Decorate Easter Eggs With Paper Napkins

If painting is not your thing or let’s say it is, but your skills are secret yet to the world, you might want to try this technique to decorate hard boiled eggs this Easter: lend a personal touch to your decor by dressing your eggs in a paper napkin pattern that catches your eye! When properly stored (3-4 days in the fridge), these easter eggs can be safely eaten afterwards.

Ingredients

~ White hard boiled eggs, cold
~ Paper napkins
~ Scissors
~ Pasteurized egg whites, lightly beaten

Directions

~ Start by cutting out a section of the napkin that has the design you want to use on it. Cut pretty close to the design; if you leave too much extra white space, it will bunch up on your egg when you glue it down. 

~ Dip brush into the beaten egg whites and apply the design on the front center of the egg Dip brush into egg whites and gently smooth the napkin from the center out. 

~ Let the egg dry on a paper towel 

~ For a glossier effect, when dry, wipe the eggs with vegetable oil (using a paper towel)

26 -Apr -16 Coffee Quote

THINGS WORK OUT BEST FOR THOSE WHO MAKE THE BEST OF HOW THINGS WORK OUT!

How to Kill Your Sugar Addiction

While excusing yourself from sugary celebrations is no fun, neither is dealing with a post-sugar-binge hangover. And on top of it, the more sugar you eat, the more you crave — it can take a few days to weeks to get over an addiction to refined sugar once you start. Not only that, but studies have shown that eating too much refined sugar can speed up your body’s aging process. If you know you can’t resist sweet temptations, read on to learn nutritionist-approved strategies that will keep you on the right track.

Stop Eating Sugar

Sugar is an incredibly addictive substance. Sugar is “as addictive as cocaine.” In order to say sayanara to your sugar cravings, you must stop eating sugar, plain and simple. The less you eat it, the less you crave it. Easier said than done, I know, but that’s the necessary first step. The good news is – once you do this, cravings diminish quickly and dramatically.

Eat Fat, Fiber and Protein

Now that you’ve cut out sugar, what can you eat? Focus on eating the most satiating foods: fat, fiber and protein. Fat, fiber and protein will keep you full and keep your blood sugar steady. Have avocado, nuts and coconut oil for healthy fats. Eat lots of veggies for fiber. And have lean meats, eggs, fish and beans for protein. 

So this means breakfast might be a protein shake, with some coconut oil added, plus some chia seeds or ground flaxseed for fiber. Lunch or dinner might be salmon (protein and fat) over salad and veggies (fiber) with avocado (fat).

Meditate

The mind is always racing outwards, chasing the next bit of stimulation – whether that’s checking your iPhone for new messages, or thinking about the next meal or sweet treat. Through meditation. Through my daily meditation practice, I’ve witnessed how restless the mind is, always chasing the next thrill. Slowly, gently, persistently I work to return to the present moment. This actually helps to unravel cravings so they don’t have such a strong pull.

Do a Cleanse

Every time I’ve done the Be Well Cleanse, it has helped to nip sugar cravings in the bud. The Cleanse shakes have lots of protein, which helps to keep blood sugar steady. They have fiber which makes me feel full and satisfied. The two week detox gives me plenty of time to re-discover healthy meals and snacks, and get serious about avoiding some foods that sneak into my diet like caffeine and too much dark chocolate. The best part is that on the Cleanse, sugar cravings disappear pretty immediately.

Kill Yeast

Often you crave sugar because your gut is hosting yeast and those little critters love to feed on sugar. The way to “starve” the yeast is by not feeding them sugar. 

Chew Your Food

Digestion starts in the mouth. Digestive enzymes start the process of breaking down starches into sugar. When you cut out processed foods from your diet and chew your food well, you’ll start to notice the natural sweetness of fruits, vegetables and even brown rice.

How To Cleanse And Purify Your Lungs

Lungs are one of the most important organs in the body. It’s through the lungs that we breathe and get the oxygen that goes into the blood to feed the other parts of the body.

Because our environment is not safe, we inhale numerous kind of toxins and dust that damage our lungs and with time can create various kind of lungs diseases. This becomes even worse if we smoke or are often around people who smoke.

Here are the top ways to cleanse and detox your lungs.

