I enjoy blogging, so why don't I do it more?

This is something I think about frequently. I enjoy blogging, I'm rarely at a loss for words...so why do my blogs continually stagnate?

1. I don't have a special set of skills. It's true and it's not like it's really a big deal: I have no skill sets that would qualify me to have any kind of informative blog. I have a lot of interests, and tend more toward that old adage, "jack of all trades, master of none." So, if there were a skill I'd be tempted to share, there are already people out there doing a much better job than I could ever hope to. So I'm left with a blog about personal experiences or opinions. Annnnnddddd...
2. I'm not sure I want to contribute to the noise. There are a lot of voices out there. A lot of wrong and right and somewhere-in-between voices. I'm not convinced that, despite having opinions on a grand number of things, I really want to contribute to the noise. Even if I did, I'm not sure that what I have to say is what needs (or wants) to be heard. Besides...
3. I don't want to be misunderstood. This is kind of a big one for me (so of course it's the one I'm going to write the least about). It's something I'm still trying to figure out, too. Misunderstandings lead to conflict and I hate conflict. And the internet is rife with misunderstanding. 

So...

I don't know if I'll ever post more often or not. Or if I'll eventually give it up altogether. 

Pin of the Week

I found this pin this week and just had to share it! What a wonderful resource for the preschool mommy!

Totes lates, Cheez!

Yes. It's true.
I'm saying good-bye to dairy.

It isn't the first time in my life (and knowing me, probably not the last, either) that I've given up dairy, as my mom once believed I was allergic due to severe "growing pains" I would get as a child (more on that in a minute). I ate it without trouble in my teen years but more recently have decided I am lactose intolerant, so I either take lactaid or try to limit my intake. Until now. Because...well, things change.

Firstly, I have an autoimmune disorder and many people are beginning to believe that there is a connection between gut health, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. So, for the sake of my Grave's Disease I have been on a journey to eliminate inflammatory foods from my diet one category at a time. I started with Gluten and, having been mostly successful for several months, am moving onto dairy.

Secondly, I recently learned about Joint Hypermobility, thanks to my super sister-in-law. You know those people who can hyper-extend their elbows and are flexible or "double" jointed? Some of those people might have Joint Hypermobility! For a lot of people with Hypermobility it's not a big deal, but for some people it can cause chronic pain, among other symptoms (and "growing pains" in children!). After a bit of research, I feel like the clouds have opened up and sun is shining in on so many things about my health that I didn't understand. And it is a connective tissue disorder, which holistic plebs believe can be affected by diet.

So, between my autoimmune disease and connective tissue disorder (two things that some people believe may actually be interconnected), I am even more inclined to eliminate inflammatory foods from my diet.

I actually don't miss dairy or gluten that much. I'm sure there will be days when I wish I could just run to Einstein's for a bagel and shmear, but I'm doing pretty okay. I know it will get more difficult as I move onto sugars and nightshades (POTATOES I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU) and...MAYBE...beef, but so far so good. Baby steps, right?

So. This is just a little update on my dietary drama, and also a bit of a ALERT about Joint Hypermobility because I've decided...what if? It's not one of those things that's very well known, but what if hearing and learning a bit about it could also help someone find answers to heavy questions about pain and health?

This has been kind of a boring post. Here are some fainting goats:

Hahaha. Oh goats.

My favorite cleaner.

via QSPRN.com

I have a favorite all-purpose cleaner. That is one of the most grown-up sentences I have ever muttered and the child in me is giving me weird looks.

The bigger problem is that it's actually true! Like it is a factual statement that reflects my actual feelings about an all-purpose cleaner. Uuuugh.

So, because recipe sharing is something grown-ups do, I'm going to share the super-simple-not-so-secret-secret-recipe.

Step One: Get yourself a spray bottle. Any bottle will do, but choose something that sprays a heckuva lot better than mine does, puh-lease!
Step Two: Fill it half way with water. Any old water will do.
Step Three: Fill the rest of the bottle with white vinegar. You can buy fancy-dancy vinegar if you want but I keep it cheap and buy the 2-for-$4 at Sam's Club. (I actually don't know how much it costs, but it's cheap.)
Step Four: Add a few drops of Dawn.
Step Five: Shake shake shake shake your booty bottle!

If you simply can't abide the smell of vinegar, or want to add more disinfecting power, feel free to add 10-20 drops of your go-to essential oil.

