The Hazel Eyes Tour

I drink about 4 cups a day at work. I love it and am not going to stop drinking it, but I have heard that it can stain your teeth. Has anyone experienced staining of the teeth with prolonged drinking of tea? Is there something I can do to prevent it? I know this stuff stains my coffee mug, but a little salt take even the worst of stains away so I feel like just brushing my teeth would handle business also.

Hi everyone! I know some of you take apple cider vinegar and I was wondering if you noticed if it gave you body odor?

I told my mom I wanted to try taking ACV to help my eczema, but she told me had tried taking some a long time ago (just for health, she doesn't have eczema) and noticed it gave her horrible body odor. I said I would take at the most a tablespoon a day, and she thinks she probably had less than that.

I just wanted to know if anyone here had similar experiences before I started taking it.

Paper fans decorated with dead poets.



Human swarm around the Crayola-colored tents. A diamond-bright day, the air smelling of hot dogs and spray paint.



A girl smoking a cigarette while flipping through a paperback in the shade.



First in a long line for Jonathan Lethem, who read about eagles and skyscrapers.



Listening to South Florida YA authors: Gaby Triana, (who took pictures of the crowd with her iPhone), Danielle Joseph (who read about her DJ-obsessed heroine as a hiphop beat thumped in the background), Alex Flinn (who shared Beastly movie gossip), and my literary fairy godmother, Joyce Sweeney (who once met an angel on a motorcycle).



Listening to the Miami Poetry Collective read, bucket brigade-style, then sign their anthology like a yearbook on the last day of school. Talking with their patron saint, Campbell McGrath, while he autographed the fold-out broadsheet.




Outside the wedding-style tents, a woman posing with strap-on wings.

Riding the MetroMover home, arms loaded with brand new books, surrounded by smiling strangers, doing exactly the same thing.

I have been working diligently on a contemporary celebrity biography for a couple of months now
(a celebrity that I happen to think is dreamy btw), until I just happened across this month's issue of a popular fashion magazine at the grocery. Low and behold there inside it were pics of his wife posing in a bra and undies. Now for most people that probably isn't a big deal, but I want my writing to reflect who I am -- and I'm not someone who agrees with immodesty. I figure he went along with this, and in fact, it probably isn't the only spread like that, because she has been popular for quite a while. It went against my principles anyway, so I ditched the project. Oh well. Live and learn.

So, I just chased my 7-mo-old kitten around the apartment as she swallowed a piece of yarn, spaghetti-like. It was maybe 6" long? It was plain wool.

I've heard horror stories about things like this getting tangled in their little intestines, about surgery, and death. But I've also heard about them eating crazy things and being fine. So my questions:

1. Will she digest it, since it was just well...sheep's wool?

2. Is there anything I can give her to either aid her digestion or cause her to throw it up before it gets too far?

After about four straight days of rain and wind, the sun finally returned to us here this weekend. It was SO nice. My rain gauge was overflowing, it had gotten such a workout. And while I know it's good for my garden---we've got baby bok choy and a bunch of greens coming in---it is not so great for my mental state. I was feeling soggy both literally and figuratively. It's nice to be drying out, so to speak.

In other news, we're coming to the end of both Project Runway AND Top Chef, my two favorite reality shows (and really, the only ones I watch any more. Until Rock of Love returns. I mean, I am only human, and I am here for Brett. But I digress.). Both TC and PR have been really good this season. And Top Chef makes me want to cook, which is a nice benefit. Project Runway just makes me want to shop, which is...well, not so good. I'm kind of on a self-imposed restriction right now. We'll see how long it lasts. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out my favorites for the finales, which is tough. On PR, I really like Carole Hannah, and even more since she got a nasty stomach virus and STILL kept working. I also like Althea. On Top Chef, we have been all about Jennifer for weeks now, but she seems to have lost her confidence. Which I can totally relate to. What she needs is a little pep talk from Coach Taylor. Jennifer, if you are reading this---and I really doubt you are---you should pop over to YouTube and look for some vintage Taylor clips. He will talk you back around. Trust me! I do it all the time.

Also, just days before I leave for NCTE, my camera has died. My brand NEW camera, the same one I lost and then miraculously found. I'm beginning to think, though, after the loss and now the breaking down, that maybe our relationship was just not meant to be. It's such a cool camera, this thin, red, sleek thing. It's like I was dating above myself, and holding onto this guy is more trouble than it's worth. What I need is a big, clunky camera my daughter can drop on the floor, all practicality. It's good to realize these things. I am a dork. I need a dorky camera. Maybe I'll add a neck strap just for emphasis.

Finally, a Coco update. She's doing well, pretty much totally recovered, which is great. She is also, however, on so many freaking medications it's ridiculous. When we went to the vet last week they added TWO more---Zantac and a digestive drug---so now she's taking phenobarbital (for seizures) an antibiotic (for the pneumonia she got at the vet) and these two new ones. It's crazy. We practically need a part-time nurse to keep up with it all. Also, I am somewhat concerned that one of this new drugs is making her more hyper than ever. I mean, she's always been a nervous, yappy kind of dog, but GOOD LORD. She's like a whirling dervish these days. Poor Monkey is just running from her because she won't leave him alone. I guess another call to the vet is in order. Maybe I'll ask the nurse to do it.

Have a great day, everyone!

has anyone tried using very-fermented kombucha as a hair tonic? if so, let me know how much you applied, how often, and if you noticed any difference. i can't imagine it smelling very good, though i have used apple cider vinegar, and the smell fades once my hair dries.

I'm currently breastfeeding my 7 week old baby and recently ran out of prenatal vitamins. The vitamins I was taking were just drugstore brand cheapies and I realize I could be taking something better.

