Herb - Lavender

Lavender is a member of the mint family, and is native from the Mediterranean region south to Africa and India, but is often found growing wild far beyond that range because it's been planted all over the world.

If you see lavender growing in a commercial application, it is most likely "Lavendin", as it's easier to harvest and has the largest most showy flowers. The oil however is lower quality.

Lavender flowers are dried for arrangements and potpourris, and many varieties are grown for the flower's lavender oil antiseptic and aromatherapy uses. The flowers also provide a nectar that produces a high quality honey used by beekeepers. Flowers are also used in teas, to flavor sugar, and in French cooking for their sweet flavor.

Medicinal uses:
Lavender essential oil has been used as a disinfectant, in bath products, to soothe insect bites, burns and inflammatory conditions, and for headaches. Bundles of lavender will keep insects away. English lavender oil is very sweet and used in balms, salves, perfumes, cosmetics and topical treatments. Spanish lavender however is not used internally, only for landscaping. Caution: lavender oil can be an allergen, and should not be taken internally if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Bringing "pretty" back to your bedroom

In bygone days, bedrooms or boudoirs were a place of elegence, comfort and serenity, a place to retire at the end of the day. Today's bedrooms not only contain bedroom furniture but also entertainment devices such as televisions, computers and exercise equipment, not to mention a good place to stack laundered items that haven't quite made it to their destination.

If your bedroom is looking a bit tired and you don't get that feeling of relaxation when you enter it, here are some tips I've picked up from designers on my favorite shows on HGTV:

First, declutter the room and find a new place for non-bedroom items. Next decide on your color scheme for the room. You'll want to buy bedding and draperies first, and then select paint for the walls. Paint can be mixed to any shade whereas you might be more limited in your fabric selections.

The bed is probably your largest piece of furniture in the bedroom, so it's important to give it a place of prominence in the room so that it's the first thing you see when entering. Start fresh with your bedding, beginning with your mattress cover. There's been a lot of attention in the media lately over bed bug infestations, and you might not be aware that there are mattress covers as well as pillow cases that are bed bug-proof in case some little intruders make their way home with you after a hotel stay. To achieve that luxury hotel look and feel, I've seen many designers start with a bed skirt. Bed skirts can either be white or in your room's accent color. Next comes your fitted sheet. Then the top sheet is folded back and a colorful comforter is folded and layed on top of the top sheet. Finally, decorative pillow shams and accent pillows that match the draperies are added for a punch of color. Satin pillowcases that match your bedskirt and draperies will also give your bed a luxurious feel and custom look. The entire look is very crisp, clean and fresh.

Lastly, spread your color scheme throughout the room by adding fresh flowers to your night stand along with some scented candles on your dresser.

An additional tip I picked up, especially important if your room is on the small side - leave one of the walls next to the bedroom door furniture-free. It tricks the eye into thinking the room is larger than it is and looks much less cluttered.

(the above photo is courtesy of HGTV's website - this post sponsored by ShopBedding.com))

Some humor for your Tuesday

Do you ever feel this way - I know I do. It's not that I can't physically sign off - there's always just one more thing to do before putting the computer to bed for the night isn't there. We all need to learn when enough is enough!

Eco-Friendly flooring choices

As part of our Spring clean up, we're planning to rennovate our living room soon which will involve new flooring. My husband and I are always looking for ways to improve our home environment, so when my favorite TV network HGTV had an episode on environmentally friendly flooring, my ears perked up. Some flooring options mentioned where bamboo, cork and travertine. Bamboo and cork are renewable resources where only a portion of the wood is harvested, allowing the tree to continue growing to regenerate more wood for future use, and both are durable and low maintenance flooring choices with many advantages. Travertine is made from natural stone making it durable and easy to clean.

I was especially drawn toward cork for our flooring for it's comfort under foot and natural anti-allergen properties. Cork has air trapped within it that makes it very soft, comfortable and noise reducing. It is naturally fire-resistant and contains suberin which repels insects, mites and mold so it's a good choice for people like me with allergies. Clean up involves simply vacuuming and a damp mop. Cork flooring is very durable, has a rich natural beauty and comes in a variety of patterns, colors and textures as well.

According to the DIY Network, it's a flooring you can install yourself if you have some do-it-yourself skills and follow their helpful tips, which you can read here.

Safe Alternatives to Sugar

Part 2 of my series on sugar subsitutes covers safe alternatives to sugar. The only sweeteners I now use other sugar is Stevia and Xylitol.

Stevia is the leaves of an herb and member of the chrysanthemum family which grows in Paraguay and Brazil. It is 30 times sweeter than sugar, but has 0 carbs and 0 calories. It has been used by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay for hundreds of years. Here is more information on Stevia.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar found in the fibers of many fruits and vegetables, and is a five-carbon sugar alcohol. It was first derived from birch trees in Finland in the 19th century as a safe sweetener that wouldn't mpact insulin levels. It has no aftertaste and is advertised as safe for diabetics because sugar alcohols have less impact on blood sugar than regular sugar. One teaspoon of Xylitol contains 9.6 calories and 0 net carbs/ One teaspoon of sugar has 15 calories and 4 net carbs. Xyliyol is also said to help prevent tooth decay.
Here is what Wikopedia has to say about Xylitol.

I have used both Stevia and Xylitol separately, and personally I prefer a product containing both of them called Xylitol Plus. I think Stevia alone has a slight aftertaste, or maybe it's just because it is so sweet. Xylitol used in large quantities can cause temporary diarrhea. But together they make a very good tasting and safe sweetener; you can also bake with either of them.

Create a backyard retreat

With rising gas prices, you may have decided to limit your travel plans this year and spend more time in your own backyard.  I know personally the long hard winter has taken it's toll on my backyard and some tender loving care is definitely needed before I can sit back and enjoy my surroundings.

Fortunately Spring is the perfect time to think about sprucing up your yard and getting it ready for outdoor enjoyment and entertaining.  Start by doing any pruning of trees and bushes that you neglected to get to last Fall.  Weed any planting beds and give them a fresh layer of mulch, making sure it's pet friendly mulch if you have pets as they do love to explore and roll in fresh mulch.  I personally prefer perennial flowers that come back each year, but even their beauty can be further enhanced by adding a few annual flowers in front to give you a pop of color here and there.  If you have a wood deck, it probably needs a fresh coat of stain to look its best - it may take an afternoon but the return will be worth it.  Replace old cushions on lawn and patio chairs and buy some colorful new dishes and placemats for your patio table.  Adding a new birdbath can also add interest to a quiet corner of your yard.

An above ground pool is a bit of an investment but will provide your family and friends with hours of enjoyment in the heat of the summer.  Above ground pools  come in a variety of sizes and shapes and can be sunk in the ground for a lower profile much like an inground pool if preferred.  The addition of a pool instantly transforms your backyard into a fun-filled space to entertain or retreat by yourself.

By getting busy now while it's still cool, your yard will be ready and waiting for you to enjoy when the temperatures climb this Summer.  And remember, there's no place like home.

(brought to you by PCPools)

Herb - Chamomile

Chamomile is a feathery perennial herb that has an apple scent, and is sometimes used as a groundcover. It has small flowers that look much like daisies, and also improves the health of other plants that are near it. It is a natural antiseptic, antibiotic, disinfectant, bacteriacide, and vermifuge (meaning it expels parasites from the body).

In ancient Egypt, it was dedicated to their gods, and used to treat dropsy, jaundice, and also to lighten hair. Modern uses of chamomile are many.

Medicinal uses:
* as a compress to aid external healing
* helps heal skin ulcers, burns, and other skin wounds
* helps digestion when taken as a tea
* relieves morning sickness
* relieves colic and teething symptoms in children
* relieves allergies; it's a natural antihistimine
* relieves gastritis and colitis
* has calming and relaxing properties
* makes a good foot bath

Other uses:
* used in potpourri
* chopped foliage added to butter or sour cream for baked potatoes
* blossoms used to lighten fair hair

Green Spring cleaning

There's just something about the approach of Spring that gives me a feeling of renewal and a fresh start. Of course when I take a good hard look around my home's interior, things tend to look a bit stale after the long winter and I'm ready for some changes.

Some good old fashioned thorough cleaning is the first order of the day, especially necessary with a dog and two cats in residence. Then I usually decide a room needs a fresh coat of paint. Changing your room's wall color is the fastest and least costly way to give a room a fresh look. Of course while you have the room emptied it's also a good time to think about new window treatments and replacing throw pillows and wall accents. It makes me feel like I have a whole new room in my house.

It's also a good time to take a good look at your flooring and clean any carpeting and upholstery. Do-it-yourself machines are available but most people prefer to let the experts handle carpet and upholstery cleaning. Depending how dirty your carpeting and upholsery is and what type of stains are present, traditional chemical treatment may be needed. However many carpets and furniture can be cleaned quite well with natural green cleaning products which are more environmentally friendly and safer for your family and pets.

You might want to consider The Steam Team Carpet Cleaning Marble Falls for your cleaning needs. The Steam Team of Austin Texas specializes in carpet cleaning and oriental rugs, hardwood floors, natural stone and ceramic tile, as well as upholstery, draperies, and air ducts. If your home is damaged by fire or water, consider Carpet Cleaning Westlake as the company can take care of that too. Their green services are 100% biodegradable, non toxic and most products are made from all natural ingredients.

The company has numerous locations throughout Texas such as Carpet Cleaning Cedar Park and all locations offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and are registered with the Better Business Bureau so you can use them with confidence.

(brought to you by The Steam Team)

Wordless Wednesday #46

Diet tip - don't super-size your soft drinks.

Gas logs warm up chilly Spring nights

Don't you love the look and warmth a fireplace adds to your home. But a wood-burning fireplace can be high maintenance and also dangerous if creosote builds up inside your chimney. A good alternative is gas logs which provide the glow, flame and warmth of a wood fireplace but is ready to go whenever the mood hits you.

Gas logs come either vented (most realistic but less heat) or ventless (a little less realistic but provide the most heat). My husband and I chose ventless gas logs for our fireplace because while we wanted to enjoy the charm of a fireplace, we also wanted a back-up heating source in case of power outages during storms. We are able to heat the whole main floor of our home with our fireplace.

If you're thinking of converting your fireplace, consider Hansen Wholesale. They guarantee the lowest prices on R.H.Peterson Real Fyre Gas Logs, and have a special right now - $75 additional discount with no sales tax and free shipping within the US on sets under 36 inches.

Most importantly, before you buy anything, do your research. You can find a wealth of information on gas logs, including installation methods, building codes, what size logs to buy, cost of burning gas logs and much more by reading Gas Log FAQs.

(Brought to you by Hansen Wholesale)

Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners

We've heard about the health risks that too much sugar in our diet can cause: increased insulin levels, diabetes, obesity, loss of important minerals, hormonal disturbance, food allergies, paralysis of the immune system, increased risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. You may be substituting artificial sweeteners in the hopes of avoiding the above health risks.

According to Drs. Joseph Mercola and Kendra Degin Pearsall's book, Sweet Deceptions, popular artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame (brand name Nutri Sweet & Equal) and sucralose (brand name Splenda) are neither healthy or safe, but are more dangerous than sugar itself. Aspartame and Splenda are prevalent in diet soda pop and snacks. And don't expect the FDA to protect you - just remember all the drugs they previously approved that are now in the headlines because of lawsuits.

Saccharin was discovered by accident in 1879 by scientists who were researching Toluene, produced when making gasoline from crude oil and is highly toxic. A researcher spilled some on his hand and found it tasted sweet.

Aspartame (Nutri Sweet & Equal) was originally developed as a drug to treat peptic ulcer disease, and accidentally found to taste sweet. Senior FDA scientists and consultants protested approving the release of aspartame products because of disturbing findings in animal studies, seemingly flawed experimental data, and the absence of extensive premarketing trials on human beings over a prolonged period. Side effects reported less than one year after aspartame products hit the market were: headaches, dizziness, aggressive behavior, memory loss, extreme numbness, suicidal tendencies, severe mood swings, seizures, cardiac arrest and death. Manufacturers are now abandoning aspartame and replacing it with sucralose because of the health concerns and controversy surrounding aspartame.

Sucralose (Splenda) was discovered when a graduate student misunderstood a request for "testing" as a request for "tasting" it. It was made with a highly poisonous chemical added drop by drop to a sugar solution. It is advertised as "Made from sugar so it tastes like sugar." which is deceptive. A number of people are suing the makers of Splenda. Problems experienced by some people shortly after ingesting Splenda include: headaches, depression, seizures, panic, anxiety, numbing of the limbs, rashes, fatigue, bloating, diarrhea, stomach spasms, and elevated blood sugar. Symptoms disappeared in these people as soon as they stopped using Splenda. I can personally attest to this, as I have eczema and control it through diet and supplements. Last year, my husband and I tried a new weight loss/ fat burning energy drink called Celsius which contained Splenda, and every time I drank more than half of a bottle, I would within minutes have an eczema breakout.

There is so much more to the story of these artificial sweeteners than I can cover here. If you want more information, I highly recommend you read "Sweet Deceptions" as it is a real eye-opener. Check back for Part 2 of this post, which will cover safe alternatives to sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Tips for healthier eating

I recently heard a great tip for healthier eating, and it's really quite simple. When you're at the grocery store, shop only from the outer edge of the store whenever possible.

If you think about it, that's where you'll find the fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, butter, yogurt, cheese products, meat, fish and eggs. Your diet will consist of only fresh, natural products, and you'll be avoiding the temptation to purchase the refined, processed foods and products found in the center aisles of the store.

Exceptions to this rule, at least at our grocery store, are that pastries, ice cream and soda pop are also on the outside of the store and should be avoided. Another exception is that some needed items such as olive oil, dried herbs, and personal care products will be on the inside aisles, but you get the idea - avoid processed foods as they contain preservatives, transfats and sugar among other less than desirable ingredients.

Just stick to the outside aisle while shopping, and you'll feel better and shed some of those exra pounds you picked up over the holidays.