Around the Web Catch Up

I've always got about 10 web pages open, to news sites, articles I am in the middle of reading, inspiring blogs I like to check in with and of course baby products I am researching for my upcoming baby boutique (!). Here are some of the things I'm finding interesting these days.

When you use your own bag in the month of April at Urban Outfitters will donate 10 cents to the Canary Project  read more about this cool organization working on climate change.

What to do, what to do? Bake your own Challah of course.

This darling owl clock made from renewable eco material bamboo from one of my favorite eco children's shops online Shak-Shuka. Don't let the source fool you, with or without kids you'll want this clock.

How to avoid food dyes (darn pesky chemicals we don't need) from Eating Well.

Farmers not to blame for food price increases, read the article for more details.

The best recipes to fill your cookie car (or tummy, either way) from Big Girls, Small Kitchen via Huffington Post Food.

A super chock full article regarding the never ending debate, To Eat Meat or Not To Eat Meat. Great view of all sides.

DIY Beauty

If you've been reading Urban Branches for a while you know I just love DIY beauty. There's nothing more satisfying than whipping up your own batch of face masks, skin toners and lip balms. Check out this link from LIME for some great ideas. I've done the dirty work and cut & pasted below as well...

Apple Skin Toner, from SpaIndex.com: Guide to Day Spas and Stay Spas

This toner is intended for slightly oily skin. Witch hazel is a gentle astringent, apple cider vinegar will help restore your skin's natural pH balance, and lavender soothes sensitive skin.

2/3 cup witch hazel
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
A few drops of lavender or essential oil of your choice

Mix and pour into a clean bottle. Shake bottle well before using, dampen a cotton or ball or pad with toner, and swab over face.

Aloe Vera Toner

As basic as can be and a good choice for skin that needs a little soothing. Simply combine equal amounts of distilled water and aloe vera gel or juice. Pour into jar and refrigerate. Shake vigorously before applying.

Zingy Lemon Astringent

Another simple, basic recipe-this one will definitely give your skin a zingy feeling. Don't use if your skin is irritated in any way.

1/2 cup witch hazel
Juice from 1/2 medium lemon (about 1 TB.), strained
Combine ingredients in bottle. Shake well to blend. Store in refrigerator for a refreshing iciness when applied, or at room temperature (if stored at room temperature, discard after a week or two.)

Watermelon Toner (from Spa Index)

Watermelon juice is full of antioxidant vitamins and is noted as helpful for removing blemishes.

2 TB. fresh watermelon juice
1 TB. vodka
2 TB. witch hazel
2 TB. distilled water
Strain watermelon to get rid of seeds and fruit pieces. Combine all ingredients in small bowl and stir well. Pour into clean bottle.

To use: pour a small amount on clean cotton pad and apply to face. Store toner in your fridge between uses to retain freshness. It will keep for approximately one week.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

It's mighty important to find pleasure in the small things, whether it's a delicious cup of coffee, homemade whipped cream or your favorite friends over for dinner...Here are some of my favorite eco-friendly things that bring me a little smile each time I use them.

*Eating Well Magazine- This magazine is full of health information, nutritional stories and amazing recipes for mouth watering dishes to cook up. Check out this link for healthy recipes organized by holiday or ethnic type.



*Mrs. Meyer's Lavender Fabric Softener. I want to smell myself all day long! Their website is so cute too!


*Succulents- It's no secret that I just love any and every succulent out there. They really bring me joy, I want a whole house full someday!


(Images: Succulents bp0.blogger.com, Mrs. Meyer's www.mrsmeyers.com, Eating Well readingetc.files.wordpress.com)

DIY: Homemade Pasta

There's nothing as satisfying as making something from scratch. Messy, yes, time consuming, yes, but worth it, no doubt. We've been wanting to make homemade pasta for a while, and we had a blast do it. Here's the steps and ingredients you'll need (oh ya, that pasta machine will come in handy!)

You'll need a pasta maker, we got one for a wedding present, and we love it! Good holiday gift!

We have the Imperia Pasta Machine and really love it.

Ingredients: Serves 6
2 1/2 cups flour
4 large eggs
3/4 teaspoon salt

1. Flour your clean work space. Pour flour and make a well (scoop out the center). Add eggs and salt. Gradually work the flour into the eggs, mixing them slowly as you go.

2. After cleaning up your workspace, begin to knead dough for 10 minutes.

3. Shape into a ball, dust all around with flour and place in saran wrap, set aside for 30 minutes to rest.

4. Divide dough into 6 parts (as equal as possible). Begin with 1 piece, flatten as much as possible.

5. Using the pasta machine, feed dough into the widest setting, do this 3 times, then continue with each setting, running the dough through 2 times each until you are at the smallest setting.

Tips
* do this with two people, much easier!
*when you have the flatten sheets of dough, flour them so they don't stick to each other.

6. Once all dough has been flattened into sheets, let rest for 10 minutes (by the time you do all of them, the first piece will be ready to be cut)

7. Add the piece to the pasta machine that will cut dough into noodle shapes

8. Run dough through, have a container to catch pasta


9. COOK! Roughly 2-3 minutes in boiling, salted water

ENJOY your homemade creation! Now, if you make your own sauce, you've got it made!

DIY: Almond-Oat Bars

I found a great recipe in Health magazine that's just delicious and thought I'd share it! I made a batch today, the lovely scent is filling my home as we speak as it cooks in the oven....

Almond-Oat Bars

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups regular oats
1/4 cup sliced almonds (roughly chopped)
1/2 almond meal (you can use the processor to make this from almonds if you can't find pre-done)
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup European style fat free plain yogurt
1/4 honey (dark if you can)
1/2 cup cubed peeled gala or fuji apples

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 and toast 3/4 cup of oats (the rest you can set aside) *lay out on a piece of parchment paper

2. In a food processor add remaining oats (3/4 cup) and almond meal, mix until fine

3. In a large bowl combine: remaining oats, almond meal, wheat flour, brown sugar, backing powder, cinnamon & salt

4. In a small bow combine: honey, yogurt & peeled/cubed apples

5. Combine all ingredients (including toasted oats)

6. Place mixture onto parchment paper and form into rectangle with your hands

7. Cut into small rectangles with knife (don't pull apart, just make the cut lines)

8. Place in oven for approx 20-25 minutes or until nicely browned

9. Let cool and serve up!

*can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days

Here's some nutritional info about this snack: fat 4 grams, protein 4 grams, fiber 2 grams, iron 1 mg, calcium 45 mg, sodium 45 mg.

Enjoy!

Eco-Bella DIY Spa Treatment

BellaSugar is one of my favorite sites, and they recently posted a DIY spa treatment I can't wait to make myself! (I love all the sites, popsugar, citizensugar, bellasugar, yumsugar, fitsugar, etc....) Of course swap the ingredients below with the organic variety, store in an old jar and bam, you've eco-fyed it! Oh, take it one step further and make some for a friend, cause you know, sharing is eco-friendly too!

Here's the info and link below:

Here's what you'll need:
3/4 cup coffee beans1 tablespoon olive oil2 tablespoons vanilla extract1/3 cup brown sugar1 teaspoon ground cloves
Step 1: Put coffee beans, powdered clove and brown sugar in a coffee grinder.Step 2: Grind coarsely, put in empty tub or Tupperware container and mix a little more.Step 3: Add vanilla and oil and mix. Feel free to add more olive oil, but do it slowly, as it's easy to go overboard!
By being able to control the sizes of the particles in the scrub, you decide how rough you want it. The oil really does the trick in terms of keeping your limbs smooth. I shaved after using it, and my legs are super-smooth and soft, so don't be afraid to keep it a little chunky.

http://bellasugar.com/2070743 (check here for pics and more details!)

Also, I am sure you'll fall in love with the site like I did!

Homemade Stain Remover

I do love me some DIY!

Here's a great one to keep around the house for those clumsy moments.

Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and liquid dish soap and apply to the stain with a sponge. Apply to stain with sponge. Blot and repeat if needed. Rinse with warm water and let dry.

(Image: www.chichesterdesign.co.uk)

Eco Bella: At Home Hair

Urban Branches is serving up another hair mask today! Here's another hair treatment straight from this month's beauty mags. 

As I said before, making beauty treatments at home helps you control what goes into everything you use. There are so many chemical ingredients in beauty products. By making something fresh at home you avoid all the preservatives and color agents that are just plain unnecessary. Plus it's more fun this way!

Frizz Fighter Hair Treatment

6-ounce tub of plain yogurt

3 tablespoons olive oil

Sprig of rosemary

Spring of mint ( or 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint oil)

Mix ingredients in a blender until fluffy. Apply to towel dried pre-washed hair. Wrap your head in a hot moist towel and seal in heat with a second dry towel*. (to be honest, I am not sure how to make that hotel hot and moist, if you figure out a good way let me know) Sit back and relax for approximately 20 minutes. Then hope in the shower and shampoo out. (If your hair is coarse simply rinse thoroughly with water) Voila! Beautiful, luscious locks!

