Miracle Bath

You wouldn’t believe the amazing things you can find on Pinterest.

Recipes, craft ideas, inspirational thoughts and even miracle cures.

Seriously.

A couple of weeks ago while browsing in Pinterest, I came across a site describing how to take a Detox Bath.

A few minutes later Dagmar come down stairs announcing that she felt like death warmed over – headache, body aches, vomiting. She didn’t look good. It was definitely a flu bug.

I told her about the detox bath I had just read about – and she was miserable enough to try it.

It was simple – fill the bath tub with warm water and add 2 cups of Epson salts, one cup of baking soda, and a couple tablespoons of ground ginger.

She soaked for about 40 minutes – sweating the whole time – rinsed off and went to bed, still sweating.

Four hours later she woke up feeling great and ready to eat.

I’m serious.

She declared it a miracle bath as she munched on saltines (just in case).

The head ache, body aches and vomiting were gone.

It worked so well with Dagmar, that when Jan come down with the same thing a few days later – I got a bath ready for him.

Same thing. Forty minute soak followed by a long sleep with lots of sweating. He woke up feeling fine.

I’m totally serious here.

The web site (which you can find here) gives the science behind the miracle. The secret is in the sweating.

And since it worked so well to take down the nasty flu bug – I wonder how it would work for a head cold? Sinus infection?

It’s worth a try. After all it can’t hurt and it’s really cheap.

I’m stocking up on Epson salt, baking soda and ginger – just in case.

The Infirmary

The Dreaded Influenza has struck.

My living room is now an infirmary.

Four of the five kids are down – two on the couch, one in the recliner and one on the window seat.

Our particular strain isn’t awful – just miserable with low grade fevers, sore throats, aches and stuffy heads.

Since 80% of my students are down sick, I have canceled school until the outbreak has passed. That means hours of Food Network, Martha Speaks and Word Girl.

At least they’re too miserable to fight over the remote – they just sit and stare at whatever is on the screen, dozing off and on.

I can always tell who has the remote by what is playing. You know Angel Girl doesn’t feel good when she sits through hours of car shows!

Pedro was the first to fall victim over the weekend. I made him a pot of chicken soup on Saturday. I’ve been adding more broth, chicken and noodles every day since. I have no idea where the original soup started and where it ends!

I spend my days keeping kids comfortable – refilling glasses of orange juice and hot apple cider, taking temperatures, and fluffing pillows – while the influenza runs it’s course. I’m very thankful we have a relatively mild strain – some of the stories I’ve heard are scary!

And at least they are all sick at once – or almost. If everyone had waited for his/her own week – we would be sick till the spring thaw!

It sounds like Word Girl is playing now – so Buddy must have the remote. I guess it’s time to make my rounds, take some temperatures, and check the condition of my patients.

Stay healthy!

The Water Challenge

It’s already started – dry skin season.

Every year I have kids who really suffer during the cold months. Every year I tell them that they need to moisturize from the inside out – which means that they need to drink more water.

Every year my words fall on deaf ears.

Until this year. This year a miracle happened. One child listened.

She actually asked how much water she should drink. I told her 8 – 8 ounce glasses.

There was a pause while she did the math. “You mean I have to drink 64 ounces of water every day?”

Yep. (Extra points for doing the math correctly!)

I do it every day. It’s totally possible.

She pondered this for a day or two, then on Sunday she pulled out her water bottle, did some calculating and determined that if she drank 2 of those every day, she would reach her quota.

She then filled it and put it in the fridge so she was ready for the next day.

Monday was a success and the dry spots on her shoulders were gone.

By Tuesday her hands were starting to heal.

By Wednesday she noticed that she actually sweated when she worked out.

At the supper table, she shared her new found wisdom with her siblings – who listened better when it came from one of their own.

Then she issued a challenge – which of them would join her in drinking 64 ounces of water the next day?

After supper there was a flurry to find water bottles and get them filled.

The kids decided that whoever didn’t drink their quota of H2O would be subject to PT (physical training) inflicted on them by those who did finish.

Thursday was a success (although a couple of kids chugged about a quart in the evening to finish up!)

Friday was also a success.

I’m not sure how much longer this can last – but as a Mom – I definitely feel vindicated.

Momma’s always right.

PS – How much water did you drink today?

Help for Curly Hair

I don’t currently subscribe to any magazines right now – so when a friend dropped off a laundry basket full of them – I was excited.

I love browsing through the ladies magazines and clipping recipes to try. (Dagmar and I have feasted at lunch this week on Chicken Panzanella Salad, Tomato Basil Salad, and Roasted Vegetable Sandwiches!)

Normally I will quickly pass over the beauty hints (I think it’s too late for me anyway!) but one article caught my eye – “Help for Your Curly Hair”.

I quickly flipped the magazine open.

I was blessed with naturally curly hair. At least it’s a blessing 9 months of the year. The other 3 months it is -well – not such a blessing.

Can you say “frizz”? How about “frazzled”? Does “Bozo the Clown” give you a mental picture?

Now – finally – in just 5 short paragraphs I will learn what will kept my curly locks tamed all summer long!!

I know you’re just as excited as me – are you ready for the secret?

It’s product. Lots of product. Expensive product.

Silicone shampoo – $32
Hydrating Conditioner – $4
Anti-Frizz Cream – $4
Serum – $8
Sunscreen – $22

Now – I don’t like math very well – but if I added this up right it would cost me $70 to keep my hair from frizzing.

$70!!!

Do you have any idea how much chocolate I could buy with $70?!

Not to mention thrift store clothes and sale groceries!?

That’s a far cry from the $.99 family size bottle of Suave I normally use.

So, with my deepest respects to the “experts” who contributed to the story – I think I will stick to my tried and true method of frizz reduction.

It’s called a pony tail.

Simple. Fast. Effective.

But most importantly cheap.