Foods That Fight Stress

Walnuts
Usefulness: Lowers Blood Pressure

Oatmeal
Usefulness: Promotes Steady Serotonin Production

Salmon
Usefulness: Suppresses Adrenaline Production

Spinach
Usefulness: Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in my cake?

I made an Angel Food Cake today only to learn it wasn't so angelic. I thought a strawberry shortcake would be a light refreshing dessert to serve for a birthday we were celebrating. I was running a little short on time and decided to use a mix I had in my food storage. As I looked at the ingredient list as I was ready to throw the package away I noticed there was a whipping aid and in parentheses it said (sodium laurel sulfate). What?!!! Seriously!
That is an ingredient I have been trying to avoid in my soap and shampoo and I found it in a cake mix. I just about cried, but I am glad for what I learned. I am going to just make things from scratch as much as possible from now on so I know what is in my food and I am also going to be more diligent about knowing the ingredient list on other foods and if there is something I don't know what it is, to find out. It is not worth the risk because a big company is trying to cut costs, or make their product more appealing.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate

This inexpensive detergent is commonly used in cosmetic cleansers, hair shampoos, bath and shower gels, bubble baths, etc. - It is probably the most dangerous ingredient used in skin and hair-care products. In the cleaning industry SLS is used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, car-wash soaps, etc. It is very corrosive and readily attacks greasy surfaces.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is used throughout the world for clinical testing as a primary skin irritant. Laboratories use it to irritate skin on test animals and humans so that they may then test healing agents to see how effective they are on the irritated skin.

A study at the University of Georgia Medical College, indicated that SLS penetrated into the eyes as well as brain, heart, liver, etc., and showed long-term retention in the tissues. The study also indicated that SLS penetrated young children's eyes and prevented them from developing properly and caused cataracts to develop In adults.

May cause hair loss by attacking the follicle. Classified as a drug in bubble baths because it eats away skin protection and causes rashes and infection to occur.

Is potentially harmful to skin and hair. Cleans by corrosion. Dries skin by stripping the protective lipids from the surface so it can't effectively regulate moisture.

Another extremely serious problem is the connection of SLS with nitrate contamination. SLS reacts with many types of ingredients used in skin products and forms nitrosomines (nitrates). Nitrates are potential cancer-causing carcinogenics.

Because of the alarming penetrating power of SLS, large amounts of these known carcinogens are absorbed through the skin into the body. A variation of SLS is SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate- SLES). It exhibits many of the same characteristics and is a higher-foaming variation of SLS.

Seasonal Spring Foods

I have been up planning my menus and came across this great article about what foods are seasonal for spring.

Asparagus. This is actually a perennial so it may be one of the first green shoots to come from the ground.

Radishes. The leaves are also edible and make a great saute.

Spinach. A cold-weather lover, spinach is great in fall and spring. You can use the baby thinnings in salads and the larger bunches for sauteing or adding to soups.

Eggs & Milk. A lot of people don't know that animal products also have a season where they are either more nutrient-dense or more available. Once the longer days of spring roll around hens start producing more eggs. Spring is also a great time to get your hands on some local dairy as the rapidly-growing spring grass makes for fresh milk with a very high vitamin content.

Green Onions. Also known as scallions or green onions. They are milder than the bulb onion and so are also delicious raw in salads.

Beets. The early wonder variety is a great way to grow fresh beets in a month or two. These ... vegetables [have an] earthy sweetness.

Hardy Greens. If you or your farmer have overwintered things like kale or collards, which are tolerant to cold, then you might be able to get your hands on some early greens.

Peas. Shelling peas, sugar snap peas, and snow peas are all fond of the cool early spring weather. They are best eaten as soon after picking as possible as their sweetness tends to turn starchy after a few days.

Lettuce. And of course, the cold-loving lettuce is a mainstay in spring, making lots of fresh salads not only available, but incredibly enjoyable after those long, dark months of winter.

The newness of spring is upon us, so plant some seeds, buy some greens, and enjoy all that this season has to offer!

natural easter egg dyes

photo: One Charming Party


Hooray! I was just going to google how to dye easter eggs naturally for an activity days activity and my friends over at One Charming Party just posted directions for RealSimple online.

Thank you.

I think I am going to also try to dye some with beets--those hot pink smoothies have inspired me.

Some fun things to do for Spring Break

• Visit the library or attend a library activity
• Go roller skating or ice skating
• Visit the zoo
• Paint a picture, mural or a room together
• Create a sculpture together
• Make jewelry
• Have a home manicure together
• Play in the park
• Plan a picnic or barbecue
• Go bird watching
• Go swimming
• Jump rope
• Make a friendship bracelet
• Make cookies, bread or make homemade jam
• Plant a flower, vegetable or herb garden.
• Plan a late night party with friends
• Go to a museum
• Build a fort and sleep in it
• Play soccer or throw a Frisbee
• Take a dog or your neighbors dog for a walk
• Invite neighborhood kids to play kickball
• Play board games
• Go on a hike
• Play hide-and-go-seek
• Ride bikes together
• Build sandcastles
• Rent a DVD and make popcorn
• Do puzzles together
• Scrapbook
• Play music together
• Make homemade play-dough
• Make homemade pizzas.
• Make popsicles
• Blow bubbles
• Visit family
• Write letters to family
• Try a new smoothie
• Do something new to decorate a room
• Play freeze tag
• Create a treasure hunt leaving clues around the house or yard
• Play chess
• Fly kites
• Volunteer
• Roast marshmallows
• Produce a play to perform for family members
• Take pictures of nature together
• Make puppets and have a puppet show
• Go camping
• Play dress up
• Play nerf football
• Tell jokes
• Build paper airplanes and have a flying contest.
• Play memory with cards
• Paper Mache
• Have a "tea" or a "T" party made with things from a letter in the alphabet
• Do something to serve your neighbors together
• Write a children's story together

These ideas came from my daugher's school newsletter for TV free week and zenhabits

almonds and almond joy

Almond Joy Fudge by Green Smoothie Girl

2 cups raw, organic agave
2 cups organic, extra virgin coconut oil

If your coconut oil is solid, place its container in a sink of hot tap water to melt it first. Then put both ingredients in BlendTec and add:

1 cup raw powdered chocolate (or unsweetened cocoa)

Blend well, then pour mixture into a bowl and stir in:

2 cups shredded coconut
2 cups chopped almonds

Pour the mixture into a 9×13 pan, chill 2 hours, and cut into squares to serve.

Maple Cinnamon Candied Nuts by Gluten-Free Desi

1 C chopped nuts, any nut will do
1/4 C maple syrup
pinch of salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon

1. Toast the chopped nuts in a large cast iron pan.
2. Once the nuts are fragrant and nicely toasted add the maple syrup, salt, and cinnamon
3. Toss the nuts to coat and continue to cook them until most of the maple syrup is cooked into the nuts, about 1 minute.
4. Spread out on parchment paper to let cool. Make sure you spread them out because they stick together. If they do stick together just break them apart once they are cool.
5. Get creative how to incorporate these into your holiday cooking and baking

fresh wheat

rachel's wheat grinder.

this is what inspired me to scour craig's list until i found my own stone grinding wheat machine.

yes it's heavy.

yes it's big.

and i love it.


thank you rachel for introducing me to the world of freshly ground grains.

here is an article of interest on word of wisdom living: "flour and the hundred year wars."

in my research on grinding your own wheat--it is good for 72 hours. . .just a thought:).

artifical food dyes

I've been reading about the dangers of artificial colors for several months. . .

You know, when England decides to ban then for children and infants. . . it might just be something we want to think about.

Here is a recent article on natural news.