Pepper Scraps » XX My Life

Telling Your Time Review

Pepper Ferguson — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:29:21 +0000

This is actually my second time reading Amy Lynn Andrew’s eBook Telling Your Time. I even purchase the newest version of her book which I’m happy I did! Ready to learn more about her book. Read my quick and easy review:

5 things I learned

Equating time to weight loss – minutes scheduled needs to be less than minutes in a day. Budget your time just as you budget your calories.

To not schedule every minute or live by the clock. I needed permission to not do everything, to let me know I was being to strict with myself.

Many times we make external changes, but it never works out because we really need to make internal changes. Here is another great analogy that is just like the weight loss mentality, we buy the workout clothes, the gym membership, the perfect app, but we don’t work on the issues that got us overweight and we are surprised when we fail.

Two of the most important roles you can add to your list of roles are self and dreamer. You are not adding self to make you center but because you are aware that none of your other roles can be accomplished without taking care of yourself. You need to add dreamer because if you don’t add your dreams to your schedule none of your dreams will really come about.

Writing everything you want and need to do may make you realize you may be trying to do too much.

6 amazing quotes

“Effective time management is not the key to a completed to do list, it’s the key to an accomplished life”

“Take control. Tell time how to work for you. Don’t be subject to it.”

“… your most important roles have to do with relationships. At the end of your life, relationships will be what really mattered and everything else … will pale in comparison.”

“Do not underestimate the importance of sleep. Because it’s so vital to your overall health and well-being, guard it fiercely!”

“Be realistic … If you are not realistic and try to squeeze in too much into your schedule, you’re only setting yourself up for failure.”

“… you should spend less time doing what you have to do and more time doing what you were made to do.”

5 reasons I recommend the book

Too many things on your schedule? Learn how to prioritize what you really want to do and learn to cut out the unnecessary.

Learn to not focus on specific goals but what your roles in life are. Prioritize these roles and find your true goals.

Don’t just use this book to make a daily life schedule. Use it to break down your business and blogging goals. Create a work schedule that will guide you to those specific goals.

Don’t get overwhelmed with knowing where to start. Learn to create your schedule simply step by step.

Even if you are not ready to jump into a full schedule learn how to prioritize your time. Use this system to create a loose schedule.

Ready to Buy?

Or Get it on Amazon Kindle:

Do you have a daily schedule? A weekly schedule? What is your best tip for sticking to it?

In the spirit of full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, which means that I may get compensated if you decide to purchase anything. I only recommend products & systems that I use and love myself, so I know you’ll be in good hands.

Pepper Ferguson

Healthy Mom = Healthy Family - That is my life motto and I hope to encourage it to be yours too. January 2011 I made the decision to lose weight and lost 80+ pounds. I saw my boys start getting active with me and I realized I wasn't only changing my life but also my boys.

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Photo a Day Challenge for February

Pepper Ferguson — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:24:29 +0000

Source: fatmumslim.com.au via Pepper on Pinterest

I found this today and am very excited to do it. I will probably be posting these photos on my weekly “Friday Favorites” post. What I’m excited about is I’m going to create a google calendar just for this challenge (maybe use it in the future for other challenges too) and enter each day’s challenge into it’s day. That way I can pull up the days challenge on my phone.

Want to join me?

Pepper Ferguson

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Where’s Pepper?

Pepper Ferguson — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:51:24 +0000

Wow, I know my last post was just after surgery and it’s been about a month since then. I’m still recovering. After finally getting onto solid food so being able to get my protein and energy up I was slammed with a cold. And even now 2 weeks later I’m still fighting it. I am supposed to be on the couch right now resting but I miss my blog so much!

I hope that you, my loyal readers, are not too upset with the lack of updates, I promise I will be doing more!

As I have been healing I have been thinking about PepperScraps and trying to decide with the new year coming up where I should take this blog. This is where you come in, my readers.

