Desk Feng Shui

How fantastic is this find!!!  Thank you Free People!!!

(the article is from whole living magazine)

5 Things to help a cold:

 

This morning I woke up sick, sick, sick – I HATE being sick!  Of course how many people go WooHoo – I feel horrible!!!  When I do catch a cold I try to treat it as nicely as possible so it will want to cooperate, so far the treatment above has worked every time I have gotten sick the past 2 years. 

So, here is the rundown on everything above.  I was turned on to Umcka by one of the Whole Foods Experts, she said that people who work there swear by this product and I have to say IT WORKS!!  Even my oh so lovely, oh so skeptical BD (Baby Doll) swears by this stuff. Use it as soon as you think you are catching something and it will eliminate or shorten your cold.  They also have one for flu symptoms but I haven't needed that one.  Phew!  The Gypsy Cold Care Tea is yet another cold remedy I swear by, drink this about 4-5 times a day and it not only helps you push fluids but it is also full of other herbally goodness!  I would say 3 & 4 are pretty much givens and Nettle Soup is great for you when you are under the weather.  Nettles are loaded with Vitamin C just be careful when you handle them, they are not pleasant on your skin.  I fell into loads of Nettle bushes when I loved in England and it is NOT FUN!!  Try this recipe over at Chocolate & Zucchini for a guideline.

I am no doctor but I have discovered that this combination works wonders for me.  I also follow up with lots of Oranges and Cranberry Juice, real Cranberry Juice not Cranberry Cocktail to flush out the system.  Off I go to down another glass of Juice and eat my Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.

Some people have decided that a Wish List is good, some people think that having a Top 5 is sufficient… I come from the “If I had NO Budget” world.  Sometimes I think it would be nice to be able to buy whatever, whenever I wanted but then I wonder if that affects your appreciation of the items you have.  But… if we enter fantasy world and lets say I could have anything and it had a story behind it (which I like) these are some items I would include…..  Tell me my puppy wouldn’t look precious in the lacy pink “Pup Pinafore”????  One of these days I won’t be a college student and I will be able to afford precious things like this….

 

Save those GROCERIES!!!!

 

                    

 

In the interest of full disclosure (thank you Real Estate Career) this is NOT my fridge!!!!  Anyone who knows me is well aware that my fridge is categorized, organized and I think soon to be labeled…..  That being said these are some excellent tips and I wanted to make sure that I didn’t lose this list and I thought you might enjoy it also!!!  Save money and trips to the market with these tips and tricks from Rebecca DiLiberto’s Penny Saving Household Helper. You’ll be surprised how simple it is to keep food at its best.

1. Line the bottom of your refrigerator’s crisper drawer with paper towels. They’ll absorb the excess moisture that causes vegetables to rot.

2. To keep herbs tasting fresh for up to a month, store whole bunches, washed and sealed in plastic bags, in the freezer. When you need them, they’ll be easier to chop, and they’ll defrost the minute they hit a hot pan.

3. A bay leaf slipped into a container of flour, pasta, or rice will help repel bugs.

4. Stop cheese from drying out by spreading butter or margarine on the cut sides to seal in moisture. This is most effective with hard cheeses sealed in wax.

5. When radishes, celery, or carrots have lost their crunch, simply pop them in a bowl of iced water along with a slice of raw potato and watch the limp vegetables freshen up right before your eyes.

6. Avoid separating bananas until you plan to eat them – they spoil less quickly in a bunch.

7. Put rice in your saltshaker to stop the salt from hardening. The rice absorbs condensation that can cause clumps.

8. Stock up on butter when it’s on sale – you can store it in the freezer for up to six months. Pack the butter in an airtight container, so it doesn’t take on the flavor of whatever else you’re freezing.

9. In order to make cottage cheese or sour cream last longer, place the container upside down in the fridge. Inverting the tub creates a vacuum that inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes food to spoil.

10. Believe it or not, honey is the only nonperishable food substance, so don’t get rid of the stuff if it crystallizes or becomes cloudy. Microwave on medium heat, in 30-second increments, to make honey clear again.

11. Prevent extra cooked pasta from hardening by stashing it in a sealed plastic bag and refrigerating. When you’re ready to serve, throw the pasta in boiling water for a few seconds to heat and restore moisture.

12. Keeping brown sugar in the freezer will stop it from hardening. But if you already have hardened sugar on your shelf, soften it by sealing in a bag with a slice of bread – or by microwaving on high for 30 seconds.

13. If you only need a few drops of lemon juice, avoid cutting the lemon in half – it will dry out quickly. Instead, puncture the fruit with a metal skewer and squeeze out exactly what you require.

