If you own a freezer, you probably have an icecube tray or two in there just in case you want an icy cool beverage, right? Well you know, ice cube trays can be used for more than just water. You can freeze a variety of things for later use. Like what, you ask?

1. Iced Coffee

I love iced coffee, but doesn’t it suck when those ice cubes melt, watering down your coffee? No problem anymore! Have some coffee ice cubes at the ready for your next delicious glass of iced coffee.

2. Fruit.

Sticking fruit in a bit of water and freezing in an ice cube tray is a great way to preserve them and they’re nice and cold when you pop ’em in a smoothie.

3. Mint.

You can freeze it in the same way you do fruit and pop ’em in a cool drink. It’s the perfect summer beverage.

4. Flowers.

Flowers frozen in ice are wonderfully decorative additions to a champagne bucket chilling a bottle for a romantic celebration.

5. Wine.

If you like it cold at least. Wine will partially freeze, making for a nice chillier glass of wine without any watering down.

6. Food coloring.

Mixing food coloring frozen in ice cubes and milk together makes a fun treat with cookies. The milk will slowly change color.

7. Ice cream.

If you’re like me, you love a sweet bowl of ice cream but want to control those portions a bit better. The ice cube tray is perfect. It’s a little cube of goodness. Pop a toothpick in there for a little icecream popsicle.

8. Aloe vera.

Freezing aloe vera gel is a perfect summer backup plan for when that unfortunate sunburn creeps up on you. So soothing.

9. Herbs in olive oil.

Frozen olive oil is the perfect way to freeze your herbs. Then when you’re ready to cook with it, just pop it in the pan and go.

10. Sauces.

Any kind of sauce can be frozen, and they make for perfect little easy-to-defrost portions.

11. Fruit juice.

Stick a toothpaste in it and you’ve got yourself a delicious little popsicle.

In 70% of water supplies across the United States, industrial-grade fluoride is added to drinking water. Most developed nations experience this too. All of Japan’s drinking water is fluoridated, and 97% of western Europe also has fluoride in the water. More and more people are coming out against fluoride in the drinking water. But what’s the big deal? Why should we care?

Fluoride added to water is a mass medication.

All water treatments are geared toward the same thing: treating our drinking water. But fluoride is added for only one purpose: treating YOU. Many nations have begun to reject the practice simply because it’s inappropriate to mass medicate people through water.

Fluoride isn’t particularly effective.

The CDC’s Oral Health Division even acknowledges that there’s no real benefit from topical fluoride contact with teeth, which has been the strongest argument for fluoridation of water. Additionally, 65% of modern large-scale studies show no consistent or meaningful difference in the cavity rates of fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas. So there’s really no need.

Conspiracy theories?

Since fluoride has been added to drinking water, there have been many conspiracy theories about why. Many of them center around mind control. In the 1930’s and 1940’s, conspiracy theorists said it was a Nazi plan to control our minds. From the 1950’s through to the 1990’s, the conspiracy was that it was a Communist plan to control our minds. These days, it’s the government trying to control our minds. We don’t believe anyone is trying to control us. What we do believe is that fluoride in water isn’t needed, largely isn’t wanted, and isn’t terribly safe.

So how do we get fluoride out of the water for good?

There’s only one way: lobby your local water supplier to knock it off. Organize in your community. A handful of communities have been successful so far. No reason yours can’t be.

Alright fine. In the meantime, how do we get it out of our water?

First, let’s talk about what doesn’t get fluoride out of your water:

1. Most popular water filters like Brita and Pur don’t remove fluoride.
2. Boiling water does not remove fluoride!
3. Many types of bottled water and other bottled drinks are bottled with water from local taps that contain…wait for it…fluoride! Put the bottle down.

Now, for the systems that actually work:

1. Berkey Water Purification System with PF2 Fluoride Filter is a low-tech countertop unit that requires no plumbing. Filters can be cleaned, making it cost effective. It can be used off-grid to treat untreated water from ponds and streams.
2. Reverse osmosis systems work, but require electricity and are seriously expensive. Plus it also wastes about 5 gallons of water for every gallon filtered. That’s not going to be good in drought-prone places like the American West.
3. Activated alumina is a typically large-scale water treatment which removes excessive fluoride from groundwater. (I live in a place where this is a problem.) It removes more than 90% of fluoride from our water but requires tons of maintenance and gets expensive.
4. Or you can make your own solar still. For the adventurous types out there and those mechanically inclined, experimenting with making your own solar distiller can provide an interesting challenge.

