DIY fabric softener

Make your own fabric softener for a fraction of the price.

All you need is:
-An empty container
-Vinegar
-Conditioner
-Water

I mix up a half water and a half vinegar mixture. Once this mixture is mixed I add conditioner till I reach my desired scent. I start with about a cup of conditioner and add more from there.

This is your own mixture so play around with it.

Have fun and let me know how yours turns out ;-)

Leaf prints

Today we went for a walk in the crazy November wind to explore the falling of leaves.

I took all the kids and had them collect leaves of all sizes.

For fun I had the kids hold lightly on to leaves and pretend they were trees loading their leaves.

It was so windy that the wind kept blowing the leaves right out of their hands.

It was a perfect example needed for my preschoolers.

After our hike the boys chose their colors they wish each leaf to be.

We used markers which kept ripping the leaves so paint would be easier for the little ones to do.

After coloring the underside of the leaves we took turn using a rubber mallet to hammer the prints into the paper.

The result were beautiful works of art that all the kids were proud of.

Materials needed:
-Paper
-Leaves
-Mallet
-Safety

Addition tips and safety: I held the leaves and the mallet to insure the leaves didn't move while being hammered. I let the kids assist with the hammering of the leaf prints into the paper. I "helped" so no fingers got smashed.

Monster spray

Do you have a child who is afraid of the dark? If you do than you know what a struggle bed time can be.

My sweet little Damien recently decided that he is afraid of the dark.

Even though we have discussed in great lengths that there is NOTHING in the dark to be afraid of.

I tell him Mom and Dad are right next door as well as his big dog Odin, so he is super Protected all day and night always.

Needless to say Damien is still certain there is something so scary that he MUST sleep with mom and dad and that is the only solution.

I however have a trick up my sleeve, monster spray.

All you need is an empty room fragrance spray bottle filled with water.

This way is too much gets sprayed no one will get sick.

I made a label with some printer paper, marker, and tape.

I hope this helps other parents and kids out there in the life puzzle we all live in.

Fake makeup

Little kids love doing their makeup, it is fun, it is cute, but it can be too messy for this busy mom.

I'm not sure where I got the idea for this but I've made fake makeup for all my little ones that I've babysat over the years. It is always loads of fun for the little girls and boys that wish to do their makeup with me.

This is so simple you only need three things:

-An empty eyeshadow container
-Fingernail polish
-Patience because it takes a couple weeks to dry

Pour a thin layer of polish into the empty makeup container. Set out of the way to dry for two to three weeks.

Now you are ready to play. This is so easy and will last forever.

Healing affects of lemons

Lemons have long been a remedy to many health issues. Lemons are loaded in vitamin C but what else?

Lemons properties include:

-Antibacterial
-Antiviral
-Citric acid
-Calcium
-Magnesium
-Bioflavonoids
-Pectin
-limonene (immune booster)

So whether you want to clean your kitchen, your skin, or your insides, lemon is the golden ticket to success.  Well, the Egyptians thought so anyway. Modern medicine has proven Egyptians right, score one for humans!

Here are some of the many uses of lemons:

Disinfectant: Lemon juice can disinfect any surface making it a must if you choose to clean naturally without chemicals.

Acne solution: Rub lemon on your face to cleanse blackheads or make a mask from lemon and honey and allow to sit for 20 minutes then rinse clean.

Eczema relief: same recipe as the face mask only soak a cloth in the honey-lemon mixture and place on problematic area everyday one to three times a day.

Corn and callus remover: Take a thin slice of lemon and place it on the corn or callus and cover with a bandage overnight. Repeat nightly until area is healed.

Weight loss: Drink water with lemon in it everyday to speed up your metabolism. Squeeze half or a whole fresh lemon in to hot or cold water daily.

Flu and cold relief: Mix the juice of 1 lemon with 1 tsp honey in a tea cup and then once mixed blend with hot or boiling water. Drink this as much as needed. The lemon helps boost your immune system, soothes a soar throat, and calms shivers associated with being ill.

Anxiety relief: Lemon is a calming fragrance so inhaling its sweet fragrance can actually center your worriers. Lemon balm essential oil can add calm to your homes aroma if you use it regularly.

Cold sore cure: Rinsing your mouth with lemon water can actually heal a cold sore faster than most store bought medication. Rinse multiple times a day until cold sore subsides. Caution-lemon juice will sting.

Fight fatigue: A sip of lemon juice can quench your thirst way more than water can. So sipping on a lemon is great for long distant runners or just someone looking for a quick boost without snacking. Lemon juice is no substitute for water but it is good to know that it can work if it has to. 

Halitosis cure: Bad breath is the worst so fight it with lemon juice. That is correct rinsing with lemon can freshen your breath and keep it fresh. Mix a tbsp in a glass of warm water a rinse for at least thirty seconds.

Magnesium Citrate for your health

Magnesium is beneficial in more way than I have ever thought. 

I am always glad to share my natural discoveries in my blog. 

