tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18440239109215547142024-03-05T09:42:16.339-08:00Pink Lady LifePink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-25798217710897883992014-02-02T20:34:00.003-08:002014-02-02T20:34:59.212-08:00I'm Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't posted in quite some time. But I'm back. And I'll continue to be.Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-86558421573129133152013-12-15T20:04:00.001-08:002013-12-15T20:04:13.238-08:00Birthday ChallengeIt's been a while since I've written a blog post. Life has gotten in the way, as it often does. Not that I haven't had ideas. But I have had problems with both motivation and execution.<br />
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But today seemed like a good day to start posting again. Today, I turned 44!<br />
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On a few fitness blogs I read, I've seen "birthday challenges". 30 reps of 3 exercises every day of year 30. 40 reps of 4 exercises every day of year 40. 35 reps of a different exercise each day they're 35. Sounds like fun!<br />
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So my birthday challenge is this:<br />
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44 reps of 5 exercises each day I'm 44!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpNHFi-QGDUh6BUZtAQNguG5RBq2lmQn04VXIQZ8gjRQVJIkKL2T5cRMPszeMXTS12rhIkRFomtcWNE4-CNpL8g7j8uJf6r3rUtVDiX9clZz-Tg8isrmlZ3dC7-0HHL1yw8hfoTyve847/s1600/44+goals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpNHFi-QGDUh6BUZtAQNguG5RBq2lmQn04VXIQZ8gjRQVJIkKL2T5cRMPszeMXTS12rhIkRFomtcWNE4-CNpL8g7j8uJf6r3rUtVDiX9clZz-Tg8isrmlZ3dC7-0HHL1yw8hfoTyve847/s400/44+goals.jpg" width="342" /></a></div>
(how come I always look like I'm being tortured when I run?)<br />
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Anyway… one day down, 364 to go!Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-23475312868295335382013-11-20T14:05:00.001-08:002013-11-20T14:05:43.013-08:00DIY Bathroom CleanersIn a previous post, we talked about how the chemicals in most commercially available bathroom cleaners. On top of which, the bathroom is generally the most poorly ventilated room in the house. So it makes sense that when looking to transition to green cleansers, the bathroom is a good place to start.<br />
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While searching for recipes for do-it-yourself bathroom cleaners, I quickly became overwhelmed by the number of recipes out there! I found at least 20 different recipes for <span style="color: lime;">"DIY Bathroom Cleaners" </span>on Pinterest alone! It's enough to make you run back to the store for commercial cleaners.<br />
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But I didn't.<br />
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I made myself a cup of tea and calmed the heck down.<br />
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Then I looked more closely at the recipes.<br />
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In general, the recipes contain the same ingredients, just in different ratios. So instead of throwing in the towel, I decided to pick a couple and experiment.<br />
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My goal for December is to experiment with as many DIY recipes as possible and pick my favorites by the new year.<br />
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I'm starting with these:<br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">DIY Bathroom Cleaners</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">1) The Basic:</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup vinegar</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 1/4 cup baking soda</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 8 cups water</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Combine in a spray bottle for all-purpose bathroom cleaner.</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">2) The Soapy:</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">2 tablespoons baking soda</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 1/2 tablespoon all-natural dish soap</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 8 cups water</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Combine in spray bottle for all purpose bathroom cleaner.</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">3) Everything but the Bathroom Sink:</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">3/4 cup baking soda</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 1/4 cup lemon juice</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 3 tablespoons salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 3 tablespoons all natural dish soap</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 1/2 cup white vinegar</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Mix ingredients in bowl to form paste. Use sponge or scrubber to apply to tub, shower, and sink. Rinse with water and wet rag. </span></div>
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We'll see how it goes!!</div>
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Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-62468950853355016662013-11-13T17:40:00.000-08:002013-11-13T17:43:42.685-08:00Using the TRX for Shoulder RehabLast week, I was at the playground with my niece, who was playing on the bars, swinging around and doing gymnastics. She does not go to formal gymnastics training, but she is actually quite good; a natural gymnast. I decided to teach her how to do a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdR0CuzCeGc">glide-kip.</a><br />
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She wanted me to demonstrate. And though I haven't done a glide kip in about 15 years, I figured what the heck and gave it a whirl. To my pleasant surprise, I was able to perform the kip without much difficulty! During the course of the afternoon, while instructing my niece, I performed about 12 kips.<br />
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The next morning, I knew I had made a mistake.<br />
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My shoulder was killing me and I was pretty sure I had given myself a minor rotator cuff tear. Really, I should have known better!<br />
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On top of this, I have been trying to get back into triathlon training and have been doing a lot of weight training. Now I had an injured shoulder! But I decided not to let that set me back.<br />
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I have a trusty <span style="color: red;">TRX.</span><br />
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I'm a big fan of the <span style="color: red;">TRX. </span>I've used it not only for myself, but also for rehabing patients. The great thing about the <span style="color: red;">TRX </span>is that it can be used to make exercises <span style="color: red;">HARDER </span>or <span style="color: red;">EASIER,</span> depending on the angle of pull.<br />
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Some of the exercises I have been using on my injured shoulder include:<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">TRX Pull-ups</span></div>
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(easier on the shoulder than overhead pull-ups)</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">TRX Triceps Extensions</span></div>
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(easier with a more upright posture, harder as you move your feet back)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1pGxv5IR_pCUTMOCtFFXpPVYqHX3RhXpo9b0kAVX56Iqx4Odv9bg4fswJjkQnKCbsJBrEAvTK9g6tFKkVwN48e5gJBfpYPaCSroejW1sGprsMMeJUFdEf4AfhG7nEefgsPGLjBSGCek6/s1600/trx-tricep-exercises-300x204.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1pGxv5IR_pCUTMOCtFFXpPVYqHX3RhXpo9b0kAVX56Iqx4Odv9bg4fswJjkQnKCbsJBrEAvTK9g6tFKkVwN48e5gJBfpYPaCSroejW1sGprsMMeJUFdEf4AfhG7nEefgsPGLjBSGCek6/s400/trx-tricep-exercises-300x204.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">TRX Lateral Trunk Twists</span></div>
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(start with small movement, working up to full range movement)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMGGAV9VJFxUWBBwTUgUy9-I4bdCOExeKjoYlZYU-hsFzBFMhP-1ZWBWBbxpfsNMTdoXyHkj5QCRoa9khF1mvDcvUzePxr6If7luWypZ-V1_WNmpax4FGi49i7DVAUBJ3LY97zyVRvmvS/s1600/bilateral-row.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMGGAV9VJFxUWBBwTUgUy9-I4bdCOExeKjoYlZYU-hsFzBFMhP-1ZWBWBbxpfsNMTdoXyHkj5QCRoa9khF1mvDcvUzePxr6If7luWypZ-V1_WNmpax4FGi49i7DVAUBJ3LY97zyVRvmvS/s400/bilateral-row.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Happily, my shoulder has been healing nicely and I am transitioning back into regular pull ups, side planks with a twist, and overhead triceps extensions. (And soon, advanced <span style="color: red;">TRX </span>exercises to make the exercises <span style="color: red;">HARDER, </span>instead of <span style="color: red;">EASIER. </span></div>
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On a related note, since my flexibility is in the crapper since my thru-hike, I've also been using the <span style="color: red;">TRX </span>to assist with <span style="color: red;">pistol squats, </span>since there is no way I can do them unassisted until I become a bit more flexible!</div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">TODAY'S THANKFUL: I am thankful, on this cold cold day, that I have a nice roof over my head!</span></div>
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Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-85745682669272282372013-11-05T15:54:00.003-08:002013-11-05T15:54:36.679-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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TODAY'S THANKFUL: I'm thankful for the opportunity to make changes in my life!Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-45160863194326378522013-11-04T19:13:00.002-08:002013-11-04T19:13:52.456-08:00Thankful for Fall<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">TODAY'S THANKFUL:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">the beautiful fall foliage we have this year!!</span></div>
Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-25917378265058545362013-11-03T18:06:00.002-08:002013-11-03T18:08:46.603-08:00YogaThere are many things I am good at. Yoga is not one of them. I can hike and run and bike and swim and roller blade and do cartwheels until the cows come home without exerting myself all that much. But yoga? Yoga makes me feel like the most out of shape person on earth.<br />
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I figure that is exactly why I should be doing it.<br />
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When I broke down and joined a gym last week (it was cold, rainy, <span style="color: red;">and </span>windy outside), I took advantage of the free fitness screening they offered to new members. The results were not surprising - excellent cardiovascular health and strength, good weight and body composition, <span style="color: red;">terrible </span>flexibility. That's what 6 months of backpacking will do to you! So I made<span style="color: red;"> improving my flexibility</span> priority one of the fitness goals. I added more stretching to my daily workout regime and added 2-3 yoga classes per week to my schedule.<br />
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Yoga is, of course, perfect for improving flexibility throughout the whole body. My hamstrings, lower back, and upper traps are particularly tight post hike, and the yoga classes are great for targeting these areas. After the yoga classes, I feel longer, looser, taller, and more limber. Which is great. But that's not the big reason I should be doing yoga.<br />
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In a previous post, I described myself as a <span style="color: red;">doer</span> -- somebody who cannot sit still. Somebody who always has to be busy. Somebody who finds satisfaction in getting things done. It is a character trait that is celebrated in our society. But maybe it shouldn't be.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Beware the barrenness of a busy life -- </i>Socrates</span></div>
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Sometimes it seems that the busier I am, the more I miss out on. I remember last fall, when I was working so many more hours a week than I am now, I looked up one day and noticed that all the leaves had fallen and I hadn't even noticed the foliage. I've noticed the foliage this year. But I feel guilty about it. I feel like I should be doing more, getting more accomplished. I feel like I'm not doing anything worthwhile with my time.</div>
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According to Bhole Prabhu the ultimate goal of yoga is "helping human beings to become aware of their deepest nature." The disciplines and techniques of yoga are specifically designed to "create a sense of inner peace, harmony, and clarity of mind." Yoga teaches us that enhancing our consciousness and mindfulness are far more worthwhile than keeping busy for the sake of being busy.</div>
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When I'm on the yoga mat, struggling to master the <span style="color: red;">poses,</span> focusing on my <span style="color: red;">breathing</span>, trying to keep my <span style="color: red;">balance</span>, I find that I learn more about myself than from any of the other activities I find so easy. I learn not just about my physical body -- where I am <span style="color: red;">tight,</span> where I have<span style="color: red;"> pain</span> -- but also <span style="color: red;">where</span> I tend to hold my emotions. <span style="color: red;">What</span> those pent up emotions are. And <span style="color: red;">why</span> I tend to repeat patterns that bring up the same emotions over and over again. </div>
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When I'm on the yoga mat, I'm able to stop being busy long enough to actually get something done.<br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;">TODAY'S THANKFUL: I'm thankful for yoga. </span></div>
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<br />Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-49740773592510213002013-11-02T09:50:00.003-07:002013-11-02T09:50:21.849-07:00<span style="color: #783f04;">TODAY'S THANKFUL: </span>I'm thankful to have seen the Red Sox win the world series three times!!<br />
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<br />Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-48199400297719054832013-11-01T12:49:00.001-07:002013-11-01T12:55:48.832-07:00October RecapIt's <span style="color: #783f04;">November! </span><span style="color: orange;">October </span>was a glorious month, with warm weather and sunny skies -- great for getting outside as much as possible! <span style="color: #783f04;">November </span>has rolled in with warm temperatures, but rainy and windy. Very <span style="color: #783f04;">November-y </span>weather! Got outside a little bit today in to enjoy the warm temps, and got a little wet, too.<br />
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I always like to start each month by looking back at the previous month for a recap.<br />
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So in <span style="color: orange;">October, </span>as part of the greening up the life effort, I<br />
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1) Decreased the <a href="http://thepinkladylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/dust.html">dust </a>in the bedroom and set up a plan to continue to manage the dust. <br />
2) Started on a daily meditation practice.<br />
3) Added trail running and bootcamp workouts into my outdoor workout program.<br />
4) Trialled some new clean eating recipes.<br />
5) Got rid of the air fresheners in the house.<br />
6) Focused on <a href="http://thepinkladylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/indoor-air-quality.html">indoor air quality</a> by opening windows daily, getting a plant, and pricing out HEPA filters (haven't purchased one yet, though)<br />
7) Started on a schedule for home organization<br />
8) Switched to natural deodorant<br />
9) Switched to oxygen bleach based laundry spot removers<br />
10) Switched to oxygen bleach based bathroom cleaners.<br />
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It's been a good month! <span style="color: #783f04;">November </span>looks to be even better!<br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;">TODAY'S THANKFUL: </span>I'm thankful for the warm temperatures that rolled in today!<br />
<br />Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-88610230627928839002013-10-31T04:51:00.002-07:002013-10-31T04:51:24.268-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;">HAPPY HALLOWEEN!</span></div>
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Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-62082164324154294152013-10-30T20:18:00.000-07:002013-11-02T13:23:51.729-07:00Bathroom CleanersOther than the air-fresheners in the house (which have at this point been eliminated) the biggest irritant I have found is the<b> <span style="color: magenta;">bathroom cleaners.</span></b> The folks I share the living space with are quite fond of a sparkling clean bathroom. I mean, I am, too, but I'm even more fond of breathing! With the types of bathroom cleaners that were being used on a daily basis in the shower, I was once again, plagued with headaches, difficulty breathing, and I was just overwhelmed by the smell.<br />
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Turns out, once again, I was feeling so poorly because I was breathing in toxic chemical found in the shower cleaner.<br />
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The specific shower cleaner we were using in the house was a <span style="color: magenta;"><b>chlorine</b> </span>based cleaner. <span style="color: magenta;">Chlorine</span> is bad news!<br />
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<b><span style="color: magenta;">Chlorine</span> </b>is actually found in a variety of products, not just bathroom cleaners. It is used to treat our <b>water</b> supply, in <b>pools</b>, in the production of <b>paper</b>, in the production of fibers to make <b>clothing</b>, in <b>laundry detergents</b>, scrubs, and, of course, in <b>bathroom cleaners</b>. Chlorine is very cheap to manufacture, which is why is is found in so many products. However, just because it is found in so many products, does not mean it is safe.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Chlorine</b> </span>is a harsh <b>irritant</b> of the eyes, skin, and lungs. If inhaled, it chlorine fumes cause<b> coughing, shortness of breath, phlegm build up,</b> and even <b>pulmonary edema</b>. If it comes into contact with the eyes or skin in undiluted form, it can cause severe <b>burns</b> or even irreversible damage. Exposure to chlorine can worsen <b>asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.</b><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Chlorine</b></span> is also bad for the environment. It is a major contributor to<b> atmospheric ozone loss.</b><br />
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<b><span style="color: magenta;">Chlorine</span> </b>can become even more dangerous if combined with other chemicals. If chlorine and <b><span style="color: magenta;">ammonia</span> </b>are used together, for instance, chlorine gas will result. Chlorine gas is odorless, but lethal.<br />
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If <span style="color: magenta;"><b>chlorine </b></span>is so dangerous, then why is it used so much? A big part of this is <b>marketing</b>. We have come to associate the smell of bleach with the idea of <b>"clean."</b> We have come to associate the idea of harsh chemicals with protection against dangerous <b>germs</b> and <b>mold</b>. However, the exact opposite is actually true. We have become a culture of <b>over-cleaners</b>, oftentimes killing helpful bacteria along with the bad germs, and ironically, putting our health at risk in doing so.<br />
