Let’s have a country jam!
Let’s have a country jam!
Let’s get the memories flowing with these great Holiday Songs.
I left the hospital a couple of hours ago, I thought about how you have pulled me through one of the most difficult years personally.

Bono’s. voice share my joy!
Melinda
Melinda
A good-quality tire means that it has great tread depth and traction. This translates to having a much better grip on the road, especially when you’re driving in rough conditions like heavy snow or rain. Weather can add hazards to the road because you’ll be more likely to slide around, so good tires will keep your car firmly on the ground for a safer driving experience. You’ll lower the rate of accidents and generally improve your driving experience too. Make sure you get quality tires from a place like Dually Shop, especially if you know that you’ll be driving in harsh or difficult conditions and need something reliable.
Another good reason to swap out and upgrade your tire is because you actually get a bit more mileage out of it! Your car tends to use a bit more fuel to get to places if the tires aren’t very good. With high-quality tires, there’s less rolling resistance which means you spend less fuel getting from point A to B, and there’s actually less energy needed to even move your vehicle. In short, better tires mean better fuel economy, ultimately translating into even more money savings!
Upgrading your tire can actually improve your braking response times. This is because of the better traction that you get in quality tires. This is crucial for emergency braking situations and will generally feel more responsive than if you were to drive with worn-out tires. So if you’ve ever driven your car and felt a little unsafe because of how delayed braking feels, try swapping out the tires. You’ll feel an immediate difference because of the improved traction and you’ll feel much safer on the road since you can react faster to different situations.
In short, upgrading your tires is rarely a bad idea. It’s a sound way to upgrade your car, you definitely get your investment back, and it’s something you can do on your own at home with a few tools.
This a collaborative post.
Melinda
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, or just trying to reduce your meat intake, you know how hard it can be to come up with tasty and creative meatless meals. But don’t despair! With a few easy steps, you can make delicious and nutritious meals without worrying about hurting any animals in the process. Whether you prefer something simple and savory, or something more exotic, these tips will help make your next meat-free meal absolutely scrumptious!
Now that you have the basics covered, it’s time to get creative! Start by looking up vegetarian and vegan recipes online or in cookbooks for inspiration. From there, you can customize any recipe with your favorite ingredients, herbs, and spices to make it truly unique. You can even modify traditional dishes like lasagna or chili to make them meatless without losing their flavor.
For a quick and easy meal consider making a veggie-loaded wrap; all you need is a whole wheat tortilla plus whatever vegetables and condiments you have on hand. If you’re having guests over, try making an appetizing roasted vegetable platter accompanied by hummus or tzatziki dip. And don’t limit yourself to recipes – you can also have fun creating your own dishes by experimenting with new flavor combinations.
Trying new recipes is a great way to expand your culinary knowledge and creativity when it comes to cooking meatless meals. With vegan and vegetarian cuisine becoming increasingly popular, there’s no shortage of exciting recipes out there waiting to be discovered. To liven up your meal routine, try looking for recipes from around the world — like vegan tacos with sautéed veggies and black beans, Thai stir-fries, or Mediterranean salads — as these dishes are often packed with flavor and nutrition.
When trying something new, it’s important to read the recipe carefully so that you have all the necessary ingredients on hand. In addition, pay attention to details such as how long certain ingredients need to cook or how much seasoning should be used. If possible, watch a video of someone else making the recipe first as this can help you better understand the steps involved in making the dish. It may also be helpful to make notes of any changes you may want to make next time such as increasing spices or adding more vegetables for extra flavor.
Finally, don’t be too hard on yourself if the recipe doesn’t turn out exactly as planned! Cooking is an art form and even experienced chefs have mishaps from time to time. Making mistakes is part of the learning process and can lead to some amazing discoveries along the way! So don’t be afraid to get creative with your cooking and enjoy exploring new flavors!
In conclusion, meatless meals can be both delicious and nutritious. By following the steps outlined above you will be well on your way to creating flavorful, satisfying dishes that even meat-eaters would enjoy. So get cooking and start exploring a whole world of exciting meatless options!
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
If you’re something who suffers from overthinking, you’re not alone. Rumination is a leading cause of anxiety and depression.
Fortunately, there are numerous things you can do to get out of your head and back into the world as you used to know it. It’s just a question of practicing the right activities. Do what works for you.
If you are someone who enjoys the company of others, invest more time in socializing. Focusing on other people and their needs can help to take your mind away from internal thoughts.
One option is to join a club of people with shared interests. Doing something with others can be an excellent way to focus on something new and get more enjoyment from life.
The other approach is to surround yourself with friends and family and do something productive together.
Another approach is to spend some time exploring the wilderness. Being in nature can have a profound healing effect on some people, helping them feel more grounded and connected to human origins.
You can try hiking, camping or even cycling. Experiencing nature in reality and not through a screen is a fundamentally different animal.
You could also try something thrilling, such as off-roading. Focusing on the track ahead of you while you drive an overpowered 4×4 helps to eliminate ruminations and makes you feel alive again.
Just make sure you have the proper supplies. Driving a hard-top Roxor requires having the correct Roxor accessories. Not being prepared could increase anxiety.
Another approach is to get lost in a good book. Spend some time rifling through the pages of a famous novel you haven’t read yet and absorb yourself in another world. Don’t let the same thought patterns dominate your life.
Travel can also be a fantastic healer if you have the financial ability to engage in it. Seeing new places and meeting new people gives you a fundamentally different perspective on life, letting you get more out of it.
You can also try learning something new. Taking up a new hobby or skill can be a wonderful distraction from the thoughts and images swirling around in your head.
The more cognitively demanding the task, the better it tends to be at eliminating rumination. Writing is high up on the list, as is dance, learning a musical instrument, and creating artwork. Pick something that feels uncomfortably difficult so that it takes up more of your mental resources, leaving less for pondering unpleasant thoughts.
You might also want to start journaling, something many therapy patients find helpful. Writing down your thoughts can be therapeutic and helps you sort out your feelings in your mind.
Finally, you can try puzzles and games. These can force you to return to the moment and have fun, something that might be lacking in your life if you struggle with intrusive thoughts. Find games that satisfy you when you solve them.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
R
This is the end of the year and many will look to make charitable donations. One important step is to look at how the charity is managed. The key step is to check out Charity Navigator. They rate the effectiveness of the management of funds by rating the charities by giving them stars. The higher the score means more of the money is going towards actual work.

