Tag: pennsylvania

I’m Having A Meltdown!



Yesterday the temperatures were in the 60s. Today, highs are in the 90s. Welcome to Spring in the Northeast. Having a heat wave in your area? If so, here are some tips to help you deal with the crazy weather.

Don’t keep lipstick/lip balm in car: This one seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many folks forget. Within an hour, the temperature inside a vehicle sitting in the sun can easily reach 120 or 130 degrees. High temperatures can cause liquids to separate and break down. It can affect the active ingredients in make-up. Plus you don’t want hop into your parked car, pop open the lip balm cap to apply and have an oily mess wind up on your lap.

So should I keep my make up in the fridge on a hot day? When it comes to making cosmetics last longer, lower temperatures are generally better. That’s because chemical reactions occur faster at higher temperatures. Makeup is prone to oxidation reactions since they contain oils that can turn rancid. Keeping them in the fridge can slow down that process. However, there can be a few potential problems with storing beauty products in the fridge. For example, you may see beads of “sweat” on your lipstick. These are drops of oil coming out of the wax and rising to the surface of the stick (it’s a phenomena called “syneresis”). If too much of this sweating occurs, the lipstick won’t spread properly on your lips. Also, you can’t let your products freeze, as too cold temperatures can also affect the chemical composition of a product. If it’s crazy hot in your apartment, stick your lipstick in the fridge until temperatures cool down. Otherwise, just be sure to keep your make up in a drawer or another location out of direct sunlight.

Frizzy hair on a hot day: My long straight hair starts to find its natural curl when the heat rises. Unfortunately along with the subtle waves comes unsightly frizz. So how do you control your hair if you know you’re going to be out in the heat? There are a few things you can do.

A. Put your hair up. Braids are HUGELY popular right now. Log on to our Pinterest board for some really cute up-do looks.
B. Moisturize. Condition your hair at least twice a week to help control its tendency to frizz. Just don’t overdo it, or you’ll wind up with limp locks.
C. Flat iron. Don’t even let your hair think about frizzing. Flat iron it in the morning and seal with our vegan Herbal Mint Hair Spray. I haven’t used any other hair spray (natural or not) that handles humidity as well as this product.
D. Be proactive. If your hair goes lank halfway through the day, apply a bit of hairspray to the roots. Hold hair up straight with a brush while the spray dries. Then gently brush off your face and slip on a headband.
E. Keep your head on straight. Don’t flip your head upside down to dry your hair. Sure it will add volume, but will also increase your chances of getting frizzy. Instead use a warm (not hot) setting and a large round brush to gently dry hair. Finish with a cool setting to seal the hair shaft.

Control the sweat: We’ve had some customers use our Deodorant Powder as a dry shampoo. Say you’ve been outside in the morning and now have an afternoon meeting, and no time to shower in between. Flip your head upside down (it’s okay in this instance) and sprinkle the powder over the top of your head, especially in the areas that tend to get oily, like your bangs and part. Use your fingers to distribute it. If you wish, brush your hair so the powder is distributed down the length of the hair shafts. Focus mostly on the roots, but if the rest of your hair needs freshening up, add a little more to the tips. Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the powder to absorb the oil from your hair. If you have particularly oily hair, it may take a little longer. Turn your head upside down and brush out all of the powder. You can use a hair dryer to help the process along.

What is your hot weather make-up tip? Email me to share: melissa@honeybeegardens.com.

I Refuse to Let Go of Summer!



Summer is my favorite time of year. And one of the many reasons is because I can grill out on my deck. I’m WAY more likely to cook if I can stand outside and grill. I always keep a trough of kitchen herbs growing on my deck so I have them handy when I’m cooking. Here’s a great article about grilling with herbs. Hang on to summer!!

Shared from an article by Barbra Annino in Aug/Sept 05 issue of The Herb Companion

There’s no better way to grasp that last straw of summer than by firing up the grill. There’s also no better way to savor the season’s herbs. Barbecuing with fresh herbs is easy if you know a few basic rules. Not only does it add a whole new dimension to open-flame cooking, it offers yet another way to enjoy your harvest.

The methods for grilling with herbs are as varied as the plants themselves. Toss them in marinades, thread them through skewers or pop them in foil packets. For a smoky flavor, add whole bunches of herbs, such as sage or rosemary, to hot coals. Soak them in water for a few minutes and after the flames have died down, lay damp herbs across the coals. Replace the rack, cover the meat and you’ll soon be enjoying bold, uncommon flavor.

To further infuse food with flavor, lay fresh herbs directly on the grate and place the meat on top of them. Woody herbs hold up especially well on the grill. Try thyme, lemon verbena or tarragon. Snip off a few sprigs, gently squeeze the leaves to release their flavor, and layer over chicken, fish or pork chops. Discard the sprigs before serving.

Softer herbs, like sage, mint, oregano and lemon balm, work better in a foil packet or marinade. For foil packets, I snip sprigs of whole herbs, gently rinse and dry them, then place them on a sheet of aluminum foil. Then I add meat or vegetables or both, olive oil or butter and seal the ends tight before grilling.

Not sure which herbs pair with your favorite foods? Refer to this chart for some hints.

