olive oil

The jack-o’-lanterns will be gone in a flash around Halloween, and if you are organically making your own creations, you likely have larders groaning with jars of pumpkin puree.

Remember those endless beauty secrets your grandma was such a proponent of? Well, most of them are true and do have a scientific explanation behind them. Let’s explore a few common kitchen ingredients and the kind of magic you can work with them for a truly glowing visage! The great thing is that you don’t have to make a market trip for these—you can simply raid your kitchen and are good to go.

Whiteheads, blackheads, acne, clogged pores, buildup—so many skin woes can be attributed to poor skin hygiene, further aggravated by a humid climate, poor lifestyle, and sometimes faulty genes. While the "gene" bit cannot be changed (nor should breakouts make you move cities), a better lifestyle and a good skincare routine can fix what is broken. A very important part of "good" skincare is the C of CTM—which at night translates to removing makeup.

When you’re washing up, do you question the ingredients in your body and hand soap? You should. Most of the soaps available at places like mainstream commercial stores are loaded with artificial fragrances that have been known to cause allergies and irritation. Not to mention an ingredient called sodium laurel sulfate is one of the most common toxic ingredients found in soaps (and shower gels!). These ingredients are used to create lather and bubbles but also strip the skin of its natural oils.

Okay, so you just spent approximately $3 on a salad dressing at the grocery store. The problem? It's loaded with way too many unnecessary ingredients. Have you ever read the label on most salad dressings? They put everything from sugar (yes, you heard that right) to Calcium Disodium EDTA in it (to "protect freshness"). No thanks. I'm good. Instead, I like to make my own salad dressings at home. Here are eight DIY salad dressings that are actually healthy for you and require no unnatural sweeteners.

In my house, hummus does not last long. In fact, it is hard to share. It's my go to for a quick snack, and more often than not becomes the center of dinner. While there are many store bought brands that have some tasty flavor combinations, homemade is always best. One batch gives twice the amount for half the price and it lacks any preservatives you may find on the shelf.

The secret to bouncy curls without any frizz lies in your hair routine. Here are some tips and tricks to keep that curly mane as gorgeous as ever…

A bit of moisture in the air and my hair goes poof, for I have been cursed with curly locks since the day I was born. And the staunchest enemy of curly hair is frizz that refuses to be tamed and is finally hidden behind a plethora of hair accessories. Bunching up your hair into a ponytail or under a scarf may take you through the day, but frizz needs to be tackled at the root itself.

It starts slowly. Icicles drip onto the sidewalks, snow mounds shrink under afternoon sunlight, and here in the Pacific Northwest, heavy, warm rains are ushered in. As spring approaches, our appetites desire light, fresh, yet still warming foods. Enter the classic vegetable soup.

Genovese readers, please look away.

I’m about to do unspeakable things to your beloved pesto.

Everyone in my family is fond of heavy white sauces, but not me; I’ve always been a fan of this thing called flavor. If you think you’re more of a white sauce person, think again. This velvety, luscious red sauce will even win over the hearts of Italians who think their nonna's “gravy” is the best hands down.