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Hi All,

Come visit my colorful blog at http://colorfulcanary.blogspot.com/

Recipes, health, chickens, fun stuff & wood working projects by my husband.  We blog about most everything that interests us.

http://colorfulcanary.blogspot.com/

For years I had awful nails, they were yellow and thin, would peel, bend, split not to mention hangnails and ragged cuticles.  I cut them, soaked them, and polished them and still…Ugly nails.

Nail polish is really not attractive, for some reason, it seems when I see someone with polish, I think of how horrible their nails must be to have to cover them with unnatural colors..Eww.

Not to mention all of the toxins in nail polish and removers.  Many of which actually destroy the nails, yellow them and harm the delicate cuticle skin. Ick.

Eating a healthy diet of organic foods and getting sufficient vitamins and minerals will help you have healthy nails.  There are also some great natural treatments to help you have beautiful, clean and shiny nails without all the gunky polish.

Wash your hands with a good moisturizing facial soap.

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• Exfoliate your hands and clean nails with a natural nail brush. 

Nightly, after washing your hands, rub a liberal amount of organic olive oil into your hands and nails.

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• Use a nail buffer to shape and polish nails,  These are amazing, after using the polishing buffer your nails will look like they have a fresh coat of clear polish without any chemicals.

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• For extreme cuticle care, massage some Dr. Bronner’s body balm into each nail bed.  This softens the hands and cuticles and reduces hang-nails.

Here are my natural nails now after the above treatment.  I am an advid gardener and have several pets, so these hands go through a lot of tourture every day.

It’s that simple, take care of your health and your hands with organic products and you will have beautiful fresh clean healthy nails.

XO

Anyone who knows me or have read my previous blogs will know that I am a great fan of Dr. Bronner’s liquid soaps.  I also like their bar soaps as a hand soap however, I do find it a little harsh for my sensitive skin.

I have been searching for an organic facial beauty bar for sometime.  I have narrowed down the choices of organic face soaps to ones that do not contain too many different essential oils, ones that have moisturizing ingredients; I am not a fan of tea tree oil on my skin so I narrowed those out as well.

I find with most soaps, they leave a waxy, squeaky feel to my skin which does not exactly feel clean.  I am hoping to try out the following list of organic soaps and I will let you know how they rate on my skin.  If you have tried any of these or other organic soaps,  please leave feedback on your experiences.

Soaps by WoodSprite

Calendula Organic Complexion Bar Soap

Calendula Cream Complexion Soap is one of our mildest soaps; suitable for those with very sensitive or damaged skin. Calendula is also known as "pot marigold", and has been used for centuries for its mild anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and healthy. Unscented.

Ingredients: Saponified oils of *Organic Extra Virgin Olive, *Organic Coconut, Organic Palm, Avocado & *Organic Castor; with *Organic Shea Butter & *Organic Calendula Petals. Unscented. Sensitive Skin. (*Certified Organic)4 oz. wt.

Bloom Organic Complexion Soap

Bloom Organic Complexion Soap is an extra creamy, gentle facial soap formulated especially for the needs of maturing skin. To our rich organic olive oil base, we've added emollient avocado oil and organic shea butter, plus organic rose hydrosol and the pure essential oil of Bulgarian rose. Then, we used a special process of whipping the setting soap, to create a unique lightness and texture unlike any of our other soaps. The result is an oddly shaped (due to shrinkage during the 8 week cure) but incredibly gentle facial soap that your skin is going to love. Bears the very light scent of rose, but not overpowering.

Ingredients: Saponified Oils of *Organic Extra Virgin Olive & *Organic Coconut, *Organic Shea Butter, *Organic Palm Oil, Avocado Oil; Pure Essential Oil of Bulgarian Rose, *Organic Rose Petals, *Organic Rosehip Seed Oil and French Rose Clay. (*Certified Organic) Paraben-free, Pthalate-free and Preservative-free. 3.25 oz. wt.

Unscented Organic Shea Butter Shaving Soap

Shaving soaps are specially formulated with Organic Shea Butter & French Green Clay to give a lubricating, creamy lather for a clean & incredibly smooth shave that won't dry your skin. French Green Clay gives a closer shave by making a more "slippery" surface for your razor to glide on, while rich organic shea butter and avocado oil condition and soften the skin.

Unscented formula is perfect for sensitive skin, or for those preferring an unscented soap. Great for men or women! May be used by lathering with the tips of the fingers or in gentle circular patterns using a traditional mug & brush (Brush and Razor Not Included).

Ingredients: Saponified *Organic Extra Virgin Olive & *Organic Coconut Oils, *Organic Shea Butter, *Organic Castor & Avocado Oils; French Green Clay (montmorillonite), Bentonite Clay. (*Certified Organic) 3.5 oz, 3-inch diameter.