Bottled water.

I mentioned it earlier but I think it bears repeating. Bottled water is not a good way to avoid fluoride. Not only that, but it’s terrible for you and the environment. It presents a serious waste problem, and often the water is harvested from communities that can’t spare it, thus adding additional challenges to regional resource management.

Women everywhere are pretty much in agreement with each other: removing unwanted facial hair can be painful and expensive. But did you know there are natural ways to get the desired results that are way less expensive and painful?

Here are some tips on how to get rid of those unwanted facial hairs at home.

Iodine

You will need:

• 40 ml of alcohol
• 1.5 ml of ammonium
• 2 ml of iodine
• 10 ml of castor oil

Stir all the ingredients together well. Let the mixture stand until it becomes colorless. When ready, scrub the problematic areas when you wake in the morning and before bed. The hair will start to die off is will be unlikely to return.

Nettle oil

This recipe has been in use since the 1600’s. Take 3 tablespoons of nettle seed and add to any vegetable oil of your choosing, be it coconut, olive, or whatever you like. Store the mix in a warm place for 14 days.

After two weeks is up,s train it through a strainer and place in a glass jar with a lid. Close it up.

Soak a piece of cotton with the oil and apply to the parts of the face affected every evening. Leave on for 30 minutes and wash off with warm water and soap.

Baking soda

Take a tablespoon of baking soda and add it to 200 ml of boiling water. Mix it together and let it cool. Soak a piece of cotton with the mix keeping it dry on one side. Place on the area of skin where unwanted hair grows and keep it in place with tape or a bandage. leave it overnight.

In the morning, remove the wrapper and apply some moistening lotion. 2-3 treatments should do the trick.

Garlic

Just a bulb of garlic and scrub areas of the face where unwanted hair grows a few times a day. Leave garlic juice on the skin for 30 minutes and wash off with warm water and gentle soap. Apply coconut oil or lotion to the area of you want softer skin.

We hope one of these remedies will do the trick for you!

Image credit: Annelies Vanhove, Flickr

This is an easy and fun little quiz that tells us what our favorite fruit tells us about us and how our choices reflect on our personality. All we need to know is which of the following fruits you would pick:

1. Orange
2. Apple
3. Banana
4. Coconut
5. Pineapple
6. Papaya
7. Mango
8. Cherry
9. Black Grapes
10. Peach
11. Custard Apple
12. Pear

Alright, do you have your favorite fruit in the list picked? Let’s find out what each says about us.

1. Orange

Image credit: Jeremy, Flickr

When peeling an especially difficult orange, you require patience and willpower. That’s exactly the type of person you are! You’re thorough, meticulous, and yet undaunted by hard work. You can be kind of short with people, but you’re reliable and trustworthy and you avoid conflict at all costs.

2. Apple

Image: Michael Verhoef, Flickr

Apples come in many different flavors from sour and tart to sweet and earthy. In the same sense, you enjoy taking in all the flavors of life. You enjoy extravagance and can be impulsive and outspoken. You’re a great leader and can act fast in just about any situation. You’re a traveler to say the least and are incredibly charming. Your enthusiasm is rarely matched by any of your peers.

3. Banana

Just like a banana that sat on the counter for a little too long, you’re a real softie! But that doesn’t mean anything bad necessarily. Just like a soft banana, you have many great qualities. You’re loving, warm, gentle and sympathetic by nature. You sometimes lack self confidence as you fear the bruises on your “peel” show a little too well, but you make for a great partner and even with all your bumps and bruises for life, you’re both a mental and physical beauty.

4. Coconut

Image: Chandrika Nair, Flickr

You probably think I’m going to compare the coconut’s hard shell to your hard outer shell too, right? Well right you are! You’re the tough one of the bunch. You’re serious, but thoughtful and contemplative. You love a good party and tend to be a little bit stubborn. You’re quick-witted and alert and desire a partner with brains. Passion isn’t always important to you, however.

