Sunday, May 29, 2011

Need to Keep Kids Happily Occupied During Road Trips?

Making a long trip in the car with children can be a challenge.  However, if you grab a bag and pack a drawing tablet, crayons, an Etch-a-Sketch, and Play Dough and one old sheet cake pan for each child to use as a makeshift desk will work well to stimulate their imagination.  Encourage them to draw or build something that caught their attention along your journey to spark their creativity.

Try to play a game with your small children with "what if" questions to develop a continuing story.  For example, "what if" you were famous what would you want to do?  The next child has to jump in, "I would be a dancer.  Another in the car would ask, "What if the dancer broke her leg and couldn't dance, what would she do?  The plot line of the story can change in any direction.

Map out the trip with your children can be fun for them.  Show them the distance and keep estimates along the route can help improve their mathematics as well.

Guidebooks are wonderful to read together with your children.  Plan ahead of what you will pass on the road or once you arrive to your destination of what you want to see.

Pack some food for your trip to keep handy.  Fruits, cooked chicken, sandwiches, cookies, drinks are important if you need to make time.  Sometimes, you need to travel far and finding places to stop to eat or even rest stops can be hard to find.

Take care and have a wonderful Memorial Day.  Please drive safely!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Eat Right to Prevent Bone Loss!

We all know how crucial calcium and vitamin D are to protect our bones as we age. However, there are five other nutrients your skeleton also depends on to remain strong.

Omega-3s are essential to keep you protected.  Their fatty acids help your body absorb your calcium more so to prevent bone loss.  Try to eat include fatty fish like salmon, tuna, trout, haddock, mackerel, almonds, and walnuts in your diet.  Another suggestion is to get omega-3s in a supplement.  Read about the one I currently reviewed for ReNew Life that you can still win a $50 gift certificate to try out.

Your body also needs vitamin K to bind your calcium to your bones.  Learn to eat broccoli, spinach, kale, and cabbage more.  If you're on blood thinners like coumadin, then you need to be careful about too much of this vitamin.  Ask you doctor's opinion about how much he advises for your condition.

Potassium is another helpful mineral to get enough of since it can neutralize acid that can weaken your bones.  Some excellent foods to eat are potatoes, bananas, avocados, cantaloupes, soybeans, prunes, kidney beans, tomatoes, green peppers, watermelon, sweet potatoes, and orange juice for example.  To be on the safe side, you can also take a supplement.

Equally vital to your keeping that skeleton sturdy is eating enough foods rich in folate.  Folic acid is keeping your levels of homocysteine, the amino acid that disrupts bone density, in check.  Some great sources of folic acid foods to try to eat are asparagus, green vegetables, garbanzo beans, carrots, mushrooms, peanuts, eggs, oranges, chicken, cheese, and fortified grains are wonderful choices.

Finally, you should think about adding more foods with magnesium to your diet.  Magnesium helps regulate how your calcium is metabolized.  Foods you need to think about more are peanuts, wheat germ, soybeans, lima beans, kidney beans, tofu (soybean curd), almonds, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains.

I hope you take this information to heart because you can be experiencing bone loss even before you realize it, especially if you are a woman. 

Friday, May 27, 2011

Redken Intra Force Hair Care Line Review and Giveaway!--Ends June 17, 2011

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Redken Intra Force Hair Care Line.jpeg
Redken Intra Force Hair Care Line 


For those girls and guys searching for a way to help thinning their hair look thicker, but also become stronger, then you will be interested to hear about the Intra Force Hair Care Line that Redken sent me for this review and giveaway and its 3-step system.  You can see how the system works here.

The first recommended step is Purify your scalp with an in salon treatment of a microdermabrasion-inspired service to accelerate cellular turnover and maximize the results of the regimen.

For at home, you might want to try either System 1 with gentle cleansing with Intra Force Shampoo, followed by conditioning with Intra Force Toner and Intra Force Scalp Treatment to stimulate your hair follicles.  System 2 has the same products but formulated for color-treated hair with UV protection as well.

If you need an intensive treatment to combat your thinning hair, especially if the problem is related to stress, seasonal changes or to jump start the suggested salon treatment, Redken has Intra Force Hair Advance in monodose form, a leave in treatment recommended daily. 

Receding hairline trouble could be addressed with their Intra Force Micro Boost, a daily leave in treatment with Arginine, an essential amino acid to aid in hair circulation from the compression of the bulb and Niacin-E and other nutrition your hair hungers for.

For styling, Redken developed Intra Force Hair Densifier, an aerosol mousse to shape and maintain volume.

