by Summer D Clemenson | Jun 6, 2015 | Essential Oils
My favorite Essential Oil is Lavender!
AKA Lavandula Augustifolia
Lavender smells so nice and can be used in making soaps and candles and freshening stagnant air. You can add it to vinegar when cleaning to lighten the smell. Lavender oil can be used to polish your wood floors.
Therapeutic-Grade Lavender Essential Oil is also tasty in cooking; Mix a drop with White Chocolate in your coffee for a special treat.
Lavender can also help your body stay healthy by:
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by Summer D Clemenson | Jun 4, 2015 | Opinions
I am so glad that I am a child of God. Because He is my Father He is always teaching me something. Some lessons are harder than others. We have been working on forgiveness for a long time….we still are…
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25
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by Summer D Clemenson | Jun 2, 2015 | Food
I have been working to make this recipe perfect for over 10 years and now I would like to share it with you. I love this recipe because it is gluten free, high in omega 3’s and tastes delicious! I was inspired to start working on this because my niece, Allie needed some more fiber in her diet, as a toddler, and her brother, Casey LOVES banana bread…The recipe recently became gluten free, as I learned that my bosom-friend, Jamie Holloway, is gluten intolerant and I wanted to have a few recipes in my arsenal that she could just enjoy without worry or feeling deprived.
Another plus is that you can easily substitute shredded zucchini or pureed pumpkin and even switch out or omit the walnuts, chocolate chips and cranberries.
I want to encourage you to not purchase ground flax seed, but actually buy whole flax seed and use your food processor to grind it fresh. The reason you want to do this is that the minute the seeds are ground, the oils that are so good for you and the reason you would bother eating flax, begin to evaporate. Also flax is one seed that your stomach can’t break down…meaning if it is not well-ground it will enter and exit whole…another way you miss out on those amazing omega 3’s! If you don’t have a food processor or Cuisinart, you can use anything with a flat blade for grinding. I used to have coffee grinder used only for seasonings (that idea came from my great-grandpa Drummond); I usually use my Bullet for grinding now…
Ingredients:
- Fresh Ground Flax Seed 1 ½ cup
- All Purpose Gluten Free Flour 1/8 cup
- Sorghum Flour 1/8 cup
- Aluminum Free Baking Powder 2 tsp
- Baking Soda 1/4 tsp
- Raw Sugar or Evaporated Cane Sugar 2/3 cup
- Organic Cinnamon 1 ½ tsp
- Avocado Oil 1/3 cup
- Eggs 3
- Mashed Bananas (or grated zucchini or puréed pumpkin) 1 cup (about 2 bananas)
- Chopped Walnuts ½ cup
- Dark Chocolate Chips ¼ cup
- Dried Cranberries ¼ cup
Note: Coconut oil to grease the pans and butter for the top (butter is optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Grease loaf pan with coconut oil.
- Blend Flax, All Purpose Gluten Free Flour, Sorghum Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Raw Sugar and Cinnamon in a large bowl.
- Beat the eggs in a small bowl.
- Add beaten eggs, Avocado Oil, Mashed Bananas, Walnuts, Chocolate Chips and Dried Cranberries to the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Pour into pans and spread evenly.
- Bake 25-35 minutes. At 25 min you can put butter pats on top and put back the bread back in the oven for at least 10 minutes so the butter can caramelize.
- Remove from oven. Let cool for 10 min.
- Remove from bread pan and let cool for at least 30 min before serving.
Note: This bread is always better on day 2!
We live such busy lives and to make mornings easier I tend to make sure we have a loaf of the bread in the fridge (No preservatives means you should keep it in the refrigerator) along with a bowl of hard boiled eggs. Voila! Quick breakfasts for both my wife and I that are healthy and filling…
by Summer D Clemenson | May 28, 2015 | Opinions, Wellness
I have decided that there is no magic pill…that was always the answer I just didn’t want to think that. I was taking 2 different meds to help me with living with anxiety disorder and the one meant to help me sleep didn’t always work. I had decided it didn’t work and planned to talk to the dr about it on my next appointment. Meanwhile I have been going to a Living Well with Chronic Illness class and have finally made peace that I must choose to live on a schedule so I can accomplish my personal goals and as I was beginning to see success…it was time to go to the appointment. (more…)
by Summer D Clemenson | May 2, 2015 | Food
Part of my journey of learning how to eat healthier has been learning that better ingredients make better food. When I am baking I have a few items that I never let run out and I wanted to share them with you. Although there are other brands that are just as good…this is what is my cupboard today…and most days because this is what I can find where I live…
Sea Salt
We hear so much about salt and which one is better. Hello! Sodium is sodium and the trace amounts of minerals may not matter to everyone, in the scheme of things. In a perfect world we would all have Himalayan Sea Salt ready for use…but my grinder is getting tired and so is my arm.
