Facing Fears: If There’s Nothing to Lose, Then That Tells Me, We Could All Win Somehow

Posted by Littlehollyopal in Conversation Starters, Inspiration, News

Hey!

In a world so occasionally terrifying, I choose to not be afraid to fail, but to attempt to succeed.

Life attempt 3,367,533,346,224:

I keep thinking about reaching out to my heroes, my role models, people who inspired me to be on my path, in the way that I choose to now walk it.

I’m always being told that to truly succeed: Get a mentor!

That’s not an easy one for me. I had limited good influences in my whole life and have to ask myself, “Who are my mentors?”

My Brain responds with… “I really love fun (duh!) So naturally, I was drawn to comedic movies and shows as a child and my parents were too. I’m sure that influenced me as well.

So I start thinking about some of my early years favorite, favorite movies. Which were usually comedies like: Marry Poppins, Cone Heads, Wayne’s World, both Ace Ventura’s, Jurassic Park (not quite a comedy, but I’m giving an idea of the era I am from).

Then I start thinking about the comedians I enjoyed watching the most, talent like Dave Chappelle, Jim Carey, Rodney Dangerfield, Bob Hope, George Carlin, Jimmy Fallon, Adam Sandler, Dana Carvey, and Mike Meyers and the list goes on forever, not in that order, and this is only the comedian section.

I don’t want to start at the very bottom in show biz either. I’ve lived. I’ve been. I’ve seen sheeit. Then I start envisioning how I may approach the big wigs.

So instead, I’m writing as I imagine meeting these people in hypothetical scenarios that I’ll write out for you here in this moment as it flies from my thoughts.

Freestyle Approach of Dave Chappelle:

(Stay tuned for the “How I Would Approach My Mentors Series!”)

Ok, here it goes!

👋”Oh Hey Dave, sorry to take up your time… just another fan 🙂.

I really enjoyed your Netflix 2 Episode Comedy Special! I was right there with you. I had the same thoughts on that shit! I just really dig how you keep it real with your truly hilarious jokes. You’re so good at it! One of the best! 😃

Your jokes affected me man🤓, even when I talk to my mom. I might say “I’m Rick James, Bitch!” And she gets it! She’s laughing harder than anyone else.

We watched Robin Hood Men In Tights, Half Baked, The Chappell Show. We didn’t watch everything, that’s about it, but I saw enough to know you were fucking hilarious!

We’re loyal fans and I don’t know who has a need for non religious, “crazy”(like a 🦊), ratical thinkers…? But maybe, if you ever find the need for a goofy, feminine voice actress/overall grounded, good person or sup’m😳. Then I’d be really excited/petrified and If I get a good enough paying gig, I can start saving money for my future sustainable farm and that Tesla SUV thing, and be able to afford to give my 3 kids the future everyone deserves and maybe, when I become successful and philanthropic, I can hopefully help with that too. ”

Then my hope is that he wouldn’t be worried about me as a stranger, but that he had seen that even though I was a little nutty, it was ultimately the same kind of nutty he was. This is hypothetical after all.

But that’s just winging it.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I am going to take a moment to encourage my sister to not be afraid to fail to contact her mentors, who are currently: Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Comedian John Oliver…

“Good luck Sis!”

Ok! Now… let me take this chance to ask you some questions to help you find out who you may look up to.

Clearing your mind and thinking of your favorite memories, think back to who you look up to, who/what really caught your eye for the first time in your life?

What was so special about it?

Where would you be?

Would anyone be with you?

How are you behaving?

What kind of atmosphere is it?

What are you doing?

Are there any smells or feelings that arise?

Follow your favorite thoughts. Play in your mind. Imagine your dreams as if they were a reality and if you focus on it and get really, truly excited about it, ya never know. Maybe something amazing might happen! Even if it doesn’t, rest assured that whatever you truly desire is coming for you, so it’s up to you to decide what approach and attitude you decide to take with this mirror we call life. And have it be YOUR decision. That’s been the only missing ingredient the whole time ; )

Thank you to any and all who read this!

Have a good one!

-Holly

May.13

Working With Distractions In The Modern World

Posted by Littlehollyopal in Conversation Starters, Life Hacks, News, Uncategorized

I’ve been thinking about every aspect of life lately. I’m a thinker. That’s what I’m guaranteed to have time for. My own thoughts. If I’m busy, working for ‘The Man‘ (or three, four, or more) then.. my body may be busy, but my soul is conversing with me internally.

