0:38:50 3mi 0.5inc. Good run was fantastic. Actually, I though about my garden the whole time!
Caught a clip of a hunter show where a man shot a buffalo. I was actually kind of upset, almost angry at him. I'm an omnivore, don't get me wrong, humans have incisors, but.. Is he going to eat it? Buffalo are meant to feed a tribe for a week or more, and this is one man with two hunter co-hosts. He has many stuffed trophies: can you eat them and still stuff them?
I sincerely doubt he ate the animal. That upsets me. Waste of life.
I think of plenty of humans he could shoot for sport and actually -remove- wastes of life...
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
100730 My Garden, Buying Seeds!
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| Beit Alpha Cucumbers 60 days. |
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| Sugar Dumpling Winter Squash 90 days |
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| Purple Top Globe Turnip 55 days |
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| Beets! 50 days |
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| Red Express Cabbage 62 days |
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| Giant Red Reselection Celery 100 days |
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| Chives 90 days |
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| Purple Dark Opal Basil 65 days |
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| Rosalind Broccoli 60 days |
WEEEEEE!
Fantastic information on what to grow in my area, in August :)
Wanted Blue potatos, but they're all sold out!
The seed people say the Lemon herb I want should be grown in shade in warm climates (boo).
Mmmm purple broccoli (evil).
OK. Wish me luck :D
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Virtually planning my garden.
I had a trellis in there for the snapdragon to cover up the weird marks on the wall to the right, but it covered up the water hose and that could be problematic. I like that I can eat everything in the middle. Although I'd probably want to be sparing with the Kale so as not to demolish the poor plant. I'm sure there will be a lot more brown in between space when the garden comes in, but this was fun :) Tried to keep everything MOSTLY to scale. So when this all comes in, in three years when we have to move again, I'll take a picture and compare it!
Note: According to Better Homes and Gardens, all of these plants are good for Florida's hardiness rating of 10. Only the chives are at the border (and another seed site listing them as 9.)
Ooh.. I'm excited.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
I can't tell my kids NO, but I can click ACT NOW!
So I'm surfing around on the Facebook, reading little updates from pages I've liked (thus turning my Facebook into a kind of personalized newspaper) and as I click off-site to read a little thing on Cork, I see in the upper right an ad to "ACT NOW!" and petition to "Tell McDonald's: Stop Using Toys to Market Junk Food to Kids".
... Are you serious? First... are you delusional enough to believe that if enough people ask a corporation "pretty-please" that they will stop doing something that brings in tons of money just because YOU dislike the practice?
Second, It's Mcdonald's JOB to make your children whine and kick and cry for a Kid's Meal. Sure, you can get crappy chicken nuggets anywhere, you can even make them at home, but they want that super cool toy that comes in the Kid's Meal.. at least, they do for five minutes until they forget about it.
"Once children are in the restaurant, they can select fattening fries and soda with their Happy Meals." YOU are the parent are you not? Does your 7-year-old steal money out of your purse to run to the McDonald's, and if he did do you think that kid behind the counter would actually serve him? Well, they might, but YOU are the one buying the junk for them! Aren't you the one driving to the McDonald's, shelling out $5 for the Kid's Meal (and getting yourself a Number One with everything of course, since you're there). McDonald's isn't tricking your kids into buying junk food anymore than than Skin-amax is tricking your kids into watching soft-core porn.
"When children or parents order Happy Meals, they are automatically given French fries 93 percent of the time, and offered soda first 78 percent of the time." YOU are the one's making it available to them. You, the consumer, the one who brought the kids to the fast-food joint in the first place, ORDERED the food. If YOU didn't tell the clerk what you wanted, who's fault is that? The minimum wage food-service kid behind the counter following the corporate guidelines for a default Kid's Meal, or the parents who don't pay attention to what they ordered for their kids because they were too busy deciding between an Oreo Shake and an Apple Pie? There's always going to be something your kids want that you do not want them to have, but if YOU are the one delivering it to them you have no one to blame but yourself.
"But regardless of the nutritional quality of what's being sold, the practice of tempting kids with toys is inherently deceptive," Deceptive? To offer kids something they want so you'll go get it for them? I suppose JCPenny's offering you 10% off their Home Entertainment Systems, knowing you'll pick up some extra cords, batteries, accessories, is just plain deceptive too. I wonder if advocates like this even think for themselves. They seem to be advocating the removal of everything on the market they feel is outside of their perfect vision of how to raise their families. I don't like Soda, it makes the dentist visits expensive. Let's just remove it from the market. You know, video games rot children's minds with violence and FORCE them to stay inside instead of playing outside, let's make it illegal for people under 16 to buy them. Actually, Public schools teach evolution which is outside of our religious views, so let's outlaw it and replace Science Class with Christian Mythology and Prayer Time. In fact, let's just reshape the world in OUR image, so we never have to raise our kids again.
Don't whine and cry when someone tries to market stuff to your kids; just man up and tell them NO. Then, educate them about healthy foods and YOUR personal values. COOK in your homes and teach them from a young age to LIKE healthy foods.
"Please urge McDonald's to only sell healthy kids' meal options and stop using toys to market junk food to children."
You are the one making your kids fat, lazy, and stupid. Not McDonald's, not the media. You.
... Are you serious? First... are you delusional enough to believe that if enough people ask a corporation "pretty-please" that they will stop doing something that brings in tons of money just because YOU dislike the practice?
Second, It's Mcdonald's JOB to make your children whine and kick and cry for a Kid's Meal. Sure, you can get crappy chicken nuggets anywhere, you can even make them at home, but they want that super cool toy that comes in the Kid's Meal.. at least, they do for five minutes until they forget about it.
"Once children are in the restaurant, they can select fattening fries and soda with their Happy Meals." YOU are the parent are you not? Does your 7-year-old steal money out of your purse to run to the McDonald's, and if he did do you think that kid behind the counter would actually serve him? Well, they might, but YOU are the one buying the junk for them! Aren't you the one driving to the McDonald's, shelling out $5 for the Kid's Meal (and getting yourself a Number One with everything of course, since you're there). McDonald's isn't tricking your kids into buying junk food anymore than than Skin-amax is tricking your kids into watching soft-core porn.
