The Rice Experiment And Your Body

I decided to give the rice experiment a go.














I made some rice, put the same amount in two identical jars, then put them in two similar side by side bedrooms in my basement.

To the positive one I gave it compliments. I mostly called it "PRETTY" and "BEAUTIFUL." Though  I also threw in a 'good', 'nice', and 'love you' every once in a while.

To the negative one I said mean things. Mostly I called it "FAT" and "UGLY." I also threw in an 'I hate you' every now and then.

After just one week a mouldy spot formed on the negative one. The positive one stayed nice, white and mould free. I continued doing it probably 5 times a week for a month and sporadically for another month. The same results continued; the negative one got mouldy and the positive one stayed nice and white. See for yourself:

 

So what does this have to do with our bodies?

EVERYTHING.

If saying mean or nice things to a jar of measly cooked rice proved negative and positive looking results, how much more true could it be to a living breathing being?

Lets say nice things to ourselves in that mirror and watch those physical flaws and emotional scars fade, shall we?



Heaven's slice is loving your body.

When Pinterest DIY's Actually Turn Out

... it's because my husband did all the work.

Checkout my sweet necklace holder!!

To be fair though, I am the one who found the piece of wood, which is kind of the essence of the whole thing. Am I right?


Anyways.



Heaven's slice is being married to a handyman.

The 20/20 Project

“My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children."   

- Pres. Thomas S. Monson

20 People.

              20 days.

Lives touched.
           
                 Serving changed.


As I pondered my previous post about serving THE ONE, a sudden idea came into my mind on how I could better achieve a more effective and less stressful way to love one another. This idea is what I call 'The 20/20 Project.'

What you do:

1. Make a list of 20 names of people in your life.
      On this list you MUST include the following:
        - Spouse (if applicable)
        - Children (if applicable)
        - Parents (if applicable)
        - At least 1 person you have negative feelings towards.
        - Yourself

2. Write verticaly # 1-20 with one name from your list beside each number.  Start with your own family and leave #20 for your own name. You can be strategic with birthday's if it applies.

3. Choose your month. This is your month from the 1st to the 20th where you will take the corresponding name into your heart and mind as your focus for that day. Place your list in such a way that you can only view the name for that day and dates past. e.g. --------------------------------------->

  Leave this on your night stand. Each morning, slowly pull out the next name for that day.


4. Serve that one in whatever way you feel impressed. From a text to a cookie drop-off, from forgiving to making amends. Heal that relationship and/or celebrate that relationship. Give patience, find empathy, spend your time, flash a smile, make a treat, buy a gift, write a letter etc. But above all else that day PRAY FOR THEM on your knees and in your heart.  Pray specifically for blessings to be poured upon them, pray in expression of gratitude for them, or even a prayer for yourself to have your heart softened toward them. Even if praying is the only thing you do for them that day, it will have a great impact for their good and your own.


5. Pullout the new name the following morning and repeat until your list is finished.


Tips and Commentary:

On your children's day: It was wonderful to start this off with my children. I feel as though my eyes were opened from an unknowing haze. I didn't do anything extravagant for their day, in fact, it was pretty normal happenings, but I mentally gave up my to do list of busyness. I played with them more presently, I stared into their eyes with full attention and gave them an array of patience that perhaps wasn't there before. My day felt a lot less distracted and lot more purposeful. Bouncing back between kids giving pieces here and there was unknowingly draining me and through this experiment I was able to deepen the pieces of me I was giving to them by allowing my time to run around theirs instead of the other way around. What I thought may be would mean 1 child would be ignored as the other got spoiled, oddly enough found a venue to give proper affection to both. I would recommend though doing as I did and having the toddler's day ahead of the baby's day, as I think that could have been a reason she coped with his day of attention so well.

On the day(s) you have a person you feel negatively towards: I STRONGLY recommend starting with a prayer for yourself to find desire and strength to let go. I also STRONGLY recommend you read and/or watch this talk: THE MERCIFUL OBTAIN MERCY (<--CLICK ON IT) This talk by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf  stimulates motivation to let go of grievances, but does it in such a comforting way that your desire to change doesn't feel forced, but lovingly guided. It's a huge help for those hard days - because they are hard. To think you can forgive years of pain inflicted upon you by someone in a single day, is a seemingly impossibly task. I found though, that putting forth the effort by making it your main focus for a whole 24hrs draws out miracles inside yourself. Windows of remembrance start to close in your mind, and doors of empathy in your heart start to open.

