Container Planting To Attract Butterflies

Every year we have tons of butterflies. I mean so many that car radiators get clogged. Too bad we can't dodge them or teach them to fly away from the roads.

We are smack-dab in the middle of the Monarch migration path. They are so beautiful and it is such an awesome sight, that people travel here to just to watch it. Migration time this year is supposed to be between October 2 and October 22. This year I decided to attract some to our house. How to do that? I had no idea, so I hit the web. After evaluating time and space (and the fact that our house is built on solid rock) I chose container gardens.

The ideas below are directly from the Better Homes and Gardens website. I love this site because I  know nothing about which plants to use. Below are three of my favorites, but you can find more on their website.

The pictures and information below show and tell you which plants to use and how to arrange them. Be sure you choose the correct pot and potting soil. I like Camp Wonder's  "Make Your Own Signature Potting Mix & Save!" I think once you give it try, you won't buy Miracle Gro again!
 

 

Better Homes and Gardens

Give Them Something to Eat

While we typically think of attracting butterflies with flowers, don't forget about host plants. Here, fennel is a good way to attract swallowtail caterpillars.
 
A. Bronze fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Rubrum') -- 2
B. Nasturtium (Tropaeoleum 'Scarlet Gleam') -- 4
C. Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas 'Tricolor') -- 1
D. Sage (Salvia officinalis) -- 1

Better Homes and Gardens

 

 

Go with a Group

This grouping of different kinds of containers, yet planted in the same color palette, draws the eye where a single container would be overlooked.
 
A. Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' -- 4
B. Salvia guarantica 'Black and Blue' -- 2
C. Fan flower (Scaevola 'New Wonder') -- 4



 






Better Homes and Gardens

Pick Easy Plants 

This container garden is almost no-fail; the white zinnia is extra-easy to grow and the butterflies will appreciate it, as well as the fragrant heliotrope.
 
A. Zinnia angustifolia 'Crystal White' -- 3
B. Heliotrope (Heliotropium 'Marine') -- 2
C. Coleus (Solenostemon 'Brilliancy') -- 1

Picture Your Baby! Photo Contest

Thanks for all your photos!

I love seeing all these babies and such great photos! I am excited and can't wait to see who wins!

Here are some deadlines and timelines for the contest.

Photos must be submitted to comments@mini-and-me.com by midnight on Sunday, September 30, 2012.

The judging advertising agency will have the finalist chosen by October 6. These finalist will be posted on the Mini & Me Facebook page for voting.

I Love My Face Cream! Hands Down The Best There Is!

sheknows.com

I have sandpaper diabetes skin, dry and flakely. Years of Fun & Sun summers and not thinking I needed to take care of my skin have taken it's toll. In additioin to that I have what I call "drivers side age spots."
Anyway, all this to say that I have spent some money on face creams. I think I have tried them all, in all price ranges. I have bought out ULTA, Lord & Taylor's, Neiman's, Macy's and Walgreens, but narrowed it down to two that worked well on my face.

Lancer, a product only available at Nordstroms (1.6 oz / $50)  and ANEW (1.7 oz / $32.00) available only from Avon. Both have helped my skin more than I ever thought possible. They are both good products, but I have two problems: they both leave something on top of my skin, (I had never noticed until I started using natural products. Once you use good natural and organic products, it is amazing how you notice the difference) and they are full of chemicals.

Since we now make natural and organic skin care, we went to work on making the best natural anti-aging, skintone evening, moisturizing, exfoliating, collegen stimulating, hydrating face cream that could be made.

While researching, I learned that I was wasting my money on the high-priced Vitamin C creams. The shelf life of Vitamin C is only about 30 days! I was so dissappointed. I knew then it is not the Vitamin C that was being absorbed into my skin and helping it, it was chemicals. (Sad face)

I also learned that the chemical drying agents and preservatives are designed to stay on top of my skin and make it feel smooth. In some cases, ingredients are used that "fill in" the wrinkles, cracks and crevices on top of your skin instead of exfoliating and stimulating collegen and elastin production from the inside! I was being cheated. Yet another reason to make my own for our brand.

We did it and it is awesome! It took a few trials to find the one that is awesome. We have since brought it a few steps further by making one that is beneficial for people who are allergic to Vitamin C, one that is anti-inflammatory for people with special issues like acne or Rosacea, and one super hydrating for those with painfully dry skin.

