I peeped this video over at Outdoor Afro, and thought it was hilarious. And sad. Well, more hilarious than sad. But, not really.

Disclaimer: I am not a health practitioner. I am not giving you medical advice. I am merely sharing remedies I’ve tried for my family and myself that have worked well for us. My medical knowledge begins and ends at watching Scrubs, Nip/Tuck and the doctor lady on Sons of Anarchy. Please be advised: I am not a doctor. Nor do I play one on TV.

‘Tis the season to be sicky-poo. I’m not big on the pharmaceuticals unless absolutely necessary, so I’m always looking for stuff I can whip up in the kitchen that will whip a cold or flu into shape. The first thing I do is make a batch of honey cough syrup (of course, we know not to give honey to infants, right?). I know it sounds insane but it works. According to a Penn State study, a spoonful of honey soothes a cough and sore throat much better than a spoonful of that chemical elixir called cough syrup.

Then, I found a recipe for a sort of natural alternative to a popular over-the-counter flu remedy. It’s pretty gross, but it tastes TONS better, and it works (for me, anyway).

So first thing’s first, you must assemble your ingredients. Yes, it includes organics and fresh ingredients, but if you compare the cost of good-for-you ingredients to the price of over-the-counter drug cocktails and visits to the doctor, you come out way ahead making a trip to the farmers market or Whole Foods. So, quit whining and write this down:

• Raw honey (the darker and more local, the better)
• Fresh thyme
• Fresh garlic
• Fresh ginger
• Medium onion (I like to use red onions)
• Lemons

I adapted my cough syrup recipe from one I found on Mamapedia.com:

1. In a small saucepan, combine:
   • 1 cup of honey
   • 1 medium onion, chopped
   • 3 Tbsp thyme leaves
   • 1 or 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
2. Simmer on low until the onion is softened.
3. Eat as is spooned over chicken or a baked sweet potato, or strain out all of the chunky stuff into a jelly jar and seal it tight.

Take a swig whenever you need to for coughs or sore throats, or to just boost your immune system. Works wonders!

Now on to the hot herbal cold + flu drinky drink. I use a recipe I found on LearningHerbs.com. It’s not for the faint of heart, so beware. This is usually reserved for the grown-up sicky-poos of the family. I usually use the Traditional Medicinals Just for Kids teas and the Herbs for Kids drops instead. Tastes better and they’re formulated for their little bodies.

So here’s what you do:

1. Grate an inch of fresh ginger and simmer in small saucepan of water for 15 to 20 minutes.
2. If you’re feeling adventurous, add a bulb of minced garlic to simmer with the ginger.
3. After the simmering, remove from heat and add about 4 TBsp of lemon juice and about 3 TBsp of honey.
4. Adjust to taste, let it cool a little. You want to drink it hot, but you don’t want to cook your insides.
5. Take it to the head. There’s no sipping this stuff.

There you have it. My two favorite remedies of the season. You will be your ecodopalicious self in no time.

Saw this video of renaissance man and veggie Q-Tip (he don’t eat no ham n’ eggs ’cause they’re high in cholesterol!) and the insanely talented Norah Jones while perusing the Curvy Eco-Centric Recessionista blog, and was reminded of how much I love this album!

This one is another favorite, ManWomanBoogie, featuring beautimous veggie Amanda Diva:

And we can’t forget:

Yes, I have a slight crush. Who doesn’t?

I’m going to dance. Have a great holiday!

Sliding through Miami this weekend? Load up the fam and check out the 6th Annual Organic Hip Hop Conference happening Friday Nov 20 – Saturday Nov 21 at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center:

As a part of Sesame Street’s 40th Anniversary, Michelle Obama made an appearance to teach the littles about planting their own garden. Nothing tastes like some collards straight out of the ground, although our FLOTUS didn’t plant collards. She kept it simple with a salad garden: tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and lettuce.

TIME Magazine beat the crazies to the punch with a silly satire on Mrs. Obama indocrinating our children with her crazy veggie ways.

Ooooh, this thing is so naughty. And it’s electric (boogie-woogie-woogie)! The Tesla Model S is the glamazon sister to the unfortunate-looking Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. It’s much sexier than any other electric car I’ve seen, and it fits my whole family, and then some! Gimme gimme gimme.

Check it:

• 1/2 the price of the Tesla Roadster;
• Drive for up to 300 miles on one charge;
• Charges as quickly as 45 minutes;
• Seats 7, including 2 child seats in the back;
• Twice the efficiency of a hybrid;
• Two trunks: one in the back and one under the hood;
• It’s so damn pretty!

Pin Head Pumpkin by Fabian of Occasional Superstar

I had all of these big plans for the blog this month, from eco-horror movies to organic candies to hand out to all the little ghouls and goblins. Alas, the cootie-bugs swept through the house, leaving raw throats and red noses in its wake, sapping all energy to think and type. Cough, cough. Sneeze, sneeze. Sniff, sniff.

