Saturday, November 28, 2009

Christmas Excitement and a Few Breakfast Recipes

Yesterday was the beginning of the Christmas season for me and my family! I went shopping with my girls and their friends (we split up, of course!). It was very enjoyable. I made it to Target for one coveted thing and then to the mall where I got a few things for Christmas plus new winter jackets for the little boys from JC Penny's for $17.99 a piece. Early Bird special! What a deal!

Stopped at REI and believe it or not, I am DONE with my Christmas shopping! I am trying to keep it simple, remember, and I think it is more in my attitude than anything! I want to feel relaxed and enjoy everything about Christmas so I didn't stress about anything! (I am getting older and a tiny bit wiser! I refuse to get stressed!)

That said, I know I still had to be somewhat organized as far as my lists go and all. (Heaven knows it is NOT my house that is organized!). So I made my list some time ago, made a few adjustments along the way and a few pit stops here and there along with my regular errands!

Lenny found some giant evergreen trees that were being hauled away for a land clearing and he cut the top off of one and him and Jacob hauled it back to our house. We have our Christmas tree! God provides!

Last night, we took all the kids plus a few extra to the local Fantasy of Lights parade. It is my favorite parade of the year. All the floats are in lights: dogs, children, silly characters, nativity scenes, horse and buggy and even Santa at the end! The bands (4 of them!) and the children's choir play and sing traditional Christmas carols. I always bring hot chocolate and doughnuts! We end up with a small gathering of friends that make it to the parade each year, too!


These pics are from http://www.livingstondaily.com/.

It brought joy to my heart! Christmas is coming! The precious time of year to focus on the birth of Jesus and all the blessings that come with it!

A time of GIVING and RECEIVING! GIVE the joy, RECEIVE the joy! It is very important to RECEIVE as well as GIVE!

Tomorrow is the first Sunday in Advent, the time that commemorates the special period leading up to the celebration of Jesus' birth. I think I will make a special recipe that was given to me years ago as a Chrismas morning breakfast recipe. I just adjusted it for a 'cleaner' version.
I had planned on this post being about quick healthy breakfasts, but I am so excited for the Christmas season that I HAD to mention the parade and all! So now, I will add a few extra recipes with the quick ones!

Since I am not the greatest with a camera yet (I am still working on it!), I do not have pictures. I guess I do it all backwards! Aren't I supposed to have the pics first and then the recipes? Oh well! It is a work in progress!

By the way, the Cranberries and Apple recipe was SO GOOD that the day after Thanksgiving I had to buy more cranberries so I could make it again! (Check the recipe bar on the side of this blog for the recipe.) I bought more sweet potatoes, too, because the sweet potato recipe I got from eatingwell.com was awesome, also, and I plan on making that recipe time and time again, too.
www.eatingwell.com/recipes/maple_roasted_sweet-potatoes.html

Quick healthy breakfasts:
1. Handful of almonds (no more than 14, which is a serving-I take 7) and a piece of fruit
2. Piece of leftover chicken, turkey or fish straight from the fridge on top of whole-grain toast with a smear of plain yogurt on top and a bed of spinach. Okay, if you want the truth, several times I just grabbed the meat and put it on a handful of spinach and just ate it like a cavewoman! A few almonds would be a perfect addition!
3. Plain yogurt with a swirl of honey and a topping of granola OR nuts and raisins OR cut up fruit OR seeds and cinnamon. Whatever you have.
4. Oatmeal: boil water, put dry oatmeal in a bowl or cup, add water, cover with a saucer and let sit for a few minutes. Stir in natural nut butter, fruit, cinnamon, etc.
5. Homemade trail mix: Raw almonds and other nuts, raw seeds, raisins and other dried fruit with no added sugar or sulfites, dark chocolate chips (at least 60% cacoa, which is really GOOD for you!)
6. Whole-grain toast with natural nut butter
7. Protein shake (all natural) mixed with water, cow's milk, or rice or nut milk.
8. Smoothies: fruit, nuts, seed, oatmeal, peanut butter, honey or other natural sweetener, fruit, yogurt, milk

9. 1-2 hardboiled eggs.