On your day: Give yourself a break, a break from the to do's and to dont's and anything else that is guilting and overwhelming you. Do what you enjoy this day, even if it's just lazying around. Be ever-so kind to yourself and call in help to give you the time to do so if necessary. This is your guilt-free day of self indulgence. You spent 19 days focused on others, it's time to now be kind to yourself, stress and guilt free. ENJOY THIS DAY.

On day 21: (Bonus day) Reflect on your last 20 days; write down and/or ponder what insights you've received and lessons you have learned. I personally know this project was indeed inspired. I was able to forgive and let go of some negative grudges clouding the far back corners of my mind. I saw, at no random coincidence, person's reaching out to me for help on the exact day I placed them as my focus. I became closer to Heavenly Father as I dedicated the majority of my thoughts in prayer for others. This project stretched me to love more earnestly and judge less critically.


This project changed me for the better, and if you have a desire to take the challenge, I know it can do the same for you.  




Heaven's slice is caring for the one.

Every Month a New Year

A new year has commenced and I've got goals on the mind.

Over the past year or two I've noticed that there's something special about a 30 day time frame. For me, it's just short enough to keep my interest and motivation whilst also being just long enough to tackle a great feat.

Every month I am choosing 1 goal, 1 weeker, and 1 task/project to accomplish.

Goal = Something MAJOR that will be your primary focus for the month. Something like 465 things gone, memorizing something lengthy that's of great importance to you, or a certain book read...things like that.

Weeker = A 7 day daily regimen of something you want to or feel you should do, but are scared of commitment and/or too scatter brained to remember. Think things like flossing, drinking 8 glasses of water, taking only stairs for work, or getting dressed before noon... 7 days isn't overbearing, so you will probably actually do it. At the end of the 7 day trial you can then decide to take it or leave it. You have 4 weeks to squeeze in your 7 consecutive days to trial it. Once you do it you can take on another weeker for the month, or only do the 1, whatever you wish.

Task/project = Something you've been wanting to get done, but haven't for whatever reason. It's not something big, but something that does require a little time set aside.

This is your new year in a month. You're going to make it simple by having it few, but it's going to make a big impact.

Repeat for the next month.

Can you imagine what you'll be able to accomplish in 12 months!?! I just love it when productive ideas fall into my head!

With simplicity as my need and accomplishment as my desire, this progressed it's way into binder form. If you're interested, this is what I made to help me with this New Month = New Year project:

Materials

1 binder

   dividers (# depends on your personal categories)

1 plastic sleeve

1 bundle of loose sleeve paper

A list of your interests (faith, family, home, writing - limit them to what is MOST important to you) *must include Goals

Step 1 Write in alphabetical order your interests. Then write one on each tab.

Step 2 Put in the tabs with paper in between each into the binder.

Step 3 Put the plastic protecter with a page inside stating the Month on top then 'Goal', 'Weeker,' and Task/project' down the side.

Optional: Make it cute and put those Pinterest board quotes to good use!

How to use it:

You will write in your divided sections many things pertaining to the subject: wants, things to remember, any and every scribble you whimsy.

From those sections you are going to pull things you really want done and put it under your 'Goals' section.

From your 'Goals' section you are going to pull 1 hefty goal, 1 simple weeker, and 1 task/project to write on your month page that's in front of the binder. This way, your goal will be the first thing you will see every time you open the binder to jot a note down.

* Side note - Keep those month sheets so you can look over your accomplishments come the new year!

Heaven's slice is bettering yourself through goals.

The Purge: 465 Things Gone In 30 Days

                                                                

Confessions:  I'm counting a bundle I still have here as gone because I'm taking it somewhere special come a week or so. I included loose paper kind of like 10=1 type thing, just cause I had so many. Also, pretty sure I only got rid of may be 2 things from the photo above.

