The Social Media Checklist and Sunflower Journal Planner are both wonderful tools to keep you on track with goals, plans and tracking your business and life!
Have a great day and enjoyable March!
Susan
If you'd ever like to make a small donation to the website, buy me a cup of coffee. Any amount is greatly appreciated!
]]>As someone who has loved writing since very young, it is a thrill to now get some of my ideas and work in print. As a child I would write poems by the hour and my mother remembers me spending hours in my room writing stories and plays then reading them to her with great excitement. A real dreamer and drifter with my head in the clouds.
When I dived into a two year Children's literature diploma in my early twenties, I was typing on a brother typewriter and submitting short stories and articles to my instructors by mail. The internet had not quite arrived and big envelopes back and forth was the norm at the time.
All my first children's stories were written for my daughter Ariana who was a toddler at the time and to be able to illustrate and develop those into printed books now is a thrill I cannot describe. Below are the titles already available in paperback in our Amazon bookstore as of the beginning of 2024.
So what kinds of books will I be writing? Quite a variety!
As my Amazon bookstore continues to grow, I hope you find something you enjoy or that assists you with various life topics. I absolutely love writing, so every book bought is the ultimate compliment and thrill.
Thanks for reading my latest blog post and all the best for the upcoming year!
Until next time,
Susan
If you enjoyed this post, you can buy me a cup of coffee if you like! Thanks!
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you!
~ Susan
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If you're like me and enjoy photography and walking your dog or even just love going for long daily walks, you really get to take in the changing colours moment by moment. Decorating my front steps in a harvest theme is a favourite too and pumpkins and seasonal flowers are out at all the shops.
We're fortunate enough to live in an area with dozens of different walks and large park spaces, forests and lakes. Each walk offers something different whether it be a lake, dense trees, open fields or varied bird life. Our dog is high energy so we cover a lot of ground and have discovered many new walks of late. Watching our front and back yard change colours and Blue Jays and bird life enjoying our large oak tree for its bounty of acorns is really a thrill. Busy birds make for a happy coffee time!
There is something so pure and magical about the crisp air and warm sun and September heading into October offers 16c and a time of cozy outdoor and indoor fires as nights dip to around 5c. Lighting candles and snuggling under a blanket reading a good book becomes more common as the days get cooler.
My favourite scents of the season are chai, apple cinnamon, honey almond, pumpkin spice, clove, nutmeg, ginger peach, gingerbread and sandalwood. Most of these we carry in goat's milk soaps, glycerin soaps and bath bombs in our online shop and I really take the time to enjoy them in long, hot candlelit baths.
In years before I've enjoyed creating large pots of pumpkin soap with zucchini, leeks, carrots, yams, onions and garlic. Adding salt and pepper, mixed herbs and garlic powder and making sure all the veggies are blended or strained makes for an incredibly delicious homemade thick soup.
Also baking a spiced pumpkin loaf with walnuts using cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, all spice and fresh pumpkin makes for an incredibly dense and delicious loaf for autumn afternoons with tea.
Visiting local gardens or farms with family and taking in the decor, plants, pumpkins, sunflowers and autumnal displays is definitely a favourite every year. Our area also used to have a corn maze which was terrific fun when my daughter was little.
Chai latte, London fog, spiced pumpkin latte and pumpkin pie are also seasonal favourites when out and about with family. My favourite digital fall products below are a couple of planners and a couple of recipe eBooks that we carry and really bring the autumn theme home in a big way.
What do you love most about fall? Leave a comment below and thanks for taking the time to read this post. It's a magical time and I hope you truly enjoy each moment as I do.
Until next time,
Susan
If you enjoyed this post, please buy me a cup of coffee. Thanks for stopping by!
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It can be really tricky especially if it's something you've worked on, worked with or at for a long time. Perhaps a job, a project, a person or something else you've been involved in for years or decades. Knowing when to change course and let something go can be scary and daunting, but ultimately it's extremely important in order to grow, change, experience and feel more powerful. Like shedding old skin you can feel renewed and refreshed once you leave something you have outgrown behind.
So why exactly should we let something go if it no longer feels right, good or positive:
If you're thinking of leaving something or someone in your life that is negative, steals your joy or weighs you down, take the leap and make the move. Life is short and should be an exciting adventure, not a predictable plod. I've left terrible jobs, people, situations and projects behind and every time it has given me a renewed sense of purpose and energy.
I hope you too can make that shift and feel good as you moving forward in confidence and happiness!
Until next time,
Susan
]]>Hack your motivation levels, stop your mind from wandering and fire up each day of the year with inspiration and determination.
There are things that can bring us down and lift us up. Even our own family can fill us up with anger or enlighten us with joy and happiness. Regardless of what stature you have in life, you will always need someone, something, or anything that can help you get through each day. Some people find relief in God, family, companions, dreams and ambitions.
Living a fruitful life is living it with meaning. Finding that meaning can be a lifelong journey and along the way you may need words of wisdom that will guide you through the right path. Words that will let you overcome the struggles that come along with what life has to offer us.
Today may be rough but tomorrow remains a mystery until you do something today to change what lies ahead. Make each day worth living for the next. Often a little push is all you need for you to spiral into success. Are you ready to open your mind and upgrade your motivation?
Here's a few motivational tips from the eBook 365 Days of Motivation
I hope you find some value in these tips and that if you're lacking motivation you ask yourself why. Is it simply something you do like or something you don't want to face or deal with? Is something or someone getting you down and you need to step back, take a breath and change course completely?
Often we need to shake things up and do something completely different to find our motivation again! If you're feeling that way, I truly hope you can find the joy in each day and task again. Write down why you're feeling unmotivated and what you can possibly do about it. Form a plan to get yourself inspired again!
All the best for now,
~ Susan
]]>When it comes to living in a simple and clean space, your mind becomes happier and therefore life becomes a whole lot better. You have more room to breathe, move and think. You might have a garage, room, closet, work space, desk, bookshelf or all of the latter just bursting to be seen to and it weights on your mind as it collects dust and takes up space.
Decluttering is so freeing! I have known people with rooms full of items that start to overtake their entire existence...a terrible feeling that can weigh you down. Perhaps you have inherited your elderly parents furniture or boxes and still have to go through items but see it as an overwhelming task.
Here's my top decluttering tips that I use for myself:
Handy ways to organize things based on type and size:
My business life definitely has to be organized and clutter free or there would be chaos and it would run over into my personal life. Shelves, baskets, racks and organizers really keep things on track for me and everything has its specific place. Finding something easily and quickly is key when it comes to decluttering and dealing with hundreds of products and packaging supplies.
As I lighten my life of clutter, I always feel a weight lifted off and a sense of renewal and joy. Life is definitely easier and happier with a lighter load.
Until next time, happy sorting!
