So I haven't forgotten...

I know this seems had to believe but I haven't forgotten about blogging. Or the challenges for that matter. I almost wanted to post last week that my challenge was going to be just making it through moving to a new place, working a new job, and dealing with sick children while fighting off illness myself. If that all wasn't a challenge I don't know what is. Or I was almost going to say moving a washer and dryer up stairs was a challenge enough as well. Wow do I never want to do that again. Plus now my one year old (Happy Birthday today Oliver!!) is breaking out in major rashes. Besides all of that however I still challenged myself to compliment at least ten complete strangers. Working in the customer service industry you think this would be an easy task. It was, until number four, then I got busy. By the time I got the phone call from the babysitter about my sons high fever I forgot about the challenge all together. SO, by the end of today I have five more random strangers to find and pay compliments to. I think I can do it.

Thanks..and other hard things to say.

So the last challenge was the challenge of giving thanks. I had to pick three people that I had felt affected me positively over the last few years or more. I chose a very old friend that I have lost contact with, a former professor, and a former boss. Although I they all were wonderful and the challenge sounds easy enough finding the right words to say really ended up being harder than I imagined.
As I sat staring at the blank paper I realized that it was harder to put into words how these people had made a lasting impression in my life.
I mean how exactly do you word "you were a hard ass but forced me to learn and I thank you for not sugar coating anything.."  See? It's harder than you think when the letter is suppose to be thanking/praising them.
Even now as I am describing everything I am at a loss for words. Lack of sleep is really taking it's toll today. I guess the most important thing right now is just to say "thank you" to you for taking the time to read this. Saying thank you randomly can make you feel good about making others feel good. I think that's what counts.

The challenge of Giving Thanks.

After stuffing my face at Thanksgiving dinner I was still contemplating on the challenge of the week. I was going to do an extra special challenge but due to lack of money- the plan fell through. I have to give an extra special thanks to my sister in law Amie for coming up with this wonderful, heartfelt challenge that is perfect for the holiday.
This giving thanks challenge will require me to find three special people from my life including an old teacher, a former boss, and a former or not so close friend- or a friend I have lost contact with. Each one of these people I must write a letter to- informing them of the impact that they had made on my life, and how them being a part of my life has changed me in some way or another. I must have these sent by Monday of next week.
I think this challenge is a fantastic idea, and I know that this will at least bring a smile to three faces and that is glorious.
Thanks for the challenge Amie.

Harry Potter and the Mostly Failed Challenge

SO last week I all of these things planned. One of them was to make a traditional English meal at least once. I chose Sheppard's Pie after hearing about it most of my life, and luckily I found a recipe that had beef instead of lamb. It was delicious!! I was very impressed with the meal and wondered why I had been so scared to try it before. The next and completely embarrassing challenge was the TALK BRITISH for a day challenge which I did on Friday. Let me tell you by Friday morning I was dreading this task and it was WAY harder than I predicted. Plus it was super embarrassing. I had to make a trip to the bank, sign my new lease, go out for diner etc all in the accent. At least my dad found humor in it, but even he admitted that it was getting quite annoying, and it was. By noon Friday I wanted SO badly to just end the challenge there. I kept it up, but by 9:00 pm when we were out and eating I found myself going in and out of accent (so one time when the waitress would ask us something I had an accent, the next time I didn't). I was literally forgetting I was suppose to be doing it and by 10:00 the challenge was over- two hours before I said I would end it. I guess as much as I tried with this one- I failed even though I managed to completely embarrass myself the whole day. Saturday was 1920s party day so I taught myself very briefly the Charleston. Sunday however the Tea Party completely fell through, and by Monday night I still hadn't tried to learn a magic trick.
Therefore I suppose for this challenge it was like a mostly fail- kind of like Voldemort won this one.

Major thing I learned during this challenge is - I like doing accents but only for a VERY limited time.

Harry Potter and the 6th Week Challenge

'Ello and welcome to challenge number 6! I am so happy you blokes have stumbled upon my blog!
Have you guessed the challenge yet? Bloody hell!! I bet you haven't! Well there are a few big events this week that I must admit I am excited about! The first being the brand new Harry Potter movie! Now, I am not a "super fan" of Harry Potter, but I do enjoy the movies and I would LOVE to camp out at midnight for the first showing. (Not let's face it- that is not happening this week, I am just saying I WOULD do it). To celebrate the event however, I am declaring this Harry Potter week. Here are the challenges:
I must at least once during the week cook and eat a traditional British meal. (Gosh I do love these food challenges don't I?)
Keeping in Harry Potter and the magic mode I must learn and demonstrate for you all a magic trick. (Yes this means another video!!)
Friday November 19th is the opening of Harry Potter so from 12:00 am the 19th- 12:00 am the 20th I MUST speak in a British accent this includes venturing out into the world and doing regular daily tasks WITH the accent. (OK disclaimer- the only way I cannot use the accent is if I receive a phone call from an place about employment). (There MAY be video of this too).
Sunday I must finish the week off with a TEA PARTY!! YESSSSS!!

Now if you remember I mentioned earlier that there are TWO things I am excited about. This week is my 1920's birthday party (on Saturday). (I am a huge 1920s fan obviously).
Challenge Bonus!! Saturday is 1920's day! That means learning the Charleston, and incorporating 20's speak into everything I do that day. I really like getting into character!!

Well I have some work cut out for me this week! But I am excited!! Stay tuned for more embarrassment...

The Ten Commandents of Faith

Alright. So the religion challenge is over. Overall I learned that no matter what religion or belief you choose to partake in- the majority of them have the same basic ideas.
Love they neighbor
Respect thy self and each other
Don't tell lies or speak ill of each other
To find peace you must search yourself
Give thanks for your blessings
Help others who need it
All is full of love
Do not cheat or steal
Be respectful
Believe and have faith

So really, no matter what it is you choose to believe in essentially the ideas are the same. Love each other, be gracious, find peace within yourself, and take the time to search your self and your soul. This week I learned that I still am terrible at meditation, that self control is harder when you are trying not to swear. That some things are easier said then done (especially when you have been a certain way all your life), and that donating a whole HUGE garbage bag of clothes to the Salvation Army not only feels good- it also clears the clutter from your closet and your life. I know religion is such a sensitive subject, and that really bothers me. I mean, really? The subject that starts so many wars comes down to the same basic ideas. Who cares who is right? At least that is what I think. Can't we just embrace the fact that we are all right in some way..Love each other, help each other, and most importantly just believe that things are bigger than us and that we may not always have the answers but we can find peace within ourselves- if and when we try.

Native American Code of Ethics

1. Each morning upon rising, and each evening before sleeping, give thanks for the life within you and for all life, for the good things the Creator has given you and for the opportunity to grow a little more each day. Consider your thoughts and actions of the past day and seek for the courage and strengthto be a better person. Seek for the things that will benefit others (everyone).
   
