5 Signs I'm really over Facebook

I'm so over my obsession with Facebook. All that ranting and raving and preaching that goes on. Everyone thinks they have the answer. Meh. Who needs it? And yes, I'm writing about it right now. I know. But today, after 2 weeks of distancing myself, I came to the realization that Facebook just doesn't interest me all that much any more. I was perfectly happy before it came into my life and I just don't need it. So, about those signs....

1. People send me messages to be sure I'm OK.

Are you sick? Is everything alright? I haven't seen you on Facebook for days. Ha ha ha! Maybe this is also an indicator of my age, but nevertheless, people are noticing my absence.

2. People also message me now when something noteworthy is posted.

Because otherwise, I'd never know. A few weeks ago, no one would have had to tell me my class reunion pics were up. Today, someone had to do exactly that. Otherwise, I would have had no idea at all.

3. I suddenly have oodles of time.

The sheer amount of time I wasted on Facebook over the last few years is reflected in the amount of free time I now have and also in how many things I'm able to accomplish in a day. I'm like superwoman around the house now. LOL

4. Politics fade into the background of life.

Some might say this is a bad thing. But personally, I believe I was a little too aware and a little too busy “creating awareness” for my own psychological health. A little cognitive dissonance can be good for a person. My life is so peaceful without being reminded of the ugliness in the world every day. Trump who?

5. I'm content.

You know? Happiness and contentment are two different things. I was happy before. But now, I'm at peace. No one is trolling me. No one is starting arguments with me to prove a point, prove me wrong or tout their superiority. No one is ruining my day with their judgmental “jokes” and finger pointing. Or at least, if they are, I don't know about it.

Bonus sign:

Don't even care enough about Facebook to "clean up" my friend's list. 

A closing note:

You guys, I've never been very socially inclined. I've always been a bit of a weird and wacky outcast. It makes sense that “The Social Network” wouldn't really be a natural fit for me. Oh, I'll still drop in to say hello occasionally, I'm sure. I love my friends but when it comes to Facebook itself?

I'm so over it!

5 ways to simplify your vegan diet

A vegan diet is naturally simple.

The way most people talk, you'd think it was a super huge struggle to get everything you need, nutritionally and taste-wise, from a vegan diet. It's not. The hard part of a vegan diet is getting used to a whole new way of doing things. Still, even that isn't so hard once you have a little input from someone who's been there. So, how can you simplify your vegan diet?

1. Keep it raw or mostly raw.

A raw food diet is very simple to follow. It keeps the house cool in summer. It makes recipes almost entirely unnecessary. Just keep a wide variety of veggies, fruits, nuts and legumes on hand. Mix and match them, balancing your nutrients as you go. For instance, adding nuts or beans to a salad gives you protein. Sprinkling nutritional yeast on top gives you B-12. But what if you don't know your nutrients?

2. Do it by color.

You may have to study up a bit at first. But honestly, you should do that with any diet plan, even a conventional one. This trick makes it simpler. Each color of vegetable represents a different nutritional value. There are exceptions of course. Some things are higher in nutrition or contain special nutrients. If you're new to going vegan, familiarize yourself with these. For the most part, though, if your plate contains a wide variety of colors, it contains a wide variety of nutrients. Easy breezy!

3. Simmer some soup.

Beans or bean soup are served one or two times a week in many vegan households. In the soup, use a bean base for protein, then add assorted colorful veggies. Soup can be started in the morning and simmered all day. Eat it that night and refrigerate any leftovers. It's simple, nutritious and usually counts for at least two meals to reduce time in the kitchen.

4. Freeze ahead.

Speaking of leftovers, why not make them on purpose? Soup isn't the only cruelty free meal you can make ahead. Try making vegan chili, spaghetti sauce and other similar foods to freeze. That way, if you're sick or just plain don't feel like cooking, you can check the freezer and heat up a meal. It's like TV dinners, healthy vegan style.

5. Toss it in a blender/juicer.

Juicing and blending is the easiest thing in the world. It's also one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. You don't need a recipe to juice or blend. Just choose fruits and veggies you think would go well together and toss them in. You may get a few weird results as far as taste goes. Still, those are minimal. Let's face it, even if you mess up, it's still good for you. Plus, you'll get better as time goes by.

5 Family themed Halloween costume ideas

Halloween is great family fun. Why not take that a step further? Dress the whole family in a single costume theme. Get inspiration from fairy tales, super heroes and more. Consider dressing up as famous families or famous music groups. The possibilities truly are endless. Put on your thinking cap or use one of these 5 ideas to get you started.

