How to Avoid the Flu

Hello Friends,

Most everyone knows by now that the H1N1 - Swine Flu is at it again. With it already having killed hundreds and hundreds more in hospitals and on life support, we want to make sure our family is protected against this virus. When flu season comes around, it is important to be extra vigilant to avoid catching it. A person with the flu can transmit the virus one day before they even begin to show symptoms of the virus. And they will continue to be contagious for five days after they develop the symptoms even if they are still coughing and sneezing. However, young children and people with compromised immune systems may be contagious for up to two weeks. If you have been exposed to the flu virus, it will take one to four days for your symptoms to develop.



Did you know that after you take the flu vaccine you are at risk of spreading the virus to others around you for 2 days? Who wants all the unhealthy and harmful things in a vaccine in our bodies anyways? Did you know that if someone sneezes and the flu virus lands on say, your table, the germ can live on that surface up to 72 hours? That's insane! So, what can you do to protect yourself against becoming sick?

1. The number one thing to always do is wash your hands. Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, and rinse then for at least 30 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (we use our own homemade hand sanitizer which is 60% alcohol).

2. After touching surfaces that may possible have been contaminated, do not touch your face. The average person touches their face 200 times a day. "No, not me! I hardly ever touch my face." Watch yourself one day and see just how many times you really do touch your face. A virus can enter in through your mouth, nose & eyes so be sure to not touch your face when you are out and about. Most experts think that flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Also likely, a person might get the flu by touching a surface or object that has the flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose.

3.People with flu can spread it to others up to about 3 feet away. To avoid this, we try to stay away from sick people and stay home if someone in our family is sick.  Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick should not be shared without washing thoroughly first. Eating utensils can be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap and do not need to be cleaned separately. Further, frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at home, work and school, especially if someone is ill. You can mix up your own cleaning solution with distilled water and essential oils of tea tree, clove, lemon, etc.

Most healthy adults may be able to infect other people beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than 7 days. Symptoms start 1 to 4 days after the virus enters the body. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Some people can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons may still spread the virus to others.

 



4. Begin a long term flu and sickness prevention with Zinc & Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE). They are great for building up your immune system and preventing and protecting you from catching any virus or germs that may be floating around.

Last year my entire family caught the flu, one right after the other, except for me. I was just as exposed to the virus as everyone else, so why didn't I get sick? At the time I was taking 2 Zinc tablets a day. Amazing, huh? Since then we have been strong believers in the power of Zinc.

If you have caught the flu, here is what you can do instead of taking medications or shots.

Elderberry Tincture (for adults) and Elderberry Syrup (for kids) is a great for knocking out whatever sickness you have, even the flu.

Olive Leaf Extract (OLE) is amazing as well. OLE if made from soaking olive leaves in vodka for a certain amount of weeks, then straining. You take it orally. For a short time at the beginning of the year, we slacked off on taking our Zinc. My brother and I both caught the flu from the people we were vacationing with at the time. The flu usually last at least a week right? We took Olive Leaf Extract, Elderberry Syrup, & rubbed Body Guard Essential Oil Blend on ourselves. Other than being a bit weak, within 18-24 hours we were completely better. So you see, the power of all natural medicines are amazing and effective!

Follow these simple tips to keep you and your family healthy, happy, and all natural.

Stay Healthy,

Tracy Raftl's The Love Vitamin

Hey Everyone,

Have you ever heard of The Love Vitamin or Tracy Raftl? Tracy is the founder and author of The Love Vitamin and has overcome severe acne by changing her diet and lifestyle and now encourages and helps other who battle acne to do the same and overcome and pull through their acne battle. She has some amazing tips and articles that will help you naturally and effectively, if you are struggling with acne as well. I've been reading her posts and following her blog for quite some time and I love it! Going natural has majorly helped my acne and I know it will help yours too. Below is her introduction video to her YouTube channel and her blog. Watch this video then go check out her site and other videos and try the natural approach to healing acne now!

 

"An alternative slant on curing acne and building happiness. This is the introduction to my YouTube channel and blog about curing acne naturally! Welcome!"

- Tracy Raftl

www.thelovevitamin.com

 

Note: I do not have any relations or affiliations with Tracy Raftl or The Love Vitamin at all. I am simply a follower of her blog.

 

 

Thanks,

A Wanted Man by Lee Child

Book Review of "A Wanted Man - A Jack Reacher Novel" by Lee Child


Hello Readers,

So I just finished the book "A Wanted Man - A Jack Reacher Novel" by Lee Child and now I'm going to give you my rating and review of it.