Susan
If you enjoyed this post, buy me a coffee! Thanks.
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Without our health, we have nothing. Our health is everything. If we're ill there is very little joy in who we are and what we are capable of doing.
The market is so inundated with ideas and mountains of information that it can become so overwhelming that often people simply give up trying to lose weight or even navigate to understand anything about health, food or exercise. Unfortunately obesity is on the rise and a sedentary lifestyle does not help and makes for more of a struggle in everyday life.
"Your diet is a bank account. Good food choices are good investments." Through common sense you know this when you feel off, have low energy, aches and pains and perhaps don't sleep well. All these are natural indicators of the incorrect fuel and not enough good things our body so desperately needs.
Simple things like water, sunshine, activity, fresh air, rest and sleep, real nutrient dense food...all straight forward contributors to feeling and looking better. Life throws so much at us sometimes that we can become overwhelmed and lose our way. Finances, death, jobs, relationships and other factors determine our overall well-being. Our best defense is real food. In order to think straight, have energy, deal with problems, keep our bodies strong and face challenges head on, we need the right fuel.
It sounds so silly and simple, but if we're consuming packaged items full of preservatives, chemicals, sugars and other nasty fake additives, we become clogged up, irritable, sluggish, ill, constipated and generally degraded. We are no longer the best version ourselves but rather a system that is backed up, poisoned and in big trouble. The danger of poor eating habits and constant garbage entering our system is endless.
Thinking about what you love to eat and finding a healthier alternative is a great way to start! What if you could turn that boat around right this very moment and instead of starving yourself or eating less, start eating better quality and variety. Quality over quantity. If you give your body real food, it will feel satisfied, full and fueled with energy. Cravings will start to go away, sleep will improve and your metabolism will get better burning proper fuel.
If you're eating out all the time or getting take-away, you're consuming dishes that are high in preservatives, sugars and additives. Learning to cook or prepare simple real food is one of the most life changing gifts you can give yourself! You will start to feel and look better right away when you choose real food and movement!
Our eBook and Video library carries so many fabulous and helpful choices for navigating food and health ideas like Nutrition for Adults and having the right healthy mindset to get you on track or turn your life around and feel better.
I know when I have not had enough movement or perhaps not been eating enough good things, I don't feel at my best and therefore my mind is not as sharp and I'm not quite as happy. Energy and happiness are tied together and they're both tied to our activity and what we consume.
Writing down your thoughts, feelings, activities and foods can also help in the form of a journal. or a weekly habits tracker. This is a way to reflect and really think about what you're doing, see how you progress and how far you've come. Even planning weekly meals or making sure that what goes into your shopping cart will make its way into your body, whether it be good or bad.
It isn't about denying yourself things you enjoy, it's about finding balance, alternatives and better portions. My blog post on small changes make a big difference gives some good tips to get you started if you feel at a loss.
I hope that if you're looking to feel better, that this post has sparked a few ideas on starting small and being consistent day-by-day. Quality over quantity to feel satisfied and good in your own skin. You are loving yourself, taking care of yourself and investing in yourself.
Here's to health, happiness, good things, good feelings and thoughts and all that makes you feel well, strong and good about yourself.
Until next time.
Susan
If you've enjoyed this post, buy me a coffee. Thanks so much!
]]>Some of my favourite things about the Spring season are:
A few photos of some of the local plant and garden centers, our blossom tree in the back garden, our front bed garden and steps and my mom and daughter enjoying the flowers with me!
It would be easy to fill up the entire post with photos of plants and flowers and the enjoyment it gives me! My dog Stewie and I enjoy longer walks when the grass dries out from the snow and turns green. We eat our lunch and enjoy afternoon sunshine and outdoor fires in the backyard from late April.
The local lakes see the return of pelicans, geese, ducks, grebes, loons and even musk rat. Little babies flock along the edges and paths and create a hive of activity and sounds on the banks and water. A truly delightful time!
I hope you've enjoyed a look at my spring favourites and that wherever you are, you have things to look forward to with each changing season. Get outside, take a walk and enjoy the fresh air.
Happiness and and sunshine to you until next time!
Susan
If you enjoyed this post, buy me a coffee! Thanks!
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Even 20 minutes a day can add so much to your overall health and wellness.
Enjoying Patricia Lake in 2010 in the Rocky Mountains, Canada. My mom taking an icy dip in the lake and loving it!
From daily dog walks, to hiking, biking, camping, travel, going to the beach, sitting in the backyard, gardening or other outdoor activities...I love my sunshine, nature and fresh air!
I hope this post has inspired you to go outside more and take in the simple wonders around you, even if it's just in your backyard or on your patio. Take 20 minutes for yourself, breathe deeply and clear your mind and let the sunshine and fresh air be natural moments of rejuvenation.
Our dog Stewie loves his daily walks and keeps us on track for getting outside come rain, shine or snow! Until next time, happy trails!
Susan
If you've enjoyed this post, buy me a coffee! Thanks!
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She would cover a wooden bread board in tinfoil and add lettuce leaves and greens as a base and then display dried fruit, an assortment of cheeses, olives, crackers and my favourite was creating the porcupine orange with toothpicks. Cutting up little blocks of meat, cheese and pickles and threading them onto a toothpick that would then be placed into an orange. Simple and delicious fun!
A few photos of some of our latest platters at Christmas or casual patio eating in the summer.
As an adult I have grown to love Mediterranean food like sundried tomatoes, stuffed olives, unusual salted meats and I seek out new cheeses to try. Nuts, grapes, dried mango, dried apricots, unusual crackers with seeds and grains, prosciutto, pesto, hummus, tzatziki and cheese sticks are also a favourite. Choosing the right dish, tray or platter is part of the fun too and I love to garnish the food with sprigs of fresh herbs like parsley, rosemary or basil.
Add foods with different colours, textures and flavours of salty, sweet, grainy and soft to be eye-catching, delicious and interesting!
Making your own sauces and dips in a blender is a lot of fun and I highly recommend making your own pesto, hummus, tzatziki, salsa and spreadable sundried tomato spread if you're able to. This eBook and party package of eBooks offers some incredibly delicious and unique dips and food!
If you haven't tried some of these, a few of my favourite cheeses are:
I wanted to share a few delicious and interesting recipes from this fantastic appetizer recipe eBook as there is always a new and inspiring way to build cheese boards and platters for a party, gathering or simply enjoy in the backyard paired with the right wine or beverage.
1) Appetizer Cheese Ball:
8 ounces Cream Cheese -- Room Temp. 4 ounces Blue Cheese -- Crumbled 4 ounces Cheddar Cheese -- Shredded 2 teaspoons Mustard -- Dijon-style 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce 1/8 teaspoon Garlic Powder 1/4 teaspoon Salt 1/2 cup Pecans -- Finely Chopped 2/3 cup Currants 3/4 cup Parsley -- Chopped
-----DIPPERS----- Assorted Crackers Apple Wedges Place the cream cheese, blue cheese, cheddar cheese, mustard, Worcestershire, garlic powder, and salt in a mixer bowl and beat at low speed just until well mixed.
