Wasting Resources

Of course, I am all about knowing what my resources are and how I can properly using them. You girls know that :)

But, I have noted lately that I have to be as equally aware of how I waste my resources on a regular basis!  And I do, alot!


Some things I have noted myself, that I feel dont use my time resources the BEST ...

* TV..that is big one for me. I waste alot of time watching things that dont refresh or nurture my resources!
* The internet ...yikes ...I have really be guilty of this as of late. I have so enjoyed blog hopping, tip searching, book researching, emailing, facebooking ..etc. BUT ..it is not always the best use of my resources
* Reading ..I love to read, and have been known to read a great book straight through lunch for my kids, or sacrifice puzzle/game time with my little ones to finish a chapter!
* Being on the phone ...talking to girlfriends is great, but it is not always the best use of my resources at a particular time

Now, I want to stress that these things in and of themselves are good things, and often ways that they can refresh our resources and help us to manage our limited resources well.  But, not always.

I can also waste resources in other ways, by thinking on negative things (mental resources), over or undereating (physical resources), not sticking to my budget (financial resources), piling up laundry on my couch til I have more loads than I can reasonably handle at one time (cough, cough) ..etc.

I have learned to use my stress as a guide when considering the misuse of my resources ...if I start feeling tension or overwhelmed while I am doing things I mentioned, I ask myself if it is because there is something more important, more appropriate, more productive or generally better that I should be doing.

If God has given me everything I need, then I gotta make sure I am using everything properly and not misusing it when He has intended something different with that resource.

Argh ..I am preaching to myself here! I have wasted quite a few resources the past several days as I have been having a hard time getting motivated to do some of the things around my house that needs doing, have been fretting over things I have no control over, spent alot of time on the internet ....

What about you? Do you have any "resource waster" confessions to make?

a little tip

So, I friend of mine has this great system for storing ground meats in the freezer ...

I have heard about it three times this week, and in my book that warrants a share! :)

Alot of us buy bulk ground beef and turkey. Around here, we wait for that magic number $1.99 or less a pound and we jump on pounds and pounds of low fat ground beef.  And, just a couple of weeks ago when BiLo had BOGO split chicken breasts, we all loaded up!

Having meat in my freezer is STRESS reducing for me! :) It also makes me feel like I have managed my resources well, and like I have provided for my family.


Amanda has suggested to several of us, that we take our 1.5 pounds of either browned or raw ground beef/ turkey (or the shredded cooked chicken breasts), store in ziplock bags, and stack them one on top of the other in the freezer. When the meat is completely frozen, you set them up on their side, they are flat as a pancake and store super easy! With them on their side you can peek right in the freezer and see all the meat like shelf of books, waiting to be added to your healthy meals for your family!


Simple, but has taken some of the stress from preparing meals as often the meat is already cooked for casseroles and it is easy to see what I have and need.  It sure works for me!

Congrats Amy!

Congratulations to Amy from The Circus McGurkus..she has WON the Thirty One giveaway!

Amy says ..."Oh, if only we could get the garage organized it would be wonderful. Dare to dream. :)"

Well, you can get to work on that garage Amy! You get to put a $15 gift certificate towards your Thirty One order! I am jealous! :)


When Amy did some dream shopping in the TO catalog ..she says "Oh, and as for which tote I would pick--I love the paparazzi dot. I don't know if I would have it embroidered or not. I tend to repurpose stuff like that often so I don't know that I'd want anything so permanent on there. I think it would make a great car bucket."

I like this gal ;) 


So excited for you Amy! You will have to let us know what you get ..we would LOVE to post a giveaway update! :)

And, thanks to Kimmie who offered up this great giveaway! ..now go, and make your orders with Kimmie! Make sure to mention LPLS so Kimmie knows where the love came from! :)

Choosing to Stress Less

I read a blog post (Thanks Tawn!) this past week that has been clunking around in my brain all weekend. It was about how stress is a choice that we make, and how not being stressed out is a decision.

I hadnt really thought about it in those terms, but really that is what the whole Less Stress effort is about for me! It is about purposefully determining that we will not allow stress to take the place of the peace that God promises to us, if we use what he has given us the right way.

I have been considering, though, what exactly what do we chose about stress?

Clearly, we dont always have control over the things that cause our stress to start with. We cant control...

* Others' bad choices
* Illness (for ourselves, or others)
* Life circumstances (the car breaks down or the economy fails)

We cant chose those things, but we can chose our reaction and the degree to which we allow them to stress us.  I think often, our stress is made worse when we feel we have not control over the outcome. Or, we feel we have not control over the source of stress to begin with. I think, though that we have more choice than we think we do! We can chose ...

* Our reaction to stresses
* To not compare ourselves to others
* Who we allow to judge us (or whose judgements we give warrant to)
* How we manage our resources
* What we think about (or not allow ourselves to think about)
* Who we surround ourselves with
* To be content
* To see all our circumstances from God's eyes, in the bigger picture

We can chose to do something about it, to give up, get control, get over it, get a plan, get a new perspective and always give it to God. We are not powerless in the face of our stresses.

While we cannot always chose the things that naturally would cause us a degree of stress, we can chose to not allow stress to take over and to create in us emotions and feelings that arent healthy or beneficial.

We can determine, purposefully, that the circumstances around us will not decide the outcome of our day, our mind, our heart or our spirit. We can make a choice.

Remember, that we are far from alone in that ...God has given us all we need to stand up under the weight of negativity, pessimism, fret, worry or fear. Through Christ, he has given us an ability to rise above the world and its tendency to breed stress and feelings of being overwhelmed.

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT)

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalms 55:22 (NIV)

What are you tempted to allow to overwhelm you today ..what can you do about it?

Welcome ifellowshippers ..so glad to have you here! Remember to refresh the page so you get to see some of the more recent posts!  :)

Another Chance...

Have you had a chance to enter to win a Thirty-One gift certificate?!

 

If you havent ..then GO for goodness sake! 

If you have, then Kimberlee has offered us a great SECOND chance to enter ..."Which Square Utility Tote pattern would you pick? How would you have it embroidered? And what would you use it for? They are featured on pgs 20-21 & 40 of the catalog. Post a comment with your answers and get another entry into the drawing"

I cant wait to see what you all choose ...I LOVE this catalog!