Easy spring cleaning hacks you need to try

Take a look at these genius spring cleaning hacks for keeping your home in tip-top shape

It’s that time of year when you probably have a long list of cleaning jobs for your home so, whether your house needs a deep clean or you have a spare five minutes for a quick refresh, use these spring cleaning hacks to make your home sparkle and and shine.

1. Disinfect sponges in the microwave

Sponges can easily become dirty and germ ridden, so give them a bit of a refresh by sprinkling over a small amount of lemon juice and then popping them in the microwave for two minutes. The heat will nuke germs and you’ll be left with a fantastically fresh-smelling sponge. Do make sure your sponge is metal-free.




2. Make your home fragrant with cinnamon
Cinnamon has a heavenly scent that will make your home feel super homely and welcoming. And this trick is just so easy. Sprinkle a small amount of cinnamon on a small area of carpet or a rug, then hoover it up. Simple!


3. Scrub your bathtub with grapefruit
Now this is one environmentally friendly way to clean your bath. Cut a grapefruit in half, sprinkle it with some salt and rub it around the bath. No harsh chemicals or strong-smelling products needed.


4. Use vinegar as an all-purpose cleaner
Vinegar is a good all-rounder and is excellent for everything from shifting limescale to cleaning windows or your fridge. To use it as a cleaner, mix it with equal parts of water. Don’t use your best balsamic, though. White vinegar will do the job perfectly.


5. Love your lemons!
Lemons are a hero in the world of DIY cleaning products. The acid in them helps to remove dirt, limescale and rust, leaving everything pristine. Try lemon juice on taps and around their edges, where dirt builds up and can be hard to remove. Lemons will also tackle stains on chopping boards – leave the juice for a while, then rinse. Another trick is to add lemon when steam cleaning a microwave. Fill a bowl with water and slices of lemon and cook in the microwave for five minutes. You’ll be able to wipe away any built-in grease with ease afterwards.
image: http://ksassets.timeincuk.net/wp/uploads/sites/56/2015/05/Lemons-ideal-home-housetohome.co_.uk_-1.jpg

6. Embrace bicarbonate of soda
Bicarbonate of soda is super versatile and will clean almost anything. It works a treat on rust and is also great for cleaning your oven and fridge. A small bowl of it placed in the fridge will remove odours, too.
Fed up of a stinky bin? Sprinkle in some bi-carb to eliminate odours – add a couple of sheets of newspaper as well, as this will soak up any leftover moisture.
Another great use is freshening up mattresses. Often neglected when it comes to cleaning, mattresses will also benefit from bicarbonate of soda. Simply sprinkle on, leave for at least an hour, then vacuum to reveal a super-clean bed.


7. The power of salt
Salt is great whenever you need to create a scrub. You can also mix it with hot water and pour it down the sink to keep things fragrant and flowing smoothly.


8. Bake off!
Cornflour is most commonly used for baking, but it will also clean your carpet if you spill something oily or greasy. Cover the stain for 20 minutes, then run the hoover over it. Get your silverware super bright, too, by using a mixture of cornflour and water.


9. Oil it up
Paint stuck on your hands? Use vegetable oil mixed with a little salt to gently scrub it off. Vegetable oil can also be used to polish wooden furniture – just mix two parts oil to one part lemon juice and buff with a cloth. Avoid your best antiques, though.
image: http://ksassets.timeincuk.net/wp/uploads/sites/56/2015/03/oil-1.jpg

10. Organise your bed linen

Tired of searching for a matching set of bed linen? Make life easy for yourself by storing each set inside one of the pillowcases from that set. Everything will be so much easier to spot and it’ll save you lots of time.


11. Clean with cola
If you’re out of bleach or are looking for a non-toxic trick to clean your loo, take a look in the drinks section of your supermarket! Cola has a mild acidity that will lift mineral marks and stains from your toilet bowl and pipes. A standard size should be enough to pour around the rim and into the bowl. Make sure everything is coated by giving it a wipe around with a cloth and then wait approximately an hour for the cola to work. Finish with a couple of flushes to wash everything away.
image: http://ksassets.timeincuk.net/wp/uploads/sites/56/2015/03/cola-1.jpg

12. Keep tidy with cling film
This is an amazing little trick for keeping your fridge nice and clean. Line each shelf with a layer of sticky cling film and every week replace it with a new one. Any crumbs or spillages will be lifted and thrown away with the plastic. You can do the same with your grill pan and oven, using silver foil.
image: https://ksassets.timeincuk.net/wp/uploads/sites/56/2015/03/rt-DGSSGAL521-No-credit-on-site.jpg

13. Work out what to give away
If part of your spring cleaning includes a bit of a declutter of your wardrobe, you might like to try this neat idea. Hang all your clothes with the hangers facing the wrong way round. When you wear something, turn the hanger the right way around. If you remember to do this each time, you’ll know what you are and aren’t wearing and what you can give to charity at the end of a certain time frame – say, a year.


14. Remember your dishwasher!
Dishwashers don’t have to be restricted to cleaning just dishes! You’ve got a ready-made and easy-to-use sterilising machine under your nose in your kitchen, which can clean a multitude of household objects. Fridge draws, kids’ grubby bath toys, oven shelves, microwave plates, dirty dustpans and brushes – even your summer flip-flops will get a deep clean in your dishwasher. However, use your common sense and don’t try to clean anything too delicate that might melt or disfigure. If you’re washing anything metal, be sure to dry it thoroughly to prevent rusting.


15. Let bread be brilliant
We’ve all accidentally smashed a glass in the kitchen – mistakes happen. But did you know a handy slice of bread will pick up any tiny shards of glass from the floor that you may have missed with the dustpan and brush? Simply use it like a sponge and the bread will act like a magnet and pick up the glass.

Read more at http://www.idealhome.co.uk/project-advice/six-easy-spring-cleaning-hacks-you-need-to-try-33191#dPTdS1AKsgmete7T.99

12 Foods that increase Magnesium and prevent

High Blood Pressure

The majority of us know the importance of getting enough calcium, vitamin c and protein through our diet, but we tend to forget other crucial vitamins and minerals.

Thankfully, magnesium is becoming more and more well-known and appreciated in the medical and nutrition communities.

However, it’s still one of the most common nutritional deficiencies, affecting up to 80% of the American population, and that’s something to be very concerned about.

What is Magnesium Deficiency?

Magnesium is a mineral that is present in relatively large amounts in the body. Researchers estimate that the average person’s body contains about 25 grams of magnesium, and about half of that is in the bones. 1% of it is in your blood.
Magnesium is important in more than 300 chemical reactions that keep the body working properly. (source)
Magnesium is responsible for:

• Proper transportation of calcium, silica, vitamin D, vitamin K, and obviously magnesium.
  • Activating muscles and nerves
  • Creating energy in the body
  • Detoxification
  • Helping digest proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
  • Serves as building blocks for RNA and DNA synthesis
  • Acting as a precursor for neurotransmitters like serotonin

Early signs of magnesium deficiency include (1):

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue and weakness
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Muscle contractions and cramps
• Seizures
• Personality changes
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Coronary spasms
• High blood pressure
• Blood clots

What Causes Magnesium Deficiency

Modern farming techniques deplete mineral and vitamins from the soil in which your food is grown. This is especially true for fields treated with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides.
This means that foods grown on these depleted soils do not contain a lot of magnesium.
Certain medical conditions can also make it more difficult for your body to absorb this mineral.

Risk factors for magnesium deficiency include (2):

• Kidney disease
  • Crohn’s disease or other conditions that affect digestion
  • Parathyroid problems
  • Taking antibiotics or drugs for diabetes and cancer
  • Old age
  • Abusing alcohol

How To Get More Magnesium

Many people take magnesium supplements, but they don’t always take the right kind.
Small studies have found that magnesium in the aspartate, citrate, lactate, and chloride forms is absorbed more completely and is more bioavailable than magnesium oxide and magnesium sulfate (1).
They should also contain calcium, Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2 to be absorbed properly.
Regular Epsom salt baths or foot baths are also a great way get more magnesium since it can be absorbed through your skin. You can also apply magnesium oil on your body if you dislike baths.
First and foremost, the best way to up your magnesium levels is to change your diet to include more magnesium-rich foods.

