Friday, February 25, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Go for the Oils and can the aerosols...
Nothing makes a house feel better–or more like home–than scent. But with all the recent bad news about toxins in commercial air-fresheners, it makes sense to use pure aromatic herbs, spices, and essential oils to scent our homes. It’s so easy!
Find out how to turn your stove into an incense burner, what vanilla extract is good for besides baking, how to make an antibacterial mist, a simple potpourri (perfect for the pounded-flower potpourri bags in article 2), and more! Here are a few fast, creative ways to make your house smell pleasing and welcoming, n/aturally.
Instant Kitchen IncenseHere’s a delightful magic trick that turns your stove into a natural incense burner, giving you all the pleasures of spirit-soothing scented smoke without the toxic risks associated with many purchased incense products.
Just place a small sprinkling of ground spices on an electric stove burner, then turn on the heat to the very lowest setting possible. Instant incense! Cinnamon and clove work best, but you could experiment with adding a little curry powder to the cinnamon-clove base.
Summery Stovetop FreshenerMint is a wonderful freshener. It is also very uplifting. You can use either fresh or dried mint in this formula.
Ingredients:
A handful of mint leaves
8 cups of water
Combine all the ingredients in a pan on the stove. Bring to a boil, and then turn down to a simmer. Replace the liquid when needed as it evaporates.
Vanilla Odor RemoverThe vanilla bean has properties that reduce odors! Try this super-easy trick for removing odors:
Ingredients:
1 to 2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
Just put the vanilla in a small cup anywhere you want air freshening.
Sweet Green Mist FormulaMists and sprays are an easy way to add wonderful, natural scent to your home and they are proven allies in the fight against germs. Mists and sprays are a simple way of providing aromatherapy by just using essential oils, water and a spray bottle. Nothing could be easier than spritzing a few drops of these antibacterial sprays on doorknobs, bathroom surfaces, telephones–anything you touch–to keep your home smelling sweet. Because essential oils are antibacterial, they also help kill germs. The formulas keep indefinitely and, in a pretty bottle tied with a ribbon, they make great gifts. Your home will smell marvelous, and you won’t need to worry as much when guests bring coughs and sneezes in with them. Look for all-natural pure essential oils at your local natural foods store.
This couldn’t-be-easier recipe makes enough for five cups of mist, enough to share with a friend. Use liberally on non-staining surfaces or simply spray upward in the center of the room, being sure to avoid contact with eyes.
Ingredients:
Use an eyedropper to place the following in a small glass jar with a lid (a baby food jar is ideal)–
20 drops sweet orange essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Mix well. To use, add 4-8 drops of this base to one cup of purified or distilled water in a spray bottle, shaking to mix. Store in a cool, dark place.
Spicy Summer PotpourriThis potpourri looks lovely set out in a bowl, as well as in little potpourri bags.
Base: a combination of any or all of the following, thoroughly dried–orange peel, marigolds, chrysanthemums, lavender, asters, Queen Anne’s lace, star anise seeds, cinnamon powder or sticks, whole or powdered cloves
Oil scents: a few drops each–
Sweet orange essential oil
Lavender essential oil
Clove essential oil
Sprinkle dried base with oils and mix well. Refresh base with a few drops of oil whenever needed.
More on Household Hints (248 articles available)
More from Cait Johnson (397 articles available)
Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/home-sweeteners-how-to.html#ixzz1EicM014N
Find out how to turn your stove into an incense burner, what vanilla extract is good for besides baking, how to make an antibacterial mist, a simple potpourri (perfect for the pounded-flower potpourri bags in article 2), and more! Here are a few fast, creative ways to make your house smell pleasing and welcoming, n/aturally.
Instant Kitchen IncenseHere’s a delightful magic trick that turns your stove into a natural incense burner, giving you all the pleasures of spirit-soothing scented smoke without the toxic risks associated with many purchased incense products.
Just place a small sprinkling of ground spices on an electric stove burner, then turn on the heat to the very lowest setting possible. Instant incense! Cinnamon and clove work best, but you could experiment with adding a little curry powder to the cinnamon-clove base.
Summery Stovetop FreshenerMint is a wonderful freshener. It is also very uplifting. You can use either fresh or dried mint in this formula.
Ingredients:
A handful of mint leaves
8 cups of water
Combine all the ingredients in a pan on the stove. Bring to a boil, and then turn down to a simmer. Replace the liquid when needed as it evaporates.
Vanilla Odor RemoverThe vanilla bean has properties that reduce odors! Try this super-easy trick for removing odors:
Ingredients:
1 to 2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
Just put the vanilla in a small cup anywhere you want air freshening.