What is your favorite posts at PepperScraps? Blogging, becoming healthy, kids & crafts, or do you like the mash up of everything?

Pepper Ferguson

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Project 52: Facebook over the Years

Pepper Ferguson — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:01:07 +0000

How often do you change your photo on Facebook? Have you ever looked back through your profile photo folder? I saw this great post by Vampy Varnish taking a look back at your facebook profile pics over the years.

I actually saw something as I looked through each of these photos. Can you see it? There is a progression and it is related to Project 52.

Answer

You can actually see my comfort with the camera and sharing my pictures grow through these pictures. I started on Facebook in 2009 and I only had pictures of my boys as my profile picture. Then I started adding photos that were only clips of me but more focused on my boys. Now I share full photos of myself, now that I’m comfortable with my camera and sharing photos of myself.

Join Project 52: Self Portraits

Lynda (from Daily Window) and I are not going to be putting up the linky anymore, but still want to invite you to participate in this project with us. I hope you will join us!

If you want to use the Project 52 badge feel free and grab it and use it on your post. You don’t have to do every week with us you can post just once even and you don’t have to follow the weekly theme either. We just hope that you will join us for some fun.

This is the challenge take a photo of yourself!

Do you edit your pictures to hide imperfections? Or do you think that if you edited your photos more you might be more likely to take more photos of yourself?

Pepper Ferguson

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Diaper Genie Party!

Pepper Ferguson — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:44:55 +0000

I received an invitation to a fun little party at the amazing home of Kristin of Our Ordinary Life! This fun little party was sponsored by Playtex & Diaper Genie. Which after living in a house without a diaper pail for 3+ months I was excited about learning more about their product. Plus I got to bring my best friend, Andrea, who is 8 months pregnant.

I loved seeing my friends Kristin & Tina! They are such sweeties and I love meeting some of my great bloggy friends.

I was so excited I even did a special manicure for the party! I went with a fun skittles design in baby colors! You can read more about my mani at my new nail blog!

The Party

Kristin fed us homemade, organic chicken noodle soup and homemade bread sticks. Which even though they were not on my diet I had to eat them and I’m so glad I did! She also served a fun chocolate cake that was decorated like a witches cauldron.

We then sat around and watched the results from her nursey swabbing. Wow, am I glad my nursery didn’t get swabbed! LOL How impressive that the only place they found icky bacteria was inside their diaper waste basket. Kristin gives all the credit to her clean-lovin’ hubby.

The Surprise

You can’t believe how excited I was to learn that each of us was going to leave with a Diaper Genie II Elite! Eek! We also each got a little swag bag filled with goodies.

I made my husband put together the Diaper Champ that night! After having it for a week I can tell the smell is much better and I’m super happy! We just through out our first bag, so it takes us about a week to fill with a toddler and a preschooler in night-time pants still. Not too bad!

Giveaway at Our Ordinary Life till Oct 5th

If you would like to get some goodies of your own you have to race over to Our Ordinary Life and enter her giveaway! You only have a couple more days to enter, so make sure and go right away!!

Playtex is not paying me but I did receive gifts at the party. Opinions are my own.

Pepper Ferguson

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Project 52: Social Good Day 2011

Pepper Ferguson — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:24:32 +0000

I know you might be thinking, this isn’t Monday so why Project 52? Today is Social Good Day 2011, “Can social media be used to make the world a better place?” I won’t be able to make it to a meetup, but I wanted to use this event to encourage you, my reader to consider how you can use social media to make a difference.

Are you wondering how social media, supporting a cause and Project 52 connect? Project 52 is all about photography and self portraits. But what is the best self portrait then sharing something you are passionate about supporting?

What cause do you support? What cause breaks your heart and you want to support?

Great Example: Teresa Berg Photography

Teresa is a great example of how you can use your skills to help others. She was passionate about saving dogs from being euthanized. She saw how she could use her skills in photography could save these dogs!