Why I did it

You know that whole post I did on UPLIFT OR DOWNPULL? Well minimalism is one of those things that uplifts me. I've always had an appreciation and desire for the simple. In fact, this may be why I love complicated stuff so much - because I love to u-n-complicate it. I love the idea of only having things in your home that you truly love, adore, and use; cutting out all the rest. In my leisurely pinterest pinning on the subject I came across the challenge HERE. It got me so giddy I knew I had to do it! Also, I have fears of becoming a hoarder and I want to make sure this fear doesn't come true. Though I had started ridding lots of stuff out of my house prior to, November was my plan of action.

How it works

Day 1 = get rid of 1 thing  Day 2 = 2 things and so on until Day 30 which all adds up to a whopping 465 things gone! I made myself a sheet like this(except larger obviously) and wrote out what I got rid of as it left my house:

Day	Thing(s)	Day	Things
1		16
2		17
3		18
4		19
5		20
6		21
7		22
8		23
9		24
10		25
11		26
12		27
13		28
14		29
15		30

I didn't really follow dates to get rid of stuff as much as I  just followed the sheet and tried to get it all out by the 30th. It was just easier that way.

The struggles

Basically here is my briefing on the process: Your mind and heart have to agree. There's no brain wins this one, heart wins that one, no compromises made, and no sacrificing for either side. The single item that has the attaching struggle needs to makes sense both emotionally to get rid of as well as logically to get rid of. It's a soul search for the answers on either side to find the justifying reasons to let it go. If effort has been made on both sides and an agreement hasn't been made, you keep it and move on to another item. I learned to emotionally justify unattaching myself to things and to logically see how an item can be useful even though it is not fulfilling an immediate need.

At the start, I actually leaned more on the side of wanting to get rid of EVERYTHING that wasn't an actual need. My logical brain burst onto the scene as a dictator over my heartfelt emotions and I quickly had to lead troops into a peaceful rally for democracy - I had to search my talents and dreams. These things enticed my logic to realize that although some items aren't a need, nor do they fulfill a purpose at the moment, they are a possibility that I do desire. Furthremore, this life isn't just food, clothing, and shelter, it's becoming our true selves; taking time in our talents and fulfilling goals and dreams that we have. Really though the real thing that broke through this stop point was my cheapskatingness; If I know I'm going to need this if my talents progress or my goals come true, it'd be nice if I didn't have to buy it again and save myself the money... super logical and economical.

Here is some of my personal thoughts to the common justifying pleas of keeping an item:

• But I love "so and so" and they gave me that. If it was hand craftingly made and that is the only thing you have that reminds you of them. Sure, keep it. But if it was one gift of many and was unused, unloved, and store bought, I say chuck it(give it/sell it)! People are not things, and honestly it's kinda weird how we attach people to items. Not saying I don't do this, actually it is because I am so sentimental I've learned that if I keep a limit to the sentimental things I have, I take better care of them and cherish them more.
• But it was a gift. If you fear that someone may be offended that you don't keep their gift, then that person doesn't know the meaning of a gift. A gift is something given, freely given, as in it is the recipient's choice as to what to do with that item. When people become preoccupied with the gift they gave you in where it's whereabouts is and if you are using it, then they did not give you a gift - they forced you to permanently borrow their thing. You literally got given a responsibility, not a gift. "Here, house my item forever, or I will hate you."  This is not a gift, and honestly I don't think near as many people are offended if you gave their gift up as you think. If I gave something to someone and they gave it to someone else and I found out, I would literally be glad because a) they know I am not a thing b) they don't feel the guilt of keeping things they don't want c) they know I wouldn't be offended and d) my gift quite literally became the gift that keeps on giving, YAY!
• But it's pretty. I had to really look at what I actually wear regularly and what decor my house mostly is. Though some things were pretty, I always opted out of wearing them, it was actually a chore to have them on my body and place them in my house. I felt guilt wearing them and guilt boxing them. Guilt is logically not good for the brain and emotionally suckeths... aka this thing has got to go!

Weird tip - Try not to hold an item for long (2-3 seconds) if at all! Something weird happens when you hold it, your body suddenly feels the need to hang onto it forever, and that's how hoarders are born... just kidding... but it's a little true.