Exercise

As we all know well, exercise is fundamental in order for us to enjoy good health. In this case, aerobic exercises are an excellent idea since they help strengthen your lungs and make them more resistant. In this regard, we can run, walk, swim, play soccer or do any other activity that implies raising our heart rate and breathing heavily.

Drink warm water with lemon

Drinking warm water squeezed with lemon helps. To be precise squeeze the juice of two lemons in 300 ml of water and drink it before breakfast. Lemon is acidic and helps flush out the toxins from your lungs.

Oregano

Oregano is rich in compounds like carvacrol and terpenes that act as lung-cleansing elements. The herb can help reduce inflammation and congestion in the lungs, and improve nasal passage airflow and the health of your respiratory tract.

Quit Smoking

Obviously one of the most noxious habits when it comes to your health, especially your lung health, is smoking. Therefore, if you are a smoker, the best thing you can do for your health is to kick the habit. Quitting smoking will help you to strengthen and clean your lungs, and this is something that your body will thank you for. Remember that smoking tobacco is the main cause of lung cancer.

Garlic

It has been shown that garlic is a great natural product that helps to open up your bronchial tubes allowing you to breathe better and easier. And as if that weren’t enough, garlic also cleans your lungs, thanks to its properties that help to eliminate noxious materials that tend to get stored in the lungs. The consumption of garlic is very simple and you can consume it in several different ways.

Carrot juice

Drink around 300 milliliters of pure carrot juice midway between breakfast and lunch time and this helps to alkalize your blood during the 3 day detoxification process.

20 -Apr -16 Coffee Quote

Destiny is usually just around the corner. Like a thief, a hooker, or a lottery vendor: its three most common personifications.
But what destiny does not do is home visits. 

YOU HAVE TO GO FOR IT!

Clean 30 Pounds of Toxins Accumulated in your Colon

With simply colon cleansing many health problems can be avoided. Eliminating of parasites and mucus from the intestines and fecal debris is imminent, because through the intestines during an average lifetime people spend over 180.000 pounds food and 12.000 gallons liquid, of which over 40 pounds are toxic substances accumulated in the stomach. They contaminate your blood and cause many diseases !!

There are several signs that your intestines are not clean such as: constipation, diabetes, disturbed metabolism, obesity, arthritis, cancer, kidney stones, vision and skin problems. You need colon cleansing.

 

Instead of breakfast devour this blend for 3 weeks! 

Week 1: 1 tablespoon of flaxseed flour and 100 ml of kefir 

Week 2: 2 tablespoons of flaxseed flour and 100 ml of kefir 

Week 3: 3 tablespoons of flaxseed flour and 150 ml of kefir

Important

Do not follow this diet more than once per year because it’s enough and you don’t need to force or waste your body. Stay Healthy!

13 -Apr -16 Coffee Quote

ALL PROGRESS TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE THE COMFORT ZONE.

Get Rid of Cellulite With Coconut Oil

Cellulite affects more than 85 percent of women, representing all shapes and sizes. It is most common in the thighs, but it can also be present on the legs, buttocks or stomach.

Cellulite is made up of free-floating fat cells that are deposited just beneath the skin. It has a distinct appearance, like the dimpled surface of an orange peel or cottage cheese. Hormones, genetics and an unhealthy lifestyle are the top causes of cellulite. 

You need to get rid of cellulite as soon as it appears because it tends to get worse with age. Many effective techniques can slow the occurrence and minimize the appearance of cellulite in the thighs. To manage cellulite, try these simple and easy home remedie.

Ingredients

~ 100 ml of coconut oil
~ 20 drops of orange essential oil
~  half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder

Directions

~ Put the coconut oil in a bowl; add orange essential oil and then cinnamon. 

~ Mix ingredients well until you get a homogeneous mixture. Allow the mixture to stand for 30 minutes. 

~ Apply this anti-cellulite cream directly to the affected areas, massaging gently. 

~ Cover the area with plastic wrap. 

~ This process must be repeated 3 times a day. In seven days the effects will be visible. 

~ This cream has 30 days expiration date. But you could do just a little bit every day so it will always be fresh.

12 -Apr -16 Coffee Quote

HAVE A GREAT COFFEE TIME!

Home Remedies for Sore, Cracked and Stinky Feet

Cracked heels and blackened feet can happen to anyone. Normally, the shoes that you wear, particularly during the hot and dry summer months will cause your feet to dry out and could cause them to crack. There are a few products on the market to help heal dry feet but there are very effective home remedies that you can try as well.

