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Kids of all ages will love this fun healthy salad. This Watermelon Shark will certainly be a hit at any BBQ or summer party. Want to make it an adult only treat? Soak the fruit in alcohol. Follow the directions here. At step 9, soak the fruit as described below and then continue with the rest of the original directions. Soaking Ingredients 1 cup pineapple juice 1 cup raspberry vodka (or your favorite fruit flavored vodka) ½ cup triple sec or Grand Marnier Instructions Place fruit in a glass bowl with lid Pour soaking mixture over fruit Refrigerate for about 24 hours (the longer you store the drunker the fruit gets) Watermelon Shark article by Nicole Smith of Make. Directions to make the Watermelon Shark provided by Mike Asaurus at Instructables. #recipe #salad #healthyeating #vegetarian #sweets

This oatmeal recipe is a ridiculously delicious make-ahead breakfast. It’s high-protein, gluten-free, refined sugar free, and easily customized. It also freezes well and is a great dish for a crowd. I love this recipe because it isn't too sweet. If you have a sweet tooth, you can either add more sweetener when you are making it, or serve it drizzled with maple syrup or sprinkled sugar. How to Make Blueberry Oatmeal Ahead of Time Bake the night before & reheat.  Make it the night before, store it covered in the fridge, then warm in the oven the next morning. It takes 5 minutes to throw together and 35 minutes to bake. Make batter ahead of time and bake in the morning. You can also make the batter the night before – just leave out the blueberries -  and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. In the morning, fold in the blueberries, spread it into a baking dish and bake! Ingredients 2 cups old-fashioned oats ¼ cup almond meal/flour 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp baking soda ½ tsp sea salt 2 tsp ground cinnamon ¼ cup coconut sugar or any granulated sugar of your choice 2 TBS melted butter or coconut oil 2 cups milk regular, almond, coconut etc. ¼ cup Vanilla Greek yogurt or your favorite kind 2 eggs 2 tsp pure vanilla extract 2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen) 1 TBS cinnamon sugar for topping Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13” glass baking dish and set aside. In a small bowl, combine oats, almond meal, baking powder, baking soda, salt sugar and cinnamon. Set aside. In a separate, small microwave safe bowl, melt butter (or coconut oil). In a large bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, eggs, and vanilla and whisk until combined. Add melted butter and milk and whisk until combined. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix well. Gently fold the blueberries into the mixture. Spread evenly in a 9x13” pan. It will be runny. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the top of your oatmeal. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-40 minutes (shorter if using fresh berries, longer if using frozen). The oatmeal should be browned on the top and the top should spring back when you gently touch it with your finger. Let cool for 15 minutes and serve warm. You can also refrigerate after baking and serve cold! Don't be afraid to experiment with substitutions. There are many terrific ways to modify this recipe to what fruits and ingredients you have on hand. Top photo and recipe reposted from Joy Food Sunshine.

Take a look at these 6 Easy-to-Grow Plants that Repel Fleas & Ticks. Growing pest-repelling plants is just one of many sustainable ways of repelling fleas and ticks from your backyard. Here are six plants to consider in your shortlist. Read the full article at Organic Lessons. This information was reposted from Organic Lessons.

Did you know a Box turtle only roams 1 mile its whole life? If it is removed from its area/home then for the rest of its life it will roam aimlessly stressed out... trying to find "home" until it dies a very sad death. Please do not remove turtles. Do not take them home as pets. If one is injured please mark the exact spot found for the wildlife center. If a turtle is in the road you can help by moving it directly across the street in the direction it was heading. Thank you! Many people think it is harmless to let their children take home a docile turtle to play with and release it someplace they see appropriate. I was once that kid. Please share the knowledge. Click Box Turtle Conservation to find out more information on what you can do to help make them thrive.

