Posts with the label tips
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts

Monday, May 16, 2016

Why Do I Need to Spring Clean?

I enjoy a clean-smelling house, do you? The feeling you get from a clean house is exuberant. These things are nice but the reason you need to spring clean is to protect your family's health. I had never really thought much about indoor air quality

UNTIL...

my husband was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. Suddenly, air became super important to our family especially in our home! There are so many contaminants and pollutants in the air these days, indoor air quality can no longer be ignored.



For your health and lung safety, here are a few spring cleaning tips:
  • Lint and dust particles can irritate the lungs. I removed all window coverings and draperies in our home replacing them with plantation shutters. The shutters help reduce cooling bills by shutting out the sun, they look sleek and modern and the shutters are simple to clean with a damp cloth. No more removing dusty curtain/drapes to wash and rehang.
  • Change your heating and air conditioning filter every 30 days to reduce pet dander, dust and other allergen inducing particles in your home. You can program some newer thermostats to automatically remind you with a flashing message when it's time to change your filter.  Be sure to check yours for this handy feature.
  • Make sure you're informed about the contaminants in your house that can affect your health. For example, most homes built before the 1970's contain the toxic material asbestos, which can cause mesothelioma cancer if it is disturbed or not removed properly. Ensure a professional comes in to assess your home if you think it has asbestos in it. Click here to order FREE information about mesothelioma and your rights.
  • Warning: Chemicals are hazardous to your health! Vinegar and baking soda are two common household items that can be used to clean most anything in your home without harsh effects of store-bought cleaners. Add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil for a nice fragrance. I like peppermint or lavender.
  • Make a list of the things you want to accomplish realizing you can't do everything in one day. When you do finish, take a deep breath and enjoy your clean home.
Clean it up,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Why Do I Need to Spring Clean?

Monday, May 16, 2016

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

How to Pick a Ripe Watermelon

Have you ever chunked an unripe "green" watermelon? Cutting a watermelon to find out it is green or half-ripe and tasteless! Very disappointing to say the least. I've always used the finger-thumping method as I'm pretty good at it. I need a foolproof method that's easier, 100% reliable, money-saving and never disappointing! Nowadays with watermelons close to $10 a piece, it is more important than ever to know how to pick a ripe one!

I read several tips in Southern Living and saw an article on facebook that I put to the test. The tips to picking a ripe watermelon I tried are:

1. Look for a yellow belly which means the watermelon has been in the field a long time hence riper. See the yellow?

2. Look for scarring on the skin of the melon, the blacker the scars, the riper the melon.
These two pictures are opposite ends of the same watermelon. Some yellow belly and an impressive scar pattern! How did this seedless watermelon taste? AMAZING! The sweetest, juiciest, early "May" watermelon I've ever tasted. The appearance of the inside of the watermelon looks questionable but trust me, the taste is delicious! My family and I enjoyed every ounce of the goodness!
I was pretty pumped that I had found a method other than thumping to pick a ripe watermelon! I couldn't wait to try out this new found skill again. I walked into the BI-LO strutting like a peacock with a fanned tail. This trip to the same store picking from the same watermelon bin turned out quite differently. I went thru the same process looking for a definite yellow belly and dark black scars, no thumping.

Found one! Brought it home. GREEN AS A GOURD! Had to chunk it! Now...

I'm a yellow-bellied, black-scarred, finger- thumping watermelon picker!

Is there a foolproof method out there for picking a ripe watermelon? I'm not so sure! What's your watermelon picking secret? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment and share it with us folks who are ready to give up!

Let them ripen before picking please,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

How to Pick a Ripe Watermelon

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Saturday, January 17, 2015

5 Ways to Make your Man Happy for FREE!

happy for free


Happy Birthday to my Husband! 

