Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex autoimmune condition that affects the central nervous system, leading to a wide range of symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, numbness, and difficulty with coordination and balance. While there is no cure for MS, the Overcoming MS Programme offers a...
Happy Tell a Fairytale Day, folksies!!! So, yeah, today is Fairytale Appreciation Day. Naturally I would be writing a post for this day– would you expect any less from me? I was trying to dec…
If you are a blogger, you will naturally want to do a good job and write good blog posts. People are going to
This month we spoke to the General Manager, Luke Marriott, at the beautifully located Lake Country House – fancy a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature in all its glory? This is the place for you.
The STOPP method is something a lot of therapists recommend for controlling anxiety. It consists of five manageable steps you can use when you feel anxious.
Congratulations! You are getting married now you need tips on how to plan a wedding. Looking to find how to plan a wedding on a small budget is your wedding budget tight?
Last March I did 10,000 steps EVERY DAY throughout the entire month to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Find out how I got on here...
Happy Memorial Day! This week's QQ is just a little early since I am on vacation! So today marks another edition of Quickie Questions, where I ask a super duper important question to get y'all talking in the comments!
This is a brilliant day. May 6th, post Cinco de Mayo recuperation, a Friday I hope to fill with more sunny moments. I’m writing a weekly blog post on different subjects important to being challenged as a writer. Follow me along on this journey every Friday from now until they come to take me away.…
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more details. Thanks for supporting the brands that make The Happy Arkansan possible! When you want to take your life to the next level or be the badass babe you were meant to be, you gotta stop downing yourself. You can't be a […]
It all started with an email from my 8th grader’s guidance counselor, asking parents if they would submit a handwritten note of encouragement for their kids. A note from a parent, she said, could make
I've read a lot of 'self-help' books and they have varied a lot. However, there are a few rare gems that really made a difference in my life.
Today, I’m sharing something fun! I was interviews by Brittany Miller Social or her Go Get Great podcast all about why every business needs a blog! This interview gets SO detailed into the process of blogging for your business, and Brittany asked such good questions that this is well worth a listen (or skim for […]
A few weeks ago, I was introduced to the new documentary-style series This Is Life with Lisa Ling on CNN. I've always liked Lisa Ling, ever since I saw her on Channel One (my junior high and high schools' morning news program) with Anderson Cooper—I've always liked him too! Side note: I love seeing how Anderson and Lisa have progressed so far in their news careers. They are excellent at what they do. Plus, it's fun to say, "I knew them when!" (Although, I have nothing to do with either of them!) All of the episodes I've watched have been very interesting, but episode 2, Unholy Addiction, had me spellbound. Here is CNN's YouTube introduction of it: "Utah, home of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has the lowest rates of tobacco use and alcohol-related deaths in the nation. Yet, every year more people in Utah are dying from prescription drug overdoses than are dying in car accidents. In this episode, Lisa travels to Salt Lake City to discover how the hard hit LDS Church is battling an epidemic that is wreaking havoc on its faithful followers." I found it fascinating yet sad to see active and inactive members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints baring their souls on CNN about how hard it's been for them to deal with their prescription drug addictions. Disclaimer: I've never been addicted to anything in my life, unless you count my husband, Greg! Ha ha. But in all seriousness, I think the worst nearly-addictions I've experienced are a love of chocolate and socializing. FYI, they don't need to happen together, but it's always fun if they do! ;) As you can clearly see, I'm not an expert when it comes to addictions. Even when I had an eating disorder as a teenager (you can read about it in my post Love Every Breath), I was not truly an addict. It was just something I was trying to become good at. When I did become "good" at it (which was a very bad thing), I had a seizure that thankfully shook me to my core, and I chose to totally change my way of life. Thus, all I can offer are my thoughts on this subject. I mean no harm in writing this post! That said, let's move on... As I listened to the four people Lisa interviewed, I kept seeing/hearing recurring themes. Here are their points of view about prescription drug abuse. I've enlarged their points that were similar. Kathy (I'm unsure how she spells her name.): "There are things we're taught in the Mormon church that we're not to do... There are some ideals that we strive for... There's that pressure to be perfect and since we don't drink [alcohol, or caffeinated beverages or, use tobacco], there's always the pills—which aren't really talked about." "...I know a lot of people are like me, they want to keep it [prescription drug abuse] secret. There's this pressure to be perfect." "They [the drugs] make you feel like everything's okay and you can manage everything, which leads to feeling like they're necessary to get through your daily life." "...I