Frugal Laptop Computers: Purchasing Theory, Extended Warranties and Making Your Laptop Battery Last Longer

I finally purchased my FIRST laptop computer!! Yeah!! (I know I'm a little behind the technology, but my budget was always holding me back from buying a second computer.  Laptop prices have really come down in the last few years and now they can really be affordable.  And, now that I use my desktop for everything including watching television,  and making telephone calls, I find that a laptop really helps shoulder the load.)

laptop computer

I ended up buying the least expensive one at a local department store.

I have a theory that I think is  very frugal when buying computers:

How I Treat a Vaginal Yeast Infection

Disclaimer: I do not provide medical advise or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA. Consult your doctor before following anything you have read on this website.See my full medical disclaimer under Terms of Use.

I tend to get vaginal yeast infections.  I seem to have always gotten them even when I was younger - even in my teens.  Over the years, I have discovered that the more I eat sugar (desserts and candy) the more likely I will get a yeast infection.  And, because I know this, I try not to eat too many sweets.  However, around Halloween and Christmas time -with so much candy and home baked cookies and cakes around - I get tempted and I most likely will have a flare-up.

What is a Vaginal Yeast Infection?

It is the overpopulation of a yeast called CANDIDA which thrives on glucose and the more sugar I eat the more glucose is produced.  The candida will wipe out the normal friendly bacteria that is present in the vagina and will produce a white cheesy like discharge.

What do I do when I feel a Vaginal Yeast Infection coming on?

I take probiotics orally.  Pro-biotics are friendly bacteria that populate your stomach, gut and vaginal area. I do not insert the probiotics vaginally (tried that once, and I came down with an bacterial infection - it is not necessary).  I only  take the pills orally.

How Do I Take the Probiotics?

What I will do is to take several pills, several times a day. This is more that the recommended dosage on the bottle - but it will repopulate the vaginal area with nice friendly bacteria which will overwhelm the Candida yeast.  I just play it by ear on how many pills to take.

• If the yeast infection is just barely there, I'll take 2 or 3 pills, three times a day for 2 days.


• If it is a raging yeast infection, I may take 3-4 pills every 3-4 hours for 3 to 4 days.

I have been doing this process for over 30 years now.

How Does Anti-bacterial Soap Create Bacteria That Are Resistant ToAntibiotics?

Using anti-bacterial soaps - including liquid soaps - contributes to creating bacteria that are resistant to anti-biotics. I have heard this many years ago, and have stopped using the antibacterial soaps altogether.

How does using antibacterial soaps create germs that are resistant to antibiotics?

I just found out the answer. I read the article "The Soaps You Should Never Use - But 75% of Households Do" by Mercola.com that has the information.

1. When you wash your hands with the antibacterial soap, the antibacterial agent (usually Triclosan) goes down the drain - however the Triclosan is not strong enough to kill all the bacteria living in your drain - so the weak ones die and the stronger ones live on and become more resistant.


2. The bacteria that survives  goes into the water system, and therefore can contaminate waterways and wildlife! The bacteria that survives include strains that are resistant to antibiotics used in hospitals.  See article "Scientists Discover that Antimicrobial Wipes and Soaps may be making You and Society Sick" by Scientific American.


3. The antimicrobial Triclosan goes into the water system as well, and will also contaminate our waterways and wildlife! Triclosan has been accumulating in wildlife, such as dolphins and may disrupt their growth and development.  See article "Are Germ Killing Soaps Affecting Dolphin Development?" by Scientific American.

liquid soap

What Can We Do?

Non antibacterial regular soap and water will kill germs well enough, so that is what I use. I do also use a liquid soap that does not contain any anti-microbials - the one I usually get just says Milk and Honey.

How I Treat My Cat's Feline Mosquito Allergy, also known as Feline Mosquito Nose

I have a cat named Willow who is allergic to mosquitoes.

