About | NonStop Natural

Your Christmas Guide to the Top 10 Best Salt Crystal Lamps

December 12, 2016 by Tammy Robinson 1 Comment

Have you seen them yet? Those beautifully shaped, softly glowing Himalayan salt crystal lamps? We bet that either someone in your family has been asking for one for Christmas, or you have been wishing someone would buy one for you! These must be one of the hottest items for Christmas this year.

If you haven’t seen one yet, you simply must! If you have, then you might be wondering which of the many sizes and colors are the best for those on your shopping list.

If you have ever felt the physical rush or invigoration after sitting next to a waterfall or after a weekend vacation at the beach, you have felt the natural power of negative ions. Himalayan salt crystal lamps, once warmed, give off negative ions.

By absorbing and recycling positive ions from the air, then putting out negative ions, a crystal salt lamp can stimulate a healthy level of oxygen in the room, improving our brain function and giving us more energy.

Himalayan salt crystal lamps come from salt that is thousands of years old. It is pure and natural. A small light bulb placed inside the crystal gently warms the salt and allows it to perform this ionizing action.

Amazon has some great deals on these right now. Take a look at the list below and choose the one that “talks” to you.

WBM Hand Carved Himalayan Natural Crystal Lamp

These are truly works of art as each one is carved by hand. It has a 15 watt bulb which uses next to no electricity and yet, cleans the air of indoor pollution. Makes a terrific night light too! This lamp sits on a small Neem wood base and looks very, very pretty. It’s on sale this week when you use the link above!

The Pink Himalayan Natural Salt Lamp

Pink salt lamps are so difficult to find lately, and this beauty gives off a beautiful shade! Sits firmly on a Neem wood base. Each lamp is unique, with no two looking exactly alike! This salt comes from deep within the Himalayan Mountains, so you know it is as pure as it can be. This pretty 7 inch pink salt lamp has a 15 watt bulb that does double duty as a night light.

The Tiabo Himalayan Basket Light

While many other lamps sit on a base, this lamp actually has the bulb at the bottom of a wire basket. Smaller pieces of salt crystals are placed inside the basket and surround the bulb. This is a nice change for those who want something that looks a bit different. The basket is 5.5 inches high and 9 inches in diameter, which makes it not too big, but large enough to do the job.

The HemingWeigh Natural Rock Salt Lamp

Cute name for a pretty lamp! These salt lamps are hand crafted to remove bad odors, recharge the air, and help you sleep better. This lamp weighs about 6 to 7 pounds and sits on a beautifully polished wood base. Most people say they love this lamp because it glows a pretty orange/red color. Take note that this lamp does not have a dimmer control for the light, so it might be too bright for some to use as a night light. This beautiful lamp is half off for the holidays so you might want to order one today!

The Crystal Décor Natural Himalayan Salt Lamp

This little lamp is so pretty; you will want one in every room! This lamp comes in a small square metal frame with different designs such as leaves, snowflakes, angels, and more. This one reminds us of a smoldering volcano! The bulb is placed at the bottom and then it is surrounded by small rock salt crystals, giving off a beautiful orange glow. We bet you order one of these for yourself! Check out all the pretty designs!

Levoit Elora Natural Crystal Salt Lamp

These are truly lovely lamps! Each one is made from hand from start to finish. The base is made of stainless steel so it won’t scorch or crack like some other bases can. This lamp gives off a soft amber glow that suits any décor. Comes with a dimmer switch to control the brightness of the bulb. This is one of Amazon’s top selling salt lamps, so you might want to order one early.

Crystal Allies Gallery Globe Lamp

If you are like us and you like things a little bit different than the rest, you will love this amazing lamp. This salt crystal has been shaped to a nice round globe which, at night, makes it look like the moon! This lamp has a beautiful wood base to keep it stabilized and comes with a dimmer switch for the bulb. Who wouldn’t love having a full moon in their home every night?