Top 12 Foods High In Magnesium

1. Cashew Nuts – 1 ounce is equivalent to 20% of your daily value (3).
2. Almond – 1 ounce supplies 19% of your daily value (4).
3. Avocados – 1 fruit is equivalent to 15% of your daily value (5).
4. Bananas– 1 medium fruit supplies 8% of your daily value (6).
5. Lentils – 1 cup of cooked lentils is equivalent to 18% of your daily value (7).
6. Chocolate – 1 bar gives you 58% of your daily value (8).
7. Figs – 1 cup of dried figs is equivalent to 25% of your daily value (9).
8. Okra – 1 cup of boiled okra gives you 14% of your daily value (10).
9. Seeds – 1 ounce whole, roasted pumpkin or squash supplies 19% of your daily value (11).
10. Squash – 1 cup is equivalent to 11% of your daily value (12).
11. Rice– 1 cup of long grain brown rice supplies 21% of your daily value (13).
12. Spinach – 1 cup of cooked spinach gives you 39% of your daily value (14)

Source: dailyhealthpost

DIY Toilet Bombs

Here is how to make your own homemade toilet cleaner.  These bombs will get rid of stuck-on grime and take the work out of your cleaning routine.
You’ll need:

• ½ cup citric acid
• ½ cup baking soda
• 25 drops essential oils (orange and lemon smell nice!)
• ½ cup cornstarch
• A spray bottle full of water
• Gallon size zip-top bag
• Cupcake molds

Instructions:

1. Combine citric acid, baking soda, and cornstarch into your ziplock bag and shake well.
2. Spritz the mix 2-3 times with a bit of water, seal the bag and knead the mixture.
3. Repeat 5-7 times.
4. Knead the mixture until it has the same texture as pie dough.
5. Add essential oils and knead again.
6. Remove the mixture from the bag and pack it tightly into your molds.
7. Leave them in a cool, dry spot to dry for 2-3 days.
8. Next, remove them from their molds and dry for another 2-3 days.
9. Store in an air-tight container.

To use, drop one into your toilet bowl and let it fizz out. Then, simply flush and you’re done!

Source: http://bewellhub.com/you-will-never-have-to-scrub-a-toilet-again-if-you-make-these-diy-toilet-cleaning-bombs/

TIPS & REMEDIES

Here are a few different home remedies and tips that I’ve gathered over the years, these are natural options that don’t include harsh chemicals.

Sprays:

·         Coffee: Save leftover coffee to spray plants that have a problem, make sure to spray underneath the leaves as well as the stems and surrounding soil. You can also sprinkle a layer of used coffee grounds around the plant to ward off these pests. They won’t like it and will likely move on to greener pastures in a few short days.

·         Vinegar & Water: Pour 1 cup household vinegar and 1/2 cup water into a spray bottle. Spray the critters on the ground as you see them, but be careful not to spray the leaves of plants since the vinegar & water will damage them.

Barriers:

The idea for using barriers is to prevent or repel slugs from reaching the plants.

·         Copper: Copper rings, mesh and tapes can be placed around individual plants to deter them, the slug will receive a bit of a shock when it comes in contact with the copper. Look for these in your local garden center.

·         Egg Shells: Sprinkle a generous layer of crushed egg shells around the plant, they will give up trying to reach the plant since it’s so uncomfortable for them to get across the jagged shells.

·         Diatomaceous Earth: A natural solution for insects of all kinds (ants, snails, etc.). Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on top of soil around plants with pest infestations. Reapply if it gets wet.

Traps:

Set out bait or traps to lure them. Some of the traps will kill them (by drowning) while others will just collect them for you to dispose of, some methods of disposal:

·         Submerse them in boiling water

·         Douse them heavily with salt or plop them in very salty water

·         Drop them in a pail of very soapy water

What not to do: toss them over the fence into the neighbor’s garden–that’s bad mojo!

·         Beer: Bury a small dish or plastic container up to its rim so it’s level with the top of the ground. Fill with beer in the early evening and check in the morning–the dish should be full of slugs. Empty the bowl and replenish each night. Change beer every 24 hours to be effective. Some find it more successful to add a bit of molasses to the beer.

·         Yeast: Bury a small dish as above then pour in one of these recipes: 1 tablespoon of baker’s yeast, 1/2 teaspoon sugar and 1 cup of lukewarm water; another recipe is 1 tablespoon flour, 1/2 teaspoon baker’s yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar mixed with 1 cup of warm water. In the morning you’ll find a bowl full of drowned slugs (they are drawn to the fermenting yeast).

