Creative Frugal Living

A Frugal Fix for Oily Skin

2011-12-26T17:06:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaDo you have oily skin? Have you tried expensive, store-bought products that didn't really help, or caused irritation? Well, here is a gentle, natural facial cleanser, made with ingredients you already have in your kitchen that really works!

The magic ingredients are lemon, yogurt and cornmeal. Lemon with its astringent properties controls oil production. Yogurt soothes and hydrates the skin. Cornmeal buffs away dry skin cells that can cause blemishes.

All you need to do is combine 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1/4 cup of yogurt and 1/4 cup of cornmeal. Gently massage it into freshly washed skin and leave it on for 5-10 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water and pat your skin dry with a clean, soft towel.

If you have any left over, you can keep it in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed jar for 2-4 days.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal Uses for Bubble Wrap

2011-12-26T05:37:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaI save my bubble wrap from packages I receive and products I buy. In a pinch, I will buy a roll or two at the dollar store. It is great to use for many things. Here are just a few ideas:

Do you love camping but hate the discomfort of a sleeping bag? Make it cozier with bubble wrap! Take a 12 foot piece, fold it in half and duct tape around all the edges. Slip it inside or place it under your sleeping bag for a better night's rest.

Use it as a cool and unusual wrapping paper. Not only does it add a different look to your gift, it is great for protecting fragile presents.

Are you packing for a trip, or storing closes for the winter? Adding bubble wrap can keep them wrinkle free.

Hate it when delicate fruits and vegetables bruise and rot before you can use them? Prevent produce waste by using bubble wrap in your fruit and vegetable bins in your refrigerator.

Reduce winter heating bills and keep cold, drafty air out of your home by using bubble wrap to insulate your windows.

Finally, slip bubble wrap between plates to prevent your fine china from cracking and chipping.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Bathtime Bliss

2011-12-26T04:23:00.001-07:00

Image via WikipediaA warm bath at the end of the day can be a wonderful stress buster! Add a couple of natural ingredients from your kitchen cabinet, and you can have scintillating fragrance and improve your skin as well.

Do you love chocolate? Good, because it can improve blood flow to your skin! Try this simple bath salt recipe:

Combine 6 cups of Epsom salts, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Air dry on a paper towel lined cookie sheet.

Add 3-4 tablespoons to your bath water next time you want a great smelling, skin invigorating soak.

Do you suffer from insomnia? After a long, relaxing bath rub this lavender and vanilla body oil into your skin.

To two ounces of oil (grapeseed, jojoba or almond oil are nice choices) add 4-8 drops of lavender essential oil and 1/4-1/2 tsp of vanilla extract.

If you don't use all the oil, place the remainder in the refrigerator is a sealed jar. It will keep for another 3-5 days.

Sweet dreams!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Saving Money on Fresh Produce

2011-12-26T04:11:00.001-07:00

Image via Wikipedia Fresh fruits and vegetables are key to a healthy diet, and boosting your immune system. Experts in nutrition and disease prevention recommend eating plenty of them on a daily basis.

However, they can be fragile and spoil easily, unless you take a couple of simple steps to improve their shelf life. Here are a couple of easy and frugal ideas for you to try at home.

Reduce moisture build up to prevent wilting and molding. You can easily do this by adding newspaper to your fruit and vegetable bins. It is a great moisture absorber and deodorizer as well.

To prevent bruising and rotting of soft fruits and vegetables, add a piece of bubble wrap to your crisper. It acts like a shock absorber, preventing rolling and bumping when drawers are opened and closed.

Keep mushrooms fresh much longer by patting them dry before refrigeration and storing them in a brown paper bag, never plastic. It prevents them from getting slimy.

Don't store potatoes and onions next to each other. The potatoes will grow eyes and rot easily if you do.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal Fixes for Frizzy, Frazzled, Funky Looking Hair!

2011-04-17T18:36:00.001-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

We all love beautiful hair, and feel great about how we look when it is healthy.

Who doesn’t love strong, shiny, bouncy hair with great color!

However, salon perfect hair is just not affordable for most of us working girls, right?

Wrong! For just pennies per treatment, you can fix almost any hair problem with common ingredients you keep in your kitchen.

Is your hair, dry, damaged and brittle? Use avocado to restore your hair and make it smooth and silky. Simply remove the pit from an avocado, scoop out the flesh and mash it. Before you shampoo, mist you hair to
make it damp, and work the avocado through. Wrap your hair in plastic and wait half an hour for the essential fatty acids and vitamin E to work their magic. Remove the plastic, rinse out the avocado and shampoo as usual.

Do you want to revitalize your hair color and make it last longer before your next dye job? Try tea! Simply take two or three teabags and steep them for ten minutes in boiling water. Allow the tea to cool and pour it over dry hair, so it will absorb most of the pigment in the tea. Comb it through evenly and wait about 20 minutes, before shampooing as usual. If you are a brunette, use black tea, a redhead use hibiscus, and chamomile tea if you are a blond.

Is your hair dry and frizzy? Tame and moisturize it with yogurt. Lactic acid found in milk will coat and nourish each strand. If you also want to add shine, stir in some olive oil, or add an egg for extra protein to strengthen your hair.

Here is an easy recipe you can try at home:

Whisk one egg until frothy. Add ½ cup of plain yogurt and two tablespoons of olive oil. Apply to damp hair and scalp in small sections and work it in completely. Leave the mixture on your hair for at least 15 minutes, then wash and condition as usual.

Are you plagued by dandruff? Banish it with apple cider vinegar and mint. The vinegar will clean the scalp thoroughly and add shine to your hair, and the mint will invigorate the scalp, leaving it feeling fresh and tingly.

Simply add ½ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 cups of water and 3-4 sprigs of fresh mint to a saucepan, and warm it up. Allow the mixture to cool. After you wash and condition your hair as usual, simply pour the vinegar rinse through and allow it to sit for about ten minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water. Don’t worry, if you do a good job of rinsing, there will be no vinegar smell left on your hair.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Super Saver Seasoning Salts

2011-04-10T02:32:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaSeasoning can make or break a recipe. It can dazzle the taste buds and delight the palate, or fall flat and be dull and boring.

Stores sell gourmet blends of herbs and spices to make cooking easier. But boy can they be pricey--up to $12 a bottle!

How would you like to make the same thing for about $1.25 a bottle? Here are some suggestions:

Citrus salt (for fish, chicken or vegetables)-Stir in to 1/2 cup of kosher or sea salt 1 tsp gated lemon zest, 1 tsp grated lime zest, and 1/2 tsp grated orange zest.

Hot and spicy salt (good on grilled meats, potatoes and corn on the cob)-Add 1 tsp of chipotle chili powder and 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to 1/2 cup of kosher or sea salt.

Asian salt (for pork, chicken or vegetables)-Add1/2 tsp ground coriander, 1/8 tsp ginger powder and 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds to 1/2 cup kosher or sea salt.

Italian salt-(for pasta, roasted vegetables, lamb or fish)-Add 1tsp of onion powder, 1 tsp of garlic powder and 1 tbsp of finely chopped sun dried tomato (not in oil) to 1/2 cup of kosher or sea salt.

These salts, placed in beautiful decorative jars with nicely lettered, handmade labels would make an inexpensive but delightful gift for a friend. You could also give a cookbook, or recipe cards that would complement the spice blends.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Six Uses for Left Over Hair Conditioner

2011-04-02T23:04:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaDo you have a little conditioner left in the bottom of the bottle? Don't throw it out!

Fill the rest of the bottle with warm water and shake. Then transfer the mixture to a spray bottle. Spritz it on your hair for a leave-in conditioner!

You can also use a little dab of conditioner to shave your legs when you run out of shaving cream. Just a dime sized dollop will help the razor glide over you skin.

Do you have a squeaky hinge? Rub a little conditioner on it with a soft cloth.

Do you want to make your bathroom fixtures shine? Polish them with conditioner, buff off the excess and see them sparkle!

Finally, don't wast money on pricey laundry soaps for delicate fabrics. Use a little conditioner in warm water instead.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal Uses for Stale Bread

2011-04-02T22:43:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaDon't throw out your stale bread, put it to good use!

Did your little ones leave fingerprints on your wallpaper? Erase them with stale bread. Just ball up the bread and rub the marks away.

Has your brown sugar become hard as a rock? Add a piece of stale bread to the package, and wait a couple of days. The next time you open it, the sugar will be nice and soft!

Need to thicken your soup? Add some chunks of stale bread to the broth. It will soak up the excess liquid if you leave the bread in the simmering pot until it becomes soft.

Want a handy spoon rest while cooking? Try stale bread. Your counter top will stay clean. When you are done cooking give the gravy soaked bread to your puppy for a treat.

Tired of crying when you cut onions? Wrap stale bread around the handle of your knife. It will absorb the odor before it will sting your eyes.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Couchsurfing:A Fun and Frugal Way to Travel

2011-03-28T01:07:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaDo you dream of travel but think the cost is beyond you means? Hotel rooms can sometimes be hard to book and high priced. Several nights away from home can be a real strain on a vacation budget. Why not couchsurf instead and save your vacation dollars for fun stuff!

Couchsurfing is a social network and website that has participants in over 250 countries. Travelers can find a willing host who will cheerfully offer you a place to bunk in their home, or folks willing to take you around to see the sights and enjoy the local culture.

You can also sign up to sponsor a traveler to return the favor!

Curious to learn more? Try these links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CouchSurfing
http://www.couchsurfing.org/help.html

Want to participate? Look here:
http://www.couchsurfing.org/

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Healthy Budget Stretching Foods

2011-03-28T00:47:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaFood prices seem to be skyrocketing lately! It is getting harder to eat well without blowing the family budget. So I have compiled a list of nutritionally sound but inexpensive foods you can rely on as dietary staples.

Brown rice is a good source of fiber, It is low in calories and can be stored up to two years, so it is a great item to buy in bulk. Often rice can be purchased for about 50 cents a pound!

Oatmeal is filling, warming in cold winter months, and lowers cholesterol levels. Buy it plain and add your own dried fruits or spices for a different taste each morning. Slow cooked is generally cheaper than instant oatmeal in individual packets, and can also be used for baking.

Potatoes and sweet potatoes are high in fiber, delicious and can be bought for 40-60 cents a pound. They can be cooked in so many ways, your family won't get tired of eating them.

Eggs are high in protein and inexpensive to buy. Two eggs for breakfast will cost you about 40 cents! They can be kept refrigerated for several months, so it is an item you can stock up on when you find a good sale.

Apples are loaded with dietary fiber and anti-oxidants. They keep well and cost roughly 70-90 cents per pound. They are an easy addition to packed lunches and a great after-school snack.

Lentils are high in fiber and protein, keep well, are fast cooking and inexpensive. The cost is generally under a dollar a pound.

Beans of any variety are always a great deal and a wonderful source of protein. They can be stored for a long time, are simple to fix. Just cover them with water and let them simmer in the crock pot overnight. They can be used in soups, stews, burritos, and as a healthy side dish. Buy them dry for less than a dollar a pound.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Cleaning Up Kid Messes

2010-12-10T12:44:00.001-07:00

Image via WikipediaKids are adorable and lots of fun-but they can sure create some disasters for moms to clean up!

Here are a few common messes, and easy solutions for you to try at home.

Did junior color on the walls with marker? No worries. Just put rubbing alcohol on your cleaning cloth and buff away the damage.

To get rid of grass stains on clothing, simply sprinkle meat tenderizer on the affected areas before washing.

Fruit juice stains will disappear when you blot up the juice and flush the area with boiling water.

Remove chocolate stains from clothing with your iron. Let the chocolate dry and scrape it off with a butter knife. Put a paper towel over the area and iron it on low setting. Launder as usual.

You can remove crayon stains from clothing with WD-40! Sandwich the garment between paper towels and spray both sides. Rub dishwashing liquid into the stain and launder as usual.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Creative Uses for Potatoes

2010-12-10T12:30:00.001-07:00

Image via WikipediaPotatoes are more than just a tasty, low-cost addition to a meal.

Are your hands stained with berry juice? No problem. Peel a potato, rub it on our skin and rinse with warm water. The stains will disappear right away.

Use potatoes as a beauty treatment to make your eyes less puffy. Simply place a slice over each eye and rest a few minutes. The starch in the potato is an anti-inflammatory that reduces swelling.

Do you need to polish your silverware? Save the water from your boiled potatoes and let it cool. Put your silverware in the water and let it soak for about an hour. Rinse with warm water and watch the tarnish fall right off!

Potatoes can also be used to preserve the freshness of cut flowers. Slice a potato in half lengthwise, and make slits for each blossom. Arrange the flowers to your liking and place the filled potato into the bottom of a vase. The flowers will stand tall and wilt less quickly.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Unusual Uses for Garlic

2010-08-21T13:26:00.001-07:00

Image via WikipediaWe all know that garlic has wonderful antibiotic properties. It has been a favorite home remedy for ages, eaten raw, mixed with other ingredients for cough syrup and even worn on the body to ward off germs.

But here are some other uses that may surprise you!

Did you know that fish like garlic, and you can use it for bait? A clever way to use it is to stick a piece inside a mini-marshmallow and put it on your hook. Don’t have any fresh cloves? Roll the marshmallow in garlic powder instead.

Do you have a stubborn case of acne? Eating garlic daily, raw or in capsule form can help. You can also crush garlic cloves, and apply the juice directly on the affected area in the same way you use an astringent.

Are you out of glue? Rub garlic juice lightly on the paper and it works like an adhesive. And here is an interesting factoid. Did you know that the Chinese in ancient ties used garlic juice to repair small cracks in glass?

Garlic is also a natural bug repellent. Add it to your pet’s food and it will keep away fleas and ticks. It even repels intestinal parasites.

Some farmers rub garlic juice on their horses' coats to keep flies and mosquitoes away.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Beer: A Beauty Product?

2010-08-21T11:18:00.003-07:00

Image via WikipediaDo you think beer is just for drinking? Think again!

Did you know that applied on the outside of your body, beer can actually soften skin and make your hair look great?

Here are some simple tips to try at home:

For shiny hair with extra body, make a beer shampoo! Just add a raw egg to a half a can of beer and massage it into your hair. Rinse and style as usual.

To condition your hair, massage a cup of warm beer into your scalp and hair and leave it on 20-30 minutes. Rinse well afterward, so you don’t walk around smelling you like you fell into a keg at a party!

To lighten your hair, saturate it well with beer and lay out in the sun. You will get wonderful highlights, and it lightens as well as the old favorite, lemon juice.

To soften your skin, add a few cans of beer to your bath water and have a nice long soak in the tub. Yeast and other ingredients in beer are natural skin softeners.
Just remember to rinse well afterward.

Beer is also a great ingredient for a pedicure! Fill a basin with enough warm water to cover your feet and ankles, pour in half a can of beer and stir. Soak your feet for about 15 minutes. You will feel wonderfully relaxed, and the skin on your feet will feel oh so soft!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Creative Frugal Lifestyle Tip-Join a Time Bank!

2010-08-21T10:43:00.001-07:00

Do you ever find yourself in need of a service, but have no money to pay for it?

Ever wish you could learn a new skill, but lack the time or funds for a class?

The fun, creative and easy solution is to join a local time bank.

A time bank is a community group consisting of people who are willing to share their skills and talents with others on a flat exchange basis. For each hour you donate to helping others, you have an equal number of hours you can use for obtaining various services for yourself.

For example, I can research, write, edit, home school and tutor children, cook vegetarian meals, and am willing to drive others to appointments.

Maybe someone else does pet massage, can tune up car engines and plant an organic garden.

Another member knows how to can food, play guitar, sew, and do calligraphy.

A third person can make great homemade bread, knit, play piano and write music.

I donate five hours helping someone’s high school kid get ready to take the SAT. I now have five hours of credit. I could get my ferrets a massage, my car tuned up, a guitar lesson and learn the basics of canning, all without spending a dime! As an added bonus, I meet a lot of interesting, talented and giving people in my area.

To find, or start a time bank in your area, visit http://www.timebanks.org/ or put your city name and time bank into a search engine.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Healthy Frugal Food:Cabbage

2010-07-04T01:32:00.001-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Cabbage is a real powerhouse food! Both red and green varieties reduce the risk of some cancers, boost the immune system, strengthen bones, aid in weight loss, help blood circulation and are great for the digestive system as well.

It is an excellent source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C and K, calcium, folate, magnesium, manganese potassium, tryptophan, protein, and fiber.

Red cabbage also contains pigments called anthocyanins which help reduce inflammation and have powerful antioxidant properties. These nutrients are believed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and lower blood sugar.

Here are two great recipes to help you get more of this delicious and nutritious food in your diet:

Sweet and Sour Cabbage Wedges

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 head green cabbage, quartered through the core
1/2 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
course salt and ground pepper

Cook the cabbage in a skillet with the olive oil over medium heat, until it is golden brown. (This will take about 3 minutes per side.)
Add the vinegar, sugar and 1 and ½ cups of water. Cook until it starts to simmer.
Lower the heat and cook the cabbage until it is tender, about 12 to 15 minutes.
Add salt and pepper to taste. You can also replace the salt with soy sauce, if you prefer.

Apple Cabbage Salad

1/3 cup of honey
1/4 cup of lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon of grated lime zest
1/2 teaspoon of dried mustard
1/8 teaspoon of salt
3 Granny Smith apples
4 cups of shredded cabbage
2 kiwifruit, peeled and sliced
2 green onions, chopped
Lettuce leaves

In large bowl, whisk together honey, lime juice, lime zest, mustard, and salt to make the dressing.
Core 1 apple and cut it into thin strips. Add it to the dressing.
Add cabbage, kiwifruit, and green onion. Toss well.
Arrange the mixture on top of lettuce leaves.
Garnish wit the remaining apples, cored and cut into strips.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal Fixes with Toothpaste

2010-07-03T22:38:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Toothpaste gives you a whiter and brighter smile, and makes brushing a more pleasant experience.

But are there other uses for this common household staple? Sure!

Here are just a few:

Do you have an itchy bug bite or bee sting? Apply toothpaste to the affected area to reduce swelling and take away that maddening itch!

If blisters or cold sores are the problem, toothpaste is the solution. Dabbing a little on the sore causes it to dry up and heal more quickly.

If you have a pimple that is driving you crazy, put a little toothpaste on it at bedtime and let it dry while you sleep. In the morning wash your face as you would normally do. You will notice the unsightly blemish drying up and shrinking until it is gone.

Want to give yourself a nice manicure that makes your nails stronger and shinier? Clean them with toothpaste and a soft toothbrush!

Are you temporarily out of hair gel? Does your kid have a cowlick that won't stay down? Or are you having trouble keeping those baby barrettes in place? Toothpaste will take care of those annoying problems as well.

To remove crayon stains from your walls, gently rub the area with toothpaste applied to a damp cloth. With just a little effort, the marks will disappear.

To remove the smell of sour milk from a baby bottle, clean it with toothpaste and a bottle brush.

Toothpaste can also remove the smell of fish, garlic and onions from your hands. Simply scrub your hands and fingertips with toothpaste to remove lingering odors.

Oats:A Fabulous Frugal Food

2010-06-29T21:31:00.004-07:00

Image via WikipediaOats truly are a super food! They lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of certain cancers, help prevent strokes and even lower blood pressure.

High in fiber content, oats are great for digestive health. They help control blood sugar levels, and may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Oats also are a good source of complex carbohydrates, B vitamins, and minerals such as phosphorous, iron, selenium, magnesium, and calcium. These important vitamins and minerals can help ease menstrual symptoms, boost energy, strengthen bones, support a healthy nervous system and raise your metabolism.

A bowl of oatmeal at bedtime can help you to sleep. Not only does it have a calming effect, but it keeps you feeling full. No more getting up in the middle of the night to raid the refrigerator!

Oatmeal also is a great ingredient for a homemade facial scrub. It is a mild exfoliant that will slough off dead skin cells, without irritating sensitive skin.

Here is a simple recipe you can try at home:

To make a mild facial scrub, combine:

1/2 cup honey
2 cups oatmeal
1/3 cup corn meal

Spread the paste gently onto the face and throat area.
Rub it in with a soft, damp wash cloth.
Rinse well with warm water.