She loves to goes outside during the day and we bring her in the house around 9:00pm at night. Her most favorite thing to do in the world, is to go outside. She patrols our yard, looks at birds, chases anoles (which are little lizards) and takes plenty of naps. Unfortunately, she is allergic to mosquitoes, and because we live in southern Florida - there are mosquitoes year round. PLUS - we get mosquitoes during the daytime too!!!

With cats, the way to tell if they are allergic to mosquitoes is on their face - especially their nose!! When they bite them there, the cats will scratch their nose until it is raw (see photo - it can even get worse than this - like raw meat!!)

Willow with mosquito nose - not too bad

Willow with mosquito nose - very bad

What Can I Use Now That Clairol Loving Care is Discontinued? UseClairol Beautiful Collection!

Clairol Beautiful Collection hair color

THE BAD NEWS:

Clairol Loving Care hair color has been DISCONTINUED. (I've been noticing that I can't find it on the local drugstore shelves anymore, or even K-mart! )  Clairol Loving Care was a gentle, almost non-toxic hair color that I've been using now for about a  year (see my article Clairol Loving Care).  It has NO ammonia and NO peroxide and NO PPD (the chemical p-phenylenediamine).

However, it does contains AZO dyes (which are chemical compounds that have a hydrogen molecule replaced with an  amino acid.  For a more technical description see Aromatic Amino Compounds).  Note: Peolple can still be allergic to AZO dyes (especially if you already had an allergic reaction to PPD) - so you should always do the allergy tests indicated on the product before using it. 

I can still buy Clairol Loving Care hair color from Amazon.com (my affiliate link) - but, I know that eventually it will disappear from there.

SO, WHAT PRODUCT CAN I USE NOW THAT IS SIMILAR TO CLAIROL LOVING CARE HAIR COLOR?  

Tea Tree Essential Oil to Kill Mold and Mildew

Well, seeing I did some research on using chlorine bleach (see my article Chlorine Bleach) I wanted to find out if there are safer all-natural alternatives  for killing mold.  One method I did find is using  Tea Tree essential oil.  Tea Tree oil reputedly kills all types of molds.  So I figured I would give it a try.

Tea Tree Oil to kill mold and mildew

tea tree oil

How to Use:

Safety Tips for using Chlorine Bleach Around the House and How to LimitExposure to Toxic Chlorine Byproducts

Chlorine bleach has a very bad reputation as hazardous to our health. I still use chlorine bleach around the house sometimes, so I wanted to sort out all the information out there and get the real scoop on the product. Is it bad to use around the house? How is it harmful? What safety measures or precautions do I need to take?

Does Chlorine Bleach Contain Dioxins?

• When the paper industry mixes cellulose fibers with chlorine bleach, dioxins are produced which are some of the most toxic cancer causing chemicals known.  This process also generates organochlorines which enter our bodies and behave like our hormones do - which stay in the body and cause cancers - see  Organochlorines at LeafLady.org .


• Dioxins are not created when using chlorine bleach around the house.

What Are the Precautions to Using Chlorine Bleach Around the House?

• Fumes: watch out for fumes - they can cause irritation and damage to the lungs. The fumes are also one way that organochlorines enter our body. So wear a face mask!


• Corrosive action: don't let it get on your skin - it has a corrosive power that is caustic to your skin and another way organochlorines enter our body.


• Watch out for combining it with any other cleaners - they can contain ammonia or vinegar.  A combination of chlorine with ammonia or chlorine with vinegar will cause a toxic gas to form - either gas is very bad to breathe and can damage the lungs!!

Are there Hidden Sources of Toxins from Chlorine Around the House?

Products that we purchase that have been bleached can be a danger to us as well. That is because bleached paper and cotton products that touch our skin can introduce dioxins and organochlorines into our body.

So it is best to avoid purchasing bleached products such as:

• paper plates


• toilet paper


• facial tissues


• paper towels


• tampons

Also, plastic marked recyclable with a "3" is made from PVC or polyvinylchloride - which can leak these organochlorines into whatever is contained in it.

