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By David Brooks Andrews/Correspondent 108 Main St., Norfolk DETAILS Living area: units of 2,028 to 2,336 square feet Property size: 9-acre site for 40 homes List price: $609,900 and upwards Boydes Crossing is Norfolks first sustainable community of high-quality and well-insulated homes with exceptional energy efficient features . It uses less than 30 percent of the energy consumed by standard newly built homes . Its a beautiful tree-lined, nine-acre site with stunning stonewalls and landscape located on Main Street, just a quick walk to the town center and the commuter rail station to Boston. Each home has its own private patio and planting area and theres also a community garden, an attractive gazebo with a center fireplace, green spaces, bicycle racks and ponds. Forty houses will be built over one to two years. Fifteen units have been started. The address can be located on GPS. Last weekend, Boydes Crossing in Norfolk had the first open house of its green community that...

A Kings Heath builder is using a 2,000-year-old technique – and his back garden shed – to become a rising star in the fast-growing world of fermented vegan drinks . Alyn Norris has founded the Happy Gut Hut - making kombucha drinks considered to be so good that the Michelin- starred chef Brad Carter from Carters of Moseley has added them on his menu. Kombucha is a term with its origins in China and Japan and refers to fermented teas which are made by adding liquids to a 'scoby' – a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. The results are gently effervescent , sweetened black or green tea drinks which contain probiotics and antioxidants. Read More Alyn makes no medicinal claims for the elixir, other than to say he believes the drinks must be good for you. And one interesting by-product could be a vegan alternative to leather – watch our video to see Alyn trying to tear one of the live cultures which you can also eat. Chef Brad Carter says the Happy Gut Hut drinks ar...

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Finding a bathtub that works for Mom and Baby alike makes tub time fun and relaxing for everyone. But how do you know which type of bathtub to choose when faced with endless options on the shelves? Our guide helps you find the style that suits your baby best, at every size, age and stage. First Baths Perfect for newborns, European style, pail-like tubs may look like regular buckets, but they’re built for providing tiny babies with womb-like comfort, relaxation and safety. Highly recommended for preemies and used in NICUs around the world, these tubs are designed to promote soothing and bonding experiences for babies and caregivers alike , and can even ease colic and gassiness in fussy infants. They use less water and energy than most other infant tubs, and will usually accommodate children well into toddler-hood. (Up to about 35 pounds.) Endless styles of infant bathing seats and cradles are available for parents to choose from. These items are usually lightweight, portable and e...

Mandie Badaloni recalls her first miscarriage as the most traumatic event of her life. When she saw a nurse carry her baby out of a hospital bathroom in a biohazard bag, the image was branded in her memory. It was May 2011; she had been 19 weeks pregnant with a little girl. A few days earlier, during a routine prenatal exam , her doctor told her the baby had stopped growing. He didn’t know why. She started to bleed soon after. “I walk in, and I tell them I’m having a miscarriage — like the baby is halfway out — and they go, ‘Oh, can you fill out this paperwork?’ ” Badaloni said. Stretched out in a bed tucked away in an emergency room, Badaloni was left alone. “I had the baby in the bathroom by myself,” she said. An ER nurse came in and told her to go lie down. Fading in and out of consciousness, she saw through the bathroom door as her baby was scooped into a red plastic bag and carried away. “That was the last time I saw her,” she said. Things have changed. Five years and another ...

Have you ever been worried about what toxins could be lurking in your soap?  We’ve put together a selection of cleaning products that are free from chemicals, which are often found in household products from major brands but, in fact, are harmful to both our health and the environmental. The worst offenders are phthalates, which is used to add fragrance but can be easily absorbed through the skin; triclosan, which is used in dishwashing detergents and can cause the growth of drug-resistant bacteria; 2-butoxyethanol, which is used in multi purpose cleaner s and can irritate the throat; and chlorine, which is used in bathroom cleaning products but is a respiratory irritant that can cause both acute and chronic health problems .  Our testers got busy trying out everything from washing-up liquid and toilet bowl cleaners to dishwasher tablets and sponges, and we’ve picked a selection that will effectively cover a range of household tasks. 1. Dr Bronner’s Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner:...

