Keep Summer Alive: Make Your Own Homemade Rose Potpourri!

The beautiful flowers and plants will soon wither away with the cold weather.  However, I know a way for you to bring some of that summer fragrance into your home to enjoy the entire year.  You can make your own homemade potpourri like the rose-lavender one I have for you today!

Lavender is great for drying to also repel moths.  Add some lavender to mix in the potpourri for your sachet bags to hang in your closets is a healthier option than foul-smelling moth balls. 

Another wonderful combination is when you dry lilacs in the spring and save.  You can substitute the two cups of lavender with the same amount of lilac for a pleasant change of pace in this rose formula.  

Rose-Lavender Potpourri

3 cups of rose petals
2 cups of lavender or lilac (dried from spring)
2 cups of marjoram
1 oz. of orris root

Gather your rose petals and herbs and dry them on a screen in a warm, dry place.  If you don't have a screen, you can spread them out on a sheet of newspaper, which is another option and dry the same way.  The screen, however, is preferred because the air circulates better.

When the petals and herbs are dry, mix ingredients in a glass jar and cover with a lid.  Keep all the ingredients locked inside for a few weeks, stirring occasionally during that period.  This rest period is important so the mixture has a chance to bond together into a lovely fragrance.

How to Simplify Your Dieting Effortlessly!

We all start out with the best intentions when beginning a diet.  However, we sometimes stray and lose our willpower when denying ourselves too much over a period of time.  Nonetheless, there is an easier way to remain focused and still lose weight without giving up everything you love to eat if you practice these few tricks.

The best thing you can do is learn to eat breakfast.  Studies show those that eat breakfast tend to eat less calories and saturated fats throughout the rest of the day unlike the breakfast skipper whom loads up later on more fattening foods with sugars and saturated fats.  Even if you're not hungry, you will be more able to resist impulsively eating more unhealthier and fattening food choices while keeping your energy up when you sit down for that  important morning meal to start your day. 

Another super trick to help you eat less is discovering spices and herbs.  Cooking with spices properly can really turn a bland dish into a new flavorful experience, if you only use the right spices and herbs.  In fact, red pepper, chili peppers, or cayenne pepper or even chili powder sprinkled on dishes or used fresh in your recipes all have been proven to help you burn fat faster while suppressing your appetite!  This wonderful benefit is due to the Capsaicin those peppers contain.

Turmeric is another friend to the dieter.  This peppery flavor may help reduce inflammation in the body that can lead to weight problems and diabetes. 

You won't feel as hungry if you get more fiber in your diet.  The soluble fiber like grains, fruits, and vegetables helps stabilize your blood sugar while combating hunger.  Insoluble fiber like that found in legumes adds bulk to your gastrointestinal system so you feel full. 

If you learn to cook with beans and lentils, you will feel lighter in your stomach, save on your grocery bill, help improve your cholesterol, simplify cooking, and definitely help you lose weight.  Eat bean meals at least twice a week and check your scale because the pounds will seem to melt away. 

Another helpful tip is getting enough protein since your body uses more calories to digest it than other foods.  It helps increase your body's metabolism.  At the same time, protein keeps you satisfied to help save you from getting the munchies.  However, the proteins you should concentrate on are the beans, lentils, egg whites, fish, turkey, chicken (both skinless), soybeans, and all low-fat dairy.

Something else to think about is the volume of the food.  For instance, you can eat 1/4 cup of raisins for 130 calories or you can blow up those dried grapes with 1-1/2 cups of fresh for the same amount of calories.  Another example is if you crave potato chips.  You can eat 10 potato chips for about 150 calories or a fairly sizeable baked potato that will take you longer to finish. 

The last idea I have to share is remembering to take those meals at the table and eat each bite slowly instead of polishing off your plate as if you're in a race.  Chewing slowly will give you time to enjoy those foods more while tricking your mind into thinking you ate more than you did because it took you longer to finish.

Sun Shower Juice Review and Giveaway!--Ends September 27, 2011

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Sun Shower Juice 

Recently, I was contacted to review a new line of juice revved up with powerful health benefits.  I was unaware of Sun Shower Juice from NBI Juiceworks until being approached to do this review and giveaway.

