Beauty Tips

Audrey Hepburn wrote this when she was asked to share her "beauty tips." It was read at her funeral years later.

For Attractive Lips:
Speak words of kindness.

For Lovely Eyes:
Seek out the good in people.

For a Slim Figure:
Share your food with the hungry.

For Beautiful Hair:
Let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For Poise:
Walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

. And here is the rest of it.

Read more!

Some Earth Day Trivia

On the 38th anniversary of the first Earth Day, take a look at how the celebration—and the planet—have changed.

Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, and has been growing strong ever since. Here’s a look back at our Earth Day roots.

20 Million:
Number of people who celebrated the first Earth Day in 1970

200 Million:
Number of people who celebrated Earth Day in 1990

500 Million:
Number of people who celebrated Earth Day in 2000

175:
Number of countries worldwide that celebrate a designated Earth Day

3.7 Billion:
World population in 1970

6.6 Billion:
World population in 2008

4,390,000:
Number of Google hits for Earth Day

37,100,000:
Number of Google hits for Green Day

111.2 Million:
Number of vehicles on the road in the US in 1970

247.4 Million:
Number of vehicles on the road in the US in 2005

20:
Number of cars needed to emit the same amount of greenhouse gas
emissions as one pre-1970 model

57.2°:
Average global temperature from 1970-1979 (in degrees Fahrenheit)

58.3°:
Average global temperature from 2000-2007 (in degrees Fahrenheit)

220,000:
Tons of US lead emissions in 1970

4,000:
Tons of US lead emissions in 2008

75:
Percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions from 1970 to 2004

100 Million:
Number of plastic bags thrown away annually in the US

0:
Number of plastic bags available at Whole Foods as of Earth Day 2008

Source: Plenty

Read more!

Why Do I Need to Mulch?

Are you outside yet, digging in the dirt, getting your hands dirty as you play in your garden beds? Actually, I have not gotten out to do much myself yet. The weather is still a bit nippy, and I have not had a lot of time free up yet.

But we have a large number of garden beds needing attention, and we have a daughter graduating from high school in June and will be having her party at the house. One of the things on the top of my list after cleaning up the beds, is to do mulching.

And here is why:

• Protects the soil from erosion


• Reduces compaction from the impact of heavy rains


• Conserves moisture, reducing the need for frequent waterings


• Maintains a more even soil temperature


• Helps prevent weed growth


• Keeps fruits and vegetables clean


• Keeps feet clean, allowing access to garden even when damp


• Provides a "finished" look to the garden.

Mulch Material
Bark mulch: Use 2-4 inches
Smaller chips are easier to spread, especially around small plants. Excellent for use around trees, shrubs, and perennial gardens. When spreading mulch around trees, keep the mulch an inch or two away from the trunk. A couple inches of mulch is adequate. There is no need to apply the mulch 6 or 8 inches high, as often is seen.

Wood chips: Use 2-4 inches
Similar to bark mulch. If using fresh wood chips that are mixed with a lot of leaves, composting may be beneficial.

Leaves: Use 3-4 inches
Best to chop and compost before spreading. If using dry leaves, apply about 6 inches.

Grass clippings: Use 2-3 inches
Thicker layers tend to compact and rot, becoming quite slimy and smelly. Add additional layers as clippings decompose. Do not use clippings from lawns treated with herbicides.

Newspaper: Use 1/4 inch
Apply sheets of newspaper and cover lightly with grass clippings or other mulch material to anchor. If other mulch materials are not available, cover edges of paper with soil. Applying on a windy day can be a problem.

Compost: Use 3-4 inches
Excellent material for enriching soil.

Bark mulch and wood chips are sometimes used with landscape fabric or plastic. The fabric or plastic is laid on top of the soil and then covered with a layer of bark chips. A caution to this practice: while initially the plastic or fabric may provide additional protection against weeds, as the mulch breaks down, weeds will start to grow in the mulch itself. The barrier between the soil and the mulch also prevents any improvement in the soil condition and makes planting additional plants more difficult.

