justagurrl's Friends

allergy:
I've looked and looked for information on this, unfortunately due to the fact that it's common in kids, 99.9 percent of the webpages out there are all about babies which is rather irrelevant to an adult.

Anyway, I'm allergic to Soy milk (not fatally, it just makes me very very sick) but I've noticed a curious thing, I'm fine with solid forms of Soy like TVP in vegetarian dishes. Would anyone have any ideas as to why Soy milk makes me miserable but I can eat Soy TVP and be fine?

Hot Flash Help
Anything that's worked for you for controlling hot flashes? Black cohosh did the trick for awhile, but that's no longer cutting it. After doing some research I see that black cohosh isn't effective long term anyway and could be harmful to the liver.

BodyTalk
Does anyone have any experiences with BodyTalk? It's marketed as a holistic healing therapy, and I'm pretty fascinated by it, but I don't want to shell out any $$ until I've heard some real-life reviews...

Bar Soap Recs
I have been using the bar soap Out of Africa that is over 40% Shea Butter but it's really drying to my skin--even in the summer months. So I'm looking for recommendations for a soap that must:

1) be a bar soap
2) be bought at Trader Joes or Whole Foods
3) be super moisturizing

Thank you!

Reader's Digest Homemade
I just made a post on my own journal about the Reader's Digest Homemade book I just got. I've got a couple questions on it from people who have the book and tried things from it. I saw the book mentioned in the comments of another post as being really useful. It turned out to be the kind of book I've been hunting for, and I bought it. I think it looks like a marvelous book and has all sorts of things that I'd like to try, but I'm not sure how well everything works.

How are the recipes themselves? Do they taste good or are they mediocre and need experimenting with?
How are the household/personal items? Do they work well or is it better to get some things than make them out of the books? Or does it depend on circumstances?
If you didn't like the book that much, can you say why? I'm just interested in getting a full spectrum of information, and I wholly understand why people would not like that half of it's cook book.

I just really like the book, and I have plans to use it to pieces--literally. I tried to check through the memories, but I didn't see anything.

Current Mood: cold
Current Music: Dancing in Circles ~Love and Theft

bringing in bugs?
I like to buy things off of Craigslist and get things off of Freecycle but I'm a bit worried about bringing in bugs. I really, really can't afford a bug infestation and, until now, have only gotten things that are easily treated or washed before being allowed in the house (closed in a plastic bag before hand, like clothes). I am looking for a little comfy chair for my nephew who lives with me and was wondering about how to make sure bugs don't get into my home. I really like the idea of buying used and reusing things but...yeah. I can't afford a bug infestation.

I'm sorry if i sound kind of paranoid. We had a roach infestation at my job (DV Shelter) because of a radio someone brought in a few years ago. We now close up all electronics in a plastic bag, spray bug spray into it, seal it and leave it in our cellar for 48 hours before allowing it up to people's rooms. I REALLY...can't afford a bug infestation at home (esp. bed bugs or fleas because of kidlet and cats...)

ETA: The chair is a soft chair without any hard pieces to it and a removable washable cover that is just plush fabric. I'm concerned that bugs may be able to get into the interior of the chair.

Kava Tea Questions
Does anyone drink Kava tea? Is it really as dangerous as the Internet makes it out to be?

'Poo Alternatives
I've been no-poo since November and I'm mostly happy. Every third or fourth day, I wash my hair with a baking soda mix. In between, I do hair rinses (I'm actually prepping a fresh chamomile one right now, but normally I stick with apple cider vinegar and rosemary rinses). If I'm feeling extra special, I make myself some homemade conditioning (like honey and oil).

My only problem is that I hate how my hair feels right after the baking soda wash. It seems very harsh. I only wash after there's a build up of oil (short hair shows it) and afterward, my hair isn't exactly happy. I've tried to find alternatives to baking soda online, but they mostly call for baby shampoo or castile soap or soap flakes and that's what I'm trying to move away from.

Any suggestions for making no 'poo less harsh on my poor head?

Going off Hormonal Birth Control
Hello. I have been on the Nuva Ring (birth control) for 5+ years and am planning on going off of it later this month. It's going to be a huge change for me, but it really bothers me to be loading my body with all those hormones. I've ordered "Taking Charge of your Fertility" to use as a guide and plan on using backup protection until I have learned more. Has anyone been through this? Any advice? Thanks so much.

Giving a whole new meaning to "Touring Artist"
I can't say I check my local 'zines regularly, but I was bored at work and checked one of my favorites to find an article about a cellist who tours entirely by bike! He does respond to Facebook messages if you want to grill him with questions (I know I did) and I learned about a really cool cause that helps both people and the earth. :D

I missed out on seeing him when he was in my 'hood, but I hope he comes back!

Vitamin combinations versus a multi-vitamin
Hi guys,
I've browsed the entries with the vitamin tag and haven't found anything that really makes it clear for me.

I've read that the main critique of multi-vitamins is problems with absorption, as some vitamins can inhibit the absorption of others. So it seems logical to take separate vitamin complexes at different times of day instead of a single multi-vitamin pill. However, I only know of the B-Complex and Calcium-D-Magnesium combinations that are sold as such. Does anybody know any other complexes that combined, could provide the same intake as a multi-vitamin/multi-mineral?

