Gymnastics Equipment For Home

Make Your Place: Affordable & Sustainable Nesting Skills

In July 2009, I demonstrated various urban sustainability projects at a festival in Baltimore City. This book was part of my natural, homemade cleaning supplies display. Dozens of people picked up the book and were very curious to know where I got it. They all wanted to purchase it right then and there. I wished I had contacted Raleigh or Microcosm Publishing to become a distributor!

Throughout the day, many people asked me for natural ways to get rid of pests, clean different types of surfaces, etc. and I often picked up the book and turned right to Raleigh's very detailed Table of Contents. How to get rid of fleas? Clean wood floors? Make liquid dish soap? It's all right there.

From gardening to essential oils, Raleigh included it all! Not to mention the fact that the book is beautifully handwritten and illustrated. I often get my tips from the internet, but Raleigh's book is wonderful to leave in the kitchen or bathroom as an instant recipe book and guide.

A definite must-have starting guide for anyone interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle.

I love books, and have collected quite a library of volumes relating to my varied interests. Some of those interests are natural/herbal health care, natural body care, "green" household cleaning, and urban homesteading. All of those books in my library have one or more of the same ideas contained in this little volume. Yet for some reason, I absolutely love this book. It may be the awkward but adorable handwriting complete with heart-dotted i's, reminding me of my middle school diary. It could be the cute illustrations, with flowers that talk and bubble letter titles, or the little flowers and stars that emphasize the text. I have rarely read a book of this type that uses words like "nast" and "barf", or describes how to deal with crabs or yeast infections with such aplomb. And really, while it may contain recipes and ideas I have found in many other places, it also has some very new ideas that I enjoyed with surprise. All in all, I have the strangest feeling that this book will see more use in my house than several other more comprehensive volumes in my library, and I know that I will have fun in the process.

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For anybody who is wondering, this book was published by Microcosm Publishing, a DIY and punk rock publishing house. Keep this in mind when coming across "offensive" terms and phrases. Quite frankly though, I found none. I did however find this book to be extensively useful and reader friendly.

The articles are all hand written in very neat penmanship, all the illustrations are hand drawn, and everything in the book has been tried out first by the author. There are three sections in the book Health and First Aid, Nontoxic Cleaning and Body Care, and Gardening. The first section includes directions on how to make tinctures and salves, a list of herbs that are antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral, and also a list of which herbs and essential oils to avoid if pregnant. More useful than you know. The second section is a combination of replacements for bleach, Clorox and the like, and then recipes for herbal shampoos and whatever else you might call body care. The last section is pretty self explanatory. Gardening without choking up the ground with a jug of Wal-Mart bought chemicals. Chapters include composting, space managing and fertilizing.

I personally found the First Aid section most useful, and most tailored to my needs. This book is very informative and well worth the money. It doesn't take up a load of space (roughly 7 x 5 inches and half an inch thick, 125 pages), it goes over personal safety at the beginning of the book and includes a further reading section (more DIY punk rock goodness) at the back.

It isn't lofty or pompous, or some 100% organic and natural twerpy, skinny assed vegan kid preaching some rhetoric they heard in their college dorm. I think it is well written and friendly, there isn't any political commentary slipped in between instructions on how to turn crunchy dried things into medicinal liquid (which is more rare than you would believe). It's a good book if you are interested in an alternative way to keep yourself and your home healthy and clean.

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Some skills are just good to have. "Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable, Nesting Skills" is a collection of simple and effective skills to improve one's life around the house. The skills range from dealing with the simple messes, to the injuries one faces in life, to dealing with menstrual-cycle induced bad moods. "Make Your Place" is a fine and recommended read for anyone who wants to make their life a little smoother and more enjoyable.

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This book is a little smaller than I expected but that's not a bad thing -it's a portable size to keep handy when you need to look something up. It's got three (all handwritten & hand-drawn) sections, one on health/beauty, one for household cleaning, and one on gardening/composting. I found the gardening/composting section most helpful with all its detailed tips and really practical hints. Trellising, sprouting, and good garden-buddies to plant together or in rotation. I was really impressed with the depth of the information in this section.

I didn't get much out of the other two sections, but I'm already pretty into making my own cleaning supplies and don't keep around near as many ingredients as this book's recipes call for (so many different essential oils, for example). So it wasn't the make-me-a-better-housewife book I expected in that regard -mostly just cream, spray, etc. recipes. But, if you don't already have your favorite recipes for, say, a window cleaner, or an ointment for a cut, you can get them here, and they look good too!