was worried about the shame of it [of hiding her addiction], and having this weakness. It's not so much the Church putting it [the pressure to be perfect] on people, but it's people getting that idea that there's a certain standard that they've gotta live up to. You know, heaven forbid if there's a problem in your life. You're not gonna talk about it." Shannon, who is Kathy's daughter: "I felt worthless. I didn't fit the box of being like this housewife. Everybody else in church gets married and has five kids by the time they're 30. Yeah, they're not telling you to do that, but how do you feel when you go to church and you're the only one that doesn't." Sarah, who is Shannon's friend (By the way, I spelled her name Sarah because her parents were both religious, and I'm assuming they took it from the Holy Bible. I could be totally wrong on the spelling.): "She [Sarah's mom] just doesn't relate to me at all. We don't relate with each other." "...Honestly? I think they're depressed, or they're hiding some type of issue in their life. You know? They just don't want to be judged by their church." Ryan: "People are worried about what the neighbors think. The LDS Church lives by a higher set of standards. And if they're living their life in a way that's wrong, then, yeah, they're gonna do everything they can do to hide it." Even Lisa Ling fell into the same "trap" when she said, "The LDS 12-Step Meeting was really emotional. Everyone in that room shared such painful and candid details about their addiction. Not just with each other, but for the world to see. I couldn't have done it." I know everyone sees and takes things differently, but what I took away from this documentary is that many people struggle mightily with being judged as less-than, imperfect, weak, or different. They want to connect with others, but are afraid of not fitting-in, or not measuring up to someone else's standards. Furthermore, it seems that some people will do whatever they deem necessary to hide their flaws—even if it endangers their health and well-being. For some, their pain is too much—too real—to deal with. Unfortunately, they believe the only relief available to them comes through prescription drugs. What saddened me the most about this episode is seeing the pain in the interviewees eyes. Even though many of them were sober and healing, I could still see their pain. So here's what I wish I could say to everyone—not just Church members: It's okay to feel any and every feeling we have. We need to allow ourselves the time to feel our feelings and come to terms with them. No one can tell us how long we should feel—or not feel—a certain way. It's up to us, we get to be in charge of our feelings! Masking, numbing, or ignoring our feelings with any vice (drugs, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, technology—anything) that we might be tempted to use, is simply destructive to our souls. We should avoid those vices at all costs! We must allow ourselves to feel discomfort in our lives. The beauty of feeling discomfort is that it motivates us to want to change for the better! We can make mistakes and still have immense value. We can learn from our mistakes and become better people. We strengthen ourselves and others when we open our souls and share our weaknesses and fears. There's nothing wrong with crying! In fact, I think our sinuses need a good cry every now and then to help prevent sinus infections. Seriously! I could be totally wrong, but it sounds good, right?! ;) Speaking of crying, Moses 7:28-29 tells us (emphasis added), 28 And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains? 29 And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity? (To find out the answer, read the rest of Moses 7!) Also, in John 11:35 we are told, 35 Jesus wept. See?! Crying isn't a bad thing! Now, back to my list. :) We must be honest with ourselves and others, for if we are not honest, we are living an incongruent life. I can't think of anything more torturous than forcing my soul to live incongruently! While none of us wants to be judged by others, the truth is, judging happens. We can either acknowledge that fact and learn how to deal with it while choosing to live our lives well, or we'll continue to have issues with others when they dislike or disapprove of our choices. I cannot stress enough that it's perfectly okay to be imperfect! *All of that said, do we give up trying to become better people? No, it most certainly does not! I never want anyone to stop improving themselves. There is great joy to be found in our journeys of personal discovery and self improvement. Why wouldn't we want to do our very best every single day of our lives here on earth? Everyone gets discouraged, and we all regularly experience disappointment, but I think those feelings are necessary for our souls to become stronger. Truth? We can be happy! Everyday, we make our choices. Unless we have a severe emotional/mental component that needs professional medical help, we can feel all of our feelings, and then choose to be happy! :) And the next day, if we feel sad, that's okay. We might feel sad for several days, and that's okay too! Because when we deal with our emotions and allow them to properly run their course, we make room for the happy feelings to fill our lives again! But back to prescription or over-the-counter drugs: I won't take them unless they're absolutely necessary because I hate not feeling like myself. I hated taking Benadryl (the one time I took one pill because I thought it would help my cold) because it completely sped up my body to the point that I couldn't sleep and was pacing my house! I've read the possible side effects and know that my reaction was not normal. I'll never take any form of