J.R. LIGGETT Shampoo Bar Review and Haircare Update!

In my post about using apple cider vinegar as conditioner, I had mentioned the no 'poo challenge as the ultimate natural way of hair cleansing without using shampoo. I aspired to make this switch. I diluted 1 tbs of baking soda in 1 cup of water and added a few drops of tea tree oil, which I have heard combats dandruff, and kept this solution in an empty shampoo bottle. In place of shampoo, I generously poured some of this hair wash over the top of my head and massaged my scalp as one would with a good lathering formula, followed by using the diluted ACV as a conditioner rinse. For over a month, I stuck to this routine hoping that my hair would eventually make it out of the notorious purging phase during which the hair around my face and close to the scalp would look greasy. This stage is allegedly when the scalp readjusts from the stripping routine of conventional shampoo and eventually produces less oil. Unfortunately, I did not have the patience for this process and I could not stand looking like my hair was never dry (or clean). 

My return to the world of shampoo was bittersweet. Instead of repurchasing anything I've used before, however, I made a new discovery - shampoo bars! And of all places one would find these things, I never imagined that the furniture store West Elm would carry personal care items. Their selection of hand creams, lip balms, soaps, candles (and more) reflects a health/social conscious vision. At the time the entire store was having an extra 20% off their sale items, so the bar of J.R. Liggett's Old-Fashioned Original Formula shampoo (retail price $6.99) checked out at $3 and change. 

Read on for my review of this shampoo bar... 

Belated W3ll People Haul & Review

This is a long overdue post on my W3ll People haul from earlier in the year. Exactly how overdue, you ask? Well, apparently in the last few months W3ll People has reformulated their Universalist Colorstick, Narcissist Foundation Stick, and Nudist Lipshine (now called Nudist ColorBalm). Their products are now infused with organic aloe vera, have greater range of shades, and come in white eco-friendly packaging. 

I'm curious how the new formulas will compare with the original products which are already pretty amazing. The Narcissist Foundation Stick has been my go-to since I started using it over six months ago, and I repurchased it in shade #3. In order to take advantage of the free shipping on orders over $50 on the W3ll People website, I picked out a few other goodies - of course. I purchased...

Nudist Lipshine Duo Set, coral and nude - a special offer for $19.50 

Hypnotist Eyeliner - $16.50

A sample of Universalist Matte Multi-Use Colorstick in #7 (Cream Peony) - $1.50

Read on for my thoughts on these products! 

Hair Care Resolutions - Apple Cider Vinegar

One of my resolutions for this year is to explore natural hair care alternatives, namely the no 'poo regiment, which involves breaking up with commercial shampoos & conditioners and instead using baking soda and apple cider vinegar. The idea of replacing lovely-scented lathers and creamy conditioners is a bit sad, but there are reasons and costs for their being enticing to consumers. On my journey back to basics, I have been weaning myself off by taking it one step at a time. When my supply of Whole Food's 365 Shampoo & Conditioner in Lavender Blend (read my review) ran out, I decided to repurchase only shampoo (in Herbal Mint - this natural scent is quite faint). 

For conditioner, I purchased a bottle of apple cider vinegar, part of which is poured into a jar that's stored in my bathroom. Each time before I wash my hair, I pour about a tablespoon of ACV into an old, clean yogurt cup and set it by my shower. When I'm ready for conditioner, I run hot water from my shower directly into it - roughly 1 cup. (I learned from trial and error that using cold, or even lukewarm water is not pleasant when pouring it over my head.) Pouring the diluted ACV cup over my hair also takes some practice - make sure to tilt your head so it covers your hair and does not get into your eyes! I try to hold my hair out of the way of the showerhead so the conditioner can really seep into the hair. Then rinse thoroughly! 

So far my complaints have been that it stings when it gets into eyes, and the smell - it is after all vinegar. I think once I master the technique of the rinse, perhaps by using a squeezable water bottle, it will become less of a hassle. Also, I have experimented with reducing the vinegar smell by adding a couple of drops of lavender essential oil into the rinse. This helped slightly, but my essential oils are highly coveted resources. In combination with rinsing thoroughly with water, I think I will be able to avoid the ACV smell, which I get whiffs of when I blowdry my hair. Not sure if this scent would be noticed by others, I asked my boyfriend, whom I briefly mentioned that I was switching up my hair routine, if my hair smelled different. He replied saying that it smelled "like a Halloween mask"... !?! 

All of these things are tolerable when I consider that my hair has been feeling noticeably softer, shinier, and less oily (on day two post wash). And even though I'm still hesitant about rubbing baking soda into my scalp, I'm ready to move onto the next phase of this no 'poo experiment. Since my overriding motto is "no waste," I will wait until I use up my Whole Foods Herbal Mint shampoo. At least I'll get a reusable shampoo container out of it. 

