Simple Home Living: 5/11/08

Saturday, May 17, 2008

costco goes organic - sorta

I'm into green ( as much as I can be and am learning to be) and I'm into organic. And, tonight while taking an OJ break, I peeked on over at Lindsay's homey blog with tons of helps and tips and noticed her April 27th post about her Costco Organic Finds. Wow, am I jazzed with women like Lindsay who help women like me out - she makes my life sweeter.

Here's what she posted about Costco:
Organic Baby Food (Earth’s Best)- 24 jars of organic baby food for $13.99…that’s $0.58 per jar! Now that’s a good deal, and a good brand! The box came with 3 different kinds, 8 of each. Varieties were: vegetable and turkey, banana, pear & oatmeal combo, and the last was sweet potatoes, I believe.

Ecos Laundry Detergent - approx $13.69 for 105 loads -wonderful natural detergent! Concentrated so you don’t use very much. Lasts us 3 months while washing around 5 loads per week.

Organic Butter - $6.89 for 2 lb - another good deal - I stretch its use!Organic Peanut Butter - 2/28 oz for $7.45Organic Cold-Pressed Olive Oil - 2/1 litter $17.49Maple Syrup - they often sell an organic version (around $20 for 64 oz)Organic Pacific Tomato Soup - 6/32 oz. $9.99

Organic Chicken Broth - 6/32 oz. $9.49Amy’s Organic Soups - 8/14.3 oz. $11.79
I was so excited to find these tomato products, as their prices were much cheaper than my other source, Azure Standard.

S & W Organic Tomato Paste - 12/6 oz. $4.99S & W

Organic Tomato Sauce - 12/15 oz. $5.95S & W

Organic Diced Tomatoes - 8/14.5 oz. $6.69

Uncured Bacon- 3/12 oz. $10.75Organic Ground Beef - 3 lbs $11.99Organic Whole Chickens for $1.99 per pound!

Organic Raisins - 48 oz $5.69

Organic Salsa (30 oz) & Bean Dip (16 oz) -come together - $5.89

Lundburg Organic Short Grain Brown Rice - 12 lbs $11.49

Organic Whole Wheat Bread - 2/26 oz loaves $4.95

Organic 14 Grain Bread - 2/26 oz loaves $4.79

Organic Sparkling Lemonade - 6/25 oz. $9.29

Annie’s Organic Macaroni & Cheese - 15/60 oz. $9.99

Treetop Organic Applesauce Cups - 36/4 oz. $9.99

Alden’s Organic Ice Cream - 2/48 oz. $7.85

They also carry organic pop tarts…but that’s where I say the “organic” label doesn’t necessarily mean healthy! I am sorry…organic sugar is still sugar!

So, if this list has helped you I'd appreciate it if you went and told Lindsay a big thanks and send her some bloggy roses or something.

cancer and food and life

I'd originally posted this as an update from John Hopkins Medical Center. Because it's my intent to have the utmost of integrity in whatever I write, say, or do, with things like this I will usually check the validity with Snopes.com.

For whatever reason, I did not check this email article and to my chagrin - the one time I don't is the one time I should have. The article I posted is false - in that it's not something that John Hopkins Medical Center wrote.

Fortunately, there are good friends like Janet over at Domestic Bliss that let you know! You know those friends that tell you that you have spinach on your teeth - well, Janet's a good friend like that! Thanks Janet.

So, now what do I do with all this info that I think is good to at the very least consider? I'll keep the post - just remove the John Hopkins scoop and then let my readers evaluate the rest for themselves.

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle ca ncer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to ma make it white in colour.
Better alternative is Bragg's amino's or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains,seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become petrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP 6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.
Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

my friend needs your help

Bloggy world has this way of connecting the hearts of women. Bridges are built from one heart to another, and one of the bridges that got so sweetly built this year is to the heart of Jamala. Her blog focus is to encourage the hearts of single moms (such as herself).

As God's heart often has it - Jamala is changing her role from a wife not yet married to one who is getting married. God's granted the desire of her heart by opening the eyes of a worthy man (because she's a worthy woman). Jamala has trusted God with her hearts desire to be a married wife. She's venturing into the world of seeking to understand her man - as his wife. And, what I've learned about the tenderness of Jamala, she's studied my wifely principles.

This brings me to the help that she needs. Here's her letter to me:
Good Morning Ladies,

I am humbly asking for your help in a matter that is near and dear to me. Since my single mom status is drawing to an end, I have been praying for a way to continue to maintain my blog. My FDH and my minister have both encouraged me to continue blogging after I am married. It is my desire to still reach those singlemothers desiring marriage and to chronicle my transition into my new role. The problem lies in, my blog will need a new idently.

So I have decided to launch a contest for my new blog name. I am asking for your help in this . . .

Please go here to help this lovely bride out! This contest ends on the 22nd of this month . . . so, hurry on over and build a bridge from your heart to hers!

organic help for the garden

Garden days of delight have proven the reality of pests in the garden that Garden Guy has worked so hard at creating. Because we want to be Organic and make good use of God's natural helps and because you do too - I'm posting organic helps here for you to consider. Here, I've posted the fun things to add to the garden and here I've posted some other how to for more natural repellents and here is the coolest automatic watering system and here my Garden Guy shows you how he put in our drip system and here are the instructions to make your own Princess Pathway and here is our inspirtation - we want to be like Pattie Moreno when we grow up. :-)

Create Healthy, Aerated Soil Naturally! Nature’s soil aerators, our live earthworms (redworms) improve and condition the soil as they burrow in search of food. Earthworms excrete a highly nitrous fertilizer (called castings), which contain 5X the available nitrogen, 7X the available phosphorus, 3X the exchangeable magnesium, 11X the available potash, and 1.5X the calcium found in 6 inches of top soil.Use 2-3 worms/sq. ft.