Then clean your home! I use it for everything kitchen related, from countertop cleaning to spraying down pans with stuck-on food (it is a miracle worker for this!).

Cheap. Easy. Mostly all natural. Non-toxic. I'm in love.

Do you have a favorite household cleaner, thusly causing your inner child to stick its tongue out at you, too?

Treat Yo' Self! :: Pedicures

This is the only time I will ever, ever, ever say the following words: Tom Haverford knows what a girl needs.

And not just girl, generic, female person. MOMMIES. Especially mommies who get touched with grubby fingers and kissed with slimey mouths and wiped upon with what was that? In case you aren't following, that's EVERY MOMMY.

We need to Treat Ou' Selves. Yo' Self. Um...

We need to take a few minutes to climb out of the sticky, snotty puddle that we sometimes find ourselves in and do what makes us remember that we are beautiful human people and not tissues. So let's start TREATIN'!

We're starting with our feet, quite possibly one of the most overlooked parts of our body. Feet are kind of weird and they get shoved in shoes and they get sweaty and smelly and not a whole lot of love in general. Our feet have a tough, often thankless job (kind of like being a mom?) so today we're going to spend a little time appreciating them!

The best way is with regular pedicures!

SAVE - Standard Pedicure

You can get a standard pedicure at any local nail salon (and at beauty schools, too, if you want to be extra thrifty!). The traditionally include a nice soak, scrub, massage, toenail trim, and a coat of paint. They are relaxing and you leave with soft, lovely feet.
Expect to pay: $12 or more + tip

SPLURGE - Spa Pedicure

If you're feeling wealthy (or want to give a great gift!) go get a pedicure at a fancy spa in your city. Spa pedicures include everything that a standard one does plus a few extras! Depending on the spa, there may be hot rocks, paraffin dips or mud masks. Some places even serve a splash of wine or provide other tasty delights for you to enjoy.

Expect to pay: $30 or more + tip

DIY - Home Pedicure

But, if you don't believe in paying for anything you can do at home yourself... Try getting together with a few girl friends and giving each other pedicures! 

What you will need:

• A tub large enough for both feet, a bathtub, or you can invest in a special tub with jets and a massager.
• Essential oil 
• Sugar scrub (Olive oil and a bit of sugar is an exellent and easy option!)
• Nail brush
• Pumice stone
• Toenail clippers
• Cuticle pusher
• Nail file
• Moisturizer (Shea Butter and Whipped Coconut Oil are both great options!)
• Polish remover/cotton balls
• Nail polish

What you do:

1. Fill the tub with nice steamy water! Adda few drops of essential oil.
2. Let your feet soak for 5-10 minutes, you want them soft but not too pruney. 
3. Use the nail brush and sugar scrub all over those piggies! 
4. Use the pumice stone, focusing on the heels and balls of the feet where callouses are likely to form.
5. Clip those toenails, file them, and push back those cuticles!
6. Massage and moisturize your feet and legs with a healthy helping of your favorite lotion, foot cream, or oil. 
7. And to finish everything off, wipe those toe nails with a dab of polish remover to prep the toenail for polish, otherwise they may be a little filmy from the lotion, and then give them two thin coats of a fun end-of-summer color! 

I promise that if you can endure the bottom-of-the-foot scrubbing, you will feel wonderful afterward. Just remember these two last words of wisdom: Wear open-toed shoes to your appointment, and choose a color you're going to like wearing for a couple of weeks because polish on toes doesn't show wear as quickly as on your fingernails.

Now go Treat Yo' Self!

Do you have any tips for the perfect pedicure? 

Yea and Nay :: July

The first in what I hope with be a regular end-of-the-month (yes I realize I'm late) feature highlighting my a favorite and least favorite product of the month. I think personal recommendations are so helpful when it comes to beauty products so this is my little attempt.

