{tipsy tuesday}

What can't you do do with Coconut oil?? 

Well... I'm not really sure but there is so much you can do with it!
It's: natural, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-viral, and an antioxidant! It is said to have many health benefits too! READ THIS BLOG about that!

according to wikipedia:  "Coconut oil is very heat-stable, which makes it suited to methods of cooking at high temperatures like frying. Because of its stability, it is slow to oxidize and, thus, resistant to rancidity, lasting up to two years owing to the high saturated fat content."

But buyer beware!.... not all coconut oils are created equal...the good stuff is the virgin or extra virgin UNREFINED stuff.. (this basically means it is in its natural state and has not been chemically changed with heat methods etc.) I use the Garden of Life brand. I like to shop local and get it at our local health food store...however, I've heard that the cheapest you can find it is at Trader Joe's.

THIS BLOGGER has definitely done her research! Follow the link to her post on coconut oil...it's a great read with a wealth of information including 333 uses for coconut oil!!

I'm going to share with you ways I personally use it and have great results.

Before I do here's a quick tip:
Coconut oil will be solid at room temperature & will liquefy at higher room temp temperatures.

(Coconut oil has a high amount of saturated fatty acids.... and so it has a high melting point. Above 76 degrees ....coconut oil is a colorless liquid. Below this temperature it solidifies into a pure white solid)  Therefore,  your body heat is enough to liquefy solid coconut oil
(don't believe me?... just rub a bit between your fingers and watch it turn into a drip....

Because  there’s no need to melt it  in the microwave (which could possibly change the chemistry and eliminate any benefits.... etc)
 

....if you need to melt some: (of course if you are cooking with it just throw it into the pan.) my suggestion is to put some into a shot glass and then dip that shot glass into hot water until melted.

You can also do a zip-lock baggie...and I have before .... only I really can't help but think about the plastics that may leach into this natural wonder stuff... so get creative and use glass when you can.

 

 

 

how I use coconut oil....

 

~ I eat it on toast instead of butter! it's so yummy!

~ I use as an after shower moisturizer...sometimes I'll add an essential oil such as lavender to it.
Here's a tip: a little goes a LONG way.. it feels a little greasy at first like baby oil (which I hate)...but it absorbs really quickly, and leaves my skins glowing and soft.
side note: my daughter has always had eczema  and as soon as we started using this regularly her symptoms went away.

~use coconut oil place of other oils to cook. It's especially great tasting with veggies!

~I drop a tablespoon into hot tea along with some local honey to soothe a sore throat.

~mixed with baking soda and spearmint oil it makes a refreshing tooth paste.

~use it for diaper rash cream

~had amazing results using it instead of lanolin as a nursing mother.

~a personal lubricant (yes...that kind.. ;) It works better than the usual brand without all the chemicals...
side note: I 'm not sure if it's been tested to work safely with latex, spermicides etc.

~mix with peppermint oil, lemon balm, rosemary and water...put into a spray bottle to use as an insect repellent

~I use it as a lip balm for dry or chapped lips...you can also whisk in a little Crystal Light powder to make a lip stain.

~use as a hot oil treatment....put a few tablespoons in a shot glass and dip to heat  in a coffee cup of hot water....apply to dry hair, leave in as long as possible and then shampoo as normal.

~use to tame frizz and fly-aways by rubbing a tiny bit on your palms and apply to your hair staying away from the roots the style as normal. I do this most mornings.

~makes a killer eye-make-up remover.... just dab a little on your eyes and wipe-off with cotton pads like usual...... I swear when I use it regularly this way my lashes get thicker!
hint: dab a bit to the delicate parts under your eyes when done and sleep in it for a night-time anti-aging eye treatment.

~dab a small amount onto burns. bites, and cuts... to help aid in less itching/quicker healing.

~used to oil my pans and baking dishes instead of PAM spray....and to "season" cast iron and butcher block.

~use as a cuticle cream by massaging into and around the nail bed.

~use it to calm a poison ivy itch...cause you know, I get it a few times a year ! & I swear that it clears it up faster too!

