Feb 032012
 
  
St Augustine is one of the best places on earth to visit-tons of history, night life, beaches, restaurants and scenery. If you haven’t been there you must put it on your bucket list! Each time I go, I discover something new and fabulous.
Two trips ago I found the Hickory Ridge Organic shop tucked away in a back corner. Actually, we smelled it before we saw it…..deliciously natural and everything in the store is vegan and organic. A bit too much was spent that night-splurging on hand made soaps and body butter in a solid form that melt with your body heat.

If you have been following my blog you know that my daughter has lots of food allergies that manifest in eczema that is mostly controlled by diet, but we do lotion her up really well. It has been so hard to find moisturizer that she isn’t sensitive to-even the supposedly most gentle. The sales lady suggested a body butter called “Ultra Pure”. It smells so good I want to eat it and her skin looks nice and clear (no allergic reaction finally!).

The second time I went back I got the chocolate exfoliator/body butter (YUM)-another one that smelled so good I wanted to eat-unfortunately my dogs got to it first. Good thing I bought the almond too but this time I put it up higher. We will most certainly be visiting every time we go back to restock. If you can’t make it to St Augustine you can visit their website.
 Posted by at 3:40 pm
Mar 042011
 
In a recent issue of Reader’s Digest there was a certain page I tore out that had to do with simple solutions for five problems; one of these problems being getting rid of dirt. 

I don’t know about you but when I use Pine Sol the house smells so much like chemicals that I need to leave the house and no matter how I dispose of the dirty water I feel guilty like I’m polluting the environment.  Technically, I am.  As an alternative, I tried simple vinegar and water but could never stand the smell. 

Finally, a solution!

Note the small and oh so helpful hand there in the photo.
Peppermint, Lavender and Eucalyptus Cleaner

Ingredients

1 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
Pail full of hot water
3 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 dops peppermint essential oil

Directions

1. Mix and clean.  Take a deep breath.  Ahhh aromatherapy.

Now on to my next CSA Installment
(All photos are not retouched in any way.)

On my list of recipes so far is kale chips, a kohlrabi and ham gratin and collards with shrimp and sausage.


Red Lettuces

Green lettuces

Purple and Green Kohlrabi

Carrots 

Cabbage

Collards

Rutabaga

Green onions

Broccoli

Curly Kale

  Cauliflower

 Posted by at 2:27 pm
Feb 182011
 
Homeopathic Itchy Scalp Help
I am so excited to share a homeopathic cure for itchy scalp that really works (hubbs tested last night).  Ever since cutting his hair shorter his scalp has been super itchy.  He tends to have IS anyway, but recently it has been much worse and when he got home tonight it was obvious that it was worse. 
I looked on line to find out what might soothe it and found a method using something we had on hand at Grandmas-Wisdom, olive oil!
He simply heated some up a bit, just to warm, and massaged it into his scalp. 
He then wrapped an old towel around his head and watched about 30 minutes of tv. (This part is optional, you could also read if you wanted. Or blog)
Once the 40 minutes was up he washed his hair twice with his usual shampoo.
Voila!
He said his head was MUCH better.
And now for today’s CSA installment.
Cabbage, Broccoli, Scallions, Spinach, Kohlrabi, Cauliflower, Daikon, Cilantro, Kale, Lettuces and some farm fresh eggs
Am am working on perfecting a marinated and grilled daikon radish recipe, a kale and beet salad and that is it so far.  I’ll keep you posted.  I’m so excited about the eggs!
 Posted by at 1:46 pm
Feb 232010
 
One of my new favorite blogs is called Rawmazing.  In a fairly recent post she listed a recipe for Stress Relief for the Winter Blues which included Epsom salt, coarse sea salt and essential oils. I decided to give it a try because…..I have a new bathroom!
Ok so I just painted a wall and got some new towels and mats but it feels like a new bathroom.   Like a spa bathroom. 
Mainly because it’s so clean and there are no toys, Tylenol bottles and lipstick tubes strewn about. I expect it will stay clean at least through the week.
I looked on line and there were so many additions you could make.  A few included:
Food coloring
Castile soap
Avocado oil
Any other oil
Baking Soda
Citric Acid
Borax
Glycerin
I decided to go with the essential oils that were listed on Rawmazing and add in a bit of olive oil for moisture.
Spa Soak
 Ingredients
1 cup Epsom salt
Hanful of Kosher or sea salt
2 Tbsp bath oil, I used olive oil
Essential oils:
8 drops peppermint
4 drops eucalyptus
4 drops lavender
Directions

1. Mix all ingredients together in a small jar.

2. Pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup into running bath water.
p.s. I just tried out the spa soak last night and it was amazing.  The oil makes you feel silky and the essential oils are like aromatherapy.  Very relaxing.  I hope you enjoy!
 Posted by at 3:23 pm