Make Your Own Natural Insect Repellant

Like me and don't want to spray yourself and kids down with chemical laden bug sprays? Try this extremely simple Insect Repellent.

INGREDIENTS:

About 3 oz of Jojoba Oil or Olive Oil (any oil can really be used)

30 drops lemon balm essential oil

15 drops clove essential oil

5 drops carnation oil

Blend and enjoy the bug freedom!

If you prefer you can use about a 1/2 oz of non-flavored vodka, mix the oils in and blend well, then add 2 1/2 oz of water. you can use this as a spray, just make sure you always shake well. I do find both effective but the oil recipe is probably more so.

Stimulating Hair Growth, Massaging the Scalp

Most women are afraid of conditioning their scalp as they think it flattens the hair. I had this problem and I would only condition my ends. Well, what about conditioning it, BEFORE you shampoo? Try massaging oils into your scalp, or even your most natural conditioner about 15 minutes before stepping into the shower?

Massage your scalp in this way:

1. Start from the forehead hairline along the arteries in the front, side, and back of the head, making small circles with your fingertips, not your nails.

2. Work your way toward the top of the head as if drawing a circle. As you move your fingers, then use just a little light pressure, and in addition try to also move fingers in a circular motion at the same time to help stimulate the scalp and promote good blood flow.

3. Massage your hair/scalp for just ten minutes a day: once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

You can also massage your scalp using coconut oil, or jojoba oil mixed with any essential oils you would like. I love Rosemary and Orange for my scalp. I think you will soon notice a healthier scalp, faster growing and healthier hair!

How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles

Heavens to Betsy. We had a major attack on our Burning Bushes and Echinacea this week. and well, those weirdo bugs were running into us every time we stepped out of the door. Last night I had one peg me right in the head while I was on the phone with a friend of mine, and she said she actually heard it! lol.

Okay, so here are some of the ways to RID YOURSELF of them. at least until next season. I might try and right up a prevention tip in August, as that is when you need to work on preventing them for the next year.

Okay so first you want to try and plant as many plants as you can that they aren't attracted to. Such as mint, garlic, catnip and anything in those families of plant. Also,
Arborvitae
Boxwood
Dogwood
Firs
Hemlock
Holly
Junipers
Lilac
Magnolia
Oaks
Pines
Redbud
Red maple
Rhododendron

I love the smell and look of Lilac, so i am going to do this, and also the herbs. I found a few places that said the bags/traps are not really all that effective, that they can actually bring more beetles into your yard, and won't catch them all. Well I have to say, that hasn't been the case for us. We put one out 2 days ago, it has been pretty active, and I havent seen a single beetle on the burning bushes, or the Echinacea. (SCORE! humans +1) Now I do feel somewhat bad, for killing them this way, but I do know it is better then spraying harmful insecticides all over, and killing them and poisoning everything else, including ground water.

If you do use the bag/trap method (sold at Lowes, Home Depot etc) make sure you put it far away from your home and from the shrubs or plants they are eating. You will attract more then what was in your yard eventually, but the experience I have had, is that they go to the strongly scented bag, and not the plants. Do make sure you empty it every morning.

The majority of the information I found was to go out early in the morning, when they still have dew on their wings, and pick them off one by one (eewww, heeby geebies!) and drop them in a bucket of soapy water. Now I would have loved to do this when I was a child, but frankly, there were too many. I would have been out there all day.

Now another option, is spraying. I didn't choose to do this, because we have some gorgeous song birds that like to eat out of yeard and landscaping. And like to eat the beetles as well. This would have prevented them from coming into the yard and eating a beetle and bug feast.

If you do choose to do a spray, try this spray before a insectiside.

2 cloves of garlic, smashes or cut in very fine pieces
1 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
1/8 of an onion, finely chopped
1 small hot pepper (any variety)

Mix all of this with water, and mix around. Let sit overnight or for 24 hours. strain through a cheesecloth and then place water into a spray bottle (bigger the better). Then spray the heck out of your shrubs, flowers or whatever they might be feasting on. Spray liberally, especially on the shrubs.

