How to Keep Your Cubicle Clean: 5 Tips for a Tidy Desk

Let's be real: The 9 to 5 grind is tough! Having a dirty desk makes it even tougher. That's why it's crucial to make your cubicle, desk, register area, or whatever work space you use as joyful, comfortable, and calming as possible. This means keeping it cute, clean, and organized. Here are my top five tips for a tidy desk and cubicle.

Always use a coaster under your mug. Coffee rings are gross and can be hard to remove.

Stop eating at your desk. Okay, I realize this is impossible. Honestly, I probably eat something at my desk every day but I try to keep it at a minimum and at least get up for meals. Less desk dining means less cleaning up. It also means you'll be healthier due to less mindless snacking and getting more steps in to walk to a break room or cafeteria to eat lunch.

Pick a color story to make things look more cohesive and tidy.

Keep only the most useful and joy-sparking items in your work space. Everything in and around your desk should be serving your productivity. What's useful and joy-sparking depends on your job, your unique values, and your personal style. Think about what makes you most productive when deciding what to keep, replace, or toss.

• Keep important memos, manuals, and notes in a binder and/or in store in a incline vertical file sorter with decorative file folders.
• Keep your favorite photos of your family and pets. Use magnets and frames to display them vertically.
• Replace your boring stapler and tape dispenser with a stylish set, like this rose gold one. 
• Toss things that are literally trash like used disposable coffee cups and pens that don't work.
• Toss things that are obsolete like printed office memos from last week and manuals for programs you are no longer using.
• Keep items that you need but don't use repetitively throughout the day in desk drawers and on the shelves under your desk. Use small bins, hanging files, and (my favorite) up-cycled copy paper boxes and salad greens containers to keep storage organized.

How to Get Coffee Stains Out of Mugs [Video]

Wanna refresh your coffee and tea stained mugs quickly and naturally?

It took me less than a minute to take this mug from "Yuck" to "Yes" using baking soda and water.

First, I sprinkled some baking soda inside the mug and added a few drops of water to make a paste. The baking soda to ratio water I used was probably 1:1, so about 1/2 Tbs baking soda and the same amount of water. It's best to start off with less water then add more as needed.

The Best Way to Get Fuzz Off a Sweater [Gleener Review]

Seven years ago, I showed you guys how to remove balls of fuzz and lint from a sweater using a pumice stone. It's gets the job done but I notice it takes off a lot of yarn and leaves a wispy halo of upset fabric on the garment. For this reason, I have been hesitant to use this method frequently.

I was excited to discover Gleener de-piller at Vogue Knitting Live. It's (self-) described as the "The Ultimate Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover". Ok, "excited" might be an exaggeration, as I was a little put off by the $20 price tag. Gleener is a plastic hand-held tool that has a fabric shaver on one end and a lint brush on the other. Should a hunk of plastic cost $20?

Months later I looked (like really, looked) at a beloved cable knit sweater. It was truly natty and unwearable but thought of dragging a crude pumice stone across this precious object made me anxious. A few days after that, deep in the bowels of my accessory drawer, I found an expensive hand-knit scarf covered in huge, disgusting fuzz balls. I hadn't worn it in years, probably because it was so gross. The Universe was telling me to invest in Gleener so that I could enjoy the nice things I already had, which is basically like saving money. I ordered a deluxe set that came with replacement "edges" (shavers) and a cute travel case.

Is It Worth Buying a Roomba or Ecovacs Deebot? [Review]

I love my Miele Compact Canister Vacuum. It's easy to move around. It sucks up practically every manner of debris and species of dust bunny thanks to its wonderful suction and various attachments. I can break it down into three parts for easy storage in my crowded closet. I've had my Miele for almost ten years and view it as one of the wisest purchases I've made. Whenever I go to someone's home and see they also have a Miele, I know we belong to the same tribe to savvy clean enthusiasts.

Yes, the Miele vacuum is amazing but there is one thing it can't do: It can't turn itself on and vacuum. This is why even if you have a fancypants vacuum that you love, you probably want a Roomba. But should you buy one?

Sadly, I don't have a Roomba so I can't advise if you should buy one. However, I was gifted an Ecovacs Deebot a few years ago. Ecovacs Deebot is an alternative brand of robotic vacuum that cost half the price of a Roomba. Deebots have a 4-star rating on Amazon just like Roombas too.

Should you buy a Deebot? Eh, depends.

