Hay!

Hayrack rides are a blast!!!  This weather has been perfect for them too.  If you get a bunch of people to go and split the cost it can be an inexpensive yearly event to celebrate fall and let loose and have a good time. 
You may want to take your allergy medications before you go.  :)

Hay fights are a good way to get people laughing and laughter is good medicine.

You can attack other hayracks when you pass each other.  This is really fun!

You can have a bonfire afterward and roast hot dogs and marshmallows.

Good things to wear on hayrack rides:
Turtleneck to try to keep hay out of your shirt.  Tuck that into your JEANS.  Wear a cotton sweatshirt that the hay will brush off easily.  Hay doesn't come out of fuzzy clothing very well.  You should wear boots too so the hay doesn't get to your socks easily.

Bring your drink cooler and have a great time! 

Don't Cheat Yourself

I always hear, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day."  Then I see people who are overweight and hear them say they skip a meal or meals during the day, then load up at night.  I don't see how anyone can do this and expect their body to like it.  I used to be overweight.  I also used to skip breakfast.  When I stopped smoking over 2 years ago I started eating breakfast regularly.  Now I can't go without breakfast (or any meal for that matter) or I feel terrible.  I have lost weight gradually in the last 3 years and have maintained my current weight for almost a year.

I am not saying that everyone should eat breakfast.  I am saying that it is not the best idea to go for several hours during the day without eating.  When you deprive your body of food, your body decides to slow down the metabolism to hold on to what it gets later and try to make it last.  Food is fuel and in order to keep going, your body needs it.  I have found that I keep a more regular weight when I eat every 2 to 3 hours, even just a piece of fruit. 

Men need approximately 2500 calories a day, women need about 2000, and children aged 5-10 need about 1800.  These numbers vary based on age, weight, muscle mass, and activity level.  You can figure out your personal caloric intake by using this method:

Adult women:

655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) – (4.7 x age in years)

OR

655 + (9.6 x weight in kg) + (1.8 x height in cm) – (4.7 x age in yrs)

Adult men:

66 + (6.3 x weight in pounds) + (12.9 x height in inches) – (6.8 x age in years)

OR

66 + (13.7 x weight in kg) + (5.0 x height in cm) – (6.8 x age in yrs)

The number you get from this would tell you how many calories your body needs if you spend the day lying in bed.  This is called your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).

If you multiply that number by your activity level percentage, you get the number needed to maintain your CURRENT weight.

Activity Level:

• Sedentary (no exercise, sit at a desk most of the day): BMR x 120 percent 
• Light Activity (no exercise, on feet during the day, eg. shop work): BMR x 130 percent
• Moderately Active (exercise 3 or more days a week for 30 minutes or more): BMR x 140 percent
• Highly Active (exercise 5 or more days a week for 30 minutes or more): BMR x 150 percent

Example:
I am 5'3" (63 inches) and weigh 134 pounds and I am 35 years old.
655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) – (4.7 x age in years)=

655 + (4.3 x 134) + (4.7 x 63) – (4.7 x 35)=
655 + 576.2 + 296.1 - 164.5 = 1362.8
My BMR is 1362.8 or I need 1363 calories if I just lie in bed all day.

We all know I do not lie in bed all day, at least not since derby.  :)

Now I am highly active because I exercise 5 or more days a week for 30 minutes or more per day.

So I take my BMR of 1362.8 and multiply that by 150% or 1.5 which gives me 2044.2.  In other words, I need to take in 2044 calories to MAINTAIN 134 pounds. 

Let's say that I would like to lose 10 pounds.  I have to under-eat by 3500 calories to lose 1 pound.  If I shave off 500 calories per day (3500 calories less a week), I will lose about 1 pound per week.  It would take me 10 weeks to lose 10 pounds. 

If you overeat a lot and have more to lose than 10 pounds, you could shave off up to 1000 calories per day and maybe more, but you should NOT take in less than 1000 calories per day as that would have negative effects on your body. 

My point is, skipping meals is counterproductive to weight loss.  You should eat regularly, but take in less calories AND exercise if you want to lose weight.  This will help regulate metabolism so that your body can maintain a healthier weight.

The Christian WRONG

"I join the ranks of those who are angry, because I have watched as the faith I love has been taken over by fundamentalists who claim to speak for Jesus but whose actions are anything but Christian."

