Reading List

 The book fairy was kind to me over the past month! For you, a list of what's new on my bookshelf. I heartily endorse each of these titles.

• Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills by Raleigh Briggs. The "type" and illustrations are all done by hand for a 'zine edge with a radical feel. This is an excellent resource for wild-crafting and making your own tinctures, as well as natural home and health care.

• The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin. Valuable to anyone who wants to build a presence in today's crafting market. 

• Made From Scratch by Jenna Woginrich. I haven't read this yet, but I am anxious to get started!  Part memoir and part how-to manual, Made from Scratch recounts Woginrich’s growing independence and the successes and missteps she experiences as she learns to more fully live off the land. By turns upbeat, dramatic, and sometimes sorrowful, her story embodies the experience of the new homesteader  one who is committed to reducing dependence on commercially produced goods while still working a day job to pay the rent. Woven into the narrative, readers will find easy-to-follow instructions for making clothing, playing a musical instrument, preserving fruit, brewing the best pot of coffee imaginable, and much more.  (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.com)

• Moby Duck by Donovan Hohn. I haven't cracked this one yet either, but the concept is incredibly compelling! Selected by The New York Times Book Review as a Notable Book of the Year. When the writer Donovan Hohn heard of the mysterious loss of thousands of bath toys at sea, he figured he would interview a few oceanographers, talk to a few beachcombers, and read up on Arctic science and geography. But questions can be like ocean currents: wade in too far, and they carry you away. Hohn's accidental odyssey pulls him into the secretive world of shipping conglomerates, the daring work of Arctic researchers, the lunatic risks of maverick sailors, and the shadowy world of Chinese toy factories. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.com)
  
  
• Making It by Kelly Coyne & Erik Knutzen. Written by the couple behind Root Simple and Urban Homestead (which I gifted to Jessica and have heard high reviews). Full of DIYs for the home that go beyond mixing baking soda and lemon juice and venture into castile soap making (with lye!), building your own chicken coops, slaughtering said chickens in a humane way if you so choose, kombucha brewing, and plenty of other truly radical projects. 

• Bust DIY Guide to Life from Bust Magazine. Clever sewing projects, easy vegan recipes, DIY intimacy ideas for yourself and/or your partner, wedding planning, and even your rights in caring for loved ones when they pass. It's Bust magazine, how could this not be wonderful? And it is.

• The Cook & The Butcher by Brigit Binns. A meat-oriented cook book from Williams Sonoma, with contributions from Mark Martin. Mark is a family friend, fellow Iowan, and owner of Nelson's Meat Market, a dying breed of classic butcheries. He's an incredibly kind and knowledgeable man, I'm so glad to see him find this success! Below you can see his personal inscription in my book, written after he was told Jake and I eat mostly vegetarian these days.

• Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison. This is the bible of vegetarian cooking. Organized by ingredient, Madison gives detailed information including storage, health benefits, choosing the best fruits and vegetables, and cooking methods, followed by tried-and-true recipes for the ingredient.  This is more of a reference book than recipe book. Have a surplus of tomatoes? Head to the tomato chapter and learn how to make marinara. Want to try lentils for the first time? There's four pages to guide you through the process and make something you'll love. I can't recommend this tome enough.

 To Brooke & Jake

In a weak moment think "BEEF"!

Happy grilling

Mark Martin

Christmas 2011

DIY Dishwashing Detergent

Natural, Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

recipe from DIY Natural

1 cup Borax

1 cup Washing Soda (found easily in the laundry aisle of grocery/drug stores)

1/2 cup citric acid (cheap at a Middle Eastern grocery)

1/2 cup kosher salt

-white vinegar as a rinse aid-

Borax- $5.00/76oz

Washing Soda-  $3.50/55oz

Citric Acid- $2.50/8oz

Kosher Salt- $2.00/16oz

White Vinegar- $3.00/128oz

Approximate Total: $16.00

By my loose calculations, it cost me just over $2.00 to make a 3 cup batch of homemade dishwashing detergent. 

At a tablespoon per run, I will be able to do 48 dish loads with that $2.00. 

The added bonus, of course, is that I know that my kitchen is free of unnatural chemicals.

Stored in a coffee can I'd saved from Trader Joe's (I use this coffee for cold press toddies, and the french press gets the good beans from the local shops). Labeled clearly with both what it is (for safety) and what it's made from (for future convenience).

