You need some TLC - summer wind-down and finding "Time for Mommy"

Schools across America have opened their doors for the influx of students eager to see their friends, learn new things, participate in activities, and simply enable them to grown into intelligent, strong, individuals ready to face the future. These students leave behind Moms who have seen them through swimming lessons, camp traumas, rainy day boredom, squabbles, and sheer inertness. Moms who are tired. Moms who are ready for a few moments of quiet. Moms who are need to recharge, relax, and be rejuvenated. And don't forget these are Moms who stand ready to face their kid's homework challenges and crying sessions, after school piano lessons and more swimming or ball or dance activities. Mom's who will bake dozens of cookies and guide many projects through the upcoming months.

Moms who are there for their kiddies and Moms who simply need to take time for themselves so their bucket of "Mommyism" doesn't run out. But how is it done?

First of all you, the Mom or me, the Mom or your neighbor, the Mom needs to take a few moments for themselves in quiet to simply be still.

Have an extra cup of coffee. Or perhaps have that first cup of coffee (or tea if you prefer). Sip it quietly, slowly, curled up in your favorite chair or snuggled under the bed covers. Read quietly for a few moments. Perhaps this is a good time to quietly read God's Word. This doesn't have to be an intense study time. Just a quiet time to read and recharge. 

When you have an extra 30 minutes or so, run a tub full of warm (or hot) water. Toss in a couple of handfuls of bath salts. Pick something that has a scent that makes you feel wonderful to be around - floral, spicy, minty. I've reviewed some really nice bath salts that de-stress, relax, rejuvenate and they have natural essential oils that promote well-being. Grab that new book (not a thriller - this is relax time), and slide down in those warm waters and let your skin, your muscles, and your emotions become like new.

Don't forget part of that "me-time" includes "me-pretty-time." Accomplish this however fits your personality. It doesn't have to be high glamour. It just needs to be an activity that gives you that "I feel pretty" feeling and look. Yesterday, I had a pedicure. Those warm waters swirling around my feel and the oils, scrubs, massage, clippings, scrapings were marvelous. Then I chose a beautiful apple red to give some prettiness to these tired feet of mine. Yes, "I feel pretty." If you can't go get a professional pedicure, do it yourself. It doesn't have to be perfect. It just needs to be something that makes you feel pretty, pampered.

So what have you done today or will you do tomorrow to take time for yourself? Will you take a warm bath with bubbles, oils, or salts? Will you have pretty nails to peek at you when you lift your feet onto the footstool for a few moments of reading? Will you buy a special blend of coffee or a special tea that you enjoy as your special treat to sip and enjoy?

Remember...... you are the Mommy and if mommy isn't taken care of, the rest of the family doesn't get taken care of. So grab that little bit of time - just a bit here 'n there - and see what miracles that doesn't do for you and for your family.

Spread Some Joy! - Spreading Joy to the Joyless....

The Social Insiders have been challenged this summer to post weekly about a specific topic. This is week #6 and the Challenge is to "Spread Some Joy!" 

I got to thinking about ways to spread joy around and thought, "Well, that is easily done." And then I began thinking that spreading joy that is easy is probably spreading joy to those whose lives are already pretty much joy-filled. But spreading joy to the un-joyful might pose more of a challenge and be a bit harder to do. It might take folks out of their comfort zone or create a feeling of un-joyfulness in them as they approach the un-joyful, joyless individual.

The elderly in care facilities who have no family to care about them..... Even though some of these facilities may look nice, they can and often are home for elderly who have no funds to purchase even soap or lotions. They need a visit, a smile, a gentle caring touch. They need someone to bring some little hygienic items and perhaps a little treat or so. Try - if your pocket book will allow - to buy nice items. Good quality lotions, bar soaps, hand soaps. A fresh washcloth and towel.

The homeless..... This is an area that you'll have to exercise care about safety issues. But these souls need joy in their lives. Gather someone with you to reach out and touch their lives with joy. As summer winds down they still need bottles of water to stay hydrated. They still need a piece of fruit. They need a bite to eat. And as the colder months approach and their biggest challenge comes with the cold, reach out to homeless shelters with support - work a soup kitchen, donate food or funds to provide food for these folks. If you have medical skills, serve. Again, hygienic items are needed. Check the shelters for what you can provide. Organize your church groups or other service organizations to help.