WBM 1332 Pillar Salt Lamp

This is another amazing lamp that goes beyond the basics. This salt lamp uses a pillar designed basket to hold rock salt crystal pieces. Most people say this looks like a miniature fireplace! The 15 watt bulb heats the salt and allows it to produce those negative ions everyone needs more of. If you are on a tight budget, this is the lamp for you!

Crystal Allies Gallery 3 Piece Lamp Set

Think of this as the perfect starter pack or gift set! The Crystal Allies Gallery comes with one compact 6 to 8 inch tall crystal salt lamp with a wood base and two smaller salt crystal globes which sit on their own flat ends, but have been hollowed out inside for candles! These smaller lamps are perfect for travel or for use in an RV, tent, or motor home. You can take air purifying Himalayan salt lamps everywhere you go! Or, you could always keep one part for yourself, and make the other part a gift for someone else. That sounds like a great plan, if you ask us!

Water Glide International Himalayan Salt Lamps

If you already own a salt lamp and want more, or if you simply want a two-some set of lamps, this is the one for you. These 6 to 8 inch tall Himalayan pink salt crystal lamps come in a set of 2. Each one comes with a hand carved wood base and 15 watt bulbs. You could put one on each nightstand or one in each bedroom of the house and clean the air for everyone in the family.

Extra Tip

For those of you who are in love this holiday season or if you are just crazy about hearts, well, this crystal salt lamp can’t be beat. It’s a bit pricey, but what the heck! It’s only money, right? Love is priceless, afterall.

Heart Shaped Crystal Salt Lamp

Himalayan salt lamps are used and enjoyed all over the world; why not give them a try in your home and tell us what your experience is!

Top 10 Tips for Staying Healthy, Sexy, and Thin

October 21, 2016 by Tammy Robinson 2 Comments

Everyone wants to stay beautifully thin and healthy. Unfortunately, for many, time and gravity plays a part in our lives, causing our waists to expand and our chests to sag.

Unfortunately, most of us are looking for a magic pill to take care of those pesky problems such as the proverbial spare tire and flabby upper arms.

What few people know is that you can actually keep yourself slim and younger looking, not to mention healthy, by simply following a few tips.

Keep reading to find out just how easy it is to stay healthy, sexy, and thin by practicing a few simple rules most days of the week!

Follow the 80 percent Rule

Most of us love to eat, and why not? It is one of life’s true pleasures! Unfortunately, we tend to eat too much most of the time. You can still enjoy all the food life has to offer, every delicious morsel, and still stay thin. How? Stop eating when you are about 80 percent full. This means you can eat a healthy meal, enjoy a glass of wine, even chocolate cake for dessert! You just need to stop eating when you feel almost full. Slowdown while you are eating and you will feel when you are just about full. This is the time to stop.

Keep a Lookout for Oversized Portions

Too many of us feel that we must clean our plates when we are served as we don’t want food to go to waste. While no one should waste food, keep in mind that by giving yourself smaller portions, you won’t feel forced to finish everything. Remember that you can always serve yourself more if you are still hungry.

When eating out, choose lunch entrees over the dinner sized portion if possible or simply ask for a doggie bag right away and put half (or more) away for tomorrow’s lunch. Eat a salad first and drink a glass of water before you eat anything else.

Cut Back on TV and Video Games

We spend far too much time watching television and playing video games. While these are entertaining pastimes, they are not meant to be indulged in for hours at a time. In fact, you can easily moderate your pastimes with exercise by making a schedule that for every hour you watch TV or play video games, you must spend 1 hour doing exercise or some other type of chore, such as walking the dog, playing outside with your children, cleaning the house, or helping out at a soup kitchen. You can do almost anything during that hour, but you have to make it something where you aren’t sitting or lying down.

Cut Back on Fast Food

Let’s face it; cooking at home from scratch is time consuming and not that much fun for most people. However, the other side of that coin is that fast food is expensive, fattening, and not at all good for you.

Work at making fast food an occasional treat or to be used in a true emergency when you can’t get home and don’t have time for a restaurant. Fast food can be a particularly nasty habit to break, but it can be done.

