Proudly made in the USA!

This land is your land This land is my land
From California to the New York island;
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and Me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,
I saw above me that endless skyway:
I saw below me that golden valley:
This land was made for you and me.

I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;
And all around me a voice was sounding:
This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me. 

This Land Is Your Land
Words and Music by Woody Guthrie

miracle in a bottle

Ok, I know in the past I have written about the woes of my never-ending acne problems! In my almost 30 years of suffering from some sort of pimple, white head, or deep cyst-like thingamajig, I have tried all the stuff out there...and I do mean ALL!

Benzoyl, this....Salicylic acid, that! Things seemed to work for a bit, but nothing was long lasting. Not long ago after seeing my doctor, she suggested that I go on an acne medicine, via perscription. That was the bottom line! Nope!! I did not want to take that route and so I did my own research/testing.

Well, I am glad to say that I have finally found a "natural" way to tame the zits. Now, I cannot tell you that I never get them anymore, 'cause I still do! I just found a way to make them go away a whole heck of a lot faster. And, if I feel one "coming on", I can fight it off faster.

My secret weapon.....tea tree oil!

I had a bottle of this sitting in my medicine cabinet for a long time. I would dab a bit here of there, but not regularly. Well, after my research I found that tea tree oil can....

• Effectively treats problem skin with regular use

• Deep-cleans pores and helps relieve redness
• Multiple uses including skin and household


This leaf-derived essential oil from the arid plains of eastern Australian is an abundant source for maintaining healthy, glowing skin. Its inherent antiseptic qualities make it suitable for everything from skin care, household cleansing to a therapeutic pedicure treatment.


I began to apply it, with a cotton swab, every day. I would wash my face first, then afterwards apply (full strength) to my problem areas. Now, at first my face would get really dry and a bit red where I applied the oil. The smell was strange too. But, after a few times, the dryness and redness went away...my face adapted to it. If you try, start with a small area to see how you react. If you do react, don't give up! Keep at it!
I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this stuff! It's amazing to see it work on my pimples, and have them be gone overnight!

You can find tea tree oil at most health food stores and online.

What else can you use this miracle oil on? Check this out.

i DO mean to Bragg!

This past summer I found a Bragg book at a rummage sale. I had heard of the Bragg's and their healthy lifestyle. We had their apple cider vinegar in our pantry. But, neither my husband or I really got "into it", not until a couple of weeks ago.

Paul Bragg and his daughter Patricia have been self-proclaimed "health pioneers" for several decades. In a nutshell, they believe that a healthy lifestyle along with a diet full of "live foods" and plenty of water, will not only extend your life, but improve the quality of that life as well.
My husband, usually being the harder one to prod of the two of us, instantly read the book from cover to cover. He gave up his "sometime habit" of drinking soda pop, and filled it instead with drinking (distilled) water. I, too, began to get into the habit of drinking more (distilled) water and upping my intake of green tea, as well. Our diets also include lots of "raw" (not cooked) veggies and plenty of fresh fruit. The kids, too, have being downing more water and slowly getting on the healthier eating band wagon. I will admit, ditching the processed foods is tough! When shopping at the grocery store it is a real challenge to avoid the "middle aisles" and stick to "live" foods. But, going on a couple of weeks now, it is becoming easier.

I pulled out the dehydrator and started to dry tons of apples. Amazingly, the kids all love their condensed sweetness! They gobble them up in no time. I basically wash, peel, and core enough apples to fit on all the shelves of my dehydrator. I have found that golden delicious apples are amazing dried! I cut the apples into rings and in about 24 hours they are ready to eat!
Now that apple season is in full swing it is fun to try all sorts of apple recipes. Apple sauce is an easy treat as well. I wash, core, and slice apples. Put into a saucepan with a touch of water. Cover and let a low heat soften the apples into a yummy sauce. I sprinkle a bit of cinnamon and sugar over it and it is so tasty!

Back to Bragg. I have started TODAY, to try giving up coffee, again! I tried last week, cold turkey, but I forgot to add something else containing mild caffeine, so I got that dreaded "caffeine headache". After talking with my uncle who gave up coffee, he claims that he has much more energy and less aches and pains. So, I am giving it another shot! I have switched to drinking hot tea (which I love), so I will hope for the best and report back on how it is going.

Another part of my new healthy lifestyle is a glass of water with apple cider vinegar mixed in. I use the Bragg apple cider vinegar. I only mix in a tablespoon or so. The taste is bitter, but the health benefits claim to be extraordinary. I usually have a glass a day, but now that cold and flu season are here, I may up it to 2 a day.

So, there you have it. I would love to share my books ( I have recently ordered two other Bragg books) with my friends and family who would like to see what Bragg is all about. Just let me know!

poison ivy helper?

This morning I felt a nasty itch on my arm. I looked at it and saw the tell-tale signs of the dreaded poison ivy. Little read bumps itched on my forearm like crazy!! I looked into my medicine cabinet and tried to see what I can put on it. Right in front of me was the rose hip seed oil that I bought not too long ago. I bought it, not of the relief of poison ivy, but rather for other purposes (which I will get into later.) I dabbed a few drops on my arm and hoped for the best! Well, I am happy to report that the oil worked as an itch-relief! I have used the rose seed oil before without any reaction. I would test first before you use it in large doses! There is barely a scent, so it is not overpowering. I bought a 1 fl. oz bottle of NOW brand rose hip seed oil for $6.99. I am sure you can find it by other brands and perhaps cheaper.
Now, the reason I bought the rose hip seed oil in the first place was because I heard so many great things about its healing properties. It is high in omega-6 fatty acids for the skin. It helps fight dry skin, heal scars, fight wrinkles, reduces redness, and a whole slew of other beneficial things. I read about it in a health book and figures for its low price, how can I resist!

the real-beauty challange

If you get simple beauty and nought else, You get about the best thing God invents.
ROBERT BROWNING, Fra Lippo Lippi

I am sick of it all! Sick of all of those products out there that promise this and that. I will look younger is I use this. I will not have pimples if I use that. I feel like I have tried them all, and all of them have not worked for me. I have been fooled!

I am a lady into natural things. If organic, even better! When I have to go to the doctor I cringe when a prescription is written out! Rarely I will even get it filled. So when it comes to "beauty" I am heading back to nature. I am convinced that herbs, plants, fruits/vegetables and oils can be my answer to clearer, cleaner, softer skin.

So, here is my challenge to myself! I am going to stop using any beauty product that is not natural and simple. I am going to (only) wash my face with Dr. Bronner's peppermint liquid soap. This stuff is all one needs to even remove heavy makeup!

I have started a body detox... a cleansing from the inside. I found this system down in Shipshewana Indiana (Amish-land). A very nice Amish lady directed me to this when I asked about cures for my adult acne. It is a 15-day detox. So far, so GOOD!

So, there it is. My beauty challenge. Actually, it is more of a health make-over! I will report back on my status. Until then, what natural things do you use? What are you just sick and tired of??