Just Between Friends

SwagBucks

2010-11-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with you the opportunity to earn prizes/gift cards from SwagBucks. For the past 2 months or so, I have been using SwagBucks as my search engine. Various times while looking something up I am awarded SwagBucks-sometimes 1 or sometimes 11 SwagBucks or more! (It always varies) These SwagBucks can be turned in for gift cards, etc... I recently turned in 450 points and was sent a $5.00 Amazon gift card via email!!

I would be using a search engine anyways, I am just choosing to use SwagBucks and earning points=$!

If you are interested, sign up to the right and starting earning SwagBucks!
Happy SwagBucks!

Arnica

2010-10-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

Over 10 years ago we learned about Arnica Gel. As our first little boy was learning to crawl and getting many bumps and bruises, Arnica was a wonderful option .

Arnica reduces pain and swelling as well as discoloration from bruising. Over the years we have been amazed at how much this has helped with the diminishing of size and color of the bumps/bruises our children have acquired.

Arnica is helpful in: bruises, falls, blows, black eyes, sore muscles...

Just this past month we used the Arnica gel and tablets for a door slammed on little fingers, two of our kiddos hit heads and our littlest one fell rather severely.  We probably used it more than this, but this is what comes to mind.

We keep Arnica gel on hand and also the homeopathic tablets. We have given them to our babies when very young and continue to use it on our children as they get older.

Arnica Gel and tablets can be found at many health food stores and also the health food section at Cash Wise. The brand we buy:  Boiron Arnica Gel and Hyland's Arnica tablets

Happy Arnica!

Earth Clinic

2010-10-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

I have learned there are many foods we can eat to help with physical ailments. God made so many good things with many nutrients already contained in them!

When I was low in iron when pregnant, I had taken a large iron pill. It was hard on my stomach and I really didn't like to take it. What I learned was that
black strap molasses is full of iron! So with my last 3 pregnancies, I took molasses instead and it gave me almost immediate energy (within 20 minutes or so).

A resource I would like to share with you is called: Earthclinic.com

I don't follow everything on there, but I use it as a guide like I would a health book. Some things I have tried, and some things I will never try. Take a peek and if you have any ailments-check out what people around the world use to help their ailments, you may be happily surprised...

Happy Health!!!

Health Options: Ernest Huhta

2010-09-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

For over 10 years we have been going to Ernest Huhta for care. When each of our children were born, we would bring them to him. Then, as health issues came up we would visit him. I have had gallbladder issues, and he was able to help. I also had a large amount of scar tissue from my appendectomy that Ernest helped with---my ob doctor was amazed and surprised at how great my incision looked (hardly any scar tissue).

There has been many things he has helped me and the kiddos out on over the years.  At one point I thought my asthma had come back, I went to Ernest, and he found my ribs were out. The kids have visited him for bad falls and various accidents that have occured.

I have had friends who couldn't get pregnant and had been trying for a couple of years, then went to Ernest and were pregnant within the next 1-2 months. I have a friend who had large swelling in her throat, and with the help of Ernest, the swelling is now gone.  I have friends who do carpentry work and their body takes so much abuse, and yet Ernest has been able to help them.

What I appreciate about Ernest:  When you visit him he does what he can.    He will then let you know if you should come back or not.  With me personally, he always has said, "see how you feel and see how you are doing and then decide if you need to come back."  I have known others where he has said he needed to see them 2-3 more times. I have also had friends where he said, "you need to go to the doctor for this."  I appreciate his honesty and all the help he has given us over the years!

Some of the things I know he has helped some of my friends with: migraines/constant headaches, carpal tunnel, prolapsed uterus, ribs out of place, pulled muscles, fertility issues, body swelling, lymph node drainage, bad backs, help in shrinking tumors and cysts, recovering from broken bones, scar tissue...

If you are interested in trying out Ernest Huhta:
Ernest will give you
$20.00 off your first appointment.
Just mention my name:  Heidi Vandal
(or print this and give this to him:)


Info. about Ernest Huhta:
NATURALE ALTERNATIVES

Ernest Huhta, Jr. CMAT, EASS
With a family influence in natural health practices dating back to the 1920s, Ernest began his training in the fall of 1981 in Swedish massage. His first mentor’s counsel was heeded: “Learn as much of anatomy and physiology as possible and the rest will follow.” Trained under numerous doctors, with thousands of hours in licensed, certified and non-certified training programs, continuing education, and actual practice, Ernest and his associates offer a broad base of assessment and treatment skills. Using a variety of treatment modalities including manual muscle therapies, electro-acu-therapy, acupressure and reflexology, Ernest and his associates are able to address a host of dysfunctional muscle and connective tissue complaints.

