MHR Special Guest: Joanna DeVoe

We LOVE LOVE LOVE to talk about FOOD!!! But not just any food...GOOD FOOD! And we will get the pleasure of talking to one of our favorite FOODIES, Joanna DeVoe, this weekend! Saturday, 3PM MST.... 

Follow the link to

 Listen to the show.

My name is Joanna DeVoe & I am the creator of the SAD To SEXY program. I have a passion for inspiring people to lead a more healthy vibrant lifestyle & believe that incorporating more fresh live fruits & vegetables into your diet is a beautiful way to get started. Want to know more... Visit  Sad to Sexy

Spring Cleaning:Baby Step #3

Ok Baby Step#2 one wasn't so bad.. I did get my ceiling & fan dusted.. I wiped down the tops the the door jambs... I was done in 13 min ... I just needed to put on my big girls panties and get it done! - Go Team... Let's Get This Crap Done!

OK dishes are a never ending battle. So I am setting a up routine while my coffee is brewing. Put away dishes and make sure the dirty ones are loaded! Check!
Honestly.. I struggle here, Oh and keeping up on laundry... BOO!

• Side note: I get off of work around 3am so getting stuff done is often achieved in the morning Find the time that works best for you. 

So in one of my five minute daily tasks... Laundry... put a load in... turn on the cycle and go do something fun...  No Problem... just remember.. that you have to put them in the drier and the kicker.... Put them away...  NO. a basket on the bedroom floor or tossed on the dresser doesn't count.

Deep Clean Baby Step #3 Kitchen

This is a 15min Task...  Clean the Kitchen Cabinet Doors! Get out the de-greaser Solution. Maybe even a Magic eraser.. Hmm I really think that these needs a new name.. I like magick, so I till call them.. those awesome white thingies...that cleans stuff.
OK Get ready set go!
That wasn't SO bad was it...
I realized that I need to repaint my cabinets.. Maybe this summer.  Maybe not... who knows

If you had left over time... Clean the range hood and check the screen. The Screen might be gross... clean it if you can. if it is disgusting... go get a new one screen at the hardware store.  If you couldn't get that done it 15 min.. Make these  5 min tasks later in the day.

• Bonus 5 min task.... We are going to tackling the fridge soon.. when you have 5 minute... Open the Door of the Fridge.. Check the dates on the condiments. Yeah.. you didn't realize that vinaigrette has been there for 3 yrs did you? It happens.. I love reusing bottles, so the glass ones with good lids.. clean out and put away... if you keep them.. if not recycle them.

Spring Cleaning: Baby step #2

Did I ever tell you that I hate deep cleaning... Ok with that said..
Baby Step #2  Get Moving.. 

I like to work in small bursts so that I don't wear my self out and I leave my self time to do other things... Like I don't know... Blog.. browse Facebook/Twitter... start seeds.. polish nails, pick the dog hair off your shirt 1 little hair at a time.... I rather do any of that then clean.

However, a good friend of mine reminds me all the time that we ALL can find 5-15 min burst to get stuff done. She is right you know.. She says if you don't believe it.. set a timer and work on one task... most of the time you finish realizing it really didn't take the hour you thought it felt like.

So here was my 1st 5 min Burst..  While the water for my coffee was heating... I unloaded the dishwasher and loaded back up. Turn on..  Coffee Ready.. Taking a Coffee break while blogging. Yeah All good.

Now for Deep Clean Task #1  Dusting.. 
I drank my coffee. Had a piece of toast...   and I really try to avoid the word Deep Cleaning! The meaning of deep cleaning... Well it means Cleaning everything!!! YUK!
Anyway... Look Up! Yes.. you. Look Up! Do you see and dust/cobwebs in the corners of the ceilings? How about the ceiling fan or fixtures?  Well we are going to start there.. Oh stop whining... I don't want to either... but we shall clean this first so the dust doesn't land on other things cleaned, already.. its the whole gravity thing..

Today I'm going to focus on the top 2 feet of the house... Light fixtures.. ceiling corners, tops of door jams...  now I have a smaller average size home.. I think I can Do this all in 15 min... if you have a larger home or 2 story... do this in 2-15min blocks... take a break in between if you want.. just do it.