Anyboo, the rest of this week’s/month’s posts will shine some light on how to make your Halloween fete an eco throwdown. Sounds almost blasphemous, doesn’t it? Well, if Woody Harrelson can green Zombieland, you can green your Halloween. Quit your crying and read on, my pretties.

For Halloweeners big and small:

• Send invites by e-mail! My personal fave: My Punchbowl. You can plan the entire thing, including shopping lists and allowing guests to sign up to bring fixings for earth friendly cocktails.
• DIY your costume! Get thee to Goodwill and get creative. Check out The Daily Green for some “Frightfully Fun Homemade Halloween Costumes Made from Recycled Materials.”
• Forget about those toxic Halloween masks (most of which contain PVC) and do face-painting. Make sure you dump the lead-laced stuff for eco friendly Lyra Face Paint Pencils. Or you can try making your own. It’s safer for your little goblin’s (or your own zombie) face, and you can use them for other kiddie shin digs.
• I gave out these YummyEarth Organic Lollipops I found at Whole Foods and they were a hit.
• Want to skip candy altogether (and risk being egged and/or TP-ed)? Try giving out dried fruit and mini granola bars. You can also try eco-friendly pencils, soy crayons and coloring books. I remember getting toothbrushes, dental floss and toothpaste (try Tom’s of Maine) from a dentist one year. I was in too much shock to complain. Check Green Halloween for more ideas.
• Collect all those yummy treats in a reusable treat bag. You can find them everywhere from online to Old Navy.
• Serve spooky and seasonal treats using local and organic ingredients from your farmers market or (if you must) Whole Foods.
• Use soy based or (my favorite) beeswax candles to set the mood. Just make sure that guy who inhaled the Pina Ghouladas doesn’t knock the candles over. If kiddies will be present, opt for LED Lights.

Steal more ideas from some of my favorite blogs:

• Treehugger’s Green Eyes On: Green Halloween Tips You May Not Have Thought Of
• Nature Mom’s Eco Friendly Halloween
• The Daily Green’s Top 10 Ways to Go Green This Halloween
• Planet Green’s How to Go Green: Halloween

I saw some blurb about Kate Hudson and this celebrity stylist dude David Babaii doing a collabo on an eco-friendly hair care line. It sounds legit:

• Cruelty-free;
• Made without parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals or animal products;
• Ingredients include cupuacu butter, volcanic ash, blue algae, Polynesian white ginger;
• 10%  of all profits go to WildAid, a global wildlife conservation organization.

This appealed to my treehugger tendencies, so I decided to check it out. I fell in love! Not only does it leave my hair super soft and curly, it smells like coconut lusciousness. I’ve only tried the Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner so far, and I’m considering trying the Amplifying Whipped Mousse to set my curly styles, because as of now I use a not-so-green foaming setting lotion. Works great, but like I said before, I’m trying to reduce my eco-criminal activity.

Imagine my glee when I find out that as of June 1, 2009, this yummy stuff has been available at Sally’s Beauty Supply and Rite Aid. So now instead of driving all around the world (well, Ulta in Buckhead, but it’s still contributing to carbon emissions) or ordering online (shipping trucks = more carb emissions), I can pop around the corner and get my WildAid by David Babaii  fix. Does this count in my quest for an incredibly shrinking carbon footprint?

I almost hate that I’ve learned to read every label of everything I put on or in my body. I feel like I’m walking in a chemical minefield when I go in a store to find something as simple as lotion or soap or shampoo. Part of the reason I started going green (before going green was called “going green”) is my skin was being ravaged by harsh fragrances and preservatives in my health and beauty products, and I’m a product junkie. At some point, I thought I was going to be an ashy funk monster because I couldn’t find a deodorant, moisturizer or shampoo that didn’t make my skin burn.

The hilarious thing is I have an Auntie who started using virgin coconut oil on her skin and hair years ago. Everyone thought she was silly and should just go in the store and get a bottle of lotion like everyone else. I didn’t know what to think. Cut to years later, and guess what I’m using to moisturize my skin now? Mhm, Auntie knew what she was doing.

I discovered a treasure trove of organic virgin coconut oil at my favorite farmers market , and it is oh so heavenly. It smells super yummy, like the beach and freshly baked cookies, and it absorbs so nicely into my skin, leaving no greasy residue. I’ve also read that coconut oil has many health benefits:

• Has anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties;
• Keeps hair shiny, flake free and helps repair/regrow damaged tresses;
• Awesome for eczema and psoriasis;
• Helps prevent wrinkles and saggy skin;
• Good for digestion and weight loss;
• Boosts your immune system.

It’s great for my family’s dry, sensitive skin. I even put it on toast sometimes instead of butter! Sounds weird, but it’s oh so good.