So for baking I use sea salt. It too has lots of trace minerals, but mainly I think it has a cleaner taste than table salt so you can sometimes use less and I love that this container is easy to pour when measuring.
Real Vanilla Extract
I make this myself and I must tell you, it is super easy and so worth a few minutes of effort. I have bought kits online and seen them at the health food store. You can also just purchase the beans in the same manner. You can use rum, vodka or bourbon. We don’t drink very often in our house…so even with a few toddies or spiked hot chocolate I only have to buy a pint each year.
Put your beans in the bottle, fill the bottle with your preferred liquor (this bottle is made with rum) and then set it in a dark cool place for at least a month. Shake it once per week. Once you start using it you can just refill the bottle with the liquor.
Organic Cinnamon
I was raised by a mother who didn’t enjoy cooking and probably just bought the cheapest cinnamon she could find whenever she felt the need to make something with it. As I got older and learned that I could make food that made my taste buds dance I started using other types of ingredients and learned that the ingredients you use matter…a lot! I love Simply Organic Cinnamon. If you aren’t going to fresh grind your cinnamon…don’t scrimp on the cinnamon!
Aluminum Free Baking Power
I was wandering through the natural baking section on a day that I needed to buy baking powder and noticed that they had one that said Aluminum Free on the label. Mom had always used Clabber Girl…but that day I bought Rumford…and soon I promised to stay away from the aluminum.
Aluminum is not necessary for our bodies and some people are nervous about what they fear eating it could cause. I use it because my baking is lighter and fluffier…definitely use Aluminum Free Baking Powder…
by Summer D Clemenson | Mar 26, 2015 | Marketing
Wellness Works NW serves Cowlitz County, Clatskanie & Rainier by offering:
- Wellness Plans for Individuals & Businesses
- Fitness Assessments
- Weight Management Counseling
- Personalized Menus & Shopping Lists
- Personal Training
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by Summer D Clemenson | Nov 25, 2014 | Poetry
You are so much bigger than myself
Drowning in communication
Caught in the chords that we’ve confused
I am straining to hear You
but the addresses are new while the links look unchanged
—
Critics have had their say
The constant wailing and lamenting
has captured thousands of hits
But only You know what I am mourning
—
The information I have depended on
cannot be found
You see my creation and documented the keywords
I have worked hard to maintain a user-friendly site
but the pop-ups have led me astray
Will You tell me where I am going?
—
The polls are in and the adware has been effective
My arms are exhausted from constant hacking
You are the one that connects the parts of me You made
while the marketing continues to mix
—
The slideshow is entertainment while I wait
for the entire page to upload
A glitch in the database
stops my head from speaking to my feet
while technicians install Your latest update
There are 3 empty chairs at this station even though You never leave
—
The fine print clarifies that You are always refining
My code is always being updated
I look forward to being newer and better when You are done
as silver purified in a furnace on earth 7 times
by Summer D Clemenson | Nov 8, 2014 | Poetry
In the warmth that fills me
You claim Your place inside
Like a child I behold Your face ablaze
Giggles escape in adoration
as I reach up to look better at Your eyes
as I run my fingers through Your hair
—
As long as I stay here
You are my breath
You empower my opportunities
and even while I look to You
You leak out of my pores
—
The voices singing Hallelujah
erupt and fill the room
We sway in Your arms
but only use words that seem too small
In You we find our likeness
while you manage the production in Your Word
—
Desire to move on my own
takes me out of Your light
So I will stand on Your feet
and let You lead
I fail when I try my hand at choreography
—
There is a whisper in my soul
that answers every question
Like a child I behold Your face ablaze
Giggles escape in adoration
Who I am is in Your gaze
and You are the song and the dance
by Summer D Clemenson | Oct 26, 2014 | Wellness
On Thursday October 9, 2014 I decided to put into action a change. I have always been fat. I was a fat child. I was a fat adolescent. I have been a fat woman for as long as I have been a woman. Don’t get me wrong, I know that people that are overweight can be fit. But I am not. I get winded on the stairs. I have pains in my hips and back when I walk too far, which isn’t that far. I can’t get on my knees to even consider sitting on the floor. My belly gets in the way of things I want to do. My weight stops me from living the life I want to live.