2012 Holiday Moments

The holidays came and went, and I can't believe we're already well into the new year! I hope  the end of 2012 was a joyous, peaceful and restful time for everyone. My aunt came to visit from the UK so my household was filled with even more cooking, eating, and holiday cheer than usual. Here are some moments from the month of December. 

 Anyone fancy a horse-drawn carriage ride in the city? 

The tree in Faneuil Hall, Boston. Every night there was a spectacular light show accompanied by music by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, I believe. 

Gift for my aunt: a cowl scarf that I knit. It's made of Cascade 128 yarn in the color Doeskin Twist, and it's 100% Peruvian Highland Wool. The lilac scented soap was one I picked up from the flower market on my trip to Nice this past summer. Scrap yarn for tying up the gift and a hand-written note add an additional DIY touch! 

Gingerbread cookies from a KinCommunity recipe - great for gifts or Santa! I decorated them with raisins (which turned out looking like aliens) and chocolate chips.  

Crunchy Decadent Granola Bars

As one of America's favorite snack categories, granola bars are widely available in many varieties from different brands. They are also some of the easiest to make at home and keep well for future snacking. I especially love that I can customize the ingredient list to my personal taste. So of course, this recipe only serves as a template for your own creative concoctions. 

W3LL People Narcissist Stick Foundation Review

Ever since taking a class in college on the effects of endocrine disruptors, I have vowed to make conscious choices based on more research of the brand and ingredients in the everyday products I use. Ubiquitous chemicals including parabens and phthalates are found in many cosmetics, and avoiding them is no easy task. As I've mentioned in my Whole Foods Shampoo & Conditioner review, Skin Deep is a cosmetics database I refer to that is created by EWG to inform the public of potential hazards in a product. It's not the most comprehensive database, however, and often times the products I'm looking for are not listed. On one hand, I find myself giving in to a cosmetic product that received an unequivocal rating of 4-5 on the hazardous scale; and other times, I just want to give up buying makeup altogether and whip up a concoction of my own a la Crunchy Betty. In a perfect world, I wouldn't need to use anything to cover up blemishes, even out skin tone, or add color to my sickly winter complexion, because my skin would be perfect. 

In reality, there are brands out there that have created products that answered the prayers of neurotic, conscious consumers like me. I had been eye-ing the products of W3LL People for a few months before buckling down to purchase their popular, Narcissist Stick Foundation. The brand was founded by a trio of a makeup-guru, an environmentalist, and a dermatologist, who came together to make products that are effective, natural and organic, and sustainable/environmentally-friendly. Talk about a triple threat! Replacing all the potentially harmful chemicals with all natural ingredients, their line of products include foundations, mineral powders, brushes, multi-use cheek and lip sticks, eye shadows and even an eyeliner. Since I was running out of foundation (I was trying to tide myself over with what I thought would be a drugstore dupe - Almay's Clear Complexion Concealer), I ordered the Narcissist Stick Foundation on beauty.com during their 20% off Friends and Family sale.

Keep reading for my thoughts on this product...

Threads for Thought - Kami Tank review

**Currently there's a sale on all sale items (enter T4TSALE at checkout) - ends Oct. 1st! 

My search for affordable, organic and sustainable clothing ended when I discovered Threads 4 Thought a few months ago. This brand of sustainable apparel that epitomizes West Coast laid-back fashion has been a go-to for all my basic wardrobe essentials. For conscious consumers, now there's no need to feel guilty about a little online shopping because... 

The threads are sustainable, 

Fabrics are made of organically grown cotton or derived from plastic water bottles (through a really cool process!) 

Support great causes, 

Organizations include International Rescue Committee, the Natural Resource Defense Council, Rock the Vote, Girl 2 Girl, among others. On the website, they have a section of clothing called "shop the cause" with different t-shirt designs for specific causes. 

Created through fair practices 

When I first noticed the tags on my garments stating "made in Pakistan", I assumed that this company relied on sweatshops overseas for production. Then, I read on their website that they "only work with factories that respect their employees and treat them humanely and fairly." This statement made me feel more at ease about their practices even if they are outsourcing. 

Affordable and free domestic shipping & return 

Need I say more? 

As for the fashion, T4T is all about comfort and laid-back style for both men and women. Basics come in a multitude of colors and more recently this summer, there were new lines of interesting printed dresses and silk tops, which did come slightly more expensive. 