Holiday Morning French Toast

1/2-3/4 c. honey
4 T butter, melted
3 t. cinnamon, divided
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored & thinly slice
1/2 c. dried cranberries
1 loaf of day-0ld whole-grain bread or 2 whole-grain baguettes, cut into 1" slices
6 eggs
1 1/2 c milk
2 t. vanilla

1. Combine honey, butter & 1 t cinnamon in 9 x 13" pan. Add apples and cranberries; coat well. Spread apple mixture evenly over bottom of pan. Arrange slices of bread on top.
2. Mix eggs, milk, vanilla and remaining 2 t cinnamon until well blended. Pour mixture over bread, soaking completely. Cover and refrigerate 4 to 24 hours.
3. Bake, covered with aluminum foil at 375* for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 min. Remove from oven; let stand 5 min. Serve warm.

This is a beautiful-looking and wonderful smelling dish! I have made it for Christmas morning, but get it all ready the day before!

Another favorite at our house is Baked Oatmeal. We like to call it purrua bake!

1/2 c. oil
3/4 c. natural sweetener: honey, sucanat, evaporated cane juice crystals
4 eggs
6 c. oats 4 t baking powder
1 c. ground flaxseed
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 to 1 c water (to moisten the flaxseed. You do not need to add water if you do not use the flaxseed.)
2 c. milk

Opt: you can add apple, berries, nuts and raisins etc.

Combine all ingredients in order listed. Pour into greased 9x13" pan. Bake at 375* for 30-40 minutes until lightly browned. Can refrigerate overnight before baking.

Top with banana and milk! Everyone loves this! The kids and even all of their friends! I usually make it plain without the optionals.

Remember the number one rule for the Christmas Season! ENJOY IT! and ABSOLUTELY NO STRESSING! Keep it simple, especially in your mind. Pray for peace and joy to fill your heart and that God give you a loving spirit and you WILL have a MAGICAL CHRISTMAS!

Monday, November 23, 2009

The Little Shepherdess

My very longest and dearest friend, Sarah, and I spent Saturday morning together celebrating her birthday. We met at the Antique Mall and enjoyed the next 2 hours roaming in and out of antique booths. We had so much fun! I found an antique book called "The King's Daughters" for one of my teenage daughters for Christmas. It has a red embossed cloth cover and was only $2.00. I have learned to love books from my Mom who has passed that love down to me!

I was happy as a little lark and would have walked around that day as if on a cloud just from that little 'book' find. But.....

I happened to spy a real blue fox fur stole in one booth. Of course, I had to try it on! And of course, the color was perfect for me! And the price was perfect, too! I bought it! I was having so much fun that it felt like MY birthday!

Sarah found a little boy's leather belt with a brass 'bull' buckle. She was happy to find that for one of her boys for Christmas.

I wanted to find some vintage buttons for my sewing and Linda was so very helpful. She showed me 2 booths with fun, pretty buttons and I so enjoyed sifting through all of the packages. I ended up going home with 3 nice little packages of pretty buttons.

It really was feeling like my birthday! I hope Sarah was having as much fun as I was! She said she was. I think she was happy just to see me having so much fun!

So then Sarah and I spotted a vintage feather boa wreath that we thought was so sweet. I said "I shoud just make that myself," which is what I usually say but have learned that I do not always get the darn thing made! So as we are wandering, Sarah spies a white vintage feather boa in another booth. So I add that to my growing pile. (I could get 2 wreaths made out of that 1 boa!)

We turn the corner and we spy this gorgeous oil painting in a gorgeaus antique frame and I absolutely fell in love with it! I would love to hang this beautiful painting above my fireplace!
Of course, it is priced way beyond my budget at this time, but I could not stop thinking about this painting! It reminds me of one of my favorite poems that I posted earlier, 'The Lamb."

It is called "The Little Shepherdess" and the original painting was done by Johann Baptist Hofner in 1866. (I went home and did a little research!) At one time it was auctioned at Christie's of London, so I had to check out their site, too!

I have learned to appreciate art as a homeschooling mom and expose it to my children through books and art calendars, but now I really want some on my wall!
Sarah is actually quite knowledgeable about oil paintings. She knew right away that the painting in the antique mall was not the original but was a copy of the original painted by someone else. I was so impressed!

