The Hazel Eyes Tour

I have been researching meats free from artificial nitrates and, deciding to start 'uncuring' my meats at home by myself, I now need a source for Celery Juice Powder. (The intended use goes something like this: The natural sodium in the powdered juice is an organic replacement for the nitrates and nitrites that are typically an important ingredient in cured meats; a bacterial culture (<i>Staphylococcus carnosus<i>) and the controlled fermentation it produces reduces nitrates and makes the food safe from botulism and other spoilage.)

Many listings for Celery Juice Powder online only show it as an ingredient in other products, or it is only available to businesses by other businesses, or it is only available in bulk from Chinese sources (non-organic from China, no thanks). I admit I am very new to meat preservation, and having only cured meat once using salt, I am not an expert. Finding American-made, certified organic Celery Juice Powder would be ideal, so thanks to you if you know where I can find some.

i love tea, and with black & green tea, i've developed into quite a snob. however, my love is inhibited by an unfortuate caffeine sensitivity. so, i'm interested in branching out beyond celestial seasonings and learning more about herbal teas. i'd like to find a book that would guide me on this. does anyone have any suggestions of books or any other resources?

thanks!

i'm looking for a place to buy a wine making kit. i don't need all of the tools and whatnot, i need only the ingredients. i looked at a few on amazon, but it's not that large of a selection, and it's all really expensive.

any wine will do, but i think the person i'm buying for said he hates merlot? i can always ask him again later, but i need places to buy this stuff for now.

thanks!

A couple of months ago we adopted Plato, an 8 week old kitten that was in a hoarding situation with 70 other cats. He was kept in a box alot, and his tail was broken in 3-4 different places. When we adopted him he was around a pound, and he had been hospitalized for starvation/malnutrition and a respiratory virus. He was also feral.

He is now around 5-6 pounds and is hell on wheels. He's definitely not the same Plato we adopted, and his older-adopted-brother (Socrates) is his bff. But the only lingering issue we seem to have is the upper respiratory issue.

He's not very sick. In fact, if he wasn't sneezing and didn't have occasional nose discharge, he would be in perfect health. He is eating, drinking, and pooping normally. He eats Innova, and about a 50/50 diet of wet/dry. He has been checked by a vet and is negative for FIV/FeLuke, has no fever, and is in otherwise perfect health.

Does anyone know what we could do to boost his wee little immune system? He is on an L-Lysine supplement, but I'm wondering if there is more I could do. I'd like to stop the sneezing, if I could, because sometimes he seems annoyed by it. I know a lot of you are pretty good at raising your pets naturally, so I thought I'd try here for supplement or food ideas.

And since this is a cat post, this is Plato, attacking his duck:

What do you think of Ecco Bella's cosmetics?

I've been using their body lotion (which is FABULOUS) & just found out they make natural cosmetics too!
Unfortunately I've been using regular make-up & I really want to make the change.
Ecco Bella's ingredients seem natural, I just want to know if they work/look good.
I'm looking to pick up some eyeshadows/liners, mascara, lip gloss, etc.
What about their shampoo/conditioner?

Also, can someone link me to a website where cosmetics are rated based on their ingredients? I know I've seen it linked here before but I couldn't find it in the memories.

Thank you ^_^

Tis the Season to be Blogging: Wine Recommendations from the Social Network

It’s the holiday party season, a time to celebrate with family and friends sharing good food and drink while we take time to count our blessings and find ways to help those less fortunate.

Recently on the social networking site Twitter (www.twitter.com), I posted the following tweet:

“Would you take a bottle of Texas wine to a friend’s dinner party? If so which one? Pls tweet response-Blogging need input #TXWine #LocalWine”

Note: The ‘hashtags’ at the end of my tweet are used to tag tweets. This helps you finding comments on Twitter on topics that interest you - e.g. I use #TXWine for Texas Wine and #LocalWine for locally produced wines not from CA, OR, WA or NY.