   
2. Respect. Respect means "To feel or show honor or esteem for someone or something; to consider the well being of, or to treat someone or somethin with deference or courtesy". Showing respect is a basic law of life.
   
   a. Treat every person from the tiniest child to the oldest elder with respect at all times.
   
   b. Special respect should be given to Elders, Parents, Teachers, and Community Leaders.
   
   c. No person should be made to feel "put down" by you; avoid hurting other hearts as you would avoid a deadly poison.
   
   d. Touch nothing that belongs to someone else (especially Sacred Objects) without permission, or an understanding between you.
   
   e. Respect the privacy of every person, never intrude on a person's quiet moment or personal space.
   
   f. Never walk between people that are conversing.
   
   g. Never interrupt people who are conversing.
   
   h. Speak in a soft voice, especially when you are in the presence of Elders, strangers or others to whom special respect is due.
   
   i. Do not speak unless invited to do so at gatherings where Elders are present (except to ask what is expected of you, should you be in doubt).
   
   j. Never speak about others in a negative way, whether they are present or not.
   
   k. Treat the earth and all of her aspects as your mother. Show deep respect for the mineral world, the plant world, and the animal world. Do nothing to pollute our Mother, rise up with wisdom to defend her.
   
   l. Show deep respect for the beliefs and religion of others.
   
   m. Listen with courtesy to what others say, even if you feel that what they are saying is worthless. Listen with your heart.
   
   n. Respect the wisdom of the people in council. Once you give an idea to a council meeting it no longer belongs to you. It belongs to the people. Respect demands that you listen intently to the ideas of others in council and that you do not insist that your idea prevail. Indeed you should freely support the ideas of others if they are true and good, even if those ideas ideas are quite different from the ones you have contributed. The clash of ideas brings forth the Spark of Truth.
   


3. Once a council has decided something in unity, respect demands that no one speak secretly against what has been decided. If the council has made an error, that error will become apparent to everyone in its own time.
   


4. Be truthful at all times, and under all conditions.
   


5. Always treat your guests with honor and consideration. Give of your best food, your best blankets, the best part of your house, and your best service to your guests.
   


6. The hurt of one is the hurt of all, the honor of one is the honor of all.
   


7. Receive strangers and outsiders with a loving heart and as members of the human family.
   


8. All the races and tribes in the world are like the different colored flowers of one meadow. All are beautiful. As children of the Creator they must all be respected.
   


9. To serve others, to be of some use to family, community, nation, and the world is one of the main purposes for which human beings have been created. Do not fill yourself with your own affairs and forget your most important talks. True happiness comes only to those who dedicate their lives to the service of others.
   


10. Observe moderation and balance in all things.
    


11. Know those things that lead to your well-being, and those things that lead to your destruction.
    


12. Listen to and follow the guidance given to your heart. Expect guidance to come in many forms; in prayer, in dreams, in times of quiet solitude, and in the words and deeds of wise Elders and friends

This is the Native American Code of Ethics as borrowed from http://www.sapphyr.net/natam/nacodeethics.htm

A FAST lesson from fasting.

I have to admit it takes a STRONG willed person to fast. Every day for a month? That is incredible. Although I made it from sun up to sun down without food or water (or other beverages) I thought about food all day long. I became super thirsty, and the more I tried not to think of these things, the more I thought about them. By 4:00 pm I wasn't AS hungry, but I started getting a little giddy. Who knows if it was the fasting or not. By the time 5:00 pm hit and it was officially sun down I made sure I ate like a queen, but sticking to rule, I did not binge.
Wow. It was a hard challenge and I admit I hated every minute of this one. I understood the reasons however and I definitely gained a ton more respect for those who practice this on a regular basis.

I hope this fasting goes FAST!

Today I am studying the Islamic religion. There is a ton of information for each of these religions and I am noticing that as I read about Islam a lot of their ideas are the same as the Christian faith. Here is some of what they believe:

Six Articles of Faith

The six articles of faith are the main doctrines of Islam. All Muslims share beliefs in the following:

    1. God
    Islam preaches that there is only one Supreme, Eternal, Infinite and Unparallel entity, Allah (God). He alone is the creator of all the universe. Quran declares "That is God, your Lord. There is no god but Him, the Creator of everything. So worship Him. He is responsible for everything." (6:102)
    2. Angels
     Muslims believe in angels. They are comprised of light, and each have different purposes. Angel Gabriel brought the divine message to Mohammad. Two angels (Kiraaman and Katibeen) are assigned to record the actions of the human beings; one records good deeds, the other bad deeds. The angel of death (Azrael) takes the soul out of the body. Angels Munkir and Nakir questions each person in grave.
    3. Scriptures
    It refers to believing in all the four books; the Torah (Moses), the Psalms (David), the Gospel (Jesus) and the Quran (Mohammad). Muslims also believe that all other books are alteration with time by its followers. Muslims believe that Quran is the only book which can never be distorted as God has himself taken the responsibility of its protection, "We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)." (15:9)
    4. Prophets
     It is obligatory on every Muslim to believe in all the messengers from Adam to Mohammad without any discrimination. Quran treats all the prophets equally, "Say (O Muslims), we believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered." (2:136)
    5. Resurrection
     Muslims have faith that after the end of the world, every human will be resurrected from the grave. They will be held accountable for whatever they have done in their lives. The day is known as the Day of Judgment. On this day, justice will be done to every individual soul. The innocent ones will stay in Heaven, whereas, the corrupted ones will go to hell. Quran testifies it by saying, " This day We seal up mouths, and hands speak out and feet bear witness as to what they used to earn." (36:65)
    6. Divine Creed
    It is one of the main aspect of Islam. Believing in divine creed refers to predestination. Muslims believe that unlike living beings, God is not limited to anything; even with time. Everything that has happened, is happening, or will happen is evident to Him. Living beings are being given a free choice to do whatever they want to do, but God knows what choice they will make. It must also be clear that God's knowing does not restrict anyone from making a free choice. Quran proclaims, " Knowest thou not that Allah knows all that is in heaven and on earth? Indeed it is all in a Record, and that is easy for Allah."

The Five Pillars of Faith

The five pillars of faith are duties each Muslim performs to demonstrate his or her faith.

     1. Testimony of Faith (Kalima)
One must state, "There is no god, but Allah, and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah." It consists of three parts
a)    To reject all the false gods.
b)    To accept Allah as the only sole creator of everything.
c)     To Mohammad as the last messenger of Allah.

(all this information comes from http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/islam/beliefs.html)

Allah to the Islamic faith is the same as God in the Christian faith, therefore like I said some of the ideas are the same.
However, the Islamic faith is a bit stricter than others in the way that they must pray five times a day (no matter what they are currently doing), they must abstain from drinking, they must give at least 2.5% of their yearly savings to charity, they must fast during Ramadan, and they must make a pilgrimage to Kaaba in Makkah when they are physically and financially ready.

For my challenge today I decided to go with fasting. Something I knew would be a complete challenge for me. Let's just say I get completely cranky when I don't eat. It is noon and I am already starving. To fast in the Islamic religion means no food, no drink, no smoking, and no having intercourse. They must abide by this from sun up to sun down for an entire month. For Islamics they must excrete complete physical discipline, and they do that with many of the other things in their lives as well. I cannot lie, I am only a few hours in and I am wanting to eat everything in sight. I cannot believe they do this for a whole month, but I must admit you have to be strong willed to follow through on something like this.

Hinduism and the Seeking of Self.

