GO GREEN - SILVERWARE CLEANER

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!

After a myriad of plans, shopping, cleaning and preparation, the day has arrived. I am grateful and thankful for so many things. Especially, first of the day to be thankful to God who has graced this area with no snow storms or wind/ice storms.

Yet, every perfect holiday seems to have something that can cast a shadow. Not to differ, as I began to set the table I noticed the holiday silverware had a brownish cast to it. Uh-Oh! A search under the sink did not reveal any silver cleaner. What to do? First, not panic!

Aluminum Foil, Baking Soda and Hot Water came to the rescue. Put aluminum foil at the bottom of the sink, add HOT water and baking soda. Soak the silver. It may take a few baths to complete the process.

No harsh chemicals or the need to stand and rub, wipe, wash and dry. Simply soak.

My sincere apologies -- no before and after pictures.

Have tips? Please comment so the whole A-Tidbit community can benefit.
Also -- not in the mood for the holiday, yet something changed? For me, it was watching the Rockets on the Macy's Parade. I'm charged and ready for the day. You?

This tip has been provided by my photographer/VA - also the creator ofassistyousucceed.blogspot.com. She advises me that the site is still alive, and she will vibrantly return by next week.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Best wishes to each of you and your families this 2008 holiday season for a delightful, warm and very Happy Thanksgiving.

"God can only do for you what He can do through you." - Eric Butterworth

This is a perfect opportunity to think about the above quote. With Faith we believe that God is with us and we with him. Yet it is not about waiting for him to do something for us. It is up to us to do what he asks, and take steps, perhaps tiny ones first. Through you --- others will see joy, opportunity and possibility.

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to truly be thankful and prepare for Christmas and the other celebratory holidays within religions other than Christian.

Suggestion: Take an empty box or create a manger. Pick up some straw, hay or that something you are comfortable with in the house without bugs or that collects mice. Collect the family and discuss the following: With every "unsung" good deed, each person places a piece of straw in the box. By Christmas envision a very comfy, warm place for the baby Jesus to lay.

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving to one and ALL!

P.S. Roy and family, I will be thinking of you in Vermont. What are others doing? I'm here cooking for a few in this home, and feeding a few in another where a friend is recovering from foot surgery.

Namaste!!!

SOMETHING GOOD IN THE NEWS?

Check out http://www.odemagazine.com/

for a different perspective beside doom, gloom, etc. etc. There are positive slants on everything - there are positive outcomes, there are positive perspectives. There are also challenges, challenges, and more challenges. Yet, without looking at something differently, and doing something differently, one gets the same result.

Suggestion: Check it out - and begin to tweak something into something else. Make it a game - find others with the same challenge. Put heads together - create a contest - stand on your head. Or, perhaps switch challenges if they are similar, yet different. You solve the others persons, and they look to solve yours. Then get together over coffee and share brainstorming.

"The Shack"

"The Shack" by William P. Young

This book will captivate you, perhaps not at the beginning. I kept reading, and with a very short time I believed I was truly witnessing God. This book was borrowed. I will buy this book to read it again, and again.

I cannot say the beginning, to this reader, was well written. I suggest check out Amazon and read a portion. For those who have read it, or do read it, please post a comment.

This book might raise a question in your life. It also might take steps to heal you, if there is healing to be done.

What are you reading?

Oh, just returned from a few days away. Thus the very quick previous post. Yet, not takers, interesting. Are your minds open? Open enough? I'm still working on that and many other things.

Happy Wednesday!!!!

IS YOUR MIND LIKE A PARACHUTE?

"Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open." - Sir James Dewar

Thoughts, anyone?

Hate and Dislike Trap US - The TARGET Is Unaffected

"Hate traps us by binding us too tightly to our adversary." Milan Kundera

I remember as a small child saying and thinking, "I hate this..." or "I hate that..." As a 7-year old, my hate was directed at a glass of milk getting warmer and warmer as it sat on the dining room table waiting for me to drink it. What is non-existent and, such a small issue today, appeared huge and looming when I was 7.

When we get older the targets seem to get larger, and more negative energy is transferred from our thoughts to our feelings. What resonates with me about this quote are the words, "binding us too tightly..."

Hate cripples the person hating, not the person being hated. It crippled the milk, which obviously, did not respond or react. The same thing happens with a person being hated if she/he has moved on or is unaware or uncaring about our feelings.

Replace the word "hate" with "dislike," "very annoyed with," etc. See what arrives.

Suggestion: Perhaps consider the hated target as milk. That will be great if you like milk. You might move from hate to -- something else less dark. If you don't like milk, there are alternatives. It may seem simplistic; however, your feelings are your choice. Choose to move past milk, and find something else to occupy your energy. Volunteer - find a coach - or? What will you do? If you do find something, please post it as it might help others.

Thanks again very much to all that are commenting - your energy and thoughts, and experiences are helpful to the whole Tribe of us. It is also so fun to see where you are living. Boston, Arizona, Hawaii, New York, North Carolina, etc.

Choose JOY - it is so fun to smile!

Milan Kundera from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

RELATIONSHIPS --- TOO CHRISTIAN?

Recently, a very interesting experience happened as a dating relationship ended. I walked away truly wishing him well, and feeling extremely good about myself.

Rather than the typical thoughts and distressed or angry feelings that he is so............, or he said this, or he did this, immediately there was a feeling of peace and comfort as I walked away from the almost three-month relationship.

It can happen - it can be healthy. The end of a relationship does not need to be traumatic.

This one ended with "him" saying to me, "I believe you are too Christian." There were other things leading up to that; yet, with that comment, I swiftly acknowledged that he and I were NOT destined to be yoked together in a serious relationship.

Suggestion: Come from a Christian perspective, and do not step away from your individual values. Last, yet so important, save intimacy until you are CERTAIN the relationship has a foundation.

Returning to a state of gratefulness for the opportunity and the lesson will return you to be ready for the next opportunity. You will be more aware of what you don't want, as well as what you want.

Best wishes for Joyful living, each and every minute!!!!!!

WEIGHT LOSS HELP - CALORIES COUNT-QUOTE AT BOTTOM

This post has been "festering" for awhile. Actually, it was buried on my desk, and it reappeared after I cleaned my desk. I could have saved it for January 1; however, why wait if it can help someone now.

Many people, once in their life, want to lose weight. OK -- it is a reoccurring theme for me. This helps me, perhaps it might help you.

The following formula will remove the guesswork out of the question "How many calories to eat to lose weight."

Written by Jean Bauch in a Democrat & Chronicle article, dated 4/23/06.

1. Calculate your actual weight in pounds. If you don't have a scale, visit your Dr.
2. For women - multiply weight by 12.
For men - multiply weight by 14.
3. Deduct 500 calories
4. Answer in calories.

For example, a 160# woman will target 1420 calories each day. A 160# man will target 1740. PLEASE NOTE: Women Please DO NOT GO BELOW 1200 Calories.

This number represents the number of calories to eat to drop approximately one pound each week. You may lose more in a week. You won't simply have to eat carrots.

Here is a tip. One carbohydrate serving is 80 calories. That is the size of a mini-Lender's bagel.

It takes 21 days to make something a habit. Just in time for the approaching holidays!

Take a step today - it will make a difference tomorrow. Take step two tomorrow - etc.

Keep a calendar of successes!!!

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."- Aristotle