Shaving cream to help heal dryness

~ Slather your feet with a generous amount of shaving cream. 

~ Mix together equal parts of Listerine and warm water. 

~ While you still have shaving cream on your feet, wrap a towel that is soaked in the

 ~ Listerine mixture around your feet and allow it to sit for about half an hour.

~ Using the same towel, rub the shaving cream off your feet. This will remove calloused and dry skin as well as the blackened or discolored skin that feet typically get when they are dry. 

~ Apply lotion to your feet for extra moisturizing.

Vegetable oil

~ You can use olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil or any other vegetable oil. 

~ First you should wash your feet well in soapy water and scrub them with a pumice stone. 

~ After you have done that, dry them well. Apply the vegetable oil you have chosen to use. 

~ Put on clean socks and have them on all night while you sleep. Notice the difference in the morning. 

~ Repeat the process until all cracks are gone

 

Strawberry Lemonade

Friends it is delicious! It’s sweet but the tart from rhubarb compliments all that lemon in just the right way. I highly recommend making this when you have the chance. We love it! Plus you just feel fancy telling people what it is.

Ingredients

~ 4 cups water
~ 2 to 2½ cups rhubarb, trimmed and cut into chunks
~ 1 pint strawberries, stems removed and cut in half
~ 1 cup sugar
~ 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 6 lemons)
~ 3-4 cups ice

Directions

~ In a medium pot add the water, rhubarb, strawberries and sugar. Heat over medium high heat, stirring often until the mixture starts to boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and roughly crush the berries and rhubarb with a potato masher or the back for a wooden spoon. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes. 

~ Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer. Use the back of a spoon to firmly press the solids against the strainer to get as much liquid out of them as you can. Discard the solids (or feed them to your chickens) and refrigerate the liquid until it is cool. 

~ When you are ready to serve add the cold strawberry rhubarb liquid and lemon juice to a large pitcher and stir together. Add the ice and stir again. Serve right away. Garnish with lemon slices and/or sliced strawberries if you'd like.

Homemade Ice Cream

Making homemade ice cream is easier than you think! Give everybody something to scream about with these yummy ice cream flavors you can make at home.

Sweet Corn Ice Cream

Ingredients 

~ 4 ears sweet corn, shucked, kernels removed and cobs halved
~ 2 c. whole milk
~ 2 c. heavy cream
~ 3/4 c. sugar, divided
~ 9 lg. egg yolks

Directions 

~ Cook kernels in a dry cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, stirring, until browned in spots, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer kernels to a large heavy saucepan. Add cobs, milk, cream, and 1/2 cup of sugar to the saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Discard cobs. Puree mixture until smooth with a stick blender or jar blender; return blended mixture to the saucepan. 

~ Whisk together egg yolks and remaining 1/4 cup of sugar in a bowl. Bring corn mixture to a low simmer; remove from heat. Slowly whisk one cup of hot corn mixture into yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Return yolk mixture to the saucepan, whisking constantly. 

~ Cook, whisking constantly, over medium-low heat until thick enough to coat a spoon, 5 to 7 minutes.

~ Pass custard through a sieve, pressing hard to remove as much liquid as possible. Discard solids. Chill completely. Transfer to an ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer's instructions.

Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Ingredients 

Ice Cream 

~ 2 c. whole milk
~ 1½ c. brown sugar
~ 4 egg yolks
~ Pinch of salt
~ 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
~ 2 c. half-and-half
~ 2 c. whipping cream
~ 2 tsp. vanilla extract 

Candied Butter Pecans 

~ 1 c. pecans
~ ⅓ c. sugar
~ 2 tbsp. unsalted butter

Directions 

~ Prepare Ice Cream: In a medium saucepan, whisk together milk, brown sugar, egg yolks, and salt. Place pan over medium-high heat until mixture reaches a simmer. Lower heat to medium and whisk mixture for 5 minutes or until it begins to thicken. Strain mixture into a large bowl and whisk in butter until combined; then incorporate half-and-half, cream, and vanilla. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. 

~ Prepare Candied Butter Pecans: In a heavy skillet over medium heat, combine pecans, sugar, and butter, stirring constantly for about 6 minutes or until sugar has melted and browned. Remove from heat; spread nuts on foil. Once nuts have cooled, break into bite-size pieces and reserve. 

