” works here, but so does “handsome” — this is a gender-neutral confidence boost. Clothes can absolutely open the door to confidence, but they might not be everyone’s door. For some, it’s music, or makeup, or just a good hair day.
But let’s be real: the right outfit can make you walk differently, stand taller, and suddenly pretend you’re the main character in a movie montage. Before you know it, you’re seeing yourself in a whole new light — and that’s powerful. Dress for success, and you’re basically helping out your future self… who will thank you later for looking so put-together while figuring life out.
This might sound a little confusing, but I’ve noticed something about people who struggle to see their own beauty: we don’t really love being stared at. I know I personally hate it when someone looks at me longer than feels normal — cue the awkward “take a picture, it lasts longer” joke in my head. And then the thoughts start creeping in: Were they staring because something’s wrong with me? Or… did they actually think I’m cute?
Chances are, it’s just those pesky human insecurities doing their thing in the background. We all have them, even when there’s no reason to.
I’m talking about that one person who gives you butterflies just thinking about them. For me, it’s my husband. I feel the most beautiful when he looks at me — and not in a “hey, you look okay” way, but more like a kid staring at a giant slice of chocolate cake. You know the look: pure awe, maybe a little drool (okay, maybe not the drool).
When that one person looks at you like that, you can feel beautiful without them even saying a word. The tricky part? Letting yourself actually believe it. You’ve got to get out of your own head and just… absorb it.
The truth is, everyone is beautiful in their own way — and it doesn’t have to be just about looks. Society might try to convince us otherwise, but real beauty comes from so many places: your heart, your laugh, the way you treat people. You’re beautiful — you just need to find the door that lets you see it for yourself.
I used to put everyone else first — I mean, that’s basically the unofficial job description of a mom, right? But then I had a moment of clarity and said, “You know what? Me time, baby!” Suddenly I’m buying that fancy skincare that promises to make me look like I slept eight hours instead of three. I’m getting my nails done like I just won a small lottery. And yes, I’m not even hesitating to get my hair done — if the budget allows, of course.
And this isn’t just for the ladies reading this. Gentlemen, a fresh haircut or a little grooming upgrade can do wonders for your confidence too. Think of it as armor for life — it may not solve all your problems, but you’ll look fabulous while tackling them.
Maybe it’s as simple as treating yourself to a cup of coffee. I mean, a cup of coffee might not make you instantly feel like a supermodel, but it will make your day go about 1000% better — and let’s be honest, surviving the day without it is basically a crime against humanity.
And here’s the big one: surround yourself with positive people. You know, the ones who actually lift you up instead of dragging you into a gossip black hole or a pity party. As I always tell my kids (because apparently I like giving life lessons like I’m Yoda with a caffeine addiction): positivity breeds positivity. And if all else fails, just hug a dog, scroll some memes, and pretend you’re on a reality show where the prize is self-love.
Why is it 🤔 that when someone else says something negative about themselves, we instantly turn into motivational coaches? “No, girl, you’re amazing! You’re gorgeous! You’re basically a walking trophy!” But when it comes to ourselves? Oh no, we don’t hesitate for a second to roast ourselves like we’re hosting a comedy roast.
And the worst part? If we keep feeding ourselves those little negative comments, eventually we start believing them. Hypocrisy, if you ask me — we’re basically the meanest friend we’ve ever had… to ourselves.
I’m guilty of this myself — putting myself down when I don’t need to. Being beautiful isn’t just about what you see in the mirror; it’s about who you are on the inside and how you treat others. So why is it so easy to cheer someone else up when they’re feeling low, but we can’t seem to do the same for ourselves?
I’m not trying to shame anyone — we all have our moments. The truth is, nobody is perfect. We all have flaws, messy days, and things we wish we could change. Learning to be a little kinder to yourself, even when life gets messy, is what really counts.
Don’t let strangers control how you see yourself — seriously, they have enough going on without running your self-esteem. The only opinion that really matters is yours. You’re beautiful. Yes, you. Be your own friend. Cheer yourself on like you just won a lifetime supply of tacos.
This isn’t something that happens overnight. Learning to hype yourself up takes practice — kind of like figuring out a new hobby, or assembling IKEA furniture without crying. Just like any relationship in life, it takes time, patience, and a little humor to get it right.
Conclusion
I wanted to share a few ways to help you feel beautiful… or handsome. Because let’s be honest, we all need that little confidence boost — even if it’s just convincing yourself you look okay in sweatpants.
If you made it this far through this post, first of all, congratulations — you deserve a medal (or at least a cookie). I really hope something I talked about above helps you find that one thing that makes you feel fabulous — and yes, everything I said wasn’t just for the ladies; gentlemen, I see you too.
So, here’s to feeling good about yourself, laughing at the chaos, and maybe giving yourself a little high-five in the mirror. Until next time, have a blessed day — and remember: confidence looks good on everyone.
“Feeling kind? Hit that $2 coffee button and help me replace stress with caffeine and gratitude.”
Okay, quick heads-up: this post is real, personal, and a little raw—it dives straight into the messy chaos of my teenage years. I’m not sharing this for pity, promise. I’m sharing it because maybe, just maybe, it can remind someone out there that your past doesn’t have to define your future. Let it shape you, teach you, and guide you into becoming the amazing, beautiful person you’re meant to be.
So, picture this: I grew up in a super strict household. Dresses were the daily uniform, haircuts were basically outlawed, and makeup? Forget about it. I was a good kid—I listened to my mom like she was the CEO of my life. Fast forward to when I turned 17… life threw me a curveball, and I ended up in foster care. I was this sheltered little bubble suddenly dropped into a house full of girls who were way too eager to “unshelter” me, each with their own set of wild behaviors. Let’s just say, it was… an adjustment.
My Time in Foster Care
When I first landed in foster care, I was just a sweet, shy, reserved girl—basically your textbook “good kid.” Then came the group home experience… imagine a place that’s kind of like a juvenile prison, but with more awkwardness and less actual crime. Our caregiver would pat us down every time we left the house and every time we came back, like we were sneaky secret agents—or, you know, hardened criminals. And don’t even get me started on the backpack searches. It was like our personal stuff was suddenly top-secret contraband.
If we had to use the bathroom 15 or 30 minutes after eating, I basically had two options: I could either sing my ABCs with the door shut… or let them watch me do my business. Yup, you read that right—the reason? To make sure I wasn’t secretly throwing up my lunch. I couldn’t wait to turn 18 and leave that whole “bathroom surveillance” chapter of my life far, far behind me.
By the time that day finally came, I was a completely different person than the shy, sweet girl who first stepped into the group home. I’d learned to stand up for myself, speak my mind, and, let’s be honest, give the occasional sarcastic eye-roll when needed. Trusting people? Still tricky—something I’m working on even now. That sheltered little girl was long gone, replaced by a teen who was equal parts fiery, determined, and desperate for a little taste of freedom.
Just to be clear—I didn’t do anything wrong to end up in foster care. Didn’t deserve it either. I was just a regular, slightly confused teenage girl trying to survive each day in the group home. And by “survive,” I mean dodge the occasional drama, eye-rolls, and the occasional full-on bullying from the other girls—because, of course, what’s a group home without a little chaos?
I’d never really had to stand up for myself before, so I came up with a “brilliant” survival plan: keep my mouth shut and start counting down the days until I could finally get out of there for good. Honestly, I felt like an inmate—minus the orange jumpsuit, but with all the drama. My mind got a little dark, I was definitely angry and bitter at times, and, above all, I just felt really, really alone.
As I took some time to reflect on everything, I made a choice: I was going to focus on the positives as much as possible. Sure, this experience had left its mark emotionally, but I refused to let it take over my mind or my future. I decided to let this unexpected chapter become a life lesson instead. After all, no lesson is ever wasted—if you know how to look for the ways it can actually help you grow.
I thought turning 18 and reuniting with my family would magically make everything better. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. I was rebellious, angry, and still carrying a lot of bitterness from my time in foster care. On the outside, I looked calm—on the inside, I was basically a volcano ready to erupt. And if I’m being completely honest with myself, a big chunk of that anger was aimed right at my parents. But even through all that chaos, I started learning that acknowledging your feelings is the first step toward actually letting them go.
They expected me to act like I did before I went into the system. Like I should’t allow my time in foster care to change me. They wanted me to be that sweet teenager who listened blindly and never asked questions. That girl was gone. How could I be that sweet girl when in the group home I had to adapt to survive. Being sweet and shy made you look weak. You had to stand your ground, or the girls would take advantage any way they could.
