Hello! How are you today? The weather is great here in San Francisco. Howard and I are going to lunch at a restaurant on Union Street that branched out on to the sidewalk and street for more separated outdoor space. New normal. I will let you know how it goes.
Cindy, Annie, and I each send newsletters of our favorite finds every week. We thought it would be fun to link to each other’s posts. I know you will enjoy and learn from them as I do! So at the end of the post, you will find more links to…
Five Favorite Finds You Need To Know
1. Trader Joe’s Sunflowers
Sunflowers are inexpensive at Trader Joe’s right now…so is the chamomile. I added rosemary but you could use any greenery from your yard. That vase was 75% off at Anthropologie (no longer available). I like to occasionally look in their sale section!
Note: There are some affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting CCH!
2. What To Watch On Television
The third season of Yellowstone with Kevin Costner is back. The storyline is good…and I love the scenes of nature…almost like being in the national park.
3. Skincare and Bug Bite Advice
My sister’s neighbor recommended this Trader Joe’s Lemongrass Coconut Body Oil (she was not getting bitten by mosquitos and I was). I’m not sure if it is a mosquito repellent but I LOVE the way it goes on after a shower! I add Jergen’s Natural Glow to it to maintain a little color!
- Antiseptic ( helps to dry the bites) then over the counter cortisone cream. We have a lot of mosquitoes in New Orleans.
- I have a bad reaction to bug bites and get huge welts too. I’ve used After Bite which does help.
- Try ice and cold compresses
- Castor oil works well to draw things out!
- Try Caladryl Clear. It works.
- Take it from someone who lives in the South, where we have chiggers. We use Witch Hazel. Calms those bites.
- I feel for you as I’m perpetually covered in bites and the occasional poison oak. This may sound strange and it won’t heal them any faster, but it will give you relief from the itching for hours. Point a hot hairdryer on the itchy spots (it’s like scratching them without actually doing it) and just when you can’t stand the heat anymore…stop. It causes the body to protect from a burn and actually numbs the itch for quite some time. It’s the only thing that gives me any relief!
- I use cortisone and Advil. Sometimes Benadryl for a day to help calm your system down.
- Just put a drop of lavender oil right on each bug bite and massage it. Lavender soothes and helps with inflammation! (note: I bought the essential oils starter kit from Annie and for more info. checkout this).
4. Cute Embroidered Dress
This J. Crew shift dress is on sale (40% off) and comes in classic, petite, and tall. I can’t decide which color to get. What do you think?
Gap Straw Hat (saw this in the store–so cute) • Cardigans with larger buttons on-sale • Embroidered dress on sale • Beaded bracelets • Addidas (I have these) • Straw Cross-over bag on-sale
Gap Straw Hat • Gap White Denim Jacket • Embroidered dress on sale • Gold bangle • Cole Haan sandals at 75% off. (I have these and so far 110 of you guys have bought them too!) • Straw Cross-over bag on-sale
5. One Dish Meal That Howard Is Making Once A Week (we like it that much)
“A Sichuan-inspired stir-fry of blistered yet snappy asparagus and crispy pork in an aromatic sauce from Smitten Kitchen’s Deb Perelman.” Recipe here.
We like asparagus but you could also use green beans or snap peas. If you want it spicier, we add Trader Joe’s Chili Onion Crunch. Look for it in the store!
For more really good recipes, make sure you read my last post, Progressive Barbecue Menu.
Heat will relieve the itch of mosquito and many other bug bites – see this link https://lifehacker.com/use-a-hot-spoon-to-instantly-relieve-itchy-bug-bites-615912899
Thanks!
Lots of good tips! We have plenty of mosquitoes, poison ivy and gnats in the South so looking forward to trying some of the suggestions. Always love your posts.. My Cole Hann sandals are scheduled for delivery tomorrow.. can’t wait!
Thanks… Hope you like them as much as I do.
Hi…thought I’d get in on the “bug bite after-bite” dilemma, lol! After living in Alaska where the mosquitoes can pick up a Volkswagon, I’ll pass on MY tip used for years…Old Spice mens deodorant. No kidding! My blood type attracts the little suckers the minute I step outdoors. My husband says he uses me for bait so they won’t come after him. It has to be the STICK though. No matter how I spray down (we used Cutters up there) I could still come in with bites. Just rub the deodorant on the spot real good and wa-la, no itch! Sounds crazy I know, but it works. Used it on the kids too so I wouldn’t have to load them up with chemical sprays all the time.
Wow…I never would have thought of Old Spice. Thanks. I used to get terrible mosquito bites when we would visit my grandmother in Canada as kids! So I can imagine what you go through.
Made Howard’s Prk Stir Fry. Delicious! Question: Does he have a suggestion how to clean splatters from the cook top???
Ha! Since I am the dishwasher when he cooks, I can tell you that I remove the burner grates and wash with a soapy sponge and then a clean sponge. This is not the fun part of the dish!
LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL!
THE HOWARD COOKS AND YOU GET TO GO TO LUNCH!
THE FLOWERS ARE SO CHEERY AND BRING A SMILE!
THE COMMENTS CAN ONLY HELP WITH THE BITES!!!!!!AND HOW KIND OF PEOPLE TO ADVISE!
I ONLY SAW ONE COLOR DRESS………….WHICH ONE DID YOU BUY?!!!
