Faith

When moments of hard times come, they’re just as needed as the high ones. I don’t fret. I don’t worry too deeply. I just coast and I strategize. I know that it will move if I’m staying committed to reminding myself of my faith that I’ll move through.

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging”, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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Taste of  Scandinavia 

 Scandinavia was our second Yums box. Overall, we enjoyed most of the snacks. We continued the silly game of “What does this remind you of?” because a lot of the snacks brought back childhood memories. The worst snack was Raspberry Filled Dark Chocolate Bar (don’t let the name fool you this was terrible). The best snack was the Jalapeno popcorn, very addictive and delicious. The box also features a score card and a booklet that describes each snack, and included more games than the first box including a game called Gnav (they even include the games pieces). We didn’t play as we didn’t have enough players (you need three minimum), but we did play a trivia game (did you know since 1938 in Finland pregnant mothers can expect from the government cribs, baby clothes, diapers, and toys, and it now has one of the lowest mortality rates in the world!). This took me on a tangent about North America and it’s maternity leave. Then my spouse handed me one of the weirdest snacks, Raspberry Gummy skulls called “Skalle”. I can’t really describe it, and the description provided “sweet sour and super chewy” just doesn’t seem accurate. Would I recommend this subscription box? I would, I like the concept of , allowing one to try unique snacks in manageable quantities. The Universal Yums subscription service also has an online store, where you can order snacks a la cart if you like them. Have you tried this subscription service? What were your thoughts?

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Professional Garden without Professional Help

 How do I plant a garden that looks professional without professional help?

A: Visit your local garden center and take advantage of their resources and customer service. Before you go, consider your answers to these questions:

  • What do you want your garden to do for you or the environment?
  • Are you interested in curb appeal/increased property value, energy conservation, cut flowers, entertaining, cooking, or planting for pollinators and songbirds?
  • How much time do you want to spend in the garden each week and each season?
  • What type of planting style do you prefer?
  • Do you like cottage, contemporary, wild, or manicured gardens?

Generally speaking, I’d recommend starting with a small area, planting in multiples, choosing a color palette, varying bloom time, bloom size, and bloom shape, mixing perennials, trees, and shrubs, including evergreens, and leaving pockets for annuals and herbs. 

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Planting Trees

What are the best small trees to plant beside my home?

A: Trees planted near the home are considered foundational plantings. Trees and shrubs soften harsh architectural lines and can provide shade and insulation which promotes energy efficiency. Trees or shrubs planted close to the house should be smaller in stature, complementing the design of the house while not blocking windows or interesting features. Here is a list of trees and shrubs to consider:

  • Serviceberry, specifically “Standing Ovation” or “Autumn Brilliance”
  • Hydrangea bushes or standards
  • Smaller evergreens (Look for the word dwarf or compact, or try Golden Hinoki False.)
  • Cypress
  • Golden Duke Eastern Hemlock
  • Eastern redbud
  • Pagoda dogwood
  • Viburnum
  • Lilacs, including Bloomerang, Miss Kim, Tiny Dancer
  • Japanese maples
  • Ginkgo Jade Butterfly
  • Smoke bush
  • Azalea/rhododendron
  • Purple Leaf Sand Cherry
  • Some crabapples
  • Magnolia
  • Boxwood
  • Elderberry
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Check Your Credit Report

Check your credit report for errors. Bad news: Mistakes happen, even on your credit report. Sometimes payments are accidentally recorded as late, and accounts can get mixed up. Good news: Once a year, you can go to AnnualCreditReport.com and review your credit report for free to ensure everything looks good. If it doesn’t, file a dispute to potentially boost your credit score.

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging”, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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