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T.N.T.: Total Neck and Traps

I wanted a book that helped me build strength and definition in my neck, and helped me do this safely. This is the book I found, and it's good. It's somewhat short (approx. 56 pages), and that took me aback before I cracked it open, but ultimately the book had everything I wanted, so what more was there to print? What the book has going for it is this: There are specific routines for "ballistic" performance (i.e., for martial artists, wrestlers, boxers, etc.), athletic performance/strength (i.e., for martial artists, football players, etc.), and for "mass" (i.e., bodybuilders). There are excellent illustrations showing various excercises for all the different neck and trap muscle types (i.e., neck flexors, lateral benders, extensors, rotators, and trap elevators and adductors), and routines outlined that are well laid out and easy to follow. I was also impressed with the information on safety, because as you know, your neck is an easily damaged body part, and you don't want to excercise it without fundamental safety knowledge. Overall, an impressive presentation of very useful information. Worth it...and no wasted paper.

Listen health for life is a company that went out of buiness years ago. But they write the best books but they are expensive. They are worth the price. They make you build muscle in the least amount of time. This again is a great book buy it.

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A Pocket Guide to Nursing Home Care (Volume 1)

This guide provides practical suggestions about the nursing home experience for residents and their loved ones.

The info about admissions, the healthcare team, medical jargon and care planning are especially helpful!

Most importantly, the recommendations for how families and caregivers can get involved to ensure the best care for their loved ones are very insightful.

As I was trying to figure where I should put my mother for her elderly care, I stumbled across this book and found it to be very helpful. It's only 70 pages or so and helps you by providing checklist and what to search for in a nursing home.

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Strategies for the C-Section Mom: A Complete Fitness, Nutrition, and Lifestyle Guide

There are SO MANY negative & scary c-section books out there, but this one is trying to focus on how to make the most of it and recover well. It is especially helpful for those who had a c-section, may have tried a vbac but it didn't work out, and are most likely going to have future c-sections. I have had 3 c-sections and am about to have a 4th, and found this book true to what my experience has been. This book gives the details that you need to know in order to make informed choices without being overly negative, nor sugar-coating things either. I was very impressed to read about the 7 suture vs. 3 suture methods that surgeons use, and how much better the 7 suture method is for a quicker recovery, less risk of internal bleeding, and (after talking to my own doctor) finding out that it also increases your chances of a successful vbac in that the muscles heal stronger with the 7-suture method. This book has the attitude that "if c-sections are the deck of cards that you've been dealt, here is how do deal with it to optimize healing and recover well." There are exercise plans for months out after the actual surgery, strategies for diet and managing stress, in order to maximize healing.

I highly recommend this book for the c-section mom.

I'm still reading this book! I wish I read this before my first c section. Good to know more on what's going to happen during and after your c section.

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I was disappointed in this book. It was well written and had some excellent information about exercise. If the title of the book had been "A Complete Exercise Program for the C-Section Mom" this book would probably earn 5 stars. However, I bought it expecting equal coverage of nutrition and lifestyle tips. There was nutrition information, but very little to do with anything else.

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This book has a lot of good information and I really like the part that includes the diet and how to keep a healthy life style. However I was unable to implement the plan as stated in the book. I tried to follow it and get started gently, I even waited a few extra days to start, but I would get a lot of bleeding and pain the next day.

I consider myself a fit person, ran a 5K right before getting pregnant, but I was in bed rest during my pregnancy and that might have influenced my ability to exercise. I really wanted to have it work for me, but it didn't. I am almost 5 months post-partum and walking a lot. My belly is going down and I do not have the infamous "C-section pouch".

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Women Who Run

It's about time someone wrote a book that focused exclusively on women runners. Their stories aren't just about running, but about what is possible with determination, drive, focus, and commitment. Sit long enough to read this book because after reading it nothing will stop you from wanting to go out for a run.

I'm not a woman and I don't run. I'm 64 and recovering from a recent cancer procedure. This extremely well-written and thoroughly engaging book has inspired my wife and me to double our walking effort. Not to mention how much fun it was to read.

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This collection of profiles is inspirational enough to get even the laziest of couch potatoes off their butts and out on the running trails. I loved the range of runners profiled, from hardcore ultramarathoners to everyday women balancing career and family. Women Who Run has a little something for everyone. I dare you to read a chapter and not want to throw on your sneakers and go for a run afterward!

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Can't really say I found much motivation from this book. It was sort of an overview of female runners and their careers, not feedback from them as to what goes on in their hearts and minds to make them excel and succeed. It's probably worth a quick read for most, but I wouldn't expect a life-changing work to get you running or help you to new heights if you already do. Actual training tactics weren't covered much either.

