Monday, September 30, 2013

Dressing Mistakes Women Make

Just some links and quotes I found enlightening!  Also, I need to take notes from TLC's What Not To Wear.  However, Freckled Fox is one of my favorite sites because it has maternity outfits lookbook. 

 I really want to 'dress for success' as a housewife, piano teacher, and mother, and that means I need a well defined list of essentials and allowed extras in the three main categories of clothes (including underwear and outerwear), accessories, and shoes that suit my body: olive, Pear/A shape, petite... along with a makeup, haircut and hairstyles that suit my hair and face: long, thick dark wavy curls, round face, prominent nose.  With that list, I will toss stuff from my wardrobe/bathroom.  Always comfortable, always beautiful, suited for every occasion.  Goodbye closet of stuff I don't use!  To the waste bin with fads, for now I need to stick with the minimum!


PetiteEarlyMorningStyle.com
Turtle Neck Tops
With these tops you look as if you have a wide neck and appear shorter as well. The empire waist tops and dresses are great for full-figured women and so are the wrap ones.    Read more: Fashion Mistakes Full-Figured Women Should Avoid

Mom jeans? Fancy fingernails? Tracksuits
Muffin tops. Scrunchies. Suntan hose. Slut shoes. Visible panty line. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Oh-No-She-Didn%27t/Clinton-Kelly/9781439163160#sthash.l7gjupJG.dpuf
Muffin tops. Scrunchies. Suntan hose. Slut shoes. Visible panty line. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Oh-No-She-Didn%27t/Clinton-Kelly/9781439163160#sthash.l7gjupJG.dpuf
Muffin tops. Scrunchies. Suntan hose. Slut shoes. Visible panty line. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Oh-No-She-Didn%27t/Clinton-Kelly/9781439163160#sthash.l7gjupJG.dpuf
Muffin tops. Scrunchies. Suntan hose. Slut shoes. Visible panty line. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Oh-No-She-Didn%27t/Clinton-Kelly/9781439163160#sthash.l7gjupJG.dpuf
GAP IN THE BACK
The most common alteration I do for my clients, besides hemming pants and sleeves, is fixing Gap in the Back, a problem of which you are all too aware if you carry your weight in your hips and/or rump but have a relatively small waist. Yes, it’s a drag when things don’t fit perfectly off the rack, but that doesn’t mean you should settle. People with great style don’t settle! When I see a woman who has chosen to walk around with all that extra room in the back of her pants, I wonder why she doesn’t make good use of it — you know, treat it as a marsupial-esque ass-pouch for storing her belongings, like a turkey sandwich and a romance novel.
freckledfox.com 
Gap in the Back is really nothing to get yourself worked up about. When you find pants that fit you beautifully everywhere except in the waist, buy the damn things. Then find someone who knows how to sew. A small gap can be fixed with a little nip in the center of the waistband. A larger gap can be closed with two darts on the waistband, one over each butt cheek. When you get the pants back — voilà — they’ll fit and you’ll feel silly for whining about how pants never fit you.
freckledfox.com
Outdated patterns make you look out of touch with society and can age you at least a decade. Of course, retro patterns often become trendy, but they’re usually done in modern cuts and in modern fabrics. More often, over the course of any given decade or so, prints will develop a general feeling to them. For example, in the recent past, florals have trended away from looking like literal renditions of flowers and moved toward the abstract. And painterly prints have been gaining popularity.*
To look modern you have to shop on a regular basis in trendy stores and occasionally pick up a magazine to see what fashionable people are wearing!
*As this book was going to press, little pink & purple rosebud florals (á la “Little House on the Prairie”) became all the rage. Who can keep up with this crap?! You can!
Ladies, ladies, ladies. How many times do I have to tell you this? You must have a professional bra fitting every two years, even if your weight has remained constant, or anytime you gain or lose a minimum of ten pounds. 
...I will tell you, however, that pendulous breasts don’t look so good in clothes and that’’s because clothes aren’t constructed to accommodate a bust that hits the belly button. Clothes are designed on dress forms. Where is the bust on a dress form? About halfway between the shoulder and the elbow. (I know dress forms don’t have elbows, smarty-pants. Try to imagine where the elbow would be.)
The truth is, I’m kind of fine with cropped pants — when they look good. But they rarely do. I am beyond-a-shadow-of-a-doubt convinced that the vast majority of women buy them because their length is one less thing to worry about. “Well, they fit in the waist! It doesn’t matter what length they are.” 
You can’t just go around wearing pants any length you want! It doesn’t work that way. Try to achieve one of the following lengths, or your look will have that neither-here-nor-there quality I find so damn annoying.
  • Full-length pants should rest about a half an inch off the floor in the back.
  • Full-length jeans should rest about a quarter of an inch off the floor in the back.
  • Skinny jeans should hit at the ankle or be worn stacked (pushed up).
  • Pedal pushers should hit just below the kneecap.
  • Walking shorts hit just above the kneecap.
  • Clamdiggers are meant to hit at midcalf.
  • PetiteEarlyMorningStyle.Blogspot.com
  • Ankle pants should be cropped just above the ankle bone.
The shorter and wider you are, the more likely you are to look like Spanky from the “Little Rascals” in a cropped pant. Wear Bermuda shorts or long pants instead!   
Advice on shoe repair, commuter shoes, etc.

