Author: jennthompson

To catch up on my organization and cleaning …

I fell and broke my foot in November and it sort of thwarted my regular habits entirely. So things have fallen a bit behind, obviously, at home. Not big things just … the walls haven’t been washed in a while and things were piling up in places they got dropped off and never sorted.

I have a bunch of things to get to donations or other homes that would enjoy them more. I have boxes and packing stuff piled up from the Christmas season. I have a closet that I need to purge from in order to feel less like a packrat and more like a normal human.

I started a ToDo list yesterday, actually, without knowing this was the prompt today. So that was kinda funny.

I had to actually force myself to take it easy after breaking my foot. It was hard and took some repeat messaging from theUniverse that a complete rest was in order. I finally listened, eventually, and now … today marking six weeks since the initial break … I am allowing myself to slowly get back into the swing of things.

I am going to be more cognizant of my body and her needs. I am going to honour her, not use her, from now on. I have, until now, been of the mind that my body is here to do my bidding. I now recognize that she is here as part of my whole being and I really need to respect her as much as I respect my mind and spirit. I need to care for her with the same love and attention.

My mindset has changed a lot over the last year or so. I wonder if this is what they mean when they say women change around 40.

#MorningThoughts

according to the weather app on my phone, it was -3 when i woke up today and it is +3 now (exactly 5 hours later).

this is mild chinook weather.

so it’s kinda nice, but not *really* nice. it is super mild for a winter day. there is still some snow left on the ground, so the kids will go sledding i bet. there hasn’t been fresh snow for about a week now so the sidewalks are clear and walkable. the wind isn’t heavy so it’s actually pleasant in that aspect. usually chinooks bring heavy wind that can contribute to ear aches.

i am really happy with the way this winter has been panning out so far. i hope it stays nice and we have a real spring season.

i am itching to open the LaughLounge.

#LivingTheDream

Well, I learned a few lessons today. I am currently learning about RNGs in VLTs and slot machines.

I decided to catch up on *all* of the certifications for the service industry since there have been updates while I have worked elsewhere. There used to be three certifications. There are more like 6 now. Although this current one I am getting into has two phases of its own so … I’m not sure what that’s quite about yet since I am only learning phase one right now.

These pages have a read aloud option. It’s super convenient. I just click next page and let it read to me while I fold laundry, or write a blog post.

“The odds never change” has been a repeated message in this lesson plan for the “Deal Us In” casino workers certification thing.

I am not sure that I would want to work in a casino, really. But having the certification can’t hurt, I suppose. It’s not really hard to go through the “lessons” and there have been some interesting facts … like random number generation programming, and that your chances of winning on a scratch ticket are actually one in four.

I am interested in learning about chance based versus skill based games. And the odds of being dealt certain hands in poker and whatnot.

So … those are more than one thing I learned today, I guess. But it’s all in one area of learning so … I am counting it as one lesson.

I waited until the end of the day to write this to see what all I might have learned. 😉

#LivingTheDream

Today was day one back to schooling after winter break. It might not seem like a big deal because we are homeschoolers here but getting back into a routine after holiday time can be a challenge in any household, nevermind our little autism house.

Things went really well, however … and we finished our school stuff by about 1230 this afternoon and had a really fun little afternoon!

Things going off without a hitch is sometimes the most important event of the day.

Often, around here!

#LivingTheDream

1 c. baking soda
1/2 c. citric acid
1/2 c. epsom salts
1 tsp. water
2 tsp. essential oils
1 tbsp. cbd oil (high concentration)
food colouring (if desired)

Place dry ingredients in a bowl and mix evenly.
In a separate container, mix liquid ingredients together.
Slowly add liquid mixture to dry mix, one small spoon at a time.
Pack mixture into bathbomb mold and pack tightly.
Let dry/set for 12-24 hours.

CannaBomb Blends

ForgetMeNot
1 part Rosemary
1 part Lemongrass
1 part dried Lavender flower

Hot & Bothered
1 part YlangYlang
1 part Bergamot

ManCold Cure
1 part Camphor
1 part Lavender
1 part Frankincense

1/3 c. beeswax
1/3 c. cbd oil (the higher the concentration, the better)
1/3 c. cannacoconut oil
12 drops pure vitamin e oil

Melt beeswax and cannacoconut oil in the top of double broiler until completely combined.
Remove from heat and add cbd oil and vitamin e oil.
Whisk thoroughly.
Pour into containers.
Allow to set completely (at least 24 hours).

1 tsp beeswax
2 tsp hempseed oil
3 tsp cannacoconut oil
5 drops vitamin e oil
10 drops essential oil (optional)

Melt beeswax and cannacoconut oil in the top of a double broiler until completely combined.
Add hempseed oil and stir.
Remove from heat and add vitamin e oil.
(Add essential oil at this point if desired.)
Pour into lip balm tubes.
Allow to set completely, at least 24 hours.

Choose your favourite essential oil blend to customize this product. Be sure to use safe oil practices.

1/2 c. Budter
2 c. finely chopped onion
20-25 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 L chicken stock
2 c. orange juice
salt & pepper to taste

Melt Budter in large pot, add onion and sauté until lightly browned over low heat.
Add carrots and stock. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and cool until carrots are tender (about 30 minutes).
Strain mixture – *saving* the liquid in a large pot.
Blend strained vegetables in food processor, in smaller batches if required, and blend until smooth.
Replace blended mixture in large pot with saved liquid.
Add orange juice.
Simmer until heated.
Season to taste.

1/4 c. red wine vinegar
1/4 c. infused olive oil
1 tbsp chives
1 tbsp tarragon
1 tsp sugar
salt & pepper to taste
small head (or 1/2 large head) cabbage, shredded
3 fresh peaches
1/2 pint blackberries
2 oz bleu cheese, crumbled

Whisk together red wine vinegar, olive oil, chives, tarragon, sugar, salt and pepper. Set aside, this is your dressing.
Thinly slice peaches.
Toss peaches and shredded cabbage in about 1/2 the dressing.
Top with berries and cheese.
Garnish with dried chive.
Drizzle with remaining dressing.

**you can make many substitutions with this slaw to fit your taste and compliment your other dishes. peach can be subbed for nectarine or mandarin orange slices. the blackberries can be subbed for raspberries or blueberries. feta or baby bocconcini can be subbed in for bleu cheese as well.