A little recommendation - make sure family or the person who gave you item(s) wants it first before going elsewhere, just a polite thing to do ;)

What I gained by losing 465 things

- Better sense of what my talents are

- Better sense of what my dreams are

- More appreciation for what I have

- More selfless outlook on life

- More opportunities to give 

- Decreased stress levels

- Increased happiness

- Decreased guilt

- Decreased anxiety

- More clean and tidy home
- More efficient cleaning
- Tools to kick out regret and guilt
- Ability to focus in more on what truly matters
- More love for simple
- More ambition
- More time to myself (I don't how this happened, but it did)
- More motivation
- More focus on people instead of things
- More quality items
- More joy in the things I have
- Ability to see more of the things I love
- More creative/effictive ways to preserve/view sentimental things
- More empowerment
- More humility
- Realization of how incredibly blessed I am
- More focus on my family's needs
- More focus on the needs of others
- A little more pocket change
- More cautious spending
- More awareness on where I spend my money and time
- More attention to my little ones
- More awareness of what comes into my home and how it affects us
- More things I love in my home
- More space
- More acknowledgement of my true values


*I would write the reasons, but who really wants to read an even more gigantically long blog post?? You'll just have to do this yourself and see how you gain these things...which brings me to...

The Invitation
If you feel giddy and excited to do this then I invite you to do it! Don't do it though if you feel guilt to, I can't recommend it working to your benefit if you do it out of guilt. I think any hefty goal or project (within the confines of law and conscience) are a great thing to embark on and prove to be highly rewarding. Do it for you and see how it turns your heart toward others!


Conclusion
This project was easy, then overwhelmingly hard, and lastly super rewarding and easy. Overall, it was awesome, and I'm totally going to be doing it again most likely! Even now, off hand I can probably only name may be 20 things I got rid of, meaning I don't miss what I gave up at all. I gained so much more than what I lost and it became ever so true that:

Heaven's slice is giving.

Pillow Talk

Let's talk about the '50 Shades of Grey' movie coming out  Psych!!! Pretty sure you all can take one wild guess on where I stand on that...

No, this post is actually about pillows! Yay!

So I've been wanting to add colour to my front living area and found that really if I could just add some in with pillows to my chocolate brown couches that that would do the trick. 

Problem is... I'm kind of a cheap skate and had/have a vision in my head that I'm just not ready to fully commit to yet. Enter in my brilliance of using stuff I already had kicking around that was serving no purpose:

A cheap table cloth I bought at clearance that never looked good on my table, scraps from when I redid my dining room chairs, a scrap mustard yellow strip of fabric, a handed down odd shaped long cable knit cream zipper turtle-necked sweater (did I use enough adjectives?), and an arms too short with button's missing plaid coat.

I also had some pillows kicking around:

And if it failed... meh... I'm out nothing.

This took me a lot longer than I would have may be liked (I have a toddler), but thankfully because I'm not a perfectionist I was able to cut a lot of time-consuming corners. They all come off easily and there was no need to make any buttons or zippers for this as I just used what the coats already had and the others were envelope style. The rosette pillow was by far my favourite to make though, as I already had the plain pillow and just needed to glue gun those fabric strips on - easy peasy.

 I feel like my house just got a tad cozier...


I must say though I found out that I'm not quite in the phase of life to be getting into these sort of time-consuming daytime projects. Yes, I'm super happy with the final results, but the stress of my little one in my sewing room getting into everything, throwing tantrums because I wouldn't let her sit on my lap as I was measuring/pinning/sewing, and seeing her escalate into sadness for my neglecting her... ya I think I'll try passing on all that. I even tried plopping her in front of the TV(gasp!) while I finished up some of it, but she wouldn't and isn't the kind of kid that's into screens really... which I'm actually so grateful for. She wants to be wherever I am and this phase I'm in is so crazy awesome I feel like I should be dwelling in it a lot more. Truly a lot of my "projects" can wait... "the best things in life aren't things!" after all and there's nothing wrong with only doing the needful.



Heaven's slice is making use of what you have and embracing your current phase of life.

Re-do

I've done some furniture redo's the last couple of years and I'm so digging how they've turned out, so I thought I'd share some:

(Some have before's and others don't.)

Did you know that dirt and soil are different? And that if you transplant gorgeous flowers in just plain dirt they'll die? Also, that flowers need water on a regular basis? Lesson learned.

Heaven's slice is transforming things into something you see as beautiful... and finding a paint colour you adore!