The leftover ingredients will be saved to make other cleaning supplies, like laundry detergent. From Gardners 2 Bergers has a nice compilation of natural cleaning recipes. Meanwhile, I am tempted to use up the citric acid by  creating and then devouring some super, super Sour Patch Kids.

DIY Ethical Hair "Extensions"

 Do ever you start to feel like maybe you look too "normal"? I suppose it's difficult to blend in much when you have a facial piercing, large visible tattoo, and occasionally wacky outfits...but I started to feel it recently anyhow. 

I'd been considering putting a few bleach-blonde extensions to frame my face, as bleaching my own hair only  ends up it breaking off. BUT extensions are expensive, and human hair travels down a peculiar road that I am not especially comfortable with. Feather extensions, while pretty, are an even more sordid practice on a level similar to fur coats. I'll avoid making this political, but I'll include a few resources at the bottom if you choose to pursue the information. 

These colorful "extensions" were my ethical solution. Quick, cheap, and a craft statement. They took about 5 minutes to put in, and will last as long as I choose to leave them in.

1. Cut a length of embroidery floss (yarn would work too) about twice the length of your hair, 

2. Carefully select a lock of hair about 1/4" square in size, sure to isolate only the hairs you want to braid (flyaways will snag and pull)

3. tie the floss at the top of your chosen lock--as close to your scalp as possible--with the two tails of floss falling at equal lengths

4. Do a simple 3-strand braid! My three strands were the two embroidery floss lengths with my lock of hair serving as one strand.

5. Tie a good knot with your floss at the bottom of your braid. Trim the excess thread at whatever length you choose. I chose to cut my thread tails off completely, but it's equally cute to leave them long.

6. Bonus: add an embellishment, like charms or ethically-obtained feathers, at the bottom. 

Excuse the messy hair, it's my windblown bed-head. Today has been warm and sunny, so walked down to a delicious lunch at Glenn's Diner down the street. Our lovely server stopped me in the middle of ordering to ask about my extensions, then exclaimed, "I'm totally stealing that, and you're going to hate me for it!" Not true! Please, steal my idea! 

If you try out it, send me a photo? 

I'm having a difficult time finding a reliable source for human hair extension information, so rather than link you to something I don't totally trust, I'll recommend you watch

Good Hair, Chris Rock's interesting documentary about hair in the African American community, with a great focus on the sourcing of human hair extensions.

A story from the Seattle Times that explains some of the issues regarding feather extensions.

No 'Poo

Carissa asked me to contribute a write-up of my recent personal care experiment for her Sociology of the Environment class. It seemed appropriate to pass it along to the internet. There is an almost unending supply of information on the No Shampoo ("No Poo") method all over the web and in print, this is simply my experience with it. It's a little "TL,DR" so I apologize in advance. To skip straight to some reputable sources, head down to the bottom of this post.

My hair and I trying on glasses at the Renegade Craft Fair on Sept 12 (1.5 months without shampoo).

As I get older, my once straight hair gets curlier and curlier. My hair has always been dry and coarse, but with the curls it only continues to become drier. Expensive deep conditioning treatments or homemade oil masks never did any good, nor did altering the quantity or frequency of conditioning. I'd been hearing about a shampooless movement--"No Poo"--for years, and decided that I'd give it a chance as soon as I'd completed my employment at a coffee shop, just in case. No Poo eliminates unnecessary chemicals (sulfates and silicones) that strip your hair of what it needs and causes build-up of what it doesn't. I am prone to "alternative," body- and Earth-friendly methods anyhow; I use a handmade tea tree oil and sage deodorant powder, wash my face with castille and witch hazel, and eat a diet as organic as I can afford.

The compulsion to shampoo frequently to rinse out grease is a cyclical problem. Scalps were designed to regulate certain amounts of oil to keep skin and hair healthy. By stripping these natural oils with sulfates, the scalp begins to overcompensate and hair becomes greasy. The No Poo method stops the cycle and allows oil distribution to normalize, making for a healthier head of hair and less of a dependency on expensive, chemical products. This, from my understanding, is most successful on wavy, curly, and coarse hair. Below, I'll share my process for No Poo, though there are many variations to try.