Look, I don’t know how much information your brain can accommodate, but I need you to clear out a little gray matter for the following concept:
The shoe always, always, ALWAYS sets the tone for an outfit.

Think about that for a minute. It’s deep. It’s the reason nuns don’t wear stilettos and strippers don’t wear orthopedic shoes.
freckledfox.com
You could be sporting a five-hundred-dollar haircut, flawless skin, an Italian silk blouse, a fierce Dolce & Gabbana pencil skirt, and a diamond the size of Rhode Island, but if you do it wearing chewed-up, gnarly heels, people will think you’re a slacker. Seriously, I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve seen women wearing shoes well past their expiration date, and there’s this sloppy, careless vibe that clings to them. It’s a little like, “I sleep on a mattress without sheets, I have Chinese food in my refrigerator that’s older than Miley Cyrus, and the backseat of my car is filled with empty Big Gulps and ketchup packets.”
Sometimes shoes can be repaired and sometimes they can’t. The best way to find out is by visiting your friendly local cobbler. Mine’s a peach! Going forward, if you know you’re going to put a lot of mileage on a pair of shoes, bring them to the shoe repair shop before you wear them and ask for heel protectors or heel taps to be added. A very small investment of time and money will add months — maybe years — to the life of your shoes.
freckledfox.com
On a related note, I’m a big fan of the commuter shoe when executed properly. Your office shoes should be fabulous, but wearing exquisite crocodile pumps on the train, subway, and across five city blocks doesn’t make a ton of sense. Buy yourself a shoe bag and carry your good shoes with you in a tote. Not only will the shoe bag protect the shoe, it will prevent contamination of the contents of your commuter tote. While you’re traveling to work, wear something more comfortable — but still cute — like a ballet flat, a wedge, or a boot. You’ll notice I did not suggest sneakers, and that’s because they look really stupid with a skirt or a suit. And if you need evidence of that, it’s time for you to watch Working Girl again.
No heel - no hose.


Of course, if you'd like a book, this one looked great from the description:

Cleverly organized like a woman’s closet, wear this, toss that! outlines the 30 pieces of clothing and 30 accessories plus beauty basics every woman must own.  
Amy provides immediate style answers for real women:
• 700 wear/toss items
• Over 1,000 product suggestions
• You-heard-it-here-first steals and deals
• On-sale items to avoid regardless of price
• 24 “save-me” products to rescue you from any fashion emergency
A long cardigan that graces over your curves or a super drapey wrap that resembles a blanket?
A shade of red lipstick that says “bombshell” or one that’s says “I’m trying too hard”?

Other interesting topics: hiding Buddha belly, a big booty, wide hips, thunder thighs, and heavy calves 

Other books: 
Before You Put That On: 365.... By Lloyd Boston

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Minute Dark Chocolate

So I make some refined-sugar-free dark chocolate that is pretty popular.  Just sayin'! :D  I can mix it together in a minute.  And it's never the same.  I just eyeball it and substitute like mad.   


The two basic recipes are found here.  Or this one.


You can mix and match ingredients in chocolate.  Heat is optional if you don't have to melt the unsweetened chocolate. You can substitute sugar for honey or maple syrup.  One part of  honey or maple syrup equals 2 parts of sugar.  Honey or maple syrup are interchangeable.  If it's too bland, add a pinch more salt or vanilla.  Too dense, add nuts, nut butter, or oil.  Extra virgin olive oil is a bit on the strong side.  Not sweet enough, well,  add sweet!  You get the idea.  And you'll be delighted. ^^

Dip in coconut, nuts, crumbs, drizzle on fruit, pancakes, ice cream, trailmix, cereal...dip  dried fruit, pretzels, cookies, add to batter, or just grab a spoon.