I think if you are in need of this type of hair solution, you should check out Redken's Intra Force Line further.
*Disclaimer:  This is my own honest opinion.  No money was exchanged.  All I received were free products so I give an opinion.*

Thanks to Redken, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States wins Intra Force Daily Care Starter Kit for Color-Treated Hair (a shampoo, toner, treatment), Intra Force Micro Boost, Intra Force Hair Advance, and Intra Force Hair Densifier ($144 value)!

Both Are Mandatory to Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then tell me the name you follow me by in a comment.

2. Go to Redken  and tell me which product you would love to try also or something you learned from the site in another comment.

Extra Entries:

Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--1 extra entry

Tweet Redken Intra Force Hair Care Line #Giveaway @Nuts4Stuff http://tiny.cc/i36bm (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Like Redken on Facebook--2 extra entries to leave in 2 separate comments. (Leave a message on their wall)

Follow Redken on Twitter--1 extra entry to leave in a comment

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--1 extra entry (must confirm)

Subscribe to Nuts 4 Stuff in a reader--1 extra entry (Orange button in my sidebar)

List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--2 extra entries (leave 2 separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Blog about this giveaway and and comment with a link to the post--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where you left it in each comment)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 1 more extra entry)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.   This giveaway is only open to residents of the United States.  Do follow the rules because I check entries.

This giveaway ends June 17, 2011 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

Thursday, May 26, 2011

I'm Nuts About These Cheap and Time Saving Cleaning Tricks!

Cleaning is hardly fun so when I discover ways to speed up my chores,  I jump for joy when an unexpected trick will work to free up more of my day.   What I'm going to share with you will also have you doing the happy dance so listen up because these simple tricks do work.

The first tip will improve the way you dust.  I found that you'll collect a lot more dust if you save those used fabric softener sheets to later dust with.  Dust clings to those old fabric softener sheets better than you can expect. 

Cola drinks are excellent cleaning solutions for battling stains inside of your toilet bowl.  Pour some cola and get your brush and watch those stains disappear.  The acidity in cola drinks is responsible for stain removal. 

If you need to get rid of a strong odor that lingered in your microwave, I have something interesting you should try.  First wipe the inside with one cup of warm water and one tablespoon of baking soda.  Wipe again with another soft cloth dampened with warm water and this should be enough to fix that annoying problem. 

Another thing to try to remove odors from the microwave is to measure out one-half cup of lemon juice and one cup of water in  your glass microwave bowl and heat on high for about four to five minutes.  Keep this mixture inside the microwave for at least ten minutes so it can absorb the odor, which it will do nicely.

These are just a few cheap tricks to help you tackle that endless cleaning and have more free time to blog with me!  

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Redken Extreme Hair Care Line Review and Giveaway!--Ends June 15, 2011

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**



Redken Extreme Hair Care Line.jpeg
Redken Extreme Hair Care Line


If your hair is suffering and prone to breakage while you long for stronger, shinier, healthier hair, you owe it to yourself to investigate Redken's Extreme Hair Care products that I was sent for this review.  Nothing to date in the market matches the science behind these products or the beautiful results awaiting your distressed hair once you try them yourself like I did. 

What makes this collection special is the unique dual-patented Fortifying Complex and Interlock Protein Network for delivering the deepest penetration of protein to your hair shaft so weak hair can become strong again as the cuticle structure is realigned and the protective lipid barrier is reinforced to prevent breakage.  These products are also safe for color-treated hair, which I appreciated for extra gentleness.

Coloring and spending just a weekend in the sun was beginning to make my hair brittle until this review saved it.  I started with the luxurious Extreme Shampoo and followed with the Extreme Conditioner, which detangled my hair effortlessly.  I followed with their reformulated Extreme Strength Builder Fortifying Mask that I left on my washed hair for about fifteen minutes before rinsing out for deep conditioning.  Other days I went with their stronger deep conditioning mask formulation called the Extreme Strength Builder Plus Mask that I used the same way and loved how just a small amount was all necessary.   Before I went for my blow dryer, I applied some Extreme Anti-Snap for extra heat protection and resiliency to safeguard my hair further and banish those split ends.

I used the Extreme CAT protein reconstructor treatment once and kept it on for about four minutes before rinsing out.  This isn't a conditioner, but a fantastic heavy duty protein product that you will notice improving your hair's texture almost immediately.  Depending on how destroyed your hair is from bleaching or another cause, you may want to use it more, perhaps, twice than once a week followed by the conditioner.  I treated my hair to the deep conditioners about three times that week because more would have been overkill.

Using these products I noticed my hair had much more life and a healthier sheen to it than before I started and felt incredibly soft to the touch.    I do have a lot of hair, but do shed a lot.  However, I can honestly say since using this collection I haven't found as many long hairs in my hairbrush either.  