First, I shampooed a final time with a sulfate product, to strip any build-up that may have been in my hair. Following shampoo, I conditioned with a sulfate and silicone-free conditioner found at my local apothecary (also available at co-ops or health food stores). To avoid frizz and drying out, I dry with a t-shirt rather than a towel, just until my hair stops dripping water. No blow drier for me, I just let the air do its thing. I'm not one to use styling products in my hair either, but there are No Poo friendly gels and mouses for those who are. Now that I've settled into the No Poo lifestyle, I rinse my hair with very hot water only about once a week, being sure to use my fingertips to scrub my scalp and loosen any dirt. Separately, l condition about once a week, rotating every other with diluted apple cider vinegar and my natural conditioner. When I use the creme conditioner, I make sure to apply it at the beginning of my shower, let it rest in my hair until I am almost finished, then rinse it out, massaging as I would with shampoo. I don't leave the apple cider vinegar solution in my hair any longer than 30 seconds, but it works wonders.

Any No Poo resource will make one warning very clear: there is very much an adjustment period. During this period, usually sometime between the second and fifth week, you will no doubt feel grimy and unattractive. Your hair is going through a rough patch during this time, trying to re-regulate its oil while still overcompensating a bit. This rough patch is worth its pain, and can be eased with a little talc or corn starch brushed through the trouble spots. I've also read that brushing each side of your head, from roots to tips,100 times a day--a la Marcia Brady-- can expedite the adjustment process

I've been on the No Poo regimen for over two months now, and expect to maintain indefinitely. Each week that passes, my hair becomes softer with more defined curls. For the first time in my life, my hair shines. My locks are no longer dry, and not the least bit greasy. Since hitting the four week mark, I get compliments from strangers about how nice my curls look. My one, small complaint is that I've lost volume, but that's a result of frizz reduction. In the photo above you can see that my hair is by no means flat, I am just partial to a big, wild head of hair.


The most frequent question is about the actual cleanliness of my hair and scalp. I can assure you there is no grit, grime, or smell other than grapes--the scent of my conditioner. My bank account is slightly happier, my plastic waste reduced, and my body no longer exposed to certain unnecessary chemicals. I'd recommend the No Poo method to anyone who thinks they might be suited for it. 

My hair and I doing awkward poses in the pre-painted craft room (about 2.5 weeks without shampoo).

Just a few resources:
1. A to-date photo, 2.5 months into the process, of my hair here.


2. List of No Poo-friendly conditioners.

I use Desert Essence, though honestly I will probably try a different brand next time, because I feel like it leaves my hair feeling a little peculiar after I use it. It does its job, though, and I love the scent.


3. Write-up by NPR about the shampoo industry,
"The current trend of frequent shampoos may have started on May 10, 1908, when the New York Times published a column advising women that it was OK to wash their hair every two weeks. At that time, once a month was the norm. Decades later, TV marketing campaigns began to convince us that daily washing was the thing to do. A 1970s Faberge ad for Farrah Fawcett shampoo is one example."


4. A good how-to from NaturallyCurly.com.


5. THE book to have if you have no idea what to do with your curls. I've witnessed several heads of curls transform from pretty to stunning with this book's help, Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey.

Wassup, B?

Wishful dressing works! The past two days have been over 40 degrees here, and the forecast is due to slowly creep up to 60 by Thursday. Iowa can be brutal, but waiting will inevitably bring you the occasional unseasonal weather. Here I am acting foolish and not wearing a coat in the 35-degree weather:

Enjoying the fact that there is ground space not wet, icy, or snow-covered.

Outfit seemingly inspired by Carissa.

Dress: My favorite and most-complimented dress. So comfortable. Vintage, $5.00

Cardigan: Handed down by my mom after an accidental shrink in the dryer, free

Belt: Thrifted, $.25

Earring: Upcycled from old jewelry, seen here, free

Socks: Target, $1.75

Shoes: Thrifted work (read:filthy) Keds, bought by my boo, free

Sunglasses: Douche-y, but it was legitimately bright. Vintage, purchased at Thrift Mart (my favorite day of the year!), $.25

Approximate Total: $7.25

Rather than gather at one of our usual drinking establishments, we (the crew) collectively decided to leave the success/raucousness of Friday's PROM! be and enjoy a quiet Saturday and Sunday. I spent my Saturday afternoon working with housemate Brandon, who was miserably stuffed up. I offered him some natural tips for relief. Witness:

Ingredients: a quarter tablespoon of "wasabi" paste and a whole lotta gumption.

