2010 Square Foot Garden Planting Grids and Garden Notes

I have been busy with the food blog and with trying to work outside, between the neighbors burning leaves that is - so not much posting occurring over this way lately. I recently posted a wonderful Strawberry Buttermilk Sherbet at Deep South Dish, so if you haven't seen that, be sure to check it out. Oh, and check out that All American Burger too - hello yum! Makes me want another one just thinking about it!! Anyway, the last few days have been simply gorgeous and I have fortunately been able to {finally} open up the house and let some fresh air flow through the past two, since nobody is burning leaves. Yay! {I could post an entire Southern Style Hissy Fit rant about neighbors right now, I swear.}

It took me awhile to get the three beds cleaned up, turned and refreshed with new soil. Seems I move much slower these days, but the two 4 x 4 beds and the one 4 x 8 bed are all ready, and while I've gotten a few things planted, I'm still trying to decide what else I might plant.

You'll notice there is something new around my beds - some garden fencing. That's because of this "innocent" looking thing. {I still don't know his breed... anybody??}

He was climbing up into the veggie beds and while he can actually fit through these pieces, I'm hoping it will at least discourage him a bit.

I'll do a separate post on how I refreshed the bed soil this year since this is year two and I already had the beds established. I still have a 'what I'll do different' post coming about the end of this season that I didn't do at the end of last, and that sure would have made things a bit easier on me starting up this spring. Anyway...

As far as planting goes, last year I planted 2 crookneck squash plants in my larger 4 x 8 foot bed, and since with square foot gardening, each plant absorbs 9 squares out of the bed, those two plantings took up most of that bed. I think I've about convinced myself not to plant those this year. While I did get some squash out of the two plants before they succumbed to "something," I really don't think the return was worth the land investment. I love them, but honestly they are pretty cheap at the grocery store when they are in season.  If I plant one, I may do it out in the midst of the yard somewhere in spot of its own. At any rate, that leaves me lots of extra squares to plant other things so I've got to decide what else I want to plant. My mind seems so sluggish here lately for some reason, so I haven't been able to think or decide!

I did pick up an onion set from the garden center that just said "sweet onion" on it. I have no idea how that will do here, but I thought at the very least maybe the onion would help to act as a repellent for bugs. I know that Jerry Baker uses pulverized onion in some of his book formulas, so maybe... though, I might be dreaming. :)  The Square Foot Book says to do 16 per square - seemed hard to believe to me, but okay. We'll see what happens!

I found a couple of mystery plants growing in the compost pile, so I pulled them and stuck them into a bed just to see if they grew, and if they did, what they are!  I love mystery plants.

I kept my mint in a pot again, though for now I've just set the pot onto a square in the herb garden and actually this is the same mint plant from last year that I've managed to keep alive.

I also put one Better Boy tomato plant in my Topsy Turvy planter this year and moved it onto a plant stand in the middle of the yard, though it's actually a new planter.  Note:  Do not just leave your Topsy Turvy planter out in the elements over the winter, even if you have mild winters, or it just might dry rot.

The tomatoes in the Topsy didn't perform well last year on the edge of the eave of the house, though I'm not really certain why it didn't, but I did want to give it another shot.  I'm hoping that moving it out to the yard on a plant stand will help, but it is pretty heavy and bending the rack forward quite a bit. I hope the stand is going to be able to hold up without collapsing and dropping and breaking my plant like last year when it fell!

The tomato in a bag of Black Kow last year didn't yield a single tomato at all! Doubt that I will try that again. Course, ya never know with me.  I sure hate to admit defeat.  ;)

Click right here for my past Square Foot Gardening Quick Links - how to build a square foot garden from scratch, day 1, the trials & errors.

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Here are my two primary gardening books - I highly recommend both but especially the "new" square foot gardening book, if you want to try this method.

All New Square Foot Gardening

Guide to Mississippi Vegetable Gardening - available for your state too! It's a perfect guide to tell you what to plant and what works best in your region, and also when to plant. I love this guide!

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Here is the chart of what I have planted so far in my 2010 square foot garden beds- more to come as I make up my mind!

