COCONUT OIL!!!!

It's not even a new discovery, but day by day there are new ways to use it!!!

Today's new lesson? SUNBLOCK!!!!

Store bought sun screen can block UVB rays but these are 'good' rays that can provide our body with vitamin D. Coconut oil doesn't block these rays but it does provide a protective layer for your skin against the sun and helps you tan too.
Incidentally, these store bought products also contain cancer causing chemicals (including palm oil derivatives) even if in small doses...(look for: retinyl palmitate)

Coconut oil uses

• Cooking oil
• Sunblock
• Face care
• Hair care
• Toothpaste (mix with baking soda & peppermint oil!)
• In the shower - try coconut oil, baking soda and aloe vera gel!
• sunburn! http://butterbeliever.com/sunburn-remedy/
• Apparently, it can help you lose weight too! SERIOUSLY  check it - http://authoritynutrition.com/coconut-oil-and-weight-loss/

Sources:

http://www.whydontyoutrythis.com/2013/07/ditch-the-toxic-sunscreen-use-coconut-oil-instead.html

http://naturalsociety.com/ditch-toxic-sunscreen-use-coconut-oil-instead/

http://livingprettynaturally.com/natural-oil-sunscreens-what-you-need-to-know/

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/03/homemade-toothpaste-with-coconut-oil.html

http://www.coconut-oil-central.com/coconut-oil-sunburn.html

http://www.coconutmagic.com/blog/284/coconut-oil-as-sunscreen.html

As a side note - raspberry oil has a stronger SPF factor than coconut oil.

http://www.vivawoman.net/2010/04/getting-sun-protection-from-natural-ingredients/

Red Rapsberry Seed Oil has SPF as high as 28 – 50

Hemp Seed Oil – SPF 6
Macadamia Oil – SPF 6
Sesame Seed Oil SPF 4
Shea Butter – SPF 4
Jojoba Oil – SPF 4
Coconut Oil – SPF 2

Palm Oil...and how to avoid it.

This needs to be shared.

My friends have been asking about palm oil, and it is high time I had a list to hand to give them!

Deforestation in Indonesia is happening on the fastest scale. Even a moratorium is breached because illegal loggers and lax tax loopholes mean that forests can still be cleared for oil palm plantations.

How does this even affect us?

Palm oil is all around us and indirectly, even unintentionally, we are contributing to the deforestation of Indonesia's lush rainforests. 

Over 60% of the world's palm oil is produced in Indonesia.

Palm oil is so hard to trace and it is labeled in such ways that we would never know it is there.

In foods, it is simply labelled as VEGETABLE OIL (植物油)...but this could be any number of oils. It is important to check for the levels of saturated fat - the higher the levels, the more likely it is palm oil.

Then there are the beauty products. Unless you can source your products carefully, expect most drugstore products to contain the following...

(These are ones that I have come across during my daily life at the drugstore  in Japan, hence the translations. For an extensive list, see below.)

At the drugstore- 

(Check shampoos, conditioners, lip balms, face creams, body creams, toothpastes, mouthwashes, laundry detergent, washing up liquid, face masks....)

ラウレス硫酸 - SODIUM LAURETH

ラウリン酸 - 　SLS Sodium Laurel Sulphate

パルミチン酸 - PALMITIC ACID 

ミリスチン酸　－Myristic Acid

ステアリン酸　－ Stearine (Palm Stearine) Stearic Acid

ラウロアンホ酢酸Na －sodium lauroamphoacetate 

 ドデシル硫酸ナトリウム - Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS or NaDS)

ラウリル硫酸Na - sodium lauryl

ラウレス硫酸ナトリウム - Sodium Laureth Sulfate

ステアリン酸グリセリル - Glyceryl Stearate SC 

ラウロイルサルコシンナトリウム - Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

And, I am not even going into detail about the health triggers...
The addition of a palm oil derivative indicates a chemical procedure, which means the product is not good for you in any way, despite any claims of its superpowers.....

Do you know the meaning of the colors ?

Green : Natural.

Blue : Natural + Medicine.

Red : Natural + Chemical composition.

Black : Pure Chemical.

BE AWARE OF THE PRODUCTS THAT YOU USE DAILY!

Remember, our ancestors lived without half this nonsense 50 years ago, so why should we 'need' it now?

At the supermarket - 

In foods palm oil is mostly disguised as Vegetable Oil. You need to check for saturated levels ...the more saturated fat, the more likely palm oil. Opt for saturated free fat. 