I may be focused intently on what I’m physically doing, but I can guarantee you that, mentally, I’m all over the map.

When I am finished with my fun and “chores” is when I make time to do this. ..Ya know, “blog”. I’d like to call what I do something different, just because I am that way. So I’m going to come up with a name for random thought blogging. Maybe you can let me know, if there’s already a name for it.

“Plog” ….

This is more of a personal log of anything I feel compelled to write about. So far, I don’t even know what I want it to be labeled. I prefer no labels. I just like to be good at anything and everything, make money from it ethically somehow, and then put the money to good use via sustainable farm. Hiring whoever I meet and can encourage along the way. Joyfully living our family adventure along the way.

I realize how much time can get lost on playing the social media game. I fall into the entertainment-wormhole on occasion…Write post. Share. Fwd. Research “how to make blogging easier on an iPhone 6 Plus”. Watching YouTube videos. Getting called to action #IRL for my kids or other family… and when I come out of it, I find that a few days of electronic rest is desirable, for me. My hands actually ache after holding the slender yet moderately sized phone for any longer than 20 minutes -after doing it everyday for the past 5 years. Rigorously searching for any info, pertinent to my life and how to reach my dream of a happy, successful, sustainable family farm. It taught me a lot about everything. My life taught me the rest.

I really and truly believe in balance. So, if you’re looking for advice on using your phone for business and destraction, beware that it is as limited to the amount of time you put in to your research. If you use YouTube to gather as much info as you can on all the subjects you need to learn, you will be saving massive amounts of time, energy, and personal resources. I have seen and done a lot and seen YouTube videos on a wide array of genres (I prefer comedy and music). Setting a personal limit of how much phone, computer, tablet, iPad, etc. was in my best interest though. Set reminders. Do the work. Hire yourself. You get it.

I find that some people can get restless if I am not immediately available, but in the kindest way, tough!

I’m me no-matter what the weather.

So don’t get lost while reading this. Remember what you came online searching for.

Re-claim that distracted brain. Feed that gut flora a rainbow of foods (mostly vegetables!). And emerge an enhanced version of yourself.

Randomly yours,

Holly

May.07

3 Rules I Use To Keep Pets Safe In The Desert

Posted by Littlehollyopal in Family, Life Hacks, News, Pets, Pixel

Anyone who really knows me, knows I have three chihuahuas. Mango, Mojo, and Pixel.

I also have three boys, each celebrated coincidentally with a chihuahua.

My first dog was a mini dachshund, Pip. -Total bitch, but she was smart and awesome! She cured our family of bickering in no time when she was still a puppy.

…Which kind of brings me to my point. Pip was 11 years old when she mysteriously disappeared while barking outside, yet still inside my parents courtyard… All that remained of Pip was a little bit of blood on the ground.

We are left to assume it was either a bobcat, coyote, mountain lion, eagle, or some other bird of prey.

It was a harsh lesson for us all. Pip was small. 11 pounds of hot dog sausage fury. Delicious sounding to the average predator, I’m sure.

She died 10 years ago this year and now that I have three kids and three dogs, I am continuing to improve upon my proactive approach of keeping my loved ones safe.

How to keep your beloved pets and things safe in the desert according to Holly:

Rule #1: Never leave your pets alone outside. Just don’t risk it. Sure a pack of giant breed dogs are pretty safe, but even a large dog can become a victim in the wrong situation. …Coyotes run in packs, mountain lions are amazingly strong and fierce (especially when hangry), owls are clever, snakes are sneaky, dare I go on..?

Rule#2: Minimize the reasons an animal might be interested in being near your property. Consider if you’re inadvertently inviting predators by leaving pet or human food outside, or not picking/cleaning up enough after outdoor feasts. I say again: Minimize danger.

-Forethought. Learn it. Live it. Love it!

Is it dark? Use man made lights to your advantage. It blinds or discourages sneak attacks because the lights are too bright in contrast to the natural darkness the wildlife is used to.

Rule #3 Don’t get too comfortable. I mean, predators are obviously good at observing their surroundings and checking for holes in the fence, animals alone, distractions, or learned responses. …Say if every time a door creeks there’s a little doggy that goes outside with a clanky metal collar, does it’s smelly business, barks, draws attention… Predators are smart and resourceful. They will pick up on habitual behavior and look for an opportunity- a weakness.

