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7 Essential FREE Apps for Diabetics

Unless you have been living under a rock, you are probably aware that the world has gone app crazy. There are apps for just about anything you could imagine. I just recently, within the past year, started using some diabetic apps. Here is a list of top 10 apps that you should download to help manage your world with diabetes. Rather than link to the apps, just search what is bolded so you can find it on whatever platform you need it for.

7 essential free apps for diabetics

7 Essential FREE Apps for Diabetics

 

Glucose Buddy is a free app for apple and android users that I use every day. It helps me track my weight, blood pressure, glucose readings, medications and even food. I find the charts and tracking of medication and blood sugar readings most useful and it features a wonderful reminder system that allows you to set your own alerts for remembering to take meds or readings.

Social Diabetes is an app that allows you to track your progress, but also save all of your info to the cloud so you can connect with others and share recipes, tips and advice.

Diabetes Plus lets you track your readings and even send them to your Doctor! You can set your own target ranges and even PDF export your data so you can print it off.

Out of Milk is not specifically a diabetic app but it is very useful in managing it. You can create shopping lists that help you track sales as well as set up personal reminders. It stores what items you have added to the list to create future lists as well.

Medisafe is a great app if you want reminders set for medications. It not only helps you remember with alerts, but will also alert those you set it up for if you forget to take your meds.

Moves is a really neat smart phone app. If you are trying to make a goal of walking more, this app will essentially turn your phone into a pedometer! You can track your steps, miles and days exercised as well as reach goals.

Calorie Counter from MyFitnessPal is great for knowing the carb count, fat content and protein for any foods you are eating. It also helps you track them.

Carb Counting with Lenny is designed for children learning to manage their diabetes, but it is also a very fun tool for adults as well who may just be starting out on learning about carb counting.

 

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All-Natural Lavender Heel Repair Stick

Balms are something people have been creating for a long time. As soon as people found out about the healing properties of herbs and oils, balms were created to treat everything from dry skin to pain to wounds to promote healing and well-being. This balm is no different. I love the smell of lavender and at the end of the day, it is a soothing scent to use on your dry, cracked body parts. While I call this a heel repair stick, it really is for anywhere that you find yourself needing an extra boost in moisture such as your knees or elbows.

heel repair stick

To make this, I used some common natural ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter and essential oils. To make it easier to find them, I have included some links at the bottom of the page. If you have never used Shea butter, this is what it looks like. It is made from the karite tree in Africa. For this reason, you should look into if you can use it if you have a sensitivity to tree nuts. From what I read, it is tolerated well, but make sure to do your own research.

shea butter

Also, while you can buy empty deodorant containers on Amazon, I used an empty on I had saved for this project since I really hate to throw things away when they are still useful. If you are reusing one like me, make sure to take care not to remove the bottom piece that pushes up the deodorant. I did this the first time and it was not pretty. Also, make sure to thoroughly clean and dry it.

I hope you enjoy making and using this healing balm!

All-Natural Lavender Heel Repair Stick


5.0 from 6 reviews
All-Natural Lavender Heel Repair Stick
 
Author:
Recipe type: DIY Beauty
Ingredients
  • ⅓ Cup Coconut Oil
  • ¼ Cup PLUS 1½ Tbsp Beeswax, grated
  • 5 Drops Vitamin E
  • 3 Tbsp Shea Butter
  • 2 Tbsp Dried Lavender
  • 3 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
Instructions
  1. Start by placing your shea butter, beeswax and coconut oil into a glass container such as a mason jar. Fill an older small pot with about 4- 6 inches of water and bring to a boil.
  2. Place your glass container in the water and melt all ingredients. Your coconut oil will melt right away and then the shea butter and finally the beeswax. You should gently stir ingredients together. I use a bamboo skewer to do this.
  3. Remove from heat and add in essential oils, lavender and vitamin E. Gently stir to mix well.
  4. Pour into your empty deodorant container and allow to harden. It should take about an hour to completely harden at room temperature. Place it in the fridge if you want it to do it faster.