Find your Passion

Find your passion and find how you can use your skills to help your cause. Are you a blogger? Write about the cause you are passionate about. Do you know social media? Share, tweet, and more all about the cause you want others to know about. Are you a photographer that loves animals? Take Teresa’s class to learn how to photograph animals for a local animal rescue.

My Current Cause: Direct Relief

My Current Cause: Girls Matter

On any given day, over 200,000 children inside the United States are at high risk for sexual exploitation, including prostitution, pornography, and stripping. Ninety percent of these children are American citizens. A child’s average age of entry into the U.S. sex industry is 12, with children as young as 10 being not uncommon.

-OATH (Oregonians Against Trafficked Humans)

This is the challenge find your passion & use your skills to help the cause!

Do you have a cause that you are passionate about? What do you do to support your cause?

Pepper Ferguson

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Healthy Advice: Considering Invisalign

Pepper Ferguson — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:50:53 +0000

I was surprised as my new dentist informed me the problems with my teeth may be a result of my “bite”. I never thought there was anything wrong with my teeth, beside having a couple slightly crooked teeth, they seemed fine. My dentist as a child told my mom I didn’t really need braces.

My new dentist let me know that my teeth were hitting slightly off and that if I had that corrected some of the discomfort with my teeth might be fixed.

After the doctor mentioning this, my misaligned bite suddenly became noticeable. When I bite down I notice that my teeth hit then slide together. Wow I how could I have never noticed that before?!

Fun Fact: Most people do not have naturally straight teeth; in fact, the AAO estimates that up to 75 percent of people could benefit from orthodontic care

Take Care of your Teeth!

Two years ago I was reminded about the importance of taking care of my teeth when I had to have a tooth pulled. I had a temporary crown I had let go too long.

I made a pledge to take better care of my teeth!

I started in on the process of getting my teeth healthy again! After many fillings, root canal, and tons of hygiene appointments my teeth are starting to become healthy. When the dentist talked about talking to an orthodontist I was all for it, whatever will help!

But then afterwards I thought to myself, oh no, braces.

Fun Fact: Straight teeth help an individual to effectively bite, chew and speak. Straight teeth contribute to healthy teeth and gums. Properly aligned teeth and jaws may alleviate or prevent physical health problems. Teeth that work better also tend to look better. An attractive smile is a pleasant “side effect” of orthodontic treatment. - According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO)

Wearing Braces as an Adult?

I am already dealing with a lot of self esteem issues right now. I’m concentrating so much on my weight loss I’m even more sensitive to how I look: stretch marks, double chin, acne, and even my crooked front tooth mock me as I look in the mirror or at a photo.

How could I stand seeing myself in braces?! An adult in braces! I didn’t know if my confidence could take one more blow.

Then I found my answer: Invisalign!!

Fun Fact: One in five orthodontic patients is an adult

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is an alternative to the old fashion metal braces of our childhood. Nearly invisible, removable plastic trays that straighten your teeth. Who could not want this over the alternative? I’m not only excited about the fact that I wouldn’t have to stare at metal teeth photos for a year, but that I would be able to take the “aligner” out and be able to brush and floss my teeth like normal.

Some other features I’m excited about are:

Not having limited food options or having “forbidden” food
No emergency dental appointments
Less appointments and time sitting in the chair (only every 6 weeks)

With my surgery coming up I am not going to need to be limited any more on my food and I will definitely not have time for emergency dentist appointments! I’m already struggling with getting my appointments scheduled, having a set 6 week visit with the dentist would be way better than the alternative with metal braces. Plus they are supposed to be really quick appointments!

Fun Fact: The total treatment time with Invisalign averages between nine and 15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30

I Wish I was Young Again

If I had had the option of Invisalign like teens have now I would have argued with my childhood dentist and jumped on the chance to get my teeth straightened. I have always been conscious of those crooked smiles, but they weren’t that bad enough to make me want metal braces.

I love that Invisalign gives kids the option of getting straight teeth with confidence, comfort, and safety.