·         Wet Newspaper Stacks: They will be attracted to the dampness and the shelter the newspaper provides. Lay the papers down in the early evening then check under them in the morning, you should find a happy slugfest enjoying their environment. Get rid of them in the garbage or kill them buy dunking in boiling water.

·         Grapefruit, orange, melon rinds, banana or potato peels attract slugs so leave a few piles of them around the yard (you’ll have a bunch of happy critters to deal with in the morning).

Tips & Info

These Little Guys Love To Munch On What's Growing In Your Garden

·         Did You Know: Birds are a natural enemy of this pest and love to feed on them. Keep a bird bath in your yard (near the problem area if possible) to encourage birds to hang around–they’ll be happy to munch away your pest problem.

·         How To Determine A Slug Problem: You’ll notice holes in leaves and silver or dark markings along the leaves (which is a trail of their mucus).

·         Did You Know: Slugs are mollusks that belong to the same family as clams!

·         They are most active and feast at night when it’s cool, you likely won’t see them unless it’s early morning or early evening. They hide during the day in cool, moist spots with some shelter (under garden rocks, etc.). and thrive in moist conditions, preferring mild weather.

·         What Do They Eat? Some of the plants they enjoy feeding on: Mushrooms, celery, potatoes, flowers (pansies), leafy vegetables (like lettuce), green beans. It’s not only the top of plants that they enjoy feasting on, they’ll get down into the roots too.

Most any food is enhanced with the addition of herbs. Lets know a bit about some basic culinary herb ideas:

·        Pounding leaves in a mortar and pestle produces the clearest and most intense flavors even though the temptation is to haul out the blender or CuisineArt. That high-tech kitchen equipment shreds and rips up the leaves so fast, the oils never get a chance to do their business!

·        Add a few leaves to liquid when poaching fish or poultry.

·        Wrap slices of vegetables like zucchini, onion, and tomatoes with a few basil sprigs in aluminum foil and grill for 20 minutes. Store it in oil, or vinegar, or freeze it in paste form for a future base to a casserole or vegetable dish.

·        Herb butters are a delicious way to add the full flavors of fresh herbs to dishes.  

Use on sandwiches, to add zest to meat, fish, and veggies, especially mushrooms, onions, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, and zucchini.  Make herb cheeses by substituting soft cheese for butter.  To make herb butters beat four tablespoons of chopped, fresh herb into 8 oz. of soft butter until smooth.  Beat in the juice of one lemon and add salt and pepper to taste.  Chill.  These can also be frozen for later use.  Using the above recipe, I like to combine Italian herbs (oregano, thyme, parsley) with the basil.  I beat in some olive oil, fresh, minced garlic, and parmesan cheese. This butter spread on Italian bread and grilled until lightly brown under the broiler makes a scrumptious garlic bread to accompany any meal.

·        Try adding ½ tsp ground coriander to gingerbread, banana bread, and carrot cake.

·        About those hard to find ingredients: They are found usually in oriental cooking-A Chinese or Asian grocery store will have the Kaffir leaves, galangal, and lemongrass. Most ordinary grocery stores' international or ethnic food sections have a lot of different kinds of Thai pastes, dried lemongrass, and other Asian ingredients.

8 Detox Diet Soups

Corn and Sweet Potato Soup

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
7 1⁄2 cups of vegetable stock
2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 medium sweet potato diced
1 lb corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
Sea salt
Lime wedges to serve

Instructions:

Heat the oil in a large soup pan and gently fry the onion
until soft (approximately 5 minutes).  Add the garlic and
gently fry for another 2 minutes.  Add 1/14 cups of
vegetable stock to the pan.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat
and simmer for 10 minutes.  Add the cumin and diced sweet
potato and simmer a further 10 minutes.  Season to taste
and add the corn and remaining stock.  Simmer approximately
10 minutes.

Remove soup from heat and let cool slightly.  Transfer half
of the soup to a blender or food processor and blend until
smooth.  Stir the smooth soup into the pan and mix together
with the chunky remaining soup and gently stir together.

Serve into warm bowls with lime wedges on the side.

Fresh Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

3 lbs of sun ripened tomatoes
1 2/3 cups of vegetable stock
3 tablespoons of tomato puree
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Fresh chopped basil leaves (about a handful)
Sea salt to taste

A little crème fraiche and croutons to serve (optional)

METHOD:

Wash the tomatoes and place them in a large bowl.  Pour
boiling water over them and leave for 30 seconds.  After 30
seconds drain the boiling water and add a little cold water
to cool.  This process makes it easy to peel the skin.