Mark on a calendar, over a 30 day period every time you eat at a fast food restaurant. For example, let’s say you discover that you are eating at Mickey D’s 3 times a week. During the next month, work at cutting it back to twice a week. The following month, once a week. The next month, make it only 3 times per month. This is a fairly easy way to withdraw from the fast food addiction blues.

Control Stress

Uncontrolled, ongoing stress is as dangerous to your body as getting drunk every day. Find ways to reduce and manage stress in your life. You can start by removing people who cause you stress, or at least limiting the amount of time you spend with them. Then learn ways to manage your stress through relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation.

Be Sun Safe

Although the human body needs a bit of sunlight, it doesn’t need much. Try to get 30 minutes of sun exposure on your bare skin most days. Early morning sun is best. After that, avoid the sun during the hours of 10AM and 3 PM when the sun is at its strongest. Wear sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and other protective clothing or seek out the shade as much as possible. Be especially careful with your face, unless you think sunspots, wrinkles, and leathery looking skin is beautiful.

Exercise

While you might feel that you don’t have time to exercise, almost everyone can squeeze in 30 minutes most days. Try taking three 10 minute segments if you must. Walk as fast as you can for 5 minutes, then turn around and walk back. If you do that 3 times a day – you’re finished! Some weight training and other exercise would be extra beneficial, but if this was all you could manage, you would be far ahead of the crowd.

Get Your Rest

Americans tend to think of sleeping as something that the elderly and “weak” people do a lot of. This is not true and can be detrimental to your health. Your body needs time to reset, to heal, to repair, and to build everything from new muscle to new brain cells. It can only do this when you are asleep. Most people need 7 to 9 hours each night to feel their best. No, sleeping in an extra 4 hours on the weekend won’t make up for it. Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep each and every night.

Be Social

Study after study has found that people who stay in contact with friends and/or family are happier, healthier, and live longer. This doesn’t mean you have to be best buddies with your in-laws, but stay in touch with people who make you feel good and those that make you laugh. People who have a positive outlook on life are also healthier and live longer than those negative Nancy’s. Find people who you have fun with and those that make you feel good about yourself. Yes, it really is that simple.

Everything in Moderation

This really is the key to life. Everything in moderation, including moderation. This means that it’s OK to stay out really late every now and then, to eat a big piece of cake on your birthday, and to lie in bed watching a 6 hour Breaking Bad marathon. It’s NOT ok, however, to do this every weekend!

Of course, if you only followed these tips and you continued to smoke or drink to excess on a regular basis, don’t be surprised if you find yourself flabby and not-so-fit. These are simply tips to help you stay on the healthy, positive side of life as much as possible. The real work, however, is up to you.

Top 10 Things about Menopause That No One Talks About

October 15, 2016 by Tammy Robinson 1 Comment

Menopause; the time of a woman’s life when she stops having a monthly menstrual cycle. For many women, this is a good time of life, when the worries about becoming pregnant, disappear and those messy, painful days of the month become history.

While many people, men included, think that menopause is like the stopping and starting of a car, it’s anything but. Menopause happens gradually, for many women symptoms begin in their mid to late 40’s and continue for 10 years.

If your mother or grandmother didn’t clue you in on what to expect, we want to clear things up by talking about the top 10 things about menopause that most people never hear.

Men – this article is for you as well! What happens to a woman during this time can affect your relationship. It can help you understand why your partner is acting differently during this time of her life.

It Hits You Like a Truck

Sometimes, this is one of the best ways to tell that a symptom you are feeling is simply menopause and not something else. Although menopause will sneak up on you at first, with a twice a month night sweat or a 2 minute hot flash, once you are really into the change of life, most symptoms feel like you were hit by a truck. One friend describes headaches that literally feel as if someone hit her in the back of a head with a baseball bat. Hot flashes literally feel as if someone is pouring extremely hot water over your head, and you can literally feel fine one minute and completely wiped out the next minute. If a symptom hits you hard and fast, you can almost guarantee your body dropped a hormone somewhere.