The responses came back loud and clear….a resounding Yes! No regrets needed. Some of the tweets that I received are given below:

Ashley Rodgers (@ashrodg) a public relationship professional specializing in hospitality industry at Wagstaff Wordwide recommended a special wine, by saying “Yes, I would take a bttl of TX wine to a party. Viognier by McPherson Cellars in Lubbock. Great wine.”

Andrew Collins (@cyberjunkie21) from Round Rock, Texas showed a broad horizon on Texas wines and said, “anything from Haak Winery for sure. I also like Fall Creek’s Meritus”

More recommendations at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=1296

My question is: What is the proper direction to pull the hairs out and why?

I've read various instructions as to how to sugar, but I noticed that this portion of the instructions differs from tutorial to tutorial.

Most of the tutorials that I read--including the ones here--tell me to apply the sugar in the direction of the hair growth, and then to pull them out in the opposite direction. (But I haven't seen any reasoning as to exactly why it has to be done this way.) I've also read instructions that tell me to do the exact OPPOSITE, supposedly because pulling the hairs out in the direction of growth will guarantee the hairs do not break. (When plucking hairs, I notice that pulling them out the direction of growth actually does make the hairs come out easier, cause less pain, and is less likely to cause breaks.)

At the moment, I'm leaning towards removing the hairs in the direction of hair growth, since it makes the most sense to me... but I'm really, really afraid of getting ingrown hairs (especially because I actually have ingrown hair scarring from shaving for so many years).

Advice, please? :)

Hello there, I'm doing a small survey for a journalism class on climate change, and was wondering if you had time, if you wouldn't mind anwsering a few questins? I really appreciate your imput, and if this isn't allowed here, please feel free to delete it!

How do you feel about the recent news about the stolen emails regarding climate change? Did the news change your opinion on the issue?

Do you think the media “over reports” or hypes up the issue of global warming? Do you believe to be as important as it is often reported?

Do you think “going green” has become a trend? Do you think companies take advantage of it as a marketing strategy?

What do you do, if anything, to lesser you carbon footprint/make the world “greener”?

Thanks again!

Does anyone have a recipe for natural homemade dish soap? Does it work? I really like the Method dish soap, it lasts quite well for me (I can do 3 times as many dishes with Method compared to Dawn at one time), but I don't have a local place to buy anything :(

Hello all!

I've recently become interested in trying to live more sustainably/naturally/healthily. I've never been very good at moderation, sort of an all-or-nothing kind of girl, but I'm aware that this transition is going to take a little compromise, at least at the start (and probably much longer than that...)

I have tons of specific questions, but for now, I'm gonna go with: where does one start?! I'm interested in hearing about how others have prioritized which parts of their life to "go natural" in, especially when money is (incredibly) tight.

And then: I can't get over this feeling that I'm doing it "wrong." I know that's ridiculous, and I'm proud that I've finally found a level of awareness that I was somehow missing before, but with all the marketing these days I'm never sure if what I'm buying is actually good for the environment or healthy at all! I'm happy to spend time reading ingredient labels, but it all seems to be either a foreign language or a trick (coconut derived surfactant= SLS?! WHAT?!) I live in NYC, so I know I have access to a lot of great products...I just don't know how to find them!!!

In the meantime, I've joined the wait list for an organic CSA, started using a menstrual cup (LOVE IT), and practicing FAM for contraception. So...what next?!

Hello all, being snowed-in at home in WI has given me lots of time to surf the net today...

So I saw this article on Yahoo News, it's been reposted from Prevention magazine. Some of this I don't find surprising, and some of this I'm not so sure. Just looking for some dialogue, I'd love some info and opinions but plz no snarks! I don't want to remind anyone to be kind and considerate. If you have facts post them, or links or studies or whatever. Any thoughts or info, thought this article would be a good learning opportunity in the least, there's so much info and opinions out there.