He's 58 today. How do you make a man happy that has everything he wants? His past wishlist included:

  • a shop filled with every tool imaginable
  • the brand new Harley Davidson that seems to purr to him with a hypnotizing love noise
  • the restoration of his baby (a 1979 CJ5 Jeep he bought new). He tells everyone that he will get rid of me before that Jeep
  • the restoration of a 2000 Ultra Classic Harley Davidson. He had that motorcycle in so many pieces (down to the frame). I'm impressed he got it back together and sold it for a profit.
  • and then there's the GLOCK!
At this time in our lives, big stuff becomes less important and the small stuff becomes much more important. Here's my list of 5 ways to make your man happy for FREE! 
  1. Cook him a meal. Yes, the way to a man's happy place is through his stomach. Take-out is easier but it won't guarantee you the compliment that's sure to come whether he likes the food or not! Take-out doesn't say "I love you enough to take my time and use my hands to make something just for you." Click to Tweet: While woman may overlook small sentiments, men don't.
  2. Listen to his suggestions. I know you tune him out and hardly listen more than you'd care to admit. I'm guilty myself. I've learned over the years though my husband is very smart and ingenious if I will pay attention and simply listen to him.
  3. Change his sheets. Is there anything better than lying down on a clean set of sheets? Nope, didn't think so and neither does he! 5 minutes to a crisp, clean, relaxing haven. Clean sheets have their own special message whispering "Come here!"
  4. Agree with him. What a novel idea. Just in case you forgot what "agree" means, it is the direct opposite of argue. When I notice I'm disagreeing  or arguing, I check to make sure I'm wearing my hormone patch.
  5. Thank him. No matter how small the deed, compliment or thought, thank him for doing, noticing and acting on it.
Simple is good. Try these and see how it works for your man. You may make him happier than he's ever been for FREE!

Love my Steve,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

5 Ways to Make your Man Happy for FREE!

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Saturday, September 27, 2014

An "Allergy" Word from our Family

made up language
Welcome to fall allergy season! I'm not sure what is in the air but my sinus holes feel like they've had a wedge driven into them. How are you feeling?. My granddaughter had her first unwell baby doctor visit Monday. Ten months without an ear infection or runny nose. That's impressive. I'm hoping that means her immune system is a good one. Her mom, my husband and my daughter are sick with it too. I worry most about my husband with his already compromised respiratory problems. Please say a pray for him.

Allergies even affect poor ole Herm dog. Steve gave him a steroid shot this week. Seems like every spring and fall he scratches off the hair from his eyebrows after a few hour-long romps in the hay field. See the white patches on his eyes and nose where his hair is coming out. Such a sweet puppy!
dog scratching out hair
My dad's side of our family has respiratory issues. We call it the Parker Curse. My grandfather and two uncles passed with respiratory failure and my aunt passed with lung cancer, all on my dad's side. I've always had severe allergies myself along with many other cousins that suffer like me.
allergy season
I came across our word of the week when visiting with my dad's brother Leonard or Lent as we called him. It's pronounced the way it is written "As-Me". I stopped by his house and ask him how he's feeling and he always replied "My asme's killing me!" Asthma is no laughing matter for folks who have it. Lent was right. His asme took him to the pearly gates almost five years ago. So now, I affectionately refer to asthma as asme in honor of my Uncle Lent. May you rest in peace sweet soul.

If you or your family members suffer from asthma, here are 14 tips to prevent asthma attacks that may help prevent a life-threatening event. Leave me a comment and let me and others know what helps your allergies or things to do to prevent serious effects of asthma.

Breathe freely,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

An "Allergy" Word from our Family

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Proven Herbal Supplement for a Sensitive Ailment

irritable bowel syndrome
IBS isn't pretty as the picture. If you're a sufferer like me, you knew what the 3-letter acronym stood for when you saw it. Seeing the letters probably caused an unwanted emotion associated with pain, persistence and paranoia. I am afraid to eat foods I haven't tried before or foods from restaurants I haven't tried before. I don't want to awaken the slumbering 22 feet long digestive giant in my body. Do you have the same fear?

