ERIN GO BRAGH !

On this wearin' of the green day, and being of almost full fledged Irish decent [Great, great Grandma was a full blooded American Indian], I'd like to say, Eire go brach, which is Gaelic for "Ireland until the end of time" (or Eirinn go brath, which is "Ireland Forever")! The term Erin go braugh! is the Anglicized version. Any way ya say it, Top of the morning and a Happy St. Patrick's Day to ye! LOL, I have been out all afternoon celebrating St. Patty's Day! Upon returning home I found that I never finished and published this post! Oops and sorry! I do not, however, want to wait another year, so here ye are. I hope your day was blessed with the luck of the Irish! In keeping with the green theme, try these! The oatmeal in the following recipe is very rich in vitamin E, and is well known for its anti-itch, anti-inflammatory, and skin soothing properties. Almonds are a natural emollient and, when ground, make an excellent exfoliant. The almond, oatmeal mixture is great for irritated, tired, dry skin. The avocado pulp, which contains vitamins A, D, and E, possesses collagen rebuilding properties. In order to avoid clogging your drains, use a small pouch or make a muslin bag to hold the oatmeal and almonds. Ideally, the pouch/bag should be large enough to fit your hand into, so that you can use it as a mitt to rub the avocado on your body. Alternatively, you could use a bath glove, but the pouch will afford you more room. AVOCADO ALMOND BODY SCRUB 1/2 cup almonds 1 cup dry oatmeal 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and mashed Grind the almonds in a blender or coffee grinder until course, don't make too fine! Then mix the almonds with the oatmeal and place into a muslin mitt or a glove. Scoop the avocado and rub on your body with the mitt. Rinse with warm water, pat dry and moisturize. Then save the pitt to use as a natural massage tool ! AVOCADO CARROT CREAM MASK 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 carrot, cooked and mashed 3 Tbs. honey Combine the ingredients in a bowl and spread over your face and neck. Relax for 15 minutes, rinse with cool water, then pat dry. Remember that the thicker you make the mask paste, the more intense the action on your skin will be. The carrots are high in beta-carotene and anti-oxidant vitamins, the cream high in protein and calcium, while the avocado is rich in vitamin E. Put them all together and this mask will improve skin texture while diminishing age spots and rebuilding skin collegen when used regularly. AVACADO HAND RUB 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted 3/4 cup oatmeal 1/4 cup almond oil 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup water Place all ingredients except water in the blender. While slowly mixing, drizzle the water into the blender until the paste has the consistency of a thick pudding. You may not need all of the water, depending upon the amount of avocado meat. Once completed, rub and massage the paste into your hand in a circular motion. Rinse off with tepid water and pat dry. For best results, use twice a week to maintain soft, smooth hands.