Green tip #7 - Glowing skin

Tip for glowing and healthy skin :

Almond can do wonders to your skin, hair and general health.
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This nut is antioxidant rich, high in vitamin E, fat and protein content along with containing many essential nutrients. The daily usage of this wonderful home ingredient can treat many ailments and treats various beauty and hair issues.
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Applying almond oil to skin helps in removing itching and moisturises your face. It is an excellent emollient (softening and soothing to the skin) and also helps the skin to balance water loss and absorption of moisture and is suitable for all skin types. If you are looking for a natural solution to get rid of dark under eye circles, almond oil is most suitable. Simply apply the oil before going to bed and allow it to work while you sleep. For optimum results do so regularly for a couple of weeks at least. The treatment will help you get rid of dark circles as well as reduce dark eyelids and crow’s feet.

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Almond oil can be applied neat to the skin, as it acts as a carrier medium when using essential oils. It is an excellent oil to use for both body and facial massage and helps to increase the health and vitality of the skin.
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Almond oil is rich in vitamin A, B and E, which are great for skin health. In fact, most skin care products have these vitamins loaded in them. The oil helps maintaining moisture levels of the skin and gets absorbed in a jiffy without blocking the pores. 

Almonds are one of my favourite nuts. Almonds are packed with vitamins, minerals, protein and fibre, and are associated with a number of health benefits. Just a handful of almonds, approximately one ounce, contains one-eighth of our necessary daily protein. The health benefits of almonds have been documented for centuries and modern research is backing up many of the claims - there any many goods reasons why you might want to consider including them in your diet.

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Begin 'n Dankbaarheids-Joernaal

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Joernaal-aantekeninge is maar net die daaglikse skrywe van jou gedagtes en idees op papier. Dit kan 'n grootse ondervinding wees. Hierdie proses kan jou ondersteun in die soektog na byvoorbeeld waaroor jy angstig voel, of waarvoor jy 'n passie het en waaroor jy droom.

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Koop vir jouself 'n pragtige notaboek en gebruik 'n pen waarvan jy hou om mee te skryf. Ek gebruik 'n ''Moleskine'' notaboek (wat by enige goeie boekwinkel beskikbaar is in verskeie formate). Vind 20 stil minute of so in jou dag en ek stel voor jy maak dit 'n roetine - ek doen myne net voor bedtyd of vroeg in die oggend - maar enige tyd wat jou sal pas is gaaf.

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'n Paar van my gunsteling vulpenne :

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Parker Sonnet Deep Black Laquer Gold Trim Medium Nib

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Parker Sonnet Stainless Steel GoldTrim Medium Point

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Waterman Himisphere Starlight

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   Antiek Waterman-pen met grys en goud Laquer body, dik nib

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Skryf asof jy met jouself praat - skryf oor al jou gevoelens, wat jou pla of waaroor jy opgewonde voel, die dag wat voorlê of belangrike gebeure van die verlede en wat jy graag wil onthou. Ek sit alles in soos datums, plekke, die tyd, ens. Dit hoef nie meesterstukke te wees nie - hierdie is JOU joernaal en vir jou oë alleenlik. Ek plak ook sommer goeters of teken prentjies.

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Ondersoek het duidelik bewys dat, om 'n Joernaal te gebruik, stres verminder en die immuunstelsel versterk, sowel as die volgende voordele:

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- dit laat jou beter voel oor die lewe

- dit maak jou meer optimisties oor die toekoms

- dit spoor jou aan om andere te help met hulle probleme

- dit verbeter jou gesondheid

- dit  gee rigting en helderheid

Daar is baie dinge waaroor jy 'n joernaal kan hou - my gunsteling is my DANKBAARHEIDS-JOERNAAL. Elke oggend, sodra ek gebad, aangetrek en tande geborsel het, skryf ek my 'gratitudes' neer. Aan die begin gaan dit maar stadig, maar net deur met een klein dingetjie, soos "ek is dankbaar vir die sonskyn" te begin, begin jou lys van dankbaarhede te groei en binnekort het jy sommer 10 op een slag.

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In dieselfde boekie, aan die agterkant, doen ek my AFFIRMASIES vir die dag, soos byvoorbeeld "Ek is gesond en gelukkig. Daar is geen siekte wat ek nie kan oorwin nie" of "Ek spreek van vreugde vir die lewe! Ek laat myself toe om elke oomblik van elke dag totaal te geniet!" My gunsteling een is "Dankie vir die dag wat voorlê..."

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My Daaglikse Joernaal vir alles en nog wat - hierin doen ek ook sketse saam met my inskrywings....

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Hier is 'n paar idees vir 'n Joernaal - ek is seker jy kan nog met vele meer vorendag kom :

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- Tuin-joernaal

- 'n Natuur-joernaal

- Gebeds-joernaal

- Belangrike gebeurtenisse- en datums-joernaal

- Droom-joernaal (al die dinge wat jy nog die graagste wil vermag)

- Dinge-om-te-doen-joernaal

- Welbekende aanhalings- en inspirasie-joernaal

- 'n Joernaal met jou eie gesegdes, inspirasies en sketse (wie weet, eendag kan jy dit dalk verwerk in 'n eBoek!)