Well I have found it hard to even blog this week. This doesn't mean however I am not immersing myself in knowledge about some of the major spiritual beliefs around the world. Yesterday- I am a day off still- it was Hinduism, a religion that dates back at least 5,000 years. Major ideas in this religion focus on karma, which in turn also will lead to what caste system you will be in when you are reincarnated. The better you are in the this life- the better you may have it in the next. Hinduism and Buddhism share the same beliefs about charity and service to all. Both seem to believe in being truthful and not taking part in slander, lying, or falsehoods. Also in Hinduism it is required to not speak ill- which I am guessing includes swearing- a hard task for me is to try to keep my speech pure. It is important in this religion as well not to rely on material objects, and to abstain from sexual thoughts- or thoughts that may be impure.
(Find out more at www.hinduism.co.za/ethics.htm)
Many Hindus practice yoga, which I loved to find out. (I am a fan of yoga and even though it is difficult it makes you feel amazing!) But I can see how it would help one get in touch with themselves and their minds and bodies. What an amazing idea.
So I abstained from eating meat, attempted to abstain from swearing, and failed, yet again at meditation. (By the time I get both kids to bed I am exhausted..but I now owe myself 30 minutes of finding my "self.")
The hardest part of this challenge has been putting the ideas I am learning into play. I can see someone who is taught these ideas at an early age finding more acceptance in them, rather than someone just learning these things for the first time. I can see how these must take practice, and a ton of concentration. Hinduism is all about being true and not worrying about most things that we all do on a daily basis. That's a hard thing to do.
I am noticing some of the same basic ideas that Christians teach, but I am also understanding why Buddhism and Hinduism are not violent religions- they abstain from thinking about who is right and just focus on being.

Buddhism and Loving Kindness.

I have been practicing my meditation and mantras. I must admit it has been a rough day for me and although I am trying to tell myself to not worry about money (being rich won't solve everything) it is harder said than done. Obviously there are things when becoming Buddhist that several people have to work on. This has to be one of them.
To follow the rules of the challenge I searched for a mediation and was happy to have found this one. I must be honest, after doing this I feel a bit better. Just sending love, even to those who call me constantly for money- I notice I am a bit lighter. Huh. Some of this is making sense. Here it is. Try it out for yourself.

This is from Buddha.net

Loving-kindness meditation can be brought in to support the practice of insight meditation to help keep the mind open and sweet. It provides the essential balance to support Insight meditation practice.
It is a fact of life that many people are troubled by difficult emotional states in the pressured societies we live in, but do little in terms of developing skills to deal with them. Yet even when the mind goes sour it is within most people's capacity to arouse positive feelings to sweeten it. Loving-kindness is a meditation practice taught by the Buddha to develop the mental habit of selfless or altruistic love. In the Dhammapada can be found the saying: "Hatred cannot coexist with loving-kindness, and dissipates if supplanted with thoughts based on loving-kindness."
Loving-kindness is a meditation practice, which brings about positive attitudinal changes as it systematically develops the quality of 'loving-acceptance'. It acts, as it were, as a form of self-psychotherapy, a way of healing the troubled mind to free it from its pain and confusion. Of all Buddhist meditations, loving-kindness has the immediate benefit of sweetening and changing old habituated negative patterns of mind.
To put it into its context, Loving-kindness is the first of a series of meditations that produce four qualities of love: Friendliness (metta), Compassion (karuna), Appreciative Joy (mudita) and Equanimity (upekkha). The quality of 'friendliness' is expressed as warmth that reaches out and embraces others. When loving-kindness practice matures it naturally overflows into compassion, as one empathises with other people's difficulties; on the other hand one needs to be wary of pity, as its near enemy, as it merely mimics the quality of concern without empathy. The positive expression of empathy is an appreciation of other people's good qualities or good fortune, or appreciative joy, rather than feelings of jealousy towards them. This series of meditations comes to maturity as 'on-looking equanimity'. This 'engaged equanimity' must be cultivated within the context of this series of meditations, or there is a risk of it manifesting as its near enemy, indifference or aloofness. So, ultimately you remain kindly disposed and caring toward everybody with an equal spread of loving feelings and acceptance in all situations and relationships.
How to do it . . .
The practice always begins with developing a loving acceptance of yourself. If resistance is experienced then it indicates that feelings of unworthiness are present. No matter, this means there is work to be done, as the practice itself is designed to overcome any feelings of self-doubt or negativity. Then you are ready to systematically develop loving-kindness towards others.
Four types of persons to develop loving-kindness towards:

• a respected, beloved person — such as a spiritual teacher;
• a dearly beloved — a close family member or friend;
• a neutral person — somebody you know, but have no special feelings towards,
  e.g. person who serves you in a shop;
• a hostile person — someone you are currently having difficulty with.

Starting with yourself, then systematically sending loving-kindness from person to person in the above order will have the effect of breaking down the barriers between the four types of people and yourself. This will have the effect of breaking down the divisions within your own mind, the source of much of the conflict we experience. Just a word of caution if you are practicing intensively. It is best if you choose a member of the same sex or, if you have a sexual bias to your own sex, a person of the opposite sex. This is because of the risk that the near enemy of loving-kindness, lust, can be aroused. Try different people to practice on, as some people do not easily fit into the above categories, but do try to keep to the prescribed order.
Ways of arousing feelings of loving-kindness:

1. Visualisation — Bring up a mental picture. See yourself or the person the feeling is directed at smiling back at you or just being joyous.
2. By reflection — Reflect on the positive qualities of a person and the acts of kindness they have done. And to yourself, making an affirmation, a positive statement about yourself, using your own words.
3. Auditory — This is the simplest way but probably the most effective. Repeat an internalized mantra or phrase such as 'loving-kindness'.

The visualisations, reflections and the repetition of loving-kindness are devices to help you arouse positive feelings of loving-kindness. You can use all of them or one that works best for you. When the positive feeling arise, switch from the devices to the feeling, as it is the feeling that is the primary focus. Keep the mind fixed on the feeling, if it strays bring it back to the device, or if the feelings weaken or are lost then return to the device, i.e. use the visualisation to bring back or strengthen the feeling.
The second stage is Directional Pervasion where you systematically project the aroused feeling of loving-kindness to all points of the compass: north, south, east and west, up and down, and all around. This directional pervasion will be enhanced by bringing to mind loving friends and like-minded communities you know in the cities, towns and countries around the world.
Non-specific Pervasion tends to spontaneously happen as the practice matures. It is not discriminating. It has no specific object and involves just naturally radiating feelings of universal love. When it arises the practice has then come to maturity in that it has changed particular, preferential love, which is an attached love, to an all-embracing unconditional love!
Loving-kindness is a heart meditation and should not to be seen as just a formal sitting practice removed from everyday life. So take your good vibes outside into the streets, at home, at work and into your relationships. Applying the practice to daily life is a matter of directing a friendly attitude and having openness toward everybody you relate to, without discrimination.
There are as many different ways of doing it as there are levels of intensity in the practice. This introduction is intended to help you familiarize yourself with the basic technique, so that you can become established in the practice before going on, if you wish, to the deeper, systematic practice — to the level of meditative absorption.

Just Say "No" To Money.