Watch out for out school favourites too...See hydrogenated vegetable oil on the label? PALM OIL. 
Like PEANUT BUTTER & NUTELLA. 

Like palm oil.

Like instant noodles? Like chocolates? Like crisps or potato chips, whatever you call them?...Like palm oil.

Anything that can last a long time on the shelf....it has palm oil...

Always read the labels too. 
This blog entry was of particular interest - turns out a joint of beef is not just that...:- 
http://freeofpalmoil.blogspot.jp/2010/05/beef-joints-for-vegetarians.html 

SHAME ON YOU SAINSBURY'S, UK

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

How do you know what to avoid when you go shopping??? 

The tip - KEEP IT NATURAL. Source your products. That's all.

(Be warned - it can be found in gasoline too...)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can download a copy of chemicals to avoid  HERE and it fits right in your wallet! -

http://www.animal.org.au/palmoilindisguise.htm has this concise list in alphabetical order.

Here is the list for 'easy' reference.

Acetic and fatty acid esters of glycerol (472a/E472a)
Aluminium Stearate
Aluminium, calcium, sodium, magnesium salts of fatty acids (470/E470a; E470b)

Sodium Laureth Sulfate &
Cetearyl Alcohol &
Cetyl Alcohol & Glycerin &
Cetyl Acetate
(Face wash)

Ammonium laureth sulphate
Ammonium lauryl sulphate
Arachamide mea
Ascorbyl palmitate
Ascobyl palmitate (304)
Azelaic acid
Butyl stearate
Calcium lactylate 
Calcium oleyl lactylate (482/E482)
Calcium Stearate
Calcium Stearoyl lactylate (482/E482)
Capric triglyceride
Caprylic acid
Caprylic triglyceride
Caprylic/capric triglyceride
Caprylic/capric /stearic triglyceride
Caprylol glycine

Cetyl Alcohol & Glyceryl Stearate &
Glycerin & Propylene Glycol
('Herbal' shampoo)

Caprylyl glycol
Cetrimonium chloride
Ceteareth (2-100)
Cetearyl alcohol
Cetearyl ethylhexanote
Cetearyl glucoside
Cetearyl olivate
Ceteth - 20
Ceteth - 24
Cetyl acetate
Cetyl alcohol
Cetyl ethylhexanoate
Ctyl hydroxyethycellulose
Cetyl lactate
Cetyl octanoate
Cetyl palmitate
Cetyl ricinoleate
Citric and fatty acid esters of glycerol (472c/E472c)
Cocoa butter equivalent (CBE)
Cocoa butter substitue (CBS)
Decyl oleate
Diacetyltartaric and fatty acid esters of glycerol (472/E472e)
Dilinoleic acid
Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate
Disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate
Distilled Monoglyceride Pal
Elaeis guieensis oil
Emulsifier 422, 430-36, 470-8, 481-483, 493-495
Epoxidized palm oil (uv cured coatings)
Ethyl lauroyl arginate (243) 
Ethylene glycol monostearate
Ethylhexyl hydroxystearate
Ethylhexyl palmitate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Fatty alcohol sulphates

Glycerin (Found in soaps)

Glycerin
Glycerin or glycerol (422)
Glyceryl distearate
Glyceryl laurate
Glyceryl monostearate
Glyceryl myristate
Glyceryl oleate
Glyceryl polymethacrylate
Glyceryl stearate
Glyceryl stearate SE
Glycol distearate
Glycol stearate
Guineesis (palm)
Hexadecylic
Hexyl laurate
Hexyldecanol
Hydrogenated palm glycerides
Isopropyl isosterate
Isopropyl palmitate
Isopropyl titanium triisostearate
Isostearamide DEA
Isosterate DEA
Isotearic acid
Isostearyl alcohol
Lactic and fatty acid esters of glycerol (472b/E472b)
Lauramide DEA
Lauramide MEA
Lauramine oxide
Laureth
Lauric acid
Lauroyl sarcosine
Lauryl betaine
Lauryl lactate
Lauryl glucoside (from palm)
Lauryl pyrrolidone
Linoleic acid
Magneium myristate
Magnesium stearate
Mixed tartaric, acetic and fatty acid esters of glycerol (472/E472f)
Mono- and di- glycerides of fatty acids (471/E471)
Myristate
Myristic acid
Myristic Cetrimoium Chloride Acid
Myristoyl
Myristyl myristate
Octyl palmitate
Octyl stearate
Octyldodecyl myristate
Octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate
Oleamide MIPA
Oleic acid
Oleyl betaine
Olivem 1000
Palm fruit oil
Palm oil
Palm olein
Palm stearine
Palmate
Palmitate
Palmitic acid
Palmitamidopropyltrimonium chloride
Palmitoyl myristyl serinate
Palmitoyl oxostearamide
Palmitoyl oligopeptide
Paltetrapeptide - 3
PEG-100 stearate
PEG-15 stearyl ether
PEG-150 distearate

