Simple Pleasures Yoga & Massage News

Upgrade to a better you

2012-02-06T14:15:00.000-08:00

Start some new good habits this year. Here are some ideas.

Do you exercise? Add yoga or meditation to help reduce the effects of stress. Having less stress wards off disease, according to research.

Throw on some shades any time you head outside. Sunglasses help protect against the sun's ultrviolet rays which can damage the retinas over time. This can lead to macular degeneration which is an age-related eye condition that leads to impaired vision or blindness.

Check your multivitamin for magnesium to help build bone strength and also helps absorb calcium. Taking cilicon with calcium and Vitamin D improves production of collagen, which gives bone strength and flexibility. Try taking supplements 3 times a day to give your body a more consistent flow of nutrients.

Steer clear of 2nd and 3rd hand smoke. The particles left behind in hair, clothing and other surfaces are considered 3rd hand smoke and contain the same harmful chemicals as secondhand smoke. Thirdhand smoke can become airborne when disturbed...

Give thanks daily to increase your happiness. People who are happy live longer according to a study from the University of North Carolina.

Try something new this year and keep your brain active. People who challenge their brain continually will experience less memory loss as they age than those who don't challenge their brain. Take guitar lessons or do crosswords puzzles. Get up off the couch and learn to dance!

Thai Yoga Massage Workshop January 28, 2012

2012-01-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

Join us if you can Saturday from 10:00am - 12:00pm for a Thai Massage Workshop. At this workshop you will learn basic techniques to practice Thai on each other. This is a great way to spend a Saturday morning with a friend, spouse, sibbling or child. You could go to lunch or grab a cup coffee afterward to allow the session to slowly sink into the muscles.
Thai massage is practiced fully dressed on a Thai massage mat. The mat is thick and almost similar to a small mattress. During the massage your partner will stretch and massage your muscles and take you into a relaxed state of mind. It may at times seem almost energizing but it ends with a long resting period to give your body time to respond to the massage you just received.
Call us at 608-780-7909 to sign up!

Prepare your skin for Winter!

2012-01-19T07:53:00.000-08:00

Moisturize your hands 2 -3 times a week. Choose an intense moisturizer like Yes to Carrots Intense Repair hand cream. First dampen your hands and then smooth the cream on before slipping on a pair of cotton gloves. Leave the gloves on for 30 minutes or overnight. Enjoy your hands!

Plug in a humidifier to add the moisture back into the air that your heating system is pulling out. Put it in your bedroom while you sleep and keep the humidity between 30 - 50 percent. Change the water daily and clean the machine every three days.

Licking your lips will dry out your lips faster than leaving them alone. Try putting a salve on your lips that contain glycerin, lanolin and dimethicone. Blistex Cold and Allergy lip soother is great for the lips.

Summer is not the only time to grab that SPF suntan lotion. The sun shines in the winter too. Sometimes the sun will reflect off the snow and that can be just as harmful as the sun shining on you. Always protect exposed skin with a moisturizer that contains a broad-spectrum suncreen of at least SPF 15.

Soften the calluses on your feet with a dry foot file such as Telebrands PedEgg. Afterwards, apply a cream with exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids like Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair foot creme.

Taking a bath in the winter will help cure the winter blues. Skip the drying bubbles and add a capful of oil under running water. Try Aveeno Skin Relief shower and bath oil.

Long steamy showers feel good for the moment but are very oil stripping for the skin. Get out of the shower quickly after cleansing with a hydrating body wash. A body wash with jojoba and cocoa butter are great for softening.

Put away products with high levels of alcohol, such as toners and astringents, during the winter months. Clay based masks should also be avoided and they can rob skin of essential moisture.

Right after bathing pat dry with a towel while keeping skin slightly damp and smooth on some moisturizer immediately. If you see flakes, use a thick moisturizer on that area.

Shield your skin from moisture-zapping chills. If the weather is cold, cover up all exposed areas. Leather guards your skin better than wool and wrap a chunky scarf around your neck made of soft fabric or fleece.

Save up to $10,000.00 this year!