SO one of the Buddhist beliefs is that material possessions won't make you happy, and neither will money or riches. I am realizing that taking this laid back attitude is harder than it sounds. As I was thinking "yeah I can stop fretting about money for two days." By the time evening came I realize just how MUCH I was thinking about money, making ends meet, and all my other problems. Maybe I am more aware at just how many times the thoughts of lack of money and how to make money are constantly running through my head now. It is INSANE. I am doing a terrible job of just letting go of my panic motivators, but now I am noticing just how consuming these thoughts actually are. It is making more sense how people who aren't worried about money- not the rich I mean those who have no need for money or care for it- can be happier. This of course doesn't mean after this challenge I am going to give it up- I would never make it in today's society. I guess I am just realizing the extent and control that money holds over our lives, especially those with lack of it.

Open mind, open heart. The art of being open..

Alright so it's Tuesday. This means that I am a day behind. Little do you know that I am actually studying for the next challenge. Yes. Studying!
As I was contemplating what I should do for the challenge this week (so many ideas!) I began to think of the TV show 30 days on Planet Green. The show was created by Morgan Spurlock, the same man who did the incredible film Super Size Me. Anyways Morgan takes people who are completely different from each other (say the super Christian and the Muslim) and puts one in the others environment for 30 days where they have to live, pray, eat, etc. like the family they are placed with. The show is pure genius. One of the most thought provoking in fact was the super Christian and the Muslim family, where the Christian learned a great deal about something some people are very stereotypical about- other religions.
That got me thinking. I was raised in a Christan family, we aren't really regular church goers, but we never really looked into any other beliefs other than our own. In college, I learned a bit more about other peoples' views and started making my mind up a bit more about what I follow, or what I don't. (College is an excellent place for ideas and opinions to be shaped and formed- part of the reason I loved school and not just in the sense of religion either). So last night I began looking into a religion/and or belief system that I find rather interesting- which is Buddhism. I promptly told my mother my idea for the new challenge and she blatantly said "why?"
Exactly. With her comment it became more clear that this was a challenge that should be done. Because why not? As people and religion go most except what they are taught, most don't question it.  More interestingly however, most don't even try to find out what others around them believe. Maybe that is the reason we all don't get along..we hardly even try.
So therefore for this challenge- I must study, learn about, and at least practice some of the ideas taught by major religions of the world. (Thanks Byron for the added challenge). (I also must note that in no means whatsoever will I no be forsaking what I know as God, but I am saying that I feel using the key ideas that these religions believe I can convey their message without angering people who may feel like I am abandoning my own faith). I feel this challenge is an important one and it is important to gain an understanding and a knowledge of others in the world and their beliefs. Call it understanding religion week or something. Or in the eyes of the Buddhism religion to not judge others.
For the next six days I will study and partake in Buddhism, Hinduism, Native American beliefs, and Islamic beliefs.  Each day I will take on these beliefs and/or moral codes and abide by them. For the idea of Buddhism, as well as Hinduism I must meditate to get in touch with my spiritual self. Since this was a mega fail last week I MUST partake this week. For Buddhism I must do right by someone else- whether it be a stranger or if I must volunteer or even give blood. I must forget for two days the idea of money and not be consumed by negative thoughts. For Hinduism I must give up beef (easily done) and practice at least one of their rituals. For Native Americans I will follow the same basic ideas as above, and for Islamic I will fast for one day (Sunday) from sun up to sun down.
Whew! I have my work cut out.
For your reading pleasure here is the general idea/ and or moral code that Buddhists follow since that is the religion I am starting with.

These are known in Buddhism as the Four Noble Truths.

4. THE TRUE PATH, OR EIGHT-FOLD NOBLE PATH

If we can control our body and mind in a way that we help others instead of doing them harm, and generating wisdom in our own mind, we can end our suffering and problems.

The Buddha summarised the correct attitude and actions in the Eight-fold Noble Path:

(The first 3 are avoiding the 10 non-virtues of mind, speech and body:)

1. Correct thought: avoiding covetousness, the wish to harm others and wrong views (like thinking: actions have no consequences, I never have any problems, there are no ways to end suffering etc.)
2. Correct speech: avoid lying, divisive and harsh speech and idle gossip.
3. Correct actions: avoid killing, stealing and sexual misconduct
4. Correct livelihood: try to make a living with the above attitude of thought, speech and actions.
5. Correct understanding: developing genuine wisdom.
   (The last three aspects refer mainly to the practice of meditation:)
6. Correct effort: after the first real step we need joyful perseverance to continue.
7. Correct mindfulness: try to be aware of the "here and now", instead of dreaming in the "there and then".
8. Correct concentration: to keep a steady, calm and attentive state of mind.

The Buddha explained that we can use the Four Yardsticks to assess if we are practicing the correct way:
one should feel happiness, compassion, love and joyous effort when practicing.
(as found on http://viewonbuddhism.org/4_noble_truths.html)

So it begins....follow my journey.

Pardon me though I must leave you,  I have to meditate.

A challenge makes the heart grow fonder..

Hello everyone! I suppose I have been busy writing love letters and planning out lovely gestures..I haven't even been able to blog. I need to catch you up. Last weeks challenge was loving my significant other, being positive, and showing him- no matter what- how much I cared. The hardest part of the challenge was maintaining a positive attitude. Every time I started getting down I had to remind myself to keep positive. The second hardest was trying not to criticize- something I wasn't even aware I was doing in the first place. By Thursday I was failing this task- but as a good friend of mine said- at least now I was more aware of myself and my actions. What you say and do affect both you and the people around you in ways you may not even realize, and therefore I had learned that I must approach my husband in a different way then I would say a female friend. Reading Mars and Venus has definitely helped me so far in my learning, and although I wish I was further in the book I can say just the first few chapters in are making me think more, and even want to do more. Everyone should read this book, it will change the way you feel about your relationships and you will realize that you are not alone in your feelings either. That said http://www.lovingyou.com/ is an excellent source of information, tips, and suggestions on how to make your loved one feel special. Ironically I didn't really use that site as much as I thought I would. As with the best kisser certificate it went well, the love letter that my husband received at work I feel went a bit better but my husband took at least a day to read it. (However he did quote it so I know he read it). And (yeah I just started that sentence with and) I almost forgot about the morning I woke up and made him breakfast before driving him to work (this required waking at 8:30 am). As for the embarrassing stunt I did not get video of it but it was superb! Saturday I have to admit was the best of the whole week when I sent the kids off to the sitter for the entire evening. We went to a completely new bar and sang karaoke. Now if you know me karaoke is one of the things I completely enjoy and do as often as I can. But, this is where the stunt comes in.. Picking a song I had never sang before (also not a big feat here) I chose Don't Cha by the Pussycat Dolls. I sat my husband down on the chair in the middle of the floor and danced- Pussycat Doll style- as I sang. Completely unlike me to dance all sultry in front of an entire bar. The look on my husbands' face was absolutely priceless.
By Sunday morning I was very pleased with the events of the week. I think the very best reaction came on Sunday evening when my good friend Becca special delivered flowers to my main squeeze as he was hard at work.
"Did you have flowers delivered to me?" He asked completely confused.
"Yes, I did" I said with a HUGE smile
"Wow," he said " I didn't see that coming."
He told me he placed them in a cup and put them on the bar for everyone to see.
"Why did you get flowers?" His co-workers all asked him.
I was hoping to help destroy the idea that only women get flowers- and with my gesture I not only made him feel surprised but I made him smile.
"  I just wanted you to feel special" I said.
"Well I do." He replied.
Mission accomplished.

