I am not much for wearing makeup. I can count on one hand how many times I wear it in a year’s time. Mostly this is because I just don’t care for the feel of it on my face and also because the skin is a penetrable organ that can easily absorb any chemicals we put on it. Makeup is generally pretty nasty stuff, hence my reluctance to wear it. I am also so used to not wearing any that I cannot get over how “clownish” I appear to myself when I do.

My resolution for 2012 to have more fun has meant going out more though… to places that require something other than a ripped Guns N Rose tee and perhaps a smidgen of makeup. When I went to Detroit for the Ford NAIAS a few weeks ago I had to dress business casual and I opted to wear a bit of makeup. Also this past Halloween my daughter dressed as Cleopatra and wanted to wear some makeup. For both occasions I decided to use Emani Minerals Makeup, which was sent to me to review last year.

Overall, I have been pleased with Emani makeup. It took awhile to get used to seeing myself wear makeup but other family members seemed to like it. I got tons of kisses from my 6 year old son when I wore it! LOL. My daughter told me I looked like Lady Gaga which almost made me turn tail and wash it off the after my first test run but I had to remember she may not remember me ever wearing makeup before. She was the real tester though since all other kinds of makeup make her break out in a rash. The poor child looks miserable if she she dares to play in her friend’s or grandmother’s makeup. When she wore Emani Minerals on Halloween (blush and gloss) her skin did not react at all. Awesome!

Their products use certified organic ingredients from plant or flower extracts in their formulations and they combine these extracts with key ingredients such as mica, titanium dioxide and iron oxides. They are paraben free, vegan, and gluten friendly too. Compared to mainstream makeup you will find at the drug store these are much, much better. The majority of the Emani products I saw on the the Skin Deep database rated at a 1 or 2 so they rank pretty safe there.

Now I just have to get used to the site of myself wearing makeup!

Many thanks to Emani Minerals for sending me some of their products to review.

Cleaning the kitchen is one of those things that I know needs to be broken down into daily tasks but an actual plan of action seems to elude me. I always seem to get the bare minimum done… aka cleaning the counters so I can prepare the day’s meals or loading/unloading the dishwasher so we have clean dishes to eat off of. But cleaning the spray off the backsplash and stove, wiping down the walls, or cleaning up stray peas underneath the kitchen table… forget it! This year I totally planned to hire someone to clean the kitchen for me 2-3 times a month but contributing to our retirement accounts before the deadline has taken precedence. It’s always something. Even though I LOVE the idea of having outside help, and I DO hire someone a couple times a year, I really struggle with forking over money for something I can do myself.

So I decided to sit down and write out a 30 day plan to see if I can tackle this once and for all. We shall see how it goes. I figure each item should only take 10-15 minutes tops and it will hopefully help me stay on top of the kitchen so it never gets so bad I decide that takeout sounds like the best option. I plan to hang this on the fridge and check things off each day after the relevant task is accomplished. I have my bottle of vinegar, castile soap, and tea tree oil at the ready.

Assuming that I can make the time to wipe down counters, do the dishes, and take a broom to the floor daily here are my 30 day tasks…

1. Wipe down all appliances (stove, fridge, Vita-Mix, ect. )
2. Wipe down and de-grease cabinets
3. Mop floor
4. Wipe down and de-grease the backsplash
5. Deep clean and shine sink
6. Clean the trash can inside and out
7. Clean drawers and declutter counters
8. Mop Floor
9. Wipe down all walls and baseboards
10. Clean out the fridge/freezer
11. Wipe down all appliances (stove, fridge, Vita-Mix, ect. )
12. Clean under the fridge and stove
13. Mop floor
14. Deep clean and shine sink
15. Wipe down and de-grease cabinets
16. Clean windows and sills
17. Clean out the pantry
18. Mop floor
19. Wipe down all appliances (stove, fridge, Vita-Mix, ect. )
20. Deep clean and shine sink
21. Deep clean stove
22. Wipe down interior of cabinets and pantry
23. Mop floor, wipe down and de-grease the backsplash
24. Wipe down all walls and baseboards
25. Dust light fixtures and vent covers
26. Wipe down all appliances (stove, fridge, Vita-Mix, ect. )
27. Deep clean and shine sink
28. Mop floor
29. Organize pots and pans
30. Wipe down and de-grease the backsplash

Do you have any advice or tips to offer?