After almost 23 years of practice doing house calls and clinicals all over the state of Minnesota, Ernest still feels excitement in giving alternatives to people who may have tried “everything” and are still suffering.

Naturale Alternatives, Inc

MENAHGA OFFICE

19 - 3rd St. SE

Menahga, MN 56464

ph: 218-564-4200

fx: 218-564-5711

hours: 9-6 Mon - Fri

email: natalt1@wcta.net

ALEXANDRIA OFFICE

460 Northside Dr.

Alexandria, MN 56332

ph: 320-333-5771

hours: 2nd & 4th Weds every month

EXCELSIOR OFFICE

21920 Minnetonka Blvd

Excelsior, MN 55331

ph: 612-205-4258

hours: 2nd Fri/Sat; 4th Thurs/Fri

ST. CLOUD / SAUK CENTRE AREA

33375 US Hwy 71

Sauk Centre, MN 56378

ph: 320-987-3254

hours: 3rd Tues every month

FARGO OFFICE

Fargo YMCA

400 - 1st Ave S.

Fargo, ND 58103

ph: 218-564-4200

hours: 2nd & 4th Tues every month

Happy Health!!!

http://www.naturalealternatives.com/blog/

Great Deal at One Kings Lane

2010-09-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

Click here- One Kings Lane: and you will go to One Kings Lane and receive $15.00 credit. It is a great spot to find gifts and find a great deal on some nice items. Items sell 70% off retail.

As far as I have learned: If the merchandise is less than $15 the difference goes toward shipping. They have several items under $8 so you can get the item shipped for FREE!!

Happy Shopping!!!

Pumpkin Bread

2010-09-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

Fall is starting to show its leaves. I love the changing of the colors on the trees, cool air, hot cocoa, bon fires, homemade soups and bread. (The boys are excited when they can make leaf piles to jump in---I am glad they are admitting they know they will be raking!!!)

This Pumpkin Bread is a favorite at our house. It is a great recipe, moist and spicy. The bread actually tastes even better the day after it is baked. If you try it out, post a comment and let us know what you think! Just thinking of it makes my mouth water...

Pumpkin Bread

1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1 c. oil
2/3 c. water
3 c. white sugar

3 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. ginger

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour 3 loaf pans. In a large bowl, mix pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mix until well blended. Pour into pans. Bake for 50 minutes. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Happy Pumpkin Bread!!!

Easy Granola

2010-09-22T10:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a great recipe for granola. It is easy, fast and inexpensive to make. My kids love it! Try it out and let us know what you think!

Easy Granola

12 cups oats (I just use 32oz tub)
1/2 cup flour
1 T. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 cup oil
1 cup honey or honey substitute: 1 1/2 c. brown sugar + 1/4 cup water

In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. In another bowl combine oil and honey/honey substitute-heat until hot. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well. Spread mixture in pan. Bake 20-30 minutes, stir a couple of times during baking. Make sure not to over bake.

Once the granola has cooled completely you can add a variety of dried fruits: cherries, cranberries, raisins, and apricots are popular choices. At times, we also add flax seed, coconut, wheat germ, chocolate chips... A lot of times we eat it as cereal just the way it is! (I put it back into the round tub once it has cooled.)

Happy Granola Making and Eating!!!

Free Homeschool Planner and Fall Idea Site

2010-09-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Free Homeschool Planner! Just print and or download what you want. This great resource also has a large amount of info. for unit studies, lapbooking and notebooking-very nice quality.

If you are interested in any fall ideas, this site has it! Learn more about pumpkins, leaves, hibernation...
http://dynamic2moms.webs.com/curriculumplanner.htm

Happy School Day!!!

Toothache Remedy

2010-09-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

This past year I had a throbbing toothache. After reading up on a natural remedy for it, I went into the kitchen cupboard to the spice shelf and found my cloves (buds). Yes, the kind used on the outside of a ham while cooking!

The pain was so intense that I chewed and sucked on cloves all day long. It didn't take long once I started chewing on the clove for the pain to subside. For two days I had a clove in the corner of my mouth-and my pain disappeared for good!