Do you want some old fashioned, slow cooked oatmeal that reminds you of the kind your grandmother made?

Try this crockpot recipe for apple spice oatmeal:

You will need:

2 cups milk

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tbsp. melted butter

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup regular oats (not quick cooking or instant)

1 cup peeled, chopped apple

1/2 cup chopped dates or raisins

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Spray the inside of a 3-4 quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker and mix well. .

Cover and turn on LOW setting. Cook 5-7 hours until oatmeal is tender.

Stir well before serving

Epsom Salts: The Frugal Way to Healthier Plants

2010-06-10T05:04:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Epsom salts are a low cost, non-toxic way to improve your garden. They contain sulfur and magnesium, two key components in seed germination, plant growth and the maintenance of healthy cells in sprouting plants.

Here are some tried and true tips from seasoned gardeners, who swear by the benefits of Epsom salts.

Are you growing roses?
To produce more canes and roses and make the foliage greener and more lush, work ½ cup of Epsom salts into the soil around the rose bush, and water well. You can also dissolve ½ cup of Epsom salts into your watering container and apply when the buds are beginning to open. For ongoing rose care, mix 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts per gallon of water and apply as a spray.

Does your garden have tomatoes and peppers? Have you noticed that the leaves sometimes turn yellow or curl later in the season? That is because the soil is deficient in magnesium. To prevent this, mix 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts to a gallon of water, and use it to water your seedlings. When your plants start to flower and fruit starts to form, spray the plants with this mixture.

Epsom salts have been used by avid gardeners as fertilizer for generations. They simply toss a handful into the soil and work it in well before planting their seeds. As a maintenance dose, they may water with Epsom salts every other week. If you chose to use Epsom salts frequently in your garden, you can water with a weaker solution, adding 1 teaspoon of salts per gallon of water.

Why not test the results for yourself?

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Healthy Frugal Food:Strawberries

2010-06-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Strawberries are a delicious, nutritional-powerhouse food that is available all year long. They are high in fiber, rich in antioxidants and are fat-free and low in calories.

Numerous studies have shown these scrumptious berries to reduce inflammation in the body, boost heart health and increase immunity. They contain more vitamin C than an orange! While sweet in taste, strawberries rate low on the glycemic index, so they do not spike your blood sugar levels.

Since beauty is both inner and outer, I am including two recipes for you to try—a stress-busting strawberry smoothie and a wonderful strawberry facial mask. Enjoy the beautiful, radiantly healthy results!

Strawberry Smoothie

You will need:

2 1/2 cups strawberries
1/2 cup strawberry nectar (or 1 cup strawberry yogurt)
1 pitted peach
1 cup low-fat plain yogurt

Blend in a food processor or blender until it is the consistency you like.

Strawberry Facial Mask

You will need:
4 or 5 very ripe, medium size strawberries
2 teaspoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon honey

Rinse the strawberries in lukewarm water, and pat them dry
In a small bowl, mash the fruit with a fork
Add the cream and honey, mixing well
Leave on for 20 minutes

Strawberries stimulate the skin, reduce swelling and redness and are a natural exfoliant, getting rid of the dead cells on the surface of the skin.

Honey is antibacterial and a great blemish fighter. It is also gentle on the skin.

The cream is moisturizing and feels great!

Why not try both of these recipes yourself?

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Healthy Frugal Food:Mango

2010-06-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

Image by Tatters:) via Flickr

Mangoes are rich in essential nutrients and antioxidants that prevent premature aging, boost the immune system and generally improve overall health. They are rich in vitamins A (beta-carotene), B6, C & K, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, fiber and vitamin E.

Fiber is wonderful for weight loss, colon health, and lowering levels of bad cholesterol.

B6 lowers the risk of kidney stones, and improves cardiovascular health and brain function.

Vitamins E and A are powerful fighters of free radicals, which reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and may even improve vision.

Vitamin K is important for normal clotting of the blood and it keeps your bones strong and healthy.

Magnesium is essential for proper nervous, muscular and cardiovascular functioning. Studies suggest it plays a role in reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome, lowering blood pressure, and assisting in weight loss.

Mangoes are high in natural sugar, but low in glycemic load, meaning they do not affect blood sugar like many other fruits with high natural sugar content.

This powerhouse food is inexpensive, tasty and versatile to use.

Here are two wonderful recipes to try at home. One is for a facial scrub to make your skin soft and glowing with health. The other is for a wonderful mango salsa. Enjoy!

Mango Facial Scrub

1/4 Mango
1 teaspoon Honey
1 teaspoon Almond Meal

Mash the mango very well with a fork.
Stir in the honey, then add the almond meal.
Make it the consistency of a paste that you can spread and massage on freshly cleansed skin.
After gently massaging for 5-10 minutes, remove the paste with a warm washcloth, and pat your skin dry.

Mango has enzymes that give the skin a healthy glow. Almond meal is a gentle but effective exfoliant, which will slough off dead skin cells and restore your complexion. Honey acts as a mild buffer and humectant, adding vital moisture to the skin.

Spicy Chiles with Mango Salsa

You will need:
6 large poblano or Anaheim peppers
1/2 medium white onion, peeled and cut into rings
2 ripe mangos, peeled, pitted, sliced and divided
6 ounces Colby Jack or Pepper Jack cheese, cut into 12 strips
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 very small chipotle pepper
1 teaspoon canned adobo sauce
A few snips from a sprig of fresh cilantro

Grill peppers and onions over high heat. The peppers should be well-charred and the onions lightly- charred. Place the peppers in paper bag. Fold the top over several times. Set aside for 20 minutes.

Remove the peels from the peppers by rubbing them gently with your fingers. Make a slit the length of the pepper, and carefully remove the seeds and membranes.

Place 2 large mango slices and 2 cheese strips inside each pepper. Place on large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil and grill over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Remove them from the grill and keep them warm.
Chop 1/2 cup mango.

Puree grilled onions, remaining mango, lime juice, chipotle peppers and adobo sauce until smooth.
Season to taste with salt and stir in chopped mango.

Place a small amount of mango salsa on each serving plate and top each pepper with additional salsa and snipped cilantro.
This takes about 20 minutes of preparation time and 5-10 minutes of cooking time. So fast, simple and delicious!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Beauty on a Budget: Apple Cider Vinegar

2010-05-31T09:06:00.000-07:00

Image by AndyRob via Flickr

Beauty is both internal and external, and a natural result of vibrant health. A healthy body has a healthy glow that can be seen in sparkling eyes, smooth skin, healthy hair, and a nice complexion.

Apple cider vinegar is one food that is great for you both inside and out. It promotes blood circulation in the small capillaries that irrigate the skin and regulates its PH balance. The high concentration of alpha-hydroxy acids helps to dissolve fat and give the skin a nice smooth surface. It is also antiseptic in nature, and combats yeast, viruses and bacteria that can cause infection.

Here are some frugal, practical trips for you to try at home.

Are your teeth unattractive from tea, coffee or tobacco stains? Whiten them with apple cider vinegar! Simply rub a little directly on the teeth, wait a minute and rinse.

Do you have blemishes and a sallow complexion? Dab apple cider vinegar on your face at bedtime, and wash your face normally in the morning. You will see an overall improvement of your skin and not be bothered with pesky acne.

Sunburned? Apply apple cider vinegar to the affected area to take out the sting and pain, and prevent blistering and peeling.

Is your hair lacking luster from the build up and residue of hair care products? Restore its natural shine by rinsing after shampooing with ½ cup apple cider vinegar mixed in 1 quart of warm water. Not only will your hair shine, but over time your it will grow more quickly and be stronger from the power packed nutrients it contains.

Do you have dandruff? Apply undiluted apple cider vinegar to the scalp and let it soak in. Then shampoo your hair as normal.

You can also lighten age spots with apple cider vinegar. Simply dab the affected areas at bedtime and let it soak in while you sleep at night.

To soothe a sore throat, put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle, then swallow.

To treat sinus infections and chest colds, add 1/4 cup or more apple cider vinegar to the vaporizer. You can also make a soothing mixture of ¼ cup apple cider vinegar and ¼ cup of honey, and eat 1 tablespoon 6-8 times a day. If you prefer to make your own cough syrup, mix ½ cup water, ½ cup apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and 4 tablespoons of honey. Take 1 tablespoon each time your cough acts up, and a tablespoon at bedtime for a more restful sleep.

Drinking one cup of water mixed with 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar can tame an upset tummy.

As part of a weight loss program, add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to your daily diet. You can add it to 16 ounces of water and sip it throughout the day, or add it to a big mug of black tea sweetened with honey. Better yet, eat a big healthy salad and use it for dressing along with a little olive oil. Apple cider vinegar revs the metabolism helping you to burn fat and lose excess pounds.

To detox your body, add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to 1-2 quarts of water and sip on it during the day. It helps stimulate the kidneys and remove impurities from the body. If you don't like the taste, stir in some honey for an extra energy boost.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal First Aid: Treating Sunburn

2010-05-30T20:20:00.000-07:00

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Note: Sunburn is a condition when the skin becomes red, swollen and painful from over exposure to the sun. A more severe form is sun poisoning, which includes blistering, rash, fever and chills. Sun poisoning can be a serious medical problem, especially if the skin becomes infected after being burned.
Always seek medical help for sun poisoning.

This article discusses only sunburn, and offers some simple remedies to alleviate the pain, itching and skin peeling that frequently occurs after over-exposure to the sun's rays.

Many doctors suggest over the counter pain relievers to alleviate the pain, itching and swelling of a sunburn. Dr. Rodney Basler, a dermatologist at the University of Nebraska recommends 2 regular aspirin tablets or Tylenol every 4 hours for quick relief. If you prefer ibuprofen, try 3 or 4 tablets every 8 hours.

To cool the skin, physicians recommend applying compresses to the skin. Dermatologist Dr. Michael Schreiber, at the University of Arizona College of Medicine suggests saturating a washcloth with ice water and laying it over the sunburned area, for 5-15 minutes, several times a day. A fan directed toward the skin may also bring some fast relief.

Nurses in emergency rooms often tell patients to rub Preparation H hemorrhoid cream on the affected area. It has an anesthetic to kill the pain and medication to shrink swollen tissues. It is inexpensive and easy to find at any drug store. Many people report this works well for them.

A widely used and highly effective remedy is to apply apple cider vinegar to the skin. Not only does it cool the skin and relieve that maddening itch, it also prevents blistering and peeling. You can find it at any grocery store for less than 2 dollars a bottle.

Soaking in a warm bath with ½ cup of baking soda relieves itching and pain. Air dry the skin instead of using a towel, or at least pat the skin dry very gently to avoid further irritation. Baking soda costs about a dollar a box, and you can find it almost anywhere you shop.

Are you a fan of aromatherapy? Add 20 drops of chamomile and 20 drops of lavender essential oils to a tub of cool water and soak for about 10 minutes. Or if you prefer, use 20 drops of bergamot or calendula oil. The pain and itching will be gone!

Epsom salts is another inexpensive and effective treatment. Dissolve them in warm water and make a compress using a clean, soft cloth.

A compress using water and witch hazel is another frugal and effective way to relieve sunburn.

Do you like the fresh smell of citrus? Mix the juice of 3 lemons into 2 cups of cold water and gently sponge your skin. This will cool the burn, disinfect the skin and promote healing.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Natural Beauty on a Budget: Baking Soda

2010-05-27T03:51:00.000-07:00

Do you want clean hair, a bright smile, sweet breath, exfoliated and acne-free skin, odor-free feet, and soft, clean cuticles on your hands? Then you better move your box of baking soda from the kitchen into your bathroom.

It is inexpensive, chemical-free, doesn't spoil and is easy to store too. What an ideal, frugal beauty product!

Baking soda is great for your hair. Here are three ways to use it:

Out of shampoo, or can't get to a shower? Brush baking soda through your hair. It removes dirt and excess oil in a jiffy!

Has chlorine from the swimming pool made your hair dry, and maybe even a little green in tint? Mix ½ teaspoon of baking soda with a pint (2 cups) of warm water and work it through your hair. Leave it on your hair for a few minutes and then wash it as normal.

Do you have build up on your hair from conditioner and hair spray? You can make your own frugal clarifying shampoo. Put some baking soda in your palm, about the size of a quarter in area, a mix it with your own shampoo. Your hair will be squeaky clean and shine!

Baking soda also removes beauty product build up from your combs and brushes. Simply add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to a basin of warm water and let your combs and brushes soak for a few minutes. Rinse them thoroughly and let them dry.

Sprinkle baking soda on your toothbrush for cleaner, whiter teeth. Add a little to a glass of warm water and gargle, or add a bit to your mouthwash for fresh breath.

Baking soda is a great exfoliant to get rid of dry, rough skin.

For scaly elbows and heels, mix 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water and scrub.

Mix it with your normal facial cleaner to brighten your complexion. Put a small amount, about the size of a dime, in the palm of your hand, add your cleanser, and apply to your moist face with a gentle, circular motion. Rinse and pat your skin dry. It is a wonderful way to get rid of acne and keep your skin smooth and clear.

Men, do you have sensitive skin and hate to shave because of it? Mix a teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of warm water. Use it to moisten your skin before you shave, and as a rinse after you are done. You will have far less irritation!

Use baking soda as a natural foot powder to absorb moisture and odor. Also sprinkle it in your sneakers and work boots to keep them smelling sweet.

For pretty hands and healthy nails, sprinkle baking soda on your cuticle brush before your manicure.

And last but not least, use baking soda to relax and unwind! Half a cup added to your bath water relieves stress and tension and keeps your skin smooth and healthy!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Salt: Frugal Uses for Health and Hygiene

2010-05-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Salt is a wonderful and inexpensive household item with dozens of uses. Most people know some cleaning tips that use salt, but not many know of its benefits for first aid or personal hygiene.

Here are some frugal uses you can try for yourself:

Have you come into contact with poison ivy? Soak the affected areas in salt water to relieve the pain and itch.

You can also use salt to relieve the pain of bee stings. Simply wet the area and cover it with salt.

Chigger or mosquito bites a problem? Soak the area in warm salt water, and follow up with a coating of lard and salt.

Are your eyes puffy? Mix one teaspoon of salt in a pint of hot water, then moisten some cosmetic pads with the mixture. Close your eyes and lay the pads across you eye lids. In a few minutes the swelling will be gone.

Do you want naturally sweet breath without using mouthwashes filled with alcohol, artificial colors and chemical sweeteners? Make your own mouthwash with equal parts of salt and baking soda dissolved in water. Rinse well after brushing your teeth.

If you are feeling miserable from a sore throat gargle several times a day with warm salt water. For extra effectiveness, follow up by eating a teaspoon of honey.

Do you want plaque free teeth and healthy gums? Brush your teeth with a mixture of one part salt and two parts baking sods. If you prefer a little flavor, add a tiny drop of peppermint or wintergreen oil.

Is dry skin a problem for you? After bathing and before drying yourself with a towel, rub seal salt into your wet skin. It sloughs off dead, dry skin cells and increases blood circulation With this as a regular routine, your skin will stay soft and have a healthy glow.

For a great, stimulating facial, mix equal parts of salt and olive oil and massage your neck and face with gentle, upward strokes. Leave the mixture on your skin for five minutes, then wash your face with a warm, moist washcloth. Your face will have a beautiful, natural glow!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Creative Uses for Orange Peels

2010-05-18T01:28:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Use dried orange peels as kindling for your fireplace. There is a large amount of flammable oil in the peel called limonene which makes them a great fire starter!

Limolene oil is also a very effective, natural pesticide. A puree of orange peel and water spread around an outdoor barrier will prevent ants from crossing over. Flies and mosquitos will flee from an area with small piles of orange zest, so finely grate the rind and place it around your blanket at your next picnic.

Do you want kitty to stop digging in your plants? Place dried peel around them. Cats hate the smell!

Orange peels are a great deodorizer. Grind some up in your garbage disposal to keep it smelling fresh. Put dried peels in a cloth bag or pillow case and place it in a cupboard or closet. The musty odor will leave.

A piece of orange peel placed in a box of brown sugar will keep it from drying out.

Pamper your skin with orange peels! Simply drop clean peels in your tub while the water is running. Vitamin C is absorbed through the skin, so soaking in an orange peel bath is a healthy way to strengthen your immune system. And the aroma is heavenly!

Dehydrated peels can be ground in a coffee grinder and used as a spice for cooking or added to a batch of potpourri.

Make little bird feeders with orange rinds. After an orange is cut in half and the fruit is removed, the little "bowls" can be filled with sunflower seeds, suet, or peanut butter mixed with bird seed. Place the feeders in the crook of a tree branch to give a nice treat to your feathered friends!

Make delicious candied orange rind for your family. Simply scrape away the white part of the rind with a sharp knife. Slice the peels into strips and cook them in a simple syrup (1 part water and 1 part sugar) on low until strips start to look translucent. Remove them, roll in sugar, and place on a plate to dry. Chop them up to add to recipes or to use as an aromatic decoration on top of baked goods.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Rubbing Alcohol:Frugal First Aid in a Bottle

2010-05-16T01:17:00.001-07:00

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Rubbing alcohol is an inexpensive and easy to use remedy for simple injuries and skin problems. Here are a few ideas for you to try.

To lessen the duration of a cold sore, dab the area several times a day with a cotton ball soaked with rubbing alcohol. It quickly dries up the sore and makes it fall off.

Do you have itchy skin from mosquito bites, poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac? Apply alcohol to the affected area for fast relief!

To clobber acne outbreaks, use alcohol instead of those pricey store astringents. Simply add alcohol to a damp washcloth and clean your face.

Do you have minor scrapes and cuts? Clean them with an alcohol wipe to prevent infection.

Do you have achy muscles from exercise? Try an alcohol massage. At first the alcohol cools the skin, then a deep heat feeling sets in and relaxes tense muscles.

Make a homemade ice pack for emergency sprains and burns using rubbing alcohol. Simply add one part alcohol and two parts distilled water to a small plastic ziploc bag, and chill it in your freezer.

Finally, wash your hands with rubbing alcohol to get rid of strong smells on your hands. It is great for eliminating the odor of onions and stinky pet fur!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal Tips for Gardens and Houseplants

2010-05-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

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Did you know that the average family can save over $500.00 a year by putting in a vegetable garden?

Are you aware that certain houseplants actually clean the air, and help reduce allergens that cause breathing difficulties?

If you want a healthier body and a fatter wallet, you should consider having a green thumb!

Here are some very inexpensive, natural, non-toxic ways to have healthier houseplants and a lusher, bug-free garden.

To make seeds sprout more quickly and plants grow faster, add Jello gelatin to the soil. The sugar produces beneficial microbes that act as a natural fertilizer. The nitrogen content of gelatin stimulates growth.

Do you want your garden to be lush and bug free? Try bananas. Dry the peels on a screen and chop them up in a blender. Work the ground up pieces into the soil. Bananas are rich in both potassium and phosphorous which is excellent for plant growth. Banana peels placed around the base of plants act as a natural repellent against those pesky little aphids that invade your garden.

Coffee is very useful as well. In the garden use the cans, both ends removed, as a way to protect newly sprouting tomato plants. Simply sink the cans into the soil, and remove them later when the plants are larger.

Sprinkle grounds around the perimeter of your garden to repel ants and cutworms. Also use the grounds as a natural composting material. They enrich the soil.

Coffee is also good for houseplants. Top off the potting soil with old coffee grounds. Occasionally water your plants with room-temperature coffee.

Eggshells are a wonderful way to add calcium to your garden. Don't sprout seeds in pots, put them in clean dried eggshells instead. When it is time to plant the seedlings in your garden, simply crush the shells and mix them into the soil. Crushed eggshells around the perimeter of the garden act as a deterrent against slugs and snails as well.

Coca Cola spayed on your lawn makes the grass greener. It can also be used as an effective pesticide. Mix a 12 oz. can of cola with 1 cup of ammonia and 1/4 cup of liquid dish soap, and spray it on your lawn or plants.

Club soda that has gone flat is great for watering houseplants. The mineral content gives your potted friends new vitality and health.

Peroxide can be used to keep the leaves of your houseplants healthy. Put one ounce of peroxide in one ounce of water, and use it to mist your plants.