So now, I am enjoying educating myself on fine art! I don't really need the original as it is just but a dream. I would be very happy with a fake that looked real!
This is so far my favorite painting:



This is a picture of the original painting that I found on the internet.

The reason I love it is because, to me, it reflects God's love for His children and I love children and I love lambs and I love nature and I LOVE this painting!

Sarah and I had a good day! It really felt like MY birthday!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Holiday Health Maintenance Plan

Okay, 6 days until Thanksgiving and 5 weeks until Christmas and 9 weeks until the New Year! Time is flying and wouldn't it be nice if we were a little ahead of the game instead of a little bit behind? It sure would be nice to greet the New Year knowing we had a wonderful Thanksgiving where we didn't completely stuff ourselves and then go to an average of 7 -10 Christmas gatherings and not completely stuff ourselves at each one of those, too! (7-10 is also the average weight gain in pounds during the holidays, too!)

Let's try to have a 'little' bit of self-control! Or maybe we just need a nice 'little' plan!

Here is a plan that we could use:

1. ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL SEASON! This is the number one rule!

2. Take your 'Tea Time' every morning (see 'Tea Time' post). This calms and centers us for the day ahead!

3. Stick with your workout plan trying not to let 2 days go by without exercising! If you do not already have a workout plan, start walking 3-4 times a week but no dilly dallying! Work up a sweat.

4. Add bursts of high-energy pace (really fast) with bursts of medium pace into your walking routine. For example, walk at medium pace for 2 minutes, pick up the pace considerably (practically running) for 1 minute, then back down to medium pace and then back up to high pace. Keep doing this for 20 minutes. This tricks the body into high-metabolism mode and burns fat much more efficiently. Of course, it works nicely with running, swimming and biking, too!

5. Put strength training into your day with this super-simple body weight plan:

It DOES NOT matter how old you are! You CAN do this!


Work in squats, push-ups and crunches throughout the day. When you get up in the morning, take 2 minutes to do 25 squats, 25 push-ups and 25 crunches one after the other. Of course, you can work up to the 25. Start with 10 each if you have to and before you know it you will be doing 25! Now, if you are pregnant or just can't seem to get on the floor for push-ups, you can do wall push-ups. Just put your hands on the wall and bring your feet as far away as you can and bring your nose to the wall. Hey! You have to start somewhere!

Now the trick is to do this 3-exercise-strength-training-set 4-5 times throughout the day, every day! It only takes a few minutes! I sneak them in whenever I walk into my room or into the bathroom. If you do 25 reps at a time, you will end up doing 100 squats, 100 push-ups and 100 crunches by the end of the day! Yay!

6. Make sure to drink your 8-10 glasses of water each day. Make it easy by always bringing a water bottle in the car. I get the big case of Ice Mountain at Costco and leave the whole case in my van. I have a reusable water bottle for the house.

7. Now what to do with all the food at all of these gatherings? First of all, remember, ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR! But remember that 'failing to plan is a plan to fail'! It really is true! If a person wants to live a healthy lifestyle, a person has to plan. So:

Whatever dish you need to bring to the gathering, make sure it is a 'clean-eating' dish. Meaning GOOD FOR YOU HEALTHY INGREDIENTS! That way you always have something healthy to eat along with all of the other goodies. You could always offer to bring a veggie tray OR A BOWL OF MIXED BERRIES, too! But a nice healthy pumpkin pie would be much more fun to eat! *I will have a few recipes at the end of this post*

Remember the 50% plate rule? 50% of your plate should consist of veggies and fruit~preferably fresh, 25% should be your protein (meat etc), and 25% grains and starches.

This is just a rule of 'thumb'. It just feels good to have a PLAN!

8. Drink water on the way to the gathering or eat a piece of fruit so you are not so tempted to eat everything in sight!

9. Enjoy your favorites! But instead of going for seconds, sip slowly on your drink and visualize a fit and happy 'you'! You just KNOW someone will be secretly admiring your 'self control!' And then go into the bathroom and do 10 wall push-ups just to keep you focused! We are in CONTROL NOW!

10. Keep a notepad by your bed to write 5 things you are thankful for each night and maybe even a little summary of your exercise etc, and what your goals are. It is also a good time to breathe nice and deep (yoga breath-fill the belly with air on the inhale and feel the belly button sink back to the spine on the exhale). Know that this was a GOOD day!