And here is the rest of it.

Read more!

Super Foods to Boost Your Sex Drive

Sex is not just for enjoyment, it has a number of health benefits such as relieving stress, boosting immunity, burning calories, reducing risks of certain health issues, and helping one to sleep, justt to name a few. So if you are looking to cash in on some of these benefits, here are some of the foods that will help to support a good sex drive.

1. Pumpkin Seeds
2. Gogi Berries
3. Maca
4. Bananas
5. Celery
6. Avocado
7. Bee pollen
8. Asparagus
9. Chillies
10. Basil
11. Figs
12. Garlic

For the specifics about each of these super foods, check out the link below.
Source: NaturalNews.com Author: Cheryl Walters

.

Read more!

Risks of Home Pesticide Use

We all have heard about the damage the use of pesticides can do to the environment and living organisms. Some of us will try to steer as far away from any pesticide use as possible, while others may not consider the risk that great, with the trade off for lush lawns and gardens the desired result. If you are not quite sure where you stand on this issue, here are some interesting facts that may help you formulate a more educated decision.

Homeowners use up to 10 times more chemical pesticides per acre on their lawns than farmers use on crops.”4 — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Increased odds of childhood leukemia, brain cancer and soft tissue sarcoma have been associated with children living in households where pesticides are used.

96 percent of all fish analyzed in major rivers and streams contained residues of one or more pesticides at detectable levels. —United States Geological Survey

EHHI surveyed 18 stores in Connecticut and found that most stores displayed pesticide packages with visible tears or rips.

Some pesticides commonly used on lawns and gardens in Connecticut...have been banned or restricted in other countries because of concerns about health effects. Many Canadian municipalities have banned or severely restricted the use of lawn-care pesticides.

Several studies... have found a statistically higher incidence of non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma in people exposed to 2,4-D.

Data suggest that MCPP may cause cancer, birth defects, and mutagenic effects.

Some inert ingredients are suspected carcinogens; others have been linked to central nervous system disorders, liver and kidney damage, birth defects, and some short-term health effects. — Attorney General’s Office of New York

The use of household pesticides has been associated with a variety of childhood cancers.

Pesticides not intended for use on food are not required to undergo the same degree of testing as those used on food.

The use of pesticides often harms wildlife and their habitats.... Commonly used lawn-care chemicals can persist in soil and water for weeks, which can lead to the contamination of aquatic resources and local wildlife.

In addition to contaminating surface water, pesticides can contaminate groundwater, potentially causing health problems in those people drinking the water.

At least one pesticide was detected by USGS in more than 95 percent of stream samples collected at 115 sites.

Pregnant women, infants and children, the aged and the chronically ill are at greatest risk from pesticide exposure and chemically induced immune-suppression, which can increase susceptibility to cancer.

Scientific studies find pesticide residues such as the weedkiller 2,4-D and the insecticide carbaryl inside homes, due to drift and track-in, where they contaminate air, dust, surfaces and carpets and expose children at levels ten times higher than preapplication levels.

Lawn and garden pesticides are deadly to non-target species and can harm beneficial insects and soil microorganisms essential to a naturally healthy lawn

Children take in more pesticides relative to body weight than adults and have developing organ systems that make them more vulnerable and less able to detoxify toxins

Studies show low levels of exposure to actual lawn pesticide products are linked to increased rates of miscarriage, and suppression of the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.

Exposure to home and garden pesticides can increase a child’s likelihood of developing asthma.

Studies link pesticides with hyperactivity, developmental delays, behavioral disorders, and motor dysfunction.

Sources:

Environment and Human Health, Inc

Beyond Pesticides
.

Read more!

The Histroy of Fluoride

Ever wonder about how fluoride got its start in the dental and water business? If you have been hearing about some of the controversy revolving around the use of fluoride, here is just a little bit of history I found that contains some interesting information.

1909
Colorado Springs dentist Frederic K. McKay asks the US dental community to help him find an explanation for the "Colorado brown stain," a discoloring of teeth common to the Pikes Peak area. Though residents' teeth are mottled, they have fewer cavities than is typical.