Overview Vaginal douching is washing the vagina with water or a mixture of fluids to eliminate odors and “clean” the vagina. Most often, vinegar is mixed with the water, but some prepackaged douche products contain baking soda or iodine. A few also contain antiseptics and fragrances. One in five women between the ages of 15 and 44 use douches regularly. A 2002 survey found that the practice is more common in African-American and Hispanic women. In addition, one study found that teenagers of all ethnicities and races are more likely to douche. Douching can cause side effects like burning and irritation, as well as several complications. These complications can make any issues you’re trying to cover up, such as unusual odor, worse. Find out safe ways to get rid of vaginal odor. Advertisement Advertisement Function How does it work? To perform a vaginal douche , a mixture of water and other ingredients is placed in a bottle or bag. The mixture is then sprayed or squirted upward into...

The seamless construction of the one-piece unit provides protection from leaks that cause deterioration of the walls behind the tub. These acrylic or fiberglass units help to prevent the growth of mildew and mold in the bathroom and behind the tub enclosure. By adding sliding glass doors instead of a shower curtain, owners can increase the illusion of space in very small bathrooms. The single- piece unit works best with new construction. The contractor sets the unit in the bathroom area before erecting all the stud walls. Because of its size, it is difficult to maneuver into most existing bathrooms, making it impractical for most bathroom remodels, where multiple piece shower -tub combinations are easier to install. Manufacturers are working to increase options such as grab bars and imprint a pattern on some units to resemble tile. However, as of 2015, consumers still find the color choices and styles of these units more limited than with other types of tub-shower combinations. ...

Eago - Ariel Platinum The Ariel Platinum line of steam showers is manufactured by a company named Eago . Although Ariel Platinum steam showers are privately labeled there is no difference between and Ariel Platinum model and the Eago models. Typically consumers pay a little bit more for the private label. Eago steam showers are one of the best on the market, being fully loaded as they say with FM radio and sound system, hands free telephone , chromo therapy lighting , and teak accents throughout including a floor seating and roofs. Having full ETL/CSA and CE electrical certifications these units can be installed in new construction applications as well as in remodeling situations because Eago showers will pass the electrical codes throughout the United States and Canada. It is important to check with a local building inspector before purchasing any steam shower unit just to make sure it will pass the local building codes . Ameristeam - American Steam - As...

6/9/2013 Oh Bath & Body Works, how I love you so! This is a review that I should've done a long time ago - but, after my trip yesterday, it reaffirmed the 5 stars that it truly deserves. The staff here are super-friendly, warm, and welcoming. The smiles actually feel and seem geniune, which is a plus. The sales are AMAZING! I've been to other B&BW stores in other Outlet locations to find that they are not discounted like this one. I came home with a bagful of goodies for under $13!! 2 lotions, 1 shower gel, and 1 bottle of perfume. I'm still amazed - plus, they even accept the coupons that they routinely send in the mail and via e-mail.

A TWO-bedroom unit in Queenscliff was hotly contested with multiple buyers attempting to secure it. A Melbourne buyer snapped up 7/9 Symonds St in the end for $476,500, above the listed asking price of $440,000-$460,000. Fletchers, Queenscliff agent James Gladman said the unit was popular because of its location. “It is around the corner from the main street and close to the harbour and Swan Bay,” Mr Gladman said. The unit has had a modern makeover. “The buyers are from Melbourne and will use it as a holiday base and enjoy it over the years.” The compact two-bedroom unit has recently been updated with baltic pine floorboards , contemporary kitchen, spacious bathroom and rear patio with outdoor shower. The median unit price in Queenscliff is $405,000, according to CoreLogic.

Take a look around the home of a couple celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary. It's likely the sheets and towels are worn, the pots and pans scuffed, the toaster on the fritz. Take another look. Aren't these the items the couple received at their bridal shower? Come to think of it, it's high time for another shower to replace all the worn stuff, right? The point is, whether you're the one registering for gifts or obsessing over the perfect gift to give, remember that the gifts a couple receives at the bridal shower could be hanging around a decade later and beyond. That's why couples clamor for high quality and practicality. Creative ensembles earn high marks as well. All in all, practicality seems to win out. Who really uses a breakfast-in-bed tray? Or a punch bowl? Or a deep fryer in the age of the health-conscious? These are some of the items local brides named as most likely to be on the table at their first garage sale. Brides also advised steering clear...