Early Spring Blooms indoors

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Bring the blooms indoors

We can bring early spring indoors, by cutting a few branches of trees and shrubs, and have them bloom early indoors.

Here is what to look for:

Azalea, beauty bush, crab apple, flowering quince, magnolia, pussy willow, redbud , serviceberry, witch hazel, forsythia, rhododendron, spirea, and fruit trees : cherries, pears, and apples.

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Rhododendron buds
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Redbud, look for younger ones these are already ready to bloom
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Redbud
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Rhododendron buds
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Azalea blooms

If you can cut the branches in a warm day look for swollen, plump buds. Cut branches at an angle and be sure you cut them long enough to stand out in your container. To get water quickly to branches smashing the bottoms of your branches gently, will make it easier for the branches to take up water. For these young buds to go through the transition place your container away from sunlight, in a cool location.

Whitin 1 – 6 weeks you should see the buds swell and begin to open, and ready to be placed in sunlight.

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Quince buds
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Tulip tree buds

 

Branches Wall Mirror

Branches Wall Mirror at HouseResort Atlanta at Westside Market Atlanta at Toco Hills Shopping Center

Love your skin❤️

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Love your skin

So many of fruits & vegtables we eat & cook with are the perfect skin moisturizer & cleanser.

Strawberries – mash them up directly on your skin and let that beautiful pinkish juice dry directly on your skin.

You can also use Cranberries and grapes they are great as anti-aging masks 

and can help brighten up your face.

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Lemon, oranges, limes, and tangerines – contain powerful skin lightening properties, they tighten up your pores and clean your face, making it shine. 

Just rub a slice on your skin, wash off within 5 minutes. Don’t leave citrus fruits on your skin for more than 10-15 minutes, don’t go out in the sun for a few hours. 

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Tomatoes – have potassium which helps regenerate skin cells and vitamin A and C that helps nourish and lighten your skin. Take a slice & and rub it underneath your eyes, if you have dark circles.

Put them on your skin over wrinkled areas, dark spots, or acne scars. You can use them as often as you want. Leave them on for a few minutes, then wash your skin.

Cucumbers- the antioxidants and flavonoids in cucumber reduce irritation. Couple of slices on your eyes will reduce puffy eyelids. Great for even sensitive skins since cucumbers won’t cause any irritation. 

Bananas – They’re good moisturizer, so mash a piece of the fruit and put it directly on your face. Rub it a little, leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse it.

So next time you have a clean skin, grab a berry or a piece of tangerine or a cucumber and give your skin a well deserve pampering. Your skin will love you. 

Spring accessories

Today is the first full day of spring which means warmer, longer days and the spring colors. Tulip trees, hyacinths, daffodils, and cherry trees will add color & light to our days & hopefuly with warmer weather we are more inclined to wear less clothes & more vibrant colors.

here are some fun accessories for spring :

Face Mists for dewy glow

All mists hydrate skin,  tone skin, set makeup, act as a serum to nourish skin throughout the day, or even cool skin down.

 Mists help your moods If scented :

Certain scents can be effective against depression, anxiety, insomnia or exhaustion. Just make sure to read the ingredients list carefully. Some essential oils, such as cinnamon, can cause irritation or breakouts.

Mists help you look good :

Mists, can temporarily give you a dewy glow if your skin is feeling dried, and help set or refresh your makeup.

When your skin is dehydrated, its protective barrier gets weaker, which means collagen and elastin can break down faster, and also heat can cause oilier skin which can clog your pores setting you up for pimples.

What should we look for in a Mist:

If looking to add some extra moisture to your skin with a mist, look for one with hyaluronic acid. To calm irritated skin and ease redness look for Rose water and Aloe.

 

 

Healthy sweeteners for everyday use👍

The most difficult part of replacing white sugar with healthy sweeteners is missing the convenience of sugar. Any where out of our own kitchen replacing sugar won’t be easy, but more and more places will provide honey or molasses if you just ask for it . 

Here is a list of healthy delicious sweeteners:

honey; date sugar; coconut sugar; maple syrup & molasses

Honey  the nectar of the gods, is also used topically for centuries to heal wounds and fight infections. It’s also great for adding flavor to homemade dressings and marinades.

Honey:https://amzn.to/3k9zKRv

Date sugar– made from dried dates. Haven’t tried this one but we love adding dates cut in small pieces to oatmeal, salads, cottage cheese, eggs, and peanut butter sandwiches.

Date Sugar: https://amzn.to/3m0vZ1E

Coconut sugar– also known as coconut palm sugar or coco sap sugar, or coconut crystals is made from the sweet nectar of flower buds of the coconut palm.

Coconut Sugar: https://amzn.to/31ifFRM

Maple sugar– boiling sap from maple trees dried, powdered, and sold as maple sugar. Also great with cinnamon or ginger for added flavor to sweet potatoes, and grilled vegetables.