Peel the skin off all tomatoes and cut each tomato into
quarters.  Place the tomatoes in a large pan and pour the
vegetable stock over tomatoes. Bring to a boil and quickly
reduce heat to low.  Simmer gently for approximately 10
minutes.  Stir in the tomato puree, vinegar and chopped
basil leaves. Season with salt and pepper to taste and
simmer gently while stirring for a further 2 minutes.

Let soup cool slightly and then transfer to a food
processor or blender and process or blend until smooth.
Transfer the soup back to the pan and reheat gently taking
care not to boil.

Serve in warm bowls and top with a little crème fraiche and
croutons if desired.

Roasted Pepper Soup

You can make this soup without roasting the peppers to save
time but the roasting process gives the soup a rich,
excellent flavor, worth the time.

Ingredients:

3 red bell peppers, washed and deseeded
1 yellow bell pepper
1 medium onion, finely diced
1 garlic clove, crushed

3 cups of vegetable stock
1 tablespoon plain all-purpose organic flour
Salt and black pepper to taste
Diced red and yellow bell pepper pieces to garnish
Plain yogurt or crème fraiche to garnish

METHOD:

Preheat the grill.  Wash and cut the peppers in half and
remove stalks, core and seeds.  Arrange the peppers in a
non stick baking tray (skin side up) and place under the
hot grill.  Grill for approximately 8 to 10 minutes or
until skins begin to char.

Transfer the peppers to a plastic or zip lock bag, seal and
leave to cool.  Once cool (about 15 minutes) peel skins and
discard.  Roughly chop the remaining pepper flesh and set
aside.

Place the onion, crushed garlic and 2/3 of the vegetable
stock in a pan.  Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes
or until stock begins to reduce.  Sprinkle the flour into
the pan and stir to reduce lumping.  Add the chopped
peppers and bring to a boil.  Cover, reduce heat to low and
simmer for 5 minutes.

Let soup cool slightly and the transfer to a food processor
or blender.  Blend until smooth.  Transfer soup back to pan
and reheat gently, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Spring Onion Miso Broth and Tofu

Note: You should be able to find most of these ingredients
in a health food shop or specialty section in your
supermarket.  You can substitute the bok choy with any
Asian greens.

Ingredients:

1 bunch of spring onions (scallions)
A large handful of chopped fresh cilantro
3 thin slices of fresh root ginger (or 1⁄2 teaspoon dried
ginger)
1 small red chilli, deseeded and thinly sliced (optional)
5 cups of vegetable stock.
1 cup of bok choy (also known as pak choi), thinly sliced
1 cup firm tofu cut into small cubes
4 tablespoons red miso
2 tablespoons Japanese soy sauce (also known as shoyu) or
for healthy version, use Bragg Liquid Aminos.

Instructions:

Cut the green tops off the spring onions and thinly slice
the rest.  Place the coarse green tops in a large pan along
with the cilantro stalks, ginger, dried chilli and dashi or
vegetable stock.  Heat the mixture gently until it comes to
a boil.  Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  Strain
through a sieve and return clear broth to pan. Reheat until
simmering.

Add the green portions of the sliced spring onions, with
the chopped pak choi and tofu.  Cook over low heat for 2
minutes. In a separate bowl mix 3 tablespoons of miso with
a little hot broth in a bowl and stir into the soup.  Add
additional miso and soy sauce to taste.

Stir the coarsely chopped cilantro leaves into pan and
along with the white part of the spring onions.  Cook
gently for 1 minute and serve into warm bowls.  Sprinkle
with thinly sliced chilli if using.

Creamy Carrot and Orange Soup

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of olive oil (you can substitute low-calorie
spray for the olive oil)
3 leeks washed and sliced
1 lb carrots, washed, peeled and sliced

5 cups of vegetable stock
Juice of two oranges
Finely grated rind of two oranges
2/3 cup of plain yogurt
Salt to taste
Chopped cilantro to garnish

Place the olive oil in a pan and add the leeks and carrots,
stir well until coated with oil.  You can also use low
calorie spray if you prefer.  Cover and cook over low heat
for approximately 8 to 10 minutes or until the vegetables
start to soften (don’t let them discolor).  Pour the
vegetable stock, orange juice and orange rind over the
vegetables.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Bring to a boil, then lower heat and cover.  Simmer for
approximately 40 minute or until the vegetables are tender.
Let the soup cool a little then transfer to a food
processor or blender.  Blend until smooth.  Return soup to
pan and add 2 tablespoons of the yogurt.  Reheat gently
taking care not to let soup boil.