Yea! :: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24 HR Cream Gel Shadow

I. Love. This. Eyeshadow.
I kind of got this by accident. David needed to round out an online order for free shipping and he offered to let me pick out a little something to add. When I sent him a note asking if this eyeshadow qualified he went ahead and ordered it. I would have probably spent another hour trying to decide what color to get, but the link I had sent him was for Pomegranate Punk 30, so that's what I got!
And it is the best oops I've encountered thus far.
The color is rich and vibrant, even on someone with medium tan skin like myself. The application is effortless and it truly is long lasting. It's not heavy or greasy. It looks great by itself for a quick splash of color or layered with other shadows for a more dramatic effect. After about twelve hours of wear I did have some creasing and it was just looking a tad worn but I wore it without primer and my eyelids are super crease prone.
I am so excited about this shadow that I want one in every color. Even the blues! Which I never wear!
$6.99 at Ulta

Nay. :: Sally Hansen No Chip Acrylic Top Coat

I picked this top coat up because I was in desperate need and it was on sale. I typically like to use the fast dry top coats, but was feeling extra frugal that day.
Siiiiiiiigh.
I wish I had spent the extra couple of dollars for a top coat that works.
Everything about this top coat seems great until you actually have to start using your hands and realize that it's No Chip promise falls short.
It's just not very good and I even feel like my polish is MORE chip-prone when I use this product. :(
$4.99 at Ulta

What products have you loved (and not loved) this month?

A hairy confession.

I miss shampoo and conditioner.

I was happy with this no-poo adventure until I colored my hair a month or so ago and was required to use a packet of sealing conditioner. It felt like silken heaven on my hair.

Since that day, my hair has felt waxy at the roots and straw-like at the ends. I've tried changing my recipe, brushing more to distribute the oil, even some leave-in oils on the ends....And it has yet to feel as nice as it did for the months leading up to my coloring.

Now I am seriously considering switching to some kind of crunchy shampoo (because I still don't want harmful chemicals in my hair), or even just a cleansing conditioner.

I don't know if coloring was my downfall, or if my hair's chemistry has just changed a bit with the summer weather we've been having, but I do know that I don't like the way my hair feels anymore. Thankfully, it doesn't look as unfortunate as it feels.

And some days I would just love to actually be able to run my hands through my hair in the shower, which I cannot do without painful pulling and that nasty feeling of oil in water.

So. I'm trying to decide if it's worth it for me to keep trying. David still likes it, and I'm so glad for him, but I miss having soft hair.

A little project.

Sometimes I make hand stamped jewelry as gifts. I'm no master by any stretch of the imagination, and until recently I've stuck to really simple initial jewelry, but it's a fun little crafty thing that I enjoy.

A couple of weeks ago a friend and lovely gal from my church recruited me to make a necklace for her mom for Mother's Day. I was thrilled, knowing her mom to be a really wonderful and fun lady. Plus, it was a lot of fun to get to do my best to make someone else's vision come to life.

Here's a quick shot of took of the finished product!

I think it turned out really nice and was so happy to hear that mom and daughter both liked it as well!

Three months free!

I started my "No 'Poo" journey at the beginning of February...and I will never go back.

I love not using shampoo. Love love love it.

My hair is soft and clean and healthy and free of frizz. And it's the most wonderful thing I've ever done. Here is a quick picture of my hair after a shower and partial blow dry because I'm lazy and my hair takes forever to dry (which is why the under part is flipping out like crazy).

A picture doesn't really do it justice so you're just going to have to trust me that it looks and feels great. Even better, so does David's! We lucked out and are able to use the same recipe for our "shampoo" and "conditioner" mixtures. 

Speaking of which...

I mentioned in my original post that the recipe is as follows:

1 TBSP Baking Soda to every CUP of water for the Shampoo

and

1/4 CUP Apple Cider Vinegar to every CUP of water for the Conditioner

That just didn't work well for me, so I did some tweaking! This is the recipe that works the best for my hair, using my "shampooing" method. 

Shampoo:

1-1/2 TBSP Baking Soda

1 CUP Water

1 tsp Tea Tree Oil 

Conditioner:

1/3 CUP Apple Cider Vinegar

1 CUP Water

This recipe works best for my thick, dense, drier-side-of-normal hair.  I also learned a few tricks that work best for me and my hair. 

• Invest in a good boar's hair brush and be sure to use it daily. It makes all the difference in my hair. If you have wavy/curly hair, however, I would only use it only right before your shower otherwise you're going to just get poof and no one wants that. 
• I don't use the Baking Soda mixture over my whole head, only at a few key locations: hair line, part, crown, nape. I rub it in until it feels slippery and then rinse well. 
• For the ACV rinse I first pour it on my ends, cupping them in my hands, then squirt some all over my hair, comb through and let it sit. I know a lot of people say only use it on your ends or use it very sparingly...but I found that it left my hair feeling waxy if I didn't use some over the length.
• I do not use very much of either mixture... I've never measured exactly how much I use, but David and I share two squirt bottles filled with approximately 2 cups of each mixture and it lasts us 1-2 weeks depending on our oily we get those days.
• I also use it cold...which I know some people hate, but it helps me to know where I have poured the mixtures. And it's not like it's icy cold. 