Many companies send out requests for money and have great advertising and if a charity spends more than 75-80% in total expenses they are not managing their money well. You go to Charity Navigator and search for the charity you’re looking for or the type of charity you’re looking for and they will show a list. Look at the score, and all the info available on the charity. Personally, I only give money to charities with four stars.
This year I’m adding a new charity to my list, one that services homeless veterans. I’m combing through Charity Navigator to find a charity that spends its money on the ground directly helping vets. So far all I have found are advocacy groups or ones with less than four stars. I have to keep searching so we can make our donations this week.
Be sure your money is being spent on services, not a highly paid executive and team who sends out letters asking for money.
Happy New Year!
Melinda
For your next birthday party, make a “pavlova” – a delicious meringue shell filled with whipped cream and topped with fresh fruit. With it’s sweet, fluffy interior and crunchy crust, meringue is a favorite for kids of all ages. The desert, which is claimed by both New Zealand and Australia, was created for the great imperial Russian ballerina, Anna Palova, during her tour in the 1920’s.
4 egg whites
1 cup fine granulated sugar (castor sugar)
1 teaspoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon whipping cream
1 tablespoon powdered sugar (if desired)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Strawberries and kiwi fruit
Preheat oven 250 degrees. Beat eggs whites on high speed until they look like ribbons when dropped from the beater. Add sugar, one tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition. Beat meringue mixture until it forms stiffs peaks but isn’t dry.
Fold vinegar, cornstarch, and vanilla into mixture. Using parchment paper on a cookie sheet, spoon the meringue mixture into a circle on the sheet about six to eight inches in diameter ( a rubber spatula really helps with this step.)
Bake 1 1/2 hours. Turn oven off and open the door, leaving the meringue to cool. The meringue shell will fall as it cools but that is okay.- that’s when whipped cream is for.
When the meringue shell is cool, whip the cream in the mixing bowl until it thickens. If desired, add sugar and vanilla to the cream. Don’t overbeat the cream or it will clump. Cover meringue with whipped cream and sliced fruit. You might want to make two-this is a very popular dessert! One pavlova serves six to eight people. And just in case you’d like the kids to eat dinner before dessert, try this traditional New Zealand family dinner one weekend.
This is one of my favorite deserts and every holiday I have one or two! Enjoy.
Melinda
Thinking about the old days over the weekend, I know how blessed I am to have the experiences. I’ve added a few photos of a couple of adventures. It began at two years old.
Melinda
We, humans, are complicated creatures capable of expressing thousands of emotions. This site shows you that anxiety and stress are common across the natural world, and animals have many ways of showing it. Unfortunately for us, humans can also be very good at hiding those emotions, so it isn’t always possible to tell how a loved one or friend is feeling. Here are a few common signs that may suggest your friend is feeling more anxious or stressed than normal.
If you have noticed that small things seem to be bothering your friend more than usual, this could be a symptom of stress or anxiety. The Calm Clinic suggests that irritability is a common sign of anxiety and can cause people to unexpectedly get upset or even lash out. If your friend has displayed these symptoms, do not be afraid to quietly and sympathetically tell them you have noticed a difference in their behavior and ask if there is anything you can do to help. They may not have noticed the change yet themselves, so give them time and space if they need it to think about their behavior and any reasons that might be causing them to feel more irritable.
If your colleague at work is constantly reaching for the coffee, making silly mistakes, and looking exhausted, they may not be getting enough sleep. Anxiety and stress can throw off sleep patterns very quickly. According to Medical News Today, the link between stress and sleep deprivation is very common, with only 35% of Americans getting the correct amount of sleep. A lack of sleep can cause mental health problems to worsen and deepen, so sleep deprivation must be tackled. Again, this is a case of having a quiet word and asking if there is anything that keeps them up at night. If there is a worry often sharing it confidentially can help a friend to put things into perspective. Assure your friend that any discussions can be confidential, and you would only ever break confidentiality if you were worried they may harm themselves or others.
Our diet can fluctuate wildly due to stress and anxiety. Some people may overeat or reach for junk food over healthier options. Others swing the other way and may cut out food altogether. Of course, dietary changes are not always linked to mental health. Only raise the question with a friend if you feel the pattern has been sustained over a substantial period, and if you suspect stress or anxiety may be the trigger for the dietary shift. You can help someone by offering to cook meals or to share lunches with them. Even a few meals in a freezer that they can reach for when they don’t have the energy to cook can make a huge difference to someone’s overall well being.
If your friend does let you know that they are feeling more anxious or stressed than usual, then reassure your friend that there are easy steps you can both take together which will help. Look online for expert advice and positive stories from those who have been in similar situations.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight the blog Shedding Light On Mental Heath.