Most of the items that I have purchased from Threads 4 Thought in the past are basic wardrobe essentials - cotton dresses (2 for $30), Lisa Leggings in Charcoal ($24), and these  Kami Tanks (3 for $15, or $10 each). 

Kami Tank in Black (XS), Pearl (S), and Seashell (S) 

60% organic cotton

40% modal 

These neutral tanks are great for layering underneath sheer tops, for example. For something partially made of recycled plastic water bottles, they're surprisingly soft! My only complaint about these simple tanks is the variation in size/length. I typically wear a size xs or s, so I thought I would purchase both of these sizes in different colors. For me, the pearl and seashell colors, both of which I bought in size small, were significantly looser than the extra small black tank (which is my favorite). Even between the two size small tanks, I found that the pearl tank is shorter in length and wider in the torso than the seashell. The inconsistency in sizing is something to keep in mind. I would recommend sizing down for a fitted yet still comfortable look, especially since the tanks can stretch out from wear. 

For only 3/$15, it's hard to go wrong with these soft basic tanks from a socially-conscious brand. 

Food Adventures in France

This post includes some food highlights from my recent trip to Paris & Nice. As a strong believer in experiencing new cultures through local cuisine, I took a break from pescetarianism and enjoyed some classic French dishes with duck, such as the magret de canard salad and duck confit (sadly not shown below). Paris, in particular, seems less accommodating to vegetarians, whereas Niçoise cuisine has a stronger Italian, Mediterranean influence with focus on fresh produce and seafood. 

A salad with "magret de canard" (thinly sliced duck breast)
Brasserie on Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris 

Homemade Plain Yogurt

Cooking has never felt more like a science experiment than in the process of making homemade yogurt. As someone who works in a research lab, I can say that there are many parallels between growing up bacterial culture in a flask of LB broth and "growing" yogurt by inoculating milk with a yogurt starter. Now that I have whet your appetite with this comparison, I'll continue to describe the remarkably easy process of making plain yogurt at home that anyone can follow.

Disclaimer: This was my first time making yogurt at home and though successful, there are a few things that I would adjust next time I make it. Check out the end of this post for more resources! 

What you'll need: 

- a large pot that fits multiple jars

- smaller saucepan that can hold at least 1 quart of milk

- milk (I used 1 quart of whole milk from Whole Foods ($1.19). If this is your first time making yogurt, I'd suggest starting with this amount.) 

- glass jars with lids (clean jam jars would work fine) 

- thermometer 

- yogurt starter (I used store-bought Stonyfield's organic 0% plain yogurt at 5/$3) 

Note the six live active yogurt and probiotic cultures listed on the back of the Stonyfield cup - S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, bifidus, L. casei, and L. rhamnosus. These guys are the key players that we're trying to make happy in this recipe.

Peach Crumble Dessert

Fresh summer peaches + a friend's birthday party + Smitten Kitchen's peach shortbread recipe = a perfect occasion for a baking project. 


Shortbread, in my mind, has always been associated with dry cookies that come in tins and ten sticks of butter. So I apprehensively approached this recipe, fearing that it would come out too rich for my and others liking. The pictures on the recipe page reassured me that they would be more like a peach bar with crumble rather than a dense, dry shortbread. And the ingredients and instructions made it seem simple enough to whip up two hours before a party. 

Refreshing Summer Spritzer

Summer weather is now in full swing, which means even those of us with camel-like drinking habits are in search of refreshing sources of hydration. What started a year ago as the search for the perfect mojito in the city of Boston (verdict: blueberry or mango mojito at Top of the Hub) has transformed into a quest for the perfect mojito recipe and finally evolved into this "recipe" for a refreshing summer spritzer. Just as the key to the perfect homemade mojito lies in the mint-infused syrup, this drink also calls for mint-infused simple syrup to sweeten. 


Follow the instructions loosely, and change and substitute according to your preferences. (You can even turn this into a spritzer-mojito hybrid by adding rum.) After all, it's summertime and living is easy. 

Products Review: 365 Shampoo and Conditioner for Normal + Dry Hair in Lavender Blend

When it comes to personal care products such as shampoos and conditioners, I rarely stick to one particular brand. I have tried a few products from lines carried in salons such as Pureology, Bumble and Bumble, but most of my commonly used shampoos and conditioners hail from drugstore brands including Tresemme, Herbal Essences, Dove, Organix, L'Oreal, Aussie, etc. This is why my hair dressers (yes, I switch hair dressers as often as shampoos and conditioners) probably hate me. They have all recommended ditching my drugstore shampoos to expensive, non-sulfate salon brands, but even these products do not necessarily lack other chemicals that could be harmful to not just your hair but your health. So the search continues!


While grocery shopping at Whole Foods a few months ago, I picked up two packs of the Whole Foods 365 brand lavender blend shampoo and conditioner for normal + dry hair. Whole Foods also carries the lavender scent in formulations for normal + oily hair, as well as sets in an herbal mint scent. Each set (both shampoo & conditioner included) normally sells for $7.98, but I believe on sale, it was $4 - a ridiculous steal! I snagged two sets for stocking up my bathroom cabinet so I'll be using this for awhile. 

Reduce, reuse, recycle your clothes

The official start of summer coincided with a heat wave that brought temperatures of over 90 degrees along the East coast. It was also fitting that I, a huge procrastinator in every aspect of my life, finally finished spring cleaning of my closet. Most of the clothing that I weeded out were items that have not and will not get much wear - for example, a baby blue sweater vest with ruffle detailing that was given to me as a gift from my aunt, and a longer black and white chevron striped skirt in a jersey material, purchased from The Garment District. Even though I have worn the black and white striped skirt in the past, as both a skirt and a strapless dress or beach coverup, I don't see the potential of a revival in my wardrobe. (I had thought about turning it into an eternity scarf, however, the material is just too slinky.) 

For all those items of clothing that no longer receive any love, luckily there are many options for reusing and recycling that could also earn you some cash. 

Healthy Dessert: Quinoa Coconut Pudding

Holidays such as Father's Day (today) always give me the opportunity to concoct scrumptious desserts. With limited ingredients in my kitchen this time, I decided to experiment with a quinoa dessert. I bought two bags of truRoots organic quinoa at 2/$7 from Whole Foods a while back, when I was looking for a carb substance to replace my run-of-the-mill pasta that I had been bringing to work. Since then, I have been discovering as well as creating different recipes using quinoa, including portobello stuffed quinoa and curry quinoa. I also learned that this versatile superfood can be used to make dessert puddings! 

Back in the fall, I made a delicious rice pudding. I figured I would base this quinoa pudding off that recipe and essentially substitute quinoa for the rice. This recipe yields roughly 6 servings and takes about 40 minutes. 

Homemade Pizza with Trader Joe's Dough featuring Fresh Basil

Homemade pizza has always been a go-to meal for me and my boyfriend. In the past, we have created pizzas using store bought items including Boboli crust, pizza sauce, and frozen chicken appetizers. Since my meat-consuming days, we still enjoy tossing ingredients onto a pizza crust for a meal that allows great flexibility - his half, the omnivore's delight, doused in extra parmesan cheese and mine with fresh veggies.

Lately, we have been purchasing the $1 pizza dough from (you guessed it) my favorite store Trader Joe's. Of the three varieties of dough (regular, wheat and garlic & herb), we have been getting the garlic & herb flavor. The instruction says to allow the dough to sit in room temperature for about 20 minutes before kneading and stretching it out on a floured surface. And it only needs 8-10 minutes of cooking at 450 degrees! 

Oil Cleansing Method Beauty Experiment - Part II

Inspired by all the resources I found online and oil cleanser samples from my coworker, I made my own personalized oil facial cleanser. This process of researching and gathering supplies took about two weeks, but it was well worth the wait! 


Supplies:
*make sure all your containers are completely dry - otherwise the polysorbate-80 will react

• 1 clean glass jar (in a previous life, it was a jam jar) 
• small plastic containers with caps
• medicine droppers 
• (measuring spoons - 1/2 teaspoon and/or 1 tsp) 
• Jojoba oil (8.44 fl oz) from The Jojoba Company, purchased from Whole Foods - $13.49
• Castor Oil (8 fl oz) from the HomeHealth brand, purchased from Whole Foods - $5.99
• Polysorbate-80 (4oz by weight) purchased from Etsy seller CountrySoapShack - $4.95 + $2.50 shipping
• CountrySoapShack also sells other oils, waxes, dyes, and raw materials for making beauty/body products

Note: There are also companies from which you can order materials online 

Lotioncrafter carries polysorbate-80

Mountain Rose Herbs has a wide selection of oils, as well as essential oils that add lovely scents

Oil Cleansing Method 101 - Part I

Yes, I realize that I just raved about the Trader Joe's nourishing facial cleanser in a post a few weeks ago. And while I still stand by the product and use it in my routine (more on that later), I feel compelled to share this exciting and radical facial cleansing method - well, radical to me at least. Using samples of an oil cleanser and moisturizer that my coworker (the same one who introduced me to ginger chews) made, starting three weeks ago, I began trying the oil cleansing method, or OCM for short. 