1. 80's musicians

Peruse old music videos for inspiration. Picture dad in skin tight pants and a ragged t-shirt. Mom could be a big-haired backup singer or a Madonna wanna be. Kids might not be familiar with the music, but they'll get a kick out of the wild costumes of 80's rockers. What a crazy Halloween night that would be. Don't forget the guitars and microphones.

2. The family zoo

After all, people say your house is a real zoo sometimes. Might as well come as you are. Moms, dads and kids can pick their favorite animals to dress up as. Or, you could all dress alike. Hey, hey, you could be the monkeys for Halloween. Not the music group. Just a whole family of monkeys, apes, orangutans or whatever you like.

3. Goldilocks and the three bears

This one is perfect for a little girl with a baby brother or sister. Mom and dad dress as Momma Bear and Papa Bear. The baby becomes baby bear. The little girl is Goldilocks. Don't forget the ringlets! Props might include porridge bowls and spoons, or that famous broken chair, cleverly attached to Goldilocks's behind.

4. Batman's crew.

No matter how big your family is, you can pull this one off. Family members can dress as Batman, Cat Woman, Robin and assorted villains, like the Joker. Kids could choose their favorite villains while mom and dad dress as Batman and Robin, Batman and Cat Woman or Robin and Poison Ivy. There are so many clever combinations with this theme.

5. Zombie family

Your entire family was attacked by brain eaters. Now they've come back to life as a whole family of zombies. How fun would it be to show up at a party or go trick or treating as a whole zombie family? Better yet, get all the kids' friends and yours in on the action. Imagine the faces of homeowners when 30 zombies show up at their door for treats. I hope they have a lot of candy.

5 Crazy uses for cayenne pepper

Think you've heard everything about cayenne pepper? Maybe you have and maybe you haven't. Sure, cayenne pepper is delicious in guacamole and awesome on spicy fries. Most people know that, right? What they don't know about is the unconventional uses for this miracle spice. How about using cayenne pepper to keep your feet warm in winter?

1. Keep your feet warm.

You know cayenne is hot, right? Did you know it can warm your feet in cold weather? Just sprinkle a bit into your socks before venturing outdoors. The cayenne will heat up your feet to ward off frostbite. You can do the same if you get cold feet at night. Remember one thing, though. Make sure you use old socks. Cayenne can combine with perspiration and leave a stain.

2. Heal small cuts.

Next time you get a paper cut, give this cure a try. Stop the bleeding and help your cut heal faster. Sprinkle a bit of cayenne on it. You might think that's a bit like rubbing salt in a wound and you'd be right. Why? Salt has healing powers as well. Don't use cayenne for large or deep wounds. It could sting and cause infection. See a doctor for those.

3. Cure a headache.

Mix a bit of cayenne pepper with olive oil. Now massage it into your temples. The cayenne will warm your skin and increase circulation. Cayenne in your food will have the same effect. Cayenne increases blood flow and opens capillaries, just like caffeine. It will also open your sinuses to ease headaches caused by congestion.

4. Soothe a sore throat.

Mix a crazy concoction of salt water, a clove of garlic and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. Don't drink it. That would taste horrible. Instead, use this solution as a gargle. Don't worry, it won't sting. In fact, this gargle will take pain away instantly. It'll heal your throat quickly too. Garlic, salt and cayenne are all powerful antiseptics.

5. Cure tummy troubles.

You wouldn't think such a spicy food would help a stomachache. In fact, you might deduce the opposite. Still, cayenne is supreme at cleaning out the digestive system. It also kills bad bacteria that lurk in the nooks and crannies of your intestines. What else? It gets your digestive juices flowing to flush toxins. Eating cayenne regularly can keep you regular.

5 alternatives to kids' lunch box plastic

Plastic is hazardous to your health. Plus, it's not just about BPA anymore. There are at least 700 studies on the dangers of different plastics. Plastic is everywhere. It's even in your water supply. Most kids that pack lunches for school use waterproof plastic containers, plastic bags and plastic water bottles. Is there another way? What other materials can you use to pack kids' lunches in?

1. Start by brown bagging it.

Skip the cutesy little plastic containers with all the nifty compartments. They're not as cute as you think. They can give off toxins, especially if scratched or worn. Why not go old school? Brown paper bags are cheap and contain no plastic toxins. It's not about what the food comes in. It's about what gets in the food.

2. Wrap sandwiches in brown paper or aluminum foil.

Both are recyclable. Plastic is recyclable to a certain extent, but it's toxic to begin with. Boycotting it sends a clear message. Manufacturers can use alternatives or go out of business. With a little practice, you can wrap sandwiches airtight. Skip the plastic containers. Skip the plastic wrap. Skip the plastic baggies.

Note : Did you know they now make cloth bags and baggies? Sweet!

