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Golden Elephant with Succulents

Elephants are the ever so gentle and wise spirit animal that exemplifies focus and strength. Elephants are also the symbol of power, self-assurance, wisdom, kindness, loyalty, leadership, confidence. True to its strong structure, an elephant as a spirit animal gives you the energy to finish off any task without any delay. I have always loved elephants since I was a child. I remember going to the zoo the first time and being so close to the enormous and so gentle animal seeing it walk so gracefully along the dirt path with its herd was breath taking for me. There are different interpretations of the elephant in society. In China, India and Africa, the elephant is a symbol of beauty, power, intelligence and peace. Whereas, In Buddhism the elephant holds a deep spiritual significance but it differs from Hinduism.

Having elephant art is a great reminder of how strong you are and no matter what hardships come your way you have the strength and wisdom to overcome anything. At Flymeawaycreations Etsy shop you can find a Golden Elephant planter for your special succulent plant or air plant!

A great succulent that does really well in the Elephant planter is Pigmyweeds or Jade plants. These succulents are easy to grow! You will need to keep your planter near sunlight to attain their most vibrant color. As succulents, they don’t need frequent watering, since they store it in their leaves. If they are left to sit in wet soil, their roots will rot. So for these succulents only use a small amount of water on them to moist the soil about every 2 weeks.

You can check out the Elephant planter at the shop by following the link below.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/197387240/elephant-planter-for-indoor-gardening

Edible Succulents

Succulents plant are becoming trend stories and social-media posts everyday. They are becoming, a decorating staple in homes, restaurants, offices, and even dorm room decor. But did you know that a lot of common succulents can also be healthy and delicious additions to your dinner plate? Probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you see the succulent adorning your windowsill that you could add them to your meal! My family and I are expanding our taste buds by trying a few of my favorite succulents with our meals. Here are a few succulents that can be garden decorations and can be nutritional.

Stonecrops:

These flowering succulents, also known as sedums, include up to 600 species of plants. Their leaves have a mild peppery, bitter flavor, and are a flavorful addition to salads. Be sure to eat them in moderation, however, because large quantities can cause stomach upset. Its bitterness can be mellowed out by sautéing. Red flowering sedum leaves, stems, and tubers are safe to eat raw in salads, but the yellow flowering sedums have a mild toxicity and need to be cooked. The health benefits of this yummy succulent can relieve coughs and lower blood pressure, and they can be applied to the skin to relieve burns, cuts, and eczema, although there isn’t any research yet to back these claims.

Sea Beans:

This succulent grows on salt marshes and sandy beaches. They are gaining popularity among gourmet chefs and popping up in more grocery stores. These “beans” can be eaten raw or pan-fried and have a flavor and texture similar to asparagus. If you want a quick blanch can soft out the intense sea salt flavor. Sea Beans are high in protein, calcium, iron, and iodine.

Dragon Fruit:

These bright pink fruits are my favorite! It comes from a night-blooming cactus commonly known as the queen of the night. Despite their flashy appearance, their flavor is very mild and has a slightly sweet melon or kiwi flavor. Simply slice it open, scoop out the white pulp, and eat, or add it to smoothies and shakes. It’s low in calories and high in protein, fiber, vitamin C, iron, and calcium.

If you would like to try out the dragon fruit smoothie follow the instructions below:

(You can add any other type of berries along with the dragon fruit.)

Add raspberries, dragon fruit, blackberries, 1/2 cup yogurt, chia seeds, lime, to blender container. Add cup of milk, cover, and blend on high until smooth. Pause to scrape the sides of the container with a spatula as needed.
Pour smoothie into a glass and top with additional chia seeds and berries if desired.

Aloe: This spiny succulent’s is known in treating burns, rashes, and minor cuts and scrapes, but its benefits extend much further. You can peel away the tough, bitter outer leaf and blend the translucent inner part into drinks and smoothies, chop it into salads, or poach slices in water to get rid of the slimy texture. Aloe includes high levels of antioxidants, vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, E, and folic acid. There’s also evidence that it can relieve constipation. However, large amounts can potentially be bad for your kidneys, so eat in moderation.

So next time you want to try a twist on a salad or smoothie try adding a clipping of your succulent! Flymeawaycreations has several planters that work great for succulents. These cute planters can work great in the kitchen! You can check out the link below to find the different planters for your perfect succulent!

www.flymeawaycreations.com

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Pumpkin Seeds Benefits

The third Wednesday of October is National Pumpkin seed day! I love the season of autumn because you can create magical pumpkins and sip on hot apple cider while snacking on pumpkin seeds.

Seeds, in general, are considered excellent sources of potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of healthful oils, magnesium, and other nutrients that enhance the health of the heart, bones, and other functions. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of magnesium, which is important for bone formation. High magnesium intake is associated with a greater bone density and has been shown to decrease the risk of osteoporosis in women after menopause. In addition, Pumpkin seeds contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber. This combination has benefits for both the heart and liver. The fiber in pumpkin seeds helps lower the total amount of cholesterol in the blood and decrease the risk of heart disease.

After carving our pumpkins for our magical spooky decorations, I collect the seeds to make a tasty snack for myself and my kids.

