Bad Art Too

Three Steps to a Healthy Neighborhood - BadArt

Shop close to home
Every online deal is not a deal. For example, I wanted to save money but I had waited 7 days for a cheap online battery that did not work. I’m still waiting for a refund from a state side address that delivered from China. My local Batteries Plus shop owner told me how to save my battery life and would have saved me time if I had gone there first.
Local Shop Owners Want to Know
Ask local shops if they could carry items you purchase often on line. They may even deliver. Sign up for local news letters that may help you save money and tell business when they are doing something wrong. Small businesses can change and grow and thrive with our help. I buy online because it is easy buying local can be easy too.
Better Environmental Choice
You may save by gas not driving but calling locally will save too. Local guys can order in bulk and have items in days making it a greener choice. Buying local is giving to the community. Give local shops a chance before pushing purchase online. Local shops are giving knowledge, taxes and hiring employees. Helping your local economy helps everyone.
Austin Business Alliance says “for every $100 spent at a locally owned store, $45 stays here. But shopping at a chain store leaves only $13.” There is nothing worse than a dying neighborhood. Making local purchases opens ties to community and builds a thriving local economy. Buy local and American when possible.

Della Badart worked for years as a newspaper Advertising Sales Representative. In that position she has seen many businesses grow and many fail. Local businesses build it and hope you will come. Please give them the opportunity to be successful. Be apart of the change.

Do you think more privileges would help teen be more responsible?

Do you think more privileges would help teen be more responsible?

My freshman is smart but has been failing one class all year because of poor habits.  He forgets to turn in work, studies for the test minutes before the test.  A good friend suggest I give him more privileges and when he is doing poor immediately take them away.  If he has more to lose he will work harder.  My goal is to make him a responsible adult.   
We are talking about giving him later curfew times  and an excuse from dinner a few days a week.  We will add to this as he gets older.   In return he will do his chores without asking and have good grades. 

ps. He thinks we are too strict. 
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CrazyStupidPolitics: Bill Maher Live on Yahoo! Screen

I miss Bill's nasty humor. Have a look he has not changed a bit.
CrazyStupidPolitics: Bill Maher Live on Yahoo! Screen

Badartworld.com

Dealing with Daily Depression

Depression is a sinister evil I must fight every day. Most people who know me would never even think I suffered from depression. Ha, ha I’ve got them fooled. I have not found the right medicine or the best doctor. I have found a plan that keeps me light and bright. There are several things on my regimen that keep the blues at bay. 

First and far most I have a plan. Sounds simple but if you have depression it is essential. I wake up early and chauffer children to school. When I return home I have a set amount of time I can loiter on the computer. That is the time I answer emails look at kittens and indulge the email beast. I make time to work out; I work out hard so that I might get my endorphins engaged. My goal is the runners high, the euphoria. This is good.

I work in a restaurant during the mid day. When I am there I am surrounded by young energetic, happy go lucky people and the guest who like it when their server is, well, happy. So, on days I don’t feel happy I fake it and most days it makes me feel happy. I am happy to come home tired and ready to greet my family and have a good meal. I enjoy making good healthy meals while listening to the radio.

I try to have an event or entertainment planed after dinner also. I may exercise again, crochet or work in my studio. The old saying idle hands are the devils work shop comes to mind. If my hands are busy My mind is at rest. Before bed I plan my next day.

For me the best thing I can do is do the things I enjoy. Crafting painting, reading and I have designed my day to force me out of the house to engage with others in a positive way. A few years ago my sister was fighting cancer and I lost control of the fight with depression and only did what needed to be done. I had crying jags and no desire to do anything. I would spend hours playing a silly game on the computer hiding. When my sister died I felt lost. But My sister was awesome I think she would have been pissed with me wallowing in pity. I’m the person I am because of her and I refuse to live half a life because of depression. So, I’ve got a plan.

What's for Dinner?

Italian Sausages with fresh red onions, red and yellow peppers  served over rice.

Simple and Good!

Jesse Rosten: Fotoshop by Adobé | Trendland: Fashion Blog & Trend Magazine

Jesse Rosten: Fotoshop by Adobé Trendland: Fashion Blog & Trend Magazine

Clear Clutter with Coffee Tin Cubbies

Coffe Can Cubbies
Cubbies maximize space so you can store everything on your desk in a convenient space. The cans are mix of industrial and convenience with a funky edge. Pick up your drill, a few nuts and bolts to recycle your own ultra modern space savers. A youtube video will walk you through the process or click on BadartWorld.com for step by step directions.  And if you lack the time to create your own click here to get your ready to hang cubbies.