Stir in the pecans and currants. Taste and adjust seasoning. Refrigerate the cheese mixture for 30 minutes or until slightly firm, then shape into a ball. Roll in the chopped parsley to coat well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Let stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. Place on a platter surrounded with crackers and apple wedges.
2) Mock French Pate:
1/4 cup Unsalted butter -- * see note 1 pound Fresh mushrooms 1/3 cup Onions -- minced 1/3 cup Celery -- chopped 2 Eggs 3 ounces Cream cheese 3/4 cup Fine bread crumbs 1 teaspoon Salt 1/2 teaspoon Basil -- crushed 1/4 teaspoon Rosemary -- crushed 1/4 teaspoon Oregano -- crushed 1/8 teaspoon Black pepper -- freshly ground * plus butter for greasing the pan Butter a 7-by-4-inch loaf pan.
Line with wax paper, leaving an overhang of about 1 1/2 inches all around to assist in lifting out the pate later. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Rinse, dry and finely chop the mushrooms. You should have about 5 cups. In a large saucepan melt the butter, and saute the onions and celery until tender, about 5 minutes. In a large bowl beat the eggs and cream cheese until smooth. Add the bread crumbs, salt, basil, rosemary, oregano and pepper. Stir in the onion mixture and the mushrooms. Blend well.
Spoon the mixture into the loaf pan. Cover the top with foil, and bake until firm, about 1 1/2 hours. Cool in the pan until lukewarm. Remove from the pan, using the paper overhang as an aid. Serve at room temperature with crackers as an appetizer. Serves 12 to 14
3) Fire Balls:
12 ounces jalapeno peppers, canned 1 cup buttermilk baking mix 6 ounces mozzarella cheese -- shredded 1 pound sausage 6 ounces seasoned bread crumbs * Use a spicy breading mix made for pork or for less spicy dish use unseasoned fine dry bread crumbs. A mixture of pork breading crumbs and plain crumbs is good to use.
1. Cut off stem ends and remove seeds from the peppers. Rinse peppers to remove seeds, but allow some seeds to remain if you like them hotter. 2. Stuff peppers lightly with cheese, then set aside. 3. Thoroughly mix sausage, biscuit mix, and remaining cheese. Make small patties from the mixture. Place a pepper in the center of each patty, then wrap and seal the dough around the pepper. Coat one or two balls at a time by shaking them in a plastic bag with the pork breading mix or seasoning of your choice. 4. Using a lightly greased skillet, brown sausage balls until the sausage is thoroughly cooked, turning several times.
4) Ellen's Boursin:
8 ounces Cream cheese 2 Garlic cloves -- peeled 1 tablespoon Each fresh basil -- dill and 6 Black olives -- pitted Blend cream cheese, garlic and herbs in a food processor until smooth. Chop in olives. Transfer to a small bowl and keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Boursin is generally served as an appetizer spread on crackers, or stuffed into cherry tomatoes
I really hope you've enjoyed these recipes and feel inspired to try new and interesting eats for the season! Get creative with a massive feast of colour and tastes!
Bon Appetit!
Susan
]]>The Cause Of Acne and Tips for Prevention:
There are many possible causes for acne. People of all ages, lifestyles, and backgrounds can develop it, and the causes can be different for each. The first step to understanding what is causing your acne is knowing your skin type and how to care for it. If you have oily skin, you wouldn't want to use a facial cleanser containing oil because your body is already producing a good amount of it. Likewise, if your skin is dry, you wouldn't want to necessarily use a product that is oil free. Perhaps, one of the most common myths is that oily skin does not need to be moisturized. Oil is not moisture, and skin needs moisture. Determining the cause and caring for your type of acne, as well as properly caring for your skin is crucial in curing acne.
Topical treatments are those used on the surface of the skin. By helping to keep pores open, eliminating excess dirt and oil, and getting rid of unwanted bacteria, these may do the trick. There are other medications that can be taken orally to help eliminate excess oils by keeping the body from producing it, along with various other medical remedies that help treat acne. Before you can treat it, however, you need to understand what is causing it.
Hormones can play a major part in causing acne. In adolescence, the changes the body goes through can cause constant breakouts, while in adult years, bodily changes, such as premenstrual and pre menopausal episodes, can cause breakouts to continue.
Stress can also be a contributing factor to the presence of acne. When you are stressed, the body releases certain hormones and chemicals which can produce toxicities that cause acne. Try to eliminate stress by staying away from stressful situations. Get plenty of sleep, eat right, exercise and sweat. These factors all help combat acne.
It is also believe that some foods, such as chocolate and sugar can cause acne. While this is commonly disputed and often thought to be a myth, it is unclear whether these foods are unable to actually cause acne. Ask a physician if you want to know more about this as a possible cause.
Environment can influence acne, as well as lifestyle. The products you use can also effect your acne. If you are not using the proper products to counteract acne, you may see an increase in breakouts. As mentioned above, if your skin is oily, you don't want to use products containing excess oil, as this would add to the oil on your skin and could clog pores and cause further breakouts. It is also important to keep the skin properly hydrated and moisturized. Learn how to care for your particular skin type and try to eliminate the factors that are causing your acne. This will help you have healthier skin.
Cleansing your skin is the most essential acne prevention measure you can take. Not only does this clean off dirt, bacteria, and other unwanted materials, but it also removes excess oils that can cause breakouts. It is important that you do not over wash your skin, as this will remove oils that actually help your skin. This will result in dry, irritated skin, and can further aggravate your condition.
Use a gentle soap or acne cleanser. Cleansers have been developed to specifically help with acne, and are available both over-the-counter or through a prescription. Gentle cleansers with witch hazel, aloe vera and chamomile help soothe and clean problem skin.
Zip popping is a bad habit to get in to, and perhaps, a hard one to break. They are bothersome and sometimes painful, and it would seem that you would receive relief from popping them and getting rid of infectious pus. This is not so. In actuality, popping pimples pushes the bacteria further into the skin and can cause further irritation to the problem area and the skin surrounding it. Use a skin toner in addition to washing your face instead.
If you have acne on parts of your body such as your chest and back, wear loose clothing. This is recommended especially when indulging in activities such as working out. Tight clothing can irritate your skin, and will aggravate your acne. It can also be uncomfortable to acne sufferers as well. This is also relevant because when you work out, you sweat, which can add unwanted materials to your skin and help influence breakouts. Tight clothing can trap these materials on the surface of your skin, or may even cause you to sweat more. Loose clothing will prove more comfortable all around.