~ Pour ice cream mixture into ice-cream maker; process according to manufacturer instructions. Once ice cream's made, stir in reserved pecans. 

Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients 

~ 2 c. whole milk
~ 1 c. sugar
~ 4 egg yolks
~ Pinch of salt
~ 2 c. half-and-half
~ 2 c. whipping cream
~ 2 tsp. vanilla extract 

Directions 

~ In a medium saucepan, whisk together milk, sugar, egg yolks, and salt. Place pan over medium- high heat and whisk until mixture reaches a simmer. Lower heat to medium and whisk for 5 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken. Strain mixture into a large bowl, then whisk in half-and- half, cream, and vanilla. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. 

~ Pour mixture into ice-cream maker; process according to manufacturer instructions.Chocolate Ice Cream Variation:After straining mixture in step 1, add 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips and stir until melted and fully incorporated. Continue with recipe.Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Variation: In step 1, substitute 1 teaspoon peppermint extract for 1 teaspoon vanilla. Once ice cream's made, stir in 2 cups mini chocolate chips.Peanut Butter Ice Cream Variation: After straining mixture in step 1, add 1 cup smooth peanut butter and stir until fully incorporated. Continue with recipe.

Chocolate Ice Cream

Ingredients 

~ 3/4 cup sugar
~ 1 cup milk
~ 1/4 teaspoon salt
~ 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
~ 3 egg yolk, lightly beaten
~ 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
~ 2 cups heavy cream
~ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

~ Combine sugar, milk, salt, and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Bring to a simmer. Place the egg yolks into a small bowl. Gradually stir in about 1/2 cup of the hot liquid. and return to the saucepan. Heat until thickened, but do not boil. Remove from the heat, and stir in the chopped chocolate until chocolate is melted. Pour into a chilled bowl, and refrigerate for about two hours until cold, stirring occasionally. 

~ When chocolate mixture has completely cooled, stir in the cream, and vanilla. Pour into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's directions.

Sexy Arms in 6 Weeks

If you’re just starting out, aim for two sets of 8 to 12 reps of the heaviest weight you can handle for each exercise. Looking for more of a challenge? Shoot for two sets of 15 to 25 reps per exercise.

Bent-Over Row Step I

Primary muscles worked: lats, back extensors, rhomboids, rear shoulders, biceps, core. Stand with a slight bend at the knees, holding the weights at your sides. Lean over, extending your chest while reaching your hips back. Allow your arms to hang straight down toward the floor with your palms facing your thighs.

Bent-Over Row Step II 

Looking forward at the ground (not up), pull your elbows up and rotate your hands until your palms are nearly touching your upper rib cage and your elbows point toward the ceiling. Lower the weights to the starting position with control. Repeat.

Upright Row Step I

Primary muscles worked: shoulders, upper back, biceps.

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with the weights hanging down in front of your body, their ends touching.

Upright Row Step II

Raise your upper arms, leading with your elbows while bringing the weights up the front of your body as if you were tracing an imaginary midpoint, stopping when your elbows become level with your shoulders. Lower the weights back to the starting position.

Chest Press on Ball Step I

Primary muscles worked: chest, front of shoulders, triceps. Sit on a ball and walk out so that your head and shoulder blades are resting on the ball. Lift your hips by contracting your glute muscles to make a bridge. 

Chest Press on Ball Step II 

Bring the dumbbells to your shoulders. Then extend your arms over your chest and bring the dumbbells together to make a triangle over your chest. Lower the weights back to the starting position and repeat.

Overhead Press on Ball Step I

Primary muscles worked: shoulders, upper back, triceps. Sit on an exercise ball with your belly button pulled toward the spine. Hold the weights in front of your shoulders, your palms facing in.

Overhead Press on Ball Step II

Push the weights up until your arms are extended. When your arms are extended, they should be slightly in front of you rather than directly overhead. Lower the weights to the starting position and repeat.

Why a Himalayan Salt Lamp is One of The Greatest Things You Could Own

Himalayan salt is high in sodium chloride and is believed to have a great number of beneficial properties which positively affect the human body, such as relaxation, body detoxification and respiratory support, among the others.

