tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37625150871372325602024-03-05T04:08:38.141-05:00Ask the HerbalistAsk the Herbalist is THE place to go for answers to questions related to medicinal uses for herbs. We specialize in Women's Health, Geriatric Health and Holistic Animal Health issues, but are happy to answer your questions on any herb related subject.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-56760210119737119252013-01-14T17:04:00.001-05:002013-01-14T17:04:32.736-05:00A new year, a new direction<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em>Happy New Year everyone!</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em>It's been a whirlwind here with the move, buying a new home, the holidays etc., but I think I'm finally settling down to a place where I can at least think.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em>After lots of thought and prayer, I decided to shut down the business completely. There were just too many signs that it was time to put it to bed for good and turn the page. It was very difficult for me and for many of my long time clients, but I know it was the right thing for me to do.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em>Let me thank each and every one of you again for all your support and friendship through the years. The experiences were wonderful, even the difficult ones. It was one gigantic learning experience that spanned over 25 years! One can't complain about that!</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em>I am going to keep the blog up and running and am going back to answering questions for people. I still get them from time to time, but would like to increase that, so if you have herbal questions, or know of someone who does, please give them the blog address, </em></strong></span><a href="http://www.asktheherbalist.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em>www.asktheherbalist.blogspot.com</em></strong></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em>I am still exploring teaching classes and doing seminars, so if there's anyone in the Colorado area who is interested, let me know.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em>Last, my e-mail is still up and running and active, so you can always e-mail me at </em></strong></span><a href="mailto:allgoodegifts@yahoo.com"><span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em>allgoodegifts@yahoo.com</em></strong></span></a><span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em> with questions or comments, or just to touch base. I'm excited about this new direction and am looking forward to what God will do in the new year. May all of you be richly blessed in this new year.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em>Until next time, Be Well!</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong><em>Karen</em></strong></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-52921419780608250172012-11-16T05:27:00.001-05:002012-11-16T05:27:54.676-05:00Moving in a new direction<span style="color: black;">After 25 years as an online herbalist, I've come to a fork in the road. I recently closed All Goode Gifts and moved from the beautiful, albeit rugged, upper peninsula of Michigan back "home" to Colorado Springs, CO.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">There were many reasons for this, and though I closed one chapter of my life, I'm starting a brand new one and am excited about the possibilities and opportunities that await around the corner.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I've always loved teaching and lecturing. (Just ask my husband and sons!) After watching how Herbalism has changed through the years, I really want to get out there and help empower people by educating them. Unfortunately, I am seeing far too many "hacks" for lack of a better term, out there promoting themselves as experts and putting out some pretty wild and sometimes dangerous information. I love this field and take it very seriously, and it just frosts me to read some of the "advice" from self-proclaimed experts that can really do more harm than good, or those who seem to prey on the inexperienced and charge exorbitant amounts for things that can easily be done in your own kitchen. Yes, safely.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">So as I move further into this education realm, here's the lesson for this week: Please do your own research and seek out those herbalists who are well-established and have been out there doing this for a reasonable amount of time, especially if they are going to charge you for whatever they are suggesting. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Run, do not walk, if someone uses the word "cure" relating to herbs. Now, as a disclaimer, those of us who have walked this path for some time have some tried and true "remedies" that we use and fall back on, but most of the really good herbalists I know would never promise a cure or even use that word. It's irresponsible and can be dangerous, so please take all advice with a grain of salt, and educate yourself. The Internet is full of information that is, dare I say it, FREE for the taking! I am amazed at what some folks are charging for info that is very basic and readily available.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I will take a moment to put in a plug for one of my favorite herbalists, Tina Sams. She is the editor of The Essential Herbal Magazine and it's been around for quite a while. (Is it 7 or 8 years, T?) </span><a href="http://www.essentialherbal.com/"><span style="color: black;">www.essentialherbal.com</span></a><span style="color: black;"> is the address and it is a great place to start if you want to learn about herbs, their uses, their history, folklore, etc. Lots of great herbalists contribute to the magazine and it's always full of interesting, useable information. (T, just put the check in the mail!!)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">If you have questions about health and wellness, feel free to contact me at </span><a href="mailto:allgoodegifts@yahoo.com"><span style="color: black;">allgoodegifts@yahoo.com</span></a><span style="color: black;">. Others learn by your questions, so don't be shy. I'll never use your personal information and love answering questions and helping you down the herbal path. Don't be a stranger!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-80217782637001391452012-01-14T12:08:00.001-05:002012-01-14T12:09:57.991-05:00Annnnd, We're Back!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>We're Back!</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial;">After 2 years off, I'm finally back at the Blog. There are many reasons for my leaving, but 2012 is a year of change for me and the business, and part of that is renewing the Blog.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial;">January is always a month of renewal, reflection and re-evaluation for me. Last year brought so many changes - some good, some not so good. Up here in Michigan's upper peninsula, we have LOTS of time to just sit by the fire and think or contemplate. Days are short and the snow fall keeps me close to home much of the time. I'm normally doing course work during the winter. But I figure at this point, I really have enough letters behind my name to give me some credibility, so I want to focus on other things.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial;">If you're anything like me, you usually make "New Year's Resolutions" or goals at this time of year. I think everyone does that to some degree. Something about a brand new year, a fresh slate makes me want to do that thing I love - PLANNING!</span></em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial;">So what are your plans this year? Lose weight? (I think every woman puts that on her list!) Get healthier? (a GREAT goal!) Learn something new? Well, this year, I'd like to help you do those things and more. I will be concentrating on health more than anything this year. </span></em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial;">As I look around and at my own life, folks are just not as strong and healthy. It seems in spite of all the information available to us, we are becoming heavier, more fatigued, have more ailments than in years past. There are several reasons for this, and we'll be exploring them as the year goes on. But for me, the number one culprit has to be food. The more labels I read, the more I find that there is an awful lot of garbage out there and consequently, many of us are becoming the human equivalent of toxic waste dumps. It seems more than ever, we are being bombarded by chemicals and preservatives and it seems "no place is safe". I'll also be sharing some links for those of you who love to do your own research.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial;">Lastly, I will continue to answer any and all questions sent to me. I so appreciate those who read the blog and send questions, so keep doing that. If I get enough of the same questions, I will devote blogs to those issues as they come up.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial;">So, I just wanted to give a little introduction and game plan for the coming year. I hope you'll join me and share your thoughts, insights and concerns so we can all learn and grow from one another.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial;">Be Well! (Valere!)</span></em></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-70906675249561100972009-12-14T19:53:00.000-05:002009-12-14T19:53:28.788-05:00Winter comes to the UP - AGAIN!!!<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Well, we knew it wouldn't be long and sure enough, winter arrived with a vengence! As the cold front swept across the middle of the country, it stopped to dump about 2 feet of the fluffy white stuff on us up here on "God's holy mountain".</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We spent Thanksgiving with both sons in Colorado and just beat the snow back. As we pulled into the driveway, large soft flakes the size of silver dollars were falling with a soft woosh, woosh that you can actually hear if you listen carefully.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The deer herd survived the hunting season and we even have a young six point buck coming to the feeding area this year. There are about 8 including does and the yearlings, so it's a good sized group. We feed them through the tough winters with corn and hay. We also feed a tribe of blue jays, mourning doves, evening grosbeaks, chickadees, several varieties of woodpeckers and lots of finches that rival the US Marine Corps the way they eat! But we love having them all, and winters are very hard here, so we supplement their food.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">As I concentrate on correspondence courses as I usually do in the long winter months, I'm doing more classes locally now. We will be starting the New Year out right by teaching a workshop on Cleaning Green! I will be giving recipes, doing demonstrations and sharing information on the therapeutic values of various herbs and essential oils used in natural cleaning products. It should be great fun and one lucky participant will walk away with a $30.00 gift basket of home-made natural green cleaning products! For all the locals, you can go to the website under classes and workshops in the SHOPPE section to register.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Keep taking your vitamin C and zinc. From 3000 to 6000 mg. per day for adults. Also, keep those immune systems strong with echinacea and goldenseal. </span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">One of my favorite remedies for winter is garlic oil and I make a gallon of it over the winter months to keep the Mallinger clan healthy. <br />