Plan for Your Best Year

I’m ready for the New Year with a game plan for my best life.
I have specific goals for the main areas of my life. My largest goal is to achieve balance. Confirming my specific desires keeps me focused on success. I have specific goals for family, spiritual development and career. The goals work together to create the balance I’m looking for.
Working on Balance
Make a list starting with the three main areas. Next write a crazy list with all your goals. Pair that list down to realistic needs and wants. Make a plan of how you will achieve specific goals. Focus on one goal from each area every month to six weeks and get it done. Divide and conquer.

Today I’m looking over my list as I make my black-eyed-peas. I’ll eat fruit and exercise today. Later, I’ll have wonderfully healthy dinner with my family (working on some of my goals) we’ll listen to music and enjoy each others company. And I’ll get a good night sleep after sharing quality time with my spouse. I’ll wake up refreshed a tackle my career goals. I just need to keep this up for the rest of the year!!!

There's No Hiding From Tar Sands Oil | Mother Jones

There's No Hiding From Tar Sands Oil Mother Jones

Fight Depression with Life Style Choices

Fight Depression with Life Style Choices
 A few years back my sister was diagnosed with cancer and after along battle died.  In the middle of her battle I became very depressed and decided my life style was contributing to my depression.  My usually demanding outside sales job became my prison.  I could and often did stay in my Pajamas all day doing my necessary calls.  Showering , getting dressed and eating came in second to Bejewel.  I functioned on a must basis.  Finally, I quit my job which was worse because I had no incentive to do anything and my family could use my income having grown fond of food and living indoors. 

I decided to find a job close to home that forced me to be positive.   A job that demanded I get out of bed and leave the house.  I had waited tables off and on so I went to restaurants and got a sever job that let me work the hours I wanted.  I wanted to work when my family was out.  Some time alone was good  but not too much.    The atmosphere and  the people are positive and make me feel positive too.  This was a very good change and I am there still.  I don’t make a lot of money but I can’t put a price on sanity.

The second thing I did was to exercise regularly.  I feel a tightening of the screws when I go to long without strenuous exercise.  It, for me, works.  I plan my day around exercise.  Waking up and putting on my exercise clothes and planning when I will start and finish is part of my day.  I have tapes, machines and a gym membership.  I plan fun activities around exercise too. 

I also plan time to just be quiet.  Call it meditation what ever makes you feel good.  Sometimes I am over stimulated and can’t concentrate.  I turn off everything and just listen to my own thoughts.  Yeah, scary.  I keep a pad handy and write down things that race through my mind.  I maybe the 10 minute trip to work or an hour or more but I have quiet.

I tried medication.  My doctor asked questions and prescribed some expensive pills which made me crazy.  The price made me crazy no the pills.  After pricing was worked out I went generic and for a few months that made me feel better than just blaw.  I am anything if not blaw. So I stopped taking the meds.  I also stopped having crying jags out of the blue.  This did not work for me but if you feel out of control talk to a professional and medication might be just what you need. 

It is not easy to share this problem.  But because I am dealing with it I feel  sharing might be the next step to healing.  I like my life, adore my family and one day soon I’ll step back into life at full tilt.  For now I’ll be waiting tables where smiles are easy to come by and my work mates are amusing and carefree.  Simple Mat

 

Simple mat is just that simple.  If I can do I think anybody can.  I am finding that taking mortar out of the equation has made arrangement of the tiles and tile cutting the hard part.  I had a paper template of my wall to help me lay out the tile and decide on cuts.  I used a small tile cutter from Harbor Freight to cut my tiles.  The cutter was awesome for the first four tiles and than I had issues.  I took a break and set the Simple mats on the wall.  Very easy.  Because I have everything laid out it was simple.  I would use Simplemat again in a heart beat. 

Simple Mat

 

Simple mat is just that simple.  If I can do I think anybody can.  I am finding that taking mortar out of the equation has made arrangement of the tiles and tile cutting the hard part.  I had a paper template of my wall to help me lay out the tile and decide on cuts.  I used a small tile cutter from Harbor Freight to cut my tiles.  The cutter was awesome for the first four tiles and than I had issues.  I took a break and set the Simple mats on the wall.  Very easy.  Because I have everything laid out it was simple.  I would use Simplemat again in a heart beat. 

Simple Mat

 

Simple mat is just that simple.  If I can do I think anybody can.  I am finding that taking mortar out of the equation has made arrangement of the tiles and tile cutting the hard part.  I had a paper template of my wall to help me lay out the tile and decide on cuts.  I used a small tile cutter from Harbor Freight to cut my tiles.  The cutter was awesome for the first four tiles and than I had issues.  I took a break and set the Simple mats on the wall.  Very easy.  Because I have everything laid out it was simple.  I would use Simplemat again in a heart beat. 