Now a few 'clean-eating' recipes: (Make sure to check out the Cranberries and Apple recipe posted earlier.)



PUMPKIN PIE

9" pie crust, unbaked *recipe follows*

2 c. cooked, mashed pumpkin

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 to 1/3 c. honey

2 T molasses (optional)

1 t. ground cinnamon

1/2 t. ground ginger

1/4 t. ground cloves

1 c. light cream or half-and-half or milk plus 2 T melted butter or yogurt

1/2 t vanilla

Blend filling ingredients with beater or blender. Pour into crust. Bake at 400` for 45-55 minutes, or until knife inserted halfway cetween center and crust comes out clean. Cool on rack.

Variation: Replace pumpkin with 2 c. cooked sweet potatoes, add 1/2 t. ground nutmeg and 1/2 c. unsweetened, shredded coconut, if desired. Bake at 350` for about 1 hour.



EASY OIL CRUST

2 c. whole wheat flour

1 t. salt (optional)

1/2 c. oil

1/4 c. cold water

Stir flour and salt in a bowl. Combine oil and water and mix into flour with a fork. form into 2 balls with your hands and let sit, covered with a cloth, for 5 minutes. Roll out between sheets of waxed paper. Place rolled dough into pie plate; fill and bake. Makes 1-10" or 2-9" crusts.


PEAR, PROSCUITTO AND HAZELNUT STUFFING

This recipe is from www.eatingwell.com/recipes/pear_prosciutto_hazelnut_stuffing.html. Click onto the link for the recipe and nutritional value, etc. I am planning on making this. I think it sounds gourmet and the holidays is a perfect time for me to try anything gourmet. Otherwise, I am a pretty basic cook! I will still make the original stuffing for the kids. This website has a lot of great sounding recipes and I already have it bookmarked! For more healthy Thansgiving recipes, just look for the link that says Healthy Thanksgiving recipes. There is even a green bean casserole one that uses fresh mushrooms and a homemade white sauce!


Please remember, this is just a plan to keep us on track. I have NEVER followed a plan perfectly! I like to have a plan, though. I feel better and I enjoy and appreciate good, healthy food! I still enjoy good, unhealthy food, too, but the majority of the time I try to eat healthy!


There is a saying that I really believe to be true: "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels." That is so true. Just undereat once and awhile and you will know what I mean! We are so used to overeating that we hardly get the chance to feel what 'thin' feels like.



Please do not stress about anything during the holidays! Thanksgiving and Christmas are very special events that are supposed to bring us closer to our Heavenly Father. There is absolutely no reason to feel stressed! Just K.I.S.S! Keep It Simple, Sweetheart!


Plan on all shopping, etc, to be done by December 1st. In December, enjoy baking cookies and visiting and surprising someone with the gift of time (babysitting, running errands for etc). Christmas is not about shopping, though I know it has to be done. I refuse to let it dominate my entire Christmas season! I really do want a simple Christmas! To be able to enjoy our loved ones knowing we were first loved by God! (Please see earlier post "Can We have A Simple Christmas?" and check out the comments for a lot of wonderful ideas.)


Have a beautiful Thanksgiving and Christmas season!

PS. If anyone has an idea that works nicely for them, just let us all know! Or maybe a good healthy recipe, etc. Thanks! I love other peoples ideas!










Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for year after year! I think it is wonderful to know we still have the freedom to share our bounteous blessings with our loved ones. We still live in a country that sets aside a special day just for giving thanks! Now this is something to be thankful for! We have the brave men and women who have fought so courageously for our feedom to thank for this wonderful right! (So thank you, dear brave souls!) Since the days way back in the 1600s when the pilgrims bravely took the step to leave a country that took away their right to believe as they wanted, we still can believe as a christian to this day! We have so much to be thankful for!