14. If you’re unsure of an egg’s freshness, see how it behaves in a cup of water: Fresh eggs sink; bad ones float.

Source: DiLiberto, Rebecca. "14 Ways to Save Money on Groceries on Shine." Editorial. Country Living. Shine!, 2 Feb. 2011. Web. 08 Feb. 2011. <http://shine.yahoo.com/event/financiallyfit/14-ways-to-save-money-on-groceries-2447559/>.

Thom Filicia: A Collection with Balance

How fantastic is this!  This is Thom Filicia (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Design My Nest) green design company.  I know, you may be wondering why you should care about this.  Other than the designs being gorgeous, well thought out and livable – the furniture is manufactured right down the way from my house in Concord, NC!  Thanks Thom for supporting the state that I love so much!

10 Handy Alternative Uses of Charcoal

 

Put extra charcoal to work around the house, beyond serving as Christmas lumps of coal. Also see more surprising uses for things.

I found this article on my daily search for all things green, awesome and cheap!  I though I would share it with everyone, I can’t wait to use some of these tips!  I have already put some coal in the bottom of our trashcan, I wonder if that will help at all with the eh-hem smell…
[In his ongoing but sporadic series Don't Throw That Away!, the Green Cheapskate shows you how to repurpose just about anything, saving money and the environment in the process. Send him your repurposing ideas and challenges, but whatever you do, Don't Throw That Away!]
Remember when you were a kid and the biggest fear you faced was the prospect of waking up on Christmas morning to find a lump of coal in your stocking, Santa's ultimate up-your-chimney gift for kiddies more naughty than nice?
Well, when I put away our outdoor grill a couple of weeks ago for the winter and stood pondering what to do with a partial bag of leftover charcoal, it got me thinking. After some research, I've concluded that a lump of coal -- or rather charcoal* -- may not be such a bad gift after all. Here are some creative repurposing ideas for last summer's leftover charcoal:
* 1. Rust-free tool and tackle boxes: Charcoal absorbs moisture, so stick a couple of lumps in your toolbox and fishing tackle box to keep your hammers and hooks from rusting. I also put a few pieces in a garbage bag and wrap the business ends of my gardening tools in it for a rust-free winter's nap.
* 2. Compost it: Charcoal can be added to the compost pile -- in moderation -- and will increase the carbon content of the resulting humus. Of course there are plenty of other unusual things you can compost as well.
* 3. Natural air freshener: Charcoal keeps air smelling fresh by absorbing moisture that can cause mold and mildew. Put a few pieces in an old pair of pantyhose and hang it in the basement or other damp room, or put some in drawers, closets, or even in the fridge instead of baking soda.
* 4. Moisture-free salt and sand: Replacing the bag of summertime charcoal in the garage with sacks of rock salt and sand to handle winter de-icing? Mix a couple of pieces of charcoal in with the salt and sand; it will absorb moisture and keep them from clumping.
* 5. Flatulence odor control: Okay, so it's not exactly a do-it-yourself project for leftover charcoal -- and in fact I'm not certain that it even works at all -- but Flat-D is definitely one of the most intriguing products I've unearthed in my tireless research on behalf of The Daily Green. (And I found it just in time to finish my Christmas shopping for everyone on my list.)
* 6. Shoe odor control: So maybe you're not ready to stick a briquette down you undershorts, but putting a piece of charcoal in an old sock and sticking it in your shoes before you put them away will help reduce odor. It also removes moisture, which will make your footwear last longer.
* 7. Keep cut flowers fresher: Just like the charcoal filter in a fish aquarium, a couple of pieces of charcoal in the bottom of a flower vase will keep the water clean and clear and make fresh cut flowers last longer.
* 8. Mark the spot: Use charcoal instead of chalk when marking measurements and construction plans on concrete and other surfaces -- not to mention making a hopscotch court for the kids in the driveway. Like chalk, it washes off in fairly short order.
* 9. Healthier orchids: Some plants, including orchids and bromeliads, thrive in soil enhanced with a small amount of charcoal. It increases drainage and alkalinity.
* 10. Don't forget Frosty: Of course, keep a couple pieces of charcoal handy for adding eyes and buttons to your snowmen this winter. Come that first snowfall, you'll be kicking yourself if you've already thrown away -- or repurposed -- all those dreaded lumps of coal.
[*IMPORTANT NOTE: Use chemical-free, natural "lump variety" charcoal for the purposes discussed in this article; contact with chemically enhanced charcoal, particularly some "quick-start" varieties, can be dangerous to plants and animals, including humans.]
Jeff Yeager is the author of The Cheapskate Next Door and The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches. His website is www.UltimateCheapskate.com. Connect with Jeff Yeager on Twitter and Facebook.
Photo Credit: Gellert Ament/Istock
Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/save-money/uses-of-charcoal#ixzz1CZfMcMQA

Everyone needs a bed warmer like this

Yes, this is my child.  She is laying completely in my spot with her butt on my pillow (awesome!)…. at least the bed will be nice and toasty which I get in it, although she is not going to like to leave.