The Japanese have been using buckwheat pillow for centuries.  Buckwheat hull pillow provide firm and even support for your neck and back.   It has the ability to perfectly conform to the contours of our head.  Thus resulting in better and sound sleep.

Buckwheat pillows can be expensive.  So I decided to make my own using buckwheat hull and some linen fabrics.  Having a zipper is also helpful as you can adjust the amount of hull for personal comfort.  And with zipper openings, you can remove all the hulls before washing the pillow case.

The list of benefits for using buckwheat hull as pillow filling includes:

grown without pesticides as they are naturally pest resistant

biodegradable (can be composted and even used as mulch)

naturally hypoallergenic (for those allergic to feathers)

odorless, pest and fungus resistant

I used 100 % linen fabric and filled it with 1 lb of buckwheat hull.  The hull is very light but feels substantial once stuffed inside the pillow. It may be a small pillow for most, but it works fine for me.  Maybe it’s more of a travel pillow.

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Pomelos (sometimes refer to as pummelos) must in season this time of year, just like many other citrus fruits such as mandarins and tangerines. It’s a nice treat to find such bright orange and yellow fruits in the drab of winter. Plus the extra Vitamin C is good to have around to stay healthy.

Pomelos can easily be found at many Asian grocery stores, usually priced at $3 each.  The Chinese like to have pomelos around for their new year celebration.  It symbolizes abundance and prosperity.  Must be due to the size of this fruit!

I thought I had seen my share of giant pomelo, until I came across this one shaped like a bowling pin.

According to Purdue University horticulture department, there are many different cultivars of pomelo grown in Thailand. This one is call “Kao Phuang or Khao Phoang” meaning ‘White tassel’. This may be the only commercial cultivar of Thailand that is in great demand. As large amounts are usually exported to Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. Although many are also grown in Indio, California.

The pummelo is native to southeastern Asia and all of Malaysia; grows wild on river banks in the Fiji and Friendly Islands. It may have been introduced into China around 100 B.C. It is much cultivated in southern China (Kwang-tung, Kwangsi and Fukien Provinces) and especially in southern Thailand on the banks to the Tha Chine River; also in Taiwan and southernmost Japan, southern India, Malaya, Indonesia, New Guinea and Tahiti. - Julia F. Morton, Purdue University

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In every city I’ve ever lived in, I try to find out where the local library is located and make sure to pay a visit. And best of all - it’s free! It’s also a plus if it’s located in nice building too.

This is the Chicago Public Library where I like to visit if I am ever in the area again. One thing I remember about Chicago was that it was one windy city!

It’s a beautiful building we don’t usually see in the west coast.  It is design in the Beaux-Arts Classicism revival style. This style is an academic classicism taken from the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

This building was the first permanent home of the Chicago Public Library in 1897, it is now the Chicago Cultural Center.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and designated a Chicago Landmark in 1976.

Image source:  Mary Ann Sullivan of Bluffton University, Ohio.

In case anyone is curious, here is a list of the top 10 largest libraries provided by American Library Association, www.ala.or , Aug. 2005.

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I love the artwork by George Barbier.  Here is two I’ve managed to scan from my note cards.

George Barbier was born in Nantes, France in 1882.  He was a popular fashion illustrator and costume designer during the 1920’s Art Deco period.  His illustrations were usually found in French fashion magazines and now can be found in art museums (as well as stationary).

“Voice me ailes!” - Look at my wings! This artwork was first printed in 1922 in French fashion magazine.

The drawing really brings you back to a different era. From the fashion to the sailboats in the background. I also like the simple yet elegant black dress, but can’t imagine looking like this all the time.

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I was sent a few products from Surya Brazil to review. My favorite is the hair mask made with organic Brazilian nuts and Preciosa tree Essential oils.

The Amazon Forest is fill with interesting and beneficial plants. So it would seem natural that a beauty company could come up with many great products. But doing so means being aware of the biodiversity of the forest.

Surya Brazil is able to do that and more with it’s organic products that are harvested in an ethical and sustainable manner. They are also a very Eco- conscious company that uses all recycled materials for it’s packaging. The products are all free from sulfates, parabens, silicones, artificial color and fragrance.

Lately the dry indoor air has left my hair and scalp less then healthy. I’ve used conditioner, but my hair is still left feeling dragged down. So I decided to apply the Amazonia Preciosa hair mask to my scalp and hair then wrapped with a towel.

It was advised to leave on for 15 minutes, it’s a gentle product that I wouldn’t mind leaving on much longer. The smell is very pleasant and light. Scent is a very personal thing and I always think going on the light side is safer than the strong overpowering scents.

After I rinsed off with my Aloe Vera based shampoo. The mask was not greasy at all. Everything washed off nice and clean. My scalp was back to normal and hair was left super soft and shiny.

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Today I introduce Moroccan Red Clay used in skincare. Other common names of this clay is Rhassoul clay, Moroccan lava clay, red clay, and red facial clay.  This interesting clay is mined from the Atlas Mountains in Eastern Morocco. It is a reddish clay that feels very smooth and silky.

Moroccan Red Clay may look like dirt or rust, but it’s very good for the skin. And it also washes out very easily.

Photo from Camden Grey.

This clay has been used for health and beauty regiments for centuries. And it’s popularity is growing as more people become aware of it’s benefit.

This clay is especially useful to those with oily skin and acne prone skin. As the clay helps draw out toxins and impurities from the skin.

It is a great way to stimulate and exfoliate the skin in a gentle manner which leads to a smoother complexion.

When the clay is dry (powder form), it’s okay to store them in plastic containers. But when you are ready to mix it, use only glass, wooden, or ceramic containers.

To make clay mask, just mix a small amount with water into a paste. Apply to your face, body, hair for about 5 minutes if you have sensitive skin. 10-15 minutes if you have regular skin. Just rinse and follow with a facial toner or moisturizer.

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When I first heard about Silk Moon Gallery, I really wanted to visit the place. They are located in Sebastopol, just north of San Francisco. It has been years since I’ve made any trips up to that part of the state. So maybe when the weather gets better a day trip will be in order.

Beautiful jewel colors of Lao silk. Artistic composition of the objects taken by American Jon on .

I have always been in awe of the beautiful patterns found in traditional Lao/Thai silk skirts and shawls. It could be that I come from a family of silk weavers.  My grandmother was very talented in silk weaving and design. As my maternal grandmother raised her own silkworms. I was told she loved them like they were her children.  Hopefully someday I will be lucky enough to learn the art of weaving as well.

Here are other things you can do with Lao silk. They are suppose to be lotus blossom, an important flower in Buddhist celebration. I took this photo at a Lao Buddhist temple in northern California.

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This is a World Market exclusive tea sold during the last holiday season. It is Spicy Chocolate Mint tea.

It’s good black tea made with peppermint and spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, chicory. Along with other ingredients I wouldn’t think to add to tea such as cacao kernels and coconut.

I hesitated to try this tea since I’ve never really like tea with too many spices (such as Chai).  But since it’s from Republic of Tea I knew it would be good tea.

Some of my favorite tea from them is Ginger Peach Black tea and their line of White tea.

Once I poured the hot water to my cup of tea, I noticed a nice and warming scent from the spices and peppermint.

As for the taste, it’s more like black tea with peppermint.  The spice is really light and you can’t really taste the chocolate or coconuts.

It’s great as breakfast tea to pair with something sweet.  It’s especially good with cakes and muffin too.  And possibly good tea to drink during the winter as the spices are very warming.

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Chayote (pronouced cha-yoh-teh) have become more common in the vegetable stalls here in California.

The name Chayote or chocho derived from Mexico (Spanish). In the southern U.S. states, they are commonly eaten and known as mirliton or vegetable pear.  Chayote are cultivated in California, Florida, and Louisiana.

The inside of a chayote looks like - the seed is the best part. It is very nutty and creamy. It’s always a treat to open up a chayote and find a huge seed in the middle.

I don’t know if it’s a fruit or vegetable. When seen hanging from the vine, it’s more like a fruit. It’s from the gourd family that also consist of melons, cucumbers and squash.

Some think chayote taste like a potato and can be bland. But I think it has an interesting flavor, like a mix of cucumber and zucchini squash. It is full of vitamin C and other nutrients.

Chayote can also be eaten raw. It’s slightly crunchy. Just shred and mix with a bit of salt, lemon juice, and chili peppers. Chayote can also be added to stir-fry, to retain it’s crisp taste, do not overcook. The list of cooking with chayote can include baking and pickling as well.

All parts of this plant can be eaten, from the leaves to the root. The leaves are also used to make tea.  But I’ve never tried eating anything beside the fruit. I like chayote so much, I just steam them and eat as it.

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It has been really cold lately in northern California. A few weeks ago I went outside after the sun went down, and it was freezing cold. The kind of weather that required gloves, hat and scarf. I then came inside ready to drink some hot ginger root tea. But my head and chest was still feeling achy and stuffy.

Then I remember, I have a sample of Gaia Herb “Quick Defense: Quick Response at ONSET” amongst my other shelf of supplements. The Quick Defense is made mainly of echinacea roots, which are common herbs used to fight colds.

Here is a photo of blooming Echinacea (part of the daisy family) grown in North Carolina. These flowers are sometimes referred to as Purple Coneflower. The root is harvested as medicinal herbs. Image source.

Gaia Herb Farm is one of the largest and most productive commercial medicinal herb farms in the U.S. They are located in the pristine mountain valley in the southwestern Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina.

Gaia Herb cultivates over 50 crops of organic herbs on 250 acres. They also cultivate organic passionflower, holy basil, and echinacea in the tropics of Costa Rica.

Quick Defense consist mostly of Echinacea Angustifolia Root and Echinacea Purpurea Root. Also has Black Elderberry, Andrographics, and Ginger Root. All great herbs in treating the cold and flu.

I only took 1 capsule and felt better the next day. I can’t say it’s all you need, since I’ve been trying to keep my immunity strong by taking the usual Vitamin D3 and Elderberry extracts. And of course Vitamin C too.

I was thinking of saving these supplements for whenever I feel under the weather. But I think it’s safe to take once in a while just to stay healthy.