My IBS is controlled better now than ever before. The stress in my life is low. My diet is easy to control from home. I found a supplement that works quickly for flares when I have them. If I took the product daily, I might not have a problem at all. IBS is a sensitive ailment in two ways; the subject is sensitive and the digestive tract is sensitive!

My proven herbal supplement for IBS is Nature's Sunshine Intestinal Soothe and Build. Taking 3 pills, 3 times a day for a week calms down my noisy, gaseous, painful colon. I increase or decrease my dosage based on my symptoms. I may take less pills per day for a longer period or more pills per day for less days. Listen to your body signals to use the supplement best for you. At first, I used Intestinal Soothe and Build for 6 months to help heal my colon. Now, I use it for flares only.

nature's sunshine

Want to try this proven herbal supplement? If you can't find a Nature's Sunshine Distributor in your area, I can help you get it. Simply email me at tammy.stafford@hotmail.com. Leave me a comment with ways you've learned to control IBS. Your suggestion may be the help someone is looking for.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I am not prescribing supplements. My statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, only my bowel. If you have IBS, please see a licensed medical doctor.

Sensitively,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Proven Herbal Supplement for a Sensitive Ailment

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Money-Saving Thursday #4: Tips for FREE Hilton Hotel Stays

Sydnee and I enjoyed our quick trip to Chicago this past weekend. We attended the Lollapalooza Music Festival where Trey's band Crass Mammoth rocked the BMI stage! The music was so powerful and loud it shook my insides, literally. Don't worry my heart seems to still be attached and upright.
Best part of the trip? Staying on the Executive Floor of the Chicago Hilton at 720 South Michigan Avenue in a King Room for FREE! Hilton Honors is THE BEST hotel reward program ever! I love Hilton Hotels because you know what you're getting when you stay with them: a clean, fresh room that feels like home.

5 Tips for staying free:


  • Join the Hilton Honors Program
  • Book as many stays as possible at the Hilton Family of Hotels. You receive points/bonus points for every stay
  • Use your American Express card to maximize your points with Membership Rewards. Receive 1 point for every dollar you spend on the card. AMEX runs bonus points offers too!
  • Redeem hotel stays when points are on sale
  • Sign up for Hilton Honors emails to receive news of discounted rooms
I've taken some pretty sweet family vacations with FREE hotel rewards. We stayed at the Double Tree Times Square in New York FREE! Everyone wants a reward program that works for them...this one is it!

Racking up the points,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Money-Saving Thursday #4: Tips for FREE Hilton Hotel Stays

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Money-Saving Thursday #3: How to Lower the High Price of Gas


Grocery Fuel Programs

Because we all love to eat!


fuelperksbp gas
Join any of these programs by simply obtaining a membership card from the specific store brand.

BI-LO. I rank this fuel reward program #1. Bi-Lo is the best I've found to lower the high price of gas for three reasons:

  1. Weekly incentives to maximize your reward. Bi-Lo rewards .05 per gallon for buying certain foods. For example, this week, they offer rewards for buying lunchbox supplies for back to school. Save .03 to .05 off per gallon of gasoline when you purchase specific items. Deliciousness and savings too! Look for the red circular bubble in their weekly flyer to spot even more deals.
  2. Save .05 per gallon for every $50 spent at Bi-Lo. These seem to add up quickly!
  3. Bi-Lo fuelperks can be combined* with BP Driver Rewards to DECREASE your gas bill twice as fast. For every two times you buy 20 gallons of BP gas, receive .05 off per gallon. Think of it as double dipping since BI-LO and BP are partners in their gas reward programs. *Can't be combined at the pump. You must go in the store to use both rewards at the same time.
Don't have a BP rewards card? Sign up for one here or pick up one at your friendly neighborhood BP station.

TIP: Check with your local grocery store or favorite gas station to see if they partner with other gas reward programs. They may combine rewards too! And...you never know until you ask.

These are other fuel reward programs I use regularly and highly recommend to lower the high price of gas:



Share your fuel tips in a comment. I'd love to know of more ways to save money! Check out other ways to save at Money-Saving Thursday.

