[caption id="attachment_6899" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Little Michelle taking one for the team."]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7260049.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6899" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7260049-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

Everyone around the country complained about the "heat wave" this week.

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Yeah, yeah, yeah.  A "cool front" in my fairy city is 103 degrees.  Ugh.

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(It's 70 and sunny the rest of the year though.  There is a reason why we endure this for a few months.)

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What better way to cool off this summer than my concocting a refreshing hydrating mist and spraying the heck out of your friends?  :-D

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Here is a recipe that I found over at <a href="http://locallilly.com/2011/06/16/hydrating-mists-essentials-summer/" target="_blank"><strong>localLily.com</strong>. </a>

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<ul>
	<li>1 tbsp each organic peppermint leaves, lavender buds, &amp; calendula petals</li>
	<li>3 tbsp organic green tea leaves</li>
	<li>4 cups boiling distilled water</li>
	<li>5 drops pure peppermint extract or essential oil</li>
</ul>
<em>Put herbs and tea in a heat-tolerant pitcher or large </em><em>French Press and pour water over them.</em>

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<em><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7250031.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6898" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7250031-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></em>

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<em> Cover the </em><em>top and let steep for at least 20 minutes. Strain and </em><em>cool, add the glycerin and peppermint then pour</em><em>or funnel into a bottle(s). Makes 32oz.</em>

<em>Shake the spray bottle first then spray (eyes closed).</em>

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In typical "me" fashion, I was impatient with the directions and missed that I needed peppermint leaves, lavender buds, AND calendula petals.  I shopped only for peppermint.  I could only find spearmint which I prefer anyway -- minty with a hint of sweet.

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I figured since I already had green tea bags on hand, I would use them.  Whimsical bonus:  Inspirational quotes!

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7250045.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6900" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7250045-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7250042.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6901" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7250042-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

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When I transferred the spritzer potion to my spray bottle, I noticed that dark color.  I wondered if it would stain.  Tea does stain, people.  You know that, right?  But since I already invested too much time and a few bucks into this blog activity, I shoved my doubts back to the part of my brain where denial resides.

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Fast forward to another day in the office where I encourage my teammates to join me in yet another hair-brained blog adventure.

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The first thing out of Megan's mouth was, "Is that going to stain?"

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I mumbled, "Ummm...Dunno.  I'll just spray it on your arms and legs."

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Or in your face if you're crazy enough to agree to that.

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[caption id="attachment_6902" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="The Hazing of New Male Team Member. He volunteered. So it&#39;s technically not an HR issue."]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7260050.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6902" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7260050-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

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Everyone humored me by repeating the Mantras of the Tea Bags as I sprayed away.  How wacky-funny is that?!?!  It was something out of a Christopher Guest film.  Wow, I love my team.

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7250039.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6903" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7250039-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

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Unfortunately, I cannot recommend that you try this at home, my friends.  Megan was right.

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[caption id="attachment_6904" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I was able to rid most of it with Shout. I hope that a 2nd round will do the trick. Hmph."]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7260053.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6904" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7260053-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

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