Eventually I'll add an artistic touch and make bonbons as gifts. Oh, wouldn't you like to be my friend? ;)

Italian Restaurant Soup

 For those of us who haven't got the  universal simple soup recipe  in our heads... or just want to check out the nuances of an actual recipe! ;)  I took out the bread, and substituted gluten free.  I also used 1/2 c. cheese and topped with chopped rosemary.  It was amazing... smelled and tasted like an Italian Restaurant.

Emeril LagasseGarlic Soup by Emeril  

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup onions, thinly sliced
12 garlic cloves, smashed
1 cup dry white wine
1 quart chicken stock
1 bay leaf
2 cups of French bread, 2-inch pieces(none for gaps
3/4 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup Gruyere cheese, grated

Directions

Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add onion and garlic, cook over medium heat for 10 to12 minutes. The onion and garlic will begin to caramelize. Add the wine and continue to cook for 10 minutes. Add the stock and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the bread cubes, and allow the soup to sit without heat for 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Using a hand held blender, puree until smooth. Add the cream and adjust the seasonings. Serve in a large shallow bowl. Garnish with the cheese.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/garlic-soup-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

Real Men, Real Style

This is an example of some of the great videos this tailor has put on his youtube channel to coach men on thrifty, excellently dressed.  VERY helpful.


 

Lackluster Gutless Ignorant Unready Christian - Who? Me?

Thoughts of today:

Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
A decision must be made at some point, and it’s no good waiting indefinitely for a sign from heaven that will solve the difficulty without further trouble. Even the ecumenical movement has to make up its mind and is therefore subject to error, like everything human.
But to procrastinate and prevaricate simply because you’re afraid of erring, when others — I mean our brethren in Germany — must make infinitely more difficult decisions every day, seems to me almost to run counter to love.
To delay or fail to make decisions may be more sinful than to make wrong decisions out of faith and love. (Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer, [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010], 218)

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

To Read To Shane - Made Me Laugh

http://www.extrapetite.com/2010/07/guest-post-plight-of-petite-bloggers.html

Monday, September 23, 2013

Seven Ways for Busy Moms to Get in the Word

Permalink
Fall is almost here, and for most moms this is the beginning of the busiest season of the year. Back-to-school to-do lists lead right into Thanksgiving and Christmas to-do lists, and we will not find rest again until January 2nd. And while God’s word sits on our shelves waiting for us to get a slow moment, the world bids us to keep busy...

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Ehow on Bananas

Just needed some quick facts - all new to me!

Proper Storage

  • To ripen bananas properly, keep them at room temperature. If you have really green bananas and you want to speed up the ripening process, wrap them in paper with an apple and leave them out at room temperature. Ripe bananas can store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The peel will become brown, but the fruit inside will be safe to eat. Before eating bananas that have been in the fridge, leave them out at room temperature for a short period. This will improve the taste.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Monday, September 9, 2013

Shane's Waffles

Buttermilk waffles

From America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook
Makes: 6 to 8 waffles (depending on size of waffle iron)
Start to finish: 25 minutes
Try topping the waffles with fresh fruit or ice cream. As you make the waffles, place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet, cover them with a kitchen towel, and place the baking sheet in a 200-degree oven. When the final waffle is in the iron, remove the towel and allow the waffles to crisp for a few minutes.
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons fine-ground cornmeal (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 large eggs, separated
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 ¾ cups buttermilk
Pinch cream of tartar
  1. Heat waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, cornmeal (if using), salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, butter, and then the buttermilk. Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Make  well in the center of the dry ingredients, pour the buttermilk mixture into the well, and whisk very gently until the buttermilk mixture is just incorporated (a few lumps should remain). Toward the end of the mixing, fold the whipped egg whites into the batter.
  3. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, spread the appropriate amount of batter onto the waffle iron and cook until golden brown, about 3 ½ minutes. Repeat with remaining batter, serving the waffles immediately or holding them in a 200-degree oven until all are cooked.
http://flourpants.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/buttermilk-belgian-waffles/

Friday, September 6, 2013

Making Mornings Easier

Advice from a mom blogger.  [And I also need to mention (again) the book Large Family Logistics - great tips for mornings there.] I liked this part of one mom's regimen:

Wake between 5:45 – 6:30 a.m.
Dress.
 Head out for a run, do some yoga or an arm workout (if you follow me on Facebook, you already know about the “bat wings”)
 Cool down on the porch with a glass of water. Enjoy my neighborhood in the morning – the birds singing, flowers with dew, the trees.