You Will Hate Everyone

We aren’t kidding. There will be times where you simply hate everyone for no reason. Yes, even your kids and loving husband will suddenly feel intrusive and all you can think about are ways to avoid everyone. If you find yourself looking at pictures of deserted islands or tree houses and thinking “I could live there”, you know that menopause has a serious grip on you.

The good news is that this passes. You should take each feeling as they come and do your best to deal with them in a way that makes you feel better. These feelings are temporary, although they might not see, that way.

Your Heart Feels Like It’s Doing the Macarena

Almost all women will experience some type of heart palpations before, during, or after menopause. They can be scary, but for most women, they last only about 2 or 3 minutes. If they last longer than 5 minutes, or if you feel short of breath or have pain in your arm, back, or chest, see a doctor. Even if the duration is short, you might want to double check with your doctor that all you are feeling is your heart doing the menopause flip flop, thereby ruling out other heart problems.

Your Skin Feels Like Tree Bark

This doesn’t happen to all women, but many will tell you that their skin suddenly becomes dry and flaky during menopause. Think of this as a time to upgrade your moisturizer! The face moisturizer (and body moisturizer) you have used for the past 10 or more years might not be enough for you now. Look for words like “oil based” or “for mature skin” on your facial moisturizers, or consult with your dermatologist.

Hot Flashes are NOT over in a Flash

Hot flashes will hit you from the waist up and they can be so intense that you literally have to change your clothes. They won’t magically end with your period, either. Hot flashes and night sweats generally start in your mid to late 40’s and continue through your 50’s. Yes, 10 years of hot flashes are perfectly normal. So think cool and think layers!

Every day is a Bad Hair Day

Hair loss, hair breakage, or thinning hair is a normal symptom of menopause. Due to the wild fluctuations in hormones, your hair can become super dry and brittle. This would be a good time to think natural. Forget about curling irons, straightening irons, and chemical perms or relaxers. These will only make things worse. Use lots of conditioning treatments and gentle shampoos to help keep your locks beautiful and avoid further damage.

Your Sleep Patterns Go Completely Haywire

You will find that your sleep patterns become crazy, which can make you feel crazy. You might wake up every night at 3AM unable to sleep, fall asleep in the middle of the day, then go to bed at midnight because you can’t sleep. Other people say that although they are sleeping 8 hours at night, they simply cannot function without a nap in the afternoon.

Many, many women complain of insomnia. Night sweats wake you up and keep you up. Don’t rely on sleeping pills, however, as these only make things worse. Try some chamomile tea or warm milk. If all else fails, take up a new (quiet, indoor) hobby!

You Will Cry and Be Angry for No Reason

Our hormones have a lot to do with our feelings, so is it any surprise that a fluctuation in hormones means crazy feelings? Almost all women report feeling sad and crying for no reason at all, while others say that they feel angry all the time, but don’t know why. Still, other women will tell you that they start off crying, then screaming, before wondering what the heck they were so upset about. Be prepared for those wild feelings and don’t feel badly about it. Feelings happen. These crazy emotions will also pass.

Your Sex Drive Will Be Different

Sex usually becomes a case of feast or famine. Women seem to go to extremes in this area. Some women end up pushing away their husbands, don’t want him anywhere near them because they are going through hot flash heaven, and never give sex a second thought.

On the other hand, many women report that they become sex crazy, feeling desire like they haven’t enjoyed since their 20’s.

There are lots of women in between these two extremes, so no matter where you fall, it’s probably normal. If you are concerned, however, about your sex life, or lack of it, please talk to your OBGYN.

You Are Not Everyone Else

It seems as if there are almost as many different menopause symptoms as there are women in the world. What happens to one woman may not happen to another. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to menopause, only that your periods will stop. This list talks about the most common experiences, but if these aren’t happening to you, thank your lucky stars! Chances are that you will simply experience something else, and that’s OK.

We should add that some women go through menopause with very few “side effects”. This, too, is also considered normal. There is one thing that is true of all women; they are strong and resilient. You can get through this. Really, you can!