I've stopped tossing our eggshells into the trash bin and started using them for plant fertilizer and pest control in the garden. Eggshells have many other practical uses besides gardening. You can use them for cleaning as well as for medicinal and cosmetics purposes. How To Clean Eggshells It’s a important to make sure your eggshells are clean and free from bacteria before reusing them. To sterilize your eggshells, rinse the shells inside and out and remove any residue or membrane that may be stuck to the inside. Then bake the shells at 250°F on a cookie sheet for about 20 minutes. I normally rinse my eggshells as I go and store them in a bag in the refrigerator. Once I've have a dozen or so, I sterilize them. If you are using shells from hard-boiled eggs, then you can use your shells immediately. No cleaning is required. 1. Seed Starters Because they are biodegradable, eggshells make excellent, no-waste seed starters. For this, reserve some of your deeper shell halves. Once the eggshells have cleaned and dried, use a sharp needle to poke a hole in the bottom of each shell to allow for water drainage. Place an eggshell in each carton divot. Fill each most of the way with soil. Place seeds into soil, according to seed-sowing instructions. Mist soil with spray bottle and keep carton in full sun. Water regularly and keep an eye out for sprouts. Once it’s time to transfer into a pot or garden, you can transplant as-is. 2. Deter Garden Pests Sprinkle the eggshells around your garden to deter soft-bodied critters like slugs and snails. They don’t like crawling over sharp pieces of eggshell. 3. Wild Bird Treat Feed them to the birds. They’re high in calcium and are great for birds in the spring when they are laying eggs– just make sure to sterilize them. 4. House Plant Booster: Keep eggshells covered with water in a mason jar. Water your calcium loving plants. You will have the most magnificent plants imaginable. 5. Calcium Powder Eggshells are commonly used as a calcium supplement for humans and pets. Just half an eggshell may provide enough calcium to meet the average daily requirements of an adult. Click here for instructions for making eggshell calcium powder. 6. Hummingbird Feeder Cleaner All of that sugar water can make hummingbird feeders pretty yucky. Ground eggshells make a wonderful, non-toxic abrasive for those tough-to-clean hummingbird feeders. Mix them with a little soapy water for a powerful cleaning solution. Check out these sites for more ideas and uses for your eggshells. 15 Reasons Why You Need to Stop Throwing Away Your Eggshells 35 Unique and Useful Uses for Egg Shells That Will Inspire You 8 Smart Reasons You Should Be Keeping Your Eggshells So stop tossing your spent eggshells in the trash—put them to work as supplements, pest control, art and more.

Tender, juicy baked chicken wings coated in a mouthwatering homemade dry rub that will have your taste buds singing! Pair it with a creamy Gorgonzola dipping sauce and it's a party hit! INGREDIENTS EPIC DRY RUB: 1/2 Tbsp ancho chile pepper 1/2 Tbsp smoked paprika 1/2 Tbsp onion powder 1/2 Tbsp kosher salt 3/4 Tbsp light brown sugar, packed (for low-car and keto use Brown Swerve) 3/4 tsp chili powder 3/4 tsp paprika 3/4 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (less if you're worried about the heat level) 1/2 tsp dried mustard powder 1/4 tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp dried oregano 1/4 tsp dried ground thyme WINGS: 4 lbs chicken wings, thawed completely if using a frozen bag 2 Tbsp refined coconut or avocado oil CREAMY GORGONZOLA SAUCE: 1/2 cup mayonnaise 3-6 Tbsp buttermilk 1/4 cup sour cream 2 -3 oz crumbled Gorgonzola cheese 1 clove garlic, grated 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice 1/4 tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp kosher salt INSTRUCTIONS MAKE DRY RUB AND CHICKEN WINGS: Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.  Line a large baking with 2 sheets of aluminum foil (or 1 heavy duty sheet).  Top that with an oven safe cooling rack and spray it with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. Combine all dry rub ingredients in a small mixing bowl, set aside.  In a large mixing bowl, add chicken wings and vegetable oil.  Use a rubber spatula to toss gently to coat. Sprinkle in about half to 2/3 of the dry rub mixture and use your hands to massage it into all of the chicken wings, coating evenly.  Feel free to use all the dry rub, but for a coating like in the photos, 1/2-2/3 of the mixture does just fine. Add chicken wings to prepared baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes. MAKE GORGONZOLA SAUCE: To your food processor or blender, add mayo, buttermilk, sour cream, 1.5 oz of the Gorgonzola cheese, garlic, lemon juice, pepper and salt.  Process until smooth. Transfer to serving bowl and stir in remaining Gorgonzola cheese.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use. TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MAKING BAKED CHICKEN WINGS: If you’re using frozen wings , make sure they’re completely thawed. Be sure to pat the wings dry with a paper towel.  This helps the oil and rub coat them really well. For the most even cooking (and easy cleanup), line a baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil (or two sheets of regular), then top that with and oven safe metal cooling rack (like the one below). Spray that with non-stick cooking spray and you’re good to add the wings. This rub is insanely flavorful, so make extra and keep it in an airtight container with your other spices.  It’s great on chicken of any kind! The Gorgonzola sauce can be made ahead of time, or while the chicken wings are baking. Recipe reposted and adapted from The Chunky Chef #lowcarb #keto #foodie #gameday #recipes #homemade #foodlover #healthylifestyle #lchfdiet #ketoliving #lowcarblife #glutenfree