<br />
</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><ul><li><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Take 3 or 4 cloves of garlic, mince, and put in a pint canning jar. </span></span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Cover with virgin olive oil and sit on your counter where you will see it every day. </span></span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Shake it daily to mix the oil and the garlic for a week. </span></span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Then strain off the garlic and use it to saute some veggies or in your pasta. </span></span></li>
</ul><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
Put the oil into a pump bottle and use it whenever you feel that little telling tickle in the throat. Rub it on the soles of the feet, put on your warmest wooley socks and jump into bed. The next morning, you should feel great and have no signs of a cold. This works wonderfully for the kids.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Another favorite remedy of mine is for when I feel a sinus infection coming on, or if I have been exposed to folks sneezing or coughing in a closed in place. As soon as I can, I put a drop or two of tea tree essential oil on the end of a Q-tip and swab the inside of my nasal passages. Use a different end for each nostril and fresh Tea Tree oil on each tip to avoid cross contamination. Dispose of the Q-tip. Tea tree is anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. I use it extensively during the winter.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Until next time, STAY WELL!</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Karen</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><br />
</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-83502925729785433942009-11-02T17:09:00.003-05:002009-11-02T18:51:50.255-05:00Winter comes to the UP!<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Hi Everyone!<br />
</em></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Well, winter has officially arrived here in Michigan's beautiful UP. The autumn was much too short for me as the days were filled with Farmers' Markets, harvesting and preparing for the winter months to come. We have had several small snows already this year. Fortunatley, my husband, Michael managed to get a picture of our local "Pterodactyl" on one of my "natural planters" before the frost killed all my flowers! Here he is! </em></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezXXRJh5HvdVROh7sTIqmY_G50dwHJnz_BonnE9bImZGl2Iw1IVlkQ_2ZP5ZSFerHCN2WEmtu3qXeAJPElJZ9gOSjyx_fIYiced1Vab847He7BEG1b43YKJ0GYJ_nV1_YurKmeHH2JZhe/s1600-h/Pileatedwoodpecker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em></em></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezXXRJh5HvdVROh7sTIqmY_G50dwHJnz_BonnE9bImZGl2Iw1IVlkQ_2ZP5ZSFerHCN2WEmtu3qXeAJPElJZ9gOSjyx_fIYiced1Vab847He7BEG1b43YKJ0GYJ_nV1_YurKmeHH2JZhe/s1600/Pileatedwoodpecker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezXXRJh5HvdVROh7sTIqmY_G50dwHJnz_BonnE9bImZGl2Iw1IVlkQ_2ZP5ZSFerHCN2WEmtu3qXeAJPElJZ9gOSjyx_fIYiced1Vab847He7BEG1b43YKJ0GYJ_nV1_YurKmeHH2JZhe/s320/Pileatedwoodpecker.JPG" vr="true" /></span></a><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>The Piliated Woodpeckers frequent the woods up here and are always exciting when they show up. It's hard to tell from the picture, but these birds are almost 2 feet long from beak to tail! <br />
<br />
</em></span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>As you can see, I use old tree stumps as natural planters in the landscape. Just have your hubby hollow out the inside for you with a drill or a chisel. Then plant with your favorite annuals or perennials. It makes a wonderful planter and looks great, especially in a wooded setting. Vines are also attractive trailing down the sides. It's a perfect way to make use of unsightly stumps on the property.</em></span><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>This week I have a special recipe to share with all of you. </em></span><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>I used up the Pineapple sage in my garden right before the frost to make Jelly for the local market and for gift baskets for family and friends. It's very easy to do and a wonderful way for you to save your herbs. <br />
<br />
You can use any of your favorite herbs in this recipe. Try some lemon balm, or any of the mints to make mint jelly. Sage, thyme, rosemary - any herb will work. You may want to vary the juice you use to vary the taste. Experiment and see what you can come up with! But rest in the knowledge that once again, you are getting all the medicinal benefits of those wonderful herbs. And it's delicious to boot!</em></span><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Combine 1 1/2 cups of fresh pineapple sage leaves with 3 1/4 cups apple cider or apple juice. I packed the leaves and chopped them up before putting them in the juice</em></span><br />
</div></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Bring to a boil. Let steep for 30 minutes. Strain off the herbs.</em></span><br />
</div></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Add one packet of powdered no sugar pectin and 1/2 tsp butter.</em></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Bring to a boil.</em></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Add 4 cups sugar all at once or 1 1/2 cups honey</em></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Bring to a boil again and boil hard for one minute.</em></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>I always test by taking a little in a spoon and putting it in the fridge to see if it jells. If it does, you're good. If it's still runny, cook it a little longer.</em></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Pack in jars which you've already sterilized and seal. Then send to friends and family!!! </em></span></li>
</ul><em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times; font-size: large;">That's it! Easy, right? This jelly is wonderful for oriental chicken, as a glaze on a pork roast or ham or just with butter on an English muffin!<br />
<br />
Hope all of you are prepped for the Flu Season. If you've been following the blog, you already know what to do. If not, check the archives and go to the <a href="http://www.allgoodegifts.com/">website</a> to get products for your family to help you through the cold and flu season.</span></em><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Until next time, BE WELL!!! (Valere!)</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Karen</span></em><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em></em></span><br />
<div><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-16369369243541070202009-10-16T11:40:00.022-04:002009-10-16T12:58:27.428-04:00Where'd You Learn all this Stuff?!<em><span style="color: #003333;">Hi Everyone!<br />
<br />
</span></em><em><span style="color: #003333;">Well winter is on its way to the UP. The woods are ablaze with color right now, but the leaves are falling like snow, so it won't be long before the ground is covered for the season. We've already had a mild dusting of an inch, so the harvest is in and only the cool weather crops and hardy herbs are still alive here on God's Holy Mountain tucked under their fall cold frames.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: #003333;">The question I get asked most at all my seminars is: "What's the best school to go to if I want to be an Herbalist?"<br />
<br />
That's a tough question. There are lots of wonderful schools all over the country. Many of the most respected herbalists of yesterday and some who are still around, got their start learning from their mothers, grandmothers or an older trusted herbalist who was "self-taught". Courses are available at universitites, community colleges, adult learning programs, online correspondence etc. The list is endless and you must choose the path that best suits your particular situation.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #003333;"></span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: #003333;">But I want to focus on an excellent resource that would be my first suggestion for those who are in the "dabbling" stage right now and aren't ready to invest in a full blown course.</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvKK6lQIFPxnrnZm4PS1-J-ie1FbaTmlyURerzLNMy5vc4ssb0zG9__jcJxCRpuuqekHQ3lUX41QSdWhkCegMSptVGjZLwc1Tr-93jN0j56uiE5ncL_UTc3o7xJsa-KN_QsexT_rwJA3p/s1600-h/john_kim.jpeg"><em><span style="color: #003333;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393226031314379826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvKK6lQIFPxnrnZm4PS1-J-ie1FbaTmlyURerzLNMy5vc4ssb0zG9__jcJxCRpuuqekHQ3lUX41QSdWhkCegMSptVGjZLwc1Tr-93jN0j56uiE5ncL_UTc3o7xJsa-KN_QsexT_rwJA3p/s200/john_kim.jpeg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 194px;" /></span></em></a><em><span style="color: #003333;">John Gallagher and his lovely wife, Kim have two wonderful websites. Learning Herbs and Herb Mentor. John and Kimberly Gallagher started Learningherbs.com in 2005 to show people how simple it was to treat yourself naturally with herbs and good food.<br />
<br />
</span></em><em><span style="color: #003333;">They created the Herbal Medicine Making Kit as well as Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game.<br />
</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #003333;">They have also started a new community called HerbMentor. This is NOT about John and Kimberly mentoring you. HerbMentor about a community of herbal learners of all experience levels joining together to help each other deepen relationships with the plants and our health.<br />
<br />
</span></em><em><span style="color: #003333;">Where many herbal courses eventually come to an end, HerbMentor keeps you growing with ongoing inspiration and education. John Gallagher, L.Ac., CCH is a Community Centered Herbalist. He is also a licensed five element acupuncturist with Cascade Acupuncture in Redmond, WA. Since 1991, he has worked at Wilderness Awareness School, where he teaches herbal studies with the Residential Program.<br />
<br />
</span></em><em><span style="color: #003333;">This is "one stop shopping" for anyone interested in seriously persuing the herbal path, or even those who just want to scratch the surface. You will find wonderful teaching videos, forums where you can get your questions answered, and a plethora of other herbal information.<br />
<br />
I have included links to the websites and some of their best selling products like Wildcraft! and the Herbal Medicine Making Kit. Go check it out. You'll be glad you did!<br />
<br />
</span></em><em><span style="color: #003333;">Till next time, be blessed and BE WELL!</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #003333;">Karen<br />