XX
As always, love your 5 favorite finds for this week. The Sichuan inspired stir fried pork looks so delicious. You are so lucky Howard is a whiz in the kitchen. Hope your bites are better and you’re itch free.
Oh my this was a great post! I can’t wait to try Howard’s asparagus. The trader jo’s bug bite thing sounds like a winner! That bag is so darling for the price! Such great finds, loved them all!
I’m looking forward to trying Howard’s recipe, thanks for sharing – I confess to being a little tired of cooking, and I’m in a bit of a grilled chicken and green salad rut so something new is very welcome. We are mosquito central here in Houston, and they love me so it’s always a hassle to stay ahead of the bites and the itch – my favorite repellent is a version of Florida water with witch hazel, lemon, clove, and lavender essential oil- it works great and soothes bites too – for bad welts or really itchy bites I use my regular gel hand sanitizer – it stings a little but it stops the itch and cleans it up if I’ve scratched, and there’s a little moisturizer in it to soothe the skin around the bite.
Thanks so much for the advice!!
Your sunflower arrangement is gorgeous! So cheery! I love both of the dresses and the white with pink looks cool and fresh! Going to check out Howard’s recipe too!
Thank you for continuing to post beautiful, inspiring, positive content so faithfully! Your efforts are so appreciated.
I plan to try the stir fry this week-I’m finding myself in a real cooking rut, so recommendations are much appreciated!
You will think this is nuts, and I can’t blame you, but mosquitoes (and other biting pests) are terrible here in the Deep South, and they all love me—I can be covered in bites and my husband get not a one (no repellent on his part, either!). I desperation I ordered “The Bug Bite Thing,” and I have found it to offer some relief. https://www.bugbitething.com/
Can’t wait to make Howard’s stir fry dish. I have 3 bottles of the TJ chili onion crunch – we are addicted to it! It’s good spread on baguette slices, on a charcuterie platter, or dumped on top of a block of cream cheese. Ha – no wonder I can’t lose weight!!
For mosquito bites, I put a bandaid on it – the STICKY part, not the part that goes on a wound. The sticky part of the bandaid keeps the air off. When I lived in Hilton Head, I was continually bitten – I wore bandaids all over – my friends gave me Barbie and Sesame Street bandaids, so I looked strange, but I wasn’t itching!
Oh that’s similar to the using scotch tape advice!
I ordered the chambray CH sandals (only color available in my size) and they arrived yesterday. I love then and you are right….so comfortable! What a deal! Thank you.
We are heading to a mountain cabin next weekend and I intend to try out the lemongrass oil. It will either work…or be a marvelous marinade I hope the mosquitoes enjoy. Crossing my fingers!
I ordered the Cole Haan sandals on your recommendation, got the navy suede and they arrived yesterday. They are comfortable, look good, and what a bargain!
I’d like that color too!!
I always love your finds! From recipes to great deals! Still waiting on my Cole-Haan sandals to arrive! Those flowers and the vase are so gorgeous!
I’m sending you a BUG BITE roller tomorrow! I don’t know how we lived without this blend for bug bites!
Mary Ann, try out essential oils. Lavender and other blended essential oils can make a big difference in preventing bug bites as well as soothing if you get bit. I’m sure Annie can help you with this. Since I’ve been using EO’s I rarely get a bite.
I know! Annie mentioned that. I bought the YL starter pack. I’m not getting bites in SF now though…just San Diego.
Great recommendations! As far as bug bites go, we rub the inside of a banana peel on them to stop the itching. It’s a little messy but I do find it helpful! Enjoy your day!!
Shelley
Wow, Shelley, that’s a new one. Thanks!
I bought that straw Gap hat and love it! Reviews had said to beware it is made for a large(ish) head and that is correct…so is fine for me. Highly recommend.
🙂 I have a big head too!
We are not going to stores. Period. We are not dining out—even outside—and definity not inside. We are a university community and KU plans to open this fall which will an unmitigated disaster. We buy what we need and can find on line and still use Instacart and a local grocery pop up for deliveries! Our closest Trader Joe’s is in KC, and we seldom made it there before. But Amazon prime will deliver the Chili Onion Crunch and it’s already in my cart! Thanks for the recommendation.
As for bug bites, I’m right there with you. Years ago I had a huge infestation of oak mites. OH, MY! What I read was to show (hand spray works great) with the hottest water you can stand that doesn’t scald. Wash with sea salt.Then whatever topical works best for you. Wasp and spider bites send me to the ER!!! I keep liquid benedryl in the fridge. Cooling going on. At first onslaught of bug bites, I take two liquid benedryl, then back to one every six hours.
That’s interesting about the heat…like the comment about using a hair dryer.
Always looking for good new recipes. Going to try the Stir-Fry soon! Thank you!
Hope you like it, Celia!
I have found toothpaste to be very effective on bites. If you don’t have anything else handy, put a drop of toothpaste on the bite. It’s not attractive but it does take out the pain and itch and makes the welt smaller. When I was a child, my mother always made a paste of water and baking soda and put it on bites – toothpaste works in much the same way.
THANKS, Susan. Good to know. I remember as a kid putting soap (from the soft side of the soap bar) on the bites and it helped. I will remember toothpaste in a pinch!