Top 7 Reasons Mosquitoes are Super Turned On by YOU

July 28, 2016 by Tammy Robinson Leave a Comment

If you are a mosquito magnet, you know who you are! Are you the person who comes back from a friends BBQ with 20 bites, while your friend has 1? Why is it that mosquitoes appear to really be attracted to some people more than others? Is it your good looks? Your charm? Your beer??

Keep reading, there is actually some science to be found regarding these little suckers and why they choose YOU.

It’s In Your Blood

While you might have heard some anecdotal stories about how some people just have “sweeter” blood, the truth is that your blood type does seem to make a difference. One study found that those who have type O blood ( the most common type, of course) tend to be a favorite with those nighttime vampires. While type O isn’t necessarily “sweeter” than other blood types, it does contain a particular sugar that mosquitoes seem to find super tasty. However, we can guarantee you that if you and your type A friends hit up the woodlands this weekend, the mosquitoes will have no problem making you dinner if there are no type O’s around.

It’s Really IS Your Beer

You thought we were kidding about that one, didn’t you? Well, in one study ( a very small one, yes, we know) found that those who drank just 350ml of beer found themselves in mosquito hell. Now we realize that the scientists didn’t indicate that the amount of ethanol in your sweat was the factor, they simply noted that those who drank beer, even tiny amounts, had far more mosquitoes on their skin than those who choose to be the designated driver.

It’s the Way You Breathe

One of the ways we attract mosquitoes is by breathing. While there isn’t much you can do about breathing, you should note that one study found that people who exhaled more heavily (such as those who are angry or those who were dancing) tended to get bit a whole lot more than those who avoided becoming mouth breathers. Those pesky little buggers find you via carbon dioxide. The more you expel, the easier you are to find.

It’s Your Sweat

Those annoying little bloodsuckers not only seek out carbon dioxide, the smell of your blood, and the smell of your beer, but they are also on the lookout for something called lactic acid. The type of mosquitoes which carry Zika and yellow fever are much more attracted to those who have more lactic acid on their skin. This would make even type A’s milk drinkers more attractive! An increase in body temperature, such as would occur when you are exercising or dancing, puts this substance on your skin. You might as well ring the dinner bell!

It’s Your Belly, Ladies

We mean your baby bump. Why is it that a mosquito seems to be able to find a pregnant woman from two miles away?? In this case, it’s several reasons. One study found that in the last trimester, women exhaled 21 percent more air than non-pregnant females. Another reason is that being preggo increases the blood flow to your skin, which makes you warmer than others. Since these vampires are heat seeking missiles, is it any wonder that they can pick a pregnant woman out of a crowd?

It’s Your Wardrobe

While smell has a lot to do with how mosquitoes choose their victims, they have pretty good eyesight as well. Mosquitoes are fairly visual creatures, especially in the early afternoon. For some reason, they like darker colors, such as black, navy blue, and red. Try the Madonna routine go “like a virgin” – wear white.

It’s Your Skin

Last, but certainly not least, according to some research studies, the type and amount of bacteria on your skin can act like a beacon to these blood sucking pests. Our skin is literally a hive of microscopic life. Certain types of bacteria can make a pretty distinct and attractive aroma, at least to mosquitoes. This explains why some types of mosquitoes tend to bite ankles and feet, which tend to be pretty ripe when speaking of bacteria and odor. Take a shower just before you head outside and scrub off that party of bacteria before they open the door to your mosquito buddies.

10 Facts You Must Know about the Gardasil Vaccine

July 18, 2016 by Tammy Robinson Leave a Comment

If you are a young woman or if you have preteen daughters, you are probably struggling about whether or not you should get the HPV Vaccine, commonly called Gardasil. Is it safe? Will your daughters turn into zombies? Does it cause arthritis, knobby knees, or zits?

We aren’t trying to be flip here, but it seems as if everyone on social media has something to say about this vaccine, most of it not good. Unfortunately, it appears that everything from pimples to funny looking knees gets blamed on this vaccine.