Results: Major discomfort, but about 30 minutes of intense and immediate relief.

 Saturday evening, Jake and I had our Lincoln's-Birthday-Not-Valentine's-Day Date. If you ever want to take me out on the best! date! ever!*, I recommend you follow suit: Super burgers and cheeseballs at the Starlite Room, an hour of pinball at the local dive bowling alley, at least an hour in the store in quest for the perfect snacks, and way too much candy while watching way too much Party Down in our jammies. Swoon.

A handsome fellow posing in front of the Local Bowler's Hall of Fame. I'm a little concerned about Mr. Bottom Left.

 Can I just brag for a moment and say I earned 22 million points in JUST ONE TURN, and replay was 31 million on the Sopranos pinball game? Sure, I blew it and basically scratched my final two turns...but still! I grew up with a machine in my home and was raised by my dad to be a pinball wizard, touring the area for the best machines. It's one of many fun things my dad and I would do on "father/daughter days," my favorite days.

Do you know of any pinball machines open for public play in the Cedar Rapids area? Hit me up! They're tough to find these days. I'd love to make a database/locator!

*Just kidding, I am kinda-sorta-totally life partners with that guy up there. But I will gladly accept those activities under the (metaphorical) blanket of friendship!

Reusing & Reducing Pt. 1: The Electric Razor

 This is the Remington electric razor for ladies. It's rechargable (no batteries to waste!), shower safe, easy to clean, and pretty reliable. I've been using electric razors since I began to shave, and have only had to invest twice in those 10+ years. For about $30--including eliminating the need for shaving gel-- it pays for itself in just a couple months. No more tossing out disposable blades and handles!

The shave may not be as silky-smooth as those triple-bladed lady razors, but the embarrassing look of stubble is definitely gone. The razor comes with different attachments for various uses--bikini line, just a trim, eyebrows, and close-shaves. The close-shave attachment certainly gets down far enough that you'll still feel like a "real lady." It's safer (no more cuts) and much faster, too!

Feminist bonus: the white and purple colors are mildly lady-like, but not obnoxious pink or floral like most "for her" products. One of my pet peeves--like this.

Disclaimer: This post is about my electric razor for my legs and underarms. Let's be frank here. I am indeed one of "those girls" that doesn't really shave either of those things but once a month. Yes, I firmly believe in a woman's right to choose whether or not she wants to shave (and whatever choice you make, I am totally happy for you, your arms and your legs). My furry legs are not in protest to any sort of forced femininity or an issue of principle. It's laziness. And clumsiness. And a sensitivity so great that you could tell my skin an off-color joke and it'd get irritated.

Oh, the Treaures! The Joy in Hand-Me-Downs.

The support I've received from this blog is overwhelming and so encouraging! It's an excellent exercise in writing and also in creating a focused project--two skills I've let rust away for far too long. Thank you, everyone, for your positive feedback! That adorable creature below, affectionately known as Stinkpants to me, suggested that I give some thoughts on hand-me-downs. What a great idea! Of course, I had to snap a photo of her looking beautiful in the vintage mini-dress I handed down to her as a going-off-to-college gift. What a babe!

Katie Stinkpants in her new apartment and my old dress, looking precious as always

Oh, the Joy!

That dress up there is real cute, right? If you can squeeze into it, chances are you're looking cute too. I could squeeze into it, and sure! it was cute. But again I'll whine about my long torso and my odd proportions when I say that this dress just wasn't perfect for me. Despite my love for its geometric colors and flattering cut, I knew I wasn't doing it justice...but I knew someone who could. Gifting something loved to someone loved is so rewarding, seeing the item succeed in their closet or in their home. This dress is fulfilling its destiny on Stinky in a way that it could never on me, no matter how much I might will it. With any luck, your hand-me-down recipient will still make sure you get the respect you deserve for your treasure. "Like my dress? Broke gave it to me!" Remember, all precious heirlooms first began as hand-me-downs!

Oh, the Excess!