1927
A dentist in Bauxite, AR, reports extensive staining of residents' teeth. The town gets its water from a deep well near the site of an aluminum mine; fluoride is a waste by-product of aluminum mining.

1937
Danish fluoride researcher Kaj E. Roholm, MD, Copenhagen's deputy health commissioner, publishes a 364-page report titled Fluorine Intoxication. In it, he details the bone disease, skin lesions, and mortality that result from long-term exposure to fluoride. He also questions its ability to protect teeth.

1939
Researcher Gerald J. Cox at the Mellon Institute in Pittsburgh releases results from a rat study (showing healthier teeth) to support his recommendation that water be fluoridated.

1942
A National Institutes of Health study of 7,000 children shows that fluoride at 1 part per million (ppm) in water is enough to minimize tooth decay without causing discoloration--or dental fluorosis, as it's now called.

1945
Federal scientists choose four pairs of cities for a 13- to 15-year study of fluoridation: Grand Rapids and Muskegon, MI; Newburgh and Kingston, NY; Evanston and Oak Park, IL; and Brantford and Sarnia, Ontario. Grand Rapids becomes the first city in the world to have fluoridated water.

1951
Muskegon, the comparison city for Grand Rapids, begins fluoridating its own water supply. Communities across the country join in, well in advance of any published results of the four-cities studies.

1955

Procter & Gamble introduces Crest, the first fluoride toothpaste endorsed by the American Dental Association.

1962
Results from the Grand Rapids study are published. The findings are called into question because the control was dropped 6 years into the study.

1964

The movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Bomb is released. In it, an insane general, Jack D. Ripper, attributes fluoridation to a communist plot.

1977
A federal report finds evidence that Americans' consumption of fluoride from food and water has increased significantly. At these levels, the report states, bone damage is a risk.

1990
As part of its "Healthy People 2000" plan, the CDC sets a goal of getting fluoridated water to 75% of Americans. Then, as now, roughly two-thirds have treated water.

1993
A government review board, the National Research Council, issues a report indicating that the variety of fluoride sources in the United States could make limiting fluoride exposure necessary, and "reduction of fluoride concentrations in drinking water would be easier to administer, monitor, and evaluate" than alternative cutbacks.

1997
The FDA requires toothpaste manufacturers to place a poison control label on tubes and boxes reading: If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

2001
The CDC issues new guidelines saying that fluoride supplements should only be given to children in nonfluoridated communities who are also at high risk of cavities.

2006
The NRC releases a report suggesting that the current upper limit for fluoride in water could cause tooth damage, bone fractures, and neurological problems and may be connected to certain cancers. It recommends the EPA lower the safe exposure limit.

Author: Timothy Gower Source.

Read more!

Slow Burning Compost

STEPS TO BUILDING SLOW BURNING COMPOST PILE
One very easy thing you can do to reduce your impact on the planet, and bolster your gardening efforts, is to compost. Compost makes rich fertilizer and mulch out of yard waste, food scraps, tree trimmings, old lumber and even certain types of paper.

Pick a Good Location:

In hot, dry climates, it should be a shady, cooler location. In cold or wet climates, it should be a well-ventilated location.

Break Up the Ground a Bit:
You don't have to dig the location, but aerate the top layer of soil and completely remove weeds. If this is your first pile in the area, you may wish to add some worms: Red worms are best, but nightcrawlers will do.

Start with a Layer of Small Sticks or Brush:
The idea is to trap some air pockets at the bottom.

Build Your Pile in Layers:
When possible, alternate layers of brown materials and green materials. The mixing of carbon (brown) and nitrogen (green) wastes fosters breakdown. A layer of green grass, covered with a layer of wood chips or dead leaves, works well. Paper and cardboard is carbon. Coffee is nitrogen.

Chop Up Big Things:
Fruit rinds, over-the-hill garden plants, etc. all break down faster when chopped up. Try a machete: sharper blade equals much less work.

Keep the Pile Damp:

Not wet, damp. In areas with dry seasons, sprinkle the entire pile for no more than five minutes a couple of times a week in the evening.

No Meat or Fat:

Fatty table scraps or meat leftovers tend to attract pests. Bread, some chips and crackers and most tortillas seem ok.

Make Your Pile as Big as Possible:
Bigger piles burn hotter. Anything much smaller than roughly three feet in diameter will break down very slowly, and may not break down completely in any amount of time. Lawn cuttings break down relatively fast.

Crack the Thing Open Once in a While:

This doesn't mean turn the pile upside down. Just break it open with a spading fork, a rake or a shovel. Let some air in.

Keep Building:

Depending on the size of your yard and the amount of waste you generate, the pile will take 4-12 months to produce a meaningful amount of compost. Get materials where you can. Perhaps a neighbor with a big yard can help.

Keep a Tub in Your Kitchen:

A one-gallon plastic ice-cream bucket seems about the right size. Keep the lid on when not in use; empty regularly. People with more class should purchase a special "compost crock' for their kitchen. Put all your vegetable trimmings in there.

Be Picky About Your Materials:

Never put Bermuda Grass or other really tough, noxious weeds in your pile. Beware of vines, burrs, any seed heads or root-runner plants and other potential fringe survivors. Watch out for heavily fertilized or pesticide laden lawn clippings.

HARVESTING YOUR COMPOST:
Without building specific apparatus, the easiest way is with a screen or a series of screens, and a big wheelbarrow. Place the screen over the wheelbarrow. Shovel the compost on. Shake or scrape with shovel to force the compost through. Keep going until the barrow is full or until you have all you need. Use while fresh to take advantage of teeming microbial life. Keep the screening discards for re-composting.
Source
.

Read more!

More Coffee Grounds...More Ideas

DON'T THROW THE GROUNDS AWAY PART II
Every day across America, Asia and Europe, millions of pots of coffee and tea are brewed, and the millions of pounds of wet grounds, filters and bags thrown in the trash. This is both wasteful and foolish.

Coffee by-products can be used in the garden and farm as follows:

1. Sprinkle used grounds around plants before rain or watering, for a slow-release nitrogen.

2. Add to compost piles to increase nitrogen balance. Coffee filters and tea bags break down rapidly during composting.

3. Dilute with water for a gentle, fast-acting liquid fertilizer. Use about a half-pound can of wet grounds in a five-gallon bucket of water; let sit outdoors to achieve ambient temperature.

4. Mix into soil for houseplants or new vegetable beds.

5. Encircle the base of the plant with a coffee and eggshell barrier to repel pests.

6. If you are into vermi-posting, feed a little bit to your worms

7. Toss coffee grounds in with vegetable peelings, add water, grind them in theblender, then feed it to plants that are "slow". It's like a giant vitamin. They start shooting up very soon.

Source

Read more!

Coffee Grounds: 10 Different Ways

DON'T THROW AWAY YOUR COFFEE GROUNDS
Here is an interesting post I came across....some are good and some should be taken with a grain of ...ugr..coffee!

Coffee Grounds have many uses from gardening to beauty to getting rid of cellulite. Here are a few tips and recipes I have made and used over the years. If you know of any other uses for coffee grounds, I would love to hear them.

1. Cellulite Buster
While in the shower, vigorously rub coffee grounds on troubled cellulite spots for a few minutes everyday or a few times a week. Coffee is a stimulant and breaks down fat deposits when rubbed on those areas.

2. Exfoilant
Give yourself a wonderful Homemade Body Scrub/Facial with Coffee Grounds, resulting in the smoothest softest skin you could imagine! For even smoother skin, add a few Tablespoons of Mineral Oil, Jojoba Oil or Olive Oil right from your kitchen cabinet accompanied by a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

3. Plant Booster
For healthier plants, add Coffee Grounds to the potting soil of your house or garden plants. Coffee Grounds will eventually mold so its best to use this for outdoor plants. Keep in freezer until ready for use. Coffee Grounds are very effective when put in Rose Bushes. Just make sure your outdoor pets dont have access to those areas as they might try to eat the coffee grinds.