The salt mines of the Himalayan Mountains can be found in the foothills of Pakistan. The salt mines of Khewra are the 2nd largest salt mines in the world producing 325,000 tons annually from 500 feet underground. These mines were created millions of years ago, due to the evaporation of inland sea water, creating salt veins in the mountains.

What is a Himalayan Salt Lamp

It is a large solid salt crystal or it can be chunks of salt crystals displayed in a beautiful salt bowl. The salt is heated by an electrical source like a light bulb or heated with a candle. The warmed salt emits negative ions purifying the air. 

~ Positive and Negative Ions 

Ions can be positive or negative because they are unbalanced molecules. Electrons and neutrons are unequal in ions. 

~ Positive Ions: 

When it comes to ions, positive ions will not create a positive experience. Positive ions are created when microwaves, vacuum cleaners, electrical equipment and air conditioners stir up the air irritating our airways causing coughing and sneezing. Positive ions can also contribute to stress, trouble sleeping, migraines, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Fortunately a negative ion can unbalance positive ions and purify the air 

~ Negative Ions: 

Negative ions are created by many beautiful acts in nature. The roar of a waterfall, crashing of large waves onto the beach, the electric charge of the air during a lightning storm, the bright shining sun uninterrupted by a single cloud can charge, exhilarate and refresh our bodies. These moments in nature naturally create 10,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter, a busy city creates 100 negative ions per cubic centimeter.

How does the Himalayan Salt Lamp work

Well, just to start off the salt lamp doesn’t actually create negative ions, but is helps to support the environment for the many negative ions to thrive. The salt naturally attracts the humidity straight from the air. The heat from the bulb heats up the mineral and causes the moisture that is within the salt to start to evaporate which then releases negative ions.

Salt Therapy-Halotherapy

Salt therapy has been practiced in Greece since ancient times. Salt room therapy is a room that has dry- salt- enriched air to be inhaled with natural breathing. It dissolves phlegm, kills microorganisms and reduces inflammation while strengthening the immune system. Even something as simple as gargling salt water can sooth mouth sores or a tender throat, and swimming in the ocean can provide relief from skin rashes. 

Himalayan Salt Lamp

Himalayan salt lamps have been shown to be helpful with:

~ allegies
~ blood system disorders
~ stress-related disorders
~ insomnia and sleep disturbances
~ skin conditions
~ respiratory problems
~ colds
~ headaches
~ rheumatism 

These salt lamps have a limited range. Having one in your home is a great thing but it will not impact the air of your entire home. Rather, it will improve the air within the general vicinity of the lamp. 

It is important to place the lamp wherever you spend the most time or where your environment is most impacted by electronic devices. 

There are many fake salt lamps out there on the market. You will want to be sure you purchase a lamp that is from the Himalayan region that is made from pure Himalayan salt crystals. 

Note that your salt lamp may sometimes appear wet or “sweaty.” This is because water is attracted to the surface of the lamp (the salt) and then it evaporates quickly because of the heat from the bulb inside. This evaporation process is what generates the negative ions.

Chicken Parmesan Pasta Skillet

I have wanted to make something like this for a long time. I’m all about the easy skillet meals, and you wouldn’t believe how easy pasta is to make in a skillet! Just cover that bad boy and it does all the work for you! Virtually zero cleanup (because you will finish all the Chicken Parmesan Pasta, trust me), and no fail. Impress friends or family with virtually no effort at all. Comfort food made easy, that’s my specialty.

INGREDIENTS

~ 1 tablespoon olive oil or Italian dressing
~ 3 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
~ 1/2 (16-ounce) package Market Pantry Rotini (about 2 1/2 cups)
~ One 24-ounce jar pasta sauce
~ 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
~ 1/2 cup shredded or 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

~ Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink in center.

~ Add pasta and sauce. Fill empty pasta sauce jar with water. Add to skillet. Stir. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 15 to 18 minutes until pasta is tender, stirring halfway through.

~ Sprinkle with cheeses. Cook 2 minutes longer to melt cheese.

Tip

 If you don’t have a 12-inch skillet, use a stock pot and reduce water to 2 cups.

Kitchen Tips and Tricks

Whether you’re a workaholic who barley has time to open the fridge, a busy stay-at-home mom, or are in the running for your own show on The Food Network, I think you’ll find a few hacks here that will make life easier!