2012-01-12T19:18:00.000-08:00

Instead of bottled water which may cost $365.00 a year at $1.00 a bottle, add a filter to your tap. A filter for your tap may cost about $30.00 and for fresh water on the go, pick up a self filtering water bottle for as little as $10.00. Do you have a home phone and a cell phone? How many times a day/week/month does it ring? Consider cancelling your home phone and put the savings toward your cell phone bill. Basic ingredients for the pantry such as flour, pasta, eggs and milk are generally the same no matter the producer. Why pay more for a brand name when you can get the same thing for less money in a generic name? Do you watch only a handful of channels available to you? Then you may be able to do without cable. If you have a Roku box, Wii or other compatible gaming consoles, you can replace your cable service with online streaming. Purchase a Hulu Plus account which gives you access to current popular shows and an archive of more than 33,000 episodes of your favorite series, plus a library of movies. Drinking a glass of wine at a restaurant is marked up as much as 200%. I have seen a glass of wine sold at $7.00 a glass and the bottle is sold at a local market for as low as $12.00 a bottle. Enjoy a glass of wine at home instead with an appetizer. You could save between $100.00 - $200.00 per year. I often drink beer in place of wine for money savings. Do you love manicures and pedicures? Well, I found that polishing my own nails at home is well worth the savings. I also paint my own flowers and designs. I watch while I get a pedicure and go home and try it. Of course, who doesn't love to be pampered. Go out and have some fun and use it as a treat 3 - 4 times a year but have fun at home too....Invite a friend and have twice the fun! Last but not least, let's talk about exercise. How much money have you spent at expensive gyms or country clubs? Check out the local buzz. There is always a community pool or a hotel that you can pay once a month to swim in the pool. How about going outside just like the mailman in snow, sleet, or rain? I bought spikes for my shoes and I am on the road to run! Check out your local gym or community education. Or...try my place! Peace to you in 2012!

Spinach, Tomato and Cheese Tortellini (cook for under $10.00)

2011-10-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

Salt and Pepper
1 20-oz. package dried cheese tortellini
1 T olive oil
2 cloves garlic, mincedpetter flakes
1/2 tsp. red
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
4 cups lightly packed baby spinach (about 4 oz)
1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Grated parmesan, optional

Bring large pot of salted water to a boil and cook tortellini for 10 minutes or as directed. Warm oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and red pepper and saute' until fragrant, approx. 2 minutes. Raise heat to medium, add mushrooms and cook, stirring until tender, approx 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and saute' 2 minutes. Pile spinach on top and cover. Reduce heat to low and simmer until spinach has wilted. Pour in broth, season with salt and pepper, stir.
Drain tortellini, add to skillet and stir gently to blend. Serve in bowls. Sprinkle with parmesan, if desired.

Energize with Fall's Veggies

2011-09-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

Detox with radishes. Radishes improve the body's ability to eliminate energy-sapping, fat-trapping toxins. Radishes increase the activity of detoxifying liver enzymes.

Balance Blood Sugar Levels with Onions. Onions help ward off diabetes according to science in the journal Environmental Health Insights. Diabetics who consumed onions experienced a reduction in blood glucose and insulin levels that were similar to those achieved with a diabetes drug.

Energize with beets. Beets improve physical stamina. After eating beets for six days, subjects were able to exercise 16% longer before tiring according to the United Kingdom's University of Exeter.

Heal your Heart with Beans. A compound in beans improves the liver's ability to metabolize cholesterol and eases the cellular inflammation that damages the heart.

Fight Fat with Brussel Sprouts. Even eaten with fatty foods, brussel sprouts help keep pounds off. A compound in brussel sprouts helps increase the hormone responsible for buring stored fat for fuel.

Make Skin Glow the Bok Choy. It also helps to fight off wrinkles. It helps guard against the UV-induced free-radical damage that prematurely ages the skin. It also improves skin hydration, elasticity and smoothness for a radiant complexion.

Find all this great healing food at you local Food Market...

Yogurt Shake Recipes for Immunity, Metabolis and Digestion

2011-08-31T19:17:00.000-07:00

Mango-Apricot Magic

Puree in a blender, 3/4 cup diced mangoes, 3/4 cup low-fat orange yogurt, 1/4 cup apricot nectar or orange juice and 1/2 tsp. orange zest for 30 seconds, or until smooth. Add a 1/4 cup of ice. Blend another 30 seconds. Sweeten with honey to taste.