BED #1 - 4' x 4'

1 Creole Tomato	1 Creole Tomato	1 Creole Tomato	1 Creole Tomato
Spearmint in a Pot	Mystery Plant from  Compost	4 Marigolds (seed)	Mystery Plant from  Compost
Mystery Plant from  Compost	16 Sweet onions	1 Chive	1 Flat Leaf Parsley
1 Basil	1 Oregano	1 Rosemary	1 Thyme

In pots behind the bed - 1 Meyer Lemon, 1 Eggplant, 1 Patio Tomato, 1 Roma Tomato, 2 pots of Lavender



BED #2 - 4' x 4'

1 Better Boy Tomato	1 Better Boy Tomato	1 Better Boy Tomato	1 Better Boy Tomato
	16 Sweet Onion
	4 Marigolds (seed)
	9 Blue Lake Bush Green Beans	9 Blue Lake Bush Green Beans

In pot to side: 2 Jubilee watermelon (seed)

BED #3 - 4' x 8'

I had to split Bed #3 up into two separate charts to fit it in the blog post. The top section of 4 Rows represent the Left Side of Bed #3; the bottom section 4 Rows represent the Right Side of Bed #3


Left Side of 4' x 8' Bed:

Cucumber (seed)	Cucumber (seed)	AVAILABLE	Reserved (cantaloupe)
9 Blue Lake Bush Green Beans	Carnival Mix Sweet Peppers (seed)
9 Blue Lake Bush Green Beans	Carnival Mix Sweet Peppers (seed)	16 Sweet Onion

Right Side of 4' x 8' Bed:

Cantaloupe (seed)	1 Better Boy Tomato	1 Creole Tomato	1 Creole Tomato
		16 Sweet Onion	1 Yellow Bell Pepper
		Chile Pepper (seed)	1 Big Bertha Bell
		Chile Pepper (seed)	1 Big Bertha Bell

More to Come Soon!

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion Review

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Congrats to Joni at Wellness Essentials - your number came up. Who says the early entries never win?  Joni was the second commenter for this giveaway.  Congrats Joni - I'll be anxious to hear if it helped with your heels!  Be sure to respond to my email with your mailing info and we'll get your lotion to you asap. Enjoy.

As most of y'all know, I have this little cooking blog over at Deep South Dish which means despite the fact that I do have a dishwasher - as in the machine, not a spare human person who washes all of my dirty dishes for me - I still seem to do a lot of hand washing. The larger pots, my good knives, measuring cups and spoons, and plastic storage bowls and kitchen tools.  As soon as I finish cleaning the kitchen, seems I'm right back in there cooking again, so there are always dishes to do. While I try to use gloves, I often don't, and that means my hands are in hot water a lot.

I was delighted when I was contacted by Skin MD Natural to see if I would be interested in trying their product, and it couldn't have come at a better time.  Besides being in soapy water a lot, my skin also tends to be on the sensitive side which means cold and windy weather can nearly instantaneously chap my face and hands and makes my hands horribly scratchy and dry. This also causes the skin to crack around my cuticles and knuckles. When the lotion arrived it was timely, because my hands were in pretty rough shape from this unusual southern winter.  I was already testing a different regime with my face, so hands, arms and elbows was where my focus was with this product.

I received a full sized, 4 ounce bottle of Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion, for use on the face, body and hands, in addition to some samples, including one that contains an SPF 15 sunscreen, plus some basic literature.

The very first thing that I noticed with Skin MD Natural was that it was a very light, non-greasy lotion, and that was an immediate plus for me. I hate lotions that make you feel, well ... slimy. Second, while it is free of any specific fragrance, it does have a nice, clean and fresh scent to it that I love.

Admittedly, the bottle seems small in comparison to the gargantuan drugstore lotions we are all used to, but it only takes the tiniest dab to apply. What really sets it apart though, is the amazing transformation your skin undergoes with that little dab, and near immediately.  Skin MD Natural lotion absorbs right into your skin, and I can only liken it to one thing really. It's like slipping on a pair of silk gloves. I'd be willing to bet you'll find yourself rubbing your fingers together, because it feels like you are holding a swatch of silk between them! So soft and silky - just fantastic.  I can't wait for you to try it!  And it lasts - so you don't have to reapply it multiple times.

As I mentioned, when the lotion arrived, it was great timing for a trial run since my hands were a bit weather beaten - chapped and red and the skin around the cuticles of my thumbs was horribly cracked and splitting.  My elbows were also very rough and dry. Both of these areas have typically been problem areas for me for years and like most women, I have spent a literal fortune on lotions and potions that, for the most part, weren't any better than the one before it, only working to temporarily ease the dryness.

This lotion really was different.  It acted different. It felt different.  And, in less than 2 weeks time the jagged rawness around both of my thumbs had completely healed and the rough patches of skin on my elbows ... gone. Usually that takes weeks of constant moisturizing, bandaids on my fingers and time consuming attention to get them back to normal. I literally just used the lotion and didn't think about it. 

So, what exactly makes Skin MD Natural different anyway?  It is a unique kind of shielding lotion.  Environmental irritants - like those found in antibacterial soaps, household cleaners, cosmetics, fragrances and other things we use every day - strip the protective barrier of natural fats and lipids from our skin, leaving the deeper layers vulnerable. The natural moisture in the skin evaporates, and takes in the toxins, leaving behind dry, itchy and irritated skin. Don't we all know what that feels like ladies, and believe me, once you hit perimenopause and menopause it's only worse thanks to the depletion of estrogen.