Some links for finding the ingredients online:

Shea Butter

Beesewax

Vitamin E Drops

Dried Lavender

Lavender Essential oil

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Free Kindle E-Book Friday: Green Living Books

10 free kindle e-books week 2

Reading is so much fun and with there now being electronic books, you can have hundreds in one small device. Some of these books are even FREE and only available for a short time at that “price”. Often times, authors and publishers release a book for free for a short time before they charge for it. This is to promote the book and gain some buzz. This is a great way to build your kindle reading library with no cost! Also, Amazon has a service called Amazon Prime that allows you to get many books for free with it that are normally not through their Kindle Lending Library. Sign up and get a free 30 day trial!

I share free e-books every Friday and this week, I will be sharing my Free Kindle E-Book finds for Green/ Eco-Friendly Living. Make sure you check to make sure the book is still free before you download as Amazon and authors change it often without notice.

Make sure you follow me on Facebook and Twitter to be aware as soon as this post is updated weekly! Also, sign up for my emails to make sure you are alerted as soon as this post comes out as well as my other posts throughout the week. Just sign up in the sidebar at the top.

 

101 Ways to Live Cleaner and Greener for Free

The Beginner’s Guide to Greenhouse Gardening: Grow Beautiful Flowers and Delicious Foods in Your Greenhouse (Greenhouse Gardening, Greenhouse, Sustainability)

Lemon: 50 Plus Recipes for Skin Care, Hair Care, Home and Laundry Cleaning along with Lemonade, Vegan, Curd, Cookies, Cakes and Desserts

The Organic Life: How to clean naturally, eat organically, and use aromatherapy to enhance your life

Natural Green Cleaning: How to Clean Your Home Naturally

Coconut Oil - Easy Homemade Coconut Oil Recipes For Weight Loss, Health And Beauty (Coconut Oil Recipes, Coconut Oil For Weight Loss, Coconut Oil Diet)

Apple Cider Vinegar: Discover the Hidden Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

JeBouffe Home Canning Step by Step Guide (second edition) Revised and Expanded

Permaculture: A Step by Step Guide For Home Permaculture: How to Become an Expert in Home Gardening Techniques

Make Your Own Organic Scrubs and Masks: An Everyday Guide to Simple Homemade Beauty Products

Don’t Miss another Free e-book!

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8 Foods to Indulge in as a Diabetic

8 foods to indulge in as a diabetic

It might surprise you, but diabetes does not mean you have to stay away from all food like it is a poison. There are some really great foods to indulge in as a diabetic and some even help you manage your blood sugar!

 

8 Foods to Indulge in as a Diabetic

 

Cinnamon- Cinnamon has some amazing effects on some people when it comes to managing blood sugar. It can actually help you if you eat it daily to keep your numbers in check. So make sure to sprinkle it wherever you can. It tastes great on cereal, in coffee and even just on some fresh fruit.

Oats- If you like oatmeal, you are in luck. While you may not think oats are a good thing to eat as a diabetic, they are actually a great way to start your day because they contain a lot of fiber that helps break down carbs in your system over a longer period and allowing your body to digest them easier.

Greens- While some vegetables can be high in carbs (think corn, squash and potatoes), others are very low in them and like oats, contain a lot of fiber to help you manage your sugar levels. Good choices include spinach and green beans.

Seafood- Salmon and seafood are amazing for a diabetic diet. They contain omega-3’s which are great for heart health. Since many diabetics suffer from heart disease related conditions, it’s a good idea to load up on these meats at meals as they don’t contain hardly any carbs and are high in protein.

Berries- Berries are the best fruit snack you can enjoy as a diabetic because out of all fruits, they contain the fewest amount of carbs and also have a lot of healthy fiber.

Beans- These are carbs, but they are complex carbs so they won’t raise your levels as fast as a piece of bread would. They also are fiber-full and will help your body digest any carbs you eat with them. Beans are great for stretching out meat in meals as well, so they really help budgets.