Superfood Smoothies that I received  were: Defense--Berry, Revitalize--Apple, Kiwi, Mango, Heart Healthy--Tropical Passion, and Stamina--Grape, Apple.   This group delivers a tasty drink to promote healthy cell growth, heart health to help in lowering blood pressure.

The Natural Super Juices (100% pure) are great tasting while being loaded with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, including iron and potassium to revitalize and energize while helping to keep your blood pressure low.  I tried the Nectarine, Nectarine Mango, Nectarine Pomegranate, and the Nectarine Berry. 

After sampling the assortment I was sent, I thought Sun Shower juices were on the tart side, but a delicious way to get those vitamins, antioxidants and minerals, especially helpful for problem eaters for extra nutrition. 

If you want a fabulous smoothie, you need to try the recipe I created below because it is yummy and kid approved!

Sun Shower Smoothie à la Nuts

1 bottle (8-oz.) of  Sun Shower Natural Super Juice (I used Nectarine Berry)
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 cup of cooked rice
1/2 cup of ice
1/3 cup of milk
1/2 cup of cottage cheese
1/2 cup of raisins


Pour your milk, cooked rice, and raisins in your blender and blend thoroughly before adding the cottage cheese and liquifying everything until smooth.  Add the Sun Shower Natural Juice  (Nectarine Berry), cinnamon, and ice into your blender and blend again until smooth. 

I honestly think Sun Shower juices are perfect for safeguarding the health of those you love in the most delectable way possible!  The elderly, those recovering from illness and picky eaters would especially benefit from these wonderful products.

*Disclaimer:  This is my own honest opinion.  No money was exchanged.  All I received were free products to facilitate this review.*

Thanks to Sun Shower Juice, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States wins an eight bottle (12-oz. each) assortment of their own Sun Shower Juices!


Both Are Mandatory To Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then tell me the name you follow me by with your email (if not in your profile) in a comment.

2. Go to Sun Shower Juice and tell me which product you would love to try also or something you learned from the site in another comment.

Extra Entries:
Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--1 extra entry

Tweet #Win #HealthyJuiceAssortment #Giveaway @SunShowerJuice via @Nuts4Stuff http://tiny.cc/i36bm (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Like Sun Shower Juice on Facebook--1 extra entry to leave in a comment

Follow Sun Shower Juice on Twitter--1 extra entry to leave in a comment

Subscribe to Sun Shower's monthly newsletter--1 extra entry to leave in a comment

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--1 extra entry (must confirm)

Subscribe to Nuts 4 Stuff in a reader--1 extra entry (Orange button in my sidebar)

List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--2 extra entries (leave 2 separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Blog about this giveaway and and comment with a link to the post--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where in each comment)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where you left it in each comment)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 1 more extra entry)

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.   This giveaway is only open to residents of the United States.  Do follow the rules because I check entries.   Be alert that if you attempt to enter using multiple identities will be grounds for disqualification. 

This giveaway ends September 27, 2011 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

Here's a Tasty Solution for Sour Milk--My Moist Chocolate Cake With Mocha-Fudge Icing!

Here is a piece of my Sour Milk Chocolate Cake with Mocha-Fudge Icing!

I discovered my milk soured this morning.  Instead of throwing it out, I like to avoid waste and make something like this delicious chocolate cake.  Though I like to save my cake baking on Fridays to prepare for the weekend, sour milk waits for no one!  So here is a great moist sheet cake without eggs to try topped with my Mocha-Fudge Icing for the next time your milk goes bad or you just want something incredibly easy and bursting with chocolate goodness.

If you have more than two cups of sour milk, you can double the recipe below.  This is what I did and got three small sheet cakes.  The largest was a 15" x 10" x 2" cake for one recipe.  I had two smaller little pans I used for the second batch.

Another idea is to pour this recipe into loaves pans and freeze some plain  without icing for later. 

I topped my three little cakes with one recipe of the Mocha-Fudge Icing.  This worked out wonderfully since I had extra to share with the friends we invited over.

When your cake or cakes are cool, then frost with this fabulous icing.  This is made with coffee instead of milk.  You'll love how creamy this icing is with just a few ingredients.

