Helpful Hints

Did you know?  NO WAY ! You can flip a toaster on its side and grill cheese in it. Reynolds Wrap has lock in taps to hold the roll in place. The color on the bread tab indicates how fresh the bread is. And those colors are in alphabetical order: b, g, r, w, y. You can divide and store ground meat in a ziploc bag. Just break off how much you need and keep the rest in the freezer for later. So much easier than dividing and individually wrapping each pound or half pound. If you place a wooden spoon over a pot of boiling water, it won't boil over. Marshmallows can cure a sore throat. Perfect for kids who don't like medicine. Stuffing a dryer sheet in your back pocket will repel mosquitoes.  You can freeze cupcake batter for later use. You can make your own laundry soap.   I am doing this (and will post about it) after we use up the soap that we have now.  You can run a paper bag through your printer.  You can print directly onto fabric.  A dry erase marker can be used on most desk tops.  You can mail anything that will take a stamp and weighs less than 13 ounces without a box? If you break your blender jar you can replace it with a mason jar. Cereal canisters make the perfect trashcan for your car. Medicine cabinets are NOT the safest place for medicine. Here are a few more. Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster. Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold! (But you can scrape off any mold and still eat the cheese without changes in flavor!  Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and stronger flavored. Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking. To make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up. Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if you want a stronger taste of garlic. Reheat leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, on med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. Easy Deviled Eggs: Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag, seal, mash, add remainder of ingredients, keep mashing, mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw the bag away! Expanding Frosting: When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes for the same price. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving. Reheating refrigerated bread: To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster. Newspaper weeds away: Plant your plants in the ground; work the nutrients in your soil. Then wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go, cover with mulch, and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers. To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant: squirrels won't come near it. Flexible vacuum: To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings. Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip or slacks to eliminate static cling. It works; you will not have a clingy skirt or dress, or slacks when wearing panty hose; ... Ta DA! ... Static is gone. Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out. De-fog your windshield: Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth! Re-opening envelopes: If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily. Only for old- fashioned "lick-type “mucilage envelopes! Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. Goodbye Fruit Flies: To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever! Get Rid of Ants: Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!  Drop a small object on the carpet and can't find it. Place panty hose over the end of the vacuum hose and start vacuuming. The panty hose will keep it from getting sucked into the vacuum. Need to cut some corn off the cob. Use your Bundt pan. Place the ear on the opening in the center of the pan, and as you slide the knife down the ear, all the kernels will collect in the main part of the pan.  Now you know .....

Not that I need more reasons, but...

I just read mercy for animals magazine and found more reasons to eat vegan...

1. In case you didn't already know...dairy farms produce more smog than cars.
2. egg consumption increases your risk of coronary artery disease as much as smoking
3. antibiotic resistance, just took microbiology so I can go into detail if you wish, but only if you ask.
4. antibiotic-resistant super bugs are spread from animals to humans by consumption and it's becoming more and more common, with wide-spread out breaks and huge recalls and millions of deaths.
5. Emily Deschanel (AKA: Bones) is also vegan

Eat Kind.....

Back on the Band Wagon

Not that I ever got off the band wagon, I just stopped looking for ways to improve for a while there. I've been too busy. It's not a good excuse, but the winter, being closed in the house, the kids and school has been overwhelming. It was probably the best time for me to look for ways to improve myself and my home, but I didn't.

I've been inspired by spring. I have done a lot with my yard already this year. It was warm earlier than usual, so I took advantage. I've devised some awesome plans (the follow through is going to be the tough part) and I hope to make my home a more than welcoming place. I think mostly for myself, to inspire me to stop running around and just enjoy my home. But also for everyone else, my children, my husband, our family and friends. It has brought me a renewed energy and sense of ambition. Something I can do that everyone will benefit from.

I just finished the Insanity program. I had slacker days, and didn't get the full "makeover" I had hoped for. I did rearrange some of my weight to much better spots, and I have more energy now and keep up with my kids much better. I and taking a week off, keeping it light, pilates, yoga, walking and then I'm going to plow through the Insanity/P90X hybrid program. I expect to see more from that because there is more muscle building. I will be in a bikini this year! I also think I didn't see the results I wanted because I didn't really watch my diet. Toward the end I started drinking a green smoothie for breakfast and a chocolate green smoothie for one of the later snacks. I focus much more on fruits and vegetables again, and I have to get used to the feeling of not being full, stopping before I'm full and some times feeling hungry.