I have had times in my life when I felt the need to buy workout DVDs and hand weights and for a short time I would would work out. There were times I walked almost every day. Always something happened and exercise got set aside. (more…)
by Summer D Clemenson | Oct 13, 2014 | Exclaim it!
Sock Drive & Fundraiser
Our favorite nonprofit is at again! We are excited to EXCLAIM the 2nd Annual Survival Drive, facilitated by Living Ministries.
Survival Drive 2014 will run from October 13th to October 31st. Living Ministries will collect socks and money to give to Love Overwhelming.
Love Overwhelming is a local nonprofit that serves Cowlitz County as the facilitator of Coordinated Entry. People requiring assistance from a number of socio-economic needs should go through their resource case managers for referral. Love Overwhelming also manages an urban rest stop, or Daily Living Essential Cafe, where anyone experiencing homelessness or in danger of experiencing homelessness can come and be safe, have access to restrooms, showers, laundry services and basic living essential items.
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by Summer D Clemenson | Oct 8, 2014 | Book & Product Reviews, Opinions
Recently Karen and I were loaned a copy of The Isaiah 9:10 Judgement DVD by a friend, who has watched lots of times and felt that we really needed to see it. So that is what we did on our day off, actually it played twice through because Karen had fallen asleep at the end and I was inspired to pray and search the bible for a few words about themes that I saw throughout the production. The editing team that created it made sure that it looped and so, in the end it was at least listened to twice in our house.
The Isaiah 9:10 Judgement DVD was written by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn to accompany his books The Harbinger and The Harbinger Companion.
On ChristianBook.com the Publisher’s Description for The Isaiah 9:10 Judgement states:
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by Summer D Clemenson | Oct 4, 2014 | Opinions
This morning I woke to sunshine streaming in the window and a song on my heart. The voice sounded like me but it was deep within me. I am used to this and I think I take it for granted sometimes.
“*Draw Me Close to You. Never let me go. I lay it all down again, to hear You say that I’m Your friend…”.
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by Summer D Clemenson | Oct 2, 2014 | Marketing
Back in October of 2011 I surprised my oldest friend with a blog. For years she had been talking about writing more and one day I was inspired to build her a blog where she could write whatever her heart desired. In the last 3 years Jamie Holloway has been able to use words to describe her path as she learned to deal and heal with Vasculitis. Although Jamie was forced to live with a trach for many years in order to be able to breath, miraculously she was always able to speak, which is not very common, but most importantly, her readers were also able to experience her finding her inner voice and learn to communicate better and advocate for herself.
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by Summer D Clemenson | Sep 13, 2014 | Marketing
The buzz on the street is that people are afraid to buy websites because they don’t think they can edit them or that I can update them fast enough. I am super excited to get feedback, even when it tells me that I haven’t spoken enough on this topic. It is kind of like a report card…and I just gave myself a D…that is not good enough.
At Exclaim Media Video and Marketing we love to help people have thoughtful, clear marketing. That should be based on an easy-to-use website that can work for you when you are playing, eating and sleeping. Owning it ensures that it is yours and you don’t have to worry about whether you are following the compliance rules that you might be stuck with on some social media sites.
When I set up your new site, I build sites with WordPress because WordPress is easy enough to use that I don’t have to be a gatekeeper between you and your site. Anyone that can type can be trained to edit your site. Since you don’t usually have big changes everyday this is something that your receptionist can do between calls, the mail sorter can do when they want to take a break from paper cuts, even your CEO can make updates while they eat lunch. Part of the cost of your site includes training to edit it. Beyond that build, if I can answer your question in an email or phone call…you won’t have to look forward to an invoice.
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by Summer D Clemenson | Aug 29, 2014 | Marketing
The Monticello Hotel opened for business on July 23, 1923 and was the centerpiece that the City of Longview was built around. The “fire-proof” 200-room hotel housed prospective residents and visiting business people who had come in search of property. Originally named “Hotel Monticello,” it was the first building to be completed in the planned city. The name was chosen in honor of the first pioneer community on the Cowlitz River, which was named after Thomas Jefferson’s plantation.