Here are a few things I am thankful for this year:



1. Our freedom to believe.

2. The love of God, family and friends.

3. Food and shelter and clothing.

4. Health and happiness.

5. A loving husband.

6. My precious children.

7. A comfy bed.

8. Babies in heaven.

9. My church family.

10. Fresh air and sunshine.

11. A paycheck!

12. The Old Rugged Cross!

13. My own little piece of earth.

14. The sound of children's laughter.

15. God's precious word.

16. Music.

17. Good books.

18. A dependable car.

19. Safety.

20. Clean water.

21. The freedom to dream.

22. Our daily bread.

23. Grace.



Oh, I know their are so many more things, like getting a front row parking spot at the mall or being thankful that my stocking didn't fall down to my ankle the other week at church. (I had to go into the kitchen at church and look for safety pins. I didn't find any, but I did find some paperclips that worked just fine! Phew!) Now you know that I am not the most 'prepared' person around.

Here are a few ideas for Thanksgiving:

1. You can make a Thankful Tree. Draw a tree onto a large piece of paper and stick it on the fridge and everyone in the family can write something they are thankful for on a separate piece of paper and then stick it on one of the tree branches.

2. Have the kids make up a play for thanksgiving, or recite a poem or sing a song or tell silly jokes and then they can entertain the adults after dinner.


3. Have slips of paper for the guests to write down what they are thankful for and put them all in a bowl. Then everyone can pick out a slip of paper and read it aloud.


4. Print out coloring pages for the kids at http://holidays.kaboose.com/thanksgiving/ and find craft ideas etc.


5. Make a beautiful centerpiece:

This idea is from www.hgtv.com/crafting

Supplies:

footed container

floral foam

floral tape

fresh plums

white mini pumpkins

hydrangea, fresh or dried

grapevine balls

seeded eucalyptus sprays

wooden skewers

hot glue and glue sticks

1. Find a container and put water-saturated floral foam inside making sure to cut the foam 1-2" above the container. (A hollowed out pumpkin is a good container, too.)

2. Crisscross floral tape over the foam and attach to inside of container.

3. Insert skewers into mini pumpkins and plums. You may have to shorten the skewers.

4. Attach grapevine balls to skewers with hot glue and add to arrangement.

5. Fill spaces between plums, pumpkins and grapevine balls with hydrangea. Add branches of seeded eucalyptus for texture.

Now enjoy these last few days before Thanksgiving to soak in all of God's goodness! Find a little quiet time and write out your lists (to do, to buy, to be thankful for!) and find a little bit of fun and laughter in your days! We only have one life to live and I believe that God wants us to really enjoy it! It is not all work, you know! But if it seems like all work and no play, we just have to stop and 'smell the roses', change the routine a little, take a deep breath and say, 'aahh!'

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Baked Cranberries and Apple



This is a recipe from Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Cookbook. ( http://www.eatcleandiet.com/) I am going to make this for Thanksgiving. I think it looks beautiful and all the ingredients are good for you!
Baked Cranberries and Apple
Yield: 4 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
1-12 oz. bag fresh cranberries, rinsed
1 large Mutsu or other firm apple, peeled, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
peel of one orange, cut into ribbons
juice of 1/2 fresh orange
2 cinnamon sticks
pinch ground nutmeg
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prepare a medium casserole dish by spraying with a touch of olive oil.
3. Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl and toss until well mixed. Place in casserole dish and cover. Bake for 30 minutes.
4. Remove lid and bake 10 more minutes or until sauce turns to syrup and fruit is cooked.
Tosca's Tips: Mutsu apples, also known as Crispin apples, are large, sweet and firm. Make this recipe your own by experimenting with different types of apples.
1/2 cup serving: 190 calories, 4 g fat, 42 g carbs, 13 g fiber, 4 g protein, 58 mg sodium, 0 g cholesterol

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The Natural Cleaning Closet

Cleaning house does not have to be toxic! I have have been using natural products for many years and most of these items are found in the pantry! Here is an easy list of what you need to clean your house naturally:

1. White vinegar: water and vinegar, anywhere from 1 tablespoon vinegar to a cup of water to half vinegar, half water is perfect for washing windows, disinfecting the bathroom, neutralizing little child pee on mattresses, floors etc and as a general cleaner for floors and just about everything! You can add essestial oil to take away some of the vinegar smell or sometimes I add lemon juice to the bottle, though it probably should be refrigerated then. You can also use 1/2-1 cup vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle as a fabric softener. vinegar is also good for cleaning out the toilet bowl, let it soak for 5 minutes, then brush and flush. A sprinkle of baking soda used with the vinegar can help remove a stubborn ring.