I think Redken's Extreme Hair Care line can really help extremely damaged hair return to its former glory just judging by the hair miracle it did for me.  If your hair is causing you grief, then I know you will love how this line works.

*Disclaimer:  This is my own honest opinion.  No money was exchanged.  All I received were free products so that I may make an opinion.*

Thanks to Redken, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States  wins the same six  full-size Extreme Hair Care products I received:  Extreme Shampoo, Extreme Conditioner, Extreme Strength Builder Fortifying Mask, Extreme Strength Builder Plus Mask, and the Extreme Anti-Snap, and Extreme CAT (a $91 value)!

Both Are Mandatory to Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then tell me the name you follow me by in a comment.

2. Go to Redken and tell me which product you would love to try also or something you learned from the site in another comment.

Extra Entries:

Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--1 extra entry

Tweet Redken Extreme Hair Care Line  #Giveaway @Nuts4Stuff http://tiny.cc/i36bm (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Like Redken on Facebook--2 extra entries to leave in 2 separate comments. (Leave a message on their wall)

Follow Redken on Twitter--1 extra entry to leave in a comment

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--1 extra entry (must confirm)

Subscribe to Nuts 4 Stuff in a reader--1 extra entry (Orange button in my sidebar)

List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--2 extra entries (leave 2 separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Blog about this giveaway and and comment with a link to the post--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where you left it in each comment)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 1 more extra entry)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.   This giveaway is only open to residents of the United States.  Do follow the rules because I check entries.

This giveaway ends June 15, 2011 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

True Lemon Review and Giveaway!--Ends June 14, 2011

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

True-Lemon-products.jpeg
True Lemon tase like the real thing.

If you want to enjoy the taste of fresh citrus with the convenience of a package, then you are going to love the products from True Lemon that I got to review.  True Citrus is an amazing line of 100% natural, cold-pressed and crystallized citrus for everything from cooking and baking to flavoring up plain water into something refreshing and special to packaged lemonades, or shakers of citrus flavor to enhance your recipes.

I was sent everything they make from their original product, True Lemon for Cooking, Baking & Beverages made from real citrus and now their True Lime and True Orange to also be used in the same way.   In addition, they have True Lemon for Your Water, True Orange for Your Water that gives plain water an extra refreshing burst of citrus.  Also, they have True Lemon LemonadeTrue Lemon Raspberry Lemonade made with the natural sweetener, Stevia, which had the perfect combination of tartness to sweetness  while the Raspberry Lemonade had a nice fruity overtone that I savored at dinnertime.  I also tried out their True Lime Crystallized Lime Shaker and True Lemon Crystallized Lemon Shaker for sprinkling on toppings, fish, salads, and my bean spreads so far, but I keep experimenting with this delightful product.

I decided to see how True Lemon would compare to fresh lemon for my Lemon Meringue Pie.  I started with my favorite oil pie crust that I shared with you in another post.  This is the only pie crust recipe I ever make for simplicity and flakiness.  Trust me, but  this one always turns out even if you never made pie crust before!

Before you begin, take your eggs out of the refrigerator and allow to remain at room temperature for a few minutes first.  They will separate easily this way.  Never try cracking them straight out of the refrigerator unless you want trouble from those yolks escaping into the whites.

This pie tasted just as delicious with their product.  I made another with True Lime and it also was yummy.  The only thing was if you want it to look green, you need to add a few drops of food coloring.  I don't use food coloring so my lime pie looked yellow from the yolks instead of green.


My Favorite Lemon Meringue Pie!

1-1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
8 packets of True Lemon for Cooking, Baking & Beverages
1/4 cup of water (for dissolving True Lemon)
1-1/2 water 
1 teaspoon lemon extract or grated peel (optional but it intensifies the flavor)
3 egg yolks

Mix your 1/4 cup of water with your 8 packets of True Lemon for Cooking, Baking & Beverages until combined.  Add that True Lemon and water mixture to your pot with  the sugar, cornstarch, water and yolks.  Use your whisk to beat  in your pot before cooking until bubbly and thick.  

Pour into your pre-baked pie shell and top with meringue.

My Meringue

3 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/3 cup of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

Add you salt to your egg whites and beat with your electric mixer until it starts to get fluffy.  Gradually add your sugar.  Continue beating until the sugar is all added, then finish with your vanilla.

Pour your meringue over your filled pie shell and bake at 400 for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly browned.


piece of my lemon-meringue-pie.jpeg
A piece of my Favorite Lemon Meringue Pie

whole-Lemon-Meringue Pie.jpeg
Here is the pie before being cut.