Traditional lotions simply place surface moisture on top of the skin, providing only temporary, and sometimes unfortunately greasy, relief.  As a shielding lotion, Skin MD Natural forms a protective shield with the outer layer of the skin, helping to lock in your skin's own natural oils and moisture and helping it to heal itself against those toxins and chemicals our skin encounters every day. Skin MD Natural not only adds moisture, but helps the skin with the loss of moisture. It bonds with the skin and provides longer protection and this lotion proves it. Hours later, my hands feel just as soft as when I applied the lotion!

The single issue I have with the product has nothing to do with the lotion, but the pop-up top packaging.  I tend to shake bottles before using them - it's a habit really, but also intended to redistribute the lotion that has drained down into the bottom of the bottle back up to the spout. The top on the bottle I have is a bit stiff, and to press it in means squeezing on the bottle, so when it snaps open it spits out the product. It took me a few times of spitting lotion on my bathroom mirror to learn to press on the top while pointing it into my cupped hand! But, in reality that's a minor issue in comparison to the sheer quality of the lotion inside.

Since gardening season is right upon us and I am a big hands-on gardener - meaning I have my hands straight in the dirt a lot - I already know my hands will take a beating. I'm excited to have been introduced to this impressive lotion and have high expectations that it will help to keep my hands in top shape.  Hypoallergenic, dermatology tested, fragrance, colorant and paraben-free, this lotion gets a big thumbs up from me and I know you'll want to try it.  To find a location where you can buy it, enter your zip code in the store locator at the website.  Now on to the fun stuff!

Skin MD is offering one lucky reader a bottle of their own Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion!

Visit the Skin MD Natural website and find one thing that impresses you about Skin MD Natural over other typical, over the counter moisturizers that you have used before. Maybe something that you think it will be especially helpful for you due to a particular skin condition that you deal with.  Come back here and leave a comment about it.  That's it!


Good Luck!


The Rules


➮Giveaway will close on Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. CST
➮Open to residents of the United States
➮You must leave an email address in your comment, or have a link to your email in your clickable profile.
➮Winner will be chosen by random.org
➮The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply.

Disclosure: Skin MD provided me with a free bottle of their lotion and a bottle to offer to one reader.

Year One Raised Bed Square Foot Gardening Quick Link Summary

It is about the most gorgeous day we could possibly have in South Mississippi and I am going to {try to} take off from blogging for a weekend - yes even over at the food blog - so that I can get outside, soak in some Vitamin D, and start getting my veggie gardens ready for planting.

Now that I'm about to move into Season Two of my Raised Bed Square Foot Gardening efforts, I thought that I would put up a page with quick links from my first year. I'll also be updating with a "what I'll do different" post very soon, and I'll update this post with links I might have missed today as I find them.

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~For a general vegetable gardening primer with the basics for your vegetable garden site, soil fertility, garden tools and buying plants, click here.

~Basic information on wood and a good soil mix go here. (scroll down about halfway)

~For my site selection dilemma and a little bit of inspiration, click here.

~And more about the importance of site selection, click here.

Here are my two primary gardening books - I highly recommend both but especially the "new" square foot gardening book, if you want to try this method.

All New Square Foot Gardening

Guide to Mississippi Vegetable Gardening - available for your state too! It's a perfect guide to tell you what to plant and what works best in your region, and also when to plant. I love this guide!

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Building the Square Foot Garden

Step 1: Build a Box
Step 2: Dirt Mix
Step 3: Add a Grid (for Square Foot Gardening only!)
Step 4: Planning the Plants

Year 3 Update:  I'm starting with seed for most of my plants so this will be a new experience. I like to use the Jiffy trays. You can read about my start with seeds right here.  I'm also doing the larger bed this year of mostly tomatoes and peppers by using tomato towers in middle of the bed. Should be interesting.

I might as well mention my MOST favorite, back saving garden tool. You'll see this in the background of many of my pictures (mine has a yellow seat). Talk about a life saver in the garden - I love this tool too! If you are doing any gardening this will become your best friend, I swear. Get one!!