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So, if not bleach based cleaners, what can be used to get that shower sparkly clean?<br />
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First off, it should be noted that the simple act of <b>drying the tile and shower curtain</b> will curb the growth of mildew. Rather than spraying she shower down daily, simply wiping with a towel or squeegee is sufficient.<br />
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Many of the same items used for spot removers in<a href="http://thepinkladylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/spot-removers-and-laundry-pre-treaters.html"> laundry </a> can be used for bathroom cleaners (instructions for home-made cleaners to be found in a future post). There are also many commercially based safer alternatives for cleaning the shower:<br />
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<span style="color: lime;">Method </span>cleaner is made from non-toxic, biodegradable ingredients.<br />
<span style="color: lime;">Seventh Generation</span> is another plant-based, non-toxic cleaner.<br />
<span style="color: lime;">CitraSolv</span> is a citrus based cleaner<br />
<span style="color: lime;">KaBoom</span> is an oxygen bleach (peroxide and baking soda)<br />
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<br />Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-20448563079288204422013-10-29T17:38:00.000-07:002013-10-29T17:38:02.794-07:00Kale and Apples with MustardTonight, I decided to actually use some of the recipes I've been collecting on Pinterest, instead of just making great big pretty boards to look at! I picked up a big bunch of good looking kale at the market this week and wanted to make something with it.<br />
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I like kale. I like spinach better, but there isn't a vegetable bidding war for my taste buds, now, is there? There's room for both. Spinach is sweet; it satisfies my gigantic sweet tooth like other sweet veggies-- carrots, sweet potatoes, squash. Kale has a more bitter flavor, which is nice, too, but doesn't have the same appeal to my sweet sensitivities.<br />
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This recipe doesn't run from the bitterness. It celebrates it, as a matter of fact. And paired with the crisp, tart flavor of granny smith apples, it makes a nice combo.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">KALE WITH APPLES AND MUSTARD</span><br />
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1) Coarsely chop 1and a half pounds of <span style="color: orange;">kale </span>, removing ribs.<br />
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2) Heat 1 tablespoon of <span style="color: orange;">extra virgin olive oil</span> over medium heat. Add <span style="color: orange;">kale </span>and cook until bright green, about 1-2 minutes tossing occasionally.<br />
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3) Add <span style="color: orange;">2/3 cup water</span>, cover, and cook for 3 more minutes.<br />
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4) Stir in 2 sliced granny smith apples. Cover and cook until kale is tender, about 10 minutes.<br />
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5) In small bowl, whisk together <span style="color: orange;">2 tablespoons cider vinegar</span>, <span style="color: orange;">4 teaspoons brown mustard,</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">2 teaspoons brown sugar, </span>and <span style="color: orange;">1 pinch salt.</span><br />
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6) Add the mustard mixture to the kale, turn heat up to high, and boil for 3-4 minutes uncovered.<br />
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The picture really doesn't do it justice, but it was quite flavorful. If I was going to make it again (and I probably will!) I'd add the apples in later, to keep them a little more crisp. They were a bit too mushy for me, but still tasted good!<br />
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Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-14962762899900036452013-10-28T20:54:00.000-07:002013-10-28T20:54:18.149-07:00Training for LifeWhen I was finishing up the hike in September, I figured "Hey! I'm in great shape! My endurance is great. I'll just use that endurance and enroll in a marathon for October or something! It'll be cake. Afterall, when you are used to putting in 20 mile days back to back, one unweighted 26 mile day on flat ground will be nothing!" Plus, I figured, I was so used to exercising for 10 to 12 miles per day, that I'd be able to just transition into shorter sessions with much higher intensity with no problem whatsoever. I figured by the end of the year, I'd be like an Olympic athlete.<br />
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Aside from the glaring facts that 1) very few people have even a remote chance of reaching the elite status of Olympic athlete and 2) at age 43, my window for competing in the Olympics has pretty much closed, I had also forgotten two very important concepts of fitness training: <span style="color: orange;">specificity </span>and<span style="color: orange;"> recovery</span>.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">Specificity </span>refers to the concept that the <span style="color: orange;">way </span>you train will reflect the physiologic changes that take place in your body and the functional improvements that result from those changes. So, if you train for speed, your training <span style="color: orange;">activities </span>will be performed at a high velocity so as to produce an increase in type II muscle fibers which are most active in high speed activities. If you train for endurance, your training will be more of the long slow distance variety, targeting type I and type IIA fibers to produce improvements in the aerobic capacity of the muscles at lower speed. In other words, train like a sprinter and become a good sprinter. Train like a hiker and become hiker trash.<br />
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So, yes, I was used to putting in 20 mile days back to back and one unweighted 26 mile day on flat ground would have been nothing...if I were walking. Running 26 miles on the other hand? Would take some training. In running shoes. While running. No marathon for me in October.<br />
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And the high intensity, shorter duration workouts I jumped into? Left me <span style="color: orange;">really, really, really</span> sore. It was like I had never worked out in my life! Because essentially, as far as my muscles were concerned, I hadn't worked the elements of power and high force production in 6 months. I may as well have been sitting on the sofa eating Doritos. (Ok, not really. But essentially I was asking my muscles to perform in a way I hadn't asked them to perform in 6 months and wondering why they were protesting.)<br />
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And speaking of protests, my<span style="color: orange;"> feet </span>were protesting. For the last<span style="color: orange;"> -- oh-- </span>month of the hike, my toes were completely numb and my feet would swell up at night. I had gone up one full shoe size because of the chronic swelling in my feet, even with my nightly use of compression stockings, ice, and self massage. After I got home, I decided I'd take it easy until the numbness in my feet went away and then I'd be ready to hit it hard!<br />
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It reminds me of treating patients after sports injuries or even surgeries, who would see that the swelling was down and assume they were ready to go back to full contact play. "Oh, no," I'd tell them. "That was just the first step. We got rid of the acute swelling, and now we have to rehab the underlying injuries and the muscle imbalances that contributed to the injuries. That's step two. After <u>that, </u>we can work on conditioning to get you back in shape for your sport. That's step three. And then you can work with your coach and athletic trainer to go from practicing with the team (step four) to fully playing (step five). Don't try to skip the steps! You just get re-injured." Oh, wasn't I self righteous!<br />
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Yet when it came to<span style="color: orange;"> me</span>, I completely disregarded my own <span style="color: orange;">recovery! </span>That six week long inability to feel my toes? Was a chronic overuse injury. (Metatarsalgia and mild plantar fasciitis. With maybe a touch of achilles tendonitis. Whatevs. It's all the same fascia) I waited until the swelling was in check, and then tried to jump from step one right to step five without proper strengthening and conditioning. Oh, wasn't I a bone head!<br />
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Even in the absence of an injury, <span style="color: orange;">recovery </span>is a vital part of any training program. No athlete completes an Ironman and does a speed workout the next day. No runner completes a marathon and plans hill repeaters the following week. No Olympian steps off the podium ready to hit it hard tomorrow. And for good reason. These athletes know that they need to recuperate, both physically and mentally from all the hard work of their training and from the high intensity of their event. Workouts become more generalized, less intense, and at a much lower volume in an effort to give themselves a rest and prevent burnout.<br />
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Luckily, even though I can act like a complete bonehead sometimes, I am pretty good at listening to my body. And even though my head was saying "The intensity was so low!" my body was saying "The volume was so high!" My body needed rest.<br />