Finally, don't use expensive black plastic bags between the rows of your garden to cut down on weeds. Use old newspapers instead. You can also shred them to make an inexpensive mulch and use them to cover plants if frost weather is in the forecast.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Natural Ways to Fight and Avoid Depression

2010-05-07T06:11:00.000-07:00

I sent this to someone I dearly love a while back. I think it is a good fit for this blog. When asked how I managed to survive so much in life, and handle current problems with a smile, this was my reply:

First, I practice GRATITUDE. When my eyes first open in the morning, I than God for a new day. Then I focus my thoughts on my blessings---I have a job, sweet ferrets, friends, nice weather, food for breakfast etc. As I encounter each thing, I silently say thank you to God for it. Switch on the heat? Thank you God I have a warm home. Ferrets kiss me? Thank you god for the unconditional love and companionship of my furry angels!

It is hard to feel depressed when you are richly blessed, and live in that awareness.

Second, I want for others what I want for myself, and I send those thoughts to everyone, including and especially strangers. If someone sneezes,or is riding around in a wheelchair, I think, "God please heal them." If someone is sad, I ask God to comfort them. When I would spend so many hours (5 a day!)commuting to and from my job, I would often silently greet each person boarding the train or bus with, "God loves you" or "Bless you" or "I wish you peace" etc. I found myself feeling full of peace and love all day. ;-O

When you acknowledge others are like you---have the same needs, face the same struggles etc. then you start to feel connected. People respond to you in very nice ways. The world feels like a friendly place, not a sad one!

I also say as much as possible things like, "I love you," "I appreciate you," "thank you," or even "I'm sorry."and I try to keep things light. I laugh and joke every day!

We all need to feel loved, appreciated and respected. A few kind words benefit both the giver and receiver. Be generous with your thoughts, words and good will.

Most important of all, I constantly choose to forgive others AND MYSELF.

Sweetie, therapists say that depression is "anger turned inwards." When we nurse hurts, real or imagined, dwell on painful experiences, and feel upset at how life or others have treated us, anger rears its ugly head!

But remember this:

Sometimes people hurt you out of stupidity, thoughtlessness or some other common human failing. Nobody is perfect (ourselves included!) so we should overlook those injuries, even if they stung us. We all need grace and understanding, and should extend it to others.

Sometimes people hurt you deliberately, which hurts even more! Even then, it isn't necessary to react in anger. Remember, God sees and knows everything. He collects your tears in a bottle and writes them down in His book. He knows when to mete out justice when needed. Forgive like God commands us to, and let Him settle the score!

Sometimes we are mad at OURSELVES. We rehearse our failures, stupid mistakes, bad behavior and hurtful words, and we judge ourselves very harshly! (Been there, done that, bought the tee shirt for a souvenir!)But really, it all boils down to two things. We acted out of human weakness-in which case we are entitled to grace-or we did something because we consciously made a bad choice or decision. In that case, resolve to become a better person. We all are a work in progress, so don't beat yourself up over anything!

If you find yourself thinking about something painful, that causes you regret or anger, or any other unhappy feeling, STOP, FORGIVE YOURSELF OR THE OTHER PARTY, AND CHOOSE A HAPPY THOUGHT TO OCCUPY YOUR MIND.

Moment by moment we choose our thoughts and actions. Choose good ones!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

MY MEDICINAL PASTA REMEDY

2010-05-07T05:55:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

I sent this to my daughter-in-love a while ago, and thought it was worth posting here

I have been cooking for over 40 years, so a lot of things I do automatically, and without precise measurements.

The basic concept is to dice a medium onion and chop about 6 big cloves of garlic and to sautee them over medium heat, until the onions are clear. Don't chop the garlic too tiny, as it may burn a bit if you do.

Add a can of chicken broth, or make your own with bullion. You want about two cups of broth.

Add some crushed red pepper--David likes it spicy, so use about 1/4 tsp or a little more--and some basil. If you are using leaves, put in two, if you are using the ground up spice in a jar, 1/4 -1/2 tsp is fine.

Add some pasta that you have cooked on the side to the sauce and cook a few more minutes until everything is coated and the sauce has thickened a bit. Elbow macaroni or tiny shells work just as well as long spaghetti. Just choose what you like.

The pasta provides carbs and energy, basil cleans the blood, red pepper opens the sinuses, onions open the lungs and the garlic kills all kinds of germs. chicken broth has antibiotic properties.

Hope you don't have to use it too often!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Acupressure: A Frugal and Natural Healing Therapy

2010-05-02T02:52:00.006-07:00

Image by prettydaisies via Flickr

We live in a tense, high-pressure world, causing stress that can wreak havoc with our health and well-being. We suffer insomnia, tension headaches, eye strain, back and neck pain, allergies and a host of other discomforts, sometimes on a daily basis.

It is impractical and costly to constantly run to the doctor for tension-related ailments. Medicines meant to alleviate the symptoms can have side-effects that leave you feeling worse! Constant reliance on these substances can even cause drug-dependency.

In my opinion, it is far better to seek drug-free ways to restore health and maintain your body's natural state of emotional and physical wellness. Acupressure is one method that is really helpful in this area.It is easy to do, requires no special equipment and has no serious side-effects. You can use it on people of all ages, and even your pets!

Following you will find some general information, obligatory common-sense “warnings” and a few resources to help you understand, apply and benefit from this natural therapy.

What is acupressure?

Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses pressure on key trigger points on the surface of the skin to relax muscles, increase blood flow and to free up “chi,” the body's natural energy. Stimulation of key points on the body can relieve the symptoms of many ailments, and restore physical and emotional balance.

How is it done?

In acupressure, a brief, probing pressure is applied to a trigger point using a fingertip, knuckle, or eraser at the end of a pencil. The point is stimulated or massaged for 15 to 30 seconds. When the right point is located, you may feel a brief twinge of pain or soreness, which quickly turns to a numbing sensation or tingling radiating from the area. Some people perspire, belch, feel their sinuses drain, or experience a release of tension. Sometimes different effects are felt on opposite sides of the body. Some points seem to give quicker relief than others. Experiment and use the points you feel are the most helpful to you.

What are possible areas I need to be warned about?

Acupressure is not intended to replace medical help. It is best used as a complimentary treatment.

It shouldn't be done right before, or within 20 minutes of eating a large meal, bathing or engaging in heavy exercise.

It should be avoided by pregnant women, and those with heart trouble.

Of course, you shouldn't apply pressure to, nor massage a point where there is a varicose vein, break in the skin, mole, wart, or any kind of bruising or injury.

For more information and basic instructions, visit these helpful websites:

http://www.acupressure.com

http://med.stanford.edu/personal/pointfinder/

youtube videos

back pain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exxVsJm9WEE&feature=channel

depression
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqbG84Zat_U&feature=related

migraine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nG0DTtL2jc&feature=PlayList&p=3F9384A4F10E1A29&playnext_from=PL

neck pain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q3E-b7JJgE&feature=related

sinus pain and congestion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glpQlCU2LDI

stress
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g58pcNCC34&NR=1

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

How to Make More Money at your Yard Sale

2010-04-28T23:32:00.000-07:00

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Cleaning clutter out of your house is a great way to turn trash into cash!

People love bargains and they are naturally curious when they see a neighborhood sign offering some great bargains at a yard sale. Many drive by or stop to have a look, but only a handful of people actually make a purchase. Using a few strategic, tried-and true-tips, you can turn those casual lookers into happy buyers.

First of all, use a brightly colored poster board, with black block letters to make your sign easy to spot. Studies show that bright orange is the most effective at attracting attention, and it puts people in a happy shopping mood.

Next, do some strategic arranging. Make sure to put popular items out front, where they can easily be seen by people driving by. Appliances, TVs, baby items, and bicycles are good front line choices.

Hang clothing up and have it sorted by size. It can increase sales up to 50%.

Arrange items in sections, housewares in one area, books in another etc. It allows shoppers to gravitate to an area of interest and browse leisurely, instead of wasting time sorting through mixed up piles of stuff.

Have some tempting, low-cost treats available. If it is a hot summer day, offer Dixie cups with lemonade, or a couple of homemade cookies to munch on. People like free stuff and will spend more if the atmosphere is neighborly.

Offer better deals for buying lots of one item. For example, if you have a hundred paperback books you are dying to get rid of, price them by the box, instead of individually. Sell things like yarn and fabric scraps by the bagful.

Have a multi-family sale. People are attracted to variety, and a big event is a great way to draw a big crowd.

Start early, like 7:00 am. Weather is nicer, traffic is better, and serious shoppers will want to get in on the action before everyone else. You will find your sales will be the briskest between 7 and 9 in the morning.

As items are sold, rearrange things. Avoid having big gaps in the lawn, and items looking picked over. Passersby will assume all the good stuff is already gone and drive on without a second look.

Let people test items they are buying. Have an extension cord available so a toaster oven, CD player or TV set can be plugged in and turned on. It reassures the buyer they won't be taking home any junk!

Make things easy for your shopper. Mark prices clearly. Have plenty of shopping bags and boxes. If you are selling large items, have a dolly available to get them easily to the customer's vehicle.

Be sure to have plenty of change so you don't lose any sales!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal Ways to Get and Stay Fit

2010-04-28T04:23:00.000-07:00

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It seems Americans are obsessed with getting a perfect body these days. They want six-pack abs, buns of steel and the sculpted look of a god in a Greek statue. Billions of dollars are spent each year on home fitness equipment and gym memberships that are usually neglected within six months.

There are healthier, safer and cheaper ways to get fit, my friend. Here are some practical ideas for you to try.

Do exercise that requires little to no money for special clothing and equipment:

Jumping rope is great cardiovascular exercise, low cost, and portable. People who travel a lot for business can throw their rope in their suitcase, and get a good workout wherever their plane lands.

Walking is great exercise, easy to do, and requires only a good pair of shoes to get started. It is low impact and perfect for people with joint problems.

Swimming is probably the best overall exercise. It is great for the lungs, low impact, works every major muscle group, and is fun! If you live in an apartment complex that has a pool, the cost of using it is included in your rent. No need to invest in a gym membership to get a great beach body!

Do like Madonna and use the stairs in your apartment building as a workout routine. Walking up and down a bunch of steps is great for the heart and lungs, builds strong legs, and costs zero!

Try a gentle stretching or yoga routine.It promotes flexibility,calms the mind,sculpts the body and is low impact, so injuries are kept to a minimum. You can find very inexpensive videos at superstores like WalMart, or rent them for free at your library.

Give your poor dog a regular and vigorous walk.Play with your best furry friend. You both will benefit from the exercise and develop a stronger bond.

Play with your kids at a playground or park. You will all enjoy a healthier body and a closer relationship from doing fun things together, and the cost is free.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

10 Foods that Help you Sleep

2010-04-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

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A good night's sleep is essential for physical and emotional health. A lack of sleep can contribute to obesity, worsen depression and anxiety, decrease mental capacity and create unpleasant mood swings.

I am not in favor of using tranquilizers to get to sleep. They are expensive, habit forming and have some alarming side-effects. There are natural ways to get to sleep that are both effective and inexpensive. One good solution is to eat one or more foods that relax the body and mind and allow you to drift off into a natural slumber.

Here are ten common foods that you can try for yourself.

Warm milk: Grandma was right, it really does help you sleep! The warmth is comforting, the calcium calms your nerves, and the tryptophan it contains helps the brain manufacture the neurotransmitters needed for a deep and restorative sleep.

Cherries: They contain melatonin, which is necessary for regulating a natural sleep cycle.

Bananas: They contain both tryptophan and potassium, which is thought to be responsible for slow, deep-wave sleep.

Pecans: Loaded with B vitamins, pecans help soothe frazzled nerves, which may be keeping you awake. They also contain pyroxidine which is responsible for the production of serotonin and melatonin in the brain.

Whole grain foods: Brown rice, quinoa and oats make you feel calm and help you feel full. No more getting up for fattening midnight refrigerator runs!

Celery, black eyed peas and lentils also have a calming effect on the body. Mangoes and dates are also sedating and can satisfy your sweet tooth, without adding lots of calories.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making. Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Saving on Entertainment Costs

2010-04-17T07:12:00.002-07:00

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Keeping the family entertained can get expensive! A trip to the movie theater for tickets and snacks can put a dent in your budget. Video games are outrageously priced, and it seems kids tire of them rather quickly. It just isn't possible to constantly buy new things. So what do you do?

Here are some ideas to keep everyone from being bored, without going broke!

Organize a swap session with family, friends and neighbors. Have each participant bring a box of DVDs, music CDs, computer games, board games etc. that are collecting dust on their shelves. Have them indicate what they will loan out, what they want to swap permanently for something else, or what they will sell at a modest price. Then let the "shopping" begin!

Who knows, the game their kids are bored with might be just the one your kids have been begging for. Those old DVDs that your kids have outgrown may be perfect for a neighbor's little one.

And think of the fun you'll have checking out all the stuff and doing some old fashioned wheeling and dealing!

Check your newspaper's community calendar section for free events. There may be a free concert or movie in the park, a city sponsored festival or other event.

In the summer months,when kids are home from school, theaters sometimes offer cheap tickets for kids movies.

Churches have camps and daytime programs as well.

The public library offers free story time sessions and modestly priced crafting classes. They also have a large collection of movies, CDs and computer software you can borrow for free!

Bulletin boards at the stores you shop at often times have flyers for great events around town. You may come across an ethnic festival, yummy bake sale, or sporting event to go to.

Try supporting school events, or special events for your friends children. You just may like their Pop Warner football game, school cheerleading competition, concert or play.

Be creative and have fun. Most of all realize money isn't essential to having a great time. Sometimes the best things in life really are free!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal Ways to Add Years to your Life

2010-04-10T08:16:00.000-07:00

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Eat brown rice: it is packed with phytates. European studies have shown they kill off cancer cells, and boost the immune system.

Eat blueberries, cherries and apples: they contain ellagic acid and anthocyanins, which help to eliminate toxins from your body.

Eat one red grapefruit a day, and snack on a handful of pistachios:These two foods will keep your cholesterol levels in check.

Drink a glass of orange juice every day: the potassium and vitamin C help lower high blood pressure.

Eat greens: they are loaded with vitamins and chlorophyll. These nutrients help the liver get rid of toxins and boost your energy level.

Substitute refined sugar with honey:it stabilizes blood sugar and increases stamina and endurance during exercise.

Eat onions: Believe it or not, they build bone mass and can prevent osteoporosis. They also contain falconoids and sulfur compounds that can reduce the risk of some cancers as much as 50%!

Spice your foods with oregano: it contains 42 times the antioxidants of apples and 30 times more than potatoes. Researchers have found it fights illness causing bacteria, including e coli and staph infections!It is as effective as prescription antibiotics, without the cost or side effects.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Swap Parties: A Fun and Frugal Way to Get New Stuff

2010-04-09T21:59:00.001-07:00

I work at a large company, and it seems like all my friends are selling something on the side to make a little extra money. My desk can become clogged with catalogs for candles, cookware, makeup, purses, costume jewelry, trendy clothes, and candy. I could go broke in a hurry if I bought all their products!

Sometimes these items are given as gifts for special occasions, or are re-gifted to some unsuspecting coworker. So one day I was thinking...

Isn't there a better way to get some of this stuff, at a price I can afford?

A friend and I came up with the idea of having a swap party.

We could all get together and bring a box of stuff we would gladly trade for something else. Our trash could be another person's treasure. Their junk may be something I have been searching for.

We could even have a swap party around a theme like books, kids clothing and toys, or beauty products. Bring along some snacks, drinks, a few juicy bits of gossip, and let the fun begin!

What could be better than getting things without spending a dime?

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Aromatherapy for Weight Loss and Cellulite Reduction

2010-04-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

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Banish Cellulite, Curb your Appetite, and Lose Weight with Essential Oils!

Cellulite. Yuck! The sight of it makes most women cringe, and sigh in exasperation. That unsightly collection of dimpled, fatty tissue can be oh so stubborn to get rid of! And plastic surgery is dangerous and expensive.

Fortunately, aromatherapy massages are a low-cost, pleasant and effective way of releasing the built up toxins in the tissues, thought to be responsible for this unattractive mess. Essential oils are also effective in curbing appetite and assisting in weight loss.

All you need to do is add one or more essential oils to your bath water, or mix them in some lotion or body oil, and massage them into your skin.

A few drops of these powerful, healthy essences are all you need!

Here is a handy list of essential oils and the roles they play in appetite suppression, elimination of cellulite, and weight loss:

Appetite Control - Bergamot, Grapefruit, or a blend of two or three citrus oils, such as Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Sweet Orange or Tangerine

Cellulite Elimination - Cypress, Fennel, Geranium, Grapefruit, Juniper, Lemon, Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme, White Birch

Circulation Improvement - Black Pepper, Blue Gum Eucalyptus, Cypress, Coriander, Geranium, Ginger, Lemon, Lemongrass, Orange Blossom, Peru Balsam, Pine, Rose, Rosemary, Sage, Spruce, Thyme, Violet, White Birch

Firming and Toning Skin - Black Pepper, Geranium, Grapefruit, Juniper, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Marjoram, Rosemary, Sweet Orange, Tangerine

Increasing Metabolism - Fennel, Geranium, Grapefruit

Reducing Water Retention - Angelica, Carrot Seed, Cypress, Fennel, Geranium, Grapefruit, Juniper, Lovage, Rosemary, Sage, Sweet Orange, Tangerine, White Birch

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal Fun:Birdwatching!

2010-04-05T04:53:00.000-07:00

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Kids love nature and playing outdoors. They also like to make things with their hands. If you are looking for a frugal, fun thing to do with your kids or grandkids, why not help them make little bird feeders and treats that will attract feathered friends into your yard?

Below you will find several easy to do projects that children can make with just a little adult supervision. All the ingredients and craft supplies are inexpensive and easy to obtain.

Pine Cone Feeders

Large pine cones
12 inch lengths of colored yarn
Mixed bird seed
Peanut butter

Using a butter knife, spread the pine cones with peanut butter. Roll them in bird seed. Securely tie the yarn around the bottom of the pine cones. Suspend the feeders from tree branches around the yard.

Tree Trimming Treats

Pieces of stale bread
Pretzels
Day old donuts
Peanut butter
Bird seed
Scooped out orange halves
Suet or shortening
Cookie cutters
Yarn

Cut out shapes in the stale bread using a cookie cutter. Spread the bread with peanut butter, and roll in a tray of bird seed. Affix a piece of yarn to the treat, and hang. Or if you prefer, hang plain bread cut into shapes.

Tie pretzels and donuts, (plain or spread with peanut butter and bird seed) with colored yarn and hang.

Scoop out an orange half and stuff the rind with suet and seed, or Crisco shortening and seed. Rest the orange piece in the crook of a tree branch.

Filled Birdie Bag

Small pieces of net bag (like you buy onions in)
Suet or shortening
Bird seed
Sunflower seeds
Pieces of fruit
Peanut butter
Bits of bread
Leftover meat scraps
(or any other ingredients your favorite birds like to eat)

Mix the ingredients you have chosen into a “bird pudding” and place the mixture into a net bag. Tie it securely around the neck of the bag with string or yarn, and hang. The birds will pull the food from the holes in the net.

If you like, fill a net bag with cotton or dryer lint. The birds will take it to their nests to use for lining.

Bird seed biscuits

2 cups baking mix (like Bisquick)
1/2 cup cold water
2 Tbsp margarine
2 Tbsp sesame seeds
2 Tbsp sunflower seeds
2 Tbsp mixed bird seed

cookie cutters
a straw
colored yarn or ribbon, in 12 inch lengths

Preheat oven to 425F.

Form a soft dough with baking mix & water.

Roll the dough to 3/4" thickness & cut it into shapes with cookie the cutters.

Using a straw, punch a hole in the top of each cookie.

Melt the margarine & brush it over the dough using a pastry brush.

Sprinkle the seeds onto the dough and press firmly with a fork.

Bake for 15-20 min., or until light brown.

When cool, thread brightly colored yarn or ribbon through the hole & hang in a tree.

