In the next issue, we'll get back to my Bau-Biologie series with all the details of ripping out my bathroom to remove the mold under the floor. I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day. Give lots of love all around in your life! Debra :-)
HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT #37 ~ 7 Febraury 2006
* AT HOME WITH DEBRA: My Natural Bed Health, Home & Habitat Back Issues
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AT HOME WITH DEBRA: My Natural Bed I've been sleeping on natural beds for over twenty years now, and I've learned a thing or two about them. I now have a natural bed that both my husband and I LOVE. I'll tell you all about my bed from the bedframe to the teddy bears, plus tell you why I chose to purchase my bed from Shepherd's Dream. Lot's of pictures in this one.
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NEW E-BOOK: Debra's Guide to...Choosing a Natural Bed Shopping for a natural bed? Download my new e-book for a preview of what's available, pros and cons, definitions of terms, toxic exposures in beds, and a history of natural beds.
Debra's Guide to Choosing a Natural Bed... And...I've added more natural beds and bedding links and given beds their own separate page on Debra's List.
Browse the new Beds and Bedding page on Debra's List...
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GREEN GIFTS FOR VALENTINES Especially for Valentine's Day I've put together a list of links to all different parts of my websites that will help you choose flowers, chocolates, wine, and gifts galore. Also recipes for making your own Valentine goodies with natural sweeteners (doesn't a box of organic chocolate truffles rolled with loving hands sound better than a box of store-bought chocolates?!), stories of gifts my husband has given me for past Valentine's Days, and more.
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MONEY-SAVING TIPS Today's money-saving tips are part of the Green Gifts for Valentines.... Learn how to make your own Valentines, and remember...your love is abundant and costs nothing! Spending time with love ones is a very good gift itself. Also, admiration is an excellent gift for Valentine's Day. There are lots of things we love about our dear ones, but don't always tell them. So write a love letter or a poem describing what you love about them. I guarantee they will love that gift more than anything you could buy with money. (If you have writer's block, start as Elizabeth Barrett Browning did: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...)
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DEBRA'S LIST: New website links
After putting so many new links on the Beds and Bedding page, I didn't have a lot of time left for other links, but I managed to squeeze in a few... Daddy Van's All Natural Beeswax and Lavender Furniture Polish Daddy Van's All Natural Beeswax and Lavender Furniture Polish is made with unrefined beeswax and pure lavender essential oil--no solvents. Nature's First Aid Kits sells a variety of kits with natural remedies for the minor ailments of everyday life. And on the same website, Simple Pure Baby sells all natural, handmade babycare products with "a light calming aroma" from a special mix of pure essential oils. organic.org is a fun website with good information on organic eating and living for the whole family.
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ANTIOXIDANTS IN COCOA HELP HEART HEALTH
A new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that cocoa's antioxidants--called flavonoids--coax the body into making more nitric oxide, which relaxes the blood vessels. Apparently cocoa is "extraordinarily rich" in flavonoids. Problem is they are mostly removed in processing.
The solution? Cacao nibs! These are unprocessed roasted cocoa beans. They have quite a caffiene kick, but they do taste like chocolate. A bit bitter at first, but I like them (and no sugar).
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SWEET SAVVY: Coconut Cookies and Couer a la Creme
I recently added two cookies made with coconut to the Sweet Savvy natural sweetener recipe database: one healthy and one decadent. Easy Coconut Cookies are made just with coconut, egg whites, vanilla and a little evaporated cane juice. Cathy's Famous Chocolate Macaroons are sinfully delicious, made with newly-available organic sweetened condensed milk. Heart-shaped Couer a la Creme is a very easy, very delicious, low-carb, diabetic-friendly, classic French dessert that is perfect for Valentine's Day. It's the dessert my husband has requested for his Valentine's treat.
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Q & A: Nontoxic Artwork I'd like to get your input on something. In looking at some original paintings for my house, I've found that those done with oil are too smelly for me. So I'm wondering if I might have better luck with paintings done with acrylic paints. Iæunderstand that acrylic can cause some serious health problems. But I'm wondering if acrylic paint is still a problem after it has cured; and how long does it take to cure to the point at which it no longer outgases? Along these same lines, does acrylic in the form of Lexan/Lucite/Plexiglas pose any air quality/health problems? I guess the bigger question might be:æEven if acrylic is inert when cured, is the uncured product toxic enough that we should avoid it so as not to encourage its use?
J. K.
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Q & A: Safe Distance From Electrical Transformer I am concerned about my family's exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in our home. My house is situated around 25 feet from a transformer (which my electrician tells me is pretty old), and the power lines run parallel to my house at the same distance. Are we at a safe enough distance, and if not, what can we do to protect ourselves from the EMFs produced by the transformer? I was thinking about getting the Dr. Gauss gaussmeter, but it only reads A/C. Do I need to worry about both A/C and D/C? Thanks so much for all your help, your newsletters and website reflect the way I try to live my life--for my family's health and for the health of the planet. J. L.
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Q & A: Sofa Cushions I purchased a used sofa and would like to replace the seat cushions. What can I use instead of foam?æ
M. G. Read the answer... If you have a question of general interest, I am happy to answer free it in this newsletter and post it on my website for others to benefit from. If you have a question you would like to submit, please send me an email to debra@dld123.com with your question. It may take two to four weeks or longer for your question to appear in the newsletter. Usually I send an immediate quick answer to email questions, but then give a more detailed answer in the newsletter. All of the questions and answers, including those in the current issue, can be accessed through the Q&A index page at http://dld123.com/q&a/index.php. I also am available to answer your questions immediately and personally with a paid telephone consultation.
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The new, revised, edition of
Home Safe Home
is now available
in bookstores nationwide.
Home Safe Home tells what toxic chemicals are generally found in specific household products of all types, and safe solutions you can buy or make at home. It's different from other books on toxic chemicals because the focus really is what you can do to protect yourself and your family and create a healthy home. I bring over twenty years of research and personal real-life experience to this book. * 10 Simple, Inexpensive Things You Can Do To Reduce Household Toxics * How Toxic is Your Home? Quiz (excerpt from the book)
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Debra's List
~
100s of links
to 1000s of nontoxic, natural & earthwise
products
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email:
debra@dld123.com
web:
http://dld123.com
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