So...this has been a really great experiment so far. 

I have only two warnings for anyone wanting to try it. ONE...You are probably going to have to go through an adjustment period of tweaking and being generally more oily than you prefer; if you keep up with it and find your perfect recipe then you will likely move past that awkward stage. TWO...not for babies or some toddlers; both mixtures hurt when they get in your eyes, so I really wouldn't use it until your child is old enough to keep their eyes shut for a bit, and to properly tilt their head backward. (At this rate, S.G. is never going to get to use anything but all natural baby shampoos...that child does hate bath time...)

I started this all just to get away from unnecessary chemicals, but I've decided that it was worth it alone for the cost saved and how great my hair has been since I found my perfect recipe.

Getting there.

Someday I really hope I have content on a more than only highly sporadic basis. It's not that I don't have the ideas or time...it's that I haven't had the health.

See, my Grave's Disease did not go into remission as hoped and I wasted four months suffering through severe depression, overwhelming fatigue, and violent mood swings before I realized that my symptoms had returned. My experience this time around was much more mental and emotional than the physical signs that tipped doctors off when I was first diagnosed and it quite took me by surprise.

But I am on medication now and looking into alternative options that I hope will help my body settle into a full and final remission sometime over the next 18 months. Prayers are always appreciated and many thanks to those who I know are already asking for healing on my behalf.

Who should we believe? Taking steps toward healthful eating.

Friends, we live in a confusing time.

Low-fat, low-carb, vegetarian, raw food, hormone-free, grain-free, gluten-free, organic, grass-fed, non-GMO, dairy-free, Paleo, Food Pyramid, donut, everything in-between. Everywhere we go, someone is trying to tell us how to eat for the betterment of our health and society. It can be overwhelming to google topics on eating healthfully only to be barraged by contradicting statements by a plethora of people, none of whom seem to be in full agreement.

I guess it is here that I should say that I am highly suspicious of anything our government says or does. I am not anti-government or anti-America or even a mind-always-racing conspiracy theorist; I don't believe everything our government touches will turn to crap. But I am suspicious, and I think that is a healthy place to be. I will not be a sheeple. (Despite what anyone out there may believe about this kinda-liberal-but-also-kinda-conservative-stay-at-home-mommy.)

That goes for large corporations as well.

But I'm also suspicious of the great chorus of bloggers who cry "no grains" and "eat no meat" and "gluten will kill you dead!" Or whatever they personally believe.

I'm suspicious of everyone. Because as a liberal arts educated mom with no degree (I just couldn't decide on one thing!)...I have very little education in anything health related. I have only my common sense and the word of people I have never met. Which is kind of a scary place to be when you live in a tornado of information.

So I am adopting five rules for my family. Or trying. Getting there, anyway.

1. Eat More Fruit and Vegetables. Everyone agrees that fruits and vegetables are a staple in a healthy diet. Especially those that promote healthy blood sugar levels.
2. Avoid Trans Fats. No one believes that any good comes from them, despite the lingering debate on fats as a whole. 
3. Limit Grain Intake to Whole Grains. Grains are a touchy subject. Some people believe you will see  remarkable changes in health after eliminating grains. Others think those people are morons (unless they have an obvious intolerance, allergy, or disease like Celiac). I don't know what to believe, so I'm going to stick with the one thing both parties agree on and that is that WHOLE grains are better than those that are not. 
4. Avoid Processed Foods. Everyone agrees that the more processed a food is, the worse it is for you. Hard to do in this convenience food culture.
5. Eat Organically and Non-GMO Whenever Possible. This is hard. But easier when you eliminate many processed foods. This is a personal belief, and while I will not always follow my own rule...I'm going to try to do my best with what I have been given.

This is just a start. I highly doubt there is going to be a large group of people belying goodness of naturally grown vegetables anytime soon, so it feels like a safe one that isn't too extreme in any direction. 

And believe me, I'm not doing this out of any sense of a higher-calling-than-thou. Really, I'm sitting here eating super processed, non-whole grain pretzels with GMO canola oil in them. I'm not some crazy example of healthful eating by any stretch of the imagination... I'm just a mom who is taking baby steps toward healthful eating...wherever those steps may take me.