For more fun nature craft ideas suitable for small children, visit these websites:

www.childfun.com

www.kidsrcrafty.com

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Getting Fit on a Budget

2010-04-05T04:40:00.000-07:00

Image by Walking for Health via Flickr

Walking is an ideal form or exercise. It doesn’t require spa membership or specialized equipment and costs little to do. All you need is a good pair of shoes!

Did you know:

Walking:

• Improves cardiovascular endurance

• Tones muscles of the lower body

• Burns calories (about 107 if walking 4 1/2 miles per hour)

• Reduces risk of heart disease

Tips for picking the right pair of shoes:

• Make sure the shoes you purchase fit properly. The balls of your feet should rest exactly at the point where the toe end of the shoe bends during walking.

• Avoid high-top shoes that cover the entire ankle. They limit your foot's ability to move freely and naturally.

• Select shoes with plenty of cushioning in the soles to absorb the impact of your walking.

How to walk for best results:

• Swing your arms freely, in sync with the opposite leg.

• Don’t look down as you walk. You will carry your weight improperly if you do.

• Don’t carry weights or dumbbells while you walk.

• Walk briskly.

• Walk on a good surface. A cushioned or rubberized track is ideal. Grass is also good, but you should watch out for dips and hidden holes! Avoid mall walking and other concrete surfaces if you can. This type of surface will not absorb much of the impact your body will experience. If you do walk on concrete, be sure to wear a highly cushioned shoe.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Water: A Cheap and Abundant Resource for Good Health

2010-04-05T04:31:00.000-07:00

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Did you know:

• Blood is about 66% water. The brain is 70%-80% water.

• Water is essential for the proper functioning of the respiratory and digestive systems.

• The disc space between vertebrae is mostly water. When you are dehydrated, discs are harder to heal, and easier to damage.

• Water affects our eyesight, hearing and sense of balance. It also affects every cell, organ and muscle in your body.

• Most people are suffering the disastrous effects of dehydration.

How do I know if I am dehydrated?

You may have these tell-tale signs:
• muscle ache
• back pain
• fatigue
• weakness
• lethargy
• sunken eyes
• dizziness
• headaches

Hydration can prevent disease:

Researchers now believe water can play an active role in reducing the risk of some diseases. According to Susan Kleiner, Ph.D., of the University of Washington, those diseases include kidney stones, urinary tract cancer and colon cancer.

In one National Cancer Institute study, women who drank five or more glasses of water a day were 45 percent less likely to develop colon cancer than women who drank less than two glasses a day.

Be sure to drink eight to ten, eight-ounce glasses, of good quality water every day!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Cost-effective Ways to Fight Migraine Headaches

2010-04-04T02:40:00.001-07:00

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I have suffered the hell of migraines for forty years! Traditional medicines to prevent or treat them are very costly and have some terrible side-effects. Luckily there are natural ways to prevent and/or lessen the severity of these crippling attacks.

First, you should know that foods high in the amino acid tyrosine can trigger headaches in many migraine sufferers. Try avoiding bananas, cheese, chocolate, wine, oranges, eggs, spinach and tomatoes.

Supplement your diet with vitamins B5,C and E, evening primrose oil and feverfew.

Add fresh ginger root to your recipes.

Try aromatherapy oils. A drop or two of lavender essential oil under your nostrils can help ward off an attack. A cool compress with a few drops of peppermint and lavender oils applied to the forehead and temples can bring quick relief. Boiling water with a few drops of rosemary, sweet marjoram or melissa and inhaling the steam can shorten the duration of these painful attacks.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Fight Fatigue & Headaches with Cucumbers!

2010-04-04T02:17:00.000-07:00

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Cucumbers are a powerhouse food, high in benefits and easy on the budget!
They contain B vitamins, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

The perfect pick me up during the day when you hit an energy slump, cucumbers leave you feeling energized, without the jitters caffeine can produce.

Eating cucumbers at bedtime can thwart headaches and hangovers. Cucumbers contain sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes. They replenish essential nutrients lost while consuming alcoholic beverages.

Hungry? Try eating cucumbers to ward off the urge to binge eat. They are filling, hydrating and low calorie.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal Zit Zapping!

2010-03-20T19:59:00.003-07:00

Pimples are unsightly, and can be traumatic and embarrassing for teens. Those skin care products on TV are so expensive too! So what is a parent to do to help their poor, miserable kid?

Try these frugal folk remedies:

Make a paste out of sugar and water, and dab it on the pimples. After a few minutes, wash it off. Sugar is actually an antibacterial agent, and will kill the germs that are causing the breakout.

Clean your face with a cotton ball soaked in witch hazel.You can find it in the drug store next to the alcohol and peroxide. It is a natural astringent which dries up oily patches on the skin and the zit itself.

Put Crest toothpaste on your pimples and leave it on over night.

Or use my favorite product in the whole wide world---tea tree oil! It is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. A few drops on a cotton ball is all it takes to clear up problem skin and keep it clear.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal Tips for Getting Rid of Headaches

2010-03-20T19:27:00.005-07:00

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Being a migraine sufferer for decades, I know firsthand the agony of a headache! Medicines to treat them can be horribly expensive, or have dangerous side effects.

Here are a few tricks I have learned to prevent a headache, or shorten the duration of the misery.

Dehydration is a big contributing factor in headaches of all kinds, so be sure to drink plenty of water. Low levels of magnesium and depleted electrolytes can also be the culprit. In hospital ERs it is customary to start a migraine patient on a magnesium IV.

If you have a headache try these frugal tips:

Make an electrolyte replenishing drink by adding 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and the juice of half a lime to 2 cups of water and sip on it slowly.

Eat a cucumber! They contain a certain combination of sugar, electrolytes and B vitamins to restore your body's balance. Plus they are hydrating and light on the stomach.

Eat dark green leafy lettuce and spinach salads. They are loaded with magnesium!

Rub lavender essential oil on your temples, neck and scalp. It is a natural pain killer and tension tamer, and it helps you get to sleep.

Take a steamy hot bath with Epsom salts. A 15 minute soak relaxes tense muscles, rids the body of toxins and makes you feel calm. While the tub is filling, put your hands under the faucet for a few minutes. Make the water as hot as you can tolerate. The blood will rush from your head to your hands and relieve a lot of the pain.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Original Uses for Old Panyhose

2009-09-21T03:46:00.003-07:00

I always hate it when a good pair of panthyhose or knee high stockings get a run. They are so expensive, I hate to throw them out!

Luckily, there are many fantastic frugal uses for stockings that have seen better days.

Here are just a few:

Use the feet as car and closet fresheners. Simply stuff them with small, broken pieces of bar soap, a handful of herbs or potpourri. Tie off or sew the stuffing end shut to prevent the contents from spilling out.

You can also stuff the feet with bulbs of garlic or small onions and hang them in the kitchen. The porous fabric allows for good airflow, making them last longer. Just be sure you use clean ones to store your food! :-)

Use the tummy part of pantyhose as a natural filter for shop vacuums and swimming pool skimmer baskets. The mesh-like fabric traps debris that can clog things up!

The waistband of an old pair of pantyhose makes a great giant rubber band. Use it for bundling old magazines and newspapers, or to keep trash liners from slipping in to the garbage can. Simply stretch the waistband around the top of the liner.

I have personally used old knee-highs and pantyhose feet in craft projects. I fill them with dryer lint I collected over time from my laundry room, and used them to stuff small cloth ornaments I was sewing for the Christmas tree.

What creative uses can you come up with on you own?

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

The cure for a gassy gut is...

2009-09-21T03:32:00.003-07:00

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pineapple! Drinking one cup of juice after a meal calms those rumbling intestines. Pineapple contains bromelaine, a digestive enzyme that breaks down food quickly, reducing gas build up. It also is soothing to the tummy.

Another great food that aids digestion is papaya, which also contains bromelaine. Having a cup of this yummy tropical fruit will have the same effect as pineapple.

Why not try them both?

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Clobber Cellulite with Coffee Grounds

2009-09-21T03:24:00.003-07:00

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Women hate cellulite and go to great lengths to get rid of it. Skin creams work, but boy are they expensive! If you don't have the beauty budget of Paris Hilton or a runway model, try this frugal fix instead.

Warm about ½ cup of coffee grounds and 2 tsp. of water in the microwave for 30 seconds, and massage the warm coffee grounds onto thighs, buttocks or other problem places. Cover the area with plastic wrap. After 10 to 15 minutes, remove the wrap and rinse off the grounds.

Caffeine dehydrates cells and tightens skin, making those unsigthly bumps smooth out.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Delicious Ways to Use Day-Old Bread

2009-09-20T10:35:00.004-07:00

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Make seasoned bread crumbs: Lightly toast the bread, tear it into small pieces and dump it into a blender or food processor. Add a handful of your favorite seasonings, then pulverize the bread into small crumbs.

Make croutons: Cut the bread into cubes and sprinkle it with salt, pepper and your choice of spice, such as paprika or chili powder. Cook them lightly in a frying pan with olive oil. Use them to top your salads.

Make a yummy bruschetta: Brush slices of French bread with oil and bake them in a 325 degree oven for about 5 minutes per side. Then rub the bread with the cut side of a fresh garlic clove,and top it with your favorite pesto, soft cheese, or a topping of diced tomatoes/sweet red onion/cilantro.

You can also tear pieces of bread and put it on top of a nice big salad with Italian dressing. The vinegar and oil softens the bread and adds a delightful flavor to an otherwise ordinary salad.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Soak Away PMS Symptoms in the Bathtub!

2009-09-20T05:38:00.003-07:00

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Are you feeling anxious? Toss 5 chamomile tea bags in the water. Chamomile tea contains ingredients that lower levels of stress hormones in the bloodstream and increase serotonin, the body's "feel good" chemical.

Do you have cramps? Add 2 drops of rose oil and 1 teaspoon of cornstarch to hot running water. The pleasant aroma of the oil combats depression and eases pain.

Do you feel tense and sore? Add a few drops of lavender oil to your bath water. Inhaling the scent of lavender has a numbing effect on pain receptors in the brain, bringing instant relief!

To keep the good feeling, sip on lavender, rose hip and chamomile teas during the day. You can find them in any grocery store.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

FRUGAL HEALTH TIP #4: FIGHTING COLDS AND FLU

2008-10-13T03:06:00.003-07:00

Image by SteffanyF! via Flickr

The cost of doctor visits and prescription drugs is unfortunately, beyond the means of many Americans today. Wintertime colds and flu can cause lost days from work, and make a body feel miserable, so I have complied some frugal, effective ways to alleviate those rotten symptoms. Why not give them a try?

Drink hot liquids. They relieve congestion, prevent dehydration and soothe inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat.

Take steamy showers. You will feel relaxed and your nasal passages will clear and your lungs will open up.

At bedtime, sleep with an extra pillow under your head. It will help to drain your nasal passages.

To calm a chronic cough, dissolve in one cup of boiled water, one tablespoon of honey and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon. Taken periodically throughout the day, it will also clear out your sinuses.

To alleviate a sore throat, and eliminate hoarseness, dilute the juice of one fresh lemon in one cup of boiled water. Gargle with it several times a day. It will also help with canker sores, or lesions inside the mouth.

To ease the ache of the flu, take a nice warm shower or bath. Add 20-30 drops of lemon oil to one cup of sunflower oil and massage it well into your skin. Cover yourself with a good blanket, and go to sleep. By morning your aches and pains will be gone!

For respiratory ailments such as cold, asthma, bronchitis and sinusitis, put a few drops of tea tree oil in your vaporizer. Inhale the steam and you will feel wonderful, blessed relief!

Here are two food remedies to try:

Eat plenty of garlic. It has anti-bacterial and immune boosting properties. You can eat it raw in garlic bread and in salads, or infused in vinegar for cooking.

You can also try this quaint suggestion, handed down for generations by little old grandmas!

Crush a few garlic cloves and cover them in olive oil. Let them soak for about half an hour. Rub the garlic oil onto the bottoms of your feet, cover them with warm socks, and go to sleep. The garlic is absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the lungs, where it does a wonderful job of clearing out congestion. You may have a little garlic taste in your mouth on rising, but a good tooth brushing should take care of any unpleasant odor.

Make this effective tea:

To a pot of boiled water, add a one inch piece of grated ginger, four tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice and three tablespoons of honey. Cover and let the mixture steep for about 20 minutes before drinking it. Ginger and honey are great immune system boosters, and lemon juice is a good source of vitamin C.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

FRUGAL HEALTH TIP #3: TEA TREE OIL

2008-09-19T04:43:00.005-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Tea tree oil is a product that I really love! I use it daily around my house.

Since it is effective against viruses, fungi, and bacteria, the three types of infectious organisms, it is a medicine cabinet in a bottle.

Here are some of the traditional uses of tea tree oil:

For respiratory ailments such as cold, asthma, bronchitis and sinusitis, put a few drops of tea tree oil in your vaporizer. Inhale the steam and you will feel wonderful, blessed relief!

As a first aid remedy, tea tree oil can be used to treat cuts, abrasions and scrapes. The anti-bacterial properties of tea tree oil prevent wounds from becoming infected.

Tea tree oil is also a traditional remedy for athletes foot fungus, blisters, burns, cold sores and acne. Dab a little on a damp cotton ball and treat the affected areas.

At home, I disinfect my toothbrush with it, and add a drop or two to my mouthwash. It is a common ingredient in toothpastes now, because it is wonderful at preventing gum disease.

I also add a few drops to a warm, damp washcloth and clean my face with it. It is refreshing and clarifying, and works as well as any pricey toner you get at a cosmetics counter! My son uses it in soap form to prevent acne breakouts.

One tiny bottle lasts me weeks! I don’t have to buy any expensive facial cleansers, antibiotic creams, cold or sinus remedies, or special mouthwashes.

Pick up a bottle for yourself!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Homemade Lavender Bath Products

2008-09-13T05:30:00.004-07:00

Lavender is lovely! It has a beautiful fragrance, and many healing properties. It is known to be a great nerve tonic, easing depression and anxiety and relieving stress. It is calming and can help induce sleep in insomniacs. It even has pain killing properties and can ease the agony of a migraine headache!

It is also widely used in natural skin care products. Lavender is antifungal and antiseptic so it is an effective acne treatment. It helps sooth sunburn, and speed healing of cuts and abrasions.

Below you will find a few recipes for lavender bath products that will baby your skin and help you unwind after a hard day. Why not give them a try?

Homemade Lavender Bath Cookies

2 cups finely ground sea salt
½ cup baking soda
½ cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons light oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
2 eggs
25 drops of lavender oil

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together all the ingredients.
Roll the dough into 1 inch balls, and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.
For an extra nice touch, decorate the dough with dove pieces or rose buds.
Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes or until they are lightly browned.
Be careful not to over bake them. Cool completely.
To use: Drop 1 or 2 cookies into a warm bath and allow to dissolve.

Relaxation Herbal Bath Tea

1 cup rosemary
2 cups lavender
2 cups rose petals
1 cup mint

Mix these dry ingredients together and keep in a sealed, dry jar. Use about ½ cup for each bath.
To use: Pour 1-2 cups boiling water over the herbs and steep for 15-20 minutes. Add to your bath water.

Lavender Herbal Milk Bath

2 cups cornstarch
2 cups dry milk powder
2 tablespoons of dried lavender, crumbled

Mix these dry ingredients together. Store them for future use in an airtight container.
For your bath, put about ½ cup of the mix into cheesecloth or a muslin bag. Be sure to tie it tightly. Add to your bath. You can tie kitchen string to the bag and float the bag in your bath as the water runs.

Homemade Lavender Bath Salts

1 cup Epsom salts
5 or more drops of lavender essential oil

Mix them together and keep in a covered jar. Allow the salts to sit for a few hours or overnight.
Add about ½ cup to running bath water.
To make it extra soothing to your skin, add 1 cup baking soda.
For a moisturizing effect, add 2-3 tsp. of honey.

Homemade Body Butter

4 TBSP. shea butter (found at any natural foods store)
1 to 2 TBSP. extra virgin olive oil
½ tsp. Vitamin E oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops geranium essential oil
2 drops rose essential oil

Place the shea butter and olive oil in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave 90 seconds (or until the shea butter is completely dissolved).
Allow the mixture to set for 30 minutes.
After it has cooled, add the Vitamin E and essential oils.
Stir well and let the mixture set for 12 hours.
Stir again after 12 hours and pour into a decorative container.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Make a Cooking Wreath with Herbs from your Garden

2008-09-09T00:18:00.003-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Herbs are wonderful things! They flavor our food, heal our minor ailments, beautify our gardens, and scent our homes. They are a joy to grow and use.

Did you have an exceptionally good yield from your garden this year? Do you have enough spices stored away for cooking?

Why not take your excess herbs and craft beautiful wreaths for yourself, and friends and family? They are easy to do, both useful and beautiful, and a homemade gift that is sure to be appreciated!

Following, you will find easy instructions for drying your herbs and arranging them into a variety of decorative wreaths. Why not give it a try?

To dry the herbs:

Cut fresh herbs and stems at least 6 inches long.
Tie the herbs in bundles with string and hang them upside down to dry for about two weeks.
Or, if you prefer, you can dry them in a single layer in a food dehydrator for 3-4 hours.

To make a wreath, you will need the following:

9 inch white willow wreath
8 small bundles of various dried herbs (try for example, basil, bay leaves, chive flower heads, dill, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and thyme)
30 dried red chili peppers
24-gauge green wire
Fishing line (6 pound test or stronger is best)
4 strands of natural raffia

Cut two 12 inch lengths of wire. String the red chili peppers onto each length. Bunch the wired peppers together, and wrap them onto the willow wreath using additional wire.

Cut a 2 yard length of fishing line and tie the end onto the back of the wreath.

Place one bundle of herbs on the front of the wreath, besides the peppers. Wrap the fishing line around the bundle and the wreath once or twice to hold them in place.

Place the leafy portion of the next bundle over the stems of the previous bundle. Secure with fishing line, and repeat until the ring is complete (try to keep the look of the wreath balanced by alternating bright and bushy herbs as you go around the circle).

Tie the end of the fishing line onto the back of the wreath and trim off the excess.

Tie the strands of natural raffia into a bow and place it at the top of the wreath.

Hang an attractive pair of small scissors from the wreath, so you can easily snip off what you need when you are cooking.

NOTE: To best preserve the look of your wreath and the flavor of the herbs, avoid hanging it in direct sunlight, or in areas of excessive moisture.

You might also want to create a wreath centered around a theme.

Does your family love homemade pizza? Make an Italian wreath with basil, oregano, garlic, and red peppers.

Are you crazy for Mexican food or homemade fresh salsa? Try designing a wreath with a variety of peppers, fresh cilantro, garlic, and onion chives.

For those of you who enjoy sipping herbal teas, try making a wreath with anise, chamomile, cloves, dandelion, lemongrass, mint, raspberry leaves and sassafras.

To make a lovely, fragrant wreath to scent your home, use fennel, lavender, mint, rosemary, and thyme.

Try decorating the wreaths with nice extra touches. For your pizza wreath, adorn it with a red and white checkered bow, reminiscent of the tablecloths you see in Italian restaurants. Add a little sombrero or dangle a pair of castanets from your Mexican wreath. Hang a tea infuser from your herbal tea wreath. Add a nice lace and ribbon sachet pillow to your fragrance wreath. The possibilities are endless — just use your imagination!

To find more beautiful herbal and garden crafts, check out the Garden Crafts Special Issue published by Crafts magazine.

Or visit their website at http://craftsmag.com.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

FRUGAL HEALTH TIP #2-SEVEN SUPER USES FOR LEMONS IN HOME REMEDIES

2008-09-09T00:01:00.006-07:00

To stop a nosebleed, saturate a cotton ball with a mixture of equal parts of lemon juice and water. Dab the cotton repeatedly onto the nasal mucous membrane. The astringent properties of lemon juice cause the tissues to draw together and the bleeding to stop.

To alleviate sore throat and hoarseness, dilute the juice of one fresh lemon with one cup of hot water. Use it as a gargle three times a day. This is also an effective remedy for canker sores or lesions inside the mouth.

Diluted lemon juice also takes the pain out of sunburn. Merely saturate a cotton ball with a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and water, and dab it gently on the affected skin.