"When children or parents order Happy Meals, they are automatically given French fries 93 percent of the time, and offered soda first 78 percent of the time." YOU are the one's making it available to them. You, the consumer, the one who brought the kids to the fast-food joint in the first place, ORDERED the food. If YOU didn't tell the clerk what you wanted, who's fault is that? The minimum wage food-service kid behind the counter following the corporate guidelines for a default Kid's Meal, or the parents who don't pay attention to what they ordered for their kids because they were too busy deciding between an Oreo Shake and an Apple Pie? There's always going to be something your kids want that you do not want them to have, but if YOU are the one delivering it to them you have no one to blame but yourself.
"But regardless of the nutritional quality of what's being sold, the practice of tempting kids with toys is inherently deceptive," Deceptive? To offer kids something they want so you'll go get it for them? I suppose JCPenny's offering you 10% off their Home Entertainment Systems, knowing you'll pick up some extra cords, batteries, accessories, is just plain deceptive too. I wonder if advocates like this even think for themselves. They seem to be advocating the removal of everything on the market they feel is outside of their perfect vision of how to raise their families. I don't like Soda, it makes the dentist visits expensive. Let's just remove it from the market. You know, video games rot children's minds with violence and FORCE them to stay inside instead of playing outside, let's make it illegal for people under 16 to buy them. Actually, Public schools teach evolution which is outside of our religious views, so let's outlaw it and replace Science Class with Christian Mythology and Prayer Time. In fact, let's just reshape the world in OUR image, so we never have to raise our kids again.
Don't whine and cry when someone tries to market stuff to your kids; just man up and tell them NO. Then, educate them about healthy foods and YOUR personal values. COOK in your homes and teach them from a young age to LIKE healthy foods.
"Please urge McDonald's to only sell healthy kids' meal options and stop using toys to market junk food to children."
You are the one making your kids fat, lazy, and stupid. Not McDonald's, not the media. You.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
My Little Garden
...Vegetables. A veggie-garden can be hidden on the side of the house, and if I want flowers I can put them in a bit by the patio so they can be seen. I have to choose what I want to grow, and when to plant, according to what's called the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: "10b": 35 to 40 F - 4.4 to 1.7 C: Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida. I'd like to grow pumpkins. I like pumpkins.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Coffee, Tea, or Pesticides... O_o
I don't know anything about Fair Trade. I tried to look it up, and got confused. What I CAN understand is "Organic", and why it appeals to me in coffee.
I asked.. "Why go Organic?" Urth Caffé's website answered:
Heavy Chemicals - Coffee is the heaviest chemically treated food commodity in the world. The most common chemical used in coffee production is synthetic petroleum based fertilizers which slowly destroy the soil's fertility and seep into local water supplies.SO I totally just noticed that Urth is Earth. Hyuk. Hey, it's 0130 here okay?
Deforestation - Coffee trees do not naturally grow in direct sunlight, but under the shade of dense rainforest. To increase productivity, the coffee industry has developed sun-resistant coffee tree hybrids that have come to comprise approximately 70% of the world's coffee production. As a result rainforest is being cleared at alarming rates to make room for new, sun resistant coffee trees.
Why pay more for coffee I can buy cheap? The whole world drinks coffee (or tea) and I'm pretty sure America sells more cups of coffee than bottles of water. I wouldn't be surprised if this were true. If those measures listed above are truly in place due to demand, I don't mind paying a little more if for no other reason than to remind me that Coffee (and tea) are luxury, not privilege. I'll enjoy my cup of coffee just the littlest bit more thinking it was just the littlest bit better for the planet.
I looked at Boca Java, who I currently have a subscription with. I justify this by the fact that I do only drink a cup now and again. I buy the Walmart Folgers for Husband (eeeeee bad I know). They have one Rainforest Alliance coffee, one Organic Coffee, and a few Organic Teas. Hmm. None of the flavours really float my boat. Too bad, I love the raspberry chai tea.I can totally just drink up what I have and it'll take me a while to get through it too.. but I have to think of a way to swap out Husband's coffee.. and keep him in stock so he doesn't buy more Folgers. AND... break it to him later so he can see how buying "Green" isn't more expensive in the long run /raspberry/! Seems to be about 10$ for the 33oz can of Folgers.. that is going to be hard to beat. O_O All the Organic coffee seems to be about a dollar an ounce. It's okay, he's got a little while left, giving me time to research /evil/.
While I shop
BackCountry 2x16 18.46 = 0.58cOz.
Altura French Roast 32 17.54 = 0.55cOz
One Love's floral aromas unfold with hints of blueberry, cocoa and spice with a medium body and bright acidity. It tantalizes the palette leaving a profound cherry finish.
Okay, I reeeally need to go to bed now :P
Green my Pets!
What thelighthouseonline.com has to say about regular Kitty Litter:
Now... anyone who has a dog ends up scooping a few too few cat poops out of the litter box. Unless you baby gate the room with the box it is inevitable that puppy will clean up after the cat. It's natural: dogs seek out other animal's feces to eat, especially cat, because of the vitamins that are not digested and thus passed into the fecal matter. Think of cat poops as doggie vitamins. So now it's not just the cat licking clay and silica dust off her toes, it's also the dog eating clay and silica attached to the feces. Hmmm. Yea, time for a healthier litter.
So far, Pine and other woods (not containing cedar oil which is harmful if consumed) can track dust. No problem, so does Clay. Supposedly not very good at deodorizing, except for Feline Pine. Ok.
Newspaper based: "flushable", compostable, incineratable, non-toxic, messy (soft and light, so it'll get kicked everywhere) but easily sweepable. They'd be pretty soft, but how would they do on odor? Supposedly this was one of the first indoor cat litters!
Other plant based, like "Wonderwheat" or Orange peel based litters etc. Come of them deodorize nicely, some clump nicely. Mention has been made about the corn cob litter being made from corn cobs that had pesticides used on them.
Apparently it can be a tricky thing. Some cats just hate some litters, and the only way is to try until you find one you can both live with. I'd like to try the FelinePine. Here's a rebate form to make your first 7lb bag of FelinePine free!