Ok...  Setting timer for 15 min... Grabbing a Spritzer bottle of Orange Mint watered down cleaning solution for dusting.. (I made a and charged with good thoughts, harmony and removing obstacles.). a couple rag socks,  My broom to get the corners... (you might need a step stool for this... Im tall so no need)  taking a Deep Breath

Here is some Inspiration...  Turn it up!!!!
Magickal Harvest TV 15 min Cleaning Dash

Spring Cleaning: Getting Your Supplies Together

I hate cleaning. It has to be done Right? I hear groans emanating through out the internet.. Yeah Yeah Yeah.. I don't want to either.
It is that time of year. It is time to Clean away the winter blahs and welcome in spring!

Now I run into the feeling of being overwhelmed & unsure where to start. So this year I going to start with baby steps. Many people love FlyLady and her programs. She has a great site. Flylady Baby Steps. Check her out.. She has great ideas and plans.

Using green cleaners are fantastic. Making in expensive and easy cleaners are even better. I have a hard time with chemicals, So I have to keep things simple, I also like to infuse my cleaners with essential oils and magickal intent. That is the purpose of living a magickal life right?

Lets Start with getting your tool box of cleaning supplies ready:

The Essential Oils and Herbs that are useful around the home

• The Essential Oils:  Cedar , Citronella, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Mints, Pine, Rosemary, Sweet orange, Tea Tree.
• Household Herbs: The herbs and essential oils that you’ll find most useful for various household tasks include those that inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, those that repel or kill insects, and those that act as fixatives.
• Herbs that inhibit microorganisms: basil, bay, benzoin, bergamot, camphor, cardamom, chamomile, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, eucalyptus, fir, ginger, grapefruit, juniper, lavender, lemon, lemon balm, meadowsweet, myrrh, myrtle, nutmeg, orange, oregano, patchouli, peppermint, Peru balsam, pine, rose-scented geranium, rosemary sage, sandalwood, savory, spearmint, spruce, tea tree, and thyme.
• Herbs that kill or repel insects: basil, benzoin, cajeput, white camphor, cardamom, eucalyptus, juniper, lavender, lemon, lemon balm, myrtle, orange peppermint, rose-scented geranium, rosemary, sage, savory, southernwood, thyme, wormwood, and yarrow,
• Fixative herbs: benzoin, calamus root, red cedarwood  copal, costus root, deer’s-tongue, frankincense, myrrh, oak moss  patchouli, reindeer moss, sandalwood, sweet grass, sweet woodruff, tonka beans, vanilla grass, and vetiver.

Cleaning Supply Ingredients:  

Now you do not need all of these products. This is a helpful guide in understanding home cleaning ingredients.