</span></em><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-33156870179174912262009-09-22T16:37:00.005-04:002009-09-22T17:20:01.787-04:00Catching Up!<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;"><em><span style="color:#003333;">Hi Everyone!<br /><br />So sorry I've been seemingly out of commission for the last three months, but here in the great North, when things start blooming, the harvest has to come quickly before the snow flies!<br /><br />I have been so busy since the last post, so here's a quick update of what I've been doing.<br /><br />July was filled with activity. I went to Indianapolis to test for my Certified Natural Health Professional. It was an eight day intensive filled with seminars and exams. All went well and I learned so much. I think I could go to school forever and be perfectly content! CNHP is affiliated with Trinity College where I got my degrees. If anyone is looking for an online course that is very well balanced, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Here is a link to their </span><a href="http://www.trinityschool.org/public/"><span style="color:#003333;">website</span></a><span style="color:#003333;">.</span></em></span><span style="color:#003333;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;"><em><span style="color:#003333;">I got home the end of the month and much to my delight, the St. John's Wort was blooming all over the place! Normally, SJW blooms on June 22, but up here in the UP, we are about a month behind the rest of the country. I went out and started gathering the beautiful golden blossoms for tinctures and infused oils. Folks along the roads just ignore me. They are used to seeing me walking along the road with a gallon jar in my hand filled with all sorts of botanicals!<br /><br />August brought the Farmers' Market and weekend commitments. This is my first year doing the local market and it has been very profitable for me. They tell me we will be going until December 3'rd, but I'm not sure how, since the snow will fly starting in October! Stay tuned for pictures of me selling my wares in the snow!!<br /><br />The season was very cool this year, with not much rain and temps at night were already starting to dip back into the 40's. My loving husband, Michael made sure all the critter cages that go over the veggie boxes had plastic on them so we could keep the tomatoes warm at night.<br /><br />September got here so quickly I almost missed it! Pineapple sage was blooming as was the lavender, so I was busy making lavender wands for market and Pineapple sage jelly. I have a few jars of this left, so if you'd like to try some, they are $4.00 for a 4 oz. jar. I don't list them on the website, but with any order, just put in the comments, PINEAPPLE JELLY and I'll add a jar to your order. This is a special for those who read the blog only!<br /><br />Yesterday I made a batch of peach butter using the red haven peaches that grow down state. It turned out wonderfully!<br /><br />So that brings you up to date with my doings for the summer. As my favorite season comes into beautiful fullness, I'll be writing about the antics of the wildlife, suggestions for the sniffles and colds that are probably plaguing your children and recipes for some wonderful cool weather treats.<br /><br />Check out the </span><a href="http://www.allgoodegifts.com/"><span style="color:#003333;">website </span></a></em></span><span style="color:#003333;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;"><em>for all things herbal to keep your family safe and healthy during the coming months as we prepare up here on God's Holy Mountain for the long winter sleep.<br /><br />Until next time, Be Blessed and Be WELL!<br />Karen</em></span> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-84466830642067347022009-06-24T10:45:00.009-04:002009-06-24T11:05:03.328-04:00Swine Flu "Unstoppable" - REALLY?<div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>This statement was recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO):<br></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>"The world is moving into the early days of its first influenza pandemic in the 21st century. The swine flu virus is now unstoppable."-World Health Organization Chief Dr. Margaret Chan</em></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#336666;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#336666;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#336666;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#336666;"></span></em></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>While the whole swine flu is a scary thing, there's no reason for angst. I've copied an article here from Master Herbalist David Christopher which speaks common sense to an uncommon problem. Enjoy!</em></span></div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#336666;"></span></em></div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#336666;"></span></em></div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#336666;"></span></em></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>"So…. we are having a PANDEMIC! </em></span></div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#336666;"></span></em></div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#336666;"></span></em></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>With the announcement by WHO that the swine flu (or H1N1 flu) is a pandemic many people are in a panic and looking for answers. In fact, in Argentina the health care system was essentially shut down by hordes of people rushing to the hospitals to find out if they had swine flu.</em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em><br />Every article in the media indicates something different; from how many cases there are worldwide; to how soon a vaccine will be ready for the general public, to when it is predicted to get worse (after all, WHO has declared it unstoppable). Who and what are we supposed to believe?</em></span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>First – what is the flu? Influenza (or flu) is a respiratory infection caused by any number of viruses. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized each year from the seasonal flu and about 36,000 die each year. Flu season happens during bad weather when people stay indoors and the therefore don’t get the fresh air, exercise, or sunshine with its accompanying vitamin D production. In other words, we create a personal environment conducive for viral invasion.</em></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></div><div align="left"><br />Influenza becomes pandemic when many people are subjected to a weakened or polluted personal or communal environment. A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide.<br />Here are a few examples of Pandemics you may have heard about:</em></span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>The Plague - middle ages-1347 AD<br />The Spanish Flu – 1918<br />HIV/Aids virus – 1980’s +<br />Swine Flu – 1976<br />Gulf War Syndrome -1990’s<br />Swine/ Avian (H1N1) - present<br />Avian Flu – it has been predicted that this will be a pandemic in the future</em></span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>The pandemic of 1918 was devastating to the population at large. It is estimated that it killed 50-100 million people worldwide (</em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic</em></span></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>). However, there was one simple home remedy that was not only effective in curing people; it also prevented others from contracting it. What is that simple remedy? It is something that can be found anywhere in the world and is often overlooked by the medical profession. We can easily purchase it in any grocery store for under $1.00! Many of us already have it in our homes and use it in cooking but don’t realize the medicinal qualities it contains. This easy home remedy is simply ………garlic.</em></span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>How does it work? Garlic has over 28 sulphide compounds, one of which is created when garlic is crushed. The amino acid Alliin is in a compartment and the enzyme Allinase is in a separate compartment. The crushing combines these two ingredients and creates a new substance named Allicin. This smelly, unstable sulphide is more powerful than any antibiotic and is potent in crushed fresh garlic. This super herb has appeared in close to 1,000 published papers and has been shown to kill bacteria in concentrations as low as 1 part extract in 50,000 parts water. The odor kills bacteria in Petri dishes at 20 centimeters distance and killed bacteria that were resistant to the antibiotic chloramphenicol. Garlic is the only antibiotic that also promotes healthy digestion and protects the body from toxins produced by the infection. </em></span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>The best insurance in the world against the “predicted coming plagues” and “killing diseases” is to have the body in a good healthy condition. Disease germs are merely scavengers and can only live on toxins, mucous and residue from junk foods. They cannot and will not damage healthy cell structure. Therein lies the key! Have a healthy, clean body and disease germs will by-pass you - wanting nothing to do with your body, because it would be “obnoxiously clean” (in their language) and have no filth for them to live on.<br /><br />If you do get sick, however, you should not be around other people. You should stay home and take care of yourself. </em></span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>Avoid all animal products (especially dairy) and go on a liquid diet of fresh juices and plenty of distilled water and red raspberry tea. Make sure the bowels are moving so as to eliminate toxins quickly. </em></span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>Next, lubricate the body liberally with garlic oil (fresh garlic pressed into olive oil) – especially the chest and soles of the feet. This is an easy way to take in a lot of garlic. </em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>One woman called because many at her work had been out with a flu that was lasting about two weeks. She came home from work feeling sick and called to see what she could do. She wasn’t up to going to the store so I questioned her to see what she had in the house that she could use. I told her about this simple remedy which includes the juice from two apples, four stalks of celery, and one inch square of ginger. </em></span></div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#336666;"></span></em></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>The Chinese have done studies that show that effectiveness of ginger in killing viruses. She drank this juice all day along with water. She also stayed down and rested. The next day she was back at work.</em></span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>To complete the process of healing, we suggest you stay on fresh juices, fruits and vegetables, and drink plenty of distilled water."</em></span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><em><br /></em></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-56536520293490829272009-06-11T15:38:00.011-04:002009-06-11T16:22:28.225-04:00Yogi the Bear is finally out of hibernation!<div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I've been griping about the late arrival of summer in everything from my Twitter site to the lists I belong to. Well this morning, over coffee, my husband suddenly jumped up and yelled, "BEAR!"