This challenge made me learn that by doing nice things for the people you love you not only feel better about yourself but you make them happy as well. It was amazing how much more we appreciated each other after the weeks events and I am sure this is something I want to make a habit of. Maybe we all should.

The difference is...

OK. So yesterday I guess I lied. I never got to write that love letter before 2pm. Instead I went old school. I wrote a love letter including the top 25 reasons for my affections, and then sent it, letter style. Like before there were e-mails people wrote LETTERS. Yeah, and even better? I mailed it to him at his work. So tomorrow, as my husband is in the middle of working a double shift- he will get a big surprise. Ah, but I have more up my sleeve. Tomorrow also calls for unexpected breakfast, and Friday calls for a special delivery.

Keeping positive is the hardest part of this challenge and I felt myself falling back into negative routines this morning. But, suddenly I came out of my funk. I started making plans on how to fix my situations, I started thinking no "everything is going to be fine, etc." This is a process that normally takes more time for me to get to. I have to continue to remind myself to be positive and to do super sweet things (it's not that I am not sweet I just get frustrated too fast and then neglect my husband of anything nice).

Which I have to say by the way is amazing. I really don't know how my husband is taking the sweet gestures- since like I said- he is a male and they rarely speak "feeling." But today I saw him for a few quick minutes and he seemed more excited to see me then he had in the past. Also I cannot even believe how much better I feel. At first this started out as a challenge- gosh that sounds bad when I think about it, even when I write it. ("Hey this girls challenge is to be nice to her husband for a whole week!") But really it is ending up as something I am enjoying and it is making ME feel better in the process! I guess despite all the problems relationships have it is ALWAYS important to let your significant other know how much you love and appreciate them by showing them sometimes. Another important thing here is to not focus on the negative. As I am learning in Men are from Mars......is that as much as it seems he is avoiding you or not listening there are reasons. Men are really problem solvers and need to work silently in their "cave" to try to find solutions to their problems. Wow does this make sense. By taking the time and giving him the benefit of the doubt I am not jumping down his throat every five minutes, I understand he isn't avoiding me, he is working, he is thinking, he concerned in his own ways about his own things and just deals with them differently.
Women need to talk about their issues, which separates us from the men. I am starting to wonder if more women are bloggers, and/or if more women are blogging about feelings vs. stats and sports.

I am feeling better already. It's Wednesday and I feel like this week there is some accomplishment, at least on a personal level. I am hoping it can only get better from here.

Do not critize. Do not critize.

So yesterday I started the new challenge. Main part of this challenge is to not criticize my husband. Easier said then done. After catching myself "correcting" and such various times I was starting to realize that I am a bit of a control freak. Really? I didn't realize it until now!! Also trying to maintain a positive attitude is harder than it seems too, I am an emotional person. Next was meditation, I did it, for ten minutes, but it was hard to turn my ever running mind off.
As for doing sweets for my sweet- I found some excellent advice and tips on www.lovingyou.com. They even have printables for you to print off! So I printed off a nice loving word search, and a certificate that said "world's best kisser" or something like that. It put a smile on a moody husbands face and I think brightened his day a little. I hope. One thing about Men- they are from Mars, therefore they don't share they emotions like women do. (At least the majority don't). Today I am going to give him a love letter that he can read before work, maybe to help get him in a good mood before working his butt off. Maybe saying something about appreciating all the hard work he does will remind him how much I care.

What are some things you do to show your special person you love them?

New Week, New Challenge! Relating with Mars..

So last week went alright...but overall I am feeling as though it was a bust. Sorry all. What I learned is sometimes I need to be more prepared.

This week the challenge is for anyone and everyone who has been in, is in, or plans to be in a relationship. After a suggestion from a great friend of mine I picked up the book Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. What a read! I cannot even believe how much this book makes sense! It explains the reason men and women think and act differently- and I feel as though my eyes have been opened. I don't want to talk so much about my personal life here in the blog but I feel it is essential to mention that my husband and I have been experiencing some issues, as every couple do at one point in time. This convinced me that with this weeks challenge I may be able to bring some light, information, and tips to help other couples. At least we can learn together.
First part of the challenge is coming from John Gray, the author of Mars and Venus. My job this week is to not focus on the negative. I must, according to Gray, "practice restraining from giving any unsolicited advice or criticism." Whew. That will be a hard one. Next I will visit various websites and find "suggested" ways to show my significant other I care. This will more difficult because of our odd situation, however, I will test out the methods suggested and at the end of the week report back to you, the readers, and let you know what worked and what didn't quite make the cut.
During the challenge I therefore must remain positive during the week, this is quite hard for an over thinker like myself, and I must surrender at least 10 minutes a day for meditation to help maintain a positive attitude.

Challenge Bonus: At least ONE TIME during the week I have to do something completely spontaneous and embarrassing for my husband. Oh dear! Can't take it back once I said it!!

Stay tuned for tips and tricks on how to keep the love alive in your relationship and also tips from John Gray's book!

Finally..My car is speaking out againist cancer!

I guess I just needed to press harder on the paint...silly me.

Some cancer fighting tips you may find helpful.

I hate to say it but I am thinking this week is kind of a bust. I used some of the glass paint to attempt to write on my car and it barely shows up. With the weather and the lack of a sitter I cannot do the walk I promised and I am still upset about it. I have been following a diet that is high in veggies and fruits and other known cancer fighting components but this doesn't seem like much. The shirt was made, but really it wasn't something super hard to do. I guess what I am learning from this week is that some challenges may need some more preparation. Also I am thinking at least if I attempt to organize something big for next year I can raise money for cancer foundations and get more people into it. I am thinking of doing a mega huge walk. I am thinking of making a website just in dedication of it as well. What do you think?
Once I get the site up I will post a link for you to take a gander at.


I recently received this e-mail, I don't know how true the information really is in it- but I thought I would give you the information and you could decided for yourselves.


Email reads as follows:
Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins :

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer
cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have
multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients
that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after
treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the
cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable
size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a
person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer
cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and
forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has
nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic,
but also to environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing
diet to eat more adequately and healthy, 4-5 times/day
and by including supplements will strengthen the immune system..

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing
cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells
in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can
cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7.. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars
and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often
reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of
chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor
destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from
chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either
compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb
to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to
mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy.
Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other
sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer
cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

*CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made
with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute
would be Manuka honey or molasses, but only in very small
amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in
color Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the
gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting
off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer
cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based
diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little other meat,
like chicken. Meat also contains livestock
antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all
harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole
grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into
an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked
food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live
enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to
cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance
growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building
healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most
vegetables including be an sprouts) and eat some raw
vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at
temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C)..

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high
caffeine Green tea is a better alternative e and has cancer
fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or
filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap
water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of
digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the
intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic
buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By
refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes
to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the
body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system
(IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals,
EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to destroy
cancer cells.. Other supplements like vitamin E are known
to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's
normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or
unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit.
A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior
be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put
the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to
have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy
life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated
environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to
get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen
therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer
cells.