So..what are your recommendations for a breastfeeding mother? Should I be taking any Omega-3's or vitamin D supplements? How much should I be taking? I live in the northeast and will rarely be outdoors with a baby and a 3 year old so I know I should probably be taking a vitamin D supplement.

Also, my three year old son is an extremely picky eater. He eats a few different fruits and veggies everyday so I'm not worried about that but he absolutely hates dairy (except ice cream). I'm just worried about his calcium intake/vitamin D so any recommendations for him as well are greatly appreciated!

hello! i dont know if anyone is going to be able to help me out, but you never know =]

within the last year or so i began eating meat again, but only natural, organic, hunted, or local meat products. i am fine with turkey, beef, pork, etc.. but for some reason chicken gives me stomach aches. chicken broth doesnt affect me as much as the meat itself, but i still react to it. could it be something in the chicken fat that upsets my stomach? i just think its weird and dont really see why i can eat turkey and not chicken. thank you for any help or advice you can give me!

I can't think of a better place to put this, but if you can, please let me know!

I'm not sure if anyone here has experience with food allergies, but neither do I. I've never had a reaction to any food (that I've noticed), but last night I got a headache that lasted about 20 minutes each time I ate a cupcake from Whole Foods (yes, we couldn't resist their little turkey-topped cupcakes while grocery shopping). I thought the headache was odd after my first one, and then later in the night (I told you I couldn't resist them) it happened again within 5 minutes of consuming another. Here's a picture of the ingredient list that I'm pretty darn sure I've eaten everything on there previously. Though I'm not noticing any mention of the chocolate pieces that were parts of the turkeys, so maybe their ingredient list isn't so complete. Thoughts?

I just moved into an old house with poor insulation and my bedroom is freezing! I really don't want to have to just run a space heater all winter long. I'm working on sealing the window already. Any suggestions on what else I can do relatively cheaply and easily that will help? I'm renting and don't plan on staying for more than a year or two, so I don't want to make any large home-improvement investments. Ideas?

I'm in Utah, and winter just hit, so we've had really dry air here. And either because of that or for some other reason, static has hit me really bad. My pants are sticking to my legs (just made worse by my hairy legs). My hair is also sticking to my face.

What are your ways of stopping static? I am going to do my laundry in a few hours, so tips for that would be wonderful. I also really need to stop using bounce sheets and all that, so those tips would be most wonderful.

Thank you so much!!!

I am 26 years old. Recently, I was diagnosed with PCOD and am on medication, namely Novolone, and Glycomet. I really want advice on natural foods or herbs that will aid in keeping my condition under control and help with weight loss, because that is a major concern for both my doctor and me. I would also love advice on any kind of yoga/Ayurveda which is helpful in my condition. I am pretty sick, obese,have high pressure and asthma, which is making hard gym-work very problematic and want to start easy but immediately. Please help.

Very strange question but here goes...

An eyelash got into my eye and was irritating my eye, but before I could get it out it slipped below my lower eyelid and under my eyeball...and now I can't feel it in my eye anymore but I'm pretty sure it's still there. Is it alright to just leave it? Or is there a problem with not doing anything about it? If I should make sure it comes out, how?

I've been making my iced tea with Sweet'N Low for years and have been wanting to cut this out for some time now. We finally finished up the last of the packets in the house and today I made the first pitcher with turbinado sugar. The Sweet'N Low website states that 1/4 cup of sugar is equal to six packets of S'NL. I use 5 packets to a pitcher, so I figured 1/4 cup should be plenty. No way. It tastes virtually unsweetened. I had to add at least another cup to the pitcher for there to be any taste difference, and as any good Southerner knows, now it's not sweet tea since the sweetener was added after the brewing process, it's just tea with sugar. And most of it just settled undissolved at the bottom of the pitcher anyway. Can anybody give me some advice, tell me what I did wrong? I'm new to turbinado so perhaps it's just not sweet enough for me? (Incidentally, I found that evaporated cane juice in bulk is much cheaper, I'm planning to buy some tomorrow.)

so this may be a bit too exact of a question, but i have to ask..


deciding solely on the global mess made, which do you think is more environmentally friendly:
a pair of leather shoes or an exact replica with vegetarian leather?

the way i see it, the leather would be more environmentally friendly simply because whether or not i choose to, there are going to be people eating cows & waste not want not.. but if i were to choose vegetarian leather, we're going to have to create that from new raw materials..

what do you think? anyone know how to make rope sandals?

Hey guys! I am an active member of PostCrossing and have no problem finding individual postcards that are environment-friendly but I was wondering if anyone knew of any bulk postcards that I could order that are made out of recycled materials. I feel that this would be a lot easier and cheaper but do not want to be just any old batch of postcards.

Hope all is well!!

I think you all will really enjoy this video:

i would like to grow some herbs or plants that could be used for recreational enjoyment. i'd like to have some things that could be smoked, made into a tincture, or a tea. i'm hoping to grow anything that has a relaxing, comforting effect, as well as any possible aphrodisiacs, but i'm not sure what could be successful indoors. any suggestions?

*anything besides marijuana? i appreciate the suggestion, but not really what i'm looking for*

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We're doing a gradual overhaul of the products we use in our house. What do you all like for...

Deodorant
Dish soap
Dishwasher detergent
Carpet cleaner/stain remover
Bathroom cleaner
Glass cleaner

Is Seventh Generation all it claims to be (both effectiveness and natural-wise)? 'Cause that would be easy. I know I can use vinegar or baking soda for pretty much anything too, but like I said, this is a gradual process :)