Keep pillow cases, hair brushes, face cloths, towels, linens, your hair, your hands and anything else used or touching your skin clean. Bacteria creates a hot bed for acne, so washing linens and items that touch your face is key to keeping bacteria away from problem skin.
Acne Myths And The Perceptions They Cause:
Through the years, many myths have passed down about what causes acne, and they have caused ill-formed perceptions. Let's dispel some of the myths.
1) It is a myth that getting a tan can help clear up acne. Even though a tan may help cover the redness caused by acne, it won't actually heal or prevent it. Add to that the risks associated with tanning beds and the sun, and the skin damage that can occur, and this may hurt more than it will help.
2) It is also believed that eating greasy, fried foods, or consuming chocolate can cause acne. Numerous scientific studies have concluded there is no connection between acne and one's diet while it does help if one's diet is cleaner and healthier and more water than sugary drinks is consumed.
3) It is also a myth that the more you wash your face, the fewer breakouts you will experience. While washing your face gets rid of oil and excess dirt, and removes dry skin, washing your face too often can remove some of the essential oils, therefore, causing your face to become especially dry and irritated.
4) Another common acne myth is that popping pimples will help them clear up more quickly. While this can make the pimple seem less noticeable, it can actually make the healing process a longer one. This is because popping a pimple can push the bacteria from it deeper into the skin, making the surrounding area red and irritated. Devices designed to help pop your pimples, such as blackhead extractors, aren't safe either, as they can cause scars to form.
5) Another myth is you can't wear makeup or shave if you want to have clear skin. If you have acne, it is okay to use products that are non-comedogenic, which means they won't clog pores and cause breakouts. Some concealers now have benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid in them, and, will, therefore, help fight acne.
Consult a dermatologist if you are unsure about possible causes and treatments, or if you feel your acne may require medical attention.
Hygiene Products and Acne Treatments:
There are many products available to treat acne, some of which are common to personal hygiene. The most common of these is soap. While many soaps, especially those that are scented, can irritate skin afflicted by acne, many hygiene products have been put on the market that are helpful in combatting acne, and are economical as well.
Soaps come in two forms, bar and liquid. Facial soaps and cleansers are those products designed to treat problem skin. They contain products that promote healing and prevention.
Acne cleansers are generally used to remove excess oil, dirt, and sweat from the surface of the skin. When this happens, it makes absorption of topical acne treatment easier. Topical products are those used on the surface of the skin to combat acne.
There are different cleansers for different skin types. People with oily skin should use cleansers that rinse off well. This is so the excess oil common to oily skin will be properly removed, leaving the skin smooth. Both bar soaps and liquid cleansers have been specially formulated for this purpose.
For dry skin, the use of hard-milled products and gentle cleansers are appropriate. You may wish to use synthetic detergents if you have this skin type. Such cleansers do not necessarily need to be used often, as they are sometimes stronger than other products.
Most people with normal skin can cleanse daily with bar soaps. Synthetic detergents do, however, react better to hard water.
If you have sensitive skin, you are more prone to react to fragrant products, and those with grains or scrubbing agents. Stay away from the use of such products. Instead, use gentle cleansers and be careful how hard you wash. Wipe, do not scrub when removing dirt and oil from your skin.
Oil-free and non-comedogenic products are usually advisable, as these do not clog pores. There are also cosmetics that have been developed to promote acne healing and daily prevention. Like many cleansers, many of these are oil-free and some contain a small amount of acne medication.
I hope this post has shed a bit of light on this complex subject, to getter a deeper understanding about causes, prevention, treatment, resources and dealing with scarring, our 3 eBook with 11 audio files is a great resource of information as there is so much to know to get relief, healing and comfort.
Until next time, here's to getting rid of stress, problem skin and acne.
All the best,
Susan
]]>Some of the ways I enjoy lemons in their many forms:
Like anything, if you use too much lemon it can also create problems. Everything in balance is key and be sure to dilute lemon juice and lemon oil for use.
Main health benefits and uses of lemons in their many forms:
We use lemon oil in several of our glycerin soaps and goat's milk soaps to soften skin, brighten and clean with anti-bacterial properties.
I hope you enjoy or add more lemons into your life for all their uplifting and positive things they can do!
To health, happiness and trees full of lemons,
Susan
If you've enjoyed this post, buy me a cup of coffee.
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There are a few different types of coffee I love and I've enjoyed a few in some very special cafe's, parks and museums around the world which made them all the more marvelous!
At home we do a simple French Press in the morning, but I do love a creamy and foamy flat white, latte, cappuccino or a cafe mocha now and then. I've created a handy sheet below to show the difference between the main coffees incase you're not familiar with them. I still get a bit confused.
If you've ever been fortunate enough to enjoy a cup of coffee in a Paris cafe or in a garden under the trees in a beautiful European city or special place, then you know how exciting it can be being served something delicious and interesting.
Here's 3 lovely recipes from our 89 Coffee Recipes eBook for you to enjoy:
Canadian Coffee
1/4 c Maple syrup; pure
1/2 c Rye whiskey
3 c Coffee; hot, black, double strength
Topping:
3/4 c Whipping cream
4 ts Maple syrup; pure
Topping: Whip cream with maple syrup just up until soft mounds; set aside.
Divide maple syrup and whiskey among 4 warmed heatproof glass mugs or goblets. Pour in coffee to 1 inch of top; spoon topping over coffee.
Black Forest Coffee
6 oz Fresh brewed coffee
2 tb Chocolate syrup
1 tb Maraschino cherry juice
Whipped cream
Shaved chocolate/chips
Maraschino cherries
Combine coffee, chocolate syrup, and cherry juice in a cup; mix well. Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a cherry.
Cajun Coffee
3 c Hot Strong Coffee
6 tb Molasses
6 tb Dark Rum (If Desired)
Whipped Cream
Nutmeg (Freshly Ground)
Combine coffee and molasses in a saucepan. Heat, stirring, until molasses is dissolved and coffee is very hot. Do not allow to boil. If desired place 1 Tbls. rum in each mug. Add coffee. Top with whipped cream; sprinkle with nutmeg. Do not stir before drinking.
I hope you get to stop, sit, sip and savor a hot or cold coffee with someone special. Until next time.
Susan
]]>Not only beautiful and hardy to grow in several variations, it's an incredibly powerful restorative, healer and hydrator both externally on hands, face, body and scalp, but also internally.
For the skin it provides some of the following benefits and uses:
Did you know that Aloe Vera provides so much more than just help for your skin?
For internal medicinal help it provides the following benefits and uses: (obviously if you have any medical conditions you should consult your doctor first before taking anything internally) and it depends in what form you take it.