Maple Sugar : https://amzn.to/37nMlxf

Molasses– dark syrup is the byproduct of processing sugar cane, but it has antioxidants, making it a better option than refined sugar. With its bold flavor it is a tasty ingredient for cookies, smoothies, barbecue  and beans.

Molasses: https://amzn.to/3o62w8m

Spring Break Destinations

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Phoenix, Arizona

Temperatures in high 70’s and even low 80’s during spring break time making it perfect to be outdoors in “The Valley of the Sun,” the perfect nickname for the Greater Phoenix area that also includes Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, and Chandler.

Great fun for the entire family.

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

Enjoy water sports, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, and local history by oceanfront or near the harbor.

Great fun for the entire family.

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Tulip trees in bloom

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Check out Hilton head visitor sit for Accommodations from hotels, inns, motels, and resorts to home rentals, perfect for families or groups. There is biking, golf, horseback riding.

Enjoy water sports that include fishing, boating, parasailing, kayaking, jet-skiing, and sailing. 

Great fun for the entire family.

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Destin, Florida

Our families favorite gateway is the emerald coast of Destin. Swimming, boating, fishing, snorkeling, and plenty of water sports like kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, parasailing, and more. There’s also a zip line, rock-climbing wall, and boat tours.

Tons of options for logging.

South Padre Island, Texas

Who would say no to an all day music? Beach parties, concerts during the month of March when it is spring weather. And of course water sports are also available.

Fun for the entire family.

Palm Springs, California

For early spring break travelers & that would be our family since spring break for us  is very early in march. Here days are warm & attractions are the Living Desert Zoo, Gardens,

a ride to the top of Mt. San Jacinto. Night life in down town Palm Springs is live music great restaurant & bars while enjoying walks in great spring weather. 

Park City, Utah

You can still enjoy the cold weather sport, skiing in part city mountain & Deer Valley.

Hiking, mountain biking, and strolling along Main Street are perfect end of season activities, too. Families can enjoy bowling, indoor ice skating, and Park City Mountain Kids Activities, with a kid-only zip line, rope course, and tubing. Nightlife activities in town include pubs and bars.

Updating Our homes for 2019

Muted and vibrant colors, fringe & tassels

Fluffy fabrics, faux furs, boucles, cashmeres and wools that cover chairs, stools, ottomans and accessories. Soft fabrics give accent pieces a look of calmness and comfort.

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Botanical patterns and nature-inspired prints. Also tropical leaf motifs, digital florals with soft watercolor accents with a more abstract, and artistic look. It is a cool and fresh lively collection of patterns perfect for living rooms and high traffic rooms.

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William sonoma

Furniture such as end tables :

In geometric shapes: ovals, squares, rectangles and triangles, as well as hexagons and octagons shapes.

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William Sonoma

curved furniture, from the Art Deco era, and from’ 70s. Pieces with soft corners, rounded edges.

Also Stay organized gives importance to furniture with more than one purpose. Looks & functionality.

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Arhaus bookcase
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Arhaus coffee table

It is a fact that rooms with bright light, both natural and artificial, can improve depression and anxiety. Surrounding our living space with objects we care and enjoy is an important part of making a home a place we enjoy to live in.

Shoes for a casual look & comfort

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Converse, Chuck 70 Love Graphic High Top
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Converse, Chuck Taylor all star platform
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Nike, vapormax flyknit
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Converse, Louie Lopez Pro unisex
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Vans, men’s old Skool sneaker
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Cole Hann, men’s grand motion
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Vince, men’s Slater

Shoes made for comfort have plenty of arch support, which helps the body with alignment. Weight distributed evenly can relieve pain and pressure in feet, ankles, hips and back.

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Allbirds, men’s wool runners

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snacking before bed?!Good or Bad🤔

Yogurt with drizzle of honey, or toast peanut butter topped with slices of peaches

Snacking before bed, Good or Bad?

Snacking before bed is Good. There is nothing wrong with having a snack before we go to bed. It is easy to stay up late finishing a project or cleaning up before bed, and as you get ready for bed you realize the last time you ate was dinner, many hours ago. Nothing is worst than going to bed with a grumbling stomach.

4 important facts about snacking before bedtime.

1- It should be only a snack

2- Choose a snack that won’t keep you up.

3- Snack we pick should be light on the stomach and low on fat content.

4- No sugary, caffeinated, or spicy food.

Any snack with complex carbs and protein will release amino acids into our body that could actually help us sleep better at night.

Here is a list of 10 snacks :

1- Peanut butter

2- Pistachios

3- Greek yogurt

4- Cottage cheese

5- Popcorn

6- White Meat Turkey

7- High fiber cereal

8- fruits

9- whole wheat cracker

10- dates & nut butter

For more information on staying healthy, sleeping soundly please check our YouTube channel.

 

We earn a modest commission if you use the link and purchase the product.

Peanut butter https://amzn.to/2HkC0H3

Pistachios https://amzn.to/2H3SzaN

Dates https://amzn.to/37lGpVk

Nut Butter https://amzn.to/3m4dp8P