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave...

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.
Please share this with your whole email list..........................


Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life.

Cancer Fighting Foods! Put these foods to the test!

Due to the icky cold rain my car is still not decorated. Nor have I found a sitter for the LARGE challenge I was intending to do. I am kind of bummed about that situation, but I guess I should have planned better. I am having pretty good ideas for the following weeks. And I hope that this week you are also getting out and learning how to help fight cancer. Did you check out the sweet shirts yet? You better!

Anyways I thought maybe you'd enjoy this wonderful list of foods that are thought to help prevent cancer. It's worth a shot I say to add these into your regular eating routines.

Avocados
Broccoli, cauliflower,
Cabbage (this is known to fight breast cancer up to 70%)!!
Carrots
Peppers
Brussels Spouts (throw some butter and salt and pepper on them and you'll be fine)
Flax
Garlic (Not just for fending yourself from vampires anymore).
Grapefruit
Kale
Mushrooms
Nuts
Lemons
Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries).
Sweet Potatoes
Black and Green teas
Seaweed
Mangoes
Tofu or other soy products (like soy milk)
Tomatoes
Leafy Greens
Wheat
Grapes

For explanations on how these help fight off cancer visit : http://www.cancure.org/cancer_fighting_foods.htm this site was helpful on explaining the various reasons. A few of the other things on this list I found on Dr. Oz's list of cancer fighting foods.

See when your mother told you to eat your veggies they were actually good for you!

I am now thinking about cooking myself a healthy, veggie loaded meal!

The Anti-Cancer Shirt.

Remember if you buy one of these shirts I will donate 90% of the proceeds to http://www.komen.org/. 

http://www.zazzle.com/cancer_watch_your_back_tshirt-235823546084265854

Hello Week Number 3!! The Anti-Cancer Challenge!

Hi folks. I hope you liked my "horror" films. They took some time and made me realize that sometimes I give myself a ton to do. These kinds of activities would be easier if I were not a mother of two small children, but that is part of the reason I am doing this. By forcing myself to do challenges I can show myself, and anyone reading this that you have time to fit things into your schedule. It may be rough, but it can be done. The major lesson I learned from making mini horror movies was that doing it by yourself with only a digital camera used for taking pictures is a harder than it sounds. I know the movies would have been better if I was only directing them since the ideas I have were plenty but wouldn't work the way they played in my mind. But, I did have fun making them and it was great to let my creative juices flow.

Now, as I had mentioned last week, since this is the last week of October I wanted to focus on breast cancer and awareness. (Since of course this month is breast cancer awareness month if you didn't know).  According to http://www.karmanos.org over two and a half million women have been diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in the U.S (and are still currently living).  This unforgiving cancer can occur in both men and women, though it is more common in women. Somewhere around 1 in 35 women will die from breast cancer. (http://www.cancer.org/) It was estimated by cancer.org that 207,090 women would be diagnosed in 2010 and that 39,840 women would die from breast cancer this same year. Researchers are unsure of the exact causes of breast cancer and state that there are a huge numbers of factors on why women get it. Some of the highest factors on the list include age, sex, and heredity. Weight, age of first period, and use of birth control pills can also be found on the list. (Get the full list at www.komen.org).
The best way to lower your risk of getting this scary disease is by doing a regular mammogram, getting regular checkups, and making sure that if you find a lump in your breast (even if you are a male) to not hesitate about going to the doctor. (Better to be safe then sorry right?)

Now being a woman I am terrified of this disease, but I also feel that we need to up our awareness and fight it the very best we can. I love the fact that we have a month dedicated to being" pink" so to speak- but I really think that after the month is over we shouldn't forget that this thing is taking our mothers, sisters, grandmothers, and friends. I want to say "We will kick cancers ass." You know?
My challenge this week is cut out for me. I am vowing this week to make people more aware of the battle we are facing. First I have to find a way to publicly promote it. (If only I had more money to do something a bit bigger here). I am thinking the first thing I need to do is to take some of that wonderful car paint and decorate my car as a driving advertisement- an ad that essentially says let's take out cancer. Next I will need to eat the suggested anti-cancer diet as suggested by Dr. Oz. These consist of mostly fruits and veggies, as well as whole grains. (www.doctoroz.com). I will make some shirts to sell on zazzle.com that I will donate the money made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure (www.komen.org). Last but not least child care permitted I will do my own silent trek from Menomonie Wisconsin to Chippewa Falls Wisconsin in honor of those who have battled all forms of cancer. (This is a 30-mile walk). I am excited and nervous about the walk and am hoping I can find someone to watch my kids for the 12 plus hours I think it will take). I will be trying to find someone all week so that I can accomplish this goal.

Coming Up: More information about breast cancer and how you can help. Stay tuned for the cool anti-cancer shirts, and pictures of my decorated car.

The To Do List

One more film to go....and it's almost 1 am.

Whew. I am tired. Whew what a quick week. I just spent a few hours trying to get my 10 month old to sleep. Emotionally I am frazzled. Psychically I am exhausted. Maybe making this horror film will make me feel better and take my mind off of other things. Maybe. I am hoping I can get this done quick. Tomorrow is Sunday and I have to find the time to upload, edit, and post this while chasing the kids around the house. *Sigh* This right now, truly is a challenge.

Party For One

the walk home...

The movies are coming..the movies are coming!!!

I was working on posting the two finished films on Youtube.com. First however I have to wait 52, 51, 50 minutes before the first uploads. Seriously?

Ppppparty For Onnnnnne.

Hello folks!!
Well the first movie is completed! Whew! let me tell you, I was starting to sweat a little bit. Reason being, today is Friday. I promised the films by Sunday and I find that I like to pile myself up with various activities and tasks. I already have my days packed being super mom..lol. OK maybe not. But I already am a busy in that field. Being meat-free is proving to be an easier challenge then this one. Now, next weeks challenge is going to be finding time, and a sitter to complete it. The things I put myself through for your sheer entertainment..I am totally kidding.

Back to editing some more horror films. I am also have one more movie to film but cannot do it in the daylight....Muh-hahaha.

*What are some of your favorite scary movies? What makes you jump when watching a film? I want to know what you think! Leave your scariest movies below!!!

Recipe for Horror

So far this challenge is interesting. I cannot believe it is Thursday already. I am feeling a bit rushed to be honest. I have two of the movies already filmed. All I need now is to film the final one and to edit. Everything is filmed on a digital camera- which is interesting but works well for this genre. I am kinda interested to see how this will all pan out once finished though. The biggest thing is trying to juggle my daily activities and trying to find time to make a horror film at the same time. Hence why I choose three though, I needed something to push myself I guess. Filming has been fun, a bit embarrassing, and I have gone the extra mile to make the scene work. Laying down on cold cement in an abandoned building for example. The things I do for my blog.. These will be posted by Sunday since I will need to prepare for the HUGE challenge starting Monday morning. Nervous and excited for that one.

Now, since we are talking about horror I thought I would give you something to keep you amused before you see how silly my "horror" films turn out.

Recipe for Horror:
1 Half naked screaming girl. (Sorry I am not half naked in any of these films- the pay is far too low).
1 Shaky camera (New trend in horror).
1 Killer or unseen subject that you might catch a glance at to help add to the mystery and fear of the film.
1 Intense scene of running, girl screaming, or continuously saying "Oh my God!"
1 Twist of an ending. (These make the best horror films in my opinion).

