Why Wear A Mask?

We are living in very scary times and how we respond to it can affect us mentally and physically. It's important that we help each other.  Wearing a mask is one way to do it.

I am not sure who the original author of this Facebook post was, but I have summarized it to share this information about autoimmune diseases and Covid19 . It is a disease where instead of your white blood cells protecting your body from invaders, they turn around and attack your cells, tissues and organs. I urge you to think twice before passing judgment and thinking our nation is overreacting to the extra measures being taken to curb the spread of this virus. YOU might be able to recover from it no problem however, carry it to someone with an autoimmune disease and that individual won’t be as lucky.

In honor of someone who is fighting Severe Asthma, Addison’s disease, Endometriosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, POTS, , Sjogren's, Scleroderma, Hashimoto Disease, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Sarcoidosis, Hepatitis, Raynauld's Syndrome, Diabetes, Mold Illness, Celiac, CROHN’S, Ulcerative Colitis, Pemphigus, Psoriatic Arthritis, and every other autoimmune disease. 

PLEASE wear your mask, save a life.

We are all on a wing and a prayer and I find it comforting to pray. There's a prayer that really comes to mind during the time we are in. 

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

SHS Wing And A Prayer Giftware Women's Face Mask

Lemons to Lemonade

Lemons to Lemonade

As the earth brings forth the blooming of Spring with its annual flowering show I can't ignore celebrating it. This is one of my favorite times of year because the climate is perfect and the blooms and colors are spectacular. The phrase of turning lemons into lemonade is literally and symbolically. I know we are in the middle of a pandemic, so I am going to share some simple and environmentally friendly ways to incorporate lemons in your daily life.  Many of  the products we use for cleaning  have lemon or are lemon scented.  Here are a few good uses for lemons:

Lemon  is a great disinfectant for its citric acid and antibacterial properties.

Most stains such as red wine, grease, mildew, or berries can be removed with an application of lemon juice and salt. Add baking soda to create a paste and let it sit for awhile on tougher stains.

Infuse your water with lemons. It's a rich source of vitamin C, it can boost the  Immune system, help maintain pH balance and acts as a detoxifying agent of the body.

Spray fruits and vegetables with lemon juice before rinsing to remove pesticides.

Soak your apples or cauliflower into a bowl of water with a few drop of lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.

Spray your windowsills and  baseboards with a mixture of lemon juice and vinegar (no water) to discourage insects like ants, spiders and cockroaches from entering.

Most stains like red wine, grease, mildew, or berries can be removed with an application of lemon juice and salt. Add baking soda to create a paste and let it sit for awhile on tougher stains.

Add a few drops of lemon juice to the boiling water before you put the rice in, and it will prevent the grains from sticking together, or to the pot. 

Grind lemon peels in your garbage disposal occasionally to prevent it from smelling and building up gunk. Run water through your faucet as you're grinding. 

Hopefully some of these uses will be useful to you.  

My visit to the Philadelphia Flower Show, the largest flower show in the nation captures the gardens of the Mediterranean with beautiful plants, flowers, water features and sculptures.

The show transported and captured the allure of this part of the world's captivating costal region with sculptures, water features, tablescapes. The beauty of it all, is you don't have to go there to get great ideas for your garden. I am going to share a few quick tips I observed.

If you don't have a lot of space potted plants and flowers grouped together will create a beautiful display.

Create a raised plant bed in confined and poor soil conditions areas. Build up with new soil for optimum growth.

Add wrought iron or ornamental sculptures to your garden to give it character.   

I am excited to have a place to discuss creative ideas for home and life. As I share ideas for your home, I hope you will be inspired and share yours too.  As we rush through life, sometimes little things that can make a big difference tend to get lost in the shuffle.  Creating a better way of life within your home is important. Simple, easy and economic ideas can go a long way. Let your home and life reflect who you are?  Discover how it can function well for your family's life? I hope this blog provides you with inspiration, ideas and motivation.