Please note: this review is ONLY MY THOUGHTS and OPINIONS on the book. Feel free to leave a comment if there is something you would like to add or tell your opinion but please do not leave a comment criticizing my review.

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"#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "The indomitable Reacher burns up the pages."- USA Today

"Four people in a car, hoping to make Chicago by morning. One man driving, another telling stories that don't add up. A woman in the back, silent and worried. And a hitchhiker with a broken nose. An hour behind them, the FBI descends on an old pumping station where a man was stabbed to death-the knife work professional, the killers nowhere to be seen. All Jack Reacher wanted was a ride to Virginia. All he did was stick out his thumb. But he soon discovers he has hitched more than a ride. He has tied himself to a massive conspiracy, in which nothing is what it seems, and nobody is telling the truth.

"Furious action . . . Lee Child keeps the pacing swift and the surprises rolling. . . . A feverishly thrilling series." -The Miami Herald
"Smart, breathless . . . with one of the best female characters in the whole Reacher series."- The New York Times

"Subtle and nuanced with seductive writing and irresistible plot twists." -Newsweek

Reacher is back in a masterpiece of suspense from #1 "New York Times"-bestselling author Lee Child. As the tension rises, the twists come fast and furious, keeping readers guessing and gasping until the explosive finale."

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I thought the book was a good read. Throughout the book Lee Child keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. There are so many twists and turns it makes for an interesting read. People aren't who you think they are and things don't happen like you think they will. . . or should. I've read other people's reviews as well as spoken with some people who have read previous Jack Reacher novels and they've said this is Lee Child's worst book. I've not read any of the other books, so to me this book is good. To those who have read Lee Child's work before, they say this book isn't very good.  So, here is the review from a reader who hasn't read any other Lee Child books.

There were a few slow parts. For the readers who like math and numbers, you will especially enjoy this book, since Jack Reacher is always calculating, counting, adding, or subtracting some kind of arithmetic problem or creating arithmetic problems out of things like the "PRNDL" on your gear shift. Yes, you read that correctly. So, unless you are as crazy about math as Jack Reacher is, all the arithmetic will seem boring and unnecessary to you. There are a lot of repetitive things in this book. Many repeated conversations, phrases, sentences, and scenes. Which can get very boring. Some parts of the book are long and boring.

Although, his odd fascination with numbers is just another thing that makes Jack Reacher who he is. Jack Reacher is a very intelligent, cleaver, knowledgeable, smart character. He is ex-military cop and he is very knowledgeable about most anything.

The author done a very good job with the female character in this book. She is a smart, fearless, dedicated FBI agent who wants nothing more than to do what's right and get justice. Though, I wish her fate in the book could have been different, her character is very good.

There is a lot of violence and fighting in this book as well as a little mild language. So, this book may not be one for younger children, since there are some scenes in the book that may be frightening for them.

So, my final conclusion? This book was fairly good. I would recommend it to be read. So, if you are into mysteries, murder, crime, suspense, then pick up this book the next time you head to your Public Library, or buy it here for your book collection.

My rating of "A Wanted Man - A Jack Reacher Novel" by Lee Child

 

(3 out of 5 stars)

Note: I do not own any rights nor do I have any type of affiliations with author or publishing company.  

Happy Reading!

Homemade Graham Cracker Pie Crust

Hey Everyone,

Here is a delicious and crazy simple recipe for homemade graham cracker crust. It's not the healthiest, but there isn't any GMO, MSG, or other crazy stuff you can't pronounce.

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Homemade Graham Cracker Pie Crust

 

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 c finely ground graham cracker crumbs
• 6 TBSP melted butter
• 1/3 c sugar

Directions:- Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until well blended. Press evenly into pie pan.

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Waa laa! Easy and quick, right? Yeah!

Homemade No Bake Cheesecake

Hey Y'all,

A friend of mine made this for me many years ago and it was delicious, so I asked for the recipe. After she gave it to me I tried to make it, but it just didn't taste right. So, I tweaked, tested, and changed the recipe until it was perfect.



 

 You know the cheesecake from the store that's in a box and you add milk, stir then pour in a graham cracker crust? Yes, it's delicious, but it's filled with so much junk and things you can't even pronounce. This recipe is healthier and you know exactly what is going into. It's so darn easy & delicious, you will never go back to store-brand box cheesecake again.