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So this October, I've done some trail running, some walking, some road running. I've toyed around with some bootcamp style workouts and calisthenics. But I've also rested. I stretched. I allowed my <span style="color: orange;">really really really</span> sore muscles to take the day off instead of pushing through it. I let go of the illusion of being like an Olympic athlete by the end of the year. (But not my plans to watch every single event of the upcoming winter Olympics as is feasibly possible!)<br />
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In November, my goals are to be more consistent and lay down a nice, solid fitness foundation. Life off the trail takes a lot of athletic prowess, after all!<br />
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<br />Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-7281928378172314822013-10-27T17:27:00.000-07:002013-11-03T18:07:22.450-08:00BreatheI am a doer.<br />
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I am always doing something, from the moment I get up until the moment I go to bed. I know people who can sit on the couch and watch a movie. Or a reality TV show. Or the World Series. I cannot. If I am watching the Red Sox, I am simultaneously checking emails, writing a blog post, or taking an online course. If I am watching a movie, I am also organizing my purse, updating my schedule for next week, or folding laundry. If I am watching reality TV... I don't watch reality TV. But I do watch American Horror Story one time per week. While doing research for projects I'm involved in or adjusting my workout plan.<br />
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It's strange -- I'm presently not working full time, and yet I am one of the busiest people I know. Even when I am exercising, I am listening to podcasts or mentally updating my to-do lists.<br />
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I fool myself into thinking that I am really productive.<br />
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In reality, I probably resemble a chicken running around with no head.<br />
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So, I've been trying to take some time each day to stop the multi-tasking, stop the mental chatter, stop the doing. And take a deep breath. And just notice the world around me.<br />
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While jogging this weekend, I turned off the iPod and stopped running. I took a deep breath and looked around. And I noticed how gorgeous the clouds looked! I had been out for about 45 minutes and hadn't bothered to look up! If I hadn't taken the time to breathe, I would have missed this:<br />
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It was the most important thing I did this week.Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-62214505115867063602013-10-26T21:11:00.001-07:002013-10-26T21:11:57.599-07:00The Linen Closet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I continue through <span style="color: orange;">October</span> in my greening up mission, de-cluttering has taken a more prominent role in my daily chores. In tackling the big de-cluttering projects, like the garage and the storage area, I have come to see that I don't even have to watch horror movies as halloween approaches. The garage and storage area are scary enough!<br />
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So sometimes, it's a good idea to take on a more manageable task, such as <span style="color: orange;">the linen closet. </span>It can be completed in a few hours, not a few days or weeks. And it gives me a sense of accomplishment.<br />
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This was what the linen closet looked like:</div>
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Stuffed to the gills with who knows what!</div>
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Pillow cases, shams, sheets, dust ruffles stuffed willy-nilly in the closet.</div>
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Full sheet sets mixed with queen sheet sets mixed in with twin.</div>
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No uniform folding method. Pillow cases with no sheet sets to pair them with.</div>
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And a bunch of non-linen type things living on the top shelf.</div>
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This wasn't a linen closet. It was absolute anarchy!</div>
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Just like the <a href="http://thepinkladylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/de-cluttering-part-one.html">bathroom closet,</a> the first thing I did was take everything out. </div>
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That makes cleaning off the shelves and putting down shelf liner easier.</div>
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Once again, I threw out anything that was ripped or tattered or worn beyond repair. </div>
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All the non-linen items were removed and either put elsewhere or in a donation pile.</div>
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Now twin sheets, full sheets, and queen sheets each have their own shelf.</div>
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Extra pillow cases are folded and easily accessible.</div>
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Dust ruffles and pillow shams have their own separate area.</div>
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As do tablecloths and cloth napkins.</div>
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Now, making the bed or setting the table doesn't involve an avalanche beforehand!</div>
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Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-8406521013142243792013-10-24T12:16:00.001-07:002013-11-12T07:19:31.916-08:00Spot Removers and Laundry Pre-TreatersOne astonishing obvious thing about me is this: <b>I am a slob</b>. If I am eating something, I will inevitably spill some of it on myself. If I am moving a large object from one spot to another, I cannot do so without leaving a giant black mark on my torso. And sometimes, I get home from a day out and have absolutely no idea how my clothes got so filthy. I amaze myself sometimes.<br />
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Which is why it was probably a bad idea for me to cook anything with <a href="http://thepinkladylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/sauteed-beets-and-greens.html">beets.</a> Well, not<span style="color: magenta;"> <b>that</b></span><span style="color: #e06666;"> </span>bad... the beets were delicious! However, I ended up with not one, not two, but<span style="color: magenta;"> <b>three</b></span> giant<span style="color: magenta;"> </span>beet colored stains on my shirt. <span style="color: magenta;">(I think beets would make an excellent dye for clothes, incidentally. Those stains were a fantastic color!)</span> Not fantastic enough to leave the shirt all stained, though. I needed to get em out!<br />
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Which lead me to the next logical challenge of the greening up my life project: <span style="color: magenta;"><b>stain removers.</b></span><br />
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<b>Stain removers</b> or <b>laundry pre-treatments</b> have been around since the 1960's and are part of a multi-billion dollar industry in the US. (Apparently, I am not the only slob out there!) However, like many of the products we use in our homes, the commercial stain removers are not only highly<b> toxic </b>and bad for the environment, but <b>unnecessary</b> as well.<br />
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Some of the ingredients found in commercial stain removers include:<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b>BENZENE</b> (also called benzol, benzole, annulene, benzeen, phenyl hydride and coal naphtha) </span>This is a <b>petroleum</b> based chemical which, like many other petroleum compounds, is an irritant of the <b>eyes,</b> <b>skin</b>, and <b>lungs</b>. It has been linked with damage to the central and peripheral <b>nervous system </b>and with the <b>respiratory system</b>. It has been classified as a possible <b>carcinogen </b>and is listed as a hazardous air pollutant.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b>PERCHLORETHYLENE (PERC)</b> </span>A man made solvent, <span style="color: magenta;">PERC</span> is an irritant for <b>skin, eyes, nose</b> and <b>throat</b>. Repeated exposure to<span style="color: magenta;"> PERC</span> has been associated with <b>liver, kidney</b>, and <b>central nervous system</b> damage. <span style="color: magenta;">PERC</span> has been shown to cause <b>cancer</b> in lab animals. Pregnant and breast feeding women should avoid contact with products containing <span style="color: magenta;">PERC</span>, as it can interfere with fetal and <b>early infant development.</b><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b>TRICHLORETHANE (TCA)</b> </span>An organic solvent, <span style="color: magenta;">TCA</span> has also been shown to<b> </b>irritate<b> t</b>he <b>skin</b>, <b>eyes, throat,</b> and <b>nasal passages</b>. It can damage the <b>liver </b>and <b>kidneys</b> and at high levels can cause <b>sudden death</b>. Pregnant and breast feeding women should avoid PCA as its effects are similar to those of PERC.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b>DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL METHYL ETHER</b> </span>This compound is an irritant to the <b>eyes, nose </b>and <b>throat.</b> It is a <b>neurotoxin </b>and interferes with <b>fetal development.</b> It also is a hazardous <b>air pollutant.</b><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b>NONOXYL- 4 AND 9 </b></span>These compounds are irritating to the<b> eyes </b>and <b>lungs.</b> They can be absorbed through the skin and can cause<b> birth defects.</b> Nonoxyl 4 and 9 and also toxic to aquatic life.<br />