PEG-2 oleamine
PEG-20 stearate
PEG-4 lauratete sodium stearoyl lactylate (481/E481) Sodium laurate
PEG-40 stearate
PEG-8 distearate
PEG-8 stearate
PEG-80 sorbitan laurate
Pentaeythrityl tetraisostearate
Peptide complex
Polyethylene (40) stearate (431)
Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids (475/E475)
Polyglycerol-2 oleyl ether 
Polyglyceryl-3 dilisostearate
Polyglyceryl-4 isostearate
Polyglyceryl-4 oleyl ether
Polysorbate 60 or polyoxyethylene (20 sorbitan monostearate (435/E435)
Polysorbate 60 or polyoxyethylene (20 sorbitan tristearate (436/E436)
Polysorbate 60 or polyoxyethylene (20 sorbitan monoolate (433/E433)
Polysorbate -20
Polysorbate -40
Polysorbate -80

Polysorbate -85
Potassium stearate
PPG-15 stearate ether
Polysorbate-85
Potassium stearate
PPG-15 stearate ether
Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids (477/E477)
Propylene glycol laurate 

Retinyl palmitate &
Proppylene glycol (Boots, UK product)

Propylene glycol stearate
Retynyl Palmitate 
Saponified elaeis guineensis
Sleareth
SLES
SLS
Sodium cetearyl sulphate
Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS or NaDS)
Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylaye
Sodium oleyl lactylalfate
Sodium laureth sulphate
Sodium  laureth-13 carboxylate
Sodium lauryl lactylate
Sodium lauryl
Sodium lauryl ether suphate
Sodium lauryl sulfate
Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate
Sodium lauryl suphate
Sodium palm kernelate
Sodium palmate
Sodium palmitate
Sodium  stearate
Sodium stearoyl lactylate
Sorbitan isostearate
Sorbitan laurate
Sorbitan  monostearate (491)
Sorbitan  palmitate
Sorbitan  sesquioleate
Sorbitan trioleate
Sorbitan  tristearate

Sorbitan  tristearate (491)
Sorbitan palmitate
Sorbitan sesquioleate
Sorbitan  trioleate
Sorbitan  tristearate
Sorbitan  tristearate (492)
Stearalkonium chloride 

Glycerin & Steareth-2 & Steareth-20
(Deodorant)

Stearalkonium  hecttorite
Stearmide MEWA
Stearamideopropyl dimethylamine
Steareth-10
Steareth-2
Steareth-20
Steareth-21
Steari acid(vegetable oil)
Stearic acid or fatty acid (570)
Stearoyl sarcosine
Stearyl alcohol
Stearyl dimethicone
Stearyl heptanoate
Sucrose stearate
Sucroseesters of fatty acids (473/E473)
Taxanomic
TEA-lauryl sulphate
TEA-stearate
Tocopheryl linoleate
Triacetin
Triacetin (1518)
Tribehenin
Tricapryllin
Tristearine
Vegetable glycerin
Vegetable oil
Vegetable Mono Diglycerides
Zinc stearate

Looking for products without palm oil often feels like this -
((Rocking up at the cash register with nothing in the basket!)) But, it really is NOT that bad.

Even the smallest cut back or action on your part will make the difference - this article mentions Kellog's but imagine if we cut back on one product from more than just one big conglomerate....

"If just 1% of Kellogg's consumers were to stop buying its products, company sales could fall by US$200 million, making sustainable palm oil a comparatively cheaper option for the company."

Sustainable palm oil shift is cheaper than bad publicity impact

PALM OIL FREE OPTIONS

There are many ways to live without palm oil.

Personally, I have eliminated a lot of pure nonsense from our cupboards and taken it back 50 years...Check out my blog post for how to clean like 1959..!

We haven't been to a drugstore for years, and it feels great!

There is a lot of fun in MAKING your own body scrubs, face scrubs, air fresheners etc...ENJOY!!