Side note: Artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame) are not on the list because I don't even consider them an option. As for refined sugar...well...this is a journey, right? (And it sort of falls under processed foods...)

Back to old school.

After several weeks of a laptop free existence (again), we have moved our ancient (hey Windows XP, how're you?) and slow desktop computer to a more accessible part of the house. Hopefully this means I will be a more active blogger now that I can type on a keyboard again. Whew.

So, look forward to posts about how the no 'poo method is working for me, oil cleansing, homemade toothpaste and mouthwash, and more!

So now what?

There is inside me growing a battle. A battle between my desire to be frugal and how things I use and buy are produced.

I am no coupon clipper, nor am I one of those ladies that can somehow buy a pair of $100 jeans for $5, but I like to think of myself as a frugal homemaker. Some might say I am cheap (coughmyhusbandcough) and that is probably a better word for me. I will sometimes sacrifice quality for a low price.

But something is beginning to bother me, and it's going to be an issue for cheap me.

I am not well researched in this area, but it is generally recognized that not all companies manufacture or produce their products in ways that are ethically supportable. From human rights issues to animal mistreatment to protecting our planet and health, no two companies are the same and most seem to have little regard for the care of God's creations.

So...I'm still learning and praying, because I feel like this is something that matters. I don't want people to work in sweat shops so I can have a cute top, or chickens to be force-fed in tiny enclosures so that my family can have a chicken dinner.

I don't know what this looks like for our family yet. Buying from thrift stores more? Online shopping from fair-trade companies? Spending that extra 75 cents a pound on chicken? Being willing to spend $15 on one shirt made on a family farm instead of two shirts made in a factory? I'm not sure yet. One thing i do know is that it probably means that we will live more simply with fewer things and less clutter...and there's nothing wrong with that.

What's new ALCAT, whoaaaoooaaaoooaaaaooooo.

Many of those closer to me know that I have been experience strange and unusual health issues for some time.

Around this time last year I was actually diagnosed with Graves Disease (which promptly disappeared after a short stint on medication) after attempting to learn what had been causing me terribly bodily itching for an entire year. Since then, the worst of my itching has stopped, though I still struggle with an itchy scalp.

Sometime during the same year that my itching was at its worst my sister-in-law was also battling baffling health issues. At her boss' insistence, she eventually got a food sensitivity test done called the ALCAT. The results have pretty much been life altering for her.

Because of ever-present autoimmune disorder on my side of my family my mom, sister and I all got the ALCAT test done a few weeks ago. The results were illuminating.

A couple of things you need to know about the test:
- It is NOT, I repeat NOT, an allergy test. If you are allergic to peanuts then your ALCAT test results will probably list peanuts on your "okay" food list. If you are concerned that you may have an allergy, then talk to an allergist. I believe that I am allergic to shellfish, my test says I can eat shellfish. I will be consulting a doctor sometime in the future. Know your allergies.
- The ALCAT also does not test for Lactose Intolerance, despite being a test for food sensitivities and intolerances. This is because Lactose Intolerance is a lack of lactase being produced in your body, the enzyme that you need to breakdown lactose. Your body is not sensitive to lactose, your body simply cannot process it. I am Lactose Intolerant and my test showed no sensitivities to whey or casein. Know if you're Lactose Intolerant.
- It is not a test for Celiac. If you think you may have Celiac, see a doctor. It's test will test if you are sensitive or intolerant to gluten and gliadin, but will not test for Celiac.

So what's the point? The point is to learn what foods your body is sensitive to now. Food intolerances and sensitivities can change. Many foods that a person is sensitive to can be reintroduced into the diet after the body has essentially detoxed and healed over time, this is not often true for allergies or Celiac. When you do reintroduce them, you do so carefully and keeping in mind the age old adage "everything in moderation." My SIL has been able to begin eating some foods that once made her very sick, because her body as a whole is now healthier.

Does it work for everyone? Probably not. There are medical issues that can't be fixed by your diet. But is it worth a shot if you can't seem to find a solution, or if you want to seek to be healthier overall? I can't imagine it's harmful.

Anyway, I got the test because I feel blah a lot of the time. And my scalp itches. And there is a lot of autoimmune disease in my family and reducing inflammation is shown to be a good thing to help prevent and battle such nasties.