Whole Foods "Make It Natural" Blog Series

Don't we all like to induldge on "bad for us" treats every once in awhile? Well Whole Foods Market comes to the rescue with their new "Make it Natural" blog series that recreates some of the most sinful dishes into delicious, natural, and virtually guilt-free fare. With over 181 Classic Recipes re-worked to swap out unhealthy ingredients for natural ones, the “Make It Natural” team provides easy-to-use tips for whipping up those old crowd pleasers with a clear conscious.

Whether you’re looking to clean up your favorite dish or need a little inspiration, “Make it Natural” is a perfect toolkit for anyone looking for new, fresh ideas, and updated takes on old recipes!

When they are giving you the break down of what they have switched out, they tell you why, and how it can be used. Such as instead of vegetable oil in bread, try yogurt and applesauce!

They have a Zucchini Bread Recipe that looks out of this world. Plus if you post a comment on a recipe you would like to have featured for a healthy makeover, you have a chance to win a $25 gift card!

Just check out this yummy picture of Blueberry Coffee Cake with Cinnamon Streusel!

MixMyGranola Contest!

Dear MixMyGranola Family,

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend and enjoyed the weather and your time off! Did you know that July is the National Picnic Month? And what is better than a picnic with a healthy granola snack? Especially when you can create your very own picnic mix at MixMyGranola

!

And of course we want to know what is in your Picnic Granola Mix and are giving away a $25.00 Gift Certificate

to MixMyGranola

! All you have to do is to create your ideal Picnic Granola Mix on MixMyGranola.com

and email us at sweepstakes@mixmygranola.com to let us know what ingredients are in your Picnic Granola. We will randomly pick a winner from all entries that we have received by Friday, July 10th!

So get going and start creating your perfect Picnic Granola Mix right here

!
Cheers,
Andreas, Matt and Raoul


I thought you readers might be interested in this contest. If you remember I did a review for MixMyGranola here.

Enjoy those picnics! We took ourselves and the dogs to Brown County Indiana on Friday and they were so excited! Just check Bayles out on the ride down!
Licking her lips in anticipation! =)

Blog May Have Some Downtime

I am making the switch from Blogger to Wordpress either today or tomorrow, and I wanted to let you know this in case there is any down time during the transition. I also wanted to let you know the site will be looking a little different. If you have any problems navigating the new site please let me know!
It will be a whole new learning experience for me too, so wish me luck! I should not need you to resubscribe or anything like that, so all should be good and set. I am doing this for a number of reasons they have great plug-ins that can help this blog move further, easier to enter contests and moderate comments, drive more traffic, I can converse with you through the comments easier, and so much more.

Again if you have any issues with the new layout, or any feedback after it is all settled in let me know. I will probably put another post up for feedback to see if everything is laid out easy for you.

Once the transition has happened I will have a really big giveaway for you! And in a few weeks I am have a "Green Fitness Week" planned! Tons of really fab green exercising tools.

Sorry to send out a second email today, but I wanted you all to know! Have a GREAT DAY!

Lavish + Lime Review and Giveaway

I was thrilled when Louise from Lavish & Lime contacted me a while back to do a product review and giveaway here at Prissy Green. First, I just love the name. And secondly I am so happy to have a Canadian based eco-friendly company! I always feel bad when I can't open all of my giveaways up to our northern neighbors!

Based in Vancouver, Canada. Lavish & Lime specializes in eco-friendly product lines for living, giving and more. We aim to make shopping easy and enjoyable, save you time and make you feel good about the purchases you make.

You want to buy eco-friendly, but where do you start? Instead of driving around town or trawling the net, we've done the hard work for you and after a considerable amount of research - and help from our panel - we have handpicked a distinctive selection of great products that stand out above the rest.

Our Panel

Don't just take our word for it. Shop with a new level of confidence knowing that our products have been vetted by a panel of people we consider to be experts. They include journalists from publications like Conde Naste, Bon Appetit, and an online baby magazine, retail specialists, a primary school teacher and moms - moms of one, two and three. Whether they write about trends or live them, they all bring different perspectives and experiences that make spotting unique and useful products second nature.