When I was 19 I met a man who I started dating. Little did I know he had a checkered past. About 5 months into our relationship, he got drunk and started boasting about beating his previous girlfriend. As soon as I heard that It woke me up, and I was trying to find a way to get out of the relationship.
He never hit me, but I wasn’t planning on sticking around to give him the chance. After 6 months of dating, I was at work, and I had severe sharp pain on the right side of my body. I thought my appendix was going to burst. So I did what any 20 year old did, I went to the E.R.. after thinking the worst and what seemed like forever.The doctor came in and said “well your appendix is fine.” I spoke up to say, “I don’t feel fine.” He smiled at me and said “well from what we can tell you are about 6 weeks pregnant. ” My heart felt like it had stopped! Pregnant?
I became pregnant with a man who was abusive. As the doctor was talking I got lost in the thought of how to end my relationship to protect my unborn child from possible abuse.
God must have heard my silent prayer because June 2007 is when I found out I was pregnant, and in October, he was arrested and sent to jail. That’s when I saw my chance, and I moved back home to prepare for the biggest journey of my life.
The Struggle
I struggled with the idea of being a mother. I didn’t think I had what I took to be a good mother. Could I protect my unborn child in ways I myself wasn’t protected from? I was a high school drop out, how would I support my baby. Then I came to the conclusion that it would be best for the baby to give my baby up for adoption.
When I was 5 months along, it was time to find out the gender. I remember when it came to having the ultrasound, I didn’t want to look at the monitor. I didn’t want to get attached. After all, I will be giving my baby up in 4 months. The technician asked if I wanted to know what the gender was. With my mother holding my hand, I reluctantly said yes. I was told it is a girl. I couldn’t help myself. I looked at the monitor to see the tiny fetus waving her hand at as if to say hi mom.
At that moment, I had a realization that this little girl never asked for any of this. She never asked to be given up for adoption up, because her mother didn’t have her live in order. That night alone in my room as I rubbed my pregnant belly, I remember praying to God.
” Lord, if I am meant to keep this child and raise her, I will need your help to provide for us. At 21, I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl. I decided to keep my little girl and raise her to be an independent thinker and confident, and most of all, I would teach her all about God. He has provided for not only me and the baby at that time but has continued to provide for us today. Today, I have 3 beautiful children and a husband who shows me he loves me every day.
Author : Unknown
What I Learned
For those that have made it this far in the post, thank you. I know this was a long post, but a backstory was needed for you to understand the full picture. I wanted to show how real and raw my past was.
I never wanted to be the girl who used my past as a crutch. Yes, I have gone through some things that I thought were unfair. I wanted to be a survivor. I wanted to see my past as a stepping stool to be mentally stronger, not a shell of a person.
We don’t have to allow our past to be the excuses we lean on to have a poor me attitude. Tomorrow is a new day. It’s never too late to work through our past to help our future
The choices we make are our own to make and we have to live with them. My actions are what led me to fall pregnant.
I would like my story and what happened to me to help someone. We all have a past, don’t like it be your doom let it be your stepping stone to learn from it. I hope you enjoyed this post. Until we meet again, have a blessed day.
Sometimes it is what we choose to focus on that determines our mood and how we see our day as a good day or bad day. You literally have to train our brain to go against our nature.
Our nature is to focus on the bad things in our lives. I am not sure why that may be. Someone can give me 5 compliments, and it is hard for me to accept them. They can turn around and give me 1 negative comment, and I will remember it for the rest of the day. Why is that? Perhaps we can learn to focus on the compliments and say ” thank you” and smile.
When We are at Work
The boss could say “you did a great job, handling that stressful situation yesterday.” and “thank you for coming in early when I needed you”. However I will need the reports on my desk by morning.
Just like that, you forgot about the compliments that were just given. It wasn’t a negative conversation, just not something we wanna hear, am I right? Just say you’re welcome. No one said it would be easy, I myself struggle with this as well. When you are good at your job, it is easy to feel like you are being taken for granted.
When we choose to focus on the positive things in our life the day seems to be easier to get through. One small positive thought can set the whole tone for the day. I try to be soft in nature in the morning. Say good morning to your family. Try not to get angry in the mornings over the little things.
