You Oat To Try This!

Homemade Oat Milk – Easy, Fast, Cheap — Oh She Glows http://ohsheglows.com/2013/01/10/homemade-oat-milk-easy-fast-cheap/ 【from Next Browser】

Okay.  So I know that I have totally left you guys high and dry where blogging is concerned.   Sorry about that.  I will join the choir in the joint excuse used by anyone in the English speaking world this time of year:  "Its the holiday season... yah know? "

The new found resolution to being a vegetarian has also kept me busy.  Finding new sources of protein, learning about the variable gelatinous mass that is tofu and scrambled "eggs" (tofu) that won't send me reeling to the ER (A gastrointestinal allergy I was supposed to have outgrown as a child.  Adult "me" hasn't gotten the memo.)... has been a sort of reintroduction to the gastronomic world of "Good Eats" (hosted by another of the "Brown" name) for me.  Sara Gilbert released her book this year containing the topic of vegetarianism and veganism.  Two of my best friends have been veggie oriented for most of their adult lives, while I staunchly remained a happy carnivore.  Veggies on the side if you please.

I am finding that down this new road lies pit falls and stops that surely intend to keep me from the vegan path.  Namely, milk.  I love my organic, free range and grass fed milk.  I buy it like any earth conscious moo juice consumer:  in a glass container and in large amounts.  It is not that I remain blissfully unaware of the plant based alternatives.  Or, that I have no understanding of just how my moo juice is produced.  The fact remains that I just can't stand almond milk or soy milk.  I, also, do not see the sense in buying/ making the sugary alternatives when (for me) the whole point is to have a healthier diet.  I want to enjoy the natural flavors with as little added as possible.

Enter flax, keifer, rice (aka "Horchata" here in the SW) and oat milk.  I have tried all but keifer milk to date and I must say... me likey.   However,  both flax and rice milk leave me empty.  They just aren't thick enough for me.  Today, I picked up a container of oat milk.  I did this for two reasons; I couldn't find keifer milk at my grocer's and was too lazy to ask for help, and I had never heard of it before.

I read the labels, checked for the non-gmo and organic seals and finished my shopping.  When I got it home, I had a sip and was pleasantly surprised by its sweetness and rich consistency.   I purchased vegan gnocchi in this same trip and used the oat milk to make a cream sauce to go with it.  It was great to work with and a faster cooking time.  I found I added too much pepper to my sauce in my excitement,  but that a small swig of oat milk quickly remedies the flaming sensation in one's mouth better than cow's milk.  I am a believer.

However, at 2.99$ a quart... this makes for an expensive (all be it delicious) dietary change. What's an eco-friendly,  penny pinching fledgling vegetarian to do?  That is when I decided to look up more information on oat milk and I found the herein listed article on how to make your own.

The good news is its easy to follow, the ingredients aren't hard to find and you can tailor the results to your needs.  What's not to like?  Oh, and the author wastes nothing.   The left over pulp can be made into flour!  As a proud owner of a mesquite tree,  I can tell you,  that's an advantage any day.

Feel free to visit the link and comment here on your results.  If you have a better recipe or just want to share all are welcomed.  Happy money savings!

- Nadine Brown

How I make my Organic Showermallows. The beat marshmallow soap around!

Check out Mrs Browns Bath Bakery's Showermallows post on Vine! https://vine.co/v/hQnqvKbrAOE

Boy, this month has been busy and it's about to get a whole lot busier!  Mrs. Brown's Bath Bakery has been working round the clock to get you the news on the goings on in organic skin care.

 

Let's see... let's start with MAKE-UP!

Below are some of the top of the line, very affordable and organic make-up lines around.  With organics, GMO-free and eco-friendly faces backed by Skin Deep.org, EWG (Environmental Working Group) and CBS's "The Talk" 's co-host Sara Gilbert, there is no way you can go wrong.  Here are some that follow suit.

 

Coastal Classic Creations - classy is so sassy

Au Naturale - go nude to get your mood

Maia's Mineral Galaxy - be a star and do it right

 

These guys know how to do things right!  Their make-up is reasonably priced AND won't mess up your endo-system.  It really doesn't get any better.

