Trying to get to the gym at the early hours but still half asleep! Here you go now you can have a protein shake plus coffee to wake you right up!
Ingredients:
• 2 cups ice
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 banana
• 1 cup brewed coffee
• 1 scoop vanilla or chocolate protein powder
Direction:
1. In a blender, blend until smooth and enjoy!
Here is another recipe from Big Lots, for those who run out of creamer a quick link to make some at home!
Ingredients:
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1 Tsp. coconut sugar
Direction:
1. Pour a can of coconut milk into a mason jar.
2. Add vanilla extract and coconut sugar.
3. Put the lid on the mason jar and shake until well mixed.
4. Add to your favorite coffee and enjoy!
So for all you bargain shoppers that thought Big Lots was only for finding great deals now they have a section for recipes and DIY!!! Not to mention most of the things you need if not all you can find there. Found this awesome salad made it the same day!!!
Salad Ingredients:
• 2 1/2 cups penne noodles
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1/2 of a bunch of cilantro
• 1/4 cup onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 avocados, diced
• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
Dressing Ingredients:
• Juice from one lemon
• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• Salt and pepper
Direction:
1. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain pasta and set off to the side.
2. In a food processor, place cilantro and spinach. Chop into tiny pieces.
3. Add the green mixture to a medium bowl. Stir in garlic, onion, tomatoes, avocado and chickpeas.
4. Add the penne noodles and stir well.
5. In a small bowl, mix together dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over top of the pasta salad. Stir until everything is well coated.
6. Refigerate for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Here are 10 of the best plants that purify your air. And, feel free to stock up if you can. The right plants can make a big difference to both your health and your home decor. If you have pets or kids at home always check first to make sure it’s not toxic for them:
Peace Lilies are said to purify your air by as much as 60%, which means that it’s a great choice if you’re concerned about keeping things fresh. They’re also reportedly great to have in your bathroom since they help control mildew.
Having plants in your bathroom is actually a great idea that doesn’t get utilized all that much. If you have a window that lets light in, maybe adding a Peace Lily to the mix will make your morning showers even more enjoyable.
If you’re not big on watering, consider adding aloe vera plants to your home. They’re one of the most medicinal plants you can find. Their gel helps to heal skin issues, and also makes your hands quite soft. And as it turns out, they’re awesome with purifying your air.
When tested, aloe vera was great at eliminating volatile organic compounds, or VOC, from the air. These chemicals can be released from cleaning supplies, and even furniture. Home Detoxing states that aloe vera, in particular, helped the most with removing benzene and formaldehyde from the air. They don’t cost much money and require little care, so they’re worth investing in.
You’ve probably heard a lot about pothos before. They’re usually seen as one of the easiest plants you can grow at home, and it’s a great type for beginners. They can reportedly help clear the air of formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide, meaning that they’re really great to keep around.
Some also believe that pothos can help out eye strain from staring at a computer for too long. So if you’re working from home right now, there’s another reason to make a pothos your new in-house “coworker.”
You may be tempted to start growing some of your own herbs and vegetables if stores aren’t carrying what you need. Adding a Rosemary plant to the house is actually a healthy idea. It smells nice, looks nice, and also purifies your air.
Sunday Gardener believes that most plants that contain needle-like leaves are great for air purification. So even though you may want to get your start with rosemary, consider others that look similar if you want to really purify your home.
Out of all the plants out there, spider plants are some of my favorite. They remind me of elementary school classrooms, and could always manage to survive and stay strong in classrooms that didn’t have the best amount of sunlight.
They’re also great workers. A study showed that spider plants removed about 90% of the formaldehyde from the air, showing that this plant is almost a household essential.
Not only will pineapple plants help purify your air, but they’ll also help redecorate your living space.
Supposedly, pineapple plants have also been linked to help people stop snoring. It’s because they produce oxygen and also help the air in the room, which is great for people who may be having some difficulties at night. This particular type of plant also gives you one pineapple approximately every two years, so you can’t lose.
The twisted leaves of a snake plant actually help absord toxins in the air. They also release a bunch of oxygen into the air, which is good for anyone who may need an indoor boost.
“Persons with allergies, therefore, should find a friend in such plants because they are a natural and cheap way to stay healthy,” says RollingNature. “Further, public spaces and workplaces, especially, should be aware of the value of air-purifying plants for these reasons.”
You know may them best as “mums.” They’re a great year-round plant, and they’re quite versatile. But they’re also great at keeping your air clean, especially if you have a lot of them in one area.