Are you having trouble sleeping? Pour one cup of boiling water over one tablespoon of dried lemon leaves, and steep for ten minutes. Drink one cup of tea an hour before bedtime. You will be seeing the sandman soon afterwards!

To purify the air in a sick room, mix together 8 drops of lemon oil, 1 drop of clove oil, 2 drops of thyme oil, and 1 drop of tea tree oil and heat it in a diffuser.

To fight fatigue, mix 2 drops of lemon oil and 2 drops of peppermint oil in a small bowl. Dip a cold, moist cloth into the mixture. Lie down in a quite place, and drape the cloth like a compress over your forehead and temples. Breath deeply. In a few minutes, you will feel refreshed and renewed.

To ease the ache of the flu, take a nice warm shower or bath. Add 20-30 drops of lemon oil to one cup of sunflower oil and massage it well into your skin. Cover yourself with a good blanket, and go to sleep. By morning your aches and pains will be gone!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Why We Should Teach our Children to be Frugal

2008-09-06T07:33:00.005-07:00

Our children today are raised in a very materialistic society. They are marketed to constantly by predatory advertisers. Companies develop shows that revolve around an entire line of toys, games, and videos. The message to kids today is buy, buy, buy!

In school, a child’s popularity is often a direct result of having the most and best toys, or from having the nicest clothes. The message is sent that a person’s self-worth is directly tied to their ability to own things. How sad!

Teaching a frugal lifestyle to kids is the antidote to this sickness, and has many benefits.

For example:

Frugal children are creative. They learn to think outside the box, and see multiple uses for common things. A piece of aluminum foil becomes more than something to wrap vegetables in on the grill. It becomes a way to correct the magnetic field of your TV set, a way to remove rust from your car’s bumper, a scissors sharpener, and a way to remove static cling from clothes.

Kids that are creative can go on to invent new things and find solutions to problems that plague society. They embrace multiple possibilities and solutions for things. What a great mindset to cultivate in a child!

Teaching frugal living also helps kids learn to manage their time and resources and not be wasteful. Are you out of wrapping paper for a present for a birthday party? Don’t hop in the car and spend your gasoline and time getting an item or two.

Encourage your child to make some wrapping paper. Surely there are comics, colored paper, aluminum foil, stickers, glitter, markers, pieces of cloth, felt, crayons etc. in your home they can use?

Making do with what you have is a good thing to teach a child. As adults, they won’t always have the financial wherewithal to indulge every purchasing whim, nor the time to drive, shop and wait in line for small items. Being resourceful with what lies at hand is a way to instill some sense of basic restraint and discipline.

Frugal living also improves the quality of your family’s life. You don’t spend money impulsively and waste your time and resources running around shopping. The money you save can be used for the enrichment of your own family.

What you save on buying second hand school clothes, packing homemade lunches, and setting reasonable limits on Christmas shopping, can be put towards a great family vacation, for example.

Enlist your kids in the selection of what to cut back on and what to save for. They will become willing partners in your plans to conserve, and learn lots in the process.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

FRUGAL HEALTH TIP #1

2008-09-04T04:39:00.011-07:00

THE BENEFITS OF BANANAS

Tens of millions of Americans have no health insurance. They simply can't afford it!
The cost of prescription drugs is outrageous, and he loss of wages from missing work due to illness can be a real budget killer for many.

It is best to try and stay as healthy as possible, by eating plenty of nutritious foods. Bananas are a great choice to add to your diet. They are low cost, easily available, and have numerous health benefits.

Here are just a few:
Bananas are high in potassium, the mineral the body utilizes to normalize your heartbeat, send oxygen to the brain and regulate the balance of water.

Doctors routinely prescribe potassium for patients with high blood pressure. According to new research in the New england Journal of Medicine, potassium can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke by about 40%!

Bananas are the only raw fruit that people afflicted with ulcers can eat. That is because they neutralize acidity in the body, and coat the lining of the stomach so it feels less irritated.

When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises and levels of potassium are depleted. We can then feel edgy and irritable. Eating bananas restores the balance of potassium and that stressed out feeling subsides.

Bananas are also a good source of vitamin B6, a mood stabilizer. Women with PMS can benefit from eating bananas to help with mood swings during their menstrual cycles.
They also contain other B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Constipation can be a thing of the past for you, if you consume bananas. They ae high in fiber, making laxatives unnecessary.

Are you anemic? Bananas are high in iron, which is needed for the production of healthy blood.

A school in England gave students a banana at lunch and for a daytime snack, and found pupils were more alert and able to concentrate on their lessons.

Finally, bananas are a great cure for hangovers! Make a banana milkshake sweetened with honey. The milk re-hydrates you, the bananas coat your jumpy stomach, and the honey replenishes your depleted blood sugar that is giving you that pounding headache.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Crazy Uses for Cola Drinks!

2008-09-01T09:58:00.007-07:00

Everybody has cola in their house, new and bubbly, and even old and flat. Believe it or not, it is not just for drinking!

Here are a few surprising uses for this common soft drink:

For your car:

Use it to debug or deice your windshield. Get rust off your bumper by dipping a crumpled piece of aluminum foil in cola and rubbing on the affected area. It is also great for removing oil stains from concrete. Simply pour the soda on the greasy area, let it sit for a while and then hose it off.

In your yard and garden:

Spray your lawn with it once a month for greener grass. Also use it as an effective bug repellent. Mix a 12 oz. can of cola with 1 cup of ammonia and 1/4 cup of liquid dish soap, and spray it on your lawn or plants.

Around the house as a cleaning product:

Use it to clean your grout. Simply pour it on the tile and scrub it with a toothbrush. Do you have a burnt pan? Pour cola in it and bring it to a boil. The baked on crust will come right off! De-scale your tea kettle with it as well. Let the soda sit in the kettle for a day and then rinse it thoroughly and wipe it dry. You can even use cola to get permanent marker out of carpet! Pour coke oon the stained area and let it sit a few minutes. Scrub it gently with a brush. Follow up with soapy water and blot the area dry. In the laundry room, you can remove the fish smell from clothes by washing your laundry in it.

Is your swimming pool rusty? Add two 2 liter bottles of cola to the water and the rust will be gone!

If you go to the beach and get stung by a jelly fish, pour cola on it right away. It will relieve the pain.

As a hair product:

Do you want perfect curls? Pour it on your long hair and let it soak in a few minutes, then shampoo it as normal. If your dye job came out too dark, you can use diet cola to fade or remove the dye. (Note: You must use diet cola for this to work.) Did you get gum in your hair? Soak it in a bowl of cola for a few minutes and then wipe. The gum will come right out!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Cost-Cutting Uses for Kitty Litter

2008-08-27T20:28:00.008-07:00

Cat litter is a low cost, versatile product that can clean up and deodorize your home.

Here are just a few practical, frugal ideas:

Put cat litter in old pantyhose or socks, and put them inside gym bags, sleeping bags and tents. They will stay odorless, dry and free of mold. You can also place the socks in chests, trunks or boxes to freshen books and other stored items.

Use kitty litter to soak up fresh spills, including oil in the driveway or carport. Simply put a generous layer of litter over the affected area and wait a few minutes for the mess to be absorbed.

Scented cat litter, placed in a small container, is great for deodorizing refrigerators and closets. Remember to change it regularly, as you would baking soda.

Place kitty litter in the bottom of an ashtray. It absorbs smoky odors and puts out the ashes quickly.

Cat litter in the bottom of garbage pails is a good way to keep them deodorized, and free of sticky spills.

Do you have a koi pond? Use cat litter to clean up an algae problem. Use one pound of litter per 2,000 gallons of pond water. The bentonite in the litter kills the algae. Your pond may appear muddy at first, but the water will clear after a day or two.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Cost-cutting Uses for Club Soda

2008-08-24T05:08:00.006-07:00

Club soda is a versatile, inexpensive product that can be used in many areas in a frugal household.

Here are a few of them:

Do you have lackluster houseplants? Water them with old club soda that has gone flat. The minerals are beneficial to the health and vitality of your potted friends!

Are you tired of paying high prices for soft drinks, and don’t like the obesity causing high fructose corn syrup they contain? Make your own soft drinks with club soda, mixed with the fruit juice of your choice. You can be creative with the flavor combinations and not get bored drinking the same old sodas.

If you have an upset stomach, drink a little club soda. It will take away that queasy feeling.

Club soda is great for removing stains from fabrics. Dab a little on a spot on a piece of clothing and watch it disappear! You can remove wine stains from carpet with it as well.

Do you need to degrease your car windshield? Spray it with club soda and wipe it down.

Around the house, club soda is a great cleaning product. Spray it on porcelain and stainless steel, and use it to wipe down your kitchen counter tops.

Have you ever cooked with club soda? Substitute club soda for the liquid in your favorite pancake or waffle recipe, and see how light and fluffy they turn out!

Do you have nuts and bolts that are rusty and hard to remove? Pour a little club soda on them. The bubbles will dissolve the rust.

Has your blond hair turned green from the chlorine in your swimming pool? No worries! Rinse your hair with club soda and your normal color will return.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Practical Frugal Uses for VO5 Hair Conditioner

2008-08-20T19:25:00.004-07:00

My grandmother was a bottle blonde. Weekly she would torture her hair by combing a bottle of peroxide through it. I thought for sure she would have dry, brittle hair, but hers was soft and shiny, and oh so touchable!

Her secret? Alberto VO5 leave-in, gel hair conditioner.

It is still available in drug stores today, and I have discovered it has lots of practical uses.

Here are just a few:

Make cleaning your hands after painting or doing greasy jobs easy. Just rub some VO5 on them before you start working, and wash your hands when you are done. Paint and grease comes right off!

Do you need to get a ring off that is stuck on your finger? Rub VO5 on it and then hold your hand over your head to let the blood drain away. The ring will slide offeasily.

Do you have dry, chapped skin? Use VO5 as a heavy- duty moisturizer.

VO5 can also be used to condition leather, and it is far less expensive than the mink oil that is usually recommended. Rubbing it on shoes can protect them from winter salt and ice, and prevent them from squeaking as well.

You can detangle your pet’s coat with VO5, and protect their feet outdoors, by rubbing a little on their paw pads!

Do you have a horse? Use VO5 to shine their hooves, detangle their mane and tail, and condition the leather saddle you ride on.

VO5 is also a great lubricant. Use it to keep medicine cabinet doors sliding easily on their tracks, to make pipe joints fit together easily, to keep hinges from squeaking, prevent dresser drawers from sticking, and make refrigerator racks slide easily.

Do you have wood paneling in your house? Rub it into wood to keep it from drying out. You can also use it to cover scratches. Apply a little to the damaged area and just buff the scratches out.

Are your kids sports enthusiasts? VO5 can be used to lubricate bicycle chains and keep skateboards and roller skates gliding smoothly.

You can prevent nuts and bolts from rusting together by putting a thin coat of VO5 on them before screwing them together. A thin coating applied to tools keeps them rust-free as well.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal Uses for Dental Floss

2008-08-20T19:23:00.004-07:00

Dental floss isn’t just for cleaning between your teeth! It has lots of other practical uses, both indoors and out.

In the kitchen, you can use waxed dental floss to cut perfect slices of cake, or cheese, and to lift cookies off the baking sheet. It also is a good choice for trussing a bird before baking, or sewing the bird’s cavity shut so the stuffing doesn’t fall out.

Do you go camping? Bring along dental floss in case you need to repair your tent or replace a broken shoelace. It is much stronger than thread or string.

If you have a heavy winter coat with big buttons, reattach them with dental floss. It prevents them from falling off.

Dental floss is also great for repairing torn screen doors or the mesh on playpens.

Little hands find dental floss easy to use when making necklaces or stringing beads. They slide right on the string!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Uses for Clear Nail Polish

2008-08-20T19:22:00.006-07:00

When I was a young girl, I used clear nail polish to strengthen my nails, and to make them look pretty. Back then, I didn’t really think of other uses for it. But now, as a frugal middle-aged mom, I can appreciate its versatility as a cheap fix for a variety of problems.

Here are just a few creative uses for clear nail polish:

Paint over the center of a button with clear polish. It reinforces the thread, and prevents them from unraveling, and causing the button to fall off.

Dab it on screws, or on the bottom of a can of shaving cream. It prevents rust from forming.

Apply it to a small run that is starting on your pantyhose. It will keep the fabric from ripping further.

Laminate small objects with it, like the label of a pill bottle or the front of an ID card. It keeps the print clear and easy to read.

Tighten loose knobs on doors and closets. Simply brush clear nail polish on the threads of the screw and reinsert it in the hole. When the polish dries, there will be a nice tight fit.

Use clear polish to fix small dings, dents and holes in wood floors, paneling, car windshields or windows. Just fill the hole with polish and let it dry.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Frugal Uses for Bananas and their Peels in your Garden

2008-08-20T19:18:00.004-07:00

Bananas are delicious and nutritious for humans. But did you know they are wonderfully healthy for plants as well?

Bananas and their peels are rich in potassium and phosphorous, two essential nutrients for healthy plants. Dry the peels on a screen, and then grind them up in your food processor or blender. This makes a high-quality mulch for seedlings and new plants. You can use larger pieces of cut, dried banana skins around the base of your older plants as well.

One bonus of adding banana peels to your garden is that those pesky little aphids hate them! Simply put dried or cut up peels around the base of affected plants, about an inch or two under the soil, and watch them move on to your neighbor’s vegetable patch!

The rotted fruit of the banana, and the peels are both good additions to your compost pile. Just be sure to bury the fruit deep in the middle. Otherwise you may attract skunks, raccoons and other night-visitors looking for a midnight snack.

Do you want to attract birds and butterflies to your yard? Put over-ripe bananas, and other sweet fruits such as mangoes and melons on a raised platform in your yard. Your winged friends will make a bee-line for it! Some nature enthusiasts recommend punching some holes in the bananas and filling them with sugar water from a hummingbird feeder, or some sports drink. It makes it easier for the butterflies to feed on the fruit.

Bananas are good for houseplants as well. Instead of misting the leaves with water to clean them, rub the leaves with the inside of a banana peel. It gives the leaves a nice shine.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Peroxide: Versatile and Frugal Uses for your Home

2008-08-19T03:52:00.005-07:00

Do you want to clean, freshen, and kill bacteria and fungus around your home for just pennies per use? Then get out that bottle of hydrogen peroxide.

Here are just a few of its wonderful, frugal uses:

In the Laundry room:
Use one cup of peroxide in your wash,instead of bleach, to whiten your clothes.

For those of you with a green thumb:
Put one ounce of peroxide in one ounce of water, and use it to mist your plants, to keep the leaves healthy.

You can also use it to sprout seeds. Just add one ounce of peroxide to one pint of water. Add the same amount of peroxide each time you rinse the seeds.

In the kitchen:
Use peroxide to wipe down all of your surfaces. It sanitizes everything beautifully!

Peroxide also is an effective pesticide remover, so use it when cleaning you fruits and vegetables. Just wash your fresh produce in a sink of cold water with a little salt and 1/4 cup of peroxide. It prolongs the freshness of your food.

Peroxide is also good for washing chicken, and other meats. Use a little salt and peroxide in chilled water. It kills any bacteria and viruses that may be lurking!

In the bathroom:
Keep a spray bottle with half water/half peroxide handy for spraying down your shower and bathtub. It kills germs and keeps them nice and clean.

You can also use peroxide on your toothbrush, to kill bacteria, and to make a cheap tooth whitener. Just swish a teaspoon of peroxide around in your mouth every day, after each time you brush your teeth.

Straight peroxide on a cotton ball is a great acne treatment. Just clean your face with it 3 or 4 times a day and watch those pimples disappear!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com</span>

Frugal Gardening Tips

2008-08-17T03:35:00.008-07:00

Are you an avid gardener? Great! Homegrown food is the freshest and most nutritious.

Gardening supplies can be a little expensive, so here are some real cost cutting suggestions:

Don't use expensive black plastic bags between the rows of your garden to cut down on weeds. Use old newspapers instead. You can also shred them to make an inexpensive mulch and use them to cover plants if frost weather is in the forecast.

If you pick tomatoes when they are green and they need to ripen a bit, just wrap them in a piece of newspaper and store them in a cool, dark place for a few days.

Are you transporting fresh flowers? Wrap them in damp newspaper so they don't wilt.

Make a mat from newspapers to kneel on while you are gardening. It is more comfortable to work that way, and your pants won't get soiled.

Don't buy little pots to plant seedlings, use eggshells instead! When you are ready to plant the seedlings, just crush the shells and leave them in the soil. They provide an extra source of calcium, which is good for plants. Tomato plants especially love calcium enriched soil. It prevents blossom end rot.

Old coffee grounds are also good for enriching soil.

Do you want to keep slugs and snails out of your garden? Put a barrier of crushed egg shells around the perimeter of your vegetable patch. They don't like the sharp edges.

Are ants and cutworms a problem for you? surround your garden with a ring of old coffee grounds to keep them away.

To get rid of anthills, mix one pound of old coffee grounds and one quart of warm water, and spray it on the trouble spots in your yard.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

11 Fantastic Frugal Uses for Aluminum Foil

2008-08-17T03:02:00.007-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Aluminum foil is not just for cooking food, or wrapping up left overs. It has lots of great uses!

For example:

You can use a crumpled up ball of foil in your clothes dryer to prevent static cling.

If you need to iron a delicate fabric, just line the ironing board with a piece of foil and put the garment on top of it. Hold your iron about three inches above the fabric and press down on the steam button. the wrinkles will come right out!

Are your scissors dull? Cut through a stack of foil that is several sheets thick, and they will become sharp again.

If you need to clean a crust barbecue grill, or a pan with dried on food, use a ball of aluminum foil instead of a wire brush or a steel wool pad.

Are you painting your house? Cover your hardware and doorknobs with foil to keep dripping paint off them.

Aluminum foil rolled into a cone shape makes a quick and easy funnel, or pastry bag.

Foil placed on the crust of a pie, half-way through the baking process, prevents the crust from getting too brown. You can use a metal pin or clip to hold the foil in place.

Are you out of wrapping paper? Use aluminum foil! Add pretty glitter, stickers, ribbons etc. for an additional decorative touch.

Do you hate to polish silver? No problem! Line a pan with aluminum foil, fill it with cold water, and add two teaspoons of salt. Let your silverware soak for a few minutes and then just dry it off.

To prevent future tarnishing, wrap you good silver tightly in saran wrap, being careful to get as much air out as possible. Then wrap the pieces again in aluminum foil and seal the ends.

Bad TV reception? It could be from stacking your VCR on top of, or under your TV. Simply slip a piece of foil between the two, and watch the signal clear right up!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Creating Frugal Halloween Costumes

2008-08-16T04:22:00.005-07:00

A shopping trip to buy Halloween costumes for your kids can be a real shock. The prices are high, the quality is not so hot, and they can hardly be used for more than one year.

A better alternative is to make your own costumes at home. For some real family fun, let the kids do most of the work themselves.

For example:

Do you have an old sheet? Make a ghost costume by cutting out some eye holes. Then give the kids some permanent markers of various colors, and let them draw all the creepy-crawly, scary, graveyard looking stuff they want.

How about dressing up like a hobo? I did that when I was a little girl. My mom tucked my long golden curls up under a railroad hat, and made a beard out of maple syrup and coffee grounds. She took a pair of my brothers pants that were too big on me, and tied them around my waist with a piece of rope. She added a big shirt, buttoned crooked, mismatched socks, over-sized beat up shoes, stuffed in the toes so I could walk, and a knapsack made from a tree branch, and a handkerchief stuffed with clothes.

An angel costume is another idea that is easy on the budget. Again, use an old sheet for the robe. Decorate it with markers and glitter,to make it pretty. Fashion a halo from a wire hanger and aluminum foil. Use cardboard to cut out wings, and cover them with foil too.

Are your kids natural born clowns? Use a variety of mismatched clothes, both too large and too small to create a comical looking outfit. Get creative with your make up kit to make an outlandish face. Tease and gel their hair into a goofy style. And then splurge and spend a dollar on a clown nose, or make one from a small red rubber ball, if you have one around the house. Do you have a straw hat you use for gardening? Decorate it with plastic flowers, feathers, or anything else you have lying around home. The crazier the better!