- 'n Joernaal oor jou kinders - kort liefdesbriefies aan hulle

- Joernaal oor jou alledaagse gedagtes - dinge wat jou pla, oorwinnings

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Ek het 'n paar joernale op my rekenaar ook, maar daar is niks soos om met die hand te skryf nie!

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'n Paar van my Moleskine notaboekies :

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Daar is so baie dinge in hierdie lewe om voor dankbaar te wees dat 'n mens honderde joernale kan volmaak en nog steeds nie alles genoem het nie. Leef met 'n dankbare hart -
leef met ʼn fokus op wat jy het eerder as dit wat jy nie het nie. Dan waardeer ʼn mens klein dingetjies in die lewe. Dan is jy ʼn tevrede mens wat oorloop van dankbaarheid. Daardie dankbaarheid in jou hart spoel oor na ander mense en verryk alles en almal om jou.

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When two people marry

Your hearts are filled with happiness
so great and overflowing
You cannot comprehend it,
for it's far beyond all knowing
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How any heart could hold such joy
or feel the fullness of
The wonder and the glory 
and the ecstasy of love.

You wish that you could capture it
and never let it go
So you might walk forever
in its magic, radiant glow.
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And love in all its ecstasy
is such a fragile thing,
Like gossamer in cloudless skies
or a hummingbird's small wing.
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And love that lasts forever
must be made of something strong...

The kind of strength that's gathered
when the heart can hear no song.
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When the sunshine on your wedding day
runs into stormy weather,
And hand in hand you brave the gale
and climb steep hills together,
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And clinging to each other
while the thunder rolls above,
You seek divine protection
in faith and hope and love.
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For days of wine and roses
never make love's dreams come true...
It takes sacrifice and teardrops
and problems shared by two
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To give true love its beauty,
its grandeur, and its finesse,
And to mold an earthly ecstasy
into heavenly divineness.
~ Author Helen Steiner Rice

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Vintages - A touch of lace

The depths of most people's understanding of lace is of the nosy, suburban housewife tweaking the lace curtains aside to see what the neighbours are up to.

Those dust, net horrors are but the sad, machine-made remnants of what, for 300 years, was an extraordinary fashion in the decoration of clothes and household goods. A fashion that saw the creation of some of the most exquisite treasures in the history of textiles. Treasures that, in their time, were prized above jewels or silks. Men were robbed and killed for a lace handkerchief and thieves were as ingenious as any in Gauteng today. They slunk up on coaches, slit open the leather backs and snatched the wigs from women's heads as these were festooned with costly lace. (Women were instructed to sit with their backs to the driver in order to foil criminals.)

Four layers of rouched fabrics were added to cutwork lace panels to make these exquisite window draperies.

The labour that went into making a few centimeters of lace is almost incomprehensible to us in an age of mass-production and rampant consumerism. How could anyone spend a year making a mere 600mm of lace? Yet thousands did, by the light of candles in uncomfortable places such as cow byres, where the moist warmth from the cows below kept the fine flax thread supple and prevented the hands of the lace makers from becoming stiff with cold.

 

A vanity table dressed in lace with antique dresser accessories arranged around a collector plate and a vintage red-velvet jewelry box.

The glorious era of lace ended with the French Revolution of 17809. Gowns were suddenly simple and untrimmed. Lace was used only for state occasions and people became puritanical about its expense and frivolity. Large collections were cast out by families to their waiting-maids. Fear of death may also have played some part in this destruction, lace being associated with aristocrats - and aristocrats with the guillotine.

 

A glimpse of vintage ladies' fashions ads its old-fashioned charm. Between the dresses is an antique hair-ribbon holder.

Most cast-off lace was wasted by deterioration or by cutting up and wearing out. Old pieces were worn again during the 19th century, when it became fashionable and people began to assemble collections, but the lace soon wore out and there was nothing new, or of equivalent quality, to replace it.

Serious collectors will, of course, keep their lace packed safely away, kept flat between acid-free tissue paper, mostly unseen, but there are many people who buy old lace to decorate their clothes and furnishings, knowing that they will be wearing something old and rare and quite unique.

A bouquet of dried hydrangeas and cockscomb, accented by silk flowers sits high on a wicker plant stand covered with a pink damask throw. Rich drapes of vintage lace adorns the vanity and footstool. The Oriental rug delicately complements the softly muted tones of the room.

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Gift Artfully for this Holiday Season 2014

Stocking stuffers
Get 15% Off Stocking Stuffers with code STOCKING15 on RedBubble!

First of all, RedBubble's TOTE BAGS make great "stockings" and can be filled with great gifts like phone cases, stickers, T-shirts, posters, photographic prints, calendars, mugs and much more. Make use of the current offer and GET 15% OFF ALL THESE PRODUCTS!


Gifts for Her - Throw pillows

 

Gifts for Him & Her - T-shirts and Hoodies

Mugs - $15.00 US

Stickers - $2.69 US

iPhone Cases & Skins

Duvet Covers

So, sit back, just click and get all your shopping done in one go!

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Wys my die plek

Foto Jeanne Rosier FB 

Wys my die plek waar ons saam gestaan het,
Eens, toe jy myne was -
Vroeër, voor jou liefde vir my getaan het,
Vroeër, toe jy myne was.
Kyk, dis dieselfde; die silwer see
Blink in die sonskyn, soos lang verlee
Dit eenmaal geblink het, 'n welkomsgroet
Vir ons liefde wat uithou en alles vergoed.

Wys my die plek waar ons saam gekniel het,
Eens, toe jy myne was -
Vroeër, toe een siel vir ons saam besiel het,
Vroeër, toe jy myne was.
Kyk, dis dieselfde; die hemel, blou,
Lag soos voorheen op my en op jou;
Dit skitter nog altyd 'n welkomsgroet
Vir ons liefde wat uithou en alles vergoed.

Wys my die plek waar ons saam geloop het,
Eens, toe jy myne was -
Vroeër, toe ons harte so veel gehoop het,
Vroeër, toe jy myne was.
Kyk, dis dieselfde! Net  jy nie. Vra,
Wie van ons twee moet die meeste dra?
Jy wat vergeet het - of ek wat boet
Vir my liefde wat uithou en alles vergoed?

~ C Louis Leipoldt (1880-1947)

Aloe cooperi

A new addition to my family - Aloe cooperi - family Aloaceae - this Aloe is a South African grassland aloe. occurs in moist habitats and in dry rocky areas, mainly in Natal, Swaziland and Mpumalanga. Aloe cooperi grows singly or in small groups from offshoots at ground level. Plants may be stemless or short stemmed up to 15cm high. The leaves are often yellowish green with the upper surface usually unspotted, though occasionally they have a few white spots lower down. The inflorescence is simple and bold. The flowers of Aloe cooperi vary in colour from greenish-cream to apricot and salmon pink. Can't wait for it to flower!

 Image from
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden

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Today is such a day

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On a day when the wind is perfect,

the sail just needs to open

and the world is full of beauty.

Today is such a day.
- Rumi

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The wonder of Echeverias

It is only when we are aware of the earth and of the earth as poetry that we truly live.

 - Henry Beston, 1935, Herbs and the Earth

I’ve been absent from the world, lost in the beauty of my sunny front-yard garden. Too much work, a whole lot of plants, and life goes on. And the Echeverias (E. glauca) are flowering! A sure sign of mid-summer and lots of rain.

The Genus Echeveria is a member of the Crassulacae family and are natives of Latin America — specifically Argentina and Mexico.  There are around 150 species and they are a wonderful succulent to have in your collection.

Echeveria glauca, my personal favourite, also called "Hen and Chicks", is one of the most popular. E. glauca is desirable for its blue-green colour, attractive arrangement of foliage, for their hardiness and their colourful, bell-shaped flowers on pink stems in early summer. Break them off when blooms have faded, this encourages more flowers.

They are one of the easiest succulents to grow indoors where a sunny window is a perfect spot for them. But be careful of too much direct sun through the glass as this can burn them. During summer and spring water them regularly, reducing watering in winter.

For me, growing them outdoors is a total struggle. E. glauca prefers average summer temps of 18ºC - 21ºC (65ºF - 70ºF). and in winter, cool to 10ºC (50ºF). In summer, the temperature here in Tarlton often exceeds 30ºC. And even though our winter temperatures rarely dip below 10ºC, we get a particularly bad frost that doesn't kill them but stunts their growth, making it harder for them to recover in summer. This little feature no longer exists as I had to lift them all and plant in pots.

They need a well-drained soil and our soil tends to compact quickly and become as hard as rock, even with lots of compost and sand added.

So slowly, as the years have passed, I've taken them out of the garden and put them in pots, baskets and anything else I can lay my hands on.

One can see the difference in the Echeverias that get brought in for the winter and those that stay outside.

Echeverias spread by making pups (babies), which can be harvested and re-planted but are easily propagated by  taking a cutting (or by a leaf for the most of them). Besides propagation from leaves, if the main stem of the Echeveria becomes long and bare, you can cut the rosette off, let the wound dry for a week or so, and re-root the rosette. An expert recommends suspending the rosette just barely out of reach of a layer of growing mix. The rim of the pot can act as support. The rosette will send roots reaching down towards the mix. When you see a good amount of roots, it's ready to plant in the soil.

CULTIVATION TIPS
Most Echeveria are summer growers. Once established they can tolerate extended dry periods without watering but will grow stronger if they receive adequate water during their growing season. Free draining, porous soil is essential to prevent root rot. Echeveria are shallow rooted plants and therefore benefit from good levels of organic matter in the soil. Good ventilation is important for minimising pest and disease risks. Mealey bug and aphids find them irresistable so regular drenching with a suitable pesticide during the warmer months is advised - use Neem Oil which works well and is 100% organic. Generally, the more sun they get the better they will display their colours and shape, but protect them from excessive sun during hot weather.

All pics taken in my garden (Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa).

And here are some lovely ideas I found on the internet for displaying your Echeverias and other succulents :

 

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