—Robin Meyers

I get really irritated by people who call themselves Christian and go around pointing fingers at people who don't live as they believe and make a bad name for Christians like me who try not to judge other people by their actions.  You cannot change other people by going around and pointing out their faults.  I believe this alienates people more.  AND "Christian Right" people have faults just like anyone else but you don't see them going around baring their sin for all to see.  Forcing beliefs on others is counterproductive.  This Christian right hypocrite crap bothers me a lot. 

I believe true Christians love everyone regardless of what their faults are and leave the judgment up to God.  I have friends who are gay and I love them.  I am not going to stop loving them because they are gay.  Who am I to tell them whether being gay is right or wrong?  I really don’t know myself if it’s right or wrong.  Yes the Bible says it is wrong, but it also says it is wrong if a wife doesn’t submit to her husband which I know I am guilty of not submitting to my husband.  I know the Bible contradicts itself a lot, but let’s face it, it was written by men so I don’t take it literally.  I still read it because it is good reading.  I just talk to God about what I do not understand and He almost always shows me the truth.  Call me crazy, I don’t care.  Why does being gay have to be a bigger sin than others?  To me, no sin is greater than another, and the bible says as much.  I have friends who have had abortions, and I would never want to be in their position.  I also believe by telling them God hates what they did we are sending them farther away from Him instead of using that energy to pray for them to grow closer to Him.  I would rather love them and be there for them in the midst of their pain than shun them. 

I feel that sin is what gets in the way of a relationship with God, which is why it makes sense to me that Jesus died.  Jesus died so that when we sin, we can still have a relationship with God.  I believe it is the relationship that is important to God, not the sins we commit and whether he will forgive us or not.  I think God is a parent in the sense that no matter what we do, He will still love us and forgive us.   He just wants us to talk to him about it and pray to him about things.  The more we do this, the more we grow spiritually.  The more spiritual growth, the more peace is felt.  The more at peace someone is, the better they handle life situations.

Really my argument goes very deep because Christian Right groups are so adamant about “doing the right thing,” yet support wars that kill people when the Bible clearly says killing is wrong.  They are doing much worse things than this as well but it would take me forever to write about it all.

In my opinion, the Bible is not there for Christians to use as a list of rules for people to follow, it is there for me and you, if you so choose, to strengthen a relationship with God.  I don’t go around quoting the Bible to my friends so I can point out their flaws.  I would rather tell them I am praying for them and that I am there for them.  Hypocritical “Christians” will not be able to bring glory to God in my opinion.  The glory is in the joy of love that they are missing completely.

Almond Milk is All Right

I have recently started to drink almond milk.  It is pretty good and very good for you. It is also a better alternative to soy milk if you don't like it, which I do not. 
 

Almond milk also furnishes the body with high levels of manganese, selenium and vitamin E. Manganese plays an important role in activating enzymes in the body. Manganese along with phosphorous also plays a role in keeping bones and teeth healthy. Vitamin E, an antioxidant protects the cell membranes by destroying the free radicals that cause damage to them. Selenium on the other hand is good for the functioning of the immune system, for reproduction and for metabolism of the thyroid gland. 

The magnesium obtained from almond helps break down the food consumed into energy. It also assists the functioning of the parathyroid glands, which are responsible for production of hormones known for good bone health. The potassium present helps maintain normal blood pressure. Almond milk is also a good source of flavanoids. This is because, almond milk is prepared by crushing the almonds with the skin. The skin is rich in flavanoids, which is good for cardiovascular health, thereby providing protection against various heart diseases.

You can make your own almond milk if you don't want to buy it.

Almond Milk Recipe

Ingredients:

Raw almonds, 1½ cups

Filtered water, 4 cups 

Instructions:

Soak almonds in water for minimum six to eight hours. Drain the water, and blend the almond with 4 cups of water, until it reaches a milk like consistency. Strain it to remove almond skin and granules. One can store almond milk in an air-tight jar in the refrigerator for four to five days. If you want it to be sweeter, then blend in a few soaked dates as well.

You can buy a half gallon of almond milk for around $3 at the grocery store.  Vanilla flavor is my favorite.  I like to mix almond milk with my regular milk to add flavor and get the nutrients from both.  I will also put almond milk in my oatmeal along with a little brown sugar.  It is very yummy that way!  Whether you are lactose intolerant or just don't like the taste of milk, almond milk is a great option.

