Natural Body Wonders: Baking Soda

Baking soda is an item that can be found in most households today. Baking soda does wonders for improving the appearance and health of your teeth, hair and skin, and is more economical to use rather than the expensive products on the store shelves.

Teeth Whitening

Baking Soda and Lemon Juice - Mix approximately 1 good teaspoon of baking soda with just enough fresh lemon juice (or water) to make a paste. Wipe your teeth and any extra saliva off of them with a paper towel. Put a good amount of paste onto your toothbrush and apply. Leave the paste on for 1 minute, then rinse to avoid the acid effecting enamel. If you are using just water you can leave it on for up to 3 minutes. Do this once a week.

Strawberry, Salt and Baking Soda Scrub - Strawberries are high in Vitamin C, which can help break-down plaque that is causing your teeth to look yellow. It also has an enzyme called malic acid, which may help to remove surface stains. The salt acts as an abrasive portion of the paste, physically scrubbing away stain-causing gunk.

Mix

1-3 large strawberries

A pinch of sea salt

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

Mash the berries into a pulp, and add a pinch of sea salt and ½ teaspoon of baking soda, if you’re using it. Wipe any extra saliva off your teeth with a paper towel, and then apply a generous portion of the mixture to a toothbrush and apply. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, then rinse. Do this nightly.

Coconut Oil Rinse - This may sound absolutely mad, but rinsing your mouth with coconut oil (called ‘oil pulling’ - see below) is a unique, old remedy that people swear by to help whiten teeth. The lauric acid in coconut oil can rid your teeth of bacteria found in plaque that can make them yellow. It is also supposed to promote gum health, and help keep your breath fresh.

Use about 1 tablespoon of coconut oil

In the morning, before you brush your teeth, scoop out a tablespoon or a little less (depending on the size of your mouth) of coconut oil. You can either soften it, or just put it in your mouth (I usually do the latter, and just let it soften.) Push, swish, and “pull” the oil through and around your teeth for 10-15 minutes, then spit it out, rinse with water, and brush your teeth.

Hair and Skin

Pull out skin deposits - When you are taking a shower, or washing your hair, make sure to add some baking soda in the shampoo. In this way, you will remove all the layers that build up on your hair over time. This comes because of using different hair products that are hard to wash.

Peeling - If you create a mixture of baking soda and water, you will come up with a good face-peeling product. This mixture will remove all the dead skin cells (exfoliation) from your face and your skin will appear younger and smoother.

Cuticles - If you use baking soda on your cuticles, you will make them softer. Use the mixture of water and baking soda on the cuticles and nails by using a nail polish brush. Gently rub these areas and you will fix all the problems with your cuticles.

Brush cleaning - As mentioned before, baking soda can help you with your hair by removing the layers of unwanted particles on your skin, but also by removing these particles from your brushes and combs. Use a mixture of boiling hot water and baking soda and soak the brush in the mixture.

Foot care - A mixture of baking soda with warm water will help your feet too. This mixture will de-stress your skin and you will feel relaxed and calm. Many people use it for home pedicure treatments.

Warts - Experts that work with natural remedies suggest creating a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice in order to remove unwanted warts. Make this combination and use it on the affected area. Leave the mixture until it dries off and use lukewarm water to clean the area.

19 Life Hacks for Parents With PreSchoolers

1. A sticker can indicate to your kids where to stay while in the parking lot. No wandering off!

2. Shower caddies make for mess free eating in the car.

3. Glue on the bottom of shoes will help prevent your children from slipping.

4. Prepare a wallet with things to occupy your children, such as pens and colored paper.

5. Camera bags have the perfect compartments to double as diaper bags.

6. Instead of damaging your home with nails, use a ziptie to secure baby gates to the banister.

7. Use a shoe caddy to hold snacks and activities during long car rides.

8. Give them temporary tattoos in case they get lost during an outing.

9. Old lotion bottles can be used as faucet extenders until the little tykes aren’t so little anymore.

10. A cut pool noodle will prevent little fingers from getting slammed in doors.

11. If you’re super careful, a big cardboard box can be re-purposed into a stair slide.

12. Better yet, keep two tummies full at the same time by heating multiple bowls at once in your microwave.

13. A cupcake holder around a popsicle stick will keep little hands from getting sticky on hot days.

14. Use an old DVD case to store paper and colored pencils for an on-the-road easel.

15. If you’re afraid of them falling out at night, create a barrier by putting a pool noodle under a fitted sheet.

 

16. Splinters can be so painful. This will make it better.

17. To give a more effective time-out, fill a bottle up 3/4 with water, then add a bottle of glitter glue and some ultra-fine glitter. Flip the bottle, and when the glitter settles, the time-out is over.