If it's important for you to have your floor vacuumed and you can't/won't do it but a housecleaner isn't in your budget, then you should absolutely get yourself a Deebot. If that's not your only concern, here are a few things you should know before investing in a robot vacuum.

You have to do a lot of prep work to make it safe for the Deebot to vacuum. You have to pick up any cords that the Deebot could get tangled in. You may have to move furniture like chairs that Deebot could get stuck between the legs of. You must make sure there's nothing on the floor that is valuable and can be knocked over or sucked up. You've got to pick up the pet dishes so Deebot doesn't crash into them and make a mess. You absolutely need to make sure that one of your pets hasn't pooped, peed, or vomited, otherwise the robot could spread the mess all over the floor.

10 Things You Need After a Hysterectomy

I had an abdominal hysterectomy on Valentine's Day. The recovery time for the surgery is six weeks consisting of a few nights in the hospital and then resting at home. I wasn't in much pain by the time I left the hospital, but I couldn't just go back to life as usual. Here are a few things that helped me feel more comfortable during recovery from surgery.

Maternity Panties: Your tummy is going to swell a lot. Plus, I found that the elastic waistband of my normal bikini briefs hit exactly at the incision spot, making them impossible to wear. Ask your nurse to hook you up with extra pairs of the mesh maternity panties before you are discharged. (You can also buy more mesh panties on Amazon.) They expand to accommodate the swelling and are incredibly comfortable.

Modeling mesh maternity panties during my second night at the hospital.

Pill box: At times, you may not feel very clear headed so you or a family member will need to prep your pain meds so that you avoid overdose. I used four sandwich baggies and labelled each with the time I was supposed to take the dosage it contained. If you need something child and pet proof, this 7 day, 4 times a day pill box seems perfect. You could also cram the baggies of meds in one child-proof pill bottle which you can probably get for free from your friendly pharmacist.

Pantyliners: These come in handy when experiencing light spotting and when confronted with the reality that you are moving slowly and can't make it to the restroom as quickly you could before surgery. Seventh Generation Pantiliners are a good choice since they're made without fragrances, deodorants, or chlorine processing.

Laxative: Anesthetics, pain relief meds, and not being able to walk much will constipate you. I've been drinking a cup of Traditional Medicinals Organic Smooth Move Tea each night before bed to get back on track. Small smoothies with greens and flax seeds (or a half scoop of fiber-rich vegan protein powder) thrown in are also really helpful, as are prunes.

Water bottle: It's important to stay hydrated when healing. Once I woke up from a nap and saw my cat Lucy drinking out of my water glass, I realized it was also important to use something with a lid. I love using this tumbler because the straw makes it easy to drink while reclining.

Is hard work bad for your health?

I recently watched the first episode of 30 Days, a program by Morgan Spurlock (the guy who made Super Size Me). In that episode Morgan and his fiancée Alex lived the life of folks who earn minimum wage for a month. Between the two of them, they had three full time jobs as unskilled laborers, yet they barely earned enough to both buy groceries and pay rent for an unfurnished, ant infested apartment in a former crack den. Not only were they needy for material goods, their physical health and relationship suffered.

Morgan Spurlock clocks in (via 30 Days: Minimum Wage)

This got me wondering: Is hard work bad for you? In this case, it was certainly not benefiting Morgan and Alex's lives. They were indisputably working hard but had a standard of life that begs one to question if a stay in prison might be better. At least there they'd be assured three meals and health care.

How to Fix a Ceramic Kettle or Teapot with Nontoxic Glue

My husband gifted me the loveliest electric ceramic tea kettle for my birthday. Less than a month later, the spout-- along with my heart-- broke when I swung it into our countertop in a moment of absentmindedness.

The thought of tossing this fancy new kettle into a dumpster made me sad, while the thought of drinking tea made with hot water that passed through a spout covered in potentially toxic glue gave me the heebee geebees. Determined to repair it safely, I did some research to find a glue that:

• wouldn't poison me when it leached into water as it passed through the spout 
• would create a bond that could handle the heat of boiling water
• would create a waterproof seal

In short, I needed strong, durable, nontoxic and food-safe glue.

I found DAP 00688 Household Waterproof Adhesive Sealant. It's a 100% silicone glue that is food grade and costs less than $5.

I followed these simple instructions.

How to Start a Vegan Cookbook Club

Looking for a fun way to expand both your collection of recipes and your network of neighborhood friends? You should create or join a cookbook club!

A cookbook club is essentially a hybrid of a book club and a potluck. Periodically, the group chooses a cookbook and each member selects one recipe from the book to cook and share at the next meeting. During the meeting, members discuss their opinions and experiences using the cookbook over a potluck meal.

