Living Gleefully

Because the whole point of this blog is to help you find happiness in even the smallest of tasks or daily routines, today's post focuses on three ways to enjoy the rites of spring!

1. Plant herbs-There is nothing like a fresh herb to liven up a meal. Even if you are cooking a frozen dinner, a few snips of herbs will add so much flavor and nutrition, with little to no calories.

 You need sunshine, water, and fresh soil to be successful with herbs. The larger the pot, the less you have to water. A standard four inch pot probably needs a daily tablespoon of water, while a twelve inch pot could get a nice half cup of water every three or four days. If you are new to herbs, I'd recommend starting with rosemary, basil, and either chives or mint.

I like to add rosemary to chicken dishes and basil to tomato dishes. Just snip leaves off the plant and sprinkle over before you eat. If you like a mild onion taste, chives are great to add. If you like fresh mint in tea or water (or cocktails), having a pot of mint is a no-brainer. I would caution you though, that mint needs its own pot. Never put it straight in the ground, or it will take over your entire yard.

2. Try a non-toxic cleaner-The best combination for getting rid of stains really consists of white vinegar and baking soda. I like to add 30 drops of essential oil like lavender or lemon to mine for extra anti-bacterial oomph.  I have four pets, and this mix also gets rid of pet odors. The trick is to clean the area, then follow up with a small amount of just the white vinegar on the spot. Cover the spot with the vinegar and leave it to evaporate. It sounds crazy, but it will take the pet odor away as it dissipates in the air. I've found it even works on old pet spots, and it keeps your fur babies from marking that spot again. There is a lovely vlog on creating a multipurpose cleaner if you want exact measurements here:

 3.  Give your car a spring cleaning-As I mentioned in last week's post (here), I spend a lot of time in my car. As such, a good clean-out of my car makes the season feel fresh and adds a little lift to my day. You can take it for a professional once over, or do it yourself. If you want to be really hard core about it, see this post from the Queen of Clean on how to detail your car.

At a minimum, move the clutter back to its home, wipe down the dashboard,and vacuum. Since you already have your essential oil out, why not try a few drops in a car diffuser? Aura Cacia makes one that is very inexpensive, found here. It just pops in your car's lighter outlet. Add citrus to energize you, or a blend of eucalyptus, frankincense, sage, oregano, and cinnamon to boost your immune system if your office is passing around the crud. You can have a mini spa while you sit in traffic!

How about you? Any plans to brighten your spring?  Share with me in the comments section!