How to Clean Your Yoga Mat

If you are like me...your yoga mat stinks.  Like really stinks.

You can buy those fancy, schmancy mat cleaners filled with chemicals and unnecessary ingredients.  

OR you can do it the homegrown way...

In a small spray bottle, combine the following:

• 1 part vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• 1 part water
• A few drops of essential oils (tea tree oil is a anti-fungal that works well!)

That's it.  So next time you reach for something in the pretty package take a second to think: "Can I make this?"  The answer is probably...YES!

Here is a great article about mat care and cleaning.

Namaste yogis!

it's all about the tincture.

this nasty flu season has brought attention back to the importance of our immune system. while eating whole, nutrient rich fruits and veggies is priority #1, it can also be super helpful to add supplemental boosts to our body's defense.

and that is why it's all about the tincture...

per a friends recommendation, i have started taking boulder's own wishgarden herb's "kick-ass immune activator". and am now a total believer (and addict for this stuff!). it is an intense tincture of immunity strengthening herbs in droplet form. you can purchase it at any natural food store in (and probably out of) colorado. plus you feel so cool saying you take a tincture...just sounds homegrown doesn't it?

stay well and happy weekend!

homemade deodorant.

By now you have probably heard how scary deodorant has become.  Full of chemicals, carcinogens, and aluminum linked to Alzheimer's.  So why not make your own?  It's easy, inexpensive and safe for your body and mind.

mix.
6 tablespoons of coconut oil (raw unfiltered is best)
1/4 cup of arrowroot or cornstarch
1/4 cup of baking soda
a few drops of your favorite essential oil

* I like lavender oil mixed with grapefruit oil

This is a great antiperspirant as well.  Happy Monday!

homeopathic remedies: stroke prevention and acid reflux.

Yesterday on my flight from Hong Kong I sat next to a wonderful man from India.  He was one of those people who exuded peace, patience, and kindness.  The type of person that makes you reflect on your own actions and attitudes.  

He told me about growing up in a small town in India and how his parents believed in an Ayurvedic way of living and in homeopathic healing.  He swore by the following two remedies, one for acid reflux and one for stroke prevention and heart health.

To eliminate heart burn:

In the mornings, fry one spoonful of cumin seeds and one spoonful of cilantro seeds until they are light brown to medium brown.  Make a powder out of it and put a touch of salt for taste.  Mix it up with a little rice to form a little rice ball and eat two every morning.

eat everyday if possible.

*If you can’t get to a stove when traveling, etc. take Carbo Veg- 30x available at natural grocers.  It is homeopathic medicine that is to be take 30 mins before or after eating.  

Also- you should never drink water while you eat.  Wait 30 mins after you eat and stop drinking water 30 mins before you eat.  Also drink room temp water.

For stroke prevention and heart health:

boil.

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1c ginger juice

1c garlic juice

1c lemon juice

Boil all together until it condenses to 3 cups then add 1 cup of honey.

one tablespoon each day.

Ayurvedic and homeopathic medicine is aimed at fixing the issue of the problem naturally, instead of putting a "band-aid" on the symptom.  It is the oldest medical system in the world, and always a great first option when ailments arise.  Here's to our health!

free birth control starting today.

Starting today there will be no copay on IUDs, birth control and preventative treatments for numerous female related preventative medical expenses.  This great new legislation is brought to you by the Affordable Access to Preventative Care Act.  Of course there is some fine print so read this article to get up to date.  About darn time! 

http://jezebel.com/5928136/heres-how-to-score-your-copay+free-birth-control-coming-this-week-to-a-pharmacy-near-you?tag=pillbabypill

new take on an herb garden.

An herb garden for those chilly winter months. 

I love the idea of using recycled barn wood for the wall mount.

Simply beautiful.

Diy House Cleaning.

Full Circle Home Cleaning Products...yup I'm obsessed.

These cool DIY Cleaning Kits allow you to make your own natural and toxin-free cleaning solutions for a chemical free house.  The kit comes with a cleaning solution recipe book…different recipes designed for each dirty areas of the house.  The ingredients are things you already having lying around the house saving you a trip to the store annndd moula...