  • Wake between 5:45 – 6:30 a.m.
  • Dress.
  • Head out for a run, do some yoga or an arm workout (if you follow me on Facebook, you already know about the “bat wings”)
  • Cool down on the porch with a glass of water.
  • Enjoy my neighborhood in the morning – the birds singing, flowers with dew, the trees.
  • - See more at: http://www.peaceandprojects.com/blog/2011/08/good-morning/#sthash.uWGmpwLK.dpuf
  • Wake between 5:45 – 6:30 a.m.
  • Dress.
  • Head out for a run, do some yoga or an arm workout (if you follow me on Facebook, you already know about the “bat wings”)
  • Cool down on the porch with a glass of water.
  • Enjoy my neighborhood in the morning – the birds singing, flowers with dew, the trees.
  • - See more at: http://www.peaceandprojects.com/blog/2011/08/good-morning/#sthash.uWGmpwLK.dpuf
    Make the hard parts easier. 

    I never thought I’d like morning exercise, but I can honestly say that I love it now. I won’t deny that getting started can be hard. If you want to try a new habit – like morning exercise – prepare the night before and make it easy.  Think about all the steps involved like:      getting dressed     tying your shoes     finding the iPod.  Prepare in advance to make all these steps as easy as possible. Put your workout clothes on the nightstand with the iPod on top. Set the coffee on autobrew the night before. This makes a new habit (almost) too easy to skip.



     - See more at: http://www.peaceandprojects.com/blog/2011/08/good-morning/#sthash.uWGmpwLK.dpuf

    Make the hard parts easier.

    I never thought I’d like morning exercise, but I can honestly say that I love it now. I won’t deny that getting started can be hard. If you want to try a new habit – like morning exercise – prepare the night before and make it easy.
    Think about all the steps involved like:
    • getting dressed
    • tying your shoes
    • finding the iPod
    Prepare in advance to make all these steps as easy as possible. Put your workout clothes on the nightstand with the iPod on top. Set the coffee on autobrew the night before. This makes a new habit (almost) too easy to skip.
    - See more at: http://www.peaceandprojects.com/blog/2011/08/good-morning/#sthash.uWGmpwLK.dpuf

    Make the hard parts easier.

    I never thought I’d like morning exercise, but I can honestly say that I love it now. I won’t deny that getting started can be hard. If you want to try a new habit – like morning exercise – prepare the night before and make it easy.
    Think about all the steps involved like:
    • getting dressed
    • tying your shoes
    • finding the iPod
    Prepare in advance to make all these steps as easy as possible. Put your workout clothes on the nightstand with the iPod on top. Set the coffee on autobrew the night before. This makes a new habit (almost) too easy to skip.
    - See more at: http://www.peaceandprojects.com/blog/2011/08/good-morning/#sthash.uWGmpwLK.dpuf

    Make the hard parts easier.

    I never thought I’d like morning exercise, but I can honestly say that I love it now. I won’t deny that getting started can be hard. If you want to try a new habit – like morning exercise – prepare the night before and make it easy.
    Think about all the steps involved like:
    • getting dressed
    • tying your shoes
    • finding the iPod
    Prepare in advance to make all these steps as easy as possible. Put your workout clothes on the nightstand with the iPod on top. Set the coffee on autobrew the night before. This makes a new habit (almost) too easy to skip.
    - See more at: http://www.peaceandprojects.com/blog/2011/08/good-morning/#sthash.uWGmpwLK.dpuf

    Make the hard parts easier.

    I never thought I’d like morning exercise, but I can honestly say that I love it now. I won’t deny that getting started can be hard. If you want to try a new habit – like morning exercise – prepare the night before and make it easy.
    Think about all the steps involved like:
    • getting dressed
    • tying your shoes
    • finding the iPod
    Prepare in advance to make all these steps as easy as possible. Put your workout clothes on the nightstand with the iPod on top. Set the coffee on autobrew the night before. This makes a new habit (almost) too easy to skip.
    - See more at: http://www.peaceandprojects.com/blog/2011/08/good-morning/#sthash.uWGmpwLK.dpuf

     

    Make the hard parts easier.