 

18. A lint roller picks up glitter (and just about anything else) like a charm!

19. And when they grow up, teach them how to be resourceful.

Party Supplies

The Elephants Knew

Some will say there is no God, try and tell that to the elephants ...

THE ELEPHANTS' JOURNEY TO PAY RESPECT, BUT HOW DID THEY KNOW?

Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 books including the bestseller, The Elephant Whisperer. He bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over the globe from human atrocities, including the courageous rescue of Baghdad Zoo animals during US invasion in 2003.

Three years ago today, on March 7, 2012 Lawrence Anthony died. He is remembered and missed by his wife, 2 sons, 2 grandsons, and numerous elephants. Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home led by two large matriarchs. Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say goodbye to their beloved 'man-friend'. A total of 31 elephants had patiently walked over 12 miles to get to his South African House.

Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe not only because of the supreme intelligence and precise timing that these elephants sensed about Lawrence's passing, but also because of the profound memory and emotion the beloved animals evoked in such an organized way: Walking slowly, for days, making their way in a solemn one-by-one queue from their habitat to his house. Lawrence 's wife, Francoise, was especially touched, knowing that the elephants had not been to his house prior to that day for well over 3 years! But yet they knew where they were going. The elephants obviously wanted to pay their deep respects, honoring their friend who'd saved their lives - so much respect that they stayed for 2 days 2 nights without eating anything. Then one morning, they left, making their long journey back home.

SOMETHING IN THE UNIVERSE IS GREATER AND DEEPER THAN HUMAN INTELLIGENCE.

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Natural Hair Conditioners

It is important to get split ends cut off every 3-6 months to keep the hair looking it's best.

Avoid excessive coloring treatments and heated styling tools as much as possible.

Learn how to cut long hair yourself from Pierre Michel Salon style director Jerome Lordet in this Howcast hair tutorial.



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Olive Oil for Deep Conditioning

You will need:
Olive Oil
Towel
Dryer
Hair Clip

A deep conditioning treatment should be done at the end of the day, before you shampoo. Apply a handful of olive oil to dry hair and massage it in to the scalp and hair, making sure that you get every piece of hair from root to tip.

When you're done soaking your hair in the olive oil, throw a towel into the dryer for about 10 minutes. Quickly wrap the hot towel around your head and secure it with the hair clip or tuck the towel under.

Leave your hair in the towel for at least an hour. You can also do this treatment right before bed and leave it in overnight. Once your hair is treated, wash your hair with a regular shampoo and conditioner. You may need to rewash it 2 or 3 times to remove all of the oil.

The olive oil will leave your hair feeling soft and healthy once again.

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Olive Oil and Avocado for your Hair

You will need:
1/4 cup coconut milk (full fat)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 small avocado

Mix all ingredients together until smooth.

Massage the paste into scalp and hair. Wrap in towel or heating cap and leave it on for 40 minutes. Use once a week for low frizz, and soft moisturized hair.

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Banana Avocado Hair Mask

You will need:
1 medium ripe banana
1 egg
1/2 avocado
2 tsp honey
3 tbsp buttermilk
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil




Mash banana, egg and avocado in a small bowl.
Add remaining ingredients and stir until well combined.
Apply to hair from roots to tips.Leave in for 30 minutes and then wash out with a moisturizing shampoo.

Use twice a month to maintain healthy hair.
(Double the recipe for long hair)

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Mayonnaise Hair Conditioning

You will need:
Mayonnaise
Towel or Shower Cap

Apply the mayonnaise to your hair, allow it to stay on your hair for 20 minutes. Wash and dry your hair as usual.

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Vinegar Conditioning

Vinegar is also a great condition, that will refresh dry hair and elevates shine. Add one tablespoon to your hair for an effective rinse. The remedy also controls dandruff when mixing 2 cups of water with 1/2 cup of vinegar. Using vinegar also combats frizzy hair.

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Oil Treatment for your Hair

Rubbing a small amount of oil into the scalp makes an effective treatment for dry hair. Olive oil , Coconut oil, or Argan oil works well. After rubbing the oil into your hair, cover with a cap and leave in for at least an hour, but overnight is preferable. When you awake, rinse wash as usual, ensuring you remove all traces of oil.

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Hot Oil Treatments

Hot oil treatments have proven quite effective for adding moisture back into dry, damaged hair. A suggested approach is to place 1 or 2 drops of safflower oil in your palms (rubbing them together), and then scrunching the mixture into hair. This is a rather effective leave-in treatment. You may also massage two tablespoons of warm olive oil (or almond oil) into the hair, followed by wrapping the head in a warm, damp towel, wait 30 minutes and then rinse.

Hot oil treatments are most effective when applied to the hair at least every 3 to 4 weeks.