Plain yogurt- Yogurt contains a good amount of protein to balance out the carbs in it so it can help you stay full longer while controlling your blood sugar levels. This is a great snack mid-morning! Be sure to not get the sweetened kind as it contains a lot of sugar. Instead, if you really hate the taste of plain yogurt, add in some berries.

Avocado- While many people shy away from it, avocado is actually a great fat to have since it contains the heart healthy monounsaturated kind. Plus, it has been shown in some diabetics that a diet with many monounsaturated fats and complex carbs can actually help with management of the disease.

 

What are some of your favorite foods to indulge in as a diabetic?

Value Village Shopping Tips

Value Village Shopping Tips

When I lived in Missoula, there was only the Goodwill as far as chain thrift stores. I moved the Spokane, WA at the beginning of August last year and immediately sought out thrift stores. I fell in love with the Value Village. It is a chain thrift store that donates money to local causes and charities and I would much rather support them than the Good will any day after hearing about some unsavory things having to do with how the Goodwill runs their operations.

Being that I shop at the Value Village on a weekly basis, (sometimes more than once!) I thought I would share some of my tips for shopping there.

 

Value Village Shopping Tips

 

Make sure you check out their website. You can often find DIY ideas from Halloween costumes to refurbishing furniture tips. I find the website is a great place to check out some fun articles as well as info about the stores.

Join the SuperSavers Club. It’s free and it is your pass to great savings. It allows you to get 50% deals on clothes, shoes and even books during special sales that happen almost every month. Plus, there are sometimes pre-sales to ones that are offered to the public that only SuperSavers Club cardholders get. You will also get emails about the special sales coming up. SuperSavers also save 20% on their birthdays! Just don’t try to join on a sale day. Many times, it will be against their policy.

Get there early in the day to get the best chance at getting a great item on sale days. While they do put new items out all day long, you want the best shot at getting the newest stuff to hit the shelves as soon as they open. Plus, sale days tend to be crowded, so hit up the racks before they do.

Donate items to them. They give you a tax write off in most states and sometimes, they have extra deals like getting 30% off your next purchase or donation punch-cards that get you super discounts.

Make sure to pay attention to the color on the tag. On Non-big sale days, they often have sales on the tags. There is usually a different color each week, so make sure you ask what the color is when you come into the store. These get you 50% off all tags of that color in all departments, not just clothing like with many of their sales.

Shop off season. I have noticed that many off season items such as sandals in the winter and hats in the summer are on sale during off season times. They may not be marked on sale, but the prices are often lower than if you try to buy them during the season.

Get their book bargains. At Value Village, if you buy 4 books, you get the 5th for free. However, make sure they are all around the same price to get the best deal.

Go on discount days. On Wednesday, for example, Seniors get 20% off. Take your favorite grandma shopping on this day!

 

What are some of your tips for shopping at the Value Village?

 

This post was NOT SPONSORED by Value Village. I just really love it there!

Lower Carb Shamrock Shake Copycat Recipe


shamrock shake It's March and that means it's Shamrock Shake time at McDonald's. If you have never had a shamrock shake, it's a mint flavored shake that is one of the most popular yearly traditions during the month of March. While it has been out in the restaurant for a week or two now, it will be gone as fast as you can blink, plus, it's loaded with carbs. The Shamrock Shake at Mickey D's has a walloping 111 grams of carbs in a 16 oz size. Crazy! My version has approximately 15 (give or take a carb depending on how much whipped topping you use) in a 12 oz size. I added a bit of extra to my Shamrock Shake also. I like the taste of chocolate with mint and the regular version does not contain any so I added some chocolate extract. This will not add much in the way of anything other than flavor because the kind I bought is a natural extract sweetened with organic agave nectar. low carb ice cream I also used a type of ice cream that is not "sugar free" because I really hate the sugar free ice creams out there. Instead I got Carb Smart by Breyers. While it doesn't contain any sugar, and is sweetened with Splenda, it has a better texture, I think and only 4g carbs per 1/2 cup serving.

