Sep 7
Be Do Have…thanks Eric!
- Categories: Uncategorized
Day 7…Labor Day hope all is well with you and yours!
Archive for September, 2009
Sep 8
Ants in Your Pants…or Kitchen?
- Categories: Education
It’s the first day of school, I walk out to the kitchen this morning to make my son’s lunch and the counter is a moving black wave. I’m not going to Sugarcoat this…I HATE ANTS!! Tis the season for the little critters to swarm and conquer, but I am wanting to be as eco friendly as possible and as much as I hate ants I dislike using products like Raid to get rid of them. Taking Jim Simcoe’s class at Quattro’s August college has me thinking more and more about ways I can be more environmental conscious…so to the internet I decide to go to learn alternative ways to deal with these lil critters. Here are my findings…I’m leaning towards the wet solutions.
Step 1 – Do Some Sleuthing
One thing that will help you get rid of ants is to figure out why the ants are coming in. What are they after? Maybe they are seeking out crumbs next to the trashcan or water dripping from a faucet. Cleaning these areas is a good first step towards ridding yourself of these tiny creatures.
Step 2 – Dry Solutions
Block the invasion at the source. Trace the ant line back to where they come into your home, and set any of the following items below there, which ants will not cross. Many of these herbs listed below are easy to find and inexpensive to purchase. A lot goes a long way. I figure what the heck… I’ll mix them all together and I’ll have a powerful anti-ant cocktail 
!
- Mint (Spearmint)
- Cayenne Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Coffee Grounds
- Bay Leaves
- Black Pepper
- Cucumber Slices
- Baby Powder
Step 3 – Wet Solutions (Sprays and Such)
You can mix a 50/50 solution of apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle and douse ant-infected areas
You can also make a solution of water and citrus rinds (Like orange, lemon, lime, etc.) and put that in a spray bottle.
Peppermint oil can also be effective. If the infestation is small, sprinkle a few drops in the area.
Step 4 Go to the Source
If you’ve really got a vendetta, you can go straight to the source of the problem. The best recommendation is to pour boiling water into the anthill.
One solution that I read is to put grits on the ant hill. I think the theory is that the ants will eat the grits and that they will then swell up. Poof!
I will head to Whole Foods today and pick up a few of these items like peppermint oil and keep you posted. If you have any other eco friendly tips to get rid of ants I’m all ears!
Sep 6
Go Take a Hike!
- Categories: Uncategorized
Day 6 of the 90 day challenge and everyone…and I mean literally everyone was at the beach today and for good reason! It’s the last days of summer, school is about to start..YEAH!!!…plus it’s the best weather and water temperature of the year!
I have just returned from my NVC workshop in Lake Arrowhead, CA and I’m out for a hike. I’ve been catching up on many things today including the 90 day challenge posts and videos from all of you, plus revenue producing activities! I decided to make the time today to read and listened to everything all of you have created so far… Dennis’s Probotic supplement (BTW – I have been a consumer of Probotics for years and highly recommend it), Todd Horinouchi has written a blog that everyone should read about Mind Mapping… tools to help you to be clear in your vision which translates to setting and directing your own course of action, and Cory Jim’s blog about hiking today to maintain balance, and to reach out to our community and leaders to lend support to our fellow bloggers…we are not in this alone!!! Here is a bit of visual to show you what was up for me today.
Namaste,
L.
Sep 5
NVC and Leadership with Mary Mackenzie
- Categories: Uncategorized
Day 5 of the 90 day challenge – last day of NVC workshop on Peaceful Living.
Here is an interview I had today with certified trainer, Mary Mackenzie regarding NVC and her view on how it applies to Leadership.
Sep 4
Inspiring Social Change
- Categories: Uncategorized
Day 4 of the 90 day and the 3rd day of my NVC Peaceful Living workshop.
“My goal is to change the world one heart at a time.” – Mary Mackenzie
Mary Mackenzie, our certified NVC trainer and facilitator for our workshop, has written a book titled Peaceful Living. In one of her entries she talks about inspiring Social Change as living from your values which doesn’t mean that you are perfect. When you act in ways that aren’t in harmony with your values, own up to it and try to do it differently next time. Set a course that is in alignment with your values and do your very best to stay headed in that direction…this is Social Change. As Gandi put it, “Be the change you speak.”
Video tomorrow,
L.
Sep 3
Many years ago I started my journey in self development. This has been a process for me that continues today and will, I’m guessing, until the day of my transition.
It was shortly after my decision to embark on this journey that I shared with a friend how there were painful issues from my past that I was wanting to revisit, gain clarity on and have closure with. I felt they were holding me back from life. My friend was really baffled and asked me why I would want to “open up a can of worms?” My reply was simple… I don’t want them on my shelf any longer!
It’s very easy for us to hide our feelings and needs instead of diving into them and seeing them as a gifts in disguise. You might be reading these words and feeling the same way my friend did years ago, and possibly saying…is Lauren nuts… a gift??? Clearing out my pantry of the cans of worms has taken courage, commitment and has been extremely healing… today was a no exception. I’m happy to report another one opened up and emptied!
I am grateful for the space that these experiences have created, for they have helped me become the friend, the mom, the sister and continued the unfolding of me.
L.
Sep 2
Day 2 Lake Arrowhead CA
- Categories: Uncategorized
Hi there, I’m coming to you live from my NVC, Non-Violent Communication workshop on Peaceful Living facilitated by certified instructor Mary Mackenzie from Flagstaff Arizona.
The reason for my attending this workshop is to deepen my knowledge and practice of my communication skills through compassionate communication, something I would like to bring to the Quattro community in the near future. NVC is a bridge that fills the gaps in the way we communicate with others. It is a tool that helps us to be heard and understood as well as to hear and understand another. It’s also a tool to connect with ourselves…and I truly believe to connect with another we must first connect to what’s up for us.
I’m open to what the next few days will unfold for me on my journey and I’m grateful to be able to share this experience with you and maybe peak your interest in a way of connecting to others that can change your life.
Until tomorrow,
L.
Sep 1
Sept 1 – 90 Day Challenge FORE…that’s Quattro in Golf
- Categories: Uncategorized