Monday, June 8, 2020

Naomi Shah VOCs

Go right to the 5:50 mark . . .
Naomi Shah is right on target when she talks about VOCs.
The beginning of the video is pretty amazing, too!


In 2011 three young women swept the top prizes of the first Google Science Fair. Lauren Hodge, Shree Bose and Naomi Shah describe their extraordinary projects -- and their route to a passion for science.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

How About Some Good News About 6-Pack Rings?

Who is not familiar with the heart-wrenching photos of the damage done by plastic six-pack rings to marine life?  No one disagrees that this is a serious problem. The plastic six-pack rings tangle the wings of sea birds, choke seals, and warp the shells of growing sea turtles. 
A Florida brewery called Saltwater Brewery has a solution. They have introduced six-pack rings that can either biodegrade or serve as a snack for wildlife. After years of research and development, the rings, made of wheat and barley, are now popping up in south Florida stores. 
Saltwater Brewery is a craft microbrewery in Delray Beach. Kudos to them! They developed the rings in conjunction with a startup called E6PR. Troubleshooting and manufacturing the rings was expensive. E6PR hopes other breweries, both small and large, will buy into the new rings and help bring costs down. Let's hope so. Share this info!

Sources 
editor - Soutenus
author - Tristan Baurick
website: RealPharmacy.com

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Coffee Klatsch



Coffee Klatsch: a social gathering for grown-ups at which informal conversation and coffee are enjoyed.

MOMS! We are having a Coffee Klatsch on Wednesday, June 13, 2018

RSVP by June 10th via text, please


You are invited!

Just like Fight Club, Coffee Klatsch has rules and they are as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1) NO business networking.
2) YES to great conversations over a cup of coffee with old and new friends.
3) If you drink tea, you will be happy to know I'll have tea for you!


Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

12 Habits to Make You Healthier


Avoid alcohol.
Alcohol isn't just terribly dehydrating, it's also either filled with gluten, sugar or both, which drastically speeds up our aging process. This leaves the skin looking dull and extra pounds feeling much too at home.

Cut back on meat.
Not only are our factory faming methods wreaking havoc on our already fragile environment, but meat is very hard on our systems. Meat is the hardest of all foods to digest (starch coming at a close second). The harder something is to digest, the more fat will be stored in our bodies.
If you choose to eat meat, try cutting back to a few times per week, and always choose local and organic. This way, at least you won't be ingesting hormones and god-knows-what. Quick food for thought: some of the biggest, sturdiest animals on earth (elephant, cow, gorilla) eat plant-based diets, and they're doing just fine!

Ditch caffeine.
Caffeine of any kind wreaks havoc on our system. It causes the stress hormone cortisol to be released,
making it very difficult to shed extra pounds and maintain a healthy balance.

Honor your digestion.
Good digestion is typically overlooked and is one of the key factors to feeling and being your healthiest. Practice eating things in their proper order, chew thoroughly and notice how much better you start to feel during and after your meals. Bloating should go down and energy levels should go up.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
Drink a lot of water. Divide your body weight in pounds by two. This number equals the amount, in ounces, you should be drinking, which will efficiently hydrate you without drowning the nutrients out of your system. Try infused water for a bit of diversity without any extra harmful ingredients.

Pretend you're allergic to dairy.
Dairy is one food group that should be avoided at all costs, especially when it comes from the local supermarket. Puss, blood and antibiotics are only a few of the terrifying ingredients in our highly processed milk, cheese and yogurt these days. Not only does milk actually leach calcium from our bodies, but dairy causes us to form mucus and is terribly difficult to digest.

Eat the rainbow.
Make sure especially to consume LOTS of dark, leafy greens. Add as many different colored fruits and vegetables as possible to your diet.



Break up with sugar.
I'm sure you've heard tons of preaching on this subject lately. I'm going to contribute to that. 
Sugar leaches minerals and nutrients from our body and turns straight to unhealthy fat when digested. Work on conquering that sugar addiction and use healthy sugar substitutes like raw honey, organic maple syrup, organic stevia and coconut nectar as much as you can. Remember, choosing artificial sweetener is actually WORSE for you than sugar, so please don't go there.
Use only coconut or grapeseed oil for high-heat cooking.
Not doing this will deprive your body of the nutrients it craves and will actually allow carcinogens into your system. Otherwise, enjoy other healthy oils such as olive oil, hemp oil and avocado oil, as well as coconut and grapeseed oil, in the raw.