10% Vitamin C Face Cream by Addictives

We make these by special order now. 10% Vitamin C Face Cream (2 oz / $30). When an order is placed we make it, fill the order and then offer the remainder for sale for a limited time. So if you see a batch for sale on our website, Etsy store, Facebook or here, you will know it is fresh and still has plenty of life! If orders exceed what we have made, we will make another batch.

If you are looking for a "make me look younger, skin feel smoother, healthier, more even, brighter, firmer" give us a try. Have special skin issues? Send us an email or leave a comment below.

The Best Homemade Cleaner Ever - Shower & Tub

 

It all started with a casual glance. I saw it and I thought “This is not right!” It was soap scum on MY shower doors. Lord have mercy, can’t have that!

In keeping with my fairly recent decision to make my own cleaners, I sat in front my computer on a quest for the best of the best homemade soap scum removers.

I found what seemed like a bazillion of them. I settled for three different recipes and after a small try of each, I quickly determined the best one for me. You see, I am not a scrubber. I like the product to do the work, not me. Ok, I will do it, but to work hard enough to break a sweat while cleaning the bathroom is  definitely not me.



http://www.food.com/recipe/tub-and-shower-magic-434275

I would like to give credit where credit is due. This is not my recipe and most recipes seem to lead back to Food.com http://www.food.com/recipe/tub-and-shower-magic-434275).  The source, Bobbin, says  “This shower cleaner came from an Everyday Cheapskate e-mail, and it is truly magic, as the title states. I just tried it and it got the soap scum off my glass shower door with hardly any scrubbing. It was amazing, as I have tried to clean that door with various products. It is so easy, too. Try it and you will be sold. Be careful because a little bit goes a long way. You need a 24-oz. squirt bottle for this.”

 
The recipe I chose melted the soap scum like butter. It was so easy to clean. I did have to do a little work, but I never broke a sweat and it was so quick, I hardly noticed I was cleaning.
 
I ended up spraying the entire shower, including the tub. It was awesome, admittedly I was a little excited and proud of myself for finding such a wonder cleaner. About the same as when I made the grease cutter recipe, which I will share later.

So here is The Lazy Housekeeper’s Guide To  A Clean Shower & Tub:

1.   Gather the ingredients:

a.       2 cups White Vinegar
b.      1 cup Dawn dishwashing liquid*
*(The original recipe calls for equal parts vinegar and Dawn. I use power Dawn, so I cut it back, also it’s a lot less slippery.)
c.       Empty clean spray bottle
d.      Funnel

2.  Make The Lazy Housekeeper’s Shower & Tub Cleaner:
a.       Heat the vinegar until it is hot. I used the microwave.
b.      Pour the hot vinegar into the spray bottle.
c.       Add the Dawn to the vinegar in the bottle.
d.      Shake gently until the ingredients are mixed.     






3.       Gather your tools.
*Ok, so you don’t need the scrubber and mitt, but this is

The Lazy Housekeeper’s way…

a.       Scrubber (this is required if you are under 5’2”, it helps reach the entire shower wall and also helps with the tub so you don’t have scrub on your knees.)
b.      Loofah mitt (it scrubs on one side, polishes on the other. Ok, it’s not what it’s designed for but works for me!)

c.       The Lazy Housekeeper’s Shower & Tub Cleaner.






4.       Get  Cleaning!
a.       Spray everything, including the faucets, showerhead, everything
*Be prepared for the smell, vinegar has a very, ummm, strong smell.
b.      Go get something to drink, you’ve work hard relax for a little bit, have a cookie…
c.       Take a shower. Ok, this is what I do. I get in the shower, put on the mitt using the scrubber side for the tough stuff and the soft side for the spout and nozzles. I use the extended handle scrubber for the places that are out of my reach and the sides of the tub.
d.      Wash it all down. This is where the hand held shower sprayer comes in very handy. Just rinse it all off.
e.      Take a shower! Wash off all that hard work.

5.       Spray the shower with The Lazy Housekeeper’s Daily Shower Cleaner. Recipe on the next installment of…

 The Lazy Housekeeper's Guide To Gettin' It Done