*I would suggest moistening a small sized towel with hot water (don't burn yourself!) then wrapping a regular sized towel around that to keep in heat.

(Image: www.theephraimspa.com.au)

Eco Bella: At Home Hair

This week I'll be bringing you my 2 favorite at home hair treatments straight from this month's beauty mags. Here's an amazing homemade mask for clean & shiny hair, who wouldn't want that?

Making beauty treatments at home helps you control what goes into everything you use. There are so many chemical ingredients in beauty products. By making something fresh at home you avoid all the preservatives and color agents that are just plain unnecessary. Plus it's more fun this way!

The first step is to make yourself a square one organic vodka & soda, squeeze a little lime in there and start spreading that mask on your lovely hair....

Mix together the following ingredients till creamy:

2 tablespoons vodka (see I told you to get that vodka out!)
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 a ripe avocado (slather the rest on a warm tortilla for a mid mask snack!)
1 egg yolk

Vodka=stellar at removing buildup from products and oil
Honey & Avocado=super luscious moisturizer
Egg Yolk=lovely shine, smoothing and conditioner to the scalp

apply mixture to freshly shampooed hair, sit and enjoy your latest novel or monthly tabloid magazine. Wash out after 30 minutes with warm water. Lightly shampoo & condition hair after as well to make sure you got all ingredients out. Voila! Beautiful, luscious locks!

(Image: www.theephraimspa.com.au)

Eco-Bella: Homemade Treatments

If you are blessed with what in the is know in the industry as "normal skin" consider yourself lucky. REALLY LUCKY. Though you don't need treatments to combat extremes you should still keep up that normal skin of yours and keep it looking tip top.

Lindsay's Normal Skin Treatment:

1 cup plain yogurt

1 tsp olive oil

1/4 apple cider vinegar

As with all 3 masks, olive oil removes dirt like a pro, the lactic acid in the yogurt removes dead skin cells to unveil dewy fresh skin and apple cider vinegar is a natural astringent, what more could you ask for!

Voila, natural beauty home-made simple!

(Image: http://www.drhill.com.au/)

Eco-Bella: Homemade Treatments

As promised here's a DIY face mask to whip up tonight! This one is for oily skin.

Lindsay's Oily Skin Treatment

1/2 tsp Olive Oil

1/4 tsp lemon juice

1 cup of plain yogurt

(Mix together and spread over face, can spread on t-zone only if you're not oily elsewhere!)

The olive oil removes dirt like a pro, lemon juice tightens those pesky pores and the lactic acid in the yogurt removes dead skin cells to reveal radiant lovely skin, what more could you ask for!

Voila, natural beauty home-made simple!

(Image: http://www.drhill.com.au/)

Eco-Bella: Homemade Treatments

While it's great to treat yourself to a nice new organic and natural skin care product, it's equally exciting to make it yourself. This allows you to really know what ingrediants are going into your products. So, look forward over the next few days for some at home do it yourself skin therapy.

Lindsay's Dry Skin Treatment

1 Cup Organic Plain Yogurt

1/2 mashed avocado (or banana)

1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 Tsp. Olive Oil

This mask is wonderful and performs double duty with the moisture rich avocado or banana and exfoliating yet soothing yogurt (lactic acid helps rid those dead skin cells). Store your mask in a jar in the fridge for about a week. Use again, don't waste those organic ingredients!

Voila, natural beauty made simple!

(Image: http://www.drhill.com.au/)

Cause Who Doesn't Love Muffins!

I thought it was time to send a recipe your way again, I know the weekend is over, but there's nothing like midweek baking to keep you going till the next weekend! This recipe packs protein and fiber, along with delicious flavor. And of course, use all natural organic ingredients please!

Ingredients:
2 mashed up ripe bananas ( makes about 3/4 of a cup)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 cup fat-free milk
2/3 whole wheat flour
1/2 quick cooking rolled oats
3/4 vanilla extract (not imitation please!)
1/4 natural sugar
13/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
paper muffin liners (in place of cooking spray)

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit

Step 1: Mix bananas, oil, egg, milk & vanilla in a large bowl, put aside for now
Step 2: Whisk together flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt
Step 3: Stir together both sets of ingredients just until they are combined
Step 4: Line your muffin tins with paper liners and spoon mixture into cups 3/4 full.
Step 5: Bake for 16 minutes (check with a toothpick in the center, if it's clean when it comes out, it's ready!)
Step 6: Slice open a muffin, spread on some grass fed sweet cream butter and enjoy!

(Image: dietdessertndogs.files.wordpress.com)

Who's Afraid of Tofu?