So litter will be a work in progress that I'll update as I go.
Pet Food.. hard one too. We feed our lab Science Diet Lamb & Rice. Most pet foods are full of corn which cannot be digested.
Update 07/20/2010: Introducing the Feline Pine into the litter box. She sniffed it a bit and then went ahead and did her business on it. I'll add more and more as we go until her litter is completely Feline Pine. Cross your Fingers!
Update 02/01/2011: Been using Feline Pine for months now, took a while to get through the last of the clay I had. But in that time we added a cat to the house too! The box takes the same amount of time to clean, I'm simply scooping clean out instead of dirty. I'm not coughing and gagging the whole time. I... am very happy. The street kitty we adopted had NO trouble walking right into the box and using it like had all his life. GLEE!
Links to other people with Green Pet Concerns:
FelinePine accessory products
Green Little Cat - blog dedicated exclusively to greener living ideas for cats and cat lovers.
One Green Generation
Although regular clay litters do not pose the potential health hazards that clumping clay kitty litters do, they do have their own problems:If that's not enough reason to stop using clumping kitty litter (no really, I'm ready to return the 35lb bucket I just bought) then just look at the Feline Pine ad! This super-cute ad is honestly the reason I started to wonder about kitty litter.. I mean, they DO lick their toes alot... I wouldn't want to eat kitty litter either.
- Mining clay is hard on the environment.
- Clay litters contribute significantly to landfills. Unlike many of the litters on this page, they cannot be composted, nor do they biodegrade.
- Most, if not all, clay litters contain silica, which is potentially harmful. From (FIELDFresh): "This can cause incurable lesions on the lungs and throat, rendering that tissue useless for transferring oxygen."
So far, Pine and other woods (not containing cedar oil which is harmful if consumed) can track dust. No problem, so does Clay. Supposedly not very good at deodorizing, except for Feline Pine. Ok.
Newspaper based: "flushable", compostable, incineratable, non-toxic, messy (soft and light, so it'll get kicked everywhere) but easily sweepable. They'd be pretty soft, but how would they do on odor? Supposedly this was one of the first indoor cat litters!
Other plant based, like "Wonderwheat" or Orange peel based litters etc. Come of them deodorize nicely, some clump nicely. Mention has been made about the corn cob litter being made from corn cobs that had pesticides used on them.
Apparently it can be a tricky thing. Some cats just hate some litters, and the only way is to try until you find one you can both live with. I'd like to try the FelinePine. Here's a rebate form to make your first 7lb bag of FelinePine free!
So litter will be a work in progress that I'll update as I go.
Pet Food.. hard one too. We feed our lab Science Diet Lamb & Rice. Most pet foods are full of corn which cannot be digested.
Update 07/20/2010: Introducing the Feline Pine into the litter box. She sniffed it a bit and then went ahead and did her business on it. I'll add more and more as we go until her litter is completely Feline Pine. Cross your Fingers!
Update 02/01/2011: Been using Feline Pine for months now, took a while to get through the last of the clay I had. But in that time we added a cat to the house too! The box takes the same amount of time to clean, I'm simply scooping clean out instead of dirty. I'm not coughing and gagging the whole time. I... am very happy. The street kitty we adopted had NO trouble walking right into the box and using it like had all his life. GLEE!
Links to other people with Green Pet Concerns:
FelinePine accessory products
Green Little Cat - blog dedicated exclusively to greener living ideas for cats and cat lovers.
One Green Generation
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sewn: A Reusable Swiffer Mop Pad!
I stumbled across the idea on "Instructables" to sew my own Swiffer pads. I go through around 2 week now that we have all tile floors (and white tile at that!) I've been throwing them in the Recycle (though I honestly am not sure if they are...) I thought "Hey, washing them with the towels makes way more sense!" I also save money doing it this way. So I used up the ones I had and saved the last one for a pattern. I spent a few hours fumbling around with the sewing machine, but once I really got used to it I ended up with something usable if not pretty!
I used four layers of husband's old tan army t-shirts, and a piece of an old wool scarf I doubt I'll ever need again in Florida.
It's kind of difficult to get all 5 of those layers under the sewing machine's foot, so I didn't end up with as many cross-support-stitches as the original called for. But I stuck it to the end of the Swiffer (stuck just fine) and mopped the kitchen. Brilliant! If I don't come back to amend the entry it means it survived the wash just fine :D
As a note: It doesn't have the ridges on the bottom that normal Swiffer pads have, so the dog hair I missed in the sweep doesn't stick as well. You also have to press a wee harder or have more sweeps over the extra sticky areas. I'll take a few seconds more work to not have to buy another box of pads at $7 a pop!
At 2 pads a week, at $7 a box & 14g a pad, sewing my own Swiffer pads saved me $60 a year and 3.21 POUNDS of nonrecyclable garbage (not counting the box they came in!)
It's kind of difficult to get all 5 of those layers under the sewing machine's foot, so I didn't end up with as many cross-support-stitches as the original called for. But I stuck it to the end of the Swiffer (stuck just fine) and mopped the kitchen. Brilliant! If I don't come back to amend the entry it means it survived the wash just fine :D
As a note: It doesn't have the ridges on the bottom that normal Swiffer pads have, so the dog hair I missed in the sweep doesn't stick as well. You also have to press a wee harder or have more sweeps over the extra sticky areas. I'll take a few seconds more work to not have to buy another box of pads at $7 a pop!
At 2 pads a week, at $7 a box & 14g a pad, sewing my own Swiffer pads saved me $60 a year and 3.21 POUNDS of nonrecyclable garbage (not counting the box they came in!)
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Duck, Duck, Duck, SCAM!
SO I'm trying to sell this mattress set, Queen $100 right...
Been up for a while so I'm rather happy when I repost it this morning and get an email hit.
Alan Fisher *dve2@operamail.com Is it available for sale?
*kepley.jannaa AT gmail.com Yes! Gimme a call & we'll work out when.
Alan Fisher *alanissfisher@wikizplc.com *Note the email changes*
O_o Ok, so he's either a deaf guy from another country who for some reason can't leave the house and is willing to spend a stupid amount on moving a used mattress and boxspring.. OR.... /google's the second email address/
"Did you get a call from 301-741-4870? Read the posts below to find out details about this number"
Bunches of emails. The name changes but the copy paste reads the same and the @wikizplc.com stays the same. So I cheerfully replied
Sigh. I really wanted to sell that bed, too.
Been up for a while so I'm rather happy when I repost it this morning and get an email hit.
Alan Fisher *dve2@operamail.com Is it available for sale?
*kepley.jannaa AT gmail.com Yes! Gimme a call & we'll work out when.
Alan Fisher *alanissfisher@wikizplc.com *Note the email changes*
Hello,
Thanks for the response... I'm okay with the condition and price of the item and ready for its purchase. My form of payment will be by sending you Check via UPS next day air delivery.
I'll be responsible for the pick-up and the movers fee will be included in your payment to avoid delay and to enable pick up company to schedule an appropriate time for the pick-up at your location after check has been cashed as I have other properties to be moved alongside the item.
And secondly , Kindly delete the posting as am definitely buying it from you and it would be sad for me to have the payment in the mail only to be informed of the its sale.I will also wait for you to cash the check before i have my mover come for pick up.
Would have love to come over for viewing but I'm afraid that might not be possible due to my work frame. If you have more pics please send so I can have a good look. Do get back to me with your full name and address (not p.o box) including your cell and land number so I can make out payment.Also am deaf and will like to be contacted via email
RegardsThanks
O_o Ok, so he's either a deaf guy from another country who for some reason can't leave the house and is willing to spend a stupid amount on moving a used mattress and boxspring.. OR.... /google's the second email address/
"Did you get a call from 301-741-4870? Read the posts below to find out details about this number"
Bunches of emails. The name changes but the copy paste reads the same and the @wikizplc.com stays the same. So I cheerfully replied
Thanks for the scam attempt. If you hear any real people looking for a bed, send them my way.
/wave
Sigh. I really wanted to sell that bed, too.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Green my Beauty Care! Part 1
- Body Wash
- Hair Care
- Lotions and Perfumes
This might be one of the hardest and most time consuming projects. Everyone's body chemistry is a little different, and what works for one person doesn't always work for another. SO, using other people's trial and error to scream to better Earth Friendly conclusions will be taken with a grain of salt. Also, trying products takes money which I am reluctant to part with! Most of all, time. The stated "adjustment" period for a body going natural seems to be about a week or so. I'm terrified about not using conventional shampoo on my hair for a week, so I'm more likely to opt for a more "Earth Friendly" shampoo and go from there.
There's also the debate on whether Shampoo's detergents and surfactants are actually bad for your hair at all. Some Beauty Blog scientists claim there's been no studies to prove they harm hair, and the Green-Agenda people claim it does damage by making you incapable of living without it by throwing off the natural oil balance in the hair. While they both might be right, and if they are, I'm more interested in how the planet reacts to the shampoo when it's no longer in my hair. For example: EVERYTHING goes down the drain. This ends up in my septic tank, and in the septic field, back into the water supply for the planet and ultimately the wildlife. The Earth is a great filter for stuff we put in it, but some man-made stuff just doesn't break up so well (hence our interest in recycling). Some chemicals are no exception. They tell you not to use exfoliants made with plastic or non-dissolving beads as these go down and remain beads forever. Light-Microscopic litter, eh? Let's say the shampoo breaks down just fine in the water table, is there a way to get less processed (and thus greener) products that still do the job? Are there at least products that come from companies that don't use animal testing (medical testing is ok, vanity testing is silly)? Are there companies that work to offset their production wastes (CO2, plastic and chemical waste processing etc etc)?
Boy, I haven't even gone through products yet and it's already confusing. Let's make some goals for my products:
- I want minimal processing: as few chemicals as possible while still being effective. The more natural the better (but I still prefer being a Clean Hippy to a Dirty one!) Renewable sources are also a go.
- I want a product that doesn't get tested on animals! No really, I'll GIVE you my cat if you think the shot cures cancer, but to make sure it doesn't make her skin burn and hair fall out? ...
Products I use, how often, and Eco-pinions on them.
Body Wash Etc:
Antibacterial Study: Kill bugs better or making them worse? - "Currently, no evidence suggests that use of antibacterial soap containing 0.2% triclosan provides a benefit over plain soap in reducing bacterial counts and rate of infectious symptoms in generally healthy persons in the household setting"
I have no real preference with body wash either. I hate to feel soap scummy. I hate bar soap (bacteria just LOVE wet warm bars of soap!) I don't really care about scent since I wear lotion (usually) to moisturize. I try not to use exfoliating kinds since I worry about the beads. I just... want something less processed that still does the job. OOH OOH. After about an hour of random digging brought on by the search for a Lavender Jasmine blend of god knows what, I have stumbled across, and made my decision to switch to, Castile Soap. Dr Bronner's Lavender version in fact. Though, apparently, Dr Bronner is crazy. What's neat is I keep cross referencing products on this "Skin Deep" website CosmeticDatabase.com and Castile Soap has a 0 hazard score. I think that's the first thing I've looked up on it that did. I'm grain of salting that webbie as it talks a lot about its "Data Gaps". As a bonus it says the stuff can be used as fairly good shampoo, cleansing, and not needing conditioner thanks to the plant oils already in it. Hmmm... Maybe I'll try that too. With short hair as I have now, it couldn't hurt!PS: I used to use an awesome cacti scrubbie but it got moldy so fast :( I now use a synthetic wee scrubbie glove. Exfoliation heaven.
Hair Care
I'm not vain about a lot of things, but my hair is one of them. I had 35" hair until two weeks ago. Long, healthy, never ironed or curled or blow dried. Some split ends (which I trimmed) but the time and care required to avoid split ends on hair that long is generally unrealistic. I've cut it down to a more manageable 12" from brow to ends, but it still requires care. I might be able to throw on a little perfume or extra hit of deodorant if I miss a shower, but you cannot hide a day's dirt on my hair.
