Wanted to share some cute little pics of my critters - playing in the snow … I stayed in the house and took pics from the window

Pam

MAKE A DEODORANT STICK:
Melt 2 tablespoons beeswax with 2 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil,
stirring until well blended. Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoons each
of thyme essential oil, lavender essential oil and rosemary essential
oil. Pour into a suitable mold (an empty deodorant stick container is
ideal) and leave until set.

DEODORANT SPRAY
Use as many of the following as possible: witch hazel leaves, lavender
flowers, sage leaves, thyme leaves, mint leaves, rosemary leaves, eau
de cologne mint, yarrow flowers and leaves.

Cover with cider vinegar, bring to the boil, cool, strain. Add same
amount of water, rebottle. Dab under the arms several times a day.

hope you enjoy these!

Pam

Wow….am I tired!! You see, our family celebrates the Feast of Dedication - or the Feast of Lights - or Chanukah/Hanukkah … we have chosen to celebrate not only the Feasts of the Lord in the Bible, and have included tis historical festival as well. What a beautiful time it was … last night with the candles all ablaze throughout the house….two menorah’s all lit up - shining their lights thru out the house …. little eyes dancing in the half lit rooms….it was so amazing……

I have 6 little grand daughters….from my two favorite sons…..and this was our ‘first’ real Hanukkah - my oldest son gave the narration of how we celebrate the LIGHT of the world, how the Light was first conceived at this time and it was such a wonderful blessed time!.
I had a wonderful dinner set up with special cornish hens for each person (even the kids had an individual hen!) Not that they ate it - but they sure enjoyed acting like adults. Then we had the lighting ceremony of the last candle in the menorah … and of course one last gift to share with each other. What a blessed night….oh I said that

Anyway, the meaning and closeness we shared last night was worth a hundred xmas’ put together….

blessings to all

Pam

Athlete Foot Scrub
Ingredients:

1 pounds Dead Sea salts
1/2 pound Epsom salts
1/2 cup borax
1/4 cup jojoba oil
1/8 cup vitamin E
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 pound grated unscented soap, natural or organic
1 1/2 tsp. glycerin
1 1/2 tsp lime essential oil
1/2 teaspoon ground lime peel
1/2 teaspoon orange peel, ground
1 teaspoons vitamin C powder

Simply combine all ingredients in bowl and mix well. Spoon into glass or decorative jars with tight fitting lid. Attach a pretty bow, with instructions (Scoop handful of Athlete Scrub Mix and gently massage feet, rinse and pat dry!) and give to your favorite athlete - whether the couch potato or the distance runner!

I just received 1/4 lb of the most wonderful vanilla beans!! Actually bought them off e-bay - but got the lead from one of the gals on our Yahoo Missouri Crafts Network newsgroup - and I love them! They were very inexpensive too! total cost for about 20 beans was about $12 or so - including shipping!!! If you’re interested - check out the ebay store - and tell her I sent you!

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Organic-Vanilla-Bean-Company

well worth the money! Now I’ve got Vanilla Sugar, Vanilla Tea, Vanilla infused oils … oh I coudl go on and on!
Pam

Anyone ever make sugar infused gifts? here’s some ideas
This is a very simple and easy to make gift for yourself - or for your favorite friend or relative! This only takes about 30 minutes to make and only 1-2 weeks to infuse before you give it away. Don’t have two weeks to wait? Just put instructions then on the jar that its best used after a certain date!

Herbal Sugar Gift

Ingredients:
3-4 sprigs of fresh herbs
2 cups of sugar
Gift jars of your choice

Fresh herb choices: lavender, mint, rosemary, thyme, sage or vanilla beans or herb of your choice.

Simply bruse the leaves gently by crushing them with a mortar and pestle or crumple them in your hands until you can smell the essence. Then just measure out 2 cups of sugar, add the sugar to the herbs (all the while stirring if you can).