In order the really accomplish all this I think I'm going to bring in a spring with some cleanses. I borrow "Super Cleanse" by Adina Nemerow from the library this week. I need to take a trip to Whole Foods before I can begin, but it suggests a one day cleanse once a week. And longer cleanses quarterly or when your starting feel run down or in need of a makeover. Its a very inspiring book and I hope to get the feelings I'm looking for from it. I'm a bit nervous so I'm starting with the one day cleanse. But before I even do that I need to prep my body for a week. I'm going to DC for my anniversary next weekend, so I may need 2 weeks to prepare. The suggested preparation, to me, sounds like things I need to change in my lifestyle anyway, but also sounds like impossible things in my house.

Try to avoid as much as possible:

• bleached, refined flours and sugars
• high fructose corn syrup
• table salt
• trans fat and refined oil
• meats with antibiotics and hormones
• farmed fish
• food sprayed with pesticides and herbicides
• genetically modified foods
• dairy
• additives (preservatives, nitrates, artificial color and flavor)
• fast food and fried food
• soda and juice with added sugar
• tap water

Try to:

• add alkaline water to your diet
• limit meat
• switch from coffee to chicory root or yerba mate
• sub pasta for more vegetables or quinoa
• more fresh meals and less frozen and premade
• less smoking: 1/4 c lobelia tea sweetened with licorice root or 10-12 drops lobelia tincture in water a couple times a day

Before the cleanse

• Read all literature on the particular cleanse
• Choose recipes and go shopping
• Reflect and set intentions
• Be very good to yourself the day before you start
• Hydrate (during meals warm lemon water or tea)
• Sweat it out (1/2 c Epsom salt in hot bath)
• Move your body (30 minutes a day)
• Breath (belly rolls or alternate nostril breathing)
• Flush your system (if your not already regular)
• Nurture your mind and spirit (meditation and journaling)
• catch your zzz's (no exercise, tv or heavy reading right before bed; listen to relaxing music; warm bath; chamomile tea; relaxation breathing

Water #1
1 liter purified water
pinch of Himalayan Salt
1 tsp fresh lemon juice

Water #2
1 liter purified water
10 drops inner light primeph

After all that, now your ready to cleanse. that already seems like a cleanse. Especially the way I've been eating lately! Well, I'll try that for the next week or two. Then I'll post about the actual cleanse. As for the journaling, I'm sure blogging counts, so I'll get back on it. Here's to a new me this year! Who says you need to start at New Year's?  I think spring is a much better time to get on with the changes!

Everyone has bad days....

Boy am I glad I just logged on here. I could totally us those 20 feel good tips. Do you ever have a bad day, when you wake up knowing it's going to be awful. Then you mope around on the couch while the mess piles up around you until your clostrophobic. When you decide to kick yourself in the butt and get up and do something (mostly because your starving), you only realize your too overwhellmed by the long todo list and you end up sitting back down, maybe with a pile of mail that needs to be opened or a list of phone calls to make. That's when things get really bad. In the pile of mail that you've  been putting off (I mean there's really no point to opening bills until payday right?) is a bill, of course, but an unexpected huge one. Like your hospital bill from delivering your baby (who is now 7 months old) has gone to collection and they want the couple thousand dollars now. And a speeding ticket you got 7 years ago in another state finally caught up with you and now they want a couple hundred or your liscense will be suspended (and your job depends on having a lisence). And your daughter's life insurance (that your sure you paid) is on hold until you pay your overdue balence, add that to the list of phone calls, that now I have to do tomorrow because it's past 5pm. So now the kids are home and you didn't get anything done other than slumping into a depression. After dinner and putting the kids to bed you decide you don't feel like doing anything. It will all be there tomorrow. So I'm off to cry myself to sleep in hopes that tomorrow my bills will misteriously disappear and my husband will orb home from Korea and that fight he had before we left just fades away. Maybe tomorrow my kids will wake up happy (and not until 7am) and I will be motivated (I'll prep the coffee maker with the stong stuff before bed). Maybe the stars will allign and things will look up for me. Maybe I'll dream about someway to solve all the problems, and my poison ivy will just melt away over night. Maybe, just maybe, I won't wake up with a headache and the sun will shine brightly(but not too bright) and my children will greet me with a smile. I'm going to take my glass of wine and my kindle with Eco-Friendly Families (and a notebook to take notes) to bed now and clear my head. So cheers to writing down your worries (just to make sure nothing is forgotten) and getting them off my shoulders (there still seems to be some pain, so expect a p.s. later, or maybe that's just fatigue from doing nothing all day). Cheers to knowing it could be worse and that some day it will all be better. Cheers to being more motivated tomorrow and to finding solutions (or another job) in the morning. Cheers to a sad attempt to find humor in my misfortunes. And last but not least, cheers to a good box of wine and a kindle (so I can make the font bigger the more I drink) with good books on it! Good Night!

Guide to Cruelty Free Eating

Notes from this pamphlet:

Baking without eggs: If a recipe calls for only one egg, it can usually be omitted- just add a little extra liquid to the batter. Other baked goods can be make by substituting each egg with one of the following:
1.5 tsp Ener-G egg replacer and 2 T water
1 T vinegar and 1 tsp baking soda
.25 C unsweetened applesauce, mashed banana, soy yogurt or blended silken tofu
2 T corstarch and 2 T water
1 T ground flaxseeds and 3 T warm water

Leather alternatives:
 VRG.org/nutshell/leather.htm

Mail order catalog- Healthy-Eating.com or VeganStore.com or VeganEssentials.com or TheVegetarianSite.com

Recommendations for Vegan Adults:

• Vit B12- 25-100mcg (in a one daily dose, covered by a good multivitamin)
• Omega-3 fats 200-300mcg DHA and .5g uncooked ALA (take supplement every 2-3 days if under 60, daily if over 60)
• Calcium >700 mg (fortified soymilk or oj, or plenty of broccolu, kale, and collard greens)
• Vit D 25 mcg (1,000IU) (take a D2 only supplement when not exposed to 20-30 min midday sun, w/o sunscreen, on a day when sunburn is possible)
• Iodine 75-150 mcg (every few days, covered by multivitamin)
• Protein 2-3 servings or high lysine foods (1/2 C cooked lentils, peas, edamame, tofu, tempeh, garbamzo, kidney, pinto or navy beans, 1/4 C peanuts or pistachios, 3 oz soy meat or 1 C soymilk or cooked quinoa)
• Vit A 900 RAE for males and 700 RAE for females (1-2 servings of carrots, mango, cantaloupe or sweet potato)
• General Health (Plenty of whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits and vegetables)

There's soo much more info, but this is what I felt was most important.

7 Ways You Can Tell Something is a Good Thing

1. Good things are "small" ideas that are quick, clever, simple and smart.
2. Good things make you say, "I wish I knew that before."
3. Good things come with clear, concise instructions and beautiful photos.
4. Good things don't take a lot of time or a lot of money.
5. Once you learn a good thing you won't forget it.
6. You feel good using good things.
7. Good things get better with time.

From: Martha Stewart

20 Feel-Good Tips

to help achieve your wellness goals. Check off the items on this to-do list and you'll be on your way to better health.  From: Healthy Living

1. Break out the blender. Use seasonal fruits to make a tasty, healthy drink that's packed with vitamin C and fiber. This smoothie is all fruit- grapefruit, orange and a frozen banana in a blender and puree.
2. Create a weeter sip. Take an oath to drink more water and fewer sugary beverages. To make it more enticing, fill a pitcher with fresh fruit and herbs and refridgerate it for several hours to let the flavors meld. Try  pineapple, ginger and mint.
3. Hit the snooze bbutton. Sleeping more may help you lose weight.  Researchers put ten over-weight subjects on a low calorie diet for two 14 day periods and asked them to sleep either five and ahlf hours or eight and a half hours per night. All the subjects lost weight, but those who slept longer lost 55% more body fat.
4. Eat your heart out. Artichokes, at their best during spring months, are "unbelievably low in calories," says dietician Kristine Clark- about 65 a piece. And each one packs more fiber than a bowl of raisin bran. Try adding thin slices to whole-wheat pasta or a sandwich. Or if you're adventurous, steam them whole.
5. Play in the snow. Snowshoeing is a great aerobic exercise that almost anyone can do. An hour of snowshoeing burns 600 calories. Plus, when you walk on snow (as opposed to land) your hamstrings and gluteal muscles get a better workout. Use poles to challenge your triceps and shoulders.
6. Get squeaky clean. The secret to staying healthy during the winter may be washing your hands. Lather up for 20 seconds. Less than that and you might not remove the pathogens that cause colds, flu and other ailments. Reach for standard soap. Antibacterial varieties are not more effective, and bacteria can become resistant to their compounds.
7. Live and Learn. Start by taking up hula-hooping or juggling. They are activities that require coordination and concentration, so they're great ways to engage you mentally and physically. The brain sprouts new nearons through-out your life, as long as you keep it active. Aim for learning something every month; a card game or a new knitting stitch.
8. Toss a colorful salad. Exchange croutons for a small handful of dried fruit. Upgrade from pale lettuces to darker ones and work in as many colors as you can. Colors indicate a rich in beta-carotene; purple produce in rich in the antioxidants resveratrol and anthocyanin.
9. Spruce up your desk. If you're gunning for a promotion, help boost your productivity by adding personal touches, such as plants, phtotos or art to your work area. These kinds of items make you feel at ease, which inspires greater focus and precision on the job, a study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology reveals.
10. Grow Flowers. In addition to looking lovely, flowers can improve your mood. Having blooms around makes people feel more positive., compassionate and energetic. Winter is the perfect time to plant tender bulbs indoors (we recommend amarylis, hyacinths, and paperwhites). Bring some buds into your life. Within weeks you'll have a cheerful display.
11. Stregthen your smile. Keep your teeth in top shape. Limit your intake of acidic drinks such as orange juice, soda amd bottled iced tea, which can attack enamel, softening it and making it more open to the bacteria that cause cavitities. When you do have these sips, rinse your mouth with water afterward to help wash away damaging acidic residue.
12. This tip was all about nail poish, which I don't use so I'm skipping it.
13. Be nice to your neck. Sitting at a desk all day causes muscles in the spper back and neck to become tight. Try this simple move to stretch away neck tension: while you are sitting, ectend your right arm toward the floor. Tile your left ear toward your shoulder; use your left hand to tilt your head further. Hold for 20 seconds and switch sides.
14. Howl with laughter. Got a case of the giggles? Good! Just be sure to laugh with your mouth wide open. A hearty laugh is more likely to uplift others' moods and lead them to smile than a closed-lip snicker.
15. Stay strong. Start with two old-school moves: the push up and the squat. Lean muscle mass decreases with age, so it's important to continue building it over time. Aim for practicing a strength-training routine three or four days a week with moves to target all major muscles froups.
16. Map your Vacation. Dreaming of warm, sandy beaches? Pull your head out of the clouds and start planing a trip. Taking time for leisure has both mental and physical health beefits. Research shows it increases happiness and overall quality of life.
17. Slice strawberries. Strawberries are one of the summer's most delicious fruits, and they pack more vitamin C than any other berry. Make the most of these nutritional jewels by swapping them in for jam ona sandwich to dispense with the added sugar and calories. Slice some onto whole wheat toast spread with peanut butter or almond butter or serve them over whole grain pancakes.
18. Lusterous Locks. Dust and dirt that collect in your drush can weigh down hair, but a clean one "grabs hair better at the root, which brings matural oils from the scalp toward the hair shaft, making strands appear shinier, says ownner of James Corbett Studio in NYC. To clean your brush, run a comb through it from the top to bottom.
19. More Kona. Another cup for caffeine- and one more reason to love your french press. Drinking coffee may reduce your risk of diabetes by preventing the developement of high blood-sugar levels and increasing sensitivity to insulin, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
20. Reduce. Reuse. Refresh. About 13 million toms of plastic, such as soda and water bottles, end up in landfills each year. In honor of Earth Day, cut don o waste by investing in a soda maker that comes with reusable bottles. "For extra flavor, add a squeeze of lemon, lime or orange."

Hummingbirds

I was under the impression that hummingbirds were hard to attract. That you actually had to put some effort into the right plants in your yard and the right placement of the feeder and so on. As it turns out, this is not true. While my efforts to improve my yard and make it a more suitable habitat for hummingbirds will not stop, I have a hummingbird that frequently comes to my feeder. My flowerbeds are still under construction and there aren't any of the "approved attracting hummingbird plants" in them. The feeder was only hung for about 2 days before I saw my first bird. My theory...either it's a baby and it's really hungry or it hangs out at a neighbor's house and just noticed my feeder. She does come often and it makes this house feel more like home. My list for the week (since I'm all about lists lately) is the best plants to attract Hummingbirds!

Daylily

Columbine




Cardinal Flower



Penstemin



Bee Balm



Hibiscus



Peony



Coral Bells



Garden Phlox



Oriental Poppy


Now that I've typed out the list I realized, I dad plant a hibiscus, but it's blue and I thought hummers were attracted mostly to reds. Anyway, the point is, if you feed them, they will come!

How to Grow Fresh Air

A book by Dr. B.C. Wolverton

I wanted to share some info about some house plants that I personally intend to get. These are all easy to grow and care for and they work well indoors. They are also very good at cleaning the air in your home.

Areca Palm AKA: Yellow Palm or Butterfly Palm
"Releases copious amounts of moisture in the air, removes chemical toxins and is also beautiful to look at."
Light: Semi-sun
Temp: 65-75
Problems: Spider mites and brown tips on fronds from over-dry atmosphere.
Care: Keep the root ball damp. Provide a complete fertilizer on a regular basis, except in winter. Mist regularly to give it a fresh appearance and to provide humidity to discourage insect infestation.

Golden Pathos
Light: Semi-shade to shade
Temp: 65-75
Problems: rarely, aphids and mealybugs
Care: Let soil dry slightly between waterings. Feed weekly during growing season (March to August). To encourage a more bushy appearance, pinch out the growth tips. Clean the leaves with a damp cloth.

Peace Lily
Light: Semi-sun to Semi-Shade
Temp: Day- 60-75 Night- 55-68
Problems: When air is too dry, the peace lily is vulnerable to attacks bu scale insects and spider mites, occasionally mealybugs and white flies.
Care: Feed regularly from spring to fall, but less in winter. Keep the soil evenly moist during the growing season and slightly dries during the winter. Wash the leaves occasionally to prevent insect attack.

Bamboo Palm
Light: Semi-sun
Temp: 60-75
Problems: Spider mites and scale insects are a risk when the atmosphere is too dry
Care: Provide plenty of water during periods of active growth. In winter, when grown in standard containers, water just enough to keep the root ball moist. Wash the leaves periodically to prevent spider mites. Do not pinch out the tip of the stalks or cut off the newest frond as this will eliminate new growth.

English Ivy
"is a vigorous climber, which sends out aerial roots that attach themselves to any surface."
Light: Semi-sun to semi-shade
Temp: Day- 60-70, Night- 50-60
Problems: Spider mites and scale insects in too warm and dry a location.
Care: Water well in spring and summer with room0temp water. Allow to dry slightly between watering in fall and winter. Feed regularly with a weak concentration fertilizer when plants are growing. Mist often, especially during winter when the air is dry.

Dwarf Date Palm
Light: Semi-sun
Temp: 60-75
Problems: Spider mites in dry air. Brown fronds from over watering or the use of hard water.
Care: The root ball should be kept evenly moist. However, the soil can allowed to dry between waterings in winter. This plant loves frequent misting. The date palm prefers a weekly feeding schedule, except in winter when feeding can be on a biweekly basis.

Gerbera Daisy (Red, White or Orange are natural colors)
Light: Full sun to semi sun (bright light is essential, but protect from midday sun as this may age the blooms prematurely)
Temp: day- 60-65 night- 45-50
Problems: Aphids and spider mite infestation may occur when the air is too warm and dry. Susceptible to root rot from over watering.
Care: Keep the soil evenly moist, not soggy. Feed regularly during it's growing season with a complete fertilizer.

Dumb Cane
Light: Semi-sun to semi-shade
Temp: 60-80
Problems: Spider mites, aphids, and thrips. Root rot from over watering.
Care: Keep moist with soft, tepid water. Water more sparingly in winter. Apply diluted liquid fertilizer from March to August. Mist the leaves often. Avoid drafts.

 Heartleaf Philodendron
Light: Semi0shade to shade
Temp: 60-70; don't drop below 55
Problems: Aphids, mealybugs, and scale insects. Root rot from too wet and cold conditions.Care: Feed every 2 weeks except in winter. Large plants need full strength fertilizer; a weak solution is best for small plants. Keep the soil evenly moist, but water less frequently in winter. Mist often. Clean leaves occasionally with a damp cloth or sponge.


Spider Plant
Light: Semi-sun to semi0shade
Temp: day- 65-75 night- 55-65
Problems: Aphids, scale insects and mealybugs may occur in too dry location
Care: Keep evenly moist, but allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Feed regularly in spring and summer, but less in fall and winter.

 Peacock Plant
Light: Semi-shade
Temp: 65-80
Problems: Spider mites and scale insects
Care: Keep the soil evenly moist (not soggy) with room-temp water. Feed every 2 weeks with a dilute liquid fertilizer in spring and summer. Mist often.

Aloe Vera
Light: Full sun to semi-sun
Temp: 65-75
Problems: Rarely attacked by pests
Care: Water moderately in spring, summer and fall; water sparingly in winter. Feed once a month in spring and summer. Do not feed in fall and winter.

Tulips
Light: Full sun to semi-sun
Temp: 55-70
Problems: Aphids
Care: Keep the soil evenly moist. Never allow to dry out.

I got some shopping to do!!!

Good to read Vegan books

Top selling books from Vegan.com:
1. 99¢ Vegan Guide
2. Vegan for Life
3. Forks Over Knives
4. Quick-Fix Vegetarian
5. The 30-Minute Vegan
6. The China Study
7. Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease
8. Appetite for Reduction
9. Happy Herbivore
10. 1,000 Vegan Recipes

Guess I have my reading list cut out for me.  Yeah right, with baby #2 coming soon, no chance I'll get through it quickly, but I'm going to try! He we go to the library.

Vegan on the Cheap is still my favorite.