 

 

 

Homemade No Bake Cheesecake

Ingredients:

• Graham Cracker Crust (see here for recipe)
• 8 oz. cream cheese (at room temp)
• 1/3 cup of sugar (Evaporated Cane Juice is great for this, or an even healthier choice would be Xylitol)
• 1 TSBP lemon juice
• 1/2 heavy whipping cream or sour cream (I prefer the sour cream for the bit of tartness it gives)
• 1/2 can of pie filling of choice
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 container of Cool Whip

Directions:

- In a bowl beat cream cheese, sugar, and lemon juice. Fold in sour cream (or heavy whipping cream) until smooth. Spread into prepared graham cracker crust evenly. Spread with pie filling, do not stir. Top with cool whip, again. . .do not stir. Freeze for 1 hour, covered with foil. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.

Note: As I said above, I use sour cream because it gives the perfect tartness, but then I top with cool whip to calm it down just a smidge, so it's just the right kick in your mouth.

Have a way to make this recipe better? Comment and let me know!

Enjoy!

Homemade Chicken and Dumpling Casserole

Hey Friends,

This recipe has become mine and my family's all time favorite winter recipe! It's soo delicious! And the best part about it? It's so super-duper easy, the little ones can help with make it, too! Whip it up in about 10 minutes (not including time to cook the chicken breasts) and bake in the oven for 30-45 minutes. . .how awesome?? Make sure to read all the way down to the bottom before you make this recipe, there are notes that will make this recipe even easier! So, without further ado, here it is:

Chicken and Dumpling Casserole

Ingredients:

*1 pack boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup butter

*2 cups milk

1 cup flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 box chicken broth

*1 large can cream of chicken (will only use 3/4 can)

*1 large can cream of mushroom (will only use 3/4 can)

Directions:

- Boil chicken breasts until thoroughly cooked and white throughout, shred.

- Preheat oven to 350*F

- Put 1/4 cup of butter in one pan and the other 1/4 cup butter in the other pan, place in oven until melted.

- Mix together milk, flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk until smooth.

- Mix together chicken broth, 3/4 can of the cream of chicken, and 3/4 can of the cream of mushroom in a large bowl, whisk until blended.

- Place shredded chicken in the pans evenly. Slowly pour milk batter over chicken, DO NOT STIR. Slowly pour chicken broth batter in next, again DO NOT STIR.

- Bake for 30-40 minutes on 350*F, or until you see the batter has risen to the top of the pan and sort made an uneven crust.

- Allow to cool for 3-5 minutes before serving, it will be extremely hot right out of the oven.

Enjoy!

Here are a few different things that I do to mine:

* Instead of chicken breasts I use a quart of home-canned chicken. It's pretty much shredded for you and already completely cooked, which makes preparing this all that much easier, that is, f you happen to have some chicken you canned a few months ago in the back of your pantry. :-)

* The original recipe call for 2 cups of milk, but I use a little over 2 1/2. It makes the batter much smoother and easier to pour. Kind of like thick pancake batter. I've found that's easier for me.

*  A whole can of cream of mushroom and cream of chicken plus a whole box of chicken broth is usually too much to fit into my pans, so I just put the leftover mixture in a mason jar and place it in the fridge for next time I make, knowing I will be making it again soon.

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I told you it was easy, right? Make it for dinner tonight, I'm sure it will be a hit with the whole family. . . unless you are a vegetarian. ;-) If you are a vegetarian, check back with me soon, I'll have some recipe for you! Let me know how your recipe turns out!


Enjoy your new recipe!

Photo of the Day

Hey Everyone,

For my photo of the day I choose the most popular and favorite photo of the day and post it here. So, here is today's featured photo. Isn't this duck so beautiful?

 



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This photo was taken by Cari with a Nikon Coolpix L120.
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"I took this photo when my family and I went to the river with a few friends. We were all on the dock and this little guy kept swimming nearby us. He seemed to be waiting for me to snap this picture for as soon as I raised the camera it almost seemed like he was posing for me. Although, right after I shot it, he swam away."
- Cari
Eyes of the Beholder Photography
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 These photos are the original work of Cari and are not allowed to be used, copied, or sold without permission. All copyright and claims belong to Eyes of the Beholder Photography.

Thanks for viewing!

Etsy Shop

Hey Everyone,

So I finally got a couple things added to my Etsy shop. All the products I sell are made by me and are of the best quality. I only have a few things on there now, but check it often as I will be adding more items as I make them. Don't forget, if you buy something from, leave me leave me a review on how you like (or don't like) my product.

Thanks!