Move.
Our bodies are made to move. We aren't meant to be sitting in a chair all day long. Many of us don't have much of a choice in that, but we do have some control. Get up and do some stretching at least once an hour. Move any way that your unique situation allows. Clean the house, do the dishes, walk to a restaurant, do a few standing jumping jacks — whatever suits you. On top of that, do a more intense workout at least three days per week (e.g. go to the gym, take a movement class).

Use natural beauty and home products.
Non-organic beauty products (everything from makeup, nail polish, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shaving cream, lotion, deodorant, sunscreen, candles and cleaning solutions), when applied to our skin, leaches dangerous toxins into our bloodstream in a mere 26 seconds. Whether applied topically or through the air, these toxins will make us age faster, can make it impossible to shed extra pounds, can cause disease and can totally confuse our hormones.

Practice gratitude. PRAY
Above all, remember to be grateful for all the positive aspects of your life! It takes work, which is why it's called a practice. Remember to offer up the good and the bad.
" . . . you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good . . . "  Genesis 50:20

Saturday, March 10, 2018

10 Herbs You can Grow Indoors

The process of growing plants indoors in water is known as hydroponics. 

  • Place herb cuttings in glass bottles. Add plain water, either rain water or tap water which has been left to air overnight. Avoid using tight-fitting containers.
  • Remove the lower leaves because they will rot in water. Change the water once a week. When the roots start growing, do not change the water.
  • You can also soak a few willow branches in warm water overnight and then use to speed up the growth.
  • Place the jar in bright light.

1. Basil

You can easily grow basil indoors. It is packed with antioxidant, antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral properties and it provides numerous benefits. Simply, cut off the stem you want to root before the parent plant flowers.  
Basil is an excellent source of vitamin K and manganese; a very good source of copper, Vitamin A  (in the form of carotenoids such as beta-carotene), and vitamin C; and a good source of calcium, iron, folate, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids.

2. Lemon Balm

This herb is known for its fresh smell, which keeps the mosquitos and insects away. You should pick several cuttings in spring or fall and put them in water and place in a bright place.  Remember to change the water once a week.
Lemon balm is easily ingested in tea. It has been consistently observed to be helpful for anxiety, inflammation, gastrointestinal distress, immune system support, and menstrual cramp relief, cognitive functions, and heart health.

3. Oregano

The process of growing oregano is similar to that of basil. You should take fresh oregano cuttings in water and pinch the growing tips as it grows. It has various health benefits which come as a result of its antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antioxidant properties.

4. Peppermint

This is probably the easiest herb you can grow indoors. All you should do is place some fresh peppermint cuttings in water. You can use it in your salads and desserts. It will soothe bowel syndrome and reduce the stress levels. Moreover, you will be protected from spiders and mice as they don’t like the smell.
Graphic: peppermint, spearmint, marjoram, sage, and thyme  ---->

5. Spearmint

This herb requires the same growing process as peppermint. It is extremely beneficial for post-menopausal women and can balance sex hormones. 

6.  Marjoram

Marjoram attracts butterflies so it is a great addition to gardens. Start it inside and transplant this one! It is known to improve digestive function & heart health. Marjoram is an anti-inflammatory and mood lifter. Culinary uses: great in soups, roasted vegetables, roasted meats, marinades

7. Sage

You can grow your own sage indoors by taking a few sprigs in the spring from an outdoor plant and placing them in shallow water. Make sure you don’t let the leaves touch the water. This amazing herb will help you with anxiety, and it will improve the memory.


8. Thyme


You should take cuttings in the mid-spring or early summer before the parent plants flowers. Keep it moist to prevent drying out. This herb is beneficial as it can lower blood pressure, prevent tooth decay, and cause cancer cell death.

9. Tarragon

Grow tarragon by taking spring cuttings after fresh growth appears. You should place it on a warm and bright spot. Tarragon is packed with antibacterial properties and it can regulate blood sugar levels and treat metabolic syndrome.


10. Rosemary


Its thick stems will take a while to grow roots and should be placed in a sunny spot. You can use it in soups, as a garnish or meat rub. It can improve the brain health, boost memory, and promote hair growth.