That being said, sometimes situations happen that are out of our control sometimes. It might be tripping over the cat multiple times as you try to get ready for work, or maybe it is your little one fighting with you over every little thing that gets your blood pressure to rise.
When my youngest child was little, she would fight with me almost every day with picking out an outfit. The reason was she has texture issues ( if you know, you know). I found out that waking up 20 min earlier than usual gave her time to have that possible meltdown. When I did this, the morning routine went smoother, and we were all less stressed.
I was focused on giving her extra time for a possible meltdown which gave me more of a calm feeling in the mornings.
Thinking outside the Box
I could have yelled and screamed, but the end result would have been both of us getting stressed. Taking the time to think outside the box and a little trial and error you can find a solution to having a better moring. Which sets the tone for the whole day.
Focusing on anything positive will help your day. Positive thinking breeds positive actions. Because if you don’t focus on the good in your life, you will only see the bad.
I really hope you find this encouraging and uplifting because that’s what I am trying to do here. Encourage anyone who reads this post. Or if this post just brings a smile to your face, then I have done something right. Until we meet again, have a blessed day.
Loading…
Hey, if you would like to support this blog, you can do so easily. Just click the button below. You can buy me a cup of coffee for $2.
So, I’ve been thinking, and I’m going to try a slightly different route than what I originally planned. My first idea was that every time I wrote a new post, I’d also include a new recipe and an Amazon review — ambitious, right? 😅 But after doing a little soul-searching (and realizing I don’t have enough hours in the day to make my kitchen look Pinterest-perfect and write a full review every single week), I think I might switch gears a bit.
Instead of posting a new recipe regularly, I’m leaning toward sharing more encouraging posts. Here’s what I mean: I’ll find positive quotes that hopefully give you a little boost in your day — the kind that makes you go, “Yeah, I can handle this Monday… or Tuesday… or whatever day it is.” 😆 Then I’ll add my own take on the quote, sharing thoughts, stories, or even a funny fail that goes along with it.
Don’t worry — recipes won’t disappear completely. I’ll still share them here and there, but they won’t be on a strict schedule. That’s because Jades Random Thoughts is all about being, well… random. We don’t stick to a topic schedule, and honestly, that’s part of the fun! This feels more realistic and a lot more fun for me, and hopefully more meaningful for you too. After all, we could all use a little more encouragement, a few laughs, and maybe even a cookie recipe every now and then. 🍪
I would love to have you feeling encouraged after visiting my blog. Until we meet again have a blessed day.
So, when I did my last round of Amazon reviews, I’ll be honest — it felt a little all over the place. 😂 Like, one minute I was talking about a kitchen cabinet and the next I was basically giving a TED Talk on home organization. So this time, we’re trying something new! You tell me what you think down in the comments. What do I mean exactly? Well… last time, things weren’t exactly categorized — more like thrown into a digital laundry basket of ideas. But hey, this blog is all about keeping it real and raw, right? I’m just figuring things out as I go, one Amazon package (and occasional mess-up) at a time. So when I try something new, I truly want to know what you guys think — because let’s be honest, this blog wouldn’t be nearly as fun if I was just talking to myself in my kitchen again. 😅
Back Story:
So, I’m just going to talk about why I bought the things I used in my kitchen — but first, a little backstory. Growing up, we moved around a lot, and let’s just say our houses were more “functional” than “Pinterest-worthy.” They got the job done, but no one was walking in saying, “Wow, what a vibe.” 😅 And like most girls, I’ve always wanted my home to look pretty — you know, the kind of place where you light a candle and suddenly feel like you’ve got your life together.
I’ve always loved that cozy, elegant farmhouse look — all those soft, light walls mixed with warm wood floors. It just gives off peaceful, homey energy (and hides dust better than white tile, let’s be honest). So, when I bought my house back in May of 2021, I was thrilled… until I walked in and saw the paneling on the walls and carpet in the kitchen. Yes, carpet. In. The. Kitchen. Whoever thought that was a good idea clearly never dropped spaghetti sauce. 😂
So, I decided it was time to give the place a little facelift — nothing major, just a “glow-up on a budget.” And let me tell you, my kitchen has come a long way from what it looked like when I first moved in.
beautiful right? (hahah) this is one side of my kitchen. The next picture is the other side.