I honestly love True Lemon and their entire line of products.  They're handy and so much like fresh only in package form!  

True Lemon knows once you experience their products you will be convinced also.  They will give you a free sample if you email them at customercare@truelemon.com with your mailing address and mention you heard about them from Nuts 4 Stuff Blog.  You will get two packets of True Lemon, True Lime and True Orange and a stick packet of True Lemonade with a coupon.

Thanks to True Lemon, three lucky United States Nuts 4 Stuff readers each win a tote bag filled with a sampling of their products and a T-shirt ($50 value for each)!


true lemon prize.jpeg
Here is the prize.


Both Are Mandatory to Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then tell me the name you follow me by in a comment.

2. Go to True Lemon and tell me which product you would love to try also or something you learned from the site in another comment.

Extra Entries:

Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--1 extra entry

Tweet True Lemon  #Giveaway @Nuts4Stuff http://tiny.cc/i36bm (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Like True Lemon on Facebook--2 extra entries to leave in 2 separate comments. (Leave a message on their wall that you came from Nuts 4 Stuff)

Follow True Lemon on Twitter--1 extra entry to leave in a comment

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--1 extra entry (must confirm)

Subscribe to Nuts 4 Stuff in a reader--1 extra entry (Orange button in my sidebar)

List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--2 extra entries (leave 2 separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Blog about this giveaway and and comment with a link to the post--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where you left it in each comment)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 1 more extra entry)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.   This giveaway is only open to residents of the United States.  Do follow the rules because I check entries.

This giveaway ends June 14, 2011 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

Monday, May 23, 2011

Collective Wellbeing Skin Care Review and Giveaway!--Ends June 13, 2011

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Collective Wellbeing Skin Care products assortment.jpeg
Collective Wellbeing Skin Care Assortment


As you all know, I have been experimenting with lots of wonderful skin care products.  Some of these companies you may have been aware of and others you may have discovered through me as I shared them with you.  Lately I have been using three exciting skin care products from Collective Wellbeing that were sent to me for this review and giveaway. 

This company started in 2004 by Jack and Ellen Davies to beautify you and the planet through effective natural formulations and giving back as a member of the 1% For The Planet to stop their carbon footprints.   After three years of working with dermatologists, microbiologists, green chemists and naturopaths, Collective Wellbeing offers a wide range of safe, natural products.

The first thing I used was their Weightless Daycream, a sheer blend of concentrated botanicals like chamomile, aloe vera, and natural antioxidants  like vitamins C and E, zinc and free radial sponges to protect from the environment without scent or heavy waxes and fillers to clog your skin.  This product absorbed quickly into my skin and refreshed my face, without any greasiness or irritation, just a comfortable light hydration, which makes this an ideal choice for the perfect summer day cream!   

Eye cream testing was next as I applied their Category 5 Eye CreamFor starters, I loved how little of this unscented, hypo-allergenic cream you needed to use for each application.  The delicate skin around my eyes that has some tiny creases looked less noticeable once I began using this product in the mornings and nights.  Some puffiness you wake up in the morning with from my allergy appeared lessened slightly also, which was nice to see.  

Night Quenching Cream was last to experiment with.  This gel-cream has high concentrations of marine and botanicals  to replenish your skin from the harshness of the environment and fight aging.  I loved the silky feel and  how the extreme antioxidant power behind this formula with the use of Astaxanthin (from sea algae) and NDGA (a compound found in the desert chaparral) worked to rejuvenate my complexion  more with each new application.  My soft skin glowed more each day and overall keeps gaining a healthier radiance! 

I really think Collective Wellbeing has an excellent collection of effective and affordable natural products that you would be glad to use.  I'm happy with the results I achieved with my three products and am eager to try more of their line, including hair care products in the future. 

*Disclaimer:  This is my own honest opinion.  No money was exchanged.  All I received were free products so that I may make an opinion.*

Thanks to Collective Wellbeing, two lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States wins the same three superb full-size products:  Weightless Daycream ($21), Night Quenching Cream ($27), and Category 5 Eye Cream ($27),  (a $75 total value)!


Both Are Mandatory to Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then tell me the name you follow me by in a comment.

2. Go to Collective Wellbeing and tell me which product you would love to try also or something you learned from the site in another comment.