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From the rave reviews of others, I expected this book to be incredibly inspiring... and it fell short of the mark. While some of the stories were pretty interesting, none of them were particularly inspiring, and the fact that the entire book was written in mostly third person detracted from the experience. I expected first-person essays from women writers, or at least interviews (since the preface alluded to that) but it read like mini-biographies about the runners, not really getting into personal, open (and thus moving) detail. Sosienski's writing also leaves something to be desired. I was more inspired reading The Complete Book of Running for Women, which isn't even really a book written just to inspire, as this one seemed to have been.

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The Daughter-In-Law's Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know about Relating to Your Mother-In-L

I couldn't wait to receive this book in the mail. Finally a professional approach to a chronic world-wide issue! Well, I was disappointed. Tons of 'testimonies,' tons of support but alas no advice. Nothing most daughters-in-law don't already know anyway.

For example, one of the main reasons I bought the book was because it touched on unsupportive husbands. However, what does it say about unsupportive husbands? That they should support their wives. That's it, period amen. No advice for those whose husbands refuse. No alternative suggestions.

I'll tell you what, I know exactly the same thing I knew before I purchased the book. If you're a professional and can offer sound advice and suggestions, please do us a favor and write a book or something. You'll hit the jackpot...gauranteed.

Due to the fact that it was a new title, and therefore more likely to be up to date with todays issues between DIL & MIL, I was really hoping that this book would offer practical advice on how to cope with, understand and approach my emotionally demanding mother in law. Unfortunately, this book did not offer such advice. There were plenty of stories from other daughters-in-law which did offer some consolation, making me feel less 'alone' in my struggle, but I was really looking for ways to help me 'breath through' or 'confront' the problems that I am experiencing with my Husbands mother.

This book would be fine if you just want to hear other womens venting, but thats about it.

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I'll admit I was skeptical when I started this book. NOTHING could help me with my mother-in-law problems! Well, this book really did! Other's stories were a comfort and helped illustrate the various pitfalls in the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship. The questionaires at the end of each chapter helped me (and my husband) sort out our feelings and pinpoint exactly what was causing the friction. These conversations are so easy to avoid, but the advice in this book helped me prepare for and be comfortable with talking things out. It also helped me deal with problems that have no easy fix. I would recommend it to anyone who has Mother-in-law trouble and I'd buy it for all newlyweds--before the problems start!

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I'm a newlywed and currently have my "monster-in-law" living with us. Before she moved in, we were the best of friends but things drastically changed and I can't even manage to be in the same room as her! I'm desperatly seeking some kind of advice and there are no books out there that relate to my situation. I'm only 24 years old and have no kids, so it seems there aren't any people out there that can relate or there just isn't anyone who has written about it yet. This book is the closest I can get. Although it is a great read and has wonderful advice, about 80% of the information I can't relate to. I highly recommend this book but it's not for me.

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The Antibiotic Alternative: The Natural Guide to Fighting Infection and Maintaining a Healthy Immune

Ever wonder about the origin of some home remedies? Perhaps those of your family or maybe of anothers? Ever wonder if they really work? Dr Jones explains in plain language the origin and the use of many readily avaliable minerials and herbs as home remedies as well as alternatives to doctor prescribed medications. In the time I have owned the book, I have found it to be a regular referral source for "what ails ya". Besides being informative, I found it to be fast and easy reading.

The Antibiotic Alternative is clearly written and very easy to follow. For added depth, the back section of the book provides very in-depth monographs for botanicals including garlic and myrrh. The book also includes recipes and information on harvesting and drying herbs. In addition to treating various conditions naturally, the major message Dr. Jones expresses in The Antibiotic Alternative is the need to strengthen your immune system beforehand. This she explains is the best defense against infectious disease and major health problems.

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The Antibiotic Alternative: The Natural Guide to Fighting Infection and Maintaining a Healthy Immune System

By Cindy L.A. Jones, Ph.D.

(Healing Arts Press, a division of Inner Traditions, 2000, ISBN 0-89281-877-8)

Looking back to 1969, when the U.S. surgeon general stated that "the war on infectious diseases had been won" in large part because of antibiotics, makes me realize the necessity of being responsible for my health. In a time when we are bombarded by information and misinformation, it's comforting to have Dr. Jones's guide on hand and to know she holds a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology. Very well laid out with an excellent index for cross-referencing.

Dhara Lemos , Lotus Guide magazine

Dhara's Active Meditation

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My husband is disabled and I've only gone back to work after a long absence from the working world. When we've been sick we've simply had to do without because there was no money for a doctor. Now at last, I can grow some of the things I need to keep us healthy. No recommended I know, but the doctor's antibiotics don't always work and are too expensive to buy and not work.

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Prescribed antibiotics don't work any more. This book will tell you why, and what you can do keep your first line of defense your immune system healthy, and how to keep ahead of the bad bugs now that the flash-in-the-pan "wonder drug" antibiotics can't help us. Besides the good advice, this book makes convincing sense of it all.

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