Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Cold and flu season is coming...

It is that time of year again, where we face that dreaded coughs, sneezes, stuff noses and fevers. Never s fun time for anyone but I thought I would share a few tips to help make that time just a little bit easier.
  1. Make sure you get plenty of rest...this is the most important thing you can do for getting better
  2. Eat right...you should be eating those cold and flu foods regularly; chicken noodle soup os great for colds
  3. Sore throat...try drinking tea with lemon and honey added; gargle with 2 tsp salt in 1 cup warm water; enjoy a cup of licorice tea;
  4. Take supplements to help ease symptoms - Vitamin C, Echinacea and Zinc can help shorten the life of that cold or flu
  5. For stuff nose try using a saline spray, apply hot or cold packs to sinuses, use steam to clear them or apply some menthol cream under nose
  6. Stay warm and wear a hat, lose of body heat makes it harder for your body to heal itself
  7. Wash your hands often to prevent the cold from spreading to others
  8. Let your fever do it's job...instead of medicating a fever, let a moderate fever run it's course; fevers over 104 in adults, 100.4 in infants, or 102 in children should be seen by a doctor
  9. Try taking a natural remedy...elderberry juice is great for boosting immunity, and sage extract for an expectorant
  10. Drink ginger tea - add 2 teaspoons shredded ginger into a cup hot water and drink 2-3 times a day

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Review: Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap


Has anyone ever tried Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap...ok I hadn't until today! Oh let me tell you that I just love this stuff!! I have looked forever to find the right scent that I wanted to try and after a lot of searching I finally found the one I wanted. Boy was that search worth it. I just have to say that I love, love, love this soap! It is unlike any soap I have ever used. To quote their site, it leaves your skin feeling "silky-smooth and refreshed"...I readily agree!!!

Normally when using body wash or soaps I always feel like they have left a film on my skin. I have enough issues with my skin to begin with and don't need to add to them. What you have to realize is that 3 years ago I was very badly burned on both my arms...a story for another time...and while that skin that was grafted is tough, it is also very sensitive.

18-in-1 Uses...from Dr. Bronner's FAQ
  1. Always dilute for Shave-Shampoo-Massage-Dental Soap-Bath!
  2. Peppermint is nature's own unsurpassed fragrant Deodorant!
  3. A drop is best Mint Toothpaste; brushes Dentures Clean!
  4. A dash in water is the ideal Breath Freshener & Mouth Wash!
  5. Peppermint Oil Soap for Dispensers, Uniforms, Baby, Beach!
  6. Dilute for ideal After Shave, Body Rub, Foot Bath, Douche.
  7. Hot Towel-Massage the entire body, always towards your heart.
  8. Pets, silk, wool & body tingles head to toe - keeps cool!
  9. 3 dashes in water rinse most Sprays Off fruit & vegetables!
  10. 1/4 oz in qt H2O is Pest Spray! Dash, no rash Diaper-Soap!

Pros:
  1. Made in the USA...a very big plus for me!!!
  2. USDA Organic Certified
  3. Fair Trade Certified
  4. No synthetic foaming agents, thickeners or preservatives
  5. Completely biodegradable...camping here I come!!
  6. All vegetable based
  7. 8 scents to choose from: Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Almond, Rose, Baby Mild, Citrus (my personal fav), Lavender, and Tea Tree
  8. 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Cylinder Bottle and Label
  9. 18-in-1 Uses...gotta test these!!!
Cons:
  1. Had a hard time finding the fragrance in my closest selling store
Ingredients:
  • Water
  • Saponified Organic Coconut Oil *
  • Organic Palm Oil *
  • Organic Olive Oil (with Retained Glycerine) *
  • Organic Hemp Oil
  • Organic Jojoba Oil
  • Essential Oils
  • Citric Acid
  • Vitamin E
* Fair Trade Certified

Where to buy:
I got mine at a semi-local health food store, so you make check your local store. It is also sold at Target, but they did not have the scent I was looking for and it was very hard to find in the store. You can also buy it online from Dr. Bronner's, but I would be careful purchasing it elsewhere online because of all the couterfeit products out there (just saying).

Monday, October 10, 2011

Check out this blog...

Live Ready Now is a great little informative blog that I just love!! They touch on all aspects of homesteading and living in a healthier way!! So grab a drink and head on over and check them out...oh and they are hosting a one year anniversary giveaway so don't forget to check that out to!!
Link
Live Ready Now! Blog

Thursday, September 22, 2011

My Big List Of Crafts and Tutorials

Hi All,

I have been gathering some links to some great sewing and craft tutorials. Grab a cup of tea and check them out! I will be adding to the list as time goes on, so make sure to come back and check it out often. If a link doesn't work please let me know!!

1. Junie Moon - tutorials are down on the right column

2. TipNut.com - DIY Projects and Tutorials

3. Amy Butler - Free patterns from Amy

4. Sew4Home - Loads of sewing Tutorials!!

5. BCC Cross Stitch - Free cross stitch patterns

6. jcaroline creative - How to's and project ideas

7. Everything your mama made and more - 1000+ Tutorials and patterns

8. AllFreeSewing - Free sewing patterns

9. CraftGossip.com - Sewing Tutorials from other sites listed here

10. ATimeToStitch - How To Insturctions

11. Craft Passion - How to Amiqurumi and loads of links for patterns and tuts!!