Serve the soup in warm bowls and place a swirl of yogurt
and garnish of cilantro leaves on the center of each bowl.

Garlic Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

1 cup of red lentils, rinsed and drained
2 onions, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 carrot, peeled and finely sliced

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 bay leaves
1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
7 cups vegetable stock
Salt and black pepper

Instructions:

Place all ingredients except the salt and pepper into a
large soup pan.  Bring to a boil and then lower heat and
simmer for approximately 1 hour.  Stir occasionally to
prevent lentils from sticking to pan.  If soup thickens and
lentils are still not tender, add a little extra vegetable
stock.

Remove the bay leaves and add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve the soup into warm bowls and serve with a whole wheat
or seed roll.

Roasted Root Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cubed
2 carrots, peeled and sliced into thick rounds
1 large parsnip, peeled and cubed
2 leeks, thinly sliced
1 onion, peeled and quartered
2 bay leaves
4 thyme sprigs or 1 teaspoons dried thyme
3 rosemary sprigs or 2/3 teaspoons dried rosemary
5 cups vegetable stock
Sea salt for taste
Crème fraiche or sour cream to serve

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375F.  Pour the olive oil into a large
bowl and add the vegetables, thyme, rosemary and bay
leaves.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Toss well until
coated in oil.  Place the vegetables on a non stick tray in
a single layer.  Roast the vegetables in preheated oven for
approximately 45 minutes or until tender.  Turn them
occasionally to ensure they brown evenly.

Remove from oven, discard herbs and transfer vegetables to
a large pan.  Pour the stock over the vegetables and bring
to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 10
minutes.  Remove soup from heat and leave to slightly cool.
Transfer the soup to a food processor or blender. Blend
until smooth.

Return soup to pan and gently heat through. Serve into warm
bowls and garnish with a swirl of sour cream or crème
fraiche.

Winter Vegetable Soup

Note: This is a chunky vegetable soup and you can omit or
add vegetables to suit your taste.  You can replace the

potatoes for sweet potatoes for a sweeter tasting soup.

Leeks and winter cabbage also work well.

Ingredients:

1 medium cabbage cut into quarters
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 carrots, peeled and finely sliced
2 celery stalks, finely sliced

2 parsnips, peeled and diced
7 cups of vegetable
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
2 zucchinis, diced
2 cups of cauliflower florets
2 fresh tomatoes, seeded and diced
Salt to taste, fresh chopped parsley to garnish

Instructions:

Slice the cabbage quarters into thin strips.  Heat the oil
in a large soup pan and add the cabbage, carrots, celery
and parsnips cook over low heat for approximately 10
minutes, stir often so vegetables don’t stick to pan. (you
may need to add a tablespoon of stock).

Stir in the stock and bring to a boil.  Add the potatoes,
zucchinis, cauliflower and tomatoes with a little chopped
fresh parsley and salt and pepper to taste.  Bring back to
a boil, cover and reduce heat to low.  Simmer for
approximately 15 to 20 minutes until the vegetables are
tender.

Serve into warm soup bowls and garnish with a little
chopped fresh parsley.

40 AMAZING SELF-LOVE QUOTE 

There’s always a lot of talk about being kind and loving others, when in fact, there needs to be more talk about being kind and loving ourselves. There are so many people out there who would rather be somebody else, instead of themselves. It’s a shame really, because we are all beautiful in our own ways; we should always be ourselves and be proud of who we are! This may sound a little cliché, but it’s true. We forever strive for a perfection that doesn’t really exist, because perfection is created by individual perception. We need to accept ourselves as we are; every single bit of us. We need to practise more self-love.

A lot of the time, we don’t treat ourselves with the kindness and respect we deserve. We become insecure and it affects our confidence and even our health & attitude. This also results to us not being able to show love to others in the way we should, and creates a barrier to receiving love. People tend to fall in love with us, when we love ourselves – not from ego, but from the heart.