2. Olive oil: a few drops of olive oil to 1/2 cup of white vinegar is a great wood cleaner for furniture or floors. You can also use cider vinegar for dark wood. You can add a few drops of lemon juice, also, which then should be refrigerated.

3. Baking soda: Mix a little baking soda in a cup of warm water as a general cleaner to wipe toys and baby furniture, carseat, stroller, etc. I always put baking soda in my kitchen trash can to absorb odors. I also sprinkle the carpets now and then with baking soda, let sit for a few hours and then vacuum. I scrub my counters by sprinkling baking soda on them and then adding a little water. I let it sit for awhile and then scrub down. You could also use vinegar with the soda. This solution also works for clogged drains. Follow with a flush of boiling water.

4. Lemon juice: I squeeze fresh lemon on my countertops to disinfect. I just let them sit for a few minutes then I wipe off. Lemon is a natural disinfectant. You can use it on cutting boards, counters and even with water to disinfect toys etc. Slices of lemon peel can be put in the kitchen garbage disposal to disinfect and add a nice fresh scent to the sink.

5. Salt: Plain old salt can be used as an abrasive cleanser for tubs. Other good abrasive natural cleansers are baking soda or borax. Just dampen a sponge, add natural cleanser and scrub and rinse.

6. Borax: Borax is a natural mineral that is safe for the environment but still needs to be out of reach of children. Half borax and half baking soda is what I have been using for 7 years now as my *laundry detergent AND my dishwasher detergent. I use 1/4 cup or so for a load of laundry and 2 tablespoons for the dishwasher-1 tablespoon in each compartment. This has always worked for me unless Lenny forgets to put in more water softener, then I get the film on the dishes, but I would get the film even with storebought detergent so I really don't think that it's an issue of what detergent I am using. I really should look into buying borax in bulk. I usually buy it in a 4# box from Wal-Mart. I get my baking soda from Costco. I think it is a 12# bag.
Borax is a tough toilet bowl scrubber. Just leave on overnight and scrub and flush in the morning. You can also add lemon juice to the borax, make a paste, scrub onto toilet bowl (flush first to wet the sides of bowl), let sit for 2 hours and scrub and flush. It is also a great heavy-duty cleaner around the home: into a gallon of warm water, stir one tablespoon of borax and 1 tablespoon of liquid soap (not detergent).

7. Hydrogen Peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide is also good as a disinfectant. Mix half hydrogen peroxide and half water in a spray bottle. Use all around the house. You can also use it on mirrors. I heard it is a good alternative as a gentle bleach and I plan on trying it soon as I do not generally use bleach. I have done a little research that hydrogen peroxide is a great pool cleaner but have not tried that yet, either. I would like to. I guess you can buy it fairly cheap in bulk for that purpose. Hydrogen peroxide has many other helpful uses like: a natural tooth whitener, mouthwash, cleaner for cuts and scrapes, foot fungus inhibitor etc.


*Their are other natural laundry detergent recipes that make a large amount that use borax, washing soda and Fels Naptha soap that others have used. Myra gave me the recipe years ago and Rebecca has made it. I guess I find the borax/baking soda mixture too convenient because I never got around to making this recipe. Anyway, here it is:

4 cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 cup washing soda (washing soda is less refined then baking soda, making it more caustic, non-edible and less expensive.)
1/2 cup borax

1. Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

2. fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

3. Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use (will gel).

Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled.

Makes 10 gallons.
Top load machines: 5/8 cup per load
Front load: 1/4 cup per load

Happy cleaning! (If there is such a thing!) If you have any other natural cleaning ideas just send us all a little note. It is nice to get all the ideas we can get, especially if it makes our house healthier and safer!



Thursday, November 5, 2009

I Have A Headache! Can You Come and Rub My Feet?


Lenny: I have a horrible headache! I don't know, I think it's a stress headache! I have to lay down for awhile. Do you think you could rub my big toe for a little while?


Laura: Of course, Honey! Just lay down on the couch and take your socks off. I have nothing going on anyway.


Lenny: Really? Oh, great!


Laura gently puts pressure on Lenny's big toe.


Lenny: Ow, ow, that hurts! Not so much pressure.