Shining a light on Mental Illness
Hi and welcome to my blog “Shedding Light on Mental Health.” My name is Amy Gamble and I am a National Award winning Mental Health Advocate focused on educating others about Mental Health related challenges.
I live with bipolar disorder and PTSD. My journey has been very long and difficult, but I was able to overcome my mental health challenges and recover.
I try to offer hope in my blogs as well as share insights.
Amy and I have followed each other for years. I’m overjoyed she has jumped over her challenges. What she didn’t say is that she is an Olympian and respected Speaker. You have to visit Amy’s blog.
Melinda
This easy-to-make recipe is the perfect gift, one for yourself and one to give. Find a pretty mason jar to store the scrub in, write down the instructions and tie it on with string.
Willow and Sage by Stampington
Yields 1 1/2 cups
1/2 cup frozen blueberries, thawed, can use fresh or frozen blueberries.
Food processor/immersion blender
1 cup natural sugar
1/8 cup coconut oil, melted
Spoon
Mason Jar
Puree the blueberries in the food processor or with an immersion blender until no large chunks remain. Add natural sugar and coconut oil, and stir to combine. Spoon the mixture into a mason jar. Store the scrub in the fridge, and use it within one month.
Enjoy!
Melinda
From the book Gluten Freedom
1/2 cup fresh mint
1 cup vinegar (add more or less to taste)
1 cup hot water
1/4 cup white sugar (add more or less to taste)
Wash and finally chop mint. Mix sugar into hot water and add vinegar. Add mint and serve with roast lamb and gravy. You’ll find a little goes a long way.
Melinda
Gluten Freedom by Alessio Fasano
Photo by PhotoMIX Ltd. on Pexels.com
Ingredients:
Spicy Italian sausage (one per person)
One 7 oz. jar sliced, sweet red pepper hulls
One 8 oz. can of tomato paste
Heat a large skillet or frying pan. Add sausages and cover halfway with water. Cook over medium heat until sausages are halfway cooked (15-20 minutes). During the process, prick the sausage with a fork to release the juices from the sausage.
While cooking sausages, place sweet peppers in a colander and rinse off the water. Add the peppers and tomato paste to the sausages. Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens.
Cut sausages into 2-inch pieces, making sure that they are cooked all the way through.
Enjoy!
Melinda
I’m so glad you stopped by, and I hope to see you soon.
Melinda
Yesterday my husband brought home an amazing floral arrangement for our anniversary. He’s my best friend, husband, and caregiver. He has spent most of our marriage taking care of me. I can’t thank him enough!
I married a man who believes in sickness and health!
He has Skin Cancer, has 3 inches of stitches, and is on light duty. It will be the first Thanksgiving he doesn’t put up the tree. It’s been a great day for him while he watches football.
Melinda
In this fast-paced social media world, it can be difficult to find the time to look within or back in time. I hope you find these quotes and questions interesting. So glad you stopped by today!
Continue reading “Deep Thoughts”Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com
From Mary Frances McFadden, Jackson Township, New Jersey
Ingredients:
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of black pepper
1 teaspoon celery seed
Fresh herbs of your choice (parsley, rosemary, thyme, dill or other)
Peel one or two cucumbers and slice into rounds. Use English cucumbers or peel if skin is tough. Place in bowl. Thoroughly mix or shake ingredients for dressing and pour over cucumbers. Chill well in the refrigerator before serving.
Peel and grate two carrots and one half green cabbage and place in a bowl. Pour dressing over the bowl and refrigerate.
Enjoy!
Melinda