A person that accepts themself as they are, is a very inspirational being. These individuals show the world that we can be happy with who we are, despite our imperfections. We don’t need to be scared, embarrassed, insecure, angry, sad, etc. We can be perfectly content being ourselves. As a result, we will also be more understanding and compassionate to others. We’ve perused the internet and found 40 great self-love quotes which will hopefully inspire and help you love yourself a little bit more:

In no particular order…

1. “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection” – Buddha

2. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

3. “Self-love has very little to do with how you feel about your outer self. It’s about accepting all of yourself.” – Tyra Banks

4. “A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.” – Mark Twain

5. “We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.” – Mary Dunbar

6. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

7. “I am so beautiful, sometimes people weep when they see me. And it has nothing to do with what I look like really, it is just that I gave myself the power to say that I am beautiful, and if I could do that, maybe there is hope for them too. And the great divide between the beautiful and the ugly will cease to be. Because we are all what we choose.” – Margaret Cho

8. “It’s all about falling in love with yourself and sharing that love with someone who appreciates you, rather than looking for love to compensate for a self love deficit.” – Eartha Kitt

9. “When people believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.” – Norman Vincent Peale

10. “To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.”  – Thich Nhat Hanh

11. “Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself.” – Montaigne

12. “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” – M. Scott Peck

13. “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself.” – Harvey Fierstein

14. “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

15. “Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” – Lucille Ball

16. “I’ve come to the conclusion that people who wear headphones while they walk, are much happier, more confident, and more beautiful individuals than someone making the solitary drudge to work without acknowledging their own interests and power.” – Jason Mraz

17. “Do your thing and don’t care if they like it.” – Tina Fey

18. “If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” – Fred Rogers

19. “When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. This meant people, jobs, my own beliefs and habits – anything that kept me small.  My judgement called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving.” – Kim McMillen

20. “It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else’s eyes.” – Sally Field

21. “Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-break on.” – Maxwell Maltz

22. “One of the best guides to how to be self-loving is to give ourselves the love we are often dreaming about receiving from others. There was a time when I felt lousy about my over-forty body, saw myself as too fat, too this, or too that. Yet I fantasized about finding a lover who would give me the gift of being loved as I am. It is silly, isn’t it, that I would dream of someone else offering to me the acceptance and affirmation I was withholding from myself. This was a moment when the maxim “You can never love anybody if you are unable to love yourself” made clear sense. And I add, “Do not expect to receive the love from someone else you do not give yourself.” – Bell Hooks

23. “Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” – Parker Palmer

24. “Why should we worry about what others think of us, do we have more confidence in their opinions than we do our own?” – Brigham Young

25. “I had to grow to love my body. I did not have a good self-image at first. Finally it occurred to me, I’m either going to love me or hate me. And I chose to love myself. Then everything kind of sprung from there. Things that I thought weren’t attractive became sexy. Confidence makes you sexy.” – Queen Latifah

26. “You have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” –Louise L. Hay

27. “You’re always with yourself, so you might as well enjoy the company.” – Diane Von Furstenberg

28. “A healthy self-love means we have no compulsion to justify to ourselves or others why we take vacations, why we sleep late, why we buy new shoes, why we spoil ourselves from time to time. We feel comfortable doing things which add quality and beauty to life.” – Andrew Matthews

29. “Don’t rely on someone else for your happiness and self-worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can’t love and respect yourself – no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are – completely; the good and the bad – and make changes as YOU see fit – not because you think someone else wants you to be different.” – Stacey Charter

30. “The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.” – Steve Maraboli

31. “If you aren’t good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you’ll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren’t even giving to yourself.” – Barbara De Angelis

32. “Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.” – Malcolm S. Forbes

33. “Believing in our hearts that who we are is enough is the key to a more satisfying and balanced life.” – Ellen Sue Stern

34. “Love is the great miracle cure. Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives.” – Louise L. Hay

35. “Loving yourself…does not mean being self-absorbed or narcissistic, or disregarding others. Rather it means welcoming yourself as the most honored guest in your own heart, a guest worthy of respect, a lovable companion.” – Margo Anand

36. “Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one’s own sunshine.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

37. “The better you feel about yourself, the less you feel the need to show off.” – Robert Hand

38. “You are very powerful, provided you know how powerful you are.” – Yogi Bhajan

39. “It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.” – W.C. Fields

40. “Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.” – Lao-Tzu

Source: http://www.bonvitastyle.com