Fun to save,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Money-Saving Thursday #3: How to Lower the High Price of Gas

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Acupuncture: Proven Treatment for 8 Common Disorders

I developed a severe case of vertigo or dizziness in 2010. My ENT doctor prescribed Meclizine and Prednisone. Meclizine helped for a few hours at a time. The Prednisone caused heart palpitations. My skeptism of prescription meds made me discontinue the steroid. I could not figure out how a steroid addressed my complaint of vertigo. Without the meclizine, my vertigo was ever present. Frustrated, I located an acupuncturist in my area at The YinYang House. Three treatments with needles CURED my vertigo. I continue to receive regular treatments, four years later, from Chad J. Dupuis, L.Ac enjoying the continued health benefits of acupuncture.

This is not hearsay. I have received effective proven treatment for these 8 common disorders:

  1. Sinus Inflammation. I have lots of allergies. My sinus passages used to swell enough to block my nose breathing daily. Acupuncture alleviates sinus swelling and restores free breathing. 
  2. Kidney Stone. Acupuncture helped me pass a 7 mm kidney stone, avoiding lithotripsy surgery for the fourth time was one of the best days of my life.
  3. Sciatica. I have experienced nerve pain on my left side for years caused by my birth defect. Acupuncture helped to completely resolve my sciatica. I would be remiss not to mention I also use chiropractic to complement acupuncture for this problem. However, I went to a chiropractor for years without total resolution.
  4. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Regular treatment controls my IBS symptoms of cramps, gas, pain and alternating diarrhea/constipation. Now I experience IBS flare-ups occasionally, maybe every 4 to 6 months. The duration of flare-ups have shortened considerably, 3 to 5 days opposed to 2 weeks.
  5.  Anxiety. Acupuncture cured my anxiety! I tried meditation, herbs, exercise and lots of self-heal techniques without success. I was able to quit an anxiety drug I took for almost 2 years after receiving acupuncture.
  6. Vertigo. Completely cured of vertigo as shared above.
  7. Rotator Cuff Injury. The joyous birth of my first grandchild also birthed me a shoulder injury from holding her SO much! My fault totally. I'm happy to report my shoulder is completely healed and I'm still holding that precious baby girl.
  8. General Well Being. These days I go to acupuncture to maintain my general well-being. The treatments just make me feel good. No, I'm not some kind of needle fanatic that enjoys pain. I hate pain! I love acupuncture!
If you suffer from any of these disorders, please give acupuncture a try. Be sure to check back next Tuesday, I will answer some frequently asked questions about acupuncture. People are generally interested in acupuncture and want to talk about it, if you can get past the crazy looks you're given before the curiosity kicks in!

Trusting the needles,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Acupuncture: Proven Treatment for 8 Common Disorders

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Money Saving Thursday #2: Eating FREE on Vacation

My family jabs me for not eating "local" when we go on vacation. I love chain restaurants! I know what I'm getting. I don't leave a plate of untouched food so I don't waste money and I don't leave hungry! Plus, local restaurants don't usually hand out free food.

The trick to eating FREE on vacation is joining chain restaurants clubs and using coupons. Many restaurants have clubs but I'm sharing my favs. These restaurants continually prove to me they don't send junk mail!  I receive valuable coupons and you can too! Coupons can be printed or conveniently shown to your server right on your smartphone for redemption. It's that simple!  Below are a list of restaurants with FREE food.

Chilis Email Club More Life Happens Here  
Chili's Email Club Receive a free endless Chips and Salsa with registration. Requires the purchase of one adult entree. You will receive coupons from Chili's 1 to 2 times a week for FREE food options. Their Molten Cakes are to die for plus they have a $20 Dinner for Two that is awesome. Find a Chili's close to your vacation here.


 
Red Lobster Email Club. Get a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two adult entrees. Receive emails for special food events and discount coupons. Find a Red Lobster for your vacation here.