Triumphing Through Science,
Treatment, and Education
ADAA improves the quality of life for those who suffer through evidence-based educational resources, professional practice, and scientific research.
ADAA’s promise is to raise awareness about the impact of mental health on physical health, to find new treatments, and one day prevent and cure anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders.

When Mariska Hargitay started playing Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims’ Unit, the content of the scripts, as well as the work she did to prepare for the role, opened her eyes to the staggering statistics about sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse in the United States. She received hundreds, then thousands of letters and emails from survivors disclosing their stories of abuse, many for the first time. She wanted to answer—really answer—those letters, to address the suffering they described, and honor acts of courage they represented.
Her response was to create the Joyful Heart Foundation.

Welcome to bpHope.com, your community for hope, inspiration, and insights from people living and thriving with bipolar.
For those facing a recent diagnosis, managing daily symptoms, or supporting a loved onewith bipolar disorder, bpHope provides evidence-based information and unwavering support. We’re with you at every step on your road to living well with this common brain disorder.
You can check out the full list under Companies That Can Help on the top menu.
Melinda
My life is blessed, I understand life is about ups and downs and how we respond can change our life’s course. With the ups and downs I’ve experienced, my backbone is much stronger which helps when I feel pushed around, lately by doctors.
My new Psychiatrist who I’ve only met once in person and one video call. We haven’t established a relationship, that takes time. Every time we’ve talked, I leave with more questions. He’s all business which is great but he interrupts me and keeps on talking until he changes the subject, not anymore! At times I feel like he’s charted my future and I won’t fit a peg. Our meeting in January will not be more of the same. I’m taking back control of the topic even if I have to wait until the end of the meeting.
I want a collaborative relationship, which means I am a blank slate and WE fill in the blanks as we go. Taking a predefined peg board and pushing me into the holes will not work and it’s focused on what you want not what I need. He is up on new studies and he likes to mention them as if they are the only way to treat a patient. I will continue seeing him because finding another Psychiatrist is hard, they need extensive training on Bipolar Disorder.
When I look forward, all I see is the same
I have no extended family
No friends
The only people I see are doctors and my hairdresser
I can only drive in a 3-4 radius of the house due to cognitive impairment and Agrophobia
Have to coordinate schedules when I need my husband to take me to appointments
Lack of joy and hobbies
Blog
Photography
Bird watching from the kitchen window
Green Thumb inside and out
Ancestry
Driving limited
Agoraphobia
Dealing with multiple chronic illnesses
Cognitive Impairment
:(
This is a glimpse into my daily life or the lack of it. It’s hard to rebuild your life with several chronic illnesses, cognitive impairment, and Agrophobia. I’m building a new Bucket List that fits my new life. I kept fooling myself that I could complete my old list but it’s not possible now.
If you don’t already have a Bucket List I encourage you to start one, it may change your life.
I work hard not to think about what I can’t do, and stay focused on the here and now.
How do you deal with life challenges?
I can’t wait to see how you respond, and what I can learn from you.
Melinda

Thank you for the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their blog with you. This week highlights the blog of Olive Tree Saints.