Most people think of ginger as the spice that is used in baked goods or Asian soups for it’s wonderful almost woodsy flavor. But, people in other countries have not only used ginger as a spice in their food for centuries, but for its medicinal benefits as well. While some of the health benefits of ginger are well known throughout the world new benefits of this incredible spice is being discovered all of the time. Here are some of the health benefits and uses of ginger.

Ginger Tea For A Variety Of Ills

Ginger is a wonderful digestive aid and tea made with ginger is used to help digestion, ease menstrual cramps, and soothe stomach upset. Drinking a cup of ginger tea before going on a car trip can help prevent or ease motion sickness. Because ginger tea aids digestion scientists now think that it may actually aid in weight loss which makes sense since ginger is what is known as warm spice and may increase metabolism which aids in weight loss.

Inflammation And Pain Relief

Ginger also contains properties that make it helpful in reducing both inflammation and pain. People suffering from arthritis who eat food seasoned with ginger and drink ginger tea report a reduction in both joint pain and inflammation. This is important because it decreases their dependence on subscription and Over the counter drugs which often have negative side effects.

Studies also suggest that ginger can help prevent kidney damage for people who diabetes. This is extremely good news because this means that diabetics may well live longer healthier lives.

Ginger Fights Cancer

In studies done at the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota it has been proven that ginger may well prevent or slow certain types of cancer. The University of Michigan study showed that when ginger powder was applied to ovarian cancer cells they induced the cells to die. While more studies need to be done this is good news for cancer researches and may help to reduce the incidents of ovarian cancer in our lifetime.

The study at the University of Minnesota was just as promising. This study showed that ginger could actually slow the growth of colon cancer. Again more studies need to be undertaken in this area, but further studies may find that the right amount ginger may well kill colon cancer cells as well. In addition, earlier studies suggest that colon cancer may have it’s start in poor digestion and since ginger aids digestion it just may help not only treat colon cancer, but prevent it as well.

Who could have guessed that that simple spice sitting in your kitchen cabinet could be so good for your health or have so many benefits. Maybe it’s time you took a new look at what ginger can do for you.

Suggested Reading: Ginger: Common Spice and Wonder Drug

When bringing home a new baby, parents want to create a warm, loving and safe home where their child can grow and flourish. One way that new parents can help ensure the safety of their precious little ones is by choosing environmentally friendly products, which are free of toxins and hazardous substances. Bringing a new baby home can be a powerful motivator to go green and natural.

Many parents decide to seek the greenest products they can find for their baby and look for organic cotton baby clothing, foods, and bathing supplies, since their baby is in such close contact with those products. And while that is an excellent starting point, parents who want to provide their baby the safest nursery possible are also choosing eco friendly baby furnishings and gear.

New trends in eco friendly baby furnishings include organic cotton bedding sets and mattresses made of natural fibers and free of toxins. Considering how many hours new babies spend sleeping, furnishing baby’s nursery with an environmentally safe crib and bedding is a logical choice. If a family bed is where baby will be sleeping then everyone benefits from sleeping on safe green sheets and blankets. When choosing the color palate for baby’s nursery, more parents are also opting for paints with low (or no) volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to avoid harmful paint fumes.

The availability of an increasing number of eco friendly baby gear items also reflects that parents are becoming more aware of the benefits of providing baby with green baby products. Whether it is organic fiber baby carriers, organic cotton shopping cart covers, or smartly designed eco friendly strollers, parents can offer their babies the benefits of having all the environmentally safe comforts of home even while traveling. If you can’t afford the often times pricier premiums on greener products it is perfectly acceptable, and planet friendly, to buy used.