It'd be a great exaggeration to call myself a hoarder, but I will admit to some pretty serious pack-rat tendencies. Most of my clutter is accumulated based on either an item's potential (i.e. craft supplies), or sentimental value. I'm still struggling with my craft supply piles, but I've discovered that by handing down (as opposed to tossing or donating) excess items that are sentimental, the pain of separation is eased. I've given away all of the unnecessaries in my apartment, and finally know where to find that one thing I've been looking for forever and could probably do a roundhouse kick in all my extra space if I had any idea how to actually do one.

Oh, the Agony!

Saying goodbye is hard to do. Take a picture of it. Gift it to someone you see often, who will put the item in their clothing rotation or grant you visitation rights. Months ago, I knew it was time to get rid of a green and black striped sweater I was fond of. Situating it on my dress form and snapping its portrait made me see what I never saw in the mirror--that thing was hideous and unflattering! And now it's good riddance, green-and-black-striped-sweater!

Oh, the Savings!

I don't exaggerate when I say that at least 70% of my apartment is furnished with thrifted or handed-down items. The couch I sit on as I type was dropped off on my porch one day by a co-worker. The television and the chest it rests on were originally in my great aunt's home, as were my sewing table and collection of tiny flamingo figurines. Maybe I haven't earned a spot on apartment therapy yet, but I'll excuse humility for a moment to say that I've done quite well designing my rental space. The table needed a snazzy cloth to cover and the chest needed a couple coats of paint, but the point remains the same: hand-me-downs, paired with a little creativity, are entirely economically responsible.

Oh, What a World!

You know what I love? What I write about ad nauseum? REDUCING WASTE! Giving away your old dress or unloved coffee table keeps it from going into a landfill, and is just one less new dress or coffee table that has to be produced in a factory somewhere. Righteous! Donating your stuff also makes you a real do-gooder, helping a friend with a slim checking account or a non-profit and its patrons (like Goodwill, Salvation Army, DVIP, etc). I'd like to urge you to do your best to first and foremost gift items directly to a person who will use it, and donate it to an organization secondly (things that don't sell in thrift stores often make their way to landfills or developing countries through sketchy practices). Mmm! Social and ecological politeness. Doesn't that feel nice?

Oh! And while we're busy being good people, let's talk about pet hand-me-downs. Jake took in two kitties from a friend who was moving and could not bring them along. Not only is Jake now a total Weird Cat Dad, but the cats were kept out of the shelter, off of the streets, and thus away from drugs, street gangs, and harlot kitties. Their previous mom had the comfort of knowing her babies were going to be well loved and cared for. Pet success!

Weird Cat Dad proof: Jake bought his second-hand cat a pair of infant-sized overalls. This is Emme escaping them.

Oh, the Imperfection!

Sometimes things are handed down to you not for their perfection but for their potential. Don't be discouraged if your new skirt or book shelf isn't perfect. Surfaces can be painted. Loose parts can be nailed or glued. Holes can be mended. Stains can be disguised. Fit can be altered. Recently, Carissa gifted me a lime green skirt whose color and silhouette both screamed, "BROKE!" As "me" as it was, the fit was a little loose and billowy, and the waist bagged. After a little pinning and a swing through the sewing machine (as well as some jazzy applique), the skirt and I have really been able to build a life together.

If you've been gifted something that needs a little spicin', get at me! I have a team of professionals (read: artsy friends) oozing with brilliant ideas and the abilities to execute them. And get 'ta flexing those hand-me-down muscles! Not sure where to start? Attend--or organize--a clothing swap!

For the record, neither Katie nor her pants are-- in any way-- actually stinky.

Smudging the Awkwards

"Even though you got part of it at Urban Outfitters, your outfit was ROCKIN'! -B (the other one)" Note left on my apartment door by my co-worker, house-mate, and buddy Brandon. He is oh-so-sweet and terribly handsome, ladies! I cannot for the life of me get this to publish the right way...so I'll have to try again later.

I cleaned the eff out of my kitchen tonight. Tackled the avoided recycling pile, moved things and scrubbed off the who-knows-what-it-was sludge underneath them, and soaked my stove grates in All Natural Borax. 

