Start Crafting Your Perfect Crunchy Herb Garden – Now!
Guess what? We’ve already passed the halfway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. And that means – hooray! – Spring is really on it’s way.
You may be looking out your window now at piles of snow, but it’s not too soon to think about getting your hands in the dirt. AKA getting cozy with some plants.
If you’re into creating crunchy goodies – whether it’s a home remedy, a facial scrub, or some a natural cleanser –there’s nothing more satisfying than stepping outside and snipping some of the ingredients off your very own plants.
No garden? No problem! You can grow an entire herbal cornucopia in little pots near your window. Those plants may not get super big, but look at it this way: you don’t have as far to walk with your shears.
5 Fresh Ways to Use Ginger in Homemade Beauty
During the winter season, my house is never empty of ginger. It’s a must-have for cough and cold season, as well as any tummy upsets that might sneak up. Also, it’s delicious. And spicy.
Spicylicious.
It looks like toes, though. Don’t you think?
Not Your Mother’s Neosporin: Healing Salve for Minor Scrapes and Burns
I’m on the outs with biscuits right now.
Biscuits are the reason I am burned. Biscuits are the cause of all of my corporeal suffering in these last few days. But, dang, were they good.
I was going to take a picture and show you guys the giant burn on my inner forarm from delivering biscuit babies from the hot, hot oven. But I didn’t. Even though I know you’re just dying to see a 6-inch, red, peeling burn … I’m sorry. I trust your disappointment will be allayed when I show you how to make this lovely, softening healing salve for minor scrapes and burns.
I called it “Not Your Mother’s Neosporin” up there, but the truth is, it’s not anyone’s Neosporin. It has zero common ingredients – especially none of the ones that lead to Neosporin causing skin irritation.
Tired and Stressed About the Holidays? College Finals? 5 Quick Fixes to Get You Back on Track
No-Doz.
It got me through college finals and then, later, through five-night-a-week holiday parties, baking, and present wrapping. Those were the days, long ago. Back when I had little regard for my health – or for the insanity I projected onto other people. If you’ve never taken No-Doz, it’s like … filling your body with a million bees that have just eaten 7 tons of espresso beans.
It’s not pretty. And it doesn’t really get the job done.
In fact, too much caffeine can raise your stress levels even higher (especially on days/nights where you’re eating nothing at all).
However (! of course), there are natural, gentle ways to coax yourself – willingly, energetically, and lovingly – through the holiday se
Your Natural Medicine Cabinet: Elderberry-Echinacea Syrup Recipe
Submitted for your approval: The ingredients of Robitussin Adult Multisymptom Cold (Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, Phenylephrine, Anhydrous Citric Acid, FD&C Red 40 (CI 16035), Glycerin, Menthol, Natural Flavors, Artificial Flavors, Propylene Glycol, Purified Water, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sorbitol Solution, Sucralose)
Ouch, right?
This is not that:
Now, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not claiming that elderberry-echinacea syrup works as well as Robitussin. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m prohibited from making a claim that it works for anything at all. (In fact, they totally raided an elderberry syrup manufacturer for saying that it was … gasp … healthy for you.)
But I can tell you my experience – that much I am allowed: This is all natural, delicious, and I use it (or I’ve used a variation of it) to keep me feeling great all winter long.
So now, in contrast to the first paragraph, would you like to know what’s in elderberry-echinacea syrup? Water, elderberries, echinacea, ginger root, cinnamon, honey.
Why are all those things in there, you might ask?
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