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 Here's a few of them that for me were keepers.

Funny

I am in total control of one thing; so are you

But first some gab:

It's 3:30 in the morning and I can't sleep.

Our country and the world is in a mess for so many reasons. Obesity, cancer, sudden tragedy and life threatening illnesses are at an all time high from my perspective, not to mention the insanity that's going on with our "leaders"; that's another can of worms.

I'm reminded of a cartoon where animated characters make a small snowball but it gets away from them and it begins to roll downhill, picking up speed, more snow and everything else in its way, with its creators chasing helplessly behind.

A haphazard array of arms and legs jut out of the massive snowball as it flattens houses in its path.

The cartoon characters are powerless to stop it.

That's happening to our world and our lives. It's all that families can do just to keep their heads above the water. The stress of treading water is wrecking our health.

But, there's one thing we are not powerless to control, that can help us to keep our heads above the water and that's what we eat.

I am in complete control of what my fork puts in my mouth. I haven't always been and three months ago I weighed 205 pounds because of that lack of control.

The food we eat has the power to either build us up or tear us down both physically and mentally.

Now I weight 183 pounds. My blood pressure is down, I feel more positive and even though my eating habits won't change the world, it will help me and my family to deal with our stressful lives, through a strong immune system and plenty of energy to face what's just around the corner.

One of the most important things we can do for ourselves  is to take care of the one body we were given. Consume vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds and avoid pizza and cheeseburgers like they are the plague because they kinda are.

Here's a list of foods that are (some) surprisingly bad for you: The SIXTEEN DEADLIEST FOODS YOU EAT EVERY DAY!

And this link is the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) Guide which is a scoring system that rates foods on a scale from 1 to 1000 based on nutrient content. 

The image below is the ANDI score of Green vegetables and non-green vegetables but beans, nuts and seeds and herbs are also on the ANDI Guide. Check out herbs, especially basil, WOW! Basil has a higher score than any of the listed fruits, beans, seeds, nuts AND NON-GREEN VEGETABLES below!  

I still have a long journey before I get my health back but I'm in control and on the right track.

Help Understanding Fifth Grade Fractions: Worksheets Included

My fifth grade daughter is struggling with math so I turned to Google to search online math help. We tried a few video sites and LOTS of worksheet sites. She needed more than worksheets.

What she needed was someone who could explain it to her in simple terms, without being complicated about it. Her math teacher throws it out there, if she gets it great, if she doesn't, too bad.

Her teacher explains it for the students who are good at math and those like my daughter get left behind. It's now my responsibility to get her help. Doesn't seem right or fair but that's the way it is.

Last week they were learning addition of mixed fractions. My daughter was lost. While I was trying to explain it to her, she had a look of torture on her face; her forehead was wrinkled, her eyebrows raised, upper lip almost a snarl. She looked like she was in pain.

In the middle of the 'addition with fractions' week, while searching for HELP, I came across this youtube video:

Adding Fractions with like denominators - 5th grade math tutorial

I immediately recognized that my daughter would be able to understand Jason Gibson's explanation of adding fractions with like denominators. 

I ended up buying the Mastering 5th Grade Math Bundle. It has been well worth it. After four days of videos my daughter doesn't look like she's in pain, her face is relaxed, she has confidence now.

The lessons come with worksheets and an answer key. It's available for immediate download, which is what I did. 

This morning before getting on the bus, I gave her some problems of addition mixed fractions with like denominators and with unlike denominators. She worked them quickly, confidently and CORRECTLY!

An amazing change in a short time. She still has a long way to go in bringing up that F but now she has a fighting chance.    

I highly recommend these videos to any child struggling with math. 

   

Best Wired USB Keyboard for Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.4 Pro Tablet and Slim Cover

Belkin Wired Universal Micro USB Keyboard for Android Tablets (B2B127-BLK)

I purchased a Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.4 Pro Tablet and it's amazing, everything I could want in a tablet from gaming to writing. It's lightning fast in very aspect; hasn't missed a beat.

I wanted a slim cover for my galaxy tab 8.4, screen protectors to prevent the screen getting scratched and something I really wanted was a small USB keyboard.