And the abused women and children...... Sometimes this is a real challenge as knowing how, where, and when to help is real tricky. I discovered last winter that in our small town, the Social Services Department collects Teddy Bears year round to be able to give a loving bear to a child when his or her life is torn apart. Perhaps Social Services can point you to a group with which you can work.

Spread Some Joy! And don't forget to spread some Joy to the Joyless!

And remember, they need some joy year 'round - not just at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Summer Food Tips - Just keep it cool!

It's hot..... an understatement? Hardly! They are saying (you can Google it online) that July 2016 was the World's hottest July on record.

But what are you gonna do? You have to eat. Eating usually requires meat, veggies, fruits, grains and many of these require cooking. Cooking gets hot.

So again, what are you gonna do????

We lived many years without air conditioning in the South - in North Carolina. And in North Carolina the summers get pretty hot and that heat takes the form of high temperatures and high humidity levels. If you've never lived where the humidity is high, you don't have a clue what I'm speaking about. But if you have! Well. 'nough said! It literally drains the life out of you. No you don't get used to it, either. But you do find ways to endure or cope.

The clue is produce as much food using as little heat inside the house as possible.

Image borrowed from http:realfoodwholehealth.com

So long cooking soups are usually a no-no. I do like to make chicken salad because you can boil a chicken for awhile, cool it, debone and use. Out of one chicken you get lots of chicken salad that goes a long way. Serve this up with vegetable salads (cold, of course). Or you can purchase one of those lovely rotisserie chickens from the grocery store, slice it for dinner, then pick the bones and make a chicken salad for the next meal - cold.

But think ahead when you do actually cook up something in the kitchen. During the summer, cook large batches that need long cooking.This way you are cooking ahead. Rewarm quickly in microwave. The pre-cooked meals are convenient and one-cooking time uses the heat for several meals. During hot weather, the one-cooking time method heats up your kitchen only once saving on your AC and also saving on the fuel to cook. Microwaves are great for no-heat cooking.

Image borrowed from feel-good-foods.com

Got lots of summer tomatoes, make a cold tomato salad. Finely chop (not mince) tomatoes, cucumbers, and onion. You can add corn, or perhaps your favorite canned (rinsed & drained) beans. Mix. You can make your own dressing or marinade according to your own preference. You can add herbs according to your likes. Make a fairly good size dish because this keeps several days in the 'fridge. It is great cold.

Of course, grilling out-of-doors is always a great way to get those meats cooked. While you're at it, cook extra that you can serve another day as a cold-cut. Or you can slice the chilled meat into a tossed salad. Another winner!

Sandwiches are super good in hot weather. Be inspired. Don't just serve ham and cheese. Try to be innovative. And make the sandwiches ahead and wrap them in plastic wrap or waxed paper and refrigerate. Eating a thoroughly chilled sandwich with a vegetable salad is good at lunch or dinner.

Save the hot roast beef and heavy veggies for winter. You'll need the extra heat, fat, and carbs to maintain body heat during the cold months. But during the summer? Well, keep it cool!

Purex® plus Clorox 2® has Powerful Boost of Stain Fighters [Review & Giveaway]

There is a real perk to being a member of the Social Insiders team of bloggers. And that is we get to review top products and let our readers know about them. Getting the laundry done and doing so it comes out of the wash clean, fresh, and stain free is a real perk.

Purex® plus Clorox 2® is the new kid on the block of laundry detergent products and the Clorox 2® added to the basic Purex® has given dirt and stains a real "kick in the seat of the pants." Purex® plus Clorox 2® detergent is specially formulated with Clorox 2® stain-fighting enzymes to remove the toughest stains. Works with all washing machines, including High-Efficiency (HE).

We're past the kids and mud, kids and grass, kids and ketchup, kids and whatever stage of life. We are not, however, past the stage of life where we get things dirty or stained and needing a special tweak to get clean and fresh.

Ready to load 'n wash for a brighter clean

Purex® plus Clorox 2® in the Sunny Linen™ scent has worked well in my HE washer and my tired and worn white towels are bright clean and fresher and closer to the look of new than they have been in ages.