Some info I found about Cloves:

The health benefits of clove oil can be attributed to its antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral and stimulating properties. The oil is used for treating a variety of health disorders including toothaches, indigestion, cough, asthma, headache, stress and blood impurities.

Clove Oil/Powder/Bud:
Properties: Anti microbial, anti fungal, anti septic, anti viral
Health Benefits: Dental care, toothache, cavity, infections, skin care, stress, headache, respiratory problems, sore throat, earache, indigestion, nausea, blood circulation, blood purification, diabetes, immune system, cholera, sty

Clove is rich in minerals such as calcium, hydrochloric acid, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and vitamin A and vitamin C.

Dental Care: The most prominent use of clove oil is in dental care. The germicidal properties of the oil make it very effective for relieving dental pain, tooth ache, sore gums and mouth ulcers. Clove oil contains the compound eugenol, which has been used in dentistry since numerous years. Gargles with diluted clove oil help in easing the throat. The characteristic smell of clove oil helps removing bad breath. As a result, clove oil is added to numerous dental products and medications, including, mouth washes, and tooth pastes.

Happy PAIN-FREE Teeth!

Cashew Coleslaw

2010-09-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Recently I tried this out and brought it to a friend's house. It got great reviews! There were 25-30 of us there, so I doubled the recipe. Very easy and quick to make!

1 bag coleslaw mix-shredded cabbage and carrots (16 oz)
1 can mandarin orange segments-drained (11 oz)
2 medium green onions, finely chopped (about 2 Tbsp)
1 container Key Lime Pie yogurt (6 oz)
1/4 cup mayo
1 tsp grated lime peel
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1/4 cup whole cashews

In a large bowl mix coleslaw, mandarin oranges and onions. In a small bowl, mix yogurt, mayo, lime peel and lime juice; gently fold into coleslaw mix. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes but no longer than 4 hours to blend flavors. Just before serving, sprinkle with cashews.

*I didn't measure the cashews, but just dumped until it looked like enough. I also added enough to decorate the top of the salad.

Happy Salad!!!

Emergen-C Benefits

2010-08-31T11:56:00.000-07:00

Recently my younger two got into a stash of candy from their big brother's room... After their nap they both looked "sick" and acted like they were feeling very yucky. I just knew some kind of sickness would come. So, out came the Emergen-C, and within 20 minutes or so, I noticed they were back to their normal selves (busy, loud, running around...). (I am still not sure how much candy they ate-I found wrappers under the bed, behind a trunk, in the office...)

Today my older two were worn out from putting in a work day with dad yesterday. They were gone and busy from 7:30 in the morning until 8:15 pm. I wasn't sure what could help them out, they appeared exhausted from yesterday's work. So, out came the Emergen-C, and within 15 minutes or so, I noticed they felt better and back to normal.

This great drink packs in a big punch of Vitamin C-1000mg, and also many other vitamins. The kids like the taste, and I like to drink it as a quick source of energy. Emergen-C is something we use to help fight off colds, or to recover quicker from a sickness.

You can buy it at Sam's Club, Walmart or Cash Wise.
Happy Emergen-C!!!

Teething Pain Remedies

2010-08-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

Teething Pains...a great remedy we use is Hyland's Teething Tablets and Teething Gel. The tablets are easily dissolveable by babies and toddlers. This homeopathic combination of natural substances relieves the restlessness, peevish whining and irritability. The small 1 grain tablets melt instantly on the tongue.

The Teething Gel just goes right onto the gums. Both of these can be found at many natural food stores, Target, Cash Wise and Amazon.

When teething pains come, typically so does ear pain. While teething, we look for red cheek(s) which indicate possible ear infections. If we see this, we use the Melaleuca Tea Tree oil and vitamin E mix in the ear(s). (This remedy is from the previous post)

Post a comment if you use and love this product!

Happy Teething, if that's possible!!!

Natural Remedy for Ear Infections

2010-08-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

After bringing our oldest to the doctor three times when a baby for ear infections, we started looking for something else that may help besides antibiotics.

This remedy has saved us from many doctor visits and has brought much needed relief to our 5 kiddos over the years (even to our teething babies):

Melaleuca Tea Tree Oil (T36 C5)
Jason Vitamin E Oil-14,000 IU
Amber glass bottle with dropper

I fill an amber glass bottle (with a dropper) about 3/4 full of Jason Vitamin E oil, and the rest I fill with Melaleuca Tea Tree Oil.

We put 1-2 drops of this oil in the ears when needed, followed with a cotton ball. Symptoms we look for: tugging at the ear, extreme irritability, a bright red cheek, teething...

When our oldest son was 2, I ran out of the Melaleuca brand tea tree oil and bought an alternative version from the store---it was not effective, and his fever continued. I had a doctor look at his ears only to find he had a double ear infection and needed antibiotics to recover.

Since then, I only use Melaleuca Tea Tree Oil and Jason Vitamin E oil.  Also since then, I have not had to bring any of our kids into the doctor for ear infections!

If you know Shana, she can order this specific Melaleuca Tea Tree oil for you, otherwise it can be ordered above from Amazon.  (It is not sold in stores.)

Shana told me that when they have had ear infections, she just sticks the melaleuca oil full strength on a Q tip and swab it right in the ear...and it works great.
Another friend on mine puts the Vitamin E/Tea Tree Oil mix on a cotton ball and puts it in their children's ears. If you use Melaleuca oil, post a comment and let us know how you use it!
(Tea tree oil appears to be effective against bacteria, viruses, fungal infections-toenail fungus and athlete's foot, mites such as scabies, and lice.  If you do a search on the internet there is so much information and history about this Australian oil.)

P.S. How do I know it works?

I use this remedy when our child has a fever or is cranky/tugging at the ears-after putting this oil in the ears, within a few minutes/hours we will see a remarkable improvement in fever and or disposition!

Happy Healthy Ears!!!

Potato Soup

2010-08-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

It is Potato Days this weekend, so I thought I would share a family favorite!

Ingredients:
1 onion chopped
1 clove garlic
3 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dill
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 c. chicken broth
2-3 large potatoes cubed
3-5 bacon strips in bits (I use 4 Tbsp. of real bacon bits)

1 cup half-and half cream
Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Saute onion and garlic until tender. And then stir in flour, salt, dill and pepper-mix well. Slowly add broth. Add potatoes and bring to a boil until potatoes are tender. Mash the potatoes a bit while in the soup. Add cream and bacon, heat, but do not boil. Top with cheese.

For those who know me, I double this recipe and alter as I can (ha-ha)!!! The kids still love it! The boys think it's restaurant quality. (Come to think of it, all of their meals should taste like a restaurant since they do not have to lift a finger...ah, the life of a child!)

Post a comment if you use and love this recipe and changes you made!

Happy Potatoes!!!

How to Save Money on Groceries

2010-08-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

I love passing along hints and tips to help save in the grocery and food budget.

A great resource I use is:
http://www.becentsable.net/

Weekly, I go to becentsable.net and quickly check out the Hot Deals and Store Deals-I click on my state and find great deals for Sunmart, Cash Wise and Hornbachers.

Another great spot on this website: Walgreens and CVS-many times items will be under a dollar or even free with using this website!

There will be options to "printable coupon" on the specific items on sale, which gives you additional money off the sale price.

I did read the book, BeCentsAble that led me to this site-it explained how to really save money. It was a great book and eye opening on how to truly save!

Happy Savings!!!

My friend Kayla wrote, "Another site that has Cashwise, Hornbachers, and Sunmart deals is www.fmcheapskate.com Thomas' cousin runs that site and it has saved us tons of money!" :)

Sydney's Health Market

2010-08-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

Check it Out!
                             Sydney's Health Market
                    810 30th Ave South, Moorhead MN
                    Located on the Southeast corner of I-94(Exit 1A)
                    and 8th St South in the Southmoor shopping center.

                    Phone Number Is:   218.233.3310

Your Path to Healthier Living!
We offer the best selection of
Organic Foods, Gluten Free - Allergen Free Products, and Nutritional Supplements.
Her store on-line http://www.sydneyshealthmarket.com/

Happy Shopping!

Mosquito Bites & Bee Stings

2010-08-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

Natural Remedies:

Mosquito Bites---We mix baking soda and a little water to make a paste. Whenever we get a bite we just put this right onto the bite, and the itch/pain goes away. (We store it in a baby food jar, when it dries out we just add a little more water and mix.)

Bee Stings---We apply apple cider vinegar on the sting and within minutes the sting goes away. This worked successfully this summer on baby Moriah, and also my nephew Brody. (Brody thought this was so cool!)

Happy Summer in the Midwest!

Rhubarb Jam

2010-08-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

Last year Shana came over with her two kids and we made this great tasting jam. While the kids played, we each tripled the recipe and made our own batches. There were lots of laughs + a big mess + kiddos played great together=fun! It is always fun to make this jam with a friend!

This recipe came from Sharon, a family friend from growing up. She makes it, and gives it to her friends as a little gift. Although this is best made in the spring (when the rhubarb is red and at its best) I seem to be a little late in life again this year and will be making it in the fall! Maybe next spring I will be on the ball.

Rhubarb Jam

5 cups Rhubarb

3 cups Sugar

1 3oz. pkg. Strawberry Jello

Cook rhubarb and sugar til boiling.

Remove from heat.

Add Jello and stir.

Put in jars-just refrigerate.

(I freeze it too!)

Happy Jam Making!!!

Potato Power

2010-08-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

I love potatoes! Growing up, sometimes my dad would call me his "Spud" since potatoes were my favorite thing to eat. Another favorite treat---Yes, you guessed it-Lefse! Which is mostly made of potatoes as well (unless you count all the butter I put on)!

You may wonder how this has anything to do with the title,
"Potato Power"...
Last week while preparing for my mom, sister Holly, and her boys to visit, I was making supper and burned myself very badly. It was tearfully painful.  The burn was around my finger and thumb, and it was the worst burn I ever remember having! I called Lawrence and he looked up some ways to help it. I truly didn't want to be stuck to a bowl of cold water and ice all day. I tried many things, but the best thing that helped-and you may not believe me-was a potato!

I took a potato, sliced it, and put it on the burned area. Immediate relief took place.  After a few minutes, I turned the potato over to the other side. I repeated this process often within the first hour.   After awhile, I could use one slice of potato for a longer chunk of time (which was a good thing since I was still getting ready for everybody to come). It was amazing how this potato remedy took away the pain almost instantly!

The crazy thing...although I should have had a blister(s) from this burn, and it looked like I was getting one...I never got any! The next day, the burn spot had faded away with absolutely no pain.

I told my friend, Becky, about this amazing potato remedy... And guess what?  She recently burned herself (not on purpose, of course) and tried out this remedy experiencing the same great results!

I love how God gave us the powerful potato-not only for french fries, mashed potatoes, and lefse, but also for helping heal the skin from minor burns.

Happy Potatoes!!!

Free Printable Planner Templates

2010-08-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

Crazy how fast time goes...
Summer is almost gone and another school year is about to begin!
I was looking for ways to get more organized with our school year and I came across some great planner templates. This site offers daily, weekly, monthly pages to print. It also offers many various other templates related to business, school, projects, loans, attendance, groceries, exercise/health, time lines, finances, etc...

One template I specifically like is called:
The Printable Weekly Planner (PDF).
On this one page it has the days of the week, a spot for notes, task list and people to call.

When I was looking around at this site, I was amazed at all of the template options made available to print! If you are interested, click below to check it out!
http://www.vertex42.com/calendars/weekly-planner.html

Happy Planning!

http://www.vertex42.com/
Our goal is to help people manage their time, their finances, and their careers, by providing simple tools in the form of high quality spreadsheet templates, calculators, calendars, resumes, and articles that are designed to educate and increase productivity.

Benefits of Flax Seed

2010-08-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

Each morning before I consume anything, I put about 1 1/2-2 Tbsp of flax seeds in my coffee grinder and grind them. I then add it to a cup of water or juice, stir and drink it down.

Flax seed makes me feel full and it has so many health benefits! It also curbs sweet cravings! Flax has omega 3 fatty acids and is recognized as one of the richest sources of essential fatty acids (EPA's).

Cholesterol/heart-Flax has shown to reduce the total cholesterol, including the LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.
Diabetes-Flax seed is very low in carbohydrates, making it ideal for people who limit their intake of starches and sugars.
Cancer-Flax seed is high in phytochemicals, including many antioxidants. It is high in alpha linolenic acid (ALA) which has been found to help fight cancer. (Flax seed has been proven to be very beneficial against colon, prostrate and breast cancer!)
Menopausal symptoms-Flax helps stabilize hormones and fights depression. Flax has a mood boosting property-DHA.
Weight Loss-Flax seed reduces cravings, gives a feeling of fullness and also speeds up metabolism. It also increase energy and stamina, and a feeling of well being.
Constipation/diarrhea/irritable bowl (IBS)-Flax is high in both soluble and insoluble fiber. Flax seed also adds substance to the stool.