Here are just some of the benefits of taking a magnesium supplement:

-Reduces stress
-Reduces insomnia
-Relieves headaches
-Relieves muscle tension
-Combats osteoporosis
-Prevent liver disease
-Promotes cell production
-Eliminates growing pains
-Anti-aging
-Promotes pH balance

Our family uses a liquid supplement called Calm from this website. The product we use is liquid for quick absorption. 

 

I love the companies sales slogan,

Your health is most important as it contributes to quality of life.
Everything cost money but good health costs less than poor health.

So true.
 

House aromatherapy

Make your home smell heavenly by simmering natural ingredients over the stove.

Any concoction will work so play around with your favorite fragrances.

This one is simple and smells amazing.

Simmer rosemary sprigs, lemons, and vanilla on the stovetop.

Apparently this is the William Sonoma fragrance but I've never been there so in not sure.

Either way it is a wonderful and simple fragrance that is a thousand times better than any household fragrance spray.

Health benefits of cinnamon

Once upon a time, cinnamon was more valuable than gold. And while these days I'm betting most of us would rather get our hands on 24 karats over 24 ounces - a bar over a stick - this bark-cum-spice has just as much bite as it does bark. The potential health benefits attributable to cinnamon could be stated as nothing short of astonishing.

It's possible we're just brushing the surface here, for Chinese medicine and Ayurveda have long revered cinnamon as a superpower used to treat things such as colds, indigestion and cramps and also believed to improve energy, vitality and circulation. The following are ten health benefits associated with this beloved spice that studies have suggested:

1. 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower your bad cholesterol (or LDL).
2. Cinnamon may help treat Type 2 Diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels and increasing the amount of insulin production in the body.
3. Cinnamon has antifungal properties, and it's been said that candida cannot live in a cinnamon environment. 
4. Cinnamon can reduce the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
5. Cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.
6. Honey and Cinnamon combined has been found to relieve arthritis pain.
7. When added to food, cinnamon inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.
8. Just smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.
9. Cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.
10. Cinnamon has been found to be an effective natural remedy for eliminating headache and migraine pain.
11. Cinnamon can also help stablize blood sugar (which is great for weight loss). A couple of dashes in your morning tea or cereal is all it takes!

Many new studies are revealing that cinnamon is more effective than the leading diabetic medication on the market.  So there you have it, cinnamon is for more than just a fragrance it is all natural medicine, who knew.

This information was obtained through http://www.organicauthority.com

No knead pizza dough

I love this pizza dough recipe that I found at bonappetit.com

It is really simple if you make it in advance.

Ingredients

• 7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (1000 grams) plus more for shaping dough
• 4 teaspoons fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast

Preparation

• Whisk flour, salt, and yeast in a medium bowl. While stirring with a wooden spoon, gradually add 3 cups water; stir until well incorporated. Mix dough gently with your hands to bring it together and form into a rough ball. Transfer to a large clean bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let dough rise at room temperature (about 72°) in a draft-free area until surface is covered with tiny bubbles and dough has more than doubled in size, about 18 hours (time will vary depending on the temperature in the room).
• Transfer dough to a floured work surface. Gently shape into a rough rectangle. Divide into 6 equal portions. Working with 1 portion at a time, gather 4 corners to center to create 4 folds. Turn seam side down and mold gently into a ball. Dust dough with flour; set aside on work surface or a floured baking sheet. Repeat with remaining portions.
• Let dough rest, covered with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel, until soft and pliable, about 1 hour. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Wrap each dough ball separately in plastic wrap and chill. Unwrap and let rest at room temperature on a lightly floured work surface, covered with plastic wrap, for 2–3 hours before shaping.

To Make the Pizzas

• During the last hour of dough's resting, prepare oven: If using a pizza stone, arrange a rack in upper third of oven and place stone on rack; preheat oven to its hottest setting, 500°–550°, for 1 hour. If using a baking sheet, arrange a rack in middle of oven and preheat to its hottest setting, 500°–550°. (You do not need to preheat the baking sheet.)
• Working with 1 dough ball at a time, dust dough generously with flour and place on a floured work surface. Gently shape dough into a 10"–12" disk.

If Using Pizza Stone

• When ready to bake, increase oven heat to broil. Sprinkle a pizza peel or rimless (or inverted rimmed) baking sheet lightly with flour. Place dough disk on prepared peel and top with desired toppings.
• Using small, quick back-and-forth movements, slide pizza from peel onto hot pizza stone. Broil pizza, rotating halfway, until bottom of crust is crisp and top is blistered, 5–7 minutes.
• Using peel, transfer to a work surface to slice. Repeat, allowing pizza stone to reheat under broiler for 5 minutes between pizzas.

If Using a Baking Sheet

• Arrange dough disk on baking sheet; top with desired toppings. Bake pizza until bottom of crust is crisp and top is blistered, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a work surface to slice. Repeat with remaining pizzas.

Read More http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2012/03/no-knead-pizza-dough#ixzz2BBrC1Abc