</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>He ran for the camera and I ran to the back door to make sure the dogs were all inside. Sure enough, there in the seasonal creek that runs past the back door was our local black bear. </em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Normally we see these guys in April or May after the "real" winter is over. They wake up and are immediately hungry. Our first year here in the UP we woke up one morning to find all of our bird feeders and suet feeders either torn to pieces on the ground or gone completely! After asking around, we figured out that it was probably a bear. When they wake up, the first thing they eat is something green. Then they go for suet, sunflower seeds, corn or anything else they can find to satisfy them until the berries start to come in.</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Black Bears aren't particularly vicious unless they have cubs with them, so a loud noise is usually enough to scare them off. So Michael opened the door and yelled, "BANG!"</em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Funny as this sounds, it usually works. I don't think the bears realize how big and scary they are! But if you get caught in the woods and happen to come face to face with one of the furry ones, first, remember that they are NOT Teddy Bears!!! Second, DO NOT RUN!! If you act like prey, they will perceive you as prey and act accordingly by chasing. And trust me when I tell you, that you will probably NOT be able to outrun them. Raise your arms above your head and make as much noise as you can, while slowly backing away. As I said, they are really big cowards unless it is a she-bear with cubs. They will usually lumber off. </em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><br /> </div></em></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszoHRO5P_r37MJebiz00k4Gh_LVZfDDaEn43rcj7E45MpWhzvUcn4neydZ99pSL_knCONWif4ogD93gyrp_FE9dtDt3jFSAAZzz7fcpqwu3onTNznmB2MrDqGW9fsHfWK8ip_lqmD-FrP/s1600-h/Bear.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346165711950580962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 216px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszoHRO5P_r37MJebiz00k4Gh_LVZfDDaEn43rcj7E45MpWhzvUcn4neydZ99pSL_knCONWif4ogD93gyrp_FE9dtDt3jFSAAZzz7fcpqwu3onTNznmB2MrDqGW9fsHfWK8ip_lqmD-FrP/s200/Bear.JPG" border="0" /></em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Here's a picture of Yogi. That blur that you see is him deciding that he was NOT leaving without his lunch. He took one swipe at the suet feeder and knocked it off the hook, grabbed it in his mouth and ran back over the creek and into the woods.</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I'm running a special for the month of June on the </em></span><a href="http://www.allgoodegifts.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>website.</em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em> Anyone who puts "YOGI" in the comments section of the order form will get 20% OFF! </em></span></div><div><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span></em> </div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Now, aren't you glad you read the blog!!?</em></span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>See you next time!</em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Karen</em></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-72007662072253848352009-05-01T16:01:00.008-04:002009-05-01T16:36:29.761-04:00<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-Hhtqb4W1Li08TqggRq3pkHlgLoJklTb-f6VGxVKNNFsft7Lk9v4Sdj5ecglMSKAiB-otdANar4DXSRrDqtC4Y0vw1y3qCz1YnxOGIMhK8cgEgg_IwuOci-oyNiZzIU9JG-OoAfyh98N/s1600-h/spring+peeper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330949546538099970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-Hhtqb4W1Li08TqggRq3pkHlgLoJklTb-f6VGxVKNNFsft7Lk9v4Sdj5ecglMSKAiB-otdANar4DXSRrDqtC4Y0vw1y3qCz1YnxOGIMhK8cgEgg_IwuOci-oyNiZzIU9JG-OoAfyh98N/s200/spring+peeper.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#336666;"><em>Spring Comes to the UP - FINALLY!!!!!</em></span><br /><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;">Well, there are two SURE signs that spring has come to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. One is that distictive sound of the Spring Peepers! Last night for the first time, I heard the familiar sound of the peepers in the cold night air. It was thrilling!!! The local wildlife here are much better predictors of the weather than our local weatherman. They never seem to be fooled into coming home to soon or leaving too early.</span></em> </span></div><div><br /></div><p><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">The Spring Peepers, for those of you who aren't familiar with them, are small brown tree frogs that have an excruciatingly high pitched "chirp". Many people have actually heard these tiny harbingers of Spring, but don't know what they look like.</span></em></p><div><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Here's a link to hear the spring peepers singing!</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><a href="http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/Amphibians/Spring%20Peeper/peeperchorus.au">http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/Amphibians/Spring%20Peeper/peeperchorus.au</a></span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;">The spring peeper produces glucose, or sugar, and "freezes" itself for the winter. In winter, peepers' bodies freeze--but their cells don't rupture because of the concentrated sugars in them. These sugars act as a kind of natural anti-freeze.</span></em> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcD1jkq0ku6A8sEhL6GeFj-PjYm4CXuXrUWo1TfOF8Rn6GIraFG87Sva90EbUOpokpw1u4vUKEzpIptUGdGUyNtTBaCkOGzKKb75I5OH_f2JrBmxHLX9Hp7reGkGA107VqC7mAuf08hQw1/s1600-h/peeper2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330956913818931954" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 148px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcD1jkq0ku6A8sEhL6GeFj-PjYm4CXuXrUWo1TfOF8Rn6GIraFG87Sva90EbUOpokpw1u4vUKEzpIptUGdGUyNtTBaCkOGzKKb75I5OH_f2JrBmxHLX9Hp7reGkGA107VqC7mAuf08hQw1/s200/peeper2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Their Latin name, Pseudacris crucifer, was chosen due for the cross, or 'crucifix' located on the back of this species. </em></span><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">I look forward to the males wooing the females with their "jingle bells" chorus every year. That way I know that spring is finally on its way and soon I'll be digging in the dirt!</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">So for those of you in the eastern portion of the U. S. get away from the city noises, someplace where there's water and trees and listen for the peepers!</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Valere!!! (Be Well!!!)</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Karen</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span></em><br /></div><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span></em><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-29088593617678979532009-04-20T15:04:00.002-04:002009-04-20T15:13:12.367-04:00Just when you thought it was safe to go into the garden!<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Well, the snow finally started melting up here in the great frozen north last week. I could see the seed heads of last year's plantain in the driveway! A sure sign that Spring was on the way!</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Then, last night, we got 6 inches of snow in a late April snowstorm. These are common here in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, so it was no great surprise to any of us. I haven't seen the 200 pound black bear that frequents the "feeding area" in the back, so I think he knows something the rest of us don't!</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I have to admit I was a little disappointed to wake up to winter white again. I am SO ready for the bulbs to start blooming and to get digging in the dirt. But those of us who know don't even think about putting our gardens in until the end of May. I can get by with some cold weather crops like lettuce, arugula and spinach if I put the lids on the raised boxes and treat them as cold frames. But anything serious has to wait until the end of May or risk being lost to a late season snow storm.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Classes are going well and I went to Munising on Thursday to do an Introduction to Herbalism. The class was well attended and we had a lively discussion. It's one of my favorite things to do. Keep watching for notices about upcoming online classes. That's something I hope to offer this year.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>While you're looking, don't forget to stop by the Apothecary for some herbal elixirs to help with those seasonal allergies. May will soon be here and that's when the "yoopers" head for their camps. Our Campers Bar and Bugger Off are two MUST HAVES for camping and summer fun.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Hopefully, the next time you hear from me, I'll have GREEN news to report! (Like sprouts in the garden!)</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Until next time,</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Karen</em></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-79134985981325375232009-02-27T14:28:00.015-05:002009-02-27T15:30:51.435-05:00A Tribute To Taz<span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em> Last week I said good-bye to the sweetest soul I've ever known. My heart is aching and there is an emptiness that nothing or no one else will ever be able to fill.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em> Taz came into our lives over 13 years ago in the form of a little ball of fluff. We lived in Colorado and already had one Pembroke Welsh Corgi, but wanted another. We made the 1 hour drive to a very reputable breeder in Denver and went in to see what she had available. Of course, I had my eye on the $1000 plus show prospect puppy. But my husband, Michael was looking in another kennel on the other side of the room. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em> "Those are pet quality puppies" The breeder explained. "That one is a fluffy"</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em>I've owned, bred and showed dogs for over 25 years, but I didn't know what a "fluffy" corgi was. Evidently, they are considered genetically defective. They are perfectly wonderful and healthy, but the long hair does not meet the breed standard for corgis, so they cannot be shown in the conformation ring or bred. Evidently, many fine show dogs will "throw" the fluff gene occasionally. When they do, this is what you get.