Since I took that picture, though, I’ve actually done even more to the kitchen. Wait until you see it now! It’s been two years in the making, and let me tell you — when you’re doing makeovers on a budget, patience becomes your new personality. 😅 You buy one thing here, paint something there, and then six months later you finally find the shelf you didn’t know you needed. It’s definitely been a slow process, but every little change makes me do a happy dance. The best part? Seeing how far it’s come from where it started — and knowing that even though it took forever, it’s finally starting to look like the cozy, charming kitchen I always dreamed of.
I was so excited about how everything was coming together that I didn’t even wait to put the cupboard doors back on before snapping a picture. I just stood there like, “Nope, this moment needs to be documented right now before I accidentally spill something on it.” 😂 It was one of those proud DIY moments where you can finally see the light at the end of the clutter tunnel. Sure, there are still a few little things left to finish — but honestly, I think it’s important to celebrate the “almost done” stage too! (This is definitely another one of those raw, unfiltered pictures — no fancy lighting, just pure excitement and maybe a little chaos in the background.) Now, let me show you the other side of the kitchen… because trust me, it’s come a long way too!
Okay, I’m no professional decorator—but compared to what my kitchen used to look like, I think I deserve at least a small round of applause (or at least a snack). Do you see those two cupboards in the picture above? Yep, those beauties are from Amazon. The tall one is this one 👉 https://amzn.to/4mJ97TY, and the longer one with the cute wooden top is right here 👉 https://amzn.to/47Q33Ew. I picked them because not only do they make my small kitchen look a little fancy (like it’s trying out for an HGTV makeover show), but they also come with a ton of storage—which means I can finally hide all the random stuff I swear I’ll “organize later.” Another thing I added was a new kitchen table—https://amzn.to/4lQmTCM. And before you ask, yes, I took a picture of it to show you what it looks like. Now, I’m not a professional photographer either—I’m more of a “hope the lighting’s decent and my thumb’s not in the shot” kind of person. So here goes nothing—prepare yourself for some very real, unfiltered, amateur-level photography magic.
So this is the table I just recently snagged from Amazon — and honestly, I’m a little obsessed with it. I have to admit though, I’m kind of nervous about this post. I’m a pretty private person, so showing you guys the inside of my house feels a little like letting someone peek into my junk drawer. But hey, this blog is all about being open, encouraged, vulnerable, and real — so here I am, awkwardly doing just that. 😅 I hope you enjoyed this new “Amazon review in story mode” idea, because it’s basically me trying to make adulting and decorating sound fun. I can’t promise I’ll have pictures for everything I post about (sometimes I forget before the box even hits the trash), but I’ll do my best! If you liked this post, let me know by commenting or hitting that like button. Until next time — stay cozy and have a blessed day!
Hey there I hope life is treating you well. This might have to be put in parts, because there’s so much to say. I don’t want my post to be too long and I don’t want you to lose interest . I think we all suffer a little with ADHD. I had a friend ask me to talk more about my herbal journey. I got sick, like many of you did, I’m sure during covid. I never wanted to feel that sick again.
That was in June of 2021 that I was so sick that my daughter had to pretty much force feed me peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. After I got better, I wanted to make sure my family immune system was strong, so we didn’t get that sick again. My herbal journey started when I stumbled on a TikTok, I think, and watched like 3 or 4 of Barbara O’Neal health retreat seminars. She was talking about some natural herbs for an immune system boost, which was Elderberry.
She was talking about many herbs and remedies. She only talked a little about Elderberry, but it was enough to get my attention. Making me wanna to do my own research.
I learned a lot about other herbs from Barbara O’Neal as well that I can’t wait to share about. Now that being said, I’m not even close to being an expert, I know what I have been doing with my family, and it helps. We will talk about that at a later date.
Elderberry
After I found out that research suggests that Elderberry may support the immune system as well as reduce the time you have a cold and flu I was hooked. With a deeper look I found out Elderberry could do so much more than I thought.
Sinus issues
nerve pain
inflammation
chronic fatigue
allergies
constipation
even cancer
Research published in the Journal of international Medical Research suggests when taken within the first 48 hours after you get symptoms of a cold or flu the flower may help relieve and shorten how long your sick.
