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?