Kiwi-Mint Kick

Puree 1 cup frozen honeydew, 3/4 cup plain unsweetened kefir or yogurt, 1/2 cup diced kiwifruit, 1/4 cup sliced bananas and 1/2 tsp. chopped fresh mint in blender for 30 seconds. Sweeten with honey.

Banana-Berry Bliss

Puree in a blender, 3/4 cup Greek nonfat plain yogurt, 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, 1/2 cup apricot nectar, 1/4 cup sliced bananas, 1/2 tsp. lemon juice and 1/4 tsp. lemon zest for 30 seconds.

Yogurt and kefir increases your immunity by crowding out illness-causing pathogens.

Drink 7 oz. of a fermented drink like kefir everyday will help you lose nearly 5% of abdominal fat in 12 weeks.

Reduce stomach pain and gas within two weeks and reduce bloating within four weeks by eating 6 oz. of yogurt daily.

Falls energizing fruit

2011-08-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

Quince - this fruit contains chlorogenic acid which is a compound shown to slow the release of glucose in the blood stream. It helps to reduce the dips of mood and energy when blood sugar crashes after a carb-rich meal. It's too tart to eat raw but is found in preserves and desserts.

Italian Prune Plums - this fruit contains compounds that help protect against UV-induced free radical damage that leads to premature wrinkling and sun spots. They are also 'of great interest' in preventing skin cancer. Try this recipe: combine 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar, 1 Tbs of honey and 1 tsp. cinnamon in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium heat until syrupy. Drizzle on plums and top with walnuts and feta cheese.

Cantaloupe - the fruit's vitamin C lowers the adrenal glands' output of the stress hormone cortisol. Vitamin A teams up with C in the fruit and reduces stress induced colds. One cup contains a full day of both nutrients.

Concord grapes - these tasty treats help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and also helps promote a healthy blood pressure. After two weeks of consumption, you should notice a difference.

Figs - rich with rutin, a plant compound shown to ward off excess pounds. Try combining figs with chopped italian sausage and minced oregano, then toss with pasta or use as a topper for pizza.

Berries 'n Cream Pops

2011-08-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

Choose this instead of ice cream!

1/2 pint fresh raspberries, divided

1 1/2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt

2 Tbs. Tbls. apple juice

Lightly crush 1/4 cup of fresh raspberries. In a bowl, gently fold them into 1 cup vanilla yogurt. Divide the mixture into four 3oz. wax coated paper drinking cups.

Pulse the remaining raspberries and apple juice in a mixer for 30 seconds or until smooth. Spoon 1 Tbs. pureed mixture into each cup. In a bowl, combine remaining pureed mixture and vanilla yogurt; spoon into cups.

Cover cups with foil. Make a split in center of foil and insert 1 popscicle stick. Freeze cream pops 4 hours or until set. Peel away foil and cups before serving.

Organize your car while travelling

2011-08-16T19:47:00.001-07:00

Stack-and-stow bins
For irregular shaped totes and duffles try these stackable baskets. Choosing bins with wheels makes it easy for little ones to help out. Souvenirs can easily be tucked around the sides on the ride home. IRIS Rolling & Stacking Baskets USPHome.com
An upright hammock
Try a cargo bar and net to keep items from shifting and toppling over. The cargo bar will keep these items safely rooted in their spots and easier to unpack upon arrival. Highland Trunk Cargo Bar with net CargoGear.com
Zip-top bags for Towels
Tuck soft items like towels and sheets into large resealable plastic bags. The bags will squeeze into nooks and crannies which allows you to use every inch of space available. They are also good for the trip home for dirty clothes. Ziploc Big Bags XL at your local grocery store.
Front seat
That empty seat to the right of you is handy for all those things you put into it. But, what if you pick up a passenger? A hanging cooler is good for snacks and drinks and swings around easily for backseat passengers. Maps, pens and other on-the-road necessities could use a multi-compartment lap tray with extra cup holders. Your cell phone could be tucked into a clever pouch that attaches to the air vent to keep you from digging in your purse for it.
Lunch cooler organize.com; kar-kaddy kar-kaddy.com; all phone pouch stacksandstacks.com
Backseat
Hanging media organizer eliminates the under-seat clutter of games and DVD's. A canvas cooler has pockets on the side for paper, markers and more. It also makes a great between the seat table for games. An over-the-seat serving station is great at mealtime to prevent messes on the car seats. entertainment organizer comforthouse.com Canvas cooler StacksandStacks.com back seat food tray brylanehome.com