Mix these together and let sit, the longer you dwell on the scene the more frightened you may become..

Movies, Movies, Movies.

After attempting the first shoot I realize that this challenge may be harder than I am giving it credit for.

Filming the great horror film!

I am excited to start some filming today. I found an excellent location. I have some excellent ideas. And I bought batteries. Oh I am ready to go!
As the sun is setting in this quite town I am ready to get spooky. Well, alright maybe not spooky for sure but get my acting on.

*Do you have a challenge you want to see me try? Post a comment with your suggestions below!

Coming Up: Movie Treats. Picking the perfect horror films for your "spooky" night.

52 Weeks Challenge NUMBER 2!!

Wow. So it is week number two and time for the second challenge!!! I was losing sleep last night over this, tossing and turning I kept thinking of doing a challenge where I only ate round objects. Odd. No, that is not this weeks challenge. But I bet you are on the edge of your seat wondering what it could be. Right? Losing sleep? No? I guess that figures. Well there are two important things in the month of October that I wish to highlight with this blog. One is breast cancer awareness month. (This I shall be doing a challenge for next week). The second? Halloween of course! I know I am doing it backwards but since the next challenge is something that will be BIG I need to prepare. Therefore, this week I am honoring Halloween.
My challenge this week is to film and post three, yes three, mini movies. (Now these can be any length hence the term mini). My goal is to post these throughout the week. Now you are more than likely saying. "Um, Missy you went to school for journalism. How is that hard for you?" Besides the fact that I have my hands full of kids all day (automatically makes the challenge harder) but I haven't given you the challenge BONUS yet.

Challenge Bonus:
These three films are to be completed by myself ALONE. I must film and star in these all by myself without help from anyone. As of right now all I have is a digital camera (primarily for photo taking). I have always wanted to be an extra in a movie- now if there are any extras in these they have to be me. I MUST post them as ridiculous as they turn out for your viewing pleasure.
I hope I can find my tripod.

Do you have a challenge you want to see me attempt? Leave a comment! Give me something to sweat over!! Do you like reading my blogs? Please share with a friend. Sharing is caring.

To Veg or Not to Veg? That is the question.

First things first. I ate meat today and it was good! The no meat challenge wasn't all that hard after all and even though there were some mad cravings for steak sandwiches and fried chicken (it's always what you can't have) I made it through good as gold.
As promised I wanted to share with you some of the pros and cons of going meatless according to some information I trudged up.
According to peta.org ( http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/eating-for-life.aspx) going vegetarian can "lower rates of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and other health problems." They also state that by going meat-free you can promote an increase in energy and lose weight. However, peta.org does stress that while eating ramen noddles other other forms of junk food is technically vegetarian you must ensure that you are sticking to more of a healthy diet, incorporating fruits and veggies to reap and maintain the benefits of being meat-free.
There are some pros to have a diet that incorporates meat as well, meat such as fish for example, has omega 3s which are proven to be good for your heart. Other meats, such as red meats have benefits as well according to  www.slashfood.com (http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/27/pros-and-cons-of-eating-red-meat/ur). Red meat according to this site is high in zinc which is good for your immune system and also has plenty of vitamins and minerals that may help you in the long run. Also according to slashfood.com eating red meat two times daily can increase the chance of breast cancer in young women and is high saturated fats. Red meat can give your body the protein it needs, while with a strictly vegetation diet you, like I did, might find yourself forgetting to incorporate these much needed ingredients. Although both to go vegetarian or to stick with meat have valid points it's really about what and how much of it you are putting in your body. Overall I think it is OK to have a little bit of meat in moderation as long as you are also sticking to a nutritious diet that is also filled with fresh fruits, whole grains, and delicious veggies. What I have learned from this challenge is that I CAN go without meat, and although I didn't really notice too much of a physical change I did get to try some really great recipes. I think I will stick with meat, but I think I will eat it a few times less a week instead- just for the health benefits.

The week is winding down..but I am not...

So, it's Sunday. One more day left of the challenge. Tomorrow I can have a big steak. Or not. I am trying to figure out whether or not this week has changed me. Energy wise I might be doing a bit better. Although I am a normal tired mess most days anyways. This challenge hasn't been TOO hard, but there were moments I just wanted to reach out and eat a big ol' slab of meat. That said I am almost tempted to keep up my veggie meals for as long as I can- I haven't fully decided.

Last nights meal was by far the best of all my meat free meals and I think with some recipes like that one I could skip the meat on many occasions. (Here's a hint on how I make recipes. I am really bad at not measuring so if the amount of peppers looks kinda low add more. I like you to be able to make choices).

Bean Burritos:
1 12oz can of Pinto beans
1 small onion chopped
1/4 cup of chopped red peppers
1/4 cup of chopped yellow peppers
1 teaspoon of taco seasoning (I like low sodium)
1 tablespoon of cilantro (If you have fresh that is even better. I LOVE cilantro).
1/4 cup of salsa (any brand).
1/4 cup of Mexican blend  fat reduced shredded cheese
4 wheat tortillas (You can use regular if you want, I just like wheat ones).

This makes around 3-4 servings depending how much you stuff  the tortillas. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a pan saute the onion and peppers. (Can you tell I am a huge saute fan?). Let them brown just a bit then add the taco seasoning and cilantro. Add the can of pinto beans and reduce heat so the mixture is simmering. Add the salsa and stir well. Remove from heat. Pour the filling down the middle of your wheat tortillas, fold both side vertically and roll so that they are closed . (This is the hard part and takes some practice). Smother the burritos with Mexican blend cheese and put in the oven for 15 minutes. Serve with sour cream (or low fat yogurt- plain of course) and salsa. YUM!!

This was delicious and I made it from scratch. Plus with the pinto beans you are getting some much needed protein. I hope you enjoy these and feel free to add or subtract ingredients- that's the beauty of cooking.

Cheddar Rice
I made this the other day borrowing some ideas from Rachel Ray and her Sharp white cheddar rice recipe. (except I changed everything...)
This is damn good rice.

1 cup brown rice
1 tablespoon oregano
1/4 cup cheddar cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 small onion chopped
1 celery stalk chopped
1 teaspoon chicken flavored soup base
A dash of pepper

Make brown rice according to directions. Meanwhile saute (there it is again) your onion and celery until brown and until celery is softer. Once rice is done cooking drain water and add soup base, stir in veggies, oregano, pepper, and cheeses until melted.

This rice is SO good!! You are going to want seconds!


Coming up in a later post: The Pros and Cons of going meat free.

Getting harder by Friday.

Yesterday was a hard day to be meatless. Having to venture to the grocery store I found myself wanting chicken and seafood. Red meat is easier to avoid, but just the thought of fried chicken was making me hungry. I settled for a rice dish- that was actually REALLY good- but by dinner time I was finding myself super lazy and ate a ceaser salad, homemade garlic bread, and tomato soup. I was hard enough to find a soup that looked appealing with only veggies. I am a cream base girl when it comes to soup and I wanted to bite into some corn and chicken chowder.


The urges have passed for now, and for tonight I am hoping to get into gear and cook up something delicious and meat free.