Original article:
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/the-7-foods-experts-wont-eat-547963/

(hopefully I did the cut right, LJ seems to be having probs w/ it and my dial-up doesn't help)

( Read more... )

...for herbal teas

The cold has finally hit the northeast and I’m back to craving many warm teas to keep me going(for hydration, flavor and nutrition benefits). My partner at work just brought in a Kurig machine so while she makes coffee I have easy access to boiling water for my tea. I picked up a pretty cool cup the other day that has a little flip down refillable tea holder, it holds a nice large cup of tea …a PLUS my students get a total kick out of it and it’s a lead in to some good conversations with them.

What I need are some good tea combos to make up so I have a container of tea at work.

I made a small mix of nettle and hibiscus (iron, allergy help and Vit C with a taste I like), and may make mint tea soon…but what other simple teas would you suggest and why (medicinal benefits a plus). I do have other loose teas at home, but often not sure what to mix together for nutritional benefits that will be drinkable to me without having to add tons of honey. The nettle and hibiscus tend to be my base that I add other things too, but I’m looking for various ideas(with reasons behind). I like ginger but that is often the base of my teas in the evening so want something different for work.

What are your favorite and easiest blends?

What is the best way to clean make up brushes?

I have some eye shadow brushes made from hair and bamboo that I would like to get clean before I use them for my new mineral makeup.

Thanks!

Does anybody here take Biotin supplements?

I've been experiencing some abnormal hair loss. I went to see my doctor a few weeks ago, and then saw an endocrinologist today. They have not reached a diagnosis yet (my bloodwork came back normal for thyroid and anemia), and now she wants to test me for high testosterone levels, but that makes no sense to me, because I looked it up, and I have NO symptoms of high testosterone other than the male-pattern hair loss (me being a woman, and all). But whatever.

Anyway, I looked at the memories here for hair loss, and I made a few notes of suggestions in there, but today the doctor said that some of her patients have told her that they have had success with something called biotin, so, I was wondering if anybody here had used it or knew anything about it. And, of course, I'm open to any other suggestions/thoughts/ideas anybody may have.

Thanks!

So I've started this whole soap making process. Sort of.
All of the books that I have been reading suggest that I buy pH strips to check the causticity level of the soap.
By any chance do any of you know where I could find pH strips (and if online, I'd prefer cheap shipping because some of them were outrageous)?

Also,
Is there any method to washing all of your utensils and things after you're done?
None of the books I'm reading have much to say about the cleaning up afterward.

Thanks!

i'm planning to make home made reusable heat packs for my dad and husband this christmas. My problem is, i have to use what's already in my house and pantry, since my husband has been laid off. i've got some beautiful old green flannel pants i can recycle for the outer fabric, but i only have some dry rice and dry beans to use for filling.

i've been told that rice is good for filling packs that you can heat and reheat in the microwave...is this true? If i use beans, will any kind work?...dried red beans, pinto, black? If i use rice, will dry sushi rice work?..will wild brown? Can i add some dried herbs to the mix for relaxing or invigorating smell...rosemary or lavendar?..what else?

Thank very much and have a great holiday season! :)

Do any of you know good links that explain different types of honey? I am trying to find them but nothing good is coming up. I'm looking for ones that work well for the skin. I didn't like Manuka honey.

Hey all,

While reading up on essential oils the other day i came across one that claimed to be good for oral health. Sadly i've forgotten which one and can't seem to find the source again.. does anyone know what it is?
Tea tree maybe?

Thanks x

Hi,

since it's turned cold my hair has suffered from the heating and my hats. I'd love to treat it to something moisterizing. My hair is dyed and about chin-length. I really don't want to buy something from the store that contains silicones or sls, but the deep conditioner by an organic brand that I've got at home doesn't do the trick anymore now. It's good in summer, but not enough in winter.
I'd be very grateful for recommendations or recepies :-)

Mmm.
Garnatxa