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Updates in the Garden:

My (almost) 1 Month update
Fertilizing
Pest Control
Gardening Pests - Getting Rid of Aphids
A Different Kind of Pest Control - Critters

Adding the Vertical Supports
2 Month Garden Update
3 Month Garden Update
First Harvest
Final Update for the 2009 Season

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Other Vegetable Garden Updates:

How to Grow a Tomato in a Bag
Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Experiment & Updates
Tomato in a Bag Update
Topsy Turvy and Tomato in a Bag - Do Over

2010 Square Foot Garden Updates

Year One Raised Bed Square Foot Gardening Quick Link Summary - you are here!
Blue Lake Bush Style Green Beans and Pesky Squirrels
2010 Square Foot Garden Planting Grid and Garden Notes
Soil Refresh for Year 2 Square Foot Raised Bed Garden
*check back for more updates

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I need to go back and check all my labels and organize them a bit better, so just in case I missed anything, check back periodically as I will update this post as I find things in time. You can click here for all the posts on Vegetable Gardening by date, and my veggie garden diary notes from 2009 will be posted "HERE" as soon as I can gather them all together. There are lots of weekly posts archived there, so be sure to scroll down to the bottom of each page and click on "older posts" to see them all.

If you're interested, check out my flower gardening efforts here and here.  Things are looking pretty drab out there right now after this winter, but I'm hoping for some color to show up soon!  Again, lots of posts archived there, so be sure to scroll down to the bottom of each page and click on "older posts" to see them all.

Happy Weekend Y'all!!! Get out and get gardening!

I am a simple home garden struggling through my failures and relishing in my successes.  If you are thinking I am any kind of expert, you might want to read this little ole disclaimer right here.

~

Modern Day Peeping Toms. Is Somebody Watching You?

Many, if not most of us, use wireless networks pretty regularly these days. And, a standard accessory on most laptops and many desktops now are built-in web cameras. Imagine my surprise when watching the Dr. Phil Show recently I heard an expert on the show discussing that one of the fastest and easiest hacks that can be done, is to hack into someones computer webcam! I knew it could be done, but I had no idea that it was a pretty easy hack.

The segment on the show was centered around an incident that occurred at a school in Pennsylvania. Seems the school had issued laptops to high school students that included spy software that could be remotely activated by school administrators. While the school justified the software use as a means to track down stolen laptops, it seems that this gave certain school officials the ability to also spy on students and even their families through the computer webcam.

One student, who has filed a class action suit against the school, was disciplined by a Vice Principal of the school, for "improper behavior" allegedly based on a web cam photo that had been taken while the student was in his home. The school suspended him for drug use, based on that webcam photo, saying that he was photographed taking drugs in the form of pills. The student said that he was not taking drugs, but was eating candy while on the computer.

Now, this particular case involved someone who clearly had access to the student's computer prior to his possession of it and had the ability to install spy software, so I thought okay, whew!  My computers have never been out of my hands since I purchased them and I don't have to worry about that.

But, wait a minute.

An IT tech who works for the Dr. Phil Show said that if you are using a wireless network, even when you think your network is secure, someone with a bit of basic tech savvy who lives near you, can fairly easily hack into your system, and consequently, your computer camera - in about 30 minutes max, and as little as 5 minutes, if they are knowledgeable about wireless networks.

And get this. If you, or one of your kids happen to click on a link and accidentally upload a Trojan virus onto your computer, someone can both take over full control of your computer (getting all of your pass codes and even your online banking information) and your webcam - even if they are on the other side of the world!

So, right now, if you, or your children, are using a laptop or a desktop computer that is on a wireless network, and has a webcam, that creepy neighbor who is always staring at you could be watching and, possibly even listening to you, this very second. And, if like me, you tend to set your laptop down opened on a counter top, ottoman, couch, chair, your bed or where ever you may be at any given moment, then you could be opening up your surroundings to a webcam hacker who might be watching you while you cook dinner. As you clean house. While your children play. When you are breastfeeding your baby. Having intimate, private conversations with your family. Getting dressed or undressed. Your daughter getting dressed or undressed. Making love with your spouse. Arguing with your teens. Picking your nose. Somebody might be watching.

And, by the way, if you have a wireless video baby monitor, nanny cam, or similar security system on your house, especially one that is accessible via the internet so that you can check on things at home from your office, access can be obtained through those devices in the same way.  In fact, some thieves have driven through neighborhoods with a laptop, seeking systems to hack into to take inventory of your possessions in order to come back at another time to steal from you. Or to simply peep.

Frankly, I don't use webcams at all, and there has always been something a bit creepy about them to me. Even though the light on your webcam should come on when it's in use, in a way, I indeed did always have an unsettling feeling like there was an eyeball on the other side. Maybe it was just an uneasiness of knowing that there was always a camera pointed at me, on or not. Or, maybe that feeling of being watched was actually a valid one. Who knows.

The simple solution for now? Don't click on links that you aren't sure of and teach your kids not to. You know the ones ... those links that look like they come from a friend, follower or a family member on Facebook, Twitter and in email?  Get a trusted tech savvy friend to set up your wireless system security properly.  Keep your anti-virus software updated and active.  Shut your computers down when they aren't in use.