What About Chlorinated Water that We Drink and Wash With?

Many people drink a public water supply that is chlorinated. The chlorine that is added transforms into another bad toxin called trihalomethanes or THM. THM's are bad for our health and have been linked to asthma, heart disease and some cancers. See more info at ecowe.blogspot.com "The Pros and Cons of Chlorine"

Water containing chlorine that is heated can release the toxins into the air.
So beware of:

• showering


• boiling water


• hot steam from the dishwasher

So, How do I Avoid Exposure to Toxins from Chlorine?

• buy paper products that have not been bleached


• buy a water filter for your drinking and cooking water (or a whole house water filteration system would be the ideal)


• or let water sit on your counter for 1/2 hour and the chlorine will dissapate (but it will dissapate into the air that we breathe)


• put a water filter on your shower head


• do not use plastics marked recycle #3 for eating or drinking or cooking in the microwave


• buy cleaning products that do not have chlorine in them (watch out for automatic dishwashing products, tile and counter cleaners, etc)

What do "I" Use Chlorine For?

I know about the dangers of chlorine, but it sure does help me around the house with some of my chores! Because we live in the southern USA, there is a lot of rain and heat and that produces mold and mildew.  One of the things that does seem to clean mold and mildew well is chlorine bleach! I have tried vinegar to remove mold but even after scrubbing profusely, it still will not be completely gone - and that allows it come back to full dirty bloom in a shorter amount of time than when I use chlorine bleach.

We use it to clean outdoors where mold grows like:

• the patio


• the roof


• the outdoor shower


• the hot tub cover

How to Use Chlorine Bleach

bleach, latex gloves, face mask

• wear latex gloves


• use a face mask - Otherwise, the mold and the bleach will make me feel sick and tired and give me headaches. And I don't want to breath it either.  Especially in a closed area - very bad for the lungs!!


• wear old clothes


• Apply the bleach to the areas that need cleaning


• Use a scrub brush to brush the area - this helps clean it faster. And it gets the chlorine into the small cracks - which will prevent it from coming back a little bit longer than if you did not scrub it.

For additional information, see Facts About Chlorine at Body Fueling.com

Alternatives to Bleach for Killing Mold

I did read that there are alternatives to using Chlorine bleach for killing mold.  One is using  Tea Tree Essential Oil.

Tea tree oil reputedly kills all types of molds.  So I figured I would give it a try. (See my article coming soon.)

Disclaimer: I do not provide medical advise or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA. Consult your doctor before following anything you have read on this website.See my full medical disclaimer under Terms of Use.

How to Avoid Travelers Diarrhea with Probiotics

Disclaimer: I do not provide medical advise or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA. Consult your doctor before following anything you have read on this website.See my full medical disclaimer under Terms of Use.

We like to travel to Mexico when we can (we go to Tulum - it's really beautiful there - inexpensive, great beaches, Mayan ruins, etc.) However, when traveling to Mexico and other countries, the CDC cautions you to NOT drink the water.

People may get travelers diarrhea because of 2 main reasons:

Why is Himalayan salt good for you?

Disclaimer: I do not provide medical advise or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA. Consult your doctor before following anything you have read on this website. See my full medical disclaimer under Terms of Use.

Salt can be a problem for people with high blood pressure (or hypertension).  My husband has borderline high-blood pressure and has been advised by his doctor to NOT use salt. As for me, since I was a little girl, my family never used salt - I'm not sure why, but they never used ANY spices at all (that's a whole other story). So, we both normally don't add any extra salt to our food at the kitchen table. We DO add some to certain foods when we are preparing them - like bread and chicken soup.

So now, I just found out about  Himalayan crystal salt. It is supposed to be healthier for you than normal refined table salt.   People involved in natural health products say that  it has many trace minerals and elements that your body needs and is very easily assimilated.  Oh yeah, and it's PINK (due to containing iron and other minerals)!