If you have any aspiring rock stars in the family, try dressing your kids all in black. Spike their hair with colored hair glue to make it look funky. Borrow your dog's collar for a necklace, and use a bandana for their head gear. Any spiky jewelry you have will add a nice touch as well.

These costumes are cheap, fun to put together, and can be memorable because the kids got to help and add their own creative input. Why not get out the family video camera and record the mayhem for posterity? :-)

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Practical Frugal Uses for Fabric Softener Sheets

2008-08-07T05:07:00.005-07:00

Image by G3Cube via Flickr

Those lovely smelling fabric softener sheets, that prevent static cling, have multiple uses, both indoors and out. They can be a cheap alternative to other products, and they are small and easy to use.

Before you leave the laundry room, wipe out the inside of the dryer, the lint trap and the outside of your washing machine, with a new dryer sheet. Clean up any spilled detergent with it. It will keep the area dust and lint free, and smelling fresh.

Use a sheet to de-bug your car's windshield and exterior. Wet the area first, and wipe it down with a dryer sheet. It cleans off squashed insects like a charm!

Put some dryer sheets under your lawn chair, on your beach towel, or hanging out of your shirt pocket while gardening outdoors. They act as a bug repellent.

Need to clean a tough cooking mess? Put a dryer sheet in the bottom of a gritty pot or pan and cover it with water. Let it soak for a couple of hours, then clean. Burnt and stuck on foods will come right off.

You can also use the sheets to remove latex paint from paintbrushes. Stick a dryer sheet in a pan of warm water and add the paintbrushes. Let them soak for a minute or two. The paint will come right off.

Put dryer sheets inside your shoes, underneath car seats, in air conditioning vents, dirty clothes hampers, or anywhere else you need to freshen up. They will leave a nice clean scent.

Carry them in your purse for a beauty touch up! If your pantyhose, clothes or hair are suffering from static cling, wipe down the affected area. The static cling will be gone in seconds and you will smell fresh.

Have a wet dog or cat? Wipe down their fur with a dryer sheet to get rid of that funky fur smell!

You can also use dryer sheets to clean your combs and hairbrushes. Add two dryer sheets to a container of warm water and let your brushes soak for a couple of hours. Rinse them after your remove them. You will notice that built up hair products and hairspray will be gone and the bristles will smell nice too!

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Creative Uses for Dryer Lint

2008-08-04T19:54:00.004-07:00

Don't throw out that fuzz from your dryer's lint screen! You can turn it into many practical and beautiful items.

For example, why not give lint of various colors to your children for art projects? They can use it for anything that needs a soft and fluffy look, like Santa's beard or a snowman on a homemade Christmas card, fluffy clouds on a picture, or the pom-pom buttons on a clown's suit.

If you sew, use it for stuffing. I saved up my lint for several months, and put it inside cloth ornaments I was sewing for my Christmas tree. It sure beat buying that expensive pillow stuffing at the craft store, and looked every bit as nice.

Why not make homemade paper with it? You can use it for scrapbook pages, wrapping small gifts, or make a stationery set with a nice pen for a gift.

Here is the recipe for turning lint into paper:

Make a concoction called "slurry" by mixing torn scraps of paper, dryer lint and water together in a blender. Pour it onto a paper-making frame that is placed in a pan of water. Carefully lift the frame up, flip the paper out and let it dry.

You can also use dryer lint to make clay:

Mix together 2 cups of firmly packed lint, 1/3 of a cup of warm water, 1 tablespoon of clear dish washing liquid, and 6 tablespoons of white glue. If you want to add color or sparkle, mix in a few drops of food coloring or glitter. Mix and knead evenly into a nice pliable clay.

Animals also like dryer lint! Give it to your hamster for bedding. Or leave it outside for birds to line their nests with it. This works best in desert climates, as lint can absorb a lot of moisture, and might waterlog the nest in cold or rainy climates.

Keep cold air from coming in the house under your doors. Simply stuff dryer lint into old tube socks, and use it as a draft stopper.

Put lint inside toilet paper rolls and use it for a fire starter when camping, or for your home fireplace. Remember that lint is very flammable, so store it carefully. Try putting the fire-starters in a coffee can. It will keep the lint dry while camping outdoors.

Finally, use lint as a packing material, instead of buying those expensive padded envelopes at the post office.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Creative Uses for Old Pantyhose

2008-08-01T03:39:00.006-07:00

If you are like me, you hate to see a pair of pantyhose gets runs. They are so expensive for a good pair, and they just don't seem to last very long! Rather than throw them out, I have found numerous second uses for them.

For example, use the waistband as you would a giant rubber band or piece of rope.
Put it around your trash can, to keep the liner from falling in. Use it to tie together stacks of newspapers, before you haul them to the trash. In the garden, use them to tie your tomato plants to the stakes.

In the past, I've used cut up pieces of pantyhose for craft stuffing. It worked wonderfully filling cloth Christmas tree ornaments I was sewing for the tree.

You can use the foot part for several things. Make a pet toy by stuffing it with old cloth, knee high stockings with runs, or even dryer lint, and fold the nylon back over itself several times. If needed, sew the end closed.

You can also fill the feet with old soap pieces, potpourri or herbs and spices to make air fresheners. Put them in drawers, closets, and in cabinets that get musty smelling,

Put garlic and onions in them and hang them from a hook in the kitchen. This allows air to circulate freely around them, and helps keep them fresh.

The legs can be used as a filter to cover the end of a shop vac, or pool skimmer. It keeps finer pieces of dirt and debris from clogging things up.

Those are just a few ideas to get you started. How many creative uses can you find?

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Slash Grocery Costs with These Simple Tips

2008-07-30T19:47:00.005-07:00

These days, a trip to the grocery store can be a sobering experience. Ever increasing food costs are straining the budgets of countless families.

Consider these facts:

According to U.S. Department of Labor, the average American family of four spends $709 a month, or $8,508 per year, on groceries. (That doesn't include eating in restaurants.)
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture,food prices climbed 4 percent in 2007, the biggest annual increase since 1990, and prices are projected to rise 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent this year.
In a recent USA Today/Gallup Poll of 1,016 adults, 46 percent said the higher cost of food is creating a financial hardship.

So, what can families do to keep ample food on the table, without emptying their wallets?

First, kick the convenience food habit. That simple strategy can shave a whopping 25% off your food costs! Grate your own cheese, make your own salad dressings and gravies, prepare your own coleslaw and salad mixtures. Make your own fresh, preservative free, vitamin rich baby foods in a food processor.

Next, stop wasting food! According to a study from the University of Arizona, Americans throw out 25% of the produce they buy each year, which amounts to about 470 pounds! Try buying vegetable bin liners that increase the shelf life of your food, or buy storage containers with a good locking seal, to prevent oxidation and absorption of food odors.

Shop with a strategy. Compile a list, and only buy what is on it. Clip coupons. Take advantage of store promotions. Buy generic when possible. Only shop when there are 10 or more items you need to buy. Avoid impulse buying like the devil avoids holy water!

According to a study by the non-profit Marketing Science Institute, shoppers who make quick trips to the store purchase 54 percent more than they had planned.

Be creative with your menu planning. Try cooking once but eating twice. Tonight's roasted chicken leftovers can become tomorrow's soup at lunch. The blueberries that graced this morning's cereal can be made into muffins or pancakes.

Spend some time doing prep work after you unpack your groceries. Chop your vegetables ahead of time. Put half in a storage container in the refrigerator for this week's cooking. Put the other half in a freezer storage bag for future use. It cuts down your cooking time to have foods already cleaned, cut and sorted by recipe ingredients. It also prevents food from spoiling, and ending up in the garbage can.

Pay attention to the price per ounce comparisons. Whenever possible, buy in bulk.

Finally, eat in restaurants less. When you do go, bring coupons, get the "early bird" specials, free birthday desserts, senior citizen discounts or "kids eat free" deals.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Make Scentsational Gifts with Dried Flowers

2008-07-29T03:33:00.005-07:00

Make Scentsational Gifts with Dried Flowers

Flowers are some of nature’s finest artwork. Their soft beauty, wonderful aromas, and vivid splashes of eye-catching color can cheer any living space and bring contentment to the soul.

It is very easy to preserve the breath-taking beauty of fresh flowers, and to turn them into lasting, hand-crafted gifts. Try using blooms from your garden or wildflowers you gather on a nature walk to make lovely, scented soaps or potpourri.

Following you will find three easy soap recipes, and two lovely potpourri mixtures to get you started. From there, using your natural creativity and imagination, you can come up with many more ideas, I am sure!

Why not make it a family project? Take a nice pair of garden shears and a wicker gathering basket with you on a walk. Cut and dry the flowers using the easy instructions below. And after the recipes are made, enlist the help of the kids to add lace, ribbons, gift tags, and other decorative touches.

Now, let the fun begin!

Flower drying tips:

• Select flowers that are just beginning to open. (Flowers cut at a later stage may drop their petals in the drying process).

• Cut them in the late morning, after the dew has dried, or on a dry day.

• Bundle 8-10 flowers together and secure the end of the stems with rubber bands.

• Insert an unraveled paper clip or florist wire through the rubber band and make a hook.

• Hang the flower bundle upside down from a piece of lattice, or on a peg or a hook, out of direct sunlight.

• Flowers are dry when they feel crisp to the touch. The drying time varies, depending on temperature and kind of flowers, but generally are ready in 1-3 weeks.

Some flowers that dry well are:

African marigold, cornflower, delphinium, lavender, larkspur, pompon dahlia, rose and yarrow.

To make dried flower hand soaps:

Using a coarse grater, make shavings from 12 ounces of a gentle unscented soap.

Sprinkle the soap shavings with about 1/4 cup of warm water. Stir until moistened, then allow the mixture to sit for about 10 minutes so the soap softens.

Add the essential oils, crushed dried flowers, and/or ground spices.

(HINT: Measure the dried flowers first, and then crush them gently in a blender or food processor. Don’t add too many flowers, as it will cause the soap to crumble when it dries).

Using your hands, mix the scented oil and flowers or spices into the soap mixture until evenly distributed. Form the soap mixture into small balls.

Squeeze the ball firmly to remove air pockets, so the soap won’t fall apart when dry.

Roll each ball in leftover soap shavings and crushed flowers or spices.

Set balls on waxed paper to dry for at least a week. Squeeze them every other day to keep them round while drying.
When dry, wrap them in decorative cellophane to help them retain their scent.

Yield: Approximately six soaps that can be stored up to one year.

Here are three soap recipes you can try:

• Lavender Soap - add 1/2 cup dried, crushed, lavender flowers and 15 drops lavender oil.

• Rose Petal Soap - use 1/4 cup warmed rose water in place of the water mentioned earlier. Add 1/2 cup dried, crushed, rose petals and 1 teaspoon rose oil.

• Holiday Soap - add 2 teaspoons grated orange peel, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger and 15 drops cinnamon oil.

(Note: If the soaps lose their scent over time, freshen them by adding an additional drop or two of essential oil).

Here are two nicely scented potpourri recipes you can make:

Rose Potpourri

2 cups dried rose petals and leaves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp allspice
1 and 1/2 tsps orris root
6 drops rose oil
a 1 quart container

Combine the rose petals and leaves, along with the cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Mix well. Drop the rose oil directly on the orris root, and add it to the mixture. Age it three weeks or longer, shaking daily.

Cottage Garden Mix

1 cup dried lavender flowers
1 cup dried rose petals
1 cup dried pinks (Dianthus)
1 cup dried scented geranium leaves
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground allspice
1 teaspoon dried grated lemon peel
2 tablespoons orris-root powder
3 drops rose oil
3 drops geranium oil

Mix ingredients together in a covered container, and set aside for six weeks. Stir daily to distribute the fragrances.

Sources:

The Homemakers Journal
http://www.homemakersjournal.com

Birds and Blooms, June/July 1997

The Essential Aromatherapy Book
Carole McGilvery and Jimi Reed
Lorenz Books, 1995

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Homemade Aromatherapy Products and Remedies for Babies

2008-07-29T03:28:00.005-07:00

Homemade Aromatherapy Products and Remedies for Babies

Babies! Their breath-taking perfection and fragile beauty stirs every mother’s heart. There isn’t anything a mom wouldn’t do to keep her baby healthy and happy.

Unfortunately, the baby products and remedies in today’s drug stores and super markets are filled with dyes, chemical irritants, perfumes and preservatives. These ingredients can harm your child’s tender skin, and perhaps irritate their delicate nasal passages and lungs.

And boy are they pricey!

If you want to pamper, soothe and heal your baby naturally, without breaking your family budget, try the ancient magic of aromatherapy.

Following you will find simple recipes for baby products you use every day, and natural remedies for diaper rash, teething pain and general fussiness when your child is overly tired.

Try the recipes I have suggested, or create your own using the included list of essential oils and their healing properties. But please Mom, also notice and heed the included warnings as well!

Some general precautions:

Don’t use essential oils with children under three months of age.

When making products for babies, use half the amount of essential oil you would use for an adult.

For children 3 months to 2 years of age, use 5 drops of essential oil to every ounce (approximately 2 tablespoons) of carrier oil.

For children two years and older, you may increase the amount to 10 drops of essential oil for each ounce of carrier oil used.

Do NOT use mineral oil! This clogs the pores of your baby’s skin.

Oils safe for babies:

Chamomile
For colic, teething pain, and calming an overly tired child

Eucalyptus
For respiratory conditions, to lower fever, and to stop the itch of chicken pox

Geranium
For lifting spirits and refreshing the atmosphere

Lavender
For colic and thrush

Lemon Eucalyptus
For the treatment of cradle cap

Mandarin
To induce mild relaxation

Neroli
For deeper relaxation

Rose
For soothing dry or irritated skin

Sweet Orange
For calming a child and settling digestive upsets

Tea Tree
For burns. scrapes, cuts, general wound healing and the treatment of thrush

For children two years or older:

Ginger
For nausea and diarrhea

Lemon
For insect bites

Peppermint
For fever, colds, and nausea

Rosemary
A good decongestant

Clary Sage
A relaxant

Tangerine
For calming upset stomachs

Here are a few recipes you can try for cleaning baby’s bottom, soothing diaper rash, eliminating teething pain, soothing irritated skin, and making your child calm and relaxed.

Soothing Baby Massage Oil

4 oz of oil (try sunflower, almond, safflower or apricot)
5 drops of lavender essential oil
5 drops of sweet orange essential oil

Blend together well in a plastic bottle. Cap tightly.

As an alternative, you can use 10 drops of rose essential oil instead.
This has a pleasant fragrance and is great for soothing irritated skin.

NOTE: Not for babies! Use rose essential oil on children two years of age or older.

Teething Pain Gel

1 oz vegetable oil
1 to 2 drops of clove essential oil

Mix together and rub gently on your baby’s gums.

For a sweeter tasting gel, substitute vegetable glycerin instead.

Natural Baby Cleansing Wipes

1/8 cup of vegetable oil
1/8 cup of baby shampoo
1 and ½ to 2 cups of distilled water
8 drops of lavender essential oil
5 drops of tea tree oil

Cut a roll of paper towels in half. Remove the inner cardboard core.

Put the towels in an empty plastic diaper wipe container.

Pour the liquid over the towels and let it soak in.

Remove a towel from the center of the roll, and feed it into the pull slot in the top of the container for easy dispensing.

The lavender oil has anti-bacterial properties, and a soothing fragrance that calms your baby. The tea tree oil discourages the growth of mold.

Diaper Rash Remedy

Add one drop of chamomile oil to a dab of diaper rash ointment (generally sold in the drug store as zinc ointment with vitamins A and D).

Blend well and rub in the affected area.

Teething Relief

Mix 1 drop of chamomile oil in 1/8 cup of ice cold water.

Dip a cotton ball into the water, squeezing out the excess.

Rub the chamomile ice water across the baby’s sore gums.

Children's Calming Mist

Add to four ounces of water:

10 drops neroli oil
10 drops chamomile oil
10 drops mandarin oil
10 drops sweet orange oil:

Mist with a spray bottle into your child‘s play room.

For more information:

Natural Baby Care: Pure and Soothing Recipes and Techniques for Mothers and Babies (Natural Health and Beauty Series), by Colleen Dodt
Paperback: 144 pages
Storey Books; (April 1997)

Aromatherapy for Women and Children: Pregnancy and Childbirth
by Jane Dye
Paperback: 244 pages
The C.W. Daniel Company Ltd; (January 1993)

Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child: More Than 300 Natural, Non-Toxic, and Fragrant Essential Oil Blends
by Valerie Ann Worwood
Paperback: 320 pages
New World Library; (April 2000)

Herbs of Grace website
http://www.herbsofgrace.com

Stony Mountain Botanicals
http://www.wildroots.com

Driftwood Health
http://www.pureproducts.net/

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Hair Smoothies: The Frugal Fix for Frazzled Hair

2008-07-29T03:22:00.004-07:00

Hair Smoothies: The Frugal Fix for Frazzled Hair

I remember Grandma, and boy did she have beautiful hair!

As a woman who lived through the Great Depression and two World Wars, she had to learn to primp and preen on a shoestring. No expensive shampoos and conditioners. No pricey dye jobs. No weekly trips to the beauty parlor for a wash and set.

She merely whipped up a concoction or two right in her kitchen, to give her hair body, volume and shine, and to clobber the frizzies and split ends.

I have compiled several old time recipes, modernized by using that wonderful kitchen contraption, the blender! They use dairy products, fruits, eggs, honey, vanilla extract, fresh mint, and other healthy and fragrant ingredients.

They can be fixed in a snap, and cost just pennies per use! Why not give them a try?

To thicken and moisturize your hair, and give it a healthy shine:

Puree in your blender:

1 egg yolk
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup whole milk
4 tbsp. aloe vera gel and
4 fresh strawberries

Apply the mixture to damp, towel-dried hair. For best results, start at the roots and comb through to the end of the hair.

Place a shower cap or warm towel over your hair for 15 to 30 minutes.

Shampoo and rinse until the water runs clear.

To deep condition your hair and repair split ends:

Blend together:

1 tbsp. plain yogurt
1 tsp. wheat germ oil
1/8 tsp. lecithin granules
Squirt of honey
1 tsp. sweetened condensed milk
1/2 banana
1/4 of a peeled avocado

Brush the mixture on your hair in downward direction .

Wrap your scalp in plastic bag for 45 minutes.

Rinse thoroughly.

To add shine to your hair:

Blend together:

1 peeled red apple,
2 tablespoons baking soda, and
1/3 cup seltzer water

Apply to damp hair.

Leave on for 15 minutes.

Shampoo as usual.

To add volume:

Combine in your blender:

2 drops vanilla extract,
1 teaspoon chopped fresh mint and
1 cup plain yogurt

Work the mixture into damp hair.

Leave on for five minutes.

Rinse well.

To fight the frizzies:

Blend together:

1 tangerine
1 grapefruit
enough cornstarch to thicken.

Work through hair.

Leave on for 5 minutes.

Rinse well.

For more great hair tips, visit these websites:

Robert Hallowell, The Kitchen Beautician
and celebrity hair stylist

http://www.thekitchenbeautician.com/frames.html

Longhairlovers.com
http://www.longhairlovers.com/press.html

Great Day America
http://greatdayamerica.com/style/beauty/hairsmoothie.shtml

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

21 Frugal Uses for Coffee Grounds, Filters and Cans

2008-07-29T03:12:00.007-07:00

21 Frugal Uses for Coffee Grounds, Filters and Cans

Are you a big coffee drinker? If so, you probably toss a small mountain of grounds, filters and cans into the garbage every week…and into your city’s overflowing landfills as well.

Instead of throwing out the by products of your coffee pot, why not put them to practical use instead? Coffee grounds, filters and cans have scores of uses in the home, garden, workshop and campgrounds.

I have listed twenty one recycling tips to get you started. I bet you can think of dozens more! Why not give them a try?

Coffee grounds:

In the garden, they are great for repelling pests. To keep ants and cutworms away from your vegetables, surround your garden with a ring of coffee grounds. To rid yourself of ant hills, mix one pound of coffee grounds with one quart of hot water, and douse the trouble spots on your lawn with it.