Keep in mind, they won’t work miracles. But, some mums and better than nothing. They’re also really easy to take care for, so they’d be a great addition to any home.
Are you looking for just one plant that’ll add a ton of life (and clean air) to your home? Then take a look at the lady palm. It got a NASA Purifying Score of 8.5, which isn’t bad at all.
They’re also very easy to grow, so no need to worry if you’ve got somewhat of a bad history with plants. They do well in the shade and can grow up to 14 feet.
Finally, there’s the philodendron. They’re great at removing formaldehyde from the air, and can also block EMF radio waves in the air if you’re living in a small space.
Speaking of small space, they can also thrive in a corner or sill that doesn’t get too much sun. Just as long as they get a little bit of exposure, they should be able to stay strong. If anything, it may make them grow a little slower than they would with more sunlight.
The one thing to remember before you buy a bunch? They’re toxic to children and animals, so you’ll want to make sure they live in a place where only adults have access.
People have a love hate relationship with avocados, so this link I hope will make you fall in love!! There are so many different recipes 54 to be exact check out http://www.loveoflemons.com! You will have a recipe for everyday of the week just click on the one you want to try or all!
For those who hate having to throw out fruits or veggies because they go bad too soon here is a quick link to helping keep them fresher longer!
Although they look lovely in a basket, apples are actually a great fruit to put in the fridge!
In fact, they only stay fresh a few days on the counter. They’ll do best in the crisping drawer. Make sure your fridge isn’t cold enough to freeze them! All of their cells will rupture, leaving you with mealy apples — yuck.
Also, because apples produce a gas called ethylene as they ripen, never store them with potatoes. The gas is harmless, but it can make your potatoes go soft and sprouty well before their time.
This is a fun one, because you have so much control over the ripening process!
If your avocados are still hard and green, leave them at room temperature on the counter to ripen.
If you need to speed up the ripening, stick them in a brown paper bag so they’re trapped with their ethylene gas — they’ll be ready for guacamole in no time.
But if you’re trying to keep a ripe avocado around longer, the solution is simple: Stick it in the fridge.
The cool atmosphere slows the ripening process, so you can keep your avocado’s freshness level right where you want it for a few extra days.
If you want to keep a whole bunch of bananas fresh for a longer period of time, here’s a secret: Wrap the stems in plastic wrap. You can either leave them in the bunch and wrap all the stems together, or separate the bananas and wrap them separately — which might make them last a little bit longer.
It’s ethylene gas again — and by wrapping the stems, you trap the gas and keep it from reaching the rest of the banana so you can take your time eating them.
You can also peel your bananas and freeze ‘em. I love using frozen bananas as a healthy base for my morning smoothie!
No matter how many times you’ve seen broccoli tightly wrapped in plastic at your local grocery, it’s not the best way to store it — unless you’re eating it tonight.
Raw broccoli requires airflow and moisture to stay fresh.
One ideal way to keep it is something you probably don’t do: Put it stem-side down in a vase with water in the fridge.
By making a broccoli bouquet, you’re providing water and still letting the bushy tops get the oxygen they need. Your head of broccoli might last up to a week this way!
If that seems a little intense to you, you can also loosely wrap your broccoli in damp paper towels and refrigerate. It’ll keep this way for up to four days.
If you love fresh berries, but hate how quickly they go moldy in your fridge, here’s the secret: Give them a vinegar bath.
Then store them on paper towels to help soak up moisture. White vinegar kills the spores fresh berries accumulate before they arrive in your kitchen, giving you some extra time to snack on them before the fuzzies set in.
And if you rinse them well, they won’t taste a hint like vinegar, promises.
Slice off the green tops, which draw moisture from the carrots, making them wither more quickly.
Then place them, unpeeled, in a sealed plastic bag in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer for up to two weeks.
If you buy pre-trimmed carrots, like baby-cut, here’s a hint: They last longer if you submerge them in water in a tightly-covered container!
Just be sure to change the water frequently.
Citrus fruit should be refrigerated!
Apparently, the vegetable drawer is the best spot — and don’t enclose oranges in airtight bags or containers.
These guys shouldn’t be in the fridge, which is definitely news to this salad-eater! They’ll go soft days in advance if they’re stored below 50 degrees.
They’re sensitive to ethylene, so keep them away from other countertop dwellers like bananas and tomatoes.
Fresh herbs can be one of the biggest problem items when it comes to throwing groceries away. Recipes always call for so little, and they’re sold in such big bunches!