If someone told you that you could fight cancer, avoid sexually transmitted disease, and more, simply by getting a shot, wouldn’t you rush out to get it?

So why is Gardasil getting a bad rap?

Here are the 10 top facts you must know about this vaccine so that you can make an informed decision.

What Is It?

In a nutshell, Gardasil is a vaccine designed to prevent all 4 strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV ( known to you and I as herpes) which accounts for about 90 percent of all genital warts and anal cancer.

Who Should Get It?

The FDA recommends that females between the ages of 9 and 26 should get this vaccine. If you are already infected, this vaccine will protect you from other types of HPV, but it will not be effective against the strain you are infected with. Since it’s been estimated that about 4 percent of girls have sex before they are 13, and almost 63 percent have sex by the time they are seniors in high school, this vaccine works best when given at a young age.

How Long Is the Vaccine Effective?

Research suggests that it should work about 5 years, but might last longer.

Will I get HPV from the Vaccine?

No. It is impossible to get HPV from the Gardasil vaccine because it contains a virus like particle, but not the real virus.

Will My Daughter Die; Have an Allergic Reaction, Etc?

While there have been a few reports of women having typical allergic reactions, most people experience common symptoms such as slight swelling and redness at the injection site, some pain or discomfort in the arm for a day or two, and there are very, very few reports of real problems. Doctors are instructed to keep a patient for 15 or 20 minutes after the shot to watch for allergic reactions and fainting spells. However, there are plenty of reports from women who say that after the shot they experienced pain, paralysis, unrelenting fatigue, blindness, or even death. The problem is that researchers have been unable to link any of these issues to the Gardasil vaccine. With more than 86 million doses of Gardasil being given out between 2006 and 2015, with only 32,925 reports of problems being filed with the FDA. Remember, these problems may or may not have been caused by the vaccine. It’s also good to note that about 14 percent of these reports were reported because of things such as the vaccine being given to someone who should not have received it or improper storage of the vaccine.

What is the Risk VS the Benefits?

The CDC has carefully studied the risks and benefits of the Gardasil vaccine and they recommend it. You have to admit, cancer prevention, herpes prevention, and STD protection is a pretty awesome benefit. HPV causes serious cancers in both males and females and if you can prevent it, why not?

Who Should Not be Vaccinated?

The following is a list of persons who should not get the Gardasil vaccine:

If you or your child has severe allergies, especially to yeast or latex
Pregnant women
If you or your child is sick or has a fever
If you or your child has ever had an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. Read the insert for a list of ingredients.

Will the Vaccine Damage a Woman’s Ovaries?

Both the FDA and CDC have conducted studies regarding ovarian failure in women who have had this vaccine and determined that there were no cases linked to this vaccine. In the 80 million doses of Gardasil administered, there were 16 reports of premature ovarian failure. There were no patterns found, nor was there any evidence that the vaccine caused these problems. This vaccine was extensively studied in clinical trials for years before it was approved for use.

Will the Vaccine Cause Guillain-Barre Syndrome?

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a very rare disease where your immune system damages your own nerve cells, sometimes causing paralysis or muscle weakness. Most people will eventually recover from this disease, but a few people have been known to experience long term nerve damage. The CDC monitored GBS problems between 2006 and 2012 and found no cases of GBS among women who were given the vaccine. Not one.

But What If I Have a Problem After Receiving the Vaccine??

A severe allergic reaction with swelling of the throat and face or difficulty breathing is a life threatening emergency. Call 911 immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Other symptoms that might be of concern would be a high fever, a fast heartbeat, weakness, or dizziness. While most of these problems would occur within a few minutes, it is possible that allergic reactions can occur even a few hours after the vaccine has been given.

See your doctor or go to your local hospital if you have any concerns after receiving the vaccine. Your doctor will file a report with the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

Keep in mind that most of the horror stories you read about on social media sites have no basis in fact. True, someone might have begun having headaches after receiving the vaccine, but this does not mean that the vaccine is the cause.