Sweet Green Mist FormulaMists and sprays are an easy way to add wonderful, natural scent to your home and they are proven allies in the fight against germs. Mists and sprays are a simple way of providing aromatherapy by just using essential oils, water and a spray bottle. Nothing could be easier than spritzing a few drops of these antibacterial sprays on doorknobs, bathroom surfaces, telephones–anything you touch–to keep your home smelling sweet. Because essential oils are antibacterial, they also help kill germs. The formulas keep indefinitely and, in a pretty bottle tied with a ribbon, they make great gifts. Your home will smell marvelous, and you won’t need to worry as much when guests bring coughs and sneezes in with them. Look for all-natural pure essential oils at your local natural foods store.
This couldn’t-be-easier recipe makes enough for five cups of mist, enough to share with a friend. Use liberally on non-staining surfaces or simply spray upward in the center of the room, being sure to avoid contact with eyes.
Ingredients:
Use an eyedropper to place the following in a small glass jar with a lid (a baby food jar is ideal)–
20 drops sweet orange essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Mix well. To use, add 4-8 drops of this base to one cup of purified or distilled water in a spray bottle, shaking to mix. Store in a cool, dark place.
Spicy Summer PotpourriThis potpourri looks lovely set out in a bowl, as well as in little potpourri bags.
Base: a combination of any or all of the following, thoroughly dried–orange peel, marigolds, chrysanthemums, lavender, asters, Queen Anne’s lace, star anise seeds, cinnamon powder or sticks, whole or powdered cloves
Oil scents: a few drops each–
Sweet orange essential oil
Lavender essential oil
Clove essential oil
Sprinkle dried base with oils and mix well. Refresh base with a few drops of oil whenever needed.
More on Household Hints (248 articles available)
More from Cait Johnson (397 articles available)
Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/home-sweeteners-how-to.html#ixzz1EicM014N
Ragamuffin...
Check out sites....
I will add my own tutorial and pictures soon....I promise....!
http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/2009/11/ragamuffin-garland-cheater-style.html
http://www.thenester.com/2008/11/ragamuffin-memo-garland-you-can-make-one.html
I will add my own tutorial and pictures soon....I promise....!
http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/2009/11/ragamuffin-garland-cheater-style.html
http://www.thenester.com/2008/11/ragamuffin-memo-garland-you-can-make-one.html
Kids Eat Free...
Monday
Logan's Roadhouse - $2.99 Kids meals
Sizzilin Wings - $1.99 kids meals
Tuesdays
Walk-ons- kids eat free
Joe's Crab Shack- kids eat 1/2 price
DeAngelo's –5-9pm kids make their own pizza (no discount)
Las Palmas – kids eat free - clown with ballon tricks
Brewbachers- kids meals $1.99
Cafe LaGrange –kids eat free
Logan's Roadhouse- $2.99 kids meals
Sicily's Italian Buffet- up to 2 free kids buffets per adult buffet purchased (all day)
Chick-fil-a - 5-8pm 1 free kids meal with purchase of adult combo meal
Denny's - kid's 10 & under eat free with adult purchase 4-10pm
Sno’s Seafood and Steak House (Gonzales) - kid's 12 & Under eat free w/ adult purchase 6-9pm
Baskin Robbins - Kid's scoops $0.99 - regular scoops $1.50 5-10pm
Portobello's Grill - 4-9pm (2) kid's eat free w/ every (1) adult entree purchase thanks Brandy
Wednesdays
Times Grill - kids eat free with adult purchase 5-close
Tropical Smoothie Cafe - 1 FREE Kid’s Big Kahuna Combo w/ purchase of adult Paradise Combo. 12 & under. Child must be present. Available all day
Whole Foods - Free Kid's meal with $5.99 or more adult meal purchase after 5pm
Charlie Brown's (Prairieville) - kids eat free all day (Thanks Lyndsy)
Thursdays - Piccadilly- 11am-4pm $.99 kids meals, $1.99 big kids meals
Saturdays
Piccadilly–all day $.99 kids meals, $1.99 big kids meals
Sonny's BBQ- 1 free kids meal per adult (Thanks AnneScott)
On The Border - Kids eat Free 2-4pm (Thanks Morgan)
Lucy's Retired Surfer's Bar and Restaurant - Kids eat Free
Sundays
Drusilla Seafood- 9 yrs and under eat free
Pluckers Wing Factory and Grill - 12 & Under 2 kids eat free per adult purchase
Sakura Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar - 12 & under 1 kid per adult eats free
Everyday
Golden Correl- kids under 3 eat free from buffet
Sonic – happy hour 2-5pm ½ price drinks
