Never underestimate the power of words
The tongue is a part of our body that can do good or cause harm. How we use our tongue is up to us. We can choose to build or tear down, and the power of words is often highly underestimated.
This is something that can be viewed in two ways. The first way is that you have the ability to keep your relationship strong by using your tongue to build up your spouse. You can do this by telling him how much you love him, or by telling him how proud you are of him.
You can let him know what you appreciate about him or let him know how nice he looks. There are millions of things you can say to your spouse to make him feel good about himself. This will then help him feel more secure in the relationship and this will show in the way he treats you.
On the other hand, you have the ability to say negative things with your tongue. My husband often tells me that I tell him too often the things he lacks or doesn’t do right. While this is probably true, I do not do this intentionally. I don’t do it to hurt him and it is usually just a way for me to say how I feel. By saying these kinds of statements, it impacts the way he feels and this will show in the way he treats me.
Finally, you have the option to remain silent. Remaining silent is better than using words that tear people down, but it is not always the best option. You need to be vocal in your words and let your spouse know how much you love him or her.
Making this year special
Thanksgiving is next week and as a parent, you should try to teach your children what this really means. This holiday is often overlooked for its significance and with the way society is today, it is important for parents to teach their children these kinds of values.
Thanksgiving is one day out of the year and it is set aside for us to give thanks for all of the things we have. This is really something we should do every day though, because most of us have way more than we need. If you compare your life to those in third world countries, you will be able to see how blessed you are. The problem is that we often compare our lives to people that have more than us. This is the perfect way to feel disappointed.
The truth is that most of us have everything we need. We have food to eat, clothes to wear and a warm home to sleep in. We also have each other. We have families and friends, and really what more could we need?
By emphasizing these kinds of thoughts to our children, maybe they will understand this. At Thanksgiving this year, teach your children about what this really means. Have them make lists of things they are thankful for and do this activity yourself too. Read your list to your family and encourage them to read their lists out loud too. After you are finished with the lists, hang them up somewhere in the home to remind them of all of the things they are blessed with.
Thanksgiving activities
If you are hosting Thanksgiving at your home, you may want to plan some games and activities to do that day. It may also be a great idea to plan some things for the kids to do while they are waiting.
For the kids, you can prepare small bags that are filled with activities. In each bag, you can include a pencil, crayons and coloring sheets. You can also look for other types of activities such as word hunts or things like that. When the children arrive at your home, you can give a bag to each one. They can either play with the activities while they are at your home or they can save them for later.
One idea that I have heard about is called Thankful “4s.” This is a game that is perfect for Thanksgiving because this is a day in which we should all remember what we are thankful for. Each of us is blessed with more than we need and this is a great way to share those thoughts with others.
To complete this activity you will need to cut out large number “4s.” On each 4, write the words “I’m Thankful.” The 4 will stand for the word for, completing the phrase as: “I’m Thankful 4.” Place one of these on each plate and ask each guest to write down the things they are thankful for on this number 4.
Spend some time during or after dinner reading these lists out loud. This is a great way to be reminded of how blessed each of us is.
Holiday baking memories
One of the best experiences I have each year is baking holiday cookies with my kids. This is a time that is really fun, but it is also really messy. It is all worth it in the end and during the time it takes to do the work.
Every year since my first daughter was around three years old, I have baked cookies with my kids. Although I bake many different kinds, I always make rolled sugar cookies with my children. There are gobs of recipes available for these cookies and you can pick a recipe of your choice. These are fun to make for several reasons, and you will have a great time doing this too.
One of the first steps that I let my children help with is rolling the dough. I usually take this duty on myself, but sometimes I would let them do it. After rolling the dough, they get to choose cookie cutters from a huge pile and make the shapes that they like the best. Before allowing them to do this, I always choose the shapes that work the best for cookies. I only give them these cookie cutters and they get to choose from those.
After the cookies are baked, the fun part really begins. I normally make a powdered sugar icing, sometimes adding food coloring to change the color of it, and then I frost the cookies. Before the icing dries, they get the job of decorating the cookies. If you plan on doing this, be prepared for a huge mess. Give your kids a variety of small candies and sprinkles and let them get to work on decorating!