And last?  Simply take a dark piece of paper and tape it over your webcam eye when you are not using it. Plug something up into that microphone jack so that the internal microphone is disabled. I did it, and have to say, I feel at least a little bit better knowing that if there was another eye or ear on the other side, they are now blind and deaf to the goings on in my home.

Still, I'll never look at my computer the same knowing that the little eye could have been a portal for a creepy eavesdropper or peeping Tom to easily get in my home. I don't think I'll be dancing around naked in my living room either. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

dōTERRA Essential Oils Review

Can I say - I am SO excited about this product?  I am!!

Most of you already know about my love of essential oils. I use them most often in my baths after a long day in the garden to soothe my aching muscles (or after a lapse in exercise when I decide to return to it), for aromatic soaks when I'm feeling a little under the weather, and mixed with carrier oils as neck and chest rubs. I've even mentioned my two favorite books from which I get many of the basic formula mixes I use. I also love diffusing essential oils in the air, both for fragrance and especially for the sick room or as a sleep aid. I use them on the carpet, as room sprays, and have even used them in my laundry. {I have a post planned to share some of those formulas soon.}

There are as many applications for the use of essential oils as you can possibly imagine, but one area that I have not ventured into, though I knew about it, has been cooking with them, or taking them internally, both of which you can do with a high quality essential oil that is therapeutic grade certified as GRAS (generally regarded as safe) by the FDA. I was recently surprised to learn that none of the oils I have been purchasing all of these years are certified GRAS, so I have never ventured past the more common, external skin applications and aromatic use in the bath or by diffusing.

Then I met Joni, and learned a bit about dōTERRA essential oils. I have so much to say about these oils so bear with me - it'll be worth it!  First a bit about this company.

dōTERRA seems to be a visionary company, combining a wealth of knowledge from health care and business professionals who each had a strong belief in the life-enhancing benefits of essential oils and who wanted to bring a new standard of high quality, therapeutic-grade essential oils to the masses, instead of only in the hands of the professionals.

dōTERRA, which means literally 'Gift of the Earth,' are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade™ essential oils, guaranteed to be 100% pure and natural and free of synthetic compounds or contaminates. They are the safest, purest, and most beneficial essential oils available today, gently and skillfully distilled from plants that have been patiently harvested at the perfect moment by experienced growers from around the world for ideal extract composition and efficacy. Experienced essential oil users will immediately recognize dōTERRA's superior quality standard for naturally safe, purely effective therapeutic-grade essential oils. The casual home users are going to be in for a pleasant and fragrant surprise!

Before taking any oil internally, always check its references and determine that it is certified as GRAS (generally regarded as safe) by the FDA. Most dōTERRA essential oils are GRAS.

Joni sent me one full bottle of product and several other samples of some of dōTERRA's more popular blended essential oils. I received a full sized bottle of On Guard™ blend, a blend of immune enhancing oils, plus throat drops and some hand sanitizing wipes in that same blend, as well as samples sizes of Deep Blue®, DigestZen™, and Elevation™.

The very first thing that I noticed about dōTERRA® oils was how highly fragrant they were. The four blends I had the opportunity to try all smell amazing and not overpowering.  They are clean, fresh and wonderfully fragrant.  I was very interested in trying the On Guard™ blend since I work from home now. Because of that, I'm not around a wide range of people to be exposed to common, everyday germs like I once was, and my immune system is not as resistant as it once was. The result of that is that I seem to pick up viruses easy now, and virtually every time I go to visit with my grandchildren, I end up with a bit of a bug within a day from my visit, I assume from common germs that they are picking up from other children. On Guard™ is a blend of wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils, all immune supporters. It can be used topically, taken internally as a dietary aid, and can also be diffused aromatically into the air, or to wipe off countertops, door handles, and more.

Now, before I go visit, I drop a single drop of the On Guard™ blend into a small coffee cup of warm water and take it. I repeat that when I get home. I honestly have not gotten sick again following my visits, and that hasn't happened since the babies have been old enough to be around other kids. Amazing. While the cold and flu season is winding down, germs never go away, so if you are concerned about the spreading of germs and viruses like most of us, this might be the oil for you to try.

Many years ago -  pre-seat belt enforcement days - when I was a teenager, I was a passenger in an automobile wreck that threw me into the windshield, and left me with a whiplash injury that causes a lot of stiffness in my neck. I've used a bit of the Deep Blue® blend, on the back of my neck and it brings immediate relief. Deep Blue® is a for topical use only and is a blend of wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, blue tansy, blue chamomile, helichrysum and osmanthus, and produces that sort of icy/hot sensation and penetrating muscle relief as those over the counter products, but with a much more pleasant aroma. With gardening season coming up, I could frankly use a vat of this stuff - now if only I can figure out how to get my husband to give me a massage with it!

