The Vegetable That Does it All

13 tips for cucumbers

Are your cucumber plants providing you with such an abundance that you are out of ideas for using them?  Look no further.  These magical veggies (or fruits, depending on who you poll) can be used for everything from defogging your bathroom mirror to instant diminishing of cellulite problem areas, really!!  Read on for 13 tips to help you get the most out of the amazing cucumber!

 

 

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need

every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin

B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin

B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron,

Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and

Zinc.

 

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon,

put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a

cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B

Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that

quick pick-me-up that can last for

hours.

 

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror

fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a

cucumber slice along the mirror, it will

eliminate the fog and provide a soothing,

spa-like fragrance.

 

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few

slices in a small pie tin and your garden will

be free of pests all season long. The chemicals

in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give

off a scent undetectable to humans but drive

garden pests crazy and make them flee the

area.

 

5. Looking for a

fast and easy way to remove cellulite before

going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or

two of cucumbers along your problem area for a

few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber

cause the collagen in your skin to tighten,

firming up the outer layer and reducing the

visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles

too!!!

 

6. Want to avoid a hangover or

terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices

before going to bed and wake up refreshed and

headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B

vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential

nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in

equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and

headache!!

 

7. Looking to fight off that

afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers

have been used for centuries and often used by

European trappers, traders and explores for

quick meals to thwart off starvation.

 

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and

you realize that you don’t have enough time to

polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber

over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a

quick and durable shine that not only looks

great but also repels

water.

 

 

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a

cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic

hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

 

10. Stressed out and don’t have time for a massage,

facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire

cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water,

the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber

will react with the boiling water and be

released in the steam, creating a soothing,

relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce

stress in new mothers and college students

during final exams.

 

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or

mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to

the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30

seconds to eliminate bad breath, the

phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your

mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

 

12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to

clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel?

Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the

surface you want to clean, not only will it

remove years of tarnish and bring back the

shine, but is won’t leave streaks and won’t harm

you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

 

 

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the

cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen

writing, also works great on crayons and markers

that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

 

Pass this along to everybody you

know who is looking for better and safer ways to

solve life’s everyday problems..

Thrifty Thursday Week 35





Thank you so much for stopping by Thrifty Thursday.  I have decided to make some changes to the hop.  Yikes… change, I know!  My goal is to have this hop be a wonderful resource for project inspiration, with a focus on spotlighting newer creative blogs each week.  I am asking that you only link DIY home decor and craft projects.  No recipes or links to your main blog, please.  That way we know when we come to Thrifty Thursday, we will find projects only without sifting through other links.  Entries not related, or to main blog pages will be deleted.
Other stuff:
* Please follow Saved By Love Creations, your host!
*Grab my “Thrifty Thursday” button above and throw it on your lovely site. Let’s grow this!
*I will choose 2 participants to feature the following Thursday, Please drop by and follow the features! Their links are in the post where their projects are featured.
*Please visit the at least the 2 blogs above you and shower them with comment love.
*Leave me a comment and let me know you were here. I love hearing from you.
*Have fun and be inspired!
*Stop by and say hello to Nikki and link up to her thrifty party too…

Weekly featured projects:

  • Jamie over at The Creative Imperative made this hip (stole your word, Jamie) and meaningful personalized subway art for her children and nephew.  I love the idea of personalizing the words to each child.  Look at how she dry brushed over the print (created in Illustrator) to give a distressed look.  What a powerful message to send to a child!

Inspiriational Subway Art

  • Amy at the Mombot provided us with a lovely free printable, incorporating a Winnie the Pooh quote.  The graphics and quote complement each other perfectly.  Head on over to the Mombot and snatch your download.  Thanks, Amy!

Free Printable Winnie the Pooh

Let’s get creative!

SBLC Featured at Knock Off Decor

If you missed SBLC featured at Knock Off Decor on Friday, check it out

Dr. Oz Homemade Exfoliant

Dr. Oz Homemade ExfolliantHi guys!  I am a self proclaimed Dr. Oz groupie.  He gives some amazing tips, and from the standpoint of a medical professional, I can vouch for the accuracy of the information he provides.  My favorite segment of the show is when Oz gives us “$5 home remedies”, for solutions to problems we throw excessive amounts of money at, often without getting our desired results.

Today I share with you Dr. Oz’s homemade facial exfoliant.  I have tried this one myself, and it feels wonderful.  I can’t say for sure what my skin would be like without regular use of this, and other home remedy treatments, but I do know that it seems to make a difference.  I feel better by simply taking the time to care for my skin, and my wallet doesn’t take a hit.  This particular remedy feels quite refreshing, and gives you an excuse to keep some brandy on hand.

