ABC's of Me

A-Alive. I'm thankful for each day I'm here on this earth.  The earth gives me so many gifts each day. The lovely scent of rain hitting the plants. The many flowers which bloom and greet me every time I step outside.  I'm so thankful that I have come to a point in my life where I recognize these things. Its a huge lesson she is teaching me. No matter what comes at you keep growing and staying alive. 

B-Blessed. I have my husband and children.  I have a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in each night. With these things life is not a problem. 

C-Care. As the old saying goes "She wears her heart on her sleeve."It's true. Ive always been taking care of people. As long as I could remember if I saw someone sad or needing something I would try my best to fix it. Even if it meant giving them what I have and me going without. This is something I can give thanks to my mama for. She doesn't know it but she is the richest person I know. So much love and heart in her that it oozes out. You don't need money to help people. Just caring and taking the time is all you need. Thank you mama.

D-Dedicated. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to help the earth and all its creatures. When kids wanted to be a police officer or a dancer I instead wanted to be a environmentalist. Watching Captain Planet and the Planeteers only made my dreams become a reality.  From that point on I decided to dedicate my life to fighting for the earth. 

E-Emotional. I may be strong to most but I too am weak. Just this week a neighbor cut down a tree and I was sad for a few days. I'm still sad when I drive or walk by. I cannot watch sad movies because I'm a blubber butt.  No scary movies (not even scary music!) because I get physically sick and it feels too real for me. Lately Ive been emotional because my 4 daughters are growing up too fast. No more diapers, no more kissing boo boo's and no more snuggles. Sniff......I don't want to talk about it anymore.

F-Fighter.  I'm actually a lover not a fighter. I'm not going to waste my time on this earth holding onto anger or fighting with someone.  Its not going to solve anything or change the situation. BUT I can fight for a good cause. Earth! I am a consumer which is a very powerful thing (yes it is!). I have tools like email, blog, talk and social media. I will use these tools to fight for this earth.  

G-Grateful.  I really am grateful for all things big or small.  Right now I'm grateful for a small quilt on my lap. I'm grateful someone took scraps of fabric and sewn them together. I'm grateful the donated them to a thrift store for others to enjoy. I'm grateful I found it and bought it. I'm grateful I can find it on our couch anytime I'm cold. A lot of love went into this quilt and I am grateful for this. I can feel that love every single time I see it and use it. 

H-Help. Its something everyone can do no matter how old, young, tall, short, etc.  Whether its helping someone carry groceries, raking their leaves, cleaning their home, baking them dinner, giving them food or just listening to them talk. Its free to do.  Takes little or no effort.  BUT has the biggest impact.  

I-Inspire.  I have a big job to do. Inspire my children and hopefully others. Inspire them to do more with their life. Inspire them to never settle.  Inspire them to go above and beyond.  Inspire them to fight for a good cause. Inspire them to be happy. I could go on and on. 

J-Jellybelly factory ditcher. Yep you read that right. First five minutes of a Jelly Belly Factory tour we as a family ditched the tour and high tailed it out. The factory wasn't even running and none of the employees (or signs anywhere) mentioned this. We were on vacation in August and had drove to California. Kids were super excited and then no factory workers? Our imaginations were filled with oompa loompa workers, rainbow of colors flying through the air like magic.  Nope not that day. So we skipped it.  Shhhhh don't tell anyone.

K-Kittens and knitting.  Kittens should stay little. Why do they have to grow up? Seriously who can pass down a kitten? Those little tiny whiskers, little noses, and tiny paws. Plus have you seen the video Can't hug every cat? Let's be serious here. I will have any cat. Kitten or adult. Seriously if my husband would allow it I would have way more. I'm a dabble knitter. I can knit & pearl but that's about it.  Need a wash cloth? I'm your girl. Need a sweater? Go buy one. 

L=Love.  I do truly believe what go's around comes around. It's funny because I tell my girls all the time this and they think I'm nuts. But every time they are being naughty something happens to remind them that karma really does exist. They trip and fall or something along those lines. Lets face it everyone, if you give nothing but love out your bound to get love back. Word.

M=Minimalist. I was a borderline hoarder when I met my husband. Obsessed with vintage Tupperware and all things old. It wasn't until I found Fake Plastic Fish (now called www.myplasticfreelife.com) and had to clean my grandmothers place after her death that I realized I had way too much and should only have what I needed.  I now keep toxic plastic out of my life and have become friends with Beth Terry ( who wrote a book you should own called How I kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too).  After weeks of cleaning out my grandmother's place I finally took a look at myself and realized I had way too much stuff.  Gram didn't throw anything away (dozens of eye glasses, scissors, checkbooks, fabric, etc you name it she hoarded it). I now try to keep just what we need and be happy with what we have. Well except for pottery. You can never have too much pottery.