5. Pineapple

Image: Seuss., Flickr

If you cut the top off of a pineapple that’s gone bad and plant it in some soil and you’re willing to wait, a new pineapple will grow and you’ll get a second chance at a sweet, healthy snack. Much like the pineapple, you yourself are able to grow and flourish out of bad situations. You’re often decisive and quick to act. You’re brave in the face of uncertainty and undaunted by tasks at hand. You’re self reliant and easy to get along with.

6. Papaya

Image: Janine, Flickr

The papaya is an under-appreciated fruit, and you too may find yourself the under-appreciated one at home and at work. You make up for it in fearlessness though, and while many may not realize it, you put tons of thought into everything you do. Even though you may have a tougher time at life, you’re still a go-getter and you get things done. You’re generally good humored and that draws people in to you anyway. You’re just a charmer, what can I say?

7. Mango

Image: Joy, Flickr

Mangos are sweet, juicy and a little bit tough on the outside – and so are you! You’re a lover and a personality to be reckoned with. You don’t take nobody’s sh*t and influencing you to do anything you don’t want to might as well be a full contact sport. But while you’re strong on the outside, to a lover, you’re sweet as a kitten. But to everyone else: don’t screw with a mango lover.

8. Cherry

Image: Karol Franks, Flickr

Out of the bunch, the cherry is the biggest sweetheart. You face ups and downs and find that financial security seems infrequent and limited. But even so, your imagination is fertile and your heart is a big one. You’re sincere and loyal to your partners and to your friends, and in creative pursuits, no one matches you. You love being at home as much as a cherry seems to love being in a bowl with all its cherry friends.

9. Black grapes

Image: Mark Dodds, Flickr

Like grapes, you prefer life in bunches! You’re polite and love being around other people, but you do have a little bit of a temper sometimes. Still, you don’t remain angry for very long. You love beauty in all its forms, be it people or nature or animals. You’re pretty zesty and enjoy doing your thing from the way you dress to what you do to who you do it with. Your ideal partner will share that zest.

10. Peach

Image: myri_bonnie, Flickr

Just like you enjoy the juice of a pear, you likely enjoy the juice of life too. You’re friendly but outspoken. You tend to be frank with people, but that adds to your charm. You’re independent and ambitious and enjoy the finer things in life. You’re likely the type who travels the world, skydives, and visits famous museum. Or at the very least, you intend to be that type of person.

11. Custard Apple

Image: Gareth Bogdanoff, Flickr

If you chose the custard apple, you’re probably a little bit more exotic and mysterious than most. You’re sensitive and modest, but still pretty ambitious. You can be quick to find faults with others. When you do, make sure you’re criticisms are constructive and you yourself are being proactive. You’re among the smartest people and have no problem demonstrating affection.

12. Pear

Image: peterob, Flickr

Last but not least, the pear. Just like the unripe fruits of the pear tree scattered around the lawn, you’re fickle and have trouble completing tasks. You get derailed easily and if you’re not hanging on tight, a tough wind of fate can have the fruits of your labor tumbling down to the ground. You like to see instant results, and while you’re quick to strike up a new friendship, you often end up neglecting them too.

Did we hit the mark for you? Let us know in the comments below.

Serious health problems can happen at any time. Do you know what to do when you’re alone and have a heart attack?

First, we need to talk about what you shouldn’t do.

You may have read advice circulating on the internet that deeply coughing during a heart attack will help you survive until an ambulance arrives. THIS IS NOT ADVISED. It is a real medical practice called cough CPR, but it’s only useful during complete cardiac arrest, not necessarily a heart attack. In fact, using this technique during a heart attack can make things considerably worse and cause you to die before help arrives.

Cough CPR works by raising pressure in the chest enough to maintain circulation of blood containing oxygen. It helps the brain maintain consciousness in periods of great distress. In some cases it can be the right thing to do, but do not take it upon yourself to determine whether or not it’s the right thing to do. The best thing you can do if you’re having a heart attack while alone is stay calm and call 911 IMMEDIATELY. 

If you’re having a heart attack, you can also take a couple Aspirin as an emergency solution. It’ll thin your blood and help it circulate. Be sure to chew the aspirin before you swallow though. It helps it hit your system faster.

Just know that aspirin and staying calm can and will save your life, and coughing is likely to kill you.