Helpful blogs and information for you - 

*** http://www.palmoilinvestigations.org/products-australia

*** http://www.animal.org.au/palmoilindisguise.htm

***http://www.saynotopalmoil.com/

BLOGS

***http://nopalmoil.wordpress.com/

***http://freeofpalmoil.blogspot.jp/

***http://vivresanshuiledepalme.blogspot.jp/

GREAT NEW PROGRAME TO WATCH

(Harrison Ford visits Indonesia to learn about the levels of deforestation)

***https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brvhCnYvxQQ#t=323

There are many organisations out there doing great work to help this cause, but they cannot do it without the great support from its followers. Want to help?

http://kalaweit.org is an organisation I am involved with directly and have seen first hand their amazing efforts and struggles as they work to save not just the animals but the land in which they need to survive.

http://ran.org/ is another global network and ....

May 20th will be a GLOBAL DAY of actions run by RAN (Rainforest Action Network. you can join HERE! Please do! #inyourpalm

And, again, here is the leaflet for your wallet - download a copy HERE!!

Norman, the ginger ninja

Two weeks ago, we found an abandoned kitten just behind our house. 

What brought him there, we can only guess and it makes for a horrid world if someone just placed him there. He was frail, left for dead, had a cold, fleas and enough flea poo on his body to make him look as though he had rolled in mud.


We took him in and shared a great ten days together, including with Elbi. Norman grew strong and unabashed and very friendly but in need of endless hugs and love. 

This Wednesday, ever so suddenly in the morning, it took a massive turn for the worse and we had to rush him to the vet. There was little we could do for him - something was ravishing him from the inside out. He had a massive infection and as much as he got better on the outside, he was getting worse on the inside. We took the time off work to be with him and he passed away at 2.45 on Wednesday 18th September 2013.


We are praying for him and putting him to rest today.

I know there are many more cases like this in Japan, and that makes me even sadder.
At least we did what we could for this little cutie. xxx RIP NORMAN xxx

The housewife is back!

 

It's vinegar time once again, this time to be rid of the  fruit flies! 
Simply add some apple cider vinegar to a small bowl with water and washing up liquid.
The sweet vinegar attracts the flies, while the washing liquid keeps them there.

The 50's housewife!!

Just a blog entry to share the amazing tips for yore..

!!

Back in a world where half the chemicals we use today hadn't even been created and thrift was a way of life not a trend that had been set, there were hard working housewives, and maybe the odd hubby too (!) who relied on just a few ingredients to keep their houses in tip top shape!

Over the past couple of years, I have been able to step back in time too and enjoy the true meaning of elbow grease, while simultaneously removing any signs of grease that there might be!

Seriously, as the time has passed since our change over, I have noticed that we do not spend much (if any at all as we have bought in bulk ) on cleaning products AND we are, in the same cheap process NOT damaging the environment !!! Now, there is a thought! And if that wasn't enough good news to contend with,  the elbow grease does mean putting in a bit of hard work, but that is paid off quickly in the form of a short, vigorous workout!

So, what it is we need to find this eco-friendly, healthy and near priceless perfection?!

1) LEMONS

Lemons are acidic and act as a natural bleach! Apparently, cockroaches hate it, so you can clean the floors with it happily knowing that it might just be better than any horrid spray or roach repellent! Just don't use lemon juice on marble surfaces - it will eat away at the grout!

A bit of lemon juice with olive oil makes for a great wooden floor polish.

And, don't forget about the zests!

((Read this entry to find out how to use zests to make your own air freshner!!))

2) BAKING SODA / BICARBONATE OF SODA

This is just ridiculously cheap and works everywhere in the house!

Use baking soda on black, burnt pans - scrub / soak / scrub.

You can use it to clean your teeth (!), clean the bathroom sink, even the oils left around the bath. (My top tip is to add baking soda to washing up liquid to get your bath tub super shiny!)

If you want to really scrub the floor, add some baking soda to your hot water & lemon juice mix - enjoy the fizz and scrub away!

3) VINEGAR

Now, this is just unbelievable! Vinegar is right there on most of our shelves - waiting to be poured over our chips, but we hardly think about what else it can do....

Well - I would recommend keeping some spray bottles around the house, filled with half vinegar and half water. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant, which means, yes - it kills germs!!!

The sprays can be used to clean the kitchen surfaces, dining room table, even polish the floors.

Shake some bicarbonate of soda into the toilet, leave for a few hours and scrub with vinegar!

Vinegar along (1/4) with some olive oil (1/2) and water (1/4) makes for a natural toner too!

And, don't worry about the smell, it really does disappear after 30 seconds! If you can't even wait that long, then you can always add some natural fragrance oils to the spray bottles.

Because it is a natural disinfectant, vinegar sprays will also work on your dogs!! You can spray them down after a walk and clean their paws as well.