Dump coffee grounds in your garden and flower beds to enrich the soil.

Do you want to start a worm farm? Mix together horse manure and coffee grounds to make a soil your wriggling friends will love.

Houseplants love coffee! Use the grounds to top off your potted plants, or mix them in with your potting soil. If you have left over coffee in your pot (without cream and sugar) use it to occasionally water your plants.

Use steeped coffee grounds and a cotton ball to touch up scratches on your furniture.

Dry coffee grounds thoroughly on a cookie sheet in your oven. Then stuff the grounds into old pieces of nylon stockings and tie off the ends. Put the stockings in your refrigerator, under kitchen sinks, and in musty smelling closets. The coffee is a great natural deodorizer!

Do you want to highlight your brown or black hair? Rinse it with a cooled pot of brewed coffee.

Coffee filters:

Line a planter with coffee filters. It prevents soil from leaking out when you water your plants.

Put filters between your good china dishes to prevent scratches.

Clean your glasses, mirrors, windows and computer screens with coffee filters. They are lint free!

Use coffee filters to recycle your cooking oil. Simply drain it through a filter lined sieve.

Ball up a coffee filter and use it to apply shoe polish.

Polish crystal and glassware with coffee filters.

Use coffee filters to cover dishes in the microwave. It will eliminate splatters and make clean up easier.

Coffee cans:

Fill a coffee can with charcoal briquettes, replace the plastic lid, and punch some holes in it. Place the can in closets and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets to absorb excess moisture.

Store cat litter in a coffee can in the trunk of your car. Use the litter for traction under your wheels when your car is stuck in mud, ice, or snow.

While camping, store your toilet paper in a coffee can. It will keep it waterproof.

Coffee cans are great for transporting live fishing bait. Fill the can with moist soil and worms. Cover with the can’s plastic lid a punch a few small air holes in it.

Use small coffee cans to protect young tomato plants. Cut the top and bottom off each can. Put one can around each plant and step on the end to sink it into the ground. Remove the cans when the plants are a few weeks old.

Grow better melons, with the help of old coffee cans. Sink coffee cans into the soil, bottom ends up. Place the melons on top of each can. The metal attracts heat which quickens ripening and repels insects.

Prevent paintbrush bristles from bending while you soak them in solvents. Fill the can with solvent and replace the plastic lid. Cut a slit in the lid, and push the paintbrush through the top. The snug fit keeps the paintbrush upright while the bristles rest in the liquid.

For more great ideas, try these resources:

Yankee Home Hints
Earl Proulx
St. Martin’s Press, 1993

Wacky Uses
http://www.wackyuses.com/maxwell.html

Cocoajava.com
http://cocoajava.com/java_feature_coffee_grounds.html

Recipecircus.com
http://recipecircus.com/recipes/Harper/TIPSnHINTS/Uses_For_Coffee_Filters.html

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Ten Creative Uses for Egg Shells and Egg Cartons

2008-07-29T03:06:00.005-07:00

Ten Creative Uses for Egg Shells and Egg Cartons

Eggs are a great value. They are inexpensive, versatile to use, and good tasting. They make an inexpensive, hearty meal, and even an old fashioned shampoo.

If you use a lot of eggs, like my family does, it isn’t long before you have an abundance of empty cartons lying around, and your trash full of egg shells.

Did you ever wish you could put those cartons and shells to better use? There are dozens of useful ways to recycle them! Here are just ten ideas to get you started. How many more bright ideas can you get your kids to come up with?

Uses for egg shells:

Make some egg shell art:

Egg shells are great for making easy mosaic pictures. Simply crush them up, and use them for boat sails, butterfly wings, flower petals etc. After gluing the shells to the picture you can paint over them with water color or poster paints. Or if you save the shells from dyed Easter eggs, you won’t need to paint them at all!

Plant seedlings and fertilize your garden:

Put a little potting soil into each shell, and add your seed. When the plants are ready to go into your garden, crush the egg shell, and add it to the soil. This will cause extra calcium and other essential minerals to leach into the ground, giving your plants extra nutrients. Tomato plants especially love extra calcium. It helps prevent blossom end rot.

Chase away slugs and snails:

Place a protective barrier of crushed egg shells around your garden. The edges are sharp and scratchy, and dry up the mucus these pests use to slide along the ground.

Feed them to your feathered friends:

Birds need calcium in their diets, just as humans do. This mineral helps them lay eggs with strong, protective shells. Add crushed egg shell pieces to your outdoor bird feeder. This treat is especially appreciated by swallows, martins and finches.

Make an unusual recipe:

Stuffed Egg Shells

6 hard boiled eggs
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 tablespoon chopped chives
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt.
1/2 cup bread or cracker crumbs.
1 tablespoon butter.

Using very sharp knife slice the eggs in half, lengthwise. Be careful not to destroy the shells.

Delicately remove the hard boiled eggs from the shells and chop. Save the egg shells.

In a small bowl, combine chopped eggs, parsley, chives, oil, salt and pepper.

Fill each egg shell with the mixture, flat to the edge.

Dip the stuffed egg shells into bread or cracker crumbs.

Fry in melted butter over medium low heat, until the bottoms are crisp but the stuffing inside the shells is cold.

Uses for egg cartons:

Make a backyard bird feeder:

Remove the lid from the egg carton.

Punch holes in the four corners, and attach lengths of strong yarn or twine. Gather the four strings into the center and knot them together.

Fill the compartments with bird seed.

Hang the feeder from a tree branch or a hanging plant hook on your porch.

Re-box board game pieces:

Are the boxes to your kid’s games falling apart? Are you afraid the small pieces will get lost?
Put the dice, game tokens etc. into an egg carton. Seal off the ends with strong rubber bands, and label the carton with the name of the game.

De-clutter your office desk drawer:

Remove the lid from the egg carton. Use the bottom tray to sort your paper clips, rubber bands, thumb tacks, correction fluid bottles, postage stamps etc.

Make a Disposable Paint Palette for your Kids:

Open up an empty egg carton the next time your child wants to paint. Use the compartments to hold various colors of poster paint, and the lid as a place to lay down the paintbrush. For easy clean-up afterwards, just close the lid and toss the whole egg carton into the trash.

Make a vitamin and pill organizer:

Number each compartment and arrange your daily vitamins and medications. Make a chart on the inside lid that tells the name of each item, the dosage and the time each pill is to be taken.

For more good ideas, try these resources:

Creative Kids at Home
http://www.homeschoolzone.com/pp/crafts/birds-eggcarton.htm

MomsView.com
http://www.momsview.com/discus/messages/41/10573.html

Byroads Magazine
http://byroads.com/magazine/talaxian/eggs.html

Home and Garden TV
http://www.hgtv.com

Homeschool Zone
http://www.homeschoolzone.com/pp/crafts/birds-eggcarton.htm

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

SIMPLE WAYS TO HEAL YOUR LIFE

2008-07-26T18:57:00.006-07:00

SIMPLE WAYS TO HEAL YOUR LIFE

We've all been there — overwhelmed by life, weary to the bone, and walking around with a cavernous void inside ourselves. We wish we could make all the stuff that is grinding us down just go away, but we have no mental clarity, no physical strength, no spiritual reserves to draw on. How do we climb our way out of the dark pit that we're in? It is easier than you might think.

First, resolve to take on day at a time, one hour at a time, or one moment at time if need be. Do whatever you can, no matter how small, just for that one day. Eventually little tasks completed bring noticeable results, and you begin to see progress and order where there once was chaos and confusion.

Next, learn to relax. Go to a quiet place. Sit with your eyes closed, spine straight, and feet flat on the floor. Breathe slowly and deeply for five minutes. When inhaling, think to yourself, "I am breathing in peace." When exhaling, think, "I am breathing out stress." Deep breathing releases tension, lowers blood pressure, and oxygenates the blood which improves mental clarity and physical energy
.
While you are relaxed and in a peaceful state, pray if you feel inclined, or quietly recall all you have in your life to be thankful for. Turning your thoughts form the negative to the positive brings into view a larger and more hopeful picture. It helps you to realize you have resources and people you can rely on to help you.

If at all possible, try to look for the silver lining in the cloud that is hovering over your head. Problems are opportunities to learn and grow, and often times we benefit from having struggled and overcome a situation, dilemma, or illness that was vexing to us. Keeping your thoughts positive and your expectancy high helps combat the urge to lapse into a blue funk or a state of apathy.

Find something to laugh about. Watch a hilarious movie, read a joke book, recall humorous memories from your own life. Sing silly songs. Laughter is literally a healing force causing physical changes in the body that boost the immune system, alleviate pain, and combat depression.

Try to connect with one other human being. Do something nice for somebody else. Thinking how to solve someone else's problem temporarily takes your mind off your own. Seeing their relief, or joy, or gratitude will give you a great feeling.

Do some mind and enjoyable exercise. Stretch like a cat? Take a nice stroll in a beautiful place. Ride a bike. Swim a few laps. Don't strain or exhaust yourself. The idea is to release tension from your body and mind, increase the flow of oxygen to your bloodstream, and to improve your ability to get a restful night's sleep.

Last, but not least, spoil yourself. Do one thing each day just for you, and don't feel guilty about it! A long soak in the tub, an hour to curl up with a good book, a few pieces of your favorite chocolate might be just the thing to lift your spirits. Doing enjoyable things often times makes us feel renewed, giving us enough of a boost to face one more day.

It is said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Each one of these suggestions can help you put one foot in front of the other and progress along a road well traveled.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Are you Consumed by Consumerism?

2008-07-25T04:03:00.009-07:00

Are you Consumed by Consumerism?

Are your thoughts already turning towards Christmas? Some marketing strategists hope so, as they promote "Christmas in July" spending sprees. What was once a deeply spiritual holiday for some, has turned into a marathon of sales, shopping binges, and retail greed. It is said the vast majority of a store's profits are earned in the holiday season.

Many households go into debt, maxing out their credit cards, and are literally still paying off last seasons purchases when the next Christmas holiday rolls around. Does anyone else think this is nuts besides me? With financial problems being the number one factor in divorces, can this trend be anything other than anti-family?

Personally, I favor spontaneous gift giving, for the sole purpose of delighting someone. I prefer to give and receive homemade gifts. The thought, time and love invested in those items are the real treasure!

Celebrations and gift giving for milestone events are really about honoring the person, a stage in their life, or an accomplishment. It is about human connection. Making memories. Sharing a slice of someone else' life.

Why should those things be overshadowed by commercially produced products, that create debt and cause financial strain?

Advertising is intended to blur the lines between want and need. It is designed to deceive and to infer that the purchase of Product X will make you sexy, affluent, powerful, famous or special.

We may need sneakers, but what we really want is overpriced Nike's and the fame and wealth of their celebrity spokesperson! So, off we trot to the local store, and shell out several times more than the shoes are actually worth.

I read once, that it costs Nike about $7 to make, advertise and transport to retail markets, a pair of their shoes. The other hundred plus dollars you pay are pure profit for the company.
I am all for companies prospering, but that isn't making a profit, that is consumer gouging---in my opinion!

Would you pay $20 for a $2 carton of eggs? Or would you resent or even boycott the store for imposing such outrageous cost on a necessary item?

It is time for us all to make better consumer buying decisions. Let's focus on the real value of what we are buying. And whenever possible, let's buy local, second hand, homemade etc. items.

That way we have money for what we need and want in life, to raise prosperous and healthy families. Why help purchase a fifth vacation home in the Alps for some corporate CEO?

It's food for thought, anyway...

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

30 Handy Household Uses for Salt

2008-07-24T20:48:00.004-07:00

30 Handy Household Uses for Salt

Salt is more than just a seasoning. It has scores of uses in every room in your house. It makes a wonderful grooming aid, cleanser, drain unclogger, laundry brightener, restorer of wicker furniture---and much, much more.

Not only is it versatile and easy to use, it is also inexpensive and environmentally friendly. I have compiled 30 “salt solutions” for you to try out. I bet once you use them, you’ll be hooked on it like me!

As a Grooming Aid:

Soothe rough, chapped skin on knees, feet and elbows by making a cream from 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup Epsom salts, and 1/4 cup vegetable oil. Massage the paste into your skin and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then bathe or shower to remove it.

Use salt as an exfoliating scrub to remove dead skin cells. Simply sprinkle salt on a sponge, washcloth, or loofah and rub it on your wet skin.

Make a gentle homemade mouthwash by combining 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon baking soda in 1/2 cup of water. If you prefer a flavored mouthwash, add a drop of peppermint extract. This mouthwash is especially good after dental work.

Make a revitalizing facial by mixing equal parts of salt and olive oil. Apply it to your face using gentle upward strokes. Leave on for 5 minutes, then rinse and gently pat your face dry.

In the Kitchen:

Soak discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove yellowish stains.

Use salt to clean your discolored coffeepot.

Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing it clean.

Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.

Rub salt on your pancake griddle to prevent your pancakes from sticking.

If a fruit pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spilled juice. The smell won't remain, and the mess and will bake into a dry, light crust which will wipe off easily after the oven has cooled.

Use a mixture of salt and baking soda to sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.

Freshen kitchen sponges by soaking them in salt water.

Remove offensive odors from your stove with salt and cinnamon.
.
Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt water.

In the Bathroom:

Unclog bathroom drains by combining 1 cup salt, 1 cup baking soda, and 1/2 cup vinegar, and pouring it directly into the drain. Let it sit fir 15 minutes. Then pour two quarts of boiling water down the drain. Afterwards, run your hot water faucet for 1 minute to finish flushing the drain.

To clean porcelain sinks, tubs and toilets, use a scouring powder with 1 cup salt and 1 cup baking soda. Store it in an airtight container. It will scour beautifully without scratching.

Use a paste of salt and lemon juice to remove mildew.

Mix equal parts of salt and turpentine to whiten your discolored bathtub and toilet bowl. Be sure to wear gloves and clean with the windows open to prevent inhaling the fumes.

In the Laundry:

Soak your clothesline in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line; also use salt in your final rinse to prevent the clothes from freezing while hanging outdoors on the line.

Boiling wooden clothespins in salt water before using them makes them last longer.

Adding salt to your wash water prevents bleeding of colors.

Soak stained handkerchiefs in salt water before laundering them.

Clean you iron by rubbing it's surface with a damp cloth soaked with salt water.

Cover wine-stained fabric with salt, and rinse later in cool water.

To remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol and then launder as usual.

Other Places:

Rub wicker furniture you with salt water to prevent yellowing.

Brighten an old kerosene lamp by rubbing it with salt.

Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, thickened with flour.

Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet and let the salt soak up the stain.

To clean piano keys, cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt, and rub it over the surface. Let the keys dry and then buff them with a clean dry cloth.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Natural Hair Rinses, Shampoos and Conditioners for Beautiful Hair

2008-07-24T03:34:00.005-07:00

Did you ever notice? Your clothes can look great, your jewelry can sparkle. But if your hair is a mess, you just don’t feel beautiful!

Don’t despair. In just minutes a day, you can have a headful of beautiful locks with pampering products that nourish and gently repair your hair. They are easy and inexpensive to make, and work like a charm!

Following are ten “recipes” for natural hair rinses, shampoo and conditioners made from nature’s finest ingredients. Enjoy!

Natural Hair Rinses

Hair rinses are a great way to treat the hair and scalp that are damaged from blow dryers, dry indoor air, outdoor pollutants, ultraviolet lights, permanents, strong shampoos and hair dyes.
Natural rinses strengthen damaged hair, nourish the hair follicle to stimulate healthy new growth, and stimulate scalp circulation.

Here are some general tips and a few great recipes for simple rinses you can make at home:

In general, you should prepare a rinse in the same manner that you make a cup of tea. Pour a cup of boiling water over a teaspoon of herbs, steep for ten minutes, and strain. Massage the rinse into the scalp gently and evenly, and leave it on your hair without rinsing. Dry your hair with a soft towel, not a blow dryer to prevent heat damage.

To add shine and body to your hair, use a rinse of flat beer once a month. The B vitamins and natural sugar in beer give dried out hair a new vitality and a great hold. Just apply the beer to your hair and scalp and rinse with warm water. For extra conditioning, leave the beer in your hair. Don't worry, the smell dissipates quickly!

To reduce sun damage, massage a few tablespoons of sesame oil into your hair and scalp before going out in the sun for prolonged periods.

If you have a problem with split ends, rub olive oil into the ends of your hair two or three times a week. For optimal results, leave the oil on overnight and wash it out the following morning.

To bring out healthier natural highlights in blond hair, combine the juice of one lemon and 1/4 cup of warm water and apply it to your hair. Leave it on for five minutes then rinse with cool water. Lemon juice is also an effective treatment for an oily scalp.

Sage Rinse
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp dried sage

Use for a period of three weeks to reduce the buildup of oil on the scalp, and to stimulate healthy hair growth.

Birch Leaf Rinse
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp dried birch leaves

To add softness and shine to the hair, use this rinse regularly. It keeps the scalp healthy, and is reputed to prevent hair loss. DO NOT use this rinse on blond or gray hair, as it will darken the color!

Linden Flower Rinse
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp linden flowers

Use for a period of 6 weeks to repair hair that is dry and brittle from over-coloring.

Chamomile Rinse
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp chamomile flowers

This rinse soothes a dry scalp, makes your hair shine, and lightens blond hair.

Homemade Shampoos and Conditioners

Herbal shampoo
2 tablespoons catnip
1 tablespoon liquid castille soap
1/4 cup boiling water

Place boiling water and catnip in a cup.
Steep for 10 minutes. Add castille soap,
mixing well. Apply entire portion to wet
hair and lather well. Rinse with cool
water.

Leave-in conditioner for dry hair
handful of fresh rosemary
handful of fresh mint leaves
1 cup apple cider vinegar

Put the rosemary and mint leaves in a glass
jar with a lid. Cover with apple cider vinegar.
Seal the jar and let it sit for two weeks.
Strain the mixture before using. After
shampooing, pour a tablespoon onto dry hair.
Do not rinse.

Conditioner for oily hair
1 lemon
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Wash, slice, and de-seed the lemon. Whir the
lemon in a blender to a smooth pulp. Strain the
pulp through muslin. Mix with apple cider
vinegar. After shampooing, blot hair with a
towel and rub the lemon-vinegar mixture into
the scalp. Leave on 5-10 minutes, then rinse
with cool water.

Conditioner for fine hair
2 strips kombu (Japanese seaweed)
3/4 cups boiled spring water

Steep the seaweed in spring water for
30 minutes, then remove it. After
shampooing, massage into hair. Rinse.

Easy dandruff remedy
4 or 5 drops tea tree oil
1 tablespoon jojoba oil

In a glass jar with a tight lid, combine
ingredients. Shake well. After sectioning
wet hair, dab the mixture onto a clean cotton
ball and stroke along the scalp. Wrap hair
in a towel and let sit for 2 hours. Work
shampoo into hair with a little water to
remove oil. Rinse well with warm water.

Hot jojoba-oil treatment
3 tablespoons pure jojoba oil

Warm the jojoba oil and apply it directly to
your hair. Begin at the ends and work up to
the top of your head. Wrap hair in a towel for
an hour, or leave the oil in overnight. Rinse
and shampoo hair as usual. Do this weekly or
more often if your hair is extremely dry.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Cookie Pictures-A Frugal, Edible Gift!

2008-07-24T03:27:00.003-07:00

Cookie Pictures

Did you ever see a picture of a food that looked so good, you wish you could eat it? Did you ever bake something that turned out so well, that it looked like a piece of art? If you have, you might want to try this fun and easy recipe craft.

All you need to do is make some canvases from simple cookie dough, paint a picture on them using egg yolk paints, and bake. When you are done admiring your art work, you can eat the cookie pictures, or glue a picture hanger on the back and hang them in the kitchen. The egg yolks give the paint a nice shiny look. With a little imagination, I bet you can create some real masterpieces!

Egg Yolk Paint
You will need:

4 egg yolks
4 different food colors

Directions:

Put one egg yolk in a small cup. Beat it with a fork until it is smooth.
Add 5 to 6 drops of food coloring. Beat until the color is evenly distributed.
Repeat the process with the remaining yolks and food colors.