There are many of us who still fear the four-letter word! TOFU! I understand it has a texture that takes getting used to, but there are ways to add tofu to your diet without it taking over the dish. (It’s almost like sneaking it in there) One such way that I love is by making black bean hummus. The benefits of black beans are amazing, they are chock full of fiber. This recipe came from the ’12 Best Foods’ cookbook, which spotlights the 12 best foods for your body. They give a great array of recipes for each, many including more than one. This one has 2, black beans and tofu.

Lindsay's Homemade Black Bean Hummus
1 (15 ounce) can organic black beans (drained)
1 clover garlic, minced
1/4 cup of soft silken tofu (this texture is easy to whip up and make creamy)
2 tablespoons tahini
1-teaspoon ground cumin
1-tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 small lime
Sea Salt (healthy pinch)
Freshly ground black pepper

Put all ingrediants into a food processor and blend until smooth, empty into bowl and place into the fridge to chill. Then bake your pita in the oven/toaster oven until golden brown (my oven takes about 25 minutes, but I'd check it every 10.

The tofu makes the bean dip creamy and thicker. This is a great way to introduce tofu into your diet. Kevin and I brush pieces of pita bread with olive oil and garlic and bake in the oven to dip in. So yum! Enjoy.

(Image: http://brandautopsy.typepad.com/)

Who you calling Crunchy Granola?

So, I couldn't do a city girl's guide to going green without adding my favorite recipe for granola could I! The beauty of this recipe is you can alter it to your liking. So if you hate almonds, add cashews, and if you hate raisons skip em'! This recipe is delicious with vanilla soy milk over it, stirred in with some yogurt and topped with fresh berries....yum!

Lindsay's Homemade Granola
4 cups of old-fashioned rolled oats (can do less if you are running low, just add more of the other ingredients)
3 cups of sliced almonds (just over 1/2 pound approx)
1 1/2 cups of sweetened flaked coconut (I've used unsweetened and it turned out fine)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dried blueberries (dried strawberries work too!)
1/2 cup golden raisins (or whatever is available really)
a few pinches of salt
Just under 1/2 a cup of vegetable oil
Just over a 1/2 cup of honey

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. Take out a shallow baking pan and line with foil. Put aside for now.
*In a bowl, mix together rolled oats, almonds, coconut and salt. Stir in honey & oil, and make sure everything is well covered. Spread out on your foiled baking pan and bake! Peek in and stir the mixture at least once. Bake for a total of 25-30 minutes (or until golden brown)
*When mixture is done, stir in your dried cranberries and blueberries and let cool. Store in an airtight container, should last 2 weeks.

Next time I make my granola, I will upload a picture of mine, but for today Image is from: http://veganyumyum.com/category/breakfast/

I Suds You: DIY Project

Hi Everyone,

I have a great addition to UB (Urban Branches) today. My soon to be sister in-law Amy H. sent me a great post about homemade laundry detergent. I can't wait to make as soon as I have a free afternoon! I am already trying to figure out which essential oil I want to add. So here the complete recipe: enjoy, let me know how it works out! Love, Lindsay

p.s. look for more Amy H. posts to come!

My family is always looking for ways to save money and we have discovered that making your own laundry detergent is both eco-friendly and cost efficient. It’s also quite easy, a perfect Sunday afternoon project.
Homemade Laundry Detergent:
Ingredients:
· 4 cups water
· 1 bar of soap
· 1 cup washing soda (Made by Arm & Hammer)
· ½ cup of borax (this is not necessary – but it does kick it up a notch)
· A five gallon bucket with a lid
· Three gallons hot tap water

Step 1: Put 4 cups water into large pot over medium high heat

Step 2: Use a cheese grater and grate your bar of soap – if you use softer soap it will be easier to grate. Slowly add the grated bar of soap to your almost boiling water and stir it on occasion until all of the soap is dissolved.

Step 3: Put three gallons of hot water into the five gallon bucket and add the hot soapy water from step one and stir for about 30 seconds. Add the cup of washing soda – stir for another couple of minutes and if you are adding Borax, do so last and stir for a couple minutes.

** Optional: If you have any essential oils you had can add it to the soap mixture if you want the laundry soap scented. I have used Lavender oil before. Smells great while the clothes are washing!
Let the mixture cool overnight. In the morning you will have thick homemade laundry soap.
Both the Baking Soda and Borax–Borax is marketed as a laundry booster it is a natural mineral and is an alternative to the environmentally harmful detergents commercially sold today.
If you have an extra dirty load of laundry you can add extra borax.
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY WASHING!! Love, Amy