MorningWood Bracelets

I have always been a resourceful person who thinks it is important to come up with ideas that use things we already have. I feel like there is a lot of waste in the world and people take for granted the useful things we throw away every day. This is also why I believe in shopping small businesses. They have a dream and a focus to create useful things people want or need. This is what keeps the world going around and people grateful. 

I discovered a small business that uses donated scrap wood to make hand carved bracelets. Morning wood bracelets are family owned and operated right here in the USA since 2017. Their business began by accident when they hand carved a piece of jewelry for a friend and people fell in love with it. 

Each bracelet is carved by hand using recycled wooden materials. They do not use any paints or dyes in their art. The natural colors in the wood they use paint the story. Each design is unique and no two pieces are the same. I was excited to receive two Morningwood bracelets in the mail. Every bracelet comes with a handwritten note by the creator that lets you know what kind of wood was used to create your bracelet. This adds a special personal touch. 

I received a starfish made from reclaimed Maple.

I also received a little “ILY” hand sign made from a recycled skateboard. The wood on a skateboard is layered with different colors that bring out all the colors for the charm. 

Morningwood bracelets remind me of why I love shopping small businesses. They appreciate your business and find ways to give back. 

10% of their sales go to charities from helping families in need to disaster relief. How cool is that? Someone gives them scrap materials, they make it, you buy it, they give away portions to help others and you have a cool piece of handmade art to wear. 

You should go check them out at Morningwoodbracelets.com. You will be amazed at the delicate craftsmanship put into each piece. If you have Instagram, you can find them at @moringwoodbracelets where you might see videos of the bracelets in the making.

I love wearing my new bracelets and they are a fun conversation piece. I would love to know which design you like best. Check out their website and come back here and comment which one you like most. But let me warn you, the decision will be hard. 

Shop: Moringwoodbracelets.com

IG: @moringwoodbracelets

Facebook: Morningwoodbracelets

I Got It

Yep It finally hit my household. Covid.

I can no longer say I have never caught the virus. Non vaccinated and unmasked for over two years and me and my husband have both been lucky not got to get sick. I have been around people with the virus many times and still, no sickness. 

But now it’s my time. 

My husband brought it home from his job. 

He worked beside another employee who had a nasty cough and did not cover her mouth when she coughed. It went on all day.

Two days later he began to run a fever and had a deep chest cough. He took a home test and was positive. Two days after that, I woke up in the morning mad. I felt like a truck had hit me and I was running a fever. I stormed into the kitchen looking for another covid test. I knew I had it. I called the doctor to get it confirmed and get some meds started. He put us both on antibiotics and a Covid medicine called “Paxlovid”. 

That employee? She ended up testing positive for covid she has also had all her vaccines. 

Luckily, we did not get a bad case of it. But again, what is a good case? Either way, it’s nasty, and painful. Here is how my covid experience went for those that wonder what it was like for me. My husbands symptoms were mostly the same as mine. 

Day one: Woke up feeling like I had the flu. Running a fever off and on all day. Weak and foggy headed. 

Day two: Woke up feeling fine. Like nothing ever happened. No fever. But can feel a tickle in my chest like something was in there. 

Day three: Still feeling ok. But whatever is in my chest now wants out. I try to cough but its not working. My chest now hurts like I have chest cold.

My legs keep drawing up with cramps. My arms muscles feel like noodles. They are weak. 

Day four: Still ok with all the same symptoms as yesterday. Nothing worst. I think I am now on the downside. 

Day five: Getting stronger. Chest still hurts but phlegm is finally coughing up. I took my last dose of that nasty medicine tonight. Learned that all of my cramps and icky feeling the past couple days are side effects of the medicine.

I’m suppose to go back to work tomorrow but I asked for one more day out of the office. I want to make sure these side effects are gone before I return which also included some lightheadedness. I do have the privilege of working from home so I only lost a few hours work on the first day of sickness. 

Did this change my mind about the vaccine? Nope. Still will not do it. 

Did this change my mind about wearing a mask? Not really. I feel like if you have a cough, you should wear it around people so you don’t cough on them and spread germs. But I am not convinced it protects against getting Covid. 

I just give my healthy immune system and God all the thanks. 

Gourd Art

We have friends from the beach campground that we met years ago. We usually will see them one or two times each year when we go. I heard he had lots of gourds that were ready to harvest. I have always wanted a gourd bird house so I asked him for a couple. 

We did not see these friends the last time we were at the beach but he informed me that he had brought me three gourds and the were with some other friends of his. He told me which site they were at and I went and got the gourds. I did not know what to expect when I first saw them. They were rough and messy looking. They were just plain ole ugly.

When I got home from the beach, I immediately took them out to the patio. I kept looking at them for a few days and thought “this is going to be more work than I thought”. Then I finally tackled it and with a little sand paper and washing, they started looking more like something to work with. My sister took one to paint leaving me with two. 