Benadryl (diphenhydramine) unless the doctor forces me to! I definitely didn't like taking 800 mg of Ibuprofen after my first child was born (for episiotomy stitches) because it took away my pain to the point that I totally overdid my first day home from the hospital. I felt completely exhausted the next day, and my stitches hurt even worse than the day before. I decided right then and there that I would never take extra-strength pain pills again unless there was a significant problem that made me incapable of functioning without them. Similarly, I had nitrous oxide once at the dentist and felt so loopy and out of control that I vowed to never use it ever again. However, I received epidurals when I gave birth to my three children. I'm very grateful for that medical benefit, for it helped me enjoy the birthing process and not be incapacitated by contractions—my contractions were so intense with my first son that the nurses gave me a synthetic morphine to tide me over until the anesthesiologist was available. I guess I just have a super effective uterus. ;) Obviously, none of us can live completely pain free and it's unrealistic to think we can. I view pain as our partner: it's a way for us to really listen to our bodies and make changes in our lives for the better! Last week, I watched a fabulous CES Devotional, We are the Architects of Our Own Happiness, given by Bishop Gérald Caussé. He shares so many wonderful thoughts, I highly recommend watching all of his talk! Begin at 12:12: If you don't want to watch all of it, here are some of his wise words: "My dear brothers and sisters, my message for you today is that there is a different path than ones of fear and doubt, or self-indulgence—a path that brings peace, confidence and serenity in life. You can't control all of the circumstances of your life. Things both good and challenging will happen to you, that you never expected. However, I declare that you have control of you own happiness. You are the architects of it!" "Though your happiness is not really the result of the circumstances of your life, it is much more the result of your special vision and the principles upon which you base your life. These principles will bring you happiness regardless of the unexpected challenges and surprises you will inevitably face during your journey here on Earth." Brilliant, right?! :) Also, I just had to create a typographic design of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's famous words: Again, we must do our best to improve ourselves, but simultaneously love and accept who we are! We must not beat ourselves up for our faults, but acknowledge them and find ways to become better. And we must not forget that we will deeply regret if we allow anyone or anything to sway us in our efforts. We must truly love ourselves and remain strong in our endeavors to live our lives positively! :) I believe we can all learn from what Sarah said at the end of Unholy Addiction. "I want to stop [using prescription drugs] more than you even know. I've been in and out of jail. I've lost everything. I wish I had my parents. I wish I had my daughter. "...And sometimes, I just want to scream out like 'I want my mom!' You know? I'm 26 years old, and I just want a hug from my mom. How hard is that?" "I am sorry, Mom and Dad, that you have to see me like this, but I think this is a good thing, I guess. I don't know why I want you guys to see how I live, but, I do..." We can clearly see from her experiences that healthy communication with our loved ones is vital! We must not allow painful issues to get in the way of our special family relationships, for some might run the risk of finding dangerous alternatives to cover that pain. No matter how badly some words might hurt to speak or write, it's worth being brave and expressing them! And we must never forget how important unconditional love is. Obviously, I don't understand what Sarah's family has gone through with her, and from what I understand of addicts, they can be dangerous to others. Thus, we must protect ourselves and keep our families safe while attempting to give our unconditional love. It's a tricky balancing act, for sure. But I believe with dedicated determination, anything is possible! In the end, we must never forget that we are beloved children of our Heavenly Father (God). We have a Savior, Jesus Christ, who loves us enough that He gave His perfect life for every single one of our imperfect souls! Again, we see that it's perfectly okay to be imperfect! If our Savior was willing to die for us—as imperfect as we are—we must see, understand, and fully internalize our tremendous value and worth. If we allow it, that loving knowledge can propel us through every trial! *I must add, however, that just because our Heavenly Father and Savior perfectly love us, that doesn't excuse us from repenting. Repentance is a very important part of our lives that everyone should partake of daily. I don't want to put us on a guilt trip because I know everyone is very good at going on those trips unaccompanied and unfunded by anyone else (ha ha), but I do want us to remember that Jesus Christ died for us. Because of His sacrifice, He gave us the ability to repent and return home to our Heavenly Father. We must not take His sacred gift for granted. We must accept His precious Atonement and repent daily, for that is how we show our love for Him. Finally, when we experience heartbreaking feelings, we can and must(!) go to our Heavenly Father in prayer for "...the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all [our] faces..." – Isaiah 25:8. It's true! :)
Are you unhappy with some of your early blog posts? In this post I'll cover how to revamp old blog posts to make them the best they can be!
