Happy 4th!

"Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance. It is also owed to justice and to humanity. Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong."
~James Bryce

Happy 4th of July to you and all of your family!

Perfect Day

“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something
for someone who will never be able to repay you.”
~John Wooden

Lentil and Barley Salad

The warm weather is here and with that comes tons of barbecues and picnics loaded with pasta salads. Try standing out this year by skipping the pasta and reaching for barley. Way more nutritious than regular noodles, this recipe is so cheap that you can afford to make enough to feed your whole extended family, in-laws included:

Lentil and Barley Salad

• 3/4 c. lentils
• 3/4 c. barley
• 3 c. water
• 2 t. garlic
• 3 T. lemon juice
• 1 T. red wine vinegar
• 1/4 c. olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 t. garlic
• 1/2 t. oregano
• 1/2 t. basil
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/4 t. black pepper

In a medium pot, bring water to a boil and add lentils, rice and 2 t. garlic. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until fully cooked and water is absorbed (about 30 minutes). Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, onion and seasonings. Add cooked lentils and rice to the dressing and stir to fully coat. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later use.

But Why?

I give a lot of advice on saving money, going green, eating healthier and simplifying your life, but none of that matters until you ask yourself:

Why?

Why do you want to save money? Why do you want to cook from scratch? Why do you want to change your cleaning style?

There is a countless number of ways that we can improve our lifestyles. Most people strive to improve themselves daily, even in the tiniest form, but no lifestyle change or personal improvement matters unless we know what drives us.

Every person has different priorities in their life. Some people feel that eating healthy, cooking from scratch and buying only the purest ingredients is the most important part of living. Others feel that what we consume is irrelevant if we are destroying our planet with chemicals and plastics. Then again, what is the point to all the cleaning and cooking when it takes time away from spending every moment nurturing our children?

One thing many bloggers can tell you is that they have been attacked in some way for their priorities. They were not green enough, clean enough, pure enough or parent enough.

But those attackers are missing the point. The purpose is not to be perfect at everything. It is not to be better than anyone else. Rather, it is to improve ourselves and our lives. Those bloggers have asked and answered the question "why" and have set forth to live out their answer.

So, before you move onto the next blog post, vlog or book, take a moment to ask yourself "why?" Why do you want to change? Why do you want to improve? Why are you searching for tips and tricks?

Until you know the answer, you can never fully embrace the new techniques you seek. Decide your priorities and watch your life transform to fit those priorities.

Learning your purpose and motivation is one of the most amazing moments of your life and is essential in improving your day to day living, no matter how big or small.

So Pin-tastic!

Pin pin pin! As I have mentioned before, Pinterest is certainly my daily guilty pleasure. I am constantly in awe at the fantastic array of tips, tricks and inspirations that grace the pin boards.

Here are some of my most recent favorite pins:

Life and Health

What your skin is telling you about your health.

Source: ulookhaute.com via TyKes on Pinterest

Seven steps to happiness

Source: holykaw.alltop.com via TyKes on Pinterest

 

Do-It-Yourself Ear Drops

Source: onegoodthingbyjillee.com via TyKes on Pinterest

 

Organizing and Cleaning

Vinyl tiles on wire shelving

Source: thekranzfamily.blogspot.com via TyKes on Pinterest

 

Homemade dishwasher detergent - REVISED!

Source: onegoodthingbyjillee.com via TyKes on Pinterest

 

Food

Flour-less Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Source: fortheloveofcooking.net via TyKes on Pinterest

 

 

Bake bread in a crockpot

Source: artisanbreadinfive.com via TyKes on Pinterest

 

For Fun

Source: google.com via TyKes on Pinterest

 

Check me out on Pinterest for more fun ideas!
Need an invite? Contact me!

Tap Into Your Core

“You will struggle to live a pleasure-filled life if you do not tap into your core self and who you really are and instead waste precious time wondering why you don’t have the job, the looks, the money, the family, etc. etc. etc. that someone else has.”
~Terri Cole

Peanut Butter Cocoa Cookies

I love using oats in baking because, combined with whole grain flour, it makes a delicious, heart-healthy, frugal treat. One of my favorite combinations is cocoa, peanut butter and oats so I was more than excited when I found this simple cookie recipe:

Peanut Butter Cocoa Cookies

• 3/4 c. butter, softened
• 1/2 c. peanut butter
• 1 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1 t. baking powder
• 1/2 t. baking soda
• 3 T. vegetable or olive oil
• 1/2 c. cocoa powder
• 2 eggs
• 1 t. vanilla
• 1-1/4 c. whole wheat flour
• 2 c. rolled oats
• 1 c. nuts or chocolate chips (optional)

Beat butter and peanut butter until smooth. Beat in sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and baking soda until creamy. Add oil, cocoa, eggs and vanilla and beat until combined. Beat in as much flour as possible, stir in remainder. Fold in oats and nuts (if desired).

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes per batch. Let cool on sheet before removing. Enjoy!

Looking for more oatmeal, peanut butter and chocolate recipes? Try these:
No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies
Monster Cookies