Extra Entries:

Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--1 extra entry

Tweet Collective Wellbeing Skin Care Trio  #Giveaway @Nuts4Stuff http://tiny.cc/i36bm (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Like Collective Wellbeing on Facebook--2 extra entries to leave in 2 separate comments. (Leave a message on their wall that you came from Nuts 4 Stuff)

Follow Collective Wellbeing on Twitter--1 extra entry to leave in a comment

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--1 extra entry (must confirm)

Subscribe to Nuts 4 Stuff in a reader--1 extra entry (Orange button in my sidebar)

List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--2 extra entries (leave 2 separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Blog about this giveaway and and comment with a link to the post--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where you left it in each comment)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 1 more extra entry)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.   This giveaway is only open to residents of the United States.  Do follow the rules because I check entries.

This giveaway ends June 13, 2011 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

Sunday, May 22, 2011

A Great DIY Beauty Recipe to Save Your Hair From Summer Related Problems!


back of blonde woman's sun-damaged hair.jpeg
This beauty knows how to think ahead to protect her hair.


Though summer is my favorite time of the year, I hate how the sun can play havoc with hair and turn it dry like straw.  Even worse is how sun fades your hair color while it can make it brittle enough to crunch when rubbed between your fingers.

Pools and that awful chlorine can also rob your beautiful hair of its glory.   If you're not careful, blondes can find themselves sporting that striking new shade of green.  Did you know that justing wetting your hair first with regular water not pool water before you jump in and swim can prevent that new shade?

However, I found a wonderful homemade spray you can make in your kitchen to help in your battle from sun-baked summer hair.  You will need a clean empty spray bottle to fill up with this brew.

My Summer Hair Protector Recipe You'll be Nuts Over!

sunscreen
water
leave-in conditioner

Mix equal parts of all three of those ingredients into your empty clean spray bottle until filled. 

Spray your hair every time you get it wet in the pool or give it a squirt through every so often if you're hatless and lingering in the sun for a long time.  Be sure to comb the squirt of hair protector through with your hand to distribute it evenly. 

This will help keep that hair feeling softer and save it from damage!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Easy Ways to Boost Spirits and Let in Some Happiness!

First off, but you need to stop criticizing your faults and failures for all your problems.  Give yourself credit  for your accomplishments instead.  All that matters is realizing you did something that you're proud of even as small as hemming a pair of jeans can impact the way you can feel about yourself.  Remembering accomplishments can help lift your bleak mood and increase happiness.

Do yourself a favor and jot down everything in a journal that makes you happy.  Does chocolate make you smile?  How about the vacation you had and wished would go on forever? Maybe it's that particular dress that got you all the compliments that you may want to include.  Write about whatever comes to your mind that conjures up happy thoughts.  Better yet, you can include photos and relive those special times in your happiness journal.  Taking your book out whenever you need a smile and flipping through those pages can help accomplish miracles once you remember those cherished thoughts.

Aromatherapy can also change your mood and help put you on the road to happiness.  If you're stressed, you could try lighting a citrus-scented candle and slowly breathe in, then out.  Concentrate on the scent instead of what is triggering the stress, and this could ease your mood. 

You might also want to try a few drops of orange essence oil to some fragrance-free hand lotion can lessen anxiety as well. 

Do something nice for yourself.  Bake something delicious, go shopping even if you just browse, get a different hairstyle,  whatever it takes to get you thinking exciting thoughts of happy anticipation again.

Making someone else happy in need of a boost will help both you and the person in ways you can't measure.  Genuine kindness that you share with another that comes without thinking from your heart has amazing healing power to spread warmth and happiness.  Trust me, any unselfish act of kindness you give another always is returned in an unexpected, larger way! 

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Need Some Simple Remedies for What Ails You?

You're sick and need something right away.  Desperate for some quick cures, you hurry to the drug store to read labels and jars for something to soothe your symptoms.  However, you may have more help than you know without leaving home just in your kitchen!

When you are feeling not yourself and think you may be getting sick, you could try eating lots of garlic if you don't have to leave your home.  Garlic is a natural antibiotic.  Raw garlic is the only antibiotic that you can't become resistant unlike manufactured antibiotic drugs. 

I do this "garlic cure" myself and honestly know it helps me when I get a  bad headache from my allergies.  I like to chop my garlic fine and take my doses on my bean spread and crackers.  Eat this a few times a day for a period of time until you feel better.  This is just something to help you feel better until you can be seen by your doctor.

A stuffy nose problem can be helped by grating a teaspoon of fresh horseradish mixed with one-fourth cup of lemon juice.  Slowly sipping that mixture can help unclog you and break the mucus.

For a sore throat, you take a glass of warm water and add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.  Take a mouthful and gargle, then swallow.  Repeat the procedure until your glass is empty.  This  old time folk medicine cure is one that I always use.  You can do this every two hours.  If your throat is really burning, I also add a tablespoon of Tabasco sauce to the apple cider vinegar and water.  Do the same procedure.  This does help me.

