Anyone who knows me is aware that I am ridiculously gung-ho about using natural products. I’ve found that cutting out the products I was using with icky ingredients has been so beneficial. Cutting the sulfates in my shampoo, not applying paraben-packed makeup, steam cleaning instead of chemical cleaning.. all of it has paid off. So when I discovered the icky ingredients that were hiding in my tube of toothpaste, I was on a search for a healthier alternative.

And then I found Tom’s Of Maine natural toothpaste! Not only is Tom’s a safer way to brush, my teeth and gums have never felt better. My teeth have always been very sensitive, even when using toothpaste aimed at sensitive teeth. I’ve found that switching to Tom’s, my teeth are starting to become more and more tolerant of hot and cold foods. And did I mention it tastes GREAT?

If you’re looking for a natural toothpaste, I definitely recommend it. They are also giving away a $500 Target gift card through Twitter and Facebook, check it out here: That’s Wicked Fresh contest page. I just entered my wicked fresh moment “Taking a Vegas vacation and winning $50 on the penny slots!” So maybe that $50 will turn into a $500 gift card? Ya never know

For centuries, chocolate, and the cocoa from which it is made, has been a sought after substance. It’s far and away the most popular candy type, and sells by the millions year after year. But, there are many myths surrounding chocolate. So, let’s take a look at some of these myths and the truth behind them.

1. Chocolate is bad for you – Not so, at least in its simplest form. Cocoa comes from a bean, making it a plant based product. As such it is full of anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants are important because they work to rid your body of free radicals, naturally occurring oxygen molecules that, when left unchecked, cause cell damage. Free radicals contribute to the development of cancer, heart disease and many other illnesses. We all need plenty of anti-oxidants in our diet to get rid of these free radicals before they damage our cells. Ounce for ounce, cocoa and dark chocolate have more anti-oxidants than blueberries, green tea and red wine – all considered anti-oxidant powerhouses.

2. Chocolate causes acne – Actually, this is most likely just an old wives tale. Studies going back to 1960 have shown that even when large amounts of chocolate are consumed, it has no correlation to getting acne. In fact, in most people, diet as a whole has no bearing on acne.

3. Chocolate causes migraines – Another old wives, tale, it seems. Many studies have been conducted on migraine triggers and chocolate has never been shown to trigger migraines; even when the studies were conducted on people who believed themselves to be chocolate sensitive.

4. Chocolate is high in caffeine – Milk chocolate has about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of decaffeinated coffee. Chocolate does, however, contain theobromine, a caffeine related substance. Theobromine is far less powerful than caffeine.

5. Chocolate causes tooth decay. In fact, chocolate may actually decrease your risk of tooth decay, because recent studies have shown that flavanol anti-oxidants may actually slow the buildup of plaque. Recent dental studies have also shown that tooth decay is mostly caused from foods that linger in the mouth. Chocolate leaves the mouth very quickly, so it is not a serious cause of tooth decay.

6. Many people are allergic to chocolate. Chocolate actually is a food that is very low on the food allergen list. Many people, however, probably wish they were allergic to it!

7. Chocolate makes kids hyperactive – Sugar can sometimes cause children to have excessive energy. And, compared with many other desserts, most chocolate is actually not as high in sugar as many other items. In addition, research has shown that it’s often the atmosphere where sugary substances are served (think birthday party) that causes kids to go wild.

So as you can see, chocolate is not the enemy. And, in fact, if you choose your chocolate wisely, it is actually your friend. Many doctors recommend one ounce of dark chocolate per day to boost your anti-oxidant intake level. So, eat up! Just make sure chocolate, like other treats is eaten in moderation.

Mary Ward is a freelance writer and likes writing about healthcare career topics, such as how to obtain an online x-ray tech degree.

Today I feel compelled to post about my love for salads. I have recently discovered the yummiest, healthiest, phytonutrientest salad ever! What are phytonutrients you ask? Well I just discovered them recently myself. And I figure that anything that starts with a “PH” must be awesome. Basically, they are nutrients derived straight from plants.. so thank you mother nature! Having a phytonutrient rich diet can beef up your immune system, prevent yucky diseases, and even keep your eyes working at top-notch performance.