Shipping Included in Price (USPS Priority Mail) All orders ship on Mondays Only (Except holidays). Please select USPS Priority Mail for your shipping option during checkout. Also, as we enter into the higher temperatures of summer we are not always able to ship the worms due to their perishable nature.

We will not ship again until September to the following states: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Nevada, and Utah.As for the rest of the continental United States, the exact ship date will have to depend upon the temperatures. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Buy these little delights here for only $28.50.

The Worm Factory is an efficient way to compost. The square stacking bins allow you to put the worms (ordered separately), their bedding and some food scraps in the bottom and more food waste in the top trays. The worms migrate upward in search of food as the supply below is used up. When they migrate, their castings in the bottom tray can be harvested.

Worm castings are rich with phosphorus, nitrogen, and many other nutrients and trace minerals, making them an excellent organic fertilizer.There is a handy spigot on the bottom tray of the Worm Factory to drain the compost tea. This can be used as a liquid fertilizer wherever needed, too.

The worms in a fully functional 5-tray Worm Factory use about 5-8 pounds of food scraps a week, and you can harvest one bin of castings a month! In a 3-tray Worm Factory unit, you can use about 3-5 pound of food scraps a week, and you can harvest one bin of castings every 6 weeks! Each set comes with a complete, detailed 16 page instruction booklet.The Worm Factory can be used year-round. In the warmer months, place the unit outside in a dry place away from direct sunlight. In cooler months, place the unit inside; it is an odor-free operation.

How Many Worms to Start:Suggested quantity of worms to start is 1000 (1 lb) for a 3-tray Worm Factory; 2000 (2 lbs) for a 5-tray Worm Factory. Buy this Worm Factory here at $92.95

Use this high-powered compost for indoor plants or in your garden. ARBICO Compost™ provides billions of beneficial bacteria that enrich your soil. This compost is unlike any other. It contains insect exoskeleton particles that act as a natural nematicide when you incorporate it into the soil.One cubic foot bag covers a 24 sq. ft. area 1/2” deep. Buy this high-powered compost here!

The Lady Bug House is "Home Sweet Home" to Lady Bugs - a garden's best defense against harmful insects such as aphids, plant lice, whitefly and scale insects.Use the house to release live lady bugs, or to draw wild populations.Each house contains 2 lady bug lures, habitat inserts and lady bug diet. The diet brings lady bugs into breeding condition, which helps them spend more time in the garden, and to lay eggs that hatch into more lady bugs. House lasts the entire season, replace lady bug lures regularly. Treats 2 sq. yards of infested plants. Each lure lasts from 2-3 weeks. Buy your Lady Bug House here for only $6.75

APHID CHASER uses a NON-TOXIC, natural insect pheromone to disrupt aphid colonies and ward them off your roses, vegetables and houseplants.Insects use pheromones to communicate. This pheromone dispenser upsets the insect's chemical ecology and breaks down communications in aphid colonies. These nontoxic dispensers do not affect beneficial insects or rose plants. They act to ward off most common aphid types, especially green peach aphids. Effects can occur in 5-10 days.

Applying APHID CHASER early in the season will prevent aphid colonies from becoming established.Place 1 dispenser every 20 sq ft or 1 dispenser per badly infested rose bush. Replace dispensers every 3 to 4 weeks.Package contains 8 individually wrapped dispensers. Buy APHID CHASER here for only $8.95. I am.

Aphid Whitefly Sticky Traps Seabright 4"X 7" 5 packBeats all other traps!
This yellow sticky trap catches whitefly as well as aphids, thrips, leafhoppers, and moths. Use in the greenhouse or outside. Place one trap per 25-50 sq. ft. One/acre for monitoring purposes. Only $3.97 here!

Hummingbirds are a fantastic addition to every garden, not only for their delightful beauty and entertainment value, but also because they consume large quantities of small insects in addition to drinking high energy nectar. Keep your hummingbirds well fed with this inexpensive blend of Sucrose and Dextrose. This high-energy nectar will keep your hummingbirds around in order to keep your small insect populations down.This 5.3 ounce package will make one quart of pure nectar. Refrigerate unused portions. Buy this here.

This patented, all weather formula makes slugs and snails disappear! Slug Magic is biodegradable and safe for use around pets and wildlife, worms & beneficials. Slug Magic can be used in fruit and vegetable gardens up to the day of harvest.Contains: 1.0% pelletized Iron Phosphate1 lb treats 1,000 sq. ft. Buy this product here for only $9.75.

It's important to routinely check the ph of your garden soil. If your soil does not have the proper pH level, your plants will not thrive and stay healthy. An improper pH level will keep all the nutrition – including extra fertilizer or soil amendments – locked in the soil and unavailable for your plants. Improper pH will also allow fungal and other diseases to attack plants and will inhibit fungicides and pesticides (even organic ones!) from working. But perhaps the worst thing of all is that rather than your chosen plants, your naughty uninvited guests with thrive best of all. That’s right–weeds LOVE soils with improper pH! They’re even considered an “indicator” that something’s amiss. Order your PH Test kit here on sale for only $4.85

Friday, May 16, 2008

a race for marriage

A Race for Marriage - by Tony Perkins - FRC Action President

After yesterday's colossal ruling on same-sex "marriage," both sides can agree on one thing--it's going to be a long six months. In less than 24 hours, the decision by California's Supreme Court to strike down the historic definition of marriage has catapulted the issue from semi-dormancy to the forefront of the general election.

As Americans know from the last presidential race, a decision on marriage has the ability to awaken voters in every corner of the country. Not surprisingly, the candidates were careful to sidestep Thursday's ruling in their public comments yesterday. When pressed, a lone spokesman from Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) office dashed off a quick response reiterating that the senator "supports the right of the people of California to recognize marriage as the unique institution sanctioning the union between a man a woman..."

It's important to note that both Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) claim to oppose same-sex marriage but support benefits for same-sex couples. As such, they should have defended the status quo in California, which grants domestic partners virtually all the benefits of marriage.

To be consistent, Obama and Clinton must condemn the ruling and reemphasize their support for the portion of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prevents states from being forced to recognize the same-sex "marriages" of other states. But since both have said that they want to do away with the portion of DOMA that defines marriage for federal purposes, they're in an awkward position. Their response will either alienate liberals or force them to fully embrace same-sex "marriage," which would alienate the majority of the country.

Sen. McCain, on the other hand, has a history of support for marriage protection amendments in the states. It's up to him to make this issue a priority in his campaign and rally the support of social conservatives around his position. He must speak openly--and frequently--about the threat this decision poses to the family and do his part to denounce activism in our courts. As his home state votes on a marriage protection amendment for the second time this fall, we encourage him to show his commitment to marriage by leading the charge for its passage.

Although the California court ordered the ruling to take effect in 30 days, a coalition of pro-family legal forces, including the Alliance Defense Fund, plan to approach the court immediately to ask the justices to stay their ruling until after the vote on the marriage amendment this fall. Until then, we continue to pray that voters across America are roused by the millions in defense of the family's foundation.

the O Magazine - Best Foundation

This Press Release just zipped into my inbox. Check it out girls! AnyWear Multi-Purpose Makeup Stick SPF 15 has won the O Magazine First Annual Spring Makeup O-ward for Best Foundation!

This product will also be featured on TODAY'S broadcast of Oprah as they feature their O-ward winners.

The ultra-creamy formula of NEW AnyWear Multi-Purpose Makeup Stick SPF 15 glides on smoothly and melts into skin for a seamless look. A versatile addition to any foundation wardrobe, this convenient duo of portable mini sticks means you can keep one at home and take one with you to touch up or add more coverage when and where needed.

Key Benefits:-Multi-purpose: Wear it all over or use it to hide imperfections-Buildable coverage-Long-wearing (for up to 8 hours)-UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum SPF 15-Oil-free-Dermatologist-tested-Non-acnegenic. My personal facial products are here.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

how cute and snuggly are these

North American Union: Conspiracy or Coverup?

. . . for those who want to know . . .

North American Union: Conspiracy or Coverup?
by Phyllis Schlafly, April 16, 2008

Ever since Hillary proclaimed the Clintons as the victims of a "vast right-wing conspiracy," conspiracy has been the hot word used to ridicule your opponents. When President Bush wanted to avoid answering questions about whether the Security and Prosperity Partnership is the prelude to a North American Union connected by a three-country superhighway, he accused SPP critics of believing in a conspiracy.

By definition, conspiracies are usually secret. There's nothing secret about right-wingers organizing to criticize the Clintons and their goals, and there's nothing secret about plans to morph the United States into a North American Union.

The elites, however, must be feeling the heat. Following the Hudson Institute's helpful suggestion to change the name of the Security and Prosperity Partnership, the fourth annual SPP meeting to be held in New Orleans on April 21 will now be called the North American Leaders Summit, and the promoters of the TransTexas Corridor are trying to change its name to "regional loop."

To see what the elites are planning, you don't have to peek through keyholes or plant a spy under the table. Just read their published reports.

The words most frequently used to describe their goals are "economic integration," "labor mobility," "free movement of goods, services and people across open borders," and "harmonization" of regulations.

The Council on Foreign Relations published a major report on May 17, 2005, only two months after the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) was announced by President Bush, Mexico's Vicente Fox, and Canada's Paul Martin in Waco on March 23, 2005. The CFR document explaining SPP's goals and methodology was posted on the U.S. State Department website, thereby confirming its authenticity.

The CFR report explains that the three SPP amigos at Waco "committed their governments" to "Building a North American Community" by 2010 with a common "outer security perimeter," "the extension of full labor mobility to Mexico," allowing Mexican trucks "unlimited access," "totalization" of illegal aliens into the U.S. Social Security system, and "a permanent tribunal for North American dispute resolution."

The prestigious Center for Strategic & International Studies published a report in 2007 called "North American Future 2025 Project." It advocates "economic integration," the "free flow of people across national borders," and "policies that integrate governments."

The CSIS report even calls for "harmonizing legislation" on intellectual property rights with other countries. That's a direct attack on our U.S. patent system, which is the key to U.S. leadership in inventions and innovation.