I got the 100 foods test because it really covers a whole lot of foods that I eat regularly...and I had never heard of some of the larger tests. There are also tests for food additives, molds, and environmental chemicals. I didn't get those because one test is expensive enough.

On the test there are four categories that the food reactions can fall into: severe, moderate, mild, and none.
Severe reaction foods are to be eliminated from the diet for at least six months, moderate foods for three to six months, and mild foods should be avoided when possible (though I am going to attempt to avoid them altogether for one month). Obvious, you can keep eating foods that you do not react too.

So...my results?

Wait. First. Three of them make me really almost excited. String Beans (Green Beans), carrots, and onions. I do not like them. Actually, I like raw carrots so that's a bummer but... I now have a reason to pick around onions, cooked carrots, and green beans. That is my silver lining.

Severe:
- green pea
- spinach (this makes me really sad because I LOVE the spinach florentine bagel at Einstein Bros.)
- string (green, French) bean
- sweet potato
- turkey (the only non-fishy meat that my sister can have is turkey...so I guess we are going to be eating a lot of fish together)

Moderate:
- carrot
- cashew
- onion
- orange
- yellow squash (I LOVE spaghetti squash so this is really, really sad)

Mild
- basil (I cook with so much basil...)
- broccoli (my favorite vegetable)
- coconut (the oil actually makes me violently ill)
- fructose
- halibut
- pear
- pecan
- tuna

So. My list is actually not that long. And there is a good change that someday I will be able to eat those things I love again. But for now...nope! It's time to get healthy. And this is just a small part of the whole picture.

So...what kind of extreme and crunchy things have you done to get healthy?

P.s. My laptop is kaput again. Sooo...my posts are going to be very simple since I'm using the app on my iPad. Probably no pictures.

P.p.s. the ALCAT people did not pay me or ask me or anything to do this. I'm just sharing my experiences.

Week 2: A Learning Curve

I have officially made it to the end of Week 2! Huzzah! Hip hip hooray! Yessssss!

Week 2 of No Shampoo (yes, that was intentional) was a success.

Going into Week 2 I was a little scared, because my hair just wasn't feeling clean. Thanks to the interwebz I discovered that not only does my area have hard water, but that you have to approach this shampoo-less lifestyle a little differently when that is the case.

 So, all of you soft water people out there rejoice, because this will be easy for you. Rejoice and send happy hair vibes in the direction of the nearest hard water sufferer.

 So how do you deal with hard water? Well, if you really want to follow the baking soda way, then you're either going to have to boil your water or buy it distilled. I chose to boil.

So you boil it up, remove the pot from the heat and immediately at your baking soda. AND IT IS GOING TO FIZZ. Srsly, it was really cool. Anyway, it dissolved a lot better in the boiling water, and after I let it cool I transferred some to my little bottle. Then I did the same with my Apple Cider Vinegar solution. Be sure to rinse your pot out well first, or else the ACV will react to the baking soda scum left over and...I don't know if that's okay or not.

Well, I don't.

So! I double washed my hair later that day. It was a little straw-like, but at least it was clean. Since then I've reverted to focusing more on my hairline and part, since that is where oil is most visible. That seems to help prevent my ends from feeling too dry, and my hair still feels and looks healthy and clean. I am also using most of my ACV rinse on my ends and reserving only a few spritzes to seal up the rest of my hair. I've done that twice...and so far it seems to be working really well!

 Now you're ready for pictures though. Right? Yeah, I know you are.

 So, the first set are right before my shower. It had been three days since my last wash, the style is leftover from Sunday, and the makeup from Monday (these photos were taken yesterday).

As you can see, my hair does not look exceptionally dirty! From the front, it looks perfectly fine. It isn't until you really zero in on the roots that you see a bit of oily separation. 

But then, it was time to shower. 

This photo is after my shower and a touch of makeup. This is how my hair air dries. I can't wait until my hair is long again. 

So far, it feels great! And it would look as great as it feels if I took the time to style it today...which I did not. (But I put on makeup and clean clothes, so the day was not a complete loss!) 

Happy Valentine's Day!

I was inspired by my friend Sarah (of Sarah Makes Stuff) and her love song playlist. I love sharing music I like, so here I am to do just that (and mostly with songs you would not hear on Top 40 radio YAY!)!

No matter what your relationship status, I hope you're enjoying sharing love with the people you care about today!