Recipe:

Milk; 1 cup
Lemon juice; 2 tsp
Brandy; 1 tbsp
Mix it up and paint it onto your face. Let it dry completely, then rinse.

The acid of the lemon, the lactic acid of the milk and the alcohol in the brandy combine to exfoliate and brighten your face, naturally reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

What home remedies do you use?

No Bake Peanut Butter Cocoa Cookies

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cocoa No-bakesThis is a re-post, and is by far my most popular contribution to potlucks.  They take 5 minutes to prepare, and must sit for about 1 hour to harden.  Quick and awesome.  Today, I made them as “I am sorry my psycho Jack Russell TerrOR tried to annihilate your cat” cookies for my dear neighbor.  Couldn’t find a card for the occasion, so why not chocolate. Guess who is in the doghouse.  O.k., not really.  He is impossible for me to stay mad at.  At least it wasn’t a skunk this time.

Ingredients:

 

  • 1 cup milk

 

  • 2 sticks butter

 

  • 4 cups sugar

 

  • 1 cup peanut butter (i use crunchy)

 

  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

 

  • 6 cups Quick Oats

 

  • 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

 

(the above measurements make a mountain of cookies – depending on how you size them when you drop them on wax paper, about 70. You can halve the recipe if you don’t need that many, but in my experience, they disappear like magic)!

 

Directions:
  • Put 1st three ingredients in sauce pan and heat to a rolling boil, while stirring. When it comes to a rolling boil, wait onc minute and remove from heat. While waiting for that to boil, combine remaining ingredients in mixing bowl. After removing the saucepan from heat, pour in dry ingredients and stir until mixed. Line counter tops with wax paper and drop mixture into dallops onto the paper. Let stand until cookies harden. Usually about 1 hour.

 

Note: If cookies don’t set up, you didn’t let them boil at a roll for a full minute. If they are too dry, you let them boil too long.

 

Let me know if you have questions.


Cucumber Sesame Salad

Cucumber Recipes

I am ridiculously excited about my very first harvest… ever!  In May, I planted cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, having never planted anything in my life.  It has been a blast.  This is my debut garden recipe.  The tomatoes are giant, but still green.  The cucumbers grow 10 inches a day, it seems.  They are taking over.  Today I share with you a family recipe – refreshing cucumber sesame salad.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 2 medium cucumbers about 12 inches each
  • 1/3 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 1/2  teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (see tip)

Instructions

  • Peel cucumbers, leaving alternating green stripes. Then slice in half lengthwise and scrape the seeds out with a spoon. Using sharp knife, cut cucumbers into thin slices.

Cucumber salad

Cucumber salad recipe

Cucumber salad

Quick summer salad recipes

  • Combine vinegar, sugar and salt in a medium bowl, stirring to dissolve. Add the cucumbers and sesame seeds. Toss well and serve immediately.

Tip:  To toast sesame seeds, heat small skillet on low, add seeds.  Stir constantly for about 2 minutes until golden and fragrant.

Toasted sesame seeds

What are your favorite garden vegetable recipes?

Patriotic Cake Pops

Patriotic Cakepops

Need a quick, festive and patriotic dish for your 4th of July festivities?  Try these red velvet cake centered patriotic treats.  I love them because they are easy to make, there is lots of frosting involved,  and look how cute these lil guys are!  They are sure to be a hit with young and old alike.  Decorate as you like, and make sure you whip up plenty.  My were all gone in no time.  Read on for recipe and pics.

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Homemade Anti-aging Remedy

Dr Oz

 

Do you guys get sucked in by the loads  of anti-aging serums out there?  Each one promises striking results, and can cost hundreds  of dollars.  Even if you don’t by the super expensive creams, trying several lower cost solutions adds up over time.  I am excited to share with you a remedy I saw on Dr.  Oz and tried myself. It was part of his $5 cures segment, and you can most likely have the ingredients to throw it together right now – egg whites and carrot juice!
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Thrifty Thursday Week 29

Week 29 of Thrifty Thursday. Getting my Macbook Pro back today.  Wow, that thing has become an appendage.  I will be so thrilled to have you back, my dear Mac.

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My Blogger to WordPress Transfer Experience

Transferring from blogger to wordpress

Deciding to move is a big deal.  Especially if you have been blogging for awhile, and are a bit obsessive.  I am not going to lie, I have been known to be high maintenance at times.  I am huge into DIY and take pride in that fact that there is not much I can’t figure out, with a little diligence and a lot of google.  I had contemplated moving from Blogger to WP for some time, and figured I would just do it myself.  That is until I began researching the process and all of the issues that can arise, such as loss of followers, posts, pictures, permalinks… oh my. About the time the process of tackling this myself began to seem overwhelming, I ran across Blogelina’s transfer service.  She happened to be hosting a twitter chat that very evening on the topic of transferring from Blogger to WP.  How timely!

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