~use it to soothe and heal a sunburn


I know there are more... because I use this stuff almost everyday... I would love to hear your suggestions/ uses.... leave me a comment....perhaps we will re-visit coconut again on Tipsy Tuesday!?...


xoxo
Dejah

{organized chaos}

 

Since moving to our new house I've yet to unpack everything...and so those pretty pocket doors lead to a very formal dining room complete with a full wall mural of Italy...and antique chandelier and a four and a half foot wall of boxes and tubs that need to be put away....it's just that every time I open the doors I get a little overwhelmed and freak out then I quickly shut the doors and pretend that room doesn't exist just yet. Funnily, I actually had a vision of myself the other day imagining my surprise when I am actually able to get that room squared away....I imagined myself like one of those home-owners on HGTV's show "Buying & Selling" (the one with the two hot twin brothers) ...who comes home to find their space has been added on to and beautified!...I mean it'll be like a I gain a whole new room! How exciting!! (yes.. I'm a bit of a delusional dreamer...and I'm ok with that).

 

So we couldn't find the iron...and ... well, you know being adults and all we should probably have access to that. I went in with the purpose of locating the iron and came out a few minutes later with a huge tub filled to the brim of old photographs... LIKE REAL photographs.  An entire journey in that box.  It holds photos from when Mr. Quinn and I were young and dating....our wedding...births, birthdays, and milestones of our two Indians...all the way up to about four years ago. I had assumed with all the moving we had undergone in the past years that the box had fallen off a truck or gotten accidentally thrown out and here it was! I quickly jumped over the four foot wall of China (er..boxes)...bumped my head on the antique chandelier...and ran right out of Italy...slammed the pocket doors shut tight and then, me and my tribe sat in the living room floor gazing, laughing, and having precious bittersweet floods of memories. After about and hour... and several little yawns later I was snapped back to the present time and realized it was an hour past bedtime on a school night!! I promised to leave the neat, tidy stacks of photos on the floor and we could continue our tour the next day....

 

 

FAST FORWARD to the next eve (last night)... while cooking dinner I could hear the belly laughs....the "oohs & ahh's" and "ohhh! LOOK!"...coming from the living room and new they were pilfering through the piles of photos.. they would even bring me one occasionally and ask "who's this chubby baby?"

 

When the call to dinner came... they shut the pocket doors to the living room, washed up , and we sat down and ate. That was followed by our regular scheduled evening marathon of homework, showers, and what seems like a three hours of  me proclaiming "go back -to bed!!"

 

THIS MORNING.....after the kids were off to school I danced through the house doing my morning ritual of opening up the blinds and doors in all the rooms...allowing the space and the light to greet and kiss...when I opened the living room doors...I almost fell over!

..............................................................................................

 

 

 

those little rascal's sure did have fun though... and as I replayed the giggles and chuckles I heard coming from this same room the night before.....

 

I just decided...that I was ok with that..(but darn-it i never did find that iron!)

Source: etsy.com via Dejah on Pinterest

xoxo
Dejah

{tipsy tuesday}

Tipsy Tuesday!

1) don't throw out those brown bananas.......instead... carefully peel them and then chop into inch sized slices...store in freezer bags and freeze.... They are perfect for quick breakfast smoothies...and since they are frozen....no need for ice! (this tip is from my friend andrea marie)
( p.s. you can do this for all fruits and veggies that are just getting a bit too ripe....please don't throw them out!!!)

2) keep stored potatoes from budding those nasty poisonous roots by placing an apple in the bag/basket with the potatoes.

3) have left over wine from your latest girls night-out? hmm ..take- it from me...it's just not gonna taste as good later after it oxygenates... but come-on...don't throw out all that leftover wine, Instead...when the party is over remember to pour it into ice trays and freeze.... you can use it later in your cooking for sauces etc.

4) buy garlic by the bag instead of by the clove..it's cheaper and it only takes a few more minutes to dice it up .... then store in freezer bag and freeze it.... now you have fresh garlic to throw on all your dishes.....Love me some garlic!

5) cooking Rolls? ....beat some egg whites and brush them over your crescent rolls before baking.this makes a beautiful glossy, crust. (this tip is courtesy of my mother -in-law aka: BOSSY)

6) put a tablespoon of dry rice into your coffee grinder and turn-it-on- to clean it!

7) Spoon your favorite flavored yogurt into a plastic baggie... snip the end... then squeeze  nickel sized drops onto a cookie sheet..... FREEZE... makes an amazing and healthy snack! (p.s. my kids LOVE them...and they don't know they aren't candy... so please don't tell them!
source: pinterest)

8) baked potatoes in the CROCK POT!!!.... WUUUT!? ( in the morning)
use a knife or fork to pierce the potatoes all over... then wrap completely in foil....place in the crock pot and cook on low for about 8 hrs... or high for about 4 hrs...and DONE! :)
(p.s..on busy work days I stop off on my way home at my local BBQ joint and pick-up chopped beef ...for a loaded spud dinner-- top them off with shredded cheese and sour cream... & it's a family favorite! YUMMY! )

9) store your already chopped lettuce in left-over wax paper bags (from the kiddos emptied cereal) to make it last even longer!

10) got a rug that just won't stay put?
 flip it over an apply a few lines of acrylic-latex caulk with the hubby's caulk gun....about every 4-6 inches should do it.. let dry and viola!

11)  did your SWIFFER wet-jet run out mid-stream?..simply place the solution bottle... cap down  in  a few inches of boiling water and hold it down. be sure to protect your hand with an oven mitt.... after a few minutes...when the bottle starts to really bloat... carefully , use another mitt to twist off the cap ....then refill with your own cleaning solution. :)

12) refill your bathroom/kitchen anti-bacterial foaming soap dispensers by simply filling them with water and just a  teaspoon of antibacterial dish soap!

13) take just a few minutes to cover your refrigerator shelves with plastic/saran wrap....no one will ever know it's there yet... makes cleaning almost effortless when your littles make grape juice spills etc..

14)  got fine silver? if  you place a piece of chalk into a bag with your fine silver... it will draw out all the moisture and prevent tarnish! swanky huh!?

15) have a favorite pair of shoes that bite??....fill two plastic sandwich bags 1/4 way with water....lightly spray the outsides of bags with Pam or other cooking spray to avoid sticking... place the bags into your shoes... then the shoes into your freezer...once the water is completely frozen remove.... when the water starts to melt  and the bags sweat,  remove the baggies and wipe down your shoes..let them sit for a day and then try them on for size!


hope that helps
xoxo
 Dejah



 

 

{a song for Sunday}

here's you a sweet lil' song that's been ricocheting around my little head all week...

this weeks beautiful  song for Sunday is by:

Sarah Reeves



Here at the altar of the broken things
I'm finally throwing down this mirror of me
when Ive done all I can do and there's nothing left to prove
and I just need you

I'm totally completely dependant upon you
I'm totally completely dependant upon you

Here at the place of empty vessels
I'm pouring out this heart of selfish ambition
When theres no more options left  
and im nothing but a mess well
that's when you' re best

when there's no words left to say
and there's nothing to pray
I just wait

Oh I wait on you Lord

I'm trusting in your word, yeah

Oh cause you' re totally completely faithful to me
You're totally completely faithful to me

{tipsy tuesday}

HOLY Vinegar!!

I know my great grandmothers are likely rolling on heaven's floor laughing that it took me 35 years to figure out how amazing this stuff is!

Vinegar (which basically means "sour wine" in french) was discovered accidentally when a cask of wine gone past it's prime was put to use instead of thrown out...and so... a versatile new product was found! Vinegar is naturally green, antibacterial, disinfectant, non-toxic...and really has SO MANY uses.

From cleaning almost any household surface...to using in the lawn/garden...as pest control...even cooking...and taking internally for health benefits... There's just not much you can't do with it! Today, I'm going to share one of the ways I use vinegar on a weekly basis. In the shower!! My OCD tendencies arise if I am taking a shower and spot anything unclean in the shower/tub.....and I just can't feel clean if I'm showering in a dirty space...and sometimes a shower can be clean but just look old or nasty because of soap scum, hard water spots and/or calcium deposits. By using this quick and easy method once a week... my shower looks brand new and I can bathe in peace ;) AND most importantly I am not subjecting myself or my family to a ton of toxic chemicals that I can't even pronounce.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
-white distilled vinegar
-dawn dish soap concentrated (or off brand - as long as the ingredients are the same)
-large squirt bottle

-Mix equal parts concentrated dish soap and vinegar in squirt bottle and shake well ( I make a full squirt bottle batch and do all bathrooms at once)

-Spray the entire shower surface down very well (the solution comes out like a gel and sticks well)

-Leave solution on for an hour...it will begin to spread and thicken a bit...
-After an hour take a wet sponge and just quickly wipe down all surfaces...(no need to scrub).
-Let sit for about 15-20 more min. then rinse away with hot water.

