Gluten-free attempt, Day 1

Today is day 1 of me attempting to eat gluten-free for 21 days. All was going well until I picked up a loaf of gluten-free bread at Trader Joe's and it felt like I was holding a brick! Completely turned off by unappetizing brick bread, I opted for gf crackers instead (not the worst crackers I've ever had, but nothing I would look forward to buying again). I also picked up gf ginger snaps to try out (pretty good, but oddly gritty finish).

After browsing gf recipes, it became clear that in order to bake I would need potato flour, potato starch, and rice flour at the very least. I will go ahead and assume that I can find these things at Whole Foods. If not, my craving for bread and cookies may send me into psychotic fits.

Another item high on the list of things to buy is gf soy sauce. I am a CSA member, so I get a big box of fresh veggies every week. If I can't stir fry and/or saute them in soy sauce, then my recipe list will be nearly useless! I have to keep reminding myself that at least I can still use my beloved extra virgin olive oil, which I go through almost as fast as water.

Reading labels is turning into a depressing thing. The hash browns I enjoy for breakfast have wheat in them (because potatoes are just not enough, it seems), many sausages contain gluten, and my favorite Ben & Jerry's flavors have cookie bits in them!

I am not even going to touch on the restaurant factor today. I'll spare you that much whining.

It's a sad day for this pizza-loving, cookie-baking, oat-adoring bread-a-holic.

New Body Goodies

Last night I made the first attempt at Skin Salvation, which is a formula for scars, burns, eczema, psoriasis, and very dry skin. It contains cocoa butter and macadamia nut oil, so it naturally smells like dessert! It's also 100% food grade, so if you really feel like tasting it you can. I did encounter a problem: I poured the mixture into two tins and in the second tin the oils separated from the solids. I cut into the salve in the first tin after it had finished setting to see if that had separated too, but it didn't. I'm thinking the mixture needs to stay pretty warm and I need to keep stirring it like a maniac while I'm pouring it. Skin Salvation is going to come in nice big (2.5" in diameter) 4oz tins. The printer labels look awful, but I don't have many other options right now. Besides, you don't need to pay for a label when the product is quality!

I also made some tubes of mandarin orange lip balm, and tart lip balm (lemon, lime, and grapefruit), and some more gentle face scrub. I cut down on the wheat germ oil in the lip balm mix so the essential oils would have more of a fighting chance to smell good. But my nose has been stuffy ever since the tree pollen levels rose at the beginning of May, so I can't really tell how well they turned out! I have samples of each at work with me today and I'm going to make other people smell them. Make, not ask. Haha.

Also ready to be photographed and put up for sale are: mud mask, tile & tub scrub, and body butter bars.

I like being a mad scientist.

Klunk getting chin scratches

Klunk getting chin scratches
Originally uploaded by salyx

My cat Klunk is sick.

The vet yesterday informed me that she has a lot of fluid in her abdomen. So much, in fact, that the x-ray didn't show any of her guts. Her heart and lungs are visible... but her heart has a murmur. He told me that these are serious symptoms and recommended a cardiologist in Rohnert Park. He mentioned the possibility of congestive heart disease.

I fell apart. I honestly could not breathe. All the air was getting stuck in my throat. I was crying so hard I couldn't see straight. My baby, my best friend, my constant loving companion...

Klunk and I came home to a 90F apartment. Both miserable. I was losing my mind. I called my friend Kaci and asked if she would be willing to buy me a portable swamp cooler and I would pay her back when I could. She tried, but the local stores don't carry them. She and her husband Dave came over and bought me one online. Then they took me out to dinner, which was a saving grace because as soon as we got to the pizza place I realized I was STARVING. I also called my friend Travis and he offered to take me to the pet hospital and of course I agreed.

Today I stayed home from work. I slept in as best I could, with one hand on Klunk at all times. I used my nervous energy to clean up around the apartment, as it needed it desperately (I had to do dishes THREE TIMES to catch up). I left to run errands (GO to refill water jugs, bank to deposit checks from mom, dad's work to pick up the DVD I left at their house, the gas station because my gas light turned on, and Video Droid to drop off the late DVD). Travis was there when I got home. I fed him lunch as a thank you, then we packed Klunk up and drove to Rohnert Park. Before getting into the car, I popped half a klonopin (leftover from a panic disorder I struggled with for years). It was a good call except for the fact that I'm not used to the stuff anymore and Travis had to keep propping me up. The people at the pet hospital are REALLY nice. They all told me how much they loved Klunk because she's a patient and cuddly girl who doesn't fight. They did two sonograms and drew fluid. Klunk's heart murmur has nothing to do with the fluid build up, and is something I only should have checked on once a year. The fluid isn't a horrible color, but they aren't sure what's causing it. They are going to contact me tomorrow after doing lab work on it. I called the vet and he said the blood tests were negative for viral issues and her kidneys and liver are functioning properly.