Rinse herbs and dry thoroughly in a salad spinner, then transfer to paper towel rolls or stand upright in mason jars of water depending on the herb.
To keep leafy greens like spinach, chard and collard greens fresh longer, wash and dry them well, then wrap them in paper towels.
Keep the bunches whole, unless you plan on using them soon. Then place the paper towel roll into a perforated, unsealed plastic bag.
If you’re dealing with salad greens, dumping washed leaves into a paper towel-lined plastic storage container is your best bet.
First things first: Don’t store onions in direct sunlight.
Keep your onions in a cool, dark, well-ventilated and dry place.
Some people store them in tied-off pantyhose and hang them on the back of a pantry door. It allows them to breathe, while evaporating any moisture they come in contact with quickly.
Properly stored onions can stay fresh up to six months!
Potatoes do best in a cool, dark, dry place — but not too cool.
If potatoes are stored under 50 degrees, their starches can convert to sugar, which may sound good, but is actually (really) bad.
Potatoes exposed to too much light may sprout. They’re still safe to eat, but you should cut the sprouts off first.
P.S. You may notice that potatoes and onions like similar environments, but you’ll want to find two different cool, dark, dry spots in your house. If you store them together, they’ll both go bad more quickly.
You’ve probably heard that putting tomatoes in the fridge ruins their flavor.
But if you’ve come into an abundance of tomatoes you can’t quite keep up with, stick the overripe ones in the fridge to keep them from rotting for a few more days.
Just bring them back to room temperature before you consume them.
Here is another recipe for an energy ball because some people are needing some energy these day!
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter No Bake Energy Bites Recipe (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Protein-Packed)
Check out all the other cool recipes on http://www.beamingbaker.com!!!
I have been trying to get this mix to work for the longest time but I just keep going back to Starbucks until now! If you don’t want to keep spending the money or time to go to Starbucks daily here is a quick fix! You can find this 6 pack mix at any of the super markets and target carries also. The recipe call for 16 oz of water per mix but for me there is an after taste that I don’t like. And it doesn’t really taste like the true very berry to me so I had to play with it! With the following ingredients I found a mix that was perfect!
Ingredients for 32 oz
12 oz of water
16 oz of cold brew hibiscus tea (use 2 tea bags for 16 oz of water cold brew 24hrs)
4 oz of cranberry juice
1 single pack of the very berry mix (contains the green tea extract)
Fresh Blackberries
Ice cubes
Mix all ingredients except for ice, in a large water carafes with a lid and shake like they do at Starbucks! Pour into a cup of ice and enjoy!!
For a different recipe or a few more Starbucks copy cat drinks try this link:
I am going to try the pink drink and strawberry acai myself!
Gentle, pure and naturally anti-bacterial, Marseille soap is ideal for skin care and many other uses.
AS A POWERFUL STAIN REMOVER
Marseille soap can be used at home to clean your sofa, your rug or your tiled and stones floors. You can clean your kitchen counters, tubs or pretty much any surface in your home. Simply rub a Marseille soap on a damp cloth or sponge or even directly on the surface you want to treat, and rinse well. Marseille soap is also ideal to clean or degrease wall or floor tiles. To clean stone, use a brush soaked in water with Marseille soap. This technique can be use for anything from travertine, marble, granite, terra cotta, or even slate.
AS A CLEAN LAUNDRY DETERGENT
As a laundry detergent, Marseille soap contains no coloring or synthetic adjuvant, making it ideal for sensitive skins and delicate clothes. To remove a stain on a piece of clothing, rub the affected area with a barely damp Marseille soap to form a crust on the stain to treat. Let dry, then wash as you normally do. This technique can be used for stains such as: alcohol or beer, coffee chocolate, food and sauce stains, or lipstick and make up.
How to make Marseille soap laundry detergent recipe:
You will need :
– A large saucepan
– 3 liters to 4 liters of boiling water
– 150 grams of Marseille soap, shredded or grated
– A cup of baking soda
Recipe:
Pour some baking soda and Marseille soap into the pot filled with boiling water.
Stir with a wooden spoon until the potion is well diluted.
Let cool and pour the laundry detergent in a sealed container.
Shake the mixture before each wash.
AS A GREEN (BIODEGRADABLE) DISHWASHING LIQUID
Mix well ½ cup of grated Marseille soap with warm water. To add fresh scent, add one or two drops of mint or lemon essential oils.
AS A BEAUTY PRODUCT
Marseille soap can be used as a shower gel, shampoo or shaving soap. Its gentle formula soothes irritations and allergies, and can help in many cases of eczema or psoriasis when used a shower soap.
