Let me start this first with a reference to a wordless Wednesday I did a few weeks ago. I posted this picture.

This was my Christmas present and I love it. I think this was the picture at 2 weeks. Aren’t those herbs just grand?

Well look at them now!

Yes that is mint growing up the side of my freezer. The basil has to be cut back constantly. But … I love it! This aerogarden is the bomb!

I made lasagna the other night and snipped fresh herbs for it! I made baked potato soup and garnished with dill that I just reached over and snipped off. This thing is great.

I am seriously thinking of investing in a second one. I can have one with salad greens and one for herbs… hmmm …. think I will have to wait for next Christmas???

Want to get your Aerogarden? I am so behind you getting your very own. This is soooo much fun! Click the banner below to find out how to get your own and the details of the Aerogarden! There are different kits and herbs and salad, and ohhh they have a miniature rose one! How many can I have in my house??

 Check out Moms Love Shopping today also. Chele and I chat about the AeroGarden and just how easy it is to grow. Did I mention that everyone needs to get one of these??

I finished my classes this week. The all natural holistic training. Yeap, I am sort of a tree hugger. Did you all know that about me?

Well, that being said, I love being as natural as possible. I also buy what can be recycled. It’s a way of life. A lot of women don’t understand that they can do the same in their beauty routines!

Let’s go green girls!

Streamlining your beauty routine will save you time and money and can also reduce impacton the environment. Keeping the “3 R’s” in mind as a basic principle, here are a few tipson greening your beauty regimen.

Firstly, ask yourself if you truly need all the products you currently use. Simply buying less to reduce your consumption is an important first step. Look in your makeup drawer. If you are like me and my mom, there is just way to much in there. More tips:

- Curl your eyelashes and skip the mascara. To get maximum curl, warm the eyelash curler a bitby blasting it with a hairdryer for just a second.

- Keep your eyebrows groomed. It makes your eyes pop without makeup. I never did this until a few years ago. It really does make a difference.

- Buy bar style shampoo to avoid plastic containers. The best is handmade soap, from an all natural soapmaker

- Keep your skin healthy from the inside with a diet high in healthy natural oils, and usenatural moisturizers that won’t clog pores, so you can skip the allover foundation. Mostwomen only need a little around their nose and under their eyes anyway. Another key here is also to drink lots of water. It really will make your skin look so much healthier.

- Use coconut oil as a moisturizer for your dryest spots like lips, heels and elbows.

- Don’t overwash your skin and hair. Daily usage of soap on your body leads to dry skin,and most hair care experts say daily washing is unnecessary and counterproductive to an attractive style anyway.

- Reject the current trend of disposable facial cleansing products. A clean washcloth witha little cleanser on it is more effective, provides gentle exfoliation and can be used overand over. Microfiber cloths are especially nice for cleansing the face.

- Instead of cotton balls and foam makeup applicators, use a natural sea sponge to applymakeup or facial toner.

- Try making your own skin care products with simple ingredients like salt, sugar, oatmealand olive oil. There are many wonderful books with recipes, or search online for them. Making your own means no packaging to dispose of.

- Buy the beauty products you do use in recycled containers such glass and be sure to recycle them after use. Remember not just your beauty products but all products. Look for those recycle codes on the containers.

- Support companies with eco friendly business practices.

- Remember to use your reusable shopping bag!

- Try mineral makeups. They are great for your skin and many of them are all natural. Another perk is they last a lot longer than their liquid, chemical counterparts.

With a little thinking, you can shave minutes off your beauty routine and do a favor for the
earth too.

Everyone wants a bright, beautiful smile right? It is no wonder that toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouth rinses, and flavored dental floss have become a multi-million dollar industry. There are dental care products for designed specifically for children seniors, and those who have dental health problems. There are toothpastes that are supposed to help soothe gums, whiten teeth, eliminate bad breath, and lessen cold and heat sensitivities. There is usually an entire isle devoted to dental products in the most grocery or drug stores. But does there popularity and accessibility make them the best choice?

A large portion of dental products contain fluoride. Basically fluoride is a mineral that is added to dental products to help prevent tooth decay. This action is based upon observances made in the early 1900s. Residents of the southwestern states were consuming high levels of fluoride in their water supply and despite the fact that the fluoride caused them to have stained yellow and brown teeth; they had an unusually low level of tooth decay. This lead many to believe that fluoride was responsible for preventing decay, despite the fact that other possible factors were not evaluated.

The problem with this assumption and practice is that many modern day scientists and doctors believe that fluoride is meant to be topical only and is not healthy for us to ingest. As fluoride is already in our water, our cumulative exposure can be too great. If too much fluoride is consumed then fluorosis can occur. Dental fluorosis weakens the enamel of the teeth, makes them susceptible to stains and gives them a pitted appearance. Skeletal fluorosis weakens the bones and causes calcification of the ligaments. It is no wonder that and more and more natural health enthusiasts are choosing fluoride free dental products.

While taking holistic classes I read studies that fluoride in the water can also cause migraine headaches. Add this to the intake of fluoride in tooth care products could result in health issues.

Another concern is the presence of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS in toothpaste and mouth wash. SLS is what gives toothpaste its foaming ability and give the feeling of a nice cleaning but there is nothing nice about putting this chemical in your mouth. SLS has been known to be the cause of mouth ulcers and sores and in fact this occurrence is so common among immune suppressed people that cancer patients are urged not to use toothpaste with SLS. Research has also indicated that SLS may be damaging to the immune system as well.

To avoid excess fluoride and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate you may want to try more natural dental products. Many health food stores are now carrying a variety of fluoride free and SLS free toothpastes and mouthwashes. It is also extremely easy to make your own dental care products right in your won home from natural household ingredients. Here are a few natural dental recipes:

All Natural Toothpaste

3 tablespoons baking soda (the cleaner)
1 tablespoon salt (the abrasive)
1-2 drops stevia (the sweetener)
1 drop peppermint oil (optional)

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add water until the paste is desired the consistency. Store the mixture at room temperature in a tightly covered jar.

You can also buy toothbrushes made with natural handles and bristles if you want to go completely natural. Here is to your beautiful and natural smile!