So when I was doing my research it was close to the middle of September, and where I live we have a fall festival around that time. The fall festival has a bunch of vendors from all over and of course yummy food trucks. As i walked around looking at all the vendors I noticed a all natrual stand they had all natrual tintures ( alcohol infused with herb) then I seen a jar of homemade Elderberry syrup i nervously bought it to see if it would work or not.
My kids always get sick around this time from starting school, so I said we will try it. Let me tell you what, my kids went from getting sick all the time with the runny noses and the wet cough to getting sick, maybe once or twice a winter season. That’s progress in my book. Elderberry can be taken by tea and syrup, and my favorite way of taking all my vitamins is capsules. Easy down and good for you.
Honey
Its not a herb per-say, however honey is still important and completely natural which is what our main focus is for today. As they say all things in moderation. Honey has some benefits that are good for the body. When I first started this journey I only knew about Elderberry and honey. Honey is a better alternative to sugar in general, but more for diabetics. That being said if you suffer with diabetes make sure you consume it in moderation.
Researchers have found that honey may increase adiponectin levels (protein hormone), a hormone that reduces inflammation and improves blood sugar regulation. According to one review, honey may help lower blood pressure, improve blood fat levels, regulate your heartbeat, and prevent the death of healthy cells — all factors that can improve your heart function and health.
Honey can be used to help with a burn and wound healing. You just clean the wound and put thin layer on the cut. The best thing is honey is good for a cough. Better than the medicine that may have side effects. I personally to put honey in my tea every morning ( ok ok my husband put honey it in my tea every morning) because honey also boosts immune system which is a win for me. These two natural remedies it what made me go down the rabbit hole of learning about castor oil, ashwagandha, rodiola, and comfrey. Just to name for a few of some of the herbs that I come to know about.
Hey, if you enjoyed this post, please comment ” Honey” or feel free to hit the like button. I enjoy interacting with you guys .Until we meet again in part 2, have a blessed day.
I love shopping on Amazon. You can see reviews on what you buy so you can see if it’s worth it. I personally do not like buying things on Amazon unless it has a 4.6 rating or higher. Let’s get into it.
I get a small commission from using the links listed below. It doesn’t cost you anything extra.
Personalized Kids Water Bottle 20 ounces
Okay, let me just say — this water bottle is amazing. In my humble opinion, it’s basically magic. It keeps hot drinks hot for 12 hours and cold drinks cold for 24 hours. Yes, you read that right. TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. I’m not naturally a water drinker (I know, I need to get better at this), but when I do drink water, it has to be so cold that I gasp like I just jumped into a frozen lake. ❄️
Here’s the link if you want to check it out: https://amzn.to/4oVOhSQ. I actually got one for my kids and my boyfriend at the time (now my husband), and we get compliments on these things all the time. The picture below is my personal thermos — I love it so much. It’s got a 4.8 out of 5 rating — I’d give it a full 5 if it didn’t occasionally leak (but let’s be real, that’s usually just me not screwing the lid on correctly).
Honestly, this is the kind of water bottle that makes you feel fancy, hydrated, and like you’ve got your life together — even on days when your socks don’t match. If you’re thinking about it… just get it. Your future self (and your water intake) will thank you. 💧
Sorry the quality isn’t good, this was before I got married. I purchased this Dec 2021 and I still use it often. you can add a carabiner (used by rock climbers) so it can hook to a day bag.
Small Air Fryer Liners
These little liners are a total game-changer for my 2 qt mini air fryer — here’s the link if you want to grab them: https://amzn.to/4fSL6qN. I used to have a bigger air fryer, and I’ll admit… I wasn’t exactly the queen of cleaning. Crumbs would pile up on the bottom, and eventually, surprise, surprise — it burned out. 😂 So, when I bought a new one off Amazon (of course I did), I grabbed these liners for the bottom tray, and let me tell you, life has changed.
Here’s the scoop: Pros — cleanup is a breeze, they’re disposable (hallelujah), and they keep the inside of the air fryer sparkling clean. Honestly, it’s the little victories that count. Now, the con — and it’s a tiny one — when you preheat your air fryer, the air circulation can lift the liner up toward the fan, which can burn it and make a lot of smoke. Not exactly “smoky campfire vibes,” if you catch my drift. 😅
Even knowing that, I’d still buy them in a heartbeat. They save me from scrubbing a tray full of crumbs and tiny disasters, which is honestly worth a little smoky drama. Sometimes convenience just wins.