My Sour Milk Chocolate Cake

2 cups of sour milk
2/3 cup of canola oilS
2 teaspoons of vanilla
1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa
2 cups of sugar
3 cups of flour
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt

Mix your baking soda into sour milk first.  Then sift flour, sugar, salt, cocoa into your mixing bowl.  Pour in your canola oil, vanilla and mixed milk and soda.  I like to use my electric mixture, but you can also beat this by hand if you want to get a little workout in the process.  Beat everything until smooth.

Pour into your greased 15" x 10" x 2" pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.


My Mocha-Fudge Icing

1/3 cup of margarine (it cannot be labeled spread)
2 cups of confectioners sugar
1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa
6-8 tablespoons of strong brewed coffee (cooled)

Beat this up with an electric mixer until creamy and a nice fluffy spreading texture for your cooled cake or cakes.  This makes enough to spread thinly on three little cakes.

Why You Should Include Potatoes in Your Diet for Health and Fitness

Potatoes usually get a bad rap when it comes to diet.  However, they loaded with calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins C, B-1, B-2, folic acid, B-6, and niacin besides being low in sodium, high in potassium and providing adequate levels of iron and magnesium--all minerals. 

Something you may not know is that eating raw potatoes help relieve constipation.  Slice thin to eat in your salads is one way to help regulate your system.  Cooking on the other hand, kills the enzyme in the potato responsible for this constipation benefit.

Another interesting thing to keep in mind about the importance of potatoes concerns anticancer properties.  Raw potatoes have high concentrations of protease inhibitors, which can vanquish certain viruses and carcinogens.  Again, cooking takes away that helpful benefit as well.

In addition, potatoes are easily digested and filling.  The truth is the potato itself is not that fattening.  On the contrary,  the extras such as butter, margarine, sour cream, and rich gravies can transform an innocent medium size potato of approximately 90 calories to one of several hundred.

To reduce some calories of mashed potatoes, you can try adding some low-fat cottage cheese that you processed in the blender or food processor as a wonderful substitute for sour cream. 

Another way to lower calorie content is to mash those potatoes adding some chicken broth (hopefully homemade that you had a chance to skim the fat off your soup when cooled in the refrigerator first) instead of butter and milk.

What else you can try is some plain yogurt flavored with chives, parsley, or other fresh herbs instead of butter or margarine on your baked or mashed potatoes. 

If you love French Fries, you can still eat them with my low-cal oven fries.  This recipe has just three tablespoons of healthy olive oil to coat four to six potatoes.  Trust me, this is a tasty alternative to artery-clogging real ones while being good for your heart and your figure.

Here's Some Useful Advice if You're Poison Ivy Susceptible

I happen to love being outdoors in the summer months as much as possible.  Usually I like to fiddle with my plants and work in the garden.  In the past, I was more prone to getting poison ivy regardless if I was near it or not.  However, I found some useful preventive measures to avoid it for the last few years or so with what I'm going to share with you here.

Even though it might be hot, I traded shorts and a sleeveless top or halter for jeans and T-shirt  and gardening gloves to protect more of me from possible exposure while working outside.

An important thing to do is to wash your tools with a soap solution once you finish.  This really helps just in case you accidentally contaminated those tools when working because the oil in poison ivy can attach to the handles, especially.

When you finish working outdoors and are ready for your shower, you need to take a few special precautions.  First, shower off with plain water before attempting to suds up to remove any possible poison ivy residue that you may have come in contact with.  If you attempt soaping up without rinsing off first, then you will spread that poison ivy over your body more for full coverage.

Also, I suggest picking up a bar of Fels-Naptha soap to use after working outdoors among the plants.  This may be considered a laundry soap, but this is a lifesaver if you're outdoors with  trees and plants as the last line of defense in the war against catching poison ivy.

However, if this advice comes to late and you now have poison ivy, you might also want to try some aloe vera gel from your aloe plant on the problem.   

Hopefully though, these few extra little tips will help for you to have a more enjoyable time outdoors!

Beautify Those Lips With This Great Homemade Lip Exfoliator!