Last May, I was inspired by an article on thekitchn.com to start a vegan cookbook club here in Hastings on Hudson. In just a few months, the club has become quite popular. Over a dozen couples participated in our most recent meeting!

We are learning healthy, novel, and ethnically diverse ways of preparing food. We are making new friends with people who just moved to town, while also getting to know our long-time neighbors better. We are having long, interesting conversations and sharing resources about more than just food. We are talking about childcare, relationships, local politics, business openings, our new projects, local services, etc. All the kind of stuff you that makes it easier and more fun to live in a community.

I think every town could benefit from a cookbook club. If you can't find an existing club near you, here's how you can easily start one in your community.

Sweet Potato Carrot Apple Juice Recipe

Did you know that you can juice a sweet potato? You can! The terrific tubers make a juice that is both creamy and mildly sweet. Make the following recipe the next time you get a sugar craving or just want to try something new.

Best Vegan Cookbooks of 2016

Best Vegan Cookbooks of 2016*

Check out the 24 awesome vegan cookbooks that came out this year. Let this list inspire you to choose a book for your next local vegan cookbook club meeting or to explore new recipes on your own. There's a book in this 2016 bunch for every vegan and every vegan-curious person!

The 22-Day Revolution Cookbook
From the author of the massive bestseller The 22-Day Revolution comes a plant-based cookbook full of the tools you need to live a healthier, happier life, with more than 150 all-new, mouth-watering recipes and customizable meal plans to create your own 22-Day Revolution program.

Aquafaba: Sweet and Savory Vegan Recipes Made Egg-Free with the Magic of Bean Water
This groundbreaking cookbook is the first to explore the many uses for aquafaba – a miraculous plant-based egg replacer made from simple bean liquid. The bean liquid we used to throw away turns out to be one of the most astonishing culinary discoveries of the decade. With its amazing egg-replacement abilities, miraculous "aquafaba" can be used as an egg-replacer to make everything from French toast to lemon meringue pie. Aquafaba can be used as a binder in both sweet and savory recipes and is a boon to vegans, people with egg allergies, as well as anyone interested in innovative cooking with a magical new ingredient.

Baconish: Sultry and Smoky Plant-Based Recipes from BLTs to Bacon Mac & Cheese
Baconish is the only plant-based healthy bacon cookbook. With your plant-based bacons, you can make everything from Quiche Lorraine and a Bacon and Butternut Galette to BLTs, Bacon Cheeseburgers, and more.

Sweet Beet Walnut Bread Recipe [Vegan]

Carrot cake and zucchini bread, move over. There's a new sheriff in town and she's un-beet-able! If you have two medium beets and an hour to spare, you'll want to have a coffee date with this sweet and beautiful loaf. 

Asian Omelette with Napa Cabbage and Shiitake Mushrooms Recipe [Vegetarian, Gluten-free]

This omelette was inspired by a CSA-induced surplus of cabbage and unwieldy scallions, as well as a bottle of this flavorful Asian stir fry oil that is infused with fried onions, garlic, and ginger. However, I adapted the recipe below so that you can make it without that specific oil. (If you have the oil, you're free to omit the ginger and garlic.) If you don't have napa cabbage, use bok choy as a substitute.

Kohlrabi Kale Coleslaw Recipe [Vegan, Gluten-free, Raw]

Have you tried kohlrabi yet? It's the texture of broccoli stems and has a mild, slightly sweet flavor. I love it sauteed with other veggies, but it's also yummy raw and really shines in this coleslaw.  This unique and impressive simple slaw is a great vegan and vegetarian dish to serve at your BBQ or picnic.

How to Make Iced Coffee at Home [Cold Brew Coffee Recipe]

You don't have to be a genius to figure out that your iced coffee habit is expensive. Why not make your own? It's easy and it costs just 32 cents to make a pint of this cool beverage using fair-trade organic beans! Making your own iced coffee is great way to redirect 90% of your coffee allowance and the cumulative hours that'd be spent waiting in the coffee bar line for summer adventures.

IIN's Spring Cleaning Guide [Free Printable!]

Looking for a fresh and holistic take on self-care? Get the new Spring Cleaning Guide from Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

A healthy home is as important a part of self-care as diet and exercise. (Just think about how light you feel when you enter a freshly cleaned room or think about how down you feel when your home or office is messy.) This FREE exclusive guide will help you:

• Cleanse your home using ingredients right from your pantry.
• Balance the energy flow in your home to nourish your mind and soul.
• Enhance your quality of life!

My favorite part of the guide is "5 ways to use house plants to enhance your quality of life." I knew plants are useful for cleaning the air of toxins, but I was surprised to learn that plants increase dopamine production in the brain, which contributes to feelings of happiness, enhanced cognitive ability, and even heightened creativity.

Check out the free spring cleaning guide now while it's still available. (It's downloadable and printable too!)  

Leave a comment and let me know if you feel a connection between your home and your personal well-being.

Olivia Lovejoy is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.   

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Thai-rrific Cilantro Kale Smoothie Recipe [Vegan, Gluten-Free]

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, a new green smoothie recipe!

Thai-rrific Cilantro Kale Smoothie

Not only is this smoothie healthy but it's a great way to use up fresh cilantro when I've used some for garnish in Mexican or Thai dishes but have no idea what to do with the rest. 

This recipe comes from my fabulous surfer friend Jane.

Course: Beverages

Cuisine: Vegetarian

Serves: 1

Ingredients

• ¹⁄₂ frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
• ¹⁄₂ bunch cilantro
• 2 kale leaves (Frozen is fine. Spinach and romaine are tasty substitutes.)
• 3 or more ice cubes
• Seeds or vanilla protein powder if you wish, (I do seed cycling for hormonal balance so I usually add the seeds I'm supposed to be eating that week.)
• Almond milk or coconut milk beverage or water) to cover, then add more to taste

Directions

1. Put all ingredients in a high speed blender. 
2. Blend on high.
3. Taste.
4. Add more pineapple or banana (then a bit more liquid) if you'd like the smoothie to be sweeter.
5. Enjoy!

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I Haven't Used Shampoo in Over 2 Years

...and I swear I don't smell like a hobo!

One day I ran out of my beloved Alaffia shampoo. I figured I'd try the No-Poo method before replacing the bottle. No-Poo method simply means washing your hair without shampoo and using just water, conditioner, or baking soda instead.

Why No-Poo? Many people find that shampoo leaves hair dry and frizzy, especially curly and kinky hair. Personally, I've never experienced this. I think it's because I don't wash my hair as often as most people do. I wash my hair once a week in the summer and sometimes just once a month in the winter. If it feels un-fresh in between, I just rinse and scrub with water. Why waste time removing the naturally perfect oils in my hair just to replace them with products that don't work as well?

It's been over 2 years and I have yet to buy shampoo. I love washing my hair with baking soda! It gets my hair at least as clean as shampoo. It might even be cleaner because baking soda is much easier to rinse out. Plus, there's no plastic bottle to recycle, no ingredients to investigate for safety, and each cleaning cost just pennies.

Here's how to clean your hair with baking soda instead of shampoo:

Peek Inside My Cosmetics Bag

I'm sharing the contents of my cosmetics bag because I think you know someone better when you know what's inside their bag. Also, I'm curious if you carry around any of the same stuff. 

Here's what in my Sustain organic cotton pouch cosmetics bag:

What is Dry Brushing and How to Do It

Dry brushing is exactly what it sounds like. It's literally brushing your body without using any oil, butters, or other moisturizer.

Why dry brush? My first experience with the holistic skin care ritual proved that it makes your skin smoother and softer almost instantly. I felt it removed much more dead skin cells than using a brush (or even my beloved exfoliating gloves) in the shower.

In short: Dry brushing keeps you from being ashy. 

It's also supposed to be really good for supporting your body's natural detoxification system. Refinery 29 reports on dry brushing:

According to aesthetician Susan Ciminelli, dry brushing increases the circulation of lymphatic fluid and blood flow. It helps circulate nutrients through the body as well as waste, helping to take pressure off the kidneys to regulate the amount of water in the body. Excess water is secreted, and Ciminelli even claims that it "helps to keep the layer of fat under the skin's surface very thin. The thinner that layer of fat, the easier it is for the body to excrete toxins through the skin."

I also love how dry brushing makes me feel warm and energized. If you often crave a good back scratch like I do, you're gonna really enjoy dry brushing.

How exactly does one dry brush? Is there a specific way to do it?

How to Clean a Coffee Grinder

If you've ever used your coffee grinder to grind whole spices, you know how gross your next cup of coffee can be if you don't clean it out well enough before you use it again. But do you know the easiest and most effective way to do it?

Here's the best way to clean your coffee grinder after grinding spices: