DIY: Detox Bath

Photo Credit

I have been fighting a head cold for over a week now, and while many symptoms have subsided, I am still congested a week later. I read about a Detox Bath on Pinterest, and willing to try anything at this point, I figured it couldn't hurt.

While running a hot bath add 48 ounces (6 cups) of hydrogen peroxide and 2 ounces of ground ginger. Ground ginger came in containers measuring 0.8 ounces, so I didn't quite get the full 2 ounces in mine. I survived. Soak in the tub for 30 minutes, drinking lots of water during the process. If you're lucky, the boy may bring you a plate of strawberries while you are soaking!

While hot water opens your pores, hydrogen peroxide acts as both an anti-bacterial and an anti-viral. Ground ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory. Mixed, the three flush toxins from your system.

I was the kind of kid that screamed when hydrogen peroxide was pulled out to treat cuts and scrapes, so, soaking in a tub of it with blisters on my toes and cuts from shaving was not entirely pleasant. However, the sinus headache I was fighting all day dissipated within the first five minutes of soaking. My injured hip and knee from a car accident earlier this summer, began to feel better, and are no longer as stiff.

I wouldn't say I turned into a "faucet" as described in the article for the bath, but I defiantly sweated the entire time, and continued to sweat afterwards. Be sure to tie your hair up, otherwise the hydrogen peroxide will make your hair lighter. Rinse off afterwards too, ground ginger tends to linger.

If symptoms persist, a detox bath may be taken up to three days in a row.

Happy soaking!

Germ Party for Two

We're sick, but we're doing it right. Bryan hooked up the TV in the bedroom to play whatever is on the TV in the living room. Technically it's called mirrored output, according to Bryan. Why? So we can watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S. in bed.

The bladder to the camel back is now nailed to the wall, so we don;t have to get up in the middle of the night for water. Sinus colds are the worst of them all. The headache alone makes doing anything unbearable. It also makes it really hard to think.

My remedy is Alka-Seltzer, Zinc, Echinecea, and Mucinex. Hopefully it works, and fast!

So, if you're going to be sick, you may as well do it right! With both laptops, crochet projects on hand, and a big puppy to warm your feet!

What's your sickness cure?

Chobani Cupcakes

Being allergic to oils (canola, vegetable, rapeseed, cottonseed, and anything expeller pressed) makes traditional baking very difficult. I usually substitute applesauce for oil when baking, but tonight I was also missing eggs. I read about using Greek yogurt in lieu of both, so I figured I'd give it a try.

I am bias when it comes to Greek yogurt. I love Chobani. Chobani has the best flavor of all the Greek yogurts, but I'm also biased towards them since they are located in upstate New York, where my grandmother was born and raised.

Here's what you need:

• Boxed cake mix (Funfetti is my favorite!)
• 3/4 cup plain Chobani Greek Yogurt
• 1 cup water

Heat your oven at 350 degrees. Mix the ingredients together. I would usually use a hand blender, but being cautious of using yogurt in the cake mix I hand mixed the batter. Needless to say, I was nervous about how these cupcakes would turn out.

Once mixed, I was even more nervous about the cupcakes since the batter seemed "spongier" than a normal mix. Bake regular cupcakes for 20 minutes, and mini cupcakes for 12 minutes.

Once baked to a nice golden brown, let the cupcakes cool. The texture of the cupcakes seems more like a sponge cake, but they taste great! Great tasting cupcakes that are actually good for you?!? No longer impossible!

These cupcakes would be great for vegetarians and those watching their figure alike!

Honestly, I felt a lot less guilty eating four cupcakes tonight.

While I used plain Greek yogurt this time around, I thought of using raspberry yogurt in chocolate cake mix next time. Yum, raspberry chocolate cupcakes! Really, the possibilities are endless!

What cake flavor would you make?