Archives for February 2013

How to Get Your Husband to Clean the House

First, let me get one thing straight before I share my little magical tip with you. My DH is a pretty awesome guy who is quick to help out around the house whenever he senses my panic mode approaching (Because, honestly, nobody around here enjoys it when I go into panic mode. Ahem.). In fact, there are several chores he does on a regular basis - like folding clothes and making the bed - that really take a load off of me.

However, when it comes to getting down and dirty and actually doing the scrubbing kind of work… well, that’s where he’s a little more hesitant. And honestly, it’s entirely my fault, because all of my spray bottles are full of vinegar spray. The man hates the smell of vinegar. I mean, hates it with a passion.

I know he’s not the only one! I recall from my teaching days when one of my students would practically run gagging from the room whenever I pulled out the vinegar spray for wiping down the lunch tables (which was, as you can imagine, every day, right after lunch). And I’ve heard other similarly crunchy mamas complain remark that their sensitive hubbies likewise despise the smell of vinegar and thereby escape helping out with the menial housework.

There’s a simple solution to this dilemma, my friend. Instead of the vinegar spray, buy a bottle of all-natural cleaning spray (that doesn’t smell anything remotely like vinegar) that the hubster can wield with confidence. Scummy bathtubs, be gone! Crumby countertops, off with you! Toddler-trashed tabletops, off you go!

Thankfully, this solution doesn’t have to be expensive, either. I like to keep a bottle of Method on hand for just this purpose, and it doesn’t cost anymore than a regular chemical-filled spray would - around $3.99 regular price. And right now, in fact, Method is offering $1 off any online purchase of their All-Purpose Spray with the code APCBLOG. And no vinegar to be found here! Only amazing smells like Cucumber, Pink Grapefruit, and French Lavender. (Believe me, I’ve tried other natural brands that just flat out stink. These Method sprays smell like a garden!)

I can tell you with confidence that this little trick works like a charm (Doesn’t it, oh-darling-hubby-of-mine?!). Your heretofore reticent hubby will be “cleaning like a mother”! Whenever I have a bottle of Method spray handy, my DH is happy to scrub away at bathrooms, countertops and tabletops without the least hesitation. Not so much with the vinegar stuff. So off with you, now! Get yourself a bottle of Method All-Purpose Spray and watch your hubby clean away.

This post was sponsored but the story is true. You can ask my DH.

Avoid the Flu Shot With Pepper Juice!

Welcome back to our weekly series dedicated to bringing you great ideas that will keep your family healthy! Read all about the Raising Healthy Families series here. This week’s post is brought to us by Paula Miller of Whole Intentions.

flu shots

The FLU.

For the past few years no other word has struck as much fear during the winter months as this one. According to the media, the flu is right up there with the Black Plague of Death! Avoid Unsafe Flu Shots with Pepper Juice is Whole Intentions time-tested home remedy to taking back our health and turning up the heat.

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Try Maty’s New Breathe Better Nasal Ointment Free!

Remember the all-natural Maty’s cough remedies I told you about? Well, they have an exciting new product they want you to try: Breathe Better Nasal Ointment. I really want to try it myself because Tiger Cub tends to get congested throughout the winter. And when his nose is stuffed, he can’t suck his thumb at night, which means he doesn’t sleep too well. This nasal ointment is designed to clear out the nasal passages to help you breathe so you can sleep well all night long, so it sounds like just the thing!

Maty’s Breathe Better Nasal Ointment is made with all natural and healthful ingredients (so no worries about side effects or chemical additives) and is safe for all ages.

You can try it yourself for free! All you have to do is like Maty’s Facebook Page, then pay $3.49 for shipping and handling. But you’ll get that money back - when you receive the product, which retails at $12.99, you’ll also receive a coupon for $3.50 off your next purchase! Sounds like a win-win to me.

This giveaway ends on March 1, 2013, and only 5,000 are available, so you’d better hurry! The giveaway is only open to adult residents of the United States.

 

New Series - Raising Healthy Families

Welcome to Raising Healthy Families – a fun and informative series designed to help you and your family thrive!

Each Friday, beginning February 22, we’ll be addressing some of the most common questions and challenges families face while trying to live healthy in an unhealthy world. Posts will cover topics such as:

• Natural methods for improving your family’s health

• Strategies for combatting allergies and environmental toxins

• Wholesome family-friend recipes that even picky eaters enjoy

• Natural, holistic approaches to health and healing

• Helping children to embrace nourishing whole foods

This helpful series is the result of 17 natural living bloggers from the Positively Real Media Network (PRM) coming together to share a variety of helpful and inspiring ways to raise healthy families. So be sure to subscribe to one, two, or all of these blogs, so you don’t miss a single post!

And to wrap up the series, a free Raising Healthy Families eBook will be provided to subscribers with all of this information and more!

Participating PRM Bloggers:

Whole Intentions

 

Red and Honey

A Jewel in the Making

Day2Day Joys

A Delightful Home

Authentic Simplicity

Accidentally Green

The Cheapskate Cook

Creative Christian Mama

Royal Little Lambs

Learning and Yearning

More Than Mundane

Your Thriving Family

The Greenbacks Gal

Live Renewed

Jill’s Home Remedies

The Nourishing Home

We look forward to seeing you next Friday as we launch this exciting new series!

“The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” -Thomas A. Edison

Maple Cream Scones {Secret Recipe Club}

Can you believe I have never made scones before? (Oh, wait. I take that back. I did make them once, about 5 or 6 years ago. As I recall, they were really quite good, but for some reason I have never made them since.)

Until just recently. I was inspired to give them a try again after browsing through PheMOMenon, my assignment for the Secret Recipe Club this month (If you’re a food blogger, find out how to join here - it’s so much fun to cook and bake from other blogs!). Holly, PheMOMenon herself, writes about her family and her kitchen adventures as she “conquers the world one recipe at a time”.

I had some trouble figuring out which of her recipes I wanted to conquer myself, so I pinned a few recipes to try later. Her Super Almond Granola is at the top of that to-try list, and I promise will be made in the very near future. Since I’ve been on a bit of a mug cake kick lately, I also want to try her Chocolate Mousse Mug Cake, which sounds divine and has only four ingredients! And these Cinnamon Roll Waffles look like they’d be great for a decadent weekend or day-off breakfast, don’t you think?

But what I actually made was her Maple Pecan Scones - I love the maple flavor, and I was interested in trying my hand at scones for the first time in years.

Unfortunately, my scones did not turn out very scone-like, but that was 100% completely my fault. Although I did fiddle with the ingredients, my biggest mistake was cramming the triangles into too small of a pan so that they smooshed together, making them look more like a coffee cake or something than actual scones. Next time, I’ll know, and will use a bigger pan! But otherwise, they turned out quite delicious in my opinion, and I’m going to be adding scones to my regular breakfast repertoire.

I used freshly ground white wheat flour, made in my WonderMill grain mill from soft white wheat berries, and you would never know these scones were made with whole grains. Delicious with a tender crumb… yum!




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