free coloring pages

http://www.muminthemadhouse.com/2015/04/19/free-colouring-pages-for-adults/

1.  Zen and anti stress colouring pages for adults
2. Today is going to be awesome
3. Geometric colouring pages
4. Butterfly colouring pages
5. Flower colouring pages
6. Sophisticated adult colouring pages
7. Mandala colouring pages
8. Fantasy colouring pages
9. More mandela colouring pages
10. Secret Garden free printables
11. Even more mandalas
12. Fairy colouring pages
13. Garden party free printables
14. Abstract colouring page
15. Free adult colouring pages
16. Everything will be OK colouring page
17. Steampunk colouring pages
18. Be kind colouring page
19. Floral designs coloring pages

Dirge Without Music Edna St Vincent Millay

Quiet near a little stream and listen

clean the oven

Here’s what you need:

-Water
-Spray bottle
-Baking soda
-A rag
-Vinegar
-A small bowl

And here’s what you do:

1. First, remove the oven racks.
2. Mix a couple of spoonfuls of baking soda with some water in the bowl. Create a paste that will be easily spread on oven surfaces.
3. Spread the paste on the inside of the oven (baking soda will turn brown). Let it sit overnight (at least 12 hours).
4. The next day, take a wet rag and wipe out as much of the baking soda paste as you can.
5. Put some vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz on surfaces where you still see baking soda residue. Then wipe with a wet rag.
6. Put the racks back in the oven and turn the oven onto a very low temperature for 15-20 minutes to let dry.

To clean the oven window:

1. Make another paste out of baking soda and water.
2. Apply the paste directly to the window and let it sit for 30 minutes.
3. Use a clean rag to wipe the window clean.

Death is nothing at all.

Henry Scott Holland (27 January 1847 – 17 March 1918) was Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford

Presence and Recovery by Anneke Campbell

At such moments, presence happens. This presence might include a wide palette of emotional tones and flashes of memory. Sometimes I was simply blessed with an appreciation of how connected we are, my daughter and I. This connection may be rooted in biology but at the deepest level, it is independent of this interactive dance of her habits and mine.

I used to justify my obsessing as normal maternal worry, assuaged by giving good advice. There is nothing wrong with giving advice, especially when asked. But I started to notice when my daughter (or spouse or friend or acquaintance) was engaged in any kind of struggle, the pressure building inside me and the pleasurable change in my own chemistry when my mouth opened and suggestions tumbled out. I had little choice over this response. This showed me not only the intensity of my own inner conditioning, but my arrogance in thinking "I know what is right for other people and how things are supposed to be." I realized: “If it is so difficult for me to keep my mouth shut, how can I judge anyone else for picking up a drink or drug when there is the additional brain chemistry system of reward and release from pain involved?”

Silence and simple listening on the other hand, challenge a lifetime of habits cultivated in response to fear and uncertainty. The process of recovery has meant many such moments of waking up out of an unconscious or automatic behavior, a release from the small me or ego into an expanding and aware spaciousness. Paradoxically then, working with addictive habits can be a powerful method of growing our capacity for presence, in which the compulsion or discomfort itself becomes the dharma bell ringing us back from our mind’s habitual dwelling in fantasy and memory into the present.

http://www.onbeing.org/blog/presence-and-recovery/7429#comment-1633006

Presence and Recovery

BY ANNEKE CAMPBELL,  GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

Doshas for kids

Keeping Your Children Healthy: Doshas for Kids

by: Melissa Carver, Ph.D.

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Finding balance is one of the greatest challenges in an ever-changing world. And keeping yourself balanced is difficult enough before you add children to the mix. They too have their own doshas and their own daily imbalances, and it can be tricky to figure out what to do to help create harmony for them.

The good news is that children tend to return to a state of balance more easily than adults. They have the tendency to see life in the now and this helps to keep them balanced. The truth is that in many cases, the child’s challenges come from the frustration and imbalances of their parents. The following information will help you recognize potential reasons for imbalance and give you the tools to stay in the moment with your children.  