Even stylish baby accessories are going green–Moms love slinging hip organic fiber baby bags over their shoulders! Eco friendly toys, such as teethers, rattles, blocks, puzzles and bath toys are being made with organic and/or natural materials and are free of harmful chemicals.

Parents who choose organic baby bedding, strollers, clothing, and other eco friendly baby gear, enjoy greater peace of mind that their baby is nestled in comforting and safe surroundings right from the very beginning.

January ‘s Conscious Box arrived this week. The theme is “Renew Your Intentions”. I guess it is fitting that so many of the products seek to provide help with health and wellness goals since that is usually tops on our list! I enjoyed this box but have to admit that several things in it did not interest me.

Here is what it contained:

Raw Rev 100 Chocolate & Coconut Bar – This was the first thing to be touched in the box and it was divine. It is raw, vegan gluten free and dairy free. It’s made up of fruit, seeds, nuts, and cocoa so it is grain free and acceptable in this paleo household. Yum is an understatement!

Sacred Chocolate Mylk – The tiny package had a single candy heart in it but it was enough to elicit a moan of pleasure. It was creamy smooth like silk and really delicious. 100% organic and 60% cacao. I am not sure if you can buy these at Whole Foods but next time I am in there I will be hunting for them. I only want or eat chocolate once a month so these would be nice to have around so I don’t go bizerk and try to buy a Nestle bar.

Green Tara Spirulina Energy Bites – Sadly I did not like the taste of these at all. The ingredient list is organic bananas, organic sesame seeds, organic coconut, organic dates, and spirulina. So why did these taste like a bar of nasty soap? Ew!

But I do like the idea of eating more spirulina so I plan to save these and throw them in green smoothies.

Think Thin Crunch Bar – Can’t comment on this one as it did not pass the ingredient test and will be chucked or donated (since I have some other food to donate). It has soy protein isolate in it, as well as peanuts, which we are trying to avoid.

Parma Vegan Parmesan – I haven’t tried this yet but I think I will add it to a salad later this week. I have no issues with regular parmesan cheese but the ingredients aren’t bad in this alternative. It is gluten free, soy free, and dairy free. Ingredients: raw organic walnuts, nutritional yeast, organic pumpkin seeds, organic sunflower seeds, kelp, organic garlic, organic hemp seeds, organic sesame seeds, Himalayan crystal salt, & organic herbs.

Kelapo Virgin Coconut Oil – Organic, cold processed, and fair trade. This is good stuff and we use coconut oil quite often around these parts.

Guayaki Yerba  Chai Spice Mate  - Herba Mate, tea… it’s all the same to me. I did brew one of these and it was okay but why drink something unless you really like it? That is the way I feel about tea and coffee. I only like them if I add lots of cream and honey, so why bother?

Ancient Treasures Tea – See above. I am giving all teas to my husband.

Golden Earth Perfume – These perfumes are made of 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils and are infused with crystals. The Euphoria blend, which is what I got, is rose, jasmine, and agate crystal. No synthetic fragrances. Since I am not big on perfume and especially not jasmine, I gave this to my daughter who is happy as a clam with smelly stuff. I do love the concept of their perfume though!

Eco-Dent Tooth Powder - Very foamy and efficient tooth powder though not great tasting but what tooth powder is? None that I have tried. There was also some Eco-Dent gum. I am not a gum person so I will likely give it to my kids.

Ancient Minerals Magnesium oil and Magnesium Gel – I squealed in delight when I saw these. I love Ancient Minerals Magnesium products. Magnesium is so important for staying healthy and yet supplements are not absorbed well. Topical magnesium is much better and I was all out of the oil, which I prefer over the gel.

CleanWell Hand Sanitizer – I like the company and I like the product but I am just not a big user of hand sanitizer. This will likely be donated to the local homeless shelter.

Jo-Sha Eucalyptus Wipe – This product did not thrill me either for the same reason. I suppose an essential oil wipe could be used to clean off gym equipment or dirty hands but so can soap and water. Stuff like this is just not practical in my life when there are easier and cheaper solutions.

I hope there is lots of chocolate in February’s box!