Aussie 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner: Once a week I used this on my loooong hair to super-moisturize, hopefully to avoid some breakage. ... Aussie conducts tests on Animals? But.. but.. They're AUSSIE! Aussie is P&G?! NOOOOOOOOOO!
About Shampoo:
Shampoo should be applied only to the scalp, and not to the ends of the hair. Conventional shampoo is made with detergents and surfactants that literally strip the hair and scalp of natural oils and the dirt that caddies along on it. Adding shampoo to the lengths of hair will cause it to dry, which is very bad as the lengths of hair are not receiving natural scalp oils that would normally hydrate and protect the hair shaft. Rinsing shampoo from the scalp is sufficient in cleaning hair lengths as it rinses over it. According to most sources I've found surfactants and detergents in hair shampoos are the REASON why you NEED conditioners. It strips ALL of the natural oil off your hair to give you that squeaky clean. A lot of Long-Hair enthusiasts spend a lot of time learning about the best ways to take care of their multi-year investment in hair. Invariably someone mentions a soft-boar-hair brush to brush the natural oil from the root to the tip of the hair. Oil is natural conditioner after all. This brushing also reduces the oil buildup on the scalp, meaning a "cleaner" scalp. Plenty of people have gone to baking soda and vinegar rinses and do just fine, others actually go straight water if they wash their hair at all. I've seen their pictures, and their hair looks just fine. No one really has hair like the shampoo commercials anyway, unless you just came from the hairdresser.
About Conditioner:
Conditioner should never be added to the scalp hair! The scalp's natural oil combined with conditioner will over-moisturize the hair resulting in heavy, oily, hair. To protect the hair lengths after the surfactant and detergent were rinsed down it, moisture must be re-added. However, conventional conditioners that promise to add proteins etc to your hair don't work the way you think: the hair shaft cannot absorb these large proteins so they get added.. and then promptly rinsed down the drain.
UPDATE 07/20/2010: So... I tried the Dr Bronner's on my hair. It felt, heavy, like it didn't get it all the way clean. I'm sure it did, but left a bit of itself behind perhaps? It does recommend rinsing with apple-cider vinegar. Seems like a lot of vinegar to use every day. Hmm. I'll look into it. Til then, still on the Beautiful Lengths til it's gone.
Lotions and Perfumes
I don't wear much perfume; I think I still have an old bottle of Lady Stetson stuck away somewhere from high school. Body Sprays are really the new "Perfume" it seems anyway, leaving traditional Eu de Toilet in the back of the cabinet for special occasions.
Everything you own has a perfume in it though. If Fragrance is an ingredient and you wear it, it's a "perfume". Think about it: You use Cucumber Melon in the shower, god knows what in the shampoo, Cherry Almond lotion, Clean Rain deodorant, and then spritz Vanilla on your clothes as you walk out the door? O_o That's a lot of conflicting smells: no wonder my husband hates perfume. (Judgmental whiners. Men's products are just as bad!) Seems harder to find "Free and Clear" bathroom products than it is to find Free and Clear laundry detergent... Why is that, when I'm putting the perfume and dyes on my skin anyway? Oh well. I'm going to just chuck the perfume bottle since I NEVER wear it, and I like other scents so much more! At least the bottle is recyclable. And if I ever finish using the vanilla body spray I have, I'll nix ever buying more of that. It's just one more layer of perfume. Phew just cleaned two items off the shelf. I like this game.
Lotions:
I'm terrible about them. I still have an old bottle of Cherry Almond scented Jergens from 2001, way back when it was still the rectangular bottle. Then people have given me lotions: a Jasmine one I like very much, a Raspberry one I do too, a "bronzing" one I'm afraid to use due possible awkward staining, a fragrance free oatmeal one I use over shaved areas, an aloe one for sunburns, oi.. so many lotions.
It's funny, when I searched "Why wear body lotion" expecting to see tons of articles on skin health etc, I couldn't find a single one (not about sunscreen) not related to the face. Searching "history of.." had must better results. There do seem to be tons of reasons to wear them in popular "knowledge". Soften skin, moisturize dry skin, reduce the look of aging, and of course, as a perfume.
There are tons of "Natural" lotions that are fantastic, and I'd love to try them. Lord knows the price isn't much of an issue, since a bottle of lotion lasts me forever. For that reason it will be a long time before I need new lotion as I have to get through the couple bottles I own. What would I like though? Hmm. Hard to decide between Lavender and Jasmine. Both are supposedly soothing; this website lists Lavender as a slight stimulant and Jasmine as a relaxant, though I thought I read that it was vice versa. ...Can I blend them? O_O
It's hard to say how much I save since I don't really know how much I use in any time frame O_o We'll be super generous and say 18oz of Dial Every 2 months. That's 108oz a year. $3.50 @ Walmart, 6 times a year, $21.00.
-Nixing the Aussie 3-Minute Miracle costs $6.66 (go figure) at Walmart and is 8oz. That I only use once a week, so it would probably last three months. Without it I save 32oz and 26.64. (~0.689 lbs)
Totals:
Money: $47.64. (-$13)
Recyclable Garbage: 0.7 lbs.
Chemicals NOT Dumped: 1.1 gal.
Links:
Fantastic site from ChemistryExplained.com on Detergents. Specifically their effect on skin & hair keratin.
Interesting facts on Soap from KitchenDoctor.com
ChemistryQuestion.com states Shampoo was developed as using soap on hair caused it to be rough and damaged.
SCA- Jasmine was introduced from Persia to Europe in the 16thC
Why are all the products I like Purple?
Just lucky I guess ^_^
07/14 Pennsic Pilgrimage Update: Shire Isenfir!
As of today I have 253.3 miles left until I reach Pennsic; this means I've traveled 245.7 miles! I halfway there! (Too bad there's only two weeks left to get there at 17.5 miles per day... Should have been using Bonus Miles.) Even though I won't make my goal I've walked, run, stairclimbed, and biked almost 250 miles for this goal! I am pretty proud of myself. I see how the almost two months of not tracking my pedometer really hurt the cause. It's hard to recover when you fall behind!
The distance I DID complete makes this a Non-Failure. I didn't make it in time, but my husband says my legs look better than when we met! I call that a Win!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
How Green Is My: Laundry.