I have several aloe vera plants growing in my home and knowing how incredibly powerful Aloe Vera is, know and love all our aloe vera products for their benefits. Some are infused and others concentrated like our Aloe Vera gel , Aloe Vera soap , our face and body mists , our enriched foaming cleanser, clay masks and several of our gift sets.
I hope you add Aloe Vera into your life, your skin will thank you for it! Until next time, stay soft and hydrated!
~ Susan
]]>This is more of a mood board post...a visual vintage compilation of looking back in time to interesting objects I love.
I've traveled to places drenched in history and find it thrilling to discover little cobble stone alleyways with tiny dusty bookshops full of old leather bound treasures, shops filled with antique brass bits and bobs, lamps, household objects, furniture...full of character and a gateway to decades gone by.
Vintage objects truly are a time portal to history. My favourite periods are probably Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian.
The Tudor (1485 - 1603) and Stuart (1603 - 1714) time periods are also fascinating but a bit more unrefined and don't hold as much charm for me as the other three listed above.
Do we romanticize old things? Yes, I think we do, as these things are from a time we never lived in. In reality, those times were not filled with electric light but with candles and lanterns and lacked so many modern, comfortable and convenient things, but for me it is the feeling these objects evoke. A touchstone of history.
Traveling to countries that have large museums of objects and artifacts is something I truly love. Objects that created an atmospheric charm of the time...old books, a gramophone, a lamp, big rustic sturdy metal braced doors, massive tapestries or rugs, cushions, couches and beds of old material and stuffing. In that time period, that is of course all they had and knew, but for us now the very smell, touch and feel can bring about a feeling of stepping back in time.
Some of my favourite places I've enjoyed visiting and seeing items on display:
I've seen quite a few European museums too and smaller dwellings that used to be homes of well known people and those are also such a treat as they take an intimate look into everyday life left as it was when they departed. Writers, poets, painters, politicians and other figures of note. Their desk, living area, chair, fireplace found exactly as it was back in the day and now held in a capsule of time. An old notebook with ink pen and quill...no longer used but on display frozen in time. A majestic grandfather clock that used to tick, chime and announce tea time but now dormant but none the less grand.
With so many personal travel photos to choose from, it's difficult to pick just a few, but these are from various sites and places. When we travel we sometimes stay at a bed and breakfast or an older hotel due to their character and history.
I have fond memories of a very old hotel we stayed in in Edinburgh, Scotland. It felt like a hunting lodge and was adorned with large antique pieces, stags, family crests, tartan embellishments, old creaky stairs, oversized antique cabinets with brass fixtures and hat stands and mirrors of a bygone era. It was magical in its authenticity and charm. Everything had a story and richness to it. Have you ever stayed in a place like that?
Some of my favourite vintage items are:
I've put together a nice little collection of Victorian printables below for you to enjoy. Right click on each one to save and print. They would look good framed in rustic pieces on a mantle, table or wall.
I hope you've enjoyed this indulgent post of mine and if you love vintage items and collectibles too, I hope you get to adventure to places of interest and duck into dark little dusty bookstores, dimly lit shops, quaint cafes and old crumbling alleyways off the beaten track...those are where the hidden vintage gems are always found, away from the crowds.
Until next time, goodbye for now and happy treasure hunting!
~ Susan
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Right click on the image below to save to your computer and size and print as needed.
Hope you enjoy this recipe card several times over!
Happy cooking and baking!
Susan
If you've enjoyed this post, buy me a coffee!
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These blends and uses mentioned below are from our Aromatherapy and Essential Oils eBook. There are so many to choose from, but I picked a few to give you an idea of the beauty and power of essential oils in aromatherapy to heal mind and body.
Cyproil is one of the essential oils that works as an aromatherapy solution. The botanic oils known as Cyperus Scarious were extracted through a steam process from flowers. The Brazilian oil is a grassy plant, which has floral scented and delicate flowers. The oils are dark amber and sometimes light brown. Cyproil is commonly used in compounds perfumes, soaps, incense, and medicine.
You can also use the oil as an insect repellent. The natural smelling oils blend with patchouli, bergamot, labdanum, and clary sage. Cypress French oils, sometimes called Cupressus Semperiviren. The oils come from needles and twig from plants, and are extracted through a steam process. The Australian oils are pale yellowish, and are commonly used to fight foot perspiration, menorrhagia, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, varicose veins, oily skin, and has worked to relax the mind and body.
The oil is also used to relax the nerves and treat the skin with its astringent property. The medium scent oils work with Fennel oils, bergamot, grapefruit oils, lime, lemon, Rosemary, orange, Juniper, clary sage, lavender, pine, and so on. Tangerine oils work blend well with cypress French oils.
Cypress Australian Blue is an essential oil, named Callitris Intratropica also. The oil comes from needles and twigs, and is extracted via a steam process. The oil originated from Australia, which the trees are family to the Southern Conifer. The beautiful blue oils are commonly used to treat skin by soothing and moisturizing the flesh. Aroma therapists use this oil as an agent to sooth and relax the nerves without sedating the patient. The medium strength oils blend with lavender oils, Cedarwood oils, Lemon Tea Tree, Pine oils, Lemon Myrtle, orange, geranium oils, clary sage, rose oils, mandarin, cardamom, jasmine oils, sandalwood oils, juniper, marjoram oils, and so on.
Curry Leaf oils are along the essential oil line. The botanic oils named Murraya Koenigi are extracted via steam and come from plant leaves. The India based oil comes from diminutive bushes from India, which the bushes grow in the Himalayas, Burma, and throughout the eastern areas. The oils are pale yellow, and are used by the India natives as a culinary remedy. However, there is no available information to claim what curry leaf oil does to heal the body and mind.
Curcuma essential oils come from the Latin name Curcuma Aromaticum. The plant seeds were steam extracted, and the origin of the plants is India. Curcuma is a tropical plant, which comes from turmeric, zeodoary, and is extracted as aromatherapy oils. The oils are yellow or yellowish green. Curcuma is commonly used to relax and balance the nerves. The oil has an antiseptic application, as well as agents to heal the skin, including acne. It is claimed that this oil will reduce growth of female facial hair. The medium aroma blends with spicy blends, ginger, Ylang oils, Clary Sage, etc.
Cumin essential oils derive from the Latin name Cuminum Cyminum. The oils are extracted via steam and come from plant seeds. Egypt is the origin of this oil. The oils are found in various parts of the Mediterranean areas. The cumin plants grow aromatic seeds.
The Mediterranean plants are a member of the carrot family and it grows small pink and white flowers. The flowers are grown for the specific purpose of extracting its aromatic seeds. However, the seeds are sometimes used as spice in cooking. The common use of the oils treat a variety of symptoms, including muscle pain, osteoarthritis, bloating, nervous tension, headaches, digestive problems, dyspepsia, colic, and so on. The oils have antiseptics, aphrodisiacs, anti-toxics, antispasmodic, bactericidal, and so on.
The oil will also treat migraines. The medium strength aroma blends with Oriental flavors, essential oils, lavender, chamomile, caraway, Rosemary, Angelica Root, and so on.
I hope you've enjoyed a small look inside this fabulous eBook and enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy and essential oils in your life.
All the best for now,
Susan
]]>MACARONI AND CHEESE:
COCKTAIL MEATBALLS:
Look out for more recipes coming your way in our upcoming blog posts!
Susan
If you've enjoyed this post, buy me a cup of coffee!
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We all have our favourite childhood books and stories and if you're like me, they bring back memories of taking you off to faraway places on adventures you will never forget. As a child I loved daydreaming and writing my own little stories and poems and always wanted to take a writing course.
Here are some of my favourite childhood reads in no particular order:
If you're looking for new ideas, here's a long comprehensive list of children's books.
I loved reading to my daughter as a baby and child and to this day she absolutely loves books and reading as an adult. We also borrowed the maximum amount of books from the library and her bookshelves were overflowing with classics we found at second hand stores. A magical world of adventures and characters! A child's word knowledge, interests and writing expands exponentially with reading. If you have children or grandchildren, you'll know how special that time is together and how excited they can get to pick out their favourite stories!
Create a reading corner, read to them at night, take books with on a road trip, airplane, holiday, restaurant, visiting family...their love of books and reading will grow if they are given every opportunity to read or at least start with picture books plus a great way to spend time together with you, grandparents, their siblings or friends.
In the late 1990's I took an intense two year Writing for Children and Teenagers Literature diploma through The Institute of Children's Literature It was all by correspondence through the mail and my entire course and all assignments were typed up on my Brother electronic typewriter back then as there was no website to access. At the time I was mostly at home as my daughter was very young and I only worked part-time.
Getting big envelopes with assignments and grades through the mail was a thrill and held a different vibe to going online and simply finding your schooling there. Not only did this two year journey fill me with utter enjoyment and pride of filling a binder full of stories, but it polished my writing skills and techniques and later would help me to write better in any office position I worked.
I then also went on to study teaching English as a foreign language and that immersed me into all the intricacies of the language. I then created a comprehensive English as a Foreign language video course. which took me over a year to write and around another year to have edited with music, text, photos and beautifully presented and finished. I wanted to offer something for students, parents and teachers to be able to watch and follow along with and have a big printable manual too.
This course was also created for young children to understand the basics of English and the world around them ie seasons, colours, shapes, the alphabet and everyday life. Bold bright pictures and a good basic understanding of English words, grammar and talking, reading and writing in English.
I also recently compiled a value package of 11 Different eBooks for young children. Printable sheets and activities for preschoolers to grade 4 who are learning math, spelling, colours, shapes, time, months, seasons, letters, numbers and memory skills. Great for teachers and parents! All round basic learning, creativity, fun and enjoyment! Print off all the workbooks and place them in a binder. Colouring-in, fill in the blanks, memory games and more! I really enjoyed putting all those components in one package!
So as you can see, I find these learning concepts pretty exciting! Little minds love to explore and are eager to learn if given the opportunity. I hope your children love reading as much as I did as a child and that their bookshelf is full of exciting adventures, fairytales and interesting places and characters!
Happy reading! Until next time.
Susan
]]>Eyes are so much of our personality and we see joy, happiness, sadness, anger, surprise and so many other emotions expressed in a person's eyes.
Having said that, if you've ever wished to have bigger eyes, smaller eyes or maybe not as deep-set or wide-set, there are make-up techniques that can assist in giving the illusion of a different eye shape through the magic of shading eyeshadow, eyeliner and eyelash applications.
Different types of eye shapes:
General tips for different eye shapes:
I love experimenting with colours and textures and like lip make-up, there are no rules to eye applications. The sky is the limit of beauty for day and night, characters and looks for events. The eyelid is a miniature canvas for a world of designs. Eyeshadow powders, creams, special f/x paints, feathers, glitter, rhinestones and the endless list of different textures, types of eyeliners, lashes and mascaras, makes for an exciting creative moment.
Our Classic eyeshadow palette, Peacock Jewel Tones palette and three Glitter Palettes provide a brilliant wide range of classic and fantasy colours for day, night and character creations. It's a bonus they have high concentration of pigmentation (a little goes a long way) and are oil free, gluten free, vegan and paraben free. To be beautifully paired with our soft mink lashes or vitamin E infused water-proof mascara.
Our Cosmetics Cheat Sheets Booklet eBook let's you practice eye colours and designs on printable face shape paper sheets without using too much product and gives you an idea of the look you'd like to create!
Here's to big, beautiful eyes! Cheers for now,
Susan
If you enjoyed this post, buy me a cup of coffee!
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At the end of the day, there are no rules for make-up and our face is the canvas on which we can reconstruct a work of art.
Whether simply for beauty day or night, or creating a character for an event, lip applications have the power to really transform a face.
Different lip shapes:
General colour and texture tips for lips:
Tips for bridal lips:
As I said before, there are no rules for make-up, but if you're thinking of a look for a wedding, you want to think of the emotion, feel, mood, custom, culture, theme or tradition you are trying to capture. There are so many different types of weddings. Lip application finishes off the look of the event.
The bride wants to capture the emotion of the day with her bridesmaids and feel and look her best however soft and light, girly, bold, traditional, different or completely unique that may be. I was a make-up artist for a few weddings in Vancouver many years ago and they were vastly different to each other. The themes and feel definitely played a role in the make-up and lip applications.
Lip care tips:
Our Cosmetics Cheat Sheets Booklet eBook let's you practice lip colours and designs on printable face shape paper sheets without using too much product and gives you an idea of the look you'd like to create!
Here I am enjoying Sparkle and Comfort lipstick shades of (from left) Fire Red, Brag, Candyland and Princess lip gloss.
Until my next post, I hope you enjoyed this one! Here's to soft, beautiful lips!
Susan
If you enjoyed this post, buy me a cup of coffee!
Susan
]]>Some days you might feel a bit blah or you're going through struggles, heartache or other problems and so how do you stay motivated and inspired to find beauty in the ordinary and everyday things? There are things that bring us down and lift us up. I know that when days are not uplifting, going as planned or have an unexpected downward slant to them, I simply go with it. Let it go and know that tomorrow will be better.
To lift myself up, I have to be mentally strong and be in the moment. Anything from a bouquet or vase of flowers, trees or plants, an elegant dress, beautiful classic architecture, a well presented delicious meal, the sunrise or sunset, waves breaking on rocks, a colourful bird sitting peacefully, hugging someone you love, your pet nuzzling you sweetly, a beautiful song or interesting book, a a candlelight hot bath, cooking, a long walk or workout, quiet meditation...all genuinely inspiring things and moments to lift my spirits...beautiful moments that turn my mindset around.
Do you have those uplifting touchstones that can turn your mindset around?
When we look at the history of fashion, cosmetics, architecture and lifestyle in general, we have lived through some beautifully designed times. Periods filled with grace, clean lines and angles in clothing, elegance and immaculate poise pertaining to people and society. How did these things affect people's thoughts, moods, feelings and emotions at different times in history?
Our favourite colours, scents and music can hold beauty simply by being present in a room and make us feel happy when presented through art, throw cushions or rugs or perhaps even collectibles we've acquired through our travels.
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I find this to be true. Something garish, sloppy, vulgar, quirky or unsightly might be beautiful to someone but not to others. The same can be said for music. Musical tastes vary and again either inspire or bring about a long list of emotions and feelings of sadness, anger, melancholy or joy. Every day holds moments of beauty whether we see them or not.
Are you someone who stops and notices things and moments, or are you someone who tends to rush things and is already pushing into the next moment?
Sometimes it's difficult to be present in the moment and notice the small things especially if our minds and lives are so busy. The slowing down of moments and being present is supremely important. "The good old days" are here and now and I think sometimes overthinking and over-planning can lead to not being present in the here and now.
It's a strange subject to think about, but in order to get the most out of each and every day and moment, one has to be right here and now. Living in the past or in the hoped for future robs us of our present reality, feelings and beauty of our surroundings.
Our mind and mindset are everything. Thoughts are things and we are ultimately governed by our mind and the quality of our thoughts. How do your nurture your mind to stay positive when it's not always easy or if you're under pressure, strain or difficulty?
Here's a few things I do to be more present in the moment:
All the best for now. Thank you for taking the time to read this post and here's to a strong and happy mindset of being in the moment for a better life!
Susan
]]>Firstly. the skin normally reveals on the outside what's happening on the inside of your body. When we haven't had enough water to drink, haven't had enough sleep or proper nutrition, or not sweating out toxins and impurities, it of course starts to show in the form of dryness, sores, dark circles, breakouts, pimples, oil, roughness or several other reactions to our inside health.
I know on days where I have perhaps not taken care of myself in the best way possible, it reflects that in my skin right away.
If you understand your skin type, you can then be best equipped to deal with its problems and care needed.
So let's take a look at the 3 different layers of skin:
Functions of the skin and why it's important to keep it healthy:
So how do we know what type of skin we have and how do we care for it?
I hope you've enjoyed this post and have a better understanding of skin, your skin type and what kind of specific care is needed. I always try to remember that whatever I consume or how I treat myself will show up in my face. Rest, sleep, water, exercise and good food for mind, body and soul.
Here's to happy, healthy, nourished skin!
Susan
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As I've said before in previous posts, I love to write about various topics, not just beauty, health and wellness and travel is something I really love!
Best questions to ask yourself when packing your toiletry bag:
I make a list if I'm going on a long trip and look at things like location, season, weather, temperature and terrain. Will the weather be cold, hot, windy, rainy, snowy, sunny, dry? Is it a city, beach, nature, walking or relaxing getaway? Consider your surroundings and think about your skin, hair and general well-being. Will there be general amenities like a shower, bath, toilet and basins? If you're camping, backpacking or staying in a hostel, these are all things to think of.
A checklist and a few sturdy toiletry bags can keep things organized and separated based on your needs and their uses. A stretchy bag or tote for shopping, a day trip or the beach are essential as they take up very little space in your luggage and really come in handy for wet towels, going to the market or general sightseeing out and about.
My best essentials for backpacking, camping and rustic cabin travel:
Obviously rustic travel is more about care, safety, comfort and survival (depending on your level of adventure) and less about beauty. Your items would be very different to say staying in a hotel or resort where everything is available and we're quite pampered. If you're well traveled you'll know this, but if you're fairly new to the traveling game, here's a short list of what I like to take for more rustic outdoor trips to be safe and comfortable. They are more about survival on long hikes or more remote locations or small towns.
When I travel somewhere more traditional like a hotel or resort, my list is more about beauty and pampering products obviously as I'll be eating out in cafes and restaurants and perhaps going to the theatre. I try to find miniatures of my favourites.
I've created a digital travel planner with 80 printable handy sheets to print off. They provide an area for expenses, duration, food to try, sights to see, a notes area and 6 day blocks for planning. Each page is themed with travel items, countries and continents so you can print off multiples of the ones you really love!
I hope you came away with a few ideas from this post. I often come back and add more to my articles on later dates and enjoy sharing my thoughts with you.
Happy travels!
Susan
]]>If you're like me, then you'll know that cooking brings a whole world of joy and satisfaction with it. When it comes to food prep and I love to throw things together and gain inspiration from recipes rather than follow them to the letter. I'm not afraid to try combinations, herbs, spices and unusual things to bring about interesting flavours and outcomes. I've created some adventurous dishes by randomly putting things together.
How I set the scene for cooking:
When I cook, I love to put on music - up tempo jazz, Italian, classic crooners or Spanish guitar are all favourites. I wear an apron and make sure I have a good chopping board, sharp knives and the correct utensils ie spatula, large spoon or ladle, wooden spoon etc We have an kitchen island and a good area to work from. We're also fortunate enough to have inherited large sets of pots and pans from a few people, good quality to last a lifetime.
I love good, simple and real food. We don't eat packaged meals and I love making sauces and dressings from scratch. Growing fresh herbs in little pots by the kitchen window is also a happy delight I love and adds so much flavour to dishes.
Some of my favourites to cook or prepare are:
For me food is fuel, so I don't like to prepare heavy greasy stuff. I don't own deep fryers and tons of equipment like some people do. If I'm going to prepare something, it's going to be fresh and simple like The Complete Library of Cooking due to the old-fashioned nature and simplicity of the dishes. If you're only starting out or learning to cook, this 5 Volume Set pretty much covers all the kitchen basics, skills, equipment, cutlery, prep, methods, foods and all there is to know for cooking and preparing food. I love it!
Recipes from around the world is a culinary delight because I draw inspiration from so many different places and interesting dishes! If you've ever wanted to create international dishes from Greece, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, France and Germany to name only a few, then you'll love this massive eBook. Even just preparing an exotic side dish that you've never heard of can be a real joy.
When I traveled all over Europe, England, Scotland and Wales several times with my family, we were all sure to jump in and try as many different dishes as we could but I also cooked in several countries and often stayed at places that had a kitchen. Venturing out to a local grocery store or street market is a treat as everything looks and smells so different. Fresh veg and fruit stalls draw you in as do exotic meats, delis, cheeses, breads and massive quantities of side dishes like olives, sundried tomatoes, fresh sauces and copious amounts of oils, sauces, dried fruits and nuts. A feast for the senses!
I truly enjoyed cooking in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and a few other places where a market was so close by and had fresh offerings of everything! Do you like to cook when you travel or do you simply want a break and eat out all the time? I like a combination of both. The sounds, sights and smells of spices, flowers, fish, fresh bread and assortment of foods you might not see at home is something I really get excited about
When we go camping or stay in a mountain cabin, I make sure to take all the essentials and love cooking in the great outdoors too. If you're organized and prepared, it really is a joy. A good ice box or cooler, a large water container, a solid little gas stove and all the right utensils make for happy camping. Most cabins provide you with all the basic essentials.
At home we love to eat outside around our backyard fire as soon as we can. Living in Alberta, Canada we get snow from October to around March or April, but are out there until the first snow hits and as soon as it melts. Making a big fire and sitting under the trees and stars eating lunch and dinner is truly magical! I love nature, so combining that with my love of cooking and food is just utterly peaceful and enjoyable.
If you don't cook, I hope that you still enjoy creating good food in some way, shape or form and that this post perhaps inspired you to enjoy trying the endless charm of cuisine.
Until next time, I wish you cheers from my kitchen and backyard!
~ Susan
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Some people simply plant to enjoy and eat what they grow, while others might be thinking about having an off-the-grid self-sufficient lifestyle. Food preservation and canning, composting, rain and water usage, how to plant to get the most out of your land and so forth is definitely a plan for some people.
The Self-Sufficient Backyard is a good place to start for ideas to get your ideas off the ground! Everything from creating your own fertilizer, composting, DYI projects, chicken coop secrets, setting up a beehive, setting up a year round self-heating greenhouse, plants you can grow indoors year-round and money saving tips on crops that might make you money. I love the thought process behind how much you can do for yourself and learn to survive on what you grow!
Do you ever think of collecting or storing seeds? What if you could grow a garden that allows you to create your own herbal painkiller, natural antibiotic or plants that help with sleep, skin care and reduce bloating. I love that we have the potential to grow herbs from a Medicinal Garden Kit to create our own ointments, salves, tinctures, poultices, essential oils and infusions to help with aches and pains. Roots and leaves can also be enjoyed in teas and remedies and recipes can be formulated to use on our skin to soothe or heal externally or internally. We have the power to do so much towards our health, wellness and independence.
What if you wanted to take it one step further and think about emergency stockpiling, surviving and thriving because a recession was happening, money was tight or you simply wanted to understand survival foods that last for a long time. Understanding Lost Superfoods that have stood the test of time and have been used by the military, our ancestors, mountain men and in various wars are handy to have knowledge on. Saving your life in an emergency crisis by understanding preservation methods, keeping your family well fed and not needing refrigeration is definitely not a bad skill to have.
I think being able to make some of the following would definitely help in a time of crisis or aid in being more self-sufficient in general:
Old-fashioned methods of making candles and soaps is definitely a survival skill and art form in itself. Using fat and tallow and delving into the history of creating these practical items is a homemade must for saving money, surviving and thriving! Making your own jams, jellies, preserves and conserves from fruit and vegetables that you grow and pick from your own garden would be deeply satisfying, even more so if they are low sugar and don't requiring cooking. If this is something you've done, you know the satisfying feeling of a full pantry.
My own love of gardening, cooking, creating, herbs, plants and the beauty of what nature provides us, is something I truly relish and enjoy on a daily basis. The natural world of oils, medicines and foods and the power they have to heal us and keep us strong, healthy and vital is quite fascinating and anchors us to the earth in a very real way.
If you love vegetables and herbs as much as I do, combining all the goodness and variety in meals to bring about general well-being and nutrition is something to truly treasure and be grateful for!
I've wanted to write about the link between food, plants, herbs and timeless methods of being more self-sufficient in your home or on your piece of land for a long time, so I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I loved pulling it together and writing it!
Here's to being self-sufficient, using some of these ideas and eating good things to feel and look good!
Until next time,
Susan
If you've enjoyed this post, buy me a cup of coffee!
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Plants have the ability to bring never-ending beauty, colour and aesthetic to a living space that nothing else can. You might have the fanciest and most sleek furniture you could possible dream up, but without the pleasing appearance of a palm, fern, cactus or other gorgeous leafy potted beauty, the heartbeat of a home is sorely lacking.
Plants not only offer their value in looks, comfort and beauty but also in providing fresh oxygen and filtering the air, boosting productivity and creativity and aiding with a better night's sleep. The pleasure of growing and nurturing plants can relieve stress and promote a general sense of well-being.
Depending on where you live in the world and what your seasons offer, certain plants will be more in abundance with certain types of climates and weather. If you've never been a plant person and not sure where to start, visit a plant store or greenhouse and find something hardy, easy to care for and small like a cactus or succulent that doesn't require a lot of watering and care.
It's incredible how much your plant knowledge will grow as you start to add a variety of plants to your home. Many people I speak to tend to overwater as opposed to underwater their houseplants. Learning to mist certain plants, repotting as plants grow bigger and general plant care and maintenance can be very fulfilling and should never be seen as a task.
Our Indoor Gardening eBook by William Keane gives advice month by month and week by week for various plants in a variety of places in terms of temperature, watering, tying back or up, pots, soil, light, soil moisture and conditions, ventilation, day and night conditions and air moisture.
I personally love growing a good variety of plants and even geraniums (which are normally grown outside) and are annuals (for only one year) as opposed to perennials (that come back year after year) grow very well inside and have flourished in our home for several years now.
I have a good mix of cacti, jade succulents, aloe, snake plants (Sansevieria), a braided money tree, money plants (Pilea Peperomioides) ivy and ferns. All of these have different watering and care needs. For those of you with no interest in plants or are not sure where to start, 15 best house plants for beginners will give you some great ideas on plants that are easy to grow!
If you live in a climate where its not warm all year round, plants can really help your mood and bring the garden inside in those colder months. Plant stands, trellises, tables, shelves, glass terrariums, hanging baskets and nooks brimming with greenery and foliage is surprisingly good for you and offers unexpected mental well-being even more so if you work from home. You can get really creative on how to display plants!
A home office, bathroom, bedroom night stand, kitchen island, coffee table and mantle are just a few areas that can benefit greatly from plants and bring an upbeat vibrant feel to our homes. 26 Bedroom Office Ideas with plants gives you some inspiration and ideas for beautifying living and work areas. Not only will you feel better, calmer and happier, but your productivity and creativity will go up!
I hope you make time for plants and indoor gardening in your home and find ones that work for your lifestyle and living areas. It can be tremendous fun choosing, arranging and finding decor and pots that create a sense of fulfillment in your life!
Until next time,
Happy planting!
Susan
If you've enjoyed this post, buy me a cup of coffee!