Another thing that affects me physically are changes in the weather. The last two recent cold fronts that moved through left me with one of those horrible, splitting headaches - the kind that will not go away with any over the counter meds for some reason.  I generally just have to suffer through them until they finally go away. I happened to have one of those headaches when I thought I might have recalled something about the Deep Blue® blend helping with headaches.  I applied some of the oil on my temples, forehead and on the back of my neck and didn't think about it until later when I realized that my headache was gone. I could not believe it!

I have only used the DigestZen™ twice, the first time right after the Super Bowl, when I had eaten very unbalanced, overindulged on party food and wasn't feeling quite up to par - digestively speaking.  Let's just say, my tummy was very unhappy and I was just a bit miserable. DigestZen™ blend contains essential oils that are helpful with balancing the digestive system, including, ginger, peppermint, tarragon, fennel, caraway, coriander and anise.  So I put a drop of the DigestZen™ blend into a cup of warm water and drank it.  DigestZen™ can be used as a topical, an aromatic, or as a dietary aid.

I have to be honest and say that I did have a small reaction to it, as I began to itch all over. Now there could be two reasons for this. First I was using a sample and had a bit of difficulty getting it to dispense. I could have used a tad too much.  I've used all of those ingredients before with no reaction so I know it wasn't an allergic reaction, but I've used enough natural products to understand that a reaction like this is sometimes an indication of an imbalance of some kind in the body, and the whole "itch" response could have been a detoxifying indication. But ... I have to say, despite the itching, my stomach felt much better near immediately. I was sure happy about that and the itching did subside fairly quick.

The second time I used it, I had eaten a second helping {I didn't need} of a rich and delicious food I had made (have I mentioned I'm a food blogger?) and had a bit of stomach upset. This time I didn't experience that itching sensation at all, and the indigestion subsided in minutes. I tell you - I've never seen anything like these oils.

I had not tried the Elevation™ blend - thinking I didn't need my mood elevated. My mood has been fine, thank you very much. Until the melt-down over the burning-leaf-neighbor occurred that is. So I decided to give it a try. Now this particular oil is a topical and aromatic application only, so to be honest, I still need to figure out the best application, but I applied some to the palm of my hands and sort of smudged it all over my lower face, neck and upper chest as we were about to go outside and rake the yard.

It was later in the evening when my husband commented about my "happy mood" that day as I was telling him yet another funny story and I realized that I had been laughing and felt well, a bit elated, instead of feeling overworked, fussy and tired (have I mentioned I'm not only am I a food blogger but I'm also a mommy to one four legged nine month old and another one year old?) . Wow. Elevation™ is a blend of lavandin, tangerine, elemi, lemon myrtle, melissa, ylang ylang, osmanthus and sandalwood, essential oils that can elevate your mood and increase your energy. I am definitely ordering this one!

I love these oils and dōTERRA sells all of these essential oil blends, and several other blends as well.  The TerraShield® Repellent Blend is an all-natural, super-concentrated insect repellent - with the bugs around here, I am definitely getting some of this. Whisper™ is a blend of essential oils that helps to bring out our feminine beauty and allure. Serenity is a calming blend of lavender, sweet marjoram, roman chamomile, ylang ylang, sandalwood and vanilla bean - oils that promote a sense of well-being and relaxation - seems perfect for evening application. And there are loads more.

They also offer a multitude of single oils, as well as well thought-out kits to provide you with some basic collections of more common oils, making it easier for a beginner to learn to use the oils. There are wellness supplements of antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and a vitamin/mineral complex, plus special formulas for probiotic, gastrointestinal support, muscle and joint support and a special formula for women. They also have a skin care line, hand sanitizers and On Guard™ Foaming Hand Wash - a gentle, healthy alternative to harsh antibacterial soaps made with synthetic ingredients.  Click right here and then click on "Shop for Products" to view the full dōTERRA line.

Many of the single oils dōTERRA sells are familiar in the kitchen, and the same places that you use dried spices like ginger, cinnamon and peppermint - such as in cookies and cakes, and herbs like rosemary, thyme, marjoram in meats, casseroles, and marinades - you can use dōTERRA line of GRAS quality oils. This is a step beyond dried herbs and even fresh, because it is a concentrated oil.  Finding this amazing source of quality oils that can be used for dietary purposes is opening a whole new door for me.  If you are interested in purchasing these wonderful oils right now, click right here to view the product catalog.

I hope that you've enjoyed this review.  Thanks so much for reading - the hosted giveaway has ended.  Now ... for the fun stuff!!