After you have mixed it quite thoroughly, just pour the sugar mix into a decorative jar and allow to sit for at least 2-3 days. After the 2-3 days are up, stir the sugar again and repeat for about 2 weeks.

Wrap a pretty ribbon around the neck of the jar, put your label with instructions or recipes on it and viola! a wonderful, pretty, useful homemade gift!

Blessings ~ Pam

Natural Medicine Bag

Here is a basic ingredient for a natural medicine kit - for your home, your purse or your car. Avoid all those synthetic dyes and chemicals that are commonly found in OTC medicine kit ingredients.

Most of the ingredients below can be found in your local health food store or online in various places. But remember, these recommendations are not being offered as any type of medical advise or as a substitute for any medical recommendations given by your doctor. Any questions? Please consult your medical expert!

Essential Oils

To use essential oils for a topical use, just add a few drops to 1 tsp. of vegetable oil (or sweet almond oil or olive oil) and then swab the area; to use in aromatherapy, just put a drop or two of the essential oil on a cotton cloth or handkerchief and then sniff as desired.

Lavender essential oil
There are many types of Lavender, but the French and Bulgarian lavender oils are most commonly used. They are both anti-fungal, antibacterial, calming and relaxing.Try a few drops of this well known and versatile essential oil and enjoy the benefits!

Peppermint essential oil
Peppermint has many uses and I love the fresh aroma it offers. Its essence is recommended for easing migraines, to clear congestion; and to ease indigestion (1 drop in a glass of water or teaspoon of honey). To clear congestion and breathe more easily, just put a drop of essential oil of peppermint on the palms of your hands, rub together briskly and then inhale deeply - you’ll be breathing freely in seconds! Have a tummy ache? Just add a drop of peppermint to a glass of water (or a tsp of honey) and drink - it soothes your tummy quickly. I’ve even used it topically on the stomach of a horse I had that was colicing and she was better within 15 minutes (I also rubbed a drop on her gums). But if you do this - have a vet handy as you might not catch it as quickly as I did. For migraines or headaches, you can try put just a small drop on the tips of your fingers, rub them together briskly and then massage the temple area.

All-purpose Herbal Salve
Check out this popular all natural healing salve which can reduces the possibility of skin infection and may help reduce inflammation. It contains St Johns Wort, Calendula, Tea Tree Oil, Comfrey and Helichrysun Oil for pain.Check it out here at the Herbal Garden

You can also check out various other essential oils and products at our TLC Naturally store as well!

Blessings ~ Pam
Missouri Crafters

PHILADELPHIA White Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake
Prep Time: 15 min
Total Time: 5 hr 5 min
Makes: 16 servings, one piece each
1-1/2 cups HONEY MAID Graham Cracker Crumbs
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
4 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. peppermint extract
1 cup BREAKSTONE’S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
4 squares BAKER’S Premium White Baking Chocolate, melted
4 eggs
1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
16 miniature candy canes

PREHEAT oven to 325°F. Line 13×9-inch baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Mix graham cracker crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and the butter; press firmly onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 10 min.
BEAT cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and the extract in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add sour cream and chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
BAKE 40 min. or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Lift cheesecake from pan, using foil handles. Top each piece with a dollop of the whipped topping and a candy cane just before serving. Store any leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

mmmmm yummy!!!

Pam

PHILADELPHIA Black Forest Cheesecake

Prep Time: 15 min
Total Time: 4 hr 55 min
Makes: 16 servings, one piece each

20 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, crushed (about 2 cups)
3 Tbsp. butter, melted
4 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup BREAKSTONE’S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
6 squares BAKER’S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted
4 eggs
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
PREHEAT oven to 325ºF. Line 13×9-inch baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Mix cookie crumbs and butter; press firmly onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 10 min.
BEAT cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add sour cream and chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
BAKE 40 min. or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Lift cheesecake from pan, using foil handles. Top with whipped topping and pie filling. Store any leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

and then send me a piece!!

Pam