Biking, and my case for it!

Brooklyn is becoming one of those biking cities, i am so impressed by those who bike in the cold, and really, i do see them as unique creatures. I personally have entertained this challenged for a while( biking in the cold), and so finally i have been biking to work a few days a week. It is a great for me personally , as a way to exercise/cardio wise, and the big ecological reason of not hurting the environment. I do have to mention a few tiny inconveniences: one is how soaked with sweat , i am upon reaching my job. So , this is how i been dealing with it: i put on multiple layers of clothing, and upon arrival i take off the layer closest to by body,, i apply milk of magnesia as deodorant, voila!

Another down side is, that i have been getting a headache from heat exertion after biking, but i am researching ways of lessening this matter. I am by no means good at it, since i am extremely slow and get tired out while biking , but i feel it's something i personally want to do. I will try to continue to do so, as the weather permits. So, if you have been thinking about biking to your job and have not, go ahead, take that step, and empower your will do overcome your fears and do your part!

Happy Biking!

Argan Oil

Now, that i am again living in Brooklyn i have began to stroll down and around all the familiar places, i pursued in the past. I love Brooklyn in a very interesting way for many reasons. One main reason is the diversity that exist in the city. One of the many places i am enjoying is the Atlantic avenue Middle-Eastern area. Here you can find essential oils, incenses, clothing and many other ethnic and exotic articles of interest. So, I been reading about the Moroccan Argan oil, and i went in searched of this oil in the area. I found it, and after using my first ounce, i liked it a lot. It is recommended for face and hair. I used it mainly on my face straight up without mixing with any other ingredients. My face was very soft and supple, it was not greasy in a heavy way , but light like grape seed oil or even jojoba oil. I will continue to use it whenever possible. It is another gift from nature. If you do decide to go in search of this oil, make sure it's 100% pure unmixed.

Happy Experimenting!

Coconut oil and its many uses!

I am from the coast of Central America, near the Caribbean sea and the only oil i remembered my family used was coconut oil. It was used for cooking, baking, the hair and body. I didn't

realized the wonders of this oil, and maybe i even undervalued its benefits . Well, the old news is that it is truly, a wonderful oil for lots of things. I put a tablespoon on my pancakes, on my popcorn, on steamed rice, on my tofu and fish. I use it cosmetically on my hair before washing it; as an all over moisturizer for my body; i make homemade deodorant with it. It is a blessing to have. It is antibacterial, it helps the thyroid gland, it is an immune booster and on , and on the list of benefits can be. Nature is truly amazing, and generous in providing us with such treasure like virgin coconut oil.

Experiment and be safe!

Summer Dress

So, today i had some time to run up a cute summer dress for my daughter; i have to say that my sewing class is helping me a lot! I am finally gaining some speed in starting and finishing sewing projects. I have had this goal( learning to sew) for more than ten years, and i am finally close enough to say, cross it off my list and add a new goal. I hope that you are close to reaching your goals, whichever they may be, write them down and fight to attain them. Here is the picture of the dress i made in two hours. Have a wonderful and productive week.

Ripened Banana Vinegar

If you are having trouble eating all the bananas you purchase and you are short of time to whip up a delicious banana bread or cake, and so, your over ripened bananas are getting trashed; don't worry you're not alone. I try my best not to waste any food, and in reality with just the right information, most foods we throw out can be put to some good use. In the case of fruits, that are over ripened they can be fermented to make vineger; that can be used in the kithen. I remember how the old folks back where i grew up used to take over ripened bananas and turn it into a sweet and tangy tasting vineger. So, here is the process; i hope not another banana will get trashed from now on.

1- Over-ripened bananas

2-Glass jar

Procedure:

Peel the over-ripened bananas and place them in the jar; close the jar tightly and

Place it next to a window for it to get some sunlight. After 3-5 days open and pour off vinager.

Voila!

Now enjoy your homemade banana vineger!

Star Apple

The tropical regions of the world is a treasure for wonders, but it is particularly known for its exotic fruits with excellent health benefits. Chrysophyllum cainito, commonly known in many areas of the Caribbean as, Star apple and Caimito, is one of those jewels. I remember eating this fruit down the bank of the coastline where i lived as a child. The fruit that grows on a tall tree, is said to be originally for the Caribbean and Central America, but it does grow in other tropical areas of the world. On the outside is rounded with a range of skin color of greenish-yellow and purplish-red. The outside of the fruit shouldn't be eaten. On the inside, there are black flat seeds, and the part that is eaten is the very sweet- milky flesh . It has a good supply of calcium and other nutritional contributions. There are some researh that suggest that an infusion of the leaves of this tall tree can be infused and use for diabetes, as a replacement for insulin; but further studies are still needed. So enjoy this fruit whenever you can, and don't let the milky juice drop on your clothes because it does stain. I included a picture of few i bought today from a local farm in the area.

Floral Arrangement 1 2 3...

On the island, most playgrounds are visited after the sun goes down. On our way to the playground we can observe and admire the beautiful Caribbean colors of the neigborhood's gardens and sidewalks; we collected some tropical flowers and branches and we decided to make a wild floral arrangement . We found a branch of seeds from a palm tree and this was the center of the arrangement, along with a few Jasmine flowers from the sidewalk.