I’m a child of God, wife and mother. I’m also an incredibly flawed Christ-follower who wants to be available to God for whatever He gives me to do in this later chapter of my life. That means taking care of my wellness so I’m ready when He calls.
As someone who lives with fibromyalgia, I know how hard it can be to start and stick to a wellness plan, especially if it’s not personalized for you. I’m here to help you with that!
Terri is a certified Personal Trainer, Health Coach, and Nutrition Coach who wants to help others be as healthy as possible for them.
Terri loves life, and she’s inspiring. You have to check her out.
Melinda
I’ve been out of the workforce since 2005 to help take care of my Granny who had Dementia. My previous positions were in Executive Sales, a high-stress job. Since my Granny’s death, there have been many stressful times, too many to count but we made it work, or work it out.
Now I’m 60 years old with multiple chronic illnesses including Chronic Kidney Diseases and severe balance problems. I am Agoraphobic and have cognitive impairment which means I only drive within a 3-4 mile radius of the house.
When I learned about the Kidney Diseases my attitude about life changed. I don’t let the littlest things stress me out.
I’ve become a laid-back person after receiving news about my Kidneys, hearing you have 2-5 years to live will kick you in the arse. I’m not taking medication, doing dialysis, or getting a Kidney Transplant. I’m waiting my turn to enter the Pearly Gates and working to be in the moment.
I am more apt to say what’s on my mind, eliminating stress is a daily goal, making sure I’m getting enough sleep, and letting things blow over instead of engaging in conversation. To net it out, I have little joy in my life and at times angry at all the chronic illnesses I have.
I finally accepted that my current Bucket List isn’t relevant anymore and have started a new Bucket List. It’s short now but will grow.
Life is too short for stress to steal your time and affect your mood.
Melinda
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to celebrate the settlers who migrated to America. I am grateful to the settlers for laying the foundation of our country. If you were born in America, they are our ancestry and family.
Since my Grandparents died we haven’t cooked a proper Thanksgiving meal and this year we’re having steak! It works for the two of us.
I hope you are surrounded by family, friends, good food, and conversation.

If you’re hosting the celebration, have a couple of people to help you. Seems mishaps do happen at holiday gatherings. Be sure to plan breaks for simple self-care and remember nothing is perfect. Quit worrying and enjoy the moment.
Melinda
This is a repost, it’s been a blogger favorite since it was first published. A sugar scrub is perfect for your self-care needs so why not make a double or triple batch and give it as a gift. There aren’t many ingredients that make this an Inflation Buster!

This Pink Peony Sugar Scrub leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. Skin-loving cranberry butter and champagne extract are whipped together with Foaming Bath Butter to create a smooth base for the sugar. Foaming Bath Butter lathers with water, so the scrub washes off the skin without an oily residue. To use, apply the scrub to wet skin, gently rub in circular motions, and wash away.
A touch of Hot Pink Mica gives the scrub a lovely pink color. It’s made with Pink Peony Fragrance Oil from Bramble Berry’s Soirée Collection. The fragrance is a modern floral mix of lemon, rhododendron, honey, peony, and white musk.
Find all the ingredients here
Three 8 oz. Bail Jars
10 oz. Foaming Bath Butter
2 oz. Cranberry Butter
2.5 oz. Champagne Extract
15 oz. Sugar
1/16 tsp. Hot Pink Mica
In a large mixing bowl, add 10 ounces of Foaming Bath Butter and 2 ounces of cranberry butter. Using a hand or stand mixer, whip until they’re completely combined and smooth.
Add 2.5 ounces of champagne extract and 8 mL of Pink Peony Fragrance Oil. Whip the ingredients until smooth.
Add 15 ounces of granulated sugar and about 1/16 teaspoon of Hot Pink Mica. Use the mixer to thoroughly incorporate.
Spoon the mixture into jars.
To use, apply a small amount of the scrub to damp skin, gently rub in circular motions, and rinse off.
Enjoy!
The Art of Candle Making A Glimpse Inside Willow and Sage Autumn 2019 A Glimpse Inside Willow and Sage Winter 2020 Q&A with a Skin Care Expert Previous Post Next Post
Enjoy
Melinda
By Anna Quigg
One of my favorite sweet treats during that ravenous time in my second trimester was a homemade peanut butter cookie. The recipe is so quick and it’s easy, it’s a snap.
INGREDIENTS
1 beaten egg
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
Mix well and drop on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes until golden.
Gluten-Freedom by Alessio Fasano, MD with Susie Flaherty
1 1/2 to 2 pounds salmon (wild-caught preferred with skin on)
Juice from 2-3 limes
Olive Oil
Sesame Seeds
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper and coat very lightly with olive oil. Place salmon, skin side down, on parchment paper in the pan.
Squees the juice of 2-3 limes into a bowl. Use a pastry brush to coat the salmon with lime juice. Coat the top of the salmon with sesame seeds. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork. Be careful to not overcook.
Enjoy!
Melinda

Melinda