Whites are loaded ready for a good refreshing,
brightening clean from Purex® plus Clorox 2®

If you have got especially tough stains (grass, foods, red-clay skid marks - baseball slides), then you'll want to pre-treat by applying the Purex® plus Clorox 2® directly to the stain, rub it a bit, and allow to sit a few minutes before washing. Great that it is safe for colors and such a smart value that is easy on the pocketbook. It is great that this new product with Clorox 2® in it makes my whites brighter and is safe for the colored items and doesn't fade them.

Provided by Purex® via the #SocialInsiders Group

This new Purex® plus Clorox 2® comes in two delightful scents - Sunny Linen™ and Original Fresh. I'm using the Sunny Linen™ and have found it really refreshing.

2 of Chat With Vera's readers will win one of these
Free Product coupons valued up to $7

GIVEAWAY 

Begins April 9
ENDS May 1 @ 12:01 a.m. ET.
 Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary product from the Purex® brand via Social-Insiders to facilitate this review and coupons for the giveaway which I will mail out. I was not compensated for this review. Opinions are my own.

©The Dial Corporation, a Henkel Company. CLOROX 2® and the CLOROX 2® Diamond Logo are trademarks of The Clorox Company and used under license.

Renuzit brings freshness to the home for those with sensitive noses - Renuzit Sensitive Scents [Review & Giveaway]

I like for my house to have a fresh fragrance. I like the scent to be light and not offensive to sensitive sniffers. Renuzit has developed a line of air fresheners specifically for households where folks who are sensitive to air fresheners can have a bit of fragrance and not regret it.

Check it out on Renuzit - Performance without Overpowering

They have three new products: Renuzit Sensitive Scents Adjustable Cones, Renuzit Sensitive Scents Universal Sented Oils, and Renuzit Sensitive Scents Trigger Spray. The Renuzit folks want me to use these products and share with you what I think about them. So today I put these three items to use in my own home - and my husband simply doesn't tolerate strong fragrances very well. (So far his sniffer has not complained so we're happy campers today.)

Renuzit Sensitive Scents Adjustable Cones

We're all very familiar with the little cone that we tuck around throughout the house. Renuzit has been a top source of these in a large variety of fragrances. The new Sensitive Scents I am using is "Pure Water Lily and Cucumber" and it is a fresh, light fragrance.

Renuzit Sensitive Scents Universal Sented Oils

The plug-in scented oils is in the fragrance of Pure Ocean Breeze. The product is said to "Perform without overpowering. Has the right freshness balance for sensitive noses." My package had the plug in case and the bottle of oil. Refills of the little bottles can be purchased without the case. The "universal oil warmer" refills work in any Glade or Air Wick oil warming unit. 

Tucked discretely in a remote bedroom corner, it emits its fragrance. I would prefer this scented oil in a larger room than the one in which I have placed it. I believe it to have too much scent for this small room. Perhaps the Renuzit Sensitive Scents Cone would be better for this room and the scented oil placed elsewhere.

Renuzit Sensitive Scents Trigger Spray

The Trigger Spray a product you can use just to spray and freshen the air in a room or you can spray directly on your furniture (I wouldn't use any product of this type on wood surfaces.) to help freshen and neutralize tough odors and musky, stale upholstery. A really nice deodorizing spray. The trigger spray action works well and instantly.

The fragrance I am trying in the trigger spray is Pure White Pear and Lavender. I'm a bit partial to Lavender so I like this. The lavender is not strong, though. 

My ratings on these products:

Sensitivity = rating very good to high for being non-offensive. (Hayfever season will be the true trial time, though.) 

Fragrances

• White Pear and Lavender = #1 (My most favorite)

• Pure Water Lily and Cucumber = #2 (My second favorite - close tie with #1)

• Pure Ocean Breezes (scented oils) = #3 (My least favorite and may be because in a room too small for it)

GIVEAWAY 
Begins March 2

ENDS March 21  @ 12:01 a.m. ET. 
 Open to USA addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
More about the Renuzit Sensitive Scents - click here

DISCLOSURE: I was provided products to review by the Social-Insiders group representing Renuzit. This also included coupons which I will distribute to the giveaway winner. I was not compensated and all opinions are my own, alone. #SocialInsiders