The bills for this so far are: $1432.85 and will only climb while we look for a diagnosis and try to find treatments.

I have decided to not have a birthday party, but instead have a Craft Sale for Klunk. All I need is a venue and people willing to help me spread the word.

My state of mind is scared but pretty positive. Klunk isn't acting differently at all. She's still my crazy kitten, just now she's full of fluid possibly caused by a failing organ. I hope with all my might that it's something we'll be able to treat with pills or injections or regular draining.

Please light a candle for my Bugg Bugg. Thank you to my angels: Kaci, Mom, and Travis.

Sick Day

New
Originally uploaded by salyx

I called in sick to work today. I haven't been sleeping well all week and it finally caught up with me.

Sick days mean earthcharms days...

I've made 13 new earrings! They're a full spectrum of fun gemstones and all but one are Budget-Friendly Beauties, which means they'll all sell for under $10! People have been asking for more small pairs of earrings, so here they are.

We're talking: carnelian, agate, citrine, prehnite, apatite, kyanite, amethyst, fluorite, rhodochrosite, labradorite, moonstone, and larvikite. Something for everyone!


(And yes, this means I've found my camera)

25 Albums that Made Me Me.

Music has had a huge effect on my life and my creative process. Here's a list of the 25 albums that had the biggest influence on me over the years, in no particular order.

25 albums that had a huge impact on me, and my favorite song from each:

1. Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes - Crucify
2. John Prine - Sweet Revenge - Sweet Revenge
3. Sunshine Blind - Liquid - Release
4. Nine Inch Nails - Broken - Gave Up
5. Bon Jovi - Keep the Faith - Bed of Roses
6. Live - Throwing Copper - Lightening Crashes
7. Switchblade Symphony - Serpentine Gallery - Gutter Glitter
8. Credence Clearwater Revival - Willy and the Poor Boys - The Midnight Special
9. AFI - Sing the Sorrow - Miseria Cantare (the Beginning)
10. Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers - Americano - Switchblade
11. Fiona Apple - Tidal - Shadowboxer
12. The Cruxshadows - The Mystery of the Whisper - Sympathy for Tomorrow
13. Joan Osborne - Relish - Pensacola
14. Jeff Buckley - Grace - Hallelujah
15. The Dreamside - Faerie Child - Faerie Child
16. Psychotica - Espina - Soldier of War
17. Heather Nova - Oyster - Walk This World
18. Placebo - Black Market Music - Peeping Tom
19. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion - Judas
20. Linda Rondstadt - Greatest Hits - Long Long Time
21. Rasputina - How We Quit The Forest - The New Zero
22. Tool - Aenima - Forty Six and Two
23. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells - Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
24. The Rolling Stones - Through the Past Darkly, the Hits - Paint It, Black
25. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - Dark Side of the Moon

O Camera, Where Art Thou?

My camera has gone missing!

Since my place of residence is only 13x22 feet, it's not likely that I missed it while frantically searching for it this morning.

It isn't a great camera by any stretch of the imagination, but it's what I could afford and it does the job (most of the time). I can't even imagine where it could be (besides perhaps at my parents' house?)! That's what I get for not using it much lately, it ran away! I bet it packed up the remote and tripod and ran off with them to smite me.

Well, that hurts, camera. I'm upset that you would leave. I wanted to take a picture to brighten someone's day today, and now I cannot.

Harumph.

Remember the good times, Camera, and come back to me soon.

Scrub-A-Dub-Dub

My mother cursed me with sensitive skin.

I absolutely love bath and body products, but finding one I can use sometimes proves to be a strain on my patience. Mineral Oil? No thanks! Lanolin? Makes me itch. Avocado oil? I'm allergic. Shea Butter? Makes my lips peel when it's in my lip balm. I'm also highly opposed to fillers and dangerous preservatives.

It only made sense that my next venture be simple and natural body care. I want all the goodies: scrub, bath oil, lotion, lip balm... only stripped down to the basics. I want kaolin clay and apricot kernel meal. I want wheat germ oil and grapeseed oil. I want candelilla wax so my products can be vegan-friendly.

I started with the face scrub. I've been making and using my own for two months and I know it's perfect! Then I made a cooling and a warming bath soak, followed by bath oil. I'm still working on the lotion and lip balm, but they won't be too far behind!


The other project close to my heart is natural home care. In December, I stopped using store-bought, chemical-laden products to clean my house. I used to get rip-roaring headaches from housecleaning, and now I don't. I hope to share with you my tile & tub scrub, toilet cleaner & drain maintainer, and multi-purpose cleaner (which is a natural pest deterrent!).

My thought is this: If I'm not supposed to touch it or breathe it in, I don't want to clean my house with it!

I hope you're as excited about my new creative direction as I am!