Melaleuca - Stay at Home Moms

Has Melaleuca made a difference for you and your family? What Is It YOU Love About Melaleuca?

Has Melaleuca made a difference for you and your family? What Is It YOU Love About Melaleuca?

A Blessed Week

This has just been the greatest week so far. Yesterday, Owen (my youngest) and I took a field trip to the Franklin Institute in Philly and we saw the Cleopatra exhibit. This morning he called me from school and asked me if I wanted to come have Thanksgiving lunch with him. Well, what Mom wouldn't and I was able to go without having to ask a boss for time off. If I still had a job working outside the home I would have probably had to said "No". Because what boss is gonna let you take off with 1 hours notice to go have lunch at school, not the one I used to have. Which would have broken my heart and Owen's. I am so thankful to be able to enjoy these types of things with my kids and if I didn't have a work at home business I wouldn't be able to. I feel so blessed this week and want to share that feeling with all the Moms in the world. It is possible, take a step to make your dreams come true, to enjoy time with your children because these moments won't always be there. Act now, visit my site and request more info. You will be so glad you did.

The Ultimate Baked Ziti Recipe

 I'm gonna start sharing good recipes when I come across them and here is the first.  We had this for dinner tonight and I just had to share.  This makes the best baked ziti I've ever had.  A big favorite with the kids, too.

 1 (16oz) box ziti pasta
½ med onion, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb grd beef
1 (26oz) pasta sauce
¾ tsp salt, divided
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
3 cups milk
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
½ tsp pepper
1 (8oz) pkg shredded mozzarella cheese

1.       Cook pasta according to pkg directions

2.       Sauté chopped onion in hot oil in large skillet until tender.  Add garlic, sauté for 1 min.  Add beef and cook until no longer pink.  Drain grease.  Stir in pasta sauce and ½ tsp salt.  Set aside.

3.       Melt butter in saucepan over low heat, whisk in flour until smooth.  Cook, whisking constantly, 1 min.  Gradually whisk in milk, cook over med heat, whisking constantly until mixture is thickened and bubbly.  Stir in parmesan cheese, remaining ¼ tsp salt and pepper.  Pour sauce over pasta, stirring until pasta is evenly coated.

4.       Transfer pasta mixture to a lightly greased 13x9 baking dish.  Top evenly with beef mixture, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

5.       Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 min or until cheese is melted.  Let stand 10 min before serving.

6 Doctor Tested Ways to Keep a Cold Away

Some interesting facts here since cold season is on the rise.  Just wanted to share and help everyone stay as healthy as possible this winter:

Is there anything you can do to shorten the downtime of  a cold? In a word, yes. Here’s what helps:
Go to bed. Rather than getting in the car and heading to the drugstore, get into bed and go to sleep. While you sleep, your body recharges your immune system, which is what fights off a cold. Studies show that people who get eight or more hours of sleep increase their resistance to cold viruses — and get better faster if they do catch a cold.
Drink a lot of water. And tea, and juice, and clear broth. Fluids help your body heal from a cold by loosening congestion and preventing dehydration. Water, juice, clear broth, or warm lemon water with honey are the best fluids to rely on; alcohol, coffee, and caffeinated sodas only make dehydration worse.
Cheer up with chicken soup. Recent studies that tested the effectiveness of chicken soup discovered that it does seem to relieve cold and flu symptoms. Scientists believe chicken soup acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the movement of neutrophils, the cells of the immune system that mount the body’s inflammatory response. Hot chicken soup also temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose, helping relieve congestion and limiting the amount of time viruses are in contact with the lining of the nasal passages.
And no, it doesn’t need to be homemade. Researchers at the University of Nebraska compared homemade chicken soup with canned versions and found that many, though not all, canned chicken soups worked just as well as soups made from scratch.
Gargle a sore throat. Dissolve a half teaspoon of salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water and gargle with it to temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat. The reason this time-honored home remedy works is that a sore throat occurs when the throat tissues become inflamed by bacteria and germs. This inflammation takes the form of tiny fluid-filled bumps called edemas. The dehydrating action of salt draws out the edema fluid, killing the bacteria, which require a warm, moist environment to survive.
“Irrigate” your nose with saline. Studies show that over-the-counter saline nasal sprays work to combat stuffiness and congestion and also reduce the amount of time that virus particles are in the nasal passages. And unlike nasal decongestants, saline sprays don’t lead to a rebound effect — a worsening of symptoms when the medication is used for too long. A neti pot, an alternative therapy gaining in popularity, is basically another nasal irrigation technique that puts the saline solution directly into the nasal passages.
Moisten the air with a humidifier. Cold viruses are happiest in dry conditions, which is one reason colds are more common in winter. Dry air also dries out the mucous membranes, which can both contribute to a stuffy nose and scratchy throat and lessen the body’s ability’s to fend off cold viruses in the first place. Run a humidifier to add moisture to indoor air. It doesn’t matter if it’s cool or warm mist; both are effective. But be careful: Running a humidifier can also add mold, fungi, and bacteria to your environment, especially if the humidifier hasn’t been cleaned properly. Change the water in your humidifier daily, clean the humidifier with soap and water once every three days, and air out the rooms in which you’ve been running the humidifier once you’re over your cold.
Don’t overuse over-the-counter cold remedies. Nonprescription decongestants and pain relievers are useful for relieving symptoms when you just can’t stand them anymore, but they won’t make your cold go away any faster. And they can have side effects. Decongestants, for example, can have a “rebound effect” — they can actually make a runny nose come back worse than ever if you use them for more than a few days.
The most effective decongestants are the ones that contain pseudoephedrine (brand name: Sudafed), but nowadays they’re kept behind the counter and you have to ask for them. That’s because pharmacies are restricting the availability of pseudoephedrine, which can be used to manufacture methamphetamine. But do take the trouble to ask, because the decongestants that contain phenylephrine instead don’t work nearly as well. And antihistamines, such as Benadryl, not only don’t work as well but can be dangerous because they cause drowsiness. In fact, older adults shouldn’t take Benadryl at all, since it can cause dizziness and falls.

