Paying Blessings Forward

I have never seen the movie Pay It Forward but I know the jist of it. So it was interesting to read the post "Thanks and Giving--Paying Blessings Forward" on the How Does She blog.   Stephanie shows us a chart that her family has used. They listed all of the things they are thankful for. Then they listed ways that they could "pay it forward" especially to the homeless in their town.

 

Stephanie and her children put together ziplock bags containing essential and fun items. They kept these bags in their car and had them handy to pass out. They always had a gift ready. I love this idea! While we don't have many homeless people on the streets in our town, we do have many at the shelters. This would be a great project for my grandchildren and me to share our blessings.

Do you have other ways that you pay it forward? Does your family do anything special to celebrate the thanks plus the giving?

Happy Veteran's Day

A big Thank You to all of the men and women that have served or are serving our country!
So proud of my dad-- a WWII army veteran.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

Tis the season for…Pumpkins! A little pumpkin trivia and fun beauty recipes using pumpkin.

*As reported in USA Today , "The biggest pumpkin pie on record weighed 418 pounds and was made by Windsor Farmers Market and Windsor High School Culinary Arts program in California.

*Surprise! The pumpkin is actually a fruit, a member of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants with trailing vines.

*Six of the seven continents can grow pumpkins including Alaska! Antarctica is the only continent that they won't grow on.

*Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.

*Pumpkins are 90 percent water. Pumpkins have zero cholesterol. They’re also low in calories, fat, and sodium and high in fiber.

*Pumpkins contain enzymes that when applied to skin, loosen the bonds that keep dull outer skin cells clinging to the surface. Pumpkin also delivers a burst of nourishing and hydrating botanicals, leaving skin as smooth and glowing.
 
So here are “beauty recipes” for you-- using some pumpkin!                             

Pumpkin Face and Body Mask

Mix together:

½ cup canned pumpkin,

1/4cup white clay (Gathered From the Garden has white Kaolin Clay which would be great in this recipe),

1T. honey,                       

2 T. water,

1 T. almond oil

and 2 tsp. cinnamon

Apply evenly to your face or anywhere else that you’d like to smooth. Leave on 10 minutes before rinsing. Almond oil moisturizes, clay draws out impurities, honey replenishes collagen and cinnamon improves circulation.

                                                Pumpkin Scrub                                                   

 

 1 T canned or fresh pureed Pumpkin

• 1 T cut oats

• 1 T water

• 1 t Corn meal

Directions: In a small bowl, mix oats with warm (not hot) water. Let it sit for a minute or so and soak. Mix in the Pumpkin puree, blending well. Add the Corn meal and stir well. Apply a small amount at a time to a clean face while scrubbing in circular movements gently. After scrubbing the entire face, leave on for about 5 minutes longer or just until it is almost dry, but not entirely. Gently remove with a warm wash cloth. Moisturize like usual.

 

This amount is enough for the face, neck, chest area and shoulders. Leaves skin silky soft!

 

I've seen a ton of pumpkin recipes on different blogs and Pinterest. Thinking I might try something different for Thanksgiving instead of Pumpkin Pie. Are you a fan of pumpkin?

 

Thankful Thursday

 

What a week! Lots to put on the calendar. A few things I wrote down:

 

*love this windstill morning to run

*found a new restaurant serving homemade food made with local produce

*reading stories to my grandson

*finding fresh raspberries on sale

*finding a free download of Photoshop Elements 11

 

What are some of the things you found to be thankful for this week?

 

Wordless Wednesday

21 Days of Thanks

Thanksgiving is a time for us to reflect on our many blessings, and to be thankful for all that we have. We truly are blessed! People who are grateful and thankful for the blessings they have seem to be happier and more content in their lives.

So to keep in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am going to write on my calendar each day something I am thankful for. I used to keep a Gratitude Journal for years but I kind of got away from it. I'd write in it before bed but then somehow I got busy and tired and it fell by the wayside. So...here I go again.

Do you want to join me? I think jotting one thing on the calendar is doable. Plus, if we occasionally share it might keep us  motivated. How about if we check in each Thursday? Share in the comments section one or more of the things you were grateful for this week. (Photos are welcome too.)If you join me it will give me an easy one to jot on the calendar right off! (My very first one was all of you--thanks for reading my blog!)

Wordless Wednesday