Another sore throat remedy, which doesn't involve all the gargling, is this one with one-fourth cup of apple cider vinegar and one fourth-cup of honey mixed together.  You take one tablespoon six times a day and swallow.  The vinegar kills the bacteria while the honey relieves irritation and infection.

If you happened to get burned, you could use aloe vera or blend up a cucumber and apply the juice to some cotton balls and dab over the sore.  Both work to cool nicely.

Toothache or gum pain might be relieved with rubbing a few whole cloves on the painful area.  Cloves work on that type of surface pain like an  anesthetic.

These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cheap, effective home remedies.  I hope you won't need to use any of these and will always feel great.  However, the help is here if you need to use them.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

How to Clean Your House and Make Some Money at Home!

garage-sale-items.jpeg
You can make some quick money and get rid of clutter at home!


Earlier on I suggested saving up your unwanted items in a few plastic tubs to sell at your local flea market.  However, there is another method you can do to cash in and clean  without leaving your house--hold a garage or yard sale.  Better still, get your neighbors involved to hold a street sale, which draws bargain hunters like bees to honey!

Fall and Spring Are the Best Time to Sell


Now is the perfect time as well as early fall to sell.   People have been cooped up in their homes all winter and are anxious to get out and spend money on things they need.  Usually Saturdays around 7:OO A.M. are a good time to plan for.  Some people like to hold their sales on Friday and run into Saturday.  Cars will arrive earlier.  Either post your firmness when you'll start selling items in your advertisement or a sign in your yard because early bird customers will begin knocking when you're still in your pajamas.


A Street Sale Draws More Customers Than a Single Garage Sale and Reduces Advertising Cost


Advertising in your local paper will come out of your profits.  The better way to go is taking advantage of a group of neighbors holding one block sale at the same time and then dividing up the cost of the ad.  Another method is placing a free advertisement on Craigslist.org.

Organization Is Key to the Success of Your Sale


Once you have a date set, you need to gather up the merchandise and organize.  If you're selling from your garage, it's important to hide any valuable tools or such somewhere else on the day of this sale.  Unfortunately, customers do steal.  Even if you have help, you can't watch everything.

For the best presentation, I like to group items by categories.  For instance, keep a table for glassware, books together arranged neatly on another, clothes for children on one, toys grouped together, adult clothes, etc. (sized). 

If you run out of tables, you can improvise.  Before your sale date, you need to stock up on some heavy duty cardboard boxes.  Grocery stores have lots of big boxes they need to get rid off, which make great tables for light items once covered with a tablecloth or some pretty material.  Just remember, people buy more items at eye level that are neatly arranged compared to bending and digging through a disorganized box on the ground. 

Understand Pricing 


Pricing is important.  Shoot for items in the same price range and keep them together. One dollar, two dollars, etc. is easier than dealing with having enough change.  

If you really want to get rid of that item, you need to sell it cheap!  Offer a bag of kid's clothes with a genre and size for a few dollars, or a bag of paperbacks you're just finished, or whatever else you need to get out of your place in a box or bag for a certain price.  The lower you mark that box, the better odds that it will be carried off.  At the end of that selling day, you will have it gone and be paid something instead of it just sitting there in your road and collecting dust!

Have Plenty of Coins and Bills to Make Change and Someone to Help 


Sometimes, customers do come in batches.  You could be occupied talking with one or giving change after a sale when a crowd suddenly arrives.  Your eyes can't be everywhere.  Therefore, I suggest wearing a fanny pack or have someone guard your money box because some people do steal either money or a valuable item when they get a chance.  

Monday, May 16, 2011

My Easy Red Lentil Vegetarian Soup Recipe

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This soup is delicious.


The spinach gives this simple soup something extra and will not require any noodles or rice because it's hearty enough!  Also, it is so tasty beyond belief besides being wonderfully filling and relatively inexpensive.  At the same time, it's good for your health and waistline.  Trust me, you will definitely want to save this recipe because it is one to be cherished.  

My Easy Red Lentil Vegetarian Soup

2  tablespoons of virgin palm oil
5 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped fine
5 cloves of medium size garlic, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons of flour
2 teaspoons of salt
1 can chopped Italian diced tomatoes (14. 5 oz.)
1 cup dried lentils, sorted and rinsed
6 oz. of frozen chopped spinach (half of a typical frozen bag)
6 cups of water
1 teaspoon of powdered cumin

Peel and clean your vegetables before chopping into slices and tiny onion and garlic pieces.  

Brown those veggies in your virgin palm oil until softened.  

Remove the pot from your heat and coat those vegetables with your flour before returning to your stove.  