 Image result for arby's logo
Arby's Get Deals. Receive a free roast beef sandwich with the purchase of a drink when you sign up. Arby's is always sending a free coupon for their latest taste crazes too! Find the nearest slicer here.

americas fish fry
Long John Silver's Coupon Club.  Get a free drink for signing up. LJS sends emails about current promotions and deals. For example, they have $1.99 Fish & Fries this week. This is my Dad's favorite place for fish. LJS gives Dad's a FREE meal on Father's Day. Score for Dad and me! Search locations here.

Longhorn Steakhouse
Longhorn Steakhouse eClub. Free appetizer with purchase of adult entree. Receive occasional coupons for free appetizer or dessert. Search for a Longhorn Steakhouse here.

Other perks of these restaurants and clubs:

  •  Serves FREE Water.  Make FREE Lemonade by adding FREE sugar packets and FREE lemon to your FREE water.
  •  Sends FREE birthday coupons so it's sweeter if your vacationers celebrate birthdays in the same month!
  •  Join the clubs with multiple email addresses for more FREE stuff.
  •  Welcome customers to share food.
  •  No plate charge for sharing food.
  •  Allows customers to eat from the kids menu.

 More tips:

  • 50 or older? Always ask for a senior drink. They are usually FREE or reduced price.
  • The Combination Meals (sandwich, fries & drink) are not always the best value. For example, you can get the same or comparable food individually from the value menu at Wendy's, Burger King and Arby's cheaper than ordering a combo.
  • Dipping sauces. Save your extras on vacation or for vacation. Extra sauces are .25 each.
  • Check your local newspaper for chain restaurant coupons like Steak n Shake and McDonald's. McDonald's has Buy One Get One FREE coupons a lot!
  • Pack individual Crystal Light or Koolaid packets to flavor FREE water.
  • 55+?  Look for restaurants that offer reduced senior pricing like IHOP, Outback Steakhouse (AARP members), Golden Corral, Arby's, Carrabba's Italian Grill (AARP members receive 20% off) and Applebee's.
  • Save 25% at Papa Johns on pizza when ordering online. Use coupon code AARP25
  • Take advantage of the kids menu whenever possible 
  • Pack some sandwich food and have a picnic at a rest area
I hope these offers help reduce the food costs of your vacation. You can use these same tricks all year for eating out with the fam. Leave me a comment and share your favorite food deal on vacation.

Like these tips? Make sure you don't miss another Money Saving Thursday, join this site or sign up by email. Scroll down and look on the right side of the page to see how!

Getting hungry writing this,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap



Money Saving Thursday #2: Eating FREE on Vacation

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Monday, July 14, 2014

Mom-ism Monday #11 and a Super Six Flags Deal

My Mom was born in 1940. The year after the official end of The Great Depression. Her parents were farmers raising 10 kids (she was a twin) during hard times. They taught her to be frugal when it came to be economically sound right down to the penny. My lack of a monthly balanced checkbook is hard for her to comprehend.

My husband Steve has a habit of leaving coins laying around. This bad habit makes my mom and dad shake their heads. My Dad was born in 1937 during The Great Depression. He knows and respects the value of money. When I took up Steve's bad habit of leaving coins in my console or neglecting to pick up stray coins in a parking lot, she always says "Tammy, pennies makes dollars!". I didn't agree much at first, but I'm catching on!

See Mom sitting on the hotel balcony during a beach trip in 2008. She looks like she doesn't have a care in the world. But I know, secretly, she's thinking "Pennies makes Dollars!". I repeat this phrase quite frequently to my kids. I'm not sure who coined it. It may have been Juanita!

save your coins
Speaking of pennies making dollars, there is a wise phrase we all know "A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned". I love to save! Don't you? Are you planning a trip to Six Flags Over Any State? Do you have a "My Coke Rewards" account? If you don't you should! Those Coke lids are worth cool savings. I admit they are a little daunting inputting them into the mcr.com website but they do pay off.