Your shower will sparkle like new!!

Want more info on ALL the wonderful uses for vinegar!?

visit these links:

http://www.versatilevinegar.org/usesandtips.html

http://www.motherearthliving.com/healthy-home/natural-cleaning/versatile-vinegar-zmhz13jfzmel.aspx

http://cupcakeapothecary.blogspot.com/2012/02/130-uses-for-vinegar.html


xoxo
Dejah

places and spaces

With the cold Oklahoma winter winds pushing us to hunker down and hibernate indoors I am suddenly more aware of my surroundings and the places and spaces that I inhabit. Things of comfort...and things that make me at peace. While all my spaces are a constant work in progress...i thought i might share a few spaces here and there.....

This is a set of cubbies in my bathroom...in and on it I keep some pretty little things that make me happy!!!...Things like my favorite perfumes...a vintage camera (a gift from my bestie Michelle).... a little pottery bowl from Sparkly filled with rings...etc.

The top right is a photo print of a painting of colored horses...I love seeing it everyday!! I bought it from a primitive artist in the Ozarks...I will own an original someday.



I believe that jewelry is art for the body...and reflects your taste...I certainly can't wear every piece all the time and hated the thought of it all being put away into some box or drawer when I'm not wearing it....that's why Mr. Quinn is pretty handy to have around :)...I picked out colors and knobs and  he made me two of these jewelry displays...LOVE them!!


I stapled some vintage lace to the back of  an old frame and made a sweet place to hang my earrings!!
 (this is a 16x24 frame)



....my favorite pair.... they were my Granny's and she wore them often. I can close my eyes and still see them on her delicate ears.... she gifted them to me Christmas 2010....one of the best gifts ever!!



here's a pull back shot of my little vanity area...




OH! did you notice the boots?? Those are a new gift from Mr. Quinn...They are so very cosy and warm and and have hardly left my toes since! (yes...I MIGHT be a little spoiled).


xoxo
Dejah

{Celebrate YOU!}

A few random things about me:

-I have a very unique first name "Dejah"...and then my middle name is a plain ole-southern Ann!
-I have crooked pinkie fingers....was born that way. When I was a kid, forced to raise my hand to answer the teachers questions...I was tormented so much that I wore band-aids around my right pinkie finger (the more crooked one) and would pretend to have injured it if anyone asked. -I would be lost without my savior-Jesus!
-I was raised (for the most part) in trailer parks and apartment complexes....I had a single working mother and there's no shame in my game...it's part of what shaped and molded me into who I am today and I am so thankful for my journey.
-I love the color pink to a fault.
-I was born in Tacoma Washington but shortly thereafter shipped to the great state of Texas where I was raised.
-BACK IN THE DAYS.....After watching "A Time To Kill" with then upcoming star Mathew McConaughey." I looked up his phone number in Austin TX and called it (a few times) but never worked up the nerve to leave that a message to that smooth talking southern voice on the other end. (Cause what REALLY would I have said!?)
-I have always had a pair of cowgirl boots in my closet since I can remember.
- I CELEBRATE when I find the perfect-est shade of pink paint for ONE! dollar in the mistint section...at Lowes and can transform a stuffy old gold gilded garage sale frame into a pink princess (see photo above).
-I married my own, real life, Mr. Darcy (Jane Austen)...he is everything to me.
-My children teach me new things every day.
-I have a MASSIVE week spot for Green and Blacks dark chocolate.
-I always have at least 3 loads of laundry waiting on the sofa in my bedroom to be folded & put away.

....and on that note I'm out. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. This week I will be starting my "Wardrobe Wednesday" and while I'll be featuring an outfit from my wardrobe..I have "archived" the last two Wednesdays....so it's likely if you ran into me this Wednesday you may not have seen me in the outfit featured. My logic was to give myself a little head start...this way I am always a few Wednesdays ahead....so if something comes up and I cannot post one week I will still be able to feature "Wardrobe Wednesday".

xoxo
Dejah