Frosted pumpkin cookies
If you are looking for some great festive cookies to bring to Thanksgiving dinner at your relative’s house, here is a recipe to try. Pumpkin is a wonderful ingredient for fall recipes and it is used to make pies, cakes, muffins and even cookies. These cookies are exceptionally moist and delicious. They are frosted with cream cheese frosting and they are just perfect for this time of year. Some people love these so much that they make them year round.
The ingredients you will need for this are:
- 1 c. butter flavored shortening
- 1 c. white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 c. canned pumpkin puree
- 2 c. flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 16 oz. container cream cheese frosting
To begin, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease the cookie sheets you will be using. Mix the butter flavored shortening and sugar together in a bowl. Next, beat in the egg, vanilla and pumpkin puree.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and instant vanilla pudding mix. Gradually add this to the first mixture. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls and place them two inches apart on the grease cookie sheets.
Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer them to wire racks to cool completely before frosting with the cream cheese frosting. Serve these for dessert around the holidays and enjoy. They go well with a tall glass of milk too!
Cooking with your kids
Have you ever decided to cook or bake something with your young children? Half-way through the project you may have wondered why you ever thought of such a crazy idea.
This has happened to me many times, especially when the baking project involved sprinkles. As my kids and I were baking things, I would start getting nervous and anxious because they tend to take long to do simple tasks and everything they do turns into a huge mess.
This is where I struggle. Do I not let them help because it will take longer and be a huge mess? Or, should I let them help me because it offers numerous benefits? One of the benefits is the time spent together. If you really think about how much time you spend with your kids each day, you may be shocked. While you may be in the same home at the same time, you may not be spending a whole lot of time actually with the child. Cooking together is a great opportunity for this.
Cooking also encourages children to be creative and to learn new things. It is something that any child can help with and it offers a time for them to learn something new. As they grow up, they will begin to master some of these techniques that you have taught them. By the time they are adults, they may be able to cook really well. Cooking is a great activity to do together, but you should only give them tasks that are age-appropriate.
Keeping sane while running on a beach
Oh lord, not another run on beautiful, secluded, white sandy beaches. How did I end up with this lot in life? If you find yourself saying things like this, you may suffer from first world problems. On top of that, you may be tired of running laps on a small stretch of island.
Though your life must be incredible compared to the rest of the world, it seems as if you are in need of some motivation and inspiration in creating a better exercise atmosphere. Here are some helpful tips to get you through your next runs.
Integrating other exercise: You’re a runner. You know this, but sometimes running in the same place over and over gets old. Adding in some core exercise, or drills, to your workout can help keep you out of your head and help out your running. Finding a list of drills, static stretches, and exercises to do while running on the beach will help break up the monotony.
Water running: Water running kind of sucks, but it is a great all around workout, and can take some stress off of a runner’s legs. Running on the beach takes a toll on joints, muscles, and feet, so running in the water, either mid-run or instead of running altogether, can help you remember how great running is, and save your legs.
Doing something else: I know, I know. It isn’t the same as running, no mater what other exercise you do. But the fact is, maybe you need to try something different. Take a day off and get your head back in the game. Play volleyball with some beautiful members of the same or opposite sex, depending on your preference. Go snorkeling or even walk in circles. For God sake, you’re on a beach. Enjoy yourself!
Good luck with the beach you very fortunate individual, and keep rubbing it in to the rest of our faces, us who aren’t on one now (blogger’s note: I am on a beach!).
Koh Russei in Southern Cambodia
Take a minute to imagine paradise on a beautiful island. Does it consist of white, sandy beaches? How about beautifully clear water, turquoise in color? Does the beach only have a few bamboo bungalows, and is secluded from the rest of the world? If so, you may actually be imaging a place that is in existence in Southeast Asia.
For this blogger, the week of November 12th is beach week, and one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever visited happens to be in Southern Cambodia. Koh Russei, also known as Bamboo Island, is a tiny place off of the bustling coast town of Sihanoukville. The island can be accessed by boat, and for only $5 each way, an hour ride transports you to an island paradise.