Add the water and your tomatoes, cumin, salt and lentils until the vegetables and lentils are soft.  

The final step is stir in your spinach and heat through, then serve!

ENJOY!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Lavera Organic Natural Cosmetics Mattifying Mineral Finish (Loose) Powder Review

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

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Mattifying Mineral Finish Powder

With all the uncertainty of what it is that goes into our skin care and cosmetics, I have been experimenting more with natural organic products.  When presented with the opportunity to review a product from German-based, Lavera Organic Natural Cosmetics, I thought it would be interesting to see how their Mattifying Mineral Finish (Loose) Powder performed.

Unlike the other translucent powders I have used in the past, Lavera's Mattifying Mineral Finish (Loose) Powder had a silkier feel to the touch.  Once I applied some of this powder over my foundation, I loved the petal-soft finish it gave my face.  Maybe the reason it didn't look as powdery as others is because of the organic calendula or the organic jojoba so this particular blend can have more of a hydrating quality to it.

This German-based company of Lavera  has 23 years experience in making 100% natural and certified organic products with four certifications to distinguish them as leaders in their industry.  No harmful ingredients to irritate sensitive skin or any fear of lead or parabens, emulsifiers, petroleum or  synthetic preservatives only organic oils and flower extracts for plant-based alternative beauty.

What is there not to love about this company?  You get beautiful results brought to you by nature and Lavera.  I am definitely going to look into more of their products soon! 


Connect with Lavera on Facebook, or on the web, sign up for their newsletter to learn more.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

You'll Be Nuts for My Pumpkin Bread Recipe!

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This yummy pumpkin bread stays moist!


I wasn't planning on making pumpkin bread.  However, I was cleaning out my freezer and found one last container of fresh cooked pumpkin from my small pumpkin crop of last season.  I was debating whether to make a pumpkin-ravioli or this delicious pumpkin bread, but I forgot about the ricotta cheese so I wanted to share this one with you.

What is fantastic around this pumpkin bread is that you can use fresh or canned pumpkin and it's so easy to throw together. Trying to make this a healthier version, I reduced the sugar and salt and use only canola oil instead of a margarine without harming the fantastic flavor of this treat, which also stays moist very well I might add.

You can make one normal loaf pan and one mini loaf, perfect for eating now and freezing one for later.  This recipe also makes wonderful muffins.  When my normal oven was in working condition, I used to make a tray of those six giant muffins from this recipe.  Oh, those were the days of baking glory!  My former mailman used to say my house had the best aromas on the block. 

I still do all my baking in my flea market toaster-oven, which I invite all sponsors needing their own toaster-ovens, induction burners, appliances, cookware, or any food for me to create recipes around  to email me, and I'll put it through its paces or make something special to showcase those products!



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You get two loaves--one to enjoy now and another to freeze, if you like.
My Pumpkin Bread

1 -3 /4 cups sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
3 eggs
1-1/2 cups pumpkin, fresh cooked or canned pumpkin
1/2 cup water
3 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup raisins (optional)
3/4 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)

Add your oil, eggs, pumpkin, water, and sugar into a mixing bowl and beat with your electric mixer to combine.  Sift your dry ingredients and then add and beat further until thoroughly mixed.  You can stir in raisins and chopped walnuts last, if you prefer.  I usually go plain, but I know how others crave those both in their sweet breads. 

This makes a 9.25 x 5.25 x 2.75" (typical loaf pan size) and one tiny loaf or six king size muffins or 12 regular muffins.  Pour into your greased pans and bake at 375 degrees for about 45-50 minutes, depending on your oven.  Insert a toothpick or knife to see if it comes out clean first. 


Monday, May 9, 2011

Learn to Beat Stress From Robbing You of Sleep!

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Holding a pillow over his head won't help this stressed man sleep.


How many times have you gone to bed only to stare up at the ceiling due to one thought that stayed lodged in your head? 

If only people came with a switch that we could turn on and off at will, then that stress of the day would grant us that needed escape into sleep.  

Sadly there is no magic switch, but there are a few helpful insomnia cures that you should try. 

Things You Should Not Be Doing Before Bedtime


You should stay away from the computer will only stimulate your brain to keep you up.   

Do not read in bed and reserve your bedroom solely for sleep.  Eventually your subconscious will pick up on this and equate the bedroom with sleep.

Too many your beverages, especially coffee, tea or any caffeine related drink is bad and  interpret your sleep.

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Teddy bear comfort won't get this beauty sleeping.
Avoid alcohol because it will only temporarily make you sleepy until it soon wakes up again from its effect on altering normal sleep patterns.