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Clearly, these are chemicals we do not want to come into contact with! When we also factor in the environment of the average laundry room: small room in the basement with poor ventilation -- it is easy for the chemicals in commercial stain removers to become concentrated and inhaled in large amounts.<br />
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So what is a slob like myself to do? Are we all just supposed to walk around with stains all over our clothing in the name of good health? Luckily, we don't have to make the choice between looking good and protecting our health. Even though the labels on these commercially available stain removers suggest that they have top secret, almost magic stain removing properties, the truth of the matter is stain can be removed quite easily with natural, non-toxic household ingredients.<br />
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<span style="color: lime;"><b>BAKING SODA:</b></span><span style="color: magenta;"> </span>Make a paste out of one part baking soda to one part water and rub on the stain. Let sit for an hour prior to washing.<br />
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<span style="color: lime;"><b>LEMON JUICE: </b></span>The citric acid in lemon juice is especially effective at lightening stains on white fabrics. Make a paste of equal parts lemon juice and baking soda and leave on stain for 1/2 hour before washing.<br />
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<span style="color: lime;"><b>HYDROGEN PEROXIDE: </b></span>Water down hydrogen peroxide with water in a 1 to 1 ratio and saturate stains for 1 hour prior to washing. Especially good for blood or make-up stains.<br />
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<span style="color: lime;"><b>VODKA: </b></span>Dilute in a 1:1 ratio and spray onto stain. Then make yourself a cosmopolitan while you wait 1 hour to throw in the laundry.<br />
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<span style="color: lime;"><b>LIQUID DISH SOAP:</b></span><span style="color: magenta;"> </span>Especially good for oil based stains. (I have many shirts stained from salad dressing. This is good to know!)<br />
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<span style="color: lime;"><b>GOOD, OLD FASHIONED SOAKING:</b></span><span style="color: magenta;"> </span>Simply soaking the clothing overnight in a bucket with a teaspoon of laundry detergent will usually break up the stain.<br />
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If you're a mom of 5 or a busy executive and just don't have time to whip up a paste or soak clothes overnight (or if you just hate laundry) a commercially a safe, environmentally friendly commercial option is<span style="color: lime;"><b> OXYGEN BLEACH.</b></span><span style="color: magenta;"> </span> Commercially known as <span style="color: lime;"><b>Oxi-Clean, Bio-Kleen</b>,</span> or <span style="color: lime;"><b>Ajax,</b></span> oxygen bleach is essentially <b>hydrogen peroxide</b> and <b>baking soda. </b>When added to water, the oxygen bubbles are released, breaking the bond between the stain and the surface of the clothing. It breaks down into <b>water, soda ash,</b> and <b>oxygen</b> and is therefore much safer for both people and the environment.<br />
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Resources used in this post:<br />
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<u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-This-Volume-Greening-Cleaning/dp/1416540555">Green This! </a></u> by Deidre Imus<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Green-Living-Ultimate-Eco-Friendly/dp/B001UE71FC"><u>Easy Green Living </u> </a>by Renee Loux<br />
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<a href="http://cleanmyspace.com/">cleanmyspace.com</a><br />
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<br />Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-69396579125661277982013-10-22T19:20:00.002-07:002013-10-22T19:20:45.078-07:00Oriental Stir Fry CarrotsIt has been a wonderful October -- the weather is spectacular and the farmer's market is still brimming with wonderful produce. I'm loving the warm days and the food.<br />
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This week, I picked up a bunch of lovely carrots.<br />
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Normally, I'll go for a recipe that uses both the carrot and the greens, but after two days in the fridge, the greens were looking wilted and not very enticing. (I've got to clean out the refrigerator) So this time around, I cooked just the root part of the carrot.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">Oriental Stir Fry Carrots</span><br />
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1) Cut 5-6 medium <span style="color: orange;">carrots </span>into medium thick slices.<br />
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2) Heat 1 tablespoon <span style="color: orange;">canola oil </span>in deep fry-pan over medium heat. Add carrots, cover, and cook until soft, about 7 minutes.<br />
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3) Meanwhile, in a small bowl, measure 2 tablespoons <span style="color: orange;">white vinegar. </span>(I used a white balsamic vinegar which was this gorgeous amber color!)<br />
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4) Add 2 tablespoons <span style="color: orange;">soy sauce </span>and one minced <span style="color: orange;">garlic clove. </span>Whisk together.<br />
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5) Add sauce to fry pan with carrots and cook until garlic is fragrant, about 3 minutes.<br />
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It tastes even better than it looks!</div>
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Fall rocks! And so does the color <span style="color: orange;">orange. </span></div>
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Just sayin'.</div>
Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-46970386820533512322013-10-21T15:05:00.001-07:002013-10-21T15:05:25.348-07:00Boot Camp #2It has been a glorious October! Seriously -- I've been doing my outdoor workouts in shorts and a t-shirt and loving every minute of it. I've also been loving the bootcamp style workouts for strength training, rather than going to a gym. I've been going to a local park a few times a week, running around the perimeter and using the play equipment and benches for equipment.<br />
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I've gotten a few strange looks, too, which always makes my day!<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">PLAYGROUND BOOTCAMP</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">Warm-Up</span><br />
Jog for 10 minutes followed by <a href="http://thepinkladylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/bootcamp-workout.html">dynamic stretching</a><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">Exercises</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">(10 of each exercise with 10 jumping jacks in between)</span><br />
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1) Pull Ups (as I get fatigued, I switch to reverse push up, which is a modified pull up with feet on ground, from a bar about 2 feet high)<br />
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2) Burpees<br />
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3) Sit ups<br />
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4) Star bursts (also known as superstars)<br />
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5) Push ups<br />
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6) Speed Skaters<br />
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7) Dips (done on bench)<br />
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8) Alternating walking lunges<br />
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9) Lateral step ups to leg lift<br />
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10) Quadriped opposite arm and leg lift<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">Perform 3 rounds with a full lap around the park between each round</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">Cool Down</span><br />
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<a href="http://thepinkladylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/bootcamp-workout.html">Static Stretches </a>and 3 minutes of deep breathing.<br />
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* Pictures and/or videos of the above exercises are coming soon. Thanks for being patient!*<br />
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<br />Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-70489127167795107392013-10-20T14:14:00.000-07:002013-10-21T14:42:01.176-07:00De-Cluttering Part OneOne of the difficult things I've found since I've started to green up my environment is that I am living in a shared space. Just because one person in a shared space (me) has decided to make some changes doesn't mean that everyone sharing that space shares those goals.<br />
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I wanted to find a space that wasn't enveloped in cleaners and air fresheners. So I decided to start the de-cluttering in the downstairs bathroom -- this would be a spot where I could transition to green cleaners while the transitional cleaners could still be used in the upstairs bathroom.<br />
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But first it had to be de-cluttered!</div>
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See? This is what the bathroom closet looked like.</div>
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On the bottom, there were cleaning products where visiting nieces and nephews had direct access to them.</div>