Lower Carb Shamrock Shake Copycat Recipe

5.0 from 1 reviews
Lower Carb Shamrock Shake Copycat Recipe
 
This low carb version of the McDonald's Favorite will soon be your favorite at home!
Author:
Recipe type: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups Breyers Carb Smart Vanilla Ice Cream
  • ½ Cup Half n Half or Milk
  • Green Food dye
  • Peppermint Extract
  • Chocolate extract (I used Frontier brand)
  • Whipped cream
Instructions
  1. Add ice cream to blender or smoothie machine. Pour in half n half or milk. Pulse for a few moments.
  2. Add 5-6 drops green food coloring, 1 tsp Chocolate extract and ½ tsp peppermint extract. Pulse again.
  3. Test for flavor add more chocolate or peppermint in small amounts until you reach the desired flavor intensity.
  4. Pour into a glass and top with a swirl of whipped cream.
  5. Enjoy!

shamrock

Are you a fan of the shamrock shake? Are you surprised as I was to find out it contained that many carbs? Will you be giving my version a try?

DIY: How to Restore Your Wood Cutting Boards

DIY How to restore your wood cutting boards

I don’t know about you, but I love a new wood cutting board. That first time you use it is quite an experience, but it soon starts to look dull, lifeless. Before you know it, it has started to loose its luster and lack it’s charm.

You can bring life back to your cutting boards in several ways. Some suggest using just plain olive oil as it will add back the sheen it had when it was new, but I prefer to use cold, unprocessed Coconut oil. I don’t know if it is because I think like vinegar, coconut oil has so many uses, it is like a miracle product, but I find that coconut oil really gets deeper into the wood and restores it completely, not just the surface.

How To Restore Your Cutting Board

There are plenty of products sold for restoring wood that are food safe and made just for this use. These products are not only expensive, but also unnecessary if you use coconut oil. While olive oil is in most people’s kitchens, it can also be pretty expensive and does not do as good of a job as coconut oil does. A small jar of coconut oil can cost you as little as $5.00 and since a little goes a long way with it, this is not an expensive option at all.

Another bonus to using coconut oil is that is has antimicrobial properties and will not allow for the growth of bacteria as a vegetable or olive oil will. Plus, it smells wonderful!

To restore your boards, follow the instructions below.

 

How to Restore Your Wood Cutting Boards:

  • Make sure you boards are clean and dry.
  • Taking some oil straight out of the container (coconut oil is actually solid and white if kept at room temperature), rub it into the board in a circular motion.
  • You won’t need much, just enough to completely cover all the parts of the board.
  • Allow it to completely soak into the board and wipe off any excess oil with a dry, soft cloth.
  • Let the oil soak in for a few hours before using it to to be sure the coconut oil has time to condition the wood.

how to retore your wood cutting board

You can repeat this process as often as you need to as some woods will require it more often than others. Keeping the wood conditioned not only keeps it looking attractive, but also makes your cutting boards last longer and less susceptible to breaking.

Why Buying Organic Saves You Money In The Long Run

I used to be pretty anti-organic when it came to saving money. I saw the prices were more than traditional kinds of products and since coupons were pretty scarce at the time I looked into it, I figured there was no way I could save money by purchasing organic foods.

Luckily, I gave it another shot and I am so happy I did as I find I save even more money that I thought I would and there are coupons available for many organic items now.

Fresh assorted vegetables in boxes on farmer's market

Here are some ways I have found that buying organic foods really saves me money:

Organic dairy is money saving gold. If you just take a look at “sell by” dates on organic dairy you will be amazed at how much longer it lasts. This is due to the products containing no steroids among other things that are no good for us, anyway. Organic milk is my favorite way to save this way. Because we don’t go through much of it because I no longer have a young child at home, I was finding I was tossing out more milk than I was able to use in time by purchasing regular milk. With organic milk, although it is usually a couple dollars more, I am able to use it all up way before it goes sour, thus, buying less milk and saving myself money.

Organic produce is another money saver. Since it is non-GMO and not full of chemicals, the produce can last a bit longer and you get a higher quality so you buy less. Plus, it really is not much more expensive than traditional produce and is often locally sourced so it is much fresher. At farmer’s markets, you can often find it very low cost.