Muffin Pan Citrus Cubes

This is a fabulous idea for a water or sangria pitcher! A muffin pan gives you much larger cubes, making the ice last much longer. This also looks beautiful with the whole lemon slices in there. You could also do this with oranges; maybe even throw in some mint or sliced strawberries!

Cook Fish On Lemons

Because fish sticks and falls apart so easily on a grill, this is the best way to cook it! Not only does the fish soak up the citrus flavor of the lemons, but it keeps your fish in one piece and makes clean up really easy.

Cherry Tomato Hack

I usually just pop these in whole, but if you are using them for a salad or other dish, here is a trick using 2 plastic lids to cut them quickly! Make sure you are using a large, sharp knife.

Opening Jars With Ease

There’s always that one jar that pisses you off! I usually just hand it over to the husband, but when you need a little bit of assistance, just put on a rubber kitchen glove, or place a thick rubber band around the lid. The rubber gives you just the right amount of grip to get the job done without tearing a muscle.

Wooden Spoon Trick

Place a wooden spoon over boiling water to keep it from boiling over. There is a lot of science behind this, but the easiest way to explain why this works is because the spoon pops a lot of the bubbles once they come into contact with it, and it also absorbs some of the moisture. Apparently, metal spoons don’t work because they heat up too fast. It’s worth a try!

Peel Ginger With A Spoon?

I’ve tried this, and it works great! That skin isn’t as tough as it looks; The edge of the spoon takes it off with very little effort (even in all of the little crevices and bumps). Leave your knife in the drawer and use a spoon!

The Best Way To Chill Wine

Frozen grapes in the summer time, are fantastic little cubes for keeping your wine chilled without watering it down. You can also plop one or two in a glass of red wine that has been kept at a room temperature that is too warm.

How To Peel An Orange

This tip is especially useful for those of you that don’t have any nails to dig into the tough skin of an orange. With a few clever cuts of a knife, you can peel an orange and eat it without juice dripping all over your hands. But best of all, it’s FUN!

Photographer Takes Magical Photos In The American Midwest

Jake Olson, an award-winning professional photographer and graphic artist from Nebraska, takes breathtaking photographs what are dripping with Midwestern aesthetic and spirit. His images inspire dreams of wide-open skies, gentle winds and amber waves of grain. 

Olson’s backstory is just as inspiring as his images. Believe it or not, he was 38 when he decided to pick up a digital camera for the first time. Until then, he had worked in the jewelry industry with a number of famous jewelers. His story proves that it’s never too late to make a change in your life and follow your passion.

Unusual Uses for Coffee

Every coffee drinker knows the feeling they get when they have their morning ritual of a hot strong cup of coffee. Mmmmmm, just saying the word makes me smell it in the air; coffee. We all know the great benefits of coffee. 

But did you know that coffee has a life outside of being a tasty? It's true! Coffee grounds can continue to be useful after you've had your morning fix and can work in some interesting ways. So, save those beans and find  unusual uses for coffee!

Kill fridge odor

Wouldn’t you rather smell coffee than two-week-old leftovers, half-rotten produce and spoiled milk? If your fridge is a nightmare of foul odors, place a bowl of fresh, unused coffee grounds inside and leave it for a day or two. The coffee will absorb the odors and you’ll crave a cup whenever you open the door. This odor-killing trick works for practically anything else as well – just place the item in a sealed plastic bag along with an open can of coffee grounds and bye-bye stank.

Reduce cellulite

Pricey cellulite creams almost always have one major ingredient in common: caffeine, which supposedly enhances fat metabolism, reducing the appearance of these fatty pockets under the skin. To make your own coffee cellulite treatment at home, mix warm used coffee grounds with coconut oil and rub it onto your skin in circular motions for a few minutes before rinsing.

Erase smells on your hands

Garlic, salmon, cilantro – there are some things that smell delicious when cooking, but aren’t so pleasant hours later when they linger on your hands. Get rid of them by rubbing a handful of used coffee grounds on your hands and rinsing with warm water.

Make rich compost

There’s a reason so many gardeners swear by adding used coffee grounds to compost. The grounds are rich in phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and copper, they release nitrogen into the soil as they degrade and they’re a little bit acidic, which is great for certain soils. If you compost on a large scale, you can get used grounds for free at your local coffee hot spot or mom-and-pop cafe.