Truly the list goes on and on, but these are a few of the main things flax seed is good for.

When buying Flax seed, freshness is of great importance. I buy the seeds and store them in a ceramic container with a tight sealed lid. I then grind only what I use at the time. I would never buy pre-ground flax seed!

For the kiddos, I sometimes add it to smoothies, oatmeal, or things I can hide it in!

What an amazing seed God made! It is a great source of fiber, lignans (antioxidants) and Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA)!

***If you are interested in buying flax seed and or a coffee grinder: in the red box above click on "click HERE to get to our store" will get you to a place you can order it. I put it under "Our Favorite Health items" and also under the category called, "Food".

Other places to buy it is at: various health food stores or Cash Wise in the Natural health food section in the bulk food section, etc...

HAPPY FLAX SEED GRINDING!!!

3 Step Face Cleaner

2010-08-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Over the years I have used various facial cleaners, my favorite had been Clinique.  After reading various natural ways to help with acne, pores etc... I came up with this 3 step process which I use and some friends have tried and like it and now use it too.

I think of all the teenagers who are going through so much, and then they get a good case of acne. You may want to try this out and see if it works for you! A good friend of mine has a teenage son, and he had been on prescription medicine for his acne.  He no longer takes his acne medication, but uses this instead!

The things I really like about this cleaner: it's easy, cheap, healthy and works for most people.

Face Cleaner:
          1. Toner-Witch hazel
          2. Acne and Face-In a bottle-I put about 3/4 clear aloe vera and 1/4 hydrogen peroxide and shake (I always make sure I use a fairly new bottle of hydrogen peroxide). If my face is oilier, I use 2/3 aloe vera and 1/3 hydrogen peroxide.
          3. I follow up applying coconut oil, castor oil or apricot seed oil...
          4. Optional: 1-2 times a week, in the shower I wet some baking soda in my hands and rub it on my face. It seems to open up and clean out my pours

I don't put the oil on my zits, or on oily areas. (My friend's teenage boy doesn't use the oil at all.) On acne or zits, I put the aloe mix on it. If it is severe, I use it throughout the day. If I get a sunburn, I put the aloe mix on it also. My little girl loves this little aloe mix "medicine" for her bug bites and rashes.

I also used the coconut oil for my baby's cradle cap and diaper rash. If any of my kids get any kind of rash, I will use the coconut oil as well. It all has truly helped us.

I also like using coconut all over my body.  I sometimes even add a couple drops of lavender oil to it for the nice smell.

Egg Bake and Monkey Bread

2010-08-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

We were recently at Kari and Dan's house and they served this great egg bake and monkey bread, along with fruit, orange juice and coffee. I just made this same meal for our little guy's 3rd. birthday and it was very easy to make.

Egg Bake
12 eggs
1/2 c. half and half
2 c. shredded cheese
1 tsp dried mustard
salt & pepper

Melt 1 stick butter in baking dish, then pour in above mixed ingredients. (I added onions, but most anything can be added.) Bake 40 minutes at 350.

Monkey Bread
4 cans biscuits

1 c. brown sugar
1 c. butter
melt together

Tear the biscuit into pieces and put into a bundt pan, pour sugar and butter mixture over biscuit pieces. Bake 25 minutes at 350-375.

Best Health Medicine...

2010-07-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

"A Merry Heart doeth Good like a medicine..."

When it comes to a person's health there are so many opinions and options. One thing I truly believe is the promise from the Bible, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..." Our attitude can have an impact on our health, how we feel, how we look at things in this life. Do we look at the glass as half empty, or half full? When things don't go our way, how do we handle it? I notice that when I am thankful for the small things in life, I generally have a merry heart, and am a better mom. When reading about various natural health issues, no doubt what always comes up is that a happy person really makes a healthier person.

I have so many wonderful memories with my dad. What stands out the most in my mind, is how easily he cared and shared his kindness with most everyone. He was the kind of man that "knew no stranger". Although he could have had a lot of health issues, I believe that his kindness and friendliness that he shared with others truly affected his health for the good. For those of you who knew my dad, I know you probably would agree!

What has been found and written about with cancer patients is that a person's health dramatically declines when they are told they are going to die. Just that "death sentence" affects their health negatively! Where as those who are given hope of a cure, just the fact that they have HOPE, they do so much better physically.

When nego's (negative things) happen in life, and they surely will...remember it may affect your health. So, try to remember: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.