It may be best to have fencing that is tall, but that will not guarantee any real safety. It adds a level of security, but flying animals won’t even think about a wall or fence and I’ve seen mountain lions and bobcats on the roof, so a 6 foot stucco wall won’t do enough to keep them out.

All the tips and prep in the world aren’t as good as your undivided attention for keeping your pets safe.

Stay alert and your pets are more likely to stay alive!

Have a desert animal story?

Tell me about it in the comments!

My Truth About Blogging

Posted by Littlehollyopal in Uncategorized

Bloggy Bloggerton…

…I am not.

To clarify: I want to blog. I just have a lot to do. We just moved all of our belongings into storage. Bought an RV while raising 3 kids and 3 dogs(wouldn’t have it any other way-wait till I finally have my farm- Can we say animal rescue!!!) In order to help my parents in recovery from my dad’s cancer treatments.

Since we have arrived at my parents house in Arizona, it has been very rewarding, yet exhausting. I blog whenever I can, from my iPhone 6 Plus. (I don’t recommend this method…)

It’s a big phone. Kinda awkward to use for long periods of time and it gets hot pretty fast.

Who knows what it’s doing to my body…

I decided to blog about all this because I kept coming up with reasons for why I’m too busy to “do the work” (of running a blog).

I was legitimately and appropriately managing my time for what was most important. In my head it’s about like this:

“-Are the children taken care of? Have the dogs been taken care of? How’s grandpa? Time to cook. Let’s help grandma in the garden. Let’s clean up. What’s Photosynthesis? Let’s look that up to explain it best. You want to color? Swim time! Watch me on the trampoline! Let’s check the mail. Time to pay the bills, and so on and so forth. ”

..The usual for me.

I love it! My life is unlike any person I’ve ever met and I look forward to it staying that way. I used to worry constantly and let people’s expectations of me dictate my actions and I was a definite people-pleaser.

I will always be a bit of a people-pleaser… because it pleases me to please people : )

… Just no more self sacrificing on an unnecessary level. As a mother. Self sacrificing is part of the gig. In my experience, you’re not doing it right if you don’t have occasional pangs of guilt or worry bitch-slapping ya back to reality. I am aware that I go above and beyond for my loves. Whoever they may be. If I love you. You will know it and you will like it 😘

-It’s the people pleaser in me.

But I don’t have limitless energy, and when I run out of steam and everyone is like “Aww, you used up all Holly’s energy 😔😔😔” to everyone else.

I have found that listening to my intuition above all works out best. I draw from 32 years of life experience and 10 years in the research and development phase.

I relieved myself of a lot of excess duties when I realized just how much people-pleasing I had gotten to myself into and when I learned how to take a step back from it, breathe, and allow myself to set whatever boundary that needed to be placed. My true self seemed to take shape when I was fairly young because not much had to change.

I essentially alleviated decades of self-inflicted guilt and stress by acknowledging and letting go of the expectations I was able to see were from others and not me.

– I erased all personal and internal doubt when I got consistent confirmation that listening to my intuition gave me my desired outcome in all situations.

– Good thing I don’t use it ferr evil – #amiright ?!

(Jk. Because you get whatever you put out and when I used to be just the tiniest bit vengeful as a young child – and rightfully so – “karma” would always kick my ass. I learned this very early on in my life.)

I am more aware of what I should be paying attention to. I’m able to argue with others and not get upset, unlike in the past. I am always aiming to be completely rational and honest. I’m able to think to the end to whatever desired outcome works best for everyone and proceed with just enough forethought to avoid the usual pitfalls that can strike in everyday life.

(I am not saying I don’t slip up ever, but I allow time for rest and I aim to stay in a continuous state of my natural flow. Practically just observing others. Never reacting. Always encouraging. Incorporating fitness in whatever task I take on because in all honesty, I may not have time to cut out a work out. I keep my flow best while using my intuition.)

This is how I am taking my family “The Great Dains Dynamite Dynamic Dynasty” to wherever we want to go!

-haha!

Well, I digress.

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day : )

– Holly

Apr.18

Homemade Essential Oil Facial Scrub

Posted by Littlehollyopal in Beauty Mode

I surprisingly get asked my age a lot. I grew up watching and learning from other women that it was rude to ask your age.

I never really minded because I was the youngest in almost all of my family circles.