The first two were easy but researching was required to find the best wired USB keyboard that will work with the Galaxy Tab 8.4 Pro since most tablet keyboards are bluetooth wireless. I didn't want the handy dandy wireless bluetooth keyboards simply because I didn't want another device that had to be charged!

I finally settled on the Belkin Wired Universal Micro USB Keyboard for Android Tablets (B2B127-BLK) . 

The price was $29.99. I refused to be excited until I plugged it in but from the moment I plugged it in, the little keyboard has worked perfectly. No adapters, no charging or anything needed, nothing to do except plug it in!

The keys are full size and it has every shortcut button that I can imagine ever needing. I can't say enough great things about it.

Pellem 2014SC Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 Case - Ultra Slim Lightweight SmartCover Stand Case 

The Pellem cover fits my tablet perfectly and it's not bulky. The inside of the front cover is soft, almost like velvet. The front cover folds into a stand for the tablet. The cover stays folded in place because of a magnet on the edge of the flap. 

This case is very similar in texture, weight and function (auto wake/sleep) to my Kindle Paperwhite case. When I close the case the tablet 'sleeps' and when I open the case the tablet 'wakes up'.

The case at $12.99 was a great buy!

I don't usually use the cover stand (when I'm using the keyboard) because it lies too flat for me. I have a Smartstand from Office Depot that I sometimes use with my Samsung Galaxy Proclaim cell phone that also works well with my tablet. The Smartstand holds the tablet securely and at a perfect angle for viewing.

Mr Shield Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4" 8 Inch Anti Glare [3-pack] with Lifetime Replacement Warranty Screen Protector

The third accessory I wanted for my Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro is probably the most important: screen protectors .   

This screen protector has a rating of 4.5/5 out of 100 customers and the three pack is only $7.95. That's hard to beat!

The screen protector was easy to apply. I'm not a patient person with tedious tasks which explains the three tiny bubbles in the applied screen protector. If I would've taken more time applying it, the three bubbles wouldn't be there.

    
        

   

Shoebox Diorama: Cherokee of the Southwest Region

Fun and creative 4th Grade project using twigs, small rocks, plastic horse, construction paper and a shoe box. Cherokee diorama of the southwest region.

My ten year old said the blonde girl is trading a doll to the Native American girl for pottery, a basket of fruit and a necklace.

Supplies

• Shoe box
• Small pebbles and twigs
• Plastic horse
• Construction paper
• Hot glue gun and sticks
• The people and pottery were made with Sculpey III Polymer Clay and baked in an (toaster) oven.
• The forest images were printed and glued on the inside of shoe box and the outside of the shoe box (not shown).
• The twigs are hot glued together and all the pieces, even the horse, are hot glued to the base of the box. 

~Lisa~

Nutribullet Recipe with Blueberries: Highest Antioxidants!

Blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant capabilities among all fruits, vegetables, spices and seasonings! That is saying a lot considering what's out there.

I added a handful of blueberries to these ingredients this morning:

Handful of Organic Spring Mix Salad Greens

1/4 Avocado 

2 TBS. Sunflower Seeds

6 Chunks Frozen Pineapple

1 Banana

10 Almonds

1 TBS. Organic Flax/Chia Seeds

Handful of Organic Frozen Blueberries (always use organic blueberries )

This smoothie has a fruit taste rather than a green taste. The Blueberries also change the color from its normal bright green to a grey color. 

Looks horrible but it tastes great!

~Lisa~

NutriBullet Recipe with Zucchini: 8 Great Health Benefits

This morning I added zucchini to my smoothie. Vegetables have some amazing benefits when you begin to research and learn about them. I believe the body can heal itself, given the tools it needs but it's not an easy road, endurance and patience are required.

In my case food has changed from 'eat whatever I want, whenever I want', to using food as a medicine for healing my body. My morning smoothie is one of those tools.

Zucchini is one of those vegetables with amazing benefits. 