 

One serving (8 ounces) of unsweetened almond milk contains about 30-40 calories, 2.5-3 g of fat, 1 g of protein, 1 g of fiber and some vitamins and minerals. Almond milk is loaded with unsaturated fat, which means almond milk is beneficial in reducing the risk of heart diseases. Moreover, almond milk does not contain cholesterol and saturated fats. The protein content in almond milk helps the growth and repair functions of the body. Besides proteins, almond milk also contains omega fatty acids.

Throwing Food Together

I love throwing things together sometimes to see how they turn out.  It's good therapy.  Last night's thrown-together dish turned out pretty good.

I had ground beef, spaghetti, and tomato sauce products but wasn't sure what to make.  I looked up recipes on Allrecipes.com to get an idea.  I saw a couple of pasta bake recipes that called for sour cream or cream cheese which I did not have on hand so, I went upstairs to see what I could substitute.  I found cheddar cheese soup so decided to add a little milk to that with some eggs.  Here is what I made.

Spaghetti Bake

Ingredients:
1 pound cooked ground meat
1-16 oz box spaghetti
1 big can tomato puree
1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
1 clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp Italian seasoning
8 oz shredded triple cheddar cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook spaghetti according to package directions.  Drain. 
2.  Mix tomato puree, soup, milk, eggs, meat, garlic, salt and pepper and seasoning.  Add cheese and stir together. 
3.  Mix sauce mixture with cooked spaghetti in a 13x9 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Add extra cheese on top if you desire after baking and let it melt.

My kids liked it and my husband thought it was pretty good.  I thought it was great for just throwing it together.  My thrown-together recipes don't always turn out as great but this one is worth making again so thought I'd share.  I imagine it would have been awesome if I had the cream cheese or sour cream to add to all this.

Beat Bullying

These stories that are coming to light lately with children committing suicide due to bullying are heartbreaking.  Many parents feel helpless and hopeless for their child because it is not something we as parents can control, and many parents may not have many options.  Then the unthinkable happens and a parent feels lost without their child, leaving unwashed sheets on the bed for over a year because they can still smell their child when they lie down in it.  I thank God everyday that I removed my son from his bullying situation before he did something drastic. 

I chose to pull my son out of public school where he was being called names like faggot daily, people knocked his books out of his hands, tried to pick fights with him, etc.  His self-esteem and grades were going down drastically and the only time he would open up to me would be when he was angry with me.  I tried SEVERAL times to discuss this with the school and at times it was almost as if they blamed him for the bullying.  They said he didn't always talk nice.  I really didn't feel they took it as serious as it was.  I decided to make a change.  I placed him in a private school with 1 classroom with 14 kids ages 5-13, where he was the oldest and it has done WONDERS.  My son's grades went from Cs and Ds to As and Bs in 1 quarter.  He gets to show younger kids how to do things which boosts his self-esteem.  He feels important again.  He feels like he matters.

Please talk to your kids about bullying.  It is IMPORTANT!!!  Tell them it is not okay to pick on other people because they look different, act different, dress different, smell different, or do anything else different.  We are SUPPOSED to be different.  We should embrace each other's differences and treat everyone with love and respect, even when they don't deserve it.  If you treat everyone with love, you can walk away proud.  If you bully someone, do you really feel proud?  It has to stop somewhere.  Spread the message that it will not be tolerated.  Educate yourself, your children and their children.  Bullying is just not okay.

Costumes Made Easy

Our family is being thrifty this year when it comes to Halloween Costumes.  For my daughter, I found a sparkly dress that she can't wear much longer.  My daughter said she wanted to wear it and be a princess.  The dress will be a little short on her so I suggested she be a fairy princess.  She loved that idea.  She has a wand and a crown so we are borrowing wings and voila!  Done.  Easy peasy.

For my son, he is being a not-so-happy-camper.  We will have him wear his scout uniform or some other camping-like outfit.  He will have a fishing pole and we will make him look like he got mauled by a bear.  Also easy peasy.

Now for mine and my husband's costumes, I will not give them away but less than $10 will be spent on them because we have most items already for them.  If you want details, ask me after Halloween and I will post pics.

For some GREAT costume ideas go here>>>  http://www.costumeideazone.com/

As I have said before, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  Happy Halloween time!!!