Simple Mat

 

Simple mat is just that simple.  If I can do I think anybody can.  I am finding that taking mortar out of the equation has made arrangement of the tiles and tile cutting the hard part.  I had a paper template of my wall to help me lay out the tile and decide on cuts.  I used a small tile cutter from Harbor Freight to cut my tiles.  The cutter was awesome for the first four tiles and than I had issues.  I took a break and set the Simple mats on the wall.  Very easy.  Because I have everything laid out it was simple.  I would use Simplemat again in a heart beat. 

Simple Mat

 

Simple mat is just that simple.  If I can do I think anybody can.  I am finding that taking mortar out of the equation has made arrangement of the tiles and tile cutting the hard part.  I had a paper template of my wall to help me lay out the tile and decide on cuts.  I used a small tile cutter from Harbor Freight to cut my tiles.  The cutter was awesome for the first four tiles and than I had issues.  I took a break and set the Simple mats on the wall.  Very easy.  Because I have everything laid out it was simple.  I would use Simplemat again in a heart beat.A few years back my sister was diagnosed with cancer and after along battle died.  In the middle of her battle I became very depressed and decided my life style was contributing to my depression.  My usually demanding outside sales job became my prison.  I could and often did stay in my Pajamas all day doing my necessary calls.  Showering , getting dressed and eating came in second to Bejewel.  I functioned on a must basis.  Finally, I quit my job which was worse because I had no incentive to do anything and my family could use my income having grown fond of food and living indoors.  

Environment
I decided to find a job close to home that forced me to be positive.   A job that demanded I get out of bed and leave the house.  I had waited tables off and on so I went to restaurants and got a sever job that let me work the hours I wanted.  I wanted to work when my family was out.  Some time alone was good  but not too much.    The atmosphere and  the people are positive and make me feel positive too.  This was a very good change and I am there still.  I don’t make a lot of money but I can’t put a price on sanity.
Exercise
The second thing I did was to exercise regularly.  I feel a tightening of the screws when I go to long without strenuous exercise.  It, for me, works.  I plan my day around exercise.  Waking up and putting on my exercise clothes and planning when I will start and finish is part of my day.  I have tapes, machines and a gym membership.  I plan fun activities around exercise too.
Quiet
I also plan time to just be quiet.  Call it meditation what ever makes you feel good.  Sometimes I am over stimulated and can’t concentrate.  I turn off everything and just listen to my own thoughts.  Yeah, scary.  I keep a pad handy and write down things that race through my mind.  I maybe the 10 minute trip to work or an hour or more but I have quiet.
Medication
I tried medication.  My doctor asked questions and prescribed some expensive pills which made me crazy.  The price made me crazy no the pills.  After pricing was worked out I went generic and for a few months that made me feel better than just blaw.  I am anything if not blaw. So I stopped taking the meds.  I also stopped having crying jags out of the blue.  This did not work for me but if you feel out of control talk to a professional and medication might be just what you need.
Sharing
It is not easy to share this problem.  But because I am dealing with it I feel  sharing might be the next step to healing.  I like my life, adore my family and one day soon I’ll step back into life at full tilt.  For now I’ll be waiting tables where smiles are easy to come by and my work mates are amusing and carefree. 

Simplemat Simple

Simple Mat

Simplemat is just that simple.  If I can do I think anybody can.  I am finding that taking mortar out of the equation has made arrangement of the tiles and tile cutting the hard part.  I had a paper template of my wall to help me lay out the tile and decide on cuts.  I used a small tile cutter from Harbor Freight to cut my tiles.  The cutter was awesome for the first four tiles and than I had issues.  I took a break and set the Simple mats on the wall.  Very easy.  Because I have everything laid out it was simple.  I would use Simplemat again in a heart beat.

Four Techniques for Bulk Shopping

My biggest savings comes from purchasing groceries for up to 20 days at a time. To make this work I use some easy techniques.

1. I bag ingredients together for meals. No one is allowed to remove food from a bag so when I go to make my special pasta dish I still have the special cheese.
2.  I take advantage of bulk purchases, especially in meat. I buy large portions and separate for two or more meals. This is super important especially if your family does not eat leftovers.
3. I also have a hiding spot for popular snacks. I bring them out as needed.
4. Further you must have a good ration of fresh to canned, frozen etc. I will shop at specialty shops next week for milk, fruit and fresh fish.

Save time, money and your health by shopping smarter and for longer.

