Who DOESN'T do this?

Nachos Libre

I no longer feel like a lone voice, screaming in the darkness.

When You Work at a Nonprofit

There's no point in placing any one gif in this blog post -- they are ALL relevant. *cries*

I get really, really annoyed when bloggers have random paid product placement in their blogs. Yeah, I know, it's great if you can make money blogging blah blah, but c'mon, it IS kind of gross -- especially when the plug is inserted all pseudo-natural-like. Ugh! Totally gross. Admittedly, two of my favorite blogs do have product placement in some of their posts, but it is always posted as "sponsored content", which I can get behind an itty bit more.

That said, be forewarned that this post has some serious product pimping. But since I do not get paid to blog (unless you count blogging from work -- shhhh :P) you will understand that this pimping is completely from the heart. And if you have eczema, like I do, you will also understand why I want to pimp this motha out.

Griffin Remedy Bulgarian Lavender Body Lotion



















Griffin Remedy, based in San Francisco, offers vegan products that are 100% paraben-free, with no artificial colors or fragrances. I've been using Griffin Remedy's shampoo and conditioner for years now, because I wash my hair every day and want something less chemical-based but not so crunchy I get no hair shaft protection and end up with nasty hippie hair, and their shampoo and conditioner are THE BEST. So naturally, I decided to try out the body lotion because I needed some not chemical moisturizer for my super dry office. I found it very emollient, yet not super greasy. Great, that'll do.

But the unexpected side effect? Eczema on my fingers lessening significantly, and in some areas GOING AWAY.

This is big news in my world. Big enough (yet not TMI) to BLOG about it and maybe, just maybe, help someone else looking for relief and give one of my favorite little companies a little boost.

Their body lotions contain MSM, or sulfur. My understanding is that sulfur is used to control dandruff, another type of dermatitis. And you know that rotten egg smell at hot springs? The same hot springs that are touted as oh so good for your skin? Sulfur, baby. It also probably doesn't hurt that this lotion is free from parabens and other nasty stuff. And that it also contains lavender, which has been traditionally used to treat skin wounds and irritation.

The forever skeptic in me also acknowledges that there's a chance it's all psychosomatic (and full disclosure -- that seems to be my [Western, and very skeptical] doctor's opinion). But what if it ISN'T psychosomatic? Either way, I feel great knowing that I can support a local business by using a product I need to use anyway that is both natural and may be giving me this benefit, and share it with people who may have similar problems. For real, go get some!

I've been trying desperately to become a regular reader of the Freakonomics blog at the New York Times. Always a thought-provoking read, but dude, I just can't seem to keep up!

So, in the tradition of my lateness in all things, and my wanton ignorance of the internet space-time continuum -- where one day in internet time is like, 5 years, thus rendering anything you discover posted from three days ago an instant fossil...

This post from a few days ago on the sometimes distinctive African-American naming process (along with their nod to the Freakonomics chapter Perfect Parenting, Part II; or: Would a Roshanda by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet?) -- which chronicles whether or not distinctive and misunderstood names set children up for failure or success -- was a HOOT.

Why? Because it led me to the one of the mightiest of blogs: The Peoples News.

I am dying. Dying, I say! Go now!