AS A JEWELLERY CLEANER
Fill a pan with hot water and then add 1 cup of grated Marseille soap. Let your jewelry pieces soak for 10 to 15 minutes, rubbing each piece a bit before rinsing with water. Dry it and shine-on!
AS AN ANTISEPTIC CLEANER
Insect bites, wounds and sun burns can be cleaned and treated with Marseille soap; simply rub some soap on the wound or insect bite, then rinse. To soothe a mild sunburn, apply the soap while simultaneously pouring cold water on the affected area.
AS A NATURAL MITE REPELLENT IN YOUR CLOSET
Simply attach a slice of soap on a rope in your closet to avoid the tiny creatures that swallow your favorite tees or cashmere sweaters. It works, really!
AS A DOG SHAMPOO
It cleans the coat very well without irritating. Always make sure to rinse well, especially in the paws area where soap could remain after rinsing. Marseille soap definitely gives a shine and spectacular lust to the coat.
Since you are home what better to do with your spare time give your kitchen, bathrooms, garage deep clean!
Here’s a list of cleaning hacks for those of us looking to save time, money and of course, sanity.
“Olive oil is a great option for cleaning stainless steel, such as pots, pans and appliances. Put olive oil on a soft cloth and rub in a circular motion to buff out any dirty spots,”
The garbage disposal does a lot of dirty work on a regular basis, so it’s important to keep it clean and clog-free. “To clean and deodorize garbage disposals, use a fresh lemon or lime,” says Franken. “Cut the citrus fruit into quarters, and while you have the water running put the lemon pieces one by one into the disposal.”
Rubbing alcohol, clear vodka (which has a lot of cleaning benefits!) and even white wine can be used for this cleaning hack. “First blot the stain. Second, pour any type of clear alcohol (rubbing alcohol, vodka, white wine) onto the stain,” says Greg Shepard, owner of the housecleaning service Dallas Maids. “This is better than any over the counter product.”
Who’d have thought that shaving cream could be used to clean? Shepard vouches for it as a great way to remove water stains from shower glass.
“Apply the shaving cream and let it sit for 15 minutes, then wipe off,” Shepard says.
“[Mix] one cup vinegar, half a cup of baking soda with hot water and pour into [an empty] tub and allow to sit for five minutes,” says Findley. “Start filling the tub with hot water until it is approximately one-quarter filled, and let it sit for an additional five minutes. Then release drain and rinse thoroughly.”
You can use the same concoction to freshen up your toilet, Findley notes. Just let it soak for a bit, then flush and wipe the seat.
“Mix one cup of baking soda with 15 drops of tea tree essential oil and 15 drops of lemon or orange essential oil. Let the mixture sit in the bowl for 30 minutes and scrub with a bowl brush before flushing.”
James also recommends getting your sink or tub to shine by mixing baking soda, drops of lemon and basil essential oils and dish soap. “Sponge the mixture on the surface of your bathtub and bathroom sink for 10 minutes. After rising off with water, [they] will be glistening.”
“Add 15 drops of lemon essential oil into one and a half cups water to a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on high for five to 10 minutes, allowing the steam to condense on inside walls/ceilings of your machine,” says Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance, a Neighborly company. “Once complete, simply wipe away the softened food with a sponge.”
Another way to clean your microwave is by putting a clean, dampened sponge or cloth on the tray and setting it on high for two minutes.
“This will kill bacteria,” says Jennifer Rodriguez, chief hygiene officer at Pro Housekeepers. “Then use sponge or cloth to wipe down the microwave.”Video Will Begin In…3
“If you don’t feel like running to the store for more glass cleaner, making your own is easy,” says Larry Patterson, franchise owner of Glass Doctor, a Neighborly company. “Mix white vinegar, distilled water, drops of an essential oil and shake. This is an affordable and easy way to clean your windows, mirrors or even shower doors if you’re in a pinch.”
“Spray a mixture of one cup water, one cup vinegar and lemon essential oil onto your stovetop and simply wipe clean. For tougher stains, sprinkle baking soda first, then spray and wipe. You can use the same technique to clean your oven — which will help prevent kitchen fires — many of which are caused by grease.”
Carol Meerschaert, a registered dietitian and the owner of Appleton Home Services, hails baking soda as a favorite stove-top cleaner. “Just pour it on, sprinkle with water, let sit one hour and wipe.”
***caution never mix vinegar and bleach this will make a toxic gas***
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