Handy Home Solutions

2011-08-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

Keep flies from invading your next picnic by cutting lemons into quarters and poke a dozen whole cloves into the fleshy part of each wedge. Flies don't like citrus and spicy scents, so the combination of lemon and cloves will ensure they take their hunger elsewhere.

Next time the fuzzy bee stings, place a slice of raw onion on it. The sulfur in the bulb is a natural detoxifier that neutralizes the venom.

Next time you open a musty smelling book, grab a used dryer sheet and place it in the center of it for a day or two. The sheets porous fibers will absorb the moisture and leave behind a laundry-fresh scent.

To avoid the sandy beach from entering your car, sprinkle your feet with baby powder before you leave. The powder will soak up excess moisture that causes sand to stick to the feet. Now you should be able to brush the sand off easily.

The next time you drop a trinket into the drain, grab a vacuum and slip a panty hose over the end. Typically the trinket will be in the U-bend. The vacuum will suck it out and the hose will keep it from entering the vacuum.

Keep your garden hydrated with charcoal. Break the briquettes into 1" pieces and sprinkle on the flower bed. The charcoal will retain rain and slowly release hose water into the ground. This will make the soil stay moist twice as long.

Tangy Two-Potato Toss Recipe

2011-08-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

1/4 cup olive oil

2 Tbs. White or red wine vinegar

1 small shallot

1 lb. purple potatoes

1 lb. baby red potatoes

1 meduim tomato, diced

1/2 cup diced seedless cucumbers

1/2 cooked chickpeas

4 small red radishes, thinly sliced

2 scallions, chopped

1 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley

1 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme

In a small bowl mix together the first 4 ingredients. Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired. In a pot over high heat, bring purple and red potatoes covered with enough salted water to a boil. Reduce to medium and allow to simmer for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Drain and allow to cool enough to handle and then cut potatoes into cubes.

Toss the vinaigrette with the potatoes. Toss gently to coat and allow to cool 15 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and toss gently. Chill until ready to serve.

Blast fat and stay cool!

2011-08-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

Kayak - when I recently visited the UP of Michigan I saw a lot of kayaking on Lake Superior. I thought that looked like fun and I should try it. This is why - It slims the upper body. It works the deltoids, latissimus dorsi and trapezius which sculps the shoulders and creates a sexy V-back. You will also burn 170 calories in 30 minutes.

Play in the pool - this last weekend I went swimming in the Mississippi which is flowing at speeds I couldn't even imagine. It was quite the workout! Splashing in the water can burn up to 200 calories in 30 minutes. If you have kids, hold them up in the air and tone the triceps, biceps and deltoids to eliminate bat wings and pit pudge.

Pattleboard - this I haven't tried. Balancing on the board strengthens the rectus abdominus. This will give you the 6-pack look! Then twisting will work the oblique muscles to develop the hourglass look. Balance poses in yoga will also do the same thing!!!

Water tubing - I did this a couple years ago with friends. I was surprised how sore my body was the next day and week! This helps tone the core muscles, especially the transverse abdominus. I also found that it toned my upper body as well.

Jump in the water! Work the fast-twitch muscles in the glutes, quads and hamstrings. These fibers contract with short bursts of power. Have fun and let loose. Take a few jumps and develope slimmer thighs and a perky tush.

You have my permission to have fun and let it all go!

Cell phone exhaustion?

2011-07-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

Research found that 7 out of 10 women over age 50 have some degree of sensitivity to the electrical pollution caused by cell phones, cordless phones, computers and other wireless gadgets. Your cell phone should not be your alarm clock according to Louise Gittlemen, Phd., author of Zapped; Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn't Be Your Alarm Clock and 1,268 Way to Outsmart the Hazards of Electronic Pollution. Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) leads to inflammation in the body.