Phytolife.com is an informative (and cute) little website which explains how awesome phytonutrients are. Phytolife.com also has some really deelish salad recipes based on the FreshExpress bagged salad you can buy at the grocery store. They are super-packed with phytonutrients! My favorite is the “sweet tender greens” drizzled with balsamic. Tonight I am going to make the red greens, watermelon, and feta cheese salad.. mmmmm. It sounds promising, right? So jump on the phyto bandwagon with me and go to Phytolife.com to get yourself phyto-educated 8)

I can’t randomly drive up to the house anymore, crawl over the gate and cry on the porch. It used to be my favorite place in the whole wide world.. I’ve written school papers about my love for that house. There used to be so much love inside it. I grew up there, my height marks are etched on the hallway walls. I had weekend sleepovers there up until I was 18 years old. And it never changed. Whenever I needed to get away from life, I called grandma and grandpa and told them I’d be over in 20 minutes. My grandma and I would stay up until 5AM playing board games and eating junk food. God I miss those days. The best memorys of my life took place in that house, and I will forever cherish them. Hopefully the family who purchased it will cherish it just the same.

 

I think I’m getting more excited for it to be Thanksgiving. MMmMmm Turkey.. fuck yeah. I can almost orgasm off the thought alone. Since my family is all fucked over at the moment, I’ll be spending Thanksgiving with Mikey’s family this year. They’re all morbidly obese so the foods GOTTA fuckin own! Yum yum Yum yum yum.

I decided that I’m getting another tattoo. I want one to honor my grandparents who recently passed away. I spent a lot of time thinking about about how to make it PERFECT. So check it out:

My grandma’s favorite movie of all time was “Gone with the Wind.” I don’t know how many of you have seen it, but Scarlett (the main character) named her home ‘Tera’ and throughout the entire movie, you would always hear her refer to Tera as her most beloved place on earth. So.. when my grandparent’s first moved to Tucson.. they bought their DREAM home. My grandpa, the romantic guy that he is, had this huge black iron arch made with the word “Tera” for the entrance of their driveway.. because that was now home.

So what I was thinking for my tattoo.. is creating the Tera arch over a cloud and putting my grandparent’s names.. Dewey & Lee.. inside the cloud. The arch represents home, and the cloud will represent heaven, which is now their home. I made this crappy little sketch of it just to give you a general idea. If anyone has suggestions then please pass them on

nbkilla ♥ Tiffany ♥ Courtney ♥ Ryan ♥ Crystal ♥ Ricky ♥ name ♥ Sheena ♥ Ria ♥ Cherish ♥ Lucy ♥ KEVIN

Omg. I used to go into this store with $4.00 in my pocket and come out looking like a hobo on foodstamp day. You see this GINORMOUS ass tootsie roll? It was 35 cents my friend. THIRTY FIVE CENTS!! I’m sorry but that is some price-is-right type shit okay. Now all I need to do is find a cock that size and I can die a happy girl.

R.I.P. my dear dollar store.. you will be forever missed. :-(

Oh I was wondering if anyone had gotten a change to see ‘Guess Who’? Let me know if it’s worth $9.00 + 3 hours of my underfulfilled life :lol:

Melissa Anne ♥ darnell ♥ ruth ♥ ava ♥ dina ♥ Jannicke ♥ iza ♥ Tiffany ♥ Shannon ♥ Carmen ♥ Eyezly-jade ♥ KEVIN ♥ geek. ♥ aero ♥ dorka ♥ The Prolific One ♥ Cindy ♥ Krystal ♥ classiq ♥ Babie ♥ blaze ♥ nadiyah ♥ TeTe ♥ Eyezly-jade ♥ Cassie ♥ Ambrosia ♥ Chrissy ♥ Jodie ♥ Noëlle ♥ Nani

Alright moving on from the genital subject.. isn’t this yummy looking? We went to Fudruckers for dinner.. mmmMmmm *rubs belly* sooo goooOod! I always get my ever-so-delectablebuffalo chicken sandwich.. because it’s the shit. Food is so amazing isn’t it? Let’s hear it for food!! YAYYYY FOOD!!!

I hope everyone is coloring Easter eggs this year.. come on now.. make momma proud. I know I’m not the only one that still loves the fuck out of coloring me a good easter egg. I still kick ass at the hunts. I really think they should adopt an ‘Easter Egg Hunting’ event into the Olympics. WHOS WITH ME?

Miracle ♥ KEVIN ♥ Tiffany ♥ Jukie ♥ dorka ♥ nadiyah ♥ April ♥ Xquizite ♥ DELICIOUS ♥ Laura ♥ classiq ♥ Liza ♥ Ashley ♥ name ♥ Thao ♥ n.gurl ♥ Trang ♥ Brianna ♥ *chanel ♥ Eyezly-Jade ♥ Dee