And the products are made with biodegradable and recycled materials.  Simply great.

How to eliminate plastic waste in your life...

From the documentary "bag it"'s website...

We ALL use way too much plastic.  Here are some great ways to decrease your plastic footprint!

A LIFE LESS PLASTIC

TEN ALTERNATIVES

1. Carry reusable shopping bags

Whether you're shopping for groceries, clothes or electronics, be sure to bring along the reusable bag(s) of your choice. Keep them in your car so you don't forget to use them. We recommend the Chico Bag — small enough to fit in your pocket or purse!

2. Give up bottled water

By drinking your water from a glass jar or a reusable bottle, you can help reduce the environmental costs associated with producing bottled water and save money while you're at it. Unlike bottle water, the quality of your tap water is regularly monitored by your city. Click here to learn more about your local tap water supply.

3. Say no to plastic produce bags

Bagging your produce is generally unnecessary. If you do want a separate bag for produce, cloth options are available. Some alternatives are EcoBags, Acme produce bags, or making your own from old t-shirts.

4. Buy from bulk bins

You can find almost all dry foods, as well as some personal care products, from bulk bins. If you can't find bulk bins in your neighborhood, you can still buy non-perishable goods in large size packages, which will decrease the amount of plastic used.

5. Make your own seltzer

When it comes to carbonated drinks, you can avoid high intakes of high fructose corn syrup AND the need for purchasing disposable bottles by making your own seltzer. We recommend adding a splash of juice to your homemade soda to create a delicious bubbly drink. Kids love it!

6. Pack food in reusable containers

Bring reusable containers to restaurants to take home your leftovers. Ask the butcher or deli server at your grocery store to package your food in your reusable container. Use them to pack your lunch, and don't forget to carry along reusable utensils. We love these containers from LunchBots and Life Without Plastic.

7. Choose milk in returnable glass bottles

Many communities have local dairies that provide milk in returnable glass bottles rather than plastic or plastic-coated cardboard. All cardboard milk containers are coated inside and out with plastic, not wax. Check out local dairies in your area to see if this is offered, or ask them to start a co-op.

8. Use bar soap and shampoo

Make the change from liquid to bar!

9. Choose lotions and lip balms in plastic-free containers
Organic Essence is packaging its body lotions in compostable cardboard jars and its lip balms in ingenious cardboard tubes that squeeze from the end. There are also lotion bars and lip balms and glosses that come in glass or metal containers. Or you can even make your own products.

10. Make sure your personal care products are phthalate-free

Phthalates, which are plasticizers, have become standard as additives to scented products because they help fragrances last longer. But research has shown reasons to be concerned about the impact of phthalates on our health . Use this list to find phthalates-free products.

Essential Oils

I am a total perfume abuser.  I am fully aware that I will be that stinky old lady that you sit next to on a plane that makes you choke due to the fact that she took a bath in perfume this morning.  I've accepted it.  But talking to a friend a while back made me realize how perfume, though seemingly harmless, contains chemicals and yucky stuff that you don't want on your skin, let alone absorbed into your blood stream.

So I've turned a new leaf...well the leaf is turned over about 80% of the time.  I picked up some essential oils- the real stuff not the synthetic kind- and have been using this as my perfume instead.  I put a few drops in my face lotion or on my neck and wrist.  A little goes a LONG way so make sure you use just a little or dilute it in a carrier oil or lotion.

The benefits are both physical and mental.  As your nose smells and your body absorbs the oil your brain will be stimulated, calmed, etc., depending on which essential oil you use.  Essential oils have also been used for centuries to cure an infinite list of ailments from sinusitis to nausea and everything in between.  Furthermore, you smell oh so good simply and naturally without traumatizing everyone around you.  Everybody wins:)

Scroll to the bottom of this web page for a list of ailments eased by essential oil use.
http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Many-Health-Benefits-of-Essential-Oils

Organic...it just makes sense

The other day a boy that I work with had an allergic reaction to a banana.  Having heard from other people that sometimes fruit allergies are from the pesticides that are sprayed on the fruit instead of the fruit itself I asked him if he ever ate organic bananas?  His response was..."What does organic mean?"  Coming from California; the land of organic obsessed, health-crazed hippies, I was really surprised by this question.  I briefly explained that organic was a term used for food that is grown without the use of any chemicals.  His response was, "Shouldn't all food be grown like that?"