 I promised to share some fantastic homemade skin care recipes from time to time.  Recently, I discovered another fantastic one to get rid of peeling lips.  This easy recipe will make them smooth again in record time. 

All you need are a few items that you probably have on hand anyway.  You'll need olive oil, salt, sugar, and an orange for this quick fix. 

Just take a few drops of olive oil, a pinch of salt, another pinch of sugar, and drop on a piece of sliced orange.  Next, you simply rub that doctored orange slice over your lips for two to three minutes in a gentle fashion to exfoliate your lips nicely!

Neutrogena Cosmetics Review

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Neutrogena makeup

When I had the opportunity to work with Neutrogena, I thought it would be interesting to review some of their products and compare them for you.  I was particularly interested in seeing which of their cosmetics worked the best on my face. Now you can benefit from what I learned!

I tested their Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup, Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation, Skin Clearing Oil-Free Makeup, Skin Clearing Mineral Powder (all in Classic Ivory), and the Mineral Sheers Loose Powder Foundation in (Natural Ivory).  The Neutrogena Healthy Skin Pressed Powder I worked with was in Light.

The Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup matched my skin tone quite nicely while giving my skin a beautiful fresh finish and flawless, but dewy look.  Furthermore, I loved what I saw in the mirror once I removed this makeup.  Believe it or not, my complexion looked better after starting this makeup and more so the longer I used this particular product like there was a treatment included.

The Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation was also impressive.  I really thought the coverage was great and lasted through the day.  The color in Classic Ivory was also right on for my light with yellow toned skin.  This is the perfect makeup you want to use if you're pressed for time because with a few whips of your brush or using the applicator, you can finish.  This pressed version has another great advantage of being less messy to work with than the loose version.

I also experimented with the Mineral Sheers Loose Powder Foundation in Natural Ivory to see how that fared up.  Color-wise this was just a tad darker on my face, but it looked just as pretty and evened out my coloring with a healthy glow thanks to this slight difference in shade.  In my opinion, the loose version gave more thorough coverage once your kabuki brush grabs hold of this silky powder than the pressed version.  You can use the smaller brush housed inside, but I prefer using the kabuki brush because it delivers better coverage.  If you don't own a kabuki brush, another thing that works is taking a cotton ball to that powder and dabbing on, then brushing the excess away with the brush.  

The Skin Clearing Oil-Free Makeup performed well in the sun without making my nose and chin shiny for an extended period of time.  This line has a blemish fighting power behind it as well.  I finished with patting on the Skin Clearing Mineral Powder using the convenient applicator. The only problem I experienced was the color in this line was slightly more orange than the Classic Ivory in the other products they make.  The product itself though gave my skin a beautiful matte finish.  You just have to find the right color for your skin in the best light possible. 

I received a Skin Clearing Blemish Concealer in Fair as well.  This came in handy when I developed a strange little pimple on my nose.  I refer to this unwelcome thing as the interview zit, which always seems to proceed my job interviews.  Why I am so fortunate I will never know.  Nonetheless, this concealer hid that disgusting zit with just the right shade and coverage while healing it with their patented MicroClear formula with salicylic acid to banish skin problems while unclogging pores at the same time.  Within two days, I had a clear nose again--alas, no job interview pending.

These are Neutrogena Skin-Clearing makeup products.

Next, I tried the Healthy Skin Pressed Powder in Light.  I liked the sheer and silky texture of this powder.  This compact comes with its own applicator and is wonderful for setting your makeup and packing in your handbag.  I found I didn't have to reapply as often when using this pressed powder like other pressed powders I have had in the past.

Neutrogena also kindly sent me 3-in-1 Concealer for Eyes in Fair.  This is an awesome product for dark circles and slight morning puffiness you sometimes wake up with.  I liked the rich consistency with added SPF 20 protection that hid those problems without creasing into any fine lines.  This concealer was easy to blend and really did do an excellent job on my raccoon like eyes that I sometimes wake up with.

