Coconut Oil on Baked Potatoes

So - I ran out of butter the other day and didn't realize it until I was taking the baked potatoes out of the oven. Oh a whim, I decided to use coconut oil in place of butter (with a small dollop of sour cream) and of my gosh -- what a taste sensation! I happened to have Dr. Bronner's unrefined, whole kernel "Magic Fresh Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil" on hand, which is far more hearty and tasty than any other brand I've tasted. It gave the potatoes the slightest tinge of coconut flavor without overpowering them. The best part was the hard potato skin, which (post-baking) I lathered in coconut oil and sprinkled with salt. Voila - a new family side dish! And thanks to the heart and skin benefits of coconut oil, one that is as healthy as it is tasty.

How to Kill Fleas Naturally

Nontoxic Method for Killing Fleas: Apple Cider Vinegar 

Our first family dog - and my first dog since the age of seven - joined our family yesterday. Because she is a rescue who was living in foster care with 8 other dogs until that point, a large pack of fleas decided to come along for the ride. Her wonderful foster mother had her doused twice with serious flea meds, yet there they were: hundreds of flat black specks darting in and out of her soft white fur.   They immediately made me think of the lice I went to war with (twice) on my children's scalps and I couldn't help but wonder if that natural solution would kill this enemy as well. I turned to Google to find out and sure enough, tons of people were having success using the same ingredient I used to kill lice: apple cider vinegar. A solution so simple, it's a wonder more people haven't discovered it.

I ran a bath for my precious new pup last night (her very first night home), soaped her up, then rinsed her off with a solution of 1:1 organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. I fluff dried her with a towel and this morning -- all we could find on her were dead fleas. No more live ones! As a bonus, her fur was extra shiny and soft (just like my hair is when I find time to do a vinegar rinse to it). Now I'm planning to try the vinegar rinse on our dog weekly to see if it helps keep future infestations at bay. I'll be sure to  post updates on our progress.