Well, yes...yes, it should.  When you put it simply like that it is really a no-brainer.

Peppermint Oil As A Muscle Soother

A friend of mine recently told me about a natural remedy she uses for menstrual cramps.  She explained how rubbing essential peppermint oil on her abdomen relieved her cramping tremendously.  After doing some research I learned that peppermint oil has been used for muscle relaxation for centuries.  It can be used on aching arthritic joints and on sore muscles after exercise.  Remember to mix the oil with a carrier oil to dilute the potency before rubbing it on your abdomen and NEVER ingest the essential oil.  Next time consider this homeopathic remedy before popping the Advil!

A summer without TV…gasp!

I am so incredibly lucky to be spending the summer on a lake in Northern Wisconsin.  It is a beautiful place with walking trails through the woods, paddleboards, kayaks, and small sailboats at my disposal, and the ability to water-ski whenever I want.  Truly heaven.  The only thing this place doesn’t have is TV…

Now I am the type of person that can sit down to watch one show of The Real Housewives of NYC and 6 hours later be glued to the TV in the same spot never having gotten up once.  Once I start…I can’t stop.  I know what I am watching is all garbage, a waste of time, and against so many things I believe in but TV really can be as addicting as crack!  But the thing about TV is that when you don’t have it…you don’t miss it. 

Though it has only been a few days sans TV, I know this is a change that I will carry with me after the summer is over.  To relax I take a walk or bring a book out to the lake.  I have hours to do yoga instead of wasting hours watching shows that I swear make me more stupid.  It has been such a positive change so far that I am committed to go without internet and TV at my next apartment…think about the amount you can save each month without a Comcast bill!  It may seem a little wacky at first but I promise that you will get so much more out of your day when the TV is off.

Naturopathic Doctor

Per recommendation of a friend who is exactly in line with me regarding all things food, green, and health I decided to go to my annual doctor's appointment at SF Natural Medicine.  SF Natural Medicine is an amazing office in Potrero Hill that specializes in chiropractic and natural medicine.  Basically, they  treat all aliments through nutrition, homeopathic and botanical medicine, and physical medicine like chiropractic work acupuncture and massage.  Here are a list of the things I loved about my appointment!

• My 2.5 hour...yes 2.5 hour...appointment enabled me to go through my long list of questions and concerns regarding my body without feeling rushed out due to another patient waiting behind me.  We literally went head to toe and assessed all of my current issues/ questions.

• My wonderful doctor, Dr. Amy Day, treated my aliments through nutritional changes in my diet, which I am a firm believer in!  She was so knowledgeable about all things food and nutrition and knew what to change in my diet in order to easy any problems I was having.

• The people there weren't weirdos.  I think people perceive naturopathic doctors as "witch doctors" or crazy hippies.  It was completely to the contrary...everyone was so professional and knowledgeable that you felt like you were at a typical doctors office that happened to be extremely intimate, progressive and calming.

• She patiently explained everything she was doing.  Back to the "no rushing" thing...she slowly and clearly explained why she was doing what and understood that I had the right to know what was being done to and what was going on with my body.

• The idea of prescription drugs for the quick fix was no existent.  She wanted to cure any problems that I had by finding the root of the problem and stopping it naturally.

Overall it was a very positive experience.  We discussed diet issues, birth control, alcohol consumption and exercise as well as going through my annual gynecological appointment.   The only negative was the price...of course its not covered on my health insurance...boo...but I truly trusted Dr. Day more than any other doctor that I have been to in the past.

When finding a doctor it is crucial to find someone that you trust that has no other motivations than to help you achieve optimal health.  When your ideals and beliefs line up with your doctor regarding how your body should be treated you are able to get the most out of your doctor visits and learn new ways to stay healthy holistically and toxin free.

Rose Water and Rose Oil

My mom has the most beautiful and fragrant roses in her yard.   We have been using them for happy spring centerpieces and drying the rose petals for potpourri.  Recently I found some other great uses for them.