3. Skip prepackaged fruits.

Isn't it nice how they package convenient sizes of cut up fruit in cute little plastic cups? Don't be so sure. Any plastic container can leach chemicals into your food. How long has that fruit been sitting in that plastic? You're better off cutting up your own fruit or placing whole fruits in kids lunches.

4. What about drinks?

How can kids carry drinks to school without plastic containers? Well, no offense, but what did your grandparents do? They used mason jars or other lidded jars. Yes, they're breakable. Kids would have to be cautious. Still, mason jars are quite thick. It takes some effort to break them.

5. Check the grocery or department store for eco-friendly alternatives.

Did you know there are newer plastics made from natural products, not petroleum? Some contain paper pulp. Others are made from food starch. All are biodegradable and safe for food content. They do no harm when they break down. If more purchased green plastic alternatives for kids' lunches alone, think of the difference it would make to the environment.

The top 5 easiest things to feed a vegan at a BBQ

Oh no! Vegan food is so weird. And there's a vegan coming to your BBQ. You've never fed one before. What on earth do they eat? Don't panic. Chances are, they will eat a lot of the food you're already serving, as well as some you might like to try.

5. Grilled Portabella Mushrooms

Most “regular” people like these too. It's a giant mushroom shaped like a burger. You grill it and slather it with spices, sauces or whatever you like. Goes great as a guacamole burger. Do remember to keep it away from the blood and gore, though. Vegans have a thing about that. Can't imagine why.

4. Salad Without the Meat and Dairy.

A vegan's worst nightmare is a yummy, perfect, green salad that has been desecrated by loading it with meat and cheese, topped with buttermilk ranch dressing. Why? Because there's good stuff in there. It's just buried in nasty. SO frustrating. Talk about a dangling carrot. Just stick with the veggies and vinegar and oil, please.

3. DUH! Watermelon

It's a fruit. You eat it on the 4th of July. It makes an appearance at nearly every BBQ you've ever been to in your life. Best of all, it's vegan and great for seed spitting contests. Yay!

2. Grilled Corn on the Cob or Sweet Potatoes With.....Not Butter

Vegetables are vegan. Who knew? Slap some sweet potatoes or corn on the grill. Drizzle on some olive oil and yummy spices, wait for the optimum texture and you're done. So simple and so very vegan. Thank-you!

1. Did Someone Say Guacamole?

Oh right, that was me. Vegans put guacamole on everything. They slap it on veggie burgers. They serve it in salads. They wrap it in.... wraps. They even put it in their Mexican food. Yum, yum, give us some!

Final Thoughts

So there you go. Vegans are not difficult to feed. There are thousands upon thousands of combinations of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains. Now if you could only get your vegan friends to tolerate that giant dead carcass you have on the grill. Hey, I know. Why not go to a vegan BBQ instead? Aw, come on, you know those ideas sounded delish! Why not have a try at some other great vegan foods? Be careful. though. We might just turn you. LOL 

5 Ways energy impacts your life

Tired of what life is throwing at you? Try throwing around some good energy, rather than dwelling on the negative things that happen to you. We all know those people who are constant complainers, don't we? And doesn't it seem sometimes that they are right about their crappy luck? Well, they probably are. But maybe not for the reasons you think.

5. Whatever you wish for and focus on in life, will come to you.

Oh yes, it's true. Whether you dwell on negativity or positivism, you will surely get what you believe you will out of life. Somehow, when we focus on the good, good comes to us naturally. It's not magical or mystical. It's just how it works.

4. Your kids will become exactly what you tell them they are.

Oh, ya. I've seen it happen both ways and many times, even when my own kids. Kids who are told how great they are and whose parents place less emphasis on the “bad” things they do and more on the “good' are usually very well rounded and happy.

3. Negativity is contagious.

When you treat others badly, they are not as apt to send out the good vibes, as it were. They go on to spread more negativity to even more people until the world becomes a big ball of yuck. Emitting negative energy toward others impacts everyone.

2. Energy is everywhere.

It's what we're made up of. In fact, everything in the universe is made up of energy. Energy is made up of positive and negative currents. So, whether it's directed at another person, or a bad day, bad energy will naturally intensify/spread from one terminal to the next, just like an electric current. Luckily, good energy has the same effect. So, put it out there. It will come back to you.

1. There is another worldwide web.

There is a web that connects us all and acts like a distribution system for the energy mentioned above. The web doesn't care what kind of energy it receives. It's just there to pass it on. The great news is that if we all concentrate on the good vibes, they spread out far and wide over the web. The bad news is that negativity can do the same.

So throw that good energy out there, everyone. It will come back to you, I promise.