Rachael - Nexus 88's Profile

While I've never made my own deodorants I have tried several all-natural ones. My favorite is Chagrin Valley Soap's, but I love pretty much everything they do.

http://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/products/27/29/for-the-body/organic-deodorant

To the person concerned about needing antiperspirants because of how much they sweat, I would recommend going several days without a deodorant or antiperspirant of any kind and see what happens. I used to freakishly sweat, then while on a trip Vegas one summer I ran out of deodorant. I thought that since I had more at home I wouldn’t bother with buying some just to cover the next few days, and Vegas is dirty/smelly anyways... The amount that I sweated those last few days was dramatically cut down, much closer to what I imagine is “normal”. That’s when I made the move to natural deodorants only, and for me it couldn’t have worked out better; I think it could be worth the experimentation for others that are curious.

At home with mom it was usually cookies [chocolate chips most of the time], or that crazy parfait thing with 'Nilla Wafers, bananas and pudding; if it was a special occasion she'd make a pie!

With grandpa it was usually vanilla ice cream topped with rhubarb preserves he'd made.

I have to make a comment on the magazine...because I get how people are thinking. I first heard about Garden & Gun a few years ago and laughed that anybody would call a magazine that, it was not a surprise that it was a southern lifestyle mag.

Honestly, though, it is a phenomenal publication. It is the only magazine I get truly excited to see in my mailbox.

I've tried all of these at some point, with no success. But when you consider that the first item on my morning list is pants [can't forget those!], it's pretty easy to see why lunch is easy to leave behind.

On Topic: I have an Ikea MYSA RÖNN and it is fantastic! Of course, it is a feather/down, not a poly-fiber; but it was also cheaper than the one listed here; perhaps because it’s a lower warmth rating.

Off Topic: I have to agree with ReadHead, Made in USA is not Made Ethically. Companies are just as capable of treating their workforce well or badly, regardless of locale. The only way to know if social and environmental standards are being met is to do your research and know every aspect of the supply chain for a business/product. This is certainly easier to do with smaller businesses that have a limited offering, but even then is extremely difficult. Additionally, buying items Made in the USA does not mean that you will support the economy of the USA; that’s another thing that can only be known with more a more in-depth look at a company’s assets.

The website says it's LDPE, which is the same plastic as saran wrap. I'm assuming it's just a thicker sheet that's been printed.

Karen from The Art of Doing Stuff did a tutorial on how to make your own re-usable wraps not too long ago. Hers were the beeswax coated style though, so I suppose technically they don't qualify as allergy-free; as some people do have beeswax sensitivities.

http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/beeswax-fabric-food-wrap/

Just remember that if you're going to glue something to a thin backing panel like this you will need to do both sides. Adhered materials create a pull on the original object and cause the curling/warping that's really common, you can counter that by creating an opposing pull on the back side.

I had a Peace Lily in my windowless bathroom for several months and it loved it. There was some light bleed from the adjoining room though (which I think would be most cases), so a tiny bit of natural light but mostly artificial when available. If my roommate didn't complain that it was too large for the counter it would still be there, but unfortunately he was right.

I do the same as TheDanMan, pop off all the keys and go to work; but that's not always possible with some newer keyboards or laptops. It's pretty shocking to see just how disgusting it gets under all those keys...

As for cleaning the monitor, I actually use the cleaner and cloths for my camera lenses.

We went with convenience this year and ordered a pre-made meal from a local natural market. It seemed a bit pricey at first, but in retrospect worth every penny and more. Very little effort, really good food (especially the pie), and a fraction of the cleanup; I’m seriously considering doing this every year now with some extra veggie sides to supplement.