Tag: happy home blog 2020

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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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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