Tag: happy home

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The Weather and its Moods on us

Fire is always nice on a cold day

My oh my! What lovely weather we have in Central Texas today. As many of you know, Texas is known for being hot so when we get anything under 70 degrees we ENJOY it. Earlier today, I noticed the temperature had reached 66 degrees and we are now 48 degrees. So in true Texan spirit I had to make something nice and warm for dinner. I decided to make Caldo de Albondigas with spanish rice as a side and a few homemade blue corn tortillas. Ooops, I almost forgot to mention I also made a nice homemade salsa to give it some heat.

The husband and kids loved it. So of course, I was happy because what mom doesn’t love hearing her family praise her cooking right? I know I do, and my mom does too as my grandmother did when she was alive. It’s a right of passage I think, bragging rights to the kitchen.

Even after my bariatric surgery, I have managed to continue enjoying my cooking. I love to try new recipes and more often than not, while I work from home at my desk I plan dinner depending on my mood or source of inspiration. I can’t eat the same amount of food I did before but that the whole point right? It is why I chose to do this surgery, to lose and manage my weight. Having bariatric surgery doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy my food, it only means that I have to choose wisely and manage my portions.

I’ve come across posts on social media about people that have this type of surgery and can’t wait to go back to old eating habits. It’s strange, because I wonder what was the purpose of doing it in the first place right? I think there’s some misconception about what this surgery does to us and what the expectations are afterwards. Anyways, that whole different subject for another day.

Back to this beautiful weather and how it makes us feel. I don’t know about you but cold weather is definitely my favorite. I do believe it is because we have so little of it here though, some folks up north might hate it and that’s because they truly experience cold weather unlike our mild temps down here. It sort of how we like curly hair when we have straight hair right? and vice versa. We want cold temps here and they want hot temps up there…ha!

Currently, since dinner is over and done with I am now sitting on my bed writting this post and looking out the window. I can see the breeze moving the trees and the grey clouds saturating the sky. Not a peep of sunlight can be seen, just thick grey clouds over us.

Do you prefer cold weather or hot weather? Why?

I will continue to stare out the window and hope this cold weather will last us at least a few days before we go back to our normal 80s. With this, I bid you good night.

Take care,

Mrs Jones

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Selfcare on a Sunday Morning

Squash and Peppers

Good and blessed morning! I hope your sunday started off fine and continues that way. We’ve had very hot days here in Central Texas and wanting to go outside has been a struggle. However, my vitamin D levels are very low and the sun helps me with that so I braved the heat and went to work on my vegetable garden for a little while today. Two hours to be exact.

Let me first say that working on my garden brings me peace. It allows me to focus on my peace of mind by giving me the time to sit there and enjoy nature while tending to it. I am not a pro in gardening but I am trying to do my part in learning how to grow my own veggies, herbs and hopefully frutis too. I do have a beautiful squash growing and have been tending to it for a few months now.

As I sat there I was able to enjoy the sun, even though it was already hot at 8 am, it made me feel good. As I have mentioned before, I had bariatric surgery early this year and theres a chance that vitamin deficiency might occur. Well, vitamin D is low so I am currently deficient. My doctor prescribed me some and suggested I went out and got some sun while making sure I took care of my self by applying sunscreen and wearing a hat for my face. This is why I went outside today and decided to take care of my physical needs while also taking care of my emotional and spiritual needs.

While I gardened I made it a point to thank Mother Nature for her blessings, and assured her that I was not destroying the grass but rather bringing in more plants to enhance its environment. I know it sounds crazy but I do like to communicate with nature as much as possible. I pray for it and try to do my best not to harm it.

I ended up with a nicely weeded area and with two of my pepper plants from my indoor pots planted firmly in their new outodoor spots. I prepared the regular soil with food and good top soil while also covering them with mulch at the top. I feel satisfied and look forward to the next opportunity I have to transfer my tomatoes and my basil. Doing these things make me happy and cleanse my soul from negativity.

I hope you find something to do today that will allow you to take care of yourself physically, emotionally or spiritually.

Find something to do and immerse yourself in it. Pray while you do it and release any negative energy you might be carrying with you. Take a deep breath and know that you have the power to make yourself better, only you can affect the outcome of your day. Happiness is a choice, and that choice is yours.

Seize the day and be productive in your selfcare. Tend to your needs, to your soul and live your best life. Til next time.

MJ Jones

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Bathtime and Peace of Mind

Treat yourself to sweet scents and a good read.

Good evening. I hope you’re well and enjoying your night. Its now 8:24 pm and I find myself preparing for bed. Best way to do this? A long hot bath.

As I stated before, life seems to move at a faster pace every year. Every day really. Our daily routines can and will take time away from our self care. Often, we have a list of to do things or tasks but more often than not, we never mark anything down to help us with our own self care needs.

Besides time, we often think that taking care of us means we have to spend money we may or may not have, the truth is that a good oil essence added to out bath water can often be enough to relax us and help us release our stress. Stop overthinking and just indulge in some personal time. Set out some candles and just breathe. Relax.

