Thanksgiving Cooking

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5 Quick Pick-Me-Ups for the Fall Season

Summertime is the time of year people are on the go. There are outdoor sports, cookouts to attend and plenty of activities to keep you busy. By summer’s end, you may feel overwhelmed and worn out. You may feel like your get-up-and-go got up and went. Try these five quick pick-me-ups for the fall season to recharge your batteries.

1. Drink plenty of water.  Many people don’t realize that dehydration can cause them to feel sluggish or have less energy. Pay attention to how much water you get throughout the day. This is especially important when you work in an office which is closed off, stuffy and crowded. It is likely you will feel better after you drink a glass of water. To make it even better, add a squirt of fresh lemon or lime juice.

2. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Taking several deep breaths can give you a chance to refocus your attention and adjust your perspective. To increase the benefit of these deep breaths, light a scented candle. Juniper, jasmine, lavender and chamomile are scents which are known to affect emotions.

3. Take a “power” nap, if possible. You don’t have to take a long nap to benefit from it. In fact, a nap less than thirty minutes is often just what you need. Find a place that is quiet and dark for the best results. Be sure you don’t sleep for more than an hour or it could adversely affect your ability to sleep that night.

4. Get up and move. Your body is meant to move and many people spend eight or more hours a day sitting in an office chair. Since your body needs to move to stay healthy, get up and move around for five minutes every hour. This could be as simple as marching in place, taking a brisk walk to your car and back, or taking time for a quick stretch. Not only will you give your body the break it needs, taking this time gives your mind a break, as well. You should notice even a five minute break will help you feel more energetic and focused.

5. Take a snack break. Some people head to the vending machines in the afternoon because they feel want a quick pick-me-up. Unfortunately, most of the foods you’ll find in a vending machine will only give you short burst of energy before you start feeling even more sluggish. Fresh fruit is a good alternative to vending machine food as is a serving of cottage cheese. You may also want to keep raw almonds available. These snacks, as opposed to a candy bar or cake, will provide the lasting energy you need while being a healthy snack choice.

Even though you may feel the need for a quick pick-me-up in the fall months, you can use these five at any time of the year. If you change up your schedule, choose healthy snacks, get moving, take a power nap or stay hydrated, you will find your have more energy and are ready to face your day again.

article source: http://grannieskitchen.net

Autumn Scents to Reduce Stress

Stress seems to be an all too common theme in today’s households, there’s simply no way to completely avoid it. After a busy summer, you may be looking forward to a chance to slow down and recuperate a bit. Tapping into your sense of smell is a great way to reduce stress.

How often does a certain smell bring back fond memories of a place or time; the smell of warm baked cookies or a scent that reminds you of a loving home? The science of using scents to promote good health is called aromatherapy and it’s a much safer option than using caffeine or drugs. Here are some autumn scents to you reduce stress.

Cinnamon – With the temperatures dropping, you may think more about baking. One scent that is often used in fall baking is cinnamon. The smell of a fresh baked apple pie does more than get your mouth watering. Cinnamon has been proven in scientific studies to improve attention and memory.

Peppermint – Along with cinnamon, peppermint is another aroma that has been proven to increase alertness. It helps maintain mental performance when doing the same activity for a long period of time. Peppermint has also been shown to reduce road rage and therefore may be good to keep in your vehicle if you travel a lot.

Vanilla – Another baking scent that is believed to relieve stress is vanilla. Pour a little vanilla extract into a small pan filled with water. Place it on the stove and allow it to simmer for a while. The scent of vanilla will spread throughout the home leaving everyone a little less stressed. Keep an eye on the water level to ensure it doesn’t go dry.

Lavender – One of the most often used scents in aromatherapy, particularly to handle stress, is lavender. This is due to the relaxing properties in the essential oil. Lavender can be used as an additive to bathwater, used dry in bowls on end tables and even spritzed on sheets for a restful night’s sleep.