A couple more weeks went by before I decided to work on a design for the bird house. I wanted something natural looking and did not want to use paint or stain. I ended up stenciling a boho floral pattern and burned it into the gourd with my little wood burner. It was not an easy task and my wood burner was not that great. It was ok though. I do not think any birds will complain about it. 

Next, I had Nick cut me a hole for the entrance. He could not find his hole driller bit so he had to make do with a drill. Again, I do not think the birds will care. I actually like the imperfect look. He also drilled some small holes in the bottom for drainage and a couple at the top to thread a piece of leather through for hanging. I finished it off by rubbing it down with some coconut oil. I can not wait to get it hung next Spring. I hope I have some renters. 

With the other gourd, I had Nick cut it so I could make a bowl. I left it natural as well. I think it will make a great out door planter or decorative bowl for a patio table. 

Cleaning the gourds out was easy. The inside was not as nasty as I thought it would be. There was a white webbed substance that felt like soft toilet paper. I didn't worry about getting it all out in the birdhouse gourd as the birds will actually use it for nesting. The seeds just fell out. 

If you would like some gourd seeds, just let me know by leaving your email in comments 

and I will get back to you.

You will get 25-30 for $5.00 while supply last. 

This just covers shipping and handling. 

The Other Addiction

Food Addiction - A behavioral addiction that is primarily characterized by the compulsive consumption of palatable (e.g., high fat and high sugar) food items which markedly activate the reward system in humans and other animals despite adverse consequences. [Wikipedia]

We are always hearing about drug addiction or alcohol addiction, etc. Food addiction is rarely talked about yet can be as damaging as a drug or other addiction. Food addiction is a real thing. Unlike drugs, food is something we have to have to survive so it makes it a struggle to stay clear from it. 

Just like drug addiction:

food addiction….

Can cause health issues.

Has strong cravings and urges.

You find yourself lying to others about foods you buy or eat.

You have a choice food that will always lead to binge eating.

You sneak around to eat.

You will often eat alone.

You get grumpy when food wears off.

You eat so you will not feel certain emotions. 

You pay high prices for the satisfaction.

You want out but you keep going back.

When someone says you eat to much, you get defensive. 

Taking it away can cause a fight. 

There comes a time we ask for help and have to attend clinics or therapist.

Once clean from the addiction of food, on bite of your favorite foods will trigger a relapse. 

I think I have a food addiction. For real. I am seeing a dietitian and that first couple weeks of detoxing was hard! I almost caved. My body was even getting weak and my energy level was 1 to zero. My body is now getting used to the restrictions I am on and I finally feel the energy slowly coming back and the cravings are getting less. I have even lost 15 lbs in four weeks. I have a few more weeks left of restrictions and I should be good. 

I have to stay away from bake shops because it would be equivilant to taking an alcoholic to a liquor store. 

Food addiction is a powerful thing. Food can be a drug. let’s remember those that may be suffering. Never pick on someone for being on a diet or for what they have on their plate. You never know there story or the struggles they might be going through. 

Note: Some people wonder what happened after I lost 50lbs on Nutrisystem 7 years ago.

That was a super easy diet that I eventually had to give up due to reactions to the salts and whey proteins. I kept the weight off for 5 years. The past two years I fell off the wagon and began eating unhealthy amounts of bad foods again which led me to gaining all 50 lbs back. 

Peanut Butter Pie

It has been a while since I made some sweet stuff. But this past Fathers Day I decided to make my daddy two peanut butter pies. One to share and one for is own.

Why peanut butter pie? Well. I had no idea what to get my dad for Fathers Day so I started thinking about some of my child hood memories of him.

I remember how he used to always eat Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies. Boy that’s a mouth full. 

He would say the little slogan every time he took one from the pack. 

My dad would always (probably still does) eat a spoon of peanut butter right out of the jar.. I remember smelling it on him when he would tuck us in at night and give a goodnight kiss on the cheek. 

Since those days, he has developed diabetes but has it under control. He knows when and how much sugar he can have. A peace of pie is a possible treat for him. Everyone else enjoyed a piece after we had hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.

This pie did not disappoint and I had to share the recipe with my Sisters. Now I will share it with you. It is easy and delicious. Reminded me of peanut butter cheese cake. 

Enjoy.

PEANUT BUTTER PIE.

1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust. (or make your own.)

8 oz cream cheese. (softened)

1 cup creamy peanut butter.

8 oz cool whip.

3/4 cup powder sugar.

Mix cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth.

Add powder sugar a little at a time until mixed well.

Fold in cool whip until until blended.

Pour into pic crust and refrigerate for 5 hours or over night before serving. 

I topped mine with crushed peanut butter cups, shaved chocolate and melted peanut butter drizzle. (All optional).

Oreo cookie crust is another option to this delicious dessert.