Cookie Canvas
You will need:

2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter (softened at room temperature)
1 large egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions:

In a medium size bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer for 1 minute.

Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. Mix until well combined.

Gradually add the flour to the mixture of butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. Mix well after each addition (the dough should be stiff).

Shape the dough into two balls. Flatten into disks. Cover with plastic wrap and chill at least two hours, or overnight.

After the dough has chilled, put ½ on a large piece of plastic wrap. Cover with another piece of plastic wrap, and roll to thickness of ¼ inch.

Using a butter knife, cut out rectangular shapes, measuring 3 1/2 x 5 inches.

Paint a picture on the dough.

Chill the completed works of art until they are firm.

Bake at 350 degrees 8-12 minutes, or until the edges start to brown.

Let the pictures remain on the cookie sheet for two minutes after baking.

Move to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Makes 8-12 cookie paintings.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Pamper Yourself with Herbal Bath Teas

2008-07-22T19:27:00.004-07:00

Had a rough day? Slide into a nice hot bath and spoil yourself! Adding an herbal tea to the water will work wonders to melt away the stress, beautify your skin, and rejuvenate you-- body, mind and spirit.

Herbal teas are easy and inexpensive to make, using common ingredients such as oatmeal, epsom salts, herbs, essential oils, and citrus peels. They are placed in small muslin bags that you toss into the bath water, or they can be stored in simple jars.

They make lovely gifts as well, for friends and family members who appreciate handmade items. Unleash your creativity and adorn the jars and tea bags with lace, ribbon, and other pretty finishing touches.

Below are eight easy recipes for herbal bath teas that are sure to please. Why not give them a try?

Calming:
1/2 cup lavender
1/2 cup epsom salts
1/2 cup rose petals
1/4 cup chamomile

Relaxing:
1/2 cup lavender
1/2 cup chamomile
1/4 cup hops
1/4 cup rosebuds
15 drops of lavender essential oil

Aching muscles:
1/2 cup thyme
1/2 cup rosemary
1/2 cup lavender
1/4 cup cramp bark
1/4 cup epsom salt

Lemon Lift:
1/2 cup lemon balm or lemon verbena
1/4 cup lemongrass
1/4 cup lemon peel
1/4 cup peppermint (or rose, if preferred)
1/4 cup green tea
15 drops lemon or peppermint essential oils

Oriental pick-me-up:
(recommended for oily skin types)
2 tbs epsom salt
1 tbs lemongrass
1 tbs ginger cut small
1 tbs lemon verbena
1 tbs comfrey leaf
1 tbs orange peel
1 tbs chamomile
1 tbs jasmine flowers
1 tbs green tea
15 drops lemon or orange essential oil

Therapeutic:
1/2 cup yarrow flower
1/2 cup ginger, cut small
1/4 cup cayenne pepper, crushed
1/4 cup part rosemary
15 drops rosemary, tea tree or eucalyptus essential oils

Troubled skin:
1/2 cup rooibos tea
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup sassafras
1/4 cup chamomile
1/4 cup comfrey leaf

Oatmeal bath sachets:
3 and 1/2 cups oatmeal
1/4 cup lavender
1/4 cup rosemary
15 drops lavender or rosemary essential oils

Optional ingredients: rose, mint, chamomile, cornmeal, dry orange peel, ground almonds

Coarsely grind oats and herbs. Place in a muslin or cloth bag and tie tightly.
Add to bath water, squeezing the bag to let the water flow through it. Rub the sachet on to your skin.

For supplies and ingredients:

Glenbrook Farms Herbs & Such
9228 169th Road
Live Oak, FL 32060
Toll Free: (888)716-7627
FAX 1-386-362-6481
http://www.glenbrookfarms.com

For more information:

The Chamomile Times website
http://www.chamomiletimes.com

What’s Cooking website
http://camilleclaudel.tripod.com/whatscooking

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Fantastic Facial Masks you Can Make at Home for Just Pennies!

2008-07-22T19:19:00.005-07:00

Fantastic Facial Masks you Can Make at Home for Just Pennies!

The skin is your body's largest organ, and an extremely sensitive one at that! It is affected both by outer influences (such as cold, heat, and ultraviolet radiation) and internal ones (such as stress).

On the average, the skin produces millions of new cells every day, and regenerates itself completely every 30-40 days. After the age of 35, however, the skin's natural rejuvenating process slows considerably. At this time, the skin can benefit from a facial mask.

There are generally two types of facial masks:

relaxing masks moisturize the skin and refresh the complexion, while stimulating masks promote blood flow and smooth and firm the skin.

Here are some general tips and six easy recipes for homemade facials:

Cleanse your face before applying a mask, using a toner. (Witch hazel is an effective and inexpensive choice).

Use soft water or distilled water when possible when making a mask. Hard water high in minerals, may irritate the skin or provoke
an allergic reaction. If you must use tap water, boil it first.

Apply the mask by beginning at the chin area and moving up to the cheeks and forehead. Apply the nose next, moving outward toward the cheeks. Be sure to leave space around the mouth, eyes, and eyebrows. Finally, spread the mask on your throat, moving from bottom to top.

Three great natural ingredients for facial masks are strawberries, honey, and whole wheat flour.

Strawberries are used in stimulating masks. They gently refresh and exfoliate the skin, remove impurities, and reduce redness and swelling.

Honey has antibacterial properties so it is great for disinfecting and healing minor blemishes. It is also gentle on sensitive skin.

Whole wheat flour is great for sloughing off dead skin. It also contains vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects the skin from environmental toxins. It is reputed to slow the aging process of the skin and to give it a fresh, new appearance.

Strawberry Mask

4-5 very ripe, medium size strawberries
2 teaspoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon honey

Rinse the strawberries in lukewarm water, and
dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
In a small bowl, mash the fruit with a fork.
Add the cream and honey, mixing well.
Leave on for 20 minutes

Warning: People with sensitive or sunburned skin might find the strawberries irritating. Test
on a small patch of skin first to assess your skin's reaction.

Whole wheat flour mask

1 quart water
peels from one or two oranges
4 teaspoons dried or 8 teaspoons fresh rose
petals
6 tablespoons of milk
2 tablespoons of rose water
2 teaspoons honey
4 tablespoons of whole wheat flour

Boil the water and remove from heat. Add the orange peels and rose petals. Cover the pan and allow them to steep until the water is lukewarm or cool.

In a separate pan, heat the milk, floral water, and honey. Remove from heat. Add the flour and whisk everything together into a thick paste.

Apply the warm paste to the face and neck. Leave on 15-20 minutes.
Wash the mask off carefully with the rose-orange water. Pat dry, and add a moisturizer.

Here are four super easy masks for every skin type:

Normal to dry skin:
Mix together 2 to 3 tsp bran, 1 tsp olive oil
and 1 egg yolk.

Oily skin:
Mix together 1 egg yolk and a few drops of
lemon juice.

Dry skin:
Mix together 2 tsp cornstarch,
1 tsp honey and a few drops of strong
chamomile tea (cooled).

Dehydrated skin:
Squeeze juice from half a cucumber and mix with 2 tsp cornstarch and
1 tsp olive oil.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Homemade Natural Products for Beautiful Hands and Nails

2008-07-22T19:12:00.002-07:00

Your hands and nails can really take a beating! Daily they are exposed to rough weather, immersed in cleaning solutions, caked with dirt from the garden, and who knows what else! Before long, you find yourself with broken fingernails and skin that rivals an alligator's.

Store-bought products aren't always the best remedy. They contain dyes, fragrances, and chemicals that may leave you worse off in the long run. And boy can they be expensive!

Would you like to pamper your hands, and have strong beautiful nails, and glowing soft skin? Would you like to make your own products with natural ingredients that cost just pennies? Well, you're in luck! Here are three super hand and nail fixes that you can easily whip up at home. Why not give them a try?

Molasses Nail Soak (softens cuticles and strengthens and conditions nails)

1/4 cup warm water
2 tablespoons molasses

Mix the water and molasses together, stirring well. Soak your nails for 15 to minutes and then rinse. For extra conditioning, apply the solution to clean nails with a cotton swab at bedtime, and rinse in the morning. Don't worry. This mixture rinses easily and won't leave your hands sticky.

Milk Hand Mask (can be used on face and body as well)

1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup powdered milk or powdered buttermilk

Mix the buttermilk and powdered milk to form a smooth paste. Using a small paintbrush or pastry brush, spread an even layer of this mixture over your hands. Leave the mask on until it dries, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse off with cool water and pat dry. Because milk is high in protein and vitamins, this mask really nourishes the skin, giving it a healthy glow.

Natural Nail Luster (to promote nail growth)

1 tablespoon pure olive oil
1/2 tablespoon powdered white clay (also called kaolin, found in health food stores)

Mix the olive oil and clay into a smooth cream. Massage a small amount into your nails and cuticles. Buff gently with a cotton buffing pad.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Stretch your Toy Budget: Creative Ways to Make Old Toys New Again

2008-07-21T00:17:00.003-07:00

Stretch your Toy Budget: Creative Ways to Make Old Toys New Again

Toys these days cost a proverbial arm and a leg, and it seems their original charm soon wears off! What mother hasn’t cleaned their kid’s room and found a bunch of abandoned, barely used toys?

It just isn’t practical to throw them out, and it would be a real budget crusher to keep buying new ones.

What can a frustrated parent do?

Transform them into something new and different your kids will play with a second time around!

Here are some low-cost, fun and inventive ways to turn those toy box rejects into tempting new playthings.

Reinvent those boring board games:

Try combining two or more games to make a new one. Perhaps those Hungry, Hungry Hippos can eat the Ants in My Pants. Or those ants can invade Candy Land! You can also play the original game in a new way. Add a timer to speed up the action. Replace the dice with a deck of cards to determine the number of moves. Used edible items or small toys as markers and tokens, such as tiny plastic dinosaurs, doll shoes, Lego men, or rings and earrings from a costume jewelry set.

Play a cool new sport:

Never mind the birdie in badminton. Try hitting small water balloons instead! Ever have a squirt gun fight while riding a skateboard, or play volleyball on roller skates? Why not try a bean bag toss through the basketball hoop?

Make some inexpensive add-ons:

Have your kids abandoned their matchbox cars? Try making a car wash, gas station, or truck stop with old shoe boxes. Using sidewalk chalk, draw a race track on the driveway. Using blocks and some plywood, fashion a downhill ramp.

Combine toy sets:

Take some sidewalk chalk and draw a mini town. Have several roads going into the town square. Make some stores from shoe boxes. Add in the police or fire station your kids built with their Lego sets. Use your matchbox cars for vehicles on the roads, small troll dolls for people shopping etc.

Take that toy wrestling ring and those WWF figures, superhero figures and Pokemon animals and stage an original Smackdown event. Did you ever wonder if Spiderman’s web could hold the Rock, or if Pikachu’s electricity could zap the Joker into oblivion? Well, here is your chance to find out!

Give those dolls and stuffed animals a makeover:

Gather some stray pieces of junk jewelry, beads, sequins, glitter, barrettes, lace, ribbons, play make up, scraps of fake fur, feathers, doll clothes and whatever else strikes your fancy. Sparkle up Barbie’s wardrobe. Make up those troll faces. Deck those stuffed animals out in doll clothes and jewelry. Braid, bead and glitter hair.

Use old art supplies in a new way:

Are your kids tired of their paint sets, markers and sticker sets? No problem. Replace the paint brushes with a make up sponge, toothbrush, cotton ball, fern leaf, and feather. Each one has a different texture and creates a different effect for a more interesting picture. Let them paint with colored glues, and add glitter, beads, stickers, and fake colored gemstones. You can also replace the paints with old bottles of nail polish and worn out tubes of lipstick.

Do you have a toddler that loves to finger paint, and a bunch of almost empty food jars in your pantry and refrigerator? Great! Let your little one make an edible work of art using honey, peanut butter, jam, chocolate syrup, corn syrup, maple syrup, pudding, or whipped cream. Add to the fun by supplying a few banana slices, chocolate chips, blueberries, strawberries, raisins and shredded coconut to make hair and funny features on faces.

Soup up those riding toys:

Is your child’s bike, tricycle, wagon, scooter, skateboard or toy car lying idle in the yard? Add an air horn, flame decals, streamers, a basket, a dashboard radio, handle bar mounted squirt guns, light up wheels, colored spokes, fluorescent reflectors, or glittered hand grips.

The possibilities are endless, and the process of transforming toys is creative and fun. Why not see what great ideas your family can come up with?

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Six Inexpensive, Natural Ingredients for Super Skin!

2008-07-21T00:12:00.003-07:00

Salt, Sugar, Corn Meal, Oatmeal, Yogurt and Honey: Six Inexpensive, Natural Ingredients for Super Skin!

I remember my Grandma well, with her beautiful, soft skin. She had a “peaches and cream” complexion, and she barely wrinkled, even in her 80s!

She was a simple, immigrant woman of modest means. She couldn’t afford trips to a spa, or pricey cosmetic products. Yet she had the skin of a movie star.

Her secret?

She knew what natural skin potions to whip up from stuff in her kitchen cupboards.
She used ingredients that were healthy, inexpensive, and free of dyes and chemical irritants. She used salt, sugar, corn meal, oatmeal, yogurt and honey!

Do you have the desire to look like a goddess, but the budget of a working girl? No problem. Just use the tried and true recipes my grandmother did!

You’ll find eleven, inexpensive, easy to make, effective recipes below.

Why not experiment and give them all a try?

Salt and sugar scrubs are a great way to exfoliate and stimulate the skin. Their coarse texture helps to slough off dead skin cells on the surface and give an invigorating massage to the new layer of skin underneath. The result? Fresh looking skin!

Here are some simple recipes for you to try:

To make a simple skin exfoliant, combine:

1 cup of raw sugar (it has bigger grains and a coarser texture)
½ cup olive oil

Mix the sugar and oil together to make a paste

Rub it into your skin using a soft wash cloth, bath sponge or loofah.

Rinse well with warm water.

If desired, you can add 1 Tsp of your favorite kitchen herb. Try ground ginger for a nice oriental scent, or thyme or rosemary for a nice herbal smell.

To make a skin scrub for the man in your life, mix together:

2 TBSP coarse sea salt
2 TBSP Epsom salts
1 TBSP ground bay leaf
2 TBSP safflower oil
5 to 10 drops spearmint or wintergreen essential oil

For a fragrant salt scrub, try this one containing lavender:

Mix together into a paste:

2 cups coarse sea salt
1 cup almond oil
1 TSP vitamin E oil
5 Drops lavender essential oil

Rub it into your skin with a wet cloth, bath sponge or loofah.

Rinse well with warm water.

Pat the skin dry.

Oatmeal and corn meal are good to use as mild exfoliants and for facial scrubs. They are less abrasive than salt, and less irritating to sensitive skin

Yogurt is wonderfully hydrating, and makes your skin silky smooth.

Here are two more recipes for you to try:

To make a mild facial scrub, combine:

1/2 cup honey
2 cups oatmeal
1/3 cup corn meal

Spread the paste gently onto the face and throat area.

Rub it in with a soft, damp wash cloth.

Rinse well with warm water.

For a fragrant, hydrating facial scrub, mix together:

2/3 cup finely ground almonds
1/3 cup plain oatmeal
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1 TSP crushed, dried lavender

Apply the paste gently to the face and throat.

Rub it in with a soft wash cloth.

Rinse well with warm water.

Honey has three wonderful properties that give you beautiful skin:

It is anti-microbial (germ killing), non-irritating (so it is ideal for babies and those with sensitive skin) and it is an humectant (it keeps the skin hydrated, or moisturized).

To soften your skin overall, add ¼ cup of honey to your warm bath water and soak for 15 minutes.

To make a liquid skin cleanser, mix together in a small bowl:

1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon liquid soap
1/2 cup glycerin

When the mixture is fully blended, pour it into a clean plastic cosmetic bottle, and cap it tightly.

Pour it onto a wet, soft washcloth or face sponge and rub it gently into your skin. Rinse thoroughly.

To make a moisturizing facial mask, mix together 2 TBSP of honey and 2 TBSP of milk. Gently smooth it on your face and throat.

Leave it on for 10 minutes, and then rinse it off with warm water.

Pat your skin dry with a soft towel.

To make a cleansing facial scrub, mix together:

1 TBSP honey
2 TBSP finely ground almonds
½ TSP lemon juice

Rub it gently onto your face, then rinse with warm water.

To make a firming facial mask, whisk together in a small bowl:

1 TBSP honey
1 egg white
1 TSP glycerin
¼ cup flour

Smooth the paste over your face and throat.

Leave it on for ten minutes.

Rinse with warm water.

To make a smoothing skin lotion, mix together in a bowl:

1 TSP honey
1 TSP vegetable oil
¼ TSP lemon juice

Rub it into hands, elbows, heels and other dry spots.

Leave it on for 10 minutes.

Rinse off with warm water.

To find more beauty recipes, and nutritious food recipes containing honey, visit

The National Honey Board at http://www.honey.com

Do you need aromatherapy supplies to make these recipes at home?

Look for them online at:

Glenbrook Farms Herbs and Such
http://www.glenbrookfarm.com

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

Make Your Own Kitchen Staples and Save Hundreds of Dollars per Year!

2008-07-20T23:48:00.002-07:00

Make Your Own Kitchen Staples and Save Hundreds of Dollars per Year!

We all love the convenience of packaged foods, ready-made drinks, and pre-measured mixes, but they sure can put a strain on a family’s food budget! Many of these frequently purchased items can be easily made at home for a fraction of the cost.

Below you will find recipes for a homemade sports drink, three gourmet instant coffees, hot chocolate mix, dry soup and rice mixes, coating mix for chicken, a baking mix, and pancake syrup.

They all are delicious, easy to make budget stretchers. Why not give them a try?

Homemade Sports Drink

1-quart water
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3-4 tablespoons sugar
1 package unsweetened koolaid
Boil water. Add other ingredients.
Stir until the liquid is clear. Refrigerate.

Gourmet Instant Coffees

Cafe Au Lait:
2 cups nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup instant coffee
1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon
Mix together in a blender. Store in an airtight container. Use 1/4 cup mix per cup of water.

Cappuccino:
1-cup nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup instant coffee
3/4 cup sugar (use 1/2 cup if you want less sweetness)
1-teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon dried grated orange peel
Mix together in a blender. Store in an airtight container. Use 2 tablespoons of mix per cup of hot water.

Suisse Mocha:
1-cup nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup instant coffee
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
Mix together in a blender. Store in an airtight container. Use 1 tablespoon of mix for each 6 ounces of hot water.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

11 cups powdered milk
1 16-ounce container of chocolate powder mix (such as Quik)
6-ounce jar of coffee creamer
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Mix all ingredients and store in an airtight container. Use 1/3 to 1/2 cup of mix per mug of hot water.

Onion Soup Mix

1/3 cup powdered beef bouillon
3/4 cup dried, minced onion
4 teaspoons onion powder
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon sugar
Mix all ingredients together. Store in zip top plastic bag.

Flavored Rice Mix

2 cups uncooked rice
1 cup broken spaghetti
6 tablespoons powdered chicken bouillon
1/4 cup parsley flakes (dried)
2 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Mix all ingredients together. Store in a zip top plastic bag.

Chicken Coating Mix

1-cup white or whole-wheat flour
1-tablespoon paprika
1-teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
Mix thoroughly and store in a zip top plastic bag. Shake well before using.

Baking Mix

8 cups of flour
1 and 1/4 cups dry milk powder
1/4 cup baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups shortening
Combine dry ingredients. Cut in shortening until it resembles coarse textured cornmeal. Store in a tightly covered container in your cabinet.
Yield 10 cups.

Pancake Syrup

1 3/4 cups white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon maple extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Boil the water, white sugar, and brown sugar for one minute.
Remove from heat. Add the maple and vanilla extracts. Cool, bottle and then refrigerate.

For more great ideas, visit these money saving websites:

The Dollar Stretcher
www.stretcher.com

The Frugal Homemaker
www.FrugalHomemaker.com
Family Corner.com
www.thefamilycorner.com

Make-Stuff.com
www.make-stuff.com/cooking/index.html

Miserly Moms
www.miserlymoms.com

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com

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