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by Summer D Clemenson | Aug 22, 2014 | Opinions
1) I am thankful that I can say thank you. So many people don’t stop and say thank you. Gratitude is an amazing gift from God. When we say thank you we are blessed in so many ways. When you make a lifestyle of being thankful (which Jesus told us to do in the first place) it becomes easier and easier and even in painful, stressful, terrifying situations you can always find something to say thank you for. Doing this blesses God and amazes blesses the people around you. If you are alive, have something to eat, clothes to wear and some sort of shelter, you have four things to be thankful for. If you don’t have great shelter or are feeling blue you might even be more thankful for the beautiful weather today because being stuck outside in the rain is not nearly as fun as dancing in the sunshine. If you have someone that loves you or many people that love you, you are rich indeed! (more…)
by Summer D Clemenson | Aug 21, 2014 | Opinions
1) I am thankful that God planned be before the foundation of the earth and set me on a path He created just for me. I am thankful for my salvation and the fact that God is always working in me and blesses people through me. (more…)
by Summer D Clemenson | Aug 21, 2014 | Poetry
I would have nothing but death
and with a broken heart You made plans for that
You said there would be war
and rumors of war
You said You would come back
and I would take my eyes off You in order to guess
Even this is more proof of You
My neighbors revel in gossip and drama
while people You love
starve and sleep in the street
You said humanity would breed evil
and it has
I have tried to avoid dancing with them yet still I must repent
You know how hard I have tried to be good
and failed
Your love is so deep and encompassing and honest
Trust founded in you
has been raped by our greed
But in my heart You remain
You overwhelm me with Your grace
So I would be happy to look more like you
You said I would be persecuted
by liars, tramps and thieves
Your salvation is complete
even while I still remain ready to compete
I hear the song in my heart cry with You
because You replaced mine with Yours
You see me through Your Son even through my sin
I am slowly losing my first site and sound of judgement
because You require me to give up all
While You are my amazing gain
I live in a glass house You built
I am hidden by Your Name
You are Promise and Truth
You are Overcomer and Savior
I am because You are
by Summer D Clemenson | Aug 20, 2014 | Opinions
1) I am thankful for my printer! I have had so many issues with printers that more often than not I don’t have one and although it is nice say hi to the folks at Copies Today SpeedyLitho…it costs too much to make copies for committee meetings so I often don’t have much to hand to Karen Gidderon, Jamie Holloway, Lynn Brown, Angelique Yoder, Clarence Beerman and Jacob A Beerman and guests…BTW in case you haven’t read your emails…we have a Living Ministries meeting tonight at 6 pm at Life Works…
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by Summer D Clemenson | Aug 19, 2014 | Opinions
I recently went through a huge loss. I lost a friend; or I lost the illusion that I had a friend. It has been hard to heal from this loss. After 3 years I have come to the realization that this is not a healthy relationship and although with time and prayer I will be able to forgive, I will not be reconnecting with this person. I don’t believe that we can encourage growth in each other and some actions kill any incentive to rebuild trust.
Although I have come to this decision, I have not shared it with her and yesterday morning I woke up to a text message from her that referred to me as Beloved. Just another reason that I need to let go. (more…)
by Summer D Clemenson | Aug 19, 2014 | Opinions
1) I am thankful for my marriage. I have been best friends with Karen Gidderon for 12 years in October. Since we have been married, I feel like there are parts of me that were broken that are no longer broken, parts of me that were weak that are stronger, and parts of me that I knew were missing that have been found. There is an unmeasurable greatness in knowing that I have someone beside me always that wants what I want. Both of us have blossomed by knowing that. Professionally, personally and spiritually we have seen growth. We love taking care of each other.
2) I have lost two relationships since May and although accepting the loss and the good parts of the relationship that are no longer, I am thankful that the end came. I am a dedicated person and in the past have accepted a lot of emotional abuse, control and manipulation as part of relationship. I am not called to do that. Until these two people left, I didn’t understand the turmoil and stress they were causing in my personal, professional and spiritual path. I am grateful to My God who has carried me through the loss and pain and also showed me the bigger picture. (more…)
by Summer D Clemenson | Aug 18, 2014 | Opinions
1) I am thankful to have landed. Being homeless sucks bigger than I imagined. This is not a permanent home but I am here now and I am safe and I don’t have to pack my things up in the morning and take them with me to a place I am not sure of. In the last few years I have learned to respect homeless people for their ability to survive; I now know more than I wanted to know. I am blessed because we had resources enough to stay in motels and have one good meal a day. So many don’t know what this feels like because they have forgotten and to them, I tip my hat. They are resourceful, brave and stronger than I have had to be. (more…)
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