The Kapha Child

Each stage of life has a dosha and for children, Kapha is the dominant trait. Kapha is needed to build growing muscles and bones. This dosha is slower in motion, solid, and made of earth and water. Kapha people are patient and loving. An out-of-balance Kapha, on the other hand, is stubborn and doesn’t want to deal with challenges. This can manifest in children as temper tantrums that take place in the middle of the grocery store when they want that cereal with the Sponge Bob toy.

Children have their own personal Prakruti, or constitution, but they may need help recognizing it. They are growing into their personal dosha as well as dealing with imbalances just as adults do. Knowing that Kapha is the stage of childhood can help parents a great deal. Try these tips for the Kapha in your child. 

• Reduce mucus-causing foods such as cold milk, cheese, sweets, and processed and canned foods.
• Facilitate some form of daily exercise. Find some activities that the family can do together.
• Try a morning neti pot to help flush out the Kapha mucus that accumulates overnight since children are more prone to colds and a runny nose. This procedure may be a bit of a struggle at first, but if you keep up the process the routine will pay off in reduced sick days.
• Provide some pungent flavors at meals. Adults tend to assume that a child will not eat or doesn’t want pungent food, but you might be surprised. Hot sauce is not the only option for spice. In Ayurveda, pungent is the spicy side of life but not necessarily fiery to taste. Consider foods such as ginger, garlic, onion, and radish.
• Use cloves, eucalyptus, and marjoram as stimulating aromatherapy.
• When shopping for clothes and decorating their bedroom, use colors to balance Kapha, such as yellow, red, and orange. 

Kapha may dominate the childhood years but this does not mean that your child IS Kapha. Pitta and Vata will show themselves and the more you know your child’s personality the more you will see these constitutions appear.

The Pitta Child 

The Pitta child LOVES to compete, shows leadership qualities, is often outspoken, and can get angry at the snap of a finger. When you think Pitta, think fire. Here are some ways to pacify Pitta. 

• Allow the Pitta child alone time—a little bit every day if possible.
• Do not push the child in competitive sports. They are competitive enough for everyone. If you can act as the calm side of their life, you will help create more balance. If you’re a Pitta parent, this could be a challenge for you as well. Try to keep in mind it is not you who is competing.
• Decorate your child’s bedroom with calming cool colors, such as pastel blues and greens.
• Use aromatherapy after school and at bedtime to soothe your Pitta child. Calm the fire with sandalwood, jasmine, mint, or lavender. A dab of oil on their wrist or wooden bracelet is a good alternative on the road and during school.
• Reduce pungent foods. As an exception, ginger is recommended and although pungent, does not aggravate Pitta.
• Use water to calm the fire. When you sense the fire rising, it may be time for play in some cool water. At school, suggest that your child be allowed to run cool water over their hands. 

The Vata Child  

Vata is movement. Think of air, motion, and dryness. Does your child tend to jump from one thing to another? Are they distracted easily yet very creative? If you said yes, your child is most likely a Vata. This dosha has a flexible personality and is easier to balance than the other dosha types. 

• Keep warm. The Vata child may be cold when the rest of the family is comfortable. Keep a jacket in the car, even in summer, for chilly restaurants and cooler sections at the market.    
• Cuddle and massage often. Touch from mom and dad may be a little more important and grounding for this dosha.
• Reduce beans, sprouts, and cabbage but allow a little more sweets for the Vata child. Remember sweet doesn’t mean candy. It can be honey, fruit, and even rice.
• Use aromatherapy to balance Vata, using scents such as cinnamon, citrus, basil, lavender, and cloves. These smells can help concentration during study time.
• Decorate the Vata bedroom using earth tones and pastels. 

Keeping up with the balance for everyone in your home can be a challenge. Try speaking to your child about these points and remedies as you move throughout your day. Even the smallest child pays attention to your words. The more you teach them, the more you decrease your load of responsibility as they grow older. Above all, remember that your own personal balance is just as important as your child’s. When your balance, energy, and happiness are in check, they overflow into the home, helping to create balance for everyone. 

- See more at: http://www.chopra.com/ccl/keeping-your-children-healthy-doshas-for-kids?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Newsletter%20150519&utm_campaign=May#sthash.PJsIirQC.dpuf

14 essential truths about parenting a tween

Parents often worry as girls approach their tweens -- with such tumultuous years ahead, they wonder how they and their Mighty Girl will manage. In her article “14 Essential Truths About Raising A Tween Girl,” writer Galit Breen, the mother of three, shares what she’s learned about this challenging, but amazing, stage between childhood and adolescence.