BK's Burger Battle.

Tonight I was starving. So I put myself to the ultimate test. After going through the drive-thu at Burger King (a place I don't visit too often any more) I ordered a Whopper Jr. Once the burger was in my hand I removed the patty and discarded it into the bag. It smelled soooooo good and it would have been super easy to have eaten it- but I showed that burger. The sandwich was a litttle lacking- but it wasn't too bad.

I am going to give myself extra points for tonight's BK battle, a battle that I, dear folks, have won.

Veg Out!!

Today was so far a pretty good day for a challenge. Here are some excellent recipes you may like:

Spinach Egg Scramble (suppose to be frittata- ended up scramble)

4 eggs
Cheddar cheese
1 small onion
1 teaspoon garlic
1/2 tomatoes
1/2 spinach
Salt and pepper

Put 1/2 cup of spinach in a pan and cover with water. Heat on medium heat until spinach is wilted. In a separate pan saute onions and add your garlic to the mixture. Beat 4 eggs, add tomatoes, and salt and pepper in a different bowl. Drain the water from the spinach pan then pour the egg mixture and onion mixture into the pan. Let cook until the egg turns a bit fluffy. Sprinkle some cheddar cheese over the top and remove from heat once melted.

*This was good!!!! Plus there are three of your five anti-cancer fighting ingredients in this recipe! (It is recommended you eat five from the anti-cancer check list each day). You find find the full list at http://www.doctoroz.com/

Avocado Quesadillas
You can find this recipe at : http://www.grouprecipes.com/18181/avocado-quesadillas.html
How to make it

---

• In a small bowl stir together tomatoes, avocado, onion, lemon juice and hot sauce. Season with salt and pepper. In another small bowl stir together sour cream and cilantro and salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat broiler. Put tortillas on a large baking sheet and brush tops with oil. Broil tortillas on a rack set 2 to 4 inches from heat until pale golden. Turn tortillas and broil until other sides are pale golden. Sprinkle tortillas evenly with cheese and broil until cheese is melted and bubbling. Spread avocado mixture evenly over tortillas and top each with 1 of remaining tortillas, cheese side down, to make 2 quesadillas. Transfer quesadillas to a cutting board and cut each into 4 wedges

*I did this without the hot sauce. I am a MAD LOVER of cilantro therefore this was pretty good. (Especially when the tortillas are crispy).

SO far so good. I am thinking next time I do a food challenge I will post pictures.

Do you have any suggestions for veggie dishes? Any you want to share? Send me your favorite and I'll try to make- and eat- them!

Day 3- So far sooooooo good! (Bonus Recipes!)

So finally yesterday I got myself some more veggies. I cannot wait to try these out- things like eggplant haven't been part of my entree before and I am excited to experiment.
Breakfast is always the easiest time of day for this challenge with smoothies and cereal you can't go wrong. Once we hit lunch things get a bit more difficult and by super I have to put my thinking cap on.

I have been slacking in this blog due to personal reasons..however I must trudge on. I am committed- at least to myself.

So, as promised here are a few recipes I have tried recently:

Black Bean Burger:
1 Can Black Beans (I like low sodium)
1 teaspoon Lowery's seasoning salt
1 teaspoon garlic pepper
A dash of chili powder
1 Egg
1/2 cup bread crumbs

Drain and rinse the black beans and pour into a small bowl. (It helps to dry them so I put a paper towel into a bowl and allow them to dry for a minute). Mash the beans. Add your spices along with 1 egg and you want about 50% bread crumb. (It sticks better that way). Make a patty out of the mixture and fry in a frying pan at medium high temp until slightly brown on each side. I topped with cheese and salsa with sour cream.

This was pretty decent. Lighter than a regular burger by far.It has a different taste but is a lot like a bocca burger.

Herb Stuffed Tomatoes:
This recipe comes from: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/herb-stuffed-tomatoes-recipe/index.htmlients

Ingredients:

• 5 beefsteak tomatoes
• 1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 3/4 cup Italian-style bread crumbs
• 1 cup grated provolone
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut the tomatoes in half, horizontally. Use a small spoon to gently hollow out the inside of the tomatoes, discarding the seeds and reserving the pulp and being careful not to puncture the outer shell. Chop the reserved pulp and put in a medium bowl. Add the parsley, bread crumbs, cheese, and pepper and mix gently to combine. Place the tomato halves in a buttered casserole dish, and fill with the bread crumb mixture. Drizzle the top of the tomatoes with olive oil. Bake until the tops are browned, about 20 minutes

I used oregano instead of parsley. Instead of breadcrumbs I smashed up some croutons, and I used sharp cheddar instead of provolone cheese. This was a good combination and a decent recipe, however it was not filling and left me wanting more.

Thanks for reading the challenge continues with tonight's dinner decision!

The First Week...Meatless til Monday.

So I have to admit to you to prove how hard this challenge is going to be for me- I am a meat eater. I love meat. Recently with a few diet changes I did cut out red meat a lot- but I am a fan of turkey, fish, and pretty much anything that doesn't have a face attached. That is why this weeks challenge is just that.

This week I am going vegetarian. I cannot eat a single bite of meat until next Monday.

Yesterday was my first day of going meatless- and I must say it was hard for me. The moment I decided it was out of my diet was the moment I wanted a steak. Go figure. Temptation always makes things harder.

On the plus side, maybe I'll be able to try some new dishes, that's kind of exciting in a way. My hopes are to find some recipes and then share them with you so by the end of the week you can have a few "go meatless" tips.

Wish me luck.


Challenge Bonus: During this challenge I cannot use Bocca burgers, fake chicken, or fake ribs in place of meat. I have eaten some of these before and they do a pretty good job as a sub. However, I feel that if I use these products it will basically be a cop out. It'd be far too easy that way.


*Do you have a challenge you want to see me try? Give suggestions below! (Remember nothing illegal). It's your chance to test me or see me do a monkey dance for the public to see!

Random

Put it out with a perdurable

The challenge to grow.

Welcome. I have decided to do something a bit out of the ordinary. Something daring. Everyone I believe has a bucket list. If not, well I think you should. A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you die. Now to make clear I am not dying. At least I hope not. I was once told I would die at the age of 76. Ok. That seems alright.  I have such a list, but this is something far more. I have decided that for the purpose of this blog, and for myself,  that I would take a chance and try to live a little more than I have been doing. Now, I am a mother of two, so that makes this a bit harder in some cases. I don't have a ton of free time..but I do want to make the most of my time and that is where I have made the choice to do this and share it with you.

Here is the challenge. Each week I shall pick a new goal. Some weeks they may be more difficult than others. These may include promoting my favorite band by giving out CDs to complete strangers to walking a distance of 40 miles. All to be accomplished in one week. During that week I will tell you about the challenge and my difficulties if any. At the end of the week I will explain what has been learned if anything and list hints and tips if you wish to try such things out.

I will take challenges from readers if appropriate (I am a mother of two for example so nothing to get me arrested or ruin my modesty).

I will have two rules:
Nothing illegal
No procrastination. I have suffered this my entire life but in the next 52 weeks I will be determined to complete the task that is set out in front of me.

I am excited about how this may change my life and how it may inspire yours.

Let's go!