 

What about nails?

I mean, what better way to strut your Mrs. BBB's pampered stuff than showing of that awesome home manicure in great fall colors.  There is no reason that you should have to worry about migraines just to get your fashion on.

 

Honeybee Gardens - sweet nails are only the bee-gining

N.Y.C. In a NY Color Minute Nail Enamel - green is highly esteemed

Beauty Without Cruelty - because no being should suffer for your pucker

 

Don't LEAD me down.

I am sure you have heard by now the lead in our lipstick is just no good.  If you are like me you were horrified to know that the same lead that is cautioned against in household paint and touted to be a source of down-syndrome for babies if swallowed, is the SAME lead the FDA has OK'd on our porous pouts.

 

How many times a day do you lick your lips?  About three times the frequency that you re-apply that lead heavy lipstick.  The average woman applies and re-applies her lipstick three to five times a day.  It doesn't just stop at lipstick.  Lip glosses, balms and even chap-sticks are known lead-me-downs.

 

Despite all this there is hope.  Combined with great research and tried and tested proof, the list below will give you a great head start to perfecting your puss.  Pucker up buttercup!

 

Coastal Classic Creations - classy is so sassy

Au Naturale - go nude to get your mood

Afterglow Cosmetics Organic Infused Lip Love Lipstick - you aught to know...

 

Feel free to take some time doing your own investigations in to the wide world of organic cosmetics.  I will say, it can be overwhelming.  However, if you take your time, you can do it easily.

 

California Girls

Its official, California has announced their banning of the sale and use of harmful chemicals in all products produced or sold in the state.  This announcement was made yesterday and follows related moves by Walmart, Proctor and Gamble and Johnson and Johnson.  This includes and is not limited to: raw materials, production and all workers along the production scale, the environmental impact during production, the end user (that's YOU) and disposal.

 

Soon the days of ensuring what a safe level of a toxic chemical in a product will cease to exist.  If the chemical, home of plastic surgery and shiny cars state can (and is) get their act together, then the rest of us should be able to.  I am hopeful that its neighboring states (one of them being my own, Arizona) will soon follow suit.  How about you?

 

Green Things

I've had the pleasure of meeting and celebrating with the owners of Green Toes Tucson.  They are a local eco-friendly spa.  They have everything you'd want in a day spa and more.  Recently, Green Toes and Mrs. Brown's Bath Bakery celebrated our Anniversaries together, they 1 year and I 2 years.  They celebrated by inviting us to be at their 50% off party, raffle off some Mrs. BBB swag, games, refreshments and mingling with all the ones who love the skin their in.  Congrats and a job well done!

 

Now for Mrs. BBB updates!

Summer is gone and so are the cool treats from the site.  Now I have bedecked the halls with spooky love.  You will find spiders, be-witching items and magnificent mummies stalking the halls of the site. 

 

I have new products to the Seasonal section of www.mrsbrownsbathbakery.com !  Here's a sneak peak:

 

Caramel Apple Bath Bombs - the same bath bomb you know and love, but now as a caramel coated apple!

 

Pumpkin Spice Bath Truffles - for a smooth and silky fall

 

Granola Mega Moisturizing Scrub/ Soak - your skin needs a hearty meal

 

Kikori Con - I "con"--'t believe it!

Do you plan to be in Flagstaff, AZ in the next two weeks?  There's a new Con (convention) in town for the geek/ Japanese fashion lover in you.  I will be there in the vendor's hall with some wonderful Mrs. BBB swag to enlighten your day.  Forget your shampoo? deodorant? Need to sloth off all that cosplay make-up?  I gotcha covered.  Pampering yourself has never been sweeter!

 

Get Social

I have a new phone and feel like I have been jetted into the social media super highway.  Whew!  No matter where you are, you can now see who I follow, who follows me and more on these social media sites:

 

Vine

Instagram

Flicker

Foursquare

Yelp

Pinterest

 

... and that's just for starters.  Feel free to chat me up about your findings.  I'd love to hear your POV.  Currently, I am thinking of things that start with the letter "V"... vegetarian, vegan, veggies...