    I never thought I’d like morning exercise, but I can honestly say that I love it now. I won’t deny that getting started can be hard. If you want to try a new habit – like morning exercise – prepare the night before and make it easy.
    Think about all the steps involved like:
    • getting dressed
    • tying your shoes
    • finding the iPod
    Prepare in advance to make all these steps as easy as possible. Put your workout clothes on the nightstand with the iPod on top. Set the coffee on autobrew the night before. This makes a new habit (almost) too easy to skip.
    - See more at: http://www.peaceandprojects.com/blog/2011/08/good-morning/#sthash.uWGmpwLK.dpuf

    Make the hard parts easier.

    I never thought I’d like morning exercise, but I can honestly say that I love it now. I won’t deny that getting started can be hard. If you want to try a new habit – like morning exercise – prepare the night before and make it easy.
    Think about all the steps involved like:
    • getting dressed
    • tying your shoes
    • finding the iPod
    Prepare in advance to make all these steps as easy as possible. Put your workout clothes on the nightstand with the iPod on top. Set the coffee on autobrew the night before. This makes a new habit (almost) too easy to skip.
    - See more at: http://www.peaceandprojects.com/blog/2011/08/good-morning/#sthash.uWGmpwLK.dpuf

    I'll Never Forget What a Complex Number Is!!! Creative Algebra/Math Video

    Taking Care of the Ladies

    The Basic Clothes - Professional Working Woman

    Just ideas.  I have the first six- but need to get more comfortable (read well-fitting) jeans. 

    Tim Gunn's 10 Essential Items Every Woman Needs
    •Skirt
    • Classic dress pants
    •Day dress
    • Cashmere sweater
    • Jeans
    • Blazer
    • Basic black dress
    • Trench coat
    • Classic white shirt
    • A comfortable alternative to a sweatsuit

    Thursday, September 5, 2013

    Why Be Pretty?

    freckledfox.com
    I love so much of what this older lady writes!   From homelivinghelper.blogspot.com 
     
    "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
    Matthew 6:28

    If God saw fit to clothe the earth is such pretty colors, is there any
    reason that women cannot wear pretty dresses that imitate this beauty?
    extrapetite.com


    The drab, unfeminine, immodest and unflattering clothing available today makes it hard to get interested in clothing.  For so long, western women have been made to feel that it is too vain to wear prints or florals, crisp pastels or deep jeweled tones on interesting fabrics,  or anything soft and sweet.When there seems to be nothing  dignified to buy, it is easy to use jeans, t-shirts and running shoes as a woman's daily uniform.

    Dressing more femininely can do other things for you besides improve your appearance. It can give you a healthy, optimistic outlook on life. It can lift your spirits considerably despite unfortunate circumstances. Most people do a better job if they are dressed well.  The skies do not seem to be as cloudy if you are dressed well.  Some people find it easier to be more organized at home when they take care of their appearance before tackling the day's responsibilities. 

    Dressing better at home can also help you to control your weight. Once you put on that pretty new cotton frock with an apron over it, you may feel more like working and creating a lovely atmosphere in your home, instead of snacking. When you wear tee shirts and stretchy type clothing, you will not notice the slightest weight-gain, but if your clothes are made of sturdy fabrics and have more structure to them, you will probably feel it when you begin to over-eat, and be inclined to check your appetite.

     Sometimes it can improve posture and encourage proper breathing when the clothing is nice, fits well and is beautiful.  Also if you desire a less frenzied life, you can dress to create a mood of calm control, rather than one of dashing here and there. Clothes really do make a difference that way.  The clothes we wear can help us become more graceful in our movements and correct awkwardness. Girls should get used to wearing nice clothing at home when they are young, and especially learn to manage in dresses and overcome awkwardness. Wearing dresses seem to make women seem more graceful in their carriage."

    Modern Day Heroes: How to Know If You Are Merciful and Kind...

    Can you be like Jesus? This lady was...