In the One Green Generation Green Your Insides Challenge the author states:The Green Your Insides Challenge Is:I'm going to jump in saying that I do pretty well with "in my body". I buy a lot of organic foods, but generally when they're convenient (we have specific diets). We eat a whole of whole foods, tending towards very healthy. So I'm going to start with my home. I figure the Easiest would be Laundry! My lil page "Its EASY being Green!" has various tips I've found about Greening this or that, but this will be like a Project page. I'll list the things I have in my Laundry room right now, why I got that one, and try to research an Earth Friendly product that can replace it without being too expensive (I must be Frugally Green!)
*To start greening your own home.
*First, start paying attention to what you put on your body, in your body, and around your body. Right now.
*And then over the next few months, put it all into practice: take solid steps to green your indoor environment.
*Oxyclean - Booster for Badly dirty Laundry. Seems to be natural (mostly, unsure on fragrances that may be in it) as it's Sodium Bicarbonate and Sodium Percarbonate which seem to combine in water to form Hydrogen peroxide. So, natural, but ultimately just another slightly bleaching agent. Seems to be good for cleaning just about anything; so, Borax-Lite (and maybe slightly safer). [L]
*Borax - Bought it for puppy pee, now sits unused. Turns out its a natural occurring (yet kind of hazardous) cleaning crystal that can do just about everything around the house O_o Links below.
*Seventh Generation Free & Clear Bleach.
*Woolite for Darks - According to EnvironmentalLeader.com the makers of Woolite work to reduce its total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions AND has a carbon offset project Trees for Change. Though they're not a "Green" chemical (and refuse to disclose the ingredients to EarthJustice), they at least work to offset. Tips for darks seem to be tips for being green! Wash them Cold (inside out to reduce abrasion); hang dry (inside to avoid sun-fading); if drying use lowest heat setting available, remove while damp and lay flat to dry. There seem to be some Eco-Detergents that say they work on darks as well, but I'm having a hard time finding any specifically for them. However: MommyGoesGreen says the darks saying dark is all about the cold water and careful drying! I'll be Nixing the Dark Detergent.YAY! One less item in the laundry room!
*Purex Lavender Ultra Concentrate Detergent - Bought in a pinch. Will not buy again.
*Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear Detergent - Supposedly a Green-Friendly company, yet they purportedly refused to disclose ingredients to UnEarthed-EarthJustice in June2010 (though required to comply by New York Law...) They're being sued for the information and fighting it... No offense, but I'm probably not going to eat the cookies when someone refuses to tell me what they put in it.
I'd love to go nuts and try some Soapnuts - There's actually a soap that grows on trees. "Soap berries" which are derived from the Chinese Soapberry tree species closely related to the Bodhi Tree. (the tree the Buddha sat under while meditating)."-Associated Content -SoapBerrysSoapNuts.Until I get brave, probably Seventh Gen detergent or a mix of borax and baking soda. I have some time to think about it; I have tons of regular detergent to go through first: can't just throw it away!
*Ultra Downy Free & Clear Fabric Softener - Unused in this washer. No spot for it and I can't remember to add it to the rinse. While I can't find much information on this, I stopped looking so hard when I learned that 1/2 Vinegar is a natural fabric softener that removes soap residue as well, though you still have to add it to the final rinse. So I'll probably move to that (cheaper too!) Stretcher.com also quote a recipe of 1 Part Baking Soda, 1 Part White Vinegar, and 2 parts water. Mix, store safely, and add 1/4c to a load. You can also use Borax (Hey! I already have that!)
*Faultless Premium Starch - For Ironing certain items. I figured Starch would be... Starch! Turns out the ingredients read "Water, Propellant, Patented Film Former, Ironing Aids, Quality Control Agents, Fragrance." That's, um, very vague, and starch isn't even LISTED! I don't use Starch enough to replace the product I have, however, as throwing it away to buy another product would be just wasteful too. If I WAS to buy a new product I might try something like Earth Friendly Spray Starch, which contains purified water, Corn starch, cotton blossom oils.
*Black & Decker Iron (Green Plastic Siding!)
*Washer is a Roper, with only 14 (Heavy Duty, hot), 10 (Regular, warm), 6 (Cold), Rinse.
*Dryer is Estate, and doesn't dry well. Needs two runs for towels or very wet items. Waistbands are always damp after 1, but can't bring myself to rerun for those. Hang-Drying is of course the perfect way to go. In FL, however, you run a risk of showers at any possible moment and serious sun-fading. Indoor hang-drying requires room and makes your clothes subject to whatever smells it can get it's fibers on. Did I mention all the room it would take? Indoor racks seem to be a wee bit pricey, and there really is no place to put a line outside. If we had to dig/bury a standing one.. oi. Even makeshift ones (cord and wall hooks anyone?) would end up costing $30+. While it wouldn't pay off in one month, it will definitely pay off over time. Alright... I'll pick up a rack until I can think of else.
We tried to keep stuff Free & Clear but not for environmental reasons. The instructions for ACU's required no optical brighteners due to a possible risk of making soldiers glow in the dark under infrared. Debunked, but we like the No-Dye-or-Fragrance thing.
So after my research, what WILL I be using in my Laundry room?
*Detergent: Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Detergent, til I study up more on Soapnuts!
*Softener: 1/4c Vinegar!
*Bleach: Seventh Generation Free & Clear Bleach.
*Stain/Spot Remover: Borax.
*Starch: Recommend Earth Friendly Spray Starch.
*Washer on the shortest, cold, setting!
*Hang-Drying is of course the way to go. Wooden drying rack.
Please note: I am psychologically and financially unable to waste. I wasn't brought up to waste money and cannot simply throw out the products I currently have. I can, and have however, purchased the products I plan to use in my Green Laundry. I will use the products I have til they are gone, recycle the packages if possible, and transition into the new Green products.
Borax - Greenfootsteps - Recipes for just about everything -
Coupons Seventh Generation Laundry Detergents
Associated Content's great tips on Efficient Laundry
EarthJustice - Companies That Haven't Disclosed Chemicals in Cleaning Products
EcoBalls & their like - Mineral filled laundry balls (Close, but still not good enough.)