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm trying to beat those winter doldrums--the doldrums that manifest as a serious case of the awkwards. Completing tasks that show immediate results is my number one combatant against a bad case of bummers. Next time you feel down, I challenge you to clean or organize something. Pick a small, easily accomplished task like a load of dishes or scrubbing your tub. Organize the pile that's on top of your coffee table. Don't bite off more than you can chew for the time you have, nor choose something that will discourage you halfway through (some cleaning projects seem to get worse before they get better, like organizing a closet). SEE? Doesn't that feel better?

Frolicking/acting a fool in my freshly cleaned kitchen. That weird bump on my hip is from the pocket.

Top: Urban Outfitters, bought in San Francisco when I was 16, $12.00

Skirt: Grey corduroy, thrifted and rehemmed and shaped, $2.00

Belt: Borrowed from another dress

Tights: Betsy Johnson, $3.00

Socks: Christmas gift from the boy's momma

Necklace: Gift from Carissa of Luxe Debris

Shoes: Justin's, $4.38

Approximate Total: $22.00

I've got a lot to say about the place I bought this shirt ten years ago. This isn't the place to say it (if for no reason than to avoid libel). What I will say is that since I was 16, I have obviously realized the necessity to avoid being a consumer of the mass-produced, and spending my money outside of the community. Still, if I were to throw the shirt out on principle, that money would have been spent in vain. It's too late to do anything about it, so I may as well get every last cent's worth. If you ever want to have a chat with me about Urban Outfitters, I'll bring the coffee if you bring the snacks.

This is a smudge stick, just dried sage bundled together to be burned like incense. I got mine for cheap ($3.50) at The Wishing Realm.

I smudged my space for the first time tonight. A bundle of sage and a brain full of empowering thoughts and positive goals to cleanse and renew. Surely there are various ways to do this, but my process was to slowly follow the perimeter of my apartment while blowing on the sage and focusing deeply only on the smoke and my thoughts. This is the time in my life that I make good on the promises I make to myself. Negative feelings are only motivation to try harder. My energy will be devoted to being a better person, a better friend, a better family member, and a better member of my community. Say all you want about the hippie-dippie, crystal-humping stigma behind a practice like this, it is never a bad idea to take five minutes to focus on your priorities and goals. 

Besides, what can it hurt? 

And it smells good.

Winter Slap

Winter got me. Those doldrums are here. Hopefully I can kick them tomorrow with a healthy dose of positive attitude and lots of greens and almonds. 

I'm working on a legit, relevant post full of substance. But until that happens, here are some photos. Blogging for the sake of blogging. Or at least, for the sake of not not-blogging. Get it?

Disclaimer: living alone without a tripod or camera remote makes taking photos of yourself reaaallll awkward. Evidence as follows:

Monday, Takin' a lean in the kitchen.

Top: Thrifted, $1.50

Dress: Thrifted and cropped shorter, $2.50

Belt: Thrifted, $.50

Earrings: Handmade by Rusty La Rue, $7.00 (available at White Rabbit!)

Leggings: Target, years ago, $5.00

Boots: Second-hand, FREE DOLLARS

Approximate Cost: $16.50

What did I do? I made delicious chili verde from scratch! One secret ingredient: a can of Hamm's beer. The rest are secret secret ingredients.

Tuesday, Muschi Cat pictured in the chair.

Top: Reconstructed out of two thrifted shirts and some elbow grease, $1.00 (two shirts for 50cents each)

Skirt: Thrifted, a longer skirt that is comfy enough to roll if I choose to wear it "mini"--an excellent way to get more use out of it, $2.00

Tights: Years old, $2.00ish

Socks: Target, $2.00

Boots: Thrifted cowboys as usual, FREE

Bow: A gift from Carissa at the peak of my bow days, years ago

Approximate Cost: $7.00

What did I do? Sang karaoke stone-cold-sober and altered 2 skirts to wear this week.

Bow & junk pile.

more bang trimming

SATURDAY DATE NIGHT. Note Jake's "before" hair, and his ability to align himself exactly in the two right squares.

Skee-ball! One of our favorite date night activities. And so cheap!

After. More to note: his wide stance and the denim shirt to match my own.

More date night. Jake prefers colored pencils (top), I prefer crayons (bottom).

Erin and I brought identical snacks to work. Nothing gives me an energy punch like a handful of almonds and an orange. $6.00 worth of natural almonds has lasted me nearly two weeks at a handful a day.