Another researcher found that EHS sufferers are in a state of chronic muscle contractions so their bodies store L-carnitine and CoQ10, leading to fatigue, pain and weakness according to Stephen Sinatra, M.D.. His own son had to overcome EHS. Dr. Sinatra recommends taking 100 to 200 mg of CoQ10 and 750mg to 1500 mg of L-carnitine daily to restore levels and ease symptoms of EHS.

Find ways to beat the heat!

2011-07-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

Go for a dip and pass on SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Lounge around a pool for 30 minutes and erase blue moods within 3 days.

Avoid headaches and slip on the shades before the sun hits your eyes. Once the sun hits your eyes it signal the brain which causes headaches.

Dab your face with witch hazel to cool the face and tighten capillaries. It reduces summer puffiness in as little as 3 days.

Defend your skin and enjoy a half a grapefruit or an orange daily to fight agains UV rays.

Spritz the inside of your wrist to lower your blood and body temperature fast.

Reduce heat induced dizziness by rubbing the shins which are filled with accupressure points. Dizziness should disappear within 30 minutes.

Lie in the grass and take a whiff. The smell of grass turns on the brains calming alpha waves.

One cup of cantaloupe eaten can chase away heat-triggered fatigue.

Tips for great skin

2011-07-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

Sun damaged skin: Mix 1 Tbs. honey and 1 Tbs. yogurt together. Apply the mixture and let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing. The yogurt will exfolliate your skin and the honey will moisturize and repair the skin on a cellular level.

Heal Cracked Lips with Licorice Oil. Lips don't have oil glands which make them succeptable to drying out. In the winter when the air is dry, it is even worse. To soothe cracked lips, dab on licorice oil. Licorice oil will ease inflammation and seal in moisture. It also inactivates the virus that causes cold sore outbreaks. Find the oil at HurrawBalm.com.

Dead Sea mud is great for banishing blemishes on the body. If you cannot float in the dead sea, try buying some off of Amazon. Dead sea is great for clearing acne or psoriasis. Researchers found that the mud's high sulfide level kills off the bacteria that leads to breakouts.

Get slim at the beach!

2011-07-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

Fly a kite and tone your shoulders and arms. Flying a kite is an effective upper-body workout. Lifting your arms activates the deltoid, trapezius and tricep muscles. This helps create definition in the shoulders and arms. It also forces the heart to pump blood to the fingertips which increases calorie burning. Be sure to pull the kite up and down against the wind to increase tone in triceps and biceps.

Play with kids at the beach. Chasing your child in the sand can increase calories burned. Don't forget to lift and swing the little ones to increase tone in the latissimus dorsi and rectus abdominus. And then bend your knees and squat to pick up the little ones to increase tone in the lower body.

Volleyball for thighs! Volleyball in the sand increase more calories burned than in the gym. In the sand more demand is put on the hamstrings and quadraceps increasing tone in the legs. Keep your arms straight when hitting the ball and create strong shoulders.

Don't forget to jump in the water especially when there are big waves. Allow them to pull and tug at your body as you resist against them. This movement is good for the transverse abdominus. Then start jumping in the water and the obliques and hip flexors will be activated and toned. Try walking laterally to increase tone in the adductors and abductors of the hips and legs.

Find a ball and kick it around. The sand creates resistance that muscles must work against. This is a great lower body workout and helps the body to burn more fat. When you kick, twist your waste to the side to increase oblique work.

Have fun at the beach! I do. I swim against the current in the Mississippi...