Lavish & Lime sent me this great Digital Shower timer. Now I freely admit that I am not the best at keeping my showers short. But I do turn off the water, or turn it way down when I am shaving, etc. There is no way I could do a 4 minute shower like they recommend in Australia. I just couldn't! My hair takes longer to rinse out then that! But I did set my timer to 8 minutes and with some practice I have been able to make the doable. I am still surprised that I have! The timer is battery operated, steam proof, shatter proof and water proof. The strong suction cup makes sure it holds fast to any non-porous surface. Doubles as a fun tooth brushing timer for kids to keep them brushing for the full 2-3 minutes dentists recommend.

They don't stop at Shower Timers for products, they have baby, kid, home, skin care and whole lot more!

Find Lavish & Lime on Facebook and for being a fan, you are entered to win a $25 gift cert! Ends on July 15th!

Would you like a chance to win a $20 gift card to Lavish & Lime? Simply head over and tell me another product you would like to try and why.

Extra Entries! Please leave a separate Comment for each!

~subscribe to Prissy Updates (emails) must validate!
~subscribe to Rss Feed
~add my PRISSY GREEN button to your blog.
~Follow my blog
~Twitter this contest and leave the link
~Blog about this giveaway and receive 2 entries. (leave two comments!)

**Be sure to check out my other GIVEAWAYS click on the link above the banner, top left.**

Contest will conclude on 7/21 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. US and Canada.

OOBA Review and Giveaway! Ends 7/7

Ooba is 100% All Natural, Refreshing Beverage that infuses the pure extracts from the Incredible Hibiscus Flower. For thousands of years in Ancient Egypt, China, India, Mexico and South America, this Flower has been used for its healing properties. From the Egyptian Pharaohs to the Mayan Kings of South America, the Hibiscus Flower has been considered a source of health and wellbeing. We created OOBA with the intention of bridging the gap between the refreshingly crisp feel of a sparkling soda and a 100% All Natural, truly good for you beverage. We use only the best natural raw materials to bring you the ultimate fusion of health and taste that helps maintain cardiovascular function. "Hibiscus with an Attitude!"

OOBA is rich in the ancient healing power of hibiscus—a powerhouse of antioxidants. The ruby red color of this drink is all from the hibiscus extract. Hibiscus extract contains many of the same antioxidant compounds as red wine, including flavonoids, polyphenols and anthocyanins, which have been demonstrated to prevent the oxidation of LDL or “bad” cholesterol, and positively affect hypertension (High Blood Pressure).

OOBA infuses the Pure Extracts from the Hibiscus Sabdariffa species of Hibiscus Flower. This Extract has been clinically tested and the results of this testing have been published by many highly respected members of the Medical and Scientific Community. The results of these studies have shown that this extract has Significant Health Benefits.

Some of those benefits may include:

• High Blood Pressure Reduction (Hypertension)
• Lowering Bad Cholesterol Levels (LDL)
• Improvement in Overall Cardiovascular Health

For more information on the possible health benefits and to see articles, please visit the website here.

We currently make six flavors of OOBA:

OOBA Hibiscus
OOBA Hibiscus & Lime
OOBA Hibiscus & Orange

I reviews the Regular Hibiscus, Lime and Orange a few months back, see it that OOBA review here.
OOBA Hibiscus & Vanilla
OOBA Hibiscus & Pineapple
OOBA Hibiscus & Blackberry

Some days I just love having this blog so much! I had a beautiful package of the new OOBA flavors come in and immediately I set the Blackberry on ice. It is so tasty, and light. Just right for summer. They would really make for a killer cocktail!
The Pineapple just might be my favorite. I love pineapple and it has the sweet and almost sour thing going on. So thirst quenching! Craig tried to steal this one from me, but I quickly got it back!
Lastly the Vanilla is mild and has a very pleasant taste. Like I said it more mild then the others and I could see myself drinking this in the mornings.

So would you like to try OOBA? They are offering three "grand prize winners" of the three new flavors (vanilla, blackberry and pineapple version) plus a t-shirt and 10 "runner up" winners that will receive a FREE product coupon good for one bottle of any flavor of OOBA.

To enter tell me which NEW OOBA flavor you would most like to try!
Extra Entry for being an EMAIL subscriber!

Contest will be drawn by Random.org and will end Tuesday July 7th at 11:59pm EST.

Quick Glowelle Giveaway! Round #2

One of my winners didn't contact me back so I have one unclaimed Glowelle! Read the Original Review and Giveaway here. here is a little snippet of what you will get if you win.

You will get a weeks supply of Glowelle and a nice little zippered packet to place them in, so you can take them anywhere. The flavors are Raspberry/Jasmine and Pomegranate Lychee. To win, simply go to Glowelle and tell me one thing you learned there.

Winners will picked by random.org as normal and the contest will end Tuesday July 7th at 11:59PM EST.

EarthWorks Pur-essence Review and Giveaway

I have spoken to you before about my love of citrus scented products. Well Earthworks Pure-Essence Products really hit this one way outta the park.

Earthworks was created in 2005, by Corinne Able, who paired her understanding of quality ingredients with her lifelong love of travel. Pur-essence captures the essence of each fragrance that they create, not only in scent but in mood and feel. Inspired by experiences, colors and fragrances from as far as Mexico, the Orient and Europe, each Pur-essence provides a unique sensory experience.

I can attest to this. Every time I use my Sweet Lime Hand Cream, I feel luxurious, up for adventure and ready to go! It is a truly unique scent. But it doesn't stop there. It is a wonderful hand cream too! I have let several friends use it, and they always say, wow, this feels nice, followed by, it smells good too! It smells for fresh picked limes. Truly invigorating and a postive fragrance. Filled with Aloe, Shea butter, sweet almond oil, and many other cuticle and hand friendly ingredients, it will give your hands a spa experience. I love to use it on my feet too. (It does have lanolin, sorry) You get 4oz for only $16. Really not a bad deal for a good hand cream. I probably would be careful touching anything with in the first 5 minutes of application as it is rich, but after a moment it does sink right in, and the smell is so worth it!

I also tried their Sweet Lime bar soap. Craig and I were in hog heaven! The bathroom smells so yummy after either of us has showered and although it doesn't linger on us for long, the bath smells good all day! It is great at cleaning and leaves my skin soft, not dried out. Also contains Shea butter, plus jojoba, coconut and calendula to sooth and love the skin. The soap wrappers are eco-friendly, made from bamboo shoots and mulberry trees.



Earthworks has given me the chance to award some Prissy Green reader with a Sweet Lime Shower & Bath Gel and a Sweet Lime Body Lotion! To enter, please go to Earthworks and tell me another scent you would like to try from Pur-essence besides Sweet Lime.

Extra Entries! Please leave a separate Comment for each!

~subscribe to Prissy Updates (emails) must validate!
~subscribe to Rss Feed
~add my PRISSY GREEN button to your blog.
~Follow my blog
~Twitter this contest and leave the link
~Blog about this giveaway and receive 2 entries. (leave two comments!)

**Be sure to check out my other GIVEAWAYS click on the link above the banner, top left.**

Contest will conclude on 7/20 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. US and Canada.

Irony on July 5th, Day After Independence Day

my nephew Randy, niece Alyssa, and my brother Jeremiah.
If you all could spare some prayers over the next 10-12 months for the 38th Infantry, I would really appreciate it. My brother had his send off ceremony today. He will be in Fort Sill (Oklahoma) for about a month then move on to to Kuwait, and then on to Ballad (just outside of Baghdad for at least 10 months. He is a very special man, and little brother. Brave as I will get out.
I know it won't hit me that he is gone until the first family dinner, function etc. and then I think all of us women will be a big ol puddly mess. and please say prayers for my step-mom (his mother) and my soon to be Sister in law. I know they could use them the most.

I pray for a safe return for everyone serving. God Bless.

FlaxMatters Review and Giveaway

Have you tried Flax Seeds yet? If you haven't, it is a really simple way to get additional fiber, and the optimal balance of 3:1 Omega-3's and Omega-6's into you diet. It is also a simple way to get additional protein and the much needed lignans. Lignans in flaxseed are plant estrogens helping to stabilize hormone levels and relieve the symptoms of menopause. Flaxseed contains up to 800 times more active lignans than other plant sources. Studies have shown that these powerful antioxidants may reduce the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast and prostate cancer. In addition, the husk is a good source of dietary fiber, which can lower cholesterol and relieve constipation. Check out their page here for more FlaxFacts.

The only issue I ever had with Flax is worrying about the stability of the opened product. Flax has to be ground, basically you would need a coffee grinder or something similar to break those seeds open. Then it has a relatively short shelf life. Flaxmatters has come up with a unique and patented process of milling flax, called MeadowPure™ that keeps it stable, and also requires no refrigeration. And obviously no grinding! This process guarantees that all of their products contain 18-24% ALA Omega-3 and minimal dark, damaged seeds, meaning that you only need about 1 tablespoon of flax a day for the Recommended Daily Intake of ALA Omega-3.

Milled flaxseed, recommended by nutrition experts, is easiest to blend with other foods, particularly liquids like smoothies and sauces. For every tablespoon of milled flaxseed you consume, you'll get 1.5 grams of Omega-3 ALA. Flaxseed oil is a concentrated source of Omega-3 ALA, but after processing it no longer contains the fiber and lignans of whole or milled flaxseed. Let them help you find the flax that is right for you with Find Your Flax.

Read here for more articles on Flax and it's beneficial properties.

• Why Men Should Eat Flax Seed
• Flax Helps Protect Against Breast Cancer by Influencing Estrogen Metabolism
• Flax Lignans Have Anticancer Effects in Breast Tissue
• All About Flaxseed & Omega-3’s from Kitchen Spaces & the Flax Council of Canada

Stephanie Greenwood at Bubble and Bee even consumes 2 tablespoons of Flax seed each day to prevent her hormones from fluctuating, which is what caused her acne. This simple addition to your diet is a win win for you entire family! Benefiting Women's Health, Men's Health, Cardiovascular System, Lowering Cholesterol, an anti-inflamatory, and more! Plus healthier skin and energy levels are increased!

They even have a Flax Recipe section if you get bored with eating them on salads or in smoothies. I usually eat mine on my cereal, but I have given up milk so right now I am exploring all the options! They have a Pancake and Waffle Mix that contains Flax and WOW, they are breathtakingly good! I was nervous that they wouldn't be good, but they are excellent. Flaxmatters also has a Ultra Smooth Omega Milled Golden Flax. Let me quote what they have to say about it so I don't miss anything!

Our patented combination encapsulates fish oil in MeadowPure™ Ultra SmoothOmega™ Milled Golden Flax to give you a complete package of Omega-3s: 18-24% ALA content, plus EPA and DHA. Put together, all three provide potent benefits for the brain, heart and body-with no fishy odor or taste and a shelf life of 1 year with no refrigeration necessary. Pizzey's Premium MeadowPure™ Ultra SmoothOmega™ Milled Golden Flax has a super-fine, velvety-soft texture that mixes quickly in beverages, smoothies, sauces and yogurt-or anything else you like.

This is what I have been using, and I have no complaints of a fishy taste at all. It is a smooth slighty nutty flavor, that is easy to mix with just about anything!

So who would like to win a bag of the Pancake and Waffle Mix and a bag of Ultra Smooth Omega Milled Golden Flax? To enter go to their Find Your Flax, and tell come back and tell me which one is best for you!

Extra Entries! Please leave a separate Comment for each!

~subscribe to Prissy Updates (emails) must validate!
~subscribe to Rss Feed
~add my PRISSY GREEN button to your blog.
~Follow my blog
~Twitter this contest and leave the link
~Blog about this giveaway and receive 2 entries. (leave two comments!)

**Be sure to check out my other GIVEAWAYS click on the link above the banner, top left.**

Contest will conclude on 7/19 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be drawn by random.org and validated per rules. US only.