Like many, I was skeptical at first. The thought of using oil to clean seemed so counter-intuitive, until I realized that the beauty industry brainwashes consumers to believe that any amount of oil on your face = bad. From oil-free cleansers that leave your face dry and tight to oil sheets that soak up oil from the T-zone, the broad spectrum of products that claim to keep your face free of excess oil sends the message that oil doesn't belong on your face, let alone in any products you wash with. But for thousands of years, people have used oils (such as olive oil) as cleansers and moisturizers on their hair and body. From a quick search on Google, it seems that the oil cleansing method remains popular as a natural alternative to drugstore cleansers containing various chemicals. 

Mother's Day Strawberry Scones

In celebration of Mother's Day, I whipped up some strawberry scones using this recipe from Smitten Kitchen, one of my favorite cooking blogs. The recipe is for meyer lemon and fresh cranberry scones, but since we have no cranberries and a lot of fresh strawberries in my house right now, my adapted recipe is for a meyer lemon and strawberry scones/biscuit hybrid! 

1 1/2 tablespoons freshly grated lemon zest (from about 2 lemons; preferably Meyer)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (+more for the flour-covered surface)
1/2 cup sugar plus 3 tablespoons additional if using fresh cranberries (strawberries!) 
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
1 1/4 cups fresh cranberries, chopped coarse, or 1 1/4 cups dried cranberries, if you insist  (strawberries!) 
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 cup heavy cream (I only had 2% milk in my house) 

Preheat oven to 400°F. I baked the first batch directly on a baking sheet and formed them into triangles, and the second batch in a muffin tin so they turned out more like biscuits. 

Using a knife, I scraped the insides of 1.5 lemons to remove the zest while careful to avoid seeds. 

In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, salt, butter and zest until mixture resembles coarse meal. 

Dice up 5-6 strawberries to fill about 1 1/2 cup, add 1.5 tablespoons of sugar and stir into flour mixture.

In a small bowl, beat egg and stir in milk. Adding about 1/2 cup of the mixture is enough because there is enough liquid content from the lemon zest and fresh strawberries.

On a well-floured surface, pat dough into a 2-inch thick ball. To evenly distribute the flour, I played "hot potato" with the ball. I shaped the ball into a triangle once on the baking sheet. 

** for my second batch, I just dropped the balls into a greased muffin tin without further shaping (you can say that I got lazy by this point...) 

Bake for 15 minutes or so, or until light golden. 

Finished biscuits! (second batch)

Enjoy! 

Chew on This

I was never fond of ginger - fresh ginger, cooked ginger, even the pickled pink ginger slices that grace delicious sushi rolls. Despite all the known benefits of ginger, for example, in aiding digestion and suppressing nausea, I just never enjoyed the distinct taste of this spice... until I discovered the Ginger Chew in my coworker's candy bowl. Being the adventurous eater that I am, I tried the candy and to my pleasant surprise, loved the ginger flavor in this chewy candy form! 

Rainy day baking projects

It's a rainy Sunday afternoon so I decided to bake a couple of desserts - an apple bread (for breakfast this week) and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, which I have been craving for awhile. 


Apple Bread
Here is my version of the above recipe: 
1/2 cup oil (I used slightly less) 
1-1/2 eggs
1 cup (light brown) sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla  (I had no vanilla) 
1-1/2 cups (old Fiji) skinned apples, diced - 1 medium sized apple
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
I also added about 1 cup of mashed soybean paste (I don't know what to call it) that was leftover from making homemade soybean milk. 

INSTRUCTIONS Combine and set aside the oil, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Sift flour, cinnamon, soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to oil mixture gradually. Add apples and nuts. Bake in 2 regular loaf pans or 3 foil loaf pans for 1-1/2 hours 45 min at 300 350°F. Cool 10 minutes in the pan. Sprinkle with sugar, if desired.

*note: I baked the bread at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes


My bread did not rise as much as I expected it to... Perhaps not enough baking soda? I had a slice and it was delicious and moist! Also since I used light brown sugar instead of granulated (the recipe does not specify), the bread is sweet without being overly so and the taste of the apples really comes through. 


Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies 
(adapted from Quaker Oats' Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies) 
Ingredients 
1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened (I left it at room temp for a few hours)
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 
1/2 (maybe 3 tablespoons) of granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla (again, no vanilla)
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
3 2 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup raisins Trader Joe's semi-sweet chocolate chips :) yes I'm very healthy


Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins (chocolate chips); mix well.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 (14) minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time Time: 14 min
Yield: I made my cookies fairly big, but this recipe should yield about 2 dozen cookies

(Yes, these really do vanish) 

• PS Happy Earth Day!