Adhesive Shower Caddy, 5 Pack
Now, this product is a total lifesaver too. I actually bought them twice because my shower desperately needed more shelves — here’s the link if you want to snag them: https://amzn.to/3JAh3Io. They have adhesive on the back and stick like a champ, giving you so much extra room for all the shampoo, conditioner, and “miscellaneous shower stuff” that somehow accumulates.
I have five people sharing one shower in my house, so believe me — I need all the organization I can get. 😅 The shelves are rustproof too, which means they’ll stay looking nice for years (and hopefully avoid the horror of finding a rusty soap holder mid-shower). There are two long shelves for shampoo and conditioner, two small ones for bars of soap, and a tall one for toothbrushes — though I personally use that one for shavers.
If you like these Amazon reviews feel free to let me know by hitting the like button. After you hit the button it will direct you to set up a WordPress account this is free and allows you to like my posts and comments.
I couldn’t find the recipe that I tried with my family, however this recipe is really close. I have mentioned that all the recipes I will be posting, I myself haven’t tried. With that being said I have tried all the ones I have posted so far my family and I have tried them and loved it. I wanna get back to more homemade cooking from scratch. So that’s what made me wanna share this recipe.
If you are someone who are tired of eating processed food that makes your system feel heavy. Try this recipe and let me know if you agree with me. Either way its really yummy! Pinterest is where I get my dinner recipes when I’m stuck in the same 10 dinner recipes and want to try something new. So The recipes you see in my post are from the Pinterest website. I can’t take credit for all these yummy recipes.
I lived in Essex England for a year and half in my teen years. I can still remember the name of the street we lived on. which was School Street. The houses over there don’t have numbers on them. Each house has a name. The house I lived in was called Wilmington. Me and my two sisters had newspaper routes. The Daily Sun and The Mirror were the two newspapers that we delivered. We were paid 2 pounds each route which breaks down to $2.70 each day.
Now I know $2.70 isn’t much, but to a 14 year old girl this was freedom in a sense. Freedom to buy what ever we wanted at the shop after our deliveries were finished. My sisters and I would walk the 1/2 mile to the little shop at the end of School Street. The name of the shop sadly escapes me. It has been 25 years since I lived in England. So the details may be a little fuzzy. Now back to the newspaper route. It took my sisters and I, about 3 hrs the first time we did our paper route. We delivered them like we saw in the movies. We knew nothing of how to deliver newspapers. We were about half way done with our route ( or so we thought) the papers were folded and put in the bag we had to carry . We didn’t know but there were names of each house on the papers. So we had to go and collect them all back and re-issue them. It was cold and wet but we finished it. Within one week, we got better and got it done in 20 minutes. We were known as the American girls. Because The shop owner couldn’t remember our names.
With the money we got we spent it on things from the shop that reminded us of America. I drank so much coke that I can’t drink coke today. There is a meal that not many people are familiar with. It was called macaroni and tomato juice. It is a version from an old recipe my mom grew up called macaroni and tomatoes with salt. We spent our $2.70 on pasta which costs 69 pence and tomato juice which was like 85 pence. So for under 2 pounds we purchased ingredients so we could have food that we used to eat in the States. Something so simple like a meal brought such happiness to our lives.
In the morning my sisters and I would deliver papers and in the afternoon we would walk the 2 miles to a local horse farm to help a lady and her daughter tend to the horses and in return they would let us ride them. We would muck out the stables and feed the horses. We would groom them and take them to different fields to let them run and get exercise. I remember making a deal with our mother that we could go work on the farm as long as we were home before my father got home around 4:00 pm. So we would walk there and spend most of the day there then loose track of time and have to run the 2 miles home. There were many days I thought I was going to die from the painful stitches we would get in our side from running so hard. We loved working on the farm though. There are other stories I could share, but I don’t want to go over board in this post. So if you enjoyed this post comment “England” down below in the comments. Until next time have a blessed day. The pictures are not pictures that I took, I found these online that was similar to what I saw when I was over there.