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There were all kinds of miss-mashed products and towels and appliances crammed on the shelves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNN2vSVVZWzYU1Kd8VYB5ZLcI0Hi3fVdv3HY094Vs6Aly0U1gkASAYmDfuSiGjd7daB-UwgUOzDCRB0RRsOlAsre-Tv_75609vhnBNgjUe28oPZlyiUxtYM-ah8MXi94zrPNOAImxaOzgn/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNN2vSVVZWzYU1Kd8VYB5ZLcI0Hi3fVdv3HY094Vs6Aly0U1gkASAYmDfuSiGjd7daB-UwgUOzDCRB0RRsOlAsre-Tv_75609vhnBNgjUe28oPZlyiUxtYM-ah8MXi94zrPNOAImxaOzgn/s320/IMG_1142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cleaners right next to products that you put in your mouth or on your skin, moth balls next to foot powder, and trash bags resting on top of it all.</div>
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Way too many of each product, some of them expired.</div>
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And a top shelf no-man's land where things just kind of got tossed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0c4vHZE9k8ZJrRKjyfkWtuB_zubEh3RbJxKcIowTin7fi9vjOxt86ELkcptAYQ5KBdTojCxUtNXANHlFlew8rkallwcczkA2SGW4-C4lO_3wG-GGmOdqaRvSOHBK37x3_Xcc5KkVFzoR/s1600/IMG_1145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0c4vHZE9k8ZJrRKjyfkWtuB_zubEh3RbJxKcIowTin7fi9vjOxt86ELkcptAYQ5KBdTojCxUtNXANHlFlew8rkallwcczkA2SGW4-C4lO_3wG-GGmOdqaRvSOHBK37x3_Xcc5KkVFzoR/s320/IMG_1145.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The products had spilled out of the closet and were all over the shelf in the bathroom.</div>
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And don't even get me started about under the sink!<br />
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I had my work cut out for me!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPM0I1UeDik7YneKE8WToL2NPvyNqDYdmPsryS-4r8TqM7jX2kGUGTs998yVT3VoqAqaurZHwz4aCq3VFloDgE0fq5PGVP0RHp8vwQ4VQ1XdtO6vAKek0vdLV3GTXFqq46rFWvTP-UyTl9/s1600/IMG_1148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPM0I1UeDik7YneKE8WToL2NPvyNqDYdmPsryS-4r8TqM7jX2kGUGTs998yVT3VoqAqaurZHwz4aCq3VFloDgE0fq5PGVP0RHp8vwQ4VQ1XdtO6vAKek0vdLV3GTXFqq46rFWvTP-UyTl9/s320/IMG_1148.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The first thing I did was clear out the entire closet and wipe down the shelves.<br />
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Then I put down some shelf liner.</div>
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Next, it was time to group products into categories. (It doesn't make sense to put toothpaste and towels on the same shelf!) Then put each category into its own separate basket or container.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghN4_WubMg0Z2TYKtzqkZfD2OBKBGFziP1PpqTI7uKHbbivP9aLFnzrR_PGUD0ughg9HWMWLuUU9AoUto5sHY1qP8COesc_TMioIpJ_CGh3k1mITTK4AuBjsOYoWEY0SZY1y2VucUuTE-I/s1600/IMG_1150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghN4_WubMg0Z2TYKtzqkZfD2OBKBGFziP1PpqTI7uKHbbivP9aLFnzrR_PGUD0ughg9HWMWLuUU9AoUto5sHY1qP8COesc_TMioIpJ_CGh3k1mITTK4AuBjsOYoWEY0SZY1y2VucUuTE-I/s320/IMG_1150.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Towels were rolled and placed together in a basket.</div>
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Cleaning products placed together in a bucket that could be taken out all at once.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg410Vs8BgDsyv0CoCBDfjX_NKlyAYU3ifaEVHZPO-619fEbRxo2JboPKdKN8WK-nhbDK6mueg4Jv5fpoQM9TR9sFlw7Rroq2f-TPFhKucAUf_0F1nsCVg411NASbqnY23TMgYONhHWfSz_/s1600/IMG_1154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg410Vs8BgDsyv0CoCBDfjX_NKlyAYU3ifaEVHZPO-619fEbRxo2JboPKdKN8WK-nhbDK6mueg4Jv5fpoQM9TR9sFlw7Rroq2f-TPFhKucAUf_0F1nsCVg411NASbqnY23TMgYONhHWfSz_/s320/IMG_1154.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Now, you can open the closet and in an instant, see exactly what is in there!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAzvde6J1pJoHXHVnnmQSvI6Xq1IeFDuiJZvUCrk_wE8iVO4bvNK6gw6hWHM6dsV_Sur1qjFl1mbThMmPx2LLx5lD4u9wC0jADe41_d_tHm9KTIfXzccosJqFZ3xWh7KMGnzQSKKtRVpi/s1600/IMG_1155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAzvde6J1pJoHXHVnnmQSvI6Xq1IeFDuiJZvUCrk_wE8iVO4bvNK6gw6hWHM6dsV_Sur1qjFl1mbThMmPx2LLx5lD4u9wC0jADe41_d_tHm9KTIfXzccosJqFZ3xWh7KMGnzQSKKtRVpi/s320/IMG_1155.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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No more dangerous cleaning products down low where little prying hands can get them!</div>
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Expired items or products that had separated or had a funny smell were tossed. The rest in bins.</div>
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The cleaning bucket high up on the third shelf!</div>
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And the cleaning products not close or touching personal care items.</div>
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Always a good idea to label the bins. Though I do not have a label maker, a sharpie and some stickers will do the job just as well!</div>
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Top shelf reserved for potentially dangerous products. </div>
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(Now the air-fresheners fall into that category in my mind!)</div>
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I'd like to get rid of the air fresheners completely, but again, with a shared space, we have to make changes in baby steps!</div>
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The shelf is now clear save for a few select items displayed in decorative containers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7GoDKNgNSHVlZeE-WbUKUGu1aewfEPxZVk0CNJ09_p1PWzlclKmXNZUFZ72Ax_6znm2wPg5INSqhLg11uGcGbWdKM6R3qKrXH3q8aVbOqEz9xRD0K1X3cDJiFZ8SD1JWiAhHgA7GI-T5/s1600/IMG_1162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7GoDKNgNSHVlZeE-WbUKUGu1aewfEPxZVk0CNJ09_p1PWzlclKmXNZUFZ72Ax_6znm2wPg5INSqhLg11uGcGbWdKM6R3qKrXH3q8aVbOqEz9xRD0K1X3cDJiFZ8SD1JWiAhHgA7GI-T5/s320/IMG_1162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now I can look under the sink without the fear of being attacked by a monster of some sort!</div>
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Just a basket of towels and wash cloths, a basket with hair dryers, and a couple travel bags -- easily accessible for that next plane trip!</div>
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The entire process took about 3 hours, beginning to end. It's a start. A little oasis of reduced clutter where I can start transitioning over to green cleaners. </div>
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Of course, looking back in at all the personal hygiene products -- the powders and lotions and deodorants and shampoo and conditioner and dental products lead to another question to ponder: do we really need all this stuff?</div>
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But that is a question for another day.</div>
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Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-87782781604783770592013-10-17T19:01:00.000-07:002013-10-17T19:01:02.162-07:00Natural Deodorant I've been spending an awful lot of time focusing on the environment around me with its dust and its chemicals, the food I put in my body, and the clutter (both physical and mental) that surrounds me. Now I'm turning my attention to what I put ON my body.<br />
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While I've never been that much of a products girl, there are certain things that I do use daily...soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant. It stands to reason that the very same health hazards we face from the chemicals we have in the house are present in the products we put on our bodies.<br />
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I recently saw a post on natural deodorants. I tried natural deodorants a couple times in the past, but was very underwhelmed. But with the info<a href="http://kriscarr.com/blog-video/kris-carr-natural-deodorant-smackdown"> here</a>, I just may give it another try.Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-89523124858224481952013-10-16T20:24:00.001-07:002013-11-12T07:41:34.807-08:00Indoor Air QualityI recently listened to a podcast by <a href="http://danielvitalis.com/">Daniel Vitalis</a> about <span style="color: blue;"><b>indoor air quality</b></span>. With all my recent focus on <a href="http://thepinkladylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/dust.html">dust</a> and <a href="http://thepinkladylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/air-fresheners.html">air fresheners</a>, learning a bit more about the <b>air quality</b> in the house seemed right up my ally.<br />
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I was not surprised to learn the the quality of the air indoors is significantly <b>worse </b>than the quality of the air outdoors, even during hot, humid days with poor air quality. So on the days when the weatherman advises you to stay indoors because of the air quality, he is actually advising you to go inside to <b>more</b> pollution!<br />
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One of the reasons for the poor air quality indoors is the presence of <b style="color: blue;">volatile organic compounds</b>. <span style="color: blue;"><b>(VOCs). VOCs</b></span> are chemicals that have a high vapor pressure, which causes them to evaporate into the surrounding air. High levels of <span style="color: blue;"><b>VOCs</b></span> can have long term health effects.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>VOCs</b></span> are produced when household products <b>outgas</b> chemicals from which they are made. When <b>outgassing</b> occurs in a closed environment, chemicals in the gas form accumulate. ("New car smell" is a result of outgassing from the seats in the enclosed environment of a car.)<br />
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In order to improve the indoor air quality, a number of steps may be taken:<br />