My husband was addicted to store bought weed killer until I armed him with this homemade concoction. I love this weed killer because it is effective and works quickly. It is also cheap to make and is completely non-toxic to both humans and animals. Additionally, this weed killer is more gentle on the environment than the store-bought options like Roundup. Here is what you need to get started: White vinegar. Ordinary distilled white vinegar with at least 5% acidity. It is cheap and works great. If you can, find a higher acidity even up to 20%. It is going to work faster. Table salt. Use cheap iodized or non-ionized generic salt from the grocery store. Do not use sea salt, rock salt, Epsom salts or anything fancy. Dish-washing liquid. The soap is used to break the surface tension of the vinegar so it sticks to the weeds, forcing them to absorb it more readily. The brand of dish-washing liquid doesn’t matter. WEED KILLER RECIPE FOR AREAS TO BE REPLANTED (Use this solution for areas in areas where you want to replant once the weeds have died) Ingredients white vinegar 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap Instructions Fill an ordinary garden sprayer with vinegar and liquid dishwashing. Apply sprayer top and follow the instructions on the sprayer to get it ready to spray. Pick a hot, dry day to spray weeds until saturated. They will wilt and shrivel up within hours so be careful to not spray anything you want to live. You don’t have to worry about the vinegar killing anything below the soil because vinegar will not harm the soil. You can safely replant the area once the weeds have died. WEED KILLER RECIPE FOR AREAS NEVER TO GROW AGAIN (Use this recipe for areas like driveways, walkways and other areas where you don’t want any living thing to grow again) Ingredients 2 cups ordinary table salt 1 gallon of white vinegar 1 teaspoon of liquid dish-washing soap Instructions Add salt and vinegar to a clean empty gallon jug. Apply the lid and shake to dissolve the salt. Add liquid dishwashing soap Pour into an ordinary garden sprayer. Apply to weeds or grass on a dry, sunny day to areas in which you don’t want to see vegetation of any kind in the future. I've had a great experience with this weed killer but it may take several applications to permanently destroy weeds. Recipes adapted from Everyday Cheapskate #gardening #greenhome #loveyourplanet #naturalingredients #ecofriendly #Environment

Elevate your side dish game with this Smashed Brussels Sprouts recipe. These oven roasted sprouts make a quick & easy 30 minute side dish that are healthy and delicious. Only a few simple ingredients are needed. This is one of our family favorites. Serves 4 -5 Ingredients 24 oz fresh Brussels sprouts, cleaned and trimmed 2 tbsp unflavored coconut or avocado oil 1 tsp coarse salt 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1/8 tsp garlic powder a pinch of ground red pepper 1/2 cup shaved or shredded Parmesan cheese Instructions Preheat oven to 425F. Trim Brussels sprouts and discard any yellow outer leaves. Cook brussels sprouts in a large pot of boiling water for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain well and take care to pat them very dry. Place on a sheet pan* and gently "smash" each one. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder and red pepper. Then gently toss to coat them evenly. Roast for approximately 15 - 20 minutes or so, until they're charred to your liking. Cover with Parmesan cheese and broil until cheese begins to brown (about 2 minutes). Enjoy immediately or at room temperature. * Line your sheet pan with parchment paper for easier clean-up.