In the tween years, Breen says, “[h]er personality has arrived….respect her need to figure out how she presents herself to the world -- even (especially?) if it's different than [you] would have imagined.” At the same time, she says, “She still needs you. I'm awestruck by my tween's independence daily, and it's easy to think, She's got this. But when we're home at the same time, I make myself available to her… every single day, at some random, often inconvenient time, she tells or asks or shares something I would have missed if I chose to be someplace else.”

Breen says tweens are generally kind, compassionate people: “Tweens and teens have a bad reputation… I think what we parents are really feeling when we cry, "Teen Surliness!" is the shift from little to big, ours to independent. When we're able to loosen our grip on their smallness, we're privy to an amazing person right in front of our eyes.” Similarly, although she may seem tough, “She’s sensitive… With growth and change comes vulnerability. Joking shouldn't cross over to teasing, and if you're lucky and she's let you in on her worries, never take advantage of that and use them against her.”

Mothers can show tweens that “Strong, smart and empathetic women are golden… follow your passions, speak your mind, and see your own value. She'll mirror you.” Remember that “How you treat people and how you let people treat you is what she'll know as normal. Be mindful and intentional about that. This includes how you talk to and about her, yourself and others.” And, while it may be difficult sometimes, “Don't shy away from hard conversations. Periods, boys, sex, sexuality, depression, alcohol, drugs, kindness, bullying, friendship -- it's a privilege to be the soft landing and the hard message sender. Act like it.”

To help tweens develop confidence, Breen says it’s important to communicate your faith in her: “There's a place for worrying…[b]ut in my heart of hearts, I know that worrying sends the subtle message that, ‘I don't think you can do this.’ And I'd rather (loudly) suggest, ‘I believe in you.’” She says, “There's a ridiculous amount of goodness to her -- she needs to hear that. Tell her directly and often and without worrying about spoiling her. Compliments should be given daily and freely and with wild abandon.” And, perhaps most importantly of all, “Be her biggest fan. Everyone deserves at least one person in their lives who thinks they hung the moon. Fill her heart with shared moments and words and presence and the knowledge that you're that person.”

To read all of Breen’s truths about tweens on Huff Post at http://huff.to/1rWpjEp

Galit Breen is the author of an excellent, newly released parenting book, "Kindness Wins: A Simple, No-Nonsense Guide to Teaching Our Kids How To Be Kind Online" at http://www.amightygirl.com/kindness-wins

A highly recommended resource to help mothers and daughters stay close during these transition years is the popular shared journal for ages 8 and up, "Just Between Us: A No-Stress, No-Rules Journal for Girls and Their Moms" at http://www.amightygirl.com/just-between-us

Another great book for mothers of older tweens and teens is the joint parent/teen guide book, "Mothering and Daughtering: Keeping Your Bond Strong Through the Teen Years" at http://www.amightygirl.com/mothering-and-daughtering

For an excellent resource for Mighty Girls themselves, check out the newly revised “Smart Girl’s Guide to Middle School” from the American Girl Library at http://www.amightygirl.com/a-smart-girl-s-guide-to-starting…

For two helpful guides for parents about the tween / middle school years, check out “Middle School Makeover” (http://www.amightygirl.com/middle-school-makeover) and “The Drama Years: Real Girls Talk About Surviving Middle School -- Bullies, Brands, Body Image, and More” (http://www.amightygirl.com/the-drama-years).

And, for a wide variety of books to help girls navigate the physical, emotional, and social changes experienced while growing up, visit our "Guides for Girls" section at http://www.amightygirl.com/…/personal-deve…/guides-for-girls

For the Traveler

For the Traveler by John O'Donohue

Every time you leave home,
Another road takes you
Into a world you were never in.

New strangers on other paths await.
New places that have never seen you
Will startle a little at your entry.
Old places that know you well
Will pretend nothing
Changed since your last visit.

When you travel, you find yourself
Alone in a different way,
More attentive now
To the self you bring along,
Your more subtle eye watching
You abroad; and how what meets you
Touches that part of the heart
That lies low at home:

How you unexpectedly attune
To the timbre in some voice,
Opening in conversation
You want to take in
To where your longing
Has pressed hard enough
Inward, on some unsaid dark,
To create a crystal of insight
You could not have known
You needed
To illuminate
Your way.

