Forgiveness

Forgiveness is something that I obviously feel is super important, but it is one of those things that you know you should do ASAP but sometimes put it off. I had such an experience the other day. I was cancelling a membership with a company that I had been with for over 3 years. I had no ill feelings towards this company, I just did not need their services anymore. I gave them my months notice and they gave me a month to use up the services I had already paid for. At the end of the month, I realized I would not be able to use the services I had paid for until after the termination. I would miss it by one day. From my experience in retail and sales I knew that this was something they could potentially help me with. To spare you the ugly details and to be brief, when I called to ask for a 1 day extension, I started off very pleasant and explaining my situation. They were unwilling to help in anyway. I was upset by this and said some not-so-nice things to the manager. I hung up and was angry. Throughout the day I told a few people of my bad experience with this company...how they had treated me unjustly (they were following their policy that I agreed to, they were not extending the mercy i was looking for). A few hours later, I realized this anger was really messing with my head and day. I knew I needed to call back and apologize and I did. "Hello, this is Gunilla. We spoke earlier. And, although I am not happy about the circumstances, I had no excuse to treat you so poorly and I am very sorry." Instantly, the hostility in her voice was gone, she accepted my apology. Free! I felt so free and happy. The injustice I had felt earlier was gone. Another benefit of this was that the person on the other end of the phone let me know that she did find a way to help me and was very accommodating. I was not expecting this and felt complete closure and peace without the extra accommodations, but this was a bonus! Forgiveness is awesome! I think I will try it more often and sooner than my angry mind wants to...you should too!

Almond Butter - Make it Yourself

Almond butter is awesome! We love it with apples (my favorite), on sandwiches, with ice cream, in smoothies, and in countless other recipes. It can be expensive and lately I have had a hard time finding a brand I like that does not have a slight oxidized taste. What to do? Make it yourself!

You will need:

•  Almonds (raw) 5 cups: You can find almonds at your local grocery store, often in bulk, at a reasonable price.
• Oven: Roast your almonds at 325 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
• Blender: You will need a good blender, one with a wand is preferable. 
• Add Ins (optional): Salt, vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate, coconut, etc.

Start by roasting 4 cups of almonds for 12-15 minutes at 325 degrees. I like to have 4 cups roasted and 1 cup raw in my final butter, you can mess around with this ratio and see what you like best. Stir almonds once at 6 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool until almonds are warm.

Blend roasted almonds at medium speed. This is where the wand comes in very handy! Once the almonds resemble cornmeal, add the remaining cup of almonds.  Start on low and gradually increase speed to the highest possible.

Picture on the right is a look at the mixture about 30 seconds after adding the raw almonds. You can see where the wand is used to push the mixture down.

Almost done! If you like it a little grainy in texture, you can stop at this point. I like it smooth and creamy! Add anything extra if desired and voila! In this batch, I added 1/4 t salt, 1/4 t vanilla, and 1/4 t cinnamon. This gives the almond butter a very slight hint of vanilla and cinnamon. The almond butter will be hot or very warm at this point, which makes it easier to work with.




Now for the finishing touches. Add it to your preferred container and store in the refrigerator to slow the separation. Enjoy!

I am thoroughly embarrassed by our unorganized messy house. But, I must start somewhere. This is definitely not the life I want my kids to remember or learn. Organizing needs to happen!

Beginning

We must start somewhere and this is my new beginning. Being a mom is one of the most difficult yet rewarding jobs I have ever had. As a small business owner and former employee, I know having systems in place makes a world of difference. Yet, looking at my life, I realized I do not have the right systems in place to make our home a place of peace and love! This is crazy!

For as long as I can remember, all I wanted to be when I grew up was a mom. Now, I am finally here and I find myself asking "This is it? Was I really that disillusioned? There has to be more. I am living the dream and yet I feel crazy and empty." I am not enjoying my dream job. What a tragedy! So, here is my journey to changing my perspective. I am living the dream and I want to change my life and the life of each of my children for good and create a mom ripple effect! Go mommy ripples!

In this blog I will be documenting the changes we are making to change our lives. Mommy ripples system. I will really be putting myself out there and this is very scary for me! Here goes....