Tough & Tender

Okay, you know ME. I like products sold through network marketing because I like to help my friends make money. I don't know how you get any greener than that, honestly! PLUS, all the best products are sold this way, mostly.....

But, I absolutely ADORE these TOUGH & TENDER WIPES from Melaleuca. I get them from a friend of mine and let me tell you that they are absolutely wonderful. I use them all over the house. They make clean up super quick and you can feel good about the environment when you're done. Here's an excerpt of the product description from the Melaleuca website:

Unlike many other wipes, Tough & Tender wipes are biodegradable! Just because other wipes are disposable doesn’t mean they’re biodegradable too. In fact, nonbiodegradable disposable wipe waste is expected to clog landfills with an additional 100,000 tons a year by 2010. Plus, Tough & Tender wipes are naturally free of bleach and harsh chemicals, and they’re safe to use on almost any surface, even natural stone like granite and marble.

I use them in the kitchen and then toss them into the compost pile. I also use them in the bathrooms and flush them. I live in the country and have a septic tank as opposed to a fancy sewer system like the city folk. All you country gals can appreciate the fact that they are flushable!!!! :) Keepin it real!

So, locate your best friend that sells Melaleuca or go to Melaleuca's website and sign up to get products wholesale and get some of these little buddies! They have other great products that I use all the time too. But, this is my favorite I think.

This post is part of Food Renegade's Fight Back Friday. You can check out a lot more healthy stuff and recipes here: Fight Back Friday

Ginger

Ginger!!!!

Yeah, not THAT Ginger, silly!!!!

This Ginger

Well, its a gingerbread man because its the holiday season, ya know!!! :)

I DO Like Ginger from Gilligan's Island, though. Every time my husband wants me to make a sexy face, I make the "Ginger" face and say, "Hello, Gilligan". He thinks that's REAL sexy......SCREECH....NOT!..He always says, "Why do keep calling me Gilligan?" to which I say, "If you don't want me to make a sexy face, then don't ask me to make a sexy face." and then I walk away. HeeeHeee. I like to keep our love life spicy. So, I like to play "sexy games" like that. We HAVE been married for over 20 years, so you can imagine....

Anyway, back to my real post for the day, and that's the SPICE ginger and no, I don't mean the SPICE GIRL, Ginger. I mean the Real Ginger.

This is part of my new, regular Thursday posts, about herbs.

Ginger has a whole host of health benefits!!!

I consume it regularly in a tea form anytime I'm feeling a little queasy. I make some ginger tea (I just use the tea bags. You could actually make your own if you're feeling so inclined) I put some Stevia in there to sweeten it and BAM! queasiness gone! You can also take it in a supplement form. You can even buy ginger candies in pharmacies now if you don't like the tea. Even a little ginger ale and ginger cookies can help with nausea.
I think we all knew that one already, but here are some other benefits of ginger that you maybe didn't know.

It reduces pain and inflammation. In studies it has been shown to be a natural painkiller and people who consume it have less soreness after working out. I can only assume that would also apply to people with injuries.

It has also been shown to relieve symptoms of colds and flus and help with digestive issues. When someone in my house gets sick, I always give them some ginger tea with honey in it. It tastes good and honey is also anti-inflammatory as well as being anti-viral and anti-bacterial.

In a University of Michigan study, ginger killed ovarian cancer cells. Can you say, WOW!!! ?On a side note, I've been claiming all along that cancer can be cured and prevented with diet.....I'm just sayin'....

A University of Minnesota found that ginger slowed down colorectal cancers. Again...I'm just sayin'...

Another study done on rats found that ginger may reduce diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage).

In addition to all the things that ginger can do, it tastes pretty good too!! So, go home and make some gingerbread. Make it extra gingery and feel good about your family eating it!!!


mmmmmmmmm.....AND it smells wonderful......... :)

Thursday is Herbs Day!! - Aloe

Welcome to Thursday!!!! Yay!!! Its so great because its one day closer to Friday AND its the first installment of Thursday is Herbs Day!! I think a celebratory cake is in order. I'll get right on that. But, FIRST let me tell you about one of my very favorite "herbs".

Aloe Vera.

You probably already know a little about it, because its in sunburn lotions in pharmacies all across the U.S. So you know it helps soothe a sunburn. But, do you know WHY and how that info can help soothe and heal other conditions as well?

Not only that but its super easy to grow in pots. It looks pretty and you always have a ready supply on hand and even enough to give away to your closest friends, more if you're like my friend Melanie who tries to GIVE them away on a regular basis!! Those things make "babies" and Melanie's must be extra fertile because she has "babies" out the wazoo. If you're nearby and want a free "baby" let me know and I'll hook you up!

Aloe vera is a succulent so it needs very little water. In addition to that it doesn't need a lot of light either. Its very easy to maintain. If you leave it in the sun it gets faded out and if its in the super dark it also loses its pigment. It can live in either of those conditions but for asthetics, ambient light is best.

I keep some around all the time. Its especially good for burns. It soothes a burn faster than anything I've ever seen. When I'm cooking and accidentally burn myself I just go over and break off a piece and rub the gel on the burn. It instantly feels better and heals much faster. Its also good for cuts and scrapes too. Its anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory. Its full of vitamins and minerals too. You can also buy aloe vera juice to help with some digestive issues.

ssshhhhhhhh, here's  a secret just between us. *looking around*, come in close.........

It has laxative properties...........

Just sayin.......

You never know. That sometimes comes up. Or doesn't. Again, just sayin.....

Okay enough with the eighth gradedness and poopy humor.  Okay, seriously, stop. POOP  and lack thereof is NOT a laughing  matter.


Here are some fun things you can do with Aloe Vera: (From http://www.aloevera-benefits.org/)

1.Create your own facial cleanser with aloe vera: Just mix with olive oil, rosewater, and a few drops of grapeseed oil in a food processor. Keep it in the fridge!

2.Create an organic sugar scrub and apply to damp skin:


■2 tbsp. aloe vera

■2 tbsp. brown sugar

■1 tsp. lemon juice

3.You could also try a salt scrub for rough patches:


■2 cups sea salt

■1 cup aloe vera

■1 cup baby oil

■2 tbsp. honey

4.For those with eczema or psoriasis, aloe is possibly the best moisturizer available. Rub all over hands and feet, put on gloves and socks and let it work its magic!


You can also dress up your plant and take have a photo shoot! I personally wouldn't do it, but you could.... Again, just sayin..... :)

Pumpkin Oatmeal

IMAG0536
Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/50173102@N04/

Well, its a chilly 54 degrees here in Texas. I know some of you Yankees are laughing your hiney off! But, hey.... We like it hot!

Hot as in Hot, yo! Not hot as in "Oh My Lord, Its a hundred freaking degrees outside!" which we get a lot of here in Texas.

But....Not Today!!!! Today its chilly out and has me in the mood for some phat (pretty, hot, and tasty) oatmeal. Its super good with pumpkin added to it as well. I had some myself and now I'm going to share it with you. This is enough for one serving because I only made some for myself. Heee Heee.

No, no! Before you get all sideways thinking I'm a bad wife and mom, let me say, that my honey doesn't really appreciate oatmeal the way I do and has elected to eat some organic Koala Crisp cereal with raw, whole milk and my son is spending the night with a friend of which and a side note, he accidentally called my phone in the middle of the night and I eavesdropped on his activities for a while. Heeee Heeeee!

HEY!! don't judge me! He called ME so its okay...... Right??? Yeah well, a mom has to use all the tools in her chest. :)

But, anyway, back to the oatmeal. Here's what you'll need:

1 cup water
1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal
1/4 cup organic pumpkin puree
1/8 t cinnamon
1/16 t nutmeg
1/16 t cloves
1/16 t ginger
pinch of salt
1 packet of Stevia
1/4 cup raw cream (you heard me!! I said CREAM)

Then: Here's what you'll do:

Boil the water and add the oatmeal. Cook for about 5 minutes or so until its creamy. Add the pumpkin and spices and continue until  everything is all melty and warm. Add the Stevia. If you want it sweeter you can add another packet. Spoon into your bowl and pour the cream all over the top.

Then, sit down and count your blessings today. One of which will most definitely be the fact that you just found your new favorite way to eat oatmeal!! :)


And seriously.....Don't be afraid of the cream!! Really!!! Don't put sugar in it and the cream will skip right past your thighs much like I skipped right past my shorts this morning to put on my blue jeans and sweater!