Don't keep staring at the ceiling, clock, or another spot in your bedroom waiting to feel sleepy longer than 15 minutes before giving up for now to go read or listen to music in another room.

Say no to using a part of your bedroom as on office, which can only get your brain thinking and restless.

Never rely on habitually using sleeping pills that can lead to dependence or affect how you function the next day.

The Place Where Your Bed Is Located Matters


If your bed is against a wall, put your legs up against it for support.  

Put pressure on the heel of one foot while massaging the inside portion of your other ankle below the anklebone.  

This action of elevating your legs and massaging will help you drift off to sleep.


Things That Can Help Usher in Sleep


Try a warm bath with aromatherapy from adding essential oils such as lavender or rose is one idea.

Finally, you can also try a spoon of honey.  Honey is broken down in your body in the same fashion as table sugar, which produces serotonin, the chemical that induces sleep.  This may explain the reason why the old folk medicine cure of a cup of hot milk with a spoon of honey became popular!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

My Mother's Day Gift to All--Delicious Herbal Salt-Free Seasoning Blends!

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You can mix up your own special salt-free herb blend.


Happy Mother's Day to all of you, dear readers!  As promised, I wanted to share a few more delicious ways to cut back on your salt intake while cooking.  Here are two more wonderful recipes for herbal salt-free seasoning blends you should try. 

Whether you chose to experiment in your recipes or sprinkling in place of salt on your cooked foods, these two blends  go nicely on pretty much everything.  The important part is they're less expensive than the commercial brands and can be altered according to the spices and herbs you're particularly fond of.  These will provide a starting point.  Feel free to make any adjustments and enjoy this bounty of new colorful flavors.

The first blend is perfect for boosting the flavor of soups, stocks, meats,  and cheese and bean spreads.

The #2 blend is slightly nipper that you can add to practically everything to perk up flavor--especially chicken and ground beef or turkey casseroles.  If you prefer to reduce the heat, then add only 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. 



Herbal Salt-Free Blend #1

3 tablespoons dried leaf thyme
3 tablespoons dried marjoram
3 tablespoon dried summer savory
1 tablespoon dried sweet basil
1-1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed
1/2 teaspoon crushed, dried sage
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds (optional)

Crush the dried herbs and blend well.  If you want a finer powder, then you need to process these ingredients in your food processor.  Spoon into a shaker-top container.

Herbal Salt-Free Blend #2

2 tablespoons dried sweet basil
2 tablespoons dried paprika (all varieties work)
2 tablespoons dried leaf thyme
2 tablespoons dried marjoram
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon dried crushed sage
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind (optional, if you have it)

Mix up the same way above by hand or in the food processor and then store in a shaker-top container also. 

ENJOY!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

How to Take Charge of Your Blood Pressure

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Keeping a check on your blood pressure can save your life.



Women are developing more cases of hypertension these days.  Stress, diet, and our own heredity has a lot to do with the problem.  However, there are some unexpected ways to control your blood pressure.  Whether you currently take medication or not,  you can help yourself even further. 

Lower Sodium Intake or Turn to Spices and Herbs to Season


Try cutting back on sodium when possible.  Reduce or cut out the salt in some of your recipes.  Experiment with substituting different herbs and spices when cooking instead.  Herbal salt-free blends like the one I posted a while is back help bring out the flavor of foods.  I will share other delicious blends tomorrow!

The recommended allowance for salt for each of us is one teaspoon a day.  And yet, we are addicted to salt.  I know I consume way too much.  Gradually, I am weaning myself away, working with herbs and spices in my recipes, and learning to read food labels more carefully also.  Taking precautions now can only be beneficial in the future for any of us.

Make Sure to Get Enough Magnesium and Potassium 


Something you may not realize is the importance of magnesium and potassium in your diet.  In one study, the recommended amount of magnesium is between 350-400 mg and 4,700 mg of potassium.  In simple terms, you need to eat about 2-1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables a day with those two minerals.  The best sources are soybeans, spinach, potatoes, kidney beans, and bananas.

Avoid Cured or Luncheon Meats and Other Foods That Contain Tyramine


Other foods you try to limit are any aged cheeses, fermented, pickled or cured foods like sausages, bacon and luncheon meats.  Besides the sodium, these particular foods contain tyramine, an amino acid-based compound that can increase blood pressure when on certain medications.

Taking a nap can also be help.  The best way is to stick to a time for your nap break and fit it into your day, if you can squeeze this routine into your schedule.   

One last thing to try is taking up yoga and meditation.  These are proven to calm and help lower your blood pressure.  If those are not for you, try to set ten minutes aside in your day to stretch,  close your eyes, and clear your mind while you breathe deeply even can help.