At mcr.com, you enter codes from Coke lids for points and redeem the points for rewards. Great thing about the Six Flags discount is you don't need any lids at all. Simply go to mcr.com with a valid email address. Register for an account. Log in. Search the word Six Flags. The first reward that pops up is a 40% ticket discount for 0 points. You will receive an email that explains how to buy your discounted ticket. How awesome is that? That's a savings of $22 per ticket for simply registering. If you already have an account with a points balance, MCR also has an awesome FREE Six Flags ticket for 1000 points.

Pssstt! Keep saving those pennies. I don't know if you've heard but they make dollars!

Pennies are lucky,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Mom-ism Monday #11 and a Super Six Flags Deal

Monday, July 14, 2014

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Savings for Back to School and College

school supply deals

School Supplies are fun to buy! I always enjoyed going with my girls to get them. I loved getting a list from their teachers and buying every single item on it. Teachers did you know you can  Create your School List on Amazon to make purchasing school supplies easy for parents? It's not too late to create your list for open house.

Don't wait until the school supplies get picked over. Order your child's today from Amazon.

Some reasons you should buy online from Amazon:
  • Shopping from home (still just as fun) and jane or junior can help pick out their items while being educated on bargain shopping and computer skills. Can you say win/win?
  • Saves money and gas
  • No lines to stand in to get out the door
  • No scanning required. Just push the enter button to checkout!
  • Double the fun opening the supplies when they arrive at your door or mailbox
  • Great deals 

College Students can  Shop Amazon for Used Textbooks - Save up to 90%! A 90% saving could potentially save hundreds of $$$ to use for tuition, meals, lodging or other items you may need like Shop Amazon - Off to College . I found buying used textbooks for my daughters during their bachelors and graduate programs was a HUGE value. After they used them, I sold them on Half.com, an eBay company.

TIP: I loved used textbooks but never buy refurbished or reconditioned printer cartridges.

It gets better for college parents... Join Amazon Student FREE Two-Day Shipping for College Students and ship to your college student for FREE!

Back-to-school signals the end of summer. Don't think about the end of summer vacation, think about those beautiful new school supplies. Think about how excited your kids will be about school starting with those pristine new pencils, paper and erasers. I can smell the sweet eraser rubber now, can't you?

Looking forward to buying Lisette some,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Savings for Back to School and College

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Money-Saving Thursday #1: Things to Do for Free on Vacation


ROAD TRIP!

One of the best, least-expensive vacations I can remember is a road trip we took in 2009. I had just quit work for personal reasons. We needed a vacation on a shoestring. The trip turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences ever! 

Our destination was Illinois for a Drum Corps International performance. What fun we had on the way! We happened upon Metropolis, Illinois, home of Superman. Who knew this town even existed? We had all this fun for FREE! Check out the Visit Metropolis website for lots of "Places to Play" around the novel city for FREE.
metroplis
Next stop: St. Louis, Missouri. The Arch is magnificent. The downtown area has a beautiful park. We passed through quickly (no one to meet in St. Louie) but had a fun-filled day with everything we did again FREE! See me and my mom counting our money at Hooters! We stayed, ate and bought our gas on this entire trip for just over $500 for four people. Be sure to check out next Thursdays money-saving tips where I'll share how to accomplish this fabulous feat using my favorite restaurant clubs, hotel rewards and gasoline perks. Check out 25 Things to Do in St. Louis.
arch in st. louis

I love history and architecture! Our stops in Springfield, IL brought us to the Home of Lincoln and the Illinois State Capitol. You must visit the Lincoln House Museum (free), the Executive or Governor's Mansion (free), Dana-Thomas House, a Frank Lloyd Wright design ($15 for families) and the Illinois State Capitol (free).

springfield, illnois things to do
CHICAGO has so much to offer! We simply spent a leisurely day on the waterfront FREE! The beauty of the area is worth way more than what money can buy.
waterfront chicago
We just couldn't get enough of this road trip. On the way home, we stopped at a Dairy Farm and finally downtown Louisville, Kentucky, again, all FREE!
We did SO much in seven days! I got exhausted making these collages. This blog was a great walk down memory lane for me. I had forgotten some of the amazing things we did for FREE on this vacation. I hope these links help you plan your trips to these locations. You can always find things to do for free on vacation!