Our espresso machine leaked (where the dial is), so we hired Macgyver to rig up half a paper cup and some cardboard. Busted and beautiful!

PS: Happy day-late birthday to my loveliest, lovely Jessica. A birthday post will follow, featuring lots 'o ladies in jumpsuits.

Surviving Cold & Crud Season without Health Insurance

I am 26 and living off a barista's salary. This means being without health insurance until my Hospital Employed Boo puts a ring on it.

And here we are now, a time of year just brutal when it comes to "the crud," so much that nearly everyone I know has had to battle it within the past month.Buddies, I wasn't feeling so hot yesterday. Mild fever, the impending doom of junk collecting in my chest, and the feeling that something just wasn't right. These same symptoms crept up on me in August, and I woke the next day with upper respiratory congestion bad enough that I could hardly breathe. 

I've paired my mild obsession with natural but practical remedies with the fact that I simply cannot afford a doctor's visit*. Under my belt now are some decent health hacks to battle those nasties when they try to ruin my good times. They're affordable, effective, and natural without involving a single crystal or call to the four corners of the earth.

I did these yesterday at the first signs of illness, and I feel almost 100% today!

Left to Right: Heating pad, Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap, Tea Tree Oil, Neti Pot

• First Things First: Know your body! Pay special attention always to how your body feels. This is the first important step in treating an illness-- the key to catching and zapping it early.
• Exercise: Sweat it out! Get your blood moving!
• Hot Compress/Heating pad: A hot compress or heating pad applied directly to the affected area (chest, sinus, etc) stimulates your blood's movement, which will help clear any infection/bacteria. I will often sleep with the heating pad on my chest if I'm feeling congested (make sure you are being safe and only sleep with a pad that is timed to turn off!). Bonus: sleeping like a baby as soon as that heating pad meets my body.
• Peppermint and Tea Tree Oil: Hot, hot, hot steamy showers will loosen up congestion. Use a natural peppermint soap (I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Dr. Bronner's!) or Tea Tree oil in the steam to speed up the process.
• Neti Pot: People find this terrifying, but it's genuinely addicting when you finally try it. I work in a hospital, and most physicians mention the neti pot first and foremost when asking for cold treatment advice. Do this twice-a-day: a pinch of sea salt and warm water through both nostrils. If you do it right, I PROMISE IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE YOU'RE DROWNING or HAVE WATER UP YOUR NOSE. Cross my heart. You can pick these up in a health market or a drug store for $6-$15, depending on the model.

Left to Right: Horseradish, Emergen-C, Water, Garlic Oil

• Horseradish/Spicy Food: Works like a natural vapor rub. Eat a little somethin' somethin' with hot sauce, horseradish, or wasabi and let the drainage begin!
• Emergen-C: Some people like Airborne, but I've always been partial to Emergen-C. Loading up on vitamin C boosts your immune system and increases your energy when you're crud-sluggish. I try to drink one every day, but if I'm feeling crummy I bump it to two. Bonus: it's a multi-vitamin! Hint: I don't recommend Tangerine or Acai as a flavor--instead, stick with Super Orange.
• Fluids: Water is not optional, of course! Help your body flush out that illness. Hint: hot water will also help kill bacteria in your throat. Add a little honey and lemon to soothe an achey gullet. If you're a coffee hound like me, cut back as best you can!
• Garlic Oil: My favorite, FAVORITE trick! I take two of these each day I am feeling bad, and VOILA it's almost an insta-fix. Swallowing a clove of garlic like a pill is as health-effective as a capsule, but definitely less cost-effective. You can find these with all the other supplements and vitamins. Garlic oil actually cleanses your blood, ridding your body of whatever gunk is making you feel lousy. If you do just one thing on this list, DO THIS! Well, and drink water. So, two things! Also, garlic is incredibly heart healthy, so it's not a bad idea to take one of these every day even if you're feeling a-okay.

Good luck, my sicklings! Try these tricks until your symptoms have completely disappeared. If you have any other natural healing tips, please share!

*Disclaimer: While all of these things are 100% natural and safe, it is obviously very important that you respect your body! Make sure you have no allergies or other risks before trying any of these. And of course, your life and health is invaluable--if you NEED to see a health care professional, do it NO MATTER WHAT.