Fabric Softeners - Homemade etc
Gaiam on Eco-Friendly Way to get Laundry really clean
Green Works (a Clorox product); but I thought Clorox tested on animals. Apparently it does though it's lines Green Works and Burt's Bees are Earth Friendly (I read a blurb stating Burt's packaging claims to be a Bunny friendly line though it's Parent Company is not. I need to find it again.)
Grist.com reviewed six Green Detergents and gives you her opinions.
LowCostLiving.co.uk/GreenGear! TONS of Earth-Friendly products!
Re-Nest's list of Green Laundry Products
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Green is the new Purple... or something.
I'm a tree-hugging, dirt-worshipping, wanna-be Greenie. I'm kinda bad at it, but only because I'm lazy.
I daydream about planting my own garden of spices, veggies, flowers, anything I could grow. I remind other people to recycle; I instruct them that not all plastics are recycleable and they want your steel and aluminum cans WAY more than they want your cardboard. I tell people to be healthy and smart about what they put in their bodies (don't smoke, watch the unhealthy fats.) I LOVED living next to the Farmer's Market and visited once a week for a while.. then got lazy and shopped at the grocery store. I heard about natural alternatives to body/beauty products but was too lazy to really look. I snuck organic veggies and fruits into the cart when I remembered... I buy recycled or reclaimed materials... unless they're expensive. I have the computers auto-hibernate to save power, but then leave the monitor and speakers on (their little lights blinking to remind me they still draw power.) We turn the AC up to 80 when we leave the house... when we remember. I've been Green-Lite. Love the idea of it; took baby steps, but didn't really try too hard.
I love quizzes. I took one today titled "How Green Are You." I did rather abysmal. (My results will be at the bottom). So maybe it's time to really start paying attention instead. (I would like to preface one thing... I love the environment. I curse at people who run over animals and leave them to die/rot in the road. I'm not insane though: I researched and believe that the heating of the atmosphere is a result of natural climate shifts, and think the idea that the damage we're doing to our globe could be causing such a trend (when it's documented to have shifted warmer and colder at semi-regular if not very long intervals) to be the equivalent of one man thinking he's killed the entire human race just because HE has a cold. Our problem is population related.. not product related. There are too many humans on this planet, and way too few of them are conscientious about their personal environment, let alone the Earth.)
I think I'm going to start with the personal stuff, to really ingrain the concept into my brain. I'm as lazy about my bathroom products as I am about everything else: I had to go into the bathroom to read the label of my deodorant because I didn't know what it was: I purchased something I recognized from an ad or was generally inexpensive. I'd heard about "green" deodorants but didn't really look into it until I stumbled across an ad. I'd thought about "green" hair/shower stuff but was terrified to try anything on my 35" long hair (a LOT of hair to screw up if I did something wrong.) So... Today I started. It's going to be a little bumpy for me, as my Ultra-Frugalness forbids me from throwing away my current products until they are empty. When it comes to things like Lotion, I use it so infrequently (bad I know) that I just finally finished a bottle I got in Boot Camp (July 2001).
I found this in my diggings today; and I like the concept.
The Green Your Insides Challenge by One Green Generation. "First, start paying attention to what you put on your body, in your body, and around your body. Right now." I'm already making my menstrual cycle "green" (and so much more comfortable) with my Lunette Cup and stitching my own cloth, reusable, pantiliners (for daily cleanliness, not menses.) Today I started on Deodorant. hey.. it's a start.
Getting Greener (20 to 27 Points)
There's no question: Environmental concerns are on your radar, and you're starting to make real strides in your approach to green living.
Your Challenge
As you have come to realize, it's one thing to be aware of the impact of your actions and habits -- and another to change them. Your heart is in the right place; now you just need to take the extra step to make change stick.
Action Plan
1. Measure your footprint. Find out how much energy you're using with a personal audit; consult a carbon calculator, like the one offered by the EPA. Then consider purchasing carbon offsets or credits, which allow you to support projects that help reduce carbon emissions elsewhere to balance out your personal emissions. Purchase credits from Green-e certified nonprofits -- like NativeEnergy -- who sell a variety of options, some starting at less than $10 to offset one ton of greenhouse gases.
2. Align your concern with your actions. If reducing your use of plastic bags is a priority, keep a stash of reusable ones in the car or your purse for your next shopping trip. Or exchange the mess of boxes and cans in the corner into an organized recycling system. With good habits in place, you'll be able to look for areas outside of your usual sphere for new ways to go green.
3. Fill in the gaps. Choose a few areas of interest (reusing, sharing, and donating used goods; energy conservation; green design), and find out how you can do things more easily, cheaply, or efficiently. For instance, you may discover that those green substitutions on your next home renovation don't have the huge price tag you'd anticipated.
4. Go organic. Yes, there's a slightly higher cost associated with purchasing organic products. But being selective and consistent can make a difference. Pick up organic versions of the 12 worst offenders for chemical and pesticide contamination (including apples, lettuce, and peaches) and you could reduce your exposure by almost 90 percent. Check out the organic food dos and don'ts.
5. Get the family on board. It's hard to live the green life in a vacuum, so enlist your family's support and creative collaboration to make it a group effort. Go on a family field trip to a working farm or national park to encourage a love of nature and the environment. Make green a part of your everyday life, from the groceries you buy to what you put in the trash. Others are sure to follow
--
Janna A. Kepley
weyrcat@gmail.com
http://www.weyrcat.com
I daydream about planting my own garden of spices, veggies, flowers, anything I could grow. I remind other people to recycle; I instruct them that not all plastics are recycleable and they want your steel and aluminum cans WAY more than they want your cardboard. I tell people to be healthy and smart about what they put in their bodies (don't smoke, watch the unhealthy fats.) I LOVED living next to the Farmer's Market and visited once a week for a while.. then got lazy and shopped at the grocery store. I heard about natural alternatives to body/beauty products but was too lazy to really look. I snuck organic veggies and fruits into the cart when I remembered... I buy recycled or reclaimed materials... unless they're expensive. I have the computers auto-hibernate to save power, but then leave the monitor and speakers on (their little lights blinking to remind me they still draw power.) We turn the AC up to 80 when we leave the house... when we remember. I've been Green-Lite. Love the idea of it; took baby steps, but didn't really try too hard.