• Baking Soda: Baking soda is a chemical compound that appears as a fine powder. It releases bubbles of carbon dioxide when it interacts with an acid and a liquid. It’s most commonly used in baking, where it acts as a leavening agent.
• Beeswax: Beeswax is a natural wax produced in the bee hive of honey bees of the genus Apis. It is mainly esters of fatty acids and various long chain alcohols. As a component of furniture polish, dissolved in turpentine, sometimes blended with linseed or tung oil
• Borax Sodium borate:  How Does Borax Clean? Borax has many chemical properties that contribute to its cleaning power. Borax and other borates clean and bleach by converting some water molecules to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This reaction is more favorable in hotter water. The pH of borax is about 9.5, so it produces a basic solution in water, thereby increasing the effectiveness of bleach and other cleaners. In other chemical reactions, borax acts as a buffer, maintaining a stable pH needed to maintain cleansing chemical reactions. The boron, salt, and/or oxygen of boron inhibit the metabolic processes of many organisms. This characteristic allows borax to disinfect and kill unwanted pests. Borates bonds with other particles to keep ingredients dispersed evenly in a mixture, which maximizes the surface area of active particles to enhance cleaning power.
• Risks Associated with Borax: Borax is natural, but that does not mean it is automatically safer for you or for 'the environment' than man-made chemicals. Although plants need boron, too much of it will kill them, so borax can be used as an herbicide. Borax may also be used to kill roaches, ants, and fleas. In fact, it is also toxic to people. Signs of chronic toxic exposure include red and peeling skin, seizures, and kidney failure. The estimated lethal dose (ingested) for adults is 15-20 grams; less than 5 grams can kill a child or pet. For this reason, borax should not be used around food. More commonly, borax is associated with skin, eye, or respiratory irritation. It is also important to point out that exposure to borax may impair fertility or cause damage to an unborn child.
• Now, none of these risks mean that you shouldn't use borax. If you do a bit of research, you will find risks associated with all cleaning products, natural or man-made. However, you do need to be aware of product risks so that you can use those products properly. Don't use borax around food, keep it out of reach of children and pets, and make sure you rinse borax out of clothes and off of surfaces before use.
• Carnauba Wax; Is a wax of the leaves of the palm, Can be blended with beeswax. Carnauba wax can produce a glossy finish and as such is used in automobile waxes, shoe polishes, dental floss, food products such as sweets, instrument polishes, and floor and furniture waxes and polishes, especially when mixed with beeswax and with turpentine.  
• Castile soap: Olive oil based soap made in a style similar to that originating in the Castile region of Spain.
• Cream of Tartar: Potassium hydrogen tartrate, also known as potassium bitartrate, has formula KC4H5O6, is a byproduct of wine making. In cooking it is known as cream of tartar. It is the potassium acid salt of tartaric acid, a carboxylic acid. Potassium bitartrate can be used with white vinegar to make a paste-like cleaning agent.[citation needed] This mixture is sometimes mistakenly made with vinegar and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which actually react to neutralise each other, creating carbon dioxide and a sodium acetate solution.It is a common ingredient in Play-Doh.
• Washing Soda (Laundry): Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash), Na2CO3 is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate. Sodium carbonate is domestically well known for its everyday use as a water softener. It can be extracted from the ashes of many plants. It is synthetically produced in large quantities from salt and limestone in a process known as the Solvay process.
• White Vinegar: This is one of my favorite cleaners!
  Vinegar is a natural bi-product of vegetables, fruits, and grains. It's both edible and biodegradable. Vinegar has a basically unlimited shelf life. In addition, literally any alcoholic beverage left exposed to the air will eventually become vinegar. It's cheap to make, cheap to clean with, and cheap to cook with. Vinegar can also be diluted easily with water, added to a multitude of food, and can clean even the messiest greasy mess. It's an all around versatile liquid. Vinegar is also environmentally friendly. It's biodegradable and won't harm the environment in any way. It's even effective and safe enough to use to kill grass or weeds in place of spray weed killer. One study showed vinegar kills 99 percent of surface bacteria, 80 percent of germs, and 82 percent of molds on a counter. That's with a 5 percent solution just like you could purchase at the grocery store. Since vinegar is natural, it won't harm your plumbing.

Supplies

• Plastic Squirt Bottles
• Containers with Shaker Tops
• Spray Bottles
• Coffee Cans, Glass Jars
• Cotton Rags, Sponges, &  Buckets ( I like sing old clean cotton sport socks. You know the ones with wholes in the heal or toes. I mark them with a big R (for rags) with a sharpie)  

Recipes

Kitchen

Homemade Dish Soap
1 cup liquid Castile soap  
3 tablespoons water
a few drops essential oil (if using unscented Castile soap)
Combine in a vessel of your choice (I use an old vinegar bottle with a metal spout), mix well, and use.
For greasy dishes: add 1/2 of vinegar or lemon juice
Soap residue:  Brew 2 cups of White or green Tea, wash in brew.

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

1 part borax  
1 part washing soda  
Combine the powders in a bowl and mix well, breaking apart any clumps. Transfer to an airtight container to store. Use 1 tbsp of mixture per load. you can add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture.

Hard water rinse: add 1 cup of Vinegar to the little rinse drawer. For that extra sparkle. Again, SO EASY.

Degreaser: Make a 3x strength of Tea (Black or green just make it strong) and as a little vinegar.

To Clean Microwave: Place 1/2 a lemon (make sure it isn't a dried out) or a mug of water, into microwave for 3-5 min and wipe out.

Living Room:

Rug Cleaner
1 c Borax,
1 c Baking Soda
1/2 c of cornmeal
10 drops of Essential oils.
Mix and store in a an air tight container.

Bathroom: 

Scouring Powder
1 c of baking soda
1/4 c dried herbs
2-8 drops of oil
Mix and store in a an air tight container.

Soft scrub:
3/4c baking soda
1/4 c of powdered milk
1/8c castille soap.
5 drop oil
Mix and store in a an air tight container.