When you travel,
A new silence
Goes with you,
And if you listen,
You will hear
What your heart would
Love to say.

A journey can become a sacred thing:
Make sure, before you go,
To take the time
To bless your going forth,
To free your heart of ballast
So that the compass of your soul
Might direct you toward
The territories of spirit
Where you will discover
More of your hidden life,
And the urgencies
That deserve to claim you.

May you travel in an awakened way,
Gathered wisely into your inner ground;
That you may not waste the invitations
Which wait along the way to transform you.

May you travel safely, arrive refreshed,
And live your time away to its fullest;
Return home more enriched, and free
To balance the gift of days which call you.

Travel Food to Pack from Foodbabe

Travel Food To Pack Before You Go

Non-Perishable Goods:

• Green Vibrance – Single Serving Packs – Insurance for being away from my juicer
• Vitamineral Greens – Travel Size – One of the best superfoods powders on the market. I alternate between Green Vibrance and this powder.
• Chia Seeds Packs – Perfect to top oatmeal, yogurt, or drink in coconut water for sustained energy.
• Almond Butter Packs – I like to eat this directly with one banana, apple, stuffed into a date, or on top of Suzie’s Thin Crisps
• Suzie’s Thin Crisps – This is my travel cracker of choice – doesn’t crumble and has a nice crunch. They are made of easily digestible spelt flour and flax seed.
• Navitas Naturals Power Snack – Amazing superfoods snack that I highly recommend with no refined or added sugars. All the flavors are delicious, especially the Cacao Goji. I took these on my scuba diving trip every day because they wouldn’t melt and were perfect for instant energy.

• Q’ia Superfood Cereal – Superfood made easy. Delicious bites of buckwheat groats, chia seeds and hemp seeds mixed with almonds and cranberries. SO YUMMY.
• Quick Oats – I made pre-made ziploc packs of organic oatmeal (a mixture of rolled oats and quick oats) and ate them almost every morning in Borneo. It’s the perfect breakfast when your options are limited.
• Cinnamon – For the oatmeal.
• Dates – I love snacking on dates, but these are also one of the ingredients I have to use in my oatmeal. I add one chopped date to oatmeal before I add hot water. The date slowly dissolves into the oats, naturally sweetening it, once the water is added. I prefer this method of sweetener over other liquid or crystal versions, because dates have antioxidants and fiber.
• Prunes – I know I’m not 70 years old, but I love prunes. They are chewy, sweet, fill you up and keep you regular on vacation (I know a lot of people who mention this problem all the time!)
• Figs – My candy of choice. I could eat one stuffed with a walnut every single day!
• Raw Walnuts – For figs, other homemade packs of trail mix, and to top off oatmeal.
• Himalayan Raisins – Toppings for oatmeal (my husband loves these) and for trail mix.
• Raw Almonds – For snacking or for trail mix.
• Goji Berries – For trail mix or just to eat by the handful. I seriously have a goji problem!
• Golden Berries – Just to eat….these are nature’s little sour patch kid, aren’t loaded with sugar and have 5 grams of fiber per ounce.
• Numi Teas – Assorted Variety – My favorite teas at the moment and I always take my own organic tea wherever I go. (You know this, if you’ve ever dined with me before!)
• Yogi Teas – Assorted Variety – I love the decaf green and ginger versions.
• Cranberry Tea – Reducing water retention is always easy by drinking this tea – especially after consuming over salted food while traveling.
• Seintenbacher Alligator Gummies – My junk gummy candy of choice. It’s Non-GMO, Vegan and I LOVE Alligators.
• MacroBar – My husband’s favorite bar at the moment, try the Granola with Coconut.
• Mary’s Gone Sticks & Twigs – Pure addiction. I’d rather eats these than any other salty chip on the market.
• Brad’s Raw Chips – One of the best “good for you” chips on the market. Raw and all whole foods – no gluten, sugar or added chemicals.
• Sprouted Wheat Pretzels – The only organic pretzel on the market made with the ingredients sprouted wheat and good for you olive oil.
• Go Raw – Coconut Cookies – Crunchy cookies that don’t crumble and contain no added or refined sugars.
• Kur Delights – Little individually wrapped delicious bites of goodness! (get 10% with code: FOODBABE)
• Go Raw – Carrot Cookies – My favorite flavor of Go Raw.
• Eden Farms – All Mixed Up Trail Mixes and Nuts – Small packets that easily go in carry on bags.