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307566239787879522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 195px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 142px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBNF16SmWEkOYS3AU-BP-QLy8k-DcsFecQDlkUkn_jsTeiFJ9vzlr5951lDyHAEMSwwdSJ-2ZnzRG57VmwjKw14g118PgqAhRVabVpknBjDzzMoH3K1rbSlCc5PskGtfZ2XvuBUZdIO8j/s200/Taz+pup.jpg" border="0" /><br /> Taz was a holy terror around the house. Running and barking in this tiny little voice at Mindy our older corgi, who had decided that her "new little brother" was no bargain! </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em> Soon, it became very apparant that Taz was very special. His intelligence was superior and his endurance made Mindy look like an old dog! As our "pack" increased through the years, we added Bailey, Abbey, Pebbles and Cody. Through it all, Taz remained ever faithful and steadfast. He was not an "alpha" by any stretch, so he would wait until all the other dogs had eaten or had water to take his turn. His sweet disposition made him a favorite with everyone who met him, and he became my husband's "little buddy". </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em><br /></em></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em> Walking the corgis was always entertaining. No matter how far we would walk, Taz would circle the others and herd them. Corgis are by nature herding dogs, and Taz had a natural gift of it. Whether it was the other dogs, children or us, he could always be found bringing up the rear and making sure everyone kept moving forward. He was always prancing at the end of the walk when the other dogs had long since lost their energy and had tongues hanging out.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em>As he got older, Taz would take his post at the top of a hill or on the porch keeping watch over his "domain".<br /></em></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em></em></span></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307568973749694594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 159px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexb3yjsal0yucCvr0x1pMxmBytUyATyWg99VFGLE9Mgs8Zs-CnQj91pXVpv_oZP3flBS78gywS0Bn74reXZqHWfCmrsYMBPGVlhUk1GctBiaU41Y3d367nA1lM9jfA48WNRE0OgZn1teN/s200/TAZMIN.jpg" border="0" /> He was always the clown, singing for his dinner every night with a sort of howl that was distinctly his when Michael would sing the "Dinner time Song".<br /><br /> Then one day, Taz stopped singing. He was sleeping a lot and other than getting up to go outside, he spent his days on the kitchen floor under our table, close to Michael's seat. I keep all the dogs healthy with natural, organic food and glycerites when they have a problem, so we took Taz to the vet to see what was the matter. They told us he had diabetes. His glucose levels were over 600 and we could not get them stabalized. Taz stopped eating, slept most of the days and did not have the same "happy man" expression we had come to know and appreciate so much over the last 13 years.<br /><br /> We tried giving him insulin shots in a desperate attempt to save him, but we finally realized it was time for us to let him go. He was suffering and this was no quality of life for him. I left the decision to Michael since Taz had long ago become "his little buddy". It took a couple of days, but he finally decided it was most humane to let Taz go. We took him to the Vet and held him while they gave him the shot that would put him to sleep. I bent down and stroked his soft fur and whispered, "It's OK, Taz. Run to the bridge." </em></span><a href="http://www.rainbowbridge.com/Poem.htm"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em>http://www.rainbowbridge.com/Poem.htm</em></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em><br /><br /> I let go of the sweetest soul I've ever know. I can't ever remember Taz misbehaving. He was always sweet, even though the other dogs picked on him. I never saw him bare his teeth or even growl or snap at anyone. He was, as most animals are, the perfect example of God's unconditional love. </em></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9YVZiV5hfL0O1lcACYqQDZvKLgnPKgFdX3xBCVd-W4AgcpmqDO6TgxPuBDPEw6XKYQWmn4uTeYvmIeI6c-M_dcA-9KHtGId4VUCioDH9U3BWoLwkW_NbEV3PSlRWQHmksZWINxdhECkk/s1600-h/Taz.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307575523888720434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 171px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9YVZiV5hfL0O1lcACYqQDZvKLgnPKgFdX3xBCVd-W4AgcpmqDO6TgxPuBDPEw6XKYQWmn4uTeYvmIeI6c-M_dcA-9KHtGId4VUCioDH9U3BWoLwkW_NbEV3PSlRWQHmksZWINxdhECkk/s200/Taz.JPG" border="0" /></em></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#336666;"><em>No one will ever replace Taz in our lives or our hearts. We will bury his ashes up on "Mindy's Hill" in the Spring where Mindy and Abbey are. He was the kindest and sweetest of all the Corgis and we will miss him for a long time. If I close my eyes and concentrate, I can still hear that happy bark of his as he ran through the woods behind Michael and the other dogs, making sure everyone was accounted for and in their place. Good-bye, dear, sweet Taz.<br /><br /><br /><br /></em></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-70172280450931857942009-01-01T15:50:00.002-05:002009-01-01T16:18:15.481-05:00New Year's Day Musings<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>New Year's day always finds me in deep contemplation about life, family, the business etc. Like most of you, I'm sure. Today, the Detroit Redwings are playing hockey outside at Wrigley Field with the Chicago Black Hawks, so there is no peace in my home!</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I grabbed my coat and called Bailey, the official Herb Shoppe Guard Dog and headed out through the 3 foot deep snow to the cabin where my herbs and my computer await. It's so quiet outside. You can actually hear the snow flakes hitting the ground. My feet make crunching sounds as I wind my way down the path to the cabin. </em></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Here, the only sounds are the intermittent sound of the wood pellet stove pushing more pellets down into the oven and Bailey's soft snoring. (Hey, it's not easy being the Herb Shoppe Guard Dog!) </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I think over the past year. So many changes. The economy in bad shape. We have a brand new President. Soldiers still fight for our freedoms in a land far away.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I saw a report on the news the other day that the number one goal of those interviewed was to "get healthier". Really? Don't we do that every year? Promise to work out, eat better, go on a diet, etc etc etc. Usually by mid February, most of us have conveniently forgotten those promises and moved back into our old, sometimes destructive routines.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>But as I think about it, striving to be healthy and take care of ourselves first really sounds like a good idea if we can truly stick with it. Ask most women what their priorities are and they will tell you, "my husband, my family, my job, my church, my God" in various order. But I would submit to all of you that if YOU are not your number one priority, you're misguided.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Now don't start screaming about selfishness and narcissism. Hear me out. I'd submit to you that if I do not take proper care of my body, my mind and my spirit, do I really have 100% to devote to anyone or anything else?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I know, I know. There's no time. Will there be time when you're sick? Will there be time if you are in the hospital? I recently went through a very short bout with a virus. I don't get sick, so this was very odd for me. My loving husband remarked he had never seen me so sick. Although it only lasted 10 days total, I was useless for almost the entire time.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>As I looked back to see where I blew it, I had to admit that my exercise schedule had waned over the holidays, I had given in to the temptation to indulge in culinary delights that were best left on the plate, and had not been diligent about taking my supplements and my tinctures every morning.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I think as we age, our bodies are not as resilient and do not handle such lapses in routine well. Two years ago, my brother-in-law, who is the same age as me, had a major stroke. Jeff is strong and always outside working. Very active. Golfing every chance he gets. I admit his diet left something to be desired, but other than that, he was pretty healthy by all standards. Now he is on all sorts of medications and cannot work for very long without getting tired. He seldom plays golf anymore. He's only 53!</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I know that our health is one of the most important things in our lives and if we are not conscious of it, it will get our attention one way or the other. So in this time of resolutions, how about some NON-resolutions for 2009?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I will NOT sleep less than 8 hours a night.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I will NOT put white sugar into my body in any form.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I will NOT hit the snooze button instead of getting up and working out.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>I will NOT put my job before my health and well-being.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>OK, now you try it! Take baby steps. These changes don't happen all at once, but the basics still work. Pure food and water, daily exercise (foreget this 3 times a week garbage!!), plenty of sleep, time to meditate or pray and loving yourself enough to put your health first!!!</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>My prayer for everyone reading the blog as well as my faithful customers, is that God will richly bless you this year. That you will enjoy health and happiness. That you will take the time to spend 5 more minutes on the floor with your children. That you will remember to laugh heartily every day and that you will remember to take care of you. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Happy New Year everyone!</em></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-34936041864728142742008-11-14T13:08:00.003-05:002008-11-14T13:18:51.678-05:00Herbed Turkey Recipe or How I Broke Out of my Left Brained Cooking Mode<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>OK, admit it. Every year, the same old turkey. I know it's a tradition, but if you're looking for something a little different and wonderful, read on!<br /><br />After becoming "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">herbie</span>", I decided that there was something <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sacrilegious</span> about not cooking with herbs in everything I did. One Thanksgiving I decided to throw caution to the wind and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">experiment</span> on my family. (Quite frankly, that was the beginning of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">experiments</span> on my unsuspecting brood. They are all still my favorite guinea pigs!!)<br /><br />Grabbing my helpless, unsuspecting Honeysuckle White from the water, I plopped it on the counter and opened up the herb cupboard. I was fairly new to herbs so I had a little sheet on the inside of the cupboard that showed all the things herbs go best with. I started scanning for anything that would work with poultry or anything feathered. There were several wonderful selections which all happened to be staring out at me begging for a culinary debut.