Thursday, November 29, 2012

Onions... A cure for what ails ya!

I recently read this article on Facebook and thought it so fascinating, I wanted to blog about it!





~ ONIONS ~ ONIONS ~ ONIONS ~ ONIONS ~


 In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu...
Many of the farmers and their families had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser. She said that several years ago, many of her employees were coming down with the flu, and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.

Now there is a P. S. to this for I sent it to a friend in Oregon who regularly contributes material to me on health issues. She replied with this most interesting experience about onions:

Thanks for the reminder. I don't know about the farmer's story...but, I do know that I contacted pneumonia, and, needless to say, I was very ill... I came across an article that said to cut both ends off an onion put it into an empty jar, and place the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs...sure enough it happened just like that...the onion was a mess and I began to feel better.

Another thing I read in the article was that onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.

This is the other note. Lots of times when we have stomach problems we don't know what to blame. Maybe it's the onions that are to blame. Onions absorb bacteria is the reason they are so good at preventing us from getting colds and flu and is the very reason we shouldn't eat an onion that has been sitting for a time after it has been cut open.

LEFT OVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS:

I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, Makers of mayonnaise. Questions about food poisoning came up, and I wanted to share what I learned from a chemist.

Ed, who was our tour guide, is a food chemistry whiz. During the tour, someone asked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise. People are always worried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed's answer will surprise you. Ed said that all commercially-made mayo is completely safe.

"It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it's not really necessary." He explained that the pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment. He then talked about the summer picnic, with the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table, and how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick.

Ed says that, when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those onions came from (in the potato salad?). Ed says it's not the mayonnaise (as long as it's not homemade mayo) that spoils in the outdoors. It's probably the ONIONS, and if not the onions, it's the POTATOES.

He explained onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion.. He says it's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your refrigerator.

It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put in your hotdogs at the baseball park!). Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you'll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad, will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down.

Also, dogs should never eat onions. Their stomachs cannot metabolize onions.




Original source: unknown to me.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Can you believe Christmas is right around the corner?!?!  
What... like 41 days?!  GAHH!!  
(and I've not even BEGUN to Christmas shop!) 
  
I don't know about you... but my gosh, time sure seems to just fly after Halloween!  
So, with Christmas on the brain, I decided to do a post with some super fun and adorable crafts you might want to make during the OH-GOOD-GOLLY-I-ATE-WAAAAY-TOO-MUCH-TURKEY-DRESSING-PIE stupor on Thanksgiving day  ;)
(cuz you know your hunny is gonna be all tummy rubbin and horizontal watching football!)


**** LET'S CRAFT, LADIES  *****


{{this first craft... I've already got the supplies for!!  and I am SOO excited to make it!!  SO stinkin adorable!}}






Source: babyrabies.com via Jill on Pinterest


OMGsh!!!  Serioulsy!  Love it!!







Source: etsy.com via Kristy on Pinterest



Don't have a silver tray?  Girl, get chur self to Goodwill!  They've always got whatcha need for a few bucks!  If you can't find the silver creamer/sugar this has... what about fancy ornaments? OR small pictures frames with your kids in them?  Think outside the box.



You could totally customize this and make each ornament different... and if you don't sew or choose to do things quicker (like me) use Witch Stitchery! It's fabulous and so easy!  And if you don't want a pillow, what about a runner or a valance?




I love what you can do with embroidery hoops!







Great front door (inside or outside) decor!!  You could even wrap garland around it! Make it your own :)   So simple!! 




This wreath is simply STUNNING!!!  I may need a few of these in front of my windows!
Grapevine wreaths are always cheap and on sale at Michaels and Hobby Lobby!
(again... make it your own!)





The kids would L♥VE to do this!  Don't want the glitter mess?  Do it in a paper bag!  :)








♥ The reason for the season in word garland! ♥





Every table needs these super cute "vases"!  Just think of the color combinations you could do! :)








Make your own Christmas cards!  How cute are these!?  Again, the kids can do this!




I have tons more ideas on my Pinterest board!  Go take a look... You're bound to find something that you just HAVE to do!!  :) 

Oh, And while you're at it... go ahead a "follow me" on Pinterest too.  


SO.... Did you see any thing here you're just dying to do?
  
Do you have a Pinterest that you want to share with us??  Leave your link!!


hugs,
k.

[update from my last post: I attended Spirit Fest this past Sunday (an outdoor Christian concert) and God moved my heart in the direction it was needing.  I am in a MUCH better place now :)  He never leaves me where I am!  If I'm wandering... He always gets me back on His path.  And I could not be more grateful!]


♥♥♥♥♥

~Linking up at~

i should be mopping the floor 

Friday, November 9, 2012

Poops gettin real people!

Today....  I am laying it all out on the line here and asking for prayers and/or advice or any thing you can offer!   I am being more transparent than I ever have in hopes that in doing so, I can have clarity either thru my thoughts and words, or thru yours.  PLEASE feel free to leave a comment!!
And thank you in advance for caring for me.. admitted faults and all.  ;)

As you know, our house has been on the market for almost 70 days now.  We've dropped our price by $30k since it first hit the market with only one bogus offer.  The hubs has moved to start his new job and we've been a split household for over 70 days.  To say it's been trying and difficult at times would be a major understatement.  I fight being bitter, I fight feeling guilty for being bitter, I pray for God to take the worry and the incredible sense of powerlessness from me.. only to pick it right back up again.  We are provided for.  Every. day.  We have food, clothing, shelter, and automobiles that work. We have money in the bank.  What else could we need??  We NEED to BE TOGETHER.  And that's all I seem to focus on.  I recognize and acknowledge our blessings and I truly am grateful. Truly.  So why is it not enough?  Why do I insist on dismissing it all and focusing primarily on the one thing we don't have?  Why... when I claim to live a life of faith... am I not living it?  I soo struggle with this!  The guilt of not trusting God to fulfill His plan for us in HIS timing, which I KNOW far surpasses what we have planned, is literally eating me alive. I have seen God's hand in our lives, repairing and healing hurts that may not have ever been addressed... My relationship with my girls could not be stronger...  the value of having both parents present at all times is never to be taken for granted again... There are SO many little things that God has revealed... but still.. I focus on the "one thing".  I am broken.  I am a sinner... and all I want is to please Him and be an example of what living a life faith looks like.  And I am failing miserably.


Have you ever had feelings of powerlessness?  How did you cope?  Do you have any words of wisdom to share?

hugs,
k.

{disclaimer:  please know I know things could always be worse and my problems are so miniscule "compared to".  I do not mean to come across selfishly if I do...}