Olive Oil Benefits &150; Olive Oil Uses &150; Olive Oils - The Da... Olive oil is more than a cartoon character, historic symbol of peace and glory or food staple of the much-vaunted Mediterranean diet. It is actually tremendously useful stuff, finding applications in personal care, home improvement, green cleaning, natural remedies and other areas. It's long been reported that there are a number of health benefits of olive oil. As a foodstuff it has a high concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids, which studies show promote "good" cholesterol (HDL) while lowering "bad" cholesterol (LDL). Olive oil is also known to be gentle on the digestive system, and even may help prevent gallstones and soothe ulcers. Good quality olive oil contains valuable vitamins and nutrients, and it is loaded with antioxidants, which many believe help protect the body from cancer. These days there are an increasing array of organic and boutique olive oils offered for sale, some of them quite pricey. 1. People have used olive oil for centuries for personal care. 2. 3. 4. 5.
How to Make Leaf Skeletons I wanted to share with you a project from one of my readers who shares with us how to make leaf skeletons. I LOVE this! I have several leafs in various forms displayed in my home and knew I needed to make some of her leaf skeletons to add to my decor. I love how a pattern of leaves can enhance the beauty in your home. So I asked Heather if she would mind sharing her project with you. I have spent hours and tried various ways of making these. You need washing soda, not baking soda! Gather your leaves. Washing soda is a strong base so you may want to wear gloves when handling the leaves. You will add 3/4 cup of washing soda and 4 cups of water to your pot of leaves. Keep going, you will need to add more water so your pan doesn’t dry out. When 1.75 hours are up fill a glass baking dish with cool water. I carefully removed them and rinsed with water and added clean water to the pan. If you’re still with me, this is what I ended up with… I have a maple leaf which turned out not so well.
The 29 Healthiest Foods on the Planet | Belly Bytes The following is a "healthy food hot list" consisting of the 29 food that will give you the biggest nutritional bang for you caloric buck, as well as decrease your risk for deadly illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Along with each description is a suggestion as to how to incorporate these power-foods into your diet. Fruits 01. Apricots The Power: Beta-carotene, which helps prevent free-radical damage and protect the eyes. 02. The Power: Oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that helps lower overall cholesterol and raise levels of HDL, plus a good dose of fiber. 03. The Power: Ellagic acid, which helps stall cancer-cell growth. 04. The Power: Stop aging, live longer and keep your mind sharp with blueberries. 05. The Power: Vitamin C (117mg in half a melon, almost twice the recommended daily dose) and beta-carotene - both powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from free-radical damage. 06. 07. The Power: Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant.
Instructions: How to Spring Clean With Nontoxic Home-made Products - Environment - GOOD Tackling spring-cleaning this month? Us too. But there's no sense in doing it if you're going to create a big mess for the planet (and your body) in the process. Cleaning up your act isn't as straightforward as running to the pharmacy and picking out a bottle covered in claims of eco-friendliness and biodegradability, however. Instead of wondering what kinds of toxic chemicals you're flushing down the toilet or dumping down the drain every time you decide your apartment's gotten a little grungy, stock up on a few things listed below, and keep these easy recipes handy. What you'll need: White vinegar (kills most mold, bacteria, and germs); baking soda (deodorizes, scours surfaces, and is a natural cleaning agent); lemon juice (it has antibacterial and antiseptic qualities, is a natural bleach, and it controls odors); olive oil (polishes); salt (scours, cleans, and deodorizes); tea tree oil (kills germs); hydrogen peroxide (kills bacteria and mold); pure castile soap, such as Dr.
Felt Aquarium Magnets When I was in the third grade my class took a field trip to Point Reyes, California to look at the tide pools. I was fascinated by them, each pool was like a small secret world. There were orange and purple sea stars, tiny little fish, and flower-like sea anemones. When I stuck my finger in an anemone's mouth it's sticky petal-like tentacles would close around it, thinking it was food (this probably isn't a nice thing to do to an anemone, but it certainly made an impression on me). When we decided to make a set of felt-covered magnets I knew I wanted to make an underwater scene. This underwater world makes a great gift for a child, or even an adult, who loves the ocean. Materials To make 20 magnets: Wool Felt Bundle in Dahlia1 piece of Wool Felt in each of the following colors: Black, Ecru, Lime, and TurquoiseEmbroidery Thread in colors to match the feltTwo 10-piece packages of 8mm Super Magnets (20 magnets total). Tips for all Magnets Clownfish Finished size: 1 1/2-inches wide Sea Anemone
10 Free Tote Bag Patterns and Tutorials Totes make great handmade gifts. Here is a Tuesday Ten that shows a round-up of lovely totes. If you love to sew you might also like these free sewing tutorials right here on Skip to my Lou! Every tote needs a matching pouch. Pleated Zippered Pouch Lined Zippered Pouch 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. How to make fabric storage baskets Here are 10 terrific ways to make fabric containers, baskets and buckets. These fabric storage basket tutorials will get you organized in style! 1. Fabric Storage Bin Tutorial 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.Fabric Scrap Baskets 7. 8. 9. 10.
Organizing Tips - Home Organization Strategies Ever pop in on a friend unexpectedly and everything’s in its place? She had no time to clean up, yet her house is immaculate. How does she do that? We wanted to know, so we went to the neat and organized— readers whose homes always look great— to find out their best strategies. 1. Stop It Before It Starts “We live minimally, so things look clean and organized without much effort on my part. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
11 Unusual Household Uses For Food Items That Will Save You Money photo: charles chan * The next time you find yourself in need of a household product like stain remover, shower cleaner or ant deterrent, check the pantry before heading to the store. You might just find what you need, in the form of a common kitchen ingredient. From a green perspective, going the DIY route eliminates some of the harsh chemicals in your home, reducing your family’s exposure to them. Post your own tips below, and try these household uses for common foods: Baking soda * Jan Patterson of Cotati, Calif., uses it to remove “stubborn sticky stuff of any kind” from furniture and other household items. * Add vinegar, and the mixture works well as a drain cleaner, says Leslie Reichert, a.k.a. * “Use it as your first treatment when you spill fruit juice or wine,” says lifestyle consultant Joshua Duvauchelle. * Mix with vinegar, and the resulting paste is powerful enough to clean grout, says Maureen Smithe of “Homemade Mothering.” Bananas Beer Cayenne Pepper Cinnamon Honey Ketchup Lemons Tea