I'm reading a book right now that takes place in the 1700s in Europe and there is all of this talk about the queen always smelling like rose water...it sounded so delicious and regal that I decided to take it on myself!  Well "taking it on" makes it sound much more difficult than it actually is...if you can boil water you can make rose water.  The only tricky part is not getting pricked by the thorns of the rose plant which is by far my favorite feature of a rose...you have to work to get it.  Rightfully so for something that beautiful!

The process is simple...gather 1 cup of rose petals, bruise them and place them in a large glass bowl.  Then pour 1 pint of boiling water over the petals and let steep overnight in a covered container.  Voila!  It can be used as a toner or just as aromatherapy.  I just dip a cotton pad into in and wipe over my face.  It is supposed to help with dry skin and has anti-aging properties.

Rose oil is almost as easy.  I gathered a bunch of rose petals, orange blossoms (which smell so delicious!) and two mint leaves, bruised them and mixed in sweet almond oil (olive oil works too).  I let it sit over night and then filtered the oil, making sure to squeeze excess oil out of the petals.  It makes a wonderful essential oil to be used for perfume, aromatherapy, or whatever else you can think of!

I'll leave you with this last thought that I read the other day...
"When you sleep don't count sheep.  Count your blessings, then sleep."

Vacation Must Haves

Since my recent posts have been kind of intense I thought I would lighten it up with sharing some of my favorite things.  Just having returned from an amazing vacation in Maui (well technically I was working but it was a lot more vacationing than working), I decided to compile a list of my favorite summer/vacation products... hope this gets you excited for sweet summertime!


Jason Family Sunblock SPF 36
-Has that amazing Hawaiin Tropic sunscreen smell that makes me think of sunny California beaches.  Goes on great and stayed on through countless ocean and pool dips.















Alba Hawaiian Green Tea Sunscreen SPF 30
-perfection.  love this stuff.













Alba Un-Petroleum Plant-Powered Lip Care Tangerine SPF 18
-I don't know what goes on with my lips when I'm on vacation but I must have a weirdly protruding lower lip because it always gets horribly sunburnt! This stuff worked wonderfully and smelled and tasted yummy.

Alba Hawaiin Mango Moisturizing Conditioner
-Sunsets, sandy beaches and Mai Tais bottled up into a conditioner.

Alba Kona Coffee After Sun Lotion
-Sensing an Alba trend here?  I love this brand...safe and smells oh so good.
-I used this after sun lotion every day after my shower and smells as promised.  Definitely soothes a sunburn after laying out by the pool all day.







Aveda Be Curly
-There is really no point in fighting my crazy fro...I mean hair in the humid Hawaiin climate so I guess if you can't win 'em, join 'em.  This stuff is great for encouraging your natural wave.



and I can't forget my favorite water bottle...


The countdown till summer begins...

Get OFF the bottle..."Tapped" the movie

There is a new and amazing documentary out about the detrimental effects of the bottled water industry to our health and to our environment.  This movie is called Tapped and after watching this film once, I promise you will never pick up bottled water again.  If you think about the logic behind bottled water... well there is no logic behind bottled water.  These mega companies take water from our community water sources (aka where we get our tap water), bottle it, and sell it back to us for 1000%...yes i said 1000% more than its original cost.  So we are now paying for something that we have always had for virtually free... sounds pretty stupid on our part.

You may think that bottled water is healthier for you but that means one thing...the water companies' billions of dollars spent on marketing to you is working.  Tap water is constantly tested and the public water systems are required to tell consumers where their water comes from, how it is treated, and what contaminants it contains.  Bottled water doesn't have to tell us any of this.  Studies have found E. coli, synthetic organic chemicals, other bacteria, and ARSENIC in tested bottled water!  Not to mention the BPA and other cancer-causing toxins.  Bad for our budget and really bad for our health.

And bad for the environment.  So now we not only have started paying for something that we already get for free, but also have ruined our environment by doing so.  Americans use 29 billion single serve bottles of water a year.  That's Americans alone!  So not only is there a plastic mass 2x the size of Texas floating in the Pacific Ocean from all of this plastic waste but the creation of these billions of bottles are polluting the environment and making the people in the communities near these plants very sick.

So what do we do?

1)  Well we STOP drinking bottled water.  Those great re-usable stainless steel water bottles are so convenient and cute.  They will save you money, save the environment, and save your health.  Make sure to get ones that are BPA free though.

2)  Recycling is great but reducing your usage is better..  You can't recycle all of the bottle, it a costly operation, and it uses a ton of energy.  The real answer is to cut waaaayyyy back on your plastic usage.  Remember the saying reduce, re-use, recycle? Reduce and re-use first and then recycle everything else.


3)  Get a filter.  If you are worried about the quality of your tap water get a basic water filter to fit into your fridge.  Or better yet invest in a kitchen filtration system or whole house water filtration system.

Bottom line...Get OFF the BOTTLE!

What's in your deodorant???

Sometimes it seems like we can never win with this whole "natural and sustainable" thing.  You try your best to eat organic and then they tell you to eat organic and local.  You take the leap and become a vegetarian and then you are told that you should become a vegan.  You make a serious effort to bring re-useable bags to the grocery store just to find out that you should only use cloth re-useable bags.  You invest in a prius to help the environment and then are criticized about the harm of the batteries...you get the point.  It definitely seems like an uphill battle sometimes.  My goal of this blog is not to make anyone feel helpless or judged.  It is to inspire people to start making changes and to enable you to be informed about things that you deserve to know about and that you are not being told.


Unfortunately, right now as American consumers, we need to do our homework.  We spend countless time researching what kind of car to buy, gym to join, jeans that will make our butt look great... now its time to start researching what we are putting in and on our body.


So we all get why organic food is important but what about our skin care products?  Our skin is our largest organ and absorbs anything and everything that we rub into it.  We don't spend all of this effort eating chemical free food just to put a bunch of harmful chemicals into our body through our skin.  Its time to change our beauty products too.  Luckily the organic beauty product industry is becoming hugely popular and widely available.  Consumers are demanding organic products and companies are stepping up to the plate.  But buyer beware.  Just because something says natural or green...doesn't mean its organic!  Look for seals that say "100% organic", "organic" (95% of product's ingredients have to be organic), or "made with organic ingredients" (70% of product's ingredients have to be organic).  Labels can be tricky and deceiving so do your homework!  Whole Foods has a great beauty section and their staff is very helpful and knowledgeable about the products that they carry, so don't be afraid to ask for help!  We are all learning and you won't know unless you ask!  


In the SF mag article below one founder of an organic skin care line explains why she got into the organic skin care industry.  She was working at a big commercial skin care company was making their lotion when she accidentally spilled some of the chemicals on her table.  When she returned to clean up the chemicals she realized that the chemicals had eaten through her table!  


Whatever I'm putting on and in my body should not be able to eat through plastic within a matter of minutes...what do you think?


Some great articles on this info...


http://www.sanfranmag.com/story/saving-our-skin


http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/natural-beauty-cosmetics/natural-beauty-product-labels

Yummy beauty products...hold the parabens

Lately I have a serious problem with buying, making, and obsessing over all things bath and body.  Good news for you, bad news for my bank account.    Here are two products that I'm crazy about right now.  Both products are paraben-free and sulphate-free...scary things found in most beauty products that can cause cancer, reproductive issues, skin damage, and liver poisoning.  

The first one is Dessert Essence Organics Italian Red Grape Shampoo and Conditioner...mmmm smells like grape bubblicious and the scent stays in your hair for hours.

The second is Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser.  Seriously unbelievable stuff.  So creamy, smells amazing, and makes your skin glow!  They have tons of other flavors but this one is my favorite!

So much easier to enjoy your bath when you know you are doing right to your bod and the environment!

10 reasons to go vegetarian once a week...

I know to some of you meat eaters this may seems like an impossible feat, but going vegetarian at least once a week can have an amazing impact on your health as well as the environment. Here are 10 reasons to suck it up and pass on the meat just one little day a week. I promise it is easier than you think and you will feel so great you may make the switch for good!

1. Because we have no idea what those weird chemicals are doing to our bodies. 95% of the pesticides that we ingest are from meat and dairy. Always look for organic meats on the other days!

