Crunchy or Creamy......Which One Are You?

Hey Y'all!

I hope all is well in your neck of the woods! Today's post was prompted by my love for peanut butter.

Peanuts are not nuts at all, they are legumes, and they they originated from Brazil. The unsaturated fat content in 1oz of peanut butter per day helps reduce the risk of heart disease by 25%. It is rich in folate and niacin (vitamin B3), which helps increase the HDL (good cholesterol) level by as much as 30%. Peanuts are a very good source of dietary fiber and proteins (up to 25% of peanuts consists of proteins). Peanut butter also has a high content of Resveratrol, an antioxidant produced in some plants when attacked by pathogens like fungi and bacteria. Even larger contents of Resveratrol can be found in red grapes.

As a kid, I can remember my father putting peanut butter on just about everything. I do believe his favorite was crunchy peanut butter on pancakes topped off with blueberry syrup. Being Daddy's little girl, I had to give it a whirl! My love for peanut butter began that very moment as my Mom took a picture of me with peanut butter and blueberry syrup slathered all over my face! Yum!!

Now I am older and I still have a soft spot in the depths of my taste buds for peanut butter. I eat peanut butter-mayonnaise-banana sandwiches, peanut butter on my crackers, snack cubes of cheese, with jelly on bread and crackers, on apple slices, bananas, on waffles and in desserts of all kinds. In my opinion, the ultimate way of eating peanut butter is to spoon out a little and eat it off the spoon. I know I probably grossed you out with the pb/mayo/banana sandwich but I have to tell ya.......don't knock it until you try it! This Guinea Chick loves to eat and appreciates good food!


Peanut Butter Blossoms are my favorite cookies. They bring together two of my favorite tastes. The perfect marriage between chocolate and peanut butter, outside a Reese's, of course. Here is the recipe I grew up with!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

1 3/4c flour
1/2c sugar
1/2c brown sugar
1tsp baking soda
1/2tsp salt
1/2c solid shortening
1/2c peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
2tbsp milk
1tsp vanilla
1 egg

Sugar (for rolling)
1bag Hershey Kisses (unwrapped)

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix ingredients together. Form into 1" balls and roll in sugar. Bake for 10 minutes. Immediately after removing from the oven, place one unwrapped Hershey Kiss in the center of the cookie ball and lightly press down. Place cookies on a cooling rack. After the cookies have cooled, dig in and don't forget to share!

Now you know my love affair with peanut butter. While writing this post, I decided to define the difference between crunchy and creamy.

~ Crunchy is crisp, hard but breakable, lively and firm
~ Creamy is soft, smooth, slick and laid back

So, my question to you is this. Are you crunchy or creamy? I'm a crunchy kind of gal!

Thanks for stopping by! Feel free to leave me a comment about what type of peanut butter you are. I'd love to hear from you!!

Lisa M. Rodgers
Creator-Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Peppermint Essential Oil

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds everyone having a fabulous day! Today I am writing about Peppermint Essential Oil. This ingredient is found in several Cactus & Ivy products - Lip Service Lip Balm, Back Acre's Rub and Peppermint Tree Foot Balm. With the winter months fast approaching, it only seemed fit to discuss the fantastic oil of Peppermint!


Since ancient times in Japan and China, mints have been cultivated. Dating from 1000 BC in Egypt, Tombs revealed evidence of a type of peppermint. The peppermint plant is a perennial herb that grows up to 3ft high. It is easily propagated by underground runners. The 'black' peppermint has dark green serrated leaves, with purplish stems and reddish to violet flowers. The 'white' peppermint has green leaves and stems.

The INCI name for peppermint oil is Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil. Peppermint is a relaxing and cooling oil that can help relieve headache, indigestion, reduce mental fatigue, increase alertness, relieve nausea, relieve itching, help maintain alertness and repels insects effectively. Peppermint Essential Oil may be purchased online or in most health food stores.

Peppermint oil can be used the following ways:

- by rubbing on reflexology points on the bottom of your feet
- steam inhalation
- in an air or reed diffuser
- in a therapeutic bath

Essential oils are highly concentrated and should be diluted with a carrier oil prior to external use. Peppermint oil may cause a skin reaction if the dosage is in excess. Peppermint oil should not be used on children younger than 5 years of age or women who are pregnant.

With the cooler months upon us, mice look for the warmth of indoors too. Peppermint is an effective deterrent to mice. The aroma of peppermint is very displeasing to mice and when they encounter the scent, they go the opposite direction.

Here is a home remedy to try. Place a few drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls and position in areas where mice have been seen. Please do not place cotton balls where children can reach them. Please make sure to wash your hands after handling Peppermint Essential Oil.