Im not saying that pampering yourself at an actual spa is not great, what I ak saging is that sometimes thats not financially possible. However, it should be ok for gou to enjoy bathtime at home with your favorite candles and oil scents. A few drops of oil will do the trick, no need to use half a bottle in every bath. Some of my favorite scents are Lavender, Vanilla and Sandalwood, depending on my mood. A hot bath with low dimmed light works wonders. If you have a speaker that you can safely use in the bathroom without risking it being too close to your tub then use it. Set it to low volume and play something nice and mellow. It will improve your mood and allow you focus on your breathing and relaxation.

Lastly, love yourself. Your peace of mind and mental health matter. What you do today will improve your tomorrow.

Til next time,

MJ Jones

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Less Stimulus, More Sleep Please.

Step away from electronics

Feeling tired? Join the club!

Millions of Americans suffer from sleep depravation. Many have no choice because they have to work more than two jobs or maybe because they have to work and attend school. Others is because they are single parents or because they have to care for others. All of these are understandable situations. But whats the excuse for those of us who have only one job, no real extracurricular activities or care for others? Lets chat about that.

Each of us is responsible for our own well being. Thats the first thing to understand. When we choose to keep our eyes glued to the tv or to our personal gadgets, we have no one to blame but us. The truth is that more and more we immerse ourselves in social media or binge on shows that take away from our sleep time.

I dont want to sound like a broken record but if you find yourself tired and its not due to some medical condition or one of the situations described above then maybe its time to do some self care? Maybe it’s time to care for you first and foremost. Are you in? I have a few suggestions that will help you with your rest and to create better sleeping habits.

First, lets set up a time to wind down. Choose a time that works with your schedule and stick to it. Turn your tv or gadgets off an hour before bedtime. Prepare yourself by taking a shower or bath, use essential oils or bath bombs to help you relax. If you’re achy, just use Epsom salt in a bath. Relax and meditate. Prayer and/or meditation works to help you focus and release tension from your body. Do what works for you. Visualize and tune yourself with your inner peace. Bring it forth and get your rest. Next, make sure your bed is clean and made, a messy bed with dirty sheets is no place to rest. Set the room temperature according to your preference. Lastly, turn off your phone notifications and the lights. Take a deep breath and go to sleep. Focus on your body and its needs. Your body needs rest so make an attempt to do this.

In time, with a consistent routine you will feel better and your body will know when bed time is approaching. It will let you know when you need to get to bed and start getting your routine together. Trust me, we are overworked, over binged and over stimulated. Its time to calm down and take care of us. Hope my blog helps you feel better and achieve a better nights sleep.

Til next time,

MJ Jones 🌜

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Home and Positive Energy

Goals: A clean home

Good afternoon ya’ll!

What a year huh? Its a strange year for sure. Who knew that 2020 was going to be such a sobering year? It does make me wonder about all the things I have taken for granted like, walking next to a stranger and not worrying about getting sick. Just being out there and enjoying the park right?

Well, as far as I can tell, the only thing I can do to make things better and to protect myself and others, is to wear a mask and stay home as much as possible. I know its very hard and boring and boring and…. boring! But, I rather be safe than sorry. Common sense right? I just read a sobering article from TIME: 500,000 dead worlwide. Pretty sad. So yeah, will be home for sure.

Having said that, let me begin by stressing that unless you have a maid; there’s always something to do at home. And home is where the heart is right? So why not make it better one day at a time. We can begin with small things like, keeping it clean and tidy.

Most of us will agree that when our homes are clean, we feel proud and happy. We enjoy clean, tidy spaces that smell good. I don’t know about you but I love the smell of fresh laundry and clean carpets. There’s nothing like walking into your home and being hit by a wave of fresh scent. My favorite scents are floral, fruity and spicy. Yup, I am scent afficionado.

There’s plenty you can do around the home to keep you busy while making it smell good and fresh. You can even enlist the help of your family (and you should). A home is made of all things we love but its also made by the energy, love and affection from all members. You and your family can beautfy your home together and benefit from the sense of accomplishment that comes with it.

Perhaps, this is the time to move furniture around and get to those tight corners, nooks and crannies that you normally would ignore. Maybe, the baseboards need a scrubbing or just a simple wipe down. If you have essential oils, try adding them to your cleaning solution to add more scent or simply empower the scent even more. I have come to realize that I can mix scents pretty well, so well that I have made a few candles and room sprays for my home. Not for sale, but for my family to enjoy.

Remember, even if you are on tight budget, you can always clean with inexpensive items such as Pinesol, Fabuloso or plain bleach. Some of us have cleaned with Dawn and vinegar mixed together to make a pretty powerful solution. The point is to remove dust, grime and/or old energy accumulated in your home. And yes, I believe eneergy can become stagnant and therefore contribute to our moods. Get up and move that energy around. I sometimes use a little bit of plain water and Florida water mixed together to cleanse my home and it always feels good to do so. Whatever scents you use, focus on the intent of your cleaning and picture an open positive current flowing through your home.

Whatever your own beliefs, a clean home is a happy home. So get up and move around, and while you clean up play some tunes. I love listening to my Spanish musica while I clean, and to my jazz when I cook. Play whatever makes you and keeps you moving. Afterwards, you will enjoy the fruits of your labor in the form of a clean fresch scent all over your home. A tidy home will keep you organized, focused and on track, Remember, a place for everything and everything in its place. Happy cleaning, cheer up! We are going to make it through this difficult uncertain times. Blessings!

Til Next Time,

MJ Jones