<3

Because this is a Valentine's Day playlist, we have to start with a classic song from Mr. Sinatra. Only...this is a beautifully haunting cover performed by Angela McCluskey.

How am I ever supposed to choose just one of Ed Sheeran's plentiful love songs? I chose this one because it is about falling in love. "...I fell in love like you fall asleep: slowly and then all at once." - John Green, The Fault In Our Stars

But not all love has to be romantic! This song could be about a dozen things, but to me it's about family. (Again, how to choose just one Jason Mraz love song?!)

And we can't forget our songs about friendship! This song by Lena really brings to mind memories of being a young adult, spending hours enjoying life surrounded by some of the most amazing friends anyone could ask for.

Finally, a song that reminds me of David. <3

I had such a hard time limiting my list to just a handful of the amazing songs out there! There are so many more beautiful and amazing songs about all different kinds of love; what is your favorite love song?

Week 1 (plus a few days...)

So, this is actually an update from Saturday...but I'm a total slacker and am only just now getting it up. On Wednesday.

I took these pictures right before washing my hair for the second time using the 'Poo-less method. At this point, it had been approximately 7 (maybe 6) days since I had washed my hair with shampoo. I can't remember exactly.  We're going to say a week.

Sorry for the crazy eyes. I had yet to put any makeup on that day (since I was getting ready to shower and all) and my eyes were looking super sleepy and droopy...apparently I overcorrected.

Anyway, notice how my hair looks particularly un-greasy? I was thrilled. 

Actually, my hair felt really great. It was mildly waxy feeling in the shower, but I really do think that it is either a) just the way wet hair feels when it's not being stripped, or b) part of the transition, since my hair does not look greasy or waxy once it dries. 

Now, I'm a few days past those pictures, but not a whole lot has changed. My hair is noticeably oily to the touch, but not greasy. It looks much smoother than it usually does, which is nice, and handles the heat of a flat iron and blow dryer pretty much the same way it always has. 

It does FEEL different, though. It doesn't have the same softness that it always did after being shampoo'd and conditioned, which I kind of miss. I used to love how my hair felt in the shower right before I would get out, now it feels waxy. Once it dries it feels like waxy straw. BUT, I have only just begun.  

The most important thing, to me, is that my hair has not once LOOKED bad. It may feel strange, but it looks healthy and clean, and without all of the products I have used in the past. Well, except right now...right now it doesn't look great, but that's because today is washing day and I haven't gotten around to that yet. Ah, motherhood. 

As for David--his hair looks and feels FANTASTIC! I seriously thought he might have trouble, but he still washes with baking soda almost daily. He has had no trouble cleaning gel out of his hair, and his hair no longer gets "puffy." (His words, not mine...he has stick-straight hair, but it IS much smoother since he switched.) So, he really likes being shampoo free thus far. He may try Castille soap when we get some to replace our body washes, though, since Simple Mom's hubby likes that for his hair.

So, how are you progressing on your own healthy life ventures?

Do we have to call it "No 'Poo?"

Really?

Really?!

Look, I want to jump on this shampoo-free lifestyle but calling it "No 'Poo" just makes 5-year-old boy in me giggle.

Even still, last night I officially washed my hair without shampoo or conditioner. And so did David. And we don't even stink or anything.

Now, for the sake of full disclosure, I probably need to tell you that I'm one of those people who only washes their hair every 2-3 days anyway. That in itself might make the dreaded transition phase (<--it's ominous, see?) a little easier, since I do not have over-washed, oil-prone hair to begin with. David, on the other hand, is a daily washer but I am sending oil-free thoughts his hair's way.

WAIT!

WUUUT?

Sorry. What the heck am I talking about?

There are a handful of crazy people who don't wash their hair with shampoo. You see, there are all sorts of ways to wash your hair without bringing monsters like SLS near your precious strands! The most common method of "No 'Poo'ing" (I just want to die) seems to be using a mixture of Baking Soda and water, followed by an Apple Cider Vinegar and water rinse. That's what I did. (Though some brave souls only use water. Or egg washes.)

Okay, so you know the WUUUT. The why is...because I don't want shampoo-y chemicals on my head. There are so many reasons to avoid those chemicals, and I couldn't tell you all of the reasons, but Babs over at Babyslime has a lot of really great information on the whole process. She also has pictures. I love blogs with pictures. (Said the lady who can never find her camera...)