Himalayan Sea Salt

Do We Really Need Salt?

Why is Coconut Oil Good For You and Its Uses

open coconut

Coconut oil is good for you.  It is more easily digested by the body than other vegetable oils.  It has good fatty acids and vitamins, like Vitamin E, Choline and Vitamin K (which is good for healthy bones and is a vitamin needed to make your blood clot - a good thing).

Why is Coconut oil good for you?

Coconut oil has medium chain fatty acids (MCFA’s).  These fatty acids are more water soluble and more easily digested by the body than the long chain fatty acids (LCFA’s) found in other vegetable oils.  This is because they don‘t require bile to break them down, enter the bloodstream quicker and go to the liver faster where they are used as an immediate source of energy.  Also, less MCFA’s are converted into fat than LCFA’s.



What is a Medium Chain Fatty Acid and a Medium Chain Triglyceride?

Fats in food are composed of fat molecules called fatty acids, which are grouped in a structure call a triglyceride which has 3 fatty acids linked with a glycerol carbon atom.

Triglycerides and fatty acids are both classified as saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated. Plus they have a further classification on whether the fatty acid chain of carbon atoms are short, medium or long.

So there are short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and short chain triglycerides (SCT), medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) and medium chain triglycerides (MCT), and long chain fatty acids (LCFA) and long chain triglycerides (LCT).

How I Used Alternative Treatments to Cure My Urinary Tract Infection(UTI, Bladder Infection)

Disclaimer: I do not provide medical advise or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.   The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA.  Consult your doctor before following anything you have read on this website.

The first signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI) for me

How to Use Coconut Oil as a Body Cream

open coconut

I love Virgin or Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I mainly use if for my body cream.

It has to be virgin or extra virgin coconut oil to retain its smell and taste.  I also like to use organic oil so it is free of chemicals and pesticides.

Benefits

Easy Coconut Lip Balm Recipe

This coconut lip balm helps keep your lips smooth and soft.   It is very easy to make too!

• I only use Organic Virgin Coconut Oil because organic is free of chemicals and pesticides.


• You must use virgin coconut oil as this is the only type of coconut oil that has a coconut flavor.

You will like it if you like your lip balm to be a little bit glossy and have a natural coconut flavor.

coconut

You will need:

Recipe for Coconut Rum Ball Cookies

Coconut rum ball cookies

This recipe is very simple to do, especially if you have access to fresh coconuts.
The cookies have a nice chewy texture and a nice coconut flavor!

You will need:

coconut rum ball cookie dough

3/4  Cup Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup Coconut Rum*

1 3/4  shredded coconut - unsweetened (fresh is preferable)

Cocoa Powder to Color Gray Hair on Brunettes

Okay - here's my story. I am on a quest to find a hair coloring that is non-toxic and will cover gray hair. For me, covering gray hair is the hardest part - mine is very coarse and stubbornly rejects picking up color.

So far, I have tried (and you can check out my articles):

• Sage Rinse - this did not work for me (tried it for 45 days)


• Henna - this does work


• Clairol Loving Care - non-permanent hair color - this works more like a permanent dye and contains fewer chemicals that most other hair dyes.

I have read a few articles about Cocoa powder coloring gray hair on brunette hair, so I figured I would give it a try.

Results:  It covered the gray just a little bit - maybe just a smidgen - (almost too hard to tell).

Why is Tuna Bad for Cats?

tuna meat

human grade canned tuna

Most veterinarians say that canned tuna for human consumption is bad for cats.  But exactly why is it bad?  Can I give it to my cats as treats? Is a little bit dangerous?

I did a little research and found out the following facts:
It seems that feeding canned tuna to cats as their primary food is the culprit. Cats can’t survive on an exclusive diet of tuna.  An occasional treat should not hurt them.

The reasons vets say tuna is bad are: