Candles Exotic or Simple

Candles can set the mood, create warmth, and induce relaxation all at the same time.  Tonight is cold and after a stressful day of work I want to relax. Since I always have an assortment of scented candles I decided tonight was a good evening for candlelight.  In the fall I love the smell of spice scented candles.

You can choose tea candles, votive, pillars, or a mixture. I like scented versus unscented but that is just personal preference.  Create a few locations in each room for candles.  First for decoration and ambiance and secondly for emergencies like when the electricity goes out.  I keep a candle lighter near each centerpiece of candles.  This makes it easy so I don't spend time searching for it if the lights do go out. 

Candles also make great gifts for your children's teachers, house warming gifts,  or most anyone.  I have been browsing for great smelling candles.  I love the Mandarin Sandalwood.

 

Indoor Herb Garden

Grow an herb garden year-round indoors.  With a window that gets at least four hours of direct sunlight you can have fresh herbs on hand for any recipe or even harvest enough to dried and store.  Rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, sage, and mint all do well on a window ledge.  Keep them in small containers that drain well and do not hold water.  Plants in small containers need to be feed nutrients every two weeks as they will use up nutrients from the soil at an amazing rate. 

 

What Is The Oxy In Oxy Clean ?

Oxy Clean is a great product.  I use to use it all the time.  It was great for getting out tough stains such as blood, grass, wine, or other hard to remove stains.  It was so miraculous that I bought anything that claimed the "Oxy" in the label. 

Recently I found the secret of  "Oxy".  The secret is 3% Hydrogen Peroxide.  Here is a recipe for homemade Oxy Clean that works and saves you money. 

1 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Peroxide
1/2 Cup baking or Washing Soda.
For scented add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil.  My favorite is lavender.

 

Peroxide Times Twelve

3% Hydrogen Peroxide is inexpensive and versatile.  Here are a few of its uses.

1.  Keep your toothbrush germ free by soaking it in a cup of peroxide.
2.  After rinsing your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide over it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.
3.  Use peroxide instead of mouthwash.  It will whiten your teeth and you won't have any more canker sores.
4.  Use peroxide on your dish rag or spray it on your counters to kill germs.
5.  Soak any infection or cut in 3% peroxide.
6.  Use a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water to disinfect your bathroom without harming your septic system. 
7.  Use a 50/50 mixture and spray into each nostril whenever you have a cold or sinus problem. 
8.  Use half a bottle of peroxide in your bath water to rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections. 
9.  Use a cup of peroxide in your laundry instead of bleach.
10.  Use peroxide to clean your mirrors.
11.  Anyone struggling with foot fungus should use a 50/50 spray mixture to spray on them frequently. 
12.  Use a 50/50 spray mixture for natural looking gentle highlights in your hair.  It lightens gradually so there is no drastic change and it will not burn your hair like regular hair dyes. 

 

Healthy Flavored Dipping Oils

Use fresh or dried herbs mixed with olive oil to make flavor infused  healthy dipping oils.  You can drizzle over pasta, salad or vegetables.  Or use as a dip for warm bread.  Seal in a decorative jar and give as a gift. 

Warm olive oil on low heat.  Add 6 sprigs of fresh herbs or 1/2 teaspoon of dried herbs and a few peppercorns then let cool and pour into jars.  Dried herbs last longer then if using fresh herbs and can be stored in a cabinet.  If using fresh herbs you must refrigerate and it will only last a week or two. 

For each cup of olive oil use 6 sprigs or 1/2 a teaspoon of the herb or your choice adding a few peppercorns for added flavor.  Sometimes I add a little finely grated Parmesan cheese.

Some of my favorite dipping oils are:

Rosemary Olive Oil
Basil Olive Oil
Oregano Olive Oil

 

Use More Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil Is:
· Anti-inflammatory
· Antimicrobial
· Antifungal
· Antiviral
· Improves nutrient absorption

So why aren't we using more of this? 

Body scrub – mix coconut oil and sugar together and rub all over! Rinse off and your skin will be super soft! You can add in essential oils if you would like a specific smell. 

Skin problems – coconut oil relieves skin problems such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.

Hair Conditioner/Deep Treatment – use as a leave in hair conditioner by applying a teaspoon of coconut oil to your ends and then running your fingers through your hair to distribute the rest!

Digestion – the saturated fats in coconut oil have anti-bacterial properties that help control, parasites, and fungi that cause indigestion and other digestion related problems such as irritable bowel syndrome.

General health -The fat in coconut oil can aid in the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, making you healthier all around.

Use as insect repellent – mix coconut oil with peppermint oil extract and rub it all over exposed skin. Keeps insects off better than anything. You can also use lavender oil. 

Great for dogs and cats for general wellness. Just add a teaspoon of liquid cocoanut oil to their food.

 

Relax in Lavender

For restful sleep, drip a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow. Another option is to wrap a handful of the dried flowers in a cheesecloth sachet, tie and throw in your pillowcase.  We used dried lavender for my daughter's wedding and had some left over.  It made great sachets for gifts. 

Lavender essential oil can be applied like a perfume to the hair, neck, ears or other body parts. Smells delicious but a little goes a long way.  Also this can be added to your dog shampoo to make Fido feel special.  The aroma also helps a hyper pooch relax. 


Lavender flowers (fresh or dried) emit a strong, aromatic, relaxing scent when crushed between the fingers. For a quick mood pick-me-up or instant stress relief, crush and roll between your fingers a few of the flower buds and inhale the scent slowly and deeply.  Breathing deeply and inhaling the lavender scent will calm nervous tension, anxiety and panicky feelings within minutes.

I love lavender soap!


For the laundry try wrapping lavender flowers in a square of cheesecloth and tie with a string. You can also drip a few drops of essential oil onto the sachet for an extra aromatherapy boost.  Toss the sachet into your dryer .  This will make your clothes smell great.  It will freshen up to 30 dryer loads!

 

Benefits of Lavender Oil

LAVENDER IS ONE OF THE MOST RELAXING FRAGRANCES.  Lavender is very calming. It is a powerful remedy  offering both physical and emotional relief for problems as varied as burns, migraines, insomnia, insect bites, skin problems, infections, stress and nervous tension. Lavender is a remedy for aching muscles, acne, bugs & bacteria, burns, cuts & wounds, earache, eczema, fatigue, fevers, giddy spells, headache, insomnia, long haul travel, menstrual cramps, moths & mosquitoes, scabies, shingles, sinusitis, stress & anxiety and sunburn. Lavender is particularly aromatic .offering antiviral, bacterial and anti-inflammatory powers. Of the many therapeutic uses of Lavender oil, respiratory relief would be one of the most frequently reported benefits. Lavender Oil Properties: Antidepressant Analgesic Antiseptic Expectorant Especially beneficial to the respiratory tract in particular coughs, colds, influenza. Certainly eases breathing when lungs and sinuses . Defends system against airborne viruses.     Lavender is one of the most useful of the botanicals for the relief of anxiety and stress.  Good for aches and pains and muscle stiffness .  Lavender is also beneficial for healing wounds including all types of burns and  treatment of eczema, dermatitis, scabies and psoriasis.