Houseplants for Mothers Day
If you are thinking about a house or office plant this year for a special mom, aunt or friend in your life-choose one that is not only beautiful but can also be of benefit to their health and well-being. Certain plants can optimize brain power, detox the environment, improve sleep and enhance immunity. Place these plants within 6 to 8 feet of their desk, bed, computer or anywhere they spend long stretches of time. Consider the benefits of the following lovely yet easy to care for plants.
Eucalyptus plants offer great defense against spring colds and hayfever. Its leaves have a chemical in it that raises levels of healthy fluid in the body’s airways. The scent is heavenly but also loosens congestion causing phlegm.
A popular spider plant can remove nearly 90% of toxins from indoor air within 2 days. With it’s quick-growing leaves, the spider plant is one of the most powerful air cleaners by absorbing mold-spore, traces of carbon monoxide and other harmful substances.
African Violets can be a bit tricky to care for but just their beauty alone is rewarding. It is said that the violets stimulate the release of an energizing hormone that improves creativity and sharpens thinking. They are also known for their relaxation effects.
English Ivy is another plant that will help with brain function and creativity. It also absorbs and chemically neutralizes benzene which is a colorless toxin emitted by some paper products and office equipment. This is a good choice of a gift for someone who works in an office and it’s extremely forgiving and easy to care for.
The Peace Lily can reduce levels of microscopic mold spores in the air by 60%. Have you mom place hers in a bathroom because it will prevent spore buildup on shoer curtains and tiles and it likes the humidity. This amazing plant will also absorb atmospheric capors like acetone and alcohol-commonly found in grooming products.
Sleep like a baby with Gerbera Daisies. By setting one of these colorful plants near your mom’s bed the duration of her sleep will increase by over 20%. Gerbera daises work harder at night to absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. This will also make breathing easier and deeper.
So before you send an FTD flower arrangement think about going to your local grower or nursery to pick out one or two of these amazing houseplants. When you tell mom why you picked the ones you did-she’ll be doubly pleased.
Cravings-The Secret to Satisfying Your Appetite
Losing weight and keeping your metabolism running at full speed is hard work. It’s even harder when your appetite kicks in and you either crave certain foods or get down right hungry!. We all know our triggers. When that happens reach for some cookies….no, sorry…reach for some protein! Lean protein will satisfy your hunger and keep your blood sugar levels steady. Cutting back on protein while dieting contributes to a slow metabolism and a loss of muscle mass.
Your best choices for lean protein include lean cuts of beef, skinless turkey and chicken breast, pork loin, fish, shellfish and tofu. Soy-based meat is also an alternative. Try to avoid meat that is high in saturated fat such as rib steaks, dark meat on chicken or turkey, liver, duck, goose and cookies.
Housework and Mood?
Housework may boost your mood. Sweeping that kitchen floor, making the microwave shine and scrubbing the tub may make the blues go away. As little as 20 minutes of vigorous housekeeping can help your mental health.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where we think that if there is a problem, there must be a pill to fix it. But the truth of the matter is that it doesn’t take much to improve your mood. The physical benefits of exercise are very well known. Diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and heart disease are just a few of the conditions that improve with exercise. But we also know that depression and dementia are improved by exercise and that stress levels diminished.
Daily physical activity of any kind-which includes housework and yard work will help chase those blues away. AND having a cleaner more enjoyable home will double that mood boosting feeling.
Mother’s Day Travel Blog
- Do you want to make this Mother’s Day a day to remember? Doesn’t your mom deserve something unique just like her? Here are 10 travel ideas that you might not traditionally think about but ones your mom will never forget on her special day.
1. Walk; Enjoy a walk along the Rio Grande in downtown Albuquerque. The river physically divides the city but shops, excellent restaurants, plazas,botanical gardens, a world class aquarium, museum and zoo run along side its bank. Stay at the Los Pablanos Inn with its art-filled historic rooms, garden courtyard and be in the center of local attractions. The Inn is a quiet retreat that mom will love.
2. Float; In a hot air balloon over the serene hills, valleys and vineyards of
Napa Valley in the heart of California ultimate wine country. Stay the night at
The Cottages of Napa Valley near Yountville. These Provencal-styled cottages provide the privacy and personal touches mom is sure to enjoy. Take tours of the local wineries and visit their tasting rooms.
3. Drift; On a
Seven Crown Houseboat in one of four resort destinations-lake Mead, lake Mohave, Lake Shasta or the California Delta. Picture mom drifting along with the fish enjoying gorgeous scenery. She can swim, water ski or just relax on the deck of the houseboat.
4. Zip; Down the new Xtreme Zip ride at
Utah Olympic Park in Park City. Mom will feel like an Olympic ski jumper as she drops 435 vertical feet at 55 mph on a cable suspended 100 feet above the ground. This will be a Mothers Day your adrenaline-hungry mom won’t soon forget.
5. Swing; Tucked into the pine forests and pristine wetlands of Kalamath Falls, Oregon is an Audubon-certified resort called
Running Y Ranch. The golf course meanders through trees and lakes with generous greens. It is never crowded. A non-golfing mom can hike, kayak, fly-fish, or river raft and try a relaxing Rive Stone massage afterwards at the Sandhill spa. The giant lodge is very rustic with a top notch restaurant serving beef, fish, elk and buffalo.
6. Shop; Every mom has her favorite shopping places but they still dream about going to the
Mall of America near Minneapolis. With 520 stores and over 30 sit down restaurants to rest in how can you go wrong taking mom here. Also near by is the F.Scott Fitzgerald house and 4 miles of elaborately preserved Victorian residences. A fun hip boutique hotel to stay in is the The Chambers Hotel.
7. Breathe; In Bozeman Montana. The
Black Bull premier resort community just outside of Yellowstone National Park offers your mom a special Mother’s Day treat of recreational opportunities mixed with the small town ambience brimming with shops, art galleries, restaurants and cultural activities.
8. Ride; The 1879
Denver & Rio Grande Narrow Gauge Railroad in beautiful scenic Durango Colorado. This train has been running continuously for 126 years carrying gold, silver and passengers throw the gorgeous San Juan mountains to the sleepy town of Silverton. Stay next door to the depot at the historic Strater Hotel which features 93 spectacular Victorian rooms. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Hotels.
9. Splash; In the 95ft. Wailua Falls in
Hana Hawaii. To get to Hana you must drive the most beautiful coastal road in the world through a rainforest paradise. Hana offers a slow pace, isolation, privacy, beauty and peace. Beaches, sacred pools and waterfalls will refresh and relax mom.
10. Sleep; Number 10 on my list is home sweet home. Perhaps you can not spare the time away from work or the money to treat your mother to any of these more elaborate travel suggestions but hopefully they will get you thinking about some similar ways to celebrate Mother’s Day in your area. Most moms just want to sleep in, be pampered and enjoy their families so to show her a wonderful just cater to her wishes.
Mothers Day is May 11th!
Clorox Goes Green, Earth Friendly Clean For Your Whole House!
It’s very hard to find a green product that works well. The Clorox company hopes to change this with their new line called Green Works. These products claim to be biodegradable, non-allergenic and not tested on animals. For a company founded on high powered cleansers and bleach this is probably a huge challenge and change in mind-set. But of course the Clorox Company is mostly concerned about profits and getting your dollar. Apparently these products even carry the logo of the Sierra Club and portion of the sales will go to them.
If they send me a coupon, I’ll give it try. If you have a favorite Cleaner that’s eco-friendly or at least tries to be-let us know what you think.
