Applesauce: A deliciously sweet and tangy snack!

Tamba: A truly eco way to avoid using toilet paper

2010-08-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

Many people looking to lower the ecological impact of their lifestyle and those that just want to save money are turning to cloth wipes (also called family wipes) as an alternative to toilet paper.

I'm all for cloth wipes and use them myself, but the use of wet wipes for poo (along with a wipes warmer) seems a bit wasteful to me. There's a far easier, economical and more ecological way to get the job done and people have been doing it for centuries.

In Nigeria, some people refer to it as "tamba." It basically involves cleaning your bum with water after you poo. Here's the process: Fill a small bowl or watering can with water. After you poo, scoot your bum towards the edge of the toilet, so that you have some room behind you. Then put the bowl in your right hand and place it at the crack of your bum. Slowly poor the water and use your left hand to wash your bum (i.e. remove the poo).

It doesn't require electricity, soap or essential oils. It's a lot cheaper too and you'll feel really clean afterwards. I've never once had a problem with using my hand to wash--I just make sure that I wash my hands well with soap and warm water afterwards. It also eliminates the possibilty of staining the cloth wipes, which I use to dry.

This is what people do in a lot of other countries where toilet paper is too expensive or hard to find. Many muslims also do it as a part of their religiously prescribed hygiene practices.

Try it a few times until you get the hang of it. Once get accustomed to it, you'll become addicted to the fresh feeling that a wet cloth just can't provide.

Ghee--Edible Golden Delight

2010-03-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

I've always loved the richness of butter. It's heavy on the palate satiating saturated fats that everyone loves to hate. It's all natural, unlike margarine and other "buttery" spreads. And it's so versatile: adding flavor and texture to everything from toast and corn-on-the-cob to broccoli and brownies. Recently, however, I've undertaken a strict dairy-free diet to ward off my casein allergy (i.e. skin eruptions, digestive upset et. al.) which caused me to lay off the butter. Butter, which has relatively little casein, only caused a very mild allergic reaction but I wanted to find a way to enjoy it without any pimples or bubble gut. I did some Googling and found that ghee contains no or only trace amounts of casein. I was so ecstatic. I began a search on the net and YouTube for instructions but that search only ended in confusion. Many people, it seemed have confused western-style "clarified butter" with ghee. They're real two different things. Anyway, I finally found authentic ghee making instructions at Anjuli's site below:

http://blog.asmartmouth.com/2008/10/10/homemade-indian-ghee-if-you-dare/

The instructions have pictures and is very detailed.

The process is about 45 minutes, but it is well worth it! I've been putting ghee on EVERYTHING! It has a smooth, melt-like-a-cloud texture and wonderful caramel taste and smell (which was strong enough to draw my family to the kitchen with hungry eyes). It's like caramel without the sugar! It's really delectable. After making it I couldn't stop opening the jar to smell it. It is really wonderful. Perhaps because of the time involved in making it or because it's simply so tasty, it is now as precious to me as gold.

Homemade Beauty

2010-03-04T05:11:00.000-08:00

Nowadays, there's a beauty product for everything under the sun: acne, dry skin, oily skin, cellulite. Supposedly the more expense a product, the more effective. But this often isn't the case. There are many simple solutions to beauty issues, often right under your own roof. Here are a few that I've found:

