Taking Care of Dry, Flaking, Cracked Skin

Dry flaking, cracked skin can be painful and irritating, particularly if of the heels of the feet.

During summertime when women wear open shoes, this is particular common. Fortunately, there is an easy, homemade remedy for this:

Every morning and evening after your shower or bath, place 1 drop of Sandalwood into a couple of Rosehip oil or Calendula oil and massage thoroughly. 

This is an excellent remedy for dry skin anywhere on the feet, especially if you play sport or are very active, when skin more readily dries and hardens.

Recipes 101

Danie de Villiers

Household Greener Cleaners

Simple everyday ingredients can be used to make safe and environmental friendly household cleaners.

For Washing Dishes

Place small slivers of hand soap in a heated glass jar. Cover with boiling water and let it dissolve. Add a tablespoon of vinegar and the juice of one lemon. It is suitable for the hardest dirt and grime!

For Washing Clothes

Use equal quantities of soap flakes and washing soda. Alternatively, a few tablespoons of washing soda added to biodegradable washing powders work a lot better.

For Use As a Bleach

Borax can serve as a good and effective bleach and disinfectant. Unfortunately, it is not as strong as commercial chlorine bleaches but can still do the job. Borax should be kept out of reach of children.

For Use As a Fabric Softener

Combine one part bicarbonate of soda, one part white vinegar and two parts water in a bottle. Use the same way a commercial softener would be used.

For Freshening the Air

Good and thorough ventilation of a room is still the best air freshener! However, a nice smelling bar of hand soap unwrapped and place where a draft is will do wonders.

Final Thoughts

Soap and water is still the most useful multi-purpose cleaner and can replace many commercial special-purpose cleaners.

Recipes 101

Danie de Villiers – Freelance writer

On a Lighter Note

For all of you with teenagers or who had teenagers, you may want to know why they really have a lot in common with cats:

1. Neither teenagers nor cats turn their heads when you call them by name.

2. No matter what you do for them, it is not enough. Indeed, all humane efforts are barely adequate to compensate for the privilege of waiting on them hand and foot.

3. You rarely see a cat walking outside of the house with an adult human being, and it can be safely said that no teenager in his or her right mind wants to be seen in public with his or her parents.

4. Cats and teenagers can lie on the living-room sofa for hours on end without moving, barely breathing.

5. Cats have nine lives. Teenagers carry on as if they did.

Danie de Villiers - Freelance Writer

Recipes 101 - Recipes to please your taste-buds!

Tips for Better Breathing

Correct breathing plays an important role in any woman’s health and well-being. Breathing affects the nervous system, which in turn affects the heart rate, blood pressure, blood flow to the organs and muscles, and breathing rate. 

Here are some tips to check your breathing for maintaining health and vitality through good breathing habits:

• Breathe through the nose and not the mouth

• Have a positive posture - slouching not only put strain on the back muscles but also restricts proper breathing

• Try to sit tall in chairs and when standing both feet must support the body

• Learn to stretch regularly. Good posture also improves the way you look and projects confidence

• Learn to relax. Practicing relaxing techniques allows the body to help restore good breathing, for example yoga.

• Engage in exercising. Exercises encourage good use of a person’s breath and strengthen the diaphragm muscles.

Here is a valuable breathing test:

Stand in front of a mirror with one hand on the chest and the other on the stomach. Take a deep breath. Which hand moved the most? If the hand on the stomach extended reasonably while there was minimal chest movement, then you are breathing correctly. If your chest lifted first with little movement in your stomach, then your breathing is shallow. Consciously breathe into your stomach area and feel it expand. You need to practice this exercise regularly.

By Danie de Villiers - freelance services

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