Get shiny hair

Who doesn’t want shiny, healthy-looking hair? Coffee is often recommended as a simple, natural treatment to make hair extra-glossy. Brew up an extra-strong pot, let it cool and apply it to your dry, clean hair. Leave it on for at least twenty minutes, then rinse. Keep it up once a week or so for best results.

Fertilize plants

Acid-loving plants will thank you for sprinkling your used coffee grounds around their roots. Azaleas, blueberry shrubs and rhododendrons are just a few of the plants that flourish when treated with coffee thanks to all those nutrients. You can also dilute the leftover coffee in your mug and pour it right into your potted plants (as long as you don’t use cream and sugar, of course!)

Natural dye

The natural pigments in coffee make it a great natural dye for fabric, paper, Easter eggs – even your hair. Brush paper with strong brew and let it dry, or soak fabric items in hot coffee. The results won’t be color-fast, and may bleed out onto other items, so it’s best to use this on items that won’t be washed very often if at all. Using coffee as a hair shine treatment, as previously mentioned, may temporarily lend a rich, dark tint to your hair.

Reduce fireplace mess

Want to clean your fireplace without causing a dust storm? Wait until the embers are cool, sprinkle damp coffee grounds all over the ashes , let them sit for about 15 minutes and then scoop out the whole mess into a metal ash can. The coffee grounds cling to the ashes, so they don’t spew dust nearly as much as they would otherwise.

Pin cushion filler

Dried, used coffee grounds are the perfect filler for homemade pin cushions. Just wrap them in some scrap cloth, tie it off with a rubber band and place the cloth in an egg cup or other small container. The grounds will keep your pins from rusting, too.

Exfoliate skin

The same properties that reportedly enable coffee to reduce the appearance of cellulite can smooth and tighten your skin, and the texture of ground coffee will buff away dead skin cells, too. Make your own coffee-based scrub by combining a tablespoon of coffee grounds with half a tablespoon of olive oil and, optionally, a drop of your favorite essential oil.

Repel ants

Sprinkle dry, used coffee grounds in problem areas where you notice ants in your home or yard and they might just pick up and leave. To tackle huge ant mounds, pour an entire pot of brewed coffee right on the mound.

How to give up sugar?

The average person takes in 22 teaspoons of sugar daily—more than three times the amount suggested by the American Heart Association. And although it has never been considered a health food, new evidence shows sugar can do even more damage than previously thought, setting you up for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. But weaning yourself off sugar can be daunting. It's tough to dodge because it hides in so many foods, and it provides an almost addictive buzz, thanks to a surge of the neurotransmitter dopamine after it enters the body. 

Still, slashing sugar is one food trend worth trying. Find out all about sugar rehab, plus tactics to make your commitment stick.

Love your liver

Your liver does more than filter out your body's toxins—it also plays a vital role for your sugar cravings. A healthy liver plays a key role in regulating blood sugar levels.

Love yourself more than sugar

It's OK to forgive yourself for sugar slip-ups, but remember that, for next time, you can be your own best friend. "Self-oriented compassion is a key part of loving ourselves, inside and out," says Fuhrman. "You may fight yourself on the urge to dive into an entire cheesecake and then feel guilty or shameful because you didn't have the discipline to stop yourself from eating the whole thing—but the truth is, you can love yourself more than you love that quick hit of sugar."

Change your mindset

If deprivation diets haven't worked for you in the past (and do they really work for anyone?), change "never" into "sometimes." Just because it's called devil's food cake doesn't mean it's evil.

Recognize if it's sugar addiction

When you eat sugar, your body comes to expect it, and when you don't get it, you crave it. This kind of addiction can't be overcome by willpower alone. It's not willpower. Most people think, 'Oh it's just that I'm weak willed,' but they don't realize that willpower doesn't work because of the biochemistry. It's actually the same brain chemistry as going off of heroin.

Give up alcohol

Many drinkers think they don't have a sweet tooth; indeed, they are faintly derisive of people who do. In fact, they get all their sugar from alcohol and if they ever gave it a rest for even two days, they would realise they have an incredibly sweet tooth.

Ditch fruit juice

You see "fruit" so you think it's healthy, but really, it's just an overhyped source of sugar. Containing neither protein, fat, nor fiber, fruit juice is calorically dense, provides no satiety, and receives 100 percent of its calories from sugar.