Acne: Some people can have great skin and eat whatever they like but some cannot. If you have acne, consider removing all dairy (including casein-containing products like butter and Cool Whip) from your diet. Try it for 2 weeks and you're sure to notice a dramatic improvement. You'd have saved yourself hundreds of dollars in visits to the dermatologist and acne-fighting potions. In my experience, removing gluten from my diet made no difference. FREE
Bath Soak: Baking soda (aka sodium bicarbonate) makes a great, cheap bath soak. It doesn't fizz like the fancy bath bombs (most of which list it as a main ingredient) but it softens the skin just the same. If plain old baking soda leaves you yearning for a touch of luxury, add a touch of olive oil along with a few drops of your favorite essential oil to jazz it up a bit. $ 0.50
Body Scrub: Granulated sugar and olive and/or coconut oil makes a great moisturizing body scrub and won't break the bank. Use it in the shower after you've cleansed your skin and it'll leave you with soft, silky skin. Careful though, it may make your shower a little slippery. $5.00
Skin Peel: Here's a beauty recipe that'll save you big bucks if you're into microdermabrasion and chemical peels: half the juice of a fresh lemon (or lime) and 1 cup of granulated sugar. Rub on the skin for 30-60 seconds and you've got an invigorating scrub/peel that will knock off those rough patches. It'll also help with hyperpigmentation, stretch marks and dull skin. Use it at night or avoid sun exposure afterwards and moisturizing is a must! $2.00
Tooth Whitening: Swish with a cap full of hydrogen peroxide before brushing for whiter teeth. It doesn't taste great but it works.$1.00

What are some of your cheap and effective homemade beauty recipes?

Money Saving Tips

2008-10-03T12:46:00.000-07:00

When money is tight and inflation is high, it time to stretch your dollars. Try these money saving tips:

Food
Bring your lunch to work instead of eating out.
Buy dry goods in bulk when they’re on sale.
Use coupons.
Drink water or tea instead of juice, soft drinks and coffee.
Don’t overeat and use leftovers.
Forego sugary items, which usually provide no nutritional value.
Grow expensive food items in a home garden.
Filter your water instead of buying bottled water.
Limit meat and seafood consumption to the necessary minimums.
Don't smoke.

Shopping
Buy basic needs items such as toothpaste, laundry detergent and dishwashing liquid in bulk when they’re on sale.
Use coupons.
Bring a list with you on shopping trips and stick to it.
Don’t buy clothes that require dry cleaning or use other means such as Dryel to clean “dry clean only” clothing.
Repair or alter items before replacing them.
Switch disposable paper products to reusable ones: kitchen towels instead of paper towels, cloth napkins instead of paper napkins, handkerchiefs instead of facial tissue, cloth wipes or water rinsing instead of toilet paper and baby wipes, cloth diapers instead of disposable ones, and reusable cloth and cups instead of disposable pads and tampons.
Don't window shop or go to malls to "hang-out."

Energy & Utilities
Unplug electronic devises and appliances when not in use. Surge protectors can facilitate this process.
Use a wood stove for heating.
Purchase Energy Star Appliances.
Install “Low-e,” double paned windows.
Use thick, insulated window coverings during cold months.
Use weatherstripping and caulk to keep home well insulated.
Use florescent and LED lighting.
Open the blinds (or curtains) during the day instead of turning on the lights.
Use cold water to wash clothes.
Air dry clothes when possible.
Use rainwater for landscaping and gardening.
Don’t keep a lot of junk in your car and keep a regular car maintenance schedule.

Leisure
Exercise at home or in your neighborhood.
Go to free events.
Avoid going to the movies, instead rent or borrow [from a library] a movie or watch online.
Skip cable and watch TV online instead.

Why I HATE the iPhone 3G

2008-10-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I bought into the iPhone fanfare. The design and interface lured me into a 2 year contract with AT&T. But about a month later, now that I'm no longer hypnotised by the cool, bright icons and the touchscreen, I have a lot of griping to do:

$30 Unlimited Data Plan: Even if you just want the iPhone to use just as phone (and maybe a calendar and alarm clock), you can't. You are required to pay an extra $30 a month for unlimited data over the supposedly fast 3G network. 3G is incredibly slow or all together absent, so you're likely to have better luck finding a random wifi network. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that this so-called "data" plan doesn't include a very familiar type of mobile phone data: texting. That'll cost you at least another $5.99 a month!
iTunes: If you thought, as I did, that you could simply add applications to your iPhone by connecting to the internet, think again. You must have an account with iTunes and use it to download applications to your iPhone through your PC. Doesn't this seem like a waste of time, hard drive space and mobile internet access to you?
Flashy Interface: This is another feature that will slow you down. Sure, it looks nice to see pages on your iPhone fade in and out like a well-made PowerPoint presentation, but it means more steps for you. It'll more time for you to access your key pad to dial a number and view your contacts. In an emergency, the iPhone will take up to six steps to dial 911.
Poor Battery Life: Even if you just use your iPhone for occasional phone calls as I do, you'll have to charge your phone every single day. I can't imagine using my phone as an iPod, video viewer, and internet browser as the makers intended--I'd have to keep a charger at home, work, in my car and at my best buddy's house!
Cumbersome Shape: When you look at the iPhone, there can be no doubt that the creators spend a lot of time designing it. But if you ever hold an iPhone in your hand, you'll notice how awkward it is. Try holding it up to your ear during a long conversation. It's boxy shape feels like having a book pressed to your ear.
Low Volume & Poor Speakers: Speaking of good conversations, have you ever noticed that the sound quality on the iPhone sucks? The volume level is very low for anyone that doesn't have bionic hearing or doesn't talk while on a stroll in a city. The speakerphone and finger volumes are just as wimpy.
Spotty Service & Dropped Phone Calls: Before getting the iPhone, I would brag to others about how great AT&T service was. Now, I don't have service in places where I used to and it's not uncommon for calls to drop in mid conversation. Without service, the phone can't fulfill its main function: making phone calls!

As my complaints mount, I'll continue to update this post. In the meantime, don't just buy a phone for looks or you may end up broke and disappointed.

Sugar Babies: The Addiction Starts Early

2008-08-21T05:42:00.000-07:00

For most of us, sugar addiction starts early. It begins in the wombs of our mothers. Everyday, mothers partake of the many sugary treats of the Western world--candy, gum, chocolate, fruit juice, and a plethora of desserts--and so do their unborn children. There, in the womb, we learn to crave for the taste of sugar and yearn for the rush that it provides--however brief. Once outside the womb, sugar becomes a more palpable addiction. In addition to the sugar-ladden breast milk that we receive from our mothers, we learn to identify the taste, smell and appearance of sweet treats for ourselves.

By the age of one, most children are able to identify sweets by the brightly colored packaging, the noisy plastic wrapping and the value that adults place on it. Thus begins the path to diabetes, obesity, acne (it is NOT a myth, if anyone tells you otherwise they're probably trying to sell you something to "cure" it), insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian syndrome and impaired immunity (just a few spoonfuls of table sugar can decrease your immune response for several hours, not to mention ruin your appetite).

So, if sugar's so bad for us, why do we like it some much?

The simple answer is that it's easy to like (and become addicted to) something that you need to live. Sugar or more accurately, glucose is the fuel used by most live forms. Our bodies take sugar (sucrose) and starch (carbohydrates) and coverts them into glucose. It's essential for the function of our cells and brains.

But, overconsumption of sugar actually reduces brain function, takes blood sugar levels on a rollercoaster ride, and makes us feel sluggish and crappy.

And it is oh so easy to consume too much sugar. Take an average American meal as an example:

A hamburger, fries and soda.

The soda is high in high fructose corn syrup (a type of super-concentrated, cheap sugar), the fries are made from starchy potatoes, and the hamburger is on a refined carbohydrate bun with sugar injected ketchup. The hamburger itself may also have sugar as an ingredient.

Just try to go without sugar for 1 day and you'll see how difficult it is to avoid. Check the labels and look up the nutrition facts of every thing that you eat and see for yourself.

A diet devoid of soda, candy and pastries provides more than enough sugar to fuel body and won't leave you feeling like a drained sugar feign.

But, whole grains, fruits and veggies can be a hard pill to swallow after more than 20 years of sugar highs. What is an addict in recover to do?

Happy Feet

2008-06-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

Having recently discovered my own flat-footedness after years of denial and ignorance, I have decided to compile a list of shoe brands offering built-in arch support. If you're anything like me, you've probably started to associate your foot pain, lower back pain and occasional ankle pain with a hard day's work, not realizing that your inability to stand for long periods of time isn't normal. Most people don't realize the value of well-built shoes until they own a pair and feel the difference between conventional shoes.

In general, shoes with built in arch-support aren't cheap--often around $100 or more. But don't be fooled into thinking that so-called luxury brands that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars are better for you. Often with luxury brand shoes you simply pay for the brand name, materials and the aesthetic design.

As a true believer in the unity of form and function, below is a list of brand names that offer good arch-support and other orthopedic features along with attractive and innovative designs:

Birkenstock www.birkenstock.com
Rainbow Sandals www.rainbowsandals.com/Default.asp
Born www.bornshoes.com
Sofft www.sofftshoe.com

List is updated periodically. Suggestions incouraged!

Reducing Waste

2008-05-06T06:39:00.000-07:00

I've just read about a town in England called Modbury that banned plastic bags a year ago. The movement was initiated by a woman by the name of Rebecca Hosking who was disgusted by the toll of plastic bags took on beaches and wildlife (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/05/AR2008050502223.html?wpisrc=newsletter). This has got me thinking about the things that I can do to minimize the waste that I create during my daily activities. Here's what I have planned so far:

Don't buy bottled water. At work, use a ceramic mug for water and tea. Use a reusable Sigg bottle (http://www.mysigg.com/) for carrying water around.

Don't buy tampons, menstrual pads or panty liners. Use the Diva Cup and Glad Rags panty liners (http://www.gladrags.com/).

Use biodegradable Acca Kappa toothbrushes (http://www.shopaccakappa.com/)
Use only reusable, biodegradable canvas bags for groceries.

Use a reusable lunch bag. Pack food in long lasting, non-toxic glass storage containers(http://www.pyrex.com/).

Compost food and lawn waste (http://www.compostguide.com/)

Recycle recyclables: glass, paper, aluminum and plastic

Reduce the amount of non-biodegradable items I purchase.

Buy in bulk.

Use washable cloth wipes instead of toilet paper and baby wipes. (http://living.wallypop.net/wipes.html)

I'll continue updating this list as solutions present themselves.

The Dreadful Doctor Merry Go Round

2008-03-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, there's a specific doctor for every organ system (and even part) of the body. There are dermatologists for skin, gastroenterologists for the digestive system, otolaryngologists (ear, nose & throat doctors), neurologists for the nervous system, gynecologists for the female reproductive system and list goes on and on.

You would think that that would provide you with more specialized, higher quality care and in the case of acute illness, such as heart attack or tonsillitis, it usually does. But when it comes to chronic illness, it really just translates into more office visits (and copays), more tests, more prescriptions and a longer diagnosis time. That's because the cause of chronic pain and illness, such as acne or diabetes, are usually multi-systemic.

The symptoms of diabetes, some of which are blurry vision, vaginal yeast infections, dry or itchy skin, and frequent urination could lead a person to visit up to four (4) different types of doctors (http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/b72.htm). Of course, none of these doctors communicate with each other and each doctor you visit is likely to skim your medical chart just seconds before your appointment--if not during! Thus, the diagnosis of many illnesses remains elusive until someone is able (or willing) to put all the symptoms together and find the cause that connects them.

Acne is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in our society, affecting "more than 90% of all adolescents, nearly 50% of all adult women and 25% of all adults" (acne.com). Many dermatologists and websites claim that diet has absolutely nothing to do with acne, but rather is caused by an mysterious imbalance in hormone levels and oil-based products. Such declarations are usually followed by an overpriced prescription or OTC (over-the-counter) topical of limited effectiveness. In extreme cases powerful drugs such as Accutane and birth control are prescribed to "control" the disease. No dermatologist or gastroenterologist will tell you about the 2002 study conducted by Dr. Cordain that directly links acne with a high-sugar diet (see http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/28193). As doctors refer patients from one specialist to another, it seems that even they have forgotten that they're treating a whole person not just an organ system.

So what is a person with chronic symptoms to do?

A healthy diet and regular aerobic exercise is some of the best medicine around, but definitely the hardest to take. It is your first line of defense. Generally, a healthy diet consists of a low glycemic index diet that contains lean protein (see www.the-gi-diet.org/lowgifoods/). Regular aerobic exercise is usually considered to be 30 minutes of heart pumping movement resulting in perspiration at least 3 times a week. It can help treat and prevent so many illnesses from acne and endometriosis to diabetes and arthritis. Few doctors will ever prescribe you this type of medicine because it's cheap and readily available to everyone. It just requires a lot of discipline but if you're fighting for your life, you'll give it all you've got! The field of dermatology and gastroenterology alone would lose so many patients to this kind of medicine.

Write your own medical chart. Keep a journal. For at least two to three months, keep track of daily activities, sexual partners, the weather, diet, weight, bowel movements, emotional health and if you're a woman, monitor your reproductive system using the fertility awareness method (see Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler). You're bound to discover more about yourself than you've ever known. Your journal could also help your doctor diagnose elusive conditions.

Stay optimistic. Multiple doctor visits and mystery diagnosis can cause you to want to give up, but don't! There are lots of resources out there in books, on the internet and through word-of-mouth. And, believe it or not, there are still some knowledgeable doctors who are able to connect the dots. So before you make that next appointment ask friends and colleagues for referrals or do your own research on a site like ratemd.com. It just might save your life, save you money and save you from a prescription-happy quack-doctor.

The Urge to Upgrade

2008-03-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

I am an American consumer. I like to buy and buy often. Newly purchased merchandise and services seem to instantly brighten my mood and erase the stresses of the day. And, at times, I do overspend. That's what credit cards are for, right?

Even when I know I have enough of something, I'm always urged to buy more because of the "upgrade" mentality that pervades our society. Once you purchase something, be it a house, car or a pair of shoes, its value begins to depreciate. Suddenly, the car that you purchased for 20, 000 is worth $15,000 and even the house that you thought would appreciate in value is in need of repairs.

That's where human innovation comes to your rescue. New products and services are always being created. Functional and aesthetic "improvements" are always being made on past creations. New products now tout energy efficiency, sleeker silhouettes and richer hues. Clever marketing creates voids where there was once a product that satisfied both your needs and wants. The urge to upgrade takes you to your nearest retail shop and the next you know you're buying a toothbrush that removes 5% more plaque than conventional brushes in clinical trials.

But as energy and food prices continue to soar, I've begun counteract the urge to upgrade and remind myself of the things that I already I have. Two mantras of frugality have become particularly close to my heart in the past few months: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and "Quality not quantity." Billboards still remind me daily of my fashion inadequacy and for a few seconds I think, "Hmmm, those red velvet shoes are just what I need to spice up my shoe collection!" But then I erase the glow from my eyes with a recollection of the two aforementioned mantras and of the three out of twenty-something pairs of shoes that I wear regularly. I've even started to scale back on my already sizable collection of "things": the multitude of products to care for hair, face, body, nails, hands, feet and eyes and the various accoutrements that adorn them. I now consolidate products from facial moisturizers and toners to mp3 players and cell phones. I refuse to have two of anything where one will suffice. It has been difficult (not watching TV helps immensely) but I'm making progress and saving space and money. I make wish-lists of the new things I want and take a few weeks to really analyze the my reasons for wanting to make the purchase:

Do I need it? What do I need it for? Do I have something very similar to it already?
Why do I want it? To keep up with the Pitts? To make me feel better?
Can I afford it or will this purchase keep me from doing/buying something more important?
How will it improve my life or benefit me?
Is it high quality? Will I be able to maintain it for a long period of time?

As I've written this post, the Beyonce song "Upgrade U" has been ringing in my ears and it still makes a lot of sense to me. Who wouldn't want to upgrade their polyester lined blazer for a silk (natural/non-carcinogenic) lined blazer or wear a high quality, shiny Cartier wristwatch? I know it sounds so anti-progress and so anti-American but "best" only lasts until someone creates (or you discover something) "better." At some point, you just have to control your insatiable appetite for bigger and better things. Furthermore, rampant consumerism isn't healthy for the environment, your savings or your psyche. Contrary to popular belief, millionaires aren't the happiest people, money doesn't buy happiness and sometimes older is better than new. I know that it may sound hokey, but ultimately creativity and self-esteem are key to locking up the urge to upgrade.

Shaving

2008-02-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

I gave up on shaving more than 6 months ago. Like most American women, I'd felt compelled to remove my leg and underarm hair since they began to make their appearance around age 12. By high school, I had developed an almost daily shaving routine to maintain the appearance of prepubescence. I wouldn't bare my legs or underarms without being freshly shaved. I winced at the sight and feel of stubble and cursed its persistence. Occasionally, the "stubble-problem" caused by shaving led me to dabble with depilatory creams, waxing, etc. I even considered laser hair removal to finally rid me of my hairy legs for good, but couldn't justify the expense of something so purely aesthetic.

That was until 6 months ago, when I decided to make peace with my body hair--sort of. I stopped shaving my legs completely and began to wax my underarms exclusively (no more going over my freshly waxed pits with a razor for that BABY smooth look). I consigned myself to the fact that I would have to get used to letting my hair grow in a bit between waxing sessions and to always seeing a little hair there. Initially, I decided to leave my leg hair "au naturale." After all, I'd seen many women do it, some more successfully than others. Regardless, I admired their bravery and would summon my courage from them. It took about 3 weeks for my leg hair to grow full-length. During that growing out period, I did brave the streets baring my partially hairy legs. It made me slightly anxious though and I often had to reassure myself that no one was staring at legs as they would a bearded lady.

But one day, a few weeks after my leg hair had fully grown, I lifted up my pant legs and looked my legs in the awful light of my office. My leg hair was surprising long, scraggly and wild. It seemed that after so many years of shaving, waxing and the like, my leg hair had lost itself and become wayward. I didn't have the leg hair of the women who were shaving virgins, whose hair (although noticeable) just seemed to lay ever-so-nicely on their legs--not bringing any attention to themselves. In a moment, I decided that I would do what I could to recreate the look of truly virgin legs. I would groom my leg hair to create the au naturale look that existed before shaving created a jungle of hair on my legs. To achieve this goal, I started waxing. And 3 months and counting, I've made some progress. I wax what I can tolerate and leave the rest; there's always some hair present and I'm fine with that.

Now my goal is to have softer, thinner hair rather than no hair at all. With every wax, I come closer to repairing more than 10 years of damage. I do find ripping my hair from the root to be a little brutal, but right now it's the most economical option. Perhaps in the future, I'll try something a little more humane that has a similar effect.

Deodorant that Melts Plastic

2008-02-29T10:22:00.000-08:00

I used to keep a bottle of Mitchum roll-on deodorant in my drawer at work (in case I forgot to use deodorant in the morning--being stinky at work is grounds for termination!) until recently. A few weeks ago, the bottle started to leak an oily liquid, so I threw it out.

Today, while looking in my drawer, I saw a plastic fork with a melted tip (the part that you hold while you eat). Initially, I didn't think anything of it and just threw it away. But then, the thought dawned on me: "How did this fork melt without a heat source? Was there some secret fire in my drawer that had it out for forks but not napkins?" I had to investigate. I took the fork out of the trash and touched it. The tip was mushy and flexible. Perplexed, I gave it a whiff. It smelled of deodorant! That fresh, clean smell that's so familiar to us all. Then I began to wonder, "If this deodorant is melting plastic, what is it doing to my underarms?!!!!"

I've tried to use "natural" deodorants in the past--without much success--but I think I must try again. I can't use something that melts plastic on my skin, no matter how well it works! That's just insane.