4. Natural Stain
Coffee Grounds make a great natural stain for wood, clothing, baskets, and covering up nicks in wood furniture. Brewed coffee can also be used in light brown/brunette hair to darken it.

5. Coffee Tan
Replenish your summer tan by rubbing coffee grounds all over your body then leave on for 30 minutes. Brewed coffee at room temperature can also be sponged and left on your skin for 20-30 minutes. Darker skin can be achieved by repeating this process more often.

6. Fridge Deodorizer
Keep a small container of fresh coffee grinds in the back of your refrigerator or freezer for a natural deodorizer.

7. Ant Repellent
Place Coffee Grinds in or near the tracks of sliding glass doors to keep ants away.

8. Kitchen Scrubber
Coffee Grounds act as an abraser removing grease from pots and pans. Keep a little container of fresh grinds near your kitchen sink.

9. Cat Litter Deodorizer
I sprinkle a tiny bit of fresh coffee grinds in the cat litter box for a natural deodorizer or you can place some next to it.

10. Sweat Lodge
Lose 5 to 10 inches all over your body in an hour. This really does work!!!! Rub fresh un-brewed coffee grounds all over your body then wrap yourself in saran wrap. Leave your face exposed please. Find a warm place to sit for 30 minutes to an hour and try to stay as warm as possible. Put on sweat suit, sit in a sauna, or stay in the bathroom with the door closed to keep the heat in. Run the shower as hot as possible to steam up the bathroom. Measure yourself before and after to see the results. I lost 2 inches in my legs, 1 inch in my arms and 2 inches in my hips. This is a short cut version to my typical herbal body wrap, but this does work and you feel great afterwards.

Here is a Homemade Body Scrub recipe I invented. It smells so good you almost want to eat it. Your skin will feel softer than you could ever imagine!

Brown Sugar Vanilla Body Scrub
1 Cup Fresh Coffee Grinds
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Essential Oil
1/4 Cup of either Olive Oil, Mineral oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil or Sweet Almond Oil.

Mix together then put into a little container. If mixture looks a little crumbly and dry, add a little more oil. With a Loofah Scrub or your hand, rub all over body while in shower then rinse. This mixture will keep for a few weeks or even longer. Because oil is a natural preservative, this will prevent the coffee from molding. Mine has lasted over a month and still going strong!

Source

Read more!

10 Everyday Pollution Solutions

GREEN IDEAS
Here are some easy to incorporate ways to reduce your intake of load of toxins.

1. Use cast iron pans instead of nonstick. Read about Teflon health concerns.


2. To avoid chemicals leaching into food, go easy on processed, canned or fast foods and never microwave plastic. Read about Bisphenol A, a toxic food-can lining ingredient associated with birth defects.


3. Buy organic, or eat vegetables and fruit from the "Cleanest 12" list. Find out more about the "Dirty Dozen."


4. Use iodized salt to combat chemical interference from the thyroid. Read about rocket fuel's effect on the thyroid.


5. Seal outdoor wooden structures. Order a test kit to find out if your wooden deck, picnic table, or playset is leaching arsenic.
   
6. Leave your shoes at the door. This cuts down on dust-bound pollutants in the home.
   
7. Avoid perfume, cologne and products with added fragrance. Search for personal care
   products that are fragrance-free, or check the products you're already using.
   
8. Buy products with natural fibers, like cotton and wool, that are naturally fire resistant.
   Use our list of products and manufacturers to avoid the chemical flame retardant PBDE.
   
9. Eat low-mercury fish like tilapia & pollock, rather than high-mercury choices like tuna &
   swordfish. Check our Safe Fish List to see which fish to avoid and what's safe to eat.
   
10. Filter your water for drinking and cooking. How does your tap water stack up? Search our
    tap water database to see what you're drinking.
    

SOURCE: Environmental Working Group
. And here is the rest of it.

Read more!