Sorry - the giveaway is over! Joni would like to offer one reader the opportunity to try essential oils by offering one Introduction to Essential Oils Kit, which includes an introductory audio CD, a booklet, and a 5 ml bottle each of dōTERRA's Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint essential oils - three of my most used and favorite oils. The presentation box also includes some suggested uses of the included oils. This is a great package and a fantastic way to get started with learning about essential oils.

Roll call here first by posting a comment.  Then visit this link and leave a comment on that post saying that you read about dōTERRA here at the My New 30 blog.  Important: You must mention the review here at My New 30 in your comment to qualify for the giveaway.  That's it!

Open to everyone, including international readers!  Good luck.

Closes Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. CST.  One winner will be chosen and announced on Joni's blog on the following Monday.

For more information about dōTERRA and essential oils, or if you have any questions, you may contact Joni at her blog.

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Please note.  This review addresses only my personal experiences with several dōTERRA Essential Oil blends. While dōTERRA also has a business opportunity, I did not research that and do not address that in my review. If you are interested in finding out more about the business opportunity, please contact doTERRA for more information.

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Disclaimer. The advice shared in this site has not been evaluated by the FDA. The products and methods recommended are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease, nor is it intended to replace proper medical help.

Henry Field's Nursery - $1 Flat Shipping!!

FANTASTIC Spring ShippingSpecial at Henry Field's!


Spring is FINALLY officially around the corner y'all! Yay!! Don't know about you, but I am ready to see some flowers, instead of all this gray, dull deadness that surrounds me now.

What a fantastic offer this is from Henry Field's Nursery. Looking for shrubs, seed starter, vegetable seeds, flower bulbs, tomato seeds, apple trees, garlic, perennial plants, onion sets, tulip bulbs, fruit trees, seed catalogs, seed starting kits, daylillies, strawberry plants or other plants? Go check out Henry Field's!




Get $1.00 Flat Shipping
On Your Order!  HURRY!! Expires March 12, 2010.

Click here to shop Henry Field's and 
add some color to your life!
Claim your cheap $1.00 shipping now! Woohoo!!

By the way, I don't earn a penny off of these links - I just thought it was a great deal to pass on!

~

Sore Muscle Aromatherapy Soak and Rub with Essential Oils

With spring and gardening season right around the corner {finally!}, I thought that I would share with you my very favorite, and most often used, aromatherapy muscle soak and rub. These recipes are adapted from one of my favorite Aromatherapy book. 

Soothing Aromatherapy Sore Muscle Soak
Courtesy of My New 30

1 cup of epsom salts
3 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops rosemary essential oil
2 drops juniper essential oil
2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
1/4 cup milk or cream

Put the epsom salts into a small glass bowl and add the essential oils.  Stir well.  Add the salts directly under a full flowing faucet of warm-to-hot bath water and fill the tub.  Follow with the milk.  Stir the bottom of the tub with your hand periodically to make sure the salts fully dissolve.  Put your significant other in charge of the children, put a do not disturb sign on the bathroom door and close the door.  Dim the lights, light a candle, leave the bathroom vent off, and, if you have one, pull the shower curtains closed. Submerge up to the neck if possible, relax and breathe in the vapors.  Soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Dry off, wrap yourself in a thick robe and either kick back and relax or just go to bed! For aromatic use only - not to be used internally.

Source: http://www.mynew30.com

Homemade Rub for Sore and Stiff Muscles
Courtesy of My New 30

1 tablespoon Arnica oil*
1 tablespoon olive oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
6 drops rosemary essential oil
4 drops juniper essential oil
3 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Add the arnica and olive oils to a small glass bottle or container. Top with the essential oils, stir or cap and shake well.  Apply in a small amount directly to affected muscles, shaking before using, and massage into the skin.  Can use use to four times a day for stiff and sore muscles. For topical use only - not to be used internally.

*Arnica oil, from the dried or fresh arnica flower, helps to inhibit inflammation, swelling and pain and is useful for sore muscles, swelling, and bruising. It should be used topically only and never internally and should not be used on broken skin or skin that has a rash.

Source: http://www.mynew30.com

For more aromatherapy recipes specific to feeling under the weather, click right here.

Disclosure:  The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease.

Welcome Spring!

A look back on last spring - some of these
are beginning to peek out!

We have had an incredibly gorgeous weekend here in south Mississippi and I think for the first time in a very long time, overnight temperatures will be out of the 30s, yay!!  Even though I have several blogging projects I should have been working on, I had to get outside this weekend.

It is unfortunate that one of my neighbors chose yesterday to burn leaves, and I am allergic to smoke, making it miserable for me to be outside and enjoy the day.  I was not a happy gal.  Despite living in what would look to any outsider as a normal, suburban neighborhood (houses right next to one another), we live in the "county" meaning outside of the city limits, so we fall under the same rules (or rather the lack of rules) as those who live in the rural areas of the county and don't have the protections and restrictions that those who live in the city do.