The Hudson Institute published a 35-page White Paper in 2007 called "Negotiating North America: The Security and Prosperity Partnership." It states that SPP is the vehicle "for economic integration" with Mexico and Canada and even "combines an agenda with a political commitment."

The Hudson White Paper explains that SPP's "design" is for the executive branch to exercise full "authority" to "enforce and execute" whatever is decided by a 3-nation agreement of "civil service professionals" as though it were "law." That means evading treaty ratification and even congressional legislation and oversight.

Don't forget the importance of the Wall Street Journal and its longtime, very influential editorial-page editor, the late Robert Bartley. When Mexico's Vicente Fox called for NAFTA to evolve into something like the European Union, Bartley wrote: "There is one voice north of the Rio Grande that supports his vision. To wit, this newspaper."

One of the most influential business writers, Peter F. Drucker, wrote in his book, Post-Capitalist Society, that "The economic integration of the three countries into one region is proceeding so fast that it will make little difference whether the marriage is sanctified legally or not."

When Larry King asked Mexico's Vicente Fox about plans for a "Latin America united with one currency," Fox answered in the affirmative. He said that one currency was part of the "vision" of the Free Trade Area of the Americas that Bush agreed to in the Declaration of Quebec City in 2001.

So now we know why the Bush Administration won't build a fence to interfere with "labor mobility" across open borders. Now we know why Bush won't pardon Ignatio Ramos and Jose Compean, while winking at the prosecutor's deal to give immunity to a professional drug smuggler.

Now we know why Bush thumbed his nose at the overwhelming congressional votes (411-3 in the House and 75-23 in the Senate) to exclude Mexican trucks from U.S. roads. Now we know why Bush has been more persistent in pursuing "totalization" to put illegal aliens into Social Security than to promote his proposal to privatize a small part of Social Security for American citizens.

This is no conspiracy. It's all part of the "economic integration" of the North American countries that's been openly talked about for years.

Read this article online: http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2008/apr08/08-04-16.html

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

put up your hand if you . . .

Laura asks, "Put up your hand if it drives you crazy when toys are all mixed up and scattered all over the house?"

At times there are five fabulous grandkiddos on our homefront and we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it, but sometimes the leggos hurt when I walk on them. Laura's tips are FANTASTIC, again, of course!

organize the closet....get encouraged

I've been snooping around tonight, enjoying some girlfriend's blogs and Laura's got me excited. She always makes me smile with the super cool organizing ideas she blogs about. This one is a great encourager of a post. I'd done a closet organizing post here, but I think hers deserves the prize. You Go Girl!

save money at the grocery store

Gosh, who doesn't want to save money at the grocery store! Amy, at Mom Advice, is such a great saver with such fantastic ideas and tips the evening news put her in the spot light. Way to go girl. Check it out!

in the mood for a new recipe?

Mom Advice Guru, Amy, posted a yum recipe for yummy jerk chicken. She says they tried a new marinade and says "it was delicious! This spice mix has the perfect balance of spices and coats the chicken beautifully."

i HATE junk mail

It's like I don't have enough to do . . . and then the junk mail keeps coming and I truly detest the stuff. It's the first thing I crab when my husband brings in the mail. Anyway, while paying Lindsay a quick visit, I noticed this GREAT post on what to do so your stress level doesn't increase because of JUNK MAIL.

mexico - what will we do?

My dear friend, Maria, sent me this.

Why Are Dems Making Mexico Suffer?
Ibd Tue May 13, 7:02 PM ET

Diplomacy: When a neighbor's house is on fire, it makes sense to send water, not argue about building codes. Except to Democrats. As Mexico reels from its drug war, Congress is withholding critical help. It's a lethal logic.

The Merida Initiative, proposed to Congress by President Bush after consultations with Mexico last fall, is a three-year, $1.4 billion program to help Mexico wipe out drug traffickers and terrorists.

For years they've scourged Mexico, but never as now, since President Felipe Calderon dispatched 36,000 troops to fight them in 2006. Taking these barbarians on is critical to Mexico's future and an act of courage that has been shown by no other Mexican leader.

It's a hard war that Mexico has fought alone and paid big. Last week traffickers struck at the heart of the Mexican state by assassinating the acting chief of the national police, Edgar Millan Gomez. They also have killed more than 400 Mexican troops and police.

These traffickers are brazen and vicious. The Gulf Cartel's Zeta paramilitaries openly solicit hit men on billboards and post clips of their killings on the Internet. They engage in al-Qaida-like beheadings as they battle the Sinaloa Cartel for drug transshipment routes.

They murder anyone in their path, from fellow dopers to innocent bystanders. They've machine-gunned restaurants full of people, and dried up tourism in border towns. Terrified locals live in fear of kidnapping and put bars on their windows. The bodies are piling up, with nearly 4,000 dead in the last year and a half. And the violence is only getting worse.

That's why the callousness that congressional Democrats have shown toward the first $500 million to buy helicopters, train police and beef up courts and prisons is so appalling. Bush wants it included in a supplemental defense bill on which he's urging fast action.

The Democrat response in the House has been to try to cut the aid, possibly to as low as $50 million, and House Republicans fear they may not even get that when a vote comes up on Thursday.

Democrats have a lot of excuses for withholding the money. Their pals in the AFL-CIO, who have enough pull in Congress to ice Colombia's free-trade pact, are now playing the same power game by contending Mexico's human rights aren't good enough for U.S. aid.

