akaalysia

Hiya, I have just been attempting to make my first ever soap, I stirred it for an hour and its now been an hour and a half but its not even reached trace! has anyone had this problem before? what could be wrong and what could I do to fix it?! thankyou in advance!

edit: after 2 hours I added some more caustic soda... was this a bad plan or is this ok?!
it doesnt seem to be dissolving...

My "Transistional Soundscapes" radio show on WPRB 103.3 every tuesday 9pm -- 11pm

DJ TM5 spins: Electronic, IDM, Industrial, Electro, Ambient, Darkwave, Goth, 80's, EBM, and Noize.

Listen online at wprb.com.

Playlist on the website.

Request line -- 609-258-1033

Send me online messages and song requests to the radio station during my show.


Screename is: wprbdj

My "Transistional Soundscapes" radio show on WPRB 103.3 every tuesday 9pm -- 11pm

DJ TM5 spins: Electronic, IDM, Industrial, Electro, Ambient, Darkwave, Goth, 80's, EBM, and Noize.

Listen online at wprb.com.

Playlist on the website.

Request line -- 609-258-1033

Send me online messages and song requests to the radio station during my show.


Screename is: wprbdj

Hello all!

I've always wanted to try stuffed squash but never have. Butternut squash has always been my favorite, so I'm wondering if any of you can provide some simple, not too fancy or expensive but yummy recipe ideas for dinner for my dad and me tonight? We're trimming the tree and I thought it would be nice to surprise him with a nice sit-down dinner which we haven't had together in probably a year.

Thanks in advance!

Also: More complicated recipes are also welcome if you think they are worth trying. I don't necessarily have to try them tonight!

I'm in dire search of the absolute best white chocolate macadamia nut cookie recipe.... anyone? Anyone??

I've never made these before, but its by last minute special request to ship to my best friend for the holidays. HELP!!!! 

Howdy All!

I'm having some shampoo bar issues and was wondering if any of you could offer some advice.

So, since about May I've been shampooing with Chagrin Valley shampoo bars. I love the simplicity of the shampoo bar concept, the fact that they don't contain unpronouncables, and the fact that I'm supporting a small business. During the warmer months I'm a wash and go kind of girl - wash, condition with diluted ACV, scrunch with some natural mousse and go! The shampoo bars have worked wonderfully for that. But, it's kind of hard to pull on a hat over my lion's mane of hair without it totally looking like crap so in the colder months I have to resort to blow drying the mass of it straight. It seems that therein lies the problem. When I try to blow dry my hair in the morning after shampooing at night with the shampoo bar I just cannot seem to get it dry. Actually, it does get dry, it's just that there's so much grease in it that looks wet.

What the heck could possibly be going on? I've tried switching bars thinking that one formula could be more conditioning than another, but same results. I've tried washing with baking soda thinking that perhaps the soaps have left some sort of funky residue that just needed to be stripped, but again same results. I'm totally ready to throw in the towel here and pick up some nasty chemical laden shampoo just to get things back to normal. The weird thing is that my hair has NEVER been greasy. My scalp is pretty oily, but my hair has always been on the drier side - probably because of it's coarse nature and all - which was cool because I could last at least 3 days between shampooings. Call me lazy, but this shampooing and blow drying every day is getting to me (and probably kicking my hair's butt since I used to just blow dry once a week and wrap for the rest of it).

Any suggestions?

~Ania~

Could I make a floral infusion using Jasmine buds to use in a body wash/ shampoo or as a body spray?

I was thinking of steeping the buds in hot water, then cooling it down and storing it in a spray bottle in the fridge. Is that a good method, or would some other method work better, and preserve the scent for longer?

I want to do this because I saw the Jurlique Jasmine shower gel, and I don't want to buy it, but I miss having something Jasmine- scented to use.

Thanks :)

I'm going on a long trip (cross-continent, 18 hours, three plane changes) at the end of the month and am trying to plot food options (yes, I start planning REALLY early- I have the packing list nearly done.) Trail mix seems like a good carry-along snack, so I am mixing up one from peanuts, cashews, dried blueberries, starfruit and raisins. What other food items would people recommend? Airports are not known for easy healthy food choices, for the most part.

The following are caveats- I am allergic to walnuts and brazil nuts, citrus triggers migraines for m so I avoid it, dairy can only be eaten at meals because I have to take medication with it.

I used to bring a cooler with breakfast and lunch, but with luggage restrictions and the new liquids rule, it's not really workable. Also, I'm trying to do carryon only- we will see about that.

I’ve been looking all over the internet for good lubricants to use with cup insertion (both for myself, and to recommend for others). I had all these demands about it, lol. Mostly for personal purposes, as I also wanted to be able to use it for intimacy.

So basically, I was trying to find something that was water based. I don’t like oil-based, because that’s not very biocompatible with the vagina. I also wanted it to be glycerin-free and paraben free, because as I’ve experienced, and heard from others in this forum-- those things cause yeast infections and irritation for lots of women.

( Details on what I found here )

Although Lolita isn't my style of choice, I thought some people would be interested to know that a Japanese street fashion store called Tokyo Rebel recently opened in Manhattan. Might be a good place to add to some of the sites people maintain for visitors.

I have been watching this community for a long time. I've wanted to get a cup, but I've been troubled by the idea -- reading all your posts has really helped me get used to the idea. Thank you.

So I took the plunge and bought a DivaCup. I got it Saturday and boiled it as per the instructions. I had thought about doing a dry run with it, but didn't because I was worried that if it hurt or was difficult that I would never try it for real. My cycle started last night, so after refreshing my memory with all the different folds, I tried it. I used a C-fold, held my breath and -- it went right in and popped open. I couldn't feel it inside me at all. I tried a couple of kegels and it felt vaguely squishy, but I had no sense of something actually being there. It was no problem at all. I wore it all night, with no leaks or anything, removed it this morning, again with no problem, emptied it, rinsed it and reinserted it. I had to twist it a bit to open it this morning, it didn't pop open the way it did last night, but even that was easy.

I'm astonished at how easy it is. I wasn't planning on wearing it to work today, but if I don't get any leaks before I head out, I probably will. It's very comfortable and clean, without the weird sticky, dry feeling I get from tampons.

I do feel some pressure against the front wall of my vagina, and I'm worried about getting a UTI (I get them frequently). I also feel a more frequent urge to pee. I'm being careful to wash my hands and to urinate after inserting it, and I'm taking cranberry supplements (I take them by the fistful every time I have sex, and they are very helpful in preventing my UTIs). I'm hoping that small problem will resolve itself as I get used to it.

I do have a question: Do you think this more frequent urge to pee will go away? It's not uncomfortable, but it's bothersome. It's exactly like when I have a UTI and constantly feel like I need to use the bathroom, only it's not painful the way a UTI is.

I just turned my very first heel!! Taking advice on socks from here, and elsewhere, rather than start with a sock for me, I started with a christmas stocking in worsted weight yarn. I followed the directions, and the heel came out just like it's supposed to! Or, mostly like it's supposed to, which is really enough for me right now. There's one small hole where I guess I shoulda picked up one more stitch on the side of the heel flap, but I'm totally just going to fudge that one with a bit of sewing. 5 inches or so, and I'm going to put a toe on this bad boy, decorate it up, and call it a day! (yes, that day will be tomorrow.) Once I finish the sock portion of this, I'll post pics. I'm totally stoked, as the only other thing I've made is a scarf.

Ohmigosh I'm freaking out!
I bought all my gifts on ebay!
And I'm so afraid that they won't be here in time for christmas!!
I just wanna make something cheap, and easy to tide everyone over till their gifts get here.

I can draw, I can do a lil hand sewing...


I thought of maybe just baking a bunch of cookies and putting them in gift bags.
But I don't know.

Can someone help me?
:/

I need some ideas!!

Noticing the previous post on wool sensitivity I wondered if anyone here has tried soapnuts for the more itchy wools? I found it made my Cascade 220 a bit softer and use it for my regular laundry as well since I'm sensitive to most laundry soaps.

Hello everyone!

I was looking for some tips about how to deal with a cup and having a IUD as I plan on getting one soon. I don't want to give up my cup! This is my first cycle using the cup and I freaking LOVE it! Is there anything I can do now to practice and prepare for having an IUD? What do I need to look out for? Any special tips and advice to achieve harmony between my cup and soon to be IUD? Anything would be helpful. Thank you all so much in advance!

Hey all,

Just wanted to write an update about the stem tearage situation, well, one of them. I emailed Frank a picture of the broken stemmed cup and he sent a replacement out Thursday. I received a package from Meluna today...from Germany to California in 3 business days...wow! He enclosed a replacement green ring stem and also a bonus red ball stem. I'm on my period now so I boiled the cups for a minute and popped the red one. I plan on giving the green one to a friend, since I have a green thats now basic since the other stem tore. Don't rule meluna out completely. I still have faith in them....apparently I just have a monster vagina...at 5'3" and 100 pounds you would never expect that, but hey!

Hello everyone,

I am hoping there are some people on here that make their own jerky and have some good recipes to share. I made one batch, it was OK and I know now that I can make it in my dehydrator but I am searching for more recipes.

At the moment I am looking for beef recipes, but would try salmon. I'd love venison but don't have access to it at a local store(you can hunt deer in CT but not sell it and I don't know any hunters anymore).

My problem is that SO many recipes I look up on line are ALL salty. I don't mind a little soy sauce, but I don't like it too much(for salt or taste). I have a small bottle of liquid smoke and various other sauces(a spicy hot sauce I might try eventually)but my true goal is to find some healthy, more natural ingredient, lower salt marinades that enhance but don't cover the taste of good local raised beef. I enjoy spicy, but again don't want it to overpower the meat.

I am open to all flavors, from sweet to savory varieties. I am using a brisket cut at the moment, but also curious what other cuts people use for beef jerky.

Hello,

I have tried to figure this out on my own and am not succeeding. I am curious as to why some people spell "vegan" with an asterisk in place of the letter "a".

Namaste,

Mimi

I just saw a previous post about soap bars as christmas gifts, and I was wondering if anyone had any good advice for natural bar soaps that are unscented, for sensitive skin or hypoallergenic..

i use ivory soap... i like it because it has almost no scent, but it leave my skin really dry. any suggestions?

Why is it that most people assume "natural living" means "vegan/vegetarianism?" In all honestly, when humans were at their most natural, imo, they were prehistoric... and if prehistoric people had all been vegan or vegetarian, I really don't think the human race would have lasted very long.

So, do you feel it's possible to live naturally and be omnivorous, or live a natural lifestyle including hunting, fishing, and raising meat animals along with produce; also skinning animals and using their leather for clothing, shoes, etc? And if so, why not?

If you don't feel a person can live a natural lifestyle while eating venison and wearing deerskin boots made from the hide, for example, why isn't doing those things a natural part of human life on earth as it has been for thousands of years?