In many suburban city areas it is against the law to burn, but we don't have that protection out here. If you rake your leaves to the curb, the county will pick them up, but some people still choose to burn - not taking into consideration they are surrounded by other people who it might affect. Add that to the fact that we have a vent on top of our roof, which apparently draws some of the smoke into the attic, and not only could I not enjoy being outside, my entire house reeked of smoke too! I had to actually turn on the air conditioner to filter the inside air.

Needless to say, I had a bit of a southern style hissy fit melt-down in the midst of all that yesterday, that might have unleashed a bit of my loud and very vocal angry side, and there is a possibility that they might have heard me at some point, because fortunately, they did not burn today, and I was able to be outside and enjoy being outside! I was much happier today.

So... I got a little bit of yard work started this weekend - cleaning up the yard, trimming rose bushes, picking up twigs, trimming off dried and dead plant tops, and the beginning of the seemingly never-ending raking we get from spring-shedding oak trees.  I have to say that I've not seen such death in my gardens ever before, so it's easy to see that it has been a nasty winter even for us southerners, well... as far as our flower beds go.  One entire bed that was loaded with ferns, is completely wiped out.

I am ready to replenish the soil in my raised beds and get things cleaned up to get planting, because I already have a taste for garden fresh cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes that taste like tomatoes - summer squash, green beans and fresh herbs! I am thinking I might add another raised bed too.

I also noticed those pesky little squirrels have been digging in my gardens, and I'm afraid that they might have already eaten some of my bulbs, so until I get new soil for topping off my raised beds, I thought it would be a good time to use those trimmings to put down as a "deterrent" in my garden - both the flower beds and the raised beds where the veggies will go.

And don't forget to make a pile in the corner of your yard for the other twigs and dead wood to use next winter as kindling for your fireplace.

Keep in mind when you do get out there to trim, some plants - like hydrangeas - should not be cut back since new growth will emerge from the dead wood.  Others, like lantana can be cut all the way down, since they come back from the root. Just remember to do a Google search first, before you start cutting back on your plants!

Welcome Spring!  I, for one, am thrilled you are beginning to show up in my world.

A butterfly on the lantana from last season.

~

Bird Hitches Subway Ride

Hilarious! And what's nearly as funny to me, is that the people on the subway don't seem to find this all that unusual.

Congrats to the Fiber One Prize Pack Winner

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Fiber One giveway and congratulations to Doreen, the winner of the gift pack. I've sent you an email Doreen, so be sure to respond to that within 48 hours to claim your prize!! I hope that you enjoy your gift pack.

Stayed tuned y'all - another giveaway is coming soon! In the meantime, I hope you'll pop over and check out the recipes at Deep South Dish. Today's post - How to Make a 10-Minute Gumbo Roux!! Check it out here.

Just Adorable!! Japanese Erasers

Ice Cream!

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When I was working - yes, even in the seriousness of the legal world - I always kept fun, kid stuff on my desk for myself. A tiny, plush pink poodle I picked up at Toys R Us, sat right on top of my computer to remind me of my girlie side.  A slinky sat next to my computer and would come out when I was writing and contemplating; a little squishy ball when I was a bit stressed. A tube of Play-Doh was nearby that I would toy with throughout the day, squeezing and molding it.

I even had a book sitting on the shelf right next to my Black's Law Dictionary - one that brought back fond childhood memories to me called The World of Dick and Jane and Friends.  It was important to me among all of the seriousness of law, particularly with employment law defense, to remember my inner child. I think more adults would be better served in this stressful world, to honor that to be honest.

I saw these little miniature jewels in a recent issue of Woman's Day magazine and I have to say that I just fell in love with them. I am such a sucker for things like this!  These are Japanese Erasers and just check out the detail on each one of them. I could never use them as an eraser myself, and as far as I'm concerned, forget about reserving them for kids, this is just the kind of things that makes ME happy, so I thought I would share them with you - available via Amazon and most I saw, with free shipping! Click on the pictures or links to learn more.

Yummy Desserts!  Look at those cute cookies (biscuits) aren't they precious?

Little ice cream sundaes - yes! They're erasers!!




And, more desserts.

There's even a little set of Chinese food.

Check out this cute little fast food set!

And last, but not least, this darling little kitchen tool set.

And of course, while the food-related erasers appealed to my Deep South Dish food blog inner child, there are all sorts of little miniature erasers besides food related ones. Click over and check them out! They are just adorable! I mean, check out these puppies, and pandas, and hamsters, and ducks - yes! They are erasers.

I think I'm in love.