Among the immediate savings with organic food are the long term ones. Buying organic helps save your health. The food that is produced organically is free from GMOs, pesticides and hormones so you can count on it being cleaner for your body and more nutrient rich.

To find coupons for organic food, just follow some of your favorite brands on social media. They will often release coupons to their fans periodically. I have also seen coupons for organic products popping up in weekly coupon inserts in papers.

 

Do you shop organically? How do you use organic foods to save money?

9 Things You Need in Your Cleaning Arsenal

cleaningarsenol1-2

 

Many people think you need to have a ton of different cleaners and many styles of brushes to clean your whole home, top to bottom. This is simply not true. In fact, you really only need 10 things in your stash of cleaning materials minus the obvious mop and broom.And, you don’t need chemical cleaners, either. You can get your home sparkling clean by just using natural things you probably have in your kitchen.

Here is a top 9 list of things I keep in my cleaning arsenal:

1. Vinegar. I think vinegar is a miracle. It can be used on nearly every surface, is safe to have around kids and pets and cleans just about every room in your home. Vinegar can be used in so many ways.

2. Baking soda.This less than a dollar a box powder is an amazing gentle abrasive for many surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom. Make a paste out of it and scrub your grout. Sprinkle it in your kitchen sink and go to town on it.

3. Melamime foam (Magic Erasers). The name says it all. These little white gems are really a miracle in cleaning. You can even use them in your car.

4. Rags: You don’t need to buy them, either. I use old towels cut into rags, old socks that long ago lost their match and even old t-shirts cut up. If you own a Swiffer style floor mop, a washrag works great as a reusable towel for them as it fits perfectly.

5. And old gift card. This seems like a very silly thing to have in your cleaning arsenal, but they are great for removing stickers, gunk and grime that you are having a hard time getting off mirrors and other surfaces. Plus, they won’t scratch.

6. An old toothbrush. While it might sound a bit “neat freak” to have one of these, bear with me. I am not on my hands and knees scrubbing my kitchen or bathroom floor for hours. However, they are great for getting in tight spots and around moldings.

7. Old socks. Another strange one, but amazing for dusting. Slip one over your hand and dust delicate items. Run your hand over the back of the TV. You won’t go back to a duster. I promise.

8. Fancy Gloves. This one may not be necessary, but for me, it is. I love a little eccentric flair in just about anything I do. I have owned zebra design cuff gloves and even ones with pink feathers attached. It adds a bit of fun to my routine and who doesn’t like that?

9. Lemons. Lemons are amazing at degreasing, so if you find yourself with a little extra time and a greasy kitchen, use a lemon to get it in shape.

Growing your own Onions in Your Kitchen

Did you know you can re-grow some of your produce you buy at the store no matter what season it is? No need to waste money buying produce you can reproduce several times is there?

I tried to grow green onions after hearing about it on Pinterest.

onion4

I was amazed! I don’t have much of a green thumb, although I get better all the time, and even I could grow these babies!

There are two methods to growing them. One, is placing them in soil in a little pot on your kitchen window. All you do is just stick your finger in the soil and place the white root part in the dirt. Water and allow to grow.

The second method, the one I used, is to place the white root part in a glass with some water-about 2 inches-and grow. This method works great if you don’t have space for a pot and very little lighting. I placed my glass of onions near indirect lighting and they grew about an inch and a half every day. I was seriously stunned and amazed!

onion6

Now, you may be thinking, “But green onions are less than a dollar, what is the point, really?” The point for me was to save money. While a dollar is not much these days, why waste one? With this method, you can grow your onions 3-4 times before needing to throw them out and get new roots. I bought these green onions for 55 cents. If I grow them 5 more times, I am spending a little over a dime each time. Plus, green onions are one thing on my shopping list I seem to always forget.

In less than a week, you will have a whole new set to use in your recipes and if you won’t use them this fast, you can cut them off, chop them up and freeze them for use in omelets and other recipes as these kinds of onions freeze well.

 

Just look at the growth after a week:

onion5

 

Try it yourself and let me know how it goes!