Soap scum remover:
1Tbsp soda
1Tbsp salt
2 drop oil
Add vinegar to make a paste. Rub with damp cloth and rinse well.

Germ B gone Toilet cleaner:
2c water
1/4c castille soap,
1Tbsp Tea Tree oil
place in spray bottle. shake well. Wipe with clean cloth.

Making your magickal cleaning supplies:

There are many ways to customize your supplies. Check the correspondence of herbs and oil to create customized combinations to enhance home spells. Charge and or bless your supplies to assist in your intents. What better way to make your home a sacred place.

Next post will be ideas to get started on spring cleaning! 

-Brightest Blessings 

Special Guest: Dee Chapman

It is official!!! On Feb 23, Dawn and Jen will be interviewing Your Favorite Witch, Dee Chapman.

You might know her as TipToeChick, Master Herbalist and the owner of The Green Eyed Owl LLC. Be sure to check out her pages here on Facebook, YouTube or head on over to her website where you will find all sorts of herbs, herbal remedies, herbal advice and other products for living the magickal life! *super excited*

Is there anything you want us to ask Dee? Leave your question in the comments section and we will ask on the air.

MHR Ep 24 Magick In the Garden

What now brown cow...

Over the last 2 weeks... we have mentioned that it is time to get your garden beds ready and gather clean your tools.

So now what. It is still a little to direct sow most seeds. If you have raised beds or planters, you can direct sow peas and potatoes. 

Seeds are popping up everywhere! Time to gather friends and share seeds. Or do my 2nd favorite thing... buy seeds for yourself! 

Garden Beds: Time to make sure that your garden beds a weed free. Add some compost to boost the nutrients. Before you know it.. its going to be time to fill those boxes with goodies.

Journals: Get your journals out and start recording your progress, plans, hopes and dreams... This is where the magick begins. 

Pay our respects: Leave offerings to the spirits of place. Ask them for permission to plant in the soil and thank them for their aid in an abundant growing season!

A Dash of Magick:

We asked the question: What is Magick?

The most often quoted definition of magick comes from Aleister Crowley, who says,

“Magick is The Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity to Will.” 

One of my (Jen) favorite excerpts describing magick is from Pure Magic by Judika Illes 

“Magic is part of real life. Magic is not an excuse to assume that Earthly laws, Laws of nature, will somehow be suspended, that exceptions will be made for you. Magic just reminds us that Earth’s laws are a little more complex than we often care to remember.... Magic isn’t license to abandon common sense. Ideally, they enhance each other. Magic doesn’t supersede the laws of nature: It is the Law of Nature.” 

We chatted about what Magick means to us.  So here is your chance to share your thoughts on what magick is. We want to hear from you!

MHR Ep 23 Love is in the Air!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

is Love all you need? Well, I’d say, Love....and a garden!

February is the Month of Love and with Valentine day coming up this week, The topic was  LOVE FROM THE GARDEN! So much magick tied to the month of February, as it is the beginning of spring in the ancient agrarian calendar, and spring is the time of awakening! In the garden, this looks like little buds coming through the snow, or perhaps a bit of BONE work going on, with the prep and planning of hard architecture, fencing and cleaning.

February is often under rated in terms of what kind of GARDEN LOVIN’ there is going on! Many people think of it as a rest time, or a fallow time, and really it is...but Depending on your climate, February is full of garden tasks to do!

So if your February is...

Hot: Start seeds of hardy veggies, annuals, herbs outdoors. Aerate and feed the lawn. Harvest fruits and veg daily to foil critters and promote new production.
Warm: Clean and sharpen your garden tools. Protect plants against late-season frost. Clean and repair your bird houses.
Mild: Start seeds of veggies, annuals and herbs indoors. Use sterile mixes to prevent damping off of young seedlings.
Cool: Get seed-starting equipment ready, including sterile mixes, trays, pots and lights. Be patient--spring will come! Repot any house plants that need more growing room.

This is also a great time to plan and start a kitchen garden.

A Dash of Magick

Self Love

Self love is probably the most powerful protection amulets around, and it is the most under utilized protection guard we have available to us! To many, the mention of Self-love seems kind of airy-fairy, new agey,, hippie dippy, but i think these notions keep us in a trap of fear of truly loving ourselves. Self love really encompasses simple actions--for instance, how we talk to ourselves, who we say Yes or No to, taking some time to do things that make us feel good.

One of the best things I have found from experience is reciting simple mantras to reinforce and solidify the beliefs in myself over time. Every time you catch your reflection in the mirror, tell yourself, “I Love You!” At first you might feel silly...but soon, you will notice a subtle change within your mindset. If you are doing this faithfully, without fail, every single time you notice yourself in a mirror or a reflection, the “I Love You” mantra will solidify in your mind and take root, and soon there will be no doubt whatsoever that you do, In fact, love yourself!

Witches Bottle

During the episode Dawn mentioned the use of witches bottles. She mentioned that she could not remember which book of Christopher Penczak's that had an in-depth look at making witch bottles.  Dawns favorite guide comes from The Witch’s Shield. His advice gives a great “recipe” for protective herbs, crystals and other symbols, identifying your intent and what else to include in your bottle and where to place it.

MHR Ep 22.. And we are back!!!

After a nice and well needed break we are back..
Happy Imbolc Everyone.

We had great show. It was chuck full of information. So if you didn't catch it when it aired. By all means listen. Just click the little widget for Blog talk and enjoy.

Can you believe that we are now in February? We neither can we. we are just happy to be back! With Spring right around the corner. There is must to be done in the garden.


Now is the time to...cut back brambles, plan and build your hard structures such as greenhouse and raised beds. Also time to plan your watering systems



Plants to sow indoors:  Cabbage,  Celery,  Endive, Kale, Leeks,  Lettuce, Mache, Onions, bulb
Radicchio Scallion (green onion)  and Spinach
Herbs: Chives, Fennel, Leaf  Marjoram,  Parsley,  Rosemary, Sage Savory, Summer  Thyme
Transplants: Asparagus and  Rhubarb

(Of course this will very depending on where you are on this planet)

Today’s Magickal Imbolc menu:

• Colcannon
• Soda Bread with Caraway Seeds
• Home made butter
• Jen's Green Soup

Homemade Butter: This so EASY!!!!!

1. Take a quart size mason jar. 
2. Fill 1/2 to 5/8 full of cream. 
• Here you can add some salt or herbs to taste.
3. Place lid.
4. Shake
• This was a great activity to get the kids help with. Pass it around.
  (We did this during our Imbolc Ritual, it is full of blessings and magick)
5. After about 15 min a shaking, There should be a clump of butter in liquid, If so, drain the the liquid, we added this to our offerings. Place the butter on a plate and enjoy!

Green Soup: 

With spring so close we coming to a period of the season where we want warm comfort food that is on the lighter side. This green soup base is a go to food  for me (Jen). What I love best about this soup is that  other than it being full of greens, is that it is a kitchen sink soup, anything goes. There are no exact measurements. This will make a nice size pot of soup. to adjust your ingredients based on your pot. 

1.  Caramelize 2-3 large Onions. 
• Thinly slice onions
• In skillet over medium low heat: drizzle Olive Oil or a pat of UNSALTED Butter (There is a reason for the unsalted butter... Adding salt during the caramelizing process,will prevent the very thing you are trying to accomplish) 
• Place onions in pan and cover. Stir occasionally 
• Cook till caramelized. (when you think it is ready cook a little longer)
2. Add to Stock pot:
• Caramelized Onions. 
• Stock ( I make a Big pot so i use about 93 oz of stock. This could be chicken or veggie stock.)
• Toss in 2-3 cloves of peeled garlic
• 1 Bay Leaf (if you don't have that is OK, I like how it helps meld all the flavors)
• Add herbs of choice at this point
• 3 Tbsp of white rice (This will give you our creamy texture with out adding dairy.
• Cook for about 15 min at a good soft simmer.
3. Add Greens
• Spinach, Kale, Mustard or Turnip Greens or what ever combination of greens that your heart desires. (Just remove the thick stems... save those for your next batch of stock)  
4. Simmer for about another 15 minutes.
5. Remove Bay leaf ,Salt and Pepper to taste.
6. Then blend with a immersion blender. (not everyone has one of these. I did not think i really would use this. but I end up using this 2-4 times a week. it was work the $20 I paid for it.) 
7. Garnish : Anything goes here... I like hot sauce, lemon and a drizzle of sour cream topped with croutons.  You can diced ham and cheese. Or like my girlfriends do. Put it in a bowl and leave it alone.