I hope you've enjoyed learning about Peppermint Essential Oil. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

Lisa M. Rodgers
Creator-Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Guinea Chick With A Southern Accent

Hey Y'all!

I sure hope this post finds you doing well. It's 69 degrees out and there is a 70% chance of rain today. With the gloomy setting outside, this feels like a fun, getting to know me kind of day! Hang on y'all......

By now, you all know that I am the CEO of Cactus & Ivy, a cruelty free, vegan and natural spa and body products manufacturer. Cactus & Ivy is my baby and I take great pride in the products I create for all the present and future "Guinea Chicks" out there! And, you may be surprised to know that guys are "Guinea Chicks" too. There is such an animal as a male chick!

Now to learn a little more about how I pass the time when I'm not creating fabulous bath and body products. As I have mentioned before, I am the Army wife of Prevo and we get along like peas and carrots. Prevo is definitely the man I am destined to spend the rest of my life with.



Prevo has the higher percentage of talent between the two of us. Prevo is a singer/songwriter and I can't sing a lick. Not even in the shower or to the radio. However, I make a mean body scrub and Prevo's talent in that department is that he knows how to use it. Yes.....Prevo is a "Guinea Chick", the first to be exact! I am eternally grateful that he is willing to be my very first test subject for all products! Woo-hoo Prevo.....way to support your wife! I love you more than my luggage babe! You definitely ROCK!



For fun around here, we are usually gathering with friends and playing corn hole. Prevo and I make corn hole boards as well. There isn't a whole lot out there that we can't do. Oops, I forgot.....we can't shag and we live in South Carolina. Gasp!!

Before Prevo left for Iraq in August, 2005, we wanted to give him a send off that he would remember. We got together with a large group of friends and had the 1st Annual Hog Wrestlin' Event. We even had spectators! This had to be the best day, I do believe, that I have spent in all my adult life. Prevo and I were surrounded by people who know how to have fun and absolutely no animals were harmed during the event. The bruised egos, legs, arms and tail bones were all on the intelligent species and I don't mean the pigs! Many of us, (not me), ended up with poison ivy due to our neighbor making the mud hole in a poison ivy bed! Way to go...genius! And, just so you don't think I am "dissing" my neighbor, the "genius" line came from a radio disc jockey. He called my neighbor that after reading my letter on the air. That's another post I'll save for later.



Any who, back to the fun. Here we are in all our glory. It was a fabulous day and this photo remained on Prevo's desk inside his hooch in Iraq. It reminded him of who and what he had back home. It gave him more determination to serve his country and come home alive! Here's to great friends and good times! Life is too short to take it seriously ALL the time! Oh, and by the way, I am one half of the winning team! Oh yeah! Roy and I won the 1st Annual Hog Wrestlin' Event. Woo-hoo!

So, that's a little look into my private life. To some, it may look a little wild and not for them and that's OK. Prevo and I love life and we definitely live it to the fullest. I am leaving you with this. I will never compromise the integrity of myself, family, friends or Cactus & Ivy to get ahead in life. What you see is what you get! I am a loyal wife, daughter, friend and Small Business Owner. That you can take to the bank, even in today's' economy!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous day!

Lisa M. Rodgers
Creator-Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Guinea Chicks Rock & Rule

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you having a fabulous day! Today I am introducing Cactus & Ivy's youngest "Guinea Chick"!

I love this press!! Cactus & Ivy's youngest "Guinea Chick", Vanessa, posing with our Perk Up Lip Balm. Vanessa's favorite things are school, dancing, playing with friends, mint chewing gum and her Guinea Chick mom, Donna Maria Cole Johnson, CEO of Indie Beauty Network.

Thanks dM for sharing Vanessa's pic for use on my site and The Southern Accent Blog. Vanessa is a cutie pie! Guinea Chicks Rock & Rule!!

As always, thanks for stopping by and hope you have a fabulous day!

Lisa M. Rodgers
Creator-Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Going Pink for October

Hey Y'all!

I hope today brings you blue skies and sunshine! I woke to a brisk 48 degrees this morning and it was fabulous. I do believe that Fall is here to stay...yippee!!!

Cactus & Ivy is going 'Pink for October' in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Yesterday, I joined the virtual community to walk across America raising funds for Stage IV breast cancer patients.

Go to Gal to Gal Virtual Walk 2008.

In three easy steps, your Gal or Guy will be on their way! If you'd like to be part of the Cactus & Ivy team, when prompted, enter team name "Guinea Chicks". Hope to see you in the virtual community walking across America!

Have a fabulous day!

Lisa M. Rodgers
Creator-Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy