Veteran's Day

Wishing all of our Veterans a very special day. We can never thank you enough for all you have done to keep Freedom alive. (A special shout out to my dad, a WWll Veteran.)God Bless the USA

Thankfulness Project

Tell us something you are thankful for. It can be big, it can be small, lengthy or short and sweet, share it with us. This project will be open until Thanksgiving day for your comments. Feel free to post as many expressions of gratitude as you want whenever you think of them. I will be posting my own thankful thoughts throughout the month in the comment section as well. I hope you'll join me and I hope you enjoy reading what others have to say.
Thanks for participating!

National Love Your Body Day

I didn't realize that October 20 was "Love Your Body Day" until I read a blog post from Allison over at Create Positive Spin. (Isn't there a day for everything?) Anyway, I enjoyed reading her 10 reasons and it got me thinking about my own body. We are usually so intent on noticing the flaws when we look in the mirror that we overlook the good parts.

So...here's goes a little body love.

1. I have really long fingers. Great for playing piano and holding newborn babies. (Need to have some more grandbabies!)

2. My brown eyes can be very expressive. This comes in handy when reading stories to my second graders.

3. My body has kept up with my urge to be a runner. It hasn't always been easy starting this at a late stage in life but so far, my body is ok with it.

4. My brain is willing to keep learning. I enjoy learning more about aromatherapy, baking, crafting and how to use technology in my blogging.

5. I think my body tolerates pain pretty well. I had one baby without any medicated help, tons of dental work done and my body made it through.

6. My body has been very healthy. I haven't had any surgeries or broken bones. (knock on wood)

7. I have very thick hair so I don't think being bald will ever be an issue.

8. Am I only on eight? This is a little more work than I thought. Really am not used to thinking so positive about my body. Hmm...oh yes, my parents have terrible histories of heart disease/heart surgeries/procedures. So far, my heart has been healthy and is filled with gratitude for this blessing.

9. I can't forget my skin! So far, no age spots on my hands. I've been dreading this as I age but so far...so good!

10. My lap--does that count? It has been home to many little children, my own and others. It has helped me comfort, snuggle and share.

There I did it! It took some reflecting but I came up with 10. Here's a challenge for you. Can you do the same? Care to share at least one great thing about YOUR body?

Tips to Avoid Dry Winter Skin

Being a teacher I have recess duty in the afternoon. Going outside for fresh air can be invigorating here in Minnesota. But alas, winter is harsh on the skin. There is no getting around this fact. So here are some tips to do your best in protecting and treating your skin right.

1. Watch the temperature. Make sure that the water is not too hot for the shower. I know, a hot shower feels so good but warm is better for your skin. Hot water dries the skin by removing oils, thus making your skin scaly and prone to itching. Avoid spending too much time in the shower. Can you get in and out in 10 minutes or less?

2. Exfoliate. Keep your scrub downs to no more than twice a week. If you have sensitive skin, choose a scrub with soft, synthetic beads. A sponge or loofah works to slough dead skin cells too. You can make your own body scrubs.

3. Moisturize. Pat your skin dry instead of rubbing with your towel. Then apply a cream, lotion or oil to lock in moisture. I like to end my shower with a mug of water to which a teaspoon of jojaba oil or almond oil has been added. Since water is easily absorbed into the skin, the oil will penetrate into the skin more efficiently, making it soft and smooth.

It's hard to feel your best when dealing with dry skin, especially during harsh winter months but following these tips will help.

Craftily Ever After (Blog)

Jessica at Craftily Ever After has the cutest FREE printable collection for your Thanksgiving décor. Check out what she does with them at her house. I really love the "Gobble" one!

The Autumn Blues

This time of year it's hard not to get the autumn blues. Here in MN we've lost not only our warm temps but hours of daylight. If you're like me, you might need some help to chase away those blues.

*Try lighting a candle. It's warmth and encouragement will help to add some light to the dark evenings of autumn. I like to use a fall aroma such as pumpkin spice, cranberry or cinnamon. (An alternative to using a lit candle would be to try a reed diffuser. You'll get the wonderful fragrance but not the light and warmth. An essential oil blend in a room diffuser is awesome too!)

*Make a cup of herbal tea or hot chocolate. It's a pleasure just to hold the warm cup!

*There's nothing like a steaming bowl of soup to warm you on a cool fall day.

*Take a soothing bath. A warm soak after a chilly day is just what you need. Using oats in your bath is a terrific way to soothe the skin.

*Dig out the warm, fuzzy socks and slippers. Keeping your feet warm helps you feel warm all over.

*Keep exercising. This seems like a chore sometimes and I think I just don't have the energy. In reality, if you exercise, you'll have more energy to fight off those blues. Add some of your favorite music to get motivated.

*Spend more time with your favorite people. This is a great time to snuggle up with someone special!

These are just a few ways to make the days of autumn go by just a little faster. Soon it will be the holidays and that's a subject for another day!

Check out Gathered From The Garden's website for an autumn treat to pamper yourself! www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com

What's your favorite part of Autumn?

And the winner is...

Our giveaway winner is... Dr.Ann Becker. We hope you enjoy your Gathered hat and surprise gift. Thanks for reading our blog and commenting!