• Alter Eco Chocolate  – The best chocolate on the market. I love the mint and the quinoa varieties.
• Panda Licorice – Chewy just like a twizzler, but sweetened with molasses.
• 2 Mom’s in the Raw Nut Bars – My favorite “treat” bars on the market.
• Seasalt – For topping an impromtu avocado and tomato salad.
• Cayenne Pepper – For Habit # 1

Less Perishable Goods:

• Lemons – For Habit #1, and to squeeze on avocado, tomato salad.
• Avocados – I took 3 with me on our hike to Mt. Fuji. I love eating one with a sprinkle of sea salt and a slice of tomato.
• Tomatoes – For the avocados.
• Oranges – Juicy fruits are great hydrators for long plane trips.
• Apples – Because they pack well.
• Bananas – To combine with almond butter.
• Harmless Harvest Raw Coconut Water – I keep mine cold by filling up a zip lock with ice after security.
• Ezekiel Sprouted Bread & Tortillas – If I take these, I will pack a cooler to keep them fresh until I arrive at my destination.
• Manna Bread – Delicious hearty bread. The banana walnut is my favorite.
• Pre-cut veggies – carrots, celery, peppers, zucchini, squash, peapods, etc. – Because I love veggies and I sometimes get bored on the plane and need to munch.

It Is I Who Must Begin Vaclav Havel

It Is I Who Must Begin

 

It is I who must begin.
Once I begin, once I try --
here and now,
right where I am,
not excusing myself
by saying things
would be easier elsewhere,
without grand speeches and
ostentatious gestures,
but all the more persistently
-- to live in harmony
with the "voice of Being," as I
understand it within myself
-- as soon as I begin that,
I suddenly discover,
to my surprise, that
I am neither the only one,
nor the first,
nor the most important one
to have set out
upon that road.

 

Whether all is really lost
or not depends entirely on
whether or not I am lost.

 

~ Vaclav Havel ~

 

(Teaching With Fire, ed. by S.M. Intrator and M. Scribner)

 

May the sun ....Apache blessing

growing lettuce

It grows best in full sun, except during hot weather, when some afternoon shade helps keep the leaves from becoming bitter. Lettuces, especially the looseleaf varieties, prosper in containers. Even small gardens can provide a bounty of delicious lettuces as long as you employ a few simple strategies.

1. Prepare soil by mixing a ½-inch layer of compost and a sprinkle of organic fertilizer (apply as directed on the product label) into the top six inches of soil.

2. Sow lettuce seeds ¼-inch deep in rows spaced 12 to 18 inches apart. Thick seeding (about a tablespoon of seeds per 10-foot row) results in plenty of thinnings to eat as the lettuces grow. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate.

3. Once the plants have grown two to four true leaves, thin seedlings to four inches apart. Thin again when the seedlings begin to touch shoulders. For heading types, the final spacing should be at least a foot; lettuce will not form a head if crowded.

4. Grow lettuce in the cooler months, or plant it in the shade of taller crops. Heat causes lettuce to turn bitter and leathery.

5. Keep lettuces hydrated. When rain is insufficient, provide one to two inches of water per week. Plants in pots dry out more quickly than those in the ground.

6. Plant successive crops. A series of small plantings, every two to three weeks, ensures a steady supply of salad greens.

7. Extend the season. Start plants indoors under grow lights, five to six weeks before the last frost date. Use row covers to protect fall-planted lettuces into early winter.

8. Rotate crops. Growing lettuce in the same spot each year depletes the soil and eventually results in weak growth.

12 pillars of well being

http://eusophi.com/the-pillars-of-well-being/

Sinus infection relief, Valasalva manuever

Here are 4 of the best sinus infection natural treatments. Don’t wait around in doctor’s offices all day waiting to hear what you already know.

