Things I've learned in 2010

I have learned I do not have to use dryer sheets. If I dry the synthetic clothes and natural fibers separately, then there is no static cling! I can also hang up those few synthetic items and save on electricity. I learned I could fix a spray bottle with white vinegar and a little essential oil and spray into the dryer to help as a softener. Or add it to the rinse cycle of the washer. When I think of money wasted buying dryer sheets! Wow. Not counting the dryer sheets in the land fills and the chemicals released into my house from them!

I learned that I could make my own foaming soft soap from regular soft soap. I noticed on a soap container my mom bought that you add 1/10 liquid soap to 9/10s water and have foaming soft soap. So, I bought 2 foam soft soap bottles and now make my own. Another thing that made me realize this is that I bought the wrong product once when I meant to buy soft soap, I bought the foam one instead and it was mainly water. Just imagine how much money the manufacturers are making off us by us buying 9/10s water from them!

I learned I can lose those unwanted pounds by being careful what I eat. I realized I was the only person responsible for what went into my tummy. I did not reach my second goal, but my first goal was reached and has been maintained. It is hard with all our social eating, but I keep reminding myself that the end goal is more important than giving in ... most of the time!

I learned I can live without a microwave. Well, I still have it because it is in the shed, but I haven't used it much at all.

I learned I can make a blog! It has been almost a year now.

Why Jesus Came

Merry Christmas to each of you. I hope you have a blessed day with family and friends.

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/12/the-cross-in-christmas/

Cinnamon Rolls

An Adams' family tradition, for this Adams family, at least, is cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning. I started that so we could eat them while opening gifts and have breakfast later. If we got around to having breakfast. Usually, Christmas dinner was ready early because I put the turkey in too soon.
Sometimes, they were home made and sometimes 'pop-can' ones, but we had them each Christmas morning. I am glad our daughters try to carry on the tradition. Traditions have to start somewhere, right?
... home made ones are rising right now. This year, we are spending Christmas Eve with my mom and Christmas Day with his family, so I made them today, so we can enjoy them and save some for Christmas morning, also.

Wow, I actually got ambitious to get them done! What are some traditions your family does for Christmas?

Lunar Eclipse 2010

My husband and I set our alarm and woke to go outside and watch the nature show from 1:30 to 3:30 this morning. It was neat watching the moon as the shadow covered it. It was so bright at first, we could move around on the porch and yard just fine, but after it was covered, it was pitch black. The amazingly, when only a sliver of light appeared again, it was light enough to see. It was cold, in the 30's, but we figured we'd stayed out in colder weather to watch the northern lights in the far north!
And we almost missed it, because when the alarm went off, it was such peaceful music, we wanted to go back to sleep. Almost like a lullaby. :). Glad we got up anyway!

Butterfly Greeting Cards

Iron Butterflies

I found this link today. They are pretty and sold in sets. Of course, I like them because they are butterflies and Christian and the verses are written by my cousin. Just had to share.

That does not Compute

Computing can be a wonderful thing. Well, I don't know if I'd call it wonderful. But ... convenient ... fun ...adventurous ... aggravating .... tiresome ....


We recently updated to Windows 7. Which is a 64 bit. Which means many of our programs do not work with the update ... so that mean re-buying the ones we use a a lot and throwing out ones that no longer work (or giving them to people with older operating systems). We did this same thing a few years ago. I just know it is MS's way of selling more 'stuff'. They must get a percentage from all the other companies selling software. I think a computer nerd sits behind a screen .... bored ...coming up with new ways to do things ... and thinks, 'hey, I can do this little change and drive them all crazy! hehehehehe

Like when they changed File Manager to Windows Explorer ... not taking into consideration that there was already a Internet Explorer (or did they?) It took me forever to get used to that and I still call it file manager most of the time ... which is what it is, BTW, a file manager. Hello!!

Well, I think we almost have it how we want it again and I told my husband that this is the definite LAST time I go through this. I am too old to be jerked around by a bunch of young people designing new products to change the way things are done!!!! whew!!!!                      

My Website

As of Jan 2011, my website http://www.belindajo.com will be canceled. They raised their rates. I have not really seen that many books sold because of it. And I am too tired most of the time to mess with it, so we decided that could be one thing 'off my plate'.
Merry Christmas to you all.

My friend's letter excerpt

This is the item from my friend's letter. Her computer won't let her get to my blog to comment, so asked me to post it.
Take time to slow down and enjoy the season!! I am going ahead with my goal of being done with the busy-ness by the 14th. I did it last year and it was really nice. Most of the gifts are already wrapped, so it's time now to finish the cards and do some baking next week. Rush rush around now so you can rest and ponder the beauty and meaning of the Christmas holiday later on in the month. Go to a Christmas Cantata and get your mind off the worldly view of this holiday... see what Christmas is really all about. Watch a Charlie Brown Christmas - - yes, Linus quotes from Luke chapter 2 and puts things all in perspective!! Watch the Grinch - - Christmas really can come without ribbons, packages, boxes and bags!! Enjoy your December and celebrate!  Lisa

Enjoy the Season

I received a newsletter from a friend today. At the end, she encouraged us to finish all the 'chores' of the season early so we could enjoy the season. I thought it was neat. I try to do that each year, and limit what I do so I don't get overwhelmed.
I hope each of us enjoys the season and not only endure it as we rush around trying to do all that we think needs to be done.
Merry Christmas!