The boat to Koh Russei, unless you some how find the Koh Ru boat before you leave, is actually part of a three-island tour. For those in the know, the $10 ticket is includes return, and if you want to spend a few nights (or weeks), you just keep your ticket and stay on the island for however long you like. The boats leave the island every day at 2 p.m. This is one of the beautiful things about the island, as well, with most people only come for a day trip.
The boats land on the east side of the island. Though this beach is beautiful in itself, a short 10-minute trek through the jungle lands you on the west side of the island, where the true beauty lies. The beach is around 1 km long, and is completely pristine.
The sand is white, the water is crystal clear, and is home to only one place to stay, as well as one restaurant, known as Koh Ru. Housing offered consists of $3 dorms or $12-$15 bungalows right on the beach. The accommodation is basic, and all bathrooms are shared. The restaurant offers an array of local and western food, but with it being the only place to eat on the island, it is a bit pricey (mains from $2.50-$5).
With Koh Ru being hidden from the tourists boats, especially in the low-season, the east side of the island becomes a small paradise, and feels like you have been invited to join a secret club. Days fade quickly, even with the only activities being snorkeling or lounging, and nights are spent singing songs and dancing in restaurant. After the generator is turned off, most people go to sit around a bonfire, and enjoy some late night swimming searcing for phosphorescent plankton.
If you are looking for paradise, look no further than Koh Russei. Though rumor has it that the beach can be overcrowded during high season (and accommodation can turn into sleeping in hammocks) visiting Bamboo Island is a true hidden treasure.
NCAA Regionals and gearing up for nationals
This past weekend saw hot regional action for the NCAA Division I. Below you will find men’s and women’s results from a few of the top regions. Enjoy!
West Regional
Consistently one of the top regions in the nation, the west always provides great competition. One the men’s side, Arizona’s Lawi Lalang destroyed the field, winning by over 30 seconds, in a time of 29:01. His teammate Stephen Sambu came second in 29:37, with Trevor Dunbar of Oregon placing 3rd in 29:42. Stanford men took home the win with 47 points, followed by Portland and UCLA who were both in the 100’s.
One the women’s side, Oregon destroyed the field with 64 points, while Stanford and Arizona tied for second with 85 points a piece. Washington was 3rd with 96. Jordan Hasay of Oregon took the individual title, besting freshman Laura Hollander of Calpoly, and Kathy Kroeger of Stanford.
Great Lakes
After deciding to pull the trigger on top runners Darling and Ahmed’s final seasons, Wisconsin is looking scary. They won the men’s race, beating Michigan and Indian, and saw their own Ahmed win the race in a time of 30:37. Zachary Mayhew of Indian came second, and Dan Lowry of Michigan came third. Indiana did sneak two runners in the top 5, so look for them to make a splash at nationals.
One the women’s side, Michigan beat Michigan State for the team tile, with Notre Dame rounding out the top three. The individual race was a shoot out between Julie Accurso of Ohio, who was the eventual winner, and Katie Clark of Butler. Sara Kroll of Michigan placed 3rd. Michigan had all five scorers in the top 10.
Mid Atlantic
The Georgetown Men won the race by a point, beating Villanova, with Princeton only 4 points off the team title in 3rd. This was one of the closest races of the entire weekend. Travis Mahoney of Temple ran away with the race, beating Sam McEntee of Villanova by ten seconds. Chris Bendtsen of Princeton came 3rd.
The women’s side was also a nail biter, with Penn State beating Georegtown by only 2 points. Villanova placed 3rd. Nicky Akande of Villanove had comfortable individual win, while Meghan McGlinchey of La Salle and Emily Lipari of Villanove came 2nd and 3rd.
Mountain
Though the Colorado boys looked tough at Pre-Nats, Northern Arizona and BYU were tougher at regionals, taking 1st and 2nd to Colorado’s 3rd. Though their team’s were non-factors in the race, Texas Tech’s Kennedy Kithuka beat UTEP’s Anthony Rotich for the individual win. BYU’s Jared Ward took 3rd.
Weber State pulled off a surprise team win, besting New Mexico and Colorado for the title. UTEP’s Risper Kimaiyo beat Colorado’s Shalay Kipp for the win.
Check out the rest of the results for the men’s and women’s races here and here.