One of my favorite Neutrogena products that I tested was their Healthy Skin Custom Glow Bronzer in Sunset Glow (below picture on the left).  Anyone that has fair to light skin knows the problem with choosing the proper bronzer because you can land up being too brown or too orange.  However, this bronzer is exceptional because it's unlike any typical bronzer with several graduated shades that you can adjust to give a lustrous sheen.  The color I chose in Sunset Glow is more like a cross behind a bronzer and a blush because this bronzer color has pink-peach tones to subdue the usual brown ones.  If you were afraid of bronzers because of that muddy look, you honestly should give this one a try because it will really give your skin a healthy, natural glow that is so lovely.

These are wonderful for a natural glow.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush & Bronzer was another product I wanted to investigate.  I know a lot of you are complaining about why the change from strictly blush to include bronzer now.  The color I chose, (Raisin Glow), a stunning natural rosy-brown with the  accompanying bronzer had the same degree of color, only with more of a peachy-brown look.  This would be your best bet for the closest bronzer duo that could double as a blush.  This bronzer color was very workable and will save you money buying a separate neutral color of blush when wearing makeup shades of browns and reds.

Nonetheless, if you don't care for bronzer then you should try this trick.  I found that sweeping your brush over the entire compact will give you a beautiful rosy shade, only slightly darker.  Before you finish, I like to dust the raisin color only on my upper cheekbones, highlighting them.

Another product I put to the test was the Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Quad in Moonlit Violet.  This set delivered a really pretty smoky eye with shades of violet, black, pink, and silver with directions where to apply each.  I also didn't crease up after a short time or need to use any eye shadow base when wearing these shadows.

Last of all, I was sent their Neutrogena MoistureShine Gloss in Refreshing Rose.  If you are searching for the perfect neutral pinkish-brown that would look ideal on everyone, then this shade is it!  This gloss was a shimmering wash of gorgeous moisturizing color that was non-sticky and lasting.  In fact, this product was one of the best glosses that I tried and would love to see more of their breathtaking shades.

Here are some ideal eye makeup and beautiful lip gloss products.

If you're looking for some fantastic new products and never tried Neutrogena, I definitely recommend looking into this line.  Hopefully, my review helped show the difference between these products so they suit your needs for the best ones for YOU!

My Zesty Pinto Beans and Rice Dish Recipe Is a Great Alternative to Meat!

My Zesty Pinto Beans and Rice Dish

If you want to learn to eat healthier dishes with less expense, then beans should be on your grocery list.  I don't know about you, but hearing what they feed livestock these days to spur their growth with tons of hormones and the like can be a scary option.  Since I watched a documentary on the beef industry and how those animals get to market, I haven't eaten beef in two years.  Although, poultry, fish and eating ham occasionally are no better, the dinners we have been gravitating toward are more with beans, pastas and cheeses. 

This recipe I'm about to share with you is easy and deliciously different with the addition of the honey-dipping mustard complimented with zesty hot peppers balanced with tomato and onion, delicately browned to tasty perfection using extra virgin olive oil. You can make this for a quick lunch instead of a typical sandwich and be satisfied without worrying about your diet. 

To simplify your cooking, I suggest cooking up a one or two-pound bag of dried pinto beans at once.  Usually I keep a portion of the cooked beans whole and the rest I mash in the food processor and store in the refrigerator for other recipes.  Working with beans in this fashion will save you loads of time in future meal preparation because all you have to do is reach in for a container of either mashed or whole and create something wonderful.

Use one cup of uncooked rice to two cups of water, bring to a boil, cover, and then put on low heat and cook for twenty minutes.  I like to add about two cups of this cooked rice to stir into the cooked pinto beans and vegetables. 

The rest of the cooked rice I like to put on each plate before I serve and top with the combined mixture.  However, you can adjust how much rice to your bean mixture accordingly.

I really do hope you will want to try this recipe because it is special as well as good for YOU! 


My Zesty Pinto Beans and Rice Dish

3 cups of cooked pinto beans
2 cups of cooked rice 
1/4 teaspoon of cumin powder
2 Hungarian hot wax peppers, chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/4 cup of honey dipping mustard
1 teaspoon of salt
1/4 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Medium and Fruity)

Brown your onions and chopped peppers in the oil until golden.  Add your chopped tomatoes and cooked pinto beans next along with your mustard, salt, cumin powder and stir in the two cups of cooked rice.  Mix thoroughly together.  Serve over some of the extra rice.