Seven Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

1. Begin with a non-allergenic diet: If your body is already inundated with food allergy triggers, your immune system will be hyper-wired to react to external allergens. Eliminate wheat, dairy, and excess sugar, the most common allergens.

2. Try a spoonful of honey: Choose local honey produced by bees that live in your area. Bees will inadvertently pick up pollen grains, while collecting honey, creating homeopathic immunotherapy.

3. Take vitamin C and quercetin: Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and also a mast cell “stabilizer” making mast cells less reactive. This reduces allergy symptoms. Quercetin is a powerful flavonoid that enhances the effects of vitamin C.

4. Drink stinging nettle leaf tea: Steep the tea for 10 to 15 minutes to obtain the full benefits of the medicinal oils.

5. Sooth your nose with a neti pot: Use a neti pot with saline water to reduce symptoms by washing out the allergens.

6. Inhale steam with essential oils: Place 4 drops eucalyptus oil, 1 to 2 drops tea tree oil, and 3 drops rosemary essential oil in a pot of boiled water. Drape a large towel over your head and inhale deeply for 5 to 10 minutes.

7. Give acupuncture a shot: Acupuncture may temper an overactive immune system. It can help reduce nasal and sinus inflammation that is the cause of much of the discomfort from allergies.

To see the posting go to:
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/seven-natural-remedies-for-seasonal-allergies-2478010/#poll-BE40E34C6F7F11E09A71B91D0202DD9F

Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born and died in April. For those of you who love his works may find these websites of interest:

"Open Source Shakespeare attempts to be the best free Web site containing Shakespeare's complete works. It is intended for scholars, thespians, and Shakespeare lovers of every kind. OSS includes the 1864 Globe Edition of the complete works, which was the definitive single-volume Shakespeare edition for over a half-century."
http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/

"The most comprehensive and current list of Shakespeare festivals and theatres on the web today. Find Shakespeare Plays Around the World!"
http://www.shakespearefellowship.org/linksfestivals.htm

Shakespeare for Kids
http://www.folger.edu/template.cfm?cid=2886
http://www.nrwcs.org/shakespeare/
http://www.surfnetkids.com/william_shakespeare.htm

Listings of some other Shakespeare websites:
http://42explore.com/shakspear.htm

How Great Thou Art

Another take on a favorite hymn of mine by Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill.
(I also love Susan Boyle's version too.)

Happy Easter

Here is a website with some Easter crafts, recipes, Spring and Earth Day ideas as well.

http://holidays.kaboose.com/easter/

Peeps Clever Dessert Ideas

Check out the clever Peeps desserts at: http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/recipes/?type=recipe&chid=40ed98a3-8498-4ce5-bc63-f8bd6278655e&start=1

Operation Purple at Camp Bob - Kanuga

The National Military Family Association recently announced that Camp Bob at Kanuga Conferences in Hendersonville, N.C., was chosen to host their popular Operation Purple summer camp in 2011. The Association developed this free summer camp program to support military children in dealing with the stress of war. "Our mission is to empower these military children - our youngest heroes - to develop and maintain healthy and connected relationships, in spite of the current military environment. Kids attending Operation Purple camp will have the opportunity to learn the skills to cope the stress of a deployment and make friends with other kids who are also missing their mom or dad," said Mary Scott, the Association's Chairman of the Board. "The National Military Family Association is excited to work with Camp Bob on this very worthwhile program." The Operation Purple session at Camp Bob will be held July 3-8 and can accommodate 130 campers ages 8-16. It is the only camp of its kind offered in Western North Carolina this year.

"I'm very excited that Operation Purple is returning for a fourth summer," said Gary Woodhurst, Camp Bob program director. "It's one of the most energetic weeks of the year. The campers really benefit from being in community with other children in similar circumstances. It's a well-deserved break from the stresses of having a parent at war and a chance for them to simply be a kid."

Campers may apply for Operation Purple from March 31 through April 29, 2011.

Applications will be accepted online only at www.militaryfamily.org/op.

Each camp is "purple" and open to children of active duty, National Guard or Reserve service members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or the Commissioned Corps of the US Public Health Service and NOAA. Camps are free to all participants thanks to support from Goldman Sachs Gives, the Sierra Club and The Sierra Club Foundation.


About Camp Bob: Camp Bob is an outreach program of Kanuga Conferences, a 1,400-acre camp and conference center affiliated with the Episcopal Church and open to all. Campers will stay in cabins with solar thermal hot water systems and enjoy traditional camp activities including hiking, swimming, rock climbing, canoeing, archery and arts and crafts. Camp Bob has hosted Operation Purple camps since 2008. To learn more, visit: http://www.kanuga.org/


About the National Military Family Association: Military families serve our country with pride, honor and quiet dedication. The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit organization committed to strengthening and protecting the families of the men and women currently serving,retired, wounded or fallen. It provides families of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and NOAA with information, work to get them the benefits they deserve and offer programs that improve their lives. The Association's 40 years of service and accomplishments have made it a trusted resource for military families and the nation's leaders. To learn more, visit: http://www.militaryfamily.org/

How to Make a Palm Cross

My brother John has always been the go-to-guy at church for making palm crosses. He's been asked to show the kids at church how to make them this year. In searching the Internet he came up with this YouTube video and two sites with written directions.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT-0Z6YSJoU

Instructions with photos: http://www.kingofpeace.org/palmcrosses/

Instructions with drawings: http://www.vnumc.net/Palm%20Cross.htm

MyFood-A-pedia

Quick access to food info. Find the calories and MyPyramid food groups for a food,or compare two foods.

http://myfoodapedia.gov/Default.aspx

Who Are You?

Click on the image that resonates best with you and your personality. For a more accurate result, trust your instinct and try not to over-analyse. You will get your result instantly after finishing the test.

http://designbyadrian.com/96pix/

(I may have posted this a few years ago, or one like it. I can't remember. Eh, have fun with it. It only takes a few minutes.)

Help In Finding Your Hair Color From Clairol

Upload a photo of yourself and the site will guide you through the process of chosing your hair color and even a new style if you like!

http://www.clairol.com/try-it-on-studio/tios.jsp

Here is some additional information to keep in mind:

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/10-things-to-know-before-dyeing-your-own-hair-2471821/#photoViewer=1

Hodgepodge Turns Six Today

“Promise me you'll always remember:

You're braver than you believe,

and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

Christopher Robin to Pooh