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1) First and foremost,<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: blue;"><b>open windows</b>. </span></span>Ideally, open windows on either side of a room to produce a cross breeze.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPCqFzdo6fRTvzdxt_9YIuRhlkVAlyklfaNJQLk1kocMobqjkhYJnDFoUCuJqRw_tIMvI1WZ7LoxFkhjkkUyE10q3VR80WZcOGSwM8dRZJgjmNAG3JfphnPO8jbqhKL7UfD6GSF_WQs_1/s1600/open-window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPCqFzdo6fRTvzdxt_9YIuRhlkVAlyklfaNJQLk1kocMobqjkhYJnDFoUCuJqRw_tIMvI1WZ7LoxFkhjkkUyE10q3VR80WZcOGSwM8dRZJgjmNAG3JfphnPO8jbqhKL7UfD6GSF_WQs_1/s320/open-window.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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2)<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b> Utilize Houseplants: </b></span>Plants have the ability to neutralize <span style="color: blue;"><b>VOCs</b></span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjeq35HEleDliKdUP1xMOpVzSd45ICozj3Rl2o1l2HKnhD5NfFd8RMbt921OxHID41LUIE9oVhHbkfPX2tgWvvrTuNf4PBwb8VMzepMaRp5H7VI_HHCyJtGdCY-nj_AcU3kT9sRoLm1Tj/s1600/caring_for_houseplants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjeq35HEleDliKdUP1xMOpVzSd45ICozj3Rl2o1l2HKnhD5NfFd8RMbt921OxHID41LUIE9oVhHbkfPX2tgWvvrTuNf4PBwb8VMzepMaRp5H7VI_HHCyJtGdCY-nj_AcU3kT9sRoLm1Tj/s400/caring_for_houseplants.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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3)<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Use a HEP filter:</span> HEPA filters (high efficiency particulate air filters)</b> </span>are effective at removing <b>dust,</b> <b>smoke</b>,<b> soot </b>produced from cooking, etc from the air.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxawIxzN9CsQaGFKvH3Nwhw_NY1q1lM5Y8evUJMdjH2OVbYpas_mC2Jnhg4vqTW8lXJzN1j6EM01maUuxPxSpKsO0NiKjN7vd4OPdlsGL_oS1urptQHpTjcPuaIKr99_CifSrPI5WUa7De/s1600/hepa-filter-air-purifiers-9741-5396927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxawIxzN9CsQaGFKvH3Nwhw_NY1q1lM5Y8evUJMdjH2OVbYpas_mC2Jnhg4vqTW8lXJzN1j6EM01maUuxPxSpKsO0NiKjN7vd4OPdlsGL_oS1urptQHpTjcPuaIKr99_CifSrPI5WUa7De/s320/hepa-filter-air-purifiers-9741-5396927.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
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4) Periodically, use an <span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">ionic air purifier</span></b>. </span>Unlike filters, which remove particles from the air, ionic air purifiers release<b> negatively charged ions</b> into the air. The net result is fresher, more clean smelling air. (Think of how the air smells after a thunder storm)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotdVFFUPM4-LaebqfNnv84cQGFf6RmUxcl5h884CEmtBvp7u6B3qqefmnhZHNLMZoe86vp3NuUGGpFIHJjNQitncFXzA78z69GjvvPX0yZ7riKnRHguH98WmBUsXNRBHAtYMF3zkVT4Rl/s1600/1322089607-7601159_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotdVFFUPM4-LaebqfNnv84cQGFf6RmUxcl5h884CEmtBvp7u6B3qqefmnhZHNLMZoe86vp3NuUGGpFIHJjNQitncFXzA78z69GjvvPX0yZ7riKnRHguH98WmBUsXNRBHAtYMF3zkVT4Rl/s1600/1322089607-7601159_full.jpg" /></a></div>
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5) Monitor the<b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">humidity level</span></b>.</span> In the winter, when the air gets dry, boil water or keep a spray bottle of water to mist the air. In the summer when it becomes humid, utilize a dehumidifier. Keeping the air at a neutral humidity level can reduce the incidence of<b> dust mites</b>, <b>mold,</b> and <b>mildew.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHIQySdtVdHuhUtz033Zv6JdYwLwaphms9GbgvwqWK-lFV0njC2Tu1sxkRo0PCE555tVj9wz_XKjI_NkDoONvzMUtShB1gliKCHW9Gnl1j3jjwruP4KjA0MbhXPr3UMDnbe26tWB_Um0Y/s1600/blue-water-drops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHIQySdtVdHuhUtz033Zv6JdYwLwaphms9GbgvwqWK-lFV0njC2Tu1sxkRo0PCE555tVj9wz_XKjI_NkDoONvzMUtShB1gliKCHW9Gnl1j3jjwruP4KjA0MbhXPr3UMDnbe26tWB_Um0Y/s320/blue-water-drops.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The entier podcast with even more info on indoor air quality can be found on his <a href="http://danielvitalis.com/">website. </a><br />
Check it out. I'm off to check out <b>air filters!</b>Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-78861086839717280992013-10-15T18:56:00.000-07:002013-10-15T18:56:19.186-07:00Sauteed Beets and GreensAs much as I love summer, fall is a nice way for summer to end. The weather is beautiful -- warm during the day, crisp at night -- the foliage is gorgeous, and the farmer's market may actually be<span style="color: lime;"> better!</span><br />
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Last week, I went to the farmer's market and picked up a bunch of <span style="color: lime;">beets.</span> They looked and smelled absolutely <span style="color: lime;">delicious!</span> Ok, maybe <span style="color: lime;">looking</span> delicious is an overstatement. They are root vegetables. So they were covered with dirt and little stringy rooty things. But they did smell good. And they looked like they <span style="color: lime;">could </span>be delicious with a little cleaning up.<br />
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I found a great beet recipe online that used not only the root, but the stems and greens, as well. I like using the greens in recipes whenever possible -- it seems less wasteful.<br />
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<span style="color: lime;">SAUTEED BEETS AND GREENS</span><br />
<span style="color: lime;"><br /></span>
<u>Ingredients:</u><br />
1 bunch beets with greens attached<br />
2 TBSP olive oil<br />
1 clove garlic<br />
salt<br />
pecans or walnuts<br />
sunflower seeds<br />
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1) Cut stems and greens from beets.<br />
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2) Scrub and peel beets<br />
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3) Halve lengthwise and cut into 1/4 inch pieces<br />
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4) In large frying pan, heat 1 TBSP olive oil and 1/4 cut water over medium heat. Add beets, cover, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.<br />
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5) While beets are cooking, rinse stems and cut into 2 inch pieces.<br />
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6) When beets are tender, add stems to pan, cover, and cook for 3 minutes.<br />
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7) Peel and cut garlic into thin slices. Chop greens coarsely.<br />
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8) Add garlic to pan. Cook until fragrant.<br />
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9) Add greens and cook 1 minute, until wilted.<br />
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10) Divide between 4 bowls. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt.<br />
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11) Sprinkle nuts and sunflower seeds over greens.<br />
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A word of caution: beets stain! I spilled some beet juice on my shirt and made a gigantic stain! So be careful or wear a shirt you don't care about.<br />
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Of course, this leads right into the subject of laundry.....Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-79876640895104331362013-10-14T15:56:00.002-07:002013-10-14T15:56:47.163-07:00Trail Running TrialYesterday I decided to take some of my own advice, and get outside to go for a hike. It's been just about a month since I finished my thru-hike, and though I have been walking on roads and beaches, running on asphalt and dirt, and doing a few bootcamp style workouts outdoors, I haven't been back out hiking. I miss it. If feel like something is missing in life.<br />
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Around southeastern Massachusetts, where I live, there are very few hills and absolutely nothing that would qualify even remotely as a mountain. The closest to a steep rocky hill would be about 45 minutes away, at the Blue Hills. (I never thought I would be missing steep rocky hills, with all the complaining about rocks I did!) Since I was going up to visit my brother and his family this weekend, I would be passing by some decent sized hills. I decided to stop off and do a hike on the way up, and on the way home.<br />
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He lives close to some conservation land with hills and trails. I have a nice guidebook with suggested hikes rated "easy", "moderate", and "strenuous." I picked a nice 4.5 mile hike in the "strenuous" category. I figured without a full pack, even something "strenuous" would be pretty moderate.<br />
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How right I was! I wouldn't rate that hike "strenuous" at all. I would call it "easy." Beautiful, yes. (The leaves are all changing and falling in great big drifts along the sides of the trail.) Relaxing, sure! Good for the soul, absolutely. But really really easy. Almost boring.<br />
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"I could actually run this trail!" I thought. And so I did.<br />
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I did not run fast. I did not run far. (only about 4 miles plus .5 of walking) I switched from running to walking in spots where the rocks were loose or the soil was eroded. But I did run.<br />
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It was spectacular! I never was all that interested in trail running prior to this. I figured trailing for marathons was fine on roads with some rolling hills. No need to go crazy.<br />
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Now I see how much I was missing out on!<br />
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And I have a new love.<br />
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I'm searching some online running sites for some good trails to run on, and planning on a trail run once a week or so.<br />