1. TURMERICTreat your sinuses with this antibiotic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory spice. You may have used this for cooking and what not but you can also use it to clear your sinus infection. Turmeric is very good for congestion because it has an active compound called curcumin that can help heal swelling in your sinus cavity, as well as clear your airways.

Mix turmeric powder in a glass of warm water and gargle it a few times a day for a few days. Or you can try and mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder with a glass of milk and a little honey, drink this daily for about a week.

Lastly you can make a turmeric smoothie by using 2 pieces of turmeric root and blending it with lemon juice, a tablespoon of honey, a pinch of cayenne pepper, a banana, and a half-cup of water. Once again you must drink this daily until the infection is gone.

2. ONIONSYou may not have known that onions are a great decongestant, until now. They are great for opening up your sinuses and contain sulfur compounds that fight bacteria and fungi. Chop an onion into small pieces and place them into a pot of water. Let the water boil for 5 minutes and then inhale the vapors for a little while. Then strain the onion liquid and drink it. Do this a few times a day for about a week and your sinuses infection should be gone.

3. OIL OF OREGANOThis antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal oil has made a name for itself in the health world. Oil of oregano is also recognized as an anti-inflammatory that works great as an antioxidant and immune-booster. Put a couple drops of oil in a half cup of boiling water. Inhale the steam to clear congestion and open your sinuses. Do this every day until the infections goes away. Or you could put a couple drops in a regular glass of water and drink it a few times a day.

In the past I have dropped a few droplets of oil under my tongue, which has worked out very well for my sinus infections. You can use these tricks to avoid unnecessary trips to the doctor, especially if you are busy and don’t have the time.

4. HORSERADISH Our next remedy is very popular in the sinus infection world, and is very useful for removing mucus from nasal passages. Much like onions, horseradish contains sulfur and works as a natural antibiotic. Put freshly grated horseradish in your mouth and keep it there until the flavor dissipates, then swallow. This may seem like a difficult task but it does work very well. Repeat this a few times a day for a week until the infection goes away.

Use any of these sinus infection natural treatments to get rid of infections that have been holding you back.from Mercola.com

ou can easily get rid of clogged ears by performing the Valsalva maneuver. It will relieve stuffiness and pain in the ear.

1. Close your mouth and pinch your nostrils closed with your fingers, then take a deep breath.
2. Blow air out of your nose to regulate the air pressure. If done correctly, you will hear a slight popping sound which means the Eustachian tubes are open again.

Note: Don’t blow your nose too hard as it may cause damage to the ear drum.
Check out this video to learn about Valsalva maneuver and other ear equalization techniques.

2. Olive Oil

South Park CO history

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np_6aMkcuPU&sns=em

http://www.southparkheritage.org/    lots of good info

install swing in home

http://asensorylife.com/how-to-install-a-swing-at-home.html

swing in the home.
This notice serves as a release of liability for ASensoryLife.com and Angie Voss, OTR.

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BASIC STEPS FOR INSTALLING A SWING IN THE HOME:

OBTAIN A LAG EYE SCREW, AT LEAST 1/4 INCH IN DIAMETER AND WITH THE LONGEST THREADS POSSIBLE.

A ROTATIONAL DEVICE IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED, AS IT SERVES AS THE MOVEMENT POINT FOR THE SUSPENDED EQUIPMENT, AND THEREFORE WILL MINIMIZE THE ROTATION OF THE EYE SCREW IN THE CEILING. HERE ARE 3 GREAT OPTIONS.

INSTALLING THE EYE SCREW:

• Locate the center of the ceiling joist/beam. Use a stud finder to first locate the beam and then small finish nail tapping to locate the center of the beam.
• Pre-drill the hole, making sure it is smaller than the size of your eye screw.
• Use a screw driver or wrench to twist the eye screw securely in to place. (The will take some muscle to twist in.)

OBTAIN 2 ROCK CLIMBING STRENGTH CARABINERS, ONE TO ATTACH TO THE EYE SCREW AND ONE TO ATTACH TO THE FAR END OF THE ROTATIONAL DEVICE. 
(PLEASE NOTE: SOME SWINGS DO COME WITH ONE OR MORE CARABINERS)

ATTACH YOUR SWING AND YOU ARE READY TO RUMBLE!