N=My name is Nancy. Named after my great Aunt Nancy.  As a child I really didn't like my name because Nancy Regan was the first lady. A Nancy is defined as wussy.  Plus I was the only Nancy around.  Even now days I hear my name and look to see a older lady talking to her older lady friend. I have yet to meet a Nancy my age (in my 30's).  It wasn't until the last few years that I realized it was a good thing.   Anyone talks about Nancy and its gotta be me.  Plus its always good. Or at least I hope.

O=Organic. Organic means so many things to me.  It means healthy non toxic. It means earthly as it was intended.  It means grown with love.  I could go on and on.  I grow as much organic produce as my piece of land will grow.  I buy organic as much as I financially can.  I strive to live 100% organic.  It really can happen but it takes work and passion. You can be organic and be frugal. Any budget can live organic. I'm proof and I hope to inspire everyone.  

P=Pepsi addict and pottery. Or at least I was.  No matter how much I knew it was toxic and horrible to my health my heart ruled over and I would drink it. Even when I only allowed myself to drink it from a glass bottle. I had to quit cold turkey.  Wow that sucked.  But I found a way around it.  Once in a while I allow myself to drink a all natural soda. I make a simple syrup (organic sugar/water 50/50)from things from my garden (geranium) and mix it with club soda.  As for pottery....well lets just say I'm addicted.  I have a very hard time refusing a good piece of pottery. Slowly but surely I have replaced every piece of my dish ware with handmade pottery. All bought used!

Q=Quinoa. After the whole arsenic in rice (organic or not) I found a source to get organic quinoa for cheaper(Azure Standard). So I made the switch and never looked back.  Its actually easier to cook and we enjoy the taste way better.  I use it just like rice in any rice dish. Easy peasy.

R=RECYCLE!!! Seriously we recycle everything possible! Any organic food goes to the chickens or our dog.  Anything possibly recyclable its going in the bin.  Rarely is there ever anything in the trash unless my husband cleans the garage or we do home repair.  Because of our hard work we were able to get the smallest trash bin which saves us some change each year. But honestly I reuse so many things and buy package-free food so even my recycling is going down each year. Woot! 

S=Simple. I really truly do believe simple is best. Less clutter.  We have furniture but only what we need. Simple cooking.  I'm a really good cook but use simple ingredients and simple recipes. Less stress! When I'm planning a event I do everything simple.  Its less stress and my brain feels so much better.  

T=TV. Love it and hate it.  We cut out cable out but have Netflix.  Regular TV just seems like a waste of time for me. I feel like I get sucked in and time goes by so fast.  So honestly I don't watch it often and if it is on its for the background noise only.  I'm used of my girls usual hum drum of running around the house so when they are gone its nice to have noise in my home. I really enjoy watching things on Youtube such as Coal House and shows that put real people in past life.  I also watch many documentaries on Netflix.  Ken Burns has amazing documentaries.  

Use=Use what you have.  Here I go again making it simple.  This is a HUGE money saving tip. Don't have milk? Just use water.  Don't have light brown sugar? Use regular sugar or dark brown sugar.  Not only are you wasting $$ but think about the wear on your gar and gas money  you will save.  It can also apply when it comes to other things.  A good example is a personal experience I had.  I really wanted a juicer so I could make my veggies drinks.  Bought a Ninja & returned it because it was defective.  Then I bought a big name juicer from Costco which worked fine for 8 months then died on me.  So guess what I'm using now? Yep my blender I've had this whole time.  Keep it simple people. Use what you have. Stop wasting money. Even I need to take my advise at times.

V=Vanilla. I love the color because its simple and versatile.  I love the smell of vanilla beans so much so that I make my own vanilla using vodka and vanilla beans. The taste oh the taste. vanilla ice cream is the perfect base for any toppings.  I really could go on and on about vanilla but you get the idea.

W=Water. One day I will own a home with a creek nearby just to ease my body. The sound just makes all my stress go away. My favorite thing to do is take a super hot bath.  Add a cup of mineral salts and I'm in heaven.  I love listening to the ocean slam against the shore. Water is so beautiful as well.  Love pictures of it! All this said I'm a horrible water drinker. My girls all drink water all day long. Water in coffee counts right? No? Boo! So a way I like to drink water is to add a slice of lemon or lime. That I can do! 

X=The Symbol X to me means intersecting. Which is why I blog/write. I walk in my perfect line doing what I can to be kind to all and along the way intersect with all of you.  Seriously cool! 

Z=Zoo. I'm like a child each time I visit. I love animals and their characteristics.  They are so smart in so many ways.  I also get a big work out at the Oregon Zoo.  They have some serious hills going on!