Their alternative: Let the bullets fly until every Mexican cop is perfect. Yet the aid helps clean up the Mexican police forces so they can fight and win. The union's opposition probably is more rooted in a leftist agenda that wants Calderon's conservative administration to fail.

Congressional Democrats are throwing their weight around, too. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., calls the Merida Initiative "the old war-on-drugs paradigm" that orthodox leftists doubt can ever be won. Along with Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Dodd doubts the tough security approach that cleaned up New York City and Medellin, Colombia, can ever work.

They prefer social programs to a forceful response even when Mexican cabinet members are dying in hails of gunfire. For Dodd and Leahy, too, Mexico would be better off burning.

Some Republicans, such as Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., are concerned that U.S. money to Mexico could be lost to corruption. That's a valid concern, but there is evidence that the Merida Initiative won't be a boondoggle. Modeled on Plan Colombia, a $5 billion program that made a big dent in that country's drug war without corruption, it uses a proven formula for destroying trafficking organizations in places where they practically have taken over.

Back in 2000, when President Clinton initiated that program of training, equipment and intelligence-sharing, no one thought Colombia had a chance of succeeding. But with the leadership of President Alvaro Uribe, it did.

Colombia's urban areas went from gunfire-ridden hellholes to Singapore-like cities with virtually no trash, graffiti, beggars or dopers -- cities with courteous soldiers, professional policemen and honest citizens, not to mention 7% economic growth.

Every night in Bogota's Candelaria district, college kids literally celebrate peace in the streets "because we once couldn't," one told us. That's a transformation.

What could be better for the United States than to bring that to Mexico? It already has seen some 6 million people flee the drug war to live on our side illegally. Get rid of the drug traffickers and many Mexicans will have reason to head home.

Democrats, however, have no enthusiasm for the promise of such success. They would prefer to see Mexico suffer, pat themselves on the back as they lecture on human rights and throw every roadblock they can at its future to get back at Bush. This is no way to treat a neighbor whose house fire could easily spread to ours.

I'd love your thoughts...

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

facial products i use

I'm occassionally asked what face products I use. If that doesn't make an "older" woman feel good. So for all of you gals that just want to know . . . here are my tried and trues. I've tried many, many face products: cleansers, scrubs, eye cream, etc. and finally, at the age of almost 54 have come up with what I believe is a fantastic regiment to keep my skin - looking good with products free of parbens and other damaging gross stuff.

When I use a moisturizer, I use this one by Albrey. The SPF 15 is an ok amount.

I love Burt's Bees Royal Jelly Eye Creme. I've used Dr. Hauska's Eye Contour Day Balm and it's great, but for the price, I'm just as pleased with Burt's Bees Royal Jelly Eye Creme. I've also used Eye Believe by Cosmedics and it's THE BEST eye cream around. It runs between $65 - 85 for the tiny container - but you use hardly any. It's an amazing liquid crystal serum that really replensishes damaged, thinning skin around your eyes. You've got to find a distributor to purchase it. It's great stuff, but, I'm very pleased with the Burt's Bees Royal Jelly Eye Creme and I LOVE it's price.

I've used this product (very rarely) and it's a good one! Fruit Fiesta Peel is available here.

This is absolutely my most favorite cleanser - My Chelle Fruit Enzyme Cleanser. It has a nice soft lather, cleans well removing make-up and then for some reason it makes my face feel a bit tighter - especially after a long day. I LOVE the stuff and it's available here and a list of what's in the product is here.

This stuff is FANTASTIC with a capital F - Skin Eternal Serum. I use this most mornings (under make up on a clean face and every evening). Recently I met an Esthetician who asked me what I used on my face. That felt good. I'd say that this product is an absolute must. Skin Eternal Serum is available here. This is what works for me.

The wonderful ingredients in Skin Eternal Serum:

Water (Deionized), Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Glycerin, Vitamin C Ester (Ascorbyl Palmitate), DMAE, Polyethylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid (alpha-Hydroxy Acid), Alpha Lipoic Acid, Lemon Oil, Simethicone, Lavender Oil, Aloe Vera, Methylparaben, Biotin, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Calcium Pantothenate, Coenzyme Q10, Chamomile Flower Extract 4:1

It's good to know what ingredients do what. Ingredients of interest - defintions taken from here.
Glycerin*: Acts as a natural preserving agent, re-moisturizes and lubricates the skin, and promotes skin softness and smoothness. From various plants
Sodium Hyaluronate (L): Surges water deep into the skin which improves skin pliability and plumping to relieve fine lines, maintains healthy hydration levels, prevents trans-epidermal water loss. Vegetarian source
Glutathione (L): a naturally existent tripeptide found in human tissues, it acts as a fundamental antioxidant, its content is decreased by exposure to UV radiation
Dry Marine Collagen: stimulates re-building of collagen, mineralizes the skin with essential oligo elements that strengthen the skin
Resveratrol: antioxidant, vasodilator, blocks destructive UVB radiation
Gotu Kola Extract: calms stressed skin tissues to relieve sensitivities, speeds up the healing of wounds, relieves inflammation and dermatitis through natural glycosides, promotes collagen synthesis, tones and brightens the skin
L-retinol: normalizes peeling in follicles, reduces cellular cohesion without causing inflammation
Tocotrienols: antioxidant, UV protectant
L-proline: improves skin texture and aids collagen formation, slows the loss of collagen content within the skin as aging occurs
Copper Peptides: enhances wound healing and action of antioxidants, reduces wrinkle formation, promotes skin firmness
Superoxide Dismutase: dismutates reactive oxygen species into water resulting in a reduction in free radical damage
Glucosamine HCL (D): reinforces the strength of the skin, increases the natural content of glucosamine to improve the extra-cellular matrix, replenishes and firms the skin
Neroli EO: antiseptic, bacteriacide, emollient, aromatherapeutic

This glossary will help you to understand the ingredients My Chelle uses, and why they use them. I've taken it from here.