I love quizzes. I took one today titled "How Green Are You." I did rather abysmal. (My results will be at the bottom). So maybe it's time to really start paying attention instead. (I would like to preface one thing... I love the environment. I curse at people who run over animals and leave them to die/rot in the road. I'm not insane though: I researched and believe that the heating of the atmosphere is a result of natural climate shifts, and think the idea that the damage we're doing to our globe could be causing such a trend (when it's documented to have shifted warmer and colder at semi-regular if not very long intervals) to be the equivalent of one man thinking he's killed the entire human race just because HE has a cold. Our problem is population related.. not product related. There are too many humans on this planet, and way too few of them are conscientious about their personal environment, let alone the Earth.)
I think I'm going to start with the personal stuff, to really ingrain the concept into my brain. I'm as lazy about my bathroom products as I am about everything else: I had to go into the bathroom to read the label of my deodorant because I didn't know what it was: I purchased something I recognized from an ad or was generally inexpensive. I'd heard about "green" deodorants but didn't really look into it until I stumbled across an ad. I'd thought about "green" hair/shower stuff but was terrified to try anything on my 35" long hair (a LOT of hair to screw up if I did something wrong.) So... Today I started. It's going to be a little bumpy for me, as my Ultra-Frugalness forbids me from throwing away my current products until they are empty. When it comes to things like Lotion, I use it so infrequently (bad I know) that I just finally finished a bottle I got in Boot Camp (July 2001).
I found this in my diggings today; and I like the concept.
The Green Your Insides Challenge by One Green Generation. "First, start paying attention to what you put on your body, in your body, and around your body. Right now." I'm already making my menstrual cycle "green" (and so much more comfortable) with my Lunette Cup and stitching my own cloth, reusable, pantiliners (for daily cleanliness, not menses.) Today I started on Deodorant. hey.. it's a start.
Getting Greener (20 to 27 Points)
There's no question: Environmental concerns are on your radar, and you're starting to make real strides in your approach to green living.
Your Challenge
As you have come to realize, it's one thing to be aware of the impact of your actions and habits -- and another to change them. Your heart is in the right place; now you just need to take the extra step to make change stick.
Action Plan
1. Measure your footprint. Find out how much energy you're using with a personal audit; consult a carbon calculator, like the one offered by the EPA. Then consider purchasing carbon offsets or credits, which allow you to support projects that help reduce carbon emissions elsewhere to balance out your personal emissions. Purchase credits from Green-e certified nonprofits -- like NativeEnergy -- who sell a variety of options, some starting at less than $10 to offset one ton of greenhouse gases.
2. Align your concern with your actions. If reducing your use of plastic bags is a priority, keep a stash of reusable ones in the car or your purse for your next shopping trip. Or exchange the mess of boxes and cans in the corner into an organized recycling system. With good habits in place, you'll be able to look for areas outside of your usual sphere for new ways to go green.
3. Fill in the gaps. Choose a few areas of interest (reusing, sharing, and donating used goods; energy conservation; green design), and find out how you can do things more easily, cheaply, or efficiently. For instance, you may discover that those green substitutions on your next home renovation don't have the huge price tag you'd anticipated.
4. Go organic. Yes, there's a slightly higher cost associated with purchasing organic products. But being selective and consistent can make a difference. Pick up organic versions of the 12 worst offenders for chemical and pesticide contamination (including apples, lettuce, and peaches) and you could reduce your exposure by almost 90 percent. Check out the organic food dos and don'ts.
5. Get the family on board. It's hard to live the green life in a vacuum, so enlist your family's support and creative collaboration to make it a group effort. Go on a family field trip to a working farm or national park to encourage a love of nature and the environment. Make green a part of your everyday life, from the groceries you buy to what you put in the trash. Others are sure to follow
--
Janna A. Kepley
weyrcat@gmail.com
http://www.weyrcat.com
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Loremaster of Kalimdor.
Yar, it's true, I have officially spent way more of my life than the average person should in WoW :D And this is on Jaeletha.. who was only created a year/two ago; not my older characters that got abandoned. So.. it really looks bad hehe. 645/700 Eastern Kingdoms too ;)
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Gym. CAMELBACK!
.25mi 7inc 0:05:00 warmup
LFMach BicepCurl 20lb*10r*3s.
LFMach Ab-X (crunch) *10r*3s. I do this wrong, as I feel it in my back. Hmm.
Seriously lost without my normal routine :(
On the ball-
(heels together & extended, toes up.) - TriExt 10lb*10r*3s. (Counting really increases the burn! 3-2-1,1-2. 4-2-1,1-2.
(Heels together, feet flat 90°) -Flyes 5lb*10r*3s.
TreadWalk 1.0inc 3.23mi
-watched Bones! Wee! should come here every day at 19:00. :P
OOH OOH OOH! Shane told me last week that he bought me a gift, today it came. He got me a Camelback backpack!! Its so cool and comfy! I love it. I'm so spoiled.
Friday, July 2, 2010
What's in a woman's purse...
What I found when I emptied my little purple backpack:
A book
DS in case
DS charger for USB
Gym gloves
Gym towel (small)
Notecard cookbook
extra notecards
hole puncher
mackeup bag
checkbook (no more checks!)
Hair flower (and three sticks)
Jade earrings
Watch with dead battery
Bent Disney pin
Hair clip (claw)
Pencil with no lead
Mini purple pen
Broken candy cane (in wrapper)
3 Chapsticks
Travel tylonol
jar of midol
2 mini tampons
2 regular size tampons
1 pantiliner
4 travel lactaid
half roll of tums
half a pack of wrigleys
3 travel crystal light
Memo pad
LED flashlight
dog tags
camera (in case with wall charger)
Ichetucknee Springs State Park off season activities guide (Sep-May).
4 Pepto bismol caplets
Various Caffiene pills
7 day pass for 24 hr fitness
Strip of paper with grades from Anatomy 1 (Spring 2009).
$2.26 in change.
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