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Good for the body, good for the soul.Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-65869105773092318382013-10-12T19:10:00.001-07:002013-10-13T06:19:10.372-07:00CLUTTERUp until now, I have been focusing on things that directly affect health; dust and chemicals from air fresheners are respiratory irritants that result in specific symptoms. However, there is another culprit that was contributing to the headaches, nausea, and stuffiness: <span style="color: blue;">clutter.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Clutter </span>can be described as all the stuff that accumulates in our homes because of either negligence or sentimental attachment. Far from adding quality to our lives, <span style="color: blue;">clutter </span>actually robs us of our time, our space, our finances our peace of mind, and yes -- our health. When you cannot find your keys because they are lost in a jumble of stuff, you waste time searching for them. If articles of clothing are jammed in overstuffed closets, they become frayed and worn more quickly. Or we may end up buying even more clothing because we cannot easily see what we already have. Studies have shown that people in cluttered environments report higher levels of stress and a more difficult time concentrating on mental tasks. Plus, excessive <span style="color: blue;">clutter </span>makes cleaning up the environment that much harder.<br />
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One of the basic principles on the home organization website<a href="http://flylady.net/"> FlyLady </a> states "You cannot clean clutter." In other words, any attempt to clean up or green up your indoor environment will ultimately be unsuccessful until you reduce the amount of unnecessary items in that environment.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Clutter </span>not only acts as a place for dust to accumulate, but also may block physical access to high accumulation areas for dust, such as clothing piles or drapes. Furthermore, the <span style="color: blue;">clutter </span>itself often leaches out VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into the air, which can contribute health problems.<br />
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So it's official; my next mission for greening up the indoors is <span style="color: blue;">de-cluttering!</span>Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844023910921554714.post-74148593242189426282013-10-11T19:17:00.003-07:002013-10-13T06:17:55.606-07:00Air FreshenersAir fresheners stink.<br />
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Like most Americans, I had been a big fan of air fresheners prior to my thru-hike. I liked the smell of vanilla or "mountain breeze" permeating the house. I liked smelling the scent when I walked in the door.<br />
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I wasn't alone. A recent study of consumer habits estimates sales of artificial fragrances at 8 billion dollars per year. That's billion. With a B. We have fresheners in our cars, our homes, our trash cans, in our vacuum cleaners. We sprinkle air fresheners in powder form, spray them in the air, and plug gel tabs into the wall to release the scent slowly over time. All in the name of freshness.<br />
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Of course, after living in the woods for almost 6 months, I no longer liked the artificial smell when I walked in the door. (FYI, they smell absolutely nothing like an actual mountain breeze!) If it were just the smell, however, I could deal with it. Any smell, no matter how vile, seems to dissipate over time as we grow accustomed to it. I could get used to fake mountain breeze if I needed to.<br />
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It was the headaches that bothered me. The longer I was exposed to air fresheners, the worse the headaches became. The headaches were often accompanied by nausea and mild dizziness. These symptoms would only go away when I went outside.<br />
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It's no wonder! A 2007 study by the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) revealed a myriad of potentially harmful chemicals in air fresheners.<br />
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The most alarming is a type of chemical known as <span style="color: magenta;">phthalates. Phthalates</span><span style="color: #783f04;"> </span>are used to prolong the amount of time that products maintain their fragrance; a preservative, if you will. Common <span style="color: magenta;">phthalates </span>found in air fresheners include<span style="color: magenta;"> di-ethyl phthalates (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalates (DBP), di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), di-methyl phthalate (DMP), and di-isohexyl phthalate (DIHP)</span><span style="color: #783f04;">. </span>These compounds have been linked with endocrine, reproductive, and developmental problems -- especially the development of male genitals when pregnant women are exposed to these compounds.<br />
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A majority of air fresheners emit <span style="color: magenta;">terpenes, </span>chemicals derived from citrus oils. <span style="color: magenta;">Terpenes </span>are not dangerous on their own, but are unstable compounds and can react with naturally occurring <span style="color: magenta;">ozone </span>to produce <span style="color: magenta;">formaldehyde. </span>Anyone who had to dissect a frog in high school will be familiar with <span style="color: magenta;">formaldehyde, </span>a preservative often used in the embalming process. <span style="color: magenta;">Formaldehyde, </span>a known carcinogen, is also linked with wheezing, coughing, irritation of they eyes, nose, and throat, nausea, dizziness, and headaches.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;">Butane, isobutane, and propane </span>highly flammable chemicals used to make lighter fluid and fuel for camp stoves have been linked with cardiovascular and respiratory problems, skin irritation, and nerve damage.<br />
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Speaking of nerve damage, many air fresheners employ the use of a chemical called <span style="color: magenta;">p-dichlorylbenzene. P-dichlorylbenzene </span>coats your nostrils in a fine film which over time deadens the nerve cells and reducing your ability to perceive smells. Additionally, <span style="color: magenta;">p-dichlorylbenzene </span>has been linked to asthma, allergy attacks, skin and eye irritation, and is classified by the CDC as a "possible carcinogen."<br />
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The NRCD has advised consumers to avoid using air fresheners whenever possible, and to seek out air fresheners that have the lowest levels of <span style="color: magenta;">phthalates. </span>(A list of brands and their <span style="color: magenta;">phthalate </span>level can be found at www.nrdc.org/health/home/airfresheners/fairfresheners.pdf) The EPA has not advised consumers not to use air fresheners, but rather to "exercise care with usage."<br />
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A more prudent option may be to use natural alternatives to air fresheners.<br />
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The most obvious (and effective) method for freshening the air naturally is to <span style="color: magenta;">open a window. </span>Opening windows improves the overall air quality of the house by letting in fresh air and allowing odors to dissipate. By opening a window for 30 minutes per day, you can keep the air in the house smelling fresher.<br />
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Keep a small bowl of <span style="color: magenta;">baking soda </span>or <span style="color: magenta;">white vinegar </span>in the room to absorb odors. <span style="color: magenta;">Baking soda </span>also works well as a carpet deodorizer or when sprinkled in the bottom of garbage cans. For airborne fresheners, mix 1/4 cup <span style="color: magenta;">baking soda </span>in 1 cup water and put in spray bottle. A one to four ratio of <span style="color: magenta;">white vinegar</span> to water will also work. A couple tablespoons of <span style="color: magenta;">coffee </span>sprinkled at the bottom of the trash can or placed in a small bowl or plastic container is another option, for <span style="color: magenta;">coffee </span>loves who just can't get enough of the smell. (Ground <span style="color: magenta;">coffee</span> will also absorb odors.)<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;">Essential oils</span> can be placed in a diffuser for freshness. <span style="color: magenta;">Essential oils</span> may also be added to vinegar mixtures if you find the smell of vinegar offensive. A word of caution when buying <span style="color: magenta;">essential oils: </span>inexpensive oils sold in discount stores are often just artificially scented with the same myriad of chemicals in air fresheners. It is much safer to purchase <span style="color: magenta;">essential oils </span>at health food stores. Though they can be expensive, high quality<span style="color: magenta;"> essential oils</span> will last for a long time.<br />
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Finally, place <span style="color: magenta;">house plants </span>around the house. <span style="color: magenta;">House plants </span>not only contribute to the overall <span style="color: blue;">air quality</span> of the house by producing oxygen, they also absorb odors, and can actually neutralize the more volatile compounds found in commercial air freshener. Plus, many <span style="color: magenta;">house plants</span> emit their own fresh scent!<br />
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Now that's what I call a green air freshener!<br />
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<br />Pink Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11548852449701564337noreply@blogger.com0