Just a few days ago my mom told me, You could be 16 for all they know! After people were staring at us load my Honda Pilot. After we finished a jaunt to Costco for some recycled rubber tire/mulch mixture that we used to cover cardboard boxes to keep the weeds down and hide the cardboard so it looks classy-like (…yet another post ; )

All I know, is that everyone I know is concentrating on looking younger than they are and it can be nearly impossible to hide your age, but you can always do things to help look younger. For this, you do not have to go under the knife, just follow some natural remedies and you can easily avoid aging signs that appear on your skin.

Todays post contains one such natural remedy to keep on hand. One that promises to scrub and remove aging signs like wrinkles or dark spots from your skin in just a few applications.

Make sure to let me know how it goes in the comments!

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon Baking Soda

½ Tablespoon Honey

1 Drop Lavender Essential Oil (EO)

1 Drop Frankincense EO

After Application and rinse:

Rose Water or Witch Hazel

Directions:

1 Combine the baking soda and honey together until it looks like a paste. Add one drop each of lavender and frankincense essential oils.

2 Place a warm washcloth over your face and hold on skin for a minute or so to open up your pores.

3 Gently rub face with facial scrub using small circular motions (be gentle with your skin!). Keep massaging skin with scrub for 3-5 minutes to fully remove dead skin from face and to let the essential oils work their magic.

4 Rinse off with warm water.

5 Your face may be red for a bit but this will wear off.

6 Use this scrub no more than 1-2 times a week.

7 This scrub is alkaline to the skin, so to even out your pH it is a good idea to splash your face with rosewater or witch hazel afterwards. This will naturally balance your skin.

Most of all! Have fun in beauty mode!

#beautymode

Apr.16

Apr.15

You Cant Fudge This Recipe Up!

Posted by Littlehollyopal in News, Recipes

No marshmallows, marshmallow cream, or chocolate chips needed in this fudge recipe and if you fallow these directions, you will soon be enjoying your new favorite fudge!

Old Fashioned Scratch Fudge Recipe:

4 Cups organic sugar
1 Cup Cacao Powder
2 Cups Milk
8 Tablespoons grass-fed butter
1 Tablespoon Real Vanilla
Optional: 1 cup of whatever you might want to throw in! [Cashews, pecans, walnuts, homemade marshmallows (recipe coming soon), raisins, pistachios, macadamianuts, dare I go on?]

Directions:

Grease an 8×8 inch square baking pan. Set aside.
Combine sugar, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan. Stir to blend, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer. Do not stir again.
Place candy thermometer in pan and cook until temperature reaches 238 degrees F(114 degrees C). If you are not using a thermometer, then cook until a drop of this mixture in a cup of cold water forms a soft ball. Feel the ball with your fingers to make sure it is the right consistency. It should flatten when pressed between your fingers.
Remove from heat. Add butter or margarine and vanilla extract. Beat with a wooden spoon until the fudge loses its sheen. Do not under beat. It will take some muscle if you’re able to use a mixer, it may shorten the beating time.
Pour into prepared pan and let cool. Cut however you like!
Enjoy!
Post a comment on how it turned out! : )

Do You Know Your Ultimate Desire For Contentment?

Posted by Littlehollyopal in Conversation Starters, Family, Inspiration

I found that it makes me happiest if I keep my needs very basic and, if you are anything like me, you too desire a life of contentment.

-You’re powering through most days with an ultimate goal of self satisfaction and ever-lasting fulfillment at that rest point I hope you’re imagining in your head for the future (When you’re not living in the now, of course; ).

-That place you can’t wait to be. The one you get up in the morning for and go to bed re-evaluating if you can check any “to-do’s” off your list.

My husband and I work (some would argue: overwork) our butts off in pursuit of this very goal, broken down to its most basic form: Find an attainable position of peace for our family to experience some form of comfort and security-before we’re too old to enjoy it.

For us, this means figuring out OUR best guess of where we would be happiest, purchase property there, create a fully sustainable life, create, live, love, enjoy, share and spread how we decided to do it.

I’ve taken the past few years to study everything I ever wanted to online. I wrote a project about “There is No Harm in My Farm” when I was 8. The fact that it has taken so long for me to attain my dreams was because of self made limitations brought on by my society (the world only I, personally was subjected to) That’s the world that only I experienced and that only I have memories of. It’s the world that created who I am today. I learned my lessons. I grew. I accepted and embraced who I really am and she loves love.