Two for One Blankets to Pillows

Space Savers

 
vintage blankets rolled into pillows and secured 

In the long winter months we lounge more often. I keep vintage blankets folded and wrapped on the sofa. When the blankets are folded they make great pillows and look neat. When we have guest or just want to get warm one can quickly unwrap a pillow and get cozy.

Orange Chicken for Four

Chicken tenders  $6
Orange ginger sauce  $2
Rice $1
*Fresh Veggies ( your choice: carrots & onions; broccoli, green beans; mixed veggies {frozen or can})
$2-4

Cook rice
Place tenders in oven
Cook veggies
Combine veggies tenders and add orange ginger sauce

Serve over rice.  Enjoy!

$2.5 per serving sounds great to me.



Soup optional

Cuffs, Collars& Headbands - BadArt

Cuffs, Collars& Headbands - BadArt

Love Pillow Cover - BadArt

Love Pillow Cover - BadArt

Save, time, money and get healthy with one secret

Shop for two weeks you can shop for two weeks or more worth of meals you will save money and time. You will save time at the store, your diet will be better because you will plan healthy meals and you will save money by not going to a restaurant instead of eating at home. 

Plan a menu for two weeks The most important thing is to know what your family eats. What they really eat. You will plug these things into a list. You will create an eating map. If you work late every Thursday or the kids roll in at different times because of sports after school commitments plan for it. Don’t plan to get a bag of burgers on the way home. Plan microwave burritos with a great big salad, tuna sandwiches with can soup. You get the idea simple but healthy like meals planned around your crock-pot. Sitting down for a few minutes and making a genuine list and taking the time to shop this list will save on many levels.

Shop the list Shopping the list means don’t buy things not on the list. I usually leave one day open to fill in with a surprise item I discover at the store. I plan to buy six snacks what snacks are open but I only buy six. With my clan I usually take a few snacks and hide them so everything is not gone in the first three days. I also plan on items to carry over.

Examples

• Buy fresh OJ and concentrate juice for second week
• Fresh veggies first week canned or frozen for the next
• Fish days I plan later in shopping cycle because we buy and eat the same day on that day you can buy milk and some fruit to last until your next big shopping day.

Keep staples on hand and Buy in Bulk
Staples vary from home to home but there are some items no home should be with out. When creating your list shop your cabinets first to avoid over purchasing. Also this will guide you to create a meal for fresh food you have on hand.

I would include toiletries here like Soaps, Shampoos, Laundry soaps, cleaners. All these items should be bought in bulk or as needed to keep them in stock. Without grocery shopping I can usually prepare a meal from staples alone. The list below is comprehensive you will want to pare it down for your specific needs.
Increase your Skills The other thing I would suggest you have is a really good cook book. I have several and I do use the internet to quick reference how to cook specific foods. However, to get ideas for meals I love to flip through my books. My favorite book is broken down into food types so I can look at how to prepare carrots or just veggies. Another way to improve your list is to prepare your list from the recipes or get a new subscription. Food should be tasty, healthy and cooking should be a pleasure.

Be creative there should be a mix of fresh healthy meals, home cooked fast food and so easy a child could do it. Your schedule may dictate lots of fast easy meals at times. You can pack a weekend with great meals when  friends are in town. Try it and see if your waistline and your wallet don’t thank you.

Knowing your child’s friends will strengthen your relationship

Know their friends
You should know all your child’s good friends. Have them to dinner ask question and get to know their value system. Get numbers and addresses if needed. Let them know they call contact you too. Changes happen quickly ask specific question, be informed.



Ask for their help
Tell friends what you expect from your child and enlist their help to achieve results. I love to hear my son’s best friend say, “Clean your room or we’ll never get outta here.” His friends push him to keep up with home work too. They know the rules: bad grades and incomplete chores means he has no fun.

Give your child the benefit of the doubt
Choosing good friends is a skill you can nurture in your child. However, give your child the benefit of doubt about who he chooses but be involved with. If you have doubt, without proof, ask your child to tell you if the friend is ok. Explain that as friends values change he/she may need to discontinue or limit friendships. Give you child the opportunity to make good choices.

Good friends will ask for your guidance
If you’ve laid the ground work his friends may tell you when there is trouble. Recently I had a friend of my son’s tell me to “watch out for another child”. This child does not have much support so I give extra when he’s in the picture. It maybe hard but you can give advice without being judgmental. Leave the door open for question and support.

In Conclusion
Keep communication open. Be prepared to ask for and give help. Your child is the best judge of his friends. Talk and ask question and listen with an open mind. Your child will be glad you did. 

Crafty Mom

Round Crochet Pillow

I’ve made this cool round pillow. Yes is is made with recycled bed sheets and t-shirt fabric. I made an inner lining from cotton muslin. It is soft and sturdy at the same time. Love it!