Aromatherapy, Essential Oils, Sprays, and Roll Ons

I am now working with essential oils and blending my own creations.  Below are five blends using a variety of essential oils in a carrier base lotion.  I need to create some labels for these so they will look much nicer and have the information of the product needed.

And here is one of my room sprays - actually this one is an outdoor spray called Patio Spray.  It will help keep those pesky bugs away...and it is all natural ingredients!  Oh, and it does work.  I use it all the time and love it.  I spray it around the patio doors, doors, and windows of the house.

AND here is one of my new labels for the spray bottles.  I am so thrilled I found the kaleidoscope effect in Paint Shop Pro!  It works perfectly for the label backgrounds.  Now I just need to order a few more oils and I'll have a half dozen sprays and a half dozen roll ons. 

Fiesta Summer Beans

Fiesta Summer Beans (Revised SW BBQ Beans)

In a saucepan, combine minced onion, jalapeno (red and green), and shallots, dash of oregano, ½ t cumin, ¼ t black pepper, ¼ t red chili flakes, ¼ t salt, and ½ t garlic powder. Cook on medium for 5-8 minutes or until tender. Add ½ to 1 pound of hamburger and brown. Add 1 can of seasoned white beans, 1 can of black beans, 1 can of barbecue beans, 8 oz. red or green salsa, and 8 oz. green chile. Heat thoroughly and serve. Make it the way you like it – optional: corn, scallions, chili beans, ketchup, or red chile can be added.

The great thing about this recipe is that you can enjoy it just the way it is or you can serve it cold (mashed or not with cheese on top) with chips or you can top the hot beans with cornbread dumplings. Try filling Tostito miniature tortilla bowls with the fiesta beans for your next get together or fill up some flour/corn tortillas for enchiladas.  Here is another idea for having it cold.  Think of that 7 layer dip you liked to make for picnics.  Layer these beans, tomatoes, black olives, sour cream, cheese, and lettuce.  Ta dah!  Seven layer dip with a kick! 

My gardens in May

Who doesn't love pink and purple?  It is so cheerful in the front of the house this year.  believe it or not, the lupine has grown to almost four feet tall this year!  Wow!  The columbine trails to only about three feet but it sure looks pretty!  Unfortunately the blooms don't last long.  Fortunately I have a camera to capture the image to last a lifetime!  Aren't those lupine leaves gorgeous?  I just love them!  Hopefully the backyard gardens will do as well as the front this year. 

PLAYDAY AT LAST!

A Garden Kaleidoscope - Before

A Garden Kaleidoscope After the effect

 

 I decided to try out Paint Shop Pro and look what I found...a kaleidoscope effect!  How fun is this?  I love it!  I played with several different images for about an hour and these are the examples of what I did.

 



Don't throw away socks - Make animals!   Actually I am just going to make whatever critters come to mind - even from my imagination. This first sock animal is a hippy bunny for my grand daughter. She seemed to like it while I was working on it.
I also have been working on a new larger pendant line of jewelry. I should have at least a dozen when finished. What looks like a bracelet really isn't although it could be. It will be used on another sock critter later. I decided to bead for the critters either a collar or headband that indeed could be worn as an anklet or bracelet if desired.