4th of July in Munising, Michigan

2011-07-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

We travelled to Munising, Michigan for the 4th of July. Munising is located on the shores of Lake Superior and is one of the biggest secrets in the US. It was actually featured on the Weather Channel. We brought friends with us because we felt everyone needs to see what Munising has to offer. We had soooo much fun.
We started out visiting Munising Falls. Munising falls is a fascinating adventure in the summer as well as in the winter. In the summer it is falling through the air from top to bottom allowing you to walk behind it. As a child I used to climb all over this beautiful sight all year. In the winter it is fascinating because it freezes from top to bottom leaving one big iscicle. Don't forget the snowshoes if you plan to visit in the winter. Then we went on the Glass Bottom Boat Tour where we got to see sunken ships in Munising Bay. They also showed us sights on Grand Island. Grand island is an island as large as Manhattan Island and has echo lake in the center where you can catch trophy sized bass. Murray Bay and surrounding waters abound with Salmon, Trout, Pike and Perch. There is a bus tour, but you can also bike or hike the island. This is an island I have never got to enjoy but I know many of my Munising friends have. Next time I visit, I will enjoy it.
The next day we went to Wagner falls and view from the top of a scenic view where you have a great sight of Lake Superior. And then we drove on to Autrain River beach. The reason why I picked this beach is because it gives us the opportunity to swim the warm river or the cool Lake Superior. I chose both. I love swimming in Lake Superior. My friends said they would take this day over any day in the carribean.
Then on to the next day where we got to see half of the 4th of July Parade and then went on Pictured Rocks Cruises. What a blast! They were very entertaining and gave us up close and personal views of the many colors formed in the sandstone rock formed by the many minerals in the rock. Go on a nice day and see the best of Pictured Rocks!
The reason why I wanted to go is because Munising is so good at celebrating the 4th of July. They have a huge parade and a wonderful celebration down at the dock on Lake Superior. The night ends with some of the best fireworks I have ever seen. The lake gives way to a big sky and the fireworks fill it nicely.
Thank you Munsing for the nice visit and we will see you again very soon!

Is your energy being zapped?

2011-06-30T06:54:00.000-07:00

If you drink iced coffee for energy, you may want to check the ingredients. Some syrup flavors contain sodium benzoate which will zap the energy out of your body. The additive is also found in Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper and some flavored water and fruit drinks. Coca Cola elimated its use in 2008. Try ordering organic syrups next time you look to boost your energy with coffee.

More than half of women are deficient in Potassium which will cause fatigue. This is due to fluctuating estrogen levels that leads to potassium loss. Warm weather and high salt diets can cause a minimal drop in potassium making you feel fatigued. A simple hair analysis can pinpoint potassium levels.
If you take magnesium and potassium together, you could feel more energized. Aim for 400 mg of magnesium and 4,700 mg of potassium. Eating food like spinach, avacados and bananas can help fill the patassium needs.
When it is hot outside try drinking coconut milk to help replace electrolytes lost through sweat. Coconut milk contains 600 mg of potassium.
Himalayan salt helps promote a healthy mineral balance. Place 1/4 cup of himilayan salt crystals in a jar and fill it with water. Let it sit covered overnight. Mix 1/2 tsp. of solution into a glass of water and drink 15 minutes before breakfast.
Stay energized by promoting a healthy mineral balance...

Quick bits about foot fungus, exercise and prescriptions

2011-06-28T20:16:00.000-07:00

Lavender oil isn't just for a good night's sleep. It also contains antifungal properties. It helps to fight off skin and nail problems such as althlete's foot. Try adding 20 drops of lavender oil to a tub filled with hot water and soak your feet for 20 minutes at least twice a week.

Did you know that just thinking about working out makes you eat more? Cornell University states that those who read about exercise ate 701 caleries of snack later on -- that turns out to be about 340 more calories than those who only answered personal questions. Next time try thinking about the health benefits and not the slimming effects of exercise. Exercise only slims if the diet is adjusted.

How are you feeling about the prescriptions your doctor has written for you? You may want to check to see if the doctor has been paid to promote the med or not. In 2009 eight pharamaceutical giants began to pay doctors for prescribing certain drugs and ProPublica wants to tell you about it. Between 2009 - 2010, drugmakers gave doctors $320 million to promote their meds.
Log on to Projects.ProPublica.org/DocDollars

Myths that you should know for the summer.

2011-06-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

Salt water will not heal a wound. It will only increase the risk of infection. Dab some unpasteurized honey on it instead. Honey will destroy bacteria and start new cell growth. Cover the honey with a bandage and let the healing begin.

Don't put ice on that sunburn! Ice will hinder healing. Instead, make it a spa night and soak in a cool bath containing black tea and oatmeal. Both will cut healing time in half. Add two cups of tea and one packet of Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment.

