Dandelion Season: Go Out and Forage for Upcoming Recipes!

I went dandelion (a.k.a. lion’s tooth) foraging yesterday with my sweetie. See, I bought a few books last year that feature some of the best Appalachian recipes, and dandelions are featured quite a bit in wines and jellies. It was torture learning about these exciting traditions last August, knowing that I had to wait months and months before I could try them out. My test of patience is over now though, the dandelions are out and about! I woke in the morning with my first thought being “no computer just yet, go pick dandies instead.”

It’s kinda funny not funny, but only in America would a weed so full of medicinal and nutritious properties be considered a “pesky intruder”—the bane of manicured lawns all over the country. Think too of our superfood friend chia, and how it’s sold as a hairy clay animal to set on the shelf. Le sigh. The only way to change perspectives though is to introduce people to new ideas, or “recycled” ideas, right? So go out and forage for these vitamin-rich yellow beauties because we are going to make fun recipes with them real soon. Read more…

#AskYU: What Natural Beauty Products Do YU Use?

Since the Make Your Own Eyeshadow and Eye Liner post, I have received a ton of questions about what I use on a daily basis for deodorant, mascara, shampoo, hair products, blush, body lotion, face moisturizer for a.m. and p.m., shaving cream, hand cream, lipstick, makeup remover, you name it. I typed a lot of those answers up for our contributor Rea Frey in an email a few weeks ago—she just read No More Dirty Looks and purged all beauty products right after and was wondering “what next?” The list I compiled for her was extensive and I thought immediately after I hit “send” that I should share with YU, too.

It’s important to note that I am not on the payroll for any of these products. These are just all the beauty products that I have found to be the cleanest that work for me (I tell you why after the jump). Not everything is perfect, but I do my best. There are a ton of clean, lovely products out there that I still would like to try, so I’m just gonna share with you what you’d find in my purse and bathroom if you were to take a look right now. Today. Ok, here goes… Read more…

La Bella Figura Co-Founder Victoria Fantauzzi Brings YU Plant-Based Eco-Luxury Skincare

If you put in on your skin it’s absorbed into your skin and bloodstream—think about nicotine patches or patch-birth control. Why would lotions, lipsticks or shampoos be any different? Once you learn about the carcinogenic dangers involved with most cosmetics, body care and toiletries, you are often left wondering “what can I use?”

Well, for radiant skin, lips and hair, La Bella Figura has your plant-based and fair-trade secret weapons and they are working not just to produce beautiful quality skincare made from nature, but to educate folks on why plant-based beauty is better. Read more…

100% Natural Toxin-Free Spider (and bug) Repellent

As most of YU know, I am spending time in the country lately and like Chicago, there is a lot to love, and a few things that are well, unnerving, like spiders. Not small ones, but ones the size of a baby’s fist. And hairy (see pic below). Until I visited the cottage for the first time, it had been about 14 years since I had seen a spider like that (I grew up and went to college in the country but I had forgotten)—it was shocking. I didn’t jump up on a table and scream, that’s not my style, but for the rest of the week I was checking every sleeve of every sweater, every shoe and every pant leg before I put them on. After I spotted the 3rd one in a week (yes, in the shower), I accepted that I would have to find a way to deal with this pronto—catching them in a glass and tossing them out the door wasn’t enough.

The cottage is on an organic farm, so a natural spider repellent recipe is in order. One that doesn’t kill the little buggers (I don’t blame them, the country is a banquet of “spider food”) or contaminate the soil, just one that keeps them out of my home. Cross your fingers that it works—so far so great! Read more…

How To’sday: Peeling Garlic with Your Fist

When I learned this trick for easily peeling the skin off of garlic cloves, my kitchen life was never the same. A Chef’s knife, a cutting board and your trusty fist are all you need. Pow! Read more…