Are you tired of the way a certain room looks?  In today's economy, we cannot just go out and buy all new furniture.  In fact, most of us cannot even go out and buy used furniture.  But that doesn't mean that you cannot liven up the rooms in your house.   A relatively easy way to change the feeling of a room is to use plants as a decoration.  If you don't think you can take care of a plant, get a fake one.  Even fake plants can liven up a room and give it a new feeling!

So, I am moving, and that is consuming pretty much all of my thoughts these days.  It is hard to move and leave the past behind.  It feels marginally good to go through the house and discard everything I can.   But I am finding myself totally stressed out.  So, I decided to write a post on relaxing, in the hopes that I will take my own advice. 

One way to relax is to focus on your breathing.  Notice how the air feels flowing into your body, delivering oxygen to each cell in your body, rejuvenating them.  Notice how good it feels to blow out all that stale air.  Then do it again. and again.  Now start counting.  Inhale and count to three then let the air go.  imagine a ribbon flowing in and out of your nose.  see your ribbon fluttering in the airstream you have created.   Now, imagine that with each breath, your body is inhaling good karma and each exhale is blowing away any negativity. 

Create a mantra of some kind.  I have faith.  and repeat that statment over and over until you believe it. 

So, as I have said before, we are moving.  And it is an excruciating process for me. I don't want to move but financial necessity is forcing it upon me.  And now I have a huge house that needs to be sorted and packed or sold.  I am moving to an already furnished home, so I can't fit very much in it.  I have way too much stuff!  Even contemplating the sorting  gives me a headache.  And, to be completely honest, I am scared.  I don't want to move to a new city.  I don't want to leave my home--the one that my husband and I found.  I don't want to let go of the memories and I know that they will travel in my heart no matter where I go.  SO, this is my whining post.  I don't wanna and much like a two year old I want to stomp and scream at the heavens!  How can this be happening to me?

And now, unlike the two year old, I have to pick myself up and move on.  Where am I going? Don't quite know yet.  But I have to have faith that I will be ok, no matter where I end up.

Paula Deen is an example of the American dream coming true.  She is a successful author, has her own television show and is a great cook.  She has turned her lifelong love affair with food into a successful and lucrative business.
I found a great recipe for lime chicken and shrimp kabobs.  It is a little bit complex, as it requires a marinade.  The chicken and shrimp must marinate for over 6 hours, so this is not a good recipe for timeliness.  The chicken and shrimp kabobs will be cooked on an outdoor grill.  They will only take between 6 and 15 minutes.  So, it is a meal that can be made quickly, once the marinade has set.  Click on the above link to get the recipe!

So, we are getting ready to move.  Its a hard process and my emotions are pretty raw.  And because we are moving to a smaller house, thank you economy, it means that there are lots of things to do.  There are a lot of tough choices to be made.  And I have chosen to include my daughters in the process.  It makes it harder than if I just did it myself, but its worth it.  They are going through their toys and clothes.  Since we have a brand new baby in the family ( I have a new niece), they are making piles of things to give to the baby, as well as a pile for donation. 

For me, this is a bittersweet task.  This was  home that my husband and I chose together.  Each piece of furniture was discussed and debated to the point of insanity.  The school was the one that we chose.  And now, when he is gone, instead of being able to treasure this "house that built me" I am being forced to leave.  And the place I am going is not where I want to be.  But, I am having to go.  My husband is gone, and my life is changing.  There is no choice.  I have to move forward...even if it feels like a death march