Go ahead and add Mayo to that next picnic salad. Mayo reduces the amount of bacteria in salads which helps prevent food poisoning. Add honey to your food before you leave home to give it time to kill off lingering germs before it hits the hot sun.

Don't use deet the next time you want to ward off mosquitos. Use the oil of lemon eucalyptus which offers more protection than low concentrations of Deet. Try Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent.

Milk can prolong flare-ups with poison ivy and does not soothe it. Instead try washing the area with Dawn, Palmolive or Joy dishwashing detergent and let dry. These cleaners will break down urushoil and reduce itching, redness and pain by 56 percent.

4th of July drink recipes!

2011-06-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

All American Stripes
Dip the rim of a martini glass in water and then dip it in 2 Tbs of white sugar crystals.
In prepared glass, combine 1 oz. each of chilled cranberry cocktail juice and grenadine.
Over the back of a spoon, slowly pour 2 oz. of Blue Curacao into glass; repeat process with 2 oz. white chocolate liqueur. Glass should appear striped with red, blue and white.
Blue Banner Wave
In a shaker with ice, combine 3/4 cup white cranberry juice, 1 oz. blue curacao and 1/2 oz silver tequila.
Shake and strain into glass. Garnish with edible white flowers.
Fireworks Flair
In shaker with ice, combine 1/2 cup cranberry juice, 1 oz. vodka, 1/2 oz each of blackberry brandy and triple sec. Shake and strain into glass. Add blueberry ice cubes. Garnish with berry skewer.

Enjoy and have a safe and fun holiday!

What to do with citrus peels?

2011-06-15T19:23:00.000-07:00

Next time you go camping throw some orange peels in a baggie to take along. Why? Do you have a hard time starting the fire? Toss the peels into the kindle before lighting the fire. The flammable oils in the orange peels will help the peels catch on fire quickly and burn slowly which makes them ideal for starting a fire. You will also experience a little aromatherapy.
Here's a recipe for summer ready skin: 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup finely chopped lemon peel (or other citrus), then add enough olive oil to form a paste. While in the shower, massage the citrus peel scrub in circular motion into your body. The sugar and peel particle will slough away dead skin while the citric acid will act as an astrigent and tighten your pours. The Vitamin C will refresh your skin and brighten it.
Does your glassware sparkle and shine? If not, next time you do dishes drop 1/4 - 1/2 cup of citrus peels into the water and steep for 5 minutes. Wash your dishes as normal. The peels' citric acid will help dissolve the mineral deposits and soap scum that cause cloudiness. Let it shine!
Remember those moth balls that grandma used to use? Throw them out! Cut off the foot of an old pair of panty hose and stuff 2-3 Tbs. of dried citrus peel in it. Tie off the opening and place the sachet in your closet or storage trunk. The citrus smell will repel moths and leave your clothes smelling fresh.
I love dipping bread in olive oil so here's a fresh idea! Cut the peels of 3 lemons, 2 oranges, and 1 grapefruit. Avoid the white pith and place them in a food processor with 1 cup of oil. Pulse until well blended. Let stand at room temperature for an hour. Strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. It's perfect for salad dressing, fish or my favorite, dip bread into it! Yummmm!

The Boat Pose (Paripurna Navasana)

2011-06-14T20:10:00.000-07:00

Strengthens and tones the abdomen, legs and back.

Improves balance.

Tones the intestines.

Limbers the lega and hips.

Begin in a seated postition with your legs lengthened in front of you on the floor. On an exhale, lean back and begin to raise your legs. You may need to hold on to the back of the legs or place your hands on the floor behind you for support. You may need to keep your legs bent until you are strong enough to lengthen them. Your hands may be on the floor behind you, supporting your legs, or extended by the sides of your legs. If you have the flexibility, you may hold onto your toes and go into the full version of the pose. You may repeat this pose 2 -3 times to strenthen your back and abdominal muscles. Please remember to breathe while holding the pose.

If you are straining while doing this pose, hold the pose for a shorter time and rest for a few breathes in between repeating the pose. Be sure to take care of your body and do each pose with caution while listening to what your body has to say.

Lady Gaga: Born this way

2011-06-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

This is one of my new favorite artists. Usually the best price is found on Amazon.com. Check it out! It's pretty good...