Directions to make toasted pumpkin seeds:

Spread the seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet and roast 30 minutes to dry them out. I like to add spices, so toss the seeds with olive oil, salt and your choice of spices ( example; cinnamon, pumpkin spice, nutmeg, or all spice ). Return to the oven and bake until crisp and golden, about 20 more minutes. Below is a link that has different recipes using pumpkin seeds.

https://www.delish.com/cooking/g3019/best-baked-pumpkin-seed-recipes/

I was inspired this month to create 3D printed pumpkins for the shop from all the years of love of making tasty pumpkin seeds and carving out spooky and silly jack-o-lanterns with the kids! The 3d print is shaped as a small pumpkin painted in a bronze finish! You can follow the link below to check out the planter! Pumpkin-Seeds

https://www.etsy.com/listing/632301796/3d-printed-pumpkin-planter-for-indoor?ref=shop_home_active_2

National Ghost Hunting Day

On the last Saturday in September as part of the World’s Largest Ghost Hunt, National Ghost Hunting Day kicks off an annual international investigation of the paranormal. For ages gone by, many of the ghost stories around the world center on historical records or literature. Even their use by Shakespeare and other playwrights is often considered a persistence of that discussion in the midst of the Renaissance stage. Seeking paranormal activity isn’t limited to rundown ruins and darkened, forgotten corners of the world. With the increase of movies and television shows going on the hunt, interest has grown. There are many cities that offer ghost hunting tours to walk and listen to ghostly stories about people or places. Take for instance New Bern, NC has a ghostly tour walk. http://www.ghostsofnewbern.com/ The tour tells you about the ghosts that haunt the homes and buildings along our route as well as about paranormal investigations that have taken places.

Also Wilmington, NC has a haunted ghost walk, that I have actually been to several times and each visit that I have taken was different stories! https://www.hauntedwilmington.com/ You will take a guided tour of a 90-minute ghost walk to the city’s most actively haunted homes & burial grounds. Hear eerie tales of ghostly occurrences, including actual encounters during recent tours.

I have always had a fascination

Halloween_Skull_with_Bone_and_Witch_Hat_Clipart

of ghostly stories and growing up in a home that had some strange activity inspired me to create the skull planters in my shop! I love to read ghost story books, to me its history that hasn’t been forgotten. You can check out the skull planter by following the link below

https://www.etsy.com/listing/633107344/3d-printed-skulls-planters

7 NC Lighthouses

If you visit my Etsy shop you will notice that a few items listed are vintage collectibles. I have collected different items over the years when visiting different coastal antique shops. One of the items that I love, is the vintage Lighthouse hooks. I love that I live on the Coast of North Carolina and that I have 7 different Lighthouses to visit close by me or taking a short day trip to see one of them. When I found the hooks I knew that it had a place in my shop!

There are seven standing North Carolina Lighthouses: Currituck, Bodie Island, Hatteras, Ocracoke, Cape Lookout, Oak Island, and Bald Head Island. Living on the Coast of North Carolina I have had the opportunity to visit most of these beautiful places. These seven coastal lighthouses dot North Carolina’s shoreline from the Outer Banks to the Brunswick Islands. Long ago these structures protected fortune hunters from our shores, as of today they lure visitors for some of the most incredible sights you’ll ever see.

The Currituck Beach Light Station on the northern Outer Banks has protected North Carolina’s shores since 1875. Made of roughly 1 million red bricks, this active lighthouse’s exterior differs from a more common black-and-white color scheme to the south. You can climb and visit the Light Station Easter through Thanksgiving

When my family and I visited Kitty Hawk and Nags Head over the Spring we got to explore this amazing place. At the entrance of this protected area is Bodie Island Lighthouse (pronounced “body”). Today’s structure is the third lighthouse to stand on this site. Take the 214-step trip to the top, and then explore the lighthouse museum and bookshop in the former keeper’s quarters. You can visit the lighthouse in April through Columbus Day.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the nation’s tallest and most recognizable lighthouse, it’s commonly referred to as “America’s Lighthouse” and was completed in 1870. Climb its 257 stairs during the day or watch its light shine for 20 miles at night. You can visit this lighthouse the same time frame as the Bodie Lighthouse.

To reach the oldest still-operating lighthouse in North Carolina, you can take a free ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island. The whitewashed lighthouse is one of the nation’s five oldest still-active facilities. Although you can’t climb the stairs to the top, the view from the base alone is worth the trip. The village is steeped in history, only accessible by water or air and was once a safe haven for the infamous pirate Blackbeard.

The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is most recognized for its large black-and-white diamond design. Originally rejected by 19th century mariners, the structure was later used as the model for future Outer Banks lighthouses. It’s the southernmost lighthouse on the Crystal Coast along the Outer Banks and is only accessible by private ferry. When climbing its 207 steps you can take in 360-degree views of the area’s turquoise blue waters and undeveloped beaches.

Traveling south of the Outer Banks to the Brunswick Islands beaches, you can cross onto Oak Island to see the Oak Island Lighthouse. With a light that can be seen for 24 miles, this lighthouse is one of the worlds most powerful. I have the opportunity to visit this lighthouse many times because my family lives near this beautiful structure.

North Carolina’s southernmost lighthouse is visible from Oak Island. Return to the mainland and head to Southport where you can take the ferry to Bald Head Island. Similar to Ocracoke, Bald Head is only accessible by water or air. Old Baldy’s appearance is a result of decades of patchwork repair and its 141 years of service. Climb to the top of its 108 steps to take in the view and explore the restored keeper’s cottage on the property.

When you get a chance to visit NC coastal areas try to stop at one of these amazing places! Also you can check out the vintage hooks at

https://www.etsy.com/listing/575275937/vintage-iron-light-house-hooks