Frugal Vacation? Homecation? Staycation? You Choose

While our children are vacationing in Switzerland for the holidays, my husband and I, have our own vacation at home, it's call HOMECATION: word from the Urban dictionary. On Christmas Eve, after going out for some window shopping and before the Midnight Mass, we had dinner:

Flat bread pizza, Pinot noir,

Apple pie and Pistachio/Cashew Ice cream.

After mass, we had Egg Nog (store bought), I have a recipe for egg nog but I didn't feel like making it.

 

Christmas day was Pajama day for me. I wake up late and I indulged myself with this wonderful  ginger/mint nourishing body polish that my daughter Stephanie bought for me some months ago.It's a great product, everytime I use it I feel good, and it makes the skin smooth.

Thereafter, I had my tea, I am an avid tea drinker, I enjoy tea for many reasons: tea contains antioxydants that protect our body from various kind of diseases, tea can boost our immune system and has cancer-fighting effects. Compared to coffee, tea has less caffeine. I drink various flavors of tea.---The aroma of a hot cup of tea and a good book, like this one that I promised myself to finish before the end of the year, it's heaven!

Bel Ami by Guy de Maupassant ( I bought it at http://www.frenchbooksonline.com/)

The day after Christmas: Blizzard alert, it's started snowing at 10:00 am. I did not feel like cooking but since we've been eating leftovers, I decided to make this quick meal:

Buttery Potato Fans. Flounder Filet and Mushrooms on a bed of  Steamed Spinach. It was delish!

To make the Buttery Potato Fans,   1- preheat oven to 450 F. Lightly grease a baking sheet. Cut potatoes into 1/4inch slices but do not cut all the way through. 2- Place potatoes on prepared baking sheet. Spread slices slight apart. 3- Mix butter and oil in a small bowl: lightly brush over potato skins and between slices with a small pastry brush. Sprinkle with salt. 4- Bake for 40 minutes or until potatoes are tender and edges are brown. Spread with sour cream or serve on the side. If you want to save time like I did,  prepare potatoes as recipe directs through step 3, but microwave the potatoes for about 5 or 8 minutes depending on the  sizes of the potatoes, then reduce baking time to 15 minutes in step 4.

Dec 27th The front door of our apt blocked by the snow

I took this pic from my living room's window

Dec 28th when I wake up and look outside from my bedroom's window, I couldn't resist, I had to take a pic of this beautiful view.

A BIENTOT!

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Welcome to My Home For Christmas..... and Happy Holidays!

Everyone who follows my blog knows decorating is one of my hobbies.Today I will not say much, I'll just let you enjoy my Christmas decorations

The Entry door, (wreath and wreath holder are from Home Goods)

 

                                        My husband and I, we made this centerpiece

The brown bases of my lamps didn't match my silver decor so I use aluminium foil and Voila (frugal solution)

This is my kitchen window, I use a table centerpiece as window treatment.

This is the bathroom door, I made the door knob decoration for every door in my home, I use pinecones, red ribbons and a glue gun.

                                                        Partial view of the bathroom-

Simple decoration for the bathroom, just a clear vase filled with christmas ornaments the color of the tiles and the cabinet,

                                                    

Santa needs a base

                  I made this base with a box wrapped with gift paper, it's more like it!

                            I bought this flower basket at my favorite store: HOME GOODS

                                                       decoration in progress

                                           All my snowmen are from Home Goods

         The poinsettias are on a soft white tulle curtain ( my creative mind was on frugal mode)

                                                                                                                                         

                               

                     This is an appetizers table for a small Christmas gathering on December 18th.

                                            

                                                                                                

       

                             Strawberries Trifle made by my daughter Caroline( Caroline's Pantry) for the occasion.

                                            

Tiramisu also made by Caroline

May The Light Of The World Shine In Our Hearts

This Christmas And Always!

For There Is Born To You

This Day In The City Of David

A Savior, Who Is Christ Our Lord

Luke 2 : 11

   FROM MY HOME TO YOUR HOME  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Homemade Hair & Body Shea Butter/Beurre de Karite

The first time I made this great body/hair butter was three months ago, it was so great it did not take long before my daughter transfer it from my room to hers, she's been using it since. When my Son came back home from college for Thanksgiving, he used it for his feet and was so happy with the results  he asked me to make some for him. So this morning before he went back to school I made a small jar for him.

I used : 4oz of unrefined shea butter
             2Tbsp of almond oil
             2Tbsp of grapeseed oil
             2Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
             1Tbsp of palma christi oil (castor oil)

I melted the shea butter au bain marie by placing a glass bowl containing the shea butter in a pan fill with water on low heat, you can melt it in the microwave but I prefer not.
I put the melted shea butter in the freezer, if you are not in a hurry like I was, you can put it in the fridge. So I put the bowl in the freezer until it looks like butter then I whipped it  using a hand mixer for 5mns, I added the oils and whipped again until it turned like soft butter (5mns)

I transfer it to a glass jar(Gerber baby food jar) and put a homemade label on it. FRUGALITY my friends!

*SHEA BUTTER has moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties, prevent wrinkles, activates collagen, softens cracked skin, great source of vitamin E and A that renew and regenerate cells, reduces the occurrence of skin cancer. It can be use to calm skin after minor burns. It softens tough skin on feet, especially heels.
Shea butter is very good for hair, it restores luster to hair, provides moisture to dry or damaged hair from the roots to the ends. It can be use on the entire body, it is suitable for all hair and skin types, it provides protection, healing and moisture to hair and body.

*ALMOND OIL promotes healthy hair, nourishes and smoothes hair cuticles. makes hair grow strong, add shine to hair, controls hair loss.
It contains vitamins B1, B6, B2 and A, it stimulates skin renewal, delays ageing process, lightens dark circles, soothes skin irritation and inflammation, improves skin complexion, cures chapped lips and body rashes.

*GRAPESEED OIL contains the antioxydants polyphenols that help slow the process of aging, tightens the skin, it's a wonderful moisturizer, it inhibits fine lines and wrinkles.
Grapeseed oil can be applied on all hair types, it smooths the hair cuticles, moisturizes and nourishes the hair.
Regular use of grapeseed oil make hair strong, healthy and shiny.

*EXTRA VIRGIN  OLIVE OIL works as a natural hair conditioner, it nourishes, conditions and improves the elasticity of  your hair. EVOO is rich in antioxydants polyphenols and hydroxytyrosol that slow aging by stabilizing the cell plasma membrane. It promotes supple skin, lustrous hair strong nails, radiant smooth complexion.

*PALMA CHRISTI (Palm of Christ) CASTOR OIL- has powerful healing properties, soothes and softens the skin, it promotes hair growth, has many benefits for arthritis, injuries, back pain, helps in fungal infection.

LOVE NEVER FAILS

One Sunday, the pastor from Kingdom Connection Jentezen Franklin started his sermon with these quotes from Paige Satchel:

  WORK LIKE YOU DON'T NEED THE MONEY
   DANCE LIKE NOBODY'S WATCHING
   LOVE  LIKE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN HURT

The topic for the day was about how Love Never Fails. I recommend to anybody to check Kingdom Connection on the Discovery channel on Sunday at 7:30 before Joel Osteen. I started watching him when one Sunday  for some reason I decided to turn  the tv ON before the time for Joel Osteen which I've been watching for a while now.

The pastor J.Franklin was talking about how he is helping Haiti, since then I watch him every Sunday.
Anyhow, that made me think about how we always forgive those we love.-I always forgive, but
I don't  forget. I don't believe in this forgive and forget thing.

Like the pastor said:  NOBODY IS THAT SPIRITUAL.  I can forgive in 1 hour,  in 1 day or 1 month after the hurt, the betrayal, the longest it takes me to forgive is 3 months but I always do, if you don't forgive it will consume you.-I read somewhere that "THE WEAK CAN NEVER FORGIVE, FORGIVENESS IS THE ATTRIBUTE OF THE STRONG".

Forgiving is not condoning, what someone did to you is still not okay. If  someone hurts me, if someone lies    to me frequentely, I will forgive them but trust them again????
Furthermore, if and when a person has repented we can show them some mercy like God does for us.
For some people, after you forgive them it's best to stay away from them, if possible.

*If love really is unconditional, it will hold any weight, face any doubt, persist through hoplessness and last any trial.


My husband is a wonderful, loving, caring man with a generous heart, a little naive, people tend to take advantage of him and he always forgive.-My children know the power of forgiveness and they also know that, when something is wrong  it's best to talk about it, kind of clear the air and move on. That's the way it is between them. With my three children plus my husband it  always has been like I have four children in  a certain way and  our love for each other has always get us through anything.

Our 26th anniversary is on the 24th of  this  month.  - 26 years.....for better or for worse. We have had a  lot of better and when there is worse THERE IS WORSE. --Anyway I am a Godsend for him. LOL I can see his face reading this.  LOL.

"LOVE  NEVER FAILS, IF IT DID WOULD IT BE LOVE?

 It's my frugal way of saying:

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TI PAPY!!! I beat you to the punch.

Limes and Lemons......Very Good Friends of Mine

I have been using limes and lemons all my life, back in my country everytime there was a contagious illness, diarrhea and vomiting epidemics, fever epidemics etc, like all loyal friends they were always there. I would have recourse to lime by putting the juice in every gallon of water to be use. No one ever get sick in my house at time of these epidemics.

Lime and lemon are both citrus fruits rich in vitamin C, but lime has more vitamin C (19mg) than lemon (4mg). They both have flavonoids and the phytochemical Limonene, which have anticancer effects and helps increase the levels of enzymes that detoxify carcinogens.

ANTIVIRAL:  they are potent detoxifiers with antibiotic effects that is protective against bacterial poisoning and cholera  which at this moment is spreading in Haiti after an outbreak in the central Artibonite region. It would be a great  help if people overthere could drink a part of water with one part of lime juice many times daily even if they're not sick. Yet.

I often drink a cup of warm water with lime juice in the morning, it's a good cleanser for the whole body. It helps with  indigestion, constipation, weight loss and more.

** For cold and dry cough, a glass of warm water with  lime or lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey is a good remedy. For sore throat also.
**Lime or lemon juice is great for all types of fever and cold, it increases resistance, reduce toxicity and cuts down the course of the illness. For cataracts and conjunctivitis a few drops of  lime juice diluted with water can be instilled in the eyes  for great results.

FRUGALITY WITH  LIME & LEMON- Before they turn bad I squeeze the juice and store it in a glass bottle in the fridge. You can also make ice cubes with the juice and use them in your beverages.
 After squeezing the juice, use the flesh on your face, it's a great tonic.
The natural health benefits and curative properties of lime and lemon are extensive, excellent sources of vitamin C, B6, potassium, folic acid, the rare vitamin P and the best readily available source of vitamin G.

Frugal Bananas

When I have ripe bananas and I don't have time to use them, I don't throw them away, I peel them and put them in ziploc bags and keep them in the freezer for smoothies. Frozen bananas will keep for 2 months. 
Sometimes my daughter use them to make banana bread, banana muffins and other delicacies.

You can mash one ripe banana and add an egg for a facial mask. I will soon post some frugal banana recipes. Banana peels are good fertilizer, instead of throwing the peels away, simply burry a few next to your plant by the roots, you'll be happy. Don't put bananas next to apples, this will accelerate their ripening.

Bananas are very good source of vitamin C, B6, potassium, dietary fiber and manganese.
Being high in iron content, they are beneficial in the treatment of anemia, they stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood. Bananas have natural benefits and curative properties.

Roasted Parmesan Potatoes

On Saturday evening, while I was checking my recipes box I stumble upon this potatoes' recipe, I decided to make it on Sunday, I gathered my ingredients and the result was delicious, crispy and spicy. Everyone enjoyed eating this meal.

Ingredients:
4 medium potatoes peeled  ( I used 7)
1 tbsp oil
3 tbsps grated parmesan cheese
2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley or 2 tsps dried parsley
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminun foil and spray with cooking spray. Slice potatoes in half, then cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
Place potatoes in a medium bowl and toss with oil. Combine parmesan, parsley, paprika, garlic powder, salt and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
Add the parmesan mixture to potatoes; toss to coat potatoes evenly.
Arrange potatoes on prepared baking sheet. Bake, turning once, until potatoes are lightly browned and easily pierced with a knife about 25 minutes.

Beet-Corn-Asparagus Medley

I made this vegetables to go along with my potatoes and baked tilapia.  I call it " Beet-Corn-Asparagus Medley"

Ingredients:

1 Large beet diced
1 cup cut asparagus
1cup corn
1 Medium red onion diced
   some cut leeks (optional)
2  cloves of garlic chopped
2  tbsp olive oil
2  tbsp of  warm water
Salt & pepper (to taste)

Directions:
In a skillet, on medium heat, add the olive oil and the onions, the garlic and the leeks. Add the beet along with the asparagus,let it simmer and cook for a few minutes. Add the corn, salt and pepper and the warm water, let simmer for 3-5 minutes and serve.