Spiders!? No Thank you!!

It's that time of year. 
What time of year you ask? 
The time of year where all the creepy crawlies want to come snuggle up inside.

I decided to fight back this year. Our pest man doesn't really do much for the eight-legged nuisances. "Here is a sticky trap that should catch them." The pest guy says. These traps are squeezed into little spots around my house such as behind the toilet, and the cracks between my cupboard and fridge. I haven't found those so called spider traps to be very effective. Everywhere I have killed a spider has been no where near the traps.

So to the recuse is PEPPERMINT OIL! 

 Spiders hate the smell of peppermint oil. They basically pick up the scent and taste it with the receptor hairs on their front legs. It's so overpowering for them that they want to get as far away as possible from it. 
Spraying this (spray mixture is below) in entry ways, dark corners, window sills, and little cracks & crevices around the house is a way to ensure those nasty little guys will stay away.

A little background and insight on other things peppermint can help with courtesy of dōTERRA:

"The peppermint plant is actually a hybrid of watermint

and spearmint and was first described by Carl Linneaus

in 1753. A high menthol content—like that found in the

dōTERRA Peppermint essential oil—distinguishes the

best quality Peppermint from other products. Frequently

used in toothpaste and chewing gum for oral health,

Peppermint also helps to alleviate stomach upset and

promotes healthy respiratory function. Peppermint

continues to be one of the best-selling favorites among

dōTERRA essential oils."

 

Spider Spray

-1 Small or Medium Spray Bottle

-Water

-dōTERRA CPTG Peppermint Essential Oil

Fill the spray bottle up with water. Add 10-15 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil. Replace nozzle and shake. Then remove the cap and smell it.. Does it smell like minty peppermint deliciousness? If it doesn't smell fairly strong, add more Peppermint. Then spray your house to your heart's desire.

I would rather have an all natural peppermint deterrent than a chemical sprayed throughout my house! That is a major plus in my book.

You can get peppermint oil HERE.

OTHER USES FOR PEPPERMINT OIL:

•Use a drop of Peppermint with Lemon in water for a

healthy, refreshing mouth rinse.

•Rub on the stomach or take internally for occasional

digestive discomfort.

•Add a drop of Peppermint to your chocolate Trim

Shake for a yummy twist.

•Rather than grabbing an unhealthy snack mid-

afternoon, re-energize by applying Peppermint to the

palms of hands and deeply inhaling.

 

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Diffusion:

Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your

choice.

Internal use:

Dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid.

Topical use:

Apply one to two drops to desired area.

Dilute with dōTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil to minimize

any skin sensitivity. See additional precautions below.

 

CAUTIONS

Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If

you are

pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care,

consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner

ears, and sensitive areas.

 

 

 

FREE 8x10 Collage Print at Walgreens!

I looove when Walgreens does freebies in their photo department!
Today I ran across a coupon code for a free 8x10 Collage Print at Walgreens.com
Add up to 20 pictures of your choice, (you'll have to upload them to the Walgreens site) and then before check out type in "GETONEFREE".
Hurry get yours today! I believe it expires August 21st.


 CLICK HERE to go to Walgreens Photo

Xo, Ragen

The EASIEST Orange Chicken ever!

So one of my husband's favorite meals I make is Orange Chicken. (I found it online a while back.. it's been QUITE a while since I found it so I don't know who to credit for it.)
I just felt like I should share this recipe.. what I like about it is how simple it is!!
Minus the cutting of the chicken, which I STILL dislike doing. Thanks Self for being Vegetarian for so long!!!
Now, if you're used to Panda Express Orange Chicken it doesn't really taste like that.. but it is SO GOOD. You have to make it at least once!

 INGREDIENTS

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

I'm not exact on the chicken breast. I usually do about 3 decent sized breasts.

• 1/3 C. Hoison Sauce
• 1/3 C. Orange Juice
• 1 regular sized can of Mandarin Oranges
• about a small hand full of chopped green onions 
• flour
• oil

That is IT.

1. Heat a skillet with some oil for pan frying the chicken.
2. Cube your chicken. Put flour in a bowl. And toss the chicken in the flour.
3. Cook floured chicken in the oil until golden brown (and cooked on the inside, depending on how big you cube your chicken)
4. Remove chicken, place on a paper towel. Drain oil, but leave any little pieces left from the chicken in.
5. Add Hoison to oil-free pan and let simmer for a couple seconds.
6. Add orange juice. Stir together. Let simmer again for about a minute.
7. Add can of mandarin oranges. (I usually smash them with my wooden spatula a little to break them apart a bit more) You want to let that simmer (stirring occasionally) until the oranges break down into the sauce. (again, I help them a long by smashing them throughout the process.)
8. Add cooked chicken & green onions and let it simmer again for a couple minutes. (to reheat the chicken and cook down the green onions a bit)

And now you have deeelicious home made Orange Chicken!

This recipe again, is a definite family favorite in our house! Except I usually have to double this recipe because it is GONE in no time.
If you try it let me know how it worked out for you too!

xo, Ragen

P.S. I also make some Jasmine rice in the rice cooker to go a long with it. Mmmmm!

Wow, do I feel old!

It has literally taken me 2 days to get this blog designed and ready!
I can NOT believe how hard it was. (Not signing up for a blog but the actual creation of it.)
I used to consider myself pretty savvy with computers, the internet & even HTML.
I mean when I was young, my friend & I would "blog", (though it wasn't referred to as blogging then), all the time! And we would create websites for our band and ones for fun!
...Boy! How times have changed!
I not only had an issue with the HTML, BUT! The Blogger site just seemed difficult! With their own templates and setups and designs and blah, blah, blah.. Just give me a good ole HTML box with a basic HTML layout in it and let me go CRAAAZY! .. nope. You have to be difficult Blogger!
(The funny thing is, I believe they made their new format to make things easier and more customizable for people.. just.. not.. me.)
It's hard to comprehend that I couldn't figure this out in a jiffy!
Times are rough.. when technology can make a girl feel old! 
Oh well! It's still not how I wanted it. Little things bother me. But you tell me! What do you think!?
I designed all the graphic art on Photoshop, that was the fun part. First time too!
Farewell!