EcoFriendly Home Cleaners with a dash of Peppermint!

isn't it amazing what a little baking soda, vinegar and peppermint oil can do?


Homemade Peppermint Shower Scrub
1 cup baking soda
1/4 tsp peppermint essential oil

■Mix the ingredients then store in a glass mason jar.
■To use: Sprinkle on a wet sponge and scrub bath and shower walls. Rinse off with water.


All-Purpose Cleaner

1 cup distilled water
1/2 cup household vinegar
1/2 tsp liquid castille soap
1/4 tsp Peppermint essential oil

■Mix ingredients in a spray bottle and shake before use.
■To use: Spray on tiles and walls, wipe clean with a damp sponge.


Homemade Floor Cleaner

1 gallon hot water
2 TBS liquid castille soap
1/4 tsp Peppermint essential oil

■Mix ingredients in a large bucket.
■To use: Mop floor.


Bathroom Mold Remover

1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup salt
1/2 tsp peppermint essential oil

■Mix ingredients in a spray bottle, shake well before use.
■To use: Spray mold then leave sit for a few minutes before wiping off mold.


Toilet Bowl Cleaner & Freshener

1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar

■To use: First drizzle baking soda into the toilet. Top with vinegar. Allow to fizz for 10 minutes then use a toilet brush to scrub toilet clean. After cleaning the toilet, wipe underneath the seat and around the rim with a damp cloth that has a few drops of peppermint essential oil.

CupaCake, When just Hot Chocolate won't do!

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons cake flour(that’s plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips(optional)
a small splash of vanilla
1 coffee mug

Directions:
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

I haven't tried it, but just in case there is a chocolate cake emergency......

Going Hunting for Mama's Blackberry Cobbler

Growing up on a farm on the Tennessee/Kentucky line proved to be quite the adventurous setting. From fishing with a cane-pole, settin' tobacco, hunting for newborn kittens and "dressing" chickens, there came a wealth of diverse culture, tales, myths and recipes.

One of my favorites, the mouth watering, tooth-pickin', stain fightin' fresh Blackberry Cobbler. We would head to the woods over by the railroad tracks in our secret place, knowing the blackberry bushes were wild and roaming over the foliage. Rambling amongst the briers, thistle and chiggers; hiding so you couldn't see them. The luscious warm clusters, sparkling from the midday sun, giving away their location to only the astute of hunters and huntresses!

Armed for battle with long sleeves, pants, gloves, hats and as much skin covered as possible, we plunged into the thickets with buckets in tow. There they were, blackish, bluish, purple, plump, sweet, tart and tasty. Their wild taste isn't even comparable to those sold at the store. Those faux, tame clusters, plunked into clear boxes and labeled with ingredients, calories and serving size.

Now for Mama's Recipe. So easy, you'll be searching for the railroad tracks and those wild devils to make one for yourself.

Ingredients
4 cups fresh blackberries, WILD and WASHED!.....coat with 1 1/2 cups sugar, let set to cause the juices to seep from the berries while you make the pastry.

mix together: (notice it's 1 of everything but milk)
1 large egg
1 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 stick butter, melted (can use oil instead)
1/2 to 2/3 cup milk, not too runny

Preheat oven to 375°. Stir sugared blackberries, pour into a lightly greased 8-inch or so square baking dish. Stir together butter, egg, sugar, flour and milk in a medium bowl. It should be like a cake batter or a little thicker. Pour over blackberries. Don't stir, just let the crust ooze throughout the berries, filling the nooks and crannies. Sprinkle with sugar on top.

Bake at 375° for approximately 50-60 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly. Don't overcook. Let stand 10 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

That's how you hunt for Blackberries!

photos from Southern Living Magazine.

I'm Learning the Basics...What is your Best Discovery for Learning the Basics?.

yep, that's right, Blogging Basics, How to Blog, Maximize your Blogging, Blog, Blogger, Blogspot, blog, blog, blog.....

In all the research, tweeting, installing tweetdeck---another day---to increase exposure and marketing, I ran across this info. Besides being a wealth of basic, remedial Blogging, it is interesting, current and usable! Imagine that!

From a newfound Tweeter, I discovered Blogging Basics 101:
http://www.bloggingbasics101.com/

Even Newer, entertaining and chocked full of great blogging info is
Absolutely Bananas,
http://www.absolutelybananas.com/2009/06/advice-for-new-bloggers-taking-your-blog-to-the-next-level.html

This is one of her best in a series: Advice for new bloggers: Establishing a readership through networking, that I've read so far.
http://www.absolutelybananas.com/2009/05/advice-for-new-bloggers-establishing-a-readership-through-networking.html

So, enough of my research, What have you discovered for Beginning Basics and Blogging? Tell me in your comments, with a link to your blog, and I'll post a list of resources, giving bloggers the credit! Let's hear it!

I need some Inspiration....

15 Ways for Women to Find Inspiration

Inspiration is what you find when you are not looking for it. You often miss those ?aha? moments because you are trying too hard to make them materialize. Think of Oprah and her "aha". But, there are ways to create the circumstances that lead to those inspirational moments on a daily basis.

Avoid the funk, like I'm in, and create inspiration! I've just found this and will use it to help me "get over it" and live to my highest potential.
http://gratitudecollections.net/blog/

try it, you may just become a better person or is it your "BEST" person...

It's Fascinating....

New to my etsy shop...Bridal Fascinator

Graduation into REAL life!

May 16th was dd's graduation! It hasn't hit me just yet, I'm sure it will when we haul her to college and leave her standing at the door...just like preschool, except she was screaming and yelling Mommy....Now, I'll be screaming and yelling, "no it's too soon.................."