<br /><br />I started pulling out jars like a woman possessed. (If you've ever met me, I pretty much act that way all the time!) There was the traditional sage. Marjoram, rosemary, oregano, lemon balm, savory. As I stared at the collection of jars and bottles before me that old overwhelmed feeling started in the pit of my stomach. Being seriously left brained, (I don't think I even have a right lobe at all) I am one of those cooks who follows a recipe down to the letter, so this was scary to say the least and on a level with jumping from a 100 foot building at most. But I was determined. I pushed on.<br /><br />I thought perhaps the muscle test might work. You know, that thing where you hold out your arm and with the other hand hold something close like sugar and see how your body reacts when someone tries to push down on the outstretched arm? Well anyway, the turkey wasn't cooperating at all. I lifted a wing and held a spice close. No response. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hmmmm</span>. Finally I decided to get in touch with my creative side, whatever that was. I opened jars, sniffed, put two jars together and sniffed. This went on for 15 minutes. My husband walked in, took one look at me, shook his head and kept walking. (He's done that a lot lately, come to think of it.) Next the sons who, just because they are adults now and out of the house, think they know everything. ("<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">HERBED</span> Turkey? What the heck is THAT! Come on, MOM! Just make it the way you normally do!") But I was a woman on a mission. Can't be an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">herbie</span> if you don't live it.<br /><br />Finally, I decided on the sage, the rosemary, the marjoram and the oregano. Plus some chopped garlic I had handy. And of course salt and pepper.<br /><br />I poured some olive oil into a bowl. (Much healthier than butter, which Mom used to use to rub on the turkey). Then I added the spices. About 1/2 cup of olive oil. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">purposely</span> didn't measure, cause real cooks don't measure. (Wonder who came up with THAT lie?!) Then about a tablespoon of each of my selected spices. I mixed it up well and proceeded to pour a small amount into my hand. As it dribbled through my fingers, (that move needs work) I quickly got my hands over the turkey and let it run out. Next I grabbed the bowl and poured a small amount on "Tom". Then I began the first avian massage. I worked and massaged until my 20 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">pounder</span> was covered from neck hole to the part that went over the fence last as well as inside with my special brew. I convinced myself that this would also make the meat much more tender, so I put my whole heart and soul into it. I kept pouring and massaging until I had used up all the contents. There I stood, over my victim with my hands greasy and in mid air. (another confused but sympathetic look from my husband). Even if it didn't taste good, this was the most fun I've ever had preparing food!<br /><br />We always stuff our birds, so that went in next. My loving hubby grabbed the bowl of stuffing out of the refrigerator and placed it next to the bird on the counter. ("Why don't you just wipe your hands off?") SNORT! Be CAUSE, I want all that nice mixture to get into the stuffing as well. Men!<br /><br />After stuffing every last bit into the cavity and the neck skin, Tom was ready for the oven. I put him in at 325 degrees with some foil over the top to seal in the steam. The house smelled heavenly and soon, men and dogs were wandering in to "Help with the basting"! (Where were these guys when I was wrestling this 20 lb slippery beast?)<br /><br />About 30 minutes before he was done, I took Tom's foil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">blankie</span> off so he could get nice and brown. And then, the moment of truth. My husband proudly carved and everyone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">ooo'd</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ahhhh'd</span> at my masterpiece. I waited expectantly while everyone else dug in. Tick tick tick tick. (Now I know how Alex <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Trebeck</span> feels!) WELL?!!!<br /><br />Amidst grunts, slurps and nods, I got the message that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Herbed</span> Turkey was a success. It was wonderful and tender and the herbs gave it a wonderfully subtle but delightfully different taste. I smiled happily as I spooned out some more stuffing. Wait a minute, what's that thing? Looks like paper. I pulled it apart from the stuffing. THE GIBLETS! (I wondered what had happened to those!) So, lesson learned. Make sure you do a thorough body cavity search before embarking on this adventure!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Bon</span> Appetite!!<br /><br />I just want to give special thanks to all my customers and clients for the great year we've had! (You know who you are!!!!) May your holidays be blessed and full of God's great bounty.<br /><br />Karen</em></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-49027948624277226152008-11-14T12:50:00.004-05:002008-11-14T13:07:34.690-05:00Happy Herbal Thanksgiving!!!!!<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>Hi Everyone!</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>I can't believe it's November already. This year has just flown by and we've already had snow several times here in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>Thanks to everyone who wrote in about the TV Spot. We had lots of fun doing it, and it lets everyone get a little look at the shop, and me!</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>Well, 2008 has almost passed us by and as I look back through the blog entries, it occurs to me that I neglected to put ANYTHING in about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Calendula</span>, the Herb of the Year for 2008. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mea</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Culpa</span>!!</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>So, before the closing bell, here's a wonderful little recipe that is very easy for you to do at home and will use up some of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">calendula</span> you may have saved from your harvest. It's a nice Herbal Salve that is very easy to make, yet has the wonderful healing properties of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">calendula</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">comfrey</span>. No water, so no worries about buggies! The recipe can be doubled or even tripled if you want to make up some nice gifts for Christmas giving, (did I say that OUT LOUD?!) and for all you women who have hunters for husbands, this will help those rough, hunting hands and any other wounds that may come back from camp!!</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>Use as a topical first aid cream for cuts, scrapes, blemishes and bruises. Apply to injuries to speed healing and prevent infection.<br /><br />Ingredients:1 tablespoon oil(sunflower, safflower, almond, apricot, I like to use jojoba. Avocado is also very nice!)</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>1 teaspoon granulated beeswax</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>10 drops lavender essential oil</em></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>10 drops eucalyptus essential oil<br />3 drops tea tree oil</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>1 teaspoon very finely chopped <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">calendula</span> petals</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>1/2 teaspoon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">comfrey</span> leaf cut and sifted or crushed in mortar and pestle</em></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>1 vitamin E gel cap<br /><br />Directions:Use a one oz. glass container. Prick a hole into the vitamin E capsule with a pin and squeeze out the contents. Add all ingredients. Mix well with a toothpick. Place container on a microwave safe dish. Microwave for 1 minute or until all wax is dissolved. Stir with a toothpick. Place in freezer to speed cooling and consolidation.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>There you have it! Now, in keeping with the season, I've done two blog entries this month. The other one is one of the first articles I wrote concerning my switch from Traditional Thanksgiving Turkey to Herbal Thanksgiving Turkey. It lets you in on a little bit more of me and my clan and is actually a great recipe if you're ready to start using herbs in your cooking! Enjoy!!</em></span><br /><span style="color:#336666;"></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-73701032583227754152008-10-23T19:30:00.005-04:002008-10-23T19:55:17.374-04:00I'd Like to thank the Academy!!!!!!<span style="color:#009900;"><em><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;">Well, things at All Goode Gifts are just jumping, in spite of the current state of the economy! A lovely young girl named Elizabeth from our local television station came out to the shop and spent a good hour with me and one of my favorite local customers, Lisa.</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;"></span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;">The result is a lovely little video that I've posted here for you to see. It focuses on my beliefs about herbal alternatives, how we do things and some very nice comments from Lisa, whose favorite product is the Peppermint Body Wash!</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"></span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;">Here's the video!</span></em><br /></span><br /><p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwIyLMezcRJt7UhxPpx4oshbpcvboPhr5SzA_hoeWnLIG3Tj_igtrdzrESvlb7XqPl0GAJItMJCGCuzFFhaQA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><em>We are so thankful to Channel 6 in Marquette for the coverage! And to Lisa for her kind words!</em></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-62520012928673307202008-08-25T14:07:00.004-04:002008-08-26T14:13:52.746-04:00Back to School? Already!?<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Hi Everyone,</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong></strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Well, I can't believe how fast the summer has passed me by. I've been busy harvesting herbs, picking wild blueberries, making pesto to preserve my basil for the winter and September is only 1 week away! Where on earth did the summer go?</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong></strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Fall is actually my favorite season. I love the smell of </strong></em></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wood stoves</span> being cranked up on the chilly nights, football season, the extraordinarily beautiful colors of the woods where we live and warm, apple cider with cloves, cinnamon and a little orange peel. But alas, when the kiddos go back to school, it seems everyone I know ends up sick.</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong></strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Children are back inside classrooms instead of being out in the sunshine and fresh air. They are breathing recycled air, being exposed to others with all sorts of maladies and, if they haven't eaten particularly well during the summer, dealing with compromised immune systems that cannot fight off the buggies that will come.</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong></strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>There are several things to do, starting with making sure their diets are as healthy as they can be. Try to eliminate as much sugar as you can. There is scientific research that tells us sugar depletes the effectiveness of our immune systems, yet our children consume more of it than any other nation. This, plus a lack of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">exercise</span> is contributing to the almost epidemic levels of childhood obesity and childhood diabetes. These are not experienced at our levels any place else in the world and study after study attribute it to our diets and sedentary lifestyle.</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong></strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Luckily, there are plenty of fall/winter sports your children can become involved with, so encourage them to get out there and exercise. Your local YWCA/YMCA have some wonderful programs for children, so check those out as well.</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong></strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Lots of healthy green vegetables, fresh fruits while you can still get them - avoid the juices, lean meats, no fried foods and plenty of sleep every night are essential to keep your little ones happy and healthy.</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong></strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>OK, so where do the herbs come in? Well, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">echinacea</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">goldenseal</span> have been the "go to" standard for centuries for the immune system. I don't personally suggest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">goldenseal</span> for children as it is stronger and pretty bitter to the taste. Also, go for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">glycerites</span> instead of alcohol based tinctures. They taste sweet, so the little ones will take them. Here's my short list of the herbs that will help with the upcoming cold and flu season and to build up those little immune systems:</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong></strong></em></span><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Elderberry </strong></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Valerian</strong></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Echinacea</span></strong></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Chamomile</strong></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>California Poppy</strong></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Catnip</strong></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Lemon Balm</strong></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Catnip</strong></em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Skullcap</strong></em></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Now the herbalists among you may have noticed several herbs in there with sedative properties. Absolutely! I think they are very important to help the children get the critical sleep they need, from 8 - 10 hours per night. Try giving your little bunnies some chamomile or lemon balm tea with honey one hour before bed. I have also had great success with my customers who have children with ADD or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ADHD</span> with these formulas.</strong></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Or, you can get the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">glycerites</span> from me at </strong></em></span><a href="http://www.allgoodegifts.com/"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>www.allgoodegifts.com</strong></em></span></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong> in the Apothecary. These are listed under the Herbal Elixirs section. I also have a "Baby Bunny Tonic" for babies and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">pre</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">schoolers</span> to help with colic, diarrhea, colds, flu, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">coughs</span>, upset tummies, teething, irritability and sleeplessness.</strong></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>So bundle up, get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and have a wonderful start to the school year!</strong></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Until next time!!</strong></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em><strong>Karen</strong></em></span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-83302554536650821462008-08-06T11:36:00.003-04:002008-08-06T11:55:56.831-04:00Foods for Healing<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>In addition to the myriad of herbs available to help make our lives more pleasant and healthy, there are many foods that can help us achieve that balance of wellness and health in our bodies.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>I've attached a link to a beautiful little video put out by The School of Natural Healing, a wonderful school established by Dr. Christopher. This article has been floating around the internet, but I wanted to offer the video to all my readers. Here's the link:</em></span><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;color:#336666;"></span></em><br /></span><a href="http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=L.jDV&m=1dMN5AlhD5taF1&b=nSSLkdS_ccyvNzde9Qlvpg"><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#336666;">http://www.herballegacy.com/Gods_Pharmacy.html</span></em></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>One of the easiest/hardest things we can do for our continued longevity and health is to eat a good diet. It's easy because you don't need a lot of complex machinery, it's readily available and it's fairly inexpensive. It's hard because our lives are so hectic, almost everything pre-packaged is full of harmful preservatives and chemicals and frankly, cooking from scratch is time-consuming.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>But the benefits are far-reaching. It is amazing in my practice when I consult with clients. The first thing we address is diet. All recommendations start with dietary recommendations. After several weeks of doing little things like switching from white flour to whole wheat, stone ground flour, substituting honey for sugar, making the switch to decaf coffee etc., there is an amazing Ah HA! experience that everyone goes through. Who would have thought that something so simple would make such dramatic results. But it does and I've seen it time and time again in every sort of malady.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>Here's a list of my dietary "Seven Deadly Sins":</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>white flour</em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>sugar</em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>artificial sweeteners</em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>fried foods</em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>pre-packaged foods</em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>artificial preservatives</em></span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>caffeine</em></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>All of these play havoc with the endocrine system. This affects the hormones as well as the immunity. Making simple substitutions will make a world of difference in your health and energy levels. Not to mention slow those kids down who are on a constant "sugar high".</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Try more fresh fruits, fresh veggies, lean, hormone free meats, whole grains, pure dairy and pure water in your diet. Easy to do, hard to get started, but oh so worth it!</em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Valere! (Be Well!)</em></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-37226085759178875772008-07-04T13:49:00.003-04:002008-07-04T14:03:03.124-04:00Time for Sunscreen!<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>Hi Everyone,</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>Well, summer seems to be in full swing around the nation. Even here in the upper peninsula, the sun seems to be shining brightly and folks are getting out and soaking it up.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>You should always use something on your skin when you go out in the sun. I always wear a hat. It seems sesame oil is the best natural carrier oil to use, but it cannot be rated by SPF, so may not be satisfactory to many customers. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>With qualms about skin cancer everywhere, sunscreen is the number one product going to the beach and pools with people, but which ones are the safest from a health standpoint? The SPF rating is only part of what you need to know, since it only tells you about UVB (sunburn) protection. That's why EWG's rating system includes critical information on UVA protection, how stable the product is in the sun, and potential health hazards of ingredients. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>One of our favorite sites is EWG.org or the Environmental Working Group. They have several wonderful databases and a special one for skin care products. Lots of research here. EWG has a rating system that includes critical information on UVA protection, how stable products are in the sun and potential hazards of ingredients. We have a link on our website at </em></span></span><a href="http://www.allgoodegifts.com/"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>www.allgoodegifts.com</em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em> so go check them out.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>A recent article of theirs listed the top 10 "safe" sunscreens to use. Here's the list:</em></span><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=71905"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock, SPF 30</em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=132923"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum, SPF 30+</em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=91471"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance, SPF 30+</em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=92830"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30</em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=181900"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Marie Veronique Skin Therapy Sun Serum</em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=90915"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Lavera Sunscreen Neutral, SPF 40</em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=101924"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Vanicream Sunscreen, SPF 35</em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=93352"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>UV Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+</em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=154443"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Sun Science Sport Formula, SPF 30</em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=115886"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"><em>Soleo Organics Sunscreen all natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+</em></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em>So stay safe out there. Have fun, but remember to take care of your skin! Until next time!</em></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#336666;"><em></em></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-69771572811372712092008-07-01T13:39:00.003-04:002008-07-01T14:09:36.779-04:00Eight chemicals that should NOT be in your personal care products<span style="color:#336666;">Quick. Go to your bathroom and grab some of your favorite personal care products. We're going to play a little game here called "What the heck is going on my skin?"<br /><br />Which organ of the body is the largest? Tick, Tick, Tick. Time's up. The SKIN! Are you surprised? Many people don't really think of their skin as an organ, but everything you put on your skin eventually ends up in your body. Yep - EVERYTHING! So it's critical if we want to maintain a healthy state of wellness, that we watch not only what goes in our bodies, but what goes on them as well.<br /><br />Now, have you got your goodies? Turn them over and look at the ingredients on the back. How many of them can you NOT pronounce? Be honest! Even if you took phonics in elementary school and can manage to "sound them out", how many of them do you really recognize? Do you know what they are? What they do?<br /><br />Many of the ingredients you see there are used for preserving the product so it can stay on the shelves for an extended period of time. Below is a list of eight ingredients that you should avoid like the plague in your personal care products. This would include soap, body wash, shampoo, body sprays, hair spray, hair mousse, hair gel, deoderant, anti-perspirant, conditioners, moisturizers, etc.<br /><br />Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum – These are petroleum products that coat the skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins, which in turn accumulate and can lead to all sorts of skin problems. They slow cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging. Suspected cause of cancer. Disruptive of hormonal activity. By the way, when there’s an oil spill in the ocean, don’t they rush to clean it up – fast? Do you REALLY want to put this stuff on your skin?<br /><br />Parabens – Widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry (including moisturizers). An estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products contain parabens. Studies implicate their connection with cancer. They have hormone-disrupting qualities – mimicking estrogen – and interfere with the body’s endocrine system. Not a good idea for women suffering from PCOS, PMS, infertility issues, breast cancer or menopausal problems. And these things are in EVERYTHING, gals.<br /><br />Phenol carbolic acid– Found in many lotions and skin creams. Can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma and even death from respiratory failure.<br /><br />Propylene glycol – Used as a moisturizer in cosmetics and as a carrier in fragrance oils. Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney or liver abnormalities, and may inhibit skin cell growth or cause skin irritation.<br /><br />Acrylamide– Found in many hand and face creams. Linked to mammary tumors in lab research.<br />Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)– Found in car washes, engine degreasers, garage floor cleaners… and in over 90% of personal care products! SLS breaks down the skin’s moisture barrier, easily penetrates the skin, and allows other chemicals to easily penetrate. Combined with other chemicals, SLS becomes a “nitrosamine”, a potent class of carcinogen. It can also cause hair loss. SLES is sometimes disguised with the labeling “comes from coconut” or “coconut-derived”.<br /><br />Toluene – Poison! Danger! Harmful or fatal if swallowed! Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) contains toluene. Other names may include benzoic and benzyl.<br /><br />Dioxane– Found in compounds known as PEG, Polysorbates, Laureth, ethoxylated alcohols. Common in a wide range of personal care products. The compounds are usually contaminated with high concentrations of highly volatile 1,4-dioxane, easily absorbed through the skin.<br /><br />Dioxane’s carcinogenicity was first reported in 1965 and later confirmed in studies including one from the National Cancer Institute in 1978. Nasal passages and liver are the most vulnerable. Dioxane is easily removed during the manufacturing process by “vacuum stripping”. Warning: It is a synthetic derivative of coconut. Watch for hidden language on labels, such as “comes from coconut”.<br /><br />OK, so you may be asking, why does the FDA allow these chemicals in your products if they are so dangerous? Great question. The FDA limits the amount that may be used in personal care products. (So they MUST know something, yes?) The normal "accepted" amount is .1%<br /><br />I can hear many of you saying, "Come on, Karen, that's pretty minimal", and you're right. But that amount is PER PRODUCT. So, if you're using several products and they all contain these ingredients and you're doing it every day for 365 days a year for 10-50 years, . . . I think you see where I'm going.<br /><br />I truly believe that many of the problems we are encountering as a society can be traced back to some of this. So if you're truly looking for a balanced state of health and wellness, take a look at those labels. If you absolutely cannot LIVE without your "super duper, make you look 20 years younger cream", then maybe you can start using a pure, natural goat's milk soap to bathe with or a pure castille body wash. Start small and try to wean yourself off some of this and read those labels. You'll be surprised how even the very expensive as well as some of the "all natural" products out there are full of hidden dangerous chemicals.<br /><br />All Goode Gifts prides itself on not using ANY of these products EVER in anything we make. Come and visit us at </span><a href="http://www.allgoodegifts.com/"><span style="color:#336666;">http://www.allgoodegifts.com/</span></a><span style="color:#336666;"> and see if we can't offer you a wonderfully healthy alternative to your personal care products.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.allgoodegifts.com/"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-2809486126898240352008-06-18T19:24:00.002-04:002008-06-18T19:39:15.286-04:00Herbs for a Hospital Stay<em><span style="color:#666600;">Hi All!</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;">Well, I just spent the last two days in the hospital for some minor surgery. I'm not a big proponent of hospitals or doctors, but sometimes, they are necessary. It occurred to me that others who want to keep their bodies as pure and unpolluted by pharmaceuticals as possible may face a pending hospital stay with some trepidation.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;">Not to worry. There are several things you can do to help your body heal faster and get you back to a state of balance and wellness quickly.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;">First, always let your doctor know of ANY herbs you take on a regular basis or are taking for something specific, like hawthorn for your heart. It's important that they know this as herbs can have interactions with pharmaceutical medications.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;">Prior to my stay, I made sure that I built up my immune system with some of my favorites like echinacea, goldenseal and holy basil. I also take plenty of vitamins A, C, E and selenium, as well as zinc every day, so I increased these a little two weeks before my scheduled stay.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;">I stopped all herbal formulas 72 hours before the surgery. During my stay I made sure that I drank plenty of water to keep my system flushing.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;">After returning home, my regimen consisted of eleuthero root, which helps facilitate recuperation during convalescence. I also add ginseng and schisandra which are adaptogenic and help support the body's resistance to stress. In addition, I am eating plenty of raw yogurt to get the beneficial bacteria that the antibiotics killed back into my system. Any time you take antibiotics, they kill not only the bad bacteria, but the good as well, so make sure you replace them with acidophilus supplements or pure, raw yogurt.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;">Lastly, I am in the process of a short, 2 week liver cleanse made up of burdock root, dandelion root and milk thistle to help the liver purge all the impurities.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;">The doctors were amazed at how quickly I was up and about and my vitals were normal from the time I came out of the operating room. It helps to have your body in top condition before you go in and to get it back into a state of balance as soon as possible when you return.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;">There are many herbs that can help with this, but if you have questions, or need a custom formula to get you ready for a hospital stay or just back on your feet afterward, send me an e-mail. Until next time, Be Well!</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#666600;">Karen</span></em><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762515087137232560.post-13131217893503642072008-06-13T11:14:00.002-04:002008-06-13T11:21:47.312-04:00All Goode Gifts New Blog!<em><span style="color:#006600;">Hi Everybody!</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#006600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#006600;">I'm so excited about our new blog! This is something I've been wanting to do for ages, but just never got around to it. After some encouraging from a very dear friend, here we are!</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#006600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#006600;">This blog will not only keep you up to date with what All Goode Gifts is up to, but will provide answers for many of your herbal questions as well as occasional recipes, new featured products, pictures of our home in the "Great North Woods" or anything else I can come up with.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#006600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#006600;">If you have questions you'd like to see answered or addressed here, please e-mail me at </span></em><a href="mailto:allgoodegifts@yahoo.com"><em><span style="color:#006600;">allgoodegifts@yahoo.com</span></em></a><em><span style="color:#006600;"> and we'll get them up there.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#006600;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#006600;">Keep coming back!</span></em><br /><em></em><div class="blogger-post-footer">Karen Mallinger
www.allgoodegifts.com
Js. 1:17</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886362880496184514noreply@blogger.com