Rosemary – Chicken, Pork, Potatoes
Sage – Pork, Duck, Sausage
Marjoram – Steak, Egg Dishes, Roasts
Basil – Tomatoes, Chicken, Sandwiches
Oregano – Pasta, Pizza, Meat Loaf
Garlic – Peppers, Steak, Chicken
Thyme – Tuna, Zucchini, Pasta Salad
Spearmint – Lamb, Ice Cream, Tea
Bay – Chili, Stews, Roast
Tarragon – Turkey, Chicken, Eggs
Parsley – Potatoes, Soups, Fish
Anise – Sausage, Cookies, Apples
Lemon balm – Lobster, Dressings, Berries
Chives – Potatoes, Burgers, Fish
Dill – Salmon, Dips, Potatoes

Stop Bugging Me!



There’s nothing I love more than being outside in the warm weather. I especially love sitting on my deck in the early evening, listening to the woods and watching the fireflies. So peaceful. One thing I don’t love is the dang mosquitos! I have citronella torches and candles, but those buggers seem to find me any way.

I’m not fond of commercial bug repellents because most of them contain DEET (N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide). It’s designed to repel, rather than kill, insects. Although DEET is approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it is a known eye irritant and can cause rashes, soreness, or blistering when applied to the skin. Additionally, DEET has been linked to neurological problems; according to the EPA, at least 18 different cases of children suffering adverse neurological effects, as well as the deaths of two adults, have been associated with DEET. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that DEET causes diffuse brain cell death and behavioral changes in rats. DEET has been shown to have a negative impact on wildlife and water sources in production and during use. DEET is toxic to birds and aquatic life. DEET has been found in approximately 75 percent of U.S. water sources, including the Mississippi River.

Natural insect repellents are a much safer alternative. And in my opinion, just as effective. Plus they’re super easy to make. Basically, you combine any of the following essential oils in a witch hazel base, and you’ve got a great natural repellent: Citronella, Clove, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Cajeput, Eucalyptus, Cedar, Catnip, Lavender, Mint, Palmarosa, Pine, Rose Geranium, Lemon Balm, Myrrh.

Here’s how you do it:

Ingredients
Essential oils (see list above)
Natural witch hazel
Distilled or boiled water
Vegetable glycerin (optional)

1. Fill an 8 oz. spray bottle 1/2 full with distilled or boiled water
2. Add witch hazel to fill almost to the top
3. Add 1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin (if using)
4. Add 30-50 drops of essential oils. The more oils you use, the stronger the spray will be.

Other quick fix natural insect repellent ideas:

■Add vanilla extract to the above recipe, or just rub on the skin. You can also mix vanilla with witch hazel and water for a spray version.
■Rub lavender flowers or lavender oil on your skin, especially on hot parts of body (neck, underarms, behind ears, etc.) to repel insects.
■Rub fresh or dried leaves of anything in the mint family all over skin to repel insects (peppermint, spearmint, catnip, pennyroyal, etc. or citronella, lemongrass, etc.) Basil is also said to repel mosquitoes.

What if you do get bitten? Personally I apply our Unscented Herbal Aftershave to the bite and it takes the itch out every time (can’t live without that stuff!). But there are several other remedies to try:

• Apply a simple baking soda and water paste directly to bites and leave on for at least an hour.
• For an anti-itch bath, add ½ to 1 cup baking soda to running lukewarm water and soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Apply a drop of lavender or tea tree essential oil directly onto each bite to reduce inflammation and help prevent infection.
• Make a solution of 1 part apple cider vinegar to 3 parts water, and rinse the irritated area. Repeat this procedure several times until the itching decreases in intensity.
• Apply a drop of neem base oil to each bite. Neem is naturally cooling oil with antibacterial properties. It relieves many types of skin irritations.
• A common weed probably growing in your lawn, plantain (Plantago, various species), is one of the best herbs to treat bug bites. To use the plant as first aid for a mosquito bite, crush a few leaves and rub them on to the bite.

I Hate Blood Suckers

I love this time of year. The plants in the garden are kicking into high gear, most of my spring cleanup work is done and the weather is consistently warmer. The one thing I hate about this time of year is ticks.

I live in a wooded area in Pennsylvania. I’m fortunate enough to have several acres, and I spend most of my free time cutting grass, tending to gardening beds and keeping the woods from taking over my property. I know I should use insect spray and sunscreen and all that stuff, but I’m a get it done NOW kind of person. I get home from work, check on the cats and immediately go out to start on yard work. Thankfully I haven’t gotten sunburned, but I can say I’ve had a few ticks on me already this year. All deer ticks. I usually catch them before they bite, but on two occasions this month, they got me before I got them.

This past weekend I was taking a shower and noticed the out of place black spot on my ankle. I knew what it was. I did everything you’re supposed to do. I used a pair of fine-tipped tweezers and tried to grip the tick by the head, as close as possible to the point where it makes contact with the skin. But I couldn’t grab it. It had all but buried its whole body in my skin. I won’t burden you with the gross details, but I did manage to get the sucker out. I immediately put our Unscented Herbal Aftershave on the wound. It’s my go-to product for all skin conditions: rashes, cuts, scratches, bites, stings, etc. It has always worked well for me and I feel confident that the site has been cleaned thoroughly. Due to the threat of disease, I followed up with a generous dab of tea tree essential oil. And I’m keeping an eye on the bite to make sure it heals with no rash.

I don’t kill bugs. I always say there’s a purpose for them, and who am I to interrupt that purpose? I catch spiders and let them free outside; drives the girls at work nuts. But I gotta tell ya, I just don’t see the purpose for ticks! Hate those blood suckers.