2. Decreases pollution and lessens your impact on global warming.


3. Meals are cheaper when they are meatless.

4. You can never eat enough veggies.

5. You will be saving a ton of water. 84,000 gallons a year!

6. Because E. coli and salmonella aren't that fun.

7. You will have an increase in energy.

8. You will lose weight and get a hot bod.

9. You will live longer. Vegetarian diets decrease your risk of heart disease and cancer.

10. Because animals are treated HORRIBLY in factory farms. They cut chickens' beaks off so they don't peck each other, pigs' tails off, and feed calves a formula filled with cow blood. Enough said. Watch "Food, Inc." or read "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and you will be sold.

And the list goes on...

Its a new year...why not start with this!

Make Your Holidays A Little Greener

The holidays are here and its definitely more of a challenge to be eco-friendly during this time of year. In the US, we produce around 25% more waste during the holidays. Therefore, now is important than ever to be aware and educated in the ways in which we can eliminate unnecessary waste. Here are some tips to reduce your waste this Christmas and make your holidays a little greener...

1) Make your own gift wrap. By getting a little creative you can save money and "green up" your holidays by not buying any gift wrap this year. There are countless alternatives to store-bought gift wrap. Using old fabric scraps is a great way to get rid of old fabric while wrapping presents in a fun and unique way. You can even add velcro to fabric to make a great re-usable gift wrap. Old newspapers and magazines are another great, green option for wrapping paper. I love the idea of putting a gift inside a gift. If you are giving a smaller gift why not put it in a cool basket, flower pot, or jar. And make sure to save the gift wrap that comes on your presents. Perfect to use for next year's gifts, Christmas cards, and Christmas decorations.

2) Give green gifts. Try to buy gifts that are not over-packaged. Books are always great, re-useable options. Avoid plastic toys. Instead look for sustainable materials such as wooden toys, cotton or wool toys, or toys made from recycled materials. Make your own baked goods, jams, soaps, or sewing projects. Not only green but so personal and really appreciated. Give gift cards or certificates. Concert tickets, spa services, and restaurant gift cards are all great options that limit holiday waste.

3) Avoid gifts that require batteries or include reusable batteries. Alkaline batteries, when discarded, produce toxins that are both extremely harmful to our health and to the environment.

4) Bring your own re-usable shopping bags. Its such an easy change to make that can really make a difference. Many people are bringing their own bags when they grocery shop now, which is GREAT, but make sure you bring your own bags for ALL shopping trips, including Christmas shopping. Leave your bags in the trunk of your car so you have them ready for any impromptu shopping. My mom introduced me to a great re-usable bag that wraps up in itself and fits into your purse so you always have one with you. Worst case, if you don't have a bag on you, hold your purchase in your hand. We are so used to getting bags for every little purchase, but often times don't even need them. Once you become conscious of this habit it becomes second nature and you will never use a plastic bag again!

5) Recycle your Christmas tree and lights. Although a potted tree that can be replanted after Christmas is the best option, there are ways to be environmental about a traditional "cut down" tree. Cities now offer tree recycling programs that turn Christmas trees into mulch used in playgrounds, hiking trails, landscaping, and gardening. Old burned-out Christmas lights can now be recycled too. Christmas Light Source Recycling Program will recycle the materials and donate the proceeds to a literacy program. Also, avoid artificial snow on your Christmas tree and use baking soda instead. Much better for the environment and for you to inhale.

6) Recycle old gadgets. Cell phones can be donated or recycles. Bring old toasters, microwaves, tvs, alarm clocks to thrift stores or shelters. They may be old to you but still valuable to many others.

7) Get off mailing lists. I was getting a million magazines and catalogs after ordering things online for work and was calling each company one by one which was such a pain! Finally someone told me there was a way to do it all at once. The DMA (Direct Marketing Association) website enables you to eliminate all of the mailings through one site. Click here for the steps to stop all the wasteful and annoying mailings.

There are a million and one ways to reduce waste be more eco-friendly this holiday season- pick the ones that fit best in your life. Personal green gifts will often save money too... a win-win for everyone! Have a safe, happy, and green holiday!