NAKFA

straightmysteriosa:

deadlysick:

I hope that this will be the year I finally do this.

did it

212428 ♥ / 30 January, 2013

0 ♥ / 30 January, 2013

10303 ♥ / 30 January, 2013

Theme

Hm, is it time for a new theme? My current one might be cluttered, it might be awesome, or I might just be bored with it. Murr?

0 ♥ / 29 January, 2013

4 ♥ / 29 January, 2013

alittlecoconuttart:

Closeup Picture: The Red Bugs in Your Starbucks Frappuccino
Posted on March 31, 2012 by Hemi Weingarten
(Image by University of Turin, Italy)
Tiny red bugs were all the rage this week as news of their presence in Starbucks strawberry drink spread across the web. The news was broken by a vegan barista who shared it with vegetarian blogs. Starbucks did not deny:
“The strawberry base for our Strawberries & Creme Frappuccino does contain cochineal extract, a common natural dye that is used in the food industry, and it helps us move away from artificial ingredients…”
What exactly is cochineal, and why in the world are we seeing it in our food supply?
What you need to know:
The above image is a 10X zoom image of the female cochineal insect (Dactylpius Coccus), producer of what has been considered for centuries the best red dye in the world.
Hailing from Aztec Mexcio, the female cochineal insects set up shop on cactii, where they breed and eat. The males live for just one short week to reproduce and then die.
Hundreds of years ago, the Aztecs would collect the bugs, briefly boil them in water, dry them in the sun and then pulverize them into a fine scarlet powder known as cochineal or carmine. The powder was used to dye royal garments. It was coveted by the Spanish conquistadors who brought it back to Europe.
The relevant pigment in the bugs is a bitter chemical called carminic acid. Food manufacturers began using it about 100 years ago to add luster to products such as pork sausages, dried shrimp, candies, jams, and maraschino cherries.
As food science progressed, cheaper artificial dyes Red #2 and Red #40 replaced the natural cochineal until its production became uneconomical.
However, fears over the carcinogenic effects of artificial food coloring helped cochineal stage a comeback, and it is now featured in various food products, including said strawberry frap.
Although carmine is considered safe by the FDA, about 1 in 10,000 people develop some sort of allergic reaction when consuming it. As of January 2011, the FDA has mandated all foods and cosmetics using cochineal to explicitly state its presence in the ingredient list.
This labeling requirement is beneficial to vegetarians, Jews and Muslims who wish to stay away from bugs. Interestingly, carmine is considered kosher by observant jews.
What to do at the supermarket:
If you wish to avoid this coloring, look for the following on the ingredient list – Carmine, Cochineal, E210E120.

wooooooooow, I’m gettin a lil weirded out with these food discoveries

13 ♥ / 29 January, 2013

Gelatin

wow, just found out what this stuff is made of. please. please google right now.

Ew

0 ♥ / 29 January, 2013

68653 ♥ / 29 January, 2013

2 ♥ / 29 January, 2013

1 ♥ / 28 January, 2013

0 ♥ / 27 January, 2013

Anonymous asked: Hello Beautiful! I'm feeling better today, back into Sophia Tesfamariam etc :-) What exactly do you mean about things getting weird in 2013? I just LOVE looking at your blogg, your sense of beauty and purpose are astounding, your aesthetism... I don't know why but it just comforts me looking at your posts and photos. I bet it's because I'm really shallow at heart and am easily drawn to beauty just like everyone. It's a grey and dreary day in Sweden, am drinking green tea and thinking of you. Rxx

the best part about that, is that I actually know her lol we went to the same church I believe.

but hello beautiful stranger, I hope all is well with you. Its inspiring to know you enjoy my posts, thanks for the love. Once again, blessings to you! You’re perhaps the best anon ever lol

1 ♥ / 27 January, 2013

Anonymous asked: No need to thank me for my support, I happen to like making you feel happy, beautiful and awesome. If those stupid modelling agencies start telling you to lose weight, don't forget to tell them to take a very long hike to Sweden where I will administer them an unforgettable clobbering. My theory; if we were all to possess the misfortune of being dumb, blond and thin WHERE would all the earthly and heavenly juice, soul, inspiration ever come from? JAZZ, BLUES, RAP,GRAFFITI, MOSES, HIPHOP, love...

ahaha yes!

blessings and thank you. There is beauty in variety

0 ♥ / 27 January, 2013

4 ♥ / 27 January, 2013

6 ♥ / 27 January, 2013