As a mom of a very active young boy, who I’m sure will be a very active teen. I can only imagine him playing sports and getting hit or banged with those metal wires in his mouth. I will be looking into Invisalign for him when the time comes. If you have a teen I would definitely look into this option for your kids. They even have a product that is specifically created for teens: Invisalign Teen!

Fun Fact: 78 percent of mothers who had braces as a child believe braces are one of the best investments their parents made for them

To Be Continued?

As I’m already sharing my fun adventure of getting healthier through Weight Loss Surgery I may also share more about having healthier teeth! LOL Or at least share with you as my teeth get straighter! Wouldn’t you love it if I showed you a video of my Invisalign aligner?!

Did you have braces as a teen? Do you wish Invisalign was an option for you? If you didn’t have braces, do you think if you were offered to have Invisilign as a teen you would have tried it?

I was compensated for this post by Invisalign. Opinions are my own.

Pepper Ferguson

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Project 52: Don’t be afraid to edit

Pepper Ferguson — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:35:43 +0000

As I had mentioned before I’m going to be focusing a little more about me besides my photos for Project 52. This weeks photo is of my most current nail polish masterpiece. Well it’s not really a masterpiece, but I’m working on it.

I decided this month to try painting my nails in the evening while TJ and I sit and watch TV. I’m a terrible night snacker and I decided to try a new hobby to break this habit. I figure you barely want to move when you have wet nails not alone stick your hand into a snack bag.

Today I decided to also talk about editing your photos a little bit. I have terrible cuticles (I’m hoping keeping my nails painted will help me with another bad habit of biting my cuticles). I debated for a couple days if I want to share a photo of my nails, but I decided this may be a great way to show how you can share photos even if they are not perfect. I took the photo and took the time to edit my cuticles so that I felt comfortable to share my photo.

If you are not taking self portraits because you have a pimple or bad skin, if you feel like you just don’t look good in your photos, then learn how to do some tweaking and editing. If this is what you need to do to feel comfortable to share your photos then feel free. Sometime I hope you will learn to embrace your imperfections, but photos that are edited are better than no photos!

Join Project 52: Self Portraits

Lynda (from Daily Window) and I are not going to be putting up the linky anymore, but still want to invite you to participate in this project with us. I hope you will join us!

This is the challenge take a photo of yourself!

Do you edit your pictures to hide imperfections? Or do you think that if you edited your photos more you might be more likely to take more photos of yourself?

Pepper Ferguson

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Project 52: More than Pictures

Pepper Ferguson — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:38:47 +0000

As I have gone through this project, I have learned so much more about myself than just a photo shows. I’ve learned more about sharing myself. And today I’m going to take a break from what I normally write about on my blog and on this project and share a part of me you don’t see in my photos. What I right about may offend you or turn you off of my sight, but this is part of me and I think I would rather you see the whole me and love me as I am.

John 10:10

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose to to give them a rich and satisfying life. – John 10:10 NLT

As I sat in church and listened to the words my mind wondered to a past month of feeling of sadness for those I’ve met who have been hurt. And I wrote this:

My heart breaks for those I have met where these thieves, these false prophets. Their hearts have been hurt in the name of Christ but they do not even realize that they have been deceived. They did not meet the true God, they were introduced to a god that has been created by a human, a human that has created a god with human imperfection of hate, selfishness, and more. And this imperfect god destroys lives.

“There is one thing to know God and then there is to experience God.” – Joel Dombrow

I’m sure you’ve read this 1 Corinthians 13 many times at weddings, in marriage books and from your own Bible. But this verse is talking about a perfect love, not a husband and wife love, but God’s love. Replace Love with God in this verse and you will slowly see the beauty of His love.

Join Project 52: Self Portraits

Lynda (from Daily Window) and I are not going to be putting up the linky anymore, but still want to invite you to participate in this project with us. I hope you will join us!

This is the challenge take a photo of yourself!

Pepper Ferguson

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