Oh, and vinegar is also the magical answer for vomit and dog pee!

So, there we have it - the genius that is nature!

The earth gives us so much, yet we do not give anything back. We need to, we should and we shall!

Blog deliberation

So confused as to which one is best!

Tumblr is slick - Blogspot, clumsy but convenient...Gosh, the debates in life!!!

http://leonorasophie-everyday.tumblr.com/

vs

http://leonorasophie-everyday.blogspot.jp/

Transferring a UK licence to a Japanese licence.

My experience at the driving centre.

Konosu is my 'local' centre to visit to do the change over. I am lucky to be British today as we are able to take the required documents and have an eye check and get the Japanese licence... so I am told!

Konosu driving centre is a bus ride (5mins) from Konosu station (which in turn is about 20 mins from Omiya).

I went to JAF last year to translate my UK licence, buy it was on the day of the earthquake, so even though I got my licence (after also visiting immigration and attempting to renew my visa), there have been a few hiccups since. This cost us ￥3000.

It is important to check what is needed at each centre as it could differ. I was told, that after the translation, I would need proof of living in UK for three months after getting my licence....when I was 17!!!!

It was time to call my mother and get her to help me dig up this ancient passport. Then, getting it took a while as I did not trust then post, so waited until I could go and pick it up myself.

We had phoned a couple of times to see if my university certificate (which would prove what they wanted to know more than a European passport with countless stamps in would) but to no avail.

I did find out (unlike some others on blogs I had read - see below) that you need the residents certificate - Juumin-hyoufrom your ward office as well. Do not forget this! 

So, I rocked up today, green lights at each crossing, a bus waiting for me at the station..you know the kind of day. Even the receptionist was friendly. I had to head straight to the second floor and wait. And wait and wait. Actually, it was only half an hour, but I had hoped that whole thing would be finished by half past 11.

I arrived at five to 10. It is worth noting that the room is open at 10am, but you can start lining up from 9.40 and you may even get seen.

The policeman who dealt with me was really friendly too. (I think I read only bad horror stories...).

I was however very nervous. I realised that I forgot to bring number two passport (my first and third should have been enough...) and I forgot my university certificate as I had wanted as much proof as possible.

Anyway, he tried to check each stamp in the passport that I used from 1995 and I explained that in Europe they don't always stamp, actually I had to ask for them, but he was worried about entries into one country then nothing out.

He was very thorough checking everything, and my heart was beating fast even though nothing was amiss.

He stamped the forms, and we made an appointment for 1pm. Yes, there was more to come and he told me I should be finished by 3.30. I was to buy some stamps for my form...around ￥2400.

Counters 1& 2 are for the foreign licence exchange (and eye tests)

At 1pm prompt, the shutters to the counters opened. We were led through for the eye test, which took ten seconds. You can even answer in English - up down, red, blue. Easy.

Then, I was sent up to the third floor, room 6. I was the only one from the group foreigners; my heart was pounding...it still is...I am sitting in the exam room, so I had to check - I am not ready for a test!

The policeman was due (at 1.45...) to talk to us about safety on the road.

I was wondering which would be more boring...

Well, the guy came and babbled the fastest Japanese to everyone which was crazy; he was obviously up against the clock. Before he began his rant, he did say to me that it didn't matter if I didn't understand it anyway! He then went on to talk about the three people who failed their test today (including one foreigner...hey ho)

Then the guy led everyone out with me...ME at the front of the queue being fast-tracked to the counter to receive my card. I had to collect another ￥2050 worth of stamps and await my card.

After a quick picture, mouth closed (!) I was goof to go! And an hour earlier than expected too!

All in all, it was no a bad experience knowing that I didn't have tests along the way, but it didn't feel like that.

My advice - read around, but be prepared.

Double check your own offices requirements and be sure you have each document ready.

The blogs below helped and didn't help me in my preparation...Luckily, I was OK!!! 

GOOD LUCK!!!

THIS GUY HAD A COUPLE OF CRAZY VISITS TO THE CENTRE, BUT FOR A CANADIAN, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER!!

http://lart.ca/2007/05/01/my-big-konosu-adventure-part-1

http://lart.ca/2007/05/02/my-big-konosu-adventure-part-2-round-and-round

http://lart.ca/2007/05/02/my-big-konosu-adventure-part-3-getting-your-address-right-is-the-most-important-thing

THIS GUY WAS A BIT MORE INSPIRING AND MADE ME FEEL MORE RELAXED BEFORE I WENT

http://www.robertliu.com/archives/429