    The Amazing Story of Antoinette Tuff

    By: Eric MetaxasPublished: September 5, 2013

    The scene had all the makings of yet another tragedy. Twenty-year-old Michael Hill walked into the Ronald E. McNair Learning Academy in Decatur, Georgia armed with an AK-47, five hundred rounds of ammunition, and in his words, “nothing to live for.”
    Yet events in Decatur didn’t turn into another Newtown, thanks to the grace of God and a remarkable woman armed only with her faith...  Read more

    My husband works for the Colson Center, so stories like this come to me all the time. :)  I might suggest they have a tab for "modern day heroes" or "inspirational stories" because knowing how to act in faith and obedience in our modern context is hard.  The Colson Center helps with that a lot.

    Tuesday, September 3, 2013

    Cooking oil choices and questions

     Cooking oil choices and questions
    A great post from a blog that might soon become a favorite:  Lifein a Shoe


    [Also checked this out:   The Best Cooking Oils: For Your Heart and Wallet  ]


    Comments about health and shelf life:

    "know that every oil has a heating factor, once you heat it over it’s tolerance, it becomes TOXIC and RANCID. Olive oil’s smoke point is 350, go over and it’s no longer good, but very harmful."

    "Butter: Frankly I think dairy products are a fairly critical organic purchase. Hormones and antibiotics are huge issues, and they are found in the highest concentrations in the fat. Since butter IS the fat, and it takes approx 21 gal of milk per pound of butter, you get 21x the amount of antibiotics and hormones that you get in a gallon of milk. Antibiotic resistance is a serious issue, and much of our exposure comes from low level doses we get continuously in our food.
    "Go hormone, pesticide and antibiotics free with dairy products. (Also every other industralized nation bans BGH.)"

    "Palm Oil Shortening is a great alternative for grapeseed oil or butter if you’re out of ORGANIC butter. There is no point in eating hormone fed, GMO corn fed cow butter, but if you want the nutrition in REAL butter, you have to go with pastured, organic butter."

    "Grapeseed oil: I don’t know of any advantages over butter. It is ok for mayo. I really like Mary Enigs’ mayo recipe, which uses an equal blend of coconut, olive, and hemp oils."
    "Grapeseed oil is processed with hexane from what I understand and it is NOT good for you. One has to be careful to check and research the process the oils go through, because that is really what in the end with determine if you have a healthy product or not."


    Olive Oil: The difference is the refining process and quality of olives. Light OO is a blend of low-grade oils, mechanically processed, heated, and sometimes mixed with canola oil. EVOO should ideally not be heated above 77 degrees, as that is when the vitamin E starts to degrade. But is should never be heated to smoking point, as then it turns to trans-fats. I would bake with the grapeseed over the olive.
    " Keep the OO in the fridge."

    Refined Coconut Oil: One of the big problems with inexpensive CO is that many are hydrogenated. Steer WAAY clear of those. LouAna, to my knowledge, is not hydrogenated. It is heated, bleached and treated with hexane though. I don’t know that there would be any benefit to putting it in your smoothies, but it might be a good choice for cooking and skin care. There are also refined coconut oils that don’t use hexane, but rather use more traditional methods that preserve more of the health benefits. If you can, virgin coconut oil for smoothies and refined for everything else.


     "
    For more information on good fats, I would go to the Weston A Price Foundation’s website and read up on it. Theirs is the most informative:)
    Also another good website is the Healthy Home Economist, Sarah does a good job explaining the how to’s and such of doing a good fats diet. Other websites are Kelly the Kitchen Cop, and check out their links for more information."


    I couldn't read all the great comments, but what I took away from this was:

    Keep OO under 350 in oven.
     Buy organic butter or non-hexane processed grapeseed.
    Light olive oil for cooking.
    For Mayo: Grapeseed (have used sesame/coconut blend)

    Must research the hexane method.  A certain French cheese has been banned in the US because they use beetles to eat the wax off.  For or against? Skeptical either way?  I can see how both sides might have reasons, but this cheese has been eaten for hundreds of years, so I lean to the French way.  And they are THE cheesemakers.  The hexane use might not be bad.

    Quick reference (copied)
    • Coconut oil (unrefined,5 gallons from Mountain Rose): $42/gallon
    • Organic Butter (4 lbs. from Costco):$36/gallon [MY ESTIMATE]
    • Olive oil, extra virgin (2L from Costco): $19/gallon
    • Butter (4 lbs. from Costco): $18/gallon
    • Olive oil, extra light (4L from Costco): $17/gallon
    • Grapeseed oil (2L from Costco): $13/gallon
    • Coconut oil (refined, 50 lbs. from Soaper’s Choice): $13/gallon