What A Date!

A fun food find for the sweet tooth in us all! If you love carmel but not all of the processed white sugar and dairy that usually accompanies it you may want to try a caramel sauce made from organic dates.

Date Lady caramel sauce is Organic, Gluten Free and Kosher. It contains no dairy or processed sugar and has the goodness of dates which means you get the vitamins and minerals that comes with eating dates.

This sauce can be used just as any other caramel sauce, on top of ice cream, in lattes as a dipping sauce for those crisp fall apples, blended into smoothies the possibilities are endless!

I was excited to find this as searching for an allergy safe natural caramel sauce wasn't an easy task, especially one that wasn't labeled sugar free leaving it loaded with artificial sweeteners as the ones in the supermarket are.

Date Lady Caramel Sauce can be purchased at
www.ILOVEDATELADY.COM
Enjoy!

Minimalist Living Journey Update

As of recent I continue to make attempts at downsizing my life. It becomes simpler to wade my way through what I want, what I need, and what's important. Some areas in my life do still overflow at times and now I feel it both

in energy and space.

To collect or not; this is an area where I sometimes stumble. I do not have one particular collection per se but I do accumulate a few things that I tell myself I want and will get enjoyment from. However; now I'm better able to reevaluate why I feel an attachment to certain things and if these actions are truly enriching my life in a fulfilling way. Most times the answer is no. An example would be I used to collect some Barbie dolls and Polly Pockets, and yes they bring on fond memories and yes they are still fun to dress, but realistically they just take up space on my shelves that I'd prefer to be clear of things anyway.  I also think of so many kids who are in need of toys and for me to have them just because changes what I thought I was getting out of collecting them.  

Being able to give back to the human collective and having the space that allows free flowing uncluttered energy allows me to make better decisions for my living space and life.

Diet is another area that has vastly improved eating simply, and clean. I consider this too minimal because we don't keep a lot of food 'clutter' like extra junk that we'd eat because it's there. We've become accustomed to purchasing quality foods in smaller amounts so we really enjoy what we're consuming over low quality foods to fill up on. The results of eating this way are better health and we're able to keep specific track on where we're spending our food budget.

As time moves on I will continue to minimize in every way I can. Each improvement proves to be enlightening and at learning experience in my journey here. I can say yes I am enjoying and embracing Minimalist living and I'm looking forward to where it takes me in the future.

Our Culture or God's: The Choice Is Ours

Titus 3: 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this preset age.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at our world, it's culture today to witness it's moral decline. People not God are deciding what's good and right and attempting to over run people who refuse to follow their ways.

2 Timothy 3: 1-5 But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the god, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying it's power. Have nothing to do with such people.

In Touch Ministries: The Choices We Make
On a six lane freeway, it is easy to crowd lots of cars onto the road. Entering the highway is pretty easy since ramps feed into the right lane every few miles. Conversely, trying to stay on a narrow sheep path from the pasture to the barn forces you to walk slowly with one foot directly in front of the other.

The sheep path is a picture of the narrow way-God's way-while the wide, six lane thoroughfare illustrates the broad way-that is Satan's road to destruction.

The broad way is as crowded as an expressway at rush hour. The majority of people choose this road because they love what it has to offer: no restraints on anything they want to try. Whatever brings pleasure, power, pr prosperity is welcomed and practiced. God, the Bible and church may be tolerated for a while, but will eventually be supplanted in the heart of the traveler on the broad road. That's to be expected, since everything is embraced here-all philosophies, all belief systems, all the passions of men and women, and all habits promoting the idea of free choice.

As wonderful as all that tolerance and license may sound, however, the broad road is also the way of disappointment. No matter what the world promises, it will not ultimately satisfy, because the broad way is an illusion. The flesh may be appeased temporarily, but the human heart cannot find peace on that road.

Nothing the world thinks up or creates can fill the place in our hearts that God made only for Himself. True fulfillment through The Lord is found only on the narrow path.

So many times I have felt that I don't measure up to the world and it's expectations. It is only because God rescued me and continues to do so again and again that I know that only His expectations are of any real importance. It doesn't matter what others think or their opinions on me or my life and choices I make, because I'm not living to impress other humans. I feel this would be like pigs living in their barn, yet one pig feels compelled to gain acceptance and approval from the other pigs. They are All pigs, so what does it matter, just as we are All humans. This shows how ridiculous the need is to try and live for others. Our lives should be to live for God and not seek to fit into anyone's culture or ideals of living. Whenever I feel that I've fallen off the narrow path as stated above I remind myself of my pig analogy and it snaps me back to reality. I am ever grateful for God and the strength he gives me even when I feel like all of mine has evaporated.

Deb's Book Nook: Madame Chic by Jennifer L Scott

Madame Chic is a delightful little book that allows one to experience a greater depth of life through the adoption of French culture. The author Jennifer lived as an exchange student with a french family and over her time spent with Madame Chic and her family she learned that being presentable, participating in rich culture and cultivating an appreciation of life can be done without the ideals of over consumption and mass materialism. Jennifer learned how to cultivate a life she desires and to bring richness into it through every day living.

Each chapter is divided into a life subject such as Exercise is a part of Life Not a Chore, Deprive Yourself Not, Find Your True Style, Reject the New Materialism. There are many simple suggestions to enrich and improve your life and live it to the fullest.

One of the things I liked most about this book was the emphasis on not conforming to societies' idea of materialism. Living a minimalist life myself as of late I can appreciate her suggestions on being happy with less, and learning or re learning to embrace cultural activities that enrich the mind as well as the soul like attending the theater, reading, seeking out different kinds of movies such as alternative, or foreign films that have a deeper message than hero's saving the world. ( not knocking those movies, just creating more of a balance ).

Another favorite suggestion of mine was incorporating more high quality foods into the diet instead of endless amounts of lower quality or junk foods. She talks about how the French have always enjoyed their food and don't obsess over carbs or calories or body size. Its definitely a cultural one up France and other countries have over the U.S. Our shelves are filled with tasteless lower calorie meals loaded with salt or sugar to make up for lack of flavor. Our citizens continually think about if a certain food will go to their waist or how much they have to workout because of what was eaten.

There are many more golden nuggets to take from this book. Not all suggestions will work for every lifestyle, one should take what is doable and adaptable to one's lifestyle. Living a minimalist lifestyle I fell this book goes hand in hand with the concepts of living a more purposeful life. I highly recommend tis book if you're looking for an overhaul or improvement of life in general.

Embracing Minimalism Quality over Quanity

In recent years I have begun creating a lifestyle that's cohesive with my beliefs and needs. I'd stumbled and backslid into former old habits numerous times in the process. It's ok that I made repeated mistakes for a lesson will continually repeat itself until learned. Life is a journey not just a destination.

As of late my as my spiritual growth expands so does the quality of life I choose to lead. My road leads me back to incorporating minimalism throughout my world. I now approach this lifestyle with a deeper purpose, a physical and spiritual space clearing. I aim to create space within my space so I am more effectively able to connect with a higher power to guide me through my life.

A minimalist lifestyle allows me to acquire and utilize less in order to better focus and become available to my greater purpose. By embracing God's culture instead of worldly culture I'm gaining a greater sense of self and peace.

One of the best things about a minimalist lifestyle is the joyful avoidance of gross consumerism and overt materialism. As we all are aware our society encourages consumerism leading one to believe that living a certain lifestyle in the right area, with the right clothes, car, job etc... will gain acceptance and and approval, and make one very happy.

In fact, quite the opposite is true for me.While I didn't have a keeping up with the Joneses mentality I had my fair share of unused unworn clothes, video games, gadgets and stuff that I thought I enjoyed having. However, most of this stuff only served to collect dust and create a heavy heavy household, not to mention combined with my husband's stuff!

Clearing our space has been cathartic and euphoric! I had no trouble hanging on to things I seldom used. I craved a lighter space a lighter simpler life. I let go of believing that I would acquire a lifestyle to match the clothes I never wore. I let go of fantasies and I'm now working on creating a life that matches who I am growing to be. It's great not to look out for the next coolest video games, over abundance of books, ( Shout out to my Kindle! ) unused beauty items and such. The monetary gain that comes from this is well worth the changes, and it can be put to a much greater use, or saved. I realize that our space won't be completely cleared to the extent I'd like because I live with a husband who has lots of stuff and lots of trouble letting go. He has agreed to declutter rooms like the basement and garage, but I know it will be a timely process as he too is on his journey and has to go through his own learning experiences and I must embrace patience and not force this on him at my pace...part of my journey...

As I sign off I leave hoping to inspire others who feel weighed down by life and life's stuff. It's possible to start where you are and at your chosen pace begin to be the change you want to live.

Next blog I'll be discussing how minimizing spills over into my diet effectively.

Deb's Book Nook: Marbles by Ellen Forney A Graphic Novel

Marbles is a memoir about a woman's struggle with mental illness, Bipolar Disorder. This story is told in graphic novel form which adds a whole new and fresh dimension to reading a memoir.

Marbles is refreshingly funny, yet allows you grasp the many struggles of living with this disorder. I loved the comic panel cartoon drawing format! The facial expressions in this story are everything! I many times found myself laughing out loud reading this.

The character is an artist who grapples with taking or not taking medication to manage her condition because of her fears that she will loose her natural creativity, and her eventual acceptance of this as a part of who she is instead of just a condition.

I highly recommend this book. It's an easy read because of the format. This story helps me to deal with any physical conditions, or even stressful life conditions with a little more gratitude and an ability to approach my reactions to them with humility and patience.

I give this book ***** 5 Stars!!!
Get it Read it!

Deb's Book Nook: Chicken Hare by Chris Grine

Chicken Hare is a hilarious little graphic novel that chronicles the adventures of a part rabbit part chicken ( funny on it's own ), and his buddy a bearded turtle. Now, one might think this is for kids but books are meant to be enjoyed by everyone regardless of age. I really liked this story and at times it had me laughing out loud.

I find that often times people become regimented or judgmental of others by their choices in books, movies, music, clothes... Reading should be a joyful experience and who is to say what someone's joy consists of. If your'e an adult and enjoy reading young adult fiction play on, if you feel you only want to read classics or cheesy romance novels by all means do so. There are no barriers on one's choices in reading material. I felt the need to say this because I've heard of others who like a certain genre of books but won't read them in public or around family or friends for fear of judgement or embarrassment. No one has the right to judge anyone for their choices in books. It's also great to stretch your reading genre past what your used to you might be surprised what you find, I know I am!

Back to Chicken Hare, and his pal turtle are captured by an evil taxidermist and must find a way to escape while helping two other captured animals before they're turned into stuffed animals. Their adventures are fast paced and so chuckle worthy and will leave you wanting to continue to hang out with Chicken Hare and his buddies for more adventures.

If you want a quick stress reducing read that brings a smile to your face, one that both you and your kids can enjoy grab one or all three graphic novels of the adventures of Chicken Hare, you won't be sorry! I give this book 4 out of 5 stars because I wish it were longer!