Sandalwood – Sandalwood oil has a long history of being used as a traditional medicine. Its sweet, rich woody smell is known for reducing stress and soothing the mind and body. While sandalwood can be found in many products such as cosmetics and perfumes, a few drops of this great smelling essential oil can instill a sense of inner peace like nothing else.

One of the great things about these scents is you can create your own massage oil. Simply add a drop or two of the essential oil into non-scented carrying oil such as almond oil. Gently shake the bottle to blend and then set it aside in a cool, dark place until you’re ready for a massage. What could be better than a soothing scent and a nice massage?

It is amazing how scents can affect us. When you’re feeling stressed and need to relax, consider using one of these common scents during the fall or any time of the year.

Autumn Decorating Ideas That Don't Cost a Fortune

Fall is a traditional time of the harvest celebration since the days when farming was commonplace, and this theme continues today even in urban communities. Decorating for the fall harvest means celebrating the bounty of the growing season and blessing the change from summer to winter. Many people go out on fall harvest decor than they do on any other holiday. All of the orange and yellow colors, the traditional scarecrow and pumpkins. This truly is a remarkable time of year and is one of the most beautiful. It can also be a festive time to usher in the holiday season.

Here are some tips and ideas for your fall harvest decorating this year.

1. Charming Frames
Chances are, you have picture frames stored away in various places in your home. They make popular gifts, and many of us end up with more than we need. If not, you can often find them for very little money at second-hand stores and even some major retailers.

You can make fall harvest decorations from these ordinary frames. Lightly glue pressed leaves and/or flowers onto a blank white background, such as a piece of card stock, and insert it into the frame. If you are lucky enough to have frames with two pieces of glass, you can achieve a floating leaf look by sandwiching it between the glass.

These look nice on a table, mantel, wall, or anywhere you want to bring autumn in.

Another note on frames - using a hot glue gun, you can attach acorns, seed pods, and other autumn odds and ends to the frame itself.

If you have any craft paints you can paint the frames in beautiful fall colors. Blend the colors together with a dry brush or piece of cloth to give it some depth and a unique pattern.

2. Natural Vases for Flower Arrangements

You may not have considered this, but autumn brings all sorts of interesting fruits and vegetables that you can use as vases and centerpieces for fall arrangements.

The best vegetables and fruits for this type of decoration are those with a long shelf life, such as squashes, gourds, and apples. But you can certainly think outside the box if you're only going to have the decoration up for a few hours.

In that case, you can include citrus peel cups and even hollowed out pears. Basically, you slice the top off of the vegetable or fruit of your choice, and then dig out the flesh to the depth you need. You can then fill it with water and flowers, or use floral foam.

Most people think of a pumpkin as strictly a halloween decoration to carve, but you can also cut the top off and use it as a centerpiece with a beautiful fall arrangement inside.

3. More with Gourds and Pumpkins

All those inexpensive little gourds and pumpkins are readily available in the fall. Gather lots of them and make a wreath using hot glue and a circular base (such as grapevine or a foam craft ring). Another idea is to arrange gourds on a cake plate, or pile them in a tiered tray. You can even make a garland of small gourds, stringing them on fishing line or upholstery thread.

Simply add sprigs of fall colored leaves between a few of them and you have a full bodied and gorgeous decoration for your home.

Fall is one of the most spectacular times of the year. You can bring that beauty inside and decorate your home for a warm, inviting atmosphere that friends and family will enjoy just as much as you do.

Grannies Kitchen Humor

Yup! It's already looking like one of those days where I'm gonna need a second cup of something.

Grannies Kitchen Humor

Some Days I wish I could put one of these around my neck.  " Do Not Disturb" sign.

Houskeeping Tip of the Day

Today's Housekeeping Tip:  Always keep several Get Well Cards on the mantlepieace. That way, if unexpected guests arrive, they'll think you've been sick and unable to clean.