Also, I am wondering about the need to take vitamins in the first place. Technically, a healthy, balanced and varied diet is supposed to provide us with everything we need. But what concerns me ( more... )

Swiffer Hack
For those who maybe like the convenience of the swiffer, there is this swiffer bottle hack. I personally love how minimal is is compared to a mop. Easy to whip out.

My mom does something similar, but mostly because she is penny pincher ninja. Old washcloths are a good replacement for the disposable pads. It's not strictly natural, but it is a nice step for someone looking to reuse more. The whole Instructables website is pretty fantastic.

More "natural" brands of pads?
( Blah blah blah stuff about better disposable pads blah blah )
Also - I have issues with anxiety and social anxiety, and want to try meditation to help with that. I lost the brochures I got from when I used to go to a therapist :( Does anyone have any recommendations for some great meditation websites for beginners?

Sourdough starter
My sourdough starter has fermented (and is making hooch, presumably...) but has not expanded and is not bubbly. Is it "good?" Or should I try again? I've never made it before...

Kombucha questions
Yesterday I went to Whole Foods and picked something up I'd heard about but hadn't tried yet. Kombucha.
I wanted to ask all of you a couple of questions. Do you make it yourself or buy it? If you buy it, what do you buy? How do you drink it?
I picked up a 16 oz. bottle of GT's Organic Raw Kombucha, Citrus flavor. I started drinking it and got about a quarter of the way thought the bottle before deciding to take a little break. I then added water and filled it back up. That seems to have cut it just enough for me because I've almost finished the bottle in almost the time I drank that little bit.
So I'm just looking forward to getting people's opinions and feelings for this interesting drink. I'm probably going to keep drinking it when I can afford it. I can see myself making it when we have our own place and the space to do it. Even my husband took a drink and didn't shudder at it, which impressed me. He looks at me strangely for all the green things I do.

Current Mood: curious

Vitamin Brands
I was looking through the memories but I didn't see a post like this. There are several posts on types of vitamins that people take but not on specific brands or places to buy from (I'm in the US). I need to start taking a probiotic, B12 supplement, omega 3-6-9 and iron supplement. So I was wondering what brands people really like for these types of vitamins. I would prefer for the omega vitamin to not have fish oils because those make me gassy and with IBS that is not pleasant. Are there good omega vitamins that get the fatty acids from the algae themselves?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Cat dandruff problem
Hello you resourceful ones, I have a slight issue with both of my cats, and the one in the picture more than the other. They have quite the dandruff problem and the little one in the picture is very itchy and keeps twitching. Do you guys know of anything that may solve some of the dandruff or the itching for the black and white one? I'm going to be calling the vet on Monday to see what they suggest/take him in but he's freaking out with the itching and I'm having to scratch his back every like 5-10 minutes to make it go away for him.

Thanks

Diatomaceous earth
Has anyone bought diatomaceous earth online? Looking for a reliable place to buy it from, so recommendations would be great.

A friend of mine is having a bedbug problem, and it was recommended to her as a natural way to handle them. We can't find any place locally, so...

Homemade humidifiers
I am wondering if anyone has any good, easy and effective methods of making their own humidifiers at home. It is chilly in the NorthEast US and this means the heat is on more often at home(at school my classeoom is VERY dry ALL the time so need help there too). My apt is becoming very dry in some areas, it is starting to affect my health and items in the apt this year and looking on ideas on how to help.

The bathroom is easy enough if I close the door after I shower, and the kitchen if I am home often have a pot of hot tea or soup brewing that puts some humidity into the air. My bedrooms and living/dining rooms on the other hand I need some extra help in, this is where things are drying out the most(and I don't just mean me).

I have gas heat, it comes out at floor level vents. I went back to putting mason jars full of water in front of them for the worst 2 rooms(I even added clove so get a little scent in there too) but that only helps when the heat is on. I would rather not have to run the heat or stove to get the extra moisture into the air.

Does anyone have any tried and effective ideas to help?? Thanks :)

Holey socks and cotton bras
Hi all~

I need to get rid of a bunch of holey socks and stretched out cotton sport bras. Most of the suggestions I found through search engines include what to do with socks that are intact. I found a person on Etsy that makes cat toys out of socks, so I was gonna ask if she wants mine... Cotton takes a while to biodegrade, so what should I do with them? Thanks^^.

Current Music: Soft Ballet

cloth pads - Etsy recs?
Hi all. I was thinking about trying cloth menstrual pads. Any recommendations on etsy sellers? I was overwhelmed by the amount of sellers/cloth pads on etsy that I have no idea how to even begin picking some. Thanks!!

EDIT: THANKS FOR ALL THE RECS EVERYONE! I think I'll order one pad from several sellers tonight and see which one I like best! =)

Wondering if anybody has any suggestions on a mattress that isn't going to cause cancer down the road and is still comfortable to sleep on?? Is foam even a possibility? I highly doubt it, but just curious. I notice there are quite a few that claim to be 'natural' and environmentally friendly, but I know it doesn't take much for companies to be able to use the "green" stamp on their products.

I was wondering if anyone knew the correct type of vitamin C that works with your body the best. I have used cherry acerola powder but lists another ingredient maltodextrin. Is that bad and should I avoid it? I have heard of it before but it's not completely ringing a bell. I finished off the bag and was thinking of repurchasing. Other powders on the site I am looking at has silicon dioxide as an added ingredient for some also.

Interesting link I found- how to make your own container garden (ideal if you only have a small garden!)

http://couponing.about.com/od/outdoor/a/growagarden.htm

:)

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