i love the organic feel to lumafina’s beautiful jewelry. with hand cut pieces of metal, patina colors and the use of naturally shed deer antlers i think her pieces look feminine, natural and easy to wear. i especially love these dotted hoops and sweet chevron necklace.

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image: organic ground cinnamon from Twig and Leaf Botanicals

This Spring, like last Spring, we have ants entering our apartment. Since we don’t own the building, there isn’t much we can do to the foundation or the yard to keep them out, but as I’ve discovered, there are many tricks you can do inside to keep the ants away.

I have small children, and have had pets in the past, so I am very nervous to use pesticides to deal with insects. I have tried many natural methods to combat an ant problem – these three methods have been most effective for me:

Sprinkle ground cinnamon around. I had heard this for years, and finally gave it a try. I tested it around ants on the floor, and they did everything they could to avoid it. It doesn’t appear to hurt them – they just can’t stand cinnamon. I suggest sprinkling it where ants are entering a room, or where food is kept.

Spray surfaces with vinegar. Scout ants lead the colony to a food source through scented trails.Vinegar will destroy that trail, preventing ants from relocating a food source in your home. This also does not kill the ants, but diminishes their efforts.

Create a bait with borax and powdered sugar. The sugar will attract the ants, and the borax will kill them via dehydration. Mix about 1 cup of powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of borax; place in shallow dishes (such as jar lids), and keep them in a safe place near the ants, such as in a cupboard, under the sink or under an appliance. The point is that the ants will hopefully take this mixture back to the colony, and killing all who eat it.

It’s been almost two weeks now since I tried the cinnamon method, and I haven’t seen an ant since. Last year was worse, and the borax sugar trap took care of the problem. Do you have a natural method for ridding your home of ants or other insects?

Out to find ways to make life simpler, Ashley is tackling life one DIY project at a time. Learning as she goes, she also spends her days writing Indie Pretty Projects and creating for her Etsy shop.

wrap up: {chemical free} {home} {insect repellent} {natural} {pests} {simple}

i had the absolute pleasure of meeting and making friends with kina of joretta natural knits, as we were booth neighbors last year at icp! i can tell you first hand that her beautiful natural knits are high quality, well constructed and oh-so-cozy to the touch. she designs each of them herself and uses natural, recycled fibers and organic materials from local producers and dyers. and as she has her own one-and-a-half year old, you can be rest assured that all of her designs are baby proofed!

interested in advertising on going home to roost? click here to find out more!

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i think we probably all have fallen victim to artificial sweeteners, or at least to some sort of false marketing. years ago, i used to be the queen of splenda as i thought it would be a great way to reduce my calorie intake. welp, i was wrong. it took a little research to find the truth behind artificial sweeteners, but i hope the tid-bit that i share with you today well help answer a few of the questions most people have about using them.

{sweet talk}

10 reasons to avoid artificial sweeteners

1. laboratory made. sucralose (splenda) was actually discovered while trying to create a new insecticide. splenda is made when sugar is treated with trityl chloride, acetic anhydride, hydrogen chlorine, thionyl chloride, and methanol in the presence of dimethylformamide, 4-methylmorpholine, toluene, methyl isobutyl ketone, acetic acid, benzyltriethlyammonium chloride, and sodium methoxide. whew!

2. stevia’s effects. though still being researched, stevia has at least one compound which has been converted in the laboratory into a known carcinogen (cancer causing). in the laboratory, it has been shown to cause testicular abnormalities and reduced testosterone levels in males and causes females to give birth to both fewer and smaller offspring.

3. headaches. some people experience increased headaches while using artificial sweeteners. cut out the diet coke and see if your headaches disappear.

4. increased appetite. artificial sweeteners lead to an increased appetite and food intake in some people. since artificial sweeteners are often substantially sweeter than sugar, risk for increased appetite and food consumption runs even higher when vast amounts of the sweeteners are consumed.

5. artificial sweeteners confuse your brain. the enzymes in your mouth begin a cascade that primes your cell receptors for an insulin surge, and when it doesn’t arrive your brain feels cheated.

6. your health. people who use artificial sweeteners are heavier, more likely to have diabetes, and more likely to be insulin-resistant compared with nonusers.

7. aspartame. over the years of its use, aspartame has been blamed for cancer, lupus and multiple sclerosis and some studies indicate cancer in rodents from lifelong use of low doses of aspartame.

8. weight gain. artificial sweeteners have not been shown to promote weight loss, and some studies show that the sweet taste may actually cause more craving of sweets. if you are trying to loose weight, you should avoid artificial sweeteners.

9. decreased serotonin. several studies show that consumption of aspartame can lead to excess levels of phenylalanine (an amino acid that is safe in small doses). that means decreased levels of serotonin in the brain which can lead to depression, anxiety or panic attacks.

10. increased insulin. acesulfame potassium, aka ACK, sweet one, and sunett stimulates insulin secretion, which could cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). it has created lung, breast, thymus gland, and other tumors in rats, as well as leukemia and respiratory disease even in small doses. it is found in baked goods, frozen desserts, candy, drinks, cough drops, and breath mints.

now i know, much of this was awfully scientific. and to further the confusion, most research ends with a disclaimer about how inconclusive it is. my point is, if there is this much debate, uncertainty and probable concern about something- why should i risk it? i would rather err on the side of caution and stick to natural sweeteners.

what is a natural sweetener? things like honey, juice concentrates, dates & raisins, molasses & of course real sugar are delicious and wholesome.

research and recommended reading: artificial sweeteners, artificial sweeteners by the nat’l cancer institute, artificial sweeteners by livestrong, sugar substitutes, artificial sweeteners and diabetes

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{rooster pull toy, felted wool owl toy, montessori baby toys, owl friends peg rack}

with questionable materials being used in so many toys today, many moms are choosing to go all au naturel. if your looking to make the switch, NaturalKids etsy street team is here to help! they are a group of sellers dedicated to creating natural products for children, and they make everything from toys to utensils to clothing (and more)!  they work with natural materials from the earth, such as wool, cotton, silk and wood. visit the NaturalKids etsy street team site to learn more about their mission, or start browsing their selection on etsy!

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though i try to reign in on my use of this word, odette new york simple makes me swoon. there’s just no other word to describe it.

 
handmade in brooklyn, artist jennifer sarkilahti begins each design with a sketch, then carefully translates them by hand into a wax like tiny sculpture.  they are then cast into metal and turned into one of the most unique lines of jewelry i’ve seen.

 

 
with pieces that encompass an organic, natural, bohemian feel- i can’t decide which one is my favorite.  i believe that’s why i would like each of these little charms strung along a necklace. :)

visit odette new york here.

wrap up: {acorn} {birds} {bohemian} {fox} {handmade} {handmade jewelry} {jewelry} {leaf} {natural} {odette new york} {organic gardening}

inspired by natural and antique materials, brittany broas of home ground creates the most organic and lovely jewelry.  with earrings, bracelets and necklaces, her affordable fall line has something to compliment every style.  enjoy free shipping within the u.s. through the month of december, and gather some of her lovelies for gifts… of for yourself!

interested in advertising on going home to roost? click here to find out more!

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i love how katheyl shows us her life experiences through her work.  the orient because she grew up in singapore, nature because she volunteered at a zoo, and whimsy because that’s what she loves.  i think she pulled them all together beautifully in her line of jewelry- all colorful, natural, and whimsical.

elsewhere :: {shop} {flickr} {blog}

wrap up: {jewelry} {katheyl} {natural} {oriental} {whimsical}