Monday- Mental DeClutter

Sunday- Spiritual Strengthening

Friday- Financial DeClutter

• Keep your savings up and expenses down as you work on being the first to yell, “I’m debt free!”
• Don’t let your emergency fund go below $1,000.
• Plan for expenses using the envelope system. You don’t want to have too much month left at the end of your money.
• Spend, Save and Give through the income and expenses of everyday living.
• Pay off debt using your debt snowball.

Thursday- Physical DeClutter

The Happiness Diet

Boosting your mood has never been tastier

By Tyler Graham & Drew Ramsay, MD

Photo credit: Kana Okada

What if you discovered that the best place to begin your personal pursuit of happiness is at the end of your fork? Well, prepare to polish your silverware. Emerging research from the fields of neuroscience and nutrition shows that by changing what you eat, you can stabilize your mood, improve your focus, andboost your brain health, all while trimming your tummy.

We call this way of eating the Happiness Diet. And fear not: It's not all carrot sticks and raw broccoli. It includes foods that are rich in nutrients like vitamins A, B12, D, and E, and folate, iodine, magnesium, calcium, iron, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids—your Essential Elements of Happiness.

Food is directly linked to three areas of brain function that create your "happiness ability." The first is your capacity to focus, think, plan, and remember (we call them "foods for thought"). The second is emotional regulation ("foods for good mood"). And third are foods that give you the ability to power through a deadline and control anxiety ("foods for energy").

This was excerpted from The Happiness Diet (Rodale, 2011). Order your copy today!

Diets

• Beat Your Body's Fat Traps with Yoga
• Why Sugar is Not the Problem
• 400 Calories at the Ice Cream Shop

More Diets

Lose 15 lbs in 32 days! No exercise required!

Happiness Rules

If you want to tap into the mental well-being that comes from the Happiness Diet, follow these basic guidelines.

RULE 1: Reduce the amount of processed food you eat.

Much of it is loaded with sugar, and too much of the sweet stuff actually contributes to the shrinkage of key brain areas involved in mood regulation.

RULE 2: Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Plant foods contain the minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients that we call the Essential Elements of Happiness--substances your brain needs for optimal functioning.

RULE 3: Opt for grass-fed meat, whenever possible.

Compared with typical grain-fed meat, grass-fed has more omega-3 fatty acids, an Essential Element of Happiness that promotes formation of new brain connections.

RULE 4: Strive for variety.

The greater the range of whole foods you consume, the broader the range of brain-boosting nutrients your diet will certainly contain—and the sharper, merrier, and more energized your mind will be.

Read more: http://www.prevention.com

Wednesday- What's Cooking?

Time for a YUMMY dessert recipe.....This one looks SO GOOD!! You know you are going to make it and eat it ALL right? ENJOY!

The Best {Raw} Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Recipe

1 stick (1/2 cup or 4 ounces) unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup Greek yogurt or applesauce or peanut butter
*1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (I know we’re not baking them, it’s for flavor)
3/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

In the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment (or with a large bowl and a wooden spoon) cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about three minutes in the machine.  Beat in yogurt or applesauce or peanut butter along with the vanilla extract and stir to combine.

Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.  Add all at once to the butter and sugar mixture and stir until incorporated.  Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts.

*(Notes: If you use applesauce or yogurt, you may have to add more flour. I made a batch with applesauce and I had to use 2 cups flour.)

You can use this recipe for any recipe that calls for raw cookie dough.

To print this recipe click The Best Raw Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Recipe.

Joy, from Joy The Baker, dipped her dough in chocolate and froze them. Sounds sooo good!!! (I will be doing this with my next batch!!)

Tuesday- Temporal DeClutter

Totally going to make these....I think Homemade cleaning products are the way to go; saves money and is better for the environment. Thanks makingitfeellikehome.blogspot.com. 

HOMEMADE DISINFECTING WIPES

I made 14 wipes so I used smaller quantities of the suggested ingredients:

1/2 cup of water

1/8 cup rubbing alcohol

1 T. Dawn dish soap (*author says to only use Dawn)

Mix everything together in a container that has a lid.  (I washed out an old baby wipes container and used it.)  Then add the wipes, put the lid on, and flip the container over so the liquid can be absorbed into the rags.  I had 14 cotton rags (old white undershirts) that absorbed this amount of the liquid mixture perfectly, not too wet, but just moist enough.

Monday- Mental DeClutter

Sunday- Spiritual Strengthening

Friday- Financial DeClutter

Budgeting doesn't have to be hard.You don't even need to be tied down to the idea of "making a budget." Saving money can be as simple as making a few small changes at home. This infographic shows you easy, convenient ways to save up to $8,800 a year, without ever feeling the pinch of a restrictive budget.

Created by Infographic World

Thursday- Physical DeClutter

Dr. Oz's 7-day workout plan will help tone and tighten your tummy. The exercises change slightly each day to keep your muscles guessing, allowing them to change shape. Tighten your stomach in just 7 days with this fat-busting workout. Definitely doing this!!! 

Wednesday- What's Cooking?

This is for you Kimberly!!

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs Recipe

Ingredients:

32 oz. package of precooked, frozen meatballs (you could use turkey meatballs)

13.5 oz can of unsweetened pineapple chunks (put juice aside)
1 large green pepper, diced
1 cup of brown sugar

2 Tbl. cornstarch
2/3 cup of vinegar
2 Tbl. Soy sauce

Directions:
Place meatballs in crock pot and top with green pepper and drained pineapple chunks.  In a separate bowl, mix reserved pineapple juice, brown sugar, cornstarch, vinegar and soy sauce.  Pour sauce over meatballs, pineapple and green peppers.  Cook on low for 3-4 hours or until heated through.

Thank you www.sixsistersstuff.com. 

Tuesday- Temporal DeClutter

Over the course of this week let’s get rid of 100 things. I did this over the weekend and it felt SO GOOD to get rid of "JUNK"

Join in.  Grab a garbage bag and make a donation box and hit the house hard.  Don’t mull over this or that, just grab the random useless items that have become a permanent fixture in your house.

Toss things out like old magazines, summer clothes that you never wore, fall clothes you still won’t fit in this year, kitchen gadgets that waste space, random keys & dead batteries from the junk drawer.  Liberate yourself from that ugly candle your mother gave you that you are never going to burn.  Give away that quilt your mother-in-law gave you guilt free to someone who needs it.

Don’t forget to include the kids in this adventure.

Toss things out like that truck with only three wheels, that McDonald’s Happy Meal toy (how do those things find their way in our homes anyhow?), that old National Geographic Kids magazine, and that half ripped art project. Donate things like Baby Einstein videos and any other infant toys your seven year old swears they still play with!  Consider anything that has dust on it from inactivity.

Still not sold on the idea?  Take a lesson on life from a five year old.  Read this insightful article from the blog Organizing Our Way.

In the end a simple home environment allows your child more room for mental growth and creativity. 

Monday- Mental DeClutter

Many friends will walk in and out of your life but only TRUE FRIENDS will leave footprints on your heart.

Sunday- Spiritual Strengthening

Sunday- Happy Easter

Friday- Financial DeClutter

Deleted Scenes: When You Should

Thursday- Physical DeClutter

Well, I got knocked off my rocker in March. Remember I wanted to do a 30 day workout? Right....I caught a mother of a virus and it knocked me down for 3 weeks. PLUS....I volunteered to help with the Elementary School Play and we performed the last week of March. Needless to say....I need a huge kick in the pants to get going again. So, I'm posting this again to get myself MOTIVATED! June 2nd is coming way too fast........

Wednesday- What's Cooking?

Another YUMMY one for the recipe box....Thanks to my sister Liz!

Salsa Chicken

4 chicken breasts
1 C salsa
1 can cream of chicken
Taco seasoning (3 T or packet)
Cook for 5 hours on high in crock-pot (or low for 8)
Shred chicken
Add 1/2 C sour cream and stir in
Serve over rice

I made double and had left overs. We are gonna have it later this week wrapped in tortillas with cheese etc...

Tuesday- Temporal DeClutter

Spring Cleaning: Tackle Your Cluttered Garage

If de-cluttering your garage is on your spring cleaning list, you're not alone. For many people, the garage becomes a catch-all: the place where suitcases that don't fit in the closet get stashed; the tennis racquets you'll use this summer; toys your kids have outgrown; and who knows what else.

If you're ready to tackle this territory, here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Empty everything out.

Some organizers say the best way to get started is to empty out the garage and sort items in designated areas. You might want to put junk in the driveway for later removal, things to be donated in the back yard, and tools inside. A recent AskMen.com story also recommended making mental notes of what kinds of supplies you'll need to store the items you plan to keep, like plastic bins or tubs..

• Be careful of what you trash.

The organizing experts at the DIY Network pointed out that it is a good idea to check with your city's sanitation department or trash collection company to find out how to dispose of motor oil, solvents and garden chemicals. You should also take special care with any unused paint: Partially used cans of paint that haven't been used in a year should be disposed of according local toxic waste restrictions, reported Good Housekeeping .

• Rub and scrub.

When the space is clear of clutter, clean your garage's cement floor with an old mop or scrub it with a broom. If there are oil spots on the floor, look to your laundry room to remove them. DIY Network suggested putting a laundry pre-spotter on the stain and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes before mopping.

• Get organized.

If you plan on parking your car in the garage, consider using vertical storage solutions to get things off the floor to maximize the space. Heavy-duty hooks can be found at most hardware stores and can be used to hang anything with a handle. If you're using drawers or storage bins, label them. It might be tedious, but it's one way to keep a hodgepodge of items tidy.

Read more: http://www.myfoxla.com

Monday- Mental DeClutter

Sunday- Spiritual Strengthening

One of my favorite talks from yesterday's LDS General Conference...