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tutorial

No Bake Chocolate Chews

These chocolate chews taste a whole lot like a peanut butter cup, and the really good news is, they are a whole lot healthier. They are perfect for snack time and for the lunch box. They are great to have on hand when you have a craving for something sweet.

Ingredients:

2 cups pitted dates

3/4 cup raw cashews

1/4 cup nut butter (or natural peanut butter)

1/2 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 pinch salt

Toss everything into a food processor and process until the mixture starts to go smooth and clump into a ball. The dates will be all chopped up but you'll still have bits of nut. Turn the mixture out into an 8 or 9 inch square dish lined with parchment paper. Use your hands to firmly press the mixture into the bottom of the dish. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Remove the bars from the pan and cut into pieces using a sharp knife. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge or freezer--they taste great cold or frozen!

The dates provide the all natural sweetener in these treats, and you will never know that you are eating dates once they are all mixed in with the rest of the ingredients. Dates provide a wide range of essential nutrients, and are a very good source of dietary potassium. The sugar content of ripe dates is about 80%; the remainder consists of protein and fiber.

In a new study, researchers from Virginia Tech’s Biochemistry Department ranked 12 of the most popular sweeteners according to their antioxidant content with dates being the number one sweetener in the antioxidant department.

Here’s the whole list of sweeteners they tested from best to worst for antioxidant power:

1. Date sugar

2. Blackstrap molasses

3. Dark brown sugar

4. Light brown sugar

5. Raw cane sugar

6. Turbinado sugar

7. Honey

8. Maple syrup

9. Refined white sugar

10. Corn syrup

11. Agave nectar

12. Brown rice syrup

Where True LOVE Has Lost Meaning

There is the idea that God is Love. So taint the definition of love and you taint the definition of God.

The word love is highly over-used and misinterpreted in the English language … tarnished or contaminated. We teach our children not to say hate because it is such a strong, negative word, but we miss out on the importance of teaching them not to over-use love until it has lost all meaning.

"Love" is a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection ('I love my mother') to pleasure ('I loved that meal'). It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment. It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection—'the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another'. It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals."

We use the same word to describe our feelings for a favorite shirt or meal as we do to describe our feelings for our children. We tell people we barely know that we love them. Love is also used to justify attachment, submission, or dependence.

This diverse uses and meanings combined with the complexity of the feelings involved makes love difficult to consistently define. Ancient Greeks identified four forms of love: (agape - self-emptying or divine love), (storge - friendship), (philia - kinship or familiarity), and (eros - sexual or romantic desire).

We will take a brief look at storge and eros love, but I want to focus primarily on phileo and agape love, which are the two types of love spoken of in the Bible.

Storge is a type of love that is natural, not forced—a type of love or affection that one might have for family.

Eros is a passionate or sexual love (source of the word erotic). This type of love is important within a relationship, but it can also be abused, mistaken for storge love.

Philia or phileo love is a brotherly love, which is most often exhibited in a close friendship. Best friends will display this affectionate love for each other, seeking to make the other happy.

Since phileo love involves feelings of affection toward another person, we would not have this type of love toward our enemies.

Agape love is the most powerful and noblest type of love. Agape love is more than just a feeling—it is an act of the will and sacrifice. This is the love that God has for His people and that prompted the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus, for our sins. Jesus was the personification of agape love.

God suggests that we have agape love toward everyone, including those with personalities that clash with our own; those who have hurt us and have treated us badly, and even those who are hostile toward our faith.

As we follow the path of God’s example for agape love towards our enemies, we will see them through the eyes of God.

"The time of Christ we celebrate together, for it has no meaning if we are apart. The holy instant is truly the time of Christ. For in this liberating instant no guilt is laid upon the Son of God, and his unlimited power is thus restored to him. What other gift can you offer me, when only this I choose to offer you? And to see me is to see me in everyone, and offer everyone the gift you offer me." (A Course in Miracles T-15.1.10)

I bless you, brother, with the Love of God, which I would share

with you. For I would learn the joyous lesson that there is no

love but God's and yours and mine and everyone's. (L-127)

9 Life Hacks For Parents With Infants

1. Keep pacifiers sanitary by storing them in plastic cups when on the go.

2. Cut a hole in a pacifier and stick a dropper in it to make taking medicine slightly less traumatizing.

3. To clean up pesky vomit stains, wipe up the excess and then spread a paste of baking soda and water over the remaining ick. Let it dry until it takes on a powdery consistency and then vacuum it right up.

4. Worried when the baby coughs all night. Here’s how to alleviate that:

5. A mix of dish soap, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda will get out food stains.

6. Inflatable pools can make a large and safe play area.

7. Put a sheet over a crib when outside to keep mosquitoes out.

8. A baby shower cap will make bath time tear-free.

9. Use a laundry basket to keep bath toys from floating away.

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