Hey there, fellow creatives! We've all been there, right? Those days when your brilliant ideas seem to be hiding in a thick fog, just out of reach. Welcome to the world of brain fog—a place where creative professionals sometimes find themselves wandering, desperately searching for clarity and inspiration. Whether you're a writer, designer, artist, or any kind of creative soul, you know that these foggy moments can be frustrating, but fear not! In this blog post, we're going to dive into the worl
These tips and tricks for surviving the night shift will keep you healthy and sane. The key takeaways is to follow a strict routine!
General von Clausewitz's metaphor on how "the fog of war" arises out of incomplete information and assumptions is more relevant than ever. Read on...
Here are some of the tips and methods I have used over the years to help me get up early in the morning despite being more of a night owl.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex autoimmune condition that affects the central nervous system, leading to a wide range of symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, numbness, and difficulty with coordination and balance. While there is no cure for MS, the Overcoming MS Programme offers a...
A sinus infection can ruin a perfectly good day. In this article, you will learn 6 natural ways you can easily get rid of sinusitis.
Discover our African Safari Blog and our Safari Holiday Guides, with expert advice to help you enjoy this continent’s stunning wildlife at its very best.
This Venn Diagram poem is brilliant, and was shared by Tom Bennett on Twitter: Here’s a new poem called “At the Intersection”, which I have written in the form of a venn diagram. …
Congratulations! You are getting married now you need tips on how to plan a wedding. Looking to find how to plan a wedding on a small budget is your wedding budget tight?
Over the years, I have tried many different ways of organising my time, some of which have been more successful than others!
I want to share with you 7 lessons I have learned from studying Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. These are ideas I have found helpful in real life situations.
Blogging is hard work. Travel blogging feels even harder. It is no wonder we often ask ourselves why we started blogging!
Are you thinking of starting a blog? In this post, I will be sharing with you 10 things that you should know before starting a blog.