10% of the RDA for fiber

Lowers Cholesterol (Fiber, A, C)

Cancer prevention, Particularly Colon Cancer (Fiber)

Prostate Health (Phytonutrients)

Anti-Inflammatory Agents (Vitamins A,C and Copper)

Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention (Folate and 10% RDA of Magnesium)

Lowers Blood Pressure (Potassium and Magnesium)

High in Manganese (19% of the RDA)

The Zucchini has benefits I am definitely in need of, except 'prostate health'. 

Here are the ingredients in my Zucchini Smoothie:

6 Chunks Frozen Pineapple

1/4 Avocado

1/2 Zucchini (without peeling because it wasn't organic)

2 Handfuls Organic Spring Mix Salad Greens

2 TBS Raw Sunflower Seeds

1 TBS. Organic Flax/Chia Seeds

10 Almonds

This smoothie has a green taste, rather than a fruity taste. I also added 6 ice cubes because I like it very cold. 

~Lisa~

Nutribullet Liver Detox Recipe: RADISHES!

Radishes are amazing for all their benefits. They detox the liver and support the thyroid! Radishes will be a daily ingredient in my smoothies.

I added three small red radishes to my NutriBullet smoothie. I expected the taste of the radishes to be overwhelming but it wasn't. It could be because I throw everything but the kitchen sink in my smoothies.

Nutribullet Smoothie Ingredients

1/4 Avocado
1 Banana
3 small red radishes
10 almonds
6 chunks frozen pineapple
2 TBS. sunflower seeds
Handful of mixed organic salad greens
Organic Flaxseed/Chia seed mix

~ Lisa~

Nutribullet and My Hypothyroidism, PCOS, High Blood Pressure, Fatigue, Shingles

I was 203 pounds, hypothyroid, have PCOS, high blood pressure, turning 50 soon and recently broke out with shingles on my face. Add that in with the stress, anxiety and constant fatigue, I had to improve my health. Every day was exhausting.

If you haven't got your health, you don't have anything. That saying is so true.

I bought Nutri Bullet on March 25, 2014 and starting using it. I've used it every morning since. It wasn't about losing weight to look better. If I never lost a pound, as long as I felt better, I would be happy.

For me, when I got past 'dieting', losing weight so I would be prettier to myself and other people, that's when changes started taking place. It was about my health and that was all.

So fast forward to today, May 17, 2014.

• My blood pressure is consistently normal.
• I can better handle stress and anxiety.
• I've lost the desire to eat anything processed.
• My energy level has improved (but not as much as I would like).
• Occasional constipation is no longer a problem.
• And I have lost 13 pounds from eating healthier

For me, the Nutribullet hasn't been the ....instant miracle... it has for many people but my health is improving, though it's not entirely because of the Nutribullet. 

These are things I did to improve my health that the Nutribullet couldn't do for me:

• No processed foods of any kind
• No wheat, soy, sugar, dairy or breads
• Stopped eating after 5:00 PM
• Drink a smoothie for 7:00AM (breakfast), snack at 9:00AM, lunch at 12:00PM, snack at 3:00 PM

If it's not a real food, I don't want it. Chips, candy, soft drinks, ice cream....poison for your body. All it will do is make you fatter and sicker. I eat as clean (organic and non-GMO), simple and healthy as I possibly can with: 

• Fish 
• Hormone Free Chicken
• Occasional Venison
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Fruits
• Vegetables  

That might seem drastic and impossible to a lot of people but when you get sick enough it's very easy to give up anything to get your health back.

The Nutri Bullet is worth the cost and the effort. I have enjoyed buying the nutritious, fresh ingredients for my morning smoothie. On the couple of mornings I didn't have my smoothie, I really missed it because I love the taste (most of them anyway) and the morning energy boost it gives me.

~ Lisa

      

Three Favorite Minecraft Skins for Girls with Links: Hoodie Girl, Strong Girl, Domo Girl

To use Minecraft skins, go to https://minecraft.net/. Login with your username and password. Click on profile at the top of the page. 

Click on 'Choose file' to pick a skin from your computer.

Then click upload. That's it! 

Strong Domo Girl

Cute Hoodie Girl

Cute Blonde Girl with Blue Eyes