Laura lessens the pressure.


Lenny: Ow! It still hurts too much!


Laura: Sheesh, I barely touched it! Is this better? (Very, very light pressure.)


Lenny: Yeah, that's better. (Laura is barely touching the toe at this point.)


Laura continues to very, very gently touch Lenny's big toe and says: How does it feel now, Honey?


Lenny: My headache is starting to go away! Wow, I can't believe it. But just rub my toe a little longer, could you please? (He is very gracious about asking. He should know by now that I run when he calls, but I guess he feels he should say please every once in awhile.)


Laura: Sure, Honey, I have nothing going.


Lenny: Oh, thanks! (He closes his eyes and is probably thinking he married the right woman!)


Within 10 minutes Lenny's headache is gone and we all live happily ever after!


This is a true story, mostly! I do not run when he calls and I always have something going on. The rest is true.


Reflexology is a reflex technique, based on the neuro-biochemical action that is produced by stimulating a specific area of the foot that corresponds with a certain part of the body and that has a general or partial repercussion in the body.


In other words, an invisible map of the body is outlined on the foot and the reflexologist puts a specific amount of pressure on the foot to send a message from the nerve ending to the brain.

(There are over 7000 nerve endings in each foot.) That message in turn tells that specific body part to start working on whatever imbalance there may be.


The reflexologist does not do the healing, but encourages the body to heal itself! It is amazing! It is very relaxing and encourages the body to release stress and relax, which in turn creates a more healthy environment for healing!


The AMA says that 85% of illness is caused by stress! If we can reduce our stress, we will be healthier! Reflexology is just one way to help your body do just that!


I am a certified Reflexologist and if you have any questions, I will be happy to assist you in answering them! It is wonderful to find non-evasive, non-threatening and relaxing ways to heal our bodies!


Things you can do at home to assist your body in healing itself:


1. Find a golf ball and put it on the floor below your foot. Push down on the golf ball with whatever amount of pressure you need and roll the golf ball around to get to all the parts of the foot. You may find some very tender areas. You can work specifically on those areas a little more and then lightly on the rest of the foot. (If you have no golf balls around just let me know, I could send you one or two or 50,000!)


2. If someone in your family has a headache, put medium pressure with your thumb on the big toes, working one at a time. Work the entire toe and in the crease and underneath on the ball of the foot. This is also good for learning disabities and ADD, etc.


3. There are nerve endings in the hands, also, so you can press the soft spot between the thumb and the index finger to also relieve a headache.


4. To encourage a stubborn baby that does not want to come into this world on time, you can rub the area around the ankles of the expectant Mommy with firm pressure. We tried this on Crystal and her little darling was just WAY TOO STUBBORN! She decided she just wanted to be 18 days overdue! I do believe it helped Mommy to relax a little bit, though! It was successful for one of my pregnancies where the doctor wanted to induce me in the morning. I rubbed my ankles quite a bit the day before and I went into labor on my own! *Do not try this in your first trimester, though, as it really does encourage premature labor in some women!*


5. When a loved one is feeling sick, they love to feel pampered and reflexology can ease their aches and pains and feel loved at the same time. Just put pressure with the thumb on all areas of the foot. Using peppermint essential oil with lotion or a carrier oil does wonders, too. The peppermint is a natural pain and fever reducer.
I hope you can try a few of these ideas! It is always fun to come across new ways to incorporate different ways to bring a little peace into our lives!
Thanks for visiting!
Blessings to all of you!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The Lamb


This is one of my favorite poems. It is by William Blake from 'Songs of Innocence', 1789.

It reminds me of all the sweet children in this world that were created so perfectly by God, each one having their own little gifts and blessing the world around them! If every child in this world knew that they were created perfectly and thus geniuses in that they were 'knit together' with so much love and by the most masterful Creator ever, I believe that we would have a little more happiness in this world. So I want to dedicate this poem to all the children in the world that no matter what the world sees them as, that God sees them perfect as He created them down to every last detail to be His perfect little child!



The Lamb by William Blake


Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed
By the stream and o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, wooly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb, I'll tell thee:

He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb.
He is meek, and he is mild;
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.

Little Lamb, God bless thee!
Little Lamb, God bless thee!