If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again

I got this off of the back of a Celestial Seasonings tea box and just had to post it:

"If I had my child to raise all over again, I'd finger paint more and point the finger less.
  I'd do less correcting and more connecting.
  I'd take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes.
  I would care to know less and know to care more.
  I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
  I'd stop playing serious and seriously play.
  I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
  I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
  I would be firm less often and affirm much more.
  I'd build self-esteem first and the house later.
  I'd teach less about the love of power and more about the power of love."
  ~ Diane Loomans, From Full Esteem Ahead

When We Share....

'If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share. ''
W. Clement Stone 

 

When we share laughter, there's twice the fun;
When we share success, we surpass what we've done.

When we share problems, there's half the pain;
When we share tears, a rainbow follows rain.

When we share dreams, they become more real;
When we share secrets, it's our hearts we reveal.

If we share a smile, then our love shows;
If we share a hug, then our love grows.

If we share with someone on whom we depend,
That person becomes family or friend.

And what draws us closer and makes us all care,
Is not what we have, but the things that we share.

''Infinitely more important than sharing one's material wealth is sharing the wealth of ourselves - our time and energy, our passion and commitment, and, above all, our love. ''William E. Simon

Believing in You....

Never stop believing in yourself.
When others doubt, don't you.
Do what you love to do,
No one knows better than you.
Life is too short to live others' dreams
Follow your own dream
Push yourself to reach your goals
And live the life you once dreamed.
Trust your instincts.
Be true to yourself.
You know what is right for you.
Never give up or give in.
Forget the words "I don't know how".
You can learn,
You can research,
You can do.
Your mind is powerful.
When you believe you can.
You will find a way
You won't waste a day.
Persist and persevere
Do not fear
Because if you believe in you
You will find dreams can come true.
May all your dreams turn into goals,
Believe in yourself.
And remember, all of life is a choice.
The decision is up to you.
Believe in Yourself, Dare To Be Whatever You Want To Be!
By Catherine Pulsifer, © 1997

Beginning Today

Beginning today I will no longer worry about yesterday.
It is in the past and the past will never change.
Only I can change by choosing to do so. Beginning today I will no longer worry about tomorrow.
Tomorrow will always be there, waiting for me to make the most of it.
But I cannot make the most of tomorrow without first
making the most of today.
Beginning today I will look in the mirror and I will see a person worthy
of my respect and admiration.
This capable person looking back at me is someone I enjoy spending time
with and someone I would like to get to know better.
Beginning today I will cherish each moment of my life.
I value this gift bestowed upon me in this world and I will unselfishly
share this gift with others.
I will use this gift to enhance the lives of others.
Beginning today I will take a moment to step off the beaten path and to
revel in the mysteries I encounter.
I will face challenges with courage and determination.
I will overcome what barriers there may be which hinder my quest for
growth and self-improvement.
Beginning today I will take life one day at a time, one step at a time.
Discouragement will not be allowed to taint my positive self-image,
my desire to succeed or my capacity to love.
Beginning today I walk with renewed faith in human kindness.
Regardless of what has gone before, I believe there is hope
for a brighter and better future.
Beginning today I will open my mind and my heart.
I will welcome new experiences. I will meet new people.
I will not expect perfection from myself nor anyone else: perfection does not exist in an imperfect world.
But I will applaud the attempt to overcome human foibles.
Beginning today I am responsible for my own happiness and I will do
things that make me happy . . .
admire the beautiful wonders of nature, listen to my favorite music,
pet a kitten or a puppy, soak in a bubble bath . . .
pleasure can be found in the most simple of gestures.
Beginning today I will learn something new; I will try something
different; I will savor all the various flavors life has to offer.
I will change what I can and the rest I will let go.
I will strive to become the best me I can possibly be.
Beginning today. And every day.
By: Author Unknown

I'll Be Happy When....

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another.

Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are.

After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now.

If not now ... when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time ... and remember that time waits for no one ...

So stop waiting until you finish school ... until you go back to school ... until you lose ten pounds ... until you gain ten pounds ... until you have kids ... until your kids leave the house ... until you start work ... until you retire ... until you get married ... until you get divorced ... until Friday night ... until Sunday morning ... until you get a new car or home ... until your car or home is paid off ... until spring, until summer ... until fall ... until winter ... until you are off welfare ... until the first or fifteenth ... until your song comes on ... until you've had a drink ... until you've sobered up ... until you die ... until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy ...

Happiness is a journey ... not a destination!!