Leave me a comment with your favorite free thing to do on vacation.

Good memories,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Money-Saving Thursday #1: Things to Do for Free on Vacation

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Monday, June 30, 2014

Mom-ism Monday #9

Vacation Time!

We love the Beach. This is our view...
sanibel beach

I usually take my mom and dad on vacation. Do you? And as usual, the Mom-isms abound!  We have LIsette with us also so the first order of business, to insure we enjoy the beach, is shade for the baby. This is mine and Sydnee's attempt at putting up a shelter in 25 mph beach wind!

tent

Don't laugh until you've walked a mile in our sand-filled moccasins! Hey...it did the job. Now if you don't stay in the shade provided, what happens next? You guessed it. 
SUNBURN  

Luckily for us, we have my mom or nanny to my girls and gran nan to Lisette! Gran Nan says "I brought the aloe!" Aloe Vera is our go-to remedy for sunburn. Fast relief! I said "Great!" because I already needed some. I thought she brought a bottle so I start looking for it. I spotted it and cracked up. Here's Gran Nan's aloe she brought:

aloe vera
That's right!  No bottled aloe for us! No, we get ours straight from the plant. PHRASH! I'm considering adding a new product to my ETSY page: ALOE IN A BAG kinda like octopus in a bag only less smelly.

Does your family use aloe for sunburn? Leave me a comment with your best sunburn tips. We may need them.

Aloe Soothed,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap





 

Mom-ism Monday #9

Monday, June 30, 2014

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Relieve Sore, Tired, Achy Feet Overnight

Do you have SORE, TIRED, ACHY feet? 

Do you indulge in these?

legs
High heels look amazing but boy do they hurt the toes. I can't even wear them with the feet I was blessed with.  I do, however, notice the pain on the faces of women carrying their high heels in their hands walking barefoot. Ouch, Ouch, Ouch! Are you guilty? 

Do you work in these?

lineman
At the end of a long grueling day all you want to do is take off your boots and put your feet up. What's that you say? You want your wife to massage your feet? Alrighty then!

Are you an accident waiting to happen like my daughter who recently stumped her toe on a pallet in our local grocery store? 

I have found the answer for sore, tired, achy feet. My prosthetics are comfy, made from silicone rubber but I suffer from the occasional sore foot.  Finally, a subject where I'm an expert!

Last summer I was so thankful to find this foot soothing ingredient in the gift store at Westminster Abbey nonetheless. I wouldn't have been able to walk the rest of our vacation in London and Paris without it!

WHAT IS IT? I'm glad you asked.

foot cure
A simple bottle of Lavender oil!

See Sloane's pinkie toe. She complained about her toe hurting every minute of every day until I advised her to douse her toe in lavender. Remember to apply at night and sleep while the lavender magic is working. The next day we shopped for six hours without one "my toe is killing me"! I asked her on the way home about her toe. She said "Wow! I've walked all day and it hasn't hurt. I forgot about it!"

Massage or rub in lavender oil all over your feet. Don't be afraid to turn the bottle over on your feet. I use several generous drops to cover my entire foot/feet when they hurt. Rub it in last thing before you go to bed. In the morning, no more sore, tired, achy feet! You can let them enjoy this ointment every night if your feet need it. I find that once I get my feet healed up I can stop using it until the next time I walk too much, wear uncomfortable shoes or stump a toe. 

Any brand will work wonders. I buy this one.
NOW Foods Lavender Oil, 2 ounce  

Have you ever tried lavender for sore, tired, achy feet? Leave me a comment and let me know how it works for you. By the way, I have to tell you I'm not a doctor. I'm not diagnosing or prescribing a cure. If your feet hurt too bad, call the pod doc.

Pain free,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Relieve Sore, Tired, Achy Feet Overnight

Thursday, June 19, 2014