Shoney's-Kid's under 4 Eat Free from Kid's menu at participating locations
Logan's Roadhouse - $2.99 Kids meals
Sizzilin Wings - $1.99 kids meals
Tuesdays
Walk-ons- kids eat free
Joe's Crab Shack- kids eat 1/2 price
DeAngelo's –5-9pm kids make their own pizza (no discount)
Las Palmas – kids eat free - clown with ballon tricks
Brewbachers- kids meals $1.99
Cafe LaGrange –kids eat free
Logan's Roadhouse- $2.99 kids meals
Sicily's Italian Buffet- up to 2 free kids buffets per adult buffet purchased (all day)
Chick-fil-a - 5-8pm 1 free kids meal with purchase of adult combo meal
Denny's - kid's 10 & under eat free with adult purchase 4-10pm
Sno’s Seafood and Steak House (Gonzales) - kid's 12 & Under eat free w/ adult purchase 6-9pm
Baskin Robbins - Kid's scoops $0.99 - regular scoops $1.50 5-10pm
Portobello's Grill - 4-9pm (2) kid's eat free w/ every (1) adult entree purchase thanks Brandy
Wednesdays
Times Grill - kids eat free with adult purchase 5-close
Tropical Smoothie Cafe - 1 FREE Kid’s Big Kahuna Combo w/ purchase of adult Paradise Combo. 12 & under. Child must be present. Available all day
Whole Foods - Free Kid's meal with $5.99 or more adult meal purchase after 5pm
Charlie Brown's (Prairieville) - kids eat free all day (Thanks Lyndsy)
Thursdays - Piccadilly- 11am-4pm $.99 kids meals, $1.99 big kids meals
Saturdays
Piccadilly–all day $.99 kids meals, $1.99 big kids meals
Sonny's BBQ- 1 free kids meal per adult (Thanks AnneScott)
On The Border - Kids eat Free 2-4pm (Thanks Morgan)
Lucy's Retired Surfer's Bar and Restaurant - Kids eat Free
Sundays
Drusilla Seafood- 9 yrs and under eat free
Pluckers Wing Factory and Grill - 12 & Under 2 kids eat free per adult purchase
Sakura Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar - 12 & under 1 kid per adult eats free
Everyday
Golden Correl- kids under 3 eat free from buffet
Sonic – happy hour 2-5pm ½ price drinks
Shoney's-Kid's under 4 Eat Free from Kid's menu at participating locations
5 foods that help you sleep...(from yahoo)
1. Cherries -- Fresh and dried cherries are one of the only natural food sources of melatonin, the chemical that controls the body's internal clock to regulate sleep. Researchers who tested tart cherries and found high levels of melatonin recommend eating them an hour before bedtime or before a trip when you want to sleep on the plane.
2. Bananas -- Potassium and magnesium are natural muscle relaxants, and bananas are a good source of both. They also contain the amino acid L-tryptophan, which gets converted to 5-HTP in the brain. The 5-HTP in turn is converted to serotonin (a relaxing neurotransmitter) and melatonin.
3. Toast -- Carbohydrate-rich foods trigger insulin production, which induces sleep by speeding up the release of tryptophan and serotonin, two brain chemicals that relax you and send you to sleep..
4. Oatmeal -- Like toast, a bowl of oatmeal triggers a rise in blood sugar, which in turn triggers insulin production and the release of sleep-inducing brain chemicals. Oats are also rich in melatonin, which many people take as a sleep aid..
5. Warm milk -- Like bananas, milk contains the amino acid L-tryptophan, which turns to 5-HTP and releases relaxing serotonin. It's also high in calcium, which promotes sleep.
2. Bananas -- Potassium and magnesium are natural muscle relaxants, and bananas are a good source of both. They also contain the amino acid L-tryptophan, which gets converted to 5-HTP in the brain. The 5-HTP in turn is converted to serotonin (a relaxing neurotransmitter) and melatonin.
3. Toast -- Carbohydrate-rich foods trigger insulin production, which induces sleep by speeding up the release of tryptophan and serotonin, two brain chemicals that relax you and send you to sleep..
4. Oatmeal -- Like toast, a bowl of oatmeal triggers a rise in blood sugar, which in turn triggers insulin production and the release of sleep-inducing brain chemicals. Oats are also rich in melatonin, which many people take as a sleep aid..
5. Warm milk -- Like bananas, milk contains the amino acid L-tryptophan, which turns to 5-HTP and releases relaxing serotonin. It's also high in calcium, which promotes sleep.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
UPDATES
I want to update with a new name, a few changes, add some labels, and....well, i guess lets start slow...so any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
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