Here's How The World's Most Brilliant People Scheduled Their Days
I’m head over heels in love with this setting for a wedding! Imagine saying your ‘I dos’ on a cliff top, overlooking the sea and surrounded by fabulous boho seaside vibes. This gorgeous day was Read more…
Τα σπίτια θα πρέπει να είναι τόσο μοναδικά, όσο και οι ιδιοκτήτες τους. Με αυτή τη σκέψη στο μυαλό τους, κάποιοι ιδιοκτήτες σπιτιών δεν διστάζουν να
I was actually thinking of blogging about something else, but since Codruta’s brilliant idea, World Bread Day was launched today, I decided I’ll post a formula for the cocoa sourdough submitted to her project. So thisblog entry is for you, Codruta. Well done on your wonderful project and thank you very much for letting us be part of it. ************************************************************************************************************************* This bread is basically same as Cocoa Flavoured Sourdough with Cranberries and Walnuts I wrote about in my second blog entry, but with some modifications and addition of orange peels.This converted my friend (the culprit of misleading naming of ‘Faux Poilane’), who used to think dried fruits should belong to cakes, never to breads into a avid fruited bread eater……..well, almost. This is the only fruited bread she eats, and she always includes this bread in her order of breads.Hope you like it, too. WARNING to hardcore chocoholics - This is NOT a gooey and sweet chocolate heaven you may be dreaming of. The cocoa powder is there to give some depth and richness to the crumb, with just a hint of cocoa aroma. Nothing more, nothing less. You are warned! :p Cocoa Flavoured Sourdough with Cranberries, Walnuts and Orange Peels INGREDIENTSVery active S/D (75% hydration) 90gStrong Flour 210g*(See 'Note1' below)Plain Flour 60g*(see 'Note1' below)WW Flour 30gInstant active dried yeast 0.2g (optional)Skimmed Milk Powder 1tblsCocoa powder 15gClear honey 2-3 tsp (or more if you like it sweeter)Olive Oil 1 tblsWater 215 – 225gSalt 6g Filling … 60g dried cranberries, 50g chopped walnuts (see Note2, below), 30g chopped orange peel METHODFeed S/D during 8-12hrs period before you plan to use it.Mix flours, skimmed milk, cocoa, dried yeast(if using) in a large bowl.Put S/D, water, honey and olive oil in a separate bowl and mix to loosen S/D.Pour S/D water mix onto the bowl of flours and mix until no dried bits is left. (Cocoa powder seems to have a tendency to stiffen the dough, so you may want to add a little more water) Cover and rest for 40-45 minutes.Sprinkle salt on the dough and stretch and fold until the salt is well distributed through the dough.Rest for 45 minutes.Two more sessions of S & F at 45 minutes intervals.30 minutes after the last S & F, put the dough on worktop and spread it spread into a large rectangle.Sprinkle 2/3 of the fillings onto 2/3 of the surface of the dough. Letter-fold the dough, firstly the part without the filling then the other part. Repeat the same process with the remaining fillings.Cover and rest for 20 minutes.Shape and put in a banetton and cold retard in the fridge for 8 – 16 hours. (See Note3, below) Take the dough out of the fridge and leave for 30 minute-1 hr to bring it back to room temperature. (Note: You may need to leave longer if the dough is not fully-proofed during the cold retard)Bake in a pre-heated pot/pyrex casserole with a lid at 240℃ for 20 minutes. Remove the lid, lower the temperature to 200℃ and bake for another 20-25 minutes. *Note 1 : If you can get hold of AP flour, you can replace all the white flours (Strong and Plain) with it.*Note 2 : I usually dry-roast walnuts in a frying pan before I use it to improve the flavour, but it’s optional. *Note 3 : In my original formula, I bulk-fermented in the fridge, then pre-shape → shape → proof at room temperature, which works just fine, too. But I’ve found cold-retarding after shaped would give me more texture, so this is how I do it lately. But if you do, prepare yourself for a possible stained banetton from the cranberries!! You are warned. :p HAPPY WORLD BREAD DAY! :) lumos
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Welcome to our real weddings feature! Learn how Verity & Scott overcame devastating news just 8 weeks before their wedding day and meet their incredible wedding suppliers.
Here's a perfect formula to understand the role of the father in child development. Using the formula you would find a difference, and make a difference too
In the next few minutes, I will walk you through the six steps you need to take to start a blog on WordPress.
Denuda, me puse frente a las puertas del armario con las luces encendidas y me mentalicé. Respiré hondo y coloqué los espejos para poder verme de cuerpo entero. Abrí los ojos y observé mi cuerpo con atención. Y al descubrir la verdad me dio un vuelco el corazón: ya no soy una mujer joven.
A really easy egg free pancake recipe using mostly store cupboard ingredients. I'll never use another recipe for Shrove Tuesday or breakfast again...
“At every crossroads on the path that leads to the future, tradition has placed 10,000 men to guard the past.” Maurice Maeterlinck You are now at a crossroads. This is your opportunity to make the most important decision you will ever make. Forget your past. Who are you now? Who have you decided you really […]
The Boy in the Attic - Ilse makes the most dangerous decision of her life, and takes Levi in. Hiding him away in her tiny attic room, he must remain concealed or risk almost certain death.
Let me show you a simple manual pinning system that tripled my blog traffic in only 30 days. Manual pinning has been a buzz word for a while now...