As for the "how?" Well, I'm still figuring it all out. The place to start seems to be with a mixture of 1 TABLEspoon Baking Soda dissolved in 1 Cup of Water (if you have hard water, I have read that boiling the water first helps dissolve the Baking Soda properly). It is really thin. For some reason, in my mind, I pictured a kind of thin paste. Nooo. It's pretty much just all water. So you just pour it on your wet scalp and massage it around until your fingers feel nice and slippery. Then you rinse really well. My hair felt kind of waxy, but I have not determined if it is because my hair actually was waxy, or if it's because I'm used to the feel of the stripping process. I think it's the latter.

Next, you have your Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse. That is 1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with 1 Cup of Water. Now, as for the application process...it seems like everyone is doing it differently. Some people use a spray bottle and spritz their hair with the rinse, some let their ends sit in a bowl of the rinse, and still others just pour it right onto their hair. The key with this is that a little goes a very long way, and too much will give you greasy locks. I tried the spray bottle method and liked it, since I have chin-length hair. For those with longer hair, just rinsing the ends might be the way to go. I imagine this takes a bit of trial and error to find the right method.

That's how to start. Of course, you can play around with the ratios, to create a mixture that best suits your hair's natural chemistry. More baking soda results in drier hair, more ACV results in more oily hair, and vice versa.

As for me...my hair feels very clean this morning. It is not at all frizzy, but feels like it might be a tad on the dry side, so I may try using a bit more of the ACV rinse next time. But it looks clean and healthy, not oily or brittle. My current plan is to wash my hair again on Saturday, unless I notice that it is looking a bit slick by tomorrow.

Sooooo I'm off to an exciting start! Wooty woot woot!

Have you ever tried going "No 'Poo?" And also, what else can we call it? Really.

The Journey to Natural-er

We are surrounded by chemicals. They're in our food, our water, our beauty products. It can't be good for us. Actually, we know that a lot of chemicals or other commonly found ingredients aren't that good for us at all. Mercury could once be found widely used in vaccines, but then we learned that it's terribly, horribly bad for us in large quantities, so much so that we even avoid tuna during pregnancies. Fluoride, Sodium Laurel Sulfate, Parabens, BPA, are just a few others that we are widely exposed to but are being shown to be just not that great for us.

And disease is on the rise. Certainly, our medical advancements have made us aware of more diseases, and have given us the ability to more easily detect others, but is that really the only reason? I'm not convinced that the influx of cancer and autoimmune diseases and behavioral disorders--many of which we don't fully understand--are simply an outcome of diagnostic advancements. Could it be that we are also preventing our bodies from being their healthiest by cramming a lot of crap into them?

I'm not a doctor. I have no medical training. But I don't think you need an advanced degree to understand that you get out of your body what you put in. If you put chemicals into your body, if you don't exercise, if you eat crappity crap crap crap, you may reap the consequences. (This is not to say, however, that we are responsible for every bad thing that happens to us. Sometimes things happen, and it's horrible, even when we've done all we know to do to prevent it.)

I'm also not a crazy crunchy, super alternative, possibly-a-hippy, holistic guru. I'm not anti-vaccine, but I'm not pro-either. I am grateful for many medicinal leaps (such as the insulin injections that keep my Type 1 Diabetic brother alive), but I also believe that there is a wealth of information in more alternative circles. I don't eat only food I have grown (I love Good Times Wild Fries), but I see the value in organic and GMO-free sources. I'm not an extremist, I just want to provide a healthy life for my family.

I'm also not going to judge you for being whatever you are. If your family indulges in McDonald's, I'm not going to get offended because you're not eating only pasture-fed beef topped with garden-grown condiments. But then, I'm also not going to judge you if you DO only eat pasture-fed beef topped with garden-grown condiments. Just as long as you're trying to do well by your family. We're all different, and as wives and mothers (I'm assuming that's my main demographic!) we need to build each other up and encourage each other to be informed and do what we feel is best for our individual families, whatever that may look like.

So this is my journey to being a little more "natural." To staying away from a few more things that might be harmful. To just trying to do my best with what God has given me, in the place he has put me.

I welcome you to join me as I learn and try and make mistakes and discover new things. Email me and tell me what you're doing to live a healthier life, I would LOVE to hear and learn from you. Comment and share a funny story from the front lines of healthful living. I only have one rule: treat others with the same kind of respect you want them to show you.

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