Many popular household cleaners are dangerously toxic. Learn how to replace them with safer, more natural options that really work. Clean your home safely — and inexpensively— with the following recipes: • Basic sink cleanser — Combine ½ cup baking soda with six drops essential oil (such as lavender, rosemary, lemon, lime or orange). Rinse sink well with hot water. Sprinkle combination into sink and pour ¼ cup vinegar over top. After the fizz settles, scrub with a damp sponge or cloth. Rinse again with hot water. (From The Naturally Clean Home, by Karyn Siegel-Maier.) • Window Cleaner — Combine 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, 1/4 cup white vinegar,1 Tbsp cornstarch and 2 cups warm water in a spray bottle, and shake well. Shake well before using, too, as the cornstarch might settle at the bottom (and subsequently plug the spray mechanism if it’s not mixed in well). This exceptional cleaner will make your windows streak-free, clean with a clear shine. (From Battle of the Homemade Glass Cleaners , by Crunch Betty) • Oven cleanser — Put a heatproof dish filled with water in the oven. Turn on the heat to let the steam soften any baked-on grease. Once the oven is cool, apply a paste of equal parts salt, baking soda, and vinegar, and scrub. (From Super Natural Home, by Beth Greer.) • Bathroom mildew remover — Good ventilation helps prevent mildew and mold. When they do occur, make a spray with 2 cups of water and 1/4 teaspoon each of tea-tree and lavender oil. Shake first and spray on trouble spots. The oils break down the mildew so there’s no need to wipe it down. (From Green Interior Design, by Lori Dennis.) • Carpet shampoo — Mix 3 cups water, ¾ cup vegetable-based liquid soap, and 10 drops peppermint essential oil. Rub the foam into soiled areas with a damp sponge. Let dry thoroughly and then vacuum. (From The Naturally Clean Home.) • Laundry soap — Try “soap nuts” made from the dried fruit of the Chinese soapberry tree. Available in natural groceries and online, the reusable soap nuts come in a cotton sack that goes into the washing machine with clothes. • Dusting — Skip the furniture polishes. Instead, use a microfiber cloth. Made from synthetic fibers that are then split into hundreds of smaller microfibers, they capture dust more efficiently than regular rags. If necessary, a little olive oil makes a fine polishing agent. Many of these cleaning solutions were reposted from Experience Life

I love to use glass jars for storing fresh foods and dry goods. Not only is glass better for the environment, it is more durable and won’t break down over time, like plastic. Glass containers can be reused repeatedly and washed over and over again in the dishwasher without sacrificing their shape and durability. Unless dropped they will last a lifetime and still hold up well. Glass jars aren’t porous, but if their contents are oily or acidic, it can be hard to get those odors out. Even a glass jar that held pasta sauce or coffee and run through a dishwasher, may still smell. Here is how to get the smell out of a glass jar Once you’ve washed the jar well in hot, soapy water or in the dishwasher, here’s what you do to get the smell out of even the stinkiest jar. Items needed: Baking soda Water 1. Pour about 3/4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/4 cup water into your jar. 2. Shake the jar vigorously for 30 seconds to a minute. The baking soda is abrasive and it’s absorbent, so the shaking is key to getting the odor out. 3. Pour out the baking soda/water mixture, and put another 1/4 cup water into the jar. Shake for another 30 seconds or so to get any baking soda residue out of the jar, pour that water down the drain, and your jar should be fresh as a daisy and ready to use!