Allantoin: Healing, soothing, and believed to aid in the healing of damaged skin by stimulating new tissue growth. Derived from the comfrey root.
Almond oil: An emollient and carrier, providing an elegant skin feel and promoting spread-ability in creams and lotions.
Aloe vera gel: Hydrating, softening, healing emollient with anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Alpha-lipoic acid: Powerful water and oil soluable antioxidant. 400 times more powerful than Vitamin C as an antioxidant. Increases gluathione, the body's most important antioxidant. Powerful anti-inflammatory.
Amino acid surfactants: Helps water penetrate the skin. Amino Acids are the body's building blocks of protein.
Amino-guanidine: Helps to prevent sugar from crystallizing on collagen fibrils, keeping the skin soft and supple. From mushrooms.
Apple purée: Soothing, anti-inflammatory.
Aqua: Distilled water.
Astaxanthin: Enhances immune response and reduces inflammation. From the microalgae H. pluvialis, grown in Hawaii.
Avobenzone: UVA protection.
Beeswax: Natural wax, produced by bees, used as emulsifier.
Behenyl alcohol: A mixture of fatty alcohols acting as a binder, emulsion stabilizer, thickener and emulsifier. From vegetable oil.
Bergamot essential oil: AKA Citrus Bergamia has a sweet fruity odor with an uplifting effect.
Beta carotene: Powerful antioxidant with photo-protection properties. From carrots.
Bilberry: Powerful antioxidant.
Bisabol: A myrrh-type gum resin obtained from Africa. Anti-inflammatory, reduces sensitivity, wound healer, anti-burn, anti-irritant, and soothing.
Bitter orange extract: Anti-septic, healing, clarifying.
Blue malva extract: Anti-inflammatory, humectant.
Blueberry purée: Soothing, high concentration of antioxidants.
Butcher's broom extract: Increases circulation and inhibits inflammation. From a shrub native to Europe.
Calendula: Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant commonly used to treat problem and acne skin. From the marigold flower.
Caprylate/caprate: Emollient and solvent from coconut milk.
Caprylic/capric triglycerides: Emollient and solvent from coconut milk.
Cassia beta-glucan: Retains moisture in the skin, leaves the skin like velvet. From seeds of the Cassia Augustif Olia Vahl fruit.
Castor oil: Barrier agent against harsh climate, soothing. From the castor bean.
Cellulose: The cell wall and structural component of plants. Used as a thickener and emulsifier in creams and lotions.
Ceteareth-20: An emollient and emulsifier from coconut or palm kernel oil.
Cetearyl alcohol: An emulsifying and stabilizing wax produced from the reduction of plant oils and natural waxes. Also an emollient giving viscosity to a finished product.
Cetearyl polyglucose: An emollient from plants.
Cetyl alcohol: An emollient, emulsifier, and thickener produced from palm oil.
Chamomile extract: soothing and calming.
Cherry extract: Antioxidant.
Cherry purée: Soothing, anti-inflammatory.
Chlorophyll: Nourishing, detoxifying and healing.
Cholesteryl stearate/carbonate complex: Emollient that is protective and moisturizing from plants.
Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine: Mild bubbling agent from coconut.
Coco-caprylate/caprate: A lubricant, skin conditioner, anti-microbial emollient. From coconut.
Coconut methyl glycine: A sudsing agent from coconut.
Coconut oil: Moisturizer.
Cone flower: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic.
CoQ10: A powerful antioxidant.
Corn silk extract: Natural emollient from corn silk.
Cucumber: Moisture-binding, tightening, refreshing properties. Good for relieving puffy eyes.
D-alpha tocopherol: Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, free radical scavenger, photo-protectant, and moisturizer as well as a preservative due to its ability to protect against oxidation.
D-beta fructan: Chains of glucose molecules from date palm that boost immunity of the skin and build moisture.
D-beta glucosamine: An amino sugar that is the basic building block for all chitins, mucopolysaccarides, e.g. hyluronic acid. This sugar works with D-glucuronic to help the skin build mucopolysaccharides. This right-handed chitin sugar supplies nitrogen to the skin's network of signaling molecules for accurate communication between the cells, keeping the epidermis in tighter alignment with the dermis. From Chinese Foxglove.
D-boldine: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant from the South American Boldo plant.
D-ceramides: Skin conditioner, provides protective skin barrier, repairing, hydrating. From plant source.
D-cranberry complex purée: Antioxidant, anti-bacterial.
D-glucuronic acid: Precursor of vitamin C and a humectant.
D-panthenol: Part of the water-soluble vitamin B complex (B-5). Acts as a penetrating moisturizer.
Dicapryl ether: A skin conditioner and emollient from plants.
EGF: Epidermal Growth Factor is a polypeptide (a protein molecule) that stimulates cell repair. From yeast.
Essential oil blend: A blend of natural essential oils and fruit extracts and oils.
Ethyl alcohol: Used medicinally as a topical antiseptic astringent and anti-bacterial.
Fructose and natural fatty acids: A natural emulsifier.
Fruit enzymes: Skin refining properties. Protein (keratin) digesting enzymes that have the ability to digest dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, revealing a smooth, fresh appearance.
Geranium oil: Refreshing, anti-irritant. From the geranium plant.
Ginkgo: Antioxidant.
Ginseng: Healing properties, helps increase circulation.
Glycerin: A humectant and emollient from plants. It absorbs moisture from the air, and helps keep moisture in creams and other products.
Glycerol: A glycerin alcohol. See Glycerin.
Glyceryl stearate: An emulsifier that assists in forming neutral, stable emulsions. It is also a solvent, humectant, and consistency regulator in water-in-oil and oil-in-water formulations. Derived from palm kernel or soy oil for cosmetic use. It also is found naturally in the human body.
Glycolic acid polymer: An AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) from rhubarb. It is less irritating than glycolic acid with properties of dissolving the binders (glue) that hold dead skin cells together.
Gotu kola extract: Also called the "longevity plant" due to its ability to speed cellular renewal and increase longevity.
Grape seed extract: Counter irritant with soothing anti-bacterial properties.
Grape seed oil: Counter irritant with soothing anti-bacterial properties.
Organic Grapefruit essential oil: Uplifting, refreshing.
Green tea: A powerful antioxidant.
Guava fruit extract: Aromartherapeutic.
Hamamelis extract: AKA witch hazel. Anti-inflammatory, wound healing, non-drying, anti-itching, softening, with emollient properties that soothe irritated skin. Found to be effective against free radicals. From the leaves and bark of the plant.
Heavy water: This 10% heavier than water naturally occurs in a few saline lakes and in deep sea water. It bonds more strongly than regular water with the skin and other connective tissue preventing the skin from drying out as quickly or as deeply. Nutrients applied while the skin is still damp with the heavy water de-ionized molecule will also be better absorbed.
Hemp oil: A rich source of the fatty acids that the skin uses.
Honey: Moisturizing and anti-bacterial.
Honey enzymes: These enzymes have natural emollient, humectant, anti-bacterial, and protein digesting properties.
Honeydew extract: Soothing and uplifting
Horse chestnut: Firming, calming, redness-reducing effects on the skin.
Horsetail extract: Horsetail is an herb that yields a high concentration of silica and other minerals. Silica promotes the re-growth, strength and elasticity of connective tissue
Hydrolized yeast protein: Helps regulate sebum production. Revitalizes skin's moisture and reduces facial lines.
Jojoba beads: Exfoliating beads that loosen and lift away dead skin cells without damaging skin. From the jojoba plant.
Kokum butter: Emollient, stabilizer, from kernels of garcinia indica tree in India.
L-ascorbic acid: Powerful antioxidant, the chirally correct form of vitamin C that assists in the production of collagen.
L-castor oil methyl glycol: An emollient from castor oil beans.
L-lactic acid: Encourages protein softening and cell-turnover, anti-microbial, evens out discoloration, gently clarifying.
L-lysine: Amino acid helps prevent and heal fever blisters.
L-malic acid: Promotes better circulation and healthier capillaries in the skin.
L-mandelic acid: Humectant, skin conditioner, antioxidant.
L-sodium hyaluronate: Hyaluronic acid in chiral form. A mucopoly fructose from honey. This powerful humectant draws water from the ambient air.
L-tartaric acid: Powerful antioxidant from wine, enhances effects of Malic Acid.
Laurel berry derivatives: From European laurel berry with cleansing and foaming properties.
Lavender essential oil: Balancing, energizing, soothing, healing, and stimulating.
Lecithin: A natural emollient, emulsifier, antioxidant, and spreading agent, with a hydrophilic ingredient that attracts water and acts as a moisturizer.
Organic Lemongrass essential oil: Essential oil from organic lemongrass with purifying, refreshing, and hydrating effects.
Licorice: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, skin lightener.
Lycopene: A powerful antioxidant.
Lycopene extract: Powerful antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic; enhances communications between cells in the organs and tissues.
Madagascar vanilla bean extract: Aromatherapeutic.
Mallow extract: Anti-inflammatory, soothing, refreshing emollient containing high mucilage content. When in contact with water, produces a soothing protective gel.
Melissa: Soothing, anti-viral. From the mint family.
Minerals: Used for their softening effect.
Mulberry bark extract: Astringent and clarifying.
Neroli essential oil: Neroli essential oil is suitable for the care of ever skin type, including sensitive and inflamed skin. It supports the skin's renewal process of shedding old skin and stimulating new cell growth. From the orange blossom.
Nutmeg essential oil: Warming and comforting effect with antioxidant and antiseptic properties.
Olive oil: Great carrier oil with excellent lubricating qualities.
Orange essential oil: Oil of sweet orange, distilled from the rind. Antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.
Oxygen: An organic peroxide that supplies oxygen fuel. (tissue respiration). Brightening and a mild antiseptic.
Passionflower: Antioxidant, soothing.
Patchouli essential oil: Balances oily/acne skin. Also heals cracked dry hands and feet.
PBN: Very powerful antioxidant. Instead of destroying the rogue oxygen (free radical), it traps it then exports it into the respiratory cycle where it is utilized in tissue respiration. Also known as phenyl-butyl-nitrate or Spin Trap. Source is the Chenopodium plant.
Phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid: A non-toxic sunscreen.
Phospholipids: Reduces moisture loss in the skin, carrier for deep penetration, from plant source. Pineapple enzymes: Exfoliant, skin softening.
Pineapple extract: Contains bromelain, a keratin-digesting enzyme.
Polydatin: Powerful antioxidant, moisturizing and firming. From wine.
Pomegranate extract: Exfoliant, skin-softening.
Propolis: Protective barrier, anti-inflammatory, stimulates cell renewal, boosts immune system, made by bees.
Pumpkin enzymes: Exfoliant, skin softening.
Pumpkin purée: A nutrient dense pulp containing a high concentration of vitamin A and is a great source of retinol.
Pumpkin seed oil: Excellent source of minerals, especially zinc. It helps skin renew as it moisturizes. Essential fatty acids help regulate sebum production.
Pumpkin wine: An antioxidant and nutrient-rich wine from enzymatically pre-digested pumpkins.
Raspberry extract: Antiseptic, anti-bacterial.
Red grape seed extract: Potent antioxidant from polyphenol content.
Red wine: Antioxidant, protects the dermis from epithelialatrophy and promotes evenness of skin color.
Resveratrol: Powerful antioxidant from wine.
Retinol: Vitamin A carotenoids with antioxidant and skin renewing properties.
Retinol/glycolic acid polymer: Promotes healthy glycine production for collagen and elastin and renews and repairs tissues.
Rosehips: Soothing, astringent, high Vitamin C content, from the rose bush.
Rye polyglucose: Firming and strengthening of the skin.
Salicylic acid: Softens the keratinized barrier cells, anti-bacterial, helps eliminate clogged pores, beta-hydroxy acid responsible for oxygenating and detoxifying.
Sandalwood Essential Oil: Calming, harmonic and balancing effect.
Scrub beads: Smooth, round polyethylene beads help loosen and lift away dead skin cells without damaging skin.
Sea algae: Contains the same essential nutrients, trace elements, and amino acids present in human blood plasma. It speeds the elimination of toxins from cells and is a natural cellular renewal ingredient.
Seaweed extract: Iodine and sulfur amino acid content stimulate anti-inflammatory and disinfectant abilities while moisturizing properties are attributed to its ability to react with protein and form a protective gel on the skin's surface. Re-mineralizing to the skin.
Shea butter: A moisturizing, soothing emollient fat with cellular renewal properties from the fat of the karite nut tree.
Silicone: From silica, a naturally occurring mineral, with a softening effect on the skin.
Sphingolipids (D-ceramides): Moisturizing, working with the cellular system in providing a restorative effect on damaged or disturbed stratum corneum layer.
Squalane: Nutrient dense oil present in human sebum, skin 's own moisturizer, and involved in the process of cell growth. From Spanish olives.
Stevia leaf extract: Natural, non-caloric sweetener. From the chrysanthemum family.
Succinic acid derivatives: From lichens. A buffer, neutralizer, and germicide.
Sucrose stearate: A combination of sucrose and stearic acid. Stearic acid occurs naturally in butter acids, and cascarilla bark. Acts as a lubricant.
Sulfosuccinate: Mild bubbling agent from coconut.
Super concentrated pumpkin extract: A nutrient dense pulp with enzymes containing a high concentration of vitamin A to assist skin renewal and healing.
Organic Tangerine essential oil: Refreshing, uplifting.
Organic Tea tree oil: Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.
Titanium dioxide: A physical sun block that blocks UVA and UVB radiation; Soothing, softening, healing. In addition, it is a powerful Anti-bacterial.
Totarol™: A naturally occurring plant extract with potent anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties. Propionibacterium acne, the bacterium involved in acne, is particularly sensitive to this extract. Totarol is effective in the treatment of acne and rosacea. From the Totara tree in New Zealand.
Turmeric: Derived from an East Indian herb. Turmeric is a yellow coloring agent with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Vanilla: Soothing, uplifting aroma.
Vitamin E: See D-alpha tocopherol. Antioxidant with skin moisturizing properties.
White willow bark extract: Anti-inflamatory, pain reliever.
Wild cherry bark extract: Soothing and anti-inflammatory.
Wine phytoalexins: Powerful antioxidants from wine produced from grapes.
Witch hazel: Anti-inflammatory, wound healing, non-drying, anti-itching, softening, with emollient properties that soothe irritated skin. Found to be effective against free radicals. From the leaves and bark of the plant.
Xanthum gum: AKA cornstarch gum. Serves as a texturizer, carrier agent, and gelling agent. Also stabilizes and thickens formulations.
Yucca saponins extract: anti-irritant from the yucca plant.
Zeolite: Crystalline hydrated silicates from volcanoes. Molecular cages trap and remove heavy metal pollutants, makeup and dirt. Crystalline hydrated silicates 'trap' heavy metal pollutants.
Zinc oxide: A physical (reflective) sun block that blocks UVA and UVB radiation.
Zirconium oxide: A physical (reflective) sun block that blocks UVA and UVB radiation.

Monday, May 12, 2008

the garage band

Michael, Gerald and Chris - the Garage Band