michelejo.com

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  • Emergency meal planning…

    I’ve mentioned before that my family recently suffered a 35% pay cut.  We had no notice and a tiny bit of severance, and this all started during the holidays and just a couple months after we closed on our home.  We had some legal issues related to the home we were leasing and we’d just plunked down…

  • Essential Oils: Tension Blend

    Since I always have been somewhat of a mess physically AND emotionally, I have a lot to say about how essential oils have changed my life for the better.  Since childhood I’ve suffered from an array of maladies…anxiety, panic attacks, asthma, frequent bronchitis and pneumonia, knee pain, lower back pain, joint pain, migraines, cluster headaches,…

  • How I reduced my kids’ wardrobes AND my stress…

    My kids have too many clothes.  Waaaaaay too many.  Especially my nine year old daughter.  When my older kids (now 15 and 18) were younger, we were pretty broke and I couldn’t buy a lot of nice clothes for them.  My mom loved to buy them clothes and that was nice, but it was never what I…

  • Resolutions for 2014

    I’m not a huge fan of New Years’ Resolutions.  They are really easy to break. It’s too simple to mess up on say, January 2, and then the whole list is shot to hell.  Am I right? That’s usually what happens to me.  The past several years, I’ve switched to goals that I start working…

  • Aim for empty (or close to it!)…

    For years I went back and forth between stockpiling (bought with big savings) or just having enough to get through a certain period of time.  I decided a couple years ago that I was finished stockpiling, both with regards to food and household items.  I do make exceptions, like when canned pumpkin was on sale for…

  • Help for the overwhelmed.

    My husband had a suggestion for me since I’m always complaining that I’m so overwhelmed with the kids, house, cooking and finances that I never have time to really enjoy my hobbies or pursue my personal goals. The idea is to make a list. I hated that idea since I hate lists. They just make…

  • Implementing the Simple Thanksgiving

    I found myself with so much time on my hands today, the day before Thanksgiving.  Instead of standing all day prepping and cooking, I got to sleep in, relax and hang out with my family.  I also got  a head start on my Christmas decorating and had time to do some crafting and shopping. I…

  • Wheat Belly Challenge: The Plan

    I’m a planner.  I haven’t always been but I’ve realized over the past few years that to function well in spite of my ADHD, I need to plan.  When I decided to start the “Wheat Belly Challenge” with Katie, I knew we really should be going totally grain-free, but all my recent cold-turkey attempts have…

  • Time to get {our} move on…

    Ahhh, moving.  I love to hate it.  We’ve been renting for so long that I’ve grown used to moving every year or two.  I sincerely hope this next move will be our last.  I hope there’s no reason to move again. But for now, I’ve got a move coming.  It’s time to declutter again, so…

  • A Simple Thanksgiving

    Last year I didn’t cook.  We planned on eating at Cracker Barrel and then hitting the Phoenix Zoo, but the wait at the restaurant was hours’ long and we headed straight to the zoo, where we ate overpriced hot dogs and personal pizzas.  We had a great time at the zoo in spite of the…