It feels completely attainable. I am aware that there are unfortunately plenty of heart wrenching things going on, practically every moment (somewhere in the world), but I want my families very existence to counter that stuff. However we can.

I want to know that whatever I purchase or make may alleviate suffering somehow.

Did I grow organic (un-poisoned) flowers and other plants for local bees?

Maybe, I purchased something with a 100% compostable packaging.

Maybe, I didn’t do anything at all… Maybe I spent more time at home, not driving around or ordering anything to be delivered.

I have started to do more myself. Looking into what I could be doing on my own instead of a product.

We have to remember that product commercials are meant to sell what they are talking about, so hearing “Why” you need something is meant to convince you that you need it.

I frequently think of how basic our needs really are, and when all those needs are met for every individual… Now that would be one peaceful world 🌎✌🏻.

That’s all I have time for right now. The kids are waking up and if I don’t post this now, I will fill my day with so much fun and chores, I may not find it again until I’m too tired to use my iPhone’s keyboard.

Peace ✌🏻

-Holly

Apr.13

Mar.27

Hollys Favorite Homemade Ranch Recipe

Posted by Littlehollyopal in Recipes

Makes about 1½ cups

Ingredients

1 cup organic mayonnaise of choice (I use Trader Joe’s or another store brand organic mayonnaise)

1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar (probiotics!)

1 tablespoon unsweetened plain nut milk or water (I use water)

1 small garlic clove finely minced or pressed, OR ¾ teaspoon granulated garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

2 teaspoons dried parsley

2 teaspoons fresh chopped dill

2 teaspoons fresh chopped chives

¼ teaspoon sea salt

dash fresh ground black pepper, or to taste

Prep fun:

Stir all ingredients together then transfer to an airtight glass container to store in the refrigeratora Mason jar works perfectly.

Add more or less unsweetened plain nut milk or water to your desired consistency. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to developit’s even better the next day. It will keep for about a week, so halve or double the recipe if needed.

This recipe is adapted from Mind Body Green‘s website for Vegan Ranch Dressing.

So simple! Give it a try and let me know how it goes below!

Mar.26

Blueberry Streusel Muffins – Holly-Style

Posted by Littlehollyopal in Recipes

Ingredients

1/2 cup grass-fed butter, softened

3/4 cup organic sugar

2 eggs (preferably your own or local free range)

1 teaspoon real vanilla extract

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt

1/2 cup organic milk

1 1/2 cups organic blueberries

2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons organic brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon organic ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons grass-fed butter, chilled

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with paper or silicone muffin liners.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt.

Stir the flour mixture into egg mixture alternately with milk.

In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle topping over unbaked muffins.

Gently fold blueberries and streusel topping until desired consistency and spoon into prepared muffin tins. I fill them up to the brim of liner, filling as many as I can along the way : )

Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes (depending on muffin size), until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Did you try this recipe?

Let me know how it went below!

Mar.11

Small Victories in Rio Verde Foothills- Arizona

Posted by Littlehollyopal in Uncategorized

I have lived in Northern Scottsdale on and off since 2002. I’ve lost count how many times, actually. Aside from one winter spent in Palm Desert, California, Scottsdale has been my go-to winter location because my family owns property there.

However, this snow season, sitting under the Arizona sun was brought on for a new reason. Not just to evade the lower temperatures (though it is a major plus). This years reason is one that no one plans for.

My father has just finished cancer treatments of radiation and chemotherapy for a cancerous growth near his tongue. I wasn’t extremely involved in the decision making process, but of course I had my own ideas of how I thought intense chemo might go for him. I’ve even worked as a Unit Secretary in an Emergency Room. I had seen enough to prepare me, but no amount of knowledge or prep can keep your insides from voicing your own opinion, secretly telling yourself everything you want to hear about how you would do it if it was you, wondering how you can help without causing more work. Hoping you actually have a positive effect on the situation. Pushing through the fatigue because there is no one else for the job. A sense of carrying on as so much changes in hopes to hold on to some sense of personal normalcy.

If I heard my mother correctly, my dad stopped eating January 9. His throat was so severely damaged from his treatments that it disabled his throat muscles completely. He is doing special motions that his speech therapist taught him to try and build the muscles back up.

It is now March 10 and I am happy to report that my dad had his first bite of food in however many days that is!

Here’s to the small victories!!

Have an amazing night!

-Holly