Wholesale info

Pangea Organics

Bar Soap Tunisian Olive Oil & Coconut

Everything in these bars has been chosen with mindful intention to give you the purest, most nourishing soap possible. Hand crafted and made with the finest organic oils: Extra Virgin Olive, Hemp, Coconut & Soy. Pure organic essential oils & herbal extracts nourish the skin and soothe the soul. Creates a luscious lather every time. Packaged in Pangea Organics' zero waste packaging - plant the box and watch it grow! Packaging is fully compostable and contains organic seeds of either sweet basil or amaranth - further instructions in packaging.

Ingredients: Organic Soy Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Organic Hemp Seed Oil [All Oils Saponified with Retained Glycerin], Rosemary Extract.

Indian Green Tea with Mint & Rose Petals Bar Soap

Ingredients: Organic Soy Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Organic Hemp Seed Oil and/or Jojoba Oil [All Oils Saponified with Retained Glycerin], Camellia sinensis (Organic Green Tea), Rosa centifolia (Organic Rose Petals), Mentha piperita (Organic Peppermint Leaf), Organic Essential Oil of Mentha piperita (Organic Peppermint), Rosemary Extract

Wholesale info

Beauty without Cruelty

Organic Beauty Bar Soap Citrus (currently on clearance)

BWC's Citrus beauty bar gently cleans, conditions, and moisturizes the skin with emollient organic plant oils, and organic aroma therapeutic essential oils. Each bar contains rich organic shea butter for superior moisturizing and conditioning. Soft, luxurious lather, never drying.

Ingredients: Saponified Oils of Organic Coconut, Olive, Palm, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Aroma Therapeutic Essential Oils of Orange, Lemon, Lime, Ylang Ylang, Natural Vitamin E

Wholesale info

Simply be well

Fragrance Free Body Bar

Enjoy the simple pleasures of clean, smooth skin with our Simply Be Well Moisturizing Body Bar. Made from 100% Organic Palm, Coconut and Sunflower oils this soap is enriched with a high natural glycerin content and a super-antioxidant blend of Certified Organic Sunflower Oil, Goji Berry, White Tea, Blueberry and Soy. The mild, rich creamy lather gently cleanses and moisturizes your skin. (99% Certified Organic Ingredients) 5.3 OZ (150g)

Wholesale info

If you don’t want to go for pre-made soaps, there are also certified organic melt & pour soaps.  These are great for adding your own essential oils, herbs, clays or anything else you think will benefit your skin.  I just purchased two one pond blocks and experimented with making my own organic soaps this week.  Stay tuned as I will blog about that later.

For now, here are a few links to organic soap bases:

Go Planet Earth

INGREDIENTS: Blend of 100% Certified Organic Palm and Coconut Oils (Saponified), Purified Water, Glycerin, Sorbitol

Be sure to scroll down a little more then half way to the “organic” melt and pour.  The others contain chemicals.  They also sell a cute little soap mold which will imprint the word “organic” on a bean-shaped soap.

Wisteria Lane

Organic Oil Clear Melt and Pour Soap Base 32 oz. Container

Organic Oil Clear Glycerine Melt and Pour soap base (“natural” formula-20% added Glycerine) Our soap is 100% pure soap with only the finest natural vegetable oils. Mainly coconut oil is used and so you will have almost no smell to this soap!

Ingredients: Saponified Vegetable Organic oils mainly Coconut Oil, Glycerine (kosher, of vegetable origin), Purified Water, Sorbitol (from berries, moisturizer) , Sorbitan oleate (emulsifier), Soybean protein (conditioner)

Organic Oil White Melt and Pour Soap Base 32 oz Containers

Organic Oil White Glycerine Melt and Pour Soap base (“natural” formula-20% added Glycerine) This is our white soap base that is very similar in formula to the clear soap mainly coconut oil. All the great things about the clear melt and pour only white!

Ingredients: Saponified Vegetable organic oils mainly Coconut Oil, Glycerine (kosher, of vegetable origin), Purified Water, Sorbitol (from berries, moisturizer) , Sorbitan oleate (emulsifier), Soybean protein (conditioner), Titanium Dioxide (mineral whitener used in opaque soaps)

Organic Creations

This glycerin soap base is one of the purest and most natural products you can find on the market. Ready to melt, scent, color, mold and be used in less than a few hours. Or, slice it up and use it as-is for a scent free, color free soap! Either way, the high glycerin content will leave your skin feeling naturally soft and not chemically stripped. And the best news, is this product is made from 100% organic oils so you know its pure through and through!

Ingredients: Filtered water, organic palm oil, organic coconut oil, glycerin, and sorbitol (a humectant derived from berries).

I am hoping to give all of these a try in the near future and I will blog my results.

XO

I just love asparagus, it is nice steamed or grilled as a side dish and can add a wonderful flavor to many soups salads or even pasta and pizza.  I like mine steamed with a touch of butter and a sprinkle of grey sea salt served with poached eggs for breakfast.

Healthy asparagus

Recently, I was researching asparagus and came across this wonderful article explaining the many health benefits of this wonderful food. 

Asparagus contains vitamins B, folic acid, C, E as well as many minerals including calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, selenium, iodine, magnesium, manganese, sulphur, silicon and florine.

Asparagus has been used as a natural remedy to help cure kidney disorders, bladder infections, arthritis, it strengthens the lungs, heals stomach pains, bowl disorders, kidney stones, cramps, convulsions, gall and liver ailments.  Asparagus can assist with weight loss, stress and nervous tension, skin diseases and has been used to brighten vision.

Perhaps the most astounding claim on asparagus is its ability to cure cancer.

Read this link for some great information on asparagus.

Grown your own!

Another great thing about asparagus is that it is easy to grow in most climates.  And being a perennial plant it returns and spreads in your garden year after year.

You can start asparagus from seed however it can take 3-5 year to produce edible stalks.  The quicker way to grow your own would be to purchase crowns (asparagus roots) from a nursery.  Once the soil is prepared and the asparagus is planted, they require little care.  They even provide a great benefit in your garden as asparagus plants actually repel some of the nuisance insects that can damage other plants.

For more information on growing your own organic asparagus read this great information sheet.

Or buy some

Growing your own food is always best and with a beautiful edible perennial like asparagus, who can resist getting out a digging in the dirt.  But if you prefer to buy asparagus, then canned, bottled or frozen is just as healthy as fresh, as long as it is organic J

Here are just a few manufactures offering organic asparagus, if you can’t find them at your local grocery store, speak to your store manager and ask them to carry these brands:

Woodstock Farms Carry frozen baby asparagus as well as many other frozen organic produce. They also carry a full line of organic groceries from cream and sugar to condiments, pickles and packaged foods. 

Cascadian Farms Carry a full line of organic products including frozen organic asparagus cuts.

Green Organic Offers Canadian white and green frozen asparagus as well as a full line of frozen organic foods, they also offer private label to companies.

Native Forest by Edward & Sons Have a full line of organic products including organic canned and bottled asparagus.

Just imagine, eating this tasty vegetable could also benefit your health in so many ways.

If your company offers certified organic asparagus feel free to leave your contact information in a response below or join our forum and let us know.

XO

Ah Easter, spring has sprung. Just this morning while heading out to the coop to feed the chickies, I noticed the smell of spring air, the birds are singing, the air is still crisp. My garden fills up with wildlife this time of year, a large rabbit passed. It was easy to notice her now that she is a mottled white and brown, three squirrels played in the compost pile.

Chickens, rabbits…oh yes Easter is just around the corner. I decided to have a look around to see what I could find that would make the perfect Easter present. And of course it has to be organic and respect nature.

Organic Bouquet was my great find of the day. They have many floral bouquets and chocolates to choose from but for Easter the colors of lavender and blue struck my fancy. The Blue Iris Bouquet paired with the Lavender Fleur du Sel handmade chocolate caramels would be the perfect Easter duo.

The gorgeous Iris bouquet reminds me of the end of winter merging into summer; spring. With striking blue petals that merge into white then a bright sunny yellow, they are surely a bouquet to admire. And what’s even better is when you purchase flowers from Organic Bouquet, proceeds from each sale benefit non-profits dedicated to social justice, wildlife conservation and environmental protection.

It is very important to purchase organic flowers, not only for the environment but for your health. What is the first thing a person does when handed a beautiful bouquet? Smell it. It’s not very romantic, or friendly for that matter to offer up a bouquet with a cocktail of chemicals to inhale. When buying organic flowers, you will not have to worry about chemicals on your flower bouquets being toxic to your family, friends, especially those in a hospital, or yourself.

The scent of organic flowers is pure; they retain the true essence of flowers, rather than being diluted by a toxic coating.

Pesticides and other toxic chemicals used on flowers affect the health of farmers and florists. The toxic chemicals spread onto the clothes and into the bodies of farm workers and their children. Florists who handle non-organic flowers have been known to develop dermatitis on their hands. So when you buy organic flowers it is not only a good for the recipient of your lovely gift, but you are also doing something good for many other people not to mention the environment.

For the perfect spring or